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Where does YEPREMIAN rank in the most common names in the U.S.?
YEPREMIAN is identified by the U.S. Bureau of the Census as a surname with more than 100 occurrences in the United States for the year-2000 U.S. Census. In "Demographic Aspects of Surnames from Census 2000", the Census Bureau tabulated the surnames of all people who had obtained Social Security Numbers by the year 2000.
YEPREMIAN ranks # 134929 in terms of the most common surnames in America for 2000.
YEPREMIAN had 115 occurrences in the 2000 Census, according the U.S. government records.
Out of a sample of 100,000 people in the United States, YEPREMIAN would occur an average of 0.04 times.
For the last name of YEPREMIAN the Census Bureau reports the following race / ethnic origin breakdown:
85.22 percent, or 98 total occurrences, were "Non-Hispanic White Only"
14.78 percent, or 17 total occurrences, were "Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races"
Search the web for more on the name YEPREMIAN :
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Dr. Ehab Elsayed Abdelaziz Kahka
Specialist - General Surgery
Speciality: General & Laparoscopic Surgery
Practice Locations: NMC Royal Family Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi
Dr. Ehab Elsayed Abd Elaziz Kahka obtained the Arab Board of General Surgery in 2015 from the Arab Board of Medical Specialisation, the Council of Arab Health Ministers of the Arab League. He also obtained his Medical Doctorate, MD of General Surgery in 2011 from Ain Shams University, Egypt.
He passed the Intercollegiate Membership of Royal College of Surgeons examinations in 2011 and since that time he has become a nominated member in the Royal College of Surgeons, London - England (MRCS -England). In 2008 he received his Master Degree of General Surgery, MSc. and in 2003 his MBBCH both from Ain Shams University, Egypt.
Dr. Ehab Kahka has more than 13 years of experience in the field of General Surgery and Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery. He started his career as a Resident of General and Laparoscopic Surgery in 2004 at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Al Demerdash Hospital and was promoted to Assistant Lecturer (Specialist) in 2009 and then Lecturer (Consultant of General and Laparoscopic Surgery) in 2011. He also worked in Ain Shams University Specialised Hospital and Dar Al Fouad Hospital, a JCI accredited private hospital in Egypt. He also worked in one of the largest regional hospitals in the Ministry of Health, Oman for three years
He has also attended many National and International training courses and workshops in Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery and he has conducted interactive sessions in the field of Laparoscopic Surgery in local conferences in Egypt.
Dr Ehab is an active member of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Egyptian Society of Laparoscopic Surgery (ESLS) and he is also registered in the Irish Medical Council
He is specialised in General and Laparoscopic Surgery and his major areas of interest are:
Laparoscopic Appendectomy
Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
Peptic Ulcer Repair
Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Surgery
Hydrocelectomy Varicocelectomy
He also has a number of research and publications in his credit. He keeps himself updated in his chosen field by attending conferences and workshops both local and international.
He is fluent in English, and Arabic.
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Wednesday 22.5.2019 in Latest Developments
in Belarus Country Page
Opposition members intimidated, activists arrested and detained
On 18th March 2019, the Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs and the Legal Transformation Center published the annual review of Freedom of Association in Belarus. The report documents the state of the freedom of association in 2018, specifically highlighting the legal conditions of public associations and other civil society organisations in Belarus for the last year. The report highlights key challenges that were experienced in 2018 including criminal prosecution of civil society representatives, the de-facto ban for Non Commercial Organisations to have legal addresses in private residential houses, and changes in financial sustainability of CSOs owing to changes in donors’ approaches and policies among others. The full text of the Review can be found here.
In February 2019, the same civil society organisations also prepared and published a report on electronic fundraising. The report explains the mechanisms and tools for obtaining online donation for non-governmental organisations in the Eurasian space. This is an important resource for civil society organisations in the region to support their fundraising campaigns. Such methods are becoming increasingly popular in Eurasia. The report includes research on the legal framework of fundraising in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and places emphasis on electronic and online tools, with recommendations on how to use existing tools.
On 5th April 2019, 72 year old opposition female activist Nina Baginskaya was arrested and detained by the police for disorderly conduct and disobedience to the police. Bagisnskaya was arrested in Kuropaty area in the outskirts of Minsk for protesting and expressing her disagreement with the actions of the Borovlyansky forestry enterprise. On 4th April 2019, at the order of the authorities, the company demolished 70 wooden crosses which had been installed by public activists last summer to commemorate victims of the Communist regime repression. On 8th April, it was reported that she was fined 1,275 rubles (612 USD) by the Minsk district court.
Kuropaty area is a locality in Belarus where the victims of Communist repression were buried between 1937 and 1941. In order to save the graves of the Communist regime repressed victims, in 2001 many activists from Belarus installed crosses. The authorities however demolished some of them on the grounds that they were illegally installed. The conflict between the population and the authorities has been going on for a long time and many protests have been organised near the place. In 2011, activists protested against the building of a restaurant complex a few meters from the crosses, although the restaurant was still constructed. In 2017, Belarusian activists opposed the construction of a business park near the restaurant. After this incident, the Belarusian president acknowledged the historical importance of the site and accepted the installation of a monument in 2018.
On 17th April 2019, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) reported about the arrest of 18 environmental defenders in Belarus who were protesting against the construction of a battery plant in Brest. Some of the protesters were released a few hours later, while the rest spent up to 3 days in detention. The protesters were arrested under Article 23.34 of the Belarus Code of Administrative Offences for violating the procedure for organising or holding mass events. FIDH condemned the arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment of the environments who were being punished for their legitimate and peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of association and assembly.
According to a press release by the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) party published on 1st April 2019, the pressure against the opposition party has continued in Belarus. On 1st April 2019, Vital Rymasheuski the leader of the BCD party, was summoned to the Belarusian Investigative Committee. On 22nd March, one day before the celebration of the Freedom Day 2019 in Minsk, Rymasheuski’s younger brother, Siarhei, was summoned for questioning by the same Investigation Committee in relation to a murder case of a girl in 1989.
Rymasheuski, told the press:
"I consider the summon to be questioned by the Investigation Committee only as one of the primitive Soviet methods of pressure. One day before the Freedom Day, all of a sudden, my brother was summoned for questioning as a witness in a criminal case of 1989. My brother was eight years old back then. The Belarusian repressive apparatus violates all conceivable norms of human morality. Unfortunately, the pressure through relatives, through family, the blackmailing of political opponents are methods of terror, which are still in the arsenal of the Belarusian regime."
Tags: access to info. law | intimidation | protest | protestor(s) detained
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About The Moral Arc
Endorsements & Reviews
About Michael Shermer
Why Islam? Of the three great monotheistic religions only one did not go through the Enlightenment
One of the central tenets of science is to define a problem to be studied with as much clarity as possible, and the key to clear communication is calling things what they really are. Unfortunately, both the American media and public intellectuals have failed to be honest in identifying what everyone in Europe knows is the primary source of terrorism in the world today: Islam.
Yes, there are political and economic motives behind terrorism in addition to religion, and most Muslims are not terrorists, particularly those living in Western countries. And of course Islam is not the only religion that can lead to violence, as witnessed in the occasional abortion clinic bombing by Christians, but I can’t even remember when the last one was. (I just checked: there were two in 2012, no injuries, three in 2007, also no injuries, a handful of inept attempts at arson in the early 2000s, with most serious attacks made in the 1980s and early 1990s.) Instead, most Christians who oppose abortion protest peacefully, as they did in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington DC that I happened upon on January 22, the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, when I was in town on my book tour for The Moral Arc.
By contrast, a news cycle does not go by without a report of Islamic terrorists blowing themselves to smithereens, igniting car bombs and IEDs, shooting or stabbing so-called infidels and heretics, and cutting off the heads of or burning alive journalists and other innocents who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. How common are these attacks? According to a preliminary report issued by scientists at the University of Maryland at College Park working at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, Islamist terrorists stand out far above domestic terrorists on both the Far Left and the Far right. Utilizing data from the Global Terrorism Database, which has accumulated information on over 125,000 terrorist attacks from 1970-2013, including 58,000 bombings, 15,000 assassinations, and 6,000 kidnappings, researchers have been able to more carefully identify what the problem is, starting with a clear definition of terrorism: “The threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.” Their focus is on terrorism in the United States. Here are a few of their preliminary findings.
Waves of terrorist violence have flared up over the decades. Far Left violent extremists were most active in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Far Right terrorists were most active in the 1990s. And since 9/11 most terrorists are Islamist extremists.
Far Right and Far Left extremists tend to be loners and individuals with psychological problems, whereas “Islamist extremists tended to be part of tight-knit groups.” All three groups experienced similar rates of radicalization in prison.
Additional risk factors for all three groups included relationships with other extremists and romantic relationship troubles, but “only far right extremists had extensive previous criminal backgrounds.”
Violent Islamist terrorists tended to be young (between 18 and 28 years old), unmarried, and not well integrated into American society.
Most tellingly (for my point here) is that for both Far Right and Far left extremists, “religious activities and beliefs were negatively correlated with the use of violence,” whereas for Islamist terrorists, almost by definition, religion was the primary motive (why else would they be so labeled—the motive is right there in the name “Islamist”).
This graph, generated from the Global Terrorism Database by typing in the keyword “Islam” found a total of 5,704 terrorist incidents, the vast majority in the last couple of years, thereby confirming our intuitions that the trend lines match the headlines.
Additional data illuminates why violence may be inherent in the Islamic religion, to the extent that Muslims believe in sharia, especially the parts of the law that command corporal punishment for minor crimes, stoning for adultery, and capital punishment for leaving the Islamic faith. A 2013 Pew poll found these disturbing percentages of Muslims who believe that anyone who leaves Islam should be executed: South Asia (76%), Middle East-North Africa (56%, Southeast Asia (27%, Central Asia (16%), and Southern-Eastern Europe (13%). Why do they believe this? One reason is that most Muslims believe sharia is the revealed word of God: Pakistan (88%), Afghanistan (81%), Palestinian territory (76%, Egypt (70%), Malaysia (66%), Jordan (57%), Iraq (56%), Kyrgyzstan (54%), Lebanon (50%), Bangladesh (50%), Tunisia (44%), Albania (43%), and Russia (39%).
A 2009 Pew study found these percentages of Muslims who say suicide attacks against civilians in defense of Islam are justified: 43% of Nigerian Muslims, 38% of Lebanese Muslims, 15% of Egyptian Muslims, 13% of Indonesian Muslims, and 12% of Jordanian Muslims. A 2006 study found that nearly a quarter of British Muslims believe that the 7/7 terrorist attacks on London in 2005 were justified, and 28% said they hoped that one day the U.K. would become a fundamentalist Islamic state.
So when the Islamic terrorists who murdered the editors and cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo shouted “Allahu Akbar” and proclaimed their acts to be revenge for insulting the prophet Muhammad, we should take them at their word that their religion is what motivated them.
But why is Islam caught up in this cycle of violence and not one of the other two great monotheistic religions, Judaism and Christianity. It was not always so. In the book of Numbers, 31:7–12, for example, Moses assembled an army of 12,000 troops to defeat the Midianites, who were allied with the Moabites in their desire to see the Israelites wiped off the face of the earth.
They warred against Mid′ian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and slew every male. They slew the kings of Mid′ian … And the people of Israel took captive the women of Mid′ian and their little ones; and they took as booty all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods. All their cities in the places where they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burned with fire, and took all the spoil and all the booty, both of man and of beast. Then they brought the captives and the booty and the spoil to Moses.
That sounds like a good days pillaging, but when the troops got back, Moses was furious. “What do you mean you didn’t kill the women?” he asked, exasperated, since it was apparently the women who had enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful with another God. Moses then ordered them to kill all the women who had slept with a man, and the boys. “But save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man,” he commanded, predictably, at which point one can imagine the thirty-two thousand virgins who’d been taken captive rolling their eyes and saying, “Oh, God told you to do that, did he? Right.” Was the instruction to “keep the virgins for yourselves” what God had in mind by the word “love” in the “love thy neighbor” command? I think not. Of course, the Israelites knew exactly what God meant (this is the advantage of writing scripture yourself—you get to say what God meant) and they acted accordingly, fighting for the survival of their people. With a vengeance.
Worse, the book considered by over two billion people to be the greatest moral guide ever produced recommends the death penalty for saying the Lord’s name at the wrong moment or in the wrong context, for imaginary crimes like witchcraft, for commonplace sexual relations (adultery, fornication, homosexuality), and for not resting on the Sabbath. How many of today’s Jews and Christians agree with their own holy book on the application of capital punishment? I dare say it is close to zero. That is how far the moral arc has bent in four millennia.
The reason, I argue in The Moral Arc, is the Judaism and Christianity went through the Enlightenment and came out the other side less violent and more tolerant. Ever since the Enlightenment the study of morality has shifted from considering moral principles as based on God-given, Divinely-inspired, Holy book-derived, Authority-dictated precepts from the top down, to bottom-up individual-considered, reason-based, rationality-constructed, science-grounded propositions in which one is expected to have reasons for one’s moral actions, especially reasons that consider the other person affected by the moral act.
The Enlightenment secular values that we hold dear today—equal treatment under the law, equal opportunity for all, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, civil rights and civil liberties for everyone, the equality of women and minorities, and especially the separation of church and state and the freedom to practice any religion or no religion at all—were inculcated into the minds of Jews and Christians (and others) in the West, but not so much in Muslim countries, particularly those who would prefer a return to the medieval barbarism of theocracies. Until we can take an honest look at the problem and stop accusing people of “Islamophobia” who are courageous enough to say what almost everyone else is thinking, the problem will not go away on its own.
By Michael Shermer|2017-05-18T16:04:47-07:00February 25th, 2015|Civil Rights, Morality, Reason, Religion, Science, Terrorism, Violence, War, Women’s Rights|104 Comments
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About the Author: Michael Shermer
Dr. Michael Shermer is the Publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, and the author of The Moral Arc. His previous books include: The Believing Brain, Why People Believe Weird Things, Why Darwin Matters, The Mind of the Market, How We Believe, and The Science of Good and Evil.
Hugo Lindum February 25, 2015 at 1:43 am
I would suggest to Mr Sharmer that the reason that Christians (and Jews) have found it relatively easy to be more flexible in the theology is the following:
a) Christians never had any illusion that the Bible was dictated word by word by Jesus. Muslims do believe that the Koran was dictated directly by Mohamed who got it from the Angel Gabriel (who got it from god);
b) There is no violence (that I am aware of) by Jesus nor of him encouraging violence; Mohamed was personally involved in battles, encourages the taking of non muslim women captives “concubines” and worse;
c) It is difficult to assert that one part of the Bible is superior to another, which leaves a lot of room for debate. In the case of the Koran there is the important concept of abrogation, in which in the Koran itself Mohamed says that latter revelations trump earlier verses (god has the right to change his mind). The problem with this is that the earlier parts of the Koran are much more “love thy neighbour” than the latter verses, which are much more “go out and kill non-believers without mercy.”
My final point would be about the statistics of Islamic violence. I would suggest that pre 1990 it just was not reported as there was little integration of the world compared to today. I lived in Indonesia per 9/11 and there was regular violence against the local Christian minority, but it would certainly not have been reported in the western media.
akka acute February 25, 2015 at 5:43 am
have you ever read the coran !!! please try to be more rational don’t let felling change your mind read the coran again and ask help from muslims did they explain it to you and you will find the truth is not shame to find yourself make mistake but the shame is to close your eyes from the truth and in addition you speak about something you don’t understood the real meaning or you want to curse the coran just because you follow the majority in your state search search search
Lynne Daniels February 25, 2015 at 6:39 am
Some of us HAVE read the koran, more than once (Dawood translation twice, Ali’s once) and it is precisely that reading that lead to a deep dislike of islam. The notion that anyone with an aversion to islam is so out of “ignorance” is a comforting assumption I see moslems make online all the time…It is understandable that they would create and cling to that illusion, but it is nonetheless an illusion.
seve February 25, 2015 at 11:48 am
i read the Koran – and since then i hate islam.
Nerberg March 1, 2015 at 2:13 pm
@akka acute
The only important part Hugo Lindum forgot to mention is the concept of “taqqiya.” As a muslim I’m sure you know that this means you can (and should) lie/deceive in order to protect your religion or yourself from non-believers.
Other than that, after reading the quran (and parts of the hadith) I too agree with Hugo Lindum. There are fundamental differences that separate islam from all other religions, making it more primitive, more totalitarian, more violent and more resistant to change/enlightenment.
Personally I don’t believe in gods or deity, but the other religions are at least more peaceful and tolerant of people and opinions that differ from their own beliefs.
Hugo Lindum March 3, 2015 at 3:51 pm
I have read the Coran (sic).
Have you read it? Most muslims have not. All they have done is memorised it like little parrots leaning back and forth in a language they cannot understand. I say to you one word: abrogation.
Max March 22, 2018 at 11:57 am
Hey, Muslims: Learn English before posting here.
CheChenBoyYT April 30, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Hey, read a real Qoran instead of a Christian-made one
David Powell February 25, 2015 at 6:04 am
A) Strictly true, but there are many Christians (Protestants of various flavors in particular) who believe the Bible is the “inspired, inerrant Word of God.” Maybe Jesus didn’t write the Bible for them, but God did.
B) “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother….” — Matthew 10:34 ff.
“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” — Luke 14:26
While they need to be placed in their historical and literary contexts like any other text, these “hard sayings” of Jesus have made Christians itch for a long time. Jesus is not always the warm and fuzzy figure that many Christians and other seemingly contradictory texts make him out to be. And there might not be so much violence, as we’re using that term here, in the name of Jesus, but there is plenty of hate in his name.
Hugo Lindum February 25, 2015 at 4:13 pm
My point though was that Jesus of Nazareth is not quoted in the bible as encouraging violence, whereas Mohammed did. If the quote you had given from Matthew had been from Jesus himself, do you not think it would have more force?
A thought experiment: if Jesus had been a warlord and not a carpenter, would this not have had a serious effect on Christianity, and the worldview of Jesus himself?
Martin Pusey Nichols March 2, 2015 at 3:31 am
There are also other incidents that lead me to believe that Jesus could give way to unjustifiable wrath. The cursing of the fig tree that did not bear fruit, and more particularly the overturning of the money changers in the Temple of God. The latter was a singularly sedicious and anarchistic thing to do, and was bound to lead to trouble with the authorities.
Bendixen March 3, 2015 at 3:42 am
@Martin That is of course true, though I would hardly put jesus and muhammeds actions in the same category.
One known for civil vandalism, and swearing at a tree, compared to one who made military campaigns.
I personally take from this, that the first is a sort of anarchist leader :) ,and the second a conquering general/
It follows thus from my view point, that if the first can inspire all sorts of horrors, the same can and will come true for the latter. Its for me even likely, that the bad shit will be on a greater scale compared to the circumstances and opportunities.
John Smith February 25, 2015 at 4:00 am
A oouple of issues, one smallone larger:
-Palestine is not a territory. It is an occupied nation. Refer to it as Palestine.
-The largest, deadliest terrorist organization in the world is the US government. This is inarguable and should be noted. I know that is the thrust of your story, but even all of the religious expired acts totaled up are a rounding error compared to what the US government does. While not totally inspired by religion, GW Bush was a devout christian.
Craig Crosby February 25, 2015 at 7:56 am
Recall, sir, that the article defines terrorism by excluding the acts of a state, which by strict definition would be acts of war. Now, no doubt the US wages war in many places, and it maintaining its empire has done so for a good while. That makes it a warring organization, not a terrorist one.
Jay Samples February 26, 2015 at 8:21 pm
John Smith: If you think the US is a terrorist organization, then you need to learn what the definition is of terrorism, because you are seriously mistaken.
Ola March 2, 2015 at 1:08 pm
It’s been a debatable topic even in the united nations (i.e. definition of terrorism)
It is only because we live in a free society that you can post your ridiculous comments, John Smith – surely not your real name ! It is turning the common sensical use of language on its head to suggest that the USA is a terrorist organization or state (in spite of all the mistakes that have been made). And what gives you the right to categorically call the Palestine territories a nation ? Read your history : there has never actually been an independent Palestine. (Which is not to say there never should be).
Max March 3, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Sam Harris’ response to this Chomskyite idiocy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwpukN7Pf8
In brief, by completely ignoring intention and just comparing civilian body counts, the U.S. becomes worse than Nazi Germany because it killed a lot more German civilians than Germany killed U.S. civilians.
In the Pew poll, Palestinian territories obviously refer to the West Bank and Gaza. You have a problem with that, take it up with Pew.
leeskeys February 25, 2015 at 4:28 am
Very thought provoking article. Thank you.
Larry Winkler February 25, 2015 at 6:04 am
“The threatened or actual use of illegal force and violence by a non-state actor to attain a political, economic, religious, or social goal through fear, coercion, or intimidation.”
This is the definition of terrorist. Quite self serving. Eliminates all technologically advanced Christian nations for the continual violence.
David June 26, 2017 at 10:47 pm
I somewhat agree. Note the use of “non-state actor” here which relieves any country to plan, fund, support and execute terrorist groups, revolutionaries to topple governments, change of regimes and ultimately creating a favourable market, base or situation for them. All this goes in the name of maintaining peace in the world.
In case such groups are caught, they are terrorist for the world until a link with a state is identified upon which it becomes a “state actor” thereby excluding the group from the definition of terrorism. Countries using violence under the guise of “covert operations” to achieve their political, economical or any type of goals should also come under this definition.
Pat Dunlap February 25, 2015 at 6:15 am
And yet, during the Middle Ages when Christian scholars were busily burning the “heretical” writings of Plato, Aristotle, and other intellectuals of the ancient world, Muslim scholars were rescuing those they could, copying them, and translating them. In fact, without these particular Muslims, we would probably know nothing about the ideas of men such as Ptolemy, Thales, and the many other ancients whose ideas became the foundation upon which the Enlightenment was built. Islam has had its Age of Reason, too.
Don’t forget the role the monks played in keeping alive classical knowledge.
Great article, good comment from Mr Lindum too.He said pretty much everything I was gearing up to write. (The beating of the moneychangers might count as an act of violence committed by Jesus BTW.)
I would only add this : The typical moslem may not be a terrorist in the sense that s/he would personally go out and plant a bomb or fire a machine gun into a crowd…But if islamic-inspired terrorism were to create the world that many adhering moslems believe is inevitable and a positive good (a global caliphate with only sharia law in effect, moslems privileged over non moslems, non moslems reduced to the three choices (conversion, slavery , or death, and dhimmitude IS slavery, not second or third class citizenship , as apologists for islam pretend.*) , how many of those peaceful non terrorist moslems would be unhappy ? How many would consider this state of affairs unjust ? (“Man made” governments and laws are considered inherently unjust by believing moslems, and that includes any form of government and legal system not based on islamic laws-that’s what moslem “freedom-fighters” mean when they say they’re fighting against “oppression” or “injustice”.) How many “peaceful moslems” would really object to living in idleness while being supported by taxes levied on non moslems (Jizya)? And those moslems who would object to my comments : Are they sincere, or is it taqqiyah?
As a non theist, as a woman, and as a US citizen, it is chilling to me how many Americans are willing to compromise on sharia law being administered in the USA. Liberals/progressives say it’s only fair that moslem communities in the USA have their own legal courts, like the Jews-ignoring that Jews have never believed they have a duty to impose their legal systems on non Jews. Many moslems believe that sharia law, as divinely inspired,should he imposed on ALL humans. On Men’s Rights Activist sites, not a day goes by on which I don’t see multiple posts musing about how great it will be when sharia courts are up and running : The posters seem to be of the opinion that non moslems can use these courts without having to convert**, and the sharia courts’ rulings on divorce , child custody, and spousal maintenance will be legally enforceable even if one party (the wife) objects to the ruling. (No one ever said MRAs were smart…But they are a fairly large and apparently growing percentage of the US population, and they are openly salivating over islam and sharia reversing every gain women have made since the Married Woman’s Property Act.) And don’t think there aren’t Christian sites online in which the posters have mentioned how much more tenderly moslem foibles are dealt with by the media than are Christian stances : Not wanting to bake a cake for a gay wedding ceremony is a crime against humanity and the person involved is a subhuman troglodyte . But FGM? Hatred of dogs? Honor killings? Well, that’s their culture which we must respect, and anyway, the only reason anyone brings up such matters is because they hate “brown people”.
I realize that a global caliphate is unlikely in the extreme, but the sheer number of “enemies in our gates” is nonetheless troublesome.
*The dhimmi is property of the moslem government but not of an individual moslem. As a slave , everything he owns is technically state property and can be confiscated-including his wife and children
**On the MRA/MRM sites on which I lurk , a large percentage of posters claim to be Atheists/skeptics/agnostics . The percentage of those who claim to be Christian traditionalist is pretty small, though there are traditionalist Christian MRA sites on which most or all the posters will be Christian .
Excellent post. To your list of muslim foibles which are tolerated I would add one more: Rotherham. I am sure you know what I mean. For those that don’t its a long and horrible story and not for here.
Philomorph February 25, 2015 at 7:39 am
I know almost nothing about the Koran, but if Mr Lindom is correct about abrogation, it sounds like the Koran went the opposite direction from the Bible. The biblical old testament was pretty hard-line and god-fearing, punishment, etc. But the new testament sort of softened and superseded that with more “love they neighbor” and “god forgives”.
Historically, after Muhammad came back with the first Surats of the Quran and was pretty much ‘dissed,’ he went back out and got the rest – the angry ones, where god changed his mind. Actually Muhammad was insane, and hearing voices. Of course the voice he heard was his own, and when he got pissed off because his nomadic bretheren didn’t accept the nicey nice god, he presented them with a nasty one. And he got all the angry arabs in the area together and they waged war against everyone around until they were worn down and said, “uncle.” Now, nasty-god rules. And they continue to ‘convert’ by wearing people down. They do not and will not give up. It has worked so far, so why should they? And we are nuts to expect anything else, especially with Taqiyyah and Kitman being ‘okay’ to nasty-god.
Of course, the problem is as much with the Hadith as with the Quran. These guys are a real work.
willsypher February 25, 2015 at 7:50 am
In a provocative and sometimes helpful essay, Dr. Shermer makes two crucial errors.
One, as already pointed out above, is to limit terrorism to non-State actors, an artful dodge. This is a deliberate distortion of reality; States continue to imprison, torture and kill their citizens at a rate orders of magnitude greater than all the non-State terrorists combined. Think about Saddam’s Iraq, Qaddafi’s Lybia, or al-Assad’s Syria as recent dramatic examples. The earlier monstrous State terrorism by Mao Tse-tung or Stalin need hardly be cited.
The second error is in its way, even more serious, a circular argument ascribing religious motivation to violent extremists from Islamic countries. He states:
Let me get this straight. I will readily acknowledge strong religious motivation in many, if not most, terrorist attacks by Muslims. My quarrel with Shermer is with the thrust of his argument: the “proof” that Islamic terrorists are religiously motivated is in the name we have given them: As he states ” . . . why else would they be so labeled–the motive is right there is the name “Islamist.” This hardly rises above the off-cited tautology: “pig are called pigs because they look like pigs.” It is we who have labled the terrorists “Islamists”, which we then cite as “proof” of their motivation. While ISIS does use Islam in its name, most terrorists from Muslim countries do not so label themselves. Think of Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al-Shebab in Somalia, Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Yeman and elsewhere.
Dr. Shermer, we deserve far better than this from you. The proof of religious motivation lies in facts on the ground and statements these terrorist have made not from our convenient labels.
Solomon Sharpie February 25, 2015 at 8:59 am
Thank you willsypher for very clearly making those points about Shermer’s errors.
I’d like to add another one. Shermer’s whole thesis here is based upon the idea that the Enlightenment (approx. 1650 to 1780 AD) is a historical watershed moment that altered and separates the character of the 3 big monotheistic religions. His evidence? Stats from 1970 to 2013, and anecdotes from 2014. Um… He kind of left out about 200 years of evidence. He even acknowledges the spike in “Islamic” terrorist acts as primarily something of the last decade. If we looked only at the whole 20th century, the data would flip his thesis on its head, not to mention the 19th and 18th centuries. If one simply looks at the historical record anytime before 1970, Christianity and Judaism do not at all appear more tolerant, reason-based, and less violent than Islam. In fact, one would reasonably find the exact opposite.
Additionally, the notion of Europe’s Enlightenment occurring totally independent and without influence or interaction from its Muslim neighbors is a silly, myopic fantasy that has been thoroughly debunked. In fact, not only did the vibrant Muslim corpus of philosophy and science influence Enlightenment thinkers, but there are many Enlightenment thinkers that developed a great affinity for Islam as a religion of reason. That being said, one of the most negative products of the Enlightenment was a Euro-Christian-supremacist worldview that is exhibited in the thoroughly intolerant post-Enlightenment ideas and polemics that espoused the inferiority of Africa, and the Muslim world. Arrogant orientalism was essentially born with the Enlightenment, and we, today, operate off of many of the falsehoods about Islamic belief and its absence in civilizational history crafted in that time. Perhaps we might even say that Shermer’s ignorant, narrow-minded, intolerant, disdain for Islam is a child of the Enlightment. :)
Ken Farnsworth February 25, 2015 at 12:13 pm
You criticize Mr. Shermer over two points, and yet both of those points came from an academic study. True, he quoted from the study, but they weren’t his words. They came from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, from scientists at the University of Maryland. Both of your objections should have been directed at them. To define terrorism in a particular way (generally accepted, by the way), and then to provide data based on that definition is clear, transparent, not misleading in any way, and allows you to agree or disagree with the conclusions as you wish. You have to evaluate the evidence at face value, however. The evidence is presented as facts, and you have to have strong reasons for disputing those facts. Do you have contrary evidence? You certainly have a right to your own conclusions. But don’t blame Dr. Shermer for anything other than bringing a valuable study to your attention.
willsypher February 25, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Ken Farnsworth is technically correct in saying that Shermer was citing statements from a University of Maryland study. But I must take exception to his admonition that I should not be criticizing Shermer but directing my comments to the authors of that study.
There are at least two problems with this position. To the extent that readers can separate the exact words of the study from Shermer’s– he mostly paraphrases rather than quotes –he cites the conclusions of the study approvingly and thus can be assumed to hold these views.
Moreover, the accuracy of his paraphrasing is questionable when he says “. . . for Islamic terrorists, almost by definition, religion was the primary motive (why else would they be so labeled–their motive is right there in the name Islamist.” This is arrantly circular and hardly spounds like the words of a distinguished, sober, academic panel and I suspect that Shermer has gone far beyond their actual conclusion in support of his polemical stand on Islam.
As to supporting my critique with facts, I was only challenging Shermer, not the accuracy of the study he cited, and thus have no responsibility for factually refuting it.
Where did you get the idea that ‘terrorism” is generally accepted to mean only non-State actors? Accepted by whom? You are simply ignoring much of history, the considerable threats and violent actions by governments to intimidate their citizens, which is the point I was making.
Max March 25, 2018 at 8:43 am
His “polemical stand on Islam” happens to be correct. Get over yourself and help us clean up this country.
Bad Boy Scientist February 25, 2015 at 8:09 am
I wonder what Dr Schermer has to say about Catholic terrorists from Ireland who so plagued England with attacks for over a century? Sure, things have died down for now but they were most active after the so called age of enlightenment so, to be fair, he has to explain them away.
Also, what is it about exerting control over a bit of geography (establishing a ‘State’) that excludes one from the ranks of terrorists? Is that a meaningless distinction? [I mean, I have never heard anyone say “Well, my child was killed by a government force rather than a non-government force so it is OK.”] If we count clandestine operations of agents of so-called Christian nations – e.g. many of the snatch & grab or assassination operations of Navy Seals – how do they compare with the ‘bad guys’?
The IRA were not Catholic terrorists in the same way that Al Qaeda or IS are. Islamic terrorists claim that they are fighting for Sharia Law, the Muslim Caliphate and often scream “God is great” as they commit their atrocities. Indeed I invite you watch the video of the cruel burning of the Jordanian pilot inside a metal cage – it is overtly religious.
The IRA were Catholics, but what drove their violence – they clearly stated, was the situation and lack of representation of the Catholic community – not the Bible or Catholic doctrine per se. I never recall Jerry Adams or others quoting from the Bible to justify the killing of Protestants or British soldiers.
A point about your reference to the Navy Seals – are they not targeting those involved in violence – who consider themselves to be soldiers, rather than taking random civilians and just killing them to engender fear in others? Are the Navy Seals killing people just because they are not Christian? Indeed, are the Navy Seals even Christians?
Are KKK members christians?
Tim Callahan February 25, 2015 at 10:06 am
I think Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs and Steel” offers an excellent reason for the failure of Islam to go through the Enlightenment. Diamond notes that the geography of Europe made it possible for many states to exist as separate political entities. Therefore, when one kingdom failed to accept a new idea, another would. The advantages of accepting the new idea forced those reluctant at first to embrace it to change their policy and grudgingly allow it in. Thus, despite the atrocities of Europe’s religious wars, culminating in the Thirty Years War, Christianity was dragged, kicking and screaming, into a secularized world. I should also point out that the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century didn’t touch, for the most part, European Jews. However, the Jewish Enlightenment hit in the nineteenth century.
In contrast to Europe’s many states, The Islamic world was divided into but a few major empires, chief among them that of the Ottoman Turks. Their failure to embrace modern technology can be seen in the sea battle of Lepanto in 1571, in which an allied Christian fleet consisting of about 300, mainly Spanish and Venetian, ships met the Ottoman fleet of similar strength. The outcome of the battle was that the allied Christian fleet lost 20 ships, while the Ottoman fleet lost 280 ships. The difference between the two fleets was that the Europeans relied far more heavily on cannon, Their galleys had five cannons mounted on their bows, compared to the three cannons mounted on the bows of the Turkish galleys. In addition, the Spanish introduced galleons, three-masted ships with rows of cannon on their sides and galleasses, ships midway between galleys and galleons. Aboard the ships, the European troops were armed with arquebuses, primitive firearms, while the Turks were armed with bows. The new technology of cannons and firearms was available, known and used by both the Europeans and the Turks, but embraced far more enthusiastically by the Europeans. The crushing defeat inflicted on the Turks at Lepanto shifted naval power from the Mediterranean to Sea to the Atlantic seaboard. While the Turks remained a threat to central Europe until they were crushingly defeated by the Austrians, led by Prince Eugene, at the Battle of Zenta in 1692; the shift of geographical power from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic was the beginning of the end for Muslim power and influence in the world. Eventually, the shift in power to the Europeans led to the occupation of much of the Islamic world by European powers. Thus, the Islamic nations not only failed to go through the Enlightenment, but entered the twentieth century feeling humiliated.
If we look back on Europe’s religious wars, we find numerous instances of religiously based atrocities. For example, in the English civil war, after the Battle of Naseby (1645), the victorious parliamentary forces, raided the royalist camp. Finding a number of women there, soldiers’ wives and camp followers, the round-head soldiers cut off the noses of the English women. However, since the Irish women were considered “Papists” (i.e. Roman Catholics), the soldiers killed them by staving in the women’s skulls with their musket butts. Not only did Islam fail to go through the Enlightenment, most Islamic countries are today, ideologically, where Christianity was in the 1600s. Unfortunately, their religious ideology is abetted by modern technology. While the Qur’an embraces violence to a greater degree than do the Christian scriptures of the New Testament, the secularization of the Islamic world will eventually tame Islam, just as the Enlightenment eventually tamed Christianity.
Robert Corfield February 25, 2015 at 11:19 am
jasonaquest February 25, 2015 at 11:57 am
Islam didn’t go through “the” Enlightenment, but it had *an* Enlightenment period. Arabic culture (largely Islamic) was responsible for preserving much of Classical math and science during the period when Europe (largely Christian) was going thru the Dark Ages. Europeans later adopted the Arabic numeral system and inventions such as al-jabr (“algebra”).
Karl G Booth February 25, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Jasonaquest. I feel you are in error. The numeral system is originally from Hindu India. The origins of algebra can be traced to the ancient Babylonians, who developed a positional number system that greatly aided them in solving their rhetorical algebraic equations.
Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī who wrote the treatise re Al Jabr was Persian and not an Arab. He was also catigated by the Muslim leadership on many occasions.
Tom Beal February 25, 2015 at 12:37 pm
I think this article would be more valid if you substituted “Arab/Middle Eastern Patriarchy” for Islam. It is the patriarchy that uses tenants of Islam to justify their privileged position. Some of it is fear, justified in many ways, of the corrupting moral influence of the West. Just watch a video of Miley Cyrus and who wouldn’t be afraid for their daughters. Their response is a reactionary, romantic turn to some purer era.
Dan Vignau February 25, 2015 at 12:41 pm
I only have one comment: If all of the paranoid schizophrenics, who believe that the desires of their fictitious man/god in the sky matter one iota, would seek treatment instead of continuing to join in rituals that continue to brainwash them into thinking that their hallucinations and infantasies are real, then we humans could accomplish wonders without having to cow-tow to lunatics who are so terribly disjointed about their lack of immortality, that they value their delusions more than human life.
See nail. Hit head.
Diogenes April 6, 2018 at 7:09 am
That explains why all those overtly atheist regimes have been such shining successes.
You don’t need religion to be a preachy, self-righteous, nasty, intolerant, one-eyed, utterly vicious bastard.
Darren Evans April 23, 2019 at 3:17 am
True, you’d still have mentally unstable and violent criminals doing bad things but they would not be doing it because of atheism.
As someone smarter than me said about religion – “With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.”
Michael Rudnin February 25, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Here, your answer … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1nJC3lvFs
Edward Fox February 25, 2015 at 6:27 pm
The Islamic peoples (defined as those living in the lands dominated by the religion, history and culture of Islam without presuming necessary doctrinal allegiance) DID seek out the Enlightenment, motivated above all by the desire to meet the challenge of Western power so painfully impressed on their society.
The trouble is they didn’t find it.
The liberties, prosperity and power of the West, without remote historical precedent, were predicated on ideas, ideals and values of the Age of Enlightenment e.g. rationalism, individualism, secularism, liberalism and republicanism, however inconsistently and incompletely.
But in the latter 19th century and throughout the 20th Middle Eastern scholars traveling to Western, particularly European universities found a new, radically opposed philosophical tradition that had gained ascendancy in its ivory towers, a tradition referred to by an increasing number of scholars as the “Counter-Enlightenment.” This was the Germany-centered tradition dominated by Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770 – 1831) including figures such as Rousseau, Hume, Fichte, Schopenhauer, Marx and their 20th century heirs.
Often couched in the Enlightenment’s sensibility and terms e.g. “pure reason” and “scientific socialism” this reaction was broadly marked by its hostility to every core Enlightenment value i.e. by its anti-rationalism, anti-individualism, anti-liberalism, statism, militarism and enmassment of society by collectivism – from socialism and communism on the left to the racist, nationalist völkisch (volk or folk) movements of the right. Politically a decisive, often explicit rejection of the Western ‘bourgeois’ liberal tradition it laid the foundations of 20th century totalitarianism in its Nazi, Fascist and Marxist incarnations. These were ideologically driven catastrophes. The mother of ideology is philosophy.
It was this latter intellectual milieu Middle Eastern scholars studying in the Western humanities found, assimilated and imported so hopefully as the vanguard of Western thought. But these ideas and ideologies were no more successful implemented in the Middle East than elsewhere. Ultimately they undermined its every effort at political, economic and social reform in the region, as they did the drive to decolonize and modernize worldwide. That failure armed the most reactionary elements of Islamic society with rationalizations for their agendas.
“Do not rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world has stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again.”
– Bertolt Brecht, German poet and playwright
Brecht, a Marxist, penned his powerfully acerbic words thinking of Adolf Hitler. Yet Hitler’s carnage, if perhaps more concentrated and virulent, was surpassed in sheer scale by those waving the banner of Marx, though the latter was more hidden from Western eyes by “iron (and bamboo) curtains.” While leftist and rightist totalitarians fancied themselves polar opposites – though not above ad hoc alliances such as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact – they were in fact two offshoots of the same philosophic root and shared the same mystical-collectivist-totalitarian premises. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini began as a socialist and shaped his theory of Fascism deeply influenced by, among others, the syndicalism of Marxist’ Georges Sorel. Later Pol Pot, heavily influenced by the writings of Marx and Lenin, the French Communist party (which he joined as a student in Paris) and Maoism would blend Marxian and rightist völkisch (volk or folk) elements into a genocidal program to realize a classless, ethnically pure Khmer society. That root has not been extirpated and continues to sprout new shoots, most alarmingly in the West itself. Kant for example remains the West’s central philosophic figure.
It could be argued that Islam did actually go through a sort of enlightenment under the Ottoman Caliphate, in whose later years a more benign kind of Islam held sway across the Middle East, but that this has been – to a significant extent – replaced by the Saudi-backed Wahhabi and Salafi doctrines. These doctrines are becoming increasingly popular, and if the author was to name them specifically then I would have no problem at all with the article. The above the problem I have then is this: accuracy matters.
We atheists do no good making the ontic fallacy of defining Islam as a single ‘thing’, that is, a unitary rational agent capable of causing consequence. Rather, as history clearly demonstrates, there are multiple competing Islams, each of which share a broadly similar set of symbols; but they very crucially interpret scripture variably and consequently act very different ways.
Given the above then, we should instead identify the specific movements within the faith that are causing trouble, and criticise them; this would leave the Islamists and their apologists literally without a proverbial ‘leg-to-stand-on’. After all, Wahhabism and Salafism were conceived neither in Palestine nor poverty. No, instead they came from an extremely wealthy Saudi elite, who continue to serve as both the economic and ideological engine for these doctrines. When we accept that these Muslims are the legitimate voice of ‘Islam’, we disempower moderates such as Maajid Nawaz, who has another, equally valid, interpretation of the faith.
Glory Glorifikus February 25, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Look, in the US we voted Bush into office, a man who never ceased to insinuate his Christianity into his views on policy and international relations, he even claimed that God had told him to go into Iraq. That’s not terrorism by definition but it’s still a heavily faith-based decision that resulted in a mountain of bones. In Israel there’s a similar sentiment, an undercurrent of religiosity that is the impetus behind acts of violence, how could there not be? Their flag is the star of David. And not so long ago they were bombing Gaza and ignoring the UN’s request to stop, costing many *innocent* civilians their lives. So perhaps other religions are less guerilla about it because of opportunity and resources and various factors that dilute the covertness of a faith-based agenda but that doesn’t make them more advanced than Islam, they just choose other conduits. This is why organized religion is just a paved road to pervasive elitism and death and no religion is better than the other or more evolved because they all presume to know the will of the universe and all of reality (God).
I am afraid you are using what the muslims call “Kitma” – deceit through omission. While what you are saying is true, do you really think that Bush was sincerely a Christian or was it just politically expedient when leading the GOP to pretend to be so?
Mohammed Sani February 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Unfortunately these days it is always like the saying that the one eyed man being king in the kingdom of the blind, your article is so myopic and dry without clear conviction and reason and it is either that you are ignorant or deliberately trying to misguide some other ignorant people like yourself. I’m a Muslim and i’m a Nigerian, i wonder where you came up with those statistical figures. you quoted some biblical verses which you claimed were violent but you have failed to quote or make reference to even one Qur’anic verse of equal gravity yet you were busy trying to make a point. One of the problems we have in the world today Mr Shermer is scholars and journalists becoming biased in their judgements, more than half of those terrorism crimes that have been committed and reported in the west and elsewhere were committed by non Muslims dressed up like muslims and chanting the word “Allahu Akbar”. We Muslims are caught in between some unknown people dressed up and infiltrating our religion and committing crimes in the name of the religion and biased writers like yourself who instead of investigating like real journalists do you just went ahead to write rubbish. Just yesterday i shares a picture from a muslim brother showing ISIS fighters pretending to perform salat and each one of them was facing a different direction, every Muslim adult and child knows that we face the same direction. The difference between Islam and Christianity will be clear to you when you read the speech of Pope Urban II at the council of clemont and compare it with Umar bin Khattab’s speech of trust and promise to the people of Jerusalem 500 years earlier, it will even become clear when you read that the muslims did not spill a drop of blood when they liberated it from the romans and how the crusaders came 500 years later to murder every man, woman and child in it. One thing i will admit though is that Islam is under attack and we the true adherents of the faith are watching while we are painted as something less human and insensitive by zealous writers and fanatical scholars.
Thank you for your post, which is interesting, however, it is an example of the muslim concept of Taqiyya (lying to “kuffar” (the non believer) to cover up the truth of Islam from them). As I am sure you are aware there are over 100 verses in the Koran advocating violence How many would you like? Here is just three:
Quran (2:191-193) – “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing…
but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone. But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers.)”
Note there is no “historical context” as this is when the muslims have just moved to Medina and there is no danger of attack.
Quran (2:216) – “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.”
Note – this is suggesting that violence is a good thing in itself – again from the “prophet” himself.
And for any that reject Islam:
Quran (3:56) – “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.”
I could carry on with the nasty stuff from the “prophet” himself, and I would like you to note there is no such violence from Jesus of Nazareth or the Buddha or leaders of other world religions; but I
will address your point that muslims are caught by people pretending to muslims to discredit the religion. This is a common belief, and you usually go on to blame Jews are the CIA for this, but I suspect that you know this wouldn’t fly in this forum. This is even a common believe about 9/11 and 7/7 (the attacks in the UK, even though there are video recording of the terrorists themselves saying what they are going to do). These stories are again either an example of Taqiyya in your case, or probably in others cognitive dissonance.
Takif March 7, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Hi, I know that this comment is three years old but I just wanted to point out an error with your statements about the “Kill them where you find them verse.” First of all, you translate Al-Fitnah as disbelief, where the Arabic word for that is Kufr. Fitnah actually translates to persecution, so the verse is saying “persecution is more grievous than slaying,” making clear that fighting against oppressors, not innocents, is what is being condoned in this verse. It’s quite a widespread mistranslation.
You also make mention of how there is no historical context (I got a little laugh out of that, as we are talking about HISTORY), but I assume you meant relevant historical context. You are also wrong there, as the verse is talking about when the Muslims were returning to Mecca to perform Hajj, and preparing to be stopped.
Also, Taqiyya does not mean to deceive kuffar, or anyone else for that matter. In Islam, lying is considered to be worst than missing the five required prayers. It means to guard oneself out of fear and deny being Muslim, not to lie about the Islam and its teachings. It was popularly used by Shiites under Sunni rule (a situation that never should have arisen as division amongst the Ummah is the antithesis of Islamic teaching). It is not meant to deceive, but to protect oneself in extenuating circumstances.
A side note: It is possible to be a Muslim and NOT believe in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and/or be anti-semitic in general. I don’t blame the Jews and the CIA for everything.
Abdul-Kareem Abdul-Rahman February 26, 2015 at 1:57 am
I don’t have an issue with the point that Islam needs a form, its own form, of Enlightenment for it to come out on the other side more tolerant and less violent.
But as a scientist, I have an issue in cherry picking the religion itself as the main source or cause of violence conducted by Muslims.
The author himself says and acknowledges that there are “political and economic motives behind terrorism in addition to religion”. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that religion, here, Islam is a more important cause of Muslim violence than political and economic disenfranchisement and deprivation.
And proving it would be very difficult indeed, with the massive risk of confounding politics and economic injustice poses to Islam as a ’cause’ of Muslim violence. As such I would ask scientists, and philosophers and other intellectuals, to refrain from using the word ’cause’ or ‘source’ or other such words until there is scientific proof of this causative relationship.
Having said that, we also need to be aware that violence conducted on the part of oppressed peoples such as slaves and occupied peoples can now be accepted as being casused by political and economic structures by society and scientific and learned circles a lot better than for contemporaries of the violence. They would tend to focus on less systemic variables, and more on individual attributes such as moral failings, race, religion, and so on.
It is on this basis, I believe, that there is warrant to view that muslim violence, abhorrent and unacceptable as it is, is caused by mostly the systems and structures that cause political and economic disenfranchisement and deprivation on the part of muslims (e.g. colonisation and occupation, authoritarian and undemocratic leadership and governance, and extreme neoliberal economic policies that favour economic protection and growth of corporations than people, even by using public funds to do so, and its downstream effects, such as corruption, racism and so on), just as we can now accept that violence of other oppressed and disenfrenchised peoples are caused by the systems and structures that perpetuate their oppression and disenfranchisement.
The intelligentsia of the West aught to promote muslim Enlightenment by focusing more on structural and systemic causes of violence and promote readings of the Islamic law and jurispudence (sharia) that say that these are against Islam, rather than by furthering structural exclusion of muslims by attributing violence to individual attributes such as their religions.
“….Islam is a more important cause of Muslim violence than political and economic disenfranchisement and deprivation.”
Then how do you account for several muslim doctors in the UK (average salary of over $175,000), who have full voting rights, and who received free education by for by the state, being involved in terrorism?
As for you objecting to cherry-picking – it is you that is cherry picking your religion to not see the violence advocated by its founder. Or is your comment just another example of Taquia?
Moe Panahi March 3, 2015 at 10:02 am
Oh seriously, mate.
As soon as anyone tries to point something out to you, you just ramble a bit of crap, and then yell: “taquia”.
I’m an atheist. Grew up muslim. Not once was I told to lie to someone outside of the faith. Taquia may have been a war tactic back in the day, and may very well be utilized by zealots today. Jeez, even Sun Tzu advocated deceit.
A minority of muslims are extremists, a minority of muslims are terrorists. The majority just want to fucking get on with their lives and live inside of their little pretend world, with a sky daddy.
You are of course that a majority of muslims just want to get on with their lives. However within every muslim community there are a small but not insignificant percentage that are committed to the violent expansion of their faith. This violent minority scares the rest into keeping quiet.
Even in the UK according to the latest poll BBC 27% of muslims offered some degree of support to those that killed the people in Paris. This means that about 1 million people here support to a greater of lesser extent this level of violence. You also get quite significant levels of support for ISIS and the introduction of Sharia in the UK,
By the way saying “you ramble a bit of crap” but don’t say what that is. Now, when you were a muslim that level of argument was probably acceptable, but I am afraid in civilised society, just chucking insults doesn’t constitute cogent (q.v.) argument.
Finally your understanding of Taquia as being something which is simply used during war is a poor understanding of the religion in which you were bought up.
Correction “Brought up not “bought up”.
Michael meyerson February 26, 2015 at 3:07 am
It’s disconcerting to read Michael Shermer referring to the Old Testament book of fables as if it is a reliable historical text as creationists do
Scott Peters February 26, 2015 at 4:54 am
The notion that the USA has only committed “acts of war” through the deployment of their military is unfounded. Much US military action over the last half century at least is clearly illegal, and not an act of war. And, we haven’t even begun to examine their covert operations, or proxy actions. From Cambodia to Nicaragua to today’s drone attacks, the US has conducted terrorist operations under many guises and subterfuges.
mohammed February 26, 2015 at 6:27 am
the essay meanline must be why we have middle east tragedic history and how it transformed into the 21. century enlightement and why moslim’s history from middle era to the 21 .century changed absolutly wrong way…….. maybe itis because of deny and give up truth and reality for muslims and from the darkness awakening beğin to catch and grasp reality for christians
viddy9 February 26, 2015 at 1:23 pm
It all depends on the definition of terrorism one uses. If you use many others which say nothing about non-state actors (such as those the British and US governments use), it’s quite clear that the United States government has been one of the biggest perpetrators and exporters of terrorism in recent decades, including their illegal drone strike campaign which, incidentally, creates more terrorists due to radicalisation. And, let’s not forget their support of all those rightwing juntas in Latin America along with their death squads.
And, equal treatment under the law inculcated into the minds of Jews and Christians in the West? Since when? It was only 50 years ago when racial segregation existed in the most Christian states in the United States, helped along by a Christian terrorist organisation, the Ku Klux Klan. Even today, blacks are disproportionately given the death penalty and arrested for certain crimes. Civil liberties? What about the people the US government has tortured in recent years? What about the innocent people who the US government are keeping in the gulag known as Guantanamo Bay. Equality of women? Have you seen the abortion fiasco in Ireland, which I presume is part of your ‘West’ and has a high Christian population? Equality of minorities? Jews in the Palestinian Occupied Territories certainly don’t treat the Palestinians with equality? There’s an Apartheid system there, in case you haven’t looked. Perhaps you’d like to ask Desmond Tutu. Or, perhaps Tutu doesn’t fit into his fiction of ‘Enlightened Western Christians’.
I admire a lot of Pinker’s and Shermer’s work, but they’re utterly complacent about the problems that still exist everywhere in the world today.
srjwaugh01 February 26, 2015 at 4:28 pm
Another narrative that can be described from the graph, is that with the fall of communism in Europe, the American military-industrial complex needed a new scapegoat, one that would be around for awhile (political ideologies don’t last as long as religious ideologies). Hence the rise of the ‘islamic terrorist’.
1972 Olympic Games, during cold war.
Max March 4, 2015 at 12:54 am
The U.S. by necessity allied with the Communists against the Nazis, and then helped the Afghan mujaheddin fight the Soviet Union, and then fought the Taliban. It’s hard to fight all enemies at once, so you have to prioritize the more immediate and serious threats. Communist China is still an adversary by the way.
The Munich massacre doesn’t appear in that graph because the respective database entry doesn’t have the word “Islam” in it. The terrorist group was Black September. Searching for the word “Islam” yields terrorist groups like “Islamic State” and Jemaah Islamiyah (Islamic Congregation) as well as terrorist attacks on Islamic targets. It’s a crude search, but it works for the most part.
John Reilly February 26, 2015 at 6:32 pm
While Islam is the most violent religion currently, I have had fundamentalist Christians tell me that th world was 6,000 years old, that many of the things on The Science Channel were lies. They clearly reject science.
You are absolutely correct that the fundamentalist Christians, like many Muslims, reject science as lies. However, there are not terror events *every day* committed by these Christians driven by their faith.
Peedro February 27, 2015 at 5:20 am
I would like to know where “The Moral Arch” was during the USA western expansion based on slavery and Native American killing and land expropriation. Where was “The Moral Arch” during the Spanish Inquisition? Where was “The Moral Arch” in Nazi Germany? Where was “The Moral Arch” in South Africa’s Apartheid? Where is “The Moral Arch” in Israel treatment of Palestinians?
To me slavery, lynchings, floggings, burnigns, hangings, land expropriation and home demolitions are all acts of terrorism. I think we should stop demonizing Islam religion as a whole based on acts of ignorant religious fanatics that have their root cause elsewhere, perhaps in politics, poverty and lack of education.
89% of Palestinian Muslims favor Sharia law, and 84% of those favor stoning as punishment for adultery.
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/
What’s the root cause of that? What’s the root cause of ISIS massacring Yazidis and destroying ancient statues? Poverty and lack of education? Al Baghdadi has a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies. Mohammed Morsi has a Ph.D. in materials science from USC. Aafia Siddiqui has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Brandeis. Jihadi John is a rich kid with a degree in computer programming. Not to mention Osama bin Laden. But you’re right about root cause in politics: political Islam, favoring Sharia law.
Hugo Lindum March 5, 2015 at 6:21 am
You are correct. Osama bin Laden (it is important to say which one as most of the bin Laden family are perfectly respectable) is believed to have degrees in civil engineering and Business Administration.
And Ayman al-Zawahiri is a surgeon from a wealthy family of doctors and scholars.
Al Baghdadi, Bin Laden, Al Zawahiri, they may be terrorist leaders but they’re not that different from the Supreme Leader of Iran or the King of Saudi Arabia. Those countries execute apostates and homosexuals just as ISIS does, but they have an air of legitimacy. Baghdadi calls himself Caliph, and rules over large swaths of Iraq and Syria, and Mohammed Morsi ruled Egypt for a year, so these aren’t fringe figures.
Hamas is a terrorist organization that rules Gaza and shares power with the Palestinian Authority, which itself was just found liable for terrorist attacks that killed Americans in Israel. By the way, Mahmoud Abbas has a Ph.D. from the KGB-run Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow, with his dissertation on “The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism.” As opposed to the open relationship between the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Hitler.
Carl Morano February 27, 2015 at 8:17 am
While most enlightened humans now reject the ludicrous idea that objective morality is dictated by the gods, we need to understand now that human rights are not supernaturally derived as well. It is clearly reasoning that led to scientific thinking that has given us a solid, sane concept of rights. Read Shermer’s excellent book and let’s relegate all so-called ‘sacred’ tomes to the museums.
M. Bruce Grosjean February 27, 2015 at 11:54 am
As a long time admirer of Michael Shermer as well as Sam Harris, it’s been more than a little discouraging to see how comfortable they both seem to have become at finding fault in the “other”. Mr. Shermer’s myopic hairsplitting and conveniently selected definitions are about as unscientific as anything I’ve ever run across, a decidedly sad state of affairs to be sure. There’s no point in listing all of the errors Mr. Shermer willingly embraced here since many of the above comments do so admirably, but I can’t help but lament adjust how easily his arguments are dismantled. He of all people should know that if the observer discovers himself in a self-defined position of privilege, there’s a very good chance that bias has crept in to the observations, a scientific quagmire that never leads to any real understanding.
mars1956 February 27, 2015 at 1:08 pm
http://www.truthbeknown.com/victims.htm
Your argument seems to be that Christianity is barbaric and killed a load of people in the past so its okay for muslims to do the same today.
rhb March 1, 2015 at 2:30 am
M. Bruce Grosjean March 1, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Thank you for reminding us of Karen Armstrong’s brilliant contribution to this discussion and the fact that youtube is an accessible source. I can only hope that Michael Shermer will reacquaint himself with her brand of objective analysis.
To contrast Christianity and Islam, simply contrast the examples set by Jesus and Mohammed. I doubt that Jesus would approve of the Crusades and the Inquisition, but Mohammed was a warlord and would approve of holy wars.
What’s more interesting is Judaism, and how even though Numbers 15:32-36 clearly says that God told Moses to stone a man to death for gathering sticks on the Sabbath, not even ultra-Orthodox Jews call for such punishments, and the State of Israel has no death penalty even for terrorist mass murderers. I don’t know how Jews reinterpreted the Holy Book so significantly, but this proves that it can be done.
Manzer March 4, 2015 at 3:40 am
The most important error in this article is definition of Terrorism. Shermer thinks himself as rationalist and follower of reason but he accepts this definition blindly. He just forgets to know the millions of lives eliminated by the governments specially by USA in just last 50 years after 200 years of his so admirable period of Enlightenment. Just to prove that religions and specially Islam more barbaric, he simply ignored the barbarity done by his own government. In the book, he based his argument of scientific study of Morality on the question of life and prosperity of humans everywhere but when his government heinous crimes involved, he just picked up a definition of terrorism excluding the States. This small example shows the hypocrisy and double standard of so called “Rationalist Scholar”.
Tracy Thompson May 31, 2016 at 10:54 pm
Enlightenment has nothing to do with how old testament law is currently applied. The coming of Christ changed that. First Jews were covenant people who had laws given to them to seperate them from other nations and tribes.
We call these laws ceremonial laws and civil laws. The ceremonial laws were precepts for all sacrifices in the temple. The civil laws were precepts for food,clothing even how to cut your hair. Also how the poor are to be treated. The moral law was written down within the civil law. Laws like no killing,or stealing. These moral laws we have known since man was on earth; these laws are written on our hearts and minds. For example Cain did not have the written law of thou shall not kill but he knew murder was wrong.
Christ fulfilled all the laws and became the perfect sacrifice for sins. That’s why ceremonial laws were no longer needed. The temple curtain was torn after Christ died. Gentiles are not Jews so we arenot covenant people . We follow moral law of the old testament but not the civil laws. See Acts, Galatians, and Hebrews which explains the distinction between Jews and Gentiles.
sarahimr2015 August 1, 2015 at 3:54 am
a Rabbi shows true Islam! Amazing
please watch & share this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LNq6nWvDsA
Islamic Terrorism - The Statistics and how we can tackle it - Skeptical Science December 13, 2016 at 10:41 am
[…] Michael Shermer has a rather interesting chart within a recent article that surprised me. The following graph was generated from the Global Terrorism Database by typing […]
Seif Salem August 11, 2017 at 12:59 am
If you read the Koran, and find peace then you are truly peaceful. If you read the Koran and find violence, and hate you have revealed your true self.
1/3 of our planet is Muslim. Only a hand full of “followers found hate. The rest are at peace.
Word for word translation only make good when you have read or heard the real thing.
It is mosty poetry that surpasses its word for word meaning.
True Muslims believe that if you take a life it is punishable by God as is you killed all of humanity. This belief carries on animals, and plants.
The only battle any true Muslim has is Jihad. The battle within.
It states in The Koran. If someone does not share your belief you walk away, and stay away.
In the Koran it says:
Your God is not my God
Your beliefs are not my beliefs
You follow your path, and I’ll follow mine.
Get out of our country. You’re the infidel. Bringing your Iron Age ways and rotten sexism into a wonderful, free nation that you attempt every minute of your life to subvert. You and your entire harem need to walk away and walk away quickly. Do NOT look back or it’ll be worse for you than the fate of Lot’s wife.
vipulschauhan91 June 8, 2018 at 10:28 pm
These kinds of tru muslim is extremely rare. 90% are those idiots who are not tolerant, not logical and on killing-rape spree. this way other normal people if meet 10 muslims, only 1 will be your kind. others are motherfuckers. so stay aside or make other muslims as you are. or don’t come preaching your good muslim theory over here.
Animas Hattas October 20, 2017 at 11:27 pm
i disagree with you all.u cant say all those bad things about MY religion. Islam is about peace and Mohammad s.a.w. did not encourage viloence . he disliked it when people trated each other illy. and muslims are not teorsts , people who kill people are not muslims there are frawds! and the Quran (that is how it is spelt)is just messages to the umma of Nabi Mohammad s.a.w. from Allah (swt) and other phrophet’s stories.Also i disagree with seif salem i have many npn muslim friends and i love them with all my heart .also muslims are meant to encourage people to join Islam and if they dont want to it is fine , we can still be friends. I am honestly a very peaceful human being but i don’t apprecite it if you all would stop disrespectng MY religion which is Islam.
salaam
I’m not going to stop “disrespecting” your so-called religion until all of you have been blown back to the Stone Age where you belong, picking raw meat off bones with your filthy fingers and trying to figure out how to start a fire (oh, I forget, your “people” already excel at arson). Get out of here, Ali Baba, and take your 10,000 so-called “virgins” with you. You’re like locusts attacking a field of grain.
urubuselvagem March 16, 2018 at 7:06 pm
Christians don’t kill, just incarcerate people for moralistic reasons such as abortion, marijuana use, homosexual relations (in UK up to 1967 – see Alan Turing – and in the USA up to 2003), etc. USA is the country with the highest number of incarcerated people – so many times for futile reasons. Furthermore, Christians also mistreat homosexuals, who are about 10% of population, as well as ethnic minorities like Amerindians, they also hate Chinese people and respect Japanese, when the latter were repeatedly much more barbaric than the former. We should appoint the mistakes committed by Muslims, but also those made by Christians and Jews. By people from every religion, actually.
Thank you for this piece. The reality of Islamist violence is sickening…but I can guarantee you it’s not limited to the terrorists who make the papers. Violence against infidels and non-believers is discussed at American Islamist dinner tables every night. These people are barbarians and deserve whatever punishment they get. Americans are far too merciful.
همام أبو محمد April 30, 2018 at 1:55 am
See how much Christianity has been killed so far and is still killing
Millions of children have been killed so far in Afghanistan and Iraq
See how much Christianity kills in Africa
They burn Muslims alive
See how many million have been killed before in Europe and America
Christianity is the origin of evil in the world
Enough lying
Mario Rodgers April 3, 2019 at 12:00 am
All religions are stupid.
Guru A June 2, 2018 at 3:05 pm
None of us knows shit. Just chill…have lemonade, or wine, or milk. See human beings through their clothes and skin color, and talk to different kinds of people. You’ll soon see there are assholes in every religion or color, and there are really amazing ones who make us happy being on this planet.
Rui M. Pinto June 4, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Just one point the bibel doesnt need the Enlightenment to justify the message central of Jesus Christ and salvation to all humanity. The question of Moses is in context nowhere in the later Old Testament period do we see God commanding the nation of Israel to go and attack other pagan nations, either as self-defense or as a way to promote faith in the true God of heaven and earth.
see more: http://www.answering-islam.org/Terrorism/violence.html
Max June 9, 2018 at 3:44 am
Pinto: Learn to spell, learn to write and learn to read.
kasey June 11, 2018 at 12:50 pm
people just take things to far .. all of these are books wrote long ago … and now we should be moving to science and proven facts …. I’ve no faith in a book that was wrote by man !!! … think about it … by man??? …. all these millions of people willing to end their lives for something again wrote by man ??? … wake up world … it’s a beautiful place if you subtract the religion away ….
Kimi September 17, 2018 at 6:51 am
Yes i agree to this article. I live in a Muslim majority country that is multi racial. However unlike the rest ,it is the Muslims who tend to be sensitive & easily agitated whenever there is critism or just doubtful questions on their religion. The nature of Islam is forceful despite the love & forgiveness mentioned in the Koran, especially towards non muslims.
We just need to look at the world, it’s the Muslim people who contribute the most unrest & violence decades long.
No need to dig deep & compare the teachings of various religions, just look at the actions & behavior of the people!!!
Rodrigo September 17, 2018 at 8:07 am
Christianity was AS VIOLENT as Islam up to the Enlightenment, and even after it. To this day Christians still destroy indigenous cultures, pretending they are “saving the souls” of those peoples. Not to mention their utter disrespect for our environment, hoping (or pretending) there will be another Earth after we destroy this one (like the Bible says). And the Enlightenment didn’t happen because of Christianity, on the contrary: it happened because a few people DIED or RISKED THEIR LIVES defying the Christian dogmas. Now let’s be honest about this, shall we?
(O_O) September 21, 2018 at 1:08 am
Well according to this:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/23/mark-anthony-conditt-terrorism-christianity
chris reed December 30, 2018 at 6:04 am
Shermer opens this piece with ‘One of the central tenets of science is to define a problem to be studied with as much clarity as possible, and the key to clear communication is calling things what they really are. Unfortunately, both the American media and public intellectuals have failed to be honest in identifying what everyone in Europe knows is the primary source of terrorism in the world today: Islam’. In this he cites science as a guide then abandons it to rhetoric. I was surprised as his work on skepticism always suggested a thorough empirical, positivist, social science approach. I look at this more ecologically and suggest ‘place’ as Jared Diamond proposes also influences behaviour at a large geographic scale. As a European I cannot speak for ‘everybody’ (the rhetoric of bulltish) but about a million Britains protested the invasion, because I suspect they knew violence begets violence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2765041.stm In ‘It’s the Occupation Stupid’ in Foreign Policy it suggests loss of autonomy could drive suicide terrorism more than the failure of the Islamic enlightenment 200 years ago. https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/10/18/its-the-occupation-stupid/
Feliks Gailitis March 15, 2019 at 12:00 pm
I usually try and explain to people what the difference is between a religion and a cult, although there may be much debate about it. However, I define Islam as a cult, and form this reason. For example, Judaism evolved over many centuries, and though they have their prophets, their belifs are based on laws and knowledge, not around a singular entity, unless you’re speaking of God. Buddhism and Christianity revolve around the teachings of a singular person. However, the religions that they spawned did not come from them, but from their followers and what they taught to others as they spread the ideas. The religions took hold long after the teachers had already passed away. I consider Islam a cult,, because any cult is started by an individual, whether it’s Muhammad or an L. Ron Hubbard or Jim Jones, and in their lifetime, they center the cult around themselves and set themselves up as the prophet or spiritual leader of that cult. That is what Muhammad did. He was a warlord, a pedophile, yet he created this “religion” around himself and his teachings. He spread it with violence and conquest. He murdered many as his followers would in order to spread his teachings, which really more about political control. I don’t recall Jesus or Buddha instructing his followers to conquer and kill people in their name. Muhammad did.
Jojo March 29, 2019 at 7:56 am
Wow. This was a super biased article. How can anyone who appreciates research and evaluation respect the author’s bigoted findings. His bigotry is very clear from the start. And every researcher knows that how you phrase the question (and it’s paramters) will determine the answers. His hypothesis and defining terms are clearly set out to determine pre-emptively that Islam = terror.
“Non-state actor” please. And let’s dalos forget the US legislative branch has very rarely declared war on a nation, group, or individuals. Which makes the executive branch’s military operations illegal. I’m not even going to get into US covert operations, since everyone involved has “plausible deniability” (legal ignorance and lack of care and due diligence duties) built into their roles.
Huda Syed April 6, 2019 at 1:35 pm
islam is a kind religion you can’t judge them that way. Their book is very beautiful
Magnum Quest April 9, 2019 at 7:30 am
If I paint my glasses to not see state sanctioned terrorism as evil, your article starts making sense.
Otherwise the only reason Jews and Christians went through an enlightenment is because of the abuse they endured under their leaders who did take their scriptures seriously a couple hundred years ago.
I always tell my Christian friends who worry too much about the apparent spread of atheism: You created atheism. Most atheists today come from Christian families. Atheism and by analogy enlightenment are both direct products of the mess their religion originally brought.
As science developed, Christianity and Judaism started making no sense whatsoever. Islamic scriptures on the other hand start making more sense to Muslims. This is the reason Muslims at their time embraced and progressed science at a pace not seen in Christendom. (As you are probably aware, Christians were busy fighting scientists at that time).
Muslims on the other hand ‘wish to go back to barbaric times’, because for them those times were beautiful. (That can’t be said about when Christians / Jews were in power). Muslims have been suffering ever since the other ‘great’ religions became enlightened.
If all they see is enlightened nations constantly attacking them, why would they ever wish for enlightenment? Except those among them fed the same lies you grow up with. Lies that portray capitalism as morally superior form of life than religion based governance simply because there is an illusion of control when corporations are deities.
Drugs, Alcohol and the unfair distribution of wealth have together killed more people than all the wars ever fought in the name of religion since recorded history.
If you take alcohol alone, it has killed more people than terrorism or ‘Shariah’ law ever did in any Muslim country since the birth of Islam. Suicide rate just in the Afghan war (among the enlightened troops) was much higher than the actual body count due to the violence of the Shariah-mongers.
What incentive do Muslims have to want your version of evil and consider it any less violent than theirs. The only reason left is, because you said so.
Beth April 27, 2019 at 3:53 am
I don’t think this author has a firm understanding of Christianity. We live under the new covenant, New Testament law. Remember when Jesus was merciful and said, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” about the adulterous woman. That doesn’t sound like a religion that kills fornicators, gays or certainly not people who skip Sunday services. He’s delusional. Jesus was loving and and compassionate that none may perish. The Bible has strict rules and expectations that we follow out of a love for Christ and because we know He wants what’s best for us. If we stray, we ask for forgiveness and he’s quick to grant it.
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I don’t think this author has a firm understanding of Christianity. We…
Darren Evans says:
True, you'd still have mentally unstable and violent criminals doing bad things…
Magnum Quest says:
If I paint my glasses to not see state sanctioned terrorism as…
Huda Syed says:
islam is a kind religion you can't judge them that way. Their…
Mario Rodgers says:
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Headmaster Z. VANCE WILSON Of Top U.S. Prep School Offers 5 Tips For Helping Kids Get Out of Their Own Way and Succeed In a New Book EACH DAY
Headmaster Z. VANCE WILSON
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HomePhil Schneider’s Dulce Base “delusion”
November 3, 2017 May 13, 2019 CIVILIAN INTELLIGENCE NEWS SERVICE
As I stated elsewhere many times before, I am a firm believer in the reality of the UFO phenomenon and that the phenomenon seems to continue to be reported from time to time even in places like Dulce, New Mexico, which is no exception. As of yet, we do not know the true nature of this strange phenomenon.
