pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 128
964k
| source
stringlengths 39
45
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__cc
| 0.730829
| 0.269171
|
Dental Students' Perspectives on Rural Dental Practice: A Qualitative Study
Nastaran Sharifian, DDS, MSc; Christophe Bedos, PhD; John Wootton, MD; Issam J El-Murr, DMD; Anne Charbonneau, PhD; Elham Emami, PhD
Cite this as: j can dent assoc 2015;81:f23
access to care / dental profession / education
Introduction: The chronic shortage of dentists in rural communities may affect the quality of care provided to these communities. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge and perspectives of Quebec's future dentists regarding rural dental practice and their career intentions.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative study at 2 major dental faculties using the interpretive description method. Purposeful maximum variation sampling and snowball techniques were used to recruit 4th-year dental students and specialty residents as study participants. Face-to-face, semi-structured, 60–90-minute interviews were conducted and audio-recorded. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic approach including interview debriefing, transcript coding, data display and interpretation.
Results: Of the 17 interviews, 10 were with women and 7 with men; the age range of participants was 22–39 years. Five major themes emerged from the interviews: awareness of access to oral health care in rural areas, image of rurality, image of rural dental practice, perceived barriers to and perceived enablers of rural dental practice. Students said that undergraduate dental education, financial rewards, professionalism, professional support and social media may positively affect their perspective on rural dental practice.
Conclusions: There is a need to implement and support strategies known to increase dental students' knowledge of rural practice and their motivation to choose rural practice. Dental educators have an essential role to play in shaping professional character and encouraging apprenticeship to meet these goals.
The chronic shortage of dentists and allied oral health care professionals in rural, remote and Aboriginal communities is a persistent challenge for health care systems, as it may affect the quality of care provided to these communities.1-7 It is widely reported and recognized that residents of rural and remote areas have less access to dental care services because of geographic isolation.8 Because inadequate access to oral health care can negatively affect oral health status, several countries have implemented sustainable intervention programs and policies to service these disadvantaged populations.9-15 Some of these programs have focused on the integration of research, service and education and have been associated with effective workforce recruitment and retention.14,16,17 Lessons learned from these experiences suggest that moving toward an effective health system necessitates identifying barriers and facilitators, sharing knowledge, delivering information and creating strategies to attract and retain more health care professionals in rural and remote communities.3,17-19
A review of the literature indicates that several factors impede the recruitment and retention of oral health care providers in rural and remote areas.20 These include sociodemographic characteristics, environmental barriers, income and lack of professional and familial support.2,3,16,20-23 Although previous research in this field has provided valuable information on this subject, to our knowledge relatively few studies have sought to understand how oral health care practitioners and allied workforce personnel perceive working in rural and remote areas.3 The views of dental students are pivotal in understanding the challenges that the future generation may encounter as they choose the location of their dental practice.11,24
Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative exploration was to understand the perspectives and knowledge of final-year Quebec dental students and specialty residents with regard to rural and remote dental practice.
We used a qualitative approach and "interpretive description" to gain a deep insight into the perceptions of dental students toward rural dental practice.25,26
In 1997, Sally Thorne introduced the interpretive description approach as an alternative to traditional qualitative methods. This applied qualitative approach emphasizes the generation of knowledge that is grounded in practice and will lead to informed action. Without sacrificing the reliability and truthfulness of qualitative research, this method identifies themes and patterns by broadening the interpretive lens within a practice-linked health care discipline.26,27
Study Setting, Sampling and Participants
This study was conducted at 2 major dental faculties in Montreal, Canada. Study participants were recruited from among Université of Montréal and McGill University 4th-year undergraduate students and postgraduate residents via direct communication and email. Purposive or selective sampling with maximum variation was used to select the study participants.25,29 Contrary to random sampling, the goal of purposive sampling is to select a sample that enables the qualitative researcher to answer the research questions, but with no intention of generalizing the results to the whole population.25 Heterogeneous sampling (maximum variation) allowed us to capture a wide range of perspectives of dental students from different backgrounds regarding rural practice experience, place of residency training and university curriculum. Moreover, the recruited participants were invited to identify other students who might participate in the study (snowball technique).29 Recruitment continued even after saturation was reached to ensure that bringing in a new participant would not raise any additional finding from the interviews.30
Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the institutional review board of the Université de Montréal. Informed written consent was obtained from each student, specifying that their participation was completely voluntary and would not in any way affect their academic standing. Ethical guidelines were respected to ensure the confidentiality and anonymity of the students.
Semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted between April and July 2013 at locations convenient for the participants.31 A postgraduate student (NS), who wastrained in qualitative research and interviewing techniques,was responsible for conducting the interviews. To avoid potential bias caused by issues of trust, neither the lead researcher (EE) nor any other person from academia was involved in the interview process.Interviews were audio-recorded, and each lasted 60–90 minutes.
A bilingual interview guide with open-ended questions was designed based on the theoretical knowledge gained from the literature review.26
Each interview started with general questions regarding level of knowledge about rural dental practice, followed by more specific questions about the participant's perspectives, attitudes and expectations. Further questions were based on the interviewee's responses and consisted mainly of seeking clarification and probing for details.25 At the end of each interview, students were invited to answer questions regarding their age, marital status and perceived socioeconomic status.
In qualitative data analysis,common themes are identified and the raw data are transformed into research findings.32,33Our data analyses included transcription, debriefing, codification, data display, thematic analysis and interpretation. Data collection and analysis were performed concurrently.33
Primary data analysis was started after the first interview to confirm the relevance of central questions and to shape further data gathering.25 Data saturation was reached after the 12th interview; however, data collection continued up to 15th interview to ensure the saturation level.25
Interviews were transcribed verbatim from the recordings. Each transcript was read carefully with continual debriefing and reflection on the meaning, using the results of the literature review as a basis. Raw data were coded manually then analyzed using ATLAS-ti version 7 (ATLAS-ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany) to facilitate the analysis.34
Transcripts were summarized and sorted in the form of analytic matrices35 under preliminary themes to identify commonalities and differences among participants.26
Transcription of interviews and coding were conducted primarily by NS. The lead researcher (EE) then cross-examined the raw data. Labeling and sorting of the data into themes and subthemes was done collectively to achieve overall agreement on the emerging interpretations and results.
Ultimately, preliminary themes and interpretations were reviewed during team meetings and major themes were elaborated.
Participant Characteristics
Sociodemographic characteristics of the study participants are shown in Table 1. Seventeen interviews were carried out with 10 women and 7 men, aged 22–39 years. Thirteen participants were 4th-year undergraduate dental students, and 4 were residents in orthodontic and prosthodontic disciplines. Most participants described their socioeconomic status as average, but emphasized their high level of debt resulting from the cost of their education.
Table 1: Sociodemographic characteristics of participants (n = 17).
Age group (years)
Self-reported socioeconomic status
Average 16
Bilingual 14
Anglophone 2
Francophone 1
Rural upbringing or experience
4th-year undergraduate 13
Last-year postgraduate residents 4
Dental faculty
Université of Montréal 14
McGill University 3
Single 11
Married/partnered 6
Five major themes emerged from the qualitative analyses: awareness of access to oral health care in rural areas; image of rurality; image of rural dental practice; perceived barriers to rural dental practice; and perceived enablers of rural dental practice.
Awareness of Access to Oral Health Care in Rural Areas
Most students were aware of disparities between rural and urban regions with regard to availability of dental personnel and access to dental services. However, they were less clear about the causes of these disparities and health care policies that could improve the situation. Students were exposed to underprivileged populations via outreach programs, community dentistry and courses in dental public health, but these academic activities did not focus on rural communities.
"Well, maybe we have some courses in the university like public health, and it's kind of interesting, but rural dentistry was not a topic that has been talked about in class."
A few students mentioned that representatives of dental recruitment agencies and dental companies were the main sources of information about rural dental practice. These agencies hold a meeting each year for senior dental students at the University of Montreal to inform them of dental practice vacancies. "I met… who has a recruitment agency, and she is my only source of information about metropolitan or rural sections."
A few students, especially those with a rural background and/or with work experience in rural and remote regions, had more knowledge about rural access to care. "There is not enough infrastructure, especially in the health care system."
Image of Rurality
Participants had various images of rurality. Most recognized that rural areas are different from urban areas: they associated rural regions with a slower pace of life and a family-oriented environment. A few students appreciated the supportive social interactions among rural community members and, thus, believed that dentists would have a sense of belonging to the community.
"I think they are isolated communities. But at the same time, you can have a slower life style and you can raise a family there perhaps. It's a more relaxing type of atmosphere and simpler life that people might enjoy."
"Rural is a family-oriented kind of environment… as if the whole community is looking out for you and your family."
However, there was consensus that these regions are not attractive to younger dentists. A few participants were concerned about the privacy of their lives in a small town. "[You tell your rural patients that dental treatment] will cost $5000 and it's expensive for them. Then in the weekend, when you want to do the cruise on your private boat, they will judge you for having a beautiful luxurious life."
Image of Rural Dental Practice
Participants perceived rural dental practice as having a high level of autonomy associated with great responsibility and multitasking. "There's a real ownership and autonomy about the way you practice. The flip side is also you have the total responsibility. You are the only dentist there."
Most of the students were positive about rural working hours, the type of clientele and the lack of competition between dentists. A few mentioned that the lack of specialists in rural areas would increase the workload of general dentists and the nature of the treatments they offer. "You have to work more, because you cannot refer patients easily… There are not a lot of specialists, so the general dentists should be able to offer different treatments."
Furthermore, they mentioned the critical importance of a dentist's reputation in small rural communities. "In a small town your reputation is everything.... You're getting feedback from your patients."
Perceived Barriers to Rural Dental Practice
Three subthemes emerged under this theme: proximity maintenance and separation distress; fear of the unknown; and lack of infrastructure, resources and professional support.
Proximity maintenance and separation distress: The desire to remain close to people to whom they are emotionally attached and fear of isolation were psychological concepts that emerged from the discussions."One of the factors that make professionals not go to rural areas is the isolation, you don't have Internet, you are already far from family, city, and people. So, you feel even more isolated."
Most students with an urban background were concerned about giving uptheir metropolitan lifestyle for a rural way of life."Leaving friends, cultural and social activities as a result of moving to a far rural region is hard for someone who comes from Montreal." "For the person who was born, raised, and studied in cities, going to work in rural regions is very difficult."
Fear of the unknown: Participants without a rural background and/or rural experience expressed fear resulting from their lack of knowledge and uncertainty about the nature of rurality and rural dental health care services. In addition, lack of confidence in treating rural patients emerged in their comments."When someone has never been in a small town, they often see small towns for what they lack! As opposed to seeing what small towns have to offer. So, it's scary. It's fear of the unknown."
Lack of infrastructure, resources and professional support were considered to be disadvantages of working in rural areas for most dental students."The lack of infrastructure and resources is the main barrier,which can possibly affect the quality of your work in a rural area."
Perceived Enablers of Rural Dental Practice
Four subthemes emerged from this theme: highlighting the advantages of rural dental practice; monetary and non-monetary incentives; creating job opportunities for partner/spouse; and dental education.
Highlighting the advantages of rural dental practice: Participants mentioned the importance of marketing to provide dental students with more information about positive aspects of rural dentistry and working in rural and remote regions. They suggested putting effort into social networking as a good interface for knowledge dissemination among young dentists.
"We should mention the benefits of working in rural [areas] because people don't know the advantages."
"There can be a trip in which we might invite future graduates. They can look up and try to go and visit the place by themselves."
"Giving the information out there and make it as attractive as possible.... They have to be somehow convinced that their urban chic lifestyle can be satisfied there and that's a challenge. The key is marketing!"
Monetary and non-monetary incentives: Participants suggested debt forgiveness and tax bonuses as effective initiatives, addressing the debt phobia of the majority of dental students."I think incentivizing is a great way to go... you could send a dentist to Siberia with debt forgiveness."
They explained that the government could intervene to support health care professionals financially and psychologically."Definitely the government should make some steps to encourage dentists to go to rural areas and stay there."
However, a few participants believed that the government had already offered enough incentives and,being part of an autonomous industry, dentists resist government measures. One of the participants mentioned the critical role of government in dental insurance challenges for rural communities."We need government subventions for dental insurance in rural populations."
Creating job opportunities for partner/spouse: Most of the female participants perceived partner's career as an important factor in their decision-making and retention. However, they knew creating job opportunities requires collaborative efforts between government employment bodies and rural communities."It's not just attracting one person, it's attracting a couple! And if the other one can work there or not."
Dental education: Participants suggested that dental schools could contribute to improving rural dental practice by adopting rural-oriented admission strategies and dental curricula and exposing dental students to rural regions."It would be a good idea to put rural dentistry course in the university curriculum."
Our findings show thats eparation anxiety, lack of professional confidence and the absence of previous experience working or living in geographically isolated communities constitute major barriers to establishing a rural dental practice. However, dental students believe that training and education in rural and remote areas would provide an opportunity to become engaged in such communities and learn about rural dental practice. It is interesting to note that, although our students' profiles were different in terms of year of education (undergraduate students versus specialty residents), they shared the same perspectives with regard to choice of practice location.
These findings support the initiatives of various dental schools to provide community-based dental education programs to increase access to oral health care for rural and remote populations.36,37 Evidence from successful programs in the United States, Australia and other countries shows that these programs are effective in terms of raising students' awareness, increasing their knowledge and promoting a positive attitude toward future rural practice.11,14,38
Furthermore, such rural-focused programs and training might help students understand the significance of their contribution to the oral health of underserved populations22,39,40 and increase their sense of professionalism and social responsibility.40
The results of our study indicate that students with rural upbringing and experience might be more interested in a rural career and more sensitive to the needs and demands of rural communities.12,15,41-46 According to McFarland and colleagues,13,46 these students are 6 times more likely to return to work in rural communities after graduation. These findings support the policies of certain dental faculties in regard to the selection of students from rural and remote areas.13,46 They also highlight the need to invest in strategies that modify or ensure the human desire to maintain bonds to family, partner, peers, places and neighborhoods. According to the attachment theory introduced by Bowlby and Ainsworth,47relationships and bonds between people provide a sense of security to individuals, and separation may cause anxiety and distress.47 Thus, strategies such as psychosocial education, rural infrastructure development and entrepreneurship, creation of various job opportunities for partners and families, as well as monetary incentives, could be beneficial in addressing rural deprivation.
Our findings also show that monetary incentives, including scholarships, loan forgiveness and tax bonuses, could be motivators because of the increasing debt load of Canadian dental school graduates.3,23,48-53 However, it is important to note that, although these financial incentives might increase recruitment of dental personnel, they might not have an effect on their retention in rural and remote areas.22,54 This highlights the need to focus on non-monetary incentives, such as access to professional support and job satisfaction. There is overwhelming evidence that job satisfaction can overcome all other barriers and help retain health care professionals in rural and remote regions.3,20
This study raises awareness of the role of academia and policymakers inproviding appropriate education and infrastructure for rural dental practice and other health-related disciplines. Different models of education and curricula should be developed to promote social dentistry and prepare students for working in rural and remote areas. Development of a rural residency dental program with adequate governmental financial support could be a target strategy.
However, these results should be interpreted with caution because of the limitations of our approach. Our study reflects a particular group of dental students: French- and English-speaking students in Montreal. As a consequence, our findings might not be generalizable to dental students from other societal, geographic and academic contexts. In addition, our study reports the perspectives of a relatively small number of participants, even though the size of the sample is adequate based on interpretive description methodology.
According to the literature, in interpretive description, a minimum number of 8 interviews could be considered adequate to uncover insights related to the study objectives and to attain saturation 26,30. However, this limited number does not allow generalization of the results.55 In fact, in qualitative research, the credibility of findings is ensured by triangulation of interpretations.56,57 Further research in other settings is necessary to determine whether the themes identified in this study are relevant to other dental students from different faculties and countries.
The findings of this study indicate that there is a need to implement and support strategies that are known to increase the knowledge and motivation of dental students to choose rural locations. Dental educators have an essential role in shaping professional character and encouraging apprenticeship to meet these goals.
Dr. Sharifian is a postgraduate student, faculty of dental medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
Dr. Bedos is an associate professor, faculty of dentistry, McGill University, and adjunct professor, school of public health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
Dr. Wootton is director of professional services, Centre de santé et de services sociaux du Pontiac, Shawville, Quebec.
Mr. El-Murr is a DMD graduate, faculty of dental medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
Dr. Charbonneau is a full professor, faculty of dental medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec.
Dr. Emami is associate professor, faculty of dental medicine, Université de Montréal, and associate professor, school of public health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec.
Correspondence to: Dr. Elham Emami, Associate Professor, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale centre-ville, Montréal QC H3C 3J7. Email: elham.emami@umontreal.ca
Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to the dental students of Université of Montréal and McGill University for their active engagement in this study. We also acknowledge Ms. Sara Homayounfar and Mr. Charbel Ghosn for their useful efforts at various stages of the study. A grant from the Network for Oral and Bone Health Research funded this research. The corresponding author, Dr. Elham Emami, is currently supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research clinician scientist-award.
Krause D, Mosca N, Livingston M. Maximizing the dental workforce: implications for a rural state. J Dent Hyg. 2003;77(4):253-61.
Kruger E, Jacobs A, Tennant M. Sustaining oral health services in remote and indigenous communities: a review of 10 years experience in Western Australia. Int Dent J. 2010;60(2):129-34.
Kruger E, Tennant M. Oral health workforce in rural and remote Western Australia: practice perceptions. Aust J Rural Health. 2005;13(5):321-6.
Kuthy RA, McKernan SC, Hand JS, Johnsen DC. Dentist workforce trends in a primarily rural state: Iowa: 1997-2007. J Am Dent Assoc. 2009;140(12):1527-34.
Mertz EA, Grumbach K. Identifying communities with low dentist supply in California. J Public Health Dent. 2001;61(3):172-7.
Singh A, Purohit BM. Addressing oral health disparities, inequity in access and workforce issues in a developing country. Int Dent J. 2013;63(5):225-9.
Skillman SM, Doescher MP, Mouradian WE, Brunson DK. The challenge to delivering oral health services in rural America. J Public Health Dent. 2010;70Suppl 1:S49-57.
Emami E, Wootton J, Galarneau C, Bedos C. Oral health and access to dental care: a qualitative exploration in rural Quebec. Can J Rural Med. 2014;19(2):63-70.
Skinner JC, Massey WL, Burton MA. Rural oral health workforce issues in NSW and the Charles Sturt University Dentistry Program. N S W Public Health Bull. 2009;20(3-4):56-8.
Ibiyemi O, Taiwo JO, Oke GA. Dental education in the rural community: a Nigerian experience. Rural Remote Health. 2013;13(2):2241.
Johnson GE, Blinkhorn AS. Student opinions on a rural placement program in New South Wales, Australia. Rural Remote Health. 2011;11(2):1703.
Morell AL, Kiem S, Millsteed MA, Pollice A. Attraction, recruitment and distribution of health professionals in rural and remote Australia: early results of the Rural Health Professionals Program. Hum Resour Health. 2014;12:15.
McFarland KK, Reinhardt JW, Yaseen M. Rural dentists of the future: dental school enrollment strategies. J Dent Educ. 2010;74(8):830-5.
Abuzar MA, Burrow MF, Morgan M. Development of a rural outplacement programme for dental undergraduates: students' perceptions. Eur J Dent Educ. 2009;13(4):233-9.
Richards L, Symon B, Burrow D, Chartier A, Misan G, Wilkinson D. Undergraduate student experience in dental service delivery in rural South Australia: an analysis of costs and benefits. Aust Dent J. 2002;47(3):254-8.
Silva M, Phung K, Huynh W, Wong H, Lu J, Aijaz A, et al. Factors influencing recent dental graduates' location and sector of employment in Victoria. Aust Dent J. 2006;51(1):46-51.
Daniels ZM, Vanleit BJ, Skipper BJ, Sanders ML, Rhyne RL. Factors in recruiting and retaining health professionals for rural practice. J Rural Health. 2007;23(1):62-71.
Carboon C, McCarthy C. Oral health reflections from the 2010 National Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health Conference. Aust J Rural Health. 2011;19(2):105-6.
Richards HM, Farmer J, Selvaraj S. Sustaining the rural primary healthcare workforce: survey of healthcare professionals in the Scottish Highlands. Rural Remote Health. 2005;5(1):365.
Schoo AM, Stagnitti KE, Mercer C, Dunbar J. A conceptual model for recruitment and retention: allied health workforce enhancement in Western Victoria, Australia. Rural Remote Health. 2005;5(4):477.
Luzzi L, Spencer AJ. Job satisfaction of the oral health labour force in Australia. Aust Dent J. 2011;56(1):23-32.
Johns GH, Gutmann ME, DeWald JP, Nunn ME. Career retention in the dental hygiene workforce in Texas. J Dent Hyg. 2001;75(2):135-48.
Hall DJ, Garnett ST, Barnes T, Stevens M. Drivers of professional mobility in the Northern Territory: dental professionals. Rural Remote Health. 2007;7(1):655.
Moffat SM, Coates DE. New Zealand's oral health students — education and workforce implications. N Z Dent J. 2011;107(2):51-6.
Patton MQ. Qualitative research evaluation methods. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications; 2002.
Thorne S. Interpretive Description. Walnut Creek, Calif.: Left Coast Press; 2008.
Thorne S, Kirkham SR, MacDonald-Emes J. Interpretive description: a noncategorical qualitative alternative for developing nursing knowledge. Res Nurs Health. 1997;20(2):169-77.
St. George S. Applied interpretation: a review of interpretive description by Sally Thorne. Qual Rep. 2010;15(6):1624-8.
Sadler GR, Lee HC, Lim RS, Fullerton J. Recruitment of hard-to-reach population subgroups via adaptations of the snowball sampling strategy. Nurs Health Sci. 2010;12(3):369-74.
Sandelowski M. Sample size in qualitative research. Res Nurs Health. 1995;18(2):179-83.
Dicicco-Bloom B, Crabtree BF. The qualitative research interview. Med Educ. 2006;40(4):314-21.
Thorne S, Oliffe J, Kim-Sing C, Hislop TG, Stajduhar K, Harris SR, et al. Helpful communications during the diagnostic period: an interpretive description of patient preferences. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2010;19(6):746-54.
Elo S, Kyngäs H. The qualitative content analysis process. J Adv Nurs. 2008;62(1):107-15.
Friese S. Qualitative data analysis with ATLAS.ti. London: SAGE Publications; 2012.
Verdinelli S, Scagnoli NI. Data display in qualitative research. Int J Qual Methods. 2013;12:359-81.
Formicola AJ. Dental Pipeline Program: a national program linking dental schools with the issue of access to care. J Am Coll Dent. 2008;75(4):24-8.
Schwartz MR. The pipeline from dental education to practice: the Pennsylvania experience. J Dent Educ. 2007;71(10):1299-313.
Bailit HL, Formicola AJ, Herbert KD, Stavisky JS, Zamora G. The origins and design of the Dental Pipeline program. J Dent Educ. 2005;69(2):232-8.
Eley D, Young L, Shrapnel M, Wilkinson D, Baker P, Hegney D. Medical students and rural general practitioners: congruent views on the reality of recruitment into rural medicine. Aust J Rural Health. 2007;15(1):12-20.
Blue CM. Cultivating professional responsibility in a dental hygiene curriculum. J Dent Educ. 2013;77(8):1042-51.
Trickett-Shockey AK, Wilson CS, Lander LR, Barretto GA, Szklarz GD, VanVoorhis GC, et al. A study of rural upbringing and education on the intent of health professional students to work in rural settings. Int J Med Educ. 2013;4:18-25.
Brooks RG, Walsh M, Mardon RE, Lewis M, Clawson A. The roles of nature and nurture in the recruitment and retention of primary care physicians in rural areas: a review of the literature. Acad Med. 2002;77(8):790-8.
Somers GT, Strasser R, Jolly B. What does it take? The influence of rural upbringing and sense of rural background on medical students' intention to work in a rural environment. Rural Remote Health. 2007;7(2):706.
Deressa W, Azazh A. Attitudes of undergraduate medical students of Addis Ababa University towards medical practice and migration, Ethiopia. BMC Med Educ. 2012;12:68.
Huntington I, Shrestha S, Reich NG, Hagopian A. Career intentions of medical students in the setting of Nepal's rapidly expanding private medical education system. Health Policy Plan. 2012;27(5):417-28.
McFarland KK, Reinhardt JW, Yaseen M. Rural dentists: does growing up in a small community matter? J Am Dent Assoc. 2012;143(9):1013-9.
Bretherton I. The origins of attachment theory: An interview with Mary Salter Ainsworth. Interview by Peter L. Rydnytsky. Dev Psychol. 1992;28(5):759-75.
Allison RA, Manski RJ. The supply of dentists and access to care in rural Kansas. J Rural Health. 2007;23(3):198-206.
Gallagher JE, Patel R, Wilson NH. The emerging dental workforce: long-term career expectations and influences. A quantitative study of final year dental students' views on their long-term career from one London Dental School. BMC Oral Health. 2009;9:35.
Moles DR, Frost C, Grundy C. Inequalities in availability of National Health Service general dental practitioners in England and Wales. Br Dent J. 2001;190(10):548-53.
Schofield D, Fletcher S, Fuller J, Birden H, Page S. Where do students in the health professions want to work? Hum Resour Health. 2009;7:74.
Matthew IR, Walton JN, Dumaresq C, Sudmant W. The burden of debt for Canadian dental students: part 1. Review of the literature. J Can Dent Assoc. 2006;72(7):635.
Walton JN, Matthew IR, Dumaresq C, Sudmant W. The burden of debt for Canadian dental students: part 4. The influence of debt on program and career decisions. J Can Dent Assoc. 2006;72(10):913.
Gillham S, Ristevski E. Where do I go from here: we've got enough seniors? Aust J Rural Health. 2007;15(5):313-20.
Polit DF, Beck CT. Generalization in quantitative and qualitative research: myths and strategies. Int J Nurs Stud. 2010;47(11):1451-8.
Cope DG. Methods and meanings: Credibility and trustworthiness of qualitative research. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2014;41(1):89-91.
Sandelowski M. On the aesthetics of qualitative research. Image J Nurs Sch. 1995;27(3):205-9.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3089
|
__label__wiki
| 0.986273
| 0.986273
|
Music Feed
The Raconteurs unveil new single 'Bored And Razed'
The band's new album 'Help Us Stranger' is out later this month
by Chris Bound: June 11, 2019
News, Music Feed
With their eagerly-awaited new album now just a couple of weeks away, The Raconteurs have now unveiled yet another cut lifted from their forthcoming full-length.
The new single 'Bored And Razed' follows on from the previously shared tracks ‘Help Me Stranger’, ‘Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)’, ‘Sunday Driver’ and ‘Now That You’re Gone’ in previewing their third LP 'Help Us Stranger', which is set to arrive on the 21st June via Third Man Records.
Have a listen to 'Bored And Razed' in the player below.
Róisín Murphy unveils new single 'Incapable'
With a string of festival performances later this year, including Stanton Calling in July, Róisín Murphy has now unveiled a brand new single. The... 1 month 1 week ago
The Futureheads announce new album 'Powers'
After returning last month to deliver their long-awaited comeback single 'Jekyll', The Futureheads have now announced their plans for a new studio... 1 month 1 week ago
Bastille share new track 'Those Nights'
With their highly-anticipated new album now just over a week away, Bastille have dropped the next cut to be lifted from their forthcoming full-length... 1 month 1 week ago
Temples announce new album 'Hot Motion'
Following on from the release of their heavily-praised sophomore album 'Volcano' in 2017, Temples have now announced their plans for a new studio LP... 1 month 1 week ago
Spector unveil new single 'I Won't Wait'
After returning last year to deliver their blistering EP 'Reloaded', Spector are back once again to share a brand new track. The new single 'I Won... 1 month 1 week ago
Bon Iver returns with new singles 'Hey, Ma' and 'U (Man Like)'
While finishing off his headline set at All Point East over the weekend (2nd June), Bon Iver treated the crowd to a pair of new singles, which he has... 1 month 1 week ago
Pixies announce new album 'Beneath The Eyrie'
Following on from the release of their much-loved 2016 studio album 'Head Carrier', Pixies have now announced their plans for a new LP, arriving... 1 month 1 week ago
Jai Paul returns with new singles 'Do You Love Her Now' and 'He'
Having been shrouded in mystery ever since he first emerged back in 2011, producer Jai Paul has now finally broken his seven-year silence with the... 1 month 1 week ago
Bill Ryder-Jones announces new piano-led album 'Yawny Yawn'
After releasing his critically-praised fourth studio album 'Yawn' at the end of last year, Bill Ryder-Jones has now announced his plans to a piano... 1 month 1 week ago
NEW MUSIC DISCOVERY - 15.07.19
17 hours 35 min ago Julia Michaels - 'Hurt Again'
Bill Ryder-Jones unveils new rendition of 'And Then There's You'
13 hours 30 min ago With his highly-anticipated new piano-led album set to arrive later this month, Bill Ryder-Jones
ARTIST OF THE WEEK: No.250 - RVBY
3 days 14 hours ago Having spent the last year building herself up with a string of impressive singles including 'L.O
Blood Orange - 'Benzo'
Tweets by @MysticSons
Mystic Sons, Floor 2, 40 Mortimer Street, London W1W 7RQ
2019 Mystic Sons - All rights reserved
website by rifle
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3090
|
__label__cc
| 0.670624
| 0.329376
|
The Lotus Hunter
In search of Lotus racing car histories
Posts Tagged ‘Zandvoort’
Searching for those elusive photos
Sunday, November 23rd, 2014
When one thinks about the size of the crowds that used to attend motor races in the 1960s, I still find it amazing that it is so hard to find period photos of even the most noteworthy cars that were racing.
This is particularly an issue with the lower formulae. At the moment, I am researching Lotus Formula Junior racing cars from the early 1960s, specifically the Lotus 27, which was a monocoque car raced by the works-supported Ron Harris Team Lotus equipe, with drivers including Pete Arundell, Mike Spence and John Fenning.
A monocoque in a lower formula such as Formula Junior was quite revolutionary. In fact, it didn’t catch on because if you were a privateer owner, and you dinged your car while racing in Europe, it was very difficult to repair a monocoque tub compared to a spaceframe chassis, where cutting out damaged tubes and putting in new ones was a relatively straightforward task.
Additionally, the early versions of the car proved a bit of a handful. The side skins of the tub were made of fibreglass rather than the more traditional aluminium, and it turned out that they flexed under load, particularly under braking, making for some unpredictable handling. The car really only came right when they discarded the fibreglass skins and went back to aluminium.
Anyway, back to photos. In total, the Ron Harris Team Lotus team used five cars during the 1963 season. Usually, they ran three drivers, and one of the chassis was only delivered very late in the year, so most of the time they had four cars between them, with one acting as a spare, maybe for the team leader, Pete Arundell.
What is particularly tricky is trying to work out which chassis was used by which driver. I have been trying to do this through analysing photos of the cars at each race but boy is it difficult! Firstly, the photos need to be of sufficient quality to be able to see certain features. At the very basic level that means being able to see if it has fibreglass or aluminium sides, as that narrows down which car it could be a little. At a more detailed level, hopefully this means that one can see the rivet patterns on the side of the car, so that individual characteristics of each car can be identified.
To say I’ve had mixed success with this would be an understatement. Even trying to find out at which race the first aluminium-sided car made its appearance has proved difficult: some say it was the International Trophy meeting at Silverstone on 11th May 1963, with Pete Arundell driving, others say it was the Grand Prix de Monaco Junior on May 25th. Unfortunately, the only good photo I can find from the International Trophy meeting is of Mike Spence, and he is still driving a fibreglass-sided car…
The two photos I have from the Monaco meeting show Arundell driving a fibreglass-sided car. One, taken in the first heat, has Spence behind him, also in a fibreglass-sided car and the other, which could have been taken in practice, also clearly shows the distinctive oval cut-outs of a fibreglass-sided car. Yet the Motor Sport report, written by none other than John Bolster, reports that the problems with the car had been solved now that it had aluminium sides!
I don’t have any photos of the next race for Arundell, at Mallory Park on 2nd June but the following day a race took place at Crystal Palace, and photos show all three Ron Harris Team Lotus cars to be fibreglass-sided… There was quite a gap to the next race at Rouen-les-Essarts in France on 23rd June and for that I have the evidence from a super piece of film from archivesenligne.fr that both Spence and Arundell raced aluminium-sided cars.
What I really need is a couple more really clear photos of Arundell during the final of the Monaco Junior race. If anyone knows where to find such shots, please contact me!
After that, what I am looking for are really clear side-on shots of the Ron Harris Team Lotus cars, especially Arundell’s. Preferably taken while the cars are stationary in the paddock or on the grid, as this gives the best clarity to be able to count rivets!
Here’s a summary of the meetings I am looking for photos from (all 1963):
Aintree, 27th April
Silverstone, 11th May (Arundell only)
Monaco, 25th May
Mallory Park, 2nd June
Reims, 30th June
Clermont-Ferrand, 7th July
Zolder, 25th August
Zandvoort, 1st September
Albi, 9th September
Brands Hatch, 14th September (Deserti only)
Nurburgring, 29th September
In the meantime, I will keep looking, and also trying to trace the histories of these cars post-1963. At the moment, I have a fairly good idea of this, it is just that I cannot pin specific histories to specific chassis. I can narrow it down a little, but I can’t say for sure…yet. I live in hope.
Tags:Aintree, Albi, Brands Hatch, Clermont-Ferrand, Crystal Palace, Formula Junior, John Fenning, Lotus, Lotus 27, Mallory Park, Mike Spence, Monaco, Nurburgring, Pete Arundell, Reims, Ron Harris, Rouen-les-Essarts, Silverstone, Zandvoort, Zolder
Posted in Motor sport | Comments Closed
Motor sport (4)
The Lotus Hunter is proudly powered by WordPress
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3098
|
__label__wiki
| 0.939847
| 0.939847
|
PeopleSoft, IBM in $1B Bundling Venture
Tuesday Sep 21st 2004 by Michael Singer
The companies agree to a joint support and development program that puts WebSphere in every PeopleSoft platform.
SAN FRANCISCO -- UPDATED: In its quest to thwart Oracle's $7.7 billion hostile bid and remain a standalone company, PeopleSoft plans to partner with IBM for its middleware support, CEO Craig Conway said today.
During a company-sponsored conference here, the executive stood defiant of his ongoing battle with Oracle and highlighted how Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM fits into PeopleSoft's "Adaptive Business" vision.
"It is like a beautiful piece of music on the radio with static in the background," Conway said in reference to Oracle's hostile takeover plans. "This [deal with IBM] is one of the most significant enterprise applications alliance in history of the two companies."
Under the terms of the deal, Big Blue and PeopleSoft will together spend $1 billion during the next five years in order to bundle WebSphere middleware in every future shipment of PeopleSoft products at no additional charge to PeopleSoft customers.
The non-exclusive agreement also includes the establishment of a joint development and business process interoperability laboratory, which will allow PeopleSoft to standardize its applications on IBM's infrastructure. This will include core components of WebSphere Portal, WebSphere Business Integration, WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Studio Application Developer. IBM signed a similar agreement with JD Edwards before PeopleSoft acquired it.
The two companies have done some initial work in this area under the guise of Linux, but the long-term goal of the 70-plus-page letter of intent is to extend the relationship with advanced WebSphere products being made available from PeopleSoft.
"We're already working with doing a more modular type of architecture," Steve Mills, IBM senior vice president said during a press Q&A later. "It is not just a statement of people doing some tire kicking. There is a broad discussion in the business about how to make software applications more flexible. The good news is that we have the building blocks in place today. The challenge is to make it a smoother process."
Mills said the laboratory is a combination of existing centers in PeopleSoft's hometown of Pleasanton, California and various IBM offices. IBM employees are expected to be co-located to PeopleSoft headquarters to begin the process. The companies will help customers and partners adjust to the open standards-based Web services and service oriented architectures that both companies are adopting.
Best known for its HR and CRM products, PeopleSoft said it is looking to branch out with products formatted for what Conway calls an "Adaptive Business" model. The vision is in the third phase of development, of which the acquisition of JD Edwards was key. The CEO said every PeopleSoft application must be Web-enabled and take on a service oriented application approach. That kind of infrastructure needed a strong middleware layer -- hence the partnership with IBM.
Conway said the joint IBM/PeopleSoft products would be specifically marketed to three key sectors: telecom, financial services and insurance.
"We needed a strong middleware infrastructure partner, and I can't think of any better partner that has a middleware portfolio that is as strong as tungsten steel as IBM," Conway said. "Both companies are experts at what we do and we have eclipsed the competition."
IBM said it also intends to move PeopleSoft toward its Eclipse.org tools environment, which along with WebSphere focuses on standards like J2EE and XML. And while PeopleSoft is very pleased with the IBM partnership, Conway did not discount his company's other partners like HP and Sun.
"HP is one of our closest partners and a close customer but they do not have a middleware layer," Conway said. "Sun has a middleware layer and Microsoft has .NET and we will continue to support customers that are running either."
While the benefits for PeopleSoft are clear, analysts suggest it is unlikely that the alliance represents a significant revenue opportunity for IBM.
"Essentially, the announcement reveals PeopleSoft's strategy in the integration market -- and how it plans to compete with SAP's NetWeaver offering and Oracle's stack of integration technologies," Yankee Group analyst Mike Dominy told internetnews.com.
"A more significant announcement would have IBM becoming a bigger sales channel for PeopleSoft. For example, announcing that IBM was planning to make PeopleSoft its partner of choice in the mid-market and that IBM would bring PeopleSoft into IBM's impressive global mid-market customer base."
James Governor, a principal analyst at IT research firm RedMonk, told internetnews.com his take is that the IBM-PeopleSoft partnership was always going to play out exactly this way and that the Oracle case took PeopleSoft's eye off the IBM Partnership ball.
"We can safely assume that PeopleSoft is going to do everything in its power to encourage customers off the Oracle database," Governor said. "We can also assume IBM and PeopleSoft are now working together to establish financial instruments and poison pills to stop Oracle if they can -- there will be something contractual coming up -- thus [the statement in the release ] 'The companies intend to execute a definitive agreement governing the alliance in Q4 2004.' is a statement which looks for shorthand to say there is far more to this than a 'partnership'"
For now IBM will use PeopleSoft as a semi-permeable membrane allowing Big Blue to make application functionality sales to end users without raising the hackles of its other IT application partners. IBM has said it has no plans to enter the application marketplace, but that is just a definition -- the kind Governor said that might fool the Department of Justice but not Oracle or SAP.
"The fact is IBM was always going to deliver business process components within a middleware framework - kind of like a negative image of SAP, which is moving from monolithic apps that don't talk to one another, let alone other apps, to an integration centric vision called NetWeaver."
Fighting for its Life
The partnership comes in the midst of one of PeopleSoft's most tumultuous times. The company has acquired JD Edwards but has been fending off Oracle's hostile takeover bid for the past 15 months.
While IBM had historically expressed an interest in acquiring PeopleSoft and could still jump in as a higher bidder against Oracle's current $7.7 billion tender offer, Conway and Mills said neither company has an "ulterior motive" beyond serving their customers.
"Have you ever had a bad dream that wouldn't go away?" Conway lamented, referring to Oracle. "But [U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker's] decision means that this saga is going on. Most importantly it means that PeopleSoft will not be acquired by Oracle."
Conway pointed to a possible appeal by the Department of Justice, a pending investigation by the European Commission, PeopleSoft's shareholder's rights plan (the so-called "poison pill") and PeopleSoft's own $1 billion legal defense of the hostile takeover, which has now been delayed until January 10, 2005, as significant hurdles to a takeover.
A spokesperson for Oracle declined to comment on the IBM-PeopleSoft partnership. Oracle's takeover offer expires at the end of the month.
PeopleSoft said it is celebrating its largest conference audience ever with more than 1,500 customers and 900 business partners in attendance at its conference.
And while celebrating PeopleSoft's accomplishments with JD Edwards, Conway also pointed out some of the other difficulties in getting to where it is now. "We had some good intentions not well executed including having so many enhancements and product upgrade releases that customers were confused about which version to go with."
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3108
|
__label__wiki
| 0.674178
| 0.674178
|
Tortricidae
620445.00 – 3735 – Platynota larreana – (Comstock, 1939)
Powell, J. A. & J. W. Brown, 2012. The Moths of North America, Fascicle 8.1: p. 133; pl. F.3-8. order
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 19.44m; p. 155. Book Review and ordering
Species Page at BOLD: The Barcode of Life Data System
CalPhotos – © Jerry Powell
14mm – © U. S. National Museum
- 16mm – © U. S. National Museum
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3112
|
__label__cc
| 0.705422
| 0.294578
|
Council / News and Updates / Priority Projects / City Centre Revitalisation
The City Centre Revitalisation priority project involves working with the NSW Government and the private sector to deliver initiatives to revitalise Hunter Street and the city centre. This includes delivery of the light rail system, revitalisation of the old rail corridor, a new multi-purpose transport interchange at Wickham and activation of city streets and local centres.
Over the next few years Council will work alongside the NSW Government and the private sector to deliver initiatives to revitalise Hunter Street and the City Centre.
What works are currently happening?
Completed projects and how Council measures the success of projects.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3122
|
__label__cc
| 0.607454
| 0.392546
|
Boost for Government as PwC report shows corporation tax rate is 12.4pc
Posted November 24, 2014 by admin & filed under Practicenet News.
Ireland’s business tax system is the “most effective” in Europe, with a real corporation tax almost identical to the official 12.5pc rate.
A report from accountants PwC and the World Bank found that the real corporation tax rate in Ireland stands at 12.4pc, while the red tape associated with paying tax in Ireland compares favourably with just about every other EU country.
The report will likely be welcomed in Government circles, given the pressure the State has been under to increase its corporation tax rate.
The study – ‘Paying Taxes 2015’ – looked at how countries manage their tax regime and the overall burden companies face when complying with tax law and the frequency of payments a company has to make every year.
According to the study, a typical Irish company spends nearly half of its total commercial profit in taxes, spends two weeks dealing with its tax affairs and makes a tax payment nearly every six weeks.
Globally this compares to the typical company paying over a third of its commercial profit in taxes, spending over seven weeks dealing with its tax affairs and making a tax payment every two weeks.
As well as that, the report also shows clearly that Ireland’s official corporation tax rate is the closest to the “real rate” out of all Eurozone countries.
There is a difference of just 0.1pc between the official 12.5pc rate and real rate of 12.4pc.
That is in stark contrast to the likes of France, which has an official rate of 33.3pc but an effective rate of 7.4pc, and Luxembourg, where the official rate is 21pc but the real rate is only 4.2pc.
“Ireland is a strong, transparent, open, rules-based system,” said PwC Ireland head of tax Fergal O’Rourke.
“That means that no matter who you are, what you do and where you do it in the country, you get the same tax answer.”
Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said the Union’s plans for harmonising corporation tax rates is likely to be revisited next year.
The common consolidated corporate tax base has been discussed regularly by the EU since the financial crisis, but has never been followed through on because of difficulties agreeing the basic tax rate. However, after revelations about Luxembourg’s tax regime it is now likely to move back on the agenda.
“The college of commissioners will be anxious to have it on its work programme,” he said.
Content provided for OBI by PracticeNet.ie
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3132
|
__label__cc
| 0.577791
| 0.422209
|
HomePlayersManchester United handed absolutely massive derby day boost ahead of City game
Manchester United handed absolutely massive derby day boost ahead of City game
October 25, 2016 Jordan Street Players 0
Manchester United just cannot catch a break at the moment, with Jose Mourinho’s side losing another game in poor manner over the weekend. Things don’t get any easier either, with Pep Guardiola bringing his Manchester City side to Old Trafford for the second time of the season.
However, the noisy neighbours themselves aren’t in the greatest of form, and they could be missing their star man in Kevin de Bruyne, which is an absolutely huge blow.
Guardiola confirmed the news earlier today, whilst speaking to Sky Sports. He also added that Pablo Zabaleta is out missing, although Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero are in contention to start.
Although like us, City have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal, the absence of De Bruyne will certainly hit them hard. Manchester United will have to take advantage of that, and be at the absolute top of their game to right a few wrongs from the last derby.
If we play like we did in the second half against them last month then we’ll have no problems whatsoever, but we have to get at them and put them under pressure early.
Manchester United dealt another injury blow with star set to miss the derby tomorrow
4-3-3: Manchester United likely XI to face City in the derby – Martial as striker
Manchester United star undergoes knee operation, ruled out until March
February 4, 2018 Jordan Street Players 0
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Marouane Fellaini has undergone surgery on his knee, ruling him out until around the end of March. The 30-year-old midfielder picked up the issue in the second-half against Tottenham Hotspur, […]
Watch: Mourinho & Pogba in monumental training ground staredown…
September 26, 2018 Jordan Street Video 0
Is winter dawning upon Manchester? Or is the frosty atmosphere purely down to the relationship between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba… Well, winter is certainly coming, but at Manchester United, it may have already arrived. […]
Video: Jose Mourinho’s first Manchester United press conference in full
July 5, 2016 Jordan Street Video 0
Manchester United have officially unveiled Jose Mourinho as their third manager since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. The self-proclaimed Special One was in fine form, as he answered various questions about differing topics.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3136
|
__label__cc
| 0.732594
| 0.267406
|
Finally! Friday: Blacula
February 26, 2016 February 26, 2016 J. A. Finally! Friday, Movies
Why Finally? Like a surprising number of Hammer films* and (until last year) Universal horror pictures, 1972’s Blacula was one of those glaring gaps in my education—and this despite years of being told how good it is. A viewing was overdue, probably by decades.
The Premise: In the late 18th century, African prince Mamuwalde (the splendid William Marshall) goes on a diplomatic mission to Castle Dracula in an attempt to curb the slave trade. This goes badly, as trips to Castle Dracula tend to do, and Mamuwalde is cursed with vampirism, christened Blacula by Vlad himself, and locked in a coffin for 190 years. When the castle’s furnishings are bought by some decorators and shipped to Los Angeles, the vampire rises—and quickly finds a woman who looks just like his late wife.
Negotiations aren’t going so well.
There follows a game of cat and mouse—once the police finally realize a series of exsanguination deaths deserves fuller investigation—led by a romantically partnered pair of scientists. Are they too late to defeat the forces of the undead, or will Blacula reclaim his bride?
Let’s get this out of the way: the vamp makeup in Blacula is often distracting. Some of his victims are completely green, and there’s a wide range of fangs at varying angles on display. Our titular villain gets bizarre facial hair when he vamps out: I enjoyed this, since it seems closer to the hairy-palmed Dracula that Stoker originally dreamed up, but it can be startling.
It shouldn’t detract from the story, though, which gives us an excellent antihero in Blacula. He’s been genuinely mistreated, had everything he valued taken away, and despises his own nature; it’s just not enough to stop the body count from rising, or to stop him from fighting back. And did I mention William Marshall is magnificent?
Readers, if any, know how much I enjoy tracing influences among movies/TV/books, and Blacula is a gold mine. It may be the first movie in which a vampire is haunted by the reincarnation of his lost love (though TV’s Dark Shadows seems to have done it first), an idea by now endemic to vampires generally and Dracula stories in particular. There are tiny details that were lifted almost verbatim by Love At First Bite. And there’s even an appearance by Elisha Cook (credited without his Jr.) as a hook-handed pathologist who suffers the eventual fate of most characters played by Elisha Cook.
My only problems with Blacula, apart from the terrible makeup effects, are ones I have with a number of old horror films—especially the syndrome I like to call vampnesia. (Vampnesia is, of course, a disease common to characters in horror movies in which “everybody’s heard of Count Dracula!”—at least enough to make fun of the people claiming they just saw him— but the good guys still must find an occult expert or make a trip to the local library’s folklore section in order to beat the baddie. I will never understand this.) The movie also has a case of “things spontaneously burning” reminiscent of the flammable stone mansion in The Haunted Palace, but hey, movie fire is fun.
The Verdict: All those people I mentioned above were right: Blacula is an excellent horror movie as well as an interesting cultural artifact. Even while rooting for the mortals, I was sad to see him go (is that a spoiler in a vampire movie, really?) and glad that there’s Scream Blacula Scream to bring him back.
Might go well with: rare steak, good music, anything crocheted.
*At least the ones not called [Something Something Something] Dracula.
Next time: The Quest(s) for the temple.
Finally! Friday Movies Spooky
It reads. It writes. It watches. It researches. It overdoes many of those things!
The Quest For Monday! Part 19: For All You Nascent Supervillains
The Quest For Monday! Part 20: The Children Of The Night, And Also Race Bannon
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3137
|
__label__cc
| 0.563573
| 0.436427
|
MIA: In two days it’ll be two weeks since Mayor Bernard Carvalho pulled his little Friday afternoon press release scam to flim-flam those opposed to putting the bike path on Wailua Beach before he conveniently slipped town all to avoid answering questions about the bogus, mealy-mouth lie that the new plan will put the path on the highway and take it off the beach.
That was exacerbated the next day by the gross negligence by the local newspaper in presenting a patently false headline and a misleading article – one still not corrected or clarified- repeating the misleading words of the mayor’s press release without digging deeper to get to the truth of the matter.
It’s understandable that that ace reporter Michael Levine may have been confused at first but its inexcusable that there’s been no update to inform an ill-informed public, especially since the arbitrary “comment deadline” of Feb. 25, set by the administration, has come and gone.
Other than the “he said, she said” style quote from Judy Dalton late in the original article claiming it’s still on the beach there’s been no inkling in the paper of the fact that the path will still be on the beach, leading many of not most on the island to believe that the mayor has now miraculously given in and realigned the path to keep it off the beach.
While the on-line community has been on the story with our Steaming pile on bike path the following Monday, Joan Conrow’s visual depiction Tuesday and a widely distributed letter from Dalton on Wednesday it’s been nothing but silence from the primary news source and “newspaper of record” on the island except for a letter to the editor- one that seems unsure of itself- from Wendy Raebeck of Wailua yesterday.
But while the newspaper certainly should take some of the blame for perpetuating a lie it’s even more baffling as to what happened to the dozens of activists who brought the issue of burials to light and the hundreds if not thousands who were outraged enough to get the mayor to put out his bogus realignment announcement.
Were they similarly bamboozled? Have they just given up?
The officials in this county have shown that they will stonewall, obfuscate and even outright lie in order to get people to just go away so that they keep their corrupt little party going. And when we give up- as many apparently have in this instance- we become just another guard at the gates of the minotaur’s labyrinth.
We’ll be taking a long weekend again unless something really sets our hair on fire- see ya Monday.
Labels: Bernard Carvalho, Bike Path Kaua`i Corruption, Joan Conrow, Michael Levine, Minotaurs
REAL OPTIONS
REAL OPTIONS: As our readers- and anyone who’s seen a council meeting lately- know, one of the more power-drunk county officials is often demented County Attorney (CA) Al Castillo who last week thought it was within his purview to order someone testifying before the council to remove his hat.
Castillo is the latest in line of CA’s that have acted as political hacks and stooges for the council and mayor, following in the “law is what we say it is” footsteps of Hartwell Blake, Matthew Pyun and Lani Nakazawa who is currently serving Mayor Bernard Carvalho as his own private attorney and political “advisor”.
We’ve called for a charter amendment to elect the county attorney since the current 10-year-long charter review commission (CRC) first met in 2004 but it has escaped their radar screen due partially to the fact that the post-2006 members don’t seem capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time except for regurgitating an old seven-time rejected amendment for four-year council terms and other assorted Titanic seating-chart tinkering.
Today we received an advance copy of a letter from CRC watchdog Horace Stoessel making the case for an elected CA with a particularly pithy set of choices.
The county charter provides for the county attorney to be appointed by the mayor, with council approval, and to serve as the county’s chief legal adviser and legal representative.
The charter also mandates that the Charter Commission “study and review the operation of the county government under this charter” and propose amendments to the charter that it deems necessary or desirable.
Based on my observations of government operations and study of the charter, if the commission honors its mandate it has two options for proposing amendments regarding the county attorney’s office.
If the commission wants to bring the operations of the office into line with the charter, it should propose that the county attorney, like the prosecuting attorney, be elected for a four-year term, thereby freeing the office from having to serve not one but two political masters who are sometimes at odds with each other.
However, if the commission deems that the proper course is to bring the charter into line with current practice, it should propose adding a phrase to make the charter read, “chief legal adviser, legal representative, and political enforcer.”
For reasons too obvious to require spelling out, I favor a proposal for a four-year elected term.
Horace Stoessel
Labels: Al Castillo, Bernard Carvalho, Charter amendments, Hartwell Blake, Horace Stoessel, Lani Nakazawa
COUNCIL CONFIRMS B&C NOMINEES WITHOUT RELEASING APPLICATIONS, REFUSES KAWAHARA DEFERRAL REQUEST
(PNN)The county council continued to flout county charter provisions and state open meeting and records laws last Wednesday in approving two more board and commission (B&C) members despite a request for deferral by Councilperson Lani Kawahara.
Kawahara said that the Office of Board and Commissions (OBC) is currently working on a process for releasing properly redacted applications of prospective B&C members awaiting confirmation but Chair Kaipo Asing refused to allow her to make a motion to defer approval until they can be made available to the public before confirmation as the Office of Information Practices (OIP) has required.
Despite detailed testimony to the contrary from Rob Abrew who has been championing the issue for the past month County Attorney Al Castillo told the council there was no problem with the process and they could go ahead and vote on the confirmations, saying the OIP “are not necessarily right all the time” citing recent court cases won by the county against the OIP.
The OIP is charged by the state with oversight of the state’s open meeting (HRS 92 Section I) and records (HRS 92F) laws.
Kawahara asked Castillo “do you believe we’ve done due diligence in providing the public the information that’s supposed to be made public within a reasonable amount of time... so the public can comment (on nominees)?”
In response Castillo continually referenced “these fine people” awaiting confirmation saying to Kawahara that no violation of law has occurred and that “nothing should give you pause to question the process”.
Agreeing that all the applicants are all “fine people” Kawahara said that wasn’t the point of questioning the process for confirming the almost two dozen applicants that have been recently processed.
“I don’t have any confidence that the public was able to get information they would have needed to make comments on those nominees” she said.
Kawahara did however leave some hope that when the final two nominees come up for confirmation in two weeks the information might be forthcoming saying “I’ve worked with the offices involved (to assure) that this procedure is much clearer in the future.
“I was requesting that we would honor what will be going on in the future” she noted adding “Give and take between the (council and the) public is how we make decisions, not in a vacuum”
Councilmember Tim Bynum said he appreciated Abrew’s work on the matter and Kawahara’s follow-up saying that “good questions were raised” and noted that B&C administrator John Isobe “has already responded” and that “going forward we will have a clarified process” for redacting phone numbers and addresses and releasing the rest of the applications to the public when the agenda is published- as OIP told the council to do back in January 2005.
That opinion led the council to move interviews with prospective B&C members out of executive session and into the public purview although they still refuse to televise those interviews.
Abrew had requested the information contained in the applications - including employment, experience and potential conflicts of interest- in writing on Jan. 12 but had not received a written response as of this morning, well exceeding the 10 day window for response to a record request under the state law.
The matter was brought to light by Abrew after noting that county charter provisions require that no B&C have more than a “bare majority” of members of any particular political party.
It is still unknown if the new process will include that information and how those memberships- or lack thereof- will be confirmed with the parties.
For more background information see previous PNN reports:
Monday, January 11, 2010(PNN) ABREW FILES WRITTEN RECORDS, CLARIFICATION REQUESTS WITH COUNTY CLERK AT OIP’S URGINGFriday, January 8, 2010(PNN) COUNCIL IGNORES, FLOUTS OIP IN CONFIRMING BOARD, COMMISSION MEMBERS
Labels: Al Castillo, Boards and Commissions, John Isobe, Kaipo Asing, Lani Kawahara, OIP, Rob Abrew, Tim Bynum
LAPPIN’ IT RIGHT UP
LAPPIN’ IT RIGHT UP: Intellectuals and philosophy mavens can spend hours in sophomoric sophistry asking each other the question “if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound?”.
Let us clue you in- of course it freakin’ does... what are you a freakin’ moron?” (it seems to be that kind of week).
The ease with which people are bamboozled and bewildered comes to mind because what nobody seems to want to admit in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing corporations to flood elections with cash is that if Americans weren’t too-stupid-to-live and as easily swayed as the mythical soundless trees they wouldn’t be influenced by all the bogus, distracting advertising bought by company capital.
So which is it? Are “American voters are smart enough to see though all the nonsense” as some suck-up pols suggest? Or is it that “you can never underestimate the intelligence of the American voter.”
Only the silent tree toppling proponents could pick the former.
But what can you expect from a country that can’t tell that a “person” is a flesh and blood human being and not a piece of paper with the words “corporate charter” written on it?
Corporate personhood goes back to an 1886 Supreme Court Case, Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad and this absurd notion is behind yesterday’s Orwellian “free speech for those who can’t speak” piece of true fascist flack.
Many in the progressive movement are busy today promoting a narrow constitutional amendment dealing with banning corporate cash in elections but a small cadre including Howard Zinn, Bill Moyer, Tom Hayden, Jim Hightower, Medea Benjamin and dozens of others have put together a “Move To Amend” web site and petition to “firmly establish... that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights”.
But then again to think that a constitutional amendment under what passes for democracy in the USA Inc. is in the realm of reality probably means joining that confederacy of dunces who debates noiseless arboreal thickets.
Labels: Corporate governance, Corporate Personhood, What am I- a freakin' idiot?
COMING HOME TO ROOST
COMING HOME TO ROOST: It never fails to amaze us how the level of satisfaction of a “we told you so” moment is inversely proportional to the time elapsed.
Nevertheless it’s another somewhat empty cut-off-your-nose-to-spite-your-face victory today as "Earthjustice" is finally going to sue KIUC for it’s diligent lack of action in protecting endangered Hawaiian petrel and Newell’s shearwater, according to an article in today’s local newspaper.
As the article reports, according to a press release:
(Earthjustice attorney David) Henkin said a “series of recommendations” — such as lowering power lines, attaching lines to bridges, switching from a vertical array of wires to a “traditional” T configuration and planting trees which shield lines — provided to Kaua`i Electric in 1995 have yet to be taken up by KIUC.
And surprise-surprise- KIUC’s response has been to file for permits to continue to kill birds rather than acting on the recommendations.
But whether through the cost of complying with the law or the “$50,000... that each violation of seabird take is subject to” it’s going to cost co-op members a pretty penny.
The irksome part is that we shouldn’t have to be paying for it.
It all harkens back to the original purchase from Kaua`i Electric and the price paid which, even after it was lowered once was still quite obviously as much as twice what it was worth.
And one of the liabilities that the “nitpickers” predicted would come back to bite us in the ass was that very 1995 list of unfollowed recommendations.
As a matter of fact it was at that point that the people fighting for a reduced price were first called “nitpickers” by then Mayor Maryanne Kusaka who had been busy flip-flopping her Republican butt on the purchase because the original board was comprised of Democratic machine honchos and whatever they wanted she didn’t.
The original purchasing board and their slick-talking honcho Gregg Gardiner and his stooge Walt Barnes simply ignored the all research, facts and figures presented by the about a dozen members of the public including the “birds liability” and the facts about members’ potential liability for the cleanup of the toxic waste dump underneath the `Ele`ele power plant, as PNN reported in 2002.
Stay tuned- there are plenty of other little surprises-on-the-rug to come as KIUC continues the be the gift that keeps on taking. As some said at the time of the pig-in-a-poke, “elephant?- what elephant?” purchase, they should have paid us to take KE off their hands.
Labels: Democrats, Gregg Gardiner, KIUC, Maryanne Kusaka, Republicans, Walt Barnes
WHIPLASH: The use of tasers by police and what constitutes “excessive force” has caught our attention lately as it’s been impossible to find out what KPD’s policy was and/or is in light of a recent federal 9th Circuit Court ruling in Bryan v. McPherson which limited their use.
That’s why a Maui news headline- reprinted in the Honolulu Advertiser in place of their own neighbor island coverage- that said Maui officer's use of Taser on woman not excessive, court rules.
Seems the use is on a case by case basis with limits on both ends being established on the fly.
But it was the very last paragraph of the story that really caught our attention saying:
Former Deputy Corporation Counsel Laureen Martin argued the case. Deputies Corporation Counsel Richard B. Rost and Cheryl Tipton also represented the officers and county.
Now there’s something- in fact a couple of things- that we’d fall over backward in our chair if we read on Kaua`i.
The first is that they actually went, not just to trial but, to an appeal to the 9th Circuit “in house”- using county employees rather than hiring outside attorney’s at whopping prices as our “county attorney’s” office routinely (make that always) does.
The second is of course the “corporation counsel” system employed in every other county in the state.
It comes on the same days an another entry from seemingly blind and deaf Judge Al Laureta asking what specifically is wrong with our charter despite our treatises on the subject.
Although he asks in the context of the county manager proposal, a reorganization of the broken county attorney (CA) section of the charter is a good place to start.
One of the main problems is the inherent conflict embedded in our charter that empowers the CA to provide all legal advice to both the council and administration yet places the CA’s office within the administration giving the council little or no say- other than confirmation- in the department.
Reform of the CA’s office- whether electing the CA under the current set up or restructuring under a "corp counsel" system- seems a no brainer yet it has never been on the radar screen for the charter review commission (CRC).
The current system has been costing us millions every year to hire Honolulu law firms. It’s about time to see if the CRC can walk and chew gum at the same time and if not, instead of pouring their time into re-asking for the umpteenth time about four year council terms and fighting against putting effort into putting together an appropriate county manager proposal they might concentrate on fixing the most broken of all county departments.
Yesterday we inadvertently left out a link under “problems with the county’s sustainability plan” to Jan TenBruggencate’s piece on the subject, New county energy sustainability plan draft released which identifies many of the troublesome aspects much better than we could including the use of the word ridiculous and annoying word “disincentivize.”
Labels: Charter amendments, County Manager, Judge Alfred Laureta, Kaua`i Bus
CHASING THE BUS
CHASING THE BUS: The screamin’ meemies are out in me-me force over the county’s energy sustainability study and it’s proposed fiddy-cent a gallon gas tax, ignoring the rest of the idiotic study which pooh-poohs windmills and extols an incinerator to generate electricity despite the proven lack of enough trash to make it cost effective even if we foolishly burned all our recyclables.
The main problem with the 50c fuel tax is what they would use it for- promoting the interim technology of hybrid cars.
But apparently even those that get that the idea can be a good one in order to provide public transportation seem to be blind as to what is really necessary to get people out of their cars and onto the bus.
The newspaper article on the presentation of the plan to the council reports the expected knee-jerk politically expedient reaction of most of the councilmembers by headlining “Members criticize ‘ridiculous’ 50-cent fuel tax proposal”.
But it also reports that at least one councilmember gave it due consideration reporting
Councilwoman Lani Kawahara agreed with the goal of the fuel tax but said it is too much, too soon...
“I don’t think we’ve provided enough options besides automobile transportation for us to be able to even consider doing a 50-cent gasoline tax right now,” she said. “Unless we get a bus system that runs 24 hours or every day including Sundays, that would be something that should happen first, I would think.”
Although she didn’t make the connection of using the tax to support a “bus system that runs 24 hours or every day including Sundays” a least she’s connecting it to a “full service” bus system.
Juxtapose that with KIUC board member and founder of Apollo Kaua`i founder Ben Sullivan’s weekend letter-to-the-editor that did make the connection but also came up a bit short on thinking it through.
After pointing out that for most people, especially in this recession, “it’s gonna be quite a while before we can afford to buy a new car, especially one that carries a price premium like a hybrid or a yet-to-be-seen plug-in hybrid” he does propose an expansion of the bus saying “(o)ne suggestion that has come to the surface is to allocate a major portion of the revenue to fund dramatic improvements to the Kaua`i Bus”.
The problem is that his “vision” still has cars in it. He writes
You jump in your car in the morning (or on your bike) to drive to a nearby park and ride, and board the bus for your daily commute to work. You don’t have to worry about the schedule because it runs every 15 minutes during morning and evening rush hour. You have a bus pass through your employer’s special discount program for employees. They offer it so they can preserve valuable parking for customers, help their employees during hard times, and to get a tax break. Instead of white knuckling it through traffic, you ride in to work sipping hot coffee (with a no-spill lid) and use the on-board Wi-Fi to check your e-mail. The bus drops you off only a block from your job. Late day at the office? No problem. The last bus isn’t until 9:30 at night. Hey, you can even ride to church on Sundays with your neighbors because of new expanded weekend bus service. With a bus system like this, we might even see a return to one-car families who can save thousands of dollars annually between insurance, car payments, maintenance and, of course, gasoline.
The solution runs down the middle of Kawahara and Sullivan’s apparitions.
The only way to reduce the number of cars is to provide a level of service that will enable people to live without owning a car. It really comes down to that and that alone.
Who the heck is going to buy- or really invest in- a car and then get in it to drive a quarter mile to leave it in a parking lot all day and then take the bus?
The answer is no one. With the exception of a few who either buy into Ben’s leisurely ride concept or even fewer hardcore socially and environmentally conscious, if you own a car you’re going to drive it.
Right now, especially with the service/tourism jobs on Kaua`i that depend on shift work, people have to have a car. The bus doesn’t run 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it doesn’t serve enough residential areas.
And that’s just for work. People go out in the evening, sometimes returning late. They go out on weekends. Even if you don’t do it very often it’s reason enough to own a car.
Also people need to be able to carry packages on public transportation, another self-inflicted wound the current system has imposed for no particular reason except for the clout of the rent-a-car and taxi lobbies.
In order to make it practical to live without a vehicle the bus must run 24/7 even if it only comes once an hour after midnight. And in order to make it available to people who live in residential areas off the main highway it must expand into all of the major and even some minor feeder roads in the mostly mauka but sometime makai (such as in Kalaheo) districts.
A few years back when the legislature gave Honolulu the ability to fund public transportation via a half-a-percent excise tax we asked around among some reps and sens about giving the neighbor islands that option even though we usually eschew regressive taxes.
All said it’s a non-starter unless and until the counties ask them for it.
Unless and until that day the Kaua`i bus is going to be a useless appendage because people will be forced to own a car for the times when “da bus no more come”.
And if we own them we will use them. It’s really that simple.
Labels: Ben Sullivan, Kaua`i Bus, Lani Kawahara
ANOTHER STEAMING PILE ON THE BIKE PATH
ANOTHER STEAMING PILE ON THE BIKE PATH: When confronted with government snow-jobs we’ve often asked “what are we- a bunch of freakin’ idiots”.
The answer this weekend is apparently yes because somehow many if not most of the people opposing putting the bike path on a boardwalk on Wailua Beach are apparently convinced that the “new alignment”- craftily announced by Mayor Bernard Carvalho and his “brains”, Beth Tokioka- will no longer be on the beach but on the highway.
Apparently that is a bunch of shibai.
The only thing that has changed is that the path will now be a permanent strip of concrete rather than the “removable boardwalk” that was originally put in place because a permanent sidewalk on the beach would have been considered a “hardening of the shoreline” requiring an almost impossible to obtain Army Corps of Engineers permit.
The first step in the misdirection came in the form of the local newspaper’s Friday article faithfully rehashing the carefully written county release.
The headline falsely stated “Mayor shifting path from beach to highway” and the article doesn’t refute that statement.
A careful examination of the county press release shows that it never actually states that the new “alignment” will not be on the beach. And actually, if you read between the lines, it says it will.
The relevant portions of the release says:
(T)he proposed alignment for the Wailua Beach section will be shifted from the beach to the right-of-way on the makai side of Kūhi‘ō Highway...
(T)he mayor told the groups (he met with Friday), “As a result of all of the input we’ve received, I’ve decided to move forward on a makai alignment, keeping the path within the Kūhiō Highway right-of-way.”...
In the new design, the existing rock wall will be removed and a replacement barrier will be constructed as an integral part of the path.
“We are hopeful that this adjustment addresses many of the concerns raised by the community,” said the mayor...
In aligning the path within the highway right-of-way, the path will be constructed of concrete at a depth of just 18 inches, even shallower than that of the adjacent roadway.
“There will be no additional drilling or ‘augers’ required,” said Building Division Superintendent Doug Haigh.
Notice how it sounds like it is going to be where the highway pavement and wall are currently located. Nowhere does it say it will not be on the beach anymore, only that “there will be no additional drilling or ‘augers’ required”.
The article in the local newspaper is careful not to say what the headline does and does not make clear where exactly it will be but it does contain the first hint that all may not be as it appears.
Way down towards the end Mike Levine- who may or may not have written the headline but was not at the Friday meeting where the Mayor announced the “change”, according to participants- reports:
(I)t’s still on the beach,” Judy Dalton said Friday evening.“As long as it’s still on the beach, we feel that the alternate route described in the environmental assessment as one of the three alternatives ... on the canal behind Coco Palms would be the least impactful, environmentally and culturally,” Dalton said.
According to some who attended the meeting Friday at which Carvalho “met with representatives of several Hawaiian groups” according to the county release, the issue of exactly where the path would be was presented in a manner seemingly designed to make the matter “as clear as mud”.
Some of the confusion centered around the use of the word “shoulder” which many took to mean the paved shoulder off the highway itself but still on the paved portion- a “shoulder” currently used for a “bike lane”.
But upon questioning it became apparent that the shoulder the officials were talking about was the “soft” shoulder adjacent to the paved portion defining the “shoulder” they were talking about as “where the pavement ends”.
Another key in the misdirection is that it may well be that the state’s “right of way” is not limited to the paved highway itself with part of it extending onto the beach. Although the exact location is not addressed in either the article or the press release, the “on the right of way” statement has led many to believe that the “right of way” mentioned as the location of the realignment was on the paved highway itself.
Looking at two maps on the county web site is a joke. Both are crisscrossed with seemingly meaningless, unlabeled lines all over the place with no clearly marked “new alignment” much less the old one.
As if to prove the extent to which the public has been duped, a letter to the editor appeared over the weekend from one of those who has been calling on the mayor to change the alignment to get it off the beach.
What with the headline in the paper and the carefully parsed county release it’s understandable that Jimmy Trujillo wrote:
The mayor’s decision to stay off the sand but stay on the roadside is a compromise that warrants support.
It may be one of the few times in the short time I’ve lived on Kaua`i that a government leader has demonstrated any kind of respect to the kupuna leaders and cultural practitioners of the host culture.
The first irony in all this is that a perfectly good bike path exists right now on the makai side of the highway on the pavement- the spot many are erroneously thinking the “new alignment” would put the path.
The problem is that there’s only so much room to put the new four lane highway and for some reason the county has never pursued acquiring land on the mauka “Coco Palms” side of the highway despite the countless permits and extensions issued to the land owners
The second is that the concept of a “removable” boardwalk came about precisely because a permanent concrete sidewalk on the beach would have been an approval nightmare with not just the Army Corp but various state and county agencies who were sold the idea on the basis of a removable boardwalk, not a permanent concrete ribbon.
The county recently passed a bill exempting itself from our “strictest in the nation” shoreline setback laws under some circumstances. Changes in the path should trigger a new “certified shoreline” especially considering that waves commonly deposit sand on the highway during large storms.
Going back to the original unacceptable concrete-on-the-beach idea reminds us of the joke about the guy who eats at Luigi’s Italian restaurant every day and with his meal he is served two slices of Italian bread.
“Luigi” he asks “What’s with the two slices- how come your so stingy with the beard every day”.
The next day Luigi serves him four slices and the man still isn’t happy and wants more. The next day Luigi gives him six and the man still complains.
Finally the next day Luigi takes the whole Italian loaf and slices it down the center the long way and serves it to his customer.
The man looks at Luigi and says “What, Luigi- you’re back to the two slices. eh?”
Can’t anyone here play this game?
Labels: Beth Tokioka, Bike Path, Can't anyone here play this game?, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Michael Levine, What am I- a freakin' idiot?
...GANG AFT AGLEY
...GANG AFT AGLEY: The dysfunctionality of the corrupt crony-riddled board and commission (B&C) system on Kaua`i is not a new issue.
Prior to 2004 members were like babes in the woods, usually flung into their positions with no idea what they were supposed to do, getting on-the-job training confined to whatever dysfunctionality the current members had adopted from their predecessors.
They were selected via a closed secretive process by the mayor and interviewed in secret by the county council before an open confirmation with the public receiving little more than the name of the prospective appointees.
Most didn’t know the sunshine law from a hole in the ground and were surprised to find out they needed agendas- much less ones published and posted six days in advance- to meet and that the public was not just allowed to attend but were to be given the opportunity to testify regarding any and all agenda items.
It was so bad that the charter review commission (CRC) of that year decided that a skilled administrator and staff was needed to bring some cohesion and sunshine to the system.
But under B&C Administrator John Isobe most observers agree that if anything the lack of transparency and independence of members has gone from bad to worse with an administrator unskilled in anything but obfuscation and public relations keeping the selection process hidden, documents unreleased or difficult to obtain- one who sees open meetings and public input as a nuisance and foists that attitude on business and development oriented B&C members all too willing to help him do his dirty work for the administration.
The charter amendment- which, along with any and all amendments from the 2006 and 2008 are unavailable at the county web site, even on the non-updated page where the charter appears- was carefully drafted by the CRC to do a few things.
One was to select someone with skills and experience in doing the job.
The amendment on the ballot read:
There shall be a boards and commissions administrator and any necessary staff. The administrator shall have such training, education or experience as shall qualify the administrator to perform the duties described in this section.
Though the qualifications are pretty general it’s hard to see how Isobe meets them. Rather, a look at his past shows him to be a PR flack and himself a crony of the past three administrations.
A UH graduate and “lifelong” Hawai`i resident Isobe first shows up in 1996 as a spokesperson for Princeville corporation during a time of conflict with the homeowners there over various issues.
Though the dates are unclear his first stint with the county was as Deputy Finance Director under the Kusaka administration and was appointed to a state community-based economic development advisory council in 2006.
He was also a member of the infamous Kaua`i Economic Development Board under disgraced head Gary Baldwin who started the business-friendly pro-development board promoting a staunch chamber of commerce agenda until Baldwin left in disgrace after it was revealed that he was a wanted for running a financial scam on the mainland.
Then having proved himself adept at defending large and powerful corporations he held a positions at Kaua`i Community College (KCC) serving as director of the Kauai Rural Development Project where he developed “F.A.R.M... a strategy to bring the Kauai business community together through education” according to the Pacific Business Journal (PBJ) article in 2001.
That led to a job as training coordinator in the Office of Continuing Education and Training at KCC where, rather than offering traditional academic courses, he was part of a push to serve “business organizations, visitor bureau, chamber of commerce and (the) work-force investment board” telling PBJ in 2003 “’We are in constant contact with people in the industry and our courses revolve around their needs’" .
How that constitutes “training, education or experience as shall qualify” him to be B&C Administrator is anyone’s guess. It certainly qualifies him to know all the pro- development cronies in the Chamber of Commerce-KEDB crowd in order to make sure the B&Cs are stacked to reflect and protect their interests.
One of the most important parts of the amendment was what the administrator was supposed to do and the CRC made sure that open governance principles were to be one of the more important functions.
The charter amendment reads in part:
The administrator shall assist in providing administrative and operational support to the various county boards and commissions. Such support shall include, but not be limited to: assisting in the recruitment, orientation, education, and training of board or commission members regarding their powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities under the charter... (and) helping to educate such members about applicable state and county ethics laws and the State Sunshine Law... (emphasis added).
But the words “sunshine law” never appear at the county web site’s B&C page. Instead here’s Isobe’s blurb at the top of the B&C page:
Kauai County's 16 boards and commissions are comprised of 116 volunteer board members and commissioners who oversee and make critical decisions about key County functions and groups. Volunteers who serve on Kauai County boards and commissions are the best in their fields, local leaders, and valuable, knowledgeable resources. They give an extraordinary amount of time to serve in these roles each year and make both personal and professional sacrifices to do so. Because of this and the weight of their responsibilities to our community, they are among Kauai's treasures.
Instead of trying to recruit everyday citizens who have no preconceived notions- and especially no conflicts of interests in “their fields”- rather he seeks to find the “best in their fields, local leaders, and valuable, knowledgeable resources”- a euphemism for well connected people with a lot to lose if they offend the mayor, who can be counted on to “not rock the boat”... also known as his and the mayors cronies, supporters and campaign contributors, which includes Isobe.
Want more proof? Just look at the notice posted for the first B&C training session this year, scheduled for January 29th, on the “Role Of The Board/Commission Member”.
For some incredibly tone deaf reason it is not itself “agendaed” as a government meeting but rather is printed on Kaua`i Chamber of Commerce stationary and is apparently sponsored by the business promotion organization “Leadership Kaua`i”.
Among the topics covered are:
...your duties and responsibilities as a board or commission member, tips on what resources and materials are available (i.e. charter, county and state laws), general provisions of the law, standards of ethical conduct, guidelines on effective communications (and) basic parliamentary procedure.
The importance of transparency, open meetings and records and public testimony are not to be found.
This is exactly the attitude that former Board of Ethics member Rolf Bieber spoke of, especially the attitude among B&C members that they are the elite and know better than the common rabble whose testimony should be tolerated only because it is required by law- a law they are barely aware of.
John Isobe is the exact opposite of what a B&C administrator should be and is a disgrace to democracy and good governance. His resignation and replacement with a trained manager- one experienced in facilitating communication between citizen volunteers and members of the public- can only be a positive for Kaua`i which at deserves to have the charter amendment they passed honored.
We’ve gotta get outta the house tomorrow and Friday. Unless we feel especially ambitious we’ll be back Monday.
Labels: Administration Secrecy, Boards and Commissions, John Isobe, Rolf Bieber, Sunshine law
TRANSLUCENCY
TRANSLUCENCY: We mouth off a lot about the complete lack of transparency in county government and maintain it’s not just a matter of the buffoonish bungling of incompetent imbeciles but a concerted, concentrated effort by a cabal of connected, conniving cronies to treat citizens like mushrooms by keeping them in the dark and feeding them bullshit.
It not just the unfathomable need to delay and stonewall the release of documents or the penchant of board and commissions- including of course the county council- to jump into executive session to hide politically sensitive deliberations.
It’s the way even the most basic information is kept under wraps even in the information age.
Ever try to find a complete list and directory of all county employees or, more to the point under current scrutiny, the complete list of board and commission members at the county web site?
Don’t bother looking. There’s not a link to be found and the search box is, as anyone who has tried to use it will tell you, worthless.
But today, while researching one of the more persistent guards at the gates of the Minotaur’s labyrinth, up popped the county directory which, although outdated by many months, elicits at least the heads and deputies of all the various departments and agencies as well as the members of all boards and commissions.
We’re not sure that once we provide the pdf link it won’t magically change so we are posting it in full today so the next time you’re getting the all-American runaround- sending you from department to agency, from civil servant to appointed bureaucrat- you can use the search box at the top of this page to find the person, department, board or commissions you’re looking for.
Here’s the directory as of March 11, 2009 when it was last modified. Spelling of all words and names are as listed by CofK. Boards and Commissions are listed under the department to which they are administratively attached.
http://www.kauai.gov
4396 Rice Street
Lihue, Hawaii 96766
COUNTY COUNCIL (7) (12-01-10)
CHAIR..BILL "KAIPO" ASING (D) ....241-6371
Vice-chair.......Jay Furfaro (D)....... 241-6371
Tim Bynum (D)....... 241-6371
Dickie Chang (D).... 241-6371
Daryl Kaneshiro (D).. 241-6371
Lani Kawahara (D) .... 241-6371
Derek Kawakami (D)......... 241-6371
Peter A. Nakamura ......... 241-6371
Deputy County Clerk.....Ernest Pasion.... 241-6371
Mo‘ikeha Building
4444 Rice Street, Suite 235
MAYOR ...BERNARD P. CARVALHO, JR. (D) ....(12-01-10) .. 241-4900
e-mail: mayor@kauai.gov
Administrative Assistant......Gary Heu.......... 241-4900
Executive Assistant..............Beth Tokioka ....241-4900
Executive Assistant..............Lani Nakazawa..241-4900
Administrative Aide ............Kaui Tanaka...... 241-4900
Public Information Officer ..Mary Daubert ... 241-4900
Staff Services Assistant .......Soncy Tamashiro 241-4900
Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator....Christina Pilkington... 241-6203
Anti-Drug Coordinator...Theresa Koki...... 241-4925
OFFICE OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
4444 Rice Street, Suite 150, Lihue 96766
ADMINISTRATOR.....JOHN ISOBE ...... 241-4918
Administrative Aide ...Cyndi Ayonon ....... 241-4922
BOARD OF ETHICS (7)
Chair ...........Leila Fuller (12-31-10)
Vice-chair....Mark Hubbard (12-31-10)
Secretary .....Christiane Nakea-Tresler (12-31-10)
.Rolf Bieber.......(12-31-09)
Robert Farias.....(12-31-10)
Judith Lenthall...(12-31-09)
Paul Weil.......... (12-31-11)
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION (7)
Barbara Bennett......... (12-31-09)
Jonathan Chun............(12-31-09)
Sherman Shiraishi......(12-31-11)
Carol Suzawa.............(12-31-11)
Leonard Vierra...........(12-31-10)
Matie Yoshioka......... (12-31-10)
COST CONTROL COMMISSION (7)
Chair ..........Tore Wistrom (12-31-09)
Vice-chair...Randy Finlay (12-01-10)
Benjamin Bregman (12-31-09)
Nadine Nakamura (12-31-10)
Lorna Nishimitsu (12-31-11)
Sandy Sterker (12-31-11)
Michelle Swartman (12-31-09)
COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
Chair ............Lisa Ellen Smith (12-31-11)
Vice-chair.....Regina Carvalho (12-31-11)
Secretary .....Uli‘i Castor (12-31-11)
Members......E. Kanani Alapa (12-31-10)
Mylie Alu (12-31-09)
Jade Battad (12-31-10)
JoAnne Georgi (12-31-09)
Cherie Mooy (07-31-09)
Ann Punohu (12-31-09)
Renee Sadang (12-31-11)
Valerie Yadao (12-31-09)
Ex-officio
Darla Abbatiello (Kauai Police Department)
Malcolm Fernandez (Personnel Director)
Peter Nakamura (County Clerk's Office)
Mamo Cummings Graham (State Commissioner)
SALARY COMMISSION (7)
Chair ......Gini Kapali (12-31-09)
1st Vice-chair...Randy Hee (12-31-11)
2nd Vice-chair...Thomas Cooper (12-31-11)
Bob Crowell (12-31-10)
Trinette Kaui (12-31-11)
Dawn Murata (12-31-10)
Allan Smith (12-31-09)
AGENCY ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ON AGING...KEALOHA TAKAHASHI....241-4470
CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
3990 Kaana Street, Suite 100, Lihue 96766
CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATOR..MARK MARSHALL ... 241-1800
Plans & Operations Officer ..Clifford Ikeda.....241-1800
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY
ACTING COUNTY ATTORNEY ..DARREN SUZUKI... 241-6315
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR....GEORGE COSTA..... 241-4946
Film Commissioner...Art Umezu ..... 241-4946
Energy Extension Coordinator ...Glenn Sato ..241-4946
Agriculture Specialist ..Charles W. Spitz ...... 241-4946
Tourism Specialist ..Nalani Brun ................... 241-4946
DIRECTOR....WALLACE REZENTES, JR. ..... 241-4200
DEPUTY DIRECTOR .....BELMA BARIS ........ 241-6565
COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW (5)
Chair ............Benjamin Lizama, Jr. (12-31-10)
Vice-chair.....Richard Koenig, Jr. (12-31-11)
Craig DeCosta (12-31-11)
Cayetano "Sonny" Gerardo (12-31-11)
Eric Nordmeier (12-31-09)
FIRE CHIEF.....ROBERT WESTERMAN ....241-4980
DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF ....JOHN BLALOCK.... 241-4980
FIRE COMMISSION (7)
Chair ..........George Simpson (12-31-11)
Vice-chair...Darnney Proudfoot (12-31-10)
Guy Croydon (12-31-10)
Basilio Fuertes (12-31-09)
Linda Kaauwai-Iwamoto (12-31-09)
Wayne Mukai (12-31-11)
Jan Rudinoff (12-31-09)
COUNTY OF KAUAI HOUSING AGENCY
DIRECTOR...EUGENE JIMENEZ.... 241-4444
Executive on Housing ....Kenneth Rainforth .... 241-4444
DEPARTMENT OF LIQUOR CONTROL
DIRECTOR.....ERIC HONMA ....241-4966
LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION (7)
Chair ..........Clifford Nakea (12-31-11)
Vice-chair...Gerald Matsunaga (12-31-09)
Shirley Akita (12-31-10)
William Gibson (12-31-10)
Gary Pacheco (12-31-11)
Myles Shibata (12-31-10)
Pauline Ventura (12-31-09)
4444 Rice Street, Lihue 96766
DIRECTOR....LEONARD RAPOZO, JR. ... 241-4456
DEPUTY DIRECTOR .....KYLAN DELA CRUZ... 241-4456
DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL SERVICES
DIRECTOR.......MALCOLM FERNANDEZ .... 241-4956
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (7)
Chair .........Rick Haviland, Jr. (06-30-09)
Vice-chair...Lani Aranio (12-31-10)
Suzanne Aquiar (12-31-10)
Gilbert F. Maerina (12-31-10)
Ann Sokei (12-31-10)
Cathy Adams (12-31-11)
Ryan Dela Pena (12-31-09)
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
DIRECTOR....IAN COSTA... 241-6677
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ..IMAI KALANI AIU...... 241-6677
Chair/Architecture.....Patricia Sheehan (12-31-09)
Vice-chair/Hawaiian Culture .....Kaimi Molly Summers (12-31-11)
Alan E. Faye, Jr. (12-31-10)
L. Kehaulani Kekua (12-31-09)
Dennis Alkire (12-31-11)
Hawaiian Culture
Danita Aiu (12-31-11)
Randolph Wichman (12-31-09)
Chair/Environmentalist ...James Nishida (12-31-10)
Vice-chair/Business .....Caven Raco (12-31-09)
Camilla Matsumoto (12-31-09)
Kurt Akamine (12-31-10)
Herman Texeira (12-31-10)
Hartwell Blake (12-31-11)
Jan Kimura (12-31-11)
PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE & NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND COMMISSION (9)
Chair/At-Large ........Roger Caires (12-31-11)
Vice-chair/At-Large...Caren F. Diamond (05-01-11)
Anahola-Haena .....Beryl Blaich (05-01-10)
At-Large....Johanna Gomez (12-31-10)
Hanapepe-Eleele..Jean Nishida Souza (05-01-09)
Kapaa-Wailua......Eugene Punzal (12-31-10)
Koloa-Kalaheo....Theresita Kinnaman (05-01-09)
Lihue-Hanamaulu...Puna Dawson (12-31-09)
Waimea-Kekaha ...Randall Uyehara (12-31-09)147
CHIEF OF POLICE....DARRYL PERRY ... 241-1600
DEPUTY CHIEF .......MARK BEGLEY ..... 241-1602
POLICE COMMISSION (7)
Chair ..........Russell Grady (12-31-10)
Vice-chair...Charles Fulks, Jr. (12-31-09)
Leon Gonsalves (12-31-09)
Thomas Iannucci (12-31-11)
Alfred Nebre (12-31-11)
Rowena Tachibana (12-31-09)
COUNTY ENGINEER....DONALD FUJIMOTO..... 241-4922
DEPUTY COUNTY ENGINEER .....ED RANAUD...241-4922
Solid Waste Coordinator..........Troy Tanigawa ......... 241-4839
CHIEF OF BUILDING.....DOUGLAS HAIGH....... 241-4854
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
CHIEF OF ENGINEERING.....WALLACE KUDO ..... 241-4883
DIVISION OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE
CHIEF OF FIELD OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE...RYAN NISHIKAWA.... 241-4847
DIVISION OF WASTEWATER
CHIEF OF WASTEWATER ....EDWARD TSCHUPP.... 241-6610
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS (7)
Chair/Engineering.....Larry Dill (12-31-09)
Vice-chair/Fire ...Michael S. Kano (12-31-10)
At-Large.....Jose Diogo (12-31-09)
Building.....Rodney Pascua (12-31-09)
Electrical....Norbert Watanabe (12-31-09)
Fire .....__________________
Plumber...Gaylord Fukumoto (12-31-10)
KAUAI WAR MEMORIAL CONVENTION HALL
4191 Hardy Street, Lihue 96766
HALL MANAGER...EDWARD SARITA... 241-6623
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY
EXECUTIVE ON
TRANSPORTATION ...JANINE RAPOZO..... 241-6410
DEPARTMENT OF WATER
4398 Pualoke Street, Lihue 96766
ACTING MANAGER &
CHIEF ENGINEER...WYNNE USHIGOME...245-5408
BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY (7)
Chair ........Leland Kahawai (12-31-10)
Vice-chair...Randall Nishimura (12-31-10)
Secretary .....Dee Crowell (12-31-09)
Roy Oyama (12-31-09)
Ex-officio (voting)
Ian Costa (Planning Director)
Donald Fujimoto (County Engineer)
Raymond McCormick (Acting Engineer Program Manager, State Dept. of Transportation)
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
3990 Kaana Street, Suite 210
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY...SHAYLENE ISERI CARVALHO....241-1888
FIRST DEPUTY ......LORI WADA..... 241-1888
VICTIM WITNESS PROGRAM/ DIVISION DIRECTOR ..DIANA GAUESPOHL-WHITE..241-1898
Labels: Boards and Commissions, County Corruption, Minotaurs
ABREW FILES WRITTEN RECORDS, CLARIFICATION REQUESTS WITH COUNTY CLERK AT OIP’S URGING
(PNN) -- The release of information on the applications of prospective board and commission (B&C) members took another turn today when, on instructions from the Office of Information Practices (OIP), good government activist Rob Abrew filed for that information and also submitted a written request to “seek clarification in writing from the County Clerk’s office as to whether and to what extent all the applications received in the Clerk’s office concerning the Mayor's successful applicants to various Kauai County Boards and Commission's, will be made available to the public”.
Abrew also asked “before any additional action is taken by the Clerks Office and by the Kauai County Council on any appointments not already approved, that the Clerk respond to this request”.
Abrew’s complete letter to County Clerk Peter Nakamura is reproduced below.
In response to a request by Abrew for guidance as to how to proceed given previous OIP rulings on the matter (see PNN/gw?) Friday - COUNCIL IGNORES, FLOUTS OIP IN CONFIRMING BOARD, COMMISSION MEMBERS) the OIP’s Acting Director Cathy L. Takase told Abrew that:
We have received your email dated January 7, 2010 asking that the Office of Information Practices (OIP) review whether or not the Kauai County Council must disclose the application of a successful applicant for a county board or commission prior to their action on that applicant, i.e., where the Mayor has appointed the individual and that individual's appointment is now before the Council for confirmation. You stated that you orally asked the County Clerk's office for copies of the applications and were orally denied access to them.
