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About the CIW
Campaign for Fair Food
Fair Food Program
Anti-Slavery Program
Sustain Fair Food
Fair Food Poster
The birth of Worker-driven Social Responsibility: 1/16-12/16
Expanding the Fair Food Program: 11/14 – 12/15
“A brilliant model” at work: 11/13-10/14
Fair Food Program to the Fore: 11/12-10/13
Fair Food Takes Root: 01/12-10/12
A New Day in the Fields: 09/10-12/11
A Year to Dine with Dignity: 05/09-08/10
A Year of Victories: 05/08-05/09
Burger King: 04/07-05/08
McDonald’s: 03/05-04/07
Taco Bell Boycott: 04/01-03/05
Group champions migrants: The small but influential took on fast-food giant Taco Bell and won higher pay for tomato harvesters.
Posted on June 6, 2005 July 14, 2013 by CIW
By Wes Smith
Sentinel National Correspondent
IMMOKALEE — Gerardo Reyes Chávez, 25, sat atop a desk against a mustard-colored wall surrounded by images of Che Guevara, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. and Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
He held up a drawing of the Statue of Liberty and spoke of its history and symbolism to nearly 30 migrant farmworkers from Mexico, Guatemala and Haiti.
“It is sad when you hear that an immigrant represents something dirty or bad or negative because when you go back and think of the Statue of Liberty, you learn that so many people came just like we did to this place,” said Chávez, a native of Zacatecas, Mexico.
“And what did they come for? They came looking for freedom, a new life — and for work.”
Those basics often have been hard to come by for migrant workers who harvest fruit and produce each year in Florida and across the nation. But this spring, the humble organization created by the laborers — the — won what many consider a major victory.
Their nearly four-year boycott of Taco Bell ended with one of the nation’s largest fast-food chains agreeing to pay a penny-per-pound increase to nearly 1,000 workers who harvest tomatoes for their suppliers. That marks about a 75 percent increase over the usual rate of 1.3 cents per pound.
More importantly, the fast-food chain’s parent company agreed to lead an industrywide effort to provide greater protections for migrant workers, who are excluded from many of the legal rights and benefits given other laborers in the United States.Activists start phase 2
The Immokalee activists now have launched the second phase of their campaign, with letter-writing barrages aimed at enlisting McDonald’s, Burger King and Subway in the reforms.
“The coalition is a remarkable human-rights group doing impressive work at a grass-roots level, and I think there is real substance, as well as symbolism, to their victory,” said Terry Coonan, director of the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University.
“It shows how the farmworkers have come of age,” he added.
The South Florida advocacy group formed in 1995 after a strike by 3,000 workers in Immokalee. Leaders in the migrant community united to ease tensions among laborers of different nationalities, and to demand better treatment from employers who have manipulated, intimidated and enslaved them in the past.
Unlike other labor groups in the United States, most Florida migrant farmworkers have no health benefits, sick leave, paid vacations or pension plans. They also don’t have the right to form unions.
The coalition acts much like a union. The small but influential group has been a unifying force among hundreds of thousands of diverse and often competing workers, who often cannot understand one another’s languages or dialects.
Nearly 2,500 of the laborers carry coalition membership cards as they migrate to the Midwest after the harvest each year.
“If something happens and you are being accused or exploited, you can take out the card and say you are a member of our coalition. The struggle doesn’t end when you leave Immokalee,” Chávez, a coalition staff member, told workers last month before joining them in Arcadia’s watermelon fields.
Less than $8,000 a year
The group’s headquarters in the back of its small cooperative grocery serves as a refuge for migrants in a hard-edged transient place, a poor work camp seemingly dropped into a rural farm community of 20,000 amid Southwest Florida’s swamplands.
Most field workers live within a few blocks of the town’s center in a multinational barrio of rented shacks and mobile homes. Buses pick them up for the fields near dawn each day and return them in the late afternoon. Because weekly rents are $200 or more, a dozen workers often share a single dwelling. Most are men who send their earnings home to relatives.
Florida’s tomato pickers typically earn less than $8,000 a year, according to the coalition. They have been paid about 40 cents for each 32-pound bucket. At that rate, it takes 2 tons of tomatoes, or 125 buckets, to earn $50 a day.
Forty-five years ago, Immokalee served as a setting for Edward R. Murrow’s groundbreaking documentary Harvest of Shame, which focused on starving farmworkers, at the time mostly blacks.
Though most migrant workers are Hispanic now, and starvation is rare, coalition leaders still refer to Immokalee as “ground zero” for modern-day slavery because of labor and human-rights abuses. Yet, because of the coalition’s efforts, the town increasingly is known worldwide as a training ground for worker advocates and young activists.
“Immokalee to a lot of people is a reality check,” said Brie Phillips, 22, of St. Louis, Mich. “You can’t come here and not go away with a different view about the reality of life for people in America. If you weren’t questioning things before you came here, you are when you leave.”
Boycott began in 2001
The coalition’s goal in launching the Taco Bell boycott in 2001 was to improve wages and stop abuses against farmworkers by pressuring the fast-food chain to use its influence with produce suppliers who employ the laborers.
The efforts were fended off initially by Taco Bell and its parent company, Yum! Brands, which also owns KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W Restaurants and Long John Silver’s.
The company’s position was that it purchased tomatoes from independent suppliers whose mistreatment of workers was “unrelated to Taco Bell.” The fast-food chain also contended that it lacked influence because it is not a major buyer of Florida produce.
Taco Bell purchases 10.9 million pounds of Florida’s annual 1.45 billion-pound tomato crop, according to the company.
Using its sophisticated Web site (ciw-online.org) and the Internet to build support, the coalition increased pressure, targeting Taco Bell’s primary customers in colleges and high schools nationwide.
Students at 300 colleges and universities and more than 50 high schools participated in the boycott. They shut or blocked the chain’s restaurants on 22 campuses.
Human-rights and faith-based organizations were also drawn to the coalition’s cause, including the National Council of Churches, which represents 45 million Christians.
The coalition’s “Boot the Bell” campaign included cross-country bus trips, protest marches, campus demonstrations, hunger strikes, church meetings and confrontations with corporate officials.
Taco Bell ups wages a bit
In March, Yum! Brands, based in Louisville, Ky., offered to work with the coalition to end the boycott, though the corporation’s news releases continued to deny that it was having an impact on sales, referring to the boycott as a “misinformation campaign.”
Emil Brolick, president of Taco Bell, issued a statement recognizing that Florida tomato workers “do not enjoy the same rights and conditions as employees in other industries, and there is a need for reform.”
Taco Bell, which has annual sales of more than $5 billion, agreed to the group’s demands to improve wages by a penny a pound. Officials have estimated that the company will pay the Florida tomato growers an extra $100,000, without passing the cost to customers.
The Mexican-themed fast-food chain also plans to adopt a code of conduct that calls for Taco Bell to sever ties with suppliers who abuse workers.
“It really is an historical agreement because for the first time, a fast-food company is recognizing the role of farmworkers in the supply chain for the products they sell to American consumers,” said Steve Lize, 29, a Chicago social worker who joined the boycott.
Former President Carter was among those who sent congratulations, along with Eric Schlosser, author of the best-seller Fast Food Nation, who encouraged the Immokalee group to target other fast-food companies next.
The coalition has done just that, notifying corporate officials at McDonald’s, Burger King and Subway that their companies will be called upon to follow Taco Bell.
“The real significance of this agreement lies in the promise it holds for much greater change in the future,” said coalition co-founder Lucas Benitez in comments posted on the organization’s Web site.
Veteran activist Romeo Ramirez, 24, who went undercover to help the FBI investigate human-rights abuses in Immokalee said the boycott’s success will make a significant difference to his fellow farmworkers, who harvest nearly 50 percent of tomatoes grown in the United States.
“It will mean that they will earn a little higher wage and that they can survive instead of struggling,” Ramirez said.
But, he added: “There has been abuses for decades, and there will continue to be abuses. This won’t solve all the problems — it is just one small step.”
Wes Smith can be reached at dwsmith@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5672.
Photos by Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES CALLS ON FAST FOOD CHAINS TO “ACT LIKE TACO BELL”
SLAVERY IN NORTH FLORIDA AGRICULTURE
HOT OFF THE PRESS: The 2017 Fair Food Program Annual Report is here!
CIW receives Presidential Medal for Extraordinary Efforts in Combatting Modern-Day Slavery at White House Forum!
Time’s Up leader Alyssa Milano narrates powerful new Fair Food Program video!
CNN Freedom Project on the Fair Food Program: “... the most comprehensive social responsibility program in U.S. agriculture...”
UN expert: FFP “must be considered an international benchmark” in fight against modern-day slavery!
2019 TEDMED TALK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rtUy1apCWU
2017 MacArthur Fellowship
2015 Presidential Medal
2014 Clinton Global Citizen Award
2013 Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom From Want Medal
Together, we fought to make the dream of enforceable human rights for farmworkers a reality. Now, we need your support to bring these critical human rights to thousands of workers in new crops and regions.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT FAIR FOOD TODAY!
Stay up to date on the CIW!
Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Coalition of Immokalee Workers. (You can unsubscribe anytime)
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Alliance for Fair Food, 110 S 2nd St, Immokalee, FL, 34142, http://www.allianceforfairfood.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
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© Coalition of Immokalee Workers 2018
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Computerscope
Blunt Reviews Dictated to the Masses from the Comfort of My Swivel Chair
Boldly Go
August 5, 2016 August 5, 2016 jamesdstringer Recent Reviews Tags: 3D, Chris Pine, Gene Roddenberry, Idris Elba, Justin Lin, Movie Review, Paramount Pictures, Simon Pegg, Star Trek, Zachary Quinto, Zoë Saldana Leave a comment
The tribute is only… logical!
If space is the final frontier, may it go on forever! Under the unexpected hands of the Fast & Furious series’ Justin Lin, the rebooted Star Trek films have hit a series high in this year’s 50th Anniversary Extravaganza — Star Trek Beyond. The film’s predecessor, Star Trek Into Darkness, represented a disappointment for many fans, myself included — from a white Khan to a cop-out ending, Into Darkness was a misstep on almost every front. That is not the case with this film!
With three years into the Enterprise‘s five-year mission, not all is well aboard. Her captain, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit), is burdened with doubts about his ability to lead the crew and live up to his late father’s reputation — how’s that for a birthday present? — while Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto, American Horror Story: Asylum) is doubled down with the death of an old friend and a break-up with his girlfriend/crewmate Nyota Uhura (Zoë Saldana, Guardians of the Galaxy), and the rest of the ship’s compatriots aren’t faring much better. On arrival to a starbase to resupply, the crew is tasked with a mission on a distant and uncharted planet, where old dangers and new allies await.
The production history behind Star Trek Beyond is a fairly tumultuous one — once set to be written and directed by Roberto Orci (co-writer of the previous installments), his departure warranted both a new director and, in Paramount’s eyes, a new script, this time from Scotty himself, Simon Pegg (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), and relative newcomer Doug Jung. Their script channels the best the series has to offer, and still offer a film that may well be remembered as a classic. In point of fact, I was reminded more than once of two classic films — The Great Escape and Stalag 17 — that no doubt played a great hand in the writing of this film, as a prison camp setting with a motorcycle chase scene is no doubt cut from the same cloth!
My only gripe with the story is the villain, a dark and creepy one (what else?) called Krall. Played by the one and only Idris Elba (The Jungle Book), we never seem to know his motivation or the full circumstances of his being a villain. He seems something of a mashup between Star Trek‘s Nero and Star Trek: Insurrection‘s Ru’afo — make of that what you will — but we know littler about Krall than we do the aforementioned two.
Still, the decision to hire Pegg and Jung paid off brilliantly, as bringing new blood to this film only helps it shed the ghosts of its predecessor while bringing a fresh eye to the franchise in the form of director Justin Lin. Those fearing the “car chase” mentality of the Fast & Furious films need not worry — if anything, Lin brings his knowledge of a series’ cast and the feeling of family it implies, both during and after a take. Sign him for more, Paramount!
Speaking of family, a new addition to the crew in this film is a welcome one in the form of the mysterious hunter Jaylah (Sofia Boutella, Kingsman: The Secret Service), who takes a shine to engineering and, of course, to Scotty! Ms. Boutella brings some much-loved mirth and ingenuity to the film, and I do hope we see more of her in coming sequels! The remaining crew, most notably Bones (Karl Urban, Dredd) and Ensign Chekov (Anton Yelchin, Green Room), are given much greater material than they had in Into Darkness, and redeem the beloved nature of their characters. On that note, be prepared to cry buckets in regard to a couple of tributes to their respective crewmembers.
I was reminded by a friend recently about how Gene Roddenberry was a visionary ahead of his time, and on the 50th Anniversary of his series’ genesis, I feel he’d be proud of this tribute, both to his work and his belief in the endurance of the human race. I can’t wait for more Trek following Beyond, but if producer J.J. Abrams is anyone to go by (and he is), it truly will go where no one has gone before!
The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
The End is the Beginning is the End
You Are (Not) Alone
No Wonder That It’s Mary That We Love!
Sam Simon on Your Heart Will Lead You …
Mike on Overplayed
Dan O. on It’s So Bad
Paul Fjeldstad on Guns of the Patriots
jamesdstringer on I Can See Clearly Now
Classic Reviews
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The No. 1 Source For Breaking Music and Film Headlines
R.I.P. The Village Voice, iconic alt-weekly shutting down after more than 60 years
The announcement comes just one year after the NYC publication ended its print edition
by Lake Schatz
on August 31, 2018, 3:50pm
After more than 60 years, The Village Voice is shutting down for good
After more than 60 years, Village Voice is shutting down.
As Gothamist reports, owner Peter Barbey made the announcement during a meeting with staff members this afternoon. “Today is kind of a sucky day,” said Barbey, who acquired the Voice in 2015. “Due to, basically, business realities, we’re going to stop publishing Village Voice new material [sic].”
Half of the staff is expected to be let go today, while the remaining employees will stay on to help “wind things down.”
New York City’s iconic alt-weekly was founded in 1955. Last summer, the paper officially ended its print edition due to financial problems. The enacted changes, however, ultimately weren’t enough to save the publication.
“In recent years, the Voice has been subject to the increasingly harsh economic realties facing those creating journalism and written media,” Barbey explained in an official statement. “Like many others in publishing, we were continually optimistic that relief was around the next corner. Where stability for our business is, we do not know yet. The only thing that is clear now is that we have not reached that destination.”
In the decades since its launch, the Voice has been operated under various ownerships, including New York Magazine and Rupert Murdoch. During his speech to staff members, Barbey indicated that he’d been considering selling the publication for some time in order to keep it afloat, as Gothamist points out. “I’ve been having conversations with other entities for months now… This is something we have to do — for some of them this is something we’d have to do before they could talk to us any further.”
Despite the shut-down, Barbey has remained optimistic about the Voice’s legacy, as preserved by its digital archive. “The Village Voice was created to give speed to a cultural and social revolution, and its legacy and the voices that created that legacy are still relevant today. Perhaps more than ever,” he stated. “Its archives are an indispensable chronicle of history and social progress… We have begun working to ensure that the enormous print archive of The Village Voice is made digitally accessible.”
Read Barbey’s full statement below.
The owner of the Village Voice confirms the newspaper will cease publishing new stories: "This is a sad day for The Village Voice and for millions of readers." pic.twitter.com/SRDUv8S8uS
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) August 31, 2018
Village Voice was especially impactful for its coverage of the New York City arts scene. It was the home for influential critics like Robert Christgau and J. Hoberman, moderated the annual Pazz & Jop music survey, and even staged its own 4Knots music festival.
CoS Instagram
Update: Gladys Knight is not battling pancreatic cancer
We Came As Romans singer Kyle Pavone died of accidental overdose; foundation set up in his name
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January 12, 2016 / Sports
Dosvadonya! Prokhorov sacks Nets coach, general manager
By David Russell
Photo by Jason Speakman
Full-court press: Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced Monday he’s firing the team’s head coach and reassigning its general manager, becuase their poor leadership is making the team look bad amid increased media scrutiny.
Prospect Heights: B.I.G. makeover: Brooklyn Nets debuting Biggie-inspired jerseys
Sunset Park: Nuthin’ but Brooklyn: Nets’ Kings County migration complete with Sunset Park training facility’s opening
Prospect Heights: The Nets are for sale
Nets: Nuthin’ but Brooklyn: Nets’ Kings County migration complete with Sunset Park training facility’s opening
Sean Marks the spot: Nets net top-choice general manager
The Nets sacked head coach Lionel Hollins and reassigned general manager Billy King this weekend over the team’s poor performance.
Owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who recently took full control of the team and home court Barclays Center, said he wants to grow the National Basketball Association bottom feeder back into a championship contender, but the ousted leaders were making the team look bad amid heightened media scrutiny.
“I want to stress also one thing, and for me it is a very important lesson,” Prokhorov during a Monday press conference at Barclays Center. “We are playing in the best market in the world. And of course it is a market that makes great pressure, a lot of attention, a very active press. That is why we need players and a coach who can resist this pressure — who can survive.”
Hollins, whose record was just 48–71 in a season and a half, joins a slew of coaches who apparently could not survive. It would seem the coach’s office in Barclays Center was built with a revolving door — Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, Jason Kidd, and Hollins have all led the team since it moved here in 2012. Kidd was the only one not to be fired. Tony Brown will be the interim coach.
King was in his sixth season as general manager. Brooklyn made the playoffs each of the last three seasons but only reached the second round once.
Prokhorov wants to keep the coaching and general manager jobs separate and danced around multiple reports that the franchise is in negotiations with former Nets coach and current Kentucky head man John Calipari, a hall-of-famer that insiders have mentioned as a possible combination head coach-general manager.
“Coach Cal is a great coach, but we won’t be discussing, today, any name, because it is the first day of our new approach,” Prokhorov said. “We’re not in a hurry.”
Calipari coached the Nets in the late 1990s, leading the then-New Jersey team to the playoffs in 1998, but owners fired him the next season after a 3–17 start.
The announcement came just hours before the San Antonio Spurs crushed the Nets 106–79 on Monday night. Brooklyn (10–28) has the third-worst record in the league.
The Nets have $40 million to spend on free agents this summer, but getting back to the playoffs any time soon seems a long-shot. The team has no first-round picks in the 2016 and 2018 drafts, and its single, 2017 first-round pick may become the Celtics’ property thanks to the deal that brought Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn.
But Prokhorov paints a rosier picture.
“I’m sure next season we will be — I hope — a championship contender,” he said.
Mill Basin: Slip and Slide: Massive UV-lit waterslide comes to Floyd Bennett Field
Fort Greene: Hundreds audition for coveted spots on Brooklyn Nets dance squad
Tal Barzilai from Pleasantville, NY says:
I take it that the Hello Brooklyn flavor has worn off for the Nets, though I never believed that the move to Brooklyn was ever a magic bullet for them to begin with.
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Klaus Schwensen
Why not help out and contribute one?
The Three Photographs of an Alleged Gas Van
By Klaus Schwensen
This document is part of a periodical (Inconvenient History).
Use this menu to find more documents that are part of this periodical.
Vol. 1 (2009) Vol. 2 (2010) Vol. 3 (2011) Vol. 4 (2012) Vol. 5 (2013) Vol. 6 (2014) Vol. 7 (2015) Vol. 8 (2016) Vol. 9 (2017) Vol. 10 (2018) Vol. 11 (2019)
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4
Between 1945 and 2012, the entire literature about the gas vans has presented exactly three photographs which allegedly show such vehicles. Sometimes it was explicitly claimed that the vehicle had been used for homicidal purposes, sometimes this was implied. In 1994, these photographs were subjected to a critical analysis by Udo Walendy[1] and Pierre Marais[2]. In 2011, Santiago Alvarez, who expanded and improved Marais’s study, once again addressed the problem of the gas van photographs[3]. The author of the present article has – independently – researched the gas van issue for several years and would like to discuss here some additional aspects.
1. Simon Wiesenthal’s Gas Van
In 1963, Der Spiegel first published the photograph of an alleged gas van “camouflaged” as a Red Cross vehicle. In the course of the following 25 years, Der Spiegel recycled this picture four times[4] without ever mentioning its source (Fig. 1). We cannot but conclude that – except for the two other photographs which will be analyzed soon – the politically correct German news magazine did not have any further pictures of a gas van and was unable, or unwilling, to disclose the origin of the photograph.
Fig. 1: Alleged “Gas Van of the SS” camouflaged as a Red Cross vehicle
Source: Der Spiegel (51/1968)
This alleged “Gas Van camouflaged as a Red Cross vehicle” appears rather fuzzy; the view is strictly from the rear, without any perspective. Except for the non-identifiable human figure in the background, no details of the surroundings are discernible. The ground as well as the back of the van seem to have been painted with spray. In all likelihood this is a drawing rather than a photograph.
On 31 May 1973, during a campaign for the extradition of the “gas van murderer” Walther Rauff from Chile, “Nazi hunter” Simon Wiesenthal presented said picture at the Hebrew Union College in New York.
As Wiesenthal delivered his speech to a friendly audience, it is improbable that he was bothered with probing questions about the origin of the picture. The picture reminds the drawing of an architect or an engineer, and “Engineer Wiesenthal” (as he liked to call himself, in line with Austrian tradition) had earlier drawn pictures of atrocities allegedly perpetrated in German concentration camps[5]. It is therefore legitimate to suspect that this picture was fabricated by Wiesenthal himself. To the best of our knowledge, he never claimed having personally seen such a vehicle. Probably it was Wiesenthal who provided Der Spiegel with a copy of this picture in 1963. As we already mentioned, the German news magazine published it no fewer than five times, always insinuating that this was an authentic photograph of a vehicle in which human beings were killed with poison gas.
In 1983, when yet another campaign for the extradition of Walther Rauff from Chile was being waged, Simon Wiesenthal once again confronted the press with pictures of Rauff, and of the gas van.
In recent years the picture of the “Red Cross Van” has almost fallen into obscurity. In this context it bears mentioning that the politically correct authors of the Website “Action Reinhard Camps” have published an article containing some pictures of large trucks with cubicles [6] , adding that the German gas vans could have looked more or less like this. The authors candidly admit that these pictures are “no originals”, and they tacitly refrain from publishing Wiesenthal’s “Red Cross Van”.
2. The "Gas Van" of Kulmhof (Chelmno)
In 1981 Der Spiegel once again presented an alleged photograph of a “gas van”[7] , a large truck with a big enclosed cargo space manufactured by the firm Magirus Deutz (Fig. 2). The left engine hood and the left front wheel are visibly heavily damaged. The vehicle is being inspected by two civilians; the third man wears a non-identifiable uniform[8]. This photograph seems to be genuine, but does not prove anything.
Fig 2: Truck manufactured by the firm Magirus Deutz with an enclosed loadbed– a "gas van used at Chelmno?"
By original uploader in the Russian Wikipedia was Zac Allan, and then Jaro.p [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Originally from the archives of the Polish Ministry of Justice. Sign. No. 47398
This photograph (Fig. 2) was reproduced by Der Spiegel, Gerald Fleming[9] and USHMM[10]. Fleming´s caption read as follows:”Gassing van by which in the extermination camp of Chelmno (Kulmhof) and in Konitz Jewish people were annihilated (Archive of the Polish Ministry of Justice).”
In 1994 revisionist historian Udo Walendy published a low-quality reproduction of this picture (the only one at his disposal) in his analysis of “forged photographs.” Walendy pointed out that virtually nothing was known about the origin of the photograph and that there is no technical description or expert report about the alleged gas vans. It may have been a coincidence, but only a year later (1995) Jerzy Halbersztadt, a historian from Warsaw University who then worked at the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, threw light on the origin of this picture. The impetus for his research was not provided by Walendy’s publication (as Walendy is a revisionist, Halbersztadt predictably chose to ignore him) but by Leon Zamosz, a Holocaust historian of Polish-Jewish descent and a founding member of the USHMM, who had been “trying to find a photograph or any other graphic illustration of the gas vans used at Chelmno and other places” and had sent a circular letter to various Holocaust experts ( “multiple recipients of list HOLOCAUS”)[11]. A few weeks later, in October 1995, Halbersztadt communicated the results of his research to the addressees of the “List HOLOCAUS”[12] .
During the same period, German revisionist historian Ingrid Weckert, who was then studying the alleged extermination camp Chelmno, asked Yad Vashem about the origin of this picture; however the Israeli memorial was unable to answer her question[13]. In 1999, Ingrid Weckert published an article about Chelmno[14] which may or not have prompted Halbersztadt to publish the e-mail correspondence between himself, Zamosz and the List HOLOCAUS in 2005. This step was obviously taken in mutual agreement with the aforementioned ARC Team, a circle of amateur historians who focus on the history of the Action Reinhard Camps. Apparently the ARC Team wanted to present an up-to-date view of the “extermination camps” and the “gas vans”, which implied some cautious revisions of the traditional picture of the events, as “evidence” which had turned out to be untenable was jettisoned. We already pointed out that Wiesenthal’s picture of a “gas van” camouflaged as a Red Cross vehicle was not presented by the ARC people. The damaged truck of Kolo (Fig. 4) was equally absolved from the suspicion of having served as a gas van: On its website, the ARC team published the aforementioned e-mail correspondence, but without any comment. There was only a short remark, that the photo of the KHD wreck of Kolo could “possibly not show a gas van.” Most readers presumably failed to appreciate the significance of Halbersztadt´s research.
The main source of the following account is Halbersztadt. His article is largely based on the report of a Polish Public Prosecutor’s Office which had investigated the matter in 1945. In all likelihood the protocol of inspection drawn up by the Polish authorities was also translated and published by Halbersztadt[15] . According to this account, the alleged “gas van” had been a furniture truck used by a moving company in Thuringia. Later this vehicle was confiscated and probably used for desinfecting or delousing textiles in the Warthegau (a part of Poland annexed by Germany in 1939). Probably due to a traffic accident, the engine of the van was so badly damaged that the vehicle could not be repaired under the prevailing circumstances. After the still-usable parts had been removed, the wreck was left behind on the property of the former Polish firm Ostrowski, which had served as office of the Reichsstrassenbauamt (Reich office for road construction) Warthbrücken (the German name for Kolo).
Only 12 km from Kolo, near the hamlet of Chelmno (which the Germans called Kulmhof), the German occupying authorities had set up a transit camp for the Jewish population of the area. According to the victors' version of the events, Chelmno was the first “extermination camp” where Jews were systematically murdered with gas. Traditional historiography has it that three or four gas vans were used at Chelmno. Occasionally these vehicles were allegedly repaired at the Reichsstrassenbauamt Warthbrücken, where several Poles who said they were mechanics who were employed there claimed to have seen them.
In May 1945, the “Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland”, which was founded after the German retreat, started its activities at Chelmno/Kulmhof. The Commission interrogated Polish witnesses from this region who, thanks to their critical technical skills, had been allowed to stay in the Warthegau after its annexation by Germany and had worked there during the war. In October 1945 the wreck of the truck left on the property of the Reichsstrassenbauamt was subject to a thorough scrutiny wherupon the Commission set up a protocol of inspection and shot four pictures that finally ended up in the archives of the Commission together with the protocols of the interrogations of the witnesses[16]. Only in 1995 was this important historical material unearthed by Halbersztadt’s collaborator Marek Jannasz, but the historians would have to wait for another ten years until it was finally made accessible to them.
It is of paramount importance to distinguish clearly between the alleged “gas vans of Chelmno” (of which no trace has ever been found) and the wreck of the furniture van the photograph of which was for decades presented as evidence of the existence of gas vans. Jerzy Halbersztadt extensively quotes from the protocols of interrogation of the three Polish car mechanics Jozef Piaskowski, Bronislaw Mankowski and Bronislaw Falborski, who said they had been employed by the Reichsstrassenbauamt and claimed to have personally seen the gas vans several times. Their statements seem to corroborate the criminal function ascribed to these vehicles. If we are to follow these three witnesses, the exhaust pipe of the van had been modified, and the floor of the load compartment had an opening through which the exhaust gas could be led into the load compartment. Several revisionist researchers (Ingrid Weckert, Carlo Mattogno, Pierre Marais and Santiago Alvarez) have pointed out extensive incongruities and contradictions in these descriptions of the alleged killing technique. However we will not dwell on this aspect of the question but return to the damaged van instead. In this context the following three facts are crucially important:
All Polish witnesses declared that the three (or four) gas vans of Chelmno had been black (“All of them were black”). But the photograph of the vehicle unmistakebly shows that it was not black, but much brighter; according to the protocol of inspection, it was “grey-green”.
We should be able to assume that the Polish investigators carefully examined the van in order to ascertain if the exhaust had been modified for criminal purposes and if the load compartment had an opening for the exhaust gas. Quite obviously this was not the case, as this fundamental point was not even mentioned in the protocol.
Not a single witness identified the damaged truck with the “gas vans of Chelmno”.
All these arguments were taken up by Jerzy Halbersztadt, who writes14: “The inspection of the van in Ostrowski factory, done on 13 November 1945 by the judge J. Bronowski, did not confirm the existence of any elements of system of gassing of the van's closed platform.”
The negative conclusion (no modified exhaust pipe, no opening for the exhaust gas) was not mentioned in the protocol of inspection. This omission clearly reflects the political atmosphere prevailing at the time: Despite the negative results of the investigation, the Poles obviously wanted to use the wreck for propaganda purposes, and the four photographs were provided with the caption “Van used at Chelmno for killing people by means of exhaust gas”. This was the origin of a historical lie. Through Gerald Fleming’s book11 , this lie found its way into the literature about the “gas vans” and was recycled for decades. Until 1950, former Polish resistance fighters wanted the wreck to be taken to the memorial of Auschwitz or Majdanek (at that time there still was no memorial at Chelmno), but their suggestion was rejected. Finally the vehicle was apparently scrapped (Halbersztadt). Halbersztadt himself makes a rather feeble attempt to argue for a possible criminal use of the truck; he writes14 :
“I cite all these details to make possible the further comments to the story of this van. It is my feeling that there are some unclear points in this story. Nobody explained for what purpose this van was used? Its door was tightened with an impregnated canvas[17]. What for? Some witnesses had seen this car in the area of the forest of Chelmno starting from the spring of 1942. It is possible that it belonged to the SS-Sonderkommando Kulmhof, too. I came across a version that this van was used for a disinfection of victims' clothes but there are no grounds for it.”
Although Halbersztadt deplores the fact that function of the vehicle remains unknown, he volunteers the information that it was purportedly used “for a disinfection of victims' clothes”. Whether the owners of these clothes were really “victims” is an open question; however there can be no doubt whatsoever that the van was indeed used for disinfection. Two of the pictures shot by the Polish commission show remnants of wooden frames within the cubicle. It is highly probable that they were used for hanging up garments (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3: The interior of the vehicle, with remains of wooden frames
Photographs: Polish Commission, 1945. Public Domain.
Apparently the Polish commission that inspected the van in October 1945 endorsed the view that it had been used for disinfection purposes because they chose the following title for their inspection protocol:
“Inspection of the former Wehrmacht disinfection van used at Chelmno death camp in 1941-42.”
The protocol ends with the following sentence: “With this, the inspection was concluded.” Any further comment seems superfluous, but we will keep in mind that the Polish authorities knew since 1945, that the KHD furniture truck in question had been no “gas van.” In spite of that the photos received a false caption, and with Fleming´s book this lie went around the world.
3. Saul Friedländer’s photomontage
In 1966 Der Spiegel published the photograph of a “SS gassing van”. By no stretch of the imagination is it possible to discern more than the back part of an automobile from which hoses lead into a wall (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4: According to Der Spiegel, this picture shows a “SS gassing van”. No source is given. Reproduced in Der Spiegel[18] (The original source for this figure as well as figure 7 which follows is a film from the Nuremberg Trials identified as National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 111 M 7596 R5. Ed.)
This picture is of frankly of bad quality; the section shown is much too confined and as evidence for a crime an irrelevance. The above scene becomes somewhat clearer when taking a look at the following photomontage composed of four pictures which was published by Saul Friedländer in 1967 (Fig. 5).[19]
Fig. 5: Photo Composition allegedly showing the “gas chamber at Belzec.” Source: Reproduced by Saul Friedländer , who does not disclose his own source.
In the French original of Friedländer’s book the caption (Fig. 5, above left) translates as follows:
“The gas chamber at Belzec, which was called ‘Heckenholt-Stiftung’. The prisoners were killed within 32 minutes by the exhaust gas of a Diesel engine. Gerstein, who had assisted at this action, describes the procedure in his report. Heckenholt was the [illegible] of the facility and the one who started the engine.”
Friedländer wants his readers to visualize the horrible gassing scene at Belzec described by SS-Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) Kurt Gerstein. But Gerstein had asserted that a big Diesel engine had been used to produce the necessary exhaust gas. Instead of such an engine, we see the front part of a car and the back of a truck of which little more than the license plate is discernible. From both vehicles, hoses lead into a wall. In other words: Instead of Gerstein’s Diesel engine, the engines of these two vehicles serve as (stationary) producers of exhaust gas. The vehicles are thus no “gas vans” where the exhaust gas was blown into a portion of the vehicle. As a matter of fact, unlike Der Spiegel, Friedländer does not speak of a “gassing van”. Apparently he only wanted to illustrate the“gas chamber of Belzec”.
But there is yet another incongruity: On the left side one sees the wall of a building, allegedly the wall of the “gas chamber of Belzec”. Logically one would suppose that the picture on the right side shows the interior of this same gas chamber, but as a matter of fact it shows the morgue of the Krematorium I at Auschwitz I (Main Camp), which is still presented as a homicidal gas chamber to the tourists. Publishing this photograph in the context of Belzec without any comment is a fraud and an attempt to deceive the reader. We now know that the objects visible on the photograph have nothing to do with Belzec: They illustrate an event which transpired in Mogilev, Belarus, in September 1941.
The “gassing experiment” of Mogilev
The following can only be understood by considering the situation that the German authorities had to face at the time. During the retreat of the Red Army in the summer and fall of 1941, the Soviets performed an impressive logistical feat, evacuating the most vital industrial plants as well as the cattle and the food stocks to the east. As far as the population was concerned, those evacuated were essentialy specialists and functionaries. Facing the German advance, the Soviets resorted to the strategy of “scorched earth”, without any consideration for the civilian population left behind, which was thus deprived of its basis of existence.
At the same time (fall 1941), the “euthanasia” actions had already been carried out in Germany as well as in some occupied countries such as Poland and the Baltic states. It appears that the German authorities (Hitler, Himmler) had decided to extend the euthanasia also to the occupied Soviet territories, and their decision was certainly assisted by the fact that the mental hospitals in Russia had partly been left without food supplies, and some of the staff had fled. Himmler was obviously not willing to cater for Soviet mental patients. Thus, the Einsatzgruppen of the SiPO (Sicherheitspolizei) and the SD (Sicherheitsdienst) were, additionally to their main task of fighting the partisans, assigned with a further task: to dispose of the mentally ill. For the respective German task forces (Einsatzgruppen) this meant a considerable psychological stress, because they had to conduct the executions. Himmler, who had observed on his visit in Minsk (15 Aug. 1941) a mass execution of partisans, had come to the conviction, too, that a more humane method of killing was desirable. He talked about that matter with two of his Generals, Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski[20] and Arthur Nebe[21]. Himmler assigned Nebe to examine the issue of painless killing and send him a report. Nebe obviously shared Himmler's opinion, and reportedly he stated: “I cannot possibly ask German soldiers to shoot the mentally ill!”
In Germany, the killing operations of “euthanasia” had been carried out by means of carbon monoxide (CO), however in Russia this gas was not availabe, at least not in the usual gas cylinders. Transporting them from Germany to Russia (and the return of empties) would have been impractical under the prevailing circumstances. In this situation, it appears that Nebe (Fig. 6) had thought about two “alternative” killing methods: a) by explosives and b) by exhaust gas. It was apparantly an “isolated decision”, for nothing is known of any discussion, neither with his entourage in Minsk nor his chemical experts in Berlin[22] . This lack of consultation and advice can be explained by the circumstances: the distance between Nebes’s quarters in Smolensk and his experts in Berlin, and security reasons. Oddly enough it did not occur to him that the wood-gas generators, which were extensively used in Germany, would have constituted an available mobile source of CO. Most probably the chemists of the KTI would have opted for this solution, although certain modifications of the wood-gas generator might have been necessary and would have caused a delay – and Nebe had to act under pressure of time.
Fig 6: Arthur Nebe, Head of the Reichskriminalpolizeiamt (Office V of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt), SS-Brigadeführer (General) and Leader of Einsatzgruppe B (Belarus).
Bundesarchiv, Bild 101III-Alber-096-34 / Alber, Kurt / CC-BY-SA [CC-BY-SA-3.0-de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
As a matter of fact, the problem of “humane killing” had not been sufficiently discussed between Nebe and his chemical experts. He drew on them only in helping to conduct two experiments which he himself had conceived: testing the efficacy of the above-mentioned two killing methods. Thus, he ordered the head of the chemical department of the KTI, Dr. Albert Widmann, to come to Belarus and assist him. The experiments at Minsk (killing by explosive) and Mogilev (killing by exhaust gas) later became the subject of an investigation which was initiated against Dr. Widmann in 1959 and led to a trial held in Stuttgart[23] in 1967. On basis of Widmann´s statements, the reported details and other witness testimonies, the court was able to reconstruct the events more or less completely.
In connection with the gas-van photos only the Mogilev event is of concern here. Some days after the experiment in Minsk Nebe and Widmann met in Mogilev and visited an asylum, where Nebe had already prepared the Russian doctors. A room on the ground floor of the building was chosen, and the only window was closed with masonry, which had openings for two metal pipes. Outside, each pipe could be connected with a metal hose coming from the exhaust of an automobile. After at least five mental patients had been placed in the room, the exhaust gases of one car were led into the room. When after 5 minutes the people were still alive, a second vehicle was connected to the room – this time a truck. It lasted then about 8 minutes until all the test persons were dead. The room was opened only after 2 hours.
The origin of the photomontage
In 1961, when the first witness testimonies about Mogilev became available, four photographs were submitted to the Central Agency for the Prosecution of NS crimes at Ludwigsburg. According to a letter of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Stuttgart[24] , these photographs showed “a gassing operation (two hoses are connected both to the exhaust pipes of two vehicles and a walled room)”. The Senior Public Prosecutor considered these photographs important enough to inform the General Public Prosecutor and the Ministry of Justice of their existence:
“As this gassing operation is probably identical with the one carried out at Mogilev by Nebe and the defendant Dr. Widmann, further investigation as to the origin of the photograph and the former owners of the vehicles discernible on the same have become necessary.”
Where the Central Office had obtained the four photographs from, and what results the “further investigation as to the origin of the photograph” yielded, is unfortunately not indicated in the files. The single surviving letter about this matter runs as follows:[25]
“As to the photographs contained in the files which show the introduction of exhaust gas from a truck and an automobile into a walled room further investigations have been carried out. They lead to the conclusion that the truck with the license plate Pol 51628 belonged to the Police Battalion 3 and that the driver of this truck was most probably Gerhard R[…] from Stettin who was killed in action in the district of Traunstein on 3 May 1945.”
The tag number “Pol 51628” mentioned in this letter matches the licence plate of the truck on Friedländer’s photomontage. Furthermore the two vehicles visible on the photograph seem to corroborate eyewitness accounts according to which an automobile of the brand “Adler” and a police truck had been used. So in order to illustrate the “gas chamber of Belzec” Friedländer availed himself of the very same photograph which had been submitted to the German justice as evidence for the Mogilev killing in 1961. This proves that his photomontage is a complete forgery.
A reasonably good reproduction of the Mogilev photo was published on the Website of the aforementioned ARC Team (Fig. 7).
Fig. 7: Original caption: "Mogilev gassing experiment. [From a] Photo Compilation of Film Pictures which were found after the War in Nebe's flat." Origin unknown. Reproduced by the ARC Team. Fair Use under 17 U.S.C. § 107. [26]
Thus we know at least one of the four pictures submitted to the German Justice in 1961, and we will now discuss the incongruities of this photograph.
The photograph of “Mogilev”
i. Was it really possible to take pictures or shoot films at Mogilev?
Since the pictures were taken at close range, the photographer must have been authorized to document the scene. On the other hand, there can be no doubt that taking pictures of a secret operation was strictly forbidden. None of the witnesses mentioned anybody taking photographs, much less shooting films. When confronted with the pictures, the defendant Widmann explicitly stated that he had observed no such activities.
The expression used in the caption – “Film Picture” – means a still photo from a movie picture, and indeed the photograph (Fig. 7) has certainly been made by professionals (note the scene lighting!). On the other hand, the idea that a film team should have been invited to immortalize such secret actions is risible from the outset. Thus, we may safely conclude that this photograph was produced by unknown people at an unknown time, but certainly well after the event it purportedly shows. Presenting it as an authentic document is therefore nothing but a deliberate act of forgery.
ii. The shadow on the wall
The picture was obviously shot in the beam of a stage light, i.e. in the evening or at night. On the wall of the house, an ominous and highly symbolic shadow of a human figure can be seen – the SS man! Apparently the unknown photographer did his best to create this shadow, as the person who casts it is not visible. This feat certainly required professional lighting. In other words, this forgery is the work of professionals. It definitely does not show the Mogilev test gassing, because according to the defendant Dr. Widmann the action took place in the morning or forenoon[27]: “The action was carried out in the following morning.” The different time zones (Mogilev lies on the 30th meridian eastern longitude) is irrelevant in this context. It is quite true that German time (Central European time) was used throughout the occupied Soviet territories (which meant that in the Caucasus - to mention but one example – dusk came on as early as two o’clock), but as the action commenced in the morning, this merely meant that the sun was already standing a bit higher than in Germany.
iii. The official licence plate of the truck
Even if the license plate “Pol 51628” actually existed, this does not prove the authenticity of the picture. After the end of the war, the Allies confiscated tons of German documents; nothing speaks against the possibility that they found a list of the license plates of Police Batallion 3.
iv. The alleged discovery of the picture “in Nebe’s flat”
According to the caption, the photograph was found in Nebe’s apartment after the war. This information is volunteered by British-Jewish Holocaust historian Gerald Reitlinger in the first English edition of his standard work[28] (Chapter 6, p. 130, unnumbered footnote). In his description of Himmler’s visit in Minsk, Reitlinger states: “This story of von dem Bach-Zelewski´s finds some confirmation in the discovery in 1949 in Nebe´s former Berlin apartment of an amateur film, showing a gas chamber operated by the exhausts of a car and a lorry” [29].
By way of a footnote in the footnote[30] Reitlinger finally manages to reveal the source of this information, a letter addressed to him, together with some photographs, by “Mr. Joseph Zigman, Information Services Division, Office of the US High Commissioner, Germany”. He does not disclose the date of the letter. We have found this reference to Reitlinger in an article by German Holocaust historian Mathias Beer[31]. Even to Beer, the idea that the euthanasia action at Mogilev should have been filmed seemed apparently so outlandish that instead of an “amateur film” he prefers speaking of “negatives” – a minor cosmetic change meant to make the improbable a trifle less improbable.
The legend of this discovery justifies a short digression. Arthur Nebe was involved in the abortive coup of 20 July 1944. After the failed attempt on Hitler’s life, he managed to go underground. In early 1945, he was denounced and arrested; on 2 March, 1945 he was sentenced to death by the Volksgerichtshof and executed shortly afterwards. It is all but certain that the Gestapo thoroughly searched his house after the events of 20 July 1944, and they would surely have found and confiscated the film, had Nebe indeed kept it at home. The alleged search of his “apartment” after the war is a highly fishy story, as he owned a house and did not live in an apartment. Theoretically the search could have been effected at the apartment of his widow, but there is no evidence to back up this theory. To cut a long story short, the legend of the “discovery of the Mogilev photographs” is every bit as phoney as the picture itself.
We do not know if the “Mogilev” photographs were indeed unearthed in 1949, as Reitlinger’s source Zigman claims, or when they really were fabricated. At any rate, they existed in November 1952, when Reitlinger published his book. And that raises another question: How did the anonymous fabricators know (in 1949) what had happened in Mogilev? The Mogilev case and even Arthur Nebe had not been mentioned in Nuremberg, and the investigations against Dr. Widmann did not begin before 1959. Thus, they knew probably only the story of von dem Bach-Zelewski and – perhaps – the statements of the Russian doctors from the Mogilev asylum. Neither of them had been a direct eyewitness, and therefore the fabricators did not know certain details.
vi. How did the German legal authorities get hold of the photographs?
Starting in 1959, several investigations were initiated against former members of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Dr. Becker, Pradel, Schmidt, Dr. Widmann etc.) who were accused of having taken part in the euthanasia action or in the development of the alleged gas vans. As a general rule, the statements of defendants and witnesses in a pending case are not made accessible to the public. However, at least in the case of Mogilev there is ample reason to suspect that the preliminary results of the investigation were passed on to Israeli historians as early as 1960. Both sides communicated on friendly terms (“Lieber Shmuel”[Krakowski]).
When witness accounts about the murky events of Mogilev in September 1941 began to filter to Israel, certain people may have been reminded of the photographs which had been fabricated 1949 as “evidence”. Apparently they could not resist the temptation to make renewed use of these forgeries and passed them on to the German authorities. To their credit, the German public prosecutors were prudent enough to consider “further investigation about the origin of the photograph necessary”, and the pictures were not used as evidence at the trial.
vii. The inserted caption
Although the inserted caption of the alleged Mogilev photograph (Fig. 7) seems very official and thus credible, it is rather unusual in a photographic document. Anyone who covers or removes parts of a document risks being accused of foul play. On the other hand, the caption is in English and obviously could have been inserted only after the war. So what was the intended purpose of this caption?
The fabricators were well aware that most observers would be unable to interpret the photograph and needed to be enlighted by means of a caption. For Saul Friedländer, who was looking for photographic material about Belzec, this posed of course a problem, as the caption unmistakably reads “Mogilev Gassing Experiment” (Fig. 7). Undoubtedly for this reason, he covered the upper right part of the photograph with a picture of the alleged Auschwitz gas chamber, thus creating a classic photomontage. When Der Spiegel published the forged photograph of Mogilev (Fig. 4), it resorted to yet another forgery, manipulating the picture in order to present it as an “SS gassing van”. The forgers simply cut off the right half of the picture, and the still-visible part of the inserted caption was retouched and transformed into the grey wall of a house, making the upper part of the car disappear as well.
Eyewitness accounts about Mogilev
At the beginning of the German investigations of 1959/60 the two main defendants were still available: Dr. Albert Widmann and his laboratory assistant Hans Schmidt who had accompanied him to Belarus. What did they have to say about the pictures? During his interrogation, Schmidt was shown the four photographs showing “a building and vehicles”[32]. While identifying an automobile of the brand “Adler”, he objected:
"In my opinion these pictures were not taken during the action in Mogilev. I only remember a connecting piece and a hose. I also believe that the boards lying before the wall and the post which can be seen on the picture did not exist at Mogilev. Furthermore I remember that only the window was walled up with bricks and that the rest of the building was not made of bricks. Finally I think that in Mogilev the vehicle stood further away from the house and that the position of the connecting piece [in the wall of the house] was lower. The license plates of the vehicles visible on the picture are unknown to me, this means that I do not know these license plates…
My memory of the action in Mogilev strongly differs from the scenes on these pictures. Therefore I think that these pictures do not show the action in Mogilev. The facility shown on the photographs seems to be quite sophisticated whereas the facilty used at the action in Mogilev was clearly provisional.“
During another interrogation of Schmidt[33], the investigators wanted to know which driver had driven the “Adler” close to the wall of the house sothat the metal hose from the exhaust pipe could be attached to the connecting piece in the wall. This question was a delicate one as it directly touched upon the problem of responsibility (participation in a crime). Schmidt remembered that the “Adler” had been backed up to the connecting piece; however the vehicles on the alleged Mogilev photographs are standing parallel to the wall of the house.
Before being shown the pictures, and before knowing what his interrogators had in mind, the defendant Widmann stated that the building where the gassing had taken place had been “neither a wooden house nor a building made of brick” but “covered with white plaster”. When he was confronted with the pictures, he made the following statement[34]:
"The scene shown on this picture cannot show the events at Mogilev. As I already made clear, the building was covered with white plaster and had a foundation block. Moreover, one of the two hoses we had brought with us was much thicker than the other one. The vehicles used at Mogilev did not stand parallel to, but perpendicular to, the wall of the house. To the best of my remembrance, the hose did not have a support. I am unable to identify the vehicles on the picture as vehicles of the RKPA [Reichspolizeiamt]. The RKPA did not have any trucks at all. I do not know the license plates of the vehicles, in particular I cannot explain the tactical sign on the platform of the truck. I do not know this sign.
After a second look at the pictures, I wish to point out that the window walled up with bricks sharply stood out against the wall of the house, which was covered with white plaster, and looked abominably ugly. Finally I did not see anybody taking pictures.”
Apparently the statements of Schmidt and Dr. Widmann, which were made independently of each other and basically agreed, convinced the Public Prosecutors, so they refrained from using the photographs as evidence in the trial. This deals the final blow to this photograph (Fig. 9) as well.
Certain circles who had studied the Soviet reports from the first post-war years may have felt the desire to belatedly illustrate some scenes in order to fabricate propaganda material against the “fascists.” Probably the sinister event which had taken place at Mogilev was “reconstructed” in this way. However, a “reconstructed picture claiming to be authentic is universally regarded as a forgery. Except for a short mention in Reitlinger’s book the pictures were initially not used for propagandistic purposes. But during the preliminary investigation against Dr. Widmann, when the topic “Mogilev was placed in the limelight, these pictures were rescued from oblivion und passed on to the German legal authorities. Der Spiegel seems to have been the first to publish one of the Mogilev “gas van pictures”, and a few months later Saul Friedländer followed suit.
In the entire literature of German war crimes we find only three photographs which claim to show one of the alleged “gas vans”. None of them is serious evidence for this pretension; each one is - in one sense or the other – a fake.
Simon Wiesenthal’s “gas van camouflaged as a Red Cross vehicle” is obviously a drawing and not a photograph. Even the politically correct ARC Team refrained from recycling it in an article in which different big vehicles were shown to depict how a gas van could have looked (whilst the authors conceded that their pictures were “not authentic”). Maybe Wiesenthal has not pretended expressis verbis that his picture was evidence, but it was at least a “tacit insinuation” – making people believe something without saying it explicitly.
The “Chelmno gas van” which had been originally a furniture truck and later used for disinfection of clothing was examined and correctly identified by a Polish commission as early as 1945. The Polish experts found no evidence whatsoever that it had served for homicidal purposes. Nevertheless the Polish authorites provided the authentic photos with a false caption, identifying the vehicle as a “gas van”. Here we have the case that, although the photograph is authentic, it becomes due to the false caption a deliberate forgery.
Although the photograph of the “gassing experiment at Mogilev” purports to be authentic this cannot be true since on that September day in 1941 there was certainly no film team present and photographing was strictly forbidden. Obviously we have here a re-enacted scene produced by professionals (floodlight!). Re-enacting historical scenes is quite usual in the film and TV industry, but if such a photo claims to be authentic it becomes a forgery. With the Mogilev photo we can only presume that it was taken around 1949. The first attempt to use this material was made by passing it on to the German justice (1961).The attempt failed since the judicial authorities were suspicious.
Then the news magazine SPIEGEL made use of the “Mogilev photo”. The SPIEGEL people may have recognized that the caption “Mogilev Gassing Experiment” which is inserted into the picture (Fig. 9) did not suit a historical photo and removed the caption by retouching. Thus, a forgery was manipulated again to make it more credible. And then there was Saul Friedländer who sought an illustration for the (alleged) gas chamber of Belzec. He also could not use the caption and removed it, this time by cutting it away and filling the gap with another photo, thus creating a photomontage, which he finally used to illustrate a scene which (allegedly) had taken place at quite another location (Belzec instead of Mogilev). How Der Spiegel and Saul Friedländer got hold of one of these pictures remains unknown.
The fact that three dubious pictures were used for propaganda purposes throws light on the attempts of certain circles to corroborate the gas van story with photographs, even forged ones. Of course the absence of authentic pictures does not prove the non-existence of gas vans. For this reason, the question whether such murderous vehicles indeed existed can only be answered on the basis of other material (documents, eyewitness reports etc.). However the manipulations some people resorted to in order to “prove” the existence of the gas vans with fraudulent means should give pause to those tempted to credit the allegations.
The above article had just been closed when the editors of Inconvenient History discovered an interesting fact: The American documentary film “Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today” (USA 1947)[35]. In reel 5 of this film[36] there are two short sequences (in total no longer than 33 seconds) which were used (amongst others) to accompany a speech of Soviet Main Prosecutor Gen. Rudenko in Nuremberg.
One of the sequences (it is no more than a pan shot) shows clearly a sinister scene of the Mogilev gassing experiment with the car and the truck standing before a house wall and the shadow of a person in military boots. An engine is roaring at full throttle. Here we have the source of the photo which allegedly had been found “in Nebe´s flat in 1949”, published by Reitlinger in 1952, later presented to the German investigators against Dr. Widmann (ca. 1960), and still later by Der Spiegel (1966) and Friedländer (1967).
The second film sequence is split into two parts: First we see five male patients - dressed in white hospital garments - passing the camera seated on a horse cart. Then we see a horse cart halting before a building, one man and two children have got out, whilst another man is still lying on the cart (Fig. 8).
Fig. 8: Source: CODOH Forum (Committee for Open Debate of the Holocaust) http://forum.codoh.com
Since the patients are emaciated and weak they are helped by a male and a female doctor or orderly, and those who are naked are given blankets. In the background a German soldier is watching. The white hospital garments of the patients, the white lab coats of the sanitary personnel and the horse cart indicate that the scene is somewhere in Russia, and since the “arrival sequence” is intermingled with the “car sequence” it is clear that both pertain (allegedly) to Mogilev.
If the two sequences are authentic, they can stem of course only from the Germans. Consequently the German Fritz-Bauer-Institut[37], which compiled a description of “Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today”, ascribe the origin of the sequences to “Deutschland, 1941”. And the USHMM writes:
“USHMM Details from Dr. Albert Widmann's 1967 trial in Stuttgart include his personal description of actions corresponding to the scene of gassing by vehicle exhaust, in the company of Arthur Nebe, and the presence of one male Soviet doctor and two female Soviet doctors (in German-occupied territory in the vicinity of Mogilev, Belarus, mid-September 1941).”[38]
To this we respond: Although the pictures seem to be consistent with Mogilev, they conflict with several of even the few details available to us. Indeed, the gassing experiment was conducted in one of the buildings of the asylum and the victims, who came from other buildings, were brought by horse carts. But: The building had - according to Widmann - white walls and not brick walls, and the crude wooden door suits rather a horse barn than the entrance into a hospital or asylum. The presence of children amongst the patients was not mentioned neither in Mogilev nor in Minsk. Whether Widmann has stated that Russian doctors were present during the gassing experiment, as the USHMM claims without giving a source, is not certain. Finally Widmann has clearly stated that he had not seen anybody photographing in Mogilev (much less a film crew). From the German point of view any photo documentation would have made no sense, in direct contravention of the necessary secrecy.
Therefore the Fritz-Bauer-Institut is wrong in their attribution "Germany, 1941". The pictures are re-enacted and therefore fake. Who were the real producers? To ask this question means to answer it: The Mogilev event was a Soviet issue, and the pictures reveal that the fabricators must have known some details, but overlooked others. The Mogilev event had not been dealt with in Nuremberg, and the investigation against Widmann started only in 1959. So how could the Soviet propagandists know what had happened in Mogilev? The town was reconquered by the Red Army on 28 June 1944. Thus the ESC (Extraordinary State Commission) had time enough to interrogate the Russian doctors of the former asylum, to learn details of the gassing experiment (as far as the doctors knew), to produce the film sequences and – to forward them to OMGUS.
One of the OMGUS men was, by the way, Joseph Zigman, who – together with Stuart Schulberg, was the creator of “Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today”. After the film was completed in 1947/48, “Zigman stayed on in Berlin to edit de-Nazification and re-education films aimed at German audiences under the aegis of the U.S. Military Government’s Documentary Film Unit, which was headed by Stuart Schulberg.”[39] It must have been at that time that Zigman forwarded one of the Mogilev photos to Gerald Reitlinger – together with the story that the “amateur film” had been found in Nebe´s flat. It is the hypothesis of this author (K.S.) that Zigman and Schulberg had received the two film sequences and the Nebe story from Soviet authorities in Berlin and deployed them, as it were, with a vengeance.
A further discovery of IH was a debate in the CODOH Forum[40] entitled “Carbon Oxide killings photos?”, which took place in 2005. The site presented some of the Mogilev pictures. Some of the participants knew the film “Nuremberg” and doubted the German origin of these pictures: “Turns out most of the time it ain’t even original footage but post-war propaganda stuff filmed in a way to look real. The viewer is not told of course, and comes away with the impression he saw documentary footage.” (Participant “Grenadier”, Aug. 2005).
Concerning the Mogilev photos, great credulity is needed indeed to believe that these pictures are authentic.
ARC Action Reinhard Camps
The “ARC Team” was a group of (amateur) historians who specialized in the “Aktion Reinhardt” camps and published the results of their research in the Internet. The last upload took place in 2006.
HUC Hebrew Union College (New York)
KHD Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz (Producer of Trucks)
KTI Kriminaltechnisches Institut (Institute of Forensics)
RKPA Reichskriminalpolizeiamt (Reich Criminal Investigation Department)
RSHA Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Security Head Office)
[1] Udo Walendy, Historische Tatsachen (HT), Verlag für Volkstum und Zeitgeschichtsforschung, No. 63 (1994), p. 34.
[2] Pierre Marais, Les camions à gaz en question, Polémique, Paris 1994, chapter II.1. German Edition: Pierre Marais, Die Gaswagen – Eine kritische Untersuchung, Peter Hammer Verlag, Turin 2008.
[3] Santiago Alvarez, Pierre Marais, The Gas Vans – A Critical Investigation, Barnes Review Holocaust Handbook Series, Vol. 26, The Barnes Review, Washington 2011.
[4] Der Spiegel christened this vehicle alternately “Mobile Gas Chamber” (4/1963), “SS Gas Van” (21/1966), “NS Gas Van” (14/1967), “Gas Van of the SS” (51/1968) and “Rauff Gassing Van” (18/1988).
[5] Simon Wiesenthal, KZ Mauthausen, Vienna 1946.
[6] Website of the ARC Team, http://www.deathcamps.org/gas_chambers/gas_chambers_vans (August 2006).
[7] Der Spiegel No. 35 (1981), p. 124.
[8] On a reproduction showing a cropped section of the picture, shoulder straps and boots are discernible. The uniform is a Polish one.
[9] Gerald Fleming, Hitler und die Endlösung, Wiesbaden, Munich, Limes Verlag 1982, p 128-129.
[10] USHMM photo gallery, # 47398.
[11] Leon Zamosz (professor of sociology at the University of California), e-mail of 25 August 1995 to the addressees of list HOLOCAUS; quoted according to ARC Team (Footnote 18).
[12] Jerzy Halbersztadt (University of Warsaw and USHMM), e-Mail of 11 October 1995 to the addressees of List HOLOCAUS, quoted according to ARC Team (Footnote 18).
[13] Letter of Yad Vashem to Ingrid Weckert of 16 March1988.
[14] Ingrid Weckert,“Wie war das in Kulmhof/Chelmno? – Fragen zu einem umstrittenen Vernichtungslager”, Vierteljahreshefte für freie Geschichtsforschung volume 3 no. 4 (December 1999), p. 425-437.
[15] Protocol of Inspection by Judge J. Bronowski, Kolo, 13 October 1945 (a facsimile of the English translation can be found in the Internet).
[16] Archive of the Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland, Warsaw, collection “Ob”, file 271 and others.
[17] In Internet the author found an English translation of the Polish Inspection Protokol in facsimile (29.03.2009), where we read: “The doors are lined with tar paper” – which appears to be much nearer to the reality.
[18] Der Spiegel, No. 53/1966, p. 57. The original source for this photo is a film compiled by Pare Lorentz and Stuart Schulberg. It was shown during the Nuremberg Trials and is identified as National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 111 M 7596 R5. The film is in the Public Domain and may be found on-line at: http://resources.ushmm.org/film/display/detail.php?file_num=2151
[19] Saul Friedländer, Kurt Gerstein ou l´ambiguité du bien, ed. Casterman, Paris 1967; German version: Kurt Gerstein oder die Zwiespältigkeit des Guten, Bertelsmann Sachbuchverlag, Gütersloh 1968, p. 91-93. In the German edition, the photomontage of the “Belzec gas chamber” is absent.
[20] SS-Obergruppenführer (General) Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski was Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer Rußland-Mitte (Higher Leader of SS and Police in Central Russia), stationed in Minsk.
[21] Arthur Nebe was Reichskriminaldirektor and head of the RKPA (Reichskriminalpolizeiamt), which was a state office and simultaneously constituted Office V of the RSHA (Reichssicherheitshauptamt). After the beginning of the war against the Soviet Union, Nebe, who had the rank of an SS Brigadeführer and Lt. General of the Police, additionaly became the head of Einsatzgruppe B (Belarus), stationed in Smolensk.
[22] Part of Nebes‘s Reichskriminalpolizeiamt (RKPA) was the Kriminaltechnische Institut (KTI).
[23] Rüther et al., Justiz und NS-Verbrechen, Vol. XXVI, No. 658, Trial of Dr. Albert Widmann, Sentence of Landgericht Stuttgart of 15.09.1967 (Ks 19/62).
[24] First Public Prosecutor Dr. Hillmann of LG Stuttgart, letter of 30 November 1961 to the Ministry of Justice of Baden-Württemberg. AZ 19 Js 328/60; in: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, EL 317 III, Bü 2152.
[25] First Public Prosecutor Dr. Schneider, letter of 28 May 1963 to the First Criminal Chamber at the Regional Court Stuttgart. AZ 13 (19) Js 328/60; in: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, EL 317 III, Bü 2152.
[26] ARC Team, Action Reinhard Camps/Gas Chambers Overview/Mogilev, in: http://www.deathcamps.org (January 2008)
[27] Dr. Albert Widmann, interrogation at the Regional Court of Düsseldorf, 11 January 1960 (I 113/59).
[28] Gerald Reitlinger, The Final Solution – The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe 1939-1945, Vallentine, Mitchel & Co., London 1953. First German edition: Die Endlösung. Hitlers Versuch der Ausrottung der Juden Europas 1939-1945, Colloquium Verlag, Berlin 1956, p. 144, footnote.
[29] After the war Bach-Zelewski made depositions in U.S. captivity and was a witness in Nuremberg. His report of Himmler´s visit in Minsk and a talk with Nebe were partly printed in the German-Jewish paper Der Aufbau”: E. M., "Leben eines SS-Generals, Aus den Nürnberger Geständnissen des Generals der Waffen-SS Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski," in: Der Aufbau, New York, Jahrg. XII, No. 34, 23 August 1946, pp/ 2, 40; http://deposit.d-nb.de/online/exil/exil.htm.
Bach-Zelewski´s quotations do not – as Der Aufbau maintains - stem from his testimony in Nuremberg (7.1.1946), but from his former interrogations. His statements have to be considered critically since he – in order to save his head - may have “modified” some of his memories in the sense of the Allies.
[30] Gerald Reitlinger, ibid (Engl. edition), chapter 6, endnote 22 (p. 552).
[31] Mathias Beer, “Die Entwicklung der Gaswagen beim Mord an den Juden”, Vierteljahreshefte für Zeitgeschichte 35 Vol. 3 (1987), p. 403-417, footnote 36.
The footnote continues: “According to E. J. Else, dispatcher of the K unit [K-Staffel] of the first company, Police Battalion 3, the van which can be seen on one of the pictures belonged to his car fleet. Statement of 13.12.1962, StA Frankfurt a.M., Az. 4 Js 1928/60 [ZSL, Az. 202 AR-Z 152/1959, Bl. 1127]. Else was thus a member of Einsatzkommando 8, which took part in the experiment.”
[32] Interrogation of Hans Schmidt by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Regional Court Stuttgart; in: BArch B 162/1604, p. 496-497 (archive page number).
[33] Interrogation of Hans Schmidt by the Public Prosecutor’s Office Stuttgart; in: BArch B 162/1603, p. 473 (archive page number).
[34] Interrogation of Dr. Albert Widmann in Düsseldorf, 18 April 1962; in: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, EL 48/2 I, Bü 319, p. 1303-1306 (archive page number).
[35] Documentary Film “Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today”, Producer: Office of the Military Government in Germany, U.S. (OMGUS), USA 1947. Archives: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Sign. 111 M 7596 R5. USHMM – Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive, Sign. RG-60.2416, Tape 67). Bundesarchiv/Filmarchiv in Berlin.
[36] Reel 5 see http://resources.ushmm.org/film/display/detail.php?file_num=2151
[37] Fritz-Bauer-Institut (Frankfurt/Main) – Project Cinematography of the Holocaust, www.cine-holocaust.de/cgi-bin/gdq?dfw00fbw003511.gd
[38] Film description of Reel 5 of “Nuremberg: ...” (see endnote 1), short biography of Dr. Albert Widmann.
[39] Website of Schulberg Production “Nuremberg” (www.nurembergfilm.org)
[40] CODOH Forum, Committee for Open Debate of the Holocaust, http://forum.codoh.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2418&p=16412&hilit=Carbon+Oxide+killings+
photos%3F#p16412 (Aug. 2005).
Author(s): Klaus Schwensen
Title: The Three Photographs of an Alleged Gas Van
Sources: Inconvenient History, 5(1) (2013)
First posted on CODOH: Feb. 18, 2014, 6 p.m.
Documents + Critique
Gas Vans
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Yessica Escobar
Yessica Escobar’s first semester at Los Angeles Community College (LACC) was challenging. She is like many hardworking California community college students who struggle to balance between work and achieving their academic goals. She is also a person who has exceeded all that her parents imagined possible for her.
For 20-year-old Yessica, college was not originally part of life’s plan. She is the second child of Maria and Jose, a sample maker in the garment industry and a building maintenance worker, respectively, both from El Salvador. “We just didn’t think college was a possibility. It seemed so expensive. We didn’t understand there was a difference between community colleges, UCs and Cal States. We just thought they were big money institutions that were too expensive for anyone as poor as us to get into,” Yessica recalls.
Yessica is bright and curious. She attended two Los Angeles public high schools, the James A. Foshay Learning Center and West Adams Preparatory High School, from which she graduated in 2009.
Mr. Cuevas, Yessica’s eleventh grade teacher, was especially influential. “He really got us into school. He told us we could be better than what the statistics might have said about us. He motivated most of our classmates to attend college. He inspired me a lot.” For the first time ever, Yessica’s mom attended a parent-teacher conference with Mr. Cuevas. “He told her that he saw in me the capacity to go to college. And after that I actually told my mom for the first time I’m going to college.”
In Yessica’s first semester, she enrolled in four courses at LACC, and she held two jobs: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, she worked a full-time office job; during the week, she also worked a part-time night job babysitting four children under the age of five. Her days began at 5:30 a.m. and ended at 1:30 a.m. the next morning. On top of the arduous schedule, she had no car, so hours were added to her day commuting by city bus and subway. Because of this exhausting schedule, something had to give—and it did. Eventually, she dropped three of her four courses.
Yessica would have benefited from mandatory first semester orientation and counseling sessions.
“The first year was the hardest for me. My sister went to Cal State Northridge, so when I asked for help or advice, she didn’t have any because she wasn’t attending community college,”
Yessica said. She did not know what to expect, and shared, “it was the decision-making that was hard.” She did not know that completing a full course load of 15 units would not be humanly possible with her work schedule. She was uncertain which courses to take. Many conventions—like finals week schedule—were unfamiliar to her; she did not understand that finals have their own schedule and do not take place during regular class sessions. She did not know books could be purchased online at a greater discount than the college bookstore offered.
Along the way, Yessica also received bad advice from well-intentioned staff. When it became clear that she could no longer manage work and school, she consulted with a financial aid representative about the trouble she faced. The staff member advised her to withdraw from the classes. Yessica followed this advice, withdrawing from all but one class. Weeks later, she would learn there was a penalty for doing so—the college demanded repayment of the $900 student loan she had received and had used toward tuition and books. In the end, Yessica paid for four courses, but received credit for only one.
This unexpected debt created a financial hardship, but Yessica repaid the loan in two months’ time.
Beyond scheduling and financial aid challenges, Yessica would also come to find out that assessment tests could stifle her educational progress.
While California community colleges are designed for open access, most students must demonstrate their readiness for college-level work by passing assessment tests in language arts and math.1 The results of the test determine course level placement.
This unexpected debt created a financial hardship, but Yessica repaid the loan in two months’ time. Beyond scheduling and financial aid challenges, Yessica would also come to find out that assessment tests could stifle her educational progress. While California community colleges are designed for open access, most students must demonstrate their readiness for college-level work by passing assessment tests in language arts and math.1 The results of the test determine course level placement.
Math 125 is a non-transferable intermediate Algebra course, a math Yessica had already studied in high school. She had expected to place at least into Math 240, the next course in the math sequence and a college level, transferable course. “If I wanted to retake the test, I was told I had to wait six more months.” Rather than wait, Yessica took Math 125, passed it, and enrolled in Math 240 the following semester.
Since she could not retest immediately, Yessica took a course she did not need and she was denied the opportunity to advance her math skills and knowledge. This ultimately cost Yessica time and money. It also meant that a student who needed to take Math 125 could not.
Because transfer track students typically transfer to four-year institutions within four to six semesters, and because math courses are taken in an ascending sequence, a transfer track student will take no more than six math courses before transferring out of community college. Yessica laments that she will lose out on the option of taking an advanced math class—such as ordinary differential equations or linear algebra—because she had to take Math 125.
In her second semester Yessica visited a counselor, and he made a two-year transfer plan for her. The counselor advised her to take classes during the winter and summer intersession to make up for the units she lost the first semester. “I did it, and it’s now one of my favorite times to take classes.”
Yessica’s parents now see the importance of higher education. “Their mentality was get a high school degree, and then you can get a job. Now they see that we are in a better place,” Yessica said.
“Despite the challenges and difficulties with enrollment, I still know it is very important for people to go to college because it changes your life.”
Today, Yessica is on track to transfer in 2012, and she will double major in Math and History. Her dream school is the University of California, Los Angeles. She currently serves as a tutor at Bancroft Middle School, teaching math, English, history and science to 7th and 8th graders. Her younger brother is also now a freshman at LACC.
Student Success Indicator
Taking a “student success” course. Research shows that students taking courses that teach good study and life skills, along with helping them develop strategies for reaching their higher education goals and disseminating information about services and resources available to them, have better outcomes.* This classroom-based intervention can reach students like Yessica that may not otherwise seek help and can be more efficient than individual appointments with counselors that do not have the time to sit down with every student.**
SOURCES: *Florida Department of Education (November 2006).
Taking Student Life Skills Course Increases Academic Success. Tallahassee , FL.
**MDRC (February 2010). Can Improved Student Services Community College Student Success?
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The Punisher Season 2, Episode 10: "The Dark Hearts of Men" Review
Men have desires and some are addicted to them.
By M.T. Bates
January 31 2019, 8:10 PM EST
This is the sort of episode The Punisher season 2 needed five episodes ago. Once the crew went back to New York City, the show really kind of dragged. The change of scenery from the first episodes made the show feel fresh, until it got stale once it went back to the city. Thankfully, they let the one man army off the chain and Pilgrim hits a big road bump, which both combined for a premiere episode.
Curtis and Frank stake out Billy’s headquarters to find a weak spot, but our villain is on to them and he uses his element of surprise to strike back. The Curtis and Frank dynamic has been a highlight all season since the character was brought back. Throughout this arc, he faces constant conflict because he can’t figure out what to do, due to the fact that he doesn’t know what is right. It is an inner turmoil that never ends for him.
Madani and Krista have an interesting sit down, with both characters fishing for some inside information that they can use. These scenes are great complements to some of the heavier scenes that go down in this episode. It is this kind of balance that allows it to truly shine.
John Pilgrim has long been a man of mystery in every sense of the phrase and we have never really seen his skills on display. That thankfully changes big time during this episode. The inner demons that wage war within him are let loose in a showing of epic brutality, but his torturous road doesn’t end at bloodshed. It gets real dark real fast.
Frank is a hard man to kill, to the point where it seems like he can’t be killed, but when the smoke from the gun barrel dissipates and all the wounds and broken bones are treated, what hurts him the most is taking the control away from him. He has nothing if he can’t protect those who deserve to be protected.
How much of Frank comes out alive after this battle is dependent on how much he can live with what he thinks he knows. Knowing your enemy is knowing their weak point. Know that, and even the mightiest of giants can be toppled.
The dynamic between Frank and Curtis continues to delight as the show shakes off its earlier doldrums. Each of the characters progressed in their own ways this episode and that balance is what made it so great.
The Not-So-Good
Frank seems almost invulnerable at times, but the true damage being done is to his psyche and not his body.
This was another fantastic episode that's making this season feel like it's headed towards a very strong finish. The stakes are higher than ever and we are no doubt closer to a bloody and epic conclusion.
M.T. Bates
Let it be known to all the spirits, that I am a Capricorn, living in the 10th house, the house of our Lord Black Phillip. Let all the spirits here know, I am the first born son of Black Phillip. Let it be known sons and daughters, that I am an avid horror head, beginning at the tender age of six, a creative yet unmotivated horror writer, and a YouTube Gaming live streamer. Pledge yourselves, and together we can all Live Deliciously & Game. Let it be known brothers and sisters, that I, Bates, also co-host Way of Life (LIVE!) podcast with Ray Morse (Mungus). So, yeah, check that out when you aren’t enjoying the content of Dead Entertainment.
Own a Piece of Marvel History in Upcoming Prop Auction
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Summer 2019, No. 53
As dark as our time is in so many ways, there exists one great ray of hope: that we may finally have reached the end of the line for neoliberal economics, the theories advanced by Milton Friedman and others in the 1960s and 1970s that replaced Keynesianism as the country’s reigning economic philosophy (and that, frustratingly and for some confusingly, have nothing whatsoever to do with liberalism).
The economy is doing very well at the moment, it’s true; but increasingly, recognition that it’s doing especially well for only a few has grown and grown. More and more people have come to see that the market, left to its own devices, does not distribute goods equitably, that lack of public investment hurts our economic position in the world and our communities, and that all the philanthropy in the world can’t address problems like climate change on anywhere near the scale required. We need taxes, investment, and public purpose.
But if we are to replace neoliberalism, we must have an answer to the question: with what? That’s the question this symposium seeks to answer. With the support of the Hewlett Foundation, we assembled a prominent group of contributors who are deeply engaged in finding that answer. Together, these essays describe what this new economics would look like, and the support structures that would be needed to nurture and sustain it. Let’s get to work.
Spring 2019, No. 52
Winter 2019, No. 51
Our friend Nick Hanauer, the Seattle venture capitalist, has established himself in recent years as probably the leading voice among the zillionaire class for a sensible progressive economic policy built not around more tax cuts for him but around more investments in the middle class. In numerous venues, he’s made a strong case against supply-side economics and the view of human nature (that we’re all just greedy self-maximizers) that underpins it.
In this issue, Hanauer argues that to revive labor, the largest employers must be made to lead the way to pay better wages and benefits—and should be penalized when they fail to. It’s exactly the kind of reform package we need to be talking about: big and bold, but also achievable. Democratic presidential wannabes, take note.
We are—we hope—halfway through the Trump era, which inspired our symposium “Halfway Home,” in which we invite a number of contributors, some old friends of the journal and some first-timers, to share their thoughts about where they think things stand, and what our side needs to be doing as we hurtle toward 2020. Things got better on November 6, but there’s still a lot of building to do, and this symposium helps show the way.
We also publish in this issue two important foreign-policy essays. Daniel Shapiro, the former U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Obama, assays President Trump’s attacks on NATO, and insists that it must be defended against Trump’s assaults. And Ganesh Sitaraman argues that it’s not right-wing populism that is the real threat to liberal democracy—it’s nationalist oligarchy. Both are bracing and provocative essays. Also, Didi Kuo issues a bracing call for corporate civic responsibility, and Ian Millhiser lays out the controversial case for changing the Supreme Court.
Few conservative writers have made as interesting and thorough a journey in the Trump age as Max Boot. Suzanne Nossel reviews Boot’s new book and comes away only somewhat convinced. Brentin Mock reaches similar conclusions about DeRay Mckesson, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter. And Jon Shelton reviews a new book about why Wisconsin, with its strong progressive history, moved to the right in recent years—a movement that, happily, was arrested in November.
Fall 2018, No. 50
We open this issue with more entries in the “what Democrats need to do” series. First, we welcome our publisher Bernard Schwartz to our pages, who writes a sharp essay with former Foreign Policy magazine editor David Rothkopf on the needed Democratic priorities heading into this fall’s midterms and especially to 2020. We follow that with an important piece from Jake Sullivan, who was Hillary Clinton’s top policy adviser, discussing lessons from the campaign about what issues and areas the Democrats need to emphasize next time around.
Longtime readers will know that defending the positive contributions of gov- ernment has been a cause of this journal’s for some time. In this vein, we are delighted to publish an adaptation from The Value of Everything, due out this fall from University College of London economist Mariana Mazzucato. She shows how, for centuries, economics has totally failed to measure the true value of wealth created by or with the help of the public sector. Her work should spark a wholesale reassessment in how we measure public value, which in turn would change the way we think about public investment.
Rounding out the feature well are two provocative essays. The first, by James Traub, details the assault—in North Carolina and other states, not to mention Hungary and Poland—by right-wing regimes on the independent judiciary. The second, by Stephen J. Rose and Ruy Teixeira, argues against the standard liberal-left notion that automation is going to take away millions of jobs and posits instead that the real problem of the future will be our failure to prepare enough people to succeed in the high-end economy, which is easily picking up the slack.
The issue features four excellent book reviews. Writer Sarah Jones, whom we welcome to our pages for the first time, digs into the topic of the opioid crisis through a book that describes the bleak situation in her native southwest Virginia. The veteran journalist Joe Klein assays the strange (and often strained) relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and Al Smith. Princeton political theoretician Jan-Werner Müller reviews William Galston’s take on the future of the West. And political scientist Norman Ornstein discusses a lively and original history of polarization by the young historian Samuel Rosenfeld.
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Dream Entertainment
Xodus Jamaica Carnival
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2018 - DESIGNED BY FIGMENT DESIGN
Masicka
Dancehall artiste ‘Masicka’, born Javaun Fearon, is one of Jamaica’s most prolific dancehall artistes today. During his tenure at Calabar High School, he was encouraged to pursue his musical career because of his obvious talents. These have since catapulted him to success and is currently signed to Gennasyde/TMG label which consistently releases songs that never fail to get airtime at parties and events.
You may know him for some of his popular songs that include “Energy”, “They don’t know” and “10 outa 10” but apart from being a music mogul, he Is also a budding business man. He has his hands in a new business venture: an endorsement of a new vodka called “Crysp”. We look forward to more amazing things from this young talent as he set to raise the bar on deck with us in 2019.
Aidonia
Aidonia, born Sheldon Lawrence in the city of Kingston had his first hit in 2004 with the song titled “Lolly” which was followed up with a multitude of singles that would supersede his first hit. Between 2006 and 2009, he had hits such as “Ukku Bit” featured on Dem Time Deh Riddim, “Reload” from the Red Bull & Guinness Riddim, “Wine & Bubble” and “Inna Har” featured on the unforgettable Work Out riddim.
In 2009 the “Bolt Action” Mixtape was released by Federation Sound which featured Aidonia voicing over classic dancehall and hip-hop beats. The DJ’s hot streak did not end in 2010, with another single released from the Equinoxx camp titled “My Heart Is Hers” and “Bad People” of Di Genius’ Bad People Riddim. His witty lyrics and fast deejay flows continue to make rise for his career with huge summer hits such as “Yeah Yeah”, “Hot Tool” and the most recent “Breeze” featuring Govanna. Aidonia’s high energy on stage is un-mistakenly hot like fire and loved by both males and females alike.
Tony Matterhorn
Tony Matterhorn is a veteran Disc Jockey (DJ) and sound system selector turned artist in the Jamaican dancehall scene. He came to prominence in the 90s with King Addies Sound in New York. He’s won multiple sound clash titles over the years inclusive of World Clash 2002 and 2003, Reggae Sumfest Soundclash 2017 and Red Bull Culture Clash 2016. His break through hit as an artist came in 2006 with “Dutty Wine” which peaked at #31 on the Billboard Chart.
After 20+ years in the music industry Tony Matterhorn is still one of the most sought-after DJ’s representing Dancehall and Jamaican culture on the world stage.
