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__label__wiki	0.758674	0.758674	Africa Speaks Blog Gender Affairs Racism Watch Twitter Archive Haiti: overthrowing slavery and resisting the IMF January 23, 2010 by: Africa Speaks By Sadie Robinson THE SUFFERING of Haiti’s people today is rooted in slavery and imperialism. The Times newspaper has described Haiti as “the unluckiest country” while the racist US evangelical Pat Robertson said that Haitians had “swore a pact to the devil” when they rose up against slavery in the 1790s. But it is imperialism, not the resistance to it, which has been the problem. A 17th century treaty, agreed by the European powers, gave the French government the colony of Saint-Domingue (today’s Haiti). This was the western third of a territory that had been grabbed earlier by the Spanish ruling class – the island of Hispaniola. By the 1780s Saint-Domingue was the most profitable colony in the world, producing sugar, coffee, cotton and tobacco. Exports from Saint-Domingue made up two thirds of the gross national product of France. It was a larger source of income for its colonial masters than Britain’s 13 North American colonies combined. Saint-Domingue became the world’s single largest producer of coffee and the source for around 75 percent of its sugar. Hundreds of thousands of slaves were hurled into this hell. Death rates were so high that at its worst the colony brought in around 40,000 new slaves a year. On 14 August 1791, the slaves rose up in a great rebellion. They took inspiration from the 1789 French Revolution combined with their own ideas of freedom and justice. Led by Toussaint L’Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the uprising defeated the slave owners, beat back the French, British and Spanish armies and undermined the whole slave system. The British ruling class had hoped to shift the situation to their advantage and take over Saint Domingue. Their defeat was one of the greatest military disasters in British history, with the British losing 50,000 troops. Haiti became the world’s first black republic in 1804. But the great powers were determined to punish the country for having the audacity to resist. They feared otherwise that Haiti would become a beacon of struggle, encouraging other slaves and colonies to furious resistance. The European powers that had devastated Haiti during the wars that followed the slave rebellion now tightened the screw economically. Eventually France agreed that trade could be resumed – but only if its government agreed to pay compensation to the slave owners of 150 million francs (equivalent of about $35 billion today). Haiti, which should have received recompense for the foul crime of slavery, had to pay its masters! And although the sum was later cut to “only” 90 million francs, Haiti continued to pay until 1947. These payments, along with investment in building up defences through fear of being attacked again, diverted money from the things ordinary people needed. It meant crippling poverty for people in Haiti. A series of dictatorships ran the country throughout the 19th century. Interference from outside powers intensified as the US increased its dominance in the region. In order to meet its “debts” to France, the Haitian government had borrowed heavily from US banks. The US invaded Haiti in 1915 and troops occupied it until 1934 in order to police the debt repayments and protect US companies. It left behind a Haitian army which was determined to retain control by an elite, frustrate any movements for change from Haiti’s people and to support US-backed brutal dictatorships. In 1957, with army backing, Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier became president. He formed a murderous militia, the Tonton Macoutes, that was used to terrorise and slaughter opponents. Prior to his election, Duvalier used radical rhetoric to win support among Haitian workers. In power, he worked with the head of the army to round up anyone who supported any of his political rivals and carefully destroyed all potential opposition. In 1959 US Marines intervened to keep Duvalier in power and in 1961 he won one of the most fraudulent elections ever held. The official tally to have his term of office extended to 1967 was 1,320,748 votes to zero. In 1971, just before his death, “Papa Doc” handed over to his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier. But the brutality of the regimes, combined with the imposition of neoliberal economic policies, led to growing problems for Duvalier. Outside interference didn’t only take the form of direct intervention in Haiti’s government. It was also economic. The US in particular pursued a strategy of forcing Haiti to open its economy – with devastating effects. In 1986 a massive uprising overthrew “Baby Doc”. The revolt began in 1985, when demonstrations and raids on food distribution warehouses swept through the city of Gonaives. By the end of January 1986 protests and riots had spread to several other cities – and the US began to see him as a liability who had to be removed. He left the country in February. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) granted loans to Haiti on the condition that it agreed to structural adjustment programmes. One agreement instructed Haiti to scrap a law mandating increases in the minimum wage when inflation exceeded 10 percent, further impoverishing Haitian workers. The agreements prohibited subsidies to Haitian farmers – which would be “intervening” in the free market – while forcing Haiti to open its economy to highly-subsidised US imports. Haitians became dependent on the global food market. Before 1950 Haiti produced more than 80 percent of its own food and also exported food. Today it imports 75 percent of its food. The horrific consequences of this were seen in 2007 and 2008, when the global price of rice soared and ordinary Haitians found themselves priced out of eating. Riots over food price rises forced out the prime minister, Jacques Edouard Alexis, in April 2008. The US did very well out of the policies. Between 1986 and 1989 the value of US agricultural exports to Haiti more than doubled from $44 million to $95 million. Meanwhile the poorest in Haiti were driven from the land into miserable urban slums. Growing hunger in the countryside sparked a wave of emigration to the cities. The population in the capital Port-au-Prince grew from 250,000 to nearly a million in 20 years. More emigrated abroad. US president Barack Obama has sent troops into Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. This “aid” has been sold as a measure to help ordinary people. But the history of US involvement in the country tells a different story. Troops have gone into Haiti under the cover of humanitarianism time and time again – the outcome has been disastrous for ordinary Haitians. Just as in many other countries – such as Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan – Western intervention has not solved the poverty and instability that blights the lives of ordinary people. It has entrenched it. The imperial powers have no benevolent interest in aiding the Haitian people. Their only thought is to continue their control of regions and resources. Source: socialistworker.co.uk Filed under: General,Haiti,USA Tags: Aid, Destruction, Earthquake, Haiti, IMF, USA Africa Speaks Homepage Rastafari Interactive A Complex World: History, Religion, Caste and Race in India Zimbabwe: The chalice that should not pass Aristide Should Be Allowed to Return to Haiti MINUSTAH and the Epidemic: Cholera in Haiti Zimbabwe land reform critics eat humble pie Bridging The Divide to Rebuild Zimbabwe On the Tiger Woods “Affair” and the Myth of Exclusive Monogamous Morality (Part I) Zimbabwe: U.S. Must Come Clean – SA Envoy Zimbabwe: PM Morgan Tsvangirai tells West to face reality Malema hails Zimbabwe’s empowerment drive Africa Speaks on Haitians will defend their sovereignty Africa Speaks on The Kidnapping of Haiti Africa Speaks on When Are Haitians Looters and When Are They Just Hungry? Africa Speaks on Disaster Capitalism Headed to Haiti Africa Speaks on The Rescue Operation’s Priorities in Haiti Africa Speaks on Haiti: Aid effort facing an uphill battle Africa Sources AmonHotep Ayanna’s Roots Books@Amazon Haile Selassie Haiti’s Coup HowComYouCom Map of Africa Poetry Board RaceandHistory Ras Tyehimba RastaTimes Reasoning Forum Rootsie’s Blog RootsWomen Trinicenter US Crusade Venezuela Watch Zimbabwe Watch Copyright © 2010 Africa Speaks Blog.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2025
__label__cc	0.725427	0.274573	Emmett G. Dupas III Bienville Capital Group 111 Veterans Mem Blvd Ste 940 About Emmett Emmett has been married to his wife Jennifer for 23 years and has two sons, Jeremy and Ethan. He spends his time cheering on his son Ethan who plays baseball, and competes in cross coutry and track. Emmett and his family enjoy attending New Orleans sports and music events. In 2005, Emmett and his family were decimated due to Hurricane Katrina. Choosing to rebuild in the community he loved so much, he and his family have seen great improvements to the Greater New Orleans area since then. In 2012, Emmett created a function he called Pay It Forward/Pay It Back to help those affected by Hurricane Issac. This involved asking those who received assistance in 2005 to pay it back and for those who haven't lost anything to pay it forward in their life. The group raised over $25,000 for eight families whose lives were impacted by the storm in Plaquemine Parish. The coordination of 80+ individuals to help these families gut and clean out their homes was very impactful to the community. Emmett George Dupas III uses Bienville Capital Group as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Bienville Capital Group is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Emmett George Dupas III is a Representative of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), a subsidiary of NM and federal savings bank. All NMWMC products and services are offered only by properly credentialed Representatives who operate from agency offices of NMWMC. Representative is an Insurance Agent of NM, and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (long-term care insurance) a subsidiary of NM, and a Registered Representative of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and member FINRA (www.finra.org) and SIPC (www.sipc.org). Emmett George Dupas III is primarily licensed in Louisiana and may be licensed in other states.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2036
__label__wiki	0.769847	0.769847	Previously Unreleased Bill Hicks Album to Accompany Reissued Catalog Late comedian's audio and video works to become available online this spring, while a DVD box set is planned for the fall By Kory Grow March 12, 2015 The entire audio and video works of controversial late comedian Bill Hicks, whose darkly acerbic wit and socially conscious observations helped define Generation X comedy in the Nineties, will be reissued beginning next month. In partnership with his estate, the production company Comedy Dynamics will make all of Hicks' albums and video releases available to digital and VOD retailers on April 28th. Concurrently with the re-release of Hicks' albums, SiriusXM will play his catalog on its Raw Dog channel. A DVD box set of his video works will come out on August 18th, and an album of previously unreleased Hicks audio is slated for October 27th. In addition to the reissues and new releases, a Hicks special is set to air in movie theaters for one night. Comedy Dynamics Presents: Bill Hicks, which comprises footage from his Relentless DVD (filmed at the Montreal International Comedy Festival in 1991) and never-before-seen footage, will play in select theaters on April 27th. Tickets go on sale March 27th via Fathom Events. "After many months of hard work and dedication, we couldn't be more humbled to assume control of the Bill Hicks catalog," Comedy Dynamics President of Production Brian Volk-Weiss said in a statement. "Bill Hicks is one of the most important stand-up comedians to have walked this planet. The duty to expose him to a new generation of comedy fans is a true honor, we'll do him proud." READ MORE: www.rollingstone.com Posted by Lee Swain at 12:49 PM	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2038
__label__cc	0.748097	0.251903	The Most Bizarre NFL Scandals Of All Time football \| 1/29/19 It can take a lot to break through the media bubble, but some of the most shocking NFL scandals are also some of the most bizarre. These are professional football players or football teams that go out of their way to break the rules both on and off the field. From dogfighting rings to weird confessions of love during sideline interviews to murders, the NFL has had to deal with it all. In some cases, the matter could be dealt with internally, while others had to involve law enforcement. Nonetheless, these stories are confusing, intriguing, and just down right brutal in some cases. HeadsetGate Adam Glanzman/Getty Images You’re going to be seeing the New England Patriots quite a bit on this list. The most recent accusation comes from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who say that they were toying with their headsets during a game at Gillette Stadium. The Steelers say that their headsets were only receiving New England Patriot broadcasts and they weren’t able to talk to themselves. They claim that every time they would ask a league official to come and check it out the broadcasts would magically disappear.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2042
__label__cc	0.639446	0.360554	One of the important rules about advertising and sales promotion is to get the message across in as striking way possible. You have to grab the prospective customer’s attention with an arresting image or statement. Relevance, accuracy and factuality are desirable but not essential! Things (details) must be kept to a minimum and sparing use of text is essential. What you have to say must be said in few words (the fewer the better) and above all, they must have impact as you want the prospective customer to remember them. A catchy jingle can help. For instance, in the 1950s and 1960 there was a carpet cleaner with the brand name “1001” and the jingle went; “One thousand and one cleans a big, big, carpet for less than half a crown!” To our younger readers, “half a crown” equated to 12.5 pence, or “New Pence” as they were once called. I was a little boy when that jingle was heard through the old Philips black and white TV and it has stuck in my mind all these years. Not that I have ever bought any 1001 carpet cleaner! Which is why we have created the image above of Madame! The image has been created to make a number of points: Firstly it’s sheer outrageousness! To portray the UK’s second female Prime Minister dressed as a dominatrix purporting to arrive at a venue for a meeting. Secondly, that it is a complete fantasy. The young lady whose body it is was 24 when the photograph was taken and Madame is 62. With all the Botox injections, dieting, plastic surgery and foundation wear, Madame would be unable to walk into a summit meeting looking like that! It is as much a fantasy as the idea that a “Hard Brexit” will not be catastrophic to the British economy! Which is why we have created and published the image! To try and get it into the thick heads of ERG Tory MPs and their UKIP backing group that if they want the UK to “Brexit” then they have to vote through Madame’s dreadful deal. Because it is the ONLY way of leaving the EU whilst keeping the economy intact! It is the “Hobson’s Choice” of withdrawal agreements or the Henry Ford choice of colour for his famous Model T (You can ANY colour you want! As long as it’s black). As Doctor Richard North states in his blog-post today (http://eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=87158): “You can’t necessarily assume that Mrs May knows what she’s doing – there have been no signs of that so far. But, at least, we now know what she intends to do.” The phrase “running down the clock” will have entered the British English language by April Fool’s Day 2019! Of course, were by some miracle the Withdrawal Agreement to be approved by the House of Commons tomorrow, it could NOT be put into effect by 11PM on Friday 29th March 2019. There is not enough time! Therefore IF the UK is to leave the EU with a deal, then it CANNOT leave on that day! That means an Article 50 extension. The British Gazette’s Editor differs from Doctor North however in that we feel that what has become known as “the Kyle Amendment” where MPs approve the withdrawal deal but make it subject to a confirming referendum with the option of an Article 50 revocation is now likely to garner most support in a bitterly divided Commons. The ERG and many Tories will be against it. As will the DUP. However ALL SNP, Independent Group and Lib-Dem MPs will vote for it as will many Labour MPs. IF there is a second referendum it is a racing certainty that the EU27 will agree to extend whatever time is necessary for the vote to take place. The other thing that is CERTAIN – whatever happens – is the presence of a lot of political pain! Brexit, EU, UK	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2052
__label__wiki	0.724488	0.724488	SBM Bank (India) Envisions An Expansion Of 16 Branches By The Year 2022 With new strategies around converting Non-Performing Assets to create growth, SBM (India) discuss their plans to double its presence in the world’s third largest economy (India). 1554964639_01jstq_cropped_30_.png by Bhaktvatsal Sharma With an intent to disrupt one of the biggest economies in the world, the State Bank of Mauritius is keen to expand its footprint in India. In an interview with BW Businessworld, Andrew Bainbridge, Group CEO, SBM shares their strategies and growth plans in India. How do you envision the economic activity shaping up in India? SBM Bank is the first foreign Indian bank that has received a license to operate in the WOS mode. India is growing to become the third largest economy in the world. We expect India to witness strong economic growth in 2019, after emerging as the fastest growing major economy in the world in recent years. Better demand conditions, capacity expansion from growing investments in infrastructure, continuing positive effects of reform policies and improved credit offtake, especially in the services sector, will sustain the robust GDP growth. The strong ties and excellent diplomatic relations shared between Mauritius and India and which span several decades have been the driving force for establishing our presence in the Indian sub-continent in 1994. We currently have four branches across the country, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ramachandrapuram which previously operated as branches of SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd. SBM is the first foreign institution to obtain a license from the Reserve Bank of India to set up a universal banking business in India through a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) and recently we celebrated the formal opening of SBM Bank (India) Limited by the Honourable Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius. Our transition to a full-fledged banking service in India will offer us a better reach and presence in the Indian market. Moreover, this enables the Bank to build a robust franchise in a well-diversified manner and build capability with a mix of domestic and offshore products available to resident individuals and companies. It further strengthens our capabilities for financing trade and investment flows along the India-Africa corridor and our emergence as a key financial player in the region, building on our presence in India, Africa and across the Indian Ocean region. We have aspirations and ambitions to build a strong financial institution in the country. The building blocks, the enablers and the structures, should be in place in the next couple of months. We will gradually accelerate business. We also wish to make banking more convenient to our customers and will take a modular approach in terms of technology and digital offerings. Please elaborate on SBM Bank India’s expansion plan and how do you see the bank in the next five years? SBM Bank (India) Limited plans to double its network by setting up four new branches by the end of March 2020 and increase this to around 16 in the next two years. Which are the major areas and sectors you are planning to focus on? SBM Bank (India) will emphasize on the mid-market segment comprising mid-corporates and higher end SMEs, trade finance, capital markets, wealth management and remittances. One of the key focus areas of SBM Bank India will be to build up a robust liability franchise. How about hiring plans to manage the expansion? With our expansion plan, we will surely have people to manage the key operations but we will use technology to our advantage. Our intent is to be a lean bank with automation, efficiency, and agility as key cornerstones. How are you planning to meet the capital requirements? The minimum capital requirement for starting the WOS is Rs 500 crore which has already been infused. Depending on the needs of the business, we may infuse more capital in the future. Further, we can also raise Tier II capital at a later stage if required. We see Internationalisation as the key pillar in SBM’s vision - and your goal to project SBM as the regional Bank in the Indian Ocean and Africa region – can you elaborate on this. From the internationalisation perspective, the conversion of our Indian operations to a WOS will reinforce our capabilities for financing trade and investment flows along the India-Africa corridor and our emergence as a key financial player in the region, building on our reinforced presence in India, Africa, and the Indian Ocean region. Also, entities having an India-Africa presence or business will benefit from the scale advantages of banking with SBM across multiple geographies. I would like to highlight that in less than one year, SBM Bank (Kenya) has grown inorganically from a Tier-3 player to a strong Tier-2 bank, operating around 60 branches and serving more than 200,000 customers. This is an indicator of our growth potential. How is the trade corridor between India – Mauritius and Africa expanding and what is the role of SBM in this? Experts state that Africa is characterized by a major financing gap in respect of trade and infrastructure. With the African continent expected to undergo a phase of sustained expansion, the trade and infrastructure requirements are expected to grow accordingly. India is well-positioned to be one of the main supply countries for Africa. For its part, Mauritius can leverage its excellent diplomatic and economic relations with India and Africa to serve as a bridge between these two regions through its buoyant international financial center. Being present in all these geographies, SBM aims to become a key player along the Asia-Africa corridor. What is your overall take on NPA across the industry? How are you prepared to tackle such a situation going forward? We remain fundamentally optimistic about India. The Indian economy will continue to witness robust growth, underpinned by good demand. India has made good progress in developing an institutional framework with IBC. It has begun to change the creditor’s and borrower’s behaviour. Payment discipline has also improved on account of the IBC framework, credit bureaus, and strong collection mechanisms. These are positive factors which will boost foreign investors interest. state bank of Mauritius SarkariPariksha Empowering The Unserved Population Of The Country	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2054
__label__wiki	0.543121	0.543121	Fresh Tickets: The Best Way to Serve Pilots...is to Be One Yourself By Dan Pimentel, Airplanista Blog Editor We all know about EAA's tireless work providing the experimental and homebuilt communities with vital information they need, and NBAA's work advocating for business aviation is second to none. But when it comes to serving the entire population of general aviation pilots by providing every shred of information we aviators need to know over a wide spectrum of topics and issues, nobody does it better than AOPA. Nobody. I make no secret about my respect for AOPA. The idea of being a private pilot in these United States without an AOPA membership is, to me, borderline irresponsible. It's sort of uncanny how well that organization seems to understand just what we pilots need, what we want, and what gets us excited. Here in part two of my "Fresh Tickets" series, I introduce you to Kristen Seaman, AOPA'S Communications Coordinator, and we find out why the people at AOPA HQ just seem to really understand pilots. It's because most of them are pilots, and as pilots, it's common knowledge that we all share identical DNA. They think like we do, they like the same things we like, and they used to hang on the airport fence as children, just like we did as kids. There is a culture of aviation passion within that organization – a culture that explains why AOPA seeks out special people to serve their membership – and those people are usually either current licensed pilots, or want to be very soon. Kristen Seaman Seaman's job at AOPA includes assisting in composing press releases, editorials, and newsletters, as well as maintaining the budget for the Communications Department. But she also serves as a point of contact for media outlets, outside organizations, and members seeking information and materials to help them share general aviation with their communities. But what Seaman really enjoys is meeting AOPA members directly. "The best part of my job," she explained, "is traveling to the major air shows around the country where I get to interact with members face-to-face and talk to prospective pilots about flight training and how they can get started." And one thing she knew early-on as an AOPA employee is that the best way to talk to pilots was to become one herself: Seaman first found the desire to earn her private pilot's ticket while studying meteorology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "All of my classes were aviation weather oriented, so we focused a lot on different weather factors that would impact aircraft, like icing, turbulence, and decreased visibility. I was so fascinated by weather that I wanted to be up in the air, experiencing it for myself (albeit not caught in the middle of a thunderstorm, of course). When I’d fly commercially, I spent all of my time looking at the shape of the clouds and thinking about their composition and the type of precipitation that they held. I very much wanted to be up flying next to them myself one day," she said. After being hired at AOPA in December, 2011, she found out they owned two Cessna 172S airplanes that were used for a multitude of tasks within the organization, one of these tasks being to serve as a training airplane for employees. She also found out that AOPA encouraged everyone at HQ to earn their ticket if they didn't already have one. There was a three-month rule that says employees could begin flight training after their initial “probation period” was over. But waiting 90 days was out of the question for Seaman: "I was far too anxious to start," said Seaman enthusiastically, "and ended up getting special permission to begin training about a month after I got hired. When someone presents you with the opportunity to learn how to fly, it seems silly not to take advantage of it. I also knew that flight training would help with my job duties. It took me about 90 hours to complete my Private Pilot Certificate using a CFI who just happened to also be an AOPA employee, and we managed to work the training into our lunch hour or before/after work. I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that is so committed to increasing the pilot population that they will help pay for a prospective pilot to earn their initial pilot certificate. Because of this and AOPA having its own training aircraft, costs remained relatively low. This benefit to my job has allowed me to connect with our members on a new level and make me an ambassador for general aviation, as well." But while it was AOPA that allowed Seaman to pursue her ticket, her schedule there became one more challenge to add to the normal challenges any student pilot faces. "Sure, there were absolutely a few times where I felt discouraged," Seaman said. "Each time came before a big milestone, such as solo, solo cross country, the knowledge test, and my practical test. Almost like clockwork, I was approaching the solo, solo cross country, and practical test milestones before our three major air shows: Sun ’n Fun, Oshkosh, and AOPA Summit. The problem was that being away from flying for a month or two for each show would set me back even further in my training and I would have to fly a few lessons before I got back up to the level I had reached before the shows. The most difficult hurdle to overcome was right before my initial solo. It was so hard to visualize the end of my training and I was feeling defeated. Going to Sun ’n Fun and talking to so many pilots who were eager to share the stories of their first solo really motivated and excited me to get back and finish. They also gave me a lot of advice on landings, which I was struggling with the most. When I got back, I was so anxious to get back up and apply what I had learned that in just a few short lessons, everything clicked and I was soon flying around the pattern alone. After crossing that milestone, I finally started to see the light at the end of the tunnel." When the time came to finally pass the checkride and become a pilot, Seaman recognized that she had obtained far more than just the freedom to fly: "I would be lying if I said being a licensed pilot didn’t make me feel like I’ve reached a certain level of “coolness,” which sounds silly to say at 25," she said. "Finishing this training has given me a sense of confidence that I never knew I had. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I feel like the training contributed so much more than just my ability to fly. It improved my study habits, driving abilities, patience, and time management. It has given me the self-assurance to pursue other goals that I had never thought possible." Now that this motivated young woman has finished her primary flight training, she has one piece of advice for anyone interesting in earning their private ticket. "Take your time finding the right flight instructor," Seaman says emphatically, "because that can make the difference between sticking with your flight training or not. My instructor and I went through a lot in the past year and I cannot stress enough how important it is to find someone who understands your personality and knows how to handle you in your best and worst times. All in all, a good instructor lets you make mistakes, holds you accountable, and knows how to calm you down when they see you getting worked up or overwhelmed." She has a fresh ticket, now what: "The first goal," Seaman says, "is to take some of my friends flying so that they can understand what I was up to all those times I had to decline getting together with them. I want to experience new airports and airspace, especially the DC Special Flight Rules area, which seems daunting right now. I’d love to be part of a group that flies out to different breakfast or lunch locations, as well. I actually do have a couple things that I really want to practice more, one of them being night flying. I met my requirements for night training, but I've never soloed at night, so I don’t feel that I am quite up to par. I also want to practice flying near max weight capacity, so that when I do take friends flying, I’ll have a better feel for the performance of the plane with extra weight. I also recently took park in my first Pilots N Paws rescue mission – flying four puppies to a new home in New York – and I look forward to continuing to give back and using my license for the benefit of others.” So the next time you find yourself in the AOPA booth at one of the big air shows, and the person you are talking to seems to really understand why you fly, there's a very high likelihood that the AOPA staffer will probably have a pilot's license in their possession. And if they are smiling wide or possibly even jumping for joy, you might have just met Kristen Seaman. Fresh Tickets: Cleared for Takeoff on Both Sides of the Pond New Pilot profile: Michael Medley Part 1 of an ongoing series (Editor's note, this is the first of a series on new pilots who have just earned their pilot's licenses - Dan) When looking at the current state of general aviation, it seems a plethora of threats at all levels continue to make earning a private pilot's license and flying GA airplanes a challenging, costly endeavor. Ridiculously high fuel prices makes each flight more expensive, while prices for new airplanes and avionics continue to rise to record highs. In Washington, D.C, pressure regarding the possibility of user fees and other legislation could negate any recent growth general aviation has enjoyed. Add to this the increasing costs for flight instruction, and it is easy to see why some potential flight students are staying on the sidelines, waiting to see where GA is headed. But despite all of those negatives, learning to fly still offers unlimited positives, and against the odds, flight schools continue to produce new Pilots with a fresh Sport or Private Pilot's ticket. In this new, ongoing Airplanista series, we will profile a few of these new licensed Pilots, and try to drill down and find out why they chose now as the right time to earn their ticket. First up, let me introduce you to Michael Medley, a resident of Manchester, England now based in Fort Pierce, Florida. Medley moved to Florida to complete his Full EASA ATPL license while also earning his FAA license up to the commercial level. Medley has been in the fast track, starting his training in November, 2012. "I chose this date because for flying, winter time is the best time of year to fly in Florida due to the consistency of the weather," Medley said. "My training was done in a Cessna 172, and it took 49 Hours to do my EASA PPL with a extra 12 hours to complete my FAA. In total, it took me 61 hours to obtain both licenses, which includes the standard FAA night rating. I took my lessons at Fort Pierce Airport (KFPR) and the total cost for both private licenses amounted to USD $11,000 excluding accommodation." Medley's path to the flight deck of an airliner as a professional pilot follows the same script as the rest of us...and it's a path that solidifies the theory that we should never stop introducing kids to airplanes: "When I was four years old returning from holiday in the States," Medley explains, "I managed to catch a visit to the Flight Deck to see the Captain. It was a night flight, so my first memory is of all those amazing lights and dials...I felt like I had stepped into outer space among the stars! But the reason I decided to pursue the career in aviation is when my Grandfather took me on a day trip at about six years old to Blackpool. He arranged for me to take a helicopter ride from the sea pier and fly along the shoreline and over the theme park. The pilot said I could sit upfront with him for the flight. It was incredible, a little boy with these big headphones on getting to sit with the pilot. It was at that moment I just KNEW that I had to become a pilot!! This feeling mixed with that first cockpit visit made me know I wanted to fly big jets. I shall forever be grateful to my grandfather for giving me that taste and the spark of my lifelong dreams!" Like many Pilots who aspire to fly for the airlines, Medley has a plan in place to achieve his goal. He's only 22 now, but has been working towards that assignment on an airliner's Flight Deck for eight years. "I started to properly pursue this career path when I was 14 years old," Medley said, "when I joined the Air Training Corps until I learned I would never make it as a RAF pilot due to my eyesight. I waited out the downturn of the economy of aviation in Europe, until January, 2012 when I decided that this was the year to start as Airlines in Europe started to recover. It took months to raise the USD $79,000 to do my whole Airline Pilot Programme, with a good portion of that coming from family. I'm glad I chose now and not four years ago to begin training as I believe life's experiences have helped me be successful so far and maturity has played a big part." Once his training did commence in Florida, there were two big challenges that faced the young trainee. "The first hurdle," explains Medley, "was obtaining my medical. Because of my eyesight, the CAA wanted me to see a specialist and I went through three agonizing weeks of not knowing if I could ever be a Pilot. It scared me as I didn't know of anything else I wanted to do in my life. The second hurdle was during flight training when I struggled with the aspect of emergency drills. I just couldn't get it right so I kept practicing both on the ground and in flight. I finally overcame, and now I say to always remember your checks and memorize your emergency drills! I am glad to have pushed through because it feels amazing to have my licenses. The best feeling of my life so far was passing those checkrides! To think less than 1% of people in the UK have a Private Pilots License and I am one of them. That's a pretty exclusive club I'm in!" Despite the costs, the challenges and the personal sacrifices Medley has made in pursuit of his dream, he highly recommends starting now if flying is something that someone wishes to enjoy. But like everything in his life, he says you need a plan: "I would say now is a good time to start flight training, but have a goal. Before starting, ask yourself if you want to fly for personal leisure or are you going to want a career out of it. If you want it for leisure, take your time and be patient because flying is an art and you should enjoy it without putting pressure on yourself to earn the license in a short space of time. But if you want this to be a career, do your research, visit these schools and have a tour to get a feel of the place...you want to know you will be comfortable and get the most out of your training. And I believe maturity is a big factor, because flying this isn't just a matter of take-off, cruise and landing. It's all about being a pilot-in-command and making decisions. Don't learn to fly if you're not mature or haven't gained life experience.'' Michael Medley Medley is an aviation optimist, and believes better days are coming. "The future for GA looks positive, more opportunities are growing around the world for people to fly," he says. "I think Pilot growth is going to be its highest over the next 5-10 years and to me just getting into this profession, that's quite exciting stuff. Not everyone wants to fly airliners, and I see more and more people just falling in love with General Aviation, acting on the opportunity it gives you to make your dreams and passion become a hobby and maybe even a career! Now that Medley is licensed and ready to move up into advanced ratings, he wants to become a cheerleader for GA, and thinks all Pilots should to likewise: "What all Pilots can do now to help bring more students into training is to spread the word of what it means to fly. The feeling you get as you race down the runway, the adrenaline rush as your wheels pull away from Terra Firma and you become airborne. The sound of the engine purring in delight during cruise as she just loves to fly! The views you get at sunset OR sunrise...all this sort of stuff is what builds up the passion and desire that all aviators have. Flying gives you the chance to view the world from a completely different perspective than the rest of the world and if I could do the training over and over again would I do it? Hell yes!" So for this young English pilot on his way up to the Flight Deck, choosing late 2012 to begin training was a good decision. He waited out the downturn for four years while gathering his required finances, did his homework on U.S. flight schools, and so far, all parts of that plan are in the green. Medley sees opportunity where others might see stagnation. This is a "cup half full" Pilot, one that is seizing this very moment to launch a professional career. Living Legends of Aviation: One Glorious Night Where the Aviation World Celebrates Dreams Fulfilled Inside the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton This past Friday, the focal point in aviation shifted for one evening away from Wichita or Oshkosh, and the spotlight was aimed directly upon Beverly Hills, California. For a few brief hours, the Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom - the home to the Golden Globe Awards show since 1961 - swarmed not with actors, producers and musicians, but with the full "A" list of our aviation and aerospace community at the 10th Annual Living Legends of Aviation event. For background, the "Legends" event is a fund-raiser for the Kiddie Hawk Academy, and if you've never heard of this big show, think "Acadamy Awards" with pilots instead of movie stars. Because this lavish event is held in exactly the same room as the Golden Globes, it has all the brilliant stagecraft and stunning audio/visual elements of that enormous gala. The room and tables were set to perfection, with an attentive catering staff serving an impeccable meal worthy of a Beverly Hills awards banquet. The term "first-class" does not go far enough to describe this Black Tie event, where the women wore glamorous gowns adorned with their most cherished jewelry while the men came dressed in their finest tuxedos, always accented by the most expensive aviator watch in their collection. I must confess that this was my first "red carpet" awards event, and it was quite an experience in ways you might not expect: After 30+ years as a professional photographer, I was blown away watching my first-ever paparazzi feeding frenzy when John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston arrived. With the required logowall as a backdrop, a group of security led Travolta and his wife to one end of the gauntlet. The moment the 40 or so paparazzi in attendance saw them, they went NUTS yelling "John, John, over here!" and "Kelly, right please, c'mon John, to the left, right here." For a solid 5 minutes, the paparazzi's requests directed the couple left and right, back and forth, while motor drives whirled and shutters clicked with 8 frames-per-second speeds. The harsh blue light of 10 million flashes illuminated the scene like an explosion at a Chinese fireworks factory. In my opinion, a great photograph is one where the photographer uses some creativity to capture a scene in an original way, so I cannot see the purpose of 40 dudes blowing off 10,000 identical images of Travolta and Preston smiling at the camera. It was hilarious to me, and as the couple exited into the ballroom, I had to wonder how long I could survive as a celebrity, having to endure such madness just to go to an event and talk about airplanes and flying with a bunch of my friends. When I say everyone that is anyone in aviation as at this event, I mean everyone. We couldn't walk three steps in the pre-event cocktail hour without coming face-to-face with people like Jetblue founder David Neeleman, Ed Bolen, President of NBAA, Tom Poberezny, EAA Chairman Emeritus, or Gene Cernan, the last Astronaut to walk on the moon. The top brass of all major airframe makers were in attendance, including Dale Klapmeier, CEO of Cirrus Aircraft, who I ran into in the elevator. It was a pretty safe bet that you could reach out your arm and touch someone who has either made some gigantic contribution to aviation, or built a worldwide aviation empire with a legacy product line, or funded a big Hollywood aviation film with his own money. The room was also thick with the world's finest aerobatic talent, including Sean Tucker, who did an exceptional job as one of the event's co-hosts. Surrounded by so many important aviation people was a bit of a rush, not because of the money that was in the room, but because of the kindred spirits. When we look at what makes us fly, it always comes down to passion, and it makes no difference if you fly a J3 or Citation. It was pretty clear with the wide smiles on every face that aviation people just love hanging out and talking about their flying machines: R.A. "Bob" Hoover on the event's theater screens What differentiates a room full of aviation leaders is the excitement for flight that we all share. I imagine at the Living Legends of Floor Cleaning Equipment event, the only "Hoover" you would find would be an Upright dual-action Vac-o-Matic. There would not be the same level of camaraderie of our aviation family when they come together on one special night to honor those in our community who have spent their lives pushing the envelope and redefining their segment of our aviation world. But at the Living Legends of Aviation event, the defining moment of the evening was listening to the legendary R.A. "Bob" Hoover. In a most entertaining way, Hoover discussed how all young test pilots shared the identical desire to obtain a speedy convertible sports car as early in their career as possible as his lead-in to introducing astronaut Gene Cernan and the family of the late, great Neil Armstrong. On numerous occasions during the evening, conversations were started with total strangers, and the subject was always the same. In one particular exchange, a very well-dressed gentleman must have spotted the grin frozen across my face and asked "having a good time I presume?" before inquiring "what do you fly?" I told him we love our 1964 Piper Cherokee 235, and he was most complimentary about the 235, saying he had many hours in one while acknowledging that model's reputation for having a high payload. When I asked what he flew, he replied matter-of-fact that his Gulfstream was parked at Van Nuys Airport. Neither of us looked at name tags, no judgments were made as to status nor did either of us care about the other's hierarchy in the aviation food chain. It was just two pilots talking about our airplanes, not unlike the same conversations I've had 100s of times while on a tram riding around KOSH in late July. What this night proved to me was that while net worth may fluctuate wildly from pilot to pilot, inside, we aviators share identical DNA. We all like to sit around eating, drinking and talking airplanes. At the "Legends" event, we dressed Black Tie to eat premium filets in the epicenter of Hollywood glitz. But in many ways, the atmosphere was not so far removed from the times we've all worn shorts and a "Will Fly To Food" t-shirt along the shores of Lake Winnebago to devour brats cooked on the World's Largest Grill. As people, we might have political and societal differences that at times can seem vast. But as members of this wonderful aviation family, we are one for all and all for one, an unstoppable force of like minds dedicated to the principle that flying is a freedom we must all work to preserve for future generations. Surrounded by aviation heroes, legends, movers, shakers, risk takers and money makers, the Living Legends of Aviation event was an evening that will be unforgettable. It has again solidified my opinion that aviation people are some of the finest humans you can find on this planet, devoted individuals working collectively to innovate, educate and grow aviation. I am forever proud to be a member of this family. The Left Seat of the Majors is Attainable, But be Prepared to Endure "the System" Dan Pimentel, We all read about the stagnant nature of general aviation, and many of us in the aviation family often brainstorm about how to bring new flight students into the system. Sure, there will always be a stream of recreational pilots coming through our flight schools, but to really focus on this situation and grow aviation, we need to look at the number of new flight students coming into the system who have aspirations of becoming professional airline pilots. There can be no debating that the working environment for airline pilots has changed from the glory days when the professionals up in front of a 707 were treated like aviation royalty, with the passengers sure those flying the airplane were making gobs of money. Today's airline seniority system has fractured that stereotype, and while being an airline pilot is still viewed by the public as a noble, even glamorous occupation, earning the left seat on a major carrier's flight deck is very challenging, to say the least. No longer are the Captain's bars waiting only for those pilots with supreme airmanship. Today – due to a seniority/hiring system at the regional carriers that takes advantage of young time-building talent – that path to a "major's" left seat is all about a new hire's ability to endure financial hardships. To examine the situation, Airplanista conducted a recent anonymous survey of 47 current airline pilots, and the results are presented below. Enjoy... First, let's take a good look at the demographic of the pilots taking the survey. First Officers made up 51.1% of the respondents, while 44.7% were Captains. The rest were a smattering of Check and Instructor pilots. The pool was heavily tilted towards large regional carriers, with 63.8% working at those airlines and 21.3% working for major international carriers. The rest worked for small international, major domestic or small regional carriers. This pool was made up of mostly high-timers, with time spent flying for commercial carriers broken down as 51% flying more than 5,000 hours and 23% flying less than 2,000 hours. The remaining respondents fell somewhere in the middle of that range. The vast majority of these pilots, 73.3%, earned their seat in the airline interview room working as a Flight Instructor, while only 6.7% came up via the military. Some worked in other "non-airline" occupations to build time, with 17.8% flying in charter operations and 8.9% hauling cargo. Now that we've determined who took the survey, let's start breaking down specifics of their job, and try to see if patterns develop to conclude any findings suggesting whether the occupation of "Airline Pilot" is a career worth pursuing. When you boil down any job, it really comes down to salary. Yes, working conditions and many other elements are in play, but the reason any of us work is to earn money. It appears from this data that getting rich as a professional airline pilot might not be as easy as many would think. Only 25.5% of respondents earn annual six-figure incomes of $100,000 or more, while 40.4% earn less that $50,000 per year. Just 10.6% earned over $200,000 per year. But what was shocking (or not) about this data is that a full 23.4% earned less than $30,000 per year. While we all know the job of "Airline Pilot" is not a 9-to-5, 40-hours-per-week gig, for reference, a person earning $30,000 working full-time would be paid $14.41 an hour. What is sickening though is that 10.6% of these pilots are making under $20,000 per year, dangerously close to the $19,115 per year salary of a minimum wage burger flipper in the state of Washington. What does it say for a business model that requires pilots to operate at peak proficiency while knowing the exact same procedures and systems as the pilot earning six figures, but forces these low-timers to earn just slightly more than the Greeter down at Walmart? The compensation gap between Captain for a major and a regional new hire is far too wide. It is a shameful, glaring illustration of a pay system within our airlines that preys on those low on a the seniority chart because management knows these pilots MUST build time in order to be considered for advancement to the left seat and be in a position to earn a decent living. Now that we've identified who these pilots are, let's look at what they think of their job. Here are the 12 questions Airplanista asked, with the results collected: On the subject of job security, 36.1% of pilots felt they were working in a "very good" or "excellent" stable environment, while 19.5 said their job security was "horrible." When it come to whether they considered their pay to be fair, 41.3% called that number on their paycheck "horrible," while only 6.5% said it was "excellent." Most said the stress levels on the job were a non-issue, with 39.1% calling it "average" while 19.6% said it was "horrible." Their was no surprises on the subject of whether the pilots were getting sufficient time off, with most saying this was "average" and the rest split between the upper and lower ends of the scale. It seems these pilots play well with others, with 59.6% saying the camaraderie of crews is either "very good" or "excellent," and only 4.3% saying it was "horrible." But when it comes to working for managers that listen to the pilots flying their airplanes, a full 48.9% said the conditions for being heard by management was "horrible." Only 10.7% thought their concerns were being heard by management. Pilots were generally happy with the job performance of their line's dispatchers, with the data showing the main grouping was at least satisfied in an "average" or better level. While 31.9% of the pilots said their satisfaction level regarding the quality of equipment they were flying was "average," only 4.3% said the quality of their line's ships were "horrible" while 53.2% said these airliners were of "very good" to "excellent" quality. There were no surprised in the category of training environment, with about as many unhappy as there were pilots who were satisfied with the ongoing training they received. When it came to being satisfied with the cabin crews, 54.4% said they were happy with their line's FAs, while only 4.3% said they were "horrible." Pilots were less than satisfied with the flexibility of their schedules, with 59.6% saying their schedules "could be better." This includes 27.7% who called their schedules "horrible." Only 6.4% called their schedule flexibility "excellent." And when it came to retirement, it is clear the airlines have work to do in this area. A full 40.4% of the pilots said their current retirement plan was "horrible" while 6.4% thought those plans were "excellent." Asked if the current hiring/promotion system in the airlines was fair in terms of how long most new hires have to work at a regional carrier making relatively low salary before advancing to a First Officer position at a major carrier, the results were not very good news for people interested in this career path. Here are some pro and con highlights: "No. But it is what it is...since you need experience before coming to a major airline, the most widely available path for that is the regional airlines. I think it would be more palatable if starting pay were higher for those starting out. The disparity in pay compared to the responsibility and education required to do the job is insulting." "No, the days of spending a couple years at a regional are over. Now First Officers for regionals are stuck being FOs for longer than it used to be." "Yes it's fair. Though sometimes being at the right place at the right time helps. In my 16 years with a major US-based airline, I've been a Captain for 15 of those years." "No, it doesn't matter if you have one passenger or one hundred. They are all equally important and there's no reason why one pilot flying for a major carrier should be making 4x what a regional pilot makes. The perception by the public is based on what a 747 Captain earns. They have no idea that pilots earn $25,000 or less when they start, and not much more for years after. The promotion/advancement system is broken, with regional airlines flying more flights than majors now, meaning that pilots do not "flow" up to majors. They either get out of the industry, or wait extremely long, as in 10 years or more. It used to be you worked for a regional for maybe 2 years and then moved right up to a major. Those days are over." "Hey, let's go spend a quarter million dollars and years of our life to be on a waiting list for three years hoping to get on so we can make $30k. No. Not fair." "Yes it is fair, in every industry you have to pay your dues and start at the bottom." "It is almost criminal how the regionals pay new hires so little because they know everyone is just building time on their way to the major carriers. There should be minimum Federal standards in place for airline pilot pay, because flying a regional jet with 70 passengers, both pilots are responsible for lives. There is no more responsibility on the flight deck of an A380." Looking only at pilots currently working at a major carrier, we asked how many hours they had to build at a regional before making it to their current job. The majority – 46.2% – had to work over 1,500 hours, but 38.5% only worked under 250 before moving from regional to major. We then turned our attention to regional pilots only, so see what they thought of the working conditions in what many call the "farm system" of the airline industry. That term might not be precisely accurate, and is a reference to the system Major League Baseball uses to bring up players to the big leagues. Asked to score the categories they saw as their biggest challenge, the results were as follows, with the combined percentages: Low pay.....82.9% Poor morale.....77.1% Uncooperative management.....71.4% Lack of advancement.....57.1% Feels like a dead-end job.....48.6% Too many legs each day.....42.9% Unresponsive dispatchers.....11.4% Inadequate or unsafe equipment.....5.7% Lack of proper avionics.....0.0% Based on all of these findings, it is easy to conclude that this career might not be the glamorous, high-paying job that the public perceives. Yes, it appears possible to eventually earn a fat salary and have a flex schedule and a great retirement plan, but that model seems the exception, not the norm. So what would these pilots responding to the survey say to new flight students who are considering a career as an airline pilot? Here are some highlights: "Build your time as quickly as possible and get hired with an airline as quickly as possible. It is all about your date of hire for everything about your job. Even if the company is not your top choice, take the job, keep current and log hours while you continue to interview for the better job opportunities. There is no such thing as job security in this business. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Always have a financial reserve for hard times and use the free time this provides to engage in other revenue streams." "You need to have 100% commitment to this job and lifestyle; and make sure you have a spouse that understands that they are going to be a single parent for 50-60% of the year, every year. Understand that you will not be home for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, baby's first steps, etc. It's a hard life; but very rewarding." "Do it for the love of flying, the money won't always be there." "Run, don't walk, away from aviation." "Look for other careers in aviation. Many other careers include flying, such as forest service, law enforcement, fish and game, insurance, flight testing, federal aviation administration/civil aviation authority, corporate flying, advanced flight instruction such as warbirds-aerobatics-rare aircraft, new aircraft demonstrations and factory pilots, etc. These are all infinitely better for quality of life and include the ultimate freedom of flying. Many other careers within the industry of aviation, aviation safety, aerospace, engineering, regulation, insurance, and others can be very rewarding." "Become a doctor, lawyer, open your own business...basically anything other than this." "Don't do it unless you have patience to not be treated and compensated properly. Always have a backup plan. Don't get a degree in aviation get a degree in something else in case the industry goes bad again...always have a Plan B." "Go to med school." "Don't do it. You've been warned. "Love aviation first, the rest will take care of itself." "Seriously, don't do it. Your return on investment is appalling to say the least. If you insist on going through with it. Get a degree, but not in aviation. You can fly on the side, or fly after you get the degree. This will help with costs and it will give you a fall back if the flying career goes awry. Unfortunately this career is not what it was." "Have a second source of income, because you are going to be abused by the regional airlines for years as you work your way into the right seat of a major line as an FO. While not scientific, the data presented in this article should be sobering to anyone who is considering a career as a professional airline pilot. There is a clear path to the left seat of a major international carrier and a six-figure income, but it is not without its challenges. But if you have the passion for aviation in your heart, get the proper education, build time as an instructor or cargo driver, and then go into the system knowing you've prepared your life for low pay while you build hours, being on the flight deck of any airline's ship can be the dream job for anyone who have aviation hard-wired into our soul. With the right attitude and a full grasp of the truth about the industry, this dream job is attainable. Like the star pitcher stuck in the middle of nowhere on a minor league farm squad, all you need to do is keep burning fast balls down the strike zone until the brass takes notice. After you pitch enough games in Poedunk, NE, the front office will eventually move you up to the bigs. As an airline pilot new hire, be prepared to endure burger-flipper wages for a fairly long time and you’ll inevitably end up as Captain, as long as no tin has been bent along the way and all souls aft of the locked door remain alive. Passengers Were Not Cargo on a 314 Clipper It's a pretty safe bet that air travel via the major carriers these days can be at best annoying and at worst, a multi-day train wreck happening in ultra-slow motion. The footage of airports full of passengers sleeping with their Samsonites are a common component of the evening news. But when those stranded pax finally get inside a de-iced, pressurized tube, the experience is often less than joyous. Charges for checked bags and a coach ticket buys you the opportunity to fight a salesman for room in the overhead bins before you sit down in a cramped seat and spend the next few hours breathing stale air and praying for more than 7 ounces of a liquid beverage. What today's airline ride has become pales in comparison to the glory days of passenger air service, when ships like the mighty Boeing 314 Clippers tore up the sky over the Pacific flying passengers who were treated not like cattle, but like cattle barons. Let's take a look at this wonderful airliner of yesterday from Boeing.com: "As airplane travel became popular during the mid-1930s, passengers wanted to fly across the ocean, so Pan American Airlines asked for a long-range, four-engine flying boat. In response, Boeing developed the Model 314, nicknamed the "Clipper" after the great oceangoing sailing ships. The Clipper used the wings and engine nacelles of the giant Boeing XB-15 bomber on the flying boat's towering, whale-shaped body. Clipper passengers looked down at the sea from large windows and enjoyed the comforts of dressing rooms, a dining salon that could be turned into a lounge and a bridal suite. The Clipper's 74 seats converted into 40 bunks for overnight travelers. Four-star hotels catered gourmet meals served from its galley." A great resource for reading about the 314 as well as the Martin 130 and Sikorsky S-42 is The Flying Clippers, a historical site that covers these ships well. But as we focus on the 314, here is what the site has to say about a Trans-Pacific flight in a 314 Clipper: "The Boeing 314 experience rivaled that of the ocean liners that were widely used at that time. Sleeping berths, lounges, luxurious lavatories, silver goblets, hot meals on real china served by white-coated stewards, were all part of what Pan Am offered its passengers. A passenger could expect to have all their needs catered to by attentive stewards. Food and drink were always available whenever you wanted it. Curtained bunks were made up for the passengers at night. The thick carpeting, soft lighting, comfortable upholstery in soothing colors, and the heavy soundproofing in the walls, all helped to create a special world set apart from the weather and world rushing by outside the windows." The massive flight deck measured 21' x 9' and had large areas for flight planning and navigation. They needed the space too since they didn't exactly have a stack of Garmin glass in the panel. Again, from the Flying Clippers site: "Navigation of course, was not as developed then as it is today. The navigator made use of the observation dome located between the cargo holds. He would take sightings on the stars with his sextant. By interpreting an angle reading in his book of tables, he could determine the planes position on the earth's surface. It was possible however, to be flying through cloud cover for the whole journey and never get see a star at all. In this case they had to maintain a steady course by employing a method called dead reckoning. This method worked well but had one major wrinkle. The wind could blow them sideways. To compensate for this, the drift was estimated by dropping a flare into the water through a little trapdoor in the wing. By carefully watching the flare to see if it stayed in line with the tail of the plane or moved to one side or the other, the navigator could estimate the drift." The ship was a magnificent example of aviation craftsmanship and design. Flying Clipper again presents a few key specs: "A Boeing 314A first flew on June 7, 1938 and had a gross weight of 84,000 pounds and a ceiling of 19,600 feet. Its four 1,600-horsepower Wright Twin Cyclone engines gave it a top speed of 199 mph (184 mph cruise) and it could carry it's 10 crew and 74 pax 5,200 miles." When you think about how this cruise ship of the air could carry lucky humans in luxurious comfort over 5,000 miles and make over 180 mph, it is truly an amazing feat of aeronautical engineering. And the next time someone says "they don't make 'em like that any more...you can think about the mighty Boeing 314 Clippers and know exactly what they mean. The NexGen of #Avgeeks: Meet Thomson Meeks of Team X-Plane Thomson Meeks Fresh Tickets: The Best Way to Serve Pilots...is t... Fresh Tickets: Cleared for Takeoff on Both Sides o... Living Legends of Aviation: One Glorious Night Whe... The Left Seat of the Majors is Attainable, But be ... The NexGen of #Avgeeks: Meet Thomson Meeks of Team... Forget the Sleigh: All the Cool Kids Were Flying G...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2057
__label__wiki	0.569319	0.569319	Low, Neila Jane Nelia Jane Low Submitted by: Karen June Derrick Roberson County, Choctaw Nation. Her father was Hugh David Low from Kansas. Her mother was Melvina Ingram, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. Jane was the fourth of seven children. Lorene Estes Elkins was the oldest. The rest are Pearl Nicar Kyle, Emanual, herself, Francis Smith, Hugh Stewart and Anna Motley. All were original enrollees. Their mother, Melvina, died after she tried to stop a runaway horse and wagon that her son was in. She was dragged and lived long enough to give birth to Anna. Jane was eight years old when her mother died. Jane and her siblings went to live with their maternal grandmother, Lucy Perkins Ingram, also an original enrollee near Coalgate, Indian Territory. Their grandmother sent them to Gill Indian Boarding School to be educated. As the older girls married, my grandmother went to live with them. They all received land allotments. My grandmother’s was near Calvin in Hughes County. She met my grandfather, George Gordon Derrick, at an ice cream party. He played the banjo and she played the piano. This began many years of music together. They married on October 1, 1905 at his parent’s home on Salt Creek near Calvin, Indian Territory. She was 15 and he was 17. My grandfather built their home on her land. There they raised their four living children of eight. Vernon, the oldest, married Pearl Cook. Irene married Harry Hardwick, then later Al Madruga. Grace married Russell Wilbanks and Elma married Lloyd Murray. Jane lived all of her married life of 68 years and up to her death on December 27, 1983 at almost 94 years of age on her land. She passed it on to her only son, Vernon and his wife, Pearl, my parents. Granny loved to share her Indian heritage with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She told me about picking her teeth with a splinter from a tree struck by lightening so you would not get a toothache. She split the clouds for my cousin. She shared so many things with us. Granny said her goal in life was to have a home on the side of the road where she could help her fellowman. She achieved her goal. She helped raise other orphans, nephews, brothers, sisters and grandchildren. She fed countless others from her large garden. Many stayed in her home over the years. Everyone knew she was just down the road at Hilltop and dinner would be ready and an empty chair at the table for them. She and my grandfather are buried just down the road at Hilltop Cemetery near Calvin, Oklahoma. She taught us to acknowledge God and be proud of our Indian heritage.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2064
__label__cc	0.634113	0.365887	You are here: Home / Inspiration / Of Ups and Downs Of Ups and Downs My wife and I don’t watch much television…at least in a traditional sense. Oh, sure — yesterday it was cloudy (and not a bazillion-and-seventy-two degrees outside), and we wanted to watch something soothing. We ended up watching a few episodes of Ask This Old House. A couple weekends ago, we consumed Stranger Things in two sittings. But most days, it’s 5 – 30 minutes of YouTube channels we like. In the Middle of Middle Earth Stephen Hunter (the actor, not the author) recently started video blogging and interviewing people on his YouTube channel. Known for his role as Bombur in The Hobbit movies, he often talks about what it’s like to be a working actor. He plans to occasionally interview other actors as well. His first interview was with Jed Brophy: I could go on about what I love about this interview. I love how it’s not a fully polished thing. There are some technical snags that leave Jed frozen on screen as Stephen fills in the time before connections sync back up. My favorite thing about it: it’s two friends talking about the work they love, and what’s not to like about that? The Ups and Downs Obviously, I see parallels to writing in things around me. So the parts of this interview that discuss what it’s like to spend years working on something so major that an entire country (New Zealand) gets behind it and then FOOM! — finding yourself looking for work when it’s all done is not unlike an author who has a big book come out and then…is no longer in the spotlight. There’s time left wondering and wandering what comes next? (Obviously, Stephen Hunter fills his time with his new YouTube channel, teaching, and other things.) There are starts and stops — deals signed and crews assembled and then…more waiting. Sometimes things that seemed like sure deals fall apart, and you’re left looking for the next gig that will pay the bills. It can be stressful when you realize there may never be another red-carpet event because the industry [as a whole] is not kind. It consumes and rejects, much like publishing. (Or most industries.) But It’s Not All Bad What I like about the interview between Stephen and Jed is not just that they discuss the realities of the industry, but that they seem fine-enough with those realities. They know how to fill in down time, and they accept the decisions they’ve made. Jed Brophy would rather be on his farm, tending to his horses, than living in Hollywood — always on the go — and maybe getting more steady work. In a way, that’s not unlike myriad authors who live outside of New York City. There are places where industries happen, but you don’t have to live there. Jed goes on to discuss the importance of simply making things…accepting that things come and go, but you still control a certain constant as long as you stay busy creating work you love. And if big things never happen again, they are content in the friendships they’ve made along the way. The Happy Constant I have great respect for actors who find ways to keep going. I’m friends with writers, artists, and game designers who have the kinds of lives many dream of, but behind it all, they know there may be no new red carpets. Obviously, when I look at creative people I respect, I like looking at what works for them and the lives they live. Those are things always worth considering — seeing how I might add them to my processes. But more than that is a constant we can all achieve. Through all the ups and downs of creative industries, listen enough and something always bubbles up to the surface: talk about friendships. Look deeper, and you see how so many people working in any creative field all seem to end up working together again because they know what others are capable of doing. (Hell, tomorrow I start a new position in a new department where I work, and how did I come to find out about the job? A friend in the group mentioned it to me.) Money’s Nice, but So Are Other Things… The cast and crew of The Hobbit movies lived in this strange bubble for years, working harder than most of us can imagine. What kept them going many days were friendships made with people who understand the way they look at the world. (Seriously, get the extended edition DVDs of the movies and watch all the behind-the-scenes bits…it’s quite remarkable.) I may not make a living writing novels, but I can always put out episodes of Not About Lumberjacks and know friends doing similar things will listen and appreciate the effort. And I will keep writing novels because you don’t stand a chance if you’re not making things. There are no guarantees that those efforts will lead to a day when creative work becomes my job (instead of tech writing), but they are worth doing — because I enjoy it, but also because I’ve made great friends through the things I do. Friendships may not put food on the table, but they definitely feed the soul. (That’s not such a bad thing…) Filed Under: Inspiration, Interviews	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2065
__label__wiki	0.897174	0.897174	Bambú produces for Movistar + "Instinto", starring Mario Casas The Galician partner producer of the Cluster Bambú Producciones and the Movistar + payment platform will be working again after "Velvet Collection", now in the series "Instinct", starring Mario Casas who returns to television after participating in other film projects. The actor will star in the series "Instinto", the new original production of the platform in collaboration with Bambú Producciones, producer directed by Ramón Campos and Teresa Fernández-Valdés responsible for successes like 'Gran Hotel' and 'Fariña', which also performs' Velvet Collection 'for the television of Telephone. "Instinct" joins the long list of television fiction titles that Movistar + has yet to release. The next to arrive will be "Kill the father" (May 25) and in successive months will come "Tomorrow", "Virtual Hero", "Giants" and the new seasons of "Velvet Collection" and "Shame." The company also has in the shooting phase the adaptation of the Norwegian series "Skam", the thriller "Iron" recorded in the Canary Islands in collaboration with the partner Portocabo and "El embarcadero", which will take us to the Albufera Valencia.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2071
__label__cc	0.679776	0.320224	Board index ‹ BUILDING FACILITIES & CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE ‹ Building & Facilities Construction Committee Meetings ‹ 2016 Meetings July 13, 2016 BFCC meeting Moderators: Mary Wright, Maria Lajoie by Mary Wright » Wed Oct 05, 2016 7:21 pm BUILDING & FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE A meeting of the Building & Facilities Construction Committee (BFCC) was held on July 13, 2016 at the Municipal Center. Ms. Mosczynski called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. PRESENT: Linda Brown, Michael Fitzpatrick, Virginia Howe, Shirley Mosczynski (Vice Chairperson), Rebekka O’Melia NON-VOTING: William Cundiff (Town Engineer), George O’Neil (GRLA), Jeff Kollett (School Facilities Manager), Adam Furno (Facilities Maintenance Manager) ABSENT: Sean Holland (Excused) 1. REORGANIZATION It was decided to reorganize at the next meeting. 