OIP does not generally issue opinions based upon informal requests (i.e., oral requests) made to agencies for records under the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) (the UIPA). Therefore, we will not be opening a case file for your request. However, we note that you are correct that OIP has previously opined that Council confirmation of board and commission appointees must be done in an open meeting and that successful nominee applications are generally public with respect to information such as names, employment history, current occupations and education. See oip Op. Ltr. No. 05-04 (issued to Council member JoAnn Yukimura); Op. Ltr. No. 91-8 (application information to be disclosed for Governor's nominees).
It is our understanding that the meeting at which the Mayor's nominees were confirmed has passed. Given this fact, we presume that you are no longer interested in getting the actual applications, but are instead seeking to get clarification for future confirmations. Given these facts, we suggest that you seek clarification in writing from the County Clerk's office or the County Attorney's office as to whether and to what extent applications of successful mayoral nominees for boards and commissions will be made available. You may provide them with a copy of this letter, and they may consult with 01? if desired. If you receive a response that is inconsistent with the above-referenced 01P opinions, you may request an opinion at that time, enclosing a copy of your request and any written agency response received.
Although many of the nominees were confirmed last Wednesday without the information being publicly available despite a verbal request by Abrew, in today’s written document request Abrew asked for the applications of those prospective B&C members whose confirmations have been deferred because the council had to reschedule their interviews.
Verbal request for public documents related to current agenda items are always granted by council services without delay or charge. Written requests for documents can face a 10 business day delay before a response is sent, according to state law.
Since agendas need not be filed until six calendar days before a meeting, a document may not be available until well after the meeting.
According to sources, Nakamura and the council are seeking to set the responsibility for redacting the parts of the applications that do not fall into the “public interest” category- like phone numbers and other extraneous information- and releasing them.
But the OIP has said that it is the council’s responsibility to make the documents available before the meeting because the trigger for releasing the information is the public nature of the confirmation process and the public’s right to testify on each nominee armed with the information contained in the applications.
Abrew also submitted his testimony from last Wednesday’s council meeting as well as the letter from Takase along with the two requests.
The summaries and complete texts of OIP Opinion. Letters No. 91-8 and 05-04 are available on-line at:
91-8 Summery -- Full Text
05-04 Summery -- Full Text
Abrew’s letter to County Clerk Nakamura
Mr. Peter Nakamura, Kauai County Clerk
I would like to seek clarification in writing from the County Clerks office as to weather and to what extent all the applications received in the Clerks office concerning the Mayor's successful applicants to various Kauai County Boards and Commission's , will be made available to the public.
This clarification is in response to a oral request for these applications that was denied on January 4 2010 from this Office at the counter.
I would ask the County Clerk to respond to this request for clarification as soon as possible due to a letter I received from the State of Hawaii Office of Information Practices on January 8 2010. This letter addresses a previous letter sent to The County Clerks Office IE.. OIP 05-04. This letter is attached to this request.
I also ask before any additional action is taken by the Clerks Office and by the Kauai County Council on any appointments not already approved that the Clerk respond to this request
I have also included in this request for clarification, the testimony I presented to the County Council on 1-05-10. This testimony describes in detail my concerns with information not available to the public as required by law for the County Council to review and act on the Mayor’s selected appointments to various County Boards and Commissions.
Rob Abrew
Labels: Council Secrecy, County Council Budget, Kaua`i County Clerk Peter Nakamura, Rob Abrew
COUNCIL IGNORES, FLOUTS OIP IN CONFIRMING BOARD, COMMISSION MEMBERS
(PNN) -- To the surprise of few if any, the Kaua`i County Council ignored state law and two Office of Information Practices (OIP) directives in refusing to provide the public with certain information contained in the applications of some 21 nominees for positions on Board and Commissions (B&C) before confirming most of them at Wednesday’s council meeting.
The confirmations came despite the detailed testimony from good governance activist Rob Abrew- posted Wednesday in this space- documenting how OIP had twice explained the importance of the public interest (over privacy concerns) in receiving the information contained in the applications of prospective B&C members before they are confirmed.
After consulting with the county attorney during a recess, Councilperson Lani Kawahara promised to send a communication to the Office of B&C (OBC) asking them to look into the matter, But according to Abrew if and when the information is made available it will be “too late” to be useful in testifying about specific applicants.
Abrew and council watcher Glenn Mickens both told PNN that during a recess in the meeting Councilperson Jay Furfaro told them that the council need not follow OIP directions because “the OIP can be wrong” as evidenced by the council winning their lawsuit against the county over the ES (executive session) 177 case.
The county’s recent victory in the “ES-177” lawsuit was related to OIP’s authority over open meetings or “sunshine law" (HRS 92 section I) matters, not the open records or the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA HRS 92F) matters where the law is specific in granting the OIP the authority to decide which should prevail privacy vs. pubic interest matters.
The OIP sought to define the ES-177 dispute as a matter of UIPA law because it involved the release of executive session minutes, a “record”. But the Hawai`i Supreme Count ruled that it was an open meetings matter, because it was related to an open meeting issue.
The OIP has said that because of the ruling it will no longer release “formal opinions” on sunshine issues but will continue in it’s role in determining UIPA matters
The applications were made available to the council but were not released to the public with councilmembers contending that it was a matter for the OBC to decide even though the OIP specifically instructed the council itself to release the material.
According to Abrew’s testimony:
In an Letter dated January 1, 2005 addressed to Former Council Member JoAnn Yukimura concerning Executive Session Interviews, the issue of public disclosure of a successful applicant's information was discussed at great length. This letter was responsible for the interviews of the successful applicant's moving from Executive Session to a Public Meeting.
This Letter was also copied and sent to Chair Asing, Former County Attorney Nakazawa and County Clerk Peter Nakamura
It stated:
The Charter provides that all members of boards and commissions shall be appointed and may be removed by the mayor, with the approval of the council.” Charter, Art. XXIII, § 23.02. It is our understanding that, in accordance with the Charter, the Mayor transmits to the Council the names of the appointees for the Council’s approval. A copy of each appointee’s application for appointment to the board or commission is also transmitted to the Council. The application includes, among other things, the appointee’s name and employer, a summary of the appointee’s major work experience, and a statement of the applicant’s understanding of the primary duties of the appointment.
Although the UIPA recognizes that individuals have a significant privacy interest in “applications” and “nominations” for “appointment to a governmental position,” the OIP has previously opined that this significant privacy interest is outweighed by the public interest in the application information concerning successful applicants, or nominees, because it “sheds light upon the composition, conduct, and potential conflicts of interest of government board and commission members.” OIP Op. Ltr. No. 91-8 (June 24, 1991). Therefore, the UIPA would require the disclosure of the appointees’ application information.
The resolutions to confirm a handful of the applicants was deferred pending a rescheduling of their missed interviews but there is no indication whether the information in their applications would be forthcoming.
Labels: C of K vs OIP, Council Secrecy, ES-177, Jay Furfaro, Kaua`i County Council, Lani Kawahara, OIP, Rob Abrew
CAUSE IT’S ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES YOUR OUT
CAUSE IT’S ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES YOUR OUT: The joke is probably a lot older than 35 years but on the “original” Saturday Night Live there was a sketch right after the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant leak that has always been one of our favorites especially when watching the machinations of government.
Seems the only guy who knows anything about the local nuke plant system is going on vacation and won’t be able to be reached. He leaves the crew with one instruction: “Remember you can’t put too much water in the reactor.”
After he leaves the crew starts to talk about the instruction and of course there evolves a split as to what exactly he meant by that cryptic order.
One faction assumes he meant that they should be careful not too put too much water in the reactor. The other says “no”- it means that it impossible to put too much water in so they should keep putting in more and more.
After much irrational discussion the dunderheads decide that rather than picking one interpretation they should do the one thing guaranteed to cause problems and they simply drain all the water from the reactor.
We bring this up because of news that the mental midgets in the legislature have decided that, what with budget matters coming up in a non-budget year- potentially pushing aside consideration of the usual second-session-of-the-cycle legislative matters- rather than either extending the session or using the shortened recess they announced the other day to deal with all the work, they will indeed actually cut the session short by a week because "we want people to focus on the major issues and not be distracted" according House Democratic leader to Blake Oshiro (D, Aiea-Halawa).
Obviously you can’t put too much time into legislating.
Of course this would have nothing to do with the fact that this is an election year with Senate President Coleen Hamabusa running for the open congressional seat in a special election, to be scheduled, most likely, for shortly after the session ends.
Just buy yourself some peanuts and Cracker Jacks and enjoy the show. Be it SNL, the ’62 Mets or the Hawai`i State Legislature, like Casey Stengel we gotta ask once again - “can’t anyone here play this game?”.
Labels: Can't anyone here play this game?, State Legislature
WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY...:
WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY... : Anyone reading today’s local newspaper coverage of the council interviews of prospective board and commission (B&C) members would think that the session was rather mundane and that, like a popular t-shirt says “Experts agree- everything is A-Okay” down at the county buildings.
But of course when you look at the byline you find out why.
Reporter Mike Levine- the paper’s government beat reporter who, with Editor Nathan Eagle has spent the last year building back the credibility of the paper after a thirty-plus year lull- is apparently on vacation or taking a long weekend and the vapid Paul Curtis was there to report how smoothly everything went, with no mention of Rob Abrew’s testimony and the promises of some councilmembers to look into the matters that he raised before today’s scheduled confirmation votes.
We’ve pretty much outlined the problems with the lack of adherence to some county charter provisions over the past two days but Abrew’s testimony details OIP opinions regarding state open records laws that the council is set to violate if they proceed without providing the public with the non-confidential disclosures contained in the applications prospective B&C members have filled out- one the council has indeed received but have not released to the public.
We’ll try to follow up tomorrow on today’s activities based on reports from Abrew but for today we’ll present his testimony verbatim as it details the issues and the law that, despite Abrew’s testimony, Curtis ignored in favor highlighting kissy-face testimony of former Judge “What Me Worry, Alfred E, Let ‘em go” Laureta and the supposedly laudable qualities of all the nominees.
Here’s Abrew’s testimony:
Aloha and Good morning Council Members
I would like to offer my gratitude to all our community members here today that have become the Mayor's successful applicant for a position to one of Kauai's many Boards or Commissions We are here today to complete the process that the citizens of Kauai have approved in Charter section 23.02 (B) on how the Mayor appoints and our Council approves the successful applicant's to a Board or Commission.
On behalf of The Public I must ask today that the Council defer the interview process until the public has a chance to review and publicly testify on information contained on the successful applicant's application as required by HRS 92F, THE UNIFORM INFORMATION PRACTICES ACT (MODIFIED)
This is straight forward. We cant say these are only “guidelines”, this is the Law, the intent of the Legislature.
This Letter also made reference to an OIP decision made back in June 1991 (OIP Op Ltr No. 91-8)
This OIP decision was in reference to the Governor's applications for appointments to Boards and Commissions to be reviewed by the State Senate.
Below you will find some information included in that opinion. Since the OIP directly referenced this decision I took the liberty to add Mayor where it had Governor and Council in place of Senate.
*Government Record*
HRS 92F-3 Defines "Government record" means information maintained by an agency in written, auditory, visual, electronic, or other physical form.
*Successful Applicants*
*OIP 91-8*
We find that certain information about a Mayor's nomination would shed light upon the operations of government boards and commissions, and also upon the Mayor's and the Council's role in selecting board and commission members on the public's behalf.
In our opinion, the public has an interest in the application and nomination records concerning a nominee that would reveal the composition, conduct, and potential conflicts of interest of board and commission members whom the Mayor appoints with the Council's approval
We believe that this public interest would be furthered by the disclosure of a nominee's identity and the other nominee information discussed below.
The nominee's work experience required for appointment to the particular board and commission must also be disclosed to the public upon request. Under the UIPA, an individual has a significant privacy interest in the individual's "nongovernmental” employment history, except as necessary to demonstrate compliance with requirements for a particular government position," in this case, as a board or commission member.
We find that more than a "scintilla of public interest" in a nominee's qualifying work experience exists "to preclude a finding of a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy."
We find that the UIPA requires public disclosure of a nominee's current occupation, business address, business telephone number, education and political membership due to a charter provision to keep our government to a bare political majority as possible.
The nominee's home address, home telephone number, birth date, financial information, and other information contained in the application must be kept confidential under the UIPA exception for a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.
*Public Access*
Under section 92F-19(a)(6), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Mayor may disclose information, including confidential information, about a nominee to the Council that will review the nomination. When the Council receives confidential information about a nominee from the Mayor, the Council must observe the applicable restrictions on disclosure. *However, the Council will be required to publicly disclose certain nominee information under its review when the public interest in disclosure of the information outweighs the nominee's privacy interest. *
Both opinions guide us on what is public information and what is confidential in a successful applicant's application. In my opinion the last line tells us that before the Council can review the information and act to approve or not approve *the Council must disclose the non confidential successful applicant information to the public. This information should be available to the public when the agenda is posted, it was not. *
The communications from the Mayor received in the County Clerks office on 12-4-09 and 12-23-09 stated that the applications of today’s successful applicants were attached. This allowed more then enough time for the Clerks office to remove the confidential information on the application and make available to the public the information needed for the Council to review and move forward. If the applications were not attached and the Mayor did not include them, please have the Mayor send over the applications so we can move forward.
Due to time I have offered only a small portion of the information contained in the two OIP letters I mentioned. I feel to get a complete understanding of all the information supplied, the case notes, case law and Legislative intent of the UIPA you must read the opinions in their entirety. Please feel free to ask you Council Attorney their advice on if it is appropriate to move forward today with this new information supplied today.
My testimony here today is to not interfere with a process that brings members of our fine community together for public serve. But to ask questions about the process and are we doing what we can to make our government the most open and free flowing of information as possible while respecting the private lives of all in our community.
Mahalo for your time
Labels: Boards and Commissions, Kaua`i County Council, Michael Levine, Paul Curtis
UNFAIR TO MIDDLING
UNFAIR TO MIDDLING: We’d been wondering when we’d hear from Rolf Bieber himself telling the long sad story of his public service on the Board of Ethics (BOE) and his abominable treatment by just about everyone in the county administration for trying to do the job he was sworn to do- an unforgivable act on Kaua`i.
Bieber’s letter to the editor in today’s local newspaper cites his saga, chapter and verse, naming names of everyone involved from Mayor Bernard Carvalho to County Attorney Al Castillo, the rest of the BOE members, the members of the county council and assorted king’s-uniform-bedecked bureaucrats and sycophants, all carrying the kings sword.
Bieber writes that his taking of the
oath to preserve the Charter soon aligned me against BOE colleagues, mayoral appointees, the Office of Boards and Commissions (OBC), the County Attorney (CA) and apparently Mayor Carvalho himself, who inexplicably refused to reappoint me to the board for a second term.
But, although the unrivaled plodding cronyism of a politically-tone-deaf Carvalho has set the tone for this administration’s corruption as never before, it could not have been accomplished without Office Boards and Commissions (OBC) administrator John Isobe.
Bieber writes that
Mr. Isobe would on several other occasions try inappropriately to influence me — once, when I requested public documents that could expose members of the administration and commissions he asked that I not share the documents with anyone, and later calling me to meet in his office “to see how things were going” but to actually express his desire for the BOE to reach a “super-majority or unanimous-vote only for release of County Attorney opinions to the public.”
The irony in all this is that it was in fact the same good governance activists that Bieber thanks for their support at the end of the letter who were among those who helped create Isobe’s job.
When the “original” Charter Commission- the one appointed in 2004 under the “every 10 years” provision in the charter- proposed a slew of amendments for the ’06 election, one that all agreed would go a long way toward repairing the apparently broken board and commission system on Kaua`i was the creation of the OBC.
The problems the commission found were due to the lack of guidance from the administration as most newly appointed B&C members were just thrown into their position with no idea what they were doing there.
The thought was that an office of B&Cs would provide the necessary support with training and a one-stop central place for commissioners and board members to go with questions as to how to do their jobs correctly and ethically.
But, as we all find out sooner or later, you can write good legislation and charter provisions until you’re blue in the face but if corrupt-minded individuals dedicated to obedience and cronyism are elected and those elected appoint more of the same to administrative posts there’s little that will work the way it’s supposed to.
Rather than facilitating the B&C members in their quest to uphold their oath Isobe has intervened to make sure they serve the political goals of the mayor.
We can tinker with- or even fully rewrite- the Kaua`i County Charter. But if we continue to elect self-aggrandizing boobs like Carvalho with a “give the new guy a chance” and “how bad could he be” attitude we will, as Bieber says, keep finding out what we knew already... “together we can’t”
One more note- Bieber writes:
In April of 2009, Castillo told me he had meetings with Kauai Circuit Court Judge Randal Valenciano on several occasions concerning 20.02 (D)
Huh? But April of 2009 the controversy over 20.02(D) had been well underway for years with dueling “interpretations” making the matter ripe for an eventual 5th Circuit Court lawsuit.
We certainly deserve an explanation from both Castillo and Valenciano on this apparent breach of ethics.
Labels: Al Castillo, Boards and Commissions, BOE, John Isobe, Kaua`i Ethics Board, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Rolf Bieber
LOOK OUT KID, THEY KEEP IT ALL HID
LOOK OUT KID, THEY KEEP IT ALL HID: Tomorrow is restocking day for Kaua`i Boards and Commissions (B&Cs), as the county council will quasi-secretly- in an open meeting that won’t be televised- prepare to rubber stamp twenty new B&C members, selected not as much for their expertise as for their ability to bend over when the administration demands it.
As we wrote a couple of weeks ago, rather than televise these interviews the council prefers to spend the money to televise themselves patting each other on the back for presenting “certificates” honoring everyone and anyone that accomplished some minor feat, especially those with big families who vote.
We also told readers about a charter provision prohibiting a majority of any particular board from being members of any one political party and how it may take on new meaning with the slew of new members of the Democratic Party- a number that, according to one democrat in the know, went from 38 to around 4,000 on Kaua`i- that joined to vote in the Obama-Clinton “primary” held by the party last year.
In light of Mayor Bernard Carvalho’s big show of joining the Democratic Party last year and his well document penchant for selecting political cronies and sycophants to B&Cs you’d think the council would look carefully for that when confirming his nominations so as not to run afoul of the law.
But while the “application” to be a B&C member asks about party affiliation apparently the council isn’t privy to the official list of members of political parties on Kaua`i even though they are sworn to uphold the county charter.
As a mater of fact, we’ve learned that as of the date of the agenda posting, the council apparently did not have the applications in their possession- and we have no reason to believe that will change by the official confirmation time.
But even worse is that when these people file before the council tomorrow the council will definitely not have the basic information these people will swear to in their public disclosure forms that list potential conflicts of interest as well as financial information
That’s because, by tradition, those disclosure forms aren’t given to the council at all much less before the interviews but rather go to the Board of Ethics (BOE), which until recently had never publicly released any of the public disclosure statements.
The councilmembers will try to tell us they are doing their job thoroughly when they interview the 20 prospective B&C members tomorrow – as they have in the past- saying “trust us” rather than showing us.
But the question remains- how can they possibly say they do a thorough job of vetting these nominees when they don’t have any of the basic documents needed to do so.
Though the interviews are tomorrow, the actual appointments will happen during the regular council meeting Wednesday, when council watchdog Rob Abrew has told us he will challenge the council on both the issue of party membership and the lack of disclosure forms.
We fully expect the council to follow their usual M.O. and fully ignore Abrew with, at best, a “thank you- next?” and at worst a double-talking, intimidation, “how dare you impugn our integrity” attack after Abrew is sent back to his seat.
The council loves to blame the administration when any boondoggle or other B&C related corrupt scheme is revealed- usually by member of the public at televised meetings- and make up some cockamamie story about why they are blameless.
We’d estimate that at least 50% of the corruption on Kaua`i involves the active or passive complicity of people like those who will be interviewed tomorrow and confirmed Wednesday. Remember that and the council’s “ainokea” actions next time they whine that they have no control and “it’s the administration” that is responsible for B&C activity .
For the record, here are the twenty interviewees:
BOARD OF REVIEW:
•Lisa Wilson -Term ending 12/3112012
•Russell Kyono -Term ending 12/3112011 (replacing Richard Koenig Jr.)
BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY:
•Roy Asao Oyama -Term ending 12/3112012
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS:
Dennis Aquino, Fire designation -Term ending 12/3112011
Gerald T. Nakasone, At-Large -Term ending 12/3112012
Lawrence J. Dill, Engineer designation -Term ending 12/3112012
BOARD OF ETHICS:
Warren Perry -Term ending 12/3112012
Brad Nagano -Term ending 12/3112012
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION:
Roy Morita -Term ending 12/3112012
COST CONTROL COMMISSION:
•Lawrence Chaffin, Jr. -Term ending 12/3112010 (replacing Nadine Nakamura)
•Dirk Apao -Term ending 12/3112012
•Linda Faye Collins -Term ending 12/3112011 (replacing Lorna A. Nishimitsu)
FIRE COMMISSION: ·Jan Rudinoff -Term ending 12/3112012
•Basilio Fuertes, Jr. -Term ending 12/3112012
LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION:
•Gerald Shigemi Matsunaga -Term ending 12/3112012
PLANNING COMMISSION:
•Camilla Chieko Matsumoto, At-large designation -Term ending 12/3112012
POLICE COMMISSION:
Rowena Tachibana -Term ending 12/3112012
George Tiffany -Term ending 12/3112012
SALARY COMMISSION:
•Charles King -Term ending 12/3112011 (replacing Tom Cooper)
•Sheri S. Kunioka-Volz -Term ending 12/3112010 (replacing Dawn Murata)
•William Dahle -Term ending 12/3112012
Labels: Boards and Commissions, Council Secrecy, Democrats, Kaua`i County Council, Kaua`i Ethics Board, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Rob Abrew
(PNN) COUNCIL CONFIRMS B&C NOMINEES WITHOUT RELEAS...
(PNN) ABREW FILES WRITTEN RECORDS, CLARIFICATION R...
(PNN) COUNCIL IGNORES, FLOUTS OIP IN CONFIRMING BO...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3142
|
__label__cc
| 0.699645
| 0.300355
|
Marathon Community
Board index ‹ Content Creation ‹ Mapping ‹ 3D Models
Discuss map ideas, techniques, and give help.
May 17th '19, 08:54
It's obvious someone tried this. Tried to make a moving, directional entity like an alien into full 3D must have been done before. I know very little about Aleph One 3D but I can imagine how it would be like. An .obj file for each frame like it was a Quake 1 model with each frame a shape key.
I tried to make this. But I am not a 3D artist so it'll be hard to make one frame. But I want to know if someone did this and if it works. I assume so cause Project DX seemed to handle some of it with ease.
On the Hondai
Screamernail
It does work.
Your obj file (mesh) and skins replace a single sequence. You can't animate the sequence by assigning meshes to frames. There is documentation for using a different format with animations, but the tools used for that seem to be defunct. So, 3D monsters at the moment are basically fixed in any sequence.
However, the monsters still rotate and translate, although because of the way monsters move the rotation is jerky, with no interpolation. Still acceptable for something like a turret, which I did a few of. Those use the same mesh for all the non-dead sequences, and different skins with lighting and what not for indicators and weapons flash. So we're really talking about two meshes, if you include a dead monster.
The turrets work out nicely, I like them. They're still turrets, so kind of 'eh', but hey, 3D!
After that I tried to do something with a more mobile monster. Another street sweeper robot. The gimmick with this one is that it has two rotating brushes (3D scenery objects) that are handled via Lua scripting. The brushes are also static 3D objects, but you can change their facing and position in Lua, so that they spin up and look very menacing as the thing chases you down. Because of the problem with monsters instantaneously rotating, it still looks kinda bunk, sadly.
So, I did it, it works, but there are serious challenges in how you use what you can here. Here's an example from a previous MPDX iteration, an annoying robotic vacuum that kills you by exploding:
MPDX
Ku-rin
Why is sequences the only thing that can be 3D? Where's the documentations of this?
Screamernail wrote: Why is sequences the only thing that can be 3D? Where's the documentations of this?
As for documentation, you're going to want to look at the OpenGL section of the MML doc. That goes over how this stuff gets hooked up.
As for why, I dunno? But here's a thread in which I discussed this very topic (somewhat in depth, too): viewtopic.php?f=24&t=53682
May 21st '19, 07:37
Well even if I could get a Dim3 file, I could just do sequences with multiple meshes anyway and animate them with Lua scripting. (If I can learn it) It wouldn't be a-lot of sequences but it would work anyway?
Example (Or for fun if this doesn't work)
0: Idle1 (Character is in it's default pose)
1: Idle2 (Character is in a secondary idle pose that's triggered randomly)
More OPTIONAL Idle poses perhaps?
2: Move1 (Character has it's feet in separate directions(Forward, backwards))
3: Move2 (Similar to Move1 but the feet are in the reversed directions(Backwards, forward))
4: Swing (The character prepares an attack)
5: Damage (The character launches it's attack from the swing)
6: Hurt (The character get's damaged and are in a flinch pose)
7: Falling (The character falls down to the ground)
8: Corpse (The character is dead)
This might work better on low-poly models cause it would be a-lot of memory if there's high poly meshes for just 1 character. This is just an idea so you might prove me wrong. It's just for fun.
Hmm, if you can figure out a way to do that I'd give you a medal. It sounds fun to me too.
However!.. I am not sure how you can with the way Lua is set up right now. Mind you, there are things you can do with monsters in Lua, but it does not give you direct control over the sequence displayed for a monster in the same way it would for say, a wall.
You can override the AI (sounds cooler than it is) by spamming positioning and such in the idle() and postidle(). You can make a monster attack, you can change the 'mode', and so on. You can kill the monster and respawn it, you can do a lot of stuff like that.
One hacky thought I had was to make a more 'interactive'(?) scenery object in 3D by way of using a monster with all of its sequences and hijack it with Lua. This would probably be a more interesting version of my vending machine (http://simplici7y.com/items/vending-demo) I think I also have some exploding gas cylinders that worked in a similar fashion to this somewhere. The main reason to do this is that you don't have to attend to so much house-keeping in Lua for swapping scenery objects and what-not.
I'd suggest you just start playing around with MML and Lua, there's lots of scripts out there with examples you can copy/modify to get a feel for how everything works. In fact, I've got all my newest MPDX stuff on github if you check the link in my sig. Feel free to ask questions in the MPDX thread about how any of that stuff works.
Edit: You're of course quite correct that high-poly meshes are no bueno for that precise reason. Generally speaking the idea is to model your high-poly mesh, then use that to bake a bump map that you can apply to a low-poly version of the mesh (which you actually use in-game) such that it looks closer to the high-poly mesh.
This involves studying Blender (or whichever 3D modeling program you prefer.) Google up some tutorials for that, and don't be discouraged if you aren't a 'pro' in a day, there is a lot to chew on where Blender is concerned!
May 22nd '19, 07:49
Didn't know you can put bump-mapping on a 3D model. But I doubt that's required for what I had in plan. The test character I planed on doing has plain colors, but it might be more different than I think it is?
The test character named Xitia
Screamernail wrote: Didn't know you can put bump-mapping on a 3D model. But I doubt that's required for what I had in plan. The test character I planed on doing has plain colors, but it might be more different than I think it is?
Well, try modeling that character to a 3D mesh and see how it goes. There's a lot that goes into the whole thing, so I might waste your time by speaking too far in-depth at this point.
May 23rd '19, 06:55
Progress I believe
I can't say that I'm perfect because that's highly not true. But I did some achievements in my life so I'm not half that bad either. (I'm learning to be positive to myself so I don't fail frequently)
The modelling goes decently, but I really need a new texture for her. Or if I can use multiple textures then it would be a-lot easier.
EDIT: Model's finished.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b6kibomJZfYTmOQxP0OyGY71bLi-Ryly/view?usp=sharing
That's a good attitude (being more positive), and your model's looking pretty good too.
You know people. Maybe I should make something more of her than just a testing character. I can lear Lua some other day(Or use the dim3 method) cause now, I actually believe I'm good at 3D.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dlzTZy9ctG_jl0vQm6wgE4_DG4p6qGdR Xitia's blend file. (For curious people)
Screamernail wrote: Thanks.
You certainly seem competent enough with 3D! Hmm, maybe I didn't get that from what you were saying. My bad!
You've got the basic mesh, skeleton, and what appears to be an idle sequence all animated right there. Hmm, if there was some way to export everything to that old dim3 format from Blender, that would pretty much be all you'd need for animated monsters, I imagine? I found some old source code for the dim3 programs, for which I left links in the other thread I referenced earlier. Reverse engineering? If someone could write a Blender export plugin to dish out the relevant files, we'd have a way forward there.
So ya, either way you're off to a good start there, why not keep working on that character in the meanwhile? Looks promising to me.
Edit: Oh, and I just noticed the earlier screenshot with the texture. It looks quite good at this stage. I'll be quite interested to see how this turns out. On another note, your first language is Swedish, perhaps? I also noticed the filename for that screenshot. I thought your English diction seemed slightly different to me, but that would make perfect sense in such a case. Anyway, please keep up the good work!
What was that Marathon scenario that was built for the Dim3 engine?
If Dim3 can make games like that then why can't we just download it and use it for animated models? Unless you said something in that topic over there which I haven't read yet, it seems to be the only way for now.
Screamernail wrote: What was that Marathon scenario that was built for the Dim3 engine?
To summarize myself from that topic over there: I did a mildly exhaustive search for it, and couldn't find any working links to the program, just some old source code. That's the problem.
I now vaguely recall using said software once upon a time, very briefly, so I'm wondering if I can find it on some old hard drives I've got floating around. We're talking quite a few years in the past though, so there is no certainty. If it's old enough, it may not even run on any machine I currently own.
Wikipedia reports the last stable release in 2014, that's at least how old it would be.
I kinda had Dim3 once on my MacBook and it weren't that old when I downloaded the program on it. So it might work. But I deleted it to get free space and now I don't remember where I got it from.
Return to Mapping
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3145
|
__label__wiki
| 0.742301
| 0.742301
|
Goodbye, Hard Rock Cafe Makati, hello, Johnny B. Good!
Roice’s restaurant one of few places in QC open till 1 a.m.
Hard Rock Cafe Makati is no more—in its place is the newly opened Johnny B. Good, which has taken out almost all memorabilia of rock ’n’ roll legends, probably because they’re owned by the Hard Rock worldwide franchise.
The ceiling, though, still has the graphic artwork “Imagine,” referring to John Lennon’s signature song. And the menu likewise retains the typical Hard Rock Cafe fare.
It’s not hard to imagine, incidentally, that former radio DJ Stoney Burke of DZRJ fame is now venturing into producing live gigs in pursuit of his love for rock music.
Coming back home after earning a living in the United States, Stoney Burke, or Mike Llamas in real life, is mounting a show featuring Area One, Route 70 and The Jerks, plus stand-up comic Mike Unson, on July 29, 8 p.m., at Johnny B. Good.
After tonight’s gig at Johnny B. Good comes the launch of The Stoney Burke Project (SBP)—a band that Llamas formed, composed of various musicians handpicked from auditions—on Sept. 2 at 19 East in Sucat.
To quote Llamas’ teaser tagline of the gigs, “No rock on radio? No problem. Get it live!”
Finding a place to chill in Quezon City after late-hour newspaper work is no longer a problem. There are two wine bar/restaurants in the Timog-Scout area: Vitto, along Scout Lozano, and Roice’s, Scout Delgado, which remain open till 1 a.m.
Of the two, Roice’s is more spacious. It’s originally a house that looks like the suburban homes built in the 1960s.
The vibe at Roice’s is like that of a European jazz club. It feels good to drink Australian cabernet shiraz and munch on sausage and deep-fried fish fillet while hearing jazzed up versions of pop hits on subdued volume.
Source: lifestyle.inquirer.net
Hard Rock Cafe Makati
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3146
|
__label__cc
| 0.533392
| 0.466608
|
John Sinclair with Adventures in Bluesland
blues, spoken word
The Delta Sound -:-- / -:--
Cross Road Blues -:-- / -:--
21 Days in Jail -:-- / -:--
Decoration Day -:-- / -:--
John Sinclair with Adventures in Bluesland Keeping the Blues Alive live album.
In the fall of 2014 poet, blues/jazz historian, and Amsterdam resident John Sinclair visited New York for a series of readings and performances. Several were with the New York-based group Adventures in Bluesland and one of them in Brooklyn was recorded. The result is an audio document of a magical night of spoken word and music released by World Wide Vibe Records as Keeping the Blues Alive.
The focus that night in New York was on blues music and its rich history in America. Sinclair read from his published collection of poems Fattening Frogs for Snakes while the band (Phil Gammage – guitar, harmonica; Don Fiorino – lap steel guitar; Kevin Tooley – drums; Johnny Cement – bass; and Seaton Hancock – saxophone) provided a firm yet always shifting musical foundation. The night started with an early set by Adventures in Bluesland. After a short break John Sinclair was introduced and he took command of the stage performing the epic “The Delta Sound” with just lap steel player Don Fiorino. The full band then joined them on stage and everyone eased into playing “Cross Road Blues.” They went on to perform several lengthy pieces, each with its own twists, turns, and mood swings. Throughout the night everyone took risks, and that sense of danger and improvisation only served to give the performance a timeless edge.
What transpired on that stage was a perfect example of what kind of dynamic power a collaboration of spoken word performance with music can create. It was a truly remarkable live concert event which evoked a unique mojo vibe that fortuitously was captured through this recording.
Phil Gammage and John Sinclair.
But me Daddy-o!
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3147
|
__label__wiki
| 0.752244
| 0.752244
|
p368 Crimen
Article by George Long, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College
on pp368‑369 of
William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.
CRI′MEN. Though this word occurs so frequently, it is not easy to fix its meaning. Crimen is often equivalent to accusatio (κατηγορία); but it frequently means an act which is legally punishable. In this latter sense there seems to be no exact definition of it by the Roman jurists. According to some modern writers, crimina are either public or private; but we have still to determine the notions of public and private. There was a want of precise terminology as to what, in common p369 language, are called criminal offences among the Romans; and this defect appears in other systems of jurisprudence. Crimen has been also defined by modern writers to be that which is capitalis, as murder, &c.; delictum, that which is a private injury (privata noxa); a distinction founded apparently on Dig. 21 tit. 1 s17 § 15.
Delicts (delicta) were maleficia, wrongful acts (Dig. 47 tit. 1 s3), and the foundation of one class of obligationes: these delicts, as enumerated by Gaius (III.182), are furtum, rapina, damnum, injuriae; they gave a right of action to the individual injured, and intitled him to compensation. These delicts were sometimes called crimina (crimen furti, Gaius, III.197). Crimen therefore is sometimes applied to that class of delicta called privata (Dig. 47 1 De Privatis Delictis); and accordingly crimen may be viewed as a genus, of which the delicta enumerated by Gaius are a species. But crimen and delictum are sometimes used as synonymous (Dig. 48 tit. 19 s1). In one passage (Dig. 48 tit. 19 s5) we read of majora delicta (a term implying that thereº are minora delicta), which expression is coupled with the expression omnia crimina in such a way that the inference of crimen containing delictum is, so far as concerns this passage, necessary; for the omnia crimina comprehend (in this passage) more than the delicta majora.
Some judicia publica were capitalia, and some were not (Dig. 48 tit. 1 s2). Judicia, which concerned crimina, were not, for that reason only, publica. There were, therefore, crimina which were not tried in judicia publica. This is consistent with what is stated above as those crimina (delicta) which were the subject of actions. Those crimina only were the subject of judicia publica, which were made so by special laws; such as the Julia de adulteriis, Cornelia de sicariis et veneficis, Pompeia de parricidiis, Julia peculatus, Cornelia de testamentis, Julia de vi privata, Julia de ambitu, Julia repetundarum, Julia de annona (Dig. 48 tit. 1 s1). So far as Cicero (De Orat. II.25) enumerates causae criminum, they were causae publici judicii; but he adds (II.31), "criminum est multitudo infinita."º Again, infamia was not the consequence of every crimen, but only of those crimina which were "publici judicii". A condemnation, therefore, for a crimen, not publici judicii, was not followed by infamia, unless the crimen laid the foundation of an actio, in which, even in the case of a privatum judicium, the condemnation was followed by infamia; as furtum, rapina, injuriae (Dig. 48 tit. 1 s7).
Most modern writers on Roman law have considered delicta as the general term, which they have subdivided into delicta publica and privata. The division of delicta into publica and privata had partly its origin in the opinion generally entertained of the nature of the delict; but the legal distinction must be derived from a consideration of the form of obtaining redress for, or punishing, the wrong. Those delicta which were punishable according to special leges, senatus-consulta, and constitutiones, and were prosecuted in judicia publica by an accusatio publica, were more especially called crimina; and the penalties, in case of conviction, were loss of life, of freedom, of civitas, and the consequent infamia, and sometimes pecuniary penalties also. Those delicta not provided for as above mentioned, were prosecuted by action, and were the subjects of judicia privata, in which pecuniary compensation was awarded to the injured party. At a later period we find a class of crimina extraordinaria (Dig. 47 tit. 11), which are somewhat vaguely defined. They are offences which in the earlier law would have been the foundation of actions, but were assimilated, as to their punishment, to crimina publici judicii. This new class of crimina (new as to the form of judicial proceedings) must have arisen from a growing opinion of the propriety of not limiting punishment, in certain cases, to compensation to the party injured. The person who inquired judicially extra ordinem,• might affix what punishment he pleased, within reasonable limits (Dig. 48 tit. 19 s13). Thus, if a person intended to prosecute his action, which was founded on maleficium (delict), for pecuniary compensation, he followed the jus ordinarium; but if he wished to punish the offender otherwise (extra ordinem ejus rei poenam exerceri (e?) velit), then he took criminal proceedings, "subscripsit in crimen" (Dig. 47 tit. 1 s3).
The forty-seventh book of the Digest treats first of delicta privata properly so called (Tit.1‑10), and then of extraordinaria crimina. The forty-eighth book treats of crimina, and the first title is De Publicis Judiciis. Compensation might be demanded by the heredes of the injured person, and of the heredes of the wrong-doer; but the heredes of the wrong-doer were not liable to a penal action (poenalis actio, Dig. 47 tit. 1 s1). Compensation could be sued for by the party injured: a penalty, which was not a direct benefit to the injured party, was sued for by the state, or by those to whom the power of prosecution was given, as in the case of the lex Julia de adulteriis, &c. In the case of delicta publica, the intention of the doer was the main thing to be considered: the act, if done, was not for that reason only punished; nor if it remained incomplete, was it for that reason only unpunished. In the case of delicta privata, the injury, if done, was always compensated, even if it was merely culpa.
Smith's Dictionary:
Page updated: 7 Dec 06
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3151
|
__label__cc
| 0.683566
| 0.316434
|
Israel’s creeping further into Syria- Stealthily Taking Golan
I'd saved this big expose from "The Intercept" last week.
Flush with Omidyar's Ebay money one would think this alternative media shored up by so called "adversarial journalists" would have been able to get a jump on my one person penny ante blog. But, no.
Much of the same information in the intercept article was covered in a pretty well read post done here in July 2016. *Israel: Annexing More of Syria's Golan Territory For a "Safe Zone"- History Repeats
Followed up with additional information in later posts like this one in 2016 also: While the Cat's Away? Israel Plots Largest Settlement In SYRIAN Occupied Golan
Penny ante blog(ger) from 2016:
According to Labwani, the proposed safe zone, approved by the Israelis, is supposed to run 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep into Syrian territory and approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) along the border, starting just south of Hadar (a pro-government Druze village) to southern Quneitra, spanning over 17 villages, with a population of around 15,000 people.
Moti Kahana is the Israeli-American founder of the US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) Amaliah advocating for the safe zone. Kahana, who works closely with Labwani, said the Israeli government has given him the green light to operate within the designated safe zone.
NO GOOD ORGANIZATION- They should be shunned- By everyone. Everywhere.
“We started working already,” Kahana told Al-Monitor from his office in New York. “So in the next few weeks, we will be bringing supplies into the safe zone of Syria.” He went on, “The Israeli government will allow us to bring humanitarian supplies to the Syrian people,” adding that Israel is “willing to allow an American NGO — which is us — to expand and bring in supplies.”
Kahana explained that the first stage is to bring in medicine and equipment, the second stage is to open schools and focus on education, and the third stage is to help create and equip a local police force.
For Israel, a safe zone in the area would be hugely advantageous. By creating a buffer where the Syrian air force cannot fly close to the border and Hezbollah cannot launch attacks on the occupied Golan, Israel is cementing its grip on territory its leaders claim belongs to them and should be internationally recognized as such.
I followed up shortly after with reports that Israel was demolishing homes in occupied Golan
“This will be the largest expansion of an illegal Israeli settlement in the Occupied Syrian Golan since the 1980s,” a letter from Al-Marsad to the Delegation of the European Union to Israel reads.
The Intercept- January 2018
The Intercept learned the outlines of the safe-zone expansion plan through a months long investigation
The safe zone appears intended to keep the Syrian army and its Iranian and Lebanese allies as far away from Israel’s border as possible, as well as solidify Israel’s control over the occupied Golan Heights
Over the last two years, Israel started building out the first phase of a safe zone in southern Syria. The project enabled the Israeli army, through humanitarian organizations and military personnel, to gain access to opposition-held areas in return for supplying aid, medical treatment inside Israel, and basic goods.
According to sources, the second phase, which is currently underway, includes, among other things, the establishment of a 40-kilometer, Israeli-monitored buffer beyond the Golan Heights, a Syrian border police force armed and trained by Israel, and greater involvement in civil administration in opposition-controlled areas in two southern provinces. The expansion of the project also involves military aid to a wider array of opposition factions in both Quneitra and Daraa. The wider buffer zone also sees partnerships being built up with Syrian opposition leaders, civil society leaders, NGOs, and health officials on the ground to work on joint educational, health, and agricultural projects.
Amaliah, an Israeli NGO founded by Israeli-American businessman Moti Kahana, has been involved in Quneitra, in the nominal United Nations buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan and Syrian-controlled territory, since 2016. The group is now working with local partners in Daraa, looking to expand its safe-zone mission further into Syria
Undoubtedly Omidyar's article was better read then all mine.
Money certainly gets one more promotion. But does it result in better journalism?
Labels: Israel, kurds, NATO, Syria, US
Ron Chapman February 1, 2018 at 5:30 AM
G'day Penny,
Thanks for this reminder.
Peace and Blessings,
Hey Ron
Realpolitik2 At Sochi
Israel’s creeping further into Syria- Stealthily T...
Realpolitik at Sochi
Why is Russia Helping Turkey in Afrin?
Female Kurdish Fighter Blows Herself Up- Killing T...
Another 50 Canadian Soldiers Arrive in Ukraine To ...
Turkey/Syria & Afrin: Syrian Troops Not Targets, R...
Turkey's Near Century Distrust of the US = Rationa...
Brand New US Warship Trapped in Icy Water in Montr...
Unless Erdogan Stops Spitting in Trumps Face the U...
NATO Attempts a Face Save as UN Security Council R...
Update: Operation Olive Branch- Turkey's Operation...
Kurds Rejected Russian Protection In Exchange for ...
Turkey's Operation "Olive Branch" is ongoing in Sy...
Lavrov on Afrin: US Trying to Create Alternate Gov...
Russian Forces Exit As Turkey Begins Afrin Operati...
Tillerson: The Way Forward In Syria is Military Oc...
The Human Farm Goes High Tech
Russia, Turkey & Syria Condemn US Creation Of Kurd...
Back Into the Chill- Last Extreme Cold Snap Can't ...
JFK Files Reveal Jewish Love Child (Who Killed His...
Putin: Drone Provocateurs Known, Turkey Uninvolved...
Snow Falls In Sahara Desert- 2nd Year in A Row
Drone Attack Russia/Syria- US Spy Aircraft Present...
Frigid Cold Ends For Now; NOAA Wrong on Great Lake...
Turkey/Halkbank: The Biggest (Conjured Up) Sanctio...
US Plans to Recognize Annexed Syrian Territory as ...
Kurdistan: Impeding the New Silk Road/Rimland Vs H...
Securities Exchange Commision Probes Kushner for U...
Back into the Deep, Deep Freeze- Sigh.........
Turkey's State Bank Headed for Trouble? Sanctions ...
(Anti) Social Media/Facebook Ripping Apart The Fab...
Ice build up delays closing of the Seaway
Pt2: Winter of Iran's Discontent? Destabilizing I...
Pt.1: The Winter of Iran's Discontent? Destabilizi...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3152
|
__label__wiki
| 0.952481
| 0.952481
|
by: Mike LeSuer
Mind Spiders - "Furies" | Album Review
by Mike LeSuer (@zebraabraham)
Dirtnap is the name of a record label, but, as so frequently becomes the case, the name also classifies a specific sound which the label cranks out on the regular. You can typically identify members of Dirtnap’s roster as such from their neat, modest, micro-punk compositions which take cues from the flourishing garage rock scenes of Denton, Memphis, or Louisville rather than the ever-trending Bay Area, Brooklyn, or Austin hubs. As one of the posterbands of the label’s modern era, Mind Spiders are a perfect example of the muted energy the label expels, channeling their unmistakably punk ethos through calculated rhythm guitar and a moderate dose of feedback.
With their last two releases, though, it’s become less necessary to refer back to frontman Mark Ryan’s previous work with The Marked Men, not only due to the Spiders’ cult status eclipsing that of his previous band, but also because of the decreasing relevance his newer project bears to the seminal garage punk quartet—and with the release of their fifth and latest record: to their label more broadly. Although barely over half an hour, Furies (that’s one “r”) is an ambitious collection of spitfires inspired by the vengeful Greek deities of its title, concentrated to a downsized band of three following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Daniel Fried (“Mind Insects” may be a more apt name moving forward).
Dealing in B-movie aesthetics since their 2011 debut, Mark’s men began adjusting their tracking on 2016’s Prosthesis, which saw a notable shift from a campy ‘50s sci-fi feature to a synth-driven homage to John Carpenter’s soundtracks of the ‘70s and early ‘80s (notice Furies’ claim to the band’s first cover art in technicolor). On Furies, the dizzying one-of-us trances the group would occasionally achieve on previous releases (“Neurotic Gold,” “Wait for Us”) have morphed into a hearty electronic pulse, which engulfs several of the album’s eight tracks. While “Never Like That” and “Shock and Repeat” do so with a prominent and familiar backing from Ryan’s guitar, it’s Peter Salisbury’s alien synths which dominate the album’s final act: “Furies,” “No Ground,” and the expansive instrumental closer, “August.”
But above all, Furies feels eerily contemporary—the flitty synth chirps and throbbing electronic undercurrent on “No Ground” shares more in common with LCD Soundsystem than any of James Murphy’s sleeve-dwelling influences, while “August”’s total immersion in dark ambience recalls the climax of Oneohtrix Point Never’s Good Time soundtrack before harkening any Tangerine Dream or Vangelis compositions. The chilly post-punk of “Ice Bear”—a not entirely faithful cover of the homonymous Grauzone track—may be the only instance of total anachronism on the record, though Ryan and company seem more concerned with developing the band than adopting a totally new persona.
That said, Furies is still very much a Mind Spiders record even if it ducks the Dirtnap tag. This progress is most succinctly presented on lead single and album opener “Outside,” which subtly builds up to one of the band’s most enthralling apotheoses. Though the trio are hardly recognizable by the album’s end, there’s plenty of anticipation for where they’re headed next. If we’re lucky, perhaps they’ll help David Gordon Green usher in a new wave of tolerable Carpenter remakes.
Tagged: Mind Spiders
Daphne Tunes Discuss New Album "Volume 1" and Sunday Pop Songwriting | Feature Interview
Uranium Club - "The Minneapolis Uranium Club Band Live At Arci Taun!" | Album Review
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3154
|
__label__cc
| 0.505617
| 0.494383
|
Difference between revisions of "Michael Pinto-Duschinsky"
Melissa Jones (talk | contribs)
Latest revision as of 05:40, 3 October 2014 (view source)
m (category added)
Email: pintoduschinsky@btopenworld.com
[[Category:Think Tanker"Pinto-Duschinsky|Michael]]
[[Category:Think Tanker|Pinto-Duschinsky|Michael]]
Latest revision as of 05:40, 3 October 2014
House of Commons, London, 21 January 2008, asking a question of Carl Gershman, the president of the NED
From the IFES staff biographies:
Michael Pinto-Duschinsky International consultant for numerous democracy organizations and development institutions, among them International IDEA, the British Know How Fund, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, National Endowment for Democracy, IFES, the Inter-American Development Bank, UNDP, USAID, OECD, the Council of Europe, and the Canadian International Development Agency; author of scholarly books and articles on political and electoral processes; expert on campaign financing.
From an author biography in one of his articles:
Dr Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, senior research fellow in politics at Brunel University, was a consultant to the Home Office in 1985-6 on problems of electoral registration in England and Wales. He gave evidence in 1998 to the Fifth Enquiry of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. He has twice acted as a consultant to the Electoral Commission. He is a member of the board of directors of IFES (International Foundation for Election Systems), chairs the International Political Science Association's research committee on political finance and political corruption and currently is a consultant on issues relating to political financing to the anti-corruption authority of Latvia (on behalf of the European Union) and the World Bank Institute.[1](pdf)
1 Why the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
2 Affiliations
Why the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Michael Pinto-Duschinsky provides a clear insight into the formation and purpose of WFD and its parallel function to that provided by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). His letter exchange is certainly worth reading. Pinto-Duschinsky explains WFD
IFES – Board member
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, Loans for lordships: the joker in the middle, The Times, 15 Dec 2006.
Retrieved from "http://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Michael_Pinto-Duschinsky&oldid=198951"
Think Tanker
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3155
|
__label__wiki
| 0.558467
| 0.558467
|
Al Rawi café unveils a new braille printed menu
Al Rawi café at Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah, recently launched a braille food menu, in collaboration with the Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment, and the Emirates Association of the Visually Impaired. It is the first eatery in Sharjah to have a menu available that accommodated the needs of people who are blind or have a vision impairment. During the launch ceremony of the braille menu, a panel discussion was held and included Adel Al Zumar, director of Emirates Association of the Visually Impaired; Amna Al Mazimi, manager of Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment; Zhora Qureshi, director of Al Rawi Café; and Tamer Said; managing director of Kalimat Group.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3159
|
__label__wiki
| 0.53695
| 0.53695
|
OSA Publishing > Optics Express > Volume 15 > Issue 13 > Page 7962
The temperature sensitivity of Sagnac loop interferometer based on polarization maintaining side-hole fiber
Dae Seung Moon, Bok Hyeon Kim, Aoxiang Lin, Guoyong Sun, Young-Geun Han, Won-Taek Han, and Youngjoo Chung
Dae Seung Moon,1 Bok Hyeon Kim,2 Aoxiang Lin,1 Guoyong Sun,1 Young-Geun Han,3 Won-Taek Han,1 and Youngjoo Chung1,*
1Department of Information and Communications, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500–712, Korea
2Advanced Photonics Research Institute (APRI), 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500–712, Korea
3Department of Physics, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133–791, Korea
*ychung@gist.ac.kr
D Moon
B Kim
A Lin
G Sun
Y Han
W Han
Y Chung
Dae Seung Moon, Bok Hyeon Kim, Aoxiang Lin, Guoyong Sun, Young-Geun Han, Won-Taek Han, and Youngjoo Chung, "The temperature sensitivity of Sagnac loop interferometer based on polarization maintaining side-hole fiber," Opt. Express 15, 7962-7967 (2007)
Fiber Optics and Optical Communications
Long period gratings
Polarization maintaining fibers
Sagnac interferometry
Fiber design and fabrication (060.2280)
Fibers, polarization-maintaining (060.2420)
Sagnac effect (120.5790)
Original Manuscript: May 2, 2007
Revised Manuscript: June 7, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: June 8, 2007
The temperature sensitivity of modal birefringence (dB/dT) of different types of polarization-maintaining fibers with side holes was measured using a Sagnac loop interferometer. The thermal expansion coefficient can be varied by controlling the amount of germanium doped in the core region. Using this method, dB/dT could be made higher (~10-7/°C) than that of standard PMFs (~10-8/°C) or comparable to that of standard PMFs (~10-9/°C).
Sagnac loop interferometer based on polarization maintaining photonic crystal fiber with reduced temperature sensitivity
Do-Hyun Kim and Jin U. Kang
Highly sensitive temperature sensor using a Sagnac loop interferometer based on a side-hole photonic crystal fiber filled with metal
Erick Reyes-Vera, Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro, and Pedro Torres
Simultaneous measurement of multiparameters using a Sagnac interferometer with polarization maintaining side-hole fiber
O. Frazão, S. O. Silva, J. M. Baptista, J. L. Santos, G. Statkiewicz-Barabach, W. Urbanczyk, and J. Wojcik
Large temperature sensitivity of Sagnac loop interferometer based on the birefringent holey fiber filled with metal indium
Bok Hyeon Kim, Seung Ho Lee, Aoxiang Lin, Chang-Lyoul Lee, Jongmin Lee, and Won-Taek Han
Tunable multi-wavelength SOA fiber laser based on a Sagnac loop mirror using an elliptical core side-hole fiber
Dae Seung Moon, Bok Hyeon Kim, Aoxiang Lin, Guoyong Sun, Won-Taek Han, Young-Geun Han, and Youngjoo Chung
K. P. Koo and A. D. Kersey, “Bragg grating-based laser sensors systems with interferometric interrogation and wavelength division multiplexing,” J. Lightwave Technol. 13, 1243–1249 (1995).
G. A. Ball, W. W. Morey, and P. K. Cheo, “Single- and multipoint fiber-laser sensors,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 5, 267–270 (1993).
V. Bhatia and A. M. Vengsarkar, “Optical fiber long-period grating sensors,” Opt. Lett. 21, 692–694 (1996).
Y. Liu, B. Liu, X. Feng, W. Zhang, G. Zhou, S. Yuan, G. Kai, and X. Dong, “High-birefringence fiber loop mirrors and their applications as sensors,” Appl. Opt. 44, 2382–2390 (2005).
E. De, L. Rosa-Cruz, F. Mendoza-Santoyo, A. N. Starodumov, and M. Pacheco, “Temperature-induced changes of sensitivity in the unbalanced Hi-Bi fiber Sagnac interferometer,” Fiber and Int. Opt. 18, 41–48 (1999).
A. N. Starodumov, L. A. Zenteno, D. Monzon, E. De, and L. Rosa, “Fiber Sagnac interferometer temperature sensor,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 70, 19–21 (1997).
W. Eickhoff, “Temperature sensing by mode - mode interference in birefringent optical fibers,” Opt. Lett. 6, 204–206 (1981).
K. S. Chiang and H. Tsuchida, “Dual-sensor technique for extending the dynamic range of a fiber-optic interferometric sensor,” Opt. Lett. 13, 850–852 (1988).
M. P. Varnham, A. J. Barlow, and D. N. Payne, and K. Okamoto, “Polarimetric strain gauges using high birefringence fiber,” Electron. Lett. 19, 699–700 (1983).
K. S. Chiang, H. L. W. Chan, and J. L. Gardner, “Detection of high-frequency ultrasound with a polarization-maintaining fiber,” J. Lightwave Technol. 8, 1221–1227 (1990).
K. S. Chiang, “Temperature sensitivity of coated stress-induced birefringent optical fibers,” Opt. Eng. 36, 999–1007 (1997).
D. S. Moon, U. C. Paek, and Y. Chung, “Polarization controlled multi-wavelength Er-doped fiber laser using fiber Bragg grating written in few-mode side-hole fiber with an elliptical core,” Opt. Express 13, 5574–5579 (2005).
B. H. Kim, S. Moon, U. C. Paek, and W. T. Han, “All fiber polarimetric modulation using an electro-optic fiber with internal Pb-Sn electrodes,” Opt. Express 14, 11234–11241 (2006).
C. S. Kim, Y. G. Han, R. M. Sova, U. C. Paek, Y. Chung, and J. U. Kang, “Optical fiber modal birefringence measurement based on Lyot-Sagnac interferometer,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 15, 269–271 (2003).
J. Noda, K. Okamoto, and Y. Sasaki, “Polarization-maintaining fibers and their applications,” J. Lightwave Technol. LT-4, 1071–1089 (1986).
A. Barlow and D. Payne, “The stress-optic effect in optical fibers,“ IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-19, 834–839 (1983).
A. Michie, J. Canning, K. Lyytikäinen, M. Åslund, and J. Digweed, “Temperature independent highly birefringent photonic crystal fibre,” Opt. Express 12, 5160–5165 (2004).
E. De la Rosa, L. A. Zenteno, A. N. Starodumov, and D. Monzon, “All-fiber absolute temperature sensor using an unbalanced high-birefringence Sagnac loop,” Opt. Lett. 22, 481–483 (1997).
D. H. Kim and J. U. Kang, “Sagnac loop interferometer based on polarization maintaining photonic crystal fiber with reduced temperature sensitivity,” Opt. Express 12, 4490–4495 (2004).
Åslund, M.
Ball, G. A.
Barlow, A.
Barlow, A. J.
Bhatia, V.
Canning, J.
Chan, H. L. W.
Cheo, P. K.
Chiang, K. S.
Chung, Y.
De, E.
De la Rosa, E.
Digweed, J.
Dong, X.
Eickhoff, W.
Feng, X.
Gardner, J. L.
Han, W. T.
Han, Y. G.
Kai, G.
Kang, J. U.
Kersey, A. D.
Kim, B. H.
Kim, C. S.
Kim, D. H.
Koo, K. P.
Liu, B.
Liu, Y.
Lyytikäinen, K.
Mendoza-Santoyo, F.
Michie, A.
Monzon, D.
Moon, D. S.
Moon, S.
Morey, W. W.
Noda, J.
Okamoto, K.
Pacheco, M.
Paek, U. C.
Payne, D.
Payne, D. N.
Rosa, L.
Rosa-Cruz, L.
Sasaki, Y.
Sova, R. M.
Starodumov, A. N.
Tsuchida, H.
Varnham, M. P.
Vengsarkar, A. M.
Yuan, S.
Zenteno, L. A.
Zhang, W.
Zhou, G.
Appl. Opt. (1)
Electron. Lett. (1)
Fiber and Int. Opt. (1)
IEEE J. Quantum Electron. (1)
IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. (2)
J. Lightwave Technol. (3)
Opt. Eng. (1)
Opt. Express (4)
Fig. 1. The cross-section of the fabricated PM side-hole fiber with (a) an elliptical shape (Δn=0.02), (b) a circular shape I (Δn=0.018), and (c) a circular shape II (Δn=0.046).
Fig. 2. The Sagnac loop interferometer’s output spectra of PM side-hole fiber: (a) an elliptical shape (L=10m, Δλ=1.4 nm), (b) a circular shape I (L=26m, Δλ=0.8 nm), (c) a circular shape II (L=20m, Δλ=7.05 nm).
Fig. 3. The experimental setup of the Sagnac fiber temperature sensor.
Fig. 4. The temperature sensitivity of PM side-hole fiber (a) with an elliptic shape (L=0.22 m, Δλ=67.85 nm), (b) a circular shape I (L=0.42 m, Δλ=50.29 nm), and (c) a circular shape II (L=1.3 m, Δλ=1 11.64 nm), respectively.
Fig. 5. The peak separation versus temperature: (a) an elliptic shape, (b) a circular shape I, and (c) a circular shape II.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3164
|
__label__wiki
| 0.557956
| 0.557956
|
You are Here: Home / About / Mission Statement
As we strive to record and preserve the historial background of rug hooking in our province, RHGNL will create public awareness, encourage participation, and provide opportunities for training, networking and sharing of ideas.
Logo Designed by: Lori LeDrew
Composition of Mat Designed and Hooked by: Joan Foster
A Brief History – The Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador
Did you know that Change Islands, Newfoundland got its name because the fishermen who had been there since the early 1700s moved from one small island where they had built their homes and lived to another small island within an arm’s reach where they set up their fishing stages, flakes, and wharves to tie up their boats? Did you also know that at the turn of the 20th century, approximately 1000 people lived and worked on these beautiful islands known as the Fishing Stage Capital of the World. Such a beautiful place with such an interesting history. It is a paradise for artists and photographers and a little piece of heaven to any lucky enough to live or visit there. See more here: http://www.changeislands.ca
But, those aren’t the only bits of its history. For us rug hookers, Change Islands holds a piece of history very dear to our hearts. Because, it was here in this beautiful place, our Guild came to life.
It’s sometimes funny how things come to be. Elizabeth Walker, a Newfoundlander and an accomplished mat hooker was living in New Jersey. Her mother grew up in Englee on the Great Northern Peninsula and was very familiar with Dr. Grenfell’s work there and was, in fact, a rug hooker herself. Her mom had not returned to Englee for many years so Elizabeth and her husband decided to travel with her to see her childhood home once more.
Feeling the drive from St. John’s was too long without a break for her mother, Elizabeth decided on a few days on Change Islands. Now, if you know our geography, that doesn’t make a lot of sense, because Change Islands is a ways off the beaten path for sure. Which means, Elizabeth was meant to be in Change Islands at that time.
While visiting, she looked around for rug hooking supplies and there was none. Elizabeth came to realize that rug hooking was no longer part of the life and times on Change Islands. She vowed to return the following year, 1994, to teach the craft of rug hooking. Elizabeth kept her promise, bringing hoops, hooks, burlap and supplies for 10-12 people. Beulah Oake offered the dining room of her B & B and before the boxes were unpacked, people were showing up to take the class. One such person was Linda Peckford who had learned to hook from her grandmother. Elizabeth encouraged Linda to attend Rug School in Nova Scotia which she did in May 1995. Well, Linda thought, if Nova Scotia can have a Rug Hooking Guild, why can’t we have one in this province? There were very few people who knew how to hook at that point, other than a few older ladies and it was very difficult to find a hooked mat for sale in a craft shop.
Linda started asking around to see if there was any interest which led her to Joan Foster whose Mom had taught her to hook in 1979. Joan had already been to the Nova Scotia Rug School in 1993 and was very interested in trying to revive the tradition which was quickly fading into the pages of history.
Response from an ad placed with The Evening Telegram was so good, Linda convinced Edie Cole (a mat hooking teacher from Nova Scotia) to come to Change Islands in August of 1995. Twenty-one people from around the province attended the three day workshop which was held at the Seven Oakes Inn. They were: Edna Porter, Suzanne Porter, Edna Long, Amy Burden, Linda Peckford, Joyce Carrigan, Dorothy Hawco, Mildred LeDrew, Gladys Newhook, Ada Shave, Margaret Kavanagh, Minette Shave, Ina Budgell, Christine Moeller, Sadie Edwards, Joan Foster, Joy Johnson, Jean Taylor, Joan LeDrew, Dianne Flynn and Beulah Oake.
The formation of our Guild was the result of a Saturday evening meeting with Linda Peckford elected President, Amy Burden as Vice President, Joan Foster as Secretary, and Sadie Edwards as Treasurer.
In 1996, Elizabeth returned again to teach Newfoundland Outport Houses at the Guild’s very first Rug School, held in Gander. Subsequent to the school, much work was done by the Guild members to promote the craft of rug hooking. Joan and Linda travelled around the province giving classes and promoting rug hooking where they could. Discounts on lodging and airfare were arranged. Elizabeth Walker and her friends in the Maritimes, Ontario and the United States also played a major role in our Guild moving forward as they would send patterns, wools and other supplies along to the Guild on a regular basis. For the first number of years, the teachers offered their services for free, in exchange for a holiday in Newfoundland. We owe much to Elizabeth and her friends for supporting our Guild then and now. We also owe much to the Presidents and their executives who have served tirelessly over the years to bring our Guild where it is today.
Designed by: Susan Morris (with adaptations from Deanne Fitzpatrick’s templates) Hooked by: Susan Morris, Corner Brook, NL
In 2015 we celebrated our 20th anniversary. We now have almost 300 members from around the province, across Canada, the United States, Northern Ireland and France.
We produce a quarterly newsletter; the executive meets three or four times a year; we offer workshops around the province (hundreds of people have been taught to hook); and our annual Rug School continues every August.
Rug School rotates around the province – two years West Coast, two years Central and two years on the Avalon. The School offers 6 different courses, from Beginner through Advanced classes over three days is attended by approximately 100 people of all ages and skill levels.
Designed and Hooked by Judith Brockie, Harbour Grace
Hooked wool strips on linen (see full mat in Gallery)
The Guild has trained and certified mat hooking instructors of which 17 are currently active allowing us to primarily use our own instructors for Rug School and bring in one or two from the mainland each year to add variety to the course offerings.
As you follow along here, you will see samples of some of the skills learned at our rug schools and through our Branches where rug hookers gather to socialize and learn from each other.
Check out our Branches Page for information regarding regular hook-in gatherings and occasional workshops.
The Family Home
Hooked by Melaine Lambe, Lawn
for her Mom when she entered long term care.
Hooked on Monk’s cloth with a #3 cut wool and slub yarn for the sky. The edge is whip stitched with local sheep’s wool.
An important part of our Mission Statement is to preserve and record the historic background of rug hooking in our province. Therefore, the Guild has held several exhibits of hooked mats including at The Rooms in St. John’s, the Mary March Museum in Grand Falls-Windsor, the Ryan Premises in Bonavista, all six Arts & Culture Centres as well as other locations around the province.
A major project has been our Heritage Hooked Rug Registry. In 1997, we received assistance from the Department of Rural Development, Innovation, and Trade to start registering (photographing and recording information) mats hooked prior to 1995. To date we have registered over 800 mats. In 2005 we partnered with DRC Publishing to produce a book entitled Hooked Mats of Newfoundland and Labrador: Beauty Born of Necessity. It contains pictures and information, some of which are shown on this page, of 120 of the registered mats, the history of mat hooking in the province a well as a short history of the Guild. This Book has proven to be a great resource to rug hookers as the pictures give ideas for patterns, fabrics to use, and color combinations.
Designed/Hooked:Valerie Hoskins, St. Alban’s
100% wool and it is 21 inches x 25
In honour of 50 years of service to our province of the Canadian Coast, Guild members hooked and exhibited over 40 lighthouses from around the province. Read more about this project in our News Section.
Before joining Confederation with Canada on March 31, 1949, Newfoundland was an independent country with its own currency and stamps. Guild members hooked a series of mats featuring several of the old Newfoundland stamps.
Currently, Guild Members are working on an exhibit which will feature historical sites, locations and events from around our province. Look to our calendar to see dates and locations of the exhibit.
Then, we have our annual exhibit which is held during Rug School every August. Every year, members are amazed by the amount of talent showing through the work they produce.
Our Guild is also very community minded and has been involved in several projects giving directly back to the community.
Visit our News page to see how our Guild partnered with St. John’s Law Firm McInnes Cooper to raise $25,000 and place a 43 piece hooked tapestry on the wall of Ronald MacDonald House in St. John’s.
Our Commissioned Tapestry for Cupids 400 Project 2010 depicting tidbits of history of Canada’s first English Colony, Cupers Cove, established in 1610.
Read also about how Guild members hooked two replica mats for the Church at Battle Harbour, Labrador.
Now as we head into 2017 and towards our 25th year as a Guild, we are so excited and pleased with what we have accomplished through the very hard work of our members led by our very first President Linda Peckford and followed by:
Amy Burden, Joan Foster, Ruth Chaffey, Venissa Fancy, Alice Kelly, Teresa Greene, and current President Kelley Fewer.
Through teaching Arts Smarts to our school children and continuing to host workshops around the province, we will continue to pass on this wonderful craft.
A sneak peak of one the replicated mats by Joan Foster
By simply showing pride in our hooked pieces and all we have accomplished, The Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to create public awareness.
Never again will we worry about this beautiful part of our culture and heritage falling off the history pages.
Thank you again for visiting us here at The Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador. But, in reality, whether you’re a neighbour across the street, our province, country or another part of the world, what you really need to do is reach out to a Guild Member and learn to produce this beautiful craft yourself. Until then…..
Section of a Mat designed by Deanne Fitzpatrick
Hooked by Betty Heath of Lake Elmo, MN
Check out our Galley to see this beautiful mat in all its glory!
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3174
|
__label__wiki
| 0.787989
| 0.787989
|
'Carnival of Light' tour
'Going Blank Again' tour
'Nowhere' tour
'Nowhere25' tour
'Play EP' tour
'Ride' EP tour
'Today Forever' tour
'Tomorrow's Shore' tour
1st US tour
Bootleg/unofficial release
Clash Magazine
Demo tape
Fan Shot Live Video
House Of Love support tour
Overseas release/import
Press article
Pro-shot Live Video
Promo release
Radio appearance
Reunion tour
Soup Dragons support tour
Television appearance
TV Appearance
UK release
Video release
Weather Diaries tour
Mailing List – News update – February 2003
Below is an email sent out to all subscribers of the band's mailing list in the winter of 2003 with various updates about the band. various bits of news hello all lots of bits of news (i'll try to be brief) RIDEOX4.COM the official website address has been nabbed by someone else and Ignition Records are currently trying to wrestle it back. In the meantime we've moved the site over to www.rideox4.net or www.rideox4.co.uk. I know that the site is desperately in need of an update but please bear with us as things are rather busy at the moment. BBC SESSIONS ALBUM The tracklisting has been agreed and we're in the process of sorting out the licence from the BBC and also getting the artwork and sleevenotes together. With a burst of energy this should see the light of day early in the Summer. It'll be 17 tracks culled from the 5 main sessions that the band recorded between 1990 and 1994 at the BBC studios in London and Manchester. If all goes well then it should be properly available worldwide (unlike the Best Of album which has been limited to the UK and North America plus any export sales). By the way, the Box Set has been re-pressed once again as it seems that demand is continuing to out-strip everyone's expectations - very pleasing! US RELEASE OF BEST OF The single album Best Of (with a four track bonus disc) has been picking up lots of nice press and radio support in the US. So much so that Mark is going out to the States very soon to do some promotion and to play some shows. The US release is on the mighty-fine First Time Records. MARK GARDENER GIGS Yes really. Mark is going out to the States to play an acoustic tour featuring about 70% Ride songs and 30% his new material. The first date is at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas on 13th March and then he makes his way around the country between the 1st and the 27th April. For a full list of dates as they get confirmed then have a look at Piero's Ticket To Ride Mark Gardener microsite. To warm up for the tour Mark is going to play a short(ish) set (about 30 minutes) at one of the regular Trailer Park nights run by Oxford's Truck Records. This show will be on Tuesday 4th March at the Cellar in the centre of Oxford. You can get tickets in advance online at www.wegottickets.com. PIERO'S MICROSITE http://www.mareasub.it/ride/mgmicro EXCELLENT ONLINE COMPILATION As part of the build-up to the US tour Mark has contributed a track to an MP3 compilation put together by www.excellentonline.com. Full details on their site, of course.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3176
|
__label__cc
| 0.656074
| 0.343926
|
HomeAdvocacyCreating More Trails
Creating More Trails
In addition to promoting bike-friendly on-road conditions, Ride Illinois also advocates for more off-road trails to be built along roads and on their own rights-of-way.
Much of our trail advocacy focuses on the national and state funding sources that local agencies use to build trails:
Each year, Ride Illinois heads the Illinois delegation to the League of American Bicyclists’ National Bike Summit. There, we visit our state’s Congressional offices to help lobby for favorable federal policies such as the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which has funded most of the new bikeways in Illinois and the country since 1991.
Ride Illinois serves as a monitor of how TAP and other federal bikeway dollars are distributed in the state. Our vigilance and advocacy has directly saved tens of millions of dollars, which are being used to build more trails all around Illinois.
We advocate for state funding of trails and maintenance of the state trail system.
Ride Illinois advises local agencies on grant strategies, helping them access the external grant funding sources above, for their particular trail project. We also have expertise in raising funds from the community to pay a grant’s local match or fund the trail entirely.
Trail development sometimes leads to opposition from adjacent residents. We can help trail-building agencies learn the facts to calm concerns about trails’ effect on crime, property values, etc.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3177
|
__label__wiki
| 0.775674
| 0.775674
|
Going Green: Plug in, drive green — and save
Published in: Going Green, The Recorder
Author: Andrea Bugbee
Special to Going Green
Sally Pick of SJP Consulting, LLC describes herself as an energy nerd. She’s a Montague-based energy consultant who specializes in helping homeowners take advantage of financial incentives to transform drafty, inefficient houses into cozy, green abodes. But it’s not just energy-efficient houses that spark her expertise. As Western Mass. Green Consortium’s Nov. 14 Green Night speaker, Pick’s topic for the evening was, “Will Your Next Car Be Electric?”
Electric cars are becoming more popular as technology advances and the world grows increasingly concerned about greenhouse gasses from fossil fuels. Despite their environmental concerns, however, people often express one of two hesitations about electric vehicles. 1) They’re afraid their battery will drain and leave them stranded. 2) They’re afraid all electric vehicles are high-priced, like the $75,000 Tesla Model S.
First, let’s look at the dead battery scenario.
Most of today’s all-electric vehicles have at least a 100-mile range; many have twice that. This means a local electric vehicle (EV) driver can travel the 98 miles from Greenfield to Boston without stopping. Plug-in hybrids, which run on gas and battery, boast an impressive range of up to 640 miles. Therefore, that same, local driver could climb behind the wheel of a Prius Prime in Greenfield and never have to refill or recharge until the far side of Richmond, Va.
According to Pick, “There are roughly 1,400 charging outlets in Massachusetts and there are more in the works.” Furthermore, she said, there are cell phone apps that pinpoint the closest charging stations with a few simple taps. Some of Pick’s favorite apps are ChargePoint, PlugShare, and EVgo, resources she uses while on the road in her Chevy plug-in.
Many drivers have already overcome the fear of EV power failure. Right now, Pick said, there are approximately 15,000 EVs in Massachusetts (compared to 300,000 in California, and a whopping 600,000 sold in China last year alone). They’re no longer a novelty — and neither are places to charge them. Many local municipalities, including Greenfield, Northampton and West Springfield, host free charging stations. Other communities, such as Amherst, require a small, per-minute fee. Most Massachusetts transit stations have charging ports, and there are multiple places to stop and recharge along the Mass Pike.
Second, Pick shared some encouraging news about affordability.
Sample starting prices for EVs and plug-in hybrids, Pick said, range from the Hyundai Ioniq at $25,800, to the Chevy Bolt at $37,500, to the Tesla 3 at $36,000. “Those are pretty chunky prices. Not everybody can afford them,” she said. “But there are incentives.”
The incentives Pick described are pretty chunky, too. In fact, they could potentially trim $10,000 off the sticker price.
“There are currently 42 vehicles that qualify for the EV rebate in Massachusetts; I’m not going to cover all of them,” Pick said, smiling. “The Massachusetts rebates range from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the size of the battery. You have to use it the year you buy the car.” For a current, detailed listing of Bay State electric and hybrid vehicle rebates, Pick recommends visiting the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ website, mor-ev.org.
Pick also highlighted the “Drive Green” program designed by the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, a nonprofit, environmental organization that works with car dealers to offer special incentives for consumers looking to purchase low- or no-gasoline cars. The deals change month to month, but, by going to greenenergyconsumers.org/drivegreen and signing up for the Drive Green program, drivers can become emissions-free (or low emissions, if choosing a hybrid) at a sweet price.
Pick said federal tax credits range from $2,500 to $7,500, again depending on the size of the car’s battery. She warned would-be buyers to beware, however, because federal incentives phase out for each automaker after they have sold 200,000 electric cars. Pick said Tesla has already reached that cap, and Chevy was expected to reach it by the end of 2018. Massachusetts and Drive Green discounts apply to purchased and leased vehicles, Pick said. Federal tax credits, however, apply only to purchased vehicles.
Pick added that driving and maintaining an EV or plug-in hybrid is more cost-effective than current fossil fuel burners. “The average electric vehicle saves $2,100 in maintenance compared to a similar sized gas-powered car driven 150,000 miles,” Pick said. EVs require little regular maintenance, they have fewer fluids to change, the brakes last longer due to regenerative braking, and EVs have fewer moving parts to warrant repair.
“The Nissan Leaf has 18 moving parts,” Pick said. “A typical gas engine has about 2,000 moving parts.”
Additionally, lower fuel costs increase savings. A gas-powered Honda Civic gets 34 MPG, whereas that all-electric Nissan Leaf gets 112 MPG. “If you have home or community electric you can access, you can save most or all of your electric costs charging your vehicle,” Pick said. If you have home solar cutting your electric bills, all the better.
Pick did note that new EV drivers will need to install a home charging outlet. Although it’s possible to charge an electric vehicle the same way you charge your cell phone — by plugging it into a standard wall outlet — it would take a very long time. The average charger installation fee runs about $500, but older homes with 100 amp service will need an electric upgrade, which could easily double the expense.
Finally, Pick called attention to ways EV drivers can charge their vehicles as cleanly as possible. “For the lowest greenhouse gas emissions, you want to avoid charging during peak demand. That’s when the utilities use the dirtiest fossil fuels, like oil and coal,” she said, noting that higher peak demand helps to justify pipelines. One way to get your EV to charge at off-peak hours, Pick said, is to program the charge for a 3:30 a.m. departure.
Out on the road, EV drivers can participate in what Pick called “hypermiling” — stretching the limits of each charge. For gold medal results, coast down hills or into stops. Use your seat warmer instead of cabin heat when reasonable. Remove ice and snow from the car to limit drag. Keep tires fully inflated.
And, heck — be a rebel. Go ahead and take the slow road for once.
About ‘Green Nights’
The Western Mass Green Consortium’s “Green Nights” are free, environmentally focused presentations held on the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Platform Sports Bar and Grill at 125A Pleasant St., in Northampton.
Green Nights are also an opportunity to network, converse, learn and share information.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3179
|
__label__wiki
| 0.947844
| 0.947844
|
JFK’s Idris Idris is a winner looking for his next challenge
Posted Saturday, July 6, 2019 12:05 am
Whether it was soccer, gymnastics or, his favorite, volleyball, JFK’s Idris Idris was a force to be reckoned with. Now he’s off to SUNY-Purchase in the fall to study biochemistry and continue his volleyball career.
JULIUS CONSTANTINE MOTAL / File
Idris Idris just completed his four years at John F. Kennedy Campus where he helped revive one program and lead another to a PSAL city championship.
FRIDA STERENBERG
By SEAN BRENNAN
If someone were ever to make the “Idris Idris Story,” it probably would look a lot like “Rudy.” The story of the diminutive walk-on football player who earned his way onto the varsity squad at Notre Dame and even managed to get into a regular-season game to cap his Hollywood-story career.
Idris is a lot like Rudy. What he lacks in size he makes up for with heart. Just look at what he helped accomplish the past two seasons at John F. Kennedy Campus.
He guided the Knights boys soccer team to a combined 13-4-3 regular-season record the past two years, seasons that came with back-to-back playoff berths. And as part of the gymnastics team, he was a key contributor to the Knights winning its first Public School Athletic League city championship since 2011.
But it’s volleyball that was Idris’ passion, and he takes great pride in returning the Kennedy program from a PSAL doormat to a major player the past two seasons. He helped turn around a program that went 0-10 to one with consecutive 6-4 records and a PSAL playoff appearance each season.
Not bad for a guy who stands all of 5 feet, 6 inches tall.
“I was talented in soccer, and gymnastics was something I didn’t really like at first because I wasn’t that good,” Idris said. “But this past year I improved a lot and I started to like it a lot more. But volleyball was definitely my favorite.”
Idris thoroughly enjoyed the championship ride the Kennedy boys gymnastics team went on this year. “It felt really good to win that for the school.”
But resurrecting a moribund volleyball program that was once languishing in laughing-stock status in the PSAL, that was an accomplishment Idris deems his greatest.
“Volleyball was just something that I clicked with,” Idris said. “In my first year, I think we kind of surprised people because we got third place in the Bronx (A Division), which was not bad. We went from an 0-10 team to a 6-4 team and into the playoffs each of the last two years. So I think that was really a great accomplishment.”
But last week Idris officially closed the Kennedy chapter of his life by graduating with a ceremony on the campus of the College of Mount Saint Vincent. A lot of memories came flooding back to him that day.
“It was very emotional,” Idris said. “There was both happiness and sadness. But my friends that I do want to see, I’ll still see them. I just hope some of the (friendships) don’t fall off over time. But my four years all went by super fast. I can remember walking into school on my first day in freshman year. Now it’s over.”
Idris now prepares for the next chapter in his life — college — where he’ll attend SUNY Purchase. And yes, his love of volleyball will be coming along for the ride.
“I spoke to the coach there and it went really well,” Idris said. “He said he’s really looking forward to seeing me.”
And while Idris plans on having success at Purchase, a Division III school where he plans to major in biochemistry, he hopes he can eventually make his way into a Division I school to compete against the very best college volleyball has to offer.
“Volleyball is a height game,” Idris said. “But I play a defensive position that really doesn’t require height. But when you go to higher levels, there are nobody 5-feet-6 playing Division I college volleyball. They’re all like 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2.
“A lot of people said my height is against me, but I’m not going to take it. I at least want to try to play Division I at some point. I’m 5-foot-6, and to me, height really doesn’t matter.”
Just another challenge Idris plans to meet head on.
“I play libero, which is a defensive specialist,” Idris said. “I spoke to some coaches and the way they put it to me was like this, ‘OK, you’re a college coach and you have to pick between two players. One is 5-(foot)-6, and is really good at passing. Or would you rather have an outside player who is 6-(foot)-1 that you can train to be a libero?’
“I get it. But I’m going to see how things go (at Purchase). If I play my A-1 game, which I think I can, we’ll see what happens.”
Never bet against Idris Idris. All he’s ever been is a winner.
Idris Idris, John F. Kennedy Campus, PSAL, gymnastics, volleyball, football, soccer, SUNY Purchase, Sean Brennan
Latest buzz: Hornets are Westchester Cup champs
College is ‘child’s’ play for JFK’s Duran
HM’s Silverman talks college, Chicago ... and all that ‘jazz’
No stopping this Press
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3180
|
__label__cc
| 0.68784
| 0.31216
|
Tarot card meanings in a reading
Accurate numerology love calculator horoscope
Qualities of chinese zodiac,free books to read online for 3rd graders read,horoscope dates for pisces,read story books online for adults 50 - .
Many will agree that the Hunan people are known for their domineering nature and they will never allow themselves to be neglected or overlooked.
Inner Mongolia is located in the northern part of China; its territory is huge and it has countless mountains. You may access areas of the Chinese Portal Site that require registration by becoming a registered member and creating an account with us. You agree to notify us immediately if you become aware any unauthorised use of your password or account identifiers by others.
If, for any reason, we believe that you have not complied with these terms and conditions, we may, at our sole discretion, cancel your access to the registration areas of Chinese Portal Site immediately and without prior notice. We may terminate your registered account, at our sole discretion, by emailing you at the address you have registered stating that the agreement has terminated. You may download and print extracts from the Chinese Portal Content for your own personal and non-commercial use only, provided you maintain and abide by any author attribution, copyright or trademark notice or restriction in any material that you download or print. To the extent permitted at law, we do not accept any responsibility for any statement in the Chinese Portal Content.
We give no warranties of any kind concerning the Chinese Portal Site or the Chinese Portal Content. Although we will do our best to provide constant, uninterrupted access to the Chinese Portal Site, we do not guarantee this. If you are accessing the Chinese Portal Site from the United States or Australia, the additional disclaimers and limitations of liability in Sections 16 and 17 and apply.
Users of our site may be permitted to submit content for publication in various areas of the Chinese Portal Site.
When you submit content to us, you agree and represent that you have created that content, or you have received permission from, or are authorised by, the owner of any part of the content to submit it to the Chinese Portal Site. You acknowledge and agree that when you post content on the Chinese Portal Site or view content provided by others, you are doing so at your own discretion and risk, including any reliance on the accuracy, completeness, of that content. We, or authorised third parties, reserve the right to cut, crop, edit or refuse to publish, your content at our or their sole discretion.
We accept no liability in respect of any content submitted by users and published by us or by authorised third parties. You warrant that the content you submit to us is not obscene, threatening, harassing, libellous, deceptive, fraudulent, invasive of another's privacy, offensive, defamatory of any person or illegal. Chinese Portal assumes no responsibility for the deletion or failure to store postings of content or other information submitted by you or other users to the Chinese Portal Site. If you are under 16, you confirm that you have permission of your parent or guardian to submit content. You may download certain Chinese Portal apps ("Apps") either from Chinese Sites or from third party app stores or shops.
In addition to the limitations on our liability set out in Section 4, 16 and 17, we shall not be liable for any damage caused to or interference with any equipment or other Apps or content of any description.
Please see our privacy policy for details of how personally identifiable information is collected and may be processed or shared with others. Please note that we may change these terms and conditions from time to time at our sole discretion and we reserve the right to do without your consent. These terms and conditions are governed by English law and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Chinese Portal, its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, and employees from any and all claims, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees and expenses, arising out a breach by you or any user of your account of these terms and conditions or privacy policy or arising out of a breach of your obligations, representation and warranties under these terms and conditions. Our failure to insist upon or enforce any provision of these terms of service shall not be construed as a waiver of any provision or right of Chinese Portal. In addition to section 6 the terms in Section above, you agree not to use the Chinese Portal Site to upload, post, e-mail, or otherwise transmit any content that you do not have a right to transmit under any law or regulation or under any contractual or fiduciary relationship (such as insider information, intellectual, proprietary or confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements and to intentionally or unintentionally violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law, including, but not limited to, regulations promulgated by the U.S.
If you have accessed the Chinese Portal Site from the US, these terms and conditions are governed by the laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of New York. Visitors to the Chinese Portal Site agree that their use of the Chinese Portal Site is at their own sole risk. Applicable law may not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. The Australian Consumer Law may confer certain rights and remedies on you in relation to the provision by Chinese Portal of goods and services under these terms and conditions. Except in relation to Non-Excludable Obligations, all conditions, warranties and other provisions implied or conferred by statute, custom, or the general law that impose any liability or obligation on Chinese Portal are expressly excluded under these terms and conditions.
Certain services that we provide may involve us collecting extra information (Membership, for example), such as where you are, so the service can be provided as designed. The minimum information we need to register you is your name, username, email address and a password.
We may also ask some other, voluntary questions during registration for certain services (for example, professional networks) so we can gain a clearer understanding of who you are. If you log-in to our sites using a Facebook log-in, you are granting permission to Facebook to share your user details with us. If you log-in to our sites using a twitter log-in, we receive your avatar (the small picture that appears next to your tweets) and twitter username.
Except for Chinese Portal students, we do not knowingly collect or store any personal information about children under the age of 16. We offer a 'My Space' page and a ‘Friends’ section, where you can update your personal information at any time, network with other users and change your marketing preferences. We will not share your personal information with others for marketing purposes unless you have given us your permission.
If you are a Chinese Portal Member and attend an event organised by an event partner, data may be shared for event administration purposes.
We may make other organisations' services available through our sites, although we are not necessarily operating these sites.
We can access and release personal information to keep to relevant laws and government requests, to operate our systems properly and to protect both us and our users. Any other organisations who access your information in the course of providing services on our behalf will be governed by strict contractual restrictions to make sure that they protect your information and keep to data-protection and privacy laws which apply. Some of our webpages use plug-ins from other organisations (such as the 'Facebook Recommend' function). 4 Placing cookies on your computer means we can show you adverts that you might be interested in, and allows us to control the number of times you see them and measure how effective the ad campaign has been. You can turn cookies off but if you do this, you may not be able to use all services on our websites and you might see more pop-ups and other advertising. If you would like a copy of the personal information we hold about you, or have any questions about how we may use it, please contact the Data Protection Manager at the address shown above. Qualities is a part of our efforts to celebrate Asia Week New York and our upcoming Asian, Ancient and Ethnographic Works of Art auction.
Sophisticated bronze casting techniques emerged in China much earlier than in any other Asian culture.
By the 2nd century CE the ritual significance of these bronzes had diminished and bronze was supplanted in importance as a symbol of wealth by other materials, notably lacquer.
This entry was posted in Qualities and tagged Asia Week New York 2013, Asian Ancient and Ethnographic Works of Art Auction, Chinese Archaic Bronze Vessel, iGavel Auctions, Shang Dynasty. A sense of natural intelligence is the unique quality with which the Shanghainese reckon they are born. They combine both the romantic and impressionistic Western style with traditional Chinese style. Living in such an exquisite and fertile place makes the Sichuan people an attractive race with an intelligent temperament and a relaxed approach to life.
The vast expanse of grassland and endless Gobi desert has resulted in a people known for their brave and determined nature. A snowy plateau conjures up an image of the holy and innocent snow Lotus, and adds to our perception of the pious character of Tibetan people. You agree to be responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your passwords or other account identifiers which you choose and all activities that occur under your account. If you no longer accept these terms and conditions, or any future modification to these terms and conditions, you must cease using the Chinese Portal Site. You acknowledge that, as between Chinese Portal and you, except for user content and advertisements (as discussed below), Chinese Portal is the sole owner of all content on the Chinese Portal Site, including, without limitation, all applicable copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, trade names, logos, and other intellectual property rights thereto, as well as text, images, graphics, logos, audio, video and other material appearing on the Chinese Portal Site ("Chinese Portal Content"). You may not use any Chinese Portal Content for any other purpose without our prior written approval.
Nothing in the Chinese Portal Content is provided for any specific purpose or at the request of any particular person. In particular, we do not warrant that the Chinese Portal Site or any of its contents is virus free. Each individual advertiser is solely responsible for the content of its advertising material.
You will be deemed to consent to these guidelines, and these terms and conditions, if you choose to post any content or comments to the Chinese Portal Site.
You further acknowledge and agree that the views expressed by you and other users in that content do not necessarily reflect the views of Chinese Portal, and we do not support or endorse any user content. All of these terms apply to the maximum extent relevant to your use of the Apps (and in particular, the terms of section 6 apply where you are using an App to submit user content to the Chinese Portal Sites). Any revised terms and conditions will be applicable at the time of posting on the Chinese Portal Site.
Securities and Exchange Commission, any rules of any national or other securities exchange, including, without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, or the NASDAQ, and any rules, regulations, orders, directives and the like having the force of law).
You acknowledge that if you fail to comply with all of the requirements of this Section, your DMCA notice may not be valid.
You agree that exclusive jurisdiction for any claim or dispute with Chinese Portal or relating in any way to your use of the Chinese Portal Site resides in the courts of the County of New York, State of New York, and you further agree and expressly consent to the exercise of personal jurisdiction in the courts of the County of New York, State of New York, in connection with any such dispute and including any claim involving Phoenix Metro Media Ltd or its affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, contractors, officers, directors, telecommunication providers and content providers. Chinese Portal also makes no representations and warranties as to any linked sites and Chinese Portal has no liability or responsibility with respect to your use of such sites. Chinese Portal does not warrant or guarantee that access to the Chinese Portal Site will be uninterrupted or error-free. We will collect and use individual user details only if we have your permission or we have sensible business reasons for doing so, such as collecting enough information to manage subscriptions. We will be clear in our dealings with you as to what information about you we will collect and how we will use it.
We will use personal information only for the purposes for which it was originally collected and we will make sure we delete it securely.
If we or our service providers transfer any information out of the European Economic Area (EEA), it will only be done with the relevant protection (stated under UK law) being in place. This will include your name, email address, date of birth and location which will then be used to form a Chinese Portal identity.
You can get to this page from most pages on the site – simply click on the 'My Space' link at the top of the screen when you are signed in.