Shenseea
21-year-old Pepsi and Campari Ambassador, popularly known as Shenseea quickly catapulted into the spotlight in 2016 after the release of her first single “Jiggle Jiggle” followed up by her huge breakout single “Loodi” which features Vybz Kartel. A past Dream Girl, Shenseea has climbed high on the ladder of success by touring Europe and performing alongside one of Dancehall’s biggest successes, Sean Paul with their song “Rolling”.
In 2017, Shenseea’s popularity continued to rise with making other hits such as “Nothing Dem Nuh Have Ova Mi”, one of her most viewed videos on her Vevo channel with 7.3 Million views. Shenseea started 2018 on a high with the release of another hit “Love I Got for You” and more recently has been featured on international grammy-winning superstar Christina Aguilera’s new critically acclaimed album Liberation, on the Reggae influenced track titled “Right Moves”. Shenseea never disappoints with the ladies who give her full support as they stand attention once she hits the stage.
Jamaica’s veteran entertainer, dubbed The King of The Dancehall will be onboard for the inaugural staging of Dream Weekend Cruise, taking us with him live through the timeline of his legendary dancehall music career. Starting as early as 1994 with hits like “Under Mi Sensi”, “Slam” and “Who Am I”, he then continued to release more dancehall gold throughout the years with releases like “Girl Dem Sugar”, “Hmm Hmm” and several collaborations with international superstars such as “Feel it Boy” and five time grammy winner Janet Jackson, all the way up to 2010 and beyond with newer hits such as “Let’s Go”, “Wine Gal” and “I’m Drinking Rum and Redbull”.
Releasing albums such as Maestro in 1996, which reached as high as number 3 on the US Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums chart, and also releasing his latest LP in 2016 by the name “Unstoppable”, you’re guaranteed a memorable trip to the past and back while aboard the Dream Weekend Cruise with the King of The Dancehall himself – Beenieman!
Currently, one of the most popular entertainers in Jamaica, originally making his name in 2006 with his well-known hit “Badman Forward, Badman Pullup”, he has again taken the dancehall scene by storm with his dance group “The Ravers Clavers” having released their dance hits “Syvah”, “Flairy”, and the internationally acclaimed “Fling Yuh Shoulda”, which are just a few of all the globally practiced dance routines they’ve introduced to the dancehall world.
By creating most of the latest dance moves both locally and abroad, Ding always get the entire crowd on their feet, dancing. Fact: Ding Dong and The Ravers Clavers are sure to bring the authentic energy from the streets on land to the decks on the sea. You’ll be sure to have the ultimate Jamaican dancehall party experience with this group on board.
Family Legal Documents
Should the last names of the parent and minor child traveling with them differ, the parent is required to present the child’s valid passport and visa (if required) and the child’s birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy). The name of the parent(s) and the child must be linked through legal documentation. Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child’s valid passport and visa or the child’s birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child’s parents. The notarized letter from the child’s parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.
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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2018/11/18/womens-hockey-claims-sole-possession-of-second-place-in-ecac/)
Boris Tsang / Sun Assistant Photography Editor
The Women's Hockey team won one and tied one this weekend outlasting Quinnipiac 2-1 and tying Princeton 2-2.
Women’s Hockey Claims Sole Possession of Second Place in ECAC
By Alex Hale | November 18, 2018
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No. 7 women’s hockey improved from its two-tie effort last weekend with only one tie in this weekend’s pair of games. The Red were able to outscore Quinnipiac in the other game, and took sole possession of second place in the ECAC.
The Red returned three players and head coach Doug Derraugh from their stint representing the Canadian national team in the Four Nations’ Cup. They came back at a good time, too, as the Red faced off with two tough conference foes.
On Friday, Cornell (5-1-2, 4-1 ECAC) squeaked out a one-goal victory against ECAC rival Quinnipiac (3-6-3, 3-2 ECAC). The two teams were tied for second place in the ECAC going into the night. Cornell got on the board first with senior Diana Buckley’s goal late in the second period. In the third, the Red’s leading goal scorer junior Kristen O’Neill added to the lead.
The Bobcats responded a minute and a half later with a goal scored by Brooke Bonsteel. Scoring ceased after that, with Cornell holding on with a 2-1 win. Senior goalie Marlène Boissonnault made 22 saves in the victory.
It was a quick turnaround for the Red (5-1-3, 4-1-1 ECAC) as they followed their victory over Quinnipiac with a trip to New Jersey for a showdown with first-place Princeton (5-2-3, 4-0-2 ECAC). Three periods proved not enough to claim a winner, as the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Princeton jumped out to an early lead, scoring two power play goals within the first 10 minutes of the game. The Red’s discipline was off focus on Saturday, as they were called for eight penalties in the game. Those two goals were the end of Princeton’s scoring, however, as Boissonnault stopped the last 21 shots of the game.
The Red’s comeback started with a second period goal by Buckley. Cornell had more opportunities to tie the game, but the Red onslaught was handled by Princeton goalie Rachel McQuiggie. The sophomore stopped 31 shots in the game.
Cornell was able to get the equalizer the third period off the stick of senior Lenka Serdar. The rest of the third was scoreless, bringing the game to overtime. Despite a Cornell power play opportunity and five shots on goal during the extra frame, the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Because of the win against Quinnipiac, Cornell currently sits alone in second place in the conference. They sit one point behind Princeton and one point ahead of St. Lawrence.
The Red are back in action on Friday and Saturday. They travel to Moon Township, Pennsylvania to play a two-game, out-of-conference series against Robert Morris.
About Alex Hale
Alex Hale is a member of the Class of 2021 in the ILR School. He is a staff writer for the news and sports departments and can be reached at ahale@cornellsun.com.
More by Alex
No. 7/7 Women’s Hockey Returns to Lynah Looking to Keep Home Record Perfect
By Faith Fisher and Smita Nalluri November 28, 2018
“These games will feature some of the best players in the NCAA, so I can guarantee it will be a pair of aggressive, fast and fun games.”
‘Good Evening, Hockey Fans’ Episode 4: Right Back At It
By Sports Department November 28, 2018
The men are looking to put a loss to Harvard behind them on the road while the women have a pair of huge matchups at Lynah Rink.
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Dr Robert Bewley
Robert Bewley is Director of the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa project at Oxford University. He left the Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2104, where he had been Director of Operations since May 2007. Prior to this he worked as Regional Director for English Heritage in the South West, and before that as Head of Survey for English Heritage.
Bob holds a UK Private Pilot’s Licence and has long been active in aerial archaeology. He is an Honorary Visiting Professor at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Perth, Western Australia. Bob was a trustee of CA between 2015 and 2018.
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Ian Schneller
Martin Charvát Konektor.biz
part of a series on Robot
Chicago host
Jen Marquez Ginn @jenmarquezginn
In May, Ian Schneller of Specimen walked us through his process creating his one of a kind pieces.
The Chicago chapter of CreativeMornings is organized by Kim Knoll & Kyle Eertmoed of Knoed Creative. Follow along with us at @Chicago_CM!
Video shot by Anica Wu & Emily Kinskey and edited by Ben Derico
Sculptor/luthier Ian Schneller, owner of Specimen Products, has been designing and building custom guitars, tube amplifiers and audio horn speakers for 25 years. Schneller began creating his Specimens while completing a Master’s Degree in Sculpture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. While there he started building instruments including a full-line of aluminum guitars. His work soon expanded to include tube amplifiers and horn speakers.
In 2010 the Sonic Arboretum, a collaborative project between Schneller and composer/violinist Andrew Bird, debuted at Guggenheim Museum in New York. The Sonic Arboretum consists of a “forest” of horn speakers powered by tube amplifiers that serve as a compositional garden for Bird who creates new site-specific compositions for the exhibit. In 2011, the Sonic Arboretum exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art for a month-long installation and two sold-out performances.
Schneller’s work has been featured in Rolling Stone, ELLE, the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Art in America, Chicago Magazine and on PBS, NPR, and Fox TV. His speakers were featured in an Apple iPad commercial and selected by I.D. magazine as one of 2009’s Sharpest New Products. Clients include Andrew Bird, Jack White, Hard Rock Hotels, Franz Ferdinand, Wilco, Instagram, House of Blues, Low, Tortoise, Califone, My Morning Jacket, Rise Against, Death Cab for Cutie.
Schneller is also founder of the Chicago School of Guitar Making where he teaches guitar repair, guitar building, and tube amplifier building. Since opening in 2005, more than 1000 students have been under his tutelage.
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Dr Christopher Wiley co-organizes and presents paper at international conference on women’s suffrage at the University of Surrey
Christopher Wiley Conference, Media, Presentation, Research #Emilymatters, Amy Zigler, arts, BAVS, British Association for Victorian Studies, BVAS, Charlotte Mathieson, Chris Wiley, Christopher Wiley, Elizabeth Crawford, Emily Davison, Emily Wilding Davison, Emmeline Pankhurst, ethel smyth, feminism, feminist musicology, feminist opera, FWSA, gender and sexuality, gender studies, Grasp The Nettle, Jacqueline Mulhallen, Kate Willoughby, literature, Lucy Ella Rose, Lucy Stevens, Lynx Theatre, Lynx Theatre and Poetry, Music, music and literature, musicology, opera, presentation, research, School of Literature and Languages, SLL, suffragette, suffragette movement, Surrey, Sylvia, Sylvia Pankhurst, The Boatswain's Mate, The Feminist and Women’s Studies Association, University, University of Surrey, W.W. Jacobs, Wiley, women's history, women's suffrage 2 Comments
Dr Christopher Wiley served as one of three conference co-chairs for the two-day international conference ‘Centennial Reflections on Women’s Suffrage and the Arts – Local : National : Transnational’ held at the University of Surrey on 29-30 June 2018, together with two colleagues from the University’s School of Literature and Languages, Dr Charlotte Mathieson (pictured with Dr Wiley, right) and Dr Lucy Ella Rose.
The conference incorporated more than 25 papers including Dr Wiley’s own ‘Ethel Smyth, Music, and the Suffragette Movement: Reconsidering The Boatswain’s Mate as Feminist Opera’, which he had previously given at Edge Hill University earlier in the year. The panel on which he spoke, ‘Women’s Suffrage in/and Music’, led to an animated question and answer session (pictured, left).
Dr Wiley also convened and participated in a roundtable discussion (pictured, right) featuring three professional actresses who have recently developed shows on themes of women’s suffrage, Jacqueline Mulhallen (Sylvia, based on Sylvia Pankhurst), Lucy Stevens (Grasp The Nettle, on Ethel Smyth), and Kate Willoughby (#Emilymatters, a social media campaign inspired by Emily Wilding Davison), all of whom performed extracts from their plays as part of the conference.
Finally, Dr Wiley chaired a session on ‘Ethel Smyth, Suffrage, and Transnationality’, drawing on his reputation as an acknowledged expert on the composer, and was privileged to introduce Keynote speaker Elizabeth Crawford (pictured, left), who had been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List earlier in the month for services to education in relation to women’s history.
The event attracted more than 40 delegates (pictured, below), with speakers ranging from University of Surrey academics and postgraduate researchers to museum-based archivists to international scholars from the UK, Continental Europe, and North America representing the disciplines of literature, music, film, and the visual arts.
The conference organizers gratefully acknowledge the support of the School of Literature and Languages at the University of Surrey; The British Association for Victorian Studies; and The Feminist and Women’s Studies Association UK & Ireland.
Further information may be found at the conference website: https://suffragecentennial.wordpress.com/
The full programme, including abstracts, is available here: https://suffragecentennial.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/suffrage-conference-programme-2018.pdf
Update: A news piece on the conference has appeared on the the University of Surrey’s website: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/surreys-centennial-reflection-womens-suffrage-and-arts
Several postgraduate research students have contributed reviews to the conference website: https://suffragecentennial.wordpress.com/reviews/
See also the reviews on the School of Literature and Language’s website: http://blogs.surrey.ac.uk/english/2018/08/02/looking-back-at-centennial-reflections-on-womens-suffrage-and-the-arts-local-national-transnational/
Update: An article co-authored by Dr Wiley and Dr Amy Zigler, entitled ‘The Suffragette Movement and the Music of Ethel Smyth: The String Quartet and The Boatswain’s Mate’, is available on the Exploring Surrey’s Past website: https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/subjects/womens-suffrage/suffrage-biographies/dame-ethel-smyth-composer-and-suffragette/the-suffragette-movement-and-the-music-of-ethel-smyth-the-string-quartet-and-the-boatswains-mate/
Dr Christopher Wiley leads post-show discussion on the suffragette movement at Cranleigh Arts Centre
Christopher Wiley Presentation, Public Output, Research Chris Wiley, Christopher Wiley, Cranleigh, Cranleigh Arts Centre, ethel smyth, Jacqueline Mulhallen, Lynx Theatre, Lynx Theatre and Poetry, Mulhallen, Music, suffrage activity, suffragette, suffragette movement, Surrey, Syliva Pankhurst, Sylvia, University, University of Surrey, Wiley, women's suffrage Leave a comment
Dr Christopher Wiley addressed an audience of theatre-goers on Ethel Smyth as part of a post-show discussion following the one-woman play Sylvia, presented by Lynx Theatre and Poetry at Cranleigh Arts Centre, Surrey on the evening of Friday 26 May 2017.
The main performance, a theatrical production based on Sylvia Pankhurst’s life, activity as a painter, and service to the suffragette movement, was performed by professional actress Jacqueline Mulhallen (pictured, as Pankhurst) having been developed from original research.
After a brief interval, the post-show discussion led with Dr Wiley’s talk on Smyth, following which the audience were able to put questions to Dr Wiley and the creators of Sylvia, and to engage in further general conversation on women’s suffrage.
Internationally acknowledged for his substantial contribution to scholarship on Smyth across the past 15 years, Dr Wiley has more recently acquired a reputation as a local historian, many of the audience members already being familiar with his work on the Surrey-based composer, writer, and suffragette.
Further information about the event is available here: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=CRAN&organ_val=40629&pid=8410211
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NOAA Weather – Cook County
Hike in tobacco-buying age hopes to extinguish youth smoking
By Kevin Beese Staff Reporter — July 9, 2019
Teens are no longer allowed to purchase tobacco products in Illinois. Earlier this month, Illinois became the 11th state to increase its minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21. (Medicalexpress.com photo)
With the age to purchase tobacco products in Illinois now at 21, respiratory health leaders now have a new target: e-cigarettes.
“That is the next frontier in preventing youths from becoming addicted to nicotine,” said Joel Africk, president and CEO of the Respiratory Health Association, a Chicago-based organization that addresses asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, tobacco control and air quality. “We are trying on a number of fronts. We want youths to understand the dangers of e-cigarettes. We want legislators to understand the dangers of e-cigarettes.
“We want to tighten up the laws on how e-cigarettes are sold in Illinois; and we continue to send out the message to the public that e-cigarettes just do not emit harmless water vapor.”
Africk said the nicotine used in e-cigarettes is the same nicotine that gets youths addicted to cigarettes. He said e-cigarettes are not a cigarette-reduction step on the way to quitting as some people have tried to portray them.
“You have to continue or start the process of withdrawal,” Africk said of smoking cessation.
The Respiratory Health CEO said he is “very troubled” by the increase in use of e-cigarettes by young people in recent years.
Africk noted that RHA officials helped persuade Chicago leader to ban flavored tobaccos being sold near schools.
“You don’t have flavors like bubble gum, watermelon and cotton candy designed for adult smokers,” Africk said.
Joel Africk
The RHA CEO said it was a long road to get the minimum age for tobacco purchases in the state to 21, which became law as of July 1, but knew that with perseverance it would occur. Illinois earlier this month became the 11th state to up its minimum age for tobacco purchases to 21.
“We never gave up hope,” he said. “This happens a lot. We experienced it with the smoke-free laws 10 years ago, but with something that make so much sense eventually public health is going to prevail.”
Africk said that with early support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, he was confident that the measure would eventually clear both legislative chambers and get the governor’s signature. He said plenty of lawmakers wanted to know more about the legislation and some wanted to wait until there was a bigger base of support before joining in the effort.
“In the end, it passed by a comfortable margin,” Africk said.
Last year, both legislative chambers passed legislation to increase the age for tobacco purchases to 21, but the measure was vetoed by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner. An override of the veto passed the state Senate, but failed in the state House.
Africk said a number of factors went into getting legislative support for the Tobacco 21 push.
“Certainly, smoking rates have been dropping; and unlike 10 years ago, when there were predictions of doom and gloom from the restaurant industry (about going smoke-free), that never materialized this time around,” Africk said. “Lawmakers were asked to pass a bill that would reduce youth smoking, improve the health of people in the state, save $500,000 in public health expenses a year and not cost the state a penny.”
While upping the minimum purchase age for tobacco by three years may not seem like a lot, Africk said it would definitely have an impact.
“We know that 95 percent of all smokers start before the age of 21,” he said. “It is very rare for someone 21 or older to wake up one day and think ‘I’m going to start smoking.’ We need to do whatever we can to keep people under 21 from smoking.
“Fewer youth smokers mean fewer adult smokers. We are not talking about a small number of people. The first community in Illinois to pass Tobacco 21, Evanston, found youth smoking dropped 30 percent after the law passed.”
He said with all youths now staying non-smokers, it will be more rare for adults to pick up smoking and that can have a big impact on adult smoking rates.
Deborah Brown, chief mission officer of the American Lung Association, said lawmakers again passing the measure and Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing the legislation showed Illinois officials are focused on the health of their constituents.
“With the youth e-cigarette epidemic and the rise of easily concealable, and fruit- and candy-flavored tobacco products, Tobacco 21 is important now more than ever,” Brown said. “This law protects children, reduces smoking rates, saves on health care costs and saves lives. The Lung Association will continue our work in fighting for this law across the nation.”
Regarding the new fad, e-cigarettes, Africk said there is much more Illinois can do to address the issue. He noted that San Francisco recently enacted a law prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes.
“There are a whole variety of things that can be done,” Africk said. “I hope we can stop the increase in e-cigarettes.”
kbeese@chronicleillinois.com
Tagged with: chicago chronicle media Chronicleillinois.com chroniclemedia.com Cook County cookchronicle.com e-cigarettes Illinois over 21 Respiratory Health Association teen smoking tobacco purchases Vaping
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Review: “Mile 22”
By jasonbleau August 22, 2018 August 22, 2018
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There’s good action, there’s basic action, and there’s bad action. Good action is when a film like “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” comes along and ups the ante with incredible editing and choreography and a complex story. Bad action is like the “Transformers” movies that are all explosions, cliches and no real substance. It’s the action films in the middle, the basic action movies, that are a little harder to judge. Director Peter Berg’s “Mile 22” is one of those films. The fourth collaboration between Berg and Mark Wahlberg, it’s the duo’s first film together not based on real life events. Sometimes being a basic action film is enough to make a movie satisfyingly entertaining. Sometimes it’s not even close to enough to justify its existence. Which is it for this attempted franchise starter? Let’s dive in. This is my review of “Mile 22”.
“Mile 22” stars Mark Wahlberg as James Silva, a CIA operative with a personality complex who controls his overactive temper by snapping a wristband. Silva leads a team called Overwatch, a strike force comprised of troubled mother Alice (Lauren Cohan), sarcastic tough woman Sam (Ronda Rousey), and sharpshooter Douglas (Carlo Alban). They are referred to as child 1 through 4 respectively while on missions and are led by a group of behind the scenes experts led by James Bishop (John Malkovich), code name Mother. When the team is charged with locating shipments of a destructive substance called cesium Alice leans on an informant named Li Noor (Iko Uwais) who turns himself into the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia with information of the cesium’s whereabouts that he will only divulge if given safe passage to the United States. Overwatch is activated with the goal of reaching an extraction point 22 miles away with Indonesian Special Forces hot on their tail.
THE ACTING
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, there’s not a lot to praise in “Mile 22” in terms of performances. It’s actually kind of odd because there are two actors who are pretty good while the main star is completely over the top and others just aren’t really there at all. Let’s start at the top with Mark Wahlberg who is a complete camera hog in this movie. Wahlberg plays the team leader James Silva who gets some decent character development even if only in the form of exposition in the opening credits. I do feel like there was potential with this character who is given a nasty disposition via an attitude and temper that he tries to level out using the method of snapping an elastic wristband on his arm which is a controversial real world coping skill used to avoid self harming. The problem is Wahlberg completely overshoots it going over the top in more ways than one during Silva’s emotional outbursts. There’s absolutely NO subtlety whatsoever to Wahlberg’s performance and while it makes him look like a badass it completely under minds his abilities as a leader. How does a man this out of control get a position at the top of his crew? It’s just so out there and not very believable. If the performance had packed a bit more subtlety I might have believed it, but not in this form. Instead it’s just Wahlberg hamming it up and It’s not entertaining, it’s annoying and takes all complexity away from his character.
There are some good performances to note though, specifically Lauren Cohan as Alice and Oki Uwais as Li Noor. Starting with Cohan, her performance isn’t completely there but compared to the rest of the cast it’s not that bad. She’s clearly the only one trying to show some restraint while also embracing the attitude required to do the job. Cohan’s Alice is a tough woman dealing with personal issues that are bleeding into her work life and the impact of these problems show throughout the movie. She’s actually probably the most developed member of the entire team as we see her trying to continue to be the tough warrior she was trained to become while also juggle being a good mother to her daughter. Funny enough it’s her character’s informant that gives us the best performance of the entire movie. Like Cohan, Iko Uwais isn’t exactly top notch in this movie but he takes the entire project to a different level. Uwais provides the intense and layered acting that Wahlberg SHOULD have given us leaving some complexity and mystery to Li Noor even as his personality and intentions begin to unravel throughout the story. Not once in the film does it feel like we or the Overwatch team completely understand him and that’s a good thing especially considering the important part he plays in this film. Uwais is also part of some of the best fight scenes in the film which puts him at the center of the few moments that make “Mile 22” an even remotely watchable action flick.
The rest of the cast just fades into the background. Rondy Rousey is as bland as ever save for one good scene where her character is cornered by assailants the results of which I won’t spoil here. Even John Malkovich, a guy known for chewing the scenery in films, is oddly reserved in this flick. Despite being an action film there’s not a lot of energy from most of the cast save for Wahlberg’s overacting and Uwais balance of mystery and badassness. It truly feels like several people in this cast were brought on board for the sake of having them in an action movie. Few of the characters feel developed or worth the time and when someone dies or is injured it’s hard to get invested because the actors have done nothing to make us care. Looking at the performances overall, I’d say there are a few standout characters but not nearly enough to make “Mile 22” anything worth putting on a resume.
I can’t say “Mile 22” is a complete waste of time. It’s a lot better than many basic action movies with it’s biggest draw coming from the action scenes themselves and there are quite a few of them. I guess Peter Berg should be commended for at least putting some quality action in an action movie. While I have my problems with the camerawork and filming of the action which I’ll touch on later I can’t say I was bored. There’s a lot of great moments spread throughout this hour-and-a-half movie including shootouts, hand to hand combat, thrilling close calls and an incredibly entertaining and surprisingly well shot and choreographed fight within the embassy between Li Noor and a few goons trying to kill him. So, to “Mile 22’s” credit, when the action kicks up it is pretty fun and despite the movie taking a while to get to the point, something else I’ll talk about a bit farther down, there is plenty of it to behold to satisfy anyone’s craving for some good old fashion beat downs and gun fights.
While it’s not in any way perfectly portrayed I also can say there’s potential in “Mile 22’s” premise. We’ve seen the race against time trope before in the action genre and I always find it kind of fun. Seeing capable protectors racing to the finish with the odds against them never seems to get old for me and despite seeing this premise many times over I honestly never felt like I was watching a copycat film while viewing “Mile 22”. For what it is it manages to embrace its own identity, putting its own spin on the cliche even if that spin isn’t handled properly or seen through as effectively as it could have been. Even though I’ll probably never watch it again I can say without a shadow of a doubt that “Mile 22” kept me interested even when I thought it was absolutely stupid, contrived, or poorly acted and directed. That’s saying something I guess because it means that even at its worst “Mile 22” taps into that special something that can’t quite be explained. It satisfies on some level, even if it’s just through basic thrills, which is enough to keep it from being a massively unwatchable movie even if it’s not enough to make it anything close to a good movie.
Even though the action scenes are fun and “Mile 22” doesn’t always feel like a waste of time it’s just SOOOOOO basic it’s not even funny. Other than the Li Noor fight in the embassy the action scenes are all over the place. Whether it’s a shootout on the road or hand to hand combat in an apartment complex it’s near impossible to know where anyone is in relation to each other. The action is as bare bones as could be offering little to nothing we haven’t seen before with better results, again save for the Li Noor embassy fight which I know I keep bringing up but that’s because it’s truly the ONE amazing moment in this movie. It just never reaches anything more than simple popcorn action flick levels of intensity or fun and that’s a sin on the filmmakers and actors for adding nothing new to the genre and giving “Mile 22” very little to help it stand out. The camerawork is basic, the premise is handled with a basic amount of effort, the shootouts are basic, everything is basic with this film. There’s no effort to make it anything special and even when there is that effort it comes in the form of Mark Wahlberg’s overacting and yes a few great moments that are memorable on their own but do nothing to make the FILM itself memorable as an overall product.
Not to mention, and this is my biggest gripe with this movie, it takes FOREVER to start heading towards the 22nd mile. I’ve given this movie props as a fun, if simple and phoned in, action flick but in the end the idea was to get an asset 22 miles to a drop point and it takes more than half the movie to even get the wheels spinning. If it weren’t for some fun action mixed in for spice early on this movie would have felt like a 22-mile jog to the finish line because man does it take a long time to get to the point. The setup for the trek to the extraction point is drawn out, and needlessly so. It’s done that way to set up character arcs that don’t really pay off and to set up the opponents that will stand in Overwatch’s way. The result leaves us with a shortened and unsatisfying waste of the premise because it takes all of maybe 35 to 45 minutes to get from wheels on the ground heading to extraction to the final moments of the film that are meant to set up a sequel “Mile 22” doesn’t actually deserve. It all does come around to a pretty neat twist ending, one everyone will see coming, but the pacing is just all over the place and it doesn’t help that we have Wahlberg’s character engaging in an interview that is interwoven with the action that confused the heck out of me and provided no payoff by the end of it once the film revealed how it tied into everything. It’s just as mess. A fun mess, but a mess nonetheless.
“Mile 22” is basic. That’s the theme of this review really…it’s just a basic action movie. It offers glimmers of greatness like the embassy fight, a cool twist ending, and enough action to satisfy at least the simplest of genre fans. The problem is that’s all it offers. Mark Wahlberg is trying way too hard, no one else is trying hard enough not even the director, and the story takes WAY too long to kick into fifth gear. There’s little creativity put into even trying to make “Mile 22” unique or memorable. It’s just there, and it feels content just being there which is far from enough to make it worth much more than maybe a single watch to satisfy any craving for late summer action. To say I wasn’t impressed would be an understatement but I can’t say I was bored. “Mile 22” has its moments, but that’s all it has is moments. Moments that remind me how much better this film could have been and remind me that there are much better action offering that give me more than the filmmakers involved here were willing to even attempt to offer.
Tags: Mile 22 Review
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Κυριακή, 30 Οκτωβρίου 2016
White Widdow - Silhouette (2016)
Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2008 and centered around the Millis brothers Jules (Vocals) & Xavier (Keyboards) with Guitar virtuoso Enzo Almanzi. Raised on a healthy diet of 80’s Arena Rock and influenced by artists such as Survivor, Dokken, Night Ranger, White Sister & Giuffria.
In 2010 White Widdow stormed onto the Melodic Rock scene across the globe with the release of their self titled debut album, filled with swirling keyboards, blistering guitar playing and big choruses. The release of the debut was met by the press with rave reviews making it into Classic Rock Magazine's top 10 AOR albums for 2010. Hot on the heels of their debut, White Widdow quickly returned with their follow up release “Serenade” in September 2011. "Serenade" was heaped with praise by the press as one of the best albums in the genre of 2011, gaining 9/10 in both Classic Rock and Powerplay magazines and receiving a 94% on the coveted website melodicrock.com.
In support of "Serenade", White Widdow hit the road playing festivals and headlining club shows throughout Europe which saw them tour through Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Greece and England. Along the way performing at HEAT Festival (Germany) and Firefest (UK). This was followed in 2012 with a full tour of the UK as support band to English melodic rock band TEN.
After the unfortunate death of drummer George Kristy in 2013 and the departure of original bass player Trent Wilson, the Millis brothers and Almanzi regrouped with a rejuvenated new line up, featuring Ben Webster on Bass and Noel Tenny on Drums. The new line up released their third album “Crossfire” in late 2014, the album was met with much critical and fan acclaim receiving 8/10 in Classic Rock magazine, 9/10 in Powerplay magazine, 9/10 in Sweden Rock Magazine and 93% from melodicrock.com.
In support of “Crossfire”, White Widdow returned to tour the UK and Greece, as well as performing in Spain for the first time in 2015.
In early 2016 the Millis brothers began writing for what would become White Widdow’s fourth album “Silhouette”, setting out to capture the mid to late 80’s AOR sound, even more so than on previous White Widdow albums. The Millis brothers also teaming up with Almanzi, Tenny and Webster for some slightly more hard edged songs. The resulting album “Silhouete”, proving to be the best representation of the White Widdow sound so far, pure 80’s styled AOR, straight from the heart.
www.whitewiddow.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/whitewiddowaor/?fref=ts
Boneyard Dog - Bluesbound Train (2016)
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Creye - Never Too Late (Single 2016)
Theander Expression - Wonderful Anticipation (2016...
Vasilis Maglaris
Theocracy - Ghost Ship (2016)
The Reticent - On the Eve of a Goodbye (2016)
Enbound - The Blackened Heart (2016)
Defiant - Time Isn't Healing (2016)
Saint Blasphemer - Simon Templar EP (2016)
Nofuture - Mayfair (2016)
Dark Sarah – The Puzzle (2016)
BRUTE FORCZ - EP 2016
Black Dreams - Soul Stealer (Single 2016)
One Man Rock Band - Basket of Deplorables (2016)
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Advances in PCR: Roche innovations
Since the late 1980s, Roche has committed to and invested in developing and improving polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. After acquiring rights to PCR in 1991, Roche scientists have continued to improve the PCR process, making it a standard tool across all biological sciences.
Reverse transcription PCR: RT-PCR
In 1991, the same year that Roche acquired the rights to PCR, Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) is developed using a single enzyme that withstands heat and can make a DNA strand from RNA, facilitating diagnostic tests for RNA viruses. This is helpful in identifying, studying and better understanding retroviruses, infections like HIV, that have RNA instead of DNA in their genomes.
The RT-PCR is completed in two steps: the RT reaction followed by PCR amplification.
Step 1: Using a reverse transcriptase in a tube with the RNA sample, RNA is reverse transcribed into a “complementary” DNA (cDNA) strand. This matches the RNA nucleotides with their corresponding DNA nucleotides, creating a DNA sequence.
Step 2: Using the cDNA, the three step PCR process copies the DNA during multiple cycles of DNA amplification. From there, the DNA may be used in diagnostics and monitoring tests.
In 2003, Roche released the COBAS® TaqMan® Analyzer that supported three COBAS® TaqMan® IVD tests; human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Europe. These were the first PCR tests that allow for amplification and detection and occur at the same time. The process was termed Real-Time PCR.
Using fluorescent probes, the DNA produced in the PCR amplification reaction may be monitored in real time to detect the presence of the viral pathogen. As the amplified pathogen DNA accumulates at every PCR cycle, the amplified DNA segments “light up”, allowing a quantitative detection of the virus. Because PCR and detection could now be completed simultaneously, not sequentially, the time to result is decreased and human interaction with the samples is decreased, lowering the risk of contamination.
In 2007, Roche released the COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan®, the first fully automated Real-Time PCR system. The system, comprised of two instruments, one that completes sample preparation, the other performs the PCR process and detection of the pathogen DNA in real time. This advance further reduces the time needed for detection and diagnosis and reduces the risk of contamination of the sample being tested.
With an ongoing commitment to quality and innovation, Roche will continue to invest, research and improve on PCR technology.
PCR ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Today, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) makes its presence felt in a wide array of applications, from forensic science and matching organ donors to identifying endangered species.
HISTORY OF PCR
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized the field of molecular diagnostics since its conception in 1983. Roche has played a pioneering role from the start.
PCR LICENSING
Discover how PCR products from Roche can enable innovative applications in the field of diagnostics and beyond.
WHAT IS PCR?
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Home » nook (x) » Missouri -- St. Joseph (x)
St. Joseph, Missouri, 1897 February, sheet 42: . ., : . .
St. Joseph, Missouri, February 1897. Streets: Ashland Avenue, N. 26th (Sixth) Street, State, Frederick Avenue, N. 28th (Eighth) Street, Missouri, State Lunatic Asylum
St. Joseph, Missouri, 1911 September, sheet 245: . ., : . .
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Illinois Avenue, Packers Avenue, St. Joseph Stock Yards Co.
St. Joseph, Missouri, February 1897. Streets: Messanie, Locust, Patee, Olive, S. 8th (Eighth) Street, S. 9th (Ninth) Street, S. 10th (Tenth) Street, S. 11th Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Oak, Cedar, Athchison, Bond, Belle, S. 14th (Fourth) Street, S. 15th (Fifth) Street, S. 16th (Sixth) Street, S. 17th (Seventh) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Atchison, Garfield Avenue, S. 11th Street, S. 12th Street, S. 13th Street, S. 14th (Fourth) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Messanie, Mary, Olive, S. 18th (Eighth) Street, S. 19th (Ninth) Street, Warsaw Avenue, S. 20th Street, Patee Avenue, S. 21st (First) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: W. Cherokee, Illinois Avenue, W. Indiana Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, Lake Avenue, Gordon Avenue, The South Street Joseph Town Co's.
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: E. Kansas Avenue, E. Missouri, Avenue, E. Colorado Avenue, Blake, King Hill Avenue, William, Barbara
St. Joseph, Missouri, 1888 July, sheet 05: . ., : . .
St. Joseph, Missouri, July 1888. Streets: W. Auguste, Auguste, W. Pauline, Pauline, W. Franklin, Franklin, W. Michel, Michel, W. Louis, Louis, N. Main, N. 2nd (Second) Street, N. 3rd (Third) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, 1883 August, sheet 11: . ., : . .
St. Joseph, Missouri, August 1883. Streets: Edmond, Charles, Sylvanie, Angelique, Messanie, S. 4th (Fourth) Street, S. 5th (Fifth) Street, S. 6th (Sixth) Street, S. 7th (Seventh) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Olive, Lafayette, Seneca, Penn, Vine, S. 13th Street, S. 14th (Fourth) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Faraon, Jule, Francis, Felix, Edmond, N. 18th (Eighth) Street, S. 18th (Eighth) Street, N. 19th (Ninth) Street, S. 19th (Ninth) Street, N. 20th Street, S. 20th Street, N. 21st (First) Street, S. 21st (First) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: W. Antoine, W. Isadoe, W. Robidoux, W. Faraon, W. Jule, Lady, Prospect Avenue, Water, Dewey Avenue, Main
St. Joseph, Missouri, August 1883. Streets: Patee, Olive, La Fayette, Seneca, S. 9th (Ninth) Street, S. 10th (Tenth) Street, S. 11th Street, Vine
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Maple, Sycamore, Hickory, Walnut, S. 2nd (Second) Street, S. 3rd (Third) Street, S. 4th (Fourth) Street, S. 5th (Fifth) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Nebraska Avenue, E. Kansas Avenue, E. Missouri, Avenue, E. Colorado Avenue, Blake, Barbara, Miami, S. 5th (Fifth) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, February 1897. Streets: Scott, Pacific Avenue, Sycamore, S. 8th (Eighth) Street, S. 9th (Ninth) Street, S. 10th (Tenth) Street, S. 11th Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, July 1888. Streets: Olive, Lafayette, Seneca, S. 4th (Fourth) Street, S. 6th (Sixth) Street, S. 5th (Fifth) Street
St. Joseph, Missouri, August 1883. Streets: Middleton, Albemarle, Rosine, Isabelle, Auguste, N. 3rd (Third) Street, Savannah Avenue, N. 4th (Fourth) Street, Short, N. 5th (Fifth) Street, St. Joseph Avenue
St. Joseph, Missouri, September 1911. Streets: Messanie, Locust, Mary, Patee, Olive, S. 5th (Fifth) Street, S. 6th (Sixth) Street, S. 7th (Seventh) Street
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Admissibility of Digital Evidence
This product cannot be purchased with an active All-Access Pass Subscription
CLE Credits earned: 2 GENERAL (or 2 LAW & LEGAL for WA state)
Electronic evidence is ubiquitous in civil and criminal cases. Rapid changes in technology mean that lawyers must always be prepared to understand how to argue to admit or exclude electronic evidence. The program will address the fundamental evidence rules that apply including newly adopted Fed. R. Evid 902(13) and (14)
This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.
• Rule 104(a) and (b) and the role of the judge
• Rule 401 (relevance)
• Rules 901 and 902 (authenticity)
• Rules 801-807 Hearsay
• Rules 1001-1008 original writing rule
Date / Time: April 16, 2019
• 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Mountain
• 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific
Original Broadcast Date: June 14, 2018
Paul W. Grimm serves as a District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. He was appointed to the Court as a District Judge on December 10, 2012. Previously, he was appointed to the Court as a Magistrate Judge in February 1997 and served as Chief Magistrate Judge from 2006 through 2012. In September 2009, the Chief Justice of the United States appointed Judge Grimm to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Judge Grimm also chaired the Advisory Committee’s Discovery Subcommittee. In these capacities, he participated in drafting proposed changes to the federal rules of civil procedure, including Rule 37(e). Additionally, Judge Grimm is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where he teaches courses on evidence and discovery. Judge Grimm has written extensively on both topics.
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Privacy Policy – Personal information
Purpose of information collection, processing and storage
Conditions of information processing and its transfer to third parties
Definition of personal information
Updating and deleting personal information
Changes to Privacy Policy. Applicable Law
Feedback. Questions and suggestions
This Policy determines the procedure of processing and protection of individuals’ information (hereinafter referred to as “User”) by the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak which can be collected by the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak and provided by the User to receive information and data processing services including through the use of the website used by the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak (hereinafter referred to as “Website”).
The purpose of this Policy is to provide proper protection of personal information provided by the User himself/herself and about himself/herself for using the Website or during registration (while creating an account) for receiving services and a non-exclusive license from unauthorized access and information disclosure.
Relations connected with collection, storage, distribution and protection of information provided by the User are defined by this Policy, other official documents of the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak and the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus.
By signing up for the Website and using the Website and its Services the User agrees to the terms and conditions of this Policy, Public Offer Agreement and User Agreement.
In case the User does not agree to the terms and conditions of this Policy he/she must immediately stop using the Website.
Purposes of information collection, processing and storage
Personal information of the User is processed in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus. The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak processes personal information of the User for the purposes as follows: identification of the party within agreements and contracts entered into with the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak; the provision of services, a non-exclusive license and an access to the Website for the User; communication with the User, one-time sending of transaction e-mails after registration on the Website or the receipt of payment from the User if the User performs these actions, sending notifications and requests to the User; sending advertisement and/or information messages to the User; statistical or other studies on the basis of anonymised information.
Conditions of data processing and its transfer to third parties
The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak takes all the necessary measures to protect personal data of the User from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure or distraction.
The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak provides access to personal data of the User only to those employees and contractors who need to know that information in order to provide the operation of the Website, Website Services, other Services and the receipt of a non-exclusive license by the User.
The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak has the right to use the information provided by the User including personal data for the purposes of compliance with the requirements of the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus (including prevention and (or) suppression of unlawful and (or) wrongful acts of the Users). The information provided by the User can be disclosed only in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus by order of the court, law-enforcement authorities, and in other cases under the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.
The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak does not verify the information provided by the User and believes that the responsible User provides accurate and sufficient information, takes care of timely update of the previously provided information if necessary.
By using the website the User confirms that he/she: has all the necessary rights allowing him/her to register (create an account) and use the services of the website; provides accurate information about himself/herself sufficient for using the services of the website (the required fields for further provision of the services of the website are marked with an asterisk, the rest of the fields are filled in by the User at his/her discretion), understands that information on the Website, provided by the User about himself/herself can become available to third parties not mentioned in this Policy and can be copied and distributed by them; is aware of this Policy, agrees to it and assumes rights and obligations stipulated in this Policy.
Awareness of the terms and conditions of this Policy and registration on the website is a written consent of the User to collection, storage, processing and transfer of personal data provided by the User to third parties.
The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak does not verify provided (collected) information about the Users except cases when this verification is required to perform the obligations to the User.
What is meant by “personal information of the User”?
Data provided by the User him/herself while using the Website including but not limited to name, surname, gender, cellphone number and/or e-mail address, marital status, the date of birth, home town, relatives, home address, education, occupation.
Data which are automatically transferred to the Website while using them with the help of software installed on the User’s device, including IP-address, cookie information, browser information (or any other programme with the help of which the User gets access to the Services), access time, the requested web page address.
The User can change (update, add) information or its part provided by him/her any time, and confidentiality settings using the editing function of personal data in the personal section. The User has to take care of timely changes to the previously provided information, its update, otherwise the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak does not bear responsibility for non-receipt of notifications, services, etc.
The User has a right to delete personal information provided by him/her in the corresponding account. In this case deletion of the account can cause the inability to use the Website.
The private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak has the right to introduce changes to this Privacy Policy. In the event of changes to this Policy the date of the latest revision is stipulated in the up-to-date revision. Up-to-date revision of the Policy comes into effect as of the date of its posting unless otherwise provided by the up-to-date revision of the Policy. Up-to-date revision is always available at the following URL https://en.lililove.me/privacy/
The law of the Republic of Belarus governs this Policy and the relations between the User and the private entrepreneur N.V.Podoliak arising out of the application of Privacy Policy.
All suggestions and questions concerning this Policy should be directed to the technical support of the private entrepreneur N.V. Podoliak to an e-mail address d@lililove.me, reported over the phone +375 29 773-67-57 (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) or sent by post to the following address: 127/165 Nezavisimosty prospekt, Minsk, BELARUS, 220125.
Privacy Policy – Personal information was last modified: January 15th, 2017 by dimabuko
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Anti-abortion movement
(Redirected from Anti-abortion movements)
"Pro-life" redirects here. For the right to life as a concept, see Right to life.
Anti-abortion movements, also referred to as pro-life movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in response to the legalization of elective abortions.
Abortion is defined as the termination of a human pregnancy accompanied by the death of the embryo or fetus.[1]
Movements by country
Main article: Abortion law
Each Life Matters demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on 17 October 2009
In Europe, abortion law varies by country, and has been legalized through parliamentary acts in some countries, and constitutionally banned (or heavily restricted) in others. In Western Europe this has had the effect at once of both more closely regulating the use of abortion, and at the same time mediating and reducing the impact anti-abortion campaigns have had on the law.[2]
Main article: Abortion in France
The first specifically anti-abortion organization in France, Laissez-les-vivre-SOS futures mères, was created in 1971 during the debate that was to lead to the Veil Law in 1975. Its main spokesman was the geneticist Jérôme Lejeune. Since 2005, the French anti-abortion movement has organized an annual March for Life.[3]
The 1920 abortion laws of France have not been entirely repealed leading to ambiguity in the nation's policies.[4] By 1975, Simone Veil, the minister for health, introduced legislation that specifically in cases of distress “tolerated” abortion up to ten weeks.[5] Abortions after this date are only cleared by the government if the pregnancy endangers the health of the woman or will result in the birth of a child with a severe and incurable disease.[5] After twelve weeks, abortion, except for “therapeutic abortion, under the terms of Article 317 of the Criminal Code, is a crime, punishable by 6 months to 10 years in prison, a fine of between 1800 and 250,000 Francs, and loss of professional license.”[5]
Catholics and right-wing political groups continue to protest abortion. The Front National, an extreme right-wing anti-immigration party led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, has attempted to decrease to funding of abortions unsuccessfully even though they have around 10% of the French electorate.[4]
Main article: Abortion in the Republic of Ireland
There are several major anti-abortion groups in the Republic of Ireland, Pro Life Campaign, Youth Defence and Iona Institute. Despite the 1967 Abortion Act which was a significant landmark for women in the UK, it did not apply to Northern Ireland. These women either had to travel to the mainland to receive medication or face criminal charges for purchasing abortion pills illegally.[6]
Main article: abortion in Liechtenstein
In Liechtenstein, an application to legalize abortions was rejected by a slim majority in a referendum in 2011. The opponents, which included Prince Alois, got 500 votes more and eventually settled at 52.3 percent compared with 47.7 percent.[7]
Prince Alois had announced the use of his veto in advance if necessary to prevent the introduction of abortion.[8]
Main article: abortion in Spain
This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (January 2019)
This section needs attention from an expert in Spain. The specific problem is: Section is very outdated. WikiProject Spain may be able to help recruit an expert. (January 2019)
In Spain, over one million demonstrators took part in a march in Madrid in October 2009 to protest plans by the government of José Luis Zapatero to legalize elective abortions and eliminate parental consent restrictions.[9]
In 2010 1,067,315 Spaniards signed a petition against the liberal abortion policy of the government. The petition was launched by the organizations "Derecho a vivir" (right to life) and "Hazteoir" (make yourself heard).[10]
Main article: abortion in Ukraine
Gift of Life is a medical and anti-abortion charity in Ukraine.[11]
Main article: abortion in the United Kingdom
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019)
In the United Kingdom, the most prominent anti-abortion organization is the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. It was formed to "uphold the principle of respect for human life, in particular the life of the unborn child" at the time of the passage of the 1967 Abortion Act which liberalized abortion law. The group campaigns against abortion, often using questionable claims,[12] and supports protests at pregnancy clinics.[13] The Anti-Abortion Act of 1967 had significant effect in Britain (excluding Northern Ireland). Rather than overturning the existing law, the act states that if at least two doctors deemed the reasons for abortion in alignment with the Act, it could legally be performed. This still meant that the punishment for women who obtained abortions contrary to the act were faced with potential life imprisonment. Doctors too could be prosecuted if they were found administering abortions without reasonable cause.[6] To this day, there are many clinics in the UK that anti-abortion activists routinely stand outside; their goal being to discourage the women entering from having their abortions. This is through two processes known as “prayer vigils” which are sometimes whispered quietly and other times said aloud to actively dissuade, and “pavement counseling” where activists approach entering women to persuade them to continue with their pregnancies. This is a practice held in low regard by women who seek abortions and the organisations providing the service as it has been known to cause anxiety and distress.[6]
Main article: Efrat (organization)
The examples and perspective in this section may not include all significant viewpoints. Please improve the article or discuss the issue. (January 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
In Israel, the major anti-abortion organization is Efrat.[14] Efrat activists primarily raise funds to relieve the "financial and social pressures" on pregnant women so that they will not terminate their pregnancies. However, this activity is only carried out in the Jewish sector in Israeli society, as Efrat officially views abortion among Jews as a demographic threat to the Jewish people.[15]
Main article: United States anti-abortion movement
The United States anti-abortion movement formed as a response to the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court decisions, with many anti-abortion organizations having emerged since then. There is also a smaller consistent life ethic movement, favoring a philosophy which opposes all forms of killing, including abortion, war, euthanasia, and capital punishment.
The current movement is in part a continuation of previous debates on abortion that led to the practice being banned in all states in the late 19th century. The initial movement was led by physicians, but also included politicians and feminists. Among physicians, advances in medical knowledge played a significant role in influencing anti-abortion opinion. Quickening, which had previously been thought to be the point at which the soul entered a human was discovered to be a relatively unimportant step in fetal development, causing them to rethink their position of early term abortions.[16] Ideologically, the Hippocratic Oath and the medical mentality of that age to defend the value of human life as an absolute also played a significant role in molding opinions about abortion.[16]
Meanwhile, feminists tended to regard abortion as an undesirable necessity forced upon women by thoughtless men.[17] The "free love" wing of the feminist movement refused to advocate abortion and treated the practice as an example of the hideous extremes to which modern marriage was driving women.[18] Marital rape and the seduction of unmarried women were societal ills which feminists believed caused the need to abort, as men did not respect women's right to abstinence.[18]
Due to the conservative prime minister, Canada has kept the debate of abortion on hold. Since the 1980s, at least forty-three private member bills that are against abortion have been sent to the House of Commons yet none of them have been passed.[4] In the studies done the anti-abortion laws in Canada, numerous factors show the differences between the past views of anti-abortion and current arguments. Canadian anti-abortion discourse increasingly “(a) focuses beyond legislative change for its objectives; (b) is adopting a “pro-women” tone; (c) avoids public appeals to relation to ground its position; and (d) employs new explicit arguments (the abortion-harms-women argument) and revises older ones (the older fetal-centric argument) in ways that change to perspective towards more modern, and pro-women views than the prior.”[19]
There have been two national anti-abortion March for Life rallies that have gathered over 10,000 protesters at Parliament Hill.[19] At these protests, thousands gathered in attempts to create enough commotion to enact change. In addition to the national protests, anti-abortionists still protest abortion clinics across the nation in attempts to stop abortions from continuing.[19]
This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (January 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
In Australia, the anti-abortion movement is represented by a number of organizations including Cherish Life, Right to Life Australia, and Australian Christian Lobby. These organizations undertake various campaigning actions including political campaign fundraising.[20]
Main article: Abortion in Chile
The Chilean movement is called Siempre por la Vida.[21]
Main article: Abortion in South Africa
In South Africa there is an anti-abortion organization called Pro-Life Generation.[22][third-party source needed]
Main article: Abortion in Australia
In Australia, the anti-abortion movement is represented by a number of organizations including Cherish Life, Right to Life Australia, and Australian Christian Lobby. These organizations undertake various campaigning actions including political campaign fundraising.
When considering the anti-abortion laws of Australia, it is important to look with an international lens as a large portion of Australian law is derived from the British law.[23] Until 1967, British law states that “an induced abortion is unlawful in all situations save the (probable) exception of situations where it is necessary to save the life of the mother.”[24] Australia partook of this law until Britain changed it in 1967 towards a more liberal standpoint.[24]
About twenty-two per thousand women aged between fifteen and forty-four have an abortion each year which causes great unrest with the anti-abortionists of Australia.[23] Throughout Australia, specifically in Victoria and Queensland, numerous anti-abortions lobbying and protesting took place. In Brisbane in 1985, the police raided an abortion clinic and successfully took the records of the women being treated there.[24] With this breach of privacy, many gathered in attempt to gain political support to end the raids. Within the government there is also said to be seen a loosely banded group of pro-life politicians that attempted to deny government rebates for terminations but was denied due to its need of clarification.[24]
Main article: Abortion in Russia
Abortion is legal in Russia as an elective procedure up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and in special circumstances at later stages.[25] The abortion issue gained renewed attention in 2011 in a debate that The New York Times says "has begun to sound like the debate in the United States".[26] Parliament passed and President Dmitri Medvedev signed several restrictions on abortion into law to combat "a falling birthrate" and "plunging population".[26] The restrictions include requiring abortion providers to devote 10% of advertising costs to describing the dangers of abortion to a woman's health and make it illegal to describe abortion as a safe medical procedure. Medvedev's wife Svetlana Medvedeva has taken up the pro-life cause in Russia in a weeklong national campaign against abortion called "Give Me Life!" and a "Day of Family, Love and Faithfulness" by her Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives in conjunction with the Russian Orthodox Church.[26]
Anti-abortion violence
Crisis pregnancy center
Fetal rights
Forced abortion
Mildred Fay Jefferson (founder of National Right to Life PAC)
History of abortion law debate
Pregnancy from rape § Opposition to legal abortion
Unplanned (movie based on Abby Johnson’s book about her experience being a planned parenthood's clinic director and becoming a leader for the anti-abortion movement.)[27]
180 (2011 American film)
^ "Definition of ABORTION". www.merriam-webster.com.
^ Outshoorn, Joyce (1996). "The stability of compromise: Abortion politics in Western Europe". In Marianne Givens; Dorothy M. Stetson (eds.). Abortion politics: public policy in cross-cultural perspective. Routledge. p. 161. ...parliamentary decision are sustained by political parties which, in comparison to the United States, are deeply rooted in European society. The political parties have managed to regulate and pacify the political reform process, which in the decision-making stage marginalized opposition outside parliament.
^ "Thousands take part in Paris anti-abortion march". Euronews. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
^ a b c "Abortion Debate". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 299 (6703): 814–816. 1989. ISSN 0959-8138. JSTOR 29705487.
^ a b c Gaudry, D.; Sadan, G. (1989). "France: late abortion". Planned Parenthood in Europe = Planning Familial en Europe. 18 (1): 6–8. ISSN 1017-8538. PMID 12315825.
^ a b c Low, Pam; Page, Sarah-Jane (May 2018). "Anti-Abortion Activism in Britain".
^ "In Liechtenstein bleiben Abtreibungen verboten". Focus. 2011-09-18. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
^ "Radikal für das Leben!, 08 September 2012". Zukunft CH. 2012-09-28. Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
^ "Agence France Presse, 17 October 2009". 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
^ "Spanien: Mehr als eine Million unterschreiben gegen Abtreibung, 23 February 2010". Blaue Narzisse. 2010-02-23. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-17.
^ "Gift of Life website". us.giftoflife.org. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 2 Feb 2019.
^ Vasagar, Jeevan; editor, education (2012-03-23). "Revealed: what children are being told about abortion". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
^ Quinn, Ben (2012-03-13). "Anti-abortion activism escalating, warns clinic targeted by vigil". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
^ "Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life". Friendsofefrat.org. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
^ "How Efrat Saves Lives". Friendsofefrat.org. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
^ a b James C. Mohr (1978). Abortion in America: The Origins and Evolution of National Policy. Oxford University Press/. pp. 35–36.
^ Mohr, James C. (1978). Abortion in America: The Origins and Evolution of National Policy. Oxford University Press. p. 110.
^ a b James C. Mohr (1978). Abortion in America: The Origins and Evolution of National Policy. Oxford University Press/. p. 112.
^ a b c Saurette, Paul; Gordon, Kelly (2013). "Arguing Abortion: The New Anti-Abortion Discourse in Canada". Canadian Journal of Political Science / Revue canadienne de science politique. 46 (1): 157–185. doi:10.1017/S0008423913000176. ISSN 0008-4239. JSTOR 43298127.
^ Allan, Lyle (November 30, 2010). "Margaret Tighe. The most powerful woman in Victoria". Tasmanian Times. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018.
^ "Bachelet to Redact Chile's Abortion Prohibition before End of 2014". PanAm Post. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
^ "ProLife Generation". ProLife Generation
^ a b NW, 1615 L. St; Washington, Suite 800; Inquiries, DC 20036 USA202-419-4300 | Main202-419-4349 | Fax202-419-4372 | Media (2008-09-30). "Abortion Laws Around the World | Pew Research Center". Retrieved 2019-04-17.
^ a b c d Warhurst, John; Merrill, Vance (1982). "The Abortion Issue in Australia: Pressure Politics and Policy". The Australian Quarterly. 54 (2): 119–135. doi:10.2307/20635163. ISSN 0005-0091. JSTOR 20635163.
^ ‹See Tfd›(in Russian) Федеральный закон Российской Федерации от 21 ноября 2011 г. N 323-ФЗ
^ a b c Sophia Kishkovsky, July 15, 2011 Nytimes.com Russia Enacts Law Opposing Abortion
^ Unplanned Movie, Unplanned Official Trailer – In Theaters March 29, retrieved 2019-02-04
List of international anti-abortion organizations
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Freeland, Washington
Freeland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. At the time of the 2010 census the population was 2,045.[3] The town received its name based on its origins as a socialist commune in the early 1900s: in the eyes of its founders, the land of the town was literally to be free for all people. Some of the first settlers were veterans of a prior experiment in socialism, the nearby Equality Colony.[4]
Census-designated place
Location of Freeland, Washington
Coordinates: 48°0′56″N 122°32′1″W / 48.01556°N 122.53361°W / 48.01556; -122.53361Coordinates: 48°0′56″N 122°32′1″W / 48.01556°N 122.53361°W / 48.01556; -122.53361
3.9 sq mi (10.1 km2)
115 ft (35 m)
527/sq mi (203.4/km2)
UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
UTC-7 (PDT)
Telephone exchanges
Some Equality Colony dissidents, led by George Washington Daniels, incorporated the Free Land Association in 1900 and established the colony on land they purchased through James P. Gleason of the Fidelity Trust company. Members purchased dividend-paying shares in the association store fund and the machinery fund. The association store operated according to Rochdale Principles, and shares in the store were sold to non-residents as well as association members. Because members could pay for their land with dividends from their shares, the founders considered the land to be "free". By 1902, however, the colony announced that new settlers would have to purchase land outright, as the idealistic land-financing plan based on share dividends had not worked.[5]
Daniels platted five-acre tracts with wide streets to form the original townsite. Additional plats were added over the next several years.[5]
Freeland considered itself a cooperative profit-sharing association and rejected the rigid communal structure of other colonies on the island. They described themselves to the Whidby Islander as "simply a settlement of socialists co-operating on semi-capitalistic principles."[5]
During its early years, Freeland had no local school, sending its children three miles across the island to Useless Bay. The lack of roads contributed to the isolation of the colony, although Daniels' son-in-law, John H. Prather, purchased several boats to provide freight and passenger service between Freeland and Everett, the nearest town on the mainland.[5]
Freeland is located on the southern part of Whidbey Island at 48°0′56″N 122°32′1″W / 48.01556°N 122.53361°W / 48.01556; -122.53361 (48.015556, -122.533622).[6] The community sits on a mile-wide isthmus between the south end of Holmes Harbor, a 6-mile-long (9.7 km) inlet of Saratoga Passage, and Mutiny Bay on Admiralty Inlet. It is located on the 48th parallel north.
Washington State Route 525 passes through Freeland, leading east 9 miles (14 km) to Clinton and northwest 12 miles (19 km) to SR 20 at Keystone. Oak Harbor is 28 miles (45 km) north of Freeland via SR 525 and SR 20.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Freeland CDP has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km2), all of it land.[3]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,313 people, 561 households, and 379 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 390.4 people per square mile (150.9/km2). There were 664 housing units at an average density of 197.4/sq mi (76.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.36% White, 0.46% African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.67% of the population.
There were 561 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the CDP, the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,409, and the median income for a family was $47,212. Males had a median income of $39,205 versus $22,708 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,848. About 10.1% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Outdoor recreationEdit
Double Bluff Beach and State Park is a popular site on the south side of Whidbey Island, 2 miles (3 km) south of Freeland. The beach offers of shellfish harvesting and at times total solitude along the shores of Useless Bay and Admiralty Inlet to the north of the Puget Sound.
South Whidbey Island State Park, 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Freeland, provides beach access and forested trails through a mixture of second growth and old growth timber.
Freeland Park on Holmes Harbor on the north side of town has beach access, boat ramp, boat moorage, picnic tables, children's playground, and an annual Third of July fireworks celebration.
Holmes Harbor Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 64, public golf course with views of Holmes Harbor.[7]
^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ "Freeland". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Freeland CDP, Washington". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
^ Charles Pierce LeWarne, Utopias on Puget Sound, 1885–1915, Seattle, University of Washington State Press, 1975; pp. 114-28.
^ a b c d LeWarne, Charles Pierce (1995) [1975]. Utopias on Puget Sound 1885-1915. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-97444-3.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
^ http://www.golfadvisor.com/courses/13273-holmes-harbor-golf-club/
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Limited-recognition state on the Island of Cyprus
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)
Anthem: İstiklal Marşı
Independence March
Recognised only by Turkey
and largest city
North Nicosia
35°11′N 33°22′E / 35.183°N 33.367°E / 35.183; 33.367
Turkish Cypriot
Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President
Mustafa Akıncı
• Prime Minister
Ersin Tatar
Independence from the Republic of Cyprus
• Proclaimed
15 November 1983[1]
3,355 km2 (1,295 sq mi) (unranked)
• Water (%)
• 2017 estimate
• 2011 census
93/km2 (240.9/sq mi) (117th)
GDP (nominal)
2017 estimate
$3.685 billion[2]
• Per capita
$12,702[2]
EET (UTC+2)[3]
UTC+3 (EEST)
Driving side
Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs), officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC; Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. Recognised only by Turkey, Northern Cyprus is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus.
Northern Cyprus extends from the tip of the Karpass Peninsula in the northeast to Morphou Bay, Cape Kormakitis and its westernmost point, the Kokkina exclave in the west. Its southernmost point is the village of Louroujina. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital of both sides.
A coup d'état in 1974, performed as part of an attempt to annexe the island to Greece, prompted the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. This resulted in the eviction of much of the north's Greek Cypriot population, the flight of Turkish Cypriots from the south, and the partitioning of the island, leading to a unilateral declaration of independence by the north in 1983. Due to its lack of recognition, Northern Cyprus is heavily dependent on Turkey for economic, political and military support.[4][5][6]
Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus. While its presence is supported and approved by the TRNC government, the Republic of Cyprus, the European Union as a whole, and the international community regard it as an occupation force, and its presence has been denounced in several United Nations Security Council resolutions.[7]
Northern Cyprus is a semi-presidential, democratic republic with a cultural heritage incorporating various influences and an economy that is dominated by the services sector. The economy has seen growth through the 2000s and 2010s, with the GNP per capita more than tripling in the 2000s, but is held back by an international embargo due to the official closure of the ports in Northern Cyprus by the Republic of Cyprus. The official language is Turkish, with a distinct local dialect being spoken. The vast majority of the population consists of Sunni Muslims, while religious attitudes are mostly moderate and secular.[8] Northern Cyprus is an observer of the OIC and ECO, and has observer status in the PACE under the title "Turkish Cypriot Community".
1.1 1960–1974
1.3 1983–present
2 Administrative divisions
3.1 Human rights and law
3.2 International status and foreign relations
3.3 Military
4.1 Biodiversity
4.2 Climate
5.1 Tourism
5.2 Infrastructure
6 Demographics
7.1 Music and dance
7.2 Literature
7.3 Cinema
7.4 Theatre
7.5 Sports
7.6 Cuisine
See also: Ottoman Cyprus and Modern history of Cyprus
See also: Cypriot intercommunal violence
Fazıl Küçük, former Turkish Cypriot leader and former Vice-President of Cyprus
Sarayönü Square of North Nicosia in 1969, after the division of the city
A united Cyprus gained independence from British rule in August 1960, after both Greek and Turkish Cypriots agreed to abandon their respective plans for enosis (union with Greece) and taksim (Turkish for "partition"). The agreement involved Cyprus being governed under a constitution which apportioned Cabinet posts, parliamentary seats and civil service jobs on an agreed ratio between the two communities. Within three years, tensions began to show between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in administrative affairs. In particular, disputes over separate municipalities and taxation created a deadlock in government. In 1963 President Makarios proposed unilateral changes to the constitution, via 13 amendments. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots rejected the proposed amendments, claiming that this was an attempt to settle constitutional disputes in favour of the Greek Cypriots[9] and to demote Turkish status from co-founders of the state to one of minority status, removing their constitutional safeguards in the process. Turkish Cypriots filed a lawsuit against the 13 amendments in the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus (SCCC). Makarios announced that he would not comply with the decision of the SCCC, whatever it was,[10] and defended his amendments as being necessary "to resolve constitutional deadlocks" as opposed to the stance of the SCCC.[11]
On 25 April 1963, the SCCC decided that Makarios's 13 amendments were illegal. The Cyprus Supreme Court's ruling found that Makarios had violated the constitution by failing to fully implement its measures and that Turkish Cypriots had not been allowed to return to their positions in government without first accepting the proposed constitutional amendments.[12] On 21 May, the president of the SCCC resigned due to Makarios's stance. On 15 July, Makarios ignored the decision of the SCCC.[13] After the resignation of the president of the SCCC, the SCCC ceased to exist. The Supreme Court of Cyprus (SCC) was formed by merging the SCCC and the High Court of Cyprus, and undertook the jurisdiction and powers of the SCCC and HCC.[14] On 30 November, Makarios legalised the 13 proposals. In 1963, the Greek Cypriot wing of the government created the Akritas plan which outlined a policy that would remove Turkish Cypriots from the government and ultimately lead to union with Greece. The plan stated that if the Turkish Cypriots objected then they should be "violently subjugated before foreign powers could intervene".[15]
On 21 December 1963, shots were fired at a Turkish Cypriot crowd that had gathered as the Greek police patrol stopped two Turkish Cypriots, claiming to ask for identification; two Turkish Cypriots were killed.[16] Almost immediately, intercommunal violence broke out with a major Greek Cypriot paramilitary attack upon Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia and Larnaca. Though the TMT—a Turkish resistance group created in 1959 to promote a policy of taksim (division or partition of Cyprus), in opposition to the Greek Cypriot nationalist group EOKA and its advocacy of enosis (union of Cyprus with Greece)—committed a number of acts of retaliation, historian of the Cyprus conflict Keith Kyle noted that "there is no doubt that the main victims of the numerous incidents that took place during the next few months were Turks".[9] Seven hundred Turkish hostages, including children, were taken from the northern suburbs of Nicosia. Nikos Sampson, a nationalist and future coup leader, led a group of Greek Cypriot irregulars into the mixed suburb of Omorphita/Küçük Kaymaklı and attacked the Turkish Cypriot population.[17] By the end of 1964, 364 Turkish Cypriots and 174 Greek Cypriots had been killed.[18]
Turkish Cypriot members of the government had by now withdrawn, creating an essentially Greek Cypriot administration in control of all institutions of the state. After the partnership government collapsed, the Greek Cypriot led administration was recognised as the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus at the stage of the debates in New York in February 1964.[19] In September 1964, the then United Nations Secretary General, U Thant reported that "UNFICYP carried out a detailed survey of all damage to properties throughout the island during the disturbances; it shows that in 109 villages, most of them Turkish-Cypriot or mixed villages, 527 houses have been destroyed while 2,000 others have suffered damage from looting".[20] Widespread looting of Turkish Cypriot villages prompted 20,000 refugees to retreat into armed enclaves, where they remained for the next 11 years,[21] relying on food and medical supplies from Turkey to survive. Turkish Cypriots formed paramilitary groups to defend the enclaves, leading to a gradual division of the island's communities into two hostile camps. The violence had also seen thousands of Turkish Cypriots attempt to escape the violence by emigrating to Britain, Australia and Turkey.[22] On 28 December 1967, the Turkish Cypriot Provisional Administration was founded.[23]
Main articles: 1974 Cypriot coup d'état, Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and Turkish Federated State of Cyprus
Rauf Denktaş, founder and former President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
On 6 July 1974, Makarios accused the Greek government of turning the Cypriot National Guard into an army of occupation.[24] On 15 July 1974, the Greek military junta and the Cypriot National Guard backed a Greek Cypriot military coup d'état in Cyprus. Pro-Enosis Nikos Sampson replaced President Makarios as the new president.[25] The Greek Cypriot coupists proclaimed the establishment of the "Hellenic Republic of Cyprus".[26][27] Turkey claimed that under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, the coup was sufficient reason for military action to protect the Turkish Cypriot populace, and thus Turkey invaded Cyprus on 20 July. Turkish forces proceeded to take over the northern four-elevenths of the island (about 36% of Cyprus's total area). The coup caused a civil war filled with ethnic violence, after which it collapsed and Makarios returned to power.[citation needed]
On 2 August 1975, in the negotiations in Vienna, a population exchange agreement was signed between community leaders Rauf Denktaş and Glafcos Clerides under the auspices of United Nations.[28][29] On the basis of the Agreement, 196,000 Greek Cypriots living in the north were exchanged for 42,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the south[30] (the number of settlers was disputed[31]). The Orthodox Greek Cypriots in Rizokarpaso, Agios Andronikos and Agia Triada chose to stay in their villages,[32] as did also Catholic Maronites in Asomatos, Karpasia and Kormakitis. Approximately 1,500 Greek Cypriots and 500 Turkish Cypriots remain missing.[33] The invasion led to the formation of the first sovereign administrative body of Northern Cyprus in August 1974, the Autonomous Turkish Cypriot Administration.
In 1975, the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (Kıbrıs Türk Federe Devleti) was declared as a first step towards a future federated Cypriot state, but was rejected by the Republic of Cyprus and the United Nations.
After eight years of failed negotiations with the leadership of the Greek Cypriot community,[citation needed] the north unilaterally declared its independence on 15 November 1983 under the name of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.[1] This was rejected by the UN and the Republic of Cyprus.
Atatürk Square, North Nicosia in 2006, with the Northern Cyprus and Turkish flags.
In recent years, the politics of reunification has dominated the island's affairs. The European Union decided in 2000 to accept Cyprus as a member, even if it was divided. This was due to their view of Rauf Denktaş, the pro-independence Turkish Cypriot President, as the main stumbling block, but also due to Greece threatening to block eastern EU expansion. It was hoped that Cyprus's planned accession into the European Union would act as a catalyst towards a settlement. In the time leading up to Cyprus becoming a member, a new government was elected in Turkey and Rauf Denktaş lost political power in Cyprus. In 2004, a United Nations–brokered peace settlement was presented in a referendum to both sides.[34] The proposed settlement was opposed by both the president of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, and Turkish Cypriot president Rauf Denktaş; in the referendum, while 65% of Turkish Cypriots accepted the proposal, 76% of Greek Cypriots rejected it. As a result, Cyprus entered the European Union divided, with the effects of membership suspended for Northern Cyprus.[34]
Denktaş resigned in the wake of the vote, ushering in the pro-settlement Mehmet Ali Talat as his successor. However, the pro-settlement side and Mehmet Ali Talat lost momentum due to the ongoing embargo and isolation,[35] despite promises from the European Union that these would be eased.[36] As a result, the Turkish Cypriot electorate became frustrated. This led ultimately to the pro-independence side winning the general elections in 2009 and its candidate, former Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu, winning the presidential elections in 2010. Although Eroğlu and his National Unity Party favours the independence of Northern Cyprus rather than reunification with the Republic of Cyprus, he is negotiating with the Greek Cypriot side towards a settlement for reunification.[37]
In 2011, Turkish Cypriots protested against economic reforms made by the Northern Cyprus and Turkish governments; see 2011 Turkish Cypriot demonstrations.
Main article: Districts of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is divided into six districts: Lefkoşa, Gazimağusa, Girne, Güzelyurt, İskele and Lefke. Lefke District was established by separation from the Güzelyurt District in 2016.[38] In addition there are further twelve sub-districts divided between the five larger districts and twenty-eight municipalities.
Lefkoşa
Gazimağusa
Main article: Politics of Northern Cyprus
Mustafa Akıncı, the President of Northern Cyprus
The politics of Northern Cyprus takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the Prime Minister head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of the Republic. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
The president is elected for a five-year term and is currently Mustafa Akıncı. The current Prime Minister is Ersin Tatar. The legislature is the Assembly of the Republic, which has 50 members elected by proportional representation from six electoral districts. In the elections of January 2018, the right-wing National Unity Party won the most seats in the Assembly, and the current government is a coalition of the National Unity Party and the centrist People's Party.[39]
Due to Northern Cyprus' isolation and heavy reliance on Turkish support, Turkey has a high level of influence over the country's politics. This has led to some experts characterising it as an effective puppet state of Turkey.[40][41][42] Other experts, however, have pointed out to the independent nature of elections and appointments in Northern Cyprus and disputes between the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish governments, concluding that "puppet state" is not an accurate description for Northern Cyprus.[43][44]
Human rights and law
Main article: Human rights in Northern Cyprus
The law courts building in North Nicosia
In January 2011, The Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of Human Rights in Cyprus noted that the ongoing division of Cyprus continues to affect human rights throughout the island "... including freedom of movement, human rights pertaining to the question of missing persons, discrimination, the right to life, freedom of religion, and economic, social and cultural rights."[45]
Freedom House has classified the perceived level of democratic and political freedom in Northern Cyprus as "free" since 2000 in its Freedom in the World report.[46][47] The 2016 ranking was "free" with the scores (1: most free, 7: least free) political rights: 2/7, civil liberties: 2/7 and aggregate score: 79/100.[48] Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index ranked Northern Cyprus 76th among 180 countries in 2015.[49]
The Greek Cypriot and Maronite communities, numbering 343 and 118 respectively as of 2014, are denied the right to vote in presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections or run for office. Maronites do elect the leader of their village, whilst Greek Cypriots have two appointed leaders, one by the Turkish Cypriot government and the other by the Republic of Cyprus.[50][51]
World Happiness Report 2016 of United Nations' Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) ranked Northern Cyprus 62nd among 157 countries.[52] Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index of 2014 ranked Northern Cyprus 49th among 145 countries.[53]
Northern Cyprus received 153 asylum applications during 2011–14 according to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).[54]
International status and foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Northern Cyprus
London office of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bedford Square.
Mustafa Akıncı with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, 2 October 2015
No nation other than Turkey[40][55][56][57] has officially recognised Northern Cyprus as a sovereign state. The United Nations recognises it as territory of the Republic of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.[58][59][60] Pakistan and Bangladesh had initially declared their recognition of Northern Cyprus as a sovereign state shortly after its declaration of independence,[61] but they withdrew their recognition as a result of US pressure after the UN deemed the declaration illegal.[62] The United Nations considers the declaration of independence by Northern Cyprus as legally invalid, as enunciated in several of its resolutions.[58][63]
In the wake of the April 2004 referendum on the United Nations Annan Plan, and in view of the support of the Turkish Cypriot community for the plan, the European Union made pledges towards ending the isolation of Northern Cyprus. These included measures for trade and 259 million euro in aid.[citation needed] A pledge by the EU to lift the embargo on Northern Cyprus in the wake of the Annan Plan referendums has been blocked by the Greek Cypriot government.[34]
In 2004, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation upgraded the delegation of the Turkish Cypriot Muslim community from "observer community" (1979) to that of a constituent state with the designation "Turkish Cypriot State", making Northern Cyprus an observer member of the organisation.[64] A number of high-profile formal meetings have also taken place between Turkish Cypriot presidents and various foreign leaders and politicians.
In 2004, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe gave observer status to the representatives of Turkish Cypriot community.[65] Since then, Northern Cyprus's representatives have actively participated in all PACE activities without voting rights.
The European Union considers the area not under effective control of the Republic of Cyprus as EU territory under Turkish military occupation and thus indefinitely exempt from EU legislation until a settlement has been found. The status of Northern Cyprus has become a recurrent issue especially during the recent talks for Turkey's membership of the EU where the division of the island is seen as a major stumbling block in Turkey's road to membership.[66][67]
The Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan in Azerbaijan has issued a resolution recognising the independence of Northern Cyprus. As a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, however, Azerbaijan itself has not recognised North Cyprus.[68]
Turkish Cypriots have been applying for decades for passports issued by Cyprus. When the entry points with the Republic of Cyprus were closed, the applications were made either through middlemen or through consulates and embassies of Cyprus in other countries. A yearly increase in the number of applications for such passports of 10–15% was observed in years prior to 2001, when the rate greatly increased and 817 were issued in the first eight months of 2001 as compared to 448 for the whole of 2000. After the opening of the borders with the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots started line-ups applying for Cypriot passports by visiting the Republic of Cyprus and showing proof of their Cypriot ancestry.[69]
There are seven border crossings between Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.[70] Since May 2004 some tourists have taken to flying to the Republic of Cyprus directly then crossing the green line to holiday in Northern Cyprus.[71][needs update]
On 21 September 2011, Turkey and Northern Cyprus signed an EEZ border agreement in New York.[72][73]
In October 2012, Northern Cyprus became an observer member of the Economic Cooperation Organization under the name "Turkish Cypriot State".
Main article: Military of Northern Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot soldiers of the Security Forces Command perform during a Republic Day parade.
The Security Forces Command consists of an 8,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40.[citation needed] There is also an additional reserve force which consists of about 10,000 first-line and 16,000 second-line troops conscripted up to the age of 50. The Security Forces Command is lightly armed and heavily dependent on its mainland Turkish allies, from which it draws much of its officer corps.[74] It is led by a Brigadier General drawn from the Turkish Army. It acts essentially as a gendarmerie charged with protection of the border of Northern Cyprus from Greek Cypriot incursions and maintaining internal security within Northern Cyprus.[75]
In addition, the mainland Turkish Armed Forces maintains the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force which consists of around 30,000–40,000 troops drawn from the 9th Turkish Army Corps and comprising two divisions, the 28th and 39th. It is equipped with a substantial number of US-made M48 Patton main battle tanks and artillery weapons. The Turkish Air Force, Turkish Navy and Turkish Coast Guard also have a presence in Northern Cyprus. Although formally part of Turkish 4th Army, headquartered in İzmir, the sensitivities of the Cyprus situation means that the commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force also reports directly to the Turkish General Staff in Ankara. The Cyprus Turkish Peace Force is deployed principally along the Green Line and in locations where hostile amphibious landings might take place.[75]
The presence of the mainland Turkish military in Cyprus is highly controversial, having been denounced as an occupation force by the Republic of Cyprus and the international community. Several United Nations Security Council resolutions have called on the Turkish forces to withdraw.[7] Economic research has found that military expenditure in Northern Cyprus has a statistically significant impact on economic growth.[76]
Main articles: Geography of Cyprus and Climate of Cyprus
Panoramic view of the Güzelyurt District, and Morphou Bay as seen from the Troodos mountains.
Northern Cyprus has an area of 3,355 square kilometres (1,295 sq mi), which amounts to around a third of the island. 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the north of Northern Cyprus lies Turkey with Syria lying 97 kilometres (60.3 mi) to the east. It lies between latitudes 34° and 36° N, and longitudes 32° and 35° E.
The coastline of Northern Cyprus features two bays: the Morphou Bay and the Famagusta Bay, and there are four capes: Cape Apostolos Andreas, Cape Kormakitis, Cape Zeytin and Cape Kasa, with Cape Apostolos Andreas being the endpoint of the Karpaz Peninsula. The narrow Kyrenia mountain range lies along the northern coastline, and the highest point in Northern Cyprus, Mount Selvili, lies in this mountain range with an altitude of 1,024 metres (3,360 ft).[77] The Mesaoria plain, extending from the Güzelyurt district to the eastern coastline is another defining landscape. The Mesaoria plains consist of plain fields and small hills, and is crossed by several seasonal streams. The eastern part of the plain is used for dry agriculture, such as the cultivation of wheat and barley, and are therefore predominantly green in the winter and spring, while it turns yellow and brown in the summer.[78]
56.7% of the land in Northern Cyprus is agriculturally viable.[79]
Wild Cyprus donkeys inhabit the mainly remote northern region of the İskele District.
A relatively unspoiled part of the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot, Northern Cyprus has considerable ecological diversity, containing a variety of terrestrial habitats.[80] Its flora includes around 1900 plant species, of which 19 are endemic to Northern Cyprus.[81] Even in the urban areas, there is a lot of diversity: a study conducted on the banks of the Pedieos river around Nicosia found more than 750 different plant species.[82] Among these species are 30 of the orchid species that are endemic to Cyprus.[81] An endangered species that is the subject of folk tales and myths is the sea daffodil, found on the sandy beaches and endangered due to the disruption of their habitats.[83]
The medoş tulip (Tulipa cypria) is a notable species that is endemic to Northern Cyprus; it is only found in the villages of Tepebaşı/Diorios and Avtepe/Ayios Simeon, and is celebrated with an annual festival.[84]
In the national park in the Karpaz Peninsula around Cape Apostolos Andreas, there is a population of around 1,000 wild Cyprus donkeys. These donkeys, under the protection of the Turkish Cypriot government, are free to wander in herds over an area of 300 square kilometres (120 square miles)[85] The donkeys have earned a strong image for the peninsula, which is also home to a rich fauna and relatively big forests.[86] The beaches of Northern Cyprus also include sites where hundreds of loggerhead turtles and green turtles lay eggs, which hatch at the end of the summer, followed by observers.[84]
Beach near Mehmetcik, İskele District
The winter in Northern Cyprus is cool and rainy, particularly between December and February, with 60% of annual rainfall.[87] These rains produce winter torrents that fill most of the rivers, which typically dry up as the year progresses. Snow has been known to fall on the Kyrenia Range, but seldom elsewhere in spite of low night temperatures. The short spring is characterised by unstable weather, occasional heavy storms and the "meltem", or westerly wind. Summer is hot and dry enough to turn low-lying lands on the island brown. Parts of the island experience the "Poyraz", a north-westerly wind, or the sirocco, a wind from Africa, which is dry and dusty. Summer is followed by a short, turbulent autumn.