2. MUNICIPAL CENTER AND PRIMARY SCHOOL ROOF CAPITAL PROJECTS -Municipal HVAC Project Mr. Cundiff stated that the work associated with the HVAC system is 95% complete. They still need to test the system, and a few items relating to the automated system still need to be finalized. There have been only two change orders, which increased the contract value by $10,000. The project may be complete by August 1, 2016. Mr. Cundiff is still working with the insurance company relating to the boiler claim. There is a separate contract with Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects (GRLA) relating to this. -Municipal Roof & Windows and Primary School Roof Projects Mr. Cundiff reviewed the bids. There was one bid for the windows and five for the roofing. Greenwood Industries, Inc. has an exclusion limiting their price as the general contractor. Their bid was $268,000 for the base bid. Mr. Cundiff reviewed the General Bid Tabulation dated July 6, 2016. The original budgets were $780,000 for the municipal building and $150,000 for the school. The remaining budgets are $208,682 for the municipal building and $139,200 for the school. These budgets cannot be combined. Paul Howe of Greenwood has told Mr. Cundiff that the school roof portion of the quote would be roughly half the cost of his quote. There is not enough funding remaining to fund any of the windows. Ms. O’Melia asked how much would be saved by not having a General Contractor (GC). Mr. O’Neil stated that a cost for rebidding would be incurred. He does not feel any benefit would be seen and the savings would be minimal. Mr. Cundiff stated that the GC would be responsible for components beyond the windows. Mr. O’Neil summarized Greenwood’s references. He recommended that the BFCC award the contract to Greenwood. Mr. Kollett stated that Greenwood installed roofs on the elementary and middle schools. There were a few issues with the energy recovery units (ERUs) that were resolved. Mr. Cundiff feels, with Greenwood being the GC, they will be 100% responsible for the roof projects. A discussion was held. Mr. Fitzpatrick asked where the money left over from the municipal roof project would go. Mr. Cundiff replied that it depended on the wording of the Town Meeting article, however the money would stay in the project until it is voted at Town Meeting to put it somewhere else. A discussion was held regarding repairing windows. Mr. Cundiff stated that the Town Administrator and School Superintendent have permission from their respective boards to act on their behalf as long as it is consistent with the BFCC’s recommendation. Mr. Fitzpatrick made a motion to proceed with the base contract and award it to Greenwood Industries, Inc. Ms. Brown seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous. 3. GREEN ENERGY Mr. Cundiff stated that, during the interview process for the new Building Commissioner, all the candidates stated that with the new upgrades to the codes, you are at the same level as the Stretch Code. Mr. Cundiff suggested investigating adopting the Green Communities Act again. One of the advantages would be to have access to grants that Douglas does not currently have access to. Ms. Mosczynski suggested discussing the Green Communities Act with the new Building Commissioner. Mr. Cundiff will check with the State and ask them to come to a BFCC meeting. 4. SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT The project is 100% done. The final payment has been made to CTA. Ms. Mosczynski stated that the School Building Committee (SBC) is still working on some financial issues. There are issues with the furnace, which is now a warranty issue. There will be will be an SBC meeting on July 19, 2016. 5. MEETING MINUTES: May 18, 2016 Ms. Brown made a motion to approve the May 18, 2016 BFCC meeting minutes as presented. Ms. O’Melia seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous. 6. OPEN SESSION The next meeting will be August 17, 2016. Ms. Brown made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 PM. Mr. Fitzpatrick seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous. Mary T. Wright Return to 2016 Meetings	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2076
__label__wiki	0.703679	0.703679	Darkwing Productions — Menu —Home Portfolio Photography Blog Contact Us Amar’e Stoudemire Talk Playoffs and EPIX “In the Moment” Documentary With THD April 22, 2013 Basketball http://thehoopdoctors.com/2013/04/watch-amare-and-knicks-talk-playoffs-and-epix-in-the-moment-documentary-with-thd/ Featuring Amar’e Stoudemire, Stephen A Smith, Tyson Chandler, Patrick Ewing, and Iman Shumpert. Topics covered include Patrick Ewing’s best/worst memories as a Knick, their chances for a championship this year and versus Boston, Amare’s handling of a bench role, Iman Shumpert’s ode to Derrick Rose, best aspect of Stephen A Smith’s job at ESPN, and more. EPIX is pleased to offer fans across the nation an intimate look at the life and upbringing of basketball great Amar’e Stoudemire in an EPIX Original Documentary Amar’e Stoudemire: In The Moment. Premiering April 19, on the eve of the NBA playoffs, the documentary follows New York Knicks’ power forward and author, whose quest is to bring a championship to New York before he finishes his career. Stoudemire was the first all-star player to sign with the New York Knicks as part of the Knicks’ resurgence; they are now one of the top teams in the league. Copyright 2019 \| Darkwing Productions	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2078
__label__cc	0.577791	0.422209	Margarita Chli [:en]Investigators[:de]Leitende Forschende, Steering Committee Margarita Chli is an assistant professor at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where she leads the Vision for Robotics Lab. She is also the Deputy Director of the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ETH Zurich. Originally from Greece and Cyprus, Margarita Chli studied at the University of Cambridge and at the Imperial College London, both in the United Kingdom. Margarita Chli’s interests lie in computer vision for robotics and her work contributed to the first vision-based, autonomous flight of a small helicopter. In 2016 she was featured in Robohub’s list of 25 women in robotics you need to know about and in 2017 she was a speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. For her high impact contributions to the development of robotic vision she was awarded the biannual Zonta Prize and the research of her lab was also featured by Reuters. Margarita Chli joined the NCCR Digital Fabrication in June 2018 as principal investigator. Role in the NCCR Digital Fabrication: Lead Principal Investigator, Principal Investigator Affiliation: Vision for Robotics Lab, ETH Zurich Email: Prof. Dr. Margarita Chli PhD students: Rubén Mascaró Palliser	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2082
__label__wiki	0.726725	0.726725	Central Offices Public Offices Equalization Veteran Affairs Administration Page GIS Web County Map Viewer ROD Web eSuite Wendy Jarvis Court Administrator/FOC 1092 Newell Street, PO Box 885 White Cloud, MI 49349 M-F 8am - 12pm and 1pm - 5pm The Circuit Court is referred to as the "trial court of general jurisdiction" in Michigan because of its very broad powers. Circuit Court has jurisdiction over all actions except those given by state law to another court. Generally speaking, Circuit Court has original jurisdiction in all civil cases involving more than $25,000; in all criminal cases where the offense involves a felony or certain serious misdemeanors; and in all family cases and domestic relations cases such as divorce, paternity actions, juvenile proceedings, and adoptions. The State of Michigan is divided into judicial circuits along county lines. The number of judges in a circuit reflects the volume of business in the court. If there is more than one county in a circuit, such as ours, judges travel from one county seat to another to hold court sessions. Our judges conduct court in both Newaygo County as well as Oceana County . The Circuit Court also hears cases appealed from lower courts and from some administrative agencies of state government. In addition, the Circuit Court has superintending control over other courts within the circuit, subject to final superintending powers of the Supreme Court. Circuit judges are elected for six-year terms on non-partisan ballots. A candidate must be a resident of the circuit in which the candidate is running, a qualified elector, licensed to practice law in Michigan , and at the time of election less than 70 years of age. The legislature sets salaries for circuit judges. The Family Division, a division of Circuit Court, has exclusive jurisdiction over all family matters such as divorce, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, adoptions, name changes, juvenile proceedings, emancipation of minors, parental consent, and personal protection proceedings. The Family Division also has ancillary jurisdiction over cases involving guardianships and conservatorships and proceedings involving the mentally ill or developmentally disabled. Circuit Court Division Juvenile Division Friend of the Court Developed by the Newaygo County Information Technology Team Best viewed in Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox; at or above a resolution of 1440 x 900. All content herein © Newaygo County 2016	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2083
__label__wiki	0.86309	0.86309	Books through e-parcel and courier service Published on: Thursday, November 28, 2013 Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans will no longer be confined to within the four walls of a library as books can now be easily accessed through e-parcel and courier services, said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman, Dato' Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi.Apart from that, Sabahans now have access to book drops (Gelongsor Buku) which would enable them to return books within the U-Pustaka consortium without going to a library counter and is an alternative to the e-parcel and courier services, he added. "There are now two U-Pustaka machines in Sabah and since its first launch at the Penampang library on April 16, 2013, about 100,236 U-Pustaka members have been recorded." Head officer of support and services unit from MCMC, Tengku Zaib Raja Ahmad read his speech at the second U-Pustaka launch which took place at the State library, here. Recently, at the Connect Asia Pacific 2013 which was held in Bangkok, a seaweed entrepreneur from Kunak, Sabah - Kabilah Hassan won an award for her achievements in acquiring more customers through online business. This is proof that the Internet is capable of changing people's lives economically and assisting them in entering the global market, he said. In relation to this, Sharil hoped more Sabahans would be able to benefit from this. Through this realisation, MCMC came up with the U-Pustaka initiative with the assistance of eight libraries in Malaysia under a consortium called "Penyedia Perkhidmatan Maklumat (Information Service Providers) and adapted seven public and non public organisations as their strategic partners. "About 1.8 million books were collected from these eight libraries. So far, U-Pustaka has carried out more than 16,000 book transactions for Malaysians in rural and urban areas." Since its launch on March 31, 2011, its members have reached more than 300,000. Visitors from 127 countries have surfed the U-Pustaka portal which involves 1,157 cities. It is a historical moment for Sabahans as it opens the gateway for us to acquire broader knowledge, said Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Jainab Ahmad. She said she supported efforts by the State library towards realising the government's vision in shaping people who are more knowledgeable and are keen on reading by year 2020. "My ministry will always be involved directly in programmes offered by the State library to get people into the habit of reading," emphasised Jainab. Her speech was read by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Datuk Siti Sapoo Hj Ahok. "Lifelong learning is the government's aim for the people as knowledge/ information contributes to the development of our country and at the same time improves our economy. "Informal education is also focused upon which can be obtained through services provided by libraries all over Malaysia. "As a Minister in charge of the State library, I am proud of their achievements throughout the years. Its involvement in the U-Pustaka consortium is important to people here." Apart from the educational benefits which it can provide, consortium members will be able to build connections with one another and foster good relations. U-Pustaka is basically a kiosk where users can surf the U-Pustaka portal, borrow/return books and pay for their fines. "I hope that this service will be used by Sabahans." In relation to this, she highlighted on new development plans for year 2014. According to her, the State government has approved the development of a new building in Tanjung Aru which costs RM40 million. The project will be managed through the Corporate Social Responsibilities of Lahad Datu Water Supply Sdn Bhd and Sabah Development Bank. The State Library will also be replacing ten buildings of Desa libraries and acquire four units of mobile libraries (buses). According to her, the Federal government through the national library has also approved the development of a new library in Kinabatangan which costs RM7.5 million and is expected to begin in 2014. She thanked the federal government through the MCMC and the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia for contributing 1,404 netbooks to the State library. Meanwhile, during a press conference, the Technical Adviser for the Strategic Engagement Department (U-Pustaka), Associate Prof. Indahsah Hj Sidek said U stands for ubiquitous which also means omnipresent -the library is with you no matter where you are, no matter where you go. "This is possible because of broadband connectivity." When asked about the delay in launching U-Pustaka in Sabah, she said that it was done in stages and this year was time for it to be launched in Sabah. Charges will apply to e-parcels and courier services. However, to borrow books is free of charge, said Indahsah.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2085
__label__wiki	0.67586	0.67586	FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE UNLEASHED MASONIC SECRETS FROM ‘33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY’ – WORLD PREMIERE AT THE GRAND LODGE OF FREEMASONRY IN SAN FRANCISCO "33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY // TRICOAST ENTERTAINMENT" Johnny Royal documents the new faces of the Masons, revealing the secrets and rituals of the world’s oldest and most powerful secret society. Los Angeles, CA - October 6, 2017 - Meet the new faces of the Masons. It’s no coincidence that Johnny Royal’s feature length documentary, “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY” has its red carpet, worldwide premiere on the superstitious day of “Friday of the 13th“ at The Masonic Theater/Grand Lodge of Freemasonry in San Francisco. Friday the 13th originates from the Knights Templar’s last Grand Master, Jacques DeMoley, who was arrested on Friday, October 13, 1307. When burned at the stake amongst other Templar Knights, DeMoley’s is noted for his last words: “"Pope Clement, Chevalier Guillaume de Nogaret, King Philip! I summon you to the Tribunal of Heaven before the year is out!" Within the year, both Pope Clement and King Philip died. Throughout history and revealed in Royal’s “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY”, prominent Freemasons, including Jacque DeMolay, discuss and examine their association and ritualistic aspects often associated with the Knights Templar and their role in Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and most powerful secret society. No coincidence… Right? “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY” is noted as the first film to fully examine the entirety of the American Masonic structure. With striking cinematography and emotional interviews, Royal documents the new faces of today’s Freemasons, exposing their perspective and meaning of timeless rituals, their experiences and passionate purpose to continue the Freemason legacy. Revealing answers to long-time questions – the purpose and meaning of the rituals, why people join, the unique culture of the Masonic fraternity, and where the future of the ancient society is headed – “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY” emphasizes Freemasons’ poignant narratives of their own “hero’s quest” and path to enlightenment, told through real behind the scenes interviews exposing the perspectives, experiences and emotional journey of Freemason across the country. Royal’s successful and intriguing feature length documentary will hit the big screen in major cities – all taking place inside Masonic lodges across the state. With an eclectic and remarkable cast and crew, including California Freemasons Producer Robert Doan, Producer, Music Supervisor, Composer, and Re-Recording Mixer Sean Beavan (Lost Highway, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson,) Supervising Editor Jason Pachomski (Bates Motel, Hand of God), and Composer and Co-Producer Tennessee Freemason Ernest Chapman. The team also includes Co-Producer and Composer Juliette Beavan, as well as Visual FX Supervisor Zach Brinkerhoff (“Thor” and “X-Men First Class”), 33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY” has invented an alternative, new way for theatrical releases, circumventing Hollywood and proving that a Hollywood studio isn’t needed in order to succeed. After the red carpet premiere at The Grand Lodge of California in San Francisco, guests will get an exclusive Q&A with featured Brothers, as they answer questions, explore their Freemason practices and their experience working on this revelatory documentary. “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY” will soon be featured in several cities, including: Nashville, TN, Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Guthrie, OK, Alexandria, LA, Charleston, SC, Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-royal-art-of-freemasonry-tickets-37676125305. Date: Friday, October 13, 2017 Time: 9:00 P.M. Location: The Masonic Theater/Grand Lodge of Freemasonry in San Francisco 1111 California St. Watch the “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY” trailer here: https://vimeo.com/235610129. For more information, please visit Facebook.com/TheRoyalArtMovie and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5265492/. For further information about upcoming screening events for “33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY”, please contact Jenna at jenna@tricoast.com. 33 & BEYOND: THE ROYAL ART OF FREEMASONRY (2017, 90 min.) Written and Directed by Johnny Royal. Supervising Editor: Jason Pachomski. Cinematographers: Pablo Diez, Philipp Friesenbichler and Daryl Gilmore. Original Music: Juliette Beavan, Sean Beavan, Ernest Chapman and Johnny Royal. US, English. Praetorian, TriCoast Entertainment. PRODUCTION COMPANY: Praetorian About TriCoast Entertainment: A new home for story-driven American films, TriCoast Entertainment is a full service media company that creates, produces, manages and distributes unique and unusual entertainment. Bringing together filmmakers, distributors, financiers, and technologists, TriCoast Entertainment embraces change by redefining the production and distribution model for indie filmmakers, providing them with low cost tools, financing, and worldwide theatrical and digital distribution, along with market feedback and storytelling opportunities. Company Name: TriCoast Entertainment Contact Person: Jenna Wilen Email: jenna@tricoast.com Address:11124 Washington Blvd City: Culver City Website: http://www.tricoastworldwide.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2087
__label__cc	0.594838	0.405162	Little Rock, Arkansas, USA Eagle Hill Golf & Athletic Club 3-A Eagle Hill Court Located across from Otter Creek, the Eagle Hill Golf & Athletic Club features an 18-hole championship golf course, the home course for the men’s and women’s teams of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; a driving range, short game practice area, hard surface tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool, and a clubhouse with state-of-the-art fitness facility. What our users are saying about Eagle Hill Golf & Athletic Club \| Rate Eagle Hill Golf & Athletic Club Little Rock Area Attractions Gator Park Little Rock Tours Central High School National Historic Site Little Rock Zoo David O. Dodd Grave Wonder Place, The National Guard Museum Little Rock Horse and Carriage Company	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2089
__label__wiki	0.716591	0.716591	Falconia club The beginnings of falconry can be dated to 4000 b.c. The former inhabitants of middle-east steppes started to use the birds of prey for hunting back then. Those animals could fly further and faster than any spear or arrow and in the open fields with little obstacles in the way, and thus were ideal helpers. There are rare mentions of falconry found on tombstones in India, dated to the first half of second millenium. By certain theories this was a time when nations from russian and kazakhstan steppes started to cross the mountains and inhabit the area. We don’t have very precise mentions about falconry in antics, but there is a mention about Odysseus bringing a few falcons from his long journeys. Such birds were very important in ancient Egypt though. Not used for hunting, but praised for their traits, such as bravery, speed and ability to hunt down their prey. They were considered a god-like creatures. Even for that reason, one of the egyptian gods, Horus, took an appearance of a falcon. In the mythology, it is told that he won over the god Seth and unified people of Low and High regions and became the first egyptian Pharaoh. In the middle Europe, the falconry appeared with the “migration of nations”, in 4th and 5th century when the Huns invaded. The birds of prey started to appear at manors of nobility roughly two centuries after that. There, their purpose isn’t hunting for food on daily basis, but as a free time occupation and also as a sign of top class lifestyle. A great upkeep of falconry is dated around 800 a.c. in times of Charles the Great, who also wrote one of the first falconry laws. For example, it stated the penalty for killing or stealing the trained hawks – which turned to be a very pricey goods. By gifting a hawk, a war conflict or political crisis could be sorted out or avoided. Even the church ministers enjoyed to practise falconry, though they were forbidden to do so. Nevertheless they often did it anyway – in secrecy. The greatest era of falconry in the Europe was in 13th and 14th century. The knights returning from the Crusade brought new insights to falconry from their journeys to the middle east. Hawks started to be bred in noble manors in big numbers and they had their own keepers, whom were given more rights than common people in return. The nobility prized their animal companions so much they took the hawks into their houses, kept them nearby on their travels, wars and even took them to church ceremonies. Amongst Czech kings Přemysl Otakar II. has been a devoted falconer. His favorite hunting region was at Poděbrady region where he founded a whole village specially for the members of royal falconry. To this day, the town is known as Sokoleč. Another passionate falconer was the emperor Fridrich II. who wrote a tract “Of the nature of hawks and the art of hunting” which is one of the very first books in the world about ornitology, focused on birds of prey. It is from this book where this quote comes “Falconry should be recognized as an art, because it is the only sophisticated way of hunting, which by it’s very nature is actual art. Other animals can be forced by a strong hand and other means by man – but a bird who sails the sky can be tamed and trained only by the man’s spirit. It is a triumph of man’s spirit over the beast that is the most free of them all. Over a hawk, who returns to the man after being released, even though it is against his nature. Not because he despises freedom that was given to him, but because he’s chained by the invisible bound of man’s genius.” The golden days of falconry died with the development of firearms and with the fashion of fox hunting. The falconry nearly disappeared in most of the european countries through the 18th century, the United Kingdoms left as the last bastion of this hobby, where it remained as a part of tradition. One of the first attempts of renewal took place in Netherlands in 1840, where the Royal huntsman club was founded, but the real renewal had to wait till 20th century. A Club of German falconers was founded in 1923 in Leipzig. After that, in second half of the century, more such organizations emerged at the old continent and across the sea. A count Bedřich Mensdorff-Pouillz of Chotělice was a dedicated falconer who popularized falconry in the Czech republic and brought it to attention by sophisticated articles for a magazine Stráž myslivosti. Gothic era Renaissance era Russian and far east Falconia © 2019	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2093
__label__wiki	0.649703	0.649703	Stories from Monday, December 8, 2003 Children welcome Santa to Linton (Local News ~ 12/08/03) Parents holding children in their arms, on their shoulders or by the hand stood in line Saturday in Linton while waiting for Santa to arrive by train on Indiana Railroad. Even though Terrie Zukoski recently moved from sunny Florida, she said she didn't mind standing in the cool Indiana weather with her little daughter, Courtney, to see Santa come to town... Union splits weekend games (High School Sports ~ 12/08/03) CLAY CITY-The Clay City Eels took full advantage of the Union Bulldogs' inexperienced backcourt Friday night for a 69-26 SWIAC high school boys basketball victory. Union shot just 23 percent (8-35) from the floor, managed only one field goal in the first half of play and turned the ball over 14 times in the first 16 minutes of action... Miners win SWIAC freshman title (High School Sports ~ 12/08/03) Linton clobbered Clay City 42-25 to win the freshman SWIAC on Saturday at Bloomfield. The Miners reached the title game with a 30-27 overtime victory over North Daviess. Logan Tharp and Dylan Hardisty both tossed in 12 points to pace the Miners in the championship game. Caleb Dunkerly had eight points, Kyle Herndon and Geoff Miller four each and Aaron davis two... By Mike Hayden (High School Sports ~ 12/08/03) Staff Writer The Linton Miners suffered a heart-breaking defeat at home Friday at the hands of the Owen Valley Patriots by a score of 65-59. The Miners played aggressively all evening on both ends of the floor, and if they could have somehow erased one minute of poor play, the Miners would surely have come out on top... Cards' win over Lakers only seemed like two OT's (High School Sports ~ 12/08/03) JASONVILLE-Ron McBride and Ernie Maesch were convinced Friday's SWIAC game went double overtime. It only seemed that way after the Cardinals escaped 37-35 in single overtime. "Was that single or double overtime?" McBride asked in the hallway outside the Bloomfield locker room... Cards put brakes on Linton's quickness (High School Sports ~ 12/08/03) Linton's starting backcourt of sophomores Caleb Fischer and Riley Beach scored 21 and 20 points respectively against Owen Valley on Friday. They were limited to eight and nine respectively at Bloomfield on Saturday and the Cardinals prevailed 51-35... Mary Dorcas (Blaker) Richardson (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) Mary Dorcas (Blaker) Richardson, 86, of Linton, died at 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at Glenburn Home in Linton. Born May 8, 1917, in Bloomfield, she was the daughter of Calvin and Emma Sarver Blaker. She was a homemaker. She was retired from the Kroger store, having started in Bloomfield then relocating to Linton. She was a member of Linton Eastern Star 140 and the Linton First Christian Church... Emma L. Ramsey (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) BRAZIL ---- Emma L. Ramsey, 80, of Brazil and formerly of Terre Haute, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, in her home. Born April 11, 1923, in Fontanet, she was the daughter of Walter and Alice Bridgewater. She had worked at Quaker Maid. Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Claude Ramsey; two sons and their wives, Kevin and Robbin Ramsey of Brazil and Larry and Joyce Ramsey of Rockville; two daughters, Pam Norris and husband Ronnie of Huffman, Texas, and Tiffany McDowell of Indianapolis; one sister, Lucille Gamble of Linton; four grandchildren, Ronnie Norris, Shaun Ramsey, Brandy Park and Reggie Sanders; and one great-granddaughter.. ... Foster R. Need (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) WORTHINGTON ---- Foster R. Need, 105, of Worthington, passed away Friday morning Dec. 5, 2003, in Glenburn Home in Linton. Born Nov. 19, 1898, in Bicknell, he was the son of James and Electa (Hancock) Need. He retired in 1964 from General Motors in Detroit, Mich., after 25 years of service. He was a member of Folsom Memorial United Methodist Church in Worthington... Elmer R. Griffith (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) WORTHINGTON ---- Elmer R. Griffith, 94, of Worthington, passed away at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003, at Glenburn Home in Linton. Arrangements are pending at Welch and Cornett Funeral Home in Worthington. Jack R. Dover (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) GREENWOOD ---- Jack R. Dover, 69, of Greenwood, died Dec. 5 at his residence. Born June 30, 1934, in Dugger, he was the son of Ursher and Bessie (Fulford) Dover. He was a machinist at Allison Transmission Plant No. 5 where he had worked for 30 years, retiring in 1993. He was a member of Mooresville Masonic Lodge 78, F&AM, and Mooresville Eastern Star and the United Auto Workers 933... Nickklett Butterfly Cullison-Wren (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) DUGGER ---- Nickklett Butterfly Cullison-Wren, daughter of Dale Allan Cullison and Melissa Wren, was stillborn Saturday, Dec. 6, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute. Survivors include her mother, of Linton; her father, of Dugger; a brother, Gregory Allan Cullison of Clinton; grandparents, Luther and Shirley Cullison of Dugger and Pamela Scotter of Indianapolis... Russell L. Basye (Obituary ~ 12/08/03) BLOOMFIELD ---- Russell L. Basye, 46, of Bloomfield, died at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, in Greene County General Hospital in Linton. Born Jan. 17, 1957, in Linton, he was the son of John Franklin and Helen M. Hash Basye. He was a HVAC service technician for Branstetter-Pullen Heating and Air-Conditioning Inc. ... Pruett, Downey win awards at HSPA contest (Local News ~ 12/08/03) The Linton Daily Citizen/Bloomfield Evening World won three awards at the 37th annual Hoosier State Press Association Awards Banquet on Saturday. The event was at the Adam's Mark by the Indianapolis International Airport. General manager/editor Chris Pruett won a first place in Division Daily 3 (circulation below 8,000) in the Best Business Section or Page(s) category, and he also won a second place for Best On-Line Web Sites... WRV students learn valuable lesson (Local News ~ 12/08/03) SWITZ CITY ---- Textbooks can make life too black and white. The reality of what our neighbors are going through is sometimes lost between the pages of a textbook. Students at White River Valley High School have been taking a chapter of out reality for the past three weeks by collecting nonperishable food for food baskets and food pantries in the area... Mumma honored with Bronze Star Medal (Local News ~ 12/08/03) A Greene County man has received the highest award a civilian can receive from the government ---- a Bronze Star Medal. Donald Mumma, who was born in Linton and raised in Lyons, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1978. After serving with the U.S. Army from 1978-88, Mumma now works in communications for the government, as a civilian. He took the job with the Communications and Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J. He's been classified as a "Dept. of the Army civilian" since 1989... Police make drug busts (Local News ~ 12/08/03) Linton and Indiana State Police were kept busy over the weekend with drug busts. On Saturday at 10 p.m., Linton officer went to a residence on Gabbard Ave. on a tip of illegal drug use and possession. According to a report filed by Linton Officer Gary Tannehill, while there police discovered some illegal drug activity... Bloomfield Town Councilman loved his community (Local News ~ 12/08/03) Described by friends and colleagues as a man who deeply loved the Greene County town where he lived, Bloomfield Town Councilman Russell L. Basye died unexpectedly Saturday morning. The 46-year-old father of three children was believed to have been stricken by a heart attack at his South Seminary Street home, according to his friend and fellow town council member Eric Harrah... WRV just a bit better than Spartans (High School Sports ~ 12/08/03) Everything South Knox did against second-ranked White River Valley on Friday the Wolverines did just a little bit better, which is why WRV won its home opener 72-56. For instance: -South Knox shot 52 percent (22-42) from the field, but the Wolverines were 56 percent (28-50)...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2096
__label__cc	0.637116	0.362884	Home News FY2018 City of DeSoto Budget Includes Property Tax Rate Reduction FY2018 City of DeSoto Budget Includes Property Tax Rate Reduction Joshua C. Johnson Dr. Tarron Richardson DESOTO—For the last six (6) years, City of DeSoto Administration has meticulously toiled to reduce property tax rates for both residents and business owners. After four (4) years of maintaining a stabilized property tax rate of .7574, the City was able to reduce it by .0075 in FY2016 and again by .0050 in FY2017. “Since my appointment to the position of City Manager in 2011, my Administration has been working tirelessly and with due diligence to improve the monetary situation of our community,” said Tarron Richardson, PhD. “I am pleased to propose a tax rate reduction for FY2018 to .7399 per $100 of valuation.” The proposed FY2018 budget will continue in this direction by reducing property taxes for the third year in a row. In FY2018, the proposed property tax rate will be reduced by .0050 and set at .7399. “As we move forward into FY2018 and beyond, the City of DeSoto will continue to implement a wealth of innovative practices in public finance to better manage its human and monetary resources” said Dr. Richardson. “The success achieved over the years is attributed to our conservative approach toward budgeting and management of all public affairs.” DeSoto Public Hearings Public hearings on the proposed FY2018 Budget and Tax Year 2017 rate will be held during the regular DeSoto City Council Meetings on August 15, 2017 and September 5, 2017 and the budget and tax rate are slated for adoption at the September 19, 2017 City Council Meeting. All DeSoto City Council Meetings take place at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers in the Jim Baugh Government Center located at 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, Texas 75115. Copies of the full budget document are available for review on the City’s website at www.desototexas.gov, at the Action Center in Jim Baugh Government Center, at the DeSoto Public Library and the DeSoto Senior Activity Center. City of DeSoto Previous articleGlenn Heights City Council Resignations Require Special Election Next articleMark Your Calendars 2017 Big Tex Awards Sunday, August 27 http://www.focusdailynews.com Joshua C. Johnson is the executive editor of Focus Daily News, a daily publication in DeSoto, Texas. For the last ten years Mr. Johnson has steered the periodical that reaches more than 35,000 homes daily and is the official paper of record for DeSoto, Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Lancaster and Glenn Heights, Texas. Under his leadership the paper has won a number of awards from the Texas Press Association, the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Press Club. Overnight Full Interstate 35E Mainlane Closure At Illinois Avenue DeSoto Resident Tremaine Kemp Receives State Fair of Texas Grant	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2098
__label__cc	0.600016	0.399984	ANZAC Day And Its Importance In Australia And New Zealand By FOMO Travel Every year, on 25 April, Australia and New Zealand commemorate those lost during various wars involving both nations, with ceremonies held across both countries. The date 25 April is known as ANZAC Day and it is regarded as one of the most important occasions in Australia's and New Zealand's history, as it marks the anniversary of the first military action that was taken by Australia and New Zealand in the first World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and soldiers still fight and take pride in the tradition of ANZAC today. Australia had only just become a country itself 13 years before war broke out in what would become later, World War I, and with the government looking to establish its international reputation, the Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed an expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. The objective was to capture Constantinople, the city that is now referred to as Istanbul in Turkey. When the Australian and New Zealand forces arrived on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, they struck resistance from the Turkish army and the campaign continued for a period of 8 months with over 100,000 soldiers killed from both sides. The ANZAC legend was then created and formed a significant part of the identity of Australia and New Zealand. April 25 has now become a day representative of the sacrifice those soldiers made and this day for both ANZAC countries is celebrated more strongly than Rememberance Day on 11 November. April 25 is officially called ANZAC Day and it is now commemorated by Australian's and New Zealanders across the globe in memory of those who sacrificed their lives and to uphold the legacy of the nations. Included as part of these ceremonies, thousands of people travel to Gallipoli each year to commemorate the battles that commenced there on 25 April 1915. 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and large contingents of Australian's and New Zealander's will make the pilgrimage to ANZAC Cove in Turkey to mark the celebrations All year round you can visit Gallipoli to explore the battlefields and to commemorate the lives that were lost, with tours commonly beginning and ending in Istanbul. The trips that take place for the ANZAC Day commemorations are the most important, where a Dawn Service is held in Gallipoli. This Dawn Service is followed by the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine (10am) and the New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair (1130am). For those interested in tours to commemorate ANZAC Day, there are many established companies offering affordable travel packages for those who wish to experience a rich part of history. The ANZAC Day ceremonies include prayers, laying of wreaths, the Last Post, and a moment of silence that is followed by the national anthems. The trenches and battlefields can be explored with the option to pay your respects at the memorial. The tours that extend over a period of a few days enjoy an array of Turkish adventures and there are many companies offering packages that range between 2 to 14 days to suit the budget and lifestyle interests of travelers. Deals can be combined with an exploration of Egypt involving a boat cruise and memorial service. Tour companies offer trips that are filled with excitement and cultural history suited to your travel interests. Some of the biggest companies specialising in ANZAC Day Tours catering for more of a youth audience include Topdeck Travel, G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Contiki and PP Travel. Viator also has a great 6 Day ANZAC Day Tour for people looking for a more higher levels of accommodation. FOMO Travel are your festival and events travel experts. Check out our website for great deals and options. ANZAC Day in Gallipoli Tours Busabout ANZAC Day Trips Topdeck ANZAC Day Trips PP Travel ANZAC Day Tours Viator ANZAC Day Trips G Adventures ANZAC Day Tour Contiki ANZAC Day Trips Check out more Festival and Events Travel	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2100
__label__wiki	0.899924	0.899924	Walter Frentz filmed Hitler by Abeera Kanwal · 0 Born Aug. 21, 1907, Frentz met Albert Speer, who would become Hitler's architect, during his time as a student in Berlin. Frentz started in film with a 1931 feature about kayaking in Austria and Yugoslavia and in 1933 worked on a film for the Ufa company on an ocean liner's voyage to New York. Frentz was the subject of a 1992 documentary by director Jürgen Stumpfhaus, "The Eye of the Third Reich." He had lived in a retirement home in Ueberlingen since 1998 and is survived by his son and three stepchildren. Real Story of Hitler’s Eva Braun she has been seen as a attractive associate to Adolf Adolf hitler, an apolitical “dumb blonde” whose efforts provided as an temporary thoughts for the Führer. But the first instructional resource of Eva Braun attracts a different image of the dictator’s long-standing sweetheart, declaring experts have greatly overlooked the function she performed in his life. Berlin historian Heike Görtemaker shows her as a politically dedicated lady who won Hitler’s love, experienced a healthy sex life with him, sympathised with Nazi nation-wide politics and offered him mental support. Görtemaker used three years studying her book, Eva Braun: Life With Adolf hitler, due out this month from the famous CH Beck creating house. She was able to sketch on formerly hidden or little-known records, characters, record records and images. Hitler's Wolf Lair into major attraction 'Mr Wolf' Adolf hitler used the now-ruined adventure to perform events and break free air bombardments. Adolf Hitler's key 'Wolf Lair' set deeply in the center of a woodlands in north-eastern Belgium is to be changed into a significant traveler fascination. The hidden complicated in the jungles of what was once In in german Eastern Prussia was one of Hitler's key army head office during Community War II. The Polish Forestry Service said Wolf's Lair, the site that hosted Adolf Hitler's base during World War II, can be rented for $138,400 per year. The service said the previous lease expired after 20 years and they are now looking for a new tenant for the property, which still houses the shattered shells of the bunkers destroyed by retreating German forces in November 1944, The Daily Telegraph, Britain, reported . Wolf's Lair, which was the site of the famous July 1944 failed assassination attempt on Hitler, also includes a hotel and a restaurant. Nazi officers describing the moment they found Adolf Hitler’s body in his Berlin bunker has been discovered .The recording was made on October 25 1956 in a courtroom in Berchtesgaden, site of the Fuehrer’s mountaintop home in Bavaria. The court was convened to officially declare the former leader of Nazi Germany dead so that his fortune and rights to his book “Mein Kampf” could be seized by the state government. Famous comedian Jim Carrey Photography James Eugene is a top Canadian actor and comedian.He began stand up comedy in 1979. He became interested in film and television Shows."Jim" Carrey was born January 17, 1962.His birth name is James Eugene Carrey .His body height is 6' 1½" (1.87 m) .. He has received two Golden Globe Awards.Jim Carrey is one of the top comedians in our time.Jim Carrey has become one of the biggest comedic box in Hollywood. In 2003, Carrey re-teamed with Tom Shadyac for the financially successful comedy Bruce Almighty. Earning over $242 million in the U.S. and over $484 million worldwide, this film became the second highest grossing live-action comedy of all time. Intelligent Jerry Yang Jerry Yang is very intelligent man who develop search engine and internet search manager.Jerry Yang adn his friend interest in internet and develop new. Jerry Yang was born in Taiwan in 1968. David Filo was born in Louisiana in 1966.Jerry Yang is the Chinese American entrepreneur and founder of Yahoo Inc. A Ph.D. student in electrical engineering at Stanford University, Yang and classmate David Filo founded Yahoo in 1994 as a way of keeping track of their personal interests on the Internet and web searching. Within months, they create Yahoo search browser to allow users to search the Internet sites. They create customized lists of sites on internet search engine. Yahoo Search engine developed into a major web portico and Get $11 billion business within four years.Jerry Yang is a 39-year-old psychologist and social worker from southern California. Beautiful Mary Tyler Moore Famous writer Bill Weir Jerry Yang resigns to Yahoo’s Board American Pop singer Lana Del Rey young actress Jessica Alba The July 1994 release of Paramount Pictures's adve...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2106
__label__wiki	0.542516	0.542516	Bermuda and the Czech Republic sign Tax Information Exchange Agreement Bermuda’s Premier and Minister of Finance the Hon. Paula A. Cox has announced the signing of a bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreement, (TIEA), between Bermuda and the Czech Republic, reports EON news. The agreement, which was signed for the Czech Republic by the Hon. Ladislav Mincic, First Deputy Minister of the Czech Ministry of Finance and by Premier Cox for Bermuda, provides for a full exchange of information on criminal and civil tax matters between the two countries and includes provisions to protect the confidentiality of information provided, as well as adhering to public policy and provisions related to protecting legal privilege. It ensures that requests for information from the Czech Republic are relevant to tax investigations being conducted by Czech Republic authorities. Completion of the agreement negotiations was announced in February of this year. Commenting on the signing, Premier Cox said she was delighted the treaty between Bermuda and the Czech Republic had been finalized. “It enhances Bermuda’s strategic relationship with the EU. The Presidency of the EU revolves and it follows that the Czech Republic will again have the presidency of the EU in addition to its constant representation at the EU Parliament.” Premier Cox said, the agreement establishes the Czech Republic as the 11th member of the EU to have a TIEA with Bermuda and was the 26th signed agreement for exchange of information for tax purposes. Several TIEA’s with further members of the EU are waiting for those countries to ready themselves to sign, the negotiations having been completed some time ago. “We welcome the signing with the Czech Republic as another opportunity to emphasize that Bermuda’s business model is a positive and well balanced component of the global financial system committed to international cooperation to prevent illegal activity such as breaking any country’s tax law and simultaneously fostering legitimate global trade and doing our part to return the global financial system to full strength.” “Bermuda looks forward to building upon the treaty relationship which had been established with the Czech Republic. We will work to enhance our strategic relations with the Czech’s and with EU members and so create a better understanding of Bermuda and our positive role in global finance,” she said.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2111
__label__wiki	0.621769	0.621769	Did you know there are homes in the Castle Hill Tunnel? It's not so obvious that the Castle Hill Tunnel has homes in it, but Fazekas János grew up in one of these apartments because his father was the Chain Bridge's caretaker for forty years. Now János himself is the caretaker of both the bridge and the tunnel, and although he hasn't lived in the unique apartment since 2007 he's hoping huge renovations will soon make it liveable once more. We spoke to him about his life in the tunnel, his work with one of Budapest's most iconic sites and what it's like to come from a family that's been integral in looking after Budapest's northern bridges. It’s easy to walk from the Chain Bridge toward Buda and not pay much attention to the Castle Hill Tunnel that comes off Clark Ádám Square. While at night we can see it glowing orange and we might even notice that its stonework fits with the design of the Chain Bridge, we probably wouldn’t notice that the tunnel wall is flanked on both sides with windows. And behind those windows are offices and apartments, which for decades were homes. Homes in the Castle Hill Tunnel The tunnel itself was designed by Clark Ádám and opened in 1857. For much of the 20th century the lodgings built into its side provided the perfect location for the bridge’s caretaker to live and work. Incredibly, the current caretaker - whose responsibility has been both the Chain Bridge and the tunnel since 2004 - himself grew up in the tunnel. This was because his father was the Chain Bridge’s “bridge master” for the forty years before him. Indeed one of Fazekas János' first memories is of looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the world-famous Chain Bridge. Although life took him elsewhere as an adult, when he took over his dad's important role as "bridge master" in 2004 he returned to his childhood home in the tunnel. The service apartment has three bedrooms, a kitchen and even a little garden on the side of the Buda Hill. There's also a maintenance workshop where small parts of the bridge can be repaired if necessary. Unfortunately by 2007, János was forced to move out again because water damage and other significant maintenance issues made the home unliveable. Most people would think that it’s too noisy and polluted to be a home but while there are sure signs of the pollution on the walls and windows it isn't that noisy. In fact, it's no more noisy than any other inner-city apartment. Of course, initially the traffic going through the tunnel was of the horse-and-cart variety so even the balcony on the inside of the tunnel would have been able to be used. Nowadays with tens of thousands of cars passing through the tunnel each day it would be impossible to sit and enjoy these small terraces, delightful as they are. And while the homes are uninhabited János still uses the ground-floor office space for work each day. For Fazekas János taking care of Budapest’s iconic bridges runs in the family - this year marks 50 years that he and his father have been taking care of the Chain Bridge. For 40 years (from 1964 to 2004) his dad was the caretaker and for the past 10 years János has been the chief carer. Not only that, János’ uncle, Fazekas Imre, is the caretaker of the Margaret Bridgeand Árpád Bridge – so together this family takes care of all of Budapest’s northern bridges. If these three bridges weren’t already enough of a family affair, János was also the bridge master of the Liberty Bridge between 1985 and 1990. And even his grandfather was in this trade - he was the previous bridge master of the Margaret Bridge. According to János the job demands reliability and having an understanding of the technical elements of the bridge. But above all it’s important to not be afraid of heights because part of the role is to scale the highest points of the bridge and even to walk along its chain structure. János jokes that he’s paid to walk along the Chain Bridge. But it’s no joke – many times a day he walks the entire length of the bridge making sure traffic is running smoothly, that the structure is safe, and that any graffiti or damage is repaired. His job is unique in that he is also responsible for the 350 metre long tunnel - primarily making sure that the ventilation system is working well. Plans for redevelopment Until 1919 a toll was charged to use the tunnel and two large stone structures stood on Clark Ádám Square as collection points for the tolls (these can be seen in the images below). But time has itself taken a toll on both the tunnel and the Chain Bridge and there are plans for renovations that would start in 2015 and could take a number of years to complete. We recently wrote about the completed redevelopment of Clark Ádám Square itself. It's hoped that during these upcoming works, the tunnel offices and apartments would also be made useable once more. With vivid memories of playing soccer at the foot of the bridge and of having one of the best views in the city, Fazekas János hopes that within a few years he'll be able to return to the tunnel home of his childhood.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2114
__label__wiki	0.519271	0.519271	5G Americas Press Releases 5G Deployments LTE and LTE-Advanced Deployments Advocacy and Regulatory 600 MHz spectrum auction strengthens competition in the telecom sector Source: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/600-mhz-spectrum-auction-strengthens-competition-in-the-telecom-sector-874628553.html OTTAWA, April 10, 2019 /CNW/ - Whether it is to pay their bills, get directions on the road or video chat with family and friends, Canadians want better wireless connection at more affordable prices. These wireless services are delivered through the air via radio frequency spectrum—a valuable public resource. The Government of Canada is making more spectrum available to support the increasing demand for mobile connectivity in a manner that increases competition, improves coverage and lowers prices for all Canadians. Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced that Canadian consumers will benefit from greater competition, more choice and better prices as a result of the 600 MHz spectrum auction that concluded on April 4. In total, 104 licences were awarded to nine Canadian companies, including 40 licences to regional providers, covering the entire country. Regional providers more than doubled their share of low-band spectrum, strengthening their ability to offer competitive services to all Canadians. In addition to improving competition, the results of this auction will improve our country's robust networks and support the deployment of current and next-generation technologies. "We know that Canadians want more choice, lower prices and better service. Through this process, we have strengthened wireless competition, which will drive prices down and improve coverage. It is clear that the big winners in this auction will be Canadians in both urban and rural areas." – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. 600 MHz spectrum carries signals over long distances and penetrates structures better than higher-frequency bands, making it well-suited to deliver services in both urban and rural settings. The auction started March 12, 2019, with 12 Canadian bidders qualified to participate. 70 MHz of spectrum divided in blocks of 10 MHz was available in each service area, including 30 MHz set aside for regional providers in each area. The 600 MHz auction raised $3.47 billion, which will be remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, administered by the Receiver General of Canada. As with the previous 700 MHz and 2500 MHz spectrum auctions, the Government of Canada successfully employed a comprehensive multistep bidding process that included rigorous security protocols to ensure the integrity of the auction. 600 MHz auction results Canadians deserve affordable, high-quality wireless service with dependable coverage in town and out Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: CanadianInnovation, Instagram: @CDNinnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada For further information: Dani Keenan, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, 343-291-1710; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home 1750 - 112th Avenue NE, Suite B220 \| Bellevue, WA 98004 USA Advocacy & Regulatory Sitemap \| Terms & Conditions \| © 2019 5gamericas. All Rights Reserved. \| Seattle Web Design by Clocktower Media	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2115
__label__cc	0.581247	0.418753	Dr. Robert Levine selected for top teaching award Home\|PRESS RELEASES\|Dr. Robert Levine selected for top teaching award Dr. Robert Levine, a professor of psychology, has been awarded the top teaching honor at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Jeri Echeverria, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, named Levine as recipient of the 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award. The provost also has honored the following: Dr. Doug Singleton, professor of physics, for the Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activities Award Dr. Michael Botwin, professor of psychology and chair of the Academic Senate, for the Faculty Service Award Dr. Corrine Clegg Hales, professor of English, for the Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award Dr. Scott Sailor, assistant professor of kinesiology, for the Technology in Education Award Nine faculty members for the Promising New Faculty award, which recognizes exemplary achievements in teaching, research/creative activities and/or service among nontenured, tenure-track faculty. Honorees are: Kevin Ayotte, Steven Church, Jenelle Gilbert, Kenneth Hansen, James Mullooly, Segun Ogunjemiyo, Tamyra Pierce, Mamta Rawat and Klaus Tenbergen. “These five outstanding professors are being acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to our students and to our academic community,” said Echeverria. “It is an honor, as well as a statement about what we value, to acknowledge them for excellence in teaching, graduate teaching and mentoring, research, service and instructional technology. “We have so many excellent faculty at Fresno State. I congratulate them all on another outstanding year,” Echeverria said. The awards include stipends of $5,500 for the Excellence in Teaching recipient and $3,000 each to the other awardees. Dr. Robert Levine, Excellence in Teaching Award. A professor and chair of the Department of Psychology, Levine is internationally known for his teaching and scholarship. He is highly sought after as a lecturer for international business agencies and is the author of four books and more than 60 research publications. Levine, a Fresno State faculty member since 1974, specializes in social psychology. He is the author of three books. His first, “A Geography of Time” (1997), was the subject of feature stories around the world, including Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, CNN, the BBC, ABC’s Primetime, and NPR’s All Things Considered and Marketplace. His recent book, “The Power of Persuasion: How We’re Bought and Sold” (2003) has been translated into seven languages. As a mentor, he encourages student collaboration – nearly all his publications and presentations have student co-authors. Levine is responsible for developing the first courses in his department that emphasized cultural diversity and cross-cultural issues and also was a founder of the psychology honors program. He has made the classroom the cornerstone of his work and insists that students take an active role in their learning, sending his students into the real world so that they will encounter at firsthand the concepts they learned in the classroom. Active in helping students network with many professionals he knows, Levine sets high standards for his students and motivates them to succeed by encouraging them to try harder–. Dr. Scott Sailor, Technology in Education Award. An assistant professor of kinesiology, Sailor is known for his groundbreaking use of video podcasts in education. He provides many of his lectures in digital format, ensuring that his students can have the information any time, anywhere and as often as they want. An innovator in the use of new technologies in the classroom, he has incorporated video teleconferencing, digital information exchanges, Web page creation, online discussion boards, online case study databases, Web-based courses and more into his repertoire of teaching tools. Dr. Michael Botwin, Faculty Service Award. A professor of psychology, Botwin has been very active in the Academic Senate and in the university’s strategic planning process. He has served on the Academic Computer Planning Subcommittee, the Honor Code Committee, the Student Success Task Force and the campus’ BEAMS team. A leader in student service, he has been faculty adviser to Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, and has been a member of the Faculty Mentoring Program. Dr. Corrine Clegg Hales, Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award. A professor of English, Hales is the author of four poetry collections. The most recent, “Separate Escapes,” was awarded the Richard Snyder Poetry Prize. Since she became the coordinator of the MFA program in 2001, Hales has created unprecedented opportunities for graduate students, including the Distinguished Author Literary Reading series, the Philip Levine Poetry Book Contest, the Andres Montoya Memorial Scholarships and two cash awards for students in fiction and creative nonfiction. Dr. Doug Singleton, Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activities Award. An associate professor of physics, Singleton has worked tirelessly in active research in theoretical physics. His work includes 36 publications in refereed journals, 12 published conference proceedings, presentations at 18 conferences/workshops, several external grants and international collaborations with scientists in Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Republic of Georgia, Costa Rica and Poland. As colloquium coordinator, he has hosted national and international speakers, including internationally recognized experts in physics and astronomy. The Promising New Faculty award winners: Dr. Kevin Ayotte (Communication) has taught a wide range of courses at all levels and is a mentor to undergraduate and graduate students. He has five competitive conference papers, including one on bioterrorism that has been accepted as part of an “Emerging Scholars in Critical and Cultural Studies” panel. Steven Church (English) teaches creative nonfiction writing and literature in the Master of Fine Arts Program. Church has won numerous awards for his writing, including the Colorado Book Award for “The Guinness Book of Me,” and is completing his second book, “The Day After.” Dr. Jenelle Gilbert (Kinesiology) routinely integrates professional development opportunities into graduate classes. Her scholarly activity is in the area of sport psychology and performance enhancement issues. She serves as the graduate program coordinator for the Department of Kinesiology. Dr. Kenneth Hansen (Political Science) has developed several important and innovative courses, including environmental politics, homeland security and Native American politics. In 2005-2006, he published five articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. James J. Mullooly (Anthropology) was recognized as the McNair Program’s 2005-06 Faculty Mentor of the Year. He has revolutionized the way Fresno State students conduct field training in cultural anthropology and established the department’s Institute for Public Anthropology. Dr. Segun Ogunjemiyo (Geography) is a researcher engaged in cutting-edge scientific research for the solution of Valley environmental and agricultural problems. He was instrumental in establishing the Central Valley Environmental Research Laboratory in the Geography Department. Dr. Tamyra Pierce (Mass Communication and Journalism) has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses using multimedia teaching techniques, She has had five scholarly articles published in academic and professional journals, including Journal of Media Psychology and Human Communication Research. Dr. Mamta Rawat (Biology) has developed a research program that ranges from bacterial detoxification mechanisms to bioremediation of toxic substances. She has made 35 presentations, 11 of which were national or international. Klaus Tenbergen (Food Science and Nutrition) has a passion for the culinary arts and a knack for using technology to enhance the classroom. A hands-on and creative teacher in the lab, he encourages his students to venture out into the community and explore the diverse local cuisine. By Shirley Armbruster\|April 24th, 2007\|Categories: PRESS RELEASES\|Tags: awards, faculty, recognition\|0 Comments on "Dr. Robert Levine selected for top teaching award" 0 Comments	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2116
__label__wiki	0.663148	0.663148	Category Archives: Scholarly Research Newspaper Databases: All That’s Not Fit for Research Date January 1, 2014 They say newspapers are the first draft of history. They capture and disseminate noteworthy events as they unfold, and they are used by succeeding generations to make sense of a nation’s history and identity. Although this chronicling is increasingly occurring with dizzying speed on the web, newspapers, especially the paper editions captured in databases, will remain a fundamental resource for scholarly and other types of research for the foreseeable future. Limitations of Full-Image Databases There are, however, a number of problems with using newspaper databases for research. In his article “Illusionary Order: Online Databases, Optical Character Recognition, and Canadian History, 1997–2010,” Prof. Ian Milligan identifies one such issue: the shortcomings of optical character recognition (OCR) in databases of scanned microfilm. In a related post, he notes that keyword searches in databases that contain digitized, full-image versions of newspapers often result in incomplete retrieval of articles, due to the nature of the scanned material, the speed with which these databases were created, and the technological limitations. Consequently, research results can be problematic: [H]yphenations are not covered (problematic in smaller columns, where Woodwork might be hyphenated as Wood-work across two lines), if microfilm streaks obscure a letter, if it was slightly tilted, or if the OCR just plain misses a character.* Prof. Milligan likens using these databases uncritically for historical research to “using a volume of the Canadian Historical Review with 10% or so of the pages ripped out.” While he recognizes that these databases are indispensable tools, he urges researchers to be aware of their limitations and to identify how they dealt with them. Not Just a Database Issue As a former researcher at Canada’s “newspaper of record,” I have additional concerns about relying on newspapers and newspaper databases for research. Despite the best efforts of reporters, editors, researchers, and archivists, news articles have long been replete with inaccuracies and omissions. The reasons are numerous and have to do with both structural and human shortcomings: the fast pace of news production, the lack of access to sources and resources, the lack of space, human error, editorial bias, editorial decision-making regarding which corrections are worth appending, etc. Once news articles make it into databases, other problems arise: graphics are not rendered in text-based electronic databases, databases have search and display technical shortcomings, etc. Add to these the continuing economic pressures facing news organizations, which have necessitated deep cuts at many newspapers, and using newspapers as research sources has become increasingly problematic. In the seemingly endless rounds of layoffs since the start of the Great Recession, copyeditors, researchers, and enhancers/archivists — the guardians of accuracy, clarity, and order — have been the worst hit, while reporters and editors are being expected to do more with less. Errors, omissions, bias, and inconsequential content are now baked into the newspaper product, and this will have deep consequences for future scholarship and research. All this to say that cautionary notes like Prof. Milligan’s are welcome and necessary, and researchers should always, always cross-reference research results with multiple and varied sources. *It is my understanding that an upgraded database for The Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Heritage from 1844 is in the works that will address some of these shortcomings. For example, it will use higher quality OCR and will search and identify articles as a whole, even across pages. Photo source: Jon S, Flickr New Resource for Finding Theses and Dissertations Open Access Theses and Dissertations is a new search engine for locating open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. It’s important to note that the search engine does not search the full-text of the theses, but rather the metadata drawn from the records of university repositories, consortia, or OCLC WorldCat. Still, it is a good supplement to other resources such as the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, ProQuest Theses and Dissertations, and the Theses Canada portal. Theses are great sources of deep analysis and reliable statistics. They are a secret weapon in my research toolbox.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2117
__label__cc	0.500714	0.499286	In Defense of Plants How Aroids Turn Up the Heat A subset of plants have evolved the ability to produce heat, a fact that may come as a surprise to many reading this. The undisputed champions of botanical thermogenesis are the aroids (Araceae). Exactly why they do so is still the subject of scientific debate but the means by which heat is produced is absolutely fascinating. The heat producing organ of an aroid is called the spadix. Technically speaking, a spadix is a spike of minute flowers closely arranged around a fleshy axis. All aroid inflorescences have one and they come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and textures. To produce heat, the spadix is hooked up to a massive underground energy reserve largely in the form of carbohydrates or sugars. The process of turning these sugars into heat is rather complex and surprisingly animal-like. Cross section of a typical aroid inflorescence with half of the protective spathe removed. The spadix is situated in the middle with a rings of protective hairs (top), male flowers (middle), and female flowers (bottom). It all starts with a compound we are rather familiar with - salicylic acid - as it is the main ingredient in Aspirin. In aroids, however, salicylic acid acts as a hormone whose job it is to initiate both the heating process as well as the production of floral scents. It signals the mitochondria packed inside a ring of sterile flowers located at the base of the spadix to change their metabolic pathway. In lieu of their normal metabolic pathway, which ends in the production of ATP, the mitochondria switch over to a pathway called the "Alternative Oxidase Metabolic Pathway." When this happens, the mitochondria start burning sugars using oxygen as a fuel source. This form of respiration produces heat. Thermal imaging of the inflorescence of Arum maculatum. As you can imagine, this can be a costly process for plants to undergo. A lot of energy is consumed as the inflorescence heats up. Nonetheless, some aroids can maintain this costly level of respiration intermittently for weeks on end. Take the charismatic skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) for example. Its spadix can reach temperatures of upwards of 45 °F (7 °C) on and and off for as long as two weeks. Even more incredible, the plant is able to do this despite freezing ambient temperatures, literally melting its way through layers of snow. For some aroids, however, carbohydrates just don't cut it. Species like the Brazilian Philodendron bipinnatifidum produce a staggering amount of floral heat and to do so requires a different fuel source - fat. Fats are not a common component of plant metabolisms. Plants simply have less energy requirements than most animals. Still, this wonderful aroid has converged on a fat-burning metabolic pathway that puts many animals to shame. The inflorescence of Philodendron bipinnatifidum can reach temps as high as 115 °F (46 °C) P. bipinnatifidum stores lots of fat in sterile male flowers that are situated between the fertile male and female flowers near the base of the spadix. As soon as the protective spathe opens, the spadix bursts into metabolic action. As the sun starts to set and P. bipinnatifidum's scarab beetle pollinators begin to wake up, heat production starts to hit a crescendo. For about 20 to 40 minutes, the inflorescence of P. bipinnatifidum reaches temperatures as high as 95 °F (35 °C) with one record breaker maxing out at 115 °F (46 °C)! Amazingly, this process is repeated again the following night. It goes without saying that burning fat at a rate fast enough to reach such temperatures requires a lot of oxygen. Amazingly, for the two nights it is in bloom, the P. bipinnatifidum inflorescence consumes oxygen at a rate comparable to that of a flying hummingbird, which are some of the most metabolically active animals on Earth. The world's largest inflorescence belongs to the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) and it too produces heat. Again, why these plants go through the effort of heating their reproductive structures is still a bit of a mystery. For most, heat likely plays a role in helping to volatilize floral scents. Anyone that has spent time around blooming aroids knows that this plant family produces a wide range of odors from sweet and spicy to downright offensive. By warming these compounds, the plant may be helping to lure in pollinators from a greater distance away. It is also thought that the heat may be an attractant in and of itself. This is especially true for temperate species like the aforementioned skunk cabbage, which frequently bloom during colder months of the year. Likely both play a role to one degree or another throughout the aroid family. What we can say is that the process of plant thermogenesis is absolutely fascinating and well worth deeper investigation. We still have much to learn about this charismatic group of plants. LEARN MORE ABOUT AROID POLLINATION HERE Photo Credits: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Further Reading: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] In Evolution, Flowering Plants, General Botany, Pollination Tags arums, araceae, arum, amorphophallus, Philodendron, skunk cabbage, thermogenesis, plant thermogenesis, Philodendron bipinnatifidum, alternative oxidase metabolic pathway, floral heat, spadix, spathe, pollination Let's Talk About Recruitment There's Metal in Them Thar Trees! The Round Leaved Orchid A Poop-Loving Moss Discovered Living on Poop-Eating Pitcher Plants Can Cultivation Save the Canary Island Lotuses?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2118
__label__cc	0.673654	0.326346	Second Sunday of Easter [Cycle B] Sunday, April 12, 2015 - Click here for the Sunday Readings What is the context of today’s Gospel? Each of the four Gospel accounts provides us with a slightly different glimpse into the life of Jesus. Each author had a particular set of experiences that shaped his/their understanding of who Jesus was, and each had a specific group in mind as a target audience. Imagine any contemporary subject of public scrutiny, for instance the most recent Heisman Trophy winner, Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. Heading into the upcoming NFL Draft, dozens of different stories will be published about Mariota, and depending on who is writing the story, whom the intended audience is, and what the author hopes to convey, these profiles will vary slightly in their details. For instance, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the largest newspaper in the state of Hawaii (but little read by a larger audience) would very probably focus on Mariota’s journey from his days as a high school phenom and state champion at St. Louis High School in Honolulu to becoming the first ever Hawaiian-born player to win the Heisman Trophy. By contrast, NFL.Com, which caters to a national audience of professional football fans, would more than likely focus on where Mariota might potentially land on draft day, and how he would fit into the system of various NFL franchises in need of a QB. The Philadelphia Inquirer, for its part, would probably describe how current Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly recruited Mariota to play at Oregon, and how rumors are swirling that Kelly hopes to move up the board on draft day, in order to acquire his one time college signal-caller. And perhaps Sports Illustrated or ESPN, wishing to show another side to Mariota, will publish a piece highlighting Mariota’s community service while at Oregon, featuring interviews from teammates, family members, and those who knew him off the football field. All of these different accounts would be true, yet each would be incomplete. Taken together, we can come to learn about this person we have never met personally. And so it is with Jesus. This week’s passage on Jesus comes to us from the Gospel of John, the latest Gospel to be written and the one with the most theologically sophisticated understanding of who Christ is in relation to God and Creation. The Gospel of John was written at the very end of the First Century, probably around 90-100 AD, about 60-70 years after the death of Jesus. Whereas the letters from St. Paul were written only about 20 years after the death of Jesus, and the first of the Synoptic Gospels, that of Mark, was written about a decade later, the Gospel of John was addressed to a community who did not have first-hand knowledge of Jesus the way prior audiences had. By 100 AD, the apostles had all passed away, so there were no longer any first-hand witnesses to what he had said and done during his earthly ministry. (Think, in our own time, about how World War II ended 60 years ago. Very few people who fought in the war remain. The farther removed we get from firsthand accounts of the events of that era, the more important it becomes for details to be written down.) Thus, in John’s Gospel, we get the account of “Doubting Thomas,” and we hear the famous words of Jesus, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” This anecdote about Thomas does not appear in any of the Synoptic Gospels, because their respective audiences were more proximate to the life and ministry and Jesus and still had a palpable connection to the apostles. The Johannine Community, by comparison, would have been composed entirely of people who “had not seen, but have believed.” It was affirmation for their faith, just as it remains an affirmation of the faith of all Christians, some two thousand years later. What does this have to do with us? Faith, in its essence, is not about being convinced of something by way of proofs or evidence. We do not need faith to believe that gravity is in operation, because we can prove its effects by way of scientific experiments. We do not require faith to know that there really is a country named Equatorial Guinea, because, even if we ourselves have not been there, we can log onto Google Maps and view photos of it. We do not take most things in our daily life on faith--rather, we seek verification and come to informed conclusions. We are the products of modernity and the scientific method and a process of independent confirmation of readily observable facts about the true nature of reality. Belief in the Resurrection, then, stands out among our collection of independently verifiable truths about the nature of reality, as something that we necessarily cannot accept, except by faith alone. No number of CNN Special Investigations or History Channel specials will be able to provide irrefutable evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. No series of forensic tests nor carbon dating will ever be able to settle whether or not our God became human, suffered, died, and was buried, and on the Third Day, rose again. And yet, this fundamental belief shapes our daily lives every bit as much (arguably more so!) as our belief in gravity or the trustworthiness of Google Maps. And so, today’s Gospel, in which Jesus attests to both John’s original audience and to us, how blessed are we, not when we demand proof, but when we place our unqualified trust in God... remains an inestimably powerful affirmation of faith. The central themes of the Gospel... that God is love, that we are forgiven and redeemed, that Jesus’ desire to find us and care for us, as the Good Shepherd and the Father of the Prodigal Son... all require us to take a leap of faith. But having taken that leap, we become the witnesses who, like the first apostles, are missioned out to others. Through our own Baptism and Confirmation, we too, have been infused with the grace of the Holy Spirit to carry on Jesus’ ministry. We, too, have been empowered with the gifts necessary to spread the Gospel by way of our words and deeds. In short, we become living, walking witnesses to the nailmarks on Jesus hand. We, through our very lives, become the pierced flesh in Jesus side; we, through our Christ-like model of love and self-sacrifice, become the invitation for all that we encounter to believe in the Resurrection! Through our own faith, Easter becomes not a one time event, but an ongoing intervention of God into human history. We offer evidence of the Resurrection; we embody the power of God’s saving love to conquer death; we truly become the Body of Christ. 