If we have your permission, we will share your information only with other organisations we have chosen carefully. We process any information which we collect when you access a service provided by another organisation under this privacy policy. We may also independently audit these service providers to make sure that they meet our standards. These other organisations may use information about your visit to our websites on their pages. For statistical purposes to track how many users we have and how often they visit our websites.
We and other advertisers may use statistical cookies to track who has seen an advert and clicked on it. We may use 'Flash' cookies to store your preferences for your media player (for example, volume and so on). We or other companies may use cookies to suggest and deliver content which we believe may interest you. Our articles are never influenced by advertisers or affiliates, nor are they written for the purpose of promoting a product, except when clearly branded as a 'sponsored feature', 'advertisement feature' or 'sponsor's content'. The data controller is the organisation responsible for protecting information and, in our case, is Chinese Portal, Rockstar Hub, 3 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7DD. Where the changes are significant, we may also choose to email all our registered users with the new details. Occupying the 3rd position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability.
In the Shang Dynasty (1,766-1045 BCE) the Chinese produced large scale elaborately cast bronze ritual vessels. Native born people who have lived in the region for a long time love the quiet lifestyle, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
In these terms and conditions, when we say the “Chinese Portal Site" we mean the digital information network operated by or on behalf of Phoenix Metro Media Ltd or its parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "Chinese Portal"), regardless of how you access the network, as well as any Chinese Portal apps whether you access those via a Chinese Portal Site or a third party site. Continued use of the Chinese Portal Site indicates your continued acceptance of these terms and conditions. The Chinese Portal Site and the Chinese Portal Content are protected by the copyright laws and other intellectual property laws of the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia and are protected globally by applicable international copyright treaties.
Except as expressly authorised by the Chinese Portal, you are not allowed to create a database in electronic or paper form comprising all or part of the material appearing on the Chinese Portal Site.
For the avoidance of confusion, we will not be liable for any loss caused as a result of your doing, or not doing, anything as a result of viewing, reading or listening to the Chinese Portal Content or any part of it. You must take your own precautions in this respect as we accept no responsibility for any infection by virus or other contamination or by anything which has destructive properties. We accept no responsibility for the content of advertising material, including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. You acknowledge that we have no obligation to pre-screen, monitor, review, or edit any content posted by you and other users on the Chinese Portal Site.
Please ensure that you review these terms and conditions regularly as you will be deemed to have accepted a variation if you continue to use the Chinese Portal Site after it has been posted. You agree that any cause of action or claim that you may have with respect to your use of the Chinese Portal Site must be commenced within one year after the act or omission giving rise to the claim or cause of action arose. In some instances, content made available on the Chinese Portal Site may represent the opinions and judgments of providers or users, such as user content. You should receive marketing emails only from us and, if you agree, from other organisations we have carefully chosen. This means that people around the world who access our website can see anything you post on the website, for example, comments about an article. We may use service providers to help us run these sites (or services available on the sites), some of whom may be based outside the EEA. If you browse these pages while still also logged in to your account with us, information they collect may be connected to your account on their site. We collect information listing which of our pages are most frequently visited, and by which types of users and from which countries. You can find more information on this in the online behavioural advertising section of this privacy policy. Often the background design is a pattern of small coils called leiwen, with stylised birds and dragons separated by low flanges.The gu is a trumpet-shaped vase with a flared mouth.
However you access the Chinese Portal Site, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. Chinese Portal and its affiliates do not endorse nor shall they be responsible or liable for the accuracy or reliability of any statement made on the Chinese Portal Site by anyone other than authorised Chinese Portal employees acting in such capacity.
We will make sure it is clear when you can make these choices, for example, we have boxes you need to tick if you want to receive marketing. This will also allow us and Facebook to share your, networks, user ID and any other information you choose to share according to your Facebook account settings. For more information on how these organisations use information, please read their privacy policies.
If you have accessed the Chinese Portal Site from the United States or Australia, you also agree to be bound by additional terms contained at the end of these terms and conditions.
These sites are not under our control and we are not responsible in any way for any of their contents.
However, we may email you occasionally with information or questions about your registration, your subscription account or postings, for example, with reminders, warnings or copyright requests.
If you remove the Chinese Portal app from your Facebook settings, we will no longer have access to this information. The most elaborate of these vessels had animal-form legs or large bold masks called taotie cast in high relief.
Gold, silver, turquoise and other inlays were sometimes added and sumptuous vessels dating from the Warring States and Han period occasionally have human figural designs.
The shapes of vessels were sometimes influenced by the casting process, using legs or other elements as pouring channels.
Free depth numerology compatibility report vedic
Love horoscope gemini and aquarius
Abraham hicks el vortice vortex
Online books free trial 360
Category: Telugu Astrology
Comments to “Qualities of chinese zodiac”
karabagli writes:
12.09.2013 at 12:15:41 Grew to include more than 20 distinct editor pages for that complete a growth cycle so if you live to be ninety-nine.
PoranoiA writes:
12.09.2013 at 22:25:38 Anti social element or turn will only be able to grab them if horoscope scorpio for.
BIG_BOSS writes:
12.09.2013 at 16:25:59 Maturity and patience by giving tarot.
Daily yahoo horoscope scorpio career
Reverse lookup in excel
Tamil numerology table
Tarot readings australia
123 sun numerology calculator
Horoscopo chino 2016 tigre de fuego
Astrology In Hindi
Astrology Matches
Horoscope In Hindi
Indian Horoscope
Indian Numerology Calculator
Numerology Compatibility Test
Numerology Free
Tarot Online Reading
Tarot Readings Online
Telugu Astrology
Free vedic yearly horoscope 2012 daily License plate search arizona Get free indian horoscope Horoscopes astrology decans personality January 17 1982 chinese horoscope Horoscopes monthly pisces Free mobile number search with name France mobile phone number sample Free horoscope by jennifer angel Reading book tablets Numerology compatibility for 11 Capricorn horoscope 9 september 2013 Horoscopes if your birthday is today Chinese zodiac 2015 jackie chan Car number plate frame Numerology number 9 scorpio Astrology tarot reading free Chinese love horoscope today Astrology reading today homily Used books free shipping to canada Tarot free one card
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3192
|
__label__cc
| 0.730652
| 0.269348
|
Youth SRP: Mad Science of Detroit
12303 Pardee
Youth SRP: World Music and Stories Presented by the Story Tellers
Teen SRP: Teelightful Teesigns with Karen Bonnici
21000 Northline
12111 Pardee Road
Assessor's Calendar
City Council Calendar
City of Taylor Planning Commission
Economic Development Meeting Calendar
Golf Calendar
Holiday Trash Day Schedule
Library Calendar for Adult Events
Library Calendar for Braille & Talking Books
Library Calendar for Kids & Family Events
Library Calendar for Teen & Tween Events
Library Summer Reading
Petting Farm Calendar
Petting Farm Calendar of Events
Taylor Sportsplex Calendar
Library Calendar (33)
- Library Calendar (33) Main Calendar (9)
Assistive Tech Talk: Device Week!
July 15, 2019, 12:00 PM - July 19, 2019, 5:00 PM @ Taylor Community Library
Assistive Tech Talk: Device Week!2019-07-15T12:00:00
Need some assistive technology help? Call 734-287-4840 and make an appointment with our Tech Guru this week! Appointments can be made Monday through Friday between 12pm and 5pm.
Taylor Community Library12303 PardeeTaylorMI48180
Toddler Story Time
July 16, 2019, 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM @ Taylor Community Library
Toddler Story Time2019-07-16T10:30:00
Stories and activities for children age three and under.
Toddler Free Play
July 16, 2019, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Taylor Community Library
Toddler Free Play2019-07-16T11:00:00
Let your toddler (aged 3 and under) enjoy 60-minutes of unstructured free play at the library! We will provide all the educational toys for your toddler to play with. Just bring a smile and a sharing attitude. Registration is not required.
July 16, 2019, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM @ Taylor Community Library
Youth SRP: Mad Science of Detroit2019-07-16T14:00:00
Enjoy a fun and educational event that you're sure not to forget! Enjoy fascinating science demonstrations such as chemical reactions and bubbling potions. This program is intended for children and teens (ages 3+), but all ages are welcome. *Program attendance merits one-hour of reading time for the Summer Reading Program*
Itch to Stitch2019-07-16T17:30:00
Knitters and crocheters gather every Tuesday at 6 p.m. to work on their latest projects. Bring your projects, enjoy company while you work, and get help from experienced knitters.
Reading Takes You Out of This World Story Time
Reading Takes You Out of This World Story Time2019-07-17T14:00:00
Enjoy songs, stories, and puppets with Miss Lynn! No registration required. This program is intended for pre-school/early elementary aged children.
Adult Book Discussion
Adult Book Discussion2019-07-17T18:00:00
Stop by the library to pick up this month's title, and join us for a lively discussion.
Youth SRP: World Music and Stories Presented by the Story Tellers2019-07-18T14:00:00
Join the storytellers as they sing and make music while telling stories from around the world at this fun-filled Summer Reading Program event. This program is intended for children and teens (ages 3+), but all ages are welcome. *Program attendance merits one-hour of reading time for the Summer Reading Program*
Quilting for Beginners2019-07-18T18:00:00
Learn the basics of quilt making from start to finish. You will learn traditional and modern techniques while having fun putting together sample squares. All sessions will include demonstration and hands on. Online registration required.
Teen SRP: Teelightful Teesigns with Karen Bonnici2019-07-18T18:30:00
Learn how to design and make t-shirts at this teen event with Karen Bonnici. Only ages 12+ will be admitted into teen programming. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. *Program attendance merits one-hour of reading time for the Summer Reading Program*
Afternoon Movie: Rogue One
Afternoon Movie: Rogue One2019-07-19T13:30:00
Drop by the library for a different movie screening every week.
Event LocationTaylor Community LibraryTaylorMI48180
Book Sale by Friends of Library
July 20, 2019, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ Taylor Community Library
Book Sale by Friends of Library2019-07-20T10:00:00
Find great deals on cookbooks, technical books, children's books, fiction and non-fiction. Please note: Books are not grouped by subject, and inventory of a particular type of book or specific title is not guaranteed.
Books & Bites: Of Poseidon
Books & Bites: Of Poseidon2019-07-22T18:00:00
Join us for our monthly Young Adult book club! Whether you're 13 or 110, we invite you to read and discuss a monthly young adult book with us. This month we will be discussing "Of Poseidon" by Anna Banks.
LEGO Club2019-07-22T18:00:00
Calling all builders! Take on our weekly LEGO challenge, and build your own creation with our blocks and bricks. We will display it at the library until the next session.
Youth SRP: Wildlife Safari
July 23, 2019, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM @ Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion
Youth SRP: Wildlife Safari2019-07-23T14:00:00
See and touch live animals both great and small here at the library! This program combines live animals with a comic adventure for a program you'll never forget! Program is intended for teens and children (ages 3 and older), but all ages are welcome. You need tickets from the library to attend this event. All tickets are free. *Program attendance merits one-hour of reading time for the Summer Reading Program*
Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion12111 Pardee RoadTaylorMI48180
Visually Impaired People's Support Group
July 24, 2019, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM @ Taylor Community Library
Visually Impaired People's Support Group2019-07-24T12:00:00
Come prepared to discuss the challenges of life with a vision impairment. Learn about, and suggest, ways to make positive impacts in life. Family, friends, drivers, and caregivers are welcome. Light refreshments provided. July's topic is Beat the Heat! Join in and share tried and true Summertime hobbies and activities.
Carolyn's Captivating Crafts
Carolyn's Captivating Crafts2019-07-24T18:00:00
Do you consider yourself a beginner-level crafter? Join Carolyn's Captivating Crafts! In this 1-hour program we offer coloring, scrap-booking and simple crafts for beginners. No judgment is allowed and all materials are provided. Adults only.
Youth SRP: Alex Thomas and Friends Puppet Show
Youth SRP: Alex Thomas and Friends Puppet Show2019-07-25T14:00:00
Enjoy this fun and interactive puppet show with Alex Thomas and Friends! At the end of the show be sure to stick around and you may be able to receive a complimentary photo & autograph from our star. *Program attendance merits one-hour of reading time for the Summer Reading Program*
Teen SRP: Alex Thomas Stop Motion Animation
Teen SRP: Alex Thomas Stop Motion Animation2019-07-25T18:00:00
Welcome to the world of stop-motion animation! Every participant will build their very own custom, stop-motion puppet and bring it to life using the art and magic of stop-motion animation. Only ages 12+ will be admitted into Teen programming. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. *Program attendance merits one-hour of reading time for the Summer Reading Program*
Pop Art Collage Workshop with Michael Albert
Pop Art Collage Workshop with Michael Albert2019-07-26T11:00:00
Learn about modern pop art and make your own collage with New York-based author/artist Michael Albert. Includes a free signed poster.
Taylor Community Library12303 Pardee RoadTaylorMI48180
Afternoon Movie: Gravity
Afternoon Movie: Gravity2019-07-26T13:30:00
Drone Club
Drone Club2019-07-29T18:00:00
Test out the library's drones on homemade obstacle courses and explore with other drone enthusiasts. Drone Club meets inside the library and moves outside, weather permitting.
Youth & Teen Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up: Froyo Social
Youth & Teen Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up: Froyo Social2019-07-30T14:00:00
Let's end the summer reading program with frozen yogurt provided by Menchie's! Enjoy a froyo bar, pick up your grab bag, and enjoy fun activities!
Adult Summer Reading Get Together
Adult Summer Reading Get Together2019-07-31T14:00:00
Get together to talk about your favorite books from the summer and hear from library staff on the best books they've read as well. Adults only. Snacks provided.
July 17, 2019, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM @ Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Music & Arts in the Gardens continues with Ashley Lynn & The Spurs 2019-07-17T17:30:00
The Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will continue its popular summer music series, “Music & Arts in the Gardens,” with Ashley Lynn & The Spurs. Early seating opens at 5:30 p.m., with the shows beginning at 6:30. Tickets are $5 general admission on the lawn. A limited number of chairs are provided, so visitors are wise to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Parking is free at the Heritage Park Petting Farm and the adjoining grass lot off Northline Road. The conservatory main lot is reserved for handicapped parking, motorcycles and band and artist vehicles participating in the show.
Conservatory & Botanical Gardens12111 Pardee RoadTaylorMI48180
July 18, 2019, 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM @ Wayne County Community College District's Downriver Campus
OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT! Featuring Inside Out2019-07-18T21:00:00
Enjoy a free family movie on the City's portable big screen! Scheduled this time around: Inside Out.
Wayne County Community College District's Downriver Campus21000 NorthlineTaylorMI48180
July 19, 2019, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion
Taylor Farmer's Market, presented by Beaumont2019-07-19T12:00:00
The Taylor Farmer's Market returns for the 2019 season. It will run from noon-6 p.m. each Friday from June 7 through August (but will be closed June 28 for the Taylor Summer Festival). Meet Nicole Hellar, our new master master. Over 20 vendors have already signed up. We will hold various special events through the season. Senior citizens may be eligible for a $20 discount coupon!
WCCCD PARTY IN THE PARK: Free concert featuring SpaceCat
July 19, 2019, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ Sheridan Center Open Air Pavilion
WCCCD PARTY IN THE PARK: Free concert featuring SpaceCat2019-07-19T19:00:00
WCCCD's Party in the Park free summer concert series continues with SpaceCat, SpaceCat is a hip, fun band that specializes in performing high-energy dance music for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and anywhere else they might be needed ... great reviews on this band!
Music & Arts in the Gardens continues with LL7
Music & Arts in the Gardens continues with LL72019-07-24T17:30:00
The Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will continue its popular summer music series, “Music & Arts in the Gardens,” with LL7, a spicy Latin Jazz and Salsa band. Early seating opens at 5:30 p.m., with the shows beginning at 6:30. Tickets are $5 general admission on the lawn. A limited number of chairs are provided, so visitors are wise to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Parking is free at the Heritage Park Petting Farm and the adjoining grass lot off Northline Road. The conservatory main lot is reserved for handicapped parking, motorcycles and band and artist vehicles participating in the show.
Midwest Persian Tabby Fanciers & Motor City Jazz Club Allbreed CFA Cat Show
July 27, 2019, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM @ Taylor Sportsplex
Midwest Persian Tabby Fanciers & Motor City Jazz Club Allbreed CFA Cat Show2019-07-27T09:00:00
Taylor Sportsplex13333 Telegraph RoadTaylorMI48180
Music & Arts in the Gardens continues with Crossbow, lively Celtic band
Music & Arts in the Gardens continues with Crossbow, lively Celtic band2019-07-31T17:30:00
The Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gardens continues its popular summer music series, “Music & Arts in the Gardens." Crossbow, appearing on July 31, marks a first for the series. They are a lively Celtic Band that will offer the best of Irish and Scottish folk music. Early seating opens at 5:30 p.m., with the shows beginning at 6:30. Tickets are $5 general admission on the lawn. A limited number of chairs are provided, so visitors are wise to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Parking is free at the Heritage Park Petting Farm and the adjoining grass lot off Northline Road. The conservatory main lot is reserved for handicapped parking, motorcycles and band and artist vehicles participating in the show.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3215
|
__label__cc
| 0.71383
| 0.28617
|
Home Industry News Hospitality News Papua New Guinea’s largest hotel group connects with STAAH ·ETB Travel News...
Papua New Guinea’s largest hotel group connects with STAAH ·ETB Travel News Australia
Papua New Guinea’s largest hotel group connects with STAAH
Coral Sea Hotels will have access to STAAH’s market-leading online distribution and booking technology following the partnership announcement that extends to all seven properties in the group. The roll-out of the STAAH solutions to all properties is expected to be completed by mid-2019.
The partnership includes moving to STAAH’s cloud-based channel management system, website booking engine, online review management system and gift voucher management system, kicking off with the Ella Beach Hotel and Gateway Hotel. The remaining properties, including Grand Papua Hotel, Bird of Paradise Hotel, Highlander Hotel, Huon Gulf Hotel and Cassowary Hotel will be brought on to the STAAH platform by mid next 2019.
“Following the Asia Pacific Summit which was hosted in 2018, the hospitality market is looking forward to a resurgence in demand,” Group Operations Manager of Coral Sea Hotels, Matthew Cooper said. “We need to be ready for this expected spurt in activity, especially as competition has increased.”
“As the country’s leading hotels group, we are committed to adopting new technology and deliver to the dynamism that is a reality in today’s distribution landscape, enabling an online user experience that is excellent and guest service that is second to none.”
STAAH ticked the boxes for the group’s complex requirements with its flexible solutions under the Max Channel Manager and Max Booking Engine. While the former becomes an engine to grow the hotels’ reach, the latter is a popular with hoteliers for its conversion-driven features that drive bookings and increase profitability.
“The operational efficiencies gained by using STAAH Max Channel Manager are fantastic,” says Matthew. Real-time updates, insightful reporting and managing dynamic rates are among Max’s most popular features. “In less than one minute we can link up to all our preferred online travel agents (OTAs), and that is absolutely great!”
The group will also be using STAAH’s Gift Voucher Engine, which is a fantastic platform to nurture the hotels’ loyal customer base – both international visitors and the growing domestic market. ReviewMinder is a solution to aggregate and manage online reviews from some of the most widely used platforms. As more than 92% of the travelers are reported to read a review before booking, this solution becomes an essential tool to drive conversion.
“We are absolutely delighted to work with Coral Sea Hotels, our first property in Papua New Guinea,” says Edwin Saldanha, Regional Director – Oceania, STAAH Ltd.
As the country primes itself for another lift in the mining industry and a growing class of domestic travelers, we are confident our solutions will support the group to capitalize on this increased interest and place it firmly on a trajectory of growth and success.”
About Coral Sea Hotels
The Coral Sea Hotels Group operates the largest chain of hotels in Papua New Guinea. Its properties offer quality accommodation, meeting & conference facilities, dining & entertainment and are a perfect choice for the business traveller. Boasting comfort and convenience from its prime locations around the country, Coral Sea Hotels has an excellent record of delivering great service.
About STAAH Ltd
STAAH Ltd is a New Zealand-based technology company that specialises in cloud-based channel management and booking engine for accommodation providers to maximise online revenue. Founded by Gavin Jeddo in 2008, a pioneer in the field of distribution technology, STAAH’s industry-leading technology powers a property’s distribution through online travel agencies (OTA), direct bookings and digital marketing services. STAAH works with more than 6,000 partner properties in more than 80 countries through its operations in New Zealand, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, UAE and UK.
Source = Coral Sea Hotels Group
Previous articleHawaiian Airlines reappoints PR TEAM in Australia and NZ ·ETB Travel News Australia
Next articleChern’ee shares her culture through her art ·ETB Travel News Australia
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3237
|
__label__cc
| 0.525651
| 0.474349
|
The Hollywood Jihad Against American Sniper
American Sniper is the movie that should not have existed. Even though the book was a bestseller, nobody in Hollywood wanted the rights.
And why would they?
The Iraq War already had an official narrative in Hollywood. It was bad and wrong. Its veterans were crippled, dysfunctional and dangerous. Before American Sniper, Warner Brothers had gone with anti-war flicks like Body of Lies and In the Valley of Elah. It had lost a fortune on Body of Lies; but losing money had never stopped Hollywood from making anti-war movies that no one wanted to watch.
Even the Hurt Locker had opened with a quote from leftist terrorist supporter Chris Hedges.
An Iraq War movie was supposed to be an anti-war movie. There was no other way to tell the story. Spielberg’s own interest in American Sniper was focused on “humanizing” the other side. When he left and Clint Eastwood, coming off a series of failed films, took the helm, it was assumed that American Sniper would briefly show up in theaters and then go off to die quietly in what was left of the DVD aisle.
And then American Sniper broke box office records that had been set by blockbusters like Avatar, Passion and Hangover Part II by refusing to demonize American soldiers or to spin conspiracy tales about the war. Instead of pandering to coastal progressives, it aimed at the patriotic heartland.
In a sentence you no longer expected to hear from a Hollywood exec, the Warner Brothers distribution chief said, “This is about patriotism and all the things people say the country is lacking these days.”
The backlash to that patriotism and the things the country is lacking these days didn’t take very long to form and it goes a lot deeper than snide tweets from Michael Moore and Seth Rogen. Academy members were reportedly passing around an article from the New Republic, whose author had not actually seen the movie, but still denounced it for not showing Chris Kyle as a bigoted murderer.
Hollywood progressives are both threatened and angered by American Sniper. And with good reason.
The most basic reason is the bottom line. Between Lone Survivor, Unbroken and American Sniper, the patriotic war movie is back. Hollywood could only keep making anti-war movies no one would watch as long as that seemed to be the only way to tackle the subject. Now there’s a clear model for making successful and respectful war movies based around the biographies and accounts of actual veterans.
Hollywood studios had been pressured by left-wing stars into wasting fortunes on failed anti-war conspiracy movies. Matt Damon had managed to get $150 million sunk into his Green Zone failed anti-war movie before stomping away from Universal in a huff. Body of Lies with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe had a real budget estimated at around $120 million, but had opened third after Beverly Hills Chihuahua whose titular tiny dog audiences preferred to either star and their political critiques.
But why spend over a hundred million on anti-war movies no one wants when American Sniper has already made over $120 million on a budget only half that much?
Hollywood progressives don’t look forward to having to write, direct and star in patriotic pictures and if they can’t destroy American Sniper at the box office, they can taint it enough that no major star or director will want to be associated with anything like it.
Adding to their undercurrent of anger is the way that American Sniper upstaged Selma at the box office and at the Academy Award nominations. Selma is a mediocre movie, but it was meant to be a platform for the usual conversation that progressives want to have about how terrible Americans are. Instead audiences chose to see a movie about how great Americans can be even in difficult times.
There’s nothing that threatens the left as much as that.
In a Best Picture lineup that includes the obligatory paeans to gay rights and the evils of racism, American Sniper distinctly stands out as something different. It displaces Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, the previous sure winner which had its obligatory drunken Iraq War veteran claiming that the war was fought for oil, with an authentic veteran instead of Hollywood’s twisted caricature of one.
American Sniper and Lone Survivor signal a shifting wind in which the focus of movies about the War on Terror moves from the organizational conspiracy theories that Hollywood liked to make to the personal narratives of the men who fought in them. Many of the smarter progressive reviews of American Sniper grapple with the fact that the time when they could even have their favorite argument is going away.
Progressives would like Dick Cheney to be the face of the war, but are forced to deal with a world in which Chris Kyle and Marcus Luttrell will be how America sees the conflict. The lens through which the left liked to view the war, its obsessions with WMD, Bush and the path to war, have been eclipsed by the rise of ISIS and the return of American veterans. Their worldview has become outdated and irrelevant.
It’s easier for the left to vent its anger on American Sniper than to deal with its own irrelevance. The most shocking thing about the movie is not any political statement, but its presumption in dealing with the Iraq War and the men in it as if it were WW2. It doesn’t confront the left; instead it acts as if the left isn’t there. It fails to acknowledge the entire worldview through which Hollywood dealt with the war.
The left spends most of its time living in its own bubble and is shocked when events remind it that the rest of the country does not really share its opinions and tastes. American Sniper’s success is one of those explosive wake-up calls and the left has responded to it with all the expected vicious pettiness.
A billboard for the movie was vandalized and attacks from lefty outlets like New Republic and Vox not only target the movie, but the dead man at the center of it. The smear campaign against Kyle has reached new lows, because in death he has become an even more powerful symbol of everything that the left hates.
Hollywood tried to “Vietnamize” Iraq in the popular imagination. American Sniper shows they failed.
Whether or not American Sniper wins the requisite number of Oscars, its impact on Hollywood and on ordinary Americans will not go away. The anti-war movie is in eclipse. The movies that tell the stories of the sacrifices that American veterans have made in the war against Islamic terrorists are rising.
shilotoren said...
I agree with about 95% of what you wrote. I disagree that Clint Eastwood had a series of "failed movies". Mixed reviews for sure and not all great successes at the box office, but he has many good films under his belt.
"In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
Hooyah!
Great essay.
There is nothing as antithetical to collectivism as a lone sniper.
Another great read that is closer to home for us around here is "Jack Hinson's One Man War" by Tom McKenney.
Dennis Latham said...
Great article. It's about time patriotism made a come back in America. What is amazing is that all those Hollywood fool actors on the left, all make their living killing people with guns in movies. The irony is funny. I haven't seen the movie yet, but most everyone I know has seen it or talks about wanting to see it. It's about time the real America rises up against the idiots who constantly attack the country but get rich here. Keep up the good work.
Grumpy-Bob said...
Trying to teach the Left or our Progressive radicals reminds me of what Mark Twain said about trying to teach a pig to sing: It wastes your time and annoys the pig.
DenisO said...
Great, clear analysis of Hollywood, and an article I'll send to my Viet Nam era friends, who love America, and generally hated that war as much as the Left, but did their duty, and were hated for it. Very encouraging and a real feel-good movie. Movies, rather than books today, can change history, at least the history that has been promulgated by the powerful. The winner always writes history, and that is as true of the Left's victory in Viet Nam as the North's version of the history of the Civil War period. Neither is honest, but facts remain facts, and eventually the truth will out.
Usually, it takes a long time to change views of history, but this movie could shrink the timeline, as it is true that Hollywood has to wonder about whether its influence has lost its mojo. It's not that hard for the insecure to doubt themselves, particularly when they know they are incapable of heroism.
What qualifies the Left and Hollywood to determine what's right and wrong, good and bad? Their reputation. Education is controlled by the Left, and it is currently unquestioned dogma, but when change starts, it can be dramatic. The same is true of what drives Muslims, -unquestioned belief in history as presented by mind-benders who control religions, with their versions. The problem is not simple, but man's behavior is simple, and predictable. They do what the herd does first, and are uncomfortable thinking of not doing it. Dogs can control herds; man should have a decent chance to do it too.
Princeton67 said...
“American Sniper” portrays Chris Kyle as a hero, not the coward he was? So sayeth Michael Moore. Not as of yet having viewed the film, I can only presuppose that countless scenes were left on the cutting room floor: Scenes depicting Kyle’s murder of thousands of innocent civilian bystanders. Hiding behind an executioner's mask. Seeking personal protective shelter in places of worship. Kidnapping hundreds of school children. Denigrating women. Mutilating daughters. Stoning wives. Beheading independent thinkers….
Those who march in the Goebbels Fifth Column Islamophile Brigade know nothing of the angst which accompanies American heroism. They know less than nothing of the terrorism and hatred of Quranic cowardice.
In memory of Sgt. Alvin York
Stuck in Left Coast said...
I am glad you tackled this, as the hot air from the "real" heroes and patriots like Michael Moore is again causing excessive polar melting and has crushed our long awaited El Nino. He is out of state, but perhaps Jerry Moonbeam can find a way to get Michael Moore to pay a carbon foot print tax with all that CO2 he expels. But as they say, I digress.
The point is, the left has always been irrelevant and out of sync with the US. Remember that FDR's lefty cabinet and friends never said anything bad about Hitler or Stalin, especially after the Hero of the Left made a deal with the Hero of the other Left. Remember folks, NAZI was short for National Socialist.
None the less, many from Hollywood (especially those from the UK like David Niven) volunteered as early as 1940 to serve either here or went to England via Canada. Sports and other entertainment stars as well volunteered. Many of these guys careers never recovered, or were certainly not making the anticipated money or stats for the record books.
Even Clark Gable, overage, in less than stellar health, volunteered and actually flew on a number of combat missions. Can you imagine any of today's Hollyweird elites, steroid stoked "athletes," or hip hop stars volunteering for combat duty?
We also forget that a number of our previous generations also served in Korea and Vietnam, but not in the same numbers. How about the sons of our politicians? T and FD Roosevelt both had sons in combat zones.
I am afraid that today we have a whole bunch of armchair heroes and critics, but not one of them would even dare to be a conscientious objector serving unarmed as a Medic in combat. Yet every one of these cartoonish goof balls would end up in chop-chop square if their heroes of the jihad ruled the land. And Bah-Bah Wah-Wah would have a very short and "to the point" interview with the leader.
In case anyone wonders, the only reason I never served was due to physical limitations I was born with. But that does not mean I do nothing for my community (like VFD and community disaster response team). I live closer to Hollywood than I would like, but that is life at this point.
Peter38a said...
Daniel, may I suggest that that American Sniper is only nominally a war movie. It's about a man brought up with certain values that he was certain about; sacrifice for others. He was a great American and he could have been a police officer or a fireman.
I read once that during the war an Iraqi officer said to his American counter part, "You are a much better people than you're movies show". Americans want to see stories about great Americans, why is that such a mystery to Hollywood? Mystery or not any admission we pay for garbage makes part of the problem.
Those who have both the physical and mental makeup to survive in combat are a rare breed. The Leftist is someone that money, paid off University success and connections make important. They are antithetical beings. One is strictly about class the other is strictly about the inner individual. No wonder there is so much hate. I can't wait to see this film!!!
All Hollywood can do about American Sniper is snipe at it with spitballs with a defunct slingshot. I'd heard that Michael Moore had a stroke because he couldn't believe an Eastwood movie outsold his communist rubbish.
Bob Smith said...
I dare American leftists to stand up for free speech - Charlie Hebdo style.
But of course that would take balls.
In the mean time they can tell me again how female genital mutilation, stoning women for adultery, and the burka are a cultural choice.
Dan Patterson said...
A small victory after decades of being pissed on and then lectured that the stinking yellow liquid is just a warm spring rain. Besides, the punishment clause or the equality clause or the living wage clause or the income inequality clause or the free goddam health care clause demands (DEMANDS!) that we take our punishment. And like it. Or else.
Federalism may have died at Appomatox but I didn't. What tools are at our disposal to unseat the modern kings and tyrants? Certainly not the limp biscuit ballot box (at least not without reinforcement and local support). Some agreeable form of loud and sustained resistance is needed and not just within the echo chamber of the already converted.
The movie I REALLY want to see: Fallujah 2
Tantor said...
"American Sniper" hits Hollywood where it hurts: In the pocketbook. Hollywood may love leftism but it loves money more. Now that Sniper has shown that it pays to make pro-American, pro-military movies, Hollywood will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into making more of them. They Hate That.
I'm Australian. Our Governor-General, previously chief of our Defence Force is in Saudi Arabia for the funeral, not celebrating our national day with us. Our flag was at half mast. This article makes me think - maybe there is some hope for us after
It won't win at the Academy - that is by definition Hollywood. It might win People's Choice.
But then the Academy Awards are becoming as pointless as the next big special-effects movie.
Proof said...
I'm still waiting for Michael Moore to get back to me on the 1000 'cowardly' snipers protecting Obama in India, if he would approve of one of those men shooting someone in the back, from a rooftop, if it meant saving the life of the president?
I also asked him to opine on the 'cowardly' Secret Service snipers who work at the White House every day, but so far, Fat Boy hasn't gotten back to me. Any day now, I'm sure.
USS Ben USN (Ret) said...
Excellent post! I highly recommend the book because they couldn't cover all of it in the film.
The film was still very good, however.
Best take on the left/progtards rage at losing the narrative yet.
We the People of "flyover country" are not paying attention to them, in our support for returning soldiers and patriotism,
any more than we have taken their orders on guns and self-defense as a natural right.
Remember that The Passion of the Christ made a boatload of money; how are Christians portrayed today?
Empress Trudy said...
I suspect that someday soon Hollywood will discover a war hero who's black and they will change their tune.
Some brought up Jack Hinson's book as a comparison. The book about Hinson, at least the shooting part, is largely bullshiite.
NO ONE makes 500-1000 yd shots without a vernier ladder sight. The bullet drop is far, far too great. The idiotic comments about aiming at specific buttons at over 5oo yds is also imaginary.
Kyle DID do what the movie say.
HMS Defiant said...
"nobody in Hollywood wanted the rights."
Clint Eastwood did. That was enough.
The reason that American Sniper is a success is that most Americans are sick and tired of being told by sick lefties how bad Americans are. I haven't seen the picture but to my mind Chris Kyle to most stands out as what is expected of Americans.If you're given a job, no matter how dirty it might be you do it to the best of your ability and with your heart and soul. Chris Kyle's duty was to protect his brothers in combat by killing the enemy before they killed him or his buddies. That was his job and I gather he did it quite well.
The odd thing is the barbarians they tacitly defend would slit their throats in a heart beat.
Hollywood does not make anti-war movies for profit. They make it for the awards they give each other and or the anti-American overseas market.
I saw the movie this weekend. The thing that hit the the hardest was that they didn't try to glorify Kyle at all. He was just a human being with all of the flaws and blemishes that entails. Cooper did an excellent job at not making Kyle seem larger than life. Life-sizing a person whom many in Iraq considered to be a legend of mythical proportions wasn't easy, but the intermissions between his four tours helped to re-ground him in our eyes as a husband and a father who eventually had to talk himself out of taking responsibility for a war he could not win and lives he could not save in favor of the people for whom he had direct responsibility. I think that's a battle that a lot of men face, usually on a less dramatic scale. We too often sacrifice our families for larger causes, only to realize too late what we've lost. God bless Chris Kyle for all the lives he saved, and bless him for coming home before it was too late.
I appreciated the sensitive way the movie handles the last chapter of Kyle's life. He died still a young man, trying to save the soldiers and Marines he couldn't save on the battlefield.
The only "hero" for the left are mass murderers and murderers of the unborn. They have instigated a war against morality, decency, truth, light, and life and anyone who won't join them in their war is, of course, their enemy. The U.S. military is especially repugnant to them because those who join aren't coerced but volunteer to serve the country knowing full well their own life might be jeopardized. This potential self-sacrifice is so foreign and unimaginable to the left that if one dare point it out in any way, their dark hearts and warped minds cannot stand it.
Well written article. Interesting th as t there is a picture of Martin Sheen protesting war. Sheen narrates a lot of war shows on the History channel. Talk about hypocrisy! ! He'll protest war but has no problem making money off of it. He shouldn't get away with that.
G-d himself blew on the bullet. G-d intends for America to win this war! Thanks also to ALL of the men and women who were stirred to act to defend America! But my heart was so proud and also sad and grateful for his familys' sacrifice for our nation's benefit.
the Left has proven again they are the 5th column in America,our enemy within.I watched the movie and came away having mixed feelings,proud that we have such warriors and sad.The movie shows how America doesn,t fight a total war to win,political correctness in war doesn,t lead to victory...if we fought our enemies with total war maybe Kris wouldn,t of had to go back 4 times
Its because the fat cunt is to busy eating!
Mark Mandell said...
Just bear in mind that ultimately, Hollywood is about one thing only, making money. There have been a whole series of money-losing leftist movies. The good thing about "American Sniper's" success is that we're probably going to see a whole lot of patriotic movies. God bless the American people; hopefully, Americans will vote in 2016 as they have in their choice of movies to support.
I applaud Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper and all the others that stood up for truth and did this very important movie...AMERICAN SNIPER! Hollywood, I am a huge movie goer and watch the Academy Awards every single year! But quite frankly, I'm becoming less and less interested in going to the movies OR tuning in to the Academy Awards, etc. It's all so biased by the Hollywood leftist popularity committee and has nothing to do with what we the people, the viewers want. It's a popularity contest amongst a bunch of egocentrics. Quality movies are becoming a thing of the past. I'm confused about your slogan..."no more violence, no more wars" when today the majority of your pics are filled with so much senseless violence, murder, and filthy language and sexual content that I honestly believe that Hollywood is completely out of touch or just doesn't give a damn with what we the customer, the ones that pay at the box office to keep you working, are not being heard. We're real people with families, hopes, and dreams. And we want movies that teach us something good, that inspire us. The finest movies I've seen this year are : American Sniper and Unbroken. These movies are made about real people with a real stories and real lives who fought for a purpose...to protect others. It wasn't about wanting to become a hero or win any awards. They were nothing short of Heroes because they were willing to lay down their lives for us, for our freedoms, for this great land known as America. Honestly and again, I don't get where you, (Hollywood), practice what you preach about "No more violence, no more war"! What do you think that our kids, teens, young adults are watching? If you really are anti violence/murder stop making this trash (trash in, trash out) and go back to making movies about good wholesome adventure, wholesome family life, and clean comedies and watch the positive effect they will make in our future citizens. And one more thing...Don't ever forget why you have the freedom that you have living in America...It's because of our men and women who go to war and risk their lives for us so that you and I can keep our freedom. Show them Grace: rather than curse them, thank them every day for their sacrifice! AMEN!!!
Hollywood, I'm confused by your slogan..."No more Wars"... when you continue to produce and release movies that are about senseless & extreme violence, murder, filthy violent language and raw violent sexual scenes! You're talking out of both sides of your mouth. You're either for or against violence. I am becoming less and less enchanted as a movie goer and an Academy Award watcher. Hollywood is all about a left wing popularity contest, therefore the really worthwhile wholesome movies don't have a chance unless they are produced, directed and acted by the 'in-crowd'. My 2 top movies for 2014-2015 are AMERICAN SNIPER AND UNBROKEN. They're both about real people with real lives who both had a purpose...to protect others. It wasn't about themselves, about getting awards for their heroism, it was about sacrifice for the love of man and our freedoms. Hollywood you've got to get off the fence and choose! Are you for violence or are you for peace? If you're for peace, you'll stop with the production of senseless violent movies and start supporting our troops (men and women) who are out there risking their lives for your freedom as well as mine. Show them Grace by adding them to your 'Gratitude" list and thanking and praying (meditating) for their safety every day. Believe me they're not doing it for the money. Also, stop with the movies to stop spreading such negativity onto our children, teens, and young adults...our future adult citizens. Please pull your heads out of your egotistical asses and listen to what we the public, the ones that go to the box office and pay the money each week that keeps you with a roof over your head and food on your table, want to see! Give us movies that give us hope, give us hopes and dreams, gives us something to think about, something that's good for our hearts, minds, and our souls.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3239
|
__label__wiki
| 0.987357
| 0.987357
|
Fighter Rules
Fight Application
SUG Rules
SUG Application
The Region's Top Two Featherweight Pro Fighters Collide on July 22nd at Rumble 93
Jun 27, 2017 | by: FCFF Staff
On Saturday, July 22nd the FCFF will blow-the-lid off the Roseland Theater in what could be the best line-up of mixed martial arts (MMA) fights in Portland in 2017. Rumble @ The Roseland 93 will feature a Featherweight Pro Fight, with the region's top two 145-lbers: Cris "Sunshine" Williams and Dylan "The Bull" Atkinson. In addition, two FCFF champions will return to the 25-foot steel cage, known to fight fans as "The Slammer," in the 125-pound and 135-pound divisions. Plus, two FCFF Superfights will take place at 145-pounds and 170-pounds. The undercard is brimming with talent and new arrivals on the MMA scene - including a female fight. General admission tickets begin at $29, with no processing fee when you purchase at the locally owned MMA store: Bridge City Fight Shop. Online tickets available at Cascade Tickets.
The FCFF's "Main Event" at Rumble @ The Roseland 93 is a match-up of epic proportions. Cris "Sunshine" Williams has an undefeated record, yet to be eclipsed, in both his seven amateur fights and two pro fights. While previously fighting in the slammer, he earned the FCFF's "2016 Fighter to Watch" award and lived up to that designation. In 2016, he scorched his way to two FCFF Championship Titles in the lightweight and featherweight divisions, simultaniously. Williams earned the FCFF's "Fighter of the Year" award in 2016 and moved up to a pro career in February of 2017. His first pro win was against Wyatt Gonzalez at CageSport 44. Then in May, he fought and won against Elijah Ross at King of the Cage: Future Kings via a solid round-one (rear naked choke) submission. Williams has had his hand raised in victory in every fight he's started thus far. Williams is definitely blazing a path for himself, however, Dylan Atkinson will be his toughest competition to-date. Williams is undefeated at 9-0, but Atkinson had nine wins before he left the amateur ranks. He's defeated pro names like: Journey Newson and Justin Mark. Atkinson has faced some ups-and-downs as the competition levels rise in the pro arena. He's had four pro wins against: Brent Alvarez (Prime Fighting 1), Trevor Sojot (CageSport XXVIII), Kurt Weinrich (King of the Cage), and Daniel Elliott (CageSport 43). All four of Atkinson's pro wins have come from a variety of submissions: rear naked choke, triangle choke, and verbal submission.
The FCFF's newly minted 135-pound Bantamweight Champion, Abdul Kamara is returning to the slammer to make his first title defense attempt against Ericson Abalos at Rumble @ The Roseland 93. This fights brings two of the best Bantamweights in the region together - this fight card is truly spectacular. Kamara is the FCFF's Champion, and the former Champion of two other organizations: Prime Fighting and Battle in the Burg. Abalos is the FCFF's division Superfight Champ and suffered the loss during a title shot at Rumble at the Roseland 89 in December. There, he faced Tristian Lindi for the big prize and suffered from an unfortunate injury that did not allow him to continue the fight. Emotions are running high as Abalos is on the Rumble 93 fight card with his brother Dominick, who will be fighting the FCFF's current 125-pound Flyweight Champion: Isiaah Garza. Garza became the FCFF's Flyweight Champ earlier this year at Rumble @ The Roseland 90 in January. There, he faced Justin Hubbard and earned the belt via an impressive round-one submission victory. While Dominick Abalos is bringing a long history of mma competition (since 2012) to the slammer in the Flyweight Championship fight, this will be his first fight in the FCFF. The Abalos brothers are looking to make this a family-affair and bring two belts home on Saturday, July 22nd.
The two FCFF Superfights are at 170-pounds (Welterweight) and 145-pounds (Featherweight). The Welterweight Superfight is very significant, as it brings a former FCFF Champion back to competition. Saul Gallegos-Ruiz was the FCFF's Champion at Rumble at the Roseland 87, last year. In May of 2016 he battled Alex Aguilar in an exciting fight and overtook him in round three (tapout). Gallegos-Ruiz returned in the very next event to defend his newly earned belt - it did not go his way. He lost his belt to Raymond Hill almost exactly one year ago at Rumble 88. This welterweight Superfight is Gallegos-Ruiz's first step to reclaiming what was once his, the FCFF Championship Title. Gallegos-Ruiz will go up against Johnny James from arguably one of the best gyms in the Pacific Northwest: Gracie Barra. James is coming off a TKO win over Denis McCarthy at Prime Fighting in March and is hungry to prove himself. The FCFF's 145-pound Superfight features Dylan Grell of Bend, OR and Gunnar Metzger of Vancouver, WA. Grell has only debuted in August of 2016 and he's had three impressive wins thus far. Grell's debut fight was a seven second knockout over Dylan Holcomb at Midtown Throwdown 9. He gained momentum and won again at Budofights 15 via a TKO over Kody Flores. Most recently, at Rumble 91 in March, he fought in the slammer against Steven Chang and earned a unanimous win via the judges decision. Grell could be on a path to the Title with a win on July 22nd at Rumble @ The Roseland 93.
Doors open at the Roseland theater (8 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97209) at 6pm for Rumble @ The Roseland 93, presented by the FCFF. Tickets available without a processing fee at Bridge City Fight Shop (7614 SW Nyberg St, Tualatin, OR 97062) and start at $29 for general admission entry. Tickets available online at www.CascadeTickets.com. The FCFF's events are family friendly on the main floor and 21+ in the balcony. MMA fights begin at 7pm sharp.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3248
|
__label__wiki
| 0.692919
| 0.692919
|
Radio Review: The Monday Night Club
Posted by Rob Langham on Jan 29, 2013 in Uncategorized | 6 Comments
Image available under Creative Commons (c) Juanan Ruiz
Some excuses to start with — I’m tired after the weekend, the work has piled up and I have rarely organised alternative activities. I don’t fancy embarking on the box set that has arrived from Lovefilm and I’m yet to be enticed into downloading any album so far released in 2013.
So I invariably find myself tuning in to BBC Radio Five Live and that station’s Monday Night Club — a roundtable football discussion hosted by the omnipresent Mark Chapman, varying from an hour to two and a half hours in length depending on whether there is a game on or not, the last edition of which is still available on iPlayer.
I wasn’t too keen on ‘Chappers’ to start with — the sobriquet would be enough to provoke condemnation. There was something of the eighties sports presenter about him — not quite Partridge but straying into Nick Owen or Elton Welsby territory nonetheless.
But in time, I’ve grown to grudgingly admire him — a true roustabout he has become, and his effortless knowledge of a range of sports must mark him out as a real asset for the Beeb. Peddlers, a recent analysis of the Lance Armstrong scandal was an impressive piece of radio and he has slotted into coverage of the Superbowl and Rugby League with ease.
Nor, when it comes to football, is he unduly fixated on the Premier League — the Monday Night Club does focus on that competition for sure, although last night’s vintage mainly concerned itself with the FA Cup and there are occasional appearances from Mark ‘Clem’ Clemmit to talk about the Seventy Two. Clemmit was so gloriously lampooned in a recent When Saturday Comes by Glen Wilson — but if his Football League Show appearances do induce cringes aplenty, he has a face, voice and personality for radio.
Another regular behind the headphones is Steve Claridge — as opinionated as ever and mercifully absent on this Monday’s edition. ‘Watford played well last night’ you’ll hear him say — when you know full well he was co-commentating on Arsenal v Chelsea. Chris Ledger’s legendary piece for Obscure Music and Football is a neat summary of the former Aldershot man’s contributions to our national consciousness.
Instead, John Motson, Robbie Savage and journalist Ian McGarry made up the quartet and with that dramatis personae, how could the show ever avoid lurching into tabloidese?
‘Motty’ falls into the Jimmy Hill category for me — an idiot savant who one just about roots for because he appears to have the interests of the wider game at heart — his childlike enthusiasm is undimmed. That said, the pronouncements were straying into Hill territory last night — in particular when discussing Aston Villa’s recent travails.
The failure of the Birmingham club to spend money in the transfer window was bemoaned, with veteran Villa watcher Pat Murphy enlisted to join the conversation. Sure, the multiple failures of Paul Lambert’s men provide opportunities for schadenfreude from fans of other clubs but hadn’t the panel stopped to think that Randy Lerner’s caution might be due to financial difficulties? After all, he has plunged over £200 million into the team, including £24 million for Darren Bent.
Greater digging was needed and although the likes of Newcastle and QPR have been spendthrift, Motson’s claim that ‘Reading have also spent money’ stretched the point — I doubt that Villa fans would be satisfied had they spent less than a million on Daniel Carrià§o, Hope Akpan and Stephen Kelly.
But the seasoned commentator is a positive joy to listen to in comparison to messrs Savage and McGarry even if the former’s controversial pre-season prediction that Villa would be relegated is gaining more credence by the day (to his credit, he no longer seems to be gaining pleasure from this – outwardly at least).
Savage’s excesses are well chronicled — his uncontrolled statements have the air of a nasty bout of Tourette’s syndrome but it’s McGarry who really spoils it all — named as one of the 100 worst people on twitter, his refusal to extract himself from the fundament of Chelsea Football Club and Jose Mourinho in particular as well as a comical tendency to speculate wrongly on transfers, has marked him out as a necessarily avoidable figure in the best tradition of the Wapping Jackals.
So why do I listen? Well fatigue is one excuse, but the show does have the occasionally interesting aside — last night’s was a discussion of psychometric testing and its impact on the game — a genuinely fascinating quarter of an hour in which Damien Comolli lauded these checks’ importance while resolutely avoiding any mention of Andy Carroll.
No, the Beeb does great work and Damon Threadgold’s recent piece for In Bed With Maradona highlights this fully. Nor is it yet Talksport — and we don’t have to listen to adverts for Tesco’s and Playstation thereon. Substitute Pat Nevin or Gary Neville for a couple of the jokers on this particular panel and you might just have a piece of high quality radio. For now though, my subsequent listen to Chris Nee and Steven Green’s Aston Villa Review podcast was far more edifying.
Rob Langham
Rob Langham is co-founder of the defiantly non-partisan football league blog, The Two Unfortunates, a website that occasionally strays into covering issues of wider importance. He's 50 and lives in Oxford while retaining his boyhood support of Reading FC. He tweets as @twounfortunates and has written for a number of websites and publications including The Inside Left, When Saturday Comes, In Bed with Maradona, Futbolgrad and The Blizzard as well as being nominated for the Football Supporters' Federation Blogger of the Year Award in 2013.
I’m not really in the habit of turning on the radio of an evening but, funnily enough, I listened in to part of the show last night as I was making tea…
When comparing it to what the BBC offers via its TV services, it has to score quite highly. As you point out, Mark Chapman isn’t nearly as annoying as he was / could be, and some of the threads they pick up really are quite interesting and inspire ideas for writing, etc.. I’m not sure the same can be said for the Football League Show…
And I disagree with Glen – I think that Mark Clemmit does a reasonable job and would argue that someone in his position has to be less formal with players and managers (so as to get them to open up) than he perhaps suggests in his WSC piece.
As to the guests last night…well…Motty is just unlistenable at times, spouting off the standard ‘people need to get over the MK’ line without pausing for a moment’s thought. And his comedy old-man chuckle / eyebrow-roll at the use of psychometric testing was indicative of how old hat he is. For me, his opinion is just irrelevant.
As to Savage, he has the same kind of nasty streak in his broadcasting as he did during his playing days, hounding callers who disagree with him. But, unlike Motty, he does at least come up with a useful point from time to time…
Rich Nelson
I only recently got into the Monday Night Club via the Five Live daily podcast, tides me over on the commute to work. Not listened to this week’s yet (saving that for hometime) – normally land on it when Steve Claridge is around. I assume still trading off the reputation of an ‘honest ex-pro’, he just seems to think that football was at a peak in his day, and doesn’t come across as an admirer of top level football.
‘Chappers’ also popped up on the Test Match Special pod today. He seems enthusiastic, but I worry that he may suffer from overexposure once he starts on MOTD2 in the autumn.
Seems apt that this post appeared today, along with Stan Collymore’s rant about journalists and ex-pros on Twitter, and the subsequent reply from WanchopeDickov.
I’ve had the misfortune to hear some of this when trying to catch a Monday evening commentary…
As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I find it hard not to have a soft spot for Motty – but the truth is he doesn’t say much worth listening to these days. Take that out of the equation and all you’ve got is a bit of wide-eyed enthusiasm – endearing, and that’s about all.
Savage is a cartoonish character who’s taken the place of Ian Wright – outspoken (often aggressively so – one recent exchange with David Pleat in particular), often moronic and with the same irritating habit as Steve Claridge of prefacing every comment on whether or not they’ve played with the player in question (or under the manager in question).
‘Clem’ too comes across as a bit of a buffoon on ‘The Football League Show’, his palliness with the managers cringeworthy, but his pieces do at least sometimes delve beyond the Championship and his heart seems to be in the right place.
As for ‘Chappers’, I’m baffled why he’s got the MOTD2 gig. I’ve listened to an interview he did with David Ginola this evening and he failed to elicit one interesting response. Not Colin Murray’s biggest fan, but he’s more palatable than Chappers.
Lloyd, you’re right to namecheck Pat Nevin and Gary Neville – arguably the only two decent pundits around (the latter surprisingly so). Keith Andrews was the pundit for Radio 5 Sports Extra’s commentary on tonight’s Villa v Newcastle game and he was OK, and Kevin Kilbane’s not too bad either – but I’m not sure there are many other commentators/pundits I’m interested in listening to. Lee Dixon showed some initial promise but has been struck by the Curse of ITV…
Good point on Clem, Lloyd – I rather think the Football League Show gig was forced upon him and I think he’s a reluctant TV star.
One aspect I didn’t mention was the show’s attempt last year to include a blogging element which saw the likes of Michael Cox from Zonal Marking, Gav Stone from the now defunct Les Rosbifs and Chris Nee (mentioned above) take part in discussions. Obviously this was enjoyable from a blogger’s point of view but the experiment didn’t last long.
Another mindless aspect of Monday’s show was Savage’s stout defence of Peter Odemwingie saying that ‘you have to look after your family’. If we assume the Russo-Nigerian is currently on £30,000 a week, then that makes for a salary of £1.5 million a year before tax – not too bad really and enough to perhaps make most fans hope for a bit of loyalty.
Some explanation of the spat between Stan Collymore and Paul Sarahs mentioned by Rich above can be found here: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/ks5suq
Leeds, Ipswich and Crystal Palace meet their Deadlines | The Two Unfortunates
[…] Five Live’s evening long special on transfer deadline day saw presenter Mark Chapman ask whether this bi-annual occasion is beginning to resemble the NFL draft in its endorsement of […]
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3255
|
__label__cc
| 0.626832
| 0.373168
|
Cham Tower site at Vietnam ethnic tourism and culture village to inaugurate
The inauguration ceremony of the Cham population temple tower and series of activities to mark Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Day will open at the Vietnam ethnic tourism and culture village in Dong Mo (Son Tay town, Hanoi) on November 23-24.
The program will see the participation of Cham and Raglai ethnic groups of Ninh Thuan; Cham ethnic groups from An Giang, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh provinces, Ho Chi Minh City; Hre ethnic group of Quang Ngai province; Viet Bac Folk song and dance theatre; Bien Xanh song and dance theatre from Binh Thuan province; and some units directly under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
“The event is to respond to the 5th Party Central Committee meeting resolution (term VIII) on “Building and developing an advanced Vietnam’s culture deeply imbued with national identity while introducing and propagating Vietnam’s images in general and Cham ethnics in particular to international friends”, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Loi, Vice head of management board of the Vietnam ethnic tourism and culture village, addressed the press conference on November 15.
According to the organizing board, a series of activities will be held at the program including a ceremony to open the Cham Tower site door at the Vietnam ethnic tourism and culture village; an art program to mark Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day; 82 years of the founding of the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam.
Beside, an exhibition to display artifacts, specialties, cultural products of the Cham and other Vietnamese ethnic groups in the integration and development process; reappearing traditional ceremonies of the Cham ethnic group, such as the ritual for girls being recognized as mature women of the Cham Ba Ni ethnic group in Ninh Thuan province and traditional weddings of the Cham ethnic group in An Giang province.< p>
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3257
|
__label__wiki
| 0.95281
| 0.95281
|
Army Air Forces in Europe
8th Air Force
Fighter Groups
Bomb Groups
313th Troop Carrier Group
9th Air Force 313th TCG
Squadrons of the 313th TCG
29th Troop Carrier Squadron.
Assigned 9th AAF: Feb 1944.
Combat Aircraft:
Daniel Field, Ga, 2 Mar 1942
Bowman Field, Ky, 21 Jun 1942
Florence, SC, 4 Aug 1942
Maxton, NC, 13 Dec 1942-24 Apr 1943
Oujda, French Morocco, 9 May 1943
Kairouan, Tunisia, 16 Jun 1943
Sciacca, Sicily, 23 Aug 1943
Trapani/Milo Airfield, Sicily, 3 Oct 1943
Folkingham, England, 4 Feb 1944
Achiet, France, 28 Feb-5 Aug 1945
Baer Field, Ind, 14 Sep-15 Nov 1945.
Group COs
Capt Fred W Nelson, 7 Mar 1942
Col James J Roberts Jr, 26 Jun 1942
Lt Col William A Filer, 18 Mar 1945
Lt Col Paul W Stephens, 26 Mar 1945
Lt Col Carl W Campbell, c. Aug-15 Nov 1945
American Theater
Naples-FoggiaRome-Arno
Distinguished Unit Citation: Sicily, II Jul 1943: France, [6-7] Jun 1944.
Early History:
Constituted as 313th Transport Group on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 2 Mar 1942. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group in Jul 1942. Trained for overseas duty with C-47's and C-53's. Moved to North Africa, Apr-May 1943, and assigned to Twelfth AF. Trained for the invasion of Sicily and entered combat on the night of 9 Jul 1943 by dropping paratroops near Gela. Although attacked by ground and naval forces while carrying reinforcements to Sicily on the night of 11 July, the group completed the mission and received a DUC for the performance. Transported supplies and evacuated wounded in the Mediterranean area until late in August when the group moved to Sicily for the invasion of Italy. Dropped paratroops of 82nd Airborne Division south of Salerno on the night of 13 Sep 1943 and flew a reinforcement mission the following night. Resumed transport activities in the theater until Feb 1944, and then joined Ninth AF in England. Prepared for the invasion of France and on D-Day 1944, released paratroops near Picauville; dropped reinforcements over the same area on 7 June 1944, being awarded second DUC for its part in the invasion. Dropped paratroops near Arnheim and Nijmegen on 17 Sep during the airborne attack on Holland and released gliders carrying reinforcements to that area on 18 and 23 Sep. Moved to France, Feb-Mar 1945, and received C-46's for the airborne assault across the Rhine; dropped paratroops of 17th Airborne Division near Wesel on 24 March. When not engaged in airborne operations the group evacuated wounded personnel and ex-prisoners of war, and also transported cargo such as ammunition, gasoline, medical supplies, and food until after V-E Day. Returned to the US, Aug-Sep 1945 Inactivated on 15 Nov 1945
Subsequent History:
Activated in Austria on 30 Sep 1946. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe and equipped with C-47 and C-54 aircraft. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US on 25 Jun 1947 and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with gliders and C-82's. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group, (Heavy) in June 1948. Moved to Germany, Oct-Nov 1948, and joined United States Air Forces in Europe for participation in the Berlin airlift. Transported cargo such as coal, food, and medicine into West Berlin from Nov 1948 to Sep 1949. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Special) in Feb 1949. Inactivated in Germany on 18 Sep 1949. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) . Activated in the US on 1 Feb 1953. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with C-119's. Inactivated on 8 Jun 1955.
SQUADRONS. 29th: 1942-1945; 1946 1949; 1953-1955- 47th- 1942-1945; 1946-1949; 1953-1955. 48th: 1942-1945; 1946-1949; 1953-1955. 49th: 1942-1945.
STATIONS. Tulln AB, Austria, 30 Sep 1946-25 Jun 1947; Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947; Bergstrom Field, Tex, 15 Jul 1947-22 Oct 1948; Fassberg, Germany, 9 Nov 1948-18 Sep 1949 Mitchel AFB, NY, I Feb 1953; Sewart AFB, Tenn, 2 Oct 1953-8 Jun 1955
COMMANDERS. Col Clinton W Davies, 30 Sep 1946; Lt Col Walter R Washburn Jr, 15 Aug 1947 ; Col Frank P Bostrom, 3 Dec 1947; Lt Col Conway S Hall, unkn-Sep 1949 Col Benton R Baldwin, Feb 1953; Col Steward H Nichols, I Oct 1953-1955
INSIGNE: Shield: Per bend azure and gules, the silhouette of a stylized winged aircraft or, charged with a mullet of the first between six mullets, three and three of the third. (Approved 3 Feb 1943)
© 2016 Miltary History Group. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3258
|
__label__cc
| 0.621649
| 0.378351
|
Ibicella lutea
(Lindl.) Van Eselt.
Martyniaceae
Martynia lutea Lindl.
Martynia montevidensis Cham.
Proboscidea lutea Stapf
Flowering stem
Photograph by: Michael Wolf
Seeds, with one opened to reveal the endosperm
Photograph by: Rice, B.
Image credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens
Plant growing in native habitat
Seed capsules and seed
Photograph by: Bryson, C.T.
Ripening fruits
Ibicella lutea is a spreading, annual plant growing 30 - 60cm tall and perhaps 1 metre wide. The plant has a strong smell and is covered with a sticky exudation. Insects often become stuck and die, leading people to believe that the plant is insectivorous - it does not produce digestive enzymes, however, and the jury seems to be still out on whether it is a true insectivorous plant.
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use. It is also cultivated as an ornamental and has been grown for the young fruits in Brazil, as well as in France in the 19th century[
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
The seeds have sharp, curved horns, which can attach themselves to animals feet and therefore be transported to another site[
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
MacMillan Press
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. This can cause serious damage to the feet of some animals.
S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil.
Habit Annual
Cultivation Status Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild
A plant of subtropical to tropical drier areas, where it is found at elevations from near sea level to over 1,000 metres.
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil.
The plant has escaped from cultivation in some areas, particularly in drier regions, and become a troublesome weed[
It takes around 20 weeks from seed sowing to the first flowers opening[
The young fruits are pickled or eaten as sweetmeats[
Cornucopia II
Facciola. S.
Kampong Publications, California.
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
The seeds are emollient, resolvent[
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Uphof. J. C. Th.
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. They are used as a poultice[
Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water then sow in situ in a warm, sunny position.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2019-07-16. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ibicella+lutea>
Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3265
|
__label__wiki
| 0.787406
| 0.787406
|
News Sustainability
CNG filling stations opened along Hwy. 401
December 14, 2018 2:39PM by Truck News
LONDON, Ont. – Three trucks tops along Hwy. 401 in Ontario now have compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations for heavy trucks. The stations were installed by Union Energy Solutions Limited Partnership and Clean Energy Fuels. They’re located at Windsor…
Product Uncategorized
Quantums cleared for Canada
September 21, 2018 1:31PM by johng@newcom.ca
Transport Canada has granted a Canadian Equivalency Certificate to Quantum Fuel Systems’ virtual pipeline trailers, allow them to be registered and used in Canada. The compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders are approved in accordance with TC-SU-5931, which is based on ISO11119-3.2 and BS 3.3.9, TC-3FCM, CAN/CSA…
News Equipment
Oxford County adds CNG plows
December 13, 2017 8:00AM by Truck News
WOODSTOCK, Ont. – Oxford County has added two compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered snowplows to its fleet. It believes it’s the first Canadian municipality to deploy CNG-powered snowplows, which were delivered on time for this winter’s plow season. “Anytime you can…
News Business Management Equipment Transportation
Kenworth forges ahead in vocational market with the T880 and T880S
July 21, 2017 9:00PM by Derek Clouthier
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Kenworth Trucks is hyping its vocational T880 series, believing the U.S. and Canadian economies are poised to continue an upward trajectory. “Whether you’re talking vocational or just the market in general in North America,” said Mike Dozier,…
News Business Management Infrastructure Mobile and IT Regulations Supply Chain Sustainability Transportation
Research forum examines transport trends and potential solutions
WINNIPEG, Man. – Thanks to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a study predicts a reduction in provincial exports for both truck and rail shipments across the country. The study, which was presented during the Canadian Transport Research Forum…
News Equipment Sustainability
Woodstock gets CNG fast fill station
May 1, 2017 6:48AM by Truck News
WOODSTOCK, Ont. – Rural Green Energy has announced the opening of a compressed natural gas (CNG) commercial cardlock facility here. “We are pleased to have the support of our local municipality Oxford County and a large number of Ontario fleet…
Express Mondor to buy 50 CNG trucks, build public filling station
November 1, 2016 9:30AM by Truck News
LANORAIE, Que. – Express Mondor has announced it will construct a compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station for its fleet of 50 new CNG-fueled trucks. The company is working with US Venture GAIN Clean Fuel Canada and Gaz Metro to…
News Business Management Health & Safety
Green Truck Summit focuses on transportation sector’s environmental impact
March 1, 2016 7:59PM by Derek Clouthier
Alternative fuels and electric vehicles brought to the forefront
Feature Uncategorized
CHRYSLER CONVERTING TRUCK FLEET TO NATURAL GAS
January 5, 2016 12:50PM by James Menzies
From our man in Windsor comes word that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has converted its Detroit-based fleet of 179 trucks to natural gas. Ron Stang reports the 179 leased Peterbilt tractors are fuelled with CNG at what the company is…
News Business Management Sustainability Transportation
Westport snaps up alt-fuel company
December 3, 2014 9:54AM by Truck News
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Westport Innovations Inc. has picked up a European company known for its expertise in direct injection liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) technology. The company acquired Prins Autogassystemen Holding B.V. for €12.2 million (US$15.1 million). Prins, which is based…
News Business Management Equipment Sustainability Transportation
Progressive Waste Solutions invests in CNG trucks and infrastructure
October 24, 2014 6:29PM by Carolyn Gruske
TORONTO, Ont. – Despite the chilling effects an extremely cold winter had on its trucks, Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. is determined to more than double the size of its CNG fleet, and to build the necessary supporting infrastructure. David West,…
News Business Management Equipment Infrastructure Regulations Sustainability Transportation
Environmental and human factors affect success of natural gas fleets: UPS
TORONTO, Ont. – Running a natural gas fleet involves more than just buying the trucks and fuelling them up at the right station. There are a lot of human and environmental considerations that come into play as well. Mike Britt,…
News Infrastructure Regulations Security Sustainability Transportation
CSA adding LNG standards
TORONTO, Ont. – The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has been busy revising the rules and regulations that govern the use of natural gas in Canada. “For CNG, most of you are probably familiar with CSA standards. We have well-established standards…
Despite lack of 15L engine, natural gas suppliers still optimistic about fuel’s future
TORONTO, Ont. — The current lack of a 15-litre natural gas engine has stalled growth in the heavy-duty trucking segment, but speakers at the Natural Gas Vehicles Canada conference here today said they’re still optimistic about the potential for natural…
Product Equipment Sustainability
Trillium offers new CNG fast-fill fuelling option
October 5, 2014 11:44AM by Truck News
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Trillium CNG has introduced a new seven-inch hydraulic intensifier compressor (HY-C), which it says can refuel CNG vehicles in half the time it takes today. The new product was unveiled at the American Trucking Associations Management…
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3266
|
__label__cc
| 0.677345
| 0.322655
|
CHAPTER 4 - discussion and clues
Page 5 of 158 First 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 55 105 ... Last
Lobster,
'American River' was underlined in the questions of the ladies' chapter.
This wasn't accidental, and it's not relevant to the chapter solution.
I fully expect the chapter 3 winner to have used facebook clues almost exclusively. That doesn't exclude the possibility of an underlying method--I hope we can piece something together.
Originally Posted by Doc
If that were true, then a new player with only the men's chapter would never see the underlined version, and be at a distinct disadvantage vs someone with both copies.
Logically speaking then, either Ron's statement that both C2's are not needed going forward is false, or your contention that the underlining is relevant is false (or both).
Which one is it?
squirrelio
While we are on the subject of the two chapters, just a quick question for anyone who has solved the numbers for chapter 13.5. If we are supposedly using the words or letters or whatever from the book as the number count, which version of chapter 2 do we use, or have we discovered there are the same number of words or letters in both versions?
macphisto
Neither version of chapter 2 is needed.
Thanks Mac, I appreicate your response.
Rx Jeff
Since Ron is taking his time placing the video of chapter 3 back up, did anyone see or hear the solution?
I don't believe anything regarding the solution has been released unless Heather has spoken to someone privately. The last newsletter was in December, and no one appears to have gotten any email with information. The video revealed nothing at all beyond the fact that once again, there was nothing self-confirming in the solution since she had to ask Ron, "Which submission was it? I've made so many."
The lack of communication/information is getting pretty frustrating. New clues in February - of 2013? Instead of inducing carpal tunnel in every quester due to constant refreshing of FB, why not just mention when the clues will come out and when the C3 solution will be revealed. I find it inconsiderate to a group of people hanging on his every word. I don't find the endless waiting "all part of the fun".
Thanks for the information. I did not even know the winner's name was Heather. I suspect the next tidbit of information fed to us will reveal the dates for the chapter 2 and 3 silver eagle events most like coming within the same week in early March. Since there is so much planning for those events, I do not believe we will see any chapter 4 clues until early March.
Does seem as if March is more likely at this rate. After all, maybe he really meant March when he said February. March is just February Caesar shifted forward one.
Well while we wait, has anyone worked out how these facebook clues logically and accurately fit into C1?
1. Facebook picture of Alpha = Omega, with Alpha and Omega mirrored / upside down.
- I don't understand why it was upside down.
- I don't understand why it was mirrored.
- I don't understand why you would ever think that Alpha meant "a set of 10 keys" and Omega meant "a set of 10 keys". And, if you did think that, why you would orient them in the same direction since Omega is upside-down from Alpha.
2. The ghost of cooper past holds your omega key
- I still don't understand how we were to have known that "key" meant "10 keys", rather than, well, a key. Is there some clue in there that we missed that told us "the word key actually means 10 keys"?
3. Look for the jeep
- Jeep was mentioned 4 times, yet only one of them was near a part of the sequence. I guess I could have understood a clue that uniquely pointed you somewhere, but I'm not sure why one would have looked at the first jeep and ignored the rest. Did I miss something?
4. The sixth number in the sequence is the second number used to open the compartment in National Treasure
- There were two compartments in the movie, and they led to different numbers. In addition, neither of those numbers could be uniquely positioned elsewhere to help disambiguate. Was there something in this clue that we missed that tells us which one was to be used?
5. If you’ve reached the starting line you’ve already gone too far
- I still don't get this one. It doesn't say "Reached the END of the starting line". The first line IS the starting line, and so ATENOCL does not match this clue, as this clue tells us you've already gone far once you start on that "A" (it's the first line -- you've gone too far). The only thing that I can conceivably think that fits is that it means the first vertical line in the book, on page 9... but then, why would you ever think that 2/3rds of the chapter is completely useless and plays no role whatsoever in the solution? And if you do think that's the solution, then it makes you doubt the alpha key being on the first line, because the first line is "too far". This clue's just one big catch-22 in my mind.
6. The omega key starts before “what you know”
- Well, the omega key starts on page 7. There is one instance of those words on page 9, but that's AFTER the omega key. Buy why "what you know"? What's special about those words? They're not at the end of the Q, they don't seem to hint at the starting location. I just don't get this clue.
7. To find your sequence think of a cipher backwards for it is not the words you seek but the letters
- What is a "CIPHER BACKWARDS"? A=1, B=2, C=3 is known as a "substitution cipher". It's not known as a "backwards" anything. When I hear "cipher backwards", I think of ciphering something and then reversing it. Or, taking reverse ciphertext and then ciphering that. Or, perhaps performing a playfair starting at the last letter, going backwards. This clue alone set me off on the wrong path for months. Can anyone explain the use of the very deliberate use of the adjective "backwards"?
8. "to find your pleasure in the last cluE
a simple addition cipher must dO
the treasure will be found by what was missinG
not seeing what is there and reminiscinG "
- I understand this was to clarify the weird addition clue, but why are the last letters capitalized?
- Last letters imply looking at the last letters of a line? But no?
- Reminiscing means to "look back". The omega key was found by reading forwards, not backwards. Can anyone explain?
- What was the purpose of the incredibly obscure line-addition clue? I had thought that something that difficult must be a clue in itself... but I don't think any addition of anything was used here?
9. To create the cipher we took the clue plus "Five..." To solve the cipher simply "unfive" it
- Huh? I forget how this one related to anything?
Thoughts anyone? Am I just too simple minded to get a lot of these clues, or are they as fuzzy and as vague as I thought they were at the time? It just seems to me that for each one of these clues, there were perhaps 5 or 6 possible interpretations, and that in most cases the straightforward interpretations were completely ignored in favor of rather strange interpretations.
The only thing that I can think of if these clues are to be consistent and make sense is that there had to have been a second solution that we never found.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3268
|
__label__wiki
| 0.692639
| 0.692639
|
Webster Media Consulting
Posts Tagged ‘Luminato’
Monday, June 8th, 2015
Here’s our look ahead for Spring & Summer 2015! We’re excited to have new releases from Les Jupes (Winnipeg), Husky (Melbourne), Dralms (Vancouver), Daniel Romano (Welland), Mocky (Los Angeles) and AA Wallace (Toronto). Currently on tour supporting their recent releases: Chilly Gonzales, The Elwins, Will Butler, Lisa LeBlanc and Peregrine Falls.
The Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Amphitheatre has announced their 2015 summer concert season. Running from June 12 – September 11, the beautiful 500 seat open-air venue is located at the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
This June, Toronto’s Luminato Festival hosts Unsound Toronto in the awe-inspiring Hearn Generating Station. The landmark building becomes a sonic playground for two days, taking audiences on a journey where music genres collide and blur.
On the distant horizon for this August is a brand new international (yet intimate) showcase festival from the folks who first lent stages to some of Toronto’s finest musical champions – Camp Wavelength.
The 2015 Canadian Folk Music Awards take place in the city of Edmonton from November 6-8, 2015.
ICYMI: This spring, Shad took over as host of q on CBC Radio. Watch the full episode on demand: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/livestream.
Thanks for reading & be sure to follow us @WebsterMC
Rebecca & Kat
DRALMS – Pillars & Pyre
May 19, 2015 – 12″ Vinyl via Boompa Records (CAN), Full Time Hobby (EU)
“Dark and foreboding with a constant sense of unease, it’s a strong debut and one that hints at a promising full length.” – The Line of Best Fit
“A contagious, thrilling fare with a unique melodic sense.” Clash
Dralms is the latest project from Vancouver based multi-faceted artist Christopher Smith. Working with collaborators Shaunn Watt and Peter Carruthers from Siskiyou, and William Kendrick of Failing, the project delivers a darker, more complex sound than that of Smith’s solo work. Bringing into the equation Andy Dixon’s production and electronics, Dralms packs a heavier punch, pulling the listener into the depths of the song and demanding undivided attention.
Following their addictive debut EP Crushed Pleats and a sold out London, UK headline show last month, Dralms have shared a new single ‘Pillars & Pyre’. The track is part of a 12″ & digital EP (also called Pillars & Pyre) due for release via Boompa in Canada (May 19) and Full Time Hobby in Europe (May 18).
Dralms is currently working on a full-length album at Afterlife Studios in Vancouver, BC with producer/engineer John Raham.
@DRALMSMUSIC | www.dralmsmusic.com
HUSKY – Ruckers Hill
June 2, 2015 – Nevado Records
Melbourne, Australia’s Husky release their sophmore album Ruckers Hill on June 2 via Nevado Records.
Ruckers Hill is a sophisticated record that is both delicate and tender, but also has an endearing simplicity and keen sense of fun. At a base level, it is great to sing along with. At a critical level it is a record that advances Husky’s songwriting and the band’s musicianship, with their lyrics detailing the microcosms of life, but also the universal wonders of the everyday.
@huskysongs | www.huskysongs.com
MOCKY – Key Change
June 26, 2015 – Heavy Sheet
“He’s found an elegant middle ground between jazz and pop.” – Vogue
Originally from Saskatchewan, performer, producer, songwriter, composer and multi?-instrumentalist, Dominic “Mocky” Salole came to prominence in the Berlin electronic scene of the mid 2000s. He released three acclaimed solo albums, co-?wrote and produced Jamie Lidell’s Multiply and made waves on stage with close collaborators (and fellow Canadians) Peaches, Feist and Chilly Gonzales. In 2011, after work in Big Sur on Feist’s Metals (he also co-produced The Reminder) , Mocky relocated to Los Angeles, where he quickly established himself as a co-writer with uncommon credentials, and eccentric working methods.
“Tomorrow Maker” is a new song from Mocky with lush acoustic arrangements and generous amounts of soul, and the first official glimpse he’s given us into his upcoming full length release , Key Change which is due out on June 26, 2015.
July 9 – TORONTO, ON – The Drake
@mockyrecordings | www.mockyrecordings.com
DANIEL ROMANO – If I’ve Only One Time Askin’
July 28, 2015 – New West Records
“If I’ve Only One Time Askin’, whose 11 songs lead their baritone-voiced creator down a path filled with countrypolitan crooning, honky-tonk heartache and mid-century melodrama.” – Rolling Stone Country
Daniel Romano works with equal parts authenticity and creativity, and his musical world is rich with archetypes and arch-rivals, wry observations and earnest confessions. While references to marquee names like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard are apparent in Romano’s music, the obvious influences certainly don’t demystify his talent.
Romano joins New West Records for the release of his new album If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ on July 28, 2015.
August 7-8 – Kingston, ON – Wolfe Island Music Festival
August 28 – Welland, ON – Canal Stage at the Merritt Park Amphitheatre
@TheDanielRomano | www.danielromanomusic.com
AA WALLACE – In Alpha Zones
Fall 2015 – Culvert Music
Since the release of his critically acclaimed 2013 debut, (disambiguation), AA Wallace’s sound has evolved from minimalist bedroom synth-pop compositions into something resembling a psychedelic disco orchestra, blending elements of pop, Krautrock, soul and acid house with Wallace’s keen lyrical sensibility and arrangement style. Recently signed to Culvert Music, AA Wallace is preparing the release of his new LP In Alpha Zones. Watch his latest psychedelic video “Harlequin” directed by Jeff Miller.
June 19 – TORONTO, ON – Rivoli (NXNE – Culvert Showcase)
@aawallace | www.aawallace.xxx
Chambers released March 24, 2015 via Gentle Threat
“Astonishingly beautiful” – Globe and Mail
An album for piano and string quartet, Chambers re-imagines Romantic-era chamber music as today’s addictive pop. Gestures from rap, ambient, easy listening and the avant-garde co-exist as always in Chilly Gonzales’ musical universe.
@chillygonzales | www.chillygonzales.com
LES JUPES – Some Kind of Family
Released April 14, 2015 via Head in the Sand
“Singer Michael Petkau Falk is a man in possession of a baritone so striking that it’ll leave you quivering in your boots-think Nick Cave-and the band’s ambitious arrangements only heighten their singer’s bold delivery.” – Portland Mercury
Les Jupes’ music is built simply on songwriting and a dark rumbling energy that can take over a room. The band released their critically acclaimed full length album Some Kind of Family on April 14, 2015 via Head in the Sand. The release of the album came with the sad news that Les Jupes had broken up. Singer Michael Petkau Falk announced the break up through an emotional letter posted on the band’s website.
@lesjupes | www.lesjupes.com
Highways, Heartaches and Time Well Wasted released November 4th, 2014 via Bon Sound
“Echoes of Led Zeppelin III’s blend of English folk music and Southern blues as well as a DIY garage-rock aesthetic…” – Exclaim!
In 2013, Lisa LeBlanc hit the road and followed the path of the Beat Generation across Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Austin and San Francisco. It was during this trip that she found the inspiration for Highways, Heartaches and Time Well Wasted. The result is an Americana sound infused with the spirit of the Maritimes.
June 13 – STE-ANNE-DES-MONTS, QC – Auberge Festive Sea Shack
July 31 – NOMININGUE, QC – Festival de la Rouge – Club et Hotel du Golf Nominingue
August 9 – REGINA, SK – Regina Folk Festival – Victoria Park
@lisaleblancyo | www.lisaleblanc.ca
THE ELWINS
Play For Keeps released February 24, 2015 via Hidden Pony
“The Elwins make the type of shiny, good-time music that could only be produced by four best friends. On their new album, Play for Keeps, the quartet put a bouncy spin on modern indie rock, evoking the exuberance of Vampire Weekend and their pals in Hollerado.” – National Post
The Elwins are currently on a world tour making stops across Europe, Japan and China. Back home, their current single “So Down Low” is climbing the commercial Alternative Radio charts.
@theelwins | www.theelwins.com
Policy released on March 10, 2015 via Merge Records
“Policy is a joyful rebel yell, the free-spirited yelp of rock sideman stepping into the spotlight.” – Montreal Gazette
Will Butler has been a member of the band Arcade Fire for over 10 years. This is his first release under his own name. Policy is American music-in the tradition of the Violent Femmes, The Breeders, The Modern Lovers, Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, The Magnetic Fields, Ghostface Killah. And John Lennon (I know, but it counts). Music where the holy fool runs afoul of the casual world.
Canadian Tour Dates
Sept 18-20 – TORONTO, ON – Toronto Urban Roots Festival
@butlerwills | www.butlerwills.com
PEREGRINE FALLS
“…collective dropped jaws, wide eyes and raised eyebrows over their astonishing performance. Onstage they are a musical force of skilled improvisation, mind-blowing technique and a fury of energy.” – Stories Behind The Songs
Vancouver duo Peregrine Falls are currently working on their debut album with renowned producer Jesse Zubot (Tanya Tagaq). This summer, they bring their instrumental fury to festivals across Canada.
June 20 – WINNIPEG, MB – Winnipeg Jazz Festival (Union Sound Hall – 10pm)
June 26 – VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver International Jazz Festival (The Ironworks -11:30pm)
June 27 – OTTAWA, ON – Ottawa Jazz (Laurier Avenue Music Stage – 7:30pm)
@peregrinefalls | www.peregrinefalls.com
15th Anniversary All-Canadian Summer Concert Season
Niagara-on-the-Lake, June 12 – September 11, 2015
The Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Amphitheatre is pleased to announce their 2015 summer concert season. Running from June 12 – September 11, the beautiful 500 seat open-air venue is located at the Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Providing one more reason for destination tourism, the amphitheatre season pairs wine and local food with music for yet another sure-to-be-sold-out season in the gorgeous vine-filled region of Ontario. Local restaurants will be featured for each performance.
2015 Summer Concert Season
June 12 & 13 – Sam Roberts Band
June 26 & 27 – Chantal Kreviazuk
July 11 – Whitehorse
July 24 – Michael Kaeshammer
July 25 – The Jim Cuddy Band
August 14 & 15 – Jann Arden
August 21 – Stars
August 22 – Rootstock featuring Joel Plaskett, David Myles, Mo Kenney w/ CBC Radio host Tom Power
August 29 – Spirit of the West
September 4 & 5 – Arkells
September 11 – Steven Page
@jackson_triggs | www.jacksontriggswinery.com
UNSOUND TORONTO at LUMINATO FESTIVAL
The Hearn Station, Toronto, ON
The infamous decommissioned Hearn Generating Station comes alive in the Toronto Port Lands for two electrifying nights of music and technology curated and commissioned by Unsound creators Mat Schulz and Malgorzata Plysa.
From its roots as a small underground festival in cellar clubs in Krakow, Poland, Unsound is an amorphous music festival that has become one of the world’s foremost events in electronic and experimental music, famed for discovering new artists and commissioning risk-taking projects. In addition to its flagship festival in Krakow, Unsound has four acclaimed editions under its belt, regularly taking place in New York, London and Adelaide. This year, Toronto is its sole North American destination.
#UnsoundTO | @Unsound | @Luminato | www.luminatofestival.com
Toronto Island, August 28-30, 2015
Camp Wavelength is a new, intimate, boutique festival launching on Toronto Island the final weekend of August, 2015. Presented by Wavelength Music, Toronto’s non-profit, DIY community hub, Camp Wavelength is seeking the best independent music and the arts from Canada and the world.
The first wave of artist announcements is an all-Canadian who’s who of innovators from across the independent music scene, including: beloved rock collective The Wooden Sky, 20-year post-rock veterans Do Make Say Think, critically buzzing folk-pop artist The Weather Station (“the best folk album of the year” says The Fader), tribal psych-pop sibling trio Doomsquad, experimental trance-rock band Absolutely Free (creating a special sound installation with Petrina Ng for this event), Vancouver ambient music maestro Loscil, and Montreal Congolese electro-pop artist Pierre Kwenders.
@wavelengthtoronto | www.wavelengthtoronto.com
CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS
Edmonton, Alberta – November 6-8, 2015
The 11th edition of the CFMA weekend takes place November 6-8, 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta and includes concerts from many of the nominees. The gala awards event, featuring live performances from some of the best of Canada’s folk community, happens at the Citadel Theatre on November 8, 2015.
@folkawards | www.folkawards.ca
Tags: AA Wallace, Camp, canada, Canadian Folk Music Awards, CFMAs, Chilly Gonzales, Do Make Say Think, Doomsquad, Dralms, festival, Jackson-Triggs, Lisa LeBlanc, Loscil, Luminato, Mocky, Music, Shad, summer, The Weather Station, The Wooden Sky, TURF, Unsound, Wavelength, Will Butler
Posted in Listen Up, Live Music, media, Press Release, Public Relations, Uncategorized | Comments Off on
© Webster Media Consulting, 2010 | Designed by Antoine Moonen | Built by BadFun Productions
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3274
|
__label__cc
| 0.723868
| 0.276132
|
Posts Tagged ‘LGBT leaders’
Under Siege? Throw a Cocktail Party!
June 24th, 2009 John Culhane No comments
This article in the NY Times caught my eye:
“As advocates for gays and lesbians intensify their criticism of the White House, President Obama has invited some of their leaders to an East Room reception next Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the 1969 Greenwich Village demonstrations that gave birth to the modern gay rights movement.
“The White House has not publicized the reception, and officials did not respond to e-mail requests for comment. But gay leaders from here and around the country said they had received either telephone calls from the White House or written invitations to the event, and were told Mr. Obama is expected to speak.”
Let’s commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots with…a great big party (although not so very big that I was invited1)! Perhaps the entertainment can include a stagey reenactment, West Side Story style, of the clash between police and the fed-up drag queens (et al.) who opposed them on June 28, 1969, outside of the Stonewall Inn.
I think the Administration is really onto something here: appeasement, reconciliation, or forgiveness through partying. After a few drinks, most people will allow just about anything:
The New York State Senate might find that their seriocomic inability to actually meet can be solved by a Gov. David Paterson-hosted gala, at which the drunken revelers agree to accept the leadership of whichever party’s representative wins a game of musical chairs. The ensuing pratfalls and sprawls will be but little removed from reality.
Guantanamo detainees might be able to just quit griping if the Administration would just allow them to attend one l’il party, at which, after a few high-octane cocktails, luminary guests like Dick Cheney and John Yoo would return to lead a game of “pin the tail on the detainee.” Rich.
Jon and Kate Gosselin…oh, who cares?
Sorry for the high snark quotient. It would be hard to turn down a White House invitation, especially if there’s some potential to get “face time” with the Prez and ask him some hard questions. But will that be done? And what will Obama say? Probably not this, but let’s hope for something both inspiring and — more critically — substantive.
{sob} ↩
Categories: Gay Rights, Obama, Social Justice Tags: advocates, blogosphere, David Paterson, detainees, Dick Cheney, gays, Greenwich Village, Guantanamo, John Yoo, Jon Gosselin, Kate Gosselin, lesbians, LGBT leaders, New York Senate, New York Times, Obama, Stonewall Rebellion, West Side Story, White House
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3278
|
__label__cc
| 0.514677
| 0.485323
|
VISITOR MEMBER GOLD MEMBER LIFE MEMBER Username : Password : LOGIN
Your status >> REGISTER --- ---
Welcome to Around People Finder,
(UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and World-wide)
Always wanted to find your old school friends ? Lost contact with family members ?
Wondered what happened to those old work colleagues ? Army Friends ? Neighbours ?
In fact using Around, you can start looking for all of these under one site.
With a powerful search engine, over 10 million searches have been made to-date !
The site contains - School (43,000 UK - 13,000 Australian and over 2,800 New Zealand Schools) Colleges, Services, Home Town, Postcode, Groups, Colleague, Surnames, Businesses...
post missing persons messages, plus much much more...
It only takes a minute to register and its !
Click here to register login at the top with your username/password
Pete Higham
> (DOB 1959) - Liverpool/ United Kingdom
Gemma Allwood
> (DOB 1980) - Wrexham, Wales/ United Kingdom
I am in my 20`s and looking for my birth father - Bryn Jones
Lorraine Geddes Lowrie
(DOB 1966) - North Lanarkshire/ United Kingdom
x||LOOK
Susan Ashmore nee Johnson
(DOB 1967) - London/ United Kingdom
Married to Roger 1 daughter Kirsty Living in Barnes SW London would love to hear from any old school friends.||SCHOOL
Jim Goodwin
> (DOB 1951) - Harrogate/ United Kingdom
Ex RAF linguist now living in Harrogate. School - Bramcote Technical Grammar Beeston Notts, until 1969.
circe upton
> (DOB 1962) - ayrshire/ United Kingdom
im just looking for old friends from Brighton.in particular girls who went to margaret hardy girls school 74-78. also members of the glam rock group the Dandies||LOOK
- nottingham/ United Kingdom
nicole mcarthur
> (DOB 1999) - nottingham/ United Kingdom
jordan mcarthur
goerge
joanne mcarthur
astell mcarthur
5ft 11inch brown hair hazel eyes
> (DOB 1957) - London/ United Kingdom
Now living in Gloucestershire, looking for class mates from Ivydale Primary School & Honor Oak Girls Grammar school.||SCHOOL
John Kilpin
Male caucasian
kirsty marsh
> (DOB 1987) - hoddesdon/ United Kingdom
pretty, funny
Joe MORTIMER
> (DOB 1934) - Sussex/ United Kingdom
Richard Hollingsworth
> (DOB 1984) - Boston/ United Kingdom
Hey if u know me then this will be of no consequence. So why should I bother
Kathleen Hunt(Barrows)
> (DOB 1952) - North Devon/ United Kingdom
middle aged female||LOOK
Janet wagstaff
> (DOB 1952) - Lancashire/ United Kingdom
farming in Devon
Palmer Wallace
> (DOB 1894) - Devon/ United Kingdom
Black sheep of the family left home very young moved to S Wales
Last Updated : 7/16/2019
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................
BLINDSKUNK
www.ifooty.com
FBI Dossier
Google+ Makeover
LOST SOULS ADDRESS BOOK QUIZZER MANYFEET GOOGLE+ MAKEVOER
WINKI DIRECTORY (C) 1999-2019 x
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3283
|
__label__wiki
| 0.785666
| 0.785666
|
Only in Indonesia, All Music Genre
Korea? It's well-known because its Girl band and Boy band with hip-hop, RnB, electropop and disco music. Japan? It's rock the Asian with their rock music. Western? Dominated by Rock, Heavy Metal, and Pop. What about Indonesia? Readers, you never know how rich this country with their culture and assimilation from foreigner. If you want to find out more, you'll see whatever music's genre was in Indonesia.
