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__label__wiki	0.514859	0.514859	@TheDrawingRoom \| Great Events in Unique Dublin Venues. @TheDrawingRoom is an exciting project designed to develop the public’s awareness of architecture, culture and heritage through a series of events in some of Dublin’s finest Georgian town houses. It aims to provide an alternative to the concert hall or gallery setting for audiences to enjoy music and art. The aim of the project is to invite an audience into selected houses and to encourage the audience to interact and engage with the performances as well as with the architecture of each venue. The @TheDrawingRoom series stimulates people’s innate sense of curiosity, giving the audience an opportunity to explore the various homes, their beautiful interiors and interesting histories. Dr Áine Nic an Ríogh is artistic director of @TheDrawingRoom. Áine received a scholarship to study undergraduate architecture at University College Dublin. In September 2011 she returned to the School of Architecture where she researched music, architecture and acoustics in Eighteenth-Century Irish Country Houses for her PhD in Architecture as an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholar. As part of this research Áine ran a highly successful series of concerts in country houses and has since set up her own production company to produce @TheDrawingRoom where she is the artistic director. She also sits on the committees of the Drogheda Classical Music Series and the Dublin Philharmonic Society. Áine is an accomplished violinist and pianist.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758923
__label__wiki	0.707755	0.707755	Marie de Coucy, Queen of Scots July 4, 2014 By Susan Abernethy in Medieval History, Scottish History, Women of Scotland, Women's History Tags: Alexander II King of Scots, Countess de Montfort, Enguerrand III de Coucy, Ermengarde de Beaumont, Jean de Brienne, Joan, King Henry III of England, King John, King Louis IX of France, King Louis VI of France, King of Acre, Marie de Coucy, Newbattle Abbey, Yolande de Dreux 19 Comments Alexander II, King of Scots first wife was Joan, the daughter of King John of England. The marriage took place on June 19, 1221 when Joan was ten years old and Alexander was twenty-three. They were married for sixteen years but had no children. Joan died while on pilgrimage to Canterbury in March of 1238 leaving Alexander free to marry again. He was in desperate need of an heir. King Henry III of England claimed sovereign authority over Scotland but Alexander had never accepted this. There were several diplomatic exchanges between the two kings to discuss money, territories or proposed marriages. Henry was not anxious for France to have greater influence in Scottish affairs. Much to the dismay and irritation of his former brother-in-law, Alexander married Marie de Coucy. Born c. 1219, she was the elder daughter of Enguerrand III de Coucy, also known as the Great and his third wife Marie de Montmirel. Enguerrand was a known enemy of King Henry III and Alexander may have met him during the Franco-Scottish invasions on England in the years 1216-17. Marie was the great-great granddaughter of King Louis VI of France. She was wealthy, of significant status and according to the chronicler Matthew Paris, very beautiful. She was brought from France to Scotland with an extensive retinue and the marriage took place at Roxburgh on May 15, 1239. Alexander was forty-one and Marie about twenty. She most likely had to learn a new language when she came to Scotland. Some of the men in Marie’s retinue may have had some influence on Scottish affairs such as her chancellor Richard Vairement and her nephew Enguerrand de Guines. Enguerrand became a Scottish magnate by marrying Christiane de Bailleul, called Lindesay, a cousin of King John Balliol. Two years after her marriage, on September 4, 1241, Marie gave birth to a son named Alexander. It is believed she had a short lived daughter named Ermengarde after Marie’s mother-in-law. In 1244, Alexander met to negotiate with King Henry III at Newcastle and they may have agreed at this meeting that their young son would marry Margaret. Four years later, Alexander fell very ill. While on an expedition against the Lord of Argyll on the island of Kerrera, he died on July 8, 1249. Marie and her son may have been in one of the royal residences at the time the news of his death was relayed. Marie immediately took Alexander to Scone and had him crowned as Alexander III. The following year, mother and son were in Dunfermline on June 19 for the observance of the canonization of the 11th C. Scottish queen, Saint Margaret and the translation of her remains to the new shrine. Marie made a trip to France that fall and for the rest of her life she divided her time between France and Scotland. She inherited property from her father and Alexander had been very generous in providing for her upon his death. Consequently she was a very wealthy woman. She attended the wedding of her son and Margaret of England in York in 1252 with a large and magnificent retinue including nobles from Scotland and France. Marie was obviously a very eligible bride. While she was in France in 1256-7, she married Jean de Brienne, a widower with the meaningless title of King of Acre. His father had been a famous crusader. Jean grew up at the French court with King Louis IX and his brothers and he had acquired the title of Grand Butler of France. Marie appears to have been respected because of her wealth, her French connections and because she had given birth to an heir. In 1260, when the situation in Scotland became insecure and unpredictable with several noblemen competing for domination during the minority of the young king, Marie and her new husband were named members of the ruling council. Marie also received a re-grant of her jointure lands in Scotland and her revenues were secured. The next year, Alexander met his majority and began ruling on his own. There are some sources that mention she had a daughter with Jean de Brienne name Blanche. She separated from Jean in 1268 and returned to Scotland. Alexander obtained an agreement allowing Marie to stay in Scotland as long as she pleased. When Margaret of England died in February of 1275, Marie found her son a new wife. She was Yolande, Countess of Montfort, a member of a prominent French family and a descendant of King Louis VI. She was also the stepdaughter of Marie’s second husband Jean. In the autumn of 1276 Marie traveled to Coucy through Canterbury and she visited the shrine of St. Thomas Becket. Marie died in the summer of 1285. Her remains were not returned to France but she was buried at Newbattle in an already constructed tomb which she may have commissioned ahead of time. Newbattle Abbey is now destroyed and the grave is lost. Further reading: “Scottish Queens 1034-1714” by Rosalind K. Marshall, “British Kings and Queens” by Mike Ashley, entry on Marie de Coucy in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography by Keith Stringer « Chester Cathedral Exeter Cathedral » Sally Ronaldson says: Hello, great piece of historic info. Thus page says I can sign in to blog on email. I’ve never blogged, but am very interested in following your page. Apologies I’m not very technology literate So if I enter my email address I guess you send me a link to your page? Hi Sally, At the right hand top of the page, below the copyright information, there is a box where you can enter your e-mail address. Once you do that, every time I publish an article, you will receive a link to the page. Thanks for reading! Pingback: Joan Plantagenet, Queen of Scots « The Freelance History Writer Pingback: History A'la Carte 8-28-14 - Random Bits of Fascination Pingback: Yolande de Dreux, Queen of Scots « The Freelance History Writer JennyOH says: Great piece! I don’t recall if it makes mention of Marie, but A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman is an amaaaaazing account of the 14th century through the story of the De Coucy family, in particular Enguerrand VII. Yes Jenny that is a fabulous book. I read it many years ago. Marie might be mentioned in it! k lawler says: i always enjoy and share yr work,k Princess of Eboli History Masquerade says: Reblogged this on Luxury and Queen's. rose52drs says: I would use the word “loved”, rather than just “liked”; someday I will have the Scottish kings and queens memorized, as I do the English ones — I suspect it will be harder with the Scots, though Susan is really helping this process 🙂 rafterd1972 says: Thank you again, Susan for another wonderful and perhaps somewhat obscure piece of Scottish/French/English history. Your research is wonderful. You’re welcome raftherd! Robert Wilson says: What a great story Susan. Really enjoyed it. Thank you Robert. I have to reblog this one, it is very interesting!!!!! Thank you for this post Susan!!!! Thank you Princess! Any time!!!!! 😄 meghanferrara says: Reblogged this on History's Untold Treasures and commented: H/T The Freelance History Writer Leave a Reply to Princess of Eboli History Masquerade Cancel reply	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758925
__label__cc	0.553493	0.446507	U.S. Government Celebrates Its Arming of the Egyptian Regime With a YouTube Video August 3 2015, 1:00 p.m. The Egyptian regime run by the despotic Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is one of the world’s most brutal and repressive. Last year, Human Rights Watch documented that that Egyptian “security forces have carried out mass arrests and torture that harken back to the darkest days of former President Hosni Mubarak’s rule.” Just two months ago, the group warned that the abuses have “escalated,” and that Sisi, “governing by decree in the absence of an elected parliament, ha[s] provided near total impunity for security force abuses and issued a raft of laws that severely curtailed civil and political rights, effectively erasing the human rights gains of the 2011 uprising that ousted the longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.” Despite that repression — or, more accurately, because of it — the Obama administration has lavished the regime with aid, money and weapons, just as the U.S. government did for decades in order to prop up Hosni Mubarak. When Sisi took power in a coup, not only did the U.S. government support him but it praised him for restoring “democracy.” Since then, the U.S. has repeatedly sent arms and money to the regime as its abuses became more severe. As the New York Times delicately put it yesterday, “American officials . . . signaled that they would not let their concerns with human rights stand in the way of increased security cooperation with Egypt.” None of that is new: A staple of U.S. foreign policy has long been to support heinous regimes as long as they carry out U.S. dictates, all in order to keep domestic populations in check and prevent their views and beliefs (which are often averse to the U.S.) from having any effect on the actions of their own government. Just today, the American and Egyptian governments jointly issued a lengthy statement on a meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, which it said was “based on the shared belief that it is necessary to deepen the Egypt-U.S. bilateral relationship to advance our shared interest after almost four decades of close partnership and cooperation.” While Kerry suggested in the meeting that severe repression may not be strategically shrewd, the official statement did not even reference, let alone condemn, the regime’s human rights abuses: credit for not pretending to care, I suppose. [The U.S. media pretended to be on the side of Tahir Square democracy protesters despite decades of support from the American government for Mubarak. Recall that in 2009 Hillary Clinton pronounced: “I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family.” A WikiLeaks cable, anticipating the first meeting between Obama and Mubarak in 2009, emphasized that “the Administration wants to restore the sense of warmth that has traditionally characterized the U.S.-Egyptian partnership” and that “the Egyptians want the visit to demonstrate that Egypt remains America’s ‘indispensible [sic] Arab ally.’” The cable noted that “[intelligence] Chief Omar Soliman and Interior Minister al-Adly keep the domestic beasts at bay, and Mubarak is not one to lose sleep over their tactics.”] The Leader of the Free World’s long and clear history of lavishing the world’s most repressive regimes with money and weapons is usually carried out with a bit of stealth, so that its inspiring, self-flattering rhetoric about Supporting Freedom and Democracy — used to justify invasions and other forms of imperial domination — will be credible to its domestic media and population (even if to nobody else in the world). But this week, the U.S. government not only proudly touted its sending of weapons to the Cairo regime, but published a video celebrating it. The official Twitter account of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Friday actually posted this: The Arabic part of the tweet reads “Long Live Egypt”; as the NYT noted yesterday, that is “repeating a phrase that is known here primarily as the slogan from the presidential campaign of” Gen. Sisi. It’s creepy enough that worship of military weaponry is now centrally integrated into America’s most sacred collective religious ritual: sporting events. But to strut around with videos boasting of this display of force by a tyrannical regime over its own people — courtesy of the U.S. government — is just wretched. Not only the U.S. but also its closest Western allies are supplying Sisi with weapons. Just last week, the U.K. “quietly resumed multimillion-pound arms deals with” that government, including “arms sales to Egypt’s autocratic regime worth 48.8 million pounds ($76.3 million),” while in February “French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Egyptian capital Cairo . . . to ink a deal for the sale of military hardware worth up to $6 billion.” These are the very same countries, of course, which endlessly claim to find human rights violations to be so deeply disturbing (when carried out by the governments that don’t obey them) that they have to fight wars to end them. Still, explicitly celebrating videos of a tyrant parading his U.S.-supplied military might over the citizens whom he’s oppressing: that has to be a new low. It doesn’t even make sense from the perspective of the typical U.S. strategy of pretending to pressure its tyrannical allies to improve on the human rights front. Something like this is so extreme, so blatant, that it might even run the risk of having U.S. journalists who constantly believe that the U.S. government is opposed to repression and autocracy (in the context of non-compliant countries such as Iran, Russia, Libya, China and Venezuela) to ponder for a second or two whether that’s actually true or whether it’s pure propaganda. Caption: In this Sept. 25, 2014, photo, President Barack Obama meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left, in New York. August 6 2015, 9:35 a.m. “And thanks the gods I am relatively unknown. I am fame-averse. ” Mona Lol….”relatively unknown”…NO You are unknown, your “friend” Greenwald is famous for BSing on your face. And you love it! Lol “fame-averse”…lol. Stupid excuses from a dumb ass hiding behind a computer for 10 years. That is the best way to avoid the laughing crowd in public. Dumb Ass! Craig, you’d do better to throw in the towel and stop insisting that Zionism wasn’t colonialism. What you should argue is that colonialism is sometimes justified and that the persecution of the Jews was something that justifies it. That would be wrong, and I’d argue against it, but at least you wouldn’t resemble a creationist denying the fossil record if you’d let go of your analogous, absurd denial. “…….Craig, you’d do better to throw in the towel and stop insisting that Zionism wasn’t colonialism…..” It is not insisting Mona. Everything I have listed shows that Zionism and colonialism were as different as night and day. Your explanation for the reason Zionism began 40 years before the British Mandate for Palestine is problematic – and you know it. Your explanation is that during that time some Jews opposed Zionism which is certainly correct (to this day), but that does not explain why immigration began AT ALL without British help. You have not explained the different goals and motivations for Zionism versus the goals of the colonial powers. They were completely different political movements with no relation at all except they were all Caucasians. You have not explained why Jewish immigrants did not claim the land for a colonial power – or how the immigrants were able to predict the outcome of WWI in favor of the British. The Jewish immigrants must have employed a very reliable soothsayer? The reason that you want very badly to tie Zionism to colonialism is simply to undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state (just like Zionism is racism, etc.). This is just one of a bunch of fabrications used by the left to justify anti-colonial, anti-western political positions in the name of social change. That, of course, is not just confined to Israel. But I do appreciate your effort. However, you cannot win on any of those issues. I am sure we will revisit this issue many more times in the future. So thanks for your response (you didn’t have to). We will also revisit where you rank the murder of 50,000-250,000 Jews in five years on your scale of 1-10. Your explanation is that during that time some Jews opposed Zionism which is certainly correct (to this day), but that does not explain why immigration began AT ALL without British help. What is there to explain? A comparative trickle were immigrating in that period. The nature of the Zionist project was not yet fully formed, and that’s why Jabotinksy had to fight for his political, militaristic, colonial Zionism to prevail. He won. Everything I have listed shows that Zionism and colonialism were as different as night and day. If you believe that you have something wrong in your brain. No snark. Neurons are misfiring or something. The reason that you want very badly to tie Zionism to colonialism is simply to undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state You have that exactly reversed. I used to be a total Zionist. I very badly wanted it to be good and noble, just like the narrative I’d been fed my whole life. But then I began reading smart, fact-based critiques of Israel and Zionism, and learning the actual history, and also came to learn that American Indians identified with the Palestinians. It was quickly apparent why. There was no getting around it: Zionism is and was a colonialist, militaristic project of imposing ethno-religious supremacy on an ethnically cleansed indigenous population, and then maintaining them in an apartheid state in their refugee camps. It is horrible, illiberal and inhuman. I spent decades advocating something that is simply pernicious and evil. Now I make up for it by fighting for the truth. “I used to be a total Zionist…….I began reading smart, fact-based ….Zionism……colonialist……ethno-religious supremacy….. apartheid state …….Now I make up for it by fighting for the truth…..” Lying is an odd way of fighting for the truth, don’t you think? Just like Blumenthal, you pick and choose what you want to believe – and much of it is far from fact-based. I refer to it as standard far left wing rhetoric and lies. Your obsession with Israei is far from healthy, and you hold Israel to a completely different standard than any other country in the world. It doesn’t really matter in the long run because Israel as a Jewish state isn’t changing anytime soon. Lying is an odd way of fighting for the truth, don’t you think? Just like Blumenthal, you pick and choose what you want to believe – and much of it is far from fact-based.</blockquote. I do not ever lie — and you have never demonstrated a single falsehood that I've written. Max Blumenthal's books have been SCOURED by armies of Zionists for errors, and almost none have been found. His work is fact-intensive and even a furious Eric Alterman had to admit it was "technically accurate." You, amusingly, are lying about lying. “…..If any lurkers wish to know the rebuttal to your current assertions, I hope they will unlurk long enough to ask, but otherwise I decline to do it again for you….” The beauty of your responses is that you believe that prolific posting of quotes prove an argument, but you are wrong, Mona. Thus far your documentation proves nothing about the period between 1880 and 1917 when Zionists immigrated to Palestine without the help of the British (they were nice Zionists, I guess). Indeed, as far as I know, the Jews didn’t claim the land in the name of Britain (or Russia). British colonization was motivated by economic considerations and expanding the British Empire. Jews were motivated by Russian anti-Jewish pogroms (murder) and returning to their home in Palestine. Using the colonial powers to realize your dream doesn’t make it a colonial venture (unless you are a far left wing extremist). Finally, quoting someone saying they were following the colonial model doesn’t make it colonialism. After all, if you follow the very successful business model of Apple, that doesn’t make you Apple. It only resembles colonialism because the Jewish people were Caucasian. Of course, to all radical leftist, the world was completely screwed up by colonialism so why not lie and add Jewish immigrants to the list if it fits your political ideology?? Thanks Mona Thus far your documentation proves nothing about the period between 1880 and 1917 when Zionists immigrated to Palestine without the help of the British (they were nice Zionists, I guess). Yeah, and there just were not that many of them. Many if not most Jews in that period were anti-Zionist. Some of them fiercely so. The beauty of your responses is that you believe that prolific posting of quotes prove an argument, but you are wrong, Mona. Nope. If I claim X did Y, and find ample evidence of X saying and neutral others reporting that X did do Y, I have proven my fact claim by any reasonable standard. And that’s what I do, Craig, copiously. (You will not that every now and then someone pops up and thanks me for the great abundance of relevant information I have command of.) It only resembles colonialism because the Jewish people were Caucasian. It doesn’t just resemble it — it is it: colonization and displacement of indigenous people for all the reason Ze’ev Jabotinsky insisted it was. I’ve already zipped that argument up right here: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/u-s-government-celebrates-arming-egyptian-regime-youtube-video/?comments=1#comment-155177 Of course, to all radical leftist, the world was completely screwed up by colonialism barncat August 6 2015, 12:09 a.m. Brian Eno endorses Jeremy Corbyn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-63o7M63XA Bob Fonow I know this is a small thing, but there are nine aircraft in the video, and how do we know that the flyover is over Cairo? Also, the picture in the article leads one to believe that Obama might be watching the video, when the disclaimer is at the end of the article. Pretty sloppy. August 5 2015, 11:49 p.m. — “non-athletic” Also too, leave Blossom out of this. Have you no decency? CraigSummers Gator90 Obviously, Mona has never seen Chariots of Fire. I certainly have, and I know of Sandy Koufax. But I said “over-represented.” Jews are not over-represented in professional athletics. I didn’t say there are none at all. “……They are both true. Craig claims: “Jabotinsky has become your favorite scapegoat for Jewish nationalism.” Jabotinsky was the decisive factor in moving Zionism into being a thoroughly political and militaristic (including terroristic) ideology of cethnic cleansing, land appropriation and blood and soil nationalism……” That is a bit of an overstatement. As you have now ignored twice, Jabotinsky was present during the Russian pogroms and organized Jewish defenses against the anti-Jewish murder in Russia. Remember that 50,000-250,000 Jews were murdered in just five years between 1917 and 1922. He understood that better than anyone that Jews would continue to be victims of murderous pogroms if they remained passive. Jabotinsky organized Irgun in Palestine to defend Jews against the Palestinians – specifically the anti Jewish riots in the 1920s and 1930s. Just so you understand, the Jews accepted the partition without violence. The Palestinians did just the opposite leading to the ethnic cleansing in 1948. By the way, on your scale of 1-10, where does the murder of 50,000 – 250,000 Jews in five years rank, Mona? “……You and Mona are both right. Zionism resulted, in large part, from horrific persecution of Jews by gentiles. It also is a violent, racist species of nationalism…..” The answer is unequivocally NO, Gator. Zionism is not racism. “Zionism equals racism” attacks and delegitimizes the moral basis for Jewish nationalism and Jewish self-determination . The UN resolution, 3379, is steeped in political motivation and is something I would never support under any circumstance. The most vicious kinds of hate and misplaced anger come from the lies advanced by the radical left. You can easily detect that with Mona’s posts – and she is clearly obsessed with Zionism [Jews]. By passing UN resolution 3379, the world condemned Zionism as a form of racism and discrimination – and exposed their own racism and political motivation. I have also mentioned on numerous occasions that the Jews have done the same the same by denying Palestinians self-determination. Let me reiterate one more time: 1. Zionism equals racism is false – and racist. 2. Israel was not a colonial venture (it was – and is – a Zionist venture) 3. Israel is not an ethno-supremacist state 4. Israel in no way resembles Apartheid South Africa It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the political motivation for every one of these statements is to undermine the legitimacy of Israel. In my mind – and I’m comfortable with this thinking – every one of the above statements is a politically motivated lie. Thanks Gator. I appreciate your patience and the patience of all the posters as Mona and I absolutely dominate the thread (several threads recently). Craig asserts all kinds of stuff again, like this: Israel was not a colonial venture (it was – and is – a Zionist venture) Political Zionism is a colonial venture and is what created Israel. So, Israel is a colonial venture. I’ve posted tons of documentation for that fact in this article’s comments section alone. But over the past several years I’ve published a virtual library of documentation demonstrating the falsehood of your assertions. As for the rest of your assertions and/or accusations today, I’ve also rebutted those many, many times — with copious support. You, however, simply re-assert. If any lurkers wish to know the rebuttal to your current assertions, I hope they will unlurk long enough to ask, but otherwise I decline to do it again for you. Thus far your documentation proves nothing about the period between 1880 and 1917 when Zionists immigrated to Palestine without the help of the British. Indeed, as far as I know, the Jews didn’t claim the land in the name of Britain (or Russia). British colonization was motivated by economic considerations and expanding the British Empire. Jews were motivated by Russian anti-Jewish pogroms (murder) and returning to their home in Palestine. Using the colonial powers to realize your dream doesn’t make it a colonial venture (unless you are a far left wing extremist). Finally, quoting someone saying they were following the colonial model doesn’t make it colonialism. After all, if you follow the very successful business model of Apple, that doesn’t make you Apple. Finally, quoting someone saying they were following the colonial model doesn’t make it colonialism. Uh-huh, well, the prevailing leader of the “model movement” saying they were undertaking colonialism and could expect the same reaction from the indigenous population that all other colonialists encountered, that man and his confreres are colonialists. Americans who are turned away at Ben Gurion and not allowed into The Only Democracy™: Palestinain-Americans, like novelists and elderly professors wanting to visit their families. The American embassy refuses them any assistance: A week earlier, Jerusalem native Dr. George Khoury landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport. Khoury is a professor of languages with a doctorate in theology from Berkeley, a U.S. citizen who decided to travel with a priest, Father Bernard Poggi, on a pilgrimage and family visit. Khoury is 70 and hadn’t visited his homeland in 21 years. He also thought his U.S. passport would grant him entry into Israel, and he too was mistaken. The security official at Ben-Gurion told him, “This is our Israel, this is for the Jews. No Palestinian should come to Israel.” Khoury tried to explain that he’s American, but there was nobody to talk to. The security official informed him he would be deported to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge. Later, other security officials told him he was being expelled to Italy, where he had departed from. Now Khoury sits angrily at home in San Francisco, and from there he described his tribulations. He also blames Israel and the United States. “They took something that was supposed to be a vacation, a reconnection with my homeland and old friends, and made it a nightmare from hell,” read more: http://www.haaretz.com/beta/.premium-1.669734?date=1438804750980&utm_content=buffer32fce&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer “You would think that sillyputty would criticize you [Mona] for using that “label” so much. – CraigSplainingSummers Honestly, what part of “it’s not the label, it’s the specific acts” do you not understand? In other words, actions that are done in specific cases deserve our scrutiny – and labeling these acts or the person or group doing them does nothing to further the discussion. People here tell you this, over and over, yet you still willfully ignore them. CraigSplainingSummers, here’s the difference: Mona provides specific acts that can be corroborated with evidence, which she supplies in abundance. You, in the other hand, supply innuendo, ideological blathering and wishful thinking in order to support a world view which is unsupportable given the evidence available to everyone here, provided that the have an open mind. CraigSplainingSummers, your arguments are nothing but an exemplar of confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance. On the one hand, it’s pretty sad watching you get your ass handed to you day in and day out here, bludgeoned to rhetorical death by facts. On the other hand it’s a joy to watch, and a great learning experience for those of us not as conversant in the reality of the Jewish dilemma and the Middle East. Mona does deserve praise, not because we’ve exchanged the loyal-lefty handshake as your utterly inane retorts are meant to imply, but because she’s the one that brings the facts and best evidence to rebut your tribalistic jingoism and the absolutely evidence-free arguments that you proffer here. So in the end, CraigSplainingSummers, the facts themselves are beating you. Deal with it. “The sin which is unpardonable is knowingly and wilfully to reject truth, to fear knowledge lest that knowledge pander not to thy prejudices.” – Aleister Crowley “……Zionism is violent, imperialist, murderous, racist nationalism of the very worst sort……” Simplistic and racist, Mona. Zionism is the result of violent, murderous, racist anti-Jewish bigotry practiced by Muslims and Christians for two thousand years – especially by Russians in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Jabotinsky has become your favorite scapegoat for Jewish nationalism. He is Russian and was present during the pogroms in that country and helped create the Jewish defenses in Russia and Palestine (Irgun). In Palestine, Jewish defenses developed as a response to Arab violence against Jews in the 1920s and 1930s. Both cases of racism – plain and simple. And just to reinforce the reasons for Zionism (less violent waves occurred in Eastern Europe/Russia in ~1880 and 1903-1906): “……1917-22……Despite the period of relative peace, a third and final wave of pogroms began in 1917, lasting for about five years. This wave of riots was easily the bloodiest, leaving potentially tens of thousands dead. While statistics from this era are incomplete, at least one thousand pogroms occurred, with 887 being reported as “major”…….The riots were massive, sometimes claiming the lives of thousands of Jews in a few hours. The total is put between 50,000 to 250,000……” The 50,000-250,000 death toll of Jews probably outnumbers the total amount of Palestinians that have died from all wars with Israel – in one five year period. You can hardly blame the Jews for creating a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine – as a refuge against anti-Jewish racism. Zionism is racism alright – eastern European and Islamic racism Gator90 CraigSummers @Craig – You and Mona are both right. Zionism resulted, in large part, from horrific persecution of Jews by gentiles. It also is a violent, racist species of nationalism. Can’t these both be true? Aren’t they both obviously true? @Mona – “the very worst sort” Nah, there have been worse. -Mona- Gator90 Aren’t they both obviously true? They are both true. Craig claims: “Jabotinsky has become your favorite scapegoat for Jewish nationalism.” Jabotinsky was the decisive factor in moving Zionism into being a thoroughly political and militaristic (including terroristic) ideology of cethnic cleansing, land appropriation and blood and soil nationalism. That is, his vision prevailed; hence, I focus on him. For most of my adult life I was a Zionist precisely because of the history of gentile persecution of Jews. I bought the romantic, Hollywood “Exodus” version of Zionism and didn’t “see” Palestinian Arabs. Then, I began to learn how deeply I’d been lied to. And then, I found Palestinian voices. That was it for me. I began to seriously criticize Israel, and I found myself confronted with individuals and writings of Jewish people that were revolting. Utterly repugnant. Many Jewish Zionists were the complete opposite of univeralists in their morality; they were supremacists and even fascists. In the U.S. Jews are not only safe, many are very privileged. No stigma attaches at all to being Jewish in America anymore. And, there is truth to what Max Blumenthal means when he tells American Zionists that their ancestral home is in New York City. However severe the suffering of Jews in history, they had and have no license to do what they did and do to Palestinians. Blumenthal again: Zionism destroys Palestinian bodies and Jewish souls. Gator90 -Mona- @Mona – “No stigma attaches at all to being Jewish in America anymore.” Sure, that’s why we’ve had so many Jewish presidents. I decline to go into personal detail on this point, but I will say that this is a rare instance in which you have no idea what you’re talking about. Three Supreme Court justices, scads of congress-critters. but I will say that this is a rare instance in which you have no idea what you’re talking about. I believe I do, based on what Jews say. Philip Weiss: Liz Shulman gave a talk on Jewish privilege at the meeting. Rabbi Brant Rosen was also at JVP, and he has said directly, here, “I feel as a white male American Jew, I feel very powerful. I feel part of a very powerful and privileged minority in the world.” Beautiful. Another friend I saw at the JVP conference accepts the idea that Jews are the new WASPS; he sent me a note about how many of the American ambassadors to the big European countries are Jews. I count eight. That’s real influence. The next ambassador to Israel is Daniel Shapiro, the aide who announced Obama’s Security Council veto was James Steinberg, Dennis Ross who headed an institute for the “Jewish people” is the Middle East envoy, the New Yorker magazine’s Jewish editor invokes “Jewish values” to oppose the occupation with the secure knowledge that his privileged readers will resonate to the phrase, and when NBC reports on the Arab world, it’s usually Andrea Mitchell and Richard Engel, both Jews, and at CNN it’s Wolf Blitzer… My generation clambered aboard, god bless us. We called ourselves a meritocracy; and still, I wonder how much of the Jewish presence in important jobs has to do with Jewish kinship networks, i.e., we discriminated in favor of other Jews. I reflect that my journalism career was propelled by many Jewish editor friends (and yes, a few non-Jewish ones too), and our religious identity was important to all of us. I’ve read quite a number of younger Jewish people saying they are privileged in America. One thing’s for sure — Glenn’s Jewishness never stopped him one whit, and certainly not in NYC. (We had two clients/prospective clients, Orthodox, who didn’t want me in on the consultations. Part of it was my gender, but it was also that I wasn’t “of the tribe.”) Rest of Weiss piece here: http://mondoweiss.net/2011/03/jewish-privilege#sthash.pUPWpVuH.dpuf There have been black Supreme Court justices, and even, I hear, a black president. Black Americans have succeeded in all walks of life. One could scarcely begin to list the black Americans who have been rich, famous and beloved. Would you say the stigma of being black in America has vanished? I am not, of course, suggesting that being Jewish in America is the same as being black in America. It obviously isn’t. But it isn’t the same as being a WASP, either, and prominent success stories prove less than you think. As for what “Jews say,” well, Jews say lots of things. Jon Stewart says he changed his name because he was pissed at his dad. Who knows, maybe that’s even true. (He didn’t change it to Horowitz, though. That name wasn’t good enough for Winona, either.) Why have American Jews felt the need to establish and rely upon “kinship networks”? I suppose for the same reasons Masons do, or Irish-Catholics who go to Notre Dame. Human beings network based on tribe. Again, I’ve lived in a heavily Jewish area and see absolutely no stigma, but rather, a great deal of money and power. Successful Jews are over-represented in virtually every non-athletic professional field. Black America has nowhere near the representation in the halls of power or the money that Jewish America does. John Stewart is my age, and even at that his name change was unusual for our generation. Jesse Eisenberg hasn’t changed his name, nor Mayim Bialik. BTW, I already understand and accept this point: But I was responding to this from you: Jews are greatly over-represented in powerful positions: financial, political, scientific, legal and artistic. If they are in any way still stigmatized in the U.S., this is a desirable stigmatization. The point is, Jews are so deeply rooted in American power, no policies dangerous to them as Jews could possibly get off the ground. Well, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most vicious and violent, I’d put the Zionist plunder of the Palestinians at a 7. They weren’t Viking hordes raping then killing all the women, killing all the babies by throwing them at walls or balancing them on the tips of their swords & etc. It was, and continues to be, a modern, 20th century ethnic cleansing. Dabney CraigSummers This may be of interest to you Craig, if you have not seen it yet: http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/192626/froman-zionist-post-zionism?utm_source=tabletmagazinelist&utm_campaign=ffce9b9d6d-Tuesday_August_4_20158_4_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c308bf8edb-ffce9b9d6d-207471825 CraigSummers Dabney I skimmed the article because of its length and my time, but it seems to be a very good article about about modern Zionism. I thought this was a very good paragraph in the article and certainly appears to be true: “……As a movement that was intended to establish Jewish sovereignty and freedom, in Froman’s mind, Zionism in general, and religious Zionism in particular, had become a tool to control another people, thereby limiting their freedom and by extension, making Zionism itself an emblem of unfreedom. In effect, according to Froman Zionism was in danger of losing its moral foundations……” This is the main reason in my opinion that Israel is losing in the international propaganda war. I firmly believe that economic pressure will be exerted on Israel eventually by the west. A two state solution is still viable, but Israel needs to make some difficult decisions about uprooting some settlements in the WB. The article is stealth propaganda. Egypt had to twice kick out a brutal puppet regime of the US Government. But the US continues to illegally back terrorist groups who would overthrow Egypt’s independent government. Coming down hard on those terrorist agitators is the only way to keep the US out of Egypt. “…….Now Craig, why do you post horseshit like that when you know I can and have demonstrated that forcibly removing the Arabs was part of the plan for political Zionists [Jews] from the time of Jabotisnky, if not before? The letter above by Judah Magnes shows he also knew the political Zionists [Jews] were likely planning it. The Zionist [Jewish] immigrants could have chosen fair and peaceful co-existence as Magnes advocated. They did not. They were racists who chose land theft, oppression and ethnic cleansing……” Magnes correctly indicated that the Jewish people would fight for a state of their own, but there was no plan to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Palestine which was carried out by the Zionists [Jews]. In fact, the ethnic cleansing took place after four months of Palestinian and Arab militia violence against the Zionists [Jews]. Benny Morris, “1948: The First Arab-Israeli War”, page 120 -121: “…….Plan D has given rise over the decades to a minor historiographic controversy, with the Palestinian and pro Palestinian historians charging that it was Haganah’s master plan for the expulsion of the country’s Arabs. But a cursory examination of the actual text leads to a different conclusion………. Nowhere does the document speak of a policy to expel “the Arab inhabitants” of Palestine or of any of its constituent regions; nowhere is any brigade instructed to clear out “the Arabs”…….” About 700,000 Palestinians were expelled during the 1948 war. The Jews had been under attack from the Palestinian Arabs and Arab militias since the partition plan was announced in late 1947. Bennie Morris, “1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War”, p116: “……….the Haganah switched to the offensive in early April [1948], also simply, because it could. For four months under continuous provocation and attack, the Yishuv largely held itself in check, initially in the hopes that the disturbances would blow over……….” (my addition) In addition, Arab states had threatened to attack the Jews. As the Arabs had expressed at the UN in 1947, they would oppose the creation of a Jewish state with violence (which is exactly what they attempted to do). Bennie Morris, “1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War”, p. 116: “……….But the Haganah had little choice. With the Arab world loudly threatening and seemingly mobilizing for invasion, the Yishuv’s political and military leaders understood that they would first have to crush the Palestinian militias in the main towns and along the main roads and the countries borders if they were to stand a chance beating off the invading armies. And there was an ineluctable time frame. The Palestinians would have to be defeated in the six weeks remaining before the British departure, scheduled for 15 May………” Clearly, the threat of the attacking Arabs resulted in expelling the Arabs. No territory had been conquered until the end of March – fully four months after the partition was announced. Quote all you want, about what Zionists [Jews] planned, but that doesn’t change why the Palestinians were expelled. It was only when it became apparent that they needed to prepare for the Arab invasion that the ethnic cleansing took place. Magnes correctly indicated that the Jewish people would fight for a state of their own, Well, not quite. What he wrote in 1929 was, my emphasis: The imperialist, military and political [Zionist] policy is based upon mass immigration of Jews and the creation (forcible if necessary) of a Jewish majority, no matter how much this oppresses the Arabs meanwhile, or deprives them of their rights. In this kind of policy the end always justifies the means. Because Magnes paid attention to what you willfully ignore, to wit, the words of the popular Jabotisnksy, implicitly comparing Jewish immigrants with Europeans on the one hand, and the indigenous Arabs with the Indians Europeans plundered in North America on the other: That the Arabs of the Land of Israel should willingly come to an agreement with us is beyond all hopes and dreams at present, and in the foreseeable future. This inner conviction of mine I express so categorically not because of any wish to dismay the moderate faction in the Zionist camp but, on the contrary, because I wish to save them from such dismay. Apart from those who have been virtually “blind” since childhood, all the other moderate Zionists have long since understood that there is not even the slightest hope of ever obtaining the agreement of the Arabs of the Land of Israel to “Palestine” becoming a country with a Jewish majority. Every reader has some idea of the early history of other countries which have been settled. I suggest that he recall all known instances. If he should attempt to seek but one instance of a country settled with the consent of those born there he will not succeed. The inhabitants (no matter whether they are civilized or savages) have always put up a stubborn fight. Furthermore, how the settler acted had no effect whatsoever. The Spaniards who conquered Mexico and Peru, or our own ancestors in the days of Joshua ben Nun behaved, one might say, like plunderers. But those “great explorers,” the English, Scots and Dutch who were the first real pioneers of North America were people possessed of a very high ethical standard; people who not only wished to leave the redskins at peace but could also pity a fly; people who in all sincerity and innocence believed that in those virgin forests and vast plains ample space was available for both the white and red man. But the native resisted both barbarian and civilized settler with the same degree of cruelty. All of us, without exception, are constantly demanding that this power [Britain] strictly fulfill its obligations [to give us a Jewish majority state]. In this sense, there are no meaningful differences between our “militarists” and our “vegetarians.” One prefers an iron wall of Jewish bayonets, the other proposes an iron wall of British bayonets, the third proposes an agreement with Baghdad, and appears to be satisfied with Baghdad’s bayonets – a strange and somewhat risky taste’ but we all applaud, day and night, the iron wall. We would destroy our cause if we proclaimed the necessity of an agreement [with the indigenous Arabs], and fill the minds of the Mandatory with the belief that we do not need an iron wall,but rather endless talks. Such a proclamation can only harm us. Therefore it is our sacred duty to expose such talk and prove that it is a snare and a delusion. So when you write: No shit! As Jabotinsky knew and insisted, no colonized people ever just sat down and agreed to lose their land and homes to settlers and colonizers. Clearly, the threat of the attacking Arabs resulted in expelling the Arabs. Yes, crazy, evil Arabs trying to defend against a colonial usurpation of the land and rights of a native Arab population. (All as Zionists are luring European support with the promise of a Jewish state constituting a European outpost in the Middle East, which no doubt delighted the Arabs.) So the Zionists just took the land, a lot of land, during a war in which they committed terror against Arabs and ethnically cleansed many of them via terrorism. (Causing Albert Einstein to denounce Menachem Begin as a terrorist and fascist.) Zionism is violent, imperialist, murderous, racist nationalism of the very worst sort. red ryder The middle east is all about hate and religion and nothing more. Killing is just as normal as eating, it is necessary to live the Islamic way of life. Religion is the planets worst enemy and not climate change as is being touted in todays world. Useful Idiots red ryder Ryde on back away, there, troll. What follows is a letter written in 1929 by the founder of Hebrew University, Judah Magnes, to Chaim Weizman, President of the Zionist Organization (who would be the first President of Israel). Emphasis is mine: Zurich, September 7, 1929 Dear Dr. Weizmann, You asked me over the telephone last night to write you my views on the present situation. I wanted to have a long talk with you, and for that reason had been trying to get in touch with you for several days. Writing is a poor substitute for an oral exchange of opinions, and I shall try to be brief. I think that the time has come when the Jewish policy as to Palestine must be very clear, and that now only one of two policies is possible. Either the logical policy outlined by Jabotinsky in a letter in the Times which came today, basing our Jewish life in Palestine on militarism and imperialism; or a pacific policy that treats as entirely secondary such things as a “Jewish State” or a Jewish majority, or even “The Jewish National Home,” and as primary the development of a Jewish spiritual, educational, moral and religious center in Palestine. The first policy has to deal primarily with politics, governments, declarations, propaganda and bayonets, and only secondarily with the Jews, and last of all with the Arabs; whereas the pacific policy has to deal first of all with the Jews, and then with the Arabs, and only incidentally with governments and all the rest. The imperialist, military and political policy is based upon mass immigration of Jews and the creation (forcible if necessary) of a Jewish majority, no matter how much this oppresses the Arabs meanwhile, or deprives them of their rights. In this kind of policy the end always justifies the means. The policy, on the other hand, of developing a Jewish spiritual Center does not depend upon mass immigration, a Jewish majority, a Jewish State, or upon depriving the Arabs (or the Jews) of their political rights for a generation or a day; but on the contrary, is desirous of having Palestine become a country of two nations and three religions, all of them having equal rights and none of them having special privileges; a country where nationalism is but the basis of internationalism, where the population is pacifistic and disarmed—in short, the Holy Land. The one policy may be termed that of militarist, imperialist, political Zionism; the other that of pacific, international, spiritual Zionism; and if some authorities will not choose to call the latter idea Zionism, then let it be called the Love of Zion, or the Return to Zion, or any other name that you will. We have been toying with the words “Jewish State,” “majority,” “Jewish Palestine,” “politics,” “Balfour Declaration,” etc., long enough. It is time that we came down to realities. We have passed resolutions concerning cooperation with the Arabs, but we have done very little seriously to carry them out. I do not say that this is easy of achievement nor do I absolutely know that it is possible. The Palestine Arabs are unhappily still half savage, and their leaders are almost all small men. But this policy of cooperation is certainly more possible and more hopeful of achievement than building up a Jewish Home (National or otherwise) on bayonets and oppression. Moreover, a Jewish Home in Palestine built up on bayonets and oppression is not worth having, even though it succeed, whereas the very attempt to build it up peacefully, cooperatively, with understanding, education, and good will, is worth a great deal, even though the attempt should fail. The question is, do we want to conquer Palestine now as Joshua did in his day—with fire and sword? Or do we want to take cognizance of Jewish religious development since Joshua—our Prophets, Psalmists and Rabbis, and repeat the words: “Not by might, and not by violence, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.” The question is, can any country be entered, colonized, and built up pacifistically, and can we Jews do that in the Holy Land? If we can not (and I do not say that we can rise to these heights), I for my part have lost half my interest in the enterprise. If we can not even attempt this, I should much rather see this eternal people without such a “National Home,” with the wanderer’s staff in hand and forming new ghettos among the peoples of the world. As you know, these are not new views on my part. I was read out of the Zionist Organization of America in 1915 because among other things, I contended that the Jews should ask for no special privileges in Palestine, but should be content with equal rights. When the Balfour Declaration was issued and the Mandate signed, I did not rejoice. I wrote two modest newspaper articles and delivered a speech (which is printed) in the sense of the views as given above. When you and Felix Warburg and I were discussing matters in Palestine, you with your usual keenness referred to me as believing Zionist policy was altogether too political. I have, as you also know, done what little I could to help bring about a united front for Palestine ever since the beginning, and I must confess that I had hoped that the non-Zionist members of the Agency might give the whole movement a non-political, non-imperialist turn. But your great persuasiveness has carried them with you on the political issues also, and it was mainly on this account that I could not accept the invitation to participate in the Agency. It is also for this reason that I have resolutely tried to keep the University entirely distinct from the political organization. All these years I have kept silent, not wishing to obtrude what appeared to me my minority views, and I had thought that by devoting myself wholly and without deflection to the University, I could make a contribution to my kind of Zionism. But I cannot keep silent for Zion’s sake in these tragic days, and I want to do what little I can to give voice to the views to which I have been trying hitherto to give expression through work alone. You said you would want to convey my views to the meeting of the Actions Committee, and you are at liberty to read them this letter if you think it worthwhile. I am sending a copy of this letter to Felix Warburg. I sympathize with you in the fearful burden you now have to bear, and I can only pray that you may be led to walk in the right path. Yours truly, JIM The imperialistic, ethno-religious supremacist, militaristic, oppressive, land-thieving Zionism that Dr. Magnes found so odious prevailed, and still does. It was rancid to the core from the outset and remains so as shown in the bodies of burned and maimed Palestinian babies, children, women and innocent men, and those living as refugees in an open air prison called Gaza. “……The imperialistic, ethno-religious supremacist, militaristic, oppressive, land-thieving Zionism that Dr. Magnes found so odious prevailed, and still does. It was rancid to the core from the outset and remains so as shown in the bodies of burned and maimed Palestinian babies, children, women and innocent men, and those living as refugees in an open air prison called Gaza…..” The one thing all your reading has done is familiarize yourself with the buzzwords. I mentioned in my last reply that Zionists were conflicted on the creation of a “forced” Jewish state or a “home” for the Jewish people i.e., bi-national, or single state. As Arab resistance grew (1936-1939 riots), Jews likely decided that building a home where you are once again second class citizens was not going to solve any Jewish issues – especially with the situation in Germany at the time. If there was any doubt, or a split leadership, the Holocaust certainly motivated Jews toward a state of their own. The Holocaust was not the deciding factor for creating a state, but it sure was a reality check on anti-Jewish hate and bigotry. Jews are much more militant today than prior to WWII. No one is going to save them from future atrocities. They understand that all too well. Jews likely decided that building a home where you are once again second class citizens was not going to solve any Jewish issues Let me fix that for you tracking Dr. Magnes’ words: Jews likely decided that basing their Jewish life in Palestine on militarism and imperialism; propaganda, bayonets and oppression; forcible establishment of a Jewish majority by stealing from and oppressing the Arabs and depriving them of their rights, that was all ok after all. In this kind of policy the end always justifies the means and Zionist Jews were good with that. And you say: Jews are much more militant today than prior to WWII Fascist. Zionist Jews are fascist in much larger numbers than Jews were early in the 20th century. (You know I can cite Israelis admitting to fascism, so go for it if you want to.) It really doesn’t matter to me what you cite or who you cite. Blumenthal, for example, presents only one side of the story. He is a propagandist for Hamas. Providing quotes is fine, but generally, they prove nothing – except you are infatuated with the word fascist. You would think that sillyputty would criticize you for using that “label” so much. Oh well, radival leftist generally stick together. We have some more peak Craig: Blumenthal… is a propagandist for Hamas. Yes, you learned that from little Benny Shapiro, didn’t you? The same day Chuck Hagel gave a speech to Friends of Hamas, Max Blumenthal signed on as their PR man. Young Benny Shapiro and Craig Summers told me so. Providing quotes is fine, but generally, they prove nothing You didn’t major in history, did you? The textbooks are full of all this meaningless quote stuff. You would think that sillyputty would criticize you for using that “label” so much. If I called other commenters fascists as often as you call us “leftists” I imagine he would. But I am discussing countries, not individuals I disagree with politically. Israel is heading toward full-bore fascism. I could link you to intelligent Israelis stating how and why this is, but you think that their words a priori prove nothing. “……Yes, you learned that from little Benny Shapiro, didn’t you?….” Never heard of him until I read your response. Every prolific writer like Blumenthal and Greenwald eventually betray their own biases. In the interview with Greenwald, Blumenthal bends over backwards to essentially congratulate and highlight the small number of civilian casualties killed by Hamas during the last war: “…….So, the development of the al-Qassam brigades is one of the untold stories of this war. If we look at the casualty total of Israeli citizens, we see that about 72 Israeli citizens died. Sixty-seven of them were combat soldiers, which is evidence that soldiers and not civilians were targeted. Mohammed Deif, the commander of the al-Qassam brigades, and his spokesman, Abu Ubaida, both explicitly declared they were targeting Israeli soldiers, and not civilians. They mocked the Israeli military as cowards for attacking civilians in the Gaza Strip…….” Blumenthal (and the Hamas operatives) clearly ignores the long brutal history of targeting civilians by Hamas. At this point, he has become a spokesman for the internationally recognized terrorist organization propagating propaganda on their behalf. I have read almost nothing of what he writes, but one interview with Greenwald exposed his agenda. By the way, Mr. Blumenthal: “……The Shaar HaNegev school bus attack was a missile attack on 7 April 2011, in which Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip fired a Kornet laser-guided anti-tank missile over the border at an Israeli school bus, killing a schoolboy……..The missile hit the bus after all but one of the children had been dropped off.[3] The only remaining passenger, a 16-year-old boy, Daniel Viflic,[4] was critically injured with shrapnel wounds to the head……..Another mortar barrage was timed to coincide with the arrival of the paramedics, which delayed the evacuation……” “……If I called other commenters fascists as often as you call us “leftists” I imagine he would……” No Mona. Just like the rest of us, he is politically motivated. He is just unwilling to admit that small truth. In other words, he is a hypocrite. <blockquote.Blumenthal (and the Hamas operatives) clearly ignores the long brutal history of targeting civilians by Hamas. At this point, he has become a spokesman for the internationally recognized terrorist organization propagating propaganda on their behalf. Blumenthal is a journalist. He reports facts, even if they are flattering to Hamas, but you have zero evidence he is anyone’s “spokesman” but his own. By the way, Mr. Blumenthal: Max knows all that. He is fully aware that oppressed peoples often do resort to civilian atrocities. The ANC, the IRA — Hamas. But in all three cases the cause was/is just; an oppressor was behaving in a deeply evil manner. Sillyputty -Mona- NFJTAKFA -Mona- I want to thank you, Mona, for the information you continually provide about the insanely racist philosophies of those originating the “Jewish-State” of Israel. The timelines involved easily explain why the subject of any similarities to Nazi ghettoization – lights a fuse of defensiveness for those in denial about the Palestinians. Somehow – history as taught here often overlooks European Jews began supporting their own racist ethnic cleansing and religious genocide for territory – almost decade before the Holocaust began. Not that racist imperialism and might makes right wasn’t a thing for most “armies” everywhere in the early twentieth century – and the U.S. was even still practicing their own racist genocide against Native Americans and black people / slave descendents, especially. Thanks for the David Sheen video link also, and for some reason reminding me of the first time I was outright censored at HuffPost when commenting, more than 9 years ago. It was in its first year and the staff there moderated nothing. Its existence and immediate popularity helped inform a restless public what the administration was really up to then and perhaps also helped the dramatic swing results seen in the 2006 midterms. None of the early bloggers there were known for censoring commenters that I remember, that is – until Alan Dershowitz wrote this pro-Israel piece not too long before Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. I commented and remember asking him some tough questions about UN Resolution 242 and the ghettoization of non-Jews (why did Israel appear to be using methods similar to those used by Nazis in Poland and elsewhere during WWII?). Though it wasn’t asked in an insulting manner, I’m sure he took it that way and I guess he didn’t want to answer. After a couple tries and a long enough wait I knew I was seeing something new at HuffPost, or new to me, where bloggers censored commenters just making them feel uncomfortable. I lost it a bit and even sent an email to Arianna complaining. For weeks after when any appropriate opportunity arose I’d refer to him as “Dershowitless,” and relate to others how he censored commenters with too-tough questions about Israel or himself, so why bother. Ah, old times… -Mona- NFJTAKFA I want to thank you, Mona, for the information you continually provide about the insanely racist philosophies of those originating the “Jewish-State” of Israel. You are most welcome. I enjoy smacking Craig around, and even engaging an, um, dumb ass troll like lenk, but the truth is I do all that mostly for the benefit of reasonable other readers, some of whom just lurk. Same thing when I’m in a Twitter thread and a Zionist pops in — it gives me a chance to spread information to some who are on the fence, and to others who are in the know but are unfamiliar with the evidence I have. As for your HuffPo experience, I got banned at The Guardian for persisting in quoting from and linking to Max Blumenthal. They call their site Comment is Free, or CiF. But CiF actually stands for Comment is Futile. British preciousness, and insistence on “civility” in political debate, make me barf. They can shove all their “community standards” up their ass. ;) I said that wrong. It wasn’t so much Dershowitless didn’t want to answer my questions, because I never really expect bloggers to answer my questions and most are for that reason rhetorical anyway, as he didn’t want anyone else to even see those questions. I also remember the professor’s censorship offended me far more than his blatant bigotry. lenk -Mona- What a dumb ass! It’s 10 years! No it’s actually 20 years! (You should have accepted the typo “15”, but as a dumb ass you cannot notice how bad 20 years look like!) Proud for being on her knees for 20 years, mouth open, getting all of Greenwald’s BS. You are the biggest, pathetic dumb ass I have ever encountered. “I did this and I did that for Greenwald…” and yet you are an unknown dumb ass spending the whole day behind a computer. Pathetic? Yes, when a so-called “educated professional” relies on typo to conclude whether or not somebody is a “dumb ass”, that means she is either pathetic or having an emotional breakdown. Pathetic? Yes, nobody can travel in time and check Russia under Stalin. Therefore, we have no choice, we must rely on reports left by historians, journalists and even politicians. That is why there are people in Russia who deny he committed any crimes. Because they depend on the writing of others. However, you can go to Mexico and see for yourself whether it is the war zone described by the world media. It is not! You can go to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar…and see for yourself whether “they hate us”. They do not hate us! Terrorist groups hate them more than they actually hate us. Dumb Ass Now that I think about it, do not go anywhere. Stay behind the computer, Greenwald probably needs somebody to smell his BS for another 20 years! NFJTAKFA lenk You, on the other hand, would be welcomed by most all of us to leave anytime. Sooner rather than later would also be welcomed. Your every ill-informed comment seems that of a petulant child throwing tantrums for having been repeatedly told no and ultimately punished for bad behavior. Please let the door hit you on your way out. -Mona- lenk and yet you are an unknown dumb ass spending the whole day behind a computer. And thanks the gods I am relatively unknown. I am fame-averse. But spending my time reading books and posting online are my idea of a very good time indeed! (Along with doing stuff with my grandsons, working out, ethnic cooking & etc. But the reading is in close competition with the grandsons for favorite.) However, you can go to Mexico and see for yourself whether it is the war zone described by the world media. No thanks. There are reliable journalists I read on such matters. As I do for Israel-Palestine. Journalists who go those places, know the culture, speak the language(s), as I do not. This is how intelligent people operate. relies on typo Now who you think you’re foolin? You made an elementary subtraction error. “…..Racist Israelis want to keep the system where, should the majority want what the Jews want, then Israel is called a democracy. But if the majority, want something the Jews don’t want, then Israel is in turn a Jewish state. But why would a human being accept such conditions? Did black Americans accept a “white democracy”?, did South Africans? Why would Arab Israelis accept such discrimination? Is it any likelier that they will accept this discrimination in the future?….” First of all, the Jews are the majority so I don’t quite understand what you mean by “…..But if the majority want something the Jews don’t want, then Israel is in turn a Jewish state…..”. Jews came to Palestine to recreate the Land of Israel. It was not a colonialist venture and it was not based on a racist ideal. Jews elected not only to return to their Jewish roots in Palestine, but to escape the antisemitism associated with living as a minority within majority Christian and Muslim populations. The nineteen century was particularly motivating in Europe – and especially Eastern Europe. It is plainly racist to believe that Zionism is racism because it is clearly designed to deny the motivation for returning to the Jewish state. Your reference to Apartheid South Africa is false because the race-based laws in South Africa made it unique. Look up the LAWS of Apartheid South Africa. It is also racist to deny Jewish people their right to self-determination and to hold Israel to a different standard than any other country – like Armenia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the multitude of Islamic states (like Pakistan and Kosovo created for the same reason). This is a time when the west celebrates multiculturalism – except for Jews. It is the height of intolerance and hypocrisy by supposedly “liberal” commentators to question the right of a Jewish state to exist. It is also the height of hypocrisy and racism for Israelis (Jews) to deny Palestinians the same rights in a state of their own. Jews are a minority population world-wide. Jewish people have always lived as a minority population facing discrimination, humiliation, murder and genocide (the real kind nuf). This has gone on for more than two thousand years. Of course, they are not the only minority to face these kinds of conditions – like the Kurds, Gypsies, Tibetans, Ughurs and a multitude of others. There are minority populations world-wide fighting for the right to self-determination facing a bitter, sometimes violent struggle. Tibet was arguably an independent country when invaded by the Chinese. “Free Tibet” used to be a liberal cause. Jewish people succeeded with some help from the colonial powers. Because Jewish people are still a tiny minority compared to Muslims, they have made laws which ensure they remain a majority population in their own country. Those include land and immigration laws. The laws are discriminatory, but important to remain a Jewish majority state. Israeli-Palestinians live in an imperfect democracy to be sure, but they vote, serve in the Knesset, organize political parties, attend the same Universities as Jews, sit on the Supreme Court and so on. They face discrimination and racism, but so do Jews in Arab countries. This is the expected result of 100 years of fighting. Is this the ideal situation for Palestinian Arabs? No, but a Palestinian majority state would not be ideal for Jews as they would be a minority again (not to mention the conflict Arabs are having between state and religion throughout the Middle East). Regardless, any minority population that created a state would need to have the same kinds of laws. Armenia – an ethnic state – certainly would not allow unfettered immigration by people from Turkey any more than Pakistan would allow 200,000,000 Hindus to immigrate to Pakistan. Jews are a small minority living in a state of their own so the laws are necessary. All minority populations face discrimination from the majority. Finally, the two state solution is certainly possible. Jewish settlements actually take only a small percentage of the West Bank land. It should be remembered that the Palestinians and Middle East Arabs rejected the two state solution with an invasion in 1948. Indeed, Jordan ruled East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza until 1967 (nearly twenty years) and never considered a Palestinian state. Israel traded land for peace with Egypt in 1979. In 1993, Israel and the Palestinians recognized a two state solution and signed the Oslo Accords (with negotiations over the dividing line). In 2000, the Palestinians started the second Intifada leading to the suffocating conditions today. Israel disbanded their settlements from Gaza in 2005. It will take the right Israeli leader (not Netanyahu) and some commitments (or disbanding) from Hamas for a solution to the conflict. It is plainly racist to believe that Zionism is racism because it is clearly designed to deny the motivation for returning to the Jewish state. Codswallop. Political Zionism is racist. Spiritual Zionism — a return to Palestine to establish a spiritual center for Jewish values and traditions as Judah Magnes advocated — is not. A peaceful sharing of the land with the indigenous population would not have been racist. Political Zionism by definition is not peaceful — it is predicated on stealing land and forcing the inhabitants out of their ancestral cities, villages and homes. It is profoundly racist. Political Zionism is justified, and has been since at least Jabotisnky, on the basis that the indigenous Arabs are “savages” and unworthy of the land they live on. The quotes documenting this racism are numerous and disgusting, as you know Craig, because you’ve seen them many times. Political Zionism is ethno-supremacist racism to its core. It is its very foundation. “…….A peaceful sharing of the land with the indigenous population would not have been racist. Political Zionism by definition is not peaceful — it is predicated on stealing land and forcing the inhabitants out of their ancestral cities, villages and homes. It is profoundly racist……” First of all, Jews were always looked down upon by Arabs and Persians. You know that as well. Jews always lived as second class citizens in the Islamic Empire. Arabs and Persians were racist, but tolerated the Jews for the most part because Jews were non-threatening and peaceful. They paid a dhimmi tax just to live on Arab land despite the fact that Jews had lived in the Middle East for nearly 2000 years prior to the beginning of Islam. The Islamic Empire grew from violence and mandated conversions to Islam well within the European continent. Jews were also caught up in Islamic violence and were forced to convert or die on many occasions. Racism is a human quality not confined just to Jews. Jordan issued its own law of return to Palestinian residents in 1954 – except for Jews. The Arabs viewed Palestine as Islamic Holy Land, so the Jewish people understood quite well the potential resistance as they RETURNED to Jerusalem – the holiest city in Judaism – to build a country. Even then, there was disagreement within the Jewish (Zionists) leadership whether to just build a homeland or a state. Their choices were second class citizenship within Palestine or a rebirth of their country. So racism is far from the one-sided affair you like to project. Second of all, the Jews did immigrate peacefully and didn’t steal Palestinian land. They either bought the land outright from Palestinians or from absentee land owners. They developed the land and were a thriving community in Palestine even before the Balfour Declaration was signed. I am certain that the aware Jewish immigrants anticipated violence and resistance from the Palestinians, but that in no way makes Zionism equivalent to racism (except European racism). Much of the land partitioned into Israel in 1947 was state-owned land and Arabs living in the nascent state retained their land ownership. There was nothing in Zionism which called for expelling Palestinian Arabs. It was the impending attack by Arab armies in 1948 which led to the expelling of the Palestinians prior to Israel declaring independence. Plan Dalet was not in effect. Second of all, the Jews did immigrate peacefully and didn’t steal Palestinian land. They either bought the land outright from Palestinians or from absentee land owners. They developed the land and were a thriving community in Palestine even before the Balfour Declaration was signed. Yes, the Zionists did buy some land from absentee Arab landlords and kicked the Arab tenants out, took over and established businesses, and wouldn’t hire Arabs; the businesses were Jew only. The Arabs could see what the political Zionists were doing and understood what was happening to them — political Zionists didn’t hide their goals. There was nothing in Zionism which called for expelling Palestinian Arabs. It was the impending attack by Arab armies in 1948 which led to the expelling of the Palestinians prior to Israel declaring independence. Now Craig, why do you post horseshit like that when you know I can and have demonstrated that forcibly removing the Arabs was part of the plan for political Zionists from the time of Jabotisnky, if not before? The letter above by Judah Magnes shows he also knew the political Zionists were likely planning it. The Zionist immigrants could have chosen fair and peaceful co-existence as Magnes advocated. They did not. They were racists who chose land theft, oppression and ethnic cleansing. (Even Judah Magnes was racist in calling the Arabs “savages.” It’s what Zionists commonly said of Arab Palestinians.) I guess you need to see the Moshe Dayan quote again, from his eulogy at a 1956 funeral for an Israeli soldier killed by Gazans: Let us not today fling accusation at the murderers. What cause have we to complain about their fierce hatred to us? For eight years now, they sit in their refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes we turn into our homestead the land and villages in which they and their forefathers have lived. We should demand his blood not from the Arabs of Gaza but from ourselves. . . . Let us make our reckoning today. We are a generation of settlers, and without the steel helmet and gun barrel, we shall not be able to plant a tree or build a house. . . . Let us not be afraid to see the hatred that accompanies and consumes the lives of hundreds of thousands of Arabs who sit all around us and wait for the moment when their hands will be able to reach our blood. Just so. Israeli-Palestinians live in an imperfect democracy to be sure Please cite the top 3 imperfections of the State of Israel. There is only one (because I am a tolerant conservative) – the West Bank settlements and preventing Palestinian self-determination (they are intertwined). You are a deluded fool if you think that is the sole imperfection of Israel. You place yourself out of adult and reasonable discussion. It’s all cool, though, because it’s not like the US would ever legislate a double standard to make up for the lack of disparity between the US and people of other nationalities and ethnicities. Right? @JLocke: “From the standpoint of someone who cares deeply about the ethnic Jewish project in Israel, where do you see it going from here?” I would defer to people more knowledgeable than I concerning the thought processes of Israeli Zionists, but I do have some familiarity with Jewish Zionists in the Diaspora. Many cling to the dream of a “two-state solution” as Jewish Israel’s salvation. They believe, out of honest ignorance or an almost willful self-delusion, that such a solution is practicable and that Israel has some interest in bringing it about. Others who are less well-intentioned dream of maintaining the status quo, in which a relatively secure and prosperous Israel is able to keep the Palestinians in the occupied territories stateless and subjugated indefinitely. Others just don’t want to think about it. “You are a politically-motivated far left wing hypocrite sillyputty” – CraigSplainingSummers Not at all. As I’ve said to you repeatedly, it’s not the label (or the pigeonhole, or the group) per se that I object to, it’s the actions of individuals. That’s what’s known as empathically motivated, as in I don’t run around crying “Leftist this! Politically motivated that!” because not only is that simple-minded, it removes the human from the action, thus muddying the waters of debate, rather than making them more clear and precise – which if you’re interested in anything but labeling, pigeonholing, and name-calling (you, demonstrably, are not) will actually lead to honest discourse and, if not outright solutions, at least a better understanding. So in the end it is you, CraigSplainingSummers, that is the biggest hypocrite of all. You claim you want others to understand your position, yet you constantly booby-trap and derail the debate with these childish rhetorical flourishes and politically motivated talking points. By the way, have you answered the oft asked Palestinian question yet? I thought not. Hypocrite. ““Often those that criticize others reveal what he himself lacks.” – Shannon L. Alder Amelia Sillyputty I’ll bite. What is the oft-asked Palestinian question? General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned – Seven Countries In Five Years “This is a memo that describes how we’re going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.” I said, “Is it classified?” He said, “Yes, sir.” I said, “Well, don’t show it to me.” And I saw him a year or so ago, and I said, “You remember that?” He said, “Sir, I didn’t show you that memo! I didn’t show it to you!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RC1Mepk_Sw&feature=player_embedded General Wesley Clark Asked About 7 Country War Plan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pGkFMho6Co @Lenk As a former hasbarist, I find you embarrassing. You truly, abysmally suck at it. But then maybe you aren’t a hasbarist after all. The hasbarist attempts to persuade others, or at least to create the impression of a good faith debate between reasonable opposing positions. You’re not trying to do that, are you? You’re just pleasuring yourself by bellowing nonsense and insulting your moral and intellectual betters. I expect you’ll get bored and move along soon enough. lenk Gator90 I am not here to debate. This is not my nature to debate idiots and dumb asses. I just expose their stupidity. Hell yeah, I will move along. There is nothing attractive about being surrounded by dumb asses. At the end one might become a dumb ass by hanging around them. You better be careful yourself. In a reasonable universe FACTS cannot be classified as “nonsense”. You’re just pleasuring yourself by bellowing nonsense and insulting your moral and intellectual betters. Yeah, shrieking “Dumb Ass!!!” a gazillion times is this one’s notion of “facts.” Or so it claims. Really, it’s just a troll. Dumb Ass!! You also need to change the “troll” line. Your lines are getting old. “Community college”, “troll”…what’s next? “Greenwald does not tolerate trolls” “high volume”. Be more creative when facing with those who actually prove you that you are a dumb ass. You have being surrounded by so many idiots, and pussies who swallow all the BS you or TI gave them that you are unaware that you are a dumb ass queen. “Greenwald does not tolerate trolls” “high volume”. That is true, altho it’s really “crapflooders” whom Glenn won’t tolerate. But I have not posted this information since you began participating, which suggests you are either a lurking fan of mine, or a returning troll who has already been banned back under a different account. Either way, it’s a testament to my perceived effectiveness, and I again thank you for all the opportunities to post my factual information. Oh yeah, I came here from time to time to laugh at the TI puppies. And it is amazing how you got dumber and dumber. Believe me I have no intention of familiarize myself with idiots like you. Dumb Ass! So “effective” at barking that after years of being on your knees swallowing Greenwald’s BS, life got worse for the people you claim you are defending and better for the people you oppose. I am curious. What kind of tissue do you use? It must be hard to keep your face clean spending so much time accepting so much BS. And you really thanking me for posting information here? You are here every single day drinking TI cool aid. You have nothing else to do you sits behind a computer and believes you know more than others who have a life that consists of leaving the house, working, or visiting the Middle East before they dare to comment about it. What a dumb ass!! You are here every single day drinking TI cool aid. You have nothing else to do you sits behind a computer and believes you know more than others who have a life that consists of leaving the house, working, or visiting the Middle East before they dare to comment about it. Oh, absolutely. I’ve been a regular participant in Greenwald’s comments since he began blogging in ’05. As a well-educated, retired professional who continues to read a very great deal, I do offer a lot of documentation for my claims which annoys Zionists to no end. Including you. The sheer frothing and rage from Zionists I inspire everywhere I participate, including Twitter, is a good metric of my effectiveness. Eventually, many Zionists/hasbara-ists on Twitter decided to ignore me, because all they were doing was giving me opportunity to post mountains of unflattering documentation about Israel and Zionists/ism. When are you going to figure out the same thing? ” I have been …participant in Greenwald’s…since ’05” WOW What an accomplishment! You spent 15 years typing BS, and exposing your ignorance while Greenwald became famous, wrote books, sign probably million dollar contracts with the same people he criticizes. And you? Still here behind the computer spending hours calling everybody trolls and Zionists and thinking the Zionists who have become more powerful during that same period are annoyed by you! What a dumb ass!! Well, “educated professional” (lol) keep using TWITTER as a “good metric” to evaluate your success in solving problems in the Middle East. You spent 15 years typing BS, and exposing your ignorance while Greenwald became famous, wrote books, sign probably million dollar contracts with the same people he criticizes. And you? Lessee. Take 2015, subtract 2005, and, well — I know math is hard lenk — but I get 10. (Can we get another “Dumb Ass!” from lenk? Ha!) See lenk, I’m retired. I’ve line-edited three of Glenn’s book manuscripts and occasionally researched for him, but I do not want a job. (If I did, I could almost certainly have one with First Look in a heartbeat. I’m Glenn’s friend and former law partner and we work well on written projects together. From time to time he asks me to do something he knows I can help him with, and I do it happily.) No, lenk. I am happy as a pig in shit that Glenn has done so exceedingly well (tho not especially surprised). Educating people in his comments, on Twitter and in a few other online venues leaves me quite content, and I won’t be stopping any time soon. But I do not have or want a job. Back over to you, lenk. And rememebr lenk: 10 Useful Idiots -Mona- Also, it bugs me when you refer to people as an ‘it’. And when you do the same thing you accuse other people of doing. Clearly there’s a lot of insult slinging around here but… ugh. Jan 7, 2014 Rule from the Shadows – The Psychology of Power – Part 1 Time we to look behind the curtain. https://youtu.be/p8ERfxWouXs Zionist troll lenk spews: You can’t actually believe that your online barking has worked? Can you? Palestinians are getting worse while Israelis are getting better, a FACT! Actually, Netanyahu and other prominent Israelis have recently began citing the exponentially growing BDS movement as an “existential threat.” Israeli farmers are very upset at lost sales to Europe due to BDS — you’ve seen the Ynetnews.com article documenting that. You are also aware that Israel and Zionists are deeply concerned about the effect of the Internet in challenging the Zionist narrative and are strategizing how to combat people like me. I documented that for you here: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/30/listen-wsjs-bret-stephens-secretely-plot-pro-israel-evangelicals-killing-iran-deal/?comments=1#comment-154500 As between the anxiety anti-Zionist Internet activism is arousing in Zionist officials on the one hand, and some anonymous guy named “lenk” in comments here on the other, I’m going to go with the likelihood that the anxious Zionists are that way for a reason. Finally, I thank you for the opportunity to reproduce so much documentation of Zionist error, anxiety and depravity Is that the same Netanyahu who stated ten years ago that Iran was about to get a nuclear bomb in two years? And then five years later, Iran was about to get the bomb in two years? I thought Iran was the “existential threat”. Was it what he said years after years? What a Dumb Ass! Basic intelligent individuals do not judge politicians by what they say as politicians are full of shit. Individuals with basic intelligence study facts to evaluate their strategy. Netanyahu’s political statements do not match the reality on the ground that you cannot see because you are a dumb ass. Israel is stronger economically and militarily than before while Palestinians got worse. That is a FACT. You forgot about French farmers, Texan farmers, South Korean farmers…they are all upset because they are losing money. I guess those countries, France, USA, South Korea are done. Do not thank me. I never intended to expose your stupidity. Above all, they fear their increasing pariah status. Boycotts of apartheid South Africa only mildly affected that nation economically. But the shame of being the villain of the Western world became intolerable. This will happen when “Don’t play Tel Aviv” is as popular as once was “Don’t play Sun City.” And it’s gathering potency as we type. Thank you again for this opportunity. Boycotts of apartheid South Africa started in the early 60’s. It did not work! Yeah dumb ass, a bunch of racists, colonialists who proudly killed blacks on TV were “ashamed”. What a dumb ass! Things got worst in South Africa until the 80’s when Western Nations/companies engaged in “disinvestment” and sanctions in that country. That policy affected SA’s economy and ultimately the minority’s wealth. Then, they decided to negotiate. This is historical facts available for free at the public library in your city. You are simply incorrect, and provide merely assertions. Where is your evidence? As a stated, it is a lost hope! Dumb Ass!! Translation: “I have no evidence for my vacuous claims which I pulled out of my ass.” Talking about ass. How does it feel to be buried in Greenwald’s ass for 10 years? For a “well educated professional’ who reads a lot, your knowledge of world history is pathetic. I suggest you take a break from his ass and leave the house to travel to those places. You will not have to read. You will meet the people on the ground, the witnesses and they will tell you what happened. How does it feel to be buried in Greenwald’s ass for 10 years? Aha! lenk actually can subtract. Anyway, it’s 20 years. Glenn and I have been good friends for 20 years. We’ve been bugging the shit out of authoritarian fuckwits like you online since the days of CompuServe — it’s how we met. We had a grand time driving social conservatives to emotional breakdowns. So lenk. I’m pretty sure that everything I’ve read about Stalin’s U.S.S.R. means it was not a good place to live; that there were a few issues. Now lenk, I’ve never been there, and of course, given the lack of time travel I can’t go there. But I’m going to remain out on a limb and rely on my education and reading to support the notion that it was a most unpleasant place. Ditto all of that re: Israel. Who taught your classes, and who wrote your books? We are a product of our environments, usually — so are our beliefs, Mona. Most of the books, textbooks and newspapers I read (and I did read a lot of them during the ‘Cold War’) were written from a highly Americanised viewpoint. The ones that were written in English that WEREN’T written by Americans were written often to counter propaganda with other propaganda. That’s just the way things were: Each side called each other ‘bad’. Back then, the USSR was ‘evil’ so generally much of the information was tainted by that belief system. Look at pretty much every last movie made by Americans depicting life in the USSR during that period — especially movies MADE during that period. Actually, I hope you never have to do so, because, let me tell you, they are really really bad. And one can probably assume the same was true from the other direction. Why would you believe things are any different now? Let me correct myself: Why would you believe things are any better or more honest? If anything, propaganda has gotten SO SO much more effective, and that’s not a good thing. Even then, as a young adult, you believed that the USSR was ‘most unpleasant’, although you’d never been there. My guess is you also were never close friends with anybody from there during that time period. Ditto Africa. You may have friends in Israel, but I’m not sure you’ve ever stayed with Palestinians for a week or two. I think you probably rely on black and white thinking based on incomplete information and heuristics because the world is too damned big and complex (and it is). But relying on education and reading alone don’t teach anybody anything. Only getting out there and countering your own preconceived notions and putting yourself in situations to see things from new, different perspectives can really teach people tolerance or even understand that one person’s idea of ‘unpleasant’ and another person’s idea of ‘unpleasant’ can be two very very different things — and that is especially true when differing cultures are involved. On a small scale, such things as personal space are an easily accessible example of how differently cultures can interpret various things. Spend some time around someone from Japan or Korea, then someone in Italy (or Brazil), then someone from Russia, then someone from San Francisco, then someone from LA, then someone from India, then someone from Israel, then someone from … you get my point. A lot of people, right now, would consider America a most unpleasant place to live. Does that MAKE IT a most unpleasant place to live? Probably depends on who you ask and if they’re actually living there, or have lived there. And that’s my point. In case you were curious, your “Boycotts of apartheid South Africa only mildly affected that nation economically. But the shame of being the villain of the Western world became intolerable.” is what provoked me to reply. Your assumption that being the villain of the Western world was intolerable as the reason that apartheid ended… no. Also, I’m disturbed you’re resorting to shame-slutting or reducing people for anonymity, here. I’ve seen you do it a lot and I just wanted to say that before I shuttle off for the day. :) JLocke states: From my perspective, the ideal solution would be a multi-ethnic democracy, with minority religious, cultural, and education rights for everyone. This would be preferable to the splitting of the area into two states. This is the only thing that realistically can happen. Zionism has already implemented the 1-state solution: It’s an apartheid state with over 4 million Palestinians living in subjugated oppression by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank. So much more land has been stolen from Palestinians since the founding of Israel in ’48, violently taken — including by illegal settlements — that there is nothing left for a Palestinian state. Moreover, there is no moral means for Israel to exist as a “Jewish state: such a means cannot be contrived. Ali Abunimah analyzes this issue in his books — an excerpt from one is reproduced here, my emphasis: Given the centrality of Israel’s claim, the question of whether Israel does indeed have a “right to exist as a Jewish state” deserves serious consideration. A useful lens through which to examine this proposition is the foundational legal maxim I cited at the beginning of this chapter. Put in simple terms, if a person bears a right, then there must be some venue—usually a court of law—where she can seek to have that right enforced, to have a penalty imposed on the violator, or to obtain some other form of legal relief. [1] In the formulation of the eighteenth-century jurist William Blackstone, “It is a settled and invariable principle in the laws of England, that every right when with-held must have a remedy, and every injury its proper redress.” His insertion of the word proper reminds us that a remedy must be lawful and equitable. If my neighbor cuts down my tree, a proper remedy might include paying damages to me, replacing the tree, and perhaps some restraining order to prevent him from felling other trees. It would not be a proper remedy for me to vengefully cut down my neighbor’s trees, demolish his house, or kill his children. Do read the rest: http://mondoweiss.net/2014/03/abunimahs-justice-palestine#sthash.IzI8RAAu.dpuf There are no answers to the points Abunimah makes that can be answered in a Zionist fashion that are also moral. It’s like trying to square the circle. You could not have read and understood Abunimah’s article in the time before you commented. Can you substantively rebut his arguments? Terry5135 I’m sorry, I must have taken a wrong term. I see here the JLocke forum for obtuse perception and pointless existence, but I was looking for the comment section to a Greenwald article. Can anyone direct me? JLocke Terry5135 Terry5135 – “I’m sorry, I must have taken a wrong term. I see here the JLocke forum for obtuse perception and pointless existence” I’m sorry everybody, I’ve robbed you all of Terry’s….acute?, perceptions. Now we’ll never know what Terry was going to write. Maybe something about me being a poopyface. Pedinska JLocke Actually, I think Terry was attempting to be humorous in a Monty Pythonesque sort of way. Your mileage varied, but I think it might have been a victim of the inability of the intertubes to display tone and nuance at times. :-) It’s getting more and more embarrassing to be a human being. I’ve been contemplating converting – and becoming a bear. Pedinska Terry5135 We are all looking for that perfect trash can. The one with the tastiest unidentifiable, odd colored liquid to drink. I hope you find yours. https://twitter.com/A_single_bear -Mona- Terry5135 According to Ondelette, I’m a mynah bird. (Or as Ondy spells it, “minah.”) That’s ok with me — they can be quite beautiful. Bears, however, are not very pretty, you poor thing. I’ve been thinking, as marvellous as Mona’s marathon battles on Zionism are, What would really be fabulous would be If someone could present, from a zionist perspective, how they see the future unfolding in Palestine/Israel. From the standpoint of someone who cares deeply about the ethnic Jewish project in Israel, where do you see it going from here? All I can see, is a rear-guard holding action, up the ante on violence, hope that magically, something will happen that will make zionism’s problems go away. (The millions of Palestinians without voting rights in the West Bank and Gaza, the hostility most Middle Easterners have towards Israel, Israel’s place in the strategic rivalry between Iran and the US backed dictatorships.) From my perspective, the ideal solution would be a multi-ethnic democracy, with minority religious, cultural, and education rights for everyone. This would be preferable to the splitting of the area into two states. Two states would hamper integration, mutual understanding, there would be lingering disputes over the initial distribution of water and land, How would the Jewish state remain “pure”?Would intermarriage remain eternally banned? What if the “ultra-ultra” orthodox decided they wanted a third state…the second one not being Jewish enough for their liking? Would the nation split again? That is why I think a one person one vote democracy is more flexible, resilient, less prone to balkanization, or further splintering. – “When the Israeli army repeatedly kills young Palestinians in non-life-threatening situations, should we be surprised by the emergence of Jewish terrorism? The direct connection between the dehumanization of Arab lives that led to the outrage in Duma and the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his fellow ministers should not surprise. For in what other democracy would a head of state dare appoint as the country’s justice minister an individual who posted approvingly on her Facebook page, as Ayelet Shaked did, an article by a fellow ideologue calling for the murder of Arab infants and their mothers in Gaza, whom he described as “snakes,” so they not breed future Arab terrorists? “ http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.669429 Sillyputty JLocke “What would really be fabulous would be If someone could present, from a zionist perspective, how they see the future unfolding in Palestine/Israel.” – JLocke This was asked of CraigSummers quite some time ago; several times, in fact. To date, CraigSummers refuses to answer. If you want to cite the original article where that question was (supposedly) posed, then I’ll look into what actually was asked and who asked it Thanks sillyputty nuf said CraigSummers The question has been asked in this forum yet you avoid the unpleasant answer; Israel sees a future without Palestinians. Israel is practicing genocide. thanks craigy Jose nuf said It’s rather obvious, so there’s no need for Craig to answer. If someone is opposed to both the 1-state solution and the 2-state solution, what’s left? Evidently, they want Palestinians to go away, and then claim the Palestinian territories for Israel. Regarding how this might be accomplished, there would have to be a spectrum that goes from outright genocide to displacement. At best, they would have to be hoping that life for Palestinians gets so miserable that they “self-deport”. The brutal blockade of Gaza should be viewed in this context, and not just in the context of security. Sillyputty Jose “It’s rather obvious, so there’s no need for Craig to answer.” – Jose Thanks Jose. I’ll not address the “obviousness” of it, just note that it is foundational to CraigSplainingSummers credibility, because despite his faux ignorance in this specific case, CraigSplainingSummers mentioned the issue in the first place, and when I specifically questioned, CraigSplainingSummers did everything, including claiming that it was asked and answered already, to get out of explaining his position on the issue. And the more this all gets sidetracked with assertions that CraigSplainingSummers doesn’t have to answer “obvious” questions, the easier it becomes for CraigSplainingSummers to continue skating on the thin ice of his ideological laurels here. CraigSplainingSummers’ got this gig all figured out: prevaricate, obfuscate, redirect; just name the fallacy, CraigSplainingSummers practices it. CraigSummers nuf said And you, sir, are practicing at being a dope……..just kidding keep up the good work (none of which I believe) “If you want to cite the original article where that question was (supposedly) posed, then I’ll look into what actually was asked and who asked it” – CraigSplainingSummers I asked it, several times. You dodged it, several times, even after several others here mentioned that they, too, would like an answer to it. Me, I’m not going to dig the damn thing up again – because it was with that specific question that you cemented (for me) you unalterable position as that of a bad-faith commenter. Of course, you could always address Jlocke’s iteration of it right here and now, but I really don’t see that happening. Almost certainly this will be followed by either no answer at all; a complete, expletive laden denial; and/or a side-stepping ‘whattaboutery’ list of the reasons why CraigSplainingSummers should not/can not/will not answer it now. Likely, it will be all of the above, over time…Because it will be anything but a substantive answer. I mean, to me, as a democrat, it is self evident, if the majority of people want the town painted purple, the town is painted purple. If we feel strongly that the town should always be painted purple, we could create a constitution, and write in their that the town shall always be painted purple. But not for a moment does a democrat believe that, should sometime in the future, the majority want the town to be painted orange, that the people don’t have the right to colour the town orange. Racist Israelis want to keep the system where, should the majority want what the Jews want, then Israel is called a democracy. But if the majority, want something the Jews don’t want, then Israel is in turn a Jewish state. But why would a human being accept such conditions? Did black Americans accept a “white democracy”?, did South Africans? Why would Arab Israelis accept such discrimination? Is it any likelier that they will accept this discrimination in the future? – “Israel’s future as a democratic and pluralistic society is at stake We have not learned to understand that the battle today is different. It is not about dividing Jerusalem, but over our continued existence as a democratic and pluralistic society in its nature; about the continued proper functioning of the legal system, given the lack of a constitution; over civil rights, which are being eroded because of the emphasis on the Jewish and the minimizing of the democratic, while turning our backs on the world of customs and laws and limits on destructiveness. “ ondelette JLocke Thanks for that Haaretz cite, JLocke. Chills to the bone. -Mona- JLocke I tried to read that article from 2 Twitter links earlier, and just tried yours as well. I’ve also tried from Google. Nothing can get me past the Haaretz paywall. I got past the paywall by registering. It’s free, and: “By signing up to our website, you are now able to read up to 6 articles per month on Haaretz.com. On the 1st day of each month, the counter will reset itself.” The ‘register’ link is to the right of the ‘log-in’ button. -Mona- Sillyputty Thanks! I shall do that. Lenk (is this a new one or a respawn?) just seems to be using the old “aggression will mask my lack of understanding trick”. If you can’t figure out how to talk reasonably with people here, why should anyone believe you have the answers to other, slightly more complicated problems? And with ondelette it boils down to this: – “As for the American must concentrate on American effects crap, no, I don’t agree. Systems are interlocked and interrelated and complex by nature. Singling out the American subset of every system for criticism produces no solutions, just a lot of great sounding rhetoric that never does anything to end the really brutal repression in places like Sudan or Eritrea, much less the human catastrophes in Yemen or South Sudan. “ He’s saying that singling out any subset of the world’s problem’s yields no solutions, which would be news if it were true. In order to model a problem it is necessary to create an incomplete representation of a system in order to find a solution. (The alternative? Even philosophically, with infinite resources, if you were trying to create a complete representation of reality, that representation of reality would have to include a model of that perfect model….and so on. The result? No solution. Which, in this case, from the point of view of middle east dictators and their western backers, is not such an unhappy outcome.) I think there is an implicit understanding here that we are operating inside political entities of some sort, with each of us having a certain amount of power to sway the course of the nations in which we live. And those nations have a finite amount of power to affect the course of history. I get to choose whether I argue about US/Egypt policy, or whether I argue about something else. Something inside me said that I should spend my limited resources writing about US/Egypt. At this place and time, I thought that would do the most good. Now someone can argue about whether I made the correct choice (let’s call them ondelette), and then someone else can question the validity of that question (let’s call them rrhead), and there’s nothing wrong with that at all, I only point out that it takes the form of recursive objections about objections, for example someone could argue that ondelette’s critique of GG doesn’t take into account every other aspect of reality that wasn’t mentioned by ondelette. In order to model a problem it is necessary to create an incomplete representation of a system in order to find a solution. (The alternative? Even philosophically, with infinite resources, if you were trying to create a complete representation of reality, that representation of reality would have to include a model of that perfect model….and so on. The result? No solution. Nobody asked for a complete representation of reality. There’s one already out there, since this reality is directly observable by at least the journalists (if they bothered, or wanted to), and if you don’t know about it, it’s either your fault for not reading what they wrote, or theirs for never writing it. Something is a very flawed model if it fails to take into account the major degrees of freedom which influence the system, or if it elevates degrees of freedom that are down in the weeds to major status. It’s even more wrong if it categorically fails to resemble the system it’s attempting to explicate. There is, at its core, a very, very good reason for criticizing this article. The country directly to the south of Egypt is a case study in so many of the ills plaguing this world, that official and adversarial ignorance of the role it’s playing in the world begs the question do the people who ignore it even care if their world view has nothing to do with reality? Case in point: Glenn is bitching up the sale of weapons to Egypt. The sale he’s talking about is $1.3 billion worth of weapons, and numbers like that get tossed around on sites like this all the time to “prove” that the greatest transgressor in flooding the world with arms is the U.S. It’s an easy target for a lazy journalist who can easily fill the air with noise just from the front page headlines. But for all the sound and fury about this sale, in point of fact is that Egypt has not really used its expensive toys much lately — they did bomb some ISIS people in Libya in retaliation for the beheading of Copts, and perhaps that’s a massive human rights violation, given that “Chris” over on the civilian casualties article is opining that ISIS isn’t really bad. But in general, they are parked, or part of an air show, or maybe doing training exercises, or participating in parades. Are they dangerous? Absolutely. The Saudis just went nuts and started using theirs. Are they currently or planned in the near future going to be killing people? Who knows. By contrast, China recently sold $38 million in small arms to the Republic of Sudan, most of which went directly across the border to fuel the one conflict that is currently topping all others in this world for brutality right now. People — human rights groups, humanitarian actors, governments — protested and China made some motions like it was trying to stop it, but the arms reached what had probably been their destination all along. $1.5 Billion to a country that jails journalists vs. $38 Million to their neighbor to the south. Five will get you ten, that comparison in your “model” is no contest. A miniscule 2.5% of the evil of the U.S. did. And if you read in both the article writer’s dictum that the U.S. “support heinous regimes as long as they carry out U.S. dictates” and the frequent commenters here who firmly believe that China’s Africa policy is one of economics and that’s why it succeeds where the imperialist military policy of the U.S. fails there, and then factor in the Noam Chomsky bullshit that we can affect the policy of the U.S. and it’s cowardly to criticize the behaviors of others instead, the model that emerges is totally wrong. Totally. Here is the correct model: China really did try to pull back that shipment when the searchlight of the world’s human rights groups and governments was suddenly accusing it of violating an arms embargo. So much for the Chomskian bullshit that only criticizing one’s own government has an effect in the world. Sooner criticisms might have prevented it, therefore, but, for example, the world’s most adversarial journalist simply didn’t know it was going on and barely knows what country lies to the south of Egypt. Next and most important piece of information: Unlike those jets that will remain parked or not in Egypt, weapons shipped to Sudan supply conflicts in at least 14 countries that we can document in Africa. In some cases, just like the infamous Rothschilds, they are arming both sides of the conflicts, or all sides in some cases, since in places like the Great Lakes region, it is not uncommon for there to be 15 or 20 sides to the conflict. And final piece of information: Because of shipments like this and others, and the enormous numbers of small arms funneled to regimes in Africa by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the street price for a fully automatic war weapon called the AK-47 in Africa is $30. Because of very current and ongoing shipments like this one, the street price of a Chinese-made grenade is currently about $0.50. Fifty cents is what it costs to commit an explosive attack Glenn would call “terrorism” if it happened anywhere whatsoever in the United States, and most of you would find intolerable if it went off in Gaza. It’s soooo so tempting to just shorten the whole criticism to, “Black lives don’t matter.” Not to Glenn, not to your Chomsky chatter. Not to the future of “adversarial journalism.” My letter to Betsy Reed that so many of you urged me to write instead of posting things like this, written June 22nd, is still unanswered. When your model is so blatantly wrong that it is failing to establish the importance of suffering which is preventable, when it is so blatantly wrong that it is failing to use any of the supposed “power to sway” you think you have to prevent the killing, raping, burning, and hacking to death of human beings where it actually could at least alleviate suffering and provide the international pressure to cow some weapons exchanges, then in what sense is it a model at all? Real functioning models don’t miss the most important point, and their proponents don’t usually argue that the point they missed is down in the details that nobody can be expected to know. barncat ondelette then factor in the Noam Chomsky bullshit that we can affect the policy of the U.S. and it’s cowardly to criticize the behaviors of others instead Fyi, the Chomsky quote that Greenwald references makes no mention of courage or cowardice. ondelette barncat It is very easy to denounce the atrocities of someone else. I was giving Noam the benefit of the doubt on why he thought it was not so easy ethically to criticize one’s own country. If you like, I’ll chalk the “very easy” inserted there up to something else? Chomsky: It is very easy to denounce the atrocities of someone else. That has about as much ethical value as denouncing atrocities that took place in the 18th century. It’s easy because, in his opinion, there’s nothing one can do about the atrocities of other governments (hence the 18th century comparison). “My own concern is primarily the terror and violence carried out by my own state … because … I can do something about it.” That’s the point you’re rebutting with the Chinese arms shipment. So, you don’t need to add something to Chomsky’s argument that isn’t there. (Even if you could reasonably infer “cowardice” from “easiness”, why argue the point? You don’t need that.) Benito Mussolini barncat because … I can do something about it Chomsky’s premise is incorrect, so his conclusion must be unsound. US citizens have no power to compel their government to do anything. When two people complain about the weather, they’re not trying to spur each other to action. Rather, they are sharing a moment of sympathy – primarily for themselves, but also for a fellow human being. So criticism is a combination of self pity and team building. Once this is understood, it’s clear that all Americans have a duty to criticize other countries in the harshest possible terms. lenk Benito Mussolini “US citizens have no power to compel their government to do anything.” (El Dulce) That is true! For example, the US government decided by itself that it was time for minorities to have equal rights under the law. So, President Johnson and Congress passed the Civil Right Act without any of the demonstrations, repressions experienced by other countries. Have you been teaching history to some commentators here? barncat Benito Mussolini When two people complain about the weather, they’re not trying to spur each other to action. You’re talking about climate change? We can do something about that. If we’re causing it, we can stop causing it. The people united will never be defeated, sir. We’re on the right side of history. We shall overcome some day. The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. You’re just a cranky old fascist fart. Everyone’s just laughing at you, sir. We’re on the right side of history History doesn’t have a right side or a wrong side. So your statement can be shortened to: we’re history. Some new species will evolve to adapt to a warmer world. Since reptiles have a lower metabolism, they should thrive. It will perhaps be poetic justice if the new world consists of dinosaurs basking in the sun. Maybe they will have the last laugh. Some new species will evolve to adapt to a warmer world. It could be a species from another planet. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/20/1403163/-Cartoon-The-looming-threat But Republicans in Congress weren’t buying any of it… But Democrats in Congress weren’t buying it either… “The trillion aliens should be able to vote on climate change too” …”We should be more tolerant and learn to breathe cyanide” …”Humans have had it our way for a long time, maybe we need a change”. Sillyputty Benito Mussolini “History doesn’t have a right side or a wrong side…We’re history.” – Benito Does this well never run dry? Let’s hope not… Benito Mussolini ondelette But in general, they [US weapons systems] are parked, or part of an air show, or maybe doing training exercises, or participating in parades. It is a shame the US doesn’t get more credit for this. They are promoting world peace by selling overpriced weapons systems which don’t work, but look good on parade, to third world despots who would otherwise be buying low cost Chinese munitions. The Chinese are not only promoting war, they are losing out on a good business opportunity. Their business model doesn’t support selling high priced technical services to maintain the weapons systems which don’t work. The US arms industry is inspiring – a rare perfect alignment of ethical concerns with the profit motive. ondelette Benito Mussolini Try to skew it any way you like, if you don’t evaluate the value of a weapons transfer based on the risk estimate of human death caused, you’re purposely misusing a statistic. Arms limitations exist for precisely that purpose. But out here, on the internet, and in most minds of journalists, it’s just fine to use unadjusted price figures to assign superlatives of evil. When the U.S. sells F-16s to Pakistan, it does far more evil than when it sells them to Egypt, based on what priors we have. Aggregate figures that just compare monetary totals — available at skiddy eight million sites on the internet — are meaningless without some knowledge of the wars in the world. And when Uncle Noam has led you down the garden path of believing that most of those wars aren’t your business so don’t learn about them, then your estimates of what is evil are skewed. And when Uncle Noam has led you down the garden path of believing that most of those wars aren’t your business so don’t learn about them Chomsky, like many intellectuals, employs elegant logic to arrive at an absurd conclusion. More prosaic types start with a sound conclusion and then, if time permits, work out the logic. They thus avoid the pitfalls of hubris. All wars are the business of the US. The following formula is simple and fool proof. Find out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Then shoot the bad guys. The world won’t necessarily be cured overnight, but we’ll be moving in the right direction. Useful Idiots ondelette No place else to put this. So apparently neither of us were corrected and/or given a correct url on that ‘Crypto Summit’ article. https://www.accessnow.org/page/content/crypto-summit/ would’ve been the correct one, but there are two being called ‘Crypto Summit’ — one was the cryptocurrency one. Kinda bothered the article author didn’t give a link or correct (nor did anybody else). SEO won, and I guess we stand corrected. Useful Idiots Useful Idiots (well it won then; it looks like the more legit one is winning now) What are the alternatives? Was Nasser Egypt’s is best hope? Can you have a decent society without a functioning economy? As for selling arms, America has about 70% of the world’s arms market. Russia and China each have less than 10%. Here is an interesting documentary with a somewhat different perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVHzAinRH4g JLocke si1ver1ock – “Can you have a decent society without a functioning economy? “ I think that economic growth does not need to wait for the emergence of democracy (China). At the same time, Democracy in and of itself, offers benefits that a strong economy alone, does not. “All work and no freedom makes Jack and an enemy of general Sisi.” If there isn’t sufficient buy-in from the people, in some form of democracy, the government, lacks legitimacy and sufficient directional input from a wide swath of society. Blinded without popular input, misdirected by being overly influenced by a sub-set of society, a dictatorship, partly in order to respond to the natural impulse to retain its power, will squander the nations resources foolishly. It isn’t democracy that failed in Egypt, it’s we, (the West), that have failed democracy. CAIRO (AP) — The 20-year-old law student says he has had enough of fruitless protests in support of Egypt’s deposed Islamist president, two years of a losing struggle with police. Now he wants to join the extremists of the Islamic State group who are battling the army in the Sinai Peninsula. He and other youths are growing increasingly open in their calls for violence and a move toward extremism, frustrated by the police crackdown since the military ousted President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. Some want to avenge friends and family killed or abused by police. Once sympathetic to Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, some of them resent it as weak and ineffectual. “Now we know there is only one right way: jihad,” said the law student, Abdelrahman, showing off scars from pellets fired at him by police shotguns during protests. Like other protesters interviewed by The Associated Press, he spoke on condition he be identified only by his first name for fear of police retaliation. He spoke bitterly about the series of ballot box victories in 2011 and 2012 that gave the Muslim Brotherhood political dominance and made Morsi the country’s first freely elected president. “Democracy doesn’t work. If we win, the powers that be, whoever they are, just flip things over,” he said. “The Brotherhood thought they could play the democratic game, but in the end, they were beaten.” http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/08/04/egypts-disaffected-youth-increasingly-calling-for-violence I think CraigSummers is making good points, but it all hinges on a bizarre sense of “stability”: CraigSummers – “The US supports – contrary to opinions on this site – stability obviously for economic reasons. The Camp David peace agreement in 1979 between Israel and Egypt was extremely important toward stabilizing the Middle East for those four decades …In addition, ISIS has become a larger threat to stability in the Middle East, thus the US chose to back a stable (albeit brutal) government in Egypt. …In addition, supporting the dictator is supporting stability as Egypt could potentially become another Syria (although not near as likely).” Maintaining the siege of Gaza, which is what Camp David has devolved into in real terms, something the elected Muslim Brotherhood was against, is stability. Fighting ISIS, the group formed in the power vacuum of the removal of Saddam Hussein, is stability. Supporting a dictator in Egypt, who removed the popularly elected government, is stability. In other words, to Craig, anything, from a crippling siege of Gazans, to a toppling of a dictator, to the support of a dictator, is “stability”. Anything the US does, is “stability”. Even the diametrically opposed actions of toppling or supporting dictators. How “stable” is Egypt? – “Egypt’s Unprecedented Instability by the Numbers Egyptians have suffered through the most intense human rights abuses and terrorism in their recent history in the eight months since the military ousted then president Mohamed Morsi. The extent of this story has been largely obscured from view due to the lack of hard data, but estimates suggest that more than 2,500 Egyptians have been killed, more than 17,000 have been wounded, and more than 16,000 have been arrested in demonstrations and clashes since July 3. Another several hundred have been killed in terrorist attacks. These numbers exceed those seen even in Egypt’s darkest periods since the 1952 military-led revolution that would bring Gamal Abdel Nasser to power. They reflect a use of violence that is unprecedented in Egypt’s modern political history.” http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/03/24/egypt-s-unprecedented-instability-by-numbers/h5j3?reloadFlag=1 I can’t help but feel that support for an unpopular military dictator that needs unprecedented levels of violence to remain in the throne runs contrary to every understanding of “stability” that could be held by democrats. Is “democracy” only a brand of trainer, that fits some people, but not others? Does anyone honestly believe that Egyptians want to have no say in the governance of their country? Or is dictatorship in Egypt, the price Egyptians must pay to support democracy in the west? Or does democracy really play no part in the West’s decision making vis a vis Egypt at all? In order for that to work as he states, one would have to ignore the fact that we destabilized Iraq for (to one extent or another) economic reasons. Greenwald’s main supporters: One with a 4 year old intelligence (Kitt) and a dumb ass (Mona). “Of course. Imagine if any nation had invaded with secret agents and master-minded a coup to overthrow Dwight Eisenhower. And never apologized or acknowledged in any way that it had wronged us. The rage of Americans would be raw to this day — on a bipartisan basis.” (Mona) I would rather imagine a nation attacking Americans on their soil killing thousands of them and starting a global war in which American prisoners would be tortured or executed. According to your logic, the rage of Americans would be so raw that they would be calling “death to that nation” on a bipartisan basis. Dumb Ass!! The US provided millions of dollars in aid for the Japanese facing starvation after the war. The US helped the Japanese build a democracy and even spared the Emperor the war crime tribunal. All of these policies supported by the US general who lost thousands of his men. Japanese officials only made public statements of “remorse” and “regrets” and only issued an “apology” (still debated) in 1995. That is 50 years after the war. Decades during which the US and Japan became close military and economic allies. According to your logic, any American (politicians or not) would probably face death by a mob in Vietnam since the US never apologizes for killing thousands of Vietnamese on their own soil. Yet, most Vietnamese have a positive view of the United States. That is beyond ignorance to believe Iranians “hate” us because of the CIA/British coup. First, Iranians do not “hate” us. Thousands of Iranians have been going/staying in Europe/America without blowing up anything. Iranians make billions dealing with the same countries their leaders call “evil” “satan” etc. Secondly, the Ayatollahs well known for their hypocrisy were happy the prime minister was toppled and even asked publicly for his death. Again dumb ass, the same Ayatollahs who called “death to Israel” hired Israeli military advisers to help them. Let me get it straight big dummy. According to you, the Ayatollahs hate us because the CIA/British toppled somebody they wanted to die while they are doing exactly what the CIA/British did: going to other sovereign states (Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq..) and even causing more turmoil and deaths than what happened in the 50s. A dumb ass cannot see how illogical that argument is. A dumb ass cannot see neither that an acknowledgment (the US did admit it carried the coup and stated it was “regretful”) nor an apology would change the Ayatollahs’ rhetoric, which is based on religious ideologies. According to your logic, the rage of Americans would be so raw that they would be calling “death to that nation” on a bipartisan basis. If Nation X had sent in covert agents who deposed our president and installed a brutal, torture-loving man who did Nation X’s bidding with our resources, I guarantee you many, including people like you, would be calling for Nation X to be nuked. It takes little understanding or imagination to grasp this. Any people would react with outrage and rage, regardless of ideological divisions among them. A dumb ass cannot see neither that an acknowledgment (the US did admit it carried the coup and stated it was “regretful”) The U.S. said deposing their democratically elected president and installing a brutal man so that we could control their oil was “regretful.” Well then. nor an apology would change the Ayatollahs’ rhetoric, which is based on religious ideologies. As clergy, the Ayatollah’s dress their politics in religious rhetoric. That happens with clergy of all sorts in many nations. But the Iranian people are justified in being angry and outraged at the U.S. for it’s overweeningly arrogant interference in their sovereign nation, as well as our support for the ethno-supremacist, racist State of Israel that grossly oppresses Palestinians. No hope!! A complete dumb ass! Serious question: Why do you carry on like that? Do you think it’s effective? It just feels good? Serious answer: At first it was fun to expose your stupidity, but now it does not feel good because it is actually sad to notice how a dumb ass you are. Serious question: You can’t actually believe that your online barking has worked? Can you? Palestinians are getting worse while Israelis are getting better, a FACT! And who the hell “hate” us? Thousands of Americans, Europeans live in the Middle East safely. Thousands of Muslims live in Europe/America safely. Most of Muslim terrorists (if not all) largely target and kill other Muslims, a FACT. So, who are “they”? Al Qaeda, Taliban, Boko Haram…Those groups hate everybody, but themselves. Are they supposed to make an exception for us and like us while they massacre others? ValkLeroux lenk Ah, another brainwashed fucking idiot telling other people that they are idiots just because they don’t believe the same bullshit he believes in. lenk ValkLeroux Ah, another brainless dumb ass going down on his/her knees swallowing bullshit from Mona! coram nobis “The official Twitter account of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo on Friday actually posted this” &c. The straight-wing aircraft in that video don’t appear to be F-16s. At least not the ones streaming colors. Look, people, if you’re going to show aircraft, at least find decent CGI, ok? Italy has better stunt and airshow aircraft. Frecci tricolori, ok? Whendovescry Glenn is so naive when it comes to foreign policy. The US can’t afford to alienate the Egyptian military the way it did with the Pakistani military. The support we give them is basically basically a bribe to keep them from allowing terrorists to operate in the openly against us. There’s never going to be any kind of warm and fuzzy Scandinavian style social democracy in the region because human rights, like democracy, are alien concepts. -Mona- Whendovescry The support we give them is basically basically a bribe to keep them from allowing terrorists to operate in the openly against us. Then why don’t we (and Israel) “bribe” every Muslim country in that same way? And, what is your evidence that this is why we so heavily arm Egypt? Finally, what is your response to this by Greenwald: The U.S. media pretended to be on the side of Tahir Square democracy protesters despite decades of support from the American government for Mubarak. Recall that in 2009 Hillary Clinton pronounced: “I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family.” A WikiLeaks cable, anticipating the first meeting between Obama and Mubarak in 2009, emphasized that “the Administration wants to restore the sense of warmth that has traditionally characterized the U.S.-Egyptian partnership” and that “the Egyptians want the visit to demonstrate that Egypt remains America’s ‘indispensible [sic] Arab ally.’” The cable noted that “[intelligence] Chief Omar Soliman and Interior Minister al-Adly keep the domestic beasts at bay, and Mubarak is not one to lose sleep over their tactics.” How can the U.S. seriously claim to oppose nations with bad human rights records in light of things like this? Mike Sulzer Whendovescry So that is what the Iraq war proved: when the US stops supporting a dictator, the result is more terrorism. At least we can lay to rest that neocon idea that getting rid of a dictator would cause democracy to break out all over. So, back to the main business of supporting dissectors. But we all know that every few decades you have to fire the old dictator and let them fight it out to see who gets to be the new one. Old complacent dictators are so bad! Mike Sulzer Mike Sulzer dissectors: I guess that came from the spell checker. In any case, the true measure of a dictator is how little he opposes Israel. Keeping that to a minimum is worth many jet planes and deaths by local secret police. ValkLeroux Whendovescry “Glenn is so naive when it comes to foreign policy.” No, Whendovescry. You are clearly the naive one when it comes to foreign policy. See, for you it’s still a game of so-called democracy, while for the Plutocrats it’s all about geopolitics. The US think they can bullshit the world the same way that they patronize and deceive and bullshit their own population. It just doesn’t work so well anymore. To claim that you are spreading democracy you must be a democracy yourself, and that we know by now is not the case with the US of bullshit. I really think there should be a certain indication nowadays (as if it isn’t already in the ether unspoken) when speaking about the U.S. that delineates between the people who live in the U.S. and the corporate interests…there has to be a way of shortening who we’re speaking about so it can be both accurate and unobtrusive ;b I just feel like this is an unfair (to the innocents :D) misnomer to talk about the terribly evil interests as if 1) they were vast in numbers and not just resources and 2) as if any significant amount of people with even a modicum of true insight and volition were following these willfully ondelette The Egyptian regime run by the despotic General Abdelfattah al-Sisi is one of the world’s most brutal and repressive. Glenn Greenwald, channeling Howard Cosell. It’s just a back of the envelope estimate, but I think the only thing in widespread media distribution that outnumbers the number of “world’s most brutal,” or the “world’s worst human rights record,” or the “world’s most repressive,” or the “world’s worst offender,” regimes is probably the number of times the Pentagon has killed al Qaeda’s number 3 man. In this case, it’s not even true right in the neighborhood: Egypt’s Southern border is with The Sudan, where the regime not only tops the brutality of Egypt, it’s also, since the subject is weapons, is known as the “Arms Dump of Africa”. And further down the coast is Eritrea, which is known as the “North Korea of Africa,” and has migrants fleeing it almost as fast as they’re fleeing Syria. Which, oh, yeah, has a reputation for torture equal to that of Mubarak Egypt and has a regime which drops barrel bombs (just like that guy to Egypt’s south). But we wouldn’t want to kick up too much dust talking about the countries right in the neighborhood who funnel most of the arms in Africa from such sources as three out of the five of Glenn’s “non-compliant” regimes: Iran, Russia and China. In fact, just China, Iran and Sudan supply most in the sense of “more than half”. I don’t mind calling out repressors, in fact I like it. But this article so drips with bias and willful non-observance as to be laughable. rrheard ondelette @ Ondelette Glenn isn’t calling out all the “world’s repressors”. He’s calling out the ones the US directly supplies lots of weapons to. Do you understand why? Unless of course you are arguing that Sudan and Eritrea are receiving as much in military aid from the US to facilitate their brutal leaders policies, as Egypt does, in which case provide the evidence. Now maybe it’s a valid critique to argue Glenn shouldn’t engage in a particular kind of qualitative judgment or rhetoric as to who is the “world’s most X” without agreeing to some sort of objective criteria and ranking system based thereupon, but unless you are being willfully obtuse you know precisely why it is fair to describe Mubarak and Al-Sisi’s regimes as “one of the world’s most X” and why an American is more rightly concerned about America’s impact on repression in Egypt rather than say China, Russia and Iran’s in Sudan and Eritrea. You get that, right? You do understand that Americans have little capacity to alter the policies of Iran and especially Russia and China, right? And you understand that American citizens have only slightly more effective capacity to alter America’s policies but a much greater moral responsibility as citizens of America to try, right? Please tell me you understand that simple concept. Because what’s getting really old is you nitpicking Glenn for not talking equally about “all X” in the world when he’s under absolutely no obligation to do so. If you want to talk about Eritrea and Sudan, this is a big country with lots of newspapers and blogs. Send a letter to the editor or write guest columns for some blog. In fact, it sounds like First Look is eventually going to make that a possibility right here. In which case you’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate how much you know and we’ll see if you have the chops to get more people to care about your areas of interest. But littering Glenn’s threads over the years with such petty non-sequitur attacks is embarrassing. Assuming you were capable of being embarrassed but I guess that’s easier to avoid when you hide behind a pseudonym. ondelette rrheard No, try reading the article again. He’s calling out the U.S. He always calls out the U.S. And he frequently uses that superlative language to try to build a case for the U.S. as not only dealing with but progenerating the worst, most brutal, most repressive, most…you know the drill. The perfect embodiment of Howard Cosell’s sports coverage. Please don’t try to talk down to me and explain to me why. Anyone with half a brain sees that he extolls the criticism of the U.S. as his high art. I do believe he even quoted Chomsky with that ridiculous bullshit about it being courageous to do so. Actually, it’s most courageous to criticize the government that can harm you the most. Not the one that you have a tenuous ever diminishing tie to from far, far away. Gee, RR! Thanks for explaining such a deep and legally difficult idea with such — what do lawyers like to say? — probity. It’s a valid critique no ifs, ands, or buts to say what I said: Egypt is not the world’s most brutal and repressive regime, and it still isn’t true if you restrict even to as small a region as Northeast Africa. But Glenn really needs that hyperbole, like all lawyers trying to emotionally sway the jury, because a factual rendition that puts truth first won’t minimize the risk of losing the case. And that’s why it’s done, so yes, I do understand. As for the American must concentrate on American effects crap, no, I don’t agree. Systems are interlocked and interrelated and complex by nature. Singling out the American subset of every system for criticism produces no solutions, just a lot of great sounding rhetoric that never does anything to end the really brutal repression in places like Sudan or Eritrea, much less the human catastrophes in Yemen or South Sudan. Because it’s willfully adopting the British Raj version of the world: The world always was the way it was when we (Britain, America, choose your viewpoint) first encountered it, and all of what is (right, wrong, or whatever) is therefore due to our influence since then, none of those little people in the world are ever the cause of anything whatsoever. It’s the Great Glennman’s burden. Nope. Don’t understand that at all, because it’s not really true. We are currently altering the policies of Iran as we speak, and you have been singing the praises of that, I do believe. We are China’s biggest market by far, and some of us remember that we and (principally the) Russians “fought” an entire Cold War having enormous influence on each other even as bitter enemies without going to war. Yeah, that’s what I thought the rest of your pseudo-logical introduction was leading up to. I’m not, by the way, nitpicking Glenn. His fundamental percepts of the foreign policy world he’s attempting to criticize are dead wrong. I made the most obvious criticisms only to point that out in a way that would ring true without deeper analysis. It actually works, since even you were forced to say there isn’t a metric upon which his superlatives make any sense. And the other commenter, well, was Mona, the ad hominem bore here, trying desperately to dredge up ‘nuf said’s stalking from Salon because she isn’t creative enough to actually say anything else. Here’s the deal: When Glenn chastises using over the top hyperbole and it turns out that 3 out of the 5 countries he’s decided to laud for being not “compliant” to the wishes of the U.S. turn out to be the countries flooding a continent with cheap destabilizing weapons, in the case of sales to Sudan in contravention of an arms embargo over a genocide in Darfur (that one would be China and Iran contravening although parachute bombs traced back to Russia are being recently photographed), then either you don’t know what you’re talking about (merciful interpretation) or you are deliberately so closed minded and biased against the U.S. that you can somehow fail to see the repression directly next door — on the other side of the Aswan High Dam from Egypt — that makes your superlative look like a sick joke (less merciful interpretation). Take your pick, RR, but it has nothing to do with picking nits. Genocides that kill hundreds of thousands in Darfur, in C.A.R., in South Sudan, in the DR Congo, or any other place that the Sudanese government is supplying Chinese guns and Iranian bullets to, are not nits. Anyone who thinks they are is pathological. Well we’ll have to agree to disagree. I think your a pathetic emotionally disturbed nobody. I’m firmly convinced you don’t understand the first thing about coherent or consistent morality or simple fundamental causation. I’d spend the 20 minutes it would take to pick apart your little incoherent word salad, but you’d simply launch into another pathetic incoherent attempt at distraction from the fundamental question which is this that you are incapable of answering–“does a human being (and particularly a citizen of a particular nation) have an moral or legal obligation to attempt right (or bring attention to) every wrong that occurs all over the globe at any given moment lest they be labeled a hypocrite for not doing so by Ondelette the pseudonymous dilettante.” I think the obvious answer is no both at a philosophical and practical level. And anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t really understand reality and likely has a whole host of deep seated psychological issues that manifest in such a way as to make him/her believe otherwise. I feel sorry for you Ondelette. Mostly because at a tactical and/or strategic level you will never achieve anything you purport to want to achieve in the world regarding human rights without first fighting to ensure that the nation of which you are a citizen of (arguably the most powerful in the world although that is debatable depending on the metric employed) refrains from perpetuating human rights abuses and can actually lead by example with some approximation of “moral authority.” American cannot and does not and that’s why unless it “extorts” human rights compliance from others under threat of war or economic sanctions it has absolutely zero effect or moral authority regarding other nations’ policies with regard to human rights. barncat rrheard the fundamental question which is this that you are incapable of answering I’ve been interested in ondelette’s answer to this question, and he did answer it in his paragraph beginning with “As for the American must concentrate on American effects crap, no, I don’t agree.” He rejects Chomsky’s moral rule, and he gave (some of) his reasons. You and Mona are a pair: when you’re frustrated in an argument, rather than simply leave it as a disagreement, you declare victory, and hurl insults on your way out. It’s ugly and it’s childish (as ondelette points out), and anyone who is capable of making an impartial observation will see it that way. -Mona- barncat As usual, you are wrong: You and Mona are a pair: when you’re frustrated in an argument, rather than simply leave it as a disagreement, you declare victory, I virtually never “declare victory.” On many levels that is usually stupid, and indicative of insecurity. …does a human being (and particularly a citizen of a particular nation) have an moral or legal obligation to attempt right (or bring attention to) every wrong that occurs all over the globe at any given moment… Most human beings aren’t capable of that feat, so the answer is a qualified “no”. Qualified because most human beings are capable of at least paying enough attention so that these wrongs are at least witnessed, and if decisions arise on what to do about them, they can make them with information, not ignorance. I explained to Pedinska how I gather my information. I don’t do it to comment on columns. Rather, if I use it to comment on columns, it is because I am aware from my “day job” that people who believe themselves politically and factually aware, and in certain places (like here) believe themselves responsible for righting wrongs, falsely believe they can do so in total ignorance of the massive suffering of others. The number of people I’ve informed, in person, in one on one discussions, that certain wars took place at all, is quite high. The number of people I’ve informed, in person, that civilians, not soldiers, take the massive brunt of the suffering and casualties of war is not small. The number of people I’ve informed that disease, starvation, and thirst are most often the biggest killers in war is quite large. It’s part of what I do. And the number of people here, at this website, who believe themselves sophisticated on foreign policy, who believe themselves champions of peace and justice, but have zero idea of what injustice and war is actually occurring in this world is pretty high, especially when the chief heavyweight of the articles here knows so little about the context of any foreign policy topic he takes on. Do you know what a lot of people in and from surrounding countries said about the uprisings in Egypt and the subsequent political strife under Morsi and the takeover by the military? One of them told me that nobody in the region cared much about the Egyptians, because all that time the Egyptian unemployment rate was 15% and now the Egyptians are acting all oppressed and demanding sympathy because it went to 29%. Well, since it had been a steady 40%+ in all the countries from which the Egyptians were demanding sympathy and Egypt had never cared about them or helped them, why should they care what is happening to the Egyptians? No context. No substance for comparisons. But anyone who points it out is someone to feel sorry for and pretend that they have a psychological problem? Is that your solution for awareness — to label it a psychological problem? People can’t very well decide questions of ending human rights abuses or of “moral authority”, if they simply don’t know about them, or if what they know has been so filtered and encrusted with irrelevant opinion that they learn it wrong. In 1993, a war started in Africa that lasted over 10 years, had more than 20 nations involved in it, perpetrated some of the worst human rights abuses in history, and had a higher number of casualties and killed more people than any war since World War II. The number of people in the “arguably” “most powerful ” country in the world, including people who spend their time debating what that country should do in this world, here on the internet, in think tanks, and in universities, who simply don’t know that war happened is a human rights abuse in itself. Don’t “feel sorry” for me for trying to get people to hear. I’m well aware that what I seek to achieve is a near hopeless battle. But it’s the right battle. Constricting your viewpoint to only American actions because you believe that’s more noble isn’t. It’s an exercise in ignorance and I’m going to point it out no matter how many lawyers here decide to do the slut defense. -Mona- ondelette Says he who has been on an unhinged anti-Greenwald crusader ever since Greenwald — accurately — labeled you an “embittered liar” some years ago. ondelette -Mona- ‘nuf said, Mona, you’re a broken record. And you’re an embittered liar and defamer of fine people. Greenwald, Kevin Gostolza, and others. Mona, we’re all hopeful you’ll reach the Piaget development stage at which you can form cogent arguments reflective of a post-adolescent worldview. I’m guessing your current stage is that of a sensory-deprived minah bird on adderall, but I’m not a child psychologist. we’re all hopeful you’ll reach What’s with this “we” business? You speak for no one but yourself with your pointless name-calling and biting at Glenn’s ankles. Sometimes people teach minah birds to whistle, it’s weird to hear a bird making a human imitation of a bird song. Can you whistle, Minah? Can you whistle, Minah So, the embittered liar is reduced to juvenile mockery of my name. just responding in kind, child. Below “lenk” spewed this: That five year old kid might help you understand that posting Greenwald’s consistent criticism of US military support of human rights violators Mubarak and Sisi who were willing to make deals with Israel while he has consistently ignored US military support of human rights violator Morsi who was historically anti Israel actually makes you “a squalling idiot”. lenk is a rabid, ranting Zionist and any foreign policy issue comes down to whether it is good for Israel — as wingnut Zionists define “good.” He is happy with Sisi strictly because Sisi plays nice with the ethno-supremacist, racist State of Israel. In highlighting Sisi’s appalling human rights record, and the military aid the U.S. lavishes upon Sisi’s Egypt, Greenwald committed the grave sin of writing against Israel’s interests. Hence, lenk’s comment. You still did not even address lenk’s comment whether he is a raving Zionist or not. Yes I did, Craig. In that thread. Oh and Craig: lenk did not answer my comment: https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/03/u-s-government-celebrates-arming-egyptian-regime-youtube-video/?comments=1#comment-154788 Dumb Ass Mona! Yeah, as if I “must” answer anybody’s comments. Oh, you need not (and you really can’t answer it). But Craig seems to think it would have been wrong had I not answered yours. You did answer with a dumb ass comment reflecting your stupidity! Dumb Ass I think it is way better to be a “rabid” “ranting Zionist” who according to you, controls the most powerful governments worldwide and the media outlets around the world than being a dumb ass like you who is incapable of neither understanding nor challenging a simple basic argument. S lenk Every time you say “dumb ass”, I think “cream puff”. I don’t know why See folks? This is what “lenk” is about. A juvenile, ranting Zionist who knows nothing about my views except that I’m a critic of Zionism and have the facts to back me up. controls the most powerful governments worldwide I’ve never said that, but there is large kernel of truth to it. See this British program from the UK’s news program “Dispatches,” in an episode: Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby. This well-documented show is utterly astonishing. The level of Zionist control of the UK media and its political establishment is simply astounding. Among those interviewed about Zionist pressure on media is Alan Rusbridger, recently retired Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E70BwA7xgU Anyone who thinks my claims are “antisemitic” won’t be taken seriously unless and until they watch this program and can discuss it substantively. The truth cannot be antisemitic. “The level of Zionist control of the UK media and its political establishment is simply astounding” This is how smart they are. They manage to “control” the political establishment and the media of an extremely powerful country. What about? You have been barking for how long on the Internet? What have you accomplished? The Palestinian people got so much better thanks to your barking! They manage to “control” the political establishment and the media of an extremely powerful country. What about? Watch the program and find out. It’s quite comprehensive and well done. You have been barking for how long on the Internet? What have you accomplished? https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/30/listen-wsjs-bret-stephens-secretely-plot-pro-israel-evangelicals-killing-iran-deal/?comments=1#comment-154500 “……Just today, the American and Egyptian governments jointly issued a lengthy statement on a meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, which it said was “based on the shared belief that it is necessary to deepen the Egypt-U.S. bilateral relationship to advance our shared interest after almost four decades of close partnership and cooperation.”……” The US supports – contrary to opinions on this site – stability obviously for economic reasons. The Camp David peace agreement in 1979 between Israel and Egypt was extremely important toward stabilizing the Middle East for those four decades – and the US military aid to Egypt as a part of that deal did not prevent the ousting of Mubarak. Millions of Egyptians took to the streets to oust the elected leader of Egypt, Morsi – a failed Islamists leader. And it is a simplification (as you are prone to doing) to imply that by opposing al-Sissi, this would have been better for Egyptians. Saudi Arabia already had offered to replace US aid and al-Sissi made a trip to Russia to pressure the US into providing the military aid. The Russians are currently backing the bloodiest war in the Middle East and flaring up the conflict in Ukraine for geopolitical expediency – so this would have been a great opportunity for the Russian Czar. In addition, ISIS has become a larger threat to stability in the Middle East, thus the US chose to back a stable (albeit brutal) government in Egypt. This move puts the US squarely at odds with ISIS which is consistent with their current policies in the ME. The ME is subdivided by a sectarian rivalry and Egypt is an important player in the regional divide between Iran (Shiites) and Saudi Arabia/Israel. Support of Egypt pacifies Saudi Arabia who opposed the nuclear deal with Iran. In addition, supporting the dictator is supporting stability as Egypt could potentially become another Syria (although not near as likely). Your anger at the US may be warranted, but a look at the complexities in the most important economic center on earth suggests that the US could be making the right move for long term peace and the promotion of democracy. In addition, your lack of anger at Russia only reinforces the opinion that this has nothing to do with Egyptian rights, and everything to do with anti-Americanism. And it is a simplification (as you are prone to doing) to imply that by opposing al-Sissi, this would have been better for Egyptians. That is not for the United States to decide. Ah, you are confused. Glenn Greenwald is a citizen of the United States, not of Russia. He is intimately familiar with American policies and law — and speaks English — but Russia? Not so much. The issue for Americans is the crimes our country commits against other peoples. It’s called sweeping your own side of the street. “……Glenn Greenwald is a citizen of the United States, not of Russia…….The issue for Americans is the crimes our country commits against other peoples. It’s called sweeping your own side of the street…..” Let me remind you of a couple of things: 1. The Intercept is a news source with some members of the staff who are not American by citizenship. So the fall back position of “this is my country” is pure bullshit – and it is an amazing cop-out to the truth. 2. The mission statement says: “……We believe journalism should bring transparency and accountability to powerful governmental and corporate institutions, and our journalists have the editorial freedom and legal support to pursue this mission…..” Does that say ONLY US and allies? One thing is for sure. If your mission statement is misleading, then you can just about bet that the journalism is as well. 3. The Intercept is well funded to cover lots of areas in world politics. The brutal murder of over 250,000 people in Syria ignored by the Intercept just shows that the political motivation is strictly driven by opposition to American policies (anti-Americanism). That Greenwald wrote an article essentially praising the fascist Russian government for fighting fascism just proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt. The Intercept is a news source with some members of the staff who are not American by citizenship. So the fall back position of “this is my country” is pure bullshit – and it is an amazing cop-out to the truth. Yes, several are Canadian or from the UK. They report on Canada, the UK and the U.S.; the porous border with Canada and longstanding relationship with both makes us siblings (the UK is more of a parent). What is not on The Intercept’s staff are any Russians. [ Do read UK citizen Duncan Campbell’s articule today which details some fascinating history involving both the GCHG and the NSA and their shared programs and intel. Hint: there are no such programs between the U.S. and Russia.] Does that say ONLY US and allies? Since the staff are Canadians and Americans, or from the UK, pretty much, yes. The brutal murder of over 250,000 people in Syria ignored by the Intercept just shows that the political motivation is strictly driven by opposition to American policies (anti-Americanism). Uh-huh. Even if so, the facts and arguments above from Greenwald, and other Intercept writers, stand on their own. Whataboutery is not a substantive reply to them. “…….Yes, several are Canadian or from the UK. They report on Canada, the UK and the U.S.; the porous border with Canada and longstanding relationship with both makes us siblings (the UK is more of a parent). What is not on The Intercept’s staff are any Russians……” True enough Mona as if that is a requirement to do a story on Russian involvement in the war in Ukraine (or any other story in the world). The death toll has surpassed 6000 (three times the amount in Gaza). This included the downing of a civilian airliner killing 300 which was most likely a Russian “mistake”. In addition, Greenwald did one story on Russia – about Ukrainian fascists. He didn’t address the illegal annexing of a sovereign nation, or that Russian troops and equipment are in Ukraine (also illegally). The casualties were irrelevant. There were no dead children pictured at the top of the story. In addition, Greenwald has a staff of over thirty journalists, so it really comes down to hiring a like-minded staff. Resume requirement: You must be obsessed with opposing all policies of the US and their allies. Others need not apply. “……Uh-huh. Even if so, the facts and arguments above from Greenwald, and other Intercept writers, stand on their own. Whataboutery is not a substantive reply to them…..” Reread the mission statement of the Intercept, Mona. “……transparency and accountability to powerful governmental and corporate institutions…..” Greenwald takes the most complex geopolitical region in the world and simply writes stories excoriating US involvement. There is no real political analysis and certainly no attempt to hold any other “powerful government” interests responsible (Iranian, Russian, Lebanese) – just the US, allies and Israel (of course). “It’s my country” is pure bullshit, Mona. That is a tired argument. America sells and is an obsession with the far left (world-wide). That includes and is especially true for US ally, Israel. “It’s my country” is pure bullshit, Mona. That is a tired argument. Mmmm, no. It’s compelling reasoning that you simply dislike. True enough Mona as if that is a requirement to do a story on Russian involvement in the war in Ukraine No, they could be British, Canadian or American foreign correspondents assigned to Eastern Europe. But The Intercept does not appear to have foreign correspondents, with the exception of Jeremy Scahill whose beat is the Middle East (and sometimes Africa). The focus here is on civil liberties in, and foreign policy of, Western nations. This is as unremarkable as it is commendable. But again, none of your whataboutery matters. The articles here stand on their own merits, quite regardless of what you’d prefer the journalists write about. Again, Mona, just so we are clear on this issue and the issue of human rights. Greenwald (not the Intercept) highlights human rights abuses when it is politically expediency i.e.,for political reasons. There are pictures of dead children (non Jewish, of course) when the political opportunity arises, but human rights and casualties (including children) are ignored when the American government isn’t involved like Syria and Russia. The article by Greenwald on Russia highlights this apparent selective concern for human rights, but it is one more definitive criteria for the anti-American, anti-Israeli (obsessive) radical left (which separates it from “liberals”). The “it’s my country” argument is baloney. The anti-American far left in Europe is far larger and stronger (politically) than the extreme left in America and Canada. You folks are politically indistinguishable, however, driven by the same motives. “……But The Intercept does not appear to have foreign correspondents, with the exception of Jeremy Scahill whose beat is the Middle East (and sometimes Africa)….” As if he couldn’t hire someone? It also is consistent with his obsessive focus on American policies to the exclusion of far worse human rights issues in many other places in the world. There are pictures of dead children (non Jewish, of course) That is because there are no dead Jewish children as result of Palestinian rockets. There are a couple of thousand dead Palestinians with hundreds of dead children, just in the past year. BDS is a world-wide illustration of the disgust held for Israel. For some reason I feel the world has responded this way before to cultures that do not play well with others. rrheard CraigSummers @ Craig Summers Any chance you could please learn to “blockquote” passages when you cite/copy them? It’s really easy, as follows: You type the following before the text you want to block quote: “ Then you copy and paste (or type in) whatever text you want to set off in the block quote. Then you “close it” by typing the same thing but with a slash right after the lesser than sign as follows: “”. No quotation marks are involved but if I try and demonstrate the first and closing html codes it will actually blockquote something without showing you the opening and closing html codes. But I’ll see if this works “<blockquote" [insert text] " ” to show you what it would look like without quotations, but I don’t think it will. I think it will just show ” [insert text] ” blockquoted. Thanks. Can’t agree with much of anything you argue because it’s 99% evidence free conjecture, but it will make it much easier for all of us to make sense of your posts and quote you accurately in response in beating down said conjecture. Okay that didn’t work. Just follow the instructions in this link: http://html5doctor.com/blockquote-q-cite/ Sillyputty rrheard “Can’t agree with much of anything you argue because it’s 99% evidence free conjecture, but it will make it much easier for all of us to make sense of your posts and quote you accurately in response in beating down said conjecture” – rrheard Spot on regarding CraigSummers contributions here. Regarding block-quoting and formatting, this site has a preview pane, and is very good at providing almost all formatting for this site and others, including inserting hyperlinks. The above was one blockquote. Some sites allow a ‘double blockquote’ to narrow it even further (just highlight the block-quoted section and hit ‘Q’ for blockquote again). Not sure if it works at The Intercept – let’s see: “This is an attempt at double blockquoting. If it’s successful, CraigSummers already myopic worldview will be even easier to narrow down” “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” – Isaac Asimov A Come Out Of Your Fucking Pigeonhole, CraigSummers! Production™ Glenn’s post today is a good occasion to remind us all of New Atheist Big Honcho, Sam Harris’s, endorsed that the U.S. impose “benign” dictators on Muslim countries, my emphasis: It seems all but certain that some form of benign dictatorship will generally be necessary to bridge the gap. But benignity is the key—and if it cannot emerge from within a state, it must be imposed from without. The means of such imposition are necessarily crude:they amount to economic isolation, military intervention (whether open or covert), or some combination of both. While this may seem an exceedingly arrogant doctrine to espouse, it appears we have no alternatives. If you get a truly ethical despot in charge—a benevolent despot—that may be the necessary transitional mechanism to democracy. It should be pretty clear that much of the Muslim world is not ready for democracy, and we have to confront that reality. Many Muslims are prepared to tear out their freedoms by the root the moment they are given a chance to decide their destiny. There is, of course, virtually no such thing as a “benign despot,” and Sam Harris is smart enough to know this. What he really is saying is that despots of the sort he likes should be supported and imposed on Muslim countries. Which we have done in countries like Iran. Why do they hate us? Jay -Mona- Mr. Harris, the CEO of the Project Reason has been getting his cues from Snowball and Napoleon – of the Animal Farm fame! Dumb Ass Mona!! Stalin and Fidel Castro: two despots, two Marxists. How was life for dissidents under Castro compared to Stalin? Saudi Arabia and Kuwait: two monarchies run by absolute leaders. How is freedom of the press, freedom for women, freedom of religion in Kuwait compare to Saudi Arabia? What a dumb ass! Two despots might have the same ideology, the same goals but they might differ in how they impose their rule on the people. That is what he meant by “a benign despot”. A despot who only cares about enriching himself/herself is unlikely to massacre religious minorities that do not care about his/her corrupt policies. Who hate us? Americans are everywhere in the Middle East and Muslims go everywhere around the world. Muslims terrorists mostly target and kill other Muslims not “us”. Iranians hate us because decades ago the US interfered in Iran and toppled a government that the Ayatollahs who are in power now wanted to be toppled? The same Ayatollahs who consistently interfere in other sovereign countries affair causing political turmoil and violence? The same Ayatollahs who hired Israeli military advisers while screaming “death to Israel”? Two despots might have the same ideology, the same goals but they might differ in how they impose their rule on the people. That is what he meant by “a benign despot”. Excitable lenk, who appears to have Keyboard Tourette’s, overlooks that I wrote this: Iranians hate us because decades ago the US interfered in Iran and toppled a government Of course. Imagine if any nation had invaded with secret agents and master-minded a coup to overthrow Dwight Eisenhower. And never apologized or acknowledged in any way that it had wronged us. The rage of Americans would be raw to this day — on a bipartisan basis. What a dumb Ass!!! Although Glenn’s article is very good, he doesn’t go into depth about ‘why’ so much money(aka foreign aid) is pouring into a do nothing country. Clearly the U.S. is buying and paying for the Egyptian government as a client state, but is it for the sole purpose of playing nice with Israel? I can’t think of any other purpose. Ben McDonald Those are not F-16’s. Daniel Ben McDonald There are also 9 planes in the video, not 8 as indicated by the embassy’s tweet. Actually this makes a lot of sense, you don’t wan’t the arm of justice to be chained by law: “The arm of justice is chained by the law. We’re going to amend the law to allow us to implement justice as soon as possible,” Sisi told the Egyptian people June 30. And this, I don’t even understand this complaint: – “Articles 26, 27 and 29 of the anti-terrorism proposal bring back the prison penalty for journalists, which is contrary to current provisions of the Egyptian Constitution. Article 37 takes away the freedom of the press, prohibiting any individual or party from photographing or recording court sessions or publishing such information through broadcasts, print media, social media or any other means. Article 33, which the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate categorically rejected, penalizes individuals who publish “false news” or data contradicting official government statements on terrorist attacks.” http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/07/egypt-anti-terrorism-law-journalists-union-criticism-sisi.html Why would you want to publish false news, anyway??? What is sad is the lack of alternatives. What can we do with terrorists? We could lock them up forever without trial, that is one option, The US and Israel favour that one, but perhaps there is a better one. What about speeding up terrorist cases? Surely the more extreme the crime, the less time it should take to adjudicate? We could even approach the point where the trial is so speedy, that the terrorist spends hardly any time in custody at all before execution. – “Most of the trials [over the past two years] have taken a lot of time, even if the procedures were not at all fair,” she told Al Jazeera. “Recently, especially with the uptick in anti-state violence, there were a lot of calls to expedite trials, to expedite executions. [This law] might well make appeals processes much more limited than they are under current law, making trials move faster.” http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/07/egypt-anti-terrorism-bill-provokes-criticism-150713124103828.html What is clear is that the Egyptian government agrees with the West that terrorism, while it may be disguised as journalism or as peaceful assembly or as freedom of expression, or perhaps because terrorism has this ability to impersonate these other popular manifestations, it is a uniquely paramount threat. – “Egypt: Draconian counterterrorism law latest tool to muzzle peaceful activists The draft law also expands the definition of what constitutes a “terrorist act” using broad parameters such as “disturbing public order and social peace”, “harming national unity and national economy”, and “impeding the application of the provisions of the constitution and national laws”. “If the law is adopted in its current form, it will have the potential to criminalize the legitimate exercise of human rights, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, posing a particular risk to journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and others,” said Said Boumedouha. …The law also imposes severe restrictions on journalists and others reporting on “terrorist” attacks who include details or statistics that differ from those announced by the state. Those who do so could face at least two years in prison. The draft law would effectively ban journalists from collecting information from different sources, including eye witnesses and families, to challenge the government’s narrative. At least 18 journalists are already in detention on charges that include “broadcasting false information”, which is not a recognized under international law.” https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/07/egypt-draconian-counterterrorism-law/ Thinking you are being a bit over optimistic with the following: Something like this is so extreme, so blatant, that it might even run the risk of having U.S. journalists who constantly believe that the U.S. government is opposed to repression and autocracy (in the context of non-compliant countries such as Iran, Russia, Libya, China and Venezuela) to ponder for a second or two whether that’s actually true or whether it’s pure propaganda. Other than you and a handful of US journalists, the vast majority of “US journalists” could care less. First and foremost they shouldn’t even be referred to as “journalists” but “teleprompter assisted propaganda readers”. And second they honestly don’t believe in their heart of hearts that American officials “propagandize” the American people or US journalists. They are culled throughout their corporate professional careers for their patriotism and subservience to the status quo. The bottom line for them as the US government’s official stenography pool is this–if a US government official (anonymous or not) tells them X, then X is assumed to be true. X is published as true. And if some enterprising journalistic interloper like you exposes the fact that X is not true, then it is the official position of the US government stenography pool that a) exposition of X being untrue makes them appear inept or corrupt cogs in the propaganda wheel, so such exposition is black holed or blacked out, and/or b) you or your source’s character and personal attributes are attacked as suspicious, unworthy, unkempt, sexually deviant, politically dangerous etc. etc. etc. and the stenography pool puts its resources into deflecting attention from the fact of X’s untruth to your character. Both are very effective at “burying” a story. So maybe it is accurate to say they might “ponder for a second or two” whether X was true or untrue and the implications of that fact. But what they will never do is act to change how they view their jobs in the stenography pool. Because it is subservience to that “US journalistic status quo” for their personal wealth, status and access to the very US officials that make it possible for them to remain in their positions. Because, quite frankly, they are too lazy or too stupid to conduct their own “investigative journalism” and uncover and write about things productively enough to actually make any money off of their endeavors. Much easier just to read the script provided to them and then claim to be journalists. The only real threat to their “way of life” is that something like First Look Media becomes financially self-sustaining, ideologically unchanged and fearless in the face of prosecutions and lawsuits, and becomes so popular and trusted by the American public that it puts the stake through the dying heart of what is “mass mainstream corporate media” aka nominally free/private propaganda arm of the US government. altohone rrheard Nailed it rr. I’d add that we are only likely to learn whether these “journalists” take that second or two to ponder such things when they are dead… like the article here a few months ago about how the “respected journalist” really felt as revealed by his personal papers after his death. My guess is that most of these corporate shills won’t even manage to leave evidence of such reflections because they are incapable of them. Razer Ray Youtube productions are low budget stuff… The US is going to spend $65 million of US taxpayers dollars over the next 13 years on a public relations/disinformation campaign to reinforce the myth in the American mind that the war against the people of Vietnam was an ‘honorable’ war. http://warisacrime.org/content/viet-nam-half-century-later Egypt has supplied thousands of “boots on the ground” dating back to World War I. With a new military dictator in charge and a failing economy is this once proud nation going to send the impoverished under-class into the Syrian fray, or simply keep them home to defend the new Suez canal oil infrastructure from the growing Islamic terrorist states emerging all over the region. Human rights and a democratic government be damned. Times change. Human rights were more a propaganda weapon during the cold war, (since intellectuals in those days liked to argue about whose system was superior). The supremacy of free markets is now universally recognized and there is also an awareness that traditional human rights can be a restraining force on economic competitiveness; so a rollback is in order. A pendulum never stays still and it would be a mistake to try an arrest it at one particular point in its trajectory. Egypt therefore represents the leading edge of progress. Hence the words of praise from the Administration are genuine; they shouldn’t be accused of hypocrisy. However, people shouldn’t fear the loss of their rights. The old carefree rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will be replaced by the more responsible rights to die, to work and to serve. This article is strikingly similar to Sean Hannity’s report complaining about the US government providing F 16 fighter jets and and hundreds of Abram tanks to then elected President Morsi of Egypt in January 2013. Egypt was then led by a government that consistently violated human rights of journalists, opposition parties and disregarded its supporters’ violence against the opposition. My Lord! It’s getting harder and harder to find good journalists/pundits. We have the choice between an anti-Israel, anti-American (Glenn Greenwald, who chose to stay quiet when the US was giving weapons to human rights violator but anti Israel Morsi) and crazy ignorant right wing pro Israel (Sean Hannity, who chose to stay quiet when the US was giving weapons to human rights violator but anti Hamas Mubarak. Kitt lenk We have the choice between an anti-Israel, anti-American (Glenn Greenwald, who chose to stay quiet when the US was giving weapons to human rights violator but anti Israel Morsi) You’re a squalling idiot, and apparently have no idea how easily your either bald faced lie or your complete ignorance can be exposed. Here is just one of probably a dozen or more examples of Glenn Greenwald writing about the horrors of Mubarak and his Vice President Omar Suleiman: Vice President Omar Suleiman of Egypt says he does not think it is time to lift the 30-year-old emergency law that has been used to suppress and imprison opposition leaders. He does not think President Hosni Mubarak needs to resign before his term ends in September. And he does not think his country is yet ready for democracy. But, lacking better options, the United States is encouraging him in negotiations in a still uncertain transition process in Egypt. . . . The result has been to feed a perception, on the streets of Cairo and elsewhere, that the United States, for now at least, is putting stability ahead of democratic ideals, and leaving hopes of nurturing peaceful, gradual change in large part in the hands of Egyptian officials — starting with Mr. Suleiman — who have every reason to slow the process.–New York Times [that day] Obama’s Man in Cairo Given the long-obvious fact that the Obama administration has been working to install Suleiman as interim leader as a (dubious) means of placating citizen anger, the above-referenced NYT article today offers a long and detailed profile of the new Egyptian “Vice President.” Unfortunately, the paper of record wasn’t able to find the space to inform its readers about Suleiman’s decades-long history as America’s personal abducter, detainer and torturer of the Egyptian people, nor his status as Israel’s most favored heir to the Mubarak tyranny (though the article did vaguely and euphemistically acknowledge that “the United States has certainly had long ties with Mr. Suleiman” and that “for years he has been an important contact for the Central Intelligence Agency”). –Glenn Greenwald barncat Kitt Kitt, look again. ‘lenk’ is saying that Greenwald withheld criticism of Morsi. Kitt barncat I see I misunderstood whatever it was “lenk” is trying to say, but Glenn has been critical of Egypt’s political corruption and human rights abuses since forever. https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/12/03/us-supported-egypt-188-protesters-sentenced-die-days-mubarak-freed/ lenk Kitt Pick a five year old kid on the streets and ask him or her to explain you the following sentence: “Glenn Greenwald, who chose to stay quiet when the US was giving weapons to human rights violator but anti Israel Morsi” After the kid explains you the meaning of that sentence, then ask him or her whether your response to that sentence would qualify you as “a squalling idiot”. You will be amazed to notice how sharp the reading comprehension of a five year old kid is! Did Greenwald write articles critical of Morsi, or not? Dude, find that five year old kid again and ask him or her whether it would be a good idea to challenge my argument by sharing with everybody an article from Greenwald in which he strongly criticizes the US for sending sophisticated weapons to anti Israel Morsi who led a government that barred the judiciary from challenging his decisions, that consistently charged journalists that questioned its policy and whose supporters openly used violence against the opposition. “We have the choice between an anti-Israel, anti-American (Glenn Greenwald” Something that one would hope that a five year old would either understand or learn to understand is that it is ignorant in the extreme to be labeling someone (Glenn Greenwald in this case), who criticizes the actions of a government such as Israel and of the US, “Anti Israel” or “Anti American,” due to his factual writings of criticisms about the actions or in-actions of those governments. However, it appears that you are incapable of providing factual writing of criticisms of the US by Greenwald when the US government supports militarily another government with poor human rights records that shares his opinion regarding Israel. Maybe it is just coincidence that Greenwald decides to criticizes US military support to Egypt only when governments that are lenient to Israel are in power regardless of the human rights record of the other leaders. Yes, maybe, but I still think a five year old would find that bizarre at least. And he or she having a basic intelligence would definitely understand it is more about being pro or against Israel (US) than being concerned about Egyptians’ human rights. “We have the choice between an anti-Israel, anti-American (Glenn Greenwald”–lenk Also know as: America! Love it or Leave it!–Lenk This article is strikingly similar to Sean Hannity’s report complaining about the US government providing F 16 fighter jets and and hundreds of Abram tanks to then elected President Morsi of Egypt in January 2013. In which case, Sean Hannity — as happens once in a blue moon — got something right. Do you agree that the U.S. should not be arming authoritarian regimes like those of either Morsi or Sisi? bamage I don’t generally offer critiques of this nature, but – you really ran entirely off the rails with the last sentence of this piece, Glenn. Jose bamage The one where he questions the true priorities of the US government? That it only opposes repression when such opposition can be used as a propaganda tool. There’s nothing controversial or radical about that idea. The US government cares about its interests, not those of others. The usual illustrative example is Saudi Arabia, but there are many others, currently and historically. Indeed, the US and its media would oppose an entirely democratic country with a government that has broad popular support among its population, if it’s closed off to American corporations and American control. Jdc2408 Jose Example 1a: Iran eddie-g Would it be vulgar to point out that supporting an Egyptian regime which will not apparently seek to renegotiate its treaty with Israel is a prime motivating factor here? “None of that is new: a staple of U.S. (ISRAELI) foreign policy has long been to support heinous regimes as long as they carry out U.S. (ISRAELI) dictates, all in order to keep domestic populations in check and prevent their views and beliefs (which are often averse to the U.S.[ISRAEL]) from having any effect on the actions of their own government.” Corrected. wiltmellow “French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Egyptian capital Cairo . . . to ink a deal for the sale of military hardware worth up to $6 billion.” French, English, Israeli, US … does it matter which State sells arms to buyers often financed by the very States which produces and distributes arms? Yes, tyrants need weaponry to maintain their autocratic power (remember those tear gas canisters manufactured in the US during the original Egyptian protests?) But it might be that compliance with/dependence upon Western arms dealers drives more foreign policy than ideology or military allegiance. If true “there” (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) isn’t it equally true “here” (US, Britain, France, Israel)? I suspect arms dealers learned a valuable lesson during the Iranian revolution. All their contracts void with a revolutionary change in government. (This is how stuff like Iran-Contra develops — an essential mutual interest between antagonistic parties.) In the old world (the cold war era) client states had to align with one or another arms dealer but with the end of the Soviet Union, so also the end of cheap arms — rather the end of competitive bidding. The Arab spring — especially in Egypt — highlights this dynamic. Fledgling governments (e.g., Morsi) works to establish ideological frameworks — a revolutionary agenda — while the military doesn’t care about ideology or practical politics. The graft, the pay-offs, and the arms dealers guarantee the irrelevance of ideology. The warrior class always prevails in all civil conflicts — moreso when governments sponsoring arms dealers individually benefit from the uninterrupted supply of military equipment. No longer is GM good for America … now Boeing (etc.) defines American international political interests. This is the scam: weapons bought by foreign aid (taxpayer money returned to the domestic corporations redistributed to facilitating pols and bureaucrats) ensure the warrior class in these client states remains in power — and wealthy — there and here (internationally and domestically.) dahoit wiltmellow If you believe the armies of most of these western dictators are a warrior class,you are mistaken,They are historic surrender monkeys,whose only success is against unarmed civilians.Their bellicosity depends on American bribery. We haven’t seen nothin yet over there in Egypt. wiltmellow dahoit If you believe the armies of most of these western dictators are a warrior class,you are mistaken,They are historic surrender monkeys … Incompetence, cowardice and graft doesn’t prevent inclusion in a class. If this were the case, there wouldn’t be a Democratic party in America — only two wings of the Republican party (the Softies and the Rigid). By “warrior class” I mean people whose careers and income are associated with the military of a state. It’s quite common everywhere on earth and in every historical era. What about US Generals and the loot they have accumulated through these agreements and wars? Millionaire mercenaries.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758926
__label__wiki	0.869696	0.869696	Home International U.S. warns of possible conflict with North Korea, China says situation could... U.S. warns of possible conflict with North Korea, China says situation could escalate The USS Carl Vinson transits the Philippine Sea while conducting a bilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force April 23, 2017. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Z.A. Landers/Handout via REUTERS U.S. President Donald Trump said a major conflict with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, while China said the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control. Trump, speaking to Reuters on Thursday, said he wanted to peacefully resolve the crisis, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option was not off the table. “There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea,” Trump said in an interview at the Oval Office. “We’d love to solve things diplomatically but it’s very difficult,” he said, describing North Korea as his biggest global challenge. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was a danger that the situation on the Korean peninsula could escalate or slip out of control, according to China’s foreign ministry. Wang made the comments in a meeting with a Russian diplomat on Thursday at the United Nations, the ministry said in a statement. China, the only major ally of North Korea, has been increasingly uncomfortable in recent months about its neighbor’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles in violation on U.N. resolutions. Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for trying to rein in Pyongyang, calling him “a good man”. “I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it’s possible that he can’t. But I think he’d like to be able to do something,” Trump said. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday that China has asked North Korea not to conduct any more nuclear tests. Beijing had warned Pyongyang it would impose unilateral sanctions if it went ahead, he added. “We were told by the Chinese that they informed the regime that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own,” Tillerson said on Fox News, without specifying what sanctions he was referring to. Tillerson did not say when China made the threat and there was no immediate confirmation from Beijing. He is due to chair a meeting with U.N Security Council foreign ministers on Friday, where he said he would stress the need for members to fully implement existing sanctions as well as possible next steps. China banned imports of North Korean coal in February, cutting off its most important export, and Chinese media this month raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to the North if it unleashed more provocations. MISSILE DEFENSE, CARRIER GROUP In a show of force, the United States is sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea’s navy has said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group. Admiral Harry Harris, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, said on Wednesday the carrier was in the Philippine Sea, within two hours’ striking distance of North Korea if need be. Harris also said a U.S. missile defense system being deployed in South Korea to ward off any possible North Korean attack would be operational in coming days. However, Beijing has been angered by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile defense system, complaining that its radar can see deep into China and undermines its security. Trump said in the interview he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the THAAD, which he estimated at $1 billion. South Korea, one of Washington’s most crucial allies in the region, said the United States would have to bear the cost, pointing to possible friction ahead. Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from being able to hit the United States with a nuclear missile, a capability experts say Pyongyang could have some time after 2020. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and numerous missile tests, including one this month, a day before a summit meeting between Trump and Xi in Florida. Any direct U.S. military action would run the risk of massive North Korean retaliation and huge casualties in Japan and South Korea and among U.S. forces in both countries. Trump, asked if he considered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be rational, said he was operating from the assumption that he is rational. He noted that Kim had taken over his country at an early age. “As to whether or not he’s rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he’s rational,” he said. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on North Korea and other countries on Thursday to avoid behavior or rhetoric that could increase tensions around Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Source: U.S. warns of possible conflict with North Korea, China says situation could escalate \| Reuters Previous articleMoscow Steps In to Fill the Vacuum in Libya Next articleMexico’s Bimbo enters Africa market with Morocco acquisition China, Algeria celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations, 64th anniv. of Algerian Revolution China legalizes concentration camps of Muslims whose existence denied the UN A story of Moroccan-American relations: the “Magic Window” Feraoun calls in Wuhzen for Internet development based on “multilateral and... China still Algeria’s largest supplier in first 10 months Turkey threatens to strike U.S. forces partnered with Kurdish militias in... China Donates Advanced Maritime Equipment to Tunisia Following Industry Sector Boost	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758927
__label__wiki	0.714379	0.714379	Pieces of Mobile's past, and why they have to be frozen: Behind the scenes at the History Museum (photos) History Museum of Mobile's Adopt an Artifact program Gallery: History Museum of Mobile's Adopt an Artifact program By Sally Pearsall Ericson MOBILE, Alabama -- Behind the scenes at the History Museum of Mobile are reams of storage bins filled with pieces of the city's history -- some that are ready for display at the next themed exhibit and others that need a great deal of restoration work. The big chill Preservation of an historical artifact is a painstaking process, of course, but the History Museum of Mobile technicians begin with a basic technique: the deep freeze. Before any item joins the museum's collection, it's kept at 40 degrees below zero for 72 hours in the museum's big freezer. This kills any insects, mold spores or other unwanted forms of life lurking in the fabric or woodwork, said Scott Corcoran, the museum's collections technician. After the items are defrosted, they are also vacuumed. Corcoran and other museum staffers have been freezing, cleaning and cataloguing newly-discovered items in the museum's collection for months, as the pieces are brought in from the storage facilities. Some of the artifacts are cleaned and restored on site, but others will need more extensive repairs. Iron objects are scrubbed, oiled and baked to remove rust. The deep freeze can't be used on everything – certainly not metals or plastics – but it's essential to protect the museum's entire collection from an infestation, Corcoran said. Staffers at the History Museum just organized an estate sale to clear out extraneous items in the collection and raise money to restore many of the artifacts. In the process, staff members emptied one of two off-site storage facilities, and found many new items as they worked to inventory the nearly 95,000 objects owned by the museum. The museum does not have an acquisitions budget, or much in the way of funding for restoration work, said Holly Jansen, the museum's curator of collections The museum also has an ongoing program to raise money for the cause: Adopt An Artifact, an initiative that solicits levels of giving to preserve selected objects. The artifacts on the list include a chair owned by Father Abraham Ryan, “poet-priest of the South”; a 1940 fire truck, the only motorized vehicle in the museum’s collection; a violin owned by William “Red Eagle” Weatherford, who led the Red Stick offensive at Fort Mims on Aug. 30, 1813; and a Duke University basketball jersey donated by LeFlore High School’s Antonio Lang, the school’s 1990 valedictorian, who played on the Blue Devils’ ’91 and ’92 NCAA championship teams. Want to adopt an artifact? Visit www.museumofmobile.com/adopt_artifact.php.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758928
__label__wiki	0.718046	0.718046	She was a slave turned spy and she brought down the Confederate White House Updated Mar 25, 2019 ; Posted Mar 25, 2019 Pedestrians walk past the front of the White House of the Confederacy which is located next to the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va., Thursday, June 28, 2007. The Museum of the Confederacy bills itself as home to the world's largest collection of Confederate artifacts. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) In early 1862, at the height of the Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis became a very paranoid man. His army was struggling against the Union, which was getting mysteriously better and better at predicting his moves. Davis suspected a mole somewhere in his government, leaking information. He was right - and wrong. There was, indeed, a mole. But it was a servant at the Confederate White House in Richmond - a freed slave with a photographic memory who, in addition to caring for his wife's dresses, slipped the North valuable secrets from Davis' own desk. Her name was Mary Bowser. Hers is one of the great but infrequently told spy stories in American history - a shame, say historians and others who write about the Civil War, because it is a tale with an enduring, important lesson. Bowser used the assumption that she was far less intelligent than her white employers against them. "By playing to that stereotype, she becomes an intelligence agent and, therefore, proves the value of black intelligence at undermining the institution of slavery itself," Lois Leveen, a historical novelist who based one of her books on Bowser, said while discussing the spy's legacy in 2013 during a panel discussion at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. "This is a humdinger of a tale," said another panelist, University of Virginia historian Elizabeth Varon. Varon detailed Bowser's life and spy capers in her 2003 book, "Southern Lady, Yankee Spy." The book is primarily a biography of Elizabeth L. Van Lew, a well-known Richmond society figure and daughter of prominent slave owners. Van Lew is the second humdinger in this story. She abhorred slavery. And when the war broke out, she decided to do something about it. Instead of moving north with her family, Van Lew stayed in the family mansion. From there, she ran a spy ring known as the Richmond Underground. Her spy methods were not particularly sophisticated, but the information her agents provided to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant - especially about during the Battle of Richmond - was crucial. One of those spies was Bowser. She was born around 1840 while her parents were enslaved by Van Lew's family. The Van Lews had conflicted feelings about slavery, though. They sent Bowser north to be educated during her teenage years. Later, she did missionary work in Liberia. When she returned to Richmond, Bowser was arrested. It was illegal to return to a slave state after living in a free one. Van Lew bailed her out. At some point, she brought Bowser into her spy network, helping her get a job as a servant at the Confederate White House. The tradecraft was simple. A family friend of the Van Lews worked for a seamstress near the Confederate White House. Bowser brought the first lady's dresses there not just when they needed work but also to send important messages to Van Lew. The dresses held the messages. Bowser sewed them into the fabric. This was perilous work - especially for Bowser, who probably would have been executed if she were caught. But she was too good to be caught. As for Van Lew, the Confederates began closing in on her in 1864, but by then the war - for Virginia and the South - was pretty much lost. When Grant's army rolled into Richmond in 1865, Van Lew wrote in her journal, "Oh, army of my country, how glorious was your welcome!" Grant was so pleased with her work he awarded her an official job: postmaster of Richmond. As for Bowser, she moved to Georgia to become a teacher. And she spent the rest of her life telling the story of her time as a spy - down South and up North. Why? "For a purpose," Varon said. "For the purpose of saying: 'We need our rights protected. We're still vulnerable. The work's not done yet.'"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758929
__label__cc	0.54558	0.45442	The Link Winter 2014 Eating like a refugee Peace Mail In the last six months you have made a huge difference to survivors of conflict and disaster around the world. Thank you for your ongoing dedication, time, effort, and support. During Refugee Week in June, 100 brave supporters helped us pilot the first ever Act for Peace Ration Challenge, raising an amazing $58,000. Ben Littlejohn/Act for Peace They took on the challenge of eating exactly the same rations as a Burmese refugee living in a camp on the Thai-Burma border. Just a small amount of rice, split peas, fortified flour, salt, oil, fish paste, and water. That’s it. No meat, veg, coffee, or alcohol! “This challenge appealed to me to ‘walk in another’s shoes’ or eat like a refugee on rations. It was a compassionate and Christian way to help others in need. Novel too.” - Peter Hartley, whose family raised $1,710. “It’s definitely been a worthwhile experience and I’m so proud of my family…the support we’ve received from people has been overwhelming” - Tim Wallis, whose family took part raising over $1,100. “The challenge has certainly been just that. [It] will stay with me a long time. Eating rice with very little to flavour it for a week was tough, although I did enjoy drinking hot water! How fortunate we are to live comfortably and never have to worry about not having enough to eat” - Jenny Monger, whose family raised $2,275. “The smell of cheese and veggie muffins cooking in the oven tonight just about killed me .... Who’d have thought preparing lunch box snacks for my kids would be so tough? Reminding myself how awful it would be not to be able to provide healthy food for my kids. How lucky we are.” - Bernie Bissett We were blown away by the creativity and dedication of every single person who made the Ration Challenge their own. Thanks to generous sponsorship from friends and family, they raised a fantastic $58,000 to support refugees forced to flee by the conflict in Burma, who are now living in a refugee camp without the means to support themselves. This money will help make sure the refugees get the rations they need to survive, and provide tools and training to help them become more self-sufficient. The Gift of Education Like all children, Alina has dreams for her future. Sadly, most children in rural Pakistan can’t get the education they need to realise their dreams and escape poverty. Syria Appeal Seven years on and Syrian refugees are still in urgent need of our help. Keep hope alive and help provide the food, medical care and support they need. Ration Challenge: What's Next? Together we raised over $3 million during Ration Challenge 2018 - enough to feed more than 10,000 refugees for a year!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758932
__label__cc	0.737218	0.262782	Victor Ivanov is elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors Today Aeroflot-Russian Airlines Board of Directors has elected Ivanov Victor Petrovich, President’s Advisor, as its Chairman. Aeroflot–Russian Airlines (RTS: AFLT) is the largest Russian Company. The state owns 51 per cent of its stocks. It was established in 1923. It controls 11 per cent of home and 39 per cent of international market of air carriages of Russia. Net income amounted to 6 330.143 million rubles (219 million USD) in 2004. According to its financial indicators it is in the list of 25 top airline companies of the world (according to ATW). In 2004 Aeroflot transported 6.862 million passengers. There are 90 airliners in its fleet. Its headquarter is located in Moscow in Sheremetyevo Airport. It is going to build its own terminal Sheremetyevo–3 by 2007. Apply for detailed information about the airline company on its web–sites www.aeroflot.ru, www.aeroflotbonus.ru.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758936
__label__wiki	0.833705	0.833705	New Attractions in Washington, D.C. Make the best choices for your Medicare needs! Visit AARP's Medicare Made Easy. Explore What's New in Washington, D.C. Our nation's capital offers even more fun for visitors this year by Ken Budd, AARP, June 13, 2019 \| Comments: 0 En español \| A record 21.9 million Americans visited Washington, D.C., in 2018 and it's easy to understand why: Washington is less hectic than Manhattan, less expensive than San Francisco and it's loaded with free world-class museums, plus wonderful restaurants, theaters and parks. And 2019 offers more than ever, with the nation's capital unveiling these exciting new attractions: International Spy Museum The museum, formerly in a smaller space near Chinatown, now has a spacious new 140,000-square-foot facility on the south side of the National Mall. It still features longtime popular items — such as James Bond's Aston Martin and the KGB “lipstick pistol” — along with cool additions, from an underground spy tunnel that ran below Berlin in the 1950s to thought-provoking exhibits on interrogation and mass surveillance. But the star attraction may be the building itself, located at L'Enfant Plaza, within walking distance of the National Air and Space Museum and the Wharf. With its eerie nighttime lighting and pleated glass, the angular, ultra-modern facility looks like something from, yes, a Bond movie. National Museum of History Fossil Hall After a five-year, $125 million renovation, the Fossil Hall has reopened this month with a big new resident: the Smithsonian's first Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. Discovered by a Montana rancher in 1988, the T. rex is posed with a triceratops skeleton, which it's, well … eating (hey — that's what a T. rex does). The renovated 31,000-square-foot hall includes over 700 animal, insect and plant specimens and a fossil lab where visitors can view scientists as they work. Want to see more dinosaurs? If you have little ones in tow, head to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, which has six life-size animatronic dinosaurs placed throughout the park from June 1 through Aug. 31. The zoo is also hosting dinosaur puppet shows. Reopened Washington Monument The Washington Monument has been closed since August 2016 — the National Park Service was modernizing the elevator and building a new security-screening center — but it's scheduled to reopen this August. Visitors will once again zoom up to the 500-foot-high observation point, which offers some of the city's best views. And if you want to impress your fellow elevator riders, here's some Washington Monument trivia: It's the tallest building in the district and it was the world's tallest structure when it opened in 1888. It lost the title six months later when Paris opened the Eiffel Tower. To help you plan your next big trip, get AARP’s twice-monthly Travel newsletter. La Cosecha Market Union Market is already a destination for foodies — Bon Appetit named it one of the top five food halls in America — but it'll soon have an impressive new neighbor. La Cosecha (Spanish for “the harvest") is a 20,000-square-foot Latin market, food hall and cultural exhibition space that will feature artisans, chefs and more from Washington's Latin American communities. The developers are also partnering with embassies to cohost everything from art exhibits to live performances. Guests will enter the market through flower stalls and then head to a plaza for a variety of eateries, including the first brick-and-mortar location for Peruvian Brothers, one of the city's most beloved food trucks. Be sure to try the Pan con Chicharrón, a sandwich featuring freshly baked bread, fried sweet potato slices, salty pork and criolla sauce. La Cosecha will open in late August or early September. The REACH at the Kennedy Center When it opens on Sept. 7, the REACH will be the performing arts center's first new space in its nearly 50-year history. The Kennedy Center describes it as “a living theater where diverse art forms collide to break down the boundaries between audience and art.” A less artsy translation? It'll be a waaay cool place to hang out. The $175 million, 4.6-acre project includes a reflection pool on the grassy grounds, three pavilions for outdoor performances, a café and a video wall with seating for 1,600 viewers. A pedestrian bridge will span over Rock Creek Parkway to a path along the Potomac where you can stroll to areas such as Georgetown and the National Mall. National Children's Museum Any museum with a “randomized splat and ooze projection theater” has gotta be fun, right? The museum opens on Nov. 1 at its new 33,000-square-foot location on Pennsylvania Ave., one block from the National Mall. The exhibits all focus on STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) though children will be so entertained they won't realize they're learning. Among the highlights: The entrance hall features the Dream Machine, which sends kids up a 50-foot-high climbing structure and down super-fun slides. There's also a slime area sponsored by Nickelodeon. No wonder the Travel Channel named it one of the 10 most anticipated museum openings of 2019. And yes, parents and grandparents will like it, too. More at museums: Look for big-time exhibits on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing at the National Air and Space Museum, including Neil Armstrong's recently restored spacesuit, debuting in July, and at the National Gallery of Art, a lunar photography show featuring pics by Buzz Aldrin and Armstrong, among others. And many museums are marking the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage legislation, including the National Portrait Gallery, the National Archives and the Library of Congress (the latter two are sponsored by AARP). You might also visit the Newseum at its primo Pennsylvania Avenue location before it closes in December. More on Washington, D.C. How to see the nation's capital on a budget Celebrations of women's right to vote begin in Washington Please leave your comment below. Members save up to 30%, get a free additional driver and other exclusive benefits. Members save up to $100 per person on select guided tours. Members save 20% on resort stays.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758938
__label__wiki	0.902904	0.902904	Proposed law would remove consumer protections for pool buyers Posted: 1:21 PM, Feb 05, 2017 A 2002 law enacted to protect consumers after fly-by-night pool contractors ripped off homeowners across metro Phoenix is on the fast-track for repeal under a change pushed as part of Gov. Doug Ducey's effort to streamline business regulations. The measure backed by Ducey's contractor regulation agency also removes a requirement that the license of a remodeling and repair contractor who doesn't carry workers' compensation insurance must be suspended. And it shields those contractors from having their home or email addresses publicly available, a move that could make it harder for consumers to locate a contractor who walked out on a job and works out of his or her home. Senate Bill 1116 unanimously passed the Senate Thursday and now heads to the House. It got little attention in a Senate committee and no floor debate because it had no formal opposition and was on a consent agenda. The 2002 pool contracting law and the 2008 license suspension law were pushed by then-Sen. Barbara Leff, who was responding to constituent complaints. The Paradise Valley Republican retired from the Senate in 2010 because of term limits. She said in a recent interview that she doesn't understand why Ducey's agency is targeting the laws, other than a lack of understanding of why they were originally enacted. "If people don't know what was happening I guess they would say `I don't know what the issue is,"' Leff said of the pool contracting law. "The good companies weren't doing it. The main companies were the ones that wanted this done because they were getting a bad name from the fly-by-night companies that came in and then just walked out. It was really a scam, a complete scam." The pool contracting law came after rogue contractors demanded full payments for building a new pool and then never lifted a shovel of dirt, leaving consumers out tens of thousands of dollars. Legitimate pool contractors pushed for the new law, which requires pool contractors to take payments in stages as they complete work. The workers compensation provision was part of a broader 2008 law targeting unscrupulous home remodeling contractors preying on homeowners in the Arcadia area of Phoenix, Leff said. Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, is sponsoring the bill being pushed by the Registrar of Contractors, the state licensing agency. "I think we've heard from a lot of people, especially trying to start a business, that there were too many onerous regulations and burdens put on them," Smith said. "This came back as one of them. The ROC asked for and welcomed this change and so I think they are responding to what they're hearing from their contractors." Jim Knupp, the spokesman for the Registrar of Contractors, said the legislation targets laws the agency considers redundant or an over-regulation, and removes rules specific to one contracting class. The third part is designed to protect a contractor's private information and mirror what is provided for real estate agents. Knupp said only pool contractors are subject to the payment schedule for a job, something normally worked out between a buyer and seller. He also said the agency will still have the option to suspend the license of a contractor that fails to insure its workers, and could release the home address of a contractor if there is a complaint. He defended the proposed changes, saying they won't lessen consumer protections. "I don't believe that any of the moves within Sen. Smith's bill put the public at risk or question their safety," Knupp said. Leff said she's just doesn't understand why addresses would be shielded, nor the reason for pulling the pool contracting law, although it might now be outdated. The workers' compensation law change, however, completely baffles her. "I don't know why anybody would object to that," she said. "You have to have workers' comp, it's the law."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758939
__label__wiki	0.524149	0.524149	Kansas Animation Schools Written by ACR Staff. Last updated August 03, 2017. Kansas is home to Dodge City—the windiest city in the U.S., and it is the birthplace of Almon Stowger—the inventor of the dial phone. Kansas certainly has a lot to brag about when it comes to famous natives, inventions, and unique weather, but believe it or not, the Sunflower State has also played an active role in the film industry. Famous films such as the original In Cold Blood (1967), Dances with Wolves (1990), Truman (1995) and Missing Pieces (coming 2012) were filmed here and the Film Commission of Greater Kansas plans to reel in more Hollywood productions in the coming years. Thanks to the efforts of the Kansas Film Office and the number of productions filmed here each year, animators interested in working in the film industry or advertising and promotions will have a number of job opportunities. To date, the state if home to around 45 animation, visual effects, and production studios. In addition, Kansas is home to dozens of technology firms that regularly recruit animators with a computer science background. In addition to a variety of employment opportunities, aspiring animators will find a number of Kansas colleges that offer training programs ranging from digital art to graphic design. These majors can help prepare students to work in a variety of industries from film production to web design. Kansas colleges and art schools can be found from in cities from Emporia to Topeka. Scroll through the list below to review Kansas’s best schools for art and animation and what they have to offer. Emporia State University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design Kansas State University - Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Art with Concentration in Digital Arts, Graphic Design; M. F. A. Graphic Design Washburn University – Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Art, Studio Emphasis More Animation related programs to consider: Selected Campus Locations: San Francisco & Online Selected Programs: Animation Career Review Rankings: Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#21) - 2019 Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#28) - 2019 Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#40) - 2019 Full Sail University Winter Park, FL & Online Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online & Campus Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus Top 10 in Florida for Graphic Design (#4) - 2019 CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation Introduction to 3D Animation - 6 months Introduction to 3D Modeling - 6 Months Introduction to Concept Art - 6 Months Foundations for VFX & Game Design - 10 Months Advanced 3D Animation Diploma - 10 Months Advanced 3D Modeling Diploma - 10 Months Advanced Concept Art Diploma - 10 Months Advanced Illustration Diploma - 10 Months Employment and Salary Trends for Kansas Animators The state of Kansas is home to around 160 salaried animators and multi-media artists. Many more are self-employed. They work in film production, advertising, technology, education, gaming, and even mobile communications. Salaries for Kansas animators and multi-media artists vary based on factors such as industry, location, and experience. As of 2009, Kansas animators earned $34,170-$41,190 per year. Nationwide, the mean annual wage for animators was $62,810 per year as of May 2009. The lowest paid animators earned $32,360 per year and the highest paid animators earned $99,130 per year. Best Animation Programs in Kansas Top Animation Programs in Kansas Kansas Animation Careers: Employment & Salary Trends, Job Opportunities, & Colleges Offering Animation Programs in Kansas List of Kansas Schools with Graphic Design Degree Programs Top Graphic Design Programs in Kansas Best Graphic Design Programs in Kansas	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758940
__label__wiki	0.549622	0.549622	CACNA1H in C21-Steroid Hormone Metabolic Process anti-CACNA1H Antibodies Browse our anti-CACNA1H (CACNA1H) Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, T Type, alpha 1H Subunit Antibodies (CACNA1H) On www.antibodies-online.com are 88 Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, T Type, alpha 1H Subunit (CACNA1H) Antibodies from 15 different suppliers available. Additionally we are shipping CACNA1H Proteins (11) and CACNA1H Kits (5) and many more products for this protein. A total of 105 CACNA1H products are currently listed. alpha13.2, CACNA1HB, Cav3.2, ECA6, EIG6, MNCb-1209 CACNA1H 8912 O95180 CACNA1H 58226 CACNA1H 114862 Q9EQ60 Most Popular Reactivities for anti-CACNA1H (CACNA1H) Antibodies anti-Human CACNA1H Antibodies: 4 IHC Antibodies 2 IHC (p) Antibodies anti-Mouse (Murine) CACNA1H Antibodies: anti-Rat (Rattus) CACNA1H Antibodies: All available anti-CACNA1H Antibodies Rat (Rattus) (57) Relevant Pathways for anti-CACNA1H Antibodies C21-Steroid Hormone Metabolic Process More product categories related to CACNA1H Antibody 108 anti-CACNA1H Primary Antibodies 5 CACNA1H ELISA & Assay Kits 11 CACNA1H Proteins Top referenced anti-CACNA1H Antibodies Show all anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, T Type, alpha 1H Subunit (CACNA1H) Antibodies with Pubmed References Human Monoclonal CACNA1H Primary Antibody for ISt, IHC - ABIN1304584 : Martinello, Huang, Lujan, Tran, Watanabe, Cooper, Brown, Shah: Cholinergic afferent stimulation induces axonal function plasticity in adult hippocampal granule cells. in Neuron 2015 (PubMed) Human Monoclonal CACNA1H Primary Antibody for ICC, IHC (fro) - ABIN447362 : García-Caballero, Gadotti, Stemkowski, Weiss, Souza, Hodgkinson, Bladen, Chen, Hamid, Pizzoccaro, Deage, François, Bourinet, Zamponi: The deubiquitinating enzyme USP5 modulates neuropathic and inflammatory pain by enhancing Cav3.2 channel activity. in Neuron 2014 (PubMed) More Antibodies against CACNA1H Interaction Partners Human Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, T Type, alpha 1H Subunit (CACNA1H) interaction partners these findings demonstrated that the SNPs in the CACNA 1A, CACNA 1C, and CACNA 1H genes were involved in the pathophysiology of DPN. In addition, polymorphisms in the CACNA 1A, CACNA 1C, and CACNA 1H genes and their interactions also had effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) . These findings reveal spectrin (alpha/beta) / ankyrin B cytoskeletal and signaling proteins as key regulators of T-type calcium channels expressed in the nervous system. In colonic biopsies, the Cav3.2 mRNA level was significantly higher in the irritable bowel syndrome group compared to controls. human Cav3.1, Cav3.2, and Cav3.3 T-type channels specifically associate with CaM at helix 2 of the gating brake in the I-II linker of the channels. Here we show that T-type channels Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 are present in the lung and PASMCs from iPAH patients and control subjects. The blockade of T-type channels by the specific blocker, TTA-A2, prevents cell cycle progression and PASMCs growth In gastric cancer, expression of all the CACNA (1G, 1H, 1I) genes was associated with overall survival (OS) among stage I-IV patients. By combining the three potential biomarkers, a TTCC signature was developed, which retained a significant association with OS both in stage IV and stage I-III patients. Alterations in CACNA gene expression are linked to tumour prognosis. Our data establish Stac1 as an important modulator of T-type channel expression and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the trafficking of T-type channels to the plasma membrane. CACNA1H variant is associated with differential antiepileptic drug response in childhood absence epilepsy. There is a direct link between CACNA1H(M1549V) mutation and an increased aldosterone production. This suggests that calcium channel blockers may be beneficial in the treatment of a subset of patients with primary aldosteronism. CACNA1H might be a susceptibility gene predisposing to PA with different phenotypic presentations, opening new perspectives for genetic diagnosis and management of patients with PA. modulation of N-linked glycosylation of hCav3.2 channels may play an important physiological role heterozygous mutations identified in a pediatric patient with chronic pain and absence seizures result in loss of channel function, with significantly smaller current densities across a wide range of voltages when co-expressed in tsA-201 cells. CaV3.1, CaV3.2 and CaV3.3 channels, are best recognized for their negative voltage of activation and inactivation thresholds that allow them to operate near the resting membrane potential of neurons. Study revealed no association between the 15 tagSNPs of CACNA1A, 1C, and 1H and antiepileptic drug efficacy in the Chinese Han epileptic population; the TAGAA haplotype of CACNA1A may be a risk factor for drug resistance Cav3.2 channels are highly phosphorylated in the mammalian brain and establish phosphorylation as an important mechanism involved in the dynamic regulation of Cav3.2 channel gating properties Recurrent gain of function mutation in calcium channel CACNA1H causes early-onset hypertension with primary aldosteronism. reveal an unexpected role of CaV3.2 channels in regulating NMDA-R-mediated transmission and a novel epileptogenic mechanism for human childhood absence epilepsy The I-II loop of the Cav3.2 protein inhibits neuronal Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 channels. C456S mutation leads to substantially increased excitability of cultured neurons due to increased spontaneous firing rate. N-linked glycosylation of Cav3.2 not only controls surface expression. Mouse (Murine) Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, T Type, alpha 1H Subunit (CACNA1H) interaction partners Study shows that the T-type Ca(2+) channel Cav3.2 regulates differentiation of neural progenitor cells during cortical development via caspase-3. these findings reveal ENaC as an interactor and potential regulator of Cav3.2 calcium channels expressed in neuronal tissues. The purinergic channel pannexin1, the ATP-gated purinergic receptor P2 x 7R and the low voltage transiently opened T-type calcium channel CaV3.2-1 all reside in close proximity to beta3 integrin attachment foci on osteocyte processes, suggesting a specialized mechanotransduction complex at these sites. In Cav3.2-/- mice NO levels increased significantly with age. Cav3.2-deficient mice develop less age-dependent endothelial dysfunction. USP5 mediated dysregulation of Cav3.2 channel activity does not exhibit sex differences, and potential therapeutics targeting this interaction should be effective in both male and female subjects. The identification of TRPM7 and CaV3.2 as key mediators of Ca(2+) influx following fertilization. identify interleukin-1 beta as an upstream trigger for the upregulation of interactions between USP5 and Cav3.2 channels in the pain pathway T-channels contribute to the development and maintenance of the referred hyperalgesia. Findings provided morphological evidence that T-type Cav3.2 channel, at least partially, mediates the pain facilitation of insulin-like growth factor-1/insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signaling in chronic inflammatory pain condition. This study found that expressions of Cav3.2 and IGF-1R, and their colocalization were not increased in DRGs of mice following axotomy. In addition, Cav3.2 or IGF-1R subpopulation neurons did not acquire significant switch in expression phenotype after sciatic nerve axotomy. Sensitization was relieved by pharmacological block of TRPV1 afferents, but not of myelinated neurons. In spinal cord slice recordings, we could optogenetically trigger an activity-dependent potentiation of presynaptic neurotransmission in the spinal dorsal horn that relied on Cav3.2 channel activity. This neuronal-activity-induced USP5 upregulation may underlie a protective, transient sensitization of the pain pathway. The important roles of the CaV 3.2 T-type calcium channels in myogenic tone. findings show that 2 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-associated missense mutations produce alterations on the channel activity, consistent with a loss of channel function; findings implicate CACNA1H as a susceptibility gene in one form of ALS findings suggest that chronic intermittent hypoxia leads to an augmented calcium influx via reactive oxygen species -dependent facilitation of CaV3.2 protein trafficking to the plasma membrane. these data show that CaV3.2 T-type channels have prev8iously unrecognized roles in supporting the meiotic-maturation-associated increase in ER Ca(2+) stores and mediating Ca(2+) influx required for the activation of development. MTF1 mediates the increase of CaV3.2 mRNA and a rise in intracellular Zn(2+) which is associated with status epilepticus. both suramin and gossypetin produced dose-dependent and long-lasting mechanical anti-hyperalgesia that was abolished or greatly attenuated in Cav3.2 null mice Data show increased expression of T-type Ca(2+) current and association of protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha) with caveolin-3 (Cav-3)was disrupted in the hypertrophic ventricular myocyte. the asymmetric effects of the Cav3.2 and its partial reversal by behavior training on the hippocampal transcriptome This study demonstrated that CaV3.2 KO mice have altered retinal waves but normal direction selectivity. CACNA1H Antigen Profile This gene encodes a T-type member of the alpha-1 subunit family, a protein in the voltage-dependent calcium channel complex. Calcium channels mediate the influx of calcium ions into the cell upon membrane polarization and consist of a complex of alpha-1, alpha-2/delta, beta, and gamma subunits in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. The alpha-1 subunit has 24 transmembrane segments and forms the pore through which ions pass into the cell. There are multiple isoforms of each of the proteins in the complex, either encoded by different genes or the result of alternative splicing of transcripts. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized for the gene described here. Studies suggest certain mutations in this gene lead to childhood absence epilepsy (CAE). Alternative names and synonyms associated with CACNA1H calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 H (CACNA1H) antibody calcium channel, voltage-dependent, T type, alpha 1H subunit (Cacna1h) antibody alpha13.2 antibody CACNA1HB antibody Cav3.2 antibody ECA6 antibody EIG6 antibody MNCb-1209 antibody Protein level used designations for CACNA1H calcium channel, voltage-dependent, T type, alpha 1Hb subunit , low-voltage-activated calcium channel alpha1 3.2 subunit , low-voltage-activated calcium channel alpha13.2 subunit , voltage dependent t-type calcium channel alpha-1H subunit , voltage-dependent T-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1H , voltage-gated calcium channel alpha subunit Cav3.2 , voltage-gated calcium channel alpha subunit CavT.2 , voltage-gated calcium channel subunit alpha Cav3.2 , T-type Cav3.2 , calcium channel alpha13.2 subunit 8912 Homo sapiens 58226 Mus musculus Selected quality suppliers for anti-CACNA1H (CACNA1H) Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, T Type, alpha 1G Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, R Type, alpha 1E Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, P/Q Type, alpha 1A Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, N Type, alpha 1B Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, L Type, alpha 1S Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, L Type, alpha 1F Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, L Type, alpha 1D Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, L Type, alpha 1C Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, gamma Subunit 8 Antibodies anti-Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, beta 4 Subunit Antibodies anti-Calcium Homeostasis Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein Antibodies anti-Calcium Homeostasis Modulator 1 Antibodies anti-Calcium Independent Phospholipase A2 Antibodies anti-Calcium Modulating Ligand Antibodies anti-Calcium Regulated Heat Stable Protein 1, 24kDa Antibodies anti-Calcium Responsive Transcription Factor Antibodies anti-Calcium-Binding Protein, Spermatid-Specific 1 Antibodies anti-Calcium-Sensing Receptor Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase (CaM Kinase) II beta Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase I Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase ID Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase IG Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II alpha Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II delta Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II gamma Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Inhibitor 1 Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase IV Antibodies anti-Calcium/calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase 1, alpha Antibodies	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758941
__label__wiki	0.953387	0.953387	Harvard tops 2016 U.S. News Best Global Universities rankings Oct 6th 2015 12:01AM Universities in many regions of the world are vying to enroll students from overseas. Countries including Canada, Germany and South Korea have set goals to attract tens of thousands more international students to their college campuses over the next several years. These nations are searching globally for top talent in part to bolster their workforces, especially as populations in places such as Germany begin to age. SEE ALSO: These alumni see the biggest gender pay gaps More than 4 million students left their home countries to study abroad in 2012, according to the latest data available from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. To help prospective international students compare institutions around the world, U.S. News has launched a second, expanded edition of the Best Global Universities rankings, which evaluate schools based on academic research performance and reputation. The overall 2016 Best Global Universities rankings encompass the top 750 universities located around the globe, an increase from the 500 that were included in last year's inaugural rankings. But the school on top remains the same: Harvard University, located in Massachusetts in the northeastern U.S. [See photos of the top 20 Best Global Universities.] Harvard is No. 1 worldwide in a few other ways as well: The school has both the largest endowment – $36.4 billion in 2014, according to U.S. News data – and the largest academic library of any university in the world. Counting Harvard, eight of the top 10 Best Global Universities are found in the U.S. Of those eight U.S. schools, two are public institutions: the No. 3-ranked University of California—Berkeley and the No. 8-ranked University of California—Los Angeles. The top 10 is rounded out by two schools in the United Kingdom: the University of Oxford, ranked No. 5, and the University of Cambridge, ranked No. 6. Learn more about the top 10 schools on the Best Global Universities ranking Top 10 global universities - US News 10. University of Chicago (Photo via Getty Images) 9. Columbia University (Photo via Shutterstock) 8. University of California - Los Angeles (Photo by David Sucsy via Getty Images) 7. California Institute of Technology (Photo by Jamie Pham, Alamy) 6. University of Cambridge (Photo by Peter Adams, Getty Images) 4. Stanford University 3. University of California - Berkeley (Photo by Rick Gerharter, Getty Images) 2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Photo by Songquan Deng, Getty Images) 1. Harvard University While there was little movement in the top 10 between this year and last, one U.S. school ranked among the top 20 jumped a notable five places. The University of Pennsylvania moved up from the No. 19 spot to a tie with Yale University in the U.S. for No. 14. Meanwhile, Imperial College London in the U.K. fell from No. 12 to No. 18. Overall, 57 countries have institutions featured in the rankings, up from 49 nations last year. With 181 institutions represented, the U.S. has by far the most universities in the top 750. China has the next-highest number of schools, with 57, followed closely by the United Kingdom, with 55 universities making the cut. [Get answers to frequently asked questions about the global rankings.] The Best Global Universities rankings, which incorporate data from Thomson Reuters InCitesTM research analytics solutions, do not focus on a university's separate undergraduate or graduate programs. Instead, the rankings illustrate an institution's overall strength in terms of research activity and reputation, differentiating them from the U.S. News Best Colleges and Best Graduate Schools rankings of U.S. programs. In addition to factors such as global research reputation and international collaboration, the U.S. News methodology expanded this year to include two separate ranking indicators for research published in books and communicated at academic conferences. Beyond the overall rankings, students can explore how universities stack up against others in the same region or within the same country, as well as in various academic subjects. New to the 2016 rankings is a regional ranking of universities in Africa. The regional rankings are based entirely on how schools fared in the overall rankings of the top 750 universities worldwide; other regional rankings cover Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe and Latin America. The No. 1 university in Africa is the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Of the top universities in this region, six are in South Africa, three are in Egypt and one is in Uganda. The schools that top the other 2016 regional rankings are the reigning No. 1s from 2015: Japan's University of Tokyo in Asia; Australia's University of Melbourne in Australia/New Zealand; the U.K.'s Oxford in Europe; and Brazil's Universidade de São Paulo in Latin America. This year, there are 32 country-specific rankings available, nearly triple the total published last year. Country rankings are based on how schools ranked among the overall Best Global Universities. Among the newcomers to the country rankings are Brazil, India and Austria. There are also rankings for several of the countries that, according to the Institute of International Education, are among the most popular destinations for international students, including the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, Australia and Canada. [Explore nine reasons to earn a bachelor's degree overseas.] The Best Global Universities rankings also include the top-performing institutions in 22 key subject areas, including engineering; economics and business; and computer science. Subject rankings are based on a separate methodology, which incorporates several factors that measure academic research and reputation in each of these specific fields. However, the rankings are not of academic majors, departments or schools, such as business or medical schools. One addition this year is the arts and humanities subject ranking, which includes fields such as history and philosophy. Oxford in the U.K. is the top-ranked institution in arts and humanities, and Cambridge sits in the No. 2 spot. Some universities were ranked in all or nearly all of the subject rankings, demonstrating research strength across a broad range of academic fields. Along with a number of institutions in the U.S. and the U.K., several Canadian schools performed well in this respect: The University of British Columbia was ranked in all 22 subjects, while McGill University and the University of Toronto were ranked in 21. See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities. The top ten jobs for salary and growth in 2015 The cheapest days to book flights for the holidays revealed Why student debt is worsening for college graduates Best global universities US News Best Global Universities Sign up for Finance Report by AOL and get everything from breaking finance news to money-saving tricks delivered directly to your inbox daily! 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__label__cc	0.67445	0.32555	\|Mental Health Dear Diary: Journaling for Caregivers Anne-Marie Botek "Today mom threw her bowl of oatmeal at me. I ducked under the spinning projectile. But, despite my maneuvering, I still came up covered with stray grey flecks. For a second I just stood there, watching the gloppy remnants ooze down the wall and plop onto the floor among still-teetering pieces of smashed ceramic. When did she get so strong? How can she hurl a full bowl of oatmeal like she's channeling Walter Johnson, but, she can't open her pill bottle or get out of a chair on her own!?" A caregiver's journey is full of "dear diary" moments—those times when you just wish you had some way to discharge the knotted mass of emotions swirling around in your head. The concept of keeping a diary may conjure up images of teenage girls confessing crushes. But, even adult caregivers can benefit from this practice. Sometimes I just feel so alone. "I used to be able to talk to mom about anything. I never would have been able to survive the crazy rollercoaster of my marriage to Henry if it wasn't for her support. She was the first person I told about his proposal, the first person I told about his infidelity. She held my hand as I signed the final divorce papers, and was there for me as I faced a new life without him and our friends he got in the divorce. Now mom's gone. My friends don't understand why I can't come to visit, and my sister is too busy with her family and her job to care…" For many, feelings of loneliness and isolation are part of the caregiving package. One of the key benefits of journaling is that it can give a caregiver someone (or something) to talk to. B. Lynn Goodwin, former caregiver and author of the book, "You Want Me to Do What?—Journaling for Caregivers," (www.writeradvice.com) found the blank pages of her notebook to be an invaluable resource during the six years she acted as her mother's "personal assistant." For her, having a journal was "like having a best friend that didn't talk back. I didn't get interrupted mid-sentence." While it is important for a caregiver to cultivate social relationships with flesh and blood people, sometimes your best buddy may be non-judgmental piece of paper. Why do I feel this way? "One minute I'm angry with mom, the next I'm sad—I want the "real" her back. I can't handle this anymore!!" A caregiver's journey is littered with conflicting emotions. Brief moments of happiness and gratitude are sparsely sprinkled over prolonged periods of anger and sadness. Psychologist Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D., (www.melanieagreenbergphd.com) feels that getting these feelings down on paper can help caregivers in a variety of ways. She says that a journal can provide a caregiver with a safe place to feel their feelings, helping them avoid the negative consequences of burying their emotions. Putting pen to paper may also help you make better sense of your emotional reactions. One of Greenberg's female clients was dealing with intense feelings of anger while caring for her husband with cancer. Journaling helped the woman discover that she was really angry at her husband's cancer, not at him Browse Our Free I wonder what my mother would write about me. "Would she say that I was a good daughter, or would it be a rant? Is she even capable of writing in her current state? I'm not sure I would have the courage to read what she wrote, but it might help her to get some of her thoughts and feelings on paper?" Depending on their level of cognitive impairment, a care recipient may also benefit from journaling. Journaling shouldn't be strictly defined as putting pen to paper. Goodwin says that there are a number of different ways to journal, and the process can be adapted to accommodate an elderly loved one's physical abilities. For example, a person who cannot type because they are battling with Parkinson's disease may find that recording their thoughts on a tape recorder or video camera is easiest. For people who have difficulty speaking due to a stroke can use a computer or even a type writer to document their feelings. For those who wish to keep their thoughts private, but still want to get them out, a neutral third-party transcriber could be hired. And, it doesn't really matter if the recordings are legible or not. Your elderly loved one has complicated thoughts and feelings that they want to communicate, just as you do. According to Goodwin, journaling provides both the caregiver and care recipient the opportunity to "reach beyond themselves." I don't want to relive the bad times—just the good. "Some things my mom says and does are just too hard to think about. I am embarrassed by how I react to her sometimes. I'm afraid that writing all of this down will make me feel worse." Talking about difficult interactions with an elderly loved one and honestly confronting emotions can be a frightening prospect for a stressed-out caregiver, but Greenberg likens the process to talking with a therapist. In both instances, the person is forced to acknowledge and grapple with difficult feelings and situations. Greenberg says that discomfort is an important step in the emotional healing process, and that consulting with a mental health professional can help caregivers deal with difficult realities they may encounter while journaling. I don't even know where to begin. "I'm no writer and my mind is such a jumbled mess, I don't know how to start to untangle it. And, I don't have the time to figure it all out because caring for my mother is a full-time job!" Being faced with a blank page can be a scary prospect for anyone, including caregivers with no writing background. But, as Goodwin points out, everyone is a writer and everyone has a story to tell (even if the only things you regularly write are grocery lists). Writing prompts can help you get your creative juices flowing. Goodwin's book has hundreds of prompts to assist stuck caregivers, but she says that you can start with any source of inspiration. Her suggestions include, starting with a sensory image, a list, or the phrase, "I remember…" For the caregiver who doesn't feel like they have the time to journal consistently, setting aside time each day to write can help you remain consistent. Sometimes the unpredictability of caregiving may disrupt this schedule. But, as Goodwin, who is partial to writing in the morning points out, "It's always morning somewhere." And, her final piece of advice for the caregiver embarking on their first journaling journey? Start today. Caregiver Support Mental Health 6 Reasons to Appreciate Your Job As a Caregiver Questions to Help Mindful Caregivers to Find Emotional Balance If You Knew Then What You Know Now: Hindsight for Caregivers General caregiving hack: what is the ONE hack/shortcut you have found that has been a game changer... or as near to it as you've found? How do you handle bad days when you're burned out for caring for someone for an extended period of time? Anyone have any ideas or know of any support groups for caregiving for a narcissistic dad?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758944
__label__cc	0.735953	0.264047	I Enjoyed Those Sexy Phone Conversations Until I Really Fell In Love Anonymous in Your Story on 28 February, 2018 I love talking to various guys on the phone. I like my conversations to be intimate, cheeky, sweet and even sexy. It was, well, a hobby; to put it simply. I never initiated these conversations, I just made myself available to the “right” guys. I picked the ones who genuinely wanted to share moments of their lives with me. But of course, the cheekiness would always be there. I’ve had my fair share of phone conversations, but one of my most memorable guys was called Rocky. At first, he seemed to be this cocky, immature guy, and I instantly detested him. I had a feeling our phone conversations would fizzle out. But I was pleasantly disappointed. Days became weeks, and soon that became months; I was hooked. He was going to college, trying to start his own business. He had his own set of wheels, he had sisters and his parents at home. Being the only son, he was the breadwinner. We talked for hours and hours and began sharing a lot of our lives with each other. One this is, I was lying. I don’t know if he sensed this, but he wanted to meet me. I was nervous about this as I enjoyed keeping them our conversations limited to phone hours and not any face time. I knew that once we began meeting, things would be messy. But I simply couldn’t resist Rocky. He was a genuine guy, down to earth and charming, no doubt. I began caring for him too. So, I said yes. We decided a time and place and when I saw him, I realized just how breathtakingly handsome this guy was. I knew I wouldn’t be his type. I wanted to run away but something made me hold my ground. Once again, he surprised me. And he was there, talking to me. I waited, wondering if I would soon be pushed into the friend/sister zone but he didn’t. I realized that I was falling for him. There was something about him that I was falling in love with. It could have just been his sexy voice, but soon I realized that I was paying more attention to his words and not just the voice. We would talk for hours and hours, if one of us ever needed a break, we would stay on the line but the other would hold on and not hang up. He shared details about his life with me, including stories about his sisters and the responsibilities that he had upon him now, including his own ambitions and dreams. One day, he insisted that he wanted to meet my mother. I was nervous, worried about how this could end up. But I honoured his request and he came over. He came home, with a friend of his. He asked me to wait in the kitchen, he told me that he wanted to speak to my mother alone. I agreed and went inside. After a while, he came inside and spoke to me, he seemed nervous but he didn’t say anything about my family. His visit was a short one and I thought maybe our conversations would come to an end soon but he was genuinely interested in talking to me. We continued our chats and he began talking about a girl that he liked, a lot. He would tell me that he was unsure of how to tell her. When he told me all of this, I had an inkling that he was talking about me. I laughed. He asked me not to, said it was a serious matter but he just didn’t understand how to handle the matter now. When he said this, I felt that he was talking about me. I didn’t know what to say. He then asked me what I thought about him, he asked me how I thought he should handle that conversation. When I told him I think he should express himself, he listened intently, but he shared nothing more when it came to the identity of this girl. I pressed to find out more and then asked him if I was going to be invited for this wedding or not. His reply, that I would definitely be invited since I’m the ‘special guest’. What does that mean?! I asked him again, but once more, no straight answers. Whenever he spoke to me, his voice was always serious and his tone… just different. A couple of days passed in this manner, until one day, he called and asked me if I was ready for some good news. I dreaded this, but somewhere was also ready for it. He told me that he had just broken up with his girlfriend! I was flabbergasted. My brain froze. I forced myself to stay calm and just listen to him. I had stopped breathing. He told me this: He had been dating someone for two years now and he had just given back all of the gifts she had given him. My head was spinning. He told me that he didn’t want to hurt me but thought that I should know about this. He had to come clean to me. He asked if I was okay. I was crying, but all I could say was yes. I bit my tongue. He continued that he felt bad, not telling me anything; never once mentioning a girlfriend. I wondered how he maintained anything with her, considering he spent all his time talking to me on the phone. He said she went to his college, I guess that made more sense now: she was there for him in the day, and at night, it was me. I couldn’t believe that this was someone who would fall asleep while talking to me, snoring softly on the other end at 3 am; someone who would never let a day pass without a conversation between us, be able to do this? He travelled 120 miles on two separate occasions, just to meet me. He seemed so genuine. How? How could he do this? I only blamed myself. That I should’ve made it clear that I was falling for him. That he had become a part of my heart, my life. So of course, ultimately, it was my fault. After this conversation, I cut him off. He left numerous voice messages, text messages…. Begging me to talk to him. To listen to him and give him one chance. At first, I kept cutting his calls, but after a point, I simply let them ring till he stopped. And one day, the calls stopped. Surprisingly, this broke my heart even more. I let it for two weeks. But then I needed closure. He told me that he began drinking because of me; that he had become a different person. I was scared and all I could do was hang up. We didn’t call each other for almost 2-3 weeks. And when he called me, he told me that he felt it best if we didn’t speak at all. He said this with an honesty in his voice that I had never heard before. I told him that we could be friends, cut out the other parts of our talks, but he couldn’t agree to this. He told me that when he spoke to me, he felt something for me and he wouldn’t be able to ignore his feelings for me. I tried telling him that this felt a little too extreme, to end things this way between us, but he wouldn’t listen to a word that I had to say. I cried for a long time, on the call and hours after he hung up. He had made his choice and now I had to live with it. One day, he called me out of the blue. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He asked me how I was. He sounded like his usual chirpy self. I had some hope in my heart. He began calling me once every three to four weeks. I felt that something inside of him had changed. It became clear to me that he wouldn’t want anything more than friendship from me, and so gradually, I moved on. His calls became infrequent and six months later, I informed him that I had begun dating someone and had the intentions of marrying this man. He was stunned. He wanted to know everything and even refused to hang up. I felt like he wanted to say something to me but couldn’t find the right words to do it. The only he could say was “why couldn’t I wait?” I asked him what it is that I should wait for, with the hopes that he would confess his feelings but it never happened. He continued to beat around the bush and this broke my heart. He only said, “Don’t you get it?!” I screamed no! Because I really didn’t understand what he was saying and why he wasn’t being open with me, after all this time. He ruined a future that would have been good for us, only because he was too scared to open up to me or tell me the truth. I couldn’t risk falling for him and stopped talking to him entirely. No girl likes to be kept in the dark, especially by the man they love. Share this story, because an open conversation is needed for any relationship to survive. lust, indian couple, When You Give Love A Second Chance And You Fail, This Is How It Feels But he made me love again. What It's Like To Be Married To A Jobless Man Who Wants To Live His Whole Life On Debt My Boyfriend Says It Is Okay For Men To Sleep Around So I Gave Him A Taste Of His Own Medicine My Marriage Is Dead And My Only Chance Of Escape Is Also Gone Now I'm Sure The Setbacks Will Pass. All I Have To Do Is To Hold On To My Husband's Love. He Managed To Break My Heart Twice But He Couldn’t Erase The Love That I Had For Him My Sister Is A Victim Of Molestation And I'm The Culprit Sometimes I Had To Stay Up The Whole Night To Keep Him Away From Me I Still Don't Know Why Loving Someone Always Gets Me Abuse In Return I Got High To Get Through My Wedding Day But What He Said To Me Recently Made Me Fall In Love I Lost My Virginity To Him But Still Waiting For His Love My Teacher Was 13 Years Older Than Me And Ruined My Reputation When I Refused To Date Him I Feel Sorry For Cheating On My Husband For Him A Letter To Myself In The Darkest Days Of My Life: Never Give Up Our Parents Have No Idea We're In Love But They're Getting Us Married I Ruined My Career For The Sake Of Love And Lost 10 Years Of My Life She Left Me On Our Wedding Day For A Reason I'll Always Regret But I Can't Blame Her He Put His Arm Around Me As We Slept, And I Can't Sleep Ever Since All My Dreams Had Come True, But Even God Was Jealous Of Me I Genuinely Love Her But I Have To Let Her Go Because Life Has Different Plans I’m Someone’s Wife Today But How My Parents Brought Me Up Made My Wedding Day A Nightmare For Me	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758945
__label__wiki	0.763477	0.763477	2-8-4 "Berkshire" The 2-8-4 Berkshire is perhaps one of the most beautiful steam designs ever built for medium-heavy duty service. Of course, not only were these locomotives aesthetically pleasing, they could lug a heavy freight train as well! While the locomotive class was very successful and purchased by a number of different railroads when it debuted in the 1920s, it is best remembered for its initial work on the little Boston & Albany Railroad where it also received its name when the model was being tested in the Berkshire Mountains of New England (the B&A would eventually purchase a sizable fleet of 2-8-4s). Today, numerous examples of this locomotive survive and two are currently operational making them one of the largest designs the public can see in service right up there with Union Pacific's heritage fleet and a handful of 4-8-4s. The Berkshire was born by the Lima Locomotive Works, an established albeit then-small manufacturer of steam locomotives, which hoped to improve the USRA Mikado design (2-8-2) that lacked sufficient speed and horsepower. The Mikado proved to be a reliable and efficient workhorse within the industry but simply was not suited to move heavy tonnage particularly over any type of mountainous territory. The initial idea for a 2-8-4 design came from Lima's engineering vice-president in 1924, William Woodward, which took it upon himself to improve upon the 2-8-2. In his tests he began with New York Central Class H-7e Mikado #8000 (built in 1922 by Lima), and believed that by simply adding a larger firebox more power could be achieved. What resulted was a locomotive with a bigger, 100 square-foot firebox (briefly re-classed as an H-10) that necessitated the need for an extra trailing axle giving the locomotive a 2-8-4 wheel arrangement. Other 8-Driver Types Consolidations (2-8-0) Mikados (2-8-2) Mountains (4-8-2) Northerns (4-8-4) Twelve Wheelers/Mastodons (4-8-0) The new steamer was designated Class A-1 and not only included an upgrade firebox but was also equipped with other features to improve horsepower including a larger boiler, sufficient air-intake, booster, and limited cutoff. The 2-8-4 (listed as #1) was then sent for testing along the stiff grades of the Boston & Albany in the Berkshire Mountains of northwestern Massachusetts in the spring of 1925. After very successful tests against a Class H-10 Mikado on April 14th where the Class A-1 easily outperformed the 2-8-2 (the 2-8-4 left Selkirk Yard nearly 50 minutes after the Class H-10 and pulling a train that was over 600 tons heavier, yet arrived at North Adams Junction ten minutes ahead of the Mikado!), the B&A quickly ordered 45 Berkshire locomotives. In all, the B&A would roster a fleet of 55 2-8-4s, Class A1a/b #1400-1444 and Class A1c #1445-1454. Thanks to these successful tests the 2-8-4 was named for the mountains where it first operated. Interestingly, the original Class A-1 #1 was not acquired by the B&A. Instead, Lima used the big steamer as a demonstrator sending it around the country to be tried out on other railroads for testing, many of which were quite impressed. One in particular was the Illinois Central, which went on to purchase the demonstrator (where it became #7049), and in all acquired 50 examples of Berks in 1926 just a year after the initial test on the B&A. The locomotives were also given Class A-1 on the IC and remained in service through the mid-1950s. In all some nineteen different railroads would purchase the successful 2-8-4s with the Erie Railroad owning the most, 105; in all over 600 of the locomotives were built from the three largest manufacturers; Alco, Lima and Baldwin. Of particular note was the 90 owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio which renamed theirs as Kanawhas (after the Kanawha River where part of its main line was located in southern West Virginia) and given Class K-4. The C&O acquired its fleet of 2-8-4s, which were built by both Lima and Alco (it would also acquire the Pere Marquette's batch of 39 when it took over the Michigan line), after closely watching how the locomotives performed on the PM and Nickel Plate. Chessie put their Kanawhas to good use in all types of main line freight service and the locomotives proved to be one of the heaviest and longest examples of 2-8-4s ever built with tractive efforts achieving nearly 70,000 pounds (which was fairly standard amongst most designs that generally ranged between 65,000 and 75,000 pounds). It's also thanks to the C&O that so many of these beautiful steamers still exist as the railroad donated 13 examples to various municipalities along its system. Below are some general specifications for Nickel Plate's famous Berkshires, which are perhaps the most beautiful of all 2-8-4s ever built. Specifications of the Nickel Plate Road (NKP) Berkshires Builder – Lima, Baldwin, and Alco (NKP Berkshires were built by Lima) Fuel - 22 tons Cyclinders(2) - 25" x 34" Water - 22,000 Gallons Weight – 802,500 Pounds Diameter of Drivers – 69 Inches Steam Pressure - 245 PSI Tractive Effort – 64,100 Pounds For Lima, which at the time was still a relatively small locomotive manufacturer, the 2-8-4 pushed it into the big leagues with Baldwin and Alco for main line steam designs. While the builder always remained in third place it is often regarded as part of the "Big Three" and was widely respected for the high quality and superb craftsmanship of its designs. Ironically, the reign of the Berkshire was short-lived although the wheel arrangement continued to be manufactured through the early 1940s. Just a few years after the 2-8-4's initial successful tests, Alco completed its own successful experiment with a 4-8-4 along the Northern Pacific in January of 1927. What became known as the "Northern" bumped the Berk as the top main line steam design of the era, and in many ways the very last before the age of the diesel arrived within the following decade. Today, impressively two of these large steamers still operate; Nickel Plate Road Class S2 #765 and Pere Marquette Class N-1 #1225 (who has become quite famous in recent years as the Polar Express). There are also two others that are currently in a state of restoration including Nickel Plate Class S2 #763 owned by the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugar Creek, Ohio; and C&O Class K-4 #2789 owned by the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum of North Judson, Indiana. Along with these operational Berkshire locomotives another of Pere Marquette’s survive and four other of the Nickel Plate’s. Additionally twelve of the C&O’s Kanawhas also survive. Home › Steam Locomotives › 2-8-4, "Berkshire"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758947
__label__cc	0.575654	0.424346	Transcendental Leadership Building Community Wealth Invest Locally Ethics in Social Entrepreneurship Legal Issues in Social Entrepreneurship Government Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship and the Arts Leadership Sustainability Leadership Sustainability 2 Sustainabillity U Balance & Survival Cooperation vs. Competition Creativity Change Entrepreneurs vs. Manager Educating Worldshapers Educating Worldshapers 2 Educating Worldshapers 10 Utopians? Utopians 2 Dynamic Governance Redesign & Integral Urbanism Integral Urbanism Integral Urban House Integral Urban House2 Design for the Real World Redesigning 2 Thought Leaders 2 Webmaster’s Note Educating Worldshapers 2 admin 2017-12-14T06:12:18+00:00 Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship Campus Initiatives The Kauffman Foundation’s Kauffman Campuses initiative aims to transform the way colleges and universities prepare students for success in the American economy. The program was launched in December 2003, when eight universities were awarded up to $5 million each to make entrepreneurship education available across their campuses, enabling any student, regardless of field of study, to access entrepreneurial training. The eight inaugural Kauffman Campuses are a diverse group, including two smaller universities (the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, which is a research intensive school, and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, a liberal arts university); three universities with predominantly minority enrollments (Howard University in Washington DC, Florida International University in Miami, and the University of Texas at El Paso); and three larger universities (Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). As part of the initiative’s matching funds requirement, the Kauffman Campuses schools have pledged a three-to-one match, which, combined with the Kauffman grants, is directing a minimum of $100 million for the creation of new interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education programs in American higher education.The Next Generation of Kauffman Campuses In December of 2006, a second set of universities were selected to receive grants and make entrepreneurship a pan-campus experience. The second round of the Kauffman Campuses initiative features a total of $25.5 million in grants to nine U.S. universities that pledged to make entrepreneurship education a campus-wide opportunity. With matching grants totaling more than $200 million, the effort promises to continue to transform the way entrepreneurship education is taught in the nation’s colleges and universities. The universities selected were: Arizona State University, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, New York University, Purdue University, Syracuse University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. A Culture of Entrepreneurship While entrepreneurship programs traditionally have been the domain of the business school, Kauffman Campuses recipients are developing an astonishing variety of programs aimed at instilling the spirit and skills of entrepreneurial studies into college life. Some universities have chosen to create minor degree programs, offer introductory courses for incoming freshmen, expand the role of technology transfer, or build or expand community-based businesses that benefit students and surrounding communities. Some are broadening existing entrepreneurial activities on liberal arts campuses as well as on technology-oriented campuses. Others are focused on developing Hispanic-American entrepreneurship, African-American entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural business creation. All involve faculty and students from a variety of academic disciplines outside the conventional business curriculum. Entrepreneurship for the Public Good The need to expand and support entrepreneurial activity as a means for revitalizing Appalachian communities led to the creation of Berea College’s Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG) program with a $7.6 million dollar endowment. The EPG program is a model for making positive change in the Appalachian region through the two summer programs where students learn how small businesses and nonprofit organizations employ responsible practices to provide jobs and build healthy communities. The objective of the program is to teach students from a variety of disciplines about entrepreneurship and develop their leadership skills to equip them to make a positive impact on the Appalachian region…and beyond. The goals of the Entrepreneurship for the Public Good program are to engage Berea College students in entrepreneurship and leadership activities in order to enable them to: explore theoretical and practical approaches to entrepreneurship for the public good in the context of economic development in Appalachia and beyond; identify and seize new entrepreneurial opportunities; develop and build leadership skills; prepare for professional careers with a purpose; and add value to small businesses and nonprofits in the region. The EPG program helps students become agents of change in the Appalachian region and beyond. The program bridges several curricular and co-curricular areas and makes connections among and across programs. It helps students recognize the value of enterprises that create public benefits, whether they are operating within business or nonprofit frameworks. Indeed, EPG acknowledges that a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial enterprises, both commercial and philanthropic, is critical to the future of Appalachia. During the Summer Institute, which meets daily from 9am-3pm, M-F for eight weeks, students learn about entrepreneurship, leadership and community development through classroom sessions, discussions, field trips in the region, experiential learning opportunities that culminate into a business plan or feasibility study and a community partner project. In the second summer in the program, students apply what they learned during the Summer Institute by serving in an Entrepreneurial Internship with a nonprofit or for-profit organization for 10 weeks. Copyright 2012 - 2017 \| All Rights Reserved \| WORLDSHAPERS	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758949
__label__wiki	0.618887	0.618887	The Controversial EU Cohesion Policy Falls Short (Hannelore Foerster/Getty Images) Funding will not be enough to halt the political fragmentation in the European Union. This is especially the case with the European Union's Cohesion Policy, a series of investment programs for the bloc's poorest regions and one of its most expensive policies. The idea behind these programs is that all members of the continental bloc would eventually rise to the same level of economic development. This equality would in turn solidify the legitimacy of the continental integration process. But Europe's economic and political crisis has shown that decades of integration and billions of euros' worth of EU investment have created only limited political and economic cohesion in Europe. In many countries, corruption and domestic constraints prevent cohesion funds from going where they would be most useful. More important, the EU Cohesion Policy was designed for times of economic prosperity. Though the policy involves significant amounts of money, it is a fraction of what many Southern and Eastern European countries need to solve their financial problems and social crises. Brussels could threaten to withdraw cohesion funds as a means of pressuring rebellious countries, but such coercion is not the same thing as cohesion. The Cohesion Policy includes several funds of different sizes and goals that invest in areas as diverse as infrastructure and social policies, with the common objective of reducing economic and social disparities among EU members. EU member states and the EU Parliament define the size and rules of these funds at the beginning of each budgetary period (in the European Union, budgets are debated every seven years) and allocate to countries annually. The budget for the Cohesion Policy for 2014-2020 is 351.8 billion euros ($401 billion) — a third of the bloc's total budget, making the Cohesion Policy the European Union's second largest program after the Common Agricultural Policy. Cohesion policy programs are relatively new to the European Union. They evolved progressively from a redistributive mechanism based on quotas for each member state to a regional policy based on global goals and priorities. These policies assume that economic liberalization and political integration need to be accompanied by policies aimed at achieving cohesion among member states. As integration deepened in the 1960s, European leaders began to discuss policies to reduce development inequalities in the bloc. A decade later, at least two factors accelerated the debate. The first was the economic malaise of the early 1970s, which reignited the issue of unequal development in the European Community. The second was enlargement: The accession of the United Kingdom, Denmark and, particularly, Ireland (a country that was poorer than its community peers) accelerated the introduction of regional funding. The enlargement of the European Community was a turning point for another reason: As the continental bloc grew bigger, European officials encountered the question of creating a "European identity" intimately linked to the legitimacy of the entire integration process. Consequently, cohesion policies contain an element of propaganda to communicate the virtues of continental integration. Like the accession of Ireland in the early 1970s, the accession of Portugal, Greece and Spain in the 1980s brought about redesigns in the cohesion policy to assist the new (and relatively poorer) members of the bloc and to base the allocations on ranges of development rather than fixed quotas. These changes also had a political intention, as the European Community was interested in raising the quality of life in the countries where dictatorships had ended and social cohesion remained fragile. During these years, these programs became larger, and co-decision mechanisms between national governments and supranational institutions were introduced. The mid-2000s led to additional reforms, this time to face the challenges created by the new member states from the east, most of which were considerably less developed than EU members in the west. The Main Beneficiaries In order to qualify to receive funds, regions in each country are classified as "less developed" (areas where GDP per capita is less than 75 percent of the EU average), "in transition" (areas where the GDP per capita is 75-90 percent of the EU average) and "more developed" (areas where GDP per capita exceeds 90 percent of the EU average). Depending on an area's classification, the European Union can provide 50-85 percent of the total financing of a project (the poorest regions get the highest co-financing rates). The potential beneficiaries of these funds include public institutions, companies, universities and nongovernmental organizations. For the 2014-2020 period, the largest portion of the money — 182 billion euros — will go to "less developed" regions, which represent 27 percent of the population in the continental bloc. These regions include most of Poland, the Baltic States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Portugal, as well as southern Italy and northern Greece. For many countries, cohesion funds are a key part of their economies. In places such as Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, allocations from the EU cohesion funds for the 2014-2020 period equal 2-3 percent of the country's GDP. In absolute terms, Poland is the winner; it has been allocated 77.6 billion euros, the highest figure in the European Union. Hungary is the winner in terms of allocation as a percentage of GDP; cohesion funds represent 3.2 percent of Hungary's economy. Estonia, Slovakia and Lithuania have the highest allocations per capita, while the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg have the lowest allocations both per capita and relative to GDP. But qualifying for EU funding does not translate to an ability to absorb the funds. Member states in Southern and Eastern Europe still experience difficulties in spending this money. In some cases, these countries lack the domestic capacity to co-finance the projects supported by the European Union. In others, national and local authorities lack the know-how and institutional framework to successfully apply for funds. There are also cases where the bureaucracy is so excessive that it discourages potential applicants. This creates a paradox: Some of the poorest countries in the European Union are also the countries less able to absorb the funds allocated to them. However, there are differences from country to country. For example, Lithuania managed to absorb more than 90 percent of the money it was allocated between 2007 and 2013, but Romania only absorbed slightly more than 50 percent. Like the Common Agricultural Policy, the Cohesion Policy is controversial. Some critics characterize the Cohesion Policy as too complex and lacking clear goals. Others highlight the difficulty of seeking economic liberalization among 28 countries while pursuing solidarity and economic cohesion. Critics have also argued that substantial amounts of money still go to countries with GDPs above the continental average. Others point out the European Union's perennial struggle to find a balance between designing plans at the supranational level and letting member states manage them at the national, regional and municipal levels. In addition, monitoring these investments (or the lack thereof) traditionally has been controversial. With hundreds of thousands of projects being approved, managed and to a large extent supervised by 28 national governments and thousands of regional and municipal governments every year, full control of the use of the money is virtually impossible. Accusations of corruption are common and include allegations that public officials in member states were bribed to award EU-sponsored contracts and companies have reported inflated costs. In the years leading to the EU crisis, numerous reports indicated that some infrastructure projects were undertaken simply because money was available — such as the construction of airports in Spain that would soon be abandoned for lack of use. A Political Tool? With so much money involved, the Cohesion Policy is an important political battleground in the European Union. Every seven years, member states debate a new budget for the continental bloc, and the Cohesion Policy is a key part of the discussion. The debate is generally long: The EU Commission makes a proposal, which is then voted on by member states and the EU Parliament. Countries fight on many fronts, including the headline figure and their national allocations. Europe's financial crisis has affected cohesion funds; in the last round of negotiations in 2012 and 2013, large economies such as Germany and the United Kingdom successfully pushed for a smaller EU budget. The European Union can use cohesion funds as a negotiation tool as well, because Brussels is allowed to suspend funding for countries that fail to meet their deficit targets. However, the decision has to be made by countries voting by qualified majority and has rarely been used. Brussels exercised the threat for the first time in early 2012, when the EU Commission threatened to suspend payments for some cohesion funds projects in Hungary. The formal reason for the threat was Budapest's failure to reduce its deficit, but the incident occurred as tension was rising between the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the EU Commission. Eventually, Budapest and Brussels compromised, and Hungary announced a handful of corrective actions in its budget. Cohesion funds become particularly important in times of crisis, when member states' loyalty to the European Union is tested. The process of continental integration evolved quickly when the bloc kept its promise of economic prosperity. With the economic crisis casting doubts over that promise, many countries are reassessing their positions in the bloc. Cohesion money is a likely factor in these assessments. For countries such as the United Kingdom or Denmark, leaving the European Union would not mean a substantial loss of EU-related money (as they get little in terms of agricultural or cohesion funds). But for countries such as Greece, Hungary or Portugal, EU-sponsored investment is a substantial part of their economic and political calculations. Similarly, countries such as Bulgaria and Slovakia are constantly attempting to balance between Russia, which they depend on for energy imports, and the European Union, which they depend on for subsidies. Despite these considerations, cohesion programs have failed to achieve their main goal: creating a more economically homogeneous Europe. Evidence of vast economic gaps between Southern and Eastern Europe and more developed nations in Northern and Western Europe are readily apparent. Record high unemployment levels, especially among the youth, plague countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, and massive emigrations occur in countries such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria to Western Europe. The rise in political parties that criticize the European Union and propose to reverse the process of continental integration is another symptom of the lack of cohesion. Though many governments in the EU periphery will keep the cohesion funds in mind when assessing their national priorities, fragmentation in the European Union will continue.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758950
__label__wiki	0.672939	0.672939	The ‘Game of Thrones’ Coffee Cup Has Mysteriously Vanished There was a lot of stuff going on last weekend on Game of Thrones, but all that anyone wants to talk about was the coffee cup that randomly appeared in a shot in front of Daenerys. And not, like a flagon of coffee, or something. This was like a paper Starbucks coffee cup. Not the most period-appropriate detail. The moment went so viral, that HBO actually acknowledged it, putting out the following statement via a press release: In response to inquiries from those who saw a craft services coffee cup in Sunday night’s episode of Game of Thrones, HBO states, ‘The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.’ But even as they had a little fun with the coffee cup, they quietly removed it from the episode. Here’s the moment from the episode “The Last of the Starks,” at around 17 minutes and 40 seconds, when the cup originally appeared on the table by Daenerys: And if you look at the same moment in the same episode on HBO GO right now, here’s what you’ll find: Nothing! Did Thanos snap his fingers again? What is happening? The fact that the coffee cup was removed so quickly and quietly shows you just how easily it should have been to remove it in post-production before anyone saw it — and no one did. How many people signed off on this episode without spotting that darn cup? 5? 10? 100? It has to be more than a few. Game of Thrones’ final season continues on Sunday on HBO. More Game of Thrones News Source: The ‘Game of Thrones’ Coffee Cup Has Mysteriously Vanished	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758952
__label__wiki	0.846859	0.846859	Colosseum Condos By JASON URBANUS The Flavian amphitheater, better known as the Colosseum, was one of the Roman Empire’s architectural wonders, and perhaps its most infamous address. Home to gladiatorial fights, wild animal hunts, and even the occasional naval battle, the edifice hosted Rome’s greatest spectacles. With a seating capacity of up to 50,000 spectators, the arena had many as 80 arched entrances to facilitate the traffic of its large crowds. However, a recent three-week excavation conducted by Roma Tre University and the American University of Rome beneath those entryways has revealed new evidence about the time, between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, when the Colosseum was home to more ordinary Roman citizens. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, local friars who controlled the property rented out the space and transformed the Colosseum into a makeshift condominium complex. Stables, workshops, and private residences lined the communal courtyard, creating a kind of medieval bazaar where bloody contests once took place. Archaeologists have uncovered terracotta sewage pipes, cookware, and a carved ivory monkey figurine, likely used as a gaming piece. The Colosseum functioned in this capacity until 1349, when an earthquake struck Rome and rendered the building architecturally unsound. North Dakota's Archaeology Boom An oil boom in North Dakota has pushed production to more than a million barrels per day, brought a flood of workers to the state—and put some residents’ nerves on edge. At the same time, it has produced plenty of new work for archaeologists as surveys are triggered to ensure that no important cultural features are damaged by development. A survey is only formally required when the federal government helps fund the project or owns at least part of the development site or its mineral rights, and in certain cases under state law. Sometimes, though, developers commission surveys on their own to demonstrate goodwill and protect themselves in case of future disputes. The acreage covered by these surveys more than doubled between 2008 and 2013. As a result, archaeologists have unearthed everything from abandoned farmsteads to colonial cemeteries, Native American stone circles, and tools made from Knife River flint, which was harvested from a quarry in the state at least as early as 10,000 years ago and was traded from coast to coast. “One of North Dakota’s first natural resources wasn’t oil,” says Aaron Barth, an archaeologist conducting surveys in the state for KLJ Engineering. “It was actually Knife River flint. Stone tools, scrapers, you name it, anything to cut with was made from it.” As inquiries from land speculators have become more insistent, some residents have taken their hostility out on archaeologists. In many cases, though, their irascibility gives way to curiosity when archaeologists explain the purpose of their surveys. “Over half the time when someone comes out initially angry, and we say that we’re archaeologists there to make sure unique cultural resources are protected,” says archaeologist Jessica Bush, cultural resource work group manager with KLJ Engineering, “their mood completely changes. They’ll say, ‘I know this great stone circle.’” Storeroom Surprise As they digitized old records over the last two years, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology unexpectedly solved one of the museum’s great mysteries—the origin of a 6,500-year-old skeleton lying in one of their storerooms. Between 1922 and 1934, Sir Leonard Woolley excavated the Sumerian site of Ur in southern Iraq, including dozens of burials. Much of the material uncovered was divided between the Penn Museum and the British Museum, and some time around 1930, the Penn Museum received a box containing a skeleton from the Ur excavations. Over the decades, however, all documentation relating to the container was lost, and the remains lay anonymously in museum storage for 85 years. As part of the digitizing project, researchers were led to Woolley’s notebooks, which they used to connect their unidentified skeleton with a grave excavated by Woolley in 1930. It was an easy match, as the archaeologist had lifted the bones and the surrounding deposit as a whole, and then coated them in wax. According to Penn curator Janet Monge, the remains belonged to a muscular male in his 50s who stood about five feet nine inches tall. He had been buried with his legs extended, his arms lying at his sides, and his hands resting on his abdomen. Woolley recorded that the man was found in one of the earliest levels of Ur, in a layer of silt deposited by a great flood, leading some of the researchers to nickname the remains “Noah.” A complete skeleton more than six millennia old is extremely rare, and the museum is hoping that new technologies will provide valuable information about a little-known culture, as well as indications of the man’s diet, ancestral origins, and cause of death. Hormones and Hominins Around 80,000 to 30,000 years ago, what we now recognize as modern human culture was taking shape. Homo sapiens was migrating out of Africa, creating symbolic artwork, and inventing new stone tools—changes that are often attributed to the evolution of large brains. But what if loads of brain matter alone weren’t enough to give rise to human culture? A new study by a research team that includes Robert Cieri, a doctoral student at the University of Utah, makes such an argument. Their work shows that, over time, humans evolved to produce less testosterone, which made them less prone to aggression and more socially tolerant—all of which set the stage for cultural advances. “It’s important to realize that much of our success in the last 200,000 years really has to do with our social skills,” says Cieri. In addition to making people aggressive, testosterone affects the way human skulls grow, and this factor was key in the research. High testosterone levels are associated with thicker brow ridges and other facial traits. Cieri’s group compared measurements from the skulls of ancient humans—dating to as early as 200,000 years ago—with those of modern Homo sapiens. They found that nearly all the skulls belonging to people who lived more than 80,000 years ago show evidence of testosterone levels that were far higher than any modern-day human’s. These high hormone levels may have made social cooperation and community-building more difficult. By contrast, the more recent skulls have traits that indicate lower testosterone levels, which may have allowed ancient humans to live together in larger groups and interact peacefully with outsiders, thus facilitating cultural exchange and advancing technological innovation. In a world that was becoming more crowded, those who had the traits that permitted them to adapt would be more successful, and therefore would pass the traits for lower testosterone and increased social cooperation on to their offspring. “You could see it as people becoming adapted to a new ecology,” Cieri says. Fifteen Centuries of Life in Chianti The excavation of an ancient well in Cetamura del Chianti, Italy, has yielded a veritable treasure trove of information about the site’s Etruscan, Roman, and medieval inhabitants. Over the last four years, archaeologists led by Florida State University’s Nancy de Grummond have retrieved thousands of artifacts spanning 15 centuries—generally well preserved by the watery setting—from the 105-foot-deep well. Many of the objects, including hundreds of votive cups, animal bones, and coins, were intentionally thrown into the well as part of sacred and ritual activity. Among the numerous metal objects recovered are at least 14 bronze Etruscan and Roman water vessels, some finely decorated with mythological creatures. The waterlogged environment also preserved wood and even grape seeds. Researchers are hoping to analyze the seeds’ DNA to further understand the composition of ancient wine, and to match the seeds with modern grape varieties. Says de Grummond, “This rich assemblage of materials in bronze, silver, lead, and iron, along with the abundant ceramics and remarkable evidence of organic remains, creates an unparalleled opportunity for the study of culture, religion, and daily life in Chianti and the surrounding region.” Dawn of a Thousand Suns The Neolithic Toolkit Letter From Montana Heart Attack of the Mummies Ice Age Lion Made Whole Again Fate of the Vanquished Earthworks of the Amazon, a water bottle’s 200-year- old secret, excavating a Phoenician shipwreck, and Australia’s Lover’s Walk revealed Paintings on a potsherd show that ancient Egyptian art students were highly skilled—and liked a good joke	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758955
__label__wiki	0.788852	0.788852	"See You in Court!": 9 of Architecture’s Nastiest Lawsuits 09:30 - 8 May, 2017 by Thomas Musca © Flickr user diversey licensed under CC BY-2.0 What did Pritzker Prize winner Frank Gehry get when he designed the Stata Center, an exuberantly whimsical academic complex for MIT? A very large check, plus a major lawsuit, alleging negligence and breach of contract due to rampant leaks, mold, cracks, drainage problems and sliding ice. Sometimes the most inspired designs can go awry. And when they do, some clients lawyer up. Here are 9 fascinating examples. 1. Millennium Tower, San Francisco, California Image via Wikimedia. Photo by Wikimedia user Hydrogen Iodide in public domain. When engineers approved the Millennium Tower’s foundation, they expected the building to evenly settle a half foot (0.15 meters) over the structure’s lifespan. A mere seven years after opening, it was discovered that that 645-foot (197-meter) tall skyscraper had sunk 16 inches (0.4 meters) and was tilting 15 inches (0.38 meters) to the northwest. Unlike neighboring high-rises, the Millennium Tower’s piles never reached bedrock. The expectation was that the landfill carrying the structure’s mass would depress predictably, but it didn’t happen. This grave error has produced cracked sidewalks, deformed door frames, and a cringe-worthy 60 Minutes segment where a golf ball is shown rolling across a penthouse floor. As of 2016, the building’s tenants had filed a massive class action lawsuit in an attempt to pin the blame on the Transbay Joint Powers Authority and Millennium Partners. If you’re in the market for heavily discounted San Francisco real estate, look no further. 2. US Bank Tower’s OUE Skyslide, Los Angeles, California During the summer of 2016, Los Angeles’s newest attraction took Facebook newsfeeds by storm. A 45-foot (13.7-meter) long slide, cantilevering 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the ground, was tacked onto the side of the US Bank Tower, LA’s tallest skyscraper. After descending a single story onto one of the tower’s setbacks, visitors are shot out onto a mat to break their fall. A few months after opening, a woman sued the building’s operator, OUE, after ungracefully hitting the landing and breaking an ankle in the process. Although not tragic, the embarrassing incident marred the attraction with negative PR. 3. 5 Pointz Demolition, Queens, New York © Wikimedia user Vinniebar licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 The famous Queens graffiti warehouse, dubbed the “U.N. of graffiti,” was tragically whitewashed and demolished in 2014 to make room for bland, revenue-generating luxury apartment towers. Despite organized demonstrations and lawsuits in 2013 by local street artists, a judge dismissed the case and sided with the building’s owner, G&M Realty. Their work destroyed, the artists again filed suit in 2015, claiming that the whitewashing of the building violated the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (VARA). In April 2017, the case was resurrected by a judge who ruled that the street artists’ redemptive case may proceed. 4. Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos Ciudad, Oviedo, Spain © Wikimedia user Jsmq licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Santiago Calatrava’s exquisite projects are often notoriously maligned, for a variety of reasons. During construction of this extravagant shopping mall and government office block in Oviedo Spain, a portion of the structure collapsed. The incident delayed the project and led to a legal entanglement which resulted in his firm shelling out $4.3 million—a figure arrived at by subtracting the unpaid fees owed by the developer ($9.7 million) from the damages determined by the judge ($14 million). 5. Ray and Maria Stata Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts © Flickr user ensh licensed under CC BY 2.0 Frank Gehry jokingly referred to his own ambitious foray into academic buildings as “a party of drunken robots [that] got together to celebrate.” Unfortunately, the Stata center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was less than successful. Gehry’s highly intricate forms resulted in a building that sporadically leaked, grew mold, and had plumbing issues. The aggressive freeze/thaw climate of Boston and the irregular design likely contributed to sealant failure. Gehry's firm was sued in 2007, and the case was settled in 2010 after the flawed structure was repaired. 6. Harmon Tower, Las Vegas, Nevada © Wikimedia user Cygnusloop99 licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Poor Norman Foster. His firm’s first project in Las Vegas was going to be a sleek, glass-clad 49 story tower anchoring the south end of the strip. After inspectors discovered that steel rebar had been improperly installed in 15 floors, construction halted, and the building’s height was capped at 28 stories. The building was so plagued with structural issues it was only used as a giant unoccupied billboard by MGM. $400 million in suits were settled between MGM and the Perini Building Company and the stumpy remnant of Foster’s vision was demolished in 2015. 7. Johnson Museum Extension, Ithaca, New York © Wikimedia user Dmadeo licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Cornell University slapped Pei Cobb Freed & Partners with a $1.1 million malpractice lawsuit after serious issues with humidity in the Johnson Museum’s extension, allegedly compromising the safety of the artwork held within the structure. Although the firm also designed the original brutalist wing of the building in 1972, Cornell was “deeply unsatisfied” by the museum’s addition, and thought the design to be “fundamentally flawed.” 8. Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Cosa Mesa, California © Flickr user paulkhor licensed under CC BY-2.0 Shortly after completion, the Orange County Performing Arts Center filed suit against both Cesar Pelli and the construction firm Fluor Corp. The organization claimed that the project was $40 million over budget and that, while they were largely satisfied with the space, some of the seating was improperly designed and many of the venue’s sight lines weren’t directed toward the stage. 9. Farnsworth House, Plano, Illinois © Wikimedia user Victor Grigas licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 After meeting Mies van der Rohe at a dinner party, Dr. Edith Farnsworth commissioned the famous architect to build her a summer getaway in rural Illinois. Mies’s pristine design ran over budget, triggering a series of non-payment and malpractice lawsuits from both sides. Although Mies eventually won the legal battle, the negative publicity took a toll on his sanity. The drama was so rich that Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal are starring in an upcoming major motion picture recounting the event. Mies defended his minimalist modernist masterpiece with brevity: “Less is more.” That didn’t satisfy Dr. Farnsworth, who bluntly rebutted: "We know that less is not more. It is simply less!” Thomas Musca News Articles Handel ArchitectsCesar PelliPei Cobb Freed & PartnersSantiago CalatravaMies van der RoheFarnsworth HouseCornell UniversityLas VegasbostonFrank GehryIllinoisLos AngelesCaliforniaNorman FosterSan FranciscoNew YorkListSpain Cite: Thomas Musca. ""See You in Court!": 9 of Architecture’s Nastiest Lawsuits" 08 May 2017. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/870706/see-you-in-court-9-of-architectures-nastiest-lawsuits/> ISSN 0719-8884 想阅读文章的中文版本吗? 法庭见！建筑界九大诉讼案	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758956
__label__cc	0.724536	0.275464	Cass Hendry Cass works as our Community Arts Programme Manager to provide open studio services and workshops. Cass has a background as an arts therapist and has been working in the Health and Disability sector for over 20 years. As a practicing artist and therapist, Cass is currently exploring contemporary ideas and materials from a therapeutic view point. Lynda Preest Lynda is the Arts for Health Funding and Trust Administrator and is responsible for the day to day running of the office, funding applications and all the 101 jobs that a successful organisation needs to operate. Lynda practices a wide range of contemporary craft skills which she shares with her family, friends and community. Marianne Schreven (Art Tutor) Marianne was a member of the Arts for Health Board for nearly two years before becoming an Arts Tutor for our organisation. Marianne's lifelong background is creativity in all its forms, and is a practising contemporary jeweller outside of her tutoring position. While enjoying being on the Board, Marianne felt that she could be more effective as an Art Tutor working directly with our artists to develop their creative potential. Ian Johnston (Art Tutor) Ian holds a Trade qualification in the printing industry which lead to an interest in graphic design, computers and photography. Through his own creative development, Ian has learnt to appreciate the qualities of patience and respect for the artistic process and hopes to share these skills with the wider community. Melanie Odey (Interim Chairperson) Melanie joined the Board of Trustees for Arts for Health in August 2008. She has a depth of work experience in the disability sector supporting people in both residential and vocational settings. She has also spent many years developing educational programmes for human and social services at Wintec. Melanie has a Masters in Social Sciences majoring in Psychology, an MBA and a Certificate in Tertiary Teaching. Melanie enjoys recreational art and writing for enjoyment. Ellen Warren (Secretary) Ellen joined the board in 2017. Ellen has worked for over ten years in the community services sector in Australia. A large part of that work involved supporting clients who were in temporary housing, along with sourcing government funding to run workshops for those who were dealing with mental health issues. When Ellen isn’t working at the WDHB, she enjoys spending time out and about finding adventures with her Labrador. Kirsty Carruthers (Secretary) Kirsty joined the Board in 2017 with experience as a Chief Financial Officer. Kirsty's background includes working for New Zealand and overseas companies in a range of senior financial and management positions. When not working Kirsty is actively engaged at the gym and maintaining her fitness. Jay Spencer (Trustee) Jay joined the Board of Trustees for Arts for Health in February 2015. Jay has worked in community organisations for a number of years and brings to the Board skills in policy making and marketing to develop strong community profiles. As an avid contemporary paper artist, Jay uses life experiences to tell her creative stories. Glenys Steele (Trustee) Glenys has worked in her own employment law practice, About Best Practice, for the past ten years, dispensing employment law advice to employers and employees alike, inspiring confidence in them to deal with the everyday issues of employment. She also coaches and judges at the University of Waikato Law School, encouraging students to be the best they can be. When she is not working, you might find her surf kayaking or launching into a new painting, currently acrylic on canvas. Glenys has been involved on the Board of Trustees of Arts for Health for over 10 years now, calling it Hamilton's best kept secret! Sharon Garrick (Trustee) Sharon joined the Board in 2017.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758957
__label__wiki	0.533676	0.533676	Gosforth Harriers to run 140 miles for Drew Graham Posted by Athletics Weekly \| Nov 12, 2014 \| 0 Club mates of paralysed athlete Drew Graham to take on coast-to-coast relay run from Whitehaven to Tynemouth to raise money for medical costs A number of Gosforth Harriers are to take part in a 140-mile coast-to-coast relay run to raise money for club member Drew Graham who was paralysed in an accident in September. Graham, a former Northern champion who is now based in Texas, broke his C4 vertebrae after he dived into a reservoir in Denver. Having represented Gosforth Harriers from the age of nine and going on to become the club record-holder for 800m, 1500m and the mile, 29-year-old Graham is a hugely popular member of the club and fellow runners were keen to play their part in helping to raise funds to go towards his medical expenses. “Drew has a long fight ahead of him and will go through an intensive programme of rehabilitation over the coming months,” reads the fundraising page for the challenge. “All of the funds raised will go directly to the cost of treatment and rehabilitation. Drew is resident in America and is required to personally meet the cost of his own treatment.” Graham, who has PBs of 1:49.14 and 3:40.95 for 800m and 1500m respectively, studied in Colorado and went on to become cross-country coach at Abilene Christian University. The challenge will see several Gosforth Harriers relay run the 140 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth on December 5, with each team member running a minimum of four legs of 5 miles as they attempt to complete the course within 24 hours. “This will involve running through the night over tough terrain in potentially difficult conditions,” the fundraising page explains. “Whilst this challenge will be tough, it is nothing compared to the fight that Drew has ahead of him.” Further details can be found on the Just Giving fundraising page here. A separate fundraising appeal launched after the accident, which was featured in the October 2 edition of Athletics Weekly magazine, had gone on to raise $32,571 of a $40,000 target at the time that this online article was published. Tags: Drew Graham, Fundraising, Gosforth Harriers PreviousYoung athletes to receive support through Futures programme NextDoha marathon ‘would be great race’	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758961
__label__cc	0.692083	0.307917	Home > Housing > Household Help Household Help AUB personnel (employer) occupying on-campus housing and who employ household help who are: Living in the residence of the employer, or Lebanese nationals working regularly on part-time basis, or Foreign nationals employed by an agency that provides household help working regularly or on part-time basis shall register such household help with the department of Auxiliary Services within five working days of the household help commencing employment. Occasional helpers need not be registered with the department of Auxiliary Services. Please refer to Section 1, Article 4 of the Access to Campus Policy for details. The word "employer" shall include the household members, where applicable. To register household help, employers must fill and submit the following to Auxiliary Services: ID Application Form. Household Help Liability Form. Two passport sized photographs. For Lebanese nationals, a copy of their official ID card or a copy of their Ikhraj Kaid. For foreign nationals, a copy of their passport, including the page on which the relevant Lebanese entry visa is stamped. For foreign nationals employed by an agency that provides household help, a copy of the contract between the employer and the agency. The household help shall present themselves to the ID Centre to receive their university identification cards and to have these rules and regulations explained to them. For household help who are foreign nationals, it is the employer's responsibility to ensure that they are registered with the Lebanese government under the employer's legal sponsorship and that their passport, residency permit, work permit, and university identification cards remain valid throughout their employment. In addition to the documents mentioned in paragraph 2 above, the employer shall periodically submit to Auxiliary Services copies of the following documents: Valid work permit. Valid residency permit. Household help are entitled to maintain possession of their passport and their residency permit at all times. All payments due to the household help shall be made in a timely fashion in accordance with the employment contract, and in any event, not less frequently than monthly. No salary deductions may be made, except with the written authorization of the household help granted in compliance with the applicable laws. Household help shall be allowed to have a minimum of one day of rest per week. It is the employer's responsibility to purchase insurance coverage and to provide and pay for necessary medical care and treatment for the household help. Employers must ensure that the dignity and the human and legal rights of household help are fully preserved at all times. The household help shall not be obliged to work for any person other than the employer. Any person who believes that a violation of the above rules and regulations regarding household help has occurred shall report all relevant information regarding the alleged violation to the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources. The University will endeavor to keep the identity of individuals who bring such incidents to its attention confidential. Any person may refer emergency situations to the AUB Protection Office for appropriate action. Protection Office will hand over the case to the appointed designee in Human Resources as soon as feasible. Violation of the above rules and regulations, or any other related laws, policies, or regulations may result in disciplinary measures, up to and including, termination of employment of the person violating the rules and regulations.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758962
__label__cc	0.507072	0.492928	Margaret Parish, PhD Director of Patient Care Therapy Staff Margaret Parish, PhD is the Director of Patient Care. A clinical psychologist, she provides and supervises psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and group consultation. She studies and writes about the interface between psychoanalysis and social systems, including in therapeutic communities, and has conducted seminars in psychopathology and social psychology. She is Past-President of the Board of the Center for the Study of Groups and Social Systems, Boston’s A. K. Rice affiliate, and has served on staff in a number of group relations conferences. Her previous roles at Riggs include being a treatment team leader, the manager of the community center, and a consultant to outside organizations through the Erikson Institute Consultation Service. Dr. Parish earned a BA in liberal arts from the “great books” program at St. John’s College and an MA in psychology (from an existential-phenomenological perspective) from Duquesne University. She worked for several years in community mental health before returning to earn her PhD in clinical psychology (from a psychoanalytic perspective) from the Derner Institute at Adelphi University, where she studied the relevance of attachment theory to understanding the process of psychotherapy. Subsequently, she completed the postdoctoral fellowship in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at Austen Riggs before joining the full time clinical staff. For a list (and downloadable copies) of Dr. Parish's publications, see: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Margaret_Parish From Couch to Culture Through the Therapeutic Community Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Treatment Resistance and Patient Authority: The Austen Riggs Reader	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758963
__label__wiki	0.986173	0.986173	8 Hulkenberg run hurt by Ricciardo strategy focus Poor choices undermine Alonso's F1 legacy Fernando Alonso will not race in Formula 1 in 2019. The door might not be closed forever on his grand prix racing career, but, as he looks set never to hit the heights of 2005 and '06 again, what legacy has he left from 302 F1 starts? By Edd Straw @eddstrawF1 Published on Tuesday August 14th 2018 On October 22 2006, Fernando Alonso was on top of the world. He'd clinched a second consecutive world championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix, and with Michael Schumacher retiring it was legitimate to ask whether the Spaniard might go on eclipse his mark for grand prix victories and world titles. With 15 wins and 15 pole positions in his 86 starts, Alonso had the Formula 1 world at his feet. Almost 12 years later, and he is stepping away from F1 having added 17 victories, seven poles and no more world championships in the subsequent 216 races. It's frankly pathetic that a driver of Alonso's prodigious ability has secured nearly as many seventh places (16) as wins during that time, and that's entirely down to the machinery that has been at his disposal. Who knows whether Alonso will add to that record in F1, as for every Mika Hakkinen, who headed into a 'sabbatical' but never came back, there's a Nigel Mansell who does. But even if Alonso does return, his F1 legacy is likely to be of a talent wasted. It seems absurd to say that given what he did achieve, and it says much about how good Alonso was - and still is - that the success he did achieve doesn't live up to his potential. About Edd Straw Edd Straw is a former Editor and Editor-in-Chief of Autosport, who has now returned to covering the Formula 1 circus full-time. Originally from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, he joined Autosport in 2002 having graduated from Warwick University. He went on to cover a wide range of categories from club motorsport to the World Touring Car Championship and sportscars to Formula 3, before switching to F1 full-time at the 2008 French Grand Prix. He then became Autosport Magazine Editor in November 2014. After subsequent spells as Autosport Editor-in-Chief and then as Motorsport Network's Digital Content Manager, he returned to his favourite role of Grand Prix Editor in 2018. He is also the host of The Autosport Podcast, a judge for the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award, and was formerly a club racer whose abilities did not match his enthusiasm in a variety of categories ranging from Stock Hatch to the European Ferrari Challenge. More from Edd Straw Why Bottas was always doomed to lose to Hamilton Lewis Hamilton drove outstandingly to win a sixth British Grand Prix. His gains under a safety car made it seem more fortunate than it was, but the evidence suggests early leader Valtteri Bottas would still have struggled to best his team-mate 1563148800 F1 Why Gasly still has it in him to save his Red Bull drive Plenty has been made of Pierre Gasly's struggles since moving to Red Bull, and the pressure appears to be affecting him. Gasly has one key factor on his side in his bid to keep his seat for 2020 - but it remains to be seen whether he can save it 1562716800 F1 The other Ferrari driver troubling a world champion On paper, Antonio Giovinazzi's start to life as a full-time Formula 1 driver has not been good. But the signs of progress were there even before his points breakthrough in Austria 1562112000 F1 What Verstappen's victory tells us about F1's future In the three hours between Max Verstappen finishing and stewards confirming him as the Austria winner, the prospect of him being penalised was real. That he wasn't, after a scrap that hinted at the next big rivalry, made this a great day for Formula 1 1561939200 F1 Read more features by Edd Straw. Start Your Free Trial	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758964
__label__wiki	0.513373	0.513373	Sixth Circuit Holds That Court-Ordered Service by Publication Does Not Violate the FDCPA by Alan S. Kaplinsky, Christopher J. Willis, John L. Culhane, Jr., and Stefanie H. Jackman The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought against Midland Funding, LLC (Midland), and its collection law firm under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The lawsuit alleged that Midland violated the FDCPA by serving process on the plaintiffs in several underlying state-court collection actions via newspaper publication. Midland filed various collection lawsuits against the plaintiffs in a Michigan state court to collect on defaulted credit card debt, according to the lawsuit. After attempts to personally serve the plaintiffs failed, Midland asked the state court for permission to serve the plaintiffs by publishing notice of the lawsuits in a local newspaper. The state court granted Midland's request and adopted the company's suggested notice language in its written orders. The court-approved notices, which Midland thereafter published "verbatim" in a local newspaper, "reveal[ed] [p]laintiffs' names and addresses as well as the dollar amounts owed, original creditors, and current debt holders." In a lawsuit filed in a Michigan federal district court, the plaintiffs claimed that Midland and its collection firm's actions violated the FDCPA. The complaint first alleged the defendants "misled the state court," in violation of FDCPA Section 1692e, because they failed to disclose to the court that, once their attempts at personal service failed, Michigan law required them to serve plaintiffs by registered or certified mail before resorting to service by publication. Second, the complaint alleged that the defendants unlawfully "harassed" and "shamed" the plaintiffs, in violation of FDCPA Section 1692d, by using the court-approved language to publicize the debt in a local newspaper. In their motion to dismiss, defendants argued that they did not falsely represent Michigan law in their application for service via publication, and that complying with a state court's orders is not "harassing or abusive" under the FDCPA. The district court dismissed the plaintiffs' FDCPA claims and the Sixth Circuit affirmed. According to the Sixth Circuit, the defendants did not violate the FDCPA by asking the state court to allow service on the plaintiffs via publication. Respecting the plaintiffs' Section 1692e claim, the Sixth Circuit found that Michigan's service statute does not clearly require a certain sequence of "alternative service" after a failed attempt to personally serve a party. Consequently, the Sixth Circuit held that the defendants merely "failed to comport with [p]laintiffs' understanding of Michigan law"—an understanding endorsed by neither "judicial interpretation [n]or authoritative guidance." The Sixth Circuit also affirmed dismissal of the plaintiffs' Section 1692d claim, holding that "[d]efendants' compliance with . . . state-court orders by itself is not cognizable as harassing or abusive conduct" under the FDCPA. In reaching this holding, the Sixth Circuit relied on its previous opinion in Harvey v. Great Seneca Financial Corp., which held that, as a general matter, "employing the court system [to collect a defaulted debt] . . . cannot be said to be an abusive tactic under the FDCPA." Acknowledging that the FDCPA prohibits publishing "a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts," the Sixth Circuit refused to go so far as to "sanction[] as actionable compliance with a court order to obtain service." Although "less [personally identifiable and debt-related] information could have been used" in the published notice, the Sixth Circuit ruled that plaintiffs' claims were properly dismissed because the "publication of unexpurgated debt information in accordance with a court order is [not] a per se violation of the FDCPA." Attorneys in Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group regularly advise clients on compliance with the FDCPA and state debt collection laws and defend clients in FDCPA lawsuits and enforcement matters. The Group is nationally recognized for its guidance in structuring and documenting new consumer financial services products, its experience with the full range of federal and state consumer credit laws throughout the country, and its skill in litigation defense and avoidance. Visit Consumer Finance Monitor, the CFS Group’s blog	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758966
__label__cc	0.60374	0.39626	Scale-up opportunities Scale-ups offer ‘great prize’ to UK economy Report on future of business scale-ups provides practical suggestions on how to overcome challenges. Report estimates that 1 per cent rise in scale-ups could deliver £225bn towards GDP by 2034 Scale-Up Institute will work with private and public sector to help businesses achieve greater scale The report, from the business schools at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, is free to download Barclays has launched a new report on the future of business scale-ups in the UK. This is the culmination of a partnership with the business schools of both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge and both institutions have made six individual recommendations designed to help the growth of UK businesses. The report, Scale-up UK: Growing Businesses, Growing our Economy, gives practical insights and suggestions of what is needed to address the challenges start-ups face. Sherry Coutu, Chair of the Scale-up Institute, says that while she is encouraged by the UK’s efforts to nuture start-ups, we are only at the beginning of the journey. 