(Please refer to my article at the very bottom of this page: PARAPHYSICAL PHENOMENON DOES SEEM TO EXIST IN DULCE, NEW MEXICO)
But I do not believe in the fabricated tales of con artist Phil Schneider and his claims about the Dulce base whose physical existence has never been proven beyond a shadow of doubt.
Courtesy of THE ALIEN CASEBOOK:
“The numerous lies and fabrications of Phil Schneider are so multiple and so atrocious that they need to be exposed.
There is a website called Phil Schneider Memorial.
They’re actually calling it a website for a murdered patriot.
If Phil Schneider is a patriot of anything, he’s a patriot of disinformation.
He started giving lectures from 1995, mainly among “survival” groups.
He usually started off his talks by saying that the major reason for going public was that his best friend, Ron Rummel, was murdered in a park and had been in the Air Force as an intelligence agent.
Ron Rummel had never been in the Air Force, as far as we know.
Rummel was found in a park in Portland in 1993.
The police had determined that he had committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth with a pistol on August 6, 1993.
Ron, Philip and 5 other individuals had been collaborating on a little magazine called “The Alien Digest”.
It was starting to get a fairly wide circulation when Ron was found in the park.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE ABOVE – – Creston was Ron Rummel)
Phil Schneider, with his one-track conspiracy mind-set, immediately decided that his friend had been murdered.
Because this story was posted when the Internet was just beginning in the ‘90s, it has taken on a life of its own and been copied and circulated over and over.
Circular knowledge is not knowledge at all, it is just repeating what someone else says.
By the way, the proof of Schneider’s lies in the math.
Take Phil’s age and his time on various jobs he claimed to do, certainly try and consider time at college for his supposed degrees, which never existed anyway so scratch the college time and you’ll see that he would have been 17 years old when he went to work for the government. Phil stated that he worked in Dulce in 1979.
He claimed he was one of three people to survive the 1979 fire fight between the Greys and the US intelligence and military at the Dulce underground base.
Phil was found dead in January of 1996, supposedly due to what some one-track conspiracy-minded folks like to claim as an “execution style murder”.
The Clackamas County Coroner’s office finally concluded that it was suicide.
Schneider was not murdered.
Schneider had suffered from multiple physical illnesses (brittle bone syndrome – osteoporosis, cancer and self-inflicted injuries.)
He had intense chronic pain all of the time.
But above all, Phil Schneider suffered from self-inflicting, self-mutilating psychological disorder, mental instability and delusive illness.
Here is his Social Security disability income (SSI):
(CLICK ABOVE FOR A SLIGHT ENLARGEMENT)
An autopsy was performed at the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s office in Portland, Oregon by Dr. Gunson, and she determined that Philip had committed suicide by wrapping a rubber catheter hose three times around his neck, and half-knotting in front.
The late Gabe Valdez who was the State Patrol Officer in charge of the Dulce area for many years, also stated that Schneider’s death was a suicide, after examining the autopsy report:
(ABOVE – – an excellent book written by Gabe Valdez’s son, Greg Valdez in which he exposes Phil Schneider as a fraud)
(QUOTE FROM GREG VALDEZ):
“Cynthia Schneider Drayer was the person who actually came up with the murder theory.
Cynthia didn’t get this idea from actual evidence but from her mother, who had a psychic vision and concluded that Phil was murdered.
Cynthia also claimed that her dad, Frank Martain, was killed in Albuquerque in 1952 as part of another conspiracy involving the government.
Her inconsistent story also claimed that Phil’s hands were tied when he was found dead and then later claimed they were by his side.
Her story has many inconsistencies, making Phil’s involvement in Dulce extremely unlikely and not credible.
Cynthia Drayer quickly started requesting money in her correspondence with Gabe Valdez because, she claimed, Phil did not have life insurance.
Cynthia has provided much of the rumors about Phil.
There are claims that Phil was killed with piano wire, but the autopsy report clearly indicates that he died with surgical tubing around his neck.
The piano wire theory was part of the psychic vision and not actual evidence.
Take caution with any website or person claiming he was killed with piano wire, because he was not.”
Phil Schneider did not tell his bogus story till 1995.
Phil had never heard of “Project Gasbuggy”.
(ABOVE – – schematic drawing of Project Gasbuggy, conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission on December 10, 1967, about 22 miles southwest of Dulce, New Mexico to ease the flow of natural gas in the area)
Yet Schneider claimed to be a knowledgeable “geologist” and explosive expert.
Schneider was never able or willing to prove his allegations, such as showing the entrance to the Dulce base or where tunnels he drilled were located.
Phil Schneider repeated information about underground bases that was already in print.
Phil Schneider quoted “word for word” material already written by other researchers:
(ABOVE – – another con artist Cherry Hinkle who initially went by “Anne West”)
(ABOVE – – the alleged Thomas E. Castello, whose existence has never been proven)
(ABOVE – – the late Paul Bennewitz of Albuquerque, New Mexico who in 1979 first became convinced that there was a Dulce underground base under the Archuleta Mesa)
(ABOVE – – John Lear, propagator of “alien myths”)
(ABOVE – -another con artist, Al Bielek)
(ABOVE – – BRANTON, a.k.a., Alan B. deWalton, author of “Dulce Wars”)
(ABOVE – – Tal Levesque, a.k.a., Jason Bishop III, early promoter of the Dulce Base myth and originator of the underground tunnels map of the United States):
(ABOVE – – Bob Lazar, who was said to have manipulated his buddy John Lear‘s insinuation of 1989 that in 1975, there was an altercation between U.S. Delta Forces and alien entities in a U.S. underground facility, suggesting that it was under Groom Lake/Area 51)
In other words, Phil Schneider practically “hijacked” Bob Lazar‘s dubious insinuation of 1989 that in 1975 there was an altercation between a U.S. elite military force and alien entities in an underground base, suggested to be under Groom Lake/Area 51 (John Lear credited this allegation to Bob Lazar, Lear’s good buddy) and then Schneider, in turn, conveniently made himself a “protagonist” in a new fabricated tale (changing the location to Dulce, New Mexico and the year to 1979) since no one else had done it before.
Phil Schneider did not bring forward any new information, not already in circulation.
Schneider did put on a good show for any “newbie” to the Info.
He did tie together many aspects of the material.
He did correlate the data in a dramatic “story” format that flowed well.
He put a personal face on all the material and that was compelling.
Phil said “I got shot in the chest with one of the aliens’ weapons, which was a box on their body, that blew a hole in me and gave me a nasty dose of cobalt radiation. I have had cancer because of that”.
Radioactive cobalt is used for commercial and medical purposes. Exposure to high levels of cobalt can result in lung and heart effects and dermatitis. Phil may have gotten his exposure to cobalt by undergoing radiation therapy treatment of deep-seated cancer.
But, there are no “Cobalt Weapons” except in “Flash Gordon” stories.
Later, Phil said “right now I am dying of cancer that I contracted because of my work for the federal government”.
Phil said he had a “Rhyolite-38” clearance factor – one of the highest in the world.
Rhyolite was a top-secret surveillance satellite system developed at TRW. Rhyolite is referred in SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) satellites. Phil was not involved with this type of work.
No, he did not have a Rhyolite clearance.
No, Phil Schneider was nothing more than a narcissistic liar and fabricator.
But one thing Schneider succeeded was in staging his own “murder” as a last resort in order to relieve himself of physical pain and, at the same time, creating a legacy of immortal personality cult among many of the brainwashed, gullible folks who inhabit the world of Ufology.
HERE IS A TESTIMONY FROM CHARLES GILBERT WRIGHT FROM NEW JERSEY:
“Yes, this information (Norio Hayakawa’s information) agrees with what I found out from Phil’s brother and sister, and friends of Ron Rummel, and other friends of Phil’s. Thank you for sharing. It is so easy for information to circulate round and round on the internet.
It was back in the late 1990’s when I called Phil’s brother George on the phone who was working then at the Portland River Patrol and he had his sister, Polly send me a letter also. The Schneider family came from Russia in the late 1800’s and were Jewish, and the family was deeply hurt when Phil lied and said his father was a German U-Boat commander during WWII, when in reality his father was a medical officer in the US Navy. His uncle is an attorney in Portland. I think I did this research in 1996, 22 years ago, so a whole new generation is now reading all this stuff that has taken on a life of it’s own. Separating the BS from the truth is difficult, but well worth it. Norio, we moved back to NJ in 2012. Good to hear from you again.”
HERE IS ANOTHER VERY INTERESTING COMMENT FROM HIS ONE-TIME ROOMMATE:
From G. Clinton:
What I know about Phil Schneider:
“This morning in the state of boredom I decided to look up and see if I can find anything about people I used to know on Google.
Imagine my surprise to find that there was a cult of Phil Schneider who I knew very well in 1977 though 1980.
I moved to Portland, Oregon in 1977 unemployed and very short on funds. I moved into a very cheap rooming house
Shortly after I moved in Phil Schneider moved in. It didn’t take me very long at all to realize that he was a liar. And I thought he was mentally ill.
His missing fingers:
He told me that he had lost them when he was working in eastern Oregon as a lineman when he had some sort of mishap on a pole (frankly I no longer recall the details; it has been nearly 40 years).
His chest wound:
I took him to the hospital.
One day as I was talking to other roomers in the common room, Phil came down the stairs with blood on his shirt saying he’d been shot. A story he quickly changed to somehow being inflicted by a passing car having losing a snow stud which struck him in the chest causing the wounds. No one present believed him, of course, but it was certainly not the time for discussions of his credibility. I took him to the hospital.
After a short time one of the ER doctors came up to me and asked if I had any influence with Phil. I said,”not really.” The doctor said that they would like to keep him for a psych evaluation but had no grounds to do so. I was asked to try to convince Phil to voluntarily submit.
At this point and having my own suspicions I said to the doctor, ” you suspect it’s self-inflicted?” The doctor said, yes.
I did talk to Phil a little bit, of course he refused.
I wish I could remember which hospital in Portland it was. Unfortunately I just don’t. But there should be records.
This happened in possibly late 77 more likely 78 perhaps even early 79.
There is more I could talk about. But none of it would be particularly germaine.
By the time I parted company with Phil, entirely, probably sometime in 1980, I was of the very solid opinion that Phil was disturbed and probably a danger to himself but not others (I should note here that I’m completely unqualified in any clinical sense to say these things.)
Now I know that no one has any particular reason to give my testimony any credibility.
But, there it is. I hope that this may help slightly for some people to be suspicious of anything he said. I certainly was and am.
Phil Schneider was not a horrible person. Hell was certainly at some level delusional. He was for a short time a very flawed friend of mine.”
Also, please click and read the following:
PERSONALITIES BEHIND THE INITIAL DULCE BASE RUMORS
Here is the YouTube format of:
Here is an interesting information provided by Chris White. “There are newly released (via FOIA FBI) docs that show how Phil lost his fingers. He cut them off himself while in a mental health facility“:
Finally, please click and read my article:
PARAPHYSICAL PHENOMENON DOES SEEM TO EXIST IN DULCE, NEW MEXICO
Norio Hayakawa’s YouTube Channel
← Area 51 News Update- – November 1, 2017 – – 300,000 acre expansion of the Nellis Air Force Base coming
Introduction to basic, Beginning Conversational Japanese (Lesson 2) →
6 thoughts on “Phil Schneider’s Dulce Base “delusion””
Darell Fulton says:
As a retired MP, I can tell you this statement definitely bogus: ” I cut up my security card and sent it back to the government”.
Reason: Any / All id security badges for access to secure sites are maintained in a secure location, usually just outside the entry control point (ecp). They are checked in and out and are a controlled item, to say the least. It is a MAJOR problem when a controlled item is unaccounted for, and usually an immediate search and investigation is conducted, and usually the items are recovered inside the controlled access area. Caveat: I am NOT talking about flightline badges or similliar access cards…those are accountable items, but not controlled.
Thanks so much for your comment, Darrell. You are absolutely right.
When Phil stated that he “cut up his security card and sent it back to the government”, he was showing his total ignorance and revealed that he was a total fraud.
I sure appreciate your input, Darrell. Thanks!
Thank you so very much, Phil-san, for your very important correction.
I sure appreciate your kindness.
I placed the new photo here.
Once again, I thank you so much for your help!!
SalMasRac says:
SSI is not Social Security. SSI is state funded, DHS, JFS, Welfare, etc. But on topic I agree this guy’s stories don’t add up. He claims he got shot in the shoulder, and only points to it. He claims to have been sliced open from chest to pelvis, doesn’t show a scar.
Of course, SSI is not the same as Social Security. It’s Social Security Supplementary Income. Phil Schneider never had a decent job throughout his life, plus the fact that he had a mental problem. That qualified him for SSI.
Cynthia Drayer says:
So I felt that I needed to clarify some information about Philip Schneider, and myself ( I am his ex-wife, Cynthia). I knew Philip formally beginning in 1986 through the Oregon Agate and Mineral Society. He was receiving SSI, which is for disabilities. Philip initially tried to get regular social security benefits, but he could not prove his work record. Apparently he worked under the wrong social security number for most of his work life, and it was only discovered when he applied for SSA. I found paperwork in his apartment after his death that proves that most of his work record was under the wrong number. But because the number was being used by a living person, there was little I could do after his death. The work that was on this “other number” was Morrison Knudson, Coast Guard, and military work. So you will not find most of the work he did under the current social security number in which the SSI was given. Because we had a daughter together I did try to prove his work records after his death so that she might receive death benefits from her father. This did not happen. I seem to be pegged as a money hungry lair, which I am not. I was simply a single parent with 2 children to raise, one of which was Philip’s daughter. As the executor of his estate, it was my duty to pursue possible benefits for his daughter, who was the only heir to his estate. I did find a very old life insurance policy which stated that Philip had two brothers. He always stated that this was true, and yet he had only one brother “alive” when I met him. As far as Philip’s education, you can find his picture in a Duke University yearbook.
You mention information about Ron Rummell, who was the best friend of Philip’s. If you look at the police report, as I have, you will see that the gun that was used in his death did not have blow back blood. This would mean that after he was shot, someone cleaned the gun. I’m pretty sure that if you shoot yourself in the mouth, as Ron is suppose to have done, then you would have blood on the gun…..He had a child, he was excited about his “Alien Digest”, he was receiving world wide acclaim for the information that was in the digest, he was about to write a book. His “father in law” was the publisher of his digest (he was not married to his daughter, but they had the child together). Based on having met Ron first hand, I do not believe that he shot himself. He was “murdered by suicide” as was Philip (This was during the Clinton Administration and there were plenty of government officials that died of unusual circumstances).
When Philip’s father, Capt. Oscar Schneider M.D., died, Philip came into possession of materials, ie letters and photos from the Navy. This was my father-in-law and I met him before he died. The original letters where still in envelopes with old stamps and the address matched the letters. In them it proved that Oscar was involved in examining deceased crew members from the Philadelphia Experiment.. They were being held “against their will” in a psyc ward run by the military in Virginia. Some of them managed to escape, as is mentioned in the letters. Also, there were Glossy original photos from the Navy (they were stamped on the back with numbers and typing). These photos were from “Operation Crossroads” which is when the Navy dropped the Abel and Baker atomic bombs. There were ships at different distances, with sheep and goats, to see what kind of radiation exposure they would have. The men went on these ships after the explosions and were exposed to all of the dust. Oscar later had a brain tumor removed, probably because of this exposure. Oscar had a Cosmic Clearance, which was “for your eyes only” top secret. It was a NATO label. Philip told me that his Rhyolite clearance was also a NATO clearance. Philip got his work because of Oscar’s long time work in the Navy. His brother George Schneider, was also in the Navy, and his sister, Polly, worked for the CIA. Even his mother worked for RKO, which I have heard had some secretive activity. In the photos from the Bikini Atoll there are UFO’s lifting out of the lagoon after the first bomb went off in Operation Crossroads. You could see the water dripping off the ships, escaping the explosions. The head of Operation Crossroads was General Joseph Stillwell. Our daughter just happened to be attending a school in Portland, Oregon with a young boy named Joseph Stillwell. I called the grandfather who was caring for this young boy to ask him if his grandson was related. It turned out that this grandfather was the Nephew of General Stillwell and had actually taken many of the photos from the plane as the bomb was going off. He verified that there were UFO’s going out of the water and he took the photos to prove it. His uncle was also on the plane.
When Philip started talking out about UFO’s around the United states, on TV and Radio, people would come up to him with Secret stuff, sometimes with photos. One man brought to Philip a photo of the Gunderson Freight Cars that are manufactured in Portland. In this particular freight car there were 115 pairs of “shackles”, which could only mean that they were meant for people and not for cars. After the Morrow Building bombing in Oklahoma City, Philip gave a copy of this photo to the militia in Oklahoma. When there was a Senate hearing to talk with the militia (who were being accused of possible involvement) they asked the senator what this picture was of. They immediately closed the hearing. Philip believed that the government was opening up FEMA camps for 15 million people after “martial law” was announced. The freight cars were for people that did not want to go voluntarily. It also is, according to the Roper Report, about the same number of people that have been implanted with alien devices or have been abducted by Aliens. So YES, Philip did sometimes use other peoples information, because like any good speaker he did “research”, and he was given materials to talk about because others did not want to be involved or were afraid of consequences.
Philip was very upset about the missing children in the United States. He stated that 1 million children disappeared every year and many were never found. He suspected that because their disappearances were clumped around military bases and deep underground mountain bases that it involved sinister activity. with either aliens or Satanic rites. With the current news today about child trafficking, he may have been right on the button.
There was the author of “Pandora’s Box” who went with Philip to the Denver Airport. It was with the help of Philip that many symbols were interpreted. His father was a 32nd degree Mason. He had many books about the Mason and Sacred Geometry. He believed that the Denver Airport was a deep underground mountain base. Those books, by the way disappeared after his death.
I knew the physical and mental condition of Philip. He was paranoid, and I think with good reason. He had cancer that was slowly eating away at his bones. He had a home care housekeeper through the State of Oregon. He had Multiple Sclerosis and would have flare ups. Sometimes he looked just fine, maybe with a body brace, but other times he was in a wheelchair. I saw the wound in his shoulder which was a gun shot wound. He showed it to me soon after he received it, and later in his autopsy photos you can see the wound in his left shoulder. He had over 500 shrapnel wounds on his torso with scars from burns. He had a penis that had been sliced all the way from the base to the tip. He had a major wound from a tracheotomy and he had a cut that ran from his throat to his belly button and which continued below his ribs on both sides.. During the summer time it would break open and ooze. He had to care for his wounds to prevent infection. This was a constant problem. He even showed his scars down his chest in one of his videos. So yes, he had major injuries. He also had three fingers missing from his hand. When I gave birth to our daughter in 1987, he had an operation to repair his throat and chest in the same hospital just one day later. We were released from the hospital the same day.
In one of Philip’s lectures he talks about how cocaine was brought back into this country in the coffins of men who had been killed during the Vietnam War. He talked about how the drugs were then distributed to targeted populations by the government to support the “black budget”. About 3 months after his death a reporter in LA proved that this was true. The war on drugs wasn’t against the drugs, it was against the cartels that brought the drugs into America and were in “competition” with the government drugs.
I have written many articles about how Philip died and why I believe it was a murder and not a suicide. Like Ron, Philip was about to write a book about his knowledge with the help of a friend who lived in Seattle, Washington. In fact he had just gotten back from his visit when he died in his apartment in Wilsonville, Oregon. He died 1/10/96 but his body was not found until 1/17/96. His body was green and swollen. The first responders, which were his friend and the landlord believed he had died of a stoke. The sheriff released the body without the Clackamas County Coroner looking at his body (which was against the law). It wasn’t until I questioned the funeral director that he took a look at the body. It was then discovered that he had a surgical tube wrapped around his throat three times and tied in the front. In order for this to happen as a suicide, he would have to wrap the hose around with missing fingers and extensive pain in his shoulders, and then knot it. He then sat on the edge of his bed, and suffocated, falling into his wheel chair. He did not hang himself with the hose, he just sat there. This is not a normal type of death. In one of his lectures he stated that if you hear he has committed suicide you will know that he was murdered. I asked the medical examiner to hold blood samples and urine samples for later testing. They refused to test them for a person who died of a “suicide”. I was told that they would be held for 1 year. 10 months later, when I had located a facility that was willing to get involved in the test, the samples had disappeared. Why did I think that his hands had initially been tied? Because his hands at the wrist were at an odd angle where he laid. If you would raise his arms to his back (he was laying on his front) the wrists would be at the correct angle to being tied.
It is important to note that many items were missing from his apartment. All of the notes and photographs from his lecture, all of his high math and masonic books, all of the alien specimens, all of his notes for his book (even I had written a chapter), a box of mineral specimens, and his wallet was missing. The police were at first interested in the wallet, but then it “showed up” the next day. Many valuable items were all there, jewelry in a nightstand, gold coins in the closet, money in his wallet. They had already released a body illegally, and the crime scene had already been disturbed. It was just easier to call it a suicide. His brother was supportive to the idea that Philip had been murdered, and he was a Multnomah County Sheriff. Also, Philip had many medications he could have taken to have a “peaceful suicide”, he even had a gun. But instead he chose to die of suffocation, in a sitting position….I don’t think so.
So was Dulce True? I have to admit that I have no definitive proof that this particular event occurred. I know that Morrison Knudsen was a contractor for underground mountain bases, and I can prove that Philip did work for them. So many other things he talked about were true and accurate. So why not that? He would talk about the machines that would bore holes and create a surface automatically, of the fast moving monorail underground. When asked if he ever rode one, he said no. Now if he was lying, why would he say he never rode one. A liar would probably enjoy giving details of a ride from one coast to another in a fast moving mode of transportation.
When I first met Philip I noticed that there was an unusual truck with a wood canopy. It had a Canada license plate. Everywhere we went, I would see this truck. Someone wanted us to know that we were being followed. My phone would click when I talked on it, and I eventually went to the FBI. The click’s stopped.
After I had the memorial service for Philip I took the people who had attended to my home. I wanted them to have the remaining notes and paperwork so that I would not be “bothered”. When I arrived I could tell that items had been moved. My house had been entered. I gave the people the paperwork, and as they were leaving, a black helicopter with no markings was hovering over my house. A person with binoculars was looking out the door, at the people and their cars. The lady that had moved into the house across the street when Philip first moved in to my home, was now moving out after his memorial service. (A watcher perhaps?) OK, I might be paranoid too. But if you had been close to two people who died under unusual circumstances, you might be looking over your back too.
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Boston Mayor Thomas Menino Teams Up With NFL Greats for PSA in Favor of Gun Law Reforms
by assoicated-press on Sat, Feb 9, 2013 at 8:43PM
NEW YORK — NFL greats Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, LaDainian Tomlinson and Marshall Faulk are appearing in a public service announcement in favor of gun law reforms.
The spot released Friday is paid for by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which was founded by New York City’s Michael Bloomberg and Boston’s Thomas Menino. A solemn Smith speaks into the camera: “For the children of Sandy Hook Elementary.” Then Tomlinson adds, “Demand a plan.”
Faulk says later: “It’s time for our leaders to do something.”
Mayors Against Illegal Guns says on its website that it “advocates for common-sense measures that will close deadly gaps in our gun laws and make sure law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to detect and deter gun trafficking.”
Steelers’ Brett Keisel Shaves Iconic Beard for Charity (Video)
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Harris Corp. Awarded $10M for Commercial Broadband Satellite Systems – DoD Daily Contracts
Ashley LaGanga / Feb 25, 2016
DOD CONTRACTS VALUED AT $7 MILLION AND ABOVE
U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND
Ten companies are being awarded fixed-price contract extension modifications to previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (Universal Services Contract 7). The companies and their awards are: American President Lines Ltd. Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona, estimated $128,565,957, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $2,026,368,720 from $1,897,802,763 (HTC711-12-D-W003); Maersk Line Ltd., Norfolk, Virginia, estimated $113,917,789, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $2,316,604,172 from $2,202,686,383 (HTC711-12-D-W013); Matson Navigation Co. Inc., Oakland, California, estimated $47,647,499, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $97,964,665 from $50,317,166 (HTC711-12-D-W014); Hapag-Lloyd USA LLC, Piscataway, New Jersey, estimated $46,037,679, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $417,508,154 from $371,470,475 (HTC711-12-D-W011); American Roll-on Roll-Off Carrier LLC,* Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, estimated $33,470,691, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $615,889,275 from $582,418,584 (HTC711-12-D-W004); Farrell Lines Inc., Norfolk, Virginia, estimated $32,180,437, bringing cumulative face value of the contract to $660,257,422 from $628,076,985 (HTC711-12-D-W008); Liberty Global Logistics LLC,* Lake Success, New York, estimated $27,894,240, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $415,945,819 from $388,051,579 (HTC711-12-D-W012); Central Gulf Lines Inc., Mobile, Alabama, estimated $12,247,421, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $162,285,296 from $150,037,875 (HTC711-12-D-W005); TransAtlantic Lines,* Greenwich, Connecticut, estimated $10,298,060, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $30,521,798 from $20,223,738 (HTC711-12-D-W023);and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico LLC, Jacksonville, Florida, estimated $10,074,363, bringing the cumulative face value of the contract to $11,276,052 from $1,201,689 (HTC711-12-D-W017). Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, with an expected completion date of Aug. 31, 2016. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2016 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. The U.S. Transportation Command, Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity.
WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES
Vergis Group LLC, Vienna, Virginia, is being awarded a $33,350,607 firm-fixed-price contract to provide responsive and high-quality information assurance services to all customers and stakeholder on behalf of the Washington Headquarters Services, Joint Services Provider, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and other Department of Defense agencies. Work performance will take place in multiple locations in the National Capital Region, primarily at the Pentagon, Mark Center, and Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, with an expected completion date of Feb. 28, 2019. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,313,728 are being obligated at time of the award. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting office (HQ0034-14-C-0057).
General Dynamics C4 Systems Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has been awarded a $25,440,610 cost-plus-award-fee contract with options for classified network support services for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Mission Services Office, Information Technology Directorate. The support services include classified office computing, networking, communications services, desktop support, technical support, infrastructure, equipment, software and data. Fiscal 2016 research and development funds in the amount of $20,730,150 are being obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of February 2017. The contract was a sole-source acquisition. DARPA, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-16-C-0001).
AM General LLC, South Bend, Indiana, was awarded a $23,159,070 firm-fixed-price contract with options to recapitalize the Army National Guard’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) by converting the M1151 to an M1167 HMMWV for up to 251 vehicles. One bid was solicited with one received. Work will be performed in South Bend, Indiana, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $23,159,070 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-16-C-0068).
Pride Industries, Roseville, California, was awarded a $14,836,991 modification (P00042) to contract W9124G-13-C-0002 to exercise the option for follow-on year base operations for the Ft. Rucker, Alabama, Department of Public Works, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2017. Fiscal 2016 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $8,915,936 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Ft. Rucker, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
Center for Diseases Detection LLC, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded a $12,952,029 modification (P00005) to contract W81K04-15-D-0006 for HIV testing and reporting services, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2017. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Army Medical Command, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Baltimore, Maryland, is being awarded an $11,130,902 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-11-C-2300 to exercise an option for post-delivery support for USS Little Rock (LCS 9) of the littoral combat ship program. Lockheed Martin will perform the planning and implementation of deferred design changes that have been identified during the construction period. The corrections and upgrades are necessary to support Little Rock’s sail-away and follow-on post-delivery test and trials period. Work will be performed in Marinette, Wisconsin (57 percent); Hampton, Virginia (14 percent); Moorestown, New Jersey (11 percent); San Diego, California (11 percent); and Washington, District of Columbia (7 percent), and is expected to be complete by May 2017. Fiscal 2010 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $3,000,000 will be obligated at time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.
Harris Corp., Melbourne, Florida, is being awarded a $10,276,458 modification to a previously awarded, firm-fixed-price contract (N00039-13-C-0001) to exercise an option for Commercial Broadband Satellite Program systems, to include two Force Level Variant (FLV) dynamic shipboard systems, three FLV dual antenna/dual channel systems, and one FLV dynamic shipboard system with radar cross section reduction. Work will be performed in Melbourne, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2017. Fiscal 2015 and 2016 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2016 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,276,458 will be placed on contract and obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity.
GBL Systems Corp., Camarillo, California, is being awarded $7,405,677 for modification 0008 to a previously awarded, cost-plus-fixed-fee-labor, cost-reimbursable contract (N68936-16-C-0006) to exercise an option for weapons and aerospace technologies in support of Naval Air Systems Command, Systems and Engineering Department. This modification provides direct support to meet naval science and technology requirements for joint strike warfare involving air superiority and precision attack; and air and surface battle space requirements of joint littoral aircraft involving aircraft, naval surface fire support and ship self-defense. This effort includes applied research and advance technology development aligned with current and future naval capability gaps and innovative naval prototypes in enhanced weapons systems, future naval capabilities, high-speed weapons technology, or high-density reactive materials. Work will be performed in Pt. Mugu, California (95 percent); and Camarillo, California (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 2017. Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $70,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, is the contracting activity.
ManTech Advanced Systems Awarded DoD Architectural Framework Contract - DoD Daily Contracts
Vista Systems Awarded Radar and Processor Systems Contract - DoD Daily Contracts
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Shades of Gray: Defining the Spectrum of Toxic Leadership
Steven Matthew Leonard / Dec 4, 2018
“For every person who’s a manager and wants to know how to manage people, there are ten people who are being managed and would like to figure out how to make it stop.” — Scott Adams, creator of “Dilbert”
One was habitually abusive. He believed that people responded better to screaming than reason. He thought nothing of humiliating subordinates for his own pleasure, more so if he had an audience. He lied routinely, especially if he thought the truth might stand in the way of his own career advancement. He liked his alcohol, and his drinking usually started in his office before the day was over. No one ever questioned whether he was toxic.
One was habitually indecisive. He wasn’t really sure how best to develop his subordinates, so he didn’t. He thought nothing of allowing others to make his decisions for him, blaming them if the results weren’t ideal. He was deeply risk averse, especially if he thought there was a chance he might be held responsible for the outcome. His ego was fragile, and he resented anyone who he felt upstaged him in any way. No one ever questioned whether he was incompetent.
They were both leaders by virtue of their positions, vested with significant authority as well as extraordinary power and responsibility. One clearly fit the classic notion of a toxic leader, but what about the other?
In a previous post on the subject of toxic leadership, I explored two definitions for this phenomenon. The first, from a June 2012 Association of the United States magazine article by retired Lt. Gen. Walter Ulmer, presented a definition that unambiguously put the blame on “abusive and dictatorial” leaders. The second, from Dr. Marcia Whicker’s book, Toxic Leaders: When Organizations Go Bad, offered a broader definition that focused less on the behavior of the leader than their destructive effect on an organization. Both definitions contribute to understanding the problem of toxic leadership, but neither captures the full spectrum of activities that make bad leadership so toxic. As I wrote in that earlier post here, “it’s time to widen the aperture on toxic leadership.”
Three Categories of Toxic Leadership
In their book, Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience, authors Richard Hughes, Robert Ginnett, and Gordon Curphy expand the paradigm of toxic leadership by segmenting it into three distinct categories: destructive leadership, managerial incompetence, and managerial derailment. These categories provide valuable constructs for exploring our understanding of toxic leadership, not just because they capture the negative aspects of leadership but do so within the broader context of the positive results such leaders achieve.
Destructive leadership, the category that most closely resembles our traditional description of toxic leadership, focuses on leaders who are generally effective at engaging followers, building teams, and achieving results through others. They gain their success, however, through morally or ethically challenged means, or with methods that undermine organizational health and well-being. In contrast, leaders who exhibit managerial incompetence aren’t necessarily morally or ethically challenged, but suffer from a chronical inability to engage others, build teams, or achieve results through others. Such leaders may continue to find career success in spite of their own failings, much to the chagrin of those forced to endure their incompetence. Finally, managerial derailment addresses leaders identified as high-potential in an organization who are ultimately fired, demoted, or plateau below expected levels of achievement.
Together, the three categories allow for an exploration of toxic leadership in a much more definitive manner. Rather than view the phenomenon as a simple simple linear spectrum, the resulting model is three-dimensional in nature, with individual axes for a leader’s destructiveness (synthesizing the definitions of both Ulmer and Whicker), competence, and success.
Why is this model more useful? Because rather than just focus on the negative character attributes of a toxic leader, it serves as a tool to “widen the aperture.” While discussion about toxic leadership tends to focus along the “destructiveness” axis, this extrapolation from the work of Hughes, Ginnett, and Curphy not only deepens our understanding of toxic leadership, but expands our taxonomy, as well. It also offers a way to visualize where leaders fall within the “spectrum” of toxicity in a way that contributes to our understanding.
Will this bring an end to toxic leadership? No. But when used in concert with a tool such as a true 360-degree evaluation system or the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, it might help more self-aware leaders to “course correct” their leadership style. For the “classic” toxic leader, we probably won’t have much respite: their success will still come at the expense of the organization or on the backs of the good people suffering in their wake.
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Looking back on the leaders whose exploits opened this post, both were ego-centric careerists who were threatened by the competence of others. They were toxic, but for vastly different reasons. One was abusive and unprincipled, the other risk-averse and unwilling to accept the responsibilities that come with being charged to lead others. They were equally destructive in their own individual ways, but shared one disturbingly common trait: they consistently put their own needs above those of their subordinates.
Sometimes, it isn’t what leaders do that makes them toxic, it’s what they don’t do.
Toxic: Understanding the Dark Side of Leadership
Government Leadership Gets a Bad Grade
Steve Leonard is a former senior military strategist and the creative force behind the defense microblog, Doctrine Man!!. A career writer and speaker with a passion for developing and mentoring the next generation of thought leaders, he is a non-resident fellow at the Modern War Institute; the co-founder of the national security blog, Divergent Options, and the podcast, The Smell of Victory; co-founder and board member of the Military Writers Guild; and a member of the editorial review board of the Arthur D. Simons Center’s Interagency Journal. He is the author of five books, numerous professional articles, countless blog posts, and is a prolific military cartoonist.
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Royal Canadian Mint Issues Five Ounce $500 Gold Coin
October 7, 2011 By Michael Alexander Leave a Comment
The Royal Canadian Mint have issued (6th October) an extraordinary tribute to Canada’s first gold coins with the mintage of a five ounce gold coin with a face value of 500 Dollars, the first time for this denomination.
Struck at Canada’s Mint in 1912, (originally the facilities in Ottawa were an extension of the UK’s Royal Mint) these coins of 90% fine gold were reflective of the distinct Canadian currency and denominated as 5 and 10 dollars respectively. The two coins were minted only until 1914.
This commemorative issue is a replica of the original designs with Sir Bertram Mackennal’s effigy of King George V on the obverse and the original coat of arms of Canada on the reverse with a collection of maple leaves behind the shield. Above the shield is the text “CANADA” and below is the commemorative years “1912 – 2012” and the coin’s denomination of 500 Dollars in two lines.
Struck in proof quality and in pure gold, the coin weighs an impressive 156.05 grams with a diameter of 60 mm. The mintage is limited to 200 examples with shipment beginning on the 11th October.
For ordering information, please visit the website of the Royal Canadian Mint at: http://www.mint.ca/store/coin/500-pure-gold-coin-100th-anniversary-of-the-first-canadian-gold-coins-2012-prod1160002
Filed Under: Royal Canadian Mint, World Coins
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12.27.16Hilton Signs Agreement With Brg Group To Manage 610-room Dual-branded Hotel In Vietnam
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of a management agreement with Victory Hotel Joint Stock Company, which is part of the BRG Group, for a 610-room dual-branded hotel.
12.19.16Hilton Expands European Capital City Presence To Tbilisi
Hilton (NYSE:HLT) today announced plans to introduce its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to the capital of Georgia with the signing of a management agreement with Granat LLC. The 206-guest room Hilton Tbilisi is set to open in early 2019. The building’s historic façade will be preserved as part of the designs, while a striking glass roof will be constructed on top of the building and will house the hotel’s rooftop bar and spa.
12.15.16Hilton Welcomes Travelers to China’s Mount Sanqing National Park
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the opening of Hilton Sanqingshan Resort in China’s Mount Sanqing National Park. Hilton Sanqingshan Resort is the first and only internationally-branded resort in Shangrao, offering 372 guest rooms with panoramic views of the Chinese National AAAAA-rated tourist region, the highest ranking available for tourist attractions in China. Owned by Sanqingshan Travel Group and managed by Hilton, the new resort marks Hilton’s debut in Jiangxi Province.
12.06.16Hilton Hotels & Resorts Debuts In Bali With Stunning Cliff-Top Getaway
Hilton Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of Hilton Bali Resort, which joins more than 160 distinguished resort properties across the Hilton (NYSE: HLT) portfolio located in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations. Designed for travelers seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, Hilton Bali Resort brings breathtaking views, extensive recreation facilities and magnificent event space to the Nusa Dua beach enclave on Bali’s southern peninsula.
12.01.16Hilton Hotels & Resorts Debuts in Heart of Brooklyn
Hilton Hotels & Resorts today celebrates its arrival in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill with the landmark opening of Hilton Brooklyn New York. Presiding over the corner of Smith and Schermerhorn Streets, a tree-lined enclave of chic shops, trend-setting restaurants and a lively night scene, Hilton Brooklyn New York sets a new standard of hospitality in Brooklyn. The 19-story mixed-use commercial, retail and condominium development offers 196 spacious guest rooms and suites for travelers looking to experience the buzz and vibrancy that Brooklyn has to offer.
11.29.16Hilton Opens First Hotel in Seaside City of Ningbo, China
Hilton Hotels & Resorts today announced the opening of Hilton Ningbo Dongqian Lake Resort, marking Hilton’s (NYSE: HLT) debut in Ningbo. Hilton Ningbo Dongqian Lake Resort is owned by Ningbo Huamao Education Culture & Investment Co. Ltd. and managed by Hilton.
10.19.16Hilton London Metropole Unveils Refurbished King’s Suite
Hilton London Metropole – the UK’s largest conference and meetings hotel – has unveiled its new-look King’s Suite, following completion of a major refurbishment project with an investment of close to £1 million. With increased capacity accommodating up to 1,700 delegates, the renovations feature a timeless and sophisticated design scheme along with new technological advancements designed to meet the needs of today’s meeting organiser.
10.12.16Hilton Signs With Embassy Group To Manage One Of The Largest Dual-Branded Hotel Projects In India
Hilton (NSYE: HLT) today announced the signing of a management agreement with Manyata Promoters Private Limited, a part of the Embassy Group among the leading real estate developers in India, for a 586-room dual-branded hotel project located within the Embassy Manyata Business Park in the fast-growing commercial micro-market in North Bengaluru. This will be one of the largest dual-branded hotel projects in India and will feature a 250-room Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand hotel and a 336-room Hilton Garden Inn brand hotel. Besides the full range of facilities and services, the hotel project will also offer 46,000 sq. ft. of Meetings and Events space. Targeted to open in 2020, the dual-branded hotel project will be part of a mixed-use development that also includes two commercial towers and an extensive Food and Beverage Hub. It will be developed and owned by the Embassy Group and managed by Hilton.
10.05.16Hilton Expands Presence In Nigeria With Signing Of Hilton Lagos Airport
Hilton (NYSE:HLT) has announced the signing of a management agreement with Quality Inspection & Testing Services Limited to open a 350 guest-room and suite hotel at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria. The hotel, which was signed at AHIF 2016 in Rwanda is set to open in 2023 and joins Hilton’s growing African portfolio targeted at more than 80 properties trading or in the development pipeline, which will see Hilton more than double its presence across Africa in the next 3-5 years.
10.05.16Hilton To Open Hotel In Africa’s Tallest Development
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) has signed a management agreement with Jabavu Village Ltd to open a 255 guest-room and suite hotel in Kenya’s capital. The hotel is set to open in 2020 and joins 50 Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties trading or under development in 17 countries across Africa.
10.04.16Hilton And Parque Arauco Announce Signing Of Anticipated Hilton Hotel in Santiago, Chile
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Parque Arauco S.A. today announced the signing of a management agreement to operate a new build 401-room Hilton hotel in Santiago, Chile – bringing the company’s flagship brand to the country. Hilton Santiago Las Condes will form part of the Parque Arauco Kennedy Shopping Mall complex expansion project scheduled to begin construction next year and debut in 2021. The project, owned and developed by Parque Arauco S.A., will include a Convention Center, new retail outlets, 700 parking spaces and the Hilton managed hotel.
09.29.16Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Announces Re-Launch
Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace has announced the official flagging of the 1,011-room property, located in the Disney Springs™ area, following an extensive multi-million dollar hotel-wide renovation. Formerly known as Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa, the newly-transformed property is an Official Walt Disney World® Hotel and represents Hilton’s continued expansion in the Orlando market.
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Packages & Promotions Property News
Hilton San Diego Bayfront Presents Holiday By The Bay
Ice Skate Outdoors Bayside and Celebrate the Holidays in Downtown San Diego
December 9, 2016 Americas
Bayfront Park will transform into a winter wonderland with festive décor and themed food and beverage concessions for the season. A “Naughty or Nice” cocktail menu will be featured in Bayfront Park and Odysea Lounge in the hotel. Credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
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Property SpotlightHilton San Diego Bayfront
SAN DIEGO - Hilton San Diego Bayfront will launch its inaugural holiday programming, Holiday by the Bay, from December 10, 2016 to January 2, 2017. The festive program will appeal to the whole family, and will offer events such as: breakfast with Santa, holiday movies under the stars, naughty or nice themed cocktail menus and of course, ice skating outdoors by the San Diego Bay.
Attractive holiday-themed room packages are available during the period:
Holiday by the Bay Package includes guest room and ice skating passes with rates starting from $159/night.
Military Holiday by the Bay Package features a 10 percent savings on the Holiday by the Bay Package with rates from $143/night with Military ID.
Parade of Lights Package is offered during the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights on December 11 and 18, 2016 with rates from $263/night. The package includes a bay view guest room and dinner for two at Vela restaurant with priority bay view seating.
A Bayfront Christmas Package includes an upgraded view guest room, unlimited ice skating, daily self-parking, daily breakfast for two, an in-room letter from Santa and a mini in-room Christmas tree. Rates start from $243/night.
A Presidential Christmas Package includes a stay in the expansive Presidential Suite or Executive Suite, unlimited ice skating, daily valet parking, daily breakfast for four, an in-letter from Santa and mini in-room Christmas trees. Rates for this two-night minimum package start from $1,153/night.
"The holiday season is a time for celebrating family, friends and community," said Tracy Walker, area general manager, Hilton San Diego Bayfront. "This year, we are excited to unveil our Holiday by the Bay programming at Hilton San Diego Bayfront. We hope to inspire magical memories and new traditions that guests and local residents will remember for years to come."
Guests will be greeted by a life-size gingerbread house which was built in-house by master pastry chef Rudi Weiner. It took three months to bake, decorate and assemble and costs $10,000. A 14-foot decorated Christmas tree will be displayed in the hotel, providing the perfect backdrop for a family photo. Holiday themed movies will be shown under the stars in the Promenade Plaza for the whole family:
December 10 - Elf
December 17 - The Santa Clause
December 24 - Polar Express
Across from the hotel, on Bayfront Park, Hilton San Diego Bayfront will have an outdoor ice rink for hotel guests and locals to enjoy. The rink is situated alongside the San Diego Bay with views of downtown San Diego and Coronado Island. Ice skating will be available Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission rates will be $16 per skater Monday through Thursday and $20 per skater Friday through Sunday. Ice skate rentals are included in rates.
Bayfront Park will transform into a winter wonderland with festive décor and themed food and beverage concessions for the season. A "Naughty or Nice" cocktail menu will be featured in Bayfront Park and Odysea Lounge in the hotel. Themed ice skating days and events are also scheduled during Holiday by the Bay:
Opening Day - On December 10, 2016 the ice rink will be opened to the public in partnership with Toys for Tots.
Military Mondays - $10 ice skating for our service men and women with a military ID.
Ugly Sweater Night - Thursdays at 7 p.m. followed by an ugly sweater contest in Odysea lounge at 8 p.m.
Breakfast with Santa - Join Santa in Vela Restaurant on December 11, 18 and 24, 2016 for breakfast 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
12 Days of Bliss - Spa Aquazul will offer $75-minute Gentle Touch massages including a take home spa gift with a toy donation to Toys for Tots from December 12 to December 24, 2016.
For more information on Holiday by the Bay at Hilton San Diego Bayfront, please visit the hotel's website on Hilton.com.
About Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Hilton San Diego Bayfront, a 30-story, 1,190 room hotel, is located on the edge of the bay in downtown San Diego and situated on 12.79 acres of Bayfront land. The hotel boasts 165,000 square feet of meeting and event space, four restaurants, a 7,300 square foot health club and spa, 3,000 square feet of retail space, a 2,400 square foot business center along with San Diego's first heated saltwater hotel swimming pool and nearly $2 million of commissioned public art. Hilton San Diego Bayfront is adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center and PETCO Park, located at One Park Boulevard, San Diego, 92101. For additional information, please visit: www.hiltonsandiegobayfront.com.
About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
For 100 years, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has set the benchmark for hospitality around the world, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests' evolving needs. With more than 585 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties are located in the world’s most sought-after destinations for guests who know that where they stay matters. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Begin your journey at www.hilton.com, and learn more by visiting newsroom.hilton.com/hhr and following Hilton Hotels & Resorts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Samira Maknoon
Hilton San Diego Bayfront +1 619 270 2628
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September, 26
Jessie J: I'm back on The Voice
Jessie J has insisted that she will return for the second series of The Voice.
The Price Tag singer had said in her new book Nice To Meet You that she wouldn't reprise her judging role on the BBC talent show alongside Sir Tom Jones, Will.i.am and Danny O'Donoghue, but has now decided otherwise.
"I am looking forward to hanging out with Will, Tom and Danny again - officially. I've said I'm doing it," she told Capital FM.
Jessie - whose real name is Jessica Cornish - previously confirmed her involvement, tweeting: "The Voice UK Series 2... Are you ready?! I AM ;)."
The 24-year-old revealed that scheduling conflicts were behind her decision in the memoir: "I have decided not to do the second series of The Voice UK, simply because I'm going to be too busy - that's the honest truth. I will be on tour, promoting my second album and trying to break the USA!"
But she told the radio station she had a change of heart: "Between my book being published and now, The Voice have very, very kindly been able to move some of the dates that I'm available because I really wanted to do it.
"We made it work and I always wanted to do it, so we made it work. I am going to be there, I never wanted to not do it. The only reason I couldn't do it was because of dates. They've now been organised, I am going to be there sitting in my chair bigging it up."
The second season of The Voice is expected to begin in spring 2013.
Jennifer Aniston and Mad Men star Jon Hamm have helped belt out a rendition of The Beatles' hit Hey Jude.
Veteran country music star Emmylou Harris is teaming up with London folk band Mumford & Sons to explore their shared love of high harmony, sad songs and the…
Members of One Direction are to co-host a show each on Radio 1 next month as they take over the airwaves for 10 hours.
Moon River singer Andy Williams has died aged 84.
Mumford And Sons have declared that their current success is "a bit of a dream come true".
Adele's song for the new James Bond film will be called Let The Sky Fall, it has been suggested.
Usher has pulled the plug on his UK and European gigs after landing a role as a coach on the US version of talent show The Voice, and being given the care of his two sons.
Katy Perry has been named Billboard's Woman of the Year.
X Factor finalist Janet Devlin is set to perform at this year's The X Factor ChildLine Ball.
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JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING <span class='fa fa-fw fa-check-circle pull-right'></span>
Strength in recovery: victim becomes advocate
Story by A1C Michael Murphy on 04/30/2018
(Editor's note: The following story includes references to an actual sexual assault that some readers, especially those who are sexual assault survivors themselves, may find disturbing.)
It was not the 21st birthday she was expecting. She got off of work at midnight, and her co-worker asked her if she wanted to celebrate. Tired, but still wanting to have some fun, she agreed.
He ended up bringing over a bottle of tequila rose to her placethe black and pink bottle. She took a couple of sips of a drink he made, but didn't really like the taste.The next thing Staff Sgt. Brittany K. Johnson remembered would change her life for years to come. On Sept. 22, 2010, Johnson was sexually assaulted.
She woke up to her attacker kissing her, and she was wearing only a T-shirt and underwear.
Coming out of a haze, she started questioning what he was doing and began pushing to get up. That's when she felt the first cut.
"It didn't register to me," the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard unit training manager said, turning her head to the left and displaying a scar on her neck that followed her jawline. "I didn't feel pain. I just felt the warm blood."
He continued to attack her with a switchblade to try and end her life, provoking Johnson to do everything in her power to escape. It was all out war.
She began to call out, yelling "Help, help, he is trying to kill me,'" she said.
After attempting to smother her with a pillow, he eventually got her in a choke hold.
Starting to lose consciousness, she struggled to understand her attacker's motives.
"He was just babbling You don't love me. You never loved me,'" she said.
Johnson continued to fight back, but he stabbed her in the abdomen as she broke free.
Johnson said she knew that she was in a bad situation, and did the only thing left she could do, play dead.
After enough time passed, Johnson knew that she needed to get help. As she picked herself up, she watched as he fled.
"There was blood everywhere," she said. "I took my fingers and touched underneath my neck. My fingers went into my neck."
Johnson found her phone, and without thinking, called her supervisor, who rushed over while his wife called the police.
As she waited, she began to think of her little girl, who luckily was in Georgia with her parents at the time.
"I was thinking of calling them so they could tell my daughter that I love her, but I didn't want to wake them up in the middle of the night."
Her supervisor arrived and helped locate the ambulance, which was given the wrong address to pick her up. Emergency personnel did what they could, but she was eventually air transported to the nearest trauma center.
"I was only in the hospital for a week, but it was a long recovery after that," Johnson said.
She felt the discomfort of having to repeat details of the attack to investigators and then again at the court-martial.
But after the legal battle, and her attacker being convicted, her life wasn't the same. She spent years fighting memories.
"You never know what will trigger you -- somebody you thought looked like them, the car they drove, or you saw somebody with the last name," she said. "You just never knew when it was going to happen. I still can't sleep in the dark."
By seeing mental health professionals and processing her emotions, Johnson learned what triggered her and how to cope when the memories resurfaced.
While deployed in 2013, she learned about the victim advocate program. She said she was curious about the position and started asking questions.
"I started getting involved and volunteering," she said. "It evolved to how do I become a victim advocate?"
Heather Turner, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Pentagon sexual assault response coordinator, said instructors and representatives were impressed with Johnson, recognizing how resilient she was given her circumstances, and her involvement with others.
"She is going to be a fantastic advocate," Turner said "She exudes sympathy and is very genuine."
Johnson said she tries to be victims' "rock of strength that they need to get through that time." She said it means a lot to her to be able to help them, and to get them to a better, healthier place.
However, Johnson said she has not let her traumatic experiences hold her back. She is currently working on her master's degree, has two daughters and is happily married. She said she wants to continue telling her story, so that she can help others for years to come.
"My scars tell my story," she said. "Nobody can take that away from me."
Those interested in becoming a victim advocate should contact Joint Base Andrews sexual assault prevention and response program manager Kari Merski at 301-981-1443, or Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling's SAPR Heather Turner at 202-404-5465.
For mental health resources visit mentalhealth.gov and Military OneSource. The military crisis line is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8225. For sexual assault support, survivors can call the DOD Safe Helpline at 877-995-5247.
Navy Survey to Address Privatized Housing Issues
Navy, Marine Corps, Public Private Venture Housing Leadership Continue Actions to Correct Military Housing Issues
Marine Corps Activates Advisor Companies
Military spouse overcomes, makes Misawa home
Preparedness, Practical Training Highlighted as NDW Wraps Up Citadel Shield/Solid Curtain
Spangdahlem Airman selected for US Air Force Honor Guard
NAVSUP WSS hosts first Maritime Sustainment Summit with an eye on Readniess
Airmen of Note fall tour salutes veterans
First quarterly DFSP site visit, Andrews AFB
Coastal Riverine Squadron 4 Ombudsman to Receive Top Award
JBA celebrates 75th anniversary
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Microwaves & the Paranormal: As Serious as a Heart Attack
Nick Redfern April 24, 2019
Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation (Radiowaves and Microwaves) Eurasian Communist Countries is a 1976 document that was prepared for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. Specifically, it was written by Ronald L. Adams and Dr. R.A. Williams of the U.S. Army’s Medical Intelligence and Information Agency. The document was declassified – via the terms of the Freedom of Information Act – many years ago, but the contents of the document certainly still have the ability to provoke deep controversy. One particular segment of the Adams-Williams report stands out. It is titled “Cardiovascular System.” The pair stated the following:
“Heavy emphasis has been placed on investigations involving electromagnetic radiation on the cardiovascular system. Effects on hemodynamics include blood pressure variations ad cardiac arrhythmias. Comparison of a group of engineers and administrative officials who were exposed to microwaves for a period of years and an unexposed group revealed a significantly higher incidence of coronary disease. Exposure may, therefore, promote an earlier onset of cardiovascular disease in susceptible individuals.”
It should be noted that interest in how, and under what specific circumstances, the human heart can be affected was not exclusively the interest of the U.S. Army’s Medical Intelligence and Information Agency. For example, staff who were employed at the Foreign Technology Division of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio also dug deeply (very deeply, in fact) into this particularly controversial area. We know this because – just as was the case with the Adams-Williams paper – Wright-Patterson AFB’s files on the matter have now been declassified into the public domain. The U.S. Air Force, back in 1978, published a report titled Paraphysics R&D – Warsaw Pact. As was the case with the 1976 document, the 1978 Air Force report was also prepared for personnel within the Defense Intelligence Agency. This document, however, was somewhat more alternative in nature and scope. And that is putting things mildly, to say the least. By that, I mean the authors of the report focused much of their time on how the heart could be affected by supernatural skills – and, potentially, in a very dangerous way.
Extrasensory Perception (ESP), mind-reading, and psychic phenomena were all closely studied when it came to the matter of the human heart and the severe damage that someone just might be able to do to it. Staff at Wright-Patterson were particularly concerned by the worrying extent to which the Russians were working in this particular field. The document demonstrates that the one person, far more than any other, that the Air Force had their concerns about was a Dr. Gennadiy Aleksandrovich Sergeyev. The doctor worked in the field of “technical services” at the Leningrad-based Institute of Physiology.
According to the work and results of Sergeyev’s controversy-filled research, one of his particularly skilled psychics in this field was a woman named Nina Kulagina (see this link for those who were impressed by her talents, and this link for those who are unimpressed). It was in 1970 that Sergeyev came to see just how dangerous Kulagina’s abilities could be. The Foreign Technology Staff at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base reported that on one particular day, “Kulagina attempted to increase the heart rate of a skeptical physician.” Matters did not end there, however. Air Force personnel advised the Defense Intelligence Agency that, “Electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and other parameters were measured,” and that “within 1 minute after the experiment began,” the heart of the same physician “reached dangerous levels, and the experiment was terminated.” For the U.S. Air Force, the whole matter was deemed to be a very “serious intelligence problem.” No doubt.
What all of this potentially suggests is that the Russians, at the height of the Cold War, may have succeeded in carrying out what we might term “psychic assassinations” or “murder by microwaves.” And doing so by fatally affecting the hearts of the targeted individuals. While many people of a skeptical nature might dismiss such admittedly highly controversial notions, the fact is that the U.S Air Force, the U.S. Army’s Medical Intelligence and Information Agency, and the Defense Intelligence remained concerned – worried, even – about such strange possibilities. There is another important issue that is well worth noting: the research and the documents that I have referred to in this particular article date back to 1976 and to 1978. This inevitably begs an important question for all of us to ponder on: four decades further down the line, just how far has the research progressed now? In today’s world, can people be targeted and killed in a way that appears innocent, but which, in reality, is actually nothing less than downright sinister? These are questions to think about.
Tags Heart Microwaves Murder Soviet Union
Nick Redfern works full time as a writer, lecturer, and journalist. He writes about a wide range of unsolved mysteries, including Bigfoot, UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, alien encounters, and government conspiracies. Nick has written 41 books, writes for Mysterious Universe and has appeared on numerous television shows on the The History Channel, National Geographic Channel and SyFy Channel.
You can follow Nick on and
Millions of Ants Mysteriously Thrive Under Old Nuclear Base
Paul Seaburn September 1, 2016
UFOs, Clouds and Secret Experiments
Nick Redfern February 22, 2013
Jack the Ripper May Have Been Jackie the Ripper
Russian Scientist Says Faking a Moon Landing is Harder Than Doing One
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Home » Events » Bringing Art to Life: Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters
Bringing Art to Life: Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters
Posted by Dana Wilde on Jun 24, 2015 in Events, Featured | 0 comments
We attended a media preview
Toyohara Chikanobu’s “Cherry Blossom Viewing” greets guests to The Pageant
For 82 years, Laguna Beach’s The Festival of the Arts has played host to the world famous Pageant of the Masters, delighting audiences with awe inspiring realistic recreations of both classical and contemporary art works casting real people within each living picture. Set to a score performed live by The Pageant’s own orchestra, with each picture narrated outdoors in the Irvine Bowl set amidst the trees, The Pageant is one of Orange County’s most anticipated events by both attendees and the hundreds of volunteers that create the magic each night during the summer.
This summer’s theme, The Pursuit of Happiness will bring an international feel with art works from American artists as well as other countries and cultures. Says Pageant Director Diane Challis Davy, “The desire for happiness, is integral to being human. Today we share the same basic wants and face the same struggles as our distant ancestors. The need to be ‘happy’ is a trait that unites us across all nationalities, races, and religions.”
Last week we were able to go behind the scenes to learn about the almost completed award wining facelift for the Festival of the Arts, this season’s special events, meet several of the artists from this year’s Fine Arts Show, and see how the Pageant’s volunteers bring art to life for its appreciative audiences.
Join us on a photo tour of this season!
Artist rendering of the new Festival of the Arts Facade courtesy of Festival of Arts
Guests will be greeted by a new facade this year by Newport based Bauer Architects. The facade features patinated laser-cut metal panels and boulders reflecting both modern and natural elements to blend with its surroundings and will be completed by the opening of The Festival.
Nightly wine and chocolate pairings
Artist and woodturner Larry Marley at work
“Must have” blowfish kettle by artist Larry Marley
Painter Susan Hoehn excited for her first Festival of Arts exhibit
Painter Susan Hoehn’s exhibit
Pencil/charcoal artist, Ray C. Brown, Jr. at work
Work by exhibitor Ray C. Brown, Jr.
Talk about pursuing happiness! Enjoy live jazz and wine and chocolate pairings while you explore the works of some of the area’s most talented artists and ponder which pieces you’d like to own. July 9 – August 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ($15). This and many other special events are planned for this season.
Rows and rows of headpieces in the making for The Pageant
A team of makeup artists get the cast ready
“Models” for each cast member’s makeup
A peek into the studios of The Pageant artists putting finishing touches on sets
Completed set before the cast is positioned
Positioning the cast back stage
Cast is in place
Waiting for the curtain to open…
With approximately 40 living pieces to be shown at The Pageant of the Masters the work begins months in advance by a dedicated team of local volunteers made up of artists, cast members, musicians, backstage and lighting crew members, and many other dedicated contributors. It is a labor of love and very much appreciated by the thousands of fans who enjoy the show, many each and every year. If you have never attended, it is truly a breathtaking event that will amaze and delight you.
If you have young children and would like to take them to The Pageant, out of respect for the cast members and fellow audience members you will want to consider if they can sit patiently for a couple of hours without growing restless. Flash photography during The Pageant is not allowed.
The Festival of Arts Art Show is open daily from July 5 through August 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with early closings on July 5 at 6:00 p.m. and August 29 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets for The Festival can be purchased at the door. The Pageant begins, July 8 with tickets available on-line.
The Pageant of the Masters: 2018 production of ‘Under the Sun’
Behind the Scenes of the 2014 Pageant of the Masters
Behind-the-Scenes of the 2016 Pageant of the Masters
Can You Stand Still? Pageant of the Masters Casting Call 2018
Family Art Day at the Festival of Arts
84th Annual Festival of Arts
Pageant of the Monsters Haunted House
Pageant of the Masters Casting Call 2017
The Magical of the Holidays at the Sawdust Festival
25th Anniversary of Sawdust Winter Fantasy Festival
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Tag Archives: Artifact
Entrepreneurs of the Great Recession
July 30, 2018 by Kara Schweiss
Photography by Bill Sitzmann
Even the Great Depression couldn’t keep some entrepreneurs down. Enduring companies and brands including Sony Music, Westin Hotels, Allstate, Rubbermaid, Ray-Ban, and Tyson Foods all originated during the economic downturn in the early 20th century. Similarly, the period of economic recession that began a decade ago didn’t stop several local entrepreneurs from starting businesses during a time when numerous companies were floundering or failing.
Kirt Jones was already a business owner when 2008 began. He had started Jones Construction in 2005 under a strong market climate, which may have helped him achieve financial stability, but, ironically, did not foster rapid growth.
“[That] made it very hard to find lots to build houses on in good developments. Simultaneously, banks were not interested in working with a new company to provide construction lending,” he says.
He started Castle Brook Builders in 2008 not knowing a market crash was around the corner.
“The change to Castle Brook Builders was for marketing purposes. We wanted to bring brand awareness to the company by developing name recognition to the Omaha area. We started before the market crash, but we accelerated growth during the downturn,” he says. “When the market did slow down, banks paid more attention to our strong financial position and land developers were willing to listen to my proposals on multiple lot purchases. I developed a successful business model from these long-term lot purchase agreements, providing higher profitability for Castle Brook Builders.”
The timing was advantageous but Jones says other factors also contributed to his success during a time when so many of his competitors struggled.
“I have a financial background, so developing long-term strategies and partnerships allowed me to rise above the competition with stronger sales and profits. We invested some of this profit into creating and continuing our brand awareness,” he explains.
Having been through the economic downturn, he says he is ready now for anything that happens in the next 10 years and beyond.
“Reputation is very important in the Omaha market. We have worked very hard to establish strong relationships and partnerships with other respectable homebuilders and land developers in the area. This will provide CBB a very strong competitive advantage far into the future,” he says.
Chris Hughes’ IT job was eliminated in 2009 as a result of the economic downturn, and he needed to create another source of income after landing a job that brought in about one-third of the salary he once commanded.
“I was obviously looking for any other avenue, and I was making tote [bags] in my basement to sell on Etsy,” he says. “That started to take off for me, so this decision to launch Artifact was partly due to timing and largely due to necessity…I’m pretty risk-averse in general and the idea of entrepreneurship—it would not have been my first pick.”
The well-crafted bags he sold on Etsy for extra cash became a big hit, and he officially launched Artifact Bags in 2010, when the economy was slowly starting to turn. It is thriving today. Looking back, Hughes says that, although he may have felt then like circumstances forced his hand a bit, waiting for the economy to turn around would have actually been a misstep.
“I think it’s becoming more and more difficult to do what I’m doing. The market is more saturated with people who are doing similar products or business models to what I’m doing,” he says. “I was on the bleeding edge of it and there was a time, with e-commerce, where Google was at a point where I was able to really leverage my standing in Google search in a way that was more democratic and didn’t require as much capital as it would require now to pay for that space.”
The frustration he encountered in trying to find a new job turned out to be somewhat motivational, he adds.
“When you’re backed in a corner and you’re trying to tell people what you’re capable of, there comes a point when you give up and you demonstrate what you’re capable of, through entrepreneurship or just doing your own thing. And I think that it speaks more than just your own self-speculation about what you think you can do for some company,” he explains. “Everybody’s got an idea written down on a napkin somewhere, but execution is everything. I’ve met a lot of people along the way through the eight years of doing Artifact, and I hear tons of great ideas all the time, but they don’t mean anything. A great idea that is never executed is worse than an average one that someone works their butt off to try to get out there in the world.”
For more information, visit artifactbags.com and castlebrookbuildersomaha.com.
This article was printed in the August/September 2018 edition of B2B.
Chris Hughes
Posted in: B2B Magazine, Entrepreneurs
Topics: Artifact, Artifact Bags, B2B, branding, Business, Castle Brook Builders, Chris Hughes, economy, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship, Great Depression, Jones Construction, Kara Schweiss, Kirt Jones, LOCAL BUSINESS, Omaha, Omaha Magazine
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Tag: Satanism
About the Prodigal Band Trilogy–Main Characters-Part 4: the Evil
With this trilogy or series of novels themed primarily as a battle between good and evil, there must be an evil side. As I stated in a previous post, when the first novel, Battle of the Band, was being finalized, I began researching what forces might have been behind the events at Ruby Ridge in Idaho, the David Koresh cult church in Waco, Texas, and the various militia groups tied to the Oklahoma City bombing, the last two events of which happened under President Bill Clinton, as well as former President George HW Bush, who was the first world leader I ever heard mention ‘new world order,’ and was president during Ruby Ridge. Did Bush’s ‘new world order’ speech cause various militia groups to be formed as a response to increasing globalization toward a ‘one-world-government’? Such a scenario is prophesied in the Book of Revelation–that an ‘anti-Christ’ would unite the world under a false peace and then turn the world on its head in an orgy of death and destruction to all whom opposed this one-world-government run by evil. For it is research into Bible prophecy that caused me to consider this battle between good and evil as the theme for my books.
There are several ‘one-world-government’ or globalist organizations that, in my research, became well-known to me in the 1990s–the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, and the Bilderbergers, and others. They all seem to work together and all seem to contain world leaders, politically, economically, militarily, and even culturally. There were or are even entertainment celebrities that have been involved in these groups, most notably Angelina Jolie, a CFR member. A rock star, U-2’s frontman, Bono, is also notable to have been seen around oligarchs like Bill Gates and even the Pope.
It is not that world unity or world peace is a bad thing. But what makes a one-world-government or ‘new world order’ a bad thing is that it will ultimately be led by evil forces, headlined by the Dragon (Satan, the anti-Christ), the Beast (a one-world-system designed to eradicate belief in Christ and destroy individual freedom and liberty in favor of collectivism), and the False Prophet (a religious or spiritual leader who will cause even believers in Christ to ‘fall away’ and buy into Satan as ‘the false messiah’). And what better way to lead especially young people to evil than by using popular culture icons–such as rock stars–to carry out this agenda?
And not just rock stars–these days, rap and hip-hop almost seem to have taken over pop culture from rock music, which has ruled pop culture since the days of the Beatles. Beginning in the 2010s, gangsta rap and hip-hop appear to be much more prominent, as well as pop icons like Beyoncé and Jay-Z and Kanye West. But, rap, hip-hop and the three icons I mentioned are all black. I am white, I do not listen to rap and hip-hop and Beyoncé and them, and I began my book timelines in mainly the 1980s into the 1990s–therefore, it would make no sense to write novels about black rappers or hip-hoppers or folks like Beyoncé. Further, in Britain and Europe anyway, rock music is still prominent, and in Asia, is becoming far more prominent. Some of rock music’s most prominent acts these days are from Japan and Korea.
However, the main reason my main characters are rock musicians in a Beatles-like super band is that so many people who follow popular culture today, and have followed it for years, truly believe rock music is a huge reason why evil has taken over world events. You Tube video after You Tube video purports to ‘prove’ that rock and roll is ‘the devil’s music’ and that rock stars are all ‘devil worshipers’ and, therefore, have no chance of salvation through repentance and taking Jesus Christ as Savior. This mindset, in my opinion, is full of fallacy. As I state in ‘The Prodigal Band’ toward the end of the book, some of Christ’s most important apostles were either wealthy ship-fleet owners or sons of such (such as Peter, owner of a fishing fleet, and James and John, sons of fleet owner Zebedee), or wealthy or prominent community leaders or officials (such as Matthew, a tax collector; Zacchaeus, chief tax collector and wealthy man; Jairus, temple leader; the Centurion, a Roman, and Nicodemus, a Pharisee). Then, you have folks like Mary Magdalene, a prostitute and a woman possessed by demons, possibly even a devil worshiper. The fallacy that members of the elites, or members of morally corrupt groupings, or both–such as wealthy, ‘devil worshiping’ rock stars–can never be saved because they carry out Satan’s agenda to morally corrupt the young for fame and fortune, is indeed, a fallacy.
Very likely there are few rock stars that have accepted Christ as Savior. Supposedly a guitarist for the death metal band Mega Death–I forget his name but he is mentioned in these videos– has openly avowed belief on Christ. So has rapper DMX. These two are likely two of the more prominent music celebrities that have. Some videos claim others have claimed that as well, but are faking it. Folks, it is difficult in a popular culture ruled by the ‘almighty dollar’ for a star celebrity to give all that fame and fortune up to truly accept the Way of Christ. But it is possible–yet one must give up the debauched lifestyle that one had led previously, and that is not easy.
So that, while it is unlikely that a star celebrity would give all that up to serve Christ, it is still a possibility, and to deny that such a thing could happen, to me is a fallacy, and a false belief that needs to be repented. To believe such a thing, in my opinion, is evil! For anybody can accept Jesus as Savior, and didn’t Jesus come to save the sinner?
As one of my characters mentioned earlier, Billy Preston, former band manager, says toward the end of ‘The Prophesied Band,’ to his former charges–“It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”
I will discuss my ‘evil’ characters and groups in the next post.
Author deborahlagardePosted on December 18, 2018 December 18, 2018 Categories Character Creation, Good vs Evil, horror, Independent Publishing, Novel Creation, Novel Theme, Secret Societies, UncategorizedTags Armegeddon, Biblical Prophecy, End Times, Globalism, Luciferian, Occult, Satanism, Secret SocietiesLeave a comment on About the Prodigal Band Trilogy–Main Characters-Part 4: the Evil
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Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science
Oxford Research Encyclopedias Climate Science
Climate Impact: Extreme Events
Climate Impact: Human Health
Climate Impact: Marine Ecosystems
Climate Impact: Sea Level Rise
Climate Impact: Terrestrial Ecosystems
Climate Systems and Climate Dynamics
Climate Systems and Climate Dynamics: Biogeochemistry
Climate Systems and Climate Dynamics: Theoretical Foundations
Climate of Africa
Climate of the Baltic Sea Region
Climate of the European Alps
Climate of the Tibetan Plateau
Downscaling
Future Climate Change Scenarios
History of Climate Science
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Management of Technology and Mitigation
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Policy, Politics, and Governance
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Climate Impact: Extreme Events (8)
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Climate Dynamics of ENSO Modoki Phenomena
Swadhin Behera and Toshio Yamagata
The El Niño Modoki/La Niña Modoki (ENSO Modoki) is a newly acknowledged face of ocean-atmosphere coupled variability in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The oceanic and atmospheric conditions ... More
The El Niño Modoki/La Niña Modoki (ENSO Modoki) is a newly acknowledged face of ocean-atmosphere coupled variability in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The oceanic and atmospheric conditions associated with the El Niño Modoki are different from that of canonical El Niño, which is extensively studied for its dynamics and worldwide impacts. A typical El Niño event is marked by a warm anomaly of sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial eastern Pacific. Because of the associated changes in the surface winds and the weakening of coastal upwelling, the coasts of South America suffer from widespread fish mortality during the event. Quite opposite of this characteristic change in the ocean condition, cold SST anomalies prevail in the eastern equatorial Pacific during the El Niño Modoki events, but with the warm anomalies intensified in the central Pacific. The boreal winter condition of 2004 is a typical example of such an event, when a tripole pattern is noticed in the SST anomalies; warm central Pacific flanked by cold eastern and western regions. The SST anomalies are coupled to a double cell in anomalous Walker circulation with rising motion in the central parts and sinking motion on both sides of the basin. This is again a different feature compared to the well-known single-cell anomalous Walker circulation during El Niños. La Niña Modoki is the opposite phase of the El Niño Modoki, when a cold central Pacific is flanked by warm anomalies on both sides.