This is the original music which came from Indonesia. For Indonesian people, this genre is related to low-end citizen. But, actually this genre is really define what Indonesian Look like and sometimes the song of this genre is really amusing for us. Not only Indonesian, most of all foreigner also like this music's genre because of this unique tone arrangement. For several years, Dangdut is sinked and we recognize it as a countrified music. Why? it's because some of the dangdut artist are like to make some rubbish sensation in order they could be popular. But, it's contrast! Indonesian don't respect something from a rubbish news or gossip. Fortunately! in the end of 2011, Ayu Ting Ting brings this genre to be lovely for all people and brings a break through. Dangdut's singer doesn't always countrified and bad.
Most of Indonesian band till soloist sings this music genre. This genre is easy listening also everybody will love it. The catchy music makes people easily accept this genre. For me, this genre is the most popular in Indonesia. Vidi Aldiano, Krisdayanti are some of Indonesian musician who use this genre.
Some band in Indonesian are in this genre. Like Kotak, Andra and The backbone, T.R.I.A.D. But they are not rock too much. Sometimes they make slow rock songs. And some of teenager in Indonesian, actually whole of them also like this genre. It's fully related to SLANK, the most legendary rock band in Indonesia.
I just know a band in this genre. THE CHANGCUTERS. For more information, I couldn't give you readers. Because this genre is seldom used by Indonesian musician.
Boy band and Girlband (electro pop, hip hop, RnB)
This genre is on the top of popularity now. Since Sm*sh make break through in Melayu band era, now boy band and girl band just like a mushroom which is grown so fast in wet season. Early 2010 till the end of 2011, Indonesian boy band and girl band are influenced by Korean electropop and futuristic music. This genre make our music arena richer.
Afgan and Ada band are some of ballad musician. Give us mellow tone and slow tempo. With romantic lyric and sometimes wishing for love which is too much. Indonesian girl like this music. It's because girl loves romance.
Up beat and cheerful lyric be the power of this genre. Pee Wee Gaskins and Killing Me Inside are some band using this genre. But, I don't like this genre too much. Make me confused.
In the end of 2009 till mid-2010 this genre take over whole place in music arena. ST 12 and Wali are the most popular band along that era. In 2008, Kangen band dominated Melayu genre. This genre is rather similar into Dangdut, but there's improvement in melody. So, it's kind of pop plus dangdut.
This music is original from Indonesia. Using cello or I don't know what is the name and some angklung's sound. Old people love this kind of music. Mus Moelyadi is the one of keroncong's singer.
Campur Sari
This is Javanese original music. Usually sung when there's any Javanese's occasion. Some traditionally mind people loves this kind of music.
Now, you know readers? My Country is rich of everything.
Labels: DownLoad lifestyle resensi review sharing
yusuf habibi 11 November 2012 at 09:06
dangdut gee ? kok ga ada :D
Agista Rully Saraswati 11 November 2012 at 11:33
ada kok, nomor satu malah :D
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3288
|
__label__wiki
| 0.531994
| 0.531994
|
Djibouti airport
AI provided the remote control system for the Djibouti airport's ground lighting in 2003. In 2007, AI returned to upgrade system operations and to provide more advanced maintenance training, including troubleshooting, repairs, and PLC programming and configuration.
This fully-secured system centralizes and manages information to ensure uninterrupted service.
The goal of the renovation of the airfield lighting control and monitoring system was to modernize the system and to develop a user-friendly stop-bar control in interface with an addressable airfield lighting system.
Automated load handling, La rochelle airport
In partnership with a mecanic conception company, AI produces systems for automated load handling for airports: delivery carousels, deflectors, roller tables, tracking and control of luguage safety...
alarm hub in Libreville airport
This airport is the main airport platform of the country. A.I developed alarms monitor to record in a single system all defaults on the airport (NAVAIDS, Building Management System, meteo, network, electrical house…) that can appear on the site. Only important information and syntheses of defects are backed up to not immerse the operators who clock in.
Overhaul of the ground lighting of Lille airport
Lille Airport decided to overhaul its ground lighting system in order to improve the reliability of remote control and supervision functionalities and to develop a user-friendly stop-bar control interface with an addressable system. The overhaul also offered an opportunity to replace the old control push button desk with high-brightness (350 cd/m²) flat touch-screens made by AI.
Safegate gulf, Madain Saley Airport
AI produced an application of ground lighting monitoring and control of the Madain Saley airport. Thiq application have been developed by PCVUE32. A touch screen PC has been totaly removed to make it more ergonomic and more reactive to air traffic controllers requirements.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3289
|
__label__wiki
| 0.565853
| 0.565853
|
The Marriage of Imam Ali (as) and Sayyida Fatimah (sa)
AIM October 7, 2013 Ahlulbayt, Faith & Beliefs, Islamic Articles 7,323 Views
لولميخلق علىٌّ لم يكن لفاطمةكفوا
“In the event that Ali would not have been created, there would have been no one worthy to be Fatimah’s (s.a..) spouse.”[23]ٌ
A Marriage Made in Heaven
The extraordinary virtues of Fatimah on one side, and on the other side, her blood relations with the Prophet (S) and still on another side, the nobility of her family, caused many of the high – ranking supporters of the Prophet (S) to propose to her; but all heard negative answers.
The interesting point here being that the Prophet (S) would usually answer them, saying:
أمرها الى ربِّها
“Her matter is in the hands of her Lord.”
The strangest case was the proposal of “Abdul Rahman Ibn Awf”, that rich man who, by the customs of Age of Ignorance, looked at everything through the material viewing window, visualizing a heavy dowry as the sign of a woman’s personal status and the superior position of the husband.
He came to see the Prophet (S), saying:
“If you will give Fatimah to me in marriage, I will make her a dower of one hundred camels with loads of precious material from Egypt along with 10000 Dinars in gold!”
The Prophet (S) was so enraged by this meaningless proposal that he took a handful of gravel and threw it towards Abdul Rahman and said:
“You thought that I was a servant of money and wealth that you are expressing pride in your money and wealth.” [24]
Yes, in Fatimah’s marriage proposal, Islamic examples must be defined, the customs of ignorance suppressed, and the standards of Islamic values made clear.
The people were speaking of these very things when suddenly everywhere it was heard that the Prophet (s.w.a) wished to give his only daughter to Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) in marriage. Ali ibn Talib (a.s.) who was in accessed to worldly wealth and possessions, and possessed none of the standards of the Age of Ignorance, but was instead from head to toe full of faith and real Islamic values.
When they investigated this, it became clear that the indicator I guide of the Prophet (S) in this blessed historical marriage was a heavenly revelation, because he said himself:
(صلى الله عليه وآله)قال:أتاني ملك فقال يا محمد ان الله يقرئك السلام و يقول لك: إنى قد زوجت فاطمة ابنتك من عليٍّ ابن أبى طالب في الملأ الاعلى، فزوجها منه في الأرض
“An Angel of God came to me and said; God sends you greetings and says that in heaven I have made Fatimah the wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib. You also marry her to Ali on earth.”[25]
When Ali (a.s.) came for his marriage proposal of Fatimah (s.a.), his face was red with shyness. When the Prophet (S) saw him, he became cheerful and smiling saying, for what have you come to me?
But Ali (a.s.), because of the imposing presence of the Prophet (S), could not put forth his wish, and as such remained silent.
The Prophet (S), who was informed of Ali’s inner self, said:
لعلك جئت تخطب فاطمة؟
“Maybe you have come for marriage proposal of Fatimah?”
فقال علي(عليه السلام): نعم
“Yes, I have come for that very purpose.”
فقال الرسول(صلى الله عليه وآله): يا علي! لقد سبقك آخرون خطبتها مني، و اني كلما عرضت الامر عليها لم تظهر موافقتها، دعني أحدّثها في شأنك
The Prophet said:
“Ali before you, other Men had come for proposal of Fatimah. Whenever I informed Fatimah of this matter, she would not show her approval. Right now, let me inform her of this conversation.”
It is true that the marriage was heavenly and must take place. But especially, the personal status of Fatimah (s.a.) and, generally, the respect and freedom of women in choosing their husbands, made it necessary that the Prophet of Islam should not go ahead in this matter without the consent of Fatimah.
When the Prophet described the virtues of Ali (a.s.) for his daughter saying:
“I wish to make you the wife of the best of God’s creation. What is your opinion?”
Fatimah, who was submerged in shyness and modesty, lowered her head saying nothing and making no denial.
The Prophet (S) raised his head and spoke this historical sentence, which is a document for Islamic Jurisprudents in relation to the Marriage of previously unmarried girls:
الله أكبر! سكوتها اقرارها
“God is the Greatest. Her silence is the proof of her agreement.”
And, following these events, the marriage contract was concluded by the Holy Prophet (S).
Fatimah’s Dowry
Now let us see what Fatimah’s (s.a.) dowry consisted of.
It is without doubt that the marriage of the best of the men in the world with the princess of the world’s women, must in every way be an example, an example for all centuries and ages. Therefore the Prophet (S) turned to Ali (a.s.) saying:
“Do you have something to stipulate as your wife’s dowry?”
“May my parents be your sacrifice, as you well know, my belongings consist of nothing more than my sword, armour, and a camel.”
The Prophet (S) said:
“That is right. Your sword is needed during battles with the enemies of Islam.
And you must water your palm orchards with your camel, and also use it on Journeys. Therefore, you may only stipulate your armour as your wife’s dowry, and I give in may daughter Fatimah (s.a.) to you against this very armour.” [26]
This is one side of the story, but, on the other side, we read in hadiths that Fatimah (s.a.) asked her father to make her dowry an intercession for the wrongdoers of the nation on the Resurrection Day. This request was granted and Gabriel revealed this command to the Prophet (S) from Heaven.[27]
This is how incorrect values must be broken and replaced with pure values. And this is the custom of faithful men and women. And this is the way of life for the true leaders of God’s servants.
Fatimah’s Trousseau
In all times, dowry, trousseau and the wedding ceremony were the three difficulties placed before families in the matters of life, with the traces of its rain of adversity remaining with the couple until the end of their lives.
Sometimes verbal deputes and quarrels, and sometimes bloody fights were created as a result of these matters. And what wealth has been wasted because of our imitation of one another and tasteless, childish rivalry.
Still, even now, the sediments of these ignorant thoughts are not few in those who speak of Islam.
But, the trousseau of the Lady of Islam must, just as her dowry, be a model for all.
This might surprise you but, the Prophet (S) ordered that Ali’s armour be sold and the money brought to him, which amounted to about 500 Dirhams.
The Prophet divided this money into three parts. one part he gave to Bilal to buy a nice scented perfume. And the other two parts were put aside for buying clothes and household goods.
It is clear how simple and cheap these goods must have been, to have been bought with such an insignificant amount of money.
In historical records, it has been recorded that the trousseau bought with this money consisted of 18 pieces, of which the most important are listed below;
1 large scarf for 4 Dirhams.
1 piece of dress material for 1 Dirham.
1 bed made of wood and palm leaves.
4 Pillows of sheep skin filled with a sweet smelling grass called “Azkhar”
1 woollen curtain.
1 hand mill
1 Leather water-skin
1 Copper wash-tub
1 Large container for milking
1 Large Green-colored earthen pot (pitcher) and so on.
This was the trousseau of the Lady of the world’s women.
The Wedding Ceremony
The honourable Prophet of Islam (s.w.a.), in this ceremony, which was for the establishment of a family, and by which an important part of Islam’s history was changed, and of which the pure successors of the Prophet (S) would all come into existence; executed such a program that his enemies became angered and his friends made proud! Also causing those who were distant to Ponder upon it.
“Umm Salamah” and “Umm Aiman”, who were two virtuous women of Islam, and had great affection for the great Lady Fatimah Zahra (s.a.), came to the Prophet of Islam Saying:
“O’ honourable Prophet of God! Indeed, if Khadijah were alive she would really be happy with the convening of Fatimah’s wedding ceremony, Isn’t that so?”
Tears came into the eyes of the Messenger of God (s.w.a.) upon hearing the name of that devoted Lady, and he began remembering all of the Kindness and generosity of Khadijah, saying:
“Where can a woman be found like Khadijah?
Those days when all of the people denied me, she confirmed me, placing all of her wealth and life in my hands for spreading of God’s religion. She was the very Lady whom God ordered me to inform that an emerald castle will be granted to her in the exalted Heavens.
Umm Salamah, when she heard this, saw the inner revolution and burning of the Prophet and said:
“O’ Messenger of God! My parents be your sacrifice! Whatever you say about Khadijah is the truth; but at any rate, she welcomed God’s invitation and has rushed to the vicinity of His Mercy. Hopefully, God will house her in the best place in Heaven.
But, the matter for which we have come to your blessed presence is something else, and that being this: your brother and cousin, Ali, wishes you to permit him to take his wife Fatimah to his home, and in this way bring order to his life.”
“Why didn’t Ali (a.s.) bring this proposal to me him-self?”
Umm Salamah replied: “Shyness and modesty prevented him.”
Here, the Prophet (S) told Umm Aiman:
“Go and tell him to come here.”
Ali (a.s.) came and sat before the Prophet (S) but his head was lowered out of shyness.
“Do you wish to take your wife home?”
Ali, while his head was still lowered, said:
“Yes, may my parents be your sacrifice.”
What is interesting is that, contrary to what is usual among those people who worship opulence and who begging planning months ahead of this ceremony, the Prophet (S) happily said:
“I will arrange for it either tonight or tomorrow night.”
And right then he gave the orders to arrange for the preparation of a very simple celebration that was full of spirituality and holiness.
As for the formalities of this Heavenly celebration, and its ceremonies, it was conducted so simply and without trouble, that hearing it, is quite astonishing for us these days.
Ali (a.s.) said:
A bit of the money from the armour I had sold previously had been given to “Umm Salamah” for safekeeping and during the nuptial ceremony he took 10 Dirhams from her and gave it to me saying: “Buy some Oil, dates, and Kashk with this money. I did this. Then the Prophet (S) himself rolled up his sleeves and mixed these things together with his own hands preparing a meal, serving the people with this very food.
ثمَّ قال يا علي ادعُ من أحببت، فخرجت الى المسجد و أصحاب رسول الله متوافرون، فقلت: أجيبوا رسول الله، فقاموا جميعاً و أقبلوا نحو النبي، فأخبرته بأن القوم كثير، فجلل السفرة بمنديل، و قال: ادخل عليَّ عشرة بعد عشرة، ففعلت و جعلوا يأكلون يخرجون و لاينقص الطعام، حتى لقد أكل من ذلك الحيس سبع مائة رجل و امرأة ببركة النبى
Then he (the Prophet) said “Oh Ali invite whomever you wish”. I left for the mosque where many companions of the Prophet were gathering. I said answer to the prophet’s call. They arose and headed together towards the Prophet. I told the prophet they were a large crowd; he covered the food with a sheet and said: “show them in, ten at a time”, and so I did. The people kept going in, eating and leaving, all the while the food seemed unabated. In all seven hundred men and women ate from that (date and yogurt) dish with the Prophet’s blessing.
It is interesting here that, at the end of the ceremony, when all of the people had returned to their homes and the house became empty, the prophet of Islam placed Fatimah (s.a.) on his left side and Ali (a.s.) on his right, and wished them good luck by spraying a bit of sacred saliva from his mouth on both Fatimah and Ali, Praying for them, saying:
طهركما الله و طهر نسلكما أنا سلم لمن سالمكما و حرب لمن حاربكما، أستودعكما الله و استخلفه عليكم
“God! They are of me and I am of them. O lord! Just as you removed every kind of filth and impurity from me, also remove it from them making them Pure.” And then he said:
“Get up and go home. May God bless both of you.”[28]
The lovers of the material world and the weak believers who are under the influence of material world’s sparkle, who see a family’s respect, honour, and status, and the blessings and grandeur of the wedding ceremony in those back -breaking, oppressive formalities and luxurious articles, should see this and learn a lesson. They should see and get inspiration from this program that is a lesson in humanity and is the substance of the happiness of all boys and girls. And, see an example of Islamic teachings in a living, working way in the events of the “Proposal”, “Dower”, “Trousseau” and “Wedding” of Fatimah Zahra (s.a.) in the pages of history.
[23]كنوز الحقائق، ص124 “KanzuI -Haqaeq”pg. 124
[24]“Tezkerat-ul-Khawas” – pg. 306
[25] ذخائر العقبى، ص31“Thaka’er-Al-Uqba” pg. 31
[26]Ihqaqul-Haq vol. 10 pg. 358
[27]Akhbaru-Dowal pg. 88
[28] بحار الانوار، ج43، «تاريخ الزهراء» ص 131-132 Bihar Alanwar vol. 43 “History of AzZahra” pg. 131-132
Source: Excerpt taken from “The world’s most outstanding Lady: Fatima az-Zahra” by Ayatullah Makarem Shirazi
Now that the season of mourning Abi Abdillah Al-Husayn (as) has reached its temporary conclusion, …
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3290
|
__label__wiki
| 0.597431
| 0.597431
|
Season 4 – Episode 16 – “The California 47th”
En route to California to campaign for Sam’s (Rob Lowe) congressional election challenge, the President (Martin Sheen) and his staff debate whether to announce his controversial tax plan that might in turn damage Sam’s bid in conservative Orange County, California. In the meantime, Bartlet must keep tabs on a dangerous U.S.military incursion in a tumultuous African country.
"THE CALIFORNIA 47TH"
STORY BY: LAUREN SCHMIDT & PAULA YAO
DIRECTED BY: VINCENT MISIANO
Fitzwallace, Leo and Bartlet are in the Situation Room listening to GENERAL
WENDALL on a screen giving them an update on Kuhndu.
GENERAL JIMMY WENDALL
[on screen] ... consisting of the USS Harpers Ferry, the USS Cleveland,
the LHD-4
Boxer, sixteen light armored vehicles, four M-1A1 Main Battle Tanks, four
and eight Harriers.
What about the 82nd? It's Fitz, General.
WENDALL
The 82nd began their drop 75 minutes ago. Now they're in the process of...
Someone comes and whispers something in his ear.
Excuse me, Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, for jut a moment.
Wendall goes and picks up a telephone behind him and talks.
I don't understand, did we just get put on call waiting or something?
He's probably taking a call from Captain Morita on the Tallahassee.
Wendall's answering the phones at U.S. European Commamnd?
Would you take it easy?
Is he placing a bet?
Are we allowed to do that? And can I make a quick phone call before the
101st Air
Assault...
Excuse me, Mr. President.
Jimmy, was that Morita?
The 82nd's completed its takeover of Bitanga Airport, Admiral, that's what
happened.
Everyone in the Situation Room begins to clap and celebrate.
Clear the 101st for the Bitanga Airport and stand by for a coded command,
[to Bartlet] Thank you, Mr. President.
Bartlet and Leo exit the Sit Room.
CUT TO: INT. BASEMENT HALLYWAY- CONTINUOUS
That was impressive.
No, them. I meant...
I'm saying...
And I agree with you.
I'm not saying I don't think you can be impressive in the Situation Room.
I can tell by the way you laughed in my face at the suggestion that I was.
We changed wheels-up to 6:00 p.m.
I heard that. Why?
D-triple-C put an event in Brentwood.
I've told him over and over about money and endorsements from outside the
district.
Why is he going to Brentwood?
For the same reason Willy Sutton robbed banks.
What does Joey say?
He's anywhere from five to eight points down, favorabilty below 50. They're
about values.
The right to privacy's a value, so is clean air.
That argument's been incredibly effective in the past.
OMB?
They want a few more hours for the revenue calculations, but they're saying
definitely going to be today.
Deficit-nuetral, we've had 14 meetings.
They understand. Ways and Means Democrats, then the NEC breifing on scoring.
What's wrong with booze and a comfortable pickup? Scoring.
I know what you were saying. What, are you from the Ozarks?
Is there going to be a democrat tax plan, or am I going to be stuck in NEC
hell for the rest of my term?
You got a meeting on salmon runs in Oregon at 3:00.
What do salmon runs have to do with it?
Nothing, sir. It doesn't have anything to do with the tax plan. I was moving
Last week it was a banana embargo. Is Congress opening a restaurant?
There's no reason you can't relax a little bit in California.
Aren't there quite a few reasons?
They finally enter the OUTER OVAL OFFICE.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Miss Humentashen.
Isn't it a little early in the day, sir?
Leo said just now that there was going to be an NEC briefing on scoring and
tell her
what I said.
"What's wrong with booze and a comfortable pickup?"
No, I see there's no hour too early for your Noel Cowardesque wit, sir.
No there's not.
Ambassador Tiki is in the Oval Office, sir.
Bartlet enters THE OVAL OFFICE.
Mr. Ambassador, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I was just in the White House
Situation Room.
AMBASSADOR TIKI
Mr. President, the U.S. is trampling on the sovereignty of my country and
Nzele...
I've just taken your airport... [shakes his hand] ...clearing the way for
the 101st Air
Assualt to take the capitol. 7,000 troops, 25 battle tanks, 15 Apache attack
helicopters,
and three destroyers. Strictly speaking, I conquered your country without
the paperwork.
TIKI'S AIDE
Kuhndu is in the midst of a civil war.
No, it's not. It's in the midst of a one-sided slaughtering of an entire
people. Both
the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Vatican have pleaded
with President
Nzele for a cease-fire and both the U.N. and the Holy Father have struck
out to the peril
of 115,000 Induye men, women, and God knows children, particularly the boys.
Who will soon be men and will rise up...
The heads of Ghana, Nigeria and Zaire have similairly sent packing. The Red
Cross has been
denied entry on three seperate occasions in the last ten says. President
Nzele has 36 hours
to give the command to his troops to hand over their weapons to the 82nd
Divison Airborne
Division of the United States Army. At 36 hours and one minute, I give the
order for the
101st Air Assualt to take Bitanga and run up our flag. I skipped
breakfast. Anybody want
coffee or something?
FADE IN: INT. PRESS BRIEFING ROOM - DAY
The President informed both Ambassador Tiki and President Nzele that they
have 36-- now
34 and a half hours-- to implement a halt to the violence before U.S. forces
deploy. John.
REPORTER JOHN
And that would consist of what?
You've got a Pentagon briefing at noon. Katie.
REPORTER KATIE
Are we in direct talks with Nzele?
The government of Ghana as offered to act as an intermediary, and those
talks begin
within the hour.
REPORTER STEVE
Does the military operation have a name?
Safe Haven.
REPORTER MARK
Have you decided on a press policy?
Always be upbeat.
Right. I meant...
Yeah, I don't get to decide press policy for the U.S. Armed Forces, though
if wishing
made it so, but we're bring Pentagon Public Affairs on the California trip
and we'll
be meeting about it all weekend. Tonights forecast for D.C. is 18 degrees
of Mercury.
For Newport Beach, it's 78 and sunny.
At night?
Even at night.
What kind of a reception are you expecting?
Well, Sam's going to meet us and we're going to get something to eat.
I meant by Orange County.
Don't be fooled. They love us in Orange County. They're crazy-go-nuts for
the President.
They're really the Democratic party in general. I think they really like it
when we come
to town. When we were there last month, we we're working the crowd, and some
worried possibly that I couldn't afford fruits and vegetables on a government
salary,
tossed me some of their own.
The reporters laugh.
78 and sunny. Yeah, we're going to have a dabba-doo time, so unless there
are any
updates, I'll see you on the plane.
Thank you, C.J.
C.J. exits to the HALLWAY.
[to Carol] I've got $1,331 in my checking account. I'll write you a check
if you go to California instead of me. Just leave me $31 for food and
Gretchen Olan's been bumped from "Meet The Press."
That, by the way, was a sky-blue DKNY suit worn for 41 minutes. There should
be a law
against that.
There is a law against that.
Who was she bumped for?
Rittenhouse.
And "This Week" wants to reschedule the Attorney General.
They reach C.J.'S OFFICE.
For who?
Gacey, I think. Um...
All right, let's see if we can get Gretchen in front of the Times and...
The HHS...
Wait a second. Rittenhouse and Gacey?
It's the tax plan. Josh!
C.J. goes to JOSH'S BULLPEN AREA.
[to Josh] Rittenhouse and Gacey just booked the Sunday shows. [to Carol]
We need to
see the President.
CUT TO: INT. THE OVAL OFFICE - DAY
Bartlet, Jean-Paul and Zoey are in the Oval Office. Bartlet is somewhat
annoyed with
Jean-Paul.
It is better to work to live, I think, than to live to work.
Right. On the other hand, 20% of your youth is unemployed. They're just
living to live.
Yes, that is right, but sir, we have the best public health care and pension
world. State-financed pensions are equal almost income levels.
Yeah, it helps when someone else is picking up the bigger ticket items like
a national
defense.
I love seeing my two men sparring.
She's very fond of you.
Charlie knocks and enters.
Sir?
Yes, absolutely, send them in.
You see, there is an attitude in your culture. There is an effort to defy
European and that behavior is seen by many to be...
Josh, Toby, C.J. and Will enter.
Yeah, whatever, hang on a second. [to Josh] What do you need?
Sir, we didn't know you were busy; we'll wait outside.
No, that's all right. What do you need?
The three of you should bond.
Bartlet walks over yo Josh and whispers in his ear.
If you leave, I'll kill you.
I'm sorry, Jean-Paul, I'll have to cut it short. Josh has gotten himself in
a jam. But
I'll see you on the plane tonight, and I'll look forward to continue the
discussion on,
you know, what's wrong with me.
Bye dad. See you guys.
Jean-Paul and Zoey exit.
The chair of House Ways and Means and Senate Finance are doing the Sunday
You think the Republicans are rolling out their tax plan?
'Cause we can roll out ours and I don't have to sit through another seven
scoring meetings.
But it means they're going to announce their tax plan this afternoon or this
That's tomorrow and Sunday before we respond.
Why not respond Saturday or Sunday? Better yet, let's go first. Call the
press in, and
I'll do it right now.
It's not ready yet. It's still being scored.
Toby?
I don't like that French kid very much.
It'll be ready tomorrow?
I say we respond to theirs with ours, but we do it tomorrow or Sunday.
You'd be announcing a one-percent tax increase on the richest one percent
and doing it
in Orange County.
Then that's where we do it.
Except, Mr. President, it'll kill Sam. It'll kill him in the 47th. It may
be seen as
gutsy by the rest of the country, but you'll kill Sam's campaign.
Which is why I think we should cancel the trip.
And announce from the White House.
Won't the White House canceling the trip be taken as a signal that we've
given up on
the 47th?
And do equal damage to the campaign?
You want to go to Orange County?
I think we have to go. [to Bartlet] Even though there's $1,300 with your
name on it if
you don't make me go with you.
Get over the dress, would you?
It was a suit and they hit me with an avocado.
It could've been worse.
They could have hit me.
Sir, the first 24 hours of the cycle are critical. We can't fight something
with nothing
and that's what we'll have for 48 hours after they announce if we don't
announce too.
That's a killer decision. But let's lean towards Sam and say we keep our
mouths shut in
California and then come out fighting Monday morning.
C.J., TOBY and WILL
We follow the staff to the OUTER OVAL OFFICE, then to the HALLWAY.
[to Toby] I'm going to go pack 38 sets of clothes now for two days. [leaves]
Will?
Every speech the President gives on Tuesday has to be about the Democratic
tax plan.
How many public remarks is he making on Tuesday?
Plus we need speech inserts for the Cabinet.
I can get it done by Tuesday.
They enter the COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE.
Yes, you can, because you're going to use the staff to help you.
Which staff?
Your staff-- the White House speechwriting staff. Your staff. You will tell
them what you
need. You will expect it. You will tell them how they can do better, and
they will do it.
They enter TOBY'S OFFICE.
In theory.
On paper, your plan is very sound.
But in reality?
I don't think they like me very much.
No, no, no, they don't like you at all.
Why? Why, oh, why is that true? What have I done?
Don't know; more to the point, I don't care.
I made Rice Krispies Treats.
They've been working for the President forever. You've been here three minutes,
he made you a deputy. They have whiplash.
And understanding that, I brought in Rice Krispies Treats.
And I'm surprised they haven't come around yet.
I can get it done myself.
Listen to me. Many of these are the lowest possible priority remarks. There
are more
valuable places for your time. Now instruct your staff.
Will leaves Toby's office.
Excuse me, Ginger?
Are you, by any chance, on my staff?
I'm one of your staff assistants.
Great. Would you call a meeting of the speechwriting staff for this evening?
Are you going to be there?
Yeah... yes! Yes, the meetings with me.
Will walks into his OFFICE. He turns around and is about to say something
but goes into
his office and closes the door. He picks up the phone and dials.
[on phone] Hello?
Hey, it's Will.
How you doing?
Why did you cancel the Teamsters?
Scott thought we should be at the Manufacturing Association breakfast.
I don't think that was very smart.
[to Scott] Hey, Scott, Will says he doesn't think you're very smart.
I said it wasn't smart.
I'm just calling to say hi.
How do I get the speechwriting staff to like me?
I don't know, but when you do, why don't you tell me how you did it?
They didn't get along with you?
You're going to have some new staffers in there.
Yeah, but the problem is they're a lot of remarks we have to get ready for
Monday.
What's going on Monday?
[beat] The environment. It's a whole thing about the environment.
CUT TO: SAM'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS - DAY
AIDE 1
[to Will] Got to go.
They hang up.
[to Scott] He was wondering why we canceled the Teamsters.
SCOTT HOLCOMB
Sam, while they're here this weekend, you're going to need to work at avoiding
appearance you're sitting in his lap, he's reading you a bedtime story.
I'm going to need to work hard to avoid that appearance?
Yeah, you are.
Well, let me ask you, what do we have planned that might be mistaken...
You stand next to him, you're aid-de-camp. You're a waterboy.
Second banana.
Did you not think I knew what he meant?
This went fast in an ugly directon. The better point is people need to know
you're
independent.
Well, I have a good feeling about this trip already.
FADE IN: INT. AIR FORCE ONE - NIGHT
The TV is turned to the news.
CNN ANCHOR
[on TV] ...certain debate will be coming tomorrow morning when GOP leaders
plan to roll
out their ambitious $800 billion tax cut plan-- their prescription for an
ailing economy.
SENATOR ALAN BRODERICK [GOP LEADER]
[on TV] It's you money, and you ought to keep more of it, because you earned
it. This
is exactly hat hardworking Americans deserve.
OVER THE GRAND CANYON
[on TV] Still no response from the White House on what is certan to be the
biggest and
the most contentious debate of this new Congressional session.
He's going to go out of his mind.
I'm going to go with him.
Isn't that worse then we thought it was going to be?
We though it was going to be...
They did 15 across the board. That's what it sounds like, but I haven't look
at anything yet.
Plus capital gains.
That's what I thought we were talking about. I didn't even realize the 15%.
Andy comes walking into the room.
Did you just see that?
Oh, my God. Have you been on the plane the whole time?
No, I hopped on board when you guys were over the Great Lakes! What the
hell...?
I told you I was coming.
And I told you you couldn't fly.
And Dr. Salmi said I could fly through the 32nd week, and I thought since
he's my
doctor, and you're really dumb, I'd join the Congressional delegation and
Sam. Isn't it great?
Listen to me. We've got all kinds of atmospheric cabin pressure up here. We're
late, so the Colonel's put the hammer down in a 747. You've got windshear,
downdraft,
massive turbulence, not to mention four giant engines burning jet fuel at
temperatures. We're standing in a flying death tube!
He turns and sees Donna, Ed and Larry staring.
No, not the rest of y-you. It's just my family. It's, it's fine. [to Andy]
What do you want me to do, step off?
Also, you've got twins in there. You're basically a minivan. How are you
fitting into
a seat?
[to Donna] Ah-ah! I saw him first girls.
Donna exits the room to the plane HALLWAY.
I checked the voicemail at the office, and there were a couple of messages
from a man
named Ivan Perez of the California Agricultural Laborers Association.
Say that again.
The California Agricultural Laborers Association. He's staying in our hotel
and he wants
to know if he can get five minutes.
I don't know. I don't know him. Find out if he's for real before I meet with
You meet with him.
What litmus test would you like me to use?
Well, to begin with, is he wearing shoes and shirt?
Say he is.
Ask him what he thinks of Richard Sutter. He's an Assemblyman who proposed
the Foreign
Labor... It doesn't matter. If he doesn't have a strong opinion on Sutter,
he doesn't
play at your level.
I have a level?
You do. It's not a lot to speak of, but you know, no shoes no shirt, I'm
sorry, but
you draw the line.
Richard Sutter.
An Assemblyman.
Donna leaves and C.J. walks up and grabs a soda.
We've begun spreading our magic already.
Some wires got crossed between the Advance and Airlift Operations and CHP
on the ground.
They didn't get the word until late that take-off had been delayed and they
also thought
we were coming into SNA and not Los Alamitos.
The result being?
Interstate 5 has been shut down for an hour and a half.
Is that a freeway that gets used a lot?
Not for the last hour and a half, no.
All right, has the President seen any of the news on the Republican tax cut?
C.J. and Josh keep walking as Bartlet walks out of a room reading a piece
of paper into
his OFFICE.
No response from the White House?
Ed, Larry and Toby are in the office.
[blows raspberry] There's my response.
Plus, it's worse than we thought.
[to Ed] Sing it, Larry.
15% cut across the board? Cutting capital gains 50%!
And they said it would cost $800 billion.
C.J. and Josh enter the room.
And it's actually going to cost?
$1.2 trillion.
I'm not an economist, but no... Wait, I am an economist. So, their plan will
do what, C.J.?
Explode...
Explode the deficit. Will it stimulate the economy, Josh?
It will stimulate the Swiss economy.
Josh gets extra credit for being funny and right at the same time, and how
long do I have
to stay quiet, Toby?
You're the leader of the free world, sir. You can speak anytime you like.
And not kill Sam?
No, for that you got to shut up for 50 hours.
And so I shall.
CUT TO: INT. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE - NIGHT
Will is in the Communications Office when Elsie enters.
You wanted to see me?
What are you doing right now?
Some remarks for the First Lady. It's Convocation for the Estonian-American
Women in
the Arts Week.
How many Estonian-American women are there in the arts?
When are you going to be done?
Tonight.
Okay, I need you the rest of the weekend.
You've got a staff.
They don't like me.
The Rice Krispie Treats?
Did not do the job.
They work for you.
Try telling them that.
Have you tried telling them that?
'Cause these are hard-boiled men, some of whom have known the President
since seventh
grade and some of whom still write like they were there.
They walk out to the HALLWAY.
And they're hard-boiled?
Yeah. You know we took Bitanga Airport this morning?
You think we don't watch the news down there?
I'm just saying.
You think the President took Bitanga 'cause you told him to?
He hasn't taken Bitanga, just the airport, and no, I'm just saying. You
know...
Things happen fast.
Elsie watches as Will exits the West Wing.
Leo is in his office talking to Robbie and Thomas.
He's not in...
Nzele's demanding...
He's not in a position to be demanding anything.
Nonetheless, he's demanding that American troops leave Bitanga immediately.
And he'll continue the peace talks among the African countries.
Leo, Nzele is a sadistic madman. This can't possibly be argued. But he's
not a stupid
man, and he knows where CNN is on his television. He's betting the first
dead American
soldier on television and you lose.
Our stomach for it?
Thomas, Robbie-- you've got to find a way of getting word to Nzele that in
he's going to lose that bet.
CUT TO: INT. BASEMENT HALLWAY - NIGHT
Will is walking in the basement. He enters an OFFICE. There are four young
women dressed
up standing around.
CASSIE TATUM
Um, I'm WIll Bailey.
Yes, sir. We're the interns for the speechwriting staff.
The speechwriting staff?
I'm not sure.
LAUREN CHIN
Lauren Chin.
Lauren, do me a favor. Can you find out where the staff is?
Well, Cassie said...
Mr. Ziegler left a message that you should call him.
You're Cassie.
Cassie Tatum, and this is Lauren Shelby, Lauren Romano...
Three of you are named Lauren?
Lauren, Lauren, Cassie and Lauren.
And you don't know where the staff is, and Toby tells me to call him?
Okay, I'm just going to step in this office over here a moment.
Will goes over into the OFFICE and picks up the phone and dials.
[to interns] You're all pretty dressed up.
There's an intern party tonight, but Mr. Ziegler told us to stay.
[to interns] Doesn't sound that good, does it? [into phone] Toby, it's Will.
CUT TO: INT. LIMOUSINE - NIGHT
Toby is on the phone and C.J. is sitting next to him.
74 degrees in February. There's no civilization here.
Where's the staff?
I was just starting the staff meeting, and there's no staff.
Yeah, I fired some of them.
How many of them?
All of them.
You fired the speechwriting staff?
I was thinking about what you said this morning, and I think they have a
bad attitude.
Also, they're pretty bad at their jobs.
When are we going to have new speechwriters?
Just as soon as you hire them.
All right, I'll get it done myself.
You can't.
I can't?
You can't. That's why I left you a staff.
The interns?
Tell them what you want, and then expect it.
That isn't a staff, Toby. Those are the Robert Palmer girls.
They're bright young women. Show some leadership skills. Get it done. We're
I'll call you in a little bit.
Okay. The speechwriting staff-- you didnt fire them, they quit, right?
Because of me, right?
Will hangs up the phone and walks into the room where the interns are.
CUT TO: EXT. CURBSIDE IN CALIFORNIA - NIGHT
The Presidential motorcade pulls up to where a rally for Sam's campaign is
being held.
Sam is standing at the corner waiting for them when they arrive. C.J. exits
the car.
They hug.
Toby!
Toby and Sam hug.
Did we do much damage?
They got a photograph of an American SUV with three kids in the back crying
'cause they
were stuck getting home from Disney's California Adventure. Listen, I feel
bad you made
the trip now. Who knew the Republicans were going to announce? Plus, he's
got to be
distracted by Kuhndu.
He's fine.
Bartlet gets out of the limousine.
Man, I'm sorry about this. [hugs Sam]
Thank you for coming. I was just saying you must be distracted by Kuhndu.
The French have denied us access to their airspace. I'm not sure why they
think we're
going to need it to get from here to Africa, but what the hell. This weekend's
about you. Get up there.
[hands Bartlet a phone] It's Leo.
They have now arrived at a platform. Sam mounts the platform leaving Bartlet
Charlie offstage talking.
This is going to be about France. Did we accidently trap people in a theme
park?
[into phone] Yeah?
Sam is standing at the podium in front of a "Seaborn for Congress" banner. The
is cheering and holding up signs of support for Sam.
Thank you very much. Thank you. You've heard from a lot of people tonight
and many of
them were me. I'm happy to see that so many teachers here tonight brought
The man that I worked for is not only a great President; he's an extraordinary
model. And someone you can honestly...
While Sam is onstage, Bartlet can be heard offstage talking really loudly
phone with Leo.
BARTLET [OS]
Leo, tell those poncy little hairdressers I'm going to shove a loaf of bread
their ass...
The crowd begins to cheer as "Hail to the Chief" begins to play. Bartlet
walk onstage,
and he and Sam embrace. Bartlet holds Sam's hand in the air as the crowd
FADE IN: INT. OFFICE - DAY
Elsie and the interns are in the office waiting when Will enters.
These are for you.
He hands them jerseys with numbers on them.
You want us to put them on?
It would move things along. You've met my sister Elsie?
Yesterday afternoon, the Republican Leadership unveiled their tax plan. On
morning, we're going to unveil ours, which means that all public remarks
coming from
the White House have to be about the Democratic tax plan. So, I need you
all to help
to take prepared remarks, say about the canning of catfish, and make it
about the tax
plan. Number 60, what are you writing down?
LAUREN ROMANO [#60]
Canning of catfish.
That was just an espression.
I never heard it.
I've never heard it either.
I just made it up. 21, What's a capital gain?
LAUREN SHELBY [#21]
Um, anytime you invest in something and make money off it.
Right, what do Republicans want, 48?
LAUREN CHIN [#48]
No taxes on capital gains.
Right. Plus, a 15% cut across the board, while our plan would raise taxes
on the richest one percent in the country. So, what can be said about the
between the two?
They want to lower taxes and we want to raise them.
Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that.
You just did.
I'm saying when you write your remarks into the catfish canning remarks...
Will, we're interns. Do you think we have clue as to how to write a tax
policy speech?
Well, I'm sure you had to write in college in the many, many government and
poly-sci
and economics classes you took while attending...?
The London School of Ballet.
What the hell are you doing here?
I'm changing directions.
The telephone rings.
[into phone] Will Bailey.
What the hell happened last night?
We got off to a rough start.
I'd really like a chance to talk to Scott Holcomb.
Don't worry about the campaign.
I think he's blowing the work we did down there.
Don't worry about it. How are the remarks coming?
Uh, great. These guys are pros. [to Elsie] Elsie, what are you doing?
Elsie is standing over number 60.
I'm erasing "canning of catfish."
[into phone] Okay, got to go.
CUT TO: INT. HOTEL SUITE - DAY
Toby walks over to the table where C.J., Sam and Josh are sitting down
reading newspapers.
Well, there are some nice shots of you and the President, but the one you're
see a lot of is you kissing a liberal, pregnant, unwed congresswoman.
Kissing her where?
The Journal's attacking him for campaigning at the same time he's sending
troops overseas.
What the Register and Daily Pilot term "insulting remarks" at the school
have made their
special pull-out section.
They minded he insulted the French?
Or "poncy hairdressers," it's not clear...
Yeah, but he also mentioned vouchers, closing the 5, 405 and the 55 didn't
play well.
And because he was late he couldn't see off a battalion leaving from Miramar,
out of John Wayne were held on the ground and of course, children crying at
the "Pirates
of the Carribean," and it's still 6:30 in the morning.
So, you'd rate the trip so far, what, B, B-minus? C-minus? We'll get it
I have no idea what makes me say this, but it's good to see you. I have a
breakfast.
You want me to come?
That's okay.
Let him come, Sam.
Yeah, well, you know, the thing is Scott Holcomb and Josh.
I think Holcomb's been making bad mistakes with you, Sam. I think Josh's
been right.
I know Josh has been right and if you think that's easy for me to say...
He's got you with business.
He says it's how a Democrat wins Orange County.
Has a Democrat ever won Orange County?
Then how would he know?
That's a fair point, but it's who the national committee wants running the
campaign,
and that's where money's coming from so I have a strategy breakfast and I'll
all a little bit later.
Sam gets up and walks over by the door. Josh follows him.
I wasn't trying to get under his skin. On the other hand, I didn't really
care that
I had, you know what I mean?
Some polls that have you within seven. If you only lost by seven, that would
be huge, man.
I don't want to think like that yet.
Sam leaves.
Okay, where are we?
C.J. and Toby place papers in front of him that say "Democrats Idle On Tax
Cut Debate."
CUT TO: INT. HOTEL CAFE - DAY
Donna is sitting at a table across from IVAN "IZZY" PEREZ from the California
Laborers Association.
IVAN PEREZ
They work the land and through intensive labor develop pride in the
property. Labor is
intrinsically social, right? No man can create something by himself. Denying
workers an equal share of the profits...
A photographer walks up to the table with a camera.
[to photographer] Hello.
...let me put it this way.
The photographer snaps a picture and walks away.
That was weird.
That happens to me sometimes.
Are you a farm labor leader and a rock star?
No. But my point was we have no way of determining whether 12 hours under
the sun,
picking grapes is worth less or more than 9:00 to 5:00 in an office.
True. True. But let me ask you this, Ivan.
What do you think of Richard Sutter?
Richard Sutter. I was just wondering what you opinion of Richard...?
Well, he's the enemy, is what he is. I mean simply put, he is the enemy. This
Assemblyman who led the charge for...
Um, I'm sorry?
He was. And I think what you have to say is valuable and I'm going to see
if I can get
you in to see Josh while we're here.
That's wonderful. Thank you.
Good meeting you.
Donna gets up from the table. She begins walking and runs into Sam who's
just coming
into the building.
[to Scott Holcomb and an aide] Hey, everyone, this is one of my best
friends. This is
Donna Moss.
Sam kisses Dona on the cheek.
I didn't get the chance to see you much last night. How are you doing?
Oh, everyone feels really bad about the start.
Don't worry about it. Where are you coming from?
Five minutes with a guy named Ivan Perez from the California Agricultural
Association. Josh wanted me to find out if he's legit.
Is he?
[to Scott and his aides] Anyone ever heard of Ivan Perez?
The farm guy?
Izzy Perez?
Donna just met with him.
He ran for Governor of California.
What party?
Communist.
The Communist Party?
He's a Communist?
I thought he was a farmer.
They're all farmers.
Take it easy. Donna, did anybody see you having coffee?
A photographer.
Oh, my God.
Honest to God, lady, how stupid can you be?
[to aide] Hey! Out of here. You're fired.
I need him.
I don't care. He's out of here.
Your going to get creamed.
Like I'm not used to that.
CUT TO: INT. THE WEST WING HALLWAY - DAY
Leo walks through the Roosevelt Room and pass the Communications Office. Will
sees him
and catches up with him.
Excuse me, Leo.
Hey, how's it going down there?
I heard your staff quit.
Yes, yes, they did.
Because we promoted you to deputy?
Well, that's a little small.
Whatever. Do you suppose there's anyone around with speechwriting experience,
borrow for a day or two?
On Saturday?
Not ordinarily, but a lot of people made the California trip, the Treasury
Secretary's
staff is in the Midwest.
No problem. Is there anything I can do for you?
With regard to whatever's happening right now. I feel a little responsible.
You are.
You need me to prepare remarks at all?
Leo enters THE SITUATION ROOM. He walks up to Fitz who's standing at the
end of the table.
When was the last flyover?
A Superhornet did a past in the last hour.
Are we seeing any pictures of the Arkutu getting ready to surrender?
No. Here's what we're seeing. [shows Leo black and white reconnaisance photos]
These are
3,200 Induye being marched down a road toward Mutsato. These are cranes and
at work and twice as amny smokestacks burning as of an hour ago. So this is
gravesite that the 3,200 Induye are being marched to.
How many more in the next 20 hours?
We think about 20,000.
So why not talk about blowing off the deadline?
'Cause we'd need 55 more aircraft of the U.S.S. Colonade and 3rd Infantry.
He's trying to finish the job before the deadline.
Leo walks out of the Situation Room and Fitz stands still looking at the
FADE IN: INT. MEETING ROOM - DAY
C.J. is holding an informal press briefing with the White House Press Corps.
Is the President monitoring the situation in Kuhndu?
Sure. He's getting continuous updates. He's also spoken by phone today with
the UN
Secretary-General and the leadership of the World Bank and the IMF to begin
rebuilding packages after the Arkutu stepdown.
Can you talk about the rest of the afternoon?
He'll have a conference call with his economics team.
That's about the Democratic response?
The tax plan isn't a response to the Republicans, it's a tax plan, and yes.
REPORTER JENN
Any California issues on the schedule?
A series of meetings upstairs in his suite. The California leadership of
the FOP the
Governor and the State Assembly Leadership on matching payments before he
goes on to
the fund-rasier.
Yeah, speaking of California politics?
Was a White House aide sent to meet with the Communist Party's candidate
for governor?
No, Donna Moss was sent to meet with the head of the California Agricultural
Association, a man named Ivan Perez, who, it turns out has some loose ties
American Communist Party.
He's their standard-bearer.
Like that one. Mr. Perez was heard, as he certainly has a right to be,
and that's that.
How do you think the picture of Donna and Mr. Perez is going to play in
Orange County?
Really, really well. I'll talk to you before the dinner. Thank you.
CUT TO: INT. WEST WING OFFICE - NIGHT
The interns all have on their jerseys and are sitting at the table as Will
around reading what they have written.
"Nothing is more important than teaching our children well." This is
good. These are
remarks prepared by number 48 for the Undersecretary of Education at the
Breakfast. Very good start. "Nothing is more important than teaching our
children well,
grounding them in the basics. And while we're at it, We should teach them
that the
Republican tax plan is a job killer..." Yeah, I don't think this is going
to work out,
Got to give us points for our candor.
Number 24...
CASSIE [#24]
[irritated] Cassie!
In remarks to the National Headache Foundation said... Is there really a
Headache Foundation or did you just make that up, like the London School of
Ballet?
The telephone in the office begins to ring.
Yeah. I was an American Studies major at the University of Texas.
Yes. I know you were. You don't know I know how to retreive information.
What were you doing looking me up?
What was I doing? My job, okay? That's what I was doing.
CHIN [#48]
[to Will] Phone's for you.
Thank God, huh?
Will Bailey.
Hey, why would Holcomb book Sam in the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce?
Did I tell you to worry about the speeches or did I tell you to worry about
Sam's campaign?
I worry about Sam's campaign without anyone telling me to.
Read me what you've got for the swearing in of the Ambassador.
"Ambassador Stanis will help to build and sustain a new era of cooperation
United States and Hungary. And let's please all remember that cutting capital
taxes is a bad idea."
Okay, you're going to polish that up?
CUT TO: INT. BAR IN CALIFORNIA - NIGHT
Toby walks out of a room from talking on the phone with Will. He walks past
and Jean-Paul playing pool.
Who will pay in the tax plan you're proposing?
The President's proposing the tax plan, not me.
Who will pay?
The White House wants to raise taxes on the wealthies one percent of the
population by
one percent, in order to pay for college tuition to be fully tax deductible
making under $80,000 a year, and incrementally tax deductible after that. Does
make sense?
No, because it is ridiculous.
That's 'cause you're part of the one percent.
No, I don't think taxes are too high, I think they are too low. You see? You
don't know me.
Yeah. Speaking of people getting to know you, you and Zoey went to a couple
of runway
shows in Paris, and there were an awful lot of pictures.
That is avoidable?
It's not completely avoidable, but it's a little avoidable. And you should try,
'cause
it's a security risk.
'Cause of the details crazy people pick out of photographs. You can make
without making a scene. You know what I'm saying?
I took Zoey home to meet my parents.
Your parents weren't at the Versace show.
She's a sexy girl, Charlie. She likes having her picture taken.
She doesn't like having her picture taken.
She doesn't mind having it taken with me.
Zoey walks up.
Ah. We were talking about taxes, of all things.
Zoey and Jean-Paul begin to passionately kiss in front of Charlie.
Well, I've got to get to Sam's rally.
We're right behind you.
Charlie walks past where C.J., Andy, Toby and Donna are sitting down.
[to Toby] You and Josh need to take over the campaign.
We've asked.
Just for the last week.
We've asked. We said we'd go off the White House payroll. I've had to bungee
Will to
his desk. Until higher authorities steps in, the DNC wants Holcomb.
When they have him in community centers at a podium...
...it looks like he's wearing his dad's old suit. He's got youth and
vitality. He should...
Communist look exactly like non-Communist.
Tell me about it.
A man and a woman walking together approach their table.
Miss Wyatt, those kids you got in there deserve a father.
I'm sorry, are you talking to me?
Yes, I was. That's all.
They've got a father, and it's Congresswoman Wyatt, not Miss.
The man laughs.
Whatever you say.
Damn right, whatever I say.
You may not realize it... but you are an example to young women, and there's
to be said for acting like it.
Well, I believe I do.
Sir, you are way out of line, and we're having a private conversation,
but thank you...
No, it's not private when you're an elected official.
[stands up] Well, I appreciate you reminding me of my sworn duty, and if
with you...
Yeah, but it's not all right with me...
Well, I'm sorry to hear that....
Y-You should be sorry!
Okay, sir, you're standing too close now.
It's the father.
Yeah, it's the father and you're standing too close, so, if you're going to
insist on
being drunk and minding other people's business, you've got to take a step
back, 'cause
as you are apparently aware, the Congresswoman is pregnant.
Charlie seeing the scene from across the room has walked over.
Is there a problem, Toby?
This is the one who was with the daughter.
Leo is in a meeting with Thomas and Robbie.
#500 million in undirected aid. Assurance that he stays in power-- a guarantee
and his top aides will receive immunity from prosecution for war crimes.
He's killed 115,000 people and he wants to stay in power, get immunity and
cash a check
for half a billion dollars?
There's a knock on the door.
Margaret enters.
Excuse me. Excuse me, Mr. Ambassador.
Margaret hands Leo a note. Leo reads the note then hands it to Thomas.
[to Margaret] Get me Fitzwallace and then get me the President.
CUT TO: INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Toby is on the phone talking to C.J., while an officer is taking Charlie's
fingerprints.
[into phone] Don't come here. Turn around, go to the event. We're fine. C.J.,
fine. And tell Andy not to come here. We'll meet her there as soon as we're
[to officer taking Charlie's fingerprints] Excuse me, Officer, ballpark--
do you think this is going to be?
Assault-- six to 20 months.
It wasn't assault. He slipped on a thing.
Yeah, one of the guys says you hit him.
Well, that was different. That part may have been assault.
[into phone] Tell him he's got to hit hard on quality-- health care quality--
his acknowledgements he's got to...
[to Toby] Okay.
[to Officer] One second. [into phone] In his acknowledgements, he's got to
mention the
AFL folk. The President's working the...
Buddy.
The President's working the rope line for 15...
No. Charlie says no on the rope line.
Hey, give me the damn phone.
And if you can call the NEC and get a one-pager on trucking faxed to me in
my cell,
I'd really...
Okay. I got to go. I'm under arrest. [hangs up]
He's not going to know the names of the people he's meeting.
Does he ever know the names of the people's he's meeting?
Okay, over here. Give me your left thumb.
Is there any chance I could get a corner cell or anything possibly with a
loft?
They're solitary.
CUT TO: INT. OFFICE - NIGHT
Sam is in the office getting ready for his rally. Scott enters the room.
I got salsa on my shirt.
We got a new shirt?
Yeah, they got it.
[to staffers in the room] Can I have the room please?
The staffers leave.
I'm going to propose something bold.
I like bold.
The White House is going to announce their answer to the Republican tax plan
on Monday.
It's a one percent tax hike on the wealthiest one percent, which would pay
for, among
other things...
Tax deductible tuition.
Right. Come out against it tonight.
To show you're not bought and paid for by the West Wing. And by the way,
many of that
one percent live right here.
I worked on it.
On what?
Tax deductible tuition. I worked on it.
You were doing what the President told you to do.
Yeah, and the President was also doing what I helped advise him to do.
It doesn't matter, what I'm saying is....
Wait a second. They're announcing on Monday?
And it's been scored, fully scored?
Well, why the hell would...? Excuse me.
Sam grabs his coat and walks out.
CUT TO: INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Bartlet is walking to the auditorium where Sam's rally is being held.
Mrs. Hottentot?
Toby and Charlie...
Yeah, where are they?
They're being held.
Toby and Charlie are under arrest. There was an incident at a bar.
They're under arrest?
Did they rob the bar?
No, sir. A patron was jostling Congresswoman Wyatt and Toby tried to get
him to step
back, and the man slipped on the floor. And then the man's friend lunged
for Toby.
Uh-huh. And what did Charlie do?
He hit him.
Toby and Charlie were arrested in a bar fight.
Yes, sir, it's not going to be a problem. C.J.'s taking care of it.
It's going to be a little bit of a problem.
Everytime we come to Southern California we are absolutely the Clampetts.
He booked him at the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. He had him skip a
union lunch
without telling restaurant employees...
I came...
He wants him speaking at Cal Lutheran. Scott Holcomb's given up on Sam,
and he's running
his own agenda. Now, I can't leave with the tax proposal coming out, but
Toby says he
can for a week. Evidently, Will's put together a top-flight staff that can
handle the
paper for a week. And I suppose it's worth mentioning that Toby probably
can't leave the
state anyway. Now, as the leader of this party you...
You really don't want to shake up a campaign like this at this point in the
calendar.
At this point in the election calendar look which way his numbers are
going. I'm amazed
he's kept a veneer of sanity, much less...
Sam comes bursting though the door.
Are you crazy?!
We were just...
Have you all lost your minds?
Well, C.J. maybe.
I just assumed that it wasn't ready yet. It's ready now, isn't it?
You are missing news cycle after news cycle after news cycle, but you didn't
'cause you didn't want to do it from Orange County.
Yes! I say to hell with the election! There's a guy in St. Louis making
trying to send his kid to Notre Dame!
Guys, we've got to keep our voices down a little.
Sam, it's time.
If I'm going to lose, I'd like to lose doing something.
SPEAKER [OS]
So here he is... the next U.S. Representative from the California 47th
Sam walks out on stage and the crowd cheers.
Thank you. Thank you very much. The President of the United States is
backstage.
He'll be out here in a minute. He'll be out here in a minute because, of
course, he's
monitoring our troops in Kuhndu. But I wanted to say that yesterday the
rolled out their tax plan. Do not let this President off this stage until
he's told
you his. Send me to Congress, and mine will be the first yea vote cast.
Scott has now entered the backstage area and is standing next to Bartlet.
He didn't just say that. He did not just say that.
Scott...
Why are you putting Sam next to business?
Sir...
No, I'm just curious.
You read numbers as well as anyone, sir. Webb's going to win here. That's
not a surprise.
So why burn the DNC's bridges...?
Tell Toby to take over the campaign.
SAM [OS]
You deserve the best healthcare...
You're going to get creamed. [leaves]
Debbie is standing backstage looking through papers when a young man dressed
in a uniform walks up.
Excuse me, ma'am.
Mr. McGarry.
He hands Debbie a cell phone.
...future of clean air, clean water...
Debbie walks over to Bartlet and hands him the phone.
Yeah. [into phone] Leo, I just fired Scott Holcomb. Toby, who, with Charlie,
is meeting
with a bails bondsman right now, has to come off the payroll for a week.
CUT TO: INT. THE SITUATION ROOM - NIGHT
Leo and Fitzwallace are both in the room sitting in front of a telephone.
Sir, I'm afraid something has happened.
Two Marine Lance Corporals and a PFC have been taken.
What do you mean they've been taken?
Patrolling Bitanga airport in a humvee, 50 guys came out of nowhere.
We secured the airport.
They came out of nowhere.
Special Ops wants to brief you on some rescue scenarios.
We're coming home.
Nzele says for immunity and $500 million he'll keep them alive.
Tell Ghana to tell Nzele he's got 9 hours and 20 minutes before I take him.
CUT TO: INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT
Nancy has walked up to Bartlet.
Sir, he's about to introduce you.
This district needs a Congressman who will work with President Bartlet for
the right
kind of change. A Congressman who'll reach across the aisle to make a real
for Orange County's families. If you send me...
Bartlet is now standing next to the man who brought Debbie the phone.
Lieutenant.
I'm 22 years old, sir.
And so, friends, the President of the United States.
Bartlet walks out onstage as the crowd cheers.
Production, Warner Brothers Television and NBC. No copyright infringement
Episode 4.16 -- "The California 47th"
Original Air Date: February 19, 2003, 9:00 PM EST
Transcribed by: ck1czar
« Season 4 – Episode 15 – “Inauguration: Over There”
Season 4 – Episode 17 – “Red Haven’s on Fire” »
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3291
|
__label__wiki
| 0.560919
| 0.560919
|
Wine & Food of the Tour 2016: Stage 5 Navarre Pineau des Charantes Vieux & Cantal
Where are we? Starting in Limoges and heading 216 kilometers to Le Lioran in the Massif Central.
Le Lioran: From the resort's website: Le Lioran ski resort offers different activities for everybody, from hikers ans sports addictsto families. Le Lioran is the starting point of 300 kms of marked paths situated in the heart of the natural park.The Plomb du Cantal cable car permits to reach the highest peak, where you will discover a panoramic view of the Auvergne volcanoes. Everybody will enjoy the quiet and the beautiful landscapes of the highest volcanoes in Europe.
There is apparently also miniature golf.
LeTour Specialities: truffade (potato pancake with cheese), Cantal cheeses
From LeTour: Christian Prudhomme's comment: Before the serious business starts, the climbers will be able to seek inspiration in the conquering spirit of Raymond Poulidor while going through Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. They will then have to show themselves in the series of climbs on the menu with the Pas de Peyrol and the Col du Perthus, followed by the climb heading to Le Lioran.
A battle between downhillers is to be expected in the final moments.
The stage: A climbing they go. The early break has nine riders today: Gautier, Pauwels, Majka, Grivko, Huzarski, De Gendt, Van Avermaet, Sicard, and Vachon. They would get a large gap. Eventually, that group would break up.
🏁-110km
🚗🚴🚴🚴 Grivko, De Gendt, Van Avermaet <45''>🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴<8'15''>🚗🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚗 #TDF2016
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 6, 2016
80 kilometers to go and the trio had 13 minutes over the peloton. Crash. No one seemed very hurt, but it did slow up many. Apparently a math professor from Ghent has a formula to help determine if a break well be caught. 56 kilometers to go and the gap was over 14 minutes.
Meanwhile, my love of field art continues.
The ante gets raised with the inclusion of tire piles. pic.twitter.com/fcWWjRh0r8
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) July 6, 2016
Under 50 kilometers to go and the gap was around 13 minutes.
More field art, this time featuring my Tour food of the day.
The hay game is strong out here. pic.twitter.com/YMObHlxAmZ
40 kilometers to go and the gap was around 12 minutes as riders, mainly sprinters, began to drop off the back of the peloton. Ahead, Grivko was dropped by the break, leaving two out front. Behind, the peloton was rapidly shrinking with Movistar pushing the pace. There went Sagan (or Sagone per Jens on PodiumCafe) and surprisingly, Nibali as well. Twenty four kilometers to go and the gap had been brought down to 7 minutes. No more than 30 or so riders were left in the main bunch. Just over 17 kilometers to go and Van Avermae attacked and would ride away from De Gendt.
Van Avermaet s'en va / Van Avermaet solo now #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/PwxJhegYay
The LeTour social media team has faith in GVA:
Van Avermaet file vers la victoire ! / is to win the stage ! #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/XEaupR5C86
And he would indeed hold on.
Top 10 de l'étape 5 / of the stage 5! #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/mQjESXcZHQ
GC:
Nouveau top 10 / New top 10. #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/3UEa0AGI07
Wine: Navarre Pineau des Charantes Vieux
From FranklyWines: Limoges is near Angouleme which is not far from Cognac... so how about a pineau de charantes?? I don't think I've managed to sneak one of these in yet, but they are divine! Grape juice that's fortified with Cognac. The regular ones can be pretty sweet and simple, but I carry the PM Spirits ones which are aged and insanely good. There's his "regular" which is aged for a bit, for $43.99. And then the Vieux which is aged for even long - $68.99 and spectacular! You can drink them neat, or be really decadent and make a spritzer with rocks and a bit of sparkling water.
Food: Cantal Cheese
Cantal AOC is one of the oldest cheeses in France dating to the times of the Gaul’s rule. It received an Appellation d'Origine (AOC) status from the administrative region of Cantal in the Auvergne region in 1956. This has ensured that the semi-hard, uncooked, pressed cheese has the features and characteristics attributable to the area of origin.
I admit that although it is not traditional at all, this ended up (with many other cheeses) in a baked mac and cheese.
Posted by winebookgirl at 8:43 AM
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 21: L...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 20: D...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 19 Be...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016: Stage 18 B...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016: Stage 17 C...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016: Stage 16 P...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 15: B...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016: Stage 14: ...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 13: S...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 9: Ha...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France Stage 8: Juranco...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016 Stage 7: La...
Wine & Food of the Tour de France 2016: Stage 6 Ca...
Wine & Food of the Tour 2016: Stage 5 Navarre Pine...
Wine and Food of the Tour 2016 Stage 4: Le Grollea...
Wine & Food of the Tour 2016 Stage 3: Cav! Cointre...
Wine & Food of the Tour 2016 Stage 2: La Pere Jule...
Wine & Food of the Tour 2016 Stage 1: Cav!!, Cider...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3297
|
__label__wiki
| 0.714727
| 0.714727
|
I-80 Speedway/Bill Smith Memorial
Photos Courtesy of Chris Eiel
Jake Bubak of Arvada, CO, won the 360 Sprint Car feature. He's interviewed in victory lane after the win.
Chuck Madden Jr., take the checkers in the Hobby Stock main event.
Cody Ledger completes hot laps.
Don Droud Jr. and Tim Fricke in the pits.
Jack Dover placed third in the 360 Sprint Car A-main.
Ron Tex Jr. # 8TEX and Cody Thompson #25C
Mike Nichols #63, Matt Boucher #5B and Eric Rempel #21
Clint Benson's sprinter gets some adjustments.
The sprint cars of Bobby Becker and Tyler Drueke.
Ryan Leavitt is up in smoke...
Jake Bubak shows off his winning form.
Jesse Dennis of Corning, IA, was the A-Modified feature winner.
Dragster Engines
53 Madness
Cedar Rapids, IA – Ceasing operations on a weekly program or locking the gates on a facility is never a good thing for auto racing.
West Liberty Raceway announced in early 2018 that there would be no weekly racing program at the historic half-mile. That stunning announcement was met with at first, confusion. Then, with anger, outrage, and yes, a few tears.
But instead of a whole summer of dormancy, Bud Kile and his family, who have been involved with the racing scene at West Liberty for God knows how long, decided to knock the dust off the bleachers, throw some water on the track and have themselves a race. What madness…
The Mid-Summer Madness was originally scheduled for July 14 but due to conflictions with an event at Tipton, it was rescheduled for Saturday, August 11. The postponement worked out favorably in many ways. The original card on July 14 had Modifieds, SportMods, Stock Cars and Sport Compacts but with the date shifting forward, Late Models joined the fray. And what’s a race at West Liberty without Late Models?
Upon my arrival that Saturday evening, the line of cars trying to find a parking spot matched the line of trailers attempting to get into the pits. The line to check in at the pit barn seemed even longer. Apparently, racing at West Liberty had been missed…
As I waited in line to check in and get my pit pass, a gentleman, I presume who was associated with the Muscatine County Fairboard, stopped by with a survey. He asked if West Liberty Raceway should be changed to a different size circumference. The choices were; 1/4-mile, 3/8-mile, or keep it at its current size, half-mile. I voted to keep it the same (if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?). I asked the gentleman what the majority had voted for. “Oh, definitely half-mile,” he responded. “Some have said the 3/8-mile and but hardly anyone wants it a quarter.”
I found it refreshing that they were asking the opinions of drivers (and one half-ass photographer) what they wanted. It certainly gave me and others the impression that the decision makers weren't going to nail the coffin shut quite yet. I felt that this was a step in the right direction in keeping racing active, whatever capacity that was, at West Liberty.
As I entered the pit area, I ran into Mike Ruefer, as many of you know, an ARI contributor. As we shook hands, I asked him what brought him out that evening. “I came out to support Bud (Kile) but I also wanted to be here in case this is the last race. I would never forgive myself if this was it and I didn’t show up.” I think Mike summed up what a lot of people were thinking.
Chad Holladay #32C and Kyle Krampe #K1 race down the backstretch at West Liberty Raceway. - Kyle Ealy Photo
Before the racing commenced, we stood underneath the old trees that stand in turn #2 and looked everything over. The pit area and infield were packed full of cars. The stands were filling in quickly - it appeared that it was going to be a sell-out.
Mike brought up (and I agreed) that while West Liberty may never be a successful weekly enterprise again, why not make it a specials only-type track, with three or four different racing events throughout the summer?
Mike also added, “Wait until everyone else has their schedules posted and then pick and choose a few dates that doesn’t conflict with anybody else. They could have a Modified special one month and maybe a Sprint Car spectacular the next month and then throw in an Open Late Model show another month. Why not bring back the Liberty 100 in the Fall? The possibilities were endless...
The more Mike talked, I kept shaking my head (in a up/down motion as opposed to a side-to-side motion) in agreement. Looking at the mass of cars and people scattered all over creation, you could envision that Field of Dream philosophy – If you build it, they will come.
After the races, you heard a few bitching and moaning; the concession lines were too long, and they ran out of food early; the caution lights had a glitch; the program didn’t run as smooth as it should of.
But the majority who were there couldn’t have cared less. The important thing was; they were there and a part of what was happening. What made this night so special was the spirit of unity.
Many, many thanks to the Kile family for bring racing (and unity) back to West Liberty Raceway. Let's do it again at least a couple of times in 2019.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks stood out on Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway. - Kyle Ealy Photo
Saturday, August 18 was a special day for two reasons. It was my birthday and I had a Saturday night off to go racing at my home away from home, Independence Motor Speedway.
In my line of work, Saturdays are money making days, so having one off is a rarity. That also means that going to Independence for racing is few and far between. I had tried twice this summer (once in June and once in July) and had been rained out both times. This would probably be my last attempt to get a night in.
The third time would be the charm as ideal weather greeted me and others this night. As always, it was nice to walk in the pit area at Independence and be greeted by old friends. I chatted with quite a few people I hadn’t seen since last season. They, of course, had wondered about my whereabouts and I had to explain to them that, “It ain’t easy bein’ cheesy”.
The long wait would pay off handsomely as 90+ cars filled the pit area and the track conditions were near-perfect throughout the evening. Standing over in my normal spot in turn #3, I took literally hundreds of two and three-wide shots, so many I lost count.
The Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks, whether it be sanctioned by IMCA, USRA, or any of those other outlaw outfits, are still and will always be, the underappreciated divisions of grass roots racing.
Late Models, Modifieds, and sadly too, SportMods, get all the headlines at weekly and special events, but it’s the fendered underbelly that consistently give competitive performances.
Saturday night was proof in the pudding…
You could have thrown a blanket over both the Stock Cars and Hobbies during their respective heat races and the feature events were more of the same.
Jarod Weepie’s win in the IMCA Stock Car main event was as hard-fought as they come. Starting on the third row, Weepie had to fight and claw his way past Paul Shepard, Tony Schimmels, points leader Norman Chesmore and finally race-long leader Justin Temeyer. Even after he secured the top spot, Weepie had to fend off numerous advances from both Temeyer and Chesmore before taking the checkered.
The Hobby Stock feature would be one for the ages. It was truly one of the best races and most emotional finishes I had witnessed in a long time.
Seventeen-year-old Kaden Reynolds of Cedar Rapids, IA, in only his second time behind the wheel of a Hobby Stock, started 17th, made his way to fifth with only a few laps left, and somehow, miraculously, slithered his way past four cars on the final restart to score the victory.
The photo below only tells half the story. As confident as he looks in the photo with his arms raised and the #1 sign, when it came time for his victory lane interview with Ryan Clark, more tears than words came from the young man…He was simply speechless.
Kaden Reynolds celebrates his first IMCA Hobby Stock win. - Photo by Kyle Ealy
The only words he could muster was, “All I was hoping for was a top-10 finish.”
As Ryan said to me afterwards, “Those are the best interviews; when they’re so full of emotion they can’t spit out the words, but they don’t need to; the look on their face tells the story.”
That, folks, is what makes racing so special and I can only feel privileged to be apart of rare moments like that; it’s what keep me coming back.
A special thanks goes out to the Independence Motor Speedway crew and officials who make that track something truly special. It was good to be home.
I-80 Speedway
Anthony Roth
Jacob Brown of Omaha won the Bragging Rights Grand National feature.
Cheyenne Purchase
Dan McKeighan
Jacob Brown
Kale Kosiski
Mathew Andrews od Seward, NE, won the SportMod contest.
Tad Pospisil is joined by family and friends after his Super Late Model victory.
Shane Stutzman (22S) and Tim Podraza (3T)
Tad Pospisil
LaSalle Speedway/American Ethanol 40
Brian Shirley of Chatham, IL, waves the crowd after winning the American Ethanol Late Model Tour 40-lapper on Saturday night.
Jose Parga #6P and Brandon Thirlby #14
Spencer Diercks #29 and Scott Schmitt #10
Rob Toland #39 and Spencer Diercks #29
Phil Ausra #15 and Mark Rose #0
Jose Parga #6P and David Mielke #87
Mike Mataragas #1M and Jose Parga #6P
Chad Holladay #32 and Eric Spangler #27
Rich Bell #21B and Jose Parga #6P
Brandon Thirlby #14 and Dennis Erb Jr. #28
Dennis Erb Jr. #28 and Brian Shirley #3S
Independence Motor Speedway
Shelby County Speedway
West Liberty Raceway/Mid-Summer Madness
St. Louis, MO/Street Car Super Nationals V
LaSalle Speedway/Illinois Valley Showdown
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3299
|
__label__cc
| 0.502939
| 0.497061
|
Akira Drake Rodriguez
Sociospatial Justice as Academic Praxis
Teaching & Research
Teaching Statement
Research Statement
Race and US Politics Syllabus
Intro to Community Development Syllabus
Readings in Race, Place, and Poverty
The Price of Development [Gentrification]
Urban Research Methods
Navigation Bio Teaching & Research Teaching Statement Research Statement Race and US Politics Syllabus Intro to Community Development Syllabus Readings in Race, Place, and Poverty The Price of Development [Gentrification] Urban Research Methods Writings In the Press CV Contact
Readings in Race, Poverty, and Place Dr. Akira Drake Rodriguez
CPLN 624 Thursday, 10:30A – 1:30P
In recent years, long-disinvested cities have become the site of renewed investment, population growth, and economic development in a phenomenon often described as gentrification. Nonetheless, socioeconomic inequality between races, ethnicities, genders, and places within the larger metropolitan area continue to persist, suggesting that a rising tide does not raise all boats. Planners must grapple with these issues of inequality and inequity, particularly the implementation of plans and policies that may in theory provide benefits to all, but in practice continue to accumulate benefits for a select few.
This course examines the construction of race, the making of a place, and the persistence of poverty in racialized places in the city. This course will engage in a critical discussion of the aforementioned themes, such that the normative notions of race, capitalism, urbanism, gender, power, and space are upended to privilege more marginalized perspectives of these processes. Some of the questions we will revisit in the weekly discussions include:
· How does the city construct and stratify races across different places?
· How does race, ethnicity, and gender inform the boundaries of cities and places, and conversely, how do boundaries inform our notions of race, ethnicity and gender?
· How are spaces and places racialized? How is poverty racialized (and gendered)?
· How and why does poverty persist in the gentrifying/redeveloping city?
· What is the role of planner in acknowledging and addressing the relationship between race, place and poverty?
· What are some of the people, organizations, and movements that resist the spatialization of race and the persistence of poverty in these spaces?
Readings are assigned each week and students are expected to come prepared and ready to engage in discussion. We will examine the themes of race, place, and poverty as it relates to: housing, education, public health, transportation, outdoor space and recreation, public space, food, and the carceral state. Further, this class will examine the formation of race, place, and poverty in various cities across the US from the years 1960 to the present. In taking this geographical, case-driven approach to the course, the course functions as a comparative study of how race and poverty are shaped by unique places, and how different places shape race and inequality.
In addition to the weekly case studies, we will also read different frameworks for justice in the city. The readings in critical justice studies will include readings on spatial justice, racial justice, social justice, intersectionality, inclusive democracy, feminist justice, and environmental justice. Engaging in different ways of analyzing and redistributing power is meant to provide practical means for addressing the inequalities that emerge from the case reading that week. The frameworks assigned will help to determine the potential role of advocacy planners in the diverse city, whether that city is shrinking or gentrifying.
Students will submit questions weekly that will guide our discussion, in addition to submitting four 6-10 page essays in response to the readings. A longer paper analyzing the themes of the course in a city of your choice will serve as a take-home final exam.
Class Format/Guidelines
Each student will submit one question for each week to guide the small and large group discussions. The class will begin with students forming small groups and tackling half of the submitted discussion questions, for roughly 20 minutes. The class will then resume in a traditional seminar format, with the other half of submitted questions guiding the seminar.
Assignments and Grading
Weekly Discussion Questions (submit via Canvas) (20%)
4 Response Papers, between 6 and 10 pages (60%)
Final paper, between 15 and 20 pages (20%)
Course Readings (Penn Bookstore or Amazon, also on Course Reserve)
· [344] Arena, J. 2012. Driven from New Orleans: How Nonprofits Betray Public Housing and Promote Privatization. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. (New Orleans)
· [403] Connolly, N.D.B. 2014. A World More Concrete: Real Estate and the Remaking of Jim Crow South Florida. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Miami)
· [271] Davila, A. 2004. Barrio Dreams: Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and the Neoliberal City. Berkeley: University of California Press. (NYC)
· [441] Davis, M. 2006. City of Quartz: Excavating the Future of Los Angeles. New York: Verso Books. (Los Angeles)
· [432] Desmond, M. 2016. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. New York: Crown (Milwaukee)
· [320] Gillette, H. 2006. Between Justice and Beauty: Race, Planning, and the Failure of Urban Policy in Washington, DC. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. (Washington, DC)
· [412] Gilmore, R.W. 2007. Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Los Angeles)
· [320] Mumford, K. 2008. Newark: A History of Race, Riots and Rights in America. New York: NYU Press. (Newark)
· [328] Murch, D. 2010. Living for the City: Migration, Education, and the Rise of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. (Oakland)
· [264] Sharkey, P. 2013. Stuck in Place: Urban Neighborhoods and the End of Progress towards Racial Inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (US)
· [244] Shedd, C. 2015. Unequal City: Race, Schools, and Perceptions of Injustice. New York: Russell Sage Foundation. (Chicago)
· [352] Taylor, D. 2014. Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility. New York: NYU Press. (US)
· [232] Taylor, M. 2002. Harlem between Heaven and Hell. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. (Harlem, NYC)
· [289] Websdale, N. 2001. Policing the Poor: From Slave Plantation to Public Housing. Boston: Northeastern Press. (Nashville)
Additional Readings (on Canvas):
Frameworks for justice and responses from the planning community including: Spatial Justice, Social Justice, Environmental Justice, Educational Justice, Racial Justice, Inclusive Democracy, Intersectionality, selected readings from the J. Manning Thomas and M. Ritzdorf reader Urban Planning and the African American Community: In the Shadows.
SECTION 1: Making Racialized Places in the City
Week 1, January 12: Introduction
What is race? What is place? What is poverty?: Getting on the Same Page
Week 2, January 19 (Nationwide):
Case Reading: Sharkey, P. 2013. Stuck in Place: Urban Neighborhoods and the End of Progress towards Racial Inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Framework: Equity planning and racial justice (N. Krumholz, Manning reading)
Week 3, January 26 (Washington, DC):
Case Reading: Gillette, H. 2006. Between Justice and Beauty: Race, Planning, and the Failure of Urban Policy in Washington, DC. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Framework: The persistence of racial isolation (Y. Rabin, Manning reader)
Week 4, February 2 (Miami, FL):
Case Reading: Connolly, N.D.B. 2014. A World More Concrete: Real Estate and the Remaking of Jim Crow South Florida. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Miami)
Framework: Racial Zoning reading (C. Silver, Manning reader)
Week 5, February 9 (Oakland, CA):
Case Reading: Murch, D. 2010. Living for the City: Migration, Education, and the Rise of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
Framework: ‘Defend the Ghetto’: Spatial Politics of BPP (Tyner, J. A. Annals AAG, 2006)
Week 6, February 16 (Newark, NJ):
Case Reading: Mumford, K. 2008. Newark: A History of Race, Riots and Rights in America. New York: NYU Press.
Framework: Kerner Commission report
SECTION 2: Marginalizing Racialized Places in the City
Week 7, February 23 (Nashville, TN):
Case Reading: Websdale, N. 2001. Policing the Poor: From Slave Plantation to Public Housing. Boston: Northeastern Press.
Framework: Readings in police abolition
Week 8, March 2 (Los Angeles, CA):
Case Reading: Gilmore, R.W. 2007. Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California. Berkeley: University of California Press. OR
Davis, M. 2006. City of Quartz: Excavating the Future of Los Angeles. New York: Verso Books.
Framework: Readings in prison abolition
Week 9 – SPRING BREAK –NO CLASS
Week 10, March 16 (Chicago, IL):
Case Reading: Shedd, C. 2015. Unequal City: Race, Schools, and Perceptions of Injustice. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Framework: Community Schools framework (Cincinnati/Philadelphia case)
SECTION 3: Erasing Race in Place
Week 11, March 23 (Harlem, NY):
Case Reading: Taylor, M. 2002. Harlem between Heaven and Hell. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Framework: Harlem documentary on gentrification/intra-racial tensions in CD
Week 12, March 30 (New Orleans, LA):
Case Reading: Arena, J. 2012. Driven from New Orleans: How Nonprofits Betray Public Housing and Promote Privatization. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Framework: CDOs as political spaces/Public Housing as a political space (Rodriguez)
Week 13, April 6 (Milwaukee, WI): (AAG)
Case Reading: Desmond, M. 2016. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. New York: Crown
Framework: Tenant organizing/advocacy planning (compare private/public rental housing activism)
Week 14, April 13 (New York, NY): (UAA)
Case Reading: Davila, A. 2004. Barrio Dreams: Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and the Neoliberal City. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Framework: the trouble with identity politics in the neoliberal city (Nair, et al)
Week 15, April 20 (Nationwide):
Case Reading: Taylor, D. 2014. Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility. New York: NYU Press. (US)
Framework: Environmental Justice (Bullard, R.)
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3301
|
__label__wiki
| 0.850876
| 0.850876
|
Irish musician André Bangala known by his stage name Rocstrong on stage is hard to pigeon hole. The genre-bending Dubliner’s sound covers multi genres ranging from Funk, to Indie-pop, Electro Pop and is gradually becoming one of the outstanding performers on the Irish music scene.
His first single ‘Go ‘Head’, described as "a multi-faceted effervescent spark that is simply not present in much of Irish Music" (Nialler9) received lots of praises at home and abroad. ‘The ever-cool newcomer dropped his debut extended play, SOWYG in summer 2016, which boldly told the music world he’d arrived on the scene’ (the Thin Air).
He combines elements of Hip Hop, Funk and Pop and at his breath taking shows and displays an air of confidence which rightly fits his motivational anthems such as Go Head and SOWYG (Show Off What You Got). ‘His voice grooves and swaggers through bold and daring melodies, bringing spirit to the music he creates’ (the Thin Air). He has been tipped as one of the artists to watch out for in 2017.
Rocstrong gears up for 2017 with lots of new music on the way as he plans to release two projects on either side of the summer. His first single of 2017 entitled I Gotcha in out in March 2017.
Press Photos (ZIP)
Official Website Facebook Twitter
Craic Appeal
November 28th, 2016|Comments Off on Craic Appeal
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3308
|
__label__cc
| 0.519662
| 0.480338
|
Students Treat Board During Recognition Month
The Bellmore-Merrick Board of Education was at the center of the Nov. 7 meeting, receiving praise and presents from students during School Board Recognition Month.
“When you talk about leading by example, this board does just that,” said Superintendent of Schools John DeTommaso.
Through food, art and song, students offered impressive items and extraordinary presentations.
“You [the board] are a champion for the arts and it is very special to be part of a community that values that,” said Director Fine & Performing Arts Cheryl Fontana.
Student chefs from C.H.A.M.P., the district’s Culinary and Hospitality Applied Management Program, prepared a feast prior to the meeting, including homemade desserts being offered at the actual meeting.
The Merrick Avenue choral group Word of Mouth, led by director Dana Brandwein, sang “Havana,” highlighted by beatboxer and Sanford H. Calhoun High School student, Julia Kirpalani.
Grand Avenue Middle School Art Club students along with their faculty adviser Nicholas Giordano presented potted plants in which they painted the district’s logo.
Calhoun High School art teacher Heather Lohr created a colorful wall art piece inspired by artists Piet Mondrian and Louise Nevelson.
“We really wanted to incorporate a collaborative piece to further showcase Bellmore-Merrick’s unified approach to ensure the success of six different, respective schools,” explained Lohr.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3309
|
__label__wiki
| 0.622557
| 0.622557
|
Atlas 10000157 HO CSX EMD GP-38 Locomotive
Reporting Mark: CSXT
Road Name: CSX
Car Type: EMD GP-38 Locomotive
Color: Gray and blue
Released Date: May 2008
Notes: In 1966 EMD introduced a new line of locomotives based on the 16-cylinder 645-series prime mover. The '40-series' included a six-axle and four-axle model, the latter being the GP40. A total of 1,145 units were produced between 1966 and 1972. These turbocharged 3,000hp locomotives were used primarily in road freight service. The GP40 was a versatile locomotive that could be found across the US hauling drag freights over mountain passes and leading high-speed intermodal trains across flat terrain. Three rooftop radiator fans at the rear of the long hood differentiate a GP40 from its lower horsepower counterpart, the GP38, which has two fans at this location.
Concurrent with GP40 production, EMD offered a lower horsepower, non-turbocharged locomotive based on the same 645-series prime mover. The four-axle GP38 was rated at 2,000 hp and had the advantage of costing less than the GP40. A total of 727 units were produced between 1966 and 1971 when the model was superseded. The wheelbase of the GP38 was identical to that of the GP40. Both units shared the same EMD road-switcher style body that was introduced with the GP35 in 1963. A desire for standardization caused the GP38 to share the same wheelbase, frame and many external components as the GP40. The GP38 was purchased by large and small roads alike. It was routinely found in local and road freight service throughout the US. Many GP38s and 40s are still in service today.
Options on the Atlas GP38 and GP40 models include a long hood with or without dynamic brakes and an underframe with 2,600 or 3,600 gallon fuel tanks.
The Atlas Master™ Series Gold versions of these locomotives are able to use all of the QSI® Quantum System™ sound features on DC layouts with use of the Atlas Quantum Engineer™.
Additional feature parts included but not installed (GP-40):
Electrical cabinet air filter box (ECAFB)
Two engine compartment roof vents which were added by many railroads sometime after delivery
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3310
|
__label__cc
| 0.517356
| 0.482644
|
Research Article - Biomedical Research (2018) Volume 29, Issue 8
Application of laparoscopy in acute appendicitis for the elderly: A single center experience
Yunshan Duan1#, Hongjun Yang2#, Yapeng Yang1, Guang Wang1, Tangshun Wang1, Zhenzhou Chen1, Xiang Gao1, Tao Jiang1* and Xiaoguang Shi1*
1Department of General Surgery, Dongzhimen Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, PR China
2Department of General Surgery, Beijing Jingmei Group General Hospital, Beijing, PR China
#These authors contributed equally to this work
*Corresponding Authors:
Tao Jiang
Department of General Surgery
Dongzhimen Hospital
The First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, PR China
Xiaoguang Shi
Accepted date: February 22, 2018
DOI: 10.4066/biomedicalresearch.29-17-2700
Background and Purpose: Laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis is gold standard for adult patients in the world. The incidence of appendicitis in the elderly has risen. The aim of this study was to compare post-operatory outcomes in old patients with acute appendicitis approached by laparoscopy versus open surgery.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of elderly patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis from 1st of January 2010 to the 1st of August 2017. We analysed 286 appendectomies in elderly patients: 214 patients were operated by laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and 72 patient were underwent Open Appendectomy (OA).
Results: The operation time was slightly longer in the LA group (P<0.001), but the time of recovery inflammatory response, time for diet and hospital stay were significantly shorter in LA group than that in OA group.
Complications: The rate of surgical site infection in LA group was less than that in OA group, and the rate of pneumonia between LA group and OA group was similar.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic appendectomy can be recommended as first choice for old patients with appendicitis.
Laparoscopic appendectomy, Open appendectomy, Acute appendicitis, Elderly
Appendicitis is still the most common emergency surgical condition in the world [1], and the incidence of acute appendicitis in elderly patients aged more than 65 y was about 10% [2]. With the greatly increasing in life expectancy, more elderly patients are being diagnosed with acute appendicitis and the outcomes are poor because of long time intervals to diagnosis and treatment [3]. Since laparoscopy was first described by Semm in 1983 [4], this technology has widely applied in the diagnosis and treatment of many elective and emergency surgeries. Due to several advantages, such as less tissue trauma, earlier recovery of intestinal motility, less adhesions and shorter hospitalization, some doctors even suggest laparoscopy as gold standard for acute appendicitis [5]. AS the elderly patients with deteriorating organs have lower physiological reserve than the young adults, it is controversial that laparoscopic appendectomy could be recommended for the old patients with acute appendicitis. The aim of this analysis is to evaluate whether elderly patients with acute appendicitis could benefit from laparoscopic appendectomy comparing with open appendectomy.
We retrospectively analysed the elder patient records of all patients who were 65 years or more and underwent appendectomies at our institution between January 2010 and August 2017. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The diagnosis of appendicitis before operation mainly depended on the medical history and the clinical examination: pain to the right lower quadrant or rebound tenderness, fever, elevated White Blood Cell count (WBC) and elevated C Reactive Protein (CRP), and Ultrasonographic (US) or Computer Tomographic (CT) findings of the abdomen [6]. In total, 286 patients with postoperative diagnosis of appendicitis were included and 38 patients were excluded with absence of histological confirmation of appendicitis or with other abdominal illness. 214 patients were operated by Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) and 72 patient were underwent Open Appendectomy (OA).
All surgeries were performed by an attending doctor and a senior resident of the department of general surgery of our hospital. The surgical approach was followed by surgeon's preference and criteria. LA were performed using a three trocar technique: two 10 mm and one 5 mm ports. The mesoappendix was transected with ultrasonic energy or homopolar coagulation. The appendix was ligated in the base with hem-olock clip or intracorporeal knotting and extraction was made using a plastic bag. A drain tube was placed in case of perforation and abscesses. For OA, a 5-8 cm McBurney’s incision was made in the right lower abdominal quadrant, and appendectomy was followed by tying off of the mesoappendix and radix of the appendix. The appendix stump was embedded. A drain was used in the rectovesical area when considered necessary. All patients received with cefuroxime sodium in combination with metronidazole or etimicin sulfate in case of allergies as perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.
The following clinical variables were recorded: patients’ sex, ages, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, operative time, time of antibiotics using, time for diet, hospitalization time, complication rate, and other parameters.
And a quality of life questionnaire of operated patients was required to be completed via telephone 1 month after discharge of the patients from our hospital [7]. Some questions, such as satisfaction with the size and appearance of the scar(s), the quality and intensity of the postoperative pain, were asked to be completed. The answers were evaluated using 4 point scores: not at all=1, few=2, moderate=3 and very=4. A control question was asked twice in order to ensure the reliability of the answers.
Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Software for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Continuous variables are presented as (means ± standard deviations) and were compared between groups with Student’s t test or Mann Whitney test, as appropriate by type of distribution. Categorical variables were compared with chi-square test or Fisher exact test, depending on the number of observations. For the comparison of the scores of SF-36, a Wilcoxon rank sum test was applied. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Two hundred and eighty six patients with post-operative diagnosis of appendicitis were identified, 214 of them were treated by Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) and 72 patients were underwent Open Appendectomy (OA). There were no difference in mean age, gender, comorbidities, ASA score, WBC count and CRP before operation between LA group and OA group (Table 1).
LA (n=214)
OA (n=72)
Age (median ± SD) 68.48 ± 7.32 70.16 ± 6.67 0.314
Gender (%)
Male 136 (63.6%) 39 (54.2%) 0.159
Female 78 (36.4%) 33 (45.8%)
Comorbidities (%) 153 (71.5%) 56 (77.8%) 0.299
WBC count (109/L) (median ± SD) 14.62 ± 4.86 13.57 ± 5.15 0.31
ASA score (%)
I 61 (28.5) 16 (22.2) 0.176
II 153 (71.5) 54 (75.0)
III 0 2 (2.8)
IV 0 0
Localized peritonitis (%) 104 (48.6) 38 (52.8) 0.891
Table 1. Demographic and preoperative data in 286 old patients with appendicitis.