1. Have you ever suffered from a lack of faith? Have you ever experienced great doubt, either about God, or our faith, or some other aspect of your life? How did you handle it? 2. Do you ever doubt some of the things you hear asserted in Church? Do you ever wonder if God truly forgives us every time we sin? Do you ever struggle to accept that you are loved unconditionally, forgiven tirelessly, and valued immeasurably by God? 3. How do you think you could witness to the Resurrection to others? What are some ways you might be able to provide evidence of the Risen Jesus, through how you live?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2122
__label__wiki	0.743177	0.743177	headboy, Nixon Margolis, Prince Edward School By all accounts, Nixon Margolis, who died last month aged just 18, was a quiet, humble, mild-mannered young man. When I visited Prince Edward School to photograph Nixon as their new head boy, we walked around the main school buildings for an hour or so. He immediately struck me as an unusual choice to lead this large all boys school, but an excellent one. Although describing himself as an all-rounder, he emphasised to me his passion for the arts – drama and music. Unlike countless head boys before him, Nixon’s leadership was derived, perhaps, from his strength of character and likeable nature rather than his prowess on the sports field alone. On our walk through the school, he stooped to pick up a tiny transparent piece of plastic that a breeze blew into our path, and without a second thought put it into his blazer pocket. I asked him what his leadership strategy was. “I don’t talk too much. I like to keep them guessing,” he said. “When I do say something, then people really pay attention.” Maybe his gentle nature was something Nixon felt was best kept tucked away. Nixon lost both his parents before he could walk. He was born in 1997 in Buhera, son of Sydney and Sipiwe Margolis. His paternal grandfather was the well-known Harry Margolis – a name that school goers know well from the eponymous hall that plays host to the Eisteddfod and other cultural events. Harry Margolis was the founder of Olivine Industries, and there is a Margolis Plaza on the corner of Speke Avenue and Harare Street. This is where Nixon’s uncle, Stephen Margolis, runs the current day family business. He met with me to shed light on the life and death of Nixon – something that hundreds of readers have asked about in recent weeks. “Nixon’s father died in 1998 and his mother in 1999, so I took him in as my own when he was one,” Stephen Margolis says, in a deep resonant voice. “Nixon was quiet growing up. Sometimes I thought he was too quiet.” Also in Stephen’s office is Timothy Margolis, Nixon’s cousin, turned brother. “Nixon liked to socialise and even though he didn’t have lots of close friends, he would really open up around the right people,” says Timothy. “He was naughtier than his parents thought he was. When daddy was out – that’s when Nixon would have friends over.” Tim Margolis emphasised that Nixon was popular, though keeping only a small inner circle of close friends. But he made his mark on people, as evidenced by the moving memorial that was well attended by school-goers, not just from Prince Edward, but other schools too. Prince Edward Headmaster, Dr Sora, describes Nixon as “Humble, soft spoken, forceful, and innovative,” adding that “these were the qualities I was looking for in my headboy, and Nixon was my personal choice. He executed his duties admirably. “Nixon was unique. You would expect someone leading a big school to use his muscle and be shouting orders and commanding. But he was none of that. He was very humble and he would converse with his colleagues softly and getting results. I believe that PE needed a head boy like Nixon.” Nixon only led Prince Edward for one term. Two weeks before it ended, he started getting ill – vomiting, loss of appetite and losing weight. Stephen Margolis says that he collected Nixon and took him to his GP. Nixon rallied a bit and continued with his busy schedule. Dr Sora recalls that Nixon, as per school custom, did the last reading to end off the first term of 2015. “That was the last time I saw Nixon,” he adds, sadly. Nixon returned home and was frail, and not eating. Stephen Margolis decided to take him to hospital, and arrangements were made at Chitungwiza Hospital where he is deputy board chair. “After we arrived at hospital, before putting him on a drip they did an x-ray and some tests, and determined that his chest was clogged. It was a bad infection. The doctors decided to do a full set of tests, but Nixon died before they got the results.” Stephen Margolis says that he has no conclusive diagnosis, and wasn’t pushing for one. “It’s too late now anyway,” he says. To mourn this untimely loss, all six of Nixon’s siblings returned home from various corners of the globe. Precious, Matthew, Timothy, Michelle, Russel and Lesley – all older than Nixon, joined hundreds of mourners for a memorial at Prince Edward School. The funeral party then moved to Buhera, the Margolis’ rural home, where Nixon was finally laid to rest. “There were two busloads of Nixon’s classmates, and students from other schools too,” says Stephen Margolis, “I was deeply moved, and I convey my thanks to Dr Sora and the whole school for the unbelievable support.” Dr Sora is honouring Nixon Margolis in an unusual, yet deeply moving way. He says that, “Nixon is head boy for PE for 2015. One might be persuaded that he should be replaced. But I am not. Nixon will remain as head boy for the year.” The staff at Harare News join with the numerous readers, who wrote to us online, to pass on our condolences to the family and friends of Nixon Margolis, and to Dr Sora and the whole of Prince Edward School. 13 thoughts on “In memory of Nixon Margolis” Denise Rootenberg on May 5, 2015 at 11:01 pm said: What a terribly sad story. He sounds like an exceptional person. How wonderful that the headmaster saw that it isn’t only extroverts or athletic people who make good leaders. My condolences to his family. I have fond memories of the Harry Margolis Hall which was right behind our house. sallie Thompson on May 6, 2015 at 6:49 am said: How very tragic. My deepest sympathies to Nixon’s family. May his dear soul rest in peace. Onward Makamba on May 6, 2015 at 11:06 am said: I will forever miss you Nixon. I knew you for short time but you have left a dent in my life. Rest in peace Peter on May 6, 2015 at 9:03 pm said: So young to die. May he rest in peace. May his family, friends and acquaintances receive comfort during their time of sadness. leonard on May 8, 2015 at 11:31 am said: May his soul rest in peace Prince on May 10, 2015 at 4:02 pm said: I guess God had greater plans with him but it will never be accepting the loss of a young one with such a bright future gigie on May 15, 2015 at 1:49 pm said: r.i.p nickson GD on May 22, 2015 at 6:33 pm said: A lovely piece of writing about what sounds like a great young man. Condolences to family and friends. Nyasha on July 17, 2015 at 9:26 am said: R . I. P brother your words will keep me going Take All Leave Nothing poshia on October 9, 2015 at 2:38 pm said: Hi was so pleased to c my cuzin in the paper and all the nice things said about him. He was a very kind and loving young man. But the editor got alot of facts wrong . E.g sipiwe was not married to sydney know to his family as bernard. Timothy is actually nixson brother. And yes i agree with everything else. Please mr editor get yr fact right coz u made a good article sound wrong and i am blood relative of nixs. garcinia cambogia buy on July 7, 2016 at 7:00 am said: It’s an amazing paragraph designed for all the web users; they will get advantage from it I am sure. Ruvimbo Heather Nhari on October 7, 2018 at 1:51 pm said: i was deeply hurt when i had about nixon’s death. he was a humble person i miss you nixon though i knew you for a short period of time may your soul rest in internal peace you will always be remembered and loved Mr Mazoyo V on January 13, 2019 at 12:28 pm said: I did not know him but he sounded like one hell of a man. May his soul rest in eternal peace.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2124
__label__wiki	0.532831	0.532831	Cartoons, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Visual Art There is chatting in the boardroom. Sometimes there is laughter, sometimes just concentrated silence and the soft sounds of pencils scratching. At one point a guitar emerges and there is singing and noisy clapping to a Bob Marley number. The table is littered with a riot of paper, pencils, paint palettes and newspapers of the day. Gathered around the mess are some of Zimbabwe’s young creative talents cooking up cartoons. It’s the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s cartoon and graphic novel workshop held last month at their offices. The workshop was aimed at boosting the technical and conceptual skills of local cartoonists. It brought together a diversity of people under the tutelage of renowned German cartoonist and metal sculptor Burkhard Mohr. Mohr’s work has been a mainstay of cartoon satire in the German and international press for decades. Indeed he wasn’t yet 20 when he first made it into the mainstream. “Before I could walk I already did cartoons…I started political cartoons aged 16. When I was 19, I published my first political cartoons in the biggest and most serious political newspaper in Germany,” says Mohr, who has worked as a cartoonist ever since, though he is also a sculptor of repute, working in iron at a blacksmith in a small German village. Renowned German cartoonist Burkhard Mohr (centre) takes local artists through some of his process. The ten Zimbabwean participants brought to the table a spectrum of creative backgrounds, though they all have a passion for the cartoon. Eugene Mapondera holds a Bachelor degree in political science. He is also a founding member of the Comexposed convention, which is working to bring comic books into the mainstream in Zimbabwe. His academic background and technical abilities are bringing great comics to the KAS boardroom table. He sees a bright future for cartoons as they fit neatly into the digital media realm. “The growth of the blogosphere in Zimbabwe will help cartoonists. Bloggers need cartoons to bring a visual element to their work as they explore their themes,” said Mapondera. “Working with Mohr has been great, seeing how political satire is conducted in Germany and Europe has been inspiring,” he adds. Sitting at the head of the table is Tafadzwa Mabasa. He’s not sitting alone. His participation is made possible with help from his sign language translator Sithabiso Ndlovu, for Mabasa is deaf. Ndlovu met Mabasa when she was buying airtime from him. He sells phone cards and accessories in town, and agreed to teach her sign language after their first meeting in June last year. She’s already adept and when she heard about the workshop, she suggested they go. Mabasa loves to draw. “Cartoons give me an outlet to express myself,” signs Mabasa, who tells about his hard living. “I’ve never had a job, I’ve always been a vendor. I don’t make a profit any more now that there are so many doing the same. I also lose my stuff when the police move us around. Being deaf means they just grab me and move me without explanation,” he says. The few artistic commissions he has had in the past have brought him some thin revenue, but he hopes to develop this passion and maybe one day make a proper go of it. “I’m enjoying seeing how other people go about their drawings,” he says. “I’m learning a lot.” As someone living life as a vendor, Mabasa was well attuned to the theme of vending that participants chose to dissect through their art. Other themes covered at the workshop included prophets, service delivery, Zimbabwe’s water shortages, and the need for environmental conservation. For instructor Mohr, such diversity is totally normal and necessary for a cartoonist. “It’s a vast field,” he says, “There are so many aspects that you have to integrate into your perspective – psychology, theology, philosophy, economics, social science, language, geometry, art…you have to think about these from different perspectives, and from there decide your ethics, your morals…who is good and who is bad, and who wins in your scenes.” Mohr explains that the challenge for cartoonists is to condense vast, complicated narratives into a clear, simple, and preferably humorous visual moment. “Cartoonists must also recognize and know the limitations of their work. Not everything is possible,” explains Mohr. One of Burkhard Mohr’s cartoons depicts the environmental devastation humans are inflicting on the planet and its species. Among the most accurate cartoonists at the workshop is Tito Shangazhike. He’s been doing cartoons for a decade and his drawings take shape seemingly effortlessly. “I’ve learnt a lot at the workshop,” says Shangazhike, “I’ve started to use less colour and more light in my drawings.” He hopes to share his skills set with young people, as a means of expressing themselves. One final meeting was held the last Saturday of July, for feedback and analysis of the best work from the week. Participants received certificates and said goodbye to Mohr, and each other. What will last and last however, is the fresh infusion of skills and knowledge that will hopefully see fine cartoons critiquing and reflecting Zimbabwe and her people, in a way that encourages understanding, debate, and progress. Main image: A cartoon by local artist Kombo Chapfika 5 thoughts on “Cartoon workshop explores local themes” Cory on July 7, 2016 at 6:46 am said: Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me. Billie on July 7, 2016 at 6:58 am said: www.vdas.co.kr on July 7, 2016 at 8:37 am said: I recently moved to TSO clustered hosting platform after my outdated webhost had 5 days of downtime. Gretta on July 7, 2016 at 9:03 am said: Hi there, I found your site by way of Google even as searching for a similar matter, your website got here up, it appears to be like great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks. Hi there, simply turned into aware of your weblog via Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate in the event you proceed this in future. Many other people will be benefited out of your writing. Cheers! Linette on July 7, 2016 at 9:21 am said: I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2125
__label__cc	0.618751	0.381249	The Evolution of Graphics in Video Games In the wake of the release of GTA5 we have all been transported into a world of extreme, cutting edge video game graphics. Sharp, clear and as real as you can get. You only need to watch the trailer for Call Of Duty Ghosts and you will see it with your own eyes. However, many of us will remember the days when our video games were pixelated, fuzzy and slow – but that was the beauty of them wasn’t it? As with everything, fashion, music and art, the current gaming graphics will evolve ad it won’t be long before they are outdated. We will start off by moaning about them and eventually, in 30 years, we will enjoy them once more for their ‘vintage’ appeal. Part of the issue with modern gaming graphics is that they are built to look real. Let’s face it, Space Invaders or PacMan were definitely not based upon realistic graphics; part of the reason they have kept their appeal for longer. Mobile app games and instant play casino games are some of the few gaming technologies that continue to display these type of simple graphics, albeit more stylized. At the end of the day, games that rely on the latest technology for their graphics are not going to retain their looks for as long as those that poses a blend between stylish graphics and the latest technology. Tomb Raider is a great example of this. The ultimate 1990’s adventure game was built between artistic graphics and the latest technology. It looks retro due to its pixelated presence and let’s face it Lara Croft never moved in a realistic way. However this game was created using cutting edge technology. This is one game that has stood the test of time through the clever use of graphics and design. Heading back either further, to the birth of a generation, the 1980’s really was the moment that shaped the face of video game graphics. This was the era when graphics definitely took a backseat to the gameplay. Maybe this was to test the water or it was simply because the primitive computers could only handle so much. Either way, it was far either for developers to create a simply strategy game than it was to create an RPG full of twist and turns. This was the age when the PC was considered a machine for work purposes rather than the entertainment hubs that they have become. Any game that grew out of the 80’s was caught in a battle between artistic brilliance and the constraints of the consoles. The Commodore 64, released in 1982 was one of the most powerful systems of the decade, but it still couldn’t cope with high level, wire frame graphics. Games designed for the Commodore 64 could always be recognised due to their brightly coloured graphics, and simple translucent characters. Although it was a powerful arcade console, the games were still simple in their approach compared to the capabilities of modern day consoles. In short, video game graphics have moved as the technology has. Creative development and freedom is now one of the most important aspects to games, but they will soon be as dated as their predecessors. As they are so realistic, they may not fare as well in our fast paced world as some of the 30 year games we know and love. The Relentless Improvement of Video Game Graphics Tech Review: Apps recreate early video games 10 Great Video Games with Unique Graphic Styles The Totally True History of Video Game Graphics by Ian Garstang In:game graphics, Gaming, gaming articles, News	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2129
__label__cc	0.602551	0.397449	Extra media audio streams available again Jun. 22, 2008 / Comments After about 2 years of staying quiet, we've updated the Extra Media Section. We've added a way for people to listen to the audio there directly from the page, and we've made some more of the songs available for download that were previously disabled. Please take some time and help us out by leaving your feedback in the comments. We're also trying to work out a bug that is affecting some users, and we ask you to read this page on the forum and leave your input there as well. For some 'music business' news, in an interview posted on Spinner.com, KISS bassist Gene Simmons said that he blames bands like Radiohead and Foxboro Hot Tubs for the demise of the record industry for releasing their music to fans for free. What kind of bullshit is that? Bands give a little extra to their fans and then they're the ones responsible for the demise of a record industry that has been screwing-over the fans for as long as they could. Feel free to read the rest of that article here, and leave your thoughts in the comments below. 0 CommentsTre CoolArticle	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2130
__label__wiki	0.515605	0.515605	Dabo Guan Know Dabo? About CEADs Dabo’s recent papers Emissions are still rising: ramp up the cuts Nature \| December 05, 2018 Representatives of 190 nations gather this week to review progress at the annual United Nations climate talks. They face a daunting reality: carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are rising again. Global CO2 emissions are projected1 to go up in 2018 by more than 2%. In 2017, they increased by 1.6%, having flattened out between 2014 and 2016. The reasons? The use of oil and gas keeps growing, and some countries are still using coal to fuel much of their economic growth (see ‘Rising pressures’). The UN meetings, this year in Katowice, in the heart of Poland’s coalfields, constitute a checkpoint. The Paris climate agreement was adopted in 2015 - when nations signed up to limit global warming to well below 2 °C, and to strive for 1.5 °C. The first formal revisions of national emissions-reduction targets are in 2020. Decreases in global beer supply due to extreme drought and heat Nature plants \| October 15, 2018 Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world by volume consumed, and yields of its main ingredient, barley, decline sharply in periods of extreme drought and heat. Although the frequency and severity of drought and heat extremes increase substantially in range of future climate scenarios by five Earth System Models, the vulnerability of beer supply to such extremes has never been assessed. We couple a process-based crop model (decision support system for agrotechnology transfer) and a global economic model (Global Trade Analysis Project model) to evaluate the effects of concurrent drought and heat extremes projected under a range of future climate scenarios. Consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting with capital stock change highlights dynamics of fast-developing countries Nature communications \| September 04, 2018 Traditional consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting attributed the gap between consumption-based and production-based emissions to international trade. Yet few attempts have analyzed the temporal deviation between current emissions and future consumption, which can be explained through changes in capital stock. Here we develop a dynamic model to incorporate capital stock change in consumption-based accounting. The new model is applied using global data for 1995-2009. Our results show that global emissions embodied in consumption determined by the new model are smaller than those obtained from the traditional model. The emissions embodied in global capital stock increased steadily during the period. However, capital plays very different roles in shaping consumption-based emissions for economies with different development characteristics. A multi-regional input-output table mapping China's economic outputs and interdependencies in 2012 Scientific data \| August 07, 2018 Multi-regional input-output (MRIO) models are one of the most widely used approaches to analyse the economic interdependence between different regions. We utilised the latest socioeconomic datasets to compile a Chinese MRIO table for 2012 based on the modified gravity model. The MRIO table provides inter-regional and inter-sectoral economic flows among 30 economic sectors in China’s 30 regions for 2012. This is the first MRIO table to reflect China’s economic development pattern after the 2008 global financial crisis. The Chinese MRIO table can be used to analyse the production and consumption structure of provincial economies and the inter-regional trade pattern within China, as well as function as a tool for both national and regional economic planning. The Chinese MRIO table also provides a foundation for extensive research on environmental impacts by linking industrial and regional output to energy use, carbon emissions, environmental pollutants, and satellite accounts. Structural decline in China’s CO2 emissions through transitions in industry and energy systems Nature Geoscience \| July 02, 2018 As part of the Paris Agreement, China pledged to peak its CO2 emissions by 2030. In retrospect, the commitment may have been fulfilled as it was being made—China’s emissions peaked in 2013 at a level of 9.53 gigatons of CO2, and have declined in each year from 2014 to 2016. However, the prospect of maintaining the continuance of these reductions depends on the relative contributions of different changes in China. Here, we quantitatively evaluate the drivers of the peak and decline of China’s CO2 emissions between 2007 and 2016 using the latest available energy, economic and industry data. We find that slowing economic growth in China has made it easier to reduce emissions. Nevertheless, the decline is largely associated with changes in industrial structure and a decline in the share of coal used for energy. Decreasing energy intensity (energy per unit gross domestic product) and emissions intensity (emissions per unit energy) also contributed to the decline. City-level climate change mitigation in China Science advances \| June 27, 2018 As national efforts to reduce CO2 emissions intensify, policy-makers need increasingly specific, subnational information about the sources of CO2 and the potential reductions and economic implications of different possible policies. This is particularly true in China, a large and economically diverse country that has rapidly industrialized and urbanized and that has pledged under the Paris Agreement that its emissions will peak by 2030. We present new, city-level estimates of CO2 emissions for 182 Chinese cities, decomposed into 17 different fossil fuels, 46 socioeconomic sectors, and 7 industrial processes. We find that more affluent cities have systematically lower emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), supported by imports from less affluent, industrial cities located nearby. In turn, clusters of industrial cities are supported by nearby centers of coal or oil extraction. Whereas policies directly targeting manufacturing and electric power infrastructure would drastically undermine the GDP of industrial cities, consumption-based policies might allow emission reductions to be subsidized by those with greater ability to pay. The rise of South–South trade and its effect on global CO2 emissions Nature communications \| May 14, 2018 Economic globalization and concomitant growth in international trade since the late 1990s have profoundly reorganized global production activities and related CO2 emissions. Here we show trade among developing nations (i.e., South–South trade) has more than doubled between 2004 and 2011, which reflects a new phase of globalization. Some production activities are relocating from China and India to other developing countries, particularly raw materials and intermediate goods production in energy-intensive sectors. In turn, the growth of CO2 emissions embodied in Chinese exports has slowed or reversed, while the emissions embodied in exports from less-developed regions such as Vietnam and Bangladesh have surged. Although China’s emissions may be peaking, ever more complex supply chains are distributing energy-intensive industries and their CO2 emissions throughout the global South. This trend may seriously undermine international efforts to reduce global emissions that increasingly rely on rallying voluntary contributions of more, smaller, and less-developed nations. China CO2 emission accounts 1997–2015 Scientific Data \| January 16, 2018 China is the world’s top energy consumer and CO2 emitter, accounting for 30% of global emissions. Compiling an accurate accounting of China’s CO2 emissions is the first step in implementing reduction policies. However, no annual, officially published emissions data exist for China. The current emissions estimated by academic institutes and scholars exhibit great discrepancies. The gap between the different emissions estimates is approximately equal to the total emissions of the Russian Federation (the 4th highest emitter globally) in 2011. In this study, we constructed the time-series of CO2 emission inventories for China and its 30 provinces. We followed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emissions accounting method with a territorial administrative scope. The inventories include energy-related emissions (17 fossil fuels in 47 sectors) and process-related emissions (cement production). The first version of our dataset presents emission inventories from 1997 to 2015. Targeted emission reductions from global super-polluting power plant units Nature Sustainability \| January 08, 2018 There are more than 30,000 biomass- and fossil-fuel-burning power plants now operating worldwide, reflecting a tremendously diverse infrastructure, which ranges in capacity from less than a megawatt to more than a gigawatt. Here, we assess fuel- and region-specific opportunities for reducing undesirable air pollutant emissions using newly developed emission dataset at the level of individual generating units. For example, we find that retiring or installing emission control technologies on units representing 0.8% of the global coal-fired power plant capacity could reduce levels of PM2.5 emissions by 7.7-14.2%. In India and China, retiring coal-fired plants 1.8% and 0.8% of total capacity can reduce total PM2.5 emissions from coal-fired plants by 13.2% and 16.0%, respectively. Chinese CO2 emission flows have reversed since the global financial crisis Nature Communication \| November 23, 2017 This study seeks to estimate the carbon implications of recent changes in China’s economic development patterns and role in global trade in the post-financial-crisis era. We utilised the latest socioeconomic datasets to compile China’s 2012 multiregional input-output (MRIO) table. Environmentally extended input-output analysis and structural decomposition analysis (SDA) were applied to investigate the driving forces behind changes in CO2 emissions embodied in China’s domestic and foreign trade from 2007 to 2012. Here we show that emission flow patterns have changed greatly in both domestic and foreign trade since the financial crisis. Trade affects location of air pollution deaths Nature \| March 30, 2017 In a ground-breaking interdisciplinary analysis, we quantify the global links among consumption of goods and services, production of air pollution, atmospheric transport of that pollution, and human mortality due to the pollution. We find that roughly a quarter of air pollution deaths are related to goods produced in one world region for consumption in another. Here we combine four global models to estimate premature mortality caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution as a result of atmospheric transport and the production and consumption of goods and services in different world regions. Unequal household carbon footprints in China Nature Climate Change \| December 19, 2016 Households’ carbon footprints are unequally distributed among the rich and poor due to differences in the scale and patterns of consumption. We present distributional focused carbon footprints for Chinese households and use a carbon-footprint-Gini coefficient to quantify inequalities. We find that in 2012 the urban very rich, comprising 5% of population, induced 19% of the total carbon footprint from household consumption in China, with 6.4 tCO2/cap. The average Chinese household footprint remains comparatively low (1.7 tCO2/cap), while those of the rural population and urban poor, comprising 58% of population, are 0.5–1.6 tCO2/cap. Global carbon uptake by cement carbonation Nature Geoscience \| November 21, 2016 Calcination of carbonate rocks during the manufacture of cement produced 5% of global CO2emissions from all industrial process and fossil-fuel combustion in 2013. Here, we use new and existing data on cement materials during cement service life, demolition, and secondary use of concrete waste to estimate regional and global CO2 uptake between 1930 and 2013 using an analytical model describing carbonation chemistry. We find that carbonation of cement materials over their life cycle represents a large and growing net sink of CO2, increasing from 0.10 GtC yr−1 in 1998 to 0.25 GtC yr−1 in 2013. Global climate forcing of aerosols embodied in international trade Nature Geoscience \| September 05, 2016 The role of trade in aerosol climate forcing attributed to different regions has never been quantified. Here, we contrast the direct radiative forcing of aerosols related to regions’ consumption of goods and services against the forcing due to emissions produced in each region. We find that global aerosol radiative forcing due to emissions produced in East Asia is much stronger than the forcing related to goods and services ultimately consumed in that region because of its large net export of emissions-intensive goods. Take responsibility for electronic-waste disposal Nature \| August 03, 2016 The world is producing ever more electrical and electronic waste. The quantity of dumped computers, telephones, televisions and appliances doubled between 2009 and 2014, to 42 million tonnes per year globally. Much of this waste ends up in the developing world, where regulation is lax. China processed about 70% of the world’s e-waste in 2012; the rest goes to India and other countries in eastern Asia and Africa, including Nigeria. Non-toxic components — such as iron, steel, copper and gold — are valuable, so are more frequently recycled than toxic ones. Disposal plants release toxic materials, volatile organic chemicals and heavy metals, which can harm the environment and human health. Targeted opportunities for climate–trade dilemma Nature Climate Change \| September 28, 2015 International trade has become the fastest growing driver of global carbon emissions, with large quantities of emissions embodied in exports from emerging economies. International trade with emerging economies poses a dilemma for climate and trade policy: to the extent emerging markets have comparative advantages in manufacturing, such trade is economically efficient and desirable. However, if carbon-intensive manufacturing in emerging countries such as China entails drastically more CO2 emissions than making the same product elsewhere, then trade increases global CO2 emissions. New papers Thousands of pollution deaths worldwide linked to western consumers	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2131
__label__wiki	0.509845	0.509845	Excursions from Lignano Trieste, whose beating heart is represented by the magnificent Piazza Unità, is a centre of music: the Verdi Theatre, built in 1801 near the sea, inspired the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi and still today is enchanting the lovers of music and theatre. Trieste is the meeting-place for literature. Historical rendezvous are Caffè Tommaseo, fit for reading and conversation, and Caffé San Marco, well known for its confectionary and which looks like the typical Viennese cafés. Trieste owns precious treasures: the Cenotafio by Wincklemann exhibited in the History and Art Municipal Museum, the drawings by Tiepolo in the Sartorio Museum, the stage costumes – a collection which is second to the one of the Scala of Milan only – in the Morpurgo Museum, the modern art gallery in the Museo Revoltella and the dinosaur Antonio, the only complete fossile of Androsaur in the National History Municipal Museum. Trieste is a tolerant town. The Cathedral of St. Giusto (14th cent.) on the top of the hill having the same name, the Greek-Orthodox church of St. Nicolò with precious goldsmith’s icons, the Serb-Orthodox church of St. Spiridione shining with Byzantine art, and the Jewish temple, one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Trieste lights up with sport events: in May the Marathon of Europe hosts athlets from all over the world and in October the Sailing Regata Barcolana with the participation of all classes of sailing boats. The Castle of Miramare, on the bay of Grignano, was the residence of Maximilian of Austria, emperor Frank Joseph’s brother, and of his wife Carlotta. The white of its walls shows up from the green of the immense park of rare plants which surrounds it. The furnishing of the rooms is the original one.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2135
__label__wiki	0.972439	0.972439	Ministry to start cleanup of former intelligence command HQ site Posted : 2019-06-18 17:03 Updated : 2019-06-18 20:08 The headquarters of the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) under the Ministry of National Defense's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Seocho-gu, Seoul is seen in this 2003 photo. The KDIC headquarters moved to Anyang, Gyeonggi Province in 2015. Korea Times file By Jung Da-min The Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday it will start designing a clean-up project for the former site of the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) headquarters under the ministry's Defense Intelligence Agency in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, starting August. The announcement came a day after recent data showed the site was heavily contaminated, a result of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), a chemical compound found in crude oil. Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who is also a member of Assembly defense and intelligence committees, raised the issue. Ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said the ministry's Military Construction Project Division has been "conducting a process to evaluate possible impact of the contamination on the site on environmental fronts." The spokeswoman added the division will kick off the cleanup in August in accordance with the Soil Environment Conservation Act (SECA). According to the data, the highest TPH concentration at the site was about 33,300 ppm, more than 40 times the permissible level of 800 ppm for a multipurpose site as SECA mandates. After the KDIC was transferred to Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, in 2015, its former headquarters site was sold recently to a private company for 1 trillion won ($8.4 million). The evaluation standard for the environmental contamination, accordingly, has been strengthened from the permissible level of 2,000 ppm for a military site to 800 ppm for a multipurpose site, but the 33,300 ppm figure is still high even with the former standard for a military site. The current law requires an immediate clean-up for a site that has over 2,400 TPH concentration. Other pollutants such as benzene, xylene and fluorine have also been found in the contaminated soil, the release showed. While TPH has been found in about 2,200 square meters of the area, about a third of a soccer field, fluorine has been found in about 36,000 square meters of the area. The ministry had appropriated a related budget of about 48.7 billion won, but has yet to execute it. The ministry said it had been proceeding with the initial phases of the project over the past five years, conducting the environmental evaluation and designing process. The designing phase was supposed to be completed during the second half of last year but has been put off as it was reviewing the plans to better comply with the strengthened standards. damin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr More articles by this reporter Super Junior performs first Saudi Arabian concert Reviews of new 'Lion King' poles apart Feds bring new sex-crime charges against singer R. Kelly Psy unveils music video in collaboration with Suzy Film airing on PBS recalls city's dark deportation history	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2139
__label__wiki	0.918408	0.918408	Himself and Nora Nightmare Alley 40 Naked Women, A Monkey & Me MadHattan Enter The Night Jonathan Brielle Book by Susan Cooper and Hume Cronyn Music by Jonathan Brielle (Holtzman) Lyrics by Jonathan Brielle, Susan Cooper and Hume Cronyn Foxfire originally opened on Broadway in 1982 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, starring Keith Carradine and the legendary Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. Tandy won a Tony Award for her performance and an Emmy for performance in the film. Foxfire tells the story of Annie Nations, the last of a dying breed of old timers is Southern Appalachia who must decide whether to spend her remaining days alone on the land with the ghost of her late husband or with her son, in Florida. She and the son struggle with whether leaving their heritage behind is the only way to survive a changing world. "Jessica Tandy...is so pure and right that only poets, not theater critics, should be allowed to write about her." – Frank Rich, New York Times "...a teasing gander at a vanishing way of life and at the love and longevity of a faithful couple." – New York Times Sheet Music Available Listen to Music © 2016-2019 Jonathan Brielle Website Design by Circle dK	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2143
__label__wiki	0.673833	0.673833	Justice Cohen Rules Man Must Buy Divorced Wife Another 1 Million Pound House Because She Doesn’t Like The One She Already Has British ZOG, When Jews Attack A multi-millionaire has been ordered to buy his ex-wife a new house after she argued that a wave of crime has meant their £1 million home is no longer “suitable”, a high court has heard. Detail of the case have emerged in a written ruling by Mr Justice Cohen published following a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London. The judge said the man had paid around £1 million for the current house following a ruling by another judge and that the father should now provide £1.35 million to his ex-wife to buy another home. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said the London home she shares with her two teenage daughters was “no longer appropriate” as new housing in the area had brought a “substantial increase in traffic and an increase in crime.” She said the home was “too small” as the girls, both 16, were being forced to share a bedroom, and asked Mr Justice Cohen to rule that she could relocate at her former husband’s expense, who is believed to be worth at least £40 million. The man, who has not seen his daughters since 2005 and has never visited their current home, opposed the application but the judge has ruled in her favour. He stated that it was reasonable for the woman and her daughters to “require to be housed elsewhere”. He ruled that whilst it was not possible to determine if there had been an increase in crime in the area, the mother “shall be permitted to choose a replacement property for herself and the children.” It was also reported that both daughters were “plainly struggling” in their school examinations and the father was therefore ordered to pay £32,880 for additional tuition for his daughters on top of £121,900 to be paid for four terms of schooling. The judge concluded that he did not believe the father had any grounds for complaint over the amount awarded, and that the money has been “allocated for the benefit of the children.” Nicholas Zuckerman Calls For Shooting And Bombing Of Harvard Black Graduation Event George Duke-Cohan Jailed For 3 Years For Making 400 Bomb Threats To British Schools	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2145
__label__cc	0.670228	0.329772	#MondayMelodies - KD Carrillo January 26, 2015 / Michele Miller Happy Monday friends! Today I'm happy to introduce K.D. Carrillo and her musical muse... Right now I've got my very eclectic playlist rocking through my speakers, and my fingers flying across the keyboard. Sometimes songs inspire what I'm writing, but more often I find songs based on what my character needs to hear at that moment. I'm a writer, but not many people know that I started off expressing myself through music. I've always searched for the perfect song to express what I'm feeling at a particular time in my life. When I started giving into the urge to release my characters from my mind and onto the page I found myself playing the same song on loop to feel what I was writing. When I started writing Destroy Me, which has some content a little closer to home than I'll describe, the songs really hit me. Some of the songs expressed where I'd like to be at this stage in life, while others gutted me by reflecting how I feel right now. The music helped me see Kate, and make her more real to me than any other character has yet. Destroy Me has some dark elements of abuse and PTSD. While the book is ultimately about healing, there are moments where the characters surrender themselves to the feelings created by the actions of others. Sometimes there aren't words for these feelings, which was the case for Kate in one seen that may have brought some tears to my eyes. Reed tries to tell her that he'll be there for when she needs him by playing, "I Will Wait," by Mumford and Sons (Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait). Kate isn't ready to bare her soul to him at this point, but doesn't want him to wait for her when she feels too broken to be accepted. She replies by playing him, "Slow it Down," by the Lumineers (The Lumineers – Slow It Down). This is the part of the song that got me: "I feel a filth in my bones. Wash off my hands till it's gone. The walls, they're closing in with velvet curtains..." In the first line of the song I knew how Kate felt about herself, and I could see that Reed would feel it too. Now I'm on to the last book in this series as well as a completely new project. I'm discovering new artists, and new ways to be influenced by music. Here is the Destroy Me playlist on Spotify: o follow me: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdcarrilloauthor Twitter: @centralcoven www.kdcarrilloauthor.com Follow me on Amazon to find my books and new releases HERE January 26, 2015 / Michele Miller/ Comment #MondayMelodies KD Carrillo, Music	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2148
__label__cc	0.675189	0.324811	Rebecca Walker Rebecca Walker is a postdoctoral fellow at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), The University of the Witwatersrand where she works on issues relating to gender, migration and, health. She has a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh and a background in research on gender-based violence, women’s activism and human rights. In South Africa she has taught Social Anthropology at undergraduate level and Research Methods at a postgrad level. She has led and been involved in a number of research projects and consultancies covering topics dealing with migration-related issues including human trafficking, sex work, children on the move and also, gender, migration and health policy. Much of her recent work has engaged with arts-based methods. She has worked both independently and collaboratively on research projects, consultancy positions and has published widely in a variety of spaces. Dr Rebecca Walker CV	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2150
__label__wiki	0.598021	0.598021	Home > Business > Cabinet approves `10,000-cr scheme to train 50 lakh apprentices by 2020 Cabinet approves `10,000-cr scheme to train 50 lakh apprentices by 2020 PTI6 July 2016 9:57 PM GMT The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. The scheme would be implemented by Director General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). It is for the first time a scheme like this has been designed to offer financial incentives to employers to engage apprentices. In addition, it also supports basic training, which is an essential component of apprenticeship exercise. Fifty per cent of the total expenditure incurred on providing basic training would be supported by the government. As per an official statement, 25 per cent of the total stipend payable to an apprentice would be shared with employers directly by the government. “The scheme will catalyse the entire apprenticeship ecosystem in the country and it will offer a win-win situation for all stakeholders. It is expected to become one of the most powerful skill-delivery vehicle in the country,” the statement said. Talking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government’s focus was on job creation and skill development. He said 17 mobile phone manufacturers have started making their devices in India. Central public sector units were providing only 36,000 apprenticeship while those in the states were apprenticising 1.8 lakh.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2151
__label__wiki	0.897209	0.897209	The Cheshire West and Chester (Electoral Changes) Order 2018 2018 No. 741 Whole Instrument Local Government, England Coming into force in accordance with article 1(2) and (3) Under section 58(4) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009(1) (“the Act”) the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(2) (“the Commission”) published a report dated March 2018 stating its recommendations for changes to the electoral arrangements for the borough of Cheshire West and Chester. The Commission has decided to give effect to the recommendations. A draft of the instrument has been laid before Parliament and a period of forty days has expired since the day on which it was laid and neither House has resolved that the instrument be not made. The Commission makes the following Order in exercise of the power conferred by section 59(1) of the Act. Citation, commencement and application 1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Cheshire West and Chester (Electoral Changes) Order 2018. (2) This article and article 2 come into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made. (3) Articles 3 and 4 come into force— (a)for the purpose of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on the day after the day on which this Order is made; (b)for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors(3) in 2019. 2.—(1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Cheshire West and Chester (Electoral Changes) Order 2018”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England(4). (2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature. Wards of Cheshire West and Chester and number of councillors 3.—(1) The existing wards of the borough of Cheshire West and Chester are abolished. (2) The borough of Cheshire West and Chester is divided into 45 wards as listed in the first column of the table in Schedule 1. (3) Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward. (4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the table in Schedule 1. Wards of the parishes of Dodleston, Neston, Northwich and Winsford 4.—(1) The existing wards of the parishes of Dodleston, Neston, Northwich and Winsford are abolished. (2) The parish of Dodleston is divided into the two parish wards listed in the first column of table 1 in Schedule 2. (3) The parish of Neston is divided into the three parish wards listed in the first column of table 2 in Schedule 2. (4) The parish of Northwich is divided into the five parish wards listed in the first column of table 3 in Schedule 2. (5) The parish of Winsford is divided into the six parish wards listed in the first column of table 4 in Schedule 2. (6) Each parish ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the parish ward. (7) The number of councillors to be elected for each parish ward is the number specified in relation to that ward in the second column of the relevant table in Schedule 2. Sealed with the seal of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England Jolyon Jackson Local Government Boundary Commission for England SCHEDULE 1Names of wards and number of councillors Name of borough ward Number of councillors Blacon 3 Central & Grange 2 Chester City & the Garden Quarter 3 Christleton & Huntington 2 Davenham, Moulton & Kingsmead 2 Farndon 1 Frodsham 2 Gowy Rural 2 Great Boughton 2 Handbridge Park 2 Hartford & Greenbank 2 Helsby 1 Lache 1 Ledsham & Manor 2 Little Neston 1 Malpas 1 Marbury 3 Neston 1 Netherpool 1 Newton & Hoole 3 Northwich Leftwich 1 Northwich Winnington & Castle 2 Northwich Witton 1 Parkgate 1 Rudheath 1 Sandstone 1 Saughall & Mollington 1 Shakerley 1 Strawberry 1 Sutton Villages 2 Tarporley 1 Tarvin & Kelsall 2 Tattenhall 1 Upton 2 Weaver & Cuddington 3 Whitby Groves 1 Whitby Park 1 Willaston & Thornton 1 Winsford Dene 1 Winsford Gravel 1 Winsford Over & Verdin 3 Winsford Swanlow 1 Winsford Wharton 1 Wolverham 1 SCHEDULE 2Names of parish wards and number of councillors Wards of the parish of Dodleston Name of parish ward Dodleston 9 Lache Lane 1 Wards of the parish of Neston Wards of the parish of Northwich Northwich Belmont 1 Northwich Greenbank 2 Wards of the parish of Winsford Winsford Over 3 Winsford Verdin 3 (This note is not part of the Order) This Order makes changes to electoral arrangements for the borough of Cheshire West and Chester following recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The area of the borough of Cheshire West and Chester remains unchanged. The changes made by this Order apply in respect of local government elections held on and after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2019. Article 3 abolishes the existing electoral wards of the borough of Cheshire West and Chester and replaces them with 45 new ones. It establishes the names and areas of the new electoral wards and the number of councillors for each. Article 4 makes changes to parish wards which are consequential to the changes made by article 3. The area covered by each ward created by this Order is identified on a map which is available for inspection at reasonable times at the offices of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London SW1P 4QP. The map may also be accessed at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/north-west/cheshire/cheshire-west-and-chester An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen. 2009 c. 20. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established on 1st April 2010 by section 55(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. The ordinary day of election of councillors in England is prescribed by section 37 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2), as amended by section 18(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50) and section 6(16) of the Wales Act 2017 (c. 4). Prints of the map are available for inspection at reasonable times at the principal office of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 14th floor, Millbank Tower, London, SW1P 4QP. It is also accessible online at http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/north-west/cheshire/cheshire-west-and-chester	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2156
__label__cc	0.60233	0.39767	The Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2015 Wales Statutory Instruments 2015 No. 54 (W. 5) Previous: Schedule Next: Schedule Original (As made) - English Original (As made) - Welsh Regulations 5, 71 and 88 SCHEDULE 2DESIGNATED COURSES 1. A first degree course. 2. A course for the Diploma of Higher Education. 3. A course for the Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate of— (a)the Business & Technician Education Council; or (b)the Scottish Qualification Authority. 4. A course for the certificate of Higher Education. 5. A course for the initial training of teachers. 6. A course for the further training of youth and community workers. 7. A course in preparation for a professional examination of a standard higher than that of— (a)examination at advanced level for the General Certificate of Education or the examination at higher level for the Scottish Certificate of Education; or (b)the examination for the National Certificate or the National Diploma of either of the bodies mentioned in paragraph 3, not being a course for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is normally required. 8. A course— (a)providing education (whether or not in preparation for an examination) the standard of which is higher than that of courses providing education in preparation for any of the examinations mentioned in paragraph 7(a) or (b) but not higher than that of a first degree course; and (b)for entry to which a first degree (or equivalent qualification) is not normally required. PrintThis Schedule only PDF This Schedule only Web page This Schedule only Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. The revised version is currently only available in English. Original (As Enacted or Made) - English: The original English language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text. Original (As Enacted or Made) - Welsh:The original Welsh language version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2157
__label__wiki	0.524232	0.524232	[PRESS RELEASE]: HIGH COURT DISMISSES ATTEMPT TO REVOKE STATELESS CHILD'S CITIZENSHIP Lawyers for Human Rights welcomes the decision by the High Court this week dismissing an attempt by the Department of Home Affairs to deprive a stateless child of her right to citizenship. This decision will hopefully end the 6 year court battle that 11-year old Maria (not her real name) endured in the fight for her right to a nationality. “The South African Citizenship Act gives... [PRESS RELEASE]: VICTORY FOR MONFLORAH PARK COMMUNITY AS EKURHULENI METRO POLICE ACTIONS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL Lawyers for Human Rights welcomes the judgement of the Pretoria High Court yesterday in respect of more than 100 families (the “Monflorah Park Community”) whose homes were repeatedly and illegally demolished without a court order, and their personal possessions burnt to ashes by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department over the course of the last five months. The community, composed of... [PRESS RELEASE]: HANDS OFF THE HOMELESS: LHR IN URGENT COURT ON BEHALF OF 100 EKURHULENI FAMILIES On 1 April 2019, Lawyers for Human Rights launched an urgent application against the City of Ekurhuleni on behalf of more than 100 families (the “Monflorah Park Community”) whose homes were repeatedly and illegally demolished without a court order, and their personal possessions burnt to ashes by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department during the period of December 2018 to April... [PRESS RELEASE]: LHR BRINGS LIFE-SAVING INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF ASYLUM-SEEKER Today, Lawyers for Human Rights approached the Johannesburg High Court to hear the matter of Alem Bazabe Ereselo v the CEO: Helen Joseph Hospital and Others, which concerns an asylum seeker’s Constitutional right to access emergency medical treatment, equality, human dignity, and life. After fleeing Ethiopia due to persecution on the basis of her political opinion, the Applicant in this... - CLOSED - CANDIDATE ATTORNEY OPPORTUNITY IN OUR DURBAN OFFICE LHR is an independent human rights organisation with a four-decade track record in human rights activism and public interest litigation in South Africa. We offer human rights activists and lawyers an exciting and challenging work environment, covering a wide range of social justice issues. We are committed to transformation of the sector. LHR is inviting applications from law graduates with... [PRESS RELEASE] HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS TOO Lawyers for Human Rights celebrates the landmark judgment handed down by the Supreme Court of Appeal today, tackling a pressing human rights issue that has been largely ignored in South African metros: a pattern of confiscating and destroying the property of the poorest members of society. This case concerned a group of almost 30 homeless people who have lived on a traffic island under the R31... ABANDONED CHILDREN FINALLY REGISTERED BY DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS Lawyers for Human Rights and Abba Specialist Adoption and Social Services welcome the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to register 33 abandoned children with birth certificates, after LHR approached the Pretoria High Court on behalf of Abba, for an urgent order compelling the Department to register the births of all the children within 30 days. Thirty-three abandoned children had been... PRESS RELEASE: Lawyers for Human Rights Celebrates 40 Years of Making Rights Real This year marks 40 years of Lawyers for Human Rights providing free legal services to marginalised individuals & communities in South Africa in order to help deepen democracy and facilitate access to justice for all. This Human Rights Day, help celebrate our history and ensure the future of LHR by donating to support our work. Despite South Africa’s renowned and progressive Constitution... - CLOSED - PARALEGAL OPPORTUNITY IN OUR MUSINA OFFICE LHR is an independent human rights organisation with a four-decade track record in human rights activism and public interest litigation in South Africa. We offer human rights activists and lawyers an exciting and challenging work environment covering a wide range of social justice issues. We are committed to transformation of the sector. LHR is inviting applications for the position... PRESS RELEASE: HIGH COURT TO RULE ON KEY CHALLENGE TO REFUGEE APPEAL BOARD DECISION-MAKING On 30 January 2019, the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria (“the High Court”) will hand down judgment on the matter between Somali Association & 8 Others v The Refugee Appeal Board & 6 Others in an application to review and set aside eight decisions of the Refugee Appeal Board (“RAB”) in which it dismissed the applicants’ asylum... Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme (RMRP) Mozambican Mineworkers Project RMRP: Statelessness Project - accessing citizenship and nationality Strategic Litigation Unit Penal Reform Programme Environmental Rights Programme Land and Housing Unit Security of Farm Workers Project Tweets by @LHR_SA Lawyers for Human Rights is running a crowdfunding campaign for stateless children. Some vulnerable children are required to do DNA tests to get birth certificates, but it costs R1400 - R2100. Abandoned & orphaned stateless children are required to pay R1350 to apply for a visa allowing them to go to school. Donate any amount towards a vulnerable child’s test/visa & ensure a better future for them here: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/save-50-children-from-statelessness-in-southafrica/#menu LHR newsletter	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2158
__label__wiki	0.557637	0.557637	Home » action » Jason Reitman will direct a new Ghostbusters film set in the original universe Jason Reitman will direct a new Ghostbusters film set in the original universe Posted by Phil on Jan 16, 2019 in action, All, comedy, drama, fantasy, Film, horror, News, sci-fi, thriller \| 0 comments Well, this is rather splendid news to wake up to! For whatever reasons, call it… fate, call it luck, call it karma, Jason Reitman will direct and co-write a new Ghostbusters film set in the world of the original 1984 movie, which was directed by his father, Ivan Reitman. There was an attempt at a reboot in 2016, but we try not to talk about that as it was a bit disappointing. “I’ve always thought of myself as the first Ghostbusters fan, when I was a 6-year-old visiting the set. I wanted to make a movie for all the other fans,” Reitman told EW. “This is the next chapter in the original franchise. It is not a reboot. What happened in the ‘80s happened in the ‘80s, and this is set in the present day.” “This is very early, and I want the film to unwrap like a present. We have a lot of wonderful surprises and new characters for the audience to meet,” said Reitman, who co-wrote the screenplay Gil Kenan (Monster House and Poltergeist). There is no word on the exact plot or whether Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson or Sigourney Weaver will return, but I’ve got a good feeling about this. Sony plans to release the film in the summer of 2020 and shooting is expected to begin in a few months. There is also this teaser for the film and it hits all the right spots! That’s how you do a teaser! What would you like to see in a new Ghostbusters movie?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2160
__label__wiki	0.673524	0.673524	All That Is Old Is New Again: On the Current State of Doctor Who Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, in BBC's Doctor Who This past winter, my wife knit a Tom Baker-era Doctor Who scarf as a birthday gift for a friend. It turned out my friend has been wanting one since he was a kid, and could not have been more thrilled with the gift. He proudly wore the 12-foot scarf, its colourful tassels dragging along the streets of Washington, D.C., for the remaining cold days of the year, and even beyond them. Recently he told me a story: while walking to work on one such day, he crossed paths with a young boy (perhaps nine-years-old) and his mother. The boy, on seeing my friend, began jumping up and down and pulling at his mom's coat, yelling with delight: ""Doctor Who Scarf! Doctor Who Scarf!!!" I tell this story, not only because of the profound pleasure the incident provoked in my friend, but because it reveals something I've long believed about Doctor Who as a televisual and cultural phenomenon. Even after 50 years and over 34 seasons, the show appeals across cultures, continents, and generations. (Tom Baker stopped wearing that scarf more than three decades before that young American boy was even born!) I loved the show as a child, when episodes of Peter Davison's Doctor aired on my local PBS channel, and as an adult the relaunched BBC series has topped my list of favourite shows since the show appeared in 2005. And not surprisingly, I talk about Doctor Who… a lot. Easily more than all other television series combined. I've spoken about Doctor Who with doctors and lawyers, rabbis, priests and professors, friends and almost complete strangers. And there is always that moment when I realize that the one next to me loves what I love, and my heart opens just a little bit more to that person. I've had animated conversations with 10-year-olds about the paradoxical intricacies of TARDIS physics, and debates with 70-year-olds over whether Daleks or Cybermen were the more terrifying and why. (Right now, I can't recall which of the two I argued for at the time, because honestly both scare me witless.) Barely a new episode passes that I don't have a phone call with my friend from D.C. or with my brother. Those discussions can go on for hours, and often are only cut short only by the lateness of the hour. But in the more than four years since I started writing for Critics at Large, I've never written about Doctor Who. It wasn't until the show's remarkable new season, four episodes into Peter Capaldi's tenure as the show's twelfth Doctor, that I suddenly felt I had to write about it. And to be honest, until that moment, I don't think I'd really considered why I hadn't written on it before. The answer, upon reflection, is fairly obvious. I don't just enjoy Doctor Who, I love it – with all the messy, ambivalent convolution that comes with that deep affection. Sure, I can talk for hours about the series, but when I do, the conversation seems more confessional than critical – that in the end I really am talking mainly about myself. No doubt this is just as true for other series, but the parts of myself that are engaged by Who feel deeper and more basic than, say, the parts addressed by Breaking Bad or Deadwood. There is great television that addresses powerful social, political, or philosophical ideas and situations, and then there are shows that speak directly to our humanity. Doctor Who falls firmly into the second category. Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who The show you most love is also the one that often disappoints, in the most personal and idiosyncratic ways. When I express my feelings of frustration over a particular episode – and this was often the case last season – it feels comparable to criticizing a close friend or family member: it's fine among those who know how deeply you feel about the person and who feel the same way, but it doesn't seem right to circulate widely. And just like those closest people who you know and still love, you know why you love them, but continue to be regularly surprised when others do as well! (Though, on this point, Craig Ferguson – with his famously "lost" Doctor Who cold-open from 2010 – went as far as anything has towards revealing to me that we all do perhaps love the same show. As Ferguson expressed with characteristic frankness, clarity, and perceptivity, Doctor Who's appeal come from the fact that the series has always been about "the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism". That the current Doctor, Peter Capaldi, is also a dear, old friend of his is a sweet parting gift to Ferguson in his last season as a fixture on the American late night talk show scene.) Last year's season, the 50th anniversary and the last season of the Matt Smith-era was one of the least satisfying since 2005. Despite some powerful episodes and innovations (top of the list being the creation and regular use of Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax, the Victorian-age motley team of consulting detectives) and its culminating in the epic "Day of the Doctor" special, by the end of the year, I was looking forward to the new energy that would come from recasting the Doctor. (Compared to the exquisite pain I experienced in seeing David Tennant leave the role a few years earlier, this confession still feels to me rather like a betrayal.) Focusing more on over-clever intricacies of plot and often leaving characters and emotion aside, that season's missteps highlighted the strengths and weakness of Steven Moffat (who, with fellow Doctor Who writer Mark Gatiss, is also the man behind BBC's Sherlock) as a showrunner. Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), initially intriguing, was largely emptied out by the end of season, with her "impossible girl" status being resolved in a fashion that left her seeming more prop than character. (It could, but shouldn't, be compared to the resolution to the "Bad Wolf" mystery of the 2005 season. The punch line of that was organic to the development of Rose's character, but with Clara, it felt rather like a non sequitur.) But the new season, which premiered a few weeks ago, has honestly made all recent frustrations fade almost entirely from view. What prompted this bit of writing was last Saturday's Steven Moffat-authored episode, "Listen" – which may have been one of the best stand-alone episodes of the entire series. Everything that is great about this new season was on display: the plot was developed in a painterly fashion, letting the narrative wind its way forward rather than barrel ahead; instead of our players beings buffeted by the whims of larger or fated forces, the psychology and motivation of the characters comes to the fore. Plus, and Clara and the Doctor continue to entertainingly trade barbs and insults, further distancing us from the awkward, and often genuinely unsettling, flirtations between Clara and Smith's Doctor. Much of this comes from the sheer force of Peter Capaldi in the role of the Doctor. Capaldi is older than the previous three Doctors (and in fact just slightly older than William Hartnell was when the first episode of Doctor Who aired in 1963). The new series has had the Doctors played by younger and younger actors with every new regeneration, culminating with Matt Smith's baby-faced 27 years at the last juncture. But that ostensible youth meant that the character's centuries-old maturity had to be played out, in word and deed, on the screen. Here, with Capaldi's face doing the work, the series can relax on that point and return us to a muddling, sometimes genuinely confused Doctor (with moments of Tom Baker-esque mania). For all his craggy, 56-year-old face, there is something newly child-like about this 12th incarnation of the character. His persnickety demeanour hovers between the dodderingness of an older man and the unsettled emotions of an adolescent. Even into the fourth hour of the new season, the Doctor is still struggling with a somewhat scrambled memory (which, considering the events of the 50th anniversary special, is no surprise), and he is significantly more unpredictable than any recent incarnation. It is refreshing, it is entertaining, and it has re-energized a show that for all of the youth of its on-screen players, was beginning to feel a little tired. I'm not sure if this past week's episode was the first time the series has shown us the Doctor as a child (though I believe it's a first for the new series), but it feels just right for Capaldi. The camera never shows us the boy's face, and all we are left with is pure child: alone, afraid of the dark, and a swirling field of emotions. Exactly the kind of child that lives inside all of us, for the rest of our lives. Both in terms of plot and themes, "Listen" manifests almost everything about the series that I have long loved. The script leaves much of the plot elements confidently ambiguous, and spends its time revealing the essential humanity of every character. Depending on how you look at it, the plot of the episode was either deceptively simple or deceptively complex. And despite a story that seemed to rely on closed temporal loops – which would seem to reduce or even deny agency on the part of episode's three main characters (the Doctor, Clara, and Danny), the affective result of the story is precisely the opposite: stressing those smaller but more potent moments of freedom, precisely because of that otherwise deterministic frame. Doctor Who is a show about time travel and – despite those much talked about "fixed points in time" – has always been a story about breaking fate, undoing what seems inevitable, precisely because those are the moments in our lives that matter. You don't have to believe in time travel to know that the vast majority of our lives feels determined from outside our present selves – even when that the force that most often determines our present and future are our own past choices. Despite Doctor Who's speculative and sometimes charmingly silly conceits, the show is about ideas – but ideas that matter, ideas that live. (This is effected even more viscerally than, for example Continuum's more recent storyline that addresses these issues powerfully as well, but that Canadian series hits closer to the brain than the gut.) Peter Calpaldi seems to the best thing that has happened to Steven Moffat since Benedict Cumberbatch. And for the time being, the future (and the past, and everything in between) looks bright indeed. NOTE: This piece was originally published on Critics at Large on September 19, 2014. If you wish to comment, please do so there. Posted by Mark Clamen at 12:00 PM Labels: British Television, Television, TV Review All That Is Old Is New Again: On the Current State... Tainted Love: FX's You're the Worst	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2163
__label__wiki	0.829092	0.829092	Foreign Policy Global Thinkers profile On Jan. 28, Austin Mayor Steve Adler was set to give a speech about a perennially sore local issue: the cost of housing. But the night before, President Donald Trump’s first travel ban sowed chaos around the country, and Adler, struck by the reports of refugees stranded at airports, pivoted from his prepared remarks to champion his city’s values in the face of the administration’s sudden clampdown. “Immigrants are part of who we are and who we have always been,” Adler declared. “The world can completely lose its mind, and we’re still going to be Austin, Texas.” His audience responded with a standing ovation. For Adler, those were words to live by in 2017, a year marked by an intense Republican-led effort to reshape U.S. immigration policy. Yet even as Texas lurched further to the political right this year — passing a show-me-your-papers law in May aimed at punishing policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — the soft-spoken mayor emerged as one of the fiercest defenders of immigrants’ rights in his state. “[Mayor Adler] seems to really recognize that the immigrant community is a part of his constituency and has stuck out his neck a lot to support them,” says Robert Painter, the director of pro bono programs and communications at American Gateways, one of the largest immigration legal services providers in Texas. As the partisan debate raged across the country over sanctuary cities — a loose term with no legal definition that Democrats use to signal openness to immigrants and Republicans equate with the protection of undocumented criminals — Adler argued for cities’ rights to choose their own public safety policies and helped steer the debate to protect his city from losing out on federal funds in the process. A Democrat who is currently serving his first term as mayor, Adler has long been a public fixture in Austin. Originally from Washington, D.C., he attended the University of Texas School of Law from 1978 to 1982 and says though he came to Austin for the school’s low tuition, it wasn’t long before he fell in love with the city (and its breakfast tacos). The artsy Texan enclave has been his home ever since. He went on to build a thriving eminent domain law practice, representing landowners and protecting nonprofits like the Texas Nature Conservancy against the federal government’s effort to grab its land for a border wall. He first dipped his toe into politics in 1997, taking on the role of chief of staff for then-Democratic State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, later becoming his general counsel. In 2014, Adler finally decided to run for office himself. Though he originally campaigned on bread-and-butter issues like overpriced housing and gridlock traffic, in the Trump era he has used his perch to stand up for immigrants, playing a key role in mobilizing Texas mayors to fight the state’s swing to the right this year. “There’s so much [rhetoric] in this debate on immigration that is not true, pandering to people’s worst fears,” Adler says. “There needed to be as many voices as there could be interjecting the truth.” For Adler, that meant listening to law enforcement officials when they said they wanted to fight crime, not police immigrant communities. In op-eds and public forums, Adler stood by Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, who refused to comply with federal detention requests starting in January for nonviolent immigration offenders. In response, prominent Republican legislators took to calling her “Sanctuary Sally,” and the state cut $1.5 million in state grants to the county (including Austin) as punishment. With Travis County placed on a Department of Homeland Security sanctuary city report listing localities that refuse to honor some federal immigration detainer requests in March, Austin was clearly in the crosshairs. But Adler parried that threat. At an April meeting with mayors in Washington, he backed Attorney General Jeff Sessions into a corner by arguing that Austin hadn’t violated any federal laws that would earn it a sanctuary city distinction. Sessions didn’t challenge him. “I walked directly out of his office to the media,” Adler says. The subsequent headlines read in Adler’s favor: Austin was not, in the Trump administration’s view, a sanctuary city, and it thereby avoided a potential $50 million loss in state and federal funding. Still, the hard-line Texas state legislature was prepared to go even further. In May, it passed a bill designed to force cities to cooperate more closely with immigration enforcement and allow police officers to inquire about immigration status, threatening fines and even jail time for officials who spoke out against it. In response, Adler joined a lawsuit led by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund challenging the law in court. San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston joined, too, presenting a united front of big blue Texas cities opposing the state’s crackdown. Austin has always prided itself on being a little bit different, but now even booming Texas cities such as Dallas and Houston are attracting residents from all over the country and leaning ever more blue (in 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton carried six of Texas’s eight most populous counties). It seems that Austin’s values are increasingly coming to define one side of the state’s urban-rural divide. “Austin is a magical, magical place, and I think that’s due to the people,” Adler says. “The values of inclusion and a welcoming spirit are the DNA of the city.” Kavitha Surana is a journalist based in Washington and New York. To read the Mayor’s press release about this, click here. Posted in Uncategorized on December 4, 2017 by Comms. ← Address to ADL Austin’s Golden Gala Mayor Adler Makes Foreign Policy’s List of 2017 Leading Global reThinkers →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2166
__label__wiki	0.763836	0.763836	Depression called an 'advantage' for Kirsten Dunst! Depression called an ‘advantage’ for Kirsten Dunst! In an article which appeared in the Belfast Telegraph on Tuesday of this week it states that director Lars Von Trier has said that Kirsten Dunst’s spell of depression was an ‘advantage’ for her role in his latest film. Although we at Uncovered would like to point out that we do not share the view that depression can be seen as 'advantageous!' Kirsten, who rose to fame as a child star playing a young vampire in Interview With The Vampire in 1994 alongside Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, plays Justine in the controversial director’s film Melancholia. Von Trier, who gave the part to Dunst after Spanish actress Penelope Cruz pulled out said: ‘I think she’s one hell of an actress. She is much more nuanced than I thought and she has the advantage of having had a depression of her own. All sensible people have.’ In an interview with Marc Malkin which was reported in May of 2008 on eonline.com Kirsten decided to open up to dispel rumours and tabloid reports that she sought help earlier that year at Cirque Lodge treatment centre in Utah due to alcoholism and substance abuse. ‘I didn’t go to Cirque Lodge for alcohol abuse or drug abuse’ Dunst told Marc ‘I went there for depression.’ The Hollywood star who is now 28 made the point of explaining that although she consulted doctors along with family and friends about treatment it was ultimately her decision to make. ‘It was a good six months before I decided to go away,’ Dunst says. ‘I was struggling and I had the opportunity to go somewhere and take care of myself. I was fortunate to have the resources to do it. My friends and family thought it was a good idea too. But I didn’t know where to go. My doctor recommended Cirque Lodge.’ Dunst said that she decided to go public with her depression and treatment because she was not the only one who finds herself facing the ongoing, and often nasty, speculation in the press and elsewhere. ‘There has been a lot of misrepresentation about what is going on in my life and it’s been very painful for my friends and family.’ she said. ‘Everyone feels like they have to defend me. They hear the rumours and it puts them in a defensive position. Now that I’m feeling stronger I am prepared to say something.’ There are probably many people who throw their eyes heavenward and think that Dunst is young, beautiful and wealthy who should have nothing to be depressed about but Dunst says that mental illness knows no boundaries. ‘We’re all in the same boat together. Depression is prettyserious and should not be gossiped about.’ There are several things that we could learn from Kirsten’s mental health and depression. The fact that she spoke out to deny alcohol or drug abuse and to admit to depression is a step in the right direction for mental health issues. We should also note that the sadness of depression and other mental health problems is not just the domain of the poor, unemployed or stupid (which is how, unfortunately it has been portrayed in the media for a long time). It definitely knows no boundaries and the effects of such disease hit all walks of life with the same impact. Dunst admits that she was fortunate enough to have the resources to get help quickly from a leading treatment centre. If only such help was available to everyone in all walks of life. Relevant products For our depression guide please see here: Signs of depression Dealing with depression - treatments Types of Depression Depression talking therapies Depression medication Depression professional services Depression factors How to help someone with depression Depression Help Finding a therapist Alcohol Used to Mask Mental Health Issues Depression - Factors Depression - Professional services Leisure Time Activities Improve Mental Health Gene found to be linked to depression England cricketer Mike Yardy returns after depression Postnuptial depression? Research into the effectiveness of using two anti-depressants to treat depression	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2167
__label__cc	0.647405	0.352595	TEXT BY SAEED IBRAHIM PHOTOGRAPHS BY NAILA IBRAHIM The strong gusty winds and gigantic waves rising high above the surface of the sea lash the sides of the ship as it sways relentlessly upwards and comes crashing down again in a mad seesaw. Fear grips my innards as I cling desperately to the nearest firm object I can lay my hands on only to be dragged cruelly away by the sheer force of the wind and the rain. The screams of the terrified women and children rent the air high above the crashing waves. I awake with a shudder, my body drenched in a cold sweat…. In my dream I had been transported back in time and aboard the SS Vaitarna (or “Vijli” as she was popularly known) on that fateful night on 8 November 1888, when caught in a violent cyclonic storm the ship was wrecked off the coast of Gujarat near Mangrol with no survivors. My great grandparents on my father’s side who lived at the time in Bhuj, the capital of the then semi-autonomous princely state of Kutcch, perished in this maritime tragedy known as the “Titanic of Gujarat.” They left behind a 16 year old orphan, Aisha, my paternal grandmother or dadi, and a bone china tea service which they had intended as a wedding present for her. Totally devastated by the loss of her parents at such an early age, this special memento of her parents’ love brought my grandmother great comfort and solace and at her marriage some years later it occupied pride of place in her wedding trousseau. It has since been passed down through the generations in my family as a remnant from the colonial period in India of the late 19th century. The fine bone china tea service left behind to 16-year old Aisha The tea set is a beautiful blue and gold piece of the finest egg shell china, complete with six delicately crafted cups and saucers, a large and elegantly shaped tea pot, milk jug and sugar bowl and half a dozen dessert bowls and an equal number of dessert plates. It was most probably imported from England by my great grandfather from one of the porcelain manufacturers in Staffordshire. Though the set does not bear the manufacturer’s name, each piece of the service has my great grandfather’s name “Haji Jan Mohammed” inscribed in gold lettering in Urdu script. At her death, my grandmother in turn passed it on to her daughter-in-law, my mother who carefully preserved it and used the tea set sparingly only for very special family occasions. My family moved to Bangalore from Bombay in 1990, and along with us, so did the tea service. Today it stands prominently in a glass show case in our dining room, undamaged in its pristine beauty. Caught up in the rough and tumble of a fast paced life style, I sometimes pause and sit contemplating this beautiful piece of crockery. It bears proud testimony to a genteel and slow-paced era, when such dainty and beautiful objects were used not just as show pieces, but formed part of a more relaxed way of life which allowed time for the niceties of life. I am filled with nostalgia and a yearning for a past lifestyle that has somehow eluded us. I turn around and my gaze settles on the opposite wall where hangs a second colonial heirloom. This is a framed citation or “Sanad” presented to my great grandfather on my maternal side, who was honoured with the title of Khan Sahib on 21st May 1898 by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Elgin for his community service and charitable works in Malegaum (now known as Malegaon) in Maharashtra. The Khan Sahib “sanad” or citation, presented to the author’s great-grandfather on 21st May 1898 by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Elgin Like my paternal grandmother, my nani (maternal grandmother), coincidentally also named Aisha, was orphaned at a tender age due to the untimely demise of both parents. The framed Khan Sahib citation was the one memory of her father that she cherished the most. In later years, it hung prominently on the central wall of her sitting room. After my grandfather’s death, she came to live with us and with her came the framed heirloom and the story of how it had come to be acquired. The Khan Sahib medal has been lost to posterity, but the decoration from the Viceroy of India is up there proudly displayed amongst a host of family photographs in our living room and with it is the legacy of a man devoted to philanthropy and the welfare and the upliftment of his community – a challenging legacy which the current generation struggles to carry forth. As children we spent hours listening in rapture to the stories related to us by our two wonderful grandmothers. Despite the apparent affluence of their backgrounds, their lives were not devoid of trials and struggles. Was it more than a mere coincidence that they were both named Aisha? Had they not been separated by a large age gap, they may well have been twins so uncanny were the parallels in their young lives. Tragedy brought them together but they were separated by the force of circumstances and with great courage and forbearance they surmounted their difficulties as they grew from childhood to womanhood, marriage and motherhood. The author’s parents The author’s maternal grandmother, Aisha To know more about these two remarkable women, how they grappled with their loss, the background and cultural ethos of the times in which they lived, you can buy Saeed’s book Twin tales from Kutcch in India and internationally.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2169
__label__wiki	0.637977	0.637977	September 29,1998 the last great release date September 29th, 1998 Was Rap Music's Last Great Release Date POSTED BY DART ADAMS 9 MINS AGO Read a first-hand experience on what made September 29th, 1998 special, and why we’ll never see another date like that again When it comes to rap discussions there are personal opinions and there are factual statements that people will often mistake for personal opinions. When I say that September 29th, 1998 was rap music’s last great release date that is not an opinion. It is a fact. On September 29th, 1998 I was working at Tower Records on the video floor involved in preparing the store for the release date. I worked a register on the music floor during the midnight sale. The Boston Tower Records, located at the corner of Mass. Ave and Newbury St., prepared for the last Tuesday of September for over two weeks. They went as far as to devise a plan to pull the cash drawers at 30 to 45-minute intervals and count them while the midnight sale was still going to speed up the closing process. READ: 1998: The Year Black Artists Changed Music As We Know It Extra space was made in the hip-hop section for the new releases. Just in case, there’d be extra boxes of JAY-Z’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, A Tribe Called Quest’s The Love Movement and OutKast’s Aquemini available if the bins went bare. (Several Tower employees got $100 advances on their next paychecks from the store’s key supervisor to pay for their own midnight sale purchases that night.) An informal line began to form outside at about 10:45 PM. Eventually, they just queued up without even having been told to by the staff. There was a line of customers down the block on Newbury St. by midnight. Everyone came out: middle-aged adults, college students, teenagers, kids with their parents, casual fans, diehards and backpackers alike all showed up to buy CD’s and participate in this organic event we didn’t publicize. It was almost as if each person who lined up that night had come out to vote. We’d already decided a half hour into the midnight sale that we’d be playing all five of the albums the next day in the store (clean versions, mind you). After 45 minutes the crowd thinned out enough, so we could finally close the store. Now it was time to swap out the last two drawers of the night to sell to all of the Tower employees. READ: Brandy Talks 20 Years of ‘Never Say Never,’ Social Media & Her Upcoming Album [INTERVIEW] Employees that weren’t even working that day showed up to cop their albums. The top sellers, in order, were: Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life, The Love Movement, Aquemini, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star and Brand Nubian’s Foundation. That was also the order we played them in the store the next day. The reaction to Black Star, in particular, was interesting: It was probably the first time — after the separation between the mainstream rap industry and the indie rap industry — that I saw underground rap fans come out in force and rally behind an album. I feel as though those fans bought at least three of the five available projects that night, on average. It was all hip-hop September 29th, and there were no wrong choices. We’ll never experience a day like that again. I bought every single CD that dropped that night, and I still own them to this day. The players involved were on the cusp of superstardom. JAY-Z, whose Roc-A-Fella empire’s trajectory would enter the stratosphere off the back of this album. A Tribe Called Quest, one of rap’s most beloved and respected groups, were calling it quits, which brought out a wide cross-section of fans. OutKast, the group who proclaimed “The South’s got something to say,” became one of the biggest groups in rap, amassing a diverse fanbase over their first two albums and with their hit lead single “Rosa Parks.” Brand Nubian reunited with its original members for the first time since their classic 1990 debut LP, One for All. The last piece of the puzzle was the long-awaited album from the underground’s favorite duo: Mos Def and Talib Kweli, collectively known as Black Star. At the time they were regarded as the “last hope” to save rap from its overly commercial leanings. September 29th, 1998 came just before sites like Amazon.com would have its first ever holiday sales season, cutting significantly into the profits of brick & mortar music stores like Tower Records. It also came before P2P sites like Napster and sites like mp3.com would result in more CD-R’s being sold than actual CD’s just 8 months later. (To further put things into perspective, only 5% of all American homes possessed DVD players in October 1998.) And finally, September 29th, 1998 occurred before the Internet and Napster could really negatively affect physical album sales. Also keep in mind that in 1998, rap was the top-selling genre of music and retailers were well aware of this fact so they pulled out all the stops in terms of marketing. We have holdovers from the first Golden Era releasing records the same day as new “hot” rappers. Many were in line to buy all five albums because they recognized the significance of this event and they all waited for the day rap finally ruled the sales charts. It will never be like this again in a curated playlist and streams driven era. Every big music release date since has been synthesized or strategically formulated in hopes of getting an apathetic fanbase excited (example: the Kanye West vs. 50 Cent sales battle on September 11th, 2007) or artists just dogpiling on a release date (like on June 18th, 2013, with Kanye West’s Yezus and J. Cole’s Born Sinner.) In some cases it worked out in the short term, but there will never be another purely organic release date that draws in rap fans of all types into stores to buy CDs. Especially albums that represented what these particular five did: The beginning of a dynasty; a swan song; the ascension of new legends; the voice of the underground screaming to be heard; and a reunion of one of rap’s most influential groups. I’ll never forget the genuine level of anticipation, eagerness and excitement exuded by the fans that came out that night. It saddens me this generation won’t experience anything like this for themselves. Photo Credit: Vickey Ford for Okayplayer Dart Adams is Boston-based creative who has written for NPR and Producers I Know. Follow his latest and greatest @Dart_Adams on Twitter. Labels: Mykills Favorites, Myks Video Picks	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2171
__label__wiki	0.842739	0.842739	UN to Adopt Migration Pact at Meeting Hit by Withdrawals Politicians from around the globe will gather Monday in Morocco for a major conference to endorse a United Nations migration pact, despite a string of withdrawals driven by anti-immigrant populism. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was finalised at the UN in July after 18 months of talks and is due to be formally adopted with the bang of a gavel at the start of the two-day conference in Marrakesh. The US government disavowed the negotiations late last year, and since then Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia have pulled out of the process. The US on Friday took a fresh swipe at the pact, labelling it "an effort by the United Nations to advance global governance at the expense of the sovereign right of states". But a host of other nations led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are in Morocco to endorse the deal and the UN remains upbeat that it can help the world better cope with the hot-button issue. On the eve of the conference, UN special representative for migration Louise Arbour hit back at the pact's critics, insisting the document is not legally binding. "It is surprising that there has been so much misinformation about what the compact is and what the text actually says," she told reporters in Marrakesh. "It creates no right to migrate. It places no imposition on states," she said, adding that 159 member countries are due to attend the conference, including "around 100" represented by heads of state, heads of government or ministers. - Criticism from right and left - But rows over the accord have erupted in several European Union nations, hobbling Belgium's coalition government and pushing Slovakia's foreign minister to tender his resignation. From the United States to Europe and beyond, right-wing leaders have taken increasingly draconian measures to shut out migrants in recent years. US President Donald Trump has pledged to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and has focused his recent ire on a migrant caravan from Central America, while a populist coalition government in Italy has clamped down on boats rescuing migrants at sea. Beyond Merkel, among European nations the leaders of Spain, Greece, Denmark and Portugal are set to attend, although French President Emmanuel Macron is sending his secretary of state for foreign affairs as he deals with the "yellow vest" protests at home. Belgium's liberal premier Charles Michel won the support of parliament to head to Morocco and back the accord, but he was left leading a minority government on Sunday after the Flemish nationalist party said it will quit his coalition over the pact. Belgium is among a group of seven nations described by Arbour as still "engaged in further internal deliberations" over the accord, with Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Israel, Slovenia and Switzerland also falling into this category. Billed as the first international document on managing migration, the global pact lays out 23 objectives to open up legal migration and discourage illegal border crossings, as the number of people on the move globally has surged to more than 250 million. But while welcoming the UN's attempts to manage migration, activists argue that the pact does not go far enough to secure migrants' rights. "Unfortunately, the non-binding nature of the Global Compact on Migration makes its implementation solely based on the goodwill of states supporting it," Amnesty International's senior advocate for the Americas, Perseo Quiroz, said in comments emailed to AFP. After the Marrakesh conference, the UN General Assembly is set to adopt a resolution formally endorsing the deal on December 19.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2174
__label__wiki	0.932138	0.932138	As plant closes, 950 face uncertain future, stricter unemployment rules By Sarah Ovaska-Few - in Policy Watch Investigates Turkeys arrive at Raeford plant for processing. Oscar Squalls doesn’t know what’s in store for him, with only two weeks of work left of his job preparing turkey for slaughter at the House of Raeford turkey processing plant. Squalls and more than 950 of his colleagues are expected to lose their jobs by the end of the month, with the Hoke County plant slated for closure after years of declining interest from the American public in serving turkey for meals other than Thanksgiving. “I’ve given a lot of myself,” said Squalls, 41, about the four years he’s worked in the plant to support his four children. He spoke on a recent afternoon as he smoked a cigarette on break, his work clothing splattered with feathers and body parts from the live turkeys he readies for slaughter. The House of Raeford closure will be one of the larger plant shutdowns the state has seen in recent years, and the first large-scale test of new unemployment rules that reduced how much people can collect and for how long. The company is processing orders for this year’s Thanksgiving season and has not set a final closure date, expected to be by the end of the month. There’s little optimism from those in the area that there will be available jobs for the soon-to-be displaced workers, in this southeastern part of the state that already has unemployment rates higher than the 8.8 percent statewide rate. “It was like I got punched in the gut,” said Don Porter, Raeford and Hoke County’s economic development director about the May email he received from the House of Raeford owner about the closure. He’s grateful that the company will keep a cook plant where chicken and turkey are processed for ready-to-eat products open, leaving nearly 400 jobs intact. Porter said he knows the decision to close was one the company had to make, but is also well aware of the area’s high unemployment and few existing opportunities for the low-skill workers that toiled at the slaughterhouse. Two small hospitals currently being built in the county will bring some jobs, but higher-skilled jobs than what most slaughterhouse workers get hired on to do. “If they were qualified to work in the hospitals, then they probably already would be,” he said. The effects of the plant closure will spread far beyond Hoke County, he said. Company officials estimate half of the turkey slaughterhouse’s employees come from Hoke and Cumberland counties, while the rest drive in from Scotland, Richmond and Robeson counties or from neighboring South Carolina. Farmers in the area who had contracts to raise turkeys for the company will also be without income. The company is also the city water system’s biggest customer, accounting for $1 million in revenue, a third of the system’s total sales. City Manager Mike Wood said to compensate for the sudden loss, residents water bills will rise by $5 a month. Sharon Decker, the Secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce, said in comments she made to reporters last week that it will be tough to find companies to replace the jobs being lost with the House of Raeford. “We’ve been losing jobs in agribusiness faster than we can grow them,” Decker said. Tough work at turkey plant Few would call the House of Raeford jobs easy work, with the grueling task of butchering the large birds taxing workers who work day in and out at the plant. Workers gathered on break at picnic tables outside the factory show some signs of the tough labor, turkey feathers and poultry parts affixed to clothing and rubber boots while the heavy smell that accompanies operating slaughterhouses hangs in the air. The company has not been without controversy, with both labor and environmental issues in the past. In a 2008 series on the poultry industry the Charlotte Observer found workers suffered significant injuries while worker safety was underreported at the company’s Greenville, S.C. plant and a raid that year at that plant by federal officials found numerous immigration violations in the company’s hiring. Then, a federal jury convicted the company last year of dodging the Clean Waters Act in 2006 by sending wastewater clogged with blood, grease and turkey parts into the Raeford city water system. The jobs at the House of Raeford were low-skill, and low-wage positions, but were steady paychecks for many in a four-county area that has unemployment rates in the double digits. The company also regularly hired workers many employers reject – those without high school degrees or with criminal pasts. The nearly 1,000 without jobs will unwittingly become the first large-scale test of controversial new rules governing the state’s unemployment insurance system. The unemployed, as of July 1, saw their maximum weekly benefits cut from $535 to $350 a month, and instead of six months of coverage will now have between 12 to 20 weeks of benefits. The changes were passed by the Republican-led legislature and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory to pay back more than $2.5 billion borrowed by the system, which is funded by participating businesses, during the height of the recession. The July 1st start date also prevented 70,000 long-term unemployed from receiving federally-funded benefits, making North Carolina the only state to reject the federal money. McCrory and lawmakers defend their actions by saying the system needed to quickly pay back the borrowed money while critics contend that workers, and not businesses, will be the ones to absorb most of the pain of the new changes. Unemployment figures based on May 2013 data. Those reductions will hit the Raeford workers hard, with little cushion to help the hundreds that will find themselves jobless by the end of the month, said state Rep. Garland Pierce, a Democrat from the area. “We can’t absorb those types of numbers,” Pierce said. “If it were in Raleigh, Durham or Winston-Salem, maybe it would be okay. But down here, there’s already a shortage of jobs.” Hoke County’s unemployment rate, at 9.1 percent in May, is slightly higher than the state rate of 8.9 percent. Surrounding counties, where many of the plant’s employees draw from, range from 12 percent in Richmond County to 16.2 percent in Scotland County, according to estimates from the N.C. Commerce Department’s Division of Employment Security. The line workers at the Raeford turkey plant are also largely African-American, and the loss of 1,000 jobs in the rural areas comes as black workers in the state already contend with higher unemployment rates than their white counterparts. Statewide, 17 percent of black residents were looking for jobs at the end of 2012, compared to 6.7 percent of the white labor pool, according to the national Economic Policy Institute, a national think-tank focused on low-income and middle-class families. Hispanics in the state had an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent during that same period. The company plans on coordinating a job fair for workers shortly after the plants closure, said Dave Witter, the House of Raeford spokesman. Other meat processing plants in the area have reached out to House of Raeford since the closure announcement with job offers, he said. A rapid response team coordinated by the N.C. Department of Commerce for massive lay-offs has already met with workers, handing out folders with information about how to avoid foreclosures and where to access help. Included in the state hand-outs was a dislocated worker informational packet that incorrectly informed workers they’d be entitled to up to six months of unemployment, with the possibility of more benefits through federal programs. That’s not the case, given the recent changes to the unemployment system that will leave workers entitled to far less time. Michael Ramey, with the Lumber River Council of Government, who provided the incorrect information for the hand-outs, said he dropped off 1,100 updated displaced worker packets at the plant this week reflecting the recent changes to the unemployment system. He made the changes after an N.C. Policy Watch reporter pointed out the inaccuracies to him. King Love, a 69-year-old from Laurinburg earning a $12 hourly wage after 22 years with the company, said he’s doubtful he’ll be able to find anyone else to hire him on at his age and expects he’ll have to retire. He worries about colleagues who have young families to support. “I hate it,” said Love about the upcoming closure. “But there’s nothing I can do about it.” It’s a sentiment shared by many. Hoke County, where the plant is located, has few jobs to come from and there are no big employers waiting in the wings. “I wish I could tell you where they’re going to go,” said Alan Duncan, the assistant dean of continuing education at Sandhills Community College. “There are limited numbers of those kinds of jobs out there and there aren’t 960 jobs in this area, period.” Duncan said the community college is offering to help educate workers and train them for new jobs, but carving out time for a one to two-year academic program isn’t feasible for most workers in need of immediate employment. “I can’t offer them any type of training when I know there isn’t a company waiting there to take them,” Duncan said. The question Porter, the economic development director, gets asked most often these days is who will come in behind the House of Raeford. He hopes someone will want to buy the 50-year-old building, but acknowledges it will be a tough sell given the age of building and retrofitting a company would need to do. “It’s a fair question, but one that can’t be answered,” Porter said. He, like the 950 to 1,000 workers at the plant, said he has no other choice but to wait and see what happens. Questions? Comments? Reporter Sarah Ovaska can be reached at (919) 861-1463 or sarah@ncpolicywatch.com. Sarah Ovaska-Few Sarah Ovaska-Few, former Investigative Reporter for N.C. Policy Watch for five years, conducted investigations and watchdog reports into issues of statewide importance. Ovaska-Few was also staff writer and reporter for six years with the News & Observer in Raleigh, where she reported on governmental, legal, political and criminal justice issues. Follow @sarahovaska Previous article McCrory’s puzzling claims Next article The myths versus the reality of the tax plan	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2176
__label__wiki	0.510515	0.510515	Research Institute of Arts and Social Sciences The Decline and Death of International Organisations (NestIOr) About the research project Browse: Home » Researchers Hylke Dijkstra Hylke Dijkstra is the principal investigator of this project. He holds a PhD in Political Science (cum laude) from Maastricht University and read Contemporary European Studies (MPhil) in Cambridge. He was previously a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Oxford, where he was also affiliated to Nuffield College. Hylke Dijkstra has published extensively on international organizations, including in Cooperation and Conflict, Global Governance, Global Policy, International Peacekeeping, Journal of European Integration, Journal of European Public Policy and The Review of International Organizations. He is author of International Organization (with Rittberger/Zangl/Kruck) (Red Globe Press, 2019), International Organizations and Military Affairs (Routledge, 2016) and Policy-Making in EU Security and Defense (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). Maria Debre Maria Debre is a postdoctoral researcher in this project. She received her PhD (summa cum laude) from the Free University Berlin in 2018 within the Berlin Graduate School of Transnational Studies and the Research College (KFG) ‘The Transformative Power of Europe’. She has previously studied Comparative Politics and International Relations at Passau and Potsdam University in Germany and Université Laval in Québec, Canada. During the academic year 2017/18, she was a Fox International Fellow at the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University. Maria Debre’s research focuses on the international dimension of authoritarian resilience, on Regional and International Organisations, Middle Eastern Politics (especially in the Gulf monarchies), as well as questions of gender and politics. Maria Debre has published in Comparative Politics and zib, Journal for International Relations, and is a member of the Scholars Strategy Network (SSN). Leonard Schuette Leonard Schuette is a doctoral researcher in this project. Most recently, he was a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform (CER), a think tank in London. He received a MPhil in International Relations and Politics (with distinction) from the University of Cambridge in 2018. Before, he studied at the University of St Andrews and spent an exchange semester at Sciences Po in Paris. Leonard Schuette’s research concentrates on the politicisation of the European Union, European Union institutions, international relations theories, and German politics. He has published an article in the Cambridge Review of International Affairs and book reviews in International Affairs and the Journal of Common Market Studies. He has also published policy briefs as well as commentaries for the CER and several media outlets. NestIOr is a five year research project entitled "Who gets to live forever? Toward an Institutional Theory on the Decline and Death of International Organisations" (2019-2023). It is hosted at Maastricht University, The Netherlands. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 802568). Copyright © 2019 NestIOr	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2177
__label__cc	0.632006	0.367994	All posts tagged "poland" Six Historic Barns Thousands of the historic barns of New England have survived severe weather, westward migration, suburban sprawl and competition from corporate agribusiness. Often... The Six Oldest Synagogues in New England The oldest synagogues in New England were built well after the first Jewish settlers arrived. Touro Synagogue, the only surviving synagogue from... Six Covered Bridges Covered bridges have been around since the late 18th century in the United States. Philadelphia claims to be the site of the... The Six Largest Historic Districts in New England Identifying the largest historic districts in New England was no easy task, as the region has so many collections of historic buildings,... Six New England Presidential Visits and the Stories Behind Them New England is full of sites that hosted past presidential visits as the country’s leaders came north in search of votes, campaign... P.T. Barnum’s Grandson, Herbert Barnum Seeley, Throws the Greatest Bachelor Party on Earth Herbert Barnum Seeley inherited a large portion of his grandfather P.T. Barnum’s estate, but none of his common sense. In December of... Maine’s Duchess of Dix Island and The Rise and Fall of The Great Granite Ring The story of the Duchess of Dix Island begins with a bad investment. In 1839 Horace Beals became a partner in the... Louis Sockalexis, The Indian Athlete With the Tragic Flaw Louis Sockalexis broke a different color barrier in baseball 50 years before Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a... Mexico, Maine? Rome, Maine? How Maine Place Names Came To Be Many Maine place names are not like the rest of New England's, with Bristols and Yarmouths and Portsmouths named after counterparts in England....	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2178
__label__wiki	0.639319	0.639319	NewsInferno The News That Matters Metal-on-Metal Zadroga MusclMasster Recalls Al-ER-G Capsules due to Ephedra Posted on June 11, 2017 by Mara Lepmanis MusclMasster, LLC, is recalling all bottles of Al-Er-G Capsules due to the presence of Ephedra Herb, an ingredient that has been banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dietary supplements that contain ephedrine alkaloids pose a risk of serious health consequences, including heart attack, stroke, and death. These risks are proportionately unreasonable in light of any benefits that may result from their use. This product was distributed from Wheat Ridge, Colorado, through a wellness center and retail store and does not contain UPC codes or expiration dates. The lot number is 314. The product was shipped to Wyoming, South Carolina, and Washington between 2016 and 2017. Meant for Allergies The product was designed to help allergies and was available to sample in six capsule packs from the wellness center in Wheat Ridge. However, no records were kept of who received the samples, and all samples have been destroyed. The product is packed in a white bottle with a white cap. The bottles each contains 60 or 150 capsules, each capsule is 180 mg. of ephedra herb in a 650 mg. capsule. No illnesses concerning the Al-Er-G have been reported to date. In the course of a recent FDA inspection, it was discovered that this product contained Ephedra Herb. MusclMasster has ceased production and distribution of the product and destroyed 100 percent of the banned product. Al-Er-G was not available online. National law firm Parker Waichman LLP has extensive experience and success in representing clients in product liability litigation. Attorneys at the firm are available to answer questions for any individuals seeking legal information for a potential lawsuit. What is Ephedra? Ephedra is an herb. Typically, the branches and tops are used to make medicine, but the root or whole plant may also be used. Ephedra is banned by the FDA for safety concerns. Mormon tea and ephedra are frequently confused. Mormon tea or American ephedra comes from Ephedra nevadensis, and ephedra or ma huang comes primarily from Ephedra sinica. Mormon tea lacks the chemicals, namely ephedrine, that give ephedra its effects and potentially dangerous side effects, according to WebMD. Ephedra is used for weight loss, to treat obesity, and to enhance athletic performance. It is also used for allergies and hay fever, nasal congestion, and respiratory tract conditions such as bronchospasm, asthma, and bronchitis. It is also used in the treatment of colds, flu, swine flu, fever, chills, headache, inability to sweat, joint and bone pain, and as a “water pill” to increase urine flow in people who retain fluids. There has been a lot of debate concerning the safety of ephedra and legal wrestling over its status. In June 1997, the FDA proposed restrictions on the ephedrine content of dietary supplements. There were new warning labels for products that contain the active ingredients in ephedra, and a ban on combination products containing ephedra and other natural stimulants, such as guarana and cola nut, both of which contain significant amounts of caffeine, reports WebMD. These proposals were dropped after the association between ephedra use and serious adverse effects was challenged by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the dietary supplement industry. According to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the FDA must prove a supplement is unsafe before it can be withdrawn from the market. The FDA reviewed numerous adverse event reports involving ephedra-containing products, with 140 of the reports receiving in-depth clinical review by the FDA and outside experts. Findings from experts outside the FDA support the agency’s initial findings that ephedra is likely the cause of many of the events noted in the reports. Banning of Ephedra On December 30, 2003, the FDA announced the ban of ephedra products in the United States, effective April 2004. In April 2005, the dietary supplement industry successfully challenged the FDA ban on ephedra. A year after the ban on ephedra began, a federal judge in Utah struck down the FDA’s action saying that the FDA did not prove that low doses of ephedra are harmful. In August 2006, an appeals court reversed the Utah judge’s decision and upheld the FDA’s ban of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Ephedra use is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, International Olympic Committee, and National Football League. Ephedra is on occasion, marketed as a recreational drug or “herbal ecstasy.” The FDA announced that ephedra products marketed as recreational drugs are unapproved and that misbranded drugs can be removed by the authorities. Ephedra contains a chemical called ephedrine which stimulates the heart, the lungs, and the nervous system, WebMD reports. Legal Information Involving Dietary Supplements If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by dietary supplements, you may have valuable legal rights. Parker Waichman LLP offers free, no-obligation case evaluations. We urge you to contact our personal injury attorneys at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529). This entry was posted in Health Concerns, Product Recalls, Recalled Food Products. Bookmark the permalink. ← Multicounty Litigation Created for Stryker LFIT V40 Hip Lawsuits Johnson & Johnson Loses Fourth Transvaginal Mesh Trial → Aggressive Drivers and Road Rage Pose a Threat to NY Drivers Slap Bracelets Recalled due to Laceration Hazard Faulty St. Jude Riata Defibrillators may have Fatal Consequences Monsanto May Have Colluded to Stop Release of Cancer Link to Roundup 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, GMC Acadia Recalled Disclaimer: Privacy Policy: Copyright © 2019 - NewsInferno.com © 2005-2019 Parker Waichman LLP ®. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2179
__label__wiki	0.557548	0.557548	2014 NYS Governor's Race, Andrew Cuomo, Kathy Hochul Cuomo Campaigns & Holds Press Conference September 6, 2014 John Kenny This afternoon Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned and held a press conference. Accompanied by Kathy Hochul, his designated candidate for lieutenant governor, Cuomo spoke at a Flushing rally held in support of State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Immediately after the rally Cuomo spoke with press, beginning with short statements in support of Stavisky and Hochul. (Under New York election law, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, even if they’re informally allied as Cuomo and Hochul are, run in separate primaries.) The press conference was brief, running about six minutes in total, but included some interesting questions and answers. When asked why he is not doing many campaign events (despite having a primary on Tuesday Governor Cuomo has done virtually no campaign events since the state party convention in May), Cuomo responded “I campaign by doing my job.” When asked how his “run in” with rival Democratic gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout was at this morning’s Labor Day parade, Cuomo replied “I didn’t get a chance to talk to her.” (Watch their encounter, in which Cuomo appears to assiduously avoid acknowledging her, here.) Cuomo spoke about why he offers few endorsements of political candidates, despite being the most powerful political figure in the state. He was also asked about his refusal to debate Teachout, and specifically about his recent comment that “I’ve been in many debates that I think were a disservice to democracy.” Here is his full press conference. Previous PostLabor Day Parade, 2014 (Updated x 4)Next PostCuomo & Klein, Hochul Too (Updated)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2181
__label__wiki	0.607587	0.607587	WHEN ART BECAME PART OF LANDSCAPE. PART II The museum Events Guided Tours Exhibitions Lectures Publications Collection School DI magazine Contemporaries July 9 — September 22, 2019 Workshop 20’19. Dismorphophobia, or the war within your mind July, 7 — August 18, 2019 Estimated Waiting Time July, 11 — August 4, 2019 Exhibition «Personalities — Zurab Tsereteli» 26th June — 29th September 2019 Monaco. Artist’s Stories Gérard Pettiti and Claude Rosticher July,10th — August, 11th 2019 Vera Petrova KUT (SOUL) June, 29 — July 28, 2019 Biennale of Italian Art Lyceums One, One Hundred, One Thousand Journeys JUNE, 14 — JULY 7, 2019 TIMELESS LANDSCAPE, CHANGING LANDSCAPE From the collection of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art July 11, 2019 — September 1, 2019 Ivan Gorshkov. Everything Fountain June 22 — August 25, 2019 Possible Dimensions May 22 — September, 2019 STREET ART FORUM April, 2nd — April, 7th 2019 EDUCATION CENTER OF THE MOSCOW MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Moscow Museum of Modern Art Artwin Gallery Russian Academy of Arts Konenkov Studio Museum EVGENY ANTUFIEV Date: November 9, 2018 — March 24, 2019 Venue: KONENKOV STUDIO-MUSEUM, TVERSKAYA 17 Curator: Svetlana Marich The Moscow Museum of Modern Art and Artwin Gallery present an exhibition by the sculptor Evgeny Antufiev When Art Became Part of Landscape at the Konenkov Studio-Museum. The project is the second part of a cycle, continuing the exhibition of Antufiev’s work, which was presented at the European Biennial of Contemporary Art (Manifesta 12) in Palermo, Italy. When Art Became Part of Landscape is dedicated to the Russian sculptural tradition and to the connections between two eras of that tradition. Works by the young artist Evgeny Antufiev will be exhibited alongside previously unseen sculptures by the great Russian and Soviet sculptor Sergey Konenkov from the depository of the Konenkov Studio-Museum in Moscow. The project is curated by the deputy chairman of Phillips auction house, Svetlana Marich. The idea of the cycle When Art Became Part of Landscape is to reveal non-obvious connections and coincidences with works that are usually not displayed alongside the creations of today’s young artists. The first exhibition in the cycle was held in the oldest museum in Sicily, the Antonio Salinas Archeological Museum in Palermo, where works by Antufiev were exhibited alongside productions by Greek, Phoenician and Etruscan artists and craftsmen. In the second part of the cycle, Antufiev’s art rubs shoulders with works by the outstanding 20th century sculptor, Sergey Konenkov, resonating with the traditions of Soviet monumental sculpture. The resonances are amplified by the inclusion in the exhibition of works by a number of other Soviet and Russian sculptors (Mikhail Shemyakin, Alexander Burganov, Ernst Neizvestny and Evgeny Vuchetich). Evgeny Antufiev uses the raw materials of sculpture in an original way and has a strong interest in archaeology and ethnicity, which has been the basis of several series of works by the artist. Antufiev’s almost anthropological approach has led him to create his own mythology, arising from the shamanistic traditions of the Tuva region in southern Siberia, where he grew up. From this start point, Antufiev has recreated the cultural and visual traditions and mythological characters of various peoples from around the world. In his works, Antufiev explores the significance for human culture of a variety of materials, including stone, bone, wood, amber, and bronze. His works have an ironic undercurrent and are situated at the junction of nature and art, legend and fact, the real and the fictional. When Art Became Part of Landscape is supported by Andrey Cheglakov. Design Hotel StandArt is the project partner. Evgeny Antufiev (born 1986) has had over 20 solo exhibitions of his work. In 2016 he was the sole Russian representative at the European Biennial of Contemporary Art (Manifesta-11 in Zurich and Manifesta-12 in Palermo). The artist’s works have been acquired by many private and public collections, including Tate Modern (London, UK), Collezione Maramotti (Reggio Emilia, Italy) and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium). Sergey Konenkov (1874-1971) was a Russian and Soviet sculptor, renowned for his work with living materials, particularly wood. He was dubbed the «Russian Rodin» for the free plasticity of his creations, which kept their attraction as bold statements in the modern era. This Moscow-based gallery was founded in June 2012 by Mariana Guber-Gogova. Artwin Gallery organizes exhibitions in museum venues, actively supports the artists on its roster, and participates in contemporary art fairs. The gallery’s main objectives are to create a platform for dialogue between artists of different countries and generations, and to promote emerging Russian art both at home and abroad. Artwin Gallery’s focus on Russian artists, its bold approach to curating and exhibition-making, and its in-depth understanding of the art market in Russia and CIS countries, allows the gallery to create extraordinary projects across a wide range of styles and genres of contemporary art. Artwin Gallery has participated in multiple international exhibitions and biennales, including the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Moscow International Biennale for Young Art, Cosmoscow, The Armory Show, Art Dubai, just to name a few. The gallery also helps foster the growth of contemporary art through a series of lectures and round table discussions featuring art world professionals, as well as its contributions to other educational initiatives. Artwin Gallery currently works with artists Evgeny Antufiev, Vladimir Chernyshev, Artem Filatov, Polina Kanis, Alexey Korsi, Olya Kroytor, Almagul Menlibayeva, Gulnur Mukazhanova, RADYA, Dima Rebus, Anna Titova and Ustina Yakovleva. ММОМА Moscow Museum of Modern Art (ММОМА) was founded in 1999; this is the 1st state museum in Russia that specializes on art of XX and XXI century. Today the museum is located at seven platforms in Moscow, it is one of the most active participants of art life in the country. Collection of the museum represents the main stages in history of avant-garde, especially in Russia. Priority guidelines of MMOMA activity also are education in art, support of young artists, own publishing program and development of inclusive projects. KONENEKOV STUDIO MUSEUM In 1974 a museum was founded in a house where Konenkov spent his last 24 years of life. The museum was opened to commemorate 100th Jubilee of the sculptor. The museum includes an art studio where Konenkov worked, his flat, his office, a hall and an entrance hall. The interior was designed in accordance with Konenkov`s project. The original interior (furniture, sculptures) was preserved in the hall and in the entrance hall. The museum fund has a lot of materials reflecting all periods of Konenkov`s work. Профильный информационный партнер © Moscow Museum of Modern Art, 2008–2016. All rights reserved. Contacts Sign up for MMOMA's newsletter to be the first to learn our news and to receive invitations to exhibition openings.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2189
__label__wiki	0.514404	0.514404	Tibetan PM reiterates commitment for Middle Way Approach [Monday, July 18, 2016 19:50] By Tenzin Monlam Phayul Photo: Tenzin Monlam DHARAMSHALA, July 18: The Tibetan Prime Minister (Sikyong) Dr. Lobsang Sangay, at a special briefing to the media today, elaborated on the recently concluded 28th meeting of the Tibetan Task Force on Negotiations held in Dharamshala on July 15 and 16. Sangay, who chaired the meeting, stated that the annual meeting is helpful in gathering information and brainstorming as to what we should do and plan. He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to resolve the Tibet issue through the Middle Way Approach. “Middle Way continues to be our policy. CTA believes in Middle Way and it is the right policy as far as solving the Tibetan issue is concern. It is a win-win proposition,” he said. The Tibetan Prime Minister, who assumed office for his second term after his win in the elections earlier in the year, stated that big changes are happening in China, Tibet and worldwide. Giving an example of Obama’s visit to Cuba, he said that Presidents in their second term usually deal in those matters, which are issued low-priority. “Historically Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, former President of China, have dealt with the Tibet issue or initiated dialogue during their second term. “We hope Xi Jinping, who is on the cusp of his second term, follow the suit and that he is able to solve the Tibet issue through dialogue with envoys of the Dalai Lama. It would be a valuable achievement for the Chinese government,” he said while adding that Sino-Tibet dialogue will be his administration’s utmost priority. The Sikyong said, “In this discussion we deliberated about how the next American elections, development of the US-China relationship and Brexit mean for Tibet. It was an analytical discussion on how these international changes will effect Tibet in context with human rights, environment, political and Tibet issue in large.” “This brainstorming session give us a lot of information, thus preparing the leadership. In coming months and years whatever happens at international event vis-à-vis China, we will be prepared. In that way it is very helpful,” he said. He also explained that the reason behind the resignation of the two envoys in June 2012 was due to the deteriorating situation inside Tibet, owing to which they were unable to meet their counterparts for over two years since January 2010. “We are ready. The envoys of the Dalai Lama are ready to meet the Chinese representatives anytime, anywhere,” Sangay concluded. Tibetan woman detained for solo protest in Ngaba Nuns create history by passing Geshema examination	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2193
__label__wiki	0.654592	0.654592	Americans Support Patient-Centered Solutions Without Government Interference Poll of 2,001 registered voters finds most Americans want to decide the best course of treatment with their doctors and oppose government use of cost-effectiveness assessments Today, the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) released a public opinion poll by Morning Consult regarding the use of cost-effectiveness assessments to determine value of coverage and treatment costs. The survey demonstrates that voters resoundingly reject the main tenets of cost-effectiveness analyses with 82 percent of American voters objecting to their use in determining health care coverage and reimbursement decisions. These types of measures, which are often used outside of the U.S. to limit patient access to medicines, have been frequently criticized as discriminatory by patients and persons with disabilities. Increasingly, policymakers and payers have proposed to use these same tools to limit coverage for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Primer: PCORI Background, Funding Streams, and Reauthorization The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was established in 2010 to establish priorities and set an agenda for the conduct of comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). Its Board of Governors is selected by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and includes three designated seats for representatives of patients and consumers. GAO concluded in a March 2018 report that PCORI is fulfilling its Congressional mandate to generate evidence that patients and those who care for them can use to make better-informed healthcare decisions. Following the National Academy of Medicine's definition of CER, PCORI invested nearly $2.4 billion in more than 600 patient-centered CER studies and related projects that support CER to date. PCORI’s Methodology Committee, also appointed by the GAO, provides guidance to the PCORI Board of Governors and its contract researchers about the appropriate use of CER methods, methodological standards, as well as establishing priorities to address gaps in research methods or their application. PIPC Patient Blog: Megan O’Boyle I’m the mother of a wonderful girl named Shannon, who has a rare genetic condition called Phelan-McDermid syndrome. For years I steered clear of research information about her condition and focused on the daily challenges of meeting her needs. It never occurred to me that beyond being Shannon’s mom and caregiver I would play another vital role – as part of the research community helping her and others like her live a better life. The Washington Post: PIPC's Tony Coelho Discusses Need for Change in Medicare's Innovation Center In response to Washington Post opinion article, "Keep this part of Obamacare," PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho emphasizes the fact that while the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) appears to be doing "some good work," it is also in serious need of changes to protect patients. "The Innovation Center created significant (if unintended) risks with some models that patients identified as going too far and driving “one-size-fits-all” care in stark contradiction of the nation’s drive to develop targeted therapies under the Precision Medicine Initiative and Cancer Moonshot," Coelho writes. "We all want health care to pay for value and not volume, but the real question is value for whom?" Thought Leaders Discuss Comparative and Cost-Effectiveness in Policy Decision-Making Hon. Tony Coelho PIPC Chairman, Patient Advocate Proposals for Medicare and private payers to use CER are understandable, but concerning. Understandable because the challenge of rising costs is real, and policy-makers naturally reach for familiar policy tools. Concerning because it would pull CER away from individualized patient decisions and back towards centralized payer decisions. The end result would be limited choice of treatments based on one-size-fits-all determinations of 'value' for the average patient. PIPC Holds 6th Annual Forum in Washington D.C. Today, at the Reserve Officers Association in Washington, D.C., the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) hosted a forum for experts to discuss patient-centered research and the role of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) in the health care system. The discussion was divided into two panels, with the first focusing on PCORI’s legislative history in relation to patient-centeredness and the second concentrating on the role of dissemination in engaging patients. The panels consisted of representatives from patient advocacy groups, former Senate staffers, and an official from PCORI, with PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho acting as moderator. Topics discussed include efforts to include patients in the research process, addressing disparities in research, and ensuring that research is disseminated in a way that allows patients and clinicians to use it in their decisionmaking process. Chairman's Corner: Value-Based System Must Recognize Importance of Patient Engagement Roll Call Op-Ed: Patient-Centeredness, Comparative Effectiveness, and Value In a new op-ed published in Roll Call, PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho weighs in on the debate of using comparative effectiveness research (CER) to control medical spending. Chairman Coehlo emphasizes that "proposals for Medicare and private payers to use CER are understandable, but concerning. Understandable because the challenge of rising costs is real, and policy-makers naturally reach for familiar policy tools. Concerning because it would pull CER away from individualized patient decisions and back towards centralized payer decisions. The end result would be limited choice of treatments based on one-size-fits-all determinations of 'value' for the average patient." Chairman's Corner: Patient-Centeredness, Comparative Effectiveness, and Value After five years of progress towards patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER), the Center for American Progress (CAP) threatens to unwind it by reviving the old debate over using CER to control medical spending. Proposals for Medicare and private payers to use CER are understandable, but concerning. Understandable because the challenge of rising costs is real, and policy-makers naturally reach for familiar policy tools. Concerning because it would pull CER away from individualized patient decisions and back towards centralized payer decisions. The end result would be limited choice of treatments based on one-size-fits-all determinations of “value” for the average patient. New Survey Results: Patients Value Choice in Treatments, Access to Different Options Results from a poll of 1,500 registered voters strongly suggest that Americans want to be active participants in determining their healthcare treatments, and prefer limited government intervention when it comes to the treatments they can access. Chairman's Corner: Strategies to Engage and Empower the Patient in Care Delivery: Just Ask the Patient There’s a lot of talk right now about moving health care towards value-based payment models. But will these new models reward care that patients actually value? Maybe. It depends, first and foremost, on bringing patients into the conversation and giving them a meaningful voice. The Affordable Care Act embraced important patient-centered principles, through the creation of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and its embrace of concepts like shared decision-making in health care. The shift from a payment system based on quantity to quality could be promising – depending on how we define quality. But if the healthcare system of the future is to achieve outcomes that matter to patients, it must systematically engage patients in their own healthcare decision-making and in governance. Without this sustained commitment, the enterprise will too easily slip to one that merely rewards providers for achieving cost containment through fewer treatment or service choices for patients. PIPC Convenes Leaders to Define Roadmap for Engaging and Empowering Patients The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) today released a detailed summary and recommendations from an expert roundtable it convened April 15 of this year to explore strategies for engaging and empowering patients in care delivery. Convened by PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho, the roundtable consisted of 17 thought-leaders in the area of patient engagement and activation, all of whom shared their concerns about the existing health care infrastructure for meaningful patient and beneficiary engagement, and provided ideas for improvement.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2194
__label__wiki	0.513073	0.513073	The word "funk" itself began to enter the R&B vocabulary with Dyke & the Blazers' R&B dance hit "Funky Broadway". Several theories and explanations of the orgins of the actual word "funk" have been offered, the most likely consensus being that, like rock & roll and jazz, it was a euphemism for sexual activity, though "funk" often stood for smelly, gritty, or earthly stuff within the African-American community. By the end of the 1960s, it had come to stand for the greasiest and earthiest variant of soul music.[1] Dyke & Blazers and Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (most famous for "Express Yourself") were among the style's earliest practitioners. After an apprenticeship with Eric Burdon, War stormed the charts in the early and mid-'70s with a series of hits that incorporated Latin rhythms, loose, jazz grooves, and vague social pontifications. The Meters took the sound of New Orleans R&B, already a bedrock of much post-1950 R7B, soul, and rock, into the funk era, largely on instrumentals (at least at first). Isaac Hayes took endless bubbling funk monologues onto both album and single charts, as his "Shaft" took the wah-wah guitar signatures often found in funk to their limot.[1] - Richie Unterberger 1. "All Music Guide to Rock. The Definitive guide to Rock, Pop, and soul". Edited by Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas. 3rd Edition. Publisher: Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-653-X. p. 1334 Funk Rock bands starting with 'X': 1 band in database XIT (United States) Funk Rock artists starting with 'X': no records found	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2200
__label__wiki	0.545535	0.545535	Favorite Underrated Comedies - Jim Healy Jim Healy is Director of Programming at the Cinematheque at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as Director of Programming of the Wisconsin Film Festival. From 2001-2010, he was Assistant Curator, Exhibitions in the Motion Picture Department at George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. Prior to that, he was a Film Programmer for the Chicago International Film Festival. Jim is also currently the American Programming Correspondent for the Torino Film Festival in Turin, Italy. TAKING OFF (1971, Milos Forman) I hope someone contributing to this blog has some great non-English language titles to turn up, because I couldn’t think of many that I would consider underrated. I’m a big fan of Tati and Juzo Itami and I’m looking forward to discovering Pierre Etaix later this year. I also love the deadpan, anti-bureaucratic satire of Milos Forman’s The Fireman’s Ball, his last Czech production before coming to the States, but that’s certainly a film that’s received its due, what with the Criterion release and all. That said, I think Forman’s best film is his first U.S. production, a very funny and observant generation-gap comedy about what happens to a pair of suburban New York middle-class parents (Buck Henry and Faces’ Lynn Carlin) while searching for their runaway hippie teenaged daughter. Their odyssey takes them to several locales in 1970 Manhattan, then upstate to a Catskills resort where they take in a thrilling performance by the Ike and Tina Turner revue and Carlin has an unforgettable encounter with Allen Garfield. When the parents return to their own turf, the film climaxes with two hilarious sequences: a society dinner turned pot party for rich parents of runaways, and a strip poker sequence with a swinging couple. A lot of the humor comes from the great cast of New York character actors, including sitcom-stars-to-be Georgia Engel, Paul Benedict and Audra Lindley. Many of the absurd situations and slightly surreal bursts of humor are quite possibly the contributions of one of Forman’s co-scenarists, the legendary screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière, who, of course, also penned several of Buñuel’s scenarios during the same era. Shockingly, this masterpiece of 70s cinema has never been released on home video in the United States, but there’s a great blu-ray available from Carlotta in France. Buy it! HOLLYWOOD OR BUST (Frank Tashlin, 1956). Of the two Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis films that Tashlin directed, it’s Artists and Models (1955), that tends to get more attention. That film is terrific and I suppose is the more visually interesting of the two (and it has the added bonus of Shirley MacLaine!), but I still prefer Hollywood or Bust. Dino plays a shady gambler who, because of his own con job gone bad, finds himself driving from New York to Los Angeles in a new car with cinephile Jerry and Jerry’s dog Mr. Bascomb (one of my favorite movie mutts). Along the way, the duo pick up the appealing Pat Crowley, who becomes Dean’s love interest while Jerry pines for Anita Ekberg (who plays herself ). Though Dean initially keeps trying to ditch Jerry, the two eventually become pals and they sing a lot of songs, most of which are more memorable than the ones in Artists and Models, especially the title tune and “The Wild and Wooly West”. What’s most surprising about this one is how well Martin and Lewis work as a team and how relaxed they appear to be, because apparently they weren’t even talking to each other during production! This would be their last big-screen pairing. Another underrated Tashlin-Lewis collaboration: Rock-a-Bye Baby (1958). Underrated Lewis movies: The Patsy and Cracking Up. THE MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE (Clyde Bruckman, 1935). I really love It’s a Gift (1934) and I suppose it’s my favorite W.C. Fields feature, but given the amount of revival screenings of that one, you’d think he never made another movie! For my money, The Man on the Flying Trapeze is almost as perfect. Fields is Ambrose Wallfinger, who is unappreciated by everyone at work and in his family, except his daughter from his first marriage. His job is a “memory expert” and the loosely structured plot revolves around his telling a lie in order to get to the wrestling matches, but it’s really just an excuse to hang a bunch of weird and funny Fields bits on. My favorite part is when he takes forever to go see about some burglars in the basement (one of whom is Walter Brennan!). When he finally gets there, he gets drunk with the thieves on homemade liquor and they have a sing-along! Fields takes abuse from almost everyone, but it never fazes him, and unlike the rather virtue-less family of It’s a Gift, Fields’ wife (played by Kathleen Howard) actually loves him for his oddness. The unconditionally loving daughter was a sweet recurring motif in Fields’ mostly unsentimental body of work, especially in The Old-Fashioned Way (1934), You’re Telling Me (1934), and Poppy (1936), all of which are underrated. MOTHER (1996, Albert Brooks). Compared to the attention bestowed upon Woody Allen’s movies, all of Albert Brooks’ movies are underrated. I suppose I like Mother slightly less than his previous four features (Real Life, Modern Romance, Lost in America & Defending Your Life), but only because of a penultimate scene that shows Brooks finding “true love” at a gas station, a happy ending sequence that reeks of studio interference. This misguided moment is balanced by the fact that Brooks saves the final scene of the movie for Debbie Reynolds. It’s also easy to forgive because, before the ending, the movie has some of the funniest scenes in any movie ever made, especially the epic “food museum” sequence (“This cheese is very hard to find.” “How can it be hard to find, it’s all here!”). Other favorite bits: the trip to the supermarket (“What, did they run out of ‘Nu Nuts’?”) and the picture phone bit with Rob Morrow (“Get some help, buddy!”). Another underrated (and completely dark) movie about oedipal relationships: Carl Reiner’s Where’s Poppa? (1971). QUICK CHANGE (1990, Howard Franklin & Bill Murray). In reviewing Martin Scorsese’s After Hours (another underrated comedy) in the Chicago Reader, Dave Kehr writes that Scorsese has transformed “a debilitating convention of 80s comedy—absurd underreaction to increasingly bizarre and threatening situations—into a rich, wincingly funny metaphysical farce.” I don’t know if Kehr had Bill Murray’s movies in mind when he wrote that, but it seems to me that Murray’s underreaction to the increasingly absurd situations in Stripes and Ghostbusters is precisely what makes those movies so hilarious. Kehr was a fan of Quick Change, which, in many ways, is a slightly more lighthearted version of After Hours: in both movies, the heroes mount an existential battle to get away from whacked-out New Yorkers. But it’s Murray’s presence in Quick Change, as a frustrated urban planner who plans an elaborate heist with two accomplices (Geena Davis and Randy Quaid), that makes it the funnier film. The opening 20-minute bank robbery sequence has more big laughs than most comedies have in their entire running time. Also, there’s not a single role of any size that isn’t perfectly cast and special mention must go to security guard Bob Elliott, cab driver from Mars Tony Shalhoub, and the late, great Jason Robards, who delivers perhaps my all-time favorite line (“They’re ON a blaftoni!”). More underrated Murray – and a real departure for him: Frank Oz’ What About Bob? A few more for ya: IT’S IN THE BAG (1945, Richard Wallace) BREAKING IN (1989, Bill Forsyth) SMILE (1975, Michael Ritchie) ISHTAR (1987, Elaine May) THE PARTY (1968, Blake Edwards) SO FINE (1981, Andrew Bergman) THE ‘BURBS (1989, Joe Dante) HARD TO HANDLE (1933, Mervyn LeRoy) KISS ME STUPID (1964, Billy Wilder) THREE AMIGOS (1986, John Landis) BIG TOP PEE-WEE (1988, Randall Kleiser) Posted by Rupert Pupkin at 5:00 AM 7 comments Labels: Jim Healy, underrated comedies, University of Wisconsin Cinematheque, Wisconsin Film Festival Lazy Sunday Afternoon Movie: SNOWBALL EXPRESS(1972) From the opening Jew's harp laden strains of the score to this film, you know it's gonna be a hoot...of sorts. My fandom for Dean Jones goes way back. Like a lotta folks, I first saw him in Disney's THE LOVE BUG. He's an affable, functional actor. He did a ton of films for Disney in the 60s and 70s, so chances are if you were renting videos in the early 80s you probably saw him in something. This particular Disney/Jones joint had eluded me for some reason until it popped up on a list contributed to my blog by the wonderful Mr. Marc Edward Heuck: http://rupertpupkinspeaks.blogspot.com/2012/06/bad-movies-we-love-guest-post-marc.html Here, Jones plays a somewhat schlubby father of two, working for an insurance company at a lowly desk job in NYC. Jones' boss (Dick Van Patten) doesn't approve of his tardiness, but no matter, as Larry Tate from Bewitched(David White) has some great news for him. He has just inherited The Grand Imperial Hotel in Silver Hills, Colorado which rakes in $14,000 a month! So naturally Jones has gotta pack up his wife(Nancy Olson from SUNSET BLVD) and kids(son played by Jody from Family Affair) and move em out west! When they arrive of course the MONEY PIT scenario takes over. The one thing this movie could have used is a "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" style REVENGE OF THE NERDS fixing-the-place-up montage(but then I think even CITIZEN KANE could be improved by such a sequence). Disney(& M.A.S.H.) regular Harry Morgan makes a nice showing as a squatter and Keenan Wynn plays the Mr. Potter role. In a nutshell, this is your standard Disney family-of-underdogs-trying-to-turn-a-broken-down-hotel-into-a-cozy-ski-lodge story. Labels: lazy sunday afternoon movie Favorite Underrated Comedies - Jason Hyde Jason Hyde is a film lover of the highest order. It was he who first suggested years ago that I check out the Rathbone/Bruce Holmes films, starting with THE SCARLET CLAW(which I finally saw last year and loved: http://rupertpupkinspeaks.