The Modoki events are seen to peak in both boreal summer and winter and hence are not seasonally phase-locked to a single seasonal cycle like El Niño/La Niña events. Because of this distinction in the seasonality, the teleconnection arising from these events will vary between the seasons as teleconnection path will vary depending on the prevailing seasonal mean conditions in the atmosphere. Moreover, the Modoki El Niño/La Niña impacts over regions such as the western coast of the United States, the Far East including Japan, Australia, and southern Africa, etc., are opposite to those of the canonical El Niño/La Niña. For example, the western coasts of the United States suffer from severe droughts during El Niño Modoki, whereas those regions are quite wet during El Niño. The influences of Modoki events are also seen in tropical cyclogenesis, stratosphere warming of the Southern Hemisphere, ocean primary productivity, river discharges, sea level variations, etc. A remarkable feature associated with Modoki events is the decadal flattening of the equatorial thermocline and weakening of zonal thermal gradient. The associated ocean-atmosphere conditions have caused frequent and persistent developments of Modoki events in recent decades.
Climate, History, and Social Change in Sweden and the Baltic Sea Area From About 1700
Sven Lilja
The growing concern about global warming has turned focus in Sweden and other Baltic countries toward the connection between history and climate. Important steps have been taken in the ... More
The growing concern about global warming has turned focus in Sweden and other Baltic countries toward the connection between history and climate. Important steps have been taken in the scientific reconstruction of climatic parables. Historic climate data have been published and analyzed, and various proxy data have been used to reconstruct historic climate curves. The results have revealed an ongoing regional warming from the late 17th to the early 21st century. The development was not continuous, however, but went on in a sequence of warmer and colder phases.
Within the fields of history and socially oriented climate research, the industrial revolution has often been seen as a watershed between an older and a younger climate regime. The breakthrough of the industrial society was a major social change with the power to influence climate. Before this turning point, man and society were climate dependent. Weather and short-term climate fluctuations had major impacts on agrarian culture. When the crops failed several years in sequence, starvation and excess mortality followed. As late as 1867–1869, northern Sweden and Finland were struck by starvation due to massive crop failures.
Although economic activities in the agricultural sector had climatic effects before the industrial society, when industrialization took off in Sweden in the 1880s it brought an end to the large-scale starvations, but also the start of an economic development that began to affect the atmosphere in a new and broader way. The industrial society, with its population growth and urbanization, created climate effects. Originally, however, the industrial outlets were not seen as problems. In the 18th century, it was thought that agricultural cultivation could improve the climate, and several decades after the industrial take-off there still was no environmental discourse in the Swedish debate. On the contrary, many leading debaters and politicians saw the tall chimneys, cars, and airplanes as hopeful signs in the sky. It was not until the late 1960s that the international environmental discourse reached Sweden. The modern climate debate started to make its imprints as late as the 1990s.
During the last two decades, the Swedish temperature curve has unambiguously turned upwards. Thus, parallel to the international debate, the climate issue has entered the political agenda in Sweden and the other Nordic countries. The latest development has created a broad political consensus in favor of ambitious climate goals, and the people have gradually started to adapt their consumption and lifestyles to the new prerequisites.Although historic climate research in Sweden has had a remarkable expansion in the last decades, it still leans too much on its climate change leg. The clear connection between the climate fluctuations during the last 300 years and the major social changes that took place in these centuries needs to be further studied.
Climate in the Barents Region
Rasmus Benestad
Past Climates, Future Climate Change Scenarios
The Barents Sea is a region of the Arctic Ocean named after one of its first known explorers (1594–1597), Willem Barentsz from the Netherlands, although there are accounts of earlier ... More
The Barents Sea is a region of the Arctic Ocean named after one of its first known explorers (1594–1597), Willem Barentsz from the Netherlands, although there are accounts of earlier explorations: the Norwegian seafarer Ottar rounded the northern tip of Europe and explored the Barents and White Seas between 870 and 890 ce, a journey followed by a number of Norsemen; Pomors hunted seals and walruses in the region; and Novgorodian merchants engaged in the fur trade. These seafarers were probably the first to accumulate knowledge about the nature of sea ice in the Barents region; however, scientific expeditions and the exploration of the climate of the region had to wait until the invention and employment of scientific instruments such as the thermometer and barometer. Most of the early exploration involved mapping the land and the sea ice and making geographical observations. There were also many unsuccessful attempts to use the Northeast Passage to reach the Bering Strait. The first scientific expeditions involved F. P. Litke (1821±1824), P. K. Pakhtusov (1834±1835), A. K. Tsivol’ka (1837±1839), and Henrik Mohn (1876–1878), who recorded oceanographic, ice, and meteorological conditions.
The scientific study of the Barents region and its climate has been spearheaded by a number of campaigns. There were four generations of the International Polar Year (IPY): 1882–1883, 1932–1933, 1957–1958, and 2007–2008. A British polar campaign was launched in July 1945 with Antarctic operations administered by the Colonial Office, renamed as the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS); it included a scientific bureau by 1950. It was rebranded as the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 1962 (British Antarctic Survey History leaflet). While BAS had its initial emphasis on the Antarctic, it has also been involved in science projects in the Barents region. The most dedicated mission to the Arctic and the Barents region has been the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), which has commissioned a series of reports on the Arctic climate: the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report, the Snow Water Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) report, and the Adaptive Actions in a Changing Arctic (AACA) report.
The climate of the Barents Sea is strongly influenced by the warm waters from the Norwegian current bringing heat from the subtropical North Atlantic. The region is 10°C–15°C warmer than the average temperature on the same latitude, and a large part of the Barents Sea is open water even in winter. It is roughly bounded by the Svalbard archipelago, northern Fennoscandia, the Kanin Peninsula, Kolguyev Island, Novaya Zemlya, and Franz Josef Land, and is a shallow ocean basin which constrains physical processes such as currents and convection. To the west, the Greenland Sea forms a buffer region with some of the strongest temperature gradients on earth between Iceland and Greenland. The combination of a strong temperature gradient and westerlies influences air pressure, wind patterns, and storm tracks. The strong temperature contrast between sea ice and open water in the northern part sets the stage for polar lows, as well as heat and moisture exchange between ocean and atmosphere. Glaciers on the Arctic islands generate icebergs, which may drift in the Barents Sea subject to wind and ocean currents.
The land encircling the Barents Sea includes regions with permafrost and tundra. Precipitation comes mainly from synoptic storms and weather fronts; it falls as snow in the winter and rain in the summer. The land area is snow-covered in winter, and rivers in the region drain the rainwater and meltwater into the Barents Sea. Pronounced natural variations in the seasonal weather statistics can be linked to variations in the polar jet stream and Rossby waves, which result in a clustering of storm activity, blocking high-pressure systems. The Barents region is subject to rapid climate change due to a “polar amplification,” and observations from Svalbard suggest that the past warming trend ranks among the strongest recorded on earth. The regional change is reinforced by a number of feedback effects, such as receding sea-ice cover and influx of mild moist air from the south.
Climate Multilateralism
Eduardo Viola and Joana Castro Pereira
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science. Please check back later for the full article. ... More
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science. Please check back later for the full article.
The signing of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 154 nations at the Rio “Earth Summit” in 1992 marked the beginning of multilateral climate negotiations. Aiming for the “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system,” the Convention divided parties according to different commitments (developed countries with heavier mitigation and financing responsibilities on one side, and developing nations with fewer commitments on the other) and established the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle. In 1997, parties to the Convention adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which entered into force in 2005; the Protocol set internationally binding emission reduction targets based on a rigid interpretation of the CBDR principle. Different perceptions on a fair distribution of climate change mitigation costs hindered multilateral efforts to tackle the problem; climate change proved a “super wicked” challenge (intricately linked to security, development, trade, water, energy, food, land use, transportation, etc.) and this fact led to a lack of consensus on the distribution of rights and responsibilities among countries. Indeed, since 1992, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have increased every year, and the Kyoto Protocol did not reverse the trend. In 2009, a new political framework, the Copenhagen Accord, was signed; although parties recognized the need to limit global warming to < 2 °C to prevent dangerous climate change, they did not agree on a clear path toward a legally binding treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, whose first commitment period would end in 2012. A consensus would only be reached in 2015, when a new, legally binding treaty—the Paris Climate Agreement—committing all parties to limit global warming to “well below 2 °C,” was finally signed; it came into force in November 2016. Described in many political, public, and academic contexts as a diplomatic success, the agreement suffers, however, from several limitations to its effectiveness: the voluntary nature of the commitments on curbing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (the Nationally Determined Contributions [NDC]), the weakness of the system established for monitoring the implementation of NDCs, the absence of established dates by which parties must achieve their GHG emissions peaks, the very small size of the Green Climate Fund to support developing countries in their mitigation and adaptation efforts, and the fact that many developing countries have made their NDCs dependent on international financial and technological support. NDCs presented thus far have a > 50% chance of exceeding 3 °C by 2100, placing the Earth at a potentially catastrophic level of climate change. The recent carbon dioxide emissions trajectory and foreseeable future emissions of major climate powers demonstrate the low level of climate commitment in the international system; forces that resist the profound transformations necessary to stabilize the Earth’s climate dominate climate change governance. Climate multilateralism under the UNFCCC has failed thus far—throughout 25 years of international negotiations, global carbon emissions have increased substantially and at a rapid pace, and climate change has worsened significantly.
Climate of Eastern Africa
Pierre Camberlin
Eastern Africa, classically presented as a major dry climate anomaly region in the otherwise wet equatorial belt, is a transition zone between the monsoon domains of West Africa and the ... More
Eastern Africa, classically presented as a major dry climate anomaly region in the otherwise wet equatorial belt, is a transition zone between the monsoon domains of West Africa and the Indian Ocean. Its complex terrain, unequaled in the rest of Africa, results in a huge diversity of climatic conditions that steer a wide range of vegetation landscapes, biodiversity and human occupations. Meridional rainfall gradients dominate in the west along the Nile valley and its surroundings, where a single boreal summer peak is mostly observed. Bimodal regimes (generally peaking in April and November) prevail in the east, gradually shifting to a single austral summer peak to the south. The swift seasonal shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and its replacement in January–February and June–September by strong meridional, generally diverging low-level winds (e.g., the Somali Jet), account for the low rainfall. These large-scale flows interact with topography and lakes, which have their own local circulation in the form of mountain and lake breezes. This results in complex rainfall patterns, with a strong diurnal component, and a frequent asymmetry in the rainfall distribution with respect to the major relief features. Whereas highly organized rain-producing systems are uncommon, convection is partly modulated at intra-seasonal (about 30–60-day) timescales. Interannual variability shows a fair level of spatial coherence in the region, at least in July–September in the west (Ethiopia and Nile Valley) and October–December in the east along the Indian Ocean. This is associated with a strong forcing from sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and to a lesser extent the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, Eastern Africa shows some of the largest interannual rainfall variations in the world. Some decadal-scale variations are also found, including a drying trend of the March–May rainy season since the 1980s in the eastern part of the region. Eastern Africa overall mean temperature increased by 0.7 to 1 °C from 1973 to 2013, depending on the season. The strong, sometimes non-linear altitudinal gradients of temperature and moisture regimes, also contribute to the climate diversity of Eastern Africa.
Climate of Southern Africa
C.J.C. Reason
Climate Systems and Climate Dynamics, Statistics, Future Climate Change Scenarios, Climate of Africa
Southern Africa extends from the equator to about 34°S and is essentially a narrow, peninsular land mass bordered to its south, west, and east by oceans. Its termination in the mid-ocean ... More
Southern Africa extends from the equator to about 34°S and is essentially a narrow, peninsular land mass bordered to its south, west, and east by oceans. Its termination in the mid-ocean subtropics has important consequences for regional climate, since it allows the strongest western boundary current in the world ocean (warm Agulhas Current) to be in close proximity to an intense eastern boundary upwelling current (cold Benguela Current). Unlike other western boundary currents, the Agulhas retroflects south of the land mass and flows back into the South Indian Ocean, thereby leading to a large area of anomalously warm water south of South Africa which may influence storm development over the southern part of the land mass. Two other unique regional ocean features imprint on the climate of southern Africa—the Angola-Benguela Frontal Zone (ABFZ) and the Seychelles-Chagos thermocline ridge (SCTR). The former is important for the development of Benguela Niños and flood events over southwestern Africa, while the SCTR influences Madden-Julian Oscillation and tropical cyclone activity in the western Indian Ocean. In addition to South Atlantic and South Indian Ocean influences, there are climatic implications of the neighboring Southern Ocean.
Along with Benguela Niños, the southern African climate is strongly impacted by ENSO and to lesser extent by the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and sea-surface temperature (SST) dipole events in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans. The regional land–sea distribution leads to a highly variable climate on a range of scales that is still not well understood due to its complexity and its sensitivity to a number of different drivers. Strong and variable gradients in surface characteristics exist not only in the neighboring oceans but also in several aspects of the land mass, and these all influence the regional climate and its interactions with climate modes of variability.
Much of the interior of southern Africa consists of a plateau 1 to 1.5 km high and a narrow coastal belt that is particularly mountainous in South Africa, leading to sharp topographic gradients. The topography is able to influence the track and development of many weather systems, leading to marked gradients in rainfall and vegetation across southern Africa.
The presence of the large island of Madagascar, itself a region of strong topographic and rainfall gradients, has consequences for the climate of the mainland by reducing the impact of the moist trade winds on the Mozambique coast and the likelihood of tropical cyclone landfall there. It is also likely that at least some of the relativity aridity of the Limpopo region in northern South Africa/southern Zimbabwe results from the location of Madagascar in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
While leading to challenges in understanding its climate variability and change, the complex geography of southern Africa offers a very useful test bed for improving the global models used in many institutions for climate prediction. Thus, research into the relative shortcomings of the models in the southern African region may lead not only to better understanding of southern African climate but also to enhanced capability to predict climate globally.
Climate of the Mediterranean Region
Ricardo García-Herrera and David Barriopedro
The Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed sea surrounded by Europe to the north, Asia to the east, and Africa to the south. It covers an area of approximately 2.5 million km2, between 30–46 °N ... More
The Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed sea surrounded by Europe to the north, Asia to the east, and Africa to the south. It covers an area of approximately 2.5 million km2, between 30–46 °N latitude and 6 °W and 36 °E longitude. The term Mediterranean climate is applied beyond the Mediterranean region itself and has been used since the early 20th century to classify other regions of the world, such as California or South Africa, usually located in the 30º–40º latitudinal band. The Mediterranean climate can be broadly characterized by warm to hot dry summers and mild wet winters. However, this broad picture hides important variations, which can be explained through the existence of two geographical gradients: North/South, with a warmer and drier south, and West/East, more influenced by Atlantic/Asian circulation.
The region is located at a crossroad between the mid-latitudes and the subtropical regimes. Thus, small changes in the Atlantic storm track may lead to dramatic changes in the precipitation of the northwestern area of the basin. The variability of the descending northern branch of the Hadley cell influences the climate of the southern margin, while the eastern border climate is conditioned by the Siberian High in winter and the Indian Summer Monsoon during summer. All these large-scale factors are modulated by the complex orography of the region, the contrasting albedo, and the moisture and heat supplied by the Mediterranean Sea. The interactions occurring among all these factors lead to a complex picture with some relevant phenomena characteristic of the Mediterranean region, such as heatwaves and droughts, Saharan dust intrusions, or specific types of cyclogenesis.
Climate model projections generally agree in characterizing the region as a climate change hotspot, considering that it is one of the areas of the globe likely to suffer pronounced climate changes. Anthropogenic influences are not new, since the region is densely populated and is the home of some the oldest civilizations on Earth. This has produced multiple and continuous modifications in the land cover, with measurable impacts on climate that can be traced from the rich available documentary evidence and high-resolution natural proxies.
Climate of the Sahel and West Africa
Sharon E. Nicholson
This article provides an in-depth look at all aspects of the climate of the Sahel, including the pervasive dust in the Sahelian atmosphere. Emphasis is on two aspects: West African monsoon ... More
This article provides an in-depth look at all aspects of the climate of the Sahel, including the pervasive dust in the Sahelian atmosphere. Emphasis is on two aspects: West African monsoon and the region’s rainfall regime. This includes an overview of the prevailing atmospheric circulation at the surface and aloft and the relationship between this and the rainfall regime. Aspects of the rainfall regime that are considered include its unique characteristics, its changes over time, the storm systems that produce rainfall, and factors governing its variability on interannual and decadal time scales. Variability is examined on three time scales: millennial (as seen is the paleo records of the last 20,000 years), multi-decadal (as seen over the last few centuries as seen from proxy data and, more recently, in observations), and interannual to decadal (quantified by observations from the late 19th century and onward). A unique feature of Sahel climate is that is rainfall regime is perhaps the most sensitive in the world and this sensitivity is apparent on all of these time scales.
Climate of Western and Central Equatorial Africa
Amin Dezfuli
Western and Central Equatorial Africa (WCEA), home to the Congo rainforests, is the green heart of the otherwise dry continent of Africa. Despite its crucial role in the Earth system, ... More
Western and Central Equatorial Africa (WCEA), home to the Congo rainforests, is the green heart of the otherwise dry continent of Africa. Despite its crucial role in the Earth system, WCEA’s climate variability has received little attention compared to the rest of Africa. Climate variability in the region is a result of complex interactions among various features acting on local and global scales. The mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) that have a preferentially westward propagation and present a distinct diurnal cycle are the main source of rainfall in the region. As a result of strong MCS activity, WCEA stands out as a convective anomaly within the tropics and experiences the world’s most intense thunderstorms as well as the highest lightning flash rates. The moisture of the region is supplied primarily from the Atlantic Ocean, with additional contributions from local recycling and East Africa. WCEA, in turn, serves as a moisture source for other parts of the continent.
One striking characteristic of WCEA is its intrinsic heterogeneity with respect to interannual variability of rainfall, resulting in delineation of the region primarily in the zonal direction. This is in contrast to the meridionally oriented spatial variability of the annual cycle and underlines the fact that driving factors of the two can be quite different. The annual cycle is mainly determined by the seasonal excursion of the sun. However, the interannual and intraseasonal variability of the region are modulated by remote forcings from all three oceans, reflected via zonal atmospheric cells and equatorial wave dynamics. The local atmospheric jets and regional Walker-like circulations also contribute to WCEA’s climate variability by modulating the moisture transport and vertical motion.
The region has experienced an increasing rate of deforestation in recent decades and has made a significant contribution to the global biomass burning emissions that can alter regional and global circulation, along with energy and water cycles. The mean annual temperature of the region has increased by about 1°C in the past 70 years. The annual rainfall over the same period presents a negative trend, though that is quite negligible in the eastern sector of the region.
Climate Policy and Governance across Africa
Opha Pauline Dube
Africa, a continent with the largest number of countries falling under the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), remains highly dependent on rain-fed agriculture that suffers from low intake of water, exacerbating the vulnerability to climate variability and anthropogenic climate change. The increasing frequency and severity of climate extremes impose major strains on the economies of these countries. The loss of livelihoods due to interaction of climate change with existing stressors is elevating internal and cross-border migration. The continent is experiencing rapid urbanization, and its cities represent the most vulnerable locations to climate change due in part to incapacitated local governance. Overall, the institutional capacity to coordinate, regulate, and facilitate development in Africa is weak. The general public is less empowered to hold government accountable. The rule of law, media, and other watchdog organizations, and systems of checks and balances are constrained in different ways, contributing to poor governance and resulting in low capacity to respond to climate risks.
As a result, climate policy and governance are inseparable in Africa, and capacitating the government is as essential as establishing climate policy. With the highest level of vulnerability to climate change compared with the rest of the world, governance in Africa is pivotal in crafting and implementing viable climate policies.
It is indisputable that African climate policy should focus first and foremost on adaptation to climate change. It is pertinent, therefore, to assess Africa’s governance ability to identify and address the continent’s needs for adaptation. One key aspect of effective climate policy is access to up-to-date and contextually relevant information that encompasses indigenous knowledge. African countries have endeavored to meet international requirements for reports such as the National Communications on Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerabilities and the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs). However, the capacity to deliver on-time quality reports is lacking; also the implementation, in particular integration of adaptation plans into the overall development agenda, remains a challenge. There are a few successes, but overall adaptation operates mainly at project level. Furthermore, the capacity to access and effectively utilize availed international resources, such as extra funding or technology transfer, is limited in Africa.
While the continent is an insignificant source of emissions on a global scale, a more forward looking climate policy would require integrating adaptation with mitigation to put in place a foundation for transformation of the development agenda, towards a low carbon driven economy. Such a futuristic approach calls for a comprehensive and robust climate policy governance that goes beyond climate to embrace the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030. Both governance and climate policy in Africa will need to be viewed broadly, encompassing the process of globalization, which has paved the way to a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. The question is, what should be the focus of climate policy and governance across Africa under the Anthropocene era?
Climatic Changes and Cultural Responses During the African Humid Period Recorded in Multi-Proxy Data
David McGee and Peter B. deMenocal
The expansion and intensification of summer monsoon precipitation in North and East Africa during the African Humid Period (AHP; c. 15,000–5,000 years before present) is recorded by a wide ... More
The expansion and intensification of summer monsoon precipitation in North and East Africa during the African Humid Period (AHP; c. 15,000–5,000 years before present) is recorded by a wide range of natural archives, including lake and marine sediments, animal and plant remains, and human archaeological remnants. Collectively this diverse proxy evidence provides a detailed portrait of environmental changes during the AHP, illuminating the mechanisms, temporal and spatial evolution, and cultural impacts of this remarkable period of monsoon expansion across the vast expanse of North and East Africa.
The AHP corresponds to a period of high local summer insolation due to orbital precession that peaked at ~11–10 ka, and it is the most recent of many such precessionally paced pluvial periods over the last several million years. Low-latitude sites in the North African tropics and Sahel record an intensification of summer monsoon precipitation at ~15 ka, associated with both rising summer insolation and an abrupt warming of the high northern latitudes at this time. Following a weakening of monsoon strength during the Younger Dryas cold period (12.9–11.7 ka), proxy data point to peak intensification of the West African monsoon between 10–8 ka. These data document lake and wetland expansions throughout almost all of North Africa, expansion of grasslands, shrubs and even some tropical trees throughout much of the Sahara, increases in Nile and Niger River runoff, and proliferation of human settlements across the modern Sahara. The AHP was also marked by a pronounced reduction in windblown mineral dust emissions from the Sahara.
Proxy data suggest a time-transgressive end of the AHP, as sites in the northern and eastern Sahara become arid after 8–7 ka, while sites closer to the equator became arid later, between 5–3 ka. Locally abrupt drops in precipitation or monsoon strength appear to have been superimposed on this gradual, insolation-paced decline, with several sites to the north and east of the modern arid/semi-arid boundary showing evidence of century-scale shifts to drier conditions around 5 ka. This abrupt drying appears synchronous with rapid depopulation of the North African interior and an increase in settlement along the Nile River, suggesting a relationship between the end of the AHP and the establishment of proto-pharaonic culture.
Proxy data from the AHP provide an important testing ground for model simulations of mid-Holocene climate. Comparisons with proxy-based precipitation estimates have long indicated that mid-Holocene simulations by general circulation models substantially underestimate the documented expansion of the West African monsoon during the AHP. Proxy data point to potential feedbacks that may have played key roles in amplifying monsoon expansion during the AHP, including changes in vegetation cover, lake surface area, and mineral dust loading.
This article also highlights key areas for future research. Among these are the role of land surface and mineral aerosol changes in amplifying West African monsoon variability; the nature and drivers of monsoon variability during the AHP; the response of human populations to the end of the AHP; and understanding locally abrupt drying at the end of the AHP.
Clustering Techniques in Climate Analysis
David M. Straus
Clustering techniques are used in the analysis of weather and climate to identify discrete groups of atmospheric and oceanic structures and evolutions that occur more frequently than would ... More
Clustering techniques are used in the analysis of weather and climate to identify discrete groups of atmospheric and oceanic structures and evolutions that occur more frequently than would be expected based on a background distribution, such as a multivariate Gaussian distribution. Some of the techniques identify states that are also unusually long-lived (or persistent). Familiar examples of atmospheric states identified from cluster analysis include a small number of seasonal mean midlatitude response patterns to El Niño events, and on intra-seasonal timescales the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Pacific–North America patterns. On weather timescales, cluster analysis has been used to objectively identify a number of typical synoptic patterns familiar to forecasters. Cluster analysis has also been used to categorize cyclone tracks.
A large variety of clustering techniques are available. One approach is to determine whether the underlying probability distribution contains multiple, distinct peaks, and to identify these peaks. The existence of more than one peak would indicate the existence of preferred states. These techniques rely on kernel density estimation and mixture modeling, and are most successful when applied to a very low-dimensional representation of the state space. The identification of multiple preferred states in higher dimensional representations can be achieved with the k-means and hierarchical clustering techniques. These techniques can be applied to cyclone tracks as well as to the usual meteorological variables.
In certain applications it may be desirable to allow a given state to belong to multiple clusters with differing probabilities. The mixture modeling technique gives such probabilities, as does the fuzzy clustering generalization of the k-means approach. A technique that tries to objectively identify an ordered array of states (or patterns) that best fit the underlying distribution in some sense makes use of self-organizing maps.
An alternative approach that identifies not only preferred states but also ones that are unusually persistent is the Hidden Markov method. The Hidden Markov method makes use of an underlying “hidden variable” whose evolution is modeled by a Markov process. This method can be generalized further to detect long-term changes in the population of the clusters by letting the evolution of the hidden state be governed by a non-stationary finite element vector autoregressive factor process.
Cognitive Biases, Non-Rational Judgments, and Public Perceptions of Climate Change
Lisa Zaval and James F. M. Cornwell
In recent years, scientists have identified cognitive processes that short-circuit our deliberative faculties. In the domain of climate change in particular, a number of psychological ... More
In recent years, scientists have identified cognitive processes that short-circuit our deliberative faculties. In the domain of climate change in particular, a number of psychological barriers and biases may disrupt typical discourse and reflection and may even prevent those who are aware of climate change from taking action to mitigate or reduce its impact. These processes include the use of heuristic versions of calculation-based decisions to reduce processing load, which can make climate change judgments responsive to situational factors in the immediate decision context. Recent research in the decision sciences provides insight into how common biases in judgment inhibit rational deliberation about climate change, which may lead to the gap between society’s recognition of environmental problems and society’s frequent failure to address them appropriately. These insights involve the finite nature of human attention and cognitive resources, the complex interactions of personal experience and emotion, the challenges that uncertainty and risk place on behavior, and the profoundly social nature of human action. Understanding these barriers and systematic biases have led to a set of potential interventions, which demonstrate how practitioners can put research insights into practice in order to address a variety of sustainability challenges. One important direction for these interventions involves changing the decision context in ways that account for decision bias (e.g., using green defaults) and triggering more adaptive decisions as a result.
Communicating about Biodiversity, Public Engagement, and Climate Change
Mikko Rask and Richard Worthington
Policy, Politics, and Governance, Communication
The term public engagement (PE) refers to processes that provide a distinct role for citizens or stakeholder groups in policymaking. Such engagement is distinctive because it aims to ... More
The term public engagement (PE) refers to processes that provide a distinct role for citizens or stakeholder groups in policymaking. Such engagement is distinctive because it aims to create opportunities for mutual learning among policymakers, scientists, stakeholders, and members of the public. In so doing, PE involves a particular type of voice in public debate and policymaking that is different from more established discourses, such as those expressed through official policymaking channels, scientific institutions, civil society activists, or the public media. By the early 1970s, PE had emerged in the context of an overall democratization movement in Western societies through such innovations as the “citizen jury” in the United States and “planning cells” in Germany. Today, it is often more pragmatically motivated, such as in the European Commission, where PE is seen as a tool for responsible research and innovation that helps to anticipate and assess potential implications and societal expectations of research and innovation, as well as to design more inclusive and sustainable research policies.
The first global PE processes in history were created to incorporate citizen voices into United Nations (UN) conventions on biodiversity and climate change. Building on theories of deliberative democracy and tested PE practices, a new World Wide Views process was developed to provide informed and considered input from ordinary citizens to the 2009 UN climate summit. This and subsequent World Wide Views (WWViews) deliberations have demonstrated that PE may potentially open up policy discourses that are constricted and obfuscated by organized interests. A telling example is provided by the World Wide Views on Climate and Energy deliberation held on June 5, 2015, where nearly 10,000 ordinary citizens gathered in 76 countries to consider and express their views on the issues to be addressed at the UN climate summit in Paris later that year. In a noteworthy departure from prevailing media and policy discourses, two-thirds of the participating citizens saw measures to fight climate change as “mostly an opportunity to improve our quality of life,” while only a quarter saw them as “mostly a threat to our quality of life,” a result that was consistent across high-, middle-, and low-income countries.
Recent research on PE has indicated that when effectively implemented, such processes can increase the legitimacy, quality, and capacity of decision-making. Earlier aspirations for broader impacts, such as the democratization of policymaking at all levels, are now less prominent but arguably indispensable for achieving both immediate and longer-range goals. The relatively new concept of a deliberative system captures this complexity by moving beyond the narrow focus on single PE events encountered in much research to date, recognizing that single events rarely affect the course of policymaking. The evolving prospects for PE in biodiversity and climate change policy, therefore, can be seen as requiring ongoing improvements in the capacities of the deliberative system.
Communicating about Biofuels and Climate Change
Michael A. Cacciatore
Biofuels are produced from biomass, which is any organic matter that can be burned or otherwise used to produce heat or energy. While not a new technology—biofuels have been around for ... More
Biofuels are produced from biomass, which is any organic matter that can be burned or otherwise used to produce heat or energy. While not a new technology—biofuels have been around for well over 100 years—they are experiencing something of a renaissance in the United States and other countries across the globe. Today, biofuels have become the single most common alternative energy source in the U.S. transportation sector with billions of gallons of the fuel produced annually.
The expansion of the bio-based economy in recent years has been intertwined with mounting concerns about environmental pollution and the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere. In the United States, for example, biofuels mandates have been championed as key to solving not only the country’s increasing energy demand problems and reliance on foreign oil, but also growing fears about global climate change.
Of course, the use of biomass and biofuels to combat global climate change has been highly controversial. While proponents argue that biofuels burn cleaner than gasoline, research has suggested that any reductions in CO2 emissions are offset by land use considerations and the energy required in the biofuels-production process. How publics perceive of climate change as a problem and the use of biomass and biofuels as potential solutions will go a long way toward determining the policies that government’s implement to address this issue.
Communicating about Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as a potential strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It involves the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large point ... More
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as a potential strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It involves the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large point source emitters, such as coal-fired power plants. The CO2 is transported to a storage location, where it is isolated from the atmosphere in stable underground reservoirs. CCS technology has been particularly intriguing to countries that utilize fossil fuels for energy production and are seeking ways to reduce their GHG emissions. While there has been an increase in technological development and research in CCS, some members of the public, industry, and policymakers regard the technology as controversial. Some proponents see CCS as a climate change mitigation technology that will be essential to reducing CO2 emissions. Others view CCS as an environmentally risky, complex, and expensive technology that is resource-intensive, promotes the continued extraction of fossil fuels, and competes with renewable energy investments.
Effective communication about CCS begins with understanding the perceptions of the general public and individuals living in the communities where CCS projects are sited or proposed. Most people may never live near a CCS site, but may be concerned about risks, such as the cost of development, environmental impacts, and competition with renewable energy sources. Those who live near proposed or operational projects are likely to have a strong impact on the development and deployment of CCS. Individuals in locally affected communities may be more concerned about disruptions to sense of place, impact on jobs or economy, or effect on local health and environment. Effective communication about the risks and benefits of CCS has been recognized as a critical factor in the deployment of this technology.
Communicating about Carbon Taxes and Emissions Trading Programs
Erick Lachapelle
Policy, Politics, and Governance, Future Climate Change Scenarios, Communication
In debates surrounding policy options for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, economists of various political stripes are near unanimous in their advocacy of putting a price on ... More
In debates surrounding policy options for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, economists of various political stripes are near unanimous in their advocacy of putting a price on carbon, whether through a tax or emissions trading program. Due to the visible costs imposed on industry and consumers, however, these policies have been resisted by carbon-intensive industries and by an ideologically divided public, producing incentives for vote-seeking politicians to avoid implementing comprehensive and stringent carbon prices within their own borders. In this highly politicized environment, and considering the more recent diffusion of market-based instruments across political jurisdictions around the world, researchers have sought to identify the conditions most favorable to implementing carbon taxes and cap-and-trade programs, the correlates of public support for these policies, and the extent to which different communication strategies may help build public support. How do experts, political leaders, and members of the public understand these policy instruments, and what specific approaches have been most successful in persuading policy makers and the public to support a price on carbon? In places that have yet to implement a carbon price, what can communication strategists learn from existing research and the experience of other jurisdictions where such policies have been successfully implemented? In places where carbon taxes or carbon cap-and-trade programs exist, how are the benefits of these policies best communicated to ensure the durability of carbon pricing policies over time?
Communicating About Clean Energy and Efficiency Policies
Matthew A. Shapiro, Toby Bolsen, and Anna McCaghren Fleming
Public opinion plays a central role in determining the feasibility of efforts to transform energy systems in the coming years, yet scholarship on communication effects and public opinion ... More
Public opinion plays a central role in determining the feasibility of efforts to transform energy systems in the coming years, yet scholarship on communication effects and public opinion about clean energy and energy efficiency seems to have expanded only relatively recently. There is a growing body of work that explores how targeted and strategically framed messages affect individuals’ beliefs and motivations to act on matters affecting household energy choices as well as energy policies. One must attend particularly to the principal communication-based factors that shape the public’s understanding of clean energy sources and promote efficiencies in energy use. To better understand the communication vehicles for improving both household energy efficiency and conservation, two research foci are most relevant: (1) field experiments that primarily assess how household energy consumption shifts after receiving energy consumption reports and (2) surveys/laboratory experiments that focus on the nuances of energy-related communications, paying particular attention to the role of politics and ideology. This bimodal classification of clean energy and efficiency communication research genres is not exhaustive but can be synthesized into two major contributions. First, providing households with information about specific benefits that would result from a greater reliance on clean energy may increase support for its development and move individuals toward energy efficiency outcomes; however, exposure to counter-messages that emphasize costs associated with clean energy and the associated policies can negate the effects of pro-clean energy messages. Second, there is still no reprieve from the politicization of energy, and thus the role of partisanship and motivated reasoning must be accounted for when assessing how individuals modify their decision-making processes regarding energy efficiency.
Communicating About Climate Change, Natural Gas Development, and “Fracking”: U.S. and International Perspectives
Christopher E. Clarke, Dylan Budgen, Darrick T.N. Evensen, Richard C. Stedman, Hilary S. Boudet, and Jeffrey B. Jacquet
The impacts associated with unconventional natural gas development (UGD) via hydraulic fracturing have generated considerable controversy and introduced terms such as “fracking” into the ... More
The impacts associated with unconventional natural gas development (UGD) via hydraulic fracturing have generated considerable controversy and introduced terms such as “fracking” into the public lexicon. From a climate change perspective, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources in order to potentially avoid the worst consequences of a warming planet will need to also consider the climate implications of increased UGD and natural gas use that follows. Specifically, how much greenhouse gas is emitted as natural gas is extracted, transported, and consumed relative to other energy sources? Is UGD a “cleaner” energy source? Compared to what? Does it postpone or “bridge” the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy?
Public perception of UGD’s climate impacts not only reflect individual attitudes but broader social discourse among stakeholder groups. Understanding these perceptions, their psychological and social factors antecedents, and how to engage audiences on this topic will play a key role in UGD’s long-term trajectory, especially as it relates to climate change. An added challenge is that most public opinion studies specific to UGD’s climate impacts (and indeed UGD in general) are limited to the United States, Canada, and a few countries in Europe and Africa, with other parts of the world entirely absent. Nonetheless, the studies that do exist highlight several common themes. In particular, UGD tends to be viewed as cleaner relative to fossil fuels because of the belief it produces less carbon emissions as a result of natural gas extraction and consumption. However, it tends to be viewed as dirtier relative to renewables amid the belief that it increases carbon emissions. This finding complements research showing that natural gas occupies a middle ground between renewables and other fossil fuels in terms of acceptance. Moreover, the extent UGD serves as a bridge energy source remains contentious, with some arguing that it and the natural gas it produces complement fossil fuels and facilitates a transition to renewables, while others claim that UGD entrenches society’s continued reliance on the former. Overall, despite the contentious nature of these issues, UGD’s climate impacts appear less salient across countries than other health, environmental, and economic impacts, perhaps because they are psychologically distant and difficult to experience directly.
Amid efforts to convey the public health risks associated with a changing climate, we believe that emphasizing the public health dimensions of UGD’s climate impacts can potentially make them more psychologically tangible. Positively framed messages emphasize that reducing carbon emissions tied to both unconventional natural gas extraction and natural gas consumption (relative to other fossil fuels) and thus mitigating the resultant climate change that follows benefits public health. Conversely, negatively framed messages emphasize that increasing carbon emissions (relative to renewables) and thus amplifying the resultant climate change adversely affects public health. At present, though, there is little evidence as to how these messages affect the perceived connection between UGD’s climate impacts and public health and, in turn, support for UGD versus other energy types. Nor is it clear how these outcomes may vary across countries based on public sentiment toward UGD and climate change along with a variety of psychological and social factors that influence such sentiment. Data available for some countries offers tantalizing scenarios, but we remain limited due to the lack of social science research in countries outside the United States and a handful of others. We call for cross-national comparative studies that include places where UGD—and social science research on it—is still maturing.
Communicating about Climate Change with Corporate Leaders and Stakeholders
Within the corporate sector, climate change represents an unfolding market shift, one that is driven by policy but also by pressures from a variety of market constituents such as ... More
Within the corporate sector, climate change represents an unfolding market shift, one that is driven by policy but also by pressures from a variety of market constituents such as consumers, suppliers, buyers, insurance companies, banks, and others. The shift takes place in both mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the physical effects of a changing climate. It is manifest in shifts in market demand, cost of capital, operational efficiency, energy efficiency, access to raw materials within supply chains, and other issues of business concern. In fact, when viewed in this way, business leaders and stakeholders can be agnostic about the science of climate change and still see it as a business issue. In the face of a market shift, successful companies must innovate. And as in any market shift, the implications of addressing climate change are not uniform; the burden will not fall evenly. There are both risks and opportunities; there will be both winners and losers. Certain companies, industries, and sectors will be impacted more than others. This article will discuss the ways in which climate change poses market risk and the strategic responses that companies might adopt to respond to and mitigate that risk. This focus is critically important as the solutions to climate change must come from the market. The market is the most powerful institution on earth, and business is the most powerful entity within it. The market compels business to make the goods and services we rely upon: the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the forms of mobility we use, and the buildings we live and work in. If the market does not lead the way toward solutions for a carbon-neutral world, there will be no solutions.
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Ruben Kihuen & Cedric Richmond
Compare the voting records of Ruben Kihuen and Cedric Richmond in 2017-18.
Ruben Kihuen
Represented Nevada's 4th Congressional District. This is his 1st term in the House.
Cedric Richmond
Represented Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. This is his 4th term in the House.
Ruben Kihuen and Cedric Richmond are from the same party and agreed on 93 percent of votes in the 115th Congress (2017-18).
Sept. 6, 2018 — Ensuring Small Scale LNG Certainty and Access Act
Sept. 28, 2017 — Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017
Sept. 14, 2017 — Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act
July 19, 2017 — Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act
June 15, 2017 — Broader Options for Americans Act
Nov. 30, 2017 — Grijalva of Arizona Amendment
Sept. 25, 2017 — Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act
May 22, 2017 — Strengthening Children’s Safety Act of 2017
May 22, 2017 — Global Child Protection Act of 2017
March 2, 2017 — Farenthold of Texas Part A Amendment No. 2
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Bruce Poliquin & Will Hurd
Compare the voting records of Bruce Poliquin and Will Hurd in 2017-18.
Bruce Poliquin
Represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District. This is his 2nd term in the House.
Represented Texas's 23rd Congressional District. This is his 2nd term in the House.
Bruce Poliquin and Will Hurd are from the same party and agreed on 95 percent of votes in the 115th Congress (2017-18).
But they didn't always agree. Out of 1167 votes in the 115th Congress, they disagreed on 54 votes, including 8 major votes.
May 4, 2017 — American Health Care Act
Feb. 1, 2017 — Disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior known as the Stream Protection Rule
July 18, 2018 — Carbajal of California Amendment No. 81
June 21, 2018 — Providing for consideration of H.R. 4760, the Securing America’s Future Act of 2018
Sept. 14, 2017 — Palmer of Alabama Amendment No. 192
Sept. 13, 2017 — Polis of Colorado Amendment No. 75
Sept. 7, 2017 — Lowenthal of California Amendment No. 39
Sept. 7, 2017 — Ellison of Minnesota Amendment No. 38
Sept. 7, 2017 — Yoho of Florida Part B Amendment No. 110
Sept. 7, 2017 — Rothfus of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 91
July 27, 2017 — Providing for further consideration of the bill (H.R. 3219) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2018, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules
July 26, 2017 — Pingree of Maine Amendment No. 54
July 18, 2017 — Castor of Florida Amendment No. 1
March 1, 2017 — Moore of Wisconsin Amendment No. 11
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Ileana Ros-Lehtinen & Ralph Norman
Compare the voting records of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ralph Norman in 2017-18.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Represented Florida's 27th Congressional District. This is her 15th term in the House.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ralph Norman are from the same party and agreed on 82 percent of votes in the 115th Congress (2017-18).
But they didn't always agree. Out of 723 votes in the 115th Congress, they disagreed on 130 votes, including 26 major votes.
June 21, 2018 — Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018
May 18, 2018 — Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018
May 9, 2018 — Citizens’ Right to Know Act
May 8, 2018 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act”
April 25, 2018 — To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes
Feb. 6, 2018 — Further Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018
Jan. 18, 2018 — Federal Register Printing Savings Act
Dec. 21, 2017 — Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017
Dec. 6, 2017 — Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017
Nov. 30, 2017 — Minnesota’s Economic Rights in the Superior National Forest Act
June 29, 2017 — No Sanctuary for Criminals Act
June 28, 2017 — Protecting Access to Care Act
Nov. 14, 2018 — Providing for consideration of H.R. 6784, the Manage our Wolves Act; and providing for proceedings during the period from November 19, 2018, through November 26, 2018
July 19, 2018 — Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy
July 18, 2018 — McHenry of North Carolina Amendment No. 87
July 18, 2018 — Palmer of Alabama Amendment No. 83
July 18, 2018 — Gallego of Arizona Amendment No. 51
July 18, 2018 — Goodlatte of Virginia Amendment No. 50
July 18, 2018 — Mullin of Oklahoma Amendment No. 44
July 18, 2018 — Adams of North Carolina Amendment No. 29
June 8, 2018 — Meadows of North Carolina Part B Amendment No. 15
June 8, 2018 — Gohmert of Texas Part B Amendment No. 10
June 7, 2018 — Beyer of Virginia Part B Amendment No. 18
May 17, 2018 — Young of Alaska Part C Amendment No. 14
Agreed to by a margin of 1 vote.
Feb. 15, 2018 — Langevin of Rhode Island Part A Amendment No. 2
Oct. 5, 2017 — Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027
July 27, 2017 — Suozzi of New York Part B Amendment No. 10
July 18, 2017 — McNerney of California Amendment No. 5
July 18, 2017 — Beyer of Virginia Amendment No. 3
July 18, 2017 — Tonko of New York Amendment No. 2
July 13, 2017 — Hartzler of Missouri Amendment No. 10
June 28, 2017 — Hudson of North Carolina Amendment No. 4
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Greg Walden & Mark DeSaulnier
Compare the voting records of Greg Walden and Mark DeSaulnier in 2017-18.
Represented Oregon's 2nd Congressional District. This is his 10th term in the House.
Represented California's 11th Congressional District. This is his 2nd term in the House.
Greg Walden and Mark DeSaulnier are from different parties and disagreed on 68 percent of votes in the 115th Congress (2017-18).
Sept. 8, 2017 — Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities, easements, and rights-of-way to the Kennewick Irrigation District, and for other purposes
Dec. 19, 2018 — National Quantum Initiative Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — Water Infrastructure Improvement Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — SECURE Technology Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — State Offices of Rural Health Reauthorization Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act
Dec. 19, 2018 — Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2017
June 19, 2018 — Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement Communities Protection Act of 2018
June 19, 2018 — Securing Opioids and Unused Narcotics with Deliberate Disposal and Packaging Act of 2018
Sept. 13, 2017 — Blackburn of Tennessee Amendment No. 174
Sept. 13, 2017 — Meadows of North Carolina Amendment No. 172
Sept. 8, 2017 — Blackburn of Tennessee Amendment No. 55
Sept. 7, 2017 — Biggs of Arizona Amendment No. 29
Sept. 7, 2017 — Grothman of Wisconsin Part B of Amendment No. 99
Sept. 7, 2017 — King of Iowa Part B Amendment No. 80, as modified
Sept. 6, 2017 — Smith of Missouri Part B Amendment No. 56
Sept. 6, 2017 — King of Iowa Part B Amendment No. 51
Sept. 6, 2017 — McClintock of California Part B Amendment No. 25
June 26, 2017 — Veterans Expanded Trucking Opportunities Act of 2017
June 6, 2017 — Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Manchester, United Kingdom, on May 22, 2017, expressing heartfelt condolences, and reaffirming unwavering support for the special relationship between our peoples and nations in the wake of these attacks
June 6, 2017 — Condemning the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16, 2017, and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future
March 27, 2017 — Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act
March 27, 2017 — To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster
March 20, 2017 — DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017
March 20, 2017 — DHS Multiyear Acquisition Strategy Act of 2017
March 20, 2017 — Reducing DHS Acquisition Cost Growth Act
March 15, 2017 — To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to amend the Definite Plan Report for the Seedskadee Project to enable the use of the active capacity of the Fontenelle Reservoir
March 15, 2017 — Arbuckle Project Maintenance Complex and District Office Conveyance Act of 2017
March 7, 2017 — To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the Faleomavaega Eni Fa’aua’a Hunkin VA Clinic
Feb. 13, 2017 — BRAVE Act
Feb. 13, 2017 — HIRE Vets Act
Jan. 30, 2017 — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act of 2017
Jan. 30, 2017 — To remove the sunset provision of section 203 of Public Law 105-384 and for other purposes
Jan. 9, 2017 — Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017
Jan. 9, 2017 — Improving Access to Maternity Care Act
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Galleries : Great Plains Galleries : Wisconsin : Gerald H. Emmerich Jr
Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr., HonPSA, GMPSA/B
Gerry joined the Photographic Society of America (PSA) in 1979, and his service to the Society has covered many positions, including Chapters Committee Chair; International Conference Committee Equipment Chair, Chapters Showcase Director, Photo Travel TOPS Chair, and Region Director for PSA Region 21. In 2001 Gerry was awarded PSA's Region Director of the Year award, and in 2003 he was the recipient of PSA's Peabody Award for General Photography. In 2012 He received the prestigious President's Award.
Gerry served on the PSA Board of Directors as PSA Conventions Vice President from 2003 to 2009 and served as PSA Secretary and member of the PSA Executive and Finance Committees from 2009 to 2013. Gerry was the treasurer of the organizing committee for, and is a charter member of, the PSA Wisconsin Chapter, which received its Charter in 1992. He has served the Chapter for over 20 years, including service as Chapter Chairman, 1995-97; Program Chair, 1992-present; Equipment Chair, 1992-present; and Historian, 1994-present. In addition, he has been a member of the Image Makers Camera Club since 1975, and he is a charter member of the East Troy Viewfinders. He has served as chairman for the Viewfinders International Exhibition (North Star Circuit) since 2001, and he served as the chairman for the Image Makers International Exhibition (Wisconsin Circuit) from 1996 to 2013.
Gerry is a multiple-galaxy exhibitor in four PSA Divisions: Projected Image, Nature, Photojournalism, and Photo Travel; and he has been a PSA TOPS contributor in four Divisions since 2003. He has over 5,800 acceptances in international exhibitions, including 33 best of show awards. Since 2000 Gerry has been listed in PSA's Who's Who in Photography as a top exhibitor in North America, often in four divisions, and he was first in the world in the projected Photojournalism Division section in 2011. His photos of Hawaii were featured in the "Distinctive Image" article in the September 2004 PSA Journal, and his photos of unique natural areas in Wisconsin were featured in The Nature Conservancy (TNC-Wisconsin) calendars from 1992 through 2009.
Gerald H. Emmerich Jr
Gerald H. Emmerich Jr - ROPA
Don Frisque - ROPA
Brian Hartnell
Joseph Kubala - ROPA
Dennis C. Poeschel - ROPA
Carl Simmerman
Marty Welter
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Does teen cannabis use lead to behavior problems—or vice versa?
More youth use cannabis than smoke cigarettes in the United States. In other parts of the world, cannabis use has become almost as regular as tobacco use among adolescents and young adults.
With relaxed laws governing cannabis use in many U.S. states and localities, there is mixed and limited research on whether increasing legalization could lead to other unhealthy behaviors in addition to substance use disorders.
Now, new research led by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) finds that cannabis use among teens does not appear to lead to greater conduct problems or greater affiliation with other teens who smoke cannabis, associations that previous research had suggested to be possible.
Instead, it’s the other way around: It is adolescents with conduct problems or whose friends use cannabis who are more likely to gravitate toward cannabis use. And that “cascading chain of events” appears to predict cannabis use disorder as the teens become young adults, according to the study, published in the journal Addiction.
“Cannabis use in and of itself does not appear to lead to conduct problems, or increasing attraction to peers who use cannabis,” says co-author Dan Romer, research director of the APPC.
The study follows a group of Philadelphia adolescents over eight years.
“Previous studies have not been as able to isolate the effects of cannabis use in adolescents,” Romer adds. “But because we had measurements over the entire period of adolescence, we were able to disentangle the effects of cannabis use itself from other influences.”
Read more at the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Penn Today Staff Writer
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BMW M2 Competition breaks another unusual record (video)
Alexi Falson Aug 24, 2018
BMW, Car News, M, Records, Turbo, Videos
Alexi Falson
BMW is continuing its quest to take out existing records set by humans. The next stunt will include strapping a sword to the rear of an M2 Competition and cutting things down. Yep.
Just a few weeks after BMW’s M division released a pretty obscure promotion of the M2 Competition popping 79 balloons in a minute with a laser beam of all things, its marketing team is back with an even more obscure record to break.
This time an M2 Competition is being fitted with what looks like a samurai’s katana in an effort to cut through at least 87 straw poles with a series of drifts and handbrake maneuvres.
In that span of one minute, the M2 Competition appears to have cut 117 straws, beating the goal of 87. It makes a clear statement to those customers out there – with a spare $100,000 – interested in strapping swords to the outside of their car, that the M2 Competition is the outright champion, and thus the car for you.
Just as a refresher, the M2 Competition is the most hardcore 2 Series offering to date. It’s coming to Australia in two forms: the semi-stripped back M2 Competition Pure, priced from $99,990, while a top-of-the-range M2 Competition will set you back $104,900.
Both models are powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine producing 302kW/550Nm of torque. It’s a detuned version of the ‘S55′ BMW M engine powering the M3 and M4.
The engine comes matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, coupled with rear-wheel drive power delivery. Buyers can opt for a six-speed manual at no added cost, and acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 4.2 seconds. See the video below for how it performed in the stunt.
BMW M2, BMW M2 Competition
BMW M2 Competition breaks 1-minute balloon-popping record (video) July 31, 2018
Lamborghini Aventador SVJ breaks Nurburgring lap record (video) July 26, 2018
2018 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Estate breaks Nurburgring record (video) November 10, 2017
Ekanoo Racing Porsche 911 breaks PDK 1/4 mile record (video) October 19, 2017
Alexi is a contributing news journalist and junior road tester at PerformanceDrive. He has a passion and appreciation for the engineering in cars, as well as new technologies that lessen the impact on the environment. His dream cars are an M3 to drive to work, and a LaFerrari for the weekend.
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Raco Resources/ BLOG / Happy 60th Birthday, Barcode!
Happy 60th Birthday, Barcode!
Oct 05, 2012 / Written by Woody Myers
This weekend is a big milestone for all of us in the data collection field. The first barcode patent was filed sixty years ago this Sunday. As you can see, it’s very different from the barcodes we’re familiar with today.
U.S. inventors Norman Woodland and Bernard Silver had devised a way to encode data in a bull’s-eye pattern.
Their idea didn’t immediately take off because the technology to read bar codes wasn’t available. That’s because at least two required components?lasers and digital-image sensors called charged-coupled devices, or CCDs?hadn’t been invented yet.
By then the bar code’s bull’s-eye pattern had been replaced by the black and white vertical lines still used today in the U.S. and Canada?the universal product code, or UPC.
The familiar bar code stripes had been devised to accommodate the archaic printing technology of the day, which dated back to World War I, explained George Laurer, the retired IBM engineer who invented the UPC.
A couple decades later, the barcode made its way into our everyday lives when a pack of gum was scanned at a grocery store in Troy, Ohio. Here’s our interview with the project manager who guided Marsh Supermarket through this process.
For more information about what the barcode can do for your business, contact a product specialist at 1-800-446-1991.
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Tony Fenton Foundation set up to raise awareness
Published: February 15, 2016 - 4:35 pm
The Tony Fenton Foundation has been set up by Tony’s brother, Paul Faganm, to continue the work Tony did during his illness.
The former Today FM and 2fm presenter was encouraging Irish men to stay on top of their health and the Foundation hopes to raise awareness and funds towards cancer research, in the areas of melanoma and prostate cancers.
Paul says: “Tony was loved for a wide variety of reasons – a national broadcaster, a great and loyal friend, a mentor, a partner, an uncle, a brother… but one of Tony’s most important roles came in the latter part of his life when he became an ambassador for raising awareness amongst men for melanoma and prostate cancers.
“When Tony was diagnosed with melanoma in 2010, and a year later, prostate cancer, he was totally devastated. As someone in the public eye, he preferred to keep his personal life private so was reluctant to speak openly about it. However, when asked to talk on-air to his Today FM colleague Matt Cooper about his diagnosis, illness and treatment, he saw it as an opportunity to raise awareness and, in particular to encourage Irish men to be more proactive in terms of looking after their health. This was the start of a new and brave journey for Tony, in helping others in the same position, which also gave him added strength to continue his own fight”.
Tony lost his battle with the illness on 12 March 2015, devastating his family, large circle of friends, colleagues, and listeners alike.
Tony loved to live life to the full and always wanted others to have fun too, so with exciting events planned for during the year, the Foundation hopes to keep Tony’s memory alive, whilst raising money for a great cause.
Tony Fenton
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George Hook moves to weekends at Newstalk
Published: September 25, 2017 - 11:30 am
George Hook is moving to weekends on Newstalk following a review of his situation recently.
In a statement to RadioToday, the station says: “Newstalk has now concluded the process which reviewed the circumstances that led to George Hook’s comments on rape recently. The station confirms that George Hook will be stepping down from his lunchtime slot. He will return to the station in December 2017 when he will take on a new weekend show. Newstalk will shortly be announcing a replacement for the lunchtime show.”
Calls have been made for the 76 year old to leave the station after his comments and it is understood a number of complaints were made to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
george hook
RTÉ 2FM’s brand new summer schedule launched
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Home world Anti-Muslim rallies across US denounced by civil rights groups
Anti-Muslim rallies across US denounced by civil rights groups
So-called ‘anti-Sharia’ rallies across almost 30 US cities come as hate crimes on the rise, prompting criticism and counter-protests
A wave of anti-Muslim rallies planned for almost 30 cities across the US on Saturday by far-right activists has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and inspired counter-protests nationwide.
A number of small protests took place and in many places, including New York and Chicago, a few dozen “anti-Sharia” demonstrators were outnumbered by counter-protesters.
Hundreds of counter-protesters marched through Seattle on Saturday to confront a few dozen people claiming Sharia was incompatible with western freedoms. The counter protesters banged drums, cymbals and cowbells behind a large sign saying “Seattle stands with our Muslim neighbors.” Participants chanted “No hate, no fear, Muslims are welcome here” on their way to City Hall, while a phalanx of bicycle police officers separated them from an anti-Sharia rally.
Later, Seattle police used tear gas to disperse rowdy demonstrators and made several arrests. The department said it was still reviewing how many people were arrested and what charges they might face.
Elsewhere, in St Paul in Minnesota, police made seven arrests as fights broke out during demonstrations there.
The rallies have been organized by Act for America, which claims to be protesting about human rights violations but has been deemed an anti-Muslim hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The demonstrations prompted security fears at mosques across the country and come at a time when hate crimes against Muslims are on the rise.
A coalition of 129 national and local organizations amplified concerns on Friday in a letter urging mayors to denounce the marches, which also coincide with Ramadan, the holy month in which Muslims fast during the daylight hours.
The Saturday rallies in Chicago occurred near a building developed by Donald Trump. Giant letters spelling out “Trump” loomed on the high-rise over the more than 100 protesters.
About 30 demonstrators stood to one side of a street holding signs that read “Ban Sharia” and “Sharia abuses women”. Just across the street, a larger and more vocal group of around 75 people chanted at them, “Racists out!”
A small group also stood at a nearby George Washington monument, chanting, “America first!” Some wore red hats with Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again”. A dozen police surrounded them as counter-protesters shouted several feet away.
A similar scene played out in a park near a New York courthouse, where counter-protesters sounded air-horns and banged pots and pans in an effort to silence an anti-Sharia rally. “The theme of today is drowning out racism,” said New York counter-protester Tony Murphy, standing next to demonstrators with colorful earplugs. “The more racists get a platform, the more people get attacked.”
At least one planned rally was canceled in Portland, Oregon, where two men were fatally stabbed last month while defending two Muslim women from a man who taunted them with racial slurs.
“We are deeply concerned about the type of message that these protests send to the American public and to the good people in your city, that it is acceptable to vilify people simply because of their faith,” the groups wrote on Friday in their letter to 29 mayors.
“We, the undersigned national and local civil rights, faith-based, and community organizations, ask that you use your voice as an elected representative of your city to reject bigotry.”
At least some elected officials condemned the rallies, which they argued would promote fear and hatred under the guise of free speech. “We need to remember that we’re strong when we’re united,” said the US representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat who hails from Dearborn, Michigan, where roughly 40% of the residents are Muslim.
“They will not win, they will not divide this country and they will be total failures on Saturday,” Dingell said Thursday on Capitol Hill, “because we will be united against that hatred.”
Concerns within the Muslim American community have risen since the election of Trump, whose campaign routinely drew upon Islamophobic comments. The president pledged to ban Muslims from entering the US, falsely claimed Muslims celebrated on rooftops in New Jersey on 9/11 and suggested Barack Obama sympathized with extremists.
The FBI has documented a surge in anti-Muslim hate crimes in recent years, reporting a 67% spike between 2014 and 2015 of incidents motivated by bias against Muslims, Arabs, South Asian and other immigrant communities.
In some cities, hundreds of protesters will take to the streets to counteract the anti-Muslim marches. One such event is the Fasting 5K, a marathon to take place in 10 major US cities and Toronto.
The grassroots event, which raises money for charity targeting civic engagement among Muslim youth, was not initially planned in response to the anti-Muslim rallies. But it has taken on new meaning to its participants, according to the group’s founder, Farhaan Razi.
“While this Islamophobia is going on around the country, we can highlight the positive side of how Muslim Americans are supporting and being active members of their communities to counter that narrative,” Razi said.
“We looked at it as an opportunity.”
29 mayors,
American public,
anti-Muslim
community organizations,
Hate Trump not Muslims
hatred,
Islamophobic comments
local civil rights,
Muslim American community
reject bigotry,
user 222
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Learning to give Back
Students in SCASD are learning much more than required curriculum inside the classroom. They’re developing character-building life skills that will guide them through life, through many service opportunities offered through the district.
Students in SCASD are learning much more than required curriculum inside the classroom. They’re developing character-building life skills that will guide them through life, through many service opportunities offered through the district. Just a few recent examples include students who raised money for Syrian refugees, jumped rope for heart health (and raised $30,000!), and were recognized by President Barack Obama for teaching English to Malaysian refugee children.
Delta High School and Middle School students raised a total of $907.62 for Save the Children, a UN charity benefiting Syrian refugees, at an event at Webster's Cafe featuring live musical performances, debates, and poetry recitation.
State High senior Dina Kim recently received the national President's Volunteer Service Award for nearly 300 hours of community service teaching English to refugee children and translating letters for South Korean children. Kim’s translation work has included service with Compassion International, a Christian child‐sponsorship agency, and teaching English to Malaysian refugee children. The award included a congratulatory letter on White House stationery signed by President Barack Obama.
For the 16th year, Jump Rope for Heart was held at State High in early February, raising over $30,000 for the American Heart Association. 120 students from seven elementary schools in the district participated, jumping rope for 30 minutes straight. This year, district contributions surpassed the $500,000 mark for the event's history.
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Free Speech and Censorship News Tools
Apple stands in the way of Telegram’s censorship-free vision
Didi Rankovic June 19, 2019 0 Comments
Telegram is a platform that is enabling free means of communication on the web, just as censorship seems to be hitting the web from just about every other corner, regardless of ideology or (geo) politics involved.
The product's emphasis is on keeping the conversations confidential by using encryption, which means it should be free and allow people to exchange documents, videos, messages, and pictures privately, without outside snooping.
But in the real world, with so many moving targets and variables – can Telegram actually live up to its haughty promise of remaining a platform that would never be “censored by itself?” Especially when it has to partner with censorship-prone companies to get the app into your hands – if you're an iPhone user, that is.
Telegram is a cloud-based instant messaging and voice over IP service, whose client apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Linux, Windows NT, and macOS. Its client-side code is open-source software – but the source code for recent versions is not always immediately published. And the product's server-side is closed-source and proprietary – both of these being massive red flags that the founders need to credibly address at some point in the future, to the self-respecting crowd of users. That's surely very problematic in an of itself for a product peddled among a privacy and freedom-loving audience.
Be that as it may, the strife to achieve and control free speech seems to be the order of the day across the planet. It's uniting the unlikeliest of allies, at least on that one issue – and not caring if the platform they target is 100 percent free and open, like we may do.
No wonder then, that a platform like Telegram has somebody like Pavel Durov standing behind it, the founder of Russia's Facebook clone, VK, who has since left the country in favor of a self-imposed exile, and challenged it's, and many others' censorship policies.
And Durov is the one who now wants to build his own platform as that desirable place for many looking to escape arbitrary political or merely ideological censorship.
In 2018, Slate looked at the emerging technologies, public policy, and society to discover that the season's protest movement in Iran at the time produced a temporary ban on both (Facebook's) Instagram and Telegram.
“Although it only lasted two weeks, the ban had big implications in Iran, where the IP-based messaging app is immensely popular,” said the report.
Durov confirmed this Wednesday that his company suffered a “powerful” DDoS attack which hindered the platform's services for roughly one hour.
Telegram said that the attack affected users in the Americas as well as in other countries.
This attack reportedly came as activists in Hong Kong were using Telegram to coordinate protests over China's plan to allow extradition, Reclaim The Net reported at the time.
Telegram is undoubtedly acutely aware of the current climate in mainstream social media and among the most popular chat apps that either have to, for dear (financial) life – or choose to, for ‘heart'-felt political reasons – step up and control and police their content – and survive, as credible apps.
That is – on people's cross-platform desktops, and on Android. But if you'd like to run Telegram via the Apple Store on an Apple device, you may come up with such hurdles in your path as Apple blocking you from channels and informing you that your content is tantamount to “Hate Speech”:
The message you get on Telegram for iPhone when you try to access a Telegram channel that Apple wouldn't approve of.
…or indeed, pornography:
The message you get on Telegram for iPhone when you try to access a Telegram channel that may contain porn – something Apple doesn't approve of.
Note, that it's only when you use an Apple device that you'll be blocked from accessing content from a channel of your choosing on Telegram. If you download the app direct from Telegram on a desktop computer, you're allowed to access what you want without Telegram having to bend the knee to Apple's censors. This means that it's impossible to get an uncensored version of Telegram on Apple's iOS or iPadOS operating system.
This comes down to the good old, all-controlling Apple disliking any content that's “offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, in exceptionally poor taste, or just plain creepy.” (Yes, that's a direct quote from Apple's Guidelines.)
This includes negative references about religion, race, sexual orientation, gender, national/ethnic origin, or other “targeted groups.” But that's not always the case, Apple explains – the platform will act above all if any of the groups “targeted” by the app are “likely to humiliate, intimidate, or place a targeted individual or group in harm's way.”
Then comes the sigh of relief we've all been waiting for because, according to the Apple custodian of all things pure, fair, reasonable, protective, permitted, and fair onto their bit of the web – “Professional political satirists and humorists are generally exempt from this requirement.”
Generally? OK, that's not as big a sign of relief as we may have hoped for. But it's something, in this day and age.
… but what if “our” satirists tell all the truth, funnily – but Apple just doesn't think they're very funny?
But enough with making light of a giant, global company like Apple, controlling every last fiber of its App Store, and doing it unchallenged by anyone.
Does it mean it might act at any point to fulfill any censorship request bigger than Apple itself? Say, that of a government?
Now – Big Tech platforms like Apple and YouTube (Google) seem to be going after each other, with YouTube first coming under intense scrutiny for not removing and instead only “demonetizing” anything from educational history channels, those maintained by independent reporters – all the way to Google CEO Sundar Pichai trying to sound a note of calm and caution recently amid a raging storm, with his interview for Axios on HBO.
What if all that was only to be drowned in the verbal assault against a competitor, voiced by Apple CEO Tim Cook. To be completely clear: Apple is at this time that member of Big Tech that is collecting and retaining just as much private data as any other Big Tech.
It's just that at this time, Apple doesn't seem to have to seal and deliver that data to third parties like other Big Tech companies do – but might be perfectly willing to make a big deal of that tenable situation.
Apple's recent “hate speech acceptance” speech saw the tech giant admit that its users were as flawed as any others on the web – say, like users of Google or Facebook – but it's just that at this time, Apple's financial structure was comfortable enough not to be selling that data on for money, as others do.
But boy are they making the most of that in the meantime, as Apple's “privacy selling marketing point” – in a privacy starved world. Great job, Apple – as long as you can, and want to sustain it. As long as the US government doesn't ask you to surrender all they need and you know – and you either refuse or accept because you knew somebody else would do it if you didn't – like the last time.
Thinking about a bigger issue now: does Apple's dominance over the App Store as the only way to get apps on iPhones means that Apple has absolute censorship power – and if so, has it in this ways become an easy target for governments to target who want to impose “quiet, behind the lines” censorship of anything?
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A Complete Guide to Colombia’s Increasingly Expensive Tax Reform
ColombiaEconomicsFeatured
By Julián Villabona Galarza Last updated Oct 21, 2016
Minister of Finance Mauricio Cardenas presented the text of the reform to be debated in Colombia’s Congress (Flickr)
EspañolThe Ministry of Finance, headed by Mauricio Cardenas, presented Wednesday, October 19 a structural tax reform. The tax hike has caused a stir in Colombia in recent days. The reform will seek to cover the fiscal deficit Colombia is currently suffering, thanks to low oil prices and overspending.
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For this tax reform, the ministry took some recommendations of the expert commission. However, they claim to have “softened” them as some of the taxes might be considered excessive. The government hopes to raise seven billion pesos (USD $2,401,000) next year and 27 billion (USD $9,261,000) in 2022.
The main points of the tax reform are:
The creation of the unified tax (i.e. tax on small traders); an increase in the value-added tax (VAT); prison for tax evaders; a tax on dividends; a tax on sugary drinks and cigarettes and a tax on banking transactions.
This reform is expected to increase collections by hiking some taxes and creating new ones. All this, despite the fact that the president vowed in his first campaign to not increase the tax burden.
The new unified tax
This is a tax that will be created for small commercial establishments. It includes shops, hairdressers, bakeries and other small stores. According to the minister, the charge rate will be 1 percent for establishments with revenue between 43 million pesos (USD $14,749) and 104 million (USD $35,672) per year.
This tax is an umbrella for other taxes such as VAT and income tax. If it is paid, business owners can access benefits such as voluntary savings and an affiliation with occupational hazard insurance systems.
VAT is a tax on the purchase of some goods in Colombia. It is a 16 percent charge. However, with the tax reform, Colombians must pay three percent more, so they will pass from paying a VAT of 16 percent to 19 percent.
Drugs and foods like meat, poultry, eggs, as well as school supplies and other products are exempt from this tax so they don’t affect low-income people.
The tax will also apply to cell phones that cost more than 650,000 pesos (USD $222). The poorest regions of the city will not have VAT for internet services, but they will have to pay a five-percent tax on magazines, newspapers and the use of digital platforms such as Netflix.
Sodas and cigarettes in the tax reform
The government’s proposal is to create a tax of 300 pesos (USD $0.102) per liter of sugar-sweetened beverages with the aim of reducing levels of diabetes and obesity. However, it has been widely criticized by the National Association of Entrepreneurs, who said it won’t solve those problems but rather generate increased unemployment.
With this tax, the government hopes to raise approximatley 1.4 billion pesos (USD $480,200,000) pesos to be invested in health. Of that money, 900,000 million (USD $308,700) would be from drinks and 500,000 million (USD $1,708,200) of cigarettes, to which the government expects to increase its collection by charging 2,100 pesos (USD $0.7203) of taxes for each box sold.
Jail for evaders
The government is proposing that those who evade taxes will be punished with jail. This applies to those who do it for amounts higher than 5,000 million pesos (USD $17,082), with sentences lasting four to nine years.
Tax on bank transfers
Following the earthquake in the city of Armenia, the Colombian government has decided to create a tax on bank transfers to rebuild the city. This consists of a 2 x 1,000 tax. Two pesos (USD $0.000686) are charged for every thousand pesos (USD $0.343) of the total amount of the transfer. This means that if a person is transferring or withdrawing 1,000 (USD $0,343) pesos, he will be charged for two ($0.000686 USD) pesos of tax funds for rebuilding the city.
This tax has been increasing over the course of discussion, and today is 4 x 1000 in the tax reform. The government aims to maintain this tax, which had to be dismantled once its purpose is fulfilled. However, the collection is very high, which is why it will continue.