Laparoscopic appendectomy showed a longer operative time (P<0.001) than open appendectomy but a shorter time of duration of antibiotics use, diet and hospital stay (P<0.001) as compared to OA (Table 2). And the operation bleeding, postoperative bleeding and the cases of cecal fistula of LA group were all less than that of OA group. WBC count of POD 3 showed the patients receiving LA made earlier recovery than those receiving OA. Although 3 patients of LA group appeared subcutaneous emphysemasurgical site infection rate of LA was significant lower than that of OA. And 3 patients of OA group showed urinary retention after operation. There were no differences in pneumonia between LA group and OA group (Table 2). Evaluation of the appearance of the scar(s) and the postoperative pain showed that significantly more patients of the LA group were satisfied with the method of laparoscopy than the OA group (Figure 1a, P<0.001; Figure 1b, P<0.001).
Operative time (min) (median ± SD) 68 ± 27 52 ± 35 <0.001
Bleeding (ml) 5.4 ± 4.3 10.5 ± 4.3 <0.001
Postoperative bleeding (case) 1 3 0.021
Cecal fistula 3 8 <0.001
WBC count (109/L) POD 1 11.38 ± 4.21 12.11 ± 3.86 0.12
WBC count (109/L) POD 3 6.95 ± 3.35 8.26 ± 4.64 <0.001
Time for diet (day) 1.31 ± 2.24 2.87 ± 3.10 <0.001
Surgical site infection (%) 4 (1.87) 7 (9.72) 0.007
Urinary retention (%) 0 3 (4.17) 1
Subcutaneous emphysema (%) 3 (1.40) 0 1
Pneumonia (%) 1 (0.47) 2 (2.78) 0.157
Intra-abdominal abscess 0 1 1
Duration of antibiotics use (day) 3.58 ± 2.24 5.14 ± 3.42 <0.001
Prolonged ileus (%) 3 5 0.014
Hospitalization time (day) 4.52 ± 2.89 6.17 ± 3.67 <0.001
Table 2. Operative characteristics and postoperative parameters in 286 old patients with appendicitis.
Figure 1: Postoperative pain and satisfaction. a: Dull pain in the abdomen; 1: not at all, 2: few, 3: moderate, 4: very; b: Postoperative satisfaction with appearance and size of the scar: 2: minimal satisfaction, 8: maximal satisfaction.
Laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis has been widely performed worldwide more than 20 years [8]. However, applying the laparoscope in the management of old patients with appendicitis is controversial due to worse function of heart, lungs and more complications compared to the young adults. High percentages of old patients show atypical presentations and often have been delayed in diagnosis owing to often vague symptoms, blunted tenderness, and diminished leukocytic responses [3]. And the delay in seeking medical care and in making diagnosis makes the inflammation progress in the elderly more serious than in the young patients. Direct exploration of the abdominal viscera is one of many advantages of laparoscopy in old patients, particularly in nondiagnostic or complicated cases. In our study, 38 patients were found to have other illness and received proper treatment benefitting from this viewable exploration. Laparoscopy also shows the low rates of postoperartive adhesion and mechanical bowel obstruction [9,10]. In our study, LA group showed shorter time for diet and less rate prolonged ileus than those of OA group. The reasons mainly depend on LA could examine the whole abdominal cavity and less inflammatory reaction secondary to the minimally invasive approach and sententiously dissection. And in order to preserving the function of lungs and heart, we tried to keep the position of the old patients in the horizon, not as the young patients keep in trendelenburg position during the LA operation. It is well known that LA is associated with less tissue trauma, shorter wound healing time, less rate of surgical site infection and shorter hospitalization time. The same results were also shown in our series. The earlier ambulation also could promote the patients' gastrointestinal peristalsis and prevention of the occurrence of accretion pneumonia. And the rate of complication in the elderly, we most concerned, in the LA group, such as pneumonia, was similar to the rate in the OA group. During the LA operation, we tended to decrease the pressure of laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum to 10 mmHg to relieve the heart and lungs' burden. During the general anesthesia, the anesthesiologist tried to maintain a stable blood pressure and avoids the fluctuation of the patient's blood pressure, especially when we were establishing the pneumoperitoneum. Although LA took little longer operation time than OA in elderly, we believed the benefit of old patients was worth choosing LA, and this operation time gap between LA and OA would gradually decrease with the proficiency in laparoscopic surgery. Moreover, the patients' quality of life after the laparoscopic appendectomy may be another important factor to be taken into account for the patients and the scholars. Appendectomy is one of the most frequently performed emergency operations. So, we mainly concerned two aspects: appearance of the scar(s) and the discomforts after operations. The results were very interesting: the patients of LA group showed better felling than patients of OA group. And the old patients were also concerned about the appearance of the incisions than assumed. A significantly higher satisfaction of the patients in the laparoscopic group concerning size and appearance of scars. So the long term results about Appendectomy should be taken count in during comparison of LA vs. OA.
Taken together, the findings of this study demonstrated that laparoscopic approach is a safe and suitable approach to the old patients with appendicitis. Laparoscopic appendectomy for is going to the first choice for acute appendicitis in the elderly.
Cai YL, Xiong XZ, Wu SJ, Cheng Y, Lu J, Zhang J, Lin YX, Cheng NS. Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy vs. conventional laparoscopic appendectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19: 5165-5173.
Addiss DG, Shaffer N, Fowler BS, Tauxe RV. The epidemiology of appendicitis and appendectomy in the United States. Am J Epidemiol 1990; 132: 910-925.
Segev L, Keidar A, Schrier I, Rayman S, Wasserberg N, Sadot E. Acute appendicitis in the elderly in the twenty-first century. J Gastrointest Surg 2015; 19: 730-735.
Semm K. Endoscopic appendectomy. Endoscopy 1983; 15: 59-64.
Bozkurt MA, Unsal MG, Kapan S, Gonenc M, Dogan M, Kalayci MU, Alis H. Is laparoscopic appendectomy going to be standard procedure for acute appendicitis; a 5-year single center experience with 1,788 patients. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2015; 41: 87-89.
Chan L, Shin LK, Pai RK, Jeffrey RB. Pathologic continuum of acute appendicitis: sonographic findings and clinical management implications. Ultrasound Q 2011; 27: 71-79.
Kapischke M, Friedrich F, Hedderich J, Schulz T, Caliebe A. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy-quality of life 7 years after surgery. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2011; 396: 69-75.
Ortega AE, Hunter JG, Peters JH, Swanstrom LL, Schirmer B. A prospective, randomized comparison of laparoscopic appendectomy with open appendectomy. Laparoscopic Appendectomy Study Group. Am J Surg 1995; 169: 208-212.
Reshef A, Hull TL, Kiran RP. Risk of adhesive obstruction after colorectal surgery: the benefits of the minimally invasive approach may extend well beyond the perioperative period. Surg Endosc 2013; 27: 1717-1720.
Tsao KJ, St Peter SD, Valusek PA, Keckler SJ, Sharp S, Holcomb GW, 3rd, Snyder CL, Ostlie DJ. Adhesive small bowel obstruction after appendectomy in children: comparison between the laparoscopic and open approach. J Pediatr Surg 2007; 42: 939-942.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3311
|
__label__wiki
| 0.650537
| 0.650537
|
ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS (AMSUL)
AMSUL Senate
AMSUL QUIZ CLUB
AMSUL DEBATE CLUB
AMSUL CREATE TEAM
AMSUL HEALTH WEEK
AS WE RUMBLED
I WISH SHE LIVED- THE CHILDHOOD CANCER STORY
Daughter Of The Soil
“Stop! Don’t move or I go blast your head for that car” the first voice vociferated with a thick Hausa accent.
“Turn around slow slow” commanded the second voice in a tone that suggested he had given this instruction a million times.
From the wind-screen of the highlander jeep in front of her she could make out the shapes of three men behind her. Each dressed in a slightly oversized black shirt, black trousers, thick high boots and face-cap except the third one putting on a dark pair of glasses in the middle of the night (she decided to name him Shades for obvious reasons). They all had a jacket looking outfit on their shirts she assumed to be bullet-proof vests, majorly because of the F-SARS insignia labelled on it.
She obeyed the directives and turned to face her assailants smiling under her surgical face mask, as she let it down to reveal her face to them.
Shades exclaimed “the Police Killer na woman sha!” in an accent that is suggestive of a Yoruba origin.
Drenched in a long white lab coat, underneath which she wore a full green scrub with its green head gear and a scalpel in both hands, even the rain could not hide the irony of calling a healer a killer. But it was simply the truth, the comprehension that she was making a choice to heal by killing, made her dare the SARS operatives by moving towards them.
The three men did not hesitate to respond to her threat, as they fired their AK-47 at her. The force of the tens of bullets hitting her body sent her crashing into the vehicle behind her, but it was the sound of the gunshot that took her to a familiar place in her memory as images from the past came floating in her head like they were her present and she blacked out from the shock.
It was her 7th birthday, she and her parents had gone to celebrate it at her paternal grandmother’s house. It was supposed to be a day of joy, but for reasons beyond her years, her mother was having a heated argument with her grandma.
“Atinuke come with me” grandma requested in Yoruba language.
“Chiamaka sit down there, don’t go anywhere” her mother ordered her in Igbo tongue.
She stood confused, rooted to the spot she had been since the drama between mothers started. Her mum and dad have always had their share of inter-tribal debates for as long as she could remember, but it had never been this chaotic. It was not until after her father held tight onto her mother who was thrashing and crying into his shoulder that he signaled her to go with his mother.
Grandma took her to a funny looking site designed in different colors of silk, animal hides, horns and various other items she couldn’t quite place. She recognized the place as some sort of shrine from her experience of watching African Magic. At the center of the shrine was an altar decorated with palm fronds, all sorts of iron metals including weapons and hunting tools surrounding a short statue of a man dressed in red with a living dog tied to it.
A priest came in and performed some rituals on her, inflicting scarification marks upon her shoulders, thighs, soles of her feet and chin. He sacrificed the dog and bathed her and the statue in its blood before making her consume most of its heart, raw.
She did not understand the magnitude of the ordeal she went through until about a month ago on her twenty first birthday, when she was called out of her consultant’s ward round. Her grandma had just been rushed into the Accident and Emergency unit of the same teaching hospital where she had spent four years, training and studying to become a medical doctor.
On her dying bed, Chiamaka Adenigba’s grandma explained, about their lineage, which is of a direct descendant to the Orisha Ogun, the Yoruba deity of metals, warriors, hunters, blacksmiths, technology and drivers. Some of the descendants of Orishas generally have the affinity to tap into their ancestors’ pool of powers and when trained and honed properly can wield them as their own. This set of people are generally dreaded and are usually stigmatized as witches, native doctors, ritualist and so on.
But in truth like her, they are called the Children of the soil. Chiamaka did not initially believe her Grandma. But when she reflected on things, she came to realize that she had never been sick, it took a lot to bruise her and even when she gets injured, she healed faster than other people since the day her grandma took her to that shrine.
Her grandma passed on to her an amulet made of tortoise shell before she died and told Chiamaka it would help her hone her powers, when she is ready and that she should always have it with her.
She had no guidance manual on how to process all that information, nor how to activate her amulet to display any power until about six hours ago.
A black van had drove in roughly into the hospital and two people were kicked out of the vehicle roughly and almost immediately the van took off. Both of them were in critical condition and one of them was triaged into the accident and emergency surgery unit she was posted in. While the resident doctors were trying to secure an emergency theatre space for the patient, she was tasked with helping the house officer on call to resuscitate the patient.
The patient died on her while she was attempting to revive him with CPR. The pain of her first death experience activated her Amulet, it began to hum and vibrate in her pocket and suddenly she knew what she had to do.
From the history taken from the first patient who survived, it was deduced that the two young men were harassed by four SARS officials to extort them of their money and they refused, but the matter escalated when the fourth Official saw a lot of #EndSars campaign on the second patient’s phone. The event turned violent as the four SARS operatives beat the men to the brink of death but it was the fourth that stabbed him on his left chest.
Chiamaka left the hospital ground with her scrubs on, took an untagged lab coat from the general coat hanger, put on her surgical face mask and retrieved her surgical scalpels from her bag. When she got to the hospital car park, she chose a bicycle and even though she had no experience with one she rode it with ease.
How she knew how to track the SARS operatives was hard to explain but all she had to do was picture the fourth man’s face, who was the one who kicked the patients out of the van as seen on the CCTV camera outside the A&E entrance. Ogun is the deity of hunters, drivers, iron and technology, so tracking down a prey with a bicycle to her was as easy as a piece of cake.
As she approached the black van, it was the middle of the night still she could see clearly as day, probably due to her newly found semi-godly abilities. She saw Shades and his other two colleagues chatting aimlessly in front of it, while the fourth guy was across the street waiting for any unfortunate car to come his way.
Her medical experience had embedded in her the knowledge of the human anatomy, she knew the most painful and fastest ways to send a man to hell. Using her godly sight, she zoomed in on the fourth guy’s neck tracing his jugular vein and cephalic artery and with Ogun’s hunting senses every movement became slow to her giving her what could be considered super speed.
She hit him with the bicycle, sent him flying and while he was still in the air, she jumped of the bicycle slicing at his neck ferociously yet decisively as she landed on her feet and ran into the darkness for her life. She could hear the man drowning in his own blood and his heartbeat slowly deteriorating as he bled to death, but she ran ahead knowing fully well that the three remaining SARS operatives were chasing after her.
Back to the present, she came to without opening her eyes expecting to be in severe pains but all she could feel was her amulet still vibrating and humming synchronously with her own heart-beat.
“you see the way she take jump like say she be Jackie Chan that time, who she think say she be, how this small girl take chook Bantu kill am like that?” she heard Shades ask his fellow men in arms.
She could feel Ogun’s power coursing through her blood. The fools had shot her with metallic bullets, feeding her with more fuel rather than hurting her.
She opened her eyes and stood up slowly, the shock on her attackers’ faces gave her joy as she commanded all the bullets shot at her to face the three SARS officers.
“I am a Daughter of the Soil and tonight I found my calling. I shall use my powers and knowledge of medicine, to rid my city of scums like you, seek vengeance for those who can’t and cleanse this world from corruption as much as I can” she replied and with that she sent all the bullets back at them….
Ayinde Tegzi Olawale
OLU’S STORY BY BOLA OWATE – PART 4
Ajayi Abisola says:
This is so nice
My random thoughts on OWAMBEs
There’s More to Life Than…
THE PROBLEM WITH GROWTH
dominoqiu on There’s More to Life Than…
domino qiu qiu on There’s More to Life Than…
play bandarq on There’s More to Life Than…
ceme online indonesia on There’s More to Life Than…
admin on Becker’s USMLE
AMSUL create
Amsul events
© 2019 amsul. All Rights Reserved. Muffin group
amsul
Backup WD
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3314
|
__label__wiki
| 0.682496
| 0.682496
|
'An African Answer' in New York
The documentary film An African Answer, and the multimedia training package that goes with it, had its United States launch in New York on 25 October.
The film depicts a dramatic bid by Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa - former militia leaders turned peace-makers from Nigeria - to bring reconciliation in Kenya’s Rift Valley province, following communal killings. It is produced by FLTfilms, the film-making division of Initiatives of Change.
The first screening took place at United Nations Headquarters, hosted by the Inter Agency Framework Team for Preventive Action.
Imam Ashafa, Pastor James, the director of the film Dr Alan Channer and Kenyan Production Consultant Joseph Karanja engaged in a one hour discussion after the film with 40 UN staff.
Responding to questions about the situation in Kenya today, Joseph Karanja explained the feeling of many Kenyans ‘that when you heal Burnt Forest the area where the film was shot], you heal the whole of Kenya.’ He went on to describe how residents of the area look back at the visit of the imam and the pastor as the turning point in their community, how they want their children to remember Burnt Forest as a place of peace and how economic activity has picked up in the area.
The 8-minute Bonus Feature Two Years Later – which shows on-going developments in Burnt Forest as well as the continuing impact of An African Answer in other parts of Kenya - was also shown.
Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Team, wrote in thanks for ‘a highly informative, inspiring and energizing film screening and discussion.... The film captured the hearts and minds of all in attendance. Your work in healing communities and encouraging reconciliation reminded those in attendance of the fundamental importance of organic, community-led processes.’
A second screening took place at New York University, hosted by the Tanenbaum Center for Inter-religious Understanding and two student groups. Joyce Dubensky, Executive Vice President of the Tanenbaum Center described Imam Ashafa and Pastor James as ‘heroes’ and commended Dr Alan Channer’s ‘story-telling and truth-telling’. Amongst those attending was the Ambassador to the UN from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Ufuk Gokcen.
John Campbell, former US Ambassador to Nigeria, hosted Imam Ashafa and Pastor James at a well-attended Roundtable on African Answers to Ethnic and Religious Conflict at the Council on Foreign Relations - publishers of Foreign Affairs magazine.
Pastor James and Imam Ashafa also presented the Annual Humanitarian Award at the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) to Nile Rodgers, world-renowned song-writer and music producer. They wove in something of their own story in a fine tribute to him. In impromptu remarks afterwards, Nile Rodgers said to the 600 people present:
‘What you saw on stage I can attest to as true – I have seen it up close. These men were sworn enemies. They were out to murder each other. These men were bad! Now they are best friends.’
Further launch events are currently taking place in Washington DC. Watch this space....
Alan Channer and Charles Aquilina
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3315
|
__label__wiki
| 0.935962
| 0.935962
|
Thugs of Hindostan Movie Review, Rating, Story, Cast & Crew 08 November 2018
Thugs of Hindostan is set in the backdrop of 18th century during the British rule in India. They kill the king of Raunakpur and miss king's daughter Safira (Fatima Sana Sheikh). Khudabaksh (Amitabh Bachchan) is the Army Chief who stands...
Keywords: Aamir Khan Thugs of Hindostan Movie Review, Aamir Khan, Thugs of Hindostan movie Cast and Crew, Thugs of Hindostan movie Cast and Crew
Dangal Premieres Talk 21 December 2016
Bollywood’s Mr Perfect Aamir Khan took his time and he is gearing up for release with his next movie titled Dangal. Nitesh Tiwari directed the film which is about the life story of Haryana based wrestler Mahavir singh Phogat who...
Keywords: Dangal, Dangal release date, Dangal updates, Aamir Khan
Aamir’s ‘Dangal’ Joins the 100 Cr Club 26 December 2016
Demonetization has surely not effected Bollywood. Mr. Perfectionist, Aamir Khan's wrestling movie 'Dangal' has surely shaken the Box Office records. The movie has been inspired from the life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat who was a wrestler. the movie shows...
Keywords: Dangal movie, Aamir Khan, Box Office record, Dangal movie
Bollywood's Biggest Project 'Thugs of Hindostan' Leads Final 08 September 2016
Two of the Bollywood biggest actors have teamed up with a super successful director and probably the most respected and successful production house to bring us a film of an epic scale for Diwali 2018.Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and Mr....
Keywords: Movie, Bollywood, Aamir Khan, Bollywood
Rajamouli to Cast Rajini, Mohanlal and Aamir for ‘Mahabharata’ 09 February 2017
The entire nation is awaiting for the releasing of Tollywood blockbuster movie 'Baahubali: The Conclusion'. The movie has been directed by SS Rajamouli. According to latest reports, Rajamouli is more into working on for his next project. The ace director...
Keywords: Mahabharata, Mahabharata, Mahabharata, Mohanlal
2.0 To Clash With Aamir’s Thugs Of Hindostan? 23 February 2018
2.0 To Clash With Aamir’s Thugs Of Hindostan?:- Superstar Rajinikanth is not a happy man as his next film 2.0 has been delayed several times. The film has been made on a budget of Rs 450 crores and the film’s...
Keywords: 2.0 latest, Rajinikanth, 2.0 updates, Lyca Productions
Aamir Khan’s “Dangal” To Have Special Screening For Visually Impaired 09 August 2017
Aamir Khan’s “Dangal” To Have Special Screening For Visually Impaired:- Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan’s blockbuster film “Dangal” to celebrate will be aired on television with an audio description for visually impaired audiences. The movie will be aired to celebrate Independence...
Keywords: Dangal, August 15, Visually Impaired¸ Zee Cinema SD, Visually Impaired¸ Zee Cinema SD
Thugs Of Hindostan Trailer Is A Must Watch 27 September 2018
Thugs Of Hindostan Trailer Is A Must Watch:- Thugs of Hindostan, the nation's most awaited film is all set for Diwali release. Dhoom 3 fame Vijay Krishna Acharya directed this periodic film that has been set in 1795 during the...
Keywords: Thugs of Hindostan budget, Katrina Kaif, Amitabh Bachchan, Thugs of Hindostan updates
Coach PR Sondhi Not Happy with ‘Dangal’ 29 December 2016
Bollywood Mr Perfectionist, Aamir Khan is being applauded for his utmost performance in the wrestling movie "Dangal". The film has joined the 100 crore club in just three days. While many are very with the movie, there is someone who...
Keywords: Bollywood, coach PR Sondhi, Bollywood, Dangal Movie
Perfectionist Of Bollywood Attends Award Function After 16 Years; Gets Award For “Dangal” 25 April 2017
He might have vowed to never attend or accept an award, but the Perfectionist of Bollywood, Aamir Khan recently made an exception for the one and only legendary singer and Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar, for the first time in...
Keywords: Aamir Khan, RSS Chief, Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards, Aamir Khan
Baahubali 2 Promotion In China? 05 June 2017
Baahubali 2 Promotion In China?:- In an exciting development, the 37- year old actor, Prabhas, Anushka Shetty and SS Rajamouli will soon be heading to China to promote the magnum opus movie - Baahubali 2. The epic movie is all...
Keywords: SS Rajamouli, Prabhas, Baahubali 2, Dangal
“Aamir is the New Raj Kapoor”: Rishi Kapoor 02 January 2017
2016 has been a year of many Bollywood movie releases. The most talked about the movie was Aamir Khan's 'Dangal'. The movie has been directed by Nitesh Tiwari. It is receiving all kinds of praises from everywhere. The film not...
Keywords: Twitter, Dangal, movie, Bollywood
Aamir's Secret Superstar creates a sensation in China 20 January 2018
Aamir's Secret Superstar creates a sensation in China: Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan is a sensation and his recent films raked massive money across the globe. 3 Idiots, Dhoom 3 and Dangal emerged as the country's biggest hits. His films have...
Keywords: Aamir Khan latest, Secret Superstar collections, Aamir Khan China records, Secret Superstar in China
“People Close to me were Worried About my Health”- Aamir Khan 30 November 2016
Everyone was shocked when pictures of Bollywood Actor Aamir Khan's drastic weight loss went viral on social media. Mr. Perfectionist who is all getting ready for his upcoming movie "Dangal" has lost 9.67 percent body fat for the role of...
Keywords: weight loss, Bollywood, Dangal movie, weight loss
Secret Superstar Movie Review, Rating, Story, Cast & Crew 18 October 2017
Secret Superstar is the story of a Baroda based girl Insia (Zaira Wasim) is much talented and matured enough for her age. Though she is closely related to her mother, her father opposes her dreams of turning a singer. It...
Keywords: Secret Superstar cast and crew, Aamir Khan Secret Superstar, Secret Superstar songs, Secret Superstar Rating
Aamir Khan-Starrer Dangal’s Trailer Released 20 October 2016
Bollywood’s Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan has launched the trailer of his upcoming film Dangal, for which he has been preparing for the film from last couple of years and has dressed various looks. Sticking to his successful streak of launching...
Keywords: Dangal trailer, Aamir Khan, Dangal trailer, Dangal
Dangal Movie Review and Ratings 22 December 2016
Dangal is the story of Haryana based wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat who is a naturally born wrestler who dreams of making his country proud. However due to financial crisis, he fails to make it big after which he feels that...
Keywords: Dangal cast and crew, Dangal cast and crew, movie releases date, movie releases date
“Mahabharata” Movie Producer Aims USD 1 Billion Revenue From Mega Project 05 June 2017
“Mahabharata” Movie Producer Aims USD 1 Billion Revenue From Mega Project:- It was in April this year, when UAE-based Indian Billionare, BR Shetty announced to invest USD 150 million (Rs 1,000 crore) in the making of the epic movie, Mahabharata....
Keywords: Mohan Lal, BR Shetty, Baahubali 2, BR Shetty
Dangal nearing Rs 2000 Crores 12 June 2017
Dangal nearing Rs 2000 Crores:- Mr Perfect Aamir Khan dedicated his life for films and his recent films ended up as massive blockbusters. They have been raking huge figures because of which the market of Indian cinema has been expanding....
Keywords: Aamir Khan records, Dangal records, Dangal Chinese collections, Dangal
Dangal Satellite Rights Sold for a Bomb 15 December 2016
Mr Perfect Aamir Khan has been busy promoting his upcoming movie titled Dangal. Nitesh Tiwari directed this sports biopic which happened to be the life story of Haryana wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat who sacrificed his life for his daughters. The...
Keywords: Dangal release date, Nitesh Tiwari, Zee Tv, Aamir Khan
Previous Page123Next Page
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3316
|
__label__wiki
| 0.889225
| 0.889225
|
Aadi’s Garm Audo launched! 25 December 2015
Actor Sai Kumar’s son Aadi had a decent debut and has impressed audience with his movies. But, recently, Aadi’s movies ended as disasters. It is time he gets back after a long enough gap and that is what he did...
Keywords: Garam, Garam, actor Aadi, Adah Sharma
Sneha in Bunny-Trivikram flick 18 September 2014
Homely beauty Sneha will be seen in a pivotal role in Allu Arjun's next with director Trivikram Srinivas. Post wedding, Sneha is being very selective about her roles and she was last seen in Prakash Raj's 'Ulavacharu Biryani.' Now the...
Keywords: Sneha Allu Arjun Trivikram movie, Allu Arjun, Sneha Allu Arjun Trivikram movie, Sneha
Adah Sharma Joins Hands With Renu Desai 20 September 2017
Adah Sharma Joins Hands With Renu Desai:- Talented actress Adah Sharma shot fame with Kshanam however the film could not make the actress stand tall. She was offered not many interesting roles and Adah has been waiting for the big...
Keywords: Adah Sharma new, Adah Sharma host, Adah Sharma new, Adah Sharma tv show
S/O Satyamurthy Motion Poster 10 March 2015
Allu Arjun who has been tagged with Stylish Star is surely the most stylish hero in Tollywood. He is currently shooting for his latest movie S/O Satyamurthy which is in last leg of shoot. The pre first look of the...
Keywords: Samantha, Allu Arjun latest, Devi Sri Prasad, Samantha
Nitya Menon opposite to Bunny? 22 October 2014
Sensible beauty Nitya Menon is heard to be roped to play the third female lead role in Allu Arjun's new film with director Trivikram Srinivas. Initially Pranitha was confirmed heroine but the makers opted for Nitya in the last minute...
Keywords: Adah Sharma Allu Arjun, Allu Arjun Trivikram new movie, Allu Arjun Trivikram new movie, Adah Sharma Allu Arjun
Subramanyam For Sale Latest Updates 03 April 2015
Megastar Chiranjeevi’s nephew made an impressive debut with Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham in the direction of AS Ravikumar Chowdary. The movie minted decent money at the box-office and Sai Dharam Tej received good response for his performance and dance movements....
Keywords: Sai Dharam Tej updates, Sai Dharam Tej updates, Harish Shankar, Mickey J Mayor
S/O Satyamurthy Censor Updates 30 March 2015
Stylish Star Allu Arjun is now back with his latest movie S/O Satyamurthy which has completed shoot recently. The movie has been directed by Trivikram Srinivas and the recently released theatrical trailer has created huge buzz on the film. The...
Keywords: Adah Sharma, S/O Satyamurthy, S/O Satyamurthy updates, S/O Satyamurthy
Subramanyam For Sale Movie Review and Ratings 22 September 2015
Subramanyam (Sai Dharam Tej) is not an easy going guy and because of his burdens, he believes in money and nothing else. For earning and settling well, he leaves for US. It is there, he meets his love Sita (Regina),...
Keywords: cast and crew, cast and crew, trailers, trailers
Vishnu learns martial arts 17 December 2014
Hero Manchu Vishnu will be working with director Deva Katta for his next project which is expected to have a formal launch shortly. The project is a remake of Tamil super hit film 'Arima Nambi.' Vishnu seems to have impressed...
Keywords: Arima Nambi, Deva Katta, Deva Katta, Manchu Vishnu Arima Nambi remake
Allu Arjun to arrive on unusual date 25 November 2014
Stylish star Allu Arjun's films arrive generally targeting a festival season or in Summer which would result in maximum collections. But this time Bunny will come up with his film at an unusual time. As we all know Bunny is...
Keywords: Allu Arjun Trivikram new film, Allu Arjun, Allu Arjun, Allu Arjun Trivikram new film
Hasee Toh Phasee Movie Review 07 February 2014
Film : Hasee Toh Phasee Producer : Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap Director : Vinil Mathew Star Cast : Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra, Adah Sharma Music Director : Vishal-Shekhar Rating: 3.5/5 Hasee Toh Phasee happens to be a romantic comedy Hindi...
Keywords: Cast and Crew, Hasee Toh Phasee Review, Hasee Toh Phasee Movie Review, Hindi Hasee Toh Phasee Movie Review
Allu Arjun’s S/O Satyamurthy First Look 09 March 2015
Stylish Star Allu Arjun is on career high after the success of his last film Race Gurram. The movie emerged as the biggest hit in his career and he has recently wrapped the shoot of Rudramadevi in which he is...
Keywords: S/O Satyamurthy latest, S/O Satyamurthy latest, S/O Satyamurthy updates, S/O Satyamurthy
Kalki Movie Review, Rating, Story, Cast & Crew 28 June 2019
Kalki is the story of Kalki (Rajasekhar) who is a fearless cop and leads the list in investigating cases. He is ruthless and he gets an assignment to investigate the murder mystery of Sekhar Babu who is brutally killed in...
Keywords: Kalki Review and Rating, Dr Rajasekar, Dr Rajasekar, Dr Rajasekar Kalki Movie Review
Adah Sharma in women centric flick 13 November 2014
New bee Adah Sharma impressed everyone with 'Heart Attack' and it ensured her few more projects in Tollywood. Currently this beauty is working in Trivikram Srinivas's film which has Stylish Star Allu Arjun. Adah recently joined the sets of this...
Keywords: Adah Sharma Heart Attack, Adah Sharma Heart Attack, Heart Attack, Adah Sharma Trivikram Srinivas
Rajasekhar Injured On The Sets Of Kalki 15 November 2018
Rajasekhar Injured On The Sets Of Kalki:- Veteran actor and Action Star Rajasekhar received a relief last year with PSV Garudavega. The film brought him back to limelight and Rajasekhar is not in a hurry to sign a bunch of...
Keywords: Rajasekhar news, Rajasekhar latest, Prasanth Varma, Prasanth Varma
Bunny’s Birthday Gift to His Fans 04 April 2015
Stylish Star Allu Arjun emerged as one of the leading actors among the younger generation heroes in Tollywood. He has worked hard and has done movies carefully and he scored some massive hits which made him sit on the top....
Keywords: Trivikram, Devi Sri Prasad, S/O Satyamurthy, S/O Satyamurthy
S/O Satyamurthy Music Success Meet 01 April 2015
Stylish Star Allu Arjun has recently completed the shoot of his latest movie S/O Satyamurthy which has been aimed for release on April 9th all over. The movie has been directed by Trivikram Srinivas and the film has been carrying...
Keywords: Devi Sri Prasad, S/O Satyamurthy, S/O Satyamurthy, S/O Satyamurthy updates
Promotional Song of S/O Satyamurthy 02 April 2015
Stylish Star Allu Arjun has become one of the leading actors in Tollywood and is always active when it comes to the promotion of his films. He has released a promotional song for his movie Julayi along with music director...
Keywords: Samantha, Trivikram, S Radha Krishna, Devi Sri Prasad
Adah Sharma to romance Bunny 08 September 2014
Heart Attack fame Adah Sharma will join the cast of Trivikram Srinivas's next with Allu Arjun who will play the male lead role. Three heroines demand the script of this film and already Samantha, Pranitha were hired. The makers who...
Keywords: Adah Sharma, Allu Arjun Trivikram film, Adah Sharma Allu Arjun, Allu Arjun
S/O Satyamurthy Audio Released 16 March 2015
The audio of Allu Arjun starrer S/O Satyamurthy has been released in a grand event in Hyderabad yesterday night. The movie has been directed by Trivikram Srinivas and Samantha played the female lead in the movie. Dasari Narayana Rao, Allu...
Keywords: Allu Arjun, S/O Satyamurthy updates, Nithya Menon, S/O Satyamurthy audio news
Previous Page1234Next Page
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3317
|
__label__wiki
| 0.735744
| 0.735744
|
Home News Slider Sports 2018 OBA’S CUP CLIMAXES IN EXCITEMENT AS OBA AKINLOYE CONGRATULATES WINNERS
2018 OBA’S CUP CLIMAXES IN EXCITEMENT AS OBA AKINLOYE CONGRATULATES WINNERS
October 25, 2018 News , Slider , Sports Edit
The 2018 Oba’s Cup which kicked off in September 22nd, 2018 has come to an exciting climax on Monday, October 22nd 2018, as Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, JP, OON, Sateru ӏӏ, Ojomu of Ajiranland congratulates all winners and participating teams in the competition.
The Oba’s Cup is a football competition inaugurated by Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, to celebrate the 25th Coronation Anniversary of Oba Akinloye by fostering the spirit of sportsmanship among the youths in Eti-Osa community and its environs.
Lafiaji Football Club emerged winners of the competition and clinched the grand prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira. Tobalase Football Club came second and got Three Hundred Thousand Naira, while Ajiran Football Club came third in the competition and went home with Two Hundred Thousand Naira.
The highest goal scorer at the tournament got One Hundred Thousand Naira and the Best Goal Keeper also got One Hundred Thousand Naira.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, JP, OON, Sateru ӏӏ, Ojomu of Ajiranland also extended his show of sportsmanship by congratulating all the winners and competing teams for their display of sportsmanship by competing in harmony and love during the one month tournament period.
“I congratulate all winners and competing teams for displaying the spirit of oneness, peace, togetherness, unity and love throughout the period. Indeed, this is what football preaches and this tournament has helped to instill these virtues in our youths,” he said.
The sponsor, Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, stated that it was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to throw its weight behind the football tournament to encourage the spirit of sportsmanship among the youths in the area.
“The games were to celebrate our Royal Father and we have achieved this by competing as brothers in the tournament through our display of sportsmanship,” he said.
All participating teams showered encomiums on the sponsor, Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo for supporting the youths through sports by building and donating the new Ajiran stadium complete with flood lights to the community.
They also prayed for Oba Akinloye, whose Coronation Anniversary has given them the platform to showcase their skills in the spirit of celebration.
32 games were played by 16 teams during the period and each team got a participation fee of Fifty Thousand Naira each in addition to their respective football jerseys, all provided by the sponsors, Victoria Crest Homes Limited, a real estate company providing affordable housing solutions in Lagos, Nigeria.
Photo shows His Royal Majesty, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, JP, OON, Sateru ӏӏ, Ojomu of Ajiranland (middle) presenting a cheque of Five Hundred Thousand Naira to the captain and coach of Lafiaji Football Club, winners of the 2018 Oba’s Cup during the final match of the competition on Monday
Presentation of Three Hundred Thousand Naira cheque to the captain and team members of Tobalase Football Club, second place winners of the 2018 Oba’s Cup, during the final match of the competition on Monday.
The cutting of Ribbon by His Royal Majesty, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, JP, OON, Sateru ӏӏ, Ojomu of Ajiranland (middle) during the commissioning of the stadium built and donated by Victoria Crest Homes Limited.
During the competition, indigenes of the community as well as visitors trooped to the stadium to witness the display of skills and sportsmanship from the teams. It was a month of entertainment and celebration of the Oba’s anniversary as everyone who witnessed were elated by the euphoria of sportsmanship displayed during the games.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3330
|
__label__wiki
| 0.817739
| 0.817739
|
in good conscience
Media Advisory: US delegation to CSW includes groups bent on dismantling UN reproductive health institutions
To: Reporters
From: Catholics for Choice
Re: US delegation to CSW includes groups bent on dismantling UN development and reproductive health institutions
The Trump administration’s agenda to “deconstruct the administrative state,” as stated by White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was made evident to global allies at this week’s sixty-first session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The official government delegation to CSW, headed by newly minted US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, was accompanied by two public delegates from the Center for Family & Human Rights (C-FAM) and The Heritage Foundation— two ultraconservative organizations with a long history of tearing down the CSW and its “feminist agenda” in support of reproductive rights.
“In the midst of potential deep cuts to US contributions to the UN, the inclusion of these antichoice and anti-UN voices was clearly meant to send a signal of hostility by the new administration to the CSW,” said Catholics for Choice president Jon O’Brien. “These representatives from radical right have railed against the work of the CSW and UN agencies, like the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), that have until now relied on US support to provide essential reproductive health services for the most vulnerable women around the world.”
C-FAM has called for the defunding of UNFPA, opposed the landmark Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), opposed anti-discrimination efforts for LGBTI persons, promoted the “Global Gag Rule,” and criticized UNICEF’s educational efforts. C-FAM’s President Austin Ruse has also stated publicly that his organizations’ objective has been to break “every single rule of UN lobby,” and create chaos within the organization. Their inclusion in the U.S. delegation to CSW leaves clear that the US position on women’s issues at the UN will be dictated by the religious right and those bent on dismantling and discrediting critical UN development and reproductive health institutions.
For more information, check out these Catholics for Choice reports:
Bad Faith Makes Politics: The Culture of Life Foundation on Capitol Hill
Bad Faith at the UN
For interviews and comment, please contact Cynthia Romero at 202-986-6093 or cromero@catholicsforchoice.org.
Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women's well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of women and men to make moral decisions about their lives.
CFC Merchandise
Conscience Magazine
Issues/Publications
New Reproductive Health Technologies
Religion in Public Policy
Legislative Testimony, Letters and Memos
Polling/Catholics & Choice
Catholic Healthcare
Opposition Watch
Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal
Letters & Op-Eds
Sign Up for Action Alerts
Abortion In Good Faith
Condoms4Life
The Coalition for Liberty and Justice
Catholics in Public Life
The “See Change” Campaign
Global Interfaith & Secular Alliance
© Copyright 2005-2019, Catholics For Choice. All rights reserved.
The Birth Control Commission
A Losing Battle
The Legacy of Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae and Global Health
Humanae Vitae and the AIDS Epidemic
Humanae Vitae and the United Nations
Humanae Vitae and US Health Policy
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3341
|
__label__wiki
| 0.607776
| 0.607776
|
Pellet production mill: E-Pellets, has acquired the formerly shuttered Louisiana Pacific OSB mill in Athens
Home /Bioenergy Reporter, Business, News/Pellet production mill: E-Pellets, has acquired the formerly shuttered Louisiana Pacific OSB mill in Athens
Bioenergy Reporter,Business,News |
E-Pellets, has acquired the formerly shuttered Louisiana Pacific OSB mill in Athens, Georgia. The company plans to convert the mill into a wood pellet manufacturing facility, producing approximately 450,000 metric tons annually. The wood pellets will be exported to the European Union to be used as an alternative to coal as fuel in power plants.
According to the firm, E-Pellets has a long-term port agreement with Georgia Kaolin Terminal, Inc., which provides E-Pellets sufficient port capacity to export up to 1.35 million metric tons per year of wood pellets through the port facility in Savannah, Georgia. E-Pellets previously purchased another underperforming production facility in Nahunta, Georgia and is expanding the production volume. All of the wood pellets are contracted to be sent to European power producers. E-Pellets said it is exploring other development opportunities in Georgia and South Carolina.
Newly appointed CEO Doug Albrecht is the owner and operator of a major pulp, paper and forestry products company in South America. He is supported on the ground by Chief Operating Officer Ken Ciarletta, Logistic Manager Mark Newhart, Development by Ben Easterlin, and General Administration by Keith Hulbert. According to Doug Albrecht, “E-Pellets is going to focus on executing its build-out program, and will evaluate developing other sites under option. We have an incredibly talented group of human resources with unparalleled know how in this sector, along with supporting capital partners, customers, vendors and suppliers and we hope to grow with all of them.”
E-Pellets Group was formed through the combination of its existing wood pellet facility located in Nahunta with the acquisitions of the Athens facility. “E-Pellets is going to focus on executing its build-out program, and will evaluate developing other sites under option,” said newly appointed CEO Doug Albrecht in a statement.
PHI Group Signs Agreements to Set Up Joint Venture Wood Pellet Factories in Vietnam
USA Power Plant Rule Targets 30% Carbon Cut
TAGS: business georgia pellet plant pellets USA
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3348
|
__label__wiki
| 0.575527
| 0.575527
|
China Medical News
News about healthcare and medicine in China | An independent site by Michael Woodhead
Community clinics could reduce Beijing hospital overload
80% of patients don't need to be seen in hospital
Zhang Changrong's favorite treatment in a community clinic in Beijing's southern suburb involves soaking her feet in hot water that contains traditional Chinese herbal medicines.
It takes the 59-year-old woman, who has had a rapid heart beat for years, just five minutes to walk from her home to the clinic for the treatment, which is believed to help improve blood circulation.
Compared to big, crowded hospitals, "seeking service here is much easier and sometimes enjoyable," said Zhang, a long-time resident of the Guiyuan Residential Community in Daxing District.
"We don't need to queue up for hours to see doctors. Doctors here know us well and the communication process is nice," she said.
The clinic, which covers some 250 square meters, offers basic medical services such as injections, medical examinations, massage and acupuncture. Patients can get prescriptions for about 300 of the most frequently used medicines for less than what a big hospital would charge.
In China, strain on the doctor-patient relationship has continued to worsen, as many patients are dissatisfied with their poor access to treatment.
People have to wait overnight in long queues for a registration ticket to see a renowned doctor in some popular public hospitals. However, the diagnostic process is always too brief to allow for further consultation.
China's urban doctor-patient ratio was 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people in 2011, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, doctors are overworked and underpaid. Many work more than 10 hours a day and might examine more than 100 patients per shift, according to a study by Peking University.
Experts say 80 percent of outpatients in the country's big hospitals don't need to have their first diagnosis in big hospitals.
Fang Laiying, head of the Beijing Health Bureau, said people should seek medical treatment from lower-level hospitals and community clinics before swarming into larger hospitals.
"Expanding grassroots medical service institutions is the key to tackling the chronic imbalance in supply and demand," said Liu Jun, professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics.
The grassroots healthcare system began to take shape after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. However, following China's transformation from planned economy to market economy, medical resources gradually poured into public hospitals, which saw an excessive number of patients but left lower-level hospitals with insufficient business, according to Liu.
Huang Jiefu, vice minister of health, said the uneven distribution of medical investment, resources and talent causes patients to crowd into larger hospitals.
The Chinese government initiated the reform of medical and healthcare systems in the 1980s. The reform was sped up in 2003 after the country won the fight against SARS, and in March 2009, a new round of reform was launched.
Statistics from the Beijing Health Bureau show that by the end of 2011, there were 9,699 grassroots medical institutions in the city of 12.77 million permanent residents, including 1,744 community-based clinics.
Daxing District has developed a three-tier medical service system comprising a number of prominent public hospitals, 19 community-based medical service centers and 129 subordinate clinics, according to Li Jianguo, vice director of Daxing's community healthcare office, which is affiliated with the health bureau of Daxing District.
"Getting fundamental health services and receiving medical treatment for minor illness at grassroots clinics could effectively alleviate big hospitals' workloads and lead to the improvement of patient satisfaction," said Li.
In addition to meeting residents' basic needs, lower-level medical institutions also offer a helping hand during emergencies.
Doctors with the Yizhuang community healthcare service center in Daxing saved a woman and her twins who were prematurely delivered on the way to the hospital two years ago, according to Zheng Jinjing, vice president of the center.
Doctors quickly set up a makeshift maternity ward in the woman's car, cut the first infant's umbilical cord and then helped with the early delivery of the second baby.
"The mother was unprepared and the situation was critical. A few minutes' delay could have led to unfavorable results," said Zheng.
In addition to regular services, the center has established health archives for contracted residents and provides family-doctor consultation assistance. It has also set up a referral system along with some higher-level hospitals, helping patients with various health conditions find appropriate treatment.
There were about 918,000 grassroots medical service institutions across China by the end of 2011, including 26,000 community-based health centers, 38,000 township-level hospitals and 663,000 village clinics, according to a white paper on the country's medical and health services released on Dec. 26, 2012.
The disparity between urban and rural medical resources has been narrowed in recent years, as the three-tier rural medical service network that covers counties, townships and villages has expanded farmers' access to medical treatment.
The white paper says more than 80.8 percent of rural residents can reach medical institutions within 15 minutes.
However, it is still difficult for farmers in some remote mountainous areas to see a doctor.
In Wumeng Mountain of southwest China's Yunnan Province, villagers have to walk for hours to get to a village-level clinic due to the area's underdeveloped traffic system.
But Chen Jinzheng, a rural doctor, has managed to cut the distance by walking along rough mountain paths to see patients over the past 12 years.
The 42-year-old doctor has treated about 2,100 patients and walked more than 10,000 km of rugged roads, wearing out 50 pairs of shoes.
Many rural doctors like Chen are working hard to address the loopholes in China's rural medical service network, and more farmers have joined a new rural insurance mechanism.
The system, which took shape in the 1990s, was put into pilot operation in selected regions in 2003 to ensure farmers' access to affordable medical treatment and reduce disease-triggered poverty.
By 2011, more than 1.3 billion Chinese people had joined the three basic medical insurance schemes that cover both urban and rural residents, meaning that China has built the world's largest basic medical security network, according to Zhang Mao, vice minister of health.
The Chinese government has announced that it will establish a sound basic medical and health system covering both urban and rural residents by 2020, in order to ensure that everyone can enjoy access to basic medical and health services.
Source: Xinhua
Labels: Beijing, health reforms, hospitals, primary care
China Medical News provides regular updates on what's happening in medicine in China | The site is independent and focuses on evidence-based medicine |Content is written, edited and translated by Michael Woodhead, a Sydney-based medical journalist | My bio is here.
Find posts by keyword:
abuse (1) accidents (2) ADHD (1) adverse reactions (18) aged care (3) AIDS (3) Alzheimers (2) ambulance (5) anaesthesiology (4) antibiotics (20) antidepressants (1) arthroplasty (1) aspirin (1) asthma (9) attack (2) autism (2) Beijing (140) biologicals (1) biotech (2) bipolar (1) blood donation (9) breast cancer (5) bribery (14) CABG (1) cancer (35) cardiology (50) career (5) cerebral palsy (1) charity (3) Chengdu (7) child abuse (2) child health (15) childbirth (3) cholesterol (6) Chongqing (3) chronic disease (2) clinical trials (9) CMA (5) contraception (1) COPD (5) corruption (75) cosmetic surgery (6) cough (1) counterfeits (3) Dalian (2) dementia (4) dental (1) depression (8) diabetes (31) diagnostic testing (3) diet (3) discrimination (2) doctors (4) e-health (16) Eli Lilly (1) emergency departments (16) employment (2) endocrinology (16) epidemiology (4) epilepsy (6) essential drugs (5) essential medicines (3) euthanasia (3) evidence based medicine (2) exercise (1) expats (3) family planning (15) fitness (1) fractures (1) fraud (20) Gangnam-style (1) Gansu (4) gastroenterology (14) general practice (5) generic (3) genetics (7) genomics (5) gout (1) GP (17) Guangdong (24) Guangxi (6) Guangzhou (28) gynaecology (5) headache (2) heal (1) health reforms (95) health system (15) heaptology (1) Hebei (5) Henan (16) hepatitis (34) hepatology (2) Herceptin (1) history (1) HIV (42) Hong Kong (8) hospital (19) hospital fees (44) hospitals (141) HPV (4) Hubei (5) human rights (5) humour (2) Hunan (8) hypertension (20) immunisation (23) industry (2) infection control (15) infectious diseases (89) infertility (7) influenza (53) insulin (3) internet (3) investment (3) jail (1) Jiangsu (16) Kunming (3) laboratories (1) laws (1) legal (6) Liaoning (4) lipids (2) malaria (4) malpractice (14) market (3) medical bills (16) medical clinics (2) medical devices (7) medical education (22) medical equipment (7) medical ethics (10) medical insurance (38) medical school (10) medical tourism (4) medicines (7) medicolegal (4) men's health (1) mental health (25) Merck (1) migrants (4) Ministry of Health (25) MRI (1) Nanjing (12) negligence (2) neonatal (9) nephrology (4) neurology (24) NGOs (3) nurses (7) nursing (1) nutrition (22) obesity (9) obstetrics (27) occupational health (6) oncology (32) ophthalmology (6) opthalmology (1) organ donation (10) orthopaedics (5) osteoporosis (5) OTC (3) paediatrics (42) palliative care (5) pandemics (2) paramedics (1) parasitology (7) Parkinsons disease (1) pathology labs (1) pharmaceuticals (88) pharmacists (8) PLA (3) pneumonia (4) pollution (20) pregnancy (15) prescribing (6) preventive health (12) pricing (2) primary care (34) prostate cancer (1) protest (1) PSA test (1) psychiatry (19) public health (24) Qinghai (2) quarantine (1) rabies (7) radiology (5) rational prescribing (4) Red Cross (3) rehabilitation (2) remuneration (3) reproductive health (3) research (31) respiratory medicine (32) rheumatology (6) roche (1) rotavirus (1) rural health (43) SARS (6) scams (2) schizophrenia (1) schools (1) screening (5) sexual health (10) Shaanxi (8) Shandong (14) Shanghai (97) Shenzhen (24) Shijiazhuan (1) smoking (20) State Federal Drugs Administration (5) STDs (4) stem cells (1) STIs (3) stroke (13) suicide (4) superbugs (1) surgery (14) Taiwan (4) TCM (12) telemedicine (7) Tianjin (10) Tibet (4) tobacco (26) transplant (2) transplants (11) travel medicine (2) tuberculosis (11) universal health care (1) universities (1) vaccination (26) vaccine (22) video (1) violence (54) virology (8) waiting times (1) WHO (15) women's health (16) Wuhan (11) Xian (4) Xinjiang (3) Zhejiang (21)
Shanghai GPs have poor understanding of hypertensi...
Who will pay the medical bills for those with no c...
What the British NHS can learn from China
Taiwanese hospitals and doctors welcome to set up ...
Hepatitis E vaccine available in China
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention ...
Influenza severity gene more common in Han Chinese...
In China, celebrities think twice about selling sn...
Enterovirus vaccine safe and effective against han...
Payment reform fails to fill medical insurance aby...
Shanghai to set up 40 primary care training bases
Iron and vitamin supplements not needed to improve...
'Retired' Hangzhou physicians are busier than ever...
A million Chinese babies a year born with congenit...
'Leprosy Island' legacy in Guangdong
China's most needy missed out on medical insurance...
Influenza difficult to control in China
Parents angry as children used in secret trial of ...
Health official suspended in nepotism probe
Dear Readers: an Apology
China to train 60,000 GP teachers
Children of rural migrants get NGO health checks i...
China's RMB14 billion insulin market monopolised b...
Ministry of Health revises list of occupational di...
Hospitals refuse amyotrophic lateral sclerosis bab...
Another doctor murdered: female neurologist killed...
Nanjing man with kidney failure survives for 13 ye...
In China, depression goes untreated due to stigma ...
Schistosomiasis a huge and overlooked problem in '...
SARS was a watershed for China public health domes...
Shanghai medics win award for liver cancer researc...
Chinese whistleblower sues Siemens after being sac...
Bowel cancer to increase by a million cases in nex...
Four influenza deaths reported in Beijing
SARS ten years later - The Peking Duck
One in six Chinese people have food poisoning ever...
Patients turn to loan sharks for money to pay medi...
Chinese doctors prescribe antibiotics instead of r...
UK-China partnership launched on global health
Interviews with Chinese doctors and nurses
China tells WHO that traditional medicine will hel...
Rehabilitation services suffer from lack of invest...
'Less harmful cigarettes' is deceptive marketing
Viewpoint: Financial compensation for deceased org...
EU Parliament calls for action on Chinese doctors ...
Schools warned to guard against respiratory diseas...
Why China can't copy US when it comes to e-health
Health officials urge flu vaccination
Private Beijing clinic hopes to be model for prima...
Aged care home shortage shows need for insurance p...
Guangdong doctors take 10,000 RMB a month in pharm...
China lacks child-specific formulations of medicin...
China's health minister visits Cameroon
Three out of four Chinese women have never had a m...
Officials and government employees take up large p...
Beijing's air pollution will worsen flu effects on...
China leads the world in heparin production
Why are 'stoic' Chinese women having Caesarean sec...
Why the illegal blood donor market thrives in Chin...
Family Planning authority criticised for ordering ...
Cardiovascular disease management in Tibetan villa...
"Food poisoning" of Guizhou schoolchildren is att...
Funding boost to re-equip family planning services...
Shanghai hospital staff jailed for accepting pharm...
Immunoprophylaxis cuts hepatitis B rates in pregna...
Peers for diabetes program expands in China
Fake blood donor certificates sold to get free blo...
Flu season expected to peak in next few weeks
WHO influenza update for China
One in five Chinese will develop cancer by the age...
Xiamen medical insurance scheme cuts bills by 75%
Report on China’s "health" deemed unconvincing
Can China master the guideline challenge?
China study links dementia to passive smoking
Rural doctors pressured by medical reform
Influenza causes a huge medical and financial burd...
Price of drugs to be reduced by up to 20%
Guizhou to screen poor kids for congenital heart d...
Chinese returning from Sudan to be screened for ye...
Health minister Chen Zhu aims for 70% medical cost...
Bisphosphonate treatment worsens bone health in Ch...
China medical news in brief
Vice Premier calls for action to reduce the urban-...
Finding a maternity bed in a popular year of the C...
A retired Beijing doctor campaigns for living will...
Two Beijing deaths reported from H1N1 influenza
"Most beautiful" rural doctors tell VP about backw...
New laws will help Chinese with occupational disea...
China shows east-west divide in public health fund...
Chinese medical website DXY gets a $100 million bo...
Day in the life of a busy Beijing eye doctor
Medicine loses its appeal as a career in China
Natural births not likely because caesareans are p...
Chinese rush to buy non-prescription drugs oversea...
Ketogenic diet helps reduce seizures in Chinese ch...
China clinical news in brief
Forced IUD contraception faces criticism in China
Anhui medical student arrested over axe murder
COPD patients at high risk due to poor treatment: ...
Follow @chinamedicine
China medical links
National Health and Familily Planning Commission
Chinese Medical Association
China FDA
DXY Medical Social Network
China Medical Tribune
China General Practitioner
China Healthcare Thinktank
MD Tech-Ex
Spotted Cow Productions
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3353
|
__label__cc
| 0.521495
| 0.478505
|
Library/Museum (1)
SSA - JP Field & Ryan M. Lewis Memorial Field
SSA - JP Field & Ryan M. Lewis Memorial Field2019-07-29T17:00:00
SSA - Citizen's Pavilion
SSA - Citizen's Pavilion2019-07-29T17:00:00
Iditarod & Earthquake Movie@2 Library Museum Program
July 29, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM @ Seward Community Library & Museum Community Room
Iditarod & Earthquake Movie@2 Library Museum Program2019-07-29T14:00:00
The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance and the Seward Community Library Association have granted the Seward Community Library & Museum permission to show their movies, Iditarod National Historic Trail: A History and Waves Over Seward. Each movie lasts 25 minutes and will be shown one after the other, daily at 2pm, Monday-Saturday, May 13-September 16 with a special showing on October 2. Shows in upstairs Meeting Room on occasion. The Resurrection Bay Historical Society (RBHS) will also be showing these movies on Summer Sunday’s when they open the museum 1-5pm. All locals and visitors are welcome, whether they make a donation or not!
Seward Community Library & Museum Community Room 239 6th AveSewardAK99664
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3360
|
__label__wiki
| 0.724754
| 0.724754
|
Kevin Burkhardt joins rare list with NFL playoff assignment in debut season
Tomorrow, Kevin Burkhardt will cap off his debut season in the NFL TV booth for Fox when he calls the Saints-Seahawks divisional playoff game with John Lynch. In a rare move, Fox gave Burkhardt an NFL playoff assignment during his first season of network TV play-by-play. How rare is this? Such a distinction last occurred 36 years ago. Prior to Burkhardt, the last play-by-play announcer to call an NFL playoff telecast in his first season at the network level was Dick Enberg on NBC during the 1977 postseason.
Since the 1970 merger, I only found 5 cases where a play-by-play announcer was assigned a playoff game in his first season calling the NFL on network TV. Here is the unique list that Burkhardt joins (note: the year refers to the NFL season even when the playoff game was in the following January).
Kevin Burkhardt (Fox) - 2013
Dick Enberg (NBC) - 1977
Vin Scully (CBS) - 1975
Gary Bender (CBS) - 1975
Brent Musburger (CBS) - 1974
Back in the 1970s, the networks were more likely to spread playoff assignments around to more announcers even with fewer postseason games. CBS actually used two first-year play-by-play announcers during the 1975 playoffs. Another interesting aspect is that the first playoff assignments for Enberg and Scully were conference championships. The others on the list were divisional playoff games.
Even in the years when ABC and NBC have carried a wild-card playoff doubleheader while only using one regular season broadcast crew, the second play-by-play announcer always had NFL network TV experience from a prior season.
Labels: announcers, NFL
Michael January 11, 2014 at 8:42 PM
Just to note that Scully had just signed with CBS and the division had done a lot of experimenting in the past year or so--promoted Pat Summerall to #1 pbp, for example. The rumor is that Scully had been promised the Super Bowl when he signed, but that remains open to question. Also, that was when Bob Wussler gave Bender the playoff game and did nothing for Al Michaels, and it helped drive him to ABC.
Jeff Haggar (classicTVsports) January 12, 2014 at 10:11 AM
Thanks for the comments, Michael. During his 7 years at CBS, Scully did get 3 NFC championship games. Also, the only playoff booth assignments for Bender at CBS after 1975 were the '78 and '80 wild-card games.
CBS TV audio from 1965 NFL Championship game
Kevin Burkhardt joins rare list with NFL playoff a...
New URL and twitter handle for Classic TV Sports b...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3363
|
__label__wiki
| 0.965251
| 0.965251
|
HomeSportsDU Swim and Dive finish second at nationals in Texas
DU Swim and Dive finish second at nationals in Texas
By Laura Carr
While many Denisonians basked in the warm sun over spring break, members of the Big Red swim/dive team traveled to Shenandoah, Texas for the NCAA Division III National Championships, held on March 18-21.
The Denison/Kenyon rivalry took an interesting turn on March 16 after a Denison University Facebook post advertised a challenge that Kenyon president Sean Decatur made to president Adam Weinberg: Weinberg would wear purple if Kenyon won the meet, while Decatur would have to wear red if DU defeated Kenyon.
With a pair of dual runner-up finishes for Denison, both presidents were forced to don the other school’s colors.
Men finish second to Kenyon
Max Levy ‘17’s sweep of the diving titles highlighted the meet for the Big Red. The sophomore led a trio of Denison divers to finish 1-2-3 on the 1m board. His total of 532.85 points was just ahead of teammate Connor Dignan ‘15’s 528.50 11-dive score, and Ben Lewis ‘16’s 526.85.
“We were hoping for everyone to make it to finals but just Ben, Connor and I made it,” Levy said. “We just did what we worked for, we dove, hit all our dives and ended up 1-2-3, which was a big boost for everybody at the end of the meet. It was just so exciting. It’s something that I can’t really describe.”
Levy won the 3m crown two days later with Dignan following in second.
Jack Lindell ‘17 posted a third place finish in the 100 butterfly, while Ryan Fleming ‘16, Conrad Wuorinen ‘16, Damon Rosenburg ‘15 and Max Howes ‘17 contributed to the team’s points with another third place finish in the 200-freestyle relay.
Arguably the most exciting performance of the meet did not come from a Denison competitor. Emory junior Andrew Wilson shattered both national records in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, trimming two seconds off of the former 100 record, and five from the 200 record. Both of those swims placed him in the top 15 all-time in USA Swimming history.
Rosenburg competed against Wilson in the 100m breaststroke final, where he placed third.
“I’d never seen anybody go that fast in breaststroke before, in person,” Rosenburg said. “It was incredible to be racing against him because you’ve never really been in a position where you thought ‘Okay, I’m doing really well’ and then you see this guy body lengths in front of you, and you’re like ‘Well, he’s doing really well too.’”
The men ended the meet with 29 All-American performances and 16 top-8 finishes.
Women improve upon 2014 finish with second place
Michelle Howell ‘15 had a banner weekend for the Big Red at her final national championships. She won two individual races (200 IM, 400 IM). Her 400 IM finish marked the first time that a Denison female won the race at nationals, while her 200 IM finish was DU’s first win in the event since 1988.
Howell described the feeling of capturing two national titles as, “ Pure joy. I know this sounds cliché, but I have never been happier in my life. I was overwhelmed with complete and utter happiness after the first national title, and after the second I just thought to myself, holy crap. I did it. I really did it.”
Carolyn Kane ‘17 finished in second in the 50 freestyle. She was also runner-up in the 100 free.
Rima Jurjus ‘15, Kane, Ashley Yearwood ‘16 and Mary Van Leuven ‘16 won the 200 freestyle relay, finishing 0.02 seconds behind the national record. They also won the 400 freestyle relay.
Taylor Johns ‘16 came in third in the 1,650 freestyle (16:41.87).
In addition to improving upon last year’s fourth place showing, this finish was their highest in four years. They also added 34 All-America performances to their arsenal and another win over Kenyon (4th place).
Johns said that the team’s improved attitude helped them. “We went into it this year with a better mindset in that we thought,
‘We’re going to swim for our team’ rather than worrying about other people,” Johns said. “The team was pretty upset last year, and we rallied around that, and said, ‘We’re going to go out there and do our best,’ and we did.”
Photo Courtesy of Nelson Dow
Women’s soccer responds after first loss of season to Case Western
DU Swim faces D1 opponents, women split series
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3365
|
__label__wiki
| 0.639051
| 0.639051
|
5400 From Removal to the Adversary Hearing
5410 Types of Court Orders and the Process for Obtaining a Court Order for Removing a Child
CPS March 2018
DFPS must obtain a court order before removing a child, except in cases involving exigent circumstances. The Texas Family Code 262 Subchapter B allows DFPS to obtain a court order authorizing a child to be removed from his or her parents or caregiver:
• during an emergency removal, with a court order issued before the removal;
• during an emergency removal, with a court order issued after the removal;
• during a non-emergency removal.
The caseworker determines which circumstance applies.
5411 Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal
5412 Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order
5413 Conducting a Nonemergency Removal
In some cases, if DFPS plans to take legal action to affect a parent’s rights, the child may already be placed with a relative. In this type of legal removal, the child does not physically change placements and the removal is considered a constructive removal.
5411.1 Standard for Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal
Before conducting an emergency removal, the caseworker must prepare and submit an affidavit, containing sufficient evidence to satisfy a person of ordinary prudence and caution that:
• there is an immediate danger to the child’s physical health or safety, or the child has been the victim of neglect or sexual abuse or trafficking;
• remaining in the home of the adult the child is being removed from would be contrary to the child’s welfare;
• there is not sufficient time to hold a full adversary hearing, without jeopardizing the child’s physical health or safety; and
• reasonable efforts, consistent with the circumstances and providing for the child’s safety, have been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal.
Texas Family Code §262.101
5411.2 Basic Process for Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal
CPS May 2018
Once the caseworker determines that an emergency removal supported by a court order is necessary and the caseworker receives program director approval, the caseworker takes the following steps:
• immediately asks the attorney representing DFPS to file a petition seeking relief and requesting an emergency hearing. The caseworker must submit legal documents to the attorney within 24 hours or on the first business day after the legal staffing;
• follows 5421 Requirements for Completing a Removal Affidavit and prepare an affidavit with evidence sufficient to satisfy the standard explained in 5411.1 Standard for Obtaining a Court Order Before Conducting an Emergency Removal;
• participates as a witness, if needed, in the ex parte emergency hearing. See Texas Family Code §262.102;
• removes the child;
• prepares for the adversary hearing, which must take place no more than 14 calendar days after the child was removed, unless the court orders an extension. (At the hearing, the child’s parents or caregivers have the opportunity to challenge DFPS’s evidence supporting the emergency removal. See 5430 Adversary Hearing.)
5412.1 Standard for Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order
Only in limited circumstances can DFPS remove a child first and then go to court to request a court order.
DFPS must not remove a child without a prior court order, unless the caseworker demonstrates personal knowledge of all of the following:
• There was an immediate danger to the child’s physical health or safety because:
• the child was a victim of sexual abuse or trafficking under specified Penal Code sections;
• the parent or person with possession was using a controlled substance which constituted an immediate danger to the physical health or safety of the child; or
• the parent or person with possession permitted the child to remain on premises where methamphetamine is manufactured.
• It is contrary to the child’s welfare to remain in the home of the parent or adult the child is being removed from.
• Reasonable efforts, consistent with the circumstances and providing for the child’s safety, were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal.
5412.2 Basic Process for Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order and for Filing a Petition After an Emergency Removal
CPS September 2018
Once the caseworker determines that it is necessary to make an emergency removal before obtaining a court order, the caseworker must obtain approval from the supervisor and program director. Upon receiving approval, the caseworker must:
• take possession of the child;
• immediately ask the attorney representing DFPS to file a petition seeking relief and requesting an emergency hearing. The caseworker must make the request immediately to enable the court to hold the emergency hearing on or before the first workday after the child is removed. If the initial hearing is not held within the time required, the child must be returned to the parents or person who has custody of the child. See Texas Family Code §§262.105(a)(3) and 262.106;
• follow 5421 Requirements for Completing a Removal Affidavit and prepare an affidavit with evidence sufficient to satisfy the standard explained in 5412.1 Standard for Conducting an Emergency Removal Before Obtaining a Court Order;
• participate as a witness, if needed, in the ex parte emergency hearing (that is, in a hearing attended by only one party; in this case DFPS). The hearing must take place on or before the first working day after the child is taken into possession. If the court is unavailable on the first working day, the hearing must take place on the next available working day, but no later than the third working day after the child is taken from the home. See 5412.3 Standards for Court’s Decision at the Ex Parte Emergency Hearing and Texas Family Code §262.106;
• prepare for the adversary hearing, which must take place no more than 14 calendar days after the child was removed, unless the court orders an extension. (At the adversary hearing, the child’s parents or caregivers can challenge DFPS’s evidence supporting the emergency removal. See 5430 Adversary Hearing.)
5412.3 Standards for Court’s Decision at the Ex Parte Emergency Hearing
If DFPS seeks to prevent the child being returned to the parent, DFPS must be prepared to provide sufficient evidence to prove to the court that:
• one of the following conditions exists:
• there is a continuing danger to the child’s physical health or safety if the child is returned to the parent or person with possession of the child, or of the child has been a victim of sexual abuse or labor or sex trafficking and the child is at substantial risk of this type of sexual abuse or trafficking in the future; or
• the parent or person with possession of the child is currently using a controlled substance and the use constitutes an immediate danger to the physical health or safety of the child; or
• the parent or person with possession of the child has permitted the child to remain on premises used for the manufacture of methamphetamine;
• it is contrary to the child’s welfare to remain in the home;
• there was not sufficient time, consistent with the child’s physical health or safety to hold an adversary hearing; and
• reasonable efforts, consistent with the circumstances and providing for the safety of the child, were made to prevent or eliminate need for removal.
In order to demonstrate to the court that there is a continuing danger to the physical health or safety of the child, DFPS may also present evidence that the household to which the child would be returned includes a person who has:
• abused or neglected another child in a manner that caused serious injury to or the death of the other child; or
• sexually abused another child.
Accordingly, the caseworker must include in the removal affidavit any critical information from the family’s history that would support a conclusion of either serious abuse or neglect or prior sexual abuse by a person in the household. See 5421 Requirements for Completing a Removal Affidavit.
5412.4 Process When an Emergency Hearing Is Not Held Within the Required Time Frame
If an emergency hearing cannot be held within the required time limits (on or before the first business day after the child is removed; or the first business day the court is available, but no later than the third business day after removal), DFPS must return the child and provide whatever services it can in the home to protect the child from further harm.
Texas Family Code §262.106(c)
DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1103
Before Returning the Child
Before returning the child, the caseworker must notify the supervisor and the program director and explain the reasons why the child will be returned.
If the Child Is in Danger
If the child is in danger of further harm in the home, the program director must contact the county or district attorney, in writing, to discuss legal options.
The written notice must:
• clearly describe the danger to the child;
• include a request for a new emergency removal, if needed; and
• be approved by the program administrator.
5413.1 Standard When Conducting a Nonemergency Removal
DFPS must notify the parents or caregiver about the removal hearing unless any of the criteria in 5414 Obtaining a Waiver of the Requirement to Provide Notice of Removal are met.
DFPS must submit sufficient evidence, in the form of an affidavit, to prove to the court that:
• there is continuing danger to the child’s physical health or safety caused by an act or failure to act of the person entitled to possession;
• it is contrary to the child’s welfare to remain in the home; and
• reasonable efforts, consistent with the circumstances and providing for the safety of the child, were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal.
5413.2 Basic Process When Conducting a Nonemergency Removal
Once a caseworker determines that a nonemergency removal is necessary and obtains program director approval, the caseworker takes the following steps:
• asks the attorney representing DFPS to file a petition seeking relief and requesting a hearing. The caseworker must submit legal documents to the attorney by the deadline the supervisor sets or within three business days after the legal staffing, whichever is sooner;
• follows 5421 Requirements for Completing a Removal Affidavit and prepares an affidavit with evidence sufficient to satisfy the standard for a nonemergency removal;
• notifies the parents (or other party from whom DFPS seeks to remove the child) about the hearing, once the court schedules the hearing;
• participates in the hearing as a witness. At the hearing, the child’s parents can challenge DFPS’s evidence supporting the requested removal;
• conducts the removal, if the court orders removal based on a finding that reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal and it is contrary to the child’s welfare to remain in the home.
5414 Obtaining a Waiver of the Requirement to Provide Notice of Removal
At the initial hearing, DFPS may ask the court to waive the requirement to provide notice of a removal. To do so, DFPS must provide documentation to the court showing that:
• the person to be notified could not be located;
• the case meets the criteria for a Baby Moses case under Subchapter D of Chapter 262, Emergency Possession of Certain Abandoned Children (see also 2351 Baby Moses); or
• there is other good cause for not providing notice.
Texas Family Code §262.109 (d)
5415 Rescinding the Decision for Emergency or Nonemergency Removal
If after obtaining program director approval, the caseworker and supervisor determine the emergency or nonemergency removal is unnecessary, the program director must approve the decision to not proceed. The decision not to pursue removal and the reasons why must be documented in IMPACT.
5420 Beginning a Child Protection Lawsuit
Regardless of which standard for removal applies, DFPS begins a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR) by filing a petition.
The petition (sometimes called a pleading) tells the court, the parents, and any other party, that DFPS:
• is requesting the authority to care for a child temporarily; and
• may request termination of parental rights, if efforts to reunify the family are not successful.
The process of preparing to file a suit affecting the parent-child relationship requires close cooperation between the caseworker and the attorney representing DFPS.
The caseworker drafts an affidavit that provides the facts and evidence. The attorney representing DFPS uses the facts and evidence in the affidavit to show the court that DFPS is entitled to the specific court order that DFPS is requesting;
The attorney also generally:
• prepares the petition; and
• files the petition and affidavit with the court.
5421 Requirements for Completing a Removal Affidavit
DFPS must provide sufficient evidence in the affidavit to convince the court to grant a removal order. The evidence that is required depends on the type of removal requested.
Regardless of the type of removal, in every case:
• DFPS must inform the court as to whether there is an existing protective order involving a party or child and attach a copy of any such order to the petition; and
• if a person alleged to have committed abuse or neglect is on active military duty (or is the spouse of a person on active duty), the caseworker must notify the closest active military base.
Texas Family Code §§102.008(b)(11); 261.301(j)
Unless the local court requires otherwise, the caseworker must use the Sample Removal Affidavit provided under the Affidavit heading in Section 13 of The Texas Practice Guide for Child Protective Services Attorneys.
If a child may be subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the caseworker must use the ICWA removal affidavit provided under the ICWA heading in Section 13 of The Texas Practice Guide for Child Protective Services Attorneys.
The affidavit must contain enough facts, based on personal knowledge, to demonstrate that removal is justified under the applicable standard.
If the affidavit does not contain enough information to justify removal, the caseworker may need to conduct further investigation or there may not be a legal basis for removal.
A court cannot rely on certain kinds of evidence in a finding for removal, including evidence that a parent:
• home-schooled the child;
• is economically disadvantaged;
• has been charged with a nonviolent misdemeanor (other than one listed in Title 5 or 6 of the Penal code or one that involves family violence);
• provided or administered low-THC cannabis prescribed for the child; or
• declined immunizations for the child for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief.
These categories of evidence should be documented, if relevant to an investigation, but cannot be used to justify a removal (or termination of parental rights). See 5563 Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights.
The affidavit must also be complete, concise and organized. The caseworker must review the affidavit before providing it to the attorney representing DFPS and ensure it does not contain typographical or grammatical errors.
5422 Essential Information for the Petition
To prepare a petition, the attorney representing DFPS must have basic information about a case.
Local procedures and forms for conveying this information vary, but the caseworker must be prepared to provide:
• detailed information about the children, parents, and other members of the household;
• the reasons for removal;
• the efforts made to locate missing persons;
• the response of parents and extended family regarding any Native American family history; and
• any specific information requested by the attorney handling the case.
To provide accurate names and identifying information for the petition, the caseworker must ask the eligibility specialist to provide a screen print of the birth record that the specialist has obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. See 1520 Obtaining Certified Birth Certificates and Screen-Printing Birth Records.
The caseworker must pay specific attention to gathering and sharing information related to the child’s Native American status and if there has been a custody lawsuit in the family’s past.
The caseworker must also gather and provide all of the information necessary to help process-servers locate individuals who are entitled to be served with the relevant citation. See 5230 Service of a Citation to determine who is entitled to be served with a citation for an original suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
5423 Limited Time Before Dismissal
A child protection suit is automatically dismissed without a court order one year after the court renders a temporary order appointing DFPS as temporary managing conservator, unless the court has begun trial or granted an extension. Extensions are extremely limited, permissible only if:
• the court finds extraordinary circumstances necessitate the child remaining in DFPS temporary managing conservatorship and this is in the best interest of the child;
• the court find extension is in the best interest of the child and either orders return of the child with DFPS to monitor, or orders a temporary order to the child to return home while the parent completes the service plan; or
• after a trial, a motion for new trial or mistrial is granted or an appellate case is remanded.
In each case, the court must set a new dismissal date.
Texas Family Code §263.401(b), (b-1); §263.403(b)
Because of the strict limit on any extension of time, caseworkers must be prepared for every hearing. Any delay in locating missing parents and relatives, determining paternity, asking about Native American family history or other essential issues can have a dramatic impact on child safety and permanency.
5430 Adversary Hearing
The purpose of the 14-day full adversary hearing is to:
• determine whether the child’s emergency removal was warranted;
• determine whether continued placement outside of the home is required; and
• obtain temporary orders for the protection of the child pending resolution of the suit, if continued placement is required.
As the party asking to restrict a parent’s rights to a child, DFPS has the burden to prove the necessity for the removal and for continued conservatorship of the child.
5431 Requirements for the Adversary Hearing
5431.1 Evidence Required on Request
At any time before the adversary hearing, on request by a parent’s or child’s attorney the caseworker must provide:
• names of any persons, other than DFPS staff, who will be called as a witness to any allegations in the petition;
• a copy of any offense report relating to the allegations if the report will be used to refresh a witness’s memory; and
• a copy of any photo, video or recording that will be presented as evidence.
5431.2 Time Frame for the Adversary Hearing
A full adversary hearing must be held within 14 days of taking a child into possession or filing of lawsuit, unless:
• the child has already been returned to the home; or
• the court has extended the date of the adversary hearing.
Texas Family Code §262.201(a)
5431.3 Standard of Proof in an Adversary Hearing
In an adversary hearing, DFPS must rebut the presumption that placing the child with a parent or other person presently entitled to possession is in the child’s best interest.
Specifically, the caseworker must submit evidence sufficient to satisfy a person of ordinary prudence and caution that:
• there was a danger to the child’s physical health or safety, caused by an act or failure to act on the part of the parent or the person entitled to possession of the child, and that it is contrary to the child’s welfare to remain in the home;
• the urgent need for protection required immediate removal, and reasonable efforts consistent with the circumstances and with providing for the child’s safety were made to eliminate or prevent removal; and
• despite reasonable efforts to prevent or eliminate the need for removal, there is a substantial risk of continuing danger to the child if the child is returned to the home.
Texas Family Code §262.201(g)
In determining if there is a continuing danger to the child’s physical health or safety, the court may consider if the household to which the child would be returned includes a person who:
Texas Family Code §262.201(i)
Accordingly, the caseworker may submit sufficient evidence of the family’s history to support a conclusion of either serious abuse or neglect or prior sexual abuse by a person in the household or may show continuing danger based on other evidence.
DFPS must also:
• place the child with the child’s non-custodial parent or a relative; or
• prove that it is not in the child’s best interest to be placed with a non-custodial parent or relative.
Texas Family Code §262.201(n)
Unless there is a prior court order that limits a parent’s rights, or DFPS can demonstrate that placement with a non-custodial parent threatens the child’s safety, a non-custodial parent is entitled to custody of a child removed by DFPS.
Accordingly, the caseworker must submit evidence that shows whether placing the child with a non-custodial parent or relative:
• is or is not safe; and
• is or is not in the child’s best interest.
At every hearing (from removal to permanency hearings) the court must review the placement of any child not placed with a relative or designated caregiver and make a finding as to whether DFPS has the option of placing a child with such a person.
Texas Family Code §262.0022; 263.002(b)
The caseworker must be prepared with current and accurate information as to why a child is not placed with a relative or designated caregiver.
5431.4 Requesting Services and Participation at the Adversary Hearing
Orders Regarding Parents
DFPS must work jointly with a child’s parents to develop a service and visitation plan.
For this reason, and because the adversary hearing is conducted early in the legal case, the caseworker must recommend only that the court order the services needed for the parents to address the safety threats that resulted in the child entering substitute care. The caseworker must not recommend services beyond that, as the caseworker needs time to develop a service plan jointly with the parents.
The caseworker must recommend services focusing on interventions that either:
• assess the parents’ protective capacities; or
• address diminished protective capacities that prevent the parents from safely parenting the child in the home.
If additional concerns arise:
• the caseworker must include services to address diminished protective capacities in the family’s service plan and in future court hearings; and
• DFPS must recommend the services be entered as an order of the court.
See 5520 The Family’s Service and Visitation Plans: Filing and Review Requirements.
Orders in General
If the court finds that the standard for naming DFPS as temporary managing conservator (TMC) is met at the adversary hearing, the court may issue appropriate orders, including orders regarding services to address the parents’ protective capacities, as described here.
The court may also issue other orders pertaining to the child and basic issues at the beginning of the case, such as the following:
• Child support to be paid to DFPS by the parents
(Although child support is not a safety driven issue, the law requires that child support always be requested. If a parent is truly indigent, the caseworker requests that the parent support the child in some way, such as by providing clothing.);
• Visitation by parents (see 5431.5 Temporary Visitation Schedule)
• Visitation by siblings
• Visitation by relatives or others who are important to the child
• Home assessments conducted on persons requesting that the child be placed with them
• Medical and psychological evaluations of the child, followed by the services indicated as appropriate by the evaluations
• Appointment of a medical consenter, if one has not already been appointed
• Restrictions on the type of placement required to meet a child’s individual needs
• Assessments of the parents, to aid in development of the family’s case plan
• Temporary injunctions against other parties; such as, prohibiting removal of the child from the jurisdiction, prohibiting unsupervised visits, and prohibiting discussions with the child regarding testimony in pending criminal action
• Appointment of representatives of the child (such as an attorney, a court-appointed special advocate, and a guardian ad litem)
• Payment of discovery and litigation expenses for the child’s representation
• Submission of the placement resource form (Form 2625 Child Caregiver Resource) to DFPS, if it has not been previously provided by the parents
For more information on preparing for and participating in the adversary hearing, and additional orders made at an adversary hearing, see the Hearings and Legal Proceedings Resource Guide under Preparing for and Participating in the Adversary Hearing: Tips and Information.
5431.5 Temporary Visitation Schedule
The caseworker must establish a temporary visitation schedule early in a case for each child whose goal is reunification. The caseworker must ensure that a parent who is otherwise entitled to possession of the child is able to visit the child no later than five days after DFPS is named the temporary managing conservator unless:
• visiting the parent would conflict with a court order relating to possession or access to the child; or
• DFPS determines that visitation is not in the child’s best interest, including when:
• the court has made or will make a finding of aggravated circumstances, or
• the child has been abandoned without identification.
When developing the temporary visitation schedule, the caseworker must use Form 2640 Temporary Visitation Schedule, and must develop it in conjunction with the child’s parents and parents’ attorney to the extent possible.
The caseworker must be prepared to present the temporary visitation schedule at each adversary hearing, whether the hearing follows an emergency ex parte removal, or the child has not yet been removed and DFPS is seeking approval of a nonemergency removal.
The temporary schedule remains in effect until the visitation plan is developed.
5431.6 Designation of an Education Decision Maker and Notification of a Surrogate Parent
Either at the adversary hearing or no later than five days following the adversary hearing, DFPS must provide the court with:
• the name and contact information for each person that DFPS designates to make educational decisions on behalf of the child; and
• the name of any person who has been assigned by a school or the court to serve as the child’s surrogate parent for purposes of making decisions regarding special education services, if applicable.
Texas Family Code, §263.004
The caseworker must file a completed Form 2085-E Education Decision-Maker at the adversary hearing with the required information.
The caseworker must file an updated form with the court any time:
• a new person is designated as the person who can make educational decisions;
• a new person is designated as the surrogate parent;
• a surrogate parent is appointed for the first time.
The caseworker must file the updated form no later than the fifth day after the person is designated or assigned.
Exceptions to the Requirement
The only exception to the requirement to designate an educational decision-maker is if the court order limits DFPS’s authority to make education decisions on behalf of the child, and therefore DFPS has no such authority to delegate.
If a caseworker thinks there may be an exception to the requirement, the caseworker must consult with the attorney representing DFPS immediately.
Special Education Decision-Making
A foster parent is authorized to act as a “parent” for a foster child with a disability in making special education eligibility and service decisions immediately after the child is placed and is not required to be appointed as a “surrogate parent” by the school or the court to fulfill that role. The foster parent must receive training no later than 90 days after placement and must agree to other requirements.
Texas Family Code §263.0025 (a-1)
Texas Education Code §§29.015(a) and (b)
The caseworker must inform the appropriate school district if the child’s foster parent is unwilling or unable to serve as a parent for special education decision-making not later than the fifth day after the date a child with a disability in enrolled in school.
Texas Education Code §29.015 (d)
The school district must appoint an individual to serve as the surrogate parent for the child if the foster parent is unwilling or unable to serve as the parent for special education decision-making. The court may also appoint a surrogate parent if certain conditions are met.
Texas Education Code §29.0151 (b)(2)
Texas Family Code §263.0025(b)
If the court appoints a surrogate parent and the school district notifies DFPS that the surrogate is failing to properly perform the required duties, DFPS must promptly notify the court. The school must consult with DFPS and the school must appoint another person to serve as the surrogate parent for the child.
Texas Education Code §§29.0151(f) and (g)
5432 Requirements Following the Adversary Hearing
If the court issues an order naming DFPS as the temporary managing conservator of the child, the caseworker must request that the Vital Statistics Unit identify the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
Texas Family Code §§262.202 and 155.101
If the court that ordered removal orders transfer of the case from the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, DFPS must file the transfer order with the clerk of the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
Texas Family Code §§155.201; 155.204(i)
If the court does not name DFPS as temporary managing conservator, and DFPS is dismissed, the caseworker and supervisor must decide whether to offer further services to the family.
The decision to offer further services must be based on:
• the court order; and
• DFPS’s assessment of the child’s safety.
However, the caseworker must keep in mind that, if the court dismisses DFPS’s petition, providing services is voluntary, unless the court later issues an order.
5440 Aggravated Circumstances
If a parent has committed specific types of serious child abuse, the court may make a finding that a parent has subjected a child to aggravated circumstances.
If the court makes such a finding, the court may:
• waive the requirement to develop a service plan;
• waive the requirement to make reasonable efforts to return the child; and
• accelerate the trial schedule to result in a final order at an earlier date than otherwise required under the mandatory dismissal deadline.
If the court makes such a finding with respect to at least one parent, the initial permanency hearing must still be held no more than 30 days after the adversary hearing.
Texas Family Code, §262.2015
Examples of aggravated circumstances include a parent who has:
• inflicted (or permitted someone else to inflict) serious bodily injury on their child;
• sexually abused their child;
• promoted pornography or trafficking involving their child;
• been convicted of murder, manslaughter or felony assault of their child; or
• had parental rights terminated for another child.
For a complete list of aggravated circumstances, see the Hearings and Legal Proceedings Resource Guide, under Aggravated Circumstances.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3366
|
__label__cc
| 0.511296
| 0.488704
|
CyprusCuisine.com
Cyprus Cuisine
Cyprus Portals
Cyprus Seasons
Sites to Enjoy in Cyprus
Cyprus Boat Trips
Cyprus & Finding your Way
Do you wish to receive more information on how CyprusNet can help your Business?
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. Cyprus is one of the favourite tourist destinations due to it being a breathtaking and tranquil country. Allow Cyprus Cuisine become the starting place in locating the must see sites in Cyprus.
1 – Cyprus Museum
This museum is located in Nicosia and is a must see. It holds some of the most beautiful and fascinating collection of Cypriot artefacts and archaeological finds from the Neolithic Age through to the Early Byzantine period. Enjoying a snack in the museums café before exploring the museum’s treasures is also a great idea.
2 – Byzantine Museum
This museum has the largest collection of Orthodox icons on the island. The icons span the period of the ninth to the eighteenth centuries. Outside of the museum stands a huge statue of Archbishop Makarios which makes the museum hard to miss. The museum also contains oil paintings maps and lithographs in its art galleries.
3 – National Struggle Museum
For some Cypriot history this museum in Nicosia covers mainly three areas of history. The first covers the British occupation and the Cypriot independence, the second covers the EOKA guerrilla movement and the third covers the Turkish invasion of the island.
4 – House of Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios
This is a beautiful 18th century mansion that was the official residence of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios. This remarkable building has an amazing reception room with a carved and gilded ceiling. The entire complex has been beautifully restored to its former glory and is now home to an ethnological museum.
5 – Municipal Arts Centre, Nicosia
This is a special building as it is one of the finest illustrations of industrial architecture in Cyprus and is unique in its kind. It was built in the late nineteen twenties and was restored to its original state with as few alterations as possible to create a fashionable art gallery. The large exhibition hall is used to stage exhibitions of recognised artists as well as high standard international events being hosted here. The centre also contains a library that is home to 6000 volumes of books on art. There is also a lovely restaurant where one can enjoy a leisurely meal after enjoying the architecture of the centre.
6 – Ledra Observatory & Museum
This observatory and museum is located on the 11th floor of the Shakolas Building in Nicosia and gives a spectacular view of the city. There are a number of telescopes to use and many photographs depicting old Nicosia. There are also multilingual taped histories of Nicosia making this the place to visit to learn about the city itself.
7 – Town of Larnaca
This is a small town on the coast where an enjoyable and pleasant walk along the Larnaca promenade next to the seafront can be enjoyed. There are many things to see in this town like the Church of St. Lazarus and the Larnaca Salt Lake where in the winter season pink flamingos can be seen. Kition Archeological site, one of the most important historic sites can be found in Larnaca. Five temples dated from the 13th and 12th century BC was uncovered here along with a number of other structures.
8 – City of Limassol
This is Cyprus’ second largest city that is fast becoming a major spot for tourists. The Limassol castle can be seen here where it is said that Richard the Lionheart married his wife, Queen Berengaria of Navarre and is home to an interesting medieval museum. The Limassol sculpture park is located on the waterfront and is the only one of its kind in Cyprus. It hosts 20 sculptures ranging in size and was created between 1999 and 2001. Other places of interest would be the ancient cities of Amathus and Curium which are home to some amazing ruins.
9 – Town of Paphos
Paphos is the place that is said to have been the birth place of the famous Greek goddess Aphrodite. The Paphos Archaeological Park can also be found in Paphos which contains the ruins of two Roman villas that were the houses of Dionysis and Thesus which are both renowned for their mosaics. The Paphos fort is also a great place to visit where you can learn about its vigorous history.
10 – Tombs of the Kings
This is the burial site of Cyprus’ most prominent and wealthy citizens as well as officials and not the burial ground for kings and queens of olden times. It is disappointing that the sites have been pillaged of their many treasures but it is still a wonderful place to visit. The wealthier the citizen that was buried the more complex and grand the tomb is.
Cyprus Bakers
Cyprus Bakery
Cyprus Beverages
Cyprus Brandy
Cyprus Chocolates
Cyprus Coffee
Cyprus Confectionery
Cyprus Cooking
Cyprus Dairy Products
Cyprus Deliveries
Cyprus Fish
Cyprus Fish Restaurants
Cyprus Fish Tavern
Cyprus Fish Taverns
Cyprus Food Stuff
Cyprus Food Stuffs
Cyprus Frozen Foods
Cyprus Gastronomy
Cyprus Herbal Teas
Cyprus Herbs
Cyprus Homemade
Cyprus Ice Cream
Cyprus Kebab
Cyprus Liquors
Cyprus Meze
Cyprus Mushrooms
Cyprus Nuts
Cyprus Organic
Cyprus Pastries
Cyprus Patisserie
Cyprus Patisseries
Cyprus Restaurant Guide
Cyprus Restaurants
Cyprus Spices
Cyprus Sushi
Cyprus Sweets
Cyprus Taverna
Cyprus Tavernas
Cyprus Tea
Cyprus Wine
Cyprus Winery
Famagusta Restaurants
Nicosia Restaurant
Nicosia Restaurants
Paphos Restaurants
| Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us |
Copyright 2019 © Cyprus Network Company. All rights reserved.
Please enable javascript for your best experience.
We use cookies that help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3370
|
__label__cc
| 0.51158
| 0.48842
|
This Is What We Strive For...
"We will be on our feet, cameras to our eyes capturing every special moment of you from the time you're getting your hair ready, right on through until you say your "I Do's!" And it's not over yet...We'll be there for your first dance until the last song where you'll have to be carried out from all of the fun. Whatever happens, we'll be there to marry artful photojournalism with life, love, and laughter. And not only do we strive to be the best wedding photographers out there, but also to be your most favorite wedding photographer by bringing focused passion for photography through elegant service..."
David Loi Studios is a group of energetic and creative photographers based in Dallas Ft-Worth that loves taking wedding day photos that are both creative and story-telling. With weddings that have taken DLS around the United States and locations that include Thailand, Scotland, Virgin Islands and more...we have been entrusted by grooms and brides to catch moments that do not last twice. With fleeting moments that happen with a blink of an eye, we visualize, we act, and we create...we see the shot before it happens...we capture emotion and movement in a frame of stillness...