'A huge prize is at stake. As the initial analysis conducted by Deloitte and Nesta shows – if we help to create in the UK just 1 per cent more scale-ups, 150,000 net new jobs could be in place by 2034 and an additional £225bn towards UK GDP could be spread equally throughout the country.' The report was launched on 25 April 2016 by Sherry Coutu and Barclays’ CEO, Jes Staley, alongside both Universities and the Chair of the Scale-up Institute. Jes Staley said he was delighted that Barclays had been able to contribute to this important piece of work, and that he would continue to focus on helping businesses achieve their ambitions. 'We know first hand many of the issues that entrepreneurs face on a day to day basis. We also know how important they are to our economy, and that by helping them achieve their ambitions, we can in turn drive innovation, jobs and wealth creation and strengthen our economy to the benefit of society.' Find out how we’re supporting UK entrepreneurs. You can also follow Barclays Entrepreneurs on Twitter and catch up with us on LinkedIn. More news from high-growth entrepreneurs Our work with clients makes headlines – find out exactly how we’re supporting some of the world’s most disruptive new businesses and ambitious entrepreneurs. High-growth stories that makes headlines We’re inspired by the vision and determination of the high-growth, entrepreneurial businesses we help to grow – and we’d like to share their stories with you. High-growth stories	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758968
__label__wiki	0.872763	0.872763	BPS School Hours SCHOOL GRADES FULL DAY HALF DAY (dismissal) Barnstable High School 8-12 7:20 a.m. - 1:55 p.m. 10:15 a.m. Barnstable Intermediate School 6-7 8:10 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. 11:00 a.m. Barnstable United School 4-5 8:10 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. 11:00 a.m. Barnstable Community Horace Mann Charter K-3 9:00 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Barnstable-West Barnstable Elementary K-3 9:00 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Centerville Elementary K-3 9:00 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Hyannis West Elementary K-3 9:00 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. 12:00 p.m. West Villages Elementary K-3 9:00 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. 12:00 p.m.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758969
__label__wiki	0.577007	0.577007	Celtic Frost - Vanity / Nemesis 2LP Noise Records Noise Records Reissue Fully Remastered Under the Band's Supervision & Presented on 180g 2LP with Bonus Tracks, 36-Page Booklet & Posters! Heroes of the extreme metal scene, there has always been so much more to Celtic Frost'smusic. From Morbid Tales (1984), through To Mega Therion (1985), onwards to Into The Pandemonium (1987) and finally Vanity/Nemesis (1990), this is a band who refused to conform or follow any specific musical direction. They experimented, took risks and in the process have left behind a remarkable catalogue which is timeless and extraordinary. When you hear these albums, you'll appreciate why succeeding generations of diehard fans and cutting edge bands are so heavily inspired and influenced by Celtic Frost. It almost seems churlish to regard Celtic Frost as one of the great extreme metal bands, because they were so much more than that. It's better to hail them as among the finest extreme and experimental bands of the 1980s. Refusing ever to do what was expected or demanded, the band constantly changed musical direction, always brought in surprising influences, and kept people guessing as to where they might venture next. Their catalog of albums is formidable and unmatched. Each is not only unique, but part of an entire tapestry that only now can be appreciated for being a remarkable part of music history. Despite, or maybe because of, constant turmoil on so many fronts, Celtic Frost achieved an artistic level few others would even have dared to dream of aspiring towards. They climbed high because they were never afraid to fall. Which is why the band are now rightly regarded as icons, and iconoclasts. Originally released in 1985, the band's second album To Mega Therion has an ominous pall of doom and gloom, enmeshed in a sound both primitive yet also Wagnerian in its vast scope. Many claim this was a massive inspiration for black metal bands later in the decade. In truth, though, none matched what Celtic Frost laid down here. Fully remastered under the band's supervision, this gatefold 180g 2LP reissue includes the Emperor's Return EP as well as aremix of "Visual Aggression" plus two 12" x 24" posters and a 36 page booklet.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758972
__label__wiki	0.563627	0.563627	Singer men sentenced in Bank Robbery United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that two men from Singer were sentenced Monday for robbing a DeQuincy bank of nearly $16,000. Gordon Scott Cooper, 56, of Singer Louisiana, was sentenced to 84 months in prison and Chad Allen Cooper, 39, also of Singer, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of bank robbery. They were also sentenced to five years of supervised release and were ordered to pay $15,899 restitution. United States District Judge Robert G. James presided over the hearing. According to the guilty pleas, Gordon Cooper entered a bank in DeQuincy, Louisiana, with an air-powered BB gun that looked like an automatic pistol and stole $15,999 from two teller drawers. Police later learned that a maroon Honda Pilot had been seen in the area prior to the robbery and that the driver had been seen acting suspiciously. Police located Chad Cooper who is Gordon Cooper’s nephew and found BBs and a CO2 cartridge for the air pistol used in the robbery. Chad Cooper admitted to assisting in the robbery and directed officers on how to find his uncle. At Gordon Cooper’s residence, police located the Honda Pilot, a plastic bag containing money, and a pair of tennis shoes that Gordon Cooper identified as the ones worn in the robbery. The FBI and the Dequincy Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758973
__label__wiki	0.55645	0.55645	Home > Satire > This is how white supremacy isn’t racist in this country Satire Satire - International Affairs There is an argument that people can only be racist if they happen to share the same perceived race as people in power. The equation for the argument is, “Racism = power + prejudice.” It’s counter-argued that that definition of racism is racist in itself, and most people prefer to go by the dictionary definitions which are: 1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2a : a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles b : a political or social system founded on racism 3: racial prejudice or discrimination (source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism) However, a white supremacist group who now lives in Ethiopia, under the logic they welcome of racism = power + prejudice, can reportedly, in their own words, say whatever they want and it not be considered racism in Ethiopia, which is a country in Africa that was never colonized by a European power. “Since people who are of African decent are in power here and most people here are of African decent, we can say any white supremacist material we want and we are absolved of racism,” said a spokesperson for the Ethiopian White Power movement. “This is a great way to use mental gymnastics as an excuse to be racist and horrible to people here in Ethiopia,” she continued. With a simple change in geography, she’s no longer racist even if she spreads the same white supremacist message. Incredible. When we asked a local affirmative action advocate about this new definition of racism not found in the dictionary, they confirmed that only people who share the same perceived race as most people in power can be racist, and they told me to look it up in the dictionary. “Since I’m black, I can’t be racist, and it’s a great feeling for it to be physically impossible for me to be racist. This helps in situations where black owned businesses get an automatic 5% discount of government contracts like in St. Louis, when people hire black people like me which gives me more of a systemic advantage, and that works out pretty well for me; I don’t understand why everyone wouldn’t want me to get preferential treatment by the government because of my perceived race.” When I explained the situation with the Ethiopian White Power movement, and that there are places where black people of African decent are in power, she looked shocked and she started talking about how, “..evil white people are.” Her racism knows no bounds. For reference, as of writing, it’s still illegal in Liberia for anyone who isn’t African and black to be a citizen of Liberia. Also, the 5% discount based on race that St. Louis offers may be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. May 5, 2018 August 7, 2018 username The exciting story of why this Boise woman who benefited from farmland being turned into housing is supporting perpetuating the housing crisis May 10, 2018 August 7, 2018 username “What good could possibly come from taking steps to prevent global warming?” asks Kansas climate change skeptic This woman’s dedication is fierce. See why she drove 16 hours to fight for the environment. The incredible story of Lord Jellyfish’s bold moves in the bluefin tuna industry is too important to miss. This terrifying creature feeds off of the fatbergs in sewers from people pouring oil and grease down the drain Former colonialism and this surprising thing are literally the only things stopping many former European colonies from legalizing same sex marriage	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758978
__label__wiki	0.569783	0.569783	Briggs & Stratton Corporation Briggs & Stratton Corporation, B&S International, Inc., Allmand Bros., Inc., and Billy Goat Industries, Inc., (collectively, the “Company”) comply with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of Personal Data transferred from the European Union (“EU”) and Switzerland to the United States (the “Privacy Shield Principles”). The Company has certified to the Department of Commerce that it adheres to the Privacy Shield Principles when processing Personal Data regarding individuals who reside in the EU and Switzerland, including, but not limited to: Company website users; product users or consumers; business contacts, e.g., contacts at dealers and distributors of Briggs & Stratton products; and vendors. Personal data of employees, independent contractors, and applicants located in the EU and Switzerland is transferred to the Company subject to the controller-to-controller Standard Contractual Clauses (Set II) and is not covered by this Policy. For purposes of this Policy, “Personal Data” means any information received by the Company from the EU or Switzerland, recorded in any form, which relates to a natural person (other than an employee, independent contractor, or applicant of an EU-based or Switzerland-based affiliate of the Company) who is identified in, or identifiable based on, the Personal Data received. More information about the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks as well as the Company’s certification on the Privacy Shield List are available at www.privacyshield.gov. If there is any conflict between the terms in this Privacy Shield Policy and the Privacy Shield Principles, the Privacy Shield Principles shall govern. The Company’s Collection And Use Of Personal Data The Company receives Personal Data about individuals in the EU and Switzerland, including: vendors; product users or consumers; business contacts, e.g., contacts at dealers and distributors of Briggs & Stratton products; and users of the Company’s website. The Company collects Personal Data from vendors including names and business contact information for purposes including vendor tracking and paying for products and services. Personal Data collected by the Company from business contacts includes name, company name, job title, and business contact information. The Company uses this Personal Data for marketing, advertising, business development, client/customer tracking, and client/customer analysis. The Company’s collection and use of Personal Data from business contacts who use the Company’s Power Portal website is described the Power Portal’s privacy policy. The Company also receives the Personal Data of EU and Swiss product users and consumers from its EU and Swiss business contacts, including name, address, and Company products purchased for purposes including tracking product registrations and warranties and marketing and advertising. In addition, the Company receives Personal Data from users of the Company’s website as described in the website privacy policy and uses that Personal Data for the purposes described in that policy. The Company’s Disclosure Of Personal Data The Company may disclose the Personal Data of individuals located in the EU and Switzerland, subject to written agreement, to authorized service providers who provide services related to the purposes for which the Company collects that Personal Data. For example, the Company stores business contact information in a customer relationship management (CRM) database provided by an authorized service provider located in the United States. On occasion, for purposes of managing product lines and other business interests, Briggs & Stratton’s affiliated companies located outside of the U.S., EU, and Switzerland may access business contact and product user Personal Data. In addition, the Company may disclose the Personal Data of website visitors to other third parties as described in the website privacy policy referenced above. The Company may be liable for the onward transfer of Personal Data to third parties. Pursuant to the Privacy Shield, the Company remains liable for the transfer of personal data to third parties acting as our agents unless we can prove we were not a party to the events giving rise to the damage. The Company may be required to disclose, and may disclose, Personal Data in response to lawful requests by public authorities, including for the purpose of meeting national security or law enforcement requirements. Choices For Limiting The Use And Disclosure Of Personal Data The Company will provide the opportunity for individuals to opt out from: (a) the disclosure of their Personal Data to a non-agent third party; and (b) the use of their Personal Data for purpose(s) that are materially different from the purpose(s) for which the Personal Data was originally collected or subsequently authorized by the individual. The Company will provide individuals with clear, conspicuous and readily available mechanisms to exercise their choices regarding Personal Data should such circumstances arise. Individuals who wish to limit the use or disclosure of their Personal Data as described in this Policy should submit their requests to privacy@basco.com. Individuals’ Right To Access Their Personal Data Upon request, the Company will grant individuals access to their Personal Data. Individuals who wish to exercise these rights can do so by contacting privacy@basco.com. For security purposes, the Company may require verification of the requester’s identity before providing access to Personal Data. In addition, applicants can access their Personal Data through their accounts on the Company’s career portal. More Information And What To Do If You Have a Complaint Individuals can contact the Company with any inquiries about the Privacy Shield or the processing of their Personal Data at privacy@basco.com. In compliance with the Privacy Shield Principles, the Company commits to resolve complaints about its collection or use of the Personal Data of individuals located in the EU and Switzerland. Any such individual who has a complaint regarding this Privacy Shield Policy should submit the complaint to privacy@basco.com. The Company will promptly investigate, and attempt to resolve, such complaints in accordance with this Policy and the Privacy Shield Principles. Any individual who is not satisfied with the internal resolution of a complaint may seek redress with the BBB EU PRIVACY SHIELD, operated by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, an alternative dispute resolution provider based in the United States. If you do not receive timely acknowledgment of your complaint, or if your complaint is not satisfactorily addressed, please visit http://www.bbb.org/EU-privacy-shield/for-eu-consumers for more information and to file a complaint. In certain circumstances, the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework provides the right to invoke binding arbitration to resolve complaints not resolved by other means, as described in Annex I to the Privacy Shield Principles. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction over the Company’s compliance with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks. Effective Date: March 30, 2018 Revised: June 28, 2019	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758980
__label__cc	0.691594	0.308406	High Speed File Transfer High-speed file transfer is a complex subject. Not all file transfer software is the same. At a fundamental level, all file transfer programs facilitate information transfer between systems. Specific frameworks, or methods, excel at high-speed file transfers. Binfer’s uses direct device to device technology to achieve very high transfer speed. Many things affect file or data delivery time: internet speed, computer specs, packet loss, and distance. However, the most significant bottleneck in file transfer software today isn’t necessarily a network issue, it’s a design issue. Most file transfer applications rely on a central server to facilitate the transfer. Files are copied to a central server. After a long upload period the receiving party downloads them. The intermediate step, holding the file before the transfer occurs for the receiving party, accounts for an average of 50% of the total transfer time. By combining the upload and download steps associated with file transfers, Binfer has been able to redefine high-speed file transfer. Along with the combined upload and download steps, simple drag and drop and auto-resume capabilities make Binfer one of the easiest and most reliable file transfer software options available today. It’s a great alternative to cloud-based file transfer solutions like Dropbox, Google Drive and email. In cloud storage-based file transfer, the upload and download steps can cause excessively long file sharing times. In email not only does the upload and download dilemma appear again, but file attachment size is often limited as well. You can bypass the file limit by splitting documents into smaller chunks and sending them one by one. But this tactic doesn’t work for all file types. MP4, MP3’s and JPG’s don’t break apart easily. For files that can’t be divided, third party compression tools are available. Compression adds yet another complicated step to what should be a simple process. Not only does the sending party have to compress the file, the receiving party must decompress the received file as well. High speed file transfer shouldn’t be cumbersome. Binfer recognizes the hurdles that people go through to facilitate a high-speed file transfer. Our file transfer software allows users to transfer big files without the slow transfer speeds associated with cloud-based solutions, email-based file transfers, and everything in between. Binfer’s direct device-to-device high-speed file transfer is a perfect solution for those who want the best high-speed file transfer application on the market.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758981
__label__cc	0.670782	0.329218	Behavior And Reproduction Crab plovers are found in large groups throughout the year. They gather in large flocks of as many as hundreds of individuals to forage, or hunt for food. Crab plovers also breed in large colonies, digging their nest burrows close together in sand dunes. Roost sites, where birds rest, can include as many as a thousand crab plovers. The calls from these sites, described as a barking "crow-ow-ow" are sometimes heard as far as a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. Some populations of crab plovers migrate during the year, traveling from one living area to another and back. Other populations remain in the same place throughout the year. All crab plovers are most active at dawn and dusk as well as at night, because their habitats tend to be extremely hot during the day. Unlike many other birds, crab plovers nest during the hottest, driest times of year, generally between the months of April and June. Crab plovers time their reproduction so that there will be plenty of crabs available as prey when the chicks hatch. Because of the extreme heat, however, crab plovers build their nests underground, using their bills and feet to dig large burrows in sand dunes. Burrows measure approximately 47.2 to 74 inches (120 to 188 centimeters) long. Crab plovers are the only species in the order Charadriiformes (which includes gulls, terns, plovers, and other shorebirds) to nest in burrows. Burrows not only provide a cool environment for adults, eggs, and chicks, but help provide protection from potential predators. NEST BURROWERS Crab plovers are the only species in the order Charadriiformes (gulls, terns, plovers, and other shorebirds) that nest in underground burrows. Their burrows help provide a cool environment for adults, eggs, and chicks. Breeding in crab plovers generally occurs during the hottest months of the year, when outside temperatures can reach 104°F (40°C). Burrows also help protect young from potential predators. Crab plovers are believed to be monogamous, with a single male breeding with a single female during the breeding season. However, as many as ten adult birds are sometimes seen at a single nest burrow, suggesting that some individuals may nest together, or that adult siblings may help their parents raise younger siblings. Females lay only one egg at a time. The crab plover egg is extremely large compared to the bird's body size. It is not known how long eggs take to hatch. It is also not known for certain whether both parents help raise chicks, but it is likely that only females are responsible for this task. Although crab plover young are precocial (pree-KOH-shul), hatching at an advanced stage of development, feathered and able to move, they remain in the burrow for a considerable length of time, being fed by adults. Nothocercus Bonapartei	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758982
__label__wiki	0.9437	0.9437	Scott Air Force Base Provided Plans include updating the electrical and heating and air conditioning systems “to facilitate reliable communications for the installation and its missions,” said Karen Petitt, chief of public affairs for the 375th Air Mobility Wing, based at Scott. “The list merely highlights projects that haven’t been awarded as of Dec. 31, 2018, and does not foreshadow a loss of funding,” Petitt said. “Projects scheduled to be awarded prior to Sept. 30, 2019, are exempted, as are those related to military dormitories or barracks.” Not all of the projects will be subject to cuts, the Defense Department wrote, which would make it difficult to determine exactly which would be vulnerable. President Donald Trump has vetoed a measure passed by Congress meant to overturn his national emergency declaration on the southern border. The president has called for $8.6 billion in his fiscal year 2020 budget proposal to pay for a border wall. Last year he wanted $5.7 billion, but was rebuffed, which led to a partial government shut down earlier this year, which lasted 35 days. Illinois Congressman John Shimkus talks about funding the wall with Defense Department money and how that could affect local military contracts, Shimkus supports emergency declaration U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, said he plans to vote to sustain Trump’s veto. “There is an emergency on the southern border,” Shimkus said. “If you can do a national emergency for the swine flu, if you could do it for disruption in ... Congo in Africa, if you could do an emergency declaration for other African countries, surely you could do one for the crisis on the southern border. You have 400,000 people illegally enter our country on the southern border that should be of a concern.” He said the issues on the southern border would be solved with fencing, increased use of technology, stronger border security, more immigration judges to hear cases and immigration reform. However, when it comes to the military construction projects, Shimkus said they may only be delayed and eventually will take place as part of future appropriations. He added any project at Scott Air Force Base is important. “This is money now that can be appropriated in the next budgetary cycle,” Shimkus said. “Don’t get me wrong, no one is going to like (military construction) dollars being taken from approved locations, but you have to go back, is this a crisis? What really what would have stopped taking this money out of (military construction) is if we had voted on it at the end of the year, instead of it being politicized as we did.” Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus talks about national emergency, border security, and immigration. Shimkus continues his support for President Trump's national emergency at the border. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, called taking money from military construction projects as “reckless” and “irresponsible” that said it will hurt military readiness. “To be clear, Donald Trump is proposing stealing funding that Congress appropriated for critical national defense projects in Illinois and across the country in order to fund a vanity project that he promised Mexico would pay for,” Duckworth said. “This is a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars that is downright harmful to our nation.” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said the military will suffer if the construction projects are put on hold. “Republicans and Democrats in the Senate chose the Constitution over the president’s so-called ‘national emergency’ declaration,” Durbin said in a statement after the president’s veto. “The president chose his ‘big and beautiful’ wall over the needs of the U.S. military.” Scott Air Force Base is in U.S. Rep. Mike Bost’s congressional district. Bost, R-Murphysboro, has been a supporter of the national emergency declaration. “We’ve been in close contact with the Pentagon and been assured that projects on the list are not necessarily targets for a reduction or redirection of funding,” Bost said in a statement. “In fact, all of the nearly 150 military construction projects listed were simply done so because they fit an expansive technical funding category, not based on the projects’ merit or any detailed analysis. Any final funding decision for this project would require significant examination, and my office is monitoring the situation closely to ensure Scott’s mission is fully funded.” Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus Derik Holtmann dholtmann@bnd.com Airman First Class Anthony Uelk, on the ladder, along with fellow 932nd Airlift Wing flight line crew chiefs, refuel a C-40 in preparation for a launch at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Christopher Parr U.S. Air Force Joseph Bustos Joseph Bustos is the state affairs and politics reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, where he strives to hold elected officials accountable and provide context to decisions they make. He has won multiple awards from the Illinois Press Association for coverage of sales tax referenda. Rodney Davis congratulates Edwardsville baseball team on winning state title Durbin says President Trump’s plan for mass arrests and deportations will not make America safer Mother kills teen sons, sets house on fire before killing herself, Illinois cops say Breese man identified as van driver in fatal Clinton County crash Tornado touches down near Lebanon Prenzler could lose appointments to two local boards in ‘political power play’ Belleville man charged with 11 counts of possessing child pornography By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press Sudan's ruling military, pro-democracy movement sign political document as part of power-sharing deal to end deadlock. Get full access to Belleville News-Democrat content across all your devices. MORE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT Tennessee gov announces new rural health research center Place a Classified Ad Advertise With Us Shopping	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758984
__label__wiki	0.862997	0.862997	Polk County lands new Medline center Kevin McQuaid Commercial Real Estate Editor Read more about Kevin McQuaid Medline Industries Inc., the nation's largest privately held maker and distributor of health care-related products, is planning to develop a new 830,000-square-foot distribution center beginning later this year in Auburndale. The Mundelein, Ill.-based company, which bought 51 acres in July from Five-Star Family Growers in the Polk Commerce Centre, intends to complete its new facility by the end of next year. The planned distribution center, which will be Medline's 41st nationwide, is expected to create 100 jobs, says Stacy Rubenstein, a company spokeswoman. Medline chose Auburndale, a Polk County town of just more than 14,000 residents east of Lakeland, for its Central Florida location and proximity to five hospitals and other health care providers, Rubenstein says. Its new facility will be roughly 45 minutes away from Tampa and Orlando. Logistics firms and other distributors have been drawn to the Interstate 4 corridor in Central Florida because roughly 18 million people live within a day's drive. Medline, which generated $8.1 billion in sales last year and is the nation's largest supplier of examination gloves, also picked Auburndale “to position the company for future growth,” Rubenstein says. Medline isn't the only distributor planning to grow in Auburndale, either. Sadlle Creek Logistics Services is planning to nearly double its recently opened warehouse there, to 811,000 square feet. And while Medline's roughly $45 million project will be significant, it won't be Auburndale's largest building, says Amy Palmer, an Auburndale official. That honor goes to Coca-Cola, which operates a 1 million-square-foot beverage manufacturing plant in the city that employs more than 500. Click here to see more Business Observer news	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758988
__label__wiki	0.54968	0.54968	J.K. Rowling Confirms We've All Been Pronouncing Voldemort's Name Incorrectly and Mind Blown By Caitlin White Ian Gavan/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images There's a reason he was known as "He Who Must Not Be Named": He's sick and tired of everyone saying his name incorrectly. J.K. Rowling confirmed that we have all been saying Voldemort's name the wrong way. Considering that this has been happening since 1997, it's all extremely awkward. The "T" at the end of the evil one's name is silent — think The Colbert Report, like "Voldemore." So if you've been leaning heavily on the last letter, you've been saying his name wrong. Though frankly, he kind of deserves it, being so evil and all. Rowling doesn't shy away from blowing our Muggle minds on Twitter, and she revealed this tidbit of information during a round of answering some Harry Potter trivia. She stated the correct pronunciation, but then admitted that she's likely the only one who uses it. So if you have been laughing at Jim Dale's (correct) pronunciation of "Voldemort" on the U.S. audiobooks, then the joke is on you. Rowling has always put a lot of thought and care into naming her characters, and clearly, Voldemort received that same level of attention. Draco Malfoy's first name, for example, is a reference to "Draconian," meaning "unusually severe or cruel." And the root of "Malfoy" is "mal," meaning "bad" or "evil," and "foy," generally the root of "faith." (Uh, yeah.) Then there's Remus Lupin and the whole "Lupin"/"lupine"/"wolf" giveaway. And Minerva McGonagall? Minerva is the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom. So where does Voldemort (silent T) come from? For those of you who paid attention in high school French class, you know that "Mort" (with the silent T) is French for "death." Oh, J.K. You're always so on point. Image: Giphy	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758989
__label__cc	0.727441	0.272559	7 Signs Someone Might Have Adult ADHD By JR Thorpe Most of us conceive of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) as a child's problem; which makes sense, considering that most media coverage of the disorder focuses on thing like the medication of children, whether schools should classify it as a psychological issue, and the occasional discovery of foods that might spark problems in children suffering from the disorder. We're still not entirely sure what causes ADHD — genetic and environment factors all seem to play a role, according to Psych Central, with investigations finding that children with ADHD had smaller volumes of "white matter" and thinner tissue in some areas of their brains. But there's something about ADHD that needs to garner more attention: its occurrence in adults. It's estimated that four percent of all American adults have ADHD, which means that the likelihood that you'll know one of these people is pretty high. Full disclosure: my husband had ADHD as a kid, and still manifests some of the symptoms as an adult, though he's had years of intensive therapy to help him with the disorder. As we'll get into here, having ADHD as a child is often a determining factor for symptoms as an adult, though in some cases it also turns up in adults who had not been previously diagnosed, particularly among women. Here are some of the signals that an adult in your life might have untreated ADHD, because it goes beyond just restlessness and an inability to concentrate. 1. They Are Easily Distracted This is the most famous symptom of ADHD, in children or in adults, and it can manifest in many different ways. People with ADHD can find it incredibly difficult to stay put on one task, thought, project or life course; they'll often procrastinate, find it tricky to finish one thing at a time, deviate from plans and organizational strategies, miss deadlines, and/or switch jobs, relationships and situations frequently. WebMD outlines a whole host of areas in which this distraction issue can show itself, from difficulty working on group projects in work situations to serial relationships and marriages. 2. They Have Periods Of Hyperfocus If you're not familiar with ADHD as a phenomenon, this may come as a surprise to you: though the distraction that sufferers experience gets the big press, the flip side of the disorder is, for many, the experience of radical "tunnel vision," or hyperfocus. In other words, people with ADHD sometimes struggle to focus and find that their attention switches rapidly between subjects, and sometimes experience a level of focus on one single thing that can feel almost too intense. CNN, in an investigation of the experience of hyperfocus last week, pointed out that this isn't actually out of line with ADHD in general; the disorder, they point out, is a "maldistribution of attention" in which people can "oscillate between splintered and hyperfocused attention," rather than being able to modulate their focus in a normal way. This compete immersion may be, in some ways, rather extreme; Healthline explains that the person may be able to focus for hours on a single thing, to the detriment of what's happening around them. 3. They're Very Disorganized The Anxiety & Depression Association of America defines lack of organization as one of the key components of an adult ADHD diagnosis, but they don't necessarily mean it in the sense of a messy room or a pile of unsorted shoes. People with adult ADHD are more prone to chronic disorganization crises, like forgetting about meetings or believing they're scheduled on different days, or misplacing important objects. My husband, an academic at Oxford and possibly the least stupid person I know, has twice booked flights to and from the wrong place, and he's had treatment. People with adult ADHD do not do these things because they are dumb; they are just often not focused on the key important details of a situation (like location, time, etc). 4. They're Impulsive As part and parcel of the attention maladjustment of adult ADHD sufferers, they're also more inclined to act impulsively than adults without the disorder. The Royal Society Of Psychiatrists calls this "spur of the moment" thinking, in which ADHD sufferers do things like interrupt conversations or make high-risk choices (speeding, for instance) without a sufficient contemplation of the consequences. Impulsivity alone isn't a guarantee of ADHD, but impulsive decisions matched with poor organizational skills can be a sign that one should talk to a professional about getting a diagnosis. 5. They're "Scattered" (Especially If They're Female) There's a fascinating gender divide in the experience of ADHD among adults. An investigation by The Atlantic in 2013 found two very interesting things about ADHD among women: one, it takes a different form from male disorders, and two, it may be much more likely to be diagnosed when the sufferer is an adult. According to their research, female sufferers of ADHD are more likely to be "disorganized, scattered, forgetful, and introverted," and it's been proposed that the hormonal fluctuations of puberty may actually increase ADHD symptoms in girls. Boys, meanwhile, often see a quietening of their symptoms as they start puberty. Gabrielle Moss, who wrote for Bustle about her first diagnosis as an ADHD sufferer at the age of 28, explains that "women's ADHD symptoms often center more around feelings of being overwhelmed and disorganized, rather than the visibly impulsive behavior and hyperactivity that many of us associate with the disorder, which are actually more common symptoms among young men." The tie between estrogen and ADHD appears to be the hormone's connection to neurotransmitters: fluctuations in estrogen, according to Psych Central, impact directly on the body's release of serotonin and dopamine, which both have consequences for concentration and cognition. Menopause is, for those reasons, problematic for women with ADHD too. 6. They Have A Tough Time Dealing With Frustration Being delayed, bored, frustrated in an attempt to do something or generally thwarted is not a nice experience for anyone; but for sufferers of adult ADHD, it can be extremely hard to deal with. A study in 2011 found that many adult ADHD sufferers have difficulty "regulating their emotions," which essentially means they don't necessarily go through the emotional "censorship" we usually learn as we become adults: they may not know how to talk themselves out of anger, or modulate their voice. People with ADHD often have what the Mayo Clinic calls "low frustration tolerance," or a very easy ability to be annoyed or upset by something going wrong; they may also be impatient and prone to mood swings. 7. They Had Childhood Signs Of ADHD One of the first things that many medical professionals will do when faced with a possible case of adult ADHD is look through childhood school reports and speak to parents or guardians. There's a good reason for this: for boys in particular, a childhood experience of ADHD may well develop into an adult one. Up to 60 percent of all ADHD cases diagnosed in childhood will go on to become adult ADHD cases, according to a study in 2006. If your friend was disorganized, often distracted, frequently incapable of calming down, and often did things without thinking it through first as a kid, then it's likely that they might have had this for a long time and simply never gotten a proper diagnosis. So what happens when adult ADHD is diagnosed? Fortunately, there are a lot of treatment routes; and contrary to popular belief, medication isn't the only option. Therapy is highly recommended, as are a healthy lifestyle and diet, and getting enough sleep. Adult ADHD is not an insurmountable problem by any means; but someone who's struggling with these issues might seem some real benefits from treatment. Images: Pexels, Giphy	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758990
__label__wiki	0.860287	0.860287	Ben True sets American record en route to BAA 5K win By Barbara Matson Globe Correspondent,April 15, 2017, 11:37 a.m. On the sort of sunny spring day that makes New England feel like the front of a tourist’s postcard, Maine native Ben True ran an American-record 13 minutes, 20 seconds to win the Boston Athletic Association 5K on Saturday. The course begins and ends on Charles Street between Boston Common and the Public Garden. True, a 31-year-old who now lives in West Lebanon, N.H., jockeyed with Stephen Sambu and James Kibet as they ran down Boylston Street alongside the Public Garden. True took the lead as he turned onto Charles Street, with just a straightaway left to the finish line, and he held off Sambu as he sprinted to the line. Buze Diriba of Ethiopia outkicked three-time winner Molly Huddle of Providence to claim victory in 14:54 in the women’s race. Huddle, who said she tired on the final run down Charles Street, finished in 14:56. True said the American record wasn’t foremost in his mind at the start of the race, but his plans changed. “When I was coming down the homestretch and I saw the clock at 13:10, I definitely dug a little bit deeper to make sure I could try and get another record,’’ he said. “So, it worked out well. It felt good, it was a fun race.’’ It was True’s fourth victory in this race, and he wiped out the American record of 13:22 he had set in 2015. American Record for Ben True!!!! pic.twitter.com/7WV1p5w39l — B.A.A. (@BAA) April 15, 2017 True ran with the lead pack throughout, hitting the 1-mile mark in 4:20 and 2 miles in 8:42. The pack numbered six in the early going with three-time winner Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia pushing the pace. “Dejen took it out pretty quick for the first mile,” said True, “and I slowly came up on his shoulder on the underpass. The two of us came together through 2 miles.” The pack strung out along Boylston Street near the Marathon finish line. “It just means that we’re going at a pretty quick pace,” said True, “so it’s a good thing. It makes it a little bit easier to move around.” The last 600 meters belonged to the New England native. “This weekend is great,” he said. “Maine’s one of the few states, and Massachusetts, to celebrate Patriots Day, so growing up this was always a school holiday. This was kind of a holiday for me growing up. And it’s great to be a part of.” Ben True, post-race, after breaking his own American Record by two seconds, running 13:20 officially. pic.twitter.com/tQHgNaEQhx Sambu was second in 13:22, followed by Kibet in third in 13:28, Philip Langat fourth in 13:30, and Gebremeskel fifth in 13:35. Huddle, 32, and Diriba, 23, were shoulder to shoulder coming around the corner onto Charles Street, where they ran into male racers. “My legs were really tired, so I tried to stay behind her,” Huddle said, “but we kind of got scattered by other runners. She had more left in her legs, I was just dying.” The pace for the women was 4:46 at the 1-mile mark, when Huddle led. She said she was hoping she was alone but turned around and saw the pack pursuing. Diriba took over and began to leave the pack behind, reaching the 2-mile split in 9:27. “I tried to reel her back in and with a K to go we were shoulder to shoulder again and came around the turn together,” Huddle said. Some more images from this morning's B.A.A. 5K pic.twitter.com/6qTXiYzA0G The action then moved back to Boylston Street, where the mile races started and finished by the Marathon finish line. The BAA Invitational Mile was won for the third time by Nick Willis, the course record-holder and a two-time New Zealand Olympian. Willis won the men’s race in 4:13.2, followed by Cristian Soratos (4:13.5) and Will Leer (4:13.7). Willis has taken time off to rest since he ran in Rio (bronze in the 1,500 meters), skipping the indoor season. “It’s a really good way to start the 2017 campaign. I haven’t run in eight months so I was really nervous,’’ said the 33-year-old. “I won that race but it didn’t feel as easy as the last few times I won this race. But the purpose of my break wasn’t to help me now. It’s to help me in 2019 and 2020. I’m 34 in a couple of weeks so I’ve got to pick and choose my battles a little more wisely.’’ In the women’s mile, two-time Canadian Olympian Nicole Sifuentes ran full out from start to finish, winning in 4:33.7. American Cory McGee was second in 4:35.8, and Emily Lipari third in 4:36.9. “I feel terrible,’’ said Sifuentes, while grinning broadly. “I just ran as hard as I could from start to finish so I feel bad, but that’s really what I was looking for, this first race to open the outdoor season. We don’t do efforts like this in training. I had to come to a race to get it done and I figured if there’s one thing I can control, it’s getting that effort . . . Happily, it also meant that I won.” In the high school invitational mile Grace Connolly, a Natick sophomore, won in 5:04.8, a high school record for the event. Newton South senior Clare Martin pushed Connolly the whole way and took second in 5:08. In the boys’ high school race, Wellesley senior Benjamin Matejka took first in 4:28. Newton North junior Andrew Mah was second in 4:29.6. There was also an invitational 1,000-meter run for middle school athletes. Emma Forde of Natick won the girls’ race in 3:18.7, a meet record. Niklas Isenberg of Brookline won the boys’ event in 2:58.1. Trump focuses on race, returning to his electoral strategy ahead of 2020 The immorality of Mike Pence House votes to condemn Trump’s racist tweets	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758993
__label__wiki	0.812509	0.812509	Acute Coronary Syndrome Coronary Intervention & Surgery Healthcare Economics & Policy Lipids & Metabolic Structural & Congenital Heart Disease Relationships Revealed: Companies Paid U.S. Cardiologists $520M in Sunshine Act’s First 3 Years Daniel Allar \| March 08, 2019 Receiving Payments Influenced Physicians’ Device Selection But Not Patient Outcomes Industry payments to cardiologists remained largely stable in the first three years those payments were made publicly available, with biomedical manufacturers distributing about $520 million to more than 30,000 U.S. cardiologists from 2014 to 2016, according to an analysis in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes (2018;11[12]:e005016). The Physician Payments Sunshine Act was enacted in 2010 to increase the transparency of industry-physician relationships, wrote Yale School of Medicine researcher Jeptha P. Curtis, MD, and coauthors. The Open Payments Program (OPP) followed and, since August 2013, information about payments from the medical industry has been made available publicly on the OPP website. “Among the 10 manufacturers that accounted for the majority of the total payments, only 2 manufacturers significantly decreased the value of payments to physicians over the 3 years of the study, whereas the value of payments from the remaining 8 manufacturers was largely unchanged,” Curtis and colleagues wrote. “Nevertheless, these findings only reflect 3 years of availability of the OPP data, and it may take several years for the full impact of the Sunshine Act on physician and manufacturer behavior to become apparent.” The analysis revealed that a select minority of physicians and companies account for the majority of the payments. Only 3.5 percent of cardiologists with industry financial ties—or 1,067 people—received more than $100,000 over the three-year study period, but those doctors hauled in almost two-thirds of all payments. Likewise, 10 manufacturers—out of 747 who made payments to physicians—dished out 60 percent of the money. Those companies provided $312 million in compensation during those three years. For the well-compensated cardiologists, 54 percent of the payments were for speaking/promotional talks, 18 percent were for consulting fees and 12 percent were for ownership stakes. “These findings suggest that the biomedical industry maintains deeper relationships with a relatively small group of cardiologists and that these relationships are consistent from year to year,” wrote Curtis, who holds equity interest in Medtronic, and colleagues. Manufacturers often target physicians they believe to be “thought leaders” who can influence the practice patterns of their colleagues, according to the authors. “In fact, there are firms dedicated to not only identifying key opinion leaders but also offering web services to keep track of opinion leaders and provide metrics on returns on their investment,” they wrote. Industry ties influence device selection Curtis and colleagues say further research is needed to better understand the impacts of financial relationships with industry on clinical decision making and whether the type or amount of payment has an effect. The preliminary findings from two studies they presented at the American Heart Association 2018 scientific sessions demonstrated that physicians with financial relationships to biomedical manufacturers were up to 12 times more likely to use an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or a cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) from that company instead of devices from others. However, patient outcomes didn’t appear to suffer based on whether the implanting physician had received payments from industry. “I am reassured that the quality of care doesn’t differ based on whether or not you’ve received money from industry, but I am, to be honest, a little troubled by the implications of our finding that payments from industry really do influence device choice,” Curtis told Cardiovascular Business. “I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong about relationships between physicians and the device industry, but I do think we really need to tread carefully in that space,” he adds. “The potential for the appearance of conflicts of interest is really significant and has the potential to undermine the faith that patients put in physicians.” Curtis’s research team used the National Cardiovascular Data Registry for ICDs to analyze device choices and intra- and postprocedural complications for operations performed by 4,096 physicians in 2014 or 2015. They found that patients of physicians who received more than $100 per year from industry experienced complications at rates similar to the patients of doctors with minimal or no financial ties to device manufacturers. The complication rates were 2.06 percent for those treated by industry-paid physicians and 2.1 percent for the other group, while in-hospital death rates were 0.32 percent and 0.24 percent, respectively. Physicians who accepted payments from manufacturers were slightly more likely to implant a CRT-D in eligible patients (24.42 percent vs. 23.19 percent) but marginally less likely to discharge them on the “appropriate” medications of beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (84.17 percent vs. 85.35 percent). The differences were substantially greater for device selection. Physicians who received the bulk of their payments from a given manufacturer were between 2.6 and 11.7 times more likely to implant a device from that company vs. another, depending on the manufacturer. For their analysis, the authors deidentified the companies— referring to them as Manufacturers A through D—but Curtis notes a dose-dependent relationship in terms of how likely physicians were to use that device. In other words, the greater the payments from that company to a physician, the more likely the physician would select its device. Similarly, the two companies that shelled out the most money each year had the greatest likelihoods of physicians choosing their products. Call for transparency “This is all retrospective analysis and all we’re identifying are associations, so you have to take this with a grain of salt, but nevertheless we did see a very strong association and one that raises questions as to the appropriateness of these relationships and to what degree they are influencing physician choice,” Curtis says. Although payments from industry to physicians and teaching hospitals are posted for public viewing on the OPP website, it isn’t exactly easy for patients to access and interpret those data, Curtis notes. He suggests hospitals could improve transparency by requiring physicians to disclose financial relationships to patients before implanting a device manufactured by a company from which they’ve received money. “That seems practical and potentially important information for patients to know,” he says. “Similarly, I think hospital conflict of interest committees need to take their job very seriously because … the optics are not great. We want our medical decision making to be made independently of any underlying relationship with industry and to be made solely with the interest of the patient at heart.” AI in Healthcare Cardiovascular Business Health Exec Health Imaging Radiology Business © 2018 TriMed Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. \| Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1758995
__label__wiki	0.959072	0.959072	The annual Army v Navy rugby match will be live... The annual Army v Navy rugby match will be live on Sky Sports Monday, April 23rd 2018 by Emma Woollacott The annual Army v Navy rugby match takes place at Twickenham on Saturday 5 May - but it's already sold out. And that means that if you don't have tickets, the only place you can watch it is... you've guessed it, Sky Sports. The match sees the Senior XV teams of the two services going head-to-head. It rarely gets much media attention, but with about 80,000 people set to attend, it actually has one of the biggest sporting attendances anywhere in Europe. There's huge interest, of course, from the Forces community, both currently serving members and those who have retired. "The Army v Navy Match is an incredibly popular event in the inter-services calendar and the support has grown tremendously in recent years with tickets selling out quicker year on year," says chair of the Army-Navy match committee Gary Bushell. "Last year it was the 100th match and we were delighted to welcome HRH Prince Henry of Wales with the Invictus Games Foundation as charity of the day." Tickets sold out - only place to watch it is Sky Sports The match has taken place at Twickenham Stadium, the home of English Rugby, since 1920. It's the culmination of the Inter-Service Championship, a battle in which the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force compete for the Babcock Trophy. Proceeds from the match go to the Royal Navy Rugby Union, a registered charity. Formed of players who are all in service, each team has managed to win once during the last three years: the RAF in 2015, the Royal Navy in 2016 and the Army winning 29-20 in last year's centenary. The Air Force has consistently improved its performance in recent years, making every match a tight one: there's everything to play for this year, in other words. Unfortunately for most of us, though, tickets for the match sold out within a record eight hours of going on sale last November. And so it's a good thing that you'll still be able to catch it by tuning in from 2.45pm on Sky; kick-off is at 3.00pm. The match will be shown on the Sky Sports Arena channel, which shows international and European rugby union, rugby league, tennis, boxing, NFL, GAA, darts and WWE. It comes as part of the Sky Sports package, which has nine other sporting channels and costs £20 a month from Sky. Alternatively, you can buy a Sky Sports Pass from Sky-owned NOW TV; a day pass costs £7.99, with a week priced at £12.99. But you can also watch Sky Sports if you have TV from TalkTalk, Virgin Media or BT, as they all offer it as an add-on to their services. And while the atmosphere might not be quite the same as watching it at Twickenham, you can at least console yourself that any of these routes will cost you less than the £50 family ticket for the stadium. Grenfell Tower charity football match to be shown live on Sky and Freeview Women's Six Nations returns with England v Scotland live on Sky Sports BT Sport streams part of rugby show live on Facebook and Twitter	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759000
__label__wiki	0.822723	0.822723	Thumbs Up to Tony Snow THUMBS UP to Fox News’ Tony Snow for breaking ranks with many journalistic colleagues in repeatedly challenging the misinformation of Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi. Responding Oct. 15, 2000 to charges by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Palestinian officials place Palestinian youth in the dangerous front lines, Ashrawi states: “Parents love their children and try to protect them. That’s why after the Israeli army, which is the occupation army, on our land, started shooting our kids and shooting at us, that’s why the schools were closed in order to protect the children so that people can stay home.” When Snow was finally able to get in a word edge-wise, a formidable task in and of itself for many who interview Ashrawi, he countered: “On calling the general strike and letting people get out of school, that happened before the violence flared. The violence really flared up after that happened . . .[Ashrawi interrupts here] and so it cannot have been done to protect people.” At this point, Ashrawi interjects: “Listen, I have heard–I have heard–and I have read the Israeli talking points that are being distributed everywhere. . . And I really can’t stand it when they are being thrown back at me by people who are supposed to be responsible and in positions of authority or even journalistic integrity.” Unfazed, Snow replies: “Well, we don’t get Israeli talking points. So I would be happy to accept them if you want to forward them.” On Aug. 19, 2001, Snow again challenged Ashrawi, who equivocated about the PA’s position concerning suicide bombings. Contradicting her platitudes such as “I condemn all acts of violence,” Snow quoted a sermon from Palestinian television which called on Muslims to become suicide bombers. Thumbs Up to Jennifer Griffin CAMERA Op-Ed: Lobbyists With a Cause	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759002
__label__wiki	0.667938	0.667938	The Perfect Skins Portlaoise, County Laois Portlaoise Indie favourites The Perfect Skins have been writing music together since 1998. Their last album 'A Reconstructed View' has been widely acclaimed by both fans and critics alike. Although they may have many hours on their respective clocks having existed in many previous incarnations including the Mere Mortals and the Products there is still a youthful enthusiasm and indomitable spirit and eagerness to succeed. Their last single 'War in the City' was played on Tom Robinson's BBC Radio 6 show and also received some play on BBC Radio London. The band are known to deliver an energetic show that involves their audience.. Blur, David Bowie, Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Pulp, The Clash Bob Dylan, Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Neil Young, The Clash	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759009
__label__wiki	0.597252	0.597252	Mental Health is a major growing issue in the UK with one-in-four people experiencing mental ill-health in any given year. Although when receiving the right support, 70% of people with… By Katie Yates Holistic Wellbeing Services: The Key To Beating Chronic Diseases The UK health sector is fighting a runaway fire in treating the soaring number of people with long-term medical conditions. Dr Martin McShane, NHS England's director for long-term conditions, warns that the challenge of treating patients with chronic mental and physical illnesses is so great that it could be viewed as the "healthcare… By Raymond Sheehy The 1 Factor that Thwarts Your Long-Term Health Care Policy Community health care programs in the UK are becoming increasingly aware of the need for a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. While stories of the short- to medium-term successes of holistic intervention programs abound, the long-term impact of health care projects and policies can only be known years from now. Or,… Bridge Reduces the Socio-economic Impact of Mental Illness Mental health recovery is not an overnight matter. After a diagnosis, a journey begins. This may involve hospitalisation before discharge into the community. However, once in the community what then? Many people who receive a mental health diagnosis find themselves at sea navigating ‘the system’. Mental ill health affects every… The Link Between Depression and Old Age – How you can Help a Friend or Loved One Mental Health Awareness and Support in the Workplace How Partnership Working Impacts UK Holistic Support Programs	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759011
__label__wiki	0.804914	0.804914	Bridge represents Private Healthcare alongside George Osborne Bridging the Gap in Mental Health Service Provision Recovery College Greenwich is Breaking New Ground What’s happening near you to aid Recovery Yoga: Benefits for Mental Well-Being Holistic Recovery for Good Mental Health and Well-being September marks the release of The Parliamentary Review 2014/15, comprising of twelve separate editions, each focusing on a key policy area. Several outstanding organisations and individuals, including Bridge Mental Health, have been selected to highlight best practice, representing the private healthcare arena. The Parliamentary Review aims to showcase exceptional practice as a learning tool to the public and private sector, with the Private Healthcare Edition aimed particularly at leading policymakers and executives from a cross-section of private healthcare. The Review showcases Dentists, Chiropractors and Private Clinics amongst other great examples of private healthcare. This Review also consists of a look back at the year in healthcare and Westminster, with introductions from The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, and the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP. The political commentary is written by Mark D’Arcy, the BBC’s Parliamentary correspondent. The document has been sent out to tens of thousands of leading policymakers including all MPs, Peers at the House of Lords and leaders from across the healthcare arena. The total distribution of the Review across all policy areas is over 250,000. Director of The Parliamentary Review, Daniel Yossman, said: “This year’s Review demonstrates, once again, the enthusiasm of the Public and the Private sector to share best practice for the betterment of industry as a whole. Next year we will be adding new editions to cover additional policy areas and help broaden the discussion yet further. I look forward, as ever, to the challenge.” Editor of The Parliamentary Review, The Rt Hon David Curry, said: “The Review shows just how creative and committed the people are at the ‘coal-face’ of Britain’s economic and social performance.” These thoughts are echoed by George Osborne, who uses his piece in the Review to state that: “Improving productivity – the amount that British workers produce for every hour they work – is the key route to making the UK stronger and families richer, and it’s the greatest economic challenge of our time.” http://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/editions/private-healthcare.html Bridge needs your information to contact you about products and services. You may unsubscribe at anytime. Check out our Privacy Policy Bridge featured in news from leading providers’ Association Travelling with a Mental Illness Talking about Mental Health for World Mental Health Day	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759012
__label__cc	0.536005	0.463995	HP Analytics blazes new trails in examining business trends from myriad data The next BriefingsDirect deep-dive big data thought leadership interview examines how HP analyzes its own vast data warehouses to derive new insights for its global operations, extensive supply chain, sales organization, global marketing groups, and customers. We'll explore how the Analytics Group at HP, based in India, sifts through myriad internal data sources, as well as joins with other public data sets, to deliver entirely new intelligence value that helps make business more responsive and efficient. Listen to the podcast. Find it on iTunes. Read a full transcript or download a copy. To learn how, BriefingsDirect sat down with Pramod Singh, Director of Digital and Big Data Analytics at HP Analytics in Bangalore, India, at the recent HP Big Data 2014 Conference in Boston. The discussion is moderated by me, Dana Gardner, Principal Analyst at Interarbor Solutions. Gardner: Tell us a little bit about the Analytics Group at HP, what you do, and what’s the charter of your organization. Singh: We have a big analytics organization in HP, it’s called Global Analytics and serves the analytics for most of HP. About 80 to 90 percent of the analytics happening inside of HP comes out of this eco-system. We do analytics across the entire food chain at HP, which includes the supply chains, marketing, and sales. What I personally lead is an organization called Digital Analytics, and we are responsible for doing analytics across all digital properties for HP. That includes the eCommerce, social media, search, and campaign analytics. Additionally, we also have a Center of Excellence for Big Data Analytics, where we're using HP’s big-data technologies, which is that framework called HAVEn, to help develop big-data solutions for HP customers, as well as internal HP. Fully experience the HP Vertica analytics platform... Get the free HP Vertica Community Edition Become a member of myVertica Gardner: Obviously, HP is a very large global company. What sort of datasets are we talking about here? What’s the volume that you're working with? Data explosion Singh: As you know, a data explosion is happening. On one end, HP has done a very good job over the last six to seven years of getting most of their enterprise data into something called an enterprise data warehouse. We're talking about close to two petabytes of data, which is structured data. The great part of this journey is that we have taken data from 700-800 different data marts into one enterprise data warehouse over the last three to four years. A lot of data that is not part of the enterprise is also becoming an important part of making the business decisions. A lot of that data I personally deal with in the digital space, is what we call the human-generated data, the social media data, which no enterprise owns. It’s open for anybody to go use that. What I've started to see is that, on one hand, we've done a really good job of getting data in the enterprise and getting value out of it. We've also started to analyze and harvest the data that is out in the open space. It could be blogs, Twitter feeds, or Facebook data. Combining that is what’s bringing real business value. The Global Analytics organization is more than 1,000 people spread through different parts of the world. A big chunk of that is in Bangalore, India, but we have folks in the US and the UK. We have a center in Guadalajara, Mexico and couple of other locations in India. My particular organization is close to 100 people. I have a PhD in pure mathematics, and before that I had an MBA in marketing. It's a little bit of an awkward mix there, and got in into analytics space in mid '90s working for Walmart. I built out Walmart’s Assortment Planning System in late '90s and then came to HP in 2000 leading an advance data-mining center in Austin, Texas. From there I evolved into doing e-business analytics for few years and then moved to customer knowledge management. I spent five years in IT developing analytics platform. About year-and-a-half ago, I got an opportunity to lead the big-data practice for this organization called Global Analytics. In five years, they had gone from five people to more than 1,000 people, and that intrigued me a lot. I was able to take the opportunity and move to India to go lead that team. Gardner: Pramod, when we look back into this data, do you gain more insights knowing what you're looking for, or not knowing what you're looking for? What kind of insights were the unexpected consequences of your putting together this type of data infrastructure and then applying big-data analytics to it? Singh: We deal with that day-in and day-out. I’ll give you a couple of examples there. This is something that happened about three or four years ago with HP. We were looking at a problem that was a classic problem in marketing to the US small and medium-sized business organizations (SMBs). We had a fixed budget for marketing, and across the US, there are more than 20 million SMBs. The classic definition of an SMBs is any business with 100-500 employees. HP had an install base of a small part of that. We realized that particular segment of a SMBs is squeezed between a classic consumer, where you can do mass marketing, such as TV advertising, and an enterprise, where you can actually put bodies, your people who have relationship. SMBs are squeezed in between those two extremes. The question then became what do we do with that? Again, when you do data mining and analytics, you may not know where this will lead you. On one hand, you can't reach out to every single one of them. It’s just way too expensive to do that. On the other hand, if you try to go do the marketing, you don’t get the best out of it. We were starting to work on something like that. I was approached by a vice president in marketing who said revenues are declining and they had a limited marketing budget. They didn’t know what to do. This is where one of those unexpected things came in. I said, "Let’s see in that install base whether there are different segments of customers that are behaving differently." That led us on kind of a journey where we said, well, "How do we start to do that right? Let’s figure out what are the different attributes of data that I can capture." On one hand, if you look at SMBs, you can capture who they are, what industry segment they're in, how many employees they have, where are they based, who the CEO is. It's what we call firmographics. On the other hand, you have classes of data involving their interaction with HP. It could be things like how many PCs or servers they bought, how long ago did they buy it, how much money they spent, the whole transactional aspect of it. Then, there are some things that are derived attributes. You may be able to derive that in the last one year they came to us four times. What interaction did we have on the website,? For example, did they come to us through a web channel? If they did, how many email offers were sent to them? How many of those were clicked? How many of those converted? Those are the classes of data that we could capture. Mathematical modeling We thought that maybe there are different classes of customers. We pulled our data together and started to do mathematical modeling. There are techniques called clustering, analytical techniques called K-Means, and things like that. We started to get some results and to analyze them. In this type of situation, we have to be careful, because there are some things that may look mathematically correct, but may not have a real business value behind it. Once we started to look at those things, we went through multiple iterations. We realized that we were not getting segments or clusters that were very distinct. One day, I was driving home in Austin, and I said, "You know what? Who they are I don’t control, but as far as what they're doing with HP we have a reasonably good understanding." So we started to do clustering based only on those attributes, and that’s where an "aha" moment came. We started to find these clusters, which we call segments, where we eventually found a cluster which was that 7 to 8 percent of the population that brought in 45 percent of revenue. The marketers started to say that this was a gold mine. That’s what we never expected to happen. We put together a structure. Once we figured out these four or five clusters, we tried to figure out why they were clustered together. What’s common? We built out a primary research thing, where we took a random sample out of each one of those clusters, interviewed those guys, and were able to build a very good profile of what these segments were. There are 20 million SMBs in US, and we are able to build a model to predict which of these prospects are similar to the clusters we had. That’s where we were able to find customers that looked like our most profitable customers, which we ended up calling Vanguards. That resulted into a tremendous amount of a dollar increment for HP. It's a good example of what you talked when you find unexpected things. We just wanted to analyze data. It led us to a journey and ended up finding a customer group we weren't even aware of. Then, we could build marketing strategy to actually go target those and get some value out of it. Gardner: At the Big Data Conference, I've spoken to other organizations who are creating an analytics capability and then exposing that to as many of their employees as possible, hoping for this very sort of unexpected positive benefit. Is there a way that you're taking your analytics either through visualization or tools and then allowing a larger population within HP to experiment with it? Singh: We're trying to democratize the analytics as much as we can. One thing we're realizing is that to get the full value, you don't want data to stay in silos. So there are a couple of things you have to do. In terms of building out an ecosystem where you have good set of motivated people and where you can give them a career path, we have created this organization called Global Analytics. You get a critical mass of people who challenge each other, learn from each other, and do lot of analytics. But also it’s very important that on the consumption side of it, you have people who are analysts and understand analytics and get the best value out of it. So they try to create that ecosystem. We have seen both ends of it. Good career path If you just give them to one data miner or analytics person in one team, sometimes the person does not find an ecosystem to challenge himself or herself. We're trying to do it on both sides of the fence, so that we can provide people with a good career path. Hiring these folks is not easy. Once you've hired them, retaining them is not easy. You want to make sure to create an ecosystem where it’s challenging enough for these people to work. It also has to be an ecosystem where you continually challenge them and keep training them. The analytical techniques are evolving. When I started doing it, things were stable for years. Now, the newer class of data is coming in, newer techniques are coming in, and newer classes of business problems are coming in. It’s very important that we keep the ecosystem going. So we try to do it on both sides. Gardner: Very interesting. HP, of course, has its own line of products for big-data analysis. You're such a large global enterprise that you're doing lots of analysis, as any good business should, but you're also being asked to show how this works. Are there some specific use cases that demonstrate for other enterprises what you've learned yourselves. You want to make sure to create an ecosystem where it’s challenging enough for these people to work. It also has to be an ecosystem where you continually challenge them and keep training them. Singh: There are several that we can talk about. One is in a social media space. I briefly talked about that. My career evolved of doing analytics in what I call "data inside the enterprise." But, over the last couple of years, we started to go look at data outside the enterprise. Recently we went and looked at a bank. We were able to harvest data from the Internet, publicly available data like Glassdoor, for example. Glassdoor is a website where employees of a company can put their feedback, talk about the company, and rate things. We were presenting it to the executives of this particular bank and we were able to get all the data and tell them the overall employee morale. We figured out that the life-work balance for the employees wasn't very good. The main component that the employees weren't happy about was their leave policy and their vacation policy. We drilled down and figured out that the bankers seemed to be fairly happy, but the IT guys and analysts weren't very happy. Again, this is one example where we didn't ask for a line of data from the customer. This data is publicly available. You and I, or anybody else, can go get it. I can do that same analysis for HP or any other company. That’s where I believe the classes of analytics we're doing is changing. A lot of times, your competitive differentiator is the ability to do things with that data. Data is a corporate asset and it will be, but this class of what we call the user-generated data is changing analytics as a whole. The ability to go harvest it and, more importantly, get value out of it will be the competitive differentiator. Gardner: Any other use cases that demonstrate the power of a particular type of platform, let’s say Vertica in HAVEn, where you've got the power of a columnar architecture and you've got the ability to bring in unstructured data from Autonomy? Maybe there are a couple of use cases that demonstrate the unique attributes of HAVEn when it comes to inclusivity and the comprehensive nature of information today? Singh: Let me talk about a couple of the things that happened in the HAVEn ecosystem. One of the main work forces in HAVEn is our massively parallel database called Vertica. In addition to being a database where we can ingest data very quickly, ingest large volumes of data, and run query performance, the game-changer for us as an analytics practitioner for me has been ability to do analytics in database. If I look at my career over the last 20-22 years, most of the times what happens in the analytics space is that you have data residing in a database or an enterprise data warehouse. When you want to build a model, you take the data out and use an analytics platform like SAS, R, or SPSS. You do something there and you either bring the data back into the environment or you run the models and publish them out. What Vertica has done that's unique is given us a framework, and through the UDEF framework, we could build a data mining model and run it directly on a database engine and take the output out. An example we took to HP Discover a couple of months ago was trying to predict a failure of a machine before the actual failure happens. HP has these big machines and big printers, which are very expensive. Like lot of high-end devices these days, they send out a lot of data. They send out data about when you're using a machine. The sensors send out a lot of information, maybe the pressure of the valves, the kind of the temperature they're in, the kind of throughput they're giving you, or the number of pages you've printed. Looking at each components of failure, we could predict with a certain probability when the machine will fail and with a certain probability. Also, they give you data on the events when the machine was not performing optimally or actually failed. We were able to go ingest all that data, put the data onto in the Vertica platform, and build predictive models using open source R language. We built a model that can predict the failure of a machine. Looking at each components of failure, we could predict with a certain probability when the machine will fail and with a certain probability, so our service reps can actually be proactive and not wait for the machine to fail. That's one example of doing an in-database data mining using Vertica. Another example used more components around the social-media space. One of the problems in the social-media space, and I think you guys are probably familiar with this, is finding influencers. I gave a talk yesterday around figuring out how you do that. There are classical ways if you go by the uni-dimensional thing around the number of followers or retweets you have. Barack Obama or Lady Gaga would be big influencers, but Barack Obama, for cloud computing for HP, may not be a very big influencer. So you build those classes of algorithms. My team has actually built out three patented algorithms to figure out how to identify influencers in the space. We've actually built out a framework where we can source that data from the social-media space, drop it into a Hadoop kind of an environment. We use Autonomy to enrich and put some sentiments to it and then drop the data into the Vertica environment. In that Vertica environment, you run the compressed algorithms and get an output. Then, you can score and predict who is the influencer for the topic you are looking for. I gave the example of Barack Obama, in general a big influencer, but he is not influencer for all topics. Maybe in politics or the US government he's a big influencer, but not for cloud computing. Influencer is also a function of time. Somebody like Diego Maradona probably was a big influencer in soccer in the ’90s, but in 2014, not that much. You have to make sure that you can incorporate those as part of the logic of your algorithm. We've been able to use the multiple components of HAVEn and build out a complete framework where we can tell numerically who the main influencers are and how influential they are. For example, if you get a score of 93 and I get a score of 22, you are almost four times as influential as I am. Gardner: For other organizations that are interested in learning more about how HP Analytics is operating and maybe learning from your example, are there any resources or websites we can go to, where you are providing more information about HP Analytics? You have to make sure that you can incorporate those as part of the logic of your algorithm. Singh: Definitely. We work through our partners in Enterprise Services. We have our own website as well. There are multiple ways that you can approach us. You can talk to the Vertica sales team and they can connect to us. As I said, we do analytics for all of HP and for select customers. We do not have a direct sales arm to us. We work through our partners in Enterprise Services, as well as with software team. Vichara Technologies grows the market for advanced analytics after cutting its big data teeth on Wall Street Large Russian bank, Otkritie Bank, turns to big data analysis to provide real-time financial insights How Waste Management Builds a Powerful Services Continuum Across Operations, Infrastructure, Development and IT Practices GSN Games hits top prize using big data to uncover deep insights into gamer preferences Hybrid cloud models demand more infrastructure standardization, says global service provider Steria Service providers gain new levels of actionable customer intelligence from big data analytics How UK data solutions developer Systems Mechanics uses HP Vertica for BI, streaming and data analysis Advanced cloud service automation eases application delivery for global service provider NNIT HP network management heightens performance while reducing total costs for Nordic telco TDC How Capgemini's UK financial services unit helps clients manage risk using big data analysis Perfecto Mobile goes to cloud-based testing so developers can build the best apps faster The next BriefingsDirect deep-dive big data benefits case study interview explores how Vichara Technologies in Hoboken, New Jersey is expanding its capabilities in big data from origins on Wall Street into other areas, and thereby demonstrating the growing marketplace for advanced big-data analytics services. The use of HP Vertica as a big data core component to Vichara has allowed them to extend their easier to use financial modeling and tools, and then apply them to other industries such as insurance and healthcare. To learn more about how advanced big data, cloud, and converged infrastructure implementations are expanding the impact and value of rapid and increasingly predictive analytics, BriefingsDirect sat down with Tim Meyer, Managing Director at Vichara Technologies at the recent HP Big Data 2014 Conference in Boston. The discussion is moderated by me, Dana Gardner, Principal Analyst at Interarbor Solutions. Gardner: Tell us how your organization evolved, and how big data has become such a large part of the marketplace for gaining insights into businesses. Meyer: The company has its roots in analytics and risk modeling and for all sorts of instruments that are used on Wall Street for predicting prices and valuation of instruments. As the IT infrastructure grew from Excel to databases and eventually to very fast databases, such as Vertica, we realized that there were many problems that couldn't be solved before, and that required way too long a time to answer. Wall Street people measure time in seconds, not in hours. We've found that there's a great value in answering a lot of business intelligence (BI) questions -- especially around valuations and risk models, as well as portfolio management. These are very large portfolios and datasets that have to be analyzed. We think that this is a great use of big-data analytics. Gardner: How long have you been using Vertica? How did it become a part of your portfolio of services? Become a member of myVertica. Meyer: We've been using Vertica for at least for two years now. It’s one of the early ones, and we recognized it as being one of the very fastest databases. We try to use as many of these components as possible. We really like Vertica for its capabilities. Gardner: Tim, this whole notion of risk assessment is of interest to me. I think it's coming to bear on more industries. People are also interested in extending from knowing what has happened to being able to predict, and then better prescribe new efforts and new insights. Tell me about predictive risk assessment. How do you go about that, and what should other companies understand about that? Meyer: Risk assessment comes about from starting to look at how prices fluctuate and how interest rates move, and thus create changes in derivatives. What has happened most recently is that a lot of the banks and hedge funds have recognized this. Not only is [predictive risk assessment] a business imperative for them to have that half-percent hedge, but there are also compliance reasons for which they need to predict what their business is going to look like. There are now more and more demands on stress testing, as well as demands from international banking regulations, such as Basel III, that require that businesses such as hedge funds and banks not just look behind, but ahead at how their business is going to look in a year. So this becomes really very important for a host of reasons even more than just how your business is doing. Gardner: If I were a business and wanted to start taking advantage of what's now available through big-data analytics -- and at a more compelling price and higher performance than in the past -- what are some of the first steps? Do I need to think about the type of data or the type of risk? How do you go about of recognizing that you can now get the technology to do this at an analytics level, but there is still the needed understanding of how to do it at the process and methodological level? Meyer: We work very closely with our customers and try to separate algorithmic work from the development work. A lot of our customers have more than a few Caltech and MIT PhDs who do the algorithmic definitions. But all of them still need the engine, the machine with its scripting, and fast capability to build those queries right into the system as quickly as possible. We usually work with these kinds of people, and it is a bit of a team-work effort. We find that that’s a way to figure out what is our value, and what is the value of our customer. Together, it has turned out to be very good teamwork. Gardner: And you are a consultancy, as well as a services provider? Do you extend into any hosting or do you have a cloud approach? How do you manage the technology for the consulting and services you offer? Broader questions Meyer: We expand from the core products and tools into broader questions for people who want a proof of concept (POC) into this new technology. We build those on an ongoing basis. People, as well, want to look at options such as different performances of clouds. They do vary. So we take on those kinds of consulting work as well, not to mention that sometimes it expands into back-office compliance and sometimes into billing issues. They all relate to the core business of managing portfolios, but yet they are linked. Very often, we've done those kinds of projects and we see even more of these possibilities as we see compliance as a bigger issue, such as Dodd-Frank as well as Basel III, in the financial world. But they are really no different than many regulations coming on the healthcare side for paperwork management, for example. Gardner: So that raises the question of the verticals that you expect first. Where is predictive risk assessment and the analytics requirements for that likely to appear first? They all relate to the core business of managing portfolios, but yet they are linked Meyer: One thing we have learned from our experience in financial modeling and tools is that there is always a need for people who are totally unskilled in SQL or other query languages to quickly get answers. Although many people have different takes on this, we think we've found some tools that are unique. And we think that these tools will apply to other industries, most particularly to healthcare. These are big problems, but we think the way we think of it is to start small with a POC or really defining a very small problem and solving it and not trying to take a bite of the entire elephant, so to speak. We find that to be a much better approach to going into new segments and we'll be looking at both insurance and healthcare as two examples. Gardner: Back to the technology front. Are there any developments in the technology arena that give you more confidence that you can take on any number of data types, information types, and scale and velocity types? I'm thinking of looking at either cloud or converged infrastructure support of in-memory or columnar architectures. Is there a sense of confidence that no matter what you go to bite off in the market, you have the technology, and the technology partner, to back you up? Meyer: We're finding that there is much more maturity in a lot of database technologies that are now coming out. There is always something new on the horizon, but there are, as you said, columnar architectures and so on. These are already here, and we're constantly experimenting with them. To your point about cloud infrastructure and where that is going, it's the same thing. We see ParAccel, Amazon, and data warehouses such as Redshift showing us the way where a lot of the technology is becoming very prepackaged. The value-add is to talk to the customer and speed up that process of integration. Healthcare among most opportunistic use cases for boundaryless information flow improvement A practical guide to rapid IT Service Management as a foundation for overall business agility Journey to SAP quality — Home Trust builds center of excellence with HP ALM tools ITSM adoption forces a streamlined IT operations culture at Desjardins, paves the way to cloud Cloud services brokerages add needed elements of trust and oversight to complex cloud deals How Waste Management builds a powerful services continuum across IT operations, infrastructure, development, and processes at 11:56 AM 0 comments Links to this post ▼ November 9 - November 16 (2) HP Analytics blazes new trails in examining busine... Vichara Technologies grows the market for advanced...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759013
__label__wiki	0.876099	0.876099	CBC Radio · Posted: Oct 16, 2017 1:23 PM ET \| Last Updated: October 16, 2017 AIR TIMES CBC Radio One Saturdays at 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) and at midnight (12:30 a.m. NT) Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and Midnight (ET), Sundays at 8:00 a.m. ET Chris Hall is the CBC's National Affairs Editor, based in the Parliamentary Bureau in Ottawa. He began his reporting career with the Ottawa Citizen, before moving to CBC Radio in 1992, where he worked as a national radio reporter in Toronto, Halifax and St. John's. He returned to Ottawa and the Hill in 1998. October 22, 1977 turned out to be a great day to start a new federal political affairs program called The House. Radio and television broadcasting were just introduced to the House of Commons, and the CBC created four new shows to bring Parliament to the nation. One of them was The House. "It's almost impossible to remember what political reporting was like before the media were allowed to broadcast the House of Commons," muses Marguerite McDonald, the show's first host. "No one in the radio and TV audiences had ever seen or heard anything that took place inside the Chamber. Our whole view of national politics was shaped by what politicians said in "scrums" and press conferences after they walked out of the House." Originally, the producers of The House planned to simply broadcast taped House of Commons proceedings. "In other words, BORING," jokes McDonald. "It took the genius of our senior editor, Bruce Wark, backed by our manager, Tom Earle, to see the possibilities. Yes, we would broadcast taped excerpts from the House of Commons. But we would add interviews and background information to provide context and, as it turned out, generate a great deal of interest from our audience and from the MPs themselves." Susan Helwig was there at the beginning. She was a producer at The House from 1977 to 1987. She recounts how right from the get-go staff were urged to make sure The House was "not a mouthpiece for politicians. The program ran a distinctive mix of interviews, political proceedings and original reporting, which like its Saturday morning timeslot, it continues to this day. According to McDonald, MPs learned quickly that sound and fury made for exciting tape. "Day after day, Solicitor-General, Francis Fox endured wave after wave of questions, jeers and catcalls. Based on his performance, many of us thought Fox would eventually become Prime Minister. This was, of course, before he signed another man's name on an abortion document and his political prospects crashed." This was hardly the only tale of misconduct to make it on air. "We may believe that the House is raucous now, but things nearly got out of hand during the RCMP scandal of the day, when it was revealed that the RCMP had stolen dynamite and burned down a barn in Quebec to throw blame on the FLQ," recalls McDonald. The House has interviewed Prime Ministers, covered moments of infamy and interpreted election campaigns, Quebec referenda, and events like Meech Lake and the repatriation of the Constitution. Sometimes reporters got it wrong. "I remember interviewing Jean Chretien, then Minister of Finance. As he reminded me of all the posts he had held in cabinet over the years, I thought, 'My goodness! This man thinks he's going to become Prime Minister!' And I went on to think, 'Not in our lifetime!' Which goes to show how much more Chretien knew than I did," says McDonald. Many respected CBC journalists have hosted The House. Marguerite McDonald hosted the show for its inaugural years. Since then, the regular hosts have been: Stephen Boissonneault Denise Rudnicki Judy Morrison Jason Moscovitz Anthony Germain Kathleen Petty The first episode - October 22, 1977 The first episode of The House dealt with the impact of television on the House of Commons and spoke to MPs on the issue. "Before the arrival of electronic media, MP's used to pound their desks in response to debates in the Commons. That sound appears in the first recordings if you search them out. The thumping from the desks proved to be too noisy and did not go over well on either radio or television. So MP's gradually shifted to applauding instead of banging their desks. They also learned to dress for television. Gone were the plaid jackets and the loud ties that some MP's would have normally worn as good attire. Instead, they turned into indistinguishable penguins all wearing dark suits with blue or white shirts. The arrival of electronic media made the House of Commons a less colourful place. It also led to other changes in behaviour as MP's learned to perform for the cameras, using hand gestures and trying other stunts to make an impact." - Susan Helwig, producer 1977-1987	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759015
__label__wiki	0.978325	0.978325	120 memorable photos of 2012 In this Nov. 11, 2012, photo, a young man and a woman enjoy swimming in flooded St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. High tides flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St. Mark's Square and other areas under water. Credit: AP Photo/Luigi Costantini In this July 27, 2012, photo, the Olympic rings light up the stadium during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash In this March 4, 2012, photo, Spanish bullfighter Juan Jose Padilla performs during a bullfight in the southwestern Spanish town of Olivenza. Padilla, who lost sight in one eye and has partial facial paralysis after a terrifying goring returned to the bullring, five months after his injury. Credit: AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza In this May 24, 2012, photo, lawmakers scuffle from pro-presidential and oppositional factions in the parliament session hall in Kiev, Ukraine. The hall erupted over a bill that would allow the use of the Russian language in courts, hospitals and other institutions in the Russian-speaking regions of the country. Credit: AP Photo/Maks Levin In this July 20, 2012, photo, Tom Sullivan, center, embraces family members outside Gateway High School where he had been searching frantically for his son Alex Sullivan who celebrated his 27th birthday by going to see "The Dark Knight Rises," movie where a gunman opened fire in Aurora, Colo. Credit: AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez In this Oct. 29, 2012, photo, sea water floods the Ground Zero construction site in New York. Superstorm Sandy forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo This July 13, 2011, photo, made available on the International Security Assistance Force's Flickr website shows the former Commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Gen. Davis Petraeus, left, shaking hands with Paula Broadwell, co-author of "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus." Petraeus resigned as CIA director over his extramarital affair with his biographer, Broadwell. Credit: AP Photo, file In this July 24, 2012, photo, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up a pair of pistols that he says belonged to Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar during a ceremony marking 229th anniversary of Bolivar's birth at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Bolivar is the namesake of Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution movement, and his government is putting the finishing touches on a new mausoleum to house Bolivar's remains. Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano In this Oct. 31, 2012, photo, President Barack Obama is greeted by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie upon his arrival at Atlantic City International Airport in Atlantic City, NJ. Obama traveled to the region to take an aerial tour of the Atlantic Coast in New Jersey in areas damaged by superstorm Sandy. Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais In this Feb. 29, 2012, photo, Santosh, who sells donkey milk, holds a baby upside down after feeding him some of the liquid, locally believed to be a cure for a persistent cough in a slum in Mumbai, India. Millions of children are growing up in squalid urban areas and denied basic services despite living close to them. UNICEF said children living in slums and shantytowns often lack water, electricity and healthcare and urged policy makers to ensure urban planning meets the needs of children. Credit: AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool In this July 17, 2012, photo, Dancers in Taiwan's Paper Windmill Cultural Foundation perform during a dress rehearsal of Paper Windmill Fantasia in Taipei, Taiwan. With integration of familiar nursery rhymes, passionate dance, literary meaning and sophisticated art forms, this drama claims an unprecedented performance demonstrating the unique innovations of the modern theater in Taiwan. Credit: AP Photo/Wally Santana In this May 6, 2012, photo, Russian riot police disperse opposition protesters in downtown Moscow. Riot police in began arresting protesters who were trying to reach the Kremlin in a demonstration on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration as president. Credit: AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev In this April 26, 2012. photo provided by the CU Independent, shows a bear that wandered into the University of Colorado Boulder, Colo., dorm complex Williams Village falling from a tree after being tranquilized by Colorado wildlife officials. Colorado University police spokesman Ryan Huff said the bear was likely 1-3 years old and weighed somewhere between 150-200 pounds. Credit: AP Photo/CU Independent, Andy Duann, file In this May 23, 2012, photo, an Egyptian woman searches for her name on a registration list outside a polling station in Helwan, a southern suburb of Cario, Egypt. Egypt commenced two days of presidential voting after 16 months of interim rule by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. This election was the first free and fair presidential race since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak. Credit: AP Photo/Pete Muller In this Feb. 5, 2012, photo, people walk along an icy promenade past ice covered cars and trees on the shores of Lake Geneva in Versoix, Switzerland. Across Eastern Europe, thousands of people dug out from heavy snow that had fallen during a cold snap and killed hundreds of people. Credit: AP Photo/Martial Trezzini In this Nov. 17, 2012, photo, smoke rises during an explosion from an Israeli forces strike in Gaza City. Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with nearly 200 airstrikes widening a blistering assault on Gaza rocket operations by militants to include the prime minister's headquarters, a police compound and a vast network of smuggling tunnels. Credit: AP Photo/Hatem Moussa In this Nov. 7, 2012, photo, Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walks away from the podium after conceding the race during his election night rally in Boston. Credit: AP Photo/Stephan Savoia In this March 29, 2012, photo, Mireia Arnau, 39, reacts behind the broken glass of her shop stormed by demonstrators during clashes at the general strike in Barcelona. Spanish workers livid over labor reforms they see as flagrantly pro-business staged a nationwide strike and tried to bring the country to a halt by blocking traffic, closing factories and clashing with police in rowdy demonstrations. In this July 2, 2012, photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and wife Ann Romney jet ski on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, N.H. Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak In this Oct. 16, 2012, photo, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, left, and President Barack Obama spar during the second presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Credit: Charlie Neibergall In this March 12, 2012, photo, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, right, puts his hands on the neck of Spain's Economy Minister Luis de Guindos, center, as Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees De Jager, left, looks on during a meeting of eurozone finance ministers at the EU Council building in Brussels. As ministers chatted with each other at the meeting, the eurogroup's chief, Jean-Claude Juncker, came up behind Spanish finance minister, Luis De Guindos, and jokingly grabbed him by the neck with both hands, but the gesture soon appeared to change into a laughing friendly greeting and then deep discussion. The 17 euro countries were trying to focus on issues beyond the Greek crisis and deal with longer-term issues in their currency union, like discussing Spain's high deficits and potentially dangerous imbalances in some countries. Credit: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo In this Nov. 7, 2012, photo, a riot police officer is engulfed by petrol bomb flames thrown by protesters in front of the parliament during clashes in Athens. Credit: AP Photo/Dimitri Messinis In this Sept. 2, 2012, photo, Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, left, crashes with McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, airborne right, during the first lap of the Belgium Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Belgium. Credit: AP Photo/Luca Bruno In this June 21, 2012, photo, Indian employees are evacuated as smoke billows after the Maharashtra state government building caught fire in Mumbai, India. Hundreds of employees were evacuated from the seven-story government building as more than two dozen fire engines battled the major fire that raged for more than three hours in India's financial and entertainment capital. In this Sept. 5, 2012, photo, former President Bill Clinton bows as President Barack Obama walks on stage after Clinton's address to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite In this May 6, 2012, photo, a wounded opposition protester winces in pain during a rally in Moscow. Riot police in Moscow began arresting protesters who were trying to reach the Kremlin in a demonstration on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration as president. Credit: AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel In this March 16, 2012, photo, Indian students hold a large poster of Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar after Tendulkar batted for his landmark 100th century, at a school in Chennai, southern India. Tendulkar, who had been stuck on 99 centuries for a year, became the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries when he hit to square leg and ran a single against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. Credit: AP Photo/Anonymous In this May 20, 2012, photo, hikers watch an annular eclipse from Papago Park in Phoenix. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across China, Japan and elsewhere in the region before moving across the Pacific to be seen in parts of the western United States. Credit: AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow, File George Zimmerman, right, enters the courtroom, April 20, 2012, during a bond hearing in Sanford, Fla. Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester says Zimmerman can be released on $150,000 bail as he awaits trial for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Martin. He claims self-defense. Credit: AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Gary W. Green, Pool In this Oct. 30, 2012, photo, damage caused by a fire in the Breezy Point section of the Queens borough of New York is shown. The fire department sent more than 190 firefighters to the blaze caused by superstorm Sandy. Credit: Frank Franklin II In this Sept. 9, 2012, photo, President Barack Obama, right, is picked-up off the ground by Scott Van Duzer, left, owner of Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant during an unannounced stop, in Ft. Pierce, Fla. Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais In this Oct. 3, 2012, photo, a Syrian man cries while holding the body of his son killed by the Syrian Army near Dar El Shifa hospital in Aleppo, Syria. Credit: AP Photo/Manu Brabo In this Nov. 18, 2012, photo, a Palestinian man kisses the hand of a dead relative in the morgue of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Credit: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue In this Nov. 20, 2012, photo, Israeli soldiers and a civilian take cover as a siren alerting of an incoming rocket from Gaza Strip sounds in Ofakim, southern Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov In this Oct. 9, 2012, photo, former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, center, is taken from the Centre County Courthouse by Centre County Sheriff Denny Nau, left, and a deputy, after being sentenced in Bellefonte, Pa. Sandusky was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison, effectively a life sentence, in the child sexual abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno's downfall. Credit: AP Photo/Matt Rourke The San Francisco Giants celebrate winning Game Four of the World Series at Comerica Park on Oct. 28, 2012, in Detroit, Mich. Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images In this Aug. 30, 2012, photo, residents evacuate their flooded neighborhood in LaPlace, La. Hurricane Isaac staggered toward central Louisiana, its weakening winds driving storm surge into portions of the coast and the River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay In this Jan. 7, 2012, photo, a wild full grown leopard scalps the head of a man as it attacks after wandering into a residential neighborhood in Gauhati, in the northern state of Assam, India. Later the leopard was tranquilized by wildlife official and taken to the state zoological park. The leopard ventured into a crowded area and injured four people before it was captured and caged. Credit: AP Photo/Manas Paran In this Aug. 5, 2012, file photo, and publicly provided by the police department in Hanover, Germany, a squirrel is trapped in a manhole cover in Isenhagen, northern Germany. After they were called by neighbors, police managed to free the animal by using olive oil. In this Aug. 9, 2012, photo, Line judge Shannon Eastin takes the field during an NFL preseason football game between the San Diego Chargers and the Green Bay Packers in San Diego. Eastin was a replacement official making her NFL debut in the exhibition game. The regular officials had been locked out by the league after their contract expired. Credit: AP Photo/Denis Poroy In this March 28, 2012, photo made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI, right, meets with Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba. In this Jan. 12, 2012, photo, Mohammad Saber Yaqoti Hussaini Khedri, second right, the calligrapher of the world's biggest copy of the holy Quran turns a page at a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. Khedri claims to have completed the writing of the world's biggest copy of Islam's holy Quran in 5 years along with his nine students and the financial support of a well- known figure Afghan Sayed Mansoor Nadri. Credit: AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq In this May 23, 2012, photo, chief midwife Maria Antoneta Cabral Barbosa holds a newborn baby boy she had just delivered by flashlight, at the regional hospital in Gabu, Guinea-Bissau. In Guinea-Bissau, one of the deadliest places in the world to give birth, a woman has a 1 in 19 chance of maternal death, compared to about 1 in 2,100 in the United States. Experts say women are increasingly heading to medical centers when things go awry, but logistical, financial, and cultural barriers are still keeping many pregnant women from seeking help in time. Credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell In this April 24, 2012, photo, North Korea's new commander in chief, Kim Jong Un is displayed on a giant screen during a concert on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army in Pyongyang, North Korea. Credit: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan In this Aug. 5, 2012, photo, Jamaica's Usain Bolt crosses the finish line to win gold in the men's 100-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Credit: AP Photo/David J. Phillip In this June 30, 2012, photo, Andy Murray of Britain struggles to try and return a shot to Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus during a third round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England. Credit: AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus This Nov. 10, 2012, photo shows a view of the fireworks display organized by Kuwait's government to commemorate Constitution Day in Kuwait City. The 60 minute $14 million spectacle was competing for a place in the Guiness Book of Records. Credit: AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari In this July 14, 2012, photo, people try to extinguish the fire after a man set himself alight in Tel Aviv, Israel during rally marking the anniversary of a wave of demonstrations that swept the country to protest the high cost of living and other social issues. He was later rushed to a hospital where he was being treated for serious burns, police said. Credit: AP Photo/Ben Kelmer In this Nov. 29, 2012, photo, a roller coaster that once stood on the Funtown Pier at Seaside Heights is seen dunked in the ocean after the pier was hit by superstorm Sandy in Seaside Heights, N.J. Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez In this Jan. 16, 2012, photo, a man rides a horse through a bonfire in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain in honor of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals. On the eve of Saint Anthony's Day, hundreds ride their horses trough the narrow cobblestone streets of the small village of San Bartolome during the "Luminarias," a tradition that dates back 500 years and is meant to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires and protect them for the year to come. In this June 26, 2012, photo, fire from the Waldo Canyon wildfire burns as it moved into subdivisions and destroyed homes in Colorado Springs, Colo. Credit: AP Photo/Galon Wampler In this Sept. 26, 2012, photo, a worker is seen partially submerged under water as he tries to repair a broken pipe in Caracas, Venezuela. Credit: AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd In this Nov. 11, 2012, aerial photo, the two homes that were leveled and the numerous neighboring homes that were damaged from a massive explosion that sparked a huge fire and killed two people are shown in Indianapolis. Nearly three dozen homes were damaged or destroyed, and seven people were taken to a hospital with injuries. The powerful nighttime blast shattered windows, crumpled walls and could be felt at least three miles away. Authorities have said they believe the explosion was intentional and caused by natural gas but have released no other details. Credit: AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Matt Kryger, File In this Aug. 29, 2012, photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney watches the Republican National Convention with his grandchildren from his hotel room in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci In this April 3, 2012, photo, more than 200 pit bulls and other breeds are chained in their respective steel drum cages at a coffee farm lot in San Pablo city, Laguna province, south of Manila, Philippines, following their rescue from South Korean nationals. Dozens of pit bulls rescued from a dogfighting ring were being put down by activists who said there were no facilities to rehabilitate them and prevent them from again being used in underground arenas. Credit: AP Photo/Bullit Marquez In this Sept. 5, 2012, photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin waits in a motorized hang glider next to a Siberian white crane, on the Yamal Peninsula, in Russia. Putin took part in a flight as part of a program devised by environmentalists to lead the endangered cranes, which were raised in captivity, on their migration to Asia. Credit: AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Presidential Press Service, File In this Feb. 16, 2012, photo, new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from left, applauds as he leaves the stands at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang after reviewing a parade of thousands of soldiers and commemorating the 70th birthday of the late Kim Jong Il. Credit: David Guttenfelder In this Sept. 28, 2012, photo, Nepalese gather around the burning wreckage at the crash site of a Sita Air airplane near Katmandu, Nepal. The plane carrying trekkers to the Everest region crashed and burned just after takeoff in Nepal Credit: AP Photo/STR In this March 26, 2012, photo, Tibetan exile Jamphel Yeshi screams as he runs engulfed in flames after setting himself on fire at a protest in New Delhi, India, against Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India. Yeshi died two days later while hundreds of other activists were being held without charge before the president's arrival. Hu arrived in New Delhi for a summit with India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup In this May 30, 2012, photo, a Syrian woman, cries as she carries her injured son who was shot in his hand by the Syrian border guard when they were crossing a river from Syria to Lebanon, at the northern Lebanese-Syrian border town of Wadi Khaled, in Akkar, north Lebanon. Credit: AP Photo/Hussein Malla In this Oct. 30, 2012, photo, a parking lot full of yellow cabs is flooded as a result of superstorm Sandy in Hoboken, NJ. Credit: AP Photo/Charles Sykes In this Feb. 26, 2012, photo, best actress Meryl Streep, left, for "The Iron Lady" and best actor Jean Dujardin for "The Artist" pose with their awards during the 84th Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Credit: AP Photo/Joel Ryan In this Nov. 26, 2012, photo, police officers are sprayed with milk by European milk farmers during a demonstration outside the European Parliament in Brussels. Farmers drove their tractors into the European Quarter of Brussels for a two-day demonstration to protest against what they believe are unfair milk prices. Credit: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert In this Aug. 19, 2012, photo, surrounded by British police, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, center, makes a statement to the media and supporters from a window of the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London. Assange entered the embassy in June in an attempt to gain political asylum and prevent him from being extradited to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sex crimes, which he denies. Assange called on United States President Barack Obama to 'end a "witch hunt" against the secret-spilling WikiLeaks organization. Credit: AP Photo/Sang Tan In this Sept. 9, 2012, photo, Vice President Joe Biden talks to customers at Cruisers Diner during a campaign stop in Seaman, Ohio. The unidentified woman pulled her chair up close to the bench that Biden was seated on in order to speak to him. Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster In this July 31, 2012, photo, an Indian barber holding a candle, gives a haircut for a customer at his shop in Kolkata, India. India's energy crisis cascaded over half the country when three of its regional grids collapsed, leaving 620 million people without government-supplied electricity for several hours in, by far, the world's biggest blackout. Credit: AP Photo/Bikas Das In this March 8, 2012, photo, Ahmed, center, mourns his father Abdulaziz Abu Ahmed Khrer, who was killed by a Syrian Army sniper, during his funeral in Idlib, north Syria. In this Sept. 26, 2012, photo, South Korean special army soldiers demonstrate their martial arts skills during the 64th anniversary of Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryong military headquarters in Gyeryong, south of Seoul, South Korea. Credit: AP Photo/Lee Jin-man In this Nov. 27, 2012, photo, people prepare to bury the bodies of some of the 112 victims of a garment factory fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Credit: AP Photo/Khurshed Rinku In this Sept. 5, 2012, photo, people run for cover as smoke rises from the site of a fire at a fireworks factory on the outskirts of Sivakasi, about 310 miles southwest of Chennai, India. Police in southern India arrested six employees of the fireworks factory for a massive blaze that killed 40 workers and injured 60 others. In this Jan. 22, 2012, photo, a woman pays her respects at a statue of Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium on the Penn State University campus after learning of his death in State College, Pa. Credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar In this Jan. 4, 2012, photo, tea party supporter William Temple, of Brunswick, Ga., sits in the Des Moines Airport heading to go home after the Iowa caucus in Des Moines, Iowa. In this April 6, 2012, photo, the burning fuselage of an F/A-18 Hornet lies smoldering after crashing into a residential building in Virginia Beach, Va. Credit: AP Photo/Zach Zapatero In this Aug. 30, 2012, photo, actor and director Clint Eastwood speaks to an empty chair while addressing delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP Photo/Lynne Sladky In this Aug. 31, 2012, aerial photo, homes flooded by Hurricane Isaac in Braithwaite, La., are seen. In this Aug 5, 2012, photo, South Africa's Oscar Pistorius starts in the men's 400-meter semifinal during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In this Oct. 29, 2012, photo, the floor of the New York Stock Exchange is empty of traders in New York. All major U.S. stock and options exchanges remained closed with Hurricane Sandy nearing landfall on the East Coast. Trading has rarely stopped for weather. A blizzard led to a late start and an early close on Jan. 8, 1996, according to the exchange's parent company, NYSE Euronext. The NYSE shut down on Sept. 27, 1985 for Hurricane Gloria. Credit: Richard Drew In this Nov. 26, 2012, photo, a man takes photographs inside a burned out garment factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The blaze at the factory killed 112 workers. In this Nov. 04, 2012, photo, a rebel fighter prepares to throw a homemade grenade toward Syrian troops loyal to President Bashar Assad who are hiding in a nearby building as they attempt to gain ground against rebel lines during heavy clashes in the Jedida district of Aleppo, Syria. Credit: AP Photo/Narciso Contreras In this Nov. 1, 2012, photo, much of lower Manhattan remains dark, as viewed from the darkened Manhattan side of the pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. In the wake of superstorm Sandy, power outages plagued much of the New York area. Credit: AP Photo/Craig Ruttle In this June 5, 2012, photo, revelers on the Mall in London watch Britain Queen Elizabeth II appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony as part of a four-day Diamond Jubilee celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II accession to the throne. In this July 23, 2012, photo, James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo. Holmes was being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and facing additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations stemming from a mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12 and injured dozens of others. Credit: AP Photo/RJ Sangosti In this Feb. 26, 2012, photo, Actress Angelina Jolie poses on the red carpet for photographers as she arrives the 84th Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Credit: Amy Sancetta In this June 18, 2012, photo, Indigenous squeeze into a subway train as they ride to the People's Summit for Social and Environmental Justice in defense of the commons, a parallel event taking place alongside the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Earth summit ran through June 22, with three final days of high-profile talks among some 130 top leaders from nations around the globe. Credit: AP Photo/Felipe Dana In this May 29, 2012 file photo, elderly people lay on their beds after they were evacuated from the nearby hospital, in Mirandola, northern Italy. A powerful earthquake killed at least 15 people and left 200 injured as it rocked a swath of northern Italy hit just nine days ago. Factories, warehouses and churches collapsed, dealing a second blow to a region where thousands remained homeless from the previous, stronger temblor. The 5.8 magnitude quake left 14,000 people homeless in the Emilia Romagna region north of Bologna, one of Italy Credit: AP Photo/Marco Vasini In this Nov. 22, 2012, photo, people stand near a house sitting in the middle of a new main road on the outskirts of Wenling city in east China's Zhejiang province. Authorities have demolished the five-story home that stood incongruously in the middle of a new main road and had become the latest symbol of resistance by Chinese homeowners against officials accused of offering unfair compensation. In this Oct. 29, 2012, photo, a rebel sniper aims at a Syrian army position, seen with another rebel fighter reflected in a mirror, in a residential building in the Jedida district of Aleppo, Syria. In this Nov. 29, 2012, photo, members of the Palestinian delegation react as they surround Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, center, applauding, during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly after a vote on a resolution on the issue of upgrading the Palestinian Authority's status to non-member observer state passed in the United Nations in New York. Credit: AP Photo/Kathy Willens In this Oct. 19, 2012, photo, a Lebanese rescue man, carries an injured boy at the scene of an explosion in the mostly Christian neighborhood of Achrafiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon. A car bomb ripped through eastern Beirut, shearing the balconies of off residential buildings and sending bloodied victims pouring out into the streets in the most serious blast this city has seen in years. In this March 28, 2012, photo, Afghan security forces escort Taliban militants clad in Afghan women dresses to be presented to the media at the Afghan intelligence department in Mehterlam, Laghman province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghan Intelligence forces arrested seven Taliban militants in Qarghayi district of Laghman province. Credit: AP Photo/Rahmat Gul In this Nov. 19, 2012, photo, U.S. President Barack Obama, right, waves as he embraces Myanmar democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi after addressing members of the media at Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon, Myanmar. Obama became the first U.S. president to visit the Asian nation also known as Burma. In this Aug. 16, 2012, photo, police surround the bodies of striking miners after opening fire on a crowd at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa. South African police opened fire on a crowd of striking workers at a platinum mine, leaving an unknown number of people injured and possibly dead. Motionless bodies lay on the ground in pools of blood. In this Jan. 29, 2012, photo, underprivileged Indian children dressed in costume to look like the late Mahatma Gandhi arrive on a bus before attempting a world record in Kolkata, India. Local non-government organizations put on the event and a total of 485 children took part in the rally ahead of the anniversary of Gandhi's death which falls on January 30th. In this Aug. 31, 2012, photo, Spain's Xabi Torres jumps next to his prosthesis as he leaves the swimming pool after training ahead of the competition at the 2012 Paralympics Olympics in London. Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti In this July 17, 2012, photo, Nasa Indians drag a soldier during an attack on half a dozen soldiers guarding a communications tower on the outskirts of Toribio, southern Colombia. Six soldiers were attacked and dragged along the ground by dozens of indigenous people demanding the departure of security forces and guerrillas fighters because of their constant fighting. The soldiers dropped their guns, never firing. No injuries were reported. Credit: AP Photo/William Fernando Martinez In this May 1, 2012, photo, a police lieutenant swings his baton at Occupy Wall Street activists in New York. Hundreds of activists with a variety of causes spread out over New York City on International Workers Day, or May Day, with Occupy Wall Street members leading a charge against financial institutions. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer In this March 20, 2012, photo, suspended by wires, Chinese artist Li Wei performs in the sky at La Villette in Paris. Wei's work often depicts him in apparently gravity-defying situations. Credit: AP Photo/Francois Mori In this Nov. 11, 2012, photo, U.S. Army Sgt. Zach Ames, center, who had been on a one-year deployment to Afghanistan, surprises his wife, Bri Ames, left, and their daughter Emersyn, right, with a reunion prior to an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks on Veterans Day in Seattle. Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson In this March 10, 2012, photo, Aida cries as she recovers from severe injuries after the Syrian Army shelled her house in Idlib, north Syria. Aida's husband and two of her children were killed after their home was shelled. In this Feb. 15, 2012, photo, inmates relatives clash with police outside a prison after a deadly fire in Comayagua, Honduras. Over 300 inmates perished in the fire that swept through the prison north of Tegucigalpa. More than half the inmates were still awaiting trial. Many of those who died had been locked up for petty crimes: stealing a wallet, robbing a truck. Some had never been charged. Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Antonio In this Aug. 24, 2012, photo, mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, makes a salute after arriving in the court room at a courthouse in Oslo. Breivik, who admitted killing 77 people in Norway last year, was declared sane and sentenced to prison for bomb and gun attacks. Credit: AP Photo/Frank Augstein In this Nov. 7, 2012, photo, President Barack Obama and wife Michelle holds hands with Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill following Obama's victory speech to supporters in Chicago. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay In this March 14, 2012, photo, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reaches over a railing to shake supporters' hands at his home in Chicago. The 55-year-old Democrat was due to report to a prison in Colorado to begin serving a 14-year sentence, making him the second Illinois governor in a row to go to prison for corruption. Credit: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast In this Aug. 2, 2012, photo, U.S. gymnast Gabrielle Douglas performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's individual all-around competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Douglas won the gold medal. Credit: AP Photo/Gregory Bull In this Oct. 12, 2012, photo, spectators gather to watch the space shuttle Endeavour make its way down Manchester Blvd. in Los Angeles. Endeavour's 12-mile road trip kicked off as it moved from its Los Angeles International Airport hangar en route to the California Science Center, its ultimate destination. Credit: AP Photo/Chris Carlson In this July 22, 2012, photo, Bradley Wiggins, winner of the 2012 Tour de France cycling race, celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the last stage of the the Tour de France cycling race over 120 kilometers (74.6 miles) with start in Rambouillet and finish in Paris, France. Credit: AP Photo/Laurent Rebours In this June 11, 2012, photo, Chris Combs, of Troy, left, and Stephanie Locke, of Clawson, cross the street in downtown Birmingham, Mich. while participating in a protest by gun enthusiasts. The protest wass in support of eighteen-year-old Sean Michael Combs, of Troy, who was arrested in Birmingham while carrying a rifle. Combs was charged with brandishing a weapon, disturbing the peace, and obstructing a police officer. Credit: AP Photo/The Detroit News, David Guralnick, File In this June 2, 2012, photo, Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak lays on a gurney inside a barred cage in the police academy courthouse in Cairo, Egypt. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the killing of protesters during last year's revolution that forced him from power, a verdict that caps a stunning fall from grace for a man who ruled the country as his personal fiefdom for nearly three decades. In this Nov. 14, 2012, photo, Jihad Masharawi weeps while he holds the body of his 11-month old son Ahmad, at Shifa hospital following an Israeli air strike on their family house, in Gaza City. The Israeli military said its assassination of the Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari, marks the beginning of an operation against Gaza militants. Credit: AP Photo/Majed Hamdan In this Sept. 1, 2012, photo, a villager offers flowers to a female adult elephant lying dead on a paddy field in Panbari village, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Gauhati, India. The elephant was hit by a train and killed while crossing railway tracks with a herd of wild Asiatic elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Anupam Nath In this Aug. 17, 2012, photo, feminist punk group Pussy Riot members, from left, Yekaterina Samutsevich, Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia. The women, two of whom have young children, are charged with hooliganism connected to religious hatred. The case was widely seen as a warning that authorities will tolerate opposition only under tightly controlled conditions. T-shirt on right worn by Tolokonnikova is Spanish and translates to "They shall not pass", a slogan often used to express determination to defend a position against an enemy. In this March 4, 2012, photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who claimed victory in Russia's presidential election, has tears in his eyes as he emotionally reacts at a massive rally of his supporters at Manezh square outside Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia. Credit: AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev In this June 27, 2012, photo, Tarra Piet, right, is embraced by her cousin Kursty Setty as they stand in Piet's fathers flooded pet store Live Oak Fla. Dozens of homes and businesses were flooded by torrential rains from Tropical Storm Debby. Credit: AP Photo/Dave Martin In this Oct. 14, 2012, photo provided by Red Bull Stratos, pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria jumps out of the capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos. In a giant leap from more than 24 miles up, Baumgartner shattered the sound barrier while making the highest jump ever with a tumbling, death-defying plunge from a balloon to a safe landing in the New Mexico desert. In this Aug. 8, 2012, photo, a man carries puppies back inside their house as other dogs stay on the roof at a flooded area in Marikina City, east of Manila, Philippines. Widespread flooding that killed at least 11 people, battered a million others and paralyzed the Philippine capital began to ease as cleanup and rescue efforts focused on a large number of distressed residents, some still marooned on their roofs. Credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila In this May 18, 2012, photo provided by Facebook, Facebook founder, Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, center, rings the Nasdaq opening bell from Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Robert Greifeld, second from right, CEO of the Nasdaq-OMX Stock Market, Inc. The social media company had its IPO. Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images In this June 5, 2012, photo, Britain's Prince Charles, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in central London. In this Jan. 14, 2012, photo released by the Guardia di Finanza (border Police), the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on its side after running aground off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy. The luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early. This Oct. 30, 2012, aerial photo shows burned-out homes in the Breezy Point section of the Queens borough New York. The tiny beachfront neighborhood told to evacuate before Sandy hit New York burned down as it was inundated by floodwaters, transforming a quaint corner of the Rockaways into a smoke-filled debris field. Credit: AP Photo/Mike Groll In this March 18, 2012, photo, Archbishops stand next to the body of Pope Shenouda III is seated on the throne of Mar Morqos, or St. Mark, as mourners gather for the viewing of the patriarch at the Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt. Pope Shenouda III, the patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church who led Egypt's Christian minority for 40 years during a time of increasing tensions with Muslims, died. He was 88. Credit: AP Photo/Amr Nabil	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759016
__label__wiki	0.924091	0.924091	Anthony Davis Waives His $4 Million Trade Kicker – What Does That Mean For The Lakers? By Joey Held on July 2, 2019 in Articles › Sports News Shortly before the NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The disgruntled star had wanted out of New Orleans and the Lakers were his preferred destination, so it seemed like a win on both sides. Davis and LeBron James would join forces and recruit a third max player to come play in L.A. However, a couple of complications rose from the trade: the timing of the deal and Davis's trade kicker. If the trade was finalized before July 30, the Lakers would have additional salary on their books from their 2019 draft pick, which was part of the trade. After July 30, the team receiving the draft pick owes that money. The Lakers figured that out too late. To rectify the situation, they traded three players and a second-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards, getting cash in return. Andy Lyons/Getty Images That was one obstacle out of the way, but the Lakers still needed Davis to waive his trade kicker of $4.1 million. It was initially reported Davis didn't plan to do that, but his stance has changed and he's now agreed to waive his bonus. So what prompted the change? Sure, maybe Davis just wanted to let the Lakers be able to sign another max player. The NBA fanbase is full of more fun ideas, with two main theories rising to the top. For one, LeBron is gifting Davis the number 23 for his jersey. LeBron will likely go back to No. 6, which he wore for four seasons with the Miami Heat. Some fans are speculating that Davis waiving his trade kicker is the "price" of earning the No. 23 jersey. The other main theory is Davis's involvement in Space Jam 2. LeBron is starring in the much-anticipated sequel – could a main co-starring role have convinced Davis to give up his trade bonus? Space Jam made more than $230 million worldwide. With all the hype around Space Jam 2, it's not unreasonable to think it could earn even more than that. And that's not even considering all the merchandising opportunities outside of theaters. Davis could easily make back what he's given up thanks to the film. We may never learn Davis's true motive. But his willingness to give up his trade kicker could be setting the Lakers up for a massively successful summer. Joey Held If there's a story anywhere in the world of music, sports, or entertainment, Joey wants to tell it. He's been freelancing since 2010, and prior to that, he attended the University of Miami, where he double majored in broadcast journalism and sport administration. A Chicago native, Joey currently resides in Austin, TX. Follow him on Twitter and always feel free to suggest a song for his next karaoke performance. Joey's favorite billionaire is Mark Cuban. Anthony Davis Articles Anthony Davis Net Worth By Brian Warner on Jul 4, 2012 Anthony Davis net worth and salary: Anthony Davis is an American professional basketball player who has a net worth of A Fan Placed A Huge Bet On The Lakers Just Before They Traded For Anthony Davis By Joey Held on Jun 23, 2019 The New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers made a massive trade that will send superstar Anthony Davis to L.A. – and one (perhaps lucky) bettor placed a bet just before it happened. Anthony Davis Will Miss Out On A $240 Million Contract – And He's Okay With That By Joey Held on Feb 8, 2019 Anthony Davis has requested a trade – which means he's giving up a potential $240 million contract. But winning a championship is more important to him. Anthony Davis Is Set To Sign The Largest Contract In NBA History By Joey Held on May 31, 2018 Anthony Davis's monster season came to an end in the second round of the playoffs. But if things break right, he could sign a deal that's worth more than any other the NBA has ever seen. Ellen DeGeneres's Latest House Flip Is On The Market For $24 Million	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759021
__label__wiki	0.639964	0.639964	About Administration Deerfield Elected Officials Economic Development Finance Fire & EMS Parks & Recreation/Cemetery Planning & Zoning Public Works Stormwater Warren County Sheriff About Administration Welcome Employment/Appointments Organizational Chart Public Records Quarterly Reports Staff Deerfield Elected Officials Economic Development Economic Development Community Profile Competitive Advantage Available Sites Economic Incentives Major Projects Staff Finance Budget CAFR How Tax Dollars are Spent Staff About Fire Department Fire Department Operations Fire Station Facilities Prepare for a Fire Emergency Fire & General Safety Public Safety Classes Safety Town Community Offerings Block Parties Apply to the Fire Department Staff About Parks & Recreation/Cemetery Parks Strategic & Master Plans Parks & Recreation Website Rose Hill Burial Search Online Cemetery Fee Schedule Cemetery Rules & Regulations Inactive Cemeteries Staff About Planning & Zoning Planning & Applications Zoning Permits & Applications Site Plan Submissions Fee Schedule Zoning Complaints Zoning Resources Board of Zoning Appeals Zoning Commission Staff About Public Works Report An Issue Brush & Leaf Removal Annual Road and Sidewalk Maintainence Major Projects Map Snow Policies Block Parties Staff About Stormwater Stormwater Trustees EPA Mandates Request for Assistance Contact Us Staff Deerfield Post Women's Self-Defense Classes Background Checks Citizen Contact & Wellness Check Vacation House Check Prescription Drug Drop Box D.A.R.E / Crime Prevention Warren County Sheriff Website Deerfield Post Staff Deerfield Township Elected Officials The Board of Trustees meet on the first and third Tuesday's of each month. To see meeting times, agendas, and to find information (including the videos from previous meetings) please visit the meetings section of our website. Kristin Malhotra, Trustee Email: kmalhotra@deerfieldtwp.com About Trustee Malhotra Kristin was elected to the position of trustee in November 2017 and took office in January 2018. Kristin was born in Colorado and grew up in Toledo, OH. She attended the Ohio State University where she received a bachelor’s of science degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering in 2013. After graduating, she moved to the Mason-Deerfield region and began her career as an application engineer with Cornerstone Controls, where she still works. Kristin is active with various volunteer activities in the region. She currently sits on the executive board for Give Back Cincinnati, the largest young professional volunteer organization in the Cincinnati area. Kristin Malhotra Lelle Lutts Hedding, Trustee Email: lhedding@deerfieldtwp.com About Trustee Hedding Lelle Lutts Hedding grew up in Springdale, Ohio. She graduated a proud Viking from Princeton High School. She attended Ohio State University where she graduated from the School of Communication in 1995. Upon graduation, Lelle moved to Los Angeles where she worked in Marketing and Communication for Maverick Recording Company, owned by Madonna. She travelled the county creating and promoting events and artists with the purpose of increasing revenue and name recognition for Maverick. After five years in Los Angeles, Lelle took a Northeast Promotion job based out of Boston, Massachusetts. Working with the world’s biggest names in music, she multitasked events, artists, and tour schedules for the next decade while managing budgets in each region. After working in the Music Industry, Lelle took a Marketing Manager position for Hard Rock Café, based out of Faneuil Hall in Boston. There she integrated the Hard Rock with local charity partners, including the Boston Bruins and Harley Davidson, while managing a multimillion dollar budget. When Lelle and her husband had their first child, they decided to move back to Ohio. They settled in Deerfield Township, and have never looked back. Lelle ran for the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees because she believes in open and honest communication. Nothing is more important than transparency in local government, and she felt that was missing locally. Upon taking office, Lelle’s first priority was to increase the communication between the township office and the residents. She was instrumental in hiring an Economic Development Director/Public Information Officer. She also sits on the board of the township’s first Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) – a board tasked with the future economic development of the township, with a focus on redevelopment opportunities. Lelle worked to move all township financials online via Open Checkbook, to increase awareness of how taxpayer dollars are spent. It is with great pride that Lelle is dedicated to serving the community of Deerfield Township, and looks forward to problem solving as challenges arrive. She believes there is no better play to live, work, and play than Deerfield Township. Speaking inquiries and community engagement opportunities for Lelle Lutts Hedding can be directed to her at the email above. Lelle Lutts Hedding Lonnie Vestal, Trustee Email: lvestal@deerfieldtwp.com About Trustee Vestal Lonnie Vestal grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After completing high school, Lonnie moved to Stockton, California to attend Christian Life College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and Theology. While at Christian Life College, Lonnie met his wife Jill. They were married in his senior year at Christian Life College, and after graduation, they settled in Stockton after Lonnie accepted an administrative role at Christian Life College and also began graduate studies at Western Seminary. During this time, Levi and Reagan were added to the Vestal family. Levi is now 13 and attends Mason Middle School; Reagan is 11 and attends Mason Intermediate School. They enjoy baseball and softball, respectively, and both play on teams with the Mason Youth Organization. The family enjoys baseball, playing board games together, and road trips to Pass-a-Grille, Florida and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After completing his Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary, Lonnie moved from Stockton to Deerfield Township in 2007 to launch The Way of the Cross church. As a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International, Lonnie also serves as an Ohio chaplain ministries coordinator. He also serves as an overseer pastor to the Spanish church El Camino de la Cruz, which grew from and was supported by The Way of the Cross. As a bi-vocational pastor, Lonnie balanced full-time pastoral work with various work in education and the private sector. He first worked in Christian education, teaching high school English, Literature, History and Government Economics at The Calvary Academy in Springdale, Ohio as well as substitute teaching in Kings Local Schools and Little Miami Schools. In 2014, Lonnie launched his own business, Summit Roofing and Exteriors LLC, a company specializing in architectural shingle roofing, serving the greater Cincinnati area. In 2015, Lonnie was elected to the Warren County Central Committee for the Republican Party. In 2017, he was elected to the Board of Trustees for Deerfield Township. He began serving in January of 2018. Lonnie is a constitutional conservative. As such, he promises to be a faithful steward of Deerfield’s finances and future. “Calvin Coolidge said, ‘There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means.’ As a trustee for Deerfield Township, I look forward to applying conservative principles and solutions to the challenges Deerfield faces with regard to its population growth, development as a community and financial well-being.” Lonnie Vestal Dan Corey, Fiscal Officer Email: dcorey@deerfieldtwp.com About Fiscal Officer Corey The Fiscal Officer, like the Trustees, is elected to a four-year term by the residents of the Township. Furthermore, the Fiscal Officer and the Board of Trustees work collaboratively to serve the residents with complementary roles and responsibilities that are authorized by the Ohio Revised Code. The Fiscal Officer has authority over many financial matters and the Board of Trustees have the legislative authority in the township. Dan Corey served on the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees from 2006-2017 where he worked with the Fiscal Officer regarding the Township’s financial matters. Then in January 2018 utilizing his intimate knowledge of the Township’s financial matters and the public accounting skills he gained during his day job at Warren County, he was elected and began serving as the Township’s Fiscal Officer. In 2011, Warren County created the Warren County Transportation Improvement District (TID), a multi-jurisdictional organization that supports economic development and job creation through coordinated regional infrastructure improvements. The TID has managed over $100M of roadway projects, which required the County to send Mr. Corey, who handles multiple finance and budgeting functions within the TID, to be trained in public accounting principles and software by the Ohio State Auditor. This commitment to financial accountability and transparency has been an integral part of his roles with Deerfield Township. He has seen great success in his brief time as the Fiscal Officer receiving the 2018 Auditor of the State Award. This award is presented to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a financial audit. Entities that receive the award meet the following criteria of a “clean” audit report. “I am very proud to have received this recognition from my peers because it shows that they recognize Deerfield Township is doing business at the highest level,” said Mr. Corey. “For our residents, this awards means that we are actively watching and can account for every penny of our tax dollars.” You can read more about the Auditor of the State Award and the specific criteria needed to achieve this award here. Both as a Trustee and as the Fiscal Officer, Dan is particularly proud of pushing the township forward on its path to be debt free by the year 2020. You can read more about the township’s 2020 debt-free initiative on-line here. Dan Corey attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. After graduating in 1993, Mr. Corey moved to the greater Cincinnati area and met his wife, Lisa, while attending Faith Bible Church. Then in 1998 he moved to Township he loves serving, Deerfield. He has two sons, Ryan who is a graduate of Kings Local High School and Jake, who attends Mason High School. The Corey family enjoys traveling together, particularly family trips on motorcycles. Dan can be reached at 513.774.0781 or by email. Dan Corey	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759023
__label__wiki	0.992845	0.992845	MTV Adds Conde Nast Exec Michael Klein March 30, 2016 / by Cision Media Research MTV has hired Michael Klein as executive vice president of original content. Klein had previously served as executive vice president of programming and content strategy for Conde Nast Entertainment since 2013. Before that, he was executive vice president of alternative programming for Conde Nast since 2012. He has also worked at Sundance, Travel Channel and TLC. Follow MTV on Twitter for news about the network’s original programming.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759026
__label__wiki	0.544984	0.544984	David Pilling's African Year in Review He recalls the popular challenge now underway against Omar al-Bashir’s rule in Sudan; the deaths of Kofi Annan, the first African secretary General of UN, and Winnie Mandela, a flawed leader of the South African liberation movement; the highly positive emergence of the reform-minded Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian prime minister; and the international attention to Congolese surgeon Denis Mukwege, who won a Nobel Peace prize for his work with rape victims. Blog Post by John Campbell Africa in Transition Warren Weinstein, R.I.P. Today President Obama announced that the American hostage Warren Weinstein had been killed by an American drone strike last January, presumably in Pakistan. Here is part of the White House statement… Blog Post by Elliott Abrams Pressure Points Will the Future Bring Digital Trench Warfare Between the EU and China? Four scenarios for the future of digital geopolitical conflicts Emboldened Ramaphosa Asserts Authority Over South Africa’s ANC Under the leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa, the African National Congress (ANC), improved its electoral performance in the 2019 national elections. The ANC won more than 58 percent of the vote, up from 54 percent in the local government elections of 2016, though still a decline from the 62 percent in won in 2014 national elections. A Federalist U.S. Approach to Remaining in the Paris Climate Accord A version of this blog was originally published at The Hill website. Guest blogger Daniel Scheitrum, assistant professor, Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Arizona, cont… Blog Post by Amy M. Jaffe Energy Realpolitik What a Difference a Week (or a Weekend) Makes Whither the yuan. Blog Post by Brad W. Setser Follow the Money Guns, Tech, and Steel: The Wall Debate and Digital Technologies in Border Security The president's push to "build the wall" fails to grasp the role of modern technology in policing U.S. borders. Blog Post by David P. Fidler Net Politics Year in Review: Cyber Threats and the Mid-Term U.S. Elections A look back at election security in 2018. Preaching, Power, and Private Jets in Nigeria Bishop Oyedepo, head of the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry (Winner’s Chapel) is commonly regarded as the wealthiest preacher in Nigeria, with an estimated personal net worth of $150 million. His fleet of four jets includes a Gulfstream V, which cost $30 million. How Warren Would Expand Trade With Asia Over the past half century changes in trade infrastructure, such as the growth of container shipping and increases in the size of ports and canals, have had a huge effect on expanding international t… Blog Post by Renewing America Staff Renewing America David Fidler Adjunct Senior Fellow for Cybersecurity and Global Health Philip H. Gordon Mary and David Boies Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy Shannon K. O'Neil Vice President, Deputy Director of Studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies Amy Myers Jaffe David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment and Director of the Program on Energy Security and Climate Change	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759031
__label__wiki	0.635974	0.635974	(-) Podcast Nigeria’s Election, With John Campbell John Campbell, former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the recent election in Nigeria. Podcast by James M. Lindsay and John Campbell The President's Inbox Podcast: The Life and Death of John Birch When most Americans hear the name John Birch, they immediately think of the John Birch Society: an anticommunist, right-wing advocacy group that flourished in the 1950s and 60s. But who was John Birc… Podcast by Elizabeth C. Economy Asia Unbound Navigating Post–Cold War Peace, With Michael Mandelbaum Michael Mandelbaum, Christian A. Herter professor emeritus of American foreign policy at Johns Hopkins University, sits down with Jim Lindsay to discuss the era of peace that directly followed the Co… Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Michael Mandelbaum The President's Inbox Net Politics Podcast: Arati Prabhakar and John Launchbury In this latest episode of the Net Politics podcast, I sit down with Arati Prabhakar, Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and John Launchbury, Director of the Informatio… Podcast by Adam Segal Net Politics Europe's Direction in 2019 Matthias Matthijs joins Jim Lindsay to discuss Europe in 2019. Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Matthias Matthijs The President's Inbox Conflicts to Watch in 2019 Paul Stares joins Jim Lindsay to forecast the conflicts of 2019. Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Paul B. Stares The President's Inbox The Poor State of Kenyan Politics We discuss the current state of Kenya's politics, focusing primarily on the Kenyatta-Odinga family relationship dating back to Kenyan independence, and the contrasts between how ethnicity is portrayed in everyday life versus how it is portrayed in politics. Podcast by John Campbell Africa in Transition Hal Brands on Grand Strategy Hal Brands, the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, joins CFR's James M. Lindsay to discuss grand st… Podcast by Hal Brands and James M. Lindsay The President's Inbox Vigilante Groups and Counterinsurgencies in Africa In this episode of Africa in Transition, John Campbell speaks with Ned Dalby, a senior research analyst with International Crisis Group and lead contributor to the new report Double-Edged Sword: Vigi… "State Capture" in South Africa In this episode of Africa in Transition, John Campbell speaks with Crispian Olver, a former senior South African government official, member of the African National Congress (ANC), and author of the …	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759032
__label__wiki	0.534437	0.534437	Fiscal Challenges in Latin America: Policy Measures for Sustainable & Inclusive Growth Thursday, June 27, 2019 - 9:00am to 10:30am PRESENTATION & OPENING REMARKS Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) Nancy Birdsall, Senior Fellow and President Emeritus, Center for Global Development Marcello Estevão, Global Director, Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment, World Bank Eric Parrado Herrera, Chief Economist and General Manager, Research Department, Inter-American Development Bank Jorge Roldos, Assistant Director, Western Hemisphere Department, International Monetary Fund Sanjeev Gupta, Senior Policy Fellow, Center for Global Development In recent years, Latin American countries have undertaken major fiscal consolidation measures in an effort to reduce their deficits and accumulation of debt. Despite improvements in fiscal position throughout the region, the rate of inequality reduction has slowed, capital spending (in terms of GDP) has fallen to its lowest levels since 2007 and fiscal revenues remain insufficient to finance achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Amid an uncertain macroeconomic context and fiscal consolidation, this slowdown requires a fine-tuning of policy measures. This event launches the new CEPAL Publication Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2019, examining the role of tax policy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper analyses the constraints of domestic resource mobilization caused by fiscal incentives and how these incentives could, instead, be geared towards investment to foster sustainable and inclusive development. Coffee and a light breakfast will be available beginning at 8:30 am. Sustainable Development Finance, Strengthening the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Senior Fellow, President Emeritus Senior Policy Fellow This event will be streamed live. Can't attend in person? Click "Webcast" above to receive a reminder about the webcast before the event. The video will stream and remain available on this page. Close-captioned-enabled video will be posted following the conclusion of the event. If you require ADA-related accommodations to attend this event in person, please email events@cgdev.org. What Works To Empower Women Economically: New Findings... Mayra Buvinic Reforming US Trade Policy to Benefit More Americans and... Erin Collinson and Kimberly Ann Elliott Global trade is facing strong political headwinds in the United States. While evidence shows trade generally yields economic benefits on balance, gains are distributed unevenly. Trade agreements are also negotiated in secret and increasingly address regulatory issues in ways that raise concerns among consumers and workers, at home and abroad. How can US trade policy be rebalanced to be more inclusive, and ensure that more people benefit? Buying Medicines Better: Deploying Smart Procurement to... Spending on health products tops $50 billion annually in just a subset of low- and middle-income countries. And a large share of health aid goes to the same use. But despite its importance for spending and health outcomes, the procurement of medicines and other health products remains a neglected health system function. On the eve of the high-level meeting, this networking and learning reception will highlight how more effective procurement can accelerate progress towards expanding access to medicines and other key health products. The reception will feature policymakers from around the world, discussing national and global challenges and opportunities on the path towards smarter procurement. This event draws from the final report of CGD’s Working Group on the Future of Global Health Procurement, which found that tackling inefficient procurement practices can help stretch scarce health resources further and accelerate progress toward the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. The Working Group offered four actionable recommendations to elevate procurement as an essential health system function. The Saving One Million Lives Program for Results: Lessons... The Saving One Million Lives (SOML) program for results (PforR) aims to increase the utilization and quality of high impact reproductive, child health, and nutrition interventions in Nigeria. SOML was originally created in 2012 to address Nigeria’s slow progress on improving health status and health services. Since 2015, the initiative has received assistance from the World Bank through a “cash-on-delivery” (COD) approach in which the disbursement of funds is directly linked to the achievement of specific program results. This PforR funding mechanism by the World Bank uses country systems and processes and gives health managers substantial autonomy in achieving health results. Four years into the SOML PforR’s implementation, join us to explore lessons learned. AMLO Economics: Between the Wall and the Flood in Mexico Liliana Rojas-Suarez Over the last 25 years, Mexico has benefited from robust trade and financial integration with North America and strong domestic macroeconomic and financial stability, although much remains to be done on the socioeconomic front. Against this backdrop, the economy is currently facing strong domestic and external headwinds. At home, the economy has slowed since last year, with real GDP contracting 0.2% in 1Q2019, reflecting low productivity in Mexico and softer growth in the United States. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has announced protectionist policies, which are not supportive of private investment. From the external side, the lingering uncertainties about Trump’s tariffs on Mexico's imports could have a major negative impact. How should Mexico deal with these challenges? The Latin American Committee on Macroeconomic and Financial Issues (CLAAF) will discuss central questions on a) the best policy responses to market uncertainties, b) the best way to deal with the immigration flood, which is playing a key role in Trump's new tariff threats, c) what Mexico’s policymakers can learn from the recent experiences in Argentina and Brazil, and d) the most pressing reforms needed to restore investors’ confidence and Mexico's economic growth. A light breakfast and coffee will be available at 9:30 a.m. Fiscal Challenges in Latin America: Policy Measures for... Nancy Birdsall and Sanjeev Gupta Beyond Getting Girls in School: Addressing Unfinished... Justin Sandefur and Pamela Jakiela Over the past two decades tremendous progress has been made to improve girls’ access to schooling. Data on learning similarly shows that gender gaps are closing or largely closed. Yet education systems are still failing to meet one important objective: achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in terms of adult life outcomes. Against the backdrop of improvements in schooling and learning, women still bear the brunt of inequalities in female income, political participation, exposure to gender-based violence and reproductive autonomy. The panel will attempt to answer a key question: how can girls’ education improve adult life outcomes for women? Designing Impact Bonds: Lessons Learned from the... Pregnancy and Parenting: Evidence for Empowered and... Carleigh Krubiner The Journey to Self-Reliance in Global Health Procurement... Amanda Glassman and Janeen Madan Keller The Future of Saving: The Role of Pension System Design...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759033
__label__wiki	0.998228	0.998228	'I don't like what I see in Springfield:' Topinka Greg Hinz Saying that she feels compelled to answer her party's call, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka Monday made it clear she intends to seek the GOP nomination to run against Gov. Rod Blagojevich in next year's election. Stopping just short of a formal announcement, the veteran Republican said in a phone interview that she has begun circulating nominating petitions for governor and it is "quite probable" she will file them. "I don't like what I see in Springfield today," said Ms. Topinka, referring to a variety of scandals which have afflicted the administration of Mr. Blagojevich, a Democrat. "I don't like how business is being conducted. I think I can do better." Ms. Topinka has been agonizing for months over a gubernatorial race, concerned that she would not have the financial resources to compete and fearing that she would come under intense fire from the GOP's conservative wing. Monday, she said she is still worried about both matters, but has reached an adequate "comfort level." Both national Republicans and leaders of Illinois congressional delegation have assured her she will have sufficient funds, said Ms. Topinka. "I will have an adequate amount of money. He (Blagojevich) will outspend me. But I will be competitive." Ms. Topinka, who is both pro-choice on abortion and for civil rights for homosexuals, said she will be sharply criticized for both in the GOP primary. "I do expect a very difficult time," she said. But after reviewing the shape of the GOP primary field, Ms. Topinka said she concluded she had to run if a Republican is to unseat Mr. Blagojevich. "I think I'm the only one who can possibly take him out," said Ms. Topinka. "I have a great deal of feeling for duty and compassion." Ms. Topinka, 61, is a former journalist and state legislator. Asked Monday what at this point would keep her from running, she said only if her son, Joseph, a major in the U.S. Army, were to get "really upset." "That's just about the only thing" that would keep her out, she said. Ms. Topinka said she expects to make a formal announcement in about two weeks. The GOP primary field now includes businessmen Ron Gidwitz and Jim Oberweis, and state senators Steven Rauschenberger and Bill Brady. One or more of them could not drop out, or shift to the as yet-empty GOP field for state treasurer. Spokesmen for Mr. Rauschenberger and Mr. Gidwitz said their candidates are staying in the race. "Unlike Judy Baar Topinka, Steve is his own first choice for governor," said Mr. Rauschenberger's spokesman, referring to the fact that Ms. Topinka was pulling for former governor Jim Edgar to enter the race. Mr. Gidwitz's spokesman said that as a fiscal conservative who is ethically "incorruptible," his candidate is "optimistic" about his primary prospects. Mr. Brady said in a statement that he also is inclined to stay in the race, but he stopped short of saying definitively he's staying.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759037
__label__wiki	0.824175	0.824175	Karen Lewis: Rahm Would Have Won Even if McDonald Video Had Been Released The head of the Chicago Teachers Union previews the possible teachers strike and lays into Rauner, Rahm, and others. Published Dec. 7, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. Karen Lewis in October Photo: Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune It has been a bit more than a year since Karen Lewis, 62, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and abandoned her plan to run for mayor against Rahm Emanuel. “I feel great. I feel stronger,” she told me during a Sunday afternoon phone call, adding that she had just taken her last chemo pill and that results of her blood work and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were good. She has been back behind the bullhorn exhorting her members to prepare for another strike against Chicago Public Schools. The last one was in September 2012. This time the strike could happen as soon as next March. (The two sides are in mediation. State law requires the appointment of a fact-finding panel that includes representatives from both CTU and CPS, and once it gets going its investigation will take two-and-a-half months. The CTU has requested that fact-finding begin, but CPS has not yet agreed and Lewis says if there’s not agreement soon the next step is filing an “unfair labor practice.”) Later this week, CTU members will vote yes or no on authorizing a strike. State law requires a 75 percent “yes” vote. In 2012 almost 90 percent of CTU teachers supported a strike, and Lewis says she is confident the CTU will hit a similar number this time. We talked about issues and personalities and her future plans, which she said do include running for another term as CTU president this May but do not include a run for mayor. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation. There have been calls among prominent people, editorialists, and pundits for Rahm to resign as mayor. Often attached to these calls is the opinion that if he had released, before the mayoral runoff, the video of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, he would have lost to Chuy Garcia. Do you agree? I don’t think he would have lost. I think that had he shown the video it would have helped him, shown that he was serious about transparency. But the real issue is how in the world was Chuy going to win? Rahm had all that money he could throw at the election. We are in a place now where elections are bought, not won. Do you still want to run for mayor? No. That was a moment in time. I will be 65 at the end of my next term if I get elected [as CTU president]. I don’t know that I have that kind of energy. Having cancer puts things in perspective. I will never be cured. My doctor told me, “We don’t use the R word [remission].” I feel great, but it’s a lifelong challenge. How much weight have you lost since getting sick? 200 pounds. In public you are usually seen wearing a fedora or a beret. Has your hair grown back? Not fully. There is still a large bald spot where the incision was made. I don’t mind showing people what my head looks like, not at all. The hats are more for the weather—it’s cold—than for vanity. The city is still hoping to receive $480 million from Springfield. Any sense of whether this is in the pipeline? I have no idea. Do you ever talk to Gov. Rauner? I do not have his private number. Mine is available. I have one cell phone; people can reach me. You had my number and were able to call me. What about Rahm? Do you talk to him? It seems to me that you get along better with him in 2015 than you did in 2011. Yes, he is better. We do talk to each other. I could pick up the phone and call Rahm and he’ll listen. You have to talk to people. We can’t sit in our respective quarters and cross our arms. Things don’t get done that way. Is the CTU still looking for a one-year contract as opposed to CPS’s preference for a multi-year contract? It’s irrelevant now. We’re almost halfway done with the school year. And how do you sign a deal with a broke company, broke on purpose. What do you mean, “broke on purpose”? CPS has chosen to spend money in ways that are not the best. Take the longer school day and school year. Rahm couldn’t afford it but did it because he was determined. Or the $200 million spent on an Aramark [cleaning] contract when they didn’t even calculate square footage, and the buildings are nastier than before. CPS has not sought revenue options that are readily available. [She mentions reconfiguring TIFs, suing banks over toxic swaps, imposing a commuter tax, and closing corporate loopholes as revenue options.] There was much fanfare over the announcement of a new selective enrollment high school that Rahm wanted to name for Barack Obama. There’s now talk that plans to build another state-of-the-art selective school on the North Side should be scrapped. Do you agree? I think so. There are better ways of spending the money CPS says it doesn’t have. CPS CEO Forrest Claypool first announced that 500 teacher layoffs and cuts to programs would be made by Thanksgiving. Now the date has been pushed back to early February. What changed? He realized you can’t do schools with 500 layoffs. Who’s going to put the grades in? It’s just posturing. This is part of Claypool’s knowing nothing about education. Do you talk much to Claypool? I don’t. I’ve just had a couple of conversations with him, fewer than with Barbara Byrd-Bennett, or even [previous CPS CEOs Jean-Claude] Brizard or [Ron] Huberman. Huberman was a technocrat but I had more contact with him. “I think Claypool was an unfortunate choice. He doesn’t really understand things that need to be done.” I think Claypool was an unfortunate choice. He doesn’t really understand things that need to be done. It’s all about my boys and cronyism getting a residence waiver for his top guy. These guys say they have to work with their people. It’s completely opposite of what we do. We don’t control which kids are in the classroom. We have to figure out how to work with them. The last strike was seven days long, and you and the CTU seemed to have a great deal of public support. Do you feel you risk wearing out your welcome this time? Our parents are still with us. They come out and support us. They spoke at the Grant Park [Winter Labor Solidarity] rally we staged [on November 23]. I received notice that you would attend the Black Friday rally sparked by the release of the McDonald video. You did not. Why? I didn’t feel well. I don’t push myself for outdoor activities. My health is my number one priority. That had been a very long week. I was exhausted and I just hunkered down on Friday. What did you think of the Black Friday protestors’ tactic of taking their protest to Michigan Avenue? I didn’t have anything to do with the planning; I didn’t know anything about it until the last minute. But economic issues are things we have been talking about for a long time, so no surprise. Somebody on Twitter wrote [to protest leaders], “This is your march. Don’t let CTU steal your thunder.” We’re not trying to do that. How do you build alliances? We think about that, about not just being a fair-weather friend. These are our students and we need to support them. Rahm has largely revamped the CPS board. What do you make of its new members, in particular Frank Clark [retired chairman of Commonwealth Edison] as president of the board? Frank Clark sat on the committee that closed 50 schools. That’s what I think. It’s just musical chairs at negotiating meetings, constantly changing players, very dysfunctional. The elected school board has gained resonance over the last few years. Are you any closer to realizing that? There’s a bill in Springfield that has 55 cosponsors on it. Of course City Hall wants to put a brick on that. That legislation will come out of committee and make it to the floor of the House for sure, possibly the Senate. Eighty-nine percent of constituents want it, so that’s real movement. Yes, Rauner will probably veto it. He truly believes in the nondemocratic, “You do as I say” way. I think that’s why he’s having a tough time. On the national level, any thoughts about resignation of Arne Duncan as education secretary and about his interim replacement, John King? I’ve said a lot about Arne previously. John King is awful. Like Arne, he’s one of these let’s-test-until-they-drop people. Last question: Which Democrat are you supporting for president in 2016—Hillary, Bernie, or Martin O’Malley? I’m not interested in the presidential race at this point. I’m interested in the next Illinois primary, but that’s for another conversation. Other Rahm Emanuel stories The Laquan McDonald Shooting, In Focus Rahm Emanuel: The Exit Interview What Rahm Leaves Behind What Will Be Rahm’s Next Act?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759038
__label__wiki	0.970514	0.970514	As Foxconn changes Wisconsin plans, job promises fall short By Robert Channick \| Chicago Tribune \| In a Nov. 2, 2018, photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a newly built Foxconn building is seen in Mount Pleasant, Wis. It had only 178 employees as of December. (Xinhua News Agency) It’s been 18 months since the Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn Technology Group announced to great fanfare that it was building a $10 billion factory to make TV screens on farmland in southeastern Wisconsin. The plan was as big as it was audacious: Fueled with billions in taxpayers subsidies, Foxconn would build a 22 million-square-foot campus, filled with 13,000 highly paid workers. In the process, it would transform the sleepy village of Mount Pleasant, Wis., into a high-tech international manufacturing hub. But a year and a half later, a central question remains: Where are the jobs? Foxconn had only 178 employees on board as of December, missing its first year-end hiring target of 1,040 jobs and leaving millions of dollars in incentives on the table. Billed as the largest greenfield investment by a foreign-based company in U.S. history based on job creation, the promises in the July 2017 memorandum of understanding between the state of Wisconsin and Foxconn were unequivocal. The project would create 13,000 jobs by 2032 on the sprawling Racine County site, at an average annual salary of nearly $54,000. In return, the state offered Foxconn $3 billion in tax credits and other state incentives. With substantial changes being floated from the initial agreement — notably, a greater emphasis on research and development — there is growing doubt the company will reach its ambitious goal within 15 years, if ever. “It doesn’t strike me as a feasible project,” said Susan Helper, an economics professor at Case Western Reserve University. “How do you find 13,000 people that go to a facility like that?” Labor experts say that the plant faces significant head winds if it is ever to meet its promised hiring goals. A low 3 percent unemployment rate in Wisconsin and intense competition nationally for high-tech labor have already proved challenging for Foxconn to lure talent to its nascent campus. Filling new jobs was the central justification of devoting significant taxpayer resources, and the early hiring shortfall has left Foxconn and economic development officials scrambling to reassure taxpayers that everything is on track. A manufacturing renaissance The Foxconn deal, announced in July 2017, was championed by President Donald Trump and then-Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as a way to create thousands of new manufacturing jobs in the U.S. The company was planning to make large-screen TVs, staffing up over time and turning the region into the “electronics manufacturing capital of North America,” according to county executives. It would join prominent businesses like the massive new headquarters of packaging supplies distributor Uline and Amazon’s giant fulfillment center in an area better known for cheese shops and bratwurst. Chicago and Illinois are still after Amazon's HQ2, or at least part of it By Ally Marotti The deal immediately faced skeptics. Some thought the nearly $4 billion in state and local incentives — among the largest ever offered to a foreign manufacturer — made the deal too pricey to pay off, while others questioned whether Foxconn would follow through, based on several previous projects elsewhere that had fizzled out. Recent flip-flops by executives have only fueled the doubt, but the company is reaffirming its commitment to the project. “Foxconn is continuing its Wisconsin project,” the company said in a statement. “The company remains committed to its long-term investment and creating 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin.” To be sure, the main campus, dubbed Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park — think Silicon Valley, but near Kenosha — has begun sprouting up in the bucolic village 30 miles south of Milwaukee and 60 miles north of Chicago in Racine County. It is unclear, though, how much of the facility will be devoted to manufacturing. The company has given multiple statements in recent weeks saying that engineers may account for anywhere from two-thirds to 90 percent of staffing — a far different mix than the blue-collar manufacturing haven originally envisioned. The recent doubts kicked off late in January when Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn Chief Executive Terry Gou, told Reuters that his company was rethinking its commitment to the project. “In terms of TV, we have no place in the U.S.,” he was quoted as saying. “We can’t compete.” He said that the Wisconsin plant would become more of a research hub. Foxconn’s position shifted once again after the company, citing a conversation between Trump and Gou, said it would keep the manufacturing plans moving forward. But still, the plans keep changing. Foxconn said the facility will now make smaller screens for smartphones and tablets, as opposed to large-screen TVs, reflecting changes in the global market. The company also outlined construction plans over the next 18 months, which include a liquid crystal module packaging plant, a system integration assembly facility, a research and development center, and a town center to support people working in the park. Reality meets the hype Yet through all the talk, Foxconn fell short of the minimum 260 jobs needed by the end of 2018 to qualify for a portion of the first round of state incentives, and looks likely to miss its annual tax credit targets until at least 2020, raising questions about both the scale of the project, and the availability of qualified talent in southeastern Wisconsin. “It’s not surprising that Foxconn has had difficulty finding workers, as the labor market is very tight,” said Noah Williams, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison who wrote a favorable evaluation of the original Foxconn proposal. Shifting to a research and development focus may make it even harder for Foxconn to meet its hiring targets, with the pipeline of engineering graduates in Wisconsin not large enough to fill thousands of new jobs, Williams said. In November, The Wall Street Journal reported that Foxconn, desperate for talent, considered bringing in engineering talent from China. The report drew a swift denial from Foxconn, but it underscored the hard sell the company faces as it tries to recruit against established tech hubs such as Silicon Valley. Williams said the Chicago area is a better potential talent pool for Foxconn. “If the labor in demand shifts toward more engineers and knowledge workers, then the (recruiting) problem … would be even more difficult,” Williams said. “There has been an effort to recruit from Illinois, and that is likely to intensify.” Mark Hogan, CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which oversaw the Foxconn deal, said Tuesday that if the project scales down and fails to meet its target employment goals, taxpayers will be protected. “WEDC’s performance-based contract with Foxconn provides the company the flexibility to make these business decisions, and at the same time, protects Wisconsin’s taxpayers,” Hogan said in a statement. “As has been reported, Foxconn will not qualify for tax credits until, at the earliest, 2020, and then only if the company meets its annual job creation and capital investment requirements.” [Most read] Police misconduct investigator forced out after accessing cops’ investigative records » That however, does not reflect other significant costs already incurred, like the $50 million that Mount Pleasant has committed to obtain more than 1,000 acres for the project, or the $300 million in infrastructure improvements undertaken by the village and county. New Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who defeated Walker in November, called the Foxconn development “a broken political deal” during his campaign. He nonetheless took the company at its word that the factory would move forward with a revised plan to build smaller LCD screens. “I’m comfortable that they’re still committed to the state … but that doesn’t mean we won’t continue to encourage them to be more transparent and more consistent,” Evers said Feb. 1. But for Case Western’s Helper, the former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce during the Obama administration, a shift to higher-paying research and development jobs would essentially put Foxconn’s target goal of 13,000 employees out of reach. “I’ve never heard of an R&D lab with 13,000 people,” Helper said. Domino’s Pizza feels bite from Grubhub, Uber Eats Barneys New York may file for bankruptcy, source says Illinois’ Planned Parenthood says it will turn down millions in federal funding to avoid ‘gag rule’ on abortion Column: Backers of planned Frank Lloyd Wright visitor center in Oak Park face tough choices after proposal gets cold shoulder They got Humboldt Park’s gator, but not before grab for greenbacks Beyond the unwieldy scale of the project, luring large numbers of engineers to southeastern Wisconsin would be a challenge, given competing opportunities available in more fertile tech climates, she said. “You move to Silicon Valley, that job doesn’t work out, there’s hundreds of other employers that conceivably you could go to,” Helper said. “But you go to Mount Pleasant, Wis., and put down roots, what’s the next job for you?” rchannick@chicagotribune.com Twitter @RobertChannick	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759039
__label__wiki	0.960474	0.960474	A pipeline of undocumented workers for Donald Trump ran from Costa Rica to N.J.: 'My whole town practically lived there' By Joshua Partlow and Nick Miroff and David A. Fahrenthold \| SANTA TERESA DE CAJON, Costa Rica At his home on the misty slope of Costa Rica's tallest mountain, Dario Angulo keeps a set of photographs from the years he tended the rolling fairways and clipped greens of a faraway American golf resort. Angulo learned to drive backhoes and bulldozers, carving water hazards and tee boxes out of former horse pastures in Bedminster, New Jersey, where a famous New Yorker was building a world-class course. Angulo earned $8 an hour, a fraction of what a state-licensed heavy equipment operator would make, with no benefits or overtime pay. But he stayed seven years on the grounds crew, saving enough for a small piece of land and some cattle back home. Now the 34-year-old lives with his wife and daughters in a sturdy house built by "Trump money," as he put it, with a porch to watch the sun go down. It's a common story in this small town. Other former employees of President Donald Trump's company live nearby: men who once raked the sand traps and pushed mowers through thick heat on Trump's prized golf property - the "Summer White House," as aides have called it - here his daughter Ivanka got married and where he wants to build a family cemetery. "Many of us helped him get what he has today," Angulo said. "This golf course was built by illegals." The Washington Post spoke with 16 men and women from Costa Rica and other Latin American countries, including six in Santa Teresa de Cajon, who said they were employed at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. All of them said they worked for Trump without legal status - and that their managers knew. The former employees who still live in New Jersey provided pay slips documenting their work at the Bedminster club. They identified friends and relatives in Costa Rica who also were employed at the course. In Costa Rica, The Post located former workers in two regions who provided detailed accounts of their time at the Bedminster property and shared memorabilia they had kept, such as Trump-branded golf tees, as well as photos of themselves at the club. The brightly painted homes that line the road in Santa Teresa de Cajon, many paid for by wages earned 4,000 miles away, are the fruits of a long-running pipeline of illegal workers to the president's course, one that carried far more than a few unauthorized employees who slipped through the cracks. Soon after Trump broke ground at Bedminster in 2002 with a golden shovel, this village emerged as a wellspring of low-paid labor for the private club, which charges tens of thousands of dollars to join. Over the years, dozens of workers from Costa Rica went north to fill jobs as groundskeepers, housekeepers and dishwashers at Bedminster, former employees said. The club hired others from El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala who spoke to The Post. Many ended up in the blue-collar borough of Bound Brook, New Jersey, piling into vans before dawn to head to the course each morning. [Most read] Martha Plimpton has left the Steppenwolf ensemble, a rare exit » Their descriptions of Bedminster's long reliance on illegal workers are bolstered by a newly obtained police report showing that the club's head of security was told in 2011 about an employee suspected of using false identification papers - the first known documentation of a warning to the Trump Organization about the legal status of a worker. Other supervisors received similar flags over the years, including Bedminster's general manager, who was told by a worker from Ecuador several years ago that she entered the country illegally, the employee said. Eric Trump, a son of the president who runs the Trump Organization along with his brother Donald Trump Jr., declined to comment on the accounts by the former workers. Bedminster managers did not return requests for comment. The company's recent purge of unauthorized workers from at least five Trump properties contributes to mounting evidence that the president benefited for years from the work of illegal laborers he now vilifies. It remains unclear what measures Trump or his company took to avoid hiring such workers, even after he launched a White House bid built around the threat he says they pose to Americans. Amid Trump's push for a border wall, there has been little public discussion of how U.S. employers - including the president himself - have generated demand for unlawful workers. White House officials did not respond to requests for comment. Eric Trump has said he and other senior Trump Organization executives did not know the company hired illegal workers, noting that the employees used falsified documents. "We have tens of thousands of employees across our properties and have very strict hiring practices," the company said in a statement in December. "If any employee submitted false documentation in an attempt to circumvent the law, they will be terminated immediately. We take this issue very seriously." A hat worn by a former worker at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster is placed on display in a home in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post) Over the years, the network from Costa Rica to Bedminster expanded as workers recruited friends and relatives, some flying to the United States on tourist visas and others paying smugglers thousands of dollars to help them cross the U.S.-Mexico border, former employees said. New hires needed little more than a crudely printed phony green card and a fake Social Security number to land a job, they said. Some workers described Bedminster as their launchpad to buy homes and start businesses. Others remembered it as grueling labor under bosses who were demanding, even bigoted - and who at times used the workers' illegal status against them. After the New York Times in December reported about two housekeepers without legal status who worked at Bedminster, the Trump Organization fired at least 18 employees at five golf courses in New York and New Jersey, part of what Eric Trump has said is "a broad effort" to identify unauthorized workers. An additional undisclosed number were fired from Bedminster, former employees said. "Our employees are like family, but when presented with fake documents, an employer has little choice," he told The Post last month. "This situation is not unique to Trump Organization - it is one that all companies face," he added. "It demonstrates that our immigration system is severely broken and needs to be fixed immediately." As president, his father has repeatedly called for a crackdown on illegal immigration. "No issue better illustrates the divide between America's working class and America's political class than illegal immigration," Trump said during his State of the Union address Tuesday. "Tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate - it is cruel." But the lax hiring practices at Bedminster and other Trump properties described by former employees - including some who said their supervisors discussed their fake documents - stand in sharp contrast with Trump's rhetoric. While other top-tier golf U.S. courses adopted the federal government's E-Verify system to check the immigration status of potential hires, the Trump Organization is only now planning to implement it throughout its properties - even though then-candidate Donald Trump claimed in 2016 he was using it across his company. Of 12 Trump golf courses in the United States, three of them - in North Carolina, Southern California, and Doral, Florida - are enrolled in the E-Verify system, according to a federal database. Eric Trump said that "a few" other clubs, including a Trump course in the Bronx, use a private vendor to screen new applicants. Trump's policies strain decades-old ties binding a Mexican village to Waukegan By Joshua Partlow and Kari Lydersen The government has offered employers electronic verification services since 1997 and introduced the E-Verify system in 2007 to allow companies to screen new hires online. Nearly 750,000 U.S. employers are enrolled in the program, according to the latest government figures. [Most read] Northwestern, Evanston officials differ on rules for campus beach » ClubCorp, the nation's largest operator of private golf and country clubs, has used E-Verify for all new hires since 2012, according to company executives. Trump last year proposed making the E-Verify program mandatory nationwide, calling it one of his immigration policy priorities. Employers have an obligation to verify an employee's eligibility to work in the United States and can face a range of civil and criminal penalties for hiring illegal workers, according to immigration attorneys. When an employee submits documents such as a permanent resident card or Social Security card for employees, employers have a responsibility to examine those documents. If an employer pays payroll taxes for an employee whose name does not match their Social Security number, the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration may send the employer what's called a "no-match" letter. Such a letter does not trigger any immigration proceedings or require the employer to fire the employee. Instead, it alerts the employer to ask the employee to resolve the problem by correcting the government record, said Anastasia Tonello, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. [Most read] Column: We don’t hate America, Donald Trump. What we hate is the mess you’ve created. » In Bound Brook, a majority-Hispanic town where many of the area's blue-collar workers live, the presence of illegal workers on Trump's staff was widely known, according to people in the community. "It was far more systematic than two or three housekeepers," said Joyce Phipps, executive director of Casa de Esperanza, a legal aid organization for immigrants, who said she has had several clients who were Bedminster employees. "It's been a very open secret." Many of the Bedminster workers from Costa Rica lived in Bound Brook, N.J., piling into vans each morning for the 30-minute drive to the course. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post) Santa Teresa de Cajon is little more than a ribbon of road set amid coffee farms and cattle pastures on the flank of 12,500-foot Mount Chirripo. Young men zip along on dirt bikes, running errands up and down the mountain. For those growing up here, as elsewhere in Central America, the risky trip north to the United States can mean seed money for a decent life. Juan Carlos Zuñiga left Santa Teresa to make that journey in 2002. At the U.S.-Mexico border, he said, he scaled a 10-foot fence and jumped into Nogales, Arizona. He bought his first fake documents in Las Vegas - adopting the name Juan Lara - and hopped on a flight to New Jersey. [Most read] What Doctors Know: Lower your blood pressure naturally overnight » Zuñiga had a cousin who worked on a horse farm in genteel Bedminster Township. A nearby property needed workers, his cousin told him. Trump had purchased the 520-acre Lamington Farm, with its brick manor house and rolling horse pastures. The estate was once owned by John DeLorean, an automobile engineer who invented the namesake sports car. "This is a special place," Trump told a crowd of some 100 people gathered in October 2002 for the groundbreaking ceremony, according to the Courier News. At the time, the Newark Star-Ledger reported that Trump was lavishing money on the project, "flying in masons, carpenters, landscapers and bulldozer operators from around the world and housing them on-site." Some of the first Costa Ricans hired to build Trump National Golf Club Bedminster - Zuñiga, Angulo, and their Santa Teresa neighbor Abel Mora, among others - remember it as punishing work. They labored from dawn until late evening, seven days a week, raking and hauling mountains of earth moved by heavy machinery and shaping it into golf holes. [Most read] What Farrah Fawcett can teach us about anal cancer » "It was rake, rake, rake, the whole day," Zuñiga said. There was also seeding, watering, mowing, building the sand traps and driving bulldozers, mini-excavators and loaders - all while they earned about $10 an hour or less, they said. Around that time, a licensed heavy equipment operator in central New Jersey would have received an average of $51 to $55 per hour in wages and benefits, according to union officials at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 in the nearby town of Springfield. As the golf course took shape, more hands were needed. Bosses told Zuñiga and his friends to bring workers. The town of Santa Teresa answered the call. Mariano Quesada, an early greenskeeper at the club from the village, rented out a duplex in Bound Brook to several other Costa Ricans. His wife, Angela, said she would wake up before dawn to cook breakfasts and lunches for as many as 22 people on the Bedminster maintenance staff. Undocumented workers who were employed at Trump's properties to attend State of the Union By Elise Viebeck The laborers were coming not only from Santa Teresa de Cajon, but also from other parts of Costa Rica and around Latin America. Before long, so many were working on the course - more than 100, by workers' estimates - that Zuñiga's cousin began charging workers for rides to Bedminster. He had two vans in circulation morning and night. When that wasn't enough, he bought a used school bus, Zuñiga said. "For me, moving to the U.S. wasn't a very drastic change," said Mauricio Garro, 36, who worked in maintenance at the golf course for five years until he returned to Santa Teresa in 2010. "My whole town practically lived there." To get a job at Trump National, the Costa Ricans - as well as Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Mexicans who were employed by the club - would purchase fake green cards and Social Security numbers in Bound Brook and neighboring towns. These were easy to come by. Sandra Diaz, a housekeeper from Poas de Aserri, Costa Rica, got photos taken at Walgreens and paid a friend of hers $50 for fake papers. Ana Vasquez, an immigrant from El Salvador who bused tables in the club's restaurant, went to neighboring Plainfield to buy her phony Social Security card alias, "Yohana Pineda." Before going to her interview, Vasquez asked a friend if the club would hire people who used fake documents. [Most read] Apartment building with 285 units and roof-level event center to be next addition to Naperville’s CityGate » "I thought, 'This is a place with a very famous owner,' " she recalled. "My friend said there was nothing to worry about. She told me, 'They don't care.'" Mariano Quesada, shown in Santa Teresa de Cajon, Costa Rica, was an early greenskeeper at the New Jersey golf club. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) Several former workers said that managers in housekeeping and maintenance were well aware their documents were fraudulent - but hired them anyway. Housekeeper Gilberta Dominguez said her manager filled out her application in 2016 because she didn't speak English. "And I said, 'Listen, we don't have good papers,' " Dominguez, of Oaxaca, Mexico, recalled telling her manager. "She said, 'It doesn't matter; don't talk about that.' " In 2005, Zuñiga said, he decided that it was better to be working at Bedminster under his own name in case he got hurt on the job. He purchased new fake documents and turned those in to his supervisors. Juan Lara was suddenly Juan Carlos Zuñiga. His bosses didn't flinch, he said. "They were making jokes about the Social Security cards in the office, because they looked so fake," he recalled. "They would joke that my name was Juan Lara at the beginning." In 2011, Hank Protinsky, then the club's head of security, was warned by local police that an employee could be using fake papers, according to a police report obtained by The Post through a public records request. Trump’s golf course employed undocumented workers — and then fired them amid showdown over border wall By Joshua Partlow and David A. Fahrenthold The worker's status was discovered when the Bedminster Township Police Department investigated a hit-and-run accident on the course and questioned a man identified as the driver: a club employee working under the name Reinaldo Villareal. When Officer Thomas Polito spoke to Villareal, he "told me that his real name was Fredis Otero and that he was working under a false name and social security numbers," Polito wrote. Otero, a native of Colombia, told police that he had arrived in the United States as a cabin steward on a cruise ship and walked off the ship when it docked in Miami in 2010. He obtained a three-month vacation visa, then bought a fake Social Security card and U.S. permanent resident card and used them to get hired at Trump's course, according to the report. Polito wrote in the police report that he told Protinsky his employee "may be using a false name and government documentation." The head of security gave the police officer a copy of Villareal's employment application, which showed that while his resident card listed his first name as "Reynaldo," his application spelled it "Reinaldo," the report said. Police arrested Otero and contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about his case. It is unclear if Otero, who could not be reached for comment, was deported. The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment. Protinsky - who has since left the course - could not be reached for comment. Other former workers said their jobs at Bedminster, along with Trump's popularity with local law enforcement agencies, afforded them a degree of protection despite their immigration status. One former kitchen staffer from Ecuador still carries an ID card with her name and photo that says she is a "supporter" of a foundation that provides scholarships to the children of New Jersey State Police. She said she got the card at a golf tournament the charity held at Bedminster. The foundation did not respond to a request for comment. Marco Gamboa Fallas, a former worker at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, in Santa Teresa de Cajon, Costa Rica. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post) At times, rifts between legal employees and those without papers were occasionally laid bare in front of the managers. In mid-2015, Emma Torres, a housekeeper from Ecuador, said she complained to the club's general manager, David Schutzenhofer, about a supervisor who blocked her from taking a lunch break and frequently berated her for not speaking English. During the meeting, she said Schutzenhofer asked her if she was going to file a complaint with the state labor department. Torres told him that would be impossible. "I told him no, because I didn't have papers," she said. Trump had recently launched his presidential campaign, vowing to build a border wall. Torres said she asked Schutzenhofer why Trump spoke so harshly about immigrants. "This is just politics," he said. Torres stayed at the club but was reassigned to the kitchen. The Post reached out to Schutzenhofer and two dozen current and former managers at Bedminster - including those identified by the workers as their supervisors - and asked if they were aware that the club employed people without legal status. Most either declined to comment or did not respond. One former groundskeeping manager responded only by sending The Post an animated image of Trump saying, "I have great relationships with the Mexican people." Another former manager, who confirmed working closely with both Zuñiga and Garro, said, "I think everyone was in the dark. We all assumed they were legal." That manager spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve relationships in the golf industry. Ed Russo, an environmental consultant who worked on the Bedminster project and was remembered by one of the Costa Ricans as a supervisor, declined to address whether he was aware illegal workers were hired for the project. "Are you documented?" Russo asked a reporter. "You're not going to get anything from me." Over the years, Trump family members have emphasized their deep involvement in properties that carry their name. "People think of Trump as being just a face, just a brand," Eric Trump said in a 2011 promotional video about the company's golf courses. "We design every single tee, every fairway. . . . We pick the carpets. We pick the chandeliers. There is not one element of these clubhouses which we don't know about it. You name it -we're involved." Franklin Mora, who worked Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, now works at a construction site near Santa Teresa de Cajon, Costa Rica. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post) Donald Trump himself was an imperious but mostly distant figure for the illegal workers, who in the early years at Bedminster would be told to make themselves scarce when "the big boss" would arrive by helicopter. Groundskeepers would stay inside a converted horse barn used to store tools and machinery or go into the woods to wait, they said. "When he arrived, we had to hide," said Alan Mora, a former greenskeeper who helped build the driving range and who now works as a security guard at a resort hotel in Santa Teresa. "We had to be invisible." On days Trump dined in the club's restaurant, Vasquez said she and five other Spanish-speaking women working illegally at the club in 2004 and 2005 were sent upstairs by their supervisor to fold napkins and buff the glassware, and kept out of sight. "They would tell us it was because the restaurant was hosting an important event, and only the workers who could speak English could be there," she said. Trump was also known for his occasional largesse. The housekeepers who cleaned his villa noted neat stacks of $20, $50 and $100 bills on his bedside table, which Trump would dole out as tips as he golfed or strolled the grounds. He would sometimes warmly greet employees and compliment them as he inspected their work. Trump's election did not bring any added scrutiny to his workers' immigration status, former employees said. Torres said superiors kept her name and those of other workers without legal status off a list of people to be vetted by the Secret Service before a Trump visit to the club in 2016. Another former employee who arrived in the United States in 2018 on a tourist visa and worked as a groundskeeper said his manager only asked for his nationality in preparation for a Trump visit. He told him that he was from Costa Rica. Groundskeepers were given a general warning not to bring drugs, weapons or explosives to work, a request he found amusing. "It was very light security, very normal," said the employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he hopes to return to the United States. "Here in Costa Rica, to enter someone's home, they would ask for more. They want you to identify yourself. Over there, that didn't happen." Dario Angulo works with his cattle in Costa Rica at sunrise. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post) The long-standing presence of unauthorized workers at Bedminster created a culture in which employees were stratified by immigration status and English-language proficiency, former employees said. At the top were the professional staff and senior managers who spoke little or no Spanish. Below them were mid-level supervisors who were often immigrants themselves and able to converse in both languages. Many without legal status told The Post they did not receive health benefits, while they heard other colleagues did. Groundskeepers would work through storms, snow and glaring sun with little protection. One rainy day in 2007, Zuñiga said, he and other greenskeepers staged a one-day strike, refusing to leave a maintenance building until supervisors agreed to pay them for sick days. The maintenance manager eventually conceded and offered rain jackets to the greenskeepers. Some of the longer-serving staff members were offered health insurance, too. "This was the first protest by the Hispanics," Zuñiga said. Franklin Mora, who quit after a year on the grounds crew, said that his manager would mock his limited English and spoke harshly to the Hispanic employees. The manager required them to set their mowers at a pace that required them to jog to keep up in a fashion he viewed as humiliating. "They treated us like slaves," he said. The experience left Mora so bitter he said he wouldn't return to the United States even as a tourist. Still, others remain hopeful they will get to go back to Bedminster as part of a seasonal workforce that swells every spring. In Santa Teresa de Cajon, some former Trump workers recall their New Jersey years as a rite of passage - not unlike military service or leaving home for college. They learned to cook their own meals, clean up after themselves, and endure freezing winters and homesickness. "The golf course is the best thing that has happened in my life," said Angulo, who now earns his living raising cattle. He said he didn't care much for Bound Brook or other U.S. cities he visited, but he loved tending to the golf course and dreams of going back one day to see the place "that taught me how to work hard." This time, he said, he would like to go as a tourist. Alice Crites and Jonathan O'Connell in Washington, Lori Rozsa in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Kim Kavin in Bedminster, N.J., contributed to this report First published by The Washington Post	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759040
__label__wiki	0.908674	0.908674	Lil Rel Lil Rel Howery is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer. You might have seen him in the biggest Netflix movie in history, Bird Box. His role as TSA agent, Rod Williams in the Oscar-winning instant classic Get Out ushered Howery into superstar status. Winner of the “Best Comedic Performance in a Movie” at the MTV Movie & Television Awards, nominated for an IMAGE Award for “Best Supporting Actor” and crowned Bernie Mac “Comedy King of the Year,” Lil Rel is experiencing success at a rate bestowed upon few in Hollywood’s history. Howery executive produces and stars in REL, which debuted Fall 2018 on Fox. His latest film, Brittany Runs A Marathon, won the “Audience Award” at Sundance and was quickly acquired by Amazon for wide release this summer. Lil Rel played the lead role in the film Uncle Drew, and guest-starred alongside Issa Rae in HBO’s Insecure. He starred in the critically-acclaimed NBC comedy series The Carmichael Show as Jerrod Carmichael’s brother Bobby. Rel also was an executive producer, wrote and starred in the “gleefully absurd” (Chicago Sun Times) weekly sketch comedy show Friends Of The People on TruTV. Rel’s first hour stand-up special, RELevent, premiered on Comedy Central. The hour was executive produced by Kevin Hart and was named one of “The 10 Best Stand-Up Specials of 2015” by Vulture. Up next, you can see Lil Rel starring opposite Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy, and performing stand-up on his nationwide 2019 tour.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759041
__label__cc	0.562182	0.437818	The 50 Greatest Skate Logos ByDon Pendleton Written by Don Pendleton Skateboard graphics have been written about endlessly for the past ten years, but the skateboard logo is often overlooked. So, it's ironic that in 2011, the skateboard logo has become the skateboard graphic in many ways. But the two aren't the same. The logo is the powerful icon that represents the company's legacy, while graphic styles tend to ebb and flow. Just as skateboarding has evolved and changed over the decades, the skateboard logo has as well, for better and for worse. Picking out the top 50 logos in skateboarding isn't an easy task. Do you separate the logo from the company and base it on visual appeal? I think that's impossible given the nature of skating. Ultimately, these are logos from companies that built the landscape of skateboarding from the ground up. So you have to take into consideration the impact of the brand as well as the logo it represents. If a logo has personal importance to you, then that's all that matters. My list is only one opinion and forged from jumping into skateboarding in 1984. The logos you grow up with always mean more to you than the ones that came before or after. I'm not even going to suggest that I can be unbiased about something that means so much to me; but I also like to think that as a skater who has worked within the industry as an artist and a skate rat that grew up in the Midwest, I can separate my love of the activity from my personal feelings about the industry and companies. These are important logos for many reasons. Some are more powerful and meaningful than others but what I'm addressing are icons that have come to represent skateboarding in a lot of ways... succinctly and graphically. Click the thumbnails above to check out the 50 Greatest Skate Logos. ListsRidesArt & Design	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759043
__label__wiki	0.915287	0.915287	Banksy and Illegal Work Protected by Law Banksy© Banksy would be a coup for the police. The public would know his identity and his ever-increasing rap sheet would finally be meted out. Despite this, Banksy's recent court case actually didn't go against him, but for, in a copyright scandal that shows attitudes are turning within and towards the street art world. We all know that Banksy functions in a legal grey area. While the act itself is illegal, his reputation and subsequent value means that his works are often protected in an official capacity. A wall worth little more than the brick and mortar of its raw materials suddenly becomes a canvas displaying the world-famous artists' work. It's still illegal though, that's the bottom line. But in a unique turn of events, the artist was recently the subject of a court appearance, only he wasn't the one facing a charge. The artist accused an Italian museum of profiting from his name through merchandise sales, breaching copyright. He won. What does this say about the law? the artist? Firstly, it shows that the artists' rights have been protected, regardless of pending charges. This is testament to a system built on strong principles. Ironically, these are principles that Banksy used to rage against, once branding copyright as being "for losers". Is this a change in the artists' attitude? Milan's Mudec Museum has come under fire after their exhibition 'The Art of Banksy - A Visual Protest' was viewed to be breaching copyright by selling unauthorised merchandise. Although the artist has every right to press charges, as he has successfully done, many view it as 'selling out'. It stands to reason that it's a difficult ethical and moral position to be in, straddling legal and illegal - one that many similar artists struggle with. Banksy, the biggest name in street art, is bound to draw more attention to himself and to the art movement regarding these issues. Once, in its graffiti form, a true voice of protest, street art first became a buzzword in creative circles before eventually becoming a part of the corporate machine itself, with major artists collaborating with large, often unethical, brands. This incident seems like a zenith for the crossover between accepted and not for the artist though. Known for lampooning private ownership, Banksy now wants to protect his own financial interests from others. Through Banksy's authentication service 'Pest Control', the artist and his legal team tackled the museum in a case in Italy where organisers were provisionally told in January to stop selling diaries, erasers, notepads and postcards incorporating the artists' works, despite the exhibition itself only including authentic prints or original artworks from the artist. Artists and those working in creative fields work hard to get their work out there and the English artist has long been tolerant of others copying his work, even going so far as to encourage and satirise the phenomenon. But has the artist lodged the action purely selfishly? Is the internet's baying mob responding too harshly? The other side of the coin is that the artist has behaved in a way so as to empower other artists to take a similar stand against people that should know better, that have enough funding/capital and should be respecting their work. The judge ruled evidence sufficient but shaky and moving forward, the artist will be forced to prove his brands worth in the market. To do so, he may have to produce his own official merchandise to highlight the value and demand for his products. Counter to Banksy's artistic philosophy and anti-capitalistic message, such a move would likely further polarise the street art and art worlds. Without doing so, his evidence in future trials may prove too weak to mandate his copyright claims. Street art has gone through many changes, weaving between different worlds, but this one is perhaps the most important in a long time and shares many similarities with music streaming services as those began to emerge. Banksy is walking a tightrope between profit and principle. One would imagine though that there will be more twists before the story is settled. Outsiders 2008 - Where It All Began An exhibition in New York that ended one era, and opened up another.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759044
__label__wiki	0.981063	0.981063	Arts-Life > Entertainment Rap artists, women take center stage at Grammy Awards Cardi B performs "Money" at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Cardi B, left, accepts the award for best rap album for "Invasion of Privacy" as Offset looks on at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Jason Cole, from left, Hiro Murai and Ibra Ake pose in the press room with the award for best music video for Childish Gambino's "This Is America" at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Chris Pizzello Kacey Musgraves, winner of the awards for best country album for "Golden Hour", best country song for "Space Cowboy", best country solo performance for "Butterflies" and album of the year for "Golden Hour" poses in the press room at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Chris Pizzello Dua Lipa accepts the award for best new artist at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. Looking on at right is presenter Bob Newhart. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Dua Lipa accepts the award for best new artist at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Lady Gaga (right) and Mark Ronson perform “Shallow” at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles. AP Brandi Carlile performs "The Joke" at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Janelle Monae, center, performs "Make Me Feel" at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Janelle Monae performs "Make Me Feel" at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles H.E.R. performs "Hard Place" at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Matt Sayles Rap artists and women have felt shunned by the Grammy Awards in recent years. But this year, they both took center stage. Childish Gambino’s disturbing look at race relations, This is America, won record and song of the year on Sunday’s telecast. It was the first time a rap-based song won both of those awards, considered – with album of the year – the recording industry’s most prestigious. Kacey Musgraves won top album and matched Childish Gambino with four Grammys total. A year after many women felt left out of the Grammy telecast, they delivered the night’s most memorable performances. The best new artist winner, British singer Dua Lipa, also cast major shade on the outgoing recording academy president. Lady Gaga and Brandi Carlile won three Grammys apiece, and former first lady Michelle Obama was a surprise guest at the top of the show on CBS. Childish Gambino, the stage name of actor Donald Glover, and another prominent rap nominee, Kendrick Lamar, both declined invitations to perform or attend Sunday’s show. Some rap artists feel the Grammys have been slow to recognize how the genre now dominates popular music. Ludwig Goransson, a songwriter and producer on This is America, said backstage that he was surprised the victories were so historic. Just listening to the radio, watching the culture and seeing how many rap songs are downloaded is evidence of rap’s impact. “It’s about time something like this happened with the Grammys as well,” Goransson said. Cardi B became the first solo woman to win best rap album , although Lauryn Hill was the lead singer of the Fugees, which won the same award at the 1997 Grammys. Cardi B was so nervous accepting the award that she joked, “Maybe I need to start smoking weed.” She looked anything but rattled earlier, when her rendition of “Money” was among the night’s performance highlights. Janelle Monae delivered a smoking version of her hit “Make Me Feel”; St. Vincent and Dua Lipa’s duet on “Masseduction” was steamy; H.E.R. turned heads with “Hard Place”; and Carlile sang an inspired version of her hit “The Joke.” Being part of a big night for women was huge to her, Carlile said backstage after the show. “I’m a kid from the ’90s and Lilith Fair, you know, and those women were just dominating those platforms,” she said. “They were dominating those arena and amphitheater stages. They were getting record deals. They were becoming record executives themselves. They completely controlled the airwaves. They were on the radio. And to watch that backslide for the last 20 years has been heartbreaking. Tonight, it gives me hope as a mother of two young daughters.” When she accepted her best new artist award, Dua Lipa pointedly said, “I guess this year we really stepped up.” That was a reference to outgoing Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow, who said women needed to “step up” when he was asked about the lack of women in top categories in 2018. He later acknowledged it was a poor choice of words and delivered another mea culpa on Sunday’s show. Yet Dua Lipa was rewarded by having her acceptance speech cut off mid-sentence. She wasn’t alone, however, as a handful of other artists were also hustled off the stage, and the show seemed disjointed at the end, rushing through its final awards. Under the circumstances, having a lengthy tribute to Portnow before he gave his own speech seemed tone-deaf. Lipa said later she would have thanked her fans, her inspirations and team if she had more time. When she was onstage, Lipa was one of a handful of winners who paid special tribute to fellow artists. Another was Drake, whose appearance to accept the Grammy when “God’s Plan” won best rap song was a surprise because he’s not big on award shows. He reminded fans and fellow artists that awards are based on the subjective views of others, and aren’t contests in which there are clear winners and losers. “You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown. Look, if there are people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain and the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here. I promise you. You already won,” he said at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Musgrave picked up album of the year for Golden Hour, which is labeled country but had wider appeal. “I never dreamed that this record would be met with such love, such warmth, such positivity,” said Musgraves, who performed a stately version of her song “Rainbow.” Dolly Parton starred in the best of the night’s two tributes to veteran artists, performing a medley of her songs with Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Maren Morris. The highlight of Diana Ross’s night was the cute introduction by a grandson with a mountain of hair. The Grammys took some online blowback by having Jennifer Lopez deliver a tribute to Motown, once the nation’s preeminent label for black artists. Despite her hustle, Lopez was outshone by show host Alicia Keys and Smokey Robinson delivering one verse of “Tracks of My Tears” a capella. Obama appeared on the show’s opening with Keys, Gaga, Lopez and Jada Pinkett Smith to describe the role music had played in their lives – seemingly a pointed reference to last year’s controversy over women artists. “Music has always helped me tell my story,” Obama said. “Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves. It allows us to hear one another.” Another ex-White House resident was awarded a Grammy on Sunday. Former President Jimmy Carter, who is 94, won an award for best spoken word recording. It’s his second Grammy.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759045
__label__cc	0.532156	0.467844	HomeMike Mangan2017-04-30T10:15:38+00:00 In advance of the upcoming 4th edition of The Condominium Manual, we are pleased to publish Mike Mangan’s overview of the new British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal. (updated January 8, 2017) Civil Resolution Tribunal Overview British Columbia’s favourite comprehensive guide to strata law! Now in it’s third edition with over 14,000+ copies sold to condo owners and real estate professionals since 2001 and over 1,000+ online users, this guide is designed for you. The Condominium Manual is the most comprehensive plain-language guide to strata law and condominium ownership in British Columbia. Comprehensive trusted guide written in plain language Full of examples and easy to understand explanations of complex issue A favourite resource for property managers, strata council members and lawyers Accessible by online subscription and in print Written by one of British Columbia’s most trusted lawyers and real estate teachers An invaluable resource for owners, strata council members, real estate licensees and even lawyers, The Condominium Manual is also a standard text for licensed Property Managers in British Columbia. Waiting for the Next Edition? Subscribe to the Condominium Manual mailing list for publication updates! Accessible ONLINE and in PRINT. The Condominium Manual is available in an affordable softcover print edition. It is available in bookstores in British Columbia and through the CondoManual.ca online store. The print edition of The Condominium Manual is currently sold out. Please subscribe to the mailing list for publication updates on the next edition. The Condominium Manual ONLINE EDITIONis an innovative online reference guide that combines the best of both print and digital worlds. It features a simple, easy to read layout and compatibility with all major browsers and devices. Only available by subscription on Condomanual.ca, The Condominium Manual ONLINE always includes the latest edition of the book, regular updates, links to cases and statutes and easy indexed searching. Fully indexed and searchable Links to cases and legislation Updates and upgrades included Mobile and iPad friendly design Always the latest edition Easy and accessible As we prepare for publication of the 4th edition of The Condominium Manual, the previous 3rd edition has been made available to the public free of charge. Click here to access previous edition of The Condominium Manual. 2012 Georgia Straight Best of Vancouver. Best place to learn about condo law Georgia Straight Best of Vancouver 2012 Vancouver lawyer Mike Mangan’s greatest claim to fame these days is his son Dan Mangan, who is one of Canada’s most popular indie singer-songwriters. But the father is no slouch when it comes to legal issues concerning condos. His gargantuan 2010 book, The Condominium Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Strata Law in British Columbia (Strata Publishing), addresses every conceivable problem that can arise, including renting a suite, paying for repairs to common property, fixing windows, and resolving disputes with strata councils. The Condominium Manual is 652 pages, which shows how complicated this area of the law has become. But it’s written in a clear way, making it easier for people who feel intimidated venturing into the legal arena. Mangan’s condo book answers many questions Suzanne Morphet, August 6, 2011 Had I known about Mike Mangan’s book, The Condominium Manual, when I started writing this column, it would have answered a lot of questions. As someone new to the world of strata, I found all the rules and regulations perplexing. The Condominium Manual breaks down strata law in B.C. Georgia Straight, Charlie Smith, December 22, 2010 He wasn’t kidding when he included the word “comprehensive” in the title. This 589-page doorstop covers everything a developer, buyer, owner, or agent would want to know about the topic. Listen to Mike Mangan on the Radio! A trusted lawyer and teacher to over 10,000 real estate licensees. Mike Mangan on CFAX 1070 Victoria Mike Mangan on AM 1150 Kelowna For over 12 years, people have relied on The Condominium Manual! The 3rd edition of The Condominium Manual by Mike Mangan is an indispensable “must have it” guide for everyone involved with strata properties in B.C. Lawyers, Notaries, Realtors, Property Mangers and every strata council member should keep a copy close at hand. This convenient and comprehensive book is my primary resource for the many issues that arise in regard to condos in B.C. Ron Usher, B.Sc., J.D, General Counsel, Society of Notaries Public of BC As a Managing Broker, I use this often as the main resource for strata property questions that arise throughout the office. It is a great source of information. Cliff Moberg, President of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, Managing Broker, Sutton Group-West Coast Realty (Duncan) This is the essential tool for all representatives and Brokers. The condominium manual will help make you more professional. Everyone should have this valuable resource. Moss Moloney, President of the British Columbia Real Estate Association The Condominium Manual is an essential resource for practitioners of real estate sales and strata property management. Strata Council members and owner of strata titled properties will find it very useful as well. Bill Dick, Managing Broker, Macdonald Realty (Kerrisdale) As a REALTOR™, Real Estate Instructor and Associate Broker, I believe that Mike Mangan’s latest edition of The Condominium Manual is a must have reference book for anyone requiring in-depth information concerning strata properties. The Manual is easy to read and covers the whole range of topics necessary to educate and inform Condominium Owners, as well as Strata Managers and Real Estate Associates. I have often referred to Mike’s previous editions of The Condominium Manual when advising my clients, colleagues and students on strata issues, and am pleased to have his latest edition which includes up to date amendments to the Strata Property Act and new court decisions. Rosemary Barnes, Director of the Real Estate Errors and Omissions Insurance Corporation Mike Mangan, BA, LLB Called to the British Columbia bar for 29 years, Mike Mangan is an experienced lawyer, teacher and author. Recognized for his ability to describe legal matters in plain terms, he has appeared on CTV and Shaw television, and on CBC, CKNW and CFUN radio in Vancouver. Mike has also been the subject of newspaper articles in the Vancouver Sun, Business In Vancouver and the Victoria Times Colonist. Until July 2009, Mike served for eight years as an Adjunct Professor of Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia, where he taught real estate law. He continues to teach real estate law in the Real Estate Division of U.B.C.’s Sauder School of Business. Among British Columbia’s real estate boards, Mike is a well-known lecturer who, by a conservative estimate, has taught over 22,000 real estate licensees since 1992. Mike was the first Practice Standards Advisor for the Law Society of British Columbia. He has helped design programs to teach lawyers, notaries and real estate agents to avoid claims. Mike is the author of The Condominium Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Strata Law in British Columbia, now in its third edition. From 1999 to 2004 he was revisions author for real estate agency matters in the B.C. Real Estate Practice Manual published by the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia. He is a contributing author to Falconbridge on Mortgages, 5th edition, a legal text used by lawyers and judges across Canada. It is published by Canada Law Book Inc.. Mike is also the principal author of the British Columbia Real Estate Association’s Legal Update, a comprehensive annual review of court cases, Real Estate Council decisions, and new legislation affecting real estate licensees. In addition, he is the principal author of What If …?, a real estate text published by U.B.C. and distributed, in part, by the Real Estate Council of British Columbia. In addition, from 1999 to 2005 Mike was the editor of Directors’ Liability in Canada, a national legal text published by STP Specialty Technical Publishers, Inc. He is also the principal author of The Annotated British Columbia Society Act, a book providing annual summaries of every significant court case decided under our societies legislation. The text is published by Canada Law Book Inc. and is designed for use by non-lawyers and lawyers alike. In 2007 Mike was also appointed a member of the British Columbia Law Institute’s Society Act Reform Project, where he helped to draft proposed new legislation for non-profit societies in B.C. In 1994, Mike developed Board Members At Risk, a three-hour seminar to teach directors of non-profit societies and similar organizations about their duties and liabilities as board members and how to reduce their individual risk. Over 1500 directors across British Columbia have taken this seminar. He has also served as a director of various community organizations. Please note that Mike maintains an extensive teaching, travel and writing schedule. He is not accepting new clients for legal matters at this time.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759046
__label__cc	0.666627	0.333373	Tom Rowland Updated: June 14, 2019, 9:35 a.m. Tom Rowland, of Covington, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2019, at the age of 93. Mr. Rowland proudly and honorably served his country with the United States Navy during WWII. After his tour of duty, he continued his education and graduated from the University of Georgia. He was a highly respected and well-liked educator for many years and would eventually retire from the Newton County School System. Mr. Rowland was a Boy Scout Master, Troop 222, in Covington, and a deacon and longtime member of Covington First Baptist Church. In addition to his love of family and friends, he will be remembered for his love of gardening – tomatoes and azaleas were his favorites. Mr. Rowland was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Frances Rowland; son, Jody Rowland; step-daughter, Cynthia Head Jackson. Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Piper Rowland; sons and daughters-in-law, Tommy and Gaye Rowland; Bill and Susan Rowland, Mark and Lisa Rowland, Danny and Dorraine Rowland, Randall and Elisa Rowland; step-daughter, Rosemary Davenport, step-son, James Reginald Head, Jr.; 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; brother, Sam Rowland; as well as several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service for Mr. Rowland will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at the Chapel of Caldwell & Cowan, 1215 Access Road, in Covington, with the Rev. Steve Aldridge officiating. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the funeral home, one hour prior to the service, from noon to 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made to First Baptist Church, c/o Sanctuary Fund, 1139 Usher St. NE, Covington, GA 30014.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759050
__label__wiki	0.663436	0.663436	Chronos January 19, 2019 No Comments apparitionFolkloreGhosthauntphantomPoltergeistshadespecter or spectrespiritspookwraith Modern period of western culture Spiritualist movement By 1853, when the popular song Spirit Rappings was published, Spiritualism was an object of intense curiosity. Spiritualism is a monotheistic belief system or religion, postulating a belief in God, but with a distinguishing feature of belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world can be contacted by “mediums”, who can then provide information about the afterlife. Spiritualism developed in the United States and reached its peak growth in membership from the 1840s to the 1920s, especially in English-language countries. By 1897, it was said to have more than eight million followers in the United States and Europe, mostly drawn from the middle and upper classes, while the corresponding movement in continental Europe and Latin America is known as Spiritism. The religion flourished for a half century without canonical texts or formal organization, attaining cohesion by periodicals, tours by trance lecturers, camp meetings, and the missionary activities of accomplished mediums. Many prominent Spiritualists were women. Most followers supported causes such as the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage. By the late 1880s, credibility of the informal movement weakened, due to accusations of fraud among mediums, and formal Spiritualist organizations began to appear. Spiritualism is currently practiced primarily through various denominational Spiritualist Churches in the United States and United Kingdom. Spiritism, or French spiritualism, is based on the five books of the Spiritist Codification written by French educator Hypolite Léon Denizard Rivail under the pseudonym Allan Kardec reporting séances in which he observed a series of phenomena that he attributed to incorporeal intelligence (spirits). His assumption of spirit communication was validated by many contemporaries, among them many scientists and philosophers who attended séances and studied the phenomena. His work was later extended by writers like Leon Denis, Arthur Conan Doyle, Camille Flammarion, Ernesto Bozzano, Chico Xavier, Divaldo Pereira Franco, Waldo Vieira, Johannes Greber, and others. Spiritism has adherents in many countries throughout the world, including Spain, United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, England, Argentina, Portugal, and especially Brazil, which has the largest proportion and greatest number of followers. Scientific view A 1901 depiction of ball lightning The physician John Ferriar wrote “An Essay Towards a Theory of Apparitions” in 1813 in which he argued that sightings of ghosts were the result of optical illusions. Later the French physician Alexandre Jacques François Brière de Boismont published On Hallucinations: Or, the Rational History of Apparitions, Dreams, Ecstasy, Magnetism, and Somnambulism in 1845 in which he claimed sightings of ghosts were the result of hallucinations. David Turner, a retired physical chemist, suggested that ball lightning could cause inanimate objects to move erratically. Joe Nickell of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry wrote that there was no credible scientific evidence that any location was inhabited by spirits of the dead. Limitations of human perception and ordinary physical explanations can account for ghost sightings; for example, air pressure changes in a home causing doors to slam, humidity changes causing boards to creak, condensation in electrical connections causing intermittent behavior, or lights from a passing car reflected through a window at night. Pareidolia, an innate tendency to recognize patterns in random perceptions, is what some skeptics believe causes people to believe that they have ‘seen ghosts’. Reports of ghosts “seen out of the corner of the eye” may be accounted for by the sensitivity of human peripheral vision. According to Nickell, peripheral vision can easily mislead, especially late at night when the brain is tired and more likely to misinterpret sights and sounds. Nickell further states, “science cannot substantiate the existence of a ‘life energy’ that could survive death without dissipating or function at all without a brain… why would… clothes survive?'” He asks, if ghosts glide, then why do people claim to hear them with “heavy footfalls”? Nickell says that ghosts act the same way as “dreams, memories, and imaginings, because they too are mental creations. They are evidence – not of another world, but of this real and natural one.” Benjamin Radford from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and author of the 2017 book Investigating Ghosts: The Scientific Search for Spirits writes that “ghost hunting is the world’s most popular paranormal pursuit” yet, to date ghost hunters can’t agree on what a ghost is, or offer proof that they exist “it’s all speculation and guesswork”. He writes that it would be “useful and important to distinguish between types of spirits and apparitions. Until then it’s merely a parlor game distracting amateur ghost hunters from the task at hand.” According to research in anomalistic psychology visions of ghosts may arise from hypnagogic hallucinations (“waking dreams” experienced in the transitional states to and from sleep). In a study of two experiments into alleged hauntings (Wiseman et al. 2003) came to the conclusion “that people consistently report unusual experiences in ‘haunted’ areas because of environmental factors, which may differ across locations.” Some of these factors included “the variance of local magnetic fields, size of location and lighting level stimuli of which witnesses may not be consciously aware”. Some researchers, such as Michael Persinger of Laurentian University, Canada, have speculated that changes in geomagnetic fields (created, e.g., by tectonic stresses in the Earth’s crust or solar activity) could stimulate the brain’s temporal lobes and produce many of the experiences associated with hauntings. Sound is thought to be another cause of supposed sightings. Richard Lord and Richard Wiseman have concluded that infrasound can cause humans to experience bizarre feelings in a room, such as anxiety, extreme sorrow, a feeling of being watched, or even the chills. Carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause changes in perception of the visual and auditory systems, was speculated upon as a possible explanation for haunted houses as early as 1921. People who experience sleep paralysis often report seeing ghosts during their experiences. Neuroscientists Baland Jalal and V.S. Ramachandran have recently proposed neurological theories for why people hallucinate ghosts during sleep paralysis. Their theories emphasize the role of the parietal lobe and mirror neurons in triggering such ghostly hallucinations. Previous Previous post: Vampire Next Next post: Eliza Battle	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759053
__label__cc	0.707413	0.292587	We periodically review our terms and conditions and place them here for review by our clients and other interested parties. We believe that our terms and conditions are clear, transparent, and reasonable. But if you have any questions about them, please get in touch. See below to review our terms and conditions and the Psycruit privacy policy. Psycruit's Privacy Policy (a) These terms and conditions set out the terms and conditions on which Criterion Partnership Limited (Criterion) will provide its Services to you. In some cases, these terms and conditions will be accompanied by a formal Proposal document setting out a specification for the Services and other key terms such as pricing (these terms and conditions and any Proposal together being referred to in this document as ‘the Contract’). By proceeding with the Contract, you will in all cases be deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions. 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(e) The one year contract is renewed automatically unless you give notice three (3) months before the term ends. 2. Consultancy and online assessment services (a) Criterion shall provide its consultancy services and its online services (each referred to as Services) in accordance with any Proposal and these terms and conditions in all material respects. Criterion warrants to you that the Services will be provided using reasonable care and skill. (b) Criterion shall use all reasonable endeavours to provide the Services and deliver outcomes in accordance with a timetable agreed with Clients prior to commencement of a project, or as amended by mutual consent in writing during a project. Timely delivery is subject to the Client making people, information and resources available as agreed and Criterion shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of the Services that is caused by a Force Majeure Event. 3. 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Since Criterion has no practical alternative but to host its online Services on secure third party servers and provide access to some of its Services via the Internet, the Client accepts that the provision of the Services may be subject to outages of those servers or the Internet over which Criterion cannot be expected to have any control. Criterion is conscientious and uses reasonable care and skill in the selection of its third party suppliers and the security of its systems, but its procedures in this respect and its relevant policies of insurance must be recognised as being those that might be expected to be maintained by a small to medium sized enterprise 2. Criterion maintains strict and appropriate back-up procedures and these provide for the back-up on a regular basis of all project data to which Criterion has access via its systems. 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Criterion restricts access to confidential Client data to persons within Criterion who have need to access that data for purposes related to the Contract 5. Criterion's total liability to the Client in respect of all other losses arising under or in connection with the Contract, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed the lower of (i) £25,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount of fees paid by the Client to Criterion in the 12 months prior to the date of the act or omission giving rise to the claim (c) Criterion will provide the Services using reasonable care and skill. Any claims in relation to the Services must be notified to Criterion in writing not more than 6 months after conclusion of delivery of the Services. Except as provided in this clause 6, Criterion shall have no liability to the Client in respect of any failure of the Services to comply with the warranty set out in this sub-clause (c). 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(m) If the Client gives notice in writing during the warranty period within a reasonable time of discovery that some or all of the products do not comply with the warranty set out in sub-clause. (n) and the Client (if asked to do so by Criterion) returns such products to Criterion's place of business at the Client's cost, Criterion shall, at its option, repair or replace the defective products, or refund the price of the defective products in full. (o) Except as provided in this clause 6, Criterion shall have no liability to the Client in respect of any failure of the physical products to comply with the warranty set out in sub-clause (k). (p) The risk in physical products shall pass to the Client on delivery. Title to those products shall not pass to the Client until Criterion receives payment in full (in cash or cleared funds) for the products and any other products or Services that Criterion has supplied to the Client, in which case title to the products shall pass at the time of payment of all such sums. 7. Termination & Suspension (a) Without limiting its other rights or remedies, Criterion may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving written notice to the Client if the Client commits a material breach of its obligations under the Contract and (if such breach is remediable) fails to remedy that breach within 21 days after receipt of notice in writing to do so. (b) Without limiting its other rights or remedies, Criterion may terminate the Contract with immediate effect by giving written notice to the Client if the Client fails to pay any amount due under the Contract on the due date for payment. 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(c) If the Force Majeure Event prevents Criterion from providing any of the Services and/or products for more than 12 weeks, Criterion shall, without limiting its other rights or remedies, have the right to terminate the Contract immediately by giving written notice to the Client. 9. Other (a) Assignment and Sub-contracting. Criterion may at any time assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights under the Contract and may subcontract or delegate in any manner any or all of its obligations under the Contract. (b) Severance. If any provision or part-provision of the Contract is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Contract. (c) Waiver. A waiver of any right under the Contract or law is only effective if it is in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right or remedy under the Contract or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor prevent or restrict its further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. (d) We reserve the right to increase prices annually, according to the UK inflation rate. (e) Nothing in the Contract is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any legal partnership or joint venture between Criterion and the Client, nor constitute either of them as the agent of the other for any purpose. Neither party shall have authority to act as agent for, or to bind, the other party in any way. (f) A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any rights to enforce its terms. The Client are fully responsible for any claim made by any user, candidate, customer or third party to the Client. (g) Notices. Any notice or other communication given to a party under or in connection with the Contract shall be in writing, addressed to that party at its registered office (if it is a company) or its principal place of business (in any other case) or such other address as that party may have specified to the other party in writing in accordance with this clause, and shall be delivered personally or sent by prepaid first-class post or other next working day delivery service or by commercial courier (but not by e-mail). A notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been received: if delivered personally, when left at the address described in the first sentence of this sub-clause 9(f); if sent by pre-paid first class post or other next working day delivery service, at 9.00 am on the second business day after posting; if delivered by commercial courier, on the date and at the time that the courier's delivery receipt is signed. (h) Governing law. These terms and conditions and of the Contract and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non- contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales. (i) Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these terms and conditions and of the Contract or their subject matter or formation (including non- contractual disputes or claims).	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759054
__label__cc	0.654618	0.345382	Friday the 13th, Part 1 Filming Location HomePamela V.2018-11-14T08:30:19-04:00 Friday the 13th, Part 1 Filming Location Tour Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco is private property of the Boy Scouts of America. To protect the health and safety of our youth campers, the camp is not open to visitors at any time outside an official tour date. Having trespassers on the property makes it harder for us to get approval for the official tours. Thanks for your understanding! Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco (or “No-Be” for short) is a thriving Boy Scout Camp tucked away in the hills of northwestern New Jersey, USA. The camp opened in 1927, making it the oldest continuously operating Scout camp in New Jersey. Since then, countless Scouts have made the trip to No-Be and forged memories to last a lifetime. In 1979, there was also a small film shot there. You might have heard of it… it was called “Friday the 13th, Part 1”. As horror films don’t really fit well with the program of a Boy Scout camp, the BSA has not allowed movie fans to visit the birthplace of the most popular horror film franchise ever created. That changed for a few lucky fans for a few hours on Friday, May 13th, 2011… the day of the first-ever camp tour. A relatively small group of horror fans purchased a ticket and traveled to camp (from as far as 3000 miles away!) not knowing what to expect when they got there. Well, the tour was a huge success! 100% of the surveyed attendees said they had an unforgettable time and almost all of them said they would return for a future tour. Since then, our tours have grown in size and popularity. We’ve also featured special guests such as Ron Milkie, Robbi Morgan and Adrienne King. Our last event attracted fans from 28 states, 5 countries and four continents! One of our larger events sold out in just 8 seconds. To relieve the stress of the ticket buying process, we have moved to a random lottery system. These tours are fundraising events for the non-profit Scout camp. All proceeds go towards restoring and maintaining this historic camp. Each event is planned, organized and executed by volunteer camp alumni. We greatly appreciate your generosity in purchasing a ticket. Want to know more? There’s one single way to find out about future tour opportunities – ENTER THE TICKET LOTTERY. Don’t miss out on an important announcement – please make sure you enter an email address that you check often. Don’t worry, we won’t spam you and you can quickly unsubscribe at any time. Learn more about the tour… Browse our unique souvenirs… Our Most Popular Souvenir! Angry Mother Bottling Co. Souvenir Lake Water Join our mailing list to receive general news about our tours and offerings. If you are interested in joining us for a future tour, please enter the ticket lottery instead. Your email address is safe with us. We will never share your personal information.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759057
__label__wiki	0.899835	0.899835	“Children of God,” an Urban Ink company musical written and directed by Corey Payette, will be performed at Surrey Arts Centre on March 22 and 23. (submitted photo: David Cooper) ‘This story needed to be told’: Musical in Surrey shines light on residential-school horrors Corey Payette says he wrote the acclaimed ‘Children of God’ from a place of ‘anger and frustration’ Tom Zillich Mar. 11, 2019 10:03 a.m. In describing Children of God, his acclaimed theatre production, Corey Payette says he wrote a story he and others needed to see. The Vancouver-based playwright’s musical drama, about an Oji-Cree family whose children are taken away to a residential school in Northern Ontario, offers a narrative about resilience, healing and reconciliation. It’s heavy stuff, and it put Payette on a seven-year journey from script conception early this decade to first staging in the spring of 2017 at a theatre in Vancouver. This month, as part of a B.C. tour, the musical debuts in Surrey at the arts centre’s main stage, on March 22 and 23. “Back in 2011 when I started writing it,” Payette told the Now-Leader, “it was from a place of anger and frustration that this history had been silenced, and that even I had little knowledge of this history.” Brave, powerful, emotional, healing, beautiful – these are just a few of the words used to describe Children of God, and even Payette himself calls his play intense. “The reactions to it differ,” he explained. “The response I get is that so many people needed a show like this, to see a show like this. This story needed to be told, and people need to understand the history.” The characters, which Payette says are not based on real people, include Rita, “a mother who was never let past the school’s gate,” and her kids, Tom and Julia, “who never knew she came.” With song, Children of God promises “a thrilling blend of ancient traditions and contemporary realities, celebrating resilience and the power of the Indigenous cultural spirit,” according to promoters of the Surrey dates. The show’s study guide explains how Canada’s residential school system was designed to “steal” Aboriginal children from their home communities and forcibly turn them into Euro-Christian citizens of Canadian society. “As former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s famous epithet from his 2008 apology to residential school survivors goes, the residential schools were meant ‘to kill the Indian in the child.’” Produced by Urban Ink, Children of God has a content advisory: “This play contains explicit descriptions and depictions of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and suicide, which can be distressing, traumatic, and/or triggering for members of the audience.” At Surrey Arts Centre, emotional support workers will be on hand to provide support to audience members who may require it. “Everywhere we go, we travel with an emotional support team,” Payette said. “These triggers can happen at any time. The show works really well when there are a lot of Indigenous people in the audience, and some of them will need those services, but others won’t. But it’s there if needed, and also for people who have had other traumas in their lives. We know that sometimes the show can become too much.” Payette said he’s thankful that operators of Surrey Arts Centre “recognize the need for this kind of work to be shown in the community. That’s important. This is a chance for community building, a discussion about this subject, and we do have a post-show discussion about it, a 30-minute conversation about reconciliation. “These days,” he continued, “the subject of residential schools is talked about, but when I was writing this play, the topic really wasn’t discussed. It was a great shame of our country, and I imagine that’s why people didn’t want to talk about it.” The Surrey stagings are at 8 p.m. nightly on March 22 and 23. Tickets range in price from $29 to $49 via tickets.surrey.ca, or call 604-501-5566. The current touring cast includes Dillan Chiblow (as Tom/Tommy), Michelle St. John (Rita), Michelle Bardach (Joanna/Secretary), Sarah Carlé (Sister Bernadette), Aaron M. Wells (Wilson/Fight Captain), Cheyenne Scott (Julia), David Keeley (Father Christopher), Jacob MacInnes (Vincent) and Kaitlyn Yott (Elizabeth). • RELATED STORIES: Prominent puppeteer coming to Surrey with ‘Metamorphosis’ show for adults SURREY EVENTS GUIDE for Feb. 27 and beyond tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram and follow Tom on Twitter B.C. song serenades Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry on American Idol Archie and his Riverdale world are subject of UFV conference	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759065
__label__wiki	0.896753	0.896753	2018 NCAA DIII National Champions; 6 SCIAC Championships Support Golf NCAA DIII Golf WGCA CMS Women's Golf Sits in Top 10 After First Day of NCAA Division III Championships Emily Attiyeh had the honor of the opening tee shot at the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships (photo by Chris Mitchell) GolfStat Live Scoring HOUSTON, Texas - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's golf team shook off a slow start to keep itself right in the mix to repeat as national champions, standing in ninth place just nine shots back after the first of four rounds of the NCAA Division III Championship on Tuesday at the Bay Oaks Country Club. Redlands ended up with the lead after the first day with a 306, one shot ahead of Methodist and DePauw and three ahead of Williams. The Athenas, who won last year's national title in a playoff over Williams, finished with a 315 on Tuesday to stand nine shots back with three rounds to go. However, they are in familiar territory and will try to repeat history from the SCIAC Championships, when they were 12 shots behind Redlands after the first day with only two rounds to go, and ended up improving by leaps and bounds as the tournament went on, running away with the tournament by 19 strokes. Freshman Amy Xue had the top round for CMS on Tuesday, finishing with a 76 (+4) to tie for 16th out of 131 golfers in the field. Xue actually was +2 after her first hole, suffering a double-bogey on the 10th to start her round, but settled in and had 15 pars over her final 17 holes, including the last eight in a row, to finish in the top 20 on the individual leaderboard. Xue, the individual medalist at the SCIAC Championships, stands five shots behind Bailey Plourde of Centre, who shot a 1-under 71. Sophomore Mira Yoo also parred her last eight holes after taking the turn at +6. She moved up into a tie for 39th at 79 (+7) with her solid finish and stands poised to make a run up the leaderboard over the next three days. Senior Kelly Ransom, sophomore Emily Attiyeh and junior Emma Kang each finished with an 80 to tie for 49th place. Kang had the most dramatic finish to the day, earning an eagle with a 2 on the par-4 ninth on her final hole to jump into the top 50. CMS will look to close the gap between itself and the top few teams tomorrow, when it tees off with a later tee time after being in the first group today. The four-day tournament will conclude on Friday when the championship will be decided.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759067
__label__wiki	0.94196	0.94196	Denmark prosecutes 14 people who shared murder video By Jack Guy, CNN Updated 11:59 AM ET, Thu March 7, 2019 The bodies of two women -- Norwegian Maren Ueland, 28 (left) and Danish Louisa Jespersen, 24, (right) -- were discovered in the High Atlas mountain range on Dec. 17, 2018 (CNN) Danish police have launched prosecutions against 14 people who allegedly shared a video showing the murder of a young woman in Morocco. Police inspector Michael Kjeldgaard at East Jutland Police said that the individuals were charged after sharing the footage via Facebook Messenger or other social media, according to a statement released on Thursday. The video, which authorities believe is authentic, shows the murder of one of two young hikers found beheaded near the town of Imil, in the Atlas Mountains south of Marrakesh on December 17, 2018. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, of Denmark and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were killed in what both Moroccan and Danish authorities have characterized as a terrorist act. Twelve individuals have been charged with unauthorized disclosure of the video under "especially aggravating" circumstances. Hundreds of people gathered in Morocco to mourn the two hikers This section of the Danish penal code is normally used to prosecute those who share images or videos of people that they would not want to be made public, such as revenge porn, Deputy Attorney General Jakob Berger Nielsen told CNN via telephone. Berger Nielsen said that the law is designed to protect people from having images of them shared online without their consent. He is not aware of any previous cases of the article being used to prosecute those who share terror-related content. "It's important that everybody knows that it could be illegal to share these kinds of images," he said. Under aggravating circumstances it is punishable by up to three years in prison, according to Danish police. Two more people were charged with apologizing for terrorism, which relates to expressing "joy or amusement" about a terror attack, said Nielsen. 14th suspect arrested in connection with Morocco tourist beheadings This part of the penal code has previously been used to prosecute those who expressed support for acts of terror such as the attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015, he said. If convicted, the defendants face a fine or up to two years in prison, according to police. Police stated that of the 14 people who have been charged, six are aged 13-18, three are aged 22-36 and five are aged 45-69. The four suspects accused of direct involvement in the women's deaths appear in a video pledging allegiance to terror group Islamic State, but they do not reference the killings. Moroccan authorities say that the four had not made contact with other members of the group abroad, nor had they fought in Iraq or Syria. On December 22, Moroccans gathered to mourn the tourists' deaths outside the Norwegian and Danish embassies in Rabat, the capital. Hundreds of people held vigils, with some holding signs saying "Pardon" or "Sorry" in English.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759068
__label__cc	0.73822	0.26178	Working at Cohen Milstein Cohen Milstein is one of the country’s premier plaintiffs class action firms. With over 90 attorneys and six offices, we specialize in groundbreaking and high-stakes litigation concerning securities, civil rights, antitrust, consumer protection, employee benefits, international human rights, whistleblower/false claims act, and matters representing state attorneys general in civil law enforcement investigations and litigation. Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse community within our firm. Diversity is an inclusive concept that encompasses, without limitation, race, color, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. We believe that diversity enhances the quality of service we provide to clients and makes our firm a more vibrant and fulfilling place to work. To ensure that the firm continues to make progress in our commitment to diversity, our firm's Hiring and Diversity Committee is dedicated to examining all aspects of our hiring, benefits, training, support, and promotion practices in order to assess progress, identify current needs and implement solutions. With its long history of advocating for gender equality in the workplace, Cohen Milstein is also proud to be recognized for creating a culture of equality and diversity within the firm. In 2015, Law360 included Cohen Milstein on its “Ceiling Smashers List,” identifying the firm as having the fourth-highest percentage of female partners among 400 U.S. law firms surveyed and ranking it seventh among the 100 best law firms in the country for women to work. Cohen Milstein offers a competitive compensation program. Our flexible benefits program features several options to protect health and financial well-being as well as to help achieve a healthy work-life balance. Our programs include the following: Choice of a traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) medical plan or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) available to employees, dependents and domestic partners Dental insurance available Vision insurance provided Healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts available Life and accidental death and dismemberment Insurance provided Short-term and long-term disability insurance provided Pre-tax transportation benefit program to pay qualified commuting and parking expenses Work-Life Programs Business casual dress Paid-Time Off (30 days per year for attorneys. PTO for all others varies based on position and tenure) 9 paid holidays Paid maternity, parental and adoption leave Employee Assistance Program with counseling, resources, and referral services provided Other Benefits – Attorneys Only Flexible work schedule Bar dues (up to 3 states) Contributions for mobile devices and reimbursement for monthly data plan Cohen Milstein is one of the country’s premier plaintiffs’ class action firms. With approximately ninety attorneys and six offices, we specialize in groundbreaking and high-stakes litigation concerning Securities, Antitrust, Civil Rights, Consumer Protection, Employee Benefits, Qui Tam/False Claims Act, International Human Rights, and matters representing state attorneys general in civil law enforcement investigations and litigation. Cohen Milstein is seeking a junior associate to join its Antitrust Practice Group in its Washington, D.C. office. Recent law school graduates or those with up to three years of litigation or clerkship experience are encouraged to apply. Candidates must have excellent academic credentials and strong analytical and writing skills. Cohen Milstein is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse workplace. We strongly encourage women, people of color, and other candidates from under-represented backgrounds to apply. To be considered, please submit a cover letter, resume and law school transcript to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Please indicate “Antitrust Associate” in the subject line. Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is one of the country’s premier class action firms. With more than 90 attorneys and six offices, we specialize in groundbreaking and high-stakes litigation concerning Antitrust, Civil Rights and Employment, Consumer Protection, Securities Fraud and Investor Protection, Employee Benefits, Qui Tam/False Claims Act, International Human Rights, Catastrophic Injury and matters representing state attorneys general in civil law enforcement investigations and litigation. Cohen Milstein’s Consumer Protection Practice Group seeks an Associate Attorney with 2-4 year of litigation experience to work in our Washington, D.C. office. A federal judicial clerkship is preferred. The Consumer Protection Practice Group works to protect consumers from deceptive business practices and defective products. Cohen Milstein has been successful in class actions at recovering monetary compensation for consumers who were deceived by consumer service providers such as banks, insurance companies, credit card companies and phone companies. Applicants must be able to take a substantial role in researching and writing complaints and briefs, able to conduct discovery, and supervise others in litigation-related tasks, among other responsibilities. A strong academic background with excellent writing skills and analytic ability is required, as is the ability to manage and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. Must be an active member of the DC bar or be willing to apply for membership within 90 days of employment at the firm. Interested applicants should submit their cover letter, resume, and law school transcript to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Please include “Associate Attorney (Consumer Protection)” in the subject line. The Securities Litigation and Investor Protection Practice Area of Cohen Milstein seeks an Associate with one to four years of litigation experience to work preferably in our Washington, D.C. office. A federal judicial clerkship is preferred. The Securities Litigation and Investor Protection Practice Area primarily represents individuals, public pension funds, and other institutions in private securities class actions brought under state and federal law, including the Securities Act of 1933 and antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our cases offer a unique opportunity to do public sector work in a private setting. Applicants must be able to take a substantial role in researching and writing complaints and briefs, play a strong supporting role in discovery, and supervise paralegals in litigation-related tasks, among other responsibilities. A strong academic background with excellent writing skills and analytic ability is required, as is the ability to manage and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. Must be an active member of the DC bar or be willing to apply for membership within 90 days of employment at the firm. To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, resume and law school transcript to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Please indicate “Securities Associate” in the subject line. Cohen Milstein is one of the country’s premier law firms for complex civil ligation on behalf of plaintiffs. With more than 90 attorneys and six offices, we specialize in groundbreaking and high-stakes litigation concerning antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, employee benefits, international human rights, securities, and matters representing state attorneys general in civil law enforcement investigations. Cohen Milstein seeks a paralegal to work with the Antitrust Practice Group on a full-time basis in our New York office. This position requires attention to detail, willingness to work overtime as needed, strong analytical and interpersonal skills, the ability to work independently with minimal supervision and handle multiple priorities. Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to, drafting and proofreading documents, organize and prepare documents for depositions, interviewing witnesses, legal filings, analytical research, and case management. The ideal candidate will possess: A four-year degree or a paralegal certificate Exceptional organizational skills and strong writing skills Must have excellent attention to detail Proficiency in MS Office products, particularly Excel Experience with internet research, LEXIS/NEXIS and Westlaw Prior paralegal experience preferred but not required We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a great work environment. Preference will be given to candidates who will make a two-year minimum commitment to the position. To be considered, please submit a cover letter, resume and academic transcript via email to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Be sure to indicate "Antitrust Paralegal" in the subject line. The Employee Benefits/ERISA Practice Group is seeking a Paralegal to work in our Washington, D.C. Office on a full-time basis. This position requires strong analytical and interpersonal skills, willingness to work overtime as needed, a commitment to teamwork, and the ability to handle multiple priorities and work with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate will possess: Bachelor’s degree; Paralegal Certification also considered Proficient in Microsoft Office products Experience with discovery management platforms, PACER, and CM-ECF preferred, but not required Prior paralegal experience preferred; but not required We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a wonderful work environment. Preference will be given to candidates who will make a two-year minimum commitment to the position. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and academic transcripts to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Please indicate “Employee Benefits Paralegal” in the subject line. The Public Client Practice Group is seeking a Paralegal to work in our Washington, D.C. Office on a full-time basis. The Public Client Practice Group represents its state Attorney General clients on high-stakes and large-scale matters as they pursue their mission to protect consumers, patients, workers, and public funds from false claims and deceptive practices. We have assisted public clients in litigating landmark consumer fraud cases against many of the largest financial services, healthcare, and other companies in the United States. We welcome all interested candidates to apply, including recent college graduates. This is an ideal position for candidates who are interested in learning more about legal practice before going on to law school, public policy graduate programs, or other similar post-graduate study. Preference will be given to candidates who will make a two-year minimum commitment to the position. To qualify for this position, candidates must have the following: Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail Strong research, analytical, and writing skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Desire to work in a collaborative, team-based environment Experience in, and commitment to, delivering outstanding work product for clients Additional Qualifications: One or more of the following additional skills and experience will strengthen a candidate’s application: Experience interviewing witnesses and investigating the facts of a case Proficiency in using specialized online research platforms (including LEXIS/NEXIS and Westlaw) and document review platforms (Everlaw, Relativity, @Legal, etc.) Experience with Bluebooking, cite-checking, and proofreading legal documents Specialized training or experience conducting data analysis using Microsoft Excel or other software tools Experience working as a paralegal or legal intern in a law firm, government, or non-profit setting Conducting fact research, investigation, and analysis to support legal proceedings. Assisting with the drafting, proofreading, and cite-checking of legal documents. Providing independent, self-directed day-to-day case management, including monitoring deadlines, monitoring case correspondence, and maintaining records and case files. Assisting attorneys with preparation for hearings, depositions, and other litigation events. To be considered, please submit a cover letter, resume, and academic transcripts to careers@ cohenmilstein.com. Please indicate “Public Client Paralegal” in the subject line. If you have submitted an application for a Public Client Paralegal posting within the past year, please contact us at careers@cohenmilstein.com to advise us of your continuing interest in the position and of any new qualifications or experience you would like us to consider. The Securities Litigation & Investor Protection Group seeks an entry-level, bright and highly motivated individual to provide paralegal support for the Securities Litigation & Investor Protection practice group in our Washington, D.C. office. This position requires someone who is extremely organized, pays close attention to detail, technically savvy (i.e., familiar with charts, graphs and databases), reliable, dependable and available to work overtime as needed. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, preparing documents for production, preparing for depositions and court proceedings, detailed cite-checking and blue-booking, and basic legal research. Exceptional organizational skills and oral and written communication skills Exacting attention to detail Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, PowerPoint) Experience with Internet research, LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other legal research databases For consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume and transcripts via email to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Be sure to indicate "Securities Paralegal" in the subject line. Cohen Milstein is one of the country’s premier plaintiffs’ class action firms. With over 90 attorneys in six offices, we specialize in groundbreaking and high-stakes litigation concerning Securities, Civil Rights, Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Employee Benefits, Qui Tam/False Claims Act, International Human Rights, and matters representing state attorneys general in civil law enforcement investigations and litigation. Cohen Milstein seeks a full-time Legal Assistant to work in our Palm Beach Gardens, Florida office to effectively handle priorities and facilitate the daily operations of a professional and dynamic legal team. The Legal Assistant will be primarily responsible for the review and indexing of documents, electronic filing of pleadings, file organization, coordination and scheduling of calendars, performing tasks both as a Paralegal and Legal Assistant. 3-5 years of complex litigation experience on State and Federal levels Must have excellent oral and written communication skills Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task Ability to independently perform tasks, juggle multiple activities and work under pressure To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@cohenmilstein.com. Please include “Legal Assistant” in the subject line.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759069
__label__wiki	0.630943	0.630943	Sean Bell Joinery apprentice Sean says College and work are a perfect Apprentice joiner Sean Bell says Derby College and his employer Metworks are providing a brilliant environment in which to learn his trade. Seventeen-year-old Sean said his parents and sister went to university and, from what they said, he decided it "didn't seem right to me." Instead, he looked for an apprenticeship. As he was "good at making things" and most of his exams were in design, he decided on joinery as a career. Sean looked on the Government website and found that Derby-based social properties maintenance business Metworks was recruiting. He was taken on last September and has not looked back. He is working towards his Level 2 in Carpentry and Joinery and goes to Derby College one day a week. Sean said at both college and work "there's respect for everybody. You're treated properly, like a grown-up." Sean's job involves working on "doorways, fences, gates, kitchen windows...anything really." He said it was too soon to say which direction his career might take. Derby-based Metworks was formed in February 2016 as the in-house maintenance supplier to Metropolitan, one of the UK's leading providers of affordable housing and care and support services. The company has around 60 in its frontline team, plus 18 management and back office support staff. Managing director of Metworks Gary Collins said the business had a number of key social objectives which included "adding value to local communities." Sean is one half of Metworks' inaugural intake of two apprentices, along with apprentice plumber Emily Parnill. Gary said: "They are doing really well. I think there is good liaison with my office and college, to provide proper validation of how they are getting on. I think it is important our college provider is local." Gary said the business aimed to continue providing employment and training opportunities. Metworks planned to help inform young people on potential opportunities by getting trades people to talk to them at school and college sites. He said: "When you are young you really don't know what you want to do, so I think there are ways we can support people by giving them the information they might need. We'd like to think there are really good communication channels between us and the college." Operations Director Ian Davies has personal experience in building a successful career from an apprenticeship – he started out 31 years ago in housing maintenance as an apprentice himself. He said: "Over the last 12 to 15 years I have helped develop perhaps 40 people into a more senior position. There is every opportunity, if we nurture and capture what we can in these young people, and the people who follow from Derby College, that they can develop further with Metworks and go on to great things." The college work is as good as the work itself – I'm enjoying both. I'm busy all day, doing bench joinery, compared to the site joinery I'm doing at work. I'm getting to know the different sides of it. I'm meeting new people. It's good. I decided to go into joinery because I like making things: three quarters of my subjects at school were design ones. I like everything about college. It's good, apart from going home at quarter to six! They can be long days. I'd really recommend an apprenticeship, you're straight away learning on the job and at college. It's the way I wanted it.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759072
__label__cc	0.638618	0.361382	Monet's Garden at Argenteuil (The Dahlias), 1873: Canvas Replica Painting: Grande By artist Claude Monet (1840-1926), in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Monet's inventive and beautiful garden landscaping was often the subject of his paintings. Here we see a glorious explosion of dahlias in his gardens at Argenteuil. Argenteuil was the artists first home after he found some financial success, and the gardens at this home were a precursor to the expansive and ingenious gardens he would later construct at Giverny. The authentic stretched canvas replica painting captures the original work's texture, depth of color, and even its subtle brushstrokes, which are applied by hand exclusively for Design Toscano. With bas-relief organic styling, the multi-tiered, replica European style frame is cast in quality designer resin and highlighted with an aged gold-toned finish. This item is made for you at the time of your purchase and will be shipped directly from the manufacturer. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery! Grande: 47"Wx37"H framed (41"Wx31"H image size, 3.25"W frame) Claude Monet (1840-1926) Claude Monet's paintings are considered to be exemplary of the philosophy of Impressionism, which was to show one's perceptions before nature. The term Impressionism is derived from Monet's painting, Impression, Sunrise and Monet himself was a founder of French Impressionism painting. Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840 in Paris, but moved to the port town of Le Havre when he was 5 years old. For much of his childhood, Monet was considered by his parents and teachers to be undisciplined and, therefore, unlikely to succeed in life. He enjoyed creating caricatures and by the age of 15, was receiving commission for his work. Fellow artist Eugene Boudin taught young Monet the en plein air techniques for painting. He was the in initiator, leader and unswerving advocate of the Impressionist style that can be seen in paintings such as Bordighera. Monet's paintings such as Nympheus and Water Lilies at Giverny were inspired by his home and garden in Giverny. He was buried in a nearby cemetery after succumbing to lung cancer in 1926.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759073
__label__wiki	0.69088	0.69088	Ophelia, 1851-52: Canvas Replica Painting: Large By artist John Everett Millais (1829-1896), in the Tate Gallery, London Ophelia, a character from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, has fallen into a river while gathering flowers and sings as she floats to her untimely death. With delicate brushwork and dramatic flair, Millais painted for up to 11 hours a day, six days a week to capture each detail including the symbolic Victorian language of flowers so popular during its time. The authentic stretched canvas replica painting captures the original work's texture, depth of color, and even its subtle brushstrokes, which are applied by hand exclusively for Design Toscano. The imported, delicately carved hardwood frame boasts a delicate leaf motif with fine feathered detailing finished in antique gold tones. This item will be custom made for you. Materials required for the creation of your item are in stock. Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery! Large: 40.5"Wx26"H framed (33"Wx18.5"H image size, 4"W frame) Sir John Everett Millais (1829-1896) Sir John Everett Millais was an English painter born in Southampton and educated in art at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. When he was 17 years old, Millais exhibited a painting at the Academy and it was then considered to be the best history painting shown that year. In 1848 Millais and two other English painters formed a brotherhood of artists known as the Pre-Raphaelites, artists whose manner recalls the early Flemish and Italian masters. All Millais paintings from the Pre-Raphaelite era were painted with great attention to detail and often depicted the beauty and complexity of nature. In paintings such as Ophelia, Millais painted a dense and elaborate natural scene, an approach now called a pictorial eco-system. Millais moved on to create many portraits of British personalities, famous in his time. Millais paintings prove that he was a careful artist who paid strict attention to detail, unusual composition and clarity of style. In his later work, Millais is criticized for succumbing to the Victorian taste for sentiment and anecdotal art.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759074
__label__wiki	0.716507	0.716507	Keep updated with the latest news locally, media coverage and news from Parliament. David Hanson MP \| DelynLatest NewsLatest NewsBacking New Parkinson’s IS campaign By David Hanson MP / Latest News / Parkinsons / 0 Comments Backing New Parkinson’s IS campaign I am backing a major charity campaign to shine a spotlight on Parkinson’s, to raise understanding of and change attitudes towards the condition. Parkinson’s UK Parkinson’s Is campaign, which launches on World Parkinson’s Day (11 April), aims to shatter public misconceptions about the condition by highlighting the reality of everyday life for those living with it and their families. Parkinson’s is a serious neurological condition with more than 40 symptoms that affects people of all ages. It causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. Currently there is no cure. But according to recent research from Parkinson’s UK, 8 in 10 people with Parkinson’s believe that awareness and understanding is low because people don’t consider it to be a serious condition – and only associate it with one symptom – a tremor. The charity is urging people to visit its website www.parkinsons.org.uk/parkinsons-is to learn more about the condition One in 37 of us will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in our lifetime, and I’m proud to support Parkinson’s UK’s new campaign to challenge widely held misconceptions about the condition. I urge people to visit the charity’s website to find out more about how they can get involved in Parkinson’s Is. Steve Ford, Parkinson’s UK Chief Executive, said: “Despite the fact that Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s, many people still don’t understand what Parkinson’s is or how it affects people. “We hope our new Parkinson’s Is campaign which sees people across the UK share how the condition affects their lives will raise awareness and help correct public misconceptions about this much misunderstood condition. “We’re grateful for the support of David to help bring this message to a wider audience and help change the lives of thousands for the better.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759076
__label__wiki	0.658652	0.658652	Islamabad, Tehran explore wide-ranging collaboration From the NewspaperSeptember 07, 2011 Federal Minister for Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Ali Akbar Salehi taking part in the 18th Session of Pak-Iran Joint Economic Commission. – Online Photo ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Tehran are discussing the setting up of a branch of an Iranian bank in Pakistan. The opening of a branch of Bank Melli, Iran’s largest commercial bank, in Pakistan is on the agenda of the two-day 18th session of Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission (JEC) that began here on Wednesday. The bank, it may be mentioned, has been on the UN watch-list since 2008. The commission is discussing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of industry, banking, oil and gas, communications, manpower, agriculture, education, culture and science and technology. “We should provide better facilities to our people and we are duty-bound to cooperate with each other,” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said at the opening session of the JEC. He expressed the hope that the meeting would prove a landmark in enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who led the Pakistani side, noted in his inaugural remarks that warm bilateral relations provided a platform for enhancing economic cooperation. The discussions assume significance because they are taking place against the backdrop of the UN Security Council Resolution 1929 adopted last year, which prohibits member states from “opening of Iranian banks in their territory … if there is reason to suspect the activities could contribute to sensitive proliferation activities in Iran”. The Security Council had put Bank Melli, which has 18 overseas branches in 11 countries, on vigilance in 2008 for allegedly supporting Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. However, the bank has not been blacklisted by the UN and has lately opened new branches in Iraq and Azerbaijan. Iran has been aggressively trying to expand the international network of its banks to circumvent the impact of an array of international sanctions against its financial institutions. Although it is unclear if the talks on establishment of the Bank Melli’s branch will make any headway at the JEC session, the issue is certain to raise eyebrows in the West, particularly in Washington. Islamabad’s primary consideration for the proposal relates to its declining trade volume with Tehran. The bilateral trade had been on the decline since 2008, when the UN tightened its squeeze on Iran. It went down from $1,170 million in 2009-10 to a paltry $586 million during July-March 2011. The drop in trade was specially referred to by both Mr Salehi and Dr Shaikh in their speeches at the JEC. While there are a number of reasons for the decline, Pakistani officials say banking restrictions imposed by the UN, the US and the EU on Iran’s financial institutions affected Pakistani exports as Pakistani banks no longer accept letters of credit opened by Iranian banks. Because of the sanctions much of the financial transactions between Iran and Pakistan now take place through the informal ‘havala’ system instead of the still available legal channel of Asian Clearing Union. Additionally, the two countries are considering Iranian help for construction of Quetta-Taftan railway track and harmonisation of customs regulations for enhancing trade. Iran is also seeking passage of its goods to India through Pakistani territory, which is potentially another intricate matter. Gas pipeline: The two sides will also review the progress on a pipeline to provide Iranian gas to Pakistan. Physical work on the Pakistan section is yet to start, but surveys and planning for the project have already been initiated. The pipeline, which is tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2014, would be used to import 750 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from Iran. Resisting Western pressure, Pakistan signed a gas sale-purchase agreement with Iran in June 2009 in Istanbul. Talking to Dawn, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain expressed satisfaction over the pace of work on the pipeline and said the law and order situation in Balochistan would not have any serious impact on the project. “We are in a position to finalise the project by the end of next year, but there are certain technical issues relating to the sale of gas, which need to be sorted out,” he said. Dr Hussain said the imported gas was planned to be utilised for power generation and industrial use and it would spare locally-produced gas for domestic consumption. Amin Ahmed adds: Pakistan and Iran have decided to conclude an agreement for promoting cooperation in trading of agricultural products. The understanding was reached at the fourth meeting of Pakistan-Iran Joint Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation held here on Wednesday. The meeting finalised matters relating to trade of agricultural products, implementation of plant quarantine agreement, establishment of required plant quarantine offices, plant protection and other areas of interest in the fields of agriculture and livestock. The ministry of science and technology being the administrative ministry of Pakistan Agriculture and Research Council hosted the meeting. Hafiz Saeed arrested by Punjab CTD, sent on judicial remand in terrorism financing case	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759078
__label__cc	0.581964	0.418036	Field: Music, Entertainment Info: Country music singer whose hits include "Galveston", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", and "Rhinestone Cowboy", he had a TV variety show in the 1970s called "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" Visitor Stories about Glen Campbell	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759080
__label__wiki	0.611321	0.611321	Unum denies disability benefits to a Minnesota legal secretary with pre-existing condition This is a case in which Unum’s decisions to deny benefits was consistent with the policy language. Employer-provided group disability insurance plans are different from individual plans. An employer-provided disability plan depends upon the employer/employee relationship. If something happens to interrupt this employer/employee connection it can have consequences, as Carol Jones discovered. Jones had been a legal secretary with Fabyanske, Westra and Hart, P.A. when she was hospitalized in January 2004 for major depression. She filed a claim for disability benefits under the firm’s group long-term disability insurance policy issued by Fortis Benefits Insurance Company (Fortis). Fortis found that Jones was disabled, and after the three month qualifying period began paying long-term disability benefits. She was cleared by her treating psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Richardson, to return to work after June 4, 2004. She disagreed with Dr. Richardson’s recommendations and notified Fortis that she was seeking a different psychiatrist. Meanwhile, Fortis suspended benefit payments on June 8 and notified Jones that they were going to review her eligibility. The disability insurance provider also asked for additional medical information. Dr. Richardson modified Jones release to work. The modified work release recommended part-time beginning June 28 and full-time starting July 26. Jones returned to work part-time on the 28th as recommended, but she also scheduled initial appointments with two other psychiatrists, both of whom had refused to support her claim of continuing long-term disability without an office visit. She chose not to see these doctors a second time. She stopped working on July 15 with the support of a third psychiatrist, Dr. John Heefner. She sent records from her visits to Dr. Heefner and the other two psychiatrists, to support her qualification for long-term disability benefits. Fortis notified Jones on August 26 that it was denying her long-term disability claim for benefits after June 7. The disability insurance company based the denial on her failure to satisfy the test of disability present in the Fortis policy. Jones chose not to appeal this adverse decision and returned to work part-time on September 20, 2004. She began working full-time on October 4. The Fabyanske firm changed their group disability insurance provider to Unum on January 1, 2005. Toward the end of February 2005, Jones quit working because of an infected dog scratch. She was terminated by the firm in mid-March. Later that same month, she filed a long-term disability claim with Unum. She gave her major depression and other ailments as the basis for her claim. Unum denied the claim, using the pre-existing condition clause which stated that “in order to receive the payment you must satisfy the pre-existing condition provision under: 1. the Unum plan; or 2. the prior carriers plan, if benefits would have been paid had that policy remained in force.” Unum had based its decision on the fact that Jones satisfied neither of these conditions. First she had received psychiatric treatment within the three months prior to the effective date of Unum’s policy, January 1, 2005, and her disability began within the first 12 months of that date. Then Unum had looked at the Fortis policy to see if she qualified for coverage under its terms. Unum found that the Fortis policy defined a pre-existing condition as one that was diagnosed or treated during the three months before the claimant became insured. The policy also denied coverage for any disability that was caused by a pre-existing condition during the first 12 months after coverage under the policy commenced. And finally, Unum determined that Jones’ coverage under the Fortis policy had lapsed on August 26, 2004, the date that Fortis had issued its final decision that Jones was no longer disabled. The insurance company deemed that her disability coverage had not resumed until she returned to work full-time in October 2004. Because Jones had received psychiatric treatment within three months of that date, Unum concluded that Fortis would not have paid benefits under the pre-existing condition clause of their policy. Jones appealed. Unum contacted Fortis about the apparent lapse in coverage. After speaking with the Fortis claims agent who handled Jones’ prior disability claim, Unum adjusted the date when the policy lapsed to June 8. Unum called Jones and informed her that their decision to deny her claim was based on information gained from Fortis. They recommended that she contact Fortis, and let her know that their decision could change if Fortis changed its position. Jones apparently contacted Fortis as recommended, because a Fortis agent called Unum and confirmed that Jones had fallen out of an eligible class when her disability ended, and she failed to return to full-time work. Based upon this information, Unum affirmed its decision to deny long-term disability benefits. Unum long-term disability claim denial comes before District Court. With the assistance of long-term disability attorneys, Jones took her case before the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, claiming she had been wrongfully denied benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Justice Joan M. Erickson granted summary judgment to Unum, finding that Unum had not abused its discretion in determining that Jones is coverage under the Fortis policy had lapsed between June 8 and October 4, 2004. Justice Erikson issued her ruling based on what she felt was clear policy language. A covered person’s insurance ended when the person was no longer in an eligible class or when the person stopped active work. The policy went on to define what made a person eligible. An employee had to be working full-time, and as long as an employee worked at least 30 hours per week, the person would be considered full-time. Because Fortis had determined that Jones was no longer disabled on June 8, 2004, and she did not return to full-time work for almost 4 months, her insurance coverage under the Fortis plan had clearly lapsed. District Court affirmation of Unum disability denial goes to Court of Appeals. Jones’s disability insurance attorneys appealed the decision. For the most part, the Court of Appeals agreed with the District Court’s analysis, but this higher Court did observe some areas which they felt both Unum and the District Court had overlooked. Because Dr. Richardson had re-issued a limited release for work that began on June 28, and Jones returned to work on this date, her coverage under the Fortis policy would have remained in effect until she quit working entirely on July 15. Because she would have been released to work full-time on July 26, her lapse of coverage would have begun on that date. The billing records reflected that Fortis had waived premium payments for Jones up until their final decision on August 26 to deny her long-term disability benefits. She was added back as an employee after she returned to work full-time in October. These records confirmed that her coverage had lapsed. Disability insurance attorney presents arguments to refute lapse of insurance policy. As part of the appeal, Jones disability insurance attorneys argued that her coverage had begun on April 2001, and that there was no lapse of coverage in 2004 because Fabyanske had continued to consider her a full-time employee on medical leave until she returned to work full-time. The Court found that while some insurance policies allow coverage until an employee is formally terminated, the Fortis policy clearly stated that disability insurance coverage ended when an employee was no longer an active, full-time employee. It was impossible to consider an employee who had not worked for several months as an active, full-time employee. Jones’ disability attorneys argued that interpreting the 30-hour per week requirement literally would lead to absurd results, because an employee taking a day off for a vacation, a holiday or illness would lose coverage and be subject to the pre-existing condition provision upon returning to work. The Court saw no evidence that either Fortis or Unum applied such hard-line restrictions. In fact the record demonstrated otherwise. Jones had missed a week of work in November 2004 due to illness, and this was not counted against her. Finally, Jones’ disability insurance attorneys argued that Unum had ignored the continuance of insurance clause in Fortis’ policy. This clause allowed Fabyanske to continue coverage for a person who was unable to perform active work because of a covered disability. In considering this argument, the Court noted that the clause expressly stated that “continuance must be based on a uniform policy, and not individual selection.” Unum had looked into this. Fabyanske informed Unum that the only formal leave of absence policy within the company was a family and medical leave policy. In addition to this, the record indicated that Fabyanske was uncertain as to whether Jones was returning to work. A letter dated August 13, 2004 asked if Jones was returning. She stopped by the office several weeks later on September 3, saying she would attempt to return to work on the 8th, then left a message later, saying she wouldn’t be able to do so. The Court found that Jones’ disability insurance attorneys had failed to prove that Fabyanske had requested her coverage be continued or that it was Fabyanske’s uniform policy to do this. Court chooses the familiar abuse of discretion standard to review Unum disability denial. The policy granted Unum discretion to determine Jones’ eligibility for benefits and to interpret the terms and provisions of the policy. This meant that the proper standard of review was abuse and discretion, even if Jones’ disability attorneys argued for a heightened standard of review because of Unum’s past history. First, the Court found that Unum’s record had been clean for the two years following the agreement to review claims practices prior to 2003. The Court also found that Unum had thoroughly investigated Jones’ claim twice, making every effort to apply the policy language from both its plan and the Fortis plan it had inherited. The Court agreed that the policy had lapsed by at least six weeks before Jones returned to work in October 2004, and the under the 12-month pre-existing condition clause, Jones was not covered under either the Fortis or Unum policies. The judgment of the District Court was affirmed. This is one of the unfortunate situations that can arise because of the confusing and complex language insurance companies use in their plans. Before stopping work as Ms. Jones did, contact a disability insurance attorney. The extensive knowledge available from an experienced attorney could make the difference between retaining your disability insurance coverage and losing it.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759086
__label__wiki	0.997228	0.997228	Toledo policeman killed during chase TOLEDO -- A police detective who interrupted a drug deal was shot and killed early yesterday while chasing a 15-year-old boy in a neighborhood plagued by drugs and violence, police said. The boy surrendered to police about eight hours after the shooting, emerging from a duplex where he had been hiding. Prosecutors said they will seek to charge Robert Jobe as an adult. Detective Keith Dressel, 35, is the first Toledo officer to die in the line of duty since 1970 when a patrolman was shot and killed during a race riot. The detective was shot once in the chest during a brief chase and shootout through a thick fog, said Police Chief Mike Navarre. "It happened in a matter of seconds," Navarre said. Dressel and two other officers were patrolling a neighborhood near downtown near the end of their shift when they saw two young men on a sidewalk. The officers thought they had a pair of curfew violators, Navarre said. "I don't think they looked at this as a high-risk stop," he said. But when the officers not in uniform identified themselves, Jobe and Sherman Powell, 19, took off running. Two officers stopped Powell while Dressel pursued Jobe. "There was an exchange of gunfire. We know that detective Dressel did fire his weapon," Navarre said. Dressel was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he died about 40 minutes after the shooting. He was not wearing a bulletproof vest. Navarre said vice detectives typically don't wear them because they often do undercover work and the vests could reveal their identity. Police tracked down where Jobe was hiding after he contacted his probation officer, Navarre said. Jobe talked to the probation officer for several hours and finally told him that he was willing to turn himself in. Jobe was found about 100 yards from where the shooting took place. Jobe has been in trouble with the law on several occasions, the chief said. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon last year. Dressel joined the force in 1993 and was assigned to the vice and narcotics bureau. He was honored in 1998 after he and another officer saved a man from a burning home. He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 6 and 4.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759089
__label__wiki	0.534181	0.534181	Lisa Darke Dec 4, 2008 at 12:01 AM Dec 4, 2008 at 12:22 PM A weekly chat with a store owner or clerk in central Ohio 41, owner, Charm Children's Clothing, 614-231-3700, 541 S. Drexel Ave., Bexley Q: What do you sell? A: Contemporary children's clothes and gifts. We do boys and girls in newborn to size 14. Q: And what types of lines do you carry? A: I try to stock mostly domestic, just from a pricing point. But two of my most popular lines are international. One is Mish Mish, and it's from Israel. It's casual; it's funky; it's comfortable. Q: You carry quite a few Juicy brand items. A: A lot of people don't know they have the little baby stuff, so I do really well with that. Q: And Ben Sherman is popular for boys? A: A lot of the things are direct derivatives of the men's line. This is definitely not cutesy-kid-looking, but it is very fun. And the dads love to buy that brand. Q: You have something I've never seen: full-body bibs. A: That's (made by) a woman in Maine, and she's a cottage industry. She's been doing this for years. And I love the name of the company. It's called A Mom Who Knows. Q: You also carry several books, including some with finger puppets. A: My 2-year-old loves books, so we got started on these little finger-puppet books because she flipped out over them. And it's a great size. I keep one in my purse just in case I need instant entertainment. Q: Tell me about your children. A: I have five kids: a 12-year-old daughter, then a 9-year-old boy, a 5-year-old boy, a 2-year-old girl and a 6-month-old girl. Q: You used to design fine jewelry. What prompted the career switch? A: Five kids! Q: And your 9-year-old son is particularly interested in your business, yes? A: He calls me to ask if we got anything new in today, how the day's sales were. Q: You have some holiday dresses, but not a ton of poof. Why? A: I'm not doing a ton of really frilly. It seems to be . . . people are liking something a little more comfortable. -- Kristy Eckert keckert@dispatch.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759090
__label__wiki	0.849536	0.849536	US cuts funding to UN Palestinian refugee agency The US will cut all financing to the UN agency serving 5 million Palestinian refugees. The move comes as the Trump administration seeks to pressure the UN into redefining who is considered a Palestinian refugee. The US will cut all funding to the UN agency serving Palestinian refugees, the State Department said Friday, calling the organization that serves 5 million people "irredeemably flawed." Washington will no longer make additional contributions because the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) "endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement. The US is the largest donor to UNRWA, providing about 30 percent of its budget. Last year, Washington donated $355 million (€305 million) to UNRWA, but the Trump administration slashed its contribution, providing only $60 million this year. Read more: US State Department cuts over $200 million in aid to Palestinians UN shocked In a series of tweets, UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunnes said the decision was "surprising" since the US had renewed a funding agreement in December 2017, and rejected the notion that it was irredeemably flawed. "We reject in the strongest possible terms the criticism that UNRWA's schools, health centers, and emergency assistance programs Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said in a statement that the UN regretted the US decision. "UNRWA has a strong record of providing high-quality education, health and other essential services, often in extremely difficult circumstances, to Palestine refugees who are in great need," the statement said. Meanwhile, an official in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on condition of anonymity that "Israel supports the US move," add that "consolidating the refugee status of Palestinians is one of the problems that perpetuates the conflict." UNRWA has said it will struggle to provide services to about 5 million Palestinian refugees if a more than $200 million funding gap is not filled. Germany, the Gulf Arab states and others have pledged to increase their donations, but it is unclear if it is enough to sustain all of UNRWA's services. The UN agency was formed to provide services to Palestinians refugees displaced by the formation of Israel in 1948. It provides health care, education and social services to Palestinians in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Read more: 70 years of Nakba: The ongoing struggle of Palestinian refugees A history of the Middle East peace process UN Security Council Resolution 242, 1967 United Nations Security Council Resolution 242, passed on November 22, 1967, called for the exchange of land for peace. Since then, many of the attempts to establish peace in the region have referred to 242. The resolution was written in accordance with Chapter VI of the UN Charter, under which resolutions are recommendations, not orders. Camp David Accords, 1978 A coalition of Arab states, led by Egypt and Syria, fought Israel in the Yom Kippur or October War in October 1973. The conflict eventually led to the secret peace talks that yielded two agreements after 12 days. This picture from March 26, 1979, shows Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, his US counterpart Jimmy Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin after signing the accords in Washington. The Madrid Conference, 1991 The US and the former Soviet Union came together to organize a conference in the Spanish capital city of Madrid. The discussions involved Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestinians — not from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) — who met with Israeli negotiators for the first time. While the conference achieved little, it did create the framework for later, more productive talks. Oslo I Accord, 1993 The negotiations in Norway between Israel and the PLO, the first direct meeting between the two parties, resulted in the the Oslo I Accord. The agreement was signed in the US in September 1993. It demanded that Israeli troops withdraw from West Bank and Gaza and a self-governing, interim Palestinian authority be set up for a five-year transitional period. A second accord was signed in 1995. Camp David Summit Meeting, 2000 US President Bill Clinton invited Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to the retreat in July 2000 to discuss borders, security, settlements, refugees and Jerusalem. Despite the negotiations being more detailed than ever before, no agreement was concluded. The failure to reach a consensus at Camp David was followed by renewed Palestinian uprising, the Second Intifada. The Arab Peace Initiative, 2002 The Camp David negotiations were followed first by meetings in Washington and then in Cairo and Taba, Egypt — all without results. Later the Arab League proposed the Arab Peace Initiative in Beirut in March 2002. The plan called on Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 borders so that a Palestinian state could be set up in the West Bank and Gaza. In return, Arab countries would agree to recognize Israel. The Roadmap, 2003 The US, EU, Russia and the UN worked together as the Middle East Quartet to develop a road map to peace. While Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas accepted the text, his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon had more reservations with the wording. The timetable called for a final agreement on a two-state solution to be reached in 2005. Unfortunately, it was never implemented. Annapolis, 2007 In 2007 US President George W. Bush hosted a conference in Annapolis, Maryland, to relaunch the peace process. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas took part in talks with officials from the Quartet and over a dozen Arab states. It was agreed that further negotiations would be held with the goal of reaching a peace deal by the end of 2008. Washington, 2010 In 2010, US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to and implement a ten-month moratorium on settlements in disputed territories. Later, Netanyahu and Abbas agreed to relaunch direct negotiations to resolve all issues. Negotiations began in Washington in September 2010, but within weeks there was a deadlock. Cycle of escalation and ceasefire continues A new round of violence broke out in and around Gaza late 2012. A ceasefire was reached between Israel and those in power in the Gaza Strip, which held until June 2014. The kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June 2014 resulted in renewed violence and eventually led to the Israeli military operation Protective Edge. It ended with a ceasefire on August 26, 2014. Paris summit, 2017 Envoys from over 70 countries gathered in Paris, France, to discuss the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Netanyahu slammed the discussions as "rigged" against his country. Neither Israeli nor Palestinian representatives attended the summit. "A two-state solution is the only possible one," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said at the opening of the event. Deteriorating relations in 2017 Despite the year's optimistic opening, 2017 brought further stagnation in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. A deadly summer attack on Israeli police at the Temple Mount, a site holy to both Jews and Muslims, sparked deadly clashes. Then US President Donald Trump's plan to move the embassy to Jerusalem prompted Palestinian leader Abbas to say "the measures ... undermine all peace efforts." Author: Aasim Saleem Redefining refugees The Trump administration is seeking to pressure the UN agency over how it defines Palestinian refugees. UNRWA includes the descendents of those displaced by Israel, something that the US wants to take off the table in any Israel-Palestine peace deal. Palestinians have refused to engage with the Trump administration since the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier this year. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of any future independent state. 'Not part of the solution' A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the American move to cut UNRWA funding as the latest "flagrant assault" against Palestinian people. "The consecutive American decisions represent a flagrant assault against the Palestinian people and a defiance of UN resolutions," said spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah. "Such a punishment will not succeed in changing the fact that the United States no longer has a role in the region and that it is not a part of the solution." Palestinians have long demanded a right to return to their homes as part of any Middle East peace agreement. It remains unclear what would happen to millions of stateless Palestinians in the region if UNRWA cut or redefined their refugee status. "Trump's attempts to use coercive diplomacy will fail as long as he cannot mobilize an extensive supportive international alliance. On UNRWA he is clearly swimming upstream and almost alone," Ofer Zalzberg, the International Crisis Group's Senior Middle East Analyst, wrote on Twitter. cw,law/aw (AFP, AP, Reuters) Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here. 70 years of Nakba: The ongoing struggle of Palestinian refugees In May 1948, Israel declared its independence. Palestinians such as Hafida Khatib refer to this moment as the "Nakba," or "catastrophe." With her family, Hafida fled to Lebanon — a country that has never felt like home. (15.05.2018) New US ambassador: A hardliner for Israel President-elect Donald Trump has tipped attorney David Friedman to be his top diplomat in Israel. Many of his positions are contradictory to standing US policy. Tania Krämer reports from Jerusalem. (16.12.2016) US State Department cuts over $200 million in aid to Palestinians The Trump administration has said it will be cutting more than $200 million in funding to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The PLO has said Washington is "punishing the Palestinian victims" of Israeli occupation. (25.08.2018) UN chief presents Palestinian protection proposals Among the UN's proposals for protecting Palestinians is a UN-mandated armed military presence. All of the proposals would need the cooperation of both Israelis and Palestinians, which could prove difficult to achieve. (18.08.2018) Amid Israel-Hamas violence, Gazans fearful of full-scale war For weeks, Palestinian incendiary kites have been setting fields in southern Israel ablaze. Last weekend, fierce violence broke out between Hamas and Israel. In Gaza, residents fear the consequences of full-scale war. (20.07.2018) Despite numerous pushes for peace between Israelis and Palestinians over half a century, the dispute over land, refugees, and holy sites remains unresolved. DW gives you a short history of attempts at a solution. (06.12.2017) Daily Bulletin registration form Related Subjects Refugees, United Nations (UN), Israel, Palestine, White House, Fatah Keywords Palestine, Israel, UN, United States, refugee Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/347u7 US pushes 'economic prosperity' for Palestinians — without Palestinians 21.06.2019 The US wants to use a conference in Bahrain to push its "deal of the century" Middle East peace plan. The Palestinians are planning to boycott the event, while NGO's in the region struggle to cope with slashed funding. Libya's civil war: US 'undermines any hope for a successful political process' 14.07.2019 The warring factions in Libya's stalemated conflict don't seem to be interested in a diplomatic solution. The United States could use its clout in order to trigger discussions — but it appears to be doing the opposite. UN agency for Palestinians UNRWA rejects US call to close it down 23.05.2019 The US envoy to the UN believes the responsibility to deal with Palestinian refugees should be handed over to host countries. Washington cut funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees last year.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759093
__label__cc	0.5985	0.4015	What the Finns Know Shouldn’t Surprise Us (But Does) By Patrick F. Bassett While reindeer jerky and lingonberries have yet to become an international sensation, the education system in Finland has managed to gain worldwide attention over the past few years. Test results from the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, have revealed that Finnish students routinely outperform those of other countries. And a recent report by the international consulting firm McKinsey & Co. highlights the country’s extraordinary successes. So, what does Finland know that shouldn’t surprise us (but does)? The three key elements for its success, laid out in the McKinsey report and reinforced by my own experiences on a recent trip to Finland, can be stated as the following: (1) Get the best teachers; (2) Get the best out of teachers; and (3) Intervene when pupils start to lag behind. It’s no great surprise to anyone who works in education that high-quality teachers lead to successful students. According to the Finnish Ministry of Education, all teachers there must have master’s degrees, and only 10 percent of undergraduates, the cream of the crop, are accepted into the teacher-training program. It turns out that, as is true with this country’s Teach For America (which routinely attracts five times more applicants than it accepts), restricted access to a program increases its attraction. In Finland, it’s not the money, but the status and prestige of teaching that attracts the best and brightest to the profession. In the United States, we know how important teachers are to the success of students, but we have difficulty recruiting top-notch candidates for the job. The public school system requires that all teachers be “highly qualified,” meaning certified (that is, having an education degree and/or passing a battery of education courses). Independent schools in the United States have long rejected that definition in favor of hiring “high quality” teachers, meaning those who have a degree in the subject they love and teach (that is, math and physics majors, not education majors, teaching math and physics). Part of the rationale for independent schools’ hiring liberal arts graduates from competitive and selective universities (also, incidentally, the strategy of Teach For America) is that while some education degree programs in this country are top-notch, many others attract the weakest, not the strongest, students. In Finland, it’s not the money, but the status and prestige of teaching that attracts the best and brightest to the profession. We can’t shift cultural perceptions about the prestige of teaching overnight, but we can begin to make strides in this process, an action that will help improve education for everyone. First, we could develop more programs to get the most talented students to pursue teaching as a career, and help them succeed once there. Second, education schools could become more selective in their admissions and more focused on the task of instilling deep subject knowledge in their graduates. Third, all districts and schools could recruit on the campuses of colleges and universities with highly selective undergraduate admissions standards. Fairer compensation would help improve the prestige of teaching, too. As our more highly paid veteran teachers retire, we have an unprecedented opportunity to increase starting salaries so that teaching is as lucrative a career choice as other professional jobs. A second place where American education falls short, in both its public and private segments, is in “professionalizing the profession.” While there is much talk about and some progress in creating “professional learning communities” of teachers, and also some promise in creating digital communities, as a country we fall far short of the commitments of our competitors in the world marketplace. In Finland (and Japan, too), groups of teachers visit each others’ classrooms and plan lessons together in a system that includes “rounds” similar to those in the medical profession. Finnish teachers get one afternoon off each week for professional development (substitute teachers included). Some independent schools here have also recognized the value of this approach. At one school, each teacher must visit a colleague’s classroom three times a year and report on the experience by writing a response to the question “How was my teaching informed by this visit?” The responses become part of a database that all teachers read. At another school, teachers develop videotaped portfolios of their teaching. Combined with journal entries, lesson plans, and samples of student work, such aids allow the teachers to confer with mentors to identify successful techniques that can be shared with other teachers and to identify areas for potential improvement. All U.S. schools could benefit immensely from creating true professional learning communities focused on peer learning, peer observations, and collaborative lesson-planning. If teacher evaluations were linked to engagement in these communities, there would be a huge jump in the professionalism of teaching. A third factor contributing to success of the Finnish system is its early and powerful intervention when a student begins to fall behind. Frequent diagnostic testing (“formative testing”) at early stages reveals students who need extra help, and the Finns provide it intensively. At one presentation I attended while in Finland, a spokesperson from the education ministry said that education spending there is weighted toward the middle school years: Finland spends about the same as its counterparts in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the lower primary grades (grades 1-5), and a lot less in the upper secondary years (primarily because of larger classes in grades 10-12). But it spends a lot more in the middle years (grades 6-9). Why don’t schools follow the model of businesses and tap into the global marketplace of ideas that have worked elsewhere? In the United States and many other countries, this is the time when kids begin to fail and drop out. How sensible is the Finnish model to increase resources at that point to keep kids from the disaster of failing at school. In Finland, there are no dead-end streets on the education highway. In helping students at risk of failure, U.S. schools must move from a medical model (learning disabilities) to a diversity model (learning differences) and reorient themselves to identify, value, and use a student’s strengths as “workarounds” and palliatives to weaknesses. One independent boarding school for girls already takes this approach with its students, some of whom have been diagnosed with learning differences that put them at risk. The school helps students come up with strategies to address challenges, but it also works to identify each girl’s strengths so that she can maximize her potential. This concentration on strengths, while still addressing challenges, seems to be a good approach for the American education system. One criticism of the McKinsey report is that it focuses on the elements that have been successful in certain contexts, but does not take into consideration the circumstances under which those same efforts have failed. But doesn’t flexibility make sense? With every new administration in Washington, and every hot new trend in education, we hear arguments for full-scale renovation of the system. One-size-fits-all rarely works in individual schools, however, let alone for the entire country. Why don’t schools follow the model of businesses and tap into the global marketplace of ideas that have worked elsewhere? Lingonberries and reindeer jerky may never take the world by storm, but the Finns can certainly teach us a thing or two about education. Patrick F. Bassett, a former teacher, coach, and head of school, is the president of the National Association of Independent Schools, in Washington. Vol. 27, Issue 24, Pages 28-29 Published in Print: February 20, 2008, as What the Finns Know Shouldn’t Surprise Us (But Does) “Commentary: The Coming Age of Post-Standardization,” December 21, 2007. “Finnish Students Are at the Top of the World Class,” March 16, 2005. For more stories on this topic see Teachers and our International news page. Madison Highland Prep, Phoenix, Arizona	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759095
__label__wiki	0.951626	0.951626	Egyptian Entrepreneur Shares Lessons From Her Playbook Hanan Abdel Meguid, owner of OTVentures, which operates in 17 countries and maintains exclusive partnerships with Facebook and Microsoft. The New York Times \| 03.11.2011 When Hanan Abdel Meguid started her first technology company in Cairo nearly 20 years ago, the Web was not publicly available in the Middle East and many big global players like Microsoft did not operate there. Now, Ms. Meguid, 42, oversees OTVentures, one of the region’s largest technology companies, which operates in 17 countries and maintains exclusive partnerships with Facebook and Microsoft. “I started my first company with friends right after university because our dreams and our capabilities were much bigger than the opportunities in the market,” said Ms. Meguid, a mother of two. “A similar experience is happening for Arab youth today. I.T. is becoming a catalyst for change, not just a platform or business tool.” Ms. Meguid has a unique perch from which to view the change. As a serial entrepreneur in the early years of the Internet, she had to develop her own playbook, learning to raise money from venture capitalists, manage multiple technology platforms and strike deals with large international companies. They are lessons she is sharing with the next generation of start-ups by guiding young entrepreneurs on how to turn ideas into commercially viable businesses. “There are a lot of depressed young people in Egypt today not finding the right work opportunities, but we have to move away from this idea that when you graduate you must find a job with a multinational company to succeed,” said Ms. Meguid, who serves as a mentor for new advisory and seed investment programs including Tahrir2, Flat6labs and Google’s Ebda2 initiative. “You can have a dream, build on it and become a major contributor to your economy without being an employee.” Ms. Meguid ended up in technology by chance. In the early 1990s as a student at the American University in Cairo, she decided to major in computer science even though she had never seen a computer. After spending nights coding, she switched to economics to try something a little easier, but a year later went back to the field, one dominated by men. She got the idea for her first venture, Microlabs, while playing squash with a classmate, Khaled Bichara, during a college trip to Sharm el Sheik, an Egyptian town on the Red Sea. Ms. Meguid and Mr. Bichara wanted to work as programmers, but the two realized that there were no companies in Egypt to develop programs for the Windows platform. I.B.M., one of the few international technology companies in Egypt at the time, had only a sales office with no development capabilities. So they decided to start their own business. “By graduation, we were all so inspired we decided to create our own lab to develop applications on Windows,” Ms. Meguid said. “And we were good.” Microlabs got off to a quick start in 1993. With only $3,500 and three computers, they landed contracts to create accounting systems for big companies and won a competition to design a time-management software for the Egyptian government. But the venture started to sour a year later when Microlabs merged with a larger software company, Pie Practical Solutions. The two businesses began working together right away to migrate a software program to the Windows platform, expecting to take care of legal paperwork later that would formalize the combination. While the business took off, everything was still legally under the name of Pie Practical, and the Microlabs team was not entitled to any of the profits. “Our partners ended up taking over the company,” said Mr. Bichara, who is currently the president of a Russian mobile service provider, VimpelCom, and group executive chairman of Orascom Telecom, a global telecommunications firm that started operations in Egypt in 1998. “We learned the hard way from this experience.” After being pushed out of the merged entity, Ms. Meguid, who had registered Microlabs in her name, was stuck winding down the operations for what was left. It was a complicated process, given that the laws about liquidating a business and settling debt were unclear at the time. Even after she thought Microlabs had been shut down, she received letters six years later from government authorities asking for outstanding taxes. Wael Amin — one of the three founders of Microlabs who stayed on with Pie — said that the merged entity eventually went broke and dissolved. With the failure fresh in her mind, she opted in 1996 for a more low-key and stable position, developing Web sites for the Egyptian government. The government role gave her access to the Internet, which was not commercially available at the time. She recalls the first Web site she saw was Yahoo, which was updated once a day with the latest news. Eventually, she was tapped to run Web development for the government. The entrepreneurial spirit remained. A year later, she joined a start-up affiliated with Orascom Telecom alongside Mr. Bichara called Link Development. It took six months for him to persuade her to join, but Ms. Meguid eventually accepted the challenge because it provided freedom to develop “dream Web sites and services” and prepare for the day when the Internet would become a commercial success. Ms. Meguid, who became the chief executive of Link, began developing cultural Web sites like yallabina.com and partnered with Microsoft at the end of 1997. “Our work together goes beyond a business partnership; I consider her an adviser or coach because she calls us out on areas that we need to fix and improve,” said Ali Faramawy, president of Microsoft’s operations in the Middle East and Africa. “I’ve seen her steadily growing in confidence and in impact.” Her past mistakes have informed her current decisions. She paid extra attention to the legal process when Link merged with InTouch Communications in 2000 to form LinkdotNet. Her network also widened when LinkdotNet acquired eight established Egyptian Internet companies two years later. After Link sold part of the business to Mobinil for $130 million last year, Ms. Meguid took on the role of chief executive of the spin-off firm, OTVentures. “She is one of very few Egyptian women who has a good knowledge of technology and of business, so she is a great inspiration to mentees,” said Wael Fakharany, head of Google’s operations in Egypt. “She’s an icon in Egypt’s Internet world.” In the current environment, Ms. Meguid is adapting to the changing political environment in her home country. When the Egyptian revolution began in early 2011, many of Ms. Meguid’s clients cut their budgets. But the situation also heightened the awareness of social media and entrepreneurship, all of which she thinks will drive the technology industry in the region. “The revolution turned out to be a validation of our vision,” she said. About the author: The New York Times	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759096
__label__wiki	0.891359	0.891359	Lindsey Vonn Suffers 'Severely' Broken Arm in Ski Accident By Tina Smithers Peckham 5:05 PM PST, November 11, 2016 Lindsey Vonn has suffered yet another World Cup setback. The Olympic gold medalist "severely" broke her right arm on Thursday in a skiing accident at Colorado's Copper Mountain. Vonn confirmed the injury in a Facebook post on Friday following surgery to repair the fracture in her humerus bone. "Unfortunately, yesterday I crashed while training in Copper and severely fractured the humerus bone in my right arm," the three-time Olympian wrote. "I had successful surgery last night in Vail and everyone took great care of me." With four World Cup championships and 76 wins under her belt, Vonn admitted her frustration at putting the current season on hold, though it is unknown when she will be able to return to the slopes. "While I am beyond frustrated by this latest setback, at least my knees are ok and I will return to the slopes as soon as possible, as I always do! Thank you for the continued love and support, it means so much to me," she added. The alpine ski racer, who split from Tiger Woods in May 2015, withdrew from the World Cup competition last season after suffering a hairline knee fracture -- one of many knee injuries suffered by Vonn. RELATED: Skier Lindsey Vonn Pulls Out of Sochi Olympics As for Vonn and Woods, they remain on good terms despite their breakup. "I loved him so much and I still do, and it just didn’t work, you know," Vonn said. "We’re still on good terms and we’re friends, but it was really hard." RELATED: Lindsey Vonn Says She Still Loves Ex Tiger Woods, Won't Get Married Again: 'It Just Didn't Work' Watch the video below for more on Vonn's amicable relationship with the pro golfer. Lindsey Vonn Still Watches Ex Tiger Woods Play Golf	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759104
__label__wiki	0.874351	0.874351	JCU joins forces with US Special Ops Command to save wounded soldiers World first breakthrough medical treatment Potentially thousands of soldiers' lives could be saved Widespread civilian applications US Special Forces are funding a world first, breakthrough drug therapy for treating battle casualties that's being developed by James Cook University scientists in Australia. The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is providing $550,000 to fund work by Professor Geoffrey Dobson and Research Associate Hayley Letson from JCU's Division of Tropical Health and Medicine. The drug therapy they're working on may be the first big advance in treating battlefield casualties since the Vietnam War. Dr Dobson said SOCOM became involved because of the progress the JCU team had made over seven years developing the process. "SOCOM chooses projects that can be rapidly advanced into the field. We will also start talks on the regulatory process - including clinical trials leading to FDA approvals - within a year." Dr Dobson said the treatment targets what battlefield surgeons call the "platinum ten minutes" after a soldier is wounded. He said the better known "golden hour" is a meaningless concept in far-forward military environments. "During the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 87 percent of all deaths among allied soldiers occurred in the first 30 minutes, before they could get to a hospital. Nearly a quarter of these, almost a thousand people, were classified as having potentially survivable wounds. Time was the killer," he said. "The problem is, after a soldier suffers catastrophic blood loss and brain injury, what is a good treatment for the body is not good for the brain and vice versa," said Dr Dobson. "If you aim for too high a blood pressure, the casualty will bleed to death, and if you aim too low the brain will be irreversibly damaged. It's a double-edged sword. But if we can dial in the right blood pressure it will be a world first and has the potential to save many lives on the battlefield." The JCU team is developing a two-stage treatment. The first shot will rescue the casualty during the first few minutes of severe haemorrhage and head trauma. The second shot is designed to stabilise them for longer periods ahead of evacuation. "The fluid can be administered quickly into the blood or bone marrow and it also reduces inflammation, coagulopathy (the bloods inability to clot) and whole body energy consumption," Dr Dobson said The treatment aims to gently raise the heart and blood pressure into a "survival window" that is low enough to reduce further blood loss, but high enough to prevent further brain injury. Dr Dobson says the benefits won't be limited to US SEALs and commandos, but will automatically flow through to other western Special Forces units because of the close contact and co-operation between the organisations. The treatment could also be used to save lives away from the battlefield. Because the extreme environments in which Special Forces soldiers operate share many similarities with tropical, rural and remote environments, the JCU work has relevance to pre-hospital medicine and aeromedical transport in many regions around the world. Alistair Bone alistair.bone@jcu.edu.au http://www.jcu.edu.au US Special Operations Command TRAUMA/INJURY	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759105
__label__wiki	0.924371	0.924371	Bruins re-sign Steven Kampfer for two more years Mike Loftus The Patriot Ledger Jun 25, 2019 at 6:13 PM Jun 26, 2019 at 12:37 PM Steven Kampfer, a depth defenseman who played 35 regular-season games and three more in the playoffs, had his contract extended for two years. He would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. They’ve still got bigger deals to attack on their free agent list, but the Bruins made a move on Tuesday to keep some of their defensive depth off the open market. Steven Kampfer, a perceived throw-in last September when the B’s sent Adam McQuaid to the Rangers, signed a two-year extension at $800,00 per season. Kampfer, 30, previously a Bruin in 2010-11 and ’11-12, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Monday, July 1. Kampfer, who played for the Wild, Panthers and Rangers before returning to the B’s, was eighth on their defensive depth chart when he arrived in last season’s training camp, but went on to play in 35 regular-season games and make the first three playoff appearances of his NHL career -- one game each against the Maple Leafs, Hurricanes and Blues. He was especially valuable during the first half of the season, when all seven defensemen ahead of him were sidelined at some point by injuries. Once the defense corps healed, he went through a stretch when he didn’t play a game from Dec. 23 and March 12. The Bruins still have defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo to re-sign. Both become restricted free agents on July 1. Kampfer and John Moore are currently the only defensemen with contracts through the end of next season. DEVELOPMENT CAMP OPENS: The Bruins’ annual Development Camp opens Wednesday and runs through Friday at Warrior Ice Arena, with 34 prospects scheduled to attend. Nineteen are players the Bruins have drafted or under contract, including first-round selection John Beecher and three others picked during last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver. Among the 15 players attending on an invitation basis is Mike Hardman, a forward from Hanover who is scheduled to play next season at Boston College. Hardman, 20, played for two seasons at Xaverian Brothers High School before spending 2017-18 at Des Moines (United States Hockey League) and last season with West Kelowna of the British Columbia Hockey League, where he scored 39 goals and 72 points in 59 games. SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: The Bruins’ 2019-20 schedule was announced on Wednesday, with the B’s among the last teams in the NHL to play their home opener: They visit the Stars (Oct. 3) and Coyotes (Oct. 5) for those teams’ home openers, then visit the Golden Knights and Avalanche before hosting the Devils at TD Garden on Oct. 12. Only the Kings and Wild play their first home games so late. The B’s will then play eight of 10 games at home after the season-opening trip. That stretch that includes an Oct. 26 visit from the Blues, who won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at the Garden on June 12.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759108
__label__wiki	0.803839	0.803839	Ariana Grande Learned a Valuable Lesson From Dating Big Sean by Kendall Fisher \| Thu., May. 19, 2016 8:49 AM Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS Ariana Grande and Big Sean broke up over a year ago, but she still holds one very valuable lesson from that relationship close to her heart. The 22-year-old singer opened up in an interview with Billboard and discussed what she learned about dating in the public eye, especially as a pop star. When asked about her 8-month relationship with her rapper ex-boyfriend, she explains that the split was easy. Rather, it was the tabloid coverage overshadowing her work and talent that made things more difficult. Without saying any names, Grande projects her feelings by using an example of another female singer whose name continuously coincides with her ex-boyfriend's (it's pretty clear she's referring to Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber). "I'll never be able to swallow the fact that people feel the need to attach a successful woman to a man when they say her name," says Grande, alluding to the other singer's relationship. "I saw a headline—draw your own conclusions [on the subjects] because it'll be so much drama that I don't want—they called someone another someone's ex, and that pissed me off." Ariana Grande Shuts Down Sexist Hater on Facebook Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP She continues, "This person has had so many great records in the last year, and she hasn't been dating him forever. Call her by her name! I hate that. Like, I'm fuming. Sorry...Don't get me started on this s--t." As if it isn't already obvious enough, gender equality is something Grande is incredibly passionate about, and she refuses to be diminished against the men in her industry. "If you're going to rave about how sexy a male artist looks with his shirt off, and a woman decides to get in her panties or show her boobies for a photo shoot, she needs to be treated with the same awe and admiration," Grande explains. "I will say it until I'm an old-ass lady with my tits out at Whole Foods. I'll be in the produce aisle, naked at 95, with a sensible ponytail, one strand of hair left on my head and a Chanel bow. Mark my words. See you there with my 95 dogs." Jimmy Fallon and Ariana Grande Speak Only in Song in This Impressive Musical Showdown AKM-GSI She also can't help but be a sucker for love (aren't we all?). Though she's learned her lesson about dating in the public eye and thus maintains a more private relationship status, she isn't afraid to gush about it through her music. In fact, when asked about her rumored, unofficially official boyfriend and backup dancer, Ricky Alvarez, she's curt: "We're happy. I'm a very happy girl. I have a healthy life right now, and I think that's all anyone cares to know. The end." Victoria Monet—Grande's co-writer and close friend—did dish a bit more, revealing that "Moonlight" was influenced by him. "That's what Ricky called her one night. I think it was after their first kiss," Monet explains. "He waited to kiss her for a long time, and she was really impressed. He's such a gentleman, and the song is a great little bookmark of the start of their relationship." Read her entire Billboard profile here. Ariana Grande's Best Looks TAGS/ Ariana Grande , Big Sean , Top Stories	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759109
__label__wiki	0.853639	0.853639	Cryptic variation, molecular data, and the challenge of conserving plant diversity in oceanic archipelagos: the critical role of plant systematics Korean J. Pl. Taxon. 2016;46(2):129-148 Korean J. Pl. TaxonJournal ArchiveKorean J. Pl. Taxon. 2016;46(2) Publication date (electronic) : 2016 June 30 doi : https://doi.org/10.11110/kjpt.2016.46.2.129 Daniel J. Crawford, Tod F. Stuessy1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 60045, USA 1Herbarium, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA, and Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria *Author for correspondence: dcrawfor@ku.edu Received 2016 May 6; Accepted 2016 May 24. Plant species on oceanic islands comprise nearly 25% of described vascular plants on only 5% of the Earth’s land surface yet are among the most rare and endangered plants. Conservation of plant biodiversity on islands poses particular challenges because many species occur in a few and/or small populations, and their habitats on islands are often disturbed by the activity of humans or by natural processes such as landslides and volcanoes. In addition to described species, evidence is accumulating that there are likely significant numbers of “cryptic” species in oceanic archipelagos. Plant systematists, in collaboration with others in the botanical disciplines, are critical to the discovery of the subtle diversity in oceanic island floras. Molecular data will play an ever increasing role in revealing variation in island lineages. However, the input from plant systematists and other organismal biologists will continue to be important in calling attention to morphological and ecological variation in natural populations and in the discovery of “new” populations that can inform sampling for molecular analyses. Conversely, organismal biologists can provide basic information necessary for understanding the biology of the molecular variants, including diagnostic morphological characters, reproductive biology, habitat, etc. Such basic information is important when describing new species and arguing for their protection. Hybridization presents one of the most challenging problems in the conservation of insular plant diversity, with the process having the potential to decrease diversity in several ways including the merging of species into hybrid swarms or conversely hybridization may generate stable novel recombinants that merit recognition as new species. These processes are often operative in recent radiations in which intrinsic barriers to gene flow have not evolved. The knowledge and continued monitoring of plant populations in the dynamic landscapes on oceanic islands are critical to the preservation of their plant diversity. Keywords: conservation; cryptic diversity; island plants; molecular data; plant systematics Although oceanic islands have long been known for their unusual animals such as the giant tortoises in the Galápagos Islands, many island plants are very distinctive morphologically from their continental relatives, with the silversword alliance of Hawaii perhaps the best-known example (Carr, 1985). Insular endemic plant lineages are often characterized by: occurrence in different habitats; striking morphological differences among species; and their frequent rarity, being present in a few small populations. Islands account for only about 5% of the land surface of the Earth, yet, by current estimates, insular endemics account for almost 25% of described vascular plant species (Kreft et al., 2008). It has been estimated that 5 to 10% of the insular endemics worldwide could be highly threatened and that 3 to 4% could be in critical danger of extinction (Caujapé-Castells et al., 2010). The conservation of endemic island plants is a complex, multifaceted topic, including the preservation of native habitat, control of alien plants and animals, and minimizing the impact of human activities (Caujapé-Castells et al., 2010). While these factors are very important, the present paper focuses on the role of systematists in the conservation of biodiversity within island plant lineages. In the present discussion, plant systematics will be used in a broad sense to include traditional taxonomy with the naming and identification of species based on morphology, experimental biosystematics, reproductive biology such as breeding systems and pollinators, use of molecular markers and phylogenetic reconstruction. Island plant biodiversity can be viewed at several hierarchical levels, but the species is commonly recognized as the fundamental unit of biodiversity both from the view of the scientific and lay communities (Steele and Pires, 2011). Importantly, species and subspecific recognition are the basis for legal protection of plants by the United States Endangered Species Act, although other agencies may include consideration of “distinct” populations (Allendorf et al., 2013, pp. 317, 318). The issues of species concepts and/or criteria for recognizing species have been and continue to be discussed and debated (e.g., Mallet, 1995; Mayden, 1997; de Queiroz, 1998; Hausdorf, 2011), and will not be considered in detail. Rather, the topics will be dealt within the context of island plants. The traditional morphological/typological species concept/criterion, if not explicitly stated in taxonomic treatments and the description of new species, is most commonly employed by plant systematists. Despite the importance of species in biodiversity studies, particularly within island archipelagos, understanding population variation within species is also critical to the conservation of genetic diversity. This is true because individual or groups of populations may represent cryptic species that could go undetected with the types of data often employed in systematic studies. Whether or not recognized taxonomically, the detection of variation within recognized taxa is important because it calls attention to the value of conserving diversity and adaptive/evolutionary potential. Since there is no universally accepted species definition, it follows that there is no generally agreed upon definition of cryptic species; in the present paper the working definition will be that “they are at least superficially morphologically indistinguishable” (Bickford et al., 2006, p. 149). For vascular plants, casual observation with the naked eye, or with 10x or lower magnification could be classified as “superficial” examination. Sibling species are sometimes further distinguished from cryptic species in that they are sister species (Bickford et al., 2006). Cryptic species are likely, but not inevitably, sister species because their morphological similarities are the result of recent divergence from a common ancestor in the island setting. We will discuss some challenges of documenting biodiversity in the flora of oceanic islands, with emphasis on the discovery of cryptic diversity and the issues involved in recognizing the diversity taxonomically. The discussion will be centered on species and subspecies, but will also consider the conservation of diversity at the population level within species. In addition to morphology, the use of molecular markers for detecting cryptic diversity and for informing taxonomic decisions will be reviewed, and this will bring into play a discussion of the genotypic cluster definition of species (Mallet, 1995). We will highlight the roles of present and emerging molecular/genomic data in the study of cryptic diversity in insular plant lineages. At the same time, emphasis will be placed on the importance of traditional taxonomic studies to complement information from genetic/genomic data in the conservation of oceanic island floras. Discussion of molecular phylogenetic studies of island plant lineages will provoke comments on the conservation of phylogenetic diversity (Diniz-Filho et al., 2013; Winter et al., 2013). We will argue that only collaborative studies between systematists and workers in other disciplines will achieve the necessary integration of data for conservation purposes. Field studies: observations and collections Because oceanic islands are relatively small areas that are clearly delineated by their isolation in vast oceans, it might be tacitly assumed that extensive collecting has been done in all areas of islands and that insular floras are well documented. Despite extensive fieldwork on many archipelagos, new plant taxa are constantly being described (e.g., Ferreira et al., 2014; Puppo, 2015). In some instances, novelties have been found in very inaccessible areas (Funk and Wood, 2014). In other cases, species occur in easily accessible areas, and intensive field studies provided insights into variation in several “cryptic” morphological features that are maintained in cultivation in a uniform environment (e.g., Crawford et al., 2013). The value of field observations over several years cannot be overstated for detecting cryptic diversity because good field taxonomists come to recognize subtle (cryptic) differences among populations of what are considered the same species. This was the case in the description of the new species Tolpis santosii (Asteraceae) from the Canary Islands, which was based on the perceptive observations of Arnoldo Santos-Guerra over many growing seasons (Crawford et al., 2013). In some instances, critical study of herbarium material and expanded field studies that augment scant herbarium material have resulted in the resurrection of species previously placed in synonymy (Senterre et al., 2015). These cited studies, along with many others, suggest that intensive field studies, including special collecting efforts in poorly explored areas of islands and critical examination of herbarium specimens by plant systematists, are critically important components in the discovery of cryptic variation in island floras. Particular challenges may include both getting to remote islands and doing fieldwork in inaccessible parts of islands. In addition to islands of different ages in archipelagos such as the Canary and Hawaiian Islands, there are substrates of varying ages on single islands, as well as areas of natural and human-mediated disturbances on individual islands (e.g., Sherrod, 2009; Carracedo, 2011). In essence, there may be islands within islands, with species or cryptic species, occurring on different substrates on islands with complex geological histories, such as Tenerife in the Canary Islands (e.g., Puppo et al., 2014). More recent lava flows (even in historical times), natural landslide areas, and areas of human disturbance provide open areas for colonization and subsequent divergence, as well as the potential for the generation of novelty by hybridization (Otto et al., 2016). Field studies of plant lineages occurring on the variety of substrates on oceanic islands are important in detecting cryptic diversity within lineages. It goes without saying that the persistence, diversification and speciation of plants in oceanic archipelagos depend on successful sexual reproduction (Anderson et al., 2001; Bernardello et al., 2001; Crawford et al., 2011). As colonizing plants adapt to the island setting, cryptic diversity in floral traits may occur and these plants may “break the rules” relative to the expected associations of floral features and breeding systems. For example, in the Juan Fernandez Islands, the endemic, monophyletic composite genus Dendroseris (or Sonchus subgenus Dendroseris; Mejías and Kim, 2012) has both self-incompatible (SI) and self-compatible (SC) species (Anderson et al., 2001; Bernardello et al., 2001). However, the SC species still retain the floral characters typical of SI outcrossing species instead of having evolved the reduced size and number of floral parts typical of the so-called “selfing syndrome” (Ornduff, 1969; Slotte et al., 2012, see below). Another excellent example of island plants “making do” for sexual reproduction comes from Robinson Crusoe island in the Juan Fernandez archipelago. Anderson et al. (2000a) showed that in the endemic species Wahlenbergia berteroi (Campanulaceae) elongation of the styles carries pollen near the throat of the corolla and rubs against the inner surface of the corolla. Wind shaking the flowers brings the pollen on the inner surface of the corollas in contact with the receptive stigmata, which effects pollination. It is clear from these two (and many other) examples that breeding systems in island plants may be cryptic because superficial observation of floral morphology suggests that they are typical of outcrossing species even though they have the ability to self. Field studies determining whether isolated flowers (bagged to exclude pollen from other plants), with and without manual self-pollination, can set seed, will show whether plants are SC and further whether they can efficiently self-pollinate or require a pollen vector. There are important conservation implications of the breeding systems of island plants and whether pollen vectors are needed (Anderson et al., 2001; Bernardello et al., 2001). These include genetic diversity within and between populations (e.g., Hamrick and Godt, 1997) and whether seed set is limited by lack of pollinators or compatible mates (in the case of SI plants, see below), especially in the small populations typical of oceanic islands (Pannell, 2015). Even more subtle and cryptic are island plants that are basically SI but are “leaky” and allow some self seed set (e.g., Nielsen et al., 2003; Crawford et al., 2015). Presumably, this system assures some seed set while retaining the genetic diversity of an outcrossing breeding system (Levin, 1996). Another form of cryptic diversity in the reproductive biology of island plants is the early stages of the evolution of dioecy (the separation of the sexes on different plants) (e.g., Sun et al., 1996; Anderson et al., 2000b, 2006). In fact, flowers may be functionally unisexual yet have both stamens and gynoecia, and casual observation could easily lead to their interpretation as bisexual flowers; the ease of detecting differences will depend on morphological similarity of the nonfunctional and functional forms in the different sexes. Detecting cryptic functional dioecy is important in the conservation of island plants because if the ratio of male and female plants becomes skewed, as could be the case in small populations, it would have an effect on seed set and on genetic diversity within populations because it reduces the effective population size (Allendorf et al., 2013, chapter 7). Dramatic examples of the extinction of dioecious species in an oceanic archipelago in historical times are provided by two very distinctive species from the genus Robinsonia (Asteraceae), R. macrocephala and R. berteroi, from the Robinson Crusoe Islands. For several decades, the latter species was known from only a single male plant (Stuessy et al., 1998a,b) and it is now thought, like R. macrocephala, to be extinct (Danton et al., 2006). Molecular markers Molecular data have been employed extensively in the study of island plants, with the results often discussed in terms of conservation implications. Allozymes, which are inherited as co-dominants, were the first molecular markers employed in assessing genetic diversity within and divergence among species of island endemics (Lowrey and Crawford, 1985; Crawford et al., 1987; Witter and Carr, 1988; de Joode and Wendel, 1992). However, allozymes often lack the variation necessary to distinguish morphologically distinct insular congeneric species (Lowrey and Crawford, 1985; Helenurm and Ganders, 1985; Francisco-Ortega et al., 1996a). Exceptions include Witter and Carr (1988) and Kim et al. (1999) where higher divergence was seen between species from older than between species on younger islands in an archipelago. The rapid and recent divergence of insular species relative to mutation rates at allozyme loci (Schlötterer, 2004) and the relatively small number of loci typically resolved are factors in the lack of resolution of morphologically distinct species. These factors would seem to further limit the utility of allozymes for the identification of cryptic species. Despite generally low variation, allozyme data have been used to assess diversity within and among conspecific populations, and to correlate patterns of variation with various life history and other biological traits; these data may be used to inform strategies for the conservation of genetic diversity (Francisco-Ortega et al., 2000; Crawford et al., 2001; Pérez de Paz and Caujapé-Castells, 2013). Following allozymes, several types of anonymous PCR-based DNA markers, such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), have been employed for assessing genetic diversity in plant species (Nybom, 2004; Schlötterer, 2004; Bonin et al., 2007; Meudt and Clarke, 2007). All three markers are inherited as dominants. They have been applied widely to studies of diversity in island plants, including variation within species (e.g., Brauner et al., 1992; Crawford et al., 2001), subspecies (Caujapé-Castells et al., 2008) and populations (Archibald et al., 2006). The extensive ISSR study of Canary Island Tolpis by Archibald et al. (2006) showed the potential of these markers for distinguishing species because they did resolve morphologically distinct clusters of populations recognized as species, and several populations identified as cryptic species based on morphology and geographic distribution were distinct. The RAPD marker study by Caujapé-Castells et al. (2008) is an excellent example of congruence between molecular markers, morphology, and geographic distribution for recognizing subspecific taxa. In general, these three dominant markers are of greater utility than allozymes in distinguishing species or detecting cryptic diversity because they are more variable than allozymes (Freeland et al., 2011, p. 71) and many more loci can be resolved than with allozymes. One of the potential problems with the use of PCR-based DNA markers, especially RAPDs, but ISSRs as well, is the reproducibility of the results, and replicate runs should be done to document that results can be duplicated (Schlötterer, 2004). Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSR) have enjoyed more recent popularity than the three dominant molecular markers because they are inherited as co-dominants, which, like allozymes, have distinct advantages in the kinds of analyses that can be done and the kinds of insights that can be obtained (Freeland et al., 2011). A limitation of the use of SSRs has been the effort and expense of designing primers for the taxa of interest, as there are no universal primers as with RAPD or ISSR primers. However, continuing development of next-generation sequencing technologies make the isolation of SSR loci ever more cost efficient (Takayama et al., 2011, 2013; Zalapa et al., 2012), and the markers have been used in studies of island plants (e.g., Friar et al., 2007; López-Sepúlveda et al., 2014; García-Verdugo et al., 2015). Silva Borges et al. (2016) provided an illustration of the utility of SSRs for detecting cryptic diversity in what has been treated as one endemic species in an oceanic archipelago. Specifically, several different analytical methods showed three major genetic groups within Tolpis azorica that correspond to populations from different geographical groups of islands in the Azorean archipelago. However, Silva Borges et al. (2016) caution that intensive morphological studies are needed to further evaluate whether the different genetic groups identified by SSR markers are worthy of further consideration for taxonomic recognition. It should be mentioned that data from markers such as allozymes and PCR-based DNA markers are frequently subjected to analyses that produce estimates of similarity or distances among populations of the same and different taxonomic entities rather than in qualitative differences, although, the presence/absence of private (unique) alleles are sometimes reported and would represent a character based approach (see below). The use of short DNA sequences, so-called barcodes, has been of interest, discussion and debate for the taxonomic identification of specimens that are insufficient for identification from morphological characters, for the detection of cryptic species, and for application to the conservation of plant biodiversity (Kress et al., 2005; Hollingsworth, 2008). Discussion has centered on practical aspects such as the utility of different sequences as barcodes and the rationale for using the approach (Blaxter, 2004; Hajibabaei et al., 2007; Thompson and Newmaster, 2014). Distance measures of sequence divergence and/or character based differences with one or more diagnostic positions in sequences (CBOL Plant Working Group, 2009) have been employed in barcoding studies. Rapid morphological divergence during the radiation of insular lineages, as discussed above, would seemingly present a rather formidable challenge for use of DNA barcoding. As mentioned above, even morphologically distinct congeneric species in insular radiations are often not well differentiated with allozymes and other molecular markers, further suggesting that they could offer a rigorous test for DNA barcoding. Presumably, the task would be even more difficult for detecting cryptic variation within species given that morphologically distinct species may not be distinguishable. The genus Tolpis in the Canary Islands would seemingly present a rigorous test for DNA barcoding because nuclear ITS and several plastid sequences were of limited value for distinguishing some morphologically distinct taxa, in resolving relationships among taxa, and in distinguishing cryptic taxa suggested from morphology (Mort et al., 2007; Gruenstaeudl et al., 2013). Mort et al. (2010) used a character-based approach (presence of diagnostic sequences) with two different combinations of four plastid sequences as barcodes for distinguishing both morphologically distinct as well as several morphological forms not recognized taxonomically. The results were somewhat “mixed” in that several morphologically distinct species were distinguishable, whereas the most morphologically divergent species in the Canary Islands was not novel with either barcode combination. By contrast, certain morphological forms (cryptic species?) were distinct. Because sampling was limited in this study, and two of the most common and variable species have been shown to be polyphyletic (Mort et al., 2015, see below), it is difficult to draw strong inferences about the value of the plastid sequences as DNA barcodes for Tolpis in the Canary Islands. Additional sampling, particularly of cryptic morphological diversity, would be needed to assess the performance of barcoding. Schaefer et al. (2011) used nuclear ITS sequences (so-called ribotypes) and plastid sequences essentially as barcodes to examine variation in single species in several lineages within the Azorean archipelago. Plastid data were invariant within each of the species whereas variation in ITS ribotypes was found in seven of the eight species examined. Furthermore, within the seven variable species, 71% of the ITS ribotypes were restricted to single islands. Thus, in sharp contrast to the current taxonomic treatment in which single species are recognized as occurring over several islands in the Azorean archipelago, the molecular data raise the possibility of several single island endemics. Schaefer et al. (2011) emphasized that the Azorean endemic flora is poorly known morphologically, and that critical study is needed to increase the understanding of the evolution of the flora and to inform conservation decisions. They called for “a thorough and critical re-evaluation of the morphological variation in the endemic flora” (Schaefer et al., 2011, p. 1352), which is the domain of plant systematists. It is interesting that, while molecular marker studies have been done on these species, basic taxonomic work is lacking. The results of Schaefer et al. (2011) parallel those of Silva Borges et al. (2016) cited above for Azorean Tolpis in which molecular data indicated clusters within the single endemic species T. azorica, and suggest that the Azores could harbor much cryptic diversity. In this regard, it is interesting to note that an intensive morphological study of Vaccinium cylindraceum (Ericaceae) by Pereira (2008) indicated differences among populations from different islands in the Azores, and provides additional evidence that basic taxonomic studies are needed to elucidate cryptic diversity in the archipelago. Schaefer et al. (2011) noted that while the ITS ribotypes showed geographic structure, they did not distinguish ecological variants within the species, and the authors suggested that geographical divergence occurred before the much more recent ecological divergence. Jones et al. (2014) found examples within the Macaronesian endemic genus Pericallis (Asteraceae) in which molecular data did not distinguish morphological/ecological variants within species, and other instances in which molecularly distinct populations were not obviously separable by morphological traits. Jones et al. (2014, p. 646) opined that their results “merit further taxonomic work.” The results of both Schaefer et al. (2011) and Jones et al. (2014) illustrate the need for extensive field studies by plant systematists in order to elucidate morphological and habitat variation for single endemic species, which would be of value for informing conservation decisions in the Azorian archipelago. Jaén-Molina et al. (2014) conducted a recent barcoding survey of 45 species, 12 subspecies and three varieties of flowering plants endemic to the Canary Islands. They employed both distance and character based analyses (see above) as distinguishing criteria. Their results showed that sequences from two regions of the plastid genome distinguished over 80% of the congeneric species that are morphologically similar but clearly distinguishable. The barcode sequences resolved between 21 and 37 percent of the cases (depending on the criteria employed) where species, subspecies or populations are difficult to identify based on “available morphological characters” (Jaén-Molina et al., 2014, p. 3). These results indicate that in the Canary Islands, about 20% of the morphologically distinct species are not separated by the barcoding sequences, and conversely, in about an equal percent of the cases cryptic diversity not discernable morphologically was detected with the sequences. It is interesting and perhaps a bit surprising that molecular differences were found among morphologically indistinguishable (at least with available data, and pending further study) plants in about the same frequency as were the lack of molecular differences among morphologically separable species. This suggests the value of multiple approaches for detecting cryptic diversity in island archipelagos; many factors could account for these differences, and they will be summarized below. Pillon et al. (2013) showed that DNA barcoding with nuclear and plastid sequences in the two genera Clermontia (Campanulaceae) and Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) in Hawaii were more effective for distinguishing species on the oldest island compared to identifying species on younger islands. Although nuclear markers were more variable than plastid loci, their longer coalescence times limited their utility as reliable barcodes. The results from several studies from different archipelagos suggest that DNA barcodes when used by themselves have certain shortcomings that limit their utility for identifying species and cryptic diversity in island lineages. However, when used in concert with other data such as morphology and field studies, barcodes may be of value. A new approach to DNA barcoding will be described later in the discussion of future studies. The use of phylogenetic relationships, often based on DNA sequence data, has been discussed and debated in delimiting species and as guides for conserving biodiversity (e.g., Agapow et al., 2004; Diniz-Filho et al., 2013; Winter et al., 2013; Faith, 2016; Lean and Maclaurin, 2016; Pellens and Grandcolas, 2016a,b; Pellens et al., 2016). This is a complex topic, with various views held on the most appropriate way to assess and conserve phylogenetic diversity (e.g., papers in Pellens and Grandcolas, 2016a). The definition of phylogenetic diversity may vary, but in the most general sense it refers to differences among organisms resulting from their evolutionary history, with the diversity contained within a phylogeny (Pellens and Grandcolas, 2016b). For those who favor using phylogenetic diversity as a conservation guideline, the basic idea is that it is important to conserve the widest range of diversity in terms of traits generated by evolution within a species or within lineages consisting of two or more taxa. While DNA barcoding focuses primarily on distinguishing species or populations rather than using the data to infer relationships, Hajibabaei et al. (2007) argue that barcoding could be helpful by suggesting taxa (or variants?) that should be included in phylogenetic studies. Regardless of debates on the use of phylogenetic diversity for informing conservation planning in island lineages, two limitations of the approach in conservation have been particularly prevalent. In earlier studies, limited sampling of populations within species (Sang et al., 1994, 1995) was a shortcoming, and the inability to obtain high resolution of relationships using DNA sequence data is a recurring problem (Sang et al., 1994; Kim et al., 1996, 2007; Francisco-Ortega et al., 1997; Gruenstaeudl et al., 2013; Jones et al., 2014). In addition to sampling of populations of each species, especially for geographically widespread and ecologically diverse species, it is critical that populations differing in even the most subtle characters be sampled; equally critical is sampling populations on a variety of substrates. Hybridization: loss of diversity or generation of cryptic diversity? The foregoing discussion focused on divergence and speciation in island plants; attention is now focused on hybridization, especially gene exchange between species. Allendorf et al. (2001, p. 613) commented on the “difficult set of problems” that hybridization presents for conservation biologists. More recently, Wayne and Shaffer (2016) discuss the issues with the legal protection for the products of hybridization, and refer to the “nuances of hybridization as a conservation problem.” These problems are particularly relevant for plants on oceanic islands, and plant systematists can contribute to addressing issues of hybridization and conservation. In the present discussion, only hybridization between endemic/native species will be considered; hybridization between native and alien species is an important issue in conservation of island plants (Daehler and Carino, 2001; Knope et al., 2013; Preston and Pearman, 2015) but this complex topic will not be included herein. Obviously, the first step in addressing issues of hybridization in oceanic lineages is to document that plants are of hybrid origin. Traditionally, the evidence for hybridization has come from morphological data, with intermediacy in morphological characters used to infer hybridization (Anderson, 1953; Rieseberg and Ellstrand, 1993; Soltis and Soltis, 2009). Henderson (2006) presented a useful overview of methods employed for the analysis of morphological data, several of which have been applied in studies of interspecific hybridization in island plants (Borgen, 1976; Brochmann et al., 2000; Nielsen et al., 2003). A variety of molecular markers, including those discussed above, have been used to document hybridization (Twyford and Ennos, 2012). The most effective markers are those that are diagnostic for each of the parental species, that is, they have mutually exclusive alleles or markers. Finding species specific markers may be a challenge for congeneric species in oceanic islands because, as noted above, they may not be divergent at commonly-employed molecular markers. However, because species in oceanic islands are often divergent morphologically, the identification of hybrids is usually not a formidable challenge (Borgen, 1996; Brochmann et al., 2000; Nielsen et al., 2003). The challenge usually is not just detecting hybridization, but rather determining the “kind” of hybrids they are, e.g., first generation, advanced generation, or backcrosses to one or both parents (Twyford and Ennos, 2012). This topic will be considered later. Several aspects of island plants contribute to the occurrence of interspecific hybrids (Bacon et al., 2012; Rieseberg pp. 375–376 in Allendorf et al., 2013). First, synthetic crosses have shown that morphologically distinct populations recognized as species or subspecies are commonly cross compatible and their F1 hybrids are viable and fertile. Examples from Hawaii include Bidens (Gillett and Lim, 1970) and Tetramolopium (Lowrey, 1986), both members of Asteraceae, and Wikstroemia (Thymelaeaceae, Mayer, 1991). Fertile interspecific F1 hybrids have also been synthesized in the genus Scalesia (Asteraceae) in the Galápagos (Lindhardt et al., 2009) and Argyranthemum in the Macaronesian archipelagos (Brochmann et al., 2000; reviewed in Francisco-Ortega et al., 1997). Field observations by plant systematists can provide a first assessment of the potential for hybridization. Although species in island lineages often occupy different habitats, they are nonetheless in close spatial proximity and may come into contact from disturbances caused by the direct and indirect impacts of human activities, and natural phenomena such as volcanic activity, landslides and erosion (Stuessy et al., 1998a and others). In addition to increasing the potential for interspecific gene flow, disturbances may also provide habitats that facilitate the establishment and success of hybrids because hybrids may be at a competitive advantage with their parents in the disturbed habitats as opposed to being at a selective disadvantage in the parental habitats. Anderson (1948) referred to this as “hybridization of the habitat”. With the increasing human activity on islands, especially those such as the Canary Islands, which have about 1.6 million inhabitants and perhaps ten million tourists annually (Francisco-Ortega et al., 2000), additional disturbances will occur (van Hengstum et al., 2012). Identifying human-mediated disturbances as they develop on oceanic islands and assessing the potential impact they could have on the spatial distances between congeneric species are important activities of plant systematists because they know the floras of islands and can determine which species could be affected. Several examples from the genus Argyranthemum (Asteraceae) in the Canary Islands show that activities such as clearing land for farming, deforestation, and tunnel building have brought together different combinations of species and resulted in hybridization (Borgen, 1976; Brochmann et al., 2000; Fjellheim et al., 2009). Other examples of naturally occurring interspecific hybrids in oceanic islands include, among many others: Hawaiian groups such as Scaevola (Goodeniaceae; Gillett, 1966; Howarth and Baum, 2005) and Scalesia (Asteraceae) in the Galápagos Islands (Lindhardt et al., 2009). A third factor that could promote hybridization between species in an island setting is unspecialized pollinators that do not discriminate between species, thus effecting interspecific pollen transfer (Anderson et al., 2001; Bernardello et al., 2001; Crawford et al., 2011). Members of family Asteraceae are common and prominent examples of plants with unspecialized pollinators (Ellis and Johnson, 2009; Horsburgh et al., 2011). Several easily observable traits, in addition to habitat differences, could reduce gene flow between species. Self-compatible and highly self-pollinating (see above) species, which are common in island lineages (cf. McMullen, 1987, 1990), would experience reduced frequency of hybridization (Martin and Willis, 2007; Wright et al., 2013) because they typically have small, rather inconspicuous flowers and very high self seed set (Ornduff, 1969). These species produce much less pollen and attract fewer pollinators, both of which reduce the potential for outcrossing, and result in fewer hybrids than would occur between highly outcrossing species (Wolf et al., 2001; Brys et al., 2013). Minimal or no overlap in flowering time between two congeneric species occurring in close spatial occurrence would reduce gene flow, but change in local conditions in any given year, such as difference in precipitation patterns, could alter flowering times. Demonstration of high cross-incompatibility in experimental crosses between species would likewise suggest low likelihood of the production and establishment of hybrids. Extensive and sustained field studies by trained plant systematists who know the floras of islands are critical to assessing the potential for hybridization between congeneric endemic species. Given that hybridization may occur in island floras, the reasons that it produces a “difficult set of problems” for plant conservation are the several potential outcomes from the process (Arnold, 1997; Arnold and Martin, 2010; Abbott et al., 2013; Björklund, 2013; Yakimowski and Rieseberg, 2014). The outcomes could include the production of either vigorous and fertile hybrids or sub-vital and/or highly sterile hybrid plants. Hybridization could affect the introgression of traits from one species into another or the establishment of stable independent lineages that may be recognized as distinct species. Contemporary debate and discussion center on the most common outcomes of hybridization and the feasibility of obtaining data that would increase the success in predicting the results of hybridization in a given instance (Börklund, 2013; Butlin and Ritchie, 2013; Seehausen, 2013). Since hybridization could either enhance or diminish plant biodiversity on oceanic islands, with the extremes being the extinction of species or the origin of new species, any insights into the dynamics of hybridization would be of considerable value for formulating conservation strategies. The production of interspecific hybrids may threaten the parental species, particularly if one or both are rare and composed of a few small populations, a situation commonly encountered on islands (e.g., Levin et al., 1996; Stuessy et al., 1998b; Francisco-Ortega et al., 2000). The basic threat stems from the production of hybrid seed, which causes a reduction in seed of each of the parental species (Levin et al., 1996). If reciprocal crosses between two species produce similar levels of seed, the rarer species will be at a disadvantage since it will sire a higher percentage of hybrid seed because there are more members of the other species than the same species with which it can mate (Fowler and Levin, 1984). Weaker barriers to gene flow, as often occurs between island congeners, will further promote increased hybridization, placing the rarer species at a greater disadvantage (Levin et al., 1996). An increase in hybrid seed production at the expense of the parental species and the decrease in conspecific seed may result in the extinction of one (the rarer species) or both of the parental populations (Levin et al., 1996). If the fitness of the hybrids equals or exceeds that of the parents in the habitats where one or both parents occur, they will compete with their parents, and limit parental capacity for replacement (Levin et al., 1996). Fertile hybrids of moderate to high fitness may cause the extinction of a rarer parental species by genetic assimilation when they backcross to one or both parental species. The more abundant parental species, of course, will cross more frequently with the hybrids, resulting in the hybrids more closely resembling that parent, and through generations characters typical of the rarer species will be lost. The culmination of this process would be the extinction of the rarer species as it existed prior to hybridization. If, in contrast to fit hybrids, hybridization produces nonviable seed or progeny of lower fitness, there is a risk of extinction but it is through the process of gametic wastage (Daehler and Carino, 2001). In sharp contrast to hybridization having a negative impact on biological diversity in oceanic islands, it may also enhance biodiversity, and conservation measures would differ from those employed when available data suggest that hybridization would have a negative effect. In broadest terms, hybridization may enhance diversity in two ways, one being through increasing genetic variation (Seehausen, 2013) within a species via gene flow from another species, that is, via introgression. This is often facilitated by the presence of a hybrid zone, which may be stable and occurs when there is no open habitat for the hybrids. Repeated backcrossing from hybrids to one of the parents in a hybrid zone may facilitate the introgression of adaptive traits. A second way in which diversity could be enhanced by hybridization is through the formation of stabilized hybrid populations distinct from their parents (but at the same ploidy level). The hybrids may occupy habitats where neither parent occurs and be recognized as homploid hybrid species (Yakimowski and Rieseberg, 2014). Schumer et al. (2014) suggested that in some instances the criteria applied for recognizing homoploid species have not been adequate, and they recommended three basic criteria for the recognition of a homoploid hybrid species. The criteria include demonstrating past hybridization between two species (that is, the plants under study are of hybrid origin), showing that the hybrids are reproductively isolated from the parental species, and providing evidence showing that reproductive isolation between hybrids and parents was the result of hybridization. These are rather stringent criteria, and the review by Schumer et al. (2014) shows that the most commonly employed criterion in plants is genetic evidence, the second most common is isolation between parent and hybrid, and the third is evidence that hybridization produced the isolation of the hybrids from their parents. The Schumer et al. (2014) review revealed that only three studies in plants used all three criteria to document homoploid hybrid speciation. Whether the paucity of reports of homoploid hybrid speciation in plants (which is still greater than reports for animals) is a reflection of the rarity of the process in nature or the difficulty of providing convincing evidence using one or more of the three criteria, or both, remains a matter of speculation (Mallet, 2007; Schumer et al., 2014; Yakimowski and Rieseberg, 2014). Howarth and Baum (2005) suggested that homoploid hybrid species could be more common on oceanic islands than in flowering plants in general, and there are several reasons for this. As mentioned above, congeneric species in a number of insular lineages have been shown to be cross compatible and interfertile, and disturbance may serve both to bring species into contact and provide habitats for hybrid species. Reports of homoploid hybrid species from islands include one or more species of Argyranthemum in the Canary Islands (Brochmann et al., 2000; Borgen et al., 2003; Fjellheim et al., 2009) and two species of Scaevola (Goodeniaceae) in the Hawaiian Archipelago (Howarth and Baum, 2005). In the Canaries, the two Argyranthemum parental species of the presumed hybrid species have been brought into contact by the effects of human disturbance, and the hybrid species grow at elevations intermediate between the parents (Brochmann et al., 2000). In Hawaii, one of the hybrid Scaevola species occurs on a recent lava flow and the other is found in wetter forests at higher elevations than its presumed parents (Howarth and Baum, 2005). The extensive studies of Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Islands by B. R. and P. R. Grant (B. R. Grant and P. R. Grant, 2008; P. R. Grant and B. R. Grant, 2006, 2014) provide remarkable insights into how the implications of hybridization events may vary over a matter of decades. Whether hybridization results in the merging of lineages or produces stabilized lineages depends heavily on selection by the external environment. These alternative outcomes of hybridization are feasible in the stages of radiations before internal barriers to gene flow have evolved (B. R. Grant and P. R. Grant, 2008). To our knowledge no comparable examples have been elucidated for island plants, but there is no reason to believe that they do not exist. As discussed above, oceanic plant lineages often lack intrinsic barriers to gene flow via cross-incompatibility and hybrid sterility, which would permit the kind of dynamic situation documented in the finches. The changing landscapes on oceanic islands provide differing selection on hybrids that could either favor or select against hybrids. In particular, and as noted above, the creation of novel or disturbed habitats could provide habitats for hybrids in which they are not competing with the parental species. The basic problem from a conservation perspective is being able to predict with some confidence whether, in any given situation, the outcome of hybridization will enhance or diminish plant biodiversity in oceanic archipelagos, and indeed the situation may change over time. Thus, while there are no hard and fast rules for assessing the conservation implications of hybridization in oceanic archipelagos, careful monitoring of habitats and observations of the morphology of plants growing on the “new” habitats are critical to conservation efforts. Historically, plant systematics has incorporated data from new methodologies e.g., chromosomes and cytogenetics, secondary chemistry, enzyme electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing (Stuessy et al., 2001). The most recent technological/methodological approaches filtering down to plant systematics have been referred to as next generation sequencing (NGS). Genomic data, which include many markers covering much of the genome, are increasingly providing basic information for studying the patterns and processes of plant evolution, e.g., speciation (Seehausen et al., 2014) as well as having important implications for plant conservation (Primmer, 2009; Ouborg et al., 2010; Lemmon and Lemmon, 2013; Andrews et al., 2016). Some of the presently employed and potential applications of NGS for the studies of insular plants will be discussed but it will be argued, that even though new technologies provide refined insights into the pattern and process of plant evolution on oceanic islands, the input from plant systematists will likewise enhance the value of the genomic data. As mentioned above, resolution of phylogenetic relationships in island lineages using DNA sequence data has been limited by the lack of variation in the sequences widely used in plant systematics. One important application of NGS is for generating phylogenetic hypotheses in plants (Eaton and Ree, 2013; Lemmon and Lemmon, 2013; Hipp et al., 2014; Hörandl and Appelhans, 2015; Andrews et al., 2016). It seems clear that these new methods will increasingly provide massive amounts of useful data for higher resolution of relationships in island lineages than was achieved with Sanger sequencing of one or a few DNA regions. The challenge has shifted from the collection of massive amounts of data obtainable to how best to process and analyze the data (Edgar, 2010; Eaton, 2014; Andrews et al., 2016). As far as we are aware, NGS has been used for phylogenetic reconstruction in only one island plant lineage, namely the genus Tolpis (Asteraceae) in the Macaronesian archipelagos (Mort et al., 2015). Although population-level sampling in Tolpis has thus far been somewhat limited, the results indicate that resolution is much higher than achieved previously using sequences commonly employed in systematic studies (Gruenstaeudl et al., 2013). Clades not resolved in prior studies show that there has been divergence and speciation within islands as well as interisland dispersal and speciation (allopatric speciation). In terms of being informative for the conservation of phylogenetic biodiversity (discussed above), the phylogeny of Mort et al. (2015) is of greater value than an earlier phylogeny for Tolpis (Gruenstaeudl et al., 2013) based on Sanger sequencing. The Mort et al. (2015) phylogeny also resolves with strong support cryptic diversity in the form of two entities that had been designated as sp. nov. in earlier publications based on several lines of evidence. In addition, two other described species that have been recognized by some but not all workers in the Canary Islands (Crawford et al., 2009) were resolved as distinct clades. These preliminary results are encouraging because they show the potential of NSG data for resolving and identifying cryptic diversity heretofore unresolved by other molecular methods. It seems likely that the increased use of NSG data, combined with larger population sampling than was usually done in earlier molecular phylogenetic studies (see discussion by Jones et al., 2014) will provide finer and finer resolution, including the revelation of much heretofore unrecognized cryptic diversity. As discussed above, documenting that one or more populations are distinguished by molecular markers does not provide strong evidence for formal taxonomic recognition. Instead, the molecular data call attention to the necessity of input from plant taxonomists to provide additional biological information before more definitive taxonomic judgments are made. With ever-finer resolution in phylogenies, the greater will be the need for basic systematic/taxonomic/biological data. Several good examples of using molecular markers in combination with other biological data to assess genetic diversity in rare plants and to inform conservation decisions include Olfelt et al. (2001) and Silva et al. (2015). DNA barcoding using plastid DNA sequences and ITS nuclear sequences was discussed earlier, with the general results that short sequences may not contain sufficient variation at the population and species levels. More recently, NGS has been used for barcoding. This approach, which has been called ultra-barcoding or extended barcoding (Coissac et al., 2016) and the NGS method used has been designated as “genome skimming” (Kane et al., 2012; Straub et al., 2012; Dodsworth, 2015; Li et al., 2015; Pompanon and Samadi, 2015). The basic idea is that instead of using one or a combination of short sequences for standard barcoding, genome wide data encompassing kilobases of data are employed, thus the term ultra-barcoding. Even if short sequences of plastid DNA may show little variation, especially at lower taxonomic levels, having massive amounts of sequence data will provide sufficient variation for barcoding (e.g., Kane et al., 2012). Next generation sequencing technologies (sometime called massively parallel sequencing) involves sequencing the same bases many times, and this depth of coverage is important to the use of NGS data (Steele and Pires, 2011; Straub et al., 2012). Plastid and mitochondrial genomes are present in many copies in plants, as are nuclear ITS sequences. Since the depth of sequencing increases in proportion to the copy number, shallow sequencing will result in greater depth than would be possible for single or low copy sequences, hence the term genome skimming. To our knowledge, ultra-barcoding has not been applied to island plants; at first glance, it would appear that the approach offers considerable potential, given the limitations of using standard short sequences as barcodes. It may well be that combination of ultra- and standard barcoding approaches can be used (Li et al, 2015; Coissac et al., 2016). There are many issues involved in the actual implementation of genome skimming for ultra-barcoding, and a general appreciation of practical aspects such as time, cost and expertise may be gained by reading several thoughtful short reviews (e.g., Dodsworth, 2015; Li et al., 2015; Coissac et al, 2016). Molecular markers that have been used to assess genetic diversity within and differentiation among populations of insular species, to assist in characterizing new species, to infer the patterns of dispersal, and to infer parameters of reproductive biology such as mating system (levels of selfing and outcrossing in natural populations) are generally viewed as neutral or near neutral (Ouborg et al., 2010; Kirk and Freeland, 2011). It is indisputable that these markers have proven valuable in conservation efforts. However, they are limited in other respects, an important one being that they are not the basis of adaptive traits that impact the survival of organisms over time, and especially they do not facilitate the adaptation of populations to changes in their environment (Primmer, 2009; Ouborg et al., 2010; Kirk and Freeland, 2011). Gaining insight into the genetic architecture of potentially adaptive traits and further establishing the actual genetic basis of the traits are not trivial tasks, to say the least (Pardo-Diaz et al., 2015) and will be discussed here only briefly. However, it is important to note that even the most sophisticated genomic studies will require the input of plant systematists/ecologists in order to gain insights into the genetic basis of adaptive traits (Anderson et al., 2011; Savolainen et al., 2013; de Villemereuil, 2015). Many island lineages may be ideal systems for the types of ambitious studies mentioned above because there is often a remarkable diversity of phenotypes occurring in a diverse array of habitats (Carlquist 1974), with notable examples such as the silversword alliance (Baldwin, 2003) and lobeliads (Givnish et al., 2009) of Hawaii, Echium in Macaronesian archipelagos (Bramwell, 1972; Böhle et al., 1996; Romeiras et al., 2011) and Dendroseris in the Robinson Crusoe archipelago (Sanders et al., 1987). Givnish et al. (2009) provide a list and synopsis of several other notable island radiations. The association between distinct habitats and different phenotypes that may be observed over a short distance on an island leads to the hypothesis that phenotypes are adapted to the habitats where they are found to the exclusion of other phenotypes. Indeed, island lineages are often cited as examples of adaptive radiations (Gillespie, 2009; Soulebeau et al., 2015). Systematists familiar with the oceanic floras from extensive, sustained field studies are the most likely to note, in addition to obvious phenotypic differences, subtle variation associated with different habitats (Santiago and Kim, 2009; García-Verdugo et al., 2013). These observations could set the stage for such things as common garden and reciprocal transplant studies to ascertain whether plants with the traits of interest maintain those traits in a common environment and have higher fitness in their native habitats, respectively. The studies on the Hawaiian lobeliads by Givnish and colleagues (e.g., Givnish et al., 2004; Montgomery and Givnish, 2008; Givnish and Montgomery, 2014) included field and common garden studies, the results of which indicated that species were adapted to their native habitats in several traits. In addition to the field and common garden studies of lobeliads, there have been additional investigations of other insular lineages from different archipelagos (e.g., Dunbar-Co et al., 2009; Santiago and Kim, 2009; García-Verdugo et al., 2013) showing an association between traits and plant performance, and suggesting the adaptive nature of the phenotypic diversity seen in natural populations. Once there is evidence that contrasting traits seen in nature are likely adaptive in the habitats where they occur, studies of the genetic basis of the trait may be initiated. This is an onerous task at best and general descriptions of the approaches and the challenges in elucidating at the finest genetic scale adaptive phenotypic traits may be found in several brief, lucid reviews (Stinchbombe and Hoekstra, 2008; Anderson et al., 2011; Savolainen et al., 2013; Pardo-Diaz et al., 2015). The goal of such studies would be to test whether plants with the allele of a gene of interest (a candidate gene) have higher fitness, preferably in natural populations, than plants with alternative alleles. One noteworthy example of gaining insight into the genetic basis of a phenotypic traits in plants comes from populations of Arabidopsis lyrata growing on serpentine and nonserpentine soils (Turner et al., 2010). Turner et al. (2010) sequenced three candidate genes, which were involved in heavy metal detoxification, and calcium and magnesium transport, and their known functions plausible for occurrence on the harsh substrates such as serpentine. The conservation implications of studies of the genetic architecture and basis of adaptive traits are apparent when considering issues such as conservation of ecologically important variation within species, especially the potential to adapt to habitat changes, as may occur in oceanic archipelagos (Carracedo et al, 2011; Weigelt et al., 2016) Next generation sequencing data can contribute much to studies of hybridization. Twyford and Ennos (2012) suggested that data from NGS technologies could contribute to three important aspects of natural hybridization, including the spatial/temporal dynamics of hybrid zones, the consequences of the introgression of particular regions or loci into the genetic background of another species, and the formation and stabilization of new species. With regard to the study of these basic issues, two quotations from García-Verdugo et al. (2013) argue for the suitability of island plants for studying hybridization: “Oceanic islands provide an ideal scenario for testing future hypotheses on the ecological role of hybridization in lineage diversification” (García-Verdugo et al., 2013, p. 756); and “The proliferation of molecular-based studies is providing incessant evidence for the occurrence of hybridization events in island radiations, but if we rely solely on this approach, we will fail to fully understand the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes creating such an unusual degree of variation within particular lineages.” (García-Verdugo et al., 2013, p. 757). Island species are particularly good systems for inferring the temporal aspect of interspecific hybridization because in many cases natural and human-mediated disturbances, which often facilitate hybridization, can be dated (e.g., Borgen, 1976; Carracedo, 2011; van Hengstum et al., 2012). The persistent problem for continental plants of whether shared alleles and morphological intermediacy between species is the result of hybridization or shared ancestral polymorphisms (Twyford and Ennos, 2012; Mallet et al., 2016) is rarely an issue with island plants because, as the plants in question are typically on sites of younger known ages, whereas the two “pure” parental species are distinct over most of their ranges. There can be little doubt that future investigations of hybridization should focus on long-term studies on islands. There have been no such studies of plants, and of very few from animals. As mentioned above, the classical, multifaceted, studies of B. R. and P. R. Grant (B. R. Grant and P. R. Grant, 2008; P. R. Grant and B. R. Grant, 2006, 2014) carried out over generations, show how the results of hybridization can fluctuate over ecological time. There is the potential for similar kinds of studies in island plants; a specific example will be given. Several species in the genus Argyranthemum (mentioned above) are known to hybridize in different islands in the Canarian archipelago (Borgen, 1976; Borgen et al., 2003; Brochmann, 1984; Brochmann et al., 2000: Francisco-Ortega et al., 1997; Fjellheim et al., 2009). Particularly interesting is hybridization between the species Argyranthemum frutescens (two subspecies involved) and one subspecies of A. broussonetii in the Anaga region of Tenerife Island in the Canaries. The former species is coastal and xerophytic, typically occurring below 100 m above sea level (asl). This species has a tendency to become somewhat weedy and may occur at higher altitudes. By contrast, A. broussonetii occurs in the humid laurel forest zone at 550 to 1000 m asl. Several of the larger hybrid populations (hundreds of plants) have been named taxonomically as A. lemsii and A. sundingii, and they occur at intermediate altitudes of 150 to 450 m asl in habitats that vary from semi-arid to humid (Brochmann et al., 2000; Borgen et al., 2003; Fjellheim et al., 2009). Fjellheim et al. (2009) suggested that more recent establishment of hybrids between the two species may have been facilitated by disturbance such as deforestation and road building, whereas there may also be older hybrid populations that predated the disturbances. In addition to the larger populations, three other very small hybrid populations consisting of one, 20 and 40 hybrid plants at disturbed sites were found (Brochmann et al., 2000) but were not studied. Studies utilizing data from morphology and experimental hybridizations (Brochmann et al., 2000) and various molecular markers (Francisco-Ortega et al., 1997; Fjellheim et al., 2009) raised several interesting questions about the hybrid populations between these two species, the two most basic ones being whether the hybrids should be recognized as one or two species (A. lemsii and A. sundingii), or they should be considered hybrid swarms rather than stabilized hybrids. Brochmann et al. (2000) demonstrated that the F1 and F2 hybrids resulting from crossing the two parental species are vigorous and highly pollen fertile, indicating that reproductive isolation in nature is the result of spatial/habitat divergence rather than intrinsic barriers to gene flow. Secondly, Brochmann et al. (2000) showed that some F2 hybrids were close morphological matches to naturally occurring hybrids. Interestingly, Brochmann et al. (2000) argued that a population assigned to A. sundingii is a stabilized hybrid because the progeny from plants in the population had no higher morphological variation than the progeny of each of the parental species, and less than was found in synthetic F2 hybrids. Hybridization between Argyranthemum frutescens and A. broussonetii in the Anaga area of Tenerife is a good model system for studying the formation and structure of hybrid zones in an insular setting because of the seemingly multiple origins of hybrids at different locations and likely at different times. The hybrid populations vary in size and are considered to be either small hybrid swarms or stabilized hybrid species. The molecular makers that have been employed in studying hybridization (Francisco-Ortega et al., 1997; Fjellheim et al., 2009) between the two species of Argyranthemum have been of limited value in determining whether the hybrid populations are of single or multiple origins (or even if they were hybrids at all) because there were few, if any, diagnostic markers for each of the parental species. However, Francisco-Ortega et al. (1996b) showed that two hybrid populations had the plastid genomes of different parental species, suggesting that the maternal parents were different in the two populations, and thus are the result of different hybridization events. The use of many more molecular markers generated from NGS technologies would very likely be more informative than markers previously employed (Eaton and Ree, 2013; Paun et al., 2016) in elucidating whether hybrid populations are from the same or different hybridization events. This information would be valuable to subsequent studies of populations because, if they have separate origins, they would represent replicate hybridization experiments, and could be informative for inferring the factors that shape variation and evolution subsequent to hybridization (Harrison and Larson, 2016). In this regard, the studies of Rieseberg and collaborators showed that different hybridization events in the genus Helianthus (e.g., Rieseberg et al., 1999; Buerkle and Rieseberg, 2001) showed similar genomic patterns of hybridization and introgression. The parental species are karyotypically divergent, with the first generation hybrids highly sterile (Heiser, 1947), which suggests that selection for fertility in later generations shapes genomes during hybrid speciation. By contrast, if extrinsic factors such as habitat preference drove divergence and speciation of the parents with minimal intrinsic barriers to gene flow between them, then the results of replicate hybridizations between them would presumably be shaped by the external factors of the hybrid habitat. If this were the case, then different results from replicate hybridization events would be expected depending on the habitats of the hybrids. In contrast to the parental species of the Helianthus hybrids, the Argyranthemum parents have similar karyotypes with few intrinsic barriers to gene flow, and habitat differences likely are selective factors in the evolution of the hybrid populations (Brochmann et al., 2000; Fjellheim et al., 2009). The results of Brochmann et al. (2000) showed that several hybrid populations of Argyranthemum are distinguishable morphologically, and future systematic/biosystematics studies enlarging on the important investigation of Brochmann et al. (2000) should be carried out. That is, variation in traits in the progeny of natural hybrids, progeny of the parental species and synthetic F2 hybrids would be compared. These studies would provide insight into the morphological stabilization of the hybrid populations in comparison to their parents and second generation hybrids. In addition, the application of many molecular markers generated by NGS technology could document whether the hybrid populations in the Anaga region are the results of independent events, and also provide insights into the genetic structure of the hybrid populations (Eaton and Ree, 2013; Paun et al., 2016. The frequency of diagnostic species markers in individual hybrid plants could provide insight into whether they are first generation, backcross, or advanced generation hybrids by comparing markers in natural hybrids with those in the synthetic hybrids of known origin and with different morphological traits. Since the hybrid populations occur in areas of altitudinal and humidity variation, the correlation of morphological traits and habitat (soil moisture, sun/shade, etc.) could be informative in elucidating traits under selection in the hybrid habitats. In addition, correlations between markers from NGS technology and habitat/morphology could eventually identify regions of the genome associated with introgressed adapative traits (Suarez-Gonzalez et al., 2016). Highly integrated studies of these hybrid populations over time would represent a major research undertaking, but the rewards would be considerable, both in basic information and applied aspects. Such studies could detect cryptic diversity generated from hybridization. It may eventually be shown that the conservation of variation generated by hybridization is as important in the overall conservation diversity of island floras as conserving variation resulting from speciation by lineage divergence. 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__label__wiki	0.68211	0.68211	Echo Press Ice Out Contest winner announced (w/video) By Celeste Edenloff on Apr 24, 2019 at 10:19 a.m. The ice was officially off Lake L'Homme Dieu as of Tuesday, April 23. And the winner of the Echo Press Ice Out Contest is... ...you'll have to watch the video to find out. There were more than 600 entries in this year's contest with ice out dates ranging from March 26 to May 27. There were 36 people who tied with the correct date of April 23. Read the Friday, April 26, Echo Press for more details on the ice out. The grand prize for this year's contest was a kayak and paddle valued at $900, provided by Fleet Farm in Alexandria. Also runners-up this year won gift certificates from participating merchants. The full list of winners will be printed in next Wednesday's, May 1, issue of the Echo Press. Explore related topics:NewsEcho Press Ice Out Contestice outfleet farm	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759117
__label__wiki	0.62769	0.62769	Ivan Vallejo – World Renowned Mountain Climber On 19 December 1959, a boy born in Ambato was to become one of the world’s most respected climbers and a hero in Ecuador. Ivan Vallejo was born to climb mountains and growing up in areas that were at an elevation of 2 800 meters gave him the capability to climb some of the most difficult and dangerous mountains without using the supplementary oxygen bottles that most climbers require. After conquering his first summit, the Andean peak of Chimborazo in Ecuador, Vallejo knew that climbing was his destiny. Taking on the majestic mountains of the world would become his life’s passion and his road to becoming an Ecuadorian legend. Vallejo went on to summit Manaslu in 1997 and Broad Peak in 1998. But on 29 May 1999, Ivan Vallejo would become part of the history books as the very first Ecuadorian to reach the summit of Mount Everest – and without the assistance of an oxygen tank. It was his amazing ability to acclimatize quickly that gives Ivan an edge above other climbers. And even though he does not have the funding to take part in expensive expeditions, he has the determination and the will power to succeed. For those who know him, it came as no surprise that Vallejo would set himself the ultimate challenge – to reach the summit of all 14 mountains in the world that are over 8 000 meters including Mt. Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Annapurna, Lothse and Daulaghiri. By the year 2004, Ivan had already conquered ten of the 14 summits and in October 2004, Ivan added Shisha Pangma to his list and Kangchenjunga for the following year. Gary Pfisterer’s International Expeditions accompanied Ivan in his climb of K2 in 2000 and again in 2001 when he ascended Lothse. He also formed part of Dan Mazur’s team in 2002 with the Kangchenjunga expedition. Media attention, expeditions and his natural talent transformed Ivan Vallejo from an Ecuadorian climber to a famous Ecuadorian climber. Vallejo’s name will be remembered together with three other famous other climbers that managed to beat Everest without oxygen: Ed Viesturs, Reinhold Messner and Anatoli Boukreev. Famous Finches of Daphne Island Consisting solely of tuff volcanic craters, and almost completely barren, Daphne Island is located north of Santa Cruz and west of Baltra Island in the Galapagos archipelago. The island rises ... Wonderful Wildlife of the Gulf of Guayaquil Located on the Pacific coast of Ecuador and Peru, the Gulf of Guayaquil takes its name from Ecuador's Guayaquil River which empties into it. The area is characterized by extensive mangrove ...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759118
__label__cc	0.672683	0.327317	Entertainment » Movies Try, try again! Oops, the story you're trying to reach is no longer available on our site. Please head to the homepage for a fresh start! And as always, thanks for reading. MOVIES \| By Kevin Taft \| Jul 9 The first great movie of 2019, "Alita: Battle Angel" is a heart stopping and heartbreaking sci-fi action adventure that immerses you in a dynamic world as seen through the eyes of a stunning new hero. Enter for a chance to win K.Flay's latest album, 'Solutions!' Nyle DiMarco, the queer winner of "America's Next Top Model" and "Dancing with the Stars," is the latest celeb to use the popular FaceApp — an app that radically transforms selfies — and his pics are going viral.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759119
__label__wiki	0.887972	0.887972	Wilton T “Tom” McCay, Jr 22 Jun 2010 (aged 72) Wilton T. "Tom" McCay Jr., 72, passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday, June 22, 2010. He is survived and will be dearly missed by his daughter, Kelly Virginia McCay, of New Orleans; his nephews, David McCay and Rusty McCay, of Baton Rouge; and many loving friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Virginia Tunstall McCay, who was of Mobile, Ala.; a son W.T. "Trey" McCay III, who was of New Orleans; and a brother, James Kenneth McCay, who was of Baton Rouge. Born in New Orleans in 1937, Mr. McCay was raised in Baton Rouge, graduated Baton Rouge High School in 1955, and was active in many organizations including Louisiana Boys State. He attended Tulane University, where among other positions, he served as president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and earned a business degree in 1959. He thereafter began his military service in the U.S. Navy. After achieving the rank of captain, Mr. McCay returned to civilian life and attended Tulane Law School, earning his J.D. in 1964. Mr. McCay began his legal career in the Baton Rouge law firm of Sanders, Miller, Downing, Rubin & Kean, but later returned to Tulane to become the assistant dean of students. He then moved back to Baton Rouge, opening his own law firm, McCay & Levy, in 1975. In. 1980, Mr. McCay went to work as counsel for Ingram Corp. in New Orleans, eventually becoming its general counsel and president. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Mr. McCay at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Wednesday, June 30, at 11 a.m., which will be presided over by his longtime friend, James H. Gill Jr., Minister of Christ. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Please sign the online guestbook at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com. Published in The Advocate from June 27 to June 29, 2010 See more McCay memorials in: Created by: Susan and Bill Added: 23 Feb 2013 Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for Wilton T “Tom” McCay, Jr (25 Sep 1937–22 Jun 2010), Find A Grave Memorial no. 105725513, ; Maintained by Susan and Bill (contributor 47412308) Unknown. Add Photos for Wilton T “Tom” McCay, Jr Fulfill Photo Request for Wilton T “Tom” McCay, Jr your computer for Wilton T “Tom” McCay, Jr memorial. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Wilton T “Tom” McCay, Jr I found on Findagrave.com.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759123
__label__wiki	0.992716	0.992716	Air India marks 70 years since its first Mumbai-London flight; airline invites Indians in UK to share memories India PTI Jun 03, 2018 11:50:18 IST London: Air India is marking 70 years since its first flight took off from Mumbai to London in June 1948, which laid the foundations of the India-UK relationship. The national carrier is inviting members of the Indian diaspora in Britain to share their memories of the airline in its early days. The iconic first flight, on a Super Constellation aircraft, took off from Mumbai on 8 June and landed in London via Cairo and Geneva on 10 June, 1948, with just 42 passengers on board, including some Indian Nawabs (noblemen) and Maharajas (kings). Later in June, Air India is preparing to mark the historic journey, which laid the foundations of the India-UK relationship 70 years ago. "We want to reach out to people who would have made some of these early journeys to share their memories and pictures, which we could feature in our inflight magazine and also catalogue to mark those glorious early days of air travel," said Debashis Golder, Air India Regional Manager – UK and Europe. File image of Air India booking office. Reuters "Many of these journeys will mark the arrival of Indians who went on to make their life and fortunes in the UK or friends and family who made visits back and forth during a time when the availability and flight times were not what they are today. It marks an important chapter in the India-UK relationship," he said. Golder took charge of the UK and Europe operations of Air India recently, at a time when the airline is undergoing the process of disinvestment. "It does mark a period of big change for Indian aviation, with a lot of hope that Air India will regain its days of grace and glory," he said. The UK market is among the airline's busiest sectors, having recently added three direct flights between Birmingham and Amritsar. "This was a long-standing demand and the route is doing well, especially as it falls within the religious tourism segment — culminating at Golden Temple in Amritsar. In addition, the third or fourth generation Indians, now settled in the UK for years, visit their home state frequently to stay connected to their roots and the direct connection has certainly proved popular," said Golder. The airline industry veteran believes a direct flight to Goa, daily flights to Ahmedabad and Canada and flights from London to Amritsar are among some of the desired routes but Air India remains constrained by airport slots. In the UK, it is running at full capacity at Heathrow Airport and believes the strong trust factor among the Indian diaspora population has proved the key to its growth. "The only issue we faced in the past was to do with hardware and now with the Boeing 787 Dreamliners, we are among the safest and greenest airlines on the route. "Passenger feedback backs this up, because they feel less jet-lagged and more relaxed by the time they land," he said. Air India's latest addition was Tel Aviv and for the next phase of expansion, it is looking at the African continent — with flights to East and South Africa, which the airline used to serve until the early 2000s. Tags : 70 Year Anniversary, Air I, Air India, Air India Airline, Debashis Golder, Heathrow Airport, London, Mumbai, Mumbai-London Flight, NewsTracker 'Drunk' Irish woman, who went on expletive-laden rant at Air India crew, found dead in London home; Sussex Police rules out foul play IOC threatens to cut fuel supply to Air India for non-payment of bills; flight services likely to be partially hit DGCA issues safety directions to airlines following four landing-related mishaps this week, says crew roster should factor in fatigue element Mumbai rains: 75 flights cancelled following closure of main runway due to SpiceJet plane having overshot airstrip 1Air India marks 70 years since its first Mumbai-London flight; airline invites Indians in UK to share memories	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759125
__label__wiki	0.530786	0.530786	Home Music Young & Ambitious: Danny Gager Young & Ambitious: Danny Gager Danny Gager birth name Daniel-Jason Gager was born on the 6th March 1986. Daniel has spent his life so far living in the North West of London. At a young age Daniel realised his versatility, when he and others recognised his talents in rapping, MCing and even singing. Daniel’s versatility came from the different genres of music that he listens to, such as Hip-Hop, Rock, Metal, and Soul & R&B etc. Daniel doesn’t believe in using one of his talents and ignoring the rest. So he chooses to incorporate all of them together. As a songwriter, who inspires you to write? It’s not only about ‘who’ inspires me, but more ‘what’ inspires me to write. The things that my friends and I have experienced tend to influence my writing such as relationships, friendships, success and hardships. But I admire many songwriters such as Tupac Shakur, Lupe Fiasco, The Dream, Donell Jones and Neyo. Who do you like now who raps, sings and MCs? At the moment I’m listening to The Dream, he’s such an amazing songwriter. I’m also listening to a lot of Donell Jones, Marques Houston, Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z & Fabulous. Who do you consider to be the greatest in music and why? I’ll say Tupac Shakur. Reason being is simply because he’s a remarkable songwriter. He’s very expressive with his music and you can feel his passion in every song. How would you like fans family and friends to remember you when you retire from music? Being very musical, versatile with natural talent and a genuine love for music. Website: www.myspace.com/dannygager Email: dannygager@hotmail.co.uk and Soul & R&B Danny Gager Previous articleFabolous review from his performance at The IndigO2 Next article2 pairs of tickets to giveaway for Under The Radar Summer Break Silky May 26, 2010 at 7:22 pm big!!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759127
__label__cc	0.524926	0.475074	National Reference Laboratory for Campylobacteriosis (thermophilic Campylobacter) Campylobacter (C.) form together with Arcobacter and Sulfospirillum the family Campylobacteraceae within the order of Campylobacterales of the epsilon-proteobacteria. The genus Campylobacter is currently composed of 17 species and 6 subspecies are recognized. In addition to their microaerophilic metabolism the Campylobacter isolates are characterized by the inability to utilize carbohydrates as well as their low (guanine cytosine) content. Campylobacter are delicate, Gram-negative, spiral wound rods (0.5-8 microns long and 0.2 to 0.5 microns wide), which may take coccoid or spheroid shape under oxygen exposure or caused by aging of the cultures. They are not spore-forming and usually have mono-or bipolar arranged flagella, resulting in the mobility of the microorganism. The growth temperature is a useful distinguishing criterioin. The species C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. upsaliensis are called thermophilic Campylobacter because of their optimum growth at 42 ° C. Campylobacter species are ubiquitous and colonize the mucous membranes of the intestinal tract, the oral mucosa and the urogenital tract in animals and humans. Several species are pathogenic and cause diseases both in animals and in humans. 12 of the 17 Campylobacter species are associated with human diseases. Among these species, the thermophilic C. jejuni and C. coli have the highest impact on human health as they are the main cause of campylobacter enteritis (campylobacteriosis). Campylobacteriosis is a zoonotic disease which is mostly asymptomatic in birds, poultry and many mammals. Campylobacteriosis in different animal species caused by the thermophilic species C. C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. upsaliensis are notifiable (amended ordinance on notifiable animal diseases 20 December 2005). The Notice of national reference laboratories for notifiable diseases and notifiable animal diseases, 5 December 2008, the location of FLI Jena has been the seat of the NRL for campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter) named (Bundesanzeiger No. 196, 4701-4703). Tasks of Reference Laboratory Development and updating of methodological recommendations for laboratory diagnosis Phenotypic and molecular characterization of isolates of C. Studies of virulence factors of C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. upsaliensis Methodological improvements in the differentiation process Prevalence of C. in animal populations Studies on antimicrobial resistance in isolates from livestock C. Delivery of reference strains Developing control strategies for the reduction of Campylobacter in flocks Dr. Helmut Hotzel Telephone: +49 3641 804-2262 Naumburger Str. 96 a	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759128
__label__wiki	0.902028	0.902028	Once Upon a Time adds new cast members for season 7 July 9, 2017 by Gary Collinson Leave a Comment ABC’s fantasy series Once Upon a Time has added several new cast members for its upcoming seventh season, with Deadline reporting that Dania Ramirez (Devious Maids) and Gabrielle Anwar (Burn Notice) have signed on as series regulars and Mekia Cox (Chicago Med), Rose Reynolds (Wasted) and Adelaide Kane (Reign) will appear in recurring roles. The seventh season is described as a “reset” following the departure of original cast members Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Jared S. Gilmore, Jennifer Morrison and Rebecca Mader. Returning cast members include Lana Parrilla, Robert Carlyle and Colin O’Donoghue, as well as Andrew J. West (The Walking Dead), who debuted in the season six finale. Once Upon a Time premiered in 2011 and enjoyed huge success in the ratings, although its audience has been dwindling, with the sixth season averaging 4.39 million viewers per episode, down from almost 12 million for the first season. Season seven will premiere on October 6th. Filed Under: Gary Collinson, News, Television Tagged With: Adelaide Kane, Dania Ramirez, Gabrielle Anwar, Mekia Cox, Once Upon a Time, Rose Reynolds	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759130
__label__wiki	0.529173	0.529173	Do you want to continue to work, or should your session close? Electronics Stewardship Env. Compliance High Performance Bldgs NEPA Select one: Climate Change Forum DoD Env Stds OCONUS Drinking Water Mgmt. EMS Compliance Reporting EPA Enforcement Focus EPA Forms Fed'l Electronics Challenge Final Governing Standards GHG Inventory Reporting Grants GreenGov Collaborative GreenGov Pres. Awards GreenGov Spotlight Comm. Hazardous Waste Mgmt. Hotlines Laboratories Membership/Join Overseas Compl. Tools OMB Scorecards OSHGuide Solid Waste Mgmt. TEAM Guide TEAM Guide Supplements Training Courses Working Groups Not a Member? Join User profile or password need updating? Comments/Suggestions? Home » In The News » The Regulatory Watch page will be your source for monitoring and tracking the progress of current draft and final regulatory information. Final with compliance dates at least 6 months in the future: Arranged by Media Type Arranged by Date Please select a document type from the list above. Draft Documents H.R. 3677. National Opportunity for Lead Exposure Accountability and Deterrence Act of 2017 (Draft) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to improve transparency under the national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper. (Congressional Record: 10 July 2019 [House] Pages H5583-H5584). H.R. 3548. Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act (Draft) A bill to improve data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts. (Congressional Record: 27 June 2019 [House] Pages H5255-H5258). H.R. 3616. Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as toxic pollutants under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. (Congressional Record: 2 July 2019) [House] Pages H5268-H5269) S. 2041. Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to establish the Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Initiative to facilitate the installation of zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure on National Forest System land, National Park System land, and certain related land. (Congressional Record: 27 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S4627-S4629) S. 1974. Renewable Electricity Standard Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a renewable electricity standard. (Congressional Record: 26 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S4565-S4566) S. 1976. Federal Permitting Reform and Jobs Act (Draft) A bill to amend the FAST Act to improve the Federal permitting process, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Congressional Record: 26 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S4565-S4566) H.R. 3427. Eliminating the RFS and Its Destructive Outcomes Act (Draft) A bill to repeal the renewable fuel program of the Environmental Protection Agency. (Congressional Record: 21 June 2019 [House] Pages H5035-H5037). H.R. 3411. Amendment to the Clean Air Act for Small Refinery Exemptions in Previous Calendar Years (Draft) A bill to amend the renewable fuel program under the Clean Air Act to account for small refinery exemptions in past calendar years. (Congressional Record: 21 June 2019 [House] Pages H5035-H5037) . H.R. 3424. Streamlining Environmental Approvals Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce unnecessary permitting delays by clarifying associated procedures to increase economic development and support coastal restoration programs. (Congressional Record: 21 June 2019 [House] Pages H5035-H5037) . H.R. 3410. Amendment to the Clean Air Act for Small Refinery Exemptions (Draft) A bill to amend the renewable fuel program under the Clean Air Act to account for small refinery exemptions. (Congressional Record: 21 June 2019 [House] Pages H5035-H5037). H.R. 3382. Community Cleanup Act (Draft) A bill to amend the public participation requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. (Congressional Record: 20 June 2019 [House] Pages H5005-H5006). H.R. 3363. Sewage Treatment Overflow Prevention through Community Sanitation Outreach Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to ensure that publicly owned treatment works monitor for and report sewer overflows. (Congressional Record: 19 June 2019 [House] Pages H4916-H4918) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Draft) The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is publishing draft guidance on how NEPA analysis and documentation should address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If finalized, this guidance would replace the guidance CEQ issued on August 1, 2016, titled 'Final Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews', which was withdrawn effective April 5, 2017 for further consideration pursuant to Executive Order 13783 of March 28, 2017, 'Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth.' Comments should be submitted on or before July 26, 2019. POC: Edward A. Boling, Associate Director for the NEPA, CEQ, 730 Jackson Place, NW, Washington, DC 20503. Tele: (202) 395-5750. (Federal Register: 26 June 2019 [Notices] Pages 30097-30099) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Perchlorate (Draft) EPA is proposing a drinking water regulation for perchlorate and a health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This proposal includes requirements for primacy agencies that implement the public water system supervision program under the SDWA. This proposal also includes a list of treatment technologies that would enable water systems to comply with the MCL, including affordable compliance technologies for small systems serving 10,000 persons or less. Comments must be received on or before August 26, 2019. POC: Samuel Hernandez, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division (Mail Code 4607M), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; tele: (202) 564-1735; email: hernandez.samuel@epa.gov. (Federal Register: 26 June 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 30524-30569) S. 1864. Buy Clean Transparency Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require transparency in reporting the greenhouse gas impacts of products procured by certain Federal agencies. (Congressional Record: 13 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S3475-S3477) S. 1874. Bulb Replacement Improving Government with High-efficiency Technology Act (Draft) A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to require the Administrator of General Services to procure the most life-cycle cost effective and energy efficiency lighting products and to issue guidance on the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of those products. (Congressional Record: 13 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S3475-S3477) S. 1856. Protect Our Refuges Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to prohibit the use of neonicotinoids in National Wildlife Refuges. (Congressional Record: 13 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S3475-S3477) S. 1857. Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to improve Federal energy and water performance requirements for Federal buildings and establish a Federal Energy Management Program. (Congressional Record: 13 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S3475-S3477) S. 1740. Flexible Grid Infrastructure Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of the electric grid, to increase the competitiveness of the United States economy, to protect consumers, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government. (Congressional Record: 5 June 2019 [Senate] (Pages S3250-S3252). S. 1745. Carbon Pollution Transparency Act (Draft) A bill to establish a cost of greenhouse gases for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide to be used by Federal agencies. (Congressional Record: 5 June 2019 [Senate] (Pages S3250-S3252). S. 1768. Native Species Protection Act (Draft) A bill to clarify that noncommercial species found entirely within the borders of a single State are not interstate commerce or subject to regulation under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 or any other provision of law enacted as an exercise of the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. (Congressional Record: 10 June 2019 [Senate] Pages S3283-S3284) H.R. 3079. Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to encourage the increased use of performance contracting in Federal facilities. (Congressional Record: 4 June 2019) [House] Pages H4312-H4313). H.R. 3226. Safe Water for Military Families Act (Draft) A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to prohibit the use of firefighting foam containing perfuoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances. (Congressional Record: 12 June 2019 [House]Pages H4626-H4628). U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Proposes Changes to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance (Draft) The USDA, Forest Service (Agency) is proposing revisions to its NEPA regulations. The Agency proposes these revisions to increase efficiency in its environmental analysis while meeting NEPA's requirements and fully honoring its environmental stewardship responsibilities. The Agency is requesting public comment on the revisions in the proposed rule. Comments must be received in writing by 12 August 2019. POC: Christine Dawe; Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, tele: 406-370-8865. (Federal Register: 13 June 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 27544-27559) S. 1614. Modify Definition of "Renewable Biomass" in the Clean Air Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to modify the definition of "renewable biomass" under the renewable fuel program. (Congressional Record: 22 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S3058-S3060) S. 1680. Service Member's Occupational and Environmental Transparency Health Act (Draft) A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance record keeping with respect to exposure by members of the Armed Forces to certain occupational and environmental hazards while deployed overseas. (Congressional Record: 23 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S3104-S3106) S. 1706. Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to encourage the increased use of performance contracting in Federal facilities. (Congressional Record: 4 June 2019 [Senate] Page S3215) S. 1482. Safeguarding America's Future and Environment Act (SAFE Act) (Draft) A bill to establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal governments and other entities. (Congressional Record: 15 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S2883-S2884). S. 1499. Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to establish National Wildlife Corridors to provide for the protection and restoration of certain native fish, wildlife, and plant species. (Congressional Record: 16 May 2019) [Senate] Pages S2923-S2925). S. 1507. PFAS Release Disclosure Act (Draft) A bill to include certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the toxics release inventory. (Congressional Record: 16 May 2019) [Senate] Pages S2923-S2925). S. 1613. Contaminant and Lead Electronic Accounting and Reporting Requirements for (CLEARR) Drinking Water Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to update and modernize the reporting requirements for contaminants, including lead, in drinking water. (Congressional Record: 22 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S3058-S3060). H.R. 3001. Quiet Communities Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to reestablish the Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the Environmental Protection Agency. (Congressional Record: 23 May 2019 [House] Pages H4160-H4165) H.R. 2854. Protect Our Refuges Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to prohibit the use of neonicotinoids in a National Wildlife Refuge. (Congressional Record: 20 May 2019 [House] Pages H4009-H4010). S. 1429. 21st Century Endangered Species Transparency Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require publication on the Internet of the basis for determinations that species are endangered species or threatened species. (Congressional Record: 13 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S2786-S2787). H.R. 2800. PFAS Monitoring Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require continued and expanded monitoring of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. (Congressional Record: 16 May 2019) [House] Pages H3923-H3924). S. 1473. Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to set maximum contaminant levels for certain chemicals. (Congressional Record: 15 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S2883-S2884). H.R. 2748. Safeguarding America's Future and Environment Act (Draft) A bill to establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal Governments and other entities. (Congressional Record: 15 May 2019 [House] Pages H3840-H3842). S. 1426. Amend Endangered Species Act of 1973 Regarding Settlements (Draft) A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to establish a procedure for approval of certain settlements. (Congressional Record: 13 May 2019 [Senate] Pages S2786-S2787). S. 1143. Get the Lead Out of Military Housing Act (Draft) A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to improve testing and inspections for lead on military installations, in Department of Defense housing and schools, and in military dependent children. (Congressional Record: 11 April 2019 [Senate] Pages S2432-S2435). S. 1245. All-of-the-Above Federal Building Energy Conservation Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to improve energy performance in Federal buildings. (Congressional Record: 30 April 2019 [Senate] Pages S2515-S2516). H.R. 2759. Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act (Draft) A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to enhance the readiness of the Department of Defense to challenges relating to climate change and to improve the energy and resource efficiency of the Department. (Congressional Record: 15 May 2019 [House] Pages H3840-H3842). H.R. 2795. Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to establish National Wildlife Corridors to provide for the protection and restoration of certain native fish, wildlife, and plant species. (Congressional Record: 16 May 2019) [House] Pages H3923-H3924). H.R. 2377. Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to publish a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate a national primary drinking water regulation for total per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. (Congressional Record: 29 April 2019 [House] Pages H3302-H3303). S. 1050. Amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to increase the ability of a State to administer a permit program under that Act. (Congressional Record: 4 April 2019 [Senate] Pages S2269-S2270). S. 1051. To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Draft) A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to establish a program to allow States to assume certain Federal responsibilities under that Act with respect to agency actions applicable to highway projects within the States. (Congressional Record: 4 April 2019 [Senate] (Pages S2269-S2270). S. 1087. Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to make changes with respect to water quality certification. (Congressional Record: 9 April 2019 [Senate] Pages S2328-S2329). H.R. 2287. Federal Regulatory Certainty for Water Act (Draft) A bill to clarify the definition of navigable waters. (Congressional Record: 10 April 2019 [House] Pages H3251-H3256). Updates to NPDES eRule Data Elements To Reflect MS4 General Permit Remand Rule The EPA is proposing to update specific data elements within the NPDES eRule published on October 22, 2015 (80 FR 64064), that apply to regulated municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). This proposed rule updates data elements to be consistent with the current MS4 regulations, corrects related typographical errors, and makes other selected clarifications at the request of state NPDES permitting programs. Comments must be received on or before July 29, 2019. POC: Greg Schaner, Office of Wastewater Management, Water Permits Division (4203M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; tele: (202) 564-0721; email: schaner.greg@epa.gov. (Federal Register: 30 April 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 18200-18215). H.R. 2245. Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit import and export of any species listed or proposed to be listed under such Act as a threatened species or endangered species. (Congressional Record: 10 April 2019 [House] Pages H3251-H3256). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings for Four Species USFWS, announced a 90-day finding on four petitions to add Arizona eryngo (Eryngium sparganophyllum), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), Refugio manzanita (Arctostaphylos refugioensis) and San Gabriel chestnut snail (Glyptostoma gabrielense) species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the ESA. POC: If you have new information concerning the status of, or threats to, these species, or their habitats, please submit that information to the appropriate person listed in the federal register. (Federal Register: 26 April 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 17768-17771). H.R. 2104. Energy Star Program Integrity Act (Draft) A bill to clarify that no express or implied warranty is provided by reason of a disclosure relating to voluntary participation in the Energy Star program. [Congressional Record: 4 April 2019 [House] Pages H3099-H3100). H.R. 2092. Protecting Communities from Hydrogen Cyanide Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to set a health-protective numerical emission limitation for hydrogen cyanide under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7412). (Congressional Record: 4 April 2019 [House] Pages H3099-H3100). Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the California Condor in the Pacific Northwest (Draft) USFWS propose to establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) in the Pacific Northwest, under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. Establishment of this NEP will facilitate reintroduction of California condors to the region and provide for allowable legal incidental taking of the California condor within a defined NEP area. The geographic boundaries of the NEP would include northern California, northwest Nevada, and Oregon. POC Jesse D'Elia, Pacific Regional Office, USFWS, Ecological Services, 911 NE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97232, tele: 503-231-6131. (Federal Register: 5 April 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 13587-13603). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Findings on Petitions To List Eight Species as Endangered or Threatened Species (Draft) USFWS announced its 12-month findings on petitions to list eight species as endangered or threatened species under the ESA. After a review of the best available data, USFWS finds that it is not warranted at this time to list the Arkansas mudalia, ashy darter, Barrens darter, Chihuahua scurfpea, coldwater crayfish, Eleven Point River crayfish, Spring River crayfish, and red-crowned parrot. POC is provided by species in the register. (Federal Register: 4 April 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 13237-13242). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition Finding and Endangered Species Status for the Missouri Distinct Population Segment of Eastern Hellbender (Draft) USFWS announced its 12-month finding on a petition to list the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), a salamander species, as an endangered or threatened species under the ESA. After review of the best available data, USFWS find that listing of the eastern hellbender is not warranted. However, we determined that listing is warranted for a distinct population segment (DPS) of the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in Missouri. POC is Karen Herrington, Field Supervisor, Missouri Ecological Services Field Office, 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 65203; tele: 573-234-2132. (Federal Register: 4 April 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 13223-13237). S. 831. Removal of Federal Protections for the Gray Wolf under Endangered Species Act (Draft) A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue final rules relating to listing the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes and Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. (Congressional Record: 14 March 2019 [Senate] Pages S1898-S1899). 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Cuvier's Beaked Whale in the Gulf of Mexico as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act (Draft) National Marine Fisheries Service announced a negative 90-day finding on a petition to list the Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) as a threatened or endangered distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). POC: Calusa Horn, NMFS Southeast Region, 727-824-5312. (Federal Register: 25 March 2019 [Notices] Pages 11058-11066). S. 638. PFAS Action Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act of 1980. (Congressional Record: 28 February 2019 [Senate] Pages S1593-S1594). S. 675. Prompt and Fast Action to Stop Damages Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to authorize the Department of Defense to temporarily provide water uncontaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) for agricultural purposes to areas affected by contamination from military installations, and to authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to acquire real property to extend the contiguous geographic footprint of any Air Force base that has shown signs of contamination from PFOA and PFOS due to activities on the base. (Congressional Record: 6 March 2019 [Senate] Pages S1704-S1706). Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (Draft) USFWS have evaluated the classification status of gray wolves (Canis lupus) currently listed in the contiguous United States and Mexico under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). Based on USFWS evaluation, they propose to remove the gray wolf from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. POC is Don Morgan, Chief, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Headquarters Office, MS: ES, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; tele: (703) 358-2444. (Federal Register: March 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 9648-9687) H.R. 1445. Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule relating to removing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. (Congressional Record: 28 February 2019 [House] Pages H2311-H2315 ). S. 614. Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a final rule relating to removing the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.(Congressional Record: 28 February 2019 [Senate] Pages S1593-S1594). H.R. 1305. Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act (Draft) A bill to implement the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. (Congressional Record 15 February 2019 [House] Pages H2038-H2039). H.R. 1276. America's Public Land Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to reaffirm the policy of the United States with respect to management authority over public land. (Congressional Record: 14 February 2019 [House] Pages H2028-H2033). H.R. 1284. Crowd Sourcing of Environmental Data Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to give States the option of monitoring covered criteria air pollutants in designated areas by greatly increasing the number of air quality sensors in exchange for greater regulatory flexibility in the methods of monitoring. (Congressional Record: 14 February 2019 [House] Pages H2028-H2033). H.R. 1201. Climate Change National Security Strategy Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to direct Federal departments and agencies to perform certain functions to ensure that climate change-related impacts are fully considered in the development of national security doctrine, policies, and plans. (Congressional Record: 13 February 2019 [House] Pages H1580-H1583). H.R. 1242. Cormorant Relief Act (Draft) A bill to enact as law certain regulations relating to the taking of double-crested cormorants. (Congressional Record: 14 February 2019 [House] Pages H2028-H2033). S. 458. Ethylene Oxide Emission Standards (Draft) A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. [Congressional Record: 12 February 2019 [Senate] Pages S1275-S1276). H.R. 1152. Amendment to Clean Air Act for Ethylene Oxide Standards (Draft) A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise certain ethylene oxide emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (Congressional Record: 12 February 2019 [House] Page H1525). S. 376. Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the definition of navigable waters. (Congressional Record: 7 February 2019 [Senate] Pages S1131-S1133). H.R. 1024. Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to revise labeling requirements for fuel pumps that dispense E15, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (Congressional Record: 6 February 2019 [House] Pages H1389-H1392). H.R. 977. Toxic Health Threat Warning Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require the Corps of Engineers to notify affected communities before releasing water contaminated with cyanobacteria from flood risk management projects. (Congressional Record: 5 February 2019 [House] Pages H1361-H1362). H.R. 806. Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require compliant flame mitigation devices to be used on portable fuel containers for flammable liquid fuels, and for other purposes. (Congressional Record: 28 January 2019 [House] Pages H1241-H1243). H.R. 852. Get the Lead Out of Schools Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to address lead contamination in school drinking water. (Congressional Record: 29 January 2019 [House] Pages H1281-H1283). H.R. 890. Reducing EPA Duplication to Advance Pesticide Enforcement Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters. (Congressional Record: 30 January 2019 [House] Pages H1331-H1336). H.R. 919. Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings. (Congressional Record: 30 January 2019 [House] Pages H1331-H1336). H.R. 742. Migratory Bird Frame work and Hunting Opportunities for Veterans Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish January 31 of each year as the Federal framework closing date for the duck hunting season and to establish special duck hunting days for youths, veterans, and active military personnel, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Natural Resources. (Congressional Record: 24 January 2019 [House] Pages H1209-H1211). National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units--Reconsideration of Supplemental Finding and Residual Risk and Technology Review; The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a revision to its response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Michigan v. EPA which held that the EPA erred by not considering cost in its determination that regulation under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs) is appropriate and necessary. POC: Mary Johnson, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D243-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541-5025 and email: johnson.mary@epa.gov. (Federal Register: 7 February 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 2670-2704). Review of Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. (Draft) On December 6, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled ``Review of Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.' The EPA is extending the public comment period from February 19, 2019, until March 18, 2019, which is consistent with the requirement to keep the record open for at least 30 days after the public hearing, which is scheduled for February 14, 2019, in Washington, DC. POC : Christian Fellner, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D205-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541-4003 and email: fellner.christian@epa.gov. (Federal Register 7 February 2019 [Proposed Rules] Page 2485). Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States' (Draft) On December 11, 2018, the EPA and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) signed a proposed rule revising the definition of ``waters of the United States' to clarify the scope of waters federally regulated under the Clean Water Act. The agencies are announcing that a public hearing will be held in Kansas City, Kansas on February 27 and 28, 2019, to provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or information concerning the proposed rule (https://www.epa.gov/wotus-rule/step-two-revise). POC: Damaris Christensen, Office of Water (4504-T), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; tele: (202) 566-2428; email: WOTUS-outreach@epa.gov. (Federal Register: 7 February 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 2483-2484). S. 163. Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act (Draft) A bill to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Congressional Record: 16 January 2019 [Senate] Pages S273-S274). S. 181. Comprehensive National Mercury Monitoring Act (Draft) A bill to establish a national mercury monitoring program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (Congressional Record: 17 January 2019 [Senate]Pages S292-S293). H.R. 667. Regulatory Certainty for Navigable Waters Act (Draft) A bill to repeal the Waters of the United States rule and amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act definition of navigable waters, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. (Congressional Record: 17 January 2019 [House] Pages H715-H719). H.R. 691. Proven Wildfire Reduction Techniques Act (Draft) A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to authorize insect and disease treatment programs on certain Federal land, and for other purposes. (Congressional Record: 18 January 2019 [House] Page H958). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 26 Draft Recovery Plan Amendments for 42 Species Across the United States (Draft) USFWS announce the availability of 26 draft recovery plan amendments for 42 endangered and threatened species. USFWS are amending recovery criteria to better assist in determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that it may be reclassified as threatened, or that the protections afforded by the ESA are no longer necessary and the endangered species may be removed from the Act's protections. USFWS is requesting review and comments on these draft recovery plan amendments from local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public. In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan amendments must be received on or before April 1, 2019. POC: For information on a particular species, contact the appropriate person listed in the table for each species in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION (hyperlink with this https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-01-31/html/2019-00436.htm). (Federal Register: 31 January 2019 [Notices] Pages 790-795). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for the West Coast Distinct Population Segment of Fisher (Draft) USFWS is reopening the comment period on our October 7, 2014, proposed rule to list the West Coast distinct population segment (DPS) of fisher (Pekania pennanti) as a threatened species. USFWS is reopening the comment period for 30 days to give all interested parties further opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time March 4, 2019. POC: Jenny Ericson, Field Supervisor, USFWS, Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office, 1829 South Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097; tel: 530-842-5763. (Federal Register: 31 January 2019 [Proposed Rules] Pages 644-645). H.R. 535. PFAS Action Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to require the Administrator of the EPA to shall designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (Congressional Record: 14 January 2019 [House] Pages H543-H544). H.R. 548. Federally Integrated Species Health Act (FISH Act) (Draft) A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to vest in the Secretary of the Interior functions under that Act with respect to species of fish that spawn in fresh or estuarine waters and migrate to ocean waters, and species of fish that spawn in ocean waters and migrate to fresh waters; to the Committee on Natural Resources. ( Congressional Record: 15 January 2019 [House] Pages H600-H602). H.R. 363. Reducing Environmental Barriers to Unified Infrastructure and Land Development Act of 2019 (REBUILD Act) (Draft) A bill to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to authorize assignment to States of Federal agency environmental review responsibilities, and for other purposes. (Congressional Record: 9 January 2019 [House] Pages H356-H359). H.R. 243. Combustion Avoidance along Rural Roads Act (Draft) A bill to exempt certain wildfire mitigation activities from certain environmental requirements, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (Congressional Record: 4 January 2019 [House], Pages H227-H228). H.R. 330. Climate Solutions Act of 2019 (Draft) A bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (Congressional Record: 8 January 2019 [House], Pages H280-H284). S. 47. Natural Resources Management Act (Draft) To provide for the management of the natural resources of the United States, and for other purposes. (Congressional Record: 8 January 2019 [Senate], Pages S67-S68). Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With International Standards (Draft) The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposes to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to maintain alignment with international regulations and standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. Comments must be received by 28 January 2019. POC: Steven Webb, International Program or Aaron Wiener, International Program, tel: (202) 366-8553, PHMSA, USDOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001. (Federal Register, 27 November 2018 [Proposed Rules], Pages 60970-61070). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of Regulations for Interagency Cooperation (Draft) FWS and NMFS propose to amend portions of their regulations that implement section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The Services are proposing these changes to improve and clarify the interagency consultation processes and make them more efficient and consistent. FWS and NMFS will accept comments from all interested parties until 24 September 2018. POC is Craig Aubrey, U.S. FWS, Division of Environmental Review, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, tel: 703-358-2442; or Cathy Tortorici, ESA Interagency Cooperation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, tel: 301-427-8495 (Federal Register; 25 July 2018 [Proposed Rules], pages 35178-35193). Revision of the Regulations for Listing Species and Designating Critical Habitat (Draft) The U.S. FWS and the NMFS propose to revise portions of their regulations that implement section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The proposed revisions to the regulations clarify, interpret, and implement portions of the Act concerning the procedures and criteria used for listing or removing species from the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants and designating critical habitat. Multiple technical revisions are also proposed to update existing sections or to refer appropriately to other sections. Comments will be accepted from all interested parties until 24 September 2018. POC is Bridget Fahey, U.S. FWS, Division of Conservation and Classification, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, tel: 703-358-2171; or Samuel D. Rauch, III, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, tel: 301-427-8403 (Federal Register; 25 July 2018 [Proposed Rules], pages 35193-35201). Revision of the Regulations for Prohibitions to Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Draft) The U.S. FWS proposes to revise their regulations extending most of the prohibitions for activities involving endangered species to threatened species. For species already listed as a threatened species, the proposed regulations would not alter the applicable prohibitions. The proposed regulations would require the Service, pursuant to section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act, to determine what, if any, protective regulations are appropriate for species that the Service in the future determines to be threatened. Comments will be accepted on or before 24 September 2018. POC is Bridget Fahey, U.S. FWS, Division of Conservation and Classification, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, tel: 703-358-2171 (Federal Register; 25 July 2018 [Proposed Rules], pages 35174-35178). Allocations of Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Allowances From New Unit Set-Asides for 2018 Control Periods (Draft) EPA is providing notice of the availability of data on emission allowance allocations to certain units under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) trading programs. EPA has completed preliminary calculations for the first round of allocations of allowances from the CSAPR new unit set-asides (NUSAs) for the 2018 control periods and has posted spreadsheets containing the calculations on EPA's website. EPA will consider timely objections to the preliminary calculations (including objections concerning the identification of units eligible for allocations) before determining the final amounts of the first-round allocations. Objections to the information referenced in this notice must be received on or before 11 June 2018. POC is Kenon Smith at 202-343-9164 or smith.kenon@epa.gov or Jason Kuhns at 202-564-3236 or kuhns.jason@epa.gov (Federal Register; 10 May 2018 [Notices], pages 21772-21773). Repeal of Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (Draft) EPA is proposing to repeal the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (EGUs), commonly referred to as the Clean Power Plan (CPP), as promulgated on 23 October 2015. Comments must be received on or before 15 December 2017. POC is Mr. Peter Tsirigotis, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D205-01), U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; tel: 888-627-7764; email: airaction@epa.gov. (Federal Register Volume 82, Number 198 (Monday, October 16, 2017)][Proposed Rules][Pages 48035-48049]). Definition of "Waters of the United States"--Recodification of Pre-Existing Rules (Draft) The EPA and the Dept. of the Army ("the agencies") are publishing this proposed rule to start the first step in a comprehensive, two-step process intended to review and revise the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) consistent with the Executive Order signed 28 Feb 2017. This first step proposes to rescind the definition of WOTUS in the CFR to re-codify the definition of WOTUS, which currently governs administration of the CWA, pursuant to a decision issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit staying a definition of WOTUS promulgated by the agencies in 2015. The agencies would apply the definition of WOTUS as it is currently being implemented, that is informed by applicable agency guidance documents and consistent with Supreme Court decisions and longstanding practice. In a second step, the agencies will pursue notice-and-comment rulemaking in which the agencies will conduct a substantive re-evaluation of the definition of WOTUS. Comments must be received on or before 28 August 2017. POC is Ms. Donna Downing, Office of Water (4504-T), EPA, 1200 Penn Ave NW., Wash., DC 20460; tel: (202) 566-2428; email: CWAwotus@epa.gov; or Ms. Stacey Jensen, Regulatory Community of Practice (CECW-CO-R), USACE, 441 G Street NW., Wash., DC 20314; tel: 202-761-5903; email: USACE_CWA_Rule@usace.army.mil (Federal Register, 27 July 2017 [Proposed Rules], page 34899-34909). Trichloroethylene; Regulation of Certain Uses Under TSCA Sec. 6(a) (Draft) TCE is a volatile organic compound widely used in industrial and commercial processes and has some limited uses in consumer and commercial products. EPA identified significant health risks associated with TCE use in aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities. To address these unreasonable risks, EPA is proposing to prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of TCE for use in aerosol degreasing and for use in spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; to prohibit commercial use of TCE for aerosol degreasing and for spot cleaning in dry cleaning facilities; to require manufacturers, processors, and distributors, except for retailers of TCE for any use, to provide downstream notification of these prohibitions throughout the supply chain; and to require limited recordkeeping. Comments must be received on or before 14 February 2017. POC is Toni Krasnic, Chemical Control Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; tel: 202-564-0984; email address: krasnic.toni@epa.gov (Federal Register; 16 December 2016 [Proposed Rules], pages 91592-91624). Paleontological Resources Preservation (Draft) This proposed rule address management of paleontological resources on federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, and managed by BLM, Reclamation, NPS, and FWS. The proposed rule would address the management, collection, and curation of paleontological resources from federal lands using scientific principles and expertise, including collection in accordance with permits; curation in an approved repository; and maintenance of confidentiality of specific locality data. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by 6 February 2017. Comments on the information collection requirements must be received by 5 January 2017. POC is Julia F. Brunner, Geologic Resources Division, National Park Service, tel: 303-969-2012 or email: Julia_F_Brunner@nps.gov (Federal Register; 7 December 2016 [Proposed Rules], pages 88173-88196). Revisions to the PSD and Title V GHG Permitting Regulations and Establishment of a SER for GHG Emissions Under the PSD Program (Draft) EPA is proposing to revise provisions applicable to greenhouse gases (GHG) in the EPA's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and title V permitting regulations. This action is in response to the 23 Jun 2014, U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA and the 10 Apr 2015, Amended Judgment by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) in Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA. The proposed revisions involve changes to several regulatory definitions in the PSD and title V regulations, revisions to the PSD provisions on GHG Plantwide Applicability Limitations (PALs), and revisions to other provisions necessary to ensure that neither the PSD nor title V rules require a source to obtain a permit solely because the source emits or has the potential to emit GHGs above the applicable thresholds. EPA is also proposing a significant emissions rate for GHGs under the PSD program that would establish an appropriate threshold level below which BACT is not required for a source's GHG emissions. Comments must be received on or before 2 Dec 2016. POC is Ms. Carrie Wheeler, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards, Air Quality Policy Division, (C504-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, Tel: (919) 541-9771, email: wheeler.carrie@epa.gov (Federal Register; 3 October 2016 [Proposed Rules], pages 68110-68147). Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Amendments Pertaining to DOT-Specification Cylinders (RRR) (Draft) PHMSA is proposing to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to revise certain requirements applicable to the manufacture, use, and requalification of DOT-specification cylinders. PHMSA is taking this action in response to petitions for rulemaking submitted by stakeholders and to agency review of the compressed gas cylinders regulations. Specifically, PHMSA is proposing to incorporate by reference or update the references to several Compressed Gas Association publications, amend the filling requirements for compressed and liquefied gases, expand the use of salvage cylinders, and revise and clarify the manufacture and requalification requirements for cylinders. Comments must be submitted by 26 September 2016. POC is Eileen Edmonson, Standards and Rulemaking Division, PHMSA, U.S. DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, at 202-366-8553 (Federal Register; 26 July 2016 [Proposed Rules], pages 48977-49022). NPDES Applications and Program Updates (Draft) EPA proposes revisions to the NPDES regulations to eliminate regulatory and application form inconsistencies; improve permit documentation, transparency and oversight; clarify existing regulations; and remove outdated provisions. These proposed regulatory changes cover 15 topics in the following major categories: permit applications; the water quality-based permitting process; permit objection, documentation and process efficiencies; the vessels exclusion; and the CWA section 401 certification process. Comments must be received on or before 18 July 2016. POC is Erin Flannery-Keith, Water Permits Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail Code 4203M, EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 202-566-0689; flannery-keith.erin@epa.gov (Federal Register; 18 May 2017 [Proposed Rules], pages 31343-31374). Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Proposed New Listings of Substitutes; Changes of Listing Status; and Reinterpretation of Unacceptability for Closed Cell Foam Products Under the SNAP Program (Draft) EPA is announcing that the period for providing public comments on the 18 April 2016, proposed "Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Proposed New Listings of Substitutes; Changes of Listing Status; and Reinterpretation of Unacceptability for Closed Cell Foam Products under the SNAP Program; and Revision of CAA Section 608 Venting Prohibition for Propane" is being extended by 14 days. The public comment period for the proposed rule will now close on 16 June 2016. POC is Chenise Farquharson, Stratospheric Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (Mail Code 6205 T), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; tel: 202-564-7768; email: Farquharson.chenise@epa.gov (Federal Register; 18 May 2016 [Proposed Rules], pages 31222-31223). Tentative Denial of Petition To Revise the RCRA Corrosivity Hazardous Characteristic (Draft) EPA is responding to a rulemaking petition requesting revision of the RCRA corrosivity hazardous waste characteristic regulation. The petition requests that the Agency make two changes to the current corrosivity characteristic regulation: revise the regulatory value for defining waste as corrosive from the current value of pH 12.5, to pH 11.5; and expand the scope of the RCRA corrosivity definition to include nonaqueous wastes in addition to the aqueous wastes currently regulated. EPA is tentatively denying the petition, since the materials submitted in support of the petition fail to demonstrate that the requested regulatory revisions are warranted. The Agency is also soliciting public comment on this tentative and the questions raised in this action. Comments must be received on or before 10 June 2016. POC is Gregory Helms, Materials Recovery and Waste Management Division, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, (5304P), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; tel: 703-308-8855; email: corrosivitypetition@epa.gov(Federal Register; 11 April 2016 [Proposed Rules], pages 21295-21308). NOTE: Final regulations are removed from this list annually as they are incorporated into the full-text version of the Code of Federal Regulations. See https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR) Review of the Dust-Lead Hazard Standards and the Definition of Lead-Based Paint (Final) EPA evaluated the current dust-lead hazard standards (DLHS) and the definition of lead-based paint (LBP). Based on this evaluation, this final rule revises the DLHS from 40 [micro]g/ft\2\ and 250 [micro]g/ft\2\ to 10 [micro]g/ft\2\ and 100 [micro]g/ft\2\ on floors and window sills, respectively. EPA is also finalizing its proposal to make no change to the definition of LBP because insufficient information exists to support such a change at this time. This final rule is effective January 6, 2020. POC: John Yowell, National Program Chemicals Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; tele: 202-564-1213; email: yowell.john@epa.gov.(Federal Register: 9 July 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 32632-32648). Designation of Product Categories for Federal Procurement (Final) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement (Guidelines) to add 30 sections that will designate the product categories within which biobased products would be afforded procurement preference by Federal agencies and their contractors. These 30 product categories contain finished products that are made, in large part, from intermediate ingredients that have been designated for Federal procurement preference. Additionally, USDA is amending the existing designated product categories of general purpose de-icers, firearm lubricants, laundry products, and water clarifying agents. This rule is effective August 5, 2019. POC: Karen Zhang, USDA, Office of Procurement and Property Management, Room 1640, USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250; tele: 919-765-9969; email: biopreferred_support@amecfw.com. Federal Register: 5 July 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Page 32015). Repeal of the Clean Power Plan; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Electric Utility Generating Units; Revisions to Emission Guidelines Implementing Regulations (Final) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing three separate and distinct rulemakings. First, the EPA is repealing the Clean Power Plan (CPP) because the Agency has determined that the CPP exceeded the EPA's statutory authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Second, EPA is finalizing the Affordable Clean Energy rule (ACE), consisting of Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Existing Electric Utility Generating Units (EGUs) under CAA section 111(d), that will inform states on the development, submittal, and implementation of state plans to establish performance standards for GHG emissions from certain fossil fuel-fired EGUs. In ACE, the Agency is finalizing its determination that heat rate improvement (HRI) is the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for reducing GHG--specifically carbon dioxide (CO2)--emissions from existing coal-fired EGUs. Third, the EPA is finalizing new regulations for the EPA and state implementation of ACE and any future emission guidelines issued under CAA section 111(d). Effective date is September 6, 2019. POC: Mr. Nicholas Swanson, Sector Policies and Programs Division (Mail Code D205-01), Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541-4080; email: swanson.nicholas@epa.gov. (Federal Register: 8 July 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 32520-3258 Amendment to Emergency Release Notification Regulations on Reporting Exemption for Air Emissions From Animal Waste at Farms; Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (Final) The EPA is amending the release notification regulations under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) to add the reporting exemption for air emissions from animal waste at farms provided in section 103(e) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). This final rule is effective 15 July 2019. POC: Sicy Jacob, EPA, Office of Land and Emergency Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, (Mail Code 5104A), Washington, DC 20460; tele: (202) 564-8019; email: jacob.sicy@epa.gov. (Federal Register: 13 June 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 27533-27542) Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Spring Pygmy Sunfish (Final) USFWS designated critical habitat for the spring pygmy sunfish (Elassoma alabamae) under the Endangered Species Act. In total, approximately 10.9 kilometers (6.7 miles) of streams and 1,330 acres (538 hectares) in Limestone and Madison Counties, Alabama, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. POC: William Pearson, Field Supervisor, USFWS tele: 251-441-5184. (Federal Register 30 May 2019 [Rules and Regulations]Pages 24987-25009). Final Modification to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges From Construction Activities (Final) EPA Regions issued a final modification to the 2017 NPDES general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities, also referred to as the ``2017 Construction General Permit (CGP)' or ``2017 CGP,' which became effective on February 16, 2017. The modified permit, hereinafter known as the ``modified 2017 CGP' or ``final modified permit,' replaces several conditions in the original 2017 CGP and relevant fact sheet sections. For further information on the permit, contact the appropriate EPA Regional office. (Federal Register: 28 May 2019 [Notices] Pages 24503-24506). Instructions for Implementing Efficient Federal Operations Executive Order (E.O.) 13834 (Final) The Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has issued instructions to Federal agencies for meeting energy and environmental performance requirements in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment, as required under Executive Order (E.O.) 13834. The Implementing Instructions for E.O. 13834, Efficient Federal Operations were issued on April 30, 2019. The Implementing Instructions for E.O. 13834, Efficient Federal Operations are available at: https://www.sustainability.gov/resources.html. POC: Dee Siegel, Office of Federal Sustainability, Council on Environmental Quality, at dsiegel@ceq.eop.gov or (202) 395-5750.(Federal Register: 3 May 2019 [Notices] Pages 19056-19057). Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources and Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units; Technical Amendments (Final) Following requests for clarification of its June 2016 final action, the EPA published proposed amendments to several provisions of the 2016 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG) for Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration (CISWI). This action finalizes the proposed amendments, which provide clarity and address implementation issues in the final CISWI NSPS and EG, as well as correcting inconsistencies and errors in these provisions. This final rule is effective on April 16, 2019. Dr. Nabanita Modak Fischer, Fuels and Incineration Group, Sector Policies and Programs Division (E143-05), EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; tele: (919) 541-5572; email: modak.nabanita@epa.gov. ( Federal Register: 16 April 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 15846-15918). Endangered Status of the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's Whale The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a final rule to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) as endangered under the ESA. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, including the status review and comments received on the proposed rule, NMFS have determined that the whale warrants listing as endangered. The whale is presently in danger of extinction throughout all of its range due to its small population size and restricted range, and the threats of energy exploration, development and production, oil spills and oil spill response, vessel collision, fishing gear entanglement, and anthropogenic noise. Critical habitat is not determinable at this time but will be proposed in a future rulemaking. This final rule is effective on May 15, 2019. POC: Laura Engleby, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, tele: (727) 824-5312, or email: laura.engleby@noaa.gov (Federal Register: 15 April 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 15446-15488). USFWS Adding 16 Species, Removing One Species, and Updating Entries for 17 Species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife USFWS is amending the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife by adding 16 species and by removing 1 species. They are also updating the entries for six species by adding critical habitat designation citations. POC: Sarah Quamme, Chief, Branch of Domestic Listing, USFWS MS-ES, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041; tele: 703-358-1796. (Federal Register: 8 April 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 13809-13813). S. 47. John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Final) To provide for the management of the natural resources of the United States. (Congressional Record: 8 January 2019 [Senate], Pages S67-S68). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Scarlet Macaw (Final) USFWS determined the northern subspecies of scarlet macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera) is an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); the northern distinct population segment (DPS) of the southern subspecies of scarlet macaw (A. m. macao) is a threatened species, and the southern DPS of the southern subspecies of scarlet macaw (A. m. macao) and subspecies crosses (A. m. cyanoptera and A. m. macao) to be threatened species based on similarity of appearance. This rule is effective March 28, 2019. POC: Don Morgan, Chief, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services Program, USFWS, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS:ES, Falls Church, VA 22041; tele: 703-358-2444. (Federal Register: 26 February 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 6278-6311). Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine (Final) Some pharmaceuticals are regulated as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) when discarded. This final rule adds regulations for the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals by healthcare facilities and reverse distributors. Healthcare facilities (for both humans and animals) and reverse distributors will manage their hazardous waste pharmaceuticals under this new set of sector-specific standards in lieu of the existing hazardous waste generator regulations. These new regulations prohibit the disposal of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals down the drain and eliminates the dual regulation of RCRA hazardous waste pharmaceuticals that are also Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) controlled substances. The new rules codify EPA's prior policy on the regulatory status of nonprescription pharmaceuticals going through reverse logistics. (Federal Register: 22, February 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 5816-5950). National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Applications and Program Updates (Final) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing certain revisions to the NPDES permitting regulations proposed on 18 May 2016. The final regulatory changes will be effective starting 12 June 2019. The final revisions modernize the NPDES regulations, promote submission of complete permit applications, and clarify regulatory requirements to allow more timely development of NPDES permits that protect human health and the environment. POC: Frank Sylvester, Water Permits Division, Office of Wastewater Management, Mail Code 4203M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-1279; email address: sylvester.francis@epa.gov. (Federal Register 12 February 2019 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 3324-3338). H.R. 7279 Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (Final) This Act amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for an integrated planning process, to promote green infrastructure. Signed on January 14, 2019. (Public Law 115-436)). Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for Trispot Darter (Final) USFWS determined threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) for trispot darter (Etheostoma trisella), a fish species found in the Coosa River system in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. This rule adds this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. POC is Bill Pearson, Field Supervisor, USFWS, Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, 1208 Main Street, Daphne, AL 36526; tele: 251-441-5181. (Federal Register; 28 December 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 67131-67140). Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act (Final) The EPA is announcing that the amendments to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act put forward in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2017 are in effect. The rule amends 40 CFR part 68 is effective December 3, 2018. POC: James Belke, EPA, Office of Land and Emergency Management, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20460; tel: (202) 564-8023; email: belke.jim@epa.gov.(Federal Register; 3 December 2018 [Rules and Regulations] Pages 62268-62269). Revision to the Regulatory Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds--Exclusion of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene(HFO-1336mzz-Z) (Final) The EPA is taking final action to revise the regulatory definition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). This final action adds HFO-1336mzz-Z to the list of compounds excluded from the regulatory definition of VOC on the basis that this compound makes a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone (O3) formation. POC: Dr. Souad Benromdhane, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Health and Environmental Impacts Division, Mail Code C539-07, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; Tel: (919) 541-4359; email: benromdhane.souad@epa.gov. (Federal Register; 28 November 2018 [Rules and Regulations], Pages 61127-61134). Endangered Species Status for the Candy Darter (Final) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the candy darter (Etheostoma osburni), a freshwater fish species from Virginia and West Virginia. This rule adds this species to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This rule is effective 21 December 2018. POC is John Schmidt, Field Supervisor, West Virginia Ecological Services Field Office, 694 Beverly Pike, Elkins, WV 26241-9475; tel: 304-636-6586 (Federal Register; 21 November 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 58747-58754). Testing Regulations for Air Emission Sources (Final) This action amends certain existing testing regulations to reflect corrections, updates, and the addition of alternative equipment and methods for source testing of emissions. These revisions will improve the quality of data and provide flexibility in the use of approved alternative procedures. The revisions do not impose any new substantive requirements on source owners or operators. The final rule is effective on 14 January 2019. POC is Ms. Lula H. Melton, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Assessment Division (E143-02), EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; tel: 919-541-2910; fax: 919-541-0516; email: melton.lula@epa.gov (Federal Register; 14 November 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 56713-56734). Hazardous Materials Response to Petitions From Industry To Modify, Clarify, or Eliminate Regulations (Final) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations in response to petitions for rulemaking submitted by the regulated community to update, clarify, streamline, or provide relief from miscellaneous regulatory requirements. By adopting these deregulatory amendments, PHMSA is allowing more efficient and effective ways of transporting hazardous materials in commerce while maintaining an equivalent level of safety. This rule is effective December 7, 2018. POC is Steven Andrews, Tel: (202) 366-8553, email: steven.andrews@dot.gov, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001. (Federal Register; 7 November 2018 [Rules and Regulations], Pages 55792-55811). Release of Draft Integrated Review Plan for the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (Final) The EPA has released for public review the draft Integrated Review Plan for the Ozone NAAQS (draft IRP). This document contains the draft plans and the anticipated schedule for the current review of the air quality criteria and NAAQS for photochemical oxidants including ozone (O3). The primary and secondary O3 NAAQS are set to protect the public health and the public welfare from O3 in ambient air. POC is Dr. Deirdre L. Murphy, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, (Mail Code C504-06),EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; tel: 919-541-0729, fax: 919-541-027; or email: murphy.deirdre@epa.gov (Federal Register; 2 November 2018 [Notice],Pages 55163-55164). Expedited Approval of Alternative Test Procedures for the Analysis of Contaminants under the Safe Drinking Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures (Final) Corrections to the text of approved SDWA analytical testing procedures (Federal Register; 31 October 2018 [Rules and Regulations], page 54676). Removing Deseret Milkvetch (Astragalus desereticus) From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants (Final) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is removing Deseret milkvetch (Astragalus desereticus) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants due to recovery. Based on the best available scientific and commercial data, threats to Deseret milkvetch identified at the time of listing are not as significant as originally anticipated and are being adequately managed, the species' population is much greater than was known at the time of listing, and threats to this species have been sufficiently minimized such that it no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This is final rule is effective 19 November 2018. POC is Larry Crist, Field Supervisor, tel: 801-975-3330 ( Federal Register; 18 October 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 52775-52786). EPA is announcing the Agency's approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water and determining compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The EPA is making 100 additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection. This action is effective 12 October 2018. POC is Glynda Smith, Technical Support Center, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MS 140), EPA, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; tel: (513) 569-7652; email: smith.glynda@epa.gov (Federal Register; 12 October 2018 [Rules and Regulatins], pages 51636-51652). Determination 34 for Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (Final) This determination of acceptability expands the list of acceptable substitutes pursuant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This action lists as acceptable additional substitutes for use in the refrigeration and air conditioning, foam blowing, fire suppression, cleaning solvents, and aerosols sectors. This determination is applicable on 4 October 2018. POC is Gerald Wozniak; tel: 202-343-9624; email: wozniak.gerald@epa.gov; or by mail at U.S. EPA, Mail Code 6205T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. Notice of Issuance of Program Comment To Exempt Consideration of Effects to Rail Properties Within Rail Rights-of-Way (Final) The ACHP issued a Program Comment to exempt consideration of effects to rail properties within rail rights-of-way at the request of the U.S. DOT to accelerate the review of these undertakings under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and to meet the requirement of Section 11504 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. The Program Comment can be used by any federal agency with responsibility to consider the effects of undertakings within rail rights-of-way. Federal agencies using the Program Comment may fulfill their Section 106 responsibilities for the relevant undertakings by implementing the terms of this comment, which include identifying those activities that meet the conditions in Appendix A and opting into the process to identify excluded historic rail properties and seek further streamlining of the review process under the property-based approach.The Program Comment was issued by the ACHP on 17 August 2018. POC is Kelly Y. Fanizzo, 202-517-0193, kfanizzo@achp.gov (Federal Register; 24 August 2018 [Notices], pages 42920-42929). Listing the Hyacinth Macaw (Final) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), a species that occurs almost exclusively in Brazil and marginally in Bolivia and Paraguay. This rule adds this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. FWS is also establishing a rule pursuant to section 4(d) of the Act to further provide for the conservation of the hyacinth macaw. This rule is effective 12 September 2018. POC is Don Morgan, Chief, Division of Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: ES, Falls Church, VA 22041; tel: 703-358-2444 (Federal Register; 13 August 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 39894-39916). Revision to References for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector To Incorporate Latest Edition of Certain Industry, Consensus-Based Standards (Final) On 11 December 2017, the EPA published a direct final rule and an accompanying notice of proposed rulemaking entitled "Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Revision to References for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector To Incorporate Latest Edition of Certain Industry, Consensus-based Standards." EPA proposed to modify the use conditions required for use of three flammable refrigerants--isobutane (R-600a), propane (R-290), and R-441A--in new household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers under the SNAP program to reflect an updated standard from Underwriters Laboratories. Because EPA received adverse comment, EPA withdrew the direct final rule through a separate notice. In this action, EPA is addressing relevant comments and finalizing the proposed use conditions with no changes. This rule is effective on 7 September 2018. POC is Chenise Farquharson, Stratospheric Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (Mail Code 6205T), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; tel: 202-564-7768; email: farquharson.chenise@epa.gov (Federal Register; 8 August 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 38969-38976). Address Change for Waste Import-Export Submittals From the Office of Federal Activities to the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (Final) EPA is making conforming changes to the EPA office and address to which paper documents concerning imports and exports of hazardous waste and conditionally excluded cathode ray tubes must be sent. The change in address is needed to reflect the reorganization of hazardous waste import-export functions on April 29, 2018, from the Office of Federal Activities' International Compliance Assurance Division, in EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, to the International Branch within the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery's Materials Recovery and Waste Management Division, in EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management. This rule is effective on 6 August 2018. POC is Laura Coughlan, Materials Recovery and Waste Management Division, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery(5304P), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; tel: 703-308-0005; email address: coughlan.laura@epa.gov (Federal Register; 6 August 2018 [Rules and Regulations; pages 38262-38263). Amendments to the Program Comment for the U.S. GSA on Select Envelope and Infrastructure Repairs and Upgrades to Historic Public Buildings (Final) The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has approved amendments to the Program Comment for the U.S. GSA that sets forth the way in which GSA complies with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for select repairs and upgrades to windows, lighting, roofing, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems within historic public buildings. The amendments extend the life of the Program Comment through 1 August 2033, and update its reporting requirements. The amendments took effect on 27 July 2018. POC is Kirsten Kulis, Office of Federal Agency Programs, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 401 F Street NW, Suite 308, Washington, DC 20001 (Federal Register; 27 July 2018 [Notices], pages 35672-35674). Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Amendments to the National Minimum Criteria (Phase One, Part One) (Final) On 17 April 2015 EPA promulgated national minimum criteria for existing and new coal combustion residuals (CCR) landfills and existing and new CCR surface impoundments. In March 2018, EPA proposed a number of revisions to the 2015 CCR rule and requested comment on additional issues. EPA is adopting two alternative performance standards that either Participating State Directors in states with approved CCR permit programs or EPA where EPA is the permitting authority may apply to owners and operators of CCR units. EPA also revised groundwater protection standards (GWPS) for 4 constituents without an established MCL. EPA extended the deadline by which facilities must stop the placement of waste in CCR units closing for cause in 2 situations: Where the facility has detected a statistically significant increase above a GWPS from an unlined surface impoundment; and where the unit is unable to comply with the aquifer location restriction. Proposed rule revisions not addressed in this rule will be addressed later. Final rule is effective on 29 August 2018. POC is Kirsten Hillyer, Office of RCRA, EPA, 5304P, Washington, DC 20460; tel: (03-347-0369; email: hillyer.kirsten@epa.gov (Federal Register; 30 July 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 36435-36456). Endangered Species Act Compensatory Mitigation Policy (Final) The U.S. FWS is withdrawing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Compensatory Mitigation Policy, published 27 December 2016 (ESA-CMP). In the document of November 6, 2017 we requested additional public comments regarding the policy's overall mitigation planning goal of net conservation gain. FWS is now withdrawing this policy. The Service does not have authority to require "net conservation gain" under the ESA, and the policy is inconsistent with current Executive branch policy. Except as otherwise specified, all policies or guidance documents that were superseded by ESA-CMP are reinstated. Withdrawal effective on 30 July 2018. POC is Craig Aubrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Environmental Review, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, tel: 703-358-2442 (Federal Register; 30 July 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 36469-36472). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mitigation Policy (Final) The U.S. FWS is withdrawing the Mitigation Policy published 21 November 2016, which guides Service recommendations on mitigating the adverse impacts of land and water developments on fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. In the FWS document of 6 November 2017, FWS requested additional public comments regarding this policy's overall mitigation planning goal of net conservation gain. FWS is now withdrawing this policy as it is no longer appropriate to retain the "net conservation gain" standard throughout various Service-related activities and is inconsistent with current Executive branch policy. Until further notice, all policies that were superseded by the 2016 Mitigation Policy are reinstated, including the Fish and Wildlife Service Mitigation Policy (46 FR 7644-7663) published in the Federal Register on 23 January 1981. Withdrawal effective on 30 July 2018. POC is Craig Aubrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Environmental Review, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, tel: 703-358-2442 (Federal Register; 30 July 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 36472-36475). EO 13840: Ocean Policy To Advance the Economic, Security, and Environmental Interests of the United States (Final) This order maintains and enhances benefits to the Nation from the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters of the United States through improved public access to marine data and information, efficient interagency coordination on ocean-related matters, and engagement with marine industries, the science and technology community, and other ocean stakeholders. To advance these national interests, this order recognizes and supports Federal participation in regional ocean partnerships, to the extent appropriate and consistent with national security interests and statutory authorities. This EO revokes EO 13547 of 19 July 2010 (Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes) (Federal Register; 22 June 2018 [Presidential Documents], pages 29431-29434). Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Amendments; Response to Appeals; Corrections (Final) PHMSA issues this rulemaking in response to appeals submitted to a previously-published final rule. On 2 June 2016, PHMSA published a final rule that made miscellaneous amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations. This final rule specifically responds to appeals to extend the effective date of certain nitric acid packaging and emergency response telephone number amendments as previously adopted. This final rule also clarifies amendments associated with the trigger date of the 10-year test period for certain MC 331 cargo tanks in dedicated propane service and corrects editorial errors. This final rule is effective 8 July 2018. POC is Michael Ciccarone, Standards and Rulemaking Division, (202) 366-8553, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. DoT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 (Federal Register; 18 June 2018 [Rules and Regulations], pages 28162-28168). 2018 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Final) EPA publishes the Semiannual Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions online at http://www.reginfo.gov and at www.regulations.gov to update the public. This document contains information about: Regulations in the Semiannual Agenda that are under development, completed, or canceled since the last agenda; and reviews of regulations with small business impacts under Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. POC for the Semiannual Agenda is Caryn Muellerleile; email:(muellerleile.caryn@epa.gov; tel: 202-564-2855(Federal Register; 11 June 2018 [Unknown Section], pages 27197-27203). Withdrawal of Final Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of GHG Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in NEPA Reviews (Final) The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is withdrawing its "Final Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews," for which a Notice of Availability was published on August 5, 2016. 81 FR 51866. This withdrawal is effective 5 April 2017. POC is Council on Environmental Quality (ATTN: Ted Boling, Associate Director for the National Environmental Policy Act), 730 Jackson Place NW., Washington, DC 20503. Tel: 202-395-5750 (Federal Register; 5 April 2017 [Notices], pages 16576-16577.) Promoting Energy Independence and Promoting Economic Growth The EO directs agencies to review existing regulations that potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources and appropriately suspend, revise, or rescind those that unduly burden the development of domestic energy resources beyond the degree necessary to protect the public interest or otherwise comply with the law. As a result of the review, agencies will submit a report including specific recommendations that, to the extent permitted by law, could alleviate or eliminate aspects of agency actions that burden domestic energy production. Intention To Review and Rescind or Revise the Clean Water Rule (Final) In accordance with a Presidential directive, the U.S. EPA and the Department of the Army announces its intention to review and rescind or revise the Clean Water Rule. POCs are: Ms. Donna Downing, Office of Water (4502-T), EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; tel: 202-566-2428; email CWAwaters@epa.gov, and Mr. Gib Owen, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Department of the Army, 104 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0104; tel: 703-695-4641; email gib.a.owen.civ@mail.mil (Federal Register; 6 March 2017 [Notices], page 12532). Executive Order 13778: Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and Economic Growth by Reviewing the "Waters of the United States" Rule (Final) This 28 February 2017 EO directs the EPA and USACE to review the final rule entitled "Clean Water Rule: Definition of 'Waters of the United States,'" 80 Fed. Reg. 37054 (June 29, 2015), and publish for notice and comment a proposed rule rescinding or revising the rule, as appropriate and consistent with law. 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__label__cc	0.665754	0.334246	Development of Therapeutic Protein Biosimilars: Comparative Analytical Assessment and Other Quality-Related Considerations; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability A Notice by the Food and Drug Administration on 05/22/2019 This document has a comment period that ends in 5 days. (07/22/2019) Submit a formal comment Read the 4 public comments Agencies: Submit either electronic or written comments on the draft guidance by July 22, 2019 to ensure that the Agency considers your comment on this draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the guidance. Comments Close: 84 FR 23569 Agency/Docket Number: Docket No. FDA-2019-D-2102 Enhanced Content Relevant information about this document from Regulations.gov provides additional context. This information is not part of the official Federal Register document. Docket Number: FDA-2019-D-2102 Written/Paper Submissions I. Background II. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 III. Electronic Access Submit a public comment on this document Read the 4 public comments on this document https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-10667 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-10667 This PDF is the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on 05/21/2019 at 8:45 am. If you are using public inspection listings for legal research, you should verify the contents of the documents against a final, official edition of the Federal Register. Only official editions of the Federal Register provide legal notice to the public and judicial notice to the courts under 44 U.S.C. 1503 & 1507. Learn more here. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Notice of availability. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled “Development of Therapeutic Protein Biosimilars: Comparative Analytical Assessment and Other Quality-Related Considerations.” This draft guidance describes the Agency's recommendations on the design and evaluation of comparative analytical studies intended to support a demonstration that a proposed therapeutic protein product is biosimilar to a reference product licensed under the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act). Additionally, this draft guidance is intended to provide recommendations to sponsors on the scientific and technical information for the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) portion of a marketing application for a proposed product submitted under the PHS Act. This draft guidance revises the guidance entitled “Quality Considerations in Demonstrating Biosimilarity of a Therapeutic Protein Product to a Reference Product” that was published on April 30, 2015. You may submit comments on any guidance at any time as follows: Submit electronic comments in the following way: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your Start Printed Page 23570comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov. If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”). Submit written/paper submissions as follows: Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.” Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2019-D-2102 for “Development of Therapeutic Protein Biosimilars: Comparative Analytical Assessment and Other Quality-Related Considerations.” Received comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.” The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as “confidential.” Any information marked as “confidential” will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. You may submit comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)). Submit written requests for single copies of the draft guidance to the Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Building, 4th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002; or to the Office of Communication, Outreach and Development, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. 3128, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your requests. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the draft guidance document. Sandra Benton, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Bldg. 75, Rm. 6522, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-1042; or Stephen Ripley, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Bldg. 71, Rm. 7301, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240-402-7911. FDA is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled “Development of Therapeutic Protein Biosimilars: Comparative Analytical Assessment and Other Quality-Related Considerations.” This draft guidance describes the Agency's recommendations on the design and evaluation of comparative analytical studies intended to support a demonstration that a proposed therapeutic protein product is biosimilar to a reference product licensed under section 351(a) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 262(a)). Additionally, this draft guidance is intended to provide recommendations to sponsors on of the scientific and technical information for the CMC portion of a marketing application for a proposed product submitted under section 351(k) of the PHS Act. Although the 351(k) pathway applies generally to biological products, this guidance focuses on therapeutic protein products. The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148) on March 23, 2010, and created an abbreviated licensure pathway under section 351(k) of the PHS Act for biological products demonstrated to be biosimilar to, or interchangeable with, a reference product. Under this abbreviated licensure pathway, FDA will license a proposed biological product submitted under section 351(k) of the PHS Act if, among other things, FDA determines that the information submitted in the application is sufficient to show that the biological product is biosimilar to the reference product. In the Federal Register of February 15, 2012 (77 FR 8884), FDA announced the availability of the draft guidance entitled “Quality Considerations in Demonstrating Biosimilarity to a Reference Protein Product.” FDA received a number of comments on the draft guidance. In response to these comments, FDA provided further clarification on the general principles described through a final guidance entitled “Quality Considerations in Demonstrating Biosimilarity of a Therapeutic Protein Product to a Reference Product,” which was announced in the Federal Register of April 30, 2015 (80 FR 24257). In the Federal Register of September 22, 2017 (82 FR 44425), FDA announced the availability of the draft guidance entitled “Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity.” FDA received a number of comments on the draft guidance. Comments submitted to the docket addressed a range of issues that could impact the cost and efficiency of biosimilar development, including the number of reference product lots the draft guidance would have recommended that biosimilar developers sample in their evaluation of high similarity and the statistical methods for this evaluation. After considering the public comments that FDA received, FDA determined it would withdraw the draft guidance to give further consideration to the scientific and regulatory issues involved. FDA announced the withdrawal of the draft Start Printed Page 23571guidance on June 21, 2018, with the intention of issuing future draft guidance on the evaluation of analytical data to support a demonstration that a proposed biosimilar product is highly similar to a reference product. This draft guidance revises the guidance issued on April 30, 2015. FDA has adjusted the title of this draft guidance to more clearly communicate that this draft guidance includes the Agency's recommendations on the design and evaluation of comparative analytical studies intended to support a demonstration that a proposed therapeutic protein product is biosimilar to a reference product. In addition to editorial and clarifying edits, the draft guidance includes a section that fulfills the Biosimilar User Fee Act II commitment to publish a revised draft or final guidance, describing statistical considerations for the analysis of analytical similarity data intended to support a demonstration of “highly similar” for biosimilar biological products within 18 months after the close of the public comment period for the withdrawn guidance, “Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity.” This draft guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the current thinking of FDA on “Development of Therapeutic Protein Biosimilars: Comparative Analytical Assessment and Other Quality-Related Considerations.” It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. This guidance is not subject to Executive Order 12866. This guidance refers to previously approved collections of information found in FDA regulations, which are not expected to change as a result of the guidance. These collections of information are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The collections of information related to the submission of: (1) An investigational new drug application, which is covered under 21 CFR part 312 and approved under OMB control number 0910-0014; (2) a new drug application, which is covered under 21 CFR 314.50 and approved under OMB control number 0910-0001; (3) a biologics license application (BLA) under section 351(a) of the PHS Act, which is covered under part 601 (21 CFR part 601) and approved under OMB control number 0910-0338; and (4) a BLA under section 351(k), which is covered under part 601 and approved under OMB control number 0910-0719. Persons with access to the internet may obtain the draft guidance at either https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm, https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm, or https://www.regulations.gov. Lowell J. Schiller, Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759132
__label__cc	0.607081	0.392919	Biology and Geography The main research focus in Medical Biology is on the analysis of molecular mechanisms. The exploration of fundamental structures and functions of living organisms were therefore at the forefront of research interest in this field. The Genetics research group under Professor Ann Ehrenhofer-Murray examines how genetic material (DNA) is organised in the eukaryote cell nucleus and how alterations in its organisation influence gene transcription. In the process, they discovered a new mechanism for separating organisational areas from one another in the genome. This is especially important for steering gene activity correctly. Further investigation is concentrating on characterising the relevant proteins and understanding their structure in relation to their function. Cells during reproduction must double their chromosomes and distribute them evenly between their daughter cells. The Molecular Biology I research group led by Professor Hemmo Meyer was able to show that the molecular nanomachine Cdc48/p97 controls correct distribution of chromosomes during cell division. This prevents genetic instability, a characteristic of cancer cells. In the Molecular Biology II group of Professor Shirley Knauer, research primarily centres on cell biological and oncological basic research, its translational realisation and the development of cell–based assay systems aimed at identifying new therapeutically relevant target molecules. One main focus is on understanding the regulation of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport and its significance, not only in cellular homeostasis, but above all in cancer formation and as a potential point of application for new therapy strategies. Regulatory signalling cascades which control the cytoskeleton during dynamic processes such as cell migration or tumour cell invasion are the scientific focus of Professor Perihan Nalbant’s Molecular Cell Biology research group. Building on its expertise in fluorescence microscopy, the group was able to establish a number of elaborate live-cell analyses using video microscopy, for example with fluorescence biosensors in combination with new cell-biological assays, and is therefore in a position to explore spatial and temporal regulation of the cytoskeleton in various migrating cell types (epithelial cells, fibroblasts or tumour cells). The research of Professor Michael Ehrmann and his Microbiology II workgroup concentrates on the molecular understanding of biological protein quality control. It is essential for the organism that defective proteins are identified and detoxified, since they are otherwise beneficial to the development of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer, Parkinson or arthritis. The loss of control proteins in bacteria can impede virulence. In two articles in the widely respected journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, the scientists join a team of researchers from Vienna (Professor Tim Clausen) and colleagues from Essen (Professor Markus Kaiser) in describing the latest findings on the multifunctional proteins DegP and HtrA1, which eliminate malfunctional proteins by way of a complexly regulated mechanism. This new insight into the operation of these biological protection factors should help in future in the fight against bacterial infections and Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Daniel Hoffmann and his Bioinformatics working group developed a new computer-supported method for HIV diagnostics. For a given part of the HIV genome of a patient, the method predicts which route this particular virus will take into the cells and whether a specific class of medication (“co-receptor blockers”) will be effective or not. This method is the most precise of its kind worldwide to date. In conjunction with the Bioinformatics group, the Biochemistry working group (Professor Peter Bayer) is analysing the structure and design of functional miniproteins with either an antiviral or antibacterial effect. The aim is also to develop and employ miniproteins in cellular diagnostics (probes). In the Microbiology I group (Professor Reinhard Hensel), work continues in the main focus of research, “Hyperthermophilic Archaea” and their adjustment to extremely high temperatures, on analysing the genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic archaeum Thermoproteus tenax. The Developmental Biology research group of Professor Andrea Vortkamp is concerned with a rare condition of the skeleton causing restricted mobility, pain and short bone growth in sufferers – particularly children. In the disease, benign cartilaginous bone tumours called exostoses or osteochondromas develop close to the joints. With the aid of a new mouse model, these tumours can now be investigated at an early stage. The main research area of Medical Biology received a further boost with the appointment of the new Chair of Chemical Biology, Professor Markus Kaiser, who was awarded the “ERC Starting Grant 2010” for his “Chemical biology of natural products in plant-bacteria interactions” project, with the “in vivo Imaging” professorship (appointment pending), and with the addition of two further Medical Faculty professorships to be situated on the Essen Campus. Empirical Teaching and Learning	cc/2019-30/en_head_0010.json.gz/line1759133

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