Read more: Colombian Officials to Begin Negotiation of New FARC Peace Deal in Cuba
The income tax will become a flat rate of 32 percent under the reform. Publishers will not have to pay this tax and conflict areas will benefit form a special, gradual rate. Employee funds, cooperatives and religious cults will not have to pay this tax, but may not distribute surplus.
It also seeks to broaden the base of income filers to include 500,000 new individuals or workers who will have to pay. These would be those who earn more than the 2.7 million pesos (USD 926) salary. This considerably lowers the value of wages of those who pay rent, as they are currently required to declare those earning more than 3.4 million (USD $1,166).
Minister Cardenas said the rate of new filers will be very low and they will be entitled to a refund that withholds the tax, along with a deduction of 25 percent for employees, which already exists.
Read more: The Triumphant Return of Álvaro Uribe in Colombia
The tax reform comes at a time of much change and activity in the Colombian Congress. Just yesterday, the 2017 budget was approved and Minister Cardenas immediately filed a project proposing increased taxes. Now comes a race against time to have it approved, while the legislature must overcome other important obstacles like the election of the new Inspector General.
Source: Revista Semana
Economy of Colombiataxes
Julián Villabona Galarza 152 posts 0 comments
Julián is a reporter with the PanAm Post with studies in Politics and International Relations from the University Sergio Arboleda in Colombia. Follow him: @julianvillabona.
Believe It or Not, Venezuela Was Once as Rich as Norway
Mexican Federal Judge Approves Extradition of El Chapo to the US
ELN, Maduro, and Santrich: Allies in Venezuela Against Peace in The Region
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Events · News · Schools
Eagles’ Haven Health and Wellness Center Opens Its Doors
By Jen Russon on March 24, 2019 No Comments
By: Jen Russon
Mere feet from the city of Parkland, the Shoppes at Heron Lakes in Coral Springs is a popular spot for residents in both communities. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, with its eagle mascot, is the closest high school, so it’s no surprise to see “MSD Strong” banners everywhere one looks: at the pizza and ice cream shops, L.A. Fitness and Tunies just to name a few.
On March 25, a new space is joining the shopping center: a community wellness center specifically created to serve the MSD/Eagles community, one year after the school shooting massacre, and most recently, two students who have died by suicide.
Called Eagles’ Haven, it gives those with a connection to the high school, such as past, present and future alumni, families and staff, a nurturing place to seek support in the way of fun and healing wellness activities. Or, they can simply come in for a cup of coffee – everything the Haven has to offer comes free of charge.
The center is made possible by generous funding from the Children’s Services Council, the United Way of Broward County and is powered by JAFCO, a local nonprofit, who has supported families in the South Florida community for the past 25 years.
“We cannot change what happened, but we can come together to begin to focus on wellness”, said JAFCO Founding Executive Director, Sarah Franco.
Staff at the facility are all licensed clinicians, and committed to manning the center seven days a week. The center received input from wellness centers around the country that served Sandy Hook, Pulse, Las Vegas and other communities affected by gun violence.
Eagles’ Haven Director Julie Gordon, a clinician who has worked at JAFCO for the past 18 years, said the center’s top priority is to help individuals and families navigate the multiple services available and find an ideal fit – albeit, support groups, yoga, kickboxing or the creative arts. These activities will be overseen and planned by Andy Seidner, owner of LiveWell1440, a workplace wellness consulting company. She said the Eagles’ Haven center will connect families to any needed service; that they are encouraged to call with any problem, big or small.
In explaining the myriad of things that Eagles’ Haven is, Gordon was clear on what it is not. It is not a therapy center.
“It’s a place for all of us to come together to rediscover wellness and restore hope – one conversation, one cup of coffee or one hug at a time”, said Gordon, adding that no one should feel alone or suffer in silence.
Eagles’ Haven navigators are already working to provide in-home appointments or phone consultations to MSD/Eagles families before the center officially opens. Because the center would like to offer food, future donations from local businesses is on the table for discussion.
For more information or to get in contact with Eagles’ Haven navigators, click here. Open from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For immediate help, 24 hours a day, call the Suicide Prevention line at 1-800-273-8255.
Jen Russon
Jen Russon is a freelance writer and English Language Arts teacher. She has published two novels to Amazon Kindle and lives in Coral Springs with her family.
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The Right of Publicity Versus Free Speech in Advertising: Some Counter-Points to Professor McCarthy
Stephen R. Barnett
Professor J. Thomas McCarthy, in a recently published lecture, has defended recent expansions of the right of publicity and rejected the idea of a free-speech defense that would in some cases protect the unlicensed use of a celebrity's name, likeness, or "identity" in an advertisement. In this "counter-lecture" Professor Barnett focuses on what he sees as the growing conflict between the right of publicity, as embodied in Ninth Circuit decisions such as the Vanna White and Abdul-Jabbar cases and in the Restatement (Third) of Unfair Competition, and free speech in advertising, as protected by the Supreme Court's doctrine of "commercial speech." Professor Barnett argues that the right of publicity in its recent expansions may violate First Amendment prohibitions against vagueness and undue breadth, and that the Supreme Court's test for restrictions on commercial speech should lead to recognition of a "fair use" defense to right-of-publicity claims. The author concludes by considering two possible applications of such a defense-to an ad using sports statistics, as in Abdul-Jabbar, and to one that is a parody or spoof of popular culture, as in White.
Stephen R. Barnett, The Right of Publicity Versus Free Speech in Advertising: Some Counter-Points to Professor McCarthy, 18 Hastings Comm. & Ent. L.J. 593 (1996).
Available at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_comm_ent_law_journal/vol18/iss3/10
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Beyonce Shares ‘Spirit’ On New Song + New Album Announcement, The ‘Lion King: The Gift’
The Queen is back!
In support of the highly-anticipated upcoming live-action remake to the Disney classic, ‘The Lion King,’ Beyonce returns to music with the release of the brand new song for the Beyhive and the film titled, “Spirit.”
Written by Beyonce-herself with production by Lebo M. and Hans Zimmer, the new song delivers an organic gospel vibe coupled with the Queen’s amazing signature vocal abilities. She sings inspiring lyrics like, “Spirit, watch the heavens open/ Spirit, can you hear it calling?/ Your destiny is coming close/ Stand up and fight.” The song embodies the sounds of Africa, the film’s conceptual environment.
“Spirit” also arrived with the announcement of a new album produced and curated by Beyonce-herself in-support of the film titled, ‘The Lion King: The Gift.’ Separate from the film’s original motion picture soundtrack, the new album will pair Queen B with various international artists. “Spirit” will appear on both The Gift and the original motion picture soundtrack, along with the new duet between Beyonce and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) for the classic, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
The 1994 original of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” was composed by Sir Elton John and performed by Kristle Edwards, Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, and Ernie Sabella.
Upon the new song’s release, Beyonce releases an official statement on the upcoming project:
“This is sonic cinema. This is a new experience of storytelling. I wanted to do more than find a collection of songs that were inspired by the film. It is a mixture of genres and collaboration that isn’t one sound. It is influenced by everything from R&B, Pop, Hip Hop and Afro Beat.”
“I wanted to put everyone on their own journey to link the storyline,” she continued. “Each song was written to reflect the film’s storytelling that gives the listener a chance to imagine their own imagery, while listening to a new contemporary interpretation. It was important that the music was not only performed by the most interesting and talented artists but also produced by the best African producers. Authenticity and heart were important to me.”
Both The Lion King: The Gift and The Lion King: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be available July 19 on all streaming platforms, courtesy of Walt Disney Records.
Stream “Spirit” by Beyonce now via Walt Disney Records. Beyonce appears on the album courtesy of Columbia Records.
Disney’s The Lion King hits theaters worldwide Friday, July 19. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), along with Beyonce as Nala, the live-action stars Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Keegan-Michael Key, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Eric Andre, John Oliver and James Earl Jones, who reprises his role as King Mufasa.
For tickets and showtimes, visit Fandango for a theater near you.
By Bryson Boom Paul via singersroom
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The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life
August 19th, 2012 | Tags: American, biography, book review, Kingdom, Life, Magic, Martha Keltz, review, Steven Watts, Walt Disney, Way
By Steven Watts
University of Missouri Press, First Paperback Printing, 2001 Click to Buy this Book!
In the Introduction of this 526-page biography of Walter Elias Disney (1904–1966), Steven Watts, Chairman of the History Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia, describes some of the challenges involved in the immense undertaking of this project: the sheer scope of Walt Disney’s lifework, an achievement that always depended upon the work of other artists; the extreme divergence of Disney’s admirers and denouncers (“I don’t know anything about art.”); and his powerful and continuing influence on the American popular culture, for the average American, he knew instinctively, wanted entertainment, not high-class art. The book is organized into broad strokes of Four Parts consisting of 22 Chapters, although within this outer structure the author manages to handle the complexities of the development of his themes by sacrificing harmonious adherence to chronology. As the book moves along, a large number of repetitions of earlier material become apparent, especially in Chapter Nine, “The Fantasy Factory.” It is as though the author has chosen to disregard the content of his previous chapters in favor of a quest for new insight by way of serious second consideration. Lengthy subsections within many chapters are consistent in devotion to the biographies of those personally close to Walt Disney, and to the contributions of such great Disney Studio artists as Vladimir “Bill” Tytla, but these subsections would have been better placed within the correct chronological flow. For example, not until near the end of the book, beyond Disneyland, beyond the 1964 World’s Fair, and even beyond EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), does Watts manage to fit in a very important biography, that of Walt’s brother, Roy Oliver, in Chapter 22, taking the reader all the way back to the time of Roy’s birth in 1893.
The book is heavy and overly complex because the author is in essence searching for answers, and is without the secure foundation of deeper understanding from the beginning.
The last paragraph of Chapter 21, which the reader may review by way of briefly postponing another go-round on Watts’s dizzying Disney carousel, is actually one of the most astonishing in the entire book: “The Florida Project [EPCOT] promised to weave together the many threads of the great Disney expansion of the 1960s. On a scope unimaginable even a few years before, it promised to transcend entertainment by entering directly into the social and political realm. Disney’s magic kingdom, it seemed, was about to become a concrete reality as well as a state of mind.” But the great innovator, the Good King of the Magic Kingdom who was absolutely determined to change the woeful circumstances of the Common Folk on Planet Earth, was struck down unexpectedly and quickly and died of lung cancer in 1966.
Author Steven Watts does not really succeed in opening any doors to significant hidden darkness in the personality of Disney, although not for lack of trying, but the avuncular Disney — by Jiminy Cricket! – had only various ambiguous grey areas; he was very much a man of his times. He was happily and faithfully married but once, to Lillian Disney, “who was never cowed by her husband’s volatile moods and iron will.” “Confirmed homebodies, Walt and Lillian occasionally got together with a small circle of friends … while avoiding the nightclubs-and-parties scene.” He smoked, but never around children, drank moderately, and was photographed once at a racetrack with his good friend Charlie Chaplin. Business-wise he did become something of a corporate tyrant in the late 1930s, probably due to enormous responsibilities and financial pressures, but he saw the light after a devastating 1941 strike led by some of his best animators, including, sadly, Bill Tytla. These events were followed by drastic changes at the Burbank Studio wrought by the years of World War II.
Now, back to the beginning of the book: Although not cited in Watts’s biography, a line of poetry may come to mind while reading it and while pondering sympathetically at some length the mystery of Disney: “The Child is father of the Man.” The title of the poem, by William Wordsworth, is given as either My Heart Leaps Up or The Rainbow:
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
The childhood of Walt Disney ended at the age of eight, when he was put to work by his father, Elias Disney. Walt and his older brother, Roy, had to deliver newspapers for Elias’s distributorship business in Kansas City, Missouri. They “rose every morning around three-thirty and picked up the newspapers in bulk around four-thirty. They spent the next several hours folding and delivering them on foot and by hand … Rainstorms in the spring and blizzards in the winter added to the burden, and, of course, the boys attended a full day of school after this work.” Walt endured this bone-wearying schedule for six years. In adult years he had recurring nightmares about failures to deliver some of the newspapers, and how his dad would be waiting to punish him for his laxness. In fact, his father beat him frequently. “Elias’s physical intimidation seems to have left deep scars on his son’s emotional makeup. His ‘violent temper’ eventually led to a liberating confrontation. After accusing Walt of insolence when he was about fourteen, Elias ordered him to the basement for ‘a good whipping.’ As they descended, however, Roy whispered to Walt that he didn’t have to take it anymore. So when Walt saw Elias prepare to strike him, he grabbed the older man’s wrists and refused to let him go. Unable to break his grip, Elias finally started to cry. This was a turning point, and Elias never touched Walt in anger again.” Yet later in life Walt held fond memories of his father and spoke of him with great affection. According to Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, he “loved his dad. He thought he was tough … but he loved that old man.” This statement by Diane Miller points to qualities in Disney’s character that are affirmed by Watts’s lengthy analysis: Walt Disney, through his iron will, had a way of turning a negative experience into a positive one, a failure into success, poverty into wealth, denial into affirmation, darkness into light, sordid reality into lilting fantasy, and evil into good. The boy who delivered newspapers surely studied the cartoons in those newspapers and, with a flair for drawing, together with the hard-knocks education in his father’s Kansas City commercial venture, decided very early in his life to become a cartoonist. He would certainly have had interest in the turn-of-the-century flip books, hand-turned movies and stop-motion animated films.
Not long after the armistice had been signed that ended World War I, Walt, at the age of sixteen, left high school, moved his birthdate back a year and, after his mother forged Elias’s signature on the application, became a driver with the American Ambulance Corps for ten months in Europe and France. During this time he also served at an evacuation hospital in Paris. These experiences certainly exposed him to the realities of war.
Were the Disney productions “art?” In the 1930s, galleries and museums began exhibiting Disney drawings. “Probably the most notorious showing occurred in 1938, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decided to exhibit a watercolor from Snow White.” “… Humorist H.I. Philips probably garnered the biggest laugh with this bit of doggerel:
Corot’s in a back seat,
Rembrandt’s eyes are wet;
Romney looks astounded —
Disney’s in the ‘Met’!
Figures, landscapes, faces
Consternation share —
Statues reel and totter —
Dopey now is there!”
“Harvard president James Bryant Conan chimed in, characterizing Disney as a magician who has created a modern dwelling for the muses.” The thirties had brought a golden age for the Disney Studio, but in 1940, the New York Herald Tribune critic Dorothy Thompson wrote of the full-length film Fantasia: “I left the theater in a condition bordering on a nervous breakdown. I felt as though I had been subjected to an assault.” Fantasia was, she added, “… a performance of Satanic defilement … a remarkable nightmare … brutal and brutalizing.” Disney seems to have reacted to all the talk about whether his Studio work was art or not (or whether he was an artist or not) with the production of the full-length film Fantasia, in which delightful, childish cartoon characters move and dance in response to serious classical music, music that had been overseen by conductor Leopold Stokowski. Although the film did not make money for the Studio, there can be no doubt that some of its segments approach great art, including the probable scene that nearly made Dorothy Thompson ill, that of Vladimir “Bill” Tytla’s absolutely brilliant creation of the evil character Chernobog, master of a horrible, hellish underworld that spared no details in its graphic, frightening depictions, an underworld matching in hideousness that of Dante’s masterpiece, The Inferno. At the first sign of dawn, Chernobog wraps his large demon wings protectively around him and withdraws, while the sequence that follows, accompanied by the stirring music of Ave Maria, depicts a long line of devotional figures carrying candles and walking across a high, curved bridge under which are three large windows, rounded at the tops, the largest window in the center. They walk through a deep and beautiful forest, and through another curved window, until sunset. This unforgettable sequence, titled “Night on Bald Mountain,” is available online as a YouTube video. Also available as a YouTube video, and also highly recommended for a better understanding of Uncle Walt and the Disney artists, is the brilliant, hilarious Donald Duck 1943 propaganda cartoon titled “Der Fuehrer’s Face.”
Who was/is Walter Elias Disney, after all? Perhaps a part of that prototype, the “Good King in his Magic Kingdom,” who will return someday — from that faraway star — to take up again the important work of the “Experimental Prototype Community.” – Review by Martha Keltz
Click to Buy this Book!
Anna Sclar
August 20th, 2012 at 00:47
Quote | #1
The magic of WALT DISNEY linking us with our souls, putting into us , though the imagination, the Intermediate state of consciousness, when after the senses has done their job of perception, the impressions are go deeper to
the soul.
“The images are going deeper to the intermidiate stage between sleeping and awakening – BECOMES Dreaming, Psychic Imagining and in this Intermediate state it was as though a veil were lifted, the veil of the physical world, and the spiritual world became visible.
Just as the eye and the ear connect themselves with the surrounding world, the different parts of the human astral body make their own connection, in this intermediate state of consciousness, with their surrounding world. When the outer senses are silenced the soul comes to life” R.Steiner.
We have three members of the soul: sentient soul, intellectual soul, and consciousness soul. As the eye and the ear each have a different relationship to the surrounding world, so has each of these three members of the human soul its quite distinct relationship to its surrounding world
In the sentient soul we relate the visual impact to our understanding, and relate them by the concrete mind.
In the intellectual soul we see the meanning, the wisdom , the feminine aspect of image. We see that it is the opposite of outer expression, its polarity.
In consciousness soul, we relate our obsevations and perceive that our intellectual soul has a strong kind of longing to unite with what is behind the object , that we need to obtain the real meaning to our and others emotions and behaviour, their relation to spiritual world.
WALT DISNEY showed by hius life and art “that in the spiritual world are reflected the struggles of those beings who, though weaker in bodily strength, are in consequence stronger in spiritual strength. .R.Steiner.
Meaning that our strong mind and physical energy cannot provide the answers tto the inner realities, and we have to employ subtle forms of inner soul, we have to still the outer vibrations and reliance and let the intuition stream.
« Paranormal: My Life in Pursuit of the Afterlife Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation into War »
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Pete Dolack | Eight People Own as Much as Half the World
January 23, 2017 · by Rise Up Times · in capitalist system, corporate globalization, Economy, International · 1 Comment
What to do? The Oxfam report, in its conclusions, advocates a switch to a “human economy,” one in which governments are “accountable to the 99%,” businesses would be oriented toward policies that “increase prosperity for all,” and sustainability and equality would be paramount.
by PETE DOLACK Counterpunch January 20, 2017
Photo by SPACES Gallery | CC BY 2.0
Just when it seemed we might be running out of superlatives to demonstrate the monstrous inequality of today’s capitalism, Oxfam has provided the most dramatic example yet: Eight individuals, all men, possess as much wealth as the poorest 50 percent of humanity.
Eight people have as much as 3.7 billion people.
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How could this be? Oxfam calculated that 85 people had as much wealth as the poorest half of humanity in 2014, a staggering finding that researchers with the anti-poverty organization discovered through crunching numbers provided by Forbes magazine in its rich list and by the investment bank Credit Suisse in its global wealth distribution report. Oxfam found wealth distribution to be even more unequal than did Credit Suisse, which calculated that the top one percent equaled the bottom 50 percent. Oxfam, in its report, “An Economy for the 99%,” released this month, explains:
“This year we find that the wealth of the bottom 50% of the global population was lower than previously estimated, and it takes just eight individuals to equal their total wealth holdings. Every year, Credit Suisse acquires new and better data sources with which to estimate the global wealth distribution: its latest report shows both that there is more debt in the very poorest group and fewer assets in the 30–50% percentiles of the global population. Last year it was estimated that the cumulative share of wealth of the poorest 50% was 0.7%; this year it is 0.2%.” [page 11]
Because Oxfam includes among the bottom 50 percent people in the advanced capitalist countries of the Global North who have a net worth of less than zero due to debt, some critics might argue that these people are nonetheless “income-rich” because they have credit available to them and thus distort the inequality outcome. Oxfam, however, says that almost three-quarters of those among the bottom 50 percent live in low-income countries, and excluding those from the North with negative wealth would make little difference in aggregate inequality. That total debt is equal to only 0.4 percent of overall global wealth. The Oxfam report says:
“At the very top, this year’s data finds that collectively the richest eight individuals have a net wealth of $426 bn, which is the same as the net wealth of the bottom half of humanity. … [E]stimates from Credit Suisse find that collectively the poorest 50% of people have less than a quarter of 1% of global net wealth. Nine percent of the people in this group have negative wealth, and most of these people live in richer countries where student debt and other credit facilities are available. But even if we discount the debts of people living in Europe and North America, the total wealth of the bottom 50% is still less than 1%.” [page 10]
Profiting from cheap labor and forced labor
We are accustomed to hearing that chief executive officers in U.S.-based corporations earn hundreds of times more than their average employee, but this dynamic can be found in the developing world as well. No matter where the CEO lives, brutal and relenting exploitation of working people is the motor force of inequality. Oxfam reports:
“The CEO of India’s top information firm earns 416 times the salary of a typical employee in his company. In the 1980s, cocoa farmers received 18% of the value of a chocolate bar — today they get just 6%. In extreme cases, forced labour or slavery can be used to keep corporate costs down. The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are forced labourers, generating an estimated $150 bn in profits each year. The world’s largest garment companies have all been linked to cotton-spinning mills in India, which routinely use the forced labour of girls.” [page 3]
People become sweatshop workers out of desperation; often these are men and women driven off the land their families had farmed for generations. Land, even small plots that provide only subsidence for those who work it, represents wealth taken away when those subsidence farmers are forced into migrating into urban slums. Displacement from global warming is also a factor.
“[M]any people experiencing poverty around the world are seeing an erosion of their main source of wealth — namely land, natural resources and homes — as a consequence of insecure land rights, land grabbing, land fragmentation and erosion, climate change, urban eviction and forced displacement. While total farmland has increased globally, small family farms operate a declining share of this land. Ownership of land among the poorest wealth quintile fell by 7.3% between the 1990s and 2000s. Change in land ownership in developing countries is commonly driven by large-scale acquisitions, which see the transfer of land from small-scale farmers to large investors and the conversion of land from subsistence to commercial use. Up to 59% of land deals cover communal lands claimed by indigenous peoples and small communities, which translates to the potential displacement of millions of people. Yet only 14% of deals have involved a proper process to obtain ‘free prior and informed consent.’ Distribution of land is most unequal in Latin America, where 64% of the total wealth is related to non-financial assets like land and housing and 1% of ‘super farms’ in Latin America now control more productive land than the other 99%.” [page 10]
As entire areas of the world like Latin America have been plundered for the benefit of multi-national corporations based in the Global North, with those benefits flowing to the executives and financiers who control those corporations, it is no surprise that most of the wealth remains concentrated in the advanced capitalist countries. Although steering well clear of so much as a hint of the imperial nature of uneven development, the Credit Suisse report that Oxfam drew upon does note that North America and Europe together account for 65% of total household wealth with only 18% of the world’s adult population.
The sociologist James Petras estimates that the corporations and banks of the North took US$950 billion of wealth out of Latin America for the period 1975 to 2005. Thus it is no surprise that global inequality, when measured by the standard statistical measure of income distribution, the gini coefficient, is greater than inequality in any single country.
More programs on the way to make inequality still worse
Few countries of the Global North are more unequal than the United States, the imperial center of the world capitalist system that seeks to impose its ways and culture on the rest of the world. The new Trump administration is determined to make U.S. inequality even more extreme. Not only through intentions of cutting taxes on the wealthy and corporations, but via many less obvious routes.
For example, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that the repeal of Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, a process already in motion, would result in tax cuts of $2.8 billion per year for the country’s 400 highest-income taxpayers. Special Medicare taxes that fund subsidies for low-income United Statesians to buy insurance under the act are assessed only on those with annual incomes higher than $200,000. Conversely, the loss of tax credits to buy health insurance would lead to a tax increase for about seven million low- and moderate-income families.
Through the end of 2016, the central banks of Britain, the European Union, Japan and the United States have shoveled a colossal total of US$8 trillion (€7.4 trillion) into their “quantitative easing” programs — that is, programs that buy government bonds and other debt in an effort to boost the economy but in reality does little other than fuel stock-market bubbles and, secondarily, real estate bubbles. Vast rebuilding of crumbling infrastructure — a program that would actually put people to work — would have cost less.
Standard economic ideology insists that the real problem is that wages have not fallen enough! Consistent with that, the Federal Reserve released a paper in 2015 claiming that “rigidities” “prevent businesses from reducing wages as much as they would like” during economic downturns.
Oh yes, falling wages instead of stagnant wages will bring happy times! Never mind that productivity has soared over the past four decades, while wages have consistently not kept pace. The average Canadian and U.S. household would earn hundreds of dollars per week more if wages had kept up with rising productivity, while wages in Britain and many other countries are also lagging.
“Oxfam firmly believes humanity can do better,” its report concludes. Surely we can do better. But not under capitalism. Does anyone believe that the world’s elites, who profit so enormously and believe they can build a wall high enough to keep the world’s environmental and social problems away, are going to suddenly accept business as usual can no longer go on and willingly give up their enormous privileges?
Join the debate on Facebook
Pete Dolack writes the Systemic Disorder blog and has been an activist with several groups. His book, It’s Not Over: Learning From the Socialist Experiment, is available from Zero Books.
Tags: Affordable Care Act, billionaires, Global North, human economy, income inequality, James Petras, multinational corporations, Oxfam, people's land loss, Trump presidency
Pete Dolack | Eight People Own as Much as Half the World | Rise Up Times | AGR Daily News Service · January 23, 2017 - 9:17 pm · Reply→
[…] Source: Pete Dolack | Eight People Own as Much as Half the World | Rise Up Times […]
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Mike Simpson visits Haslemere Youth Centre
Posted: April 27, 2010 in Liberal Democrats, Mike Simpson
Tags: Haslemere, Mike Simpson, young people, youth
Mike Simpson will press for sustainable funding for youth facilities across South West Surrey
I recently visited the Wey Centre in Haslemere where I met a group of young people following concerns about the lack of facilities they have available to them.
I listened to Sharon Mitchell and a group of young people who have formed a charity, ‘Stars in the Helping’. It was set up last year to provide help for children in Kenya. They have been sending children clothes and have also paid for food to be provided in Kenya. They visited villages in the area last August, working in orphanages. As a result they are going to help rebuild a school next year.
Sharon said “It was great for Mike to come and see the efforts of some of the local children in Haslemere. It is important that we increase the profile of the charity so that we can increase our membership, helping young people get motivated”.
I have a lot of experience in working with young people having been employed by the YMCA for over twenty years, currently as a Chief Executive Officer. I have worked with hundreds of disadvantaged young people including those with drug and alcohol problems, homeless young people and pupils at risk of exclusion from school.
I have become increasingly concerned with the inadequate facilities that there are for young people. Young people are sometimes targets for criticism. The lack of appropriate facilities for them can lead to problems with members of the public in open space areas.
The Wey Centre is a much needed facility that deserves sustainable funding and quality youth work provision by Surrey County Council. I was very inspired to hear about the young people who are involved in Stars in the Helping and the impact they are having on the lives of those less fortunate than themselves.
Lib Dem Manifesto policies you may have missed
Local Businesses slam Digital Economy Act #DeAct – Farnham Godalming Haslemere
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Kresge Law Library
Home > Journals > NDLR_ALL > NDLR_ONLINE > Vol. 94 > Iss. 1 (2018)
Rewriting Judicial Opinions and the Feminist Scholarly Project
Linda L. Berger, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law
Kathryn M. Stanchi, Temple University Beasley School of Law
Bridget J. Crawford, Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law
In 1995, the authors of a law review article examining “feminist judging” focused on the existing social science data concerning women judges and compared the voting records and opinions of the only female Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor. Based on this review, the authors concluded that appointing more women as judges would make little difference to judicial outcomes or processes. The authors accused those who advocated for more women on the bench of having a hidden feminist agenda and bluntly concluded that “[b]y any measure, feminist judges fit very uneasily in most conceptions of the proper role of the judicial system.”
More than twenty years later, scholars have a better understanding of what constitutes “feminist judging”; moving beyond the gender of those involved in making judgments, feminist judging is understood to derive from the asking of feminist questions and the application of feminist theories and methods. Current scholars also are taking a closer look at the role of feminist judicial perspectives throughout the judicial system. Through a series of “feminist judgments” projects around the globe, scholars are testing the proposition that feminist judging “fits” within the judicial role, no matter the gender of the judge. In the form of rewritten opinions based on the facts and precedent in effect at the time of the original decision, these projects demonstrate that judges who apply feminist perspectives would make a profound difference, not only in the outcomes and processes in individual cases, but also in the development of the law.
Linda L. Berger, Kathryn M. Stanchi & Bridget J. Crawford, Rewriting Judicial Opinions and the Feminist Scholarly Project, 94 Notre Dame L. Rev. Online 1 (2018).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndlr_online/vol94/iss1/1
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John Williams Returning to Score 'Star Wars: Episode 7'
by Anthony Vieira
The initial report that Disney had acquired Lucasfilm and were going to launch a new Star Wars trilogy shocked the world, as did the report that J.J. Abrams (Star Trek) would be directing the film. News on Star Wars: Episode VII has been relatively quiet as of late, with the big exception being the rumors (extreme emphasis on the "rumor" part) that Zac Efron and Ryan Gosling have auditioned.
Now we have the announcement from Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy that legendary composer John Williams will be providing the score for Episode VII, just as he has for the six previous Star Wars films. The news arrived today from Star Wars Celebration Europe, the huge fan convention currently underway in Germany.
StarWars.com has also released a new interview with Williams, in which he discusses his enthusiasm for returning to this universe... and whether or not he has read the new story (spoiler alert: he hasn't).
It's a brief but enjoyable look at Williams, who is a warm and personable man, and the insight into his process as a composer (he prefers to experience the film as an audience would, rather than read the script ahead of time, for instance) is fascinating. You can watch the interview above.
John Williams is, of course, one of the most famous and honored composers working today. He has won five Academy Awards, has scored countless classics (Jaws, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, and The Raiders of the Lost Ark, to name a few) and his style has come to define what we expect to hear in Hollywood epics. His landmark score for the original Star Wars trilogy is one of the greatest things about them, so while the news that he's returning for Episode VII may not come as a huge surprise, it's certain to please fans.
Abrams might have been expected to bring on his Star Trek Into Darkness composer Michael Giacchino, who also worked on Lost and Fringe, in order to put his own stamp on the franchise while most likely retaining the main themes from John Williams' original scores. With Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher all reprising their roles from the original trilogy, it's clear that Disney and Lucasfilm know perfectly well that pleasing their core fan base - of which there are still legions - is essential to launching the franchise once more.
While the actual storyline for Episode VII is still a complete mystery, the new installment in the series is already expected to make $1.2 billion worldwide. Given the widespread excitement over a continuing series of Star Wars films, it's probably an accurate prediction.
Star Wars Episode VII is expected to arrive from a galaxy far, far away in 2015.
Source: StarWars.com
Tags: star wars, star wars 7
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Loading the Internet Archive BookReader, please wait...
จดหมายเหตุพระราชกิจรายวัน / พระราชนิพนธ์ ในพระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว ภาค ๑๓ [Čhotmāihēt
จุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, พระบาทสมเด็จพระ, 2396-2453 [Chulalongkorn, King of Siam, 1853-1910].
diaries and travel writings of King Chulalongkorn of Siam
Cremation volume for Phračhao Bō̜rommawongthœ̄ Phraʻong Čhao Wānīrattanakanyā [พระเจ้าบรมวงศเธอ พระองค์เจ้าวาณีรัตนกัญญา]. Includes no photos of or biographical information on the crematee. Front matter includes only a brief explanatory note on the use of rāchāsap, i.e. official court language. The main text, 90 pages, comprises the thirteenth volume of King Chulalongkorn’s diary for the period Monday, January 1, 1882 to Saturday, July 15, 1882.
Volume 13 of 59
From the David K. Wyatt Thai Collection, Hwa-Wei Lee Center for International Collections.
Prathet Thai
Chulalongkorn, King of Siam, 1853-1910, Diaries.; Thailand -- History -- 1782-1945 -- Sources.
SEAImages:hotmihtphr13chulcollection
Upon consulting the Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (Thailand), it seems reasonable to conclude that the present written work is no longer under copyright protection. Part 4, Section 19 of the Act states: “Copyright by virtue of this act subsists for the life of the author and continues to subsist for fifty years after the death of the author.” In the event that the present work is still under copyright protection, part 6, sections 32 and 34 state: “any act against the copyright work... shall not be deemed an infringement of copyright if the act [of reproduction] is not for profit.”
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You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Daily Hansard - Debate
21 Mar 2007 : Column 815
Orders of the Day
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst): Before I call the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it may be for the convenience of hon. Members if I remind them that at the end of the Chancellors speech, copies of the Budget resolutions will be available to them in the Vote Office.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): In this, my 11th Budget, my report to the country is of rising employment and rising investment, continuing low inflation, and low interest and mortgage rates. This is a Budget to expand prosperity and fairness for Britains families, and it is built on the foundation of the longest period of economic stability and sustained economic growth in our countrys history.
I am told that in the past two centuries only one Chancellor before now has delivered 11 Budgets, and then a 12th. That was when Mr. Gladstone combined the positions of Chancellor and Prime Minister, something no one should ever contemplate doing again.
As I report on the economy and public finances and the progress that we have made, let me thank for their hard work and, on occasion, forthright advice the civil servantsshould I say the comrades?with whom I have worked on Budgets present and past.
This Budget will set out the long-term reforms that we must now make to meet the global challenges ahead, and to build a Britain of high aspiration and high achievement for the years to come. I can report that the British economy is today growing faster than all the other G7 economies. Growth is stronger this year than in the euro area, stronger than in Japan, and stronger even than in America. After 10 years of sustained growth, Britains growth will continue into its 59th quarterthe forecast end of the cycleand then into its 60th, 61st and 62nd quarter and beyond. Before 1997 we were bottom in the G7 for national income per head. We were seventh out of seven, behind Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Japan. Now we are second only to America and ahead of all those other countries.
Every country has faced a trebling of oil and commodity prices, but while inflation peaked at 4.7 per cent. in America and went as high as 3.3 per cent. in the G7, here in Britain, inflation has never gone beyond [Interruption.] Here in Britain, inflation on the same index has never gone beyond 3 per cent. While on that index it was 4.7 per cent. in the United States, it has fallen from 3 to 2.8 per cent. in Britain, and will fall further this year to 2 per cent.
Our forecast, which is also the consensus of independent forecasters, agrees that looking ahead to 2008 and 2009 inflation will also be on target. Since 1997, inflation has averaged 1.5 per cent.; it is half that of the previous decade. After examining the historical records, it is Britains best inflation performance for a
century. By holding firm to our commitment to maintain discipline in public sector pay, we will not only secure our 2 per cent. inflation target but create the conditions for maintaining the low interest and mortgage rates that since 1997 have been half the 11 per cent. average of the previous 20 years. We will not return to the old boom and bust.
In the last year, investment has grown by 6 per cent., and business investment by 7 per cent., with inward investment up 10 per cent. Ten years ago and for decades before, Britains economy was held back by chronic under-investment; we had the lowest investment of the G7 countries. Now, alongside North America, Britain has the G7s fastest growing business investmentit has risen in real terms by 48 per cent. since 1997and overall investment is now 17�1/2 per cent. of our national income. This year, business investment is forecast to rise again by more than 7 per cent., and the figures that we are publishing today show that as a result of that sustained growth and investment we have closed the productivity gap with Japan and Germany, narrowed it with America, and halved it with France. From a platform of high investment, we can now equip ourselves as a country for the next challenge of the global economy: to raise the quantity and quality of investment in physical capital but also in human, scientific and intellectual capital.
I can also report that in the last year employment has risen, with 220,000 more men and women in work. It is now almost forgotten that in past decades Britain suffered higher unemployment not only than America and Japan but than France, Germany and the rest of Europe. But today, with unemployment falling and with 2.6 million more people in work, Britain has a higher proportion of men and women in employment than America, Japan and all our major European neighbours. The next stage in this Budget is to do more to equip British people with the new skills for the new jobs in the decade ahead.
With consumption forecast to rise in each of the next two years by 2�1/4 to 2�3/4 per cent., and investment and exports by more than 3 per cent., we expect that next year also, in 2008, alongside North America, our growth will again be the highest in the G7between 2�1/2 and 3 per cent., with the same rate of growth also in 2009. Under this Government, with stability in this as in every Budget the foundation of all we do, we have sustained growth year on year.
Just as our monetary discipline is the foundation for economic strength, fiscal discipline is the foundation of the strength of Britains finances. Our first fiscal rule is that over the economic cycle Government current expenditures are paid by tax revenues. In this economic cycle, not only have we balanced current spending and revenues but I am able to report a surplus of £11 billion, demonstrating that for the first time in four decades Britain has met the golden rule. This contrasts with the economic cycle from 1977 to 1986, when the first fiscal rule, under the previous Government, was not met with a surplus of £11 billion but missed with a deficit of £140 billion; and in the previous cycle, from 1986 to 1997, the golden rule was missed by the previous Government with a deficit of £240 billion.
Our forecasts of the current balance from 2007-08 to 2011-12 are affected by one major change in the last yearthe sharply lower levels of production and yet
higher costs in the North sea, which have this year reduced tax revenues from £13 billion to £8 billion and for each year into the future cut them by an average of £4 billion a year. Even with this reduced revenue, we are on track in the new cycle to meeting the golden rule, with figures from 2007-08 of minus £4 billion, plus £3 billion, plus £6 billion, plus £9 billion and plus £13 billion surpluses for the years to come. And we have also met our second fiscal rulethat debt should be at a sustainable levelenabling us over the cycle to borrow to meet the countrys investment priorities.
Debt is actually 44 per cent. of national income in America, 50 per cent. in the euro area and 92 per cent. in Japan, but in Britain, we expect debt from 2007-08 to 2012 to be 38 per cent., 38.5 per cent., 38.8 per cent., 38.8 per cent. and 38.6 per cent. in successive yearsat all times meeting our second fiscal rule. That contrasts with a debt level of 44 per cent. that we inherited when we came to power, but we have both kept debt low and at the same time more than doubled capital investment in schools, hospitals and infrastructure from just £18 billion a year in 1997 to £43 billion of investment a year today.
Britains net borrowing, which in the early 1990s went as high as 8 per cent. of our national income is this year just 2.7 per cent. In future years, it will be 2.4 per cent., falling to 2 per cent. and then falling to 1.8 per cent., 1.6 per cent. and just 1.4 per cent. Compared to a deficit equivalent to over £100 billion in a single year in the early 90s, the figure for this and future years will be just £35 billion£1 billion less than forecast at the pre-Budget reportthen falling to £34 billion, £30 billion, £28 billion, £26 billion and £24 billion. That means borrowing therefore over the economic cycle not for current consumption, but for essential investment in the future of our country. So having met both our fiscal rules, we can now take forward the final work for the next spending round to take us to 2011.
With interdepartmental reviews on youth services, disabled children, mental health, employment and the future of our regions and localities all nearing completion, we will nowin advance of the final expenditure allocations, which will be published in the autumnset in place a national, regional and local consultation to discuss and debate issues that arise from the work in the reviews under way to build a shared national consensus around future priorities for our country. But I am also able to announce now reforms that will release resources for priority services.
In the pre-Budget report in December, I said that from now to 2011 asset sales would release £18 billion for front-line services, but because I can announce today the sale of the spectrum, a £6 billion sale of the student loan book and further financial and corporate sales at home and overseas, asset sales will rise from £18 billion to £36 billion. I have agreed with Departments savings in administrative costs worth £1 billion a year by 2011, which will also release money for front-line services. The same front-line services will benefit from below-inflation spending review settlements for the Department for Work and Pensions, Her Majestys Revenue and Customs, the Cabinet Office, the Treasury, the Department for Constitutional
Affairs and the Attorney-Generals Department. That will release for front-line services £2 billion, and with efficiency savings of 3 per cent. a year, we release, in total, £26 billion a year by 2010 for front-line services.
Just over a decade ago, when unemployment and debt were high and as much as three quarters of all new public spending went to pay for debt and social security costs, it left only one quarter of new spending for health, education, transport, defence and policing. But because of our success in cutting debt by a quarter and claimant count unemployment by a half, those front-line services will, in the coming spending round, receive not 25 per cent. of all new spending as in the past, but 75 per cent. of all new spending.
In this new spending round, our aim has also beenin line with the Gershon report and with continuing reformto ensure that resources for improving the front-line services, our service priorities, will continue to grow at the 4 to 4.5 per cent. yearly rate of this spending round.
These four major levers of changebetter use of assets, cutting administrative costs, efficiency savings, lower debt and lower unemploymentwill allow me to release new money for front-line priorities, and I can now set out total expenditures for each year to 2011.
In 1997, capital investment stood at just £18 billion. It will rise from the £43 billion of this year to £48 billion next year and then in successive years to £52 billion, £55 billion, £57 billion, and then £60 billion of capital expendituremore than three times what it was in 1997as we invest in our future. Consistent with the figures set out in the 2005 and 2006 Budgets and the most recent pre-Budget report, I can announce that total expenditure, which is £552 billion this year, will rise by £34 billion next year to £587 billion, and then rise in 2008 by £29 billion to £615 billion, rise in 2009 by another £29 billion to £644 billion, and then in 2010 by an additional £29 billion to £674 billion, as we continue year after year to invest in the future.
For the year to come, I can also allocate money to security and defence. At all times, as the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have emphasised, we will put the security of the country first. So for the coming year, intelligence and counter-terrorism will receive an additional £86 million. Our budget for security and intelligence, which was just £1 billion in 2001, will now be for 2007-08 £2�1/4 billion. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our armed forces. To support those who serve us with courage and distinction in Afghanistan, Iraq and in other demanding international commitments, I am allocating the Secretary of State for Defence an additional £400 million for this year alone.
For the coming year starting next month in April, I can also confirm that the money available for investment and reform in the NHS in England will be £8 billion more than this year. It is the biggest cash increase ever. It is a cash rise of 10 per cent.7 per cent. in real terms. For the future years from 2008 to 2011, allocations will be made in the spending review later this year, but taking the whole of the United Kingdom together, I expect total additional expenditure on the NHS from April this year to be almost £10 billion above last yearalso a 10 per cent. rise in national health service expenditure.
I have examined a proposal to introduce what is called a third fiscal rule, but I can tell the House that it would require us to cut spending this year alone by £21 billion, and I have therefore rejected that rule.
In setting the right balance between tax, spending and the stability of the economy, we will not take risks with or break from the stability essential to our long-term economic performance. Let me be absolutely clear: with the economy now growing strongly, faster than any other major economy, this is not a time for a fiscal loosening, and the changes that I make today will be broadly neutral for the public finances and overall, which is the right decision for Britain at this time in the economic cycle.
But it is also right to proceed today with major reforms and modernisation that will prepare and equip Britain for all the long-term challenges aheadreforms that are now possible because they build on the higher employment, investment and the greater stability of the last 10 years, and reforms that focus on the three major priorities vital to our future. The first is to promote long-term investment and environmentally sustainable growth. That is necessary now and in the future to Britains success in the global economy. The second is to encourage work and to reward savings, which is vital to the week-to-week prosperity of every family in the country. The third is to support and strengthen families. That is essential to the welfare of parents and children and the stability of family life.
First, to lead in global competitionand particularly to secure our place in the high value-added, investment-driven growth sectors of the future, from modern manufacturing and the creative industries to business and financial services and the CityBritain must champion open markets, flexibility, free trade and an open and inclusive globalisation, not protectionism. Here the right policy for industry is to combine the most modern and flexible competition regimeincluding, as announced today, the further extension of risk-based regulation, into employment tribunalswith the most effective incentives and support for British investment and innovation.
My view is that, in all the advanced industrial economies, public and private investment in the great new drivers of growthinnovation and educationwill need to rise towards 10 per cent. of national income. As part of our plan to double investment in science, I can announce that in the next four years public investment in science will rise from £5 billion this year to £6.3 billion by 2010a 25 per cent. cash increase in the science budget of our country.
The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is also announcing today a £100 million competition for Britain to lead in high-tech innovation, challenging universities and businesses to come together, from medical research to environmental transport, to convert British scientific breakthroughs into British commercial successes and jobs.
In 1997, I cut corporation tax from 33p to 31p and then to 30p. Having continued to look carefully at the requirements for a modern corporate tax system for the global economy, I propose the following changes that reflect the increasing importance in investment decisions of research and development, skills, intellectual property and environmental innovations. I propose to modernise the system of capital allowances
many of which were first introduced for the needs of the post-war economyby simplifying them to just two categories based on how long an asset will last. I will provide more generous relief for long-life assets, raising the relief from 6 per cent. to 10 per cent., at a cost to the Treasury of £380 million in 2009; I will phase out the relief worth £230 million originally intended for industrial buildings but now poorly targeted; and I will align allowances for plant and machinery with the economic rate of depreciation at 20 per cent.
I will increase the value of the main R and D tax credit by an extra £100 million, and expand the scope for business to draw on environmental capital allowances by an extra £40 million, while leaving the overall tax rate for North sea companies unchanged. From April 2008, for all businesses, I will put in place a new annual 100 per cent. investment allowance of £50,000.
Because our goal is and will continue to be the most competitive business tax regime of the major economies, I have decided to cut mainstream corporation tax from April 2008 from 30p down to 28pa rate lower than America, Germany, France, Japan, and all our major competitorsmaking Britains corporate tax regime the lowest of all the major economies.
Changes that I will announce in this Budget will also improve the position of the self-employed. But I need to act to deal with individuals artificially incorporating as small companies to avoid paying their due share of taxa practice that, if left unaddressed, would cost the rest of the tax-paying population billions of pounds. I will take action in a way that will not raise the tax burden on the self-employed and small businesses overall.
To reduce the tax difference between self-employment and small company incorporation, I will raise the small companies rate in three stages from 20p this year to 22p. I will recycle all those revenues to legitimate small businesses investing for the future. Small firms will be able to claim the new 100 per cent. relief for new capital investment up to £50,000, a 175 per cent. tax credit for R and D, and the new tax credit for environmental investment. A small company with profits of £150,000 and investing £50,000 of that will effectively pay tax of just 15 per cent. A firm investing the same from profits of £100,000 will pay tax of 11 per cent.lower than today.
I have one further announcement on business. When the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I meet all the Northern Ireland parties tomorrow morning, we will announce details of a new Northern Ireland innovation fund, a new fund for industry and jobs to be available for the restored Executive that we all want to see.
Six months ago, when we published the Stern report, we set a framework for environmental action that combined a call to personal and social responsibility with European and international co-operation. Since then, we have secured support for a strengthened European carbon trading scheme on the road to a global scheme, and a new agreement for 2020 on cutting European emissions by at least 20 per cent. and potentially 30 per cent. I can also report that we have agreed bilateral partnerships with China on clean coal,
Brazil, Mozambique and South Africa on biofuels, India on clean energy investment, Mexico on carbon markets, and Norway on carbon capture and storage. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is announcing today that Britain will launch a competition to go ahead with our first full-scale carbon capture and storage demonstration.
Britain will also lead the way in helping developing countries to address climate change. I can announce financial support of £50 million for a path-breaking 10-country initiative across central Africa to prevent the destruction of the second largest rain forest in the world. Led by Nobel prize winner Wangari Maathai, it will help 50 million people in those 10 countries whose livelihoods are now under threat.
Environmental action also requires us to co-operate internationally in new ways. To help meet our commitment to international poverty reduction through environmental protection, I will allocate to the environmental transformation fund, jointly run by the Secretaries of State for International Development and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a total of £800 million for the coming spending round.
At home and abroad, the test that we must apply is what is the most environmentally effective, economically efficient and socially equitable way of reducing emissions: first, through better information and incentives; secondly, through higher standards and investment.
Homes account for one quarter of carbon emissions: our objective is for low-carbon homes benefiting the climate through lower emissions, and consumers through lower bills. Having already announced measures to speed up home insulation and to design out energy-wasting products, we have been consulting the banks and building societies and encouraging them to create a new market of mortgages for immediate capital investment in energy efficiency that would cut consumption and bills and, in the end, not only pay for itself but increase the sale value of the home.
To play our part, we are offering grants of £300 to £4,000 for pensioners and others installing insulation and central heating. From next month, we will increase by 50 per cent. microgeneration grants for homes. I can confirm that until 2012 all new zero-carbon homes up to £500,000 will be exempt from stamp duty. I have asked the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to examine how green homes can benefit more from the prices paid when they become not just sources of clean energy for themselves but sell energy back to the grid.
I am placing in the Library of the House of Commons the representations that the Foreign Secretary, the Minister for Europe and I are making to European Ministers for a Europe-wide decision that would reduce the rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent. to 5 per cent. on energy-saving and environmentally friendly products in the home.
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Woman accused of sex with minor on church retreat seeks trial
By Scott Morris :: Bay City News September 21, 2015
A woman who pleaded no contest in July to having sex with a teen at a church retreat sought to withdraw her plea on Friday and send the case to a jury trial, San Mateo County prosecutors said.
Jameliah Bates, 35, was set to be sentenced to three years in prison Friday after she pleaded no contest to one count of lewd acts with a minor in a plea agreement reached in July, according to the district attorney’s office.
The alleged lewd conduct happened on a retreat in Sacramento organized by the South San Francisco-based Hope United Methodist Church in May 2013.
There, prosecutors said Bates started to kiss a 14- or 15-year-old boy and the next day convinced him to have sex with her in a hotel room.
After the retreat, she kept in contact with the boy, becoming a trusted family friend and sent him text messages and naked photos, according to prosecutors.
She had sex with the boy again in June 2014. The victim told a cousin what happened and Bates was arrested and charged, prosecutors said.
The case went to trial once before, but Bates changed her plea to no contest on the first day. On Friday, she was given a new attorney as she sought to send the case back to trial.
A hearing on the motion to withdraw her plea was set for this Friday morning. She remains in custody on $500,000 bail.
church retreat
Jameliah Bates
lewd acts
Bicyclist hurt in Golden Gate Park crash
Boyfriend arrested after woman dies at Calistoga B&B
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Sci Fi & Fantasy
The Return of the King (Lord of the Rings Part 3 Film Tie-In)
Author(s): J. R. R. Tolkien
Concluding the story begun in The Hobbit, this is the final part of Tolkien's epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, featuring an exclusive cover image from the film, the definitive text, and a detailed map of Middle-earth. The armies of the Dark Lord Sauron are massing as his evil shadow spreads ever wider. Men, Dwarves, Elves and Ents unite forces to do battle agains the Dark. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam struggle further into Mordor in their heroic quest to destroy the One Ring. The devastating conclusion of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tale of magic and adventure, begun in The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, features the definitive edition of the text and includes the Appendices and a revised Index in full. To celebrate the release of the first of Peter Jackson's two-part film adaptation of The Hobbit, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, this third part of The Lord of the Rings is available for a limited time with an exclusive cover image from Peter Jackson's award-winning trilogy.
'The story moves on with a tremendous narrative rush to its climax... extraordinary imaginative work, part saga, part allegory, and wholly exciting.' The Times 'A triumphant close... a grand piece of work, grand in both conception and execution. An astonishing imaginative tour de force.' Sunday Telegraph
J.R.R.Tolkien (1892-1973) was a distinguished academic, though he is best known for writing The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and The Children of Hurin, plus other stories and essays. His books have been translated into over 60 languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide.
Availability date : July 2012
Illustrations : (2 x b/w maps), With index
Author : J. R. R. Tolkien
Edition : Film tie-in ed
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Super Bowl Advertisers & Social Media
by Rachelle Matherne | Feb 9, 2010
Jennifer Van Grove, an associate editor at Mashable who covers blogging and social media, recently wrote about the changing relationship between advertisers and the Super Bowl. Many advertisers have been ramping up their social media strategy rather than solely relying on paid airtime.
Some companies used social media to draw attention to commercials that had already been produced but CBS wouldn’t allow to air. Domain registrar and web hosting provider GoDaddy, notorious for its rather racy ads, put its “Lola” ad online after the CBS ban. ManCrunch, a dating site for gay men, has gotten a lot of attention after putting its banned ad online (screen capture from ad above).
Focus on the Family‘s pro-life spot featuring college football player Tim Tebow and his mom was one of the most talked about ads going into the Super Bowl. The difference is that the discussion wasn’t manufactured or instigated by Focus on the Family, and the ad hadn’t even been seen yet.
Some advertisers worked to generate buzz with social media tie-ins to the Super Bowl. Most used Facebook fan pages in some way, including Coca-Cola and Budweiser. Other advertisers, like Monster, developed Super Bowl-specific websites.
Other companies decided to skip the commercials altogether. Pepsi didn’t run a Super Bowl commercial for the first time in 23 years. Instead it is spending $20 million on a social media campaign called the Pepsi Refresh Project.
Benny Evangelista, staff writer at the San Francisco Chronicle, writes:
Instead of paying millions of dollars for 30 seconds of airtime, the soft drink giant is pouring resources into an online social-networking campaign designed to engage and interact with customers for months.
It’s a move that raised eyebrows among traditional media watchers, but social media experts say Pepsi has called the right play for a rapidly changing advertising game in which consumers are becoming the mass media that carry the message.
Pepsi will fund the most popular suggestions for ways to “refresh” local communities, selected by online voting. Some of the current top-ranked suggestions include sending Girl Scout cookies to troops overseas, using fresh produce from a local farmer’s market to fight childhood obesity in Illinois, and building a community playground for kids in Pierce County, Washington.
Van Grove reports that pre-game, Pepsi had the highest overall online reach according to data from social media monitoring company Alterian SM2. Post-game analysis from Alterian SM2 and social media monitoring company Radian6 indicate slightly different results.
Source: “How Social Media Is Changing the Super Bowl,” Mashable, 02/04/10
Source: “Pepsi picks social media over Super Bowl ads,” San Francisco Chronicle, 02/05/10
Source: “Social Media Score Card: How the Super Bowl Advertisers Performed,” Mashable, 02/08/10
Image: Screen capture from ManCrunch advertisement.
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adidas originals 34
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Congratulations to Professor Stéphanie Gaudet, for the Knowledge Mobilization Excellence Award 2018-2019
Appointment of Victoria Barham as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences
The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors approved the appointment of Victoria Barham as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. She will begin a five-year term in this position on July 1, 2019.
Gain insight into an innovative model of policy development
Revue Gouvernance receives a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Michael C. Williams awarded University Research Chair in Political Thought
The Faculty of Social Sciences is proud to announce that Michael C. Williams, full professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, has been awarded the University Research Chair in Political Thought, in recognition of his outstanding contribution and his sustained efforts, both in terms of research and student success.
It goes without saying that Professor Williams’ research interests, which centre mainly around international relations theory, as well security and political thought, will contribute greatly to the advancement of knowledge. The goal of the chair is to enable experts, political decision makers and a broader audience to better understand today’s main ideological movements and have a clear vision of the principle sources of division influencing world politics.
As Sylvain Charbonneau, vice-president, research, says, “Our researchers must continue to stand out in terms of their teaching quality and the impact of their research, which makes us more and more competitive on the international scene.”
Williams has authored several books published by well-known university presses, including The Realist Tradition and the Limits of International Relations (Cambridge University Press, 2005) and Culture and Security: Symbolic Power and the Politics of International Security (Routledge, 2007). He has also edited several books, including Realism Reconsidered: The Legacy of Hans J. Morgenthau in International Relations (Oxford University Press, 2007).
We offer Michael C. Williams our warmest congratulations!
University of Ottawa ranks among world’s best in new impact ranking
Canadian Politics Course in the Senate of Canada
The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) comprises nine departments, schools and institutes, which offer undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs in both English and French. With its 10,000 students, 260 full-time professors, and wide array of programs and research centres, the FSS plays a key role at the heart of the University of Ottawa. Its graduate students are supervised by excellent researchers and undertake cutting-edge research in the Faculty's masters and Ph.D. programs.
Learn more about the Faculty
Alumnus Nassib Abou-Khalil (BSocSc ’94) named Nokia chief legal officer
Edith Brunette receives prestigious scholarship from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Congratulations to Professor Capitaine, for the CLSA Article Prize in French
Winter 2019 Undergraduate Enrolment Period: Important information
Facilities and Services available to students in the FSS Building
Undergraduate Studies Road Map
Mentoring Centre
OCGSE seminar - Joshua Angrist, MIT
Choice and Consequence: Assessing Mismatch at Chicago Exam Schools
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Soualiga (6045)
Published in Soualiga
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Peace and Security - The scale and barbarity of the crimes committed by ISIL have ultimately served not to divide but to unify, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, head of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD), told the Security Council on Monday.
Mr. Khan was delivering his second report on the activities of UNITAD, during which he confirmed that his team has made “significant progress” in implementing its’ mandate, and that he expects investigators to provide concrete support for at least one case before the national courts, marking an “important milestone” in the delivery of their mandate.
The team, he said, had heard harrowing accounts of “mass killings, of entire families erased and of women and girls taken as slaves”.
He added that their courage in coming forward served to underline both “their continued heroism and the urgency with which we must work in order to deliver meaningfully on the promise made to them”, referring to the 2017 Security Council resolution that led to the creation of UNITAD.
The message of the survivors — from Shia, Sunni, Yazidi, Christian, Kaka’i, Shabak and Turkmen communities — is that ISIL fighters must face justice, not revenge, he stated.
‘Significant progress’ being made
The progress that Mr. Khan referred to during his briefing includes putting in place core staffing, facilities and evidence collection practices; the employment of 79 staff members in Iraq – including criminal investigators, analysts, witness protection experts and forensic scientists – 55 per cent of whom are women; and the collection of documentary, digital, testimonial and forensic material is now being collected.
Initial investigative work is focused on three areas: attacks committed by ISIL against the Yazidi community in the Sinjar district in August 2014, crimes committed by ISIL in Mosul between 2014 and 2016, and the mass killing of unarmed Iraqi air force cadets from Tikrit Air Academy in June 2014.
In the last two weeks alone, said Mr. Khan, UNITAD has gained access to more than 600,000 videos related to ISIL crimes relevant to investigative work, as well as over 15,000 pages of internal ISIL documents originally obtained from the battlefield by leading investigative journalists.
The Investigative Team, continued Mr. Khan, has received crucial support, from the Government of Iraq, Iraqi national authorities, and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Going forward, the team’s work remains dependent on the continued support of the Security Council and the international community more broadly.
The ultimate success of the work of UNITAD, concluded Mr. Khan, will depend on the investigative team’s ability to draw on its independent and impartial status in order to make its work the “product of a collective endeavour”: a partnership between the Council, the victims and survivors of ISIL, national authorities and local actors, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.
“It is only through such unity, and through our common recognition of the scale and gravity of the crimes committed by ISIL, that meaningful accountability can be achieved”.
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Health - Deadly, attacks on health workers in Ebola-hit areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including one at the weekend that left two dead, are an indication that combating the disease outbreak will require far greater international support, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said on Monday.
Speaking in Geneva, Mr. Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, insisted on the need to “be honest with ourselves” on tackling the haemorrhagic disease …unless there’s a big scale-up in the response, we’re unlikely to be successful in getting to zero cases”.
At his side, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the attacks in Beni and the identification – for the first time – of an infected patient in Goma, a city of one million people bordering Rwanda.
According to WHO, almost 3,000 health workers have so far been vaccinated against the disease in Goma.
Insisting that he was confident sufficient preventative measures had been put in place, Mr. Tedros announced that he had decided to reconvene an Emergency Committee “as soon as possible to assess the threat of this development and advise me accordingly”.
The two top UN officials were chairing a high-level event on the ourbreak that included the DRC Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga, the Minister for Solidarity and Humanitarian Action, Bernard Biando Sango, and the Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom, the Rt. Hon. Rory Stewart, as keynote speakers.
More than 2,400 cases of infection, 1,650 deaths
Since the latest Ebola outbreak was officially declared in the eastern DRC provinces of North Kivu and Ituri last August, there have been more than 2,400 confirmed and probable cases and 1,647 deaths, according to latest data from the country’s authorities.
Despite the high toll, the ongoing risk to neighbouring countries – not least Uganda, which has just overcome a recent case of DRC-originating Ebola infection – and reports that the disease has reached the large city of Goma for the first time via an infected pastor, Mr. Lowcock noted that “just a small fraction” of the $2 billion fund to tackle the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola outbreak has been made available to date.
The UN official also credited MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, for facilitating the work of health teams tasked with tracing potential Ebola patients, in areas prone to attack by armed groups, in an appeal for greater political and financial support.
Without this help, Mr. Lowcock warned, Ebola treatment centres risk closing.
It is also likely that there will be fewer teams able to carry out the vital work to “immediately investigate, isolate, treat and trace each new case, no matter where the disease pops up”, he said.
“We have started to get some momentum in former hotspots Butembo and Katwa, but unless we scale up the response we risk losing it,” he added. “The cheapest strategy is to invest fully at this point and to stop the current outbreak rather than to under-invest now and have the outbreak linger over a longer timeframe and possibly spread further geographically.”
Health worker attacks near 200 since January: WHO’s Tedros
Echoing that message, WHO’s Mr. Tedros noted that although the Ebola case in Goma was very concerning, the agency had already vaccinated 3,000 people and ensured that the infected pastor was receiving care.
The deaths of two Ebola responders – “murdered in their home” – brought to almost 200 the number of attacks on health facilities and workers since January, with seven people killed in the violence to date, Mr. Tedros said, noting that every incident “gives Ebola an opportunity to spread..(it) gets a free ride in each and every attack”.
“Just when we start to get control of the virus in one area, it appears in another,” the WHO top official said. “Every attack sets us back. Every attack makes it more difficult to trace contacts, vaccinate and perform safe burials.”
Despite the complexity of the challenge in DRC and the “very high” risk of further spread, the efforts of front-line responders, the Ministry of Health, WHO and partners have been “heroic”, Mr. Tedros said, in reference to the more than 161,000 people vaccinated, 140,000 contacts traced and 71 million travellers screened, at a cost of $250 million “and counting”.
‘Frankly, I am embarrassed to talk only about Ebola’
Outside DRC, moreover, more than 10,000 people have been vaccinated in Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda, he continued, while noting that after several visits to DRC, he had come to realize that it had many more problems to contend with than Ebola.
“I have travelled to North Kivu six times during this outbreak,” he said. “Frankly, I am embarrassed to talk only about Ebola. Together, we will end this outbreak. But unless we address its root causes – the weak health system, the insecurity and the political instability – there will be another outbreak.”
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Women - Without the full participation and leadership of women, “we have no hope” of realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the President of the United Nations General Assembly told gender equality leaders on Monday.
“This is an obvious point to make, but it is, sadly, one that we cannot repeat enough”, she said, opening the day-long discussion at UN Headquarters in New York to identify best practices aimed to knock down barriers hindering women’s full participation and leadership, in what she called “our shared mission this year”.
As the fourth woman in UN history to ever preside over the General Assembly, the Organization’s main and most representative deliberative body, María Fernanda Espinosarecognized that women decision-makers must lead by example to safeguard achievements and accelerate progress towards gender equality.
Noting that women have come a long way since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action nearly 25 years ago, she pointed out that they still lag behind on virtually every Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
“For example, just 42 per cent of countries give women the same rights to land ownership; just 60 per cent give women equal access to financial services”, she flagged. “And the gap is even greater for women in rural areas, women with disabilities, indigenous women and older women”.
Moreover, “no country has achieved full gender equality” and women continue to face discrimination in every region of the world, “from suffocating stereotypes to discriminatory laws, harmful practices and violence”, she maintained.
This runs counter to the “wealth of hard evidence” of the positive impact that “women’s participation and leadership have on economic stability, good governance and investment, including in health, education and social protection.
Child mortality decreases by almost 10 per cent for each additional year of education women of reproductive age have.
“This is just an example of the transformative, society-wide benefits of women’s empowerment”, Ms. Espinosa said. “Today’s discussion is anchored in this crucial link”.
The event, “Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership for a Sustainable World”, issued a 'Call for Action' that aligned with the theme of this year’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development: 'Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. The Forum, the main UN platform monitoring follow-up on States’ actions towards the SDGs, is currently under way in New York.
She invited all leaders to join the global “Call”, which 18 world leaders supported, as new synergies were being explored with other initiatives.
“Many of you will have heard me refer to gender equality as the closest thing we have to a ‘magic formula’ for sustainable development”, she said, noting that while “magical in terms of impact”, there is “nothing magical about how to achieve gender equality”.
The 2030 Agenda and the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action set out what must be done to empower women and girls, and what is needed now are “greater political will; a razor-sharp focus on the most transformative, practical actions; and to widen their scale and impact” according to the Assembly President.
“Today, we find ourselves in urgent need of renewed leadership, partnership and mobilization”, stressed Ms. Espinosa. “It is no secret that some of the SDG targets relating to women’s rights were the subject of tough negotiations… and the landscape has become more challenging even since then”.
She underscored that “we cannot take for granted the gains we have made”. And painted a picture of women on the ground working hard, “under duress and at great personal risk” to push back against a pushback, spelling out that they “need our support”.
“This is our opportunity to recommit to women’s rights and empowerment, to rise to challenges old and new, and – reclaim the agenda”, concluded the Assembly President.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the meeting that women have a strong track record as agents of change.
“From boardrooms to parliament, from military ranks to peace tables and, of course, in the United Nations itself, more women decision-makers mean more inclusive solutions that will benefit everyone”.
Because women understand “intrinsically” the importance of dignity, equality and opportunity for all, the deputy UN chief upheld that “women’s leadership and greater gender balance will lead to unlocking trillions for economies, enhanced bottom lines for the private sector and stronger, more sustainable peace agreements”.
In addition to that, she stressed that “it is critical that we emphasize that women’s equal participation is a basic democratic right”.
For her part, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, said that next year, when we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the implementation of Beijing Platform, “our theme is ‘Generation Equality’ because we are emphasizing the importance of intra-generational participation and the role of young people to take us forward”.
“All of these, drawn together, give us a fighting chance to increase and sustain the participation of women”, she underscored. “We can’t wait people, time is up. Time is really, really up”.
The high-level meeting brought together prominent women leaders from around the globe, including a Mexican Member of Parliament Gabriela Cuevas Barron who is also the president of the Inter Parliamentarian Union and Helen Clark, former head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Health - Proper nutrition for newborn babies into early childhood is key to development and good health in later life, according to the Regional Director of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe, as she launched two new studies on Monday.
The studies from WHO Europe show that a high proportion of baby foods are incorrectly marketed as suitable for infants under the age of six months, when in fact much of it contains inappropriately high levels of sugar.
WHO’s long-standing recommendation spells out that children should be breastfed, exclusively, for the first six months. Moreover, its 2016 global Guidance on Ending the Inappropriate Promotion of Foods for Infants and Young Children explicitly states that commercial complementary foods should not be advertised for infants under six months of age.
“Good nutrition in infancy and early childhood remains key to ensuring optimal child growth and development, and to better health outcomes later in life – including the prevention of overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases – thereby making United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages much more achievable,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab.
Nutritional quality break-down
To determine which foods are inappropriate for children between the ages of six and 36 months, WHO developed a draft Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), which it submitted to Member States and others to assess.
WHO/Europe also developed a methodology for collecting nutritional content data on commercial baby foods from labels, packaging, promotions and claims that was used between November 2017 and January 2018 in Vienna, Austria; Sofia, Bulgaria; Budapest, Hungary; and Haifa, Israel.
Based on 516 stores and 7,955 products retailed for babies and young children, the data revealed that from 28 to 60 per cent of the products in all four cities were marketed as suitable for infants under the age of six months.
Although this is permitted under European Union law, it goes against both the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and the WHO Guidance.
There are concerns that many products may still be too high in sugars – World Health Organization, Europe
“Foods for infants and young children are expected to comply with various established nutrition and compositional recommendations”, said João Breda, Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. “Nonetheless, there are concerns that many products may still be too high in sugars”.
Moreover, in three of the cities, over 30 per cent of the calories in half or more of the products came from sugars. Around one-third listed sugar, concentrated fruit juice or other sweetening agents as an ingredient, which could affect children’s taste preferences for sweeter foods.
Although foods such as fruits and vegetables that naturally contain sugars are appropriate for infants and young children, the very high level of free sugars in puréed commercial products is cause for concern.
The draft NPM was developed by following recommended WHO steps and informed by several data sources, including a literature review. It refers to existing European Commission directives and Codex Alimentarius standards, and reflects the approach used for the WHO/Europe NPM for children over 36 months.
The draft NPM was validated against label information from 1,328 products on the market in three countries from 2016 to 2017, and pilot-tested in seven additional countries in 2018 with a further 1,314 products.
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Culture and Education - At UN Headquarters, and across the globe, events are taking place on Monday to celebrate World Youth Skills Day – marked each year on 15 July – to raise awareness about the importance of youth skills development.
The Day is important because rising youth unemployment is seen as one of the most significant problems facing economies and societies in today’s world, for developed and developing countries alike.
Some 73 million young people are currently unemployed, with 40 million joining the labour market each year. To tackle the problem, at least 475 million new jobs need to be created over the next decade.
Skills for all
However, data suggests that many graduates are ill-prepared for the world of work, and the UN is working to ensure that as many young people as possible have the skillset to prosper in the job market.
Education and training are central part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to end poverty and inequality, whilst preserving the planet. Goal 4 of the Agenda is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
A significant aspect of Goal 4 is the development of technical and vocational education and training. Improving access to these skills is expected to address economic, social and environmental demands, by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
The UN believes that these skills can equip youth with the skills required to access the world of work, and start their own businesses; and make young people more resilient in the face of a market that demands more flexibility, helping to increase productivity and increase wage levels.
They can also reduce access barriers to the world of work, through work-based learning, and ensuring that skills gained are recognised and certified; and offer skills development opportunities for low-skilled people who are unemployed.
‘Complacency’ a factor in stagnating global vaccination rates, warn UN health chiefs
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Health - More than one in 10 children – almost 20 million worldwide – failed to receive potentially lifesaving vaccines in 2018, the UN said on Monday, citing obstacles including conflict, cost and complacency.
According to a joint study by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 10 countries accounted for 11.7 of the 19.4 million under and non-vaccinated youngsters in the world, in particular Nigeria (three million), India (2.6 million) and Pakistan (1.4 million).
At the same time, global protection against four diseases that are regarded as a gauge of overall coverage - diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and measles - has “stalled” at around 86 per cent since 2010, the study found.
95 per cent coverage rate still eludes many countries
A far higher level of coverage is needed to protect against vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, UN health experts insist, noting that 118 countries achieved a 90 per cent coverage threshold last year. Ideally, it should be 95 per cent across countries and communities globally, they maintain.
“Vaccines are one of our most important toolsfor preventing outbreaks and keeping the world safe,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
He added that while most of the world’s children are being vaccinated, “far too many are left behind...It’s often those who are most at risk – the poorest, the most marginalized, those touched by conflict or forced from their homes - who are persistently missed.”
Data shows that the best regional performer for vaccine reach in 2018 was Europe, whose more than 90 per cent rate was 18 per cent higher than Africa, the lowest-performing region.
Worryingly, of the 19.4 million children worldwide who have not received three doses of vaccine to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis – two-thirds “didn’t even receive an initial dose”, the UN report noted, underscoring that this points to a lack of basic immunization services.
Most unvaccinated children come from the world’s poorest countries and a disproportionate number live in fragile or conflict-affected states.
Conflict-hit countries are home to most at-risk children
Almost half of these at-risk youngsters are in 16 countries: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
“If these children do get sick, they are at risk of the severest health consequences, and least likely to access lifesaving treatment and care,” WHO/UNICEF said in a joint statement.