David Loi Studios' Instagram
Picture By Chi Tran
David Loi
David's passion for photography started at a much younger age when his Dad would always snap family photos. The idea of freezing time and being able to feel an emotion again just by looking at a photo was something unique and profound. Like his Dad, he loves using his skills to help his clients re-live their special moments one image at a time. Just better and more artistically than his Dad that is...(Sorry Dad! ;)
By Joe McNally
Shirley Che
Shirley has a super power - she sees acts of love in all the places. While the bride & groom is the center of focus on the wedding day, it is the love from the parents, siblings, and BFF's for the newly weds that sweeps Shirley off her feet. She hardly ever gets past the father-daughter dance with dry eyes. Offer her a Kleenex if you happen to be around!
Robert Yu
Robert's passion for photography is the perfect corner-stone to the team - he's energetic and a fast learner of new techniques that keeps the other two on their toes. A bit of a camera nerd like David, he marries his love for technology and the emotional aspects of the day to tell a story that best captures the essence of a wedding with a cinematic flair. We also like Robert's height advantage since he can put dresses up in places the other two can't! ;)
By Jojo Pangilinan
Kevin Mai
Kevin's passion has always been for photography, learning the ways especially how light falls at just the right time for his well-known and loved landscape shots. He's open to learning a new skill sets in photography, always expanding his horizon. Outside of photography, he enjoys deep conversations about life, everything and nothing around it while trying new things. He's also fantastic at thinking on the fly and a problem solver. He's an amazing addition to David Loi Studios!
David Loi Studios is a member of the following wedding photography organizations:
READY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING?
Contact us for dates
David Loi Studios is a creative and photojournalistic wedding photographer based in Dallas, Texas that has photographed Classic American Weddings, cultural Vietnamese Weddings and Destination Weddings around the world including Edinburgh, Scotland - Koh Samui, Thailand - Turks and Caicos and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands - Cancun, Mexico. We've also shot in Los Angeles, California - Charleston, South Carolina - New Orleans, Louisiana - Portland, Oregon - as well as all over Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3374
|
__label__wiki
| 0.668176
| 0.668176
|
Debunking Christianity
My Book Is # 1 in Religious Philosophy Books
By John W. Loftus at 10/08/2015
There is a Religious Philosophy category of books, and as of today mine is ranked #1. That's not too shabby I suppose. What interests me are the top 100 books in this category. Scroll down through them. Looks like some good books are in the pipeline, and others of interest. Here are four of them having to do with suffering:
John K. Roth, The Failures of Ethics: Confronting the Holocaust, Genocide, and Other Mass Atrocities. Roth has proposed a theodicy of protest in the face of so much suffering. He argues that believers should shame God into doing what is right.
Don Cupitt, Ethics in the Last Days of Humanity. Cupitt is a death of God theologian.
Benjamin W. McCraw and Robert Arp, eds., Philosophical Approaches to the Devil (Routledge Studies in the Philosophy of Religion). *Cough* No comment. ;-)
Trent Dougherty and Justin P. McBrayer, eds., Skeptical Theism: New Essays. This anthology will prove itself to be quite good. One wonders why so much attention is drawn to the problem of suffering. Ahhh, yes, because it's a huge problem for believers in a perfectly good, all-powerful all-knowing God. Which brings me back to my book. In the last chapter I argue the problem of suffering is an empirical refutation of the existence of that kind of God.
Show Feed
Seek And Ye Shall Find:
Subscribe! Don't Miss A Single Post.
Important Newer Atheist Books
The Authors Here At DC!!
About John W. Loftus and DC
Invite John to Speak for Your Group
Loftus On Why I'm Not A Christian. [2008]
Loftus On Why I'm An Atheist. [2013]
Some Interviews John Has Done
Advice if You Leave the Fold
A Few Links For Christian Apologists ;-)
On God and Objective Moral Values
The Lie of the Exodus Out of Egypt
Plato's Cave Allegory and Faith
How To Destroy Natural Theology
Faith Based Belief Processes Are Unreliable
Dr. Hector Avalos Debates Biblical Morality
How to Debunk Christianity
The OT Caught in Lie After Lie
Here's the Evidence for the Multiverse
Take the Debunking Christianity Challenges
John's Top Posts from 2009 thru 2013
Seven Debates John Has Had
vs David Wood on the Problem of Evil
vs Dinesh D'Souza on the Christian God
vs David Wood on God's Existence
vs Randal Rauser on Atheism vs Christianity
vs David Wood on the resurrection of Jesus.
vs Wallace Marshall on God's existence.
vs Abdu Murray on the Resurrection.
Please Support DC
If this Blog or John's books have been helpful to you please consider making a donation. Thanks so much!!!
There are several different ways to donate.
More Important Atheist Books
Blog Archive July (6) June (7) May (16) April (22) March (26) February (14) January (17) December (18) November (27) October (30) September (13) August (21) July (18) June (27) May (20) April (21) March (17) February (31) January (29) December (25) November (22) October (33) September (34) August (33) July (18) June (23) May (17) April (24) March (20) February (20) January (13) December (15) November (19) October (23) September (20) August (19) July (21) June (18) May (37) April (38) March (41) February (35) January (50) December (60) November (50) October (44) September (20) August (46) July (26) June (32) May (39) April (15) March (28) February (25) January (56) December (34) November (51) October (42) September (51) August (15) July (42) June (47) May (41) April (39) March (55) February (54) January (39) December (29) November (48) October (30) September (28) August (45) July (44) June (56) May (37) April (40) March (56) February (66) January (52) December (57) November (62) October (36) September (47) August (67) July (66) June (52) May (77) April (37) March (46) February (65) January (25) December (8) November (32) October (61) September (31) August (21) July (85) June (78) May (56) April (62) March (72) February (69) January (72) December (63) November (48) October (64) September (73) August (66) July (41) June (50) May (65) April (29) March (61) February (67) January (115) December (148) November (47) October (33) September (39) August (31) July (46) June (56) May (43) April (54) March (69) February (49) January (41) December (56) November (47) October (47) September (39) August (47) July (36) June (44) May (42) April (44) March (44) February (30) January (49) December (44) November (49) October (62) September (50) August (33) July (37) June (37) May (45) April (27) March (34) February (32) January (27) December (35) November (38) October (47) September (35) August (34) July (42) June (26) May (37) April (25) March (37) February (42) January (12)
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3377
|
__label__cc
| 0.516326
| 0.483674
|
5 Reasons Why Prisoner of Azkaban Is The Best Harry Potter Movie
Chloe Cole
In his newest Understanding Art video, youtuber Nerdwriter1 presents a persuasive argument for why Prisoner of Azkaban is the strongest film of the Harry Potter series.
1. The majority of the audience were children and teenagers, meaning they could easily relate to Harry and his struggles.
2. The director, Alfonso Cuarón, was the perfect choice for this installment because he had experience covering more adult topics and could capture the series' shift from a whimsical tone to a darker one.
3. Cuarón brought more advanced cinematography to the series -- like a constantly moving camera and longer, dynamic shots -- and he used these techniques to bring Hogwarts to life.
4. Cuarón also used his nuanced cinematic language to illustrate the book's important themes, like Harry's loneliness and alienation as "the chosen one."
5. By directing the popular movie, Cuarón exposed a young, impressionable audience to excellent filmmaking and inspired a new generation to think critically about cinema.
Watch the full video below to hear more of the argument:
prisoner of azkaban
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3380
|
__label__wiki
| 0.75176
| 0.75176
|
Trump raises tariff threat anew over secret provision in Mexico deal
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Monday a secret provision of the US immigration deal with Mexico will require the approval of that country’s legislature and warned US tariffs will be reinstated if it is not …
US schools reckon with social stress: ‘I’m on my phone so much’
By CAROLYN THOMPSON Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — High school biology teacher Kelly Chavis knew smartphones were a distraction in her class. But not even her students realized the psychological toll of their devices until an in-class experiment …
US issues warning to airlines flying over Gulf
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Federal Aviation Administration has warned US airlines flying over the Gulf to exercise caution “due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the region.” The advisory, which also covers airspace over …
US Catholic abuse victims sue Vatican to name predatory priests
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Five Americans who say they were sexually molested by Catholic priests filed a lawsuit against the Vatican on Tuesday to compel the church to open its archives and hand over the names and details …
Putin meets Pompeo as US seeks ‘a way forward’ in ties
by Shaun Tandon Agence France Presse SOCHI, Russia (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if …
Hundreds vaccinated after measles emergency in New York
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A New York county which declared a state of emergency over a measles outbreak is on the “right path” after administering hundreds of vaccinations in two days, the chief of the US district …
Catholic Church in US state failed to disclose 200 accused clergy: law firm
Chicago, United States (AFP) — The Catholic Church has failed to disclose more than 200 names of clergy accused of abuse in the US state of Illinois, a law firm claimed Wednesday. The firm Jeff Anderson & Associates has …
US state of West Virginia sues Catholic diocese, bishop for employing known pedophiles
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US state of West Virginia on Tuesday sued a Catholic diocese and a bishop over allegations they knowingly employed pedophiles in schools. State attorney general Patrick Morrisey announced he had filed suit against …
US woman sues Harvard over ‘slave ancestor’ pictures
by Agence France Presse A US woman who says she is descended from slaves who were photographed in 1850 by a racist Harvard University professor on Wednesday sued the university over the “exploitation” of the images of her ancestors. …
US regulators order improvements to Boeing jet after latest crash
by Heather Scott Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to its popular 737 Max 8 aircraft after the second deadly accident in a few months prompted the grounding …
Trump explains why no deal was reached with N. Korea’s Kim: “I’d much rather do it right than do it fast”
(Eagle News) – US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended a second summit that started warmly in Vietnam without a signed deal on denuclearization, with Trump saying he’d “much rather do it right than …
BishopAccountability.Org sees ‘disconnect’ between Catholic pope’s words, actions on sex abuse
by Lucie Peytermann Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — A US-based group that compiles data on sexual abuse by Catholic clerics and bishops accused of covering it up fears that a bid by Pope Francis to tackle the …
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3384
|
__label__wiki
| 0.871831
| 0.871831
|
Alicia Kuroiwa Y.
Aldo Villanueva Z.
Guillermo Knell
Jean Paul Perret
David Segurado
Dario Hurtado
Robinson Palomino
Michael Tweddle Rayner
Jose Martínez Ebell
Field logistics
Photography and filmming
Birding in Peru – Lima tours
Trips a la Carte
Field structure
You are here: Home » 2013 » January » 22
Daily Archives: 22 January, 2013
Oscar-winning French director filmed movie about forests in Manu
Lima, ene. 22 (ANDINA).
For two months, the French director Luc Jacquet, Oscar winner in 2006 for the documentary “The March of the penguins”, was interned with his team in the Manu National Park in Madre de Dios, to film the movie “once upon a time the forest”, which will be premiered in Cannes Festival.
For the film, Jacquet and a total of 35 people, including cameramen, sound, photographers and Illuminators, moved to the last outpost, known as Pakitza, in Madre de Dios, where the camp was built to the recordings during July and August of last year.
Thedocumentary film, alsomadewiththePromperúsupport, tries to raiseawarenessabouttheimportance of rainforestsagainstpredationcausedbyman.
With that goal, Jacques sought to capture the live of Manu forest ecosystem and its wealth of plants and trees, to oppose them with the engraving in Gabon, Africa, where forests have been devastated by logging and deforestation of the man.
The film was initially titled “seven hundred years and a day”, in reference to the time which costs a forest regenerate from a single day of destruction by extractive activities.
Filmmaker Luc Jacquet and the producer, Bonne Pioche Cinema, chose the Peruvian jungle after the survey by a first group that traveled to Tambopata and Manu. Other options were Brazilian and French Guyana jungle, but they were finally discarded.
Through them facebook account, the NGO Wild Touch, tape producers reported that the launch on the cinema screens is scheduled for 13 November this year in Paris.
“The only human character who appears on the tape is the renowned French botanist Francis Halle, who provided scientific support,” told to the Andina agency, the biologist Guillermo Knell, fromEcologistica Peru, the company that was in charge of providing logistics and assistance in the field for the filming of this movie.
“All were extremely impressed with the quality of the forest, so pristine and preserved, of Manu. In thefirst ten dayswesawfour times Jaguars, including a motherwithhercalf, whichindicates a healthyforest”, saysKnell.
Meanwhile, MariellaSoldi, the image country Director of Promperu, reported that this State entity supported the management of the film in Peru, as well as in post-production. She announced that the intention is to create the Peruvian Film Commission, whose objective is to facilitate the work of the international producers who come to carry out audiovisual works in Peru.
She explained that the idea is to support them with the entry of teams, both technical and human; as well as with permits and coordination with the institutions of the locations where they want to shoot.
He noted that in the case of the French movie they saw an opportunity to promote Peru, which provided the facilities for its realization, and stressed that Peru brand will be shown in the credits of the tape.
“The French were shocked that Peru has people who know so well the jungle, our local guides were the Rangers from Manu who could find more filming locations that they were not even expecting”, concerns Guillermo Knell.
The images and video on the sighting of the jaguar and the biodiversity of Manu are published by the French nature photographer Vincent Munnier, in Wild Touch pages, the NGO that they direct.
Posted: Guillermo Knell
Categories: Media
Helping out in Peru – The Team at X
One Tiny Wasp Turns a Fig Tree Into a 150-Foot-High Eden
www.cedia.org.pe
www.habitatsperu.com
www.linnaero.pe
www.tweddlefoto.com
Guillermo (51) 979 771 365
Alicia +(51) 997 920 639
Aldo +(51) 999 950 469
atta@ecologisticaperu.com
Ecologistica Perú S. A. C. © All rights reserved.
Photo credits: Ecologística Perú
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3387
|
__label__wiki
| 0.535082
| 0.535082
|
THE MASK OF SANITY
Section 3: Cataloging the Material
Part 2: A comparison with other disorders
31. Deviations recognized as similar to the psychoses but regarded as incomplete or less severe reactions
Energy Enhancement Enlightened Texts Psychopath The Mask Of Sanity
As noted earlier, conditions resembling psychoses but appearing incomplete or
less severe are still classified officially under the same general diagnostic term as the
disorder to which this book is devoted. Such an arrangement has been approved by
some as a means of placing together groups assumed to be on the borderline of serious
disorder with a genuine similarity in degree if not in type. There is another argument in
favor of using one term to identify these diverse clinical realities. This arises from
efforts to distinguish as active disease processes the psychoses and psychoneuroses
from other conditions presumed to be circumscribed defect states or relatively static
deviations. It is true that some genuine similarities can be discerned here among many
of the diverse conditions listed under personality disorders. These similarities have, it
seems to me, been given an undue importance.
It is far from proved that pathologic conditions which we call schizoid
personality or paranoid personality begin at birth and remain unchanged throughout life.
There is a vast range of difference in chronicity, reversibility, severity, and prognosis,
throughout the schizoid disorders and, indeed, throughout the paranoid and affective
disorders also. Much would be gained both logically and practically if in out official
nomenclature we could place all essentially schizoid disorders in an appropriate category
and then make what further distinctions are useful as to transiency, chronicity, and
degree.
CATALOGING THE MATERIAL 249
Since schizoid manifestations vary from rapid processes to maladjustments apparently
static, from relatively mild deviations and disabilities to total incapacity and maximum
personality disintegration, let us then reflect these facts in our language. As a matter of
fact, as every psychiatrist well knows, in many patients an initial disorder of slow or
rapid progress (disease process) becomes static or relatively static at widely varying levels
of deviation from the normal. So too, it seems, we should deal with affective and
paranoid disorders. Without minimizing the fact that schizophrenia is an illness, it is
perhaps more profitable to conceive of it as a complicated distortion of the life process
(or, as has been said, a way of life, albeit an extremely pathologic way) than as a
circumscribed external agency that selects and falls upon its victim. Active and
progressive schizophrenic illness probably arises out of tendencies and influences not
unlike those which underlie the milder and more static distortions we label as schizoid
personality.
In many important respects it seems to me that the person who is called a
psychopath or antisocial personality differs greatly from most people showing a
schizoid, paranoid, or cyclothymic disorder or deviation in degree short of psychosis
and in whatever state of chronicity. The psychopath varies not only in type but also in
the severity of his specific disorder, which can range from a mild or borderline degree
that allows him to conduct a relatively normal and acceptable life up through great
degrees of disability. There are also behavior patterns of this sort which prove to be
temporary.
It will perhaps be worthwhile to consider briefly an example from the secondary
group distinguished under various subheadings (schizoid, cyclothymic, and others) and
officially classed with the psychopath in a primary pigeon hole labeled personality disorders.
Well qualified for the diagnosis of schizoid personality is a 19-year-old boy whom
I treated on several occasions. I would prefer to call his reaction one definitely schizoid
in nature, very chronic and relatively static, and lacking most clinical features by which
disorders otherwise similar are recognized as constituting "a psychosis." The first point
that stands out in this patient is how obviously he differs from all psychopaths. On
meeting him, it is immediately seen that he is a lonely person, one recognized as queer
by all who encounter him. In discussing his recent attempt at suicide, he could give no
good reason for his act. No evidence of depression was obtained, As if not knowing
what else to say, he suggested he must have tried to kill himself "just out of curiosity."
He had no positive convictions about a future life or interest in exploring such
possibilities. He had been making good grades at college and he had no worries that he
could express. His attempt at suicide had been authentic. Only by chance had he been
discovered where he hung in a noose made by his belt. No evidence of
250 THE MASK OF SANITY
delusions or hallucinations was ever elicited, A few excerpts fronm a report given by the
college physician, who spent much time with him, are contributory:
Oliver was recognized as a bit odd or eccentric since his coming here during the
summer weeks of 19-. He worked quite willingly with sustained effort and application.
Everyone liked him and although they protested his persistent pipe and untidy personal
appearance (being unshaven, lax about clean garments and combed hair), they were
amused and tolerant. He had the reputation of having superior intellectual capacity and
that gave him the aura of a potential winner. The students included him in everything and
he was a conflicting mixture of pathetic eagerness to be accepted as one of them and to be
the lone wolf. He went through the motions of being one of the group but it all had to be
within the boundaries of his own withdrawal pattern. Though unresponsive in regard to
greetings and small talk, he would talk for hours about himself and his ideas and was eager
for such expression.
Girls interested him less. Actually, though he protested that he had an average interest
in the other sex, he had very few dates with them. However, very recently he groomed
himself quite adequately and went to Foxbridge to visit a girl whom he used to date during
his high school days and who is studying journalism there.
It was noted and accepted by everyone that Oliver would argue every point, in class
and out, but much good-natured teasing caused him to restrain himself somewhat in this
respect. However, I have noted in all my contacts with him a persistent negativistic
attitude. He prided himself on always taking the opposite point of view and that his
philosophy was quite peculiar to himself. He expressed a resentment of everything
"expected" of him by way of the simplest courtesies and social amenities of any kind.
He is sure that there is nothing neurotic about himself and mentioned doctors and
nurses other than yourself who have told him that they thought him to be all right. He
exhibits an attitude toward his hospitalization quite similar to that toward his attempted
suicide. His defense is thick and strong and he reacts with argument or denial to almost
anything which is said which seems to imply that all is not quite as it should be with him.
He said that you had told him that he would need some help and had better come to see
me every few days. He thinks that is not necessary and I think he is right, for I can see no
way to approach him even on the outskirts of his problem without stimulating a negative
reaction on his part. I noted that same lack of insight as you, and it is so complete as to
bar any psychotherapeutic relation. I left the way open for him to come at any time and I
will indeed help if I can.
This fragment from Oliver's personal notes also brings out something about his
state that is difficult to describe in any other way I know:
Oliver ______, Jr.
It is now long after the hour of midnight. I am alone, except for my pipe and my
ever-active mind, in one of the front rooms.
God has created many horrible things, but the greatest of all those monsters is that
intolerable loneliness that man calls Love, Sex, Self Pity, Comradeship, und so weiter. I
trust that you, as an individual, shall be able to grasp some vague notion of what I, as a
purely abstract thinking-apparatus, am trying to convey to you.
Nothing in a State of Nothingness. Can you imagine a more comforting place?
No emotions of fear, love, hate, anger, sympathy, pity. No materiality! No spirituality!
No mentality! Nothing! The Hell of the Bible! The Heaven of the Bible! Paradise!
Purgatory! and the Inferno! - all One!! All nothing!!!
Have you ever really delved deeply into why, for what purpose you were born or
why anyone was born? To bear children? Yes, but dogs can do that gracefully. To
build? To make money? You must leave all behind when you depart. You are unable
to carry it with you.
The epicureans had a good idea when they said, "Eat, drink and be merry, for
tomorrow we may die." But why eat, drink, and be merry? Why should one live, or
the animals which are so very close below us? There is no God; there is no Heaven;
there is no Hell; these are the dreams of baby minds. The Church, the Bible, Science,
Spiritualism, and on and on and on can offer not a solitary shred of evidence that there
is a God, Heaven, Hell, Devil, Angels. They are but wistful thinkers - the Church, the
Bible, and Spiritualism. They are the idealists. Scientists are the realists, but they study
nature. Why build machines? What can it matter to you personally one hundred years
from now? You will be nothing. Nothing.
Am I insane? They say I am because I ask, "Why?" and there is no answer to that
by anyone. "What?" can be answered. So can "When?" "Where?" "Who?" "How?"
et cetera, but not "Why?" Healthy minds do not ask, "Why?" Normal people sleep
and love, eat and drink, breathe and excrete, work and, perhaps, think - think, but only
a little and only within the bounds of conventionality.
-Oliver
This boy frequently writes letters to the newspapers commenting on such topics
as politics, art, religion, and history. There is usually a bitterness in his comments and a
kind of wit that seems to leaven his isolation. The brittle strangeness of manner, the
inadequateness and inappropriateness of his affective reactions can only be appreciated
in direct contact. An excerpt from one of his letters to the newspaper follows:
It was just a fairly good "B" picture. There was nothing in it that I had not seen
numbers of times before at the cinema. I did not think it dirty. I thought it to be just
what it was--a literally cheap movie.
Artists only would have banned it. On the other hand, I found the decidedly
wicked picture, "The Outlaw," to be the funniest screened attraction I'd ever seen (I
saw it on my return trip in Atlanta). It caused more laughs than "Kiss and Tell."
Miss Smith, please find your glasses! My morals are evaporating!
Oliver _________ Jr.
At the end of a letter to his father he signs himself,
With a heart of gold (hard and yellow), I close,
Your oldest son,
Oliver -, Jr.
This is a person who, despite his superior intelligence and his awkward gestures at
being sociable, is recognized at once as extremely eccentric, if not indeed bizarre, by his
classmates as well as by the expert. Evidence of his psychiatric trouble is apparent, and
no trained observer would confuse him with the psychopath. A history is not necessary
to surmise that he has had difficulties and that further difficulties lie ahead. Although
his personality is not outwardly fragmented, it immediately gives clues to the fact that
here experience is not what others find it. Such a patient sometimes gives the
impression that through him one comes in closer touch with what is most specific and
inexplicable in schizophrenia, what is usually blurred or hidden in the chaos of the overt
psychosis. Superficially nothing could be more different from what he presents than the
socially smooth psychopath who has an explanation for everything, an easy cordiality for
everyone. His bitterly authentic seriousness and his capacity for hurt and suffering also
contrast with the psychopath.
In many patients the disturbance classed as schizoid personality might be more
accurately regarded as masked schizophrenia or, as has been sometimes said,
"ambulatory" schizophrenia. Although the more gross technical signs of psychosis are
not evident on the surface, many of these patients have a very serious disorder within.
The tendency to call their condition schizoid personality (and therefore label them as
definitely "sane") sometimes results in their being incorrectly treated. Very dangerous
tendencies, well concealed, may emerge into tragic acts.
Some years ago a young woman regarded as seclusive, a bit queer, and withdrawn
by her acquaintances called a big-league baseball player to her hotel room on the pretext
of grave and urgent business. The business was not what might be expected from such
a call by a young woman to a man whom she had never met personally but had seemed
to admire, hero-worship, and brood over for a long time in yearning fantasies.
According to newspaper accounts, the girl, with no explanation or reason she could exCATALOGING
THE MATERIAL 253
plain afterward, shot the ballplayer in a genuine attempt to kill him and one which barely
failed to do so.
I cannot offer a diagnosis on this patient whom I have never seen. Her behavior
and her personal characteristics as disclosed in the press are, however, entirely typical of
patients with masked but real and serious schizoid disorder. Such patients are perhaps
more accurately indicated by the term "masked schizophrenia" than by "schizoid
personality," which may, artificially and unrealistically, ignore the true state of very ill
and dangerous persons and classify them with those presumably deviated in mild degree.
Some patients of this sort eventually show themselves to be psychotic, and it then
becomes apparent that a serious inner disorder has, perhaps for many years, been
masked by the minor overt peculiarities that constitute what is generally regarded as
schizoid personality. Sometimes in patients with masked schizophrenia the serious
inner pathology is so well concealed that the patient may be almost indistinguishable
from the typical psychopath. It is important to keep in mind that the excellence of the
superficial aspect of the patient (whether he be called a masked schizophrenic or a
psychopath) gives no reliable indication of how serious the inner, concealed, and at the
time undemonstrable pathology may prove to be or how disastrously and unpredictably
it may be expressed when it erupts into disastrous antisocial behavior. Like the very
dangerous and profoundly ill ambulatory schizophrenic patient whose central disorder is
well masked and not yet demonstrable, the psychopath has a concealed but very real and
grave pathology. Unlike other types of masked psychosis, the central personality
"lesions" of the psychopath are not covered over by peripheral or surface functioning
suggestive of some eccentricity or peculiarity of personality but by a perfect mask of
genuine sanity, a flawless surface indicative in every respect of robust mental health.
The example of schizoid personality or masked schizophrenia just presented
under the pseudonym Oliver is obviously distinguishable from the psychopath. His
outer aspect contrasts vividly with the smooth and deceptive disguise of the typical
psychopath. There are, however, other masked schizophrenics who resemble the typical
psychopath much more closely. I have seen a number of patients who were classified
by able and experienced psychiatrists as typical psychopaths (antisocial personalities) and
by others, equally able, as very well-masked schizophrenics. About these patients the
difference of judgment lay in estimates of how effectively the surface function masked
the inner disorder and gave an appearance of full health. There was usually no
disagreement in the conclusion by all the psychiatrists that an underlying disorder was
severe and maximally disabling. The deceptive
qualities of the excellent disguise, the perfection of the mask, afford no reliable
indication that the true condition is mild or moderate and no assurance that it may not
be far more serious than the disability of some patients in whom auditory hallucinations
and bizarre delusions can be readily demonstrated.
It is perhaps pertinent to mention here that there are other disguises behind
which other serious personality disorders mislead us. Chamberlain54 was among the first
who ably emphasized what he refers to as cryptic depression. Patients so affected may
complain only of headache, nausea, a pain in the back, or weakness. On repeated
questioning, some will admit depression as a minor element in the situation. Others will
deny it convincingly and show no evidence of it. I have seen many such patients in
whom the history of previous depressive psychosis, many details of the patient's
personality, and the prompt response to electric shock therapy give indirect but
convincing evidence of the invisible illness. Here it might be said that the potentially
more serious condition appears only in a substituted reaction that seems to constitute a
compromise or a disguise.
Under the term pseudoneurotic schizophrenia, Hoch and Polatin137 discuss what every
psychiatrist has often encountered - the patient who gives one the feeling that he must
be a schizophrenic but in whom none of the specifically characteristic features of
psychosis can be demonstrated. Often the only complaints are of vague or minor
physical discomforts. Sometimes other features that literally indicate a psychoneurosis,
and this only, constitute all that can be brought out. Such patients do not express
delusions. They deny hallucinations and show no disorder of thinking as this is
ordinarily described and no mannerisms or bizarre overt attitudes. They are never
grossly irrational in what they express. The history does not show them psychotically
deviated in their general behavior until, perhaps, some irreparable psychotic act occurs.
Their lack of insight (broader and more profound than in the psychoneurotic patient)
and a peculiar emotional deficit and distortion make the examiner realize, without being
able to prove it, that he is dealing with schizophrenia. At length the examiner becomes
convinced that these patients do not normally experience and evaluate the basic issues
of life and that this difference is of the sort and degree not found except in
schizophrenia. Some of these people eventually develop delusions and hallucinations,
but many go on year after year fully masked by the psychoneurotic facade.
The patient who is seriously schizophrenic but whose basic disorder is masked by
the outer appearance of neurosis or by what seems to be only minor eccentricities or
schizoid traits can nearly always be readily distinguished from the true psychopath. As
mentioned previously, however,
there are sometimes masked schizophrenics whose outer appearance is more like that of
the true psychopath.
Guttmacher discusses these patients in a very interesting paper and designates
them by the term pseudopsychopathic schizophrenia.106 The type of patient discussed by
Guttmacher may appear for many years to be a typical psychopath and show all the
features in his behavior that are characteristic. Some of these patients do not show the
outer eccentricities and oddnesses that usually distinguish the masked schizophrenic.
Occasional) they may be almost as outgoing, charming in manner, and almost as free
from apparent abnormality as the classic psychopath. As pointed out by Guttmacher,
sometimes such a patient will eventually develop a full-blown and obvious
schizophrenic psychosis.
It might be argued that the psychosis has developed independently of the
psychopathic defect, but I think it much more likely that a serious central disorder was
present all the time and that eventually it has become manifest through the disruption of
the formerly perfect superficial function and outer appearance. Such developments as
these lead me to believe not only that the central disorder in the psychopath may
perhaps be similar in degree to that in schizophrenia but also that there may be more
similarity in quality than is generally recognized.
An interesting comparison between thoroughly masked schizophrenia and the
disorder of the psychopath can be found in the fictional characters Judd Steiner and
Artie Straus as they are presented by Meyer Levin in his novel Compulsion.181 Judd
Steiner, the fictional representative of Nathan Leopold, gives a strong impression of a
deep schizoid disorder masked by generally sane behavior and great intellectual
brilliance. Artie Straus, who is modeled on the novelist's conception of Loeb, emerges
in the book as a remarkably well-drawn figure of the classic psychopath. The author
admits that his fictional characters are not necessarily true interpretations of the actual
characters whose utterly unprovoked sensational murder of a teenaged boy startled and
horrified the world in 1924. This long deliberated and ingeniously planned murder for a
thrill suggests a callousness and cynicism that are difficult to describe and still
astonishing to contemplate. Both the similarities and the differences between Judd and
Artie are wonderfully and convincingly conveyed by Levin in his book and should
stimulate interest in everyone concerned with the basic problems of psychiatry.
There is little point in devoting space to detailed accounts of paranoid or
cyclothymic personalities. In some degree such characteristics can be seen among
anyone's acquaintances, and to name a quantitative point at which they warrant a
diagnosis is not easy. Nor is it possible to lay down
specifications that will enable one to delineate confidently where paranoid personality
ceases and paranoid state or paranoid psychosis begins. So it is with depressions.
Where the depth of negative affect permissible to cyclothymic personality ceases and
that of "neurotic depression" begins is perhaps even more difficult to define than where,
at greater depths, the disorder should properly be pronounced depressive psychosis.
There is about all this much to suggest that traditional concepts have attributed to our
terms a good deal more authority than clinical facts uphold.
I find it helpful to consider all schizoid reactions, of whatever degree or course of
development, as qualitatively similar, whether or not they are sufficiently disabling to
merit such a term as psychosis. So, too, the affective and paranoid reactions seem to fall
naturally each into its primary group rather than into other pigeonholes (on the basis of
degree) which may give rise to confusion.
The characteristic disorder of the psychopath is usually not difficult to distinguish
from these other disorders, but like all of them, it, too, is seen in the widest variations of
degree, in manifestations ranging from isolated character traits in the successful person,
or brief episodes of delinquency in adolescence, to disability far greater than that shown
by many of the psychotic patients committed to institutions.
Next: Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 32. The psychoneurotic
Section 3, Part 2
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material , Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 29. Purpose of this step
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material , Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 29. Purpose of this step, Some material has been presented in which manifestations of the disorder occur. It is our task to arrange it in such a way that its features can be seen clearly and compared with the features of other disorders. Such a step should be helpful in our efforts to recognize what we are dealing with and to evaluate it. Let us compare these patients known as psychopaths with others showing clinical illness and deviated reactions or patterns of living. Significant details should emerge, differentiation should become clearer, and distinguishing features of our subject should become more apparent at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material , Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 30. The psychotic
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material , Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 30. The psychotic, For the sake of emphasis let us first contrast very briefly the psychopath with the general group of psychotic patients to which he is considered not to belong. These, if their disorder is well advanced, are usually recognized by the law as 'insane' and by the man on the street as irrational, irresponsible, plainly unable to accept the general facts accepted by humanity at large, and, furthermore, unable to provide for themselves or to remain safely or conveniently at liberty among their fellows. Such people frequently have beliefs that are not only false but bizarre, inconsistent, and nearly always impossible to remove even by convincing demonstrations of their impossibility at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material , Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 31. Deviations recognized as similar to the psychoses but regarded as incomplete or less severe reactions
Psychopath THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material , Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 31. Deviations recognized as similar to the psychoses but regarded as incomplete or less severe reactions, As noted earlier, conditions resembling psychoses but appearing incomplete or less severe are still classified officially under the same general diagnostic term as the disorder to which this book is devoted. Such an arrangement has been approved by some as a means of placing together groups assumed to be on the borderline of serious disorder with a genuine similarity in degree if not in type at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 32. The psychoneurotic
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 32. The psychoneurotic, People who suffer from personality disorders which cause them to be anxious, restless, unhappy, and obsessed with thoughts they themselves recognize as absurd but who are, in the lay sense, altogether sane have for years been classed as psychoneurotic. They recognize reason in general, often admit that their symptoms arise from emotional conflicts, and are free from delusions and hallucinations at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 33. The mental defective
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 33. The mental defective, The mental defective often behaves foolishly or ineffectively and, if the defectiveness is great, may show prolonged and serious maladjustment in ordinary surroundings. In contrast with the psychopath, however, the mental defective is obviously stupid, and his follies may be understood readily as depending on his lack of intelligence, a handicap that is easily demonstrated at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Next: Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 33. The mental defective
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Next: Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 33. The mental defective, Though efforts have been made to interpret criminalism as a form of mental disorder and many criminal careers have been expounded as reactions to emotional conflict,11,12 the sort of person described here shows the following important points of distinction from the typical criminal at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 35. Other character and behavior disorders, including delinquency
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 35. Other character and behavior disorders, Those who repeatedly commit antisocial acts or continue to carry out behavior in other ways unacceptable to the group and incompatible with good standing among one's fellows are often referred to as delinquents at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 36. A case showing circumscribed behavior disorder
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 36. A case showing circumscribed behavior disorder, When behavior disorder is circumscribed, in a child or in an adult, one may sometimes feel that symptomatically the patient resembles a psychopath but that a different sort of personality lies behind the manifestation. Instead of essential indifference to the pathologic situation, we sometimes see genuine zeal to avoid the faulty and self-damaging acts. It is not rare to find relatively normal attitudes to most aspects of life and sometimes healthy and admirable personality features at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 37. Specific homosexuality and other consistent sexual deviations
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 37. Specific homosexuality and other consistent sexual deviations, When the first edition of this book was written it had for many years been customary to use the term sexual psychopath to designate homosexuals, sadists, masochists, and also people specifically inclined towards exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, cross-dressing, and pedophilia. Included at times with these deviations under the concept of sexual psychopathy were also types of abnormal behavior designated as erotomania and sexual immaturity. For many years before and after the initial publication of the Mask of Sanity this custom had authoritative sanction in our nomenclature at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 38. The erratic man of genius
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 38. The erratic man of genius, Rather curiously, one might at first think, many persons widely recognized as geniuses have been placed by various writers in the classification of psychopathic personality.128,131,156 The vagueness and plasticity of the term as it was for so long officially used seem still to promote it's being stretched in practice to cover nearly any type of abnormal behavior imaginable, and the literal or etymologic connotation is, of course, no less all embracing at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 39. The injudicious hedonist and some other drinkers
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 39. The injudicious hedonist and some other drinkers, Those who devote their lives unduly to sensual pleasure are popularly regarded by more sober and restrained members of society as wicked or depraved. By his fellows who are especially austere the ways of the careless bon vivant are often attacked with thunderous vigor and even, by certain extremists, held as largely responsible for the ills of mankind at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 40. The clinical alcoholic
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 40. The clinical alcoholic, The term clinical alcoholic is chosen for convenience to signify the large group of pathologic drinkers who are still making some genuine effort to adjust in normal life but are using drink to escape reality which they cannot quite face and, by a vicious cycle, making themselves steadily more inadequate to face this reality. Such drinkers may, in several respects, be contrasted with the psychopath (antisocial personality) just as the non-alcoholic neurotic contrasts with the psychotic patient at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 41. The malingerer
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 41. The malingerer, The malingerer, so far as his relation to the psychopath is concerned, may be dismissed with a few words. Many psychopaths malinger at times. They seldom malinger consistently over long periods toward a constant aim. The malingerer pure and simple sticks to his purpose and, on gainging his objective, uses it in some fairly human way. Malingering is merely an incident in the psychopath's versatile career at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 42. Fictional characters of psychiatric interest
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 42. Fictional characters of psychiatric interest, Characters from literature, it may be argued, not being real people, are therefore of no value in the discussion of a medical problem. It can scarcely be doubted, however, that genuinely creative writers have often presented personalities more fully and more truly than we can readily get to know them in life. And sometimes minor writers succeed in portraying personalities that seem to be reliably true. The characters of the novelist and the dramatist are, furthermore, accessible to all who care to read about them, unlike the patient who has been seen and studied but cannot be presented personally to the reader. For the purpose of this discussion I feel that several points can be made by citing fictional characters, some of whom I believe have been no less faithfully drawn than patients reported in psychiatric examinations at energyenhancement.org
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 43. The psychopath in history
Psychopath Hervey Cleckley THE MASK OF SANITY, Section 3: Cataloging the material, Part 2: A comparison with other disorders, 43. The psychopath in history, Over a period of many decades psychiatrists, and sometimes other writers, have made attempts to classify prominent historical figures-rulers, military leaders, famous artists and writers-as cases of psychiatric disorder or as people showing some of the manifestations associated with various psychiatric disorders. Many professional and lay observers in recent years have commented on the sadistic and paranoid conduct and attitudes reported in Adolf Hitler and in some of the other wartime leaders in Nazi Germany at energyenhancement.org
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3394
|
__label__cc
| 0.731628
| 0.268372
|
FSRA is committed to an open, transparent and collaborative approach that involves stakeholders and ensures broad input and perspectives to inform its direction.
FSRA is considering longer-term mechanisms to ensure improved and more effective stakeholder input and engagement. In the interim, FSRA has struck a number of sector and topic-specific advisory groups have been established to provide industry perspectives:
Sector Industry Advisory Groups (IAGs)
Seven IAGs were established in July 2018 to provide regulated sector industry insight and views to the FSRA management and Board of Directors. To date, the IAGs have been engaged on two key FSRA initiatives: FSRA’s proposed new fee rule and 2019-20 priorities and budget.
Sector Industry Advisory Group membership
The initial (July 2018) invitation and Terms of Reference are listed below. In November 2018 the mandate was expanded to include input on FSRA’s 2019-20 priorities and budget.
General/Property and Casualty Insurance
Health Service Providers
Life Insurance Agents
Life and Health Insurance
Mortgage Brokers and Agents
In November 2018 FSRA re-engaged the IAGs, adapting the mandate to include the development of FSRA’s 2019-20 priorities and budget.
Rate Regulation Advisory Group
FSRA is committed to burden reduction and regulatory effectiveness. In our first year, streamlining the auto insurance rate regulation process is a key priority.
As a first step, and based on our commitment to enhanced stakeholder collaboration, FSRA has established a special purpose Rate Regulation Advisory Group. It will provide input into FSRA’s guiding principles for streamlining rate regulation and on proposed changes based on those principles.
Rate Regulation Advisory Group Membership
Rate Regulation Advisory Group Terms of Reference
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3400
|
__label__wiki
| 0.921681
| 0.921681
|
Home Fossils Archaeopteryx gets company
Archaeopteryx gets company
The illustration shows the wing of Alcmonavis poeschli as it was found in the limestone slab. Alcmonavis poeschli is the second known specimen of a volant bird from the Jurassic period.
Archaeopteryx’s throne is tottering. Since the discovery of the first fossil of the primal bird in 1861, it had been considered the only bird from the Jurassic geological period. Today’s birds are thought to be direct descendants of carnivorous dinosaurs, with Archaeopteryx representing the oldest known flying representative of this lineage. All of the specimens that have been found up to now come from the region of the Solnhofen Archipelago, which during the Jurassic era spanned across what is today the Altmühl Valley, in the area between Pappenheim and Regensburg. Archaeopteryx lived here in a landscape of reef islands about 150 million years ago.
A team led by Professor Oliver Rauhut has taxonomically identified a bird unknown until now: Alcmonavis poeschli, the second bird from the era identified as capable of flight. “This suggests that the diversity of birds in the late Jurassic era was greater than previously thought,” says Rauhut, paleontologist at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences as well as the Bavarian State Collection of Paleontology and Geology.
Only a wing of Alcmonavis poeschli was discovered. “At first, we assumed that this was another specimen of Archaeopteryx. There are similarities, but after detailed comparisons with Archaeopteryx and other, geologically younger birds, its fossil remains suggested that we were dealing with a somewhat more derived bird,” says Rauhut. According to the team’s taxonomic studies, which are currently featured in the scientific journal eLife, Alcmonavis poeschli was not merely somewhat larger than Archaeopteryx; apparently it could also fly better. “The wing muscles indicate a greater capacity for flying,” says Rauhut. Alcmonavis poeschli exhibits numerous traits lacking in Archaeopteryx but present in more recent birds. This suggests that it was adapted better to active, flapping flight.
Recommended For You Paleobiologists make intriguing new discoveries about dinosaur ancestors
The discovery of Alcmonavis poeschli has implications for the debate over whether active flapping birds arose from gliding birds. “Its adaptation shows that the evolution of flight must have progressed relatively quickly,” says Dr. Christian Foth from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), one of the co-authors of the study.
The bird now being described for the first time derives its name from the old Celtic word for the river Altmühl, Alcmona, and its discoverer Roland Pöschl, who leads the excavation at the Schaudiberg quarry close to Mörnsheim. A fossil of Archaeopteryx was also discovered in the same unit of limestones. The two primal birds thus apparently lived at the same time in what was then a subtropical lagoon landscape in southern Germany.
Oliver WM Rauhut, Helmut Tischlinger, Christian Foth. A non-archaeopterygid avialan theropod from the Late Jurassic of southern Germany. eLife, 2019; 8 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.43789
Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Scientists develop new method for studying early life in ancient rocks
Evolution of life in the ocean changed 170 million years ago
When the dinosaurs died, lichens thrived
A new normal: Study explains universal pattern in fossil record
Tooth enamel analyses offer insights into the diet and habitat of T.rex relative tarbosaurus
Blue color tones in fossilized prehistoric feathers
Improved Interpretation of Volcanic Traces in Ice
Viséan Epoch
Ancient ‘Deep Skull’ from Borneo full of surprises
‘Dead Zone’ for Gulf of Mexico was predicted
Seismic ‘CT scans’ reveal deep earth dynamics
Fossils reveal ancient shrublands in fiery landscape
Pterosaur : What Is a Pterosaur?
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3408
|
__label__wiki
| 0.906876
| 0.906876
|
Seven Georgia Restaurants Win Diners' Choice Awards for Best Brunch in America
OpenTable, the world's leading provider of online restaurant reservations, announced the 2013 Diners' Choice Award winners for Top 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in the United States.
Seven Georgia eateries are on the list.
B Matthews Eatery in Savannah;
The Cafe at The Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead;
Einstein's in Atlanta;
Lake Rabun Hotel and Restaurant in Lakemont;
Parks Edge in Inman Park;
Rosebud in Atlanta; and
Sun in my Belly Neighborhood Cafe in Decatur.
"Americans didn't invent brunch, but these winning restaurants have come to define it," says Caroline Potter, OpenTable Chief Dining Officer. "Whether its folks seeking to kick-start Saturday dining adventures or gather with loved ones over a sumptuous meal on a Sunday afternoon, brunch is a national pastime for foodies, friends, and families."
The Diners' Choice Awards for the Top 100 Best Brunch Restaurants are generated from more than 5 million reviews collected from verified OpenTable diners between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. All restaurants with a minimum "overall" score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of qualifying reviews for which "great for brunch" was selected as a special feature.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3409
|
__label__wiki
| 0.612364
| 0.612364
|
Home » Dynamo Kyiv , racism , UEFA Champions League » Dynamo Kiev Offer Bizarre Solution to Problems With Racism in their Ground
Dynamo Kiev Offer Bizarre Solution to Problems With Racism in their Ground
The scourge of racism has been an ongoing problem in some stadiums in Eastern Europe for the past two decades and after the latest ugly incident in Kiev, a stadium director there demonstrated a stunning lack of insight into the issue.
During last week's Champions League draw with Chelsea shocking scenes emerged of four black men being attacked in the home end of the Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
With UEFA currently conducting an investigation into the incident, which could well lead to possible sanctions against the club, Volodimir Spilchenko, the director of Dynamo's home ground came out with this gem:
We are trying, maybe, to make a special sector (for black fans),' Spilchenko said, 'In order to avoid the manifestation of racism.'
So basically they're looking at going back to segregation in 2015.
Speaking about the fans who were attacked, Spilchenko said that after they were abused the fans in questioned were offered the chance to move to nicer seats, but this offer was declined.
You couldn't make this up.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3413
|
__label__wiki
| 0.683886
| 0.683886
|
Anabaptist Icons
Iconographer Ivan Zhabov
Julia Stankova Icons and Fine Art
Ethiopian Icons
Museum Kilims
Kilim Pillow Shams
Kilim Placemats
Kilim Purses
Shop Kilims
Mud Cloths & Masks
Tanzanian Art
Zimbabwe Sculptures
Wooden Sculptures
Shop Africa
Chinese Farmer Paintings
Chinese Screens
Chinese Carvings
Chinese Teapots
Preah Bots
Shop Chinese Farmer Paintings
Shop Asia
Panamanian Molas
Caribbean Art
Luis Lamothe Duribe
Lourdes Betancourt
Exotic Artifacts
Shop Other Caribbean Art
Wedding Registry/Sara and Adam
Shop Lourdes Betancourt Paintings
Shop Alberto Fumero Cuban Paintings
Thai Jewelry
Artillery Jewelry
Grabers
Family Cookbook
Jane Graber Pottery
Related Miniatures
Ann's Watercolors
Esther's Watercolors
Sibyl's Fabrics
Shop Menno Tea
Shop Grabers
Shop Jane Graber
Shop Related Miniatures
Often referred to as Shona Sculptures, our Zimbabwean Stone Sculptures are on consignment from Germany's Hans Huebert, an art appreciator and long-time collector (since 1972) of these gorgeous fine art pieces. This collection, housed at downtown Chicago's Nicole Gallery until the gallery closed in August 2011, is our newest addition to Graber Designs Gallery.
Shona Sculpture Lovers
Since Zimbabwe's independence in the 1980, the stone art originating there has become world renowned, described by Newsweek as "the most important new art form to emerge from Africa in this century."
Zimbabwe literally means "house of stone," and the country is blessed with a large variety and great supply of beautiful stones. Shona sculptors show great skill in their selection of the most aesthetically pleasing stones in terms of color, form, and grain, and then they search with their inner eye until the stone reveals to them the image needing to be set free. The most commonly used material -- as well as the hardest -- is serpentine, which formed about 2.6 billion years ago in the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe, which forms a backbone for almost 300 miles through the heart of the country.
English artist and curator Frank McEwen was a significant player in exposing Zimbabwean artists to the larger world. Having lived in Paris for several years, McEwen was a close friend of several of the famous artists of mid-20th-century Europe, including Matisse, Picasso, Brancussi, Brauque, and others. McEwen was convinced that hidden in Africa, waiting to be unearthed, must lie a creative primal energy. As director of the Rhodes National Gallery in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), he encouraged young Zimbabweans to sculpt in the bowels of the gallery, providing them with stone and tools and setting them free to create.
By the time McEwen left Rhodesia in 1973, he had brought Shona sculpture to the attention of the art circles of London and New York. A great exhibition of Shona sculptures in Paris, at the Musee Rodin in 1971, did much to validate Shona stone art and prove McEwen's assumption about the great potential of African art. All sculptures at the 1971 exhibition in Paris were eagerly bought by art collectors.
Shona Sculpture Mary and Joseph
Finishing a good sculpture can take weeks or months. Depending on its hardness, shape, and structure, the stone is progressively worked on with an array of chisels of decreasing sizes, charring hammers, and files. Eventually, the parts of the surface to be highlighted are smoothed in gradual steps, with a sandpaper of diminishing coarseness starting with 30 grain and up to 1200 grain. The sanding process alone takes several days. Then the entire stone is heated up, either by piling flaming wood around it or by using a gas flamer. The heating process opens up the stone's pores so the artist can carefully apply transparent bee's wax on the areas to be highlighted, bringing out the color and shine of the stone.
Among our Shona artists is Kennedy Musekiwa, one of the best known Shona sculptors. Born in May 1962, Musekiwa was inspired by his teachers Victor Mtongwizo and Joseph Ndandarika. Musekiwa's sculptures are admired and collected in Europe, South Africa, Botswana, and Canada. In the U.S., his work has been exhibited in museums in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east.
Shop African Art
View Julia Stankova Icons
Shop Lourdes Betancourt Oil Pastels
Graber Found, 208 South Main St, Goshen, IN, 46526(574) 534-4394graberfound@gmail.com
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3416
|
__label__wiki
| 0.803105
| 0.803105
|
Police department warns residents that flushing drugs could create ‘meth-gators'
‘Agenda of white nationalists': Democratic congresswomen attacked by Trump call for impeachment
Charges: Man watched porn moments before fatal crash in Rogers, Minn.
Charges: Gang leader ordered shooting of St. Paul woman in May Township
By Courtney Godfrey, FOX 9
Updated Jun 19 2019 10:12AM CDT
MAY TOWNSHIP, Minn. (FOX 9) - A St. Paul woman narrowly survived after an Uber driver found her shot on the side of the road near Stillwater, Minnesota.
Now, a 23-year-old man is behind bars for an act authorities say was all for the benefit of a gang.
Police say Luis Mendoza attempted to kill the woman at the order of a gang leader. The other suspect, Angel Ignacio Sardina-Padilla, was arrested Tuesday evening in Minneapolis.
According to charging documents, it all started when the 39-year-old victim bought a gun from a known gang member and meth dealer, but was $100 short.
The next day, Sardina-Padilla and Mendoza showed up to her apartment and held her and her roommates hostage, eventually forcing the woman into Mendoza’s car where she would remain for hours.
After driving all day, Sardina-Padilla got out of the car, but Mendoza kept driving. After several hours, he stopped on a dirt road near Stillwater, ordered the woman out of the car, pointed a gun at her and shot. The bullet barely missed her heart.
He later told police Sardina-Padilla ordered him to kill her and that he drove around contemplating whether to do it. He said if he didn’t, he feared they would kill him, instead.
Mendoza is charged with Attempted 1st Degree Murder for the Benefit of a Gang, Attempted 2nd Degree Murder for Benefit of a Gang, and Kidnapping for the Benefit of a Gang.
Sardina-Padilla is charged with Aiding and Abetting 1st Degree Murder for the Benefit of a Gang, Aiding and Abetting 2nd Degree Murder For the Benefit of a Gang, and Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping for the Benefit of a Gang.
By Bisi Onile-Ere, FOX 9
13-year-old Trey Wilhelm is working to bring smiles to the faces of young patients at St. Paul Children’s Hospital one teddy bear at a time.
He’s a Cottage Grove boy with big ambitions, too. He’s part of an Eagle Scout project where he is spending the summer collecting stuffed teddy bears that come in all colors and sizes.
“It will help brighten a day for a child in the hospital,” he said.
Monday didn’t offer the best golfing weather in the Twin Cities, but the Believe in Miracles – Jack Jablonski Golf Tournament went on at the Wilds Golf Club.
FOX 9’s Jim Rich was there to take in the action.
Jablonski was paralyzed during a high school hockey game years ago. Ever since, he’s worked to pay it forward.
Flooding slams Twin Cities metro
Several areas of the Twin Cities metro are experiencing significant flooding after heavy thunderstorms rolled through much of the state.
A Flash Flood Warning was issued for southeastern Hennepin County, northwesteern Dakota County and northeastern Scott countil until 10:45 p.m.
Viewers in areas like Maple Grove and Minneapolis reported extremely flooded streets and yards, as well as several trees knocked down or even split in half during the storm.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3417
|
__label__wiki
| 0.994171
| 0.994171
|
Police: Woman fired gun after calling DMV wait 'ridiculous'
Ken / Flickr
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police say a woman upset about the line at a Department of Motor Vehicles office in Kansas City went outside and fired a gun after being asked to leave.
Officer Darin Snapp says no one was injured. He says around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday the woman announced that the "wait time is ridiculous."
Snapp says staff asked her to leave because she was being "loud and obnoxious." He says the woman then said she was going to get a gun.
Snapp says an off-duty officer who heard a gunshot approached the woman and ordered her to put the gun down.
The woman was jailed but no charges were immediately filed. Her name hasn't been released.
Snapp says: "She just wasn't very happy about the wait at the DMV."
Crisis erupts at Minnesota DHS as commissioner, top deputies quit
Tony Lourey, commissioner of the state Department of Human Services, resigned Monday just six months after taking office, handing Gov. Tim Walz the first full-blown crisis of his brief tenure.
Walz named Pam Wheelock, a finance commissioner under former Gov. Jesse Ventura, as the acting DHS commissioner. The Walz administration did not say whether Lourey had been forced to resign.
The move comes four days after DHS announced the resignations of the second- and third-ranking officials at the agency , deputy commissioners Chuck Johnson and Claire Wilson. Department officials did not provide an explanation for either resignation.
Missing: 20-year-old Bemidji woman last seen Sunday night
Police in Bemidji, Minnesota are asking for the public's help in locating a 20-year-old woman who has been missing since Sunday night.
Tangela Aragon was last seen at 727 26th Street Northwest at 11:20 p.m., according to the Bemidji Police Department. Aragon reportedly said she was going outside to smoke and never came back inside.
Police said Aragon may have been seen at PetroServ Gas Station shortly after and possibly got into a blue/gray minivan.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3418
|
__label__wiki
| 0.687279
| 0.687279
|
Home // Women's T-Shirts // Women's TV & Movie T-Shirts // I Am Groot Guardians of the Galaxy, As Worn by Vin Diesel Women's T-Shirt
I Am Groot Guardians of the Galaxy, As Worn by Vin Diesel Women's T-Shirt
1867G-PS-BeWild-girls
BlackHot PinkKelly GreenMaroonNavy BlueRedTurquoise
I Am Groot Guardians of the Galaxy, As Worn by Vin Diesel Women's T-Shirt.
Guardians of the Galaxy, the newest superhero movie in the Marvel Universe, features an assortment of odd characters, including a talking raccoon and his muscular companion GROOT (voiced by Vin Diesel). Get your I AM GROOT shirt for the premiere, just like Vin Diesel wore.
That's What I Do. I Drink and I Know Things Women's T-shirt$12.99
I Wish I Was Felicia. She's Always Going Somewhere Women's T-shirt$12.99
Let The Devil Dress In Black Women's T-shirt$12.99
Hogwarts Alumni Women's T-shirt$12.99
Official Hogwarts School Crest Women's T-shirt$19.99
Of Course I'm Right, I'm Bob Women's T-shirt$12.99
(White Print) You Know Nothing Jon Snow Women's T-shirt$12.99
(Black Print) You Know Nothing Jon Snow Women's T-shirt$12.99
RIP Jon Snow - The North Remembers Women's T-shirt$12.99
Father Of Dragons Women's T-shirt$12.99
Goku's Gym Women's T-shirt$12.99
Team Caitlyn Jenner Women's T-shirt$12.99
WE ARE GROOT Guardians of the Galaxy Women's T-Shirt
Women's TV & Movie T-Shirts
I Love Daryl Walking Dead Women's T-Shirt
That's What I Do. I Drink and I Know Things Women's T-shirt | I Wish I Was Felicia. She's Always Going Somewhere Women's T-shirt | Let The Devil Dress In Black Women's T-shirt | Hogwarts Alumni Women's T-shirt | Official Hogwarts School Crest Women's T-shirt | Of Course I'm Right, I'm Bob Women's T-shirt | (White Print) You Know Nothing Jon Snow Women's T-shirt | (Black Print) You Know Nothing Jon Snow Women's T-shirt | RIP Jon Snow - The North Remembers Women's T-shirt | Father Of Dragons Women's T-shirt | Goku's Gym Women's T-shirt | Team Caitlyn Jenner Women's T-shirt | Team Bruce Women's T-shirt | Albert Sponge-stein Women's T-shirt | Einstein Graffiti Fractal Women's T-Shirt | What Would Mindy Do? Eat Ice Cream Women's T-Shirt | Sorry Ladies, I'm In The Nights Watch Women's T-Shirt | Bad Girls Go To Mr. Grey Women's T-Shirt | Party On Wayne Women's T-Shirt | Reaper Crew Women's T-Shirt | Awaken The Force VII Women's T-Shirt | Bad Girls Ride with Jax SOA Women's T-Shirt | Thrones Greyjoy Ironborn Motto Women's T-Shirt | Bye Felicia Quote from Friday Women's T-Shirt | Turtle Costume with Letter Buckle Women's T-Shirt | Resistance Is Futile Borg Women's T-Shirt | Police Box Phone Booth Tardis Women's T-Shirt | I Heart Daryl Women's T-Shirt | Gotta Be Fresh Workaholics Women's T-Shirt | Kardashian 03 Celebrity-Inspired Women's T-Shirt
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3422
|
__label__wiki
| 0.563853
| 0.563853
|
World renowned Arbitrators discuss dispute resolutions with the PM
Date:December 10, 2015|Domain:Business & Industry--Judiciary
GIS - 10 December 2015: Dispute resolutions in the construction industry were the focus of discussions yesterday during a courtesy call by a delegation of world renowned Arbitrators on the Prime Minister, Sir, Anerood Jugnauth, at the Treasury Buil
PM: Government remains steadfast to relentlessly fight fraud, corruption and financial crime
Date:December 03, 2015|Domain:Law and Order--Judiciary
GIS - 03 December, 2015: Government has pledged to conduct business on the principles of discipline, transparency, accountability and exemplary governance. It took a firm commitment to act decisively to address the social and economic problems that
Visit of ICRC delegates: Workshops and working sessions on the agenda
Date:November 26, 2015|Domain:International Relations--Judiciary--Law and Order
GIS - 26 November, 2015: International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the effects of war on society were the focus of a half-day workshop which was held yesterday at the Municipal Council of Port Louis. The aim was to convey the message of the importanc
Legislative framework to be strengthened in order to combat domestic violence more effectively
Date:November 25, 2015|Domain:Gender--Judiciary--Law and Order
GIS - 25 November, 2015: “I am confident that by the next session of the National Assembly we would have brought the necessary amendments to strengthen the legislative framework in respect of combatting the scourge of domestic violence in our Republ
Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Bill and Declaration of Assets Bill will be introduced shortly, says PM
Date:November 18, 2015|Domain:Judiciary
GIS - 18 November, 2015: The Government is going ahead with the amendment of the Asset Recovery Act and will shortly introduce the Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Bill as well as the Declaration of Assets Bill as part of a wider spectrum of
Emergency preparedness drill at Richelieu Open Prison
GIS - 10 November, 2015: A full-scale emergency preparedness drill was held last week at the Richelieu Open Prison (ROP) with a scenario of hostile intruders at night. The intruders were actually prison officers in disguise, masquerading as bad g
PM announces setting up of UK legal framework model to address alleged arbitrary arrests
Date:October 22, 2015|Domain:Judiciary--Law and Order
GIS - 22 October, 2015: The Prime minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, recalled in the National Assembly on October 20 that the Government Programme 2015-2019 mentions for the proposed introduction of a modern legal framework modelled on the UK Police an
Passing out Parade for 644 Trainee Police Constables
Date:October 19, 2015|Domain:Law and Order--Judiciary
GIS - 19 October, 2015: A Passing out Parade for 644 Trainee Police Constables enlisted in April 2015 was held on Saturday 17 October 2015 at the Gymkhana Sports Complex in Vacoas. The Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, was the chief guest at th
MRA launches publications to ease understanding on tax laws and practice
Date:October 09, 2015|Domain:Economy & Finance--Judiciary
GIS - 09 October, 2015: The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) launched a series of technical publications yesterday in Port Louis in line with the MRA’s initiatives to provide its staff with technical support aiming at making issues such as case law
Vacoas Police Awareness Campaign kickstarts today
GIS - 08 October, 2015: A three-day awareness campaign ‘Nous é Votre Sécurité’ organised by the Vacoas Police kickstarts today in the compound of the station. The campaign focuses on prevention of road accidents, domestic violence, juvenile delinque
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3424
|
__label__cc
| 0.656056
| 0.343944
|
Symbiotic Series
The buddy
The Stool
GUAN XIANG
19.Sep.2018 - It's nice that + Made.com
Part of the Process
A panel discussion focussing on the theme of collaboration between audience and designer.
It’s Nice That and Made.com’s TalentLAB explore how consumers are increasingly becoming a part of the product.
find more detail at:
https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/sponsored-content-made-talent-lab-opinion-200918
July.2018 - Dezeen Awards
I am glad to receive the news that Symbiotic Objects has been longlisted for Dezeen Awards 2018.
find out more detail at:
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/07/27/dezeen-awards-design-longlist/
June.2018 - Reddot Design Award
I am glad to receive the news that 'Travel Light' has been awarded by red-dot. thank to every one who supported me during the project.
https://www.red-dot.sg/en/travel-light/
June.2018 - Core77 Design Award
I am glad to receive the news that Fold and Travel Light have been honored in the Core77 Design Awards 2018. Thanks to every one who supported me during the project.
find more detail at :
https://designawards.core77.com/Packaging/72517/Fold
https://designawards.core77.com/Furniture-Lighting/72519/Travel-Light
May.2018 - New York Design Festival
May.2018-New York. USA
Symbiotic Objects has been selected to be part of the Wanted Exhibition-MESS IS THE LAW in New York Design Festival. The exhibition will start from 17th of May to 21nd of May 2018.
May.2018 - RAW at Miami Design District
May.2018-Miami. USA
Symbiotic Objects will be participate in RAW exhibition.
RAW is a immersive, multi-sensory 3-day exhibition from May 11th to 13th 2018 at The Moore Building in partnership with the Miami Design District.
Find out more at:
https://www.miamidesigndistrict.net
Apr.2018 - Milan Salone del Mobile
it's really honored to be invited to collaborate with kartell to design a window display for their kartell store on the Salone del Mobile 2018.
18.Jan.2018 - taff ProSieben German TV
18.Jan.2018-Cologne GERMANY
Symbiotic objects been filmed in taff vom ProSieben German TV on 18.1.2018. Check it out at: https://www.prosieben.de/tv/taff/video/201813-taff-vom-18-januar-2018-ganze-folge
Jan.2018 - Pure Talents Contest at imm Cologne
January.2018-Cologne GERMANY
Symbiotic objects has been nominated by Pure Talents Contest at imm cologne 2018.
http://www.imm-cologne.com/imm/trade-fair/events/Exhibitions-more/Pure-Talents-Contest/index.php
Sep.2017 - London Design Festival
September.2017-London. UK
Symbiotic Objects has been selected to be part of the Creative Union Exhibition in London Design Festival. The exhibition will start from 16 Sep to 21 Oct 2017. Find out more: http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/whats-on-at-csm/lethaby-gallery/creative-unions/
Welcome come to the exhibition.
Sep.2016 - Reddot Award
September.2016
I am glad to receive the news that 'FOLD' has been awarded by red-dot. thank to every one who supported me during the project.
http://www.red-dot.sg/zh/fold/
Coyright © 2015-2018 GUAN XIANG.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3426
|
__label__wiki
| 0.824669
| 0.824669
|
Intradco Global welcomes the New Year with industry-first equestrian charter
2017 is off to a fantastic start for the Intradco Global team with a record-breaking horse charter successfully completed in the first week of January.
The 76 horse shipment from Ireland represents the biggest single movement of horses into China and has been described as a ‘major leap’ in the development of the lucrative Chinese racing market.
The horses arrived at Shannon Airport (SSN) at 19:00 where they were greeted by the BBA Shipping team and 30 professional handlers. Loading began promptly at 19.25 once the animals were checked and ready for the flight. The whole operation took just four hours to load all 76 horses.
The flight departed from Shannon Airport (SNN) at 02:35 on 5th January with a scheduled fuel-stop in Domodedovo (DME) before reaching its final destination of Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
The project was led by Kildare-based bloodstock agency BBA Ireland, and is a culmination of years of work supported by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) – the highly respected industry body that promotes Ireland as the leading source for the production and sale of quality thoroughbreds worldwide.
Ann Munnelly, BBA Ireland Shipping Director, said:
“We have been working on this for three months, since the horses were purchased. Many experienced hands have been involved in this and it has been one of our most ambitious projects to date so we are very excited to have completed it.”
Once settled into their new homes, the horses will go into training in preparation for racing in the hopes that they will become top racers in the local market.
Declan Murray, Managing Director at BBA Ireland, said:
“This is really good business for the Irish equine industry, not least for small breeders from whom most of these horses were purchased. Many of these horses might not have met the high standards of the Irish and European market but they are still of a higher standard than the average horse currently racing in China.”
Managing the unique charter project was Intradco Global Director, Charlie McMullen alongside the specialist Intradco Global team who have been working closely with BBA to prepare for the flight.
Charlie McMullen, Intradco Global Director said:
“It was a pleasure to be involved in the first export of such size to China. Our involvement was to source a suitable aircraft, stalls and arrange the professional flying grooms for the smooth loading, transit and offload of all 76 horses. We hope the success of this movement assists BBA Ireland the whole Irish thoroughbred industry to create more opportunities for Chinese market.
The horses, all purchased from Irish breeders are part of a long-term project supported by the ITM that is working to strengthen global interest in Irish thoroughbreds, particularly in the growing Chinese market.”
BBA and those involved in the project are hopeful the consignment will lead to further purchases by Chinese racing and breeding interests. Currently as the market stands, the majority of thoroughbred horses are imported from Australia and New Zealand who are able to import directly to China. However, this movement shows promise of the growing Chinese interest in the more expensive, higher-quality Irish stock.
Intradco Global and Turkish Cargo help rescued lions move to new home
Eric the rhino embarks on 10,000 mile mission to find love
New fleet of air stalls carries Group One winners
Rhino flown to South East Asia as part of endangered species breeding programme
Intradco Global and Turkish Cargo help...
Intradco Global and Turkish Cargo have helped to transport four lions from Ukraine to a…
Eric the rhino embarks on 10,000...
An eight-year-old black rhino is settling into a new home in the Serengeti thanks to…
New fleet of air stalls carries...
Intradco Global has been designing, manufacturing and testing the latest HML/HMR fully collapsible horse stalls.…
Rhino flown to South East Asia...
Intradco Global has helped to transport a greater one-horned rhino from Europe to South East…
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3429
|
__label__wiki
| 0.94144
| 0.94144
|
In Pursuit With John Walsh
Crime History
Really, Florida?
Spree Killers
Join Our Crime Obsession Facebook Group
Enter ID Addict Of The Month
© 2019 Discovery Communications, L.L.C.
CrimeFeed
Fumbled: 7 NFL Players Who Committed Major League Crimes
Instead of going to the Big Game, these players went to the Big House.
By: Mike McPadden
O.J. Simpson: Buffalo Bills, running back
Foul Call: Arrested in 1994 for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Arrested again in 2007 for the armed robbery of sports memorabilia dealers inside a Las Vegas hotel room.
Play-by-Play: O.J. Simpson’s attempt to flee justice in a slow-speed highway chase and his subsequent “Trial of the Century” for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman is among the most high-profile true-crime sagas in human history. So, too, is his defense attorney Johnny Cochran’s citing a leather glove and instructing the jury, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” The jury took those words to heart, and Simpson was famously found not guilty of the killings in 1995.
A dozen years later, Simpson and three coconspirators drew guns and stormed into a room at the Palace Station hotel-casino in Las Vegas to “take back” sports memorabilia that the fallen football hero claimed was his. After his cohorts pleaded guilty, Simpson opted to go to trial. On October 3, 2008, a jury convicted him on 12 charges related to the armed robbery, including a count of kidnapping.
Penalty: On December 5, 2008, a judge in Nevada sentenced Simpson to 33 years in jail, with the possibility of parole after nine. Simpson did his time and got released on October 1, 2017.
Extra Point: While Simpson was being considered for parole, a July 2017 disciplinary incident was reported to have threatened his chances — a prison guard allegedly wrote up the former All-American for masturbating in his cell.
Upon successfully getting released, though, Simpson was reportedly booted from a Las Vegas nightclub a month later for disruptive behavior.
In March 2018, Fox TV aired O.J. Simpson: The Final Confession, an interview special taped 12 years earlier in which “The Juice” detailed how he would have committed the 1994 double murder — if he did it.
Photo: O.J. Simpson [Clark County Detention Center]
Rae Carruth: Carolina Panthers
Foul Call: Charged with the 1999 murder of his eight-months-pregnant girlfriend, Cherica Adams
Play-by-Play: On November 16, 1999, Cherica Adams called 911 to report that she’d been shot four times while driving in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before slipping into a coma, Adams told police that Carruth had been driving the vehicle in front of hers. The last thing she remembered, Adams said, was Carruth slowing down, after which she heard gunshots.
While Adams was comatose, doctors successfully delivered the couple’s son, Chancellor Lee, who is now 19 and suffers from cerebral palsy and brain damage as a result of the shooting. Cherica Adams fatally succumbed to her wounds four weeks after the incident.
Investigators uncovered a murder-for-hire plot in which Carruth hired shooter Van Brett Watkins to kill Adams. The convicted assassin said Carruth didn’t want to have to pay the victim child support.
Penalty: The jury convicted Carruth of conspiracy to kill Adams, but did not convict him of murder. The judge sentenced him to 18 to 24 years in jail.
Extra Point: On October 22, 2018, Carruth completed 19 years of his sentence and walked free. He wrote a letter to his victim’s mother, Shauna Adams, saying he was sorry and asking to establish a relationship with his son.
Shauna Adams responded: “I’ve forgiven Rae already … but I can say definitively he’s not ever going to have custody.... Chancellor will be raised either by me or, after I’m gone, by someone else who loves him and who knows him. He will never be raised by a stranger — someone he doesn’t know and who tried to kill him.” [CrimeFeed]
Photo: Rae Carruth [North Carolina Dept of Public Safety]
Tommy Kane: Seattle Seahawks, wide receiver
Foul Call: Charged in 2003 with second-degree murder in the beating and stabbing death of his 35-year-old wife, Tammara Shaik.
Play-by-Play: On November 30, 2003, Tammara Shaik asked Kane to come to her mother’s house for a talk. The couple had recently separated, and Shaik reportedly tried to persuade Kane to go to rehab by telling him their marriage was over if he didn’t.
Kane not only refused treatment, but he allegedly grabbed Shaik by the hair, dragged her into the kitchen, repeatedly smashed her head on the floor, and then stabbed her in the neck.
Penalty: Kane pleaded down to manslaughter and received an 18-year sentence.
Extra Point: In 2010, a court ordered Kane to pay $590,000 to the four children he had with Shaik and their legal guardian, his dead wife’s sister, Ava Shaikh [ESPN]
Photo: Tommy Kane [Correctional Service Canada]
Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson: Dallas Cowboys, linebacker
Foul Call: Convicted in 1983 of smoking crack cocaine and having sex with teenage girls.
Play-by-Play: The girls claimed that Henderson threatened them with a firearm and committed sexual assault. Henderson maintained he provided drugs to the teens in exchange for consensual sex.
Penalty: Henderson took a plea deal. He did eight months in a rehab facility before serving 28 months in prison. He says “Hollywood” died during that process, and that his true self — Thomas Henderson — has been clean and sober ever since.
Extra Point: In 2000, Henderson won a $28 million Lotto jackpot. He has been actively philanthropic since then and travels giving motivational talks, particularly to recovering addicts and youngsters at risk of turning to crime. [Los Angeles Times]
Photo: Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson [EricEnfermero/Wikimedia Commons]
Aaron Hernandez: New England Patriots, tight end
Foul Calls: Convicted for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd; charged with the 2012 double homicide of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado; sued for shooting Alexander Bradley in 2013; remains a person of interest in a 2001 Florida shooting of two men
Play-by-Play: Where Aaron Hernandez goes, trouble (to put it mildly) chased him like he had a live game ball.
After pleading not guilty to the murder of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, evidence continuously stacked up against him. In the course of that investigation, police connected Hernandez to fatal gunshots fired into a vehicle containing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.
After spending the night in a Miami strip club with Hernandez, Alexander Bradley claims that his “friend” Aaron shot him and caused the loss of his right eye. Odin Lloyd was also Hernandez’s “friend.”
Penalty: After the Patriots terminated Hernandez’s $41 million contract, he was found guilty in 2015 of the first-degree murder of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Two years later, though, Hernandez was acquitted in the murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.
Extra Point: On April 19, 2017, just five days after being cleared of double homicide, Aaron Hernandez hanged himself in his prison cell. He was 27. [USA Today] [Biography]
Photo: Aaron Hernandez [North Attleborough Police Department]
Ray Lewis: Baltimore Ravens, linebacker
Foul Call: Charged in 2000 with the murders of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar
Play-by-Play: After attending a “Champagne Blowout” party to celebrate the championship game at the Cobalt nightclub in Atlanta, Ray Lewis and his pals Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting reportedly got into a brawl outside with Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar. Lewis and his friends hobbled away from the dust-up; Baker and Lollar lay dead on the ground after being stabbed. All three survivors got arrested and charged with murder.
Penalty: Ray Lewis pleaded his case down to 12 months probation. In exchange for having murder charges dropped against him, Lewis testified against Oakley and Sweeting. The NFL fined Lewis $250,000. Oakley and Sweeting went to trial and were found not guilty.
Extra Point: Ray Lewis maintains his innocence and has been recognized as of the most charitable figures in professional sports. [Yahoo Sports]
Photo: Ray Lewis [Atlanta Police Department]
Lawrence Taylor: New York Giants, linebacker
Foul Calls: Multiple arrests across many years for drugs, DUI, financial misdeeds, and other crimes. In 2009, police busted Lawrence “LT” Taylor for third-degree rape, patronizing a prostitute, sexual abuse, and endangering a child.
Play-by-Play: After decades of problems, Taylor seemed to hit a new low in 2009 when he was caught consuming drugs with and paying for the sexual services of a 16-year-old Bronx runaway. But in September 2016, LT got busted for drunk driving — again — after sideswiping a mobile home and a police car on a Florida highway.
Penalty: For the incident with the runaway, LT pleaded down to two misdemeanor sex charges and got six years probation. He is also now a registered sex offender.
Extra Point: In 2015, Lawrence Taylor, Jr. — LT’s son — pleaded guilty to statutory rape and child molestation in exchange for 10 years’ jail time. On June 9, 2016, Lynette Taylor — LT’s wife — got arrested for domestic violence after throwing an “unknown object” at her husband’s head. [Touchdown Wire]
Photo: Lawrence Taylor [Ramapo Police Department]
Mother's Day Gifts For Moms Who Are Obsessed With True Crime 10 Photos
10 Hero Dads Who Risked Everything To Fight Back Against Crime 10 Photos
5 Dastardly Dads Who Didn't Do The Right Thing 5 Photos
Moms Behaving Badly: 10 Bad Mothers Who Made Horrible True Crime History 10 Photos
Death By Selfie: 8 Stories From The Growing Epidemic Of 'Killfies' 8 Photos
James Renner's Top 10 Most Important Crime Stories Of 2018 10 Photos
15 Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Favorite True Crime Fan 15 Photos
That's Na-Cho Cheese! Daring Dairy Crimes To Mark National Cheese Day 7 Photos
9 Women Who Inspire Us With Their Drives To Survive 9 Photos
Fool’s Justice: 8 Dumb Criminals Who Got Busted By Being Stupid 8 Photos
Julian Edelman Surprises Girl Bullied For Playing Football With Super Bowl Tickets
Real Crimes Committed In The 'Scream' Ghostface Mask
Boo! Actual Crimes Committed In Haunted House Attractions
No Thanks: 5 Notorious Crimes Committed On Thanksgiving Day
Crime History: Daryl Holton, Gulf War Vet Who Killed His 4 Kids, Dies in Electric Chair
Crime History: Adolph Weber, “The Boy Murderer” Who Killed His Whole Family
Viewer Agreement
See more Discovery Brands
TRVL Channel
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3430
|
__label__cc
| 0.719076
| 0.280924
|
How to Perform Financial Modeling - Introduction
Disclaimer: I am not involved in daily activities of financial modeling. All I write below are all my opinion in how to perform financial modeling.
You may find out some articles from this website related to shares investment. It is all about how to read financial report, and how to construct a suitable portfolio which is under your risk & return assessment.
Here I would like to share with you on some of my thoughts on financial modeling. The main purpose of financial modeling is to forecast future performance of a company. In a research report released by research houses, normally the research report would contain some estimated figures by the research analysts. And actually how/where did they derive from?
If I was the research analyst / financial analyst, I would first figure out the breakdown of the revenue product mix, cost involved, non-recurring expenses / discontinued operation, off balance sheet items and so on. The better quality of the annual report released by the listed company, the better the figure we could forecast. This is part of the CFA Level II course - Financial Statement Analysis. We can also meet up with the company during any financial result briefing.
If we use Mah Sing as an example, we can find out some variables from the reports:
Recurring Revenue & Non Recurring Revenue
Net Profit Margin
We also have to find out how the company recognize its revenue and profit too. In Malaysia, the company can use the "progressive billing" method to recognize the revenue and profit/loss. So, let's say if the company able to grab RM25B booking this year (assuming the Sales & Purchase Agreement is signed), the company would need to build the buildings in a faster pace to recognize the revenue in later financial year.
Below is the compilation of Booking & Revenue of Mah Sing's property division for passed few years:
Mah Sing Revenue, Sales, Internal Sales Target, PBT, and PBT Margin. Source: Company Annual Report
We have to analyze what made the revenue grows up and the PBT margin decrease. First from the annual report, we understand that Mah Sing was aggressively involved in commercial high rise building, specifically in The Icon, Tun Razak and South Gate which enjoyed more than 30% gross profit margin. But due to the Sales & Lease Back agreement, the group started to absorb the lease payment to the buyers of the icon, Tun Razak and South Gate since year 2010. Mah Sing also started to switch the higher profit margin projects (such as commercial buildings) to lower profit margin projects (such as residential buildings). Anyway, Mah Sing has a strong management team to diversify the product mix from industrial, commercial to residential and the region expanded from Klang Valley, Penang and Johor to Sabah. I believe the PBT margin will resume to higher level once the Sales & Lease back agreement ended this year and next year.
On top of the financial report forecasting, we can also figure out:
1. Capability of the company and the execution power of the top management
Mah Sing had set internal sales target, and they will adjust according to the market condition. For example, Mah Sing adjusted their sales target once they reach the initial target or lower down the target once they thought they cannot hit the internal target. I have keep tracked their sales target and sales record. So far they are able to achieve it on time.
Nonetheless, I am still not very convinced their goals of becoming regional developer, as they are still now having projects solely in Malaysia, although their peers are now expanding to other Asia countries or even in UK. I hope that they can start planning to move further to a higher stage.
2. Any manipulation on financial report
The manipulation of financial report can be achieved via Management. If you notice any aggressive move by the management, such as changing financial reporting standard (e.g. revenue recognition method etc), then you will have an alert and do more homework before investing heavily in this company.
Once we have a better idea on the revenue recognition method & the variables (e.g. cost, admin fees, sales & marketing expenses etc) and we can start to do a financial modeling with our experience and interview with management, and of course we have to adjust the percentage based on the management performance to their internal target set earlier.
So, just stay tuned.
Links to this post No comments: Categories: Financial Modeling, shares investment
Mah Sing - Malaysia Shares
I bought Mah Sing recently after it fall below RM2.00 per shares. Reasons being:
With potential 15c dividend (before tax), it is converted to 7.5% dividend yield, which is considered quite attractive.
Mah Sing planned to launch around RM50B project next year, which I believe could hit about RM30B - RM40B orders next year.
Mah Sing is second largest Malaysia developers in term of Revenue Generation, just behind SP Setia. With SP Setia now controlled by PNB, Mah Sing is likely to emerge to another favorite of foreign investors.
Mah Sing forward PE 2013 could be around RM300M, which implies to 5x to 6x PE. It is considered as low PE since I invested long time ago.
But what could cause Mah Sing to fall in shares price?
Malaysia government announced to curb the property speculation by rising the RPGT to 15% within 2 years or 10% within 5 years.
Property stocks suffered from huge volatility during pre-election and post-election period. This is part of the politic risk.
Market sentiment becomes weaker after the global economy becomes uncertain again, due to recent Spain sovereign bond rate became 6% and above.
Attached is the recent share price of Mah Sing:
Links to this post 1 comment: Categories: Mah Sing, malaysia shares
E&O - Lauch RM2.5B properties
KUALA LUMPUR: Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) plans to roll out some RM2.5bil worth of properties over the next 12 to 18 months in London, KL, Penang, and Iskandar Malaysia.
"In fact, half of the targeted sales value over the next 18 months will come from Iskandar Malaysia and London," deputy managing director Eric Chan said in a statement on Thursday.
The developer said its 210-acre wellness-themed township in Medini, one of the clusters in Iskandar, is targeted to see its initial launch of terrace homes in the first half of 2013.
The land was bought for RM350mil mid-last year.
As for London, E&O said its freehold Princes House property in Westminster Borough, which was acquired in April for £20.3mil (RM100.1mil), is slated for refurbishment with potential for conversion.
The firm is also in the midst of launching RM1.2bil worth of Andaman condominiums at its flagship Seri Tanjung Pinang development in Penang.
In KL, it will reveal by the first quarter of next year a RM400mil condominium called The Mews on Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.
Source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/27/business/20120927151957&sec=business
Links to this post No comments: Categories: ENO, Malysia Property
Proven Facts for Stock Market Investment
Cut losses early and always sell worst performing stocks first.
Don’t make emotional decisions and show perseverance in long term.
Start with small investment and do some research work every week.
Don’t invest in volatile market as a beginner.
Diversify your basket but not in too many stocks because you can’t keep track of all.
News will tell you the opinion. Check the charts for facts and historical data.
In last 45 years, best stocks were at $20-30 before they went to double or triple.
Look for stocks with annual earnings growth rates of 30% or more and ROE’s of 17% or higher.
Use Accumulation/Distribution rating. A or B rating shows stocks being bought, C shows neutral and D or E shows being sold.
Check the stock breaks out: volume should increase 50% above its average.
Use “buy high and sell higher” instead of “buy low, sell high”.
A typical bear market will decline 20% to 25% from its peak price.
In bear market a “follow-through” occurs when one of the indices closes up 1% or more with a jump in volume from the day before. This confirmation will usually happen on the fourth to tenth day of the attempted rally.
Psychological indicators like the Put-Call Ratio can help confirm changes in the market’s direction.
Look for hidden value like an unusually large amount of cash in the company or property carried on the books at cost, which is below the current market value.
The new market leaders had P/Es that significantly exceeded the rest of the market (31 times the average).
Avoid stocks that have a Relative Price Strength Rating below 80 and don’t accept loss of more than 8%.
If the stock moves up 2 to 3% in price from initial buy and if it still looks like it is performing well, follow up and buy more.
Don’t sell and take a profit if your market leading stock is up 20% to 25% in only 2 or 3 weeks.
Sell a stock if the earnings per share show a major deceleration in growth for two quarters in a row.
If stock advances a significant distance over many months and has formed several bases during the process, the fourth time the stock breaks out of a base (“fourth stage” base) it probably should be sold.
Use Investor’s Business Daily in physical form or online.
Do volume-price analysis. Uptrend and Downtrend with good volume is good for long and short positions respectively.
Don’t enter or change the positions with low volume even the price movement is good.
Regularly check the open interests in Option market.
Stock price always tend to fill the gaps of volume.
RSI, Stochastic, MSI etc. work below 20% and above 80%
Graphs using Fibonacci series like Fibonacci retracement etc work very well these days. Very few people know about this.
Have a stop loss even if stocks are going up, so that when it comes back, you book some profit.
Don’t average when going down but build the positions when going up.
Check for stakeholders satisfaction level with the company, whether it is employee or customer.
Aggregate all the latest news and facts. Separate them in positive and negative effects. Give them importance rating and conclude the result for bullish or bearish market.
Companies with bonus or split shares and retaining the profits for further investment is better than those giving dividends.
Conclusion: Most of the brokers’ advises don’t work. Read newspapers and magazines in neutral way and analyze yourself. Losses will teach you how to invest in better way. Have patience and improve your emotional intelligence.
This entry was posted in Stock Market and tagged stock, stock market, stock market investment,technical analysis by Jason. Bookmark the permalink.
Links to this post No comments: Categories: shares investment
EDB - Monthly Manufacturing Performance (August 2012)
http://www.edb.gov.sg/content/edb/en/news-and-events/news/2012/manufacturing-performance-august-2012.html
Monthly Manufacturing Performance
On a year-on-year basis, Singapore’s manufacturing output declined 2.2% in August 2012. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 5.4%.
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output declined 2.3% in August 2012. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 2.7%.
(I) Total Manufacturing Performance
On a year-on-year basis, manufacturing output declined 2.2% in August 2012. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 5.4%. On a three-month moving average basis, manufacturing output increased 2.9% in August 2012, compared to a year ago. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output declined 2.3% in August 2012. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 2.7%.
(II) Performance by cluster
Output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster expanded 13.0% on a year-on-year basis in August 2012, led by the pharmaceuticals segment which grew 13.6%. The medical technology segment increased 9.9% on the back of higher production of medical devices. On a year-to-date basis, output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster was 19.9% higher, compared to the same period a year ago.
The chemicals cluster’s output grew 6.6% year-on-year in August 2012. The petrochemicals segment posted a strong growth of 33.8% in August, due in part to the low base last year when many plants were shut down for maintenance. On the other hand, the specialty chemicals segment fell 5.5% on the back of weak regional demand, while the petroleum segment contracted 7.0% due to maintenance shutdowns. On a year-to-date basis, chemicals output declined 3.2%, compared to the same period a year ago.
Output of the general manufacturing cluster increased 4.8% in August 2012 compared to the same period a year ago. The miscellaneous industries segment increased 11.4%, supported by higher production of batteries, metal containers and construction related products, while the food, beverages & tobacco segment grew 3.9%. On a cumulative basis, the general manufacturing cluster’s output grew 2.8% from January to August, compared to the same period last year.
The precision engineering cluster’s output increased 3.8% year-on-year in August 2012. Within the cluster, the machinery & systems segment’s output grew 4.7% on the back of higher export demand for semiconductor related equipment. The precision modules & components segment rose 2.8% on account of higher output of dies, moulds, jigs and fixtures and optical instruments and photographic equipment. On a year-to-date basis, output of the precision engineering cluster grew 2.0%, compared to the same period a year ago.
Output of the transport engineering cluster contracted 20.1% on a year-on-year basis in August 2012. The land transport segment expanded 34.5%, but this was more than offset by declines in the other segments. Output of the aerospace segment declined 10.0% due to a slowdown in demand for engine repair jobs from the US and Europe. The marine & offshore engineering segment fell 27.2% as a result of lower contributions from oil rig projects. Output of the transport engineering cluster in the first eight months of 2012 increased 13.6%, compared to the same period in 2011.
The electronics cluster’s output declined 7.3% in August 2012 compared to a year ago on the back of continued weak export demand. Cumulatively, output of the cluster in the first eight months of 2012 fell 12.0%, compared to the same period in 2011.
The next monthly manufacturing performance media release will be issued on 25 October 2012.
Editors' Note: Updates on Monthly Manufacturing Output are available on http://www.news.gov.sg and http://www.sedb.com
For media enquiries, please contact
Mr Mustaffa Ehsan
(Tel: 68326037/Handphone: 92958025/ Email: mustaffa_ehsan@edb.gov.sg)
Mr Chong Tse Ming
(Tel: 68326677/ Handphone: 91547959/ Email: quin_chong@edb.gov.sg)
Links to this post No comments: Categories: EDB, Singapore Economy
Local firms move operations to Iskandar Malaysia to save cost
source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1227800/1/.html
SINGAPORE: More than 3,500 Singapore businesses have set up shop across the causeway in Iskandar Malaysia over the past six years, with a cumulative investment of more than RM5 billion as at June 2012.
Iskandar Malaysia is a special economic zone in Johor, Malaysia that was launched in 2006. It covers an area of 2,217 square kilometers and is administered by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, a Malaysian Federal government statutory body.
Over 70 per cent of the businesses are small and medium enterprises.
Fishing equipment supplier Hong Guan started operations in its Iskandar warehouse in May.
Twice as large as its warehouse in Singapore, Hong Guan's 14,800 square feet freehold space cost about S$900,000.
Its local warehouse will shut down next month.
Hong Guan's managing director, Lee Seng Shoy, said: "Singapore will always be our HQ and the brain centre but from a business point of view, we need to be competitive and cost is always a factor. We foresee Iskandar helping us contain our costs and that is something we're leveraging on so we hope that by moving to Iskandar on the logistics side, we are actually enjoying the best of both worlds."
Similarly, Global Capital & Development wants to replicate on a larger scale in Medini, a core development zone in the Iskandar Development Region.
Global Capital & Development, the developer of Medini, is supported by a consortium which includes the Khazanah-backed Iskandar Investment Berhad.
It hopes companies in Singapore and Medini can work together as a single entity to bid for projects.
Global Capital & Development's CEO, Keith Martin, said: "We have Pinewood Malaysia Studios, Medini Media Village and straightaway we went and spoke to the Media Development Authority of Singapore and Mediapolis in Singapore. If you now add up the sum of those parts, it's a much greater proposition. And within a one hour driving radius, we have everything we need to take a TV or film production from a draft script to a full finished product."
With increasing business activity in Iskandar, other firms are moving in with the aim of gaining first-mover advantage.
Shanker Iyer, Chairman, The Iyer Practice's chairman, Shanker Iyer, said: "We think it could be two or three years before this place really starts to get up and running. Initially our main activity would be to offshore some of our less important activities from Singapore to Iskandar. That is actually becoming a need now, because the rising cost of doing business in Singapore, the immigration challenges now, the reduction in S-passes - it's beginning to affect firms like us."
But most acknowledged that concerns remain, such as crime, and the lack of a critical mass of human capital and supporting businesses.
But the authorities are confident the situation will improve.
Iskandar Regional Development Authority's chief executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, said: "As we have seen today, there has been increased bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore, and from which the greatest beneficiary is definitely going to be Iskandar Malaysia. We would like to create an environment where both Singapore and Iskandar will see themselves as one destination, not only for investment but for people to work as well as other offerings."