Climate conditions on the island vary by geographical factors. The Mesaoria Plain, cut off from the summer breezes and from much of the humidity of the sea, may reach temperature peaks of 40 to 45 °C (104 to 113 °F). Humidity rises at the Karpaz Peninsula. Humidity and water temperature, 16 to 28 °C (61 to 82 °F), combine to stabilise coastal weather, which does not experience inland extremes. The Southern Range blocks air currents that bring rain and atmospheric humidity from the south-west, diminishing both on its eastern side.
Main article: Economy of Northern Cyprus
Kyrenia (Girne) is one of the main tourist resorts in Northern Cyprus. Tourism is one of the dominant sectors of the Northern Cyprus' economy.
The economy of Northern Cyprus is dominated by the services sector (69% of GDP in 2007) which includes the public sector, trade, tourism and education. The revenues gained by the education sector in 2011 was $400 million.[88] Industry (light manufacturing) contributes 22% of GDP and agriculture 9%.[89] The economy of Northern Cyprus is based on a free market approach[90] and it became the top country in Europe in entrepreneurial intent to start a new business in 2014.[91]
Economic development is adversely affected by the continuing Cyprus problem. Northern Cyprus is under an international embargo as the Republic of Cyprus, as the internationally recognised authority, has declared airports and ports in the area not under its effective control closed. All UN member states other than Turkey respect the closure of those ports and airports.[92] As a result, Northern Cyprus is heavily dependent on Turkish economic support,[93] and is still dependent on monetary transfers from the Turkish government.[89]
Northern Cyprus uses the Turkish Lira as its currency which links its economy to that of Turkey's. Since the Republic of Cyprus joined the Euro zone and the movement of peoples between the north and south has become more free, the Euro is also in wide circulation.[citation needed] Exports and imports have to go via Turkey;[94] while European Union promised an opening up of the ports after the Annan plan, this was blocked by the Republic of Cyprus and exporting through the south, while technically possible, remains impractical.[95]
Despite the constraints imposed by the lack of international recognition, the nominal GDP growth rates of the economy in 2001–2005 were 5.4%, 6.9%, 11.4%, 15.4% and 10.6%, respectively.[96][97] The real GDP growth rate in 2007 was estimated at 2%.[89] This growth has been buoyed by the relative stability of the Turkish Lira and a boom in the education and construction sectors. Between 2002 and 2007, Gross National Product per capita more than tripled, from US$4,409 in 2002 to US$16,158 (in current U.S. dollars).[98] The growth continued through the 2010s, with real growth rates of 3.7%, 3.9%, 1.8% and 1.1% respectively in 2010–2013.[99] The unemployment rate declined through the 2010s and was at 8.3% in 2014.[100]
In 2011, North Cyprus sold electricity to the Republic of Cyprus following an explosion in the southern part of the island which affected a large power station.[101] The Northern Cyprus Water Supply Project, completed in 2015, is aimed at delivering water for drinking and irrigation from southern Turkey via a pipeline under the Mediterranean Sea.[102]
International telephone calls are routed via a Turkish dialling code (+90 392) as Northern Cyprus has neither its own country code nor official ITU prefix.[citation needed] Similarly with the internet Northern Cyprus has no top level domain of its own and is under the Turkish second-level domain .nc.tr. Items of mail must be addressed 'via Mersin 10, TURKEY' as the Universal Postal Union does not recognise Northern Cyprus as a separate entity.[103][104] Amateur radio operators sometimes use callsigns beginning with "1B", but these have no standing for awards or other operating credit.
Main article: Tourism in Northern Cyprus
Panoramic view of the Kyrenia Harbour, with the Venetian-era Kyrenia Castle on the far left, and the Kyrenia Mountains in the background
Tourism is considered as one of the driving sectors of the Turkish Cypriot economy. The country received over 1.1 million tourists in 2012,[105] when hotels and restaurants generated an income of $328 million[106] and constituted 8.5% of the GDP.[107] Accommodation and catering created more than 10,000 jobs in the same year.[108] The tourism sector has seen great development in the 2000s and 2010s, with the number of tourists more than doubling, increased investment and hotel construction; official estimates of income derived from tourism were around 700 million US dollars in 2013 and the total bed capacity was estimated to be around 20,000.[109]
Casino tourism is one of the major sectors of the North Cyprus economy.
Kyrenia is considered the capital of tourism in Northern Cyprus, with its numerous hotels, entertainment facilities, vibrant nightlife and shopping areas.[110] In 2012, 62.7% of the visitors in Northern Cyprus stayed in the Girne District during their visit.[105] Out of the 145 hotels in Northern Cyprus, 99 were in the Girne District in 2013.[109]
Northern Cyprus has traditionally been an attraction for beach holidays, partly thanks to its reputation as an unspoiled area. Its mild climate, rich history and nature are seen as sources of attraction. A significant sector of eco-tourism has been developed in Northern Cyprus, as tourists visit it for bird watching, cycling, walking and observing flowers in the wild. It is praised for its relative safety, and especially for the Karpass Peninsula, its well-preservation.[111] The peninsula is home to several sorts of tourism: it hosts the Bafra Tourism Area as a center for beach-goers, where four luxurious and large hotels were built until 2014, several facilities and regular festivals that highlight its rural qualities and exhibit local traditions, a remote natural park, the Kantara Castle attracting sightseers, and a marina that was built to host international yachts and boats, along with large facilities.[112]
Casino tourism has also grown to become a significant contribution to the economy in Northern Cyprus. They were first opened in the 1990s, and have since become very popular with visitors from Turkey and the rest of the island, where casinos are banned. This has led to huge investments in the casino sector.[113] However, the sector has been criticised due to claims of its lack of benefits for the small and middle-scale business and shop owners.[114] The "nightclubs" that have been established for prostitution attract sex tourism to Northern Cyprus and the industry has been described as a "civilized one", despite the sex workers being described as "vulnerable to abuse".[115][116]
The Ercan International Airport serves as the main port of entry into Northern Cyprus.
The share of the transport and communications industry in the GDP of Northern Cyprus is constantly varying; it decreased from 12.1% in 2008 to 8.5% in 2011, but rose again to 9.3% in 2012.[106]
Air transport is a major route of entry into Northern Cyprus. The country is home to two airports, the Ercan International Airport and the Geçitkale Airport, of which only Ercan is currently functioning.[117] The Ercan airport saw an important renovation in the 2010s that greatly increased its passenger traffic, it was used by 1.76 million passengers in the first seven months of 2014 alone.[118] Non-stop flights are only available from multiple points in Turkey through a number of Turkish carriers.[119] Direct scheduled and charter flights take place from other countries, but with mandatory stopovers in Turkey. 600 charter flights were scheduled for 2013. Scheduled destinations include cities such as London and Manchester,[120] while charter flight destinations include cities such as Berlin[121] and Ljubljana.[122]
Direct flights to Northern Cyprus and the trade traffic through the Northern Cypriot ports are restricted as part of the embargo on Northern Cypriot ports.[123] The airports of Geçitkale and Ercan are only recognised as legal ports of entry by Turkey and Azerbaijan.[124] Direct charter flights between Poland and North Cyprus started on 20 June 2011.[125] The seaports in Famagusta and Kyrenia have been declared closed to all shipping by the Republic of Cyprus since 1974.[126] By agreement between Northern Cyprus and Syria, there was a ship tour between Famagusta and Latakia, Syria before the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War. Since the opening of the Green Line Turkish Cypriot residents are allowed to trade through Greek Cypriot ports.[127]
With the lack of a railway system, the country's highways are used for transport between major cities. In the 21st century, these highways were upgraded into dual carriageways, with some roads in the Karpass area still being upgraded as of 2015[update]. Northern Cyprus has around 7,000 kilometres (4,300 miles) of roads, with two thirds of these roads paved.[117] Recent constructions included the construction of a Northern Coast Highway, which was hailed as a major incentive for economic development.[128]
Ethnic groups of Northern Cyprus (2006 census)[129]
Turks (99.2%)
Greeks (0.2%)
English (0.2%)
Maronites (0.1%)
See also: Demographics of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots, and Mainland Turks in Northern Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot children in the walled part of North Nicosia
Northern Cyprus's first official census was performed in 1996. The population recorded was 200,587.[130] The second census, carried out in 2006, revealed the population of Northern Cyprus to be 265,100,[131] of which majority is composed of indigenous Turkish Cypriots (including refugees from Southern Cyprus) and settlers from Turkey. Of the 178,000 Turkish Cypriot citizens, 82% are native Cypriots (145,000). Of the 45,000 people born to non-Cypriot parentage, nearly 40% (17,000) were born in Cyprus. The figure for non-citizens, including students, guest workers and temporary residents stood at 78,000 people.[131][132]
The third official census of Northern Cyprus was carried out in 2011, made under the auspices of UN observers. It returned a total population of 294,906.[133] These results were disputed by some political parties, labour unions and local newspapers. The government was accused of deliberately under-counting the population, after apparently giving an estimate of 700,000 before the census, in order to demand financial help from Turkey.[134][135][136] One source claims that the population in the north has reached 500,000,[137] split between 50% Turkish Cypriots and 50% Turkish settlers or Cypriot-born children of such settlers.[138] Researcher Mete Hatay has written that such reports are "wildly speculative" and are picked up by opposition parties for political benefit, which resulted in reports in the south. Such reports have never been scientifically or statistically scrutinised, despite opportunities of opposition parties to do so using the electoral rolls in their possession, thereby continuing a "war of numbers".[139]
The Government of Northern Cyprus estimates that the 1983 population of Northern Cyprus was 155,521.[140] Estimates by the government of the Republic of Cyprus from 2001 place the population at 200,000, of which 80–89,000 are Turkish Cypriots and 109,000–117,000 are designated as Turkish settlers by the Republic of Cyprus.[141] An island-wide census in 1960 indicated the number of Turkish Cypriots as 102,000 and Greek Cypriots as 450,000.[142] As of 2005[update], the settlers constituted no more than 25% of the electorate in Northern Cyprus. The degree of the integration of mainland Turks to the Turkish Cypriot community varies; some identify as Turkish Cypriots and have culturally integrated, while some embrace a Turkish identity.[143]
Northern Cyprus is almost entirely Turkish-speaking. English, however, is widely spoken as a second language.[citation needed]
There are 644 Greek Cypriots living in Rizokarpaso (Dipkarpaz) and 364 Maronites in Kormakitis.[144] 162,000[145] Greek Cypriots were forcibly evicted from their homes in the North by the invading force of the Turkish army.[146][147][148] Rizokarpaso is the home of the biggest Greek-speaking population in the north. The Greek-Cypriot inhabitants are still supplied by the UN, and Greek-Cypriot products are consequently available in some shops.[citation needed]
Largest cities or towns in Northern Cyprus
TRNC 2011 Population and Housing Census
Famagusta 1 North Nicosia Lefkoşa 61,378
Morphou
2 Famagusta Gazimağusa 40,920
3 Kyrenia Girne 33,207
4 Morphou Güzelyurt 18,946
5 Gönyeli Lefkoşa 17,277
6 Kythrea Lefkoşa 11,895
7 Lefka Güzelyurt 11,091
8 Dikomo Girne 9,120
9 Trikomo İskele 7,906
10 Lapithos Girne 7,839
Northern Cyprus Religions[149]
Main article: Religion in Cyprus
Further information: Islam in Cyprus
Arab Ahmet Mosque in North Nicosia
The majority of Turkish Cypriots (99%) are Sunni Muslims.[149] Northern Cyprus is a secular state.[150] Alcohol is frequently consumed within the community and most Turkish Cypriot women do not cover their heads; however headscarves are still worn on occasion by public figures as a symbol of the inhabitants' Turkish culture, or simply as a conservative form of dress.[149] However, some religious traditions still play a role within the community. Turkish Cypriot males are generally circumcised in accordance with religious beliefs.[151]
Main article: Education in Northern Cyprus
Girne American University in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus
The education system in Northern Cyprus consists of pre-school education, primary education, secondary education and higher education. Five years of primary education is mandatory.
Higher Education Planning Evaluation Accreditation and Coordination Council (YÖDAK) of Northern Cyprus is a member of International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).[152]
In 2013 there were 63,765 university students from 114 countries in nine universities in Northern Cyprus. In 2014, the number of students increased to 70,004, (15,210 Turkish Cypriots; 36,148 from Turkey; 18,646 international students):[153][154][155] Near East University (NEU),[156][157] Girne American University, Middle East Technical University-TRNC, European University of Lefke, Cyprus International University, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Istanbul Technical University-TRNC, University of Mediterranean Karpasia, and University of Kyrenia, all established since 1974. EMU is an internationally recognised institution of higher learning with more than 1000 faculty members from 35 countries. There are 15,000 students in EMU representing 68 nationalities. The 8 universities have been approved by the Higher Education Council of Turkey. Eastern Mediterranean University and Near East University[156][157] are full individual members of the European University Association.[158] EMU is a full member of the Community of Mediterranean Universities, Federation Universities of Islamic World, International Association of Universities and International Council of Graphic Design Associations,[159] and was ranked as the best university in the island and among the top 500 in Europe by Webometrics.[160] Girne American University, in the northern coastal city of Kyrenia, opened a campus in Canterbury, United Kingdom in 2009,[161] and was accredited by the British Accreditation Council in 2010.[162]
Northern Cyprus regularly participates in international Robocup competition, and took 14th place out of 20 in 2013.[163][164] The country has supercomputers with which it participates in CERN experiments that led to the discovery of the Higgs boson.[165] Northern Cyprus is among participant countries of Solar Challenge of solar powered vehicles in South Africa in 2014.[166]
Main article: Culture of Northern Cyprus
Ziynet Sali is a Turkish Cypriot pop singer famous in Turkey and Northern Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot children, dressed in traditional clothing, preparing for a folk-dance show
See also: Turkish Cypriot folk dances
Turkish Cypriot folk music consists of a rich variety of local tunes, influenced by the mainland Turkish music to a limited extent. Historically, it was shaped around the tradition of weddings, the primary social gatherings at the time. Violin, goblet drum, known locally as "darbuka", zurna and other drums were heavily used in these gatherings, and a large number of traditional songs developed based on this legacy.[167][168] Turkish Cypriot culture also incorporates a great diversity of folk dances with various influences, including different versions of karsilamas, çiftetelli and zeybek.
The Northern Cyprus State Symphony Orchestra has been active since 1975. The Bellapais Abbey in Kyrenia hosts international festivals of classical music, and is considered in important platform of classical music.[167] North Nicosia has its own Nicosia Municipal Orchestra that performs at open spaces, such as parks and squares, and is also home to the annual Walled City Jazz Festival.[169] Rüya Taner is a Turkish Cypriot pianist who has achieved international acclaim.
Turkish Cypriot cities and towns regularly organise festivals that include performances of local and international singers and bands.[167] Some Turkish Cypriot singers, such as Ziynet Sali and Işın Karaca, have achieved fame in Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot band Sıla 4 produced music that is considered essential for the Turkish Cypriot identity, and also acquired fame in Turkey.[170] Rock and pop music are popular with the public in Northern Cyprus, important singers and bands include SOS, the newly formed Gara Limon and Fikri Karayel.[171][172]
Poetry is the most widely published form of literature in Northern Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot poetry is based on both the effects of Turkish literature and the culture of the island of Cyprus, along with some reflection of the British colonial history.[173]
The first era of Turkish Cypriot poetry after the introduction of the Latin alphabet, characterised by poets such as Nazif Süleyman Ebeoğlu, Urkiye Mine Balman, Engin Gönül, Necla Salih Suphi and Pembe Marmara, had strong nationalistic elements due to the political attitudes of Turkish Cypriots at the time and stylistically reflected the poetry of the Turkish mainland. Meanwhile, other poets, such as Özker Yaşın, Osman Türkay, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature twice,[174] and Nevzat Yalçın sought to write in more original styles, with the influence of nascent poetic styles in Turkey and those in Britain. This group of poets were very prolific and increased the popularity of poetry in the Turkish Cypriot community, and are seen as key figures in Turkish Cypriot literature.[173]
The nationalism gave way to a notion of Cypriotness in the 1970s, with the influence of Yaşın, Türkay and Yalçın. During this period, the so-called "1974 generation of poets" arose, led by poets including Mehmet Yaşın, Hakkı Yücel, Nice Denizoğlu, Neşe Yaşın, Ayşen Dağlı and Canan Sümer. The poetry of this generation was characterised by the appreciation of the Turkish Cypriot identity as distinct from Turkish identity and the identification of Cyprus as the Turkish Cypriot homeland instead of Turkey, in contrast to the previous nationalist poetry. This approach is often called the "Cypriot poetry of rejection" as it resists the influence of Turkey, highlighting the cultural rift between Turkey and Cyprus due to the recent experience of war and therefore the independence of the Turkish Cypriot poetry and identity. This was followed by an increased adoption of the Mediterranean identity in the 1980s, accompanied by the effects of the liberalisation of the Turkish Cypriot society, as reflected in the feminist elements, of which a particular example is Neriman Cahit.[173][175][176]
Anahtar (Key), released in 2011, was the first full-length film entirely produced in Northern Cyprus.[177] Some other co-productions have also taken place. A co-production of Northern Cyprus, Turkey, Britain and the Netherlands, Kod Adı Venüs[178] (Code Name Venus) was shown in the Cannes Film Festival in 2012.[179] The film director and screenwriter Derviş Zaim achieved fame with his 2003 film Mud (Çamur) which won the UNESCO award at the Venice Film Festival.
The documentary film Kayıp Otobüs (The Missing Bus), directed by Turkish Cypriot journalist Fevzi Tașpınar, was aired on the TRT TV as well as participating in the Boston Film Festival in 2011. The film tells the story of eleven Turkish Cypriot workers who left their homes in a bus in 1964 that never came back. Their remains were found in a well in Cyprus in October 2006.[180][181]
Karagöz and Hacivat
An early Turkish Cypriot theatre group, 1880s
Theatre in Northern Cyprus is mostly carried out by the Turkish Cypriot State Theatre, municipal theatres and a number of private theatrical companies. Cyprus Theatre Festival, organised by the Nicosia Turkish Municipality is a large organisation with institutions from Turkey participating as well. There are no major halls built specifically for theatre in Northern Cyprus, so plays often take place in conference halls.[182][183]
The origins of Turkish Cypriot theatre lie in Karagöz and Hacivat, a shadow play that was popularised in the island as a form of entertainment during the Ottoman era. This form of theatre has lost its popularity nowadays, but remains to be televised during religious festivals.[184] After the 1840s, as the Ottoman Empire started modernising, theatre with greater European elements met with the Turkish Cypriot public. However, the inception of Turkish Cypriot theatre in the modern sense is considered the staging of the play "Vatan Yahut Silistre" ("Homeland vs. Silistra") by Turkish playwright Namık Kemal in 1908.[185] This was followed by a proliferation of theatrical activity in the Turkish Cypriot community as local plays were written and staged and theatrical companies from Turkey took the stage in Cyprus by the 1920s, all the major towns in Cyprus had Turkish Cypriot plays that were performed regularly.[184][185]
In the 1960s, Turkish Cypriot theatre started to be institutionalised. A leading theatre group named "İlk Sahne" (First Stage), founded in 1963, was renamed the Turkish Cypriot State Theatre in 1966, and has since performed more than 85 plays.[184][186] Theatre is currently a very popular form of art in Northern Cyprus, with long queues forming for tickets of the plays in the Cyprus Theatre Festival, and the number of theatre-goers constantly increasing.[187]
Main article: Sport in Northern Cyprus
Nicosia Atatürk Stadium is the largest stadium in Northern Cyprus.
There are five stadiums in Northern Cyprus, with each holding a capacity ranging anywhere from 7,000 to 30,000. The most popular sport in Northern Cyprus is football. There are over 29 sport federations in Northern Cyprus with a total registered membership of 13,950 6,054 been registered practitioners for, taekwondo-karate-aikido-kurash, with shooting having (1,150 registered) and hunting having (1,017 registered) members.[188] Northern Cyprus' national football team currently ranks 109th in the Elo Ratings.[189] Several of sport clubs participate in leagues in Turkey. These include the Fast Break Sport Club in Turkey's Men's Basketball Regional League; the Beşparmak Sport Club in Turkey's Handball Premier League; and the Lefke European University Turkey Table-tennis Super League. Water sports such as windsurfing, jetskiing, waterskiing and sailing are also available at beaches throughout the coastline of Northern Cyprus. Sailing is especially found at Escape Beach Club, near Kyrenia.
Northern Cyprus is also well known for several dishes; among them are kebabs made of skewered lamb Şiş Kebab or ground with herbs and spices and made into a Kofte or Şeftali Kebab. Other dishes are based on meat wrapped in flat bread such as Lahmacun. Vegetarian cuisine includes stuffed vegetable based dishes Yalancı Dolma or many other dishes made with a bean or pulse such as Börülce which consists of Swiss chard cooked with black-eyed peas. There are also plant based foods such as Molohiya or root based stews such as Kolokas.[190]
Outline of Northern Cyprus
Geography portal
Cyprus portal
Asia portal
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^ a b UN Security Council resolutions 353, 357, 358, 359, 360, and 365, all from 1974.
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^ Oberling, Pierre (1982). The road to Bellapais. Social Science Monographs. p. 120. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018. According to official records, 364 Turkish Cypriots and 174 Greek Cypriots were killed during the 1963–1964 crisis.
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^ "UN SG S/5950 Report" (PDF). 10 September 1964. paragraph 180. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
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^ "North Cyprus – Food and Drink (Cuisine)". Cyprusive. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
Langdale, Allan (2012). In a Contested Realm: an Illustrated Guide to the Archaeology and Historical Architecture of Northern Cyprus. Grimsay Press. ISBN 978-1845301286.
North Cyprus – a Pocket-Guide. Rustem Bookshop, Nicosia. 2006. ISBN 9944-968-03-X.
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Rancho Los Alamitos
Long Beach Historic Landmark
The exterior house at Rancho Los Alamitos, circa July 2008.
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6400 Bixby Hill Rd., Long Beach, California
33°46′36″N 118°6′25″W / 33.77667°N 118.10694°W / 33.77667; -118.10694Coordinates: 33°46′36″N 118°6′25″W / 33.77667°N 118.10694°W / 33.77667; -118.10694
7.4 acres (3.0 ha)
81000153[1]
Rancho Los Alamitos takes its name from an 1834 Mexican partition of the 1784 Rancho Los Nietos, a Spanish concession, covering an area in present-day California's southwestern Los Angeles County and northwestern Orange County. Los Alamitos means the Little Cottonwoods or Poplars in Spanish, after the native Fremont Cottonwood trees there.
Rancho Los Alamitos originally included much of the area of present-day eastern Long Beach, all of Los Alamitos and Rossmoor, and most of Seal Beach, Cypress, Stanton and Garden Grove.[2] It is also sometimes referred to as Bixby Ranch, after its last private owners. The early 19th century adobe ranch house still stands today, housing a museum which presents the history of the area.
2 Historic sites of the Rancho
The history of the 85,000-acre (340 km2) Rancho Los Alamitos is almost a microcosm for the history of expansion throughout Southern California, from the Native Americana cultures to contemporary times.[3] The area was first the location of the major circa 500 C.E. - 1780s Tongva—Gabrieliño sacred ceremonial and trading village of Povuu'nga, now an archeological site.[4] After Spanish occupation the ownership was to change and the boundaries would shrink many times. Situated in the floodplain between the mouths of the ever-shifting Los Angeles, San Gabriel and Santa Ana Rivers, the coastal plain terrain of the rancho is virtually flat rich soil, and was subject to frequent flooding. The rancho building itself is located near Puvunga springs alongside on one of the few small hills, Alamitos Mesa, in the area.
Rancho Los Alamitos was one of five ranchos that resulted from the partition of the original Rancho Los Nietos grant given to Manuel Nieto, a former sergeant in the Spanish army, in 1784 by governor Pedro Fages, coincidentally his former commander.[5] Nieto's grant was not only one of the first three awarded by the Spanish in Alta California, it was also the largest. After Nieto died, his children requested his original grant be partitioned. In 1834, Mexican governor José Figueroa officially declared Rancho Los Alamitos as one of the five partitions.
In 1844 the rancho was purchased by Abel Stearns, a Massachusetts native who typified the many Yankees who settled in California and merged with the ruling Mexican Californios population. Stearns, who married Arcadia Bandini, the daughter of the early Spanish regional civic and business leader Juan Bandini, became one of the leading merchants and major ranchos owners in Mexican Alta California.
The rancho was on the periphery of the battles that settled the California Campaign of the Mexican–American War by 1846. During the California Gold Rush, the rancho supplied much of the beef that would be herded north to feed the growing number of Immigrants who were flocking to the gold fields of Northern California from 1848 on. After California became a U.S. state in 1850, Rancho Los Alamitos was the headquarters of the largest cattle ranch then in existence in the United States. Through shrewd business dealings, Stearns assumed control of Los Alamitos and many other surrounding ranchos.
After a disastrous drought in the 1860s, Stearns lost control of the ranch which was then sub-let to a number of farmers until the early 1880s when John William Bixby, a cousin of Jotham Bixby and Llewellyn Bixby who controlled the adjacent Rancho Los Cerritos, bought the rancho along with a group which included his cousins and Isaias Hellman, the founder of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles.
Trying to capitalize on the 1880s Southern California land boom, John Bixby developed the townsite of Alamitos Beach, which would eventually be assumed by Long Beach. Before Bixby, could do much more, he died suddenly in 1888, apparently an appendicitis attack, and Rancho Los Alamitos was separated between the three major parties: the developed Alamitos Beach properties were shared equally, while John Bixby's heirs kept the central section of the remaining rancho, the Bixby cousins from Rancho Los Cerritos assumed control of the northern section, and Hellman took control of the southern lands around present day Seal Beach. Unfortunately, a financial crisis prevented the various parties from seriously pursuing John Bixby's dream of developing Alamitos Beach.
The Bixbys had once flirted with sugar beet production on properties they held in Northern California. In the 1890s, Jotham Bixby arranged to provide land on the rancho for sugar beet production and recruited the capital of William Clark, who was amongst the richest men in the United States, to build a sugar beet refinery plant on a portion of the Bixby Ranch property. Later oil discoveries from the Long Beach Oil Field continued to fund the rancho.
The historic ranch house, surrounding ranching facilities, and some open landscape of Rancho Los Alamitos can still be found adjacent to Cal State Long Beach.[6] The Bixby family descendants donated the property to the City of Long Beach in 1967.[7]
Historic sites of the Rancho[edit]
The early 19th century adobe ranch house still stands today, surrounded by its historic gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and Florence Yoch & Lucile Council,[8] all of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rancho Los Alamitos house and grounds are a museum which presents the history of the rancho era, the country house era, and the region.[9]
List of City of Long Beach Historic Landmarks
List of Ranchos of California
^ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rancho Los Alamitos
^ "Ownership and Occupancy". Rancho Los Alamitos. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
^ "History of the Site". Rancho Los Alamitos. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
^ "Spanish and Mexican Ranchos of Orange County" (PDF). Ocrecorder.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
^ "The Ranch House". Rancho Los Alamitos. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
^ Payne, Niki (February 13, 2009). "Rancho a Hidden Gem". Beachcomber. p. 7.
^ "Rancho Los Alamitos". Rancho Los Alamitos. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
Official Rancho Los Alamitos: Historic Ranch and Gardens website
Rancho Los Alamitos: Historical and Architectural Narrative. (33pg. pdf)
National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan: “Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change”
National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary: Early History of the California Coast
Rancho Los Alamitos: History Timeline of Ownership & Occupants
National Register of Historic Places in California
Lists by city
California Historical Landmarks
National Natural Landmarks
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
Contributing property
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rancho_Los_Alamitos&oldid=891321767"
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Middle Class Working Families Task Force (Biden)
←Barack Obama's remarks
Middle Class Working Families Task Force
by Joe Biden
Nomination of Judd Gregg for Secretary of Commerce→
Delivered from the East Room of the White House on 30 January 2009.
President Barack Obama gave these introductory remarks.
370030Middle Class Working Families Task ForceJoe Biden
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President, for that generous introduction. It's a pleasure to see all of you here today, as we announce this task force on our -- on the middle class.
Folks, I want to thank the outstanding individuals, many of whom are in this room: members of Congress, members of labor, members of business, interest groups that are here representing non-profits. I want to thank you all for being here today. It's good to see so many of my friends from -- our friends from organized labor, as well. Welcome back to the White House. (Laughter and applause.)
You know, one of the things that all of us in this room know is those very leaders, Mr. President, of organized labor have dedicated their lives to the thing that this task force is about -- making the lives of working people better. I would argue there would be no middle class were there not a organized labor movement that started 150 years ago.
And I'm proud that this administration, with your leadership, Mr. President, will be allied in that effort. And I want to thank you for convening and empowering this task force, Mr. President. In doing so, I think you send a very, very clear signal to everyone in this country who goes to work every day without expecting acclaim or big bonuses -- the people that President Teddy Roosevelt referred to as the "doers of deeds," the men and women who teach our children, who protect our neighborhoods, who build our homes, who staff our hospitals, work on the line -- all those people.
To this, the great American middle class, you have simply said, we're on your side again. And it's just -- it's that basic, from my perspective.
And so for too many years we've had a White House that has failed to put the American middle class at the front and center of our economic policies. And even when our economy -- even when our economy was growing, there was a -- and it was very solid ground on which to build -- the middle class found itself slipping. Productivity went up almost 20 percent between 2000 and 2007, yet income for working families fell by $2,000 a year. And now with our economy struggling, the pain is significantly worse. Trillions of dollars in home equity, retirement savings, college savings, gone. And every day, more and more Americans are losing their jobs. And for many people, the work of a lifetime has literally disappeared. It's cruel, but it's also -- it's threatening to sap the spirit of the country.
Mr. President, you said it best in your inaugural address, in my view. You said -- and I quote -- "A nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous." Quite simply, a strong middle class, in our view, equals a strong America.
Clearly, our most urgent task is to stabilize the economy, which the President is well on his way to putting in place the building blocks to do that and to put us on the path to recovery. But on top of this urgent task, though, we have an important long-term task, as well. We need to make sure that the benefits of a strengthening economy, which we're looking forward to, reach the people responsible for generating that strength. That's why President Obama has asked me to lead this task force, to bring together those Cabinet members who have the greatest impact on the well-being of the middle class in our country, as well as seek the opinion and ideas of others in society as to how we can best accomplish these notions.
We'll be looking at everything from access to college at the Department of Education, to business development at the Department of Commerce, to child care and elder care with Health and Human -- excuse me, Health and Human Services, to restoring the balance in the workplace with the Department of Labor, and restoring labor's place with the Department of Labor.
And so this task force I think reflects a critical insight by President Obama that we have to bring together the knowledge, the talent and the skill from the people across the whole range of government to best tackle these problems, and as I said, and invite the private sector to offer the best ideas available to help us do that.
With this task force, we have a single, highly visible group with one single goal: to raise the living standards of the people who are the backbone of this country -- the middle class. Because when they, in fact -- their standard is raised, the poor do better. Every -- and by the way, the wealthy do better, as well. Everyone does better.
So today, with the signing of the President's executive orders, which he's about to sign, we begin the work of the task force. And I want to announce that our executive director will be Dr. Jared Bernstein, a man who has dedicated a substantial portion of his professional career and his writing and studying to the economic issues that most impact on the lives of middle class families.
We're also launching a website today. The website will be [astrongmiddleclass.gov]. Now, this website won't just be a source of information. Hopefully it will be a place for conversation, as well. We invite Americans to interact with us in the ideas that they have. It will be a place where people can find out not only what we're doing, but also share their ideas and experiences with us. We'll also be listening to people's stories, as we hold meetings all across the country and during the life of this task force as we prepare a final report.
And our first task force meeting will be held in -- on February 27th in Philadelphia. The focus of that meeting will be green jobs -- those jobs that pay well, can't be outsourced, and will help us move toward a cleaner, more self-sufficient energy future. Each month to follow, we will focus on a different concern in a different part of the country: how to make retirement more secure; child and elder care, how to make it affordable; improving workplace safety; getting the cost of college within reach of the vast majority of the American people; help weary parents juggle family and work; and create the jobs for the future.
At the end of the day, it will be our responsibility to offer to the President and to the nation clear and specific steps that we need to take to meet these and other concerns. This task force, I might add, which coming out of the Vice President's Office will be a bit unique, will be fully transparent -- totally transparent. (Laughter.) We are going to consult. We are going to consult -- (applause.) We are going to consult openly -- openly and publically with outside groups, who can help us develop the most far-reaching, imaginative solutions to help us solve these problems and create the outcome we're looking for.
And we'll put all the material from our meetings and any report we produce up on the website. None of this will happen behind closed doors. We want the American people engaged. We want them engaged in the outset.
There are some people who say -- that are somewhat down on the future economic prosperities -- prospects of the country, who say that we've entered an age when only a few people can prosper and everyone else has to fall behind. We do not accept that proposition. There has never been, and that has never ever been a part of America's story, at any part in our history. And the President and I are determined that it will not be any part of America's story today.
The American story is one of expanding opportunity and shared prosperity. It's a story about the future; it's never about the past. It's a story in which we put the middle class families that are the heart of the nation at the heart of our efforts, because it drives everything else. Where I grew up, as the President referenced, not only in Scranton but in Wilmington, Delaware, like many, many of you, there are an awful lot of proud women and men who still reside in those neighborhoods. They don't want the government to solve their problem. But at a minimum, they wanted the government to understand their problem -- to understand their problem, be cognizant of the problem. They just wanted leaders who not only understood their problem, but leaders who would offer them policies that gave them nothing more than a chance, nothing more than a chance to make it.
And I'm not exaggerating when I say that. I'm not -- you all know that, that's all they want, is a chance. They wanted leaders like you, Mr. President. They wanted leaders like those who are gathered here in this room. And they have wanted and want today a White House who's ready to say that the measure of our success will be whether the middle class once again shares in the economic success and prosperity of the nation.
And so, Mr. President, I thank you for giving me this responsibility. I look forward to working with the folks in this room and many others. And I also look forward, Mr. President, to you signing these executive orders as the first order of business. (Applause.)
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Middle_Class_Working_Families_Task_Force_(Biden)&oldid=3825328"
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STAR CHAMBER
difficulty, owing to the presence of gluten, which with water forms a tough elastic body difficult of solution and removal. The difficulty is experienced in greatest measure in dealing with wheat, which contains a large proportion of gluten. Wheat starch is separated in two different ways: (i) the fermentation method, which is the original process, and (2) by mechanical means without preliminary fermentation. In the fermentation process whole wheat or wheaten meal is softened and swollen by soaking in water. Wheat grains are, in this condition, ground, and the pulp, mixed to a thickish fluid with water, is placed in tanks, where it ferments, developing acids which dissolve the gummy constituents of the wheat, with part of the gluten, and render the whole less tenacious. After full fermentation, the period of which varies with the weather and the process employed, the starch is separated in a washing drum. It is subsequently washed with water, which dissolves out the gluten, the starch settling in two layers — one comparatively pure, the other mixed with gluten and some branny particles. These layers are separated, the second undergoing further washing to remove the gluten, &c, and the remaining operations are analogous to those employed in the preparation of potato-starch. By the mechanical process wheaten flour is kneaded into a stiff paste, which, after resting for an hour or two, is washed over a fine sieve so long as the water passing off continues milky, whereby the starch is liberated and the greater part of the gluten retained as a gluey elastic mass in the sieve. The starch is subsequently purified by fermentation, washing and treatment in centrifugal machines. The gluten thus preserved is a useful food for diabetic patients, and is made with flour into artificial macaroni and pastes, besides being valuable for other industrial purposes. The fermentation process gives about 59 lb of starch and 11 of bran from 100 lb of wheat, whilst the mechanical process gives about 55 lb of starch and 12 of gluten.
Maize (Indian corn) starch is obtained by analogous processes, but, the proportion of gluten in the grain being smaller and less tenacious in its nature, the operations, whether chemical or mechanical, present fewer difficulties. Under one method the separation of maize starch is facilitated by steeping, swelling and softening the grain in a weak solution of caustic soda, and favourable results are also obtained by a process in which the pulp from the crushing mill is treated with water acidulated with sulphurous acid.
In the preparation of rice-starch a weak solution of caustic soda is also employed for softening and swelling the grain. It is then washed with pure water, dried, ground and sifted, and again treated with alkaline water, by which the whole of the nitrogenous constituents are taken up in soluble form. ,An acid process for obtaining rice-starch is also employed, under which the grain, swollen and ground, is treated repeatedly with a solution of hydro-chloric acid, which also dissolves away the non-starchy constituents of the grain. The yield is about 85 lb per 100 of rice. Laundry starches are principally made from rice and from pulse.
See O. Saare, Die Fabrikation der Kartoffelstdrke (1897).
STAR CHAMBER, the name given in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries to an English court of justice. The name is probably derived from the stars with which the roof of the chamber was painted; it was the camera stellata. But it has also been derived from a Hebrew word shetar or sh'tar, a bond, on the supposition that the chamber of meeting was the room in which the legal documents connected with the Jews were kept prior to their expulsion from England by Edward I.
The origin and early history of the court are somewhat obscure. The curia regis of the 12th century, combining judicial, deliberative and administrative functions, had thrown off several offshoots in the court of king's bench and other courts, but the Crown never parted with its supreme jurisdiction. When in the 13th century the king's council became a regular and permanent body, practically distinct from parliament, this supreme juris- diction continued to be exercised by the king in council. As the ordinary courts of law became more important and more systematic, the indefinite character of the council's jurisdiction gave rise to frequent complaints, and efforts, for the most part fruitless, were made by the parliaments of the 14th century to check it. The equitable jurisdiction of the chancellor, which grew up during the reign of Edward III. like the courts of law under Henry II., was derived from this supreme judicial power, which was yet unexhausted.
It is in the reign of Edward III., after an act of 1341, that we first hear of the chancellor, treasurer, justices and other members of the king's council exercising jurisdiction in the old chamber, or chambre de esloiles, at Westminster. In Henry VI. 's reign one Danvers was acquitted of a certain charge by the council in the camera stellata. Hitherto such acts of parliament as had recognized this jurisdiction had done so only by way of limita- tion or prohibition, but in 1453, about the time when the distinction between the ordinary and the privy council first became apparent, an act was passed empowering the chancellor to enforce the attendance of all persons summoned by the privy seal before the king and his council in all cases not determinable by common law. At this time, then, the jurisdiction of the council was recognized as supplementary to that of the ordinary courts of law. But the anarchy of the Wars of the Roses and the decay of local justice, owing to the influence of the great barons and the turbulence of all classes, obliged parliament to entrust wider powers to the council. This was the object of the famous act of 1487, which was incorrectly quoted by the lawyers of the long parliament as creating the court of star chamber, which was in reality of earlier origin.
The act of 1487 (3 Hen. VII.) created a court composed of seven persons, the chancellor, the treasurer, the keeper of the privy seal, or any two of them, with a bishop, a temporal lord and the two chief justices, or in their absence two other justices. It was to deal with cases of " unlawful maintainance, giving of licences, signs and tokens, great riots, unlawful assemblies "; in short with all offences against the law which were too serious to be dealt with by the ordinary courts. The jurisdiction thus entrusted to this committee of the council was not supplementary, therefore, like that granted in 1453, but it superseded the ordinary courts of law in cases where these were too weak to act. The act simply supplied machinery for the exercise, under special circumstances, of that extraordinary penal jurisdiction which the council had never ceased to possess. By an act of 1529 an eighth member, the president of the council, was added to the star chamber, the jurisdiction of which was at the same time confirmed. At this time the court performed a very necessary and valuable work in punishing powerful offenders who could not be reached by the ordinary courts of law. It was found very useful by Cardinal Wolsey, and a little later Sir Thomas Smith says its object was "to bridle such stout noblemen or gentlemen who would offer wrong by force to any manner of men, and cannot be content to demand or defend the right by order of the law."
It is popularly supposed that the star chamber, after an exis- tence of about fifty years, disappeared towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII., the powers obtained by the act of 1487 being not lost, but reverting to the council as a whole. This may have been so, but it is more probable that the star chamber continued to exist side by side with the council, and the two bodies were certainly separate during the latter 'part of Eliza- beth's reign. The act of 1540, which gave the king's pro- clamation the force of law, enacted that offenders against them were to be punished by the usual officers of the council, together with some bishops and judges " in the star chamber or else- where." It is difficult, if not impossible, to draw a clear distinction between the duties of the privy council and the duties of the star chamber at this time, although before the abolition of the latter there was a distinction " as to their com- position and as to the matters dealt with by the two courts." During the reign of Elizabeth Sir Thomas Smith remarks that juries misbehaving "were many times commanded to appear in the star chamber, or before the privy council for the matter." The uncertain composition of the court is well shown by Sir Edward Coke, who says that the star chamber is or may be compounded of three several councils: (1) the lords and others of the privy council; (2) the judges of either bench and the barons of the exchequer; (3) the lords of parliament, who are not, however, standing judges of the court. William Hudson (d. 1635), on the other hand, considers that all peers had the right of sitting in the court, but if so they had certainly given up the privilege in the 17th century.
The jurisdiction of the star chamber was as vague as its constitution. Hudson says it is impossible to define it without offending the supporters of the prerogative by a limitation of its powers, or the lawyers by attributing to it an excessive latitude. In practice its jurisdiction was almost unlimited.
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Texas and its new favourite energy source
Energy Worth — April 19, 2019 comments off
By Tim Daiss
Wind power capacity in the United States increased by 8 percent last year, soaring to an impressive cumulative total of 96.5 gigawatts (GW), the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said in a new report last week. The report said that the industry had “emerged from 2018 stronger than ever” as it now powers over 30 million American homes, with that amount projected to increase going forward. Wind power last year also brought in an estimated $1 billion in revenue to both state and local coffers.
AWEA is the national trade association for the U.S. wind industry and promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for American consumers.
Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA, said that wind power’s “recording-breaking year shows our industry is leading the way to a cleaner, stronger 21st Century U.S. economy. America’s least expensive source of new electricity generation is also clean and inexhaustible, which gives our economy an edge in the global marketplace.”
Wind power projections
The AWEA said that wind energy is now reliably providing over 20 percent of the electricity produced in six states (Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Maine), while across the whole of the country, U.S. wind-generated 6.5 percent of all electricity delivered to consumers. Going forward, the AWEA projects that more than 35 GW of new wind power capacity will come online across 31 states in the near future. At the same time, the country’s offshore wind industry is also taking off, with six offshore projects amounting to 2.1 GW in development and expected to be operational by 2023. By the end of 2018, project developers had a potential offshore wind pipeline of over 25.5 GW.
Texas takes center stage
Texas, perhaps surprisingly, given its prominent role as the country’s top oil-producing state, led the country last year in wind energy capacity. The state is home to 25 percent of total U.S. wind power capacity and, if it were a country, Texas would rank fifth globally for wind power capacity with nearly 25 GW installed. Texas also had 7 GW worth of projects under construction or in advanced development at the end of last year. Consequently, Texas not only leads the country’s wind industry in terms of capacity but in terms of jobs and investment as well.
“Texas continues to lead the nation, with hard work and ingenuity, in harnessing this great American renewable energy resource, literally out of thin air,” Kiernan added in statements after the release of the report. “Texas has a long and storied history of energy production and as today’s report demonstrates, wind is an important part of the state’s energy success story. In many ways, the Texas wind story is the story of American wind power.”
Texas oil production also recently broke new records. According to a February report from the Texas Independent Producers Royalty Owners Association, the Lone Star state’s oil production hit a record level not seen since 1973, the same year of the Arab oil embargo that roiled global oil markets.
Texas oil wells produced more than 1.54 billion barrels of crude in 2018, topping the previous record of 1.28 billion barrels set in 1973, TIPRO reported in its annual “State of Energy Report.” Natural gas production also grew, reaching 8.8 trillion cubic feet (tcf) last year. In 2017, Texas also came close to beating the 1973 oil output record, pumping 1.26 billion barrels of oil.
Source: Oilprice.com
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FBOTU Spotlight: Wuvable Ed Luce
<a href="http://www.fanboysoftheuniverse.com/index.php/site/comics/" title="
If you’re unfamiliar with Wuvable Oaf, the sweet and sexy hirsute creation of independent comic book creator Ed Luce, I’m happy to be the one to introduce you. You may have heard that Prism Comics just awarded Ed the 2010 Queer Press Grant to continue his work on Oaf. Funny, yet heartfelt, surreal, yet surprisingly true-to-life, Wuvable Oaf is a one-of-a-kind character inhabiting a one-of-a-kind world. Luckily, we have him and his equally fascinating creator with us all month long in the FBOTU Spotlight.
Throughout May, Ed will be supplying us with some of his favorite panels from the Wuvable Oaf series. In addition to giving us a look at his artwork, which is always chock full of rich detail and hilarious sight gags, Ed will be sharing his insights and thoughts as an artist and writer. The first selection of images and commentary are now up on the FBOTU Spotlight page. Whether you’re an aspiring comic book creator or a fan of indie comics, I’m pleased to present this opportunity to learn more about a very talented young man. You can learn more about Ed Luce and Wuvable Oaf, including where and how to get your very own copies, at the Oaf’s official website.
Be sure to check back next week for more images and insights from Ed Luce!
Rowena: Do I have a child? The King of Hell. That’s all. The King.
Castiel: Crowley is your son? Well, that explains a lot. I’m sure that was quite a challenge.
— Supernatural, “Dark Dynasty”
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Rob Liefeld Information
Rob Liefeld's legendary career began at the age of 18 years old. Fresh out of high school he was hired by both Marvel and DC Comics where he began laying the foundation for a resume that would define a generation.
Among the most popular of Liefeld's creations are Deadpool, Cable, Domino, X-Force, Youngblood, Supreme, Prophet and Glory.
While in his early 20's, Rob took over the ailing New Mutants comic book franchise and transformed it into the industry powerhouse X-Force! Liefeld introduced dozens of new characters that caught favor with fans who made them instant favorites! Along with Deadpool and Cable, Stryfe, Shatterstar, Zero, Reaper, Feral, Wildside, Gideon, Kane, Warpath, Grizzly, Bridge and many more!
X-Force #1 went on to sell an unprecedented Five Million copies in the United States alone making it the #2 selling comic book of all time. The X-Force franchise has produced numerous spin-off's over the years, creating an entire line of popular books for industry leader Marvel comics.
Following the success of X-Force, Liefeld teamed with his peers to launch Image Comics, the most successful independent comic book label in comics history. Along with Rob, The Image Founders included Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino and Whilce Portacio.
Youngblood, created and illustrated by Rob Liefeld went on to sell 1 million copies, shattering the sales record for an independent comic book. Liefeld created a comic production label, Extreme Studios which went on to publish Liefeld creations, BRIGADE, BLOODSTRIKE, SUPREME, GLORY, PROPHET and AVENGELYNE, many continue their publication at Image today.
In 1996, Marvel cornerstones Captain America and Avengers had dropped to historically low sales levels, resulting in the industry leader hiring Liefeld to reboot their icons alongside Jim Lee. The event, "Heroes Reborn" created the top selling Avengers and Captain America launches in their respective publication history. Captain America and Avengers were restored as top flight Marvel franchises setting the way for their enormous success in film and television.
Rob Liefeld has covered many of the industries top-tier franchises and produced memorable runs on diverse titles such as Cable, Wolverine, Deathstroke, Hawk and Dove, X-Men, X-Factor, Fighting American, Spider Man, Hawkman and Teen Titans.
Collaborations with many of the industries top writers have created a diverse portfolio of work by Liefeld. Notable authors such as Alan Moore, Chris Claremont, Mark Millar, Joe Casey, Jeph Loeb and Robert Kirkman have created best selling works alongside Liefeld.
In 2006, Liefeld was asked to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of Heroes Reborn by producing the 5 issue maxi-series, Onslaught Reborn, which revisited the story lines and character designs that brought renewed energy and success to the Avengers family.
Liefeld added to the Deadpool lore in 2009 by introducing Lady Deadpool and later expanded the Deadpool family by launching the best selling Deadpool Corps. in 2010.
In 2011 Liefeld and The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman launched a mini-series featuring their collaboration, The Infinite. A sequel to The Infinite is forthcoming.
24 years after introducing the world to his brilliant creations, Liefeld continues to enjoy the fruits of his imagination as Deadpool, Cable and others expand into multi-media platforms including cartoons, video games and motion pictures
London Film & Comic Con 2019 - July 26-28, 2019 in London, UK
Montreal Comiccon 2019 - July 5-7, 2019 in Montreal, QC Cancelled Appearance
Amazing Las Vegas Comic Convention 2019 - June 14-16, 2019 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2019 - March 22-24, 2019 in Chicago, IL, USA
Emerald City Comic Con 2019 - March 14-17, 2019 in Seattle, WA, USA
Rhode Island Comic Con 2018 - November 2-4, 2018 in Providence, RI, USA
Los Angeles Comic Con 2018 - October 26-28, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
New York Comic Con 2018 - October 4-7, 2018 in New York, NY, USA
Wizard World Comic Con Austin 2018 - September 21-23, 2018 in Austin, TX, USA
Wizard World Comic Con Chicago 2018 - August 23-26, 2018 in Rosemont, IL, USA
Amazing Las Vegas Comic Convention 2018 - June 29 - July 1, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
Fairfax, VA Comicon 2018 - June 9-10, 2018 in Fairfax, VA, USA
MegaCon Orlando 2018 - May 24-27, 2018 in Orlando, FL, USA
Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo 2018 - April 26-29, 2018 in Calgary, AB
Fan Expo Dallas 2018 - April 6-8, 2018 in Dallas, TX, USA
NC Comicon 2017 - November 10-12, 2017 in Durham, NC, USA
Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con 2017 - October 27-29, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
Rose City Comic Con 2017 - September 8-10, 2017 in Portland, OR, USA Cancelled Appearance
Comic Con Palm Springs 2017 - August 25-27, 2017 in Palm Springs, CA, USA
Colorado Springs Comic Con 2017 - August 25-27, 2017 in Colorado Springs, CO, USA Cancelled Appearance
Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia 2017 - June 1-4, 2017 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2017 - April 21-23, 2017 in Chicago, IL, USA
Emerald City Comicon 2017 - March 2-5, 2017 in Seattle, WA, USA
Amazing Arizona Comic Con 2017 - February 17-19, 2017 in Phoenix, AZ, USA Convention Cancelled
Albuquerque Comic Con 2017 - January 13-15, 2017 in Albuquerque, NM, USA
Rhode Island Comic Con 2016 - November 11-13, 2016 in Providence, RI, USA
MegaCon Tampa Bay 2016 - October 28-30, 2016 in Tampa Bay, FL, USA
Cincinnati Comic Expo 2016 - September 23-26, 2016 in Cincinnati, OH, USA
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2016 - March 18-20, 2016 in Chicago, IL, USA Cancelled Appearance
Toronto Comicon 2016 - March 18-20, 2016 in Toronto, ON
Wizard World Comic Con & Gaming Portland 2016 - February 19-20, 2016 in Portland, OR, USA Cancelled Appearance
Amazing Arizona Comic Con 2016 - February 12-14, 2016 in Phoenix, AZ, USA
Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2015 - October 30 - November 1, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
New York Comic Con 2015 - October 8-11, 2015 in New York, NY, USA
Wizard World Comic Con Ft. Lauderdale 2015 - October 2-4, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
Amazing Hawaii Comic Con 2015 - September 18-20, 2015 in Honolulu, HI, USA
Wizard World Comic Con Pittsburgh 2015 - September 11-13, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Amazing Houston Comic Con 2015 - September 4-6, 2015 in Houston, TX, USA
Wizard World Comic Con Des Moines 2015 - June 12-14, 2015 in Des Moines, IA, USA Cancelled Appearance
Gem City Comic Con 2015 - March 28-29, 2015 in Dayton, OH, USA
Amazing Arizona Comic Con 2014 - January 24-26, 2014 in Phoenix, AZ, USA
Comic-Con International: San Diego 2012 - July 12-15, 2012 in San Diego, CA, USA
Wizard World Texas 2005 - November 4-6, 2005 in Dallas, TX, USA
Chicago Comicon 1992 - July 4-6, 1992 in Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
Wonder-Con 1990 - May 11-13, 1990 in Oakland, CA, USA
43 confirmed guest appearances
Tweets by robertliefeld
Add or Update Information for Rob Liefeld
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55 years old San Francisco, California, USA
Benjamin Bratt (born December 16, 1963) is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero. He starred on the A&E Network drama The Cleaner.
Scott Barnes is an alcoholic turned social worker hellbent on saving a young boy named Tommy from se...
Simon Phoenix, a violent criminal cryogenically frozen in 1996, escapes during a parole hearing in 2...
The River Wild
While on a family vacation, rafting expert Gail takes on a pair of armed killers while navigating a...
CIA Analyst Jack Ryan is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian d...
When the local FBI office receives a letter from a terrorist known only as 'The Citizen', it's quick...
Astronauts search for solutions to save a dying Earth by searching on Mars, only to have the mission...
An exploration of the United States of America's war on drugs from multiple perspectives. For the ne...
On the run from smugglers and the police, world-weary scavenger Arno (Benjamin Bratt) takes a job as...
A psychological thriller about a senior at one of America's most prestigious universities. Under eno...
Liquidated after discovering a corporate conspiracy, mild-mannered graphic artist Patience Phillips ...
A paedophile returns to his hometown after 12 years in prison and attempts to start a new life....
The Great Raid
As World War II rages, the elite Sixth Ranger Battalion is given a mission of heroic proportions: pu...
Thumbsucker
Justin, a teenager boy, throws himself and everyone around him into chaos when he attempts to break ...
In Colombia just after the Great War, an old man falls from a ladder; dying, he professes great love...
Loner Diane Ford is a truck driver with an 11-year-old son, Peter, whom she never sees, and that's f...
Inventor Flint Lockwood creates a machine that makes clouds rain food, enabling the down-and-out cit...
Construction company owner John Matthews learns that his estranged son, Jason, has been arrested for...
After the disastrous food storm in the first film, Flint and his friends are forced to leave the tow...
Super Manny
Manny saves an adorable kitty with his many skills....
Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal....
Justice League: Gods and Monsters
In an alternate universe, very different versions of DC's Trinity fight against the government after...
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorc...
As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring ...
A U.S Customs official uncovers a massive money laundering scheme involving Pablo Escobar....
A radio journalist and his technician get in over their heads when they hatch a scheme to fake their...
Shot Caller
A newly-released prison gangster is forced by the leaders of his gang to orchestrate a major crime w...
Top 100 by FilmGator Ernesto de la Cruz (voice) 8.2
2 Shot Caller (2017) Sanchez 7.2
3 Doctor Strange (2016)
Top 100 by FilmGator Jonathan Pangborn 7.7
4 Ride Along 2 (2016) Antonio Pope 6.3
5 The Infiltrator (2016) Roberto Alcaino 6.7
6 Special Correspondents (2016) John Baker 5.5
7 Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015) Superman / Zod (voice) 6.7
8 Snitch (2013) Juan Carlos "El Topo" Pintera 6.4
9 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013) Manny (voice) 7
10 Super Manny (2013) Manny (voice) - -
11 Despicable Me 2 (2013)
Oscars 2014 Eduardo/ El Macho (voice) 7.5
12 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) Manny (voice) 7.3
13 Trucker (2008) Leonard Bonner 6.7
14 Love in the Time of Cholera (2007) Juvenal Urbino 5.8
15 The Great Raid (2005) Lt. Colonel Mucci 7.3
16 Thumbsucker (2005) Matt Schramm 6
17 Catwoman (2004) Tom Lone 3.8
18 The Woodsman (2004) Carlos 6.8
19 Abandon (2002) Wade Handler 5.3
20 After the Storm (2001) Arno - -
21 Miss Congeniality (2000) Eric Matthews 6
22 Red Planet (2000) Lt. Ted Santen 6.3
23 Traffic (2000)
Oscars 2001 Juan Obregón 6.9
24 The River Wild (1994) Ranger Johnny 6
25 Clear and Present Danger (1994) Captain Ramirez 6.7
26 Demolition Man (1993) Alfredo Garcia 6.3
27 Chains of Gold (1991) Carlos 6
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By A-Rich Last updated Jun 30, 2018
1. Camila Cabello has the #1 album
Camila Cabello leaving Fifth Harmony has worked out for her. She has become the first female artist in three years to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 200 with a debut album.
Camila sold 119,000 copies in its first week out. By jumping from a group to a solo career, Cabello’s chart topping success follows such superstars as Beyonce, Gwen Stefani, Diana Ross, Lauryn Hill and Stevie Nicks.
Cabello has a chance to pull a double-play of number ones as Billboard projects Havana might become the top song in the country soon.
2. China bans Hip-Hop culture from television
China has banned images of hip-hop culture and actors with tattoos from television.
Their version of our FCC is called the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China. The group “specifically requires that programs should not feature actors with tattoos [or depict] hip hop culture, sub-culture (non-mainstream culture) and dispirited culture (decadent culture).'”
The administration’s publicity department put out a list of Don’ts on Friday that included not using actors who are “tasteless, vulgar or obscene” or actors with “stains, scandals and problematic moral integrity.”
Several high profile rappers have been removed from television shows and streaming sites. The action has caused backlash on Chinese social media.
Do you think the government will prevail or will there be an uprising? Why does hip-hop get thrown into the vulgar and tasteless category?
3. Bacardi is buying Patron for $5.1 Billion
Bacardi Limited will acquire the maker of Patron in a deal valued at $5.1 billion according to reports
The deal will make Bacardi the No. 1 spirits player in the U.S. and the second largest spirits company in market share by value in the U.S.
Tequila has been a very fast-growing category, which has benefited from consumers’ shifting taste away from beer and vodka.
Are you a fan of Tequila? What is your goto spirit?
Missed Connections – “You SEXY, thick vixen!!”
Vices in Five Points is Your New Sneaker and Streetwear Go-To
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Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes (Philosophy Essay Sample)
/ Samples / Philosophy / Niccolo Machiavelli And Thomas Hobbes
← Kierkegaard: Stages on Lifes Way What Is Woman →
Check Out Our Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes Essay
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), the Italian philosopher and diplomat, has contributed a lot of discourses to the Western thoughts on political theory and histography. His writings, though famous for their political philosophy content, have often been referned to as maddening and unsystematic. He is the founder of the modern political science. His writings on ethics and moral have influenced many of the 20th century writers. This paper deals with a study of Machiavelli's concept of virtue, human nature and politics. It also makes an attempt to compare the ideas of Hobbes and how these are opposing to the ideas of Machiavelli.
Machiavelli attributed many meanings to the concept of Virtue. Foremost among them is that virtue is the part of a good life. Next he says virtue is the political ability. According to him a virtuous man attains his goal in his political life. He further argues that virtue is the physical ability or strength. Another theory that he postulates relates virtue to utility, were he opines that virtue of a thing lies in its utility. Machiavelli clarifies the term virtue clear in his work, "The Prince," by describing the positive qualities of the prince. While speaking of the principalities, Machiavelli points out two factors that are the fate of the ruler which is the fortune and ability. He says that virtue is not needed to acquire a hereditary principle but if the rulers have to attain a new principle he needs virtue.
According to him, a Prince should try to assimilate a new territory with a different culture to his original territory. He should also try to protect the weaker territories and prevent the powerful territory from attaining more power. Therefore, he should try to maintain the balance between the different powers. This balancing of power can be seen as a novel concept because it is in cumbent on a leader or ruler to make serve that the strong does not victimize the weak. Such a quality is the true virtue of a ruler and politics should make all endeavors to maintain a balance of power. He should also be courageous to tackle problems before it is too late. He should also not hesitate in going for wars or using his power.
According to Machiavelli, an ordinary person can also become a Prince if he has fortune and ability. Human history has witnessed a lot of instances where individuals from lower strata of the society have risen to become leaders by the sheer power of will and ability. Hitler, who became the Fuhrer from the status of an ordinary soldier, is a best example. The leader or ruler also needs to be innovative and make suitable changes in the social set up of his country, according to the need of the hour. This can be perceived as the main mission of politics and it strives to achieve this through the leader.
When a prince tries to make a changes in his kingdom there may be many to oppose such reforms mainly because the change may not be of any benefit to them. When he has to confront such situations, a prince should be ready to make use of the force to control the opposition and over come the resistance. A prince may attain power due to two reasons: either through his abilities or through inheritance. However, it does not matter how he gains the power but the power attained can be useful only if he has the good fortune to be able to maintain it. Political leadership thus requires an element of fortune also to be successful.
Machiavelli then goes on to state that virtue is more related to politics than reality. If a prince obtains power by evil means and not by his ability or fortune he will not receive any glory. Therefore power should be used virtuously and not cruelly. When power is used cruelly, it may create constant fear among the people. Again, history has witnessed many a kingdoms fall because the kings did not use their power wisely. The same example of Hitler validates the argument that power cruelly used can cause the downfall of the leader and his entire empire. If the power is used with a purpose, it could be considered as virtuous. Machiavelli states that a virtuous prince is not loved but is always respected by the people. Hence, if a prince is virtuous he gets the support of his people at the time of need.
Another major aspect of virtue is a prince's passion for warfare. During the times of peace he should be engaged in the studies of the war skills so that he can overcome the difficulties during his unfortunate times, when war occurs. A virtuous prince is the one who does not lose his power because of being good. There will be many who are not good and always ready to destroy others. So Machiavelli says that "it is necessary for a virtuous prince to not lose his power and he should maintain his kingdom" (The concept of virtue in Machiavelli 2008).
Throughout his work, The Prince, Machiavelli makes an attempt to analyze the actual human behavior. Machiavelli is having a pessimistic view towards humans. Nature of human is that man possesses both good and bad qualities and according to him humans are those with self-love and self-interest, full of evil, cruelty, violence and war. He writes that "man has qualities that will bring him either praise or blame" (Machiavelli's View of Human Nature n.d.). He is of the opinion that since prince is a man, there is a possibility that he may exhibit these qualities.
He seems connote to the idea that in order to be virtuous, a leader needs to suppress the bad traits in him and upload the qualities that will project him as a good person in public view therefore, a prince should try to display good qualities only towards to the public. Machiavelli believes that humans are evil by their nature because of the uncontrollable lust of their body and they cannot be truly virtuous while they are defending against the corruption of the world. In his words to the prince he says that "....men a wretched creatures who would not keep their word to you, you need keep your word to them" (Machiavelli's Philosophy on Human Nature 2005). Still, he does not insist that prince should mistreat the citizens.
According to him, men are those who act up on their self interest and do nothing for their state. When the prince is in trouble people turn against him. Machiavelli states that human beings are greedy for profit and they worry less about causing harm to those who love them dearly. In the work, The Prince, Machiavelli also describes the concept of politics. He says that an ideal government is that which calculates and schemes its political gain and authority. He further states that politics has nothing to do with the morals, ethics or religion. According to Machiavelli, many of the American politicians seek support from the people who make up the government. Once a person attains the political power he tries to satisfy his own self interests, without giving much value to the overall interest of the public, which he should serve.
He says that it is not the duty of the government to make each and every one of the state prosperous but it does only the duty of taking and giving incomes from one person to another. In this process there may be both beneficiaries and victims. He argues that morality is not needed to attain political power. Since all people are basically evil in nature, the political power must be used to check the upcoming evils in the society. He also believes that end always justifies the means even though the means engages the use of evil or harmful devices.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), a renowned philosopher who became popular for his unique and original political thoughts, has opposed many of the Machiavelli concepts. Both of these philosophers have kept their focus on political theory. When Hobbe's theory focuses on the social interest between the people and its government, the theories of Machiavelli focus on the qualities that form a successful ruler. According to Hobbes there is constant war between men and this is due to their competition and he says that if two men desire for the same thing and are not able to get it both of them become enemies and even thinks of destroying each other. In Machiavelli's concept, he promotes a secular state and he does not trust human beings. As discussed earlier they do not support the ruler when he is in need.
Machiavelli does not make a distinction between the wartime and the peace time. According to him there is a period of domestic peace and also of war. But Hobbes makes a distinction between the time of peace and the time of war. The former does not define power but the latter does it explicitly. Machiavelli does not say that there is quarrel-some tendency among men and this ends in misery. But this is what Hobbes stated in his description of the nature of humans. Both fed that humans are selfish but Hobbes is harsher than Machiavelli's statements. Even though he makes such a harsh statement about men he accounts some good qualities they possess, of which Machiavelli fail to describe and they are mind or body relationship, imagination, will, reason and emotion. Hobbes defines that competition is the main cause for dispute among men. But Machiavelli thinks that this dispute is mainly because of the fear in the minds of the men. He adds that the fight between the men could be decreased if the fear in the minds of men is decreased. Machiavelli supports freewill whereas, Hobbes is determined in his view.
Hobbes believes that it was foolish that people rule themselves and the thought that they need to be ruled by a king appeared to be stupid to him. Machiavelli states that that the ruler should do anything to attain his power and political status. An ideal ruler, according to Machiavelli, is an individual and a leader would communicate to citizens not in a two-way manner. His power is absolute and limitless and he does not find any reason to break his promises. Hobbes is in contrast with Machiavelli, in terms of who should rule the state. Machiavelli uses the political power to gain and maintain power whereas Hobbes says force should be used only to maintain the power which they gained through the will of the public.
This ideal ruler is the one who derives his force and he should be ready to submit to his subjects. He should rule his subjects in a dictatorial manner and not in a collaborative manner. His rights are limitless and his power is absolute. Hobbes is in contrast to these views of the Machiavelli. While Machiavelli states that the ruler is absolute in his power, Hobbes states that democratic body is more appropriate in ruling a state. While Machiavelli emphasize on the dictatorial rule, Hobbes gives importance to the democratic rule. According to Hobbes the right nature of power that an individual enjoys is in using his own power and not submitting under a dictatorial rule. Thus a ruler should work to motivate the interests of the subjects in his state and his duty is to govern them and to rule them. Since the ruler was brought into rule with the support of the citizen his duty is to lead and not rule them with his force. As discussed earlier Machiavelli is stating to use the force to maintain the power that he had gained, but Hobbes insists that the power which he gained with the help of force should be utilized for the well being of the public.
By making an analysis of the theories put forward by Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes we could come to the conclusion that both these philosophers from different generation disagreed in many of the theories. They express views on the how a ruler should be and how to work out with it to lead the public. Hobbes believes in a government where the ruler interferes in the lives of the people only when it is needed. But in Hobbes' opinion ideal government is only the world of God. In Machiavelli's concept a state should be ruled by a strong monarch and his subjects should always respect him while in Hobbes concept there should be a strong relation with the God that is the ruler and his subjects. Hobbes idea is to support the subjects but the idea of Machiavelli is to rule.
Need more Philosophy Essay Examples?
What Is Woman
Kierkegaard: Stages on Lifes Way
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« Acts 8 | Acts 9 | Acts 10 »
The Conversion of Saul
9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. Saul in Jerusalem
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. The Healing of Aeneas
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Dorcas Restored to Life
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
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Posts tagged ‘the Resurrection’
Ultimate Presence
There he stood with a curious grace, all 230+ lbs of him, dressed in shaggy, faded blue jeans, a red-and-blue plaid shirt with short sleeves rolled up even shorter and, low on his brow, a dark blue baseball cap, the arch of its visor matching the curve of the friendly smirk brightening up his face. “I don’t teach dogs how to sit, stay, roll over and all that stuff,” he said, the smirk transforming into a wide, confident and infectious grin as his audience of dog owners struggled to keep their variously-sized charges from lunging at each other and now wondered if they had come to the right training class. Obviously enjoying his showstopper as he swept his gaze from one side of the room to the other, he then said with slow emphasis, “I teach them…how to be.”
His name is Dave,* a very wise man seemingly disguised as a hillbilly, good ol’ boy. Though his words oddly resonated deep within me, and probably within many of the nine other humans there, his impact on the dogs was even more pronounced. A couple of the larger canines, a chocolate-brown, slobbering Lab and another that was a cross probably of a Boxer and a Pit Bull, were nearly dragging their frustrated, even somewhat frightened owners off their chairs and toward the man they wanted to eat raw. Without flinching, Dave instructed each owner to dig in his or her heels and hold tight the leashes; then he faced each bared-tooth animal and snapped a command, “Ou(t)!” It was the word “out,” but without the “t,” a vibration, he explained later, that was the archetypal sound of the mother dog directed at her wayward pups. Within literally a second, these seemingly ferocious dogs were sitting, panting happily, then tranquilly lying down and gazing up at the man they now loved and licked as he stroked each of them behind its ears. Puzzled, even awed expressions took over the human faces around the room.
A miracle? No, simply a manifestation of presence. Dave has his techniques, but what he has most is the way he is, the way he shows up in the world, at least when connecting with dogs and their owners.
So, what is this powerful quality that most people know when they encounter it, but nevertheless have trouble articulating? This post is an exploration of the many aspects of presence, from the most common attributes to what I believe is its ultimate expression.
Most dictionaries will agree that someone manifesting presence truly, really exists here and now, close by in time and space, and has an air or aura of self-assurance, poise, coolness, equanimity, unflappability, and an overall powerful, sometimes dignified and in control (as opposed to “controlling”) bearing and comportment. (see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/presence) The legal definition of presence adds to this portrait; an individual is present or displays presence only when he or she is truly capable of giving consent, when he or she personally acknowledges something as valid, or when he or she is “constructively present” through valid representation by a designated party. (see http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/presence). And presence is even important in understanding how we now connect electronically with each other. “In an instant messaging (IM) system, [presence] is the status of a person’s current availability (online, idle, offline, etc.)….”Rich presence” implies conveying more information about the user’s current status, including type of device being used and its operating environment, location and local time of user and any other messages the user might wish to announce (http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/presence).
Putting much of the above together gives us a fuller portrait of the individual manifesting presence: he or she (to repeat) truly, really exists here and now, close by in time and space, is truly focused and undistracted, and has an air or aura of self-assurance, poise, coolness, equanimity, unflappability, and an overall powerful, sometimes dignified and in control (as opposed to “controlling”) bearing and comportment. In addition, the individual displaying presence is choice-full, fully empowered to give his or her consent and validation to anyone representative of him or her, and clear and communicative about whether he can be or is fully present at any one time.
Dave certainly exhibited many of the features listed above as he managed the canines. And he displayed another quality of someone with presence: the ability to elicit the same state in those near him; the dogs immediately recognized his ability to free them from their own distractibility and fears and thus to encourage them to be focused and present in their natural, loving state.
Presence as the Authentic Self
Here I am reminded of two other men I had encountered many years ago when I was a soldier in Vietnam. One was the epitome of someone without presence; the other was the quintessence of it. In 1970, I was sent from advanced Army training in the States to the 3rd Squadron, Fifth Calvary (I do not remember the regiment, etc.) operating from Dong Ha, eight miles below the DMZ. Though I was supposed to be a tank crewman operating in the “boonies” for three months at a time, my education helped me get a job as an Operations Clerk in the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) located in a bunker twelve feet below ground near the center of the compound. In case the enemy breached the perimeter, which was about five hundred feet away from the TOC, a main target of the enemy, everyone was assigned a defensive position. Mine was near the top step of the only entry into and only exit from the TOC.
During the day, from this vantage point, I could see the officer’s hootch (quarters); among its occupants was the Executive Officer (XO), a major, who fancied himself as the reincarnation of Patton. At least several times a week, when he was in from the field, he would strut around the TOC, much to the repressed laughter of the other personnel, including me. Invariably, he wore a shiny helmet, which he may or may not have exchanged for a dull one in the field so as not to become an enhanced target for an enemy bullet. Clinging to the helmet was a set of goggles, even though these were not important in an environment without the extreme dust Patton had encountered in North Africa. Around his neck, the XO had tied a yellow cravat, meticulously arranged to match the scrupulously starched uniform he wore, complete with jodhpurs—after all, wasn’t the tank corps the modern equivalent of the cavalry? Moreover, he wore his jodhpurs “bloused” (tucked) into his always spit-polished boots in the way only paratroopers were allowed to wear their trousers during the War. I have a dim remembrance of at least one pearl-handled pistol holstered at the hip. And, topping off this elegant regalia, was a riding crop, one end of which he used to slap an open palm as he swaggered around the TOC. I always wondered if he occasionally used it to slap the tank turret to make the machine go faster. And I wondered also if this distracting, preposterous posturing had ever gotten one of his men maimed or killed.
One night around 1:30 a.m. while I was working alone, later than I usually did, in the TOC, the dreaded siren sounded, alerting us to a possible breach in the “wire.” As I clamped on and fastened my helmet, shouldered my flack jacket, grabbed my M16 and flew up the stairs to my assigned position, I suddenly realized that I had not been given any rules of engagement. These rules regulate when to fire and where, a crucial issue given that I would not be able to distinguish foe from friend in the darkness that descended when the compound lights were deliberately doused to deny illumination for the enemy. In my utter fright at the possibility of my first firefight, I chambered a round, crouched down and waited for I knew not what.
Suddenly, the door to the officer’s hootch burst open, and out hobbled the XO, constricted by his untied boots whose laces provided him with a major opportunity to fall on his face. Still shiny, his helmet lay cockeyed on his head, unfastened, a dangerous situation when one may be facing imminently the abrupt, physical movements of combat. Covering his torso was a regulation Army T-shirt, which I soon realized was inside out. As for his trousers—well, he had none on…which allowed anyone interested to view his shorts decorated with huge, red polka dots. In his right hand he grasped a .45 pistol, which he waved nervously in my face after he had finally shuffled and crouched his way to me. “What’s going on?” he said, terror flooding his eyes. “Where the f— is everyone?”
Though I had been nearly shaking in my own fear, I could barely suppress my laughter and disgust at my superior officer’s total lack of presence. As I was about to respond, from around the mound that was the top of the TOC came the Commanding Officer (CO). Dressed in a dull helmet and in Army fatigues distinguished only by his camouflaged, colonel insignia sewn on the shoulders, the CO was the portrait of leadership. His broad shoulders and erect stature were an outward manifestation of his inner commanding presence. Barely suppressing his anger and repugnance at the nearly sniveling XO, he said, “Go put on your pants!! Get the hell out of here!” Away scurried the XO while, again, I could hardly contain my amusement; yet, immediately, I grew fearful once more, wondering what the CO would now say to me.
I met his gaze, which was stern but not unfriendly. After a moment, he calmly said, “Son, do you have a round chambered?” “Yes, sir,” I said, waiting for the reprimand. “Give me the rifle,” was all he said. After taking the weapon from me, he quickly ejected the round, then handed it back and said, “Don’t chamber another round until I tell you.” And off he walked into the darkness.
Thankfully, the siren soon stopped, a false alarm. Along with my relief, I felt a renewed strength, as well as a certain awe and inspiration. By the CO’s model in the moment, I developed a growing sense of my own presence. And, though I had and have no love for war, I would have followed this CO into battle. In his bearing, authority, attention, understanding, fairness, and discernment about what was going on for each of his soldiers, he was manifesting an irresistible presence, unlike the XO who was inauthentic and, in short, a fake not to be respected or followed—by the way, I never saw him again after that night! In Leadership Presence, Halpern and Lubar say about the leader with the CO’s presence: “The world sees him as secure and fully comfortable with himself; he never tries to be someone or something he’s not.”
Presence as Improvisation
Halpern and Lubar note that presence is also “the ability to be completely in the moment [conquering fear, distraction, and pressure in ones daily performance] and flexible enough to handle the unexpected.” This description further describes the CO and Dave, while revealing an aspect of presence that suggests its even deeper roots. Halpern and Lubar are here describing presence in terms of improvisation, the process of staying in the moment while being open to and making use of whatever is available or emerges. An individual can practice improv only if he or she is totally in the here and now and thus observant of everything not only around him or her, but also within in terms of all the mental, emotional, and physical assets he or she has. Such a person is like a tennis player totally focused with heightened sensitivity and receptivity, waiting for the opponent’s serve, and balancing on the balls of the feet, ready to move back, forward, to either side, or up or down to connect with the slammed ball that may land anywhere in his field of responsibility.
Yet, this is possible only if the player first recognizes both the expansive beliefs that help him or her discover and tune into various kinds of inner power and also those limiting beliefs that constrict his or her sense of self and thus the depth and fullness of his or her presence. In short, to actualize all of the qualities already listed and still others that inform presence, the individual must continually grow, that is, develop more and more awareness of all that he or she truly is.
A case in point is the stuttering King George VI, informally known to his family (and soon his voice coach, Lionel Logue) as Bertie. In The King’s Speech, Bertie at first believes his stutter is congenital until Logue, with much effort, persuades him to see that his upbringing by an angry father, cold mother, physically hurtful nanny, and teasing brother inhibited his expressing himself and caused him to develop limiting beliefs about who he is and his weaknesses and strengths. Believing his demanding father who tells him his stuttering makes him useless as a potential monarch, and believing that protocol must be preserved at any cost, Bertie does everything he can to stifle his own desire to become king; such is the case even when his brother David eventually ascends the throne and neglects his duties in favor of an affair with a twice-divorced commoner whom he wishes to marry. When David finally abdicates and thus propels Bertie into succeeding him, nevertheless, because of continuing limiting beliefs about his own abilities, Bertie is still not fully present to accept the coronation. Only when Logue, during preparations for the coronation, provocatively sits in the ancestral coronation chair and thus angers Bertie, does Bertie demand that the seemingly impertinent Logue get out the sacred chair. Logue asks by what right does Bertie make such a demand; Bertie responds with a major declaration, finally claiming what, before this moment, he has been too scared to pronounce: “I have a voice!” shouts Bertie without stammering, thereby owning his fuller self and kingly aspirations. He is now on his way to becoming wholly present as he learns to give less and less halting, yet eloquent speeches to his countrymen, who are hungry for inspiration from their monarch during WWII.
Multi-Dimensional Presence
After the first of the King’s successful speeches, Logue ceases to call Bertie by that name and, instead, finally addresses him as “Your Royal Highness,” thereby acknowledging the monarch’s kingly presence. Still, there is more to the King that could be present, if he expanded his awareness and knew how to access those dimensions. I am referring here to his multi-dimensional self. In Jane Roberts’ Seth Books, Seth constantly notes that each individual comprises not just many traits, but also many dimensions or selves, all of which affect the nature of our presence in the world. Besides reincarnational and future selves, we have and are parallel selves and counterpart selves. As for parallel selves, these form at every moment we decide to do one thing (as simple as a finger movement to the right) and not one other or several others (finger movements to the left, up, down, curled onto itself, etc.). By choosing one such action, we collapse the “quantum wave,” which contains all possible actions; the one action we choose may be as small as (or much smaller than) finger movements, and as large as (or larger than) dropping a series of gargantuan bombs to end life on Earth. While we have chosen one of these actions, our other probable selves nevertheless actualize in parallel universes all the other possibilities not chosen by us in this reality. And, of course, each of our other probable selves creates its own parallel selves each time it acts, and so on infinitely.
In this life, for instance, Bertie chose to claim his kingly aspirations; in one parallel life, he chose not to take the throne with the result that the government shut down with grave consequences to England in the upcoming war. In another parallel life, Bertie became a shadow king advising his brother on what to say and do without taking any credit and so diminishing himself still further; in another parallel life, Bertie became mentally incompetent from the stress, and his daughter Elizabeth took over at age 10 with tumultuous consequences. Likewise, in this life, the CO reprimanded the XO; in one parallel life, he overlooked the XO’s deportment and thereby possibly endangered everyone; in another parallel life, the CO never came by, and thus the XO and I were left to decide what to do…and so on. In each parallel life, a different decision by the Bertie or the CO led to a very different result for each of them and for those around each man.
As for counterpart selves, these are other aspects of ones Oversoul, living in the same time period—though each is a different age—and working on the same basic challenge; but each does so from a different perspective. For instance, Dave, my dog trainer, may have a male counterpart who is 6 years old, living in an impoverished country and eating wild dogs as his only sustenance. Another counterpart might be a woman of 22 in Texas, who is researching how to extend the life of thoroughbred canines, while another counterpart might be a shaman of 85 in China who has Dog as one of his power animals; and still another female counterpart is 52 and runs a rescue shelter and regularly and with much grief has to put down unwanted dogs. All these incarnations of Dave’s Oversoul, including Dave himself, may be working simultaneously on different ways to view and relate to canines. And the Oversoul Itself, which embraces and knows all of the selves/dimensions and how they reflect an infinite number of approaches to the Oversoul’s current mission, may be accessed directly through meditative, hypnotic processes.