Measles outbreaks reveal ‘entrenched gaps’ in coverage
Citing major gaps in measles vaccine coverage across countries at all income levels, from Ukraine to the DRC to Madgascar, the UN report showed that the number of cases of the highly infectious disease doubled from 2017 to 2018, to more than 340,000.
“Measles is a real time indicator of where we have more work to do to fight preventable diseases,” said UNICEF’s Executive Director, Henrietta Fore. “Because measles is so contagious, an outbreak points to communities that are missing out on vaccines due to access, costs or, in some places, complacency. We have to exhaust every effort to immunize every child.”
Identifying Ukraine as the country with the highest measles incidence rate in 2018, the WHO/UNICEF report suggested that although the country has vaccinated over 90 per cent of its children, coverage in 2010 was just 56 per cent, meaning that a large number of older children and adults were at risk.
For first time, data available on vaccine that protects girls from cervical cancer
Data is also available for the first time on coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects girls against cervical cancer later in life.
As of 2018, 90 countries – home to one in three girls worldwide – offered the HPV vaccine.
But only 13 of these were lower-income countries, WHO/UNICEF said, meaning that those most at risk of cervical cancer are still least likely to have access to the vaccine.
Over 820 million people suffering from hunger; new UN report reveals stubborn realities of ‘immense’ global challenge
INTERNATIONAL, 15 July 2019, Economic Development - After nearly a decade of progress, the number of people who suffer from hunger has slowly increased over the past three years, with about one in every nine people globally suffering from hunger today, the United Nations said in a new report released on Monday.
This fact underscores “the immense challenge” to achieving the Zero Hunger target of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by 2030, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019.
The report, launched on the margins of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) – the main UN platform monitoring follow-up on States’ actions to the SDGs – currently under way in New York, breaks down statistics by region, and shows that hunger has risen almost 20 per cent in Africa’s subregions, areas which also have the greatest prevalence of undernourishment.
Although the pervasiveness of hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean is still below seven per cent, it is slowly increasing. And in Asia, undernourishment affects 11 per cent of the population. Although southern Asia saw great progress over the last five years, at almost 15 per cent, it is still the subregion with the highest prevalence of undernourishment.
“Our actions to tackle these troubling trends will have to be bolder, not only in scale but also in terms of multisectoral collaboration,” the heads of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) urged in their joint foreword to the report.
Hunger is increasing in many countries where economic growth is lagging, particularly in middle-income countries and those that rely heavily on international primary commodity trade.
The annual UN report also found that income inequality is rising in many of the countries where hunger is on the rise, making it even more difficult for the poor, vulnerable or marginalized to cope with economic slowdowns and downturns.
“We must foster pro-poor and inclusive structural transformation focusing on people and placing communities at the centre to reduce economic vulnerabilities and set ourselves on track to ending hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition,” the UN leaders said.
This year’s edition of the report takes a broader look at the impact of food insecurity – beyond hunger.
It introduces, for the first time, a second indicator for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 2.1 on the Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity that shows that 17.2 per cent of the world’s population, or 1.3 billion people, lacked regular access to “nutritious and sufficient food”.
“Even if they were not necessarily suffering from hunger, they are at greater risk of various forms of malnutrition and poor health”, according to the report.
The combination of moderate and severe levels of food insecurity brings the estimate to about two billion people, where in every continent, women are slightly more food insecure than men.
Low birthweight still a major challenge
Turning to children, the report disclosed that since 2012, no progress has been made in reducing low birthweight.
Additionally, while the number of under-age-five children affected by stunting has decreased over the past six years by 10 per cent globally, the pace of progress is too slow to meet the 2030 target of halving the number of stunted children.
Furthermore, overweight and obesity continue to increase throughout all regions, particularly among school-age children and adults.
Income inequality increases the likelihood of severe food insecurity – UN report
To safeguard food security and nutrition, the 2019 report stresses the importance to economic and social policies to counteract the effects of adverse economic cycles when they arrive, while avoiding cuts in essential services.
It maintains that the uneven pace of economic recovery “is undermining efforts to end hunger and malnutrition, with hunger increasing in many countries where the economy has slowed down or contracted”, mostly in middle-income nations.
Moreover, economic slowdowns or downturns disproportionally undermine food security and nutrition where inequalities are greater.
“Income inequality increases the likelihood of severe food insecurity, and this effect is 20 per cent higher for low-income countries compared with middle-income countries”, the report spells out.
The report concludes with guidance on what short- and long-term policies must be undertaken to safeguard food security and nutrition during episodes of economic turmoil or in preparation for them, such as integrating food security and nutrition concerns into poverty reduction efforts using pro-poor and inclusive structural transformations.
With half of Somaliland children not in school, UNICEF and partners launch education access programme
INTERNATIONAL, 13 July 2019, Culture and Education - Access to education in Somaliland is extremely limited, with more than 50 per cent of children in Somaliland out of school. In an effort to address the problem, the UN children’s fund, UNICEF, has partnered with the government, and the global fund Education Cannot Wait, to launch a programme designed to help children affected by ongoing crises in the country.
Drought, food insecurity, poverty and inequality are some of the challenges that hinder efforts to get more Somaliland children and youth in schools. The education prospects for children in rural areas, and school age Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Somaliland are particularly poor: only 26 per cent of children in rural communities, and 16 per cent of IDP children, are enrolled in primary schools.
The programme, which will run for three years, has a budget of $64 million, with initial seed money of $6.7 million provided by Education Cannot Wait. The remaining $57.3 million is being sought from additional donors. The programme is expected to provide more than 54,000 children with an education.
A UNICEF statement released on Saturday explained that the aim is to “achieve improved learning outcomes for school-aged children who are affected by emergencies”, by increasing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, child-friendly and sustainable education.
“In our collective quest to reach the Global Goals, it is unacceptable that one in every two children in Somaliland doesn’t have the opportunity of an education”, said Yasmine Sherif, Director of Education Cannot Wait. “With the launch of this programme, we firmly stand with these children and youth. We stand with the Government and all our education partners”.
It is unacceptable that one in every two children in Somaliland doesn’t have the opportunity of an education” Yasmine Sherif, Director, Education Cannot Wait
Education, the statement emphasises, is a “central pillar” of the long-term stability and socio-economic growth plans of the Somaliland Government, which “recognizes that the economic growth of the country correlates with the proportion of people with access to education.”
Education Cannot Wait is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, and is administered under UNICEF’s rules and regulations.
Education Cannot Wait is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, and is administered under UNICEF’s rules and regulations. UNICEF is committed to working with the Ministry of Education and Science in Somaliland to strengthen children’s resilience through education, providing technical assistance, pilot projects, and overall system strengthening.
UN chief condemns terror attack in Kismayo, Somalia
INTERNATIONAL, 13 July 2019, Peace and Security - UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the terrorist attack that took place on July 12 in southern Somalia.
In a statement released on Friday, Mr. Guterres expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack and wished a swift recovery to the injured.
The attack took place in the port city of Kismayo where, according to media reports, a suicide bomber drove a car containing explosives into the Asasey hotel. Gunmen then stormed the building.
The terror group al-Shabab has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, which is believed to have led to the deaths of at least 26 people, making it the worst to hit Kismayo since al-Shabab was forced out of the city in 2012.
The killings took place around 4 months after al-Shabab set off two car bombs in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, reportedly killing more than 20 people, and injuring scores more.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the support and solidarity of the United Nations with the people of Somalia in their pursuit of a peaceful future.
UN’s Guterres condemns ongoing airstrikes on Syria’s hospitals, medical workers
INTERNATIONAL, 12 July 2019, Peace and Security - Reports that airstrikes have hit several health facilities in north-west Syria have been strongly condemned by the UN Secretary-General.
In a statement issued late Thursday evening, António Guterres said that one of the damaged facilities included a large hospital in Maarat al-Numan whose coordinates had been shared with belligerents, through the UN’s de-confliction mechanism.
The development follows escalating violence since April in Idlib, the last opposition-held enclave in the country.
Some three million people live there, many of them displaced by previous clashes between Government and opposition fighters elsewhere in the war-torn country.
Highlighting the impact of the airstrikes on non-combatants, Mr. Guterres insisted that civilians and public buildings must be protected, in line with a 2018 de-escalation agreement overseen by guarantors Russia and Turkey.
The UN Secretary-General also insisted that those responsible for carrying out serious violations of international humanitarian law should be held accountable.
In aftermath of Libya airstrike deaths, UN officials call for refugees and migrants to be freed from detention
As monsoon rains pound Rohingya refugee camps, UN food relief agency steps up aid
Developing countries should not be liable for emissions ‘accumulated throughout history’, key UN development forum hears
UN Human Rights Council stands firm on LGBTI violence, Syria detainees and Philippines ‘war on drugs’
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Brand New's "Science Fiction" included in Vulture's best albums of 2017 so far
October 31, 2017 by Craig Jenkins
Brand New, Science Fiction
As much as the wigged-out doomsday preppers and self-medicating druggies of Long Island art rockers Brand New’s long-awaited Science Fiction feel like prescient character studies for America after the advent of Trumpism, the album’s lush sonics and relaxed tempos feel like a respite from the very same. It’s a delicate balance, mixing nerve-racked paranoia and tranquil balladry, but it suits the music’s message, which, in short, seems to be to find help and peace before it’s too late. If, as band members have suggested, this album is Brand New’s last, then the band is bowing out on a rousing, vital high note.
Click HERE to read more on Vulture
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Halloween + Grown-Ups
Democracy + Habits of Playfulness
Nostalgia, both Sippy Cup- and Super-Sized
October 19, 2012 November 2, 2012
From Hurtwood, Planning for Play
At work, we have been thinking deeply about a milestone: next year, we’ll reach one hundred years of developing playful people and spaces.
Nested within those hundred years are millions of stories of people who experienced those exhibits and spaces, from the 72-year-old man who remembers a displayed object and its exact location in the museum to the woman who cut my hair yesterday and said she always heard about the “giant phone” at the museum but never visited as a kid. It takes just seconds to unpack those memories from almost any person who grew up around the museum. However, after a short while, this richness starts to feel like a bit like the last scene of Citizen Kane: a collection of crates and boxes stretching across the interior of a palatial room. The memories are rich and unique, but where do all those memories go next? How can we encapsulate the experiences of millions? Should we even try to encapsulate, or somehow let the stories tell themselves?
Much of this discussion, on the part of we as practitioners and on the part of visitors, would fall under the category of nostalgia. Nostalgia’s etymology is technically the Greek nostos— a return home– and algos, meaning pain. I prefer the definition provided by Mitzi Myers, the late UCLA children’s literature scholar (and one of my mentors), who called nostalgia “longing for the dead”– drawing connections to Nosferatu. Nostalgia as longing-for-the-lost also invites a connection to sodade, a Cape Verdean Creole word that means “longing for home” (a word that becomes, clearly, more poignant for people who long ago left the physical settings of their childhood– but don’t we all do so?). Many people, returning to all kinds of playspaces as adults, experience a kind of nostalgia-sodade: a longing for a dead place. Where is the place I remember? What happened to X and Y? The longing is as much for the space as it is for an (often invented) memory of what it was like to be a kid.
Nostalgia, left unchecked, can turn into the old things-were-so-much-better-then discussions. Colin Ward writes that “Anyone who looks at one of those pairs of photographs of Main Street, Anywhere in 1900 and Main Street, Anywhere in 1975, will feel that something has been lost.” That is certainly true in this case; just substitute “museum” for “main street.” There will always be some sense of loss. However, that’s not the whole story, and a bit more unpacking makes those obvious truths clear.
One of the main spaces that comes up in conversation with visitors is a space that, in the 1970s through the early 1990s, held office items enlarged to 2.5 times their normal size. A pencil– with actual pencil lead– dwarfed your average 4-year-old. The coffee mug resembled a Japanese style bathtub. A ruler stretched out 12 feet. Not surprisingly, the nostalgia for this exhibit is hardcore.
When I ask adults why they want to see this exhibit again, the answer is almost always the same: “It seemed so big then. I wonder if it was really as big as I remember it.”
That’s the core of this, right? We use these memories of past childhood experiences to measure what we have become. In this case, it’s literal: am I bigger than the coffee mug (and by the way, you probably are)? Could I easily pick up the giant phone now (you probably could)? What will it be like to see my own children, so small, interact with things that were once, similarly, so big to me? We measure our childhoods with different rulers: sometimes, those rulers are as tall as a port-a-potty (sorry– that’s just the most readily available comparison). Sometimes they are miniature and nestle in a tiny dollhouse. But at some point, we have to come to terms with our own tools of nostalgic measure.
We’re working on bringing some of the giant exhibit back for the centennial, but in a slightly different form. I’m excited to see how it works.
Halloween + Grown-Ups Previous
Democracy + Habits of Playfulness Next
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How Epstein Has Become A Boon For Alt-Right Fever Dreams
Biden Vows To Challenge Trump To Push-Up Contest If POTUS Makes Fun Of His Age
Voter Fraud Honcho Kobach Blasts ACLU And LWV As ‘Communist’
Thad Allton/TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Facing lawsuits over Kansas’ requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote, Secretary of State Kris Kobach on Saturday railed against the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the League of Women Voters, labeling both groups “communist.”
“The ACLU and their fellow communist friends, the League of Women Voters — you can quote me on that, the communist League of Women Voters — the ACLU and the communist League of Women Voters sued,” Kobach said at the Kansas Republican Party’s state convention, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.
The new executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), Brian Newby, in January approved Kansas’ request for a change on voter registration forms to require residents to provide documents proving that they are U.S. citizens.
The League of Women Voters, along with several other voting rights groups, filed a lawsuit challenging the EAC decision approving requests made by Kansas and two other states to require proof-of-citizenship for voter registration.
The ACLU filed a separate lawsuit against Kansas’ requirement that residents present proof of citizenship to register to vote. The lawsuit also challenges the state’s plans to remove 30,000 voters from the registration roles because they did not provide proof of citizenship during a required 90-day period.
The Department of Justice indicated that it will side with voting rights groups when the agency on Monday filed a brief arguing that the EAC’s decision should be temporarily blocked while the courts assess the case.
Kobach on Saturday said that the Department of Justice opposes the EAC’s decision.
“We just heard through back channels, the Department of Justice met with this federal agency, met with the Kansan who heads this federal agency, tried to brow-beat them into changing their mind, and when they said they wouldn’t change their mind, the Department of Justice said we’re not going to defend a federal agency,” he said, according to the Lawrence Journal-World.
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Agnes Binagwaho
Vice Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
Dr. Agnes Binagwaho is Vice Chancellor at University of Global Health Equity. Dr. Binagwaho served as the Minister of Health of the Republic of Rwanda from 2011 to 2016. After practicing as a pediatrician for over 15 years, Dr. Binagwaho led the National AIDS Control Commission between 2002 and 2008. She then served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health until 2011. Dr. Binagwaho serves on many academic boards. Her engagements include research on health equity, HIV/AIDS, information and communication technologies (ICT) in e-health, and pediatric care delivery systems. She has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles, serves on the International Advisory Board of Lancet Global Health, the Editorial Board of PLoS Medicine and of Health and Human Rights: An International Journal, and contributed to multiple books. She chairs theRwanda Pediatric Society and is a member of the Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in Developing Countries. Dr. Binagwaho is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She also serves on the International Strategic Advisory Board for the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London. Dr. Binagwaho received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Dartmouth College in 2010. In 2014, she received her Ph.D. from the University of Rwanda. She is active in advocacy and political mobilisation on behalf of women and children, in Rwanda and worldwide.
Techonomy 17 Advancing Global Health With Tech
Health 17 A Conversation with Dr. Agnes Binagwaho
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Social Media Saves Lives and Makes the World Better
Rwanda's New Medical School Reflects its Values and Aspirations
@Bosefina @techonomy The best companies in the world will solve very complex problems that affect people from all b… https://t.co/0xzWwzEuO1 about 1 min ago by Paola Delgado
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My Business Impact in Ghana through Clinton Global Initiative University
As a student at the Christian Service University, I learned of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) which engages the next generation of world leaders on college campuses to take concrete steps to address global challenges. So, I made a commitment in 2010 with my co-founders to use bamboo to produce bicycles. Our project was accepted.
Around the same time on campus, our entrepreneurship professor was encouraging us to create self-employment opportunities instead of relying on non-existent white collar jobs.
I started to think of what I could do with my business degree after graduation that would serve my community and create opportunities for youth. That led to the birth of the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative. It uses readily available natural resources in the community to address an urgent transportation need in rural communities while creating self employment opportunities for the youth and reducing poverty.
The bamboo bicycle is not a new concept. It has been around since 1894.The first bamboo bicycles were shown at the London Stanley Show of 1894 and caused a sensation. However the use of bamboo never caught on until around the year 2005 when some few organizations and individuals revived the concept and it is now catching on all over the world. Our company’s strength lies in the fact that the bamboo bikes that we build can withstand large loads, rough terrain and inclement weather.
There were a lot of business challenges, including labor-related problems. As there were no existing bamboo bike builders, we had to invest in training bamboo bike builders and identify alternative people who could perform the functions of the existing builders. We also trained some of the bike builders with multiple skill sets, so that they could replace other positions for a short period of time when necessary.
Another challenge is getting our target groups to buy our products; communities are used to NGO giveaways and we needed to ensure a shift from this mindset so that Ghana Bamboo Bikes was viable as a business opportunity.
In my cultural context where age and gender impact social status, being young and a woman does sometimes becomes a difficulty to contend with. It is the worst when you are meeting potential clients or business partners whom you have never met before, and they look at you with judgmental eyes. This has never stifled my potential or discouraged me, however.
Some people also have this notion that they are more qualified, experienced and have more contacts than me, so they ought to be doing what I am doing, instead of me. I get to deal with all those stereotypes from time to time, but the challenges keep me strong and going.
Defining My Success
To me, success is very specific. It is defined by the ability to train and create direct employment opportunities for 30 people receiving higher wages than most other Ghanaians in similar industries. These 30 people are representing a household with an average of about five people, with the knock-on effect of about 200 people benefiting directly. My efforts have not gone unrecognised, and now I have won over 10 international awards and have been been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader.
Business Obstacles
The major obstacle for businesses, especially women-led businesses, is financing. The financial institutions in Ghana do not support startups, no matter how brilliant your ideas are. I do not know of any active angel investors in the country, except those that exist in name only or on paper. Since many aspiring women entrepreneurs often lack the education, skills, and access to information required to turn their entrepreneurial spirit into bankable project ideas, they cannot access the needed funding from venture capital firms.
The major obstacle for businesses, especially women-led businesses, is financing.
Additionally, aspiring women entrepreneurs lack effective networks that can support learning and leveraging of resources, such as knowledge, business advice and mentorship. Because much of business culture is male-dominated, women tend to be excluded from such circles.
Lastly, women lack the support from their peers and communities to pursue their entrepreneurship. Many societies still discourage women from going into business, and there are few positive role models for women entrepreneurs to inspire them to push ahead despite the odds.
Overcoming the Obstacles
The passion for success and the ‘can do’ spirit has been very helpful to me. I am focused and have a very clear direction of where I want to be. I see entrepreneurship as a calling, not as a last resort for those who are looking for employment in the formal sector and not finding it. I am also committed to this business and have been investing in it and keep on learning new things.
I always encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to engage in businesses which they are familiar with. They should not enter into a business for financial reasons. That will be a recipe for disaster for them if they do that. I also tell my mentees that no good thing can be achieved instantly – Rome was not built in a day. Also to have it in mind that along the line they might fail. If failure happens, they should not be discouraged but learn from their failure and appreciate the fact that success is a journey wrought with a lot of challenges. Many have failed numerous times. Successful people are able to pick up, dust off, and carry on trying.
I see entrepreneurship as a calling, not as a last resort for those who are looking for employment in the formal sector and not finding it.
Looking back, I feel excited and proud that a project idea which I pledged as a commitment project of President Clinton Global Initiative University has been nurtured into an award-winning social enterprise with several international awards; awards include the 2014 Dubai Awards For International Best Pratices, 2013 UNFCCC Momentum For Change Light House Activity Award (Women For Results Category), World Business and Development Award 2012, UN Habitat/Dubai International Best Practice Award 2012, Samsung/Generations For Peace Impact Award 2012,GIZ Impact Business Award 2011, and UNEP SEED Initiative Award 2010.
Follow Ghana Bamboo Bikes on Facebook.
For more stories like this and specific actions you can take to advance in your career or business, check out our book UNDETERRED: The Six Success Habits of Women in Emerging Economies.
Africa Featured Guest Contributor Inspiring Women
Bernice Dapaah
Co-founder of the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative
Along with her Co-Founder Winnifred Selby, Bernice operates her NGO business as a social enterprise to empower rural dwellers and their communities.
She is internationally recognized for her company’s sustainable social and environmental practices. This year alone, the Ghana Bamboo Bikes has earned Bernice positions as 2014 Set Africa Fellow and a 2014 Anzisha Prize Fellow.
This social enterprise is also a significant business opportunity in Ghana. Though the bamboo bicycle concept is an old one, Bernice’s company has been able to convert the idea into a sustainable, viable product that provides jobs and training for Ghana’s rural community members.
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Posted on January 24, 2019 by theworldismyexistence
15. a realization
visit patreon.com/SashaNebraska or sashanebraska.com for clues and the game
Becca woke to the sun setting. The pinks and oranges flooded through her bedroom window. She sat up in bed, stretching her arms out. She felt a power in her that she had never felt before. She had done something to satisfy her own needs, even if it was as small as taking a nap. That was something she had never done before, knowing others needed her and dismissing them. Typically, she satisfied the angry masses first.
As she made her way down the stairs, real life reared its head up again. Her phone screamed in notifications. She swiped through each one, not quite ready to dive in head first yet.
She dialed her sister first. “I’m fine,” she said when Jenny answered. “I just needed to make sure this cat was fed and I was exhausted so I took a nap.”
“Well, mom is completely freaking out.”
“She barely stopped in to see me at the hospital.”
“Please, we know this is how she is,” Jenny went on, “But you need to call her and get her off my back.”
“Fine,” Becca replied.
“I filled dad in on everything,” Jenny said.
“Everything?” Becca freaked out a bit over the fact that her dad could know she had been dealing with a lunatic. He had warned her time and time again to not get into these predicaments and had even offered to get her out of it right from the get go. She knew he would not be happy.
“Not everything,” Jenny replied. “Are you crazy? You know how he would react to that. But I did tell him I was going to help you get out of this contract. I told him we have been working on it all along.”
“Good,” Becca responded. Jenny had always known how to handle their dad and Becca was grateful for that. She wasn’t sure they would even be on speaking terms if it wasn’t for Jenny constantly coaxing out fires between them.
“I want to look over the contract a bit and then I will come up with a plan,” Jenny said. She didn’t even need to ask that Becca wanted out of it, it was now a given.
“Thanks,” Becca said. “I will bring you a copy.”
“No, I’ll come over later today and stay with you again,” she said. “Bo said he would fix the locks on the doors too.”
Becca hadn’t remembered mentioning that, but it wasn’t uncommon for them both to be in the same state of thinking.
After speaking with Jenny, she called her mother. Her mom was always wavering in between a state of panic or a state of indifference to the goings on of her children’s lives. This time was panic. But she had waited long enough to call her back that others in the family talked her down. Or maybe it was the wine. “I’m just worried about you,” she had said to which Becca replied, “I know mom, but I’m fine. You know I am.” And that was enough to send her back to indifference for awhile.
After she hung up with her mother, she stared at her phone and felt the anxiety rise. Do I call him back? What do I say to him?
The thought of him sent her into a feeling of both comfort and unease. She sensed that he enjoyed being her rock, but the tide was always moving in him. She ran her fingers through her hair as she paced the floor and lifted the phone to her ear.
“Hey,” she said at the sound of his voice.
“Hey there,” he replied. His voice was deep and covered her like a soft blanket, stopping her in her tracks. “I was beginning to get a little worried about you.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Sorry about that,” and the way he listened with true concern as she began to tell the way things played out was a breath of fresh air. She had always lived in a world where her shortcomings were her failures and her failures alone. She relaxed and took a seat on one of the steps of the giant staircase where she proceeded to tell him everything that happened.
As her story ended, he added, “I’m glad you’re okay.” She breathed in a lightness as his words escaped his lips. Even though he was miles away, she could feel the comfort in his voice. That was the moment when she realized, he was the only one whom she could truly be herself with.
The door opened. Jenny and Bo entered the house. Becca’s head swirled as Jenny directed Bo to the different doors throughout the house. Becca had never had a need for anyone in her life. She had been a loner, but not in the true sense. She was always surrounded by people and she enjoyed their company, but she was a pleaser and always, always, followed the rules, whether they were true or made up from the people to which she was sharing her time.
“What is wrong with you?” Jenny asked.
Becca hadn’t moved since they entered the house. She still stood in the same place in the kitchen that she had entered when she finished her phone calls and grabbed a cup of tea. She hadn’t realized it. It was as if time stood still and the feeling she held inside her was the most important thing she needed to hang on to.
“Nothing,” Becca responded to Jenny’s question. But truthfully, she was working to understand what it was like to have words fall out of her mouth without need to filter. The freedom she had in expressing herself to Andrew was new and exhilarating.
“Here,” Jenny said as she handed her a bottle.
“Thanks,” Becca said. She opened a drawer and flipped off the lid passing it to Jenny. “Everyone is freaking out about me, but there’s nothing wrong.” She took a drink from the bottle, the brown liquid inside slightly bitter.
“I know that,” Jenny said. “I cannot believe what happened,” she began, but cut herself off when Bo entered the room. Of course, he had no clue the real story. That would only shorten his rope on Jenny.
“It’s just easier for him to not know,” Jenny said after Bo left for the evening. “You know this.”
“God,” Becca shook her head, sat down at the counter and took another drink.
“What?” Jenny said, a look of anger crossed her face. “It’s not like I lied about it. I just didn’t tell him everything.”
“Not you,” Becca said. She paused, thinking of the conversation she just had with Andrew and how he didn’t even question her and her actions. “Do you think there is someone out there that would just be okay with it all?”
“With what? Me?” Jenny asked but then answered her own questions, “I don’t care. I’m gonna do what I want to do. The only reason I don’t tell Bo everything is because he would freak out and I don’t care to deal with that. It’s not my problem that he worries about me, but I’m not about to give him even more reason to.”
That wasn’t what Becca was asking but it was too tiresome to get a real meaningful thought about it. What she wanted to know was if there was the possibility of a relationship in which two people could be exactly who they were, no questions or explanations. She was beginning to think that could happen with Andrew, but with her past experiences, had grown cautious.
“Okay,” Jenny started. She opened the fridge and pulled out two more bottles. “Where is this contract?”
Becca jumped off the counter where she had been sitting and walked to the library. Jenny followed. As they reached the door, she felt a cold breeze blow across her body. She turned to close the window, which was already closed. “Weird,” Becca said. She could have sworn she saw the curtains move. Why else would she have suspected the window to be open?
“Yeah,” Jenny added.
“Did Bo change these locks too?” Becca asked. The handle to the library wouldn’t budge.
“I don’t think so,” Jenny said. She picked up her phone and texted him. “No,” she confirmed.
Becca grabbed the handle again and shook to try and get it to open. Don’t do it.
She stopped.
“Let me try,” Jenny said.
Don’t.
“Wait,” Becca said. Becca looked around the room.
“What is it?” Jenny asked.
“I don’t know,” Becca replied. “I think there is a reason why we can’t go in.”
“Well, we have to get the contract if I’m going to do anything about it,” Jenny said.
There was a knock at the door. Both turned to see a girl standing on the front porch. Becca pulled the door open. “Can I help you?” she asked.
The girl looked just like any other. She wore a black, lace top, with necklaces full of gemstones and jewels. Earrings dangled from her ears and a short, jean skirt was topped with knee high socks and high heeled boots.
“You must be Becca,” the girl extended her hand in an over-the-top display of confidence. “I am Morgan.”
Becca shook her hand.
“My apologies,” Morgan went on. “I’m really more of a hugger but have found the gesture to be offtaking by some.”
“No worries,” Becca said. She blocked the doorway. She wasn’t about to get into another predicament as she had before. She also had no problem asserting herself to strangers to whom she cared nothing of. Something she wished she held for those in her life she did care about.
“And this must be Jenny,” Morgan went on and extended her hand to Jenny who had been standing behind, but also next to Becca.
“Yes,” Jenny said reaching her own hand to Morgan’s.
“I’m sorry about the hour,” Morgan started. Becca knew it was late, but heard one of the grandfather clocks strike midnight to confirm it. “May I come in?” she asked.
Against all judgement and Jenny’s looks screaming, no, she opened the door wide enough for Morgan to enter. “Isn’t this house just beautiful?” Morgan asked as she paused and looked around the entryway.
“Who are you?” Becca asked. She didn’t mean for it to come off as rude, but it definitely had that flavor. Which was odd after the welcoming entrance she had just inadvertently offered.
“I am so sorry,” Morgan began. “I didn’t know the emotions would hit me like this.”
Becca could see the reflection in Morgan’s eyes, the wetness that had formed, the sadness. “Did you know my aunt?” Becca asked.
“I did,” Morgan said. She grabbed Becca’s hands and looked right into her eyes. Her hands warm and soft. “She was an amazing woman,” she went on. “I was so sad to hear of her passing.” She stood for a moment. The room becoming a bit uncomfortable as they both shared the silence. “I am here to help,” she said. She let go of Becca’s hands and walked right to the library door. Becca and Jenny watched as Morgan quickly and easily turned the handle and entered the room.
Posted in Patreon - Fire the ManagementTagged Andrew, becca, books, fiction, fire the management, firethemanagement, game, gameon, gerard, jenny, love, lovestory, Morgan, scholarships, story, theworld, writing
Previous Article 14. are you okay? and other inconvenient messages
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NOLA Native Harry Connick Doesn’t Like Blackface Humor
It’s caused a big stir in Australia where it occurred, and where they pride themselves as being multicultural–except when it comes to Aborigines or Blacks.
From the CBC:
American performer Harry Connick Jr. was serving as guest judge for a reunion edition of the long-running show Hey Hey It’s Saturday Night and voiced his disapproval over the musical skit, performed on Wednesday.
The “Jackson Jive” performance featured five men with black makeup smeared over their faces and wearing exaggerated black Afro wigs dancing and singing along with another man, who had stark white makeup smeared over his face and was dressed in a costume reminiscent of Michael Jackson.
The men, all doctors, first performed the skit on the show about 20 years ago while they were medical students.
Connick Jr., an actor and celebrated musician and bandleader from New Orleans, gave the performers a score of zero and noted that if he had known of it in advance, he wouldn’t have agreed to appear on the show.
“If they turned up looking like that in the United States … it’d be like ‘Hey, hey there’s no more show,” the singer said after the skit.
What’s even more interesting is that the Jackson Jive were the brainchild of an Indian plastic surgeon, Anand Deva, who was indignant about charges of racism. Fact is, Asians can absorb racist and color attitudes, inter/intracultural or otherwise, towards Africans and African Americans. Even in Japan, some are loathe to give up toiletries with caricatures of grinning darkies on their labels.
In some circles in the feminist community, it was called horizontal oppression.
“I am an Indian, and five of the six of us are from multicultural backgrounds and to be called a racist…I don’t think I have ever been called that ever in my life before,” Deva told Australian press.
Deva probably never knew that the Little Black Sambo books were originally a racist caricature of Tamil Indian children and were later turned towards African Americans.
Now offended Aussies are saying that Connick was being two-faced, when he played a jackleg preacher on Mad TV thirteen years back. The problem with this argument is, Connick wasn’t in blackface; he was trying to emulate the black minister from whom he had taken instruction and inspiration.
Blacking up is not the same as emulating motions, voice, or hairstyle. Blacking up means that you are embodying the people you are putting down. You are stereotyping them, distorting who they really are. Such distortions has shaped perceptions of and prejudices about black people even now. Such depictions die hard, which is why so many Aussies are jumping to the side of the Jackson Jive. I know I critique what I watch on television and even talk back to the screen. With some of these Aussies, they’ve grown inured to these racist depictions that they don’t react. They collude with the depiction, which makes one wonder how they continue to interact with Aborigines, even those who are biracial.
Minstrelsy and darky iconography have gone underground in the U.S., but it flares up from time to time in advertising and even on shows like Saturday Night Live. It’s never truly gone away, but it is commonly thought of as racist. If I see it, I have to wonder exactly what the point is. And if I am offended, I am not going to buy it.
I’m glad that Harry Connick, who may be limited even in his understanding of American racism, has raised such a stir, even among Aussie politicians. As far as I am concerned, he was raised halfway right. Let the education begin, and let it never end.
~ by blksista on October 8, 2009.
Posted in Aborigines/Blacks, Australia, Black People, Celebrities/Royals, Class, Education, History, New Orleans, People of Color, Race, Reality Shows, Television, The Rest of the World
Tags: "Hey Hey It's Saturday Night", Aborigines, Afro Wigs, Anand Deva, Australia, Bandleader, Blackface, Blacks, Common Sense, Darky Iconography, Guest Judge, Harry Connick Jr., Horizontal Oppression, Michael Jackson, MInstrelsy, New Orleans, New Orleans LA, NOLA, Pianist, Racism, Reality Show, The Jackson Jive
2 Responses to “NOLA Native Harry Connick Doesn’t Like Blackface Humor”
[…] It’s caused a large stir in Australia where it occurred, as well as where they honour themselves as being multicultural–except when it comes to Aborigines or Blacks. From a CBC: American actor Harry Connick Jr. was portion as guest decider for a reunion book of a long-running uncover Hey Hey It’s Saturd … Blog Source […]
NOLA Native Harry Connick Doesn’t Like Blackface Humor | News|Blog|Video | FOXNEWS.VOLUMEWORK.COM said this on October 25, 2009 at 5:55 PM
What do you have against Asians? Seems like the pot calling the kettle black – no pun intended
Matt said this on October 8, 2009 at 4:02 PM
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Dibba Al Fujairah v Al Ain
Dibba Al Fujairah had many high scoring games recently, in the latest match they drew 2-2 with Al Sharjah, also recently they drew 2-2 with Al Jazira. In total this season Dibba have scored 28 goals in 23 games played but they are the second worst in the league in defence with 56 goals allowed and their matches are very high scoring.
Al Ain have scored 4 goals in each of their latest two head-to-head matches played against Dibba. In total this season they have scored 38 goals still they have also allowed 33 in 23 games played. Al Ain conceded no less than twice in each of their latest 8 games played in all competitions. I wait for goals from both sides and bet on OVER.
Prediction: Over
W.13 | Published 11/05/2019 09:05
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Wolfgang Van Halen Takes On Trolls Over Van Halen Song Dedicated To Him
Not only is Wolfgang Van Halen a virtuoso musician who's a member of one of the biggest rock bands of all-time, he's also a natural at handling online trolls.
It can't be easy being the son of an icon, especially in the social media age, but when Van Halen wades into his mentions, he typically handles his detractors with the utmost wit and sarcasm.
It began as many of these situations do, with a genuine message from one person to another that couldn't possibly be taken out of context. This time it was Eddie Van Halen wishing his son, Wolfgang, a happy birthday this past Saturday in a message posted to Twitter.
When a fan seconded Eddie's birthday wish and mentioned the 1991 Van Halen instrumental "316" — titled in reference to Wolfie's March 16th birthday — things got very stupid, very quickly with a very ill-conceived 'well actually' from another Twitter user.
"Actually he wrote 316 in 1986 or before. You can hear him play it as part of his guitar solo live on LIVE WITHOUT A NET video release that was for the 5150 tour of '86," wrote a troll called Jason, who went on to question whether the song was "really written" for Wolfie.
Wolfie responded and chronicled his replies via his Instagram Story.
He began by paraphrasing the know-it-all, writing: "'You know that song your dad wrote for you? Well he actually didn't. Believe me, I would know.'"
Another user piped up to defend Troll Jason on the grounds that he, too, heard the "316" idea in the '80s and also has been playing guitar for a long time. Shouldn't we all be impressed?
"Going out of your way to tell me that the song my father dedicated to me, isn't for me, just because it was an idea he had played before I was born, doesn't make it any less dedicated to me," Wolfie wrote in reply. "Y'all don't get to decide that. You people blow my mind."
Then another much more well-grounded Jason (@jason_baldock) gifted the world a fantastic new verb.
"Van Splainin'," he wrote amongst the replies.
Wolfie rated the comment a 10/10. We fully support this rating.
Then another clueless social media user replied to Wolfie via Instagram.
"You need to chill bro," wrote the troll. "An entire generation of people grew up worshipping your father. he was part of their childhood and teenage years. he has fans and they think they know everything about it. Deal with it. Lol"
We're pretty sure Wolfie is both "chill" and "dealing with it," but the Van Halen bassist replied, reminding the user who he was talking to.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say that he was part of my childhood too," Wolfie wrote, regarding his father. "Maybe just a little bit more."
To that point, a few years ago on Wolfie's 25th birthday his mother, Valerie Bertinelli, posted a photo of Eddie playing "316" at home with his guitar resting upon her pregnant belly in early 1991.
"Ed playing 316 on my growing tummy, before he knew he would call it 316," she wrote in the caption.
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Non-Review Review: Red Riding – The Year of Our Lord 1974
Posted on November 27, 2012 by Darren
This is the North. We do what we want.
– Craven explains how things work to Eddie
Red Riding is certainly an ambitious effort. David Peace wrote four books exploring violence and corruption in Yorkshire, centring around the morbid history of brutality in the North. Occupying a strange ethereal realm between fact and fiction, sometimes those crimes are fictionalised, but sometimes real murders and murderers intersect. The child murders of this first instalment, Red Riding: 1974, evoke the infamous Moors murders in Manchester during the sixties, while the arrest of an innocent party calls to mind the case of Stefan Kiszko. Adapting the series of four books into a trilogy of films, Red Ridingmakes for a fascinating – if gloomy – exploration of the darker pages in the region’s cultural history.
He’s gone far (Gar)field…
It has been argued that it’s unfair to treat the world depicted here as an accurate reflection of British society at the time. Certainly, author David Peace wrote his four books in Japan – well removed geographically from their setting. However, one senses that Red Riding isn’t meant to be read as a literal social history. After all, fiction blends too readily with fact, the direction gives everything a slightly skewed and uncertain appearance. The audience isn’t necessarily sure that they can trust what they see on-screen, so it’s unlikely that any will treat it as a pseudo-documentary about seventies Britain.
However, despite the fact that Red Riding: 1974 is not necessarily a literal social history, there are elements that strike pretty close to home. Some of them are pointed commentaries on a culture of greed and corruption that took root during the decade in question. Still, those aren’t the most disturbing aspects of Red Riding: 1974. The more disturbing imagery is the imagery that feels as if it might have been lifted from a modern newspaper. The seventies trappings and Andrew Garfield’s impressive sideburns are always on display to remind us when the story is set, but like any truly unnerving drama, it serves to needle its audience about more current concerns.
A Hall(mark) of quality…
There is a sequence towards the end of the film where a character is abducted by men in uniform. He is dragged under ground and thrown in a dark pit. He is stripped naked. He is sprayed with the hose while he pleads for mercy. He is brutally beaten. His head is covered in a black cloth bag that is, sadly, an instantly recognisable component of one of the most infamous abuses of authority in recent memory.
Our character is tortured, brutally and thoroughly. He is disorientated, kept in conditions like that for days, barely able to stand by the time that his captors have finished with him. Then he is asked to confess to a crime that he didn’t commit. And all of this is done by men in uniform. Sure, they roll up their sleeves and remove their jackets, and any official response might deny this is taking place… but the orders are coming from somewhere. If it isn’t the official channels, it involves many of the same people.
Just in case we aren’t sure how to read the scene, our protagonist makes a joke about a “special relationship” in the sequence directly prior – a relationship between the media and the authorities that has turned poisonous and festering, only encouraging the rot that has taken root at the heart of the Yorkshire establishment. Truth be told, I don’t know how much historical truth there is to the damning allegations of collusion and corruption suggested by Red Riding: 1974. It has been argued that the inept handling of the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry was down to “incompetence, shot through with misogyny” more than corruption.
I know a bit about the grim history that inspired the various murder cases that form the backbone of the series, but I’ll confess that I’m not too sure about the Yorkshire police force. Of course, Red Riding: 1974is somewhat broader in scope than its immediate setting. After all, giving countless revelations about institutionalised corruption in the later decades of the twentieth century, nothing suggested here seems too ridiculous or outlandish. The police, the media, the church, the rich – it’s suggested that all of those forces colluded to cover up murders and conceal child abuse. It doesn’t seem like a stretch given some of the stories that have come to light since then.
My big fat gypsy pogrom…
However, if the underground beatings seem to evoke a more modern evil, the sinister goings-on in Yorkshire also call to mind older historical injustices. The superb Sean Harris skirts around the edges of Red Riding: 1974, but he does so wearing his police uniform in its finest. He moves with a mechanic precision, as if this brutality is simply a routine part of his job. His goose-stepping, his fine uniform, his casual brutality and even his black gloves all call to mind the way that fascist organisations sought to legitimise their violence.
Early in the film, our intrepid young reporter, Eddie Dunbar, arrives at a local traveller encampment, to find it burnt down. Ash floats in the air. As shot by Julian Jarrold, it looks almost eerily beautiful, ethereal and creepy. As the episode reminds us repeatedly, these travellers are “gypos” or gypsies, and the people of Yorkshire don’t seem to like having them around. In particular, they are getting in the way of Jack Dawson’s real estate development, so they need to be removed.
All Jacked up…
“It was like Vietnam or something,” Eddie comments. While it’s a contemporaneous reference, the notion of a persecuted ethnic group being burnt alive by the instruments of state law enforcement calls an entirely different image to mind. Throughout the trilogy, and most obviously in Red Riding: 1983, there’s a sense that the trilogy owes a considerable debt to George Orwell and his exploration of a fascist Britain in 1984. Not only do each of the filmed instalments share three digits with the title of 1984, but the later film includes a rat and the ability to retroactively re-write local memory is a recurring theme. “You know it, in your heart,” as Maurice Jobson is told.
And yet the events of Red Riding: 1974 are also anchored in the Britain of the time, with the numerous pressures exerting themselves on British society adding to a sense of pervading doom and gloom. More than the following two instalments, Red Riding: 1974seems positively apocalyptic. The other two entries in the series suggest that the tragedy is that the system will survive – that corruption will endure. Here, it seems like the country is willing to more aggressively cannibalise itself from the inside out.
Smoking out a conspiracy…
“Everything’s linked, Eddie,” his conspiracy theorist colleague advises him at one point. He suggests that Britain is on the verge of collapsing into some sort of fascist state with martial law. “Eddie, it’s a conspiracy. We’ve got MI5 keeping an eye on our Harold, Mountbatten waiting in the wings with a military junta.” There’s a sense of a society tittering on the edge of the abyss, ready to fall in. “There are death squads out there. They give them a taste in Northern Ireland, bring them back home hungry.” While Eddie mocks him, the bitter old crank assures him, “And every city has its death squads. Sentence first, evidence after.”
Of course, such statements are expected from the local paper’s crackpot journalist. However, it is more concerning when it comes from the local property tycoon, Jack Dawson. Taking Eddie for a ride, he shares his own concerns, and his own threatened old-fashioned world view.
This nation’s in %$#!ing chaos with its hung parliaments. A year ago, they were to bring back rationing. Now we’ve got inflation at %$#!ing 25%. The country’s at war, Mr. Dunford. The governments and the unions, the left and the right, the rich and the poor. Then you’ve got your enemies within: your paddies, your w*gs, your n*ggers, your %$#!ing gypos, the poofs, the perverts, even the bloody women. They’re all out for what they can get. I tell you, soon, there’ll be naught left for us lot. Time to turn the tide.
So you’re not a Labour man, then?
Of course I bloody am. The Tory cunts have out priced themselves. Your Labour man will always do a deal.
– Jack Dawson and Eddie Dunford
This is the rather brilliant sick twist of Red Riding: 1974, and it’s something missing from the next two films. One gets the sense, as we explore the institutions of this fictionalised Yorkshire, that the world falling apart might not be a bad thing.
It’s all gone bloody wrong, hasn’t it?
Eddie mocks Jack and his “filthy little world”, and his racist classist ramblings make it clear that Jack Dawson’s establishment is a very bad thing. We’re hardly going to root for the death squads, but it is just as evil to allow Jack Dawson’s bigoted and self-serving plutocracy to endure. We don’t quite know how firmly the rot has entrenched itself at this point in the story, so the threat of apocalyptic anarchy seem disturbing until we catch a glimpse of the establishment that it rails against. Neither is an appetising choice, and that gives Red Riding: 1974 a superb sense of power. It throws the viewer for a loop, and keeps us off balance.
The institutions presented here are all fundamentally rotten. The police are portrayed as corrupt throughout the trilogy, but here the media gets a bit of a lashing. There’s a sense that they aren’t taking their obligations nearly seriously enough. Meeting the mother of one of the victims, Eddie pointedly remarks that the press has lost interest in her daughter’s disappearance. “I’m doing this article, and it’s about the about parents of children who have gone missing. It’s about how people like yourself, like your husband, have coped after all the fuss has died down.”
Of course, Eddie himself is just as cynical. Brought to life rather brilliantly by Andrew Garfield, he’s certainly the most compelling protagonist of the trilogy. He is – like any decent noir protagonist – deeply flawed. He is very clearly driven, at least early on, by a chance to make a name for himself. He’s an outsider, returning home from the South only to discover that the landscape has changed. He returns home for his father’s funeral, and it’s repeatedly implied that he’s only back home because he couldn’t find his footing anywhere else.
“Didn’t cut it down south?” one girl taunts. He’s such a stranger that even the corrupt cop Bob Craven feels he has to reintroduce Eddie to the rules of this part of the world, confirming that he’s now in “the North.” Jack Whitehead taunts him as a washed-up failure, implying his return home is an admission of defeat. “Whatever happened to all those novels you were going to write, but you were too scared sh!tless to even try?” When he is caught off guard by the fact that one of the victims’ fathers committed suicide, Eddie observes, “It didn’t exactly make the front page down South.” His colleague counters, “Well, you should have %$#!in’ known.”
Steady Eddie…
Eddie’s father is brought up a couple of times during the film, and it’s always in the same context. He is described as “reliable”, as if that is the most virtuous quality to be found in a resident of this part of the world. If you can be counted upon to do your share and to keep your head down, then the community will accept and embrace you. Eddie is repeatedly handled – threatened, bribed, cajoled – in such a manner that it’s clear everybody wishes he were as “reliable” as his father. “Top man, your dad,” Jack Dawson explains. “Knew how to cut his cloth. Solid, dependable.”
Eddie himself refuses to play along, and that inevitably brings him into conflict with a local community that very clearly doesn’t want any questions asked. After all, an inquisitive reporter is the last person you want running around a part of the country with its share of shady secrets. Garfield does an excellent job with the character, and I am glad to see the actor finding success on the big screen. His performance here is superb, in a film packed with great work by fantastic actors.
Drinking it in…
Eddie is a massive contrast to the rest of the reporters working in the area because of his persistent nature. The newspaper he works with is far too concerned about maintaining its reputation than pursuing the truth with any vigour. Investigating a series of swan mutilations, Eddie is advised by his editor, “And try and pull back on the more visceral details. You don’t want that with your cornflakes, do you?” Of course, they aren’t solely concerned about a few upset stomachs.
The newspaper seems most concerned about its long-term relationship with law enforcement. “Now don’t push him, lad,” Eddie is advised on meeting a local officer. “This paper enjoys a good relationship with our newly-amalgamated police force, and I – for one – would like to keep it that way!” Of course, Eddies soon sees the picture. “You’re in their pockets,” Eddie protests. “Police going about their business, supported by the good old Yorkshire Post.”
To dine for…
“The devil triumphs when good men do naught,” Eddie’s paranoid colleague advises him, encapsulating a major theme in the trilogy. Everybody is far too concerned about getting along with everybody else, and ensuring that everything is mutually beneficial. “I always got on well with Jack Whitehead,” Jobson comments on meeting Eddie, and the film suggests that “getting on well” with your local authority is more important to this community than solving the murder of countless little girls.
(Of course, for his part, Eddie is portrayed as exploitative and predatory in his pursuit of evidence. His inquiries are motivated by self-interest at first, and there’s all manner of ethical breaches as he continues his investigation. “If it bleeds it leads,” he cynically boasts at one point. It’s suggested that the most enthusiastic press act like rabid dogs, baying for blood and gore. Ending a press conference, Jobson advises the assembled reporters, “All right, that’s your lot.” It seems like feeding time is almost over.)
The visuals of Red Riding: 1974 are stunning, and Julian Jarrold realises them remarkably well. The dead bodies of children are all found in the foundations of various Yorkshire developments – “beneath the beautiful carpets”, to quote Dawson’s wife – and it’s a beautiful metaphor. Even the aforementioned torture sequence unfolds deep within the ground, in the foundations of what would be modern Yorkshire.
Indeed, played by Sean Bean, Jack Dawson is a surreal character. With his gaudy cream suits and his flashy wealth (“come for a spin in the Jensen, Mr. Dunford?” he asks, before perhaps the most stylish element of the entire production), he seems ridiculous juxtaposed against the sombre greys of the rest of the film. Indeed, one of the movie’s best images – and most absurd – features a goon holding an umbrella to stop the typical Yorkshire weather from ruining Dawson’s nice suit.
Google’s Beta phase was a long and painful process…
However, his lack of taste and his affluence suggest the future of the region – Jack Dawson isn’t too far removed from any of the morally suspect Irish or English land developers who came to prominence during the seventies, eighties and nineties. There’s a sense that Dawson has lost touch with the region as he describes his master plan to the young reporter. Admiring the scale model, he explains, “It’s got little trees and everything – what your Yanks call a shopping mall. You’ve got your high-street chains, cinema, bowling alleys, cafs, restaurants, all under one roof.” Bean is great, really selling the complete lack of elegance from a thug who desperately wants to be taken seriously.
Jarrold does an excellent job capturing a sense of the bleak landscape of Yorkshire, where even the green fields become a washed out grey and the sky seems desaturated. There’s a sense of an untamed wilderness here, something very raw and a lot more primal than other hubs of civilisation. The fields are decorated with burnt-out traveller encampments and the familiar sight of giant grey nuclear power plant silos. It’s dreary and depressing, but it’s also eerie and a little beautiful.
Getting it through his think skull…
There is a hint watching Red Riding: 1974 that the trilogy misses the second book in the published quadrilogy. Although this film isn’t diminished nearly as much as Red Riding: 1980, it’s clear that there are threads that are intended to lead elsewhere. There’s the mysterious Bob Fraser (“one of the good ones”) who is curiously absent from the following films, and the exhausted Jack Whitehead, which feels like a waste of Eddie Marsan. Still, that’s a minor complaint as complaints go.
Read our complete reviews of the Red Riding trilogy:
Red Riding: 1974 is easily the best of a strong trilogy, and a fantastic place to start. It has a rich atmosphere, a great cast and it actually stands up relatively well on its own terms. If you are looking for many of the familiar noir devices in a strange setting, then Red Riding: 1974 might just be for you.
Filed under: Non-Review Reviews | Tagged: Bob Fraser, conspiracy theory, crime, David Peace, Death squad, Eddie, Garfield, Garfield James Abram, George Orwell, history, Jack Ryder, Jesse Ventura, Jorge Rafael Videla, Julian Jarrold, Labour, Little Red Riding Hood, Morrissey, Northern Ireland, Peter Sutcliffe, Polack, Police, Presidents, rebecca hall, Red Riding, Ronald Reagan, Sean Harris, the amazing spider-man, Tory, United States, vietnam, Yorkshire Post |
« Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain: Ignorance, Bliss and Entertainment… Non-Review Review: Jaws »
Natalie Stendall, on November 27, 2012 at 7:46 am said:
Great feature. This film (and the book) sounds interesting. As you say, it sounds like it’s probably not an accurate reflection of the time but the way it blends with current concerns is interesting. The visuals look fantastic in these images. Thanks for posting this, I might try to check it out.
Darren, on December 4, 2012 at 9:14 pm said:
Thanks Natalie.
I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s actually easier to watch Stateside than it is over here. Try 1974, to get a taste of it. If you like it, continue. If it’s not your cup of tea, at least you get a warning. (And 1974 is the best of the bunch, in my opinion.)
RT @IrishTimesCultr: Karl Shiels: remembering a singular figure on stage and screen irishtimes.com/culture/stage/… via @IrishTimesCultr...around... 24 minutes ago
RT @BreeNewsome: Y'all gotta stop blaming Russian bots for racial tension in America. Bots didn't murder Trayvon Martin. Bots didn't lynch…...around... 1 hour ago
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About AMLA
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Baton Rouge man indicted for international money laundering in connection with drug business
11/09/2018 /in All, Drug Money, Enforcement Action, International Money Laundering, Money Laundering, Money Transmitting /by Jon McGauley
By Rachel Thomas
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) – A Baton Rouge man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly aiding and abetting a conspiracy to distribute drugs, international money laundering, and other charges related to these activities.
Donovan Barker, 59, made his initial court appearance on October 25 and pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment, Barker owned and operated several businesses (Quantum Information Technologies, Caring Partners 1, llc, Don Western Sky, llc, Life Positive Services, llc, and Healthy Life 1, llc.), which sold and distributed green tea extracts and herbal supplements, but was actually working with others to import schedule IV drugs into the U.S. in order to repackage and distribute those drugs to people who had purchased them online. Barker was also reportedly accepting payments from these buyers and transmitting money to others operating outside the country.
The Department of Justice says from October of 2012 to February of 2016, Barker received more than $4.6 million in payments from people all over the country who had bought drugs and other substances online. Barker reportedly wired a majority of the money to various foreign bank accounts in the Philippines, India, China, and Canada. Barker is alleged to have been operating a money transmitting business without the proper license and without complying with applicable federal registration requirements.
The indictment also alleges that on May 24, 2016, Barker knowingly and intentionally possessed tramadol, a controlled dangerous substance.
“This indictment demonstrates the lengths to which international drug traffickers will go to deliver drugs and the efforts my office will make to stop them. We are committed to eliminating the international financial network used by drug dealers to bring drugs to our country and launder their illegal proceeds. I want to thank our prosecutors and our federal, state, and local partners for their extraordinary efforts in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon Fremin.
Barker is indicted on charges of aiding and abetting a conspiracy to distribute tramadol and carisoprodol, international money laundering, unlawful money transmitting, and possession of tramadol.
https://theamla.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PHINLQ3MRVGNDAZSHS6OQFZZQI.jpg 600 1200 Jon McGauley https://theamla.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/amla-logo-web2017.jpg Jon McGauley2018-11-09 10:47:262018-11-09 10:47:49Baton Rouge man indicted for international money laundering in connection with drug business
© Copyright 2019. The Anti-Money Laundering Association. All Rights Reserved
Accenture Ventures links up with AI firm Quantexa to tackle money laundering,... House Democrats May Investigate Alleged Trump Ties to Russian Money Launder...
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What are the implications for teaching philosophy in Saudi Arabia?
Zaki al-Soudeir
Saudi Minister of Education Ahmed al-Issa revealed a new development in secondary school curriculum for critical philosophical thinking, in addition to another for principles of law.
Saudi Minister of Education Ahmed al-Issa during a visit to the American International School in Riyadh. (AFP)
Within the context of the rapid changes Saudi Arabia is experiencing at the political, social and cultural levels, Saudi Minister of Education Ahmed al-Issa revealed a new development in secondary school curriculum for critical philosophical thinking, in addition to another for principles of law.
This change in the curricula has been a fundamental demand by Saudi academics, writers and intellectuals since the educational system was developed in the kingdom but the “religious revivalism” movement of the 1960s was dead-set against it. As a consequence, Saudi students lacked critical thinking skills. They have been taught for decades that logic is “heretical” and that philosophy is “evil.”
With the nearing introduction of philosophy and law in the secondary school curricula, how do Saudi intellectuals see this step and what are their expectations from it?
Sulaiman al-Shammari, a novelist and professor of media at King Saud University, said: “Care must be taken so that this step does not become a means of settling previous scores with the religious orientation. Rather, it should be looked at as an effort to increase the margin of freedom of expression in all fields. Freedom is the spinal cord of culture in any society.
“When freedom is gone, criticism, innovation, expression and education die out, too.”
“The important thing this time is to appreciate the importance of freedom of expression to the development of philosophy. Philosophy today has gone beyond the search for truth and has stepped into the world of aesthetics, logic and triumphant good and it is staying away from the absurd,” Shammari said.
Saudi intellectuals acknowledge there is a legacy to overcome. Novelist Rehab Abu Zaid stressed the need to make up for the lost decades.
“Philosophy was dubbed the mother of all sciences because it intersects with all branches of natural sciences as well as thought and the arts,” she said. “I think philosophy has been absent for decades from our educational system for reasons known to everyone and realising its importance now is a very positive and vital step for bringing about new generations intellectually independent and free of indoctrination and useless cramming.”
Abu Zaid suggested: “Philosophical approaches [should] be extended to all other school subjects. Philosophy cannot be isolated from the rest of the curriculum, just as it should not be offered during the last stages of study when learners have reached the last stages of shaping their thinking based on using a limited extent of their mental capacities.
“It would be better to include philosophy at the early stages when the learners’ minds are flexible and sharp. They would be able to sift through ideas without relying on rote learning, which was the despicable method used by the Revivalist current to ensure its grip on society.”
Saudi writer Hassan Mashhour pointed out the serious impact of the past legacy on Saudi soceity and its youth, in particular. He said: “The conservatism inherent in radical theology has been present for decades in the Saudi social scene. This gave birth to a generation of religious fanatics who sought to translate their ideology into practice whether through the events of September 11 or the subsequent bloody terrorist attacks. Their evil even spread inside Saudi Arabia during the period from 2003 to 2007, until the Saudi security forces were able to win the war against those rogue terrorists.
“After investigating the causes of the takfiri currents inside Saudi Arabia, it was found that the culprit was the structure of the Saudi mind, which was hijacked by fundamentalist radicalism and embodied by generations of graduates who fit the label of ‘pseudo-scholars’ coined by the great Arab philosopher Zaki Naguib Mahmud,” Mashhour added.
Novelist Maha al-Juhani said that “philosophy does not necessarily change the views of learners but it provides them with an opportunity to think about ideas and the meaning of life at their original sources.” She said it is an “urgently needed step” in Saudi education so new generations “can study the world around them, stay abreast with the global changes around us and create free human beings capable of analysis, confrontation and innovation.”
Juhani said she hopes the programme “succeeds in our schools” and helps “develop diversity in thinking among our students, in a free environment and sets them free from the pattern of indoctrination and rote learning.”
Writer Ali Saeed said he considers the inclusion of philosophy in Saudi education curricula an event worthy of celebration, “not only because it is a positive response to a longstanding demand by intellectuals in the country, but also because it is a clear sign of educational development in the country. Education is being modernised and strengthened.”
Saeed said he sees the move in the context of the major cultural and social transformations taking place in Saudi Arabia and in line with the values of openness and modernity promoted by Saudi Vision 2030.
He stressed the need to create a supportive environment for philosophy courses inside educational institutions. “Teaching philosophy requires freedom of thought and support of open rational dialogue between teacher and students to reach the ultimate goal of philosophy, which is to generate creative ideas and the birthing of a new philosopher,” he said.
Beyond well-deserved celebration of the move, Saeed believes there are a number or caveats: “We must remember that the teaching of philosophy in school does not mean just to ‘cut and paste’ the names of philosophers from Socrates to Ibn Rushd or to review the history of the development of ideas and philosophical doctrines.
“It means sailing with the mind and imagination of the learner towards broader intellectual horizons that will allow the emergence of new generations of citizens capable of innovating and reflecting freely and in depth.”
Saeed said the philosophy course “is going to constitute a strange presence. This kind of reaction is expected after decades of fencing education with an anti-philosophical discourse but we will understand the matter once we realise that any cultural change requires time and is not just a matter of pressing a button.”
Mashhour summed up the expectations of the country’s intellectuals: “The decision by the Saudi Ministry of Education is a good step towards forming a generation of young Saudis who will be able to exercise their logical minds in many issues and controversies. This will instil young minds with critical and creative thinking and lead them to be open to opposing views but above all never surrender their minds to others.”
Written By Zaki al-Soudeir
Zaki al-Soudeir is a Saudi writer.
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Later Alligator of the Day: Toronto Man Pleads for Help When His 150 Reptiles Get Too Big
Via CBC
After awhile, crocodiles stop being fun to have as pets.
That's what one unidentified Toronto man discovered after he begged a local large reptile sanctuary to help remove some 150 alligators, crocodiles and caimans from his premises.
That's right. There were 150 of them. In Toronto, Canada.
The reptiles, some more than three metres long, had been kept in a home for about 10 years before Bry Loyst of the Indian River Reptile Zoo near Peterborough, Ont., was called in to help.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," Loyst said Thursday on CBC Radio's Metro Morning show. "I could not believe that somebody had that many crocodilians and raised them to adulthood. These were not baby little crocodiles," he said. "They were adults."
Even though that sanctuary wrangler would not give up the location of the house that kept such a large number of Captain Hook's nemeses, he did say it was in a residential part of the city and the crocs and gators were kept in aquariums.
So, you know. Real good neighbor-type.
Here's some CBC News footage of Loyst and crew collecting the reptiles:
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Hello. Surreal is back (Interview + New Music Premiere)
Posted on June 22, 2018 January 19, 2019
It’s been ten years since we’ve heard from Surreal. In the mid-2000s, the Los Angeles-based emcee/producer became a hip-hop backpackers’ favorite (I miss the term “backpacker”–sorry not sorry for inappropriately using it) with his music together with The Sound Providers and DJ Balance. But poof: after 2008’s Pardon My Dust he all of a sudden seemed to have disappeared.
Now Surreal is back. I was genuinely impressed when he sent me four brand new tracks two months ago. His music seemed to have matured: the productions are even more organic and free compared to his older work. Serving as a backdrop for “that old man’s wisdom.”
And here we are. The official announcement of long-awaited new music by Surreal. His new album, HELLO, will be out on October 26th, 2018. Surreal: “It’ s me saying hello to my fans after such a long hiatus. Me saying hello to my inner child in true self for the first time. And through me, the universe saying hello to a culture that’s all but forgotten to love themselves.”
Watch the new visual for self-produced title track “HELLO” below, followed by an interview with the man you’ve missed. A Q&A trying to squeeze in a decade into a brief text:
Let’s start things off lightly. Releasing a “comeback album” must be terrifying…
It’s a little unnerving. But I honestly haven’t gone anywhere, so I am just really excited more than anything.
It’s been exactly a decade since your last album, Pardon My Dust with DJ Balance. I know it can be a hard question to answer, but can you try to explain what got you out of releasing music?
That’s actually a great question since it’s been a journey for sure. I had my son in 2006 and didn’t want to be an absentee father, so I went to film school in 2007 to try to forge a future for myself and my family. One that didn’t involve me traveling as much.
I spent upwards of ten years focusing on the art of filmmaking, which is a really difficult endeavor. I needed all of my focus, so leaving music became a non-priority for me. In the meantime, the state of music changed rapidly and the distribution model totally dissolved. So I had no urge to put music out. That seemed like just a void and a fruitless pursuit.
So you’re still focusing on filmmaking these days?
I’m a fulltime filmmaker and I’m a professional colorist, editor, and director. And more recently I have gotten heavily into scoring commercials. So it’s very relevant to my work as a music artist. I also write campaigns for large brands as a creative director, so my skills in diction come in handy.
“I’ve been talking to Soulo [of The Sound Providers] and he is very interested in getting back in the lab. We’re gonna reach out to Jay and you could see a potential release in the future.”
Based on the four tracks from HELLO I’ve heard, it seems like your music has really matured. Much more ‘organic’ than your older work. Do you consider yourself to slowly move away from, let’s say, “traditional hip-hop”?
To a certain extent, yes. It’s not that I chose to depart from quarter-note stuff. I’ve just grown very heavily by living in Los Angeles. There’s legitimately something in the water here… It’s a very enlightened place and a lot of the masters from all over the world–especially the east–would make their way into America through the city. Leaving behind things like yoga, meditation, mindfulness and all types of practices that are very different than what most of the country was involved in, especially in the 50s and 60s.
My understanding of frequency and rhythm has grown greatly through my life practices. It was just a natural evolution, but I’m still very much rooted in snapping drums and mellow melodies. I don’t think it’s any less interesting–especially when it’s done with thoughtful intention. I think people like Black Milk and Oddisee are great examples of how you can take what people would consider “traditional hip-hop” to the next level. In fact, this is very much my approach.
Also, I think culture is returning to a place where they want to hear from masters and not just the young. We spent a long time celebrating youth in the past decade, and it’s no coincidence that all the older-brother archetypes are starting to come to the forefront because the entire world needs some good advice from their elders.
Besides your productions, how do you feel like your own writing–if that’s the case–has changed over all these years?
Another great question. That’s why I love The Find: you guys actually care about the artist. My writing has evolved just like I have as a human. You learn as you get older. Saying less is a lot more effective. And in a culture desperately seeking answers, posing deeper questions is really the answer. It’s all about dialogue for me at this point.
I’m not offering any kind of certainty to anyone; I’m asking a lot of questions. And yes, the style of writing has evolved because I have been writing a lot more narrative stuff. When you start writing screenplays with a beginning, middle and an end, that can change the way you see poetry.
“I believe there are so many bands out there who are influenced by the early golden years of hip-hop, who make their music from a perspective of growing up on breakbeats just like I did.”
Back in 2011, in an interview for our print magazine, you mentioned you left most of the productions up to the producers you worked with. Now you seem to do a lot of your beats yourself.
I’ve been making beats since about 1997. The first group I was in was called Double Helix and I produced the lion share of the beats on the Soundproof album as well as executive produced the entire thing. But when I met The Sound Providers and some other producers, I really just inhabited the role of emcee. It was a good feeling to just be able to focus on writing, but I’ve been making my own music from the production side for over 20 years.
I don’t play any instruments per se, I would have figured my way around keys. I know enough theory to be dangerous. I’m very particular about who I make music for. I’m not really producing for anybody at the moment but I would love to work with some artist.
Which track would you consider an underground gem which influenced you a lot?
Really funny, when I read that question this was the first song I thought of. It’s an odd one, and it’s not that it’s anything crazy. It’s what the song was about and where I was as a human when it came out. Which kind of encapsulates where I am as an artist.
Since I was young, I’ve always been attracted to women who didn’t fit into the social norm of who I was supposed to love. I couldn’t have been more than 18 years old weeping when I heard this song. It felt so familiar to my life experience.
What music do you listen to a lot recently?
Music is in a really good place right now. I believe there are so many bands out there who are influenced by the early golden years of hip-hop, who make their music from a perspective of growing up on breakbeats just like I did. Hiatus Kaiyote, Kraughbin, Anderson Paak, Son Little, Moses Sumney, Daniel Caesar, Chance, Fly Lo, Black Milk, Oddisee, Deca… so many great musicians, man.
And to take that question all the way back: what are your earliest memories of listening to music?
I remember being maybe 6 or 7 and my mom listening to Carlos Santana, and very specifically the song Europa. She was playing air guitar and the room smelled of “funny smoke”. [laughs] My real father is an exceptional guitar player; he played in bands his whole life. Both of them were heavily into fusion music. I remember them being huge fans of Return To Forever and Weather Report. My mom was enamored with anyone who could play guitar really well. She introduced me to George Benson, and when I made it all the way back and sampled him for “Stroke of Genius” it felt like a déjà vu. I’m really grateful there was soulful music in the house.
Your albums with The Sound Providers and DJ Balance were quite well-received around a decade ago. How’s your relationship with them these days?
Those my brothers, man. I love them as humans way before anything else. Soulo and I got together a few weeks ago when he and his wife were up here where I live in Redondo Beach, L.A. We were all teary-eyed at breakfast sharing memories and life together. Soulo has children now, so does Jay Skills. And of course, I have my son Isaiah now. I’ve been talking to Soulo and he is very interested in getting back in the lab. We’re gonna reach out to Jay and you could see a potential release in the future.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album? What to expect in terms of guest appearances and producers?
Most of the productions will be mine, and mostly all the verses will be me. But as of now, I have locked down productions from Exile, Marco Polo, and Dert Beats. And one more that is one of my favorite producers in the entire world whom I’ve yet to reach out to, but I’m confident he will work with me.
On the mic, it’s mostly just me. And a few people who were singing–one especially is my brother Israel Bell. The one feature I will have is from the brother yU from Diamond District. In my opinion, he is one of the greatest living songwriters in the world.
Surreal – Hello by Surreal
Welcome back, Surreal. What are your ambitions and plans from here on out?
I am back for sure. What’s really dope is that with my skills as a filmmaker and visual artist, I can give the audience a complete audiovisual experience. My plan is to continue to make music and art that can affect culture in a beautiful way. Music that can start difficult conversations. The upcoming album, HELLO, is very much about mental health and getting in touch with our inner selves. Healing and transmuting are shadows there for helping our entire civilization grow to a more holistic place. Hello, world.
Danny Veekens
Just an ordinary guy always on the hunt for extraordinary music. The founder of The Find Magazine and a freelance music journalist. Over the last 10 years (and counting), he has released a series of magazines, vinyl records, and cassettes with The Find. Sucker for A Tribe Called Quest, print magazines, Eric Burdon records, and hot sauce.
Jazzvolution Chapter Two
The Sound Providers
If You Liked This, You May Also Want to Find These:
Interview: Melodiesinfonie (The Limelight #2)
Interview: Boca 45 (+ New Album Stream)
The Limelight #1: Ol’ Burger Beats – Daybreaks (Album Stream + Vinyl Giveaway)
Breaking Down The Breaks #3: Jonny Drop (The Expansions)
Interview: Hank Shocklee (The Bomb Squad)
byMalik Qadr
DJ Yoda – Home Cooking Collaborators & Influences (Guest Mix)
Posted on April 2, 2019 April 25, 2019
Endorphins Lab: A New Beat Label from Brazil
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Weekend Trips to Mexico
Johanna Read, Leaf Group Updated October 30, 2017
(Photo: )
Are There Any Dangers for Travelers to Rosarito, Mexico?
Ensenada, Mexico Beaches
What Should I Know Before an Ixtapa, Mexico Vacation?
How to Travel to Irapuato, Guanajuato
Need a weekend getaway? Why not head south of the border to enjoy some international flavor that's just a few hours from home? Mexico, normally thought of as a spot for vacations of a week or more, is ideal for shorter weekend trips, too. With an increasing number of direct flights, getting to far-flung locales is as easy as travelling within the U. S., and Americans living close to the border can drive to Mexico’s northern tourist areas.
Driving to Mexico's Resort Towns
Many destinations in Mexico's state of Sonora are an easy drive from the U.S. One of the most popular places is Puerto Peñasco, also called Rocky Point. This desert fishing village is at the northern tip of the Gulf of California. Just 60 miles from the U.S. border, Puerto Peñasco is drivable from California, Nevada and Arizona – just a three and a half-hour drive from Phoenix, for example.
Kids love to explore Peñasco's rich tide pools and learn the names of the creatures at the aquarium. Fishing, sailing 0r just hanging out on one of the many beaches are popular ways to pass the sunny days. Las Palomas Beach and Golf Resort offers exclusive access to its course to resort guests. The area has a wide mix of accommodations from condos to hotels to an RV park.
Rosarito, in the state of Baja California, is another popular weekend destination. The city is just a 40-minute drive from San Diego. Hollywood stars have been coming to Rosarito since the 1950s, and "Fear the Walking Dead" and "Titanic" were filmed there. Visitors and residents, including many American expats, enjoy the wide beaches, water sports, golf, shopping and the city's nightlife. Labor Day and Memorial Day are especially busy with young Americans down for the weekend to enjoy Rosarito's nightclubs and dance bars.
Tips for Driving in Mexico
If you're driving to Mexico in your own vehicle, be sure to purchase Mexican insurance before crossing the border. It’s available online and in shops along the highway. Stop at all military checkpoints and be prepared to explain your destination, origin point and the length of time you plan to stay in Mexico.
Choose both the slower, libre, roads and the faster toll, quota, roads to see more of the variety of Mexico, but remember that driving conditions are different than at home. Roadways are often narrower, sometimes with a drop-off of several inches to the unpaved shoulder, if a shoulder exists at all. Watch for speed bumps, or topes, and slow down for each; they appear suddenly and heights often vary significantly. Be extra careful driving at night because streets may not be well lit, and livestock can be on the road.
Flying to Mexico
Americans living farther from the border can enjoy a weekend in Mexico, too. Even those within driving distance often prefer to fly due to the increasing availability of direct flights and the challenges of road travel. Twenty U.S. cities have direct flights to San José del Cabo, for example, and over 30 offer direct flights to Cancun.
It takes just over four hours to fly from New York to Cancun, less than the travel time from New York to Los Angeles or Las Vegas. Those living in L.A. can get to San José del Cabo in just two and a half hours, an hour shorter than the flight from L.A. to Chicago. It's no longer a problem even to fly to the opposite coast. The flight time between L.A. and Cancun is four hours and 40 minutes, for example, while New York to San José del Cabo is six hours and 20 minutes.
While many airlines provide direct flights, give Mexico’s Interjet a try. The company is increasing its direct flights to Mexico from the U.S., Canada and Latin America and offers competitive prices. Interjet bills itself as a value – rather than a low-cost – airline and offers a seat pitch of 34 inches, generous baggage allowances, complimentary snacks and drinks (both alcoholic and non), and seniors 65 and older always get a 15 percent discount. With flights around $200, there's room to splurge on a luxury resort.
Puerto Morelos (Airport: Cancun)
Between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, just 20 minutes from the Cancun airport, is exclusive Puerto Morelos. It’s the ideal spot for those who want to relax in an area which still retains the charm of a fishing village. The brilliant blue of the Caribbean Sea is a feast for the eyes both above and underwater. The area is protected as a national marine park with an immense reef about 500 yards from shore.
Stay at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, a member of Leading Hotels of the World. This five-star beachfront resort offers suites that are more like private residences than hotel rooms. Catering to both families and couples, the resort has fine dining, two pools, activities for all and a spa. Rooms have hydro-massage tubs and some even have Jacuzzis and pools on private terraces overlooking the sea. Staying here includes transportation to and from the Cancun airport, so the weekend can be worry-free.
Cabo San Lucas (Airport: San Jose del Cabo)
The Cabo San Lucas area, including the town of San Jose del Cabo, is popular for good reason. To really get away from it all, go to Land’s End, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean at the tip of the Baja Peninsula. The famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas is here, best seen by boat. At the end of the road closest to the arch lies Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa, tucked next to Mount Solmar on a sandy white beach. This luxury resort seems like an oasis in the desert. Guests can maximize a weekend’s worth of relaxation listening to the crash of the waves and gazing out at the sea from a large suite, from the seaside spa and from one of the infinity pools. For those that can pull themselves away, nearby activities include golf, diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing.
Grand Solmar Land's End
Visit Puerto Morelos
Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
Motor Mexico: Driving Safety Tips
Visit Arizona: Travel to Mexico
San Diego Tribune: Border Baja California
Rosarito, Mexico
Flight Aware: Flights to Cabo
Skyscanner: Flight to Cabo
Skyscanner: Flights to Cancun
Fare Compare: How Long is That Flight
Johanna Read is a Canadian freelance writer and photographer specializing in travel, food and responsible tourism. She travels to four to six continents annually, and especially likes to encourage travel that is culturally, economically, and environmentally sustainable. She writes freelance for publications like USA Today, Fodor’s and Canadian Traveller. Follow her on social media (Instagram @TravelEaterJohanna, Twitter @TravelEater, and Facebook at TravelEaterJohanna). Links to all her travel stories are at www.TravelEater.net.
Attribution: Hpav7; License: public domain
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Read, Johanna. "Weekend Trips to Mexico." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/weekend-trips-mexico-59260.html. 30 October 2017.
Read, Johanna. (2017, October 30). Weekend Trips to Mexico. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/weekend-trips-mexico-59260.html
Read, Johanna. "Weekend Trips to Mexico" last modified October 30, 2017. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/weekend-trips-mexico-59260.html
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Dario Saric Might Not Join The Sixers In 2016 Due To Them Drafting Ben Simmons, Says A Report
Dave Lozo 07.08.16 3 years ago
Here’s a story from The Morning Call that makes a lot of sense and no sense at the same time. Because the Philadelphia 76ers drafted Ben Simmons, it seems that Dario Saric may choose to play a third season in Turkey before coming to the NBA.
A source told The Morning Call that Saric, the 12th pick in the 2014 Draft, wants to stay overseas, so when he comes to the NBA, he won’t be subject to the league’s rookie scale contracts. And while Saric originally said he was ready to come to the 76ers next season, the team taking Simmons, who is also power forward, has deterred him because he doesn’t want to be a backup.
“He makes 1.5 million Euros [$1.66 million U.S.] playing in Turkey,” said the source Thursday night. “It’s a comfortable living. Why come over and risk that and go back to the rookie-scale contract when you’ve completed two-thirds of not having to be on the rookie scale? This is before the draft.”
If the 22-year-old Saric joins the Sixers this year, he’d be due $9 million over the next four seasons based on being the No. 12 overall pick (in the 2014 draft). If he plays a third season in Turkey, he wouldn’t be subject to the rookie scale and would probably make more than twice that amount.
TOPICS#Philadelphia 76ers#Ben Simmons
TAGSben simmonsDario SaricOverseasPHILADELPHIA 76ERS
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Home / Music / Artist Interviews / INTERVIEW: Rival Waves
INTERVIEW: Rival Waves
RJ Frometa May 18, 2018 Artist Interviews Leave a comment 126 Views
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Joel: Hello Rafael and VENTS Magazine! We’re collectively in a pretty good place at the moment. We’re spending most of these exciting days gearing up to release our debut album, TRANSDUCER. We’re also sitting down for this interview right after a really solid rehearsal for a big upcoming show at one of our favorite hometown venues….plus it’s summertime in Austin, TX, & we’re “talking” to you. Life could be worse.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Amputee”?
Joel: “Amputee” was a song that had its beginnings quite a few years ago. I wrote it at the time my previous band was writing new material for a new album. The guys liked the song and we actually played a version of it out a handful of times. It was a much less cohesive sounding track than it became. We never got to record as we ultimately ended up dissolving the band before we made that album.
Nevertheless, the tune stuck around, and when the decision to flesh out this project that would become RIVAL WAVES was made, “Amputee” was a centerpiece for it. As a result, I wanted to showcase the track on our debut album – and have it be the first single off of it.
Did any event in particular inspired you to write this song?
Joel: Absolutely. When I wrote “Amputee” I was coming to the end of a long-term relationship and taking stock, as one does, of my life. I had this overwhelming feeling of dread that the relationship had changed me as a person. It was almost like I didn’t recognize the person that this union of two people had turned me into. A person who was trying way too hard to conform into the ideal partner – losing friends, family, and my own personal ideals in the process. That feeling also led to this feeling of rebirth. That, with this relationship ending, it was time for the part of that “changed me” to be cut away in order for me to find myself again. As the idea manifested, I felt that it was quite a relatable way to think about a break-up. It is something most everyone has gone through, and I wanted to really explore that process. Ultimately, the exercise helped me get through the break-up relatively well.
Any plans to release a music video for the single?
Joel: We realize how important video is to online discovery and promotion and have created a lyric video for “Amputee” to somewhat fill that void. That said, we’re sort of always on the hunt for the right director and story treatment for a video – but at the end of the day it’s got to feel right to us.
Aside from a live performance, which is us in our natural element, we’re not a band that’s concerned with, or big on, staged performance videos. I don’t think you’re ever gonna see any of us in costume, looking plaintively off into space lip synching or miming to one of our songs. However, if a video can tell a compelling story that compliments the song, we’re always down to entertain those ideas.
The single comes off your new album Transducer – what’s the story behind the title?
Joel: As you may (or may not) know, a transducer is an electronic device that converts energy from one form to another. From a literal standpoint, loudspeakers turn an electrical signal into sound. Microphones employ the same principle but work in the opposite direction. I’ve always thought there was something magical or metaphysical about the science of recording music…and transducers facilitate that magic.
From an entirely metaphorical perspective, I view the band, our music, and the whole ethos behind RIVAL WAVES, as constantly seeking to convert order out of chaos. The result of two waves crashing on each other….eventually the waters still, and there is calm. I think that’s what we’re all searching for, and that is definitely the mindset I have when I sit down to write.
We also have a song on the record called “Transducer” that serves as a sort of personal self-validating call to arms that reminds me of who I am, who I can be, and of everything we can do as humans to affect positive change and make a difference…and it still does every time we play it.
So, why not TRANSDUCER?
How was the recording and writing process?
Joel: This writing and recording process for this album was a blessing and curse. This album was recorded over the better part of a decade and includes some of the best musicians in the world performing on it – including Satnam Ramgotra (Hans Zimmer, Nikka Costa), Martyn Lenoble (Porno for Pyros), and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Jack Irons. Not only was Jack the first drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he was the drummer for Pearl Jam in the mid 90s. So I can honestly say I got the opportunity to record with a musical hero. The record also includes performances with a handful of my favorite musicians in Austin. It was a real honor to jump in a room and push air around with them.
The curse comes, as with every artistic endeavor, in understanding when something is finished. After collaborating with our co-producer and good friend JR Taylor (Styx, Terry Bozzio) on nearly 40 songs, the number of mixes and remixes from these sessions must have numbered in the thousands! Thankfully, JR helped me draw a line in the sand with the record. We aligned on taking our sessions to noted producer/engineer Louie Lino (Nada Surf, Matt Pond PA) and got the mixes to a place I was thrilled about.
At this point, I cannot tell you how excited I am to let everyone hear this record. With so many lessons learned, I can guarantee that our next record will be done much faster.
What role does Austin play in your music?
Joel: Austin’s been home for a really long time now. I’ve seen it change and grow pretty significantly, and while it seems less and less like the place I once knew, it leaves an undeniable imprint on my soul. While I think people who hear RIVAL WAVES may associate our sound more with Seattle, New York, or LA, I think everything we write has Austin bubbling right beneath the surface.
It’s also a cool moment in Austin when bands like Sweet Spirit, A Giant Dog, OTIS the Destroyer, BLXPLTN, Emily Wolfe and Megafauna are giving Austin a bit more rock and roll respectability than historically credited. We are excited to be a part of that thriving scene.
Do you tend to take a different approach when you are collaborating with someone else rather than on your own?
Joel: That’s kind of a difficult question to answer. From a writing perspective, all of the songs on this record were written by me in my South Austin studio. The real challenge is not having another invested voice to bounce ideas off of. I’ve always been someone who thrived in a collaborative environment.
When Erik, Marc, and Kelly joined up and RIVAL WAVES became a real band, I was so willing to collaborate and bounce ideas off of the band. I am even more stoked to now get song ideas that Marc has brought in and that we all build together in real time, or hear a new countermelody that Erik’s written that we can build a chorus around. I live for that stuff!
While I will always love TRANSDUCER, I think that it’s primary job is to introduce the band to the people and set the bar for the next album – which I can already tell is going to be so strong based on the level of collaboration.
What aspect of our current social and political did you get to explore on this record?
Joel: It’s so hard to say. We’re living in such a bland time. Nothing’s really going on. All sarcasm aside, there were so many topics that were being covered on this record. Politics, emotional abuse, depression, bipolar disorder, delusional behavior, the world pre and post-Trump.
I wrote the title track as soon as I got back home from a then-Senator Barack Obama campaign event in ‘08. I remember there was a palpable energy and sense of hope in the air amongst the attendees, but also a steely resolve that there was so much work that laid in front of us. The fact that we seem to be in such a current state of despair and disarray in this country, highlights that there is so much left to do – and, frankly, we have no one but ourselves to look to do it.
Conversely, the album’s closer “Battleplan” is an unapologetic fist raised, flag waving protest song. In my opinion, it is a straight up rebuke against the type of saber-rattling hawkish behavior that has pervaded American politics since 9/11. It’s been interesting to see the song’s personal meaning change and evolve for me over the years. Now though, more than ever, as we’re entrenched in identity politics and so many lives are affected as a result, this is the time artists need to put their asses on the line to speak truth to power.
Any plans to hit the road?
Joel: At this point we’re still laser focused on putting the final touches on the album release. Once that happens, we’ve started talking about taking RIVAL WAVES out for a test spin around the region this summer/fall. There are still quite a few logistics being worked out but it’s a really exciting time and we’re happy people are interested in what we have to say and play.
What else is happening next in Rival Waves’ world?
Joel: First and foremost, the band is already back in the studio collectively crafting new tracks to build off of TRANSDUCER. We pride ourselves on building the band’s reputation on the strength of its live show, and we’ll continue to do so in Austin – and beyond.
The band’s mission since its inception has always been to make the best music possible while leveraging disruptive technologies to create a more meaningful relationship between the band and the fan. We’ve taken our first few steps in that direction through strategic partnerships with strategic tech companies around Austin and will be looking to establish Phase 2 of the plan to build on TRANSDUCER’s release.
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Hey Time Traveler, welcome to VENTS! How have you been? Hey Guys, I am doing …
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NASA scientists launch space analytics startup with $13M in funding
J. O'Dell June 26, 2013 12:01 AM
Today, two former NASA scientists have launched Planet Labs, a new company aiming to send a fleet of imaging satellites into space.
The new company is getting well off the ground with a $13 million round of funding from familiar Silicon Valley entities, including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Founders Fund, First Round Capital, and O’Reilly AlphaTech.
The Planet Labs satellites are called Doves and will be sending back high-resolution images of Earth without compromising personal privacy. Its founders hope researchers and others will use the images to track deforestation, better understand weather, improve global agriculture, and more.
The satellites in question are not unlike the cube sats launching from the ISS these days. These miniscule devices orbit the planet and generate their own power via solar panels, taking pictures of Earth, sending Morse code messages via superbright LEDs, logging maritime traffic, and monitoring forest fires as they go along.
But the Planet Labs team says part of what makes its fleet unique is the high frequency with which the sats will send information back to Earth, quickly creating massive data sets about the planet. Also, the startup’s reps say it wants to provide universal access to the data gathered.
“Planet Labs will create an entirely new data set, with both humanitarian and commercial value,” said Planet Labs investor and maker-movement legend Tim O’Reilly. “We’ve become used to having imagery of the entire Earth. What we haven’t yet understood is how transformative it will be when that imagery is regularly and frequently updated.”
Planet Labs was founded in 2010 and is based in San Francisco.
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Keys for Vietnam tourism to take-off
At the session of Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum on providing tips on accelerating the development of the local tourism sector, experts have stressed the importance of having in place breakthrough policies on visa provision.
The session on accelerating the development of the local tourism sector, which took place in the framework of Vietnam Private Sector Economic Forum 2019
According to Luong Hoai Nam, deputy general director of Viet Star JSC and member of the Tourism Advisory Council, visa is crucial in tourism development and receives foremost attention in tourism policies of countries around the world.
Addressing the session, Dinh Viet Phuong, deputy CEO of fledging budget carrier Vietjet, reported that the number of the company’s international routes is even higher than its domestic routes and that swifter and smoother visa proceedings, particularly e-visa, is always one of the top issues for investors.
Phuong cited the example of South Korea, which offers a five-year visa to residents living in Vietnam’s three major cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang), while Vietnam also provides visa exemption scheme to Koreans.
This mutual easing of visa policies brought a 45 per cent jump in the number of Korean passengers on Vietjet’s flights and an abrupt increase in the number of Vietnamese people going to South Korea.
“Korea’s soft visa policy and visa exemption to frequent travellers (three times a year) have resulted in a sharp growth in the number of visitors to both countries,” Phuong commented.
“Our passenger volume is on a steady rise. Due to the big volume of passengers at the airports, it is important to reduce the travelling time. Albeit airports are fairly quick in completing procedures, it still takes time for the passengers to receive their luggage," Phuong added. “We, therefore, suggest airport authorities and customs bodies to apply measures to shorten the time the passengers are given their luggage."
Customs officers at local international airports such as Danang, Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc are in a critical shortage.
Airport infrastructure improvements are essential
The current airport infrastructure cannot follow the aviation sector’s robust development. As of March 2019, Vietnam was home to 22 airports, including nine international airports.
During 2014-2018, Vietnam has been named among countries with the fastest-growing aviation industry, together with China and India. This came in the wake of the country’s open-door policy and the engagement of the private sector.
Since 2014, the passenger volume jumped 103 per cent, surpassing 100 million arrivals, growing at an average of 20.5 per cent annually.
Phuong from Vietjet assumed that as 99 per cent of travel firms are from the private sector, if the state cannot finance infrastructure investments, the private sector must be given more room to take over. Private investors have the capacity to construct a new terminal in 12-18 months.
Phuong underlined the need to have a comprehensive assessment of airport planning to tackle the current overload experienced across the country.
In fact, major international airports are facing the largest problems. Tan Son Nhat, Danang, and Cam Ranh are overloaded, whereas Noi Bai, Cat Bi, and Phu Quoc are reaching their full designed capacity and are forecast to face frequent overloads in the coming time, even though they have added new infrastructure in the past years.
One example is Cam Ranh international terminal which has a designed capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year. After six months in operation, the terminal has welcomed three million passengers, which would make it necessary to double its capacity.
Ineffective forecasting has led to ill-conceived airport development strategies, allowing most airports to reach their full capacity in a year or two after being put into commercial operations.
Due attention must also be paid to delays in implementation and high investment costs.
Let’s have a look at regional countries. With 70 million residents, Thailand received 38 million visitors last year at its 52 airports. Singapore, with six million residents, welcomed 18 million visitors (triple its population) through a single airport that has the capacity to receive 66 million passengers. This proves that the growth of the tourism sector must be accompanied by parallel investment into airport infrastructure development.
In this context, the Vietjet representative has recommended stimulating private sector participation in airport infrastructure development, alongside a raft of measures, including reviewing the planning and actual construction process of airports, attracting partial or whole private sector engagement into airport projects, perfecting the regulatory system to create an equal playing field among businesses and working out a long-term development plan for the airport system.
Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, praised the role Vietjet plays in the development of the local aviation industry, saying that the carrier's presence was creating a turnaround in the domestic aviation landscape.
Thang raised several limitations hampering aviation business, including infrastructure and lack of synchronised measures to ensure the sector’s safe and sustainable development.
“A complete legal framework must be in place to encourage the private sector's engagement in airport infrastructure development. In addition, hiring foreign consultants to work on airport development planning is also important to meet objectivity and long-term goals,” Thang said. VIR
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Vietnam travelling
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Home » Posts tagged 'gladiator'
Tag Archives: gladiator
December 22, 2018 10:14 am / 1 Comment on Aquaman
In one of the stupidest moments in movie history, Jaws: The Revenge features a shark that roars. Aquaman may remind viewers of this epic piece of idiocy, as it features a range of sea creatures, including sharks, giant seahorses and an apparent Kronosaurus, that growl and snarl. The toothsome recollection is just one of many reminders in a film that is not only so oceanically stupid that it collapses like tissue paper in the tide the second you think about it, but so overtly derivative it feels like a deliberate pastiche. Narrative and visual tropes from the likes of Thor, Batman Begins, Gladiator, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Black Panther, Clash of the Titans and more compete for space within a world of wet sand that disintegrates under its own tide. The visual effects teams create bright and bombastic digital environments, but they fail to create a sense of wonder. As the titular hero Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) experiences an underwater kingdom, there seems little effort to make it strange or wonderful, which is a waste of the fine visuals. Yet despite these problems, director James Wan still manages to craft a decent superhero adventure. Adventures of this sort largely depend on the exploration, both narrative and visual, of super powers and heroic identity. When it comes to the action sequences, Wan shows stylistic flourish with some immersive long takes in which combatants spin, slash, shoot and swim at great speed. Central to these sequences are the powers of Arthur, who possesses super strength, speed, resilience – what self-respecting superhero doesn’t have these? – and the ability to breathe and talk underwater. A further power that proves crucial is the ability to communicate with sea creatures. An early scene in this origin story shows the young Arthur ridiculed for talking to fish, and a striking visual image captures the inhabitants of an aquarium assembling in a formation behind him. This conceit suggests that the greatest power is communication, a worthy addition to the pantheon of superpowers, and is one of two things that save the film from being a completely damp squib. The other is Momoa himself, a likable and engaging lead who delivers a performance of physical grace and witty personality. Arthur’s interplay with Mera (Amber Heard) is enjoyable, and while their globetrotting raises objections of ‘That was awfully quick’ and ‘How do they know how to do that?’, it also allows them to build a fun relationship. Thanks to its engagement with communication, and the charm of its leads, Aquaman manages to keep its head above water despite the currents of dumbness that threaten to engulf it.
Ten Films for Ten Days – Day Seven
May 14, 2018 12:12 pm / 1 Comment on Ten Films for Ten Days – Day Seven
The seventh film in my list of ten significant films used to be among my top ten, and although it has been supplanted by another from the same director, this one still holds great significance for me. In 2000 AD, when this was released theatrically, I went through some bad times in which I felt that the majority of people were against me and that an institution I believed in was going to the dogs. Therefore, Ridley Scott’s epic tale of a general who became a slave, who became a gladiator, who defied an emperor, struck a deep, resonant chord with me. I went to see Gladiator five times on its original release, that’s right, five. While I have seen other films as many or more times in the cinema, those were due to re-releases and special screenings (yes, The Dark Knight, I mean you). ‘Gladiator’ offered me hope, inspiration, catharsis and the other positive feelings that one gets from bloody hand-to-hand combat and the deep-set rot of a once noble empire.
The talent behind Gladiator have to an extent gone off the boil. Russell Crowe was a known figure but became a star and an Oscar winner with this film, while Ridley Scott came as close to an Oscar as seems likely. Their subsequent collaborations such as American Gangster and Body of Lies failed to bottle the lightning of Gladiator. That said, it is fair to say that Joaquin Phoenix has become a more respected presence as time has gone by, not least by seeking out interesting projects from Walk The Line to The Master to You Were Never Really Here. Writer John Logan recently did us all proud with the excellent TV series Penny Dreadful, and The Martian demonstrated that Scott still has some decent work left in him (the less said about The Counsellor and Alien: Covenant, the better). But Gladiator remains undimmed in its epic grandeur, an awesome spectacle that works on a pure visceral level and has moving emotional depth. Furthermore, the film makes interesting comments about the proper uses of power and even our own violent appetites. Are you not entertained? I certainly am.
All The Money In The World
January 18, 2018 5:05 pm / 2 Comments on All The Money In The World
Ridley Scott does hollow decadence like no one else. From Blade Runner to Gladiator to Prometheus, Scott crafts opulent environments that surround empty, powerful men. All The Money In The World creates this world around the real events of 1973, when J. Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) was kidnapped for ransom from his grandfather, the wealthiest man in the history of the world. Paul Getty is played by Christopher Plummer (no relation to Charlie), who replaced Kevin Spacey at very short notice, Scott reshooting and re-editing all of Getty’s scenes in ten days. The film’s greatest achievement is that the joins do not show, as Plummer fits snugly into the role of Getty, oozing charisma and greed in equal measure. Scott and DOP Dariusz Wolski create evocative locations, often with dim yet stark lighting, both in Italy and England, the opulence echoing Scott’s earlier film Hannibal. The curiously un-unified narrative strands are reminiscent of American Gangster, which cut between career criminal and honest cop in a Goodfellas meets Serpico sort of way. Here, we cut between Paul’s imprisonment, flashbacks to Getty’s history of wealth accumulation, and the emotional heart of the film, Gail Getty (Michelle Williams) as she attempts to get the ransom money from her ex-father-in-law, talks to the kidnappers with the help of the Italian police and negotiates/struggles against Fletcher Chase (Mark Wahlberg), a fixer for Getty himself. This aspect of the film works less well, because Fletcher’s role is underwritten and unclear. What is more interesting although largely left unexplored is the relationship between Paul and one of his kidnappers, Cinquanta (Romain Duris). Their scenes have a tantalising suggestion of Stockholm Syndrome and indicate the criminal infrastructure of Italy, but we only get this in passing. A further compelling yet frustrating dimension of the film Getty’s retreat into his wealth, as he describes himself as ‘vulnerable’ and holds onto his money like a bulldog. The film does not take a didactic stance on the impossibility of buying happiness, but rather displays an elevated and somewhat incomprehensible state. Getty understands finance in a way that the non-wealthy perhaps cannot, and he serves as an intriguing enigma at the centre of this compelling exploration of hollow decadence.
Some Kind of Film: Perspective on Oscar Nominations Part Two
January 24, 2015 12:55 pm / 4 Comments on Some Kind of Film: Perspective on Oscar Nominations Part Two
Continuing my response to the response to Oscar nominations, it is worth noting that there are certain types of film that are consistently honoured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This type is determined more by content than anything else. I have seen the accusation that the Academy is more interested in rewarding financial than artistic success. In the case of the current crop of nominees, this is patently nonsense, as the eight films nominated for Best Picture are the lowest earning group of nominees in recent years. The combined box office gross of the eight Best Picture nominees came to $203.1 million before the announcement of the nominees, and there is little time before the ceremony for this to increase significantly (although American Sniper is doing very well). Furthermore, look at the earnings of other films, including nominees in other categories. In an act of remarkable brashness, Paramount submitted one of the year’s highest earners, Transformers: Age of Extinction, for consideration as Best Picture. Shockingly, it was not nominated in that category or indeed any other, but the five films nominated for Best Visual Effects (the category Transformers: Age of Extinction had a chance in) have a combined box office gross of $3.6 billion worldwide. So to say that AMPAS only rewards box office winners is simply untrue.
It is typical that the Academy Award for Visual Effects goes to commercially successful films, often along with other post-production categories such as Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. What irritates me about this is the perpetuation of the art/entertainment divide – movies make money and might win an award for their effects; films are “art” and win awards for being “artistic”. It is an utterly nonsensical division that I love to see occasionally challenged, such as when genre films like Avatar (2009) and Inception (2010) are nominated for Best Picture (unsurprisingly, neither won that award although both won Best Visual Effects, as well as Cinematography). There are exceptions that straddle the divide, earn vast box office receipts and pick up multiple awards as well, but these are few and far between. The best example is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), a fantasy blockbuster that won all eleven Oscars for which it was nominated. Although they did not win, other unusual nominees include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), as well as Jaws (1975), Star Wars (1977), E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), the occasional animated film such as Toy Story (2010), Up (2009) and Beauty and the Beast (1991), and especially Gravity (2013).
An interesting comparison can be made between Gravity, which won seven Oscars including Best Director, and Titanic (1997), which tied the record of eleven awards set by Ben-Hur (1959) (a feat later achieved by The Return of the King). Both Gravity and Titanic were commercially successful, and both are disaster movies with very high production values. Yet Titanic was more honoured than Gravity, picking up Best Picture whereas Gravity lost out to 12 Years A Slave. The common factor between 12 Years A Slave and Titanic is the factor that the Academy consistently rewards – history.
Look over these Best Picture winners of the last three decades:
2013 – 12 Years A Slave
2012 – Argo
2011 – The Artist
2010 – The King’s Speech
2009 – The Hurt Locker
2008 – Slumdog Millionaire
2007 – No Country for Old Men
2006 – The Departed
2005 – Crash
2004 – Million Dollar Baby
2003 – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2002 – Chicago
2001 – A Beautiful Mind
2000 – Gladiator
1999 – American Beauty
1998 – Shakespeare in Love
1996 – The English Patient
1995 – Braveheart
1994 – Forrest Gump
1993 – Schindler’s List
1992 – Unforgiven
1991 – The Silence of the Lambs
1990 – Dances With Wolves
1989 – Driving Miss Daisy
1987 – The Last Emperor
1985 – Out of Africa
Only eight (26.6%) of these thirty Best Picture winners have a setting contemporary to the time of their release, whereas twenty-one (70%) have a historical setting, ranging from 18th century Vienna to ancient Rome, 13th century Scotland to various points in the 20th century. Many of the films feature significant historical events, including World War II (four), Vietnam (three), the Middle East (two) and the US Civil Rights Movement (the anomaly is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). Ten of these films (33.3%) are based on specific historical events or people, making them “true” stories.
The Academy consistently rewards the depiction of history, both in terms of period setting and significant events. Unsuccessful nominees have the same features – Saving Private Ryan, L. A. Confidential, Quiz Show, The Cider House Rules, Dangerous Liaisons, Mississippi Burning – demonstrating that a significant proportion of nominees depict historical subjects. One can interpret this historical dimension as adding (in the minds of some) an element of gravitas, a quality that makes the film seem “important”. If we accept that AMPAS is an institution devoted to the development, promotion and cultural significance of motion pictures, then it follows that this institution would reward films that make the effort to engage with significant socio-cultural concerns and events. “History” can be considered a short-hand for this, the Academy honouring films that depict “history” because this subject matter is worthy of reward. Equally, it is rare for a contemporary-set thriller to win Best Picture (only The Silence of the Lambs and The Departed in the last 30 years – Argo and No Country for Old Men have thriller narratives, but both are historical and the former is based on a true story) and unheard of for a science fiction film to win. Gravity came closest and I had hopes for Interstellar this year, but no such luck for Christopher Nolan’s science fiction epic. Surprise, surprise though, Interstellar is nominated for Visual Effects.
This goes back to the art/entertainment divide, a form of cultural elitism that goes far beyond the Academy Awards. The Booker Prize and the Pulitzer Prize for literature rarely (if ever) go to science fiction, fantasy or thriller novels, and there remains the nonsensical view that literature and theatre are “art” and therefore somehow superior to cinema which is “only entertainment”. Interestingly, one of this year’s nominees, Birdman, engages with this elitism through its portrayal of a former movie star struggling for credibility in the face of immense cultural prejudice, including a scene where a theatre critic lambasts the entire practice of Hollywood cinema for being too commercial and giving awards for “cartoons and pornography”. The great irony of AMPAS is that it perpetuates this bizarre double standard within its own medium, for the most part ignoring genre films and those with a contemporary or (God forbid) future setting and consistently rewarding historical dramas of “importance”.
While I am frustrated by this practice of AMPAS, it would be unfair to entirely blame AMPAS, because the cultural attitudes at work here go far beyond a single institution. But I will blame the Academy members for their general conservatism and reluctance to honour films that differ from the typical pattern. Nominees like Gravity and Avatar, and the extraordinary success of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, are especially gratifying because films like these develop the cinematic medium, creating fantasy worlds and taking audiences to new and exciting places. The challenges and innovations of these films are often expensive and the only way they can pay for themselves is through commercial success, therefore by honouring such films the Academy honours and encourages the development and continuance of cinema itself. That is what I would like to see more of in the future, though I am not optimistic as year on year the Academy instead rewards subject matter rather than innovation, perpetuating an unnecessary cultural elitism.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Oscar night.
December 31, 2014 12:58 pm / 1 Comment on Exodus: Gods and Kings
Exodus: Gods and Kings is an odd beast. Plagued (see what I did there?) with controversy as well as unhelpful comments by director Ridley Scott (these complex issues warrant specific discussion for another time), it arrives at the tail end of the year with little competition in terms of scale. It also comes out in a year that saw another Biblical blockbuster play fast and loose with the source material, Noah. Comparisons between the two are inevitable, as are comparisons between Exodus and Ridley Scott’s previous sword and sandal epics, Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator. While these films have epic scale (and at times Exodus seems to openly imitate Gladiator, including almost identical lines), Exodus suffers in comparison with Scott’s Roman tale, especially for failing to deliver the same epic sweep, a problem that also troubled Kingdom of Heaven (though not Noah). However, this is also an unexpected strength of Scott’s take on the story of Moses. Rather than a grand, sweeping style that takes the viewer on an irresistible ride, Exodus offers instead a surprisingly intimate take on faith and politics.
Moses (Christian Bale) and Ramses (Joel Edgerton) are close friends and allies, raised as brothers and both responsible for the Egyptian Empire. Moses is presented as more rational and politically savvy – talking to people rather than prejudging, reviewing financial records and consistently demonstrating critical thinking. By contrast, Ramses is impulsive, paranoid and, as the film progresses, increasingly cruel and tyrannical. The clash between these two men becomes a clash between power and justice, Moses’ pursuit for Hebrew liberation echoing with contemporary concerns over redistribution of wealth and the ruling 1%. While the film delivers grand spectacles in its depiction of the ten plagues of Egypt as well as major battle sequences, it does not overplay these elements – the inevitable parting of the Red Sea is handled in a surprising way. The film’s portrayal of faith is also ambiguous, as Moses’ encounters with God (Isaac Andrews) can be read as divine intervention but also as hallucinations. That said, while some spectacles are given rationalist explanations, others are not and can only be read as supernatural, creating a lack of confidence in the subject matter. The storytelling is sometimes loose and progression between scenes illogical and unsatisfying. These flaws do undermine the film, but it remains a dramatic and engagingly personal exploration of politics and faith in the grandest of settings.
“Prometheus” the Expressive Text
July 12, 2012 5:50 pm / 8 Comments on “Prometheus” the Expressive Text
A little late in the day, I offer my reaction to Prometheus, Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction. It is perhaps interesting that Scott’s re-entry into the genre has been marked by a 30 year absence, filled with films from such diverse genres as crime thriller (Black Rain, American Gangster), military drama (G.I. Jane, Black Hawk Down), historical epic (1492: Conquest of Paradise, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven) and conman tragi-comedy (Matchstick Men). Yet Alien and Blade Runner cast long shadows over the director’s career, creating an initial level of anticipation for the viewer. The film’s marketing increased this anticipation, with viral marketing giving details of the Weyland-Yutani Company and snippets of the characters. The stage was set for something special, spectacular and superb.
The reaction to the film, perhaps unsurprisingly, has been mixed, but if there is a consensus, it is that Prometheus failed to live up to its hype. Plenty of online comments have lambasted the film, with such comments as: “Prometheus is a train wreck”; “Prometheus is a vacuous experience. Just well-directed nonsense with magnificent production values. Plenty of it makes little sense and one can only hope that a Blu Ray ‘Director’s Cut’ will prove more satisfying. Why did you create us? Because we could. Why do you believe? Because I choose to. These one-liners are metaphors for all of Prometheus’ secrets”; “Prometheus – Not an alien film!!!! And not good. One has to worry when the only interesting character is a freaking robot. Far too long. Nothing explained”; “Ridley Scott is a hero of mine, but Prometheus is not the intelligent, emotionally satisfying prequel that Alien deserves. It’s a derisory, empty experience – and anyone who loved Alien is surely too old and too smart to be fobbed off with something this bad just because it’s shiny”; “Alien worked because it focused on believable characters stuck in a terrible situation, without that believability the film would be greatly lessened. Prometheus, lacking that, is uninteresting”; “With a little more thought, Prometheus could have addressed the plot holes I and others have noted, and as a result been a tighter film with more tension and surprises”; “The CGI is good and the acting would be fine if the actors had been given something worthwhile to do. But every other aspect of the film was a disappointing waste of time”. Other responses go into more detail – “My God, We Were So Wrong”, “Prometheus Rising” and others. Critical response has also varied, with critics such Mark Kermode and Roger Ebert being impressed with the film, while publications such as Empire, Variety and the Guardian have been critical but not damning. The only aspect of the film to attract universal acclaim, it seems, is Michael Fassbender’s performance as the android David.
What is interesting about these responses is that they have been largely comparative, a common complaint being that Prometheus is not Alien, nor like Alien. This is fair: Prometheus does lack the slow, drip-feed menace of the earlier film, and when the scares come, they are thrills and spills rather than tension and suspense, and its action compares poorly to that of Aliens. When compared to Alien and Aliens, Prometheus does come up short. Compared to Alien 3, Alien Resurrection and (whisper it) Alien VS Predator and Alien VS Predator: Requiem, it excels.
If the rest of the franchise is left aside, however, how does Prometheus stand on its own? Many criticisms have been directed at the script, rather than the style, to which I return later, but to consider the script first, Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof’s screenplay does lack characterisation, or character detail and distinctiveness. The simple reason for this is that there are too many characters – 17 in total, but many are disposable and could have been amalgamated, providing less cannon fodder (or should that be alien food?), which would have increased the tension as the major characters have less to hide behind.
In terms of the major characters though, Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) and Captain Janek (Idris Elba) are fine, and Fassbender’s David is a great character, superbly played, and a useful expression of the film’s major themes, to which I shall return later. As Peter Weyland, Guy Pearce (under a tonne of prosthetic make-up) is somewhat wasted. Indeed, considering David’s interest in Lawrence of Arabia, it is a missed opportunity that the role of Weyland is not played by Peter O’Toole (who recently announced his retirement from acting).
These responses highlighted a common issue for me in film analysis. Characterisation is not a major concern for me, a position that I find interesting as it appears to be unusual. For years, I have been irritated by the complaint: “I didn’t care about any of the characters”, because this concern, to me, is given disproportionate weight. Why is it necessary to care about the characters when there are events going on? What is going to happen next has always been more important to me than to whom it happens. For example, in relation to The Dark Knight Rises, I want to know what will happen to Batman (Will he live or die? Will he retire from crime fighting? Will it end with him going back on the job?), but am less concerned about what character development there may be. Similarly, with Prometheus my interest and enjoyment of the film are related to what will they find on the planet and how will they deal with it.
I may be demonstrating the accuracy of a stereotypical male response, simplified as “men like plot, women like character” and oversimplified as “Men like action, women like story”. I cannot speak for men in general, but for me, plot and story are more significant than character. This is not to say I have no interest in character – I find many characters fascinating especially those in the films of Michael Mann that I have analysed in great detail. Character is one pleasure within texts, but I do not regard it as essential – the progression of events is just as rich a pleasure for me.
One comment that my position invites is “If you don’t care about the people you’re watching then why spend your time watching them?” It’s a good question – if I am not overly concerned about the people onscreen, what am I getting out of the experience? My enjoyment for events over people is not as straightforward as plot point A to plot point B to plot point C, they need to be presented in an engaging fashion, and it is this presentation that is crucial to the specific enjoyment of cinema, at least for me. The medium of film employs a multitude of techniques, features and elements, and it is the combination of these elements that makes film work.
Furthermore, I think there is a certain responsibility on both sides – films and viewers work together to create meaning, theory, analysis and audience studies have demonstrated that film viewers are not simply passive receptacles. Characters can indeed be under-developed by screenwriters, unsympathetically or unconvincingly played by actors and edited out of films – perhaps more of Charlize Theron’s Meredith Vickers was left on the cutting room floor, for example. But if you do not care about a character, might this not be down to your own reaction, taste or personality as much as the film text itself? It seems unfair to blame the film for not presenting a character that you will care about, because how could the filmmakers possibly know what every possible viewer will need from a character to care about them? A response to this is that “good writing always means good characters, so when I don’t care about the characters it’s because the writing is bad.” To me this is too easy, simplistic and a little arrogant – good and bad writing are not determined by objective standards, however much we like to believe they are. Good writing is good writing? Character is character? According to what? To whom? Who decides these things? Critics? Academics? Audiences? None of these groups collectively agree, so is there not space in textual, cultural, aesthetic, artistic appreciation for all views, responses and positions?
For me, all elements of a filmic text, including the plot, character, mise-en-scene, editing, sound and cinematography, are tools for the presentation of the film’s meaning. What matters to me, what makes a film (or any text) engaging, is the meaning within it, i.e. the sub-text and themes. One of the first academic essays I ever wrote on film was concerned with the power of sub-text, and I didn’t do very well because I discussed sub-plot as much as sub-text. Perhaps this early career trauma (ha ha) made me more sensitive to sub-text and it has become a major source of pleasure for me in film – what is this film actually about. It may be deep and complex issues like those in Prometheus, and they may be explored in greater depth as in 2001: A Space Odyssey, or it can be a simpler notion of learning about one’s own courage or how do two people get together, as a great many films are. How that central question plays out, for me, is what I want to see on screen.
To return to Prometheus, criticisms have identified the plot holes, but perhaps these holes are strengths – the narrative involves a quest for ultimate knowledge, answers to the ultimate questions, but instead grand narrative proves unreliable, leaving only incomplete interpretations and speculation. This may be too generous – the plot holes are there and the script is patchy at best. But visually and stylistically, the film is stunning – as expansive and looming a use of an alien planet’s environment as Star Wars or Avatar, and Scott makes great use of 3D in his signature world-building. More importantly, these are not empty visuals or style for style’s sake – they serve the film’s central premise (according to my interpretation) of people getting out of their depth, largely due to their own hubris, scientific and otherwise. This thematic conceit is expressed visually through the location filming (Iceland), the grand sets, and the deep focus potential of 3D. My impression when viewing the film was one of being overwhelmed, on a regular cinema screen but in 3D. 3D is a tricky cinematic device, vastly overused and often for no good reason, but in the case of certain cinematic worlds, such as those of Avatar, Hugo and Prometheus, it does add something.
Indeed, this sense of being overwhelmed and engulfed is a common visual and thematic trope of Ridley Scott’s oeuvre. From the expanses of the South-West USA in Thelma & Louise to the grandeur of Rome in Gladiator, as well as Jerusalem in Kingdom of Heaven and the rain-soaked cityscape of Blade Runner, the horrific urban war zone of Black Hawk Down and of course the claustrophobic interior of the Nostromo in Alien, time and again Scott depicts people in environments that threaten to subsume them, both mentally and physically. Fear, courage, resolve, determination, panic and eventual defeat or triumph are juxtaposed against these odds, and Prometheus develops this idea further when the Engineers prove to be anything by benevolent. Prometheus therefore continues the director’s interest in environments that are both beautiful and terrifying, overwhelming the people within them, landscape manifesting the overpowering forces that the characters encounter. Rarely has this been more apparent than in Prometheus, which perhaps might have been better named “Icarus”, as the explorers indeed fly too near the sun and are severely scorched – indeed two spacecraft rise and subsequently fall. This is one of the main ideas in the film, which for me is its ultimate and considerable strength. It is a film of ideas, as the most interesting science fiction films frequently are: where, what and who do we come from? Why do we exist? How do we regard and react to our creators/parents? And that old favourite, what does it mean to be human?
Through its exploration of these ideas, largely through visual devices and techniques, utilising the expressive potential of cinema, I suggest that Prometheus will make a very useful study text for film studies courses. When asking students the initial questions about what makes film work, it makes sense to present them with something that depends on its filmic expression for meaning. At the other end of the scale is another 2012 release, Cosmopolis (David Cronenberg), which is largely dialogue-based and has a very restrained visual palette. Prometheus utilises cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound and editing for the major exploration of its thematic material, so I would certainly show it to students with the directive to look, see and interpret, rather than focus on the (admittedly apparent) shortcomings of the writing.
With its combination of big questions and horrific answers, I would class Prometheus as the offspring of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien, perhaps midwifed by Blade Runner. Doubtless many fans of these classics would lambast me for comparing Prometheus to them favourably. I doubt Prometheus will become a classic of the genre as these have, it is unlikely to join the ranks occupied by The Terminator and Aliens, Star Wars and The Day The Earth Stood Still, but it is a science fiction film willing to ask big questions, and leave us pondering the answers. That, for me, is reason to applaud it, and to teach it.
Why do I like “Avatar”?
April 1, 2012 5:25 pm / 5 Comments on Why do I like “Avatar”?
First of all, I don’t “like” Avatar. I LOVE Avatar. Why? Simple: it’s awesome! But that’s hardly an academic response. I mean awesome in a serious manner though – it genuinely fills me with awe, as a cinematic spectacle and more besides. To me, creating spectacle is one of the core purposes of cinema, and if a film does that, it is doing something very right indeed. Spectacle is more than image and sound, it needs to be an emotional spectacle as well, and Avatar conveys emotion in Titanothere-sized spades (yes, I know the names of Pandoran creatures). The technical skill of Cameron and his collaborators is key here – the constantly roving camera places me in Jake Sully’s position and I feel the visceral thrill that he gets from experiencing his new body and a whole new world, a metaphor for the re-invigoration of the experience of cinema that Avatar sets out to do and, at least for me, succeeds.
As a piece of entertainment, Avatar is probably the greatest cinematic thrill I have ever had. Other films that created similar experiences would be The Matrix, for much the same reasons, all three of Raimi’s Spider-Man films, and Ang Lee’s Hulk. These express the pure, raw, undiluted, visceral experiential thrill of cinema, which is one of the fundamental reasons I adore this art form over all others – when done properly, cinema can transport you. Indeed, transportation is important, particularly in science fiction in which world-building is key. In a recent poll of Greatest Science Fiction Films of All Time, I voted for Avatar because, more than any other sci-fi film, I felt it took me to another world (the poll was won, unsurprisingly, by Blade Runner). It was a world I could feel, believe in and care about, which is key to the film’s environmental ideology. To quote Carol Kaesuk Yoon of the New York Times, Avatar “has recreated what is the heart of biology: the naked, heart-stopping wonder of really seeing the living world” [Kaesuk Yoon, Carol (January 19, 2010). “Luminous 3-D Jungle Is a Biologist’s Dream”. The New York Times: p. D-1].
In addition to a visceral thrill, I genuinely find watching Avatar to be a spiritual experience, which is rare for me. I would identify my top five films of all time as emotional, intellectual and spiritual experiences, the others being Titanic, perhaps unsurprisingly, Gladiator, The Lord of the Rings, and Heat. These films touch me on multiple levels, and when I encounter disparaging responses, I am both aggrieved and saddened that others do not share the positive experience that I have: “It’s fantastic, I want you to feel fantastic as well, you don’t, you’re being mean, stop it, etc”. It’s not that I’m right and you’re wrong (although…), it is that I want more people to be happy.
I think a key reason I don’t understand the problems that some other people have with the film, and even find the criticisms offensive, is that plot, characters and dialogue are not major concerns for me. I understand that the plot is prosaic and can be seen as “baggy” or “clunky”, but that is not a problem for me. Indeed, the extended version works better for me because there is so much more of Pandora, its flora and fauna, as well as the culture of the Na’Vi to enjoy. One of the key pleasures of re-watching films for me is the accumulation of detail, and the visual detail and attention to detail is a marvelous creation that I revel in. Is Avatar‘s plot formulaic and predictable? Yes, and I have absolutely no problem with that. And as we know, familiarity is a key ingredient in popular story-telling.
I honestly do not have any problem with the supposed “bad” dialogue in this film, nor Titanic or John Carter that are also berated for their dialogue. What makes dialogue by James Cameron “bad” and that of David Mamet or Quentin Tarantino (or indeed Michael Mann) “good”? The standards to which dialogue “should” be held have never been made clear to me, it seems like some piece of cultural knowledge I never acquired.
As for the characters, they are means to an end – what matters to me is what is going on and who it is happening to is largely unimportant, especially because I feel involved. Rather than being distanced from the film by grumbling over the lack of characterisation in Jake Sully (which I do not deny), I find myself within the experience and concerned with what will happen next and, indeed, what I would do. This is immersion (in however many dimensions), which film, at its best, can accomplish. I understand and share the pleasure of in-depth characterisation, but I do not see it as a requirement for high quality – they are one method of textual pleasure, much like 3D, special effects, music, shaky cam, cuts or fades, etc. In the case of Avatar, I also think there is something very deliberate and effective in making the characters archetypes, as I believe the film creates a contemporary myth and mythic characters work best as archetypes. Indeed, the character of Jake Sully is himself an avatar for the contemporary audience that are disengaged from the world and must learn to re-connect. This is the spiritual aspect of the film that is so easily missed – the film does not preach for a return to the woods and nature, it is entirely metaphorical and urging people to reconnect with our world, through a re-invigoration of cinema. There isn’t a lot of characterisation because it would be completely unnecessary and indeed a hindrance to the myth/metaphor.
Furthermore, while I can understand that many find Avatar preachy and didactic, I have no problem being lectured on an issue I absolutely agree with and believe should be expounded, the issue of conservation and anti-environmental exploitation. I also loathe cynicism, so the cynical response that somehow Avatar’s message is invalidated by it being a hugely successful commercial product raises my hackles. This position has no evidence, it appears to be no more than an assumption, and that arrogance bothers me as well. Indeed, research has shown that some reacted very positively to the film, reducing their carbon footprint and attempting a re-engagement with their environment. Good for them. And others would rather refuse to accept that a piece of wildly successful commercial entertainment could have a socially positive, therapeutic effect. What does it take for these people?
As for the accusations of racism, I find them problematic when they come exclusively from middle-class (predominantly white) academics. If indigenous people were shown the film and found it offensive, I’d credit that, but instead, people of the Amazon, Iraqis and Palestinians as well as environmentalists have spoken of their identification with the Na’Vi, which appears to contradict the critical/academic response. It’s fine to be offended on behalf of others, indeed that is a crucial aspect of social justice, but if those for whom you are offended are not, does it not make sense to support their position? The presentation of the Na’Vi is idealised, which is perhaps a stereotypical view of indigenous peoples, but when the presentation is positive, and detailed, and not simply explained away in terms of their beliefs just being their beliefs but demonstrated as something tangible and, for lack of a better term, real, that hardly seems racist: “It’s not racist to try to save humankind by targeting your efforts directly on transformation of the consciousness and practices of those currently doing most of the destroying” (Rupert Read, “Avatar: A call to save the future”, Radical Anthropology).
Academia has an unfortunate tendency towards cynicism and not accepting potentially positive suggestions, seeming instead desirous of vague criticisms about the status quo. An interesting comparison is Fight Club, that is a direct assault on consumerism through an aggressive narrative and visual style. Fight Club was a box office flop that became a cult favourite – Avatar reached a far wider audience and has sparked constructive political activism. This, surely, is something to be applauded.
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1. Appropriation by institutions
The social dimensions of human development described above are not widely accepted, although the limitations of economic development and structural adjustment are increasing sensitivity to them. But even this social sensitivity filters out certain dimensions considered essential by others, or at least leaves the question of their presence or absence a matter of ambiguity, permitting the more subtle features to be expediently dropped at the first hint of ever-present controversy. Whilst each such interpretation seems to contain the essential key words, the meanings attached to them are not clarified.
What, for example, does the World Health Organization mean by "human potential", or the International Labour Organisation by "worker fulfilment", or UNESCO by "development of personality" or UNDP by "self-fulfilment"? Under the normal political and financial pressures on programme priorities:
the promotion of positive psychological health must of necessity be limited to the elimination of physical disease by WHO;
the promotion of worker fulfilment must be limited to the reduction of unemployment by ILO;
the development of personality to the inculcation of reading / writing / arithmetic by UNESCO; and
the promotion of individual self-fulfilment by UNDP must be limited to the ability of the individual to express himself through the acquisition of a more individualistic range of products.
The same situation must prevail in the equivalent national agencies. To what extent are such terms appropriated by institutions precisely in order to encourage people to believe that more is intended than is in fact planned in practice ?
The 1990 Human Development Report of UNDP, noted above, is also admirably ambiguous in its attempt to define human development. In its human development index "Longevity and knowledge refer to the formation of human capabilities, and income is a proxy measure for the choices people have in putting their capabilities to use." It is not difficult to see how this understanding of human development lends itself readily to a limited focus on expanding the choice of consumer products and services as embodying an ever greater sense of well-being. Many will favour this interpretation because of the way in which it reinforces existing policies. But such a definition could possibly also be interpreted in terms of expanding the range of those inner choices which enable people to function with greater insight (through altered modes of awareness), effectively increasing their sense of personal fulfilment (their "psychic income") and prolonging their active lives. There is no implication in the report that this aspect will be explored, whether or not this is done for rhetorical purposes.
2. Avoidance of significant dimensions
The report of the United Nations University project, cited in a previous note, is remarkable for the skilful manner in which it avoids any discussion of the forms of human development with which people can and do identify. These are dismissed as "individual development" in contrast to "human-centred" social development that concentrates on the relationships between people. This supposedly corrects the over-emphasis on individualistic development, despite the fact that the most elaborate explorations of individual development derive from eastern cultures in which non-individualistic social relations prevail. Similarly the Bernard van Leer Foundation's Project on Human Potential is remarkable for the manner in which it avoids reference to human potential as experienced by the "developee" in favour of discussion of the issues raised for the "developer", whether parent, educator or planner. Given the immense interest in altered states of consciousness by young people, as indicated by the increasing dimensions of the drug problem, some reference to the relationship of such altered states to human potential would seem appropriate. In part such avoidance may simply be due to recognition of the inability of the mainstream psycho-social disciplines to respond effectively to such dimensions.
It would seem that official bodies are embarrassed by matters which touch upon the nature of human potential and the stages and processes in the psychological development of the adult human being with which people themselves identify. This is particularly so at a time when even the social element is being excised from the concept of development, as in the debate within the United Nations on the establishment of a New International Economic Order. Many would argue that the subtler concepts of human development are a private subjective luxury that must be ignored until the basic physical needs of every human being are satisfied. Or, as the political philosopher Herbert Marcuse argues: "The traditional border-lines between psychology on the one side and political and social philosophy on the other have been made obsolete by the condition of man in the present era: formerly autonomous and identifiable psychical processes are being absorbed by the function of the individual in the state - by his public existence. Psychological problems therefore turn into political problems: private disorder reflects more directly than before the disorder of the whole, and the cure of personal disorder depends more directly than before on the cure of the general disorder."
3. Psychological maturity and social change
The Constitution of UNESCO states, in the oft-quoted phrase: "...that since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed...a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world..."
But such arguments over-simplify the situation faced by humankind in developed or developing countries. Unless the human beings - whether ordinary voters or members of privileged elites (with control over power and resources) are themselves exceptionally mature and well-integrated individuals, they will be insensitive to the needs and concerns of all those who may benefit or suffer from their decisions. Hitler is only the most obvious example; he is neither an isolated case, nor the most recent. Less extreme examples are numerous at all levels of society. Neither this well-researched fact, nor the meaning and degrees of maturity and of personality integration, can currently be made the subject of discussion within official bodies - where examples of immaturity are a matter of corridor gossip, even within the leadership of intergovernmental organizations. There would seem to be a myth that the good of society as it is defined by democratic and political processes is unaffected by the degree of integration of the key personalities and by the psychological maturity of the voters themselves. These factors are only incidentally related to formal education and to physical health.
There is increasing recognition of some form of hierarchy of needs, from the most basic survival needs to those associated with self-realization. In neglecting the subtler needs, policy-makers easily forget that it is only through the cultivation of such subtler needs that people (including policy-makers and voters) come to recognize the value of responding to the basic needs of others.
4. Missing essential factors
The importance of these points, and of the focus on the more subtle aspects of human development, is illustrated by the following:
(a) Belief and personality systems: In reporting on an investigation into the nature of belief systems and personality systems, Milton Rokeach (18) states: "To say that a person is dogmatic or that his belief system is closed is to say something about the way he believes and the way he thinks - not only about single issues but also about networks of issues. The closed mind even though most people cannot define it precisely, can be observed in the "practical" world of political and religious beliefs, and in the more academic world of scientific, philosophic, and humanistic thought. In both of these worlds there is conflict among men about who is right and who wrong, who is rational and who is rationalizing, and conflict over whose convictions are dogmatic and whose intellectual... The relative openness or closeness of a mind cuts across specific content; that is, it is not uniquely restricted to any one particular ideology, or religion, or philosophy, or scientific viewpoint... Is it possible to say that the extent to which a person's belief system is open or closed is a generalized state of mind which will reveal itself in his politics and religion, the way he goes about solving intellectual problems, the way he works with perceptual materials, and the way he reacts to unorthodox musical compositions?"
Further, an individual whose intellectual or belief systems are poorly integrated may harbour logically contradictory beliefs. Rokeach continues: "Orwell, in his book 1984, has more picturesquely called this "double-think". In everyday life we note many examples of "double-think": expressing an abhorrence of violence and at the same time believing that it is justifiable under certain conditions; affirming a faith in the intelligence of the common man and at the same time believing that the masses are stupid; being for democracy but also advocating a government run by an intellectual elite; believing in freedom for all, but also believing that certain groups should be restricted; believing that science makes no value judgments, but also knowing a good theory from a bad theory and a good experiment from a bad experiment." He then notes: "A person sometimes judges as "irrelevant" what may well be relevant by objective standards... Often enough, though not always, the judgment that something is irrelevant to something else points to a state of isolation between belief and disbelief systems. It is designed to ward off contradictions and, thus, to maintain intact one's own system." It is not unknown for individuals in positions of power to have closed minds harbouring contradictions in the sense used here, and in fact to have been placed in power by supporters holding similar views. There is even some recognition of what is termed psychosocial isomorphism, namely relations within a personality structure leading to formally similar relations within a social structure, and vice versa (William Eckhardt (1972), Emmanuael Todd (1983)). An extreme example being the structural equivalence between war propaganda and mental illness (William Eckhardt, 1972).
(b) Psychological change and cultural change: Commenting on the nature of psychological change and its relation to cultural change, Lawrence Kubie (1968) notes: "The fact which confronts us is that cultural change is limited by the restrictions imposed on change in individual human nature by concealed neurotic processes. At the same time there is continuous cybernetic interplay between culture and the individual, ie between the intra-psychic processes which make for fluidity or rigidity within the individual and the external processes which make for fluidity or rigidity in a culture. It would be naive to expect political and ideological liberty to give internal liberty to the individual citizen unless he had already won freedom from the internal tyranny of his own neurotic mechanisms...Therefore, insofar as man himself is neurotogenically restricted, he will restrict the freedom to change of the society in which he lives. This interplay is sometimes clearly evident, sometimes subtly concealed; but it is the heart of the solution of the problem of human progress."
(c) Transformations of man: In concluding a historical survey of the transformations which man has already undergone, Lewis Mumford (1962) notes: "The relations between world culture and the unified self are reciprocal. The very possibility of achieving a world order by other means than totalitarian enslavement and automatism rests on the plentiful creation of unified personalities, at home with every part of themselves, and so equally at home with the whole family of man, in all its magnificent diversity... In brief, one cannot create a unified world with partial, fragmentary, arrested selves which by their very nature must either produce aggressive conflict or regressive isolation. Nothing less than a concept of the whole man - and of man achieving a consciousness of the whole - is capable of doing justice to every type of personality, every mode of culture, every human potential. At this point a further transformation, so far not approached by any historic culture, may well take place."
5. Inner limits and constraints
Ervin Laszlo, who directed the Club of Rome's project on Goals for Mankind, stresses the importance of "inner limits", having noted the importance of the "outer limits" identified in many international reports (1989). "It is said that more than half the effort in solving a problem goes into identifying it. Regrettably, much current effort has been wasted: it has identified the wrong problems and identified them on the wrong scale."
He argues that it is not that the most-publicised problems are illusory: "they are real, but they are global, not national or local, and they are not the ones to which to direct our primary attention. They are outward manifestations of inner causes: the symptoms of malfunctions, not the malfunctions themselves....It is forgotten that not our world, but we human beings are the cause of our problems, and that only by redesigning our thinking and acting, not the world around us, can we solve them." He concludes that the critical but as yet generally unrecognized issue confronting mankind is that its truly decisive limits are inner, nor outer. "They are not physical limits due to the finiteness or vulnerability of this world, but psychological, cultural and, above all, political limits inner to people and societies, manifested by individual and collective mismanagement, irresponsibility and myopia."
For Laszlo "Many world problems involve outer limits, but most of them are due fundamentally to inner limits. There are hardly any world problems that cannot be traced to human agency and which could not be overcome by appropriate changes in human behaviour. The root causes even of physical and ecological problems are the inner constraints on our vision and values."
6. Psychological development
There is no lack of work on human development from a psychological perspective although very little of it is considered of relevance to the challenges confronted by the international community. Much of this work is concerned with explaining the emotional and cognitive growth of the individual and is primarily valued for any bearing that it has on human development perceived as education or training. Some of it is concerned with attitude formation and is valued for the insights it offers for mass communication efforts as an approach to education, training and opinion formation as forms of collective human development.
Psychology has tended to focus on behaviour rather than experience. For the most part it is concerned with observed behaviour rather than subjective phenomena. Furthermore, in academic psychology it has been customary to focus upon regular or 'normal' phenomena rather than those that might be described as unusual or of low frequency. This tendency to ignore or actively avoid anomalous instances continues to prevail. Those phenomena that do not readily fit psychological models are regarded as, at best, messy and inconvenient.
Psychology continues to find it difficult to clarify what is meant by a highly developed individual. A few psychologists are prepared to outline the goals of individual development in adults, as opposed to the stages of development to adulthood, for example: "From the point of view of psychology, a high level of development in personality is characterized most essentially by complexity and wholeness. There is a high degree of differentiation, a large number of different parts or features having different and specialized functions; and a high degree of integration, a state of affairs in which communication among parts is great enough so that different parts may, without losing their essential identity, become organized into larger wholes in order to serve the larger purposes of the person... The highly developed individual is always open to new experience and capable of further learning; his stability is fundamental in the sense that he can go on developing while remaining essentially himself." (Sanford Nevitt, 1970)
7. Psycho-social health and psychotherapy
There is increasing emphasis on individual health as opposed to disease, and increasing interest in psychological health and human potential, although the degree of importance attached to these changes is not always clear from official reports.
The World Health Organization in the report of a Scientific Group on Human Development and Public Health (1971) delimits human development as follows: "Human development embraces every aspect of the maturation process, including its physical, biological, psychological, and social aspects. To bring about healthy human development and to realize human potential, it is necessary to draw upon many areas of scientific knowledge and many components of the health service. Such areas as nutrition, communicable diseases, human reproduction, mental health, handicaps, and many others, together with the corresponding services, are related to human development. Many of these services have their greatest impact on development when they are employed early in the individual's life." (9)
The World Health Organization does not in fact have any definition of mental health as such. Its approach to the question is currently based on premises elaborated in a document on the "Social Dimensions of Mental Health" (1981): "Man is a thinking being; inner experience linked to interpersonal group experience - in other words, mental life - is what makes people's lives valuable. To be human is to think, feel, aspire, strive and achieve, and to be social. Promoting health therefore must not only be concerned with preserving the biological element of the human organism: it must also be concerned with enhancing mental life."
The WHO report continues: "Economic growth and social change exert significant influences on the mental life of individuals and the structure and functioning of families. When insufficient attention is given to this fact the cost of progress, in terms of diminished quality of life, may be unnecessarily high. The application of mental health knowledge could help to prevent harmful psychosocial consequences of socioeconomic change and facilitate harmonious development....Mental health skills can be used in developing positive attitudes towards community participation in health programmes. They can also help in persuading social sectors to adopt health as a motivating value for action. A mental health perspective in general health care can counter the dehumanization of medicine, and make health services more effective and less costly."
The increasing importance of psychotherapy has however been described as a stop-gap effort to fill the spiritual void left by the demise of religion. From this perspective, it has endeavoured to meet unmet metaphysical needs without recourse to mythical ideologies or magic ritual. In doing so it has ignored the assumptions that guided "soul care" in the past, adamantly believing that it bears no relation to earlier spiritual traditions and practices. (Benner, David. Psychotherapy and the Spiritual Quest, 1988).
In the case of psychiatry, a Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry investigated the phenomena of mystic experience in the USA. Their report explored the subtle dividing line between mystic experience and mental derangement (GAP Committee, 1976). It distinguished the various categories, stages and phases leading through to religious conversion. It also describes the different interpretations mystics put on their experience. The report did not reach any consensus, concluding that from one point of view all mystical experiences may be regarded as symptoms of mental disturbance, and from another, they may be regarded as attempts at adaptation. They were however satisfied that such phenomena were explicable in psychiatric terms. The conclusions of the report were criticized by one dissenting member (A Deikman, 1988).
8. Corporate psychological training programmes
Most work in psychology avoids the "humanistic" or "transpersonal" dimensions which, as emerging disciplines, continue to be marginalized within mainstream psychology. However there is a growing professional interest in the phenomenological quality of experience as opposed to observable behaviour. Ironically it is the interest of the business community in these dimensions, as a means of facilitating creativity and team work, that is leading to greater acceptance in practice, if not in the theory of the discipline.
Many leading companies are sending executives on management training courses which are designed to make use of new and experimental psychological techniques, some of which have been developed by quasi-religious groups. They may be described as "human potential" or "personal growth" seminars. The past decade has also seen many examples of employers investing in programmes of an experiential nature as a means of reducing stress in employees and increasing working potential, especially where creativity is a factor. The techniques may involve disorientation, demoralization, group meditation, group confession, peer group pressure, love bombing, rejection of old values, presentation of confusing doctrines, removal of privacy, time sense deprivation, uncompromising rules, sleep deprivation, chanting and singing, financial commitment, change of diet, fear, leader dependence and verbal abuse.
For many people such courses are beneficial, improving self-confidence, self-esteem and performance at work. It is for this reason that the business community is so active in exploring them. However, given that many of the techniques are experimental, the results for some can be profoundly disturbing psychologically. This is especially the case where the courses are deliberately designed to challenge ingrained, habitual modes of thought.
The existence and use of such techniques is a matter of some controversy, especially to those who are poorly informed about them and to those anxious to safeguard particular patterns of thought at all costs. Understanding is especially difficult for those who are unable to discriminate between their benefits and the abuses of religious cults and political re-education ("brainwashing"). The issues is exemplified by corporate interest in challenging executives physically to develop self-confidence and more fruitful modes of behaviour. The most dramatic example is leaping from a high bridge with elastic ropes tied around the legs. In this case the individual is called upon to face fears and take physical risks. In other cases the risks are more subtle and the changes possible more significant.
In selecting employees, especially at the highest executive level, much importance is attached to such subtle qualities as "maturity", even if psychologists have the greatest of difficulty in defining what is meant by this in theory. The same may be said for other results of human development, such as qualities like "balance" and "insight".
9. Vindication of subjectivity
A Latin American collective report on human scale development chose to include a section on the "vindication of subjectivity" in which it is argued that: "The ways in which we experience our needs, hence the quality of our lives is, ultimately, subjective. It would seem, then, that only universalizing judgement could be deemed arbitrary. An objection to this statement could well arise from the ranks of positivism. The identification which positivism establishes between the subjective and the particular, though it reveals the historical failure of absolute idealism, is a sword of Damocles for the social sciences. When the object of study is the relation between human beings and society, the universality of the subjective cannot be ignored. Any attempt to observe the life of human beings must recognize the social character of subjectivity....Yet there is great fear of the consequences of such a reflection. Economic theory is a clear example of this. From the neo-classical economists to the monetarists, the notion of preferences is used to avoid the issue of needs. This perspective reveals an acute reluctance to discuss the subjective-universal....Whereas to speak of fundamental human needs compels us to focus our attention on the subjective-universal, which renders any mechanistic approach sterile." (Human Scale Development, pp 28-9)
It is a tragic symptom of the times that subjectivity should need to be "vindicated" to those concerned with the development process. It suggests that developing countries are paying the price of an unhealthy western obsession with objectivity. There are no institutionally acceptable indications as to the nature of a healthy balance between subjectivity and objectivity.
‹ 3.5 Cultural and educational biases up 3.7 Modes of awareness and experiential biases ›
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August 17, 2018 / 8:59 AM / a year ago
Cipriani 'hugely regrets' nightclub incident
LONDON (Reuters) - England flyhalf Danny Cipriani has said he “hugely regrets” his role in an incident at a nightclub in Jersey which left a female police officer bruised.
FILE PHOTO: England's Danny Cipriani at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, Britain - May 24, 2018. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo
The 30-year-old was arrested on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to common assault and resisting arrest at Jersey magistrate’s court on Thursday.
Cipriani was handed a 2,000 pound ($2,500) fine and ordered to pay 250 pounds in compensation to the officer.
“I have been in a cell for more than 24 hours thinking about what happened,” Cipriani told The Times.
“I have massive admiration for the police and the job they do. I hugely regret what happened. I just want to talk to the female police officer and apologise.”
Cipriani, who started his first game for England in nearly 10 years in the third test against South Africa in June, was charged by the Rugby Football Union on Friday with “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game”.
“We have high standards that we expect across the game,” RFU head of discipline David Barnes said.
Cipriani has joined Gloucester from Premiership rivals Wasps and his new club’s chief executive Stephen Vaughan criticised the timing of the RFU charge.
“We are surprised and extremely disappointed to have recently received notification of disciplinary action,” Vaughan said in a statement.
“We do not agree with the RFU’s decision to embark upon a disciplinary process before we have concluded our own internal discussions.”
The altercation took place when Cipriani tried to carry drinks into the outdoor area of a bar, where he and his Gloucester team mates were having a barbecue following a pre-season match.
Police officers were called to the scene minutes later.
“The police told me they were going to arrest me on the basis of what the bouncer told them and I tried to explain my side of the story,” Cipriani added.
“As they tried to put my hands behind my back, I stood my ground for a matter of a few seconds and raised my voice. I hugely regret doing so.”
Cipriani has been warned by England coach Eddie Jones over his conduct following a number of off-field issues, including a training-ground fight with a Wasps team mate and a nightclub incident while playing for Australia’s Melbourne Rebels in 2011.
“I have spent a long time trying to focus on the things that matter,” Cipriani said.
“I fought hard to win a return to the England team and felt huge honour to represent the country in South Africa early in the summer,” he added.
“What happened on Wednesday has caused much reflection. I am very grateful to the magistrate, who said that the incident was minor. But I am in no doubt that it was completely unacceptable.”
Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond
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STANDING CONFERENCE of the CANONICAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS in the AMERICAS
Sunday of Cheesefare and Mission Sunday - February 14, 2010
“The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
To the Most Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and the Devout Faithful of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas
Dearly Beloved in the Lord,
We greet you in the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Lenten fast that precedes the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha is upon us. Like the dawn of a new day, the beginning of this 40-day journey provides opportunities for us to recommit ourselves and our whole lives to Christ our God. The Sunday before Great Lent, February 14th, 2010, is Mission Sunday as designated by the hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). Over the past two millennia, the work of making disciples has been a focal ministry of saints, and billions of people have accepted life in Christ. Today, sixty-six percent of the world’s population is still non-Christian; thus missionary service remains a core ministry of the Church and a collective movement of the faithful.
Over the past 15 years, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), as the official missions agency of SCOBA, has provided the faithful of North America with opportunities to answer their call to make disciples of all nations. Over 70 people who serve as OCMC Ambassadors are taking this call to parishes across the country, and the mission ministries of our Orthodox Churches that are outside of America are growing as a result.
Today, through the prayers and support of the faithful, there are 20 men and women who are serving, or preparing to serve, as long-term missionaries in places like Albania, Romania, and Tanzania. Likewise, young, growing seminaries around the world are receiving support to provide theological training to over 250 local priests, catechists, and ministry leaders in places where the Church is newly emerging. With assistance from OCMC’s Support a Mission Priest (SAMP) Program, there are 400 priests in 19 countries who are bringing the Faith to those who may never have heard the Gospel’s message of salvation. And, in 2010, OCMC plans to train and send over 100 Orthodox Christians from across North America to serve on 14 short-term Mission Teams, bringing a living witness to the Orthodox Faith in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, and Alaskan North America.
It is our responsibility to ensure that these efforts continue. There is no greater way to invest our abundant blessings than in the salvation and eternal life of others. Let us pray, give, and serve to welcome our brothers and sisters around the world into the open arms of Christ.
In urgent expectation of Christ’s awesome Resurrection, let us work boldly to make disciples of all nations. Truly, the harvest is plentiful, but we need the prayers and active support of all the faithful for OCMC, so that laborers will answer the call of the Lord and enter into His abundant and glorious harvest.
With paternal blessings and love in Christ,
†Archbishop DEMETRIOS
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
† Metropolitan PHILIP
Vice Chairman,
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
† Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER
Serbian Orthodox Church in North And South America
† Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA
† Archbishop NICOLAE
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese In the Americas
† Metropolitan JOSEPH
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church
† Metropolitan JONAH
† Metropolitan CONSTANTINE
Archpriest Alexander Abramov
Acting Representative of the Moscow
Patriarchate in the USA
† Bishop ILIA of Philomelion
Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America
2010-2011 Scholarship Applications Available!
2010 OCF Day of Prayer: Keeping our College Students Connected to the Church!
The Liturgical Day of Prayerful Gratitude – Archbishop Daniel Leads the Services of the Fourth Sunday of Pascha at the Spiritual Center of the UOC of the USA
2019 Annual St. Thomas Sunday-Provody: Weekend Pilgrimage to South Bound Brook, NJ – Metropolia Center of the UOC of the USA - a Success Despite the Rain and Cold
“Hosanna! Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!” Palm Sunday at the Protection of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, MI
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_ > Life & Style > Sports > High School Sports Report > _ > Life & Style > Sports
Butler Girls at the Threshold of Becoming a Dynasty
Jaelynn Penn. Photo courtesy of Samantha Stallings.
It’s not too often the word dynasty is mentioned in the same breath as sports teams. But when it does, it means players are in the process of accomplishing something special. When it comes to women’s basketball, a dynasty hasn’t been too far-fetched. In fact, the basketball world tagged the word dynasty to the Minnesota Lynx, led by Maya Moore, as she led her team to three championships in five years (2011, 2013, 2015).
Well, Butler High School girls’ basketball team, being in the same company as the Lynx, haven’t been shy about flirting with the idea of a dynasty in their locker room. In fact, it may be something they embrace.
“It is something that comes natural,” says senior Tasia Jeffries. “It is hard enough to win one state championship, so when you have the chance to win three out of four years, I feel like that along with the success that we have had, it is natural to talk about a dynasty so to speak because of the success and everything we’ve had.”
The defending state champions are on the brink of making history in the state of Kentucky. Coach Larry Just and Butler won the state title in the 2013-14 season and are looking to defend their 2015-16 title this year, which would give them three championships in four years.
No surprise, there’s a lot of hype surrounding the Bearettes, and Coach Just knows that things like a preseason No. 21 ranking in America by USA Today High School Sports is something nice and honorable. But the play on the court is what matters at the end of the day.
“We think it’s a great honor to have been recognized at the national level at this time. We also recognize a lot of that is based on last year and the summer these kids had,” Just says. “What we have ahead of us is the main thing we have to take care of. If we continue to do things we are supposed to do, we hope at the end of the year, we can still be recognized at some point.”
Butler has five seniors who have already committed to playing college at the next level. For a group of girls who have played together for a long time, having already won two championships, the only thing that could stop Butler this year may be themselves.
Of the season following the 2013-14 championship, Coach Just says his girls “didn’t seem to handle our thoughts, minds or work ethic as much as we should have,” as they fell short of defending their championship.
His current senior class were sophomores at the time, and Jeffries believes they’ve learned from the past and are anticipating what’s to come in the future.
“I think a lot of it was inexperience,” Jeffries adds. “The first time around, a lot of us were freshman and sophomores, so we didn’t really know how to handle it. But now, I feel like we will be able to focus in more. We’ve all grown and we are all real mature now.”
Leadership will be key, and Jaelynn Penn, who is considered the top candidate for Kentucky’s Miss Basketball Award, will certainly be a go-to leader on the floor in terms of her play. This season, she expects the target on their backs to get bigger night in and night out.
“It is something I think most of us embrace as a team,” she says. “Especially since most of us have been through it before, so we kind of have experience and we learned from that experience two years ago. I don’t think it is something that scares us or puts any pressure on us – we just invite the competition.”
Beyond the championships and being a dynasty in the making, it is the sisterhood that makes this Butler team so special. Their chemistry on the court is a reflection of the time they spend together outside the gym, the life lessons they learn from Coach Just and the key ingredient of having fun, all of which come together to be the recipe for success for this program.
So the defending champs will be a tough out this season. I’m no gambler, but I doubt anyone in Vegas would bet against this team. To Coach Just, he wants his team to have a high level of focus as they get ready for another championship campaign.
“For us, our whole focus has been trying to get ourselves ready for this year with the kids that we got,” he says. “Just try to take care of ourselves and not worry about what else is out there. Not worrying about the expectations that are out there but taking care of our business and trying to get better.” VT
Randy Whetstone Jr.
Read more articles by this author >
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#1536: A Look Back Into 2018
On this week’s 51%, we take a look back at some interviews and stories we aired during 2018, ones that both serve as a reflection and perhaps indication of what lies ahead. In Politics. Music. Water. Opinion. Unapologetically.
https://wamcpodcasts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/51__show_1536.mp3
As record numbers of women ran for office in 2018, and there were a number of firsts, Jennifer Palmieri believes that this might not have happened had Hillary Clinton become president. Jennifer Palmieri served as head of communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and White House communications director under President Barack Obama. She was also White House deputy press secretary for President Bill Clinton and national press secretary for the Democratic Party. She is president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund and author of — “Dear Madam President.” I asked whether she thought Hillary Clinton’s loss was a gender issue or likeability factor?
Aretha Franklin — the Queen of Soul — died August 16 at age 76 from pancreatic cancer. She was remembered as a gospel and pop giant and a civil rights beacon. Justin Patch is a post-doctoral fellow in music at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. A musician himself, Patch specializes in the intersection of music and American politics and he spoke with 51%’s Ian Pickus the week Franklin died.
The Pentagon says about 15,000 service members have experienced some kind of sexual trauma while in uniform. But because of the stigma, many wait decades before they seek help. Bobbie O’Brien visited a special unit at a VA hospital in Florida. There, survivors of military sexual trauma receive intense inpatient treatment.
This story was produced by the American Homefront Project, a public media collaboration that reports on American military life and veterans. Funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
And we revisit a recent essay from writer Dr. Jeri Burns.
Dr. Jeri Burns is a storyteller, writer, and educator living in New York’s Hudson Valley. You can find her at storycrafters.com. She is co-author of the recently published book “Storytwisting: A Guide to Remixing and Reinventing Stories.” Burns also is an adjunct professor in the Department of Communication at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Patrick Garrett and Elizabeth Hill for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you’d like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio
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antitrust/
The American Antitrust Institute Fruitlessly Searches for the Key to American Competitive Conditions under the Antitrust Lamppost
Alden Abbott — 5 October 2016
On September 28, the American Antitrust Institute released a report (“AAI Report”) on the state of U.S. antitrust policy, provocatively entitled “A National Competition Policy: Unpacking the Problem of Declining Competition and Setting Priorities for Moving Forward.” Although the AAI Report contains some valuable suggestions, in important ways it reminds one of the drunkard who seeks his (or her) lost key under the nearest lamppost. What it requires is greater sobriety and a broader vision of the problems that beset the American economy.
The AAI Report begins by asserting that “[n]ot since the first federal antitrust law was enacted over 120 years ago has there been the level of public concern over the concentration of economic and political power that we see today.” Well, maybe, although I for one am not convinced. The paper then states that “competition is now on the front pages, as concerns over rising concentration, extraordinary profits accruing to the top slice of corporations, slowing innovation, and widening income and wealth inequality have galvanized attention.” It then goes on to call for a more aggressive federal antitrust enforcement policy, with particular attention paid to concentrated markets. The implicit message is that dedicated antitrust enforcers during the Obama Administration, led by Federal Trade Commission Chairs Jonathan Leibowitz and Edith Ramirez, and Antitrust Division chiefs Christine Varney, Bill Baer, and Renata Hesse (Acting) have been laggard or asleep at the switch. But where is the evidence for this? I am unaware of any and the AAI doesn’t say. Indeed, federal antitrust officials in the Obama Administration consistently have called for tough enforcement, and they have actively pursued vertical as well as horizontal conduct cases and novel theories of IP-antitrust liability. Thus, the AAI Report’s contention that antitrust needs to be “reinvigorated” is unconvincing.
The AAI Report highlights three “symptoms” of declining competition: (1) rising concentration, (2) higher profits to the few and slowing rates of start-up activity, and (3) widening income and wealth inequality. But these concerns are not something that antitrust policy is designed to address. Mergers that threaten to harm competition are within the purview of antitrust, but modern antitrust rightly focuses on the likely effects of such mergers, not on the mere fact that they may increase concentration. Furthermore, antitrust assesses the effects of business agreements on the competitive process. Antitrust does not ask whether business arrangements yield “unacceptably” high profits, or “overly low” rates of business formation, or “unacceptable” wealth and income inequality. Indeed, antitrust is not well equipped to address such questions, nor does it possess the tools to “solve” them (even assuming they need to be solved).
In short, if American competition is indeed declining based on the symptoms flagged by the AAI Report, the key to the solution will not be found by searching under the antitrust policy lamppost for illumination. Rather, a more thorough search, with the help of “common sense” flashlights, is warranted.
The search outside the antitrust spotlight is not, however, a difficult one. Finding the explanation for lagging competitive conditions in the United States requires no great policy legerdemain, because sound published research already provides the answer. And that answer centers on government failures, not private sector abuses.
Consider overregulation. In its annual Red Tape Rising reports (see here for the latest one), the Heritage Foundation has documented the growing burden of federal regulation on the American economy. Overregulation acts like an implicit tax on businesses and disincentivizes business start-ups. Moreover, as regulatory requirements grow in complexity and burdensomeness, they increasingly place a premium on large size – only relatively larger businesses can better afford the fixed costs needed to establish regulatory compliance department than their smaller rivals. Heritage Foundation Scholar Norbert Michel summarizes this phenomenon in his article Dodd-Frank and Glass-Steagall – ‘Consumer Protection for Billionaires’:
Even when it’s not by nefarious design, we end up with rules that favor the largest/best-funded firms over their smaller/less-well-funded competitors. Put differently, our massive regulatory state ends up keeping large firms’ competitors at bay. The more detailed regulators try to be, the more complex the rules become. And the more complex the rules become, the smaller the number of people who really care. Hence, more complicated rules and regulations serve to protect existing firms from competition more than simple ones. All of this means consumers lose. They pay higher prices, they have fewer choices of financial products and services, and they pretty much end up with the same level of protection they’d have with a smaller regulatory state.
What’s worse, some of the most onerous regulatory schemes are explicitly designed to favor large competitors over small ones. A prime example is financial services regulation, and, in particular, the rules adopted pursuant to the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act (other examples could readily be provided). As a Heritage Foundation report explains (footnote citations omitted):
The [Dodd-Frank] act was largely intended to reduce the risk of a major bank failure, but the regulatory burden is crippling community banks (which played little role in the financial crisis). According to Harvard University researchers Marshall Lux and Robert Greene, small banks’ share of U.S. commercial banking assets declined nearly twice as much since the second quarter of 2010—around the time of Dodd–Frank’s passage—as occurred between 2006 and 2010. Their share currently stands at just 22 percent, down from 41 percent in 1994.
The increased consolidation rate is driven by regulatory economies of scale—larger banks are better suited to handle increased regulatory burdens than are smaller banks, causing the average costs of community banks to rise. The decline in small bank assets spells trouble for their primary customer base—small business loans and those seeking residential mortgages.
Ironically, Dodd–Frank proponents pushed for the law as necessary to rein in the big banks and Wall Street. In fact, the regulations are giving the largest companies a competitive advantage over smaller enterprises—the opposite outcome sought by Senator Christopher Dodd (D–CT), Representative Barney Frank (D–MA), and their allies. As Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein recently explained: “More intense regulatory and technology requirements have raised the barriers to entry higher than at any other time in modern history. This is an expensive business to be in, if you don’t have the market share in scale.”
In sum, as Dodd-Frank and other regulatory programs illustrate, large government rulemaking schemes often are designed to favor large and wealthy well-connected rent-seekers at the expense of smaller and more dynamic competitors.
More generally, as Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint and Heritage Action for America CEO Mike Needham have emphasized, well-connected businesses use lobbying and inside influence to benefit themselves by having government enact special subsidies, bailouts and complex regulations, including special tax preferences. Those special preferences undermine competition on the merits by firms that lack insider status, to the public detriment. Relatedly, the hideously complex system of American business taxation, which features the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world (which can better be manipulated by very large corporate players), depresses wages and is a serious drag on the American economy, as shown by Heritage Foundation scholars Curtis Dubay and David Burton. In a similar vein, David Burton testified before Congress in 2015 on how the various excesses of the American regulatory state (including bad tax, health care, immigration, and other regulatory policies, combined with an overly costly legal system) undermine U.S. entrepreneurship (see here).
In other words, special subsidies, regulations, and tax and regulatory programs for the well-connected are part and parcel of crony capitalism, which (1) favors large businesses, tending to raise concentration; (2) confers higher profits on the well-connected while discouraging small business entrepreneurship; and (3) promotes income and wealth inequality, with the greatest returns going to the wealthiest government cronies who know best how to play the Washington “rent seeking game.” Unfortunately, crony capitalism has grown like topsy during the Obama Administration.
Accordingly, I would counsel AAI to turn its scholarly gaze away from antitrust and toward the true source of the American competitive ailments it spotlights: crony capitalism enabled by the growth of big government special interest programs and increasingly costly regulatory schemes. Let’s see if AAI takes my advice.
In antitrust, economics, regulation antitrust enforcement, Crony Capitalism, financial regulation, regulation
I am a Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. I write on antitrust, domestic and international regulatory policy, and law and economics. I am an Adjunct Faculty Member at George Mason Law School.
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AOC’s Green New Deal Is Just the Start. Next Let’s Make It Global.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez speaks about the Green New Deal at a town hall organized by the Sunrise Movement, May 13, 2019.
Rachael Warriner / Shutterstock.com
Michelle Chen,
The resolution for a Green New Deal (GND) made a splash in Washington earlier this year. It was an ecological moonshot—calling for a wholesale decarbonization of the economy by 2030 and total transformation of the U.S. energy grid. But the resolution also attests to a greater ambition: bringing the U.S. back to the frontlines of a global struggle against climate crisis. And now it is becoming the opening salvo in an international campaign for climate justice.
A decade before the GND resolution was proposed by Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) in Congress, the United Nations Environmental Programme issued a plan for a Global Green New Deal based on similar principles—ending dependency on fossil fuels, creating a green workforce and reducing poverty. Like the U.S. GND, the global version did not detail how it would be financed. U.S. lawmakers are reviving the GND concept in Washington, with a hugely ambitious goal of zeroing out emissions by 2030 nationwide. It’s increasingly clear from the size, scope and urgency of the climate threat worldwide that the U.S. needs to play a chief role in spurring a global GND alongside a domestic one.
The People’s Policy Project (PPP) has mapped out a financial plan for a global Green New Deal, which centers the U.S. as a primary financial supporter of the energy transition and decarbonization process in poorer countries. The premise is that the U.S. carries a huge global ethical and economic responsibility to the current worldwide carbon crisis — not just because the U.S. is one of the largest emitters, but also because the poorest countries are extremely geographically and economically vulnerable to the extreme weather and mass displacement that climate change is rapidly intensifying.
Nonetheless, since the national GND resolution — which is focused almost completely on domestic goals for decarbonization and job creation — faces fierce criticism within the U.S., is it realistic to latch it onto a much wider agenda to deal with climate crisis around the world? In a follow-up exchange with Truthout, Jacob Fawcett, co-author of the PPP report, argued that the political challenge of financing a GND on a global scale “mostly comes down to whether we’re willing to take climate change seriously or not.”
For the global Green New Deal to work, the U.S. would have to work on two parallel tracks: dramatically cutting emissions domestically while fostering similar efforts in poorer countries.
The Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst recommends generally that all countries, particularly large and affluent ones like the U.S., “should invest about 1.5 percent of GDP per year in energy efficiency and clean renewable investments.” However, for poorer nations, according to the institute’s co-director Robert Pollin, “It’s the obligation of the rich countries to finance the poor countries.” This could ultimately be accomplished through forms of debt monetization, Pollin told Truthout, such as a “green bond” issued by the U.S. or European Union, or investing in an international institution such as the African Development Bank.
PPP’s analysis focuses on the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF), an international financial organ created in 2010 through the U.N. climate talks. Researchers estimate that supporting a Green New Deal program in developing nations should involve an annual funding commitment of about $680 billion. That figure is based on a global estimate by the U.K.-based Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy for the cost of keeping the global economy within the carbon threshold of 450 parts per million (ppm), which would maintain the global temperature increase within 1.5 degrees Celsius. With a total projected cost of $2 trillion, the U.S. “share” would be about 34 percent, proportionate to its share of global GDP. To finance the fund, the U.S. could sell treasury bonds, providing a steady stream of yearly funding, or alternately, establish a mandatory federal funding stream through annual congressional spending.
The commitment to the GCF does not preempt other forms of investment—for example, direct foreign aid donations or private-sector commercial trade. However, as an international body focused on development and climate, the GCF distributes funds through an independent decision-making body that is relatively democratic and transparent, governed by a board with representatives from different regions, with equal weight given to richer and poorer countries. According to Fawcett, “A big advantage that the GCF has is that it gives everyone in the world a seat at the table—rather than just letting private interests or the United States dictate how it will be spent.”
Still, the GCF is hardly a perfect instrument: It remains utterly dependent on wealthy donor countries, which don’t always cooperate (the Trump administration has reportedly actively obstructed its work), and it has been slow to roll out its funding allocations. Still, Fawcett stressed, “This is not our money to dictate spending terms on—it’s money that we owe the international community, to fix a problem that we largely created through our own historical CO2 emissions.”
A GND focused on healing the most vulnerable communities could promote alternative ownership models, such as electricity cooperatives based on decentralized energy generation.
For both the U.S. and the poor and middle-income economies that would be the beneficiaries of this investment, a green industrial policy would prioritize research and development of new green technologies; subsidizing the expansion of wind, solar and other sources; and boosting energy efficiency. And it would build on years of progress in government-led stimulus of green energy development. One common strategy is for national governments to directly promote the large-scale deployment of renewables as an industrial consumer: using solar and wind generation for government buildings and mass transit, for example. Regional energy agencies could also steer consumer markets through “feed-in tariffs,” which establish long-term contracts with utilities for purchasing renewable energy from local solar or wind farms. The Political Economy Research Institute also points out that a GND focused on healing the most vulnerable communities could promote alternative ownership models, such as electricity cooperatives based on decentralized energy generation, which will enable communities to thwart fossil fuel monopolies and “leapfrog over grid-based systems entirely.” And by skipping over to the most advanced technology for, say, a rural off-grid solar farm, poorer, less industrialized communities not only get more value for their money, but they also avoid the carbon emissions and pollution that larger economies churned out in the past.
In many ways, some poorer economies are already especially well-positioned to harness the GND as a long-term development agenda. Renewable investment is rising steadily in developing and emerging economies. China is still generating the lion’s share of green energy investment—nearly a third of the global total of $332 billion in 2018—while other fledgling photo-voltaic markets in India, Malaysia, South Africa and Kenya are mushrooming across the global south.
In the U.S. alone, government subsidies for fossil fuel consumption and coal production suck about $9 billion a year from public coffers.
But beyond subsidizing the development and consumption of renewables, the hard part is actively discouraging the use of dirty energy sources, which will require some form of comprehensive carbon taxation. Likewise, governments would need to aggressively phase out the fossil fuel subsidies that keep gas cheap around the world. These measures could free up a huge stash of revenue to invest in decarbonization; the funds could go toward expanding solar and wind generation capacity, research and development of clean energy technology, or supporting displaced workers with training and income subsidies. In the U.S. alone, economic professor Edward B. Barbier points out in a recent analysis that government subsidies for fossil fuel consumption and coal production suck about $9 billion a year from public coffers. At the same time, pricing carbon at $40 a ton—in the upper range of the typical rate that is charged in countries where carbon taxes exist—could raise about $76 billion per year while reducing carbon emissions by 17.5 billion metric tons by 2030.
But cutting subsidies would doubtless trigger political resistance — both from consumers who want cheap fuel, and from the fossil-fuel lobby that has long enjoyed inflated profits. This makes it even more vital for the U.S. to buffer against such disruption by funding the transition in less resilient economies and protecting workers from the impacts of job loss or price spikes.
A parallel challenge for a global Green New Deal will be ensuring not only that the funding for projects is directed to poorer countries, but also that those projects respect the ecological sovereignty and self-determination of the most impacted communities. Pursuing a human-rights-based global GND raises the question of “climate colonialism.”
According to Georgetown philosophy professor Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, the rush for “green development| could spawn a new kind of “resource curse” if Western governments and multinationals flock to the global South to, for instance, launch massive corporate solar farms or grab land for carbon-offset projects designed to “compensate” for pollution generated elsewhere. “Green New Deal policies,” he argued in an op-ed, could empower communities on both sides of U.S. borders. Or they could promote climate colonialism through “the deepening or expansion of foreign domination through climate initiatives.”
Climate justice advocates say “green growth” must involve democratizing the global green economy, community control of climate mitigation projects, and technology transfers that respect the land rights and social needs of frontline communities.
Whatever the initial price tag, champions of the global GND say three things are certain: that it can be financed through making the tax code fairer; that the U.S. must support a parallel green transition in poorer countries; and that, in sheer cost-benefit terms, the benefits of avoiding total climate catastrophe go far beyond protecting the environment—they could form the germ of a more equitable social system. The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that expanding renewables to about two-thirds of total energy supply would have a net positive impact on employment in 2050 in every region, compared to the business-as-usual case, along with significant improvements in social welfare measures, driven by improvements in public health.
Despite the clear rewards of green investment, a massive economic transition program like the GND could unravel without strong international cooperation. Affluent countries have over the years launched ambitious “green growth” plans or carbon tax schemes, but their efforts have fallen short of their targets because they lacked sufficient funding or failed to implement structural reforms to overhaul their energy systems.
In the long-term, it will cost much less to transform the energy system than to do nothing.
Launching a global GND that pursues social equity and decarbonization in tandem hinges on the central concept of climate justice: Social protection and environmental protection are intertwined. Those two priorities are fused in one notable long-term outcome of a green transition: It pays for itself. Noting that energy costs decline as markets expand to a critical mass, Pollin says, “The financing should be constructed in a way that recognizes the long-term cost savings, which means over time, it doesn’t cost anything.” The benefits are even clearer when compared to rising cost of fossil fuels, because we getting to the point at which it’s “more expensive to extract,” he added. In the long-term, it will cost much less to transform the energy system than to do nothing.
But a global Green New Deal will require a big upfront investment before it starts paying for itself. The U.S. now has a responsibility to deal with the global carbon burden by supporting the communities most at risk from the harms of fossil fuels. And it can start by making a Green New Deal with the rest of the world.
Michelle Chen
Michelle Chen is a contributing editor at Dissent Magazine, and a contributing writer at The Nation, In These Times and Truthout. She is also a co-producer of the “Asia Pacific Forum” podcast and Dissent Magazine’s “Belabored” podcast, and teaches history at the City University of New York. Follow her on Twitter: @meeshellchen.
History Proves We Can’t Count on the Democratic Party for a Green New Deal
The 1966 failed struggle for the Freedom Budget offers lessons in the fight for a Green New Deal.
Paul Fleckenstein,
How the Media Misrepresents the Debate Over the Green New Deal
There’s more to the story than “environmentalists versus blue-collar workers.”
To Take Down Fossil Fuels, We Must Abandon Capitalism
Dahr Jamail’s latest book bears witness to the destruction of our natural world due to climate change.
Anton Woronczuk,
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TV ReviewsBates MotelSeason 3
Bates Motel: “Unconscious”
Alex McLevy
Bates MotelSeason 3
"Unconscious"
Way back at the end of the very first episode of Bates Motel, over two years ago, Norma Bates and her son were dumping the body of her didn’t-exactly-get-away-with-it rapist into the waters of White Pine Bay. Norma was feeling insecure and self-pitying, and Norman tried to cheer her up by explaining just how important she was. “I don’t ever want to live in a world without you,” he tells her. “You’re my family… my whole family, my whole… my whole life, my own self. You always have been. It’s like there’s a cord between our hearts.” “Honey,” his mother responds, “that’s… that’s from Jane Eyre.”
As we close out the third season of the show, Bates Motel is taking us back to that very first intimate moment, which not coincidentally also took place while sending a body to the bottom of the bay. It’s repeated tonight, in one of the final lines, as Norman watches the automobile containing the corpse of Bradley Martin sink under the surface. Sidling up next to him, Norma/n grabs his arm. “There’s a cord between our hearts. Remember?” Of course Norman does. He’s the one that lifted it from Charlotte Brontë in the first place. And that cord no longer seems to be between Norman and his mother. It’s between Norman and the mother who lives in his head. It’s a cord that’s smothering his relation to the outside world.
The end of the season gave us our first encounter with Norman’s murderous alter-ego taking possession while we watch. It’s the same thing that happened at the end of season one, true, but this is something more significant. It’s a new Norman, the one the show has steadily developed all season. It came in this season’s first episode, “A Death In The Family,” where the show offered a taste of Norman Bates, peeping tom. It came in the middle of the season, when Norman donned his mother’s dress and sashayed around the kitchen. And now, in the final minutes of “Unconscious,” Norman’s mother persona finally completes the task she first tried to carry out on Caleb back in season two—only this time, Norma/n succeeds. Bradley’s head is pounded into a rock. And Norma/n has exerted definitive control over her son’s actions.
Frankly, Norman’s response made sense: He seemed almost relieved at having decisions taken out of his hands. He didn’t have to hurt anyone. He didn’t have to abandon his mother. Things were decided for him, and given the fraught emotional baggage that’s been flying around recently, it’s not wonder his shell-shocked, uncertain hug with Norma/n contained the element of surrender. He may not like Norma/n’s actions—he may even try to stop her, from time to time—but he’s given up any hope of ever leaving her. They’re bound together, because Norman has seen the consequences of trying to slip loose those bonds.
In that sense of concern for others’ well-being, Norman is very much like the rest of his family. Dylan essentially gets his own little one-act play in the first half of this episode, where, after leaving a chastising voicemail for Caleb, the elder son finally has the moment with Emma Decody he’s been longing for. After freaking out at the potentially life-saving lung transplant news, everybody’s favorite dying teen (especially in comparison to the other teen who died tonight) turns to her new crush, Dylan. After flattering her with some dreadfully corny lines, the music (also a bit too cheesy) swells, and the two have their first makeout session. Olivia Cooke and Max Thieriot play this well, with a naturalistic feel that shines in their awkward giggling after the kiss. There’s (temporary) life in this relationship.
Alex Romero also gets his own little arc, one that closes the book on the show’s best season-long storyline: Bob Paris. That brief visit to see Norma crystallized something for the sheriff, namely, that he can’t lose the one thing he wants, even if it comes at the cost of doing what’s right. For a long time, he kept the peace in White Pine Bay by making sure all bad business ran smoothly. But then Norma Bates threw a wrench into all of that. Suddenly, Romero found himself trying to be the man he always wanted. Hunting down dealers, raiding pot farms, making enemies of the most powerful families in town—this was the work of someone who had found a new reason to live. But, like all compromises, it reminds him of the one thing he can’t admit: that his own desire is driving him to do evil. He kills Paris, not because it’s right, but because it’s what may yet get him what he wants, which is a chance with Norma Bates. Even if it turns him into his father, who caused him so much grief. The moment Bob Paris reminded him of that painful fact was the moment Paris died.
As is usually the case, however, the heart and soul of the episode belongs to Norma. Vera Farmiga has had to shift the character into relatable mode more and more this year, and watching her shade the camp theatrics of Planet Farmiga into the grounded, all too human frailty at the base of Norma’s being has been one of the most rewarding elements of the season. The scene at Pineview was an exemplary demonstration of this. As the facilities woman explained the nature of the commitments, then found herself stymied by Norma’s insistence on getting a price quote (“Ballpark. No range?”), seeing the transformation in Norma Bates’ face as she realized there was no hope, was mesmerizing. The shift from hilarious Norma to heartbreaking Norma lasted all of ten seconds, but it was an emotional crane kick to the sympathy nerves.
Plus, it allowed for one of those great reversals this show pulls off in the better episodes: that string of sadness and heart-tugging that Norma plucked early on paid off huge in the final act. When Norma picks up the door stop and clocks Norman in the back of the head, it’s a stunner, both for him and the audience. Dragging her own son into the basement and tying him up, we see both her fear at how far gone her child is, and her determination to protect him from everything, including himself.
All season long, whether it was stopping a driving test mid-exam or finding ever more reasons not to let him leave home, Norma has frantically fought her own impending sense of acknowledgment that Norman needed help. It took her own brother, which the long-time-coming rapprochement made into a tolerable character, to confront her with the fact that she doesn’t like facing facts. And so she tries to tell her son that he needs help, only to find herself tying him up in the basement. Many of you have been happy to point out that this is a bed of Norma’s making, and she has to lie in it. That doesn’t mean she should suffer. Norma’s weaknesses are many, but as this season has shown time and again, she also has a very big heart—one that, when touched, allows her to do her best by her family and the people she cares about.
Which doesn’t include Bradley Martin. The girl that Norma thought was dead really gets good and dead in “Unconscious,” a narrative ploy that almost every single commenter saw coming a mile away. She was brought back as cannon fodder, as someone Norman could kill and get away scot-free, because no one is looking for a girl who’s already dead. Many of you mentioned that this was a cheap move, and you’re not wrong. Even though the show and the actors handled the story well, it still failed to pack as much of a punch as it should have, or as previous deaths have. The Bradley problem is over, for now, but it remains to be seen whether the show has seen the last of it. The fact that it thought playing coy about whether Bradley was “really there,” even as it made all but impossible any plausible way she couldn’t be, suggests that Bates Motel was striving for some unearned mystery points. Setting up the Arcanum Club and its sinister forces was an earned mystery. Pulling Nicola Peltz away from Transformers 5 or whatever just so Norman had someone to kill was not.
But Norman Bates is where we end, and his journey proceeds ever more inexorably toward its foregone conclusion. We don’t know how he’ll get there, but this season marked a turning point, away from the good-hearted Norman who always tried to do right, and toward the Norman who is just trying to please Mother. The vengeful matriarch has staked her claim on her son, and Norman can’t fight it any more. Going forward, Norman Bates will be striving to placate the woman he loves, not realizing the inevitable conflict that will arise between Norma/n and his flesh-and-blood mother. There’s a cord between his heart and one of them, and now, we know which one. It’s the one who seems to stand by him, no matter what. The one who would never dream of letting him go. That’s a quality that Norman values—someone who will always be there for him, the way he has tried to be for her. She’s his everything. Because, as we know, a boy’s best friend is his mother.
“You’ve given up on me.” Freddie Highmore’s scenes with Vera Farmiga have only gotten better as the season has progressed. At this point, I’d tune in just to watch them read takeout menus to one another.
Norma Bates Has No Poker Face: Saying goodbye to Sheriff Romero, an affectionate smile playing at her lips. “Thanks for stopping by.”
That scene with Farmiga and Carbonell was a knockout. Both of them smiling wryly at the belief that we’re all doomed in the end? That was the epitome of 21st century Greek tragedy.
It’s a rare episode where Dylan also gets one of the best lines! Norma: “So he could really be running away with her?!” Dylan: “Yeah, it’s possible, but it’s also true that he sees shit that isn’t really there.”
Now taking bets on where Caleb has gone off to. To take out Chick? To flee the country? It took all season, but I finally got a break from the big lug, just as he was starting to be tolerable.
Thanks for all of your wonderful, insightful comments this season. It’s been a hell of a lot of fun. The show wasn’t always great, but the high points of season three were as good as anything on television this year. I hope we’ll all be back again at this time next year, to start tearing into the darkest journey yet for the Bates family. So one last time, in honor of Highmore and Farmiga, for old time’s sake—say it with me: EMMYS FOR EVERYONE!
Recent from Alex McLevy
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Stranger Things season 3 ruined Hopper
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TV ReviewsSpartacusSeason 1.5
Spartacus: "Past Transgressions"
Ryan McGee
SpartacusSeason 1.5
"Past Transgressions"
Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena premieres tonight at 10:00pm Eastern on STARZ.
For those that didn’t see it, Spartacus: Blood and Sand serves as a punch line, not a television series. For those that only made it through its initial few episodes, Spartacus: Blood and Sand serves as a combination of 300 and bad Cinemax soft-core porn. But for those that survived the show’s initial (and honestly, fairly substantial) growing pains, Spartacus: Blood and Sand serves as a remarkable example of what long-form storytelling can produce. Casual observers might rename characters of the show as Thrusticus for their own amusement, but they would be missing the point of the seemingly gratuitous amounts of violence and sex that exist in this world.
The best word to describe the show is “orgiastic,” a word I first heard uttered by my seventh grade English teacher. As he tried to calmly explain over a sea of nervous titters in the classroom, an “orgy” can be applied to anything done in excess. And the excess of Spartacus stems from excess of the world that it’s showing. Now, that might seem like a pat excuse, but the show features a host of characters that wear their appetites on their sleeves. (When they actually wear sleeves, which isn’t all that often, to be sure.)
But what turned Spartacus from merely a show about people with excessive appetites for violence, sex, and other carnal pleasures into something worth critically celebrating? The appetites that were submerged, however futilely. The desires that were suppressed, however painfully. A Bacchanalian revelry would give way to a small moment between two slaves, and it was in the latter moment that Spartacus gained its power. The orgiastic state still exists, to be sure, with the majority of its characters choosing to walk into rooms genitals first. But the show found ways to push past the overt T&A and find a beating heart at the center of what some could perceive as a simple bloodbath.
Those qualities still exist in the prequel series, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, but they are slightly hampered by that affliction known as prequel-itis. No, we don’t learn that gladiators are chosen by their levels of Midchlorians in the early proceedings of this six-episode bridge between seasons one and two of the show, but there’s something mechanical about the proceedings that belies the robust, go-for-broke, anything-is-possible-and-will-usually-be-much-batshit-crazier-than-you-anticipated energy that stoked the show’s narrative flame over the last half of its initial year. By the time that season built up to its finale, the show was operating at peak power, brimming with limitless possibility.
So why go back at all? Why a prequel? Sadly, the reasons for that are not creative so much as sadly practical. As many reading this know, lead actor Andy Whitfield had to bow out of the show (at first temporarily, then permanently), leaving the creators of the show in a bind. Unable to initially envision a show without its lead actor (a decision they have since overcome, with Whitfield’s own blessing), they devised this prequel series, set five years before the events in Blood and Sand. Is this six-episode series better than nothing at all? Absolutely. Could it eventually prove to be a powerful addition to the Spartacus world? Definitely. Is that a guarantee of greatness? If only.
It’s about now that I should warn newbies to the Spartacus world of something: If you’re using this series as your entry point, I’d advise against it. The introductory moments are a Cliff Notes version of Blood and Sand, a decision I can’t quite understand. There are plenty of shows that use the start of a new season as a chance to insert Expositional Character into the mix in order to bring the viewing audience up to speed. But Gods of the Arena assumes that everyone watching this series has seen season one, so be warned upfront that if you don’t want those 13 episodes condensed into a 90-second splatter-and-sex fest, either go watch Blood and Sand first or just cover your eyes and sing songs extolling Jupiter’s penis for the first few minutes of the first episode.
Once you’re in this prequel world, things turn mathematical, not visceral, for much of the hour. Sure, all the staples of a great episode of Spartacus are there: some great fighting, boobs a’ plenty, and enough Machiavellian scheming to make the current American government look like a couple of kids armed with water balloons. How the show envisions the state of certain characters at this point in time often lines up with the mythology laid out in the initial season, but even when Arena throws a twist at us, the dramatic irony only calls attention to the artifice of the show. A show like Spartacus doesn’t play well with irony; it works best when it draws the viewer in, and devices that call attention to the man behind the curtain only serve to make things seem a little silly.
By the end of Blood and Sand, creator Stephen S. DeKnight and his fellow writers knew exactly what made those characters tick. Through no real fault of their own, they now have to introduce the audience to essentially brand new characters, ones that look slightly younger than similar figures we thought we knew but often barely recognize. There can be a lot of fun in going back in time and seeing things through a past that complicates the present. But the flipside of that coin is a variation on the old Alias standby, the “XX Hours Earlier” trick that show used to feature a slam-bang intro only to rewind and then build up to over the ensuing hour.
Gods of the Arena, through the visual device it uses to drop back in time, feels somewhat like that type of trick. (Though, in keeping with the graphic themes of the show, perhaps it’s really a “XXX Hours Earlier” trick.) That’s not to say that’s what this six-episode series will be. I can only go by wht the initial episode has to offer, which is a lot of “Wow, look at how different THIS character is!” It’s world-building for a world that’s already been built, embodied by the gladiatorial arena that sits half-finished in the background of this first hour. We know how the final product will look, both in terms of edifice and character, so the pleasures that exist in Arena have to come in the form of character decisions that feel surprising yet organic in order to land them in the pre-ordained place five years hence. That’s what I mean when I call these events mathematical.
Again, short of making season two all about an unseen Spartacus giving orders to his compatriots in the wake of the events of “Kill Them All,” I’m not sure how the producers of Spartacus could have gone any other way without shutting things down entirely. New characters such as Gannicus (then champion of Batiatus’ ludus) and Gaia (a Katy Perry-esque take on Ilithyia) keep events from entirely feeling like “My Capuan Generation,” but these new characters simply serve to emphasize what is missing, not gained, by their inclusion. (Though, to be fair, “tons of Lucy Lawless lesbian sex” is technically an addition, one that will be applauded by many.)
Gannicus initially acts like a complete prick, truth be told, a pampered rock star blessed with talent but little work ethic. However, by hour’s end, there is slightly more depth there than was initially feared. As for Gaia, she serves not only to titillate seemingly everyone with a pulse but also gives insight into the state of the House of Batiatus. Once again, Batiatus finds himself longing for a station higher than his own but faces new challenges not only political, but paternal as well. Yep, looks like our boy Batiatus has himself some daddy issues. If Spartacus needs another prequel, maybe they can set it on The Island from Lost.
All of this may sound overly harsh, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the origin of this prequel series. There are definitely pleasures to be had, and more than a few of you will undoubtedly enjoy seeing the status of certain seminal characters five years before the events in Blood and Sand. (The one character that actually improves through this device I must keep secret, since even revealing that character spoils a surprise about him/her.) And just as the initial series grew by leaps and bounds as it progressed, so too may Gods of the Arena eventually stand shoulder to bloody shoulder with its predecessor. With so many things working against it, it’s a miracle that any of this works at all. So while the prequel starts under less-than-ideal circumstances, there’s hope that even though we know the final destination, the journey there will provide at least some truly unexpected pleasures.
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Drink like a New Yorker
Dr. Elinor GarelyApril 20, 2019 6:26 pm
If you live in New York, work in New York or are doing business in New York – there is only one appropriate drink to order…New York State wines.
New York State of Wine
The New York grape, grape juice and wine industries generate more than $4.8 billion in economic benefits annually for New York State. There are 1,631 family vineyards, over 400 wineries, producing 175,000,000 bottles of wine, generating $408 million in state and local taxes (www.newyorkwines.org). New York’s wineries also contribute to New York State’s exports and in 2012, 19.8% of the wine produced in the state was exported.
Wineries and satellite operations attracted more than 5.9 million tourist visits in 2012, spending $401+ million. The tourism industry (including wineries, hotels, restaurants, retailing, transportation) contributes over 6400 jobs to the state, for a total of $213+ million in wages. The tourist is particularly important to the farm wineries, with sales direct to consumers representing approximately 60 percent of total wine sales volume.
The winery industry directly employs approximately 62,450 people and generates an additional 14,359 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries which supply goods and services to the industry and whose sales depend on the wine industry’s economic vitality.
In excess of 101,806 jobs can be linked to the wine industry and these positions average $51,100 in annual wages and benefits. The total wages generated by direct, indirect and induced economic activity driven by the wine industry – $5.2 billon.
New York State Wines and Wineries (Curated)
At a recent Rockefeller Center/ Rainbow Room wine event sponsored by the Wine & Grape Foundation, Sam Filler, the Executive Director of the organization stated, “New York is home to the first bonded winery in the United States, making our state one of the oldest wine regions in the country.” The objective of the NY Drinks NY Grand Tasting, “…is to showcase the diversity, artistry and accessibility of New York’s wine and food landscape.”
The 8th Annual NY Drinks NY Grand Tasting offered access to over 200 wines from approximately 50 wineries across the state.
Keuka Lake Vineyard. 2017. Turkey Run. Vignoles (Finger Lakes)
Located on the slopes above the southern end of Keuka Lake this winery showcases young vinifera and old hybrid plantings that range from 3-years (representing Cabernet Franc and Vignoles), to vines over 50-years of age (representing Leon Millot and Delaware vines).
Thanks to the Finger Lakes, the vineyard produces excellent fruit. The heat of the summer is retained by the lakes and moderates the extreme cold temperatures of the vineyards in winter. As spring approaches, the frigid waters moderate the warming air temperatures and act as a delay for bud break and lower the risk of frost damage.
The terroir is a glacial mix of glacially laid rocks, sand, silt and clay that has been deposited on the lower slopes above Keuka Lake providing for water drainage that is essential for vine balance and health.
Staci Nugent
The owner is Mel Goldman and the winemaker is Staci Nugent. Nugent attended Cornell and did graduate work in California in genetics. Making a career switch, she enrolled in the wine program at the University of California at Davis, receiving a Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology. Nugent has worked with highly regarded wineries that include Ornellaia, Italy; Hardy’s Tintara Winery, South Australia; and William Selyem, Sonoma, California. Before joining Keuka Lake Vineyards (2008), she was a winemaker at Lamoreux Landing Wine Cellars.
Sustainable farming practices brings the Vignoles to our attention. The grape is made by crossing Seible and Pinot de Corton, is associated with the Finger Lakes and grows well in the gravel soils (glacial till).
Notes: Keuka Lake Vineyards. 2017 Turkey Run Vignoles
Light bright blonde to the eye, the nose is rewarded with lemons, honey, green grapes and sweet oranges, (lemons and oranges) while the palate enjoys citrus and other fruits with the sweetness tempered by a light acidity. Pair with seafood curry, Buffalo chicken wings, pepper and Swiss cheese.
Red Newt Cellars. 2006. Legacy. Niagara Cream Sherry (Hector, New York)
Located on the east side of Seneca Lake (Hector, NY) in the Finger Lakes region, the winery started in 1998 by David and Debra Whiting and the 1998 vintage produced 1200 cases of Chardonnay, Riesling, Vida, Cayuga, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The first white wines were released in July 1999.
Whiting is considered to be one of the top winemakers in the Finger Lakes Region. Current production of Red Newt Cellars is apprximately 20,000 cases with a white wine focus on aromatic varities: Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. CIRCLE Rielsing is the most popular and widely distributed wine, made in a classic Finger Lakes style, with hints on tangerine and honeysuckle, citrus and peach on the palate.
Kelby Russell
Kelby Russell is the head winemaker at Red Newt and considered an expert in the art of cold-climate white wines. Thanks to the variable climate of the East Coast, he recognizes that the search for the “perfect wine” is a “false idol, “ finding that the role of the winemaker is to, “…artfully direct what comes into the winery into the best thing and the most honest expression of the year that you possible can.”
At Harvard (Class of 2009) Russell majored in government and minored in economics, was a member of the Glee Club and thought his career would follow a path that would lead to orchestra management. During a study abroad experience in Tuscany he discovered the art and science of making wine.
After graduation, when a job with Jazz at Lincoln Center did not materialize, he visited Fox Run Vineyards and thought he had an interview. The staff was busy with the harvest so he was handed a shovel and offered the opportunity to help on the “crush pad.” This was the begnning of his unpaid internships and he got to spend winters in New Zealand and Australia and autumns in the Finger Lakes as an intern.
His first salaried position in 2012 was with Red Newt as an assistant winemaker. David Whiting, the co-founder and winemaker, promoted Russell to head winemaker and the rest is history. He currently directs the Red Newt house styles and reserves and develops his own Kelby James Russell label with a focus on small-batch wines, from dry rose to Australian-style dry Riesling.
Notes: Red Newt Cellars. 2006 Legacy. Niagara Cream Sherry (Niagara grapes)
The Niagara grape develops into a long-aged solera sherry, creating a complex palate experience.
Bright golden yellow to the eye (think daffodils) with the nose picking up hints of honey, raisins, oranges, apricots, yellow apples, and spices. The finish to absolutely delicious, delivering honey, lemons and spices. Perfect as a dessert course or pair with Blue cheese and pate.
Damiani Wine Cellars (DWC)
DWC was started by Lou Damiani, a Cornell engineer specializing in energy conservation, and Phil Davis. Damiani had an interest in winemaking and his education started in the field of food science before switching to engineering. In the 1990s he returned to study winemaking and mentored under Phil Hazlitt.
In 1996 Damiani wanted to plant Cabernet Franc and Merlot and visited an old friend and college friend, Phil Davis, who was also a viticulturist. They started the project and in 1997 Hazlitt pulled out a hybrid vineyard and planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot. When their vineyards started producing in 2003 the next step was to make world class red wines.
Damiani was the head winemaker from 2003 – 2011 and he trained Phil Arras to continue and improve the DWC tradition. In 2007 Glenn Allen joined as a Business Consultant and later became a partner in the enterprise. Today DWC has four main vineyard sites with approximately 40 acres of land under vine and a new tasting room that hosts events and is the retail outlet.
Phil Arras, originally from Philadelphia, moved to the Finger Lakes in 2003 to attend Cornell University and majored in philosophy and political science. Inspired by a class on wine appreciation, Arrras changed his career focus to winemaking. He was hired by Damiani Wine Cellars in 2009 as the assistant winemaker and began “on the job” training. In 2012, Arras became head winemaker.
Notes: Damiani Wine Cellars. NV Marechal Foch “Vino Rosso” Finger Lakes. (Varietal may be a cross between Goldriesling and a Vitis riparia/Vitis rupestris or a cross between Gamay Noir and Vitis riparia – Oberlin 595).
Deep ruby color to the eye, an undertone of tomatoes runs alongside notes of plums and apricots and the tannins are so soft as to be obscure. Pairings might include pasta, barbeque and smoked gouda cheese.
Thirsty Owl Wine Company. 2017. Traminette
Ted Cupp purchased 150 acres of frontage on Cayuga Lake from Robert and Mary Plan, trailblazers who started the Cayuga Wine Trail in 2001. During 2001 and 2002 he began construction on the winemaking facility and tasting room for the Thirsty Owl. In 2002, in cooperation with Shawn Kime, he planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Malbec. When the doors to the winery opened in 2002, Thirsty Owl had produced 1200 cases.
Jon Cupp, President
Today, the Thirsty Owl is synonymous with award winning wines, including the Governor’s Cup and the John Rose award for Rieslings. The Pinot Noir had the highest rated North American Pinot at the Taster’s Guild International Competition. Thirsty Owl produces Malbec and Syrah as well as blends, reds, whites and ice wine.
Shawn Kime
The winemaker and vineyard master, Shawn Kime, is originally from Romulus, New York and attended Morrisville College and Cornell University. Kime started to work in agriculture at the age of 14 and started winemaking after spending 2 years working with one of the earliest Finger Lake Vinifera growers.
The goal of the Thirsty Owl is to “…make changes in the vineyard and winemaking based on the year to produce wines that not only reflect our region but the growing season…. As a Finger Lakes native, I am proud of the fact that we are producing cool climate varietals that are on par with any region in the world.”
Notes: Thirsty Owl Wine Company. 2017 Traminette (cross between Gewurztraminer and Joannes Seyve 23.416).
To the eye, highlights of golden yellow. The nose finds apricots, peaches, pears, honey and fresh lemons as well as florals (especially roses and tulips) and a bit of spice. The palate is entertained with citrus and lemons, oranges and a bit of earth. The finish brings light acidity making it an interesting dessert wine.
Pair with spicy/sweet and sour sauces on chicken, pork and veal and Cheddar, Fontina and Gruyere cheese.
Benmarl Winery. 2015 Baco Noir. Hudson River Valley
Benmarl (slate hill) Winery is located in Marlboro, NY and covers 37-acres and is considered to be the oldest vineyard in America (it holds New York Farm Winery license no.1). It was owned by magazine illustrator turned vintner Mark Miller from 1957 -2003. In 2006 Victor Spaccarelli purchased the vineyard and Matthew Spaccarelli is currently the winemaker
In the 17th century, wine was being made by the French Huguenots in New Paltz, New York. Andrew Jackson Caywood started his vineyard in the early 1800s. The community was incorporated as the Village of Marlborough, a cluster of grapes carved in its seal commemorated its major crop (1788).
Caywood became an important viticulturist and leading authority in the development of new grape varieties. The Miller family bought the Caywood property in 1957 and renamed it Benmarl. It was purchased in 2006 by the Spaccarelli family. They replanted many abandoned vineyards, refurbished the estate and carry on the tradition of experimentation, planting new hybrid varieties like Traminette as well as Old World vinifera.
Notes: Benmarl Winery. 2015 Baco Noir. Hudson River Valley
The Baco Noir, made from estate-grown fruit, brings dark plum hues to the eye, and delivers the aromas of dark plums, cedar and sage to the nose. On the palate are flavors of blackberry with hints of spice. Tannins give it a structure that is delicious and the finish delivers spice and black berry fruits. Benmarl has been producing Baco Noir for 50 years. Pair with pork roast, pasta with meat sauce, beef burgers with blue cheese.
The NY Drinks NY Event
The elegant Rainbow Room @ Rockefeller Center was the venue for the New York Drinks New York event. As an important wine trade events, many hundreds of wine buyers, sellers, sommeliers, wine educators, and writers convened to experience a wine-range of quality wines produced in New York State.
Wines of Distinction included:
Brotherhood Winery
Brotherhood Winery is the oldest continuously operating winery in America, producing wine for 180 years in Hudson Valley. It features one of the most modern bottling facilties for wine on the East coast, with a capacity of 1.5 million cases er year. A wine current featured focuses on low calories (approximately 90 calories per glass).
Glenora Wine Cellars
Glenora Wine Cellars produces award-winning Finger Lakes wines for over 40 years with a focus on sparkling wine and Riesling, sourcing grapes from 13 growers across four of the Finger Lakes. Glenora opened the first winery on Seneca Lake (1977).
Saltbird Cellars
Robin McCarthy is the owner and winemaker at Saltbird Cellars that started in 2014 and, based on the unique maritime terroir, developed Stainless Steel Sauvignon Blanc, Migratus Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc and Stainless-Steel Chardonnay.
Hosmer Winery
Hosmer Winery is located on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes. Grapevine plantings date back to the 1970s and early experiments with plantings of classic Vinifera started in 1985. The 70-acre estate includes Rieslings, Chardonnays, Cabernet Francs as well as French-American hybrid varieties.
For additional information: @NYWineGrapeFdn and NYWineGrapeFdn
© Dr. Elinor Garely. This copyright article, including photos, may not be reproduced without written permission from the author.
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Home Asia Foreign volunteers help out at Hangzhou scenic spot
Foreign volunteers help out at Hangzhou scenic spot
Foreign students work as public aid volunteers at Lingyin Temple, a major tourist attraction in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Saturday. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]
More than 2.5 million tourists visited West Lake in Zhejiang province over the May Day holiday.
What caught the attention of many of them was the presence of a team of eight international students, all wearing yellow vests and Bluetooth headsets, and riding electric scooters.
The eight were studying in Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s provincial capital. They are the first international volunteer team serving at the famous spot, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
The foreign volunteers are from India, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Yemen.
“As Hangzhou is seeing an increasing number of individual travelers from abroad following the 2016 G20 Summit … we have been considering how to diversify our volunteer forces during holidays and peak seasons for years,” said Liu Jian, director of the volunteer program.
The site has thousands of Chinese volunteers and hundreds of security guards daily during peak seasons. In October, when it had a record number of travelers, the administrators decided to seek help from local universities for international volunteers, Liu said.
The lake, spanning a total of 60 square kilometers in the heart of Hangzhou, is near to one of China’s oldest Buddhist temples and is surrounded by lush green hills.
During the recent holiday, it was one of the most popular tourist spots among millions of domestic travelers, along with the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
“It’s not only about giving tourists directions to the toilet or preventing people from smoking,” said Bela Nitesh Parmar from India, one of the students selected from among more than 50 candidates for the volunteer program.
“The more I help others, the more confidence and positive energy I earn for myself,” said the sophomore at Zhejiang University of Technology.
The 20-year-old said she first learned about the history of the place to become a better volunteer.
The volunteer team－led by Wu Liangliang, a security guard who has gained online fame for his fluent self-taught English－has also been part of the site’s efforts to provide a more personal management style, in addition to the city government’s introduction of various measures, including a mobile app, to help tourists.
Larry Goodrich, from Seattle, who has been traveling with his wife in the Yangtze River Delta for three weeks, lauded the volunteers’ contributions.
Having worked in the computer industry since “the era of brick-sized cellphones”, the 65-year-old said that while technology has provided unimaginable convenience, traveling is about being a part of the destination and interacting with local residents.
“The human connection is always better,” said Goodrich.
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Jan 12, 2018 | 09:00 GMT
In the EU, East and West Are Falling Out of Tune
Increasing nationalism and persistent graft in several Central and Eastern European countries could deepen the divide between western and eastern members of the European Union.
For countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the benefits of EU membership still outweigh the costs, but that may change.
A looming debate on the next EU budget will deliver a stern test to intra-bloc relations.
In its mission to bring peace and prosperity to a landmass wracked by war, the European Union has always been a marriage of convenience. Between 2004 and 2007, the union incorporated several countries from Central and Eastern Europe into its expanding bloc. EU governments and institutions viewed enlargement as a path toward fostering the emergence of prosperous, democratic and stable nations on its eastern border after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In turn, the new member states regarded EU membership as a gateway to funds, investment, modernization and protection. In exchange for Brussels' financial largesse, new members introduced deep economic, political and institutional reforms to comply with EU standards. Now, however, the increasing unwillingness of eastern members to heed the EU's demands threatens to deepen the divide between the bloc's west and east.
Stopping the Rot
EU accession has aided countries from Estonia to Bulgaria in transitioning from command economies and authoritarian regimes to open markets and relatively transparent democracies within a few years (some countries, naturally, have made more progress than others). The optimism of enlargement, however, was quickly replaced by the pessimism of the financial crisis, which highlighted the shortcomings of the European project, created discord among member states and reduced the appeal of the union in the eyes of many voters across the Continent. As a consequence, nationalism has reared its head once more in Europe, as anti-globalization parties gained ground with demands for greater national control over policies that ran the gamut from public spending to immigration.
Nationalist parties in countries like France and the Netherlands might have stolen the headlines by running more centrist parties close in elections last year, but their ideological cousins actually succeeded in winning power in Hungary and Poland. Central European nationalists primarily appeal to citizens who have failed to benefit from globalization, including rural inhabitants and others who have suffered from deindustrialization. The parties also appeal to traditional values and national identities in a region that has historically been subject to foreign invasion. In some cases, they have taken advantage of a political culture that retains the vestiges of the not-too-distant authoritarian past.
In recent weeks, EU institutions have expressed concern about political developments in the region. On Dec. 7, the European Commission brought Hungary before the European Court of Justice over a law that allegedly restricts foreign donations to civil society organizations. On Dec. 20, the commission also launched a procedure that could lead to sanctions against Poland because of recent reforms in the country's judiciary that could weaken rule of law, according to critics. Just two days later, the governments of Germany, France and five other EU member states sent a letter to the Romanian government expressing concern about planned reforms that could weaken the country's fight against corruption and increase political control over the judiciary.
The developments raise critical issues regarding the future of nations in the former communist bloc. First, it remains unclear whether countries on the union's eastern flank will continue to align their policies with those of their neighbors further west. Second, Western European countries could rapidly grow tired of attempting to integrate their eastern peers into EU structures.
Nationalism and Graft Make their Mark
Brussels is currently dealing with not one but two enfants terribles: Warsaw and Budapest. Poland and Hungary's respective ruling parties, Law and Justice and Fidesz, are skeptical of policies that strengthen the supranational components of the union and weaken the national sovereignty of its member states. To them, initiatives such as the commission's recent proposal to distribute asylum seekers across the Continent confirm that Brussels' policies are eroding national identity and threatening countries' security. Poland and Hungary often find support for their resistance against Brussels' policies from neighboring countries such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, although the recent incorporation of the right-wing Freedom Party into the Austrian government suggests that Vienna may join the Central European nationalist camp on some issues.
In Southeast Europe, the union's worries center not so much on nationalism, but on weak political institutions and pervasive corruption. According to Transparency International, Romania and Bulgaria are among the most corrupt countries in the European Union. Bucharest and Sofia have made significant improvements in the fight against corruption since joining the bloc in 2007, but Brussels is worried that their efforts could be losing momentum. In a report released in November 2017, the commission admonished Romania for retreating from its fight against graft, while also urging Bucharest to continue implementing transparency reforms. The commission was less critical of Bulgaria, but still warned that many of its recommendations to make the country more transparent remain unfulfilled. Additionally, the commission registered concerns about proposed reforms that could undermine the independence of Bulgarian judges.
In a separate report, the commission expressed alarm that the monetary policies of Romania's center-left government were endangering the country's fiscal stability. Since winning elections in late 2016, the administration has cut taxes and increased public spending, although such policies could seriously exacerbate the budget deficit, the International Monetary Fund warned last year.
The combination of corruption and expansive fiscal policies could create problems for Romania in the future. Widespread corruption typically hinders economic growth and generates popular dissatisfaction with the political system. At the same time, reversing profligate spending policies often results in a high political price for any party attempting to implement reforms. If the union pressures Bucharest to change direction and introduce austerity measures, it could foment social unrest. Popular dissatisfaction with traditional political parties, combined with unpopular austerity measures, could open allow anti-system political forces to gain ground in Romania.
The West's Siren Call
Despite the criticism some eastern members of the bloc have directed toward Brussels, the core geopolitical reasons that persuaded Central and Eastern European countries to apply for membership have not disappeared. Regional governments still see the union as an important source of money, and all of them are net recipients of bloc funds. In absolute terms, Poland and Romania are some of the biggest beneficiaries of EU money, although Estonia and Slovakia obtain the most per capita. The importance of EU funds is evident: for the 2014-2020 period, the EU has allocated $92 billion in funds to Poland, an economy of roughly $471 billion, and $27 billion to Romania, an economy of around $188 billion.
The European Union has also retained its popularity in the region. According to the most recent Eurobarometer survey, 86 percent of Poles, 85 percent of Romanians and 84 percent of Hungarians hold a positive or neutral view of the bloc. The figure in all three countries is more than 10 points higher than the total in founding members such as France and Italy, in which the rating is 73 percent for both countries.
Eastern members also view the union as the best source of protection against aggression from the large neighbor on their doorstep, Russia. NATO membership might be more critical for defense than EU membership, but the union still offers political, economic and institutional protection for Central and Eastern European countries against Moscow. Countries like Poland and Romania are some of the strongest advocates of maintaining the economic sanctions that Western countries imposed on Russia because of its annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, such nations have also defended EU policies that seek to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas. Moreover, they support projects such as the Eastern Partnership Initiative, an EU undertaking to increase political and economic cooperation with former Soviet states such as Ukraine and Moldova.
Because of their shared security priorities, area countries will remain interested in cooperating with the union and each other on issues such as defense and energy diversification, but integration with Western European nations on other political or economic issues could prove elusive. While they are unlikely to leave the union, these countries might be unwilling or unable to deepen their ties with it. There is little chance that countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic will join the eurozone anytime soon because of nationalist tendencies, while there is equally little chance that countries such as Romania and Bulgaria will join the passport-free Schengen area due to the persistence of weak institutions.
Brussels Mulls a Carrot-and-Stick Approach
The most urgent challenge facing the union's Central and Eastern European members in the coming months will be to protect their share of EU funds. Discussions for the next multiyear EU budget, which will enter force in 2021, start this year. The negotiations will be heated, as the budget will be the first without British contributions. Eastern members will be fighting on two fronts: On one hand, they are expected to push the union's wealthiest nations to increase their national contributions to the common budget to compensate for the United Kingdom's departure. On the other, they are likely to fight tooth and nail to increase – or at least maintain – their existing share of development and agricultural funds. Such a strategy could even produce some friction among newer members intent on grabbing a greater share of EU funds.
The budget debate also will be important because EU institutions have said any future disbursements of money should be linked to members' respect for EU norms and principles. Accordingly, Brussels could adopt a carrot-and-stick approach to pressure rebel countries to fall into line. Brussels' bluster has yet to be translated into action, but if movers and shakers like Germany or France – the latter is already mulling whether the next phase of EU integration should be restricted to a select group of countries – offers backing, it could create headaches for the union's eastern members.
Such threats are not without risk for the European Union either. By severing funding for misbehaving members, Brussels could radicalize nationalists in the region and further unmoor them from the ties that bind them to the union. During a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Jan. 3, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the two countries were interested in plans to finance regional infrastructure projects – a possible sign that Warsaw and Budapest wish to reduce their dependence on EU money.
The benefits of EU membership still outweigh the costs for all Central and Eastern European countries, but there are no guarantees the situation is set in stone. If the union opts to cut funding for members in poor standing, Brussels makes demands that eastern countries view as incompatible with their aspirations or regional countries find new sponsors to replace the bloc, the dream of greater European integration is unlikely to ever become a reality.
European Disintegration
EU: Regional Blocs
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HomePosts tagged 'Wilfrid Laurier'
Why is Cannabis Illegal?
20 November 2017 19 December 2017 Laurel L. Russwurm Green Party Policy, social justice, Waterloo Region Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs, Allan Levine, anti-immigrant racism, Asiatic Exclusion League, British Empire, Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, Cannabis indica, Cannabis Sativa, CBC radio, Chinatown, City of Toronto Archives, Famous Five, Geoff Turner, Gerald Le Dain, Hansard, hemp, Henri Sévérin Béland, Internet Archive, Janie Canuck, Jay Waldo Monteith, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, John Lennon, Judge Emily Murphy, Kari Puchala, Kyrnos, Le Dain Commission Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, LeDain Commission, Linked Parliamentary Data Project, lipad, Little Tokyo, Louis Hébert, Macleans Magazine, Marie-Andree Bertrand, Michel Trudeau, Minister of National Health and Welfare, Minister of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment, Minister presiding over the Department of Health, Narcotic Drugs Act Amendment Bill, Natrij, Opium Act of 1908, opium trade, Otto Wilhelm Thomé, Pinterest, Pixabay, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, prohibition, property damage, Proprietary or Patent Medicine Act, racist dogwhistle, Royal Commission of Inquiry Into The Non-Medical Use of Drugs, The Black Candle, The Narcotics Control Act of 1961, The Need for the Suppression of Opium Traffic in Canada, There is a new drug in the schedule, UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, University of Toronto, Vancouver, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Public Library Special Collections, Vice, Wikiwand, Wilfrid Laurier, William Lyon MacKenzie King, Winnipeg Free Press
Cannabis sativa by Otto Wilhelm Thomé
French pioneer apothecary Louis Hébert was the first European farmer in Canada. Cannabis Sativa, a plant known as “hemp,” was one of his crops.
The sails of sailing ships, canvas, rope, and linen were all manufactured from the rugged fibres of the hemp plant. As was the earliest known paper. Hemp dominated the paper trade until it was replaced by wood fibre in the 1800s.
Hemp stem showing fibers
When the Indian strain of Cannabis that had been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years became a popular ingredient in 19th Century Western medicine, French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck “came up with the name Cannabis indica to distinguish Indian cannabis from European hemp.”
There were no illegal drugs in Canada prior to the 20th Century. Deputy Minister of Labour William Lyon MacKenzie King changed all that in 1908.
“On Sept. 7, 1907, the Asiatic Exclusion League of Vancouver went on a rampage though the city’s Chinatown and Little Tokyo. No one was killed, but there was considerable property damage.
“The Liberal government of Wilfrid Laurier sent William Lyon Mackenzie King, the country’s first deputy minister of labour, to investigate.”Among the many individuals who submitted claims for restitution were several Chinese opium dealers, which prompted King to study the opium trade in Vancouver.
“There were no laws then governing the use of opium or other drugs; and, in fact, during the 19th century, laudanum, a mixture of liquid opium and alcohol and highly addictive, was popular as a pain remedy.
“King was stunned by what he learned about the corrupting influence of opium, connected as it was with widespread notions that Chinese men used opium to exploit and sexually assault white women.”
— Winnipeg Free Press: Canada’s 100 year war on drugs
Boarded-up buildings in Chinatown after 1907 race riots, Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC
Rather than formulating policy to address Vancouver’s anti-immigrant racism, the Government based its first drug law, the Opium Act of 1908, on the Report by W. L. Mackenzie King, C.M.G., Deputy Minister of Labour, on “The Need for the Suppression of Opium Traffic in Canada.”
A year later the Canadian Government instituted the first legislation to regulate the use of medicine to protect the public in The Proprietary or Patent Medicine Act (1909). As an ingredient used in many such medicines, cannabis was regulated by this act.
The illicit opium smuggling that sprang up in answer to the Opium Act warranted a Royal Commission. Its recommendations to:
make sale, possession & smoking illegal drugs separate offenses, and
increase the power of police search and seizure
were incorporated in the “Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs” in 1911.
The institutional racism of the day was reflected by the segregation within the title of the act, meant to differentiate between illegal drugs used by Chinese (opium) and white users (cocaine and morphine).
The British influence
“While the Chinese were being blamed for bringing opium to Canada’s doorstep, it was the mighty British colonial empire that was harvesting, refining and selling the drug on a massive scale.
“The British controlled vast poppy fields in South Asia — and soon discovered that making opium in India and shipping it to China made for very profitable business.
“As the drug began to flood into China, wreaking havoc on the economy and society, Chinese authorities attempted to shut it down by boarding British ships and destroying opium shipments.
“The British army responded by arresting those responsible and seizing harbours, ports, and cities along China’s coast and up the Pearl River.”
— Drugs: What’s race got to do with it?
When William Lyon Mackenzie King became Prime Minister, the scope of his legal war on drugs continued to expand with the Narcotic Drugs Act Amendment Bill in 1923. Part of the reason for this law was to combine the growing body of law dealing with illegal drugs into one.
At the end of the third reading debate in April, Canada’s Health Minister, Henri Sévérin Béland announced, “There is a new drug in the schedule.”
There was no discussion, just that one sentence spoken in Parliament added Cannabis to the Schedule of Controlled Substances without even naming it aloud in Parliament. (It was passed by the Senate without a word as well.)
There had been no mention of cannabis in the draft legislation (although it had been appended to one of the copies) but more importantly, it wasn’t a social issue when they made it illegal. Most Canadians hadn’t even heard of the stuff (under any name).
Those who had, knew of it as “marahuana,” thanks to the sensational writings of Judge Emily Murphy (of Famous Five fame). Her series of articles about illegal drug use for Macleans Magazine published under the pseudonym “Janie Canuck” formed the basis of her book “The Black Candle.” Taken as a whole, the racist dogwhistle Ms Murphy’s book was blowing warned of an international drug conspiracy to bring about the “downfall of the white race.” Several of the photographs depict addicted white women consorting with men of colour to help drive home Ms Murphy’s race war narrative.
“One becomes especially disquieted — almost terrified — in face of these things, for it sometimes seems as if the white race lacks both the physical and moral stamina to protect itself, and that maybe the black and yellow races may yet obtain the ascendancy.”
—The Black Candle, Chapter XL “Black Smoke”
The incendiary book plied the reader with misinformation about of the dangers of “marahuana.” Although hemp was grown in Canada, there was no actual evidence supporting Ms Murphy’s imaginings, although she had no shortage of specious “expert” testimony to present.
Charles A. Jones, the Chief of Police for the city, said in a recent letter that hashish, or Indian hemp, grows wild in Mexico but to raise this shrub in California constitutes a violation of the State Narcotic law. He says, “Persons’ using this narcotic, smoke the dried leaves of the plant, which has the effect of driving them completely insane. The addict loses all sense of moral responsibility. Addicts to this drug, while under its influence, are immune to pain, and could be severely injured Without having any realization of their condition. While in this condition they become raving maniacs and are liable to kill or indulge in any form of violence to other persons, using the most savage methods of cruelty without, as said before, any sense of moral responsibility.
“When coming from under the influence of this narcotic, these victims present the most horrible condition imaginable. They are dispossessed of their natural and normal will power, and their mentality is that of idiots. If this drug is indulged in to any great extent, it ends in the untimely death of its addict.”
— The Black Candle, Chapter XXIII “Marahuana— A New Menace
Ms Murphy’s best seller is thought by some to have influenced the decision to quietly add Cannabis to the schedule a year later.
At the time they made it illegal, Cannabis was such a non-issue that:
“The first seizure of marijuana cigarettes occurred only in 1932, nine years after the law had passed (p. 182); the first four possession offences (it is not clear whether these were charges or convictions) occurred in 1937, 14 years after cannabis was criminalized (p. 599)
— The Origins of Canada’s Cannabis Laws
No one really knows the “why” of it. Racism was clearly a factor in Canada’s war on drugs, but the reality was that Marijuana didn’t become a social issue until long after Cannabis had been made illegal. Although criminalization led to a handful of arrests here and there, marijuana arrests never exceeded 100 annually prior to the 1960s. Some think the real reason Cannabis was added to the schedule was to eliminate the hemp industry, but something else to consider is that its inclusion in the schedule meant it could no longer be used for medicinal purposes in Canada, so pharmaceutical competition may have been the reason.
The maximum penalty for possession of small quantities was six months in prison and a $1,000 fine for a first offence.[26] Convictions for cannabis skyrocketed, from 25 convictions between 1930 and 1946, to 20 cases in 1962, to 2,300 cases in 1968, to 12,000 in 1972.[27] The Narcotics Control Act of 1961 increased maximum penalties to 14 years to life imprisonment.[28]
— Wikipedia: Legal History of Cannabis in Canada
In 1961 Parliament replaced the Opium and Narcotic Drug Act with the Narcotic Control Act to be able to ratify the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (PDF)
Even though Cannabis still hadn’t become a big problem, its continued presence on the Schedule was supported by the Minister of National Health’s (now debunked) argument that it was a gateway drug,
The use of marijuana as a drug of addiction in Canada is fortunately not widespread. It, however, may well provide a stepping stone to addiction to heroin and here again cultivation of marijuana is prohibited except under licence.
— Jay Waldo Monteith (Minister of National Health and Welfare), Hansard
But by the mid-1960’s the recreational drug culture had become a social problem among Canadian youth. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s government tasked Gerald Le Dain to look into it. LeDain’s Royal Commission of Inquiry Into The Non-Medical Use of Drugs invested four years in an exhaustive study of the issue, even going so far as to interview John Lennon in December 1969.
Lennon’s testimony suggested flagrant government misinformation about the effects of marijuana led users to assume legitimate government warnings about the hazards of hard drugs were also unfounded propaganda. And indeed, the Le Dain Commission concluded that there was no scientific evidence warranting the criminalization of cannabis.
When the Le Dain Commission Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs was turned in, Pierre Trudeau chose to ignore its recommendations to decriminalize possession and cultivation for personal use, reduce penalties for trafficking, and decriminalize non-commercial sharing.
“Marie-Andree Bertrand, writing for a minority view, recommended a policy of legal distribution of cannabis, that cannabis be removed from the Narcotic Control Act (since replaced by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) and that the provinces implement controls on possession and cultivation, similar to those governing the use of alcohol.[2]”
— Wikiwand: Le Dain Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs
Michel Trudeau
Some years later, former Prime Minister Trudeau’s youngest son Michel was charged with possession of marijuana, not long before his 1998 death in an avalanche.
Today’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a young man at a Vice Town Hall about his brother’s predicament:
“…he was charged with possession. When he got back home to Montreal my Dad said, ‘Okay, don’t worry about it.’ reached out to his friends in the legal community, got the best possible lawyer, and was very confident that we were going to be able to make those charges go away.
“We were able to do that because we had resources, my Dad had a couple connections, and we were confident that my little brother wasn’t going to be saddled with a criminal record for life.”
— Five Things We Learned Interviewing Justin Trudeau About Weed” ~ Vice
Part I of WRGreens Cannabis Legalization Series
Ahead to Part II: “The Road to Legalization”
Ahead to Part III: “The Politics of Cannabis Legalization”
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) illustration by Otto Wilhelm Thomé public domain image circa 1885 via Wikimedia Commons
Hanfstengel (Hemp stalk fibre) Public Domain image by Natrij
William Lyon Mackenzie King public domain image from City of Toronto Archives
Boarded-up buildings in Chinatown after 1907 race riots, Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC Public Domain image shared by Vancouver Public Library
Henri Sévérin Béland Hansard quotation on the April 23, 1923 NARCOTIC DRUGS ACT AMENDMENT BILL Parliamentary debate, image reproduced from the University of Toronto’s LiPaD (Linked Parliamentary Data Project). Follow the entire discussion or any other historic Canadian Hansard Parliamentary Debate with LiPaD
“The Black Candle” cover (and the whole book) via Internet Archive are in the Public Domain
First Vancouver Police Department patrol wagon Public Domain Image released by Vancouver Public Library Special Collections on Pinterest
Michel Trudeau photo by Kari Puchala (CP FILE PHOTO) used under the Fair Dealing exemption
Canadian Canabis graphic created from Cannabis Chemistry art by Kyrnos with a CC0 dedication to the Public Domain on Pixabay
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Difference Between MLA and APA
First it is necessary to understand why there are different formatting styles. There are multiple reasons, each of which has proved its value and is widely accepted in various fields. The first reason is historical one.
For example, a newspaper editor likes a particular formatting style of references and requires all the authors to follow those peculiarities. With time such preferences become common in a certain field and are applied as a golden standard. That is when people decided to choose: APA vs MLA.
However, the most common reason lies in the fact that various academic subjects require a different approach to researching information. That is why developing and conducting the work should be done in different ways.
Choosing MLA vs APA format will depend on the questions you need to answer through your research, the way your research paper is completed and all the procedures that are applied to the writing process. It is very important to know whether your work will be on scientific topics or humanities, because they have completely different approaches to the used sources.
Such formats were created for fields with completely different research approaches, so if you are asked to write a work on humanities, you need to choose Modern Language Association (MLA) formatting. If you are writing a psychology work, it is necessary to stick to American Psychological Association (APA) style.
While humanities try to find evidence, which can then be generalized into a whole hypothesis or argument, scientific works aim to find common laws to be applied in multiple situations. Now, when you know the main difference between APA and MLA, it is a right time to get started.
What the main differences of MLA vs APA are?
Both Modern Language Association and American Psychological Association formatting styles are used in all sorts of academic works, including reports and papers. APA is usually used for social sciences, while MLA is applied, when you need to write a paper on humanities or liberal arts. Both guidelines give recommendations on how to format style, content and references. While they are much alike, there are still many differences between MLA and APA, which you need to keep in mind.
Note them down, print out or save on your laptop and always have it in front of you, when there is a need in formatting your academic essay. Below are the main requirements of both styles and what differences they have.
Formatting your paper
Both styles require your paper to be double-spaced, have a 12 pt font and one inch margins from all of the sides. So what to choose: APA or MLA?
A paper, formatted according to APA style, should consist of four sections: title page, an abstract, body paragraphs and list of references. An abstract should be 150-250 words long and contain a summary of the main points of the assignment, i.e. topic of the research, main questions and hypotheses, methodology, analysis and conclusion. An abstract should consist of one double-spaced paragraph.
When it comes to MLA formatting style, you don’t have to create a title page and an abstract, so the work will only consist of two main sections: body paragraphs and the page with cited works.
What is the difference between MLA and APA title page?
Papers, formatted according to APA, need to have page headers, situated atop of every page, title page included. Numbers of pages are situated on the right and paper’s title – on the left. Page title includes the title itself, name of the author and title of an education establishment.
MLA-formatted work contains title on a first page, which is separated from the essay’s title by a double space only. In an MLA formatting style you need to write the header on the left, which consists of the author’s name, instructor’s name, name of the course and the date. Rest of the pages have headers on the right and include author’s last name and number of the page.
APA vs MLA differences: in-text citations
When it comes to in-text citing, APA and MLA use a bit different approaches. While MLA sticks to the author-page format, APA uses an author-date one. Paper, formatted according to APA includes last name of the author and publication year in parenthesis after the text, which you want to cite.
MLA formatted paper consist of last name of the author and page number after the cited text.
APA vs MLA citation of a reference page
Papers, which need to be referenced according to an APA format, should include a separate page, which is called ‘References’ and is situated at the end of the whole work. MLA-formatted assignment contains a similar page, although it is called ‘Works cited’.
Both of them contain a list of used sources in an alphabetized order according to the author’s last name, which should be double-spaced.
If two works of the same author are cited, in an APA format you need to list them in a chronological order, starting with the earliest one. Difference between MLA and APA in this case is obvious: you need to list entries in an alphabetical order according to the title and use three hyphens on the place of author’s name after the first time the author was mentioned.
On the page of cited works you need to indent five spaces starting with the second and the following lines for every source. Every source in an APA format should be indented ½ inch starting with the second line.
As you see, MLA vs APA citation styles are very similar and it is necessary to distinguish one from another, because lack of attention may get you into troubles. In case you don’t want to waste your time and format the page on your own or need some help to get started, you can always contact professional writers and get quality assistance any time of the day.
Remember, formatting makes up an important part of any assignment, so you should never neglect it.
Incredible Informative Speech Topics for Students
Statement of Purpose for Graduate School
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Gulke: Forecasting the USDA Reports
Jerry Gulke says the increase in Canada’s soybean, sunflower, and oilseed numbers hint at what’s to come in the Oct. 10 USDA reports.
If you want to get a good idea of what the USDA is going to say on Friday, Oct. 10, you might want to look at Stats Canada’s latest numbers.
"Their report showed a distinct increase in soybeans and sunflowers and flaxseeds," Jerry Gulke, president of the Gulke Group in Chicago, says. "These are oilseeds. It doesn’t take a lot of money to grow them."
That’s opposed to corn, of course, where the prices are now below the cost of production, which Gulke believes has caused many farmers—in the U.S. and Canada--to plant less corn than projected this year.
"They look at the financial rewards," he says. "We didn’t fall off a dump truck yesterday. We know if something costs a lot of money, and [if] we’re not going to get back what we put into it, we’re going to hedge our bets and go with something else."
Listen to his full analysis here:
Gulke suspects farmers all around the world are weighing the same options when it comes to growing corn. "If [Canada] did it, and we did it, what do you think is the impact on the rest of the world in their decision to say, ‘Well, should we plant corn next year with a loss, or should I plant something else where I might break even?"
It’s not an easy choice. "It’s a world market," he says, "and I think we look at prices that are offered to us a lot more keenly that people out there give us respect for."
Gulke also highlighted the latest estimates from Informa, which raised production and yields for corn and soybeans. These record crop numbers worry him, especially when he thinks about next spring’s planting decisions. "The market may get to a point where it says, ‘You know, Jerry, you can do what you want to do. We’ve got too much corn. We’ve got too much beans. We’ve got too much wheat. We’re not going to give you an incentive one way or another. You can roll the dice,’" he says.
He thinks that sounds mighty risky in today’s global market. "We don’t want to be in that position when that day comes … because we’ll be in a losing position in everything we plant."
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Ozop Surgical Corp.
Primary Exchange: OTCQB
Under the Symbol: OZSC
Ozop Surgical Corp to Present at the 9th Annual LD Micro Invitational
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 9:30 AM
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Ozop Surgical Corp. (OTCQB: OZSC), a provider of premium surgical devices in the rapidly growing field of minimally invasive spine surgery today announced that it will be presenting at the 9th annual LD Micro Invitational on June 5th at 10:20am PST. Michael Chermak, CEO will be presenting and meeting with investors.
"This year's Invitational will showcase some of the most unique names in the financial world, from early-stage start-ups to well-established names on the national exchanges" stated Chris Lahiji. "Even though LD has emerged as one of the largest and most influential organizations in the space, our focus has never deviated from showcasing some of the more interesting businesses in the world to our ever- growing community."
The LD Micro Invitational will take place June 4th and 5th in Los Angeles, at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air Hotel, will feature 230 companies, and will be attended by over 1,000 individuals.
About Ozop Surgical Corp.
Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of Accesswire
Ozop Surgical, Corp. (www.ozopsurgical.com) invents, designs, develops, manufactures and distributes innovative endoscopic instruments, surgical implants, instrumentation, devices and related technologies, focused on spine, neurological and pain management procedures and specialties. Our focus is on economically disrupting the market with clinically equivalent or superior existing and new products resulting in immediate and significant savings for providers, payors and consumers. For more information please visit www.ozopsurgical.com.
LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into several influential events annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and micro-cap universe.
For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at [email protected] or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information.
"This press release contains or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the company's plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as "projects," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "potential" or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the company's control). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law."
Ted Haberfield
MZ Group - MZ North America
www.mzgroup.us
SOURCE: Ozop Surgical Corp.
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Lou Ferrigno Picture 32 - Los Angeles Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Arrivals
- Lou Ferrigno
Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno
Los Angeles Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Arrivals
, Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno, Carla Ferrigno, Lou Ferrigno Jr. in World Premiere of Thor: Ragnarok
(Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno)
Lou Ferrigno in World Premiere of Thor: Ragnarok
Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee in Los Angeles Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Arrivals
Lou Ferrigno Jr., Lou Ferrigno, Brent Ferrigno in Los Angeles Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Arrivals
Lou Ferrigno in Los Angeles Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Arrivals
Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno in Los Angeles Premiere of Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron - Arrivals
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Pages tagged "human trafficking"
Illegal prostitution industry growing, ACT review approaching
Posted on Blog · September 09, 2010 10:00 AM
Last week another illegal suburban brothel was found in the nation’s capital. Before the last ACT election in 2008, the ACT government responded to a question regarding Canberra’s prostitution industry with the following: “There is no illegal sex industry in Canberra due to our well-regulated legal prostitution system”. However, in the last couple of years reports have repeatedly uncovered strong illegal elements in the Canberra industry.
There have been several news reports about the common usage of underage girls, suspicious fires, people found to be holding sex slaves, and the most tragic of all, the death of 17-year-old Janine Cameron who was discovered to have overdosed on drugs while working in a Fyshwick brothel. As for “well-regulated”, before the recent spate of checking first-aid kits at the brothels, there had not been an inspection done in half a decade.
The ACT Labor Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, recently gave in principle support for a review to be held into the ACT prostitution industry which could begin as early as March next year. This could be the first significant examination about whether a legalisation of prostitution is actually having the intended effect of diminishing the illegal sex-trade, as well as improving the health and safety of women in the industry. The ACT was the first Australian province to legalise brothels in 1992, and this inquiry could raise the question as to whether, like the Mayor of Amsterdam has stated, this has been a ‘failed experiment’.
This sad state of affairs provides an opportunity for Christians around the ACT, and indeed Australia, to make their voice heard on this issue of justice. We will at the ACL be following this issue closely and attempt to keep you informed about how you can act. Submissions will most likely be accepted early next year, as soon as the terms of reference are laid down, and we would encourage you to think about how you would like to respond to this extremely important issue.
As a first step for more information, Women’s Forum Australia are hosting a documentary about the global sex trade called “Call and Response” in Canberra which we would encourage our Canberra supporters to get to. The details are:
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010; 7:00 PM start time (Please arrive 15 minutes early to register)
Location: Hoyts Theatre, Westfield Woden
Cost: $20, includes movie ticket and raffle ticket
RSVP Essential: Email us at sara.hodgson@womensforumaustralia.org or call us at 0448 597 114 or
Register and pay online - click here.
Victor Malarek's speech: International sexual terrorism - the trade in women's bodies
Posted on Blog · June 18, 2010 10:00 AM
Victor Malarek - here's what he said
Award winning Canadian journalist and author Victor Malarek was in Australia recently speaking about the international trade in the bodies of women and girls.The exploitation of women and girls in the sex trade was one of the most neglected human rights abuses in the world today, Victor Malarek said, describing the trade as "international sexual terrorism". Malarek is author of The Natashas: Inside the New Global Slave Trade andThe Johns: Sex for sale and the men who buy it. The tour was co-sponsored by Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation and the Salvation Army. It was a privilege to share a platform with Victor at a number of events. Here is a copy of his speech.
Somaly Mam in Australia next week
Cambodian trafficking survivor Somaly Mam will be speaking in Sydney next week. Sold into Cambodia's sex trade at the age of 12 and forced to work in a brothel alongside other children where she was raped daily, Mam is co-founder of AFESIP, a Cambodian NGO which provides hope to other victims. Honoured as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2009, Mam has launched the Somaly Mam Foundation as a vehicle to support anti-trafficking organisations and to provide victims and survivors with a way to have their voices heard around the world. Hear Somaly Mam's inspiring story on Tuesday June 22. Details here.
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Can the Wall Between Church and State Survive Brett Kavanaugh?
By Heather L. Weaver, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief
September 7, 2018 | 12:30 PM
WEB18-BrettKavanaugh+MikePence-1160x768.jpg
Public schools are educational institutions, not temples of religious indoctrination. For over half a century, the Supreme Court has thus recognized that the Constitution prohibits public schools from imposing prayer on children and that religious education is the province of parents and religious communities, not government bureaucrats.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, however, strongly suggested that he disagrees and that, if confirmed, he will vote to weaken the separation of church and state in public schools. Although the ACLU neither endorses nor opposes Supreme Court nominees, we do have an obligation to analyze Kavanaugh's judicial record on areas that impact core civil liberties and civil rights.
During the second day of Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) questioned Kavanaugh about the Supreme Court’s 2000 decision in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, a case brought by the ACLU on behalf of Texas public-school students. In a 6-3 ruling, the court held in Santa Fe that the school could not cede its loudspeaker system to students, who would then deliver prayers at the start of football games.
Cornyn and Kavanaugh have a special interest in the case. Then the attorney general of Texas, Cornyn argued the case before the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh helped him prepare for the oral argument and separately wrote a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of two congressmen, supporting the school district.
In the brief, Kavanaugh argued that the school district had created a platform for student speech before football games and was thus constitutionally required to allow students to impose prayer on their classmates. The Supreme Court rejected this reasoning, ruling that the school had not created a neutral forum open to myriad student speakers but, instead, had effectively manipulated the situation from the start to ensure that a prayer would be given at each game. Because those prayers took place at a school event, over the public-address system, and with the school’s involvement, the court concluded that students would easily perceive them as being “stamped” with the “school’s seal of approval.”
The court also noted that, even if the school had established a neutral forum for speech, it would not necessarily shield the school from scrutiny under the Establishment Clause principles that govern the separation of church and state. That makes sense with respect to situations like the one in Santa Fe because many students would feel significant peer pressure to participate in such prayers or face ridicule and ostracism. As the court explained, the First Amendment forbids public schools from exacting this type of “religious conformity from a student as the price of joining her classmates at a varsity football game.”
In discussing Santa Fe yesterday, Cornyn read from Justice Rehnquist’s dissent and insisted that the ruling was somehow hostile to religion. Kavanaugh did not disagree, which is not surprising, given his professed admiration for Justice Rehnquist as a “judicial hero.” Indeed, his amicus brief in Santa Fe went even further, proclaiming that a decision in favor of our student clients and their families would pave the path toward a “the full extermination of private religious speech from the public schools” and an “Orwellian world.”
An attorney’s words written on behalf of clients don’t necessarily reflect his or her personal views, but in a confirmation hearing that has been sorely lacking in transparency, Kavanaugh made crystal clear that he agrees with what he wrote nearly two decades ago.
Both he and Cornyn announced that the decision still sticks in their craws. And, responding to Cornyn’s claim that Santa Fe was hostile to religion, Kavanaugh pointed to subsequent Supreme Court decisions like Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, Town of Greece v. Galloway, and Good News Club v. Milford Central School District, as “developments since [Santa Fe] in terms of religious equality and religious liberty that are important.”
Those three cases have one thing in common: They each watered down protections for the separation of church and state.
Regardless, these cases should have no bearing on Santa Fe’s continuing validity. That Kavanaugh believes otherwise is troubling, to say the least. Nothing in the decisions suggests that the government may use school-attendance laws to corral children into public schools and then forcibly subject them to prayer at any and all school events just because the prayer happens to be delivered by their peers rather than their teachers. That would be Orwellian.
But that is exactly what could — and likely will — happen if Kavanaugh’s view were to prevail. Public-school students could be subjected to prayer during every school event, from school-day assemblies to football games to awards ceremonies and, yes, even in the classroom, so long as the school purports to set up a “forum” for speech.
Make no mistake, contrary to Kavanaugh’s prediction in his amicus brief two decades ago, public-school students have broad religious-expression rights, which we do not hesitate to defend. The right to engage in voluntary prayer and religious expression in public schools, however, does not and should not include the right to create captive student audiences or to compel other students to participate.
We’ve seen what happens when public-school officials allow prayer to be imposed on children like our clients in Santa Fe: Students who don’t follow the same religious beliefs as many of their peers feel immense pressure to participate, and those who resist that pressure often end up being ostracized from their school community and beyond. This is at odds with public schools’ mandate to serve all students, including students of every faith and those of none. And it can’t be reconciled with the Supreme Court’s longstanding precedent governing the separation of church and state in our schools.
Based on Kavanaugh’s testimony yesterday, if he’s confirmed, we’ll need a Hail Mary to prevent that precedent from being severely undermined or worse — overturned.
Gary Markle
~ The Separation Of Church And Hate:
There is a good reason why Church and State must always remain separate. Let’s get something straight, right from the start: A theocratic state is not a free state, and never will be. I’m sure it was never Jesus’ intention nor was it His will that anyone should be dominated in His name, the name of Christ. That is the will of men. To be accurate, the concept in itself is anti-Christian. You can only follow Christ by choice, not by legislation.
It seems some people are more intent on casting stones at perceived sinners than propagating the love of Christ. ~ “Above all else, I command you love one another”. ~ This was the message that Jesus preached, and as far as I can see, the worth of a soul will only be measured as such. But I can assure you of one thing, when your time of judgment comes, you won’t be asked to recite scripture, but rather, if anything, the question will be: Did you get the message and live by it?
For all of you people out there on the religious right, you should try to remember that looking for sins to condemn, and people to persecute in the name of God, is simply Satan’s way of keeping you from seeing what is good and praiseworthy. It’s Satan’s favorite means of deceit; getting people to hate and kill each other in the name of God and Christ Jesus. Twisting scripture to incite hatred and division.
Understand this; that by doing so, you are defaming the name of Christ, associating Jesus with bigotry and hate. Jesus was never cursed with these feelings, these sins that you commit in His name. It’s widely agreed that He rose above it all, and to use His name for the justification of spreading contempt and hatred for anyone is true heresy. It isn’t Pro-Christ by any means, but clearly Anti-Christ.
~ It doesn't really seem to matter at this point whether you believe in God and Christ or not. What we have are Anti-Christians, the antithesis of the persona Jesus, and they are attempting, through legislation, to declare America to be a theocratic state and nation, legitimizing discrimination under the false guise of "religious freedom". If you're not one of the "chosen" you're fair game for persecution, oppression and abuse. It’s a perfect "us" and "them" scenario. If you express opposing views to the “Order” or you're a non-believer, or in any way perceived as a “sinner”, they'll be coming for you.
~ Anti-Christians ~ The scriptures flow as sweet as honey from their lips, seducing and robbing in the name of God. These are the ones Jesus spoke of that would come in the End Times and deceive many in His name. Anti-Christians: You will know them by their bigotry, their hatred, and their contempt for “others”.
Isn't it like a Judas kiss, to betray the faith with dissension? Evangelicals are new to the faith, recently baptized, and are barely getting their 'sea legs' while learning how the body of Christ works. New believers get that way, from the tumult of dealing with how to best use their talents free of their sinful nature, they concentrate their zeal in politics. They figure they can't quite get there, because everyone else is keeping them back from their faith, so they will influence the law to make it so. Their growing faith, hasn't developed enough to break beyond religious dogma, to see how everything already is Christ-endowed, and there's not a single thing they can do to add to it. This is the truism of the Maker and the Made, that they don't understand that their vanity of thinking they can add to it, is itself a sin of desire -- to be on equal footing with the Creator. **Again, IS already the case; they don't have to DO anything. Just BE like Jesus suggested in their life's activities.**
....Religion is a Corporation of belief among those who fantasize with the Supernatural. Although no Scripture prescribed religion as a means to salvation, but that a remarkable person did exist. Insanely, Roman-Catholicism deceived billions of people that Cesare Borgia implicated Jesus, the Son of what mankind refer to as God,...for a status only. Politicians don't have proof that religion is legal, but that..the belief without proof is legislated as so, to avoid taxation and control the masses of their oppressed who also believe that a king or similar exist without force.
Never forget that our First Amendment was created primarily because Christians were persecuting and killing other Christians in the 18th Century Europe and previous centuries. At that time in many European nations the Church was the Government. You might have Anglican Christians torturing and killing Baptists or Catholics, trying to impose their religious interpretation on other churches.
It doesn't matter if you invoke religion or God, it's free speech. The movement to vilify religion is joined at the hip with the anti-American propaganda from the six media conglomerates, who are weakening our country and have become a national security risk far outweighing any "Russian" threats.
Is that you Don Jr.?
Imagine you are an enemy of our country and wish to destroy it. First you seize control of all media, publishing houses, newspapers, entertainment, etc, all of which has been accomplished by fourteen billionaires and their six conglomerates. Then you go about attacking your enemy's strengths, the solid foundations on which the strongest country the planet has ever seen are based upon, which are the constitution, religion and patriotism. The colluding, coordinating and conspiring media makes these pillars of our country appear contemptible. President Trump is exactly right when branding these insidious media conglomerates as 'the enemy of the people'.
OldWhiteGuyVet
Imagine what your life would be like if you were not certifiably insane and in dire need of anti-psychotic medication. You would be able to perceive the world as it actually is, instead of through the prism of your paranoid, neo-fascistic delusions. You could cease dwelling in a netherworld of shadowy conspiracies and irrational furies and begin to think and operate like a normal, decent human being. You might find yourself able to enjoy love, family, friendship and solidarity with your peers. You might even find that you'd be able cogitate intelligently upon a whole host of subjects, without the need to reduce them to the mindless platitudes of a simpleton. Last but not least, the scales would likely drop from your eyes and you would clearly see the man whom a confederacy of dunces like yourself has put in the White House as the amoral, narcissistic pathological liar, charlatan and stooge of Russia he so obviously is. It is in fact scurrilous delusional maniacs like you, my deranged Amero-fascist compatriot, who are the true enemy of the people.
"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own."
The reason why the U.S. Constitution has lasted so long is because it is based upon the Bible. However, in 1962 and 1963, the Supreme Court decided to say that the Constitution was unconstitutional. Here are the results of that ruling.
All statistical information herein cited from the WallBuilders video, "America's Godly Heritage"
The 1962 Engle vs. Vitale decision made the following 22-word generic prayer unconstitutional:
"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country."
The Supreme Court did a study in conjunction with the 1963 ruling which also removed the Bible from public schools. The findings were that only 3% of the nation's population did not profess any belief in God. Therefore, at the time of these court rulings, some 97% of our nation's population held religious beliefs which were in agreement with the context of that generic school prayer, and which favored Bible reading in classrooms. And yet the Supreme Court chose to make the 3% the "majority" with these decisions by forcing the other 97% to submit to the beliefs of a 3% minority of the population. What kind of justice is that?
Prior to 1962-63, America was advancing morally and leading the world in many social categories. The rates of other less than desirable categories, such as those named below, were either steady or decreasing in America, in spite of the population growth. However, since those two outrageous court decisions, America has sadly become the world leader in all of the following areas:
~ #1 in Violent Crime Rates
~ #1 in Divorce Rates
~ #1 in Illegal Drug Useage
~ #1 in Number of Voluntary Abortions
~ #1 in Teen Pregnancy (western world) and
~ #1 in Illiteracy (western world)
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The Supreme Court Is Playing Favorites With Religion
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Congressman Roger Williams
Representing the 25th District of Texas
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American Energy
Congress presents a tax code that’s fairer and simpler
By U.S. Rep. Roger Williams and Jerome Greener - Special to the American-Statesman
Any businessman knows that the best way to grow our economy is by embracing tax reform that includes pro-growth and pro-American economic policies. Congress is working on a plan that would dramatically overhaul our tax code for the first time in more than three decades — and this comprehensive approach should guide our country every step of the way.
Modernizing our tax code means more than just lowering rates. It is about doing away with our archaic, convoluted and uncompetitive tax code and replacing it with one that is fairer, flatter and simpler.
Anyone defending the current tax code is fundamentally hindering progress — and in the end, strangling this economy. President Ronald Reagan once said that you cannot be for higher taxes and still be for the little guy. Only in Washington, D.C., would anyone with a straight face argue otherwise.
Thankfully, President Donald Trump and Congress have rolled out a strong general framework for authentic tax reform that is quickly gaining traction. So far, the highlights include lowering rates for individuals and families, nearly doubling the standard deduction, eliminating loopholes and lowering the corporate tax rate. While all of this is desperately needed, it is still up to us to fill in the rest of the details and make sure it benefits all Americans.
True reform means bringing 21st century updates to our tax code and extending relief to American job creators. Relief can come in the form of making taxes easier to file, therefore freeing mom and pop shops from hours of tax compliance and allowing them to innovate, invest and pursue those opportunities they have been putting off. We need to support the entrepreneur who has put their life’s work on the line in order to pursue the American Dream.
We also need to bring down our corporate tax rate – the highest among industrialized countries – to compete in the global market. Ordinary Americans want to know how cutting the corporate tax rate helps Main Street. The answer is simple: Lower rates will help U.S. companies invest and grow in this country instead of elsewhere. This will boost wages, spark economic growth and bring American jobs back home where they belong.
However, reform is never easy — and those who benefit from the existing maze of loopholes can be expected to stand fast in defense of their favored status. House Speaker Paul Ryan recently said when this happens, “we must be able to count on the foot soldiers of the conservative movement to see this through.” The speaker is absolutely right: Our current tax code is the definition of a typical Washington bureaucratic gimmick that benefits a few at the expense of everyone else.
The American people believe that the system is stacked against them — and rightfully so. For far too long, hard workers in our country experienced disappointment after disappointment at the hands of their government — and this time, we will not throw away their trust by way of failure. We are confident in Congress’ ability to stay focused and get this done. Anything and everything we do needs to be pro-America, because excuses will be in short supply if we let this once-in-a-generation opportunity slip away.
Williams represents Texas’ 25th Congressional District. Greener is the Texas director of Americans for Prosperity.
Economy and Jobs, Tax Reform
1708 Longworth HOB
Austin District
1005 Congress Avenue, Suite 925
Cleburne District
115 South Main Street, Suite 206
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'Significant' oil spill closes US ship channel
Mar 24th 2014 10:47AM
Texas oil spill
TEXAS CITY, Texas (AP) -- No timetable has been set to reopen a major U.S. shipping channel after nearly 170,000 gallons of tar-like oil spilled into the Texas waterway, but more help was being called in Monday to contain the spill and protect important shorebird habitat.
A barge carrying about 900,000 gallons of the heavy oil collided with a ship Saturday in the busy Houston Ship Channel, spilling as much as a fifth of its cargo into one of the world's busiest waterways for moving petrochemicals, according to the Coast Guard.
Oil had been detected 12 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico by Sunday, and as many as 60 vessels were either waiting to get in or out. The Coast Guard - which called it a "significant spill" - said it expected to deploy more containment booms Monday, with 24 vessels working to skim the oil.
Environmental groups said the spill occurred at an especially sensitive time. The channel in Texas City, about 45 miles southeast of Houston, has important shorebird habitat on both sides, and tens of thousands of wintering birds are still in the area.
"The timing really couldn't be much worse since we're approaching the peak shorebird migration season," said Richard Gibbons, conservation director of the Houston Audubon Society.
He noted that just to the east is the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, which attracts 50,000 to 70,000 shorebirds to shallow mud flats that are perfect foraging habitat.
Fewer than 10 oiled birds had been found and recovered for transfer to a wildlife rehabilitation center as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Coast Guard. The Texas General Land Office has also deployed a bird rehabilitation trailer in the area for quick response.
"This is a significant spill," Capt. Brian Penoyer, commander of the Coast Guard at Houston-Galveston, said. But he said the emptying the remaining oil from the barge on Sunday, a process known as lightering as contents are transferred to other vessels, was an important step and eliminated the risk of additional oil spilling.
More than 380 people - "and we've ordered more," Penoyer said - along with a fleet of oil-retrieving skimmers and other vessels were deploying some 60,000 feet of containment booms around environmentally sensitive areas worked to mitigate the damage.
Some black tar-like globs, along with a dark line of a sticky, oily substance, could be detected along the shoreline of the Texas City dike, a 5-mile-long jetty that juts into Galveston Bay across from a tip of Galveston Island.
"That is the consistency of what the cargo looks like," Jim Guidry, executive vice president of Houston-based Kirby Inland Marine Corp., said when the substance was described to him at a news conference.
Guidry said the company - the nation's largest inland barge company and owner of the barge that spilled the oil - was taking responsibility for the costs.
"We're very concerned. We're focused on cleaning up," he said.
The barge has been moved to a shipyard and is no longer at the scene of the spill, according to a statement Sunday evening from Texas Gov. Rick Perry's office.
Two cruise ships were allowed to travel through the incident area "to minimize inconvenience to the thousands of passengers aboard and limit economic impacts from the spill," according to a statement Sunday evening from the Coast Guard.
The channel, part of the Port of Houston, typically handles as many as 80 vessels daily. But it will remain closed for a third day Monday, and the Coast Guard said there was no timetable on when it may reopen.
If the bottleneck of vessels in the Gulf eases in a day or so, there likely wouldn't be much impact on fuel prices. But a more prolonged backup could push up prices briefly, said Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Jim Ritterbusch and Associates in Chicago.
The contents of the torn tank, equal to about 4,000 barrels, were lost or displaced into other vacant areas of the barge. Penoyer said currents, tides and wind were scattering the spill.
"Containment was never a possibility in this case," he said.
The Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating what happened.
"It will take quite a bit of time, given the complexity of the vessels and a very busy waterway," Penoyer said.
Also closed was the Texas City dike, a popular fishing spot that goes out into the Gulf for a few miles.
Lee Rilat, 58, owns Lee's Bait and Tackle, the last store before the access road to the dike, which was blocked by a police car on a breezy, overcast Sunday. If it weren't for the spill, Rilat's business would be hopping.
"This would be the first spring deal, the first real weekend for fishing," he said.
The spill site is 700 yards offshore from the Texas City dike. A crane and several small boats could be seen at the cleanup site, and dozens of trucks were at a staging area along the beach.
The captain of the 585-foot ship, Summer Wind, reported the spill Saturday afternoon. Six crew members from the tow vessel, which was going from Texas City to Port Bolivar, Texas, were injured, the Coast Guard said.
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Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/10f20b5197134a40ad97bb8d6352c317
Brazil coach can’t sleep, Argentina’s relaxes before clash
By MAURICIO SAVARESEJuly 2, 2019
Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni looks on during press conference in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Monday, July 1, 2019. Argentina will face Brazil for a Copa America semifinal match on July, 2.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Brazil coach Tite can’t sleep before his team’s Copa América semifinal clash with archrivals Argentina, but his adversary Lionel Scaloni sounded somewhat relaxed for their meeting on Tuesday at the Mineirão Stadium.
Either the Brazilian leading the Seleção for three years, or the Argentine interim that learns as he goes since August, will be at Sunday’s final at the Maracanã Stadium.
For Brazil, playing without Neymar, a title can mean some stability after the frustration in the World Cup in Russia. Argentina hopes rebuild its team at the same time it takes a shot at winning its first trophy in 26 years, which would also be the first for superstar Lionel Messi with his national team.
Tite has already played against Argentina three times, with two wins and one loss. But that experience didn’t calm him down before the “superclásico.”
“I told you I am feeling a lot of anticipation, I couldn’t sleep and I won’t sleep again (tonight),” Brazil’s coach said in a media conference on Monday. “I woke up at 3:15 a.m., started thinking about the match. I have the habit of taking notes, so I did it. That is the reality of coaches, me, Scaloni.”
“I will not fake it, do one thing here and then say something different to the athletes,” he added. “Of course I have expectations, I am only human.”
Tite’s first match against Argentina was also the latest encounter between the two in Belo Horizonte. In November 2016, the hosts won 3-0 in World Cup qualifiers in Brazil’s first match at the Mineirão since the 7-1 hammering by the Germans in the 2014 World Cup semifinals.
“That win (against Argentina) doesn’t give us credit now and that defeat (against Germany) we had here doesn’t affect. What matters is the moment,” Tite said. “But the anticipation I felt then is the same I feel now.”
The troubles of Tite’s sleep go beyond Argentina. Brazil’s coach has been under criticism for his conservative choices and also for poor performances during Copa América, except for a 5-0 win against Peru. Lifting the trophy in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday could make his path to the Qatar World Cup in 2022 a little less uncertain.
Scaloni, on the other hand, sounded more relaxed than usual. Asked if he is sleeping as little as Tite, he said: “I do that already, it is not because of our rival.”
Argentina’s coach also made fun of reporters who hinted Sergio Agüero could leave the team to open way for a player with more defensive concerns.
“Agüero will play. I said it because I read I was in doubt, let me leave that clear,” Scaloni said. “The rest you will know tomorrow. Not even Messi is confirmed,” Scaloni jokingly said.
The Argentinian coach recognized Brazil is the favorite to win, but believes Tite’s lack of sleep comes from the different stakes for the hosts.
“For him it is his home, his people, there are different circumstances. For us it could grant us access to the final,” Scaloni said. “If this semifinal were against another team it would be the same. I don’t believe beating Brazil is a prize.”
Argentina started Copa América with a 2-0 defeat against Colombia, almost crashed out in the 1-1 draw with Paraguay, but improved in two 2-0 wins against Qatar and Venezuela. Scaloni said fans should expect another good performance against Brazil.
“Argentina fans can be calm, they will feel identification with our team against a tough rival. We will play the match we have to play for people to be proud,” he added.
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Christian Yelich to participate in All-Star Home Run Derby
By KEITH JENKINSJune 30, 2019
Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Friday, June 21, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The reigning NL MVP plans to participate in the Home Run Derby next month.
Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich, who leads the majors with 29 homers, says he accepted an invitation from Major League Baseball to compete in the power-hitting contest July 8 during All-Star week in Cleveland.
“They asked if I would do it a few weeks ago,” Yelich said Saturday night after Milwaukee beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1. “I said as long as I was an All-Star I would do it — obviously if I’m feeling healthy enough before the game.”
Yelich was elected by fans earlier in the week to start in the National League outfield during the July 9 showcase. He says he grew up watching the Home Run Derby on TV.
“I feel like now’s as good a time to do it as any, so we’ll see how it goes,” he said.
Keith Jenkins can be reached at https://twitter.com/MrKeithJenkins .
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports .
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Submitted by Greg Kaupp on May 16, 2014 - 2:00am
Comparison of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Dynamics GP, and Dynamics AX
Comparing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, specifically Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision), Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Great Plains), and Microsoft Dynamics AX (formerly Axapta), can be quite confusing, as these ERP products appear to be similar, but they are actually quite different. While Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics GP collectively represent the largest install bases, Microsoft Dynamics AX is the fastest growing product in the Microsoft Dynamics ERP portfolio.
For the last decade, Microsoft Dynamics NAV has been the leading Dynamics ERP product globally for mid-sized business. Microsoft Dynamics NAV still has the largest install base of any of the Dynamics ERP products, with 102,000 customers worldwide. Dynamics NAV’s counterparts, Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics AX, have significantly fewer customers worldwide, coming in at 47,000 (GP) and 19,000 (AX) customers worldwide. While both Dynamics NAV and Dynamics GP have experienced new customer growth of 30 percent, Dynamics AX has undoubtedly had the largest growth rate, but on a much smaller install base. Microsoft Dynamics AX growth can be attributed mainly to its gained attraction with some of the largest multinational companies that are moving away from the SAP and Oracle platforms. (For a complete overview and breakdown of how many customers use Dynamics ERP products, visit ERP Software Blog.)
Historically, Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics GP have competed directly in the small- to medium-sized business segment, with businesses selecting Microsoft Dynamics NAV for advanced functionally and flexibility. Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics AX have also been directly competing for mid-market companies, with the largest enterprise customers selecting Microsoft Dynamics AX for its scalability. For companies searching for ERP products, it has not always been clear which product would meet their specific requirements; however, it is increasingly becoming clearer.
Microsoft Dynamics GP was intended to serve small companies looking for an ERP system that could handle extensive financials and light distribution. However, with the extensive add-on products available, Dynamics GP quickly became a competitor – to Dynamics NAV – in the small- to medium-sized business segment, handling heavier distribution. Microsoft Dynamics NAV was always intended to serve small- to medium-sized companies looking for an ERP platform that is customizable without breaking the upgrade path. Microsoft Dynamics NAV has always had its greatest success in companies that are aggressively growing and require that their business management systems are flexible, and that can change and grow as business grows. Microsoft also continues to make investments in the underlying technology of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, which extend its value as both an ERP solution and its ability to streamline all key business functionality. One common characteristic of a company running Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an ability to grow without adding headcount.
Most large enterprise customers are not seeking flexibility and adaptability, but uniformity across a distributed organization. This is why Microsoft Dynamics AX is often seen as the best solution for the largest enterprise customers trying to escape SAP and Oracle. What Microsoft Dynamics AX sacrifices in flexibility it makes up in scalability. While a very large Microsoft Dynamics NAV installation might represent 400-500 concurrent users, Microsoft Dynamics AX was designed to handle large amounts of concurrent users.
In summary, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, GP, and AX were intended to serve different sized organizations, as well as organizations with different levels of structural complexity. While the question, “Which product is better?” still remains, perhaps the better questions is, “Which product will better suit my specific business requirements and needs?” One Dynamics ERP product is not better than the other; rather, one might be better for specific business sizes and complexities. Microsoft Dynamics NAV will continue to be the best fit for midsize companies, whereas Microsoft Dynamics GP will continue to serve small companies, and Microsoft Dynamics AX will serve the largest multinational organizations. The major differentiators amongst these great products are their ability to handle large amounts of concurrent users, flexibility, and scalability.
If you believe Microsoft Dynamics NAV would be the best fit for your ERP implementation, contact ArcherPoint for a complete business analysis, ensuring that Dynamics NAV is right for you.
Greg Kaupp's blog
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Architect Personal Details Architectural works in South Australia
Firms or Professional Partnerships Bibliographic Sources
Architect Personal Details
Walter Hervey
One of the founders of the large international architectural practice of Woods Bagot, Walter Bagot was ‘one of the most scholarly architects to practise in Australia’ (Obituary 1963).
Walter Hervey Bagot was born on 17 March 1880 at North Adelaide to pastoralist and stockbroker John Bagot and Lucy Josephine (nee Ayers), he was their first child, and grandson of Charles Hervey Bagot and Sir Henry Ayers, both pioneer South Australians. Bagot married Josephine Margaret Barritt on 18 November 1908 at St Peter’s Cathedral and they had two daughters and a son. ‘All those who knew Walter Bagot speak of his courtesy, kindness, and consideration towards his friends, and of his character which enabled him to establish good relations with everyone working on a building site’ (Page 1986: 148). He died on 27 July 1963 at North Adelaide aged 83.
As a student Bagot attended St Peters College. In 1899 he was articled to Adelaide architect Edward John Woods for his architectural training. Following this, in 1902, he left for the United Kingdom where he studied architecture at the Kings College, University of London, winning the silver medal of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters (Berry 1979: 133). He served his apprenticeship under A. Blomfield Jackson in London (Jones 2001: 310).
On his return from overseas Bagot rejoined Woods and was offered a partnership in 1905 with the practice being named Woods & Bagot. Two years later, in 1915, Herbert Harold Jory became a partner and the practice was known as Woods, Bagot & Jory even following Woods’ death in 1916. Louis Laybourne Smith was offered a partnership in 1917 and accepted with the partnership of Woods, Bagot, Jory & Laybourne Smith continuing until 1930 when Jory left to practise on his own. In 1932 James Campbell Irwin was admitted as a partner and the practice was then reconstituted as Woods, Bagot, Laybourne Smith & Irwin. Bagot stopped being an active partner ‘some five or six years before he officially retired’ (Irwin 1980: 34). The practice continues today as one of Australia’s largest architectural firms and is called Woods Bagot continuing the names of its two founding partners.
In 1904, while he was in Europe, Bagot was made an Associate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA); he went on to become a Fellow of the RIBA in 1926. In Australia, Bagot was a member of the South Australian Institute of Architects (SAIA), winning the competition to design its official seal (Freeland 1971: 100). He became a member of the Council of the SAIA in 1912 and was later elected its President, holding office between 1917 and 1919. Bagot was made a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) in 1960.
In 1906 Bagot had helped Louis Laybourne Smith found the Architectural Department at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries (now University of South Australia) and subsequently lectured in architectural history until 1911. Both men have been remembered as having ‘towered above their contemporaries’ (Irwin 1980: 21). Bagot’s expertise was called on in 1924 when he was appointed as a referee for the Adelaide City Council under the Building Act (1923). He served the community by working with many organisations reflecting his passions and interests. His love of gardens can be seen through his role as Governor of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Commissioner of the National Park at Belair. Additionally, his interest in history was reflected in his position as Vice-Patron of the National Trust of South Australia (Berry 1979: 133) and in his Vice Presidency of the Pioneers’ Association of South Australia. Bagot was a member of the Adelaide Club, being President from 1948 to 1950 and he used his skills in research and writing to pen its history in 1957.
As an international traveller from a young age, Bagot developed a penchant for the architecture and landscapes of the Renaissance and Mediterranean. He first travelled to Italy with his parents during 1891 and 1892 (Jones 2001: 310). His travels had a major influence on his life’s work and he was known as a ‘passionate traveller in Europe and Italy’ (Berry 1979: 133). He founded the Australian-Italian Association for which he received a Knighthood of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1962. These travels contributed to his academic role, especially the teaching of his specialty, the history and theory of architecture. Passionate about the classical tenets of architecture, he was openly critical of the manifestations of the emerging modernism he had witnessed first-hand in Europe. Despite being made in wartime, his 1914 to 1915 European tour was an enriching experience. He drew on his experiences in Italy in contributions to architecture journals like the Salon (Bagot 1915). But perhaps most significantly his travel experiences informed his architectural design.
Bagot’s ecclesiastical building designs included work for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for which he was architect from 1905 to 1926. He designed St Patrick’s Church on Grote Street, Adelaide, of which the foundation stone was laid in 1912 and which was originally intended to be surmounted by a dome. He perceived a living link between his own practice and historical works. While in Europe in May 1914 he assessed his own St Patrick’s Cathedral against Brunelleschi’s renowned fifteenth century Church of San Lorenzo in Florence. In a letter to Laybourne Smith he wrote: ‘Critically examining San Lorenzo I was pleased to find that the proportions of St P. which is wider in relation to height did not compare badly & the higher clerestory at St P. is I think an advantage’ (Bagot to Laybourne Smith, 25 May 1914). While his words show confidence in the appropriateness of the design of St Patrick’s they also suggest his ability to appreciate the qualities and lessons of historical exemplars (Collins et al 2005). Other ecclesiastical works by the practice include St Theodore’s Church for the Church of England at Toorak Gardens of 1915, the façade and extensions to the nave of St Raphael’s Church, Parkside, commenced in 1916, and works at Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide, in 1917.
Bagot designed an extension for St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Victoria Square, Adelaide between 1922 and 1926. The cathedral is the work of a number of architects beginning in 1851. Bagot’s contribution is based on the original Gothic style plans drawn up by Augustus Welby Pugin (Marsden et al. 1990: 181). Bagot also designed the highly regarded chapel for the Convent of Mercy, Angas Street, Adelaide in 1920 which incorporated an existing house on the site and unified a complex of buildings. ‘Richly detailed surfaces and finishes render this particular building unique in Adelaide. The chapel is remarkable for its excellence of design and workmanship … The design being perhaps the finest to come from the hand of Walter Hervey Bagot’ (Marsden et al. 1990: 203). He was also the architect for the Church of England’s St Peter’s Cathedral from 1907 to 1945, designing ‘all the very beautiful interior fittings of the choir stalls, the Bishop’s throne, [and] the pulpit’ (Irwin 1980: 13).
Bagot held the position of architect for the University of Adelaide from 1910 to 1945, and has been credited with the design of the Union buildings group, designed in 1927, which included the Union cloisters. His observation of cloisters on his European tour had led him to write: ‘There is nothing so peaceful and satisfying in Architecture as a Cloister or a Quad those at Oxford are in their way as pleasing as the dear Italian cloisters … ’ (Bagot to Laybourne Smith, 11 October 1914). He designed the stone dressed, red brick Barr-Smith Library in Georgian Revival style (1933) and followed it with the stone and pre-cast concrete Bonython Hall (1936) which ‘contrary to Bagot’s wishes, resulted in a traditional collegiate Gothic or Tudor style’ (Jones 2001: 316). He also designed the decorative wrought iron Mitchell Gates and fencing on Frome Road (now located on Victoria Drive) (1929-30). His aim was to achieve a ‘congruity’ for the campus (Berry 1979: 133). In 1928 Bagot designed the Hannaford Laboratories at the Waite campus of the University of Adelaide at Urrbrae. He was the college architect for St Mark’s College in North Adelaide and for St Peter’s College, Hackney.
Commercial buildings designed by Bagot demonstrate that even though he was aware of modernism his own designs maintained classical form, ‘he saw “the striving for novelty as one of the great dangers of modernism” and came to hate “the glasshouses of the modern architect”’ (Berry 1979: 133). In 1917, Bagot designed Dalgety’s offices on Leigh Street, Adelaide, in red brick. This was followed by the classically styled Executor Trustee and Agency Building, Grenfell Street, Adelaide (1922), for which Bagot was joint architect with Laybourne Smith and C.E.W. Parsons, and which featured paired Roman columns dominating the façade of the six-storied office building. Bagot was stock brokers Elder Smith Goldsbrough Mort’s architect and the head office of Elder Smith and Co. Ltd. on Currie Street, Adelaide, (started in 1937) is ‘reminiscent of a Renaissance palazzo’ (Marsden et al. 1990: 79) and displays fine detailing of a high order, it has been described by Sir James Irwin as ‘a very good example of studious building’ (Irwin 1980: 33).
Bagot and Laybourne Smith both contributed to the design of the State War Memorial on North Terrace, Adelaide in the 1930s, although his original designs had to be redrawn from memory by Laybourne Smith when the originals were destroyed by fire whilst Bagot was overseas (Page 1986: 148). Bagot is also credited with designing the Botanic Garden Tea Pavilion (1906) and the Polar Bear House at Adelaide Zoo (Beck n.d.: 26). Sir James Irwin remembered, ‘Mr Bagot used to spend hours poring over the draftsmen’ (Irwin 1980: 16), ensuring the designs, which were the partners' responsibility were correctly drawn up.
Bagot’s work was invariably informed by his scholarly understanding of architectural history. He wrote a chapter in ‘Domestic Architecture in Australia’ (Bagot 1919) in which he praised the ‘cultivation of the antique’ as an example of good taste. Bagot’s residential designs exemplify his beliefs. Broadlees (1925-6), the residence designed for the Misses Waite at Stirling, in the Adelaide Hills, is Georgian style as requested by the clients, with Italian Renaissance influences as preferred by Bagot (Beck n.d.: 24).
Bagot’s own residence, Nurney House, Kingston Terrace, North Adelaide was one of North Adelaide’s earliest large houses. When Bagot acquired it for himself he transformed it into an ‘Italian villa’ and garden in 1930-31. In his own residence, as in the Adelaide University buildings, one can see Bagot’s belief that Mediterranean design was an appropriate response to the South Australian climate and environment. The Bagot family’s country house, Forest Lodge near Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills was designed by Ernest Bayer in 1892, with Walter Bagot responsible for the garden renovation of the 1930s which made it one of the Adelaide Hills’ significant gardens (Jones 2006: 10).
Bagot was profoundly influenced by his overseas travels and his love and knowledge of architectural history. He was described as a ‘master of architectural detail, both classic and medieval’ (Obituary 1963). This was enlivened by a deep passion for his work which can be seen in an article on art criticism in which Bagot wrote, ‘Let the writer, the musician, the painter, the sculptor and the architect strive manfully under the names of their callings – they are not artists until they achieve their art, and art is not achieved even by technical skill, by experience and observation, without the inspiration of true enthusiasm, in fact of emotion’ (Bagot 1915: 68).
Julie Collins
Citation details
Collins, Julie, ‘Bagot, Walter Hervey’, Architecture Museum, University of South Australia, 2008, Architects of South Australia: [http://www.architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au/arch_full.asp?Arch_ID=7]
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Architectural works in South Australia
Name Suburb Year Designed
St Patrick's Church Adelaide 1912
St Raphael's Church extensions Parkside 1916
St Francis Xavier's Cathedral extensions Adelaide 1922
Convent of Mercy Adelaide 1920
Bonython Hall, University of Adelaide Adelaide 1936
Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide Adelaide 1933
Union Buildings, University of Adelaide Adelaide 1927
Mitchell gates and Victoria Drive fencing, University of Adelaide Adelaide 1929
Waite Building, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus Urrbrae 1927
Hannaford Laboratories, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus Urrbrae 1928
Elder Smith and Co. Ltd. Adelaide 1937
Executor Trustee and Agency Building Adelaide 1922
State War Memorial Adelaide
Nurney House alterations North Adelaide 1930
Firms or Professional Partnerships
Name Dates Worked
Woods & Bagot 1905-1915
Woods, Bagot & Jory 1915-1917
Woods, Bagot, Jory & Laybourne Smith 1917-1930
Woods, Bagot & Laybourne Smith 1930-1932
Woods, Bagot, Laybourne-Smith & Irwin 1932-
(1936) ‘Who’s Who’ South Australian Centenary 1936, Amalgamated Publishing Co., Adelaide: 277.
(1986) Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885, South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society.
Adelaide Club (1957) Foundation Members of the Adelaide Club, 1863-1864, Adelaide.
Bagot, J.M. (1946) Reveries in Retrospect, Hassell Press, Adelaide.
Bagot, W.H. (1919) ‘A plea for tradition’ in Ure Smith, S., Stevens, B. and Hardy Wilson, W., Domestic Architecture in Australia, Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Bagot, W.H. (1935) Architecture and Growth of St Peter’s Cathedral, Lewis, Adelaide.
Berry, Dean W. (1979) ‘Bagot, Walter Hervey (1880 – 1963)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press: 133.
Freeland, J.M. (1971) The Making of a Profession, Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
Freestone, Robert (2007) Designing Australia’s Cities: Culture, commerce and the city beautiful 1900-1930, UNSW Press, Sydney.
Irwin, J. (1977) The Irwin Family: junior South Australia branch, Rigby, Sydney.
Jones, D. (2002) ‘Pre-Adelaide regionalism heritage: regionalist Adelaide design, traditionalism and Walter Hervey Bagot’ in D. Jones (ed) 20th Century Heritage Our Recent Cultural Legacy. Proceedings of the Australia ICOMOS National Conference 2001, 28 November-1 December 2001, Adelaide, School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Adelaide & Australia ICOMOS Secretariat, Burwood: 310-319.
Jones, D. (2001) ‘Walter Hervey Bagot (1880-1963) Architect’ in J. Healey (ed) S.A.’s Greats: the Men and Women of the North Terrace Plaques, Historical Society of South Australia, Adelaide: 4.
Jones, D. (2012) 'Bagot, Walter' in Goad, P. and Willis, J. (eds) The encyclopaedia of Australian architecture, Cambridge University Press: 60.
Marsden, S., Stark, P. and Sumerling, P. (1990) Heritage of the City of Adelaide: An illustrated guide, Corporation of the City of Adelaide, Adelaide.
Morgan, E.J.R. and Gilbert, S.H. (1969) Early Adelaide Architecture, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Page, M. (1986) Sculptors in Space: South Australian Architects 1836-1986, RAIA (SA), Adelaide.
Walkley, G. (1976) The Louis Laybourne Smith School of Architecture and Building, South Australian Institute of Technology, Adelaide.
(1914) ‘South Australian Notes’, Salon, August 1914: 31.
(1963) ‘Obituary’, Architecture in Australia, December 1963.
(1963) ‘Obituary’, South Australian Chapter Bulletin, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, September 1963: 14.
Bagot, W. (1915a) ‘Notes on Criticism’, Salon, October 1915: 66-71.
Bagot, W. (1915b) ‘The British School at Rome’, Salon, April 1915: 106-107.
Bagot, W. (1913a) ‘Impressions in Italy’, Salon, November 1913: 277-279.
Bagot, W. (1913b) ‘Impressions in Italy’, Salon, October 1913: 206-209.
Bagot, W. (1913c) ‘Impressions in Italy’, Salon, September 1913: 140-142.
Bagot, W. (1913d) ‘Sculptor Architects of the Renaissance’, Salon, August 1913: 68-72.
Bagot, W. (1953-58) ‘Early Adelaide Architecture’, series of articles, SAIA Bulletin.
Brine, J. (1990) ‘Hassell’s Birthday’, Architect SA, No. 2: 34-36.
Collins, J., Ibels, A.M. and Garnaut, C. (2005) ‘Years of significance: South Australian architecture and the Great War’, Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia, 33: 25-39.
Jones, D. (2006) ‘Conifer charisma’, Australian Garden History, vol.18, no.1, July August 2006: 8-13.
Laybourne Smith, L. (ed), (1914) ‘St. Patrick’s Church, Adelaide’, Salon, April 1914: 555.
'Past Presidents, SA Chapter: Walter Bagot', PLACE, July 2011: 11.
‘Architectural Award of Merit’, Advertiser, 23 March 1945: 10.
‘Half century of SA Architecture’, Advertiser, 15 January 1955.
‘Well known architect dies’, Advertiser, 30 July 1963: 3.
Cockburn, S. (1960) ‘He has grown old gracefully’, Advertiser, 9 July 1960: 2.
Bagot, W. H. (1958) Some nineteenth century Adelaide architects, Pioneers’ Association of South Australia (Series), no. 33/58.
Beck, E. (no date) Adelaide Architecture 1903-1927, unpublished thesis, Johnson collection S223/4/51, Architecture Museum, Louis Laybourne Smith School of Architecture and Design, University of South Australia (LLSAM).
Jolly, Bridget (2000) Preliminary listing for the Database of Australasian Architects and Associated Professionals, unpublished report, LLSAM.
Bagot to Laybourne Smith, correspondence, 1914-1915 (various dates), Laybourne Smith collection S204/1/14, LLSAM.
Woods Bagot Architects, BRG 18, 1882-1975 letter books, account books, partnership records, photographs, brochures, plans and drawings, and list of works executed, State Library of South Australia.
Irwin, James (1980) Oral History Interviews and Transcripts. Gasper, J (1981) An Oral History of the Building Industry in South Australia: Adelaide 1900 – 1980. Held at State Records of South Australia, GRG 138/4/00000 Boxes 1-3.
Australian Heritage Places Inventory, online at http://www.heritage.gov.au/ahpi/index.html
Division of Finance and Infrastructure, University of Adelaide (2004) Heritage Listed Buildings Inventory, online at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ps/services/records/Heritage_Listed_Buildings_Inventory_2004.pdf
Willis, Julie (1998) South Australian Architects Biography Project CD Rom, University of South Australia, LLSAM.
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Army Values, combat helmet take down potential gunman in Alabama
By Ms. Megan Garcia (Benning)September 24, 2018
1 / 1 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Sean Duffy, cavalry scout, Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, at Fort Benning, Ga., helped de-escalate a potential crime in July 2018 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal this month for his courage and act of selfless service. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Megan Garcia) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT BENNING, Ga. -- It takes a brave person to stop an attack against a complete stranger, especially when it means risking one's own life.
Nevertheless, that's exactly what Pvt. Sean Duffy and his friend Pfc. Cris Croswell did two months ago. Although risky, Duffy said if he had to do it all over again, he would, because that's what living up to the Army Values means.
"When I was in basic training, my drill sergeants instilled in us that no matter what the situation is, always live up to the Army Value [of] selfless service," said Duffy, who is a cavalry scout with Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia. "You always protect the civilians of the United States. No matter what, you risk your life."
In early July, Duffy and Croswell were sitting in a parking lot in downtown Auburn, Alabama, when they heard a couple arguing with one another on the sidewalk close to the parking lot.
"They were being extremely loud, so we turned the music down to listen," Duffy said.
The couple continued to walk down the sidewalk until they stopped closer to Duffy's car. According to Duffy, the female began screaming that she had been abused, and although he thought that maybe she was just overly intoxicated, he still continued to pay attention.
"She said, 'He's got a gun. He's trying to kill me,'" Duffy said.
Duffy and Croswell exited their cars to further assess the situation and to see if in fact the male was carrying a weapon. Duffy grabbed his Army Combat Helmet out of his trunk to use as a deterrent if necessary. That's when they saw the male put a gun to the females head and say, "I'm going to shoot her."
In that moment, Duffy and Croswell proceeded to act.
"My battle buddy goes around from the right, I go from the left, and he's backing up in the alley with the gun still pointed," Duffy said.
Duffy added he also threw his helmet at the male, and although he did not hit him, the action caused the male to take off running. Although the situation could have ended there, it didn't. Duffy and Croswell pursued him.
"It was important for me to catch him because he threatened someone's life, and that was just how I was raised," Duffy said. "You don't threaten someone's life, and you don't abuse women."
Shortly after catching up with the man, police showed up and arrested him.
Sgt. Rafael Garcia, who serves as Duffy's first-line supervisor, said although he was shocked to hear of Duffy's bravery due to his newness to the Army, he's not shocked at Duffy's selfless attitude.
"I can always count on (Duffy) to complete the mission," said Garcia. "When last-minute missions come up, I know I can go to him because he will get it done. When we ask for volunteers, he's the first one to put himself out there. And if someone else volunteers, he'll talk to them to make sure it doesn't interfere with something else they may have going on."
For his actions, Garcia and their platoon sergeant recommended Duffy for the Army Commendation Medal, which he was awarded earlier this month.
"I see him on track for being a good leader and NCO," Garcia said. "He's an outstanding Soldier."
Army Values
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January 23, 2019Soldiers in training save choking infant
November 21, 2018DFAC open to ID cardholders for Thanksgiving
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Australian Big Brother talk
If big brother was to return...
Thread starter Laurie90
Laurie90
If BBAU was to return what’s the thoughts on the most ideal housemates...
reepbot
TINA ARENA FOREVER!
They don't know Tully.
Likes: BigBrotherCritic, Brekkie, Meglos and 6 others
GrantGotGold
Weed out the people auditioning who just want to be famous and get instagram followers. Don't accept anyone who wants a media career and uses a recruiting agency.
Surely this wouldn't be too hard to do to wade out the famewhores. It would be pretty obvious who is there for the right reasons. Even just by looking at their social media accounts.
Pick genuine people. People who want to go on the show purely to have a go, the experience and people who are massive fans of the show that grew up with it.
What happened to picking people like Sarah-Marie and Reggie? Ordinary people. These people are out there and auditioning you just have to wade through the massive clog of wannabes.
Likes: mistercat122, Mr Stickyfingers, timmydownawell and 2 others
reepbot said:
They don't know Tully
GrantGotGold said:
Weed out the people auditioning who just want to be famous
Amen to both of these responses!
I'd also suggest they have a broader age range. Instead of a bunch of 21yos and a couple of over 40s chucked in - and I know it would be difficult for people in their 30s because they might have kids/family obligations - but I really would prefer it if there was an age spread of 20s and 30s and a few older. Besides, people over 30 are less likely to be famewhores. Also, a decent mix of different cultures and orientations. It shouldn't be that hard when they have something like (a ridiculous) 24 housemates across a season. Masterchef does a big mix, why do some other reality shows have such a big problem (ok, I'm looking at you Nine).
Likes: Mr Stickyfingers, Isee and delcan
Awesome responses. I’ve been a huge fan of Big Brother since it began in Australia. Was absolutely devastated when it was cancelled on C10, then when C9 took it over well let’s not talk about the disappointments that came from those attempts. I agree that when they select the housemates it needs to be people that are normal everyday people, not models, not there for fame, just there for the experience and the experience alone.
Likes: timmydownawell and Mr Stickyfingers
...first of all Laurie90... welcome to the Forums... as I always say to newcomers... it's always great to have new input and comments from new people within the forums so please don't be afraid to jump into all of the other threads to comment too... we all welcome every post...
...apart from the fact that Channels 9 and 7 should NEVER be allowed to do Big Brother I'm in agreements with what has been said above already... especially these parts...
"Weed out the people auditioning who just want to be famous and get instagram followers. Don't accept anyone who wants a media career and uses a recruiting agency"... said by GrantGotGold... and...
..."I'd also suggest they have a broader age range. Instead of a bunch of 21yos and a couple of over 40s chucked in"... plus... "Also, a decent mix of different cultures and orientations"... said by timmydownawell...
...but if it does come back the housemates should NEVER have ANY contact from the outside world with phone calls/letters/videos or even live intrusions from any of their families whatsoever... no World News of the outside world (other than that of a family member being ill or dying of course)... in the original series of Big Brother when it first started it was an experiment of complete nobodies being thrown together to see just how they interact and tolerate each other... there were no gimmicks... no twists... no talking Fish... no 'haves' and 'have nots'... nothing whatsoever and the show was totally brilliant at the time (as far as I was concerned anyway) Laurie90...
...but the fact that they were all complete nobodies with no Media accounts was the main fun part of the show when it first started for me... it made you feel that you could actually audition for it the next year without having to have an Agent and an Agency doing the groundwork for you... YOU had to actually appear for the audition and present yourself and sell yourself to them one on one without any pre-hype shit... yes... they were the proverbial 'good old days' that's for sure... well that's my two cents worth anyway... again... welcome to the forums Laurie90... enjoy posting everywhere my friend... cheers.
Likes: buck07, Fuzz, timmydownawell and 1 other person
deadasdisco
I'm a Music Producer, what of it.
I doubt they'll ever not go casting for influencers and such. Hopefully less to a degree but everyone will have an agenda. A friend of mine in the music industry actually got hit up this year by a casting director to be in MTV's Are You the One. Lmaoo
Likes: timmydownawell
Heath Loxton
The problem with trying to get people aged from 30 to 60 onto a show like Big Brother is that, between those ages, they are in the peak of their personal and professional lives with heavy demands of marriage, children, careers, mortgages, etc. Married couples will miss their partner while they are on the show. Children will miss their parent while they are on the show. Bosses will miss out on their employee while they are on the show. Banks will miss out on their repayments while they are on the show.
Likes: Dennis Haikalis
Also in terms of it being the show we loved I'm not sure I want it to be particularly older. It's tricky because obviously there is that ready made fanbase of older viewers who, despite not wanting to admit it, have more in common with 40-somethings than 20-somethings nowadays, but on the other hand if it does come back should it be a show for a new generation - though then again that is arguably what Channel 9 tried to do and completely failed.
Casting isn't just about age anyway - you can have a dull 20 year old and interesting 40 year old and vice versa. It's about getting the blend right, but it's whether you want that blend to be a group of people you believe to be mates or something that has more of a family dynamic.
Heath Loxton said:
Banks will miss out on their repayments while they are on the show.
The HMs did get paid a stipend to cover their outside costs while they were in the house. It was rumoured to be $500/week back in the day, and would presumably be a lot more these days. For the younger HMs that would have been good because obviously they didn't have to pay for food, booze, entertainment, electricity, etc during their time, so they probably had a useful bank balance when they left.
Dennis Haikalis
I was Zcsund1234
That’s true, I believe there was an article written in 2014 about 2007 housemate Joel who said the weekly allowance was more than enough to free him from any debts he had as well as covering all his bills whilst he was in the house for 92 days.
Canadian Royality
Bringing up the recent revival of MTV's The Real World again but they've done a great job of finding interesting people with stories to tell, that have opposing views, who can fight and argue, but still appear to be enjoying each-others company.
As Brekkie said it's all about the mix... You can have a house full of young people and still get interesting story-lines out of them just as much as a house full of dullards. For me as well it's about maturity... Can these people have impending drama and move on from it? Are they mature enough to talk about situations beyond the superficial? What have they got to learn? How can they adapt and overcome weakness?
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Philippines' Duterte wants US troops out in two years
Duterte, who made the announcement in Japan, also said he was willing to scrap defence pacts with the US if necessary.
Duterte and Prime Minister Abe said their countries share common values as democracies [Reuters]
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced that he wants US troops out of his country in the next two years and is willing to scrap defence pacts with longtime ally Washington if necessary.
"I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops," Duterte told an economic forum in Tokyo on Wednesday, in a clear reference to US forces, ahead of a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Duterte's remarks on Wednesday during a high-profile visit to Japan follow a series of anti-American tirades by the firebrand leader.
OPINION: Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China
"I want them out and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive agreements, I will," he added.
On Tuesday, before leaving Manila and after arriving in Tokyo, Duterte also said that he wants to cut off a 2014 defence pact with the US, while calling Americans "foolish" and "a bully".
The Philippines has a decades-old defence treaty with the United States, and a separate 2014 executive agreement, allowing US troops to use its bases by visiting American forces and expanding annual military exercises.
The US currently maintains a small presence of special forces on the southern island of Mindanao to aid counterterrorism operations.
But Duterte has already said he wants US troops out of Mindanao, because their presence stokes tensions on the island where armed groups have waged a decades-long separatist movement.
The 71-year-old has also slammed Washington for questioning his violent crime crackdown, which has claimed thousands of lives and attracted widespread international criticism.
Japan announced loans totalling $204m to the Philippines following Duterte's meeting with Abe [Reuters]
'Convergence of national interest'
Duterte's first visit to Japan since he took office in June follows his trip to China last week, during which he announced a "separation from the United States".
Asked to clarify the president's remarks, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Duterte did not mean US troops would be ousted, stressing that "our national interests still continue to converge".
The Philippines' Duterte inches away from US and closer to China
Later on Wednesday, during Duterte's meeting with Prime Minister Abe, the two leaders stressed their countries' common values as democracies that respect the rule of law.
"The Philippines will continue to work closely with Japan on issues of common concern in the region ... including the South China Sea," Duterte said after their summit.
Japan announced loans totalling $204m to help improve the Philippines' maritime safety as well promote peace and agriculture on Mindanao.
Although Japan depends on the US for security, Tokyo has so far not responded to Duterte's diatribes, while Washington has taken a calm approach.
Abe had worked to improve bilateral relations with Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino, providing patrol boats to support Manila in its territorial row with Beijing over rival claims to the South China Sea.
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Biohazard, Crime and Trauma Scene Cleanup Services in Yamhill County, Oregon
Facts about Yamhill County, Oregon
Yamhill County is a county in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 census, the population was 99,193. The county seat is McMinnville. The name's origin is probably an explorer's name for a local Native American tribe, the Yamhill, who are part of the North Kalapuyan family.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) (0.3%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Oregon by area.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 99,193 people, 34,726 households, and 25,020 families residing in the county. The population density was 138.6 inhabitants per square mile (53.5/km²). There were 37,110 housing units at an average density of 51.8 per square mile (20.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.4% white, 1.5% Asian, 1.5% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 7.2% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.6% were German, 13.7% were English, 12.2% were Irish, and 5.0% were American.
Of the 34,726 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.0% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 36.8 years.
Serving Yamhill County, Oregon
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In order to secure the rights and interests of workers and to stabilize their lives, Article 28 of the Labor Standards Act promulgated and effective in July 1984, stipulates that workers who are laid off because their employer closes down is liquidated or goes bankrupt, are entitled to claim their wages for up to six months from the Overdue wages Payment Fund provided their request of wages arrears payment is denied by the employer; it is imperative that the employer should return the wages arrears to the Overdue Wages Payment Fund within the fixed time. To further protect employees' rights and to reduce labor disputes, on February 4, 2015, the amendment to Article 28 expanded the scope of payments the Fund covers, with the Fund now covering retirement pension and severance pay required by the provisions of Labor Standards Act, and the severance pay required by the provisions of Labor Pension Act (the total amount shall be no more than six months of average wage.) The purpose of this act is to create a risk sharing society in which all businesses contribute to the Fund and use it as an advance to finance unforeseen costs when management difficulties occur.
With the Fund, laid-off workers are able to claim their wages without the risk of depression from unemployment, while the inflicted businesses can be assisted in going through the crisis-a win-win measure for creating harmonious labor-management relationships. Collection of the fund started in November 1986, with its rate set at 0.05 percent of the total Labor Insurance salary. From July 1 1996, after a certain amount was secured for the Fund, the rate was lowered to 0.025 percent as a means to reduce the financial burden on employers.
Applications for advance payment began on February 1 1987; since then the restrictions for application were gradually relaxed after constant review to fulfill the mission of the Fund as a means to protect the lives of workers.
With the smooth operation of the Fund, the Ministry of Labor gradually expanded the applicable scope of the Labor Standards Act coverage from 1998, so that the entire labor force in the public and private sectors, with the exception of a few businesses, was covered by the program. This system, In short, has made significant contribution to the stability of workers' lives, labor-management relationships and the security of society.
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