Into its sixth year of development, the Iskandar region in Johor, Malaysia has seen annual investment growth of 8 per cent with Singapore firms accounting for 5 per cent of total foreign investment.
- CNA/ck
Links to this post 1 comment: Categories: iskandar malaysia, malaysia property
House Renovation at JB - Part 2
After the first post which I started last month, we finally started the renovation works this week. It took quite a long time for us to prepare for the renovation due to our stay at Singapore most of the time and only have free time during weekends to discuss with the contractors.
Last week we managed to choose the pattern and color of the floor mosaic at Master Bedroom Balcony and the color of the table top at Kitchen. We also learnt that with so many contractors doing their job together at the same time (we have 3 contractors, 1 is for iron-window due to security reasons, 1 is for electrical wiring and another 1 is for main renovation construction), we have to liaise with them 1 by 1 as well as to allow them to contact each others to avoid any misunderstanding. I made a small mistake by only following up with the main contractor but not contact with the rest.
We also have to be very sure that the socket wiring is at the correct location, and have a more detailed "3D" floor plan to explain the height of the socket location. From time to time, I believe we have to be there at least on weekly basis to ensure the project is going smoothly.
We went to Johor Jaya last Sunday to find electrical fan with light, but unfortunately many shops are closed. So we will go there again and check if there is any fan there. Worse comes to worst, we would just go and buy the fans from Taobao.com website. It is C2C website which allows the consumers to choose and pick the stuff they like and purchase at lower price. The only thing that we are worry about is that we might not get the stuff we purchase online.
Hopefully the project can be completed by end of November.
Links to this post 1 comment: Categories: malaysia property
Equity Investment = Doing Business
Just recently, one of my friends asked me to join a home based business. She mentioned that it is a very relaxing job and you can spend more time with family after first few years efforts. I replied to her that I am actually a full time investor / trader, so I would focus on my business first instead of joining her. Her impression on investment is actually quite negative, telling me that she also had some trading experience in FOREX, but it was a high risk game. I begged to differ and told her that I could manage well if I manage the risk as well, which I think most of the investors neglected on.
As my portfolio income (e.g. Capital Income + Dividend Income) grows bigger and my active income as a remisier is in relative smaller amount, I have to spend some time to manage my portfolio to ensure that I can still survive during the bear market (this was due to 2 main factors, firstly my remisier income would be reduced during bear market, as lesser clients would trade during this period, secondly, my portfolio also will be reduced size due to my long-only equity portfolio).
Some of the risk management I could think of is:
1. Setting up CFD account to allow me to short / hedge against my portfolio during downtrend. As I am not good in timing the market, so this is only a backup plan for me.
2. Reduce the equity portion in long-only equity portfolio and convert it to cash/risk free asset. This is based on the theory that you can adjust the risk by increase or reduce the percentage of equity in your portfolio.
3. Invest in low beta stock or low correlation stock. Low beta stock performs best during bear market and performs worst during bull market. Alternatively you could combine stocks with lower correlation in your equity portfolio. The main idea behind it is reduce the volatility of portfolio value.
All the above require you to be "actively" involved in managing your portfolio. If you are a passive investor, I would suggest you to perform regular portfolio rebalancing at least once year, so you can still maintain the percentage of the equity vs risk free asset vs other asset classes in asset allocation which you preset earlier.
Links to this post No comments: Categories: equity investment, Investment Strategy
Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) to launch EduPark@Nusajaya
JOHOR BARU: Interest in Iskandar Malaysia’s EduCity @Nusajaya near here remains strong and has prompted Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) to embark on a second similar project.
IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim said the second project would be known as EduPark@Nusajaya.
He said the company was in the midst of completing the planning development of EduPark and its blue print would be unveiled towards the end of the year.
“We want to position EduCity and EduPark as the leading knowledge hub in the region,’’ Syed Mohamed said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Syed Mohamed with Chew at the signing ceremony for the setting up of Raffles American School in Iskandar Malaysia.
He said this at the signing of a sale and purchase agreement between Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd (EISB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of IIB and Raffles Education Corp for the sale of 18.47ha land for RM56mil.
Signing on behalf of IIB were Syed Mohamed and chief operating officer Khairil Anwar Ahmad while Raffles Education was represented byexecutive director Stephen Chong and Raffles American School (RAS)director Doris Chew.
The land will be used to house Malaysia’s first state-of-the art RAS, which will focus on providing a world-class education facility in partnership with International School Services.
It offers an American curriculum leading to the Advanced Placement Programme for students to matriculate in colleges and universities in the United States and other English speaking universities around the world.
Work on the RAS will start in November and targeted for phase one completion for kindergarten through Grade 12, including full boarding capacity in 2014-2015.
The campus will boast 300,000 sq ft of built-up area complete with sports, recreational and boarding facilities to cater for a capacity of 2,000 students.
“The concept of EduPark will be different from EduCity as the former will see the partnership between industries and educational institutions to produce all rounders,’’ said Syed Mohamed.
EduCity, which covers 123.42ha, will have eight universities with one specialised faculty each while EduPark has an area spanning between 161.87ha and 202.34ha.
He said IIB was confident that EduPark would be as successful as the company had received many queries from interested parties to set their operations at the yet-to-be-launched project.
Similarly, he said the company would not be rushing to accept offers made by two universities in Beijing which are planning to set up their branch campuses in Iskandar Malaysia.
“We are very selective as we only want to offer the best in class faculties from reputable universities in the world,’’ said Syed Mohamed.
Source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/21/business/12052631&sec=business
Links to this post No comments: Categories: iskandar malaysia, malaysia property
LionGold - Issue of Convertible Bonds - Conversion
Attached part of the documents by company:
The Board of Directors (the ¡°Board¡±) of LionGold Corp Ltd (the ¡°Company¡±) refers to the announcements dated 28 March 2012, 24 April 2012, 11 May 2012, 25 May 2012, 8 June 2012, 30 July 2012 and 31 August 2012 (the ¡°Prior Announcements¡±) relating to the issue of up to US$30.0 million in principal amount of 9.0% convertible bonds (the ¡°Convertible Bonds¡±) due 2015.
All capitalised terms and expressions used in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined herein, bear the same meanings as ascribed to them in the Prior Announcements.
The Board wishes to announce that a subscriber to the Convertible Bonds (the ¡°Subscriber¡±) has on 6 September 2012, in accordance with the Conditions, exercised its right to convert S$328,640.73 in value of the Convertible Bonds into 283,800 new shares of the Company (the ¡°New Shares¡±), at the conversion price of S$1.158 (the ¡°Conversion Price¡±) for each New Share.
The New Shares have been issued and allotted on 13 September 2012. The New Shares are expected to be listed and quoted on the Mainboard of the SGX-ST on 17 September 2012, and trading of the New Shares will commence with effect from 9.00 a.m. on the same date.
Following the allotment and issuance of the New Shares, the number of issued and paid-up ordinary shares of the Company will be increased to 862,491,180 ordinary shares. The New Shares represent approximately 0.03% of the Company¡¯s enlarged issued and paid-up share capital, and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing shares of the Company in issue.
The in-principle approval granted by SGX for the listing and quotation of the Conversion Shares is not to be taken as an indication of the merits of the Convertible Bonds, the Conversion Shares, the Company and/or its subsidiaries.
Please click here for full document.
Links to this post No comments: Categories: LionGold, singapore shares
After Legoland, what's next for Iskandar Malaysia?
Legoland was formally opened to the public on 15 September 2012. It received overwhelming response from locals as well as foreigners. Iskandar Malaysia is designed to take advantage of its strategic location near to Singapore to attract Singaporean or other foreigners to invest in this zone, expecially in service industry, education industry and industrial industry.
So far, we can see an impact on property prices rising, especially in Nusajaya area.
Here I copied and pasted some paragraphs commented by JB Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad on Iskandar Malaysia.
JOHOR BAHARU -- Iskandar Malaysia, an economic development project promoted by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, will give the young in Johor a better future, says Johor Baharu Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.
He said Iskandar Malaysia was "not about real estate nor higher prices of property. It’s about creating a future for the young".
"Projects that have been implemented in Iskandar Malaysia will enable the ‘new generation’ in building their working life and professional achievements in their home state.
"If business activities and development are ‘Kuala Lumpur-centric’ with the aim of building a metropolis in the Klang Valley, youths will continue leaving their hometowns and villages from various parts of Malaysia to seek greener pastures in the federal capital.
"Without the development of economic corridors, many towns and cities may lose their importance as Kuala Lumpur will be absorbing all the young talents, the resources and interest of other states," he said in a recent interview in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
Shahrir said the Johor populace had started to take ownership of some of the Iskandar Malaysia projects as could be seen by their enthusiasm in landmarks such as Legoland Malaysia, Cruyff Court Iskandar and Johor Premium Outlet.
"In a short space of six years, Iskandar Malaysia has changed JB and its surroundings with the potential it could offer to youths through Legoland Malaysia, Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, Newcastle University Medicine campus, University of Southampton campus as well as hospitals.
"I’m pleased to see more interaction between the Johor and federal governments, and the private sector. With Khazanah as the prime mover for Iskandar Malaysia, such interactions will bring together ideas and culture that will see further progress to the region," the seasoned lawmaker said.
According to Shahrir, children and students should be exposed to the achievements of Iskandar Malaysia in order for them to build affinity with the landmarks in the development corridor in the southern part of the peninsula, adding that Johoreans must realise that "Iskandar Malaysia does not merely serve as a foreign tourist destination".
"We are not building properties in Iskandar Malaysia for Singaporeans. Iskandar Malaysia and its attributes are for the people. We build for the rakyat," he explained.
Launched in November 2006 with an area of 2,217 kilometres, Iskandar Malaysia was identified as one of the key catalysts and high-impact developments under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and Tenth Malaysia Plan. The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) is the federal statutory body entrusted to regulate and drive development of the region.
Shahrir said there was huge potential for Iskandar Malaysia to transform the socio-economy of Johor, noting that Iskandar Malaysia had infrastructure development in place and was flanked by three major ports and an international airport in Senai.
He said the idea of an economic corridor was not new as it was mooted by the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein during his premiership and launched by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the late 2000s.
In line with a balanced development approach, an economic corridor like Iskandar Malaysia will enable positive socio-economic spillover.
Iskandar Malaysia received cumulative committed investments from domestic and foreign investors totalling RM95.45 billion from 2006 to June 2012, of which 43 per cent is already realised. It is targeting to hit the RM100 billion investment commitment mark by year-end.
Boosted by its competitive edge, Iskandar Malaysia was ranked the fourth best Global Free Zone of the Future 2012/2013 by fDi Magazine of Financial Times Ltd. -- Bernama
Read more: 'Iskandar Malaysia will give the young in Johor a better future' - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/iskandar-malaysia-will-give-the-young-in-johor-a-better-future-1.144396##ixzz26dPQO1zy
Below is a video by Rentakini.TV on Iskandar Malaysia posted on August 2012
Links to this post No comments: Categories: iskandar malaysia, Legoland, malaysia property
Olam raises US$500m via notes issuance
Offering priced at a final coupon of 5.75%; 130 investors place orders
OLAM International has priced a US$500 million issuance of five-year senior notes, after an intraday book-building exercise resulted in an oversubscribed order book of US$1.6 billion.
The offering was priced at a final coupon of 5.75 per cent, "well within initial guidance in the region of 6 per cent, reflecting the quality and strength of the order book", said Olam yesterday.
The mainboard-listed food commodities supplier headquartered in Singapore said that the exercise had attracted diverse participation with 130 investors placing orders.
To view the full story, please go to: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/companies/others/olam-raises-us500m-notes-issuance-20120915
Links to this post No comments: Categories: Olam, singapore shares
Gas prices fuel surge in inflation as output shrinks
[WASHINGTON]
A JUMP in the cost of gasoline pushed US consumer prices up in August at the fastest pace in more than three years, squeezing spending on other items and threatening to slow economic growth.
At the same time, production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities dropped by 1.2 per cent, the biggest decline since March 2009, other data yesterday showed.
The sour mix of numbers was tempered by an unexpected increase in consumer sentiment in early September and signs underlying inflation pressures remained contained.
"There is a real risk that the rising cost of food and fuel may well put additional pressure on household spending power,"said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.
To view full story, please go to: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/top-stories/gas-prices-fuel-surge-inflation-output-shrinks-20120915
Links to this post No comments: Categories: Commodity, Oil, US Market
Battle-worn Charoen fights Beer War II
Given his record of gutsy strategy and aggressiveness, ThaiBev tycoon unlikely to let F&N go easily
CHAROEN Sirivadhanabhakdi has always been the last one standing.
Whether it was Thailand's beer war of the 1990s, an acrimonious split from Dutch brewer Carlsberg in the 2000s, or the dissolving of a partnership with Singapore developer CapitaLand in 2011, the Thai tycoon now leading a battle for Fraser & Neave has somehow always managed to outlast the field.
But his latest bid for the Singapore conglomerate is his biggest battle yet, and F&N's share price movement yesterday did not make it any easier for the man.
F&N shares shot as high as $9 yesterday before settling at $8.97, up 5 cents on the day. That is higher than Mr Charoen's offer of $8.88 per share to take F&N private.
To view complete story, please go to: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/top-stories/battle-worn-charoen-fights-beer-war-ii-20120915
Links to this post No comments: Categories: singapore shares, Thai Beverages
USStocks finished higher for a second day after QE3 announcement
WASHINGTON - US stocks finished higher Friday for a second day of gains on the back of the Federal Reserve's new QE3 stimulus, tracing the earlier rises of markets in Europe and Asia.
Mining and energy shares and related industries led the way higher, followed by retailers, all buoyed by prospects for improved growth next year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 53.51 points (0.40 per cent) at 13,593.37.
The S&P 500 added 5.78 (0.40 per cent) to 1,465.77, while the tech-rich Nasdaq gained 28.12 (0.89 per cent) to 3,183.95.
Markets worldwide were roundly higher after the Fed announced its QE3 bond-buying programme on Thursday and pledged to keep going with stimulus until the economy and jobs market showed solid signs of sustained growth.
Caterpillar jumped 2.8 per cent, Freeport McMoran 2.0 per cent, Cliff Resources 5.5 per cent, and Bank of America 3.5 per cent.
Office supply retailer Staples jumped 2.1 per cent on talk that several private equity firms are weighing possible efforts to take over the company.
TO SEE COMPLETE REPORT, PLEASE GO TO http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/breaking-news/stock-markets/us-stocks-gain-second-day-fed-qe3-boost-20120915
Links to this post No comments: Categories: US Shares
EDB - Monthly Manufacturing Performance (August 20...
Local firms move operations to Iskandar Malaysia t...
Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) to launch EduPark@Nu...
LionGold - Issue of Convertible Bonds - Conversion...
After Legoland, what's next for Iskandar Malaysia?...
Gas prices fuel surge in inflation as output shrin...
USStocks finished higher for a second day after QE...
My Stock Portfolio Update - 14 September 2012
Wilmar Shares Buy Back
Legoland Malaysia set for opening
Thailand's TCC makes US$7.2b bid to buy F&N
Billionaires Bet on Palm Oil With GIC, Northstar: ...
Where are you leading to in your life? - P2
Plan for your retirement early
A New Interchange Planned near to Pulai Jaya - Las...
It is very hard to time the market
China approves 25 rail projects worth US$110b
Commodity Traders - Not out of the wood yet
F&N sales of APB stake to be decided soon
Chip Eng Seng Update - Award of $210M contract by ...
New guidelines on "Shoe Box" property in Singapore...
Offshore and Marine Sector In Singapore
In a preparation to go into Stock Margin Financing...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3431
|
__label__wiki
| 0.993017
| 0.993017
|
Japan issues tsunami advisory following quake
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan issued a tsunami advisory Tuesday after a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the northwest of the country.
A wave of one metre (three feet) is expected to hit the coast of the Sea of Japan, north of Tokyo, the nation's meteorological agency said.
Officials immediately stopped bullet train services in the region as a precautionary measure, according to public broadcaster NHK, which also said around 200 households were without power.
The meteorological agency said some waves were expected to have already reached some coastlines of Yamagata and Niigata, in the northwest of the country.
NHK said no abnormality was monitored at nuclear power plants near the epicentre.
The quake registered six on the Japanese scale, which goes up to seven.
Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where many of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded.
Last June, a deadly tremor rocked the Osaka region, killing five people and injuring over 350.
On March 11, 2011, a devastating 9.0-magnitude quake struck under the Pacific Ocean, and the resulting tsunami caused widespread damage and claimed thousands of lives.
Netball World Cup update: Sunshine Girls face elimination after loss to England
Netball World Cup: Sunshine Girls trail England 26-28
Peart tells Comrades to 'run' Phillips
East Portland supporters among those rallying for Bunting
Off-duty cop kills alleged robbers
UPDATE: 'We have to dig deeper', says Sunshine Girls coach
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3432
|
__label__wiki
| 0.818526
| 0.818526
|
Home | About JPP | Editorial board | Search | Ahead of print | Current Issue | Archives | Instructions | Subscribe | Advertise | Contact us | Reader Login
2019| January-March | Volume 10 | Issue 1
Online since May 14, 2019
Structural genomics in drug discovery: An overview
Karri Sowjanya, Chandrashekaran Girish
January-March 2019, 10(1):1-6
DOI:10.4103/jpp.JPP_117_18
Structural genomics, technology and methodology driven field has emerged in the past 20–25 years and mainly aims at coming up with as many three-dimensional structures of proteins as possible by combining experimental (X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance) and comparative modeling methods at a minimal cost in comparison to the traditional approaches. Structure aided drug discovery which is used since long mainly focuses on a single target protein whereas structural genomics targets and investigates multiple proteins simultaneously, thus cutting down time and cost. These activities are done at specialized structural genomic centers available worldwide that help to interpret the biology of humans and pathogenic organisms in a better way leading to an increased productivity and saving time. Virtual screening methods like docking have also brought a great impact to quicken the drug discovery process. In diseases of public health concern (like tuberculosis), structural genomics helped greatly by giving important insights toward a better comprehension of the pathways associated in its pathogenesis and in guiding drug discovery. Several newer targets such as Scaff10-8, MS2734 (6), and GSK-J4 were developed showcasing their beneficial effects in a wide variety of disorders including diabetes insipidus, Parkinson's disease, and autoimmune diseases, respectively. Furthermore, these programs guide to understand the root cause and the mechanism associated with various human diseases and their pathogens. This review tries to look into the high throughput methods of structure determination, the newer targets developed in the past few years and the benefits offered that can pave a way for faster and efficient drug discovery.
Comparison of safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol sedation for elective awake fiber-optic intubation
Samarjit Dey, Tridip Jyoti Borah, Jaideep Sonowal, Debasis Pradhan, Md. Yunus, Priyanka Dev
January-March 2019, 10(1):11-15
DOI:10.4103/jpp.JPP_71_18
Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol as a sedative modality for awake fiber-optic intubation (AFOI) in elective patients with anticipated difficult intubation. Materials and Methods: This randomized prospective study was conducted on 90 patients (Group D and Group P; n = 45) who had undergone AFOI for anticipated difficult airway. Group D received intravenous (IV) dexmedetomidine and Group P patients received IV propofol, until they were adequately sedated. Sedation was measured by Bispectral index© and Ramsay Sedation Scale. Airway blocks were given to all patients undergoing awake fiber-optic intubation. Intubation comfort scores, airway obstruction scores, and hemodynamics were recorded in all patients. Results: Sedation level was comparable in both the groups. Intubation time was less in Group D than Group P (119.06 ± 16.51 s vs. 126.67 ± 18.19 s; P < 0.05). The intubation score for both cough and vocal cord opening was better in the dexmedetomidine group than the propofol group (P = 0.6). There were significant incidences of airway obstruction and hypoxia in Group P compared to Group D (P < 0.05). Significant fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was seen in Group P during drug infusion which continued till fiber-optic bronchoscopy (P < 0.05). MAP changes during intubation were similar during intubation in both the groups (P = 0.18). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is a better alternative for achieving optimal sedation during AFOI.
R Mirunalini, G Pavithra, D Benet Bosco Dhas, C Adithan
January-March 2019, 10(1):7-10
Valproic acid induced pancreatitis in an Arab Male
Ethar Abdelmageed Imam, Abdulrhman Idrees, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim, Subish Palaian
Valproate, a commonly used antiepileptic, is known to cause pancreatitis, which may present days to years after initiation of therapy. A 20-year-old Arab male patient with electroencephalogram (EEG) confirmed epileptiform activity over the left posterior head region was initiated with tablet carbamazepine 400 mg twice daily in the year 2015 and based on subsequent EEG findings (suggestive of more of generalized myoclonic seizure) carbamazepine was withdrawn gradually and started with sodium valproate 500 mg twice daily and levetiracetam 1 g twice daily. During treatment, the patient had status epileptics, treated with diazepam and lamotrigine 50 mg was added. Laboratory data indicated low valproate level, 47 μg/mL (normal range: 50–125 μg/mL) resulting in two episodes of myoclonic jerks necessitating lamotrigine dose escalation (100 mg twice daily). A month later, the patient developed nystagmus and tremors, and lamotrigine dose was deescalated to 75 mg twice daily. Patient was brought to the emergency with severe abdominal pain and vomiting since the day before and valproate level was 179 μg/mL (>150 μg/mL μg/mL is considered toxic), a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis due to valproate was made and the patient was treated in the intensive care unit. The causality assessment of the adverse drug reaction was “probable” (Naranjo score 8), and severity was “Severe” (Level 5; Modified Hartwig and Siegel scale), and the adverse reaction was “Not preventable” (Modified Schumock and Thornton scale). This report suggests the need for constant clinical monitoring and the need for therapeutic drug monitoring for patients undergoing valproate therapy.
Antidepressants modulate behavioral, biochemical, and histological alterations induced by chronic aluminum chloride administration in wistar rats
Arshad Basha Shaik, Smita Shenoy, V Anupama, K G Mohandas Rao, Arul Amuthan
Objective: To assess the effect of duloxetine and escitalopram on aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced memory impairment in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty rats were used. Group-I (control) and Group-II (toxic control) received 2% gum acacia, 10 mL/kg and AlCl3, 175 mg/kg, respectively. Group-III (standard), Group-IV, and Group-V (test drug groups) received rivastigmine (1 mg/kg), duloxetine (10 mg/kg), and escitalopram (10 mg/kg), respectively, along with AlCl3, 175 mg/kg. All drugs and AlCl3 were administered orally daily for 2 months. The effect on cognition was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM). Brain acetylcholinesterase levels, oxidative stress parameters, and histology of the hippocampus were also evaluated. Results: Rats treated with only AlCl3 showed significant (P < 0.001) increase in latency during acquisition trials of day-3 and day-4 and decrease in percentage of both time spent and distance traveled in target zone during probe trial in MWM. Malondialdehyde was increased and glutathione decreased in the brain. Histopathology of the hippocampus showed unhealthy cellular architecture with a large number of degenerated cells. All these changes were significantly reversed in rivastigmine and test drug groups. Chronic administration of AlCl3 resulted in lowering of brain cholinesterase levels (P < 0.001) versus control. Cholinesterase levels were further significantly (P < 0.05) lowered in rats who received AlCl3 along with either rivastigmine or escitalopram. Conclusion: Escitalopram and duloxetine exerted a protective effect against AlCl3-induced memory impairment in rats.
Pharmacokinetic modeling of propofol in Indian children
B Naveen Naik, Preethy J Mathew, Smita Pattanaik, Venkateswari Muthukrishnan, Goverdhan Dutt Puri
DOI:10.4103/jpp.JPP_5_19
Objective: To analyse the PK (pharmacokinetics) of propofol after single bolus dose in children undergoing elective general surgery and to establish a PK model of propofol after single bolus dose in children undergoing elective general surgery and to establish a PK model of propofol. Materials and Methods: Twelve healthy Indian children aged 5–12 years who underwent elective general surgery under general anesthesia received propofol at an intravenous bolus dose of 2.5 mg/kg. The plasma propofol concentration over the next 12 h was estimated using high-performance liquid chromatography. A total of 144 samples were analyzed, and PK parameters were evaluated using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Results were validated using bootstrap analysis, and visual predictive check was done to evaluate the final model. Results: Propofol PK in Indian children was characterized by a three-compartment model similar to adults. The model derived estimates of PK parameters are as follows: volume of the central compartment (V1) = 598.73 ml/kg, volume of the second compartment (V2) = 821.12 ml/kg, volume of the third compartment (V3) = 1097 ml/kg, systemic clearance (CL1) = 22.1 ml/kg/min, and intercompartmental clearances CL2 and CL3 which were 42.5 ml/kg/min and 10.4 ml/kg/min, respectively. Conclusion: The final PK model imparted a robust characterization of propofol PK. Inclusion of body weight as a covariate to the model exhibited a significant impact on propofol PK. The execution of this patient derived PK model should support future population PK studies that include diverse population with sparse sampling to support the dosing of propofol in Indian children undergoing surgery under total intravenous anesthesia.
Targeted spontaneous reporting on drug safety alerts issued by pharmacovigilance programme of India: A new origin of pharmacovigilance in India
Prasad Thota, Shabir Sidhu, Bikash Medhi, Phulen Sarma, Ajay Prakash, Kalaiselvan Vivekanandan, Anusha Thota
Persistent cryptococcal meningitis treated with antiretroviral therapy and alternative antifungals
Katie E Barber, Svenja Albrecht, Kayla R Stover
Because of the relative lack of information surrounding persistent cryptococcal meningitis, treatment presents a clinical dilemma. We report two patients who developed persistent cryptococcal meningitis that was nonresponsive to induction therapy over the course of several weeks. In the first patient, induction therapy with amphotericin and flucytosine was extended. Because of persistently high opening pressures (OPs) and cryptococcal antigen titers at 10 weeks, antiretroviral therapy with the combination of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide was initiated, and the patient's OP and cryptococcal titers normalized within a week. This patient was well at his 2-week visit but was lost to follow-up after that. In the second patient, induction therapy with amphotericin and flucytosine was continued for 6 weeks due to persistently elevated OPs and cryptococcal antigen titers. At that time, high-dose fluconazole was added. This patient steadily improved and was discharged on fluconazole consolidation therapy. After hospital discharge, this patient was lost to follow-up. Published risk factors for persistent infection that these patients shared were positive human immunodeficiency virus status, elevated cryptococcal antigen titers, and persistently high OP. After initiation of unique, nonstandard therapy of antiretrovirals and high-dose fluconazole, both patients improved. Other potential treatment options for persistent cryptococcal meningitis include voriconazole, posaconazole, interleukin 2, acetazolamide, and the placement of cerebrospinal fluid shunts, but these were not selected because of a variety of relative contraindications or limitations of these agents. With limited data to favor one agent over another, it is important to evaluate case-by-case for treatment decisions.
Subconjunctival bevacizumab for recurrent conjunctival pyogenic granuloma
Nirupama Kasturi, Tharini Senthamizh, Hanuman Srinivas Bheemanathi, K Ramesh Babu
A 45-year-old male presented with a pyogenic granuloma of the bulbar conjunctiva of the left eye following a stick injury. It was a benign friable, hyperplastic, vascular lesion comprised of inflammatory cells and lobular capillary proliferation. The differential diagnosis includes squamous papillomas, hemangiomas, suture granulomas, and ocular surface tumors, such as squamous cell carcinoma and amelanotic melanoma. Conventional treatment includes topical corticosteroids and surgical excision. Treatment of recurrent lesions with cryotherapy, electrocautery, topical antimetabolites, and plaque irradiation has been described. We present a case of recurrent pyogenic granuloma successfully treated with two subconjunctival bevacizumab injections. The patient developed three recurrences after excision at a peripheral hospital after which he was successfully treated with excision and adjuvant subconjunctival bevacizumab 2.5 mg/0.1 ml injection. This case highlights the novel use of bevacizumab for recurrent pyogenic granuloma.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3433
|
__label__wiki
| 0.808969
| 0.808969
|
Home > Topics > Boycott - a word whose meaning is known the world over. But it once belonged to a man. >
Boycott - a word whose meaning is known the world over. But it once belonged to a man.
Book by Colin C. Murphy
By Averil Staunton
While we are not normally in the business of promoting books, as this one draws on historical events that relate to our area here in Ballinrobe and South Mayo we thought you would like to know about it. The author Colin C. Murphy spent time in the area while researching this creative book.
Captain Charles Boycott, an English land agent living close to Ballinrobe in Mayo, becomes the first to suffer this new form of revolt, when he and his family are ostracised. It is a David versus Goliath situation, with Boycott supported by the military, the police, the press, the British Government. How can peasants stand against an empire? And how will the two brothers reconcile their differences and confront their troubled past?
Officially launched recently by Frank McGuinness, Boycott is Colin C. Murphy's first novel and is based on the real historical events and incorporates actual news coverage of the time in and around the Ballinrobe and Neale areas.
It's the story of two brothers who survive the Famine. Thirty years later it's the Land War and their ideals differ. Captain Charles Boycott is an English Land agent and he is the first to suffer from a new form of revolt
Opening with a reminder of the shocking words of Sir Charles Trevelyan's that the real evil of the famine was the 'moral evil of the selfish perverse and turbulent character of the [Irish] people'; this from the man responsible for administering relief during the Famine!
Each chapter is preceded by a historical record of the time to accurately set the scene. They are fascinating and any history student will recognise the amount of detailed research that Murphy has gone into to bring this novel to fruition, all adding to its validity and the poignancy of events.
We're in 1848, the Famine. Owen and Thomas's mother has died and her infant son Patrick- the only time they'd ever seen their father cry. We're reminded of the travesties of the Famine, the export of food while the people at home starved. None of this is new but it is still none the less shocking however many times we read it. With the father's death they try to avoid the workhouse.
Running parallel to this is Captain Boycott's story on Achill Island. Tough with his tenants his visiting brother reproaches him, "The thing of it is, Charles, you're not in the army now. And your tenants are hardly the enemy". Living on the western edge of the British Empire his brother further criticises him for his contempt of the people, "The land here is extremely poor; as are the people who work it. And yet I've seen you treat them with contempt". Drawing the character of Boycott from the view of his visiting brother Arthur who thinks Charles sees "the world through narrow eyes that never saw anything but the fulfilment of his own purpose and ambition", Murphy is able to use the brother character as a descriptive narrator.
The period of the boycott is covered in detail, September to November 1880.
Sources for this article were extracted from various Press Releases and the book is available from all good book stores and on-line.
This page was added by Averil Staunton on 16/12/2012.
Ballinrobe, Co Mayo - Historic Calendar 2016
Ballinrobe: A Century of Change
Bernie Sears
Boycott Lecture in The Neale near Ballinrobe
Calendar 2011 - Historic Ballinrobe
Calendar 2012 - Historic Calendar
Click to see Ballinrobe Historic Sites
Historic Sites-Town Walk
History of Ballinrobe
History and Reference Material
Our Irish Women Project
How the town has changed!
Irish Community Archive Network
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3439
|
__label__wiki
| 0.57224
| 0.57224
|
Paris um 1200: Universität und Konflikt
Italy 13th century: Education of Magistrates
Italian City Magistrates
Podestà literature
Four didactic settings
Spätmittelalter Wien: Studenten und Bürger
Ostslowakei Reformation: Studienfinanzierung
Deutschland Frühe Neuzeit: Der erste jüdische Student
Deutschösterreich 1859-1914: Akademischer Kulturkampf
Deutschland im 19. Jhdt: Ausländische Studierende
Für den Editor
soziale Identität
Burschenschaft
Outgroup
Albrecht III
Ausländerfrage
Privilegien
Bellum Latinum
De regimine et sapientia potestatis
Konstantinopel
Brunetto Latini
Tobias Kohen
Albertinum
De regime civitatum
town vs. gown
From Gown to Town – Professional Training for City Magistrates in Thirteenth-Century Italy
Italian City Magistrates in the High Middle Ages
David Napolitano
During the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) the Italian peninsula was not a homogeneous whole, but composed of many ‘Italies’. [1] The focus of this article is on communal Italy. This academic shorthand refers to the highly urbanised areas of Northern and Central Italy where self-government first emerged at the end of the eleventh century and came to institutional maturity in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. [2]
This article does not look into the early origins (up to c. 1180) nor final stages of the commune (after c. 1250), but concentrates on the podestà regime (c. 1180 – c. 1250). [3] The podestà is generally labelled as one of the most ingenious inventions of communal Italy. [4] This city magistrate lifted the practice of city government to a new, professional plane and constituted a qualitative change in governmental practices. [5]
The structural trend towards professional city government had an important cultural off-shoot. As the exercise of high office professionalised, there was an increasing need – and room - for reflection on and training in this office, thus creating a vital link between learning and political activity. Once the podestà office was no longer in flux and had turned into a stable fixture of the institutional framework, this type of instruction found its expression in the podestà literature, the study object of this article. [6]
In contrast to the traditional narrative which presents a relatively flat and undiversified picture of the podestà literature I will argue that this professional training did not follow a ‘one size fits all’-model. Given the dynamics involved in learning this profession, the formation took on different shapes. More precisely, I will identify four didactic settings in which this type of texts originated and functioned: topic-specific training, family-organised instruction, retinue-based education, and private teaching. Each of the four surviving remnants of the podestà literature will be linked to such a didactic setting.
[1] For a detailed survey of Italian medieval history in English: New Cambridge Medieval History, see especially: Volume IV,c.1024-c.1198, 2 vols, ed. by David Luscombe and Jonathan Riley-Smith (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004), and Volume V, c. 1198-1300, ed. by David Abulafia (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999). For an introduction to Italy in the High Middle Ages: Italy in the Central Middle Ages: 1000-1300, ed. by David Abulafia (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).
[2] For this definition: Edward Coleman, ‘Cities and Communes’, in Italy in the Central Middle Ages: 1000-1300, ed. by David Abulafia (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), pp. 27-57 (p. 27).
[3] For an overview of the historiography on the podestà regime: Paolo Grillo, 'I podestà dell'Italia comunale: Recenti studi e nuovi problemi sulla storia politica e istituzionale dei comuni italiani nel Duecento’, Rivista storica italiana, 115 (2003), 556-90. The staffing of this office has been examined in great detail by a team of twenty-five specialists led by Maire Vigueur: I podestà dell’Italia comunale: Reclutamento e circolazione degli ufficiali forestieri (fine XII sec.-metà XIV sec.), 2 vols, ed. by Jean-Claude Maire Vigueur (Roma: École française de Rome, 2000). Institutional studies go back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Standard works are: Gian Piero Bognetti, Appunti sul podestà (Pisa: Pacini Mariotti, 1933-34); Vittorio Franchini, Saggio di ricerche sull’instituto del podestà nel comune medievale (Roma: Spithoever, 1912); G. Hanauer, ‘Das Berufspodestat im dreizehnten Jahrhundert’, Mitteilungen des Instituts für Oesterreichische Geschichtsforschung, 23 (1902), 377-426; Ernst Salzer, Ueber die Anfänge der Signorie in Oberitalien: Ein Beitrag zur italienischen Verfassungsgeschichte (Berlin: von E. Ebering, 1900). Currently, Artifoni is the leading scholar on this figure. His studies have turned the link between rhetoric and communal politics into a commonplace of Italian historiography. See especially: Enrico Artifoni, ‘Retorica e organizzazione del linguaggio politico nel Duecento italiano’, in Le forme della propaganda politica nel Due e nel Trecento, ed. by Paolo Cammarosano (Rome: École française de Rome, 1994), pp. 157-82; Enrico Artifoni, ‘Sull’eloquenza politica nel Duecento italiano’, Quaderni medievali, 35 (1993), 57-78; Enrico Artifoni, ‘I podestà professionali e la fondazione retorica della politica comunale’, Quaderni storici, 63 (1986), 687-719. See also: Paolo Cammarosano, ‘L’éloquence laïque dans l’Italie communale (fin du XIIe-XIVe siècle)’, Bibliothèque de l’École des Chartes, 158/2 (2000), 431-42.
[4] Patrick Gilli, Villes et sociétés urbaines en Italie: Milieu XIIe – milieu XIVe siècle (Paris: Sedes, 2005), p. 292. See also: Enrico Artifoni, ‘Comune italiano’, in Federico II: Enciclopedia fridericiana (Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 2005), I, pp. 357-64 (p. 358); Paolo Cammarosano, Italia medievale: Struttura e geografia delle fonti scritte (Roma: La Nuova Italia, 1995), pp. 137, 146, and 151; Jean-Claude Maire Vigueur and Enrico Faini, Il sistema politico dei comuni italiani (secoli XII-XIV) (Milano: Pearson Italia, 2010), p. 36.
[5] Daniela De Rosa, Alle origini della repubblica fiorentina: Dai consoli al “Primo Popolo” (1172-1260) (Firenze: Arnaud, 1995), pp. 20-22; Maire Vigueur and Faini, 2010, p. 36; Giuliano Milani, I comuni italiani (Roma: Laterza, 2007), p. 167.
[6] See also: Elisa Occhipinti, L’Italia dei comuni: Secoli XI-XIII (Roma: Carocci, 2008), p. 60.
David Napolitano, From Gown to Town – Professional Training for City Magistrates in Thirteenth-Century Italy: Italian City Magistrates in the High Middle Ages, aus: Andreas Speer, Andreas Berger (Hg.), Studentengeschichte zwischen Mittelalter und Neuzeit, in: historicum-estudies.net,
URL: http://www.historicum-estudies.net/epublished/studentengeschichte/italy-13th-century-education-of-magistrates/italian-city-magistrates/ (Datum des letzten Besuchs).
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3440
|
__label__wiki
| 0.71048
| 0.71048
|
Awesome: 12.5%
Worth A Look: 75%
Pretty Crappy: 12.5%
by Jay Seaver
"An online experience nearly as good as that in the arcade."
"Ralph Breaks the Internet" may not be quite as delightful as "Wreck-It Ralph", but that's probably because its clever bits are more likely to poke fun at the present rather than dip into nostalgia, with the Disney jokes maybe a little more self-serving than self-deprecating. That was easy goodwill for the first movie, and the second has to try a little harder. Fortunately, it manages what it needs to just as well, getting a lot of laughs even as it makes a bit of an unexpected turn.
It's been six years since the events of the first movies, but not much has changed for the video game characters at Litwak's Arcade since then, which suits Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) fine, though best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) is looking for a bit more than racing on the same three courses every day. When Ralph's attempt to help results in real-world damage that might get Vanellope's game sold for scrap, they figure the only thing to do is head to the Internet via a newly-attached WiFi router to get the part on eBay - but paying for it means either swiping a car from Slaughter Race boss Shank (voice of Gal Gadot) or convincing streaming-site algorithm Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson) to make them viral.
Conflict is what drives a story, or at least that's what they teach you in school, and some of Disney's most memorable characters are its villains, so it's pretty impressive that they keep the movie going for a long time based on people working toward the same goal and genuinely liking each other. Pretty much every crazy situation Ralph and Vanellope get into is the result of good intentions not being backed up by experience, and even the characters who could potentially be bad guys with betrayal in mind tend to wind up doing what they say they will. It's easy to make friendship seem boring or undramatic, but that's something this movie happily avoids.
It can let that sort of thing slide because the filmmakers have jokes. The film is just as pop-culturally savvy as the first movie without them repeating themselves, giving personalities to everything from pop-up ads to fansites, finding what is ridiculous about the Internet but also what is delightful about exploring, with Ralph and Vanellope wonderfully blank slates as they react. Everything is presented in nifty, eye-popping fashion - extra effort to see it in 3D is not wasted - and the action is staged as well as any live-action movie, especially a centerpiece car chase that's thrilling but also great for establishing a connection between Vanellope and Shank.
It adds a few fun new voices to the cast, especially Gal Gadot and Taraji P. Henson, who give Shank and Yesss plenty of attitude that combines with the fluid, strong body language contributed by the animators for plenty of confidence. There's plenty of fun having three decades of Disney princesses reprise their voices as well. Still, the film smartly spends most of its time with John C. Reilly's Ralph and Sarah Silverman's Vanellope. He makes Ralph just the right sort of lovable, well-meaning doofus to keep the audience expecting disaster but mostly cheering for him, even it's cheering for him to do better. Silverman, meanwhile, is downright great as an eternal kid who nevertheless wants to expand her horizons. She makes Vanellope precocious but nervous, and exactly the right sort of outraged when needed.
That's needed when Ralph does do something selfish enough to set up homestretch trouble, and it's something the filmmakers have a little trouble with. There's something basic underneath it which festers in a lot of types of relationship, something which folks will recognize but maybe fret over how quickly things get reversed. Ralph has got to be forgiven practically before how bad he's been kicks in, and maybe kids (and, yeah, boys specifically) can get the wrong message from that. Still, it sets up a fun finale that benefits from the same sort of misdirection as Frozen did, and it hurts not at all that it hits the same notes about growing up as Toy Story 3 (it's a good trick, making these sequels about growing up and moving on, as the original audience will mature over the time an animated film takes to be produced).
It's a smart tack to take and makes for a surprisingly emotional ending, though not so final that there aren't room for a couple more jokes afterward. It's not the pure delight of the first, but it's still funny and clever, and the audience reaction makes me wonder just where they'll go should Disney make a third trip to this arcade.
12/06/18 Bob Dog Superficial and predictable, though the Princesses' sequence worth the admission.
11/20/18 Louise Better than the original, the action sequences are quite astonishing.
21-Nov-2018 (PG)
Pamela Ribon
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3441
|
__label__cc
| 0.669298
| 0.330702
|
C. R. Bard, Inc.
Bard Medical Division
67 E Baffert Dr Ste 6
Nogales, AZ, 85621-3554 United States
www.crbard.com
D&B Hoovers provides sales leads and sales intelligence data on over 120 million companies like C. R. Bard, Inc. and Medical Equipment & Supplies Manufacturing contacts in Nogales, AZ, United States and around the world. Our data undergoes extensive quality assurance testing with over 2,000 discrete checks for validity and reliability. We use over 30,0000 different sources, including teams of primary source researchers to update our data over 5 million times per day. So when you get C. R. Bard, Inc. insights, financials and competitors from D&B Hoovers, you can trust in their accuracy. To witness the full depth and breadth of our data and for industry leading sales intelligence tools, take D&B Hoovers for a test drive. Try D&B Hoovers Free
EMPLOYEES 1,000
CREDIT PRESCREEN MEDIUM RISK
Becton, Dickinson and Company
204 Subsidiaries
255 Branches
Get in Touch with 3 Contacts
A D&B Hoovers Subscription is your foot in the door to C. R. Bard, Inc. contact information.
Beatrice Diaz
Arnoldo Medina
Margarita Torres
Buyer Planner
See full contact details
Medical Equipment & Supplies Manufacturing
Companies in this industry manufacture medical equipment and supplies, including surgical and medical...
Companies in this industry manufacture a wide variety of goods; major product groups include food and...
With a Hoovers subscription you can get a comprehensive view of C. R. Bard, Inc.
Reach the right people with access to detailed contact information.
Nogales, AZ, United States , Medical Equipment & Supplies Manufacturing
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3443
|
__label__cc
| 0.567155
| 0.432845
|
Latest Scribbles
Satirical commentary on life and politics in and around Westminster. Updated every Wednesday with a sketch on PMQs
PMQs sketches
Nov 28, 2012 / Peter McHugh / Media
Bad Day Deferred
When your back is against the wall and you are stuck between a rock and a hard place then you might as well dig deeper into the bag of cliches for another one that fits – step forward cross-party consensus.…
Read the PostBad Day Deferred
Time is up for the Street of Shame
When I first arrived in Fleet Street a new friend said “Welcome to the street of broken dreams,” and I had no idea what he was talking about – but I did when I left. This week, Lord Leveson produces…
Read the PostTime is up for the Street of Shame
Oct 23, 2012 / Peter McHugh / Media
George Entwistle: a decent man out of his depth
The director general of the BBC came to the House of Commons this morning to restore his reputation over the Jimmy Savile scandal – and failed. After a two-hour ordeal by MPs on the culture select committee, George Entwistle left…
Read the PostGeorge Entwistle: a decent man out of his depth
Peter Rippon is unlikely to be the only BBC casualty of the Savile scandal
A former editor of Panorama said last week that it “beggars belief” that the person who put the eulogy of Jimmy Savile on BBC TV did not know about Newsnight’s investigation into the DJ’s paedophilia. That person was George Entwistle, the newly installed director…
Read the PostPeter Rippon is unlikely to be the only BBC casualty of the Savile scandal
Jun 12, 2012 / Peter McHugh / Media
A moral high ground at Leveson?
When a politician inadvertently stumbles across the high moral ground you can be sure of two things, he’ll be on his own and he’ll set up camp immediately. It is now set in Labour folklore that it’s leader Ed Miliband…
Read the PostA moral high ground at Leveson?
May 28, 2012 / Peter McHugh / Media
Tony virtuoso
It wasn’t the Hague, it wasn’t even the Old Bailey – but it was a court and it had a dock and in it a man with his hand on a bible prepared to admit he was Anthony Charles Lynton…
Read the PostTony virtuoso
Apr 26, 2012 / Peter McHugh / Media
Laying the Sun King to rest
In the end the Sun King just rambled on as might befit someone in his eighty-first year, and thus Rupert Murdoch was finally laid to rest on the Strand – fittingly at the end of Fleet Street where it all…
Read the PostLaying the Sun King to rest
Apr 3, 2012 / Peter McHugh / Media
BSkyBow out
You knew it was serious even with the sound down because Kay Burley had her Huw Edwards face on as she confirmed on Sky News her boss was now attempting to write himself out of the script of The Godfather 6. His…
Read the PostBSkyBow out
Feb 10, 2012 / admin / Media
Dacre – the sequel
Embed from Getty Images It was clear as soon as Paul Dacre came into Court 73 that someone had lit the blue touch paper attached to the editor of the Daily Mail and quickly retired out of harm’s way. To see the…
Read the PostDacre – the sequel
Jul 19, 2011 / Peter McHugh / Media
After the hors d’oeuvres, stuffed Murdoch
As theatre of anticipation it was wonderful. College Green had more tents that a boy scouts jamboree as the world’s press gathered for the ritual disemboweling of the Great Dictator .But when Rupert turned up it looked we might be…
Read the PostAfter the hors d’oeuvres, stuffed Murdoch
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3445
|
__label__wiki
| 0.938842
| 0.938842
|
Grieving mum's milk bonds two families for life
Letitia Rowlands
Sep 16 2015 at 1:17 PM
Jennifer Tiner with Detra Chappell and her son Dekevyon. Photo: WFA8
When Detra Chappell gave birth three months before her due date, she knew her tiny baby would need all the help he could get to pull through.
Little did she realise a gift from another mother grieving the loss of her own baby would provide the nourishment her son needed to survive.
When baby Dekevyon was born at 28 weeks, weighing just 900 grams, in August last year, nurses told Chappell how vital breast milk would be for his health.
'She lives on, she's not forgotten': Isabella passed away at 13 months. Photo: Supplied
"They stressed that to the fullest," Chappell, from Texas, told local television station WFA8. "Like, whatever you can get, put it in the little bottle and bring it."
But the new mum was unable to produce enough milk herself, and donated milk was fed to tiny Dekevyon.
The mother donating that milk was Jennifer Tiner, whose own baby had just passed away.
Tiner's daughter Isabella had suffered seizures since birth and was 13 months old when she died.
Following her little girl's death, the 124 litres of breastmilk Tiner had pumped and stored for her daughter was donated to Methodist Richardson Medical Center - the hospital where baby Dekevyon was being cared for.
Every last drop of the milk went to the premature boy who is now a healthy, happy one-year-old.
Chappell was so thankful for the "liquid gold" her son received that she asked Tiner to be Dekevyon's godmother.
The two women have now formed a close friendship that will now never be broken.
"I'm glad I finally got to meet you, because I was always wondering, 'Now, who is it coming from?'," Chappell told Tiner during the television interview.
Dekevyon was born weighing 900 grams at 28 weeks. Photo: Supplied
Tiner was honoured to be chosen as Dekevyon's godmother, and takes comfort in the fact that Isabella's milk helped save the life of another baby.
"She lives on, she's not forgotten," Tiner said. "She saved him through her milk. It's liquid gold, is what it is."
The families have now shared lots of celebrations, including Dekevyon's christening and first birthday.
Those moments bring much joy to Tiner, but they are also a reminder of things she is missing out on doing with Isabella.
"I have that sad feeling, because I loved her and I miss her, but I know God's plan was bigger than mine," Tiner said.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3447
|
__label__cc
| 0.655812
| 0.344188
|
THE SINNER'S GUIDE
Venerable Louis of Granada
The Three Kinds of Virtues
in which the Fullness of Justice Consists;
and first, Man's Duty to Himself
Our Threefold Obligation to Virtue
Having spoken at length of the sins which profane and degrade the soul, let us now turn to the virtues which elevate and adorn it with the spiritual treasures of justice, It belongs to justice to render to everyone his due: to God, to our neighbor, and to ourselves. If we faithfully acquit ourselves of these duties to God, to our neighbor, and to ourselves, we fulfill the obligations of justice and thus become truly virtuous.
To accomplish this great work let your heart be that of a son towards God, that of a brother towards your neighbor, and that of a judge towards yourself. In this, the prophet tells us, the virtue of man consists: "I will show thee, O man, what is good and what the Lord requireth of thee; Verily, to do judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk solicitous with thy God." (Mich. 6:8). The duty of judgment is what man owes to himself; the duty of mercy what he owes to his neighbor; and to walk carefully before God is the duty he owes to his Creator.
The Reformation of the Body
Charity, it is truly said, begins at home. Let us, therefore, begin with the first obligation mentioned by the prophet – the duty of judgment which man must exercise towards himself. Every just judge must enforce order and discipline in the district over which he exercises jurisdiction. Now, the kingdom over which man rules is divided into two distinct parts: the body with all its organs and senses, and the soul with all its affections and powers. Over all these he must establish the empire of virtue, if he would faithfully perform his duty to himself.
To reform the body and bring it under the dominion of virtue, the first thing to be acquired is a modest and decorous bearing. "Let there be nothing in your carriage, your deportment, or your dress," says St. Augustine, "capable of scandalizing your neighbor, but let everything about you be conformable to the purity and sanctity of your profession." Hence a servant of God should bear himself with gravity, humility, and sweetness, that all who approach him may profit by his example and be edified by his virtues. The great Apostle would have us, like fragrant plants, giving forth the sweet perfume of piety and filling all about us with the odor of Jesus Christ. (Cf. 2Cor. 2:15).
Such, indeed, should be the effect of the words, the actions, and the bearing of those who serve God, so that none who draw near to them can resist the sweet attraction of sanctity. This is one of the principal fruits of a modest and recollected deportment. It is a mute but eloquent teaching, which draws men to the love of virtue and the service of God. Thus do we fulfill the precept of Our Saviour: "So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16). The prophet Isaias also tells us that God's servants should be plants bearing fruits of righteousness and virtue, the beauty of which will lead men to extol the power of their Creator. (Cf. Is. 61:3). This does not mean that our good works must be done to gain the applause of men, for, as St. Gregory tells us, "a good work may be public only while its intention remains a secret between God and the soul. The example we thus afford our brethren destroys neither the merit of humility nor the desire to please only God." (Moral. 29,18).
Another fruit which we derive from this exterior modesty is a greater facility in preserving the recollection, devotion, and purity of the soul. The interior and the exterior man are so closely united that good or evil in one is quickly communicated to the other. If order reign in the soul, its effect is experienced in the body; and the body, if disturbed, renders the soul likewise restless. Each may in all respects be considered a mirror of the other, for the actions of one are faithfully represented in the other. For this reason a composed and modest bearing must contribute to interior recollection and modesty, while a restless exterior must be incompatible with peace of soul. Hence the Wise Man tells us: "He that is hasty with his feet shall stumble." (Prov. 19:2). Thus would he teach us that he whose exterior is wanting in that calm gravity which is the distinctive mark of God's servants must inevitably stumble and frequently fall.
A third effect of the virtue we are considering is to communicate to man a composure and gravity befitting any office he may fill. We behold an example of this in Job, who tells us that the light (the dignity) of his countenance never fell to the earth. (Cf. Job 29:24). And speaking of the authority of his bearing, he says: "The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the old men rose up and stood. The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth. The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat." (Job 29:8-10). But the gravity and dignity of this holy man were mingled with so much sweetness and mercy that, as he tells us, when seated as a king with his army about him he was a comforter to them that mourned. (Cf. Job 25).
Wise men condemn this want of modest gravity less as a fault in itself than as a mark of levity; for, as we have already observed, an unreserved and frivolous exterior indicates an uncontrolled and ill-regulated interior. Hence the author of Ecclesiasticus says: "The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man show what he is." (Ecclus. 19:27). "As the faces of them that look therein shine in the water," says Solomon, "so the hearts of men are laid open to the wise" by their exterior acts. (Prov. 27:19).
Such are the benefits which result from a grave and modest deportment. We cannot but deplore the conduct of those who, through human respect, laugh and jest with a freedom unbecoming their profession, and allow themselves indulgences which deprive them of many of the fruits of virtue. "A religious," says St. John Climachus, "should not abandon his fasts through fear of falling into the sin of vainglory." Neither should fear of the world's displeasure cause us to lose the advantages of gravity and modesty in our conduct; for it is as unreasonable to sacrifice a virtue through fear of offending men as it would be to seek to overcome one vice by another.
The preceding remarks apply to our manners in general. We shall next treat of the modesty and sobriety which we should observe at table.
The first thing to be done for the reformation of the body is to put a rigorous curb on the appetites and to refrain from immoderate indulgence of any of the senses. As myrrh, which is an exceedingly bitter substance, preserves the body from corruption after death, so mortification preserves it during life from the corruption of vice. For this reason we shall consider the efficacy of sobriety, or temperance – a virtue upon which all the others depend, but which is very difficult to attain because of the resistance of our corrupt nature.
Read, then, the words in which the Holy Spirit deigns to instruct us in this respect: "Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee, lest if thou eatest much thou be hated. Leave off first for manners' sake, and exceed not lest thou offend. And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of all, and be not the first to ask for drink." (Ecclus. 31:19-21). Here are rules worthy of the Sovereign Master, who wills that we should imitate in our actions the decorum and order which reign in all His works. St. Bernard teaches us the same lesson in these words: "In regard to eating there are four things to be regulated: the time, the manner, the quantity, and the quality. The time should be limited to the usual hours of our repast; the manner should be free from that eagerness which makes us appear absorbed in what is set before us; the quantity and quality should not exceed what is granted others, except when a condition of health manifestly requires delicacies." (Ep. ad Fratres de Monte Dei.).
In forcible words, supported by appropriate examples, St. Gregory declares the same sentiments: "It belongs to abstinence not to anticipate the ordinary time of meals, as Jonathan did when he ate the honeycomb (Cf. 1Kg. 14:27); not to desire the greatest delicacies, as the Israelites did in the desert when they longed for the fleshpots of Egypt (Cf. Exod. 16:3); not to wish for the choicest preparation of food, as the people of Sodom (Cf. Gen. 19); and not to yield to greediness, as Esau did (Cf. Gen. 25:33) when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage." (Moral. 30,27).
Hugh of St. Victor tells us we must be very attentive to our deportment at table, always observing a certain modesty of the eyes and a reserve of speech. There are some, he says, who are no sooner seated at table than their uncontrolled appetite is manifested by their bearing: Their eyes eagerly scan the whole board; they rudely help themselves before others, and seize upon the nearest dish, regardless of all save self. They approach the table as a general approaches a fort which he is to assail, as if they were considering how they can most quickly consume all that lies before them. (Discip. Monast.). Control these disgraceful indications of a degrading vice, and overcome the vice itself by restricting the quantity and quality of your food. Bear these wise counsels in mind at all times, but particularly when the appetite is stimulated by hunger, or by rare and sumptuous viands which prove strong incentives to gluttony.
Beware of the illusions of this vice, which St. John Climachus tells us is most deceptive. At the beginning of a repast it is so clamorous that it would seem that no amount could satisfy our hunger; but if we are firm in resisting its unruly demands, we shall see that a moderate portion is sufficient for nature.
An excellent remedy against gluttony is to bear in mind when we go to table that there are, as a pagan philosopher says, two guests to be provided for: the body, to which we must furnish the food which its necessity craves; and our soul, which we must maintain by the virtues of self-denial and temperance. A no less efficacious remedy is to compare the happy fruits of abstinence with the gross pleasures of gluttony, which will enable us to appreciate the folly of sacrificing such lasting advantages for such pernicious and fleeting gratifications.
Remember, moreover, that of all the pleasures of the senses those of taste and feeling are the lowest. We have them in common with all animals, even the most imperfect, while there are many which lack the other three, seeing, hearing, and smelling. These former senses, tasting and feeling, are not only the basest, but their pleasures are the least enduring, for they vanish with the object which produced them.
Add to these considerations the thought of the sufferings of the martyrs, and the fasts and mortifications of the saints, Think, too, of your many sins which must be expiated; of the pains of Purgatory; of the torments of Hell. Each of these things will tell you how necessary it is to take up the cross, to overcome your appetites, and to do penance for the sinful gratifications of the past. Remember, then, the duty of self-denial; prepare for your necessary meals with such reflections before your mind, and you will see how easy it will be to observe the rules of moderation and sobriety.
Though this great prudence is necessary in eating, how much more is required in drinking! There is nothing more injurious to chastity than the excessive use of wine, in which, as the Apostle says, there is luxury. (Cf. Eph. 5:18), It is at all times the capital enemy of this angelic virtue; but it is particularly in youth that such indulgence is most fatal. . Hence St. Jerome says that wine and youth are two incentives to impurity. (Ad Eustoch, de Cust. Virg.). Wine is to youth what fuel is to fire. As oil poured upon the flames only increases their intensity, so wine, like a violent conflagration, heats the blood, enkindling and exciting the passions to the highest pitch of folly and madness. Witness the excesses into which man is led by hatred, love, revenge, and other passions, when stimulated by intoxicating liquors. The natural effect of this fatal indulgence is to counteract all the results of the moral virtues. These subdue and control the baser passions, but wine excites and urges them to the wildest licentiousness. Judge, therefore, with what vigilance you should guard against the attacks of such an enemy.
Remember, too, that by wine is meant every kind of drink capable of robbing man of the use of his reason or his senses. A philosopher has wisely said that the vine bears three kinds of grapes: one for necessity, one for pleasure, and one for folly. In other words, wine taken with moderation supports our weakness; beyond this limit it only flatters the senses; and drunk to excess it produces a species of madness. Heed no inspiration or thought which you have reason to think is excited by wine, the worst of evil counselors.
Avoid with equal care all disputes or arguments at table, for they are often the beginning of grave quarrels. Be no less moderate in speech than in the indulgence of your appetite; for, as Holy Scripture tells us, "there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth." (Prov. 31:4). We shall find rather unbridled tongues, immoderate laughter, vulgar jokes, violent disputes, the revelation of secrets, and many other unhappy consequences of intemperance.
Another evil against which I would warn you is dwelling upon the merits of certain dishes, and condemning others because they are not so delicate. How unworthy it is of man to fix his mind and heart on eating and drinking with such eagerness that the burden of his conversation is on the excellent fish of such a river, the luscious fruit of such a country, and the fine wines of such a region! This is a clear proof that he has lost sight of the true end of eating, which is to support nature, and that, instead of devoting to this work the senses destined for it, he debases his heart and his intelligence to make them also slaves of his gluttony.
Avoid with especial care all attacks upon your neighbor's character. The malicious rapacity which prompts us to tear our neighbor's reputation in pieces was justly condemned by St. John Chrysostom as a species of cannibalism: "Will you not be satisfied with eating the flesh of animals? Must you devour human flesh by robbing another of his good name?" St. Augustine had so great a horror for this vice, from which so few tables are free, that he inscribed on the walls of his dining room the following lines:
"This board allows no vile detractor place
Whose tongue will charge the absent with disgrace."
- Vita Aug; c. 22 -
Still another point to which I wish to direct your attention is the warning given by St. Jerome, that it is better to eat moderately every day than to fast for several days and then to eat to excess. A gentle rain, he says, in proper season benefits the earth, but violent floods only devastate it. (Ep, 7 ad Loec.).
Finally, let necessity, not pleasure, govern you in eating and drinking. I do not say that you must allow your body to want for nourishment. Oh, no; like any animal destined for the service of man, your body must be supported. All that is required is to control it, and never to eat solely for pleasure, We must conquer, not destroy, the flesh, says St. Bernard; we must keep it in subjection, that it may not grow proud, for it belongs to it to obey, not to govern. (Ep. ad FF, de Monte Dei.).
This will suffice to show the importance of this virtue. But he who would learn more of the happy fruits of temperance, and its salutary effects not only upon the soul but even upon health, life, honor, and happiness, may read a special treatise on this subject which we have added to our book on meditation and prayer.
The Government of the Senses
The next step in the reformation of the body is the government of the senses. These are the avenues which a Christian should guard with special care, particularly the eyes, which, in the language of Holy Scripture, are the windows through which death enters to rob us of life. Persons desirous of making progress in prayer should be very vigilant in guarding this sense, for this watchfulness not only promotes recollection, but is a most efficacious means of preserving chastity. Without this guard they are a prey to all the vanities which surround them, and which take such possession of the imagination that it is impossible to banish them during prayer. This is the reason of the modesty of the eyes which devout souls observe. Not only do they avoid images which could tarnish the purity of their hearts, but they resolutely turn their eyes from curious objects and worldly vanities, that their mind and heart may be free to converse with God without distraction, and to advance in the knowledge of spiritual things. Prayer is so delicate an exercise that it is impeded not only by sinful images, but also by the representation of objects otherwise harmless in themselves.
The sense of hearing requires a no less vigilant guard, for through it we learn a multitude of things which weary, distract, and even defile the soul. We should protect our ears not only from evil words, but from frivolous conversations, worldly gossip, and idle discourses. During meditation we suffer from a want of vigilance in this respect, for these things are great obstacles to recollection, and persistently interpose between God and the soul in time of prayer.
Little need be said of the sense of smell, for an inordinate love of perfumes and sweet essences is so sensual and so effeminate that most men are ashamed of it, for this is a gratification in which few but women indulge.
The Government of the Tongue
Here is a subject upon which there is much to be said, for we are told in Holy Scripture that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." (Prov. 18:21). From this we can understand that the happiness or misery of every man depends upon the use he makes of this organ.
St. James asserts this truth no less strongly when he says, "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body, We put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. Behold also ships, whereas they are great and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm whithersoever the force of the governor willeth. So the tongue also is, indeed, a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity." (James 3:2-6). To govern this great instrument for good we must bear in mind, when we speak, four things: of what we speak, how we speak, the time we speak, and the object for which we speak.
In regard to the first point, what we speak, remember the counsel of the Apostle: "Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth, but that which is good to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers. All uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be so much as named among you, as becometh saints, or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility." (Eph. 4:29 and 5:3-4). As the sailor always bears with him a chart indicating the shoals and rocks which could wreck his vessel, so should the Christian bear with him these counsels of the Apostle indicating the shoals of speech which could wreck him in his voyage to eternity. Be no less careful in guarding a secret which has been confided to you, for the betrayal of a trust is one of the vilest faults into which the tongue can lead us.
In regard to the second point, how we are to speak, let us observe a just medium between silence and talkativeness, between timidity and self-sufficiency, between frivolity and pomposity; always speaking with becoming gravity, moderation, sweetness, and simplicity. Beware of haughtily asserting and obstinately persisting in your statements, for this fault gives rise to disputes which wound charity and destroy the peace of the soul. It is the part of a generous nature to yield in such contentions, and a prudent man will follow the counsel of the inspired writer: "In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking." (Ecclus. 32:12).
Consider also the necessity of observing when you speak, and always endeavor to select a suitable time: "A parable coming out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected, for he doth not speak it in due season." (Ecclus. 20:22).
Finally, we must consider the end for which we speak. There are some whose only purpose is to appear learned. Others desire to parade their wit and conversational powers. The first are thus led into hypocrisy and deceit, and the second become the sport of self-love and vanity. It does not suffice, therefore, that our conversation be good in itself – it must be directed to some good end, such as the glory of God or the profit of our neighbor.
In addition to this we must also consider the persons to whom we speak. For example, it does not become the young to engross the conversation in the presence of their elders, nor the ignorant in the presence of the learned, nor lay persons in the presence of ecclesiastics or religious. When you have reason to think that your words may be untimely or presumptuous, be silent. All persons are not capable of judging correctly in these points, and therefore, in doubt, the wisest course is a prudent silence. We shall thus conform to all the rules we have been considering; for, as the Wise Man says, "Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise; and if he close his lips, a man of understanding." (Prov. 17:28).
The Mortification of the Passions
Having thus regulated the body and all its senses, the most important reformation still remains to be effected, which is that of the soul with all its powers. Here the first to present itself is the sensitive appetite which comprises all our natural affections: love, hatred, joy, sorrow, fear, hope, anger, and other sentiments of a like nature. This appetite is the inferior part of the soul, which gives us our strongest resemblance to irrational animals, because, like them, it is guided solely by inclination. Nothing degrades us more or leads us further from God. Hence St. Bernard says that if we take away self-love, by which he understands all the movements of the sensitive appetite, there will be no longer any reason for the existence of Hell. (De Resurrectione Dni., Serm. 3).
The sensitive appetite is the arsenal which supplies sin with its most dangerous arms. It is the vulnerable part of the soul, a second Eve, frail and inconstant, heeding the wiles of the old serpent and dragging with her in her fall the unhappy Adam – that is, the superior part of the soul, the seat of the will and the understanding. Original sin is here manifested in all its power. Here the malignity of its poison is concentrated. Here is the field of man's combats, defeats, and victories. Here is the school in which virtue is exercised and trained, for all our courage, all our merit consists in overcoming the blind passions which spring from the sensitive appetite.
This is why our soul is represented sometimes as a vine needing the careful pruning of the husbandman; sometimes as a garden from which the gardener must diligently uproot the weeds of vice to give place to the plants of virtues. It should be the principal occupation of our lives, therefore, to cultivate this garden, ruthlessly plucking from our soul all that can choke the growth of good. We shall thus become true children of God, guided by the motions of the Holy Ghost. We shall thus live as spiritual men, following the guidance of grace and the dictates of reason, and not as those carnal men who, following the irrational animals, obey only the impulse of passion. This subjection of the sensitive appetite is the mortification so much commended in Scripture; the death to which the Apostle so frequently exhorts us; the practice of justice and truth so constantly extolled by David and the other prophets. Therefore, let it be the object of all our labors, all our prayers, and all our j pious exercises.
Each one should carefully study his own disposition and inclinations, in order to place the most vigilant guard on the weakest side of his nature. We must wage constant war against all our appetites, but it is particularly necessary to combat the desire of honors, of riches, and of pleasures, for these are the roots of all evil.
Beware, too, of that pride which bears with no opposition. It is a fault which prevails among persons of elevated station accustomed to command, and to deny themselves no caprice. To conquer it, learn to deny yourself innocent gratifications, that you may more easily sacrifice those which are unlawful. Learn to bear contradictions with a dignity and patience worthy of a creature who was not made for the things of this world, but who aspires to immortality. Such exercises will render us skillful in the use of spiritual weapons, which require no less practice than is necessary for the proper management of material arms. Much more important, however, is a skillful use of the former, for a victory over self, over pride, or over any passion far outweighs all the conquests of the world. Humble yourself, then, in the performance of lowly and obscure works, regardless of the world's opinion; for what can it take from us, or what can it give us, when our inheritance is God Himself?
The Reformation of the Will
One of the most efficacious means of effecting this reformation is to strengthen and adorn the superior will – that is, the rational appetite – with humility of heart, poverty of spirit, and a holy hatred of self. If we possess these, the labor of mortification is easily accomplished. Humility, according to the definition of St. Bernard, is contempt of self founded on a true knowledge of our baseness. The effect of this virtue is to pluck from our heart all the roots of pride as well as all love of earthly honors and dignities. It inspires us to seek the lowest place, persuading us that had another received the graces we enjoy he would have been more grateful and would have used them more profitably for the glory of God. It is not sufficient that man cherish these sentiments in his heart; they should also be evident in his deportment and surroundings, which, regardless of the world's opinion, should be as humble and simple as his position will admit. And while he maintains the dignity due to his station his heart should ever be ready to submit not only to superiors and equals, but even to inferiors for the love of God.
The second disposition required to strengthen and adorn the will is poverty of spirit, which consists in a voluntary contempt for the things of this world, and in a perfect contentment in the position in which God has placed us, however poor and lowly it may be. This virtue effectually destroys cupidity, and affords us so great a peace and contentment that Seneca did not hesitate to affirm that he who closed his heart to the claims of unruly desires was not inferior in wealth or happiness to Jupiter himself. By this he signified that as man's misery springs from unfulfilled desires, he may be said to be very near the summit of happiness who has learned to subdue his desires so that they cannot disturb him.
The third disposition is a holy hatred of ourselves. "He that loveth his life shall lose it," says Our Saviour, "and he that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal." (Jn. 12:25). By this hatred of self Our Lord did not mean that wicked hatred in which they indulge who yield to despair, but that aversion which the saints experienced for their flesh, which they regarded as the source of many evils and as a great obstacle to good. Hence they subjected it to the empire of reason, and denied its inordinate desires, that it might continue a humble servant and willing helper of the soul.
If we treat it otherwise we shall realize these words of the Wise Man: "He that nourisheth his servant delicately from his childhood, afterwards shall find him stubborn." (Prov. 29:21 ). This hatred of self is our chief instrument in the work of salvation. It enables us to uproot and cast from us all our evil inclinations, however much nature may rebel. Without it how could we strike rude blows, penetrate to the quick with the knife of mortification, and tear from our hearts objects upon which our affections are centered? Yes, the arm of mortification, which draws its force as much from hatred of self as from love of God, enables us to treat our failings with the firmness of a skillful physician, and relentlessly to cut and burn with no other thought than to rid the soul of every evil tendency. Having developed this subject in the Memorial of a Christian Life, we shall not here speak of it at greater length.
SECTION VIII
The Government of the Imagination
Besides these two faculties of the sensitive appetite there are two others, imagination and understanding, which belong to the intellect. The imagination, a less elevated power than the understanding, is of all the faculties the one in which the effects of original sin are most evident, and which is least under the control of reason. It continually escapes our vigilance, and like a restless child runs hither and thither, sometimes flying to the remotest corners of the world before we are aware of its ramblings. It seizes with avidity upon objects which allure it, persistently returning after we have withdrawn it from them. If, therefore, instead of controlling this restless faculty, we treat it like a spoiled child, indulging all its caprices, we strengthen its evil tendencies, and in time of prayer we shall vainly seek to restrain it. Unaccustomed to pious objects, it will rebel against us.
Knowing the dangerous propensities of this power, we should vigilantly guard it and cut off from it all unprofitable reflections. To do this effectually we must carefully examine the thoughts presented to our minds, that we may sec which we shall admit and which we shall reject. If we are careless in this respect, ideas and sentiments will penetrate our hearts and not only weaken devotion and diminish fervor, but destroy charity, which is the life of the soul.
We read in Holy Scripture that while his doorkeeper, who should have been cleansing wheat, fell asleep, assassins entered the house of Isboseth, son of Saul, and slew him. (Cf. 2Kg. 4). A like fate will be ours if we permit sleep to overcome our judgment, which should be employed in separating the chaff from the grain-that is, good thoughts from evil thoughts. While unprotected, bad desires, the assassins of the soul, in this manner are able to enter and rob us of the life of grace.
But this vigilance not only serves to preserve the life of the soul, but most efficaciously promotes recollection in prayer; for as a wandering and uncontrolled imagination is a source of much trouble in prayer, so a subdued imagination accustomed to pious subjects sweetens our conversation with God.
SECTION IX
The Government of the Understanding
We have now come to the greatest and noblest of the faculties, the understanding, which raises man above all visible creatures, and in which he most resembles his Creator. The beauty of this power depends upon that rare virtue, prudence, which excels all others. In the spiritual life prudence is to the soul what the eyes are to the body, what a pilot is to a vessel, what a head is to a commonwealth. For this reason the great St. Anthony, in a conference with several holy monks on the excellence of the virtues, gave the first place to prudence, which guides and controls all the others.
Let him, therefore, who desires to practice the other virtues with profit earnestly endeavor to be guided by prudence in all things. Not limited to any special duty, it enters into the fulfillment of all duties, into the practice of all virtues, and preserves order and harmony among them. Having the foundation of faith and charity, it first belongs to prudence to direct all our actions to God, who is our last end. As self-love, according to a holy writer, seeks self in all things, even the holiest, prudence is ever ready to examine what are the motives of our actions, whether we have God or self as the end of what we do.
Prudence also guides us in our intercourse with our neighbor, that we may afford him edification and not give him scandal. To this end it teaches us to observe the condition and character of those about us, that we may more wisely benefit them, patiently bearing with their failings and closing our eyes to infirmities which we cannot cure.
"A wise man," says Aristotle, "should not expect the same degree of certainty in all things, for some are more susceptible of proof than others. Nor should he expect the same degree of perfection in all creatures, for some are capable of a perfection which is impossible in others. Whoever, therefore, would force all lives to the same standard of virtue would do more harm than good."
Prudence also teaches us to know ourselves, our inclinations, our failings, and our evil tendencies, that we may noc presume upon our strength, but recognizing our enemies, perseveringly combat them. It is this virtue also which enables us wisely to govern the tongue by the rules which we have already given, teaching us when to be silent and when to speak. Prudence likewise guards us against the error of opening our minds to all whom we may meet, or of making confidants of others without due reflection. By putting a just restraint upon our words, it saves us from too freely expressing our opinion and thereby committing many faults,
Thus we are kept constantly reminded of the words of. Solomon: "A fool uttereth all his mind; a wise man deferreth and keepeth it till afterwards." (Prov. 29:11). Prudence also forearms us against dangers, and strengthens us by prayer and meditation to meet all the accidents of life. This is the advice of the sacred writer: "Before sickness take a medicine." (Ecclus. 18:20).
Whenever, therefore, you expect to participate in entertainments, or to transact business with men who are easily angered, or to encounter any danger, endeavor to foresee the perils of the occasion and arm yourself against them. Prudence guides us in the treatment of our bodies, causing us to observe a just medium between excessive rigor and immoderate indulgence, so that we may neither unduly weaken the flesh nor so strengthen it that it will rule the spirit.
It is also the duty of prudence to introduce moderation into all our works, even the holiest, and to preserve us from exhausting the spirit by indiscreet labor. We read in the rules of St. Francis that the spirit must rule our occupations, not he ruled by them. Our exterior labors should never cause us to lose sight of interior duties, nor should devotion to our neighbor make us forget what we owe to God. If the Apostles, who possessed such abundant grace, deemed it expedient to renounce the care of temporal things in order to devote themselves to the great work of preaching and other spiritual functions (Cf. Acts 6:2-4), it is presumption in us to suppose that we have strength and virtue capable of undertaking many arduous labors at one time.
Finally, prudence enlightens us concerning the snares of the enemy, counseling us, in the words of the Apostles, "to try spirits if they be of God," "for Satan transformeth himself into an angel of light." (1Jn. 4:1 and 2Cor. 11:14). There is no temptation more to be feared than one which presents itself under the mask of virtue, and there is none which the devil more frequently employs to deceive pious souls. Inspired and guided by prudence, we shall recognize these snares; we shall be restrained by a salutary fear from going where there is danger, but animated by a holy courage tc conquer in every struggle; we shall avoid extremes; we shall endeavor to prevent our neighbor from suffering scandal, but yet we shall not be daunted by every groundless fear; we shall learn to despise the opinions of the world, and not to fear its outcries against virtue, remembering, with the Apostle, that if we please men we cannot be the servants of Jesus Christ. (Cf. Gal. 1:10).
SECTION X
Prudence in Temporal Affairs
The virtue of prudence is no less efficacious in the direction of temporal affairs. It preserves us from serious, and sometimes from irremediable, errors which not unfrequently destroy both our material and spiritual welfare. To escape this double misfortune, here are the counsels which prudence suggests: The first is that of the Wise Man, who says: "Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy steps." (Prov. 4:25). In other words, look at the enterprise you are about to undertake, and do not rashly enter upon it. First recommend it to God; then weigh all its circumstances, and the consequences which are likely to follow from it; seek counsel of just minds concerning it; deliberate upon the advice you receive, and reflect upon your resolution before acting upon it.
In a word, beware of the four great enemies of prudence; precipitation, passion, obstinate persistence in our own opinions, and vanity. Precipitation admits no reasoning; passion blinds us; obstinancy turns a deaf ear to all counsel; and vanity ruins everything.
It also belongs to prudence to observe a just medium in all things, for extremes are no less opposed to virtue than to truth. Let not the faults of a few lead you to condemn the multitude, nor should the virtues of a few lead you to suppose that all are pious. Follow the guidance of reason in all things, and do not allow yourself to be hurried to extremes by passion or prejudice. This latter failing is apt, moreover, to dispose us favorably towards what is old, and give us a dislike for what is new. Prudence guards us against this, for age can no more justify what is bad than novelty can condemn what is good. Let us esteem things not for their age, but for their merit. A vice of long standing is only more difficult to eradicate, and a virtue of recent growth has only the fault of being unknown.
Beware also of appearances. There are few who have not been taught by experience how deceptive these often are.
Finally, let us be thoroughly convinced that as reflection and gravity are the inseparable companions of prudence, so rashness and levity ever accompany folly. Therefore, we must guard against these two faults at all times, but particularly in the following cases: in believing everything that is reported, for this indicates levity of mind; in making promises, in which we often bind ourselves beyond our means; in giving, in which liberality often makes us forget justice; in forming resolutions which from want of consideration often lead us into errors; in conversation, in which so many faults may be committed; and in temptations and anger, which shows the folly of man. "He that is patient," says Solomon, "is governed with much wisdom, but he that is impatient exalteth his folly." (Prov. 14:29).
Means of Acquiring this Virtue
Not the least important means of acquiring this virtue is the experience of our own failures and the success of others, from which we may gather wise lessons of prudence. For this reason the past is said to be a wise counselor, for today learns from yesterday. "What is it that hath been? The same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? The same that shall be done." (Eccles. 1:9). But a still more efficacious means of becoming prudent is humility, for pride is the greatest obstacle to this virtue. "Where pride is, there also shall be reproach," the Holy Ghost tells us; "but where humility is, there also is wisdom." (Prov. 11:2). And throughout the Scriptures we are frequently reminded that God instructs the humble and reveals His secrets to the lowly.
Humility, however, does not require us to yield blindly to all opinions or indiscreetly to follow every counsel. This is not humility, but weakness and instability, against which the author of Ecclesiasticus warns us: "Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived into folly." (Ecclus. 13:11). By this we should understand that a man must resolutely maintain the truth and vigorously support justice, not allowing himself to be carried away by contrary opinions.
Finally, devout and humble prayer will afford us powerful aid in acquiring the virtue of prudence. For the principal office of the Holy Ghost being to enlighten the understanding with the gifts of knowledge, wisdom, and counsel, the greater the humility and devotion with which we present ourselves before this Divine Spirit, the greater will be the grace we shall receive.
Man's Duty to his Neighbor
Man's duty towards his neighbor is embraced in the practice of charity and mercy. Read Holy Scriptures and you will appreciate the importance of these virtues. The writings of the prophets, Apostles, and evangelists abound with counsels concerning them.
God teaches us in Isaias that one of the duties of justice is charity to our neighbor. Thus when the Jews exclaimed: "Why have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded; have we humbled our souls, and thou hast not taken notice?" God answers: "In the day of your fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors. You fast for debates and strife, and strike with the fist wickedly. Is this such a fast as I have chosen? Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen – loose the bands of wickedness; undo the bundles that oppress; let them that are broken go free; and break asunder every burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and harborless into thy house. When thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear, and give thee rest continually, and fill thy soul with brightness." (Is. 58). The prophet continues to the end of the chapter to declare the blessings with which God will reward this charity to our neighbor.
Behold how highly the great Apostle extols the virtue of charity; how strongly he recommends it; how minutely he enumerates its advantages. He gives it the first place among the virtues, and tells us that it is the bond of perfection, the end of the commandments, and the fulfillment of the law, (Cf. 1Cor. 13:13; Col. 3:14; ITim. 1:5; Rom. 13:8; Gal, 5:14).
It would be difficult to say more in praise of charity. Certainly these words of the Apostle must suffice to make you love and practice this virtue, if you desire to be pleasing to God.
Charity was also a favorite virtue with the beloved disciple. He frequently mentions it in his epistles, with the highest praise and commendation. And not only in his writings but in his discourse did he display the same devotedness to this virtue. So frequently did he repeat to his disciples the touching words, "My little children, love one another," that at last, as St. Jerome tells us, they became somewhat weary of always hearing the same, and asked him: Good master, why do you always give us this one command? His answer, says St. Jerome, was worthy of John: "Because it is the command of the Lord; and if you do this alone it will suffice." (De Scriptoribus Eccles.). Without doubt, therefore, he who desires to please God must fulfill this great precept of charity, not only in word but also in deed, "He that hath the substance of this world," says St. John, "and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him, how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1Jn. 3:17-18).
Among the works comprised in charity to our neighbor the following are the most important: advice, counsel, succor, forbearance, pardon, edification. These are so strongly linked with charity that the practice of them indicates the progress we have made in the practice of charity.
There are Christians who pretend to love their neighbor, but their charity goes no further than words. Others are willing to give advice, but no more substantial proof of their charity. Others will perform both these duties, but will not refrain from resenting an injury, or will refuse to bear with the infirmities of their neighbor, forgetting that the Apostle tells us: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal. 6:2).
Others, again, while not resenting an injury, continue to harbor it in their hearts and will not freely pardon it. Finally, many fulfill all these obligations, yet in their words or conduct they fail to give their neighbor that edification which is the most important duty of charity. Let us diligently examine our hearts and our actions, and learn how far we fulfill the precepts of this virtue.
It may be said that he who simply loves his neighbor possesses the first degree of charity; he who gives him good counsel possesses the second; he who assists him in poverty or distress possesses the third; he who patiently bears an injury possesses the fourth; he who freely pardons it, the fifth; and he who in addition to all these fulfills the duty of edification to his neighbor has attained the highest degree of charity.
The works of which we have just been treating are what are called positive acts of charity, which teach us what we ought to do for our neighbor. Besides these there are others, called negative duties, which indicate what we must avoid in our intercourse with our neighbor. Such are judging rashly, speaking evil, using abusive or insulting language, injuring his honor or reputation, and giving scandal by words or evil counsel. If you would fulfill the law of charity, avoid all these.
To reduce to practice what we have said, let your love for your neighbor be like that of a mother for her child. See with what devotion a good mother cares for her child; how prudently she counsels him in danger; how faithfully she assists him in his necessities; how ingenious she is in regard to his faults, sometimes patiently bearing them, at other. times justly punishing them, or again prudently ignoring them. How earnestly she rejoices in his prosperity; how deeply she grieves at his misfortune as if it were her own! How zealous she is for his honor and advancement; how fervently she prays for him; how cheerfully she denies herself to give to him; how utterly she forgets herself in her care of him! Your charity would be perfect did it resemble this. Though you may not attain this degree, you must nevertheless aspire to it, for the higher you aim the more noble will be your conduct.
You will doubtless urge that you cannot feel such affection for one who is a stranger to you. But you should not regard your neighbor as a stranger. Behold in him rather the image of God, the work of His divine hands, and a living member of Christ. (Cf. Rom. 12:5). Hence St. Paul tells us that when we sin against our neighbor we sin against Christ. (Cf. ICor. 8:12). Look on your neighbor, therefore, not as a man but as Christ Himself, or one of His living members; for though he is not so in body, he is truly so by participation in the spirit of Christ, and by the reward which is promised to us, for Christ assures us that He will consider as done to Himself all that we do to our neighbor.
Think of the affection which ties of blood establish between creatures, and blush to let nature influence you more powerfully than grace. You will doubtless urge that your relatives are descended with you from the same ancestor, and that the same blood flows in your veins. Remember, however, that there are closer and stronger bonds uniting us as brethren in Christ. In God we have one Father; in the Church one mother; and in Jesus Christ one Lord and Saviour. One faith springs from the same source which enlightens all Christians and distinguishes them from the rest of men.
The object of our hope is the same kingdom, where we shall have but one heart and one soul. Baptism has made us children of the same Father, brothers and heirs of the same inheritance. Our souls are nourished with the same Food, the adorable Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, who makes us one with Himself. Finally, we are united in a participation of the same Holy Spirit, who dwells in us by faith alone or by the union of faith and grace, communicating to us life and strength. Behold the union which exists between the members of the same body, however diverse their functions, because they are animated by one soul! How much greater should be the union between the faithful who are animated by the same Divine Spirit, the Holy Ghost Himself!
But, above all, ever keep before your eyes the incomparable example of Our Saviour's love for us. Why did He love us with so much tenderness, devotion, and generosity, if not to encourage us by His example, and oblige us by His benefits faithfully to fulfill the precept which He has imposed upon us? "A new commandment I give unto you," were His parting words to His Apostles on the night before He suffered; "that you love one another, as I have loved you." (Jn. 13:34). Having treated this subject at greater length in a work on Prayer and Meditation, I would refer the reader to it for a more complete development of this virtue.
Man's Duty to God
Man's Duties in General
The third and noblest obligation of justice comprises man's duty to God, which includes the practice of the three theological virtues, faith, hope, and charity, and of that virtue called religion, which has for its object the worship due to God.
To love God with the affection of a dutiful son is the most secure way of fulfilling this obligation, as the most effective means of discharging the other duties of justice is to be to ourselves an upright judge, and to our neighbor a kind and watchful mother.
Consider, then, how a good son manifests his love for his father. How great is his devotion, his fear, his reverence for him! How faithfully he obeys him; how zealously and disinterestedly he serves him! With what confidence he goes to him in all his necessities! With what submission he accepts his corrections! How patiently he bears his reproofs! Only serve God with such a heart, and you will faithfully fulfill this obligation of justice.
But to attain these dispositions the following virtues seem to me indispensable: love, holy fear, confidence, zeal for the glory of God, purity of intention, the spirit of prayer, gratitude, conformity to the will of God, humility, and patience in tribulation.
Our first duty is to love God, as He has commanded us, with our whole heart, with our whole soul, and with our whole strength. (Cf. Deut. 6:5). All our faculties must cooperate in loving and serving this great Master: the understanding by frequently thinking of Him; the will by loving Him; the passions by turning their strength to His service; the senses and members by zealously executing whatever His love prescribes.
As the Memorial of a Christian Life contains a treatise on this subject, we refer the reader to it for a more complete discussion of this virtue.
The Fear of God
After love comes fear, which in fact springs from love. For the greater our love for another, the greater is our fear not only of losing him but of offending him. See how carefully a good son avoids anything that could displease his father, or a loving wife all that could displease her husband. This fear is the guardian of innocence, and for this reason we should deeply engrave it in our souls, praying with David that the Lord may pierce our flesh with His holy fear. (Cf. Ps.1l8:l20). This pious monarch desired that even his flesh should be penetrated with this salutary fear, that. piercing his heart like a thorn, it might unceasingly warn him against all that could lead him to offend God, the object of his love and fear. It was for this reason that the inspired author wrote, "The fear of the Lord driveth out sin." (Ecclus. l :27).
The effect of this fear is not only to make us avoid actions that are positively sinful, but even those that may lead us into evil or endanger our virtue. These words of Job, "I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender" (Job 9:28), testify how deeply this sentiment was imprinted in his soul.
If we are penetrated with this salutary fear it will be manifest in our bearing when we enter God's house, and particularly in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We shall beware of irreverently talking or gazing about us as it we were unconscious of the dread Majesty in whose temple we are.
The love of God, as we have already said, is the first source of this fear. Servile fear, however, which is the fear, not of a son, but of a slave, is, in a measure, profitable, for it introduces filial fear as the needle introduces the thread. But we shall strengthen and confirm this sentiment of holy fear by reflecting upon the incomprehensible majesty of God, the severity of His judgments, the rigor of His justice, the multitude of our sins, and particularly our resistance to divine inspirations.
Confidence in God
To fear we must also join confidence. Like a child who fears no danger in his father's protecting arms, we must cast ourselves into the arms of our Heavenly Father, confident that those Hands which sustain the heavens are all powerful to supply our necessities, to uphold us in temptation, and to turn all things to our profit. And why should we not have confidence in God? Is He not the most powerful as well as the most tender of fathers? If your want of merit and the number of your sins alarm and discourage you, fix your thoughts upon the goodness of God, upon His adorable Son, our Redeemer and Mediator, who died to expiate our sins.
When you are crossing a rapid stream, and the turbulence of the waters makes you dizzy, instead of looking down at the torrent you look above, and your steadiness is restored. Do likewise when disturbed by the fears we have mentioned. Do not dwell upon your unworthiness or your failings, hut raise your eyes to God and consider the infinite goodness and mercy with which He deigns to apply a remedy to all our miseries. Reflect-upon the truth of His words, for He has promised to help and comfort all who humbly and confidently invoke His sacred name. Consider also the innumerable benefits which you have hitherto received from His paternal hand, and let His bounty in the past inspire you to trust the future to Him with renewed hope.
Above all, consider the merits and sufferings of Christ, which are our principal title to God's grace and mercy, and which form the treasure whence the Church supplies the necessities of her children. It was from a confidence inspired by such motives that the saints drew that strength which rendered them as firm as Mount Sion, and established them in the holy city whence they never could be moved. (Cf. Ps. 124:1). Yet, notwithstanding these powerful reasons for hope, it is deplorable that this virtue should still be so weak in us. We lose heart at the first appearance of danger, and go down into Egypt hoping for help from Pharaoh (Cf. Is. 30:2) – that is, we turn to creatures instead of God. There are many servants of God who zealously devote themselves to fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, but few who possess the confidence with which the virtuous ï Susanna was animated, even when condemned to death and led to execution. (Cf. Dan. 13). Read the Holy Scriptures, particularly the Psalms and the writings of the prophets, and you will find abundant motives for unfailing hope in God.
Zeal for the Glory of God
Zeal consists in promoting the honor of God and striving to advance the fulfillment of His will on earth, even as it is ' accomplished in Heaven. If we love God we cannot but be pierced with grief to behold so many not only neglecting to obey His holy will, but even acting in a manner directly opposed to it. Full of this zeal was David when he cried out,
"The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up." (Ps. 68:10). Strive to imitate him, doing what you can by word and example, as well as by prayer, to increase the honor of God through the salvation of souls. Thus may you hope to receive that mark, mentioned by the prophet, which will sign you as one of the elect of God. (Cf. Ezech. 9:4).
Purity of Intention
This virtue, which is intimately connected with zeal, enables us to forget ourselves in all things, and to seek first the glory of God and the accomplishment of His good pleasure, persuaded that the more we sacrifice our own interests in His service, the greater advantage and blessing we shall reap. For this reason we must examine the motives of all our actions, that we may labor purely for God, since nothing is more subtle than self-love, which insinuates itself into every work, unless we maintain a constant guard. Many who now seem rich in good works will be found very poor at the day of judgment for lack of this pure intention. This is the virtue which Our Lord symbolized when He said: "The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single thy whole body shall be lightsome. But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome." (Matt. 6:22-23).