Most important in this discussion of presence and the multi-dimensional self is the fact that there are constant “bleed-throughs” among all these selves, communications that appear in dreams, hunches, waking fantasies, and, more deliberately, in visualizations and other kinds of spiritual hypnosis. For someone who wants the fullest presence possible, learning to accept the reality of these selves and then consciously to access them will provide new resources, even talents and abilities, to enhance what the individual can bring forth, improvise, from within in the present moment. For example, in at least one parallel life, Bertie is not a stutterer and is, in fact, an eloquent orator; by tuning into that self, Bertie in the present life might then have his own, inner voice coach. Or Dave could connect to a counterpart self who knows how to extend the life of thoroughbred dogs and thus make helpful suggestions to clients whose purebred dogs are nearing the end of their lives. Or the CO could have opened to a future self as a Major General and thus gotten advice on choosing better junior officers.
If we look for an example of such full-blown presence, we might examine the doctrine of “Real Presence,” promulgated by Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican Christians. This is the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Wafer consecrated by the priest during Mass to become mysteriously the actual body and blood of Christ and then given to qualified participants to eat. Theophagy—god-eating—was, according to Sir James George Frazer in The Golden Bough (1922; accessed at http://www.bartleby.com/196/120.html ) a ritual known to many ancient societies. What may be unique, though, in the Christian view is the nature of the god’s presence: “None of these churches sees what is really in the Eucharist as a lifeless corpse and mere blood, but as the whole Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity,” even though the wafer and wine appear to be only what they seem. (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Real+Presence). More emphatically “…in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was previously just bread and wine, and not merely present in symbol, a figure of speech (metaphorically), or by his power (dynamically)” (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Eucharistic+theology). In short, Christ with all of his living humanity and divinity is completely present in/as the Wafer. As such, as well as in his historical form, Christ, hypostatically merging his full divinity and complete humanity, is the exemplar of the Ultimate Presence possible, open to all of His infinite dimensions/selves.
Yet there is more to understand about Ultimate Presence if we go to John 6: 51-57 (The Jerusalem Bible translation), where Christ Himself describes his Real Presence:
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world….I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.
As is commonly understood, Christ seems here to be emphasizing several points: 1) that He is the Sacrifice exacted by the Father to atone for the sins of mankind; 2) that when the faithful consume his Flesh and Blood and connect also to His Divinity, they are thereby bonded to Him and to each other; and that individuals not participating in this communion will not have everlasting life.
However, these interpretations seem to rest on the assumption that Christ is essentially different from humans, that He is one-of-a-kind, and only through absorbing His Unique Presence is there life everlasting. Yet, the Church teaches that Christ is wholly human. While the understanding of Christ as Divine is certainly underlined in the passage above, nevertheless, His “Son of Man,” Human, flesh-and-blood nature is even more emphasized. So, unless his followers eat, take in, his “real food” and “real drink”—his material existence—and experience its utmost value, and make it one with their own tissue, paradoxically, they cannot experience immortal life. What Christ is ultimately saying here, I believe, is that matter, flesh and blood, earthy existence are inherently sacred, even immortal at some level—recall that He later rose with His Body into Heaven after the Crucifixion; that His mother, Mary, was also taken into Heaven with Her Body at death; and that He noted that he was the “living bread which has come down from heaven,” a curious statement seeming to imply that he was already one with materiality before he was born!
Thus, Christ seems to declare that there is no real distinction between the physical and the spiritual, between the body and the soul; and that the body is the soul’s expression,”face” or extension into three-dimensional existence. If Christ were to deny that the material world, His Body, is sacred, He would be repudiating His full reality, His Ultimate Presence, and thus also not be telling the truth when he says eternal life comes through His Flesh. Furthermore, if Christ is wholly human, his Physicality that is His Soul made Flesh is no different from that of anyone else. Thus, when one eats Christ’s material being that is also His soul and His Ultimate Presence, one is simply eating, ingesting, absorbing in a very concrete way one’s own divine humanness. In this view, anyone who truly and completely realizes this truth can manifest the Ultimate Presence that Christ models.
This means that an individual who is Ultimately Present, in addition to all that was described earlier, is also fully in his or her body, which is wholly sanctified as the 3-D expression of his or her soul; is aware that to claim life everlasting is to fully realize that matter is simply divinity of high density; is committed to earthly, material life as the necessary means for the soul to realize more of its potential; and is grounded in here-and-now existence. In contrast is the individual who believes that to be spiritually present is to want to depart physical existence, to escape the “heavy,” constricting body, and to focus on cultivating only the higher level chakras. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Robert Bruce says in Energy Work: The Secrets of Healing and Spiritual Growth:
Modern New Age people tend to stimulate and attract mainly higher spiritual energies. But to function well on all levels…we need a balanced intake of energies. Low vibrational energies are not negative or toxic or bad, any more than are low musical notes and tones….Low vibrational energies are grounding, balancing, and healthy, and should be an essential part of ones elemental dietary balance (p.113).
Using Ultimate Presence
Just as Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist cultivates communion with others, so, too, when an individual shows up with his or her Ultimate Presence, he or she is able not only to connect quickly to provide solutions and solace, but also to help elicit the other’s own presence. Dave showed this faculty at one level when he tuned in to the growling dogs and drew from them their calm presence to match his own. At a deeper level, mental health and health practitioners—those with “healing touch,” for instance—first tune in to their full selves, paradoxically, in order to tune into their clients. To the degree that their helpers become present to them, clients typically respond positively, emotionally and/or physically. Because of trauma of one kind or another, these clients frequently disembody and un-ground themselves in an attempt to leave what has harmed them. However, the helper’s grounding presence, void of any deliberate masks, subterfuges, or distortions, signals to the client that it is okay to stay embodied and present. The helper can give this indicator only if he or she accesses from within whatever he or she needs to stay in his or her own body experienced as soul.
Another use of Ultimate Presence is best illustrated by what happened to me during one phase of my writing of my doctoral dissertation at Harvard in 1975. I had just finished a chapter on one of John Berryman’s poetic masterpieces, Homage to Mistress Bradstreet, which was, among other things, Berryman’s own experiment with presence. For in this poem he wanted Anne Bradstreet, living in the middle seventeenth century as American’s first published poet, to come alive again, be fully present to him, so that he could dialogue with her. To explain completely how Berryman accomplished this would take up far too much space (check out my book, The Berryman Gestalt); suffice it to say that, with some difficulty, he opened himself and became present to her reality, speaking initially as her in the poem, until she was sufficiently concrete and present for him to address her.
To do so required him to call forth dimensions of himself, some of them represented by Anne’s own character, which he had not until then explored or allowed to surface, including his ability to love deeply. His now greater presence allowed him to quell his initial intent to seduce Anne and instead open lovingly to her soul manifesting as flesh. At the end he discovers that being fully present is equivalent to loving deeply. When he breaks off the dialogue with Anne so she can go back to her life and eventually experience her death, he continues to encounter her powerful presence because he has not shut down, constricted his now expanded sense of who he is: “Hover, utter, still/a sourcing whom my lost candle like the firefly loves” (ll. 457-8).
Thus, while I had discovered through Berryman’s Homage another use of Ultimate Presence—the evocation of profound love—there was more for me to learn directly about this phenomenon. When I started to explicate his Dream Songs, his major work, I found the poems often quite opaque. One day, while working in Harvard’s undergraduate library, I started reading books about Gestalt Therapy, one of whose modalities consists of inviting the client to have dialogues between and among aspects of himself or herself. One of Berryman’s syllabi—he had been a teacher at the University of Minnesota until 1972—featured one of these books. As I read the text, I unexpectedly felt a rush of energy flooding my body. I suddenly saw that Berryman was doing Gestalt dialogues with aspects of himself in the Dream Songs—he was discovering even more of who he was, thereby expanding his sense of his own presence beyond what he had learned in dialogue with Anne.
Likewise, by beginning to understand the new and greater dimensions of his presence, I, too, was becoming open to new aspects of myself, a process that allowed me to connect to him even more. For about two weeks after my initial discovery of his core poetic tactics, I started every day by reading in the Gestalt texts to get that rush of energy going that expanded who I was; then with more of me present to listen deeply to the Songs, I was amazed how easily they offered up their meanings. I found that Berryman, in his quest to discover his full presence, was using not only Gestalt dialogues, but also many triple and quadruple puns to elicit and embody and present together many of his different and even conflicting voices/selves.**
Then one day, the energy became so expansive within me that I felt propelled out of my chair; pacing up and down the room I was in, I could barely contain the physical energy, as well as the mental acuity I was experiencing about what was going on in the Songs. When I finally sat down and looked out the window, thinking that the rapid expansion of my identity might thereby be relieved or at least slowed down, I experienced just the opposite. In a split second, everything in the room and outside became what I can call only super real, that is, super present. The edges of everything, from the paper clip on my table to the stain on the brick wall of the building thirty feet away became at once very solid and very fluid, glowing without glowing, a combination of energy and matter, soul and body. I was experiencing not only my own extended self, but also the expansive essence of each thing, its here-ness and there-ness, its eternal now.
And the experience went on.
A second wave of energy suddenly swept through me; and, abruptly, I was in a review of my life and remembered everyone who had touched me, positively or negatively and everything that had moved me, again happily or sadly…and all of that was…totally okay, completely right on, in a way I could only deeply encounter, but not articulate. It was an experience of my totality, all my humanness and divinity emerging from a complexity beyond understanding but experienced fully in an instant. In that instant I have no doubt I was consciously my multi-dimensional self.
And when the third wave of energy washed over me, my sense of my own presence extended to include everything around me, as I felt compassion (i.e., feeling with) beyond understanding, encompassing every single thing, including the dust mote dancing in the sunlight streaming through a library window, the thief stealing a wallet in Harvard Square, the ink blotch on a paper on my table, the reeking garbage in the wastebasket just outside the door, the spectacular colors of the descending sun. I finally understood and experienced for myself what Berryman must have felt when he was fully present for Anne’s death while also welcoming her continuing presence: “In the pain of rain and departure, still/Love…presides the sun and elfs from silence melody” (ll. 454-6).
In that sublime moment of ecstasy, in that flash of “standing outside” of my constricted self, I was experiencing Ultimate Presence…I was Love.
So, Dear Reader, what are your most important experiences with presence of one level or another? What was the effect on you and others? Have you experienced still another dimension of presence?
*Names are fictitious to preserve privacy.
**Evidence of how fully present Berryman became to me through his poetry and I to him through my finding inner resources to listen more openly and closely to his presence were two things: 1) the fact that I once felt his actual presence in the library and telepathically heard him give me a clue about why he had committed suicide four years earlier, and 2) the comment made in a testimonial for me by Edward Fitzgerald, one of my thesis readers, a sometime friend of Berryman, and the renowned Harvard translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey; “Joe has written about Berryman the way Berryman would have wanted.”
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Foundry Law Group Blog
By Marcus Harjani
IoT (or Internet of Things) has seen a boom in the past several years. Connected devices such as Alexa or Siri are well known, but many more products feature connected functionality. In general, IoT has been far less understood and far less regulated from a privacy and data security standpoint. This year California has passed laws affecting connected devices.
IoT Law – Two New California Privacy and Data Security Laws
The new laws concerning IoT comes generally under two new pieces of legislation, the Security of Connected Devices Act and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018.
Security of Connected Devices
Signed into law September 28, 2018, the so-called Security of Connected Devices SB-327 seeks to require manufacturers of connected devices to incorporate certain security features. The law, which goes into effect January 1, 2020, sets forth what might be considered a baseline of security features.
The law requires manufacturers to equip devices with reasonable security features or features that are related to the functionality of the device. This includes the information the device collects, contains, or transmits. The device must protect information contained on the device from unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure.
Further, if the device authenticates outside of a local network, it must feature a preprogrammed unique password and require a new means of authentication after first use.
California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018
In addition to Security of Connected Devices law, the CA Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 creates additional compliance obligations. While a larger topic of conversation, companies selling connected devices must also comply with additional requirements placed on those who collect personal information on users.
Why New Laws Now?
Cloud service providers such as AWS, Azure, and Bluemix all feature out-of-the-box solutions for developing and deploying IoT devices. Coupled with a variety of natural language processing tools, the barriers to entry for new devices is lower than it’s ever been. There are currently around 26 billion connected devices worldwide and there is to be an expected 75 billion by 2025.
IoT enables an exciting world of smart gardens, self-cooking food, and endlessly personalized experiences. CA lawmakers have sought to provide a baseline of privacy and data security to establish guardrails in future development. The laws may provide a model for other states or the federal government coming to terms connected devices.
Understanding the Needs of IoT Companies
Foundry Law Group understands both the excitement and the complexity of launching an IoT company. If you have an IoT company or are considering a new venture, please contact us now to schedule a consultation. For additional reading, I’ve been featured speaking about the new IoT laws in Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s enterprise.nxt.
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Utilities for dummies
Utilities for dummies, part 2: Why we need competitive electricity markets (with fennec foxes!)
By David Roberts on May 23, 2013
Joachim S. MüllerThe fennec fox will be your adorable guide for part 2.
Electric utilities! They are to me what sideboobs are to Huffington Post — I just can’t stop writing about them.
A couple of days ago I posted a brief introduction to utilities and the way they currently work. The take-home lesson is that current regulations give utilities every incentive to build more infrastructure and sell more power, but very little incentive to cut costs or innovate.
(Now featuring cute animals!)
The situation is no longer working for us. We need rapid, large-scale innovation in low-carbon electricity systems, and we need it now. It’s time to fundamentally rethink the utility business model.
I hope you’ll indulge me just one more scene-setting post before I finally get to the long-awaited post on solutions. Today we’re going to take a look at the way electricity has typically gotten from generator to customer, the electricity “value chain,” so we can better understand which parts need to change. This is a complicated topic, to say the least, but I’ll do my best to break it down in the simplest terms I can, with the proviso that I’m glossing over lots and lots of important details.
More in this series :
Solar panels could destroy U.S. utilities, according to U.S. utilities
How can we boost distributed solar and save utilities at the same time?
Rooftop solar vs. utilities: The San Antonio episode
Utilities vs. rooftop solar: What the fight is about
The electricity value chain
OK. Think of the electricity value chain as having three basic links:
Joachim S. MuellerThe fennec value chain.
Generation: These are the power plants that generate (most of) the electricity.
Transmission and distribution (T&D): These are the poles and lines that carry electricity to customers, both high-voltage long-distance transmission lines and lower-voltage local distribution lines, along with all the substations and transformers that help the power along its way.
The distribution edge: This one takes a little explaining. The point where the grid meets the customer is the power meter, which tracks the customer’s electricity consumption for billing purposes. Most of the time that meter is on a house or building, though sometimes, in the case of “microgrids,” there is one meter for a whole collection of buildings. Everything that goes on in the building(s), before net consumption is tallied up by the meter (think rooftop solar panels, smart appliances, electric cars, energy storage, energy management software, etc.), happens “behind the meter.” Everything at and behind the meter is known as the “distribution edge.”
In the beginning, most utilities, especially investor-owned utilities, were “vertically integrated,” meaning they owned and operated the entire value chain, from the power plant to the meter. At the time, electricity was viewed purely as a commodity; the utility’s sole job was to get as much of it as possible to customers as cheaply as possible. What customers did with it on their side of the meter was of little concern, as long as they kept using more of it.
In the electricity-as-commodity model, it’s all about economies of scale. The bigger you make the power plants, the cheaper the power. That’s why utilities were monopolies: so they could maximize the benefits of scale.
The physical expression of the commodity model is the “hub and spoke” electricity grid, with large centralized power plants sending power out long distances to surrounding customers. It helps to think of it as a hydrological system. Electricity springs from power plants and flows down great rivers of transmission cables into the smaller canals and streams of a distribution system. In this system, power flows only one way, from hubs outward. It’s like gravity pulling water downhill.
Since there is no way to store the power, there must always be enough flowing into the streams to sate customer thirst. When demand surges in certain areas at certain times, grid operators fire up more power plants to supply the extra need. The plants that are always running are “baseload,” usually coal, nuclear, or hydro. The ones that get fired up for the busy daytime hours, the “mid-merit” plants, are typically natural gas combined-cycle plants. And then when demand “peaks” for a few hours, usually in the afternoon and again when people come home in the evening, they fire up the more expensive oil or gas “peaker plants.” There must always be enough power plants online — enough “generation capacity” — to supply well in excess of any expected peak, establishing “reserve margins” of 15 to 20 percent. That’s how reliability is assured: The canals and streams are kept full at all times.
Previous utility reforms
yvonne nPrevious utility reforms!? This fennec fox is all ears.
In 1978, seeking to open up the generation side of things to smaller and cleaner power plants, Congress passed the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA. (There’s some talk that it could be used to drive a new wave of distributed renewables, but the details are complicated and not essential to the story I’m telling.)
More significantly, in the 1990s, there was a wave of regulatory restructuring that “unbundled” generation from transmission and distribution. These changes created competitive wholesale and retail power markets on the generation side, but left transmission and distribution — getting power to customers and billing them for it — to regulated utilities.
(This is often referred to as “deregulation,” but I think that’s a misleading term; the whole industry remains regulated from top to bottom.)
Restructuring was proceeding at a brisk clip until California happened in 2000-2001. Remember that? Enron? Maximum fubar? More or less overnight, “deregulation” and “consumers get f*cked” became synonymous in the public mind and restructuring of the utility industry froze in place.
I stole these handy maps from American Electric Power:
The top map shows all the states that were investigating or implementing restructuring in 2001. On the bottom you see the situation in 2010 — only Texas and the Northeast have stuck with restructuring. (Arizona is apparently looking into it.)
So we’re left with a mix of public and investor-owned utilities, some vertically integrated and some with only T&D, and just for fun, some have undergone decoupling (which we’ll talk about in a later post) and some haven’t. All these categories overlap. Oh, and some holding companies own both independent power producers and regulated utilities. It becomes very difficult to make generalizations or simplifying assumptions about utilities — and it also becomes super-boring.
I think I speak for all Americans when I say that contemplating the post-partial-quasi-halfway-restructured U.S. electricity industry gives me an intense, nagging pain just above my left eye socket. This is what happens when you bang into the force field of tedium.
What has changed in electricity
So let’s take a few steps back and think about what’s changed in electricity. The traditional utility model made sense in the context of rapidly rising demand, economies of scale, and blissful climate ignorance. But today, two big counter-trends loom large.
Joachim S. Müller“Wake up. He’s not done yet.”
First, climate change has become an urgent priority. U.S. policy may look stuck right now, but action on climate is inevitable, and utilities know it. Doing what really needs to be done on climate would involve an immediate and rapid scaling up of low-carbon power along with aggressive, system-wide pursuit of conservation, energy efficiency, and demand response.
Second, electricity is beginning to behave less like a commodity and more like information. It’s no longer a one-way affair, from generator to meter. Now it’s hundreds of thousands of small, distributed generators (think rooftop solar panels) sharing with each other on local distribution networks. Electricity is increasingly managed: monitored, fine-tuned, time-shifted. Big customers, and increasingly small ones too, want energy services rather than raw kilowatt-hours. They want to know how to tie together solar panels, microturbines, energy management software, smart appliances, electric cars, batteries and other storage, and energy-effective design into smart systems. They want to know how to create microgrids that incorporate electricity generation and management and can “island” off the larger grid in case of emergency or attack. They want all the pieces of the electricity puzzle to fit together in a way that reduces consumption, minimizes waste, and maximizes resilience. Or if they don’t want it yet, they’ll want it soon.
That’s where things are headed: an electricity grid, particularly on the distribution side, that is infused with information technology and looks a lot like the internet. (This is usually referred to as the “smart grid,” though it extends beyond just the grid. Al Gore tried to make “enernet” catch on, but it never really took.)
So, two changes: the low-carbon imperative and the shift from a dumb one-way system to a smart, multi-directional network. Both point above all to the need for innovation, not just in technology but in business practices, financing models, and investment strategies.
The best tool we currently know of for producing rapid innovation, product development, and jobs is a competitive market. That’s what’s missing.
Now, I mentioned before that some markets have restructured to provide for competition on the generation side. I think that’s all to the good, and it should continue. But what’s really needed today is competitive markets on the distribution edge. It makes no sense to have utilities hostile to distributed energy and local energy management. We need entrepreneurs thinking about how to package energy services in new ways for customers, and we need utilities not just to stop impeding them or to get out of their way, but to actively empower them.
Joachim S. MüllerGet ready for part 3.
But we still need the reliability and stability with which regulated utilities have traditionally been charged. How can utilities provide that, make sure the grid keeps humming, while also structuring competitive markets on both the generation side and the distribution edge? That’s that knotty subject that we will (finally) tackle in my next post.
Stories in this series:
Rooftop solar panels and other distributed-energy tools will radically shake up the power sector, according to an unusually frank report from a utility trade group.
Distributed power threatens to send utilities into a death spiral. Naturally, they would like to slow it down. Is there any way for distributed energy and utilities to get along? Maybe!
San Antonio's municipal utility wants to slash the subsidy it provides for rooftop solar power, which would be bad news for the fledgling solar-installation industry.
See all articles in this series
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E = mc�
Welcome MessageMath SymbolsSome NotesAnnouncements ArchieveScience Journals
Where is the best place for a spaceport?
Posted: Posted December 1st, 2018 by chiarizio
Black YoshichiarizioENFox ForeverI killed MufasaLarry Craig 2016LeolinguistcatLLightThe FlyXhin
Where are the best places for interplanetary, and separately for interstellar, spacecraft to “land”, and separately to take off from?
When are the best times to land or take off?
Where are the best places to anchor a space-elevator?
Would it be better for some types of spacecraft to land on actual land, and other types to land in water?
If some (or all!) would benefit by making planetfall in water, should it be oceanic, or freshwater lake? Or, some for the ocean and others for lakes?
If a lake, how deep must it be, how wide must it be, and at what altitude should it be?
If some or all should land on and/or take off from land, should it be a mountaintop, or a tableland (plateau), or some other type of elevated flat spot, or a plain?
Should it be Polar or Equatorial?
The South Pole is land and the North Pole is ocean. Which is better for which type of craft?
If the spot chosen is equatorial and oceanic, wouldn’t it be smart to have it near an inhabited island, or an inhabited bit of continental coast? Or would that actually be risky?
Would either the Galápagos Islands, or the Gilbert islands, be good?
How about Equatorial Guinea?
I can’t make an exhaustive list of equatorial locations that are either elevated or populated or both.
Might https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimborazo be a good spot?
It’s a dormant (last eruption 550 BCE) volcano so it might be scary; but its peak is the piece of land furthest from the Earth’s center.
How about somewhere in the https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwenzori_Mountains?
They’re not volcanic, or at least Mount Stanley, their highest peak, isn’t. It’s less than half a degree away from the Equator. And they’re near three African Great Lakes, one of which is about 600 meters above sea level, and one of which is about 900 meters above sea level, and at least one of which is smack dab on the Equator.
Is the best design for a space elevator to have its central platform be in geosynchronous orbit around the Equator, with equal lengths of cable descending to the anchor point on the earth, and ascending above the platform out into space?
If a spacecraft takes off from the Equator, is the best time midnight, or six hours before midnight? (Real local time meant, without influence from time zones nor daylight saving time.). And is the best time to land midnight, or six hours after midnight?
Or maybe it depends on whether the ship is arriving from or departing toward a place or direction closer to “towards the sun” or “away from the sun”.
Perhaps, if an interstellar ship is arriving on earth from a destination outside the solar system, close to the plane of the ecliptic, an equatorial base would be better; but if it’s arriving from a direction nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic, a polar base would be better.
If ships land at and take off from a polar location, would midwinter day (the winter solstice) be the best time? Or would whenever the earth is at aphelion be the best time?
What if the interplanetary and interstellar ships don’t land on nor take off from the earth at all?
It seems that the smart things to do might be to build two spaceports on Luna, one in the center of the far side, and one in the center of the near side. Ships coming from deep interplanetary space, with traffic or freight to or from earth, would land at and take off from the far side. There’d be a railroad or something taking freight and people between the farside port and the nearside port. Shuttles would take them between Earth and the nearside port.
When would be the best times to land at or take off from the far side?
I suggest: full moon, or, whenever the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun.
I don’t think it matters so much when to time flights between the near side and the Earth. But maybe it should be when the moon is directly over the Equator.
What if, in addition to the above paragraph, there were also space elevators built ? Then the shuttles wouldn’t have to actually land on the earth; they could just rendezvous with the outer, spaceward ends of the space elevators; or, maybe, with their geosynchronous, central, main platforms.
By the same token, maybe interstellar craft need never approach the earth. The interstellar port(s) could be on Sedna or Pluto or Charon or some other “sednoid”, or a major satellite of Neptune or Uranus or Saturn or Jupiter. Freight and passengers to be carried between Earth and interstellar destinations, could be shuttled between such a port, and Luna’s farside port.
What about other planets than Earth, and other star-systems than Sol’s?
I’d better go ahead and post this now.
There are 5 Replies
=What about other planets than Earth, and other star-systems than Sol’s? Just so you know Sol is not the official scientific name for the Sun. The Sun doesn't really have any other name. A "sol"ar system is any star that has planets around it. The same for the Moon. It's not Luna, just Moon with a capital "M." =Where are the best places for interplanetary, and separately for interstellar, spacecraft to “land”, and separately to take off from? When it comes to landing spacecraft the thicker the atmosphere and weaker the gravity the better. Landing on the moon is relatively simple, even though it has almost no atmosphere, because its gravity is low enough that a suicide burn isn't terribly costly. Mars on the other hand is tricky. It's gravity isn't as strong as earth but neither is its atmosphere. On their own suicide burns would take up too much fuel and parachutes couldn't grab enough atmo to land a spacecraft without crashing it. The common solution is to use both as well as the airbag cocoon, which all together work to soften the landing. Now when it comes to stellar grabbing - that is falling into orbit around another star - you're gonna want stronger gravity. Presumably if you're traveling from one star to another you're gonna be travelling extraordinarily fast. You're gonna need some serious power and serious time to slow down enough for any star's gravity to catch you. In the future where an interstellar economy has made the resources necessary for this plentiful, you'd presumably have that. But not to digress, the most cost effective area to slow down to "orbit speed" from "escape speed" would be a system with either a large star or several such stars. =When are the best times to land or take off? In terms of planetary lift-off and landing a daytime launch is favorable. For landing it obviously helps to see the ground, and for lifting-off any solar panels will be able to start gathering energy immediately. Needless to say favorable weather conditions are a plus. No storms, minimal wind, etc. The temperature is also important depending on the sensitivity of the craft. In the case of shuttle launches, they were only allowed to lift off when the temperature is above 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and below 99 degrees. In terms of falling into a stellar orbit, the weather on the stars is what you have to watch out for. Are any of them going to flare up? How about coronal mass ejections? The less stable the star the more you're going to have to keep an eye on these events. =Where are the best places to anchor a space-elevator? Space elevators have limited practicality. The stronger the gravity of a body, the longer, more sturdy, and more costly the space elevator will have to be. To that end we probably won't be seeing a lot of space elevators on Earth or even Mars sized planets. However building a space elevator on a small moon, planetoid, or asteroid might make a heck of a lot more sense.
Just so you know Sol is not the official scientific name for the Sun. The Sun doesn't really have any other name. A "sol"ar system is any star that has planets around it. The same for the Moon. It's not Luna, just Moon with a capital "M."
When it comes to landing spacecraft the thicker the atmosphere and weaker the gravity the better. Landing on the moon is relatively simple, even though it has almost no atmosphere, because its gravity is low enough that a suicide burn isn't terribly costly. Mars on the other hand is tricky. It's gravity isn't as strong as earth but neither is its atmosphere. On their own suicide burns would take up too much fuel and parachutes couldn't grab enough atmo to land a spacecraft without crashing it. The common solution is to use both as well as the airbag cocoon, which all together work to soften the landing.
Now when it comes to stellar grabbing - that is falling into orbit around another star - you're gonna want stronger gravity. Presumably if you're traveling from one star to another you're gonna be travelling extraordinarily fast. You're gonna need some serious power and serious time to slow down enough for any star's gravity to catch you. In the future where an interstellar economy has made the resources necessary for this plentiful, you'd presumably have that. But not to digress, the most cost effective area to slow down to "orbit speed" from "escape speed" would be a system with either a large star or several such stars.
In terms of planetary lift-off and landing a daytime launch is favorable. For landing it obviously helps to see the ground, and for lifting-off any solar panels will be able to start gathering energy immediately. Needless to say favorable weather conditions are a plus. No storms, minimal wind, etc. The temperature is also important depending on the sensitivity of the craft. In the case of shuttle launches, they were only allowed to lift off when the temperature is above 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and below 99 degrees.
In terms of falling into a stellar orbit, the weather on the stars is what you have to watch out for. Are any of them going to flare up? How about coronal mass ejections? The less stable the star the more you're going to have to keep an eye on these events.
Space elevators have limited practicality. The stronger the gravity of a body, the longer, more sturdy, and more costly the space elevator will have to be. To that end we probably won't be seeing a lot of space elevators on Earth or even Mars sized planets. However building a space elevator on a small moon, planetoid, or asteroid might make a heck of a lot more sense.
Edited February 2nd by Louis De Pointe du Lac
My take is that interstellar ports would be best located on a low circumsolar orbit, then we use light shuttles between the port and the planets of the system. When it comes to passengers only, no heavy freight, I envision the interstellar ship would make no stop but would eject smaller passenger ships to the various solar systems it traverses. But I'm not sure there would be much traffic, as it would probably be immensely cheaper to use local resources to manufacture (or robofacture) anything.
Edited February 28th by Leo
If a spaceport were built near or on Ruwenzori or its African Great Lakes, how would that change their economy and their politics?
Edited May 5th by chiarizio
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Gluten-free chips, gluten-free dips, and gluten-free soups, pretzels, beer, and bread, not to mention gluten-free cheese sticks, fish sticks, bread sticks and soy sticks. These were just a few of the thousands of products on display at the most lavish annual gluten-free trade-fair that traversed the U.S. last Fall, according to a report in The New Yorker. This edenic profusion...[Subscriber]
Paris’ First American Diner
French gastronomy is generally regarded as one of the leading heavyweights in world cuisine. Food-enthusiasts travel to France from all over the world to sample and delight in the country’s famous dishes. While at the other end of the spectrum is often placed the ignominious food nations: Great Britain, Germany… and the USA, whose critics typically look down on it...[Subscriber]
Liberty, Equality, Gastronomy!
Michel Bastid, the newly appointed chef de cuisine at the Embassy of France in Washington, hardly had time to unpack his bags when he got his first taste of things to come: the annual Goût de France dinner held at French embassies around the world in early March to celebrate the country’s continued gastronomic edge in a fast food world....[Subscriber]
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Jeremy Brown
While pursuing a degree in agriculture at the University of Illinois to continue his long family tradition of farming, Jeremy Brown felt an urge to chase his lifelong dream of flying. Soon after, he packed his bags and headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., to work toward a career in commercial aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Unfortunately, while in Daytona Beach and working through his flying training, the tragic events of September 11, 2001 took place and completely re-shaped the aviation industry all but eliminating his opportunity to fly with the airlines. In turn, he found himself back in Illinois still looking for ways to become a pilot and in 2003, he turned to the Air Force.
He was soon stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, where we he was responsible for supervising in-shop maintenance on equipment for nuclear launch and missile alert facilities. After spending three years as an enlisted maintainer in the Air Force, he transitioned to office corps and was stationed in Oklahoma for two years to complete Undergraduate Pilot Training. Upon completion, he was assigned to the C-17A and was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
During his tenure there, he was certified as a C-17A Instructor Pilot and was also certified as an air drop pilot. He received numerous military awards, including two Air Medals for his work in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. In 2012, he was re-assigned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and unfortunately, soon thereafter was medically disqualified from flying. Considering this, Brown elected to separate from the Active Duty service and joined the Air Force Reserves. Hoping to put his MBA studies to work, he started to explore new careers both in real estate and entrepreneurship.
Franchising opportunities began to catch his eye, and soon after, he signed on to become a franchisee for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s Dover location. Bringing his business experience and extensive military leadership to the location, he has been able to post a 98% customer referral rate for the Dover team.
“The Air Force was a great organization to be a part of and I think I could paint a correlation between nearly everything I did in the military and all the things that go along with being a franchisee,” Brown shared of his military background. “In the Air Force, and more specifically as a pilot, processes and checklists rule the day. They allow you to approach every task with clearly defined steps and standards, which ensures both efficiency and consistency regardless of who is performing the task. These principles seem to translate very well into the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® system.”
Ready to own a franchise?
Speak to our franchise development team about this opportunity today!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to complete over 6,200 moves during its busiest move weekend of the year
Alicia and Pedro
Alicia has been around the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise her entire life, as her dad and uncle were the original “two men.” As a little girl, she fondly remembers the company being run out of her home.
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Quran Saved From Flames in Tuscaloosa - Birmingham History
There is a legend in Tuscaloosa that says the only book saved from the University of Alabama library before it went up in flames in 1865 was a Muslim holy book.
That's the legend but first the back story.
The largest Federal cavalry force of the Civil War was sweeping south through Alabama from the Tennessee River burning and pillaging all things Confederate. Leading the force was Major General James H. Wilson. His mission: destroy the Confederate arsenal at Selma in central Alabama.
At Elyton, modern Birmingham, Wilson dispatched Brigadier General John T. Croxton to ride 50 miles west to Tuscaloosa and burn anything used for the Confederate cause. The order to burn included the University of Alabama, a military college at the time and home to the state's finest library.
Tuscaloosa had escaped the destruction wrecked on other Southern towns during the Civil War.
But in the early morning hours of April 4, 1865, just days before the Confederate surrender in Virginia, war came to Tuscaloosa with a vengeance.
One thousand five hundred battle-hardened Yankees crossed a bridge over the Black Warrior River at Tuscaloosa. The invaders were challenged by Confederate homeguards and UA cadets- old men and boys. A minor skirmish ensued and the outnumbered defenders made a hasty retreat.
After daylight the Yankees began torching factories and mills along the town's riverfront. Croxton dispatched Colonel Thomas M. Johnston of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry to the University of Alabama with orders to burn it to the ground.
As Johnston and his troops approached the Rotunda at the center of the campus they were met by a few UA faculty members including the French librarian Andre Deloffre. Deloffre asked that the Rotunda, which housed the university's library, be spared. It, after all, had no military value he said.
Johnston sent a message back to Croxton asking if the rotunda and the library could be spared. "My orders leave me no discretion," wrote Croxton in reply. "My orders are to destroy all public buildings."
What happened next has become legend in Tuscaloosa.
Before the building was put to flame either Deloffre or Johnston walked into the library and pulled one book from the shelves to keep as a souvenir. That book's title: The Koran: Commonly Called The Alcoran Of Mohammed. The book, published in Philadelphia in 1853, is an English translation of the Muslim holy book.
"The question is how accurate is that story," said Clark Center from his office in the University of Alabama's Hoole Library where the book is stored.
Center, who is the archivist and curator of Southern History and Life Collections at UA, has done significant research on the 1865 destruction of the university. His article The Burning of the University appeared in the spring 1990 issue carpet cleaning birmingham of Alabama Heritage Magazine.
Center thinks there is some credence to the story because of the stamps used in the pre-Civil War days to identify UA books.
"It has an antebellum stamp in it. It's the only book to have been identified as one that was specifically removed from the library to save it from the fire," he said. "I suspect it was."
In his research, Center has come across many versions of different stories surrounding who exactly pulled the book during that fateful meeting at the Rotunda.
"There is no hard and fast story to cover it. We don't know if the officer went in and pulled a book or sent a soldier in to pull a book or if he asked Deloffre to pull a book. In the various versions I've seen no one is particularly clear on that. With the passage of time little details like that fall away. We just don't know."
Center does note one known detail that may point to who pulled the book from the shelf.
Center said that Dr. Wyman, a faculty member present in front of the Rotunda that day, later described Col. Johnston as a "man of culture and literary taste."
"So we've got a well-read colonel who may have walked in himself and picked it out," Center said.
To carpet cleaning birmingham understand why this particular book was chosen from the library that day, Center says we have to put ourselves in an 1865 frame of mind.
"Weather it's a soldier, weather it's a professor, you're going in and you're not spending a great deal of time looking around and you see a lot of very ordinary looking titles. Most of what you have been exposed to is a Baptist, a Presbyterian or a Methodist preacher; maybe a Catholic.
You've been exposed to American writings on ethics and moral philosophy. But (the Koran) is something that jumps out because it is something that you would not normally be exposed to.There were other books on ethics and morals and I suppose religion as well, but they were the American view. All I can think is that who ever picked it out was just taken with it because it was so different than everything else."
After the book was pulled the order to burn was given and the Rotunda and the library went up in flames. Other campus buildings including four dormitories were burned. Today the remnants of one of those dorms, Franklin Hall, now called The Mound, can still be seen on campus.
These days, when certain people want to burn holy books, it's comforting to think that in the midst of war a holy book was saved from the flames on an April day in 1865.
On that day it's not known if any of the men in front of the Rotunda opened the translation of the Koran to read it. But if they would have, they could have seen what is in store for those who wage war in the name of religion.
On page 48 of the translation, in the chapter known as Al-Imran, the Prophet Mohammed admonishes two once-warring Arab tribes. He reminds them of their fate if they abandon their peace: "And cleave all of you unto the covenant of God ... And be not as those who are divided, and disagree in matters of religion, after manifest proofs have been brought unto them: they shall suffer a great torment."
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Charity, Red Carpet, Special Events
Michael Douglas with philanthropist, actress and recording artist Ha Phuong at The Tibet Fund’s 6th Annual Gala, co-chaired by Richard Gere
November 13, 2015 Dustin Brown Leave a comment
HP, along with long-time supporters Gere and Douglas, are committed advocates of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his mission to preserve the distinct cultural and national identity of the Tibetan people. Visit tibetfund.org to learn how you too can support the Tibetan people and His Holiness.
On this special occasion in New York, The Tibet Fund honored Shep E. Gordon, an American talent manager, Hollywood film agent, and producer; Gelek Rinpoche, a spiritual teacher and Founder and President of Jewel Heart; and Philip Glass, a renowned music composer, for their long-standing support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.
“I was very honored to be a part of this ceremony recognizing these distinguished guests for their dedicated service to The Tibet Fund and helping the Tibetan people,” said Ha Phuong.
Philanthropist, actress and recording artist Ha Phuong joined by Michael Douglas on the red carpet in New York City. All photos courtesy Winston Burris
“After personally meeting with the Dalai Lama several years ago, I was deeply moved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and I made the commitment to help bring awareness about The Tibet Fund that provides housing and infrastructure, health care and education to the Tibetan community, in exile and in Tibet. I urge everyone to offer their support to the Tibetan community and visittibetfund.org to learn more.”
About Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer. His career includes a diverse range of films in both independent and blockbuster genres, for which he has received a number of accolades both competitive and honorary; these include the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for “outstanding contribution to the world of entertainment” and the AFI Life Achievement Award which “honor[s] an individual whose career in motion pictures or television has greatly contributed to the enrichment of American culture.”
About The Tibet Fund
The Tibet Fund’s mission is to preserve the distinct cultural and national identity of the Tibetan people. Since 1981, under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Tibet Fund has been the primary funding organization for health care, education, refugee rehabilitation, religious and cultural preservation, elder care and community and economic development programs serving more than 140,000 Tibetan refugees living in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
‘I would like to express my gratitude to all the friends who have generously contributed to The Tibet Fund over the years, with the hope that you will continue to support us until our difficulties have been finally and justly resolved.’
To view this message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, please visit tibetfund.org
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Natalia Vodianova: The Hottie With A Big Heart
Hot, goddess-y, and everything in between. Natalia Vodianova is someone you’d really fantasize about (and often). She is one of the few who is on the top of the (modeling) triangle (Editor Note: wtf is a modeling triangle?). Her hotness plus her heart made her a favorite not just to the fashion and entertainment world, but also to horny geeks like us. Natalia is truly something and everything about her is beautiful. Check her out. Her pictures only half-describes what she really is.
Who is Natalia Vodianova?
Natalia Vodianova (aka Supernova) is a famous Russian fashion model, philanthropist, and occasional film actress. She is one of the most desired and highest paid models of all time. She is most famous for her rags to riches career journey. Oh, and for her eight-season, seven-figure contract with giant brand Calvin Klein. Natalia has walked in more than 200 runway shows for both American and European designers and haute couture collections. She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Nina Ricci, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, L’Oréal, H&M, Guerlain, Givenchy, Prada, Calvin Klein, David Yurman, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Diane von Fürstenberg, Hugo Boss, Miss Sixty, Stuart Weitzman, Etam and a lot more.
Natalia first appeared on the cover of American Vogue (alongside Gisele Bundchen and Daria Werbowy) in 2004. In 2012, 8 years after her cover debut, she ranked 3rd on the Forbes top-earning models list, estimated to have earned $8.6 million in just one year.
Natalia was also chosen by Mattel (in 2016) as their prototype for the launching of the first Russian Barbie.
Natalia Mikhailovna Vodianova was born on February 28, 1982, in Gorky, Soviet Union (now Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). Natalia grew up in a poor district called Avtozavod with her two half-sisters (one of whom has cerebral palsy) and her mother. Her father walked out on the family when she was only a toddler (Natalia had no contacts with him until after she became famous). As a teen, Natalia helped her mother sell fruit on the street. Then later, with the help of a friend,she set up her own fruit stand to help her family.
Natalia went to modeling school and finished it at the age of 15. And just a year after that, an agent from Paris discovered her. The agent then convinced Natalia to learn English and move to Paris. At 17, she signed her first contract with Viva Model Management.
Outside Modeling
Natalia made her film debut in 2001, making a brief appearance in Roman Coppola’s CQ which stars Billy Zane. In 2010, she appeared in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans, portraying Medusa. In October of the same year, she had a lead acting role in a film adaptation of Belle du Seigneur, Albert Cohen’s 1968 novel. The film also stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and it was released in 2013.
Natalia, in 2009, co-hosted the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. In December of the same year, she was an ambassador of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Natalia also appeared at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver, Canada.
Her Philanthropy
This super babe is now famous for her philanthropic activity. You see, she used her earned wealth to start the Naked Heart Foundation, an organization which helps to develop (and provide) a safe environment for children in Russa. Natalia also lends her support to other philanthropic causes such as the Red Campaign, an initiative which aims to eliminate AIDS in Africa. She also became an ambassador for Hear the World, a global campaign that raises awareness on ‘loss of hearing’.
Natalia, in 2015, teamed up with Eugenia Makhlin. They created the Elbi app, which allows people to donate money with a ‘Love Button’, create content, send messages, and vote. The app allows users to donate to charities such as Save the Children International, Walkabout Foundation, Blue Skye Thinking, and others. The name Elbi (LB) stands for Little Big and the philosophy behind it is that you can make a big difference through little acts.
Natalia is also a spokesperson for the Tiger Trade Campaign, a group of 38 organizations that are united under the common aim “to bring back wild tigers by stopping trade in tiger parts and products from all sources.”
“I’m proud that Russia, my country, is home to the most magnificent of animals, the wild Siberian tiger. Today it is up to us to protect the tiger and its home, fewer than 350 Siberian tigers remain in the wild and no more than 3,400 tigers survive anywhere in the world. Unless we act now we will see the extinction of the wild tiger within our lifetime.”
Natalia was married for ten years (2001-2011) to British billionaire Justin Portman. They had three kids. After her separation with Portman, Natalia began dating Antoine Arnault, son of LVMH founder and CEO of Berluti Bernard Arnault. The couple has two kids, Maxim and Roman.
Harpers Bazaar awarded Natalia with the ‘Inspiration of the Year Award’ (because of her philanthropic efforts) in 2010.
In 2013, at the fourth annual DVF Awards, Natalia was honored with the Inspiration Award. The award is given to women “who have demonstrated leadership, strength, and courage in the face of adversity, and who use their influence to effect positive change.” The same year, Harper’s Bazaar awarded Natalia the Bazaar’s ‘Philanthropist of the Year Award’. In November of the following year, for her contribution and philanthropy as The Voice for Children, Natalia was one of the honored 2014 ‘Glamour Woman of the Year’.
This blue-eyed, blonde bombshell stands 5 feet, 9.5 inches and she has a 32.5-24.5-35 body statistics.
Natalia Vodianova Photos
Follow her on Instagram for the latest news about her.
Also, don’t forget to check out our Natalia Vodianova page for more of her pictures.
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New Electric Car Battery Last For 200 Miles And Charges In 6 Minutes
New Electric Car Battery Lasts For 200 Miles And Charges In 6 Minutes
New Electric Car Batteries Lasts For 200 Miles And Charges In 6 Minutes – image via inhabitat.com
The battery has always been the ‘Achilles heel’ for electric cars. They didn’t offer such a great range of travel, and it usually took them a long time to charge. Arguably, the batteries were the main reason for why electric cars haven’t yet taken off among drivers. Many well-established car manufacturers have announced their plans to enter the electric car market in force, as well as may other new manufacturers have made their presence heard. But the problem of inefficient batteries still remained – until now.
In 2008, the Japanese company Toshiba pioneered the SCiB rechargeable battery cells, and now they claim that they’ve improved on the previous model, capable now of offering EVs a 320 km range (approx 200 miles) and a fast charge speed of just six minutes. The secret behind this improvement is the material used in the anodes – the part of batteries through which the electrons pass. In the previous 2008 model, Toshiba used a lithium titanium oxide. This time, however, they use titanium niobium oxide – which Toshiba says that can maintain 90% of its efficiency even after 5,000 chargings.
Now, even though Toshiba’s new batteries can definitely improve an EVs lifespan and performance, they don’t specifically say how much power they actually offer. A Tesla Supercharger, for instance, is capable of producing as much as 135 kW of energy – while its Model S has an 85 kWh battery and a 426 km (265-mile) range.
When it comes to the range, Samsung has also developed some EV batteries that have 600 to 700 km (372- to 435-mile) ranges. As a base for comparison, an average gas-powered car has a median range of about 663 km (412 miles). Nevertheless, neither battery designs mentioned above can compare to the high-speed charge rate of Toshiba’s latest design.
“We are very excited by the potential of the new titanium niobium oxide anode and the next-generation SCiB,” Osamu Hori, director of Toshiba’s Corporate Research & Development Center, said in the press release.
“Rather than an incremental improvement, this is a game-changing advance that will make a significant difference to the range and performance of EV,” he added. “We will continue to improve the battery’s performance and aim to put the next-generation SCiBTM into practical application in fiscal year 2019.”
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Posts tagged ‘Marge Stover’
The Cambridge Singers Have a Song in Their Heart
The present Cambridge Singers often dress eloquently for their performances.
Music makes the world a happier place. If you enjoy singing around the house or while driving your car, perhaps you’d like to join The Cambridge Singers, either singing as a member or listening in the audience.
Kathy Antill, the director, brings experience and new energy to the group.
The unique sound created by The Cambridge Singers sets them apart from traditional groups. This wonderful group of singers is the oldest continually operating six-part harmony chorus in the state. Recently Kathryn Antill took over the helm of directing this elite group. Tom Apel accompanies them on the piano.
This 1955 Waring Award was the beginning of “The Cambridge Singers”.
It all began with a group called “Musigals”, a group of married women who loved to sing. Then in 1965, they decided to add some men to the chorus for a special show. It was suggested that they enter the Fred Waring Sacred Heart Program Choral Competition by sending in a tape for critique.
The Fred Waring trophy still brings a feeling of pride and accomplishment.
They won first prize and a beautiful trophy in the mixed ensemble category over a field of entries from all over the United States and Canada. Their award-winning rendition of “O Sacred Heart” was heard on 875 television and radio stations.
With that kind of success, they drew up a charter for the group, and officially became “The Cambridge Singers” in November, 1965 under the direction of Donna Shafer Blackwood. Their first concert under that name occurred at Easter of 1966 in The First Presbyterian Church.
Sometimes the chorus harmonizes outside Salt Fork Lodge
This chorus has sung every kind of music and entertained audiences around the state. Their performances have included: AmeriFlora, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Miss Clayland Pageant, and Barnesville Pumpkin Show.
The chorus had a happy time at Carnegie Hall.
In 1991, The Cambridge Singers performed at Carnegie Hall during their 100th-anniversary celebration accompanied by the Manhattan Philharmonic. This talented group is proud to have been invited back, and hope to make a repeat trip in the near future.
In the lifetime of the chorus, there have been over 130 community members who have participated with eight different directors and three accompanists. They practice each Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church.
Marge Stover, back center, has been with the group from its beginning.
One member, Marge Stover, happens to be the only charter member of the group still performing. She shares with her family a great musical background and was pleased when asked to join the group. Marge not only has a beautiful voice but has helped with every aspect of the singers at one time or another from costumes to set design.
The late Mayor Sam Salupo presents former Director Jim Whitehair with the Mayor’s Award about ten years ago.
Costumes are of great importance and they are pleased that the Kiwanis Foundation and Rotary Club have given them grants, which they used for costumes. The Rotary Club has also given a grant for music in honor of the late Dr. Quentin Knauer, who sang in the chorus for fifty years. The chorus sincerely appreciates all the support they receive from the community.
The Cambridge Singers added some choreography to this patriotic tune.
Each year, The Cambridge Singers have a spring show and one at Christmas, both of them being at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in downtown Cambridge. The chorus has performed at nearly every Salt Fork Festival and their Christmas appearance at the Guernsey County Senior Center plays to a standing room only crowd.
The Cambridge Singers performed at the 48th Salt Fork Festival.
While memorable performances are their main goal, members feel the group is an extended family, who gives them support during troubled times. When attending the Tuesday rehearsals, all troubles disappear for two hours as they harmonize in song. Music heals the mind, body and soul.
Children of chorus members take part in the annual Christmas program.
This group has a special interest in encouraging young people to become involved in the world of music. Each year they present several scholarships to area youth. The prestigious Rigel Award is given in memory of Everett “Red” and Mary Ann Rigel, both long-time members of Cambridge Singers. This honors a community member who promotes and advocates music, music education and the importance of the arts in all walks of life.
If you have an interest in joining The Cambridge Singers or have other questions about the group, contact any member or call Janet Teichman at 740-638-2220 or Gayle Roberts at 740-680-1723. They will welcome you with open arms and a song in their heart.
The Cambridge Singers’ wish is to promote music and the musical quality of life in our community. Most of all, they love music.
Cambridge, Music, Ohio, Uncategorized
Cambridge Singers
Carnegie Hall
Fred Waring Choral Competition
Gayle Roberts
Kathryn turner
Marge Stover
Musigals
The Cambridge Singers
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← Cuban Black Hawk (Buteogallus gundlachii): request for information.
Dwarf Jay (Cyanolyca nanus): revise global status? →
Viridian Dacnis (Dacnis viguieri): revise global status?
BirdLife species factsheet for Viridian Dacnis
Viridian Dacnis (Dacnis viguieri) occurs in north-west Colombia (north Chocó, north-west Antioquia, south-west Córdoba) and east Panama (east Darién) (Hilty and Brown 1986, Ridgely and Gywnne 1989, Ridgely and Tudor 1989). Within this range it is generally rare. Although primarily a humid forest species, it uses edge habitat and has been recorded in scrub (Hilty and Brown 1986, Isler and Isler 1987). It has been recorded most often in foothills up to 700 m, where it may be more numerous than in the flat coastal lowlands (Hilty and Brown 1986, Ridgely and Tudor 1989).
The species is currently listed as Near Threatened under Criterion B1. However, following the revision of the species’s range map in 2018, we are now undertaking a review of the species’s Red List Category.
Our current information on the species’s conservation status will now be compared to all Red List Criteria.
Criterion A – We have no data on population trends. An analysis of forest loss from 2000 to 2012 found that forest within the species’s range was lost at a rate equivalent to 2% over three generation lengths (Tracewski et al. 2016). Assuming the population has declined at the same rate as the forest cover, the species is suspected to have undergone a reduction of 2% over the past three generation lengths, and assuming that forest loss continues at a similar rate, the population may be assumed to continue to decline at this rate in future. This magnitudes of reduction do not approach the thresholds for listing the species as threatened under Criterion A. The species is therefore assessed as Least Concern under this criterion.
Criterion B – The species’s Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 24,400km2. This does not meet the thresholds for listing the species as threatened under Criterion B1. However it could qualify the species as Near Threatened under this criterion.The species’s Area of Occupancy (AOO) has not been quantified, so the species cannot be assessed under Criterion B2. To list the species as threatened or Near Threatened on the Red List under Criterion B, two of conditions a-c must also be met or nearly met.
The species is not severely fragmented. The main threat to the species is considered to be deforestation, which is estimated to be occurring at a rate of 2% across three generations (11.1 years; Tracewski et al. 2016). The number of locations is therefore likely to be significantly greater than 10. Therefore, condition a is not met. Based on tree cover data (Tracewski et al. 2016), there is an estimated continuing decline in the extent of habitat and the species’s population size and area of occupancy can also be inferred to be undergoing a continuing decline. Condition b is met. There is no evidence that the species’s population or range size are undergoing extreme fluctuations. Condition c is not met.
Although the species’s EOO approaches the threshold for listing the species as Vulnerable under Criterion B, only one of the three conditions is met or nearly met. Therefore, the species is assessed as Least Concern under this criterion.
Criterion C – The species’s population size has not previously been estimated and no survey data are available, but it has been described as ‘rare’.
Based on the estimated area of forest with at least 30% canopy cover in the species’s mapped range in 2018 (14,000 km2), the recorded population densities of a closely-related species with a similar ecology (Dacnis cayana: 0.7 individuals/km2 in lowland rainforest in southern Guyana [Thiollay 1986], 12 individuals/km2 in rainforest in Peru [Munn 1995]), and assuming that 22-45% of suitable habitat is occupied, the species’s population size is estimated to fall within the range 4,412 – 75,636 individuals, roughly equivalent to 2,941-50,424 mature individuals. This could qualify the species for listing as Vulnerable, Near Threatened or Least Concern under Criterion C, depending on where the true population size is most likely to fall. Whilst the species is described as rare, the species has been recorded over a wide area and it could be fairly cryptic and overlooked. Additionally, the lower bound of habitat occupancy (22% of forest within its range) could be unduly conservative, given that large parts of the species’s range contain reasonably intact forest. It is therefore considered unlikely that the true population size falls below or approaches the threshold of 10,000 mature individuals. The species is therefore assessed as Least Concern under Criterion C.
Criterion D – Based on the population estimates described above, the species’s population size does not meet or approach the threshold for Vulnerable under Criterion D. The species is therefore assessed as Least Concern under this criterion.
Criterion E – To the best of our knowledge no quantitative assessment of the probability of extinction has been conducted for this species, and so it cannot be assessed against this criterion.
Based on the above assessment, it is proposed to list Viridian Dacnis (Dacnis viguieri) as Least Concern. However, should evidence arise that indicates that the population size is likely to be fewer than 15,000 mature individuals, the species may be retained as Near Threatened or listed under a higher category of threat. Therefore, to allow us to achieve a clearer assessment of the species’s status, information is requested on the species population size and population densities across its range.
Please note that this topic is not designed to be a general discussion about the ecology of the species, rather a discussion of the species’s Red List status. Therefore, please make sure your comments are about the proposed listing.
Hilty, S.L. and Brown, W.L. (1986) A guide to the birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Isler, M.L. and Isler, P.R. (1987) The tanagers: natural history, distribution, and identification. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC.
Munn, C. (1995) Permanent canopy and understory flocks in Amazonia: species composition and population density. Ecological Monographs 36: 683-712.
Ridgely, R.S. and Gwynne, J.A. (1989) A guide to the birds of Panama with Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Ridgely, R.S. and Tudor, G. (1989) The birds of South America. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.
Thiollay, J.M. (1986) Structure comparee du peuplement avien dans trois sites de foret primaire en Guyane. Revue d’Ecologie (Terre et la Vie) 41: 59-105.
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2 Responses to Viridian Dacnis (Dacnis viguieri): revise global status?
Trevor Ellery says:
No mention seem to be made of its elevation range. Based on my limited experience in Colombia and from what I have heard of its occurrence in Panama – this species only occurs in foothill and subtropical forest. If it does occur in a narrow altitudinal belt then that would greatly reduce the potential amount of forest cover in which it could persist. I suspect due to long term security problems vast swathes of suitable habitat currently exist in the Colombian/Panam Darien border area. Increased political stability may lead to increasing future rates of deforestation (at least in the Colombian Darien). A survey of forest cover within it’s range should perhaps also be combined with a detailed assessment of the elevation limits of this species to produce a clearer picture. Certainly the main current site at which it currently occurs in Colombia is highly fragmented and deforested. It may well occur commonly in more extensive habitat that is less accessible and/or less secure. Publishing the above request in Spanish may well produce some useful and informative response from Colombian and Panamanian birders/ornithologists/biologists who are non English speakers.
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Commemorations, Community, Education, News, Teens, U.S. April 6, 2016
New York High School Senior Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna Accepted to All Eight Ivy League Colleges
Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna. Elmont Memorial High School (photo via nbcnews.com)
article by Sarah Donaldson James via nbcnews.com
All eight Ivy League schools — Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, University of Pennsylvania — have offered Long Island, New York high school senior Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna places in their freshman class.
In addition to the Ivies, she was accepted by Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Augusta is valedictorian at Elmont Memorial High School, where she has a 101.64 weighted grade point average. The school is no stranger to academic superstars: Last year, senior Harold Ekeh scored the same number of Ivy acceptances.
“I am elated, but most importantly, I am thankful,” Augusta, 17, told school officials at Sewanhaka Central High School District.
Augusta’s older brother Johnson told NBC News that Augusta’s “initiative and perseverance,” as well as the family’s emphasis on learning, were responsible for his sister’s success. And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as both their Nigerian-born parents are college-educated, and her father has a master’s and doctorate from the University of Indianapolis.
“Education is very paramount in our family,” said her brother, who also made his way to the Ivies. He is a freshman at Cornell University, studying biological engineering.
Tobias and Basillia Nna immigrated to the United States in 1994 and settled first in Indiana then New York City. They moved to Elmont in 2000. Their father has worked for various companies as a physical therapist. All four of their children were born in this country. “Augusta’s school days start from 7 in the morning until around 8 at night,” said Uwamanzu-Nna. “Not to mention all of the homework assignments, scholarship and other miscellaneous things she gets done.”
He said that while his sister was co-founder of her own tutoring service, she also works at another tutoring center on Saturdays.
“I am humbled by all of the college acceptance letters that I recently received,” Augusta says on her high school website. “I am reminded that I have a responsibility to be a role model for others and use my experiences to encourage and inspire others, especially young women.”
To read more, go to: http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/college-game-plan/long-island-high-school-student-accepted-all-eight-ivies-n551901?cid=sm_tw&hootPostID=9c3ca1968651804b658563b28ec6dd2c
Filed under: accepted at all Ivy League colleges, Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Elmont Memorial High School, Harvard, Johns Hopkins University, Long Island, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York, new york university, Nigeria, Princeton, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Yale
How Theresa Kachindomoto, a Female Chief in Malawi, is Effectively Putting an End to Child Marriages and Sexually Abusive Traditions
Pharrell Williams Joins Fox 2000’s “Hidden Figures” Starring Taraji P. Henson as Producer, Will Write Music
One thought on “New York High School Senior Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna Accepted to All Eight Ivy League Colleges”
Mr. Militant Negro says:
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
GBN GIVEAWAY: Win Movie Tickets to 30th Anniversary Re-Release of "Glory" Starring Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman
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1999 Susan Youdovin
Susan Youdovin named the 1999 STAR
(Strategic Transformation Achievement Recognition,
Previously, Volunteer of the Year)
The success of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) is entirely due to the efforts of its volunteers, people who are often behind the scenes. The HBA named Susan Youdovin its 1999 Strategic Transformation Achievement Recognition (STAR), formerly Volunteer of the Year award.
Each year the HBA honors one STAR who stands apart as a truly engaging volunteer. The selected individual has demonstrated a long-term commitment to furthering the advancement and impact of women in healthcare worldwide.
We celebrate Susan for her tireless efforts in communicating the message of the HBA to our industry and members. Susan always comes through with enthusiasm and works in the true spirit of collaboration with her fellow HBA volunteers. She is an experienced public relations counselor who has developed and managed corporate communications, public affairs, corporate and media relations, community relations, and social responsibility programs for global healthcare companies.
About the HBA
The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) is a global nonprofit organization serving a community women and men in leading life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical and supporting companies. The HBA has nearly 120 Corporate Partners and nearly 8,000 members served by more than 20 chapters and affiliates across the U.S. and Europe.
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Home › News › Time to take benefits of early child care seriously
Time to take benefits of early child care seriously
Photo by Leif Norman
HSA REPORT, MARCH 2015
ChildCare 2020 was the first national child care policy conference in a decade and the fourth such conference in Canada's history.
The first was held in 1971 in conjunction with the growing women's rights movement. The second, in 1982, founded what is now the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada. The third, in 2004, was held amid a great deal of hope for a national child care program, a hope that was extinguished with the 2006 election of the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
Organized by the Child Care Advocacy Association, the Canadian Child Care Federation and the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, ChildCare 2020 provided a renewed sense of possibility for participants like Terri Russell, a supported child development consultant from Kelowna. Russell attended the conference in Winnipeg as HSA's representative.
"There was a sense of hope and optimism that a national child care policy will be on the table in the upcoming federal election," she said. "So far the NDP has shown support for a national child care policy, and was the first party to present the beginning of a platform. According to a video message from Justin Trudeau, the Liberal party supports a national child care plan. At the time of the conference the Conservative Party had not responded."
The conference set out three specific priorities:
Develop an inclusive vision of early childhood education and care that reflects the needs of today's families with young children. The majority of these families do not have access to affordable, quality child care.
Generate new ideas and strategies to put child care back on the political agenda and kickstart progress on support for children and parents in Canada. Child care is a key component of social and economic equality. It's important to counter the austerity measures and poor government policy choices that have put child care on the back burner.
Engage a new generation of advocates who will deliver a strong message that it's time for governments to give families access to quality early learning and child care programs. Child care is a right.
"It was exciting to be among so many advoates with a common vision for early childhood education and care," said Russell. "Change needs to happen and it is time for us to stand up and advoate for children."
There are many challenges facing providers of early childhood education and care, explained Russell. Wages are low, responsibility is high, hours are long and its hard to come by the respect and recognition the work deserves. Few early learning programs offer benefits, and those that do provide only limited coverage.
"Child care costs more than university tuition, and in many places, more than a mortgage," said Russell. As a result of high costs and inflexible hours, many parents are turning to unregulated child care where guidelines are minimal and children are often at risk of harm or even death.
"The idea of a national child care policy is a reality in some countries," said Russell. Even in Canada, Quebec's child care plan, while not perfect, has not just helped children and parents, it's delivered economic benefits to the whole community. Since the program began, Quebec has seen an increase of 70,000 jobs thanks in part to the number of women able to return to the workplace. Costs for social assistance have also gone down – in 1988 there were 100,000 mothers drawing social assistance payments but today there are just 40,000.
To some, child care and education remains a gender issue, but a national policy would help reduce the effects of poverty, promote children's cognitive, social and emotional development, and strenghthen the economy.
"It is time to stop investing in daycare and start investing in children," said Russell.
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Tag Archives: Palestinian territories
Gaza, Hamas, Israel
The Two-State Delusion
December 1, 2013 sooth·say·er
by Mordechai Nisan
Two decades after the signing of the declaration of principles (DOP) by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on the White House lawn, there is something unreasonable in the world’s continued adherence to the Oslo paradigm, tattered and battered as it is by years of a bloody fiasco. The Palestinian Arab leadership has consistently and adamantly rejected the two-state solution since its first articulation in 1937 by the British Peel commission[1] and has, as consistently, advocated the destruction of the Jewish state. Still, it undertook a successful public relations campaign in the 1980s promoting the notion of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip—”the occupied territories.”
Twenty years of Oslo, filled with optimism and enthusiasm and adorned with Nobel prizes, like the ones held here by Arafat, Peres and Rabin (l-r) have delivered no peace for either side of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Firmly entrenched in its place, however, is a textbook example of cognitive dissonance written on a grand political scale, as the failed Oslo paradigm is revived again and again.
Over the years and especially in the wake of the DOP, the Palestinian demand for statehood has gained rapid political momentum and international acceptance. A succession of Israeli prime ministers—from Shimon Peres, to Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and Binyamin Netanyahu—embraced the idea, as did U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. The paradigm for a final peace includes among its primary components Israeli territorial withdrawal and Palestinian sovereignty, political separation with reconciliation, compromise, and coexistence.
Yet twenty years on, the two parties find themselves further apart despite years of diplomatic wrangling. It is thus past time to examine and invalidate the paradigm that has taken hold in the hope that a new and less sanguinary one will take root.
A History of Failure
The concept of a Palestinian state appears just and reasonable. It evolves from the notion of a right to national self-determination for the stateless Palestinian people and their demand to end an Israeli presence in the territories captured in 1967. The terminology of decolonization regarding Jews who have settled in those territories fits this narrative of thwarted native Palestinian rights; ending the “illegality” of Israeli rule over the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem is a global political stipulation for conflict-resolution. From the November 1988 resolution in Algiers that called for Palestinian independence to the extensive diplomatic campaign of September 2011 to promote Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, the PLO dramatically altered the political parameters of the conflict and its resolution. In sketching the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine as representing complementary rather than contradictory elements in the puzzle of peace-making, values of equality and freedom radiated from both sides.
The Palestinian state idea had been proposed repeatedly in the post-1967 era,[2] and its feasibility, viability, and desirability were analyzed and advocated again and again. The idea was central to the Arab-originated Fahd plan of 1981 and the Fez plan of 1982 and was reintroduced two decades later in 2002 by the Saudis as the Beirut peace plan. On the Jewish side, the nongovernmental Council for Peace and Security founded in 1988 was book-ended by the so-called Geneva initiative of 2003—headed by two failed politicians, Yossi Beilin and Amnon Lipkin-Shahak—with centrist Labor and leftist political parties contributing their own details along the way, all promoting a Palestinian state alongside Israel. The two-state solution emerged within PLO circles in 1988 when Bassam Abu Sharif, a political advisor to Arafat, presented a position paper on the theme.[3]
However, when the Oslo accords between Israel and the PLO were signed in September 1993, there was no explicit mention that the peace process would culminate in a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had in 1974 rejected the notion of a “third state” between Israel and Jordan,[4] had reiterated this position in an autobiographical work in 1979, contending that a Palestinian “mini-state” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would serve as a stage toward the “secular, democratic state of Palestine” that would rise “on the ruins of the state of Israel.”[5] Four years before concluding the historic agreement with Arafat at the White House, Rabin asserted that a Palestinian state would be a time-bomb for chaos and warfare,[6] and even with the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in 1994, it remained Rabin’s belief that the final version of the Palestinian entity must be less than a sovereign state.[7]
With that said, Palestinian sovereignty was, nevertheless, anticipated as the end-product of the Oslo process. Israel had acknowledged Palestinian peoplehood and rights in the 1978 Camp David-negotiated framework agreement for Middle East peace. It then recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993, agreed to the founding of the PA and its police force in 1994, and implemented territorial withdrawals from towns and rural areas in Judea-Samaria and Gaza in 1994-97. The International Donors’ Committee provided billions of dollars in aid to the PA, which established institutions for what could be termed a state in formation. Binyamin Netanyahu, leader of the opposition Likud Party in 1993, said he would abrogate the Oslo accords, but as prime minister in 1996, he failed to do so.[8] The Hebron protocol of January 1997 and the Wye River memorandum of October 1998 demonstrated that Netanyahu operated within the Oslo paradigm for peace by relinquishing Israeli control over land, which was linked to explicit Palestinian obligations such as combating terrorist organizations and preventing incitement. Soon afterward, the Israeli government cancelled additional withdrawals because the PLO did not fulfill its commitments but not because Jerusalem dispensed with the Oslo idea.
Faith in Oslo did not dissolve even when failure struck over and over again. In July 2000 at the Camp David summit, Ehud Barak offered Arafat Palestinian statehood with control over approximately 92 percent of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and a political capital in the vicinity of Jerusalem. But Arafat spurned the offer, and a reign of terror and suicide-bombing ensued.
Despite the basic breakdown of diplomacy and although U.S. Middle East envoy Dennis Ross admitted that Oslo had failed, he remained convinced—having written eight hundred pages of close text detailing the intricacies, efforts, obstacles, formulae, and setbacks regarding “the missing peace”—that “there is room for creative diplomacy.”[9] Should failure not have brought about a reevaluation and some change in policy orientation?
In January 2002, President Bush called for an “end to occupation and [for] a peaceful democratic Palestinian state” as the prescription for peace, a formula endorsed a year later by the international “Quartet” (the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations). Another year later, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also hitched onto the Palestinian state bandwagon as did his successors in Jerusalem—Olmert and Netanyahu—a few years hence. Yet negotiations, such as those between Olmert and PA president Mahmoud Abbas in the latter part of 2007, dragged on without results. The plethora of issues—from settlements and prisoners, to Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, to the Fatah/Hamas split—preoccupied and confounded the Israeli-Palestinian discussions without any satisfactory conclusion.[10]
On May 19, 2011, President Barack Obama affixed his name to the distinguished roster of supporters of a Palestinian state by advocating that “the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps.”[11] Netanyahu reacted sharply that the Palestinian state could not come at the “expense of Israeli existence,” affirming that the 1967 borders were “indefensible.”[12] This set the political stage for a dispute between Washington and Jerusalem and assured that Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were not likely to renew soon. The Oslo paradigm was frozen: There were to be no negotiations, no Palestinian recognition of a Jewish state, and no peace in the offing. The three “nos” on Israel formulated at the 1967 Khartoum Arab summit—no negotiations, no recognition, and no peace—had been transformed and reformulated with their political core unchanged.[13]
Twenty years of the Oslo process filled with optimism and enthusiasm, adorned with Nobel prizes, grand summitry, and historic declarations that peace was “just around the corner” have delivered no peace. Firmly entrenched in its place, however, is a textbook example of cognitive dissonance written on a grand political scale. A final status agreement should have been consummated by 1999, five years following the “Gaza-Jericho First” stage in 1994, but neither Rabin’s assassination in 1995 nor the murder of 1,084 Israelis from September 2000 to October 2010 (along with 250 from 1993 until July 2000)[14] could quash efforts at advancing the process. True believers continue to argue that once a Palestinian state in the territories is established, the Oslo paradigm will be validated. For those afflicted with “Osloitis,” when the evidence counters their utopian paradigm, the bearer of bad news is defamed rather than commended for contributing to an alternative conceptual construct.
Oslo’s Unaddressed Fallacies
At the heart of the failed Oslo paradigm are a core group of fallacies that have been promoted as truths: that the land can sustain two opposing population groups; that the Arab goal of destroying Israel can be appeased through “painful concessions” (rather than defeated by an Israeli victory); and that this is not a conflict based on something as elemental and incendiary as religion. Not one can withstand close scrutiny.
Geopolitical conflict is frequently a function of a dearth of resources and cannot be resolved by a mere wish for human harmony. In this case, both land and water are scarce, and the less than 40-mile width of the land from the Mediterranean coast to the Jordan River is insufficient to accommodate two rival states with expanding populations and vibrant national ambitions. While there are a few small states living cheek by jowl like the Netherlands and Luxembourg that are not at each others throats, they do not face the other factors that have contributed to the Israeli-Palestinian impasse.
There is, moreover, a great likelihood that a Palestinian state ensconced in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would evoke a powerful zeal for further land concessions, not only from the Arabs of Ramallah or Nablus, but also among many Israeli Arabs in the Galilee, for example, of whom opinion surveys indicate their belief that Jews are foreigners in the Middle East.[15] Such a state could easily foment an insurgency within Israel, bringing along further disruptions and destruction in its wake. Indeed, the Palestinian belief that Tiberias, Haifa, and Tel Aviv-Jaffa are lost cities of Arab Palestine fuels a deep-seated rejectionism, which is manifested in the leadership’s adamant refusal to recognize Israel’s very right to exist as a Jewish state.[16]
Finally, the war against Israel is little more than a modern application of Qur’anic hostility toward Jews, expressing the ethos of jihad and the religious definition of Palestine as a sacred waqf (Islamic religious endowment). Buoyed with this faith and ideology, Iran and Hezbollah, al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Muslim elements dedicate themselves to destroying Israel once and for all. In this, they are only more obvious than the so-called moderate Fatah leadership, which makes use of religious imagery and imperatives whenever it suits its purpose. A two-state solution is, in essence, a betrayal of Islam although a Palestinian state could become the springboard for the ongoing campaign to undermine, overrun, and eradicate the Jewish state—fi Sabil Allah (in the path of God). All this is so because, as article 15 of the Hamas covenant declares, “the Palestinian problem is a religious problem.”[17]
The irrefutable conclusion is that the Oslo process brought no discernible change in the Palestinian attitude toward Israel. It remains a state that has to be eliminated. In May 2013, Mahmoud Abbas repeated the PLO’s position that the Palestinians would refuse, as they indeed have, to recognize Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state.[18] Jibril Rajoub, Fatah Central Committee member, declared soon thereafter that the Palestinians were the enemies of Israel, adding that if the Palestinians had nuclear weapons they would use them.[19] No less acerbic was a remark by Jamal Zahalka, Arab member of Israel’s Knesset, who on July 31, 2013, railed against his fellow-citizens and parliamentarians: “We [the Arabs] were here before you [the Jews], and we’ll be here after you’re gone.”[20]
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (l) and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu meet at a conference in Washington, D.C., on September 2, 2010. In May 2013, Abbas repeated the PLO’s position that the Palestinians would refuse, as they indeed have, to recognize Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state.
In addition, the Oslo paradigm founders on the twin rocks of Palestinian factionalism and extremism as Palestinian society is hopelessly fissured by traditional identities and loyalties with extended family and tribal ties enduring despite a narrative of nationalism. The rural-urban split, the settled-refugee dichotomy, and the Muslim-Christian differentiation all confound integral social cohesion. Such a political tapestry, barely holding together despite decades of trying, baffles national unity, complicating the viability of any Palestinian state project becoming sturdy or stable.
These divisions have become further concretized by geopolitical partition. In 2007, Hamas seized control of Gaza after Israel’s disengagement-withdrawal from the strip two years earlier and the Islamists’ electoral victory over Fatah in 2006. The 40-kilometer geographic separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, alongside the ideological and political enmity between Fatah-PA and Hamas, is a powerful obstacle to generating Palestinian unity. The conventional two-state proposal is a misnomer inasmuch as Gaza already constitutes a Palestinian “statelet,” so that another Palestinian state based in the West Bank would actualize a three-state solution. The fathers of the Oslo accords could not imagine in their wildest dream such a bizarre turn of events.
Lastly, an ethic of extremism has been embedded in the culture of Palestinian politics for the last one hundred years, beginning with Hajj Amin Husseini (1897-1974) and continuing through the tenure of Yasser Arafat (1929-2004), with a slew of other noteworthy firebrands such as Izz al-Din al-Qassam (1882-1935) and Ahmad Yassin (1937-2004) throwing fuel on the blaze in between. Five days before the Oslo signing, Arafat told an Israeli journalist that one day there would be “a united state in which Israelis and Palestinians will live together” (without Israel)[21] while in 1996, after Oslo, he forecast Israel’s collapse under the weight of an Arab return to the West Bank and Jerusalem, linked to psychological warfare that would convince the Israelis to emigrate.[22] The Arabs of Palestine have every reason to believe that the country is theirs alone because their leaders have been telling them that from the very beginnings of their own self-awareness as a people. For them, extremism is justified although this mental universe of self-delusion and fanaticism has not led them to a political victory.
Four Insurmountable Oslo Issues
Early in 1993, the Oslo negotiators concluded that a full and immediate resolution of the conflict was an impossible task, preferring instead to conceive of peace-making as a staged process rather than a single, decisive event. The major points of contention would be left to a later phase following the initial and practical launching of the accord. In the final status negotiations, peace would be achieved when the outstanding issues could be settled to the satisfaction of the Israelis and Palestinians alike.[23]
The religious-cum-political issue of the holy city of Jerusalem represented perhaps the most intractable problem to be resolved. Despite the Jewish people’s millennial connections to Zion, Israel’s June 1967 decision to apply its law and administration over the entire united city as its capital was rejected by the Palestinians and their abettors in the international community. At Camp David in July 2000, contorted and repeated efforts were made to formulate an agreement that would accord Palestinians sovereignty over the Arab-inhabited peripheral areas of Jerusalem, jurisdiction over the inner neighborhoods, and Palestinian governance over the Muslim and Christian quarters of the Old City. In these plans, the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, would be handed over to a Palestinian administration that claimed it as the al-Haram al-Sharif (sacred precinct). Prime Minister Barak’s negotiating position, although it seemed to waver over the summit days, demanded Israeli sovereignty over West Jerusalem and the post-1967 Jewish neighborhoods around the city but also over the inner Arab-inhabited Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Sheikh Jarrah and Wadi Joz. He firmly rejected Palestinian sovereignty over the Temple Mount while Arafat apparently called for Palestinian sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.[24] In the end, Arafat spurned the deal, and the world will never know if further Israeli concessions, like recognizing absolute Muslim control and Palestinian sovereignty over the Haram al-Sharif, would have perhaps elicited Arafat’s agreement. Palestinian militancy regarding Jerusalem has continued over the years, leading to assaults upon Jews in the Old City area and stoning attacks on the Temple Mount. These attacks have occurred despite an Israeli policy to limit and sometimes prohibit Jewish prayer on the mount. Self-imposed Israeli renunciation of Jewish religious rights merges with and perhaps evokes Palestinian violence.
One of the most intractable issues that the Oslo accord was supposed to resolve revolved around the status of Jerusalem. Despite a number of good-faith efforts to share the city proposed by Israeli negotiators, the Palestinians have spurned all offers. In fact, lines have hardened as evidenced by the confrontation seen here between Palestinians and Israeli police over the presence of Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.
An even greater sticking point is the final status of the so-called Palestinian refugees. The unyielding Palestinian demand that the “right of return” be acknowledged and implemented is a call for Palestinian “justice” that carries within it the seed for Israel’s destruction. The “right of return” has become sacred dogma for Palestinians. Perhaps equally fixed is the Israeli rejection of the idea as suicidal for the Jewish state. A growing constituency of Arabs in Israel echoes the “return” theme.[25]
This Palestinian position, sustained by a contrived memory of forced dispossession and nurtured by political rigidity, has been met with an equally steadfast Israeli rejection although Barak was willing to concede a symbolic number of returning refugees in July 2000.[26] The refugee issue proves clearly that the Palestinian intent is to Arabize Israel and obliterate the Zionist enterprise. These are not the building blocks for the two-state solution envisaged by the Oslo negotiators.
Of late, the issue of the “settlements”—Jewish communities—has become the international community’s bête noire. The Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria, numbering more than 120 localities with more than 330,000 people, may have begun in part as a perceived security imperative, but early on, it also expressed the immutable right of the Jewish people to live in and control the Land of Israel west of the Jordan River. For the Palestinians however, these communities were concrete evidence of Zionist expansionism and colonial occupation. The Palestinian position has become monolithic, demanding a dismantling of all Israeli communities and the expulsion of all their residents.
Meanwhile, Israeli governments forged a public consensus around those population blocks to be retained in any future agreement, a position endorsed by President Bush in 2004.[27] The Palestinian position hardened further in 2010 when Abbas, encouraged by President Obama, demanded a complete cessation of all construction activity, not only in the territories but also in post-1967 Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Har Homa and Ramat Shlomo, which are on the eastern side of the city.[28] In short, the settlement issue brought the sides to political wrangling that froze the already-stalled Oslo process. A Judenrein West Bank, recalling what Menachem Begin did in expelling Jews when handing over the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in 1982, and what Ariel Sharon similarly did in the Gaza Strip in 2005, was not the future that many Israelis had in mind when imagining the contours of peace.
The fourth intractable issue is one of borders. A final political map delineating the outline of a Palestinian state is tied to the Arab demand that Israel withdraw to the June 4, 1967 lines. No Israeli government ever agreed to such a total retreat, which runs counter to U.N. resolution 242, which established the land for peace formula in the wake of the 1967 war: Barak wavered between 88-93 percent of the West Barak while Sharon and Netanyahu considered withdrawal from perhaps 50 percent of the area.[29] Military control of the Jordan Valley remains of particular importance for Israel to prevent both future smuggling of weapons and terrorists through Jordan into Palestine and to constitute a defensive line for Israel’s eastern front facing the Arab states across the river. Israel would have to evacuate 100,000 residents in the unlikely event that final borders would exclude many smaller Jewish localities dispersed throughout Judea and Samaria beyond the larger population centers such as Ariel, Maaleh Adumim, and the Etzion block.[30] This grim scenario alone would be sufficiently critical to hamper an agreement, considering the national trauma that resulted from the expulsion of 8,000 Gush Katif residents from Gaza in August 2005. This is not the kind of public atmosphere that would generate Israeli support, let alone enthusiasm, for any peace based on the Oslo parameters.
While Israelis consistently poll in support of a Palestinian state, the reasons for abandoning the idea have multiplied over time. Palestinian nationalism with its malignant and rogue features remains committed to destroying Zionism. The Fatah media and school curricula indoctrinate the Palestinian people and youth to disparage Jews as “evil” and Israel as a “cancer.”[31] Palestinian military forces train for the possibility of future fighting with Israeli military forces,[32] and Palestinian diplomacy, like the recent failed attempt to get the U.N. to grant it unconditional statehood, remains the stuff of wily bazaar bargaining in a diplomatic war of attrition. It is clear that the Palestinian public has never really accepted the two-state solution as a final end to the conflict.[33] This was given vivid expression in the last interview by the late Faisal Husseini, the prominent PLO leader, who infamously compared the Oslo process to a Trojan horse that would bring about Israel’s demise.[34] More recently, Abbas Zaki, Fatah Central Committee member, confessed that “it’s not acceptable to say we want to wipe Israel out … It’s not [acceptable] policy to say so. Don’t say these things to the world. Keep it to yourself.”[35]
Obstacles also exist in addressing the practical aspects and nitty-gritty details of a Palestinian state centered in the West Bank. Israel’s security-related conditions regarding demilitarization and control of airspace and military monitoring stations on West Bank hilltops meet with unwavering Palestinian opposition on all counts.[36] A state of Palestine, founded in a moment of desperation and born in bitter acrimony, will lack the space to absorb millions of refugees should the expatriate Palestinian community opt for emigration and be fated for economic impoverishment (discounting the billions of dollars donated to the PA by the international community since 1994). Based on everything a dispassionate observer can testify to since the 1994 establishment of the Palestinian Authority, this Palestinian state, awkwardly sandwiched between Israel and Jordan, has all the likelihood of becoming a failed state—fragile, mismanaged, tending to disorder and civil war.[37]
As such, the two-state paradigm trumpeted by Oslo has been invalidated with the growth of the magnitude of dissonance. There is just no sound political basis for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. All basic final status issues escape resolution. Yet, there has never been an admission of error, let alone an apology by Peres or Bill Clinton, Bush, Sharon, Olmert, Obama, or Netanyahu in their advocacy of a two-state solution. Speaking of the predominant role played by Peres in the Oslo saga, the contemporary grand master of realpolitik, Henry Kissinger, once remarked that Peres had “the trait of French academics who tend to believe that the formulation of an idea is equivalent to its realization.”[38] The same could be said of all those well-intentioned diplomats and politicians who have followed in Peres’s footsteps. Small wonder that, notwithstanding the plan’s abysmal failure and likely calamitous future, the intellectual brainwashing exercised by the Oslo paradigm has not yet loosened its grip over people’s minds as evidenced most recently by John Kerry’s heroic, but ultimately doomed, attempt to resuscitate the “peace process.”[39]
Mordechai Nisan is a retired lecturer in Middle East Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at other academic institutions in Israel. His most recent book is Only Israel West of the River (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform).
[1] The Peel commission recommended the incorporation of the Arab part of western Palestine into Transjordan, ruled by Emir Abdullah ibn Hussein, rather than its constitution as an independent state.
[2] For example, Richard J. Ward, Don Peretz, and Evan M. Wilson, The Palestine State: A Rational Approach (Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat Press, 1977); Mark A. Heller, A Palestinian State: The Implications for Israel (Cambridge.: Harvard University Press, 1983).
[3] Mark Tessler, A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, 2nd ed. (Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2009), pp. 535-8, 711-29.
[4] Yediot Aharonot (Tel Aviv), July 26, 1974.
[5] Yitzhak Rabin, Pinkas Sherut, vol. II (Tel Aviv: Ma’ariv, 1979), p. 583.
[6] Ma’ariv (Tel Aviv), Feb. 10, 1989.
[7] David Makovsky, Making Peace with the PLO: The Rabin Government’s Road to the Oslo Accord (Washington and Boulder: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Westview Press, 1996), p. 123.
[8] Yossi Beilin, “Oslo Kvar Betocheinu,” Yisrael Hayom (Tel Aviv), July 27, 2011.
[9] Dennis Ross, The Missing Peace: The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004), p. 800.
[10] “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Annapolis and After,” Middle East Briefing, no. 22, International Crisis Group, Jerusalem/Washington/Brussels, Nov. 20, 2007.
[11] Barack Obama, remarks on the Middle East and North Africa, State Department, Washington, D.C., May 19, 2011.
[12] Al-Jazeera TV (Doha), May 19, 2011.
[13] “The Khartoum Resolutions,” Sept. 1, 1967, The Jewish Virtual Library.
[14] Ross, The Missing Peace, p. 782.
[15] The Jerusalem Post, May 19, 2011.
[16] “My Country Palestine,” Fatah PA TV, July 13, 2011, in MEMRI Bulletin, Middle East Media Research Institute, Washington, D.C., July 26, 2011; YNet News (Tel Aviv), Aug. 28, 2011.
[17] “Hamas Covenant 1988,” Yale Law School Avalon Project, accessed Oct. 29, 2013.
[18] Al-Hayat al-Jadida (Ramallah), May 4, 2013, quoted by Palestinian Media Watch, Jerusalem.
[19] Al-Mayadeen TV (Beirut), in Palestinian Media Watch Bulletin, May 8, 2013.
[20] Israel Hayom, Aug. 1, 2013.
[21] Efraim Karsh, Arafat’s War: The Man and His Battle for Israeli Conquest (New York: Grove Press, 2003), pp. 59-60; idem, “Arafat Lives,” Commentary, Jan. 2005.
[22] The Jerusalem Post, Feb. 23, 1996; Yedidya Atlas, “Stockholm Revisited,” Israel radio 7, May 10, 1996.
[23] Makovsky, Making Peace with the PLO, chap. 2-3.
[24] Shlomo Ben-Ami, Hazit Le’lo O’ref: Masa el Gvulot Tahalich Hashalom (Tel Aviv: Yediot Aharonot, 2004), pp. 165-95; Ross, The Missing Peace, pp. 686-7.
[25] L. Barkan, “Israeli Arab Leadership Jockeys for Central Role in Palestinian Leadership,” Middle East Media Research Institute, Inquiry & Analysis Series Report, no.721, Aug. 11, 2011.
[26] Ron Pundak, “From Oslo to Taba: What Went Wrong?” Survival, Autumn 2001, pp. 31-45.
[27] The Washington Post, Apr. 15, 2004.
[28] YNet News, Nov. 10, 2010.
[29] Ha’aretz (Tel Aviv), Nov. 4, 2006; The Times of Israel (Jerusalem), Feb. 19, 2013; “Peace Negotiations in Name Only,” DebkaFile (Jerusalem), Sept. 23, 2013.
[30] Giora Island, “The Future of the Two-State Solution,” Jerusalem Issue Brief, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Feb. 8, 17, 2009.
[31] Al-Aqsa TV (Gaza), July 13, 2008; “Religious War,” Palestinian Media Watch, Jerusalem, July 3, 2013.
[32] Gal Luft, “The Palestinian Security Forces: Capabilities and Effects on the Arab-Israeli Military Balance,” Ariel Center for Policy Research, Shaarei Tikva, Oct. 2001; CNS News, July 7, 2008.
[33] Benny Morris, “Eliminating Israel,” The National Interest, July 19, 2011.
[34] Al-Arabi (Cairo), June 6, 2001.
[35] The Blaze (New York and Dallas), Oct. 3, 2011.
[36] Dore Gold, “Banging Square Pegs into Round Holes,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Dec. 2008.
[37] Charles W. Kegley, Jr., and Eugene R. Wittkopf, World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 7th ed. (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1999), p. 372.
[38] Henry Kissinger, Years of Renewal (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999), p. 376.
[39] The New York Times, July 19, 2013.
Gaza StripIsraelOsloOslo I AccordPalestine Liberation OrganizationPalestinian peoplePalestinian territoriesWest Bank
Congress, Israel, Palestinian Fakers, Terrorism, USA
How American taxpayers are funding Palestinian terrorism
November 13, 2013 sooth·say·er
by Edwin Black
The son of Evyatar Borovsky, a 31-year old father of five who was killed in a terror attack, lays his head on his father’s body during his funeral in the northern Israeli town of Kfar Hasidim. Borowsky was stabbed to death at a bus stop at the Tapuah Junction in the northern West Bank, April 30, 2013. (Photo credit: Avishag Shaar Yashuv/FLASH90)
Evyatar Borovsky, age 31, was devoted to helping people across Israel — people of any background. His way was psychodrama and other role-playing techniques calculated to coax victims, especially children, out of their traumatic fog. Often the children were survivors of terrorism. Evyatar, a clown, was part of a so-called therapeutic theatrical troupe. On April 30, 2013, Evyatar went to Tapuah Junction to catch a ride.
Salam Zaghal came from an impoverished Arab family in Shuka, a village near Tulkarm. Once, Salam tried to plant a bomb. That landed him in an Israeli prison for more than three years. When Salam was released earlier this year, he had no job and no economic prospects. His family lived on the edge. Money was scarce. As Salam became more disconsolate, his brother Abdulfattah remembered, Salam increasingly began “talking more and more about the martyrdom of the prisoners in Israeli jails.”
April 30, 2013, shortly after dawn, Zaghal jumped onto a bus for the long drive to Tapuah Junction. He carried a blue plastic bag. Two items were secreted inside the bag. Zaghal asked to be dropped about 60 meters down the way from the intersection. When he stepped off the bus, he lit a cigarette. Then Zaghal texted his brother Abdulfattah. “My dear brother, take care of dad, mom and my sister, and keep your head up.” Zaghal sent a second text to his family: “Forgive me in life, in death, and in the end of days.” Then he broke his phone so no one could call back and dissuade him.
At 8:15 a.m., Evyatar was standing about, looking somewhere over there, oblivious to the Arab hitchhikers congregated nearby. Zaghal approached, carrying his blue plastic bag, which contained a piece of paper — a prosecution notice from a previous run-in with Israeli security, and a kitchen knife almost eight inches long. Suddenly, Zaghal screamed, “Allahu Akbar!” and “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.” Zaghal plunged the metal blade directly into Evyatar’s stomach and then again deep into his chest. A moment later, the medical clown lay on the ground, his life leaking quickly onto the asphalt. Salam then grabbed Evyatar’s gun, but before he could inflict more carnage, nearby border guards shot him. The killer was not shot in the head or upper body, but in the leg. In an instant, Evyatar — the clown with the big heart — was gone, stabbed to death. As for Salam, he was rushed to an Israeli hospital with a non-life-threatening leg wound. There, Salam received Israel’s world-renowned medical attention.
Soon, Salam will go on a special Palestinian Authority salary granted to terrorists, and will become one of the best compensated individuals in the Palestinian community.
Financing the Flames, by Edwin Black
It may astound many that American taxpayers are deploying their precious dollars in Israel not just to pay for peace but to fund terrorism. Each year, American aid and financial programs fungibly fund terrorist salaries paid by the Palestinian Authority. This astonishing financial dynamic is known to most Israeli leaders and Western journalists in Israel. It has been written about at least twice in The Times of Israel. But it is still a shock to most in Congress, who are unaware that US money going to the Palestinian Authority is regularly diverted to a program that systematically rewards terrorists with generous salaries. These transactions blatantly violate American laws that prohibit any US funding from benefiting terrorists. More than that, they grandly incentivize murder and terror.
Here’s how the system works. When a Palestinian is convicted of an act of terror against the Israeli government or innocent civilians, such as a bombing or a murder, that convicted terrorist automatically receives a generous salary from the Palestinian Authority. The salary is specified by the Palestinian Law of the Prisoner and administered by the PA’s Ministry of Prisoner Affairs. A Palestinian watchdog group, the Prisoners Club, ensures the PA’s compliance with the law and pushes for payments as a prioritized expenditure. This means that even during frequent budget shortfalls and financial crisis, the PA pays the terrorists’ salaries first and foremost — before other fiscal obligations.
The Law of the Prisoner narrowly delineates just who is entitled to receive an official salary. In a recent interview, Ministry of Prisoners spokesman Amr Nasser read aloud that definition: “A detainee is each and every person who is in an Occupation prison based on his or her participation in the resistance to Occupation.” This means crimes against Israel or Israelis. Nasser was careful to explain, “It does not include common-law thieves and burglars. They are not included and are not part of the mandate of the Ministry.”
Under a sliding scale, carefully articulated in the Law of the Prisoner, the more heinous the act of terrorism and the longer the prison sentence, the higher is the salary. Detention for up to three years fetches a salary of almost $400 per month. Prisoners incarcerated between three and five years will be paid about $560 monthly — a compensation level already higher than that for many ordinary West Bank jobs. Sentences of 10 to 15 years fetch salaries of about $1,690 per month. More severe acts of terrorism, those punished with sentences between 15 and 20 years, earn almost $2,000 per month. These are the best salaries in the Palestinian territories. The Arabic word ratib, meaning “salary,” is the official term for this compensation. The law ensures the greatest financial reward for the most egregious acts of terrorism.
In the Palestinian community, the salaries are no secret — they are publicly hailed in public speeches and special TV reports. From time to time, the salaries are augmented with special additional financial incentives. For example, in 2009, a $150-per-prisoner bonus was approved to mark the religious holiday of Eid al-Adha. President Mahmoud Abbas also directed that an extra $190 “be added to the stipends given to Palestinians affiliated with PLO factions in Israeli prisons this month.” Reporting on the additional emolument, the Palestinian news service Ma’an explained, “Each PLO-affiliated prisoner [already] receives [a special allocation of] $238 per month, plus an extra $71 if they are married, and an extra $12 for each child. The stipend is paid by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) each month.”
About 6 percent of the Palestinian budget is diverted to terrorist salaries. All this money comes from so-called “donor countries” such as the United States, Great Britain, Norway, and Denmark. Palestinian officials have reacted with defiance to any foreign governmental effort to end the salaries. “Deputy Minister of Prisoners Affairs Ziyad Abu Ein declared to the satellite TV network Hona Al-Quds: ‘If the financial assistance and support to the PA are stopped, the [payment of] salaries (rawatib) and allowances (mukhassasat) to Palestinian prisoners will not be stopped, whatever the cost may be. The prisoners are our joy. We will sacrifice everything for them and continue to provide for their families.”
Even though many in Israel do not completely understand all the details and the schedule of compensation, the victims are wracked by a basic knowledge that a cruel system is at play.
Israeli security forces and others at the site of a terror attack at a bus stop at the Tapuah Junction in the northern West Bank, in which Evyatar Borovsky was stabbed to death. April 30, 2013. (Photo credit: Flash90)
At the funeral, Evyatar’s widow, Tzofia, bent over her husband’s body in lamentation, waving five fingers. “Five orphans he left behind! Five orphans! Five orphans!” she cried. One young son rested his head upon his father’s prayer-shawl-shrouded chest in a striking image that made the rounds in Israeli press.
Later, in a court hearing, Tzofia said of her husband’s killer, “It is really useless to put him in jail, when one takes into account that he will be released in one swap or another, and will use his time there for academic studies free of charge, and the high standard of living that the State of Israel gives the murderers of its citizens. The continued court proceedings and jailing of the murderer until the next release of murderers, which will take place sooner or later, creates a false impression of justice, when the reality is that of a circus.”
Edwin Black is the award-winning author of the international bestseller “IBM and the Holocaust.” This article is the second of two pieces — following Financing the flames from a mobile home in Florida — published by The Times of Israel drawn from his just-released book, “Financing the Flames: How Tax-Exempt and Public Money Fuel a Culture of Confrontation and Terrorism in Israel.”
Copyright 2013 Edwin Black
Edwin BlackIsraelKfar HasidimPalestinian National AuthorityPalestinian territoriesSALAMUnited StatesWest Bank
Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, Palestinian Fakers
The .@UN’s Institutional Bias against Israel
by unwatch
It is not just the U.N.’s Human Rights Council that has an institutional bias against Israel, in the form of its infamous Agenda Item 7. Almost every U.N. agency has one or more special agenda items or reports that single out Israel. As a form of widespread bias, the gross and systematic singling out of Israel damages the credibility of the United Nations and calls into question its commitment to the the organization’s own principles of equality, universality, and impartiality.
Following are several examples of U.N. agencies and their special agenda items, reports or programs designed to single out Israel for unique scrutiny and opprobium. This is apart from the dozens of anti-Israel resolutions adopted annually by numerous U.N. agencies, while egregious violations by China, Cuba or Saudi Arabia go ignored.
Under International peace and security
Item 17- “The situation in the Middle East”
Item 18- “Question of Palestine”
Item 26- “Armed Israeli aggression against the Iraqi nuclear installations and its grave consequences for the established international system concerning the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and international peace and security”
Item 32- “United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”
Item 33- “Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”
Item 41- “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”
Under Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Assistance
Item 71 (c) Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance: Assistance to the Palestinian people.
Under Disarmament
Item 94- “Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East”
Item 101- “The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East”
Subsidiary organs of the General Assembly
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP)
Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
Division for Palestinian Rights, Department of Political Affairs
Human Rights Council (HRC)
Item 7- “Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories”
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Item 11- “Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan”
World Health Assembly (World Health Organization)
Item 20- “Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan”
International Labor Organization (ILO)
“The situation of workers in the Arab occupied territories”
United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
5.2 “Jerusalem and the implementation of 35 C/Resolution 49″
5.3 “Implementation of 35 C/Resolution 75 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories”
5.I- “Implementation of 36 C/Resolution 43 and 190 EX/Decision 5 (II) relating to the Ascent to the Mughrabi Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem”
9- “Jerusalem and the implementation of 36 C/Resolution 43 and 190 EX/Decision 13″
10- “Implementation of 190 EX/Decision 14 on “The two Palestinian sites of al-Ḥaram al Ibrāhīmī/Tomb of the Patriarchs in al-Khalīl/Hebron and the Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ Mosque/Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem” ”
34- “Implementation of 36 C/Resolution 81 and 190 EX/Decision 38 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories”
35- “Report by the Director-General on the reconstruction and development of Gaza”
Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP)
Item 11b: “Report on UNCTAD’s Assistance to the Palestinian people”
IsraelJerusalemMiddle EastPalestinePalestinian peoplePalestinian territoriesSpecial Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian PeopleUnited Nations
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Home News Elections Bob Weltzin
Bob Weltzin
Raleigh Mayor
Name as it appears on the ballot: Bob Weltzin
Party affiliation, if any: Republican
Campaign website: BobWeltzin.com
Occupation & employer: Chiropractor, Wakefield Chiropractic, PLLC./Team Leader CA, USAR
Years lived in Raleigh: 5
1) Given the current direction of Raleigh city government, would you say things are generally on the right course? If not, what specific, major changes you will advocate if elected?
a. No. The current city council is extremely out of touch with both the citizens and businesses that make Raleigh vibrant, and a recent string of decisions (the UDO, bar and patio restrictions and curfews, ending free parking) has highlighted that distance. If elected, I would re-instate free parking, work to repeal the bar and patio restrictions and other policies that dampen downtown nightlife, and halt the UDO, replacing it with a solution for managing Raleigh’s growth that takes into account the needs and concerns of each diverse section of the city, rather than the one-size-fits-all approach the current council is taking.
2) If you are a candidate for a district seat, please identity your priorities for improvements in the district if you’re elected. If you are an at-large or mayoral candidate, please identify the three most pressing issues the city faces and how you will address them?
i. As evidenced by recently available data, are the nonsensical bar and patio restrictions, which were poorly written and selectively enforced, have caused tens of thousands of dollars in losses for each affected establishment in the short period of time since their implementation. Such restrictions have no place in a city that has invested a great amount of time and money to make its downtown an attractive nighttime destination. As such, their repeal will be a top priority during my term as Mayor.
ii. Raleigh’s proposed UDO has something to hate for literally every segment of the city – whether it be citizens of southeast Raleigh concerned about being priced out of their homes, or residents of historic Oakwood faced with the development of buildings which will completely change the feel and character of their neighborhood for the worse. A top-down, one-size-fits-all model is usually a bad idea for any community, but especially so for a city as diverse and unique as Raleigh. I would set to work on day one conferring with urban and city planning experts and representatives of Raleigh’s impacted communities to create a zoning ordinance that takes into account the needs, concerns and goals of each area, in order to achieve growth and upward social mobility while avoiding the pitfalls of gentrification that prevent the city’s less fortunate from being able to share in its successes. A rezoning ordinance is only good if it is good for all its affected citizens, and that is what I would work towards as Mayor.
iii. While not as front-and-center as the above issues, or as immediately impactful as the abolition of free parking, as Mayor, I would shine a bright light on the issue of homelessness in Raleigh. We are fortunate to live in a city that consistently ranks in the top ten in the US by every relevant economic metric, and consistently ranks as one of the safest, best places to live, work and play. That the city should enjoy this upward trajectory and leave behind its least fortunate as it has is an abomination. Just two short years ago, several groups were threatened with arrest and imprisonment for feeding the homeless in Moore Square. Under my tenure as Mayor, providing charity and relief to the homeless would be encouraged rather than punished. Instead of just shuffling the homeless congregations to areas out-of-sight, as our current leadership has, I would partner with non-profits who have proven track records and developed best-practices for delivering each individual the hand up that they need in order to escape the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Raleigh can do better by its least fortunate, and under my tenure, we will.
3) What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates your ability to be effective as a member of Council? If you’ve identified specific issues above, what in your record has prepared you to be an effective advocate for them?
a. My experience as a Captain in the Army Reserves while serving in Afghanistan as a company commander demanded that I be able to operate under pressure, with my company counting on me to deliver day-to-day results. There is no ‘coasting’ in that environment. I also headed up a work group in South Korea on behalf of the Lieutenant General to develop, improve and to maximize traffic routes in all of Korea, both North and South. All types of transportation from tanks, basic food, water and displaced citizens on the battlefield was my mission. I supervised Engineers, Logisticians, Transportation agencies, local government agencies, and the US State Department.
4) Please give one specific example of something you think City Council has done wrong or that you would have rather done differently in the last year. Also, please tell us the single best thing the city’s done during that span.
a. See above. The UDO, bar and patio regulations and curfews, and Raleigh’s getting rid of free parking has had a dramatic and detrimental impact on businesses just in the short term since their implementation. As Mayor, I would work to develop an alternative zoning ordinance that would allow, rather that forcibly manufacture growth, and would fight to repeal the bar and patio restrictions, as well as bring back free parking. To the latter two issue, the best thing Raleigh’s leadership could have done is to just say “no.” Possibly the best thing Raleigh has done over the past year has been the purchase of Dorothea Dix Park, which represents a great opportunity for the city and its citizens at a time when the amount of open space for parks is diminishing.
a. I identify as a practical conservative. That means that I don’t believe that a city or an individual can sustainably spend more than they collect in revenue, and that I believe the best thing we can do for the least fortunate in our city is to enact policies conducive to helping them find good, permanent jobs. In a city like ours, partisan labels matter less than the particulars of concrete policy prescriptions.
a. “Just” is a word that can have multiple meanings. In my assessment, Raleigh’s treatment of the homeless has been grossly unjust. The UDO, which threatens to price citizens of southeast Raleigh neighborhoods out of their homes for the benefit of developers, in the name of increasing revenues for the city, is patently unjust. Addressing the needs of our homeless population, and ensuring that the proposed UDO is not implemented should be high on anyone’s list whose goal is to make Raleigh a more just and equitable city.
Please address, in detail, the following major issues in Raleigh:
7) Now that the city has acquired the 306-acre Dorothea Dix Park, what are some specific things you would like to see the city do with it?
a. Raleigh has a great opportunity with Dix Park. My top 3 suggestions would be :
1. In order to honor the legacy of Dorothea Dix, and the one request she made when she bequeathed the land to North Carolina, at the very least, some of the land should be utilized for the purposes of helping with the Mental and Behavioral Health Crisis in North Carolina. When I am elected Mayor, I will use my influence to make that happen.
2. The current leadership has been unable to articulate what exactly a ‘destination’ park is. If that is the will of the people of Raleigh, and the case is made that it will enhance the city, I’m comfortable with looking at the project.
3. I will not support this ‘Park’ project at the expense of the poorest in Raleigh, or at the expense of the critical infrastructure needs and the misplaced priorities in the compensation of civil servants and first responders.
8) Between gentrification in historic neighborhoods and expensive rentals downtown, the city has struggled at times with questions of affordable and workforce housing. What concrete steps can or would you take to help ensure that, for instance, hospitality workers can afford to live in Raleigh and especially its urban core? For example, there has been some talk of density bonuses to entice developers to include affordable units in their downtown developments. Do you believe this is a viable idea? Why or why not?
a. Workforce housing reminds me of subclass living standards. This city council and mayor have required excessive requirements on the construction trades that have easily increased building expenses as much as 30%. This additional expense is passed on the consumer. These regulations have created intrusive obstacles for smaller construction companies while rewarding others. This is not smart growth. Affordable housing shouldn’t be dictated by the city. The current rezoning promotes fracturing of communities. A change in zip code does not increase economic success. Job creation and financial stability is the fastest way to combat depressed areas. The fact that our public servants cannot afford to live in the city they work is a perfect example of failures of the current mayor. Our city budget has doubled since this mayor joined the city council - why didn’t city works get a raise?
9) Related to affordable housing and affordability in general is viable public transportation. What steps can the city take to improve mass transit throughout the city? Will you actively support the transit referendum that Wake County will likely put to voters next year?
a. Why are we relocating a group of people to support an alternative motive? The affordable housing is being planned to help push the mass transit agenda. It currently takes me 1 hour and 43 minutes to ride a bus from my house to city hall. I believe we can accomplish more ridership with smaller vehicles. A 15 passenger van or electric vehicle can make more frequent stops with personalized service and consume less energy than the current buses outside the beltline. We need to review the success of private enterprise such as Uber and Lyft to assess the best course of action. Relocating a group of people in the name of government progress has not worked well in American history.
10) The city came under fire at Council meetings in July for the proposed remapping under the Unified Development Ordinance. It is safe to say there was a lot of uncertainty and distrust. Broadly speaking, how do you think the city should approach issues of density and neighborhood livability? And if the city had it to do over again, what about the UDO remapping do you believe should have been done differently, if anything?
a. Yes, the UDO remapping is abusive to property owners. I am not against development or progress. When we have vacant commercial space all over Raleigh don’t attempt to say that it’s to create jobs. 45,000 property owners will be affected by this single land grab. Smart growth should be considerate to communities impacted with vast changes from residential to commercial rezoning. I’m concerned that residents will not be able to afford the increase in property tax, the increase in property insurance or the susceptibility to loss of property rights to eminent domain. We will be remembered as the authors of a terrible page in our city’s history if we allow people to lose their property and allow neighborhoods to be pushed out of the way because we were too hasty to do the zoning process right.
11) Also on the subject of livability: The issue of regulating sidewalk patios hints at the difficulty this city (like other cities) faces in striking a balance between making its downtown more of a neighborhood and the needs of the businesses, especially those in the hospitality industry, that currently exist. How do you think the city should go about balancing these needs? What does a successful downtown look like to you?
a. We have spent millions of dollars, and thousands of hours of meetings to build up the downtown area. What are we doing? Raleigh already has ordinances for noise and fire code violations. Additional regulations and restrictions on businesses will only hamper additional growth. Police and Fire services have more important concerns than enforcing an unjust ordinance. I would like to see water trucks and increased sanitation services following weekend events to clean the downtown areas to improve overall city appearance. The downtown sidewalks need vast improvements, but we should be more focused on repairing the dilapidated walk ways that are not in compliance with the American With Disabilities Act than with putting a volume control on our city’s nightlife.
12) Some downtown businesses have worried that the parking-deck fees scheduled to go into effect at the end of the year will adversely impact them. On the other hand, there are obviously costs associated with both building and maintaining garages, and most other cities do charge for their use. What would be your ideal solution?
a. Citizens of Raleigh already pay taxes which are supposed to go towards maintenance of, among other things, critical infrastructure such as roads and parking facilities. Raleigh citizens tangibly benefit from the influx of revenue that a vibrant downtown attracts. For years, Raleigh has been attractive to those who seek a lively, active city, but are put off by the metropolitan tendencies of cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, etc. I have heard from many concerned citizens who believe this measure makes us less like Raleigh and more like Charlotte. We shouldn’t want to be like Charlotte. I remain unconvinced that the patrons and citizens of the city don’t pay enough to cover the upkeep costs associated with parking decks. I would demand a return to the previous parking policies which attracted visitors to downtown, and encouraged those visitors to spend their money in downtown businesses rather than sending it to the city coffers.
13) Some recent legislative actions have seemed, to some extent, antagonistic toward the state’s cities: specifically, the repeal of business privilege taxes and the movement toward redistributing sales tax revenue. In your view, how should the city respond to these (potential and actual) revenue losses? Will the city’s property tax rate need to increase? Will services or new initiatives be curtailed? How should the city address its fiscal challenges going forward?
a. There is a popularly-held misconception that lower taxes equate to lower city or state revenues. Quite the opposite, when the tax burden of an area is lowered, businesses are incentivized to open in that area, bringing jobs, foot traffic and (to a greater extent than before) revenue to the city or state, to the benefit of its citizens. If the real-world experience of cities and states who have implemented similar measures is any indicator of Raleigh’s future, services and initiatives will not need to be curtailed or trimmed except in the usual instances of waste, fraud and abuse.
14) The city has about 230 employees who earn less than what is generally considered to be a living wage, about $31,000 a year. In your view, is this problematic or something the city should concern itself with?
a. Yes, and no. Raleigh has a moral and contractual obligation to ensure that we meet our obligations to city employees. Someone who works 40 hours per week for the city should not live in poverty. However, the problem with the concept of a living wage is that those who “generally consider” it fail to take into account relevant outside economic metrics in their calculations – Cost of living being of primary importance. In a city like New York, where the cost of living is by most accounts nearly double that of Raleigh, $31,000 is barely enough to scrape by, if at all. This is owing to the economic policies and particulars of that city. In Raleigh, $31,000 dollars goes much, much further than in NYC or Los Angeles, and pay schedules for city of Raleigh employees should not be compared to those in cities where the cost of living is astronomically higher – which is what occurs when one applies a one-size-fits-all standard like a “living” wage. However, having rejected the economic merits of the “living wage” as a useful conceptual standard, employee pay must be considered in light of Raleigh’s cost of living, with periodic cost-of-living adjustments made accordingly. There are, to be certain, issues that will demand that the city revisit employee payment policies – inflation, rising cost-of-living, etc. So, yes, the city should always concern itself with the well-being and equitable payment of its employees, but the fact that a segment of them make less than a particular outside group believes they should is not as great a concern as the actual real-world livability of their wages.
15) When is the bike share program going to happen?
a. When donors come forth with funding and a plan to avoid the tragedies of the commons that inevitably impact these sorts of “sharing” programs.
16) What do you believe the role of Citizens Advisory Councils should be? If you are running for a district seat, how closely would you work or have you worked with local CACs?
a. CAC’s have a critical role in advising and informing the Council and Mayor’s decisions. The city council and mayor need to realize that they are insulated to a degree from the impacts of their decisions, and that the voices and concerns of those most impacted by a decision, whether it relates to bar and patio regulations, municipal employee pay, or creation of parks, must assume a place of equal importance as their own sensibilities and understandings in the decision-making process. Humility in leadership is crucial to our success as a city.
Issue: 2015-09-16 elections Candidate Questionnaires - Wake County
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The palm-oil industry’s effort to curb deforestation has lots of flaws, but falling prices and wet weather has disguised them
To make way for plantations, huge swathes of tropical rainforest have been razed
This picture shows a fire at an oil palm plantation in Pekanbaru, Riau province, Sumatra. (Photo: Getty)
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In a wooden shed perched on top of a hill in Musi Banyuasin, a district on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a group of palm-oil farmers wax lyrical about their crop. They started planting in the early 1990s after arriving from Java, the country’s most populous island, as part of a government resettlement scheme. Before palm oil, they worked in paddy fields and grew vegetables. But their new life is much more lucrative. Many have bought more farmland and can afford to send their children to university.
“We can even buy cars,” exclaims one mustachioed farmer, gesturing at a 4×4 outside. The vehicle sits against a backdrop of oil palm seedlings and trees, which stretch for miles across the countryside.
In some ways oil palm is indeed a wondrous crop. It is highly efficient. On a per-hectare basis it produces between six and 10 times more oil than equivalents, such as soyabeans. And that oil is highly versatile, turning up in about half of all supermarket products, from pizza dough to lipstick.
That explains why Indonesia’s palm-oil industry has ballooned since these farmers arrived on Sumatra. Over that period the amount of land devoted to the crop has increased more than 10-fold, now covering 123,000sq km, an area the size of Greece. Production surged 14-fold. Indonesia is now the biggest palm-oil producer in the world, accounting for half of global output. Malaysia is second, with a third of production (see chart). In Indonesia the industry accounts for about 2 to 3 per cent of GDP.
Razing rainforests
But to make way for plantations, huge swathes of tropical rainforest have been razed. In the 2000s, Indonesia was cutting down more forest than anywhere else in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 47 per cent of deforestation in Malaysia between 1972 and 2015 was the result of palm oil. In Indonesia the proportion was only 16 per cent, but in some areas it was much higher. In Kalimantan, Indonesia’s slice of Borneo, for instance, palm oil was responsible for about 60 per cent of all deforestation.
Draining and burning peatlands, carbon-rich bogs formed when soggy soil prevents dead vegetable matter from fully decaying, provides a cheap way to clear land. But it releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases and coats much of South-East Asia in a toxic haze. The loss of biodiversity is also stinging. Oil-palm plantations provide homes for 65 to 90 per cent fewer species of mammal than natural forests.
Endangered species such as tigers and orangutans are among the victims. In the past four decades, species have slid towards extinction twice as fast in Indonesia as in any other country.
A view of recently land clearing for palm oil plantation of the peatland forest inside Singkil peat swamp Leuser ecosystem, habitat of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). (Photo: Getty)
There may, however, be cause for hope. In the past few years, the palm-oil industry and Indonesian government, egged on by NGO campaigns, have attempted to save more trees. Satellite images show that, in 2017, the rate of deforestation in Indonesia fell to its lowest level in two decades.
Judging whether this change is the result of the industry’s new approach is confounded by two factors. One is the weather. The most recent bout of scorching peat fires was in 2015, an El Niño year. Since then the weather has been wetter, which slows deforestation since fewer people try to clear by burning, and those fires that are lit are less likely to rage out of control.
Greener ambitions
A second factor is the price of palm oil. This is closely correlated to the expansion of plantations, as shown by a study of deforestation in Borneo, led by David Gaveau at the Centre for International Forestry Research. Since its peak in 2016, the price of palm oil has dropped by a third, dampening the urge to chop down trees.
Nevertheless, some in the palm-oil industry have made sincere attempts to become greener. The main platform for this is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which started in 2004 and is made up of palm-oil growers, investors, traders, retailers and NGOs. It issues certificates to palm-oil mills whose green practices, such as preserving peatlands or forests, are confirmed by an independent auditor. In theory, RSPO palm oil should sell at a premium, since it allows those who buy it (and the final consumer) to sleep soundly.
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In practice, things are more tricky. One problem is the RSPO’s low coverage: only one-fifth of palm oil is certified. Many growers are put off by the cost of complying, for benefits that often do not materialise. Only 50 per cent of certified palm oil is sold as such. The rest gets flogged as the normal stuff, bringing no extra income. This reflects weak demand from importers. About two-fifths of palm-oil exports are snapped up by China, India and Pakistan, markets where greenery is little valued.
Other complaints about the RSPO are that its standards are too lenient and that it has little power to enforce them. That is true, but its rules are slowly being strengthened. Last year, it prohibited the clearing of all types of forest, whereas previously only the densest jungle had to be preserved. In 2016, it suspended IOI, a Malaysian conglomerate, for failing to protect forests.
A study led by Kimberly Carlson of the University of Hawaii found that the rate of deforestation on certified plantations was a third lower than on others. But the causality is unclear: the rules of the RSPO in effect ignore deforestation that occurred before 2005. Certified plantations were more likely to have planted oil palms before that cut-off and therefore tended to have less forest land to raze.
Making pledges
Partly because of the weakness of the RSPO, many companies have loudly declared their own tree-loving initiatives. Researchers at the Zoological Society of London looked at the policies of the world’s 70 biggest palm-oil firms. They found that 46 had said they would no longer chop down trees and 36 said they would not farm peatlands. Some companies have been publishing details of land concessions and lists of suppliers, too. That gives pressure groups more scope to keep an eye on them.
Last year, Aidenvironment, an NGO, released a report alleging that Anthony Salim, the owner of Salim Group, Indonesia’s largest conglomerate, was, through layers of corporate ownership, the beneficiary of deforestation (it has not responded to the claim).
A similar report by Greenpeace charged that, although Wilmar, the world’s biggest palm-oil company, has pledged not to deforest, a plantation owned by members of the boss’s family had cut down 215sq km of jungle since 2013.
This aerial photo taken on March 3, 2018 shows an palm oil plantation (R) in a protected area of the Rawa Singkil wildlife reserve as part of the Leuser Ecosystem in Trumon, South Aceh. (Photo: Getty)
Some experts also worry that companies’ new-found aversion to deforestation may be simply reducing the price of forest land, which is in turn bought by smallholders and cleared. A recent study by Kemen Austin of RTI International, another NGO, looked at the causes of deforestation in Indonesia. After 2012, clear-cutting by industrial-scale palm oil plantations dropped, but smallholders felled more trees.
Smallholders account for about 40 per cent of global production, but little is known about them. They include poor villagers with a few trees in their gardens, well-heeled businessmen and migrants settled by government schemes, such as those in Musi Banyuasin.
If smallholders’ market share grew, that would be good for development but bad for the environment. They are hard to monitor and have little incentive to save trees, often selling to middlemen who do not offer markups for green palm oil.
Stricter regulation
Stricter regulation may be the best way to rein them in. Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo, has been trying. In 2015 and 2017, he extended a moratorium on converting forest and peatland to plantations.
Last year, he banned the issuance of permits for new plantations for three years. He has also launched an initiative to synchronise land-concession maps, which often differ at the local, provincial and national level and among various interested ministries. If implemented, this would make it easier to hold deforesters to account.
Palm oil seeds at a plantation in Kendawangan, West Kalimantan. Edible vegetable oil is a key ingredient in many everyday goods. (Photo: Getty)
Past moratoriums, however, have not had much success. That is partly because the laws apply only to new requests for land permits, not to concessions already granted or those still going through the application process. Indonesia’s local politicians are powerful and have a long tradition of allowing national parks to be razed in exchange for campaign funding.
The real test of these policies – and those of the industry – will come later this year. The weather is expected to be drier and so more favourable for clearing peatland. And the price of palm oil is forecast to rebound.
Politicians and environmental campaigners will be watching the satellite imagery with trepidation.
© 2019 The Economist
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Writing Great Profiles: How Lisa DePaulo Does It
Lisa DePaulo once said she marries them in the interviews and divorces them at the keyboard.
Before I start on a profile—before I do a bloody thing—I want to know if my editor wants the piece only if the subject cooperates. Most times the answer is yes we need cooperation (editors all want “access”; if I hear that word access one more time…).
Getting cooperation (groveling, begging, agonizing) on profiles sometimes takes more time than the reporting. But yeah, it’s usually worth it. For a really rich profile, you want to live in your subject’s world. I far prefer a hang-out piece—more fun, more material, more in tune to what I think I do best. But there are times when it’s a better piece without cooperation. Totally depends on the subject.
One of my favorite profiles ever was the first piece I wrote for The Washingtonian—on James Carville (who was just becoming Bill Clinton’s Carville). No way that would have worked without his cooperation. The first day I showed up to interview him, in his “Bat Cave” basement apartment on Capitol Hill, he was on the couch in his underwear watching Andy Griffith reruns with a framed picture of Barney Fife by his Murphy bed and empty Jack Daniels bottles on the floor. You just can’t get that second-hand.
Years later, when I was at George, John Kennedy Jr. wanted a big profile of Maureen Dowd. Well, no one expected her to cooperate but to her credit she did not shut down her friends and family (not even ex-boyfriends), all of whom had insightful stories (some hilarious) to tell about her. Her mother said that when Maureen got hired by the NYT, she gushed that it was “the Tiffany’s of newspapers.” (God, I loved her mother.) I really think if Maureen had cooperated it might have been a lame-ass piece.
As to method: I always like to email the subject first. A chatty email just saying what I want to do and why. If it’s a piece I am going to do regardless of cooperation, I don’t say “I’m thinking of doing this….” I say, “I’m doing this.” Even if they say no in the beginning, they often come around later, after they hear from their friends who have talked. The subject is either appreciating your questions or is enraged by them. Either way, the subject usually ends up saying something.
This happened when I did a piece for Philly Mag on Larry King’s divorce from Julie Alexander, a Philly girl and maybe his eighth or ninth wife. (I suspect my biggest contribution to journalism was coining the term “serial husband.”) Anyway when Larry got wind that I had computed the divorce settlement based on the nights they actually spent together (I think Julie got $52,000 a night) he agreed to talk. Then she talked. If they had both cooperated from the start, it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.
If you’re doing the story only if the subject cooperates, there’s the seduction dance. It often requires lots of detailed emails and phone calls. To a reluctant subject, I always first offer an off-the-record chat. And they usually take me up on it. And I keep my word about it being off the record. The idea is: Give me an hour of your time, off the record. If you feel comfortable, we’ll proceed. If you don’t, we won’t. It’s not only fair but it works: I have never gotten to a in-person sitdown and had the subject say no. (Okay, there was one, but I can’t name the person because it was off the record.)
Do not promise anything you can’t or won’t or shouldn’t deliver. (Especially in writing.) Basically never promise anything but fairness. Always offer to talk to anyone they think you should talk to—but never promise to not talk to people they might not want you to talk to. And try to get them to really let you into their world. Or close to it.
I try to spend a day or two with a subject before sitting down and asking them questions. Some of the best stuff happens in unexpected places. Like on airplanes. Airplanes are great. If they say they are too busy traveling, travel with them. You’ll have their undivided attention and will see things like Nancy Grace making the sign of the cross before takeoff. Or Bobby Kennedy falling asleep and suddenly his head is on your shoulder. I always tell profile subjects: The more time you give me, the less time I’ll spend calling everyone you ever knew.
When a subject cooperates, the piece is more empathetic. I have never totally trashed someone who cooperated. That is something publicists don’t get. And on the topic of publicists, put your foot down early and often. A celebrity is always badly served when a publicist insists on sitting in on the interview (if they don’t trust what comes out of the person’s mouth, how can you?). I have made this argument frequently and rarely successfully.
One other important thing: I am far more flexible with a profile subject who is not media-savvy—i.e. not a politician or a celebrity. This goes not only for profile subjects but sources (especially when doing crime stories that require good reporting about the victim at a time when the family is distraught). I always tell those people from the get-go that I am reasonable. If they tell me something that they later feel queasy about, just tell me and tell me why. Sometimes I take it out. Sometimes I don’t, but always with an understanding between us of why it’s important to include.
I guess the bottom line is: Be honest with your subjects and they likely will be honest with you.
The profiles I’m proudest of (besides Carville): Don Rumsfeld (GQ), Ed Rendell (Philly Mag), David Petraeus (GQ), a few celeb cover stories for GQ that actually weren’t bad (Jamie Foxx, Matt Damon). But mostly I like real characters, like the late great Bobby Simone (huge mob lawyer in Philly; Rem Reider used that profile in his classes for years) and the late great multiple-married Leonard Tose (former Philly Eagles owner who lost the team at the blackjack tables in Atlantic City). The point being, the less nationally known the person is, the more interesting they usually are.
Oh, and the Teresa Heinz Kerry profile (for Elle). I asked her everything I really wanted to know and she answered honestly—much to the chagrin of her Kerry campaign operatives. Do you have a pre-nup?” Of course!” What if he cheated on you? “I wouldn’t kill him, I’d maim him.”
You also can say I’ve been a magazine writer for more than 30 years and I sometimes wish I had gone to law school or opened a dog-friendly cafe instead.
A note on the picture caption: Lisa posted on Facebook that she first heard the married-interview-divorced-keyboard line from fellow writer Stephanie Mansfield, who then posted: “Credit goes to Sarah Booth Conroy, who said, ‘I fall in love in the interview and get a divorce at the typewriter.'”
Eliot Kaplan says
Nobody is better than Lisa. Give us more.
RICHARD PAWLAK says
Agreed. No better profiler on the planet.
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FLASHLIGHT MEDIA PRESENTS: “SUN”
Posted by jayska in ::FLASHLIGHT NEWS::
Name: Joseph “SUN” Hernandez
Hometown: Yonkers
Title: Spoken word artist/Poet
Contact: J.Sunhernandez@gmail.com / 914-297-POET
If you asked the Yonkers native what keeps him motivated and focused on his goals, he’ll quickly reply-“My daughter and the fact that failure isn’t an option. I refuse to die nameless.” To fans like me, that could never happen, but you have to love the dedication. His commitment to his work is something like a marriage; filled with obligation and responsibility, but the love and passion for it keeps his blood flowing. Creative in every right, he converts his life experiences and raw emotions into poetic expression that’s relatable to everyone. Mixed with comedy, sincerity, and realness Joseph “Sun” Hernandez brings an energy to the stage that’s not to be wrecked with.
Sophomore year of high school was the turning point for him, making the transition from fan to artist. “I was always a big music fan but it wasn’t until I started going to the city for high school that I took writing serious. Traveling from Yonkers down to 59th and Lex daily gave me a lot of alone time and I used it to get my thoughts out.” On top of your average teen issues and complications; Sun was dealing with the death of his grandfather and turmoil at home in a very unfamiliar territory (being that he was a Yonkers kid in a city school). So thoughts would be the last thing he could possibly run out of. With so much going on, he took to the pen like a drug to relieve him from the stresses of the world. His addiction to expression continues today, using everything around him as inspiration to write. “Now a days I still pull from my life experiences but I’ve learned that there’s a poem in everything around us. In what we hear, what we see, what we think, what we want, we’re doing this very second…it’s all a poem. It’s just a matter of finding the right combination of words to make your point.” And finding the right words is something that appears to be second nature to him, as his statement is easier said than done, but we can all appreciate the modesty.
His work speaks for it self, literally; giving the reader details of Suns inner emotions and late night thoughts. Nothing shy of dope to say the least. If you happen to be in L.E.S you might find him at The Nuyorican Poets Café where he has been featured regularly. He’s made the city and Westchester his playground for the past 15 years, also making appearances at El Fogon, Barnard College, and The Soul Box just to name a few. This year, however, marked a significant year for him and his career. Sun released his very first chapbook containing a small collection of his poems, haikus and “Twitter Rants” – as he so eloquently puts it. The dedication alone is something to admire- which he made it out to his bloodline, “may you be better than me on your worst days”. Powerful words…wouldn’t you agree? Over 500 copies of his self printed, self created work were sold; making him one self made man. “It’s not a great deal of books considering the population in the US, but I was happy and proud of the accomplishment” (who doesn’t love a great, yet humble artist). That’s not all he’s accomplished either; like the out-of-the-box thinker that he is, Sun invested his time and talents into a new venture. “I actually just started my own limo/car service. Exquisite Car Service is the name of the company so that’s been keeping me busy.” Although he has created a new title for himself in the business world, he hasn’t lost sight of his artistic nature and hopes to return to drawing and photography. He also aspires to open a studio in Yonkers one day; a place for young artist to “sharpen their talents”. The studio would follow in his creed of making your craft/dream your life and having full dedication to what you really want to be. “You wanna be a poet…I mean a great poet and writer? Then writing has to be your life and your life about writing, only then will you make it”, admitting that this was a lesson learned for him as well.
With Sun, consistency is key and that is evident in all he does. Sticking to his plans and dreams for wanting more, you can definitely say he is well on his way. So many notches on his belt, yet he is still hungry for more. Unaffected by the negativity that can come in anyone’s way, Sun stands tall by his work and continues to share his thoughts with the world; understanding that “There’s always going to be bumps in the road. People will hate and make your travel that much tougher, but as long as you never stop moving forward you’ll be alright”. So for all the aspiring poets and writers out there, I leave you with his message- “Write…write and write. And when you think you’re done writing, start over again”.
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Jets’ Wide Receiver Sidelined
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By Sheila Dwyer, Knee1 Staff
Wide receiver Santana Moss of the New York Jets is expected to be out of commission for a month due to a knee injury.
Moss, the 16th overall draft pick in April, tore cartilage in his right knee while making a cut at the football team’s practice on Wednesday. He actually took to the field on Thursday before he realized his injury. He was expected to undergo testing on his knee on Friday.
On Saturday, July 28th, Moss signed a five-year, $7 million deal with the Jets. He was previously a star wide receiver at the University of Miami, where he was the school’s all-time career yardage leader with 2,546. The five-foot, nine-inch moss finished seventh in Heisman Trophy balloting.
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Photo courtesy of www.caneshooter.com
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Home > Trout Unlimited and U.S. Department of Interior Collaborate to Restore Abandoned Mine LandsPartnership will facilitate cleanup of acid mine drainage across the country
Trout Unlimited and U.S. Department of Interior Collaborate to Restore Abandoned Mine LandsPartnership will facilitate cleanup of acid mine drainage across the country
Contact: Steve Moyer, TU Vice President for Government Affairs, (703) 284-9406, smoyer@tu.org
Trout Unlimited and U.S. Department of Interior Collaborate to Restore Abandoned Mine Lands
Partnership will facilitate cleanup of acid mine drainage across the country
Washington – The national conservation organization Trout Unlimited (TU) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM). Through this partnership, TU and OSM will work together to protect and restore watersheds that historically supported trout populations and which now are adversely impacted by acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines.
The drainage from abandoned coal mine sites is the single largest threat to the Appalachian environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Often laced with toxic metals and sediments, abandoned mine drainage degrades drinking water, diminishes aquatic habitat, and robs rivers of their abilities to support fish and wildlife.
In May 2005, TU released a report called “Restoring the Wealth of the Mountains: Cleaning up Appalachia’s Abandoned Mines,” which highlights those affected rivers and watersheds where effective clean ups are possible. TU has launched a major effort to clean up abandoned mines identified in the report and is working with public and private partners throughout the country to restore these areas. Today’s MOU builds on these model clean up projects that TU and its volunteers are conducting in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee.
“This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to work with OSM to restore abandoned mine lands,” said Steve Moyer, TU Vice President for Government Affairs. “Although funding is woefully scarce for restoration efforts, significant progress can be made when people work together to restore the health of the lands and waters that sustain us.”
As part of today’s agreement, TU and OSM agreed to jointly support the National Fish Habitat Initiative and work with partners to focus attention and resources to protect, restore and enhance aquatic habitat and reverse declines in fish and other aquatic species. TU and OSM are optimistic their new partnership will lead to increased restoration of abandoned mine lands across Appalachia and elsewhere in the United States.
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Tag Archives: jon seda
The Pacific, and Why I Love War Stories
I’m so happy I was able to watch the new TV series on HBO Asia, “The Pacific” labeled as the most expensive TV production in history with the astounding $200 million budget. Produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, in collaboration with HBO, Seven Network Australia, Playtone, and Dreamworks, the series aired last April 03, 2010, at 9pm (Holy Week!) on HBO. I was able to feel an equally spiritual catharsis brought about by Pacific and the Easter season.
Seriously, this is James Badge Dale, and not someone else...
The Pacific is a ten-part miniseries about World War 2 which stars James Badge Dale as Robert Leckie (He looks a lot like the Glee guy! Go figure!) and Jon Seda as John Basilone – two of the many Marine soldiers who fight in the Pacific during World War 2. The Pacific echoes another HBO TV series entitled Band of Brothers, first released in year 2001 (I was only 12 years old during this time!), only the latter was about US Army soldiers in European theater of war. In fact, The Pacific is usually referred to as “the companion miniseries” of the Band of Brothers, maybe because these two hit TV series were both spearheaded by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks (as you must know, Spielberg and Hanks once work with each other in a war movie Saving Private Ryan). Band of Brothers was based on a novel by the historian/biographer Stephen Ambrose and on some combatants’ memoirs in Easy Company veterans, and the series centered on the lives of US soldiers in E (Easy) Company of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment as they were assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in the US Army. The Pacific, on the other hand, was based on two accounts of two Marines. One was Eugene Sledge’s classic account of the Marines in his work With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. This memoir, published in year 1988, accounted for Sledge’s experiences while he was in a part of the Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division and the wars he fought with other Marines at Peleliu and Okinawa. Another one was Robert Leckie’s Helmet for my Pillow, a retelling of the war of US against Japan. The two memoirs centered on the lives of the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific.
The first two episodes were directed by Tim Van Patten (episode 1) and David Nutter (episode 2). The battle on Guadalcanal where the Marines tried to cripple Japanese fleet was featured. After I watched these episodes, I could already feel how provocative the series for it contained the undertones that were familiar in many realist films, the riveting tale of a stirring war story. I noticed that I’m beginning to root for war stories and movies because I believe that one can find the most profound human experiences of life. I’ve read war books like Jarhead by Anthony Swofford, Theory of War by Joan Brady, The Bridge Over the River Kwai by Pierre Boulle and many more, and my favorite war movies include Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Saving Private Ryan by Steven Spielberg. I realized that what drew me to these war stories is the profundity of human experience – the astute psychological explanation on how a war can shape Man’s consciousness about death and living. Life is never the same again, I say.
Recently, I came across with a philosophy book about treatises about wars. In his essay “The Greatness of War”, an excerpt from Politics, German historian Heinrich von Treitschke once said that in a war setting “…the individual must forget his own ego and feel himself a member of the whole, he must recognize how negligible is his life compared with the good of the whole.” That is what I distinctly find common in war stories. Everyone becomes one to function as a whole. Even more than that is the exploration on how does it feel to sleep in trenches and dreaming about home, sick, half-starved, over-fatigued, terrified, being pressed against the demands of what to do and what you don’t like to do, and being confronted by real situational features when friends become foe, the sudden change of behavior of men at war. These conditions, one way or the other, foster Man’s view on human fatalism and compound Man’s doubts about humanity. Then Man will be depicted as a skeptical creature in the backdrop of war, the savage, brutal, and violent activity.
Even though some people see this as a kind of negativism, I appreciate war stories because it moves me and it brings out the necessary cathartic feeling that a person should feel once in a while. Sigh. Harrowing stories are considered tour de force, and war stories are probably the best manifestations for that.
Even more interesting about The Pacific: the musical score by Oscar award-winner renowned film score composer and music producer Hans Zimmer, notable for the film score he made for war movies like Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor,
The Last Samurai, The Thin Red Line, Tears of the Sun, etc. He deftly creates an atmosphere for The Pacific, so that viewers would be able to feel the many layered tones brought about by different scenes of the miniseries.
In an interview about the making of The Pacific, Steven Spielberg said, “It’s brutal, it’s honest, and it’s
right in front of your face.” True, it’s a realistic depiction of a war tale. Something to expect from Spielberg. I wish the Japs can produce something on their own too, if ever they may feel that US filmmakers might dwell too much on the realms “that concerns them”.
In this period where we can openly attacked the ideals that surround issues of war we find war stories like The Pacific a provocative and dauntless film. The series reverberates Plato when he said that “Death is not the worst that can happen to men.” And I like it so much this way. 🙂
Posted in Reviews, TV Shows
Tagged band of brothers, david nutter, dreamworks, easter season, eugene sledge, gary goetzman, guadalcanal, hans zimmer, hbo asia, Heinrich von Treitschke, holy week, james badge dale, john basilone, jon seda, playtone, robert leckie, saving private ryan, seven network australia, steven spielberg, the pacific, tim van patten, tom hanks, war stories
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Home > Vol 16 (2013) > Burke
The historical archaeology of the Chinese in Far North Queensland
Heather Burke, Gordon Grimwade
The first Overseas Chinese immigrants to Far North Queensland (FNQ) arrived in 1868 and within 20 years had established a wide range of settlements keyed directly into Chinese merchant supply networks. Historical archaeology on some of these sites has been carried out since the mid-1980s, but has largely been consultancy-driven, creating data that are patchy, skewed towards urban centres and often non-comparable. Such comparisons as can be drawn relating to dining and drinking behaviours, however, show assemblages dominated by traditional ceramic bowls and a high proportion of plain celadon and Four Seasons decorated wares, but an early and decided preference for European alcohols. Continued adherence to Chinese cultural preferences relating to food but not to alcohol suggests that concepts of identity and the construction of the self may have been constructed differently in each arena. While limited in depth, the archaeology of the Overseas Chinese in FNQ highlights critical gaps and provides a preliminary platform from which to identify future research directions, particularly a need to supplement impact assessment-related studies with detailed surface recording and/or carefully targeted open area excavations in order to advance knowledge beyond basic presence/absence questions.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25120/qar.16.2013.226
© 2019 James Cook University, Australia ABN 46 253 211 955
ISSN 1839-339X (online) ISSN 0814-3021 (print)
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Thursday, Nov 29 2012
Hospital Developments: Calif. Hospital Chain Fined In Privacy Case
Details on how hospitals around the nation are making deals, and getting fined, graded or taxed in this roundup.
Los Angeles Times: Prime Healthcare Services Is Fined $95,000 In Privacy Case
State officials have fined hospital chain Prime Healthcare Services Inc. $95,000 for violating patient confidentiality by sharing a woman's medical files with journalists and sending an email about her treatment to 785 hospital employees. The California Department of Public Health levied the fine this month after determining in May that Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding had five deficiencies related to the unauthorized disclosure of medical information on a diabetes patient treated there in 2010 (Terhune, 11/29).
The Lund Report: State Officials Insist Hospitals Not Overpaid Under Provider Tax
Poor Oregonians will receive an extra $2.033 billion in health care from mid-2011 through mid-2013, according to the latest estimates of the impact of a state tax on hospitals. Yet even many within the industry still don't understand the state’s so-called provider tax, according to Judy Mohr-Peterson, director of medical assistance programs with the Oregon Health Authority. Hospitals will pay $685 million by the end of the current two-year fiscal biennium, Mohr-Peterson said. The Oregon Health Plan must use that money to pay for medical care at those hospitals, and to qualify for roughly $1.4 billion in federal reimbursement for OHP care. But there's no guarantee that any specific hospital will get back as much in reimbursements as it pays in taxes (Sherwood, 11/29).
Georgia Health News: 'A' Through 'F': Group Rates Georgia Hospitals
Eleven Georgia hospitals rated an "A"’ grade on patient safety in an updated report card released Wednesday by the Leapfrog Group. The Washington-based nonprofit organization’s ratings come five months after its first scorecard, and reflect more current data and some adjustments in methodology. The new Leapfrog list gave 27 hospitals in Georgia a "B" and 32 a "C."’ Four received a "D" and one, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, got an "F" (Miller, 11/28).
Modern Healthcare: Vanguard Plans Another Deal In Conn.
Vanguard Health Systems, Nashville, has made further inroads into Connecticut, signing a second deal in the state with a letter of intent to acquire Bristol (Conn.) Hospital and Health Care Group. The for-profit system this month signed a deal to form a joint venture that would operate Waterbury (Conn.) Hospital. Financial terms for the Bristol deal were not disclosed. In a news release, Marie O'Brien, chairman of the Bristol Hospital board of directors, said the deal would allow the medical center to complete extensive renovations to its main campus and expand its outpatient services (Kutscher, 11/28).
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Friends With Benefits: Ryan Kelly
Photo: Nick Coletsos
Linq Lemonade
This week we celebrate fathers. And this Father’s Day is especially important for Ryan Kelly; it’s his first as a dad—he and his wife welcomed a baby girl earlier this year. “I’m excited,” he said, when talking about the holiday. “I love being a dad.” Speaking of fathers, Kelly, who is currently the general manager at Influence, The Pool at The LINQ, followed in his dad’s footsteps when he began his career on the Strip.
“My dad has always worked in the casino industry, so I was always around it,” Kelly said. Kelly’s first job was as a lifeguard at the Flamingo pool. “I’ve been around pools ever since,” he said, including jobs as a cabana host at Planet Hollywood Resort and a pool supervisor and assistant manager for Flamingo’s dayclub, the GO Pool, which he helped launch.
In 2015, after The LINQ’s rebranding, Kelly joined the resort as the pool’s general manager and helped create the 21-and-over pool club. “My main goal was to build a really cool vibe centered around great customer service,” he said. Besides creating a good poolside atmosphere, Kelly is totally hands-on with all aspects of Influence—hiring, training, helping create the cocktail menu and working with marketing and PR, as well as booking the DJs and talent.
“I think what keeps me coming back is this is probably one of the coolest jobs, to be honest,” he said. “You come into work and your job is to throw a party every day, and to make sure that people coming through the doors are having a great time and enjoying themselves. What more could you really ask for?”
Besides the cool waters of the pool, guests at Influence can enjoy a game of pool, shuffleboard, ping pong and more inside the pool’s air-conditioned Req Room. There are also foosball tables, hammocks that overlook the LINQ Promenade and a second dipping pool and sun deck. There’s also a huge cocktail menu with frozen mojitos, specialty cocktails, beers on tap and several spiked lemonades like the popular LINQ Lemonade. Order the refreshing cocktail—made with Skyy raspberry vodka, freshly muddled raspberries, house-pressed lemonade and topped with Chambord—by the pitcher or in a souvenir cup.
Friends With Benefits: Maggie O'Brien
Bartender fulfills her goal many times over.
Friends With Benefits: Natali Tangherlini
Model cocktail server choreographs a good time.
Friends With Benefits: Mauricio 'Cash' Castro
Bartender's incredible story is one you have to hear to believe.
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Justia › US Law › Case Law › Alabama Case Law › Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Decisions › 1972 › Hodges v. State
Hodges v. State
263 So. 2d 518 (1972)
Lavonnie Cadd HODGES, alias v. STATE.
May 23, 1972.
*519 Charles H. Wyatt, Jr., Birmingham, for appellant.
William J. Baxley, Atty. Gen., and Sarah V. Maddox, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
TYSON, Judge.
The indictment charges assault with intent to murder. Appellant was convicted and sentenced to serve fifteen years in the penitentiary.
The incident in question occurred in the early morning hours of October 26, 1969, in Helena, Alabama, located in Shelby County. The victim's wife, Elizabeth Nolen, testified as witness for the State that she and her husband occupied an apartment over her husband's medical office which was across the street from Helena Drugs, a drugstore. At 3:15 a. m., she and her husband were awakened by the sound of crashing glass, and both got out of bed to investigate. She stated that she observed from her window a car backed up to the drugstore and saw two men in the area. She recalled saying, "Oh, my, they are robbing the drugstore." She stated that she observed the two men for about fifteen minutes in what was described as a well lighted area.
Meanwhile, her husband had secured his pistol from the chest of drawers and proceeded to the street. He fired one shot in the direction of the drugstore. Then, two shots were fired from the direction of the automobile, and Mrs. Nolen heard her husband exclaim, "They shot me." Three more shots came from that direction, and when the firing ceased, Dr. Nolen, who had been wounded in the face, walked back to his apartment.
Mrs. Nolen testified that it was the appellant who fired the first series of shots which came from the direction of the drugstore.
In describing the two men, she stated that "one had light curly hair and a blue turtle neck sweater and the other had a plaid jacket or shirt and darker hair." Both had on "dark trousers."
At around 4:00 a. m., Chief Deputy Joe Roden of Shelby County arrived on the scene. He testified he did not have a conversation with the victim or his wife at that time, but that he did learn that something other than a burglary had taken place. He found several shotgun shells at the scene and some spent shot were found in a nearby telephone pole. After concluding *520 his investigation, he "went on to the scene of the chase."
Cooper Shaw, Chief of Police at Wilton, Alabama, at the time, stated that around 4:00 a. m., October 26, 1969, he received a telephone call from the police dispatcher in Montevallo, Alabama. The record does not disclose what that conversation was about. He testified that he then "got in [his police car] and turned the police radio on and reported in for Shelby County and they gave me instructions where to go and what had happened." He reported to the police at Helena and "they assigned a man with me to go with me and showed me a road where to go." After he turned down Highway 31 toward Alabaster, Shaw testified that the following transpired:
"A Well, I drove a pretty good piece. I couldn't say just how far. It was a log road, kind of winding road through the woods and I met a black Falcon panel truck with two men in it and we met in a place that wasn't hardly room to pass, a mudhole, there. They stopped and I stopped and I flipped on my blue light and opened the left hand door and stepped out behind the door and told them to come out with their hands up. They hesitated and looked at each other and I repeated it and I said, `Come out with your hands up and come out now.' The doors threw open and they got out with their hands up and I said, `Walk out here in front of the car.' I said, `Keep your hands up, now, because I will shoot you if you try to pull anything. So, keep your hands up period.'"
Regarding the suspects' descriptions, Shaw testified that one "had on a turtle neck sweater, kind of a bluish looking turtle neck sweater, and the other one had on a brown checked sports coat."
He further testified that he "looked over in" the suspects' automobile and observed two shotguns therein. He then radioed Deputy Roden in Helena for assistance.
Deputy Roden testified that as soon as he arrived at the scene in Alabaster where the suspects had been apprehended, he arrested appellant and his companion. At that time he seized two twelve gauge automatic shotguns from the automobile in which they had been traveling.
On trial date, June 14, 1971, appellant moved to quash the indictment, his position being that the indictment on its face shows material alterations, and that it was error for the court to proceed under such indictment.
In examining the indictment, it appears that the person alleged to have been assaulted was first designated as Dr. Nolen Percy, and that the name "Nolen Percy" was crossed out and name of "Percy Nolen" was inserted. It further appears that the word "pistol" and the two words preceding it were crossed out.
There was no testimony in the record as to how or when such alterations came about, nor does the appellant offer any explanation in brief. He states simply that, "From all that appears on the face of this indictment it is not the act of the Grand Jury. . . ."
The rule governing this is found in 41 Am.Jur.2d, Indictments and Informations, Section 23, wherein it is stated:
"Where an indictment appears to have been altered, it has been held that in the absence of anything appearing on the face of the indictment or shown intrinsically tending to prove that the alteration was made subsequently to the execution of the instrument, it will be presumed that it was altered before execution and that it is the instrument returned by the grand jury."
See also 42 C.J.S. Indictments and Informations § 95, and cases footnoted.
Finding no evidence in the record to indicate when the interlineations in the indictment were made, it will be presumed that they were made prior to its return in court by the Grand Jury. Consequently, *521 motion to quash the indictment on this ground was properly denied.
The record does not disclose any attempt by the appellant, prior to trial date, to bring to the court's attention his alleged denial of a speedy trial. We quote from Moulden v. State, 47 Ala.App. 573, 258 So. 2d 915, which states the applicable law:
". . . Further, the record does not reflect that any effort was made prior to trial date to have the alleged denial of a speedy trial brought to the attention of the trial court. Under Article I, Section 6, Constitution of Alabama 1901, our Supreme Court has determined that a defendant must make `a demand for a trial or objection to the postponement of the trial, or some other effort to secure a speedy trial on the part of the accused, ordinarily must be affirmatively shown to entitle him to a discharge on the ground of delay.' Ex parte State ex rel. Attorney General, 255 Ala. 443, 52 So. 2d 158; Duncan v. State, 42 Ala.App. 111, 154 So. 2d 302; Autrey v. State, 44 Ala. App. 53, 202 So. 2d 88. The record here reflects no such demand." III
Appellant's motion to quash the indictment on the ground that he was not afforded counsel at his preliminary hearing, was properly denied. His preliminary hearing was held in October, 1969, and the Supreme Court, in Adams v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 278, 92 S. Ct. 916, 31 L. Ed. 2d 202, has held that its decision in Coleman v. Alabama, 399 U.S. 1, 90 S. Ct. 1999, 26 L. Ed. 2d 387, does not apply retroactively to preliminary hearings conducted before June 22, 1970, the date of the Coleman opinion.
Appellant insists that he was arrested without probable cause, and that the seized shotguns, introduced in evidence over objection, were the fruits of an illegal search. We find a discussion of these contentions unwarranted, as we are convinced that appellant is without standing to challenge the seizure.
From Meade v. Cox, 310 F. Supp. 233 (W.D.Va.1970), we quote:
"The leading case on standing is Jones v. United States [362 U.S. 257, 80 S. Ct. 725, 4 L. Ed. 2d 697], supra. Jones held the defendant in that case had standing in one of two ways. First, if possession both convicts and confers standing, standing is automatically conferred.. . . Secondly, anyone legitimately on the premises where a search occurs may challenge the legality of the search and seizure. Jones further held that `this would of course not avail those who by virtue of their wrongful presence, cannot invoke the privacy of the premises searched.' 362 U.S. at 267, 80 S. Ct. at 734, 4 L. Ed. 2d at 706."
In Cassady v. United States, 410 F.2d 379 (5th Cir. 1969), the court spoke to this point:
"The record is devoid of evidence indicating any interest, ownership or otherwise, of Cassady in the Falcon such as to afford him standing to complain of its search. Only one whose Fourth Amendment right of privacy has been violated may object to the introduction of the fruits of an illegal search. [Citing Jones.]
And our own court, per Cates, Judge, has spoken to this matter in Simmons v. State, 44 Ala.App. 212, 205 So. 2d 576, wherein it was stated:
"The Constitution protects `persons, house, papers, and effects' to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizure. Simmons in no wise claimed either the claimed stray safe nor the supposedly abandoned truck. "Applied here, we consider Simmons had no standing to complain of the seizure of the stolen safe without a warrant. . . *522 ". . . In no wise do we consider the seizure as being from the person or property of the defendant. His interest in the safe was either innocently inquisitive or feloniously acquisitive. This choice was for the jury."
In point with the case at bar is Moore v. State, 44 Ala.App. 113, 203 So. 2d 460, where it was held the defendant could not object to the search of the automobile in which he was a passenger, where he had no possessory or proprietary interest in the vehicle.
The record here does not reflect that appellant had any legitimate interest, proprietary, or otherwise, in the searched automobile. Rather, the record discloses that the vehicle in question had been stolen shortly after the robbery and assault had taken place.
As appellant does not come within either category of persons having standing as set out in Jones, supra, we find that appellant fails to show a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights.
At the trial, the State examined its witness, Elizabeth Nolen, concerning her husband's wounds, as follows:
"Q Describe to the ladies and gentlemen of the jury Doctor Nolen's condition at the time you met him. "A He was bleeding. Blood was all down his pajamas and in his house shoes and he was bleeding profusely and I had grabbed some towels on the way out. "MR. WYATT: We move to exclude what she did do. It is not responsive as to his condition. "THE COURT: That is sustained and it is excluded from the jury. The jury is not to consider that part. "Q All right. Mrs. Nolen, how old is Doctor Percy Nolen? "A Sixty-five. "Q. All right. Now, do you know of your own knowledge the injuries sustained by him from the gun shot fired?
"A Yes, sir, I do.
"Q What are those?
"A He has a laceration of the right
"MR. WYATT: May we enter an objection as to her not being qualified as a medical doctor to discuss the physical aspects of the injury she described and what she saw previously. We object to this type of testimony as being repetitious. "THE COURT: That objection is overruled and the court feels that she has been adequately trained and experienced to describe what she saw. Of course, as to the progress, I would say, perhaps not, but, she can testify as to the lacerations and what ever other physical conditions she saw him to be in at that time. "Q (BY MR. WALDEN:) Mrs. Nolen, did you see the injuries that was sustained by Doctor Nolen? "A He had lacerations on the right forehead and was bleeding profusely from his nose. "Q All right. What did you do, then, if anything? "A I handed him some towels and told him, `Let's go.' "Q All right. Now, Mrs. Nolen, did Doctor Nolen sustain any other injuries or any injuries which precipitated said injuries from the gun shot wound? "A Other than the face and forehead? "Q Yes. "A No other injuries. "Q What is Doctor Nolen's condition today? "A Doctor Nolen is under the care of several physicians. *523 "MR. WYATT: We move to exclude that answer. I don't think she is qualified, medically, to make a statement as to what the Doctor's physical condition is at this time. "MR. WALDEN: Your Honor, this testimony is offered by the State of Alabama for the purpose of showing the present condition of Doctor Nolen, who, due to his present condition is not able to come here to testify today. "THE COURT: I will allow her answer to the question. "Q Describe Doctor Nolen's condition as it exists today. "A He has considerable trouble with the right sinus area; he is very nervous; he is not able to carry on the work that he was doing; his work is limited very much, now; he tires very easily and when he works, he has to go back to the physician in Birmingham, a Doctor James Hicks, for his sinus, every Sunday for a while. "MR. WYATT: We object to this line of testimony. "THE COURT: The court feels that the witness has answered the question. The Court would like to instruct the jury that this testimony you just heard, in response to the State's question, is allowed for the purpose of indicating to you, showing to you why Doctor Nolen is not present to testify in this case and for that purpose, only."
In a prosecution for assault with intent to murder, evidence of the victim's wounds and their severity is admissible. Bone v. State, 25 Ala.App. 96, 142 So. 437; Elmore v. State, 26 Ala.App. 290, 158 So. 771; Berry v. State, 27 Ala.App. 507, 175 So. 407; Williams v. State, 20 Ala.App. 257, 101 So. 367.
In Elmore, supra, the court stated: "It was relevant for the state to prove the nature and character of the wound inflicted and, as tending to prove the animus of the assault, the severity of the wound and the time and medical attention necessary for it to heal. . . ."
Appellant further complains of the court's ruling in allowing the victim's wife to testify as to the nature of the victim's wounds, contending she was not medically qualified to do so. However, appellant's contention cannot be sustained as our courts have consistently allowed such testimony by one not shown to be an expert. Jacobs v. State, 146 Ala. 103, 42 So. 70; Pitts v. State, 19 Ala.App. 564, 99 So. 61; Haney v. State, 20 Ala.App. 236, 101 So. 533; Bone v. State, 25 Ala.App. 96, 142 So. 437.
The State introduced in evidence, over appellant's objection, an aerial photograph of Helena, Alabama. Such photograph was authenticated by Elizabeth Nolen, the victim's wife, who testified that it clearly depicted the Helena business district as of October 26, 1969, the day her husband was wounded. She gave further testimony which indicated that she had personal knowledge of the area portrayed in the photograph.
Appellant cites as error the fact that the photograph was not verified by testimony of the photographer, and further that there should have been evidence as to when the photograph was taken, and the position of the camera.
In relation to the admissibility of photographs, we note the following language in Strickland v. Davis, 221 Ala. 247, 128 So. 233:
"Photographs identified by a party having personal knowledge of the location as true photographs of the scene . . . are properly admitted in evidence. It is not necessary to produce the photographer or other person present who saw the location of the camera, where this is reasonably apparent from the photographs or where the photograph discloses *524 matters of importance regardless of where the camera was placed. . . ."
And, in City of Anniston v. Simmons, 31 Ala.App. 536, 20 So. 2d 52, the court stated that:
". . . "[T]he mere fact, * * * that photographs were taken at a time different from that in question does not render them inadmissible if witnesses are able to verify them as substantial representations of the conditions as they existed at the time in question.' 20 Amer.Jur. 611."
In view of these authorities, we find that the testimony of the victim's wife provided a sufficient foundation for the introduction of the photograph in evidence.
Appellant argues that the trial court erroneously admitted in evidence an exhibit, a short barrelled shotgun, over his objection that a material change had taken place in the weapon since the time it was confiscated. There was testimony that Robert Johnson, a State Toxicologist, had dropped the weapon while it was in his possession, and a lever which served to retract the cartridge had been broken off.
As stated in Liberty National Life Insurance Company v. Weldon, 267 Ala. 171, 100 So.2d 696:
"The pertinent rule is that articles or objects which relate to or tend to elucidate or explain the issues or form a part of the transaction are admissible in evidence when duly identified and shown to be in substantially the same condition as at the time of the occurrence. . . ."
We believe this rule to have been complied with. Appellant's similar contention with respect to the shotgun shells which had been "tagged" for identification, is also without merit.
Appellant further asserts that he was not given the warnings required by Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, but there is nothing in the record to indicate that appellant was ever interrogated, or if he was, that the fruits of such questioning were attempted to be used against him.
We have carefully examined the entire record in accordance with Title 15, Section 389, Code of Alabama, and find no error. The judgment is due to be and the same is hereby
PRICE, P. J., and CATES, ALMON and HARRIS, JJ., concur.
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Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › Courts of Appeals › Eighth Circuit › 1983 › Automotive, Petroleum and Allied Industries Employees Union,local No. 618, Appellant, v. Town and Co...
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Automotive, Petroleum and Allied Industries Employees Union,local No. 618, Appellant, v. Town and Country Ford, Inc., Appellee, 709 F.2d 509 (8th Cir. 1983)
US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - 709 F.2d 509 (8th Cir. 1983)
Submitted April 13, 1983. Decided June 20, 1983
Harris, Dowell, Fisher, McCarthy & Kaemmerer, John O. Harris, and Michael E. Kaemmerer, Chesterfield, Mo., for appellee.
George O. Suggs and Harry H. Craig, St. Louis, Mo., for appellant; Wiley, Craig, Armbruster, Wilburn & Mills, St. Louis, Mo., of counsel.
Before ARNOLD, Circuit Judge, FLOYD R. GIBSON, Senior Circuit Judge, and BENNETT,* Circuit Judge.
BENNETT, Circuit Judge.
Teamsters Local No. 618 (Union) appeals from the district court's1 denial of its request for an order requiring Town and Country Ford (Employer) to submit a discharge grievance to the grievance procedures provided for in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated by the parties. The district court held that the Union's alleged failure to submit a complaint to the Employer within five (5) working days from the notice of the discharge (as required by the Agreement) barred arbitration. Automotive, Petroleum & Allied Industries Employees Local 618 v. Town & Country Ford, Inc., 543 F. Supp. 256 (E.D. Mo. 1982). We are now called upon to decide whether that decision was on a question of "procedural" arbitrability. If so, under John Wiley & Sons v. Livingston, 376 U.S. 543, 84 S. Ct. 909, 11 L. Ed. 2d 898 (1964), it was properly an issue to be decided by the arbitrator and not the court. We hold that the district court exceeded its authority in deciding the above issue. Accordingly, we reverse.
The appellee-Employer is in the business of the sale and servicing of automobiles.2 A number of its employees are represented by the Union for the purpose of collective bargaining. The Employer and the Union are parties to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement in effect for the period August 1, 1981, through July 31, 1984. The Agreement contains two provisions dealing with grievances. Article III, section 3, provides, in part:
Complaints regarding the layoff or discharge of members of the Union will be handled promptly in accordance with the grievance procedure herein provided. Such complaints must be filed in writing with the Company within five (5) working days from the date of notice of such layoff or discharge. Failure to present such grievance within such period shall constitute a bar to further action.
Article VI, section 3, which sets out the grievance procedure, further provides:
Complaints regarding layoff or discharge will be handled promptly in accordance with the grievance procedure and must be filed in writing with the Union, copy to the employer, within five (5) working days from notice of such layoff or discharge.
On August 12, 1981, the Employer discharged C.L. Craft, a member of the Union, for insubordination. The district court found that the Union failed to serve the Employer timely with a copy of the grievance concerning the discharge of C.L. Craft. The court also found that the Employer has never been served with a written copy of the discharge grievance.3
Due to the Union's alleged failure to serve the Employer with a timely written copy of the grievance, the Employer's representative refused to hear the grievance at the September 18, 1981, grievance meeting at the Automobile Dealer's Association facility. The Union then brought this action in the district court to compel the Employer to arbitrate the dispute over the discharge of C.L. Craft.
The district court noted that courts have attempted to distinguish between substantive and procedural arbitrability in the determination of whether the parties to a collective bargaining agreement have excluded certain issues from the arbitration procedure. The court defined this distinction as follows:
The former concept [substantive arbitrability] is concerned with the question of whether the parties have contractually agreed to submit the issue to arbitration. It is generally held that this issue must be decided by the courts because a party may not be compelled to arbitrate an issue unless there was contractual consent. * * * In contrast, the concept of procedural arbitrability encompasses the question of whether a grievance procedure applies to a particular dispute and whether the parties have followed or excused the particular procedure. [543 F. Supp. at 258 (citation omitted).]
The court then noted that generally the arbitrator is called upon to decide questions of procedural arbitrability. The court, however, quoted the Supreme Court's statement in Wiley, 376 U.S. at 556, 84 S. Ct. at 918, that " [q]uestions concerning the procedural prerequisites to arbitration do not arise in a vacuum." From the foregoing, the district court concluded that:
these concepts cannot be applied in an absolutist fashion, nor do the concepts necessarily provide a workable analysis. The essential inquiry when determining the arbitrability of an issue should be the intent of the parties to the contract. [Id. at 258.]
Applying these principles to the case before it, the district court analyzed the Collective Bargaining Agreement in order to determine the intent of the parties. The court focused on the provisions of the agreement quoted earlier which state that the failure to submit a written grievance within the allotted time constitutes a bar to further action. The court found this language to be a limitation by the parties on the number of disputes that are subject to arbitration. The court concluded:
The existence of this language negates the conclusion that the parties regarded the requirement of filing a grievance with the company as a mere procedural formality to be dispensed with unilaterally. See Philadelphia Printing Pressmen's Union v. International Paper Co., 648 F.2d 900 (3rd Cir. 1981). Therefore, requiring the defendant to submit the Craft discharge grievance to the grievance procedures provided in the agreement would be in contravention of the plain language of the agreement and the intent of the parties to the contract. [Id. at 259.]
The court therefore entered judgment for the defendant-Employer.
We agree with the appellant-Union that the distinction between substantive and procedural arbitrability is dispositive of the issue in this appeal. If, as the Union contends, the issue of its alleged noncompliance with the five-day notice requirement is a question of procedural arbitrability, then the Supreme Court's decision in Wiley would compel the conclusion that the district court erred in deciding this issue.
The court in Wiley stated: "Once it is determined, as we have, that the parties are obligated to submit the subject matter of a dispute to arbitration, 'procedural' questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on its final disposition should be left to the arbitrator." 376 U.S. at 557, 84 S. Ct. at 918. The Court gave two reasons why questions of procedural arbitrability are best left for the arbitrator to decide: (1) procedural questions are often intertwined with the merits of the dispute; and (2) the reservation of procedural issues for the courts provides an opportunity for serious delay and duplication of effort. See id. at 556-58, 84 S. Ct. at 917-18.
Since the Court's decision in Wiley, it cannot be seriously contended that purely "procedural" issues should be decided by the courts and not the arbitrator.4 See also International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 v. Flair Builders, Inc., 406 U.S. 487, 490, 92 S. Ct. 1710, 1712, 32 L. Ed. 2d 248 (1972), where the Court cited its earlier holding in Wiley. The question before us, however, is whether the issue decided by the district court may be properly characterized as substantive or procedural. We believe that the lower court erred in its implicit holding that the notice requirement was an issue of "substantial" (i.e., substantive) arbitrability.
We agree with the Employer that there is no rational distinction between the facts in this case and the facts in Philadelphia Printing Pressmen's Union 16 v. International Paper Co., 648 F.2d 900 (3rd Cir. 1981), where the Third Circuit held that the district court properly decided that the union's failure to reduce the grievance to writing, as required by the collective bargaining agreement, precluded an order to compel arbitration. In Philadelphia Printing, the union argued that Wiley mandated that the above issue was an area within the exclusive domain of arbitration. The court rejected the union's contention, finding that the following statement from Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co., 370 U.S. 238, 241, 82 S. Ct. 1318, 1320, 8 L. Ed. 2d 462 (1962), quoted in Wiley, 376 U.S. at 547, 84 S. Ct. at 913, was dispositive:
[W]hether or not the company was bound to arbitrate, as well as what issues it must arbitrate, is a matter to be determined by the Court on the basis of the contract entered into by the parties.
From the foregoing, the court in Philadelphia Printing concluded:
Although the parties could have provided that any dispute over whether there is an arbitrable dispute would be for the arbitrator, this was not done. Accordingly, the issue of arbitrability of the Axilrod matter remained in the court, where the Congress placed it by section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act. [648 F.2d at 903 (footnote and citations omitted).]
The rationale for the court's holding in Philadelphia Printing, and the district court's holding in this case, is that if the union's failure to follow the grievance procedures set out in the agreement impacts on the determination of whether the dispute is subject to arbitration, then the matter is within the province of the court. We do not follow these holdings for the following reasons: (1) they ignore the distinction made in Wiley between substantive and procedural arbitrability; (2) they are contrary to our own precedent; and (3) they are against the great weight of authority in the other circuits.
In Wiley, the Court affirmed its earlier statement in Atkinson that the courts are empowered to decide the issue of whether a company was bound to arbitrate on the basis of the agreement between the parties. This statement, however, was preparatory to its discussion of the issue of whether the arbitration provisions of the collective bargaining agreement survived a merger. The Court had little difficulty in deciding that this issue was a question for the courts. 376 U.S. at 546-47, 84 S. Ct. at 912-13. Later in the decision, the Court decided the separate issue of the proper forum for questions of "procedural arbitrability." Id. at 555, 84 S. Ct. at 917. It is instructive to note what these issues were that the Court characterized as "procedural." In Wiley the company asserted that it had no duty to arbitrate because (1) the collective bargaining agreement set out a three-step grievance procedure, and the first two steps had not been followed (the third step being arbitration), id. at 555-56, 84 S. Ct. at 917; and (2) the union allegedly failed to comply with the following provision of the agreement: "Notice of any grievance must be filed with the Employer and with the Union Shop Steward within four (4) weeks after its occurrence or latest existence. The failure by either party to file the grievance within this time limitation shall be construed and be deemed to be an abandonment of the grievance." Id. at 556 n. 11, 84 S. Ct. at 918 n. 11. Despite the fact that the company asserted that the union's failure to follow these grievance procedures precluded arbitration, the Court held that once the parties are obligated to arbitrate the "subject matter" of the dispute, then the "procedural" questions (as outlined above) should be left to the arbitrator. Id. at 557, 84 S. Ct. at 918.
We find that there is no rational basis on which to distinguish between those issues which the Supreme Court in Wiley deemed to be procedural, and thus reserved for the arbitrator, and the issue in this case. The notice requirements, with the stated time limits, are substantially similar in wording and import; i.e., in Wiley the provision provides that in the event that the procedure is not followed, the grievance is deemed "abandoned," and in the instant case, the provision provides that the failure to follow the procedure constitutes a "bar" to further action. Although there will undoubtedly be cases where the line between "substantive" arbitrability and "procedural" arbitrability will be very fine, we find that the issue in this case clearly falls within the latter classification.
Any doubt that the Wiley decision mandates reversal of the district court's decision is resolved by the decision of this court in Bevington & Basile Wholesalers, Inc. v. Local 46 Int'l Union of United Brewery, Flour, Cereal, Soft Drink & Distillery Workers, 330 F.2d 202 (8th Cir. 1964). In the district court the company claimed that its refusal to arbitrate a grievance that arose over the discharge of an employee was not contrary to the terms of the agreement. As stated by the district court, "Specifically, defendant claims that 'plaintiff has failed to comply with the procedural requirements established by the said collective bargaining contract' in that the dispute was not submitted within three days of its occurrence." 213 F. Supp. 437, 438 (W.D. Mo. 1963). The court noted that the request for processing of the grievance was clearly untimely. The district court then stated:
On the facts of this case, there is no question about the breadth of the arbitration clause. What defendant requests us to pass on is the issue of whether on the merits, the arbitration is barred because of the union's failure to request that the grievance be processed within the clear time requirements of the contract. We quite agree that without more being shown to excuse the delay, the union's request was out of time. But there may be valid reasons why that might not foreclose the arbitration. [Id. at 438.]
The court concluded that " [t]he question involved in this case is but a part of the general grist of the mill that is regularly handled by arbitration proceedings in case after case throughout the United States." Id. at 438. The district court therefore granted the union's request for summary judgment and ordered the parties to proceed to arbitration.
On appeal, this court framed the issue before it as follows:
We are confronted with the narrow question of whether the court or the arbitrator should determine whether the union has sufficiently complied with the procedural requirements of the collective bargaining agreement as to compel arbitration. [330 F.2d at 203.]
The court found the recent Supreme Court decision in Wiley to be dispositive of the issue, stating:
Whatever uncertainty may have heretofore existed with respect to whether the court or the arbitrators should determine questions of 'procedural arbitrability' under the factual situation here existing has been resolved by the Supreme Court. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston, [376 U.S. 543] 84 S. Ct. 909 [11 L. Ed. 2d 898]. [Id. at 204.]
This court therefore affirmed the judgment of the district court.
We find that the issue decided in Bevington and the issue before us in the instant case are indistinguishable. The only apparent discrepancy between the facts of these two cases is that here the Employer characterizes the issue as one of "substantive" arbitrability, while in Bevington it appears that the company conceded that the issue was procedural in nature. This "discrepancy," of course, has no bearing on our conclusion that Bevington is dispositive of the issue before us. See also Local 198 United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum & Plastic Workers v. Interco, Inc., 415 F.2d 1208 (8th Cir. 1969), where it was asserted that the union had not requested arbitration within the 90-day period fixed by the contract. The union asserted that it was excused from performance of this "useless" act, as Interco had in the past consistently rejected arbitration. The court stated: "In our view, this issue presents a procedural matter which under John Wiley & Sons v. Livingston * * * should be resolved by arbitration." 415 F.2d at 1210 (citation omitted).
Numerous decisions in the other circuits support our holding that the issue before us is one of procedural arbitrability. In Rochester Telephone Corp. v. Communication Workers, 340 F.2d 237 (2d Cir. 1965), the company asserted that the union's alleged failure to give notice of its intention to arbitrate a grievance within the 60-day time limit set out in the agreement relieved it of its duty to arbitrate the grievance. The court rejected the company's attempt to distinguish Wiley, and affirmed the district court's order compelling arbitration. In Local 51 Int'l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers v. Illinois Power Co., 357 F.2d 916 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 850, 87 S. Ct. 78, 17 L. Ed. 2d 79 (1966), the company asserted that the union had waived its right to arbitration under the collective bargaining agreement, as the agreement provided that the grievance procedure must be invoked within five days after the facts upon which the dispute is based first occurs or first becomes known. The union did not file its grievance until nine months after the dispute had become known. The court held that this was a procedural dispute which, under Wiley, was for the arbitrator to decide.
Similar decisions may be found in the First Circuit, Trailways v. Amalgamated Ass'n of Street, Electric Railway & Coach Employees Div. 1318, 343 F.2d 815, 818, (1st Cir.) cert. denied, 382 U.S. 879, 86 S. Ct. 164, 15 L. Ed. 2d 120 (1965) ("The company's contention that the union failed to file the grievances relating to discharge of the employees within the requisite time limits, is without merit. It can raise that defense before the arbitrator but not before this court. John Wiley & Sons v. Livingston, supra."); the Fourth Circuit, Tobacco Workers Int'l Local 317 v. Lorillard Corp., 448 F.2d 949, 953 (1971) ("We think the District Court was clearly correct in deciding that the question of whether the grievances were timely filed was for the arbitrator.")5 ; the Fifth Circuit, Palestine Telephone Co. v. Local 1506 Int'l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 379 F.2d 234, 240-41 (1967); the Sixth Circuit, Chambers v. Beaunit Corp., 404 F.2d 128, 131 (1968), ("The question of whether a grievance is timely filed is a procedural question, which, under the Supreme Court's holding in [Wiley ] is left to the arbitrator for decision."); the Ninth Circuit, Hospital & Institutional Workers Local 250 v. Marshal Hale Memorial Hospital, 647 F.2d 38, 40-41 (1981); the Tenth Circuit, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers v. Folding Carrier Corp., 422 F.2d 47, 49 (1970); and the D.C. Circuit, Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. C.A.B., 574 F.2d 546, 550 (1978).
We hold that the issue of whether the Union's alleged failure to satisfy the notice requirement barred arbitration is one of procedural arbitrability. Under the Supreme Court's decision in Wiley, this issue is reserved for the arbitrator, and not the district court. Under Wiley, the district court's role is limited to the determination of whether the parties are obligated to submit the "subject matter" of a dispute to arbitration. Here, the "subject matter" of the dispute is the discharge of an employee, C.L. Craft, not whether the Union complied with the grievance procedure set out in the agreement. The district court found that the Collective Bargaining Agreement "provides for a grievance procedure by which union members may make complaints concerning the discharge * * * of employees." 543 F. Supp. at 257. The parties are, therefore, obligated to submit the subject matter of the dispute to arbitration, and the district court exceeded its authority by deciding an issue of procedural arbitrability.6
Accordingly, after thorough consideration of the record and the parties' submissions, we reverse the judgment of the district court, and remand for entry of an order directing the parties to submit the discharge grievance to arbitration in accordance with the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The Hon. Marion T. Bennett, United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit, sitting by designation
The Hon. John F. Nangle, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Missouri
On February 1, 1982, the agency changed its name and dealership to Jung Chevrolet. This change did not affect the relationship of the Employer and the Union
On appeal, the Union does not contend that these findings were clearly erroneous, but it does argue that there is an issue of fact as to whether timely service took place, and that this issue should be decided by the arbitrator, not by the district court
Prior to the Court's decision in Wiley the courts of appeals were divided on the issue of whether procedural issues should be decided by the courts or the arbitrator. See 376 U.S. at 556 n. 12, 84 S. Ct. at 918 n. 12
In Tobacco Workers, the company argued that if the merits and the procedural questions were not intertwined, then the procedural questions should be decided by the courts and not the arbitrator. The court held that even if the procedural and substantive questions were independent of each other, the procedural questions, under Wiley, were reserved for the arbitrator. See 448 F.2d at 953-54, and cases cited
We offer no opinion on whether the Union's alleged noncompliance with the notice requirement bars a decision on the merits of the discharge. This is a question for the arbitrator. The arbitrator should also decide whether the notice requirement was in fact complied with
of Eighth Circuit opinions.
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Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › Courts of Appeals › Sixth Circuit › 1985 › In Re Harold E. Colegrove, Delores A. Colegrove, Debtors.cardinal Federal Savings & Loan Association...
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In Re Harold E. Colegrove, Delores A. Colegrove, Debtors.cardinal Federal Savings & Loan Association, Creditor-appellant, v. Harold E. Colegrove; and Delores A. Colegrove, Debtors-appellees, 771 F.2d 119 (6th Cir. 1985)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit - 771 F.2d 119 (6th Cir. 1985)
Cause Argued June 7, 1985. Decided Aug. 22, 1985
Kirk Sampson argued, Lerner, Sampson & Rothfuss Co., L.P.A., Cincinnati, Ohio, for creditor-appellant.
Wayne F. Wilke, Robert A. Goering argued, Cincinnati, Ohio, for debtors-appellees.
Before MERRITT and WELLFORD, Circuit Judges, and CELEBREZZE, Senior Circuit Judge.
WELLFORD, Circuit Judge.
On September 8, 1983, Harold E. Colegrove and Delores Ann Colegrove, the debtors, filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Immediately prior to the filing, Cardinal Federal Savings and Loan Association ("Cardinal") instituted a foreclosure action in state court against the Colegroves' personal residence. Cardinal held the first mortgage on this realty and sought foreclosure because of the Colegroves' delinquency in making payments.
Under the Chapter 13 plan submitted by the Colegroves, they were to make up the arrearage owed Cardinal on the first mortgage indebtedness while at the same time continuing to pay the monthly installments due under the mortgage during the term of the plan. On October 3, 1983, Cardinal filed with the bankruptcy court a proof of claim and an application for interest on what it presented as a secured claim. Cardinal claimed an arrearage of $2,495.60. In December this was later modified to reflect all missed payments through November 1983, the new total arrearage being $2,967.60.
On November 30, 1983, the bankruptcy court confirmed the Colegroves' proposed plan, despite its failure to provide for interest on the arrearage. The bankruptcy court rejected Cardinal's application, finding Cardinal lacked any statutory or contractual right to interest, and this judgment was affirmed by the district court.
We are called upon to decide whether the bankruptcy court erred in confirming the Colegroves' proposed plan without any provision for interest on the arrearage. We find little direct precedent on this question which must arise with some frequency in the bankruptcy context. We believe several sections of the Bankruptcy code bear upon the answer to be reached.
Section 1322 of the Code prescribes the contents of a Chapter 13 plan, providing in part that
The plan may--
(2) modify the rights of holders of secured claims, other than a claim secured only by a security interest in real property that is the debtor's principal residence, or of holders of unsecured claims;
(5) notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, provide for the curing of any default within a reasonable time and maintenance of payments while the case is pending on any unsecured claim on which the last payment is due after the date on which the final payment under the plan is due;
11 U.S.C. § 1322(b). The bankruptcy court relied on this section of the Code in rejecting Cardinal's application for interest. It reasoned that because a plan could not modify the terms of the mortgage, the mortgagee could not receive interest on the arrearage absent a specific clause in the loan agreement to the contrary. It then concluded that to require the payment of interest would be to modify the mortgage contrary to Section 1322.
Cardinal, on the other hand, argues that two other sections of the Bankruptcy Code dictate a contrary result. Section 506(b) states:
To the extent that an allowed secured claim is secured by property the value of which, ... is greater than the amount of such claim, there shall be allowed to the holder of such claim, interest on such claim, and any reasonable fees, costs, or charges provided under the agreement under which such claim arose.
Section 1325(a) provides in part:
The court shall confirm a plan if--
(5) with respect to each allowed secured claim provided for by the plan--
(B) (i) the plan provides that the holder of such claim retain the lien securing such claim; and
(ii) the value, as of the effective date of the plan, of property to be distributed under the plan of such claim is not less than the allowed amount of such claim;1
Cardinal argues that section 506(b) specifically provides that it be allowed interest. Here the Colegrove residence property securing the claim is valued at $55,000, much more than Cardinal's claim, and reflecting that the Colegroves have a substantial equity in their home. In the alternative, Cardinal urges that the "cram down" provision of section 1325 requires that interest be allowed. Cardinal's rationale is that in order to receive the true value of the arrearage, there must be interest paid over the period of repayment.
This court has twice had occasion to consider the meaning of section 1325. In Memphis Bank & Trust Co. v. Whitman, 692 F.2d 427 (6th Cir. 1982), section 1325 was interpreted to require payment of interest at the current market rate on an arrearage due under an automobile loan agreement. More recently, in Hardy v. Cinco Federal Credit Union (In re Hardy), 755 F.2d 75 (6th Cir. 1985), the court affirmed the bankruptcy court's order denying confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan because of its failure to include interest on the amount due Cinco Federal Credit Union, an unsecured creditor. The court interpreted 11 U.S.C. § 125(a) (4)2 to require interest on all deferred payments to be made under the plan. In our view, a contrary conclusion would prevent the creditor from realizing the full present value of the amount owed.
The bankruptcy court concluded that neither section 506(b) nor section 1325(a) (5) (B) controlled the present case. We disagree with that rationale and conclusion. First, section 1322(b) (2) prevents a modification of the loan agreement only under certain conditions, while section 1322(b) (5) allows for a "cure" of the arrearage "notwithstanding paragraph (2)." By ordering that interest be paid on the arrearage, there is no modification of the loan agreement. Instead, the interest requirement is merely incident to the "cure," which is excepted from the rule of section 1322(b) (2). Accord In re Taddeo, 685 F.2d 24, 27-28 (2d Cir. 1982).
Second, both sections 506(b) and 1325(a) indicate that interest is allowable. The former provides for interest on all allowed secured claims where the value of the security is greater than the claim. The latter directs the bankruptcy court to confirm a plan only where the creditor will receive the present value of the amount due him. In Hardy we held that an unsecured creditor was entitled to interest under section 1325. It would be anomalous to hold that an unsecured creditor should receive interest, while a secured creditor, such as Cardinal, should not.3 Section 1322 was not intended to have this effect.
The majority of bankruptcy courts to address the issue have held in favor of allowing interest in this context. In re Stratton, 30 B.R. 44, 46 (Bankr.W.D. Mich. 1983) ("interest is required here under Sec. 1325(a) (5) (B) of the Bankruptcy Code to give the creditor the present value of his money"); In re Einspahr, 30 B.R. 356 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1983) ("the courts agree that, in order to provide the secured creditor with the value of his secured claim 'as of the effective date of the plan,' the debtor must pay interest on that claim"); In re Hibbert, 14 B.R. 891, 894 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y. 1981) ("for the Debtors to cure their default, they must presently tender the full amount due; or, in the alternative, tender a greater amount in deferred payments such that the total of such deferred payments is equivalent to receipt of [the total amount due] today"); see also In re Evans, 20 B.R. 175 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1982); In re Frey, 34 B.R. 607 (Bankr.M.D. Pa. 1983).
Essentially only one court is supportive of the bankruptcy and district courts' decisions here. In re Carr, 32 B.R. 343, 345 (Bankr.N.D. Ga. 1983). That court held that "the awarding of interest pursuant to Sec. 1325(a) (5) (B) (ii) would constitute modification of the contract in contradiction to Sec. 1322(b) (2)," and ruled that in the absence of a specific provision in the loan agreement for interest on all missed installments was impermissible under a Chapter 13 plan. That same court reiterated its position in In re Christian, 35 B.R. 229, 232 (Bankr.N.D. Ga. 1983) ("In effect, Sec. 1322(b) (2) operates as an exception to the 'cram down' provisions of Sec. 1325(a) (5) (B)"). We reject this rationale in refusing to allow interest for the reasons we have stated.
This court discussed, by analogy, this problem in a Chapter 13 context in Memphis Bank & Trust, the difference being the treatment of both a secured and an unsecured claim in a plan concerning an automobile loan instead of a residence mortgage note. Contract monthly installment payments were required in the approved plan, and this court also allowed the "current market rate" of interest on the creditor's claim (including the excess over the then present value of the automobile as collateral). The court interpreted the applicable statutory Chapter 13 provisions to mean that the creditor in such situation was "making a new loan to the debtor in the amount of the current value of the collateral," 692 F.2d at 431, and such creditor was entitled to interest at the "current market value for similar loans at the time." Id. The effect of such a procedure, allowing interest, according to Memphis Bank & Trust, was "to require full payment in accordance with the contract," id. at 432, not excluding interest.
We next consider what rate of interest should be allowed. This question has created a split of authority. One view is to limit the interest to the legal rate. See, e.g., In re Marx, 11 B.R. 819 (Bankr.S.D. Ohio 1981). Other courts have looked to the rates prevailing in the market place. See, e.g., Hibbert, 14 B.R. at 894. Finally, the most widely accepted approach has been to limit the creditor to the rate provided for in the original loan agreement.
This last view has been rationalized by the fact that "the contract rate is the rate which the parties agreed was a fair return to the creditor for the debtor's repayment of the loan over an extended period of time." Evans, 20 B.R. at 177. Still other courts have viewed the contract rate to be more favorable because the fixing of any other limit might be construed as an impermissible modification of the loan agreement. See Stratton, 30 B.R. at 45-46; Einspahr, 30 B.R. at 356; Frey, 34 B.R. at 611, In re Simpkins, 16 B.R. 956 (Bankr.E.D. Tenn. 1982). Finally, one court has stated that the need for "simplicity of operation in Chapter 13 cases," indicates that the contract rate is a better choice. In re Thorne, 34 B.R. 428, 431 (Bankr.E.D. Tenn. 1983). "It may be as fair and workable a solution as can be found." Id.
We conclude that the most equitable rate to establish in this type of situation is the prevailing market rate of interest on similar types of secured loans at the time of allowance of the creditors claim and the confirmation of the plan in bankruptcy with a maximum limitation on such rate to be the underlying contract rate of interest.4 See Memphis Bank & Trust, supra. We accordingly REVERSE and REMAND this matter for further proceedings consistent with the views herein expressed.
CELEBREZZE, Senior Circuit Judge, dissenting.
I agree with the majority that the issue before this Court is whether Cardinal Federal Savings & Loan Association (Cardinal) is entitled to interest on the arrearage. However, since I believe that the majority's conclusion that Cardinal is entitled to interest on the arrearage contravenes the mandate of 11 U.S.C.A. Sec. 1322(b) (2) (West Supp.1985), I respectfully dissent.
The majority makes two arguments in support of its holding that Cardinal is entitled to interest on the arrearage. Initially, the majority contends that the interest payments are part of "curing [the] default" under 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b) (5) (1982). Next, the majority analogizes Cardinal's claim to the treatment of secured and unsecured claims under 11 U.S.C. §§ 506(b) & 1325 (1982). I will discuss each argument in turn.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b) (2) (West Supp.1985), a plan may not modify the rights of a person holding a security interest in real property which is the debtor's principal residence. Section 1322(b) (5), 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b) (5) (1982), provides an exception to Section 1322(b) (2): a plan may allow for the "curing" of a default within a reasonable time. According to the majority, the allowing of interest on the arrearage is part and parcel of curing the default. I disagree.
I believe that the contract between the parties determines what constitutes curing a default for purposes of Section 1322(b) (5). If the parties intend to allow interest on arrearage, a provision to this effect must be included in the contract. In re Carr, 32 Br. 343, 345-46 (Bkrtcy.N.D. Ga. 1983); In re Christian, 35 Br. 229, 232 (Bkrtcy.N.D. Ga. 1983); see In re Simpkins, 16 Br. 956, 964 (Bkrtcy.E.D. Tenn. 1982) ("The main point of the special protection of Sec. 1322(b) (2) is to preserve the right to the regular payments as provided in the contract."). In my view, to automatically allow interest upon arrearage under the aegis of curing the default, as the majority does, clearly modifies the contract between the creditor and debtor in contravention of Section 1322(b) (2). If the parties fail to include a provision governing arrearage in the contract, as in this case,1 or include a provision requiring only a nominal penalty charge for late payment, interest on the arrearage may be a windfall to the creditor. For example, under the majority's opinion, even if the mortgage contract explicitly provided for a four percent interest rate to accrue on arrearage, the creditor under Section 1322(b) (5) would still be entitled to receive the lesser of the prevailing market or the mortgage interest rate. Thus, assuming that the market and the mortgage rate of interest exceed four percent, a creditor may be placed in a better position by virtue of the majority's interpretation of Section 1322(b) (5) than his position under the contract.2 I do not believe that Congress intended such a result in enacting Section 1322(b) (5). See In re Clark, 738 F.2d 869, 872 (7th Cir. 1984) (" [T]he plain meaning of 'cure,' as used in Sec. 1322(b) (2) and (5), is to remedy or rectify the default and restore matters to the status quo ante."). Moreover, the majority partially undermines its opinion by limiting the interest on arrearage to the maximum amount provided for in the contract; if receiving interest is part of curing the default, then the mortgage rate of interest should not affect the interest rate which the creditor receives on arrearage. In other words, if the contract is irrelevant to determining whether a default has been cured, I fail to understand why the contract should still limit the recoverable interest on arrearage. Based upon the foregoing, I believe that the majority's interpretation of Section 1322(b) (5) is contrary to Section 1322(b) (2)'s mandate not to alter the partys' contractual rights.
Second, the majority analogizes Cardinal's claim to the treatment of claims under 11 U.S.C. §§ 506(b) & 1325 (1982). The majority notes that secured claims under Section 506(b) are entitled to interest and that both secured and unsecured creditors receive interest under Section 1325. See Memphis Bank & Trust Co. v. Whitman, 692 F.2d 427 (6th Cir. 1982) (discussing interest on claims under Section 1325(a) (5) (B)); Hardy v. Cinco Federal Credit Union (In re Hardy), 755 F.2d 75 (6th Cir. 1985) (discussing interest on claims under Section 1325(a) (4)). These analogies, however, simply miss the point. Cardinal does not have a secured or unsecured claim; rather, Cardinal has a security interest in the Colegrove's principal residence which is governed by Sections 1322(b) (2) & (b) (5). Accord H.R.Rep. No. 595, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 429, reprinted in 1978 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 5963, 6384 ("Paragraph (5) concerns long-term debt, such as mortgage debt."); 124 Cong.Rec. H11089 (daily ed. September 28, 1978) (statement of Rep. Edwards), reprinted in 1978 U.S. Code Cong. & Ad.News 6436, 6481. ("Section 1322(b) (2) of the House amendment represents a compromise agreement between similar provisions in the House bill and Senate amendment. Under the House amendment, the plan may modify the rights of holders of secured claims other than a claim secured by a security interest in real property that is the debtor's principal residence. It is intended that a claim secured by the debtor's principal residence may be treated with under Section 1322(b) (5) of the House amendment."); 124 Cong.Rec. S17406 (daily ed. October 6, 1978) (statement of Sen. DeConcini), reprinted in 1978 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 6505, 6550 ("Section 1322(b) (2) of the House amendment represents a compromise agreement between similar provisions in the House bill and Senate amendment. Under the House amendment, the plan may modify the rights of holders of secured claims other than a claim secured by a security interest in real property that is the debtor's principal residence. It is intended that a claim secured by the debtor's principal residence may be treated with under Section 1322(b) (5) of the House amendment."). Congress in enacting Sections 1322(b) (2) & (b) (5) intended to treat security interests in principal residences different from all other claims. See Grubbs v. Houston First American Savings Association, 730 F.2d 236, 245 (5th Cir. 1984) (en banc) (primary purpose of Section 1322(b) (5) to enable a debtor to preserve the equity in his home and to restore and maintain his currency on long-term debt); In re Simpkins, 16 Br. 956, 963 (Bkrtcy.E.D. Tenn. 1982) (purpose of Sections 1322(b) (2) & (b) (5) to allow debtors to make regular payments on mortgages and to protect long-term lenders); United Companies Financial Corp. v. Brantley, 6 Br. 178, 189 (Bkrtcy.N.D. Fla. 1980) (purpose of Section 1322(b) (2) to provide stability in long-term home financing industry). Thus, Cardinal's claim cannot be deemed analogous to a secured or unsecured claim; Congress has placed such claims in their own sui generis category. Accordingly, the attempt of the majority to rely upon Sections 506(b) and 1325 is both inappropriate and unpersuasive.
The crux of the majority's decision is that the allowing of interest on arrearage is necessary to allow the creditor to realize "the full present value of the amount owed." As a matter of economics, the majority's assertion may be correct. Nonetheless, I believe that Congress in enacting Sections 1322(b) (2) and 1322(b) (5) expressed its intention to allow the contract between the parties to govern matters such as the interest, if any, to be paid on arrearage. Accordingly, since the imposition of interest upon the arrearage is contrary to the contract in this case, I would affirm the judgment of the district court.
This section has since been amended to reflect that the court may not approve a plan where the value of the property to be distributed is less than that of the claim. 11 U.S.C. § 1325(b) (1) (A)
This section applies to unsecured creditors and appears analogous to 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a) (5) (B)
The dissent suggests that Cardinal is being placed in a better position by our allowing the recovery of interest on the arrearage. By allowing the recovery of interest, however, we are merely permitting the creditor to achieve substantially the benefit of its bargain. We fail to see any real distinction under these circumstances between a secured claim and a security interest. A party with a security interest in real estate possesses a secured claim. See Black's Law Dictionary 1215 (5th ed. 1979)
By limiting the interest rate to that found in the contract, we have struck a fair compromise between what has been agreed on by the parties, and what is dictated by simple economics. See Thorne, 34 B.R. at 431
I note that the mortgage agreement between the Colegroves and Cardinal does contain a provision providing that, "Borrower shall pay to the Note holder a late charge of 4 percent of any monthly installment not received by the Note holder within 15 days after the installment is due." Apparently, this provision entitles Cardinal to receive four percent interest on arrearage. Nevertheless, the bankruptcy court held that Cardinal failed to produce sufficient evidence to establish that it was entitled to interest on arrearage under the mortgage contract. Since Cardinal has not challenged the bankruptcy court's finding pertaining to its rights under the mortgage agreement on appeal, I will assume for the purposes of discussion that Cardinal is not entitled to interest on arrearage under the contract. In any event, if Cardinal was entitled under the contract to four percent interest on arrearage, I would simply allow Cardinal four percent interest on the arrearage as provided by the agreement
Of course, many mortgage contracts contain clauses which permit the creditor to accelerate the payment of principal and interest upon the debtor's default. Nevertheless, since the cure provision of Section 1322(b) (5) permits de-acceleration of these types of clauses, e.g., In re Clark, 738 F.2d 869 (7th Cir. 1984); Grubbs v. Houston First Am. Savings Assoc., 730 F.2d 236 (5th Cir. 1984) (en banc); Di Pierro v. Taddeo (In re Taddeo), 685 F.2d 24 (2d Cir. 1982), I do not believe that the presence or absence of an acceleration provision in the mortgage contract should affect the outcome of this case
of Sixth Circuit opinions.
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Harold Hongju Koh Returns April 11 to Lecture on the Obama Administration and International Law
Yale Law School will welcome back to campus former dean Harold Hongju Koh on Monday, April 11, to deliver a Dean’s Lecture on international law and the Obama administration. Koh is currently on leave from Yale Law School as the Martin R. Flug ’55 Professor of International Law and is serving as legal adviser of the U.S. Department of State. His lecture is titled “The Obama Administration and International Law: Reducing Polarization.” It takes place at 4:30 p.m. in Room 127 and is open to the public. A reception will follow in the Alumni Reading Room. RSVP to marianne.dietz@yale.edu.
An expert on public and private international law, national security law, and human rights, Koh joined the faculty of Yale Law School in 1985 and served as dean from 2004 to 2009. He took leave from the Law School on June 25, 2009, when he was confirmed as Legal Adviser of the U.S. State Department. In October 2009, he was named the inaugural Martin R. Flug ’55 Professor of International Law at Yale Law School. From 1998 to 2001, he served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and previously had served on the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Public International Law.
He holds a B.A. from Harvard College, B.A. and M.A. degrees from Oxford University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He was honored with the Yale Law School Association’s Award of Merit during Alumni Weekend 2009.
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Professor Carter ’79 Publishes Biography of His Remarkable Grandmother
In his latest book, Professor Stephen L. Carter ’79 tells the moving story of the life and work of his grandmother, Eunice Hunton Carter (1899–1970), the mastermind behind the operation that successfully captured and prosecuted mobster Lucky Luciano.
Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down America’s Most Powerful Mobster opens with the 1906 race riots in Atlanta, GA. A seven-year-old Eunice and her family huddled in their house listening to white mobs inch closer, as they smelled the smoke from the fires from burning homes. This scene sets the stage for the reader to see that despite African-Americans struggles “to build lives and families in the whitest and harshest days of segregation...within that segregated world emerged remarkable stories of triumph.”
Carter’s narrative underscores Eunice’s ambitious leanings, which emerged at an early age. At age eight she announced that she would become a lawyer, a promise she fulfilled two decades later. Despite the myriad racial barriers she faced as a black woman, Eunice graduated from Smith with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just four years, graduated from Fordham Law School, became the first black woman lawyer in New York, and the first black woman federal prosecutor in the country.
Eunice eventually landed the most desired legal job in New York at the time: working with Thomas Dewey on his Organized Crime Task Force. In this capacity Eunice pioneered the investigation that proved the mob was running New York City’s brothels and helped identify the witnesses that confirmed Luciano’s involvement.
As a result of her work taking down Luciano, Carter notes that Eunice became “one of the best-known Negro women in America.” This feat was only the beginning, however, as “She would receive honorary degrees, be featured in Life magazine, lecture around the world, be handed medals and plaques from civic organization everywhere…[and] become a prominent and influential figure in the Republican party.” She later turned her attention to international activities as president of the Conference of International Organization, consultant for UNESCO, and influential member of the International Board of the YWCA.
The list of her accomplishments and activities is impressive, as was her ability to overcome racial barriers. “As ambition drove her ever upward,” Carter reminds, “she would find her path blocked — now by race, now by gender, now by politics.”
Carter’s portrait of his grandmother reveals a complex picture that included not only her accomplishments but her struggles: from her tense relationship with her brother, whose Communist ties probably hindered her success, to her difficult marriage.
Bestselling author Walter Isaacson called Invisible “a riveting and moving story, one with enormous resonance for our own time.”
Stephen Carter is a prolific writer, having published 15 books, six novels, and, in addition to his scholarship, hundreds of opinion pieces. He was also the former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
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R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46 - Table of Contents
R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46
Criminal Code
Version of section 743.1 from 2003-01-01 to 2008-07-01:
Marginal note:Imprisonment for life or more than two years
743.1 (1) Except where otherwise provided, a person who is sentenced to imprisonment for
(a) life,
(b) a term of two years or more, or
(c) two or more terms of less than two years each that are to be served one after the other and that, in the aggregate, amount to two years or more,
shall be sentenced to imprisonment in a penitentiary.
Marginal note:Subsequent term less than two years
(2) Where a person who is sentenced to imprisonment in a penitentiary is, before the expiration of that sentence, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of less than two years, the person shall serve that term in a penitentiary, but if the previous sentence of imprisonment in a penitentiary is set aside, that person shall serve that term in accordance with subsection (3).
Marginal note:Imprisonment for term less than two years
(3) A person who is sentenced to imprisonment and who is not required to be sentenced as provided in subsection (1) or (2) shall, unless a special prison is prescribed by law, be sentenced to imprisonment in a prison or other place of confinement, other than a penitentiary, within the province in which the person is convicted, in which the sentence of imprisonment may be lawfully executed.
Marginal note:Long-term supervision
(3.1) Notwithstanding subsection (3), an offender who is required to be supervised by an order made under paragraph 753.1(3)(b) and who is sentenced for another offence during the period of the supervision shall be sentenced to imprisonment in a penitentiary.
Marginal note:Sentence to penitentiary of person serving sentence elsewhere
(4) Where a person is sentenced to imprisonment in a penitentiary while the person is lawfully imprisoned in a place other than a penitentiary, that person shall, except where otherwise provided, be sent immediately to the penitentiary, and shall serve in the penitentiary the unexpired portion of the term of imprisonment that that person was serving when sentenced to the penitentiary as well as the term of imprisonment for which that person was sentenced to the penitentiary.
Marginal note:Transfer to penitentiary
(5) Where, at any time, a person who is imprisoned in a prison or place of confinement other than a penitentiary is subject to two or more terms of imprisonment, each of which is for less than two years, that are to be served one after the other, and the aggregate of the unexpired portions of those terms at that time amounts to two years or more, the person shall be transferred to a penitentiary to serve those terms, but if any one or more of such terms is set aside or reduced and the unexpired portions of the remaining term or terms on the day on which that person was transferred under this section amounted to less than two years, that person shall serve that term or terms in accordance with subsection (3).
Marginal note:Newfoundland
(6) For the purposes of subsection (3), “penitentiary” does not, until a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, include the facility mentioned in subsection 15(2) of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act .
1995, c. 19, s. 39, c. 22, s. 6
1997, c. 17, s. 1
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Home | News & Events | Wright’s First Usonian Home On UNESCO’s World Heritage Site List
News UNESCO World Heritage List Residence Inspired Lindal Home Design
Lindal Cedar Homes, a proud partner of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, salutes the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy and its partners for their successful efforts to facilitate the designation of eight seminal works by Wright to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list.
Among the buildings so honored is the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House (informally referred to as Jacobs 1). Built in 1937, it is Wright’s first Usonian home design. In 2018, Lindal debuted an updated, re-imagined version of Jacobs 1 – the Madison – which is available for clients to build on their property.
Jacobs 1 is one of the eight Frank Lloyd Wright sites awarded the first-ever modern architecture designation on the world heritage list for the United States. The other Wright buildings include Fallingwater, Hollyhock House, Taliesin, Taliesin West, Unity Temple, the Frederick C. Robie House, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes were based on an idea that was radical for its time: To make cutting-edge modern architectural design principles accessible to the middle class in the form of affordable, mass-produced residential homes. A pioneer in the use of new materials, prefabrication, and modern home design, Frank Lloyd Wright created custom designs for each client, based on their budget and lifestyle. The homes were made with natural materials such as wood and stone, and composed of elements that could be mass-produced for maximum cost-effectiveness. In 1937, the first Usonian home – Jacobs 1 – was built by Wright for Herbert and Katherine Jacobs near Madison, WI. Wright went on to design more than 100 Usonian homes. In the interests of economy, Wright eschewed basements, garages, front porches, and excess ornamentation. The homes, however, are far from drab. Wright played with light and shadow by including beautiful bris soleil (literally “broken sun”) designs against the windows. These created geometric shadows that would expand and contract as light penetrated and withdrew from the communal open spaces of the homes. In addition to providing visual appeal, this technique helped with heating and cooling the homes. (See an example of bris soleil in this video of Hollyhock House.)
The simple yet functional early Usonian homes – with their open floor plans, low-lying profiles, and clean proportions – served as prototypes for the popular ranch style homes that to a large degree defined the residential landscape of post-WWII America.
In 2018, Lindal Cedar Homes – the world’s largest manufacturer of post-and-beam kit homes – partnered with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to resurrect the concept of the Usonian home with its Lindal Imagine Series (LIS). LIS unites the enduring design principles of a Usonian home with current developments in technology, construction and design theory. The homes were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture graduates Aris Georges and Trina Lindal. While several of the designs in the series are original, they are all, in the words of designer Georges, “translations of the original Usonian designs.”
The Lindal Imagine Series Madison home design (left) closely follows the layout of the original Jacobs 1 house (right). It embodies the elements of Usonian design, with a sheltered entryway next to a covered carport, and two “wings” that wrap around a private backyard. All of the rooms have a connection to nature via large glass doors. Light enters even the most interior spaces through clerestory windows that are formed through the use of varying roof elevations. Utility functions are housed in the partial basement. At 1,603 square feet, the Madison embodies Wright’s desire to create small, accessible homes with superlative architecture and an elevated aesthetic. The Lindal Imagine Series homes reflect Wright’s belief that the buildings we live in influence the kinds of people we become.
All LIS home designs are available to build on a client’s private build site. Lindal operates through an international network of independent distributors to provide its home designs and exterior materials packages to clients worldwide. Please contact your local Lindal representative to inquire about building a Usonian-inspired home on your lot.
For information about Lindal’s entire Imagine Series’ line of homes, please join us for a free introductory webinar, presented by designers Aris Georges and Trina Lindal, on Wednesday, July 17. Register for the webinar here.
Archival drawings and photos courtesy of The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (The Museum of Modern Art / Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York). All rights reserved.
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IPEW - INTERNATIONAL PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE WEEK
IPEW Archive
KRATKE BIOGRAFIJE / SHORT BIO
GUDAČKI KOMORNI ORKESTAR, DIRIGENT: STJEPAN VUGER
The String Chamber Orchestra of the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb was founded in the autumn of 2006 on the initiative of prof. Jože Haluza. The purpose of such an ensemble is to enable string band students to acquire the first experience and the skill of playing together in a larger ensemble, with the maximum communication between the members as well as the full creative effort, since the ensemble acts independently, without a conductor. Through projects such as these students gradually introduce themselves into a professional way of work that is expected of future musicians.
Every year, the Orchestra has several concerts at the Academy Hall (F-5), and recently in the new MA building at the B. Bersa Hall, and regularly performs at the J.Š. Slavenski Memorial in Čakovec (since 2008) as well as in Zagreb as part of the “Passion Heritage” event. They perform as part of the Music Cycle “Youth Musicians” at Matica hrvatska in Zagreb, and on several occasions in the Croatian Music Institute’s hall (HGZ). They also performed on three occasions in Vienna – two times at Peterchkirche (2011 under the artistic direction of Catherine Mackintosh and again in November 2017 with conductor and composer Zoran Novačić), and a concert at the Universität für Musick und Darstellende Kunst (2013) under the guidance of prof. J. Haluza. They also performed in Porec as part of the annual European Association of String Pedagogues (ESTA 2012).
Stjepan Vuger was born in 1988 in Zagreb where he completed the XV. a Natural Science Mathematics Grammar School and a Secondary Music School (accordion in the class of Professor Faith Odak, Music Theory) at GU Elly Bašić.
In 2012 he graduated classical accordion in docent Borut Zagor class and undergraduate study of Music Pedagogy at the Music Department of the University of Pula. As an Erasmus scholarship for the academic year 2011/2012. he attended the Music Academy in Gdansk, in the class of prof. Krzysztof Olczak and assistant Paweł Zagańczyk.
As a soloist and chamber member he participated in domestic and international competitions and achieved remarkable results (2nd place – 18th Mlawski festiwal muzyki akoredonowej, Mlawa, Poland; 1st place – 4th International Competition Fisa… Armonie, Trieste, Italy 2. place (category duo) – 49 Internationaler Akkordeon Wettbewerb Klingenthal, Germany, 1st prize and absolute victory – the 46th and 47th Croatian competition of students of music and dance – chamber ensembles).
He attended seminars with significant pedagogues (F. Lips – Russia, E. Moser – Germany, V. Semjonov – Russia, R. Sviackevicius – Lithuania, M. Kern – Germany, J. Djordjevic – Austria). Academic Year 2014/2015.
He studies conducting at the Music Academy in Zagreb in the class of prof. Mladen Tarbuk, he is now a fourth year student. He had a conducting debut with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2017. He has collaborated with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the HRT Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, the Croatian National Theater in Zagreb, the Academy of Music in Pula.
Igor Lešnik
Igor Lešnik is the author of the “Hereafter the beginning” project’s concept. The founder of the percussion department of the Zagreb Music Academy appeared as soloist on five continets and his compositions are performed worldvide. Among other distinctions, French Ministry of Culture honoured him with the knighthood title “Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” in 2003.
biNgbang
biNgbang – percussion ensemble of the Zagreb Music Academy has rich history of awards at home and abroad and traveled worldvide performing Croatian music for percussion.
biNgbang musicians: Francesco Mazzoleni, Luis Camacho Montealegre, Andrea Pedron, Petar Pranjić, Marin Borščak, Julija Furek, Jaan Štokelj Wu, Šimun Matišić, Rupert Čunko, Dominik Šabić, Štefan Đurković, Janko Adamek, Mario Čavlek, Suzana Komazin, Vedran Vujec, Božidar Rebić, Marko Mihajlović, Igor Lešnik.
Ivana Bilić
Ivana Bilić is an International marimba/ percussion artist and a commissioned author. Her concert activities include recitals, crossover projects, stage productions, live tv shows and appearances with orchestras and artists in Europe, USA, South America and Asia, in halls such as the Merkin Hall in New York, Palacio de las Bellas Artes in Mexico City
and Franz Liszt Hall in Budapest. A pupil of Igor Lešnik, she is currently teaching at the Zagreb Music Academy
Slavko Juraga
Slavko Juraga is leading drama theatre actor of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. Among numerous roles and appearances in films he also guest starred as the Silk King in “Game of Thrones” TV series. Notably, he authored play scripts and directed theatre projects.
PERCUSSIONDUO JESSICA & VANESSA PORTER
The sisters Jessica and Vanessa Porter gave their duo debut in 2009 duringthe renowned national youth competition Jugend Musiziert. Their partnership was very successful and already made national waves so they decided this was to be the way forward and launched themselves as a professional duo.
Jessica and Vanessa moved together to Stuttgart were Vanessa is currently studying on her master degree at the Conservatory with Prof. Marta Klimasara and Prof. Jürgen Spitschka. Jessica finished her master´s degree in the summer of 2016.
The duo regulary perform at high profile festivals and they have toured extensively in Europeas well as Asia. The Duo is scholarship holder of the Bruno-Frey and the Karl Jegg Foundation. In 2016 they made the 1st Prize at the internaional PercussiveArtWebContest of Percussive Arts Society.
Program notes:
Udacrep Akubrad
Avner Dorman is one of Israel’s most successful and renowned composers.At the age of 25, he became the youngest composer to win Israel’s prestigious Prime Minister’s Award. Currently, he is a C.V. Starr fellow in the Doctoral program of the Julliard School of Music, where he studies with acclaimed composer John Corigliano. In Israel he studied with former Soviet composer Yossef Bardanashvili.
Avner Dorman on Udacrep Akubrad
“What determines the special character of a piece of music written for percussion is the very large choice of instruments. With percussion the possibilities are infinite. The variety and richness of possible combinations allow the composer to embark on a special creative journey. In Udacrep Akubrad (Percadu Darbuka reversed), written for and dedicated to Percadu in 2001, I have chosen a similar set of percussion instruments for each of the players: a marimba, two darbukas, tom-tom and a bass drum. This piece draws its inspiration from the music of our region, extending the “eastern” boundaries as far as the Indian subcontinent. Its two main elements are: the scales and rhythms emanating from the traditional classical music of the peoples of the Mediterranean on the one hand, and on the other: a repetitive minimalism, prevailing also in the music tradition of the Middle East, but in this piece depending on a technique that has been developed during the last thirty years.”
Ceci n´est pas une balle
Ceci n´est pas une balle is a piece for bodypercussion, theatre and mime. This work is an excerpt of the percussion theatre work “Black Box” which premiered in january 7, 2012. Octabones Adi Morag, percussionist, composer and teacher, was born in Israel 1976. In 1996 he established PercaDu, a world class percussion duo together with Tomer Yariv. As a composer Morag, wrote and published several percussion duo works. The marimba duo “Octabones” won the Percussive Arts Society Composition Compe and became a part of the standard repertoire for marimba duo.
Claire de lune
It is difficult to hear Claire de lune (Moonlight) with new ears, so familiar did it become, in various arrangements, even in Debussy´s lifetime. Poetic and evocative, it suggests the nostalgic world conjured up by Verlaine in his Fetes galantes and formed part of Debussy´s Suite bergamasque written between 1890 and 1905.
Eight on 3 and Nine on 2
Eight on 3 and Nine on 2 is a multipercussion duet like no other. This piece tests percussionists’ abilities to split rhythms. Two players perform the piece facing each other, sharing instruments just as they share in playing almost every rhythm in the piece. The listener is engaged aurally and visually as both performers sound like one in an exciting and captivating percussive showcase.
MARIANNA BEDNARSKA
Marianna Bednarska is a young Polish percussionist. After graduating with highest mark from Marta Klimasara at Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, she is now studying Solo Music performance under Philippe Spiesser at Geneva University of Music (Switzerland).
She has won 21 first prizes in national and international percussion competitions, among others: 2nd Prize and the Special Prize ‘Best Performance of a Belgian Composition’ at the Universal Marimba Competition of the Belgian Queen (Belgium 2017), 1st Prize and the Special Pize at the International Percussion Competition at Northwestern (Chicago, USA 2016), 1st Prize and the Special Prize of the Bayerischer Rundfunk at the International Marimba Competition in Bamberg (Germany 2016), 1st Prize at the International Marimba Competition in Paris (France 2009), 1st Prize at the International Marimba Competition in Fermo (Italy 2008) and 1st Prize and the Special Prize at the International Percussion Competition in Plovdiv (Bulgaria 2007). She was a finalist in the National Eurovision Competition “Young Musician of the Year 2009”.
As a soloist, Marianna Bednarska has played concerts in many prestigious concert halls in Poland and abroad (Poland, Danemark, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Bularia, Italy, Ukraine and USA). She is also an active musician, both as ensemble and orchestra player (from 2017 Intern in the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Switzerland). In 2013 she was awarded with the ‘Polish-Danish Friendship Prize’ for her close connection with Danish musical life, culminating in the CD recording of Anders Koppel’s four Marimba Concertos (DACAPO Records, 2014) which got extremely positive reviews, both in Poland and abroad (The New York Times, Gramophone, Deutschlandfunk, Fanfare Magazine). In 2017 Marianna Bednarska was nominated for Debut of the year in the prestigious polish award ‘Koryfeusz Muzyki Polskiej’.
Jesus Torres – Proteus
Jesús Torres (*1965) was born in Saragossa into a family with a long musical tradition and lives in Madrid, where he started received his academic background. His catalogue is around one hundred compositions and includes a multipercussion piece ‘Proteus’. Freely treated formal structure of the composition combines not only an instrumental playing, but also body percussion and voice parts, which is an interpretative challenge for the performer and also determines the attractiveness of the work.
Piet Swerts – L.A.Concerto
Piet Swerts (*1960) was born in Tongeren. He is a piano, analysis and composition teacher and jury member at composition contests. Swerts wrote many compositions for various instruments, among others ‘L.A. Concerto’ for marimba and strings – the compulsory piece for the final round of Universal Marimba Competition 2015 in Belgium, dedicated to Ludwig Albert. The scale of performance difficulties is an artistic challenge at the world level.
KREŠIMIR STARČEVIĆ
Croatian pianist Krešimir Starčević (Zagreb, 1988.) started to play piano only at the age of 12. He finished Franjo Lučić Art School in his home town Velika Gorica in the class of Andreja Markulin. In 2007 he enrolled to Zagreb Music Academy in the class of Đorđe Stanetti. He has spent the academic year 2012/2013 at University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna as a part of Erasmus program, in the class of renowned Austrian pianist Stefan Vladar. He graduated in Zagreb in 2013, receiving Dean’s Award. He has got many prizes in national and international piano competitions. The most significant of those are second prize at the Zlatko Grgošević Competition, first and second prizes at the Croatian national competition of music students, the award of the City of Samobor at the Ferdo Livadić Competition and third prize at the competition of Dino Škrapić Foundation.
In 2017 he received Award for the best artistic collaboration at the Darko Lukić Competition in Zagreb, for playing with cellist Latica Anić, who won the competition. Apart from Latica, he works with other successful Croatian musicians such as saxophonist Lovro Merčep, violinists Marco Graziani and Marin Maras, trumpet player Vedran Kocelj and clarinetist Mihael Paar.
From 2014 he performs regularly with many percussionists, among them Pei-Ching Wu, Hyeji Bak and Filip Merčep. He works as an artistic collaborator of International Percussion Ensemble Week in Bjelovar and in 2017 was official pianist of International Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium. He played on various music festivals and performed as a soloist with Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra and Zagreb Music Academy’s Symphony Orchestra under the conductors Saša Britvić, Pavle Dešpalj and Mladen Tarbuk.
He was attending masterclasses of pianists and pedagogues such as K.-H. Kämmerling, E. Indjić, N. Flores, R. Dalibaltayan, P. Paleczny, N. Grubert, G. Gruzman i E. Hubert. He is an on-going associate of Croatian Radio’s Educational Program. Also, he is active as an organizer and promoter of classical music concerts. Since 2009 till 2014 he was one of the organizers of Virtuoso student concert cycle in Zagreb. In 2014 and 2015 he was the Artistic Director of Zagreb Summer Evenings Festival. In 2016 he co-founded CristoforiumArt company for artist management, production and organization of cultural events.
DOUBLEBEATS
The percussion duo „DoubleBeats“ was founded in 2012 by Ni Fan (China) and Lukas Böhm (Germany) during their studies at the ‘Hanns Eisler’ Academy of Music Berlin. Currently, as part of their postgraduate studies, the duo is artistically supervised by prof. Li Biao, prof. Franz Schindlbeck, prof. Rainer Seegers and pianist prof. Jonathan Aner – as the first percussion ensemble in chamber music worldwide.
DoubleBeats made their national debut performing the Goldrush-Concerto by Jacob ter Veldhuis for two percussion soloists and orchestra under the conductor Sean Edwards at the Konzerthaus Berlin. Internationally they debuted at the ‘International Percussion Ensemble Week’ in Croatia. At the ‘International Mercedes-Benz Music Festival China’, the duo was presented as „Young Artist of the Year 2012“. Since then, they regularly perform at considerable festivals in Europe and Asia.
DoubleBeats interprets both early and contemporary music. Their repertoirereaches from Bach via Piazolla up to Bartók and contains numerous adaptions and commissionary compositions for traditional as well as modern instruments.
With the release of their debut album ‘Fascination of Percussion’, produced with the multiple Grammy and Echo award winner Jakob Händel at the Berlin Philharmony, DoubleBeats presents essential chamber music for percussion duo, brilliant arrangements of classical music and two ensemble pieces with percussionists of the Berlin Philharmonics.
In 2017, DoubleBeats’ new album will be presented by the Label ‘Naxos’. DoubleBeats is scholarship holder of the Yehudi Menuhin ‘Live Music Now’ Assiciation and endorser of Sabian Cymbals. For „outstanding achievements in the field of interpretation“, the Oscar und Vera Ritter-Stiftung rewarded the duo with the ‚ Ritter-Preis’ and are 1. Prize winner of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium 2017.
Flam-a Duo is made by Luis Camacho Montealegre (Spain) and Francesco Mazzoleni (Italy), both graduating students at the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb. The Duo was formed in early 2016 under the mentorship of Igor Lešnik and Ivana Kuljerić Bilić.
Although it is only a year old, Flam-a Duo is attending many European festivals: IBMW (Samobor), Salotto Musicale (Treviso, Italy), Virtuoso Cycle (Zagreb, Croatia), Percute (Valencia, Spain), IPEW (Bjelovar), Percussion Camp (Tenerife, Spain). They won the 2nd Prize at the Percute Chamber Music Competition in Valencia (Spain) in 2016 and the 2nd Prize
TECLADOS DUO
The Teclados duo is conformed by Costa Rican percussionist Carmen Alfaro Méndez and the Salvadoran pianist William Gómez Rodríguez. In July 2017 they participated in the worldrenowned Universal Marimba Competition, held in Sint Truiden, Belgium, obtaining two prizes: the Originality Award, and the Igor Lesnik Performing Prize.
Carmen Alfaro Méndez, first Costa Rican percussionist obtaining master degrees in Europe, graduated from the Superior School of Music in Stuttgart, Germany, where she obtained a master degree in percussion under the tutelage of the international percussion soloist Marta Klimasara. She is currently a percussion professor at the School of Music of the National University of Costa Rica and the coordinator of the percussion and drums area of the ACUA, Academy Foundation for Learning and Artistic Culture. Carmen is one of the most active costarican percussionists from her generation. She promotes and includes in her soloist and chamber music repertoire works for percussion from costarican and latinamerican composers.
In 2017 she was invited to participate as marimba soloist at TEdx Pura Vida, also played at the 1st Women in Music Symposium, and was invited as solo drummer at the Drumfest 2017, realized in San José, Costa Rica. She
was creator of the international Percussion Festival “Repercusiones en Costa Rica”, 2007 and 2009.
The piano and the marimba are instruments that have been developed in different historical periods and latitudes. While the piano developed in the European continent during the 18th century, the marimba emerged in Central America and dates back to the Mayan civilization, and to this date, it remains as the most representative instrument of the region.
One can find it in all kind of village celebrations from southern Mexico, till southern Costa Rica, played by numberous families that learned the art of marimba playing through oral tradition. However, percussionists learn to play marimba in music schools, universities and other institutions of academic context. This learning often happens leaving no room for Central or LatinAmerican repertoire for marimba, dismissing the enormous heritage this instrument brings to the region.
The challenge for professional marimba players and composers in Central America is to build bridges between the oral tradition and empiric way of playing marimba, and the artistic form of interpreting and conceiving music for this millennial instrument. In Costa Rica, the marimba was proclaimed national instrument in 2017 through an executive order from the President of the Republic.
What characterizes the Teclados duo is its diverse repertoire, that includes primarily Central American and Latin American compositions. Several of the interpreted works have been written specifically for this ensemble.
The Fantasía Opus 347a uses the tambito, one of the most representative rhythms from the Central American Son. We find also in this work, a “tempo di rumba” indication. Improversation explores different latinamerican rhythms, on a jazz based composition. La irreparable máquina del tiempo develop a minimalistic style inspire in the “3 against 2” mexican traditional music. The combination of both instruments materializes the fusion of two different keyboard instruments, that cover great lengths of time and cultural diversities.
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Zoning bans for fast food outlets have been tried before. And failed.
Chris Snowdon
Institute of Economic Affairs > Blog > Policies > Lifestyle Economics
Last November the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, proposed a ‘total ban’ on new fast food establishments opening within 400 metres walking distance of schools. This is not a new idea. Waltham Forest became the first local authority to ban new takeaway outlets from opening within 400 metres of schools, parks and youth facilities in 2009. Since then, around twenty councils in Britain have imposed rules banning new fast food shops from opening within 400 or 800 metres of a school.
In central London, which has a high density of primary and secondary schools, this would mean a de facto ban on new outlets opening almost everywhere. A licence to sell takeaways would suddenly become valuable. Standard economic theory suggests that restricting supply would lead to higher prices, poorer quality and reduced choice for consumers. It would effectively protect incumbent businesses from competition.
This anti-competitive measure is said to be justified on ‘public health’ grounds to tackle obesity, particularly among children. It is assumed that children who have easy access to fast food near their home or on the way to school will eat more of it and become fat.
But assumptions are not enough. When I started looking at the evidence, I assumed that there would be maybe a dozen studies looking specifically at the issue. In fact, there are 74, and most of them do not support zoning bans. Of the 74 studies, only fifteen (20%) found a positive association between the proximity and/or density of fast food outlets and obesity/body weight. Forty-four (60%) found no positive association, of which eleven (15%) found evidence that living near a fast food outlet reduced the risk of putting on weight. Fifteen (20%) produced a mix of positive, negative and (mostly) null results which, taken together, point to no particular conclusion. Studies which suggest that living near a fast food outlet increases the risk of obesity are therefore outnumbered 3 to 1 by those which find no such association.
The evidence that fast food availability causes obesity among children is even weaker. Of the 39 studies that looked specifically at children, only six (15%) found a positive association while twenty-six (67%) found no effect. Seven (18%) produced mixed results. Of the studies that found no association, five (13%) found an inverse relationship between fast food outlets and childhood obesity. Two-thirds of the studies found no evidence for the hypothesis that living near fast food outlets increases the risk of childhood obesity and there are nearly as many studies suggesting that it reduces childhood obesity as there are suggesting the opposite.
Furthermore, there is real world evidence showing that such policies do not work. In July 2008, a temporary ban on new fast food outlets was imposed on South Los Angeles and its 700,000 residents after the city council became concerned with high levels of obesity in the area. When the policy was evaluated in 2015 it was found that obesity rates had risen faster in the part of the city that had the ‘zoning ban’ than in the rest of Los Angeles.
All of this evidence is in the public domain. There have been six evidence reviews conducted in the last decade. None of them concluded that the proximity or number of fast food outlets in an area has an influence on obesity. And yet organisations like Public Health England and the British Medical Association continue to support zoning bans based on nothing more than a hunch.
So much for evidence-based policy. It would be debatable whether zoning bans could be justified even if they were associated with lower rates of obesity. Banning businesses from selling safe and legal food products is an extreme measure that is likely to have an adverse affect on consumers. Any positive impact on health would have to be well proven and profound before being seriously considered. But a large body of evidence strongly suggests that it will have no beneficial effect whatsoever. It is all downside and no upside. Politicians at the local and national level should stop basing policy on intuition and look at the facts.
‘Fast food outlets and obesity: What is the evidence?‘ by Chris Snowdon
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Let the market fix the housing problem
Britain's housing crisis: a self-inflicted tragedy
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New UN Publications Advance Rights-Centered Economic and Labor Policies
Posted on January 29, 2019 by IJRC
Launch of the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work
Credit: ILO via Flickr
In a new report, the International Labor Organization (ILO) proposes a “human-centred agenda for the future of work,” advocating bold action to reduce inequalities and uncertainties in employment by increasing education, training, and support programs; solidifying workers’ rights and protections; and, expanding investment in decent and sustainable work. See ILO, Work for a Brighter Future (2019). The report urges governments to seize opportunities presented by technology, the green economy, and demographic changes. Its key recommendations include instituting: a “universal labour guarantee” that includes a right to an adequate living wage regardless of employment situation; lifelong social protection; lifelong educational and training opportunities; gender equality initiatives; and new private investment incentives to benefit historically excluded or under protected workers. The report was prepared by ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work and released on January 22, marking the beginning of ILO’s centenary year. [ILO Press Release] The report will be presented and debated at the Centenary International Labor Conference in June 2019. See ILO, Work for a Brighter Future. at 55.
The ILO report’s release came the day after the United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights published new Guiding Principles on Human Rights Impact Assessments of Economic Reforms to assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of economic policies and ensuring that these are anchored in human rights standards. [OHCHR] According to the Independent Expert, “The thrust of the Guiding Principles is that States cannot shy away from their human rights obligations in economic policy making at all times, even in times of economic crisis.” [OHCHR] Both publications reflect broader efforts at the international level to advance labor rights and the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights in a comprehensive manner that is centered in human rights.
Emerging Challenges & The Future of Work
The ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work identifies expanding youth populations in some regions and aging populations in others as an emerging global challenge that is likely to significantly impact the future of working life. See ILO, Work for a Brighter Future at 18-21. By 2050, the ILO projects that almost all parts of the world will see a sharp increase in the percentage of the dependent population (individuals aged 0-14 and 65+). See id. at 19. Many countries have a quickly aging population, which is expected to place an increased burden on social security and healthcare programs, while the other countries are seeing expanding youth populations, which may increase youth unemployment and migratory trends. See id. at 18. To address these trends, the ILO projects that by 2030 the global economy will need to create 344 million jobs in addition to the 190 million jobs necessary to address current global unemployment. See id. at 20.
The report also focuses on the impact of innovations in technology and automation on future workforces. The Commission highlights studies showing that almost half of workers in the United States are at risk of having their current employment replaced by automation, over half of the jobs in South East Asia are at risk of automation in the next 20 years, two thirds of jobs in the developing world are vulnerable to automation, and that nearly 50 percent of companies expect that automation will reduce some of their full-time workforce by 2022. See id. at 19. Although automation will likely create new jobs, the Commission believes that those likely to lose their jobs in the transition will be the least equipped to take advantage of new opportunities because they will not have the skills that the digital economy will demand. See id. at 18. In addition to automation, the emergence of “crowd-working websites” and “app-mediated work” risk creating regressive working practices for an entire generation, which the Committee, borrowing from Angela Merkel, described as “digital day laborers.” See id.
Further, the Commission notes that adequate responses to the risks of climate change, which disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, rural economies, and low-income countries, will also have a significant impact on labor markets. See id. at 18, 47. The ILO projects that implementation of the Paris Climate Agenda will lead to an estimated global job loss of around six million. See id. at 19.
These emerging trends will only add to a significant number of current labor challenges, such as rates of global unemployment in the hundreds of millions, the two billion people working in informal employment, the 300 million workers living in extreme poverty, and the 2.78 million people suffering from fatal work-related injuries and illnesses, among other issues. See id. at 18, 20. Despite these challenges, the Commission is optimistic about the future, anticipating that “countless opportunities lie ahead to improve the quality of working lives, expand choice, close the gender gap, [and] reverse the damages wreaked by global inequality.” See id. at 21.
The Global Commission’s Recommendations
The Commission’s proposed solution involves a fundamental “reinvigoration” of the social contract. See id. at 10. The Commission identifies a need to ensure that the working population receives a fair share of the economic growth and that there is respect for the rights of working people, including social protections against risk. See id. The Commission’s report focuses on three specific areas where States can implement these aims. See id. at 11.
The Commission’s first overarching recommendation is that States significantly increase investment in people’s capabilities to participate in an evolving labor market. See id. at 11. To achieve this recommendation, the report proposes establishing a universal entitlement to lifelong learning, increasing support for those transitioning between careers, establishing social policies to achieve gender equality, and ensuring a strong social security program that covers individuals in all stages of life. See id. at 11-12.
The Commission’s second set of recommendations urge States should work to improve the institutions of work—the “building blocks of just societies.” See id. at 38. The report proposes establishing universal labor guarantees that set a baseline for the arrangements between workers and employers. See id. These guarantees include establishing a “living wage” guarantee, maximum limits on working hours, and worker health and safety guarantees. See id. at 12. Additionally, the report notes the need for improving work/life balance, guaranteeing the right to collectively bargain, and ensuring that the implementation of artificial intelligence takes a “human-in-command approach.” See id. at 12-13.
The Commission’s last overarching recommendation is that States increase investment in decent and sustainable work. See id. at 13. Drawing from the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Commission emphasizes the need for job creation in areas that are both economically and environmentally sustainable, and that favor human development. See id. This includes the development of rural economies, where the future of many of the world’s workers reside, and related physical and digital infrastructure improvements. See id. Importantly, the Commission stresses the need to reshape business incentive structures to encourage long-term investments and to ensure that companies are held accountable for the impact of their activities on the environment and communities. See id. at 49.
The Independent Expert’s Guiding Principles
Similarly, the new Guiding Principles provide clarity on how to advance economic policies in a manner that upholds States’ human rights commitments, following the UN Independent Expert’s findings that economic reforms can have a negative effect on human rights, especially in cases where economic policies are enacted in response to economic crises. See Report of the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, UN Doc. A/HC/40/57, 19 December 2018, paras. 1-4. The Independent Expert calls for the use of human rights impact assessments as a tool for all levels of government and institutional actors to assess how economic policies comply with their human rights obligations. See id. at paras. 5-9.
The Guiding Principles place the burden of proof on the States and other financial institutional actors, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to demonstrate that proposed economic reforms will realize rather than undermine human rights obligations. See id. at paras. 3.1-3.2. The Principles also state that any human rights impact assessment should identify potential and cumulative impacts of measures on groups of individuals that historically have faced multiple forms of discrimination, such as women, the LGBTI community, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, migrants, people living in poverty, and religious or other minorities, among others. See id. at paras. 7.1-7.3. Further, the Independent Expert emphasizes that States have an obligation to ensure the progressive realization of economic, social, and cultural rights, and that any policy should utilize the maximum of their available resources to achieve this goal. See id. at paras. 9.1-9.5
The ILO’s Global Commission for the Future of Work is an independent commission established in August of 2017 as part of the ILO’s The Future of Work Centenary Initiative. See ILO, Global Commission on the Future of Work – Five things you need to know. The Commission’s mandate is to identify “the key challenges facing the world of work and making practical recommendations about how these may be addressed in the future.”
The ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with 187 Member States. See ILO, About the ILO. The role of the ILO is to oversee compliance with international labor standards, develop labor policies, and devise programs that promote decent work. See id.
For more information on the Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights, the ILO, or Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, visit IJRC’s Online Resource Hub. To stay up-to-date on international human rights law news, visit IJRC’s News Room and subscribe to the IJRC Daily.
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Legal Experts Move Against Jungle Justice
CHRISTIANA NWAOGU
It is no longer news that a section of the Nigerian society no longer places value on human lives. The return of jungle justice is the latest disturbing trend. CHRISTIANA NWAOGU AND OKOSUN NANCY writes that disturbed by this evil, legal experts have moved to put an end to incessant killings at the slightest provocation.
Almost every week, you must hear at least a story of how people were lynched for stealing or committing one crime or the other and this excludes the ones that go unreported.
Suspected criminals are often subjected to a lot of pain before life is finally gone out of them. They are sometimes attacked with sticks, stones, bottles or anything that inflict serious pain on them. After which most of them are burnt alive.
You would recall that two suspected one-chance operators were two Saturdays ago caught and set ablaze by angry mob in Dei-Dei, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The suspects were said to have picked up a woman from Zuba heading to Kubwa and in the cause of trying to collect her belongings, she opened the door of the vehicle and raised the alarm.
Luck was said to have ran out on the suspects as they were stuck in traffic, hence unable to escape. They were nabbed by youths in the area, tied up and set ablaze.This is just one out of a thousand others that die unreported.
When LEADERSHIP Sunday went to town to seek the opinion of Nigerians on whether or not Jungle justice should be halted , it got a mixed reaction.
To some perpetrators of this crime, such punishment meted out to their victims are well deserved, it is justice served. They feel they have a right to decide whether a criminal lived or died. But for those with a conscience, it is the height of wickedness. It is just barbaric.
Mrs Aniekem Isiborun who believes that the execution of jungle justice is not a sight to behold, said, I have never witnessed it and pray never to.
According to her, ‘I almost ran into it when one Ideke Oru was caught red-handed after breaking into a house trying to steal some valuables in Sokponba in Benin city, Edo state. He was beaten black and blue, tied up like bush meat and later handed over to the police. He was lucky his assailants did not decide to send him to an early grave.
Another respondent, Ademola Adelani said, ‘”I almost experienced it on Wednesday, June 15 In Mushin , Lagos state where some guys were arrested for armed robbery. They were beaten mercilessly and tied to an electric pole. But for the intervention of officers from Olosan police station, they would have been lynched by an irate mob.
Speaking on the reality of agonising death , Mrs Ikemini Effiong who could not hold back her tears told LEADERSHIP Sunday that she was opportuned to watch a gory sight where her elder sister (names withheld) was being ferociously bombarded by rains of stones after being accused of witchcraft.
“’Though she made an attempt to crawl away as she was now deeply drenched in the pool of her own blood but exhausted and worn out, her strength failed her and she simply surrendered to the brutal reality of an agonizing death.she narrated.
“It was such a gory scene that one is not likely to forget in a hurry. As my sister was , since her assailants couldn’t certify her medically dead, they moved to the next phase of their mob action. A set of abandoned motor tires were hurriedly assembled and drenched with some petrol to set her lifeless body ablaze like a goat being made ready for barbeque
Her offence? She was a ‘witch’!”
Such is the extremism of exponents of jungle justice. They are sometimes extremely irrational and overtly emotional. Those who engage in the ugly act readily justify their action on the premise of complications involved in getting criminals punished through the legal process. They often express gross disdain for the justice sector which they tag as ‘corrupt’ and ‘inept’.
It is sad and disgusting that a society could really slide into such extreme acts of barbarism in the 21st century. We must respect the sanctity of human life which is anchored on the sacred nature of life and the fact that no one has the right to take it away, except God.
The human life is by far too invaluable to be subjected to such gory experience as the one earlier illustrated above. Irrespective of any grouse against the nation’s justice sector, strict adherence to law and order remains the only sane way through which our society could operate. Any contrary method would only lead to anarchy which eventually portends a great danger to everyone.
For Mr. Elemi Tom, he said, ‘ I saw a Man whose hand was chopped off for trying to steal a flat screen TV from a football viewing centre. Some people who thought they had a right to punish him decided to chop off his hand.
LEADERSHIP Sunday learned also that in Agwan Affi area of Akwanga in Nasarawa State, a soldier Lance Cpl. Ayuba Ali was killed in a mob action. Ali, who was in mufti, was said to be passing through the town on a motorbike from Maiduguri when he hit a hawker unknowingly.
He stopped to pacify the hawker. It was while doing so that altercation ensued between him and some irate youths in the area, who pounced on him and beat him into coma. He was later confirmed dead in the hospital.
The Nasarawa and Lagos incidents are among the many under-reported mob killings that happen across the country unhindered and unresolved. While some victims of mob killings survive to tell their own side of the story, many of them have been mindlessly and extra-judicially killed even when they were innocent of the crimes they were accused of committing.
The brutal murder of the Aluu four, a reckless lynching of four students of the University of Port Harcourt can also not be forgotten so soon, almost six years after.
Barrister Edward Esebonu explained that, “Legally, even if it has been proven that the suspect committed the crime, it is not within the right or power of the mob to kill a suspect, without giving the person a fair hearing. Despite knowing the consequences of engaging in mob action, many Nigerians, especially the street urchins and touts have not been deterred from engaging in the illegal act at any slightest opportunity.’’
LEADERSHIP Sunday learned that having not helped matters in this direction are the security agents, who do not respond promptly to such situations, thereby giving room for perpetrators to go scot-free in most cases. But the questions that are begging for answers are; why do people engage in mob action and go scot-free? Why has it become a preferable option among Nigerians?
What are the government, security agencies and judiciary doing to halt it? Will Nigerians ever stop engaging in it, considering the fact that they seem to have lost absolute confidence in the security and judiciary system? There have been reported cases of mob action across Edo State, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Rivers, Delta and in fact, almost all the states in the Country.
In fact, even security operatives have in most cases been accused severally of killing suspected criminals without passing them through the judicial process.
Barrister Mr Utum Ofem, ‘many believe that some of the victims are usually hardened criminals or those found to have been involved in very heinous crimes particularly as it pertains to taking of a life. There is also the belief that some of these criminals always find their way back into the society and some buy their freedom.’’
He expressed disappointment in the society’s perceived tolerance of such act, but insisted that it was wrong. “Any society that tolerates such barbaric conduct shows clearly the level of its judicial development and that is a very clear evidence of a failed state.’
According to him, ’If you have somebody who is a suspect and alleged to have been involved in a criminal act, the proper thing is to ensure that the police arrest such person and ensure that the police carry out diligent investigation and ensure that they are charged to court and ensure that they have their day in court.’’
He pointed out that , “People are increasingly losing faith in the police investigative system and processes. They think that when these suspects are arrested, they might be freed by the police or released by the courts so the right thing to do is to take the law into their hands, but two wrongs do not make a right.’
Barrister Ofem stated, “No amount of loss of faith in the judicial process should encourage and tolerate or empower any person to take the laws into his hands. Anybody who does that can be charged for act of conspiracy, murder or attempted murder as the case may be.”
Another lawyer, Barrister Chukwuemerie Nwadike stated ,“Our criminal justice system has been a very topical issue everywhere in this country. But the slow pace of obtaining justice is not an excuse to delve into the arena of violence and crime. “
He said, whoever is opposed to the process and decides to indulge in criminal acts will find himself on the wrong side of the law. The era of taking suspected criminals into private custody and killing them has gone. Anybody found doing so is playing with fire.
He said, ‘Look at the Lagos example, some people were accused of being ritualists or human part dealers. They were subjected to horrendous, barbaric trial by ordeal. They were made to start confessing what they did no do and you know torture is often governed by fear.’
According to him, “ It is ruled by the arbitrary means of the investigator, so there is nothing useful that can come out from the use of torture. That is why those who are assigned the responsibility and power to check guilt and determine guilt are trained in the art of law.’
“That is why for you to become a judge, you must have been called to bar as a lawyer or you must have had some legal training for a reasonable period. You cannot just become a lawyer last year and the next year you become a judge. So if the system is rigorously created, it is meant to determine the guilt of a person is not something in the streets, you need he stated.
Another lawyer, Abdul Hassan traced the jungle justice in the country to its history of impunity. He said that the judiciary is rooted in injustice, adding that because of the red tape bureaucracy it takes to get justice, people have lost confidence in the judiciary and people therefore resort to jungle justice.
According to him, people who always engage in jungle justice as the last resort complained of the high cost of filing cases at the police stations, where they will be asked to bring this and that, pointing out that people who are not patient enough are quick to resort to jungle justice.
He stressed that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, but people have lost hope in it because government does not obey judgments. He added that unless government obeys judgments, the act of jungle justice against suspects will continue.
“Everybody is equal before the law, whether it favours you or not.” He added that some people do that because of uncontrollable anger, advising that they should always report any suspected act of criminality to the police instead of taking the law into their hands.
Surprisingly, an okada rider Dominic Lapam at Dei- Dei junction argued strongly that jungle justice is the best way to get justice, adding that it is quick and not costly. “If you do it you forget about it. It will not cost money and you are happy that it has been done.
“But when you report to the police, they just collect money from the criminals and let them go free, while they continue telling lies. They can even say that what the criminals have done is not true. As a poor man, you know, there will be no justice for you. This is very bad. This is even when you have evidence to prove your case. If the other man is rich, he gets police justice and you will be left lamenting.
Another respondent at Masaka, in Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Nafiz had this to say, as far as I am concerned. He insisted that there is no better way to reduce the alarming rate of corruption and crime in the society other than through mob action.
He said, sincerely speaking, “I will not only break the eggs of the hen that throws off my concoction, but will also kill the hen so that it will not repeat that again or lay another generation of wicked chicks.”
Speaking also , a legal practitioner, Akor Paulina, described it is a spontaneous reaction from a person or a group of people to redress pain, afflictions, inflictions, harm and wrongs done to them, other persons or their property whether directly related to them or not.
“It is more often than not done in a fit of anger. People see jungle justice as a sure, quick, direct and satisfactory recompense for the crime committed by suspects.”
Paulina pointed out that the administration of justice system is not wholly on the judiciary, submitting that the flagrant failure of security agencies with investigative and prosecutorial powers have hampered the effectiveness and efficiency of administration of criminal justice system in the nation.
“The people have, therefore, before become disillusioned and harbour deep-seated suspicion on the ability of the state (government) to execute justice. Delay in execution of justice is also a bane of our justice system and one of the consequences is resort to jungle justice.”
It is, nevertheless, important to stress that the justice sector in the country must be completely overhauled for the law to really take its due course. Those who deliberately put a clog in the wheel of justice for selfish reasons are not in any way different from those who engage in jungle justice.
Therefore, we need to do a total overhaul of the nation’s legal institution. Justice cannot be said to be served in a system that allows ‘small’ thieves to rot in prison while ‘big’ ones walk in absolute freedom. Equally important is the need for accelerated hearing of all manners of cases at all tiers of Courts.
The law is meant to trounce evil and evil doers. In any society where the reverse is the case, injustice would reign supreme. If we are to move forward and be taken serious as a people, we must change our ways.
LEADERSHIP Sunday calls on the various state governments and the federal government to enact laws that curb mob killings in Nigeria. The heavens weep for the souls of the victims who are set ablaze on account of jungle justice, which is no justice really.
We must redefine our values as a people. There are ways defined by law on how a suspect should be treated. We must at all times explore the option of the rule of law in all circumstances.
Related Topics:Jungle Justice
As Adeleke, Omisore, Oyetola, Others Battle For The Soul Of Osun
Amina Mohammed: Excellent Administrator
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Latin music singer
Enrique Martin Morales
Ricky Martin Biography
One of the performers at An Intimate Evening With KTU by New York radio station WKTU-FM held on November 8, 2005, Ricky Martin surely has made a glorious comeback with another English-language album, "Life," as it instantly sold more than 73,000 copies a week after being released. Scheduled to have an interview on CBS' "The Early Show" on November 11, this Latin superstar aimed to launch a dual disc edition of "Life," which contained an exclusive behind-the-scenes feature of the album's making, precisely 11 days after his appearance on the high-rated program. Concerning his return to the concert stage, he undoubtedly would generate hysteria all over the globe through his worldwide tour beginning on November 15 at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City.
Named Enrique Jose Martin Morales by his parents, Enrique Martin Negroni and Nereida Morales, Ricky was born on December 24, 1971, in Hato Rey, a small peninsula located in the area of Puerto Rico's capital city, San Juan. His interest in performing arts had been apparent to everyone since he was still a student of Colegio Sagrado Corazon grade school for the little boy was actively involved in its plays and choir. Taking singing lessons and some auditions for TV commercials, he successfully joined a Latin boy band, %cMenudo%, at the age of 12 with the encouragement of his separated parents who had their divorce when he was merely 2 years old. This talented teenager then spent his next five years together with Menudo to work on several albums and hold national tours before finally quitted the group in 1989.
Following his departure, Ricky went to New York with the purpose to develop a solo career, but he soon found out that it was such a hard task since there was barely any propitious chance approached him. Unemployed for a year, he changed direction to Mexico which turned out to be a right decision for he later earned a role in the musical play of "Mama ama el Rock" and even secured a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment. As his debut album touched the market in 1991, people also began to notice him in the regular cast of the Mexican soap opera, "Alcanzar una Estrella II." The self-titled work surprisingly sold for 500,000 copies worldwide to become one of the highest debuts for a Latin artist under Sony, automatically leading Ricky to a considerable national popularity.
Creating another success with his sophomore effort "Me Amaras" (1993), the stunning singer headed back to North America, this time landed his feet on the glamorized scene of Los Angeles. Turned his attention to acting for a while, he managed to appear on an episode of NBC comedy series, "Getting By" (1993-1994), aired in October 1993. Ricky then satisfyingly took one step further when ABC gave him the role of Miguel Morez in its long-running series, "General Hospital" (1963). During this period, he returned to music, entering the recording studio to work on his third album which later was entitled "A Medio Vivir" (1995). A compilation of pop, rock and Latin tunes, it immediately became a hit around the world with 600,000 copies sold within six months and ultimately was certified Gold by October 1997.
The tremendous success of "A Medio Vivir" catapulted Ricky to wider attention, particularly through one of its tracks, "Maria," which turned out to be his first song to infiltrate The Billboard Hot 100 Chart. This great result subsequently prompted him to conduct a worldwide tour around Latin America, Europe, Asia, and U.S., performing live in front of thousands enthusiastic fans. His star shone more brilliantly by 1997 as "Vuelve," his fourth work, directed him to acquire the title of Best Latin Pop Performance at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards held in 1999 while the album itself garnered an excellent sale of 8 million copies internationally. The magic touch still continued, even grew greater, when his first English-language effort, "Ricky Martin," came up in the same year he received the honor.
Through this eponymous album, Ricky truly embraced massive popularity as a celebrated world star, especially after its single, "The Cup of Life" or "La Copa de la Vida," became the anthem of the 1998 World Cup. The other tracks, like "She's All I Ever Had", "Shake Your Bon-Bon", and "Private Emotion" also were the year's smash hits, but it was "Livin' La Vida Loca" that actually struck hard in the ears of every music listener. One of the biggest selling number one singles, it secured the top spot of nine Billboard Music Charts, including Billboard Hot 100, therefore established Ricky as the first Latin male solo artist of the SoundScan era to hit the first place on the chart. By the end of the year 1999, he had already collected some prestigious awards, especially those came from MTV Video Music Awards in the categories of Best Dance Video and Best Pop Video.
Sold over 17 million copies, not only "Ricky Martin" topped The Billboard 200, but also was certified seven times Platinum by RIAA, placing its singer to gain the same recognition as other Latin artists, like %cJennifer Lopez%, %cMarc Anthony%, and %cEnrique Iglesias%, had experienced. His next piece of work, "Sound Loaded" (2000), managed to score a significant result though it was unable to surpass the fantastic attainment of its predecessor. Gaining the 4th rank on The Billboard 200, two out of its sixteen compositions, namely "She Bangs" and "Nobody Wants to be Lonely" made their way to enter the top 20 of Billboard Hot 100. After the return to his Latin root with the launching of two Spanish-language albums, "La Historia" (2001) and "Almas del Silencio" (2003), Ricky underwent two-years hiatus before coming up with "Life" on October 11, 2005. Debuted at number 7 on The Billboard 200, the album was considered to be his most eclectic cross-cultural collection to-date.
Aside from his professional singing career, Ricky is also well known for his concern to humanity, especially that dealing with children. Through the "Ricky Martin Foundation," he deeply participated in the battle against child prostitution, pornography, and trafficking. Another project was to donate a million dollar worth of musical instrument to Puerto Rican public schools and to fight for children's rights on a global and local basis under People for Children program. However, this does not mean that he ignored other world's issues as he really participated in building and restoring houses for the Tsunami victims in Phang Nga province, Thailand besides being an active supporter of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Carousel of Hope, and the Rainforest Foundation. As for his love life, Ricky had an on/off relationship with %cRebecca de Alba%, a TV journalist he met in Mexico, since 1989 before eventually broke up in 1999.
Not hinting any work on studio album, Ricky came up with 'Ricky Martin MTV Unplugged' that was released in November 2006. This was the same live album that earned him four nods at 2007 Latin Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Long Form Music Video and Best Male Pop Vocal Album.
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Steve McQueen Is Subjected to More Racism Since Brexit
WENN/Oscar Gonzalez
When weighing in on the lack of Golden Globe nominations for 'Widows', the '12 Years a Slave' director places the blame on the rise in Nationalism.
AceShowbiz - "Widows" director Steve McQueen has claimed he experiences racism every day.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, the Oscar-winning "12 Years a Slave" director discussed the lack of Golden Globe nominations for his latest film, which is based on an '80s British TV series about four women who plan a daring heist, and stars Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo.
When asked if he had experienced more racism since Brexit, when the U.K. voted to leave the European Union, he scoffed: "Every day, mate. Yes, of course!... You deal with it. You have to or you go mad."
The 49-year-old insisted that Britain has taken "two steps backwards", blaming a rise in Nationalism for the hostile political climate. He also recounted a racist moment experienced by his mother when she was out shopping.
"She had a new credit card with her and was struggling to remember the pin. The guy behind the till said: 'It's four digits in this country'," he recalled. "But the day before Brexit you wouldn't have even thought about saying that. Apparently, you're allowed to now."
McQueen's film, which received rave reviews in some quarters, was snubbed at the nominations for the Golden Globe, which is run by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
While many in the movie industry were shocked, the "Hunger" director was pragmatic about the omission.
"As an artist you have your path and that's fine. And sometimes the world won't agree with you...," he continued. "I'm here hopefully for a little while and will do my work. I'm just telling a story about four women trying to get their s**t together, about the environment in which we're living, in a way that's not high heels and handbags, that's about human beings and full-on conversations."
Josh Duhamel Trying to Find a 'Someone Young Enough' to Have a Family With
Meek Mill and Jay-Z Urge Travis Scott to Back Out of 2019 Super Bowl Halftime Show
Steve McQueen's HBO Drama Picked Up as Limited Series 'Codes of Conduct'
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Sandstrom Stays on Defensive during Immigration Forum
by Eric S. Peterson
When immigration attorney Roger Tsai told Orem Republican legislator and congressional candidate Stephen Sandstrom that when he passes another “symbolic bill that panders to the largely homogenous Utah population” in the 2012 Legislature just for political points, and that “nothing will have been accomplished,” it was actually the closest thing Sandstrom received to a compliment during the evening’s tense and sometimes raucous immigration forum.---
Tsai, a veteran immigration attorney in Salt Lake City, qualified his rhetorical jab of Sandstrom’s talk of a statewide E-verify bill—one that would require all employers to check the immigration status of their employees—by complimenting Sandstrom for at least generating discussion. “Nothing will have been accomplished,” Tsai said of any state solution that could be offered in the next session. “But what you are doing is getting a lot of people to think about this issue, which is a great thing.”
While the panel included a small-business owner, a union representative and others, it was clearly a forum that drew more than 50 attendees focused largely on Sandstrom and the contentious House Bill 497 he passed in the 2011 session. Sandstrom deflected more than a half hour of criticism during the question-and-answer segment of the forum with ease. After passing his bill in the 2011 Legislature that required law enforcement to check the immigration status of individuals arrested for serious misdemeanors and felonies, among other provisions, Sandstrom had weathered months of criticism at debates, press conferences and media appearances. At last night’s forum hosted by the Enriching Utah Coalition, Sandstrom calmly responded to a dog-piling of critics and kept on message.
When a woman asked how he would feel if he lived in the United States illegally, Sandstrom didn’t blink—“I can’t answer your question like that, I’m not here illegally.” Instead he referenced a great grandfather who came to the U.S. from Sweden in the 1800s. “He did so in a legal way, and back then it was much easier to do that—we should have that type of system now.”Sandstrom said in referencing a move to reform and streamline legal immigration.
When accused by one audience member of creating a “climate of fear” with HB 497, Sandstrom pointed out that he also sponsored a bill last session to facilitate federal work visas for agricultural workers from the state of Nuevo Leon in Mexico to come do legal work in Utah. “I passed a migrant-workers bill that nobody wants to talk about,” Sandstrom replied.
One woman in the audience cited a Pew Hispanic Center report that nearly three-quarters of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. had been in the country for longer than 10 years, asking if Sandstrom didn’t think there should be some path to citizenship offered to established immigrants. Sandstrom didn’t say no, just not yet, and instead repeated that if the country could reform the immigration process to make legal immigration easier, secure the border, improve immigration enforcement and pass a mandatory E-verify system—then talk of providing options for citizenship could be entertained.
“I’m not opposed to looking at different ideas,” Sandstrom said “But before we can do that we need to have enforcement and be willing to enforce our current laws.”
Sandstrom also repeatedly rebuffed criticism that his outlook lacked compassion, arguing that the issue affected human beings “on both sides of the issue.” A mandatory employee check like E-verify on the state level could stop identity theft, Sandstrom argued.
“I had a gentleman talk to me who just got married and had his wages garnished for $3,000 a month for four children he had in California. Well he didn’t have four children in California -- somebody had been using his social security number,” Sandstrom said. “We need to have an E-verify program that will protect citizens and children from these identity-theft issues.”Such a program, Sandstrom suggested, might come through legislation in the 2012 session, as current law only encourages Utah employers to use E-verify. But based on a recent Supreme Court decision, a new law could make it so that the state could revoke business licenses for companies that didn't use E-verify.
Other panelists like Brandt Goble, representing the Painters and Tapers Local 77 Union, argued that the construction industry was being devastated by unscrupulous employers taking advantage of undocumented labor he said comprised 30 percent or more of the national construction trade. He agreed more focus needs to be on employers instead of immigrants. “It’s a two-edged sword,” Goble said. “If they’re here and they are working, that means someone hired them. We should be going after these [employers] who are abusing their workers.”
Attorney Tsai, however, said that calls for enforcement were just unrealistic. He pointed out that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is one of the largest subdivisions of the Department of Homeland Security, which itself is one of the largest federal agencies—and even still in Utah, ICE investigators can only manage to audit 20-30 companies in Utah annually—out of tens of thousands of businesses. “We have limited resources,” Tsai said. “Even the largest federal agency that you can throw at this can only hit so many employers in the state. Enforcement is lackluster and it will continue to be.”
In another swing at Sandstrom’s past legislating, Tsai argued that state “solutions” were punitive measures to immigrants but were hardly fixes to what could only be a federal issue.
“What Sandstrom and his partners at the state level can do is to make the environment in Utah extremely uncomfortable for undocumented immigrants,” Tsai said. “They make it so every Hispanic person gets pulled over based on reasonable suspicion that they are undocumented and they can make it so employers are now using E-verify, but what they can’t do is reform the federal immigration system. They can’t determine who gets a visa and who gets a green card. It’s a farce to say we can fix it. I think it's misplaced political attention.”
But even this attack Sandstrom, on multiple occasions during the forum, not so subtly agreed with, and called for stronger leadership on the issue in Washington D.C.—which fortunately he’s ready to do something about since he is running for the opening in the 4th Congressional District.
“Once again, the thing we need is courageous leadership in Washington, D.C.,” Sandstrom said in his closing remarks. “It is a federal issue and all we can do here in the state of Utah are Band-aid provisions, and if we can find a solution, ultimately we can find something that’s going to work for everybody.”
News Stephen Sandstrom E-verify immigration
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Insect larvae as an additional source of protein for Europe's animal feed
May 10, 2016 , CORDIS
The EU PROTEINSECT project has recommended a comprehensive review of European legislation to allow for insect larvae to be used as a source of protein in animal feed.
Europe currently imports 70 % of its protein for animal feed, putting it at risk from ever-growing competition for feed protein from a global population that is set to exceed 9 billion by 2050. Developing nations in particular are seeing a huge increase in demand for animal products, and there has been a five-fold increase in the total consumption of meat since the mid-1940s. The PROTEINSECT project believes that adapting European legislation to allow for the use of insect protein in animal feed will make a substantial contribution in addressing these challenges.
Benefits of insect protein
To address this growing challenge, PROTEINSECT experts from Europe, China and Africa have been investigating the use of two species of fly larvae in the diets of chickens, pigs and fish, carrying out feeding trials and analysing the quality and safety of rearing farmed flies on organic waste substrates such as manure.
Insects are rich in protein and are a natural component of the diet of many fish and free-range poultry. The project argues that fly larvae can be reared on a wide range of wastes and by-products offering a way of recovering value from materials that may traditionally be disposed of by the agricultural and food industries.
The biological reprocessing of organic waste was a key concept for PROTEINSECT, as not only would insect use for animal feed help to alleviate Europe's protein deficit, but would also facilitate significant reductions in waste volumes. The project found that fly larvae can reduce the mass of organic waste by up to 60 % in just 10 days, contributing towards the realisation of a truly circular economy. The project's research has also demonstrated that the use of insect protein in animal feed to complement traditional plant sources could contribute to making more agricultural land available for crops to be consumed directly by the human population. This would additionally provide for greater overall food security.
Fish, poultry, and pig feeding trials were conducted by the project in 2015 in Belgium and the UK based on PROTEINSECT UK-derived insect protein. These trials evaluated weight gain and growth rates, as well as segment specific factors such as survival rates in Atlantic salmon. Overall, the project observed that there were no significant differences in the animals' performance and even recorded improvements as a result of the insect feed. For example, levels of good micro-organisms (Lactobacilli) were significantly higher in the insect-fed piglets.
Next steps for the project
The project team believes that Europe could become a major global contributor to this alternative and additional source of protein, as well as provide innovative solutions for reducing organic waste. However, they argue that conservative and outdated European legislation concerning the use of insects in feed and food are a major barrier for potential investors, and consequently market entry for insect-derived protein. Specifically, they argue for a review of two EU Regulations that currently prohibit the use of insects as a source of protein for animal feed for animals raised for human consumption, as well as the rearing of insects on manure or catering waste.
Speaking during the event, the PROTEINSECT coordinator, Dr. Elaine Fitches commented: 'The protein gap in Europe is a very real risk to social, economic and environmental progress... As we seek sustainable European long term solutions we must consider the benefits that the introduction of insects - specifically fly larvae - could have on the content of animal feed.'
More information: For more information please see the project website: www.proteinsect.eu/
Provided by CORDIS
Insects can support livestock production
Maggots may provide protein for future animal feed
Insects: A must for a protein-rich diet
How re-using food waste for animal feed cuts carbon emissions
Use of insects in animal feed seen as favorable by farmers, sector and consumers
Converting palm oil wastes into bio-protein
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Faith ‘didn’t cause Fonda divorce’
metrowebukmetroSaturday 8 Nov 2008 8:10 am
Religion is not to blame for Jane Fonda’s marriage split with Ted Turner, the media mogul says in a new book.
Turner said he was “upset” when he discovered his wife’s “conversion”, but “it wasn’t because she had become Christian”, the 69-year-old Turner wrote in Call Me Ted which comes out next week.
Faith did not cause Jane Fonda’s divorce with Ted Turner
He was upset because Fonda didn’t talk to him about it.
Fonda wrote at length about her marriage to Turner in her memoir My Life So Far, and Turner adds a similar take without referring to the infidelities alleged against him by the Academy Award-winning actress. The two say they remain good friends.
He remembers their impulsive courtship, beginning in 1990 with his learning of her divorce from activist Tom Hayden and immediately calling her, a virtual stranger, for a date. She declined. He persisted. Six months later she accepted. They married in 1991.
They cared deeply about each other but spent so much time apart that they had “trouble communicating” even when together; not even therapy could save the marriage, with Fonda’s faith cited at the time as a possible cause for their divorce.
Turner remembered going back to their Montana ranch for the first time after their split and seeing that Fonda had taken all her belongings.
“Our closets faced each other’s, and when I saw her empty space I sat down on the floor between them and cried,” writes Turner, who had two previous wives.
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The Afro-American in Indiana (radio series)52
Archives of African American Music and Culture[remove]52
You searched for: Date 1973 Remove constraint Date: 1973 Unit Archives of African American Music and Culture Remove constraint Unit: Archives of African American Music and Culture
1. "What Black Men in Indiana See in Africa - History & Current Events" (33:22)
1973-11-13?
5. [Untitled] (1:04:26)
8. A Comparative Analysis of Histories of the Negro in Indiana Before 1800 (32:56)
9. Abe Lincoln #1 (31:43)
10. Andrew Ramsey (32:27)
11. Black & White English (31:44)
12. Black Codes in Indiana (32:10)
13. Black History of Anderson (32:06)
14. Black Learning Processes (32:32)
15. Black Movement in the 60s (31:16)
16. Black Youth (32:00)
18. Blacks & Spanish American War (33:12)
19. Blacks In War (32:13)
20. Christmas and Its Effect on the Radio series: Afro-American in Indiana (31:16)
21. Dr. Smith (32:50)
22. Drugs (32:20)
23. Drugs (Cognition House) (32:34)
25. Effects of TV on Black Children (Mrs. Gardner) (32:11)
26. Frederick Douglass (1:04:54)
27. Fugitive Slave Law (44:36)
28. Fugitive Slave Law Part 2 (32:31)
30. Indiana Territory Part 1 (32:12)
31. Inter-racial Marriage (34:33)
32. Kidnapping of Horace Bell (1:04:10)
33. Labor History (24:04)
34. Labor History of America (24:06)
35. More on Black Codes (32:08)
36. Noble Sissle, Indianapolis Musician (32:36)
37. Poetry & Music (1:07:05)
38. Racism (32:47)
39. Religion (33:33)
40. Religion & Blacks in Indiana (34:48)
41. Review of the Year (32:08)
42. Role of Black Women in Family & Society (52:23)
43. Slavery in Indiana "Specific Laws" (32:13)
44. Territorial Indiana (31:07)
45. Testing and Black People (31:15)
46. The Afro-American Journal (32:12)
47. The Black Family (32:53)
48. The Black Male (32:57)
49. The Making of A Historian (33:04)
50. The Underground Railroad In Hendricks County (32:22)
51. W.E.B. DuBois (1:05:33)
52. William Chaney History of the Klu Klux Klan (1:08:41)
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Book Non Fiction, Experience, Review, Self Enrichment by Mansour Ahsan May 10, 2019 May 30, 2019
How to Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt
I wasn’t entirely sure about this book while glancing through it at the bookstore. It was another customer nearby who saw me flipping through the pages, and approached me.
“You absolutely have to buy this book,” he said in his thick British accent.
“Really? Why so?” I asked him.
“This book has helped me kick the shit out of the assholes in my life,” he said with a cheeky grin. “This book has helped me develop antennas over my head to detect assholes from far away.
Yes, that’s what I need! Antennas over my head to detect assholes from a mile away!
He then went on for a few minutes to tell me of some of the tips he picked up from this book. I was sold and got the book, and thankfully, I’ve also managed to kick out some of the assholes from my life. Hah!
Robert I. Sutton is a professor at Stanford’s Department of Management Science and Engineering and has written over 150 academic articles published in prestigious journals in the US. He utilizes his own life experiences, research groups, stories from civil servants, French bus drivers to 8000 emails that he has received on asshole behavior, to come up with tips and techniques to deal with such people.
The book is split into three major parts:
The book is spread over three overarching ideas.
Asshole Audit: discover what kind of assholes to deal with, and asshole directional strategies
2. Techniques: Asshole avoidance, asshole taxes, and love bombing
3. Assshole Blindness: discusses where the problem might be yours when you can’t detect assholes
At the end of some chapters, there are some rather nifty questions that can help you in your quest to deal with assholes. This also acts as a great summary of the chapter.
Jerks, Losers, and Empathy
One of the many interesting ideas discussed in the book is the idea that some people have to be a jerk to survive in today’s overly competitive world. They have to fight and lie and cheat their way to the top, and the author acknowledges that these kinds of people do seem to get ahead. But then, he gives names of CEOS (Tim Cook, Warren Buffet, Robin Williams, etc) who have managed to get to the top without being assholes. The aforementioned people may be assholes and a winner, they will still be a loser in the author’s book.
Having said that, Sutton does encourage his readers to be slow to label someone an asshole. He asks us to “consider other explanations and develop empathy for the alleged assholes” to be certain that they are not assholes. This will prevent us from becoming angry or hurtful unnecessarily.
Clean Getaway
Getting out can provide sweet relief from a certified jerk or from a place where jerks rule the roost. Leaving the scene can also save you from brief but dreadful encounters.
In other words, you don’t have to face the jerks- if you can leave, leave. This part of the book gives the readers enough tips and methods in order to make a clean getaway without the assholes figuring it out. One part, in particular, has excellent advice on dealing with online trolls who just end up harassing others. One effective technique I picked up was blocking certain people on my Facebook friends’ list. These assholes never deserved to be there in the first place, and with them out of the way, I am a much happier person!
Avoidance and Mind Tricks
Subsequent chapters deal with some brilliant advice, methods, and techniques to avoid assholes, and most of it deals with colleagues/ boss at work. Sometimes, we feel we need to be working with these assholes because we don’t have a choice, and even in that situation, there are ways to avoid being with these assholes.
One of the tips is mind tricks– how you can retrain, or reframe, certain things in your mind to shift away from the blame and guilt from you and realize the other person is indeed an asshole, and you have nothing to do with it. It’s easier said than done, but it can be done.
There are three resources you need to have to fight back:
How much power you have compared to the assholes
Documentation: keep a record of everything (emails, letters, pictures), so you can always throw back to their faces
Unity or Solidarity: sometimes you must fight alone, but you have a better chance of winning when others join you.
Be calm and rational- be civil, not aggressive
In more difficult scenarios, be aggresive
Love bombing and ass-kissing: “flattery, smiles and other signs of appreciation (even if not entirely sincere( can be useful for convincing volatile and vindictive people to tamp down their inner angst and anger- so they won’t take it out on you.”
Revenge is sweet but can be useless and dangerous
Use the system to reform, defeat and expel jerks.
“I’ve encouraged you to fight, but not to be an idiot about it.”
You are the Solution, Not the Problem
According to Sutton, sometimes we are our own problem. We may need to look into ourselves and have an internal assessment and identify any problem areas.
Follow the Da Vinci Rule: Da Vinci said: “It’s easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.” Get out early if you can.
Protect others, not just yourself.
Use the “Benjamin Franklin” effect to turn assholes into friends.
Take a look in the mirror- are you part of the problem?
Apologize when you’ve behaved like an asshole- but only if you really mean it and then do it right.
Are you a toxic enabler?
Asshole Survival GuideNon FictionRobert i SuttonSelf EnrichmentSurvival
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Congressman Mitchell reacts to news that Macomb County’s Sebille Manor named site of new Southeast Michigan Veterans Home
August 15, 2018 Press Release
Shelby Township, MI – Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement after the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency announced it acquired 103 acres of land in Chesterfield Township, Michigan to build a new, state-of-the-art veterans home. The land, purchased by the State of Michigan from the U.S.
Mitchell Responds to House Approval of NDAA Conference Report
July 26, 2018 Press Release
Includes Mitchell language on the Soo Locks, other wins for Michigan
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted 359-54 to approve the conference report for H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, which included language offered by Congressman Mitchell affirming the national security importance of the Soo Locks:
Mitchell Applauds Passage of Career and Technical Education Bill
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement after the House concurred with the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The bill now moves to President Trump for signature.
Economy, Education
Mitchell Votes to Protect Great Lakes
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 6147, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019, which includes full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI):
Mitchell Statement on Russia
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement:
Congressman Mitchell Reacts to President Trump's Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court
July 9, 2018 Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI-10) released the following statement after President Donald Trump named Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States:
Mitchell Responds to Updated USACE Soo Locks Benefit-Cost Analysis
WASHINGTON – Congressman Mitchell released the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers released its Director’s Report on the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. In the report, the Army Corps of Engineers recalculated its previous benefit-cost analysis, and issued a revised score of 2.42.
Mitchell Votes to Support the Armed Forces
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Mitchell released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019:
Mitchell Votes to Support American Agriculture
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Mitchell released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act, commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, which reforms and reauthorizes farm and nutrition assistance programs for five years.
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Subject: Your New Best Stocks to Buy List
URL: https://mney.co/2tqvK6O
× 5 = ten Required Please enter the correct value.
Stocks: ADBE, CGC, CTRP, SNH, TPC
Profit Alerts: Best Investments Alerts, Buy & Hold Stocks, Stocks to Watch
Your New Best Stocks to Buy List
By Stephen Mack, Associate Editor, Money Morning • June 25, 2018
Our new list of best stocks to buy includes a couple returning All-Stars that are still excellent opportunities, plus new picks set to capitalize on big profit trends we're excited about now.
There are five new stocks to buy we're sharing with you today:
A tech stock the experts wrote off years ago is still one of the most profitable picks out there, and it's ready to double once again.
The need for new infrastructure is approaching critical mass. Find out the best play for when government funds start flowing.
A top-performing cannabis pick now gets the benefit of legalization in Canada and the world's most recognizable stock exchange.
Shifting demographics are creating windfalls in one overlooked sector, and we've got one of the best picks to reap the benefits.
If you missed Priceline's 4,500% rise over the last dozen years, there's a new online travel leader that may be in for an even bigger rise.
Now for our five latest best stocks to buy now…
Best Stocks to Buy Now No. 1: Another Strong Move from This Desktop Publishing Giant Brings In a $150 Billion Business
Our first pick is a Money Morning All-Star, a tech pick that's already delivered nearly 475% gains since Money Morning Defense and Tech Specialist Michael Robinson first recommended it in June 2013.
The S&P 500, by comparison, has only gained 68% in that time.
While Wall Street was writing Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE) off as a desktop publishing dinosaur, Michael correctly saw that its move into cloud computing was going to pay off in a big way.
Now he says Adobe's share price is set to double again in two and a half years.
That's due in part to the $1.68 billion acquisition of Magento Inc. completed in June. But before we get to that, let's look at how attractive this stock was to begin with.
Fortune has named Adobe one of the best companies to work for in each of the past 18 years. Its CEO, Shantanu Narayen, has appeared on Barron's list of the world's best CEOs in each of the last two years.
That's not surprising given that Adobe's sales have been growing at an average annual rate of 20.8% over the last three years. What's even more impressive is that earnings per share (EPS) has grown at more than twice that pace: 52% per year. According to FactSet, Adobe's EPS is projected to grow another 154% by 2021.
On top of that, with a $2.5 billion stock buyback program set to wind down at the end of the year, Adobe announced in May that it would snatch up another $8 billion of its own stock by the end of 2021.
All of that shows that this stock has plenty of pop to offer investors. Now the addition of Magento adds even more reason to be excited.
Magento, an example of what Michael calls a "stealth" company, has quietly built an empire developing software for clients such as Canon Inc. (NYSE ADR: CAJ) and Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE: RST) to run their online stores. Through these platforms, Magento handles more than $150 billion in gross merchandise volume per year – almost double the figure for eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY).
Adobe, of course, still produces the go-to suite of digital artistic tools for consumers and professionals alike. Now, in addition to its successful move into cloud software, it has positioned itself as one of the world's e-commerce leaders.
Combine everything the stock already had in its favor with this move, and Michael sees ADBE doubling once again in as little as 30 months.
"No matter what you're trying to do – build up your retirement account… save up for a boat… or finance your kids' education," he says, "it will only take a few stocks like Adobe to get you there."
Best Stocks to Buy No. 2: This Infrastructure Stock Is Set to Double, and That's Before a Major Catalyst Kicks In
Infrastructure in the United States is a rare issue that garners widespread agreement: Our highways, bridges, and facilities are literally falling to pieces.
A 2017 report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the country's infrastructure a D+ overall. Out of 16 categories we were graded on, only one of them (rail) came out better than a C+.
Life-Changing Profit Potential: One tiny firm is rapidly developing the parts for a game-changing technology – and the gains from its stock, trading for less than $10, could turn every $1,000 invested into $4,719. Learn more…
This isn't just embarrassing. It's life-threatening.
A total of 56,000 American bridges are structurally deficient. And 15,500 dams are in hazardous condition. Last year there were 240,000 water main breaks, which can contaminate the water supply with debris.
And that's why, as much as politicians have been kicking the infrastructure can down the road, we're nearing the point when they literally cannot delay any longer. The ASCE report put American infrastructure needs at $4.59 trillion by 2025.
Infrastructure spending got a $21.2 billion boost in March's omnibus spending bill. That's a start, but much more will be on the way, no matter what parties control Washington after the midterm elections.
Even before that happens, our next pick has plenty of work to keep it busy.
Construction powerhouse Tutor Perini Corp. (NYSE: TPC) is currently working on projects to expand Newark Liberty International Airport, build a light rail system in Minneapolis, and help with the high-speed rail system in California.
It currently has a backlog of $8 billion worth of contracts to be completed.
FactSet projects a 60% rise in Tutor Perini's earnings per share over the next two years, and reports 100% of analysts rating the stock a "Buy." Analyst price targets go as high as $38 – nearly 100% higher than its current share price.
In other words, Tutor Perini is doing well already and is one of the best infrastructure stocks you can own.
But when governments at the federal, state, and local levels finally turn on the infrastructure spending faucet to make up for decades of neglect, that's when Tutor Perini will be swimming in revenue.
And its shareholders will be raking in the profits.
Money Morning Special Situation Strategist Tim Melvin says buying Tutor Perini means getting a "potential bonanza of profits at a bargain price."
"And last time I checked," he says, "that was a pretty good way to get rich as a stock investor."
Best Stocks to Buy No. 3: After Legalization, Canada's Biggest Weed Grower Will See Profits Soar
Dennis Thompson | July 1, 2018
Please recommend any pot stocks that you have.
danny roberts | July 8, 2018
interested in pot stock
Abu Bakar Abdullah Mohammed | July 23, 2018
Good morning my team and thanks for the good report news
6 × nine =
ADBE -3.06 (0.99%) 305.70
TPC 0.05 (0.43%) 13.86
CGC 0.39 (1.11%) 35.56
SNH 0.13 (-1.52%) 8.40
CTRP 0.49 (-1.31%) 36.86
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What Is Net Neutrality?
By Heather Brown November 27, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Filed Under:Good Question, Heather Brown, Local TV, Net Neutrality
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — You may have heard about net neutrality. The term’s been in a lot of people’s news feeds these days as the FCC will soon vote on whether to change it.
So, what is net neutrality? Good Question.
The concept of net neutrality is that all traffic on the Internet should be treated the same. Codified in a set of 2015 FCC regulations, it means Internet Service Providers (ISPs), like Verizon or Comcast, can’t slow down or block access to certain websites.
“It’s important because ISPs are integrated companies and often own their own content,” says Christopher Terry, professor of media law at the University of Minnesota who supports net neutrality. “They have an economic incentive to direct you to content that they own in favor of other content.”
The regulations date back to 2005, but became official under the Obama administration in 2015.
The FCC is now considering rolling back the regulations and will vote on the topic on December 14. With a Republican majority on the FCC, experts expect the changes to occur. Large companies, like Google, Facebook and Amazon, have come out strongly opposed to changes and in support of net neutrality.
Were the concept of net neutrality to go away, there’s a fear the ISPs would create two lanes of Internet speed – a slow lane and a fast lane where people would be charged extra for certain content.
For example, if an ISP wanted people to pay more for Netflix, it could happen in two ways, according to Terry.
“You as the consumer could pay to get a faster Netflix or Time Warner could make a deal with Netflix that would put Netflix in a high-priority lane,” he says. “In both ways, the cost filters back to the consumer.”
Ajit Pai, Chairman of the FCC, wants to end the net neutrality regulations. In an April 2017 speech televised on C-SPAN, he said, “The economics are simple here – the more heavily you regulate something, the less of it you’re going to get.”
He has argued the regulations stifle investment by the ISPs.
In a statement, Comcast said, “Comcast does not and will not block, throttle, or discriminate against lawful content.”
“I think people have gotten used to the internet working a certain way,” says Terry. “If these rules are overturned and that’s sustained by a court going forward, the internet that you have will look more like your cable package and less like the internet that you’ve grown accustomed to.”
Heather Brown loves to put her curiosity to work to answer your Good Questions on WCCO 4 News at 10, and helps you kick your weekdays off on WCCO...More from Heather Brown
Jorge Gonzalez says:
This article is soooo full of liberal excrement. Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon are giant monopolies who control FREE SPEECH! They ban individuals and groups for being conservative. Dumping Net Neutrality helps smaller upstart internet companies to compete against these large heaps of Democrat owned pooooo. There is so much more to Net Neutrality. It’s a fake term. There is no neutrality or equality. It gives all the power to these big mammoths.
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Special Message from William Mahrt, President of the CMAA
Dear Friend of Sacred Music,
The first Sunday of Advent is soon upon us. For most of Church history, people at morning Mass would hear a glorious Gregorian melody sung to the text of the Introit from the choir’s book, the Graduale. The words of the first chant of the new liturgical year convey the meaning and capture the purpose of all sacred music: Ad te levavi animam meam.
To thee have I lifted up my soul.
If you are like most Catholics in this country, you will not hear this melody on Advent. Nor will a bright of “Puer natus est” greet you on Christmas morning. Nor will a plaintive “Invocabit me” mark the first Sunday of Lent. For many people, not even the most basic chants, such as seasonal Marian antiphons, are heard in their local parishes. It is no secret that Catholic music is not what it should or could be, so I’ll not continue with a litany of loss. What we need now is a clear path forward.
More precisely, we need to walk the path that the Church has laid before us. Our generation must continue the restoration of sacred song. Indeed, the Church has urged our parishes to adopt Gregorian chant and polyphony because the chant is an integral part of Mass. Pope Benedict XVI has said that even new music for the Church should share in the lineage of chant. Cardinal Arinze, head of the Congregation of Divine Worship, has called for a full Latin Mass with chant every week in all but the smallest parishes.
But how do we get from here to there? Musicians need training, singers need resources, priests need education, the Bishops who are working for change need support, and the faithful need to experience sacred music so they can come to love it and sing it with the angels and saints.
As a means toward that end, I like to ask you to join and generously support the Church Music Association of America. The CMAA is a nonprofit organization uniquely positioned to make a difference: through our journal Sacred Music, through colloquia and workshops around the country, through distribution of music and educational resources, and through expertise that we can share with musicians around the country and the world. We’ve put together an ambitious plan to make this a reality in our parishes and in our lifetimes.
We have already seen results. People around the world are using the CMAA’s authoritative editions of Gregorian chant, via our website (musicasacra.com). We’ve published some of the most scholarly–and practical–writings on sacred music to appear in many years. Our summer colloquium, the most well attended in years, has produced fruit in parish after parish around the country.
The activities of the CMAA have been written up in Catholic World Report, The Wanderer, and Catholic World News, as well as many secular venues that are taking notice of the change in the air. Journalist Amy Welborn credits the CMAA for sparking a revival of sacred music that it impossible to miss.
When the US Bishops’ subcommittee on music and the liturgy met in the Fall of 2006 to draft a new document on music, the CMAA was there to present a perspective that reflected the true intent of the Second Vatican Council, which called for Latin chant to be given primacy of place in the liturgy.
Our journal Sacred Music is the oldest continually published journal of music in the United States. A new generation of writers, composers, conductors, and editors have infused its pages with an impassioned zeal for beauty and truth. Circulation is rising rapidly. It is now a 60-page quarterly and has been warmly received in parishes around the country.
The CMAA is not a new organization. It was founded in 1964 in the closing days of the Second Vatican Council, as the coming together of the St. Cecilia and St. Gregory Societies. It quickly gained an affiliation with the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae in Rome, founded by Paul VI to protect and propagate sacred music after the Council.
In a real way, the CMAA was made Rome’s voice on matters of music in the United States. Our journal made the case for continuity with our sacred musical heritage. The CMAA helped publish the Liber Cantualis and the Adoremus Hymnal–two collections that have done so much to restore a sense of dignity and solemnity to modern worship.
Thanks to the efforts of its presidents, officers, members, and benefactors, the CMAA worked quietly and behind the scenes from the late 1960s onward. But music publishers began to promote styles and approaches that reflected popular and secular trends, rather than the true wishes Council. Even in the midst of upheaval, the CMAA maintained its high standards and ideals, and prepared for the future that is now upon us.
Times have changed again. Rome is becoming more explicit in its demands, and many US Bishops are prepared to help. A generation of new priests is determined not to repeat the mistakes of the 1970s. Many young people today are learning chant and Latin, and they want to help bring them back. New scholas are being founded all over the country, and they are singing at Mass. Diocesan Catholic newspapers are noting the change, and running more stories about exciting developments in sacred music.
The CMAA today is helping to make the difference. The restoration of the music of the Church requires a large investment of time and energy. But it is worth our every effort.
As John Paul II said in his St. Cecilia Day message, Gregorian chant and choral music based on it has “a special place” because it “corresponds best with the qualities demanded by the notion of sacred music, especially liturgical music.”
Pope Benedict XVI, too, has been a magnificent defender of sacred music, speaking on the subject in many formal and informal talks. He has given a much-welcome tribute to the organ, which he said “gives resonance to the fullness of human sentiments, from joy to sadness, from praise to lamentation. By transcending the merely human sphere, as all music of quality does, it evokes the divine.”
It is for this reason that the annual CMAA Colloquium on Sacred Music features organ at Mass and in recitals. This coming year, we will introduce new tutorials for organ as well, along with the best training in Gregorian chant and polyphony available. This conference alone–we have reserved enough space this year for 125-plus attendees–can transform Catholic music in America.
Now, let me let share with you a striking truth: the CMAA has no paid staff. Not even the outstanding contributors to Sacred Music are compensated. Maybe that can change someday, but, for now, anyone who does anything for the organization directly is contributing time and talent purely out of love for beautiful liturgy.
There are nonetheless expenses, and they are mounting by the day. There are website costs, printing costs, typesetting costs, promotional costs, travel costs, and so much more. It is gratifying work but it is also rather alarming to do what we do on such an extremely thin budget.
This system works for now, but I look forward to the day when the CMAA can be more financially stable and thus expand dramatically our workshops, publications, and educational efforts.
Thus do we need your help. Please keep your membership in the CMAA up to date, or, if you are not a member, join today. Musicasacra.com uses paypal to make joining and contributing easy. Or you can write the address below. How much should you give? Year-end gifts of $50, $100, $200, and $300 are very much welcome. If you can give more–$500, $1000, or $5,000—please do, and know of our deep gratitude.
Also, please consider giving a gift subscriptions to Sacred Music to every Church musician you know. We also provide an option for a full parish membership for $150. We do not have the resources to undertake expensive mailings with color brochures, much less hire writers to make just the right pitch.
We have to rely on you to forward this note to other friends of sacred music. You know people who understand how critical this issue is. Help us to get to know them too.
Finally, I would like to ask you to say a prayer of thanks for those who have led this cause through difficult times, and pray for the future success of the CMAA and the restoration of the sacred in the liturgy and of excellence in its music.
Sacred music is a cause that affects all our lives as Catholics. It should be beautiful, holy, and universal, like the faith itself. The quality of our liturgy is also linked with the quality of our prayer. A revival in the Catholic Church will also have an impact on our culture. It will encourage conversions. It will help rebuild the practice of our faith after so many years of wandering.
Perhaps not this year, but maybe next or the next and then forever after, we can all be greeted on the morning of Advent to a rebirth of music that causes us to lift our souls to the Lord our God. A renaissance awaits. Please help make it possible.
William Mahrt
P.S. Can you please forward this letter to others who might help? Write if you have questions or comments.
To join CMAA
Annual Membership for Individuals
Chant Café
Dom Alcuin Reid on “liturgical integrity”
First audio from the Colloquium: Tuesday, July 2
Colloquium week in Philadelphia
Our Beautiful Liturgical Future
How the Seven Sacraments “Christianize” Us
MusicaSacra Forum
Sarum Antiphon?
organist position in Sydney, Australia
Combining psalm verses
Online tutorial for mobile phone, tablet. Lessons about Gregorian chanting.
New to CMAA?
The beauty of the liturgy . . . more than anything else it deserves to be called the splendor of the truth. It opens to the small and the great alike the treasures of its magnificence: the beauty of psalmody, sacred chants and texts, candles, harmony of movement and dignity of bearing. With sovereign art the liturgy exercises a truly seductive influence on souls, whom it touches directly, even before the spirit perceives its influence.
-- Dom Gerard Calvet, OSB (1927-2008)
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Pope Asks Universities to Disseminate His Claim ‘Diversity of Religions’ Is ‘Willed by God’
If he actually believe this bollocks, why doesn't he resign the Papacy, leave the Priesthood, and leave Christianity entirely?
From LifeSiteNews
March 25, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – The Vatican’s office for promoting interreligious dialogue has asked Catholic university professors to give the “widest possible dissemination” to a controversial joint statement signed by Pope Francis last month that claims a “diversity of religions” is “willed by God.” The office adds that the request comes from Pope Francis himself (read full letter below).
The letter of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, which was obtained by LifeSiteNews, is dated February 21, 2019. It was sent last week to Catholic university professors in Rome, together with the attached "Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" which Pope Francis signed with Grand Imam Ahmad el-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi on February 4.
Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, secretary of the Pontifical Council, wrote in the letter that the “Holy Father has asked this Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to contribute to the widest possible dissemination of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” as it had been originally signed by Pope Francis and by Ahmad el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Egypt’s al-Azhar Mosque.
Guixot asked professors, priests, and sisters at universities to "facilitate the distribution, the study, and the reception” of the document, adding that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue “will be grateful to you already now for any possible initiative, in the frame of this institution, which aims at the spreading of this Document.”
The letter also quotes some passages from the Abu Dhabi document, in which both signatories pledge “to convey this Document to authorities, influential leaders, persons of religion all over the world, appropriate regional and international organizations, organizations within civil society, religious institutions and leading thinkers.” The signers promise to “make known the principles contained in this Declaration at all regional and international levels, while requesting that these principles be translated into policies, decisions, legislative texts, courses of study and materials to be circulated.” A further aim is to “educate new generations” in the sense of this document for world peace and fraternity among peoples and religions.
Critics have called passages in the document "false" and "heretical."
Cardinal Raymond Burke said the passage which says that God wills a diversity of religions, is wrong and should be removed.
The statement “has to be removed from this accord because it’s not correct,” he said.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider said earlier this month that in a private conversation he had with Pope Francis on the matter, the pope assured him that the "phrase in question on the diversity of religions means the permissive will of God."
Prominent Catholic philosopher Professor Josef Seifert criticized that – in spite of the private correction of this disturbing sentence which Pope Francis himself made in conversation with Bishop Schneider and his fellow Kazakh bishops – the Pope still wants this document to be disseminated without the statement being corrected.
The February 21 Vatican letter, as it was sent to Catholic university professors on March 21, thus aims at disseminating an ambiguous document that sparked much controversy among Catholics when it was first published on February 4, 2019, especially since it does not contain a formal correction of the following particular sentence:
The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.
At the time, Bishop Schneider – among many other voices – contradicted such a statement, since “Christianity is the only God-willed religion.” “Therefore,” he said, “it can never be placed complementarily side by side with other religions. Those would violate the truth of Divine Revelation, as it is unmistakably affirmed in the First Commandment of the Decalogue, who would assert that the diversity of religions is the will of God."
In comments to LifeSiteNews, Seifert strongly criticized the controversial passage of the Abu Dhabi statement. The claim that the “diversity of religions” is “willed by God,” he stated, means the “rejection of the Christian Faith: How can God bind eternal salvation to the Faith in Jesus Christ and then, from the time of Creation, will religions which reject this Faith?”
“How can He mandate us to go out into the world to teach the Gospels to all nations and to baptize them, but at the same time wills religions which reject the Gospels and Baptism?” Seifert further asked. In his view, with this claim, the document “directly rejects the Church's absolute claim to truth (which by the way is also held by Islam for its own religion),” and, with it “the whole Creed (since each sentence of the Creed contradicts the creeds of many other religions), all dogmas of the Church, all of her moral teachings.” At the same time, the Austrian professor added, “not only all heresies, but also all non-Christian religions are being given the honor to be willed by God.”
Professor Seifert also commented on the fact that Pope Francis has had a letter sent to Catholic universities in order to disseminate this contested Abu Dhabi document. In spite of the fact that Bishop Schneider received from Pope Francis a sort of indirect correction of this Abu Dhabi statement, “Pope Francis obviously has not only not rescinded this statement, but now even has it sent out to all universities with the request for universal dissemination.”
This is an “unprecedented heresy of all heresies,” Seifert explained, “to spread this unaltered declaration” that the diverse religions are willed by God “without the slightest (and, what is more, unconvincing) declaration that it is merely about the permissive will of God.”
According to Josef Seifert, a private remark (as given in the presence of Bishop Schneider) is not sufficient, in order to rescind “the approval of all heresies and of all those religions which are in contradiction with Christianity as it is to be found in the Abu Dhabi declaration.”
Seifert said that the statement read at face value places the Pope "outside the Church and of the Christian Faith in general, as well as outside of reason."
"For, how could God will contradictions to those most important revealed truths which are simultaneously also willed by Him? This assumption would make God either a lunatic who violates the foundation of all reason – the principle of non-contradiction – and who is a monumental relativist, or a confused God who is indifferent to the matter of whether people witness to the truth or not."
Professor Seifert said that Catholics have the duty to defend the Catholic truth.
“According to the natural law, all priests, cardinals, bishops, and laymen are duty-bound to call upon the Pope to either reject this sentence [about the diversity of religions willed by God] or to resign as Pope," he said.
Translation of the February 21 letter of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue:
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
Vatican, 21 February 2019
Prot. N. 129-19
Rev. Father/ Rev. Sister/ Dear Professor,
The Holy Father has asked this Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to contribute to the widest possible dissemination of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which has been signed at Abu Dhabi, on 4 February, by the same Supreme Pontiff and by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.
Associated in this way with the announcement and promise that the signatories of this Document have enshrined, I wish to ask Your Eminence/ Excellency to facilitate the distribution, the study, and the reception, because:
[…] the Catholic Church and Al-Azhar announce and pledge to convey this Document to authorities, influential leaders, persons of religion all over the world, appropriate regional and international organizations, organizations within civil society, religious institutions and leading thinkers. They further pledge to make known the principles contained in this Declaration at all regional and international levels, while requesting that these principles be translated into policies, decisions, legislative texts, courses of study and materials to be circulated.
Al-Azhar and the Catholic Church ask that this Document become the object of research and reflection in all schools, universities and institutes of formation, thus helping to educate new generations to bring goodness and peace to others, and to be defenders everywhere of the rights of the oppressed and of the least of our brothers and sisters.
The Pontifical Council will be grateful to you already now for any possible initiative, in the frame of this institution, which aims at the spreading of this Document.
For all good purposes, I allow myself to attach the Document in its two original languages – Italian and Arabic – while at the same time pointing out that other official translations are available on the official website of the Apostolic See: http://w2.vatican.va
I use this opportunity to assure you, with most distinguished feelings, of my cordial respect,
+ Miguel Ángel AYUSO GUIXOT, M.C.C.J.
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Eaton appoints Mustek Limited as Power Quality Portfolio distributor for Sub-Saharan Africa
Home » Posts » Eaton appoints Mustek Limited as Power Quality Portfolio distributor for Sub-Saharan Africa
JOHANNESBURG – Power management company Eaton South Africa has appointed Mustek Limited as a distributor for its Power Quality Portfolio of products in Sub-Saharan Africa, with effect from 1 September 2018. The portfolio includes Eaton’s 5E, 3, 5 and 9 Series Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) up to and including 40kVA as well as its Ellipse Pro and Ellipse Eco UPSs, Power Distribution Units (PDUs), as well as its racks and cooling products.
Eaton manufactures, sells and supports unified technology solutions incorporating its UPS products, enclosures, power distribution, advanced power management and reliability techniques, as well as its world-class services. Eaton’s UPS solutions deliver high quality backup power for different scales of need, from desktop PCs to network servers and large data centre facilities, and even marine and offshore requirements.
“Appointing Mustek Limited as a distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa allows us to expand our IT distribution footprint and reach our customers more effectively,” explains Malvin Naicker, Sales Director for Africa at Eaton South Africa. “Mustek Limited has a far-reaching reseller network in the region and collaborating with them to distribute Eaton’s Power Quality Portfolio will help us gaining a competitive edge in the region.”
In addition to its comprehensive network in South Africa, Mustek has operations in Zimbabwe and Kenya. Its African presence has been expanded through a strategy of exporting its products to local companies in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
“With business growth comes an increased demand for business continuity, and as IT environments increase their reliance on business-critical applications, they expect market-leading solutions and the peace of mind that comes with robust back-up systems to ensure that business efficiency and productivity,” says Andrada Manu, National Product Manager at Mustek Limited. “Adding Eaton’s range of UPSs and PDUs and its rack and cooling products positions Mustek well to respond positively to their needs and expectations.”
About Mustek Limited
Mustek Limited is one of the largest assemblers and distributors of personal computers and complementary ICT products in South Africa.
The Mustek Limited Group was established in 1987 and includes Rectron. Mustek Limited combines the best of local assembly capabilities through its Mecer brand, with a multi-national product portfolio via a broad range of top tier brands.
Through its broad-based distribution strategy, Mustek Limited is focused on being the country’s ICT supplier of choice. Due to its nation-wide footprint and competitive pricing, Mustek Limited prides itself on its service offering capabilities for a wide range of technology and end-user needs.
About Eaton
Eaton is a power management company with 2017 sales of $20.4 billion. We provide energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the environment using power management technologies and services. Eaton has approximately 96,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries.
About Eaton in Africa
Eaton has been in Africa since 1927 with offices in South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Nigeria, with 200k ft².of manufacturing space located in South Africa and Morocco. A certified BBBEE Level 1 contributor in South Africa, Eaton offers a broad portfolio supplemented by “made for Africa” products and solutions. Eaton has over 700 employees and numerous distributors across the region, allowing us the opportunity to help our customers grow and provide sustainable economic benefits to the communities in which we operate. For more information visit www.eaton.com
Eaton appoints Mustek Limited as Power Quality Portfolio distributor for Sub-Saharan Africa2018-09-102018-09-10https://mustek.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/mustek1.pngMustekhttps://mustek.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/eaton-logo-mobile.png200px200px
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Slain Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed’s father seeks foreign probe
Colombo: The father of the murdered Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed pleaded for an international investigation Friday, saying he had no confidence in the government to deliver justice.
Hussain Rasheed, 54, was speaking in neighbouring Sri Lanka where he is meeting foreign diplomats to put pressure on the Maldives government to carry out an independent investigation.
A tearful Rasheed described seeing the body of his 29- year-old son, who had been murdered hours earlier at his home by unidentified attackers.
“His throat was slit, there were 14 stab injuries that I counted, but later we saw he had been stabbed in 35 places and part of his skull was missing,” Rasheed told reporters in Colombo.
The government has promised an investigation, but Rasheed said he could not trust them to deliver justice. “I heard about 18 people have been killed in the Maldives like this in the past three years, but no one has been prosecuted.”
Yameen Rasheed, who poked fun at the nation’s politicians on his blog The Daily Panic, was found in the stairwell of his Male apartment with multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck. He died in hospital.
He had lodged complaints with the police about death threats he had received in December, but they were not taken seriously. On Friday his father said Maldives police had acted suspiciously, washing down the scene of the crime and having the blood-splattered wall repainted. They also prevented anyone from taking pictures.
The United Nations has already called on the Male government to order an independent investigation into the killing of Rasheed, the third media figure to be targeted in the troubled archipelago nation in the last five years.
Blogger Ismail Rasheed narrowly escaped death when he was stabbed by an unidentified attacker in 2012. A journalist with the independent Minivan News, Ahmed Rilwan, was likely abducted in August 2014 and has been missing ever since.
The Maldives regime has already faced censure from the UN over the arrest and jailing of a former president and a former defence minister
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Zeus Ammon
June 29, 2016 January 11, 2017 by Angelo
Religious Center of Epirus
Dodoni (Greek: Δωδώνη) is a village and a municipality in the Ioannina regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Dodona (Doric Greek: Δωδώνα, Dōdṓna, Ionic and Attic Greek: Δωδώνη, Dōdṓnē) in Epirus is the archeological site of the Hellenic oracle. It is the most ancient oracle of Greece and it is associated to the oracle of Zeus Ammon of Libya. According to tradition, two doves departed from Thebes of Egypt and sat in the places, where the shrines of Zeus Ammon in Libya and Pelasgic Zeus in Dodona where founded. It is a relation that Alexander the Great knew too well, when, in 331 B.C., he visited the oracle of Libya, which architecturally resembles to the Necromanteion; in fact it seems that it also operated in a similar way. The most important sanctuary in Dodona, around which the site was religiously formed, is the temple of Zeus “Hiera Oikia” (Sacred House), which is oriented to the southeast of the site. If we draw a straight line in the same direction, we will find out that it will lead us to Thebes of Egypt, passing over the Cave of Zeus of Crete. So the above myth is structurally confirmed. Namely the architect of the temple took under consideration the religious dependence of the sacred site in Thebes.
King Pyrrhus was the one who promoted the worship of Zeus, who embellished the site of Dodona, rebuilding it and creating new buildings, like the Bouleuterion, the Prytaneion and the Theater. Thus Dodona became the seat of power of the Epirote League. Dodonaios Zeus expanded to the colonies of Sicily and Southern Italy during the campaign of Pyrrhus, who undefeated, but also with many casualties in his army, reached the outskirts of Rome, leading 25.500 infantrymen, 3.000 horsemen and 20 elephants.
In the above image we can see a theater of 17.000 seats, which was built in the beginning of the 3rd century during the reign of Pyrrhus (316-272 B.C.) who came into power in 297 B.C., at the age of 20 years. Through said construction, anyone can ascertain the high educational level of the residents of the area, in the most mountainous and most scarcely populated region of Greece, but also the high level of the leader of the region, who desired the upgrade it, despite his young age.
Starting from Ambracia (Arta), the believer, given his good physical condition, would travel on foot the 75 kilometers of poor road in 15 hours to reach the Oracle. To watch then the theatrical play, he should be well versed in Mythology, but also have a deep knowledge and understanding of the events transpiring in the Greek region.
Zeus of Dodona originating, as we noted, axially from Crete as a god wielding the double Axe, is of chthonic character, namely he is the god of Nature’s Rebirth, who dies every year in the winter and is reborn in the springtime. The cult of nature’s rebirth and of “tree-worship”, formerly passed from the Minoans to the Myceneans, who also adopted, among other symbols, the double axe (labrys). It is in Dodona then, where pottery of Minoan origin was found, that Zeus of the first Greek tribes in 2000 B.C. comes to be united with the chthonic goddess of vegetation Dione, the worship of whom, preexisted since the Bronze age (2600-1900 B.C.). The clergy of the divine couple were the Selloi, who slept on the ground and did not wash their feet to be able to come into contact with “Gaia” and draw their soothsaying powers from her. Based on the above, we can assume that the celebration must have taken place during the month Mounichion (April – May), when the zodiac of Taurus, which symbolized Zeus after his transformation to grab Europe from Tyre to carry her to Crete, appeared in the sky. Furthermore from this union, besides Minos, Sarpedon, Radamanthus and Carnus, Dodon was also born.
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These are called Hairy Toad lilies or alternatively hototogisu=“Little Cuckoo” in Japanese, tricyrtis (Latin scientific name) (in the photo they are complemented by the murasaki shikibu or Beauty Berries below it).
There is a yellow species as well. This yellow relative is a trailing tricyrtis called kijyoro-hotogisu (jyoro means watering can, a reference to the shape) is related to the earlier one, from the same family of orchids.
Read more about the tricyrtis lily in Linda Inoki’s article posted below.
Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001, Japan Times
Hototogisu (hairy toad lily) By LINDA INOKI
“‘This is becoming a bore,’ I said one day. ‘I should like to go somewhere to hear a hototogisu singing.’ The other women enjoyed the idea and said that they wanted to accompany me. One of them suggested a bridge behind Kamo Shrine. ‘The hototogisu sings there every day,’ she said. ‘Those aren’t hototogisu,’ said someone else. ‘They’re cicadas.’ ”
From the 10th-century “Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon” Translated by Ivan Morris (Charles E. Tuttle)
This modest lily, like the Japanese little cuckoo after which it is named, is small, spotted and lives shyly in the woods. “Cuckoo lily” would be a more attractive name, but perhaps the folks who called it the “hairy toad lily” did not appreciate the poetic nature of Japan’s little bird. However, the English name draws our attention to the plant’s hairy stems, as well as the unusual toadlike bumps at the base of the buds. The flowers, which can bloom into late autumn, provide a welcome drop of nectar to bees preparing for winter. Yellow marks guide insects toward the nectar at the base of the petals, brushing pollen onto the prominent Y-shaped stigmas as they go. In the wild, one may also find a white species, spotted with pink, but the magenta version is generally more popular with gardeners and flower arrangers.
We have got two tiny seedling toad lilies and they are already blooming beautifully. Tricyrtis are extremely hardy low-maintenance perennials that send up mysterious, orchid-like blooms in the fall, a time when most plants have had their season and the garden takes on a somewhat barren look. They do require shade, deep shade and they love a good, moist soil rich in organic matter. If they don’t get their required amount of shade and moisture, you will surely see their unhappiness in the guise of ratty looking, brown foliage. They are wonderful companions to hostas, hellebores, erythroniums and woodland lillies. These all share the same cultural requirements, which makes group plantings that much easier to maintain. And with this kind of mix, you can have a long season of blooms in your shade border.
There are about 20 species in the genus Tricyrtis, which makes its home in Liliaceae, the lily family. They are mostly Asian natives, ranging from Nepal eastwards through China to Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Phillipine Islands. The greatest number and diversity is in Japan. The Japanese name for Tricyrtis is Hototogisu, which I am told, translates to “cuckoo,” probably in reference to the spotting on the leaves of several species.
Tricyrtis species are all herbaceous plants growing from a rhizomatous rootsock with fibrous outer roots. They’re all very easy to grow from seeds. The seeds germinate mid-spring and usually flower the first year. Tricyrtis are also easy to propagate clonally by cuttings. They are nodal rooters, so be sure that you have at least one node in your cuttings.
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Assam: Jorhat filmmaker’s flick shines in Los Angeles film festival
Rupam Sarmah is presently based in the US and his film One Little Finger will be premiered at Marché du Film Festival de Cannes in France
SMITA BHATTACHARYYA
JORHAT , April 26, 2019 7:13 pm
EARNING LAURELS: Jorhat filmmaker based in the US - Rupam Sarmah. Image Credit - Northeast Now
Rupam Sarmah, who hails from Jorhat and is presently based in the United States of America, has won the ‘Best Film for Inspiration Making a Global Impact – Founders Award’ for his film One Little Finger, at the Riverside International Film Festival held at Los Angeles recently.
His brother Nayan Jyoti Sarmah, an office-bearer of Assam Table Tennis Association and an SBI official, informed that Rupam, who has directed and written One Little Finger, had dared to make a movie with 80 persons with disabilities and is now receiving international acclaim.
Also Read: National Film Awards: Rima Das Assamese film Village Rockstars wins Best Feature Film
“The film has been officially selected to be screened in various international festivals including France, New York, San Diego, Florida, Los Angeles, New Delhi and other places and will be premiered at Marché du Film Festival de Cannes in France on May 16 and 17 next,” he further informed.
The film will be officially released in the United States on August 16 next and India release is in September. The YouTube play link for the trailer is: https://youtu.be/xtMceQBQBow
One Little Finger is a Hollywood feature film (English) co-produced in India with the theme of ‘Ability in Disability’.
Speaking to Northeast Now, Rupam said, “The goal of the film is to bring awareness vis-à-vis the human rights of the disabled and is based on real-life stories.”
“Using the film media as a platform, we are allowing differently-abled people to act in this flick alongside other local and international award-winning actors to promote inclusion and diversity. More than 80 children and young adults with disabilities have acted in this film. The film has been completed after five years of planning and shooting in various locations in India and USA,” Rupam stated.
Some of the shooting locales in India are Jorhat, Sivasagar, Guwahati, Hajo, Rang Ghar, Naamghar, Kamakhya temple, Kolkata and its surrounding areas.
The children of Prerona Disability Organisation (Jorhat) and Monovikas Kendra (Kolkata) have been actively involved with this film.
The cast and crew are from Assam, Kolkata, South India, Mumbai, and USA. The role of the disabled is being played by characters who are physically challenged in real life too.
Tamela D’Amico, a Hollywood star, is playing the lead character in the film. Oscar nominated actor and composer, Siedah Garrett, is playing the role of Dr Claudia. Abhinaya, a hearing-impaired girl, is a South Indian actor who is playing the same role in the film.
Den, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and rare genetic disorder, is also playing the same role in the film. Jeeja, a national award winner, who has cerebral palsy, is playing a similar role in the film.
Some of the noted actors from Assam are – National Award-winning actor Moloya Goswami, Jaya Seal Ghosh, Pabitra Rabha, and Surajit Sarmah.
The music has been lent by Rupam Sarmah. “The music therapy is an integral part of this film. Many Grammy and Oscar winning artistes are involved with the soundtracks including Quincy Jones, Julian Lennon, Siedah Garrett, Kechi Okwuchi, Kevin Mackie, Padmashri Sumitra Guha, and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
The background score has been composed by Pulitzer nominated Stephen Melillo and Rupam Sarmah.
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Rock in the New Year with new ‘Rock Band’ content
Gaming Music PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
December 25, 2008 Scott Kirchhofer300
Harmonix and MTV Games announced this week the addition of four new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content from bands Snow Patrol, Deep Purple, James Gang and Jethro Tull.
Scottish alternative band Snow Patrol makes its debut in the Rock Band music catalog offering their first single “Take Back the City” from their new album A Hundred Million Suns (2008).
In addition, the Rock Band music catalog will expand its collection of Deep Purple tracks, giving players access to the classic rock band’s single “Space Truckin’ ” from the influential album Machine Head (1972). Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” was featured on the original Rock Band soundtrack.
Next week’s offering also includes the classic rock single “Funk #49″ from the album James Gang Rides Again (1970) featuring Joe Walsh, Dale Peters and Jimmy Fox.
The Jethro Tull single”Hymn 43” will become the second Tull track in the Rock Band music catalog, joining “Aqualung” which was featured on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack. Both songs are from the band’s fourth studio album Aqualung (1971).
These tracks will be available starting Tuesday (Dec. 30) for the Xbox_360 and Jan. 8 for PlayStation 3. Each individual track will cost $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points).
>> Related: Pearl Jam bringing debut album ‘Ten’ to ‘Rock Band’
A crunchy ‘Star Trek Online’ update for Christmas
Judge rules for Fox in ‘Watchmen’ flap — what’s next?
Scott Kirchhofer
One of Nerdvana's founding bloggers, Scott Kirchhofer is a graphic artist and designer of the Nerdvana logo, as well as a gamer and comic book movie fan.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkirchhofer
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Tim Tebow Leads Broncos to 16-13 Overtime Victory Over Chargers
by associated-press on Sun, Nov 27, 2011 at 8:33PM
SAN DIEGO — Matt Prater kicked a 37-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in overtime to lift Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos to a 16-13 victory Sunday over the San Diego Chargers, who've now lost six straight games for the first time in 10 years.
The Broncos narrowly avoided the first NFL tie since Cincinnati and Philadelphia ended deadlocked at 13 on Nov. 16, 2008.
Tebow, now 5-1 as the Broncos' starter, led Denver from its 43 after San Diego's Nick Novak was wide right on a 53-yard field goal attempt with 2:31 left in overtime. Novak made a 53-yarder in the first quarter, a career-best, and was wide right on a 48-yard try early in the fourth quarter.
Tebow had a 12-yard gain and Willis McGahee ran 24 yards up the middle to set up Prater's winning kick, which was right down the middle.
The Broncos are 6-5. The Chargers (4-7) are on their longest streak since ending 2001 with nine straight defeats.
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Flushing’s Bay
by Dan on January 5, 2010 in Mets no comment
Jason Bay was introduced to the New York media today and handled himself rather well in the face of some tough questions. He declined to answer whether any other teams were close in their offer with what the Mets offered, but he did not try to say it’s not about the money. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “The money’s nice. But the bottom line is that I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be here.”
When asked about Peter Gammons’ comment that Bay would rather play in Beirut than Queens, he criticized the remark. Bay also said that his shoulders were not an issue, despite reports that said there were some red flags there. He said that he had surgery in 2003, but hasn’t had any problems since.
But what really had me watching on MLB.com today was to see what number he chose. Bay wore No. 38 in Pittsburgh, but switched to 44 in Boston. Forty-four has been donned by a few notable players in Mets history, mainly David Cone and Mike Cameron, but 38 has a less illustrious past — and has only been worn by one non-pitcher. Bay could have made that number his own in Queens, but instead he’ll stick with 44.
And what was up with hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert presenting Bay with a Rangers jersey? Are the Wilpons stepping up their efforts to get next year’s Winter Classic at Citi Field? Obviously, there is the Canadian connection, of which Gilbert spoke, and I guess this was exactly what it looked like: Another small gesture to help make Bay feel welcome in his new city. I’m not sure if the Mets approached the Rangers, or if it was the other way around, but I wonder what the Islanders think about it.
Tagged Jason Bay, jerseys, Mets, numbers, uniforms
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G1M2, L.L.C.
Herkunftsland: USA
Webseite: http://www.g1m2.com
Eingetragen: 12.03.2009 21:26:23 von Motoko [Admin]
Gegründet von Scott Allan Hawkins
Sitz: Foothill Ranch/California
Logo(s):
Verwandte/assozierte Firmen:
CodeFire, Inc.
Diese Firma ist Entwickler von:
Art of Fighting: RyuuKo no Ken Gaiden (a.k.a. Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior)
SONY PlayStation 2 (2006)
Garou Densetsu 2: Aratanaru Tatakai (a.k.a. Fatal Fury 2)
Garou Densetsu 3: Harukanaru Tatakai (a.k.a. Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory)
Garou Densetsu Special (a.k.a. Fatal Fury Special)
Garou Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai (a.k.a. Fatal Fury: King of Fighters)
RyuuKo no Ken (a.k.a. Art of Fighting)
RyuuKo no Ken 2 (a.k.a. Art of Fighting 2)
The King of Fighters XI
Real Bout Garou Densetsu (a.k.a. Real Bout Fatal Fury)
Real Bout Garou Densetsu 2: The Newcomers (a.k.a. Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers)
Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special (a.k.a. Real Bout Fatal Fury Special)
PC - DVD-ROM (2009)
Metal Slug: Super Vehicle-001
Sengoku Denshou (a.k.a. Sengoku)
Sengoku Denshou 2 (a.k.a. Sengoku 2)
Sengoku Denshou 2001 (a.k.a. Sengoku 3)
BurgerTime
Burnin' Rubber (a.k.a. Bump 'n' Jump)
Nintendo Wii (2010), SONY PlayStation 3 - Download (2010), SONY PlayStation Portable - Download (2010)
Crude Busters (a.k.a. Two Crude Dudes)
Dark Seal II (a.k.a. Wizard Fire)
Dragon Ninja (a.k.a. Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja)
Dunk Dream (a.k.a. Street Hoop)
Heavy Barrel
Joe & Mac: Tatakae Genshijin (a.k.a. Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja)
Karaoke Revolution: Glee
Lock 'n' Chase (a.k.a. Pygmy)
Magical Drop III
Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory
Secret Agent (a.k.a. Sly Spy: Secret Agent)
SRD: Super Real Darwin
Karaoke Revolution: Glee - Volume 2
Ancient Game Treasures: Mill
SONY PlayStation 3 - Download (2011), SONY PlayStation 4 - Download (2011), SONY PlayStation Portable - Download (2011)
ASO: Armored Scrum Object (a.k.a. Alpha Mission)
SONY PlayStation 3 - Download (2011), SONY PlayStation Portable (2011), SONY PlayStation Portable - Download (2011)
Datsugoku: Prisoners of War (a.k.a. P.O.W.: Prisoners of War)
Dogou Souken (a.k.a. Victory Road)
Genshitou 1930's (a.k.a. Prehistoric Isle in 1930)
Guevara (a.k.a. Guerrilla War)
Ikari (a.k.a. Ikari Warriors)
Marvin's Maze
SONY PlayStation 3 - Download (2011), SONY PlayStation Portable (2011)
Psycho Soldier
Bermuda Triangle (a.k.a. World Wars)
SONY PlayStation Portable (2011)
Gold Medalist
Ikari III (a.k.a. Ikari III: The Rescue)
SONY PlayStation Portable (2011), SONY PlayStation 3 - Download (2012), SONY PlayStation Portable - Download (2012)
SAR: Search and Rescue
Sasuke Vs. Commander
Super Champion Baseball
T.A.N.K. (a.k.a. T.N.K. III)
Touchdown Fever
SONY PlayStation Portable - Download (2011)
Nintendo Wii - Download (2010) [nie erschienen]
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Tag Archives: Southside Jamaica
Old To The New Q&A – Satchel Page (Part Two)
In this concluding part of my interview with Queens, NY emcee Satchel Page, the rhyming veteran discusses the close relationship between Hip-Hop and the 80s drug game, growing-up with Neek The Exotic and meeting the legendary Large Professor – check Part One here.
How much of an impact did the crack era of the 80s and 90s have on South Jamaica?
“It affected everybody almost every second of every day. That’s the best way I can try to explain how big the drug game was in Queens back then. Everybody knew somebody who was on it, or who was selling it, or you were on it or selling it yourself. It was everywhere. It was also in the music of the time. Actually, the crack era is really what ended the park jam days because now you had these big drug dealers moving around. So whereas before, we were going to the park jams to party, now you had these drug dealers with their turf wars who were meeting at these jams and now the jams started getting shot-up. You couldn’t have a jam back then without it getting shot-up. That’s what really ended the park jam era. It wasn’t the fact that cats stopped doing it or started making records, it was the fact that it just wasn’t safe anymore. The cops would shut them down as soon as anyone did try and throw a park jam because they knew there would be some trouble. The violence was serious and that all came from people making so much money off of the crack era. I saw people that I grew-up with fighting each other and killing each other over money. The crack era pretty much ravaged my part of Queens and you can still see the evidence of that to this day.”
It must have been crazy to see that on a day to day basis?
“It really took us by storm. I mean, the drug game was just so influential back then. At one point, the drug dealers were more influential in the neighbourhoods than the Hip-Hop artists. The Hip-Hop artists wanted to be the drug dealers in some cases…
I remember back in the 80s looking at album covers featuring NY artists like Rakim wearing the Dapper Dan suits etc and thinking that was Hip-Hop fashion – then in subsequent years finding out it was the drug dealers who were dressing like that initially and the rappers were emulating them…
“There was definitely a close relationship between the two because the two people making the most money in your neighbourhood were the Hip-Hop artists and the drug dealers. I remember we used to have this big basketball tournament in Queens and Rakim would bring his crew to play the Supreme Team, which was a big time drug organisation that most people have heard of. So they would play this tournament and they would have NBA players on the teams like Mark Jackson, “Pearl” Washington and other big-time players because the drug dealers had enough money to pay them. They would all throw an exhibition game in the summer. LL would always be seen with big drug dealers around that time as well. At that time I think the rappers wanted to be around the drug dealers because of the connection they had to the street. I mean, you would see LL uptown with Alpo. Then you’d see him with Bimmy, who was one of the biggest drug dealers in Queens from Baisley, who was down with the Supreme Team. LL and Bimmy were very close. They actually used to switch-up cars. One day you’d see LL driving Bimmy’s car and then you’d see Bimmy driving LL’s car. They both had the big white 740 BMWs. So the drug dealers and the rappers were really interchangeable back then. I mean, a big drug dealer like Supreme, when he’d have a birthday party, he’d go get all the top talent and have a party right in Baisley Park projects and it would be with LL, Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash. It’d be the same kinda line-up you might see at Madison Square Garden and it would be right there in the park (laughs). That’s how it was at the height of the drug era.”
How open were the dealers back then in terms of trying to hide what they were doing out in the street?
“Man, it was wide open. That’s what’s so astonishing when you look at how New York is now compared to back then. I mean, New York is like a police state now. But in the 80s, it was an open market. I mean, you’d see the lines running two or three blocks long early in the morning with people looking to buy their drugs. These guys would be out there selling their drugs right out in the open and the police weren’t around or anything. People were just making so much money. I remember, a friend of mine drove up to me in a Mercedes Benz around the mid-80s when the crack era was really just starting and he would have been about fourteen-years-old. It was crazy! But at that point, crack was really just taking hold of the poor neighbourhoods and I think the police and the politicians were thinking it was a problem that was contained, so they weren’t really paying that much attention to it. I don’t think they knew it was as big as it was or how much of a problem it was becoming. I don’t think they realised how much money was being generated and by the time they did realise there were millionaires on nearly every block. It was kinda like Miami in the late-70s and early-80s during the cocaine era. It’s a time that could never be replicated. I mean, you’d see guys that you grew-up with and went to school with who started selling crack and within two weeks they were driving around in hundred thousand dollar cars. It was that easy. I remember my little stint selling it, I could go out and in one day I could come back at fourteen-years-old and have easily made fifteen hundred dollars as just a low, low, low level dealer. I mean, you could just walk out your front door and sell right off your stoop and make that kind of money. You didn’t even have to travel. It was just so easy.”
At what point did that change?
“In Southside, the point that changed everything was when they killed that cop Edward Byrne in 1988. When that hit the news, they locked down the whole neighbourhood. The neighbourhood was never the same after that. It became a police state. Within a couple of years the drug game had really slowed down and people couldn’t just stand out on the corner anymore selling drugs. But when they killed that cop, it became apparent to the police that these guys weren’t just nickel-and-dime punks selling a small amount of drugs, they were on par with the Mafia as far as the money they were making and the violence that was going on.”
So getting back to the music, how did you meet Neek The Exotic?
“Man, I can remember Neek for as long as I can remember myself. His cousin was actually my next door neighbour and Neek would always come to his cousin’s house from Flushing every weekend. So me and Neek would always hangout and we hit it off from day one. So me and Neek go back to when we were like three-years-0ld playing together. So when he came out on Main Source’s “Fakin’ The Funk” it was big for me because that was my man right there. As soon as he came out he came looking for me and we linked back up.”
So you’d fallen out of touch prior to him coming out with Main Source?
“Yeah. Like I said, he was from Flushing and he was out there doing his thing. At that time a lot of dudes were in Hip-Hop halfway and in the streets halfway and Neek was no exception. I dabbled in the streets a little, but that was never really me. I pretty much just stayed with the Hip-Hop thing. So I wasn’t rockin’ with Neek like that because he was in the street, but we were always brothers. So when he came out with Large Pro he was actually looking for me. But like I said, this was before you had cellphones and everything. You just had someone’s house number and if you couldn’t catch them on that then you weren’t getting in touch with them (laughs). So he was trying to get in touch with me just to let me know that he was moving with the music thing. Then he saw my brother, told him he’d been trying to reach me, he gave my brother his new number and we linked back up.”
Earlier you mentioned Run was trying to get you a deal in the late-80s – so inbetween that and you getting back together with Neek were you regularly pushing demos to labels?
“Yeah, definitely. I think if you were an emcee in New York at that time then everybody was in ‘Please listen to my demo’ mode. Every weekend, I’d be going out up to Manhattan, dropping demo tapes off at all the labels, getting called back, getting bullshi**ed, almost getting deals but nothing coming off. I did that whole gamut. I remember Def Jam were very interested at one point. When things didn’t work out with Profile, Run had taken my music up to Def Jam. We were close to getting a deal with this guy up there. But right at the moment we were about to get a deal, he fell out of favour with Russell Simmons and got caught stealing money from the label. So he got fired (laughs). I remember reading about the guy getting caught in Russell Simmons’ autobiography.”
Do you remember any of the tracks you had on those demo tapes?
“I remember I had this track called “No Baby!” which went ‘No baby! Get your hands off my brand new Mercedes’ (laughs) That was one of the joints that Run liked and took us up to Def Jam with. He thought that was going to be a hit record. We had another track called “Crack The Whip”. I mean, we had a lot of records. I did so many songs back then. It was funny because even though I had a rep from the park jams in the early-80s, I used to make all these songs but didn’t really know how many people already knew about me until I’d meet people. Like when Neek first introduced me to Large Professor, they had “Fakin’ The Funk” out, Large had the album with Main Source out and he was already a big name. So Neek introduced us and the first thing Large said to me was, ‘Yo, it’s an honour to meet you, man. I remember Neek always used to bring your tapes out to Flushing and we all thought this cat G.L.T. was ill.’ That really blew my mind! I mean, this was Large Professor saying that to me and I had no idea that he knew about me. But back then when we were doing the tapes, you’d know someone from the tapes before you ever got the chance to see them in a lot of cases. Like I said, Queens was very segregated back then and we were so young so you really only knew people based on how far you could walk (laughs).”
Speaking of being young, did you have anything in your wardrobe back then from the Shirt Kings store in Jamaica’s Colosseum Mall?
“Man, you wasn’t from Southside if you didn’t have something from Shirt Kings (laughs). You had to have a shirt from Shirt Kings and some gold-teeth from Eddie’s Gold Caps downstairs in the Colosseum (laughs). I had G.L.T. on the front of my shirt with a character with his arms crossed in a b-boy stance. That was Hip-Hop! It was religion to us back then and here we are today and we still can’t get it out of our systems. We lived and breathed Hip-Hop. That’s what we did. Every second of our lives was Hip-Hop. We did it for the love.”
So when you reconnected with Neek in the early-90s and were introduced to Large Pro was there any intention of you working together on something?
“Yeah, definitely. Once me and Neek hooked-up again we started doing music and it was on. I started rolling with them and was going to shows. That was actually the first time that I’d thought to myself, ‘This is it!’ I mean, I was rolling with a crew who were already out so I really felt something was going to come out of it. But what happened was, my man Neek, like I said he was kinda living two lifestyles and that other lifestyle caught up with him and he had to go away for a little bit in the midst of all that. Now, Neek was my man and Large was my brother through Neek. So when Neek went away, like I said, it wasn’t that easy to get in touch with people back then, so I kinda lost track of Large Pro at the time.”
Were you around Large Professor when he was working with Nas on “Illmatic”?
“I remember the day Nas got his deal. We came from a show that Neek and Large had actually done with Run-DMC. We pulled up and Nas and MC Serch were in the park across from Large’s crib drinking Moet. We were like, ‘What happened?’ and then Large was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s right, Nas just got his deal.’ I was like, ‘Oh s**t!’ I mean, back then Nas to me was just this little young cat who could rhyme. He wasn’t Nasty Nas the legend yet. He was just a little young kid from Queensbridge who could rhyme. So yeah, I remember seeing Nas and MC Serch drinking their champagne right across from Large Professor’s complex. I remember seeing Q-Tip up at a couple of Large Professor’s studio sessions and Busta Rhymes would be up there as well. Rolling with Large was crazy back then because I was meeting all these artists who were big at the time. Even now when I go to Large Professor’s house and see that “Illmatic” plaque on the wall, I’m still like ‘Wow!'”
What about Akinyele?
“I didn’t know Akinyele until he came out with the music. When he came out with his music I remembered Neek and them saying his name. But personally, I never met Akinyele.”
You stepped away from the music game in the mid-90s – what led you to make that decision?
“Yeah, that was definitely around that time. Hip-Hop became more and more about who you knew. Plus, around the age I was then, you start changing, you have to start supporting yourself. So my mindset was aimed more towards establishing myself outside of music. I got a job, started working and started a family. I really stopped doing the music thing all together from, I’d say, 1996 to 2006. I started up some businesses and got myself on solid ground financially. I mean, I was still paying attention because I had people who were still in the music business. I was still listening to the music, I just wasn’t making music myself. I mean, I would still get on the mic every now and then, but I wasn’t seriously pursuing a record deal or trying to get in the business. It was more a hobby for me at that point. But seeing cats I grew-up with become stars was great to me.”
In recent years you’ve dropped a handful of projects including 2010’s “Young Patriarch” album with Ayatollah – what drew you back to making music?
“Well, with the technology that had come around like YouTube and MySpace, I realised it was easy to let people hear your music. When I started back, that was really my only goal, just for people to hear my music. I just wanted to leave some sort of mark on the game because I’d put so much into it over the years.”
So what’s the concept behind your new album “Fine Wine”?
“Basically, my whole style is like fine wine and as it ages it just gets better as time goes on. So that’s why I decided to give the album that title. My style has been aged since 1971 which was the year I was born (laughs).”
Putting you on the spot here, if you had to name three tracks that you think best represent Hip-Hop from Queens, what would they be?
“Man, that’s a good one. I would definitely say something from the Lost Boyz, “Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz”. I would say “Represent” from Nas and then I’ve gotta say Run DMC, “Sucker MCs”. That’s three different styles right there and there’s always been a lot of different flavours in Queens.”
KRS definitely got it wrong then when he said ‘Queens keeps on fakin’ it…’ on the “The Bridge Is Over”?
“Yeah, he definitely got it wrong with that (laughs). But it was all in the game. He could say something like that and still get love for it because it was just so damn witty. Man, I used to be out there yelling “Queens keeps on fakin’ it…” in the clubs when “The Bridge Is Over” would come on (laughs). There’s no denying magic.”
Ryan Proctor
“Fine Wine” is available now on iTunes.
Follow Satchel Page on Twitter – @Satchel Page
2012 footage of Large Professor, Neek The Exotic and Satchel Page performing in NYC.
Posted in East Coast Hip-Hop, Interviews, Old-School Hip-Hop
Tagged 80s Hip-Hop, 90s Hip-Hop, Colosseum Mall, East Coast Hip-Hop, Extra P, Fine Wine, GLT, Independent Hip-Hop, Large Pro, Large Professor, Main Source, Mc Serch, Nas, Neek The Exotic, New York, Queens, Run DMC, Satchel Page, Shirt Kings, Southside Jamaica, The Supreme Team, Underground Hip-Hop
Old To The New Q&A – Satchel Page (Part One)
A true veteran of the Queens, NY Hip-Hop scene, Rotten Apple resident Satchel Page spent his youth surrounded by pioneers of the game, from those who made their name turning-out the park jams of the early-80s, to others who went on to become internationally known once rap began to make its journey from the streets to the mainstream.
But unlike many of his peers, Page didn’t spend the 80s or 90s in the Hip-Hop spotlight, even though he was associated with some of the most well-known figures of the culture’s golden-era. Having sharpened his lyrical skills onstage in front of first-generation Queens b-boys and b-girls, fate and circumstance would prevent the New York native from sharing his passion for the microphone with the masses, with Page instead deciding to step back from pursuing a career in music in favour of a more secure and stable lifestyle.
Having returned to the studio in recent years, working with producer Ayatollah and appearing on childhood friend Neek The Exotic’s 2011 Large Professor-assisted album “Still On The Hustle”, Page recently released his own new solo project “Fine Wine”.
In this two-part interview an animated Satchel Page takes a walk down memory lane, as he remembers rolling with a young LL Cool J, battling Biz Markie and seeing his Queens neighbourhood ravaged by the crack epidemic of the Reagan-era.
How and when were you first introduced to Hip-Hop?
“Well, I’m from Southside Jamaica, Queens, which I would say is one of the meccas of the Hip-Hop culture. I really started rhyming after making the transition from break-dancing, which shows you how long ago I started (laughs). When I started grabbing the mic most of the people my age were still break-dancing and it was the older cats who were rhyming. But I was one of those young cats who was grabbing the mic early in Jamaica, Queens back in the park jam era.”
So before you started rhyming, when did you first start breakin’?
“Breakin’ came to Queens, I would say, in the late-70s. We’d have the block parties, people would bring out their music equipment and we would just dance to the music all night long. That was when we first really started to see this new music taking form and the break-dancers would come out and everything. We used to call it the electric boogie back then (laughs). People would be poppin’ and stuff and it really just took off from there in Queens. Everybody was doing it in the late-70s and early-80s.”
Were acts coming from the Bronx to perform at those early park jams or was it strictly deejays and emcees from Queens?
“I always tell people that if Hip-Hop started in the Bronx on a Monday, then the rest of New York was doing it on Tuesday and Wednesday (laughs). It really spread that fast. The first memory I have of those park jams in Queens was when I was playing Little League baseball. I was about ten-years-old and I can remember everybody on the baseball field dancing and not being able to concentrate on the game because there were people in the next field over playing music! That was like a phenomenon to us. We could hear the music and they were playing these disco break-beats and everybody was dancing and trying to play baseball at the same time (laughs). I mean, that had to be around 1977 or 1978. So this was early and it wasn’t anybody who was coming from the Bronx doing that, this was Queens cats just bringing their equipment out and doing their thing. Hip-Hop started in the Bronx but we were doing it very early in Queens with the jams and stuff. We’ve been jammin’ in Queens for a long time (laughs).”
Who were some of the best known deejays in the parks during the early days of Hip-Hop in Queens?
“Ah man, at the height of the park jams in Queens the biggest name was Grandmaster Vic. He was the ultimate. Vic was like Grandmaster Flash to people in Queens. So there was Grandmaster Vic, the Amazing Dewitt from Baisley and Kid Quick from Rochdale. Those are some of the names that I remember. But a lot of the time it wasn’t about the single deejay, it was about the crews. So there was the Boss Crew, you had Cipher Sounds who were coming out of 40 projects, you had the Clientele Brothers which had people like Mikey D, LL Cool J and Johnny Quest down with them….”
Eddie O’Jay, Everlovin’ Kid Ice and those dudes…
“Yeah, yeah (laughs). So we’re talking the early-80s at this point. This was still really before making records was your claim to fame. Your claim to fame was being able to rock at a park jam and having tapes of that circulating around New York. That was how you made your name back then.”
Going back to Grandmaster Vic, he was known for his blends, right?
“He invented that. He invented that whole idea of blending Hip-Hop with R&B. Puffy and all these people like Jodeci and Mary J. Blige really owe Grandmaster Vic. When he did it, it was unheard of to take the accapella of an R&B record and blend it with straight Hip-Hop breaks. When he started doing that it was a previously unheard phenomenon that really took people by storm. I mean, in the early-80s people were buying Grandmaster Vic tapes for like fifty dollars. Those were real mixtapes.”
How early on was Vic actually mixing Hip-Hop with R&B?
“Early on, early on. That’s what he was known for. He was good with the scratches and everything and was a real pure deejay, but when it came to the blending, he had such an ear for putting two records together that you would never think would blend but he would make it work. That was in the early-80s he was doing that. I remember he could pretty much blend Keni Burke’s “Risin’ To The Top” with anything (laughs). I think Keni Burke might owe Grandmaster Vic some royalties because he really helped make that song famous. You don’t even understand, when Vic would put that record on at the jams people would go crazy. To this day, “Risin’ To The Top” is the Queens anthem. That’s the Queens anthem because of Grandmaster Vic and his crew, the Boss Crew which consisted of cats like Divine and Chilly Dee who were legends back then. They had the Boss Crew, which stood for Brothers Of South Side. They would tear parties up so bad that it was the equivalent of going to something like Summer Jam now. But when it comes to Grandmaster Vic, all those dudes like Funkmaster Flex, DJ Clue, Kid Capri, Ron G, all the deejays that went on to become big and famous from making mixtapes, they all took a little piece of Grandmaster Vic.”
So at what point did you make the transition from dancing to rhyming?
“I’ll tell you when it happened. It was when I met LL Cool J. My cousin was also a big deejay at that time and I’d say he was on the same level as Grandmaster Vic. His name was DJ Jesse James. Now, his emcees were astronomically huge in Queens at the time. They were called the Albino Twins. They were these two albino dudes and they used to just destroy the parties. I mean, they were really more party emcees and not so much on the lyrical tip, but this was when we were still in that party and park jam era. So they were big in Queens and I used to roll with them and be the one carrying the equipment and stuff. I mean, I’m only about ten or eleven-years-old at this point. So my cousin came to me and said, ‘Yo, I’ve got this new young cat and he’s just ferocious on the mic.’ He introduced me to him and it was Cool J. Now, when Cool J came he just brought a whole new style to the streets of Queens that was unheard of because at that time everybody was just doing the party style of rhyming. That’s really what emcee-ing was to us back then. But when LL came out, and he was only about fourteen-years-0ld, he came with that very lyrical style that, when I first heard it, it just blew me away. So after the first time I heard LL rhyme, I went home and started writing my own rhymes because there was more of an intelligence aspect to it that I felt I could do rather than just the crowd participation stuff which you really needed a huge amount of personality for.”
So when you first heard LL, was it at a park jam or on a tape?
“It was in my cousin DJ Jesse James’ basement. They were practicing for a jam we were about to go to that night and LL was rhyming freestyle off the instrumental to T La Rock’s “It’s Yours”.”
Which is ironic considering the comparisons that were made between LL Cool J and T La Rock when “I Need A Beat” came out…
“”It’s Yours” definitely inspired him. When he was rolling with my cousin I would be with LL and he would recite that record all the time. I mean, we all knew the record but LL was the only person I knew who could recite that record word-for-word. He knew every single word to that song backwards and forwards. So yeah, LL could never deny T La Rock’s influence on him.”
So was LL performing regularly with your cousin and his crew?
“Ah man, when LL got down with the Albino Twins it was crazy because then you had the illest party rockers with the illest lyricist. I used to roll with them and see them just turn jams upside down (laughs). Their style used to be that they’d turn up to the party, tear the place up and then just leave (laughs). I mean, after they left people didn’t even want to stay no more. There was no reason for them to stay around. It was like they’d just been hit by a tornado (laughs). Now, LL and the Albino Twins were actually from the Northside of Queens and back then Queens was very localised. But I remember walking up into the hardest neighbourhoods in the middle of 40 projects with them. Now, dudes from the Northside, which is Hollis and places like that, they didn’t really come to Southside Queens. The Twins and LL were some of the few who would come from the Northside to the Southside, in the middle of 40 projects, and be able to actually get the microphone, much less then tear the place up. I saw them do that on more than one occasion (laughs). So LL was definitely a big influence on me when I first started picking up that pen.”
Are there any battles from that period that still standout to you?
“Yeah, actually one of the illest moments I ever had in Hip-Hop was when LL had a battle with this guy called Cap who was from Laurelton, Queens, which had the L.A. Posse. Cap also had a crew called the El-Producto Brothers. Now, this particular battle was at a block party, and they always used to start around three in the afternoon. LL was on early doing his thing, and Cap got on him just out of nowhere. Cap had this disrespectful rhyme that just killed LL. Now, LL was about to get back on him, but it was still real early and I remember my cousin Jesse James coming up to LL and saying, ‘Yo, chill, chill. Don’t do it now. Let’s wait until night time when the crowd’s here and then you can go at him.’ My cousin had this van at the time and LL went straight into the van. We didn’t see LL for the rest of the day. Now, around the time the party was really rockin’, my cousin came up to me and told me to go get LL. I remember opening up the van and LL was in there with the music going and he was just putting the pen to the pad (laughs). I told him that my cousin had said it was time. I remember LL asking me, ‘Yo! Is it crowded?’ and I was like, ‘Man, it’s packed!’ I remember LL getting out that van, going up onstage and he said a rhyme to this dude Cap that was tailor-made for him (laughs). The crowd just went bananas. I mean, the rhyme was just so skillful and advanced that people were looking at LL like he was a martian (laughs). Cap tried to come back at LL and right in the middle of his rhyme LL just turned around and mooned him (laughs). The crowd fell-out laughing and that was the battle over. But I remember there were people there that day who went on to become legends. I mean, DJ Irv, Irv Gotti, he was there, Mr. Cheeks from the Lost Boyz, Ed Lover was there. Ed was actually someone else who used to roll with my cousin and the Albino Twins. He always used to do songs over to perform at the parties and make them funny. I remember when Run DMC had “My Adidas”, Ed did “My Skeezers” and things like that (laughs).”
Do you recall the first time you performed in public?
“The very first time I performed was at a block party. Now back then, when crews used to battle it was more like a battle of sound systems which was taking something from the Jamaican thing. At the time my cousin had the illest sound system and there was also this other crew from Southside called Cipher Sounds. I remember, both of them wanted to jam at this particular park on the same day. Everybody knew that they were going to jam at this park. So my cousin showed up on one side of the park, Cipher Sounds showed up on the other side of the park, and it was about whoever was rockin’ the most and who the crowd was swaying to. That was the first time I ever got on the mic and I just tore it up. People were just astonished because they were only used to seeing me carrying the equipment and dancing. I was real short as well. I mean, I’m still short now, but I was even shorter back then (laughs). So that was my first time rockin’ a jam and I just loved the feeling I got from doing that. Afterwards, I’d be walking around the neighbourhood and people would be pointing me out like, ‘That’s that dude who rhymes with the Albino Twins…’ and stuff like that…
What name were you rhyming under back then?
“My name back then was G.L.T. which stood for Genuine Lyrical Technique. To be honest, it stood for pretty much whatever I felt at the time (laughs). It also used to stand for Good Lookin’ Troy, with Troy being my first name.”
So were you battling other emcees on the street at that point as well as performing at the jams?
“I had a battle with Biz Markie before he even came out on record which was funny. Biz was actually walking through my neighbourhood with Rahzel who went on to be the beatbox for The Roots. This was before Biz had come out with the Juice Crew and all that. Biz was just walking down the street doing that ‘Boom-ha-ha..’ thing he used to do (laughs). Now, Biz is a funny-looking cat and we actually thought something was wrong with him (laughs). We were just young and crazy back then, so we started clowning on him and Biz started telling us how he’s into music and is doing this and that. So we’re laughing at him, thinking that he’s lying. Then before you know it, Biz started rhyming, I started rhyming, and we were going back and forth. I pretty much think I got him though (laughs). But we laughed Biz Markie off our block. We told him, ‘Yo,you sound corny. You sound crazy.’ Then maybe about a year later we heard that same laugh of his all over the radio and we all just looked at each other like, ‘Oh no!’ Me and my crew swear to this day that Biz made “Vapors” about us (laughs).”
On the subject of the Juice Crew, with their early members coming from Queensbridge, how much of a connection did QB have with everything else that was going on in Queens at the time?
“Queensbridge was always just off on their own doing their own thing. Like I said, Queens was very localised so you didn’t always know what was happening outside of your own neighbourhood. I mean at the age we were back then, none of us were driving or anything like that. So you pretty much stayed in your neighbourhood. We thought we were all of Queens (laughs) I mean, for us, our introduction to Queensbridge pretty much was the Juice Crew when MC Shan and Marley Marl came out with “The Bridge”. So when they came out, that was something brand new to us. But when MC Shan came out that was big. I mean, most of the guys I was rolling with didn’t go on to make records, so when Shan started coming to other parts of Queens to perform, that was big because he was already out with his records.”
What impact did it have in Queens when Run-DMC first came out?
“That was huge. I remember, you’d see them driving down the block. I mean, back then, if you were a rap star you were still living in your old neighbourhood really. It’s not like now where rap stars are living in Hollywood (laughs). Back then you’d go to the shopping mall in Queens and you might bump into Run-DMC. Matter of fact, I knew where Run lived so I used to always drop off my demos to him. I used to go right to his house, ring his bell and give him any new demos I’d been working on. Run actually tried to get me a deal with Profile Records but right before it happened things happened at the label and it all went crazy. But anytime I had new music, Run would listen to it. He was definitely cool. But it was crazy to see an act as big as Run-DMC on an everyday basis just up in Hollis chillin’ or in the barber-shop.”
Did people in Queens expect Run-DMC to blow-up like they did?
“It was a surprise to tell you the truth. Based on the reputation they had in the streets, people would have probably bet that the Albino Twins would have been bigger stars than Run-DMC at the time. The Albino Twins had a bigger name and were known more all over Queens than Run and them. To be honest, the first time a lot of us heard Run-DMC was actually when they came out on record (laughs). I don’t remember Run and them doing jams locally like Grandmaster Vic and them were. But Run-DMC did come out very early, so they were doing the record thing early on and were doing that rather than doing the jams like everyone else. But once “Sucker MCs” came out, it was a wrap. They were all over the place. But when they were big, they would still come to the jams. I remember they had a battle with the Albino Twins at a Hollis Day event. This would have been around 1983 or 1984 and the Albino Twins took ’em out (laughs).”
What was your reaction when LL got signed to Def Jam?
“I knew it was coming because it was the summer right before he got signed when I was with him everyday almost. I was listening to “I Need A Beat” months before it even came out and I was telling everybody about him. I think I was LL’s first fan (laughs). I used to tell everybody that he was my cousin because he was down with my cousin and I thought I’d ride that a little bit, so I used to tell people, ‘Yo, my cousin’s got this joint coming out called ‘I Need A Beat.’ I mean, when LL’s first album came out, I was singing those joints word for word because those were rhymes that I’d heard LL writing in my cousin’s basement. Some of those rhymes LL had written when he was twelve-years-0ld.”
So what was your plan at that point considering you were seeing local acts from Queens signing major record deals?
“At that point, it really became less about rockin’ jams and more about getting a record deal because everybody was getting a deal (laughs). You started seeing people that you grew-up with on TV and things like that. I mean, that’s what happened with Neek The Exotic. He was one of the dudes that I grew-up with. Then I looked up one day and he’s doing “Fakin’ The Funk” with Main Source and I was like, ‘Wow! This is really getting close.’ Neek was like my brother but I hadn’t seen him for about six months at the time and next thing I know he’s got a record out (laughs).”
You mentioned earlier that you would give your demo tapes to Run – when would that have been exactly?
“That would have been around 88 / 89. That was when the golden-era was really starting. All over Queens and New York as a whole, Hip-Hop was just going out of control. I remember, I was actually graduating high-school and had the chance to go away to college, but I turned that down because New York was so hot with the Hip-Hop and that’s what I was doing, so I wanted to stay.”
Was that a hard transition for some people to deal with when the music started to leave the parks and become more about the actual record industry?
“Nah, I think at that time everybody was pretty much thinking that they had a chance to be the next big star. So everybody was welcoming the chance to take it from the streets and actually make real money from the music. You still had people doing the jams and everything, but everybody was in the studio. That was like the catchphrase of the day, ‘I’m in the studio’ (laughs). Everybody was making demos and beings as so much of the Hip-Hop of that time was coming from New York, everybody knew somebody who was a connection to the industry. Like, I knew Run, so I’d drop my demos off to him. People always had their connections. I remember, I went to high-school with Fredro Starr from Onyx and Mr. Cheeks from the Lost Boyz, and we would tell each other about the different contacts and connections we knew about.”
From what I understand the Lost Boyz already had a reputation on the streets of Queens long before they ever put a record out…
“Yeah, well, Mr. Cheeks is my man. The Lost Boyz were always a little crew that used to roam around and do their thing in the streets. This was the time when crack was really dominating the era and everybody was doing their little things with the drugs and running around making their little bit of money. I mean, if you were young, the main two things you did in Queens in the 80s was either rap or sell drugs and some did both (laughs). So the Lost Boyz used to do their thing in other ways, but Cheeks always represented the Hip-Hop part of it and was always doing his music thing.”
Did you know B-1 who was also down with the Lost Boyz?
“I mean, I didn’t come up with him but I knew of him. But I didn’t know him personally like I knew Cheeks. To this day, Cheeks is my brother. But I didn’t know B-1 like that. I mean, I grew-up with Cheeks, Freaky Tah, Fredro Starr and Big DS, rest in peace. Those were my brothers that I really grew-up with.”
So you were there when Fredro and them were in their house music stage before they hit with Onyx?
“It’s funny, because when Onyx first came out I didn’t recognise them (laughs). These were people that I grew-up with my whole life and I’d watched the video and heard the song and I didn’t realise it was Fredro and them. It was Large Professor and Neek who told me it was them. I’d linked up with Neek again after he’d done “Fakin’ The Funk” and I was up at Large Pro’s house with him and Large was like, ‘Yo, your boys are blowing’ and I was like, ‘Who?’ Large and Neek were telling me it was Fredro and them. I was saying, ‘Well, I ain’t heard their song’ and they were telling me it was “Throw Ya Gunz” and I’m there saying, ‘Nah, I’ve seen that video. That ain’t Fredro and them. That’s these bald-head cats with mean faces.’ I had to go back and look at the video and really look at the faces and I was like, ‘Wow! It is them!’ Before that they were doing house music and had big purple hair like some punk rock stuff. I’ve gotta give it to Jam Master Jay because that transformation was genius and it definitely came off, but it took those of us in the ‘hood who grew-up with them by surprise (laughs).”
Part Two of this interview coming soon.
Satchel Page – “Keep Calling Me” (@SatchelPage / 2013)
Tagged 40 Projects, 80s Hip-Hop, Albino Twins, Amazing Dewitt, Biz Markie, Boss Crew, Cipher Sounds, Clientele Brothers, East Coast Hip-Hop, Ed Lover, Fredro Starr, G.L.T., Grandmaster Vic, Hollis, Independent Hip-Hop, Irv Gotti, Juice Crew, Kid Quick, L.A. Posse, LL Cool J, Lost Boyz, MC Shan, Mikey D, Mr. Cheeks, Old-School Hip-Hop, Onyx, Queens, Queensbridge, Run DMC, Satchel Page, Southside Jamaica, Underground Hip-Hop
RT @djjazzyjeff215: I miss the days when there were scratches on beats so I did a few. Beat 11 of 52 Beats in a year available on SoundClo… 1 hour ago
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BigBob ft Milano Constantine, Mic Handz & LDonTheCut - "Cause For Concern" (New Video) - oldtothenew.wordpress.com/2019/07/16/new…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 10 hours ago
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‘Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium’ Is Open for Business!
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium Is Open for Business!
— June 29th, 2007
20th Century Fox has finally unleashed its first look at the fantasy flick Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman.
Portman plays Molly Mahoney, the awkward and insecure manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the strangest, most fantastic toy store in the world. But when Mr. Magorium (Hoffman), the 243-year-old eccentric who owns the store, bequeaths it to her, a dark and ominous change begins to take over the once remarkable Emporium.
The film opens November 16th, 2007. You can check out the film's official website if you CLICK HERE
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Nick Nolte, Mena Suvari and Jon Foster Discover ‘The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh’
Nick Nolte, Mena Suvari and Jon Foster Discover The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh
— August 22nd, 2006
Nick Nolte, Mena Suvari and Jon Foster have joined the cast of the indie, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh for Groundswell Productions, the company's first.
Sienna Miller and Peter Sarsgaard are already part of the film being written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. It's based on the debut novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon about Art Bechstein (Foster), a recent college graduate trying to escape the clutches of his mobster father (Nolte). The Hollywood Reporter adds the story follows the last summer of Art's youth as he falls into a love triangle with Jane (Miller) and Cleveland (Sarsgaard), a charismatic couple who draw him into a series of exhilarating adventures that ultimately pit him against his father. Suvari will play Phlox, Art's eccentric part-time girlfriend and boss at a discount book chain.
Filming for The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is expected to begin September 5th in Pittsburgh.
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SET VISIT: Gabriel Macht and Frank Miller from the Set of ‘The Spirit’
SET VISIT: Gabriel Macht and Frank Miller from the Set of The Spirit
— November 14th, 2007
We take a trip to New Mexico for a first look at Frank Miller's latest directorial effort
I knew this was going to be a good trip. As soon as I got in the Prime Time Shuttle for a quick ride to LAX, I found a handful of cash wedged in the seatbelt hole. A surge of excitement ran through my veins. "How much?" Was all I could think as I pulled it out and counted it. Twenty bucks! Not a bad haul for doing nothing. I thought about turning it over to the driver, but realized a previous customer had probably left it there. They wouldn't come looking for it. The guy behind the wheel would just pocket the cash. And he didn't deserve a tip, let alone the thick stack of green that had just come into my possession. I quickly shoved it into my pocket with a dream of all the things I would buy for my journey. A book. Breath mints. Four DVDs from T. The possibilities were limitless.
I was headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico for another set visit. Two, actually. The first was "Will Eisner's The Spirit". A green screen extravaganza being directed by Frank Miller. It is based on an old comic book, and stars Gabriel Macht as The Spirit and Samuel L. Jackson as the Octopus. Also appearing in the film are Louis Lombardi and Eva Mendes. Not much is known about the exact plot, but when I interviewed Mendes a few months back for We Own the Night, she seemed extremely excited about the project. She is playing femme fatale Sand Saref in the film. The screenplay is derived mostly from her storyline in the comics. The second set visit was for the untitled Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor thriller formerly known as Game, which stars Gerard Butler. But more on that in the next column over.
The first stop we made upon arriving at Albuquerque Studios, home of Will Eisner's The Spirit, was the catering tent. I picked up my plastic plate and went down the line. Pork. Fried chicken. Shrimp tostada. Sam Jackson. The actor stood at the plastic salad trough. He picked through a bucket of sliced fruit, still in costume. He studied each piece of pineapple before carefully putting it on his plate. He then studied some cantaloupe. I'm not sure if he is a method actor. Maybe he was still in character. This was the first look I'd gotten of The Octopus; Master Villain. I won't be able to watch his performance now without thinking about his salad selections. The guy was spooky.
A circle of dots rested directly in the middle of his forehead. He was wearing white eye shadow, and his eyebrows were trimmed in the most unusual fashion. He wore a scarf, and a long sleeve red cotton shirt. Thick black glasses obscured his eyes. Best of all, he was wearing a pair of black patent leather boots and a pair of black patent leather genie pants. As The Octopus is not really seen in the comic books, except for his gloved hands, this was Frank Miller's interpretation of the character. And, standing there at the far end of the catering tent, Sam looked like M.C. Hammer in drag getting a pre-bingo snack at the senior center. I don't know any other way to describe him.
Don't hate me yet. This wasn't the full costume. When we finally made it into the studio (just after The Octopus finished his airy, health-conscious lunch) we got to see him in his entire screen-ready getup. As always, Jackson looked like a bad motherfucker. Off came the glasses, revealing the tribal war paint on his face. He silked into a heavy silver and black jacket with a stripped collar. And he had on these massive, metal-draped boots. We were herded behind a chalkboard tacked with storyboard panels. A moment of playback came on the monitor that had been set up for us there.
It was Jackson. In action. He flared up his nose, angry. His eyes popped. And I got a faint notion of where is name came from. We haven't ever really seen Sam like this. Venom dripped out of every pour on his face. He is a killer. He is a comic book super villain. He is ten truckloads of super radical. Gabriel Macht, as The Spirit, came into frame, letting a fist fly right into Jackson's gut. The Octopus soaked it in, reveling in the pain. He is one scary dude. The image paused, streaking the screen with static.
Not more than a second later, Sam was standing beside us in person. At the chalkboard. A couple of spare Octopus jackets had been hung on a rack right next to the monitor. Sam took one look at all of us and tore open a grin that was both meant to mock us and be self deprecating at the same time. He then offered up one of his unused jackets, right off the rack. He joked about his eye shadow, "I'm a slave to fashion!"
Caught in the moment, one of the journalists standing next to me went to lean against the wall, falling instead. The location manager ripped him with, "They call it green screen for a reason." Sam laughed. He then went into his salesman spiel, trying to sell us on his wardrobe, "You better buy this now, before it's on Ebay. I'll let you touch it. Feel it. Cash only. I don't take checks. It is made from old chinchilla. We let them die naturally before we put them on the coat." He laughed. He then walked around the chalkboard, stepping in front of the camera.
Sam and Gabriel were in the process of shooting the finale fight scene. And it looked to be a long process. The action was taking place on stage 8 inside this giant green aquarium. Everything, besides the actors, is going to be added into the film later. At this point, there was nothing but a sea of sandbags and lighting equipment. Even in the bleak, antiseptic landscape of the lime curtains, Jackson and Macht looked super cool. This was a true comic frame come to life. Light bounced off the silver, giving the scene a noir-heavy feel. The image on the monitor was very pulpy. It was as if we were watching a graphic novel come to life before our eyes. And it was all reliant on the characters. Even without the painted-in backdrop, the scene still looked enthralling. The Spirit himself was very simple. He wore all black, except for a red tie. A black mask rested on the midsection of his face, held there by spirit gum.
We watched them set up for a good twenty minutes. And nothing happened. Finally, a moment of rehearsal came. The Spirit was to pull a grenade out from behind his back. But it got stuck. Gabriel was having a hard time with it. He shrugged this off, and tried again. Then, he just stood there. For a very long time. We were soon ushered out of the room.
After waiting around for a couple more minutes behind the three story green curtain, a break was called. Gabriel Macht took this time to talk with us. It was intended as a quaint meet and greet. A quick, "Hi, how do you do?" But were allowed to also ask him a couple of pertinent questions. And that's when I learned how one set visit can directly affect another.
While on the set of Lions for Lambs last year I got a chance to talk with Meryl Streep. If you've seen the film, you know she does an hour-long interview with Tom Cruise's character without ever using a recording device. She writes in short hand. I asked her about the process, and she got me quite interested in it.
Well, that skill came in quite useful today, as there were no recording devices allowed on the set of Frank Miller's The Spirit. Our only choice was to work in short hand.
Gabriel Macht is The Spirit!
Can you describe the Spirit in your own words?
Gabriel Macht: Denny Colt is a former cop that dies in the line of duty. He comes back to the living in a mysterious way. He doesn't quite know how. He is trying to figure it out for himself. I don't think he quite knows what he is other than he fights crime. And he loves the ladies. This is a man that is trying to figure out himself. He believes in truth, justice, and the American way.
How has it been working with some of this new green screen technology?
Gabriel Macht: I have had a really great time making this film. Everyone that I am working with is at the top of their game. Everyone is just excited about making the best film possible. Everyone is so passionate. I've been having a wonderful time.
Have you read the comic book?
Gabriel Macht: Oh, yeah. I'm a fan now. And to have Frank Miller as a director has been an incredible experience.
What sort of training have you done?
Gabriel Macht: I am on one of those serious diets. I'm weight training, and getting into shape. I want to get a look that is a modern day Spirit. We had a week of stunt training out here before production. I learned how to work the cables.
What sort of stunt training are you doing out here?
Gabriel Macht: It is a combination of martial arts and regular street fighting.
How do you feel about having to wear the mask?
Gabriel Macht: I was really hesitant about having to wear the mask ever day. But I have really gotten into the process of it. It hasn't been a problem at all. I can't smile, or it will all fall off. I can snarl, though.
Have you gotten to see any of the backgrounds at all?
Gabriel Macht: I haven't. I've gotten to see some of the animatics, which Frank took to the animators. They are visual manipulated. There are a lot of things you can do in terms of this film.
Why do you think they chose you for this role?
Gabriel Macht: I have no idea. I think that there might be some element of absurdity that I came along, and that lends to the sense of humor of the film. I think it might fall into the same line as Frank's.
And with that, Macht was whisked into the next room for another short scene that would prove laborious in its execution.
After speaking with Gabriel, we headed into studio 7, where the film crew was setting up a shot on a fake fire escape. The wrought iron mock-up rested against a green wall. Gabriel climbed up the ladder with his loyal stuntman beside him. The contraption seemed pretty sturdy. Three other crewmembers remained on the fire escape as they began to rehearse for a short snippet of film. Everyone was waiting for Frank Miller to come in and approve the set-up.
While that was going on, an old grey newspaper truck marked Ditko's Speedy Delivery was pushed from one end of the studio barn to the other. In the background, two set technicians played with a trampoline. Mr. Miller came in and instantly began picking at some food on a foiled plate. Which made me laugh. Back at Comic Con earlier this year, I was allowed to ask Frank Miller one question as he made his way down the red carpet for the 300 DVD premier. My question was, "What do you like to snack on when you are drawing your picture books?" His response? "Whatever is lying around." I found it very funny at the time, and now I was getting to see the answer to my question in person. He was, in fact, nibbling on what ever was laying around.
Studio 7 was also decked out in giant lime green curtains. It was a buzzing neon landscape that made everything seem incredibly sterile. A few areas were marked off with a bit of practical stage dressing. In one far-reaching corner was the grassy knoll. This was a makeshift island of fake straw, littered with old license plates and pieces of machinery. A crumpled bike lay on its side. In the middle of this massive room was one piece of brick wall. It looked like it had been pulled directly out of a comic book. Around it were a pile of beat up garbage cans and faked out steam vents.
After finishing his snack, Miller hurried his skinny frame over to the fake fire escape. He was dressed like Crocodile Dundee, unshaven red hairs poking spryly out of his neck. He watched as Gabriel Macht jumped up to the metal walkways above the fire escape ladder. The actor starting doing push-ups while his stand-in/stunt double looked on. Someone on the ground yelled out, "Keep the area between the roof and the set clear."
Action was called, and Gabriel swung his legs up. Copious amounts of dust came flying off his shoes as he tried to do a back flip off the railing. It was a cheat, though, as he only performed half of this stunt on his own. The cinematographer called for a wider shot, and Macht went through the motion a couple of more times. Miller shouted, "Give it a little bit of a snarl, Gabe!" Macht misunderstood and did the sweeping leg kick with a wide, gregarious smile. "What kind of face is that you are making?"
"I thought you said smile."
"God damn it, you are all fired." It is a joke, of course. The scene is done two or three more times before Miller calls cut, "Perfect." The artistic icon then gets out of his director's chair and shuffles over to our small group. This is our conversation:
Interview: Frank Miller
This is your second time directing. How does it feel?
Frank Miller: It is a real privilege. I am in love with the material, and doing my best to be fair to it.
What are some of the challenges you are facing, especially with some of this new technology?
Frank Miller: This isn't the time, really, where I think it is appropriate to refer to challenges of technologies so much as opportunities. Right now, it is almost frightening what is possible. One of the challenges for a director of a movie that uses so much digital technology is what not to do. You have to ask yourself, "I can do this, but should I?"
Give us an example of something you never thought you could do, but then you figured out a way to do it.
Frank Miller: When I was working with Robert Rodriguez, virtually anything was possible. I have learned some brand new things on this film that I never dreamed of.
What were you guys just filming?
Frank Miller: We were filming a scene where the Spirit was hunting down the Octopus, and he was going through some of his snipers along the way.
He was apparently snarling and not smiling, is that correct?
Frank Miller: That is correct. He was snarling, not smiling.
Can you talk about when you first discovered The Spirit, and Will Eisner's work? And what kind of affect it had on you?
Frank Miller: I was probably about thirteen years old. I came across Will Eisner's The Spirit as published by Jim Warren. I was blown away. I thought it was someone new to comics, because it was so far ahead of anything else that was coming out. I followed it religiously. There was one night, when I picked up the latest issue. I was so excited, I had to stop by a lamppost in Vermont, where I lived, and read it on the spot. It was the Sand Saref story, which is the basis for this movie.
Can you talk about casting Eva Mendes in the role of Sand Saref?
Frank Miller: I know you wear glasses, but you've got eyes. Eva has a wonderful, exquisite anger to her. Her talent, alongside her beauty, brings an edge to the character that she really needs.
Can you talk about the rest of the casting? What about Sam Jackson?
Frank Miller: Even from the start, I wanted to have Sam Jackson play the Octopus. I have always wanted to work with Sam Jackson. The Octopus was always a cipher in the old comics. I knew you couldn't get away with two hours of a guy whose face you never saw. I thought Sam Jackson would be perfect for the Octopus. He came to mind. I've felt he has always had a part like this inside of him, waiting to get out.
He changes his look in every single movie. What is his look going to be like in this movie?
Frank Miller: He is the Octopus!
Do you play with the unseen nature of the Octopus, or do you just dive right into it being Sam?
Frank Miller: Oh, if I start telling you that, you would keep asking those sorts of questions.
Why have you decided to do a second green screen film?
Frank Miller: I don't know. I am a kid in a candy store. This is the only way I have been trained to direct. I love it, because it brings it closer to the art of the page.
Are you reveling in the technology? How has it changed since Sin City?
Frank Miller: It is exploding all around us. I see a grand and beautiful collision between film and anime, and comic books. I feel like I am witnessing all of these forces come together and borrow from each other. It is very exciting. I am having a good time with this fusion.
How is this movie going to look like Will Eisner?
Frank Miller: Well, Will Eisner was always a little shorter than I was and balding. It is going to be quite faithful to Will's vision as an artist. I have often laid out storyboards my way. And Eisner's way. And I have always gone with Eisner's way.
There is a lot of humor in this film, right?
Frank Miller: It wouldn't be Will Eisner's Spirit if there wasn't.
What aspect of Will's work did you want to get perfect in translating this project to the screen?
Frank Miller: The passion that Will and I always shared for New York City. You will see some very familiar touches that come from Will Eisner, and that come from the city that we both love.
And with that, the director was called back to the set. In the very near future, we will have more from the set and an in-depth interview about the project from Deborah Del Prete. Stay tuned. Will Eisner's The Spirit opens January 16th, 2009.
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Michael Keaton Pretended to Be Batman on ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Set
Michael Keaton Pretended to Be Batman on Spider-Man: Homecoming Set
Even before it was confirmed that Michael Keaton was playing the villainous Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, fans were excited that he had signed on, since it marked his long-awaited return to the superhero genre. Long before the term "cinematic universe" was even coined, Michael Keaton played Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton's 1989 classic Batman, which, along with its 1990s sequels, helped pave the way for the superhero genre to thrive on the big screen today. While there is still much that isn't known about Vulture in this movie, Tom Holland revealed in a new interview that Michael Keaton could not stop name-checking Batman on the set.
Earlier this week, Michael Keaton teased that his Vulture character is not your typical type of villain, while clarifying that he originally turned down the project because it didn't mesh well with his schedule. He added that they shifted the production schedule to accommodate him, and he's glad he came aboard to play the Vulture. During a new interview with Short List Magazine, Spider-Man: Homecoming star Tom Holland revealed that during his scenes with Michael Keaton, the actor kept making it clear that he played Batman. Here's what Tom Holland had to say about working with Michael Keaton.
"Pretty cool. He's a badass. We have a fight in the movie and I punch him. He turns around and says [in a deep voice], 'I'm Batman.' He kept doing Batman quotes on set."
We first got confirmation that Vulture was going to be the villain when Sony and Marvel debuted new concept art featuring Spidey doing battle with Vulture. While there is still little known about how Vulture is introduced into the story, Tom Holland teased that the first time fans meet Vulture, he's "terrifying," comparing his introduction to a horror movie because it's so intense. Director Jon Watts also stated that Peter Parker and Adrian Toomes are somewhat similar, because they were both just ordinary people who were imbued with incredible powers.
From the very beginning, it was revealed that Spider-Man: Homecoming, and the new Spidey's introduction in Captain America: Civil War, would skip the familiar origin story involving the radioactive spider bite and the death of Uncle Ben, that transforms Peter Parker into Spider-Man. Instead, it was rumored that Spider-Man: Homecoming will be the start of a trilogy that takes place entirely within Peter Parker's high school years, a theory which was solidified with news that Peter is a sophomore in high school when Spider-Man: Homecoming begins
Related: Marvel Dominates 2018 Saturn Awards with 9 Big Wins
The supporting cast includes Zendaya playing a character named Michelle, while Tony Revolori is playing Flash Thompson, Jacob Batalon is playing Ned Leeds and Laura Harrier is playing Liz Allan. Jon Watts directs from a script by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein, with Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal producing. Spider-Man: Homecoming currently doesn't have any competition standing in its way on July 7, but it remains to be seen how huge its opening weekend will be.
Topics: Spider-Man Homecoming
Gwyneth Paltrow Doesn't Remember Being in Spider-Man: Homecoming
Samuel L. Jackson Returns for Spider-Man: Far from Home Reshoots
Spider-Man Cast Celebrates Far from Home Reunion on Instagram
Spider-Man: Far from Home Gets Curb Your Enthusiasm Star J.B. Smoove
Tom Holland Is All Smiles in Latest Spider-Man: Far from Home Set Photos
Tom Holland Leaks Title for Spider-Man: Homecoming Sequel
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La Nueva Política Económica de la OCDE ante el cambio en la Economía Mundial
Clifton, Judith and Díaz-Fuentes, Daniel (2011): La Nueva Política Económica de la OCDE ante el cambio en la Economía Mundial.
There is a more recent version of this item available.
For decades, the OECD constituted an economic and political "club" of Western countries focused around the transatlantic axis. Today, it faces unprecedented challenges as the world economy shifts to the East and the South. In response, the OECD is undergoing meaningful reform: it is becoming more inclusive by broadening out membership, whilst taking a more open-minded approach to policy, recognising there are more ways to economic growth than the "OECD way". The OECD needs to engage the new economic players, but do they really need the OECD? Using primary data, official documents, semi-structured interviews with high officials and secondary sources, this paper evaluates the prospective roles the organization could play in international economic governance at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
The New Political Economy of the OECD in a context of Shifting World Wealth
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Clubs, International Economic Order, International Organizations, International Political Economy, International Public Goods
D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D73 - Bureaucracy ; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations ; Corruption
D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D71 - Social Choice ; Clubs ; Committees ; Associations
H - Public Economics > H8 - Miscellaneous Issues > H87 - International Fiscal Issues ; International Public Goods
F - International Economics > F0 - General > F02 - International Economic Order and Integration
F - International Economics > F5 - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy > F59 - Other
F - International Economics > F5 - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy > F53 - International Agreements and Observance ; International Organizations
O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O19 - International Linkages to Development ; Role of International Organizations
Daniel Diaz-Fuentes
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OCDE (2009d): Active in Latin America, OCDE, París.
OCDE (2010a): Perspectives on Global Development: Shifting Wealth, OCDE, París.
OCDE (2010b): The OECD’s Global Relations Programme 2009-2010 – 2010 Update, OCDE, París.
OCDE - Human Resources Department (2010): OECD’s Officials 1961-2009, OCDE, París.
OCDE (2011a): “Organisation for European Economic Cooperation” D <http://www.oecd.org/document/48/0,3343,en_2649_201185_1876912_1_1_1_1,00.html> (consulta 20 de abril de 2011).
OCDE (2011b): “On-line Guide to Intergovernmental Activity”, <http://webnet3.oecd.org/OECDgroups/> (consulta 20 de abril de 2011).
Ostrom, E. y Ostrom, V. (1977): "Public Goods and Public Choices" en E. S. Savas, ed. Alternatives for Delivering Public Services: Toward Improved Performance, Westview Press, Boulder, 7-49.
Pagani, F. (2002): Peer Review: A Tool for Co-operation and Change. An analysis of the OECD Working Method, OCDE, París.
Portes, R. (2009): "Global imbalances", en M. Dewatripont, X. Freixas, y R. Portes, (eds.), “Macroeconomic Stability and Financial Regulation: Key Issues for the G20. Centre for Economic Policy Research, Londres. 19-26.
Servén, L. y Nguyen, H. (2010): Global Imbalances Before and After the Global Crisis, World Bank, Policy Research Working Paper 5354.
Randall, G. (2001): "Global Financial Governance and the Problem of Inclusion", Global Governance, 7 (2001), 411-426.
Samuelson, P. (1954): "The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure", Review of Economics and Statistics 36 (4), 387–389,
Sandler, T. y Comes, R. (1996): The theory of externalities, public goods and club goods, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Schäfer, A. (2006): "A new form of governance? Comparing the Open Method of Co-ordination to multilateral surveillance by the IMF and the OECD" Journal of European Public Policy, 13, (1), 70-88.
Singer, H. W. (1995): "An Historical Perspective" en ul Haq, M., Jolly, R., Streeten, P. y Haq, K., The UN and the Bretton Woods Institutions: New Challenges for the Twenty-First Century, Macmillan, Basingtoke-Londres, 17-27. Stiglitz, J. (2008): "The Future of Global Governance", en The Washington Consensus Reconsidered, N. Serra y J. Stiglitz (eds.), Oxford University Press, 313-327. Summers, L. (2006): "Reflections on Global Account Imbalances and Emerging Markets Reserve Accumulation". L.K. Jha Memorial Lecture, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.
Ul Haq, M., Jolly, R., Streeten, P. y Haq, K. eds. (1995): The UN and the Bretton Woods Institutions: New Challenges for the Twenty-First Century, Macmillan, Basingtoke-Londres.
Webb, W. (2004): "Defining the boundaries of legitimate state practice: norms, transnational actors and the OECD's project on harmful tax competition", Review of International Political Economy, 11 (4), 787-827.
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La Nueva Política Económica de la OCDE ante el cambio en la Economía Mundial. (deposited 27 Aug 2011 22:28) [Currently Displayed]
La Nueva Política Económica de la OCDE ante el cambio en la Economía Mundial. (deposited 30 Aug 2011 08:08)
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Ibotta is a couponing app, but instead of getting a discount on your purchases, you get cash-back rebates. You check the app for offers — $1 cash back on a pizza brand, for example — and then either scan your receipt or link the app to your store loyalty cards so your savings are automatic. Ibotta accepts receipts only from participating stores and retailers, but most of the big players are listed: Whole Foods, Walmart, Ralph’s, Kroger, HEB. Some offers will apply to only one retailer; others might be valid at several.
29. Videos – This could be an entire section on it’s own. Many people have made money by creating YouTube videos. Evan of EvanTube is a kid and he has made millions by creating reviews of products that other kids his age would use. It’s not easy to get views into the millions, but once you do, you’ll start seeing some cash come in. Many bloggers have completely turned to videos to get their point across by starting a video blog.
I receive at least 2 emails a day asking me for my expert opinion on a given company or website. Is so and so a legitimate company? Should I pay $49.95 to work with DataEntryBlahBlah.com? Honestly I'm not that much of an expert. I just know how to do a little research. If you're currently thinking about joining a work at home company and a fee is one of the requirements, put your wallet or purse down. Before you make a decision that you might regret, watch the video we created. By the end of watching this video, you'll never question whether or a not a company is a scam. You'll know with certainty if it is!
Since time is the most precious commodity on this earth, invest the time at the front-end so that you can reap the benefits on the back-end. This means putting in a bit of sweat equity and not getting paid today. Rather, you'll get paid somewhere down the road. And you'll continue getting paid whether you keep building that passive income stream or you stop. It's obvious that this is the preferred route, but clearly the road less traveled.
In this increasingly digital world, there has never been a better time to work from home. At-home jobs are the perfect opportunities for those struggling to secure a local gig, need to stay home for health reasons, have to care for a loved one, or simply don't relish the thought of dealing with a hectic commute every day. FlexJobs reported in their The State of Remote Jobs survey that, as of 2017, 43% of U.S. workers now work remotely — even if it's just a part-time side hustle to supplement their income. For remote jobs, you'll need a computer, some basic skills, and a can-do attitude. Click through this list of remote employment areas that are booming right now, plus find even more ways to make money from home.
"To hackers who make a living stealing information from unsecured computers and network connections, the teleworker could be an open the door to the organization’s most sensitive data. Security and privacy have become increasingly rare commodities these days thanks to the ability of hackers to stay one step ahead of just about every security measure that technicians can create. Security breaches are a significant enough threat in a standard office environment; however, when an organization has employees working from home or on the go, these risks become even greater.
In an article published by Idolator, Robbie Daw praised the video for reversing the patronizing role men have and notes the Madonna inspired video direction, saying the group "appears to now be in full control of their collective sexuality and wielding it as they choose, rather than relying on it solely to sell records." Carl Whilliott praised the group for establishing the video as "their own", commenting on how this style of video typically suits Ty Dolla Sign. He, however, criticizes the song for not receiving as much criticism as Rihanna's song, 'Work' (2016).[85]
This app rewards users for completing location-based "missions," like giving your opinion about products you've tested or stores you've visited. For each mission completed, you earn rewards that can be redeemed for things like gift cards and airline points, or simply cashed out through PayPal. You'll also be automatically entered into a quarterly sweepstakes to win $10,000.
Signing up with Google AdSense will enable you to make money from advertising on your blog. Google AdSense will place relevant ads around your site, and if your site visitors click on these ads, you will earn a fee. Although each click only amounts to small change, if your blog has high levels of traffic and lots of page views this will quickly amount to a reasonable sum.
Choose your niche and check for demand: The golden course combination is when you can find an in-demand niche that aligns with your skills and unique experiences. A great way to do this is to use Google Trends and Google’s Keyword Planner to look for average monthly search volume for keywords related to your proposed course content. Are people actively looking for high-quality information about this subject? Of course, if you’re already creating content for a blog, coaching service, or a site like Medium, you can test demand this way for free just like Bryan did.
If you have previous experience as a computer programmer or have skills in this field, then there is plenty of work you can pick up as a freelancer. If lack of confidence is holding you back, then Free Code Camp is an excellent way to get your foot in the coding door. This organization provides free courses where you will build real-life apps and programs, giving you experience and plenty to add to your CV.
The group performed the song for the first time on television on February 29, 2016, on a special after-Oscars episode on Live! with Kelly and Michael. Recreating the set of the music video, they performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 24, 2016 and on Alan Carr: Chatty Man approximately two weeks later.[87] The group performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 10,[88][89] dancing in and around a car prop and at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards on May 22 alongside Ty Dolla Sign.[90] Other performances include the 2016 Much Music Video Awards[91] and the 2016 CMT Music Awards, where the group performed the song with country singer Cam, as a mashup with Cam's single, Mayday.
On the week of March 7, 2016, "Work from Home" debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 88,000 downloads sold, 10 million United States streams and 20 million radio impressions in its first week, marking the group's highest debut and equaling its best rank for "Worth It", which rose to number 12 in August 2015, twenty-three weeks after it was released.[9] The following week, the song fell four spots to number 16.[58] It would then rise three spots to number 13[59] and rise one more spot, to match its debut position for the week dated April 9, 2016.[60] The following week, the song would climb two spots to reach a peak at number 10, earning the group their first top 10 single in the United States. Subsequently, they became the first all-female group to chart in the top 10 since "When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls peaked at number nine in 2008.[11] It recorded a 6-4 jump on the Digital Songs chart selling 89,000 copies, a 34 percent increase from the previous week. The song also saw a 8-5 jump on Streaming Songs with steams of 14.4 million, a rise of 20 percent and 22-17 leap on the Radio Songs chart, retaining a 49 million audience, a 22 percent increase from the previous week.[61]
Infographics are currently an extremely popular type of media. An infographic showing information or data in an interesting and fun way can help engage an audience and generate numerous likes and shares. As infographics take more time to create than just simply uploading an image, busy website owners are prepared to pay for custom infographics. And don’t worry, an infographic can be created using simple design software such a Canva. So extensive graphic design skills are not necessary, just a creative eye.
“I first learned about TTEC from the university I was attending. I thought it would be a great idea to get a job working from home while going to school. When I first started working for the company, I was a seasonal agent. This grew into a permanent agent position. TTEC has enabled me to earn a degree, provide support to my family, gain skills in communication and technology, and meet great people from different parts of the world. What a wonderful company to work for! Every day is a great day here at TTEC!”
Simultaneously, the song made an appearance in the charts in the Republic of Ireland, earning the group their first top five there. In the Netherlands, the single debuted at number 29 on the Dutch Top 40 after its first week of release. It climbed for the next three weeks, reaching number four in the fourth week and becoming their first top 10 single in the country. It also became the group's highest peaking single in the Netherlands, surpassing the peak of its predecessor "Worth It", which peaked at number 25 in August 2015. "Work from Home" eventually topped both the Single Top 100 and the Dutch Top 40, becoming the group's first song to top both charts in the country.
A while ago, I argued the best company for me isn’t necessarily the best company for you. I still stand by that statement. But many of you have been pounding at my email door and practically twisting my arm asking me for my personal favorite legitimate work at home companies. I was apprehensive about revealing this information because I really want you guys to take action on any legitimate work at home opportunities. But after giving it some thought, it made sense for me to provide you with a few of the ones I do actively work with, to get your started. But keep in mind I still believe that you should make decisions based on what's best for you. So with that said, check out my latest video on one of my favorite BBB listed work at home companies. I’ve been working with this company for years and have made some great money and also acquired a lot of free gadgets such as TVs, Ipods, and much more. (The gadget thing will become a lot clearer when you watch the video.) In either case this company has consistently made me money and has a good standing among work at home seekers that are smart enough to join the company and take advantage of all the ways to earn with them. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the video and will decide to join the company I’ve recommended.
Employees who telework may feel pressure to produce more output in order to be seen as valuable, and reduce the idea that they are doing less work than others. This pressure to produce output, as well as a lack of social support from limited coworker relationships and feelings of isolation, leads to lower job engagement in teleworkers.[34] Additionally, higher-quality relationships with teammates decreased job satisfaction of teleworkers, potentially because of frustrations with exchanging interactions via technology.[80] However, coworker support and virtual social groups for team building had a direct influence on increasing job satisfaction,[66][73] perhaps due to an increase in skill variety from teamwork and an increase in task significance from more working relationships.
While this is not technically “at home,” you can still earn great money without ever getting on the phone using your personal car, bike, or scooter to deliver food, give people rides, and even picking up groceries. The great thing about these companies is that it's also very flexible work. No one is telling you when to start and stop. You just do as much work as you can, when you can.
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John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Selena Maranjian owns shares of AbbVie, Amazon, Costco Wholesale, and National Grid. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, Costco Wholesale, Lowe's, National Grid, and The TJX Companies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Tools & Resources: I’ve written a pretty comprehensive guide on the best web design software that covers both free and premium software packages. If you’re serious about becoming a web designer, then I recommend purchasing the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite. At $49.99 per month, this is probably a bargain considering what you can achieve with this set of tools.
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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The College of Nursing of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences was established as an independent professional school of the University in March, 1953, in response to the interest and support of professional and community groups throughout the state. Establishment of the school was designed to help meet the pressing demands for larger numbers of skilled nurses and to make available to people of Arkansas the best possible educational preparation for the profession of nursing.
The first program established within the College in 1953 was the baccalaureate program. Its purpose is implemented through a unified curriculum combining general education and professional instruction within a university setting. Further details are provided on other pages of this web site describing the program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
The graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Nursing Science was initiated in the fall semester, 1971. This program builds upon baccalaureate education and provides a program for advanced preparation in nursing. Further information is provided on other pages of this web site.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program was granted approval in October 2012 by the Arkansas Board of Higher Education and in May 2012 by the University Of Arkansas Board Of Trustees. The inaugural class began fall semester 2013 with the first cohort graduating May, 2015. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program blends clinical, organizational, economic and leadership skills to prepare nurses at the highest level of practice to lead health care innovation and influence policy. Graduates of the DNP program are prepared to lead interprofessional teams to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative health care models to improve quality outcomes for individuals, families, and populations. Further information is provided on other pages of this web site.
The Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) was implemented in 1997, with the first class graduating in May, 2000. Graduates of the doctoral program are prepared to advance the art and science of nursing through research and scholarship. They are expected to assume leadership positions in academic and health care settings and to influence nursing practice, health care delivery, and the social awareness of nursing’s contributions to the health care arena. Further information is provided on other pages of this web site.
The UAMS College of Nursing is committed to scholarly excellence in (1) under-graduate and graduate nursing education, (2) research, and (3) service to the University, profession and society.
The UAMS College of Nursing provides exemplary and comprehensive educational programs, based on scholarship in education and practice. The College of Nursing offers educational programs to prepare professional nurses as generalists and for advanced practice, teaching, research, and administrative roles, thereby enhancing health care for the people of Arkansas. As a leader in the preparation of nurses for advanced health care, the College of Nursing collaborates with Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), other colleges of nursing, and the health care community to provide degree and continuing education programs. The College enhances access to education in this rural, agrarian state by offering degree programs and courses for nurses through distance education.
The UAMS College of Nursing advances the body of nursing knowledge through scholarship in research. This community of scholars contributes to nursing science through research activities that are theory testing, theory generating, and of an applied or basic research nature. Scholarship includes the dissemination of research findings and the translation of research into practice.
The service mission of the UAMS College of Nursing provides service through scholarly participation of faculty and students in academic, professional, and community organizations. Faculty practice as skilled clinicians, consultants, and professional experts in health care organizations and in the community. Faculty serve as role models for students and other nurses at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Approved by Faculty Assembly January 2013
The UAMS College of Nursing advances the University’s philosophy and mission through scholarship in teaching, research, and service. The College of Nursing provides excellent theory-based educational programs for students entering the nursing profession and nurses seeking advanced education. Because nursing is a research-based discipline, faculty participate in generating, disseminating, and using theory and research findings for education and practice. Faculty believe that service includes participation in academic, professional, and community organizations, and practice of the discipline.
The nursing curriculum is based on the nursing meta-paradigm of PERSON, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, and NURSING. Additionally, the curriculum is based on the following core concepts: health promotion, human diversity, illness and disease management, communication, critical thinking, professional values/ethics, and role development.
The concept of person includes individuals, families, groups, and communities. Persons are of intrinsic value and dignity and worthy of respect because of their shared and unique physical, emotional, intellectual, social, cultural, and spiritual characteristics. Each person possesses the inherent right for self-expression and for participation in life to the fullest extent possible based on his/her unique experience and perspective. People are self-determining, each person functioning interdependently with other individuals, families, groups, and communities, joined together because of shared values and needs.
Environment is the interaction of internal and external factors that influence the health of person(s).
Health, as perceived by the person, is the integration of physical, emotional, intellectual, social, cultural, and spiritual well-being that enables the performance deemed necessary and desirable to maintain existence in the environment. Health is affected throughout the life cycle by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors that include choices about health practices, and by the ability of persons to meet their health care needs and to access health care.
Nursing is an art and a science through which nurses provide caring assistance to persons within society. Nurses seek to promote, restore, and maintain health, and when death is imminent, to provide support that will allow the person to die with dignity. Nurses use a systematic process of critical thinking to collect and analyze data, and diagnose, plan, therapeutically intervene, and evaluate outcomes. Using professional values, ethics, and therapeutic communication, nurses implement this process in a variety of roles and settings in collaboration with consumers and other health professionals.
Nursing education prepares graduates to practice within the established professional guidelines and standards and to engage in continuous role development and revision of knowledge. The teaching/learning process fosters intellectual and personal growth; stimulates inquiry, critical thinking, and synthesis of knowledge; and helps the individual value and pursue life-long learning.
Baccalaureate nursing education builds upon a liberal arts and science foundation and provides the basis for the practice of professional nursing as a generalist. Baccalaureate education prepares students to think critically and to make clinical judgments that promote, restore, and maintain health. The nurse generalist is prepared for a beginning level professional practice that is grounded in current evidence-based practice. This practice is carried out in a variety of settings. Baccalaureate education provides the foundation for master’s study.
Graduate education includes master’s and doctoral study. Master’s nursing education builds upon the baccalaureate nursing foundation and prepares nurses for specialization in advanced practice roles in a variety of settings. Master’s education prepares advanced practice nurses to synthesize knowledge regarding health care systems and theoretical, scientific, and clinical knowledge from nursing and other disciplines; and to translate and integrate current evidence into practice. Master’s education provides the foundation for doctoral study.
Doctoral education at the Ph.D. level prepares nurse scientists to examine health questions pertaining to the theoretical foundation, education, economics, and policy implications associated with nursing education, patient/population care and other health issues. PhD-prepared nurse scientists are able to conduct research independently, lead research teams, guide others in their research efforts, publish scholarly papers based on new knowledge and work collaboratively with faculty from other disciplines. The Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepares advanced practice registered nurses as scholars in translating evidence-based research into clinical practice. DNP prepared nurses use a blend of clinical organization, economic and leadership skills to impact patient outcomes and manage complex health environments.
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« Things Fall Apart | Main | Hugo Chavez: Democratically elected communist dictator and his continuing power grab »
Liberating Iraq
Peter Beinart has a piece in TNR about why he supported the war:
"For myself, perhaps the most honest reply is this: because Kanan Makiya did.
When I first saw Makiya--the Iraqi exile who has devoted his life to chronicling Saddam Hussein's crimes--I recognized the type: gentle, disheveled, distracted, obsessed. He reminded me of the South African exiles who occasionally wandered through my house as a kid. Once, many years ago, I asked one of them how the United States could aid the anti-apartheid struggle. Congress could impose sanctions, he responded. Sure, sure, I said impatiently. But what else? Well, he replied with a chuckle, if the United States were a different country, it would help the African National Congress liberate South Africa by force."
He also writes about why he got it wrong:
"I was willing to gamble, too--partly, I suppose, because, in the era of the all-volunteer military, I wasn't gambling with my own life. And partly because I didn't think I was gambling many of my countrymen's. I had come of age in that surreal period between Panama and Afghanistan, when the United States won wars easily and those wars benefited the people on whose soil they were fought. It's a truism that American intellectuals have long been seduced by revolution. In the 1930s, some grew intoxicated with the revolutionary potential of the Soviet Union. In the 1960s, some felt the same way about Cuba. In the 1990s, I grew intoxicated with the revolutionary potential of the United States.
Some non-Americans did, too. "All the Iraqi democratic voices that still exist, all the leaders and potential leaders who still survive," wrote Salman Rushdie in November 2002, "are asking, even pleading for the proposed regime change. Will the American and European left make the mistake of being so eager to oppose Bush that they end up seeming to back Saddam Hussein?"
I couldn't answer that then. It seemed irrefutable. But there was an answer, and it was the one I heard from that South African many years ago. It begins with a painful realization about the United States: We can't be the country those Iraqis wanted us to be. We lack the wisdom and the virtue to remake the world through preventive war. That's why a liberal international order, like a liberal domestic one, restrains the use of force--because it assumes that no nation is governed by angels, including our own. And it's why liberals must be anti-utopian, because the United States cannot be a benign power and a messianic one at the same time. That's not to say the United States can never intervene to stop aggression or genocide. It's not even to say that we can't, in favorable circumstances and with enormous effort, help build democracy once we're there. But it does mean that, when our fellow democracies largely oppose a war--as they did in Vietnam and Iraq--because they think we're deluding ourselves about either our capacities or our motives, they're probably right. Being a liberal, as opposed to a neoconservative, means recognizing that the United States has no monopoly on insight or righteousness. Some Iraqis might have been desperate enough to trust the United States with unconstrained power. But we shouldn't have trusted ourselves."
I admire Peter Beinart's willingness to think about what he got wrong, and why. But while I think that he's right to say that we can't be the country the Iraqis and South Africans wanted us to be -- a country wise enough to liberate other countries by force -- there's another mistake lurking in the train of thought he describes. Namely:
It's not just that we aren't the country Beinart wanted to think we were; it's that war is not the instrument he thought it was.
You can see this pretty clearly when he refers to the "surreal period" when "the United States won wars easily and those wars benefited the people on whose soil they were fought." That we won all those wars easily was due to a number of different factors. As I understand it, the Gulf War went as well as it did because of superb work by the armed forces, and because we had broad international support and limited objectives. Kosovo went well, at least for us, for the same reasons, and of course because we fought from the air and really paid attention to the follow-up. Ronald Reagan's wars -- the overt ones, at any rate -- were all against tiny countries who could not possibly have put up any resistance to our army. (E.g.: Grenada; Panama.) That was deliberate: the country was traumatized after Vietnam, and while I wished that we could get over it without having to rack up cheap victories against insignificant opponents, Ronald Reagan felt differently.
Even then, though, it would have been worthwhile for Beinart to pay more attention than he seems to have paid to the wars we sponsored in Central America, which were neither easy nor beneficial to the people who lived in the countries where our proxies fought. Thinking about the plight of a farmer who is forced at gunpoint to serve as a guide by one side and then shot as a collaborator by another when all he ever wanted was to work his fields in peace, or of villages burned to the ground after their inhabitants had been massacred, would have been a useful corrective to the idea that wars are easy and painless.
Noting that war is, in fact, hell, and that when it seems easy, that's generally due to some combination of very hard work, massive military superiority, and sheer blind luck, is an easy lesson to draw -- and, frankly, the fact that Beinart had to learn it the hard way, after an error of this magnitude, is as good an example as any I can think of of why I think there's something badly wrong with the writers of editorials and columns in the mainstream media. But there's another, deeper problem, which I will approach in a somewhat roundabout way.
Back in 1983, I sat in on a conference on women and social change. There were fascinating people from all over the world, women who had been doing extraordinary things in their own countries, and who had gathered together to talk it through; and I got to be a fly on the wall.
During this conference, there was a recurring disagreement about the role of violence in fighting deeply unjust regimes. On one side were the women from India, who argued against the use of violence, generally on Gandhian grounds. On the other were many of the women who lived under deeply unjust regimes; I recall, in particular, the South Africans arguing that however laudable nonviolence might be, their situation was sufficiently desperate that they could not afford the luxury of waiting for nonviolence to work.
It seemed to me that at the heart of this disagreement was this one fact: that the women from India were from a country that had already achieved independence, and were living with the problems that came afterwards, whereas the women from South Africa were trying to achieve that self-government in the first place. The South Africans seemed to think that the women from India had forgotten what it was like to be subjugated. We need to win our freedom as quickly as possible, they seemed to say. We realize that it would be preferable to win that freedom in the best possible way. If we could win it just as quickly through non-violent means, we would surely do so. But you would not ask us to wait if you really understood what it is like to live in slavery.
By contrast, many of the arguments made by the Indians turned on the effects that achieving self-government through violence had on one's own people. Don't do this, they seemed to be saying: once you win your freedom, you will find that you and your people have grown accustomed to settling disputes by force and to demonizing your opponents. Think now about how to use the struggle you are waging to teach yourselves how to become citizens and to practice self-government. Do not wait until you win your independence to discover that self-government requires not just political power, but political responsibility.
What made this argument so fascinating and painful to watch was that it was so easy to see both points of view. Who could possibly deny the justice of either side? And yet I thought the Indian women were right. I did not think that they had forgotten what it was like to be oppressed. I thought they were warning the others off a mistake that they knew would be tragic, however comprehensible it might be. And I had just returned from Israel, where I had spent a lot of time thinking about the many, many ways in which completely comprehensible failures can echo down through the generations.
While I was in Israel, I had also wondered what would happen to all those Palestinian kids who had grown up in refugee camps in Lebanon, who had, as best I could tell, been taught a lot about RPGs and nothing whatsoever about how to function in a world in which conflicts are not settled by violence. I found it unforgivable that the Palestinian leadership that ran the camps seemed to have given no thought to the question: how can we bring these children up to be responsible citizens of any future state?
And besides these thoughts, when the Indian women spoke I thought I could see the partition of India, and the attendant massacres in which hundreds of thousands of people died, sitting on the Indian women's shoulders like a constant silent familiar, casting its shadow over every word.
So one thing I thought that the Indian women saw was this:
Violence is not a way of getting where you want to go, only more quickly. Its existence changes your destination. If you use it, you had better be prepared to find yourself in the kind of place it takes you to.
And another was this: liberation is not just a matter of removing an oppressive government. It can seem that way when you live under tyranny. Nothing is more comprehensible than people living in apartheid South Africa, or under Saddam, thinking: if only that government were removed from power, things would be better. They would have to be. After all, how could they possibly be worse?
Unfortunately, there are almost always ways in which things could be worse.
Thomas Hobbes, who actually lived through a civil war, believed that to escape from "the war of all against all", it was necessary to grant a monarch unlimited sovereignty, and that living under such a monarch was preferable to living in a state of war and anarchy. I am not a Hobbesian, in part because I do not believe that those are our only two choices. But I've never been sure that if we had to face that choice, his answer wasn't the right one.
The absolute monarch, according to Hobbes, does more than protect us from all our other enemies. He provides us with a clear answer to the question: whose word is law? Whose will governs? Hobbes thinks that that answer has to be as clear as possible, since if there is any ambiguity about it, even people who agree on the need to live together under the rule of law will end up fighting about its interpretation.
Suppose, for instance, that everyone in some country agreed about the desirability of living under a democracy, and that an election were held. Does it follow that everyone would accept the winner of that election as legitimate? Only if there are no questions about its fairness: about who really won. But there are always questions about the fairness of elections: reasons to wonder whether a ballot box here and there wasn't stuffed, or voting machines tampered with, or candidates silenced, or voters intimidated.
Hobbes wasn't considering democracy, of course. But he did think that there would always be similar questions about laws and political structures, and that in any situation like this, people would recognize how much turned on who got political power, and they would be willing to fight to make their interpretation prevail. And the only thing that could prevent them from doing so was a clear and acknowledged sovereign whose word would settle such disputes.
As I said, I think Hobbes was wrong, and that we have more choices than anarchy or tyranny. But to be willing to accept and abide by established procedures for the resolution of conflicts, even when your side loses in ways that you think are unfair, presupposes a lot. In particular, it presupposes both allegiance to those procedures, and the confidence that the price of losing will not be more than you can bear.
Both of these conditions exist in the US, which is why the Democrats did not go to war over the 2000 election. But they are not universal. They are an extraordinary human creation which we too easily take for granted. But we should never forget how astonishing it is that people vying for power are willing to concede even when they believe that the rules have been broken, out of respect for the rule of law and for courts they believe to be profoundly in error.
In many countries, there are no established procedures for resolving conflicts, and certainly none that command the kind of allegiance that would lead people to yield even when they believe that they deserve to have won. In those countries it will always be tempting to think: well, this election was stolen from us, and this year-old Constitution is unfair; why not fight for a better one? Wouldn't our opponents do the same?
This is especially likely in a country in which the price of losing a political struggle has always been not just being in the minority party in Congress, but death or subjugation. And it takes a long time to learn to trust that losing power will not cost you your life or your freedom, when all your experience to date has taught you the opposite.
When you use force to liberate a country, like Kuwait, that has only been occupied for a short time, you can hope that its people will accept their previous government, and that whatever made that government function in the past will have survived. But when you liberate a country like Iraq, a country whose people have been brutalized, you risk loosing Hobbes' "war of all against all" on its people. You remove the sovereign who has kept that war in check, without thereby creating any of the political virtues that allow alternate forms of government, like democracy, to function.
This is why, when I read Beinart's piece, I thought: the South African he quotes -- the one who said that "if the United States were a different country, it would help the African National Congress liberate South Africa by force" -- was wrong. Force is not just an alternate way of getting to liberation; it changes everything. And liberation is not just a matter of removing an oppressive regime; it is a matter of creating a country populated by citizens who are, by and large, willing to set aside the idea of resolving conflicts by force and to respect the laws, even when they are imperfectly applied.
For this reason, the problem with that South African's vision is not just that "we lack the wisdom and the virtue to remake the world through preventive war." That's true, but it doesn't get to the heart of the problem, namely: that preventive war is not a way of remaking the world in the ways the South African and Beinart imagine.
Saying that the problem is that we lack the wisdom and virtue to do this is like saying that the problem with the USSR in the 30s was that Stalin was not sufficiently wise and virtuous to really make totalitarianism work for the people of Russia. That Stalin was neither good nor wise is beyond question. But to focus on his personal failings is to miss a broader point: that totalitarianism itself is bound to fail to do right by those who live under it.
(There are other reasons why I think that invading a country in order to create a democracy is bound to fail. I explained some of them here. But these are the two that Beinart's piece brought to mind.)
Posted by hilzoy at 02:43 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink
is fairly typical. It leans more heavily on pragmatic arguments because for most Americans anti-imperialism or anti-interventionism, the idea that neither the United States nor any other government has the right to meddle in the affairs of other countries, is a tough sell.
Wasn't that what I just said? That if this view on the dangers on using war as a means to and end was there, it was buried so cautiously it wasn't there any more. Pick your excuse, but the the genuine argument you suggest you really stand for was not made in the US public sphere.
It does not sell, as you say.
As for your last point on the godhood of man, this argument flatly denies any intervention. It does not, as I wished for, explain the actual dangers of using war as a means to an end.
Posted by: fleinn | March 03, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Sorry none of us could live up to your high standards, fleinn. We had a disastrous illegal war to stop and decided to go with what seemed most likely to build the broadest possible coalition of opposition.
That's not an excuse, as I have nothing to make excuses for.
That's for the people who supported this war until it failed to go as they expected.
Posted by: Nell | March 03, 2007 at 06:04 PM
"Sorry none of us could live up to your high standards, fleinn."
It's got nothing to do with standards, and hopefully not mine anyway. It's got something to do with the idea that political power, regardless of argument, issue or actual conviction, is necessary in order to oppose government intervention. As if government exists as a tool to be legitimately used for what you can possibly make it do, and not as an instrument to blunt the whims of a population, it's do- gooder citizenry and their leaders' good intentions towards their reelection prospects (for instance). And my worry in that regard is how the place for questioning the reasoning given for these convictions does not exist.
And so I wonder, whose fault is that? Or even, whether you really want such a thing at all? Would it "sell"?
Posted by: fleinn | March 04, 2007 at 08:29 AM
You mean, it showed up as the reason it was important to stay the course? That's true - but it also showed up as the reason why the invasion would be a cakewalk - that the Iraqis would want freedom and rise to the occasion. So when the wicked witch was killed, all the smiling people would run around and sing happily. [fleinn]
One could argue that "pretend to come as liberator because it will buy you time before they realize that you intend to screw them and rise against you!" is one of the older plots in the book. Hitler was greeted as a liberator in the Ukraine (without him actually claiming to be one until much later (if at all)), Stalin (quite unsuccessfully) tried the same.
My personal opinion of Chain-Eye/Bush is that they, at best, saw "liberation" as a tool to better achieve their primary goals but "democracy/freedom/etc." would under no circumstances be allowed to interfere with them.
To put it very nasty, if you want to rape somebody, sweet words might make it easier but you will not take NO for an answer anyway
Posted by: Hartmut | March 04, 2007 at 01:15 PM
But I still don't see a statement or an argument made officially that attempts to argue for instance that war in itself brutalizes the population so much that it invalidates the human rights aspect of the violent struggle, which is what I was asking for.
Ah, I see I should link to the Human Right Watch's declaration again.
In principle, one can only welcome this renewed concern with the fate of faraway victims. What could be more virtuous than to risk life and limb to save distant people from slaughter? But the common use of the humanitarian label masks significant differences among these interventions. The French intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo, later backed by a reinforced U.N. peacekeeping presence, was most clearly motivated by a desire to stop ongoing slaughter. In Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, West African and French forces intervened to enforce a peace plan but also played important humanitarian roles. (The United States briefly participated in the Liberian intervention, but the handful of troops it deployed had little effect.) All of these African interventions were initially or ultimately approved by the U.N. Security Council. Indeed, in each case the recognized local government consented to the intervention, though under varying degrees of pressure.
By contrast, the United States-led coalition forces justified the invasion of Iraq on a variety of grounds, only one of which—a comparatively minor one—was humanitarian. The Security Council did not approve the invasion, and the Iraqi government, its existence on the line, violently opposed it. Moreover, while the African interventions were modest affairs, the Iraq war was massive, involving an extensive bombing campaign and some 150,000 ground troops.
The sheer size of the invasion of Iraq, the central involvement of the world’s superpower, and the enormous controversy surrounding the war meant that the Iraqi conflict overshadowed the other military actions. For better or for worse, that prominence gave it greater power to shape public perceptions of armed interventions said by their proponents to be justified on humanitarian grounds. The result is that at a time of renewed interest in humanitarian intervention, the Iraq war and the effort to justify it even in part in humanitarian terms risk giving humanitarian intervention a bad name. If that breeds cynicism about the use of military force for humanitarian purposes, it could be devastating for people in need of future rescue.
Posted by: dutchmarbel | March 04, 2007 at 01:20 PM
..Make it easier for the rapist, yes.
But that's from 2004. And it seems like a response to the second wave of rhetoric from Bush- House, not a thorough questioning of what the implications may be for using force. Indeed, as I see now, Roth argues that the Iraq- incident undermines the concept of a humanitarian intervention, and holds that this will doom people in need in the future.
Again, the argument is a political construction, it is not an analysis of what it means if you use force to push through a solution, in particular with regards to war. It does not look at the serious practical difficulties, or perhaps the clear and obvious historical and current parallels to similar disasters, in any depth.
And why is doing that so important? It's because simply declaring that you're against a war, now that's an easy thing to do. Why you're against the war, that seems to be a more difficult one. Just as an example - I am not a pacifist by any means. How could I be, I do not believe an army of writers can defeat a republican guard. But (oh, even though I'm burdened by such an enormous, almost presidential insight) I still recognise the dangers of submitting to a quick and easy theory on "nation- building", or whatever it's called now. I'm not doing so because I think it is fundamentally and philosophically wrong for any country to intervene in any circumstances. I'm doing so because I know what kind of consequences it has, and what lousy prospects of success there is when bigger groups of the involved population truly comes to expect that an outside force will bring about great and glorious progress.
I mean, what idiot is not for a "humanitarian intervention", if it invariably leads to the results you imagine, and peace and prosperity for all, instant rights, and free ice- cream and so on? If you truly have come to believe that bootstrapping a healthy political culture in a country is done in a couple of months? That an economy can be run for the benefit of the population by magic? If you know in your heart that any good intention has, through the sheer supremacy of your might, the potential to become real, in spite of all "theoretical" difficulties?
"Re Washington vs the Iroquois, you're looking at possibly the last time in U.S. history where a conflict with Native Americans was in any way "existential" for the whites involved: the Iroquois, allied with American Loyalists, were putting up a very good fight in Upper New York. There weren't a lot of rules observed on either side: the area combined the worst of Europeanized civil wars and Indian frontier raids. There was nothing particularly wanton or depraved about Washington's orders to Sullivan, et al given the context."
I just saw this reply. I gave the context--there'd been Iroquois atrocities against white settlers. And atrocities are always used to justify other atrocities. Both sides were wanton and depraved, as is often the case in wars--I just think people ought to remember this rather than romanticizing the Revolutionary War or any other war. As for my charitable feelings towards those who have to fight wars--you've reached some grand conclusions about my feelings on that subject based on what I said about George Washington? I have no illusions about my moral superiority to those who actually have to fight wars. If anything, I'd be quite afraid of what sort of moral failure I might turn out to be. I also have no illusions about my moral superiority or that of my country over some of those we have fought.
Thanks for the correction on the liberation of Kabul--it has been my impression that our Northern Alliance allies have been thugs and had a history of being thugs and committed further atrocities in the 2001 war. I have heard differently about Massoud, but didn't know that his men were the main ones liberating Kabul. I brought this up only to point out a case where I had been incorrectly antiwar, to account for why I had felt more than a little uncertainty about whether the invasion of Iraq would make things better or worse for Iraqis. I don't remember exactly when the Bush Administration started talking about democratization as a justification for the war--others say it was after the WMD's had been proven nonexistent. Probably so--I had no regard for what the Bushies said and only felt my challenged by what I remember of the arguments from the humanitarian prowar liberals who said Iraqis would benefit, an argument I would have laughed at, except that I'd been wrong about Afghanistan.
Posted by: Donald Johnson | March 04, 2007 at 08:02 PM
"I have heard differently about Massoud,"
Just want to correct myself. I had heard differently about Massoud, but after a bit of browsing through Ahmed Rashid's book "Taliban" and more importantly, browsing through HRW documents online, it turns out Massoud was another Afghan warlord whose men raped and murdered civilians. Arguably he was less brutal than his enemies. This is setting the bar pretty near the ground.
Nell- I too wish to add my agreement with what you have said here particularly your March 02, 2007 at 03:14 PM post which I wish I could memorize.
Has anyone else noticed that Rilkefan often seems to end up in this role as defender of the Bush administration's intentions?
Posted by: Frank | March 05, 2007 at 02:43 AM
Yes. But then, he's a pro-lifer, with all that this implies: it doesn't actually surprise me.
Posted by: Jesurgislac | March 05, 2007 at 07:12 AM
But beware of the dark side.
We've reached a pretty sad state of affairs when George Lucas is the wisest political philosopher we've got.
Posted by: Newport 9 | March 05, 2007 at 03:14 PM
Stumbling back at random:
Nell, your quote says "x was more important than y" - you're trying to claim there was no y, so the quote hurts your argument. And once again, you're trying to prove a negative in the face of contrary evidence. In any case, any argument against the Bush admin works just as well without resolving this point.
Jes: "But then, he's a pro-lifer"
Your usual lie.
Frank, if you want to go with the hermit-crab approach, fine. I believe in understanding the truth of issues like this, even if it brings in the occasional tinge of gray.
Posted by: rilkefan | April 10, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Breathtaking.
Posted by: goopheex | June 27, 2009 at 04:51 PM
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