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-favorite-film-discoveries-of-2012.html). He is a man whose cinematic tastes are certainly to be trusted. THE CHASER (1928; Harry Langdon) Harry Langdon should have been allowed to direct more films. As it is, he only managed three, and one of them (HEART TROUBLE) vanished before anybody even got to see the thing. Both surviving films are still sadly overlooked. THREE'S A CROWD was Langdon's attempt at Chaplinesque pathos that somehow ended up bleaker than most people were probably ready for in 1928. THE CHASER's just as odd and visually striking as THREE'S A CROWD, but much funnier. In it, Langdon plays a carousing husband whose wife takes him to divorce court, but the judge instead decides that husband and wife should switch roles in a decision that I'm guessing doesn't have a lot of legal precedent backing it up. So in no time at all, Harry's wearing a dress and trying to avoid the unwelcome advances of every deliveryman who comes to the house until he gets fed up and tries to commit suicide. I know this probably doesn't sound funny, but it really is. In the end, THE CHASER didn't do any better at the box office than THREE'S A CROWD, and Harry was finished as a director. Langdon kept working in shorts and supporting parts (he's brilliant in the Al Jolson film HALLELUJAH I'M A BUM) and did some top notch gag-writing for Laurel and Hardy, but never got behind the camera again, which is really a shame. I wish there were more movies like this. MOVIE CRAZY (1932; Clyde Bruckman) Harold Lloyd's sound films don't get nearly enough attention these days. They were generally well-received in their day, but have kind of fallen off everybody's radar since then. But I've yet to see a Lloyd talkie that I didn't love. Even the much-maligned MAD WEDNESDAY or THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK or whatever you want to call it is pretty funny. MOVIE CRAZY is the best of the Lloyd talkes that I've seen so far, although I still haven't caught up with THE CAT'S-PAW, which sounds very strange. Lloyd probably made the transition to sound more naturally than any other silent comedian. Where his silent films were famous for their stunts and elaborate physical gags, the physical gags in MOVIE CRAZY are much smaller in scale, but just as impeccably timed and executed. It helps that Lloyd's a terrific actor as well in the dialogue-driven scenes. And Constance Cummings was never better than she is in this film. There really isn't a single moment of MOVIE CRAZY that isn't absolutely perfect. SH! THE OCTOPUS (1937; William C. McGann) Movies don't come much crazier than this. I'm naturally inclined to love all of those Old Dark House comedies that were seemingly cranked out at a rate of about one per week in the '30s, but SH! THE OCTOPUS really goes the extra distance to stand out even within an already crazy genre. Allen Jenkins and Hugh Herbert star as a pair of dim-witted detectives stranded in an old dark lighthouse with a cast of eccentric characters, none of whom are what they seem. Also, there's a master criminal called The Octopus who's after a deadly new radium ray. And apparently a real live octopus with tentacles and everything that may be working for The Octopus, but it's not really clear because this movie makes no sense whatsoever until its final scene, and even then it's still pretty insane. I'm a big fan of Allen Jenkins these days after seeing him in Michael Curtiz's Perry Mason mystery THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS BRIDE, and I have to admit that I've always thought Hugh Herbert was pretty funny. I know this is not a popular opinion, but I think he's funny in THE BLACK CAT, I think he's funny in this, and I'm sure he's funny in other movies that I haven't seen yet. And I'm pretty sure that the exterior shot of the lighthouse was re-used by Raoul Walsh in THE ROARING TWENTIES. THE COMEDY OF TERRORS (1963; Jacques Tourneur) Lists of great comedy teams don't usually include Vincent Price and Peter Lorre, but maybe they should. THE RAVEN may be better remembered, but I'll always go to bat for their lesser-known team-up, THE COMEDY OF TERRORS. For starters, the humor's a bit blacker in this film thanks to Richard Matheson's witty screenplay. Price and Lorre essentially reverse their roles from THE RAVEN this time, with Lorre playing more of a meek straight man and Price tearing loose as the drunken lout. It's probably Price's nastiest character ever and he plays it to the hilt. Boris Karloff is great as Price's absent-minded father-in-law, but the biggest surprise here is Basil Rathbone. Not exactly known for his comic chops, Rathbone nearly steals the film away from his capable co-stars as Price's Shakespeare-quoting landlord who just won't stay dead. He manages to be incredibly funny and kind of scary at the same time. There's also a Joe E. Brown cameo, and it's all directed with style by the great Jacques Tourneur, who also wasn't exactly known for comedy. DRAGNET (1987; Tom Mankiewicz) I'm not sure exactly what the critical consensus on Dan Aykroyd is right now, but if it doesn't accept that the man was crazy funny back in the '80s, then the critical consensus needs to get its act together. Exhibit A: His perfect parody of Jack Webb's no-nonsense, straight-arrow cop Joe Friday in this spoof of the greatest of all cop shows. Every classic piece of the show is lovingly mocked here, from 'This is the city' intro to stentorian voice reading off the criminal's sentence outro. Tom Hanks in pre-serious actor funny guy mode plays Friday's hip new partner Pep Streebek, and he's funny enough, but this is Aykroyd's show from start to finish, and he doesn't disappoint. Also on hand are Dabney Coleman playing a sleazy jerk, which is pretty much how he spent the '80s, and Christopher Plummer (really, Christopher Plummer!) as a televangelist who's secretly the head of P.A.G.A.N. (People Against Goodness And Normalcy). Harry Morgan even reprises his role as Bill Gannon from the '60s version. There's so much good stuff in here that it's easy to overlook the fact that it all goes a bit overboard with the buddy-cop action/comedy stuff. But every time Aykroyd opens his mouth to rattle off some regulations or deliver a stern talking-to, all is forgiven, at least until he and Hanks start rapping badly over the end credits. Labels: jason hyde, underrated comedies Favorite Underrated Comedies - Laird Jimenez Laird is awesome. He's one heckuva an outstanding regular contributor here and I am very grateful he's always game for a new list. Follow him on twitter here: https://twitter.com/pobrecito an Letterboxd here: http://letterboxd.com/pobrecito/ also, read him here: http://ourmovieislikethatmovie.blogspot.com/ Hellzapoppin' (1941) The title song promises "Anything can happen, and it probably will!" and the movie makes good on this claim a hundred times over. By the time a Frankenstein hurls a bear at a ballerina, you will know this to be the truth. Adapted from a popular stage show led by the Vaudeville duo of Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson, the movie version immediately announces its individuality by destroying the fourth wall spectacularly when the projectionist of the movie you're watching is introduced as a main character (played by Stooge royalty, Shemp Howard). It's a total gag factory that is only ever momentarily delayed by some passing lip service to the "story." The only thing it's comparable to is Tex Avery or Looney Tunes at their wildest. Probably more under-seen than it is underrated, it's in desperate need of a quality home video release. Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) The closest the 1990s ever got to Hellzapoppin'. I always liked Gremlins 2 as a kid, but when I watched it last year for the first time as an adult, I realized how previously underrated it was by me and just about everyone else. If it suffers in comparison to Gremlins, it's only if you think of it as trying to achieve the same ends. More so than Gremlins, the sequel feels like a personal film. One gets the feeling that Joe Dante made a list of everything he found amusing throughout the history of cinema, then threw caution to the wind and included everything on that list in this movie that is more of a satire of corporate culture and the entertainment industry than it is a rehash of the events of the first Gremlins. Infused with cartoon lunacy but grounded by real values, this is a masterpiece that deserves reevaluation by movie buffs that share Dante's passion. The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz (1955) Luis Buñuel's pitch black comedy is about a mentally disturbed man with a Giallo-esque origin story who one day decides he's going to become a serial killer. As the saying goes, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Luis Buñuel, devout atheist, did not believe in God, but he does find hilarity in the absurd situations people find themselves in when their desires are constantly frustrated. This one also needs a decent home video release in the U.S . (as does most of Buñuel's Mexican output). Let's Go Native (1930) Leo McCarey (whose Ruggles of Redgap I almost included on this list too) directed this Pre-code musical comedy that stars Jeanette MacDonald and Jack Oakie and features Kay Francis and Eugene Pallette in supporting roles. It's about as bawdy as 1930 allowed and continually interrupts its own forward momentum with what are essentially slapstick and gag-laden skits. Oakie steals the show as a cab driver named Voltaire McGinnis. Everyone he meets says, "You don't mean you're the French philosopher?!" By no means a masterpiece, but (surprise!) another title in need of a home video release. The Great Garrick (1937) David Garrick, star of the British stage, has been invited to perform at the Comédie-Française, but when word reaches the French troupe that Garrick plans to "teach them how to act," they decide they're going to prank him so hard that he'll learn some humility. What ensues is a prank war between actors that shows how funny it can be when real-life talented actors portray less than talented actors on-screen. James Whale's direction is elegant as always. This one is available through Warner Archive. A Thousand Clowns (1965) This film adaptation of a popular stage play doesn't overcome its "staginess," but what it lacks in cinematic quality it makes up for in pathos. Adapted for the screen by the playwright, the story depicts a shiftless manchild (portrayed by Jason Robards in one of his finest performances) who is tasked with raising his 12-year-old nephew despite his own apparent inability to take care of himself. There's something very Wes Anderson-esque about the characters, so... recommended if you like his movies. This one is available through MGM's MOD library. While the Coen brother's ridiculous, satirical skewering of the intelligence community was not roundly ignored, I feel like it sort of slipped through the cracks by being sandwiched between the far more popular No Country for Old Men and the far more personal (though arguably underrated) A Serious Man. I'll admit I was a bit underwhelmed the first time I saw it, but it has gotten better with each subsequent viewing. Everyone is superb in it, but Richard Jenkins' tragically pathetic dope role stands out more and more for me. "You think I am a loser?... You know, I wasn't always the manager of HardBodies...let me show you something:" *produces photograph of himself as a Greek Orthodox priest. In the Loop (2009) If your eyebrow is raised at my inclusion of this on a list of "underrated" comedies, let me just say that no matter how well received this movie was, it wasn't enough. Possibly the closest my generation will get to an era-defining, political satire that is as funny as it is pointed (see for instance, Dr. Strangelove for the Cold War nuclear race era). Writer/director Armando Iannucci's gift for vulgarity is unparalleled. If you disagree, you can ram your opinion up your shitter with a lubricated horse cock. Friday (1995) Maybe not underrated, but probably under appreciated. Cinematic portrayals of the "ghetto" in the 90s that received widespread kudos from white audiences tended to depict urban, black neighborhoods as a hell of gang violence and misery (Boyz in the Hood, Menace II Society, etc). Friday doesn't necessarily reject that depiction, but it at least shows that within these neighborhoods, in addition to poverty and violence, there are also normal, working families with wholesome values and great senses of humor. Maybe the moral grandstanding at the conclusion is heavy handed, but also, maybe this movie was sincerely trying to reach an audience that, well, isn't you. I found this to be one of the most endlessly quotable comedies of the 90s. MVP: John Witherspoon. Labels: laird Jiminez, underrated comedies WAC'd Out Sets: THE FALCON Mystery Movie Collection Vol.2. Tom Conway! I was aware of the the original group of FALCON Mystery films(in WAC's Vol.1 set) starring George Sanders as the titular bird, but I'd never seen any of them. Having heard a few folks(including some of the Warner Archive guys themselves) say that they preferred Tom Conway's FALCON to Sanders' I decided to start with this set and perhaps work my way backwards. I'll certainly get around to the Sanders films at some point because my viewing of these six movies has me intrigued. Tom Conway reminds me a bit of Errol Flynn, but with a bit less charisma. That's not meant as a dig against the man really. After all, how many Errol Flynn's can there be? But yeah he resembles Flynn and bit but just comes off a bit drowsier or something. THE FALCON OUT WEST(1944; William Clemens) The death of a rich Texan in a NYC nightclub leads Tom back to the lone star state to find the murderer. Enjoyable slice of fried fish out of water. Sort of a mini-reversed COOGAN'S BLUFF. Tom Conways is...(not) Johnny Mack Brown. That being said, this was still one of my favorites in the set. THE FALCON IN MEXICO(1944; William Berke) Tom can't go 5 minutes without stumbling across a body. In this case, all the hubbub is about a mysterious stolen painting. Said painting causes a lot of ruckus for Tom as he's forced to make off with it himself to try to clear himself of the initial murder. Is the supposedly deceased artist who painted it really dead? THE FALCON IN HOLLYWOOD(1944; Gordon Douglas) What starts as a simple racetrack purse swap mixup quickly escalates into a murder case at a movie studio for Tom Lawrence. Light and fluffy like an omelette. The Hollywood backdrop helps make this one pretty fun. Director Douglas is also responsible for the giant ant classic THEM!(as well as VIVA KNIEVEL!, SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF, IN LIKE FLINT, ROBIN AND THE 7 HOODS, LADY IN CEMENT, SKULLDUGGERY and several GILDERSLEEVE films...) THE FALCON IN SAN FRANCISCO(1945; Joseph H. Lewis) Tom meets a little girl on a train and her nurse is found dead. When Tom tries to take the girl home, he is arrested for kidnapping. Once cleared, Tom goes to see the little girl to investigate something she'd mentioned on the train about being imprisoned in her own home. I'm a pretty big Joseph H. Lewis fan. Seeing Gun Crazy and THE BIG COMBO in close proximity will have that effect on you. He's a stylish auteurish director who made a lot of solid B pictures. So naturally when I saw that he had helmed this entry in the FALCON series, I was very excited. This is a relatively subdued film style-wise. I do love most films set in San Francisco though, so the locale helps. THE FALCON'S ADVENTURE(1946; William Berke) What starts as a fishing trip for Tom and Goldie turns into a kidnapping rescue and, of course, a murder. At the heart of the murder is a man's formula for a substitute for industrial diamonds. Through awkward happenstance, Tom is blamed for the man's murder and must flee(yet again) to Miami with the valuable secret. Lotsa folks want this formula and its a twisty-turny ride to the end. THE FALCON'S ALIBI(1946; Ray McCarey) A high society lady that Tom assists with a bet at the racetrack throws a big birthday soirée and invites him. During the festivities, he learns of some missing pearls and yet another obligatory murder. Tom is obliged to set a trap for the murderer with the pearls as bait. This entry has the best supporting players in a gorgeous Jane Greer as a female crooner and Elisha Cook Jr. as her hubby, a late night radio DJ. Both of them are great here, and their participation makes this my favorite film in the set. Cook's character here has some common ground with a certain other guy he played in a certain Kubrick film I love. Note to self: I want to one day use Tom's trick here of pretending to be writing a letter when in fact he is actually writing detailed numbered instructions for his sidekick. Labels: WAC'D out Sets, Warner Archive Favorite Underrated Comedies - Ariel Schudson Ariel Schudson is the Student Chapter President of the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA) at UCLA. She programs a cool series at the New Beverly Cinema called "Something Old, Something New", check it out! AMIA Twitter-https://twitter.com/AMIAatUCLA AMIA Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/amiastudentchapteratucla AMIA Student Chapter Blog-http://amiastudentchapteratucla.blogspot.com/ Her film blog: http://sinaphile.wordpress.com/ Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sinaphile KICKING & SCREAMING – 1995 – Noah Baumbach I can’t tell/don’t know if this is underrated or if I just think it’s desperately under seen with the exception of a few choice individuals. No, this is NOT the Will Ferrell sports film. This is the 1995 film by Noah Baumbach about the apathy of east coast college grads. It features Josh Hamilton, Chris Eigeman, Carlos Jacott, Parker Posey and Olivia D’Abo, and it is one of the few films I know by heart. Every line. Eric Stolz is damn good in this too. Great soundtrack, great cast, incredible dialogue. And I learned something about sports as well. I LOVE this film. MONKEY BUSINESS – 1952 – Howard Hawks Alright, alright. I have two favorite “Marilyn” movies and neither one is Some Like it Hot (even though Billy Wilder is one of my desert island directors). This is one of my favorite Marilyn movies, hands down. Hawks is an amazing director. This cannot be argued. But what I don’t like about Bringing Up Baby (the “wackiness” of a non-wacky actress) is used to absolute perfection in this picture. Marilyn was a wonderful dramatic actress too. My other fave is a noir she did. But if you have not seen Monkey Business, it is sincerely watchable and, like everything except (for me) Land of the Pharoahs, infinitely rewatchable. THE MONSTER – 1994 – Roberto Benigni So the idea of a crazed sex killer and mistaken identity may not seem hilarious it really really is. Take one Roberto Benigni, place him in an all-Italian production before the success of Life is Beautiful (1997) and it is amazingly funny. I realize that I have a very dark sense of humor. I also realize that I like Roberto Benigni. But I don’t apologize for the things that I find pleasure in and I find a great deal of pleasure in this film. This film made me laugh. A lot. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I think my parents lost my copy when I lent it to them. Bummer. CAT BALLOU - 1965 -Elliot Silverstein This is a list of underrated comedies, a phrase that could also be interpreted as underappreciated comedies. Those who know me know my complete and utter adoration for Lee Marvin. I can’t get enough. In this Western (and I do love my Westerns) it’s a Lee Marvin Double-mint commercial: double your pleasure, double your fun! See the movie if you haven’t and then you’ll know what I mean by that. It’s by no means a great film but I love it because it is so much fun and I can always rewatch it due to the fact that it is so much fun. WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER? – 1957 – Frank Tashlin If you have not seen this movie, do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not even think about a night of Netflix Instant. Go and buy this film. You will want to own it and watch it and love it and have it as a gauge of other humans. I don’t usually say things like that and…I don’t really mean it (or do I?), but this film is one of my all-time favorite pieces of cinema. If you don’t know about it, a) That’s ok. You’re lucky! I wish I could see it again for the first time. b) Fix the “not knowing about it” thing. You’ll be glad you did. I’m only pushy about a few films. This is one of ‘em. I love it A LOT. Labels: ariel schudson, underrated comedies Lazy Sunday Afternoon Movie: BACHELOR IN PARADISE(1961) I think my initial introduction to Bob Hope was via his humorous cameo in SPIES LIKE US("Doctor. Doctor. Glad I'm not sick"). I never really paid him much attention at the time. It wasn't until years later when I would hear Woody Allen speak of him in reverent tones about just how big an influence he was. Allen cited Hope's performances in MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE and THE GREAT LOVER as particular impactful and informative in terms of him developing his own comic persona. When I finally watched those films, I could absolutely see the through line. Those films also opened the door for me as far as my current fascination with Hope. He can certainly be kinda hit or miss, but in coming across other gems of his like ALIAS JESSE JAMES, I continue to sift through his filmography. In BACHELOR, Hope plays a jet-setting author who writes books like 'How The Swedes Live' and 'How The French Live'. After a snafu with his business manager, he is put into a state of "instant poverty" and forced to write a new book called 'How The Americans Live'. His place of research: a family-focused tract development called Paradise Village in the San Fernando Valley. This sort of 1960s suburban milieux is one I enjoy, so this film is disarmingly pleasant and funny enough. Henry Mancini adds a layer of lovely tonal ambience with his musical stylings. I'll be seeking out the score very soon without question.The crackerjack cast includes Lana Turner, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss & Agnes Moorehead. Director Jack Arnold, most known for his classic sci-fi films(THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE & THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN) handles the comedy well enough and I always love to see a full 2.35 to 1 frame. I was reminded of Frank Tashlin at points throughout, though this would certainly be considered Tashlin-lite(with a dash of MR. MOM). Warner Archive put out a nice disc of this film a while back(along with several other Hope entries: http://shop.warnerarchive.com/search.do?query=Bob+hope). My parting thought was that this flick would make a disturbing double feature with Martin Ritt's rare 1957 film NO DOWN PAYMENT... The Warner Archive MOD DVD can be purchased: HERE Labels: lazy sunday afternoon movie, Warner Archive Lazy Sunday Afternoon Movie: SNOWBALL EXPRESS(1972... WAC'd Out Sets: THE FALCON Mystery Movie Collectio... Lazy Sunday Afternoon Movie: BACHELOR IN PARADISE(... Favorite Underrated Comedies - Todd Liebenow Favorite Underrated Comedies - Josh Johnson WAC'd Out Sets: Wheeler And Woolsey Ride Again Favorite Underrated Comedies - Noah Lee Underrated Films Series - Comedies Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Howard S. Berg... Rupert Pupkin Speaks has a FaceBook Page! Like Ple... Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - James McCormic... Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Junius Ponds Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Ghetto Tim Bluuuu Letter! Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Jeffrey Canino... Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Steve Q Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Matt Singer Favorite Film Discoveries of 2012 - Samurai of the... 30 Movies in(less than) 30 Days: My Adventures wit...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2201
__label__cc	0.70717	0.29283	Exploring the legacy of the rationalist Rishonim (medieval Torah scholars), and various other notes, by Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin, director of The Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh Who Else Should Help Desperate Kollel Families? There are all kinds of charity campaigns for kollel families in desperate financial distress. Letters and appeals are sent out to Jews across the spectrum. But there's one group of Jews that doesn't seem to be asked to help these families. Here's a letter that ought to be sent to all kollel families that receive help for being in severe financial difficulties: "Rabbosay, there's a very serious poverty problem with countless kollel families. In response, there are many families around the world that contribute funds. This mitzvah, of helping people in need, is not one that only takes place when they give their credit card number. Rather, it's a mitzvah that they prepare for all the time, when they are working to earn the money that enables them to help those that need it. "Rabbosay, we need more people to participate in this mitzvah. Specifically, we need YOU. For the existing donors, while they have a mitzvah to give tzedakah, they can choose to help your families, or they can choose to give to other causes. But for you, it's a mitzvah to help your families specifically. Each of you has a responsibility to help your own families with their basic needs. That responsibility, as delineated in the kesubah, is fulfilled by working. As Chazal say, it is better for a person to engage in even a lowly trade rather than casting themselves on others for support. "Now, it's not easy to find work, especially for people who lack training and experience. But there are organizations which will help you do so, or which will provide you with the opportunity and means to pursue a job training program. There is Keren Kemach, there is Mafteach, there is Lemaan Achai, there are more. "Leaving kollel is a very hard decision to make. But if one's family is not getting their needs met, then it's a straightforward requirement. And it's also crucial to think about your childrens' futures. If each of the families that we help has an average of eight children, who are being raised to follow the same path, and an average of at least six out of eight of these children will actually do so, then the problem will be at least six times worse in the next generation. What are we going to do about that?" I showed this letter to some charitable friends who give money to help desperate people in kollel, and asked them what they thought about it. One said that it's not his place to tell people what to do with their lives, it's only his role to help them in difficult times. Another said that it's just futile. Maybe they are right. But personally I think that it's everyone's responsibility to do what they can to motivate people to make the right decisions in life, especially when their bad choices are harming other people. And when you're giving people money, you have the chance to get their attention. Furthermore, I think that there's even a strong case for saying that those who decide to make the right choice and take on their responsibilities will receive more financial aid. Perhaps even for saying that those who point-blank refuse to do anything themselves will not receive any aid beyond food coupons. Certainly Chazal and the Rishonim had a very dim view of people who see no reason to support themselves and not to live off charity. See too: Did They Teach You This In Yeshivah? Is It Better To Be Supported In Kollel Or To Work? What's Wrong If Someone Wants To Support People In Kollel? Vilna Mussar about Educating Children towards Employment The Economics of Torah Scholarship in Medieval Jewish Thought and Practice Not Charedi March 26, 2019 at 12:02 AM You'd have to change the mindset in high schools in order to make this a permanent change. Individuals in kollel eventually realize that they have to work (more so outside of Israel), but they don't have the necessary skills because they didn't learn anything like that in school (and heaven forbid they go to college or anything like that). Telling someone who's currently in kollel that they have to work won't have any effect. They'll either say "I know but I'd rather learn while I can" or indulge in the fantasy that they'll be able to learn forever. Ideally we'd have a system where only the brightest and most dedicated go to kollel, and only with the goal of eventually giving back by becoming teachers or rabbis. In the meantime, the average kollel guy is told by the yeshiva system that going to kollel is the most important part of life. Your intent is good, but it probably won't do much without a value shift. Jew well March 26, 2019 at 4:10 PM "Ideally we'd have a system where only the brightest and most dedicated go to kollel, and only with the goal of eventually giving back by becoming teachers or rabbis." And how exactly do you select them? By making them pass IQ tests? It's absurd, real intelligence and skill cannot be tested. By asking Roshei Yeshiva to choose? That way you're for sure in for a corrupt system of self-perpetuating dynasties. Avi March 26, 2019 at 9:11 PM Why should anyone select them? Historically, you learned if a) you had support, or b) you were super-dedicated (like Hillel) and did whatever you had to for a chance to learn. If you don't fall into one of those categories, perhaps you won't become a Gadol. But, it seems to me that none of the Gedolim of this or previous generations were the product of the current system. Somehow, we've managed. Not Charedi March 26, 2019 at 10:35 PM You can make them take tests on what they've learned, or you can simply say that anyone who isn't truly dedicated won't receive support. It'll cut down on some of the benchwarmers. It's obviously not a simple solution and it won't work without everyone (especially the big donors) being on board, but it's better than forcing people to go to kollel or risk not getting married, etc., and it'll force people to actually support their families. Maybe high schools will do their jobs then instead of making their students rely on daddy's money. Jew well March 26, 2019 at 11:01 PM But most avrechei kollel do have support, and do what they have to to become gedolim, which is sit and learn and have lesser gashmius standards. To me it seems that virtually all gedolim of this generation were at one point avrechei kollel. My point is not to defend the current system, and I agree we need less full-time avreichim and more working people. I'm just genuinely trying to understand how people here seem to envision an easy way out, while to me, it looks a lot more complicated. @Not Charedi: Who can give them tests on what they've learned if not Roshei Yeshiva? How do you decide who is truly dedicated? You think the kollelim keep paying not dedicated people and so-called "benchwarmers"? I can assure you there is less job security in that sector than in whichever one employs you, not meaning to offend. David Ohsie March 27, 2019 at 6:12 AM If you have a limited number of scholarships, then institutions will fight to recruit the best students. Avi March 27, 2019 at 7:57 AM and have lesser gashmius standards. Like Shlomo Hamelech? Or Raban Gamliel? Or Rebbi? You are confusing asceticism for holiness or learning ability. To be a true Gadol, you need above-average intelligence and the desire to use it. Most avreichim, being average people, have average intelligence and average motivation. Starving them won't make them Gedolim. Not Charedi March 27, 2019 at 8:12 AM JW: It would likely have to be centralized to some degree. Naturally there would be corruption, but there already is: think about how many roshei yeshiva are related to the previous roshei yeshiva. There is definitely no easy path out, and I'm not sure it'll change unless there's some major shift in how welfare/donor money gets distributed. I'm not sure what your point is about job security, but not many kollelim that I am aware of actually test the avreichim, and it is relatively easy to "fake it" for a few years until the real world intrudes. Even if someone is kicked out after a few months, that's wasted time that they could've used to support their family, and they're starting at a disadvantage because they likely weren't given the skills that they actually need to support a family. DO: Your idea would likely work, but it would require cooperation on a scale that is near impossible, given the egos of those who run yeshivas and the people who think that their sons are the best. the haredi community has voted with their wallets. those of us who don't financially support kollelim in any way, shape, or form are frankly not involved. those balebatim who buy into the chiyuv to 'adopt-a-kollel' are cool with it. so maybe it's not our place to tell others we refuse to pay for how to run their lives.... after all they can't tax us [ i e non-haredim in chu'l ] so we should have no say if they want to live in abject poverty.... Tax money pays for welfare, a decent amount of which in NY and NJ goes to people in kollel (take a look at the poverty rates in certain charedi communities when you have a chance). I don't care if they spend their own money, but I do get annoyed when they spend mine if I didn't specifically give it to them. @David Ohsie They already do, but the question was: how do you select the really best students, in a system that doesn't give the others any chance? It has to be very carefully pondered if we don't want future religious, educational and halakhic leaders to be selected for wrong reasons. @Avi You completely misunderstood. I wasn't speaking about ascetism, let alone holiness. I was just saying they're ready to live with less money than average people, which is necessary if you want to spend time not working. @Not Charedi Like I said before, that corruption would be aggravated by the fact that other people are not even given a chance. Sorry, but I find it very strange that knowing this, you still are more concerned with the few fakers here and there. There will always be some everywhere. But let them have what they deserve! "Near impossible, given the egos etc...": indeed, this has been a problem for hundreds of years, see Maharal, Netivot Olam (Jerusalem, 1980) 25-6. That's why any solution giver has to take this in mind. JW: Everyone would have a chance. That's the point of having a centralized system: anyone interested in the kollel route would know that they need to study and work hard to have a shot. They would have to take tests and apply through a standard process that would hopefully minimize corruption. The premise here is that kollel is not required or strictly encouraged by Judaism, so it's no big loss if most people can't take that route. Obviously there would need to be fewer kollelim in order to make sure that only the most qualified students are accepted. There's no kind of transparency in how donations result in better treatment (but we all know it's there) so there would need to be a push for that transparency as well. All that being said, this is no more than a pipe dream, as there is no real incentive for the current kollel members and rabbanim to make this transition. My focus on the fakers is due to the simple fact that many people are quick to say that anyone in kollel is holy and worthy of admiration. Nobody really talks about the fakers, and they're really just a symptom of the problem: forcing people to go to kollel or be ostracized. David Ohsie March 26, 2019 at 12:33 AM Can Red Hen's really hold shovels in their "hands"? Is this another imagined Artscroll creation? YA March 26, 2019 at 3:26 AM What about Rabbi Akiva before he became Rabbi Akiva? Isaac Finkelstein March 26, 2019 at 2:55 PM What percentage of the untold thousands of kollel people over the last five decades became Rabbi Akivas? Rabbi Slifkin is not advocating that there be zero kollel people. He is advocating for a much more reasonable amount. Imagine if the bottom 80% of the people currently in kollel went to work, and used a small portion of their wages to help support the remaining 20%. It would be VASTLY better for all of them. YA March 26, 2019 at 4:35 PM But at that point he wasn't Rabbi Akiva. He was just Akiva. Once again, how do you select the 20%? What's the evidence Rabbi Akiva was given the go-ahead based on judging his potential? His wife moicheled him having to work. JD March 26, 2019 at 10:24 PM "His wife moicheled him having to work" Yes she did. Without societal pressure to do so. By the way, can anybody think of a tanna or amora who did work? By the way, can anybody think of a tanna or amora who did work? Most of them worked. And of those who were just students, most only went to learn during the Yarchei Kallah (the easy months), which were the months when less work was needed in the fields, and they could be spared. Fozziebear March 28, 2019 at 6:38 AM I imagine that the 20% would emerge organically once you remove the rule that everyone must sit and "learn". MiMedinat HaYam March 31, 2019 at 4:32 AM Tanna or amorah who did work: Hillel chopped wood His later generations inherited his wealth (I recall RSBG was real estate.) R Yehoshua Nafcha, a smith R Yochanan haSandlar Above Tannaim I have a very simple view. I won't value a man's family more than he does. If he's not going to work to sustain them, neither will I. N8ZL March 26, 2019 at 1:48 PM Unfortunately, the only way that this can ever get off the ground is if the gedolim, whom these families base their life decisions on, are the ones publicizing it. Modern_Orthodox March 26, 2019 at 1:56 PM Some have a full-time job examining dinosaur bones and get paid for it.... Others examine the statements of Abaye and Rava and get paid for it. The universities are filled with people researching the most sublime matters and take charity grants.... Yet others send $100,000,000 spacecraft to the moon. Still others spend billions on theme parks and entertainment.....it helps to see things in perspective I suppose. Israel Coleman March 26, 2019 at 3:27 PM Your comment is silly and incoherent as usual. That said, it may be worth responding to the one coherent point: the comparison to scientific research fellowships. The obvious answer of course is that such people produce knowledge and innovation that is useful to the rest of us, or at least to the scientific community. Contrast that to most kollel yungeleit, who neither produce respectable chiddushei Torah nor useful piskei halacha. What they do do (mostly) os a lot closer to the foolish demands of the apikorsim who ask "מאי אהני לן רבנן? כלום התירו לנו את העורב..." Except most professions work in the supply and demand model. People only take the jobs that can actually support them and their families and at a certain point, when the market is saturated, there are no further positions. Kollels are not at all like that, and the people typically live in poverty off welfare and charity. Not Charedi March 26, 2019 at 3:48 PM So...you just want to ignore the part of the kesubah that says that a man is obligated to support his wife? What about the pasuk that says "six days you shall work"? There's value in each of the things you mentioned. The difference is that not everyone is forced into it and none of the other examples contradict a basic tenet of our religion. For once you definitely have a point. No, it shouldn't be such a big deal. The real problem, in my opinion, is the arrogance with which the kollel system constantly asks for more money from people whose lifestyle they despise, without intending on benefiting them in any way. DF March 26, 2019 at 8:19 PM I used to hear that "defense" made with Albert Einstein. "Princeton pays him to essentially sit and learn. Therefore, orthodox Jews should also subsidize nine thousand guys sitting in Lakewood." You don't have to be Einstein to see the problems with that logic. @DF, For one, Einstein worked as a patent clerk. I am not familiar with his entire work history, but he was clearly not beyond taking relatively menial jobs when he had to. Examining dinosaur bones: But they're not living on menial salaries, they have long term earnings prospects. The only prospects these kollelniks have is marrying a RY's daughter. Oh, sorry, they missed that ⛵ boat. Theme parks: There's a family in Riverdale that is opening another multi billion dollars theme park in a few months. They're known for giving millions to yeshivot. Maybe A they want to give and or B they should be approached with this post. Fozziebear March 26, 2019 at 2:06 PM A while back this book was published by Beit Morasha https://www.bmj.org.il/show_book/17 בצדק אחזה פניך There is a fascinating article by R. Shmuel Polchak discussing a government program to withold benefits if a participant did not take advantage of a serious job-placement program. He decides that there is still a halachic requirement to provide צדקה to such a person. But I think he has missed a main point. Given that the best form of Tzedaka is providing someone with the means to support themselves, then if such a person rejects a job, then they have effectively rejected the צדקה that you wanted to give them. Thus you would no longer be obligated to give them צדקה in a different form once they rejected your original צדקה. Milton March 26, 2019 at 3:05 PM I agree that it is futile, but for a completely different reason. You really want the system to change? Abolish the draft. Once the legal barriers to working are removed, watch hordes of kollel guys leave kollel and join the work force. Until that happens, the conversation is pointless. Alan Rosenthal March 26, 2019 at 3:22 PM ...or national service for conscientious objectors? They're already exempt after receiving a deferral for a number of years. Why don't more of them work after that? ...which just means they don't really want to be in yeshivah, and are staying there only to avoid said draft. And all the claims of the holiness of learning, mesirus nefesh towards it, the protection it affords, etc, are all hollow. Which a lot of people know (tho plenty of tumim and BT don't) and find such religious gamesmanship distasteful. And just because other political parties preach empty slogans they don't really believe in, doesn't mean religious parties can do the same. Religious parties are and must be held to a higher standard. truth March 27, 2019 at 1:35 PM Actually, not too long ago all those above 22 were officially granted an exemption from the draft, and the Kollels did not empty out at all. So you're off the mark. Moshe M. March 26, 2019 at 3:19 PM I think that someone who decides to just learn Torah and not to work, and to support himself from charity, has made a Chillul Hashem. He's brought the Torah and Judaism into contempt. There's no good future for such a person, neither in this world nor the next. Natan Slifkin March 26, 2019 at 8:40 PM I wonder what other people here think about your comment. Abie Zayit March 26, 2019 at 11:00 PM I know what the Rambam thinks about it - https://www.sefaria.org.il/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Torah_Study.3.10?vhe=Torat_Emet_363&lang=bi I, for one, think it's the Rambam's stand, almost word for word. But it all depends on what you call charity, since in our days you find people willing to help the kollel system. Is this called relying on charity? Most avrechei kollel don't decide to support themselves from charity, but from a financial mix in which there is the work they do on the side, their wife's, and the salary that their kollel is willing to give them in order to have them in. Moshe F. March 27, 2019 at 2:26 AM The halachah does not follow this Moshe M. It is the counsel of the yetzer hora to talk that way. Precisely why I am campaigning for Kahol V'Lavan. The Haredim need to be forced to learn English and mathematics in school so they will have employable skills and won't have to steal my money to survive. Moshe March 26, 2019 at 4:48 PM you dont need to post this but this is just a repeat of ten other articles you wrote. Is this one different cause you wrote a letter? shimon B March 26, 2019 at 7:42 PM Yes. But it's not touted as the ultimate way of life for a generation with no end. And when poverty strikes those people go get real jobs rather than carry on. Shlomo March 26, 2019 at 9:03 PM When I got married, my wife promised to get a job and I would learn in collel for a few years. After our first son was born, and she hadn't kept her end of the bargain, and we were struggling. She wanted me to get a job. I spoke with the rosh collel who told me that she needed an attitude adjustment. My wife pointed out what it said in the ketuba. I was the one obligated to provide parnassa, not her. So I got a job. Unfortunately they cancelled my draft twice, even though I was working! She gave birth to your child and wanted to more fully care for your offspring instead of farming it out to someone else... but yet she was the one who wasn't "holding up her end of the bargain" and "needed an attitude adjustment." facepalm emoji. I know my comment here won't make any difference but this attitude shows how awful the situation of haredi women is and no one cares. MOs and RZs get all upset about haredi publications with no pictures of women in them, but haredi society effectively turns women into slaves to support kollelim (yes at a cost also to the children) and no one bats an eyelid. DYNAMIC March 26, 2019 at 11:37 PM kollel was a disaster it ruin my marriage my kids and my faith So what do you think is a bigger stain on Religious Zionism - Rabbi Druckman, or the existence of Kollel in almost every single RZ Yeshiva? Don't you think you ought to write a letter to all the RZ Rashei Yeshiva, excoriating them for perpetuating this Chillul Hashem? Don't you think you ought to call for a halt of all funding of RZ Yeshivot until they rid themselves of the Haredi scourge of Kollel? Donald Trump March 27, 2019 at 1:53 PM A housewife and a cat, the housewife doesn’t want the mouse to begin with. The cat wants the mouse so it can chase it. Some want chareidim to get jobs others would rather chareidim didn't exist in the first place. Where does everyone here see themselves? I do have frum grandchildren, so I sorta know what I'm talking about :-) Dave March 27, 2019 at 6:11 PM I call malarkey. I don't know any Donald Trump who is that coherent. Clearly an impostor. (Also, "frum" grandchildren? I doubt that.) What percentage of people in kollel become gedolim? How many of these gedolim became gedolim because they were born with superior intellect above the rest in contrast with those that became gedolim only out of hard work? How many of those gedolim have made a significant contribution to the Jewish world? What percentage of kollel members who don't become gedolim become teachers, and do we even need that amount of teachers? I think that based on all these questions, the full-time kollel system needs to shrink considerably. Post high school there should be a filtering process of which a fraction of the class goes on to learn more, and then after that an even smaller fraction should go on to keep learning. The doors should be closed (for full-time kollel) on students who have not shown the intellectual capacity to become beneficial to educate the Jewish world, and should develop a trade of some sort. Never mind the once in a million example of the Netziv who was doing poorly but changed his ways. The vast majority of Jews are simply not going to be the Netziv. How many -- Michtav miEliezer says better 999 fail, to produce one gadol. And that is gospel by the (litvish) yeshiva world. 2. Teachers: How many of those teachers have real pedagogical skills, instead of just knowing the material, is hired cause the yeshiva owes him something, might be good in kita Aleph, but the opening is in Kita Tet? And they forbid professional educational training @MiMedinat Jeffrey March 27, 2019 at 5:26 PM “ "Ideally we'd have a system where only the brightest and most dedicated go to kollel, and only with the goal of eventually giving back by becoming teachers or rabbis." By asking Roshei Yeshiva to choose? That way you're for sure in for a corrupt system of self-perpetuating dynasties. “ JW: all institutions of higher learning in other fields have figured it out. Medical schools, law schools, PhD programs in hundreds in of disciplines, and yes Rabbinical Schools all have entrance standards intended to be selective of the best candidates who are most likely to be able to handle and excel in the curriculum. Nobody has to reinvent the wheel here. It wouldn’t take a brain surgeon, a rocket scientist, or a Gadol HaDor to implement a similar system in the Kollel world. It will only require a desire to really have the best and brightest. The lack of standards is itself an invitation to those who lack the desired qualifications to enter despite that fact. Oh - and for those who asked about R. Akiva - there is also a model in from the secular world - non-subsidized preparatory classes, prerequisite requirements. Those who wish to become R. Akiva can still prove their mettle and build the necessary foundations while working. Or if they choose to forego working and also forego having children who would live off the public dime and instead choose to live a life of asceticism - that is a life choice as well. The models are out there. Who is wise? The one that learns from all others. @Jeffrey "It wouldn’t take a brain surgeon, a rocket scientist, or a Gadol HaDor to implement a similar system in the Kollel world. It will only require a desire to really have the best and brightest." Except we're not speaking about any definite crriculum (like you pointed out, those who do already have their own standards, even in the Torah field), but about the broad spectrum of Torah learning. Different aspects of it require different skills, and most kollels do, albeit roughly, already select their students based on this. The fact is most people have at least one area where they excel. I'm not saying this to justify the current system, I just would like to find a REAL solution to end it in the best of ways. "The lack of standards is itself an invitation to those who lack the desired qualifications to enter despite that fact." Chaya Cohen March 27, 2019 at 7:04 PM Jeffrey, Discover How unbalanced & Unfair The secular system is Try the News Sections Jeffrey March 27, 2019 at 10:38 PM Chaya: The current problem playing out in the news is not about the lack standards - it’s that some extremely wealthy people feel entitled and attempt to (and sometimes succeed) circumvent the system by giving bribes for the opportunity to enter certain institutions. Halevai there should be such problems of wealthy kollel members “bribing” their way in by paying $70Mil for a new center of Kollel studies. Are there problems with the secular system? Sure, likely no system is perfect, but the issue that RNS is discussing is that there Just is not enough money to support poor Kollel members who DON’T have the means to support themselves. We’re not at the point of being concerned that the Kollel is letting in too many rich people who want to learn and support the others. If only we had such tzurus. LETTER WRITER March 27, 2019 at 8:01 PM RABBOSAY, Isn't the hypocrisy of this man very obvious? Who is he to tirelessly lecture others about their vocations? Doesn't he spend all his days titillating himself in his nerdy little zoo, to which he has zero qualms about campaigning others to donate their money- that he's supposedly so concerned for. Why doesnt he contribute to the economy of supply and demand? And Rabosay, isn't the rest of his time, spent in keyboard warrior mode, attacking anybody who might be affiliated with anybody who pricked his precious ego? RABBOSAY, isn't it time we called on this man to do more productive things rather then obsessively do all he can to sow discord in Klal yisroel? N8ZL March 27, 2019 at 11:36 PM @Letter Writer I agree with you that too much of this blog is focused on denigrating others, as opposed to focusing on actual rationalist Judaism. It seems like the same stuff cycling itself over and over. RNS if you're reading this, it would behoove you to start putting up some more intellectually stimulating material. Nevertheless, there are not enough people in the Jewish orthodox world pointing out the issues in the charedi movement, at least not in a public manner. RNS is a suitable person to do so as he belongs/belonged to that hashkafa and his voice will be better heard than others. The amount of money that he campaigns for his zoo is a fraction of a fraction of the overall campaigning of kollelim worldwide, and he is in now way trying to convince people that what he does is part of normative Judaism. Furthermore, he is not advocating that no funding should be sent to kollelim, but rather that it should be done on a smaller scale. Lastly, he does not describe people in kollel with subjective terms such as "nerdy". Natan Slifkin March 28, 2019 at 7:01 AM The Biblical Museum of Natural History is an educational institution that provides a service to the nation. So far, we've inspired and educated about fifty thousand people, and we are looking forward to reaching hundreds of thousands more when we scale up our operation in our new building. Levi Yitzchok March 28, 2019 at 9:44 AM R' Natan, With all due respect, Torah study is more beneficial to the nation and the world - אם לא בריתי יומם ולילה חוקות שמים וארץ לא שמתי Natan Slifkin March 28, 2019 at 10:29 AM With all due respect, that passuk, even with Chazal's interpretation, is not referring to people mystically supporting the existence of the universe via learning in kollel. It refers to Torah being studied and taught in a way that transforms society. (i.e. what we do at the museum.) YA March 29, 2019 at 12:22 AM You use the word mysticism inaccurately. The "New Atheists" use it to refer to anything nonratianalistic indeed relgion altogether, because it doesn't feel any need to be learned concerning relgion. One can be nonrationalistic and not mystical too. ploni March 27, 2019 at 9:00 PM 1. this is a haredi only issue. if non-haredim [in chu'l] don't pay $$$ , then it's not their problem , so stay out of it 2. in Israel , where the chamor [ ie non-haredim ] are to bear the weight of haredi lifestyle thru their higher taxes, they are welcome to object, vote for anti-haredi parties etc I live in America, where my tax money goes to welfare programs that kollel families use. So by your own admission, I guess it is my problem, so I don't have to stay out of it. i live in US too. but the welfare burden that US kollels cause us is miniscule --there are tens of millions of non-haredi welfare getters in US , so it's battel berov gadol. Our only decision is donate to a kollel or not.... It's not "minuscule" when that large kollel population lives in the same few neighborhoods, causes traffic to explode and ruins the quality of life, and starts affecting the lives of the non-kollel people. Take a look at what's happening in Monsey and Lakewood. The damage is not just monetary. Besides, you haven't addressed the issue that my tax money does go to support long-term learning, which does make it my problem. I agree that there are too many people on welfare, but right now I'm talking about the percentage of the population that is most clearly affecting me and the one I know the most about. What do ya want March 27, 2019 at 9:08 PM Nice little anti-chareidi website over here. Looks like everybody here is happy enough with their own Judaism, that they feel it necessary to focus on improving other people's Judaism. @What do ya want Do yourself a favour and do a word search on this post of how many times the word "charedi" comes up. It does not come up in RNS's article once and barely comes up in any of the posts so far. "Kollel" is not a charedi-specific word, and this issue applies to charedi people as well as non-charedi people. It just so happens that this issue may be more prevalent in the charedi world. Instead of playing the victim card, try promoting some form of benefit to the issues being discussed. Furthermore, some of the comments made here are from people who are from the kollel background, and are in fact focusing on their own Judaism and how it can be improved. Yosef R March 28, 2019 at 3:25 PM Short answer could be Kol Yisrael Areivim, no? Larger answer is that when someone else's Judaism affects the living standards of everyone around them negatively, then something needs to be reevaluated. At least have the problems acknowledged, even if different attitudes will be apparent in the potential solutions. Same hatefest going on in the UN over Israel going on over here regarding chareidim. Never underestimate the effects of your actions. Who knows if the wicked people at the UN aren't acting as they are, corresponding to the hate going on over here. I agree. The superficial and poorly thought-out comparison of your comment definitely parallel the moronic statements shared at UN assemblies. Chaim Twerski March 27, 2019 at 11:21 PM I think you misinterpreted R. Moshe's teshuva. He was addressing whether it is better for a person to earn a living by working and attempt to be a talmid chacham in the time remaining after work or accepting a salary for learning Torah, which the Rambam extols and the highest form of pursuing ruchnios and Torah. R Moshe is not speaking of failing to provide basic living needs for his family. He is merely discussing how this is to be achieved, by taking money from Torah supporters or by working. The assumption is that the money offered for learning is enough to cover basic living expenses. He did not say that one should neglect his family and live in abject poverty and refuse to work if needed. Of course the obligation to support one's family is paramount, and as stated in the kesubah, it is the husbands responsibility to provide for the sustenance of the family. Chaim March 27, 2019 at 11:39 PM Anyone ever wonder why the expression is "chamor bli daas" see tosfos regarding an am ha'aretz wanting to bite talmedei chachamim like the bite of a donkey... Why does it seem like everyone here wants to 'bite' talmedei chachamim.... The entire point of this post was that not everyone in kollel should be there, and the logical next step is that not all those people are talmidei chachamim. True talmidei chachamim deserve respect. Someone learning in kollel because he has no options or because of societal pressure does not necessarily fit that criterion. Exactly. We're biting freeloaders and tax dodgers and draft dodgers. Ain't got nothing but respect for Talmidei Chachamim. You have a problem with that? Israel March 29, 2019 at 11:55 AM Draft resistors. The military doesn't need the Charedim and doesn't even need a draft. Israel hasn't been attacked by another nation in 50 years and even that war was avoidable. So let's stop with the name calling and try to talk a little logic. Israel might not need the charedim to serve, but that doesn't mean they should be exempt from some sort of service, and it doesn't give them the right to disparage the people who do serve. Also, the nature of war has changed over the past couple of decades. Just because Israel hasn't fought a "war" doesn't mean they're not under attack or that they don't need to be able to respond if necessary. Does any charedi institution say a Mi sheBerach for our soldiers? No, they have contempt for them. Israel March 31, 2019 at 8:10 AM Charedim don't have contempt for soldiers per se. They don't like sinners and most soldiers are Shabbos violators. And going through the hell that is the abusive Israeli army, many of them aren't the most pleasant of people. But most of all Charedim resent the constant threat of the draft and the soldiers represent that. So it's the army coming after the Charedim, not the reverse. Now it's interesting that it bothers you so much that someone would have contempt for a soldier. For after all, aren't the soldiers your god that believe protects you? Why else would it trouble you so much? Zionism is the cause of the problem. Draft exemption requires that a man not work and have never worked even one day in his life. And since the army is an abusive training ground in anti-religious sentiment, Charedim cannot be part of it. So they must go to Kollel. The government of Israel will not let Charedi men earn a living! Yes! Zionism is the problem! If there were no State of Israel, there would not have been a deal for Ben-Gurion to make with the Chazon Ish, and whatever institutions that could be supported and flourish in Mandatory Palestine would have had to struggle to survive. It is so unfortunate that the State of Israel exists that we ended up with thousands of kollelnickim. Do I have to add the /sarcasm tag? Israel March 28, 2019 at 5:17 PM If we took the 1/4 of a trillion dollars the US gov. has spent on the Mistake of Israel and the billions upon billions of dollars in donations that have come from baal habatim over the decades and spent just a fraction of it on Torah, we'd have far more Torah learning than anything that has resulted from the meager contributions of the Israeli gov. The Mistake of Israel has been the most colossal waste of money, energy, political capital, zchus, and lives. I Love Israel March 28, 2019 at 8:58 PM Let's set the facts straight: The Satmar Rebbe was rescued by Rudolph Kastner a Zionist representative of the Jewish Agency. If the Zionist are as evil as you claim - God could have saved the Rebbe in many other ways. Kastner refused to save anyone but Zionists. Then he had a dream one night where his deceased religious mother came to him and told him to save the Rebbe specifically. So if you want to talk facts, then let's talk facts. Are you trying to show us that you can't argue logically and don't consider facts? You just talk in emotional tirades. Kastner didn't want to save the Rebbe, but I talked about that in a different comment. But even if he did, how is bringing that a response to my comment about the colossal waste of energy and money that has been the Mistake of Israel? Oh I know, if you just say anything and say it with a snarl then it doesn't matter if you are on point, rationale, factual, sensible. You just keep shooting off your mouth and you must be right. That's what Zionism is all about. Just keep talking and it all becomes right. More facts: The Satmar Rebbe told his followers NOT to go to Israel. Yet, when the time came for him to escape, he left his thousands of followers to die in the gas chambers and he escaped to Israel! See the irony in that?! Now contrast that to Rav Elchanan Waserman HY'D who came to America yet went back to Europe to die with his followers. Evil means to cause one's followers to die because of an extreme radical veiw. JD March 29, 2019 at 7:40 PM Some anecdote about a dream is "facts"? Fact is he paid a bribe to get on the train, while those who couldn't stayed behind and perished. He didn't have the decency to testify later on Kastner's behalf or even say thank you. Also the U.S. didn't give a cent of aid to Israel until JFK and they continue to do so because it's a strategic military partnership benefitting both parties. Good Shabbos. Plenty of charedim on the train. How many are not "kafuy tovah"? Of the charedim, most. LETTER WRITER March 28, 2019 at 10:39 AM Um. Exactly how does what you do at your "musuem", "transform society"? Fozziebear March 28, 2019 at 10:48 AM It educates people. Often those who need it more than others. LETTER WRITER March 28, 2019 at 12:38 PM Oh.. "It educates people", you say... It's an "educational institution that provides a service to the nation.", you claim. Um. Doesnt slifkin constanly claim (in direct contradiction to 1000's of chazal,) that learning or "education" for its own purpose is valueless? ergo, by extension what value to society does the educator provide? I'd understand if one teaches a skill or a trade by which one can earn a living, but I fail to see how-according to slifkins own definitions, he provides any aid to society in his droning on about his dinosaur bones, and the like. You cant have it both ways. Like I said.. Hypocrite. Natan Slifkin March 28, 2019 at 12:59 PM "Doesnt slifkin constanly claim (in direct contradiction to 1000's of chazal,) that learning or "education" for its own purpose is valueless?" Er, no, never. Ouch! Yes, that is EXACTLY what Slifkin claims is the nature of learning for it's own sake - did he say Kollel.... Ultimately, LW, your comparison is based on a flawed premise. It is not that kollels want donations and the Biblical Museum wants donations so supporters of the latter are hypocrites if they want to decry the former. It is the whole lifestyle, the whole weight of the kollel oilam that is the problem. A rabbinical seminary that trains people for a defined period of time in order to teach or be pulpit rabbanim or even poskim would be more similar to the museum, and indeed, the supporters of this blog would be much happier with that. Museums are generally recognized the world over to be a Good Thing, and if one doesn't suit your fancy, don't go and don't support it. But nobody is teaching children as they grow up that the only career path is to be a museum tour guide or that museums are the only (or primarily) acceptable target for donations. Er, you do. You mock and deride the notion that Torah learning in itself contributes to the world in, as you would call it a "metaphysical" way. (In absolute disingenuous and brazen conflict with 1000's of chazal) Ergo, in your not so humble opinion, learning Torah is only valuable as a means to the end of contributing to the social fabric of society. And so, I don't think you're in a place to lecture others about how their time and money is used. Let's be honest, society, and peoples wallets will do just fine without your playpen. @LW You put "learning" and "education" in the same sentence. Two different things. I think RNS would say that while the former does not benefit society, the latter does. Is the reason you put them together because it's still "education" if you are educating yourself? Rabbi Dr. Natan Slifkin March 28, 2019 at 7:23 PM "You mock and deride the notion that Torah learning in itself contributes to the world in, as you would call it a "metaphysical" way." I critique it, I do not mock it. Do you recognize the difference? And correct, I follow in the rationalist tradition that it does not metaphysically contribute to the world. That does not mean that it has no value for the person doing it! It probably pales in comparison to your society-transforming comments on a blog, but hey, it's something! Those who are criticizing condemn Kollel go for it. nothing novel .Been going on for three quarters of a century. this a goose keeps laying golden polemics What is however is Chutzpah the same crowd, of the same families often ,couldn't bear the term decades past without gritting their teeth The cause so much pain and ache for those who were building up we have now And of which they take enormous advantage of turn round and Co-op the concept (As well as rank ingratitude ,Once we're on that topic) imitation is the least sincere form of flattery Comments for this blog are moderated. Please see this post about the comments policy for details. 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(PDF) The Question of the Kidneys' Counsel Sod Hashem Liyreyav Messianic Wonders and Skeptical Rationalists (PDF) The Economics of Torah Scholarship The Novelty of Orthodoxy The Making of Haredim Defining Rationalism Drawing the Line: Is Rationalism Futile? My Two Cents on the Israeli Elections The Camel, The Hare And The Hyrax Another New Camel Species! Belated Purim Pix I Messed Up What Is Purim Charity? Pi and Rambam The Evolution of Camelus ArtScrollus BlackHoofus Return of the Mexican Rabbit Zealot	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2206
__label__wiki	0.772398	0.772398	Daniel K.Y. Tan1, Inakwu O.A. Odeh1, Tihomir Ancev1 Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney, NSW, 2006 Australia. www.usyd.edu.au Email daniel.tan@sydney.edu.au Biodiesel is being promoted as a renewable replacement for diesel derived from fossil fuels. This is mainly because biodiesel has favourable properties such as low sulfur content, in addition to its potential environmental benefits. Currently, most biodiesel is produced from food crops growing on arable land, such as soybean in USA and rapeseed in Europe. Due to food security concerns, some developing countries, e.g. India and Pakistan, are promoting tree crops, such as jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and pongamia (Millettia pinnata) to be grown on marginal land. In Australia, cultivation of Jatropha is discouraged due to its similarities to the bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia), a significant pasture weed in northern Queensland. As such, a number of alternative crops, including moringa (Moringa oleifera), pongamia and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), are currently being considered for cultivation on marginal agricultural land in Australia. This study shows that while the perennial tropical tree crops moringa and pongamia are more suitable for northern Australia, Indian mustard is adapted to both subtropical and temperate areas. Modelling of future climate change projections suggests that the marginal agricultural land may shift towards the coast, encroaching into areas currently considered arable land, and reducing the area suitable for future biodiesel feedstock production. Under these scenarios, tree crops may offer added opportunities for agroforestry in northern Australia, providing shade for cattle as well as supplying biodiesel for regional towns, cattle stations and mines. Additionally, Indian mustard may provide potential biofumigation and crop rotation benefits to other annual crops in the temperate region of eastern Australia. Bioenergy, biomass, biodiesel, biofuel, crop agronomy, marginal land Currently Australia imports 30% of its oil products and this is projected to increase to 76% by 2030; and only 0.5% of Australia’s transport fuel is supplied from biomass (Geoscience and ABARE 2010). If Australian oil production continues to decline, and oil prices increase, the net oil imports could cost Australia almost A$70 billion p.a. in real terms by 2029-2030 (CSIRO 2011). In Australia, bioethanol and biodiesel are produced from biomass as renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel, respectively. At present, the main biodiesel feedstocks are sourced from tallow, used cooking oil and canola oilseeds; the shortage of suitable quality feedstock is a key constraint for the biodiesel industry. The total diesel consumption in 2009 was 19 GL with 48% of this imported (Geoscience and ABARE 2010). Despite the development of microalgae as a feedstock for biodiesel production, there are problems scaling up from laboratories to commercial production (Campbell et al. 2011; Razif et al. 2011). In the USA and Europe, biodiesel is produced from soybean and rapeseed, respectively. However, to avoid the “food versus fuel” debate in Australia, several authors have proposed that bioenergy should potentially be sourced from crops grown in marginal agricultural land (Holtum et al. 2011; Odeh et al. 2011; Yan et al. 2011; Farine et al. 2012). This paper discusses some feedstocks suitable for production on marginal land for biodiesel production in Australia. Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) is a tropical perennial tree belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a native of tropical America and is now naturalised in many parts of the tropics and sub-tropics in Africa and Asia (Koh and Ghazi 2011). In Australia, jatropha has been banned by the Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia (WA) due to its genetic and ecological similarities to bellyache bus (Jatropha gossypiifolia), a significant weed in northern Queensland (Bebawi et al. 2011). The recent failure of jatropha in India and other developing countries due to lack of bioenergy policy and R&D, emphasises the need for investment in R&D before embarking on large-scale investments (Kant and Wu 2011). Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a subtropical perennial tree belonging to the family Moringaceae. It is a native of India, Africa, Arabia, Southeast Asia and South America (Umer et al. 2008). Moringa has the potential to be grown in the Albany, Carnarvon, Esperance and Geraldton regions and the tropical north of Western Australia and has been planted by aboriginal groups as well as in experimental stations in Carnarvon and Albany (Biswas and John 2009). A lifecycle assessment has shown that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the production of 1,000 L of biodiesel from moringa oilseeds was 33% lower under dryland conditions (1,171 kg CO2-e) compared with under irrigation (1,543 kg CO2-e) (Biswas and John 2009). Pongamia Pongamia (Millettia pinnata, formerly known as Pongamia pinnata) is a tree legume that is drawing attention as a possible biofuel feedstock in Australia (Scott et al. 2008). It belongs to the family Fabaceae, in the subfamily Papilionoideae, and is a native of India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and northern Australia. There are reports of pongamia being used by aboriginal people of northern Australia as a source of timber and fish poison (Scott et al. 2008). Pongamia is able to form functional spherical nodules with a broad range of rhizobia belonging to the Bradyrhizobium tribe. The seeds contain about 40% extractable oil predominantly in the form of triglycerides. The oil is rich in C18:1 fatty acid (oleic acid) and has relatively low amounts of palmitic and stearic acid, making it useful for the manufacture of biodiesel (Kazakoff et al. 2010). The potential yield in Australia has been estimated at approximately 20,000 seeds/tree/year or 12.6 tonnes of seed per ha based on 350 trees/ha from 10 year old trees. Hence, an estimated area of 7,000 km2 would need to be harvested to satisfy the existing 19 GL annual diesel consumption of Australia (Scott et al. 2008). Pongamia has been used as a biofuel in India for some time now, and is well-suited to marginal land as it is regarded as both a saline and drought tolerant species. In pot experiments saplings grew well at saline levels up to 20 dS/m and nodulation of pongamia was not adversely affected until irrigated with water of 10 dS/m (Kazakoff et al. 2010). An average annual minimum rainfall of between 500-800 mm is required for persistence of pongamia, and established trees (6-10 years) survived 4 months without rain in Brisbane during the 2007-8 drought (Murphy et al. 2012). Pongamia can survive maximum temperatures exceeding 45°C. Pongamia cuttings and saplings (60 cm in height) survived 65 °C in a greenhouse when the temperature control unit failed during the 2011 Brisbane flood, though ample water was available (Murphy et al. 2012). Pongamia can survive and recover from frost events but is not considered ‘frost tolerant’(Murphy et al. 2012). In Australia, pongamia is cool- and possibly drought-deciduous, undergoing a winter dormancy period. Plants do not grow new leaves in spring until minimum temperatures are consistently greater than 15 °C (Murphy et al. 2012). Mature plants appear to survive moderate water-logging, though some mortality may occur. Pongamia seed yield is severely affected by heavy rain periods during flowering time. During the heavy rain in Nov/Dec 2010 in southeast Queensland, flowers collapsed either because of rain or absence of insect pollination (Murphy et al. 2012). Bees are the main agents for pongamia pollination (Raju and Rao 2006). In India, the de-oiled cake of pongamia is used as a feed supplement for cattle, sheep and poultry. De-oiled cake is the leftover component of seed following solvent extraction and contains up to 30% protein (Scott et al. 2008). As a native tree, pongamia plantations may satisfy the rules of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) due to positive carbon sequestration activity and growers may get credit for voluntary participation in the CFI scheme (Murphy et al. 2012). Opportunities exist for a sustainable pongamia agroforestry program to supply biodiesel to regional towns, cattle stations and mines in northern Australia with substantial infrastructure investment in processing plants (Odeh et al. 2011). Research needs to be undertaken to determine how these biodiesel industries might best be integrated with the existing livestock industries. A breeding program for elite varieties from existing superior germplasm is now being undertaken by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research at the University of Queensland. Plantations have now been established in southern Queensland (Gatton, Yandina, Eudlo and Caboolture), Roma in south-central Queensland and Kununurra in northern Western Australia. Modelling using the CSIRO Mk 3.0 A1B emission scenario suggests that the total marginal area (300 – 600 mm annual rainfall zone) suitable for growing pongamia between 2040 and 2070 is substantially different from the suitable marginal area under the current climate, indicating that long-term investments in this crop may not be viable in all regions in Australia (Figure. 1a) (Odeh and Tan 2007; Odeh et al. 2011). Indian mustard Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) is an annual oilseed crop belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Its centre of origin is believed to be in the Central Asia Himalayas, with migration to the secondary centres in India, China and Russia (Odeh and Tan 2007). It is very drought-tolerant (annual rainfall 300-400 mm) and many varieties can express greater osmotic adjustment than canola (Niknam et al. 2003). Indian mustard was up to 50% more productive than canola under very dry conditions, but not under normal rainfall conditions in northwest NSW (Robertson et al. 2004). An Indian mustard breeding program for biodiesel production was commenced in 2006 at the University of Sydney I.A. Watson Plant Breeding Institute at Narrabri with funding from ARC Linkage and RIRDC. Indian mustard is now part of the four year rotation at the Narrabri research station. Germplasm was obtained from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the breeding programs at the University of Faisalabad in Pakistan. The first lines were developed from outcrosses using pollen bulks among the Victorian based materials. New lines were tested in regional multi-locational field experiments in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and several candidate lines for release have been identified. Six hundred advanced lines based on Pakistani/Australian crosses have been tested in 2011. Double haploids of Pakistani/Australian crosses have been made using microspore culture. The plantlets were treated with colchicine to promote chromosome doubling. The first double haploid derivatives of these materials were increased in 2010 for testing in 2011. At the research station, there are two BioMaster 150 L biodiesel batch processing plants to provide biodiesel self-sufficiency. Oil is extracted from grain and converted to biodiesel. Feeding trials for livestock are also being carried out for the mustard presscake as a protein source for growing ruminant animals (McKinnon and Walker 2009). The key agronomic advantage of Indian mustard (and canola) is the biofumigation properties as a rotation crop with cereals, that reduce soil-borne diseases such as crown rot and nematodes which can severely limit yield in winter cereals (Smith et al. 2004). Modelling using CSIRO Mk 3.0 A1B emission scenario suggests that the total marginal area (300 – 600 mm annual rainfall zone) suitable for growing Indian mustard will have completely encroached into the current grain belt of northern Queensland and northern NSW by 2050 and 2070 (Figure. 1b) (Rogers et al. 2010; Odeh et al. 2011). Figure. 1. The spatial distribution of projected suitable areas for (a) pongamia and (b) Indian mustard due to A1B climate projections in 2050 and 2070 compared with the current suitable marginal areas (Odeh et al. 2011). Future biodiesel production should be sourced from crop feedstocks such as moringa, pongamia and Indian mustard, that can be grown on marginal land. This will ensure establishment of a sustainable biodiesel industry that will not compete for land and other resources with the rest of the agricultural sector that produces food and fibre. In addition, sustainable biodiesel production will rely significantly on the capacity to run economically viable and profitable operations that will be resilient to fluctuations in fossil and non-fossil fuel prices, and government policies in relation to renewable energy and carbon emission reductions. We thank Professor Richard Trethowan for providing information on the Indian mustard breeding program at I.A. Watson Plant Breeding Institute at Narrabri. Bebawi FF, Vitelli JS, Campbell SD, Mayer RJ (2011). Impact of control strategies on bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) mortality, seedling recruitment, population dynamics, pasture yield and cost analysis. Rangeland Journal 33, 277-286. Biswas WK, John MB (2009). Life Cycle Assessment of biodiesel production from Moringa oleifera oilseeds. In 6th Australian Conference on Life Cycle Assessment. (Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society: Melbourne, Australia). Campbell PK, Beer T, Batten D (2011). Life cycle assessment of biodiesel production from microalgae in ponds. Bioresource Technology 102, 50-56. CSIRO (2011). Towards establishing a sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia and New Zealand - Sustainable aviation fuel road map. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation (CSIRO): Canberra, Australia). Farine DR, O'Connell DA, et al. (2012). An assessment of biomass for bioelectricity and biofuel, and for greenhouse gas emission reduction in Australia. Global Change Biology Bioenergy 4, 148-175. Geoscience, ABARE (2010). Australian Energy Resource Assessment. (Australian Government: Canberra, Australia). Holtum JAM, Chambers D, Morgan T, Tan DKY (2011). Agave as a biofuel feedstock in Australia. Global Change Biology Bioenergy 3, 58-67. Kant P, Wu S (2011). The Extraordinary Collapse of Jatropha as a Global Biofuel. Environmental Science & Technology 45, 7114-7115. Kazakoff SH, Gresshoff PM, Scott PT (Eds) (2010). Pongamia pinnata, a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production: Energy Crops.' (Royal Society of Chemistry). Koh MY, Ghazi TIM (2011). A review of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. oil. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 15, 2240-2251. McKinnon JJ, Walker AM (2009). Comparison of canola and mustard presscake from biodiesel production as protein sources for growing cattle. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 89, 401-408. Murphy H, O’Connell D, et al. (2012). A common view of the opportunities, challenges, and research actions for Pongamia in Australia. Bioenergy Research, 1-23. Niknam SR, Ma Q, Turner DW (2003). Osmotic adjustment and seed yield of Brassica napus and B-juncea genotypes in a water-limited environment in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 1127-1135. Odeh IOA, Tan DKY (2007) Expanding biofuel production in Australia: opportunities beyond the horizon. Farm Policy Journal 4, 29-39. Odeh IOA, Tan DKY, Ancev T (2011) Potential suitability and viability of selected biodiesel crops in Australian marginal agricultural lands under current and future climates. Bioenergy Research 4, 165-179. Raju AJS, Rao SP (2006). Explosive pollen release and pollination as a function of nectar-feeding activity of certain bees in the biodiesel plant, Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Fabaceae). Current Science 90, 960-967. Razif H, Davidson M, Doyle M, Gopiraj R, Danquah M, Forde G (2011). Technoeconomic analysis of an integrated microalgae photobioreactor, biodiesel and biogas production facility. Biomass and Bioenergy 35, 741-747. Robertson MJ, Holland JF, Bambach R (2004). Response of canola and Indian mustard to sowing date in the grain belt of north-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 43-52. Rogers MJ, Shelley B, Day N (2010) Mapping potential biofuel crops in the landscape of Victoria, Australia. In '"Food Security from Sustainable Agriculture" Proceedings of the 15th Australian Agronomy Conference'. (Eds H Dove, R.A.Culvenor). (The Regional Institute: Lincoln, New Zealand). Scott PT, Pregelj L, Chen N, Hadler JS, Djordjevic MA, Gresshoff PM (2008). Pongamia pinnata: An untapped resource for the biofuels industry of the future. Bioenergy Research 1, 2-11. Smith BJ, Kirkegaard JA, Howe GN (2004). Impacts of Brassica break-crops on soil biology and yield of following wheat crops. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55, 1-11. Umer R, Farooq A, Moser BR, Knothe G (2008) Moringa oleifera oil: a possible source of biodiesel. Bioresource Technology 99, 8175-8179. Yan X, Tan DKY, Inderwildi OR, Smith JAC, King DA (2011). Life cycle energy and greenhouse gas analysis for agave-derived bioethanol. Energy & Environmental Science 4, 3110-3121.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2208
__label__cc	0.59981	0.40019	Author: Ally Carter My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins Shaheen Reviews 2 ★★★★★ My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories is one of the cutest anthologies I have ever read. Featuring talented YA authors like Stephanie Perkins (who has also edited the anthology), Laini Taylor, Holly Black and Rainbow Rowell, this book will steal your heart! All the short-stories have Christmas, holidays and romance in common, and all of them will touch readers in some way. Midnights by Rainbow Rowell This is one of my favourite stories of the anthology, and definitely a clever story to begin with. It follows two best friends Mags and Noel over a series of New... United We Spy by Ally Carter Shaheen Reviews 0 The end of an era, the final book of the Gallagher Girls series. Covert operations, swooning, bullets (and blood) and danger are everywhere, but I’m kind of just glad the series is over. Actually, United We Spy was a pleasure to read – much more serious and fast-paced than the… Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter We left Cammie Morgan at the end of the last book as she left the Gallagher Academy (a school for spies in training) to track down the people who were hunting her. It was a strong, definitive ending, and I was looking forward to an action-packed thriller. What I got… Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter Despite having enjoyed the third book of the series, there were a lot of things that bothered me about Only the Good Spy Young, the fourth instalment of the Gallagher Girls. In part, this was because of my impatience with incorrect science, and in part because of my frustration with… Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover is the third instalment of the Gallagher Girls series, and begins at the start of Cammie’s junior year (which is Yr 11, I understand). Cammie’s visiting her friend Macey in Boston when everything changes, and suddenly, the real spy-world is nearer than ever… Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter The second instalment of the Gallagher Girls series picks up shortly after book 1 ended, with Cammie undergoing a debrief over her secret romance with Josh. Cammie just wants to get her life back to normal, back to the way it was pre-Josh, but she’s got a surprise coming that… I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter A fun novel about a boarding school that trains future female operatives for the CIA, I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You follows a group of four sophomore (15/16-year-old?) girls. I liked the casting, although they were fairly stereotypical for YA – super-brainy girl,…	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2211
__label__wiki	0.955661	0.955661	‘Hard work. Tough. Defense.’ The Kyle Smith era has officially begun at Washington State UPDATED: Mon., April 1, 2019, 10:52 p.m. Kyle Smith speaks at a press conference in Washington State University’s Rankich Club Room on Monday, April 1, 2019 in Pullman, Wash. Smith has taken over head coaching duties for the men's basketball team. (Libby Kamrowski / The Spokesman-Review) PULLMAN – With no less than five television cameras pointed at Marvin Cannon, and a few more voice recorders sprinkled in, the beads of sweat started forming on the Washington State sophomore’s hairline, rolling onto his forehead and all the way down to his cheeks. It’s hard to blame Cannon. Not once since the small forward’s been in Pullman after transferring from junior college has there been this much attention surrounding the men’s basketball program. Hence the perspiration. But Cannon could’ve also been mistaken for someone who’d just come from one of Kyle Smith’s basketball practices. The Cougars are still getting acquainted with their new coach – a stage of this process that’s sure to carry over to the 2019-20 basketball season – but two practices have already given them a good sense of the culture shift Smith is setting in motion at Beasley Coliseum. “First few practices, I’m not going to lie to you, were hard,” Cannon said. “You can tell he’s really into defense, so he’s just been pushing us with defense, rebounds and toughness.” And, almost in lockstep with his teammate, point guard Jervae Robinson shared a similar account. “Hard work. Tough. Defense. Just getting after it, really,” Robinson said. “He’s been pushing us and that’s helped us push each other, and we’re just getting better.” Smith has already shared his vision with the eight players he’s inherited – and sold it to athletic director Pat Chun when the two spoke on the phone for the first time a few weeks ago – but WSU’s new basketball coach gave approximately 100 school officials, media members and fans a glimpse of how he intends to to resurrect the Cougars’ basketball program during an introductory press conference, held Monday afternoon at the Rankich Club Room inside Martin Stadium. Last Wednesday, WSU officially hired Smith away from the University of San Francisco after three years, signing the 49-year-old to a six-year contract that’ll pay him $1.4 million per year – the same sum the school is paying Ernie Kent each of the next three years while buying out the former coach’s contract. The impression Smith makes on the court, where the Cougars haven’t produced a winning season since 2011-12, will be the only one that matters in the long run, but the numbers guru who’s renowned for his analytics-driven approach to the game graded out as well as he could have during his first formal introduction. “A lot of people say Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth,” Smith said. “Let me tell you, Pullman is the friendliest place on Earth.” Smith will eventually break down more than 50 statistical categories with each of his players, but the coach was only concerned with one or two numbers on Monday. “We’ve got to make a 20 percent improvement this year, whatever it is,” Smith said. The one area Smith wants to see instant improvement is the same one Cannon and Robinson alluded to: defense. The coach hinted at WSU’s defensive ineptitude under the last regime, pointing out that the Cougars ranked 291st nationally. “We don’t need to go much deeper than that, but that’s such an egregious (number),” he said. “We have to get better, just to get in the conversation. All hands on deck, let’s get better here.” Chun didn’t offer much detail about the school’s search process, but it’s clear Smith’s name was in the pot from the jump. “One of my junior college coaches, the day coach Kent was fired, they called me and told me about (Smith),” Robinson said. Smith won at least 20 games in each of his three seasons at USF, but it’s been nearly a decade since the Cougars have cracked that same total. Smith said he understands the risk/reward of the WSU job – “I like to compete” – and said he’s “not naïve to what the history’s been.” “I just think geographically it’s tricky,” Smith said. But for at least one day, Smith’s enthusiasm and willingness to take on one of college basketball’s most challenging gigs seemed to set everyone at ease. “In our first phone call, Kyle Smith made it clear to me he was going to be our next head coach,” Chun said, “and he was actually going to take over the job before we got off the phone.” Published: April 1, 2019, 5:14 p.m. Updated: April 1, 2019, 10:52 p.m. Tags: college basketball, Kyle Smith, Marvin Cannon, ncaa, Pac-12 Conference, Pat Chun, Sports, Washington State Cougars, WSU basketball, WSU football	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2212
__label__wiki	0.646431	0.646431	License to Thrill? LICENSE TO THRILL?: 007: From Russia with Love (2005) A familiar face returns to his most famous role in one of the more memorable Bond games. Andy picks up his laser watch and gives it another look. Who made it?: EA Redwood Shores/Rebellion Developments (Developers), Electronic Arts (Publisher). Genre: Third-Person Shooter. Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, PSP. Format: DVD, Cartridge. Released: November 18, 2005 (UK). What happens when you take one of Bond’s least action-orientated films and make an action-orientated video game out of it? You get From Russia with Love for the PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PSP. From Russia with Love (1963) was Sean Connery’s second outing as Ian Fleming’s debonair superspy. It was clear that the producers and writers didn’t know what to do with their follow-up to Dr. No. If it was made today (something I’d love the producers to do – make it happen, Barbara Broccoli), it would be a high-tension, slow-burn thriller with three high-octane action sequences across the first, second and third acts of the film. So, why choose this particular motion picture to be translated into a video game? Before we ask too many logical questions to EA and MGM, we should stop. Simply because I doubt any of them had any brain cells. Let us judge the game on its own merits, as we put From Russia with Love through its paces the LICENSE TO THRILL way. We start our game during a scene completely shoehorned into the plot of From Russia with Love with a shootout between Bond and SPECTRE thugs (you’ll remember them). This is where we get a glimpse of the shooting mechanics of the game. Firing is usually selected for you, which is a nice touch, and you can target individual areas such as grenade belts to blow enemies sky-high. As you progress, you’ll notice that the enemy AI is very generic and of a poor standard, with cronies jumping out for 007 to take care of with ease. Usually, this would be a terrible thing to have in a game, but let’s just pause to think about the source material here: It was a GameCube/Xbox/PS2 game piggybacking on 2004’s Everything or Nothing. So it was not too shabby for the time. This is a Bond game. A Bond game set in the 60s era. SPECTRE goons are about as competent as Star Wars Stormtroopers. Thus, a realistic representation of the films. So, now your and oddly-proportioned and animated Bond (with a dead-on Connery mug) is in what should be an on-rails shooter at best due to the way these SPECRE goons operate! Alongside those poorly-modelled background characters, which make you wish the guy in the gunbarrel sequence could shoot you instead, you’ll think this game is a poor James Bond cash-in. But hold your Walther PPKs! There’s plenty of reasons for why this game is worthy of a purchase, or at least worth borrowing off a friend. During the first level, we reach a thrilling climax where 007 has to fight a helicopter. Where Solid Snake used stealth and several well-placed stinger rounds, Bond gets to strap on the infamous Thunderball jetpack complete with rocket launchers. That’s right, you are not high right now, I did indeed say COMPLETE WITH ROCKET LAUNCHERS. What more do you want than a jetpack-clad James Bond who can fire rockets? All your schoolyard action toy fantasies have now come to life. After you take down the helicopter and miraculously save the girl, she asks you who you are, and you calmly reply, “The name’s Bond, James Bond.” This is followed by the famous theme and gun-barrel hello. Bondgasmic! In one fell swoop, this game just completely redeemed itself. While the plot takes more liberties than the American government, it doesn’t completely stray from the plot. The next level is the famous hedge maze scene from the beginning of the film, where you play the fake Bond (how does this make sense?!) to teach you about the solid stealth and melee combat techniques, which have been improved since Everything or Nothing’s button-mashing. Later, we get training for the laser watch from Q branch and also get to drive around Istanbul – which is near enough impossible due to the way the developers have set-up the controls. EA have stretched out From Russia with Love into an all-out action thrill ride, and while it doesn’t really constitute as the motion picture anymore, it does its best to create an adaptation of the film. And it does it reasonably well, especially compared to the million and one other shitty film-to-game translations. The graphics, meanwhile, are nothing to shout about. As I said earlier, it suffers from oddly-proportioned people and a reasonably uninspiring visual presentation which isn’t offensive, but isn’t truly impressive when compared to visuals capable by 2005 on sixth generation consoles. Some of the most impressive moments come in the details such as Connery’s likeness, which is key. One can imagine if the game came out today, something similar to motion-capture and those 3D facial reconstructions used to bring Tupac back from the dead would have been used. In all honesty, the visual enhancements of today would have brought the game up a notch in authenticity and love. But there’s one thing I have been holding off on during this review and its the all-important voice of James Bond 007 himself. Connery reprised the role one last time as the swinging spy (which was his last major acting role ever). Although his voice doesn’t sound as youthful as it once did, nor does his performance seem as cool, calm and collected as it did in 1963. His presence still manages to add a sense of class to the game, though. Just as Connery bought class to an arguably lacklustre Bond outing, which was made worse by the horrible over-dubbing films suffered from back then. But I cannot stress how good it feels to hear Sean Connery as 007 again! I just wish they made Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice later on for the PS3 and 360. All in all, 007: From Russia with Love is actually one of the better gaming adaptations there is when you put aside its shortcomings, of which there are many, so it is well worth a spin for the ardent Bond fanatic. (Via Wikipedia) The game also features appearances from Bernard Lee (M), Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny), and Desmond Llewellyn (Q). Bizarrely, Natasha Bedingfield also shows up. From Russia with Love is the last James Bond videogame EA Games marketed before they lost the rights to Activision in 2006. Unlike in the 2004 game, 007: Everything or Nothing, From Russia with Love features a third-person multiplayer deathmatch mode. However, it lacks a cooperative feature that was present in Everything or Nothing. Connery said “As an artist, I see this as another way to explore the creative process. Videogames are an extremely popular form of entertainment today, and I am looking forward to seeing how it all fits together.” SquabbleCast #30: “For Your Ears Only” CINEMA CLASSICS: Goldfinger (1964) Space Balls Up: Revisiting Moonraker LICENSE TO THRILL?: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (2003) LICENSE TO THRILL?: GoldenEye 007 (1997) CINEMA CLASSICS: Dr. No (1962) CINEMA CLASSICS: Casino Royale (2006) The Best of Bond, James Bond Tags: 007, 007: From Russia with Love, 007: From Russia with Love (2005), 007: From Russia with Love Review, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, EA, EA Redwood Shores, Everything or Nothing, From Russia with Love (1963), From Russia with Love (2005), GameCube, Goldfinger, James Bond, Lois Maxwell, PlayStation 2, PSP, Rebellion Developments, Sean Connery, Thunderball, Xbox, You Only Live Twice ← R.G.'s Top 10 Games of 2014 REVIEW: Taken 3 (2014) → LarryBundyJr says: dont forget connery’s old man voice throughout this game! quite off putting!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2213
__label__cc	0.71698	0.28302	Threshold Criteria The Threshold Criteria for a Care Order or a Supervision Order, as outlined in Section 31 of the Children Act 1989 is that a court may only make a Care Order or Supervision Order if it is satisfied that: The Children are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm and That the harm or likelihood of harm is attributable to: The care given to the child is not what it would be reasonable to expect the parent to give him or The children are beyond parental control. Threshold criteria are essential to prove in a care case, because they are used as the basis to conclude that a child is either suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm. If there is no significant harm present or any risk of significant harm in the future, there CANNOT be a care or supervision order. This is because the requirements of section 31(2) of the Children Act 1989 will not be met. In order to justify making a care or supervision order, the court has to satisfy a two stage test: The first stage the threshold stage there must be sufficient reasons to justify making a care or supervision order or in other words, the case must cross a threshold. This threshold can only be crossed if the court agrees that things have happened which have already caused significant harm to a child, or pose a serious risk that significant harm will be suffered in the future. The second stage the welfare stage even if the threshold is crossed, it must be in the childs best interests to make an order. It is not inevitable that a care order will be made every time a child has suffered significant harm (but it is likely). If the LA can demonstrate evidence (on a balance of probabilities) that the threshold criteria have been met, the Court will then go on to consider whether making a Care or Supervision Order would be in the childs best interests. Whether a child is likely or not to suffer harm will also form part of the criteria for the initiation of a S.47 investigation but may be an actual lower threshold than the test applied by the Court. Thresholds of harm for a S.47 investigation are likely to be defined by the local LSCB or local practice in a LA area. Not defined in law... Significant Harm The Children Act 1989 defines harm as ill-treatment or the impairment of health or development. Development means physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development; health means physical or mental health; and ill-treatment includes sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment which are not physical. As a result of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, the definition of harm also includes impairment suffered by hearing or seeing the ill-treatment of another. According to Working Together, significant harm refers to the threshold that justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interests of children, and gives LAs a duty to make enquiries to decide whether they should take action to safeguard or promote the welfare of a child who is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. The legislation, however, does not define the line between harm and significant harm. As a practitioner, you should give significant its ordinary meaning (i.e. considerable, noteworthy or important). The childs particular characteristics also need to be taken into consideration. For example, a child left home alone at the age of 3 could be at risk of significant harm, whereas a child aged 13 years may be less likely so. The test will be subjective to the particular circumstances. Working Together lists the following as factors to consider in understanding and identifying significant harm: The nature of harm, in terms of maltreatment or failure to provide adequate care; The impact on the childs health and development; The childs development within the context of their family and wider environment; Any special needs, such as a medical condition, communication impairment or disability, that may affect the childs development and care within the family; The capacity of parents to meet adequately the childs needs; and The wider and environmental family context. Likely to Suffer A child being likely to suffer significant harm does not mean that there is a more than 50 percent chance that the child will suffer or that it is more likely than not that the child will suffer significant harm. If a Court considers the likelihood of harm to be based on past events regarding which there are disputed facts, it must first make a finding of fact before treating the past event as a grounding of future risk, as has been held by the Supreme Court in Re. S-B [2009] UKSC 17. It should also be understood that the care proceedings standard of proof is the ordinary standard i.e. on the balance of probabilities. This means that if it is more likely than not that your child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm no matter how slight the margin the threshold criteria may be considered to have been met. The welfare checklists The Children Act 1989 checklist (a) the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding); (b) his physical, emotional and educational needs; (c) the likely effect on him of any change in his circumstances; (d) his age, sex, background and any characteristics of his which the court considers relevant; (e )any harm which he has suffered or is at risk of suffering; (f) how capable each of his parents, and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his needs; (g) the range of powers available to the court under this Act in the proceedings in question.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2214
__label__wiki	0.901091	0.901091	www.timetravelrecords.co.uk COLLECTABLE VINYL RECORDS Record categories / Sales catalogue Hard Rock/Metal/Punk Albums Funk-Soul & Motown Albums Progressive & Classic Rock Albums Rock & Roll/1950s 7" Singles 1960's 7" Singles Picture discs / Coloured vinyl Soul/R&B & Motown Singles Reggae / Ska 7" Singles Friday Half Price Synth' Pop Albums Breakbeat/House/Electronic Dance Film, Stage & TV Soundtracks (OST) Categories Record categories / Sales catalogue Soul/R&B & Motown Singles Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up can be shipped within 1-3 working days "Move On Up" is a song by Curtis Mayfield from his 1970 debut album "Curtis". Nearly nine minutes long on the album version, it was released as a single in the United States (Curtom 1974), but failed to chart. An edited version of the song spent 10 weeks in the top 50 of the UK Singles Chart in 1971, peaking at #12, and it has become a soul music classic over the years. Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up / Little Child Runnin' Wild (from the soundtrack album "Superfly"). UK Curtom 7 CUR 101 (1988). Record produced by Curtis Mayfield. This record for sale is the 1988 re-issue of the single originally released in 1970. The vinyl record attains a strong excellent grading, suggesting few plays. Audio quality is very clear and strong throughout. Both record centre labels are clean, unmarked, and free from tears, stains or stickers. The record centre hole displays no signs of spindle wear. The record's original printed cover is in excellent condition, displaying only minimal signs of wear. Browse these categories as well: Soul/R&B & Motown Singles, Film, Stage & TV Soundtracks (OST)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2218
__label__cc	0.705952	0.294048	Welcome to Clwyd's Townpage Llangollen - A very interesting old town beautifully located on the River Dee. It figures a good deal in George Borrow's Wild Wales. Is mainly memorable for the Ladies of Llangollen, Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, who lived here between 1779 and 1829 and were visited by Scott, de Quincy, Wordsworth, the Duke of Wellington, and most of the other literary, artistic, military, and political leaders of their time. Their ornately carved timbered house, Plas Newydd, is open to the public. There is a magnificent 14th century bridge spanning the Dee, and the 13th century Cistercian Abbey of Valle Crucis lies close by. Motor Museum as well as Canal Museum and Steam railway. Prestatyn - A pleasant little seaside resort with extensive sands and golf links. There was formerly a Norman castle here. Offa's Dyke, the border rampart, begins here and runs to the estuary of the Severn at Sedbury. The Dyke was built by Offa, a King of Mercia between 757 and 796AD and is about fifty feet wide. St Asaph - A village city five miles inland from Rhyl. Famous for its cathedral, the smallest in Britain. There was a monastery here in the 7th century, and it was rebuilt in the 14th and 18th centuries. Ruined by troops in 1245 and 1282 and by Welsh forces in 1402. The explorer Stanley was educated here. Nearby is Offa's Dyke, running along the Clwydian Range of hills across the Clwyd valley from St. Asaph.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2220
__label__wiki	0.720447	0.720447	ensemble full orchestra written fall 2014 commissioned by San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony premiere January 2015, Miami, FL, New World Center September 2015, San Francisco, CA, Davies Hall Christian Reif, conductor recording coming soon notes Sometimes I feel like I’m a stranger in a strange land when I visit an orchestra. The air at an orchestral concert is rarefied, culturally and sonically removed from so much of the music I hear every day. These five short Dispatches are a response to this removal—my official reports from a distant location. Each movement of Dispatches takes music I first heard in a much different setting, filters it through my own musical language, and turns it into a short work for orchestra. Each movement is derived from strongly melodic source material, though for most of the piece only fragments of melodies peek through. I wanted to find a way to “hear” the distance between the music’s original context and an orchestral one. Dispatches opens with obsessive reiterations of one isolated moment from Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic,” a song I heard Stevie himself perform movingly on the Songs in the Key of Life tour. Many colors of the orchestra are spliced and shuffled in rapid succession, though none are capable of recreating the magic of that singular moment. From here the music launches into a neo-soul ballad inspired by the simple and elegant keyboard voicings of Erykah Badu. In this second movement, both the melody and rhythmic pulse are created through the subtraction of notes and instruments, one at a time, from every chord. In the central movement, the cello section gradually undergoes a strange metamorphosis: one by one, each member “prepares” their instrument by sticking a wine cork in between the second and third strings. This transforms the sound of their simple melodies into something distorted and brash when bowed, mysterious and gong-like when plucked. The electric guitar's music is transformational in nature too, as triadic harmonies gradually become overtaken by feedback and amp noise. The fourth movement ("wheezing; industrial") folds these cello and guitar techniques into a relentlessly pulsing rhythm and explores the full spectrum between noise and pitch. This music is, more than anything, inspired by the fact that we are sitting politely in a room with 50+ individuals who have the capacity to join forces to create a giant sound monster. The final movement paints the dense overlay of voices in the city with superimposed fragments of docile melodic progressions, added and subtracted from the composite texture at regular intervals. Throughout the piece, two amplified instruments (electric guitar and electric bass guitar) act as timbral remnants of a distant world, unable to fully assimilate with their classical classmates, prone to noisy interruptions that seem to have been lost in translation.—	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2222
__label__wiki	0.82946	0.82946	≡ ≡ ≡ ≡ STAGE DOOR REPERTORY THEATRE David Carnevale Managing Director, Co-Founder david@theatreout.com David has worked extensively throughout Orange County as both a stage manager and scenic designer. He has worked at the La Habra Depot Theatre, Newport Theatre Arts Center and Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse on productions including A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, Death Trap, Rags, Holiday, A View from the Bridge Rumors, Jerry's Girls and Driving Miss Daisy. In addition, David has served as the technical director for Crescendo Vocal Ensemble's annual Christmas show in Old Town Fullerton. In Los Angeles, David worked as the stage manager for the West Coast premiere of Horton Foote's Lily Dale for the Pacific Resident Theatre Company at the Victory Theatre in Burbank as well as Jack Millis' critically acclaimed production of Beyond Therapy at the Gardner Stages in West Hollywood. David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre History and Dramatic Criticism from Whittier College and his Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jason Michael Hammond) Joey Baital Producing Director, Co-Founder joey@theatreout.com Joey has always had a love for the performing arts. At the age of 5 his parents forced him to take piano lessons. Band programs occupied the majority of his school years. In 1989 he was introduced to the world of choral music with the Disneyland Cast Choir. Since then Joey has recorded with the London Symphony and performed at Disneyland Paris as part of the Azusa Pacific University choir. Joey has also performed with Cypres College Masterworks Choral and Camerrata over the past 13 years, most recently recording the 50 Most Loved Christmas Carols CD. Joey is a founding member of Crescendo Vocal Ensemble, an a capella group based in Orange County. Crescendo has appeared throughout Southern California, with peformances on the KLOS Mark & Brian radio show as well as the Mark & Brian Christmas Concert at the Wiltern Theatre in Hollywood. In 2005 Crescendo performed with the Golden State Pops Orchestra at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. Crescendo has produced two full-length albums of their work: Christmas with Crescendo and 'Tis the Season. In 1998 Joey was fully submersed into the world of musical theatre, playing a Protean in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the La Habra Depot Theatre. That marked the start and finish of Joey's acting career. Joey joined Men Alive-The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus in 2003 and thoroughly enjoys performing with this great family of men. Men Alive has performed in Montreal as part of the 2004 international GALA Choruses Conference and in San Diego as part of a joint concert with the two men's choruses of San Diego. Joey has an AA degree from Cerritos College and has worked for the Disney Company since 1989. Joey has always loved the theatre (even more so since meeting David in 1997) and was very excited to help found Theatre Out. Darcy Hogan Literary Director darcy@theatreout.com Darcy is pleased and proud to have been a part of the Theatre Out family since the very first production in 2006, though she did not take on the role of Literary Director until 2010. Darcy's first love was acting. She began attending Theatre School at the age of eight, and earned her first paycheck at the age of nine. Throughout her youth she worked mainly on stage, but also dabbled in film, television and print work. As an adult, she realized she had no passion for film and focused solely on stage work, performing across New York, Nevada, California and spending four seasons performing with the Tony Award-Winning Utah Shakespearean Festival. Darcy minored in Theatre at the State Univeristy of New York, and majored in Theatre at Southern Utah University. It was there that she was introduced to playwriting, and her passion quickly shifted from performing plays to creating them. Her produced scripts include the OC Weekly Award-Winner for Best New Play, The Land Southward, and our own wildly popular, runaway hit musical Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart But the Very Next Day You Said You Were Gay (among others). She has also garnered critical praise for her work as a director, including our own The Laramie Project, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later and her completely re-envisioned Edward II. Joy Bice joy@theatreout.com Joy fell in love with theater in high school and will be working in it until she can no longer type in a lighting cue. Joy has been working professionally in the field for 14 years, she has extensive knowledge in lighting design, sound design, set design, rigging and set construction. Joy's theatrical past includes Technical Director for five national tours with AFT, Master Electrician for Moonlight Stage Productions, and lighting and sound design for local theaters such as Hunger Artists and Camino Real Playhouse. In her free time she would rig for PSAV on shows such as Disney's D23 and NAMM. In 2008 Santa Monica College opened a brand new Performing Arts Center and hired Joy to be one of three people in charge of setting up the theater and running every event. She was blessed to Production Manager for such names as Baryshnikov and Savion Glover as well as Shakespeare's Globe Theater company. Currently, she has moved over to the administrative end of the theater, but still enjoys occasionally running crews. She joined the Theatre Out family for their first production in 2006, and became Technial Director when they acquired their first "home." She is proud to have helped set up the Empire Theater and is happy to be a part of this wonderful theatre ocmpany. Who is Theatre Out? Theatre Out Cares ORANGE COUNTY'S GAY AND LESBIAN THEATRE COMPANY © Theatre Out	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2225
__label__wiki	0.968061	0.968061	Sep. 26,2017 12:16 Home > Sports > LeBron James slams Trump for attacks on athletes LeBron James slams Trump for attacks on athletes Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James harshly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday for his relentless attacks against high-profile athletes. “I'm not going to let one individual, no matter the power, no matter the impact he or she should have, ever use sport as a platform to divide us," James told reporters during NBA Media Day. “He doesn’t understand the power that he has for being the leader of this beautiful country," James said of Trump. "He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. "The people run this country, not one individual." Last Friday, Trump used a campaign podium in Alabama to attack NFL star Colin Kaepernick, whose silent protest against racism and police brutality -- where he 'takes a knee', or kneels, during the national anthem before games -- has become a national phenomenon that has inspired many other athletes to follow suit, while sharply dividing public opinion. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners when someone disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. He’s fired. He's fired!'" the president yelled in the microphone to roaring applause from his supporters. Trump went on to say he believes that one of the owners -- who are "friends of mine, many of them" -- would eventually do it. "They don’t know it. They’ll be the most popular person in the country for a week. They’ll be the most popular person in the country," he said. He quickly faced backlash from players, active and retired alike, and on Sunday, more than 200 NFL players knelt, sat, locked arms during the national anthem before games, or even completely avoided standing on the pitch, triggering another Twitter rant by the Commander-in-Chief. Kaepernick remains a free agent after not renewing his contract with the San Francisco 49ers last March. Many of his supporters believe he is being blackballed by the NFL ownership. "I salute Colin Kaepernick for being as powerful as he was, and being the one that had to fall on the sword unfortunately, and I hate that," James said. "I wish I owned an NFL team right now; I'd sign him today." The latest comments by James came after Trump rescinded an invitation to 2017 NBA champion Stephen Curry for a traditional Oval Office ceremony after he publicly announced that he did not want to go to the White House. "Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating; therefore, invitation is withdrawn!" Trump tweeted. James -- considered among the greatest players in NBA history -- defended Curry, whose Warriors defeated LeBron's Cavaliers in the 2015 and 2017 Finals, with a harsh tweet that was liked over a million and a half times. "U bum," James wrote. "@StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!" Anadolu Agency Keywords : lebron james	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2228
__label__wiki	0.611103	0.611103	TALKING-HEADS.NET HEAVEN Board index ‹ Heaven is a Place ‹ TALKING HEADS Video Dissection of the Week - 1 The band and their music by Buck's Student on March 13th, 2011, 6:36 am http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtCittJyr0 In the same vein of the Song Interpretation threads, I'd like to have some for the videos (Even fan made ones, or from related bands). It's 12:36 AM, so I'll let you guys have the first wack while I sleep. Buck's Student Re: Video Dissection of the Week - 1 by Aspiemom on March 14th, 2011, 2:42 am Welcome back, Buck's. Hope you enjoyed your spring break. I'm sure I missed at least half of the themes that are in this video, but here's what I noticed. The song is about the incessant passage of time leading eventually to every individual's death. The community center shows people of every age, the "we" in the song. Every person there is on the same road, but will reach their final destination at different times. The running, along with the marching beat, emphasizes time's passage throughout the song. You see various activities people perform in their lives- getting married and raising a kid, buying stuff (the shopping cart), competing in business (two men in wrestling masks, a bit sexist, but it was the 80s), men trying to be king. I love how Chris and Tina's kid turns punky and rejects them. Overall, it reminds me of Ecclesiastes- "All things are Vanity!" Then there's DB, who spends most of his time running, drowning, and changing his hairstyle, sometimes at the same time! The guy dragging his instrument up the hill may be Sisyphus- the mythical character who had to spend eternity rolling a rock up a mountain only to have it roll back to the bottom again. Albert Camus said that we must try to imagine Sisyphus as being happy. The song is a bit that way too. After all these images of futility, the lyric repeats "it's alright," and the song sounds upbeat. Hi, we're on a road to nowhere, wanna come with? A lot of things are spinning, probably another reference to time. But the drain image, especially with the blood, seems more complex. Maybe death. You see no one die in this video, and I wonder if the boxes symbolize coffins. I've seen that rotating cube around DB's head before, but I can't remember where. Is Chris cryogenically frozen a la Han Solo? I suppose that could be an effort to defeat mortality, or stop time. My last thought is about the road shot. The unseen vehicle passes all the individual characters from the video, and Chris/Tina as a couple. But the community stands in the middle of the road and the bus stops. So maybe I'm thinking too much, but this may indicate that although each individual will die, the community as a community will go on. Babies will replace the old people (like the old man who goes into the box before the baby emerges from it). There's no way to communicate. Aspiemom Papa Legba Joined: January 24th, 2011, 3:07 am by Aspiemom on March 14th, 2011, 2:47 pm One more thought- the video may echo the Book of Exodus. In Exodus, the Jews who left Egypt were not allowed to enter the promised land. All the people who left their homes died on the road (to nowhere). Only the children who were born on the trip were allowed to enter the promised land (think of the old man who enters the box to be replaced by the baby). The last shot in the video shows a whole community on the road in a desert. The song suggests they are heading for an ideal city- Jerusalem? City of God? Just a thought. by Buck's Student on March 14th, 2011, 10:18 pm Aspiemom wrote: One more thought- the video may echo the Book of Exodus. In Exodus, the Jews who left Egypt were not allowed to enter the promised land. All the people who left their homes died on the road (to nowhere). Only the children who were born on the trip were allowed to enter the promised land (think of the old man who enters the box to be replaced by the baby). The last shot in the video shows a whole community on the road in a desert. The song suggests they are heading for an ideal city- Jerusalem? City of God? Just a thought. I think of the song as a statement on the band, actually. "We're on a Road to Nowhere, come on inside," meaning they were somewhat disintegrating, and didn't really hide that fact. The opening shots are of the band together on a small stage with many other people - A sign of being overcrowded by extra musicians and each member, besides David, losing some of their identity within that structure. Gosh, I gotta go To continue my last post... I think the video symbolizes the band trying to move forward, and often not getting anything from doing so. When you see David running, he doesn't have a destination. When Jerry carries an accordion up the hill, he's having a much harder time climbing just because he's carrying that burden. Tina and Chris growing old... It's like no matter what happens in the band, they won't split. Indeed, they still work together today. Wow, so I see the human condition and you see band drama. They could be connected. Talking Heads is connected to everything. What do you think about DB's life preserver? I think it's funny. It's as if the character realized that the drowning metaphor kept turning up in the music, so this time he came prepared. s!mbells wrote: re "In Exodus, the Jews who left Egypt were not allowed to enter the promised land. All the people who left their homes died on the road (to nowhere)" Is it actually quoted as "the road to nowhere"? I feel a sense of hope and community in the song; growth, acceptance and direction. I also feel apathy. No, I'm taking liberties with the Exodus story. Its described as more of a nomadic kind of existence, a wandering. The travelers were unhappy and complained, understandably, about Moses leading them out to the desert to die. Still, lyrics like "we're on the road to paradise" remind me of Exodus. That community was on a trip to a promised land, after all. I don't feel apathy. I feel a kind of detachment- accepting the absurdity of the situation and then moving on. Yah! s!mbells wrote: Thanks for clarifying. I also felt a sense of confusion in the song and that the premise of the song is - We've seen the light, we're on the road (the righteous path - a gravel road it might be) and anyone can come along - if they want. The road to paradise is the road to nowhere. (The word "nowhere" turns the song on its head and is thought provoking). I can't help but think of the scene in "O Brother, Where art Thou", where one of the convicts sees the baptism ceremony (just after the hypnotic scene where Alison Krauss, and choir, are singing "Down to the River", while women in white "float" through the forest) and (the convict) says something like "I'm going in the water, all my sins will be forgiven"... (something like that) - great movie! Just thinking out loud... I think they're on a road to nowhere. The video in particular ignores all the heaven references. I think the point is you must keep going. Tell yourself whatever you need to ("it's alright," "we're on a road to paradise," "here is where time is on our side") but keep going. I never believe a DB lyric to be sincere when it describes time as being on our side, slowing, or being pleasant. I find a connection in DB's lyrics between water/river/drowning and the passage of time, as in "Once in a Lifetime." I see drowning as an individual feeling overwhelmed by the relentless passage of time. Time, like the tide or a river, just keeps coming at you. You have to find a way to move with it so you don't drown. So I don't see the pool as a baptism image, but I could be wrong about that. DB has an interest in old-time religion too. I loved "O Brother, Where Art Thou," great movie with great music. s!mbells wrote: I feel a sense of community, people of all ages participating. I also feel everyone's journey is a little different. The imagery is great. The use of long roads could be a metaphor for our long journeys through life (was that posted already?), and a waiting by side of the road a metaphor for what? (I'm not sure, waiting for the next phase, waiting for someone, lost....I'm not sure...). My last post seems a bit bleak given the cheery sound of this song. Lingering on the lyric for a bit, doesn't utopia mean nowhere? That's one way to reconcile the nowhere word with the heaven idea. The ideal city, not letting "them tell you what to do," and helping to sing the song could be about building a utopia by staying true to internal truths rather than external pressures. Getting back to the video, I agree with you that the long road is a journey through life. I'm confused by the characters standing by the side of it though. Are they hitchhikers? Why doesn't the bus stop for them? BTW: I just saw "Rango" with the family this morning. I saw a desert, a road, clocks, water, drowning, vehicles, and a bunch of talking animals. The film addresses personal identity, choices, suicide, spirituality, and the meaning of existence. Weird choice of theme for a kids' movie. But it was also very funny. We all liked it. by Buck's Student on March 23rd, 2011, 4:16 am I think the Little Creatures album offered some hidden messages about their inner struggle as a band/family. I actually think that may be why David was more interested in True Stories instead of a tour - Touring is intimate, just like studio work, but more so because you have to see each other every day (Mostly). Maybe we should look for some incite on the band through True Stories, or discuss how David and the band may have been using that album/film as a way to hide their problems? by NotSid on March 23rd, 2011, 7:45 pm Buck's Student wrote: I think the Little Creatures album offered some hidden messages about their inner struggle as a band/family. I actually think that may be why David was more interested in True Stories instead of a tour - Touring is intimate, just like studio work, but more so because you have to see each other every day (Mostly). I remember reading in Song and Circumstance where David wanted to tour this album, but he had an idea that involved actors or something er other. The band members wanted to do just a straight up tour. I guess they couldn't agree on a middle ground and foregoed touring altogether. David could possibly tour this album is he wanted to, but I think some of the songs would strain his voice (i.e. Love for Sale, Wild Wild Life.) Not saying he couldn't do it, but I've heard he has issues with singing some songs (specifically, Nothing (But Flowers) Honestly, I was never fond of Little Creatures or True Stories. I liked TS more though. Little Creatures just didn't sit well with me. I enjoyed And She Was and Road to Nowhere, also Television Mas is a highlight, but not so much the rest of LC. NotSid Ruby Dear by Buck's Student on March 23rd, 2011, 11:03 pm NotSid wrote: Gimmie Back My Name is one of my favorite TH songs... LC just struck a chord with me, I guess. Return to TALKING HEADS Jump to: Select a forum ------------------ Heaven is a Place announcements TALKING HEADS TOM TOM CLUB DAVID BYRNE JERRY HARRISON POPULAR FAVORITES HI, I GOT A TAPE I WANNA PLAY LOVE FOR SALE AIN'T GOT NO RECORDS TO PLAY TAKIN' THAT RIDE TO NOWHERE NO HEADS, JUST TALKING TEST TEST	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2234
__label__wiki	0.551459	0.551459	Vasichko Minerals Mineral Trivia Jewelry Courses Rocks And Minerals What are Rocks? Rocks form the hard outer crust of our planet, The Earth. Rocks are made up of minerals, and minerals themselves are made up of elements. Unlike animals and plants, rocks are not alive. But that does not mean they always stay the same – in fact, they are changing all the time. Rocks can dissolve, melt, fall apart and even change into other rocks! Yes – you could say the Earth is one gigantic rock! But the kind of rock we are used to seeing is only on the outside, or crust. What are Minerals? People use the word mineral to mean different things. True minerals are pure, solid substances made up of crystals. some minerals, like gold and carbon, are made of one element. Others, like salt and quartz, are made of a combination of elements. only natural substances are true minerals. So if you find some salt in a salt mine, it is a mineral, but if you make salt in a science laboratory, it is not – even though they are exactly the same! Elements are simple chemical substances such as gold and oxygen. They are the building blocks of most other substances. In fact, most things, including rocks, minerals, animals, plants, people, water and air are made up of combinations of elements. What’s Inside the Earth? Just under the Earth’s crust is a layer of incredibly hot, melted rock called magma. As you get nearer to the centre, or core, of the Earth, the rock gets hotter and hotter. Scientists think there is a metallic ball at the core of the Earth made of two elements, iron and nickel. Sometimes bits of rock from space, called meteors, get so close to the Earth that they get sucked in by gravity. Most burn up as they zoom through the Earth’s atmosphere. But that land can make a huge crater when they hit the ground. Where this crust forms the Earth’s continents, the most common rock is granite. The main difference is that a mineral is ‘homogeneous’ – it is the same all the way through. if you look at a lump of salt under a microscope, every part of it has the same structure. But rock is not homogeneous, it is a mixture. For example, granite, a rock, is made up of three minerals, mica, feldspar and quartz. Substances like chalk, coal and oil were formed millions of years ago when plants or tiny sea creatures got squashed under layers of mud and water, and eventually turned into stone. Some scientists say that things that were once alive are not true minerals. But you will find them in most books on rocks and minerals. - Journal of weekly news and commentaries about rocks and minerals and mineral collecting - New Finds: Falls Road Corridor near Baltimore City Line - How to compare the cost of loose diamond prices - Gem Mining Adventurs - Rockhounding trips in the Franklin Mineral Expos	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2236
__label__wiki	0.9969	0.9969	J. Paul Austin, Chairman of the Board, Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia, August 21, 1976 Avedon, Richard Serie: The Family Gelatin-silver print Image Dimensions: 10 x 8 inches 25.4 x 20.32 cm Paper Dimensions: 14 x 11 inches Framed Dimensions: 22.68 x 18.66 x 1.5 inches © The Richard Avedon Foundation. John de Butts, Chairman of the Board, AT&T, New York City, May 5, 1976 Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State, Washington, D.C., June 2, 1976 Mike Mansfield, U.S. Senator, Montana, Majority Leader of the Senate, Washington, D.C., March 2, 1976 A. Philip Randolph, Founder, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, New York City, April 8, 1976 George Meany, President, AFL-CIO, Washington, D.C., March 3, 1976 Jimmy Carter, Democratic Candidate for the Presidency, Plains, Georgia, March 5, 1976 Gerald Ford, President of the United States, Washington, D.C., March 18, 1976 Hubert Humphrey, U.S. Senator, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., March 12, 1976 Jerry Brown, Governor, California, Sacramento, California, March 20, 1976 Katherine Graham, Chairman of the Board, Washington Post Company, Washington, D.C., March 11, 1976 Nelson Rockefeller, Vice President of the United States, New York City, June 28, 1976 F. Edward Hébert, U.S. Congressman, Louisiana, Washington, D.C., July 8, 1976 James Skelly Wright, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1976 Barbara Jordan, U.S. Congresswoman, Texas, New York City, July 14, 1976 Leonard Woodcock, President, United Automobile Workers, New York City, April 19, 1976 Frank Fitzsimmons, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1976 Arnold Miller, President, United Mine Workers, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1976 Thomas Gleason, President, International Longshoreman's Association, New York City, June 29, 1976 Frank Church, U.S. Senator, Idaho, Washington, D.C., March 1, 1976 Daniel Inouye, U.S. Senator, Hawaii, New York City, July 14, 1976 Thomas (Tip) O'Neill, U.S. Congressman, Massachusetts, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1976 Peter Rodino, U.S. Congressman, New Jersey, New York City, July 14, 1976 Andrew Young, U.S. Congressman, Georgia, New York City, July 15, 1976 Carl Albert, U.S. Congressman, Oklahoma, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., March 12, 1976 Emanuel Celler, former U.S. Congressman, New York, New York City, August 12, 1976 Thomas Eagleton, U.S. Senator, Missouri, New York City, July 14, 1976 Charles Shaffer, attorney, Rockville, Maryland, New York City, July 9, 1976 Richard Kleindienst, former Attorney General of the United States, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1976 Herbert J. Miller, Jr., attorney, Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., August 10, 1976 Joseph Califano, attorney, Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., June 8, 1976 Cesar Chavez, organizer, United Farm Workers, Keene, California, June 27, 1976 Ronald Reagan, former Governor, California, Orlando, Florida, March 4, 1976 Walter Annenberg, publisher, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Radnor, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1976 Edmund Muskie, U.S. Senator, Maine, Washington, D.C., March 1, 1976 Eugene McCarthy, former U.S. Senator, Minnesota, Washington, D.C., March 2, 1976 Bella Abzug, U.S. Congresswoman, New York, New York City, June 19, 1976 Melvin Laird, former Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., June 8, 1976 George Bush, Director, CIA, Langley, Virginia, March 2, 1976 James Angleton, former Chief of Counterintelligence, CIA, Arlington, Virginia, July 8, 1976 Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., May 7, 1976 Elliot Richardson, Secretary of Commerce, Washington, D.C., May 4, 1976 Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady, McLean, Virginia, August 24, 1976 Jules Stein, founder, Music Corporation of America, New York City, May 28, 1976 Shirley Chisholm, U.S. Congresswoman, New York, New York City, July 12, 1976 George McGovern, U.S. Senator, South Dakota, Washington, D.C., March 1, 1976 W. Mark Felt, former Associate Director, FBI, Fairfax, Virginia, July 8, 1976 Rose Mary Woods, secretary, Washington, D.C., July 30, 1975 Arthur Burns, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., May 4, 1976 William Simon, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D.C., May 4, 1976 Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1976 Benjamin Bailar, Postmaster General of the United States, Washington, D.C., July 8, 1976 Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, Washington, D.C., June 8, 1976 Clark Clifford, attorney, Washington, D.C., August 10, 1976 Cyrus Vance, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Rockefeller Foundation, New York City, August 20, 1976 Hyman Rickover, Deputy Commander for Nuclear Propulsion, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1976 I. F. Stone, journalist, Washington, D.C., July 8, 1976 Peter Rozelle, Commissioner, National Football League, New York City, July 7, 1976 Edward Wilson, Chairman of the Board, J. Walter Thompson, New York City, April 16, 1976 Daniel Boorstin, Librarian of Congress, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1976 A. M. Rosenthal, Managing Editor, New York Times, New York City, August 20, 1976 Felix Rohatyn, Chairman, Municipal Assistance Corporation, New York City, April 15, 1976 Daniel Patrick Moynihan, former U.S. Representative to the United Nations, New York City, July 12, 1976 Roger Baldwin, founder, American Civil Liberties Union, New York City, June 2, 1976 William Paley, Chairman of the Board, CBS, New York City, April 13, 1976 Edward Kennedy, U.S. Senator, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., July 29, 1976 Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, mother of President John F. Kennedy, Hyannisport, Massachusetts, September 2, 1976 Joint Chiefs of Staff. Left to right: General Fred C. Weyand, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Admiral James L. Holloway, Chief of Naval Operations; General George Brown, Chairman, U.S. Air Force; General David Jones, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; General Lou George Wallace, Governor, Alabama, Ocala, Florida, March 5, 1976	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2245
__label__wiki	0.682813	0.682813	New program aims to educate future leaders in disability care Dana Trismen Section: Front Page, News Thursday afternoon, Brandeis announced a significant new program, one that is designed to make Brandeis a forerunner in preparing students to become leaders in disability-related fields. The program was made possible by a $450,000 grant, donated by the Ruderman Family Foundation. These funds have created the Ruderman Social Justice Scholars in Disability, and will provide for scholarships, new Brandeis courses and stipends for internships and research assistants. The scholarship can also only be awarded to a Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP) major and will include 15 scholars over a period of four years. This semester, the inaugural scholars are Danielle Sackstein ’14 and Ruth Zeilicovich ’14. The Ruderman Family Foundation is a Jewish institution, one that works in both the United States and Israel. According to a press release issued by Brandeis, “The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community. Guided by our Jewish values, we support effective programs, innovative partnerships and a dynamic approach to philanthropy in our core areas of interest: advocating for and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the Jewish community; fostering a more nuanced understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders; and modeling the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide.” The inaugural scholars all hold a strong passion for working with people with disabilities. Sackstein is a longtime member of Brandeis Buddies, a Waltham Group program that works with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also worked at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Partners Health Care. She became an activist for policy reform, attempting to help a woman who had lost access to medical files about her disabled son. “I applied to the Ruderman Scholarship because I want to further my understanding of the challenges that people with disabilities face in their access to health care services and information, and also because I want to investigate the ways in which policies and procedures are being implemented to positively address these challenges,” said Sackstein, in the formal essay she wrote to apply for the scholarship. Sackstein was very excited to hear she had become a Ruderman Scholar. “The scholarship comes with a stipend, but the most rewarding aspect of the Ruderman Scholarship is the mentored research and truly experiential learning that accompanies the award,” she said in an interview with The Hoot. After graduation, Sackstein plans to continue working on improving the health care system. “I plan to pursue a career in health care quality and process improvement, with a particular focus on patient-centered care. I believe that patient empowerment and engagement is critical to the success of the American healthcare system,” she said. The other scholar selected this semester, Zeilicovich, has focused on a specific aspect of the umbrella term that is “disability.” “My personal passion is in the mental health field and the disabilities that those suffering from these disorders and their families have to face,” Zeilicovich said in an interview with The Hoot this week. “They have really been neglected by the health care system. I spent this past summer interning at the HaSharon Hospital in Petakch Tikvah, Israel, where I worked with the Department of Social Work. During this time I had direct contact with those who suffer from disabilities and worked to make sure that they would not be neglected by the health system.” After hearing she was one of this semester’s scholars, Zeilicovich reports feeling shocked and honored that she was chosen for this competitive award. “I was also really excited and ready to start learning about how I could personally make a difference in the world,” she said. Zeilicovich also spoke about her responsibility as a scholar. “Danielle and I are responsible for the creation of an intervention to encourage the caregivers of women with intellectual disabilities to get their clients screened [via mammogram and pap test]. The intervention will educate caregivers on breast and cervical cancer, and it will focus on how to stand up to doctors … The intervention will tell caregivers that [disabled] women are in fact eligible, they are covered through Medicaid, and it will teach them how to be advocates. The program will be free for all, and we are going to partner with the ARC of the United States,” she said. In addition to naming these two scholars, Brandeis also announced two faculty contacts. Sara Shostak, associate professor of sociology and chair of the HSSP program, along with Susan L. Parish, the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Disability Police and the director of the Lurie Institution for Disability Policy, will oversee the program. “Professor Parish and I are responsible for selecting scholars, helping to place scholars in internships in organizations working in the disability field and providing them with an opportunity to be mentored in research projects focused on disability issues,” said Shostak in an interview. “I’m also very excited that this program includes support for two new courses … my other role is to help guide these new courses through the development and approval process.” These new course offerings are a way that the Ruderman grant will affect all students, regardless of whether or not they receive the scholarship. “The new courses on disability being established with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation’s gift will be open to the student body. So, the grant directly benefits all students at Brandeis who are interested in issues of disability and inclusion, as well as the students selected to be scholars,” Shostak said. When asked why this grant is such an honor for Brandeis, Parish responded that the partnership between Brandeis and the Ruderman family is very significant. “As two major institutions within the Jewish community dedicated to the concept of Tikkun Olam—healing the world—it is especially meaningful for Brandeis and the Ruderman Family Foundation to partner on this project, because it speaks to our shared mission to improve society. Disability inclusion is a vital aspect of creating and maintaining an open and just society. However, few universities provide courses and out-of-classroom experiences to undergraduate students in this area. This new funding support … enables Brandeis to do just that,” she said in an interview with The Hoot this week. Zeilicovich also believes this grant is huge achievement for Brandeis. “It continues to put Brandeis on the top of the list for disability research. In my eyes, Brandeis and social justice are synonyms and this program is just another example of that,” she said. Sackstein has words of advice for people interested in applying for this award in the future. “Know that this is a truly hands-on, experiential opportunity. You will have the unique ability to work alongside leaders in the field of disability policy and play an instrumental role in designing and implementing interventions that serve to improve the lives of people with disabilities. A strong candidate is compassionate, open-minded and demonstrates a desire to create a more inclusive society,” she said.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2249
__label__wiki	0.765387	0.765387	Home School News Pirates! The Musical Performed at Woodland Elementary Pirates! The Musical Performed at Woodland Elementary Pirates! The Musical Performed at Woodland Elementary School NewsTop Stories Photo: Pirates! The Musical was performed by the students of the Woodland Elementary Music Club on April 13th. The costumes and set were funded and created entirely by the parents and family members of the performers. Over $300 was raised from ticket and baked good sales, all of which will go to future productions. “Art is fundamental, unique to each of us… Even in difficult economic times - especially in difficult economic times - the arts are essential,” said award-winning writer Maria Shriver, speaking in favor of the importance of embracing the arts and creativity. Despite the oft-recognized relationship between the arts and the development of well-rounded individuals, it is frequently the arts budget in a school system that gets targeted first when shortfalls are present. At Woodland Elementary, a group of parents and teachers circumvented this lack of funding to organize Pirates! The Musical – performed entirely by the students in the Woodland Elementary Music Club on April 13th. The Woodland Elementary Music Club has been meeting every Monday after school for the past few months under the guidance of music teacher Christine Sawtelle, who volunteers her time to the club. The students were interested in putting on a performance, but the club had no budget to speak of. Several parents came forward to offer assistance, and the possibility of performing Pirates! soon became a reality. Trina Nielsen designed the set and she and Elaine Newman did all of the costuming. Other parents pitched in to build the set and contribute wherever they could. Knowing that more funds would be needed in the future to hold other productions, the parents opted to charge $2.00 for admission to the musical. Dozens upon dozens of baked goods were made for the event by parents, grandparents, teachers, and the principal of the school, all of which were sold for $0.25 each. By the end of the night, the production raised over $300 to put towards the students’ next effort. “It was great. The kids had a really great time,” said parent Tara Peterson. The audience was filled with delighted spectators, many of whom were friends and family members of the performers. The cast of the musical was as follows: King of the High "Cs": Cassie Carter; Stow Away: Cameron Roderick; Blue Beard: Paige Gagner; White Beard: Onyx Trott-Newman; Purple Beard: Maygin Steadman; Red Beard: Hudson DePriest; Green Beard: Lily Connolly; Brown Beard: Ariana Niles-Cowell; and the Prisoners: Desiree Ouellette, Autumn Honas, Shantel Campbell, Chloe Hoyt, and Garrett Clark.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2250
__label__wiki	0.750629	0.750629	LP: Childbirth - Women's Rights Childbirth hilariously flips the script on the addictive Women's Rights. They were otherworldly apparitions, sporting sunglasses and draped in pale blue hospital gowns. The words “Cool Slut”, “Cool Mom” and “Cool Dad” were scrawled in Sharpie on their hands. The concert was crowded. Even while I was standing on the tips of my toes, it was difficult to see the band in full. Hovering between the stage and me were a gaggle of high school boys. They were clad in Urban Outfitters ironic bro-tanks™ and backwards hats, and they heckled between each song. During a break in the music, a boy shouted “Hey! You’re hot. Play some Nirvana!” Lead singer and guitarist Julia Shapiro was unperturbed. She smiled and responded nonchalantly “fuck you” and continued playing, uninterrupted by the boisterous bros. Seattle-based band Childbirth consists of Julia Shapiro on lead vocals and guitar, Bree McKenna on bass and vocals, and Stacy Peck on drums. They could be considered a "supergroup" as Shapiro is also in Chastity Belt, McKenna is in Tacocat, and Peck is in Pony Time. While all of these bands dabble in feminist topics (see Chastity Belt’s “Cool Slut,” Tacocat’s “Hey Girl” and Pony Time’s ode to Kathleen Hanna) Childbirth takes a humorous, yet political, approach to contemporary women’s issues. Childbirth’s new LP Women’s Rights was released by on Suicide Squeeze earlier in October. One immediate standout is the comical "Tech Bro". It opens with an addictive guitar riff and Peck’s bubbling drums. Shapiro wails, “Tech Bro Tech Bro/ Take me to your condo” and “I’ll let you explain feminism to me/ Tech Bro Tech Bro, if I can use your HD TV.” With the recent exponential expansion of Amazon in Seattle, many neighborhoods have been transformed into cookie-cutter condo complexes. The Capitol Hill neighborhood, an area that has housed numerous creatives and was the epicenter of Seattle’s queer community, is now the Amazonian empire’s “condo paradise,” riddled with $12 pressed juices, bro bars, and glistening new condominiums for the wealthy tech bros. Childbirth also takes jabs at the stereotypical twenty-something dude’s profile on Tinder. "Siri, Open Tinder" begins with McKenna’s upbeat bass line and soon follows with a cadence of crunchy guitar chords. Shapiro sings repeatedly on the chorus, “Siri, Open Tinder” with various descriptions of various Tinder profiles (“Chacos / Swipe Left!” and “Married Couple / Swipe Right!”). A final hilarious track is “Breast Coast (Hangin’ Out)", a parody of the beachy, boy-centric surf rock songs that are about unattainable men. Shapiro jokes, “Hangin’ out, with my boyfriend / I like him ‘cause he’s hot.” Throughout their album, Childbirth subverts the typical narrative of women in punk. They create the image of a woman who is her own agent. She is a bundle of contradictions: lackadaisical, independent and farcically feminist with an “I don’t care” punk attitude. Nonetheless, their message is important. Within the past two years, Seattle has changed immensely. The growth of Amazon has molded many neighborhoods and has quickened the pace of the shifting climate of the city. Nonetheless, there has been an upsurge in feminist activism, art and music (Seattle is home to activists and writers such as Lindy West, Ijeoma Oluo and the #ShoutYourAbortion campaign, as well as many feminist-focused bands). Growing up in Seattle, as a young, queer feminist, I was continually enlivened by the work of artists, activists, writers and musicians in my city. I hope that these movements, both political and artistic, continue to grow and to inspire other young people to question, challenge, and create…as well as have a good time. Listen to Childbirth on bandcamp. Emma May is a sophomore at Barnard College studying Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She likes pop punk, comics, and Haribo.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2252
__label__cc	0.720195	0.279805	Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. Todd Rundgren: The Individualist Tour Cleopatra Records is pleased to announce the release of The Individualist: digressions, dreams and dissertations, by legendary songwriter, musician, interactive artist, producer and nominee for the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame, Todd Rundgren on December 21. Rundgren pens his first ever autobiography reflecting on both his phenomenal career as well as his rollercoaster of a personal life with pages of recollections, structured into bite-sized single-page three-paragraph chapters, about encounters with rock royalty including Janis Joplin, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Patti Smith, The NY Dolls, and Meat Loaf along with numerous photos never before published. In conjunction with the release, Rundgren will be embarking on the world’s first hybrid concert/book tour this coming spring, highlighting both hits and “deep tracks” spanning his 50- year career, which will include shows in North America, the UK, Europe, and Japan. Consistent with his history of innovation, Todd writes in the introduction to his book: “So in order to get myself and the reader through this process with a minimum of chaos, the book will take on the form of this page: [paragraph #1] a recollection of something that I witnessed, [paragraph #2] a subjective assessment of my state of mind in either experiencing or remembering the episode (or a haphazard combination of both), and as in this 3rd paragraph, a conclusion, a statement of plain facts or simply soap-box proselytizing. I suggest scanning the book in whatever manner one’s taste and temperament dictate.” Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front Nazz, the quintessential `60's psychedelic group. In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, Runt. But it was 1972's seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him 'Rock's New Wunderkind'. It was followed by such landmark LPs as The Hermit of Mink Hollow and A Wizard, A True Star, as well as such hit singles as I Saw The Light, Hello It's Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and Bang The Drum. A&G Dance Academy Presents "Here, There and Everywhere!" Sun, June 02, 04:00 pm Brucie Klay's 2019 Dance Recital 'Anything Goes' Fri, June 07, 07:00 pm iCon Dance Inc: The Power Play '19 Karl & DiMarco North presents Live. Love. Dream Sat, June 15, 12:00 pm Karl & DiMarco South presents Live. Love. Dream The Mighty O.A.R. Summer Tour 2019 with American Authors Wed, June 19, 07:00 pm Thu, June 20, 07:30 pm Tedeschi Trucks Band: Wheels of Soul Tour	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2253
__label__wiki	0.937165	0.937165	U.S. Wins Gold with Back Nine Birdie Blitz November 2nd 2013 - TRINITY, Texas—The U.S. Men saved their best for last. After a slow start, reigning U.S. Junior Amateur champion Scottie Scheffler punctuated the final round at the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship with six birdies on the back nine to bring home gold for the U.S. Team. Scheffler and teammate Jordan Niebrugge combined to shoot 7-under-par 29 on the final nine holes to hold off France in the International Team division of the unique biennial tournament that features five separate competitions at once. The U.S. Team finished the weather-shortened event at 33-under 399 for 54 holes. It’s the third consecutive gold medal for the U.S. in the overall team division and the fourth since The Spirit’s inception in 2001. France closed fast Saturday to win the silver medal at 27-under 405. Malaysia took the bronze with a score of 25-under 407. Heavy rains on Wednesday and Thursday washed out one round and scaled back to championship to 54 holes. "It feels great,” said Scheffler. "We were really struggling in the morning, but some putts started dropping. That really freed up the rest of our games and allowed us to play aggressively. To win gold here means a lot. It’s what we set out to do.” The U.S. also won gold in the Men’s Team division; Scheffler and Niebrugge finished 22-under par for the championship. Finland and Sweden tied for the silver at 16-under. A pair of 15-year-olds won the Women’s Team gold medal for France, upsetting the highly decorated U.S. duo of Mississippi State junior Ally McDonald and Clemson freshman Ashlan Ramsey. Behind their braces and hair bows, Mathilda Cappeliez and Eva Gilley proved to be worthy champions by combining to shoot 12-under par for the 54 holes. Ramsey, the 2013 Women’s Western Amateur champion, and McDonald, the 2013 North/South Amateur champion, made a double bogey on the final hole to post 11-under. Malaysia and South Africa shared the bronze medal at 10-under. "We are so excited,” Cappeliez said. "We’re only 15 years old, so we don’t have much experience. We just wanted to come here, have fun and enjoy the experience. Winning the gold is beyond our expectations.” Their teammate Julien Brun had a lofty goal and reached it. For the first time at The Spirit, the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial awarded a sponsor’s exemption to the Men’s Individual champion. Brun, who plays college golf at TCU in Fort Worth where the Colonial is played, made no secret about his aspirations for the week at Whispering Pines. "I was thinking about the Colonial exemption on the first hole of the first day,” he said. "It was hard not to think about it.” Brun won a five-man playoff with a two-putt par on the third extra hole to win the spot in next year’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Finland’s Tony Hakula, who won a 2012 NCAA national championship with Texas, Sweden’s Daniel Jennevret and both U.S. players totaled 14 strokes under par for the week to qualify for the playoff. "The Colonial is right in our backyard,” Brun said. "They use our parking lot during the tournament. I get to play there once a week, and this sponsor’s exemption is something I’ve been talking about since they told us about it. I’m really excited about it.” Canada’s Brooke Henderson, a 2011 Spirit alumna, won Women’s Individual gold medal. The 16 year old from Ontario totaled 13 strokes under par for the week. Henderson held off Cappeliez, who won silver with 12 strokes under par, as well as South Africa’s Kim Williams and Japan’s Yumi Matsubara, who tied for bronze with 11 shots under par. "I was definitely aiming for the gold, but I really was trying to help my team the most,” said Henderson, who this year won the Canadian Women’s Amateur and Canadian Women’s Open professional event. "This is one of my absolute favorite tournaments. I’ve wanted to come back ever since I was here two years ago.” The U.S. Team stormed out to a six-shot lead after the first round in the International Team division. Before the Americans could run away and hide in the second round, however, teams such as Malaysia, France and South Africa turned in strong performances to keep the U.S. Team within reach. Headed into the final round, the U.S. Team held a two-shot lead over Malaysia. France was four shots back. McDonald on Saturday made three birdies on the opening nine to pace the U.S., but Scheffler and Niebrugge only managed one stroke under par before the turn. Scheffler, in particular, was laboring. Before reaching the 10th hole, he had made only four birdies in the previous 36 holes. Then Scheffler dropped a birdie on the 10th hole. Then he birdied the 11th. Both Scheffler and Niebrugge made birdies on the par-5 12th and par-4 14th. Niebrugge dropped a 15-foot birdie on the short par-3 15th, then Scheffler added another birdie when he cozied in a 10-foot putt on the par-3 16th. Both U.S. Men got up and down from awkward lies to add another birdie on the par-5 17th. "We knew the boys had that kind of run in them,” Ramsey said of her teammates. "They’re both great player and even better people. Ally and I wish he had played better, but this is a team event and that’s what teammates are for. We’re thrilled to win the gold. Scottie and Jordan got it done for us.” For U.S. Team captain Paige MacKenzie, her team’s success was a measure of redemption. MacKenzie, an LPGA Tour veteran, played in the 2005 Spirit and came away with a silver medal in the International Team division. "I wanted to win the gold this week badly because I didn’t win gold when I played here,” she said. "Mostly I’m just happy for my team, though. I was really nervous. I know I was more nervous than the players, and I think I was more nervous than their parents.” The Spirit Golf Association, a 501© (3) charitable organization, is responsible for the Whispering Pines membership program and tournament management of The Spirit International. The Texas Golf Association is the governing association for The Spirit International competition. For more information on The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship, please contact Tournament Director Eric Fredricksen at 281-298-2664 or efredricksen@spiritgolf.org. For more information, visit The Spirit International website at www.thespiritgolf.com.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2256
__label__wiki	0.59724	0.59724	Professor Emeritus, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Toronto Statistical Advisor to Thomson Data Analysis David Andrews is a distinguished and experienced statistician. His academic career spans teaching appointments at Imperial College London, medical Princeton University, University of Chicago, and University of Toronto, where he rose to be Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Director of Statistical Consulting, both in Statistics and in Biostatistics. In this latter activity, he was responsible for the statistical design and analysis of numerous university research projects. He is an author of three books and 68 refereed journal articles. In addition to his academic work, Professor Andrews has served others with invariably successful advice on the design and analysis of studies, including ones for Medical Review Committee (Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons), Ontario College of Optometrists, USAir Pilots Association, a class action suit involving credit cards issued by a major bank, a suit involving a malfunctioning telecommunications satellite, and many other legal and related proceedings. Since 1974, he has set the standard for timely and accurate election night projections. In recognition of his research and expertise, Professor Andrews was elected President of the Statistical Society of Canada, Fellow of the American Statistical Association, and Member of the International Statistical Institute. He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Statistical Society of Canada and appointed for fourteen years to the Advisory Committee on Statistical Methods at Statistics Canada. He is currently the statistical advisor for Thomson Data Analysis, where he has been involved in most of the projects described elsewhere in this site. For more details, please click here.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2258
__label__wiki	0.780876	0.780876	Nate May Nate May is a composer, pianist, and educator active in diverse realms of music. His compositional output has included work in classical genres, jazz, and fixed media. His collaborations have included many works for dance (Wanjiru Kamuyu, Inae Chung, Jessica Bonenfant, and Jamie Johnson), music for an original production by Jeff Daniels (The Meaning of Almost Everything), for poetry performance (Mannini Mokhothu with Antjie Krog), and for film (Christopher E. Tucker, Ashley Harrison, and Mitchell Axelrad). He is currently composing a commission for the Aurea Silva Trio, to be premiered and recorded in 2014. As a pianist he has toured and recorded with the jazz quintet Baby Houdini and has worked extensively with dancers. As a staff accompanist in the dance departments of the University of Michigan and the Interlochen Arts Camp, he has had the opportunity to play for classes given by many major dance companies, including the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Lucinda Childs Dance, and Mark Morris Dance Group. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Jazz and Contemplative Studies from the University of Michigan, where his teachers included Geri Allen (jazz piano) andStephen Rush (composition). During his undergraduate study, he spent a year in Cape Town, South Africa, studying jazz and African music and producing the album Kalahari Waits for indigenous poetry and improvised music trio Khoi Khonnexion. His studies have also brought him to Mysore, India, where he spent three weeks in 2011 learning Carnatic voice and mridangam. In 2013 he has seen the mounting of his sound installation “MORE THAN JUST” at the EMP gallery in Baltimore, the premiere of his soundscore to Wanjiru Kamuyu’s 35-minute dance work “Spiral” in Philadelphia (with subsequent performances in New York, Detroit, and Pittsburgh), and the premiere of his 40-minute monodrama, “Dust in the Bottomland” in Huntington, West Virginia. “Dust in the Bottomland,” for which Nate wrote the text and music and plays piano, has awakened his interest in the contemporary culture of his home region, central Appalachia, leading to his relocation to Fayetteville, WV in August 2013. The piece, sung by Andrew Munn, bass, has had performances in and around central Appalachia, and more scheduled beyond the region. (c) 2019 WKCollective. All rights reserved. Web Design by JessicaPaz	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2263
__label__wiki	0.749745	0.749745	FILE - In this March 15, 2005 file photo, Pop star Michael Jackson leaves the Santa Barbara County Courthouse with his father, Joe, in Santa Maria, Calif., following a day of testimony in Jackson's trial on charges of child molestation. Joe Jackson, the patriarch of America's most famous musical clan has died, says a family source on Wednesday, June 27. He was 89. (AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant, File) Reaction to death of Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson Reaction to the death of Joseph Jackson, the patriarch of musical Jackson family, who died Wednesday at age 89. "I will always love you! You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world. I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared. #RIP Joe Jackson," La Toya Jackson wrote on Twitter. "Disgusted by some of the comments I'm reading about my grandpa Joe by those who didn't even know him. Please don't just regurgitate what you were spoon fed by the press. Joe was loved by our ENTIRE family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve without the nastiness.#ripthehawk," tweeted Taj Jackson, the son of Tito Jackson. "I remember back when he brought his talented kids to Motown. I could see that they were well disciplined, and that he and his wife, Katherine, had instilled in them a very strong work ethic. Without Joe 's early commitment to his family, the world may have never experienced the musical gift of the Jackson 5 and the world's greatest entertainer, Michael Jackson," Motown founder Barry Gordy wrote in a statement. "Joe Jackson, brother beloved, patriarch & creator of one of the most talented American musical dynasties. We will remember him as long as his family's music plays. Offering prayers and condolences to the Jackson family. #RIP #NeverCanSayGoodbye #JoeJackson," Rev. Jesse Jackson posted on Twitter. "R.I.P. joe Jackson the legend we will never forget," rapper and Oscar-winning songwriter Juicy J tweeted. "#JoeJackson passed at 89 as the patriarch of a family that has mainstreamed our culture. He was never given the credit he deserved. He influenced the world of music with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and others. May history correct his legacy," tweeted the Rev. Al Sharpton. "I worked with Joe Jackson both on some of our Michael Jackson appearances, and equally with Janet when we brought her to FAME to play Cleo in 1984. With Janet, both he and Katharine spent a great deal of time on the FAME set with us and what struck me was the love and pride they had in all of their kids, but particularly Michael and Janet," Ken Ehrlich, who produces the Grammys and other TV specials, said in a statement. "Joe was always pretty clear on what he wanted, and what he wanted wasn't always easy to deliver, but certainly appreciated his directness, and learned a lot from him. Although he and Michael will always be linked in my mind, he was the patriarch of one of music's true dynasties, and he will be missed. My thoughts go out to the entire Jackson family."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2265
__label__cc	0.622916	0.377084	No, ‘Step Brothers 2’ Isn’t Happening So Stop Asking John C. Reilly John C. Reilly has a handful of exciting, original projects on the way. He plays a hired gun opposite Joaquin Phoenix in his next film, The Sisters Brothers, an inventive take on the western from French filmmaker Jacques Audiard. This December he’ll be the Dr. Watson to Will Ferrell’s Sherlock in the upcoming detective spoof. He’s also portraying one half of Laurel and Hardy with Steve Coogan. And he’s got that A24 astronaut comedy series, Moonbase 8. But still, as exciting as all of that is, most of us want to know to one thing: Is Step Brothers 2 ever going to happen? To find out, I asked him. Actually, I was pretty much the millionth person of the day to ask him. During an interview in New York City on Monday, I sat down with Reilly to chat about The Sisters Brothers, which premieres at the Toronto Film Festival next month. After chatting about the western, I slipped in one final, very crucial question. Are Dale and Brennan ever returning to the screen? Actually, I didn’t even get to ask the question; I merely said the words “Step Brothers 2” and Reilly immediately interjected: This is everyone’s last question today. Literally every single person! There’s no Step Brothers 2. It’s not on the table. I would love to do it, we’ve talked about it, we have some great ideas for the sequel, but it’s not everyone’s first move to want to do a sequel. Most people like Will and Adam and I, we’re trying to do new stuff. We’re trying to find the next Step Brothers. That said, I really appreciate all the love people have for that movie. And I think we pulled it off in a way that we were all really proud of. I would definitely consider it, but you know, Adam has gone off and started to do really interesting dramatic things. I’m not sure what’s gonna happen, but it’s literally the million dollar question today. So no, despite rumors over the last several years that a sequel to the 2008 comedy was on the way, it isn’t. Reilly’s comments aren’t all that surprising, and Ferrell echoed as much when he told the Daily News last year that there weren’t current plans to get back together for a second film. But Ferrell did share one amazing idea he had for Step Brothers 2, should it ever get made one day: Brennan and Dale try to live in their parents’ retirement community. Hell yes, I want that movie. We all want that movie, so of course I was one of many people quizzing Reilly about it. But I get it, and Reilly’s reluctance to leap into a sequel makes sense. He’s clearly focused on developing original material and tackling a variety of roles, from comedies to dramas, westerns to animated Disney flicks (apparently Wreck-It Ralph is his sequel exception). And hey, who could complain that guys as talented as Reilly, Ferrell and Adam McKay actually want to create original projects instead of churning out sequels like the rest of the industry. As the highest grossing movies this summer have shown, we certainly have no shortage of sequels. So maybe it’s a good thing that right now we’re getting new and exciting things from the trio. There will always be time for Step Brothers 2. Maybe Reilly and Ferrell will be old enough to actually join a retirement community by the time it gets made. And you know what? I’ll still watch it. Stay tuned for my full interview with Reilly about The Sisters Brothers next month. The film hits theaters on September 21. Gallery – Best Comedy Movie Posters: Looking Back at ‘Walk Hard,’ One of the Best Comedies of the 2000s Source: No, ‘Step Brothers 2’ Isn’t Happening So Stop Asking John C. Reilly Filed Under: john c reilly, will ferrell	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2266
__label__wiki	0.935175	0.935175	Although the constitution declares the country to be a secular democracy and presidential republic, it is an authoritarian state of approximately five million that was dominated by President-for-life Saparmyrat Niyazov until his death in December 2006. The Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) selected six candidates for the February 11 presidential election, all from the Democratic Party, the country's only political party. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov won in elections that did not meet international standards. The civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces. Although there were modest improvements, the government continued to commit serious abuses, and its human rights record remained poor. Authorities continued to severely restrict political and civil liberties. Human rights problems included: citizens' inability to change their government; torture and mistreatment of detainees; incommunicado and prolonged detention; arbitrary arrest and detention; house arrest; denial of due process and a fair trial; arbitrary interference with privacy, home, and correspondence; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association; restrictions on religious freedom, including continued harassment of some religious minority group members; restrictions on freedom of movement for some citizens; violence against women; and restrictions on free association of workers. Documentation of abuses was very limited. The government initiated a broad effort to revise a variety of national laws to bring them into conformity with relevant international conventions. Other measured improvements in human rights included: the registration of two evangelical Christian groups; the pardoning of at least 22 prisoners of interest to the international community, some of whom were associated with the 2002 attack on President Niyazov's motorcade; removal of external travel restrictions for at least four citizens; elimination of restrictions on internal movement for citizens; reinstatement of a 10th year of mandatory schooling; and establishment of a government commission tasked with bringing Turkmenistan's practices in line with commitments in international human rights covenants. There were no reliable reports that the government or its agents committed any politically motivated killings; however, there were several reports of citizens dying under suspicious circumstances during detention. A family member of an allegedly drunk suspect who died while in police custody in Mary claimed evidence existed of physical abuse on the corpse. In June a person died in an Ashgabat detention center while awaiting an appeal decision. While there was no evidence of mistreatment, his wife claimed that the court knew he had a serious medical condition but denied him medical treatment. Human rights observers who had not heard news of prisoners of concern for some time frequently assumed that they died in prison. Human rights observers reported that in December 2006, just after the death of former President Niyazov, prison guards used military force to suppress a riot and killed 23 prisoners at Ovadan-Depe. There were no developments in the September 2006 suspicious death in custody of journalist Ogulsapar Myradova. The government did not carry out a transparent investigation into the causes of Myradova's death, as urged by the international community. The constitution and law prohibit such practices; however, security officials tortured, routinely beat, and used excessive force against criminal suspects, prisoners, and individuals critical of the government, particularly in detention while seeking a confession. There were reports of individuals convicted of complicity in the 2002 attack being tortured, although there was also one report that this torture ceased following Niyazov's death. The Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation claimed that the government tortured Ogulsapar Myradova, Annakurban Amanklichev, and Sapardurdy Hajiyev during detention in 2006 to extract confessions. All three were subsequently sentenced to prison. Myradova died in September 2006 while imprisoned; Amanklichev and Hajiyev remained in prison. Authorities continued to detain persons in psychiatric hospitals as punishment. In July police arrested a Jehovah's Witnesses member for refusing military service and detained him in a psychiatric hospital. Authorities released him four weeks later after international organizations and the diplomatic community expressed interest in his case. While there were no known reports during the year of specific hazing incidents, according to the Memorial Human Rights Center and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, hazing of military conscripts remained a problem and led to cases of desertion from units where conditions were particularly difficult. According to a 2006 report, corruption within the defense ministry and draft commissions, tribal- and ethnicity-based rivalries, and disregard for the rights of soldiers led to an increasing number of deaths caused by brutal treatment meted out by soldiers on fellow conscripts. Regular military units continued to be used as unpaid manual labor working in fields, hospitals, factories, and construction. Prison conditions were poor; prisons were unsanitary, overcrowded, unsafe, and posed a threat to life. Disease, particularly tuberculosis (TB), was rampant. There continued to be concerns that the government did not adequately test and treat prisoners with TB before they were released into the general population, although the government reportedly screened prisoners for TB, among other diseases, and transferred prisoners diagnosed with TB to a special Ministry of Interior hospital in Mary Province for treatment. Nutrition was poor, and prisoners depended on relatives to supplement inadequate food supplies; there were also reports that prison officials sometimes confiscated these food parcels. Although prisoners convicted for treason were unable to receive supplies from relatives, there was one report that individuals convicted of complicity in the 2002 attack were given supplemental food packages for the first time since they were imprisoned. Family members and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) claimed some prisoners died due to the combination of overcrowding, untreated illnesses, and lack of adequate protection from the summer heat. Sources familiar with prison conditions at Owadan Depe Prison reported that former high-level officials continued to be denied proper medical treatment and suffered beatings and verbal intimidation to coerce confessions. The government did not investigate the June 2006 death in custody of former Lebap provincial governor Geday Ahmedov, who reportedly died due to a lack of medical care. The government did not investigate the 2006 likely death in prison of former Prosecutor General Gurbanbibi Atajanova. There were three types of incarceration facilities: educational-labor colonies, correctional-labor colonies, and prisons. In the correctional-labor colonies, relatives of prisoners reported excessive periods of prisoner isolation. There were reports that prisoners were forced to work under hazardous and unhealthy conditions in a kaolin mine in Gyzylgaya Prison, near Dashoguz. Authorities held prisoners connected with the 2002 attack separately at the Owadan Depe Prison. Government officials refused to respond to inquiries from family members and diplomats about political prisoners' location or condition. Government officials also refused to permit family members, foreign diplomats, or international observers, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), access to detainees or prisoners associated with the 2002 attack. During the year the ICRC did not conduct any prison visits, due to unacceptable government limitations on visiting certain types of prisons and prisoners. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention; however, they remained serious problems. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) directs the criminal police, who works closely with the Ministry of National Security (MNB) on matters of national security. The MNB controls personnel changes in other ministries and enforces presidential decrees. Both the MNB and criminal police operated with impunity. Corruption existed in the security forces. In February President Berdimuhamedov created a presidential commission, led by the Chairman of the Supreme Court, to review citizens' complaints of abuse, including unfair treatment, efforts to take bribes, and unjustified arrests and prosecutions, by law enforcement agencies. At year’s end, however, there were no cases in which the commission investigated allegations of abuse and held members of the security forces accountable. The commission only reviewed three cases that led to further review by the Supreme Court and reductions of sentence. In July the president publicly fired and later arrested the Chairman of the Supreme Court, in part for his failure to ensure that cases coming from the commission were properly reviewed. In October the president fired the minister of internal affairs, reportedly because of an alleged doubling of cases involving ministry corruption and abuse under review by the commission. A warrant was not required for arrest. Authorities could detain individuals for 72 hours without a formal arrest warrant but legally had to issue a formal bill of indictment within 10 days of arrest to hold detainees longer. However, authorities did not adhere to these provisions in practice. The chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, a position held by the president, had sole authority for approving arrest warrants. There was no bail system. Detainees were entitled to immediate access to an attorney once a bill of indictment was issued, and they were able to choose their counsel. However, in practice they did not have prompt or regular access to legal counsel. In some cases legal counsel ceased advising their clients after government officials altered the charges or case details initially provided to defendants. Incommunicado detention was a problem. Authorities denied some prisoners visits by family members during the year. Families sometimes did not know the whereabouts of imprisoned relatives. The law characterizes any opposition to the government as an act of treason. Those convicted of treason faced life imprisonment and were ineligible for amnesty or reduction of sentence. Unlike in previous years, there were no known treason convictions. The government arrested those expressing critical or differing views on economic or criminal charges. Pretrial detention could legally last no longer than two months, except for exceptional cases that may be extended to one year. In practice pretrial detentions averaged two to three months; authorities often exceeded legal limits. Chronic corruption and cumbersome bureaucratic processes contributed to lengthy trial delays. The government used house arrest without due process to control regime opponents, but unlike in previous years, authorities allowed several citizens under house arrest to meet with foreign diplomats. For example, the government allowed foreign diplomats to meet with Maral Yklymova, under house arrest since 2002 for her suspected involvement in the 2002 attack. In July the authorities allowed her to depart the country. The current status of individuals previously placed under house arrest, including NGO leaders, relatives of those suspected of involvement in the 2002 attack, and some of the 100 individuals prevented from meeting with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2003, was unknown. In April 2006 Gurbandurdy Durdykulyev, detained since February 2004 in a psychiatric hospital for petitioning the government to hold a peaceful demonstration, was released from the hospital under international pressure. Unlike the previous year, Durdykulyev was allowed to leave his home, and he returned to work. While authorities occasionally questioned Jehovah's Witnesses leader Andrey Zhbanov, authorities no longer aggressively harassed and monitored him. The president dismissed numerous ministers and government officials from their positions; they were sometimes sentenced to jail terms, often for valid, although sometimes politically motivated, charges. The government sentencedfive senior government officials to jail terms or put them under house arrest after dismissal;seven more officials were fired from their positions but remained free, or their whereabouts were unknown. On August 9, President Berdimuhamedov pardoned 11 prisoners, including Muslim cleric and former grand mufti Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah and former Justice Minister Yusup Khaitiev, who were jailed for their alleged role in the 2002 attack. After the pardon, the government appointed Ibadullah an advisor to the country's Council on Religious Affairs (CRA). On October 9, the government pardoned more than 8,800 prisoners in connection with the annual Ramadan-associated "Night of Omnipotence" amnesty, including at least 17 additional prisoners of concern. The amnesty included the parents of Arslan Kakaev, the principal suspect in a wire transfer theft of $40 million from the central bank in 2001; they had been imprisoned since 2002 on what observers considered fabricated charges. There were reports of common prisoners' families purchasing amnesty for as much as $3,000, depending on the severity of the crime. It was unknown if amnestied prisoners still had to swear an oath of allegiance to the Ruhnama, former President Niyazov's spiritual guidebook on the country's culture and heritage. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that "The August 2007 presidential pardon of 11 people was a welcome step, though their public statements recognizing their guilt must be assumed to have been a condition for their release." The law provides for an independent judiciary; however, in practice the judiciary was subordinate to the president. There was no legislative review of the president's judicial appointments, except for the chairman (chief justice) of the Supreme Court, whom the parliament nominally reviewed. The president had the sole authority to dismiss all judges before the completion of their terms. The judiciary is widely reputed to be both corrupt and inefficient. The court system consists of a Supreme Court, six provincial courts (including one for Ashgabat), and at the lowest level, 64 district and city courts. Civilian courts, under the authority of the Office of the Prosecutor General, tried criminal offenses committed by members of the armed forces. The law provides due process for defendants, including a public trial, access to accusatory material, the right to call witnesses to testify on their behalf, a defense attorney or a court-appointed lawyer if the defendant cannot afford one, and the right to represent oneself in court. In practice authorities often denied these rights. Defendants frequently did not enjoy a presumption of innocence. There was no jury system. The government permitted foreign observers to attend most nonpolitical trials but closed some trials, especially those it considered to be politically sensitive. There were few independent lawyers available to represent defendants. The courts at times did not allow defendants to confront or question witnesses against them and denied defendants and their attorneys access to government evidence. In some cases courts refused to accept exculpatory evidence provided by defense attorneys, even if that evidence would have changed the outcome of the trial. Even if the courts observed due process rights, the authority of the government prosecutor far exceeded that of the defense attorney, making it very difficult for the defendant to receive a fair trial. Court transcripts were frequently flawed or incomplete, especially when defendants' testimony needed to be translated from Russian to Turkmen. Lower courts' decisions could be appealed, and the defendant could petition the president for clemency. In most cases courts ignored allegations of torture that defendants raised in trial. There were regular reports that police arrested individuals and requested they pay fines for breaking specific laws. However, when asked to see the law, government officials refused or stated that the laws were secret. The government held at least one political prisoner, Mukhametkuli Aimuradov, imprisoned since 1995. Police detained long-time ecologist and environmental activist Andrey Zatoka on charges of disorderly conduct in December 2006 and charged him with possession of weapons and poisonous substances. He received a suspended sentence in January and was pardoned in October. While there was evidence that he broke the law, many NGOs claimed that his arrest was politically motivated. In 2006 the government convicted Annakurban Amanklichev and Sapardurdy Hajiyev of weapons possession in a closed two-hour trial and sentenced them to seven years in prison. Many NGOs maintained that their imprisonment was politically motivated. Opposition groups and some international organizations claimed the government held many political detainees, although the precise number of these individuals--including those convicted of involvement in the 2002 attack--remained unknown. There were reports that the government held approximately 360 individuals in Owadan Depe prison for their perceived political opinions and alleged involvement in the 2002 attack. Human rights observers considered Owadan Depe Prison to have among the worst conditions in the country, and there were reports that prison officials subjected these prisoners to torture and abuse. During the year there were reports that some prisoners accused of economic crimes, including a number of former senior government ministers, may have been moved from Owadan Depe Prison to Bayramaly Prison. Government officials refused to respond to inquiries from family members and diplomats about many prisoners' location or condition. Government officials also refused to permit family members, foreign diplomats, or international observers, including the ICRC, access to detainees or prisoners associated with the 2002 attack. The civil judiciary system was not independent or impartial; the president appointed all judges. There were instances of police investigations that went to court in which plaintiffs could sue defendants. In theory the civil court system functions, but there were reports of bribes to ensure a positive outcome. In cases in which the state had interests regarding an individual citizen, it enforced domestic court orders. The most commonly enforced court orders were eviction notices. The government failed to enforce the law consistently with respect to restitution or compensation for confiscation of private property. The government demolished fewer private homes as part of an urban renewal program in and around Ashgabat. In February President Berdimuhamedov announced that there would be no new housing demolition unless replacement housing was available, and there were no reports this change in government policy was not being enforced. In some 2006 cases, the government required evicted families to pay for removal of the rubble of their destroyed homes, gave persons as little as 48 hours to vacate, and did not provide homeowners with alternative accommodations or compensation. Others were given two weeks' notice to vacate and offered apartments or plots of land in compensation on undeveloped or non-irrigated plots, resulting in the loss of livelihood for some. One large 2006 demolition project in southern Ashgabat involved 500 families. Another 2006 project involved up to 2,000 families, most of whom did not receive compensation. The constitution and law prohibit such actions. However, authorities frequently did not respect these prohibitions in practice. Authorities in some cases forcibly searched the homes of suspected regime opponents and some minority religious group members without authorization of an independent judiciary. The law does not regulate surveillance by the state security apparatus, which regularly monitored the activities of officials, citizens, opponents and critics of the government, and foreigners. Security officials used physical surveillance, telephone tapping, electronic eavesdropping, and informers. The government reportedly intercepted surface mail before delivery, and letter packets and parcels taken to the post office had to remain unsealed for inspection. Noncitizens may marry a citizen only after one year's residency in the country. There were reports of a small number of such marriages. The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and of the press, but the government did not respect these rights in practice. Unlike in previous years, there were no specific reports of persons expressing dissenting views being arrested on false charges of committing common crimes and in some cases being subjected to abuse, harassment, and deprivation, including loss of opportunities for advancement and employment. However, there were reports that law enforcement officials harassed and detained Turkmen journalists working for foreign media outlets, most notably, several of those working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Almost all print media were government financed. Except for the private but government-sanctioned Turkish newspaper Zaman, which reflected the views of the state newspapers, the government banned foreign newspapers. The editorial staffs of the periodicals self-censored the content to not offend the government. A ban on subscription to foreign periodicals continued, although copies of the Russian news journal Argumenti I Fakti and other nonpolitical periodicals appeared occasionally in the bazaars. The government controlled radio and local television, but use of satellite dishes enabling access to foreign television programming was widespread throughout the country. Citizens also received international radio programs through satellite television access. There was no independent oversight of press accreditation, no defined criteria for allocating press cards, no guarantee of receiving accreditation when space was available, and no prohibition on withdrawing accreditation for political reasons. The government required all foreign correspondents to apply for accreditation. Foreign journalists were granted visas only to cover specific events throughout the year, such as the presidential election and summit meetings, where their activities could be monitored. Authorities denied at least two journalists accreditation, but at least three others were able to operate without accreditation. In 2005 authorities deported the last accredited foreign correspondent, Viktor Panov, of the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, on alleged espionage charges. During the year government agents reportedly detained, harassed, and intimidated journalists and their families. In April, according to HRW, the national security service detained an independent journalist, Sona Chuli-Kuli, for three days, during which time she was interrogated and her computer confiscated. She was released after signing a statement that she would not work for the international media. In December local law enforcement authorities began to harass two RFE/RL journalists, telling them to stop working for RFE/RL and threatening harm to their families. National security service representatives asked one journalist to appear for questioning. Harassment of RFE/RL reporter Halmyrat Gylychdurdyev declined somewhat during much of the year but increased again in December. Authorities intermittently monitored his activities, harassed his family, and periodically disconnected his mobile telephone service. In 2006 authorities routinely harassed him and his family for previously writing economic articles unfavorable to the government. In February 2006 national security officers warned RFE/RL stringer Shamyrat Akoyliyev of the unacceptability of his affiliation with RFE/RL. Authorities later cut his telephone line. In June 2006 Akoyliyev was taken off a train traveling from Balkanabat to Ashgabat by Ministry of National Security officers. In March 2006 RFE/RL police arrested stringers Meretmuhammet Hommadov and Jumadurdy Owezov and sentenced them to 15 days' administrative detention for acts of public contempt during a meeting including district-level elders. However, two police officers and guards at the detention facility told Hommadov's wife that he had been arrested for "dealing with foreigners and betraying his country." In August 2006 the authorities charged three journalists, Ogulsapar Myradova, Annakurban Amanklichev, and Sapardurdy Hajiyev, with weapons possession after they received journalism equipment from foreign sources and sentenced them in a closed trial to six to seven years' imprisonment. RFE/RL, the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation, and several other human rights organizations claimed they were charged with criminal activities in order to end their journalism. There was no further information regarding the government's investigation of Amanklichev and Hajiyev on additional charges of espionage and treason, and they remained in jail. In September 2006 Myradova died in police custody, under suspicious circumstances. The OSCE reported that the government did not allow a journalist to travel abroad. RFE/RL associate Ashyrguly Bayryev, arrested in 2004 for smuggling novels into the country, had his sentence suspended and was released. Domestic journalists and foreign news correspondents engaged in self‑censorship due to fear of government reprisal. The government continued to censor newspapers. The government continued to prohibit reporting opposing political views or any criticism of the president. The former editor-in-chief of the state newspaper Esger remained in jail on a 17-year sentence for unspecified crimes. In 2005 the government banned local journalists from all contact with foreigners unless specifically permitted. Journalists who did not comply were threatened with losing their jobs. The government continued to keep Russian government-supported, Russian-language Radio Mayak transmissions off the air. To regulate domestic printing and copying activities, the government required all publishing houses and printing and photocopying establishments to obtain registration licenses for their equipment. The government required the registration of all photocopiers and mandated that a single individual be responsible for all photocopying activity. The government owned all publishing companies and works on topics that were out of favor with the government, including fiction, were not published. Unlike in previous years, there were no reports that the government‑controlled Union of Writers expelled members who criticized government policy. Internet access increased slightly, although government-owned Turkmen Telecom was the sole provider to the general population. The government monitored citizens' e-mail and Internet usage and cut service for accounts used to visit sensitive Web sites. Unlike in previous years, the government issued new Internet accounts to businesses and organizations; however, no new accounts were issued to private individuals. There were approximately 15 state-owned Internet cafes nationwide, in addition to NGO-sponsored facilities, private businesses, and business centers that were granted access to the Internet. Although the government reduced Internet cafe fees, Internet fees were still prohibitively expensive for the average citizen. Access to specific Web sites remained inconsistent. No master's degrees or doctorates have been granted in the country since 1998. Government permission was required to study abroad and receive recognition of foreign degrees. The Ministry of Education has taken no new steps to act on the president's decision to facilitate recognition of foreign degrees; no foreign degrees were recognized during the year. The government did not tolerate criticism of government policy or the president in academic circles, and curtailed research into areas it considered politically sensitive, such as comparative law, history, ethnic relations, or theology. Officials from the Ministry of Education and provincial authorities sought to prevent students who were not ethnically Turkmen from entering exchange programs. University enrollment increased by some 4,000 students, after a decline in past years. Niyazov's Ruhnama, Ruhnama II, poetry volumes, The Spring of My Inspiration, and My Beloved, remained part of the school curriculum, and passing tests on knowledge of the Ruhnama was still necessary for advancement or graduation. However, teachers reported having to spend substantially less class time on former President Niyazov's works than in the past, as the revamped curriculum introduced new subjects and an expanded and more fact-based study of local history and culture. Although restrictions eased somewhat, the government continued to control attendance at nonindigenous cultural events and refused to permit the production of some foreign plays and performances in state theaters. While the government demonstrated little or no support for non-Turkmen music, classical music was taught and performed throughout the country. Traditional local music, which had not been performed for years, was beginning to be played in concerts and social events. Pirated copies of international films were available for sale or rent for home viewing. The Ministry of Culture censored and then monitored all public exhibitions--music, art and cultural. The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly, but the government restricted this right in practice. Authorities neither granted the required permits for any public meetings and demonstrations during the year, nor did it allow unregistered organizations, particularly those perceived to have political agendas, to hold demonstrations. Although the constitution and law provide for freedom of association, the government restricted this right in practice. The law requires all NGOs to register with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and all foreign assistance to be registered with the Ministry of Economics and Finance (formerly with the State Agency for Investment), the MOJ, and coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unregistered NGO activity is punishable by fines, short-term detention, and confiscation of property. The government continued routinely to deny registration to NGOs and other private organizations using subjective criteria. No new NGO has been registered since 2005. Of the 89 registered NGOs, international organizations considered seven to be independent. The government continued to present numerous obstacles to those attempting to register. While some groups reported good cooperation with the MOJ in the registration process, other NGOs reported difficulties, such as frequently returned applications on technical grounds. At least six different NGOs repeatedly submitted applications for registration, and all but one had been denied by year's end. Some NGOs found alternative ways to carry out activities, such as registering as businesses or subsidiaries of other registered groups. Other groups considered themselves temporarily closed. Security service officials harassed NGOs and their local partners throughout the year. In April and May authorities closed several information and resource centers in the central Ahal region that an international NGO operated; one was allowed to reopen. Authorities terminated cooperation between an NGO and local community groups on two separate occasions early in the year. Also in April and May authorities advised two community groups against cooperation with an NGO, and in one case terminated training the NGO was providing, advised against cooperation with the NGO, and questioned its local point of contact. No independent political groups existed. The only registered political party was the Democratic Party, the former Communist Party of Turkmenistan. The government did not prohibit membership in political organizations; however, in practice authorities harassed those who claimed membership in political organizations other than the Democratic Party. Government authorities harassed some recipients of foreign grants. There were no cases in which the government refused to register a grant project, but there were numerous cases in which the government delayed the registration for several months. The constitution and law provide for freedom of religion, although the government restricted this right in practice. There was no state religion, but the majority of the population is Sunni Muslim. The government incorporated some aspects of Islamic tradition into its efforts to define a national identity, but in practice the government closely controlled and monitored all religious activities and placed some restrictions on Muslims. The government required all religious groups as well as individual mosques and churches to register with the MOJ and continued government monitoring of financial and material assistance to religious groups from foreign sources. The government required groups to file reports of proceedings at all meetings. Some groups reported confusion over registration requirements because of conflicting statements by government officials from different ministries. In 2005 the government explained that individual branches of religious groups could be temporarily registered by requesting representative powers of attorney from the registered branch of their particular group; in most cases this resolved branches' registration problems. While religious groups still had persistent problems overcoming administrative hurdles to registration, the government registered two evangelical Christian groups in September and October. In September the government registered one new evangelical Christian religious group, the first group to receive registration since 2005. In October the government registered a second group as a branch affiliate. Other nonregistered religious congregations such as Jehovah's Witnesses, separate groups of Baptists, and other evangelical Christian groups existed, although the government restricted their activities. The government officially prohibited nonregistered groups from conducting religious activities. The Catholic Church remained unregistered because of a conflict with local law requiring that the head of the church be a citizen. However, authorities appear to have eased their harassment of the church. Church leaders conducted regular masses and held classes on Catholicism for interested ethnic Turkmen and non-Turkmen citizens without government harassment. The CRA continued to exercise direct control over the hiring, promotion, firing, and in some cases, compensation of both Sunni Muslim and Russian Orthodox clergy. While the government increased harassment of some registered and many unregistered religious minority groups following the February inauguration of President Berdimuhamedov, reports of such incidents decreased by the end of the year. Examples of harassment included government agents interrupting religious services and interrogating, detaining, and pressing religious minority group members to abandon their beliefs. Some were assessed fines. Jehovah's Witnesses and members of other minority religious groups reportedly experienced disrupted meetings, surveillance, detentions, and administrative fines. In April police reportedly raided an apartment belonging to three female Jehovah's Witnesses and arrested the women. A police officer allegedly sexually molested one of the women. According to the news service Forum 18, in December police disrupted a Baptist service in a private home in Balkanabat, briefly detained and questioned three individuals, and seized books, literature, and CDs of sermons. Reports of obstructed travel based on religious minority group affiliation continued; however, the government allowed several previously restricted individuals from minority religious groups to travel. For example, in January 2006, according to Forum 18, the government refused to grant permission to Merdan Shirmedov, a Protestant from an ethnic Turkmen fellowship in Dashoguz, to leave the country to join his pregnant wife abroad. In June Shirmedov was allowed to depart the country. Additionally, the government continually denied foreign members of registered and unregistered groups exit visas. The government controlled the establishment of Muslim places of worship and limited access to Islamic education. Unlike in previous years, there were two reports of mosques being refurbished or rebuilt. Police officers subjected ethnic Turkmen who converted to non-Russian Orthodox Christianity to harassment and mistreatment, such as verbal abuse for denying their heritage by converting. In May MNB officials arrested Vyacheslav Kalataevsky, a Baptist leader with Ukrainian citizenship, tried him, and sentenced him to three years in prison for an alleged illegal border crossing six years earlier. His family and some NGOs believe the sentence was intended to punish him for his leadership of an unregistered Baptist church in Turkmenbashi. The government amnestied Kalataevsky in October but did not release him until November. Authorities denied his request for residency in early December, although he has a wife and children in Turkmenbashi, and he was deported to Ukraine on December 11. Also in May authorities arrested another Baptist leader from Turkmenbashi, Yevgeny Potolov. Without charging or trying him, in July the government deported him to Russia, where he had citizenship. Foreign missionary activity is prohibited, although both Christian and Muslim missionaries were present. The government also prohibited proselytizing by unregistered religious groups. There were no developments and none were expected in the 2005 Jehovah's Witnesses Nazikgul Orazova case for proselytizing and possessing religious literature. There was no official religious instruction in public schools. Although the Ruhnama continued to be taught in all public schools and institutes of higher learning, teachers reported that such training decreased substantially. Extracurricular religious education was allowed only with CRA and presidential permission. While President Berdimuhamedov continued with 2006 plans to construct a Ruhnama university, the projected university's focus began to change from "studying the deep roots of the nation's great spirit" to include a more international outlook. Only one institution of Islamic education remained open, and the government controlled the curriculum. Although government-supported mosques continued to display copies of the Ruhnama, the former president's works disappeared from many other mosques. The government did not allow the publication of religious literature. Government representatives informed religious groups they could only import as much religious literature as corresponded to registered congregants, but even registered groups had difficulty importing religious literature. Unlike in previous years, ethnic Turkmen members of unregistered religious groups accused of disseminating religious material did not receive harsher treatment than members of other ethnic groups. In August the president amnestied the former grand mufti, Nasruallah ibn Ibadullah, who had been sentenced in 2004 to 22 years in jail in a closed trial for his alleged involvement in the 2002 attack. It was widely reported the actual reason for Ibadullah's imprisonment was his resistance to placing the Ruhnama in mosques. During the year the government sponsored only 188 pilgrims to go on the hajj to Mecca, out of the country's quota of 4,600 persons. There were reportedly no restrictions on self-financed trips to perform the hajj, and there were anecdotal reports claiming that additional persons may have gone. However, Forum 18 reported that no more than 188 pilgrims from the country went on the hajj. During the year authorities charged six Jehovah's Witnesses with evading compulsory military service, but all received suspended sentences after interventions from the international community. Begench Shakhmuradov, who served a sentence for the same charges in 2005, received a two-year suspended sentence. Authorities sentenced Suleiman Udaev to 18 months in prison but commuted his sentence to a two-year suspended sentence with compulsory labor. In July Aleksandr Zuyev, Bayram Ashirgeldyyev, and Nuryagdy Gayyrov received suspended sentences for refusing compulsory military service. The government pardoned Zuyev, Gayyrov, and Udaev in the annual "Night of Omnipotence" amnesty. In December Ashirgeldy Taganov also received an 18-month suspended sentence for refusing compulsory military service. There were 2,000 self-identified Jews and no reports of anti-Semitic acts. Ethnic Turkmen who chose to convert from Islam to other religious groups were viewed with suspicion and sometimes ostracized. The constitution and law do not provide for full freedom of movement and require internal passports and residency permits. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, stateless persons, and other persons of concern. The president eliminated police checkpoints on major roads soon after his inauguration in February and lifted controls requiring citizens to obtain permits for internal travel to border regions in July. The border permit requirement remained in effect for all foreigners. The government inconsistently applied its policy on dual-passport holders and occasionally demanded that Russian passport holders procure CIS visas based on their Turkmen passports. Beginning in June, the government permitted at least four previously restricted citizens to travel overseas. However, the criteria for preventing travel remained unclear, and the government was still barring citizens from departing the country at year's end. The government denied that it maintained a list of persons not allowed to depart the country. A restrictive 2005 migration law forbids travel by any citizen who has access to state secrets, has falsified personal information, has committed a serious crime, is under surveillance, might become a trafficking victim, has previously violated the law of the destination country, or whose travel contradicts the interests of national security. Citizens were able to inquire about their travel status at the State Agency for the Registration of Foreign Citizens Immigration. However, only about half of those who inquired received information on their travel status. At least four individuals were able to successfully appeal restrictions on travel. In 2006 the niece of an accused participant in the 2002 attack, living in self-imposed exile and a participant in external opposition efforts, was denied permission to return to her university studies abroad. Also in 2006 the government told the daughters of deceased journalist Ogulsapar Myradova that they will not be permitted to travel abroad. On November 11, Turkmen Evangelical Church Pastor Ilmyrat Nurliyev was escorted off a plane bound for Ukraine. When Nurliyev wrote a letter of complaint to the State Agency for the Registration of Foreign Citizens, he received a reply noting that his claim of being forcibly removed from an airplane was not confirmed. On November 24, authorities prevented Svetlana Orazova, the sister of exile opposition leader Khudayberdy Orazov, from boarding a plane to Moscow. Orazova had previously appealed her travel restriction and the State Agency for the Registration of Foreign Citizens told her that she would be allowed to leave the country. On December 17, she sent a letter of complaint to the State Agency for the Registration of Foreign Citizens; she had not received a reply by year's end. The government permitted citizens living in Dashoguz and Lebap provinces to spend only three days a month visiting relatives in the Bukhara and Khorezm provinces of neighboring Uzbekistan. The law permits forced internal and external exile, and at year's end some individuals remained in forced exile. Authorities sent some prisoners, usually former government officials, into internal exile. Numerous former ministers and government officials were dismissed from their positions and sent into internal exile remained under house arrest. Almost all political opponents of the government live in other countries for reasons of personal safety; none returned during the year. There was no follow-up action in the 2005 case of Alexander Fataliyev, who continued to live in exile. Sazak Begmedov remained in internal exile in Dashoguz. Maral Yklymova, the daughter of one of the accused organizers of the 2002 attack, who had been under house arrest in Mary, was allowed to depart the country in July. In contrast to previous years, the government did not overtly discourage emigration of ethnic Turkmen living in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and other countries or emigration of non-Turkmen from the former Soviet Union. The laws provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government granted refugee status or asylum. In practice, the government provided protection against refoulement, the return of persons to a country where there is reason to believe they feared persecution. The government granted refugee or asylum status to some ethnic Turkmen from Afghanistan and Tajikistan and to other groups of ethnic Uzbeks and Russians. There were 125 UNHCR mandate refugees in the country. The government also provided temporary protection to individuals who may not qualify as refugees under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 protocol and in 2006 granted citizenship or legal residency to more than 16,000 individuals. Most of those granted citizenship were ethnic Turkmen who had fled conflict in Tajikistan in the early 1990s, ethnic Uzbeks, or Russians. The government cooperated with the UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. The UN Development Program (UNDP) reported that there were few stateless persons in the country. However, the UNDP also estimated that there may be as many as 9,000 undocumented residents who were Soviet Union passport holders at the time of the dissolution and who did not have a state affiliation selected when their Soviet passports expired in 1999. The government administratively processed these residents and issued them residency permits while considerations of state affiliation continued. The UNDP cannot easily quantify these persons because they have not sought UNDP assistance nor have they sought a change in their status. The UNHCR considered these individuals as de facto stateless or at risk of becoming stateless. The government streamlined its residency registration process via a 2005 decree and then issued citizenship to approximately 13,000 ethnic Turkmen refugees seeking haven from Tajikistan's civil war. A small but undefined number of ethnic Armenians and ethnic Azerbaijanis became refugees during the war between these states in the early 1990s. They resided in the country but were not considered stateless and thus carry UN refugee documentation. UNDP representatives reported that the government was cooperative and responsive to refugee and migration concerns. Citizens could not freely choose and change the laws and officials that governed them. The constitution declares the country to be a secular democracy in the form of a presidential republic. It calls for the separation of powers among the various branches of government but vests a disproportionate share of power in the presidency. In practice the president's power over the state continued to be absolute; he made most important decisions. Unlike previous years, citizens swore a national oath of allegiance to the country rather than to the president. According to the OSCE, the election law does not meet OSCE standards. Under the constitution, upon the December 2006 death of former President Niyazov, then-Parliament Chairman Ovezgeldy Atayev should have become the interim president. However, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the deputy prime minister, was named instead, and authorities initiated a criminal investigation against Atayev. On December 26, 2006, the People's Council selected six presidential candidates, changing the constitution to allow the candidacy of Interim President Berdimuhamedov. Residency requirements precluded the candidacy of some exiles who expressed a desire to run for president. Nurberdy Nurmamedov, a dissident figure living in Ashgabat and whom some of these exiles hoped would be a candidate, was detained on December 23, 2006 and released on December 30, 2006. On February 11, citizens selected Berdimuhamedov president in an election that did not meet international standards. The OSCE noted the following problems: lack of political pluralism, restrictions on the right of citizens to stand for president, lack of provisions regulating the media coverage of the campaign, prohibition for failed candidates to contest a repeat election, and negative voting--where voters cross out the names of all candidates except the name of the chosen candidate. Although the government legally did not prohibit membership in political organizations, it banned all political parties other than the president's Democratic Party. The government continued to ban the existence of political opposition in the country, leaving the exiled opposition movements in Europe as the only alternative political voice for the country. There were eight women in the 50-member parliament, including the new Mejlis Chairman, elected in 2005. Women were also represented in the 2,500-delegate People's Council. Women served in a few prominent government positions: Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Culture and Television (a vice-premier position), Minister of Textiles, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, the head of the Supreme Council on Science and Technology, and the head of the state news agency. The one member of a minority group in the 50-seat parliament died in November 2006, and his seat remained vacant. Ethnic minorities were also represented in the 2,500-delegate People's Council. The government gave preference for appointed government positions to ethnic Turkmen, but ethnic minorities occupied several high governmental positions. Members of the country's largest tribe, the president's Teke tribe, held the most prominent roles in cultural and political life. The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials reportedly often engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Widespread corruption existed in all social and economic sectors. Factors included the existence of patronage networks, a lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms, and fear of government reprisal. According to the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, the country had a severe corruption problem. Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index noted that corruption among the country's public officials was perceived by experts to be rampant. During the year authorities indicated they would charge at least seven senior government officials with crimes after firing them, including Akmurat Rejepov, chief of the presidential guard and close advisor to former President Niyazov; Payzegeldy Meredov, a former minister of agriculture accused of corruption; and Ovezgeldy Atayev, former chairman of the Mejlis. Atayev was sentenced to five years in prison; the status of the others was unknown at year's end. There is no law that allows for public access to government information, and in practice the government did not provide access. Authorities denied requests for specific information on the basis of information being a state secret. Some statistical data was considered a state secret. There was no public disclosure of demographic data, and published economic and financial data was manipulated to justify state policies and expenditures. There were no domestic human rights NGOs. The government warned its critics against speaking with visiting journalists or other foreigners wishing to discuss human rights problems. During the year the government continued to monitor the activities of nonpolitical social and cultural organizations. There were also no international human rights NGOs with an ongoing permanent presence in the country; however, the government permitted international organizations, including the OSCE and the UNHCR, to have resident missions. Government restrictions on freedom of speech, press, and association severely restricted international organizations' ability to investigate and criticize the government's human rights policies. Some officials were more responsive to questions regarding alleged human rights abuses. The government appeared to have relaxed somewhat past efforts to control its citizens' access to international organizations and missions and to discourage citizens from cooperating with foreigners. In October the OSCE reported that unlike in previous years, the government did not prevent ordinary citizens from visiting the OSCE Center or participating in OSCE-sponsored civil society-themed seminars and activities. In June 2006 the Council of Ministers accused diplomats and the mission of the OSCE of fomenting revolution in the country for passing journalism equipment to citizens. The government established a Human Rights Commission, which reports to the president, to oversee institutional human rights reform. The National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR), nominally headed by President Berdimuhamedov, appeared to have little real authority. In 2005 the Committee on the Protection of Human Rights and Liberties was established in parliament to oversee human rights-related legislation. The IDHR was mandated to support democratization and monitor the protection of human rights and also maintained a human rights library. In principle the institute reviewed citizens' complaints and returned its findings to the individual and the organizations involved; however, the institute was not an independent body, and its ability to obtain redress was limited. Although the law prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language, or social status, violence against women, and discrimination against ethnic minorities continued to be problems. Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal, with penalties of between three and 25 years based on the level of violence of the incident and whether the attacker was a repeat offender. A cultural bias against reporting or acknowledging rape made it difficult to determine how widespread the problem was. The law prohibits domestic violence, including spousal abuse, but it is not effectively enforced. Penalties are based on the extent of the injury. Anecdotal reports indicated that domestic violence against women was common; most victims of domestic violence kept silent, either because they were unaware of their rights or afraid of increased violence from husbands and relatives. There were a few court cases and occasional references to domestic violence in the media. One official women's group in Ashgabat, an independent NGO, and several informal groups in other regions assisted victims of domestic violence. Prostitution is illegal but remained a problem throughout the country. Authorities actively monitored prostitution but did not attempt to counter it. There is no law specifically prohibiting sexual harassment, and anecdotal reports suggested that sexual harassment existed in the workforce. Women had equal rights under family law, property law, and in the judicial system. In December the Mejlis approved a new law on Women's Rights after consultation with UNDP and other partners. The Mejlis Committee on Human Rights and Liberties was responsible for drafting human rights and gender legislation, integrating a new gender program into the education curriculum, and publishing regular bulletins on national and international gender laws. According to legislation, women are on equal footing with men in all spheres, including wages, loans, starting businesses, and working in government. However, women continued to experience discrimination in practice due to hiring biases. Employers allegedly gave preference to men in order to avoid productivity losses due to pregnancy or child care issues. Women were underrepresented in the upper levels of government-owned economic enterprises and were concentrated in health care, education, and service professions. The government restricted women from working in some dangerous and environmentally unsafe jobs. The government did not acknowledge or address discrimination against women. The government has taken modest steps to address the welfare of children, including increased cooperation with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other international organizations on programs designed to improve children's health and reinstating the 10th year of mandatory schooling. Primary and secondary education was free and compulsory. The government began a potentially significant reform of the educational system, adding a 10th year of mandatory education for girls and boys. The government stated that approximately 95 percent of children between the ages of seven and 16 attended school on a regular basis; however, a 2003 UNDP report listed school attendance at 81 percent, and an Institute for War and Peace Reporting release reported that by eighth grade attendance at some schools was approximately 40 to 50 percent. Most children completed secondary school. The government initiated reforms in the higher education system, including extending university education to five years from the two years under Niyazov and removal of the requirement that university students work for two years before embarking on a degree program. The government eased its restrictions for students wishing to study abroad, but significant bureaucratic hurdles remained, and students had to pass a Turkmen language exam to obtain approval to study in some countries. The government revised the school curriculum, introduced new subjects, increased teacher salaries, and reduced class sizes, but facilities, especially in urban areas, remained overcrowded, and textbooks and supplies were inadequate. By law the government provides free health care for children until the age of 18. Hospital care was also free; however, parents regularly paid bribes for service, medicines, and adequate medical equipment, including syringes. There were isolated reports of child abuse. According to UNICEF, 9 percent of marriages involved minors. In December the parliament passed a comprehensive law prohibiting trafficking in persons. There were some reports that persons were trafficked to, from, and within the country. Available information is insufficient to substantiate a significant number of victims in the country. The government continued to use the 2005 migration law to forbid suspected female trafficking victims from boarding planes to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, the two countries considered to be the most important trafficking destination countries. Iran was also assumed to be a trafficking destination. NGOs noted that young women from minority ethnic groups were most vulnerable to being trafficked. The International Organization for Migration assisted 20 trafficked persons with repatriation from Turkey during the year. Traffickers were subject to between two and eight years' imprisonment and the confiscation of property, depending on which law they were convicted under. The State Service for the Registration of Foreigners was responsible for combating trafficking. The MOJ worked with foreign embassies and international organizations to promote public awareness of trafficking. Some social action groups carried out trafficking-awareness programs in the provinces. However, the government did not publicly acknowledge trafficking as a problem and did not monitor the trafficking situation within its borders, nor did it have a strategy to do so. The government did not systematically screen vulnerable population groups to identify trafficking victims. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, and other state services, although various regulations contradict the law, in effect nullifying it. Persons with disabilities encountered discrimination in employment, education, access to health care, and provision of other state services. The government systematically categorized many persons with physical disabilities as persons with mental disabilities and housed them at facilities for the mentally ill. The government provided subsidies and pensions for persons with disabilities, although they were inadequate to maintain a decent standard of living. Because they received these subsidies, the government considered persons with disabilities "employed" and therefore ineligible to compete for government jobs, the country's largest employer. Some groups of students with disabilities were unable to obtain education because there were no teachers. Students with disabilities did not fit the unofficial university student profile and were not admitted to universities. Children with disabilities, including those with mental disabilities, were placed in boarding schools through which they were to be provided with educational and future employment opportunities if their condition allowed them to work; in practice neither was provided. Special schools for the hearing and sight impaired existed in the larger cities. Although the law requires that new construction projects include facilities to allow access by persons with disabilities, compliance was inconsistent and older buildings were not accessible. The Ministry of Social Welfare was responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. The law provides for equal rights and freedoms for all citizens, although the former president made statements promoting the importance of ethnic purity. Several minority groups tried to register as NGOs in order to have legal status to conduct cultural events. No minority groups succeeded in registering during the year. The law designates Turkmen as the official language, although it also provides for the rights of speakers of minority languages. While Russian remained prevalent in commerce and everyday life in the capital, the government continued its campaign to conduct official business solely in Turkmen. The government required ministry employees to pass tests demonstrating knowledge of the Ruhnama, state symbols, and professional subjects in Turkmen; employees who failed the exam were dismissed. Turkmen was a mandatory subject in school, although it was not necessarily the language of instruction. The government systematically replaced teachers and staff at Turkish schools with ethnic Turkmen. Only in schools did the government dedicate resources toward providing Turkmen language instruction for non-Turkmen speakers. Non-Turkmen speakers complained that some avenues for promotion and job advancement were closed to them, and only a handful of non-Turkmen occupied high-level jobs in the ministries. In some cases applicants for government jobs had to provide ethnicity information for the last three generations. The government often first targeted non‑Turkmen for dismissal when government layoffs occurred. Homosexuality between men is illegal and punishable by up to two years in prison. The law provides for citizens to join unions, but in practice all existent trade and professional unions were government-controlled. Private citizens were not permitted to form independent unions. The government only permitted an umbrella organization Center for Professional Unions, led by a presidential appointee, under which numerous professional unions in most fields, including medicine, construction, banking, accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, and lease-holding existed. The law does not prohibit antiunion discrimination by employers against union members and organizers, and there were no mechanisms for resolving complaints of discrimination; however, there were no reports of discrimination. All unions were government appendages and had no independent voice in their activities. The law does not protect the right of collective bargaining. There was no law regulating strikes or retaliation against strikers, and strikes were rare. There are no export processing zones. The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor, including by children; however, there were reports it occurred. A 2005 presidential decree bans child labor and states that no children would participate in the cotton harvest; there continued to be a decrease in the number of children working in the cotton fields. There are laws and policies to protect children from exploitation in the workplace, but they were not implemented effectively. The minimum age for employment of children is 16 years; in a few heavy industries, it is 18 years. The law prohibits children between the ages of 16 and 18 years from working more than six hours per day. A 15‑year-old child may work four to six hours per day with parental and trade union permission, although such permission was rarely granted. Child labor laws were not effectively enforced in practice, although implementation appeared to have improved during the year. The MOJ and the Prosecutor General's Office were responsible for enforcing child labor laws. The state sector minimum monthly wage of approximately $40 to $60 (1 to 1.5 million manat) did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The government increased teachers' salaries by 40 percent at the beginning of the school year, however, and reduced their weekly hours of work from 35 to 24. In November the president signed a law increasing the minimum wage by 10 percent. The standard legal work week is 40 hours with two days off. Most public-sector employees also worked at least one-half day on Saturdays. The law states overtime or holiday pay should be double the regular payment; maximum overtime in a year is 120 hours and cannot exceed four hours in two consecutive days. This law, however, was not enforced. The government did not set comprehensive standards for occupational health and safety. Industrial workers in older factories often labored in unsafe environments and were not provided proper protective equipment. Some agricultural workers were subjected to environmental health hazards. Workers did not always have the right to remove themselves from work situations that endangered their health or safety without jeopardy to their continued employment.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2267
__label__cc	0.541586	0.458414	State Vegetation Type Map: Border Rivers Gwydir / Namoi Region Version 2.0. VIS_ID 4467 Region: New South Wales Description: The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is producing a new map of the State’s native vegetation. This seamless map of NSW’s native vegetation types will enable government, industry and the community to better understand the composition and the relative significance of the native vegetation in their local area. The State Vegetation Type Map (SVTM) (http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/state-vegetation-type-map.htm ) is constructed from the best available imagery, site survey records, and environmental information. Existing vegetation mapping has been integrated in some locations. Each vegetation survey is assigned to a Plant Community Type (PCT) and this is used to create a model of the distribution of each type. Their place in the landscape is then attributed based on the visual interpretation of vegetation structure. The SVTM is designed to be dynamically improved and upgraded as new local information becomes available. Each quickview map is attributed with a code for all three tiers of the NSW vegetation type classification system: Formations, Classes, and Plant Community Types (PCTs). The following fields are available for all maps: PCTID: The unique identifier for the Plant Community Type. The PCT Id is captured as part of the mapping program. PCTName: A colloquial description of the plant community that can be understood by non-botanists. It may include common names of dominant plant species, names of a geographical region, a substrate, a soil type or a climatic zone. PCTIDMod1: The most likely Plant Community Type to occur in the polygon, identified by its PCT Id. This value is as derived from a spatial model that may provide one or more PCT alternatives. It provides an indication of PCT uncertainty, as several PCTs will usually have some probability of occurring at any particular location. PCTIDMod2: The second most likely Plant Community Type identifier as derived from a spatial model. PCTIDMod3: The third most likely Plant Community Type identifier as derived from a spatial model. mapSource: The various sources of information used in deriving the vegetation map, including spatial models, visual interpretation and existing map products. vegetationClass: Equivalence of a community to one of the Vegetation Classes as originally defined in the Keith (2004) Statewide Vegetation Map. vegetationFormation: Equivalence of a community to one of the Vegetation Classes as original defined in the Keith (2004) Statewide Vegetation Map. USER ACCURACY of Plant Community Type Models: These results should be interpreted as a reflection of the model user accuracy, not map accuracy. [Map Accuracy = API Accuracy (visual interpretation of ADS40) x Model Accuracy (PCT Model Results)]. The accuracy of the API produced landscape class map has not been assessed at this stage. The model user accuracy below was derived by cross validation for CWL and RIV and by an 80/20 split for BRGN. User accuracy using cross validation is an estimate of how well the model would perform on a new, unmapped location. PCT User Accuracy is represented as a % (percentage). The number of field survey samples is recorded in the field Number of sites per PCT. The summary table below shows the number of PCTs modelled in each study area and the number of sites available (RIV includes pseudo-sites). PCT User Accuracy is weighted by the Number of sites per PCT. Accuracy is not reported for PCTs with less than 5 records. __For a full description per PCT of user accuracy, please see attached 'User_Accuracy_per_PCT_VIS_ID_4467.pdf' located below under 'Data and Resources'.__ Table 1: SVTM Number of PCTs, number of sites per PCT and PCT User Accuracy (weighted by number of sites) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ \|:Area::::::\| Number of PCTs \| Number of Sites \| PCT user accuracy weighted by number of sites \| +-----------+-----------------------+----------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+ \|:NBRG:\| 268:::::::::::::::::::::::\| 2534:::::::::::::::::::\| 54.9::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\| +-----------+-----------------------+----------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+ \|:CWL::\| 198:::::::::::::::::::::::::\| 10463:::::::::::::::\| 62.2::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\| +-----------+-----------------------+----------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+ \|:RIV:::::::\| 130::::::::::::::::::::::::\| 10699:::::::::::::::\| 57.5:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\| +-----------+-----------------------+----------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------+ \|:Total::::\| 596:::::::::::::::::::::::::\| 23696::::::::::::::::\| 58.2::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Results based on 80/20 Cal/Val split Cross validation results** Quickview maps are simplified versions of the vegetation maps and only contain a subset of the attributes available. They are easier to navigate but still contain the top 3 most likely PCTs for each polygon. __The quickview maps are available by request from the Data.Broker@environment.nsw.gov.au. The full datasets are available as 1:100,000 map tiles, also by request from the Data.Broker@environment.nsw.gov.au.__ A technical report is in press: State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage (2016) NSW State Vegetation Type Map – Central NSW, Part A: Summary, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney, Australia. Meanwhile, for more technical detail about how the maps are created, or more detailed data, contact Bionet@environment.nsw.gov.au or visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/state-vegetation-type-map.htm. VIS_ID 4467 Team Projects Utilising State Vegetation Type Map: Border Rivers Gwydir / Namoi Region Version 2.0. VIS_ID 4467	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2268
__label__wiki	0.973834	0.973834	Boy, 8, said he wanted to die after bullying HOUSTON His mother says the school didn't do enough to protect him. Both the boy and his mother say the teacher knew about the bullying, but didn't do anything to stop it. The 8-year-old second-grader says he was tired of the bullying. One final incident in which another child pulled down his pants and embarrassed him pushed the boy to jump from the second floor of Blackshear Elementary on Wednesday. "They were bullying me for no reason," said the boy. "He was fighting me in the restroom and was trying to fight me in class and pulled down my pants for no reason." His mother says immediately following the attempted suicide, the school asked the child, who is dyslexic, to sign a 'no suicide' agreement. "The teachers are supposed to help," said Yamshannta Robertson, the child's mother. "They're supposed to be there for them. If they know that he's going through this, you shouldn't let another child belittle him." The district contends the agreement is standard in the district among children who may try to harm themselves, but is revisiting the policy. "We find it to be a very useful tool. Now, whether this particular contract or agreement was written at an age appropriate level, that's probably a good question and something we'll need to look at," said HISD Spokesperson Norm Uhl. But of even greater concern to the mother is that she and her son reported the bullying multiple times as far back as September, and nothing was ever done about it. "This needs to be resolved because when we send our kids from home to school we expect them to be safe. And I don't want this to happen to anybody else's child ever," said Robertson. "I know the parent has some concerns about how reporting of bullying was handled and the principal is doing an investigation on that," said Uhl. "I can't really comment on that, but in this kind of situation, if bullying is reported and isn't dealt with, there could be some consequences for the employee." The district says there was a district-wide assembly at Blackshear on Thursday to talk to the students about bullying. They also say letters were to go home to parents about what happened. As for what will happen to the kids who are accused of bullying, the district won't comment about what exactly they'll do, but they did say they could face disciplinary actions, as could the person who doesn't report it. "If procedure is not followed that needs to be investigated and if it's true, there needs to be discipline," said Uhl. Robertson has pulled her son now from Blackshear Elementary, and she's not the only one at the school who claims their children are bullied and little is done to stop it . "We're thinking about moving our daughters out," said parent Jame Jackson. Psychologists like Dr. Megan Mooney at the Depelchin Children's Center help children and their families cope with bullying. She says it's important for the child to know it's OK to ask for help, and for the parent to know what to look for. "If you start seeing a kid who is generally fairly happy and upbeat start to become moody, withdrawn or irritable, or if they're having changes in their grades or not wanting to go to school, then that's when it's become too much and it's time to seek out help," said Dr. Mooney. The boy's mother still has many outstanding questions - like why EMS or paramedics were never called after the boy's leap from the second floor balcony. HISD says a school nurse looked him over and he appeared OK. The mother also wants to know why the 8-year-old was asked to sign the form saying he wouldn't harm himself again, and why he was asked to do that before she ever even got to the school. HISD says that's policy, a way to get a child to commit to not hurting himself or at least calling someone before doing so. At least 15 states including Texas have anti-bullying laws. They mostly require public schools to have an anti-bullying program in place. In Texas, the anti-bullying law went into effect in 2005.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2273
__label__wiki	0.656326	0.656326	An accessible treatment By Abi Millar January 1, 2018 May 1, 2018 Leave a Comment on An accessible treatment Under a breakthrough pricing agreement, a generic antiretroviral for HIV / AIDS containing dolutegravir will become available across the developing world for just $75 per person per year. Abi Millar finds out more. In September, the United Nations programme UNAIDS made a remarkable announcement: a state-of-the-art HIV drug will be launched in lower-income countries at a much-reduced price. The drug will be available for no more than $75 per person per year, greatly improving access to treatment. At present, there are 36.7 million people living with HIV across the world, 95% of whom live in low or middle-income countries. While antiretroviral therapies significantly improve patients’ health, only 19.5 million sufferers – little more than half – have access to these life-saving medicines. UNAIDS, however, has ambitious goals. By 2020, the organisation hopes that 90% of people living with HIV will know their status; that 90% of that group will be on antiretroviral therapies; and that 90% of that group will be virally suppressed. This new pricing agreement looks set to bridge the gap between the aspiration and the reality. “For the first time ever, the pricing deal has enabled the best available treatment for HIV to come to market at a price lower than the current standard of care,” says Carolyn Amole, senior director of the HIV Access Program at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). “This eliminates a key barrier to uptake, and governments do not need to decide between putting their patients on a costly but better drug, versus a more affordable but less effective regimen.” Clinical superiority The treatment in question, a once-daily fixed dose combination, contains a generic form of dolutegravir (DTG) along with two other medicines. Marketed as Tivicay by ViiV Healthcare, DTG received fast-track FDA approval in 2013, and has subsequently featured on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. “DTG is a best-in-class integrase inhibitor, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an alternative first-line HIV regimen,” says Amole. “It is also the preferred treatment by the US Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents, among many others.” In clinical trials, it has shown several advantages over other treatment regimens, including fewer side effects and a lower risk of viral resistance. As a result, it is considered one of the best HIV drugs around, with a patient base of around 300,000 people in high-income countries. Unfortunately, its global availability has been hampered by high costs. For reference, in the USA, a month’s supply of dolutegravir tablets costs $1,842.82, rising to $3,118.62 when taken in a fixed dose combination.(These figures, from a US government website, were true as of October 2017.) Typically, lower income countries have to wait until affordable generic drug combinations become available. For instance, many people in the developing world take a combination of tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz (TLE 600), a treatment which, as of Q3 2017, cost around $85 per patient per year. The new generic drug combination (called TLD) was developed by both Mylan and Aurobindo under licensing agreements from ViiV Healthcare. Both versions received tentative FDA approval in August 2017. Compared to what was previously available, the drug is clinically superior and less expensive – an unprecedented development in this field. Rapid transition As might be expected for a deal of this kind, there were many parties involved. For instance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation serves as the guarantor and donor, the Clinton Health Access Initiative brokered the deal, and the governments of South Africa and Kenya are key partners. “CHAI was funded by Unitaid and the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) for this work,” says Amole. “This critical funding allowed CHAI to bring the various other partners to the table, drive consensus toward the urgent need for TLD, and to help negotiate prices with manufacturers. CHAI also helps drive uptake of the medication in countries.” Since the deal was announced, a number of countries and major procurers have placed orders. Although the timing of rollout in each country depends on national regulatory requirements, there is already a lot of momentum. “A number of high-burden countries are already planning rapid transitions for 2018,” says Amole. “CHAI projects that up to 21 million patients in low- and middle-income countries will receive TLD treatment by 2025, in large part facilitated by this pricing agreement.” South Africa, for instance, has said it will switch to TLD as its preferred treatment option next year. At present, the country has around 7.1 million people living with HIV, around 4 million of whom are on treatment. It is thought the switch could save the public sector up to $900 million over the next six years, allowing more patients to be treated. “The dolutegravir-based fixed-dose combination will greatly benefit our patients due to its superior therapeutic qualities,” said the country’s minister of health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. “Ramping up treatment with good viral suppression will enable us to reach HIV epidemic control more quickly. We are aiming at launching the new tender in April 2018.” Three countries (Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda) have already introduced a generic form of DTG. This drug, funded by Unitaid in partnership with CHAI, is taken as a single drug along with a dual fixed-dose combination. The idea was to lay the groundwork for TLD and create familiarity among healthcare workers. Transforming the market These early adopters are surely paving the way for things to come. According to CHAI, the average country will be able to save 10-15% on the costs of treatment. “Ministries of Health and program managers from the 92 low- and middle-income countries covered under the agreement should anticipate being able to order TLD under the agreements at a projected average price of US$75 per patient, per year,” says Amole. “In addition to these savings, overall treatment costs are expected to decrease due to reduced side effects, and reduced or delayed likelihood of treatment failure.” She points out that while evidence of the safety and efficacy of DTG is still limited in certain populations (notably young children and pregnant women), there are ongoing clinical studies that should yield results in the next few years. “While it is currently not recommended for use in young children, the WHO will be reviewing all new data regarding the use of DTG in children by the end of 2017. Initial reports of DTG use among children look reassuring in terms of efficacy, safety and tolerability,” she says. With so many patients in need of treatment, the drug has the potential to transform the antiretroviral market – halting the spread of infection and improving the quality of life for millions of people. Over the next few years, we can expect to see a swift and effective transition to DTG. This article appears in the January 2018 edition of Pharma Technology Focus Tags: antiretrovirals HIV United Nations Previous Entry Breaking cancer’s drug addiction Next Entry Funding med tech innovation from the ground up	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2274
__label__cc	0.742411	0.257589	Delia for State Representative We need to hit the ground running in 2018 with a great new State Rep. who has deep roots in our district and is smart, strategic, ethical and energetic. A proven leader who has fought for quality, equitable public education. For human services. For immigrant families. For affordable housing. For safer a community. She became a community leader as a teenager and became director of a local social service agency by the time she turned 20. Over nine years, she built that agency into the award-winning, dynamic Center for Changing Lives. Delia has years of hands-on experience with how state government impacts the people of the 4th District. And she has built lasting relationships and effective coalitions with people from many different backgrounds, both locally and across the Chicago region. She won’t be beholden to any politician or donor. She’s passionate about bringing people together. But she’s also ready to fight – for her neighbors, for fairness and against corruption.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2275
__label__wiki	0.745587	0.745587	Mahomes to join ABC's coverage of NFL draft Kansas City quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes will be part of ABC's coverage of the first round of the NFL draft on April 25. ABC and ESPN made the announcement Monday. Mahomes, who was the 10th overall pick by the Chiefs in 2017, will join "Good Morning America'' co-host Robin Roberts on set before the first pick. ABC will broadcast all three days of the draft for the first time, including the first two nights in prime time. In addition to Roberts and Mahomes, ABC's broadcast will feature co-host Rece Davis and the crew from College GameDay. Mahomes led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in his first season as a starter. He led the league with 50 touchdown passes and was second in passing yards with 5,097.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2276
__label__cc	0.590623	0.409377	by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu "It was with me, and the malice which before was torpid under a sullen exterior, was now active. It was perfectly unchanged in every other respect. This new energy was apparent in its activity and its looks, and soon in other ways. "For a time, you will understand, the change was shown only in an increased vivacity, and an air of menace, as if it were always brooding over some atrocious plan. Its eyes, as before, were never off me." "Is it here now?" I asked. "No," he replied, "it has been absent exactly a fortnight and a day--fifteen days. It has sometimes been away so long as nearly two months, once for three. Its absence always exceeds a fortnight, al though it may be but by a single day. Fifteen days having past since I saw it last, it may return now at any moment." "Is its return," I asked, "accompanied by any peculiar manifestation?" "Nothing--no," he said. "It is simply with me again. On lifting my eyes from a book, or turning my head, I see it, as usual, looking at me, and then it remains, as before, for its appointed time. I have never told so much and so minutely before to any one." I perceived that he was agitated, and looking like death, and he repeatedly applied his handkerchief to his forehead; I suggested that he might be cured, and told him that I would call, with pleasure, in the morning, but he said: "No, if you don't mind hearing it all now. I have got so far, and I should prefer making one effort of it. When I spoke to Dr. Harley, I had nothing like so much to tell. You are a philosophic physician. You give spirit its proper rank. If the thing is real----" He paused looking at me with agitated inquiry. "We can discuss it by-and-by, and very fully. I will give you all I think, " I answered after an interval. "Well--very well. If it is anything real, I say, it is prevailing. little by little, and drawing me more interiorly into hell. Optic nerves, he talked of. Ah! well--there are other nerves of communication. May God Almighty help me! You shall hear. "It is power of action, I tell you, had increased. Its malice became, in a way, aggressive. About two years ago, some questions that were pending between me and the bishop having been settled, I went down to my parish in Warwickshire, anxious to find occupation in my profession. I was not prepared for what happened, although I have since thought I might have apprehended something like it. The reason of my saying so is this--" He was beginning to speak with a great deal more effort and reluctance, and sighted often, and seemed at times nearly overcome. But at this time his manner was not agitated. It was more like that of a sinking patient, who has given himself up. "Yes, but I will first tell you about Kenlis my parish. "It was with me when I left this place for Drawlbridge. It was my silent traveling companion, and it remained with me at the vicarage. When I entered on the discharge of my duties, another change took place. The thing exhibited an atrocious determination to thwart me. It was with me in the church--in the reading desk--in the pulpit--within the communion rails. At last, it reached this extremity, that while I was reading to the congregation, it would spring upon the book and squat there, so that I was unable to see the page. This happened more than once. "I left Drawlbridge for a time. I placed myself in Dr. Harley's hands. I did everything he told me. he gave my case a great deal of thought. It interested him, I think. He seemed successful. For nearly three months I was perfectly free from a return. I began to think I was safe. With his full assent I returned to Drawlbridge. "I traveled in a chaise. I was in good spirits. I was more--I was happy and grateful. I was returning , as I thought, delivered from a dreadful hallucination, to the scene of duties which I longed to enter upon. It was a beautiful sunny evening, everything looked serene and cheerful, and I was delighted, I remember looking out of the window to see the spire of my church at Kenlis among the trees, at the point where one has the earliest view of it. It is exactly where the little stream that bounds the parish passes under the road by a culvert, and where it emerges at the roadside, a stone with an old inscription is placed. As we passed this point, I drew my head in and sat down, and in the corner of the chaise was the monkey. "For a moment I felt faint, and then quite wild with despair and horror, I called to the driver, and got out, and sat down at the road-side, and prayed to God silently for mercy. A despairing resignation supervened. My companion was with me as I reentered the vicarage. The same persecution followed. After a short struggle I submitted, and soon I left the place. "I told you," he said, "that all the beast has before this become in certain ways aggressive. I will explain a little. It seemed to be actuated by intense and increasing fury, whenever I said my prayers, or even meditated prayer. It amounted at last to a dreadful interruption. You will ask, how could a silent immaterial phantom effect that? It was thus, whenever I meditated praying; It was always before me, and nearer and nearer. "It used to spring on the table, on the back of the chair, on the chimney-piece, and slowly swing itself from side to side, looking at me all the time. There is in its motion an indefinable power to dissipate thought, and to contract one's attention to that monotony, till the ideas shrink, as it were, to a point, and at last to nothing--and unless I had started up , and shook off the catalepsy I have felt as if my mind were to a point of losing itself. There are no other ways," he sighed heavily; "thus, for instance, while I pray with my eyes closed, it comes closer and closer and closer, and I see it. I know it is not to be accounted for physically, but I do actually see it, though my lids are closed, and so it rocks my mind, as it were, and overpowers me, and I am obliged to rise from my knees. If you had ever yourself known this, you would be acquainted with desperation." Return to the Green Tea Summary Return to the Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Library	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2283
__label__wiki	0.989335	0.989335	Leader of Eta Basque rebels arrested in France Josu Ternera has done time in French and Spanish jails The political leader of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in the French Alps after 17 years on the run, officials say. In a joint French-Spanish police operation, Josu Ternera – whose real name is José Antonio Urrutikoetxea – was arrested in Sallanches. He is accused over several Eta killings. Eta, which waged a violent campaign for Basque independence for more than 40 years, said in 2018 it was disbanding. The group killed more than 800 people during its campaign of violence before declaring a ceasefire in 2011. Reports say Ternera is seriously ill and Spanish police tipped off their French colleagues that he was on his way to hospital, triggering his arrest. Spanish prosecutors allege that Josu Ternera was involved in a car bomb attack outside a Civil Guard barracks in the northern city of Zaragoza in December 1987, which killed 11 people, including five children. From 1989 to 2000 he was held in French and Spanish jails. Eta disbanded In an audio announcement in May 2018, he said Eta had “completely dismantled all of its structures” and would “no longer express political positions, promote initiatives or interact with other actors”. He said former members would “continue the struggle for a reunited, independent, socialist, Basque-speaking and non patriarchal Basque Country”. The group began its campaign in 1968, during the Franco military dictatorship, and is considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union. Media captionETA has “completely dismantled all of its structures” Josu Ternera was elected to the Basque regional parliament, despite being prosecuted by the Spanish authorities. Spain’s Supreme Court had ordered him to appear before a judge in November 2002 but he never turned up. At that point an international arrest warrant was issued, and Interpol listed him among the most wanted fugitives.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2284
__label__wiki	0.69769	0.69769	Archive for the ‘alec baldwin’ Tag 65th Primetime Emmys: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Leave a comment 2005: Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development” [WRONG] 2006: Steve Carell, “The Office” WRONG] 2007: Steve Carell, “The Office” [WRONG] 2008: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” [CORRECT] 2010: Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” [WRONG] 2012: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” [WRONG] Now it’s time to dissect the last acting category of the year, and at the forefront are the six funny men of comedy. This is a fairly weak category, though I love the inclusions of Jason Bateman who managed to get in despite the lacking presence of Arrested Development this season and Matt LeBlanc since I’m a big Friends fanboy, and I love seeing them rewarded for anything post-show. Sadly though, there’s not enough space left for New Girl‘s Jake Johnson who was lauded for his career best work last season. Anyway, ;et’s go to the nominees. Alec Baldwin is in for the last time for his stint in 30 Rock. After winning in 2008 and 2009, he stopped submitting competitive episode (at times because he want co-nominees to win or maybe he stopped bothering at all). The same can be said for his submission this year A Goon’s Deed in a Weary World, where in he’s in the B storyline of the episode. With that said, Baldwin is still a force of a name in television and he’s the only person who won seven straight years at the SAGs. So that might account to something. Oscar nominee Don Cheadle receives a second consecutive nod for House of Lies. Truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of the show, as its humor simply doesn’t stick with me. However, I have to give him credit for coming up with a submission that at least made me chuckled. It’s a vast improvement from his submission last year. I’d still put him dead last though and stick by the idea that he just got in for his movie star status. Surviving the Arrested Development snub is lead star Jason Bateman. Bateman benefits from the character-centric nature of the season, as he shines with the most screentime in this category. As for his submission Flight of the Phoenix, I think it did not do him any favors that his Michael is far from the typical Michael that we’ve seen from the past season. In this one, he’s clingy, desperate and unlikable which does not work well in his favor. Aside from Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons is also gunning for his third Emmy win in this category. But unlike Jack Donaghy, Parsons clearly knows what to submit. He went for a throwback drunk episode which puts him the win n this category in 2010 for The Pants Alternative. By submitting The Habitation Configuration, that makes him an easy frontrunner in this category. Matt LeBlanc is in a different situation altogether. Despite gaining no buzz for the show, they still manage to reap nods for writing and acting the same way they did two years ago. That says something with how popular the show is towards the people that matter (the nominating and voting people). In his submission, he was in a conflicted situation as he force to give his agent a car, until the secret behind his act was revealed. LeBlanc played this role well, and I think it’s unwise to underestimate him. And then there’s Louis CK. As each year passes, the love for his show Louie increases. Just for this year alone, he collected a total of nine nominations. With that said, I don’t know how big of a hard on the Emmys has on him since the nature of his show has a history of not winning for acting. If another Emmy favorite Larry David can’t snatch one for Curb Your Enthusiasm, then I’m adamant that they’ll lean to Louis CK’s performance. I really can’t think of a solid way to describe his chances. I guess in the end it’s a battle of the first one to enter the three time category winners. On one hand, there’s Alec Baldwin who’s on his last shot to do so. I don’t think Baldwin can be stopped by a weak submission especially since this is their last shot to reward him. However, Jim Parsons is enjoying an all time high of critical and commercial love for the show. If anything, he can be the token recognition of Emmys acknowledging the show. But then again, I’m pretty sure 30 Rock is bound to win something, and since it did not happen with Stritch, and I’m thisclose to moving Louis CK as my winner in Writing, then this category makes sense. I go back and forth with the two, but I guess I’d go with Baldwin. Prediction: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” Runner-Up: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” 1. Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” 2. Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” 3. Louis CK, “Louie” 4. Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes” 5. Jason Bateman, “Arrested Development” 6. Don Cheadle, “Louie” You can see my other Emmy predictions here. Tagged with 30 rock, alec baldwin, arrested development, don cheadle, emmy predictions, emmys, emmys 2013, episodes, house of lies, jason bateman, jim parsons, louie, louis ck, matt leblanc, the big bang theory ANALYSIS: Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series 2012 Leave a comment • Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” (Live from Studio 6H) • Don Cheadle, “House of Lies” (Gods of Dangerous Financial Instruments) • Louis CK, “Louie” (Duckling) • Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men” (Frodo’s Headshots) • Larry David “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Palestinian Chicken) • Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” (The Werewolf Transformation) Alec Baldwin is on his sixth nomination and had won twice already. While his episode Live From Studio 6H is a good one where he gets to do various characters that’s reminiscent of his winning episode, it’s not a surefire material that will give him his third Emmy. Also, the fact that 30 Rock has been some sort of a perennial nominee but not the Emmys choice for any win (they have been empty handed the last two years) gives him a disadvantage. Maybe they’ll wait for 30 Rock’s swansong last year for him and the rest of the show to be competitive again. Don Cheadle is the newbie nominee in this group, and I think it’s a result of how weak the options were this year. House of Lies isn’t necessarily a funny show, nor his submission, the pilot, has anything new to offer. I’d even put this role in the veins of David Duchovny in Californication and Thomas Jane in Hung which were both snubbed for an Emmy nomination. His exception for a nomination is a combination of a weak competition plus his star status, but not even his Emmyless state will help him all the way to the podium this year. With Leblanc coming back next year, plus a plethora of new shows, I’d be surprised if he even managed a consecutive nomination. Louis CK will surely be the winner if we based it on whole season performances. However, given his submission “Duckling”, I think it can be a hit or miss for the voters. On one hand, he gets to have 40 minutes of screentime in his episode, and this one targets more of the heart than the laughs with him doing stand up comedy for the troops. On the other hand, there isn’t any LOL moments that one expects to see given the double screentime his episode had. I think he has some other episodes that were more competitive than this one, but its not wise to dismiss his chances altogether. However, with all his other nominations (a record breaking SEVEN!), he can easily be a victim of vote splitting among voters where they will reward him with an Emmy. After six consecutive nods and one victory in the Supporting category, Jon Cryershifts to Lead status and easily gets a seventh nomination. His episode is classic Emmy bait as he gets to lose his mind and suffers a breakdown with everything happening around him. This has a combination of physical comedy, one liners, and I see him very competitive since no one submitted a sure fire winning submission. If anything, dislike towards his show is what hinders people from dismissing his chances because he is so in the race. The Emmys love his Alan Harper role so much (to the point they nominated it last year over Barney Stinson), and with a surprise SAG nom earlier this year, I can see him winning all the way. Maybe it’s because they don’t love actors portraying themselves but Larry David hasn’t still won an Emmy for his performance in the show despite him being continuously nominated. Two years ago, I predicted him with that Seinfeld episode which I took as a sign that Emmy voters will eat up, and yet he still lost to Jim Parsons. This year, he again submitted the show’s best episode, and if overdue status is to be considered, then he’ll definitely have a chance again. He is funny in his submitted episode, but it does not cater to everyone and might be divisive in general. Voters seem to love Jim Parsons‘s Sheldon Cooper so much to the point that he won against Steve Carell’s last year, and despite strong submissions from a should be three-peat of Alec Baldwin, a last for Tony Shalhoub, and a Seinfeld ep from Larry David two years ago. This year, Parsons submitted an episode that highlights the wackiness of Sheldon with him not wanting to get a haircut from others because his usual barber is in the hospital. It features him suffering a semi-breakdwon while playing the bongos during midnight and visiting the barber with scissors on his hands. It’s not as strong as his first win, but I see voters checking his name off here. There is no standout performance per se, so we might be in for a surprise, but the past four years led us to wins in traditional sitcoms. I see the trend happening this year between Jon Cryer and Jim Parsons; however, I’m giving the edge to Parsons to mark a threepeat in this category. Prediction: Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” Dark Horse: Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men” 1. Parsons 2. Cryer 3. David 4. CK 5. Baldwin 6. Cheadle Tagged with 1, 30 rock, alec baldwin, curb your enthusiasm, don cheadle, emmys, emmys 2012, house of lies, jim parsons, jon cryer, larry david, louie, louis ck, predictions, the big bang theory, two and a half men	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2285
__label__wiki	0.889763	0.889763	The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Has a New President Incoming BSO president Peter T. Kjome. Photo by Johnny Quirin, Courtesy BSO. Ten months ago, we learned that Baltimore Symphony Orchestra president and CEO Paul Meecham was leaving town for Utah after a decade spent leading the BSO. Today, the orchestra announced that they have found his replacement, plucked from the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan. Peter T. Kjome is currently the president and CEO of the Michigan ensemble, but will take over Meecham’s old post starting in February. Kjome is a unique fit for the job: He’s a classically trained musician and an experienced leader. His education credentials prove it: He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. According to the BSO, Kjome developed his management and financial skills while working for global manufacturer 3M in St. Paul, Minn. He was also an oboist with the Grand Rapids Symphony before he became its president and CEO in 2008, and he worked as a substitute musician for the Cleveland Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony. As president of the Grand Rapids Symphony, Kjome negotiated collective bargaining agreements with the musicians, developed and implemented strategic plans for the ensemble future and led a $40 million endowment campaign, according to the BSO. In Meecham’s absence, BSO board chair Barbara Buzzuto has served as acting CEO and president. She gave her blessing for their new hire in a statement, saying he will be able to manage “strong economic headwinds” while keeping the symphony on course with its artistic vision. In a release, Kjome called it “a privilege” to be picked as the Baltimore ensemble’s next president and CEO. Hilary Miller, the BSO board’s vice chairwoman and the leader of their search committee for a new president this year, called him a “best-of-both-worlds executive who fits with our needs in this dynamic, challenging arts environment.” Kjome starts his new job here in Baltimore on Feb. 1, 2017. Monday Morning Headlines: Threatened ICE raids sow fear, but no reported enforcement activity over weekend; Cashner to Boston marks Orioles’ first major trade of season; and more - July 15, 2019 baltimore symphony orchestra	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2287
__label__wiki	0.681541	0.681541	Cardiology > Cardio Brief CardioBrief: New Stroke Prevention Device Might Not Prevent Strokes There's no hard evidence the Sentinel filter reduces stroke in TAVR by Larry Husten, CardioBrief June 08, 2017 Here's how to get a second-generation medical product or add-on product approved: Show that the original device isn't nearly as safe and effective as believed back in, you know, the dark ages before the new product showed up. Until now, proponents of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have sought to emphasize the benefits of TAVR and have downplayed its negative aspects, including stroke. Now, with the clearance of an add-on device for TAVR that may help prevent some strokes, these same TAVR supporters are emphasizing the stroke risk. Martin Leon (Columbia University), a top TAVR advocate, said in a press release for the new device that "anything we can do as clinicians to reduce the risk of brain injury is extremely meaningful." On Monday, the FDA cleared the Sentinel Cerebral Protection System, which is designed to reduce the incidence of stroke in the aftermath of a TAVR procedure. In a press release the manufacturer of the device, Claret Medical, said it is "the first and only embolic protection device shown to reduce TAVR procedural strokes by 63%." But there are a few big problems the company did not exactly highlight in its press release. The device has not been proven effective and, although stroke is certainly a serious complication of TAVR, until now the actual rate of stroke associated with TAVR has been reported to be much lower than the company stated in its press release. Sentinel therefore joins the growing list of cardiac devices that have been cleared but for which there is no or extremely limited evidence showing that they work. These include the Watchman left atrial appendage closure device, the Absorb bioresorbable stent, the Impella heart pump, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure devices, and catheters to open chronic totally obstructed arteries. TAVR and Stroke The Claret Medical press release exaggerated the significance of stroke in TAVR patients: "Recent studies have found that almost one in 10 patients experience a clinically-apparent stroke due to the procedure." But the source for this statistic is their own clinical trial, in which they went looking for evidence of stroke. Like a baseball field of dreams, in the field of medical devices if you build it they will come. But outside their own field of dreams, in the real world, the numbers are quite different. As Sanjay Kaul (Cedars-Sinai) observes, the stroke rate is much lower in real life: "The 30-day stroke rate of 9.1% in the control arm appears to be much higher than what is observed with contemporary newer-generation TAVR devices such as SAPIEN 3 (2.7%)." Of course, no one would want to discount stroke as an adverse event, but a rate of one in 10 is a lot worse than a rate of one in 37. Robert Yeh (Beth Israel Deaconess) said he thinks the high rate is reasonable, although it includes minor strokes that might not be caught in normal clinical practice. He said that the high stroke rate in the control arm was a result of the trial's design, which included detailed stroke assessments. "This is a very sensitive (albeit probably accurate) definition of stroke." Questions About Effectiveness More importantly, there's no solid evidence that the device actually reduces the risk of stroke. In the press release, Leon broadly endorsed the benefits of the device: "The 63 percent reduction in clinical strokes in the first 72 hours after TAVR, combined with the fact that one in four patients had an average of 25 particles of debris collected that were visible to the naked eye, is striking. The device was delivered safely, added minimal time to the procedure, and performed as intended with capture of embolic material and reduction in ischemic brain injury." But Leon neglected to mention the single most important fact about the trial: It failed to meet its primary effectiveness endpoint. There was no significant difference in the size of new lesions in the brain. Instead, Leon focused exclusively on the secondary or post-hoc endpoints. A major problem is that the small number of strokes in the trial make it is impossible to draw any firm conclusions about the effectiveness of Sentinel. There were only 23 strokes in the trial, just 3 of which were disabling. Here are the details: The overall stroke rate was 9.1% in the control group versus 5.6% in the Sentinel group. But this was based on 10 events in 110 patients in the control group versus 13 events in 231 treated patients. These numbers are very small and did not come close to statistical significance (P=0.25). Even worse, the numbers are driven almost entirely by nondisabling strokes. There were 9 nondisabling strokes in 110 control patients versus 11 nondisabling strokes in 231 treated patients. For disabling strokes -- the most important thing you want to prevent -- there were only 3 events, 1 (out of 109) in the control group versus 2 (out of 231) in the treatment group. No difference whatsoever. 'Reasonable People Will Argue' Given the clinical importance of stroke, the absence of any other available treatment, and the lack of any safety concerns, FDA clearance was not indefensible but not a given either, said two cardiologists who were asked to comment. Kaul said that "reasonable people will argue" whether the results provide "the 'reasonable assurance' statute for device approvals, even for a Class II device." Yeh said that clearance of the device "looks fair to me based on biological plausibility, direction of effect of the major endpoints (namely stroke), the fact this is not a long-term therapy or a permanent implant, but just a device that supports another procedure, and the low risk of harm." Yeh concluded that "1) there probably are a fair amount of minor strokes after TAVR. This is probably true for SAVR [surgical aortic valve replacement] as well. 2) Using a sensitive definition of stroke helps the company. 3) It's probably fair to use the sensitive definition of stroke here since it is considered the gold standard, and also, going full circle, if it were me, I would want to avoid those very minor strokes in addition to the larger clinically obvious ones." The good news, in my opinion, is that the device appears to be safe. It's unlikely that patients will be directly harmed by the device (except for the added cost, of course), and it is for this reason that the FDA went ahead and cleared the device. But there's a very dangerous and very steep and slippery slope here. Now that the device is on the market it may well be impossible to prove whether or not it is effective. Next-generation devices will only need to prove that they are equivalent to Sentinel. An entire industry could develop based on a safe but ineffective device. Interventional Cardiologists Face Major Obstruction In Treatment Of Total Blockages Interventional Cardiology And The Rejection Of Science Impella No Better Than IABP in Cardiogenic Shock The Impact Of ABSORB II: Down The Slippery Slope Reality Check On The 'Noninferior' Abbott Bioresorbable Stent Study Shows Why Sham Controls Are Necessary For Device Trials	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2289
__label__cc	0.671391	0.328609	Boarding Schools in Northern Ireland Campbell College Campbell College is located in the vibrant city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is an HMC day and boarding school for boys aged from 3-18 years which was founded in 1894. Rockport School located on a beautiful estate on the shores of Belfast Lough and has been at the forefront of independent school education in this part of the United Kingdom for well over 100 years. Victoria College Belfast Victoria College is an all girls’ non denominational grammar school with a long tradition of academic success and an impressive record of achievements in the fields of sport, music and drama Schools by Region London & South East South & West England East England Central England North England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2292
__label__cc	0.710135	0.289865	How Ava Got Her Heart Back the Story of Ava Kaufman January 16, 2016 ankhente “The human heart, at whatever age, opens only to the heart that opens in return.” Maria Edgeworth. Thus, there are many writings surrounding the mysterious stirrings of the human heart. In a national news covered story, Ava Kaufman on her birthday, 10 years ago, received the gift of life, the heart of a 17-year-old male donor. Ava like most women thought fairy tales true and based her life as such, holding her own as a touring professional dancer for R&B vocalist Gloria Gaynor, mother to a daughter and wife. Gaynor’s song, “I Will Survive”, held none truer than to the life of Ava Kaufman. As secure as one’s life could be, one could say that Ava had it all. As real as any scene in modern day horror, suddenly and appearing out of nowhere, and as if waiting for an unwilling victim who was ready to die, Ava contracted Dermatomyositis a rare auto immune disease a connective tissue which destroys muscles,. The disease is frequent affects the skin, muscles, and is a systemic disorder. In its wake, it eventually can debilitate the esophagus, joints, heart, and lungs. As Ava’s condition continued to advance and misdiagnosed eventually all of the muscles developed during her years of dancing, were no longer operable. After three months of complaining to her dermatologist and discovering that she had ongoing itching around shins, fingers, back and eyelids to contend with, her weight shifted from a small 105 to 200 lbs, her body no fully invaded had completely shut down. While on her way to a doctor’s appointment Ava, fell unconscious, and had to be rushed to Cedars Sinai a non-profit Medical Center. Within hours after her arrival, Ava needed life support, an LAVD, a pump and an ECMO machine. The machines used in medical centers for transplants are very necessary, as the recipient’s first step is to stay close to the transplant center. These machines are the LVAD (left ventricular system assist device), the TAH (total artificial heart), the Berlin Heart (the ventricular system for children), and the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine for lungs (enables those waiting on list to have a bridge to transplant). With courage and a spirit as bright as the sun, Ava who had no medical experience, and had never studied medicine, began volunteering at Cedars eventually offering advice, emotional support and sharing her own personal journey with families of donors, those waiting to receive donor hearts, and those who are transitioning back to their homes and into their new lifestyle. In this interview, Ava explained how challenging it is to make the adjustment and that in many cases, patients have adverse reactions to anti-rejection medicines, artificial hearts, donor hearts, some have to wait days months and years on an artificial heart before acquiring a donor, and many may even die while they are waiting. Finances for pre-transplant, post-transplant and after care including meds and other clinical needs; including transplantations, are often challenges for families with low incomes. In addition, hearts and lungs are often a dual operation and require an entirely different set of risk and financial obligations. The Ava’s Heart Foundation has made heart transplants a national attention grabber having survived her own near death experience. It is that experience and those of her patients that inspired her to write, “The Transplant Journey by Ava.” “The Transplant Journey” is a compilation, of the true accounts of the experiences of Ava’s own transplant and those of the patients and families helped by Ava’s Heart. In November 2011 Ava’s Heart opened their doors and have since helped over 100 families transplant. Cedars Sinai and UCLA are easily accessible and facilitate 74% of the transplants for those who live in the Southern California area. Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico handle 83% and are collectively known as UNOS Region 5. Fortunately, the best transplantation centers the US are located here in Southern California. In 2014, an estimated 22 plus people die each day waiting for donors as for them donors are the key to their sustaining life. Ava is constantly sought after to provide non-medical services. Calls like the one from a Blue Cross worker requesting help are not uncommon. One such call from Blue Cross requested Ava to provide non-medical services for a family of six, who even with insurance were financially devastated. The worker after searching the internet for organizations that could help with non-medical services only found Ava’s Heart. Presently, Ava’s Heart Foundation is the only foundation offering non-medical services that insurance companies do not cover to transplant patients and their families. The goal is to have national transplantation centers that in conjunction with local health care support teams can help to facilitate transplantations and help to increase outreach to potential donors. For anyone wanting to participate and become involved with the movement to help Ava’s Heart continue to provide non-medical services for patients and their families, please go to your local DMV or to www.DonateLife.net and to www.AvasHeart.org. Email:info@AvasHeart.org. Text HEART to 41444 to have a debit/cc donation form sent directly to your mobile and most of all remember: #ITCOULDBEYOU Filed Under: stones in the color of rare, Uncategorized Tagged With: 15Minutes, Ankh Entertainemnt, Arizona, Ava Kaufman. Osiris Munir, Ava's Heart, Berlin Heart, Blue Cross, california, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, dermatomyositis, Donate Life, ECMO Machine, Gloria Gaynor, heart transplamt, hearts, I Will Survive, LVAD, Maria Edgeworth, net, Nevada, New Mexico, Southern California, stones in the color of rare, TAH, The Transplant Journey, transplantation, UCLA Medical Center, UNOS Region 5, Utah « The Extraordinary Genius of Oscar Hernandez & SHO Bring Merry to the Dorothy Chandler NAMM and Demeter Amplification Still Together 30 Years Strong »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2294
__label__wiki	0.898024	0.898024	Home Media Personalities Jen Lada of ESPN – Bio, Husband If Married, Salary and Net... Jen Lada of ESPN – Bio, Husband If Married, Salary and Net Worth Jen Lada - Instagram Jen Lada is a famous sports reporter and host known for her contributions on First Take, Baseball Tonight and College Gameday shows, which airs on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN). Here is the bio of this amazingly skilled journalist including who her husband is and what her salary and net worth may be. Jen Lada of ESPN – Bio Jen Lada was birthed on January 14, 1981, in Spring Grove, Chicago, the US to Connie and Bill Lada. Her early life was greatly influenced by her sporty father who was an athletic director and her mum who was very much in love with the baseball games. She was bred at the Chicago neighborhood where she got her high school education from the Marian Catholics High School, Illinois, Chicago. As a high school student, she excelled in track events and was a part of her school’s track team and cross country. Her athletic skill earned her partial sports Scholarship at the Marquette University to study Broadcast Electronic from the department of communications. Whilst at the college, her interest in journalism was piqued after she joined the workforce of a local newspaper outfit where she started learning the ropes. After her eventual graduation from the varsity, she clinched her first job as a general news reporter for the Milwaukee Station affiliated with the Fox News but her stylish delivery of sports stories stood her out as a very good sports reporter. No wonder Comcast SportsNet came calling for her service where she got her primary assignment as a reporter covering the National Football League’s Chicago Bears and Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox for the WITI-TV. Her excellent reportage got her recognized as the first place, Best Sportscast in 2011 from the Association of Wisconsin Broadcasters and she also clinched the Press club first position award for Best Featured Story on her coverage of Milwaukee woman Multiple Sclerosis runner. Lada previously worked as a reporter and anchor for WITI-TV in Milwaukee and WREX-TV in Rockford, Ill. At WITI, she earned the Best Sportscast 1st Place honor in 2011 from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. In addition, her story about a Milwaukee woman who ran across the United States to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis was named Best Feature 1st Place by the Milwaukee Press Club. This remarkable woman in 2015 has had her time working for the CSN network, now known as NBC Sports Chicago where she worked her charms hosting the Kap and Haugh television show. Jen Lada and Colin Cowherd had a good synergy dishing out sporting news for the station before he left for Fox News. Her outstanding reportage saw her make brief guest appearances on ESPN radio sports programs, working with Mike Greenberg and Golick on radio shows. Haven made a lasting impression with her analytic skill during the program. Jen Lada earned a permanent job with the ESPN network as a mouth-watering offer was made to retain her services. By 2017, Jen Lada had been elevated as one of the lead contributors and host of ESPN Network’s Baseball Tonight, College Gameday and First Take shows. Since Jen Lada’s engagement with ESPN, her stylishly well-articulated stories have earned some recognition and got even nominated for awards, such as the Best Feature story for College Sports Media Award. This amazing journalist and reporter is not just a sports reporter but an excellent runner, who is not afraid of getting her hands into the grinds; she has been a participant in over three marathons, triathlons, and cycling as well as track races over the years. The 5 ft 8 inches tall mother of two may indeed be discreet when it comes to her family and personal life but she is very much active on the social media platform, where she has racked up a tangible number of followers especially on Instagram and Twitter. See Also: Roberta Gonzales – Bio, Divorce Rumors and Husband of The Weather Anchor The Spring Grove native is probably one of the highest paid female sports reporters as her salary is estimated to be within the range of $85,000 to $100,000 per annum while her net worth is pegged at the sum of $1 million or more. This is not a bad amount for a journalist of her caliber. Is She Married, Who Is Her Husband? Jen Lada with husband and two kids; Chase and Layla – Instagram The beautiful Sports journalist is a married woman. She is the wife of Dario Melendez, a sports journalist, and reporter who works for a Fox News affiliated station in Milwaukee. They met in active service representing their respective network stations in the coverage of the Packers game at Lambeau Field. After dating for a while, the pair were married sometime in 2017, and by February 2018, they were proud parents to a baby girl whom they named Layla. However, Lada’s marriage with Dario was not her first, as she was the ex-wife Sean Reti, a former college sweetheart and a soccer coach with whom she tied the knot in 2006 and three years after, in 2009, they welcomed their bundle of joy Chase Reti. However, their joy was short lived as a family, as the couple soon parted ways.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2297
__label__wiki	0.919239	0.919239	Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/cd0cc36a4173482f95b867cb67ce5238 James Allison Tasuku Honjo Nobel laureates: Despite progress, cancer won’t be wiped out By IVANA BZGANOVICDecember 6, 2018 The 2018 Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine Tasuko Honjo attends a press conference with James P. Allison at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 6, 2018. (Janerik Henriksson/TT via AP) STOCKHOLM (AP) — The winners of this year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine say they expect substantial advances toward treating cancer in the next several decades, although it is unlikely the disease could be eradicated. James Allison of the United States and Tasuku Honjo of Japan made the assessments at a Thursday news conference ahead of receiving the 9 million-kronor ($999,000) prize. They were named winners of the prize in October for their work in immunotherapy — activating the body’s natural defense system to fight tumors. “Soon we’ll get close with some cancers,” Allison said, citing progress against some forms including melanoma. But, he said, “the world will never be cancer-free.” Honjo said he expects that immunotherapy will eventually be used against most cancers, often in combination with radiation or chemotherapy, and that cancer can effectively be stalled “even if we cannot completely eliminate the tumor, if we can survive with some tumor.” “I think what is coming next are triple combinations and quadruple combinations,” Allison said. Although immunotherapy is an advance against cancer treatment, the costs are high, with courses of treatment reportedly exceeding $100,000. “Something’s going to happen” about the cost, Allison said. “These high prices are not just a feature of these drugs — it’s almost everything. ... It’s out of control. We’ve just got to hope that with competition and wisdom the prices will come down.” Allison, after noting that some of his share of the prize would have to be paid in taxes, said he intends to donate what’s left to support others working in the field and to a charity that supports schools for women. Honjo said his half will be given to his institution, Kyoto University, to fund young researchers. The Nobel Prizes are to be awarded on Monday. The medicine, physics, chemistry and economics prizes will be given out in Stockholm and the peace prize in Oslo. No literature laureate was named this year. Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed to this report.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2299
__label__wiki	0.502192	0.502192	Hands-on: Fighting the Empire with our iPhone and Sphero's 'Star Wars' BB-8, R2-D2, and BB-9E droids Thursday, October 05, 2017, 01:22 pm PT (04:22 pm ET) Disney now owns LucasFilm, and with that the "Star Wars" franchise. Part and parcel of that is merchandise, with Sphero cranking out four models of app-controlled droids in time for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" —and AppleInsider has three of them. In case you missed it, the app-controlled BB-8 was a big hit around the release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," even with relatively rudimentary software. Since then, BB-8 has had a couple of software and firmware updates, and has been joined by evil twin BB-9E, long-time droid hero R2-D2 and his evil twin R2-Q5 who was shown briefly in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." We've recently added R2-D2 and BB-9E to our droid squad, with the pair joining BB-8 after more than a year in residence. No bad motivators here BB-8 was solid and sturdy, with design decisions made for durability. For instance, the antennae on the top of the droid's head is flexible, and has only bent over the last year of children's play —which basically mandates crashing into things. The new additions are no exception. The plastic on the droid casings are thick, and not easily damaged with even exuberant use. BB-8 has taken a few (possibly intentional) trips down a carpeted flight of stairs, and our R2-D2 has already taken a fall down the cement front step in front of the house —both with no damage from the incident. BB-8 and BB-9E have heads held on with magnets. As such, in a particularly dire collision, the heads will pop off. Realignment is easy —the user places the ball part of the droid down on a hard surface and it auto-aligns allowing for the waylaid head to be put on the top of the ball. Solid devices, built to last. ... from a certain point of view But, do you remember mouse ball roller gunk? Break out your techniques you used to use to deal with it, because it's back in spades with BB-8 and BB-9E's head. Nasty. Also, while the droids all do well on hard wood floors and tile, they do less well on carpets —the spherical BB-8 and BB-9E in particular. There is a "turbo" button to get them started on a very low pile carpet in the app, but we found that this was more often than not likely to slam the droid's head into the ground and popping it off than actually getting it going. This was exacerbated by the afore-mentioned mouse ball roller gunk. Don't count on using BB-8 or BB-9E on carpet with a pile any deeper than one of those omni-present town map play carpets. R2-D2 is less affected, but a deep shag still isn't going to work. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster The two new droids are able to be controlled through the Star Wars App-Enabled Droid by Sphero companion app for iPhone. The app offers an augmented reality Droid Trainer, allowing users to drive a virtual version of their toy when it is charging, and can also enable the droids to perform reactions to some of the "Star Wars" movies through its Watch with Me function. Watch with Me is still a staple around here. It has been enhanced over time for the kids with multiple droids, as they "interact" during crucial scenes of all of the "Star Wars" movies. Even for an adult "Star Wars" fan, this is fun —once or twice. It did get old after a while. We'll let you know if the kids ever stop wanting to watch with the droids. For more extensive control, two additional playgrounds have been added to Apple's Swift Playgrounds app, which teaches users how to code in Swift using games and activities. The new R2-D2 by Sphero playground tasks users with helping R2-D2 find Obi-Wan Kenobi in the deserts of Tatooine, evade Stormtroopers, and explore the Death Star, all using Swift commands. The second, the Sphero Template, allows users to create programs to control one of the droids in a more complex, and less structured activity. AppleInsider will be examining Swift and Swift Playground integration with the droids in more detail at a later date. For now, lessons are progressing very well with a seven-year-old, and the droid is giving that extra tactile push to complete the entire course of instruction. You're all clear, kid, now let's blow this thing and go home! The Sphero droids are probably close to the ultimate extension of the use of an iPhone and other mobile technologies as a toy enhancer. Rather than taking center stage, the iPhone is a controller, with the toy itself shining out. But, that in itself is a mild problem. Alone, the droid is a nice looking and expensive statue, which is okay, but they aren't to scale with any other of the "Star Wars" action figure lines or toys, so they aren't easily introducible to existing play without the app. How much this may bother your children, though, probably varies. We continue to have a great time with BB-8, and now with R2-D2 and BB-9E. The new droids, with corresponding software updates, are additive to BB-8, beyond just two children, and their father, each having their own. Sphero hasn't been shy about firmware updates. The Swift Playgrounds implementation was added only recently. With the new wave of releases for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," we expect that support for the line will continue, as will app enhancements extending the life of the toy. We're going to keep our testers going with Swift Playgrounds. We'll let you know how it goes. R2-D2 retails for $179.95, with BB-8 and BB-9E list prices set for $149.95 each. R2-Q5 is a Best Buy exclusive and will sell for $199.99. Facebook flips switch on Apple Music song sharing through Messenger extension Apple allowed Uber use of API to record iPhone screens, feature to be removed	cc/2019-30/en_head_0006.json.gz/line2300

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