We often see men in high positions lead irreproachable lives, carefully avoiding anything unbecoming the dignity of their station; but, in many cases, what is the motive which animates them? They see that virtue befits their position, and consequently they practice it, in order to discharge the duties of their office in a manner that will seem becoming, or to secure promotion to still greater dignities. Thus the principle of their actions is not the fear or the love of God, or obedience to His divine will, but their own interest. Such virtue may deceive men, but in the eyes of God it is as smoke; it is only the shadow of justice.
The practice of the moral virtues and the most severe mortifications are meritorious before God only inasmuch as they are animated by His Divine Spirit.
The temple of Jerusalem contained nothing which was not either of gold or covered with gold. It is no less fitting that in our souls, the living temples of the Divinity, there should be nothing that is not charity or animated by it. Let us bear in mind that God values the intention more than the action, and that the simplest work becomes noble when performed with a noble intention, while the greatest will be of little value if performed from an indifferent motive.
By endeavoring to acquire this purity of intention we shall follow the example and counsel of Our Saviour, who tells us to love as He has loved (Cf. Jn. 13:34) – that is, purely and disinterestedly. Happy is he who imitates this noblest characteristic of the divine love. Rapid will be his growth in the likeness of God, and consequently in His love, for resemblance usually begets love. Let us rid ourselves of human respect, and, keeping God ever before our eyes, let us not suffer selfish or worldly motives to mar the merit of our good works and rob us of their reward, which is Heaven and the possession of God Himself.
As it is a difficult undertaking to acquire this virtue, we must earnestly ask it of God, especially in the Lord's Prayer, frequently repeating with fervor, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." Beg of Him to grant you grace to imitate on earth the purity and devotion with which the heavenly choirs bless and fulfill His adorable will.
Having in another work treated more fully of this subject, I would here only urge you to turn to God in childlike prayer whenever afflictions or temptations come upon you. Strive, moreover, to maintain the spirit of prayer, and thus you will preserve a continual recollection of God. You will live in His presence, and His love will abide in your heart. Finally, prayer will enable you most faithfully and frequently to testify your filial reverence and love for your Heavenly Father.
Gratitude, which should be in our hearts and on our lips, is a virtue which excites us to praise God unceasingly for all His benefits: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth. Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory, thy greatness all the day long." (Ps. 33:1 and 70:8). Since God not only gives us life, but continues to preserve it, protecting us, lavishing blessings on us, and causing all creatures to serve our necessities and desires, is it not just that we should continually praise Him?
Thanksgiving, therefore, should be the first of all our exercises, and, according to St. Basil, it should form the beginning of all our prayers. Morning and evening, and at all times, we should render thanks to God for His many benefits, general and particular, of nature and of grace; but, above all, for the incomprehensible benefits of Redemption and the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Let us bear in mind that in all these blessings He sought only our welfare. He could expect nothing; He desired nothing from us. Out of pure love for us He gave us all.
Obedience is a virtue which renders us most pleasing to God, for it embraces the perfection of justice. We distinguish in this virtue three degrees: The first is obedience to the commandments of God, the second to His counsels, the third to His inspirations. The first is absolutely necessary for salvation; the second facilitates the observance of the commandments, for if we neglect the counsels, as far as our state permits, we risk violating the precepts. If, for instance, you avoid needlessly affirming the truth with an oath, you will more easily escape perjury. If you avoid all contentions you will assuredly secure peace and charity. If you renounce your own worldly possessions, you will not be tempted to covet those of your neighbor. If you return good for evil, you will be saved from the passion of revenge. Thus we see that the counsels form the bulwarks which guard the commandments.
If you would make your salvation secure do not be satisfied with observing the commandments only, but add the practice of the counsels as far as your state will admit. In traversing a rapid river you do not cross it in a direct line, for if you did so you would be borne beyond the place at which you wished to land. Rather, you go higher up the stream to have the advantage of the tide, and thus secure a safe passage to the point at which you desire to embark. Do likewise in spiritual things. Aim higher than is necessary, so that if you fail you may at least reach the mark of what is indispensable for salvation.
The third degree of obedience, as we have said, consists in fidelity to divine inspirations. Good servants do not confine their obedience to the formal commands of their master, but promptly execute the least indication of his will, So should we act towards God. This is a subject, however, in which we are exposed to grave illusions by mistaking the whisperings of self-love or the suggestions of the devil for divine inspirations. Hence we must follow the counsel of St. John and "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God." (1Jn. 4:1).
We have for our guidance in this respect, besides Holy Scripture and the teaching of the saints, this general rule: The service of God embraces two kinds of acts, one of which is of our own choice, the other of obligation. However meritorious works of our own choice may be, we must always select what is of obligation in preference to them.
This is the teaching of the Holy Spirit: "Obedience is better than sacrifices." (1Kg. 15:22). God first requires of us the faithful fulfillment of His word. When our obedience in this respect is perfect, we may follow the guidance of pious inspirations.
This fidelity to the word of God comprises, first, obedience to the commandments, without which there is no salvation; secondly, obedience to our lawful superiors, for the Apostle tells us, "He that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God" (Rom. 13:2); thirdly, obedience to the laws of our state, whether it be the priesthood, religion, or marriage; and, fourthly, fidelity to practices which, though not of precept, greatly facilitate the observance of the commandments.
For example, if you find, by daily reflecting upon your faults and by asking God to inspire you with the most efficacious means of correcting them, that you lead a more regular life, that you acquire more control over your passions, and that your heart becomes more inclined to virtue; while, on the other hand, your neglect of these precautions weakens your virtue, throws you back into many failings, and exposes you to the danger of relapsing into former evil habits. you cannot doubt that God calls you to these pious exercises. Experience has taught you that they are the means which He has chosen to enable you to overcome your sins and to prevent you from committing them again. God does not, it is true, formally command these practices, but He strongly exhorts you to embrace them if you would faithfully fulfill what He does command.
Again, if you find that you are self-indulgent and opposed to everything which disturbs you, and that this love of comfort hinders your spiritual progress and leads you to neglect good works because they are laborious and painful, while you indulge in culpable actions because they are attractive and pleasant, you must conclude that God calls you to practice mortification and to overcome your appetite for pleasure by penance and austerities. Examine all your propensities in this way, and you will easily discern what will be most profitable to you. Be always guided, however, in this respect, by the counsels of your superiors.
Thus we see that we are not always to choose what is best in itself, but what is best for us. Hence there are many excellent practices from which we would derive no advantage, either because they are above our strength or because God does not call us to embrace them. Then let us not soar above our state; let us aspire to what will strengthen us, not to what will overwhelm us. "Lift not up thy eyes to riches which thou canst not have," says Holy Scripture, "because they shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly towards heaven." (Prov. 23:5).
Among those acts which we are free to do or not to do, some are performed in public, others in secret. The former procure us temporal pleasure or advantage, while the latter bring no such reward. In general, prefer what is done in secret without any temporal recompense. You will thus preserve yourself from the snares of self-love, which, as we have already said, insinuates itself into the holiest actions. For this reason a certain man remarkable for his piety was accustomed to say, "Do you know where God is? He is where you are not." By this he meant that where self-interest has not penetrated, there only can God be sought and found.
We do not counsel you to follow this rule so rigidly as to exclude good deeds that are public or profitable. Oh, no; that would be a reprehensible extreme, for very often there is great merit in overcoming the promptings of self-love to which these deeds expose us. Our intention is only to warn you against the artifices of self-love, that you may ever distrust it, particularly when it presents itself under the mask of virtue.
These three degrees which constitute the perfection of obedience seem to be indicated in these words of the Apostle: "Be not conformed to this world, but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:2). The observance of the commandments is good; the practice of the counsels is acceptable; and fidelity to divine inspirations is perfect. When one has learned to practice these three degrees he has attained the perfection of obedience.
Another virtue, which may be considered a fourth degree of obedience, is conformity to the divine will in all things, This enables us to accept from the hands of God, with equal submission, honor or ignominy, obscurity or renown, stripes or caresses, health or sickness, life or death; for we look, not at our chastisements, but at Him who inflicts them through love of us. An earthly father loves his child when he corrects him no less than when he caresses him. Does his love bear any comparison to the love of the Heavenly Father? Let us realize, then, that all that comes from His hand is for our welfare, and we shall become so firmly established in submission to His holy will that He may mold us according to His good pleasure, as clay in the hands of the potter.
Thus we shall no longer live for ourselves, but for God. We shall be happy only in accomplishing His divine will, in doing all things, in bearing all things for His glory, and acting at all times as His submissive servants. Such were the sentiments of David when he said, "I am become as a beast before thee, and I am always with thee." (Ps. 72:23). A beast of burden goes not where he wills, nor rests when he pleases, but lives in complete obedience to his master. A Christian should live in like submission to the will of His Heavenly Father.
Let us not forget, however, that this submission to God, and this promptness in obeying Him, must ever be accompanied by prudence and judgment, so that we may not mistake our own will for that of God. In most cases let us distrust what flatters our own inclinations, and proceed with more confidence when we are acting contrary to our personal interests.
This is the most pleasing sacrifice we can make to God. In other sacrifices we offer Him only our possessions. In this we immolate ourselves. St. Augustine says that though God is the Lord of all that exists, yet it is not everyone who can say with the Psalmist, "O Lord! I am thy servant" (Ps. 115:16), but those only who have renounced their own will and consecrated themselves to His service. There is, moreover, no better disposition for attaining the perfection of a Christian life.
As God in His infinite goodness is ever ready to overwhelm us with His graces when we offer no obstacle to His merciful designs, whoever is perfectly confined to His will can justly expect an abundance of His favors. Yes, God will treat him with great liberality, and will make him, like another David, a man after His own Heart.
Patience in Afflictions
To arrive at perfect obedience to God's will, there is no more efficacious means than patience under sufferings of every kind. "My son," says Solomon, "reject not the correction of the Lord, and do not faint when thou art chastised by him; for whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth, and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself." (Prov. 3:11-12).
St. Paul quotes these words and develops them at considerable length in his Epistle to the Hebrews: "Persevere," he says, "under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons, for what son is there whom the father doth not correct? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. Moreover, we have had fathers of our flesh for instructors, and we reverenced them. Shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?" (Heb. 12:7-9).
Since, then, it is the duty of a good father to correct and reprove his children, it is the duty of a good son patiently to endure the correction and accept it as a proof of love, This is the lesson which the Son of the Eternal Father taught when He said to St. Peter, "The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (Jn. 18:11). Were the chalice of suffering offered us by another hand we might with reason refuse it; but the knowledge that it is sent by the wisest and tenderest of Fathers should suffice to make us accept it without hesitation. Nevertheless there are Christians, perfectly conformed to the divine will in prosperity, whose submission vanishes at the approach of adversity. They are like cowards, who vaunt their courage in time of peace, but throw down their arms and fly at the first sound of battle. Life is full of combats and trials. Strengthen your soul, therefore, by salutary reflections, that in the hour of conflict you may be perfectly submissive to the divine will.
Remember that the sufferings of this life bear no proportion to the rewards of the next. The happiness of Heaven is so great, so unspeakable, that we would gladly purchase one hour of its enjoyment by the sacrifice of all earthly pleasures and by the endurance of all earthly sorrows. But we have not to buy it even at this rate, for, as the Apostle says, "that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory." (2Cor. 4:17).
Consider also the different effects of prosperity and adversity. The former inflates us with pride; the latter humbles and purifies us. In prosperity we often forget to whom we owe all that we are; but adversity usually brings us to the feet of our Creator. Prosperity often causes us to lose the fruits of our best actions; but adversity enables us to expiate our past failings, and preserves us against future relapses. If you are afflicted by sickness, consider that God has doubtless permitted this to preserve you from the abuse you might have made of your health; for it is better to languish under bodily sufferings than gradually to destroy the life of the soul by sin.
Certainly God, who is so merciful, takes no pleasure in our afflictions, but in His love He sends us these necessary remedies to cure our infirmities. Thus suffering purifies the stains of sinful pleasures, and the privation of innocent gratifications expiates unlawful indulgence. He punishes us in this world, that He may reward us in the next; He treats us with merciful rigor here to save us from His wrath in eternity. Hence St. Jerome says that God's anger against sinners is never more terrible than when He seems to forget them during life. It was through fear of such a misfortune that St. Augustine prayed, "Here, O Lord, burn, here cut, that Thou mayst spare me in eternity."
Behold how carefully God guards you, that you may not abandon yourself to your evil inclinations. When a physician finds the condition of his patient hopeless he indulges him in all his caprices, but while there is any hope of recovery he rigidly restricts him to a certain diet and forbids him all that could aggravate his malady. In like manner, parents refuse their children the money they have accumulated only for them when they find they are squandering it in play and riotous living. Thus are we treated by God, the sovereign Physician and most loving Father of us all, when He sends us trials and privations.
Consider also the sufferings which Our Saviour endured from creatures. He was bruised, and buffeted, and spat upon. With what patience He bore the mockery of the multitude! With what resignation he drank the bitter draught of vinegar and gall! How willingly He embraced the death of the cross to deliver us from eternal death! How, then, can you, a vile worm of the earth, presume to complain of sufferings which you have justly merited by your sins – those sins for which the spotless Lamb of God was immolated? He would teach us by His example that unless we strive for the mastery legitimately – that is, courageously and perseveringly – we shall not be crowned. (Cf. 2Tim. 2:5).
Moreover, let me appeal to your self-interest. Will you not at least make a virtue out of necessity? You must suffer. You cannot escape it, for it is a law of your nature. Can you resist the almighty power of God when He is pleased to send you afflictions? Knowing these truths, and knowing that your sins deserve more than you can bear, why will you struggle against your trials? Why not bear them patiently, and thus atone for your sins and merit many graces? Is it not madness to try to escape them, and thereby lose the blessings they can give, receiving instead a weight of impatience and misery which only adds to the load you must carry? Stand prepared, then, for tribulations, for what can you expect from a corrupt world, from a frail flesh, from the envy of devils, and from the malice of men, but contradictions and persecutions?
Act, therefore, as a prudent man, and arm yourself against such attacks, proceeding with as much caution as if you were in an enemy's country, and you will thus gain two important advantages: First, the trials against which you are forearmed will be easier to bear, for "a blow which we have anticipated," says Seneca, "falls less heavily." And this agrees with the counsel of Wisdom: "Before sickness take a medicine." (Ecclus. 18:20).
Secondly, by anticipating in a spirit of resignation the afflictions which God may send you, you offer a sacrifice like that of Abraham, about to immolate his son. Nothing, in fact, is more pleasing to God, nothing is more meritorious for us, than the resignation with which we prepare ourselves to accept all the trials that may come upon us, either from the hand of God or the wickedness of men. Though these sufferings may never reach us, yet our good intention will be rewarded in the same way as if we had borne them. Thus was Abraham rewarded as if he had really sacrificed his son, because he was ready to do so in obedience to God.
Be not afraid, therefore, of tribulations, for unto these are you called. (Cf. IPet. 3:9,14). Remember that you are as a rock in the midst of the ocean. The winds and waves of the world will beat against you, but you remain unshaken. To do good and to suffer are, according to St. Bernard, the duties of the Christian life. The latter is the more difficult. Prepare yourself, then, to fulfill it with courage.
Let us observe, in conclusion, that theologians distinguish three degrees in this virtue. The first consists in patiently bearing afflictions; the second in desiring to suffer for the love of God; and the third in rejoicing to suffer for the same motive. In the patience of Job we find an example of the first degree. The ardent desire of the martyrs to suffer for Christ affords us proof of the second. The joy which filled the hearts of the Apostles because they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ is a bright example of the third. (Cf. Acts 5:41). St. Paul had attained this sublime height when he gloried in his tribulations. (Cf. Rom. 5:3). In this he was nobly followed by many of the early Christians, as we learn from his Epistle to the Corinthians, whom he tells of the grace given to the Macedonians which caused them to experience abundance of joy in much tribulation. (Cf. 2Cor. 8:2). This is the highest degree of virtue, but it is not commanded us.
A faithful servant of Christ will not, however, rest satisfied with the first degree, but will strive unceasingly to reach the second and even the third.
What we have said on this subject must not be interpreted to mean that we should rejoice at the sufferings of others, Oh, no; charity requires us to sympathize with others in affliction, especially with our kindred and with the Church. The mortifications we impose on ourselves must not be extended to others, but should render us even more considerate towards them.
The Obligations of our State
We shall here briefly consider the importance of fidelity to the duties of our state, which vary according to our position. The duties of one who governs, for example, are very different from those of one in subjection; the duties of a religious are very different from those of the father of a family.
According to the Apostle, those who govern must be vigilant in labor and in all things. (Cf. 2Tim. 4:5). This watchfulness is generally proportioned to the value of the object and to the danger which surrounds it. Now, there is nothing of greater value, and at the same time nothing more exposed to danger, than a soul. Consequently nothing requires greater vigilance than the care which must be bestowed by one who is charged with so important a trust.
The principal duty of a subordinate is to behold God in his superiors and to pay them prompt and entire obedience. If a monarch order me to obey his minister, do I not obey the monarch by obeying the minister? In like manner, when God orders me to obey my superiors do I not obey Him by submitting to them? This is the teaching of St. Paul: "Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords, as to Christ." (Ephes. 6:5).
There are three degrees in this virtue. The first consists in simply doing what we are commanded, the second in doing it willingly, and the third in submitting our judgment to that of our superiors by "bringing into captivity our understanding unto the obedience of Christ." (2Cor. 10:5). Many fulfill the commands of a superior, but with reluctance, Others obey, but murmur and disapprove the command. Others, in fine, cheerfully obey and heartily approve whatever order they receive.
Endeavor that such may be your obedience, bearing in mind the words of Our Saviour: "He that heareth you heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me." (Lk. 10:16). Refrain from all murmuring against superiors, that you may not deserve the reproach addressed by Moses to the Israelites: "Your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord." (Exod. 16:8). Beware of despising those in authority, lest God should say to them, as He did to Samuel: "They have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not reign over them." (1Kg. 8:7). Serve them with truth and sincerity, that you may never hear the terrible words of the Apostle: "Thou hast not lied to men, but to God" (Acts 5:4), and that you may never incur the malediction which fell upon Ananias and Saphira for their duplicity.
Let married women faithfully acquit themselves of the duties of their household, discharging all their obligations to their husband and children, that they may thus be free to attend to practices of piety without neglecting what they owe their family. That would be a worthless devotion which would occupy the time which should be given to domestic affairs.
Let fathers of families reflect upon the terrible affliction which the high priest Heli drew upon himself by neglecting to chastise his children. Sudden death came upon himself and his sons, and the priesthood was withdrawn from his family forever. (Cf. 1Kg. 4). As the sins of children are to a certain degree attributable to parents, the perdition of a child not infrequently involves the condemnation of the parents. How can he be called a true father who, having begotten his son for this world, fails to train him for the kingdom of Heaven? Therefore, advise and correct your children. Guard them from evil associates. Give them wise and virtuous masters. Teach them to love virtue, and let them, like Tobias, be inspired from their infancy with the fear of God. (Cf. Tob. 2:13).
Do not gratify their whims, but curb their wills that they may become truly submissive. Be no less solicitous in providing for their spiritual than their corporal wants; for it is unreasonable to suppose that the duty of parents extends no further than that of birds and beasts, whose only care is to feed and nourish their young. Fulfill the duties of a father in a manner becoming a Christian, a true servant of God, and thus you will bring up your children heirs to Heaven, and not slaves of Hell.
Heads of families with servants to govern should bear in mind these words of the Apostle: "If any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." (1Tim. 5:8). The members of their household form the sheep of the flock which has been confided to them, and for which they must one day render an account. Precious are they in the sight of the Lord, because they have been redeemed by the Passion of His Divine Son, through whose Blood every human being has received a nobility higher than all the honors of earth.
A good master, therefore, will carefully endeavor to abolish among his servants all public vices, such as quarreling, gambling, swearing, and especially sins of impurity. He will sec that they are instructed in the principles of their faith, and that they are enabled to observe the commandments of God and of the Church, particularly the precepts to hear Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, and to keep the fasts and abstinence prescribed by the Church, unless they are lawfully dispensed or excused.
The Relative Importance and Values of the Virtues
A merchant about to purchase precious stones should learn something of their relative value, if he would make a wise selection. In like manner, a Christian should have some knowledge of the intrinsic merit of each virtue to aid him in making a proper choice.
The virtues of which we have been treating may be divided into two classes, the first of which includes the more interior and spiritual virtues, the other those which are exterior or sensible.
To the first belong the three theological virtues, which have God for their immediate object; and the virtues which facilitate the accomplishment of our duty to God, such as humility, chastity, mercy, patience, prudence, devotion, poverty of spirit, contempt of the world, denial of our own will, love of the cross and mortification, with many others to which we here give the name of virtue in the broadest acceptation of the term. These are called interior and spiritual, because their action is chiefly within the soul, Nevertheless they are often manifested to the world, as we see, for instance, in the virtues of charity and religion, which produce a number of exterior works to the praise and glory of God.
The exterior virtues are fasting, mortification, pious reading, vocal prayer, chanting of the Psalms, pilgrimages, hearing Mass, assisting at the offices of the Church, with all the outward ceremonies and practices of a Christian or religious life. Though these virtues, like the others, have their seat in the soul, yet their action is always exterior, while the acts of the spiritual virtues, faith, hope, charity, humility, contemplation, contrition, or repentance, are often entirely within.
There is no doubt that the virtues of the first class are more meritorious and pleasing to God than those of the second. "Woman, believe me," said Our Saviour to the woman at the well, that "the hour cometh, and now is, when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father also seeketh such to adore him. God is a spirit, and they that adore him must adore him in spirit and in truth." (Jn. 4:21,23-24).
For this reason David, describing the beauty of the Church and that of a soul in the state of grace, says that all her glory is within in golden borders, clothed round about with variety. (Cf. Ps. 44:14). And the great Apostle, writing to Timothy, says: "Exercise thyself unto godliness, for bodily exercise is profitable to little; but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1Tim. 4:7-8). According to St. Thomas, godliness here signifies the worship of God and charity to our neighbor, while bodily exercise means fasting and other austerities.
This is a truth of which even the pagan philosophers were not ignorant. Aristotle has written very little of God, yet in one of his works he expresses himself thus: "If the gods take any interest in human things, as we have reason to believe they do, there is no doubt that they take most pleasure in what bears most resemblance to themselves – that is, in man's spirit or mind; hence they who adorn their minds with a knowledge of truth, and their souls with the beauty and harmony of virtue, must be most pleasing to them."
The celebrated physician Galen expresses the same thought. Writing upon the structure of the human frame, and the different relations and functions of its various parts, in which the wisdom and power of the Sovereign Artisan are particularly manifest, he is overcome with admiration, and, abandoning the language of science for that of religion, he exclaims, "Let others honor the gods with offerings of hecatombs. [Sacrifices of 100 oxen or cattle offered by the pagans to their deities.] As for me, I shall honor them by proclaiming the greatness of their power, which so readily executes all that their wisdom ordains; and their infinite goodness, which refuses nothing to their creatures, but abundantly provides for all their needs."
Such are the words of a pagan philosopher. Let us refer them to the true God; and what more can a Christian say? The great Galen unconsciously repeats the words of God's prophet: "I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than holocausts." (Osee 6:6). The hecatomb of the pagan may be considered as the imitation of the holocaust of the Jew.
From the praise bestowed upon the interior virtues we must not conclude that the others are of little value. Though not so noble as the former, they are nevertheless most efficacious in acquiring and preserving them. For example, retreat and solitude guard us from innumerable sights and sounds which endanger the peace of our conscience, and imperil our chastity. We are all sensible of the importance of silence in preserving devotion, and avoiding those faults into which we are led by excessive conversation. "In the multitude of words," says Solomon, "there shall not want sin." (Prov. 10:19). Fasting, when performed in a state of grace, besides being a meritorious act of the virtue of temperance, as it is at all times, also expiates our sins; subdues the inclinations of the flesh; repels our enemy; disposes us for prayer, pious reading, and meditation; and preserves us from the excesses, quarrels, and passions awakened by inordinate indulgence. As for pious reading, the recitation of the Psalms, assisting at the divine office, and hearing sermons, it is evident that these acts of the virtue of religion are most efficacious in enlightening the understanding and inflaming the will with a desire for spiritual things.
To acquire and preserve this precious virtue of devotion, which of itself disposes us for the practice of all other virtues, we must watch over ourselves with special vigilance. So little suffices to make us lose this delicate virtue. Frivolous conversations, excessive mirth, immoderate indulgence at table, slight anger, unnecessary disputes, curiosity and eagerness to see and hear what does not concern us, besides many similar faults, while not grave in themselves; weaken, and sometimes destroy, the spirit of devotion. To preserve the intense heat communicated to it by the fire, iron must be kept continually in the furnace – or, at least, it must seldom be withdrawn. Otherwise it will quickly resume its former temperature. In like manner, if we would keep our hearts inflamed with the fire of devotion, we must remain closely united to God by the practices we have mentioned.
These reflections will show us the importance of the second class of virtues, and the relation which they bear to the others. The virtues of the first class form the end; the virtues of the second are the means to attain this end. The first may be said to be the health of the body; the second, the medicine to obtain it. The first may be regarded as the spirit of religion, the second as its body – though absolutely necessary for its welfare.
By observing the counsels we have here laid down you will avoid two equally lamentable errors. One was that of the Pharisees in the time of Christ, and the other is that of certain heretics of the present day. The Pharisees, carnal and ambitious men, accustomed to the literal observance of a law then framed for a carnal people, disregarded true justice and interior virtues, and were satisfied, according to the expression of the Apostle, with "an appearance of godliness." (2Tim. 3:5). Under a virtuous exterior they concealed a corrupt and wicked heart.
The heretics of our day, endeavoring to avoid this error, fe(1 into the opposite extreme and preached contempt for exterior practices. But the Catholic Church preserves a happy medium between both, and, while maintaining the superiority of the interior virtues, recognizes the merit and advantage of those that are exterior, just as in a well-governed commonwealth each one enjoys the merit and prerogatives which belong to him.
Four Important Corollaries of the preceding Doctrine
The Necessity of Exterior as well as Interior Virtues
From the preceding principles we can deduce four consequences of great importance in the spiritual life. The first is that a true servant of God must not be content to seek interior virtues only, though they are the noblest, but must also add the practice of exterior virtues, both to preserve the first, and perfectly to fulfill the obligations of justice. Neither the soul without the body nor the body without the soul constitutes man. In like manner, true Christianity is neither wholly interior nor wholly exterior. The union of both classes of virtues is as necessary to the perfection of the spiritual life as the union of soul and body is to the perfection of the natural life. For as the body receives its life and dignity from the soul, so the exterior virtues receive their life and merit from our interior dispositions, particularly from charity. Therefore, he who would become a perfect Christian must remember that the interior and exterior virtues are as inseparable as soul and body, the treasure and the chest, the vine and its support – that is, the spiritual virtues and their defenses, the exterior works of piety. Otherwise he will lose the first, without which he can reap no profit from the second. Let him ever bear in mind these words of Holy Scripture: "He that feareth God neglecteth nothing, and he that contemneth small things shall fall little by little." (Eccles. 7:19 and Ecclus. 19:1). The plague of gnats in Egypt was succeeded by that of flies. Beware, then, lest in despising the sting of gnats – that is, of small faults you may fall a victim to flies – that is, to mortal sin. (Cf. Ex. 8).
Discernment in the Pursuit of Virtue
As men will sacrifice more for the purchase of gold than silver, and will do more to preserve an eye than a finger, so we, guided by the spirit of discernment, should make more effort to acquire the greater virtues than those that are of less importance. If we invert this order, we introduce confusion into the kingdom of our soul. Therefore, while recommending the exterior virtues of recollection, modesty, silence, and fasting, we would exhort you with no less zeal to the practice of the interior virtues of humility, charity, prayer, devotion, and love of your neighbor.
Exterior faults being evident to others, we consider them of greater moment than interior defects, and pay more attention to their amendment. Moreover, the exterior virtues, besides attracting more attention, excite more esteem than the practice of hope, charity, humility, fear of God or contempt for the world, though these interior virtues are more pleasing in the sight of God. "For man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the heart." (1Kg. 16:7). Therefore, as love of praise is one of the strongest and most subtle passions, beware lest it cause you to seek the virtues which are most esteemed by men, to the neglect of the interior virtues, which are more acceptable to God.
Virtues that are Less must sometimes yield to those that are Greater
When we are obliged to choose between two commandments, we should follow the more important. Observe the same rule with regard to the virtues. Whenever you are in doubt as to which you should adopt, the lesser must give place to the greater, if you would avoid confusion. The holy Fathers, says St. Bernard, have established many practices proper to preserve and increase charity. While these practices attain this end they should be rigidly observed, but if at any time they conflict with charity, it is only just that they should be modified, or omitted by proper authority, for others which will more efficaciously promote this virtue. It would certainly be most unreasonable to observe, through a motive of charity, practices which charity itself condemned. Let such practices, therefore, be faithfully observed as long as they promote charity, but no longer. (De Proecepto et Dispen., c.4). In support of this doctrine the great Doctor cites two pontifical decrees, one of Pope Gelasius and the other of Pope Leo.
True and False Justice
A fourth consequence worthy of note is that there are two kinds of justice, one false and the other true. True justice is that which embraces both the interior and the exterior virtues. False justice is that which is satisfied with a few exterior practices, while neglecting the interior virtues, such as love of God, humility, and devotion. This was the justice of the Pharisees, to whom Our Saviour addressed these terrible words of reproach and condemnation: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and have left the weightier things of the law; judgment, and mercy, and faith. … Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within you are full of rapine and uncleanness. … Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all filthiness." (Matt. 23:23,25,27). Such is the justice so frequently condemned in the Scriptures. Speaking in God's name, Isaias says: "This people glorify me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, and they have feared me with the commandment and doctrines of men." (Cf. Is. 29:13). And again: "Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me. … My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities … I am weary of bearing them." (Is. 1:13-14).
What is the meaning of these words? Does God condemn acts which He Himself commanded under the severest penalties? Does He condemn the practices of that beautiful virtue, religion, the object of which is to honor and worship Him? Assuredly not; but He condemns the insincerity of His people who content themselves with the exterior observance of the law to the neglect of true justice. This He declares, for, after reproaching them with the mockery of their hollow ceremonies and practices, He tells them, "Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from my eyes: cease to do perversely. Learn to do well … relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow … and if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow; and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool." (Is. 1:16-18).
In still stronger language the prophet again denounces exterior practices that are not actuated by interior virtue: "He that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man; he that killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog; he that offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine's blood; he that remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol." (Is. 66:3).
Why, O Lord, these terrible words? Why didst Thou repute as abominable those sacrifices which Thou hadst formerly commanded'? "All these things," I hear Thee say, "have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their abominations." (Is. 66:3).
Behold the nothingness of exterior practices which are not animated by an interior spirit of virtue, but which are done solely according to the ways of men. "Take away from me the tumult of thy songs," God says by the prophet Amos, '"and I will not hear the canticles of thy harp." (Amos 5:23). Even more strongly does He reject these works, speaking though Malachias: "I will scatter upon your face the dung of your solemnities." (Mal. 2:3). Do not these suffice to show us how little value exterior virtues have when not animated by the love and fear of God, and by hatred of sin, which are the foundations of true justice?
Still another reason which causes God to repel these external observances, comparing sacrifice to murder, incense to idolatry, chanting to discordant noise, solemn feasts to dung, is not only the want of merit in these practices when devoid of an interior spirit, but the fact that they frequently inflate us with pride, excite in us contempt for others, and inspire us with a false security, a fatal confidence, which effectually hinders all amendment for one who is satisfied with his condition and does not desire a change.
The prayer, or rather boasting, of the Pharisee, is a proof of this: "'O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess." (Lk. 18:11-12). Does not this so-called prayer illustrate the three dangers against which we warned you? His pride and presumption exclaim: "I am not as the rest of men"; his contempt of others says: "I am not as this publican"; and his false security shows itself in the thanks which he gives to God for the life he leads, and in which he believes himself safe from all evil.
Besides that gross hypocrisy which is the pretence of virtue made by those who know they are wicked, but who strive to conceal their vices, there is a more refined and more dangerous hypocrisy, which affects many who deceive themselves as well as others by a false show of justice. Like the Pharisee, they imagine they are virtuous, but they are far from true holiness.
Such hypocrisy is the result of that miserable piety which consists of external practices only. Solomon condemned it when he said, "There is a way which seemeth just to a man, but the ends thereof lead to death." (Prov. 14:12). Further on he includes this vice among the four evils which he says exist in the world: "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not washed from their fìlthiness. A generation whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up on high. A generation that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from among men." (Prov. 30:11-14).
You cannot fail to recognize among these the unhappy victims of self-deception, who, like the Pharisees, believe themselves pure when they are filled with corruption.
This false confidence is so dangerous that there is much more hope for a hardened sinner who recognizes his condition than for one who thus deceives himself. Acknowledging our failings is the first step towards amendment. But how can a sick man be cured who maintains that he is well, and therefore refuses all remedies? For this reason Our Saviour declares to the Pharisees that publicans and sinners shall go before them into the kingdom of Heaven. (Cf. Matt. 21:31 ). And He utters the same truth still more forcibly in the Apocalypse: "I would thou wert cold or hot. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth." (Apoc. 3:15-16).
You marvel, doubtless, why a soul that is cold should be less displeasing to God than one that is lukewarm. The reason for this is that coldness, or the state of the sinner devoid of all virtues, is more easily cured than lukewarmness, which represents the man of few virtues, and these only exterior practices without the life of charity. The man who is loaded with sins can be brought to realize his malady, and so induced to take the proper remedies. But the man who is lukewarm rests on that false security which, as was the case with the Pharisee, leads him to believe that he possesses all the treasures of virtue. Though these soulless practices avail him naught, he will not realize his sad state, and consequently will take no measures for amendment.
To know that this is the true meaning of the text, read what follows: "Thou sayest, I am rich and made wealthy, and I have need of nothing; and thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Apoc. 3:17). Do not these words again describe the Pharisee, who thanks God for his spiritual riches when he is poor, destitute of all virtue, inflated with pride, and blind to his own failings?
There is nothing in Holy Scripture more frequently extolled than this true justice, nothing more frequently condemned than this pharisaical justice. Hence we have dwelt at some length on the excellence of the first and the danger of the second. For human nature is the same today as it was in the time of the prophets and the Apostles, whose teachings on this subject are contained in the Scriptures. We have the same inclinations, the same inheritance of original sin, and consequently our vices and failings must be the same, for like causes produce like effects.
The carnal Jews believed that they fulfilled their duty to God by a literal observance of fasts and ceremonies. Many Christians of the present day resemble them, for they hear Mass on Sundays, assist at sermons and the divine offices, daily recite a number of vocal prayers, and even fast on Saturdays in honor of the Blessed Virgin; and yet they are no less eager in the pursuit of worldly honors and in gratifying their passions. They are no less subject to anger than others who observe none of these practices. They forget the obligations of their state; they are careless of the salvation of their children and servants; they readily yield to feelings of hatred and revenge; they harbor resentment for trifling offenses, and refuse to speak to their neighbor; they withhold the wages of their servants and defraud their creditors, If their honor or interest be touched, the hollowness of their virtue will soon be apparent. Many of them are profuse in prayers, but very sparing in alms.
Others could never be persuaded to forego the observance of abstinence on Wednesdays and days of devotion; but yet they indulge with impunity in detraction and calumny. They scruple to eat the flesh of animals which God does not prohibit them, but they do not hesitate to prey upon the honor and reputation of their neighbor, which God wishes to be sacred to every Christian. These and similar inconsistencies are frequent in our day among persons of every class.
That you may profit by the preceding counsels, let each one study his own spiritual condition, that he may learn the remedies which will profit him most. There are general directions which apply to all, such as those pertaining to charity, humility, patience, or obedience. Others, again, are special and apply only to certain classes and certain conditions. For example, it is necessary to recommend to a scrupulous person greater freedom of conscience; to one who is lax, greater restraint. With a timid soul, inclined to discouragement, we must treat of the divine mercy, while a presumptuous soul should be led to reflect on the divine justice.
Those who give themselves wholly to exterior practices should be made to cultivate interior virtues, while those who are entirely devoted to the latter should be taught the value of the former when animated by the proper dispositions. They will thus learn to appreciate the merit of both kinds of virtue, and therefore to avoid the extremes into which many fall who devote themselves so closely to one as to neglect the other.
The interior virtues, however, especially the fear of God and a hatred of sin, must be particularly cultivated. Happy is he in whose soul these virtues are deeply engraved. He may build without fear upon such a foundation, for these virtues are the beginning of true justice. But without them he is a blind and miserable soul, however numerous his exterior practices of piety.
The Different Vocations in the Church
The virtues of the Christian life being very numerous, a good Christian does not necessarily give himself to all with the same ardor. Some prefer to cultivate the virtues which have God for their direct object, and therefore embrace a contemplative life. Others prefer the virtues which enable them to be most useful to their neighbor, and consequently choose an active life. Others, in fine, prefer the virtues which more directly benefit their own souls, and therefore enter the monastic life. Again, as all virtues are means of acquiring grace, different persons adopt different means, Many seek to obtain it by fasting and like austerities; others by almsgiving and works of mercy, and others by prayer and meditation. Of this latter exercise there are also different methods, which vary according to the character of souls or the subjects chosen. The best kind of meditation is always that from which one derives most profit and devotion.
In this matter beware of a grave error into which pious persons sometimes fall. Deriving much profit from certain means, many imagine that there are no others which lead to God. Consequently they would enforce the same methods upon everyone, and think all in error who follow a different path. Thus, one who gives himself wholly to prayer thinks it the only means of salvation. Another, given to fasting and corporal mortification, sees no merit in any other practices of piety. Those who lead contemplative lives imagine that all who are engaged in an active life are in great danger, and even go so far as to hold exterior virtues in contempt.
The followers of the active life, having no experience of all that passes between God and the soul in the sweet calm of contemplation, do not sufficiently appreciate its value, and approve it only as far as it includes the practice of exterior works. One who gives himself exclusively to mental prayer is very apt to think any other form of prayer unprofitable; and, on the contrary, he who has devoted himself to vocal prayer will often argue that it is more meritorious because it is more laborious.
Thus each one, impelled by ignorance or unconscious pride, extols himself by commending the practices to which he is most given. Just as a savant will praise the science which is the object of his study, and depreciate the merit of all others, so many extol one virtue at the expense of all the rest. The orator will tell you that there is nothing comparable to eloquence; the astronomer, that there is nothing superior to the study of the heavenly bodies. In fact, the theologian, the linguist, the philosopher, the commentator, will each in his turn offer good reasons to prove the preeminence and incontestable superiority of the science he professes.
Similar, though less open, is the struggle between the advocates of the different virtues; each one would have his method prevail over that of others, believing that as it has proved profitable to him, it must prove so to all. Hence arise unfavorable judgments upon the lives of others, divisions and disputes among brethren. Such was the error of the Corinthians in the early ages of the Church. They had been favored with different graces, and each one extolled his own above the rest. The gifts of prophecy, of tongues, of interpreting the Scripture, of working miracles, were each preferred by those who had received them. (Cf. 1Cor. 12).
There is no more efficacious argument against this illusion than that of the Apostle, who declares that all graces and gifts are equal as to their source, for they proceed from the same Holy Spirit, though they differ in their object. "In one Spirit were we all baptized into one body" (1Cor. 12:13), says the Apostle. Belonging thus to the same Head, we all partake of His dignity and glory, and in this we are equally His members, though there is a diversity of gifts and duties among us.
This diversity should not cause us to look with disfavor on those who seem less gifted, for each has his value as a member of Christ. Thus the members of the human body have not the same duties, but yet each has its own peculiar power that another does not possess. All are important, because all are necessary for the general good. "If the foot should say: Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say: Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" (1Cor. 12:15-16). In this manner the Apostle speaks to the Corinthians, and continues his comparison to prove that we must not be misled by our preferences to judge that whoever differs from us is not right, or that gifts differing from ours have not an important place in the designs of God.
This diversity is due partly to nature and partly to grace. We say that it is due partly to nature; for though grace is the principle of every spiritual being, yet it is shaped according to the condition of the soul in which it dwells, just as water takes the form of the vessel into which it is poured. Thus, calm, peaceful temperaments are more naturally suited to a contemplative life; those of an ardent, energetic nature are better fitted for an active life; while persons of strong, robust health find more profit in a laborious life of penance, Thus is the marvelous goodness of God made manifest, Desiring to communicate Himself to all, He has willed that the ways which lead to Him should be proportioned to the diversities in the characters and conditions of men.
Grace is the second cause of this variety which the Holy Spirit, the Author of all grace, has created for the greater beauty and perfection of His Church. As the different senses and members are requisite for the beauty and perfection of the human body, so a diversity of graces is necessary for the complete harmony and beauty of the Church. If the faithful all practiced the same virtues, how could they be called a body, which necessarily consists of different members'? "If the whole body," says the Apostle, "were the eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? And if they all were one member, where would be the body." (1Cor. 12:17,19).
We find the same beautiful variety in the works of nature, where the Sovereign Creator wisely apportions all gifts or qualities so that the lack of one perfection is compensated by the possession of another. The peacock, which has a most discordant note, possesses a beautiful plumage; the nightingale delights the ear, but has no charms for the eye; the horse bears us where we will and is valuable in camp and field, but is rarely used for food; the ox is useful for farm and table, but has scarcely any other qualities to recommend him; fruit trees give us food, but have little value for building; forest trees yield no fruit, but afford us the necessary material for erecting our dwellings. Thus we do not find all qualities or all perfections united in one creature, but that variety among them which constitutes the beauty of nature and binds them to one another by a mutual and necessary dependence.
God has willed that the order and beauty which we admire in nature should exist in the works of grace. For this reason He has endowed His Church with that variety of virtues which form a most symmetrical body, a most beautiful world, the most perfect harmony. Hence some of the members of this great body give themselves to a life of contemplation; others to an active life, to obedience or penance, to religious studies, to the service of the sick and the poor, or to other works of mercy.
We find the same variety in the religious orders of the Church; all aspire to the same end but pursue different paths. Some follow the way of penance; others that of poverty. Some choose a contemplative life; others an active life. Some labor in the midst of the world; others seek obscurity and solitude. The rules of one prescribe a certain revenue; those of another the strictest poverty. Nevertheless they are all animated by the same spirit, all pursue the same end. This variety extends even to the members of the same order; for while certain religious are engaged in the choir, others study in their cells; others devote themselves to manual labor; others hear confessions; while others are engaged in the temporal affairs of the community.
What, then, are al1 these but the several members of one body, the different notes of one grand harmony, the various elements which contribute to the beauty and perfection of the Church? Why has the lute several chords, the organ numerous pipes, but to produce greater variety and harmony? For this reason the patriarch Jacob gave his son Joseph the coat of many colors (Cf. Gen. 37:3), and God commanded that the curtains of the tabernacle should be of violet, purple, and scarlet twice dyed, diversified with embroidery. (Cf. Ex. 26:1 ). In both of these objects we behold an image of that beautiful variety which prevails in the Church.
Let us, then, beware of judging others because their virtues are not ours, or of expecting all to follow the same path. This would be destroying the body of the Church, rending the coat of Joseph. It would be exacting the duty of the eyes, or the hands, or the feet, from all the members of the body. In the words of the Apostle, if the whole body were the eye, where would be the hearing; or if it were the ear, where would be the eyes? Can the eyes reproach the feet for being blind, or the feet reproach the eyes for not bearing the burden of the body? No; it is necessary that the feet toil on the ground, and that the eyes be above them, protected from all that could fatigue or sully them. Nor is the duty of the eyes, notwithstanding their repose, less important than that of the feet.
The work of the pilot who stands at the helm is no less necessary than that of the sailors who manage the ropes and sails. We must not judge of an action by the labor it requires, but by its value and the effects it produces. Thus, you would not say that the work of a laborer is more important in a commonwealth than that of the statesman who wisely directs the government.
If we seriously weigh these considerations, we shall learn to respect all vocations. We shall not reproach the hand for not being the foot, nor the foot for not being the hand. We shall understand the truth of the Apostle's words when he tells us that the beauty and perfection of the body result from the diversity of its members.
The Vigilance and Care necessary in the Practice of Virtue
Since the rule of life which we have proposed includes so many counsels and so many virtues, and since our intelligence is incapable of embracing a multitude of things at one time, it will be well to apply ourselves to the practice of one virtue which, in a measure, comprehends the rest, or supplies for all that may be wanting to them. Such is the virtue of continual vigilance in all our words and actions.
An ambassador about to address a king studies not only what he will say, but how he will say it, and strives to regulate his gestures and his whole bearing so that he may present himself to the monarch in the most becoming manner, With more reason a Christian, who is the subject of the King of kings, must watch over himself at all times, whether he speaks or is silent, at prayer or at table, at home or abroad. He must measure all his actions, all his words, by the law of his Divine Master.
We find this virtue of vigilance frequently recommended in the sacred Scriptures. "Keep thyself and thy soul carefully." (Deut. 4:9). "Walk solicitous with thy God." (Mich. 6:8). That is, be careful to avoid everything contrary to His will. The many eyes of the mysterious creatures mentioned in Ezechiel also represent the vigilance with which we must guard our soul. (Cf. Ezech. 1-18).
Besides the many dangers to which we are exposed, the difficulty and delicacy of the work of salvation render this vigilance indispensable, particularly for one who aspires to the perfection of the spiritual life. For to live in union with God, to abide in the flesh and yet to be free from its corruption, and to preserve one's self from the snares of the world "without offense unto the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:10) require not only the assistance of grace but the greatest vigilance over ourselves. Follow in this respect the wise counsel of Seneca: "Always imagine yourself in the presence of one for whom you entertain the greatest respect, and refrain from all that you would not do in His presence." (Epist. 25 ).
A no less salutary practice is to live as if each day were the last of our lives, and the evening were to bring us before the tribunal of God to render an account of all our actions. But the most efficacious means of all is to walk continually in the presence of God, who is everywhere, and to act in all things with obedience due to so great a Master, who is the Witness and the Judge of all our works. Frequently implore the grace to avoid all that would render us unworthy of His divine presence.
Thus the vigilance which we here counsel has two ends: First, to fix the eyes of our soul upon God, and unceasingly to offer Him on the altar of our hearts a sacrifice of adoration, respect, praise, devotion, thanksgiving, and love; secondly, to watch over all our thoughts, words, and actions, that we may in all things follow the guidance of His will. Though this vigilance is not easily acquired, nevertheless we must endeavor to practice it as uninterruptedly as possible. Corporal exercises are no obstacle to it, for with fidelity to the practice of it the heart will always be free to withdraw from them for awhile, and seek its repose in the wounds of Jesus Christ.
The Courage necessary in the Practice of Virtue
The Necessity of Courage
The preceding chapter furnishes us with eyes to discern our duty, and this chapter will furnish us with arms or courage to perform it.
There are two obstacles to virtue which vigilance and courage will overcome. The first is the difficulty of discerning what is good from what is evil; and the second is the labor of embracing the former and overcoming the latter, Vigilance meets the first difficulty; fortitude the second. These two virtues are indispensable, for without vigilance we are blind, without courage we are helpless.
The courage of which we are here treating is not the cardinal virtue of fortitude which calms our fears and strengthens us in affliction, but is rather a disposition of the soul which enables us to triumph over all obstacles to good. For this reason it ever accompanies virtue, sword in hand to vanquish all her foes.
As the blacksmith requires a hammer to beat the hard iron and shape it according to his will, so do we need courage, the spiritual hammer, with which we overcome the difficulties in the road to virtue and fashion our souls after our divine Model. Without this quality we can no more pursue virtue than a blacksmith can work without his hammer.
For what virtue is there that can be acquired without effort? Consider them one after another: prayer, fasting, temperance, obedience, poverty of spirit, chastity, humility and you will find that all present some difficulty springing from self-love, the world, or the devil.
Therefore, if you sincerely desire to advance in virtue, consider the words spoken to Moses, by the God of all virtue and strength, as directly addressed to you: "Take this rod in thy hand, wherewith thou shalt do the signs" that will deliver My people. (Cf. Ex. 4:17). Be assured that as the rod of Moses enabled him to effect the glorious deliverance of the children of Israel, so the rod of courage will enable you to work no less striking wonders, and to free yourself from your enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Keep this rod, therefore, ever in your hand, for without it you will be utterly helpless.
Avoid, too, an illusion into which beginners in the spiritual life frequently fall. Having read in certain books of the ineffable consolations of the Holy Spirit, and the joys of God's service, they persuade themselves that the path of virtue is filled with delights, and therefore, instead of entering it armed to meet their enemies, they set out as if for a festival. Truly the love of God is full of sweetness, but the way which leads to it contains much that is bitter, for self-love must first be conquered, and there is nothing harder to nature than to fight against it and all that it claims. This is the lesson we should learn from the prophet, who says, "Shake thyself from the dust, arise, sit up, O Jerusalem." (Is. 52:2). Shake thyself from the dust of earthly affections; arise and combat before thou canst sit and rest.
It is also true that God favors with ineffable consolations souls who faithfully labor for Him, and renounce the pleasures of the world for those of Heaven. But this absolute renunciation is necessary, for while we refuse to sacrifice the joys of this life we shall seek in vain for the joys of the Holy Spirit. The manna was given to the children of Israel only when they had consumed the food which they brought with them from Egypt.
If, then, we do not arm ourselves with courage, our pursuit of virtue will be fruitless. Rest is attained only through labor; victory only through combat; joy only through tears; and the sweetness of God's love only through hatred of self. For this reason the Holy Spirit, throughout the Proverbs of Solomon, so frequently condemns sloth and negligence and so strongly commends vigilance and courage as the safeguards of virtue.
Means of acquiring Courage
Solomon had reason to exclaim: "Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her." (Prov. 31:10). What, then, shall we do to acquire courage, which is of such importance and which is no less difficult than the other virtues?
We must first reflect upon the priceless merit of courage, for a quality which helps us acquire all virtues must be inestimable in value.
Men are chiefly driven from the practice of virtue by the difficulties it presents. "The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying: Better is a handful with rest than both hands full with labor and vexation of mind." (Prov. 26:13 and Eccles. 4:5-6). If, therefore, the obstacles to virtue discourage us and turn us from good, what is more necessary for us than courage? And who will regret any effort to acquire an aid which will strengthen him to conquer the kingdom of virtue, and, after it, the kingdom of Heaven? "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away." (Matt. 11:12). Finally, courage conquers self-love, which gives place to the love of God, or rather God Himself, "for he that abideth in charity abideth in God, and God in him." (1Jn. 4:16).
Stimulate your courage, moreover, by contemplating the fortitude of so many Christians who cheerfully embraced poverty, mortification, humiliations, for love of Christ. Many of them so loved suffering that they sought it as eagerly as the worldling seeks pleasure, or as the merchant seeks gain, preferring poverty to riches, hunger to abundance, labors and the cross to rest and comfort. The Church daily presents for our consideration such heroic souls, not only that we may worthily honor them, but that we may be excited to imitate them.
Consider, too, the greatness of courage, the heroism, displayed by the martyrs. There is no kind of torture or suffering which they did not endure. Some were burned alive; others were torn to pieces by wild beasts; many had their flesh torn from their bodies with red-hot pincers; some were cast into caldrons of boiling oil; others were compelled to walk barefoot on burning coals, or were tied to the tails of wild horses and dragged through thickets and briars or over sharp stones. It would be almost impossible to enumerate all the tortures invented by the malice of devils to conquer the courage of the servants of God. We read of a martyr in Nicodemia who was scourged so cruelly that every blow brought away a piece of the flesh, leaving the bones exposed to view, and into these cruel wounds the executioner poured salt and vinegar; and, finding that life was not yet extinct, they laid the mangled body upon a slow fire, turning it from side to side with iron hooks until the soul took its flight to God. Read the lives of those brave soldiers of Christ, and your courage will be reanimated; you will grow ashamed of the little you have done for God or your soul.
They were human as well as we are. Their bodies were as sensitive as ours to sufferings. They had the same God to assist them; they hoped for the same reward to which we aspire. If eternal life cost them so much, shall we refuse to mortify the irregular desires of the flesh to attain this blessed end? Shall we not have the courage to fast one day, when we see them almost dying of hunger? Shall we refuse to remain for a short time on our knees in prayer, when they continued to pray for their enemies during long hours of agony, even when nailed to the cross? Shall we refuse to resist our inclinations and passions, when they unhesitantly abandoned their bodies to the tortures of the executioner! They endured without murmuring the solitude and suffering of dark prisons, and shall we refuse our soul a few moments solitude in prayer each day to amend the past and to prepare for the future. If they submitted their bodies to the rack, to the wheel, to fire and the sword, shall we refuse to chastise ours for the love of Christ?
If these examples do not move you, lift your eyes to the cross and contemplate Him who hangs there in torments for love of you. "Think diligently," says the Apostle, "upon him that endured such opposition, that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds." (Heb. 12:3).
It is a marvelous example in every respect. For if we consider His sufferings, none could be greater; if we consider the Victim, none could be more noble; if we consider the motive, it was the highest degree of love; for He who was Innocence itself suffered and died to redeem us from our iniquities. The heavens were filled with awe at the spectacle; the earth trembled; the rocks were rent; all nature was moved.
Will man alone be insensible and refuse to imitate the example which God came on earth to give? Shall we be so ungrateful, so slothful, so presumptuous as to wish to win Heaven by a life of luxurious ease when suffering and labor were the portion of God on earth and of all His followers?
Hear the words in which St. Paul describes the sufferings of those faithful servants of Christ, the prophets, the Apostles, the martyrs, the confessors, the virgins, and all the saints: "Others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons. They were stoned; they were cut asunder; they were tempted; they were put to death by the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted: of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth." (Heb. 11:36-38). If such were the lives of the saints and of Him who was the Saint of saints, what reason have you to think that you can reach Heaven by the way of pleasure and amusement? If you would share their glory, you must participate in their labors. If you would reign with them in Heaven, you must suffer with them on earth.
May these considerations reanimate your courage dear Christian, and stimulate you to follow, as far as your grace will enable you, such bright examples.
We cannot, therefore, better conclude this work than in the words of Our Saviour: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Lk. 9:23). In this brief counsel you will find a summary of His divine doctrine, and the secret of attaining the perfection taught in the Gospel. Thus, while the body may be a prey to hardships and labors, the soul will enjoy a paradise of peace, and this interior sweetness will enable you cheerfully to embrace all the sufferings of the exterior life.
Index to The Sinner's Guide
Provided Courtesy of:
Eternal Word Television Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
HOME - EWTNews -FAITH - TELEVISION - RADIO - LIBRARY - GALLERY - CATALOGUE - WHAT'S NEW MULTIMEDIA - GENERAL
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3451
|
__label__wiki
| 0.787079
| 0.787079
|
Archive for July 21st, 2014
1683: Lord Russell, Whig martyr
2 comments July 21st, 2014 Headsman
On this date in 1683 at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London the great Whig parliamentarian William, Lord Russell was beheaded with a legendary want of dexterity by Jack Ketch.
The third son of the Earl (later Duke) of Bedford, Lord Russell emerged from a decade of comfortable obscurity in the Parliament’s back benches to become a leading exponent of the nascent Whigs* opposed to royal absolutism and to Catholicism — two heads of the same coin, for the Whigs, given that the heir presumptive James had controversially converted to Catholicism.
The national freakout from 1678 over an alleged “Popish Plot” to undo Old Blighty gave Russell his cause; his leadership of the resulting parliamentary bid to exclude James from royal succession made the gregarious Russell “the governing man in the House of Commons”.
“Lord Russell was a man of great candour, and of general reputation; universally beloved and trusted; of a generous and obliging temper,” his friend Gilbert Burnet recorded of our man. “He had given such proofs of an undaunted courage and of an unshaken firmness, that I never knew any man have so entire a credit in the nation as he had.”
Russell was, Burnet allowed, “a slow man, and of little discourse, but he had a true judgment, when he considered things at his own leisure: his understanding was not defective; but his virtues were so eminent, that they would have more than balanced real defects, if any had been found in the other.”
Chief among those virtues was his wholehearted sincerity for his cause — a passion the source of both his renown, and his destruction. Russell was heard to espouse the view that James ought not merely be excluded from succession, but executed like his father.
Matters never quite approached that point, but the crisis provoked by the Exclusion Bill firebrands led King Charles II to dissolve parliament in 1681, depriving the Whigs of their legal perch. In the ensuing years politics played out not as legislation but conspiracy, and the crown’s rather more successful harassment of same: many of the chief Whig actors were driven offstage to scaffolds, dungeons, or continental exile.
The half-dozen most eminent Whigs remaining — to whom, besides Lord Russell, we number the king’s illegitimate son Monmouth, the Earl of Essex, Baron Howard of Escrick,** Algernon Sidney, and John Hampden† — formed a sort of informal Council of Six who met secretly to consider the bad options available to the fractured Whig movement. Some section of the wider Whig network in which this Council operated turned eventually to considering the most desperate of measures.
Their Rye House Plot schemed to waylay and assassinate the royal person near a fortified manor handily on the king’s route back to London from the Newmarket races. It was owned then by a radical former soldier of Cromwell‘s New Model Army.
It has been long debated to what extent any of the top Whigs knew of or actively participated in this Guy Fawkesian plot, or its complement, a projected armed rising of the sort that Monmouth would indeed mount in 1685. One school of thought is that the Tories seized it as an expedient to eviscerate the remaining Whig leadership by conflating the entire movement with a regicidal scheme; another is that the Whig insistence upon its martyrs’ innocence — and Lord Russell is the chief man in this pantheon — has amounted to a fantastic propaganda coup.‡
In June 1683, a salter who was in on the Rye House planning got a cold sweat and informed on the Whigs. This backstab earned a royal pardon for himself, and started a familiar policing sequence of incriminated conspirators turning crown’s evidence and informing in their turn on the next part of the network.
Many of the Whigs fled to the Netherlands, received there by the House of Orange which would seat itself on the English throne inside of six years.
Lord Russell, however, refused to fly. He landed in the Tower of London by the end of the month, to face trial as a traitor on the evidence of his association with other Whigs and his entertaining the plan of raising an armed revolt. (He would have been joined in the dock by Essex, but that worthy cut his own throat in the Tower.) The judge’s summation to the jury even underscored that “You have not Evidence in the Case as there was [in other Rye House cases] against the Conspirators to kill the King at the Rye. There was a direct Evidence of a Consult to kill the King, that is not given you in this Case: This is an Act of contriving Rebellion, and an Insurrection within the Kingdom, and to seize his Guards, which is urged an Evidence, and surely is in itself an Evidence, to seize and destroy the King.”
Lord Russell’s case shifted around the fringes of actual innocence — those plans for Insurrection within the Kingdom, he said, occurred sometimes at meetings he happened to attend but only off on the side, or without Lord Russell’s own involvement or support. (Speaking from the scaffold, he would several times insist that his acts were at worst misprision of treason, which was no longer a capital crime at this point.)
Against this the crown produced Lord Howard, a cravenly interested party to be sure, who saved his own skin by testifying that the six-headed cabal was down to planning the specifics of the places where a rebellion might best be stirred up, the procurements of arms and bankroll that would be necessary to same, and how to draw Scotland into the fray as an ally. “Every one knows my Lord Russell is a Person of great Judgment, and not very lavish in Discourse,” Howard allowed on the point of Russell’s active assent to the plans. “We did not put it to the Vote, but it went without Contradiction, and I took it that all there gave their Consent.”
David Hume would observe in his History of Great Britain that Russell’s “present but not part of it” parsing didn’t make for a very compelling story. “Russell’s crime fell plainly under the statute … his defence was very feeble.”
Detail view (click for the full image) of an 1825 painting of Lord Russell’s trial, commissioned of George Hayter by Lord Russell’s admiring kinsman John Russell, Duke of Bedford. John Russell also wrote a biography of his famous ancestor. The unbroken succession of Dukes of Bedford from William Russell’s father continues to the present day; the current Duke of Bedford, 15th of that line, is one of Britain’s richest men.
Conscious of the great pulpit his scaffold would offer, Lord Russell drafted with the aid of his wife a last statement vindicating his own person and the Whig cause that flew into print before the onlookers at Lincoln’s Inn Fields were dipping their handkerchiefs into his martyrs’ blood.
Nor did I ever pretend to a great readiness in speaking: I wish those gentlemen of the law who have it, would make more conscience int he use of it, and not run men down by strains and fetches, impose on easy and willing juries, to the ruin of innocent men: For to kill by forms and subtilties of law, is the worst sort of murder …
I never had any design against the king’s life, or the life of any man whatsoever; so I never was in any contrivance of altering the government. What the heats, wickedness, passions, and vanities of other men have occasioned, I ought not to be answerable for; nor could I repress them, though I now suffer for them.
These notices drew furious confutations from Tory pamphleteers aghast at the face these traitors had to forswear their malice against King Charles; a battle of broadsides to control the historical narrative ensued, and was resolved in the Whigs’ favor by the imminent conquest of power by the aforementioned House of Orange. The Whig-aligned William and Mary reversed Lord Russell’s attainder in 1689 — but that’s never stood in the way of historians’ debates.
In a much lower historical register, Lord Russell’s execution was egregiously bungled by the London headsman Jack Ketch, who had to bash repeatedly at the man’s neck before he could remove it from the shoulders. It is largely from this event that Ketch derives his lasting reputation as an incompetent and/or sadistic butcher, mutually reinforcing with Russell’s martyr status.
Ketch would later claim in a published “Apologie” issued against “those grievous Obloquies and Invectives that have been thrown upon me for not Severing my Lords Head from his Body at one blow” that his prey
died with more Galantry than Discresion, and did not dispose him for receiving of the fatal Stroke in such a posture as was most suitable, for whereas he should have put his hands before his Breast, or else behind him, he spread them out before him, nor would he be persuaded to give any Signal or pull his Cap over his eyes, which might possibly be the Occasion that discovering the Blow, he somewhat heav’d his Body
and besides that Ketch “receav’d some Interruption just as I was taking Aim, and going to give the Blow.” How would you like it if someone came to your workplace and did that?
The damage to Ketch’s reputation was already done. Two years later, en route to the block for a subsequent failed bid to topple the Stuarts, the Duke of Monmouth tipped Ketch with the scornful charge not to “hack me as you did my Lord Russell.” When Ketch botched that execution too, he was nearly lynched — but escaped the scaffold to live on in Punch and Judy and in the English tongue as the definitive lowlife executioner.
* Short for “Whiggamores”, who were Covenanter rebels in the 1640s. “Tories”, by contrast, took their name from Irish Catholic outlaws: each party became known by the slur its foes attached to it.
** Yes, another one of those Howards: this Howard’s great-grandfather lost his head for the Ridolfi intrigue.
† Hampden survived the suppression of Whig intrigues long enough to coin the term “Glorious Revolution” when the Stuarts were finally overthrownJournal of British Studies, January 1985 for a skeptical-of-Russell reading of the evidence. “The government did not concoct the plot; it was frightened by the revelations, whatever use it made of them. There is no doubt that proposals for an insurrection of some kind were discussed; Russell’s impetuosity and extremism make it more likely than not that he was an active party to these discussions. What is in doubt, since nothing came of the discussions, is how far the parties had gone in developing a concrete plan for a rising.”
1661: Antonius Hambroek, defying Koxinga - 2018
1972: Misao Katagiri - 2017
1834: Catherine Snow, the last hanged in Newfoundland - 2016
1797: David McLane, an American traitor in Quebec - 2015
356 BCE: Herostratus burns the Temple of Artemis - 2013
1798: Anthony Perry and Mogue Kearns, Protestant and Catholic - 2012
1915: Private Herbert Burden, memorial model - 2011
1986: Vice-President Paulo Correia and five others - 2010
1976: Lt. Col. Abu Taher - 2009
1944: Col. Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, for the plot to kill Hitler - 2008
1641: Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford
1661: Oliver Cromwell, posthumously
1540: Thomas Cromwell
1536: Anne Boleyn
1535: Thomas More, the king’s good servant but God’s first
1660: Major-General Thomas Harrison, the first of the regicides
1691: Jacob Leisler, “a Walloon who has sett at the head of the Rable”
Entry Filed under: 17th Century,Beheaded,Botched Executions,Capital Punishment,Death Penalty,England,Execution,History,Martyrs,Nobility,Notable for their Victims,Politicians,Posthumous Exonerations,Power,Public Executions,Revolutionaries,Treason,Wrongful Executions
Tags: 1680s, 1683, charles ii, duke of monmouth, jack ketch, july 21, london, rye house plot, whigs, william russell
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3452
|
__label__wiki
| 0.658439
| 0.658439
|
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 095-0018
Previous General Assemblies
Public Act 095-0018
Bill Status Printer-Friendly Version PDF
Public Act 0018 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SB1704 Enrolled
LRB095 09141 RCE 29334 b
AN ACT concerning alternative energy.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Clean
Coal FutureGen for Illinois Act.
Section 5. Purpose. Recognizing that the FutureGen Project
is a first-of-a-kind research project to permanently sequester
underground carbon-dioxide emissions from a coal-fueled power
plant, and that such a project would have benefits to the
economy and environment of Illinois, the purpose of this Act is
to provide the FutureGen Alliance with adequate liability
protection and permitting certainty to facilitate the siting of
the FutureGen Project in the State of Illinois.
Section 10. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
finds and determines that:
(1) human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have been
identified as contributing to global warming, the effects of
which pose a threat to public health and safety and the economy
of the State of Illinois;
(2) in order to meet the energy needs of the State of
Illinois, keep its economy strong and protect the environment
while reducing its contribution to human-induced greenhouse
gas emissions, the State of Illinois must be a leader in
developing new low-carbon technologies;
(3) carbon capture and storage is a low-carbon technology
that involves capturing the carbon dioxide from fossil fuel
energy and hydrogen generating units and injecting it into
secure geologic strata for permanent storage;
(4) the FutureGen Project is a public-private partnership
between the Federal Department of Energy and the FutureGen
Alliance that proposes to use this new technology as part of a
plan to build and operate a near zero emission coal fueled
power plant;
(5) the FutureGen Project will help ensure the long-term
viability of Illinois Basin coal as a major energy source in
the State of Illinois and throughout the nation and represents
a significant step in the State of Illinois' efforts to become
a self-sufficient, clean energy producer;
(6) the FutureGen Project provides an opportunity for the
State of Illinois to partner with the Federal Department of
Energy and the FutureGen Alliance in the development of these
innovative clean-coal technologies;
(7) the FutureGen Project will make the State of Illinois a
center for developing and refining clean coal technology,
hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage, and will
result in the development of new technologies designed to
improve the efficiency of the energy industry that will be
replicated world wide;
(8) the FutureGen Project is an important coal development
and conversion project that will create jobs in the State of
Illinois during the construction and operational phases,
contribute to the overall economy of the State of Illinois and
help reinvigorate the Illinois Basin coal industry; and
(9) the FutureGen Project and the property necessary for
the FutureGen Project serve a substantial public purpose as its
coal gasification, electricity generation, hydrogen
production, advanced emissions control and carbon capture and
storage technologies will benefit the citizens of the State of
Illinois.
Section 15. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
"Agency" means the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency.
"Carbon capture and storage" means the process of capturing
CO2 and other chemical constituents from coal combustion
by-products for the purpose of injecting and storing the gas
for permanent storage.
"Carbon dioxide" or "CO2" means a colorless, odorless gas
in the form of one carbon and 2 oxygen atoms that is the
principal greenhouse gas.
"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic
"Director" means the Director of Commerce and Economic
"Federal Department" means the federal Department of
"FutureGen Alliance" is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium
of coal and energy producers that, as of the effective date of
this Act, includes American Electric Power, Anglo American plc,
BHP Billiton, E. ON US, China Huaneng Group, CONSOL Energy,
Foundation Coal, Kennecott Energy, Peabody Energy, PPL
Corporation, Rio Tinto Energy American, Southern Company, and
Xstrata Coal.
"FutureGen Project" means the public-private partnership
between the Federal Department and the FutureGen Alliance that
will construct and operate a coal-fueled power plant utilizing
state-of-the-art clean-coal technology and carbon capture and
storage. Two locations in Illinois, Tuscola and Mattoon, are
under consideration for the FutureGen Project. These are the
only locations eligible for benefits under this Act.
"Mount Simon Formation" means the deep sandstone reservoir
into which the sequestered gas is to be injected at depths
generally ranging between 5,500 and 8,500 feet below ground
surface and that is bounded by the granitic basement below and
the Eau Claire Shale above.
"Operator" means the FutureGen Alliance and its member
companies, including their parent companies, subsidiaries,
affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents.
"Post-injection" means after the captured gas has been
successfully injected into the wellhead at the point at which
the gas is transferred into the wellbore for carbon
sequestration and storage into the Mount Simon Formation.
"Pre-injection" means all activities and occurrences prior
to successful delivery into the wellhead at the point at which
sequestration and storage into the Mount Simon Formation,
including but not limited to, the operation of the FutureGen
Project.
"Public liability" means any civil legal liability arising
out of or resulting from the storage, escape, release, or
migration of the post-injection sequestered gas that was
injected during the operation of the FutureGen Project by the
FutureGen Alliance. The term "public liability", however, does
not include any legal liability arising out of or resulting
from the construction, operation, or other pre-injection
activity of the Operator.
"Public liability action" or "action" means a written
demand, lawsuit, or claim from any third party received by the
Operator seeking a remedy or alleging liability on behalf of
Operator resulting from any public liability.
"Sequestered gas" means the CO2 and other chemical
constituents from the FutureGen Project operations that are
injected into the Mount Simon Formation.
Section 20. Title to sequestered gas. If the FutureGen
Project locates at either the Tuscola or Mattoon site in the
State of Illinois, then the FutureGen Alliance agrees that the
Operator shall transfer and convey and the State of Illinois
shall accept and receive, with no payment due from the State of
Illinois, all rights, title, and interest in and to and any
liabilities associated with the sequestered gas, including any
current or future environmental benefits, marketing claims,
tradable credits, emissions allocations or offsets (voluntary
or compliance based) associated therewith, upon such gas
reaching the status of post-injection, which shall be verified
by the Agency or other designated State of Illinois agency. The
Operator shall retain all rights, title, and interest in and to
and any liabilities associated with the pre-injection
sequestered gas. The Illinois State Geological Survey of the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources shall monitor,
measure, and verify the permanent status of sequestered carbon
dioxide and co-sequestered gases in which the State has
acquired the right, title, and interest under this Section.
Section 23. Sequestered gas. The State of Illinois may not
intentionally remove sequestered gas unless the removal is for
the purpose of research and development.
Section 25. Insurance against qualified losses.
(a) The Department shall procure an insurance policy from a
private insurance carrier or carriers, if and to the extent
that such a policy is available, that insures the Operator
against any qualified loss stemming from a public liability
action. The policy must be procured in accordance with the
provisions of the Procurement Code.
(b) Pursuant to Section 30 of this Act, the State shall
indemnify the Operator against any qualified loss stemming from
a public liability action to the extent that the qualified loss
is not covered under an insurance policy under subsection (a)
of this Section.
(c) The Department shall pay any insurance premium,
deductible, or liability under subsections (a) or (b) from
appropriations by the General Assembly for that purpose. It is
the intent of this Act that, to the extent practical, any
unexpended balance of the proceeds from the sale of emission
reduction rights or tradable credits to which the State has
title under Section 20 should be used for the purposes of this
subsection (c).
(d) If the FutureGen Alliance locates the FutureGen Project
at either the Mattoon or Tuscola site in the State of Illinois,
then the Department shall be authorized to contract with the
FutureGen Alliance, under terms not inconsistent with this Act,
in order to define the rights and obligations of the FutureGen
Alliance and the Department, including but not limited to, the
insurance and indemnification obligations under Sections 25
and 30 of this Act.
(e) If federal indemnification covers all or a portion of
the obligations assumed by the State under Section 25 of this
Act, such State obligations shall be reduced in proportion to
the federal indemnification and be considered subordinated to
any federal indemnification.
(g) For the purpose of this Section, "qualified loss" means
a loss by the Operator stemming from a public liability action
other than those losses arising out of or relating to:
(1) the intentional or willful misconduct of the
Operator in its operation of the FutureGen Project;
(2) the failure of the Operator to comply with any
applicable law, rule, regulation, or other requirement
established by the Federal Department, Agency, or State of
Illinois for the carbon capture and storage of the
sequestered gas, including any limitations on the chemical
composition of any sequestered gas; or
(3) the pre-injection operation of the FutureGen
Section 30. Indemnification. Notwithstanding any law to
the contrary, the State of Illinois shall indemnify, hold
harmless, defend, and release the Operator from and against any
public liability action asserted against the Operator, subject
to the following terms and conditions:
(a) The obligation of the State of Illinois to indemnify
the Operator does not extend to any public liability arising
out of or relating to:
composition of any sequestered gas;
Project; or
(4) a qualified loss to the extent that it is paid
under an insurance policy under subsection (a) of Section
25 of this Act.
(b) The indemnification obligations of the State of
Illinois assumed under Section 30 of this Act shall be reduced
in proportion and be subordinated to any federal
indemnification that covers all or a portion of the State's
Section 35. Representation. In furtherance of the State of
Illinois' obligations set forth in subsection (b) of Section 25
and in Section 30 of this Act, the Attorney General has the
following duties:
(a) In the event that any public liability action covered
under Section 30 of this Act is commenced against the Operator,
the Attorney General shall, upon timely and appropriate notice
to the Attorney General by the Operator, appear on behalf of
the Operator and defend the action. Any such notice must be in
writing, must be mailed within 15 days after the date of
receipt by the Operator of service of process, and must
authorize the Attorney General to represent and defend the
Operator in the action. The delivery of this notice to the
Attorney General constitutes an agreement by the Operator to
cooperate with the Attorney General in defense of the action
and a consent that the Attorney General shall conduct the
defense as the Attorney General deems advisable and in the best
interests of the Operator and the State of Illinois, including
settlement in the Attorney General's discretion. The Operator
may appear in such action through private counsel to respond or
object only to any aspect of a proposed settlement or proposed
court order which would directly affect the day-to-day
operations of the FutureGen Project. In any such action, the
State of Illinois shall pay the court costs and litigation
expenses of defending such action, to the extent approved by
the Attorney General as reasonable, as they are incurred.
(b) In the event that the Attorney General determines
either (i) that so appearing and defending the Operator
involves an actual or potential conflict of interest or (ii)
that the act or omission which gave rise to the claim was not
within the scope of the indemnity as provided in Section 30 of
this Act, the Attorney General shall decline in
writing to
appear or defend or shall promptly take appropriate action to
withdraw as attorney for the Operator. Upon receipt of such
declination or withdrawal by the Attorney General on the basis
of an actual or potential conflict of interest, the Operator
may employ its own attorney to appear and defend, in which
event the State of Illinois shall pay the Operator's court
costs, litigation expenses, and attorneys' fees, to the extent
approved by the Attorney General as reasonable, as they are
incurred.
(c) In any action asserted by the Operator or the State of
Illinois to enforce the indemnification obligations of the
State of Illinois as provided in Section 30 of the Act, the
non-prevailing party is responsible for any reasonable court
costs, litigation expenses, and attorneys fees incurred by the
prevailing party.
(d) Court costs and litigation expenses and other costs of
providing a defense, including attorneys' fees, paid or
obligated under this Section, and the costs of indemnification,
including the payment of any final judgment or final settlement
under this Section, must be paid by warrant from appropriations
to the Department pursuant to vouchers certified by the
Attorney General.
(e) Nothing contained or implied in this Section shall
operate, or be construed or applied, to deprive the State of
Illinois, or the Operator, of any defense otherwise available.
(f) Any judgment subject to State of Illinois
indemnification under this Section is not enforceable against
the Operator, but shall be paid by the State of Illinois in the
following manner: Upon receipt of a certified copy of the
judgment, the Attorney General shall review it to determine if
the judgment is (i) final, unreversed, and no longer subject to
appeal and (ii) subject to indemnification under Section 30 of
this Act. If the Attorney General determines that it is, then
the Attorney General shall submit a voucher for the amount of
the judgment and any interest thereon to the State of Illinois
Comptroller and the amount must be paid by warrant from
appropriation to the Department to the judgment creditor solely
out of available appropriations.
Section 40. Permitting. The State of Illinois shall issue
to the Operator all necessary and appropriate permits
consistent with State and federal law and corresponding
regulations. The State of Illinois must allow the Operator to
combine applications when appropriate, and the State of
Illinois must otherwise streamline the application process for
timely permit issuance.
Section 43. Tax exemption. An operator is exempt from any
tax imposed by the State of Illinois that is based upon the
nameplate capacity of generating units.
Section 45. Incentives. The State of Illinois has offered
certain incentives to the FutureGen Alliance to make the State
of Illinois the most attractive location for the FutureGen
Section 50. Jurisdiction. The Court of Claims has
jurisdiction concerning any public liability action arising
under this Act or arising from the operation of the FutureGen
Project, except that a public liability action may be brought
in the circuit court if the cause of action is one of personal
injury or wrongful death and the injury or death was
proximately caused by the storage, escape, release, or
FutureGen Alliance, and the circuit court is hereby granted
jurisdiction over these matters. The jurisdiction over civil,
administrative, or other legal processes is not, otherwise,
affected by this Act.
Section 900. The Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
amended by changing Section 605-332 as follows:
(20 ILCS 605/605-332)
Sec. 605-332. Financial assistance to energy generation
(a) As used in this Section:
"New electric generating facility" means a
newly-constructed electric
generation plant or a newly
constructed generation capacity expansion at an
facility, including the transmission lines and associated
that transfers electricity from points of supply to
points of delivery, and for
which foundation construction
commenced not sooner than July 1, 2001, which is
designed to
provide baseload electric generation operating on a continuous
basis throughout the year and:
(1) has an aggregate rated generating capacity
of at
least 400 megawatts for all new units at one site, uses
coal or gases derived
from coal as its primary fuel
and supports the creation of at least 150 new Illinois coal
jobs; or
(2) is funded through a federal Department of Energy
grant before December 31, 2010
2007 and supports the
creation of
coal-mining jobs; or
(3) uses coal gasification or integrated
gasification-combined cycle
units that generate
electricity or chemicals, or both, and supports the
coal-mining jobs.
"New gasification facility" means a newly constructed coal
gasification facility that generates chemical feedstocks or
transportation fuels derived from coal (which may include, but
are not limited to, methane, methanol, and nitrogen
fertilizer), that supports the creation or retention of
Illinois coal-mining jobs, and that qualifies for financial
assistance from the Department before December 31, 2010
2006. A
new gasification facility does not include a pilot project
located within Jefferson County or within a county adjacent to
Jefferson County for synthetic natural gas from coal.
"New facility" means a new electric generating facility or
a new gasification facility. A new facility does not include a
pilot project located within Jefferson County or within a
county adjacent to Jefferson County for synthetic natural gas
from coal.
"Eligible business" means an entity that proposes to
construct a new facility and that has applied to the Department
to receive financial
assistance pursuant to this Section.
respect to use and occupation taxes, wherever there is a
reference to
taxes, that reference means only those taxes paid
on Illinois-mined coal used
a new facility.
"Department" means the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity.
(b) The Department is authorized to
provide financial
assistance to eligible businesses for new
facilities from funds
appropriated by the General Assembly as further provided
this Section.
An eligible business seeking qualification for financial
assistance for
a new facility, for purposes of this Section
only, shall
apply to the Department in the manner specified by
the Department. Any
projections provided by an eligible
business as part of the application shall
be independently
verified in a manner as set forth by the Department. An
application shall include, but not
be limited to:
(1) the projected or actual completion date of the new
for which financial assistance is sought;
(2) copies of documentation deemed
acceptable by the
Department establishing either (i) the total State
and use taxes paid on Illinois-mined coal used
at the new facility for a minimum of 4 preceding calendar
quarters or (ii)
the projected amount of State occupation
and use taxes paid on Illinois-mined
coal used at the new
facility in 4 calendar year quarters
after completion of
the new facility.
Bond proceeds subject to this Section
shall not be allocated to an
eligible business until the
eligible business has demonstrated the revenue
sufficient to service the debt on the bonds; and
(3) the actual or projected amount of capital
investment by the
eligible business
in the new facility.
The Department shall determine the maximum amount of
assistance for eligible businesses in accordance
with this paragraph. The
Department shall not provide financial
assistance from general obligation bond
funds to any eligible
unless it receives a written certification from the
Director of the
Bureau of
(now Governor's Office of
Management and Budget)
that 80% of the State occupation and use
tax receipts for a minimum
preceding 4 calendar quarters
for all eligible businesses or as included in
projections on
approved applications by eligible businesses equal or exceed
110% of the maximum annual debt service required with respect
to general
obligation bonds issued for that purpose. The
Department may provide
financial assistance not to exceed the
amount of State general obligation
debt calculated as above,
the amount of actual or projected capital
investment in the
facility, or $100,000,000, whichever is less.
assistance received pursuant to this Section may be used
capital facilities consisting of buildings, structures,
durable equipment,
and land at the new facility. Subject to the
of the agreement covering the financial assistance,
a portion of the financial
assistance may be required to be
repaid to the State if certain conditions for
the governmental
purpose of the assistance were not met.
An eligible business shall file a monthly report with the
Illinois Department of Revenue stating the amount of
Illinois-mined coal
purchased during
the previous month for use
in the new facility, the
purchase price of that coal, the
amount of State
occupation and use taxes paid on that purchase
to the seller of the
Illinois-mined coal, and
such other
information as that Department may reasonably require. In sales
Illinois-mined coal between related parties, the purchase
price of the coal
must have been determined in an arms-length
transaction. The report shall be
filed with the Illinois
Department of Revenue on or before the 20th day of
each month
on a form provided by that Department. However, no report
be filed by an eligible business in a month when it made
reportable purchases of coal in the previous month.
Illinois Department of Revenue shall provide a summary of such
reports to
Governor's Office of Management and Budget.
Upon granting financial assistance to an eligible
business, the Department
shall certify the name of the eligible
business to the Illinois Department of
Revenue. Beginning with
the receipt of the first report of State occupation
taxes paid by an
eligible business and continuing for a 25-year
period, the Illinois Department
of Revenue shall each month pay
into the Energy Infrastructure Fund 80% of the
realized from the 6.25% general rate on the selling price of
Illinois-mined coal that was sold to an eligible business.
(Source: P.A. 93-167, eff. 7-10-03; 93-1064, eff. 1-13-05;
94-65, eff. 6-21-05; 94-1030, eff. 7-14-06.)
Section 905. The Illinois Enterprise Zone Act is amended by
changing Section 5.5 as follows:
(20 ILCS 655/5.5)
(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 609.1)
Sec. 5.5. High Impact Business.
(a) In order to respond to unique opportunities to assist
encouragement, development, growth and expansion of the
private sector through
large scale investment and development
projects, the Department is authorized
to receive and approve
applications for the designation of "High Impact
Businesses" in
Illinois subject to the following conditions:
(1) such applications may be submitted at any time
during the year;
(2) such business is not located, at the time of
designation, in
an enterprise zone designated pursuant to
this Act;
(3) the business intends to do one or more of the
(A) the business intends to make a minimum
investment of
$12,000,000 which will be placed in
service in qualified property and
intends to create 500
full-time equivalent jobs at a designated location
Illinois or intends to make a minimum investment of
$30,000,000 which
will be placed in service in
qualified property and intends to retain 1,500
full-time jobs at a designated location in Illinois.
The business must certify in writing that the
investments would not be
placed in service in qualified
property and the job creation or job
retention would
not occur without the tax credits and exemptions set
in subsection (b) of this Section. The terms
"placed in service" and
"qualified property" have the
same meanings as described in subsection (h)
of Section
201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act; or
(B) the business intends to establish a new
electric generating
facility at a designated location
in Illinois. "New electric generating
facility", for
purposes of this Section, means a newly-constructed
generation plant
or a newly-constructed
generation capacity expansion at an existing electric
plant, including the transmission lines and
equipment that transfers electricity from
points of supply to points of
delivery, and for which
such new foundation construction commenced not sooner
than July 1,
2001. Such facility shall be designed to
provide baseload electric
generation and shall operate
on a continuous basis throughout the year;
and (i)
shall have an aggregate rated generating capacity of at
least 1,000
megawatts for all new units at one site if
it uses natural gas as its primary
fuel and foundation
construction of the facility is commenced on
or before
December 31, 2004, or shall have an aggregate rated
capacity of at least 400 megawatts for all
new units at one site if it uses
from coal
as its primary fuel and
shall support the
creation of at least 150 new Illinois coal mining jobs,
(ii) shall be funded through a federal Department of
Energy grant before December 31, 2010
July 1, 2006 and
shall support the creation of Illinois
coal-mining
jobs, or (iii) shall use coal gasification or
integrated gasification-combined cycle units
electricity or chemicals, or both, and shall
support the creation of Illinois
business must certify in writing that the investments
necessary to establish
a new electric generating
facility would not be placed in service and the
creation in the case of a coal-fueled plant
would not
occur without the tax credits and exemptions set forth
subsection (b-5) of this Section. The term "placed
in service" has
the same meaning as described in
(h) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income
Tax Act; or
(B-5) the business intends to establish a new
facility at a designated location in
Illinois. As used in this Section, "new gasification
facility" means a newly constructed coal gasification
facility that generates chemical feedstocks or
transportation fuels derived from coal (which may
include, but are not limited to, methane, methanol, and
nitrogen fertilizer), that supports the creation or
retention of Illinois coal-mining jobs, and that
qualifies for financial assistance from the Department
before December 31, 2010
2006. A new gasification
facility does not include a pilot project located
within Jefferson County or within a county adjacent to
Jefferson County for synthetic natural gas from coal;
(C) the business intends to establish
operations at a new coal mine, re-establish production
operations at
a closed coal mine, or expand production
at an existing coal mine
at a designated location in
Illinois not sooner than July 1, 2001;
provided that
production operations result in the creation of 150
new Illinois coal mining
jobs as described in
subdivision (a)(3)(B) of this Section, and further
provided that the coal extracted from such mine is
utilized as the predominant
source for a new electric
generating facility.
The business must certify in
writing that the
investments necessary to establish a
new, expanded, or reopened coal mine would
placed in service and the job creation would not
without the tax credits and exemptions set forth in
subsection (b-5) of
this Section. The term "placed in
service" has
subsection (h) of Section 201 of the
Illinois Income
(D) the business intends to construct new
transmission facilities or
upgrade existing
transmission facilities at designated locations in
for which construction commenced not sooner
than July 1, 2001. For the
purposes of this Section,
"transmission facilities" means transmission lines
with a voltage rating of 115 kilovolts or above,
including associated
equipment, that transfer
electricity from points of supply to points of
and that transmit a majority of the electricity
generated by a new
electric generating facility
designated as a High Impact Business in accordance
this Section. The business must certify in writing that
the investments
necessary to construct new
transmission facilities or upgrade existing
transmission facilities would not be placed in service
subsection (b-5) of this
Section. The term "placed in
service" has the
same meaning as described in
subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois
Tax Act; and
(4) no later than 90 days after an application is
submitted, the
Department shall notify the applicant of the
Department's determination of
the qualification of the
proposed High Impact Business under this Section.
(b) Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses
subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this Section shall qualify
for the credits and
exemptions described in the
following Acts:
Section 9-222 and Section 9-222.1A of the Public Utilities
Act,
subsection (h)
of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act,
and Section 1d of
Retailers' Occupation Tax Act; provided
that these credits and
described in these Acts shall
not be authorized until the minimum
investments set forth in
subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this
Section have been placed in
service in qualified properties and, in the case of the
described in the Public Utilities Act and Section 1d
of the Retailers'
Occupation Tax Act, the minimum full-time
equivalent jobs or full-time jobs set
forth in subdivision
(a)(3)(A) of this Section have been
created or retained.
Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses under
Section shall also
qualify for the exemption described in
Section 5l of the Retailers' Occupation
Tax Act. The credit
provided in subsection (h) of Section 201 of the Illinois
Income Tax Act shall be applicable to investments in qualified
property as set
forth in subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this Section.
(b-5) Businesses designated as High Impact Businesses
subdivisions (a)(3)(B), (a)(3)(B-5), (a)(3)(C),
and (a)(3)(D) of this Section shall qualify
exemptions described in the following Acts: Section 51 of
Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, Section 9-222 and Section
9-222.1A of the
Public Utilities Act, and subsection (h) of
Section 201 of the Illinois Income
Tax Act; however, the
credits and exemptions authorized under Section 9-222 and
Section 9-222.1A of the Public Utilities Act, and subsection
(h) of Section 201
of the Illinois Income Tax Act shall not be
authorized until the new electric
generating facility, the new
gasification facility, the new transmission facility, or the
new, expanded, or
reopened coal mine is operational,
that a new electric generating facility whose primary fuel
source is
natural gas is eligible only for the exemption under
Section 5l of the
Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.
(c) High Impact Businesses located in federally designated
zones or sub-zones are also eligible for
additional credits, exemptions and
deductions as described in
the following Acts: Section 9-221 and Section
9-222.1 of the
Utilities Act; and subsection (g) of Section 201, and
of the Illinois Income Tax Act.
(d) Existing Illinois businesses which apply for
designation as a
High Impact Business must provide the
Department with the prospective plan
for which 1,500 full-time
jobs would be eliminated in the event that the
business is not
designated.
(e) New proposed facilities which apply for designation as
Business must provide the Department with proof of
alternative non-Illinois
sites which would receive the
proposed investment and job creation in the
event that the
business is not designated as a High Impact Business.
(f) In the event that a business is designated a High
Impact Business
and it is later determined after reasonable
notice and an opportunity for a
hearing as provided under the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, that
the business would
have placed in service in qualified property the
and created or retained the requisite number of jobs without
the benefits of the High Impact Business designation, the
Department shall
be required to immediately revoke the
designation and notify the Director
of the Department of
Revenue who shall begin proceedings to recover all
wrongfully
exempted State taxes with interest. The business shall also be
ineligible for all State funded Department programs for a
period of 10 years.
(g) The Department shall revoke a High Impact Business
designation if
the participating business fails to comply with
the terms and conditions of
the designation.
(h) Prior to designating a business, the Department shall
provide the
members of the General Assembly and Commission on
Government Forecasting and Accountability
with a report
setting forth the terms and conditions of the designation and
guarantees that have been received by the Department in
relation to the
proposed business being designated.
(Source: P.A. 93-1064, eff. 1-13-05; 93-1067, eff. 1-15-05;
94-65, eff. 6-21-05.)
Section 910. The Court of Claims Act is amended by adding
Section 8.5 as follows:
(705 ILCS 505/8.5 new)
Sec. 8.5. Jurisdiction concerning the FutureGen Project.
The Court of Claims has jurisdiction
concerning any public
liability action, as defined in the Clean
Coal FutureGen for
Illinois Act, arising under that Act or arising from the
operation of the
FutureGen Project, except that a public
liability action may be brought in the circuit court if the
cause of action is one of personal injury or wrongful death and
the injury or death was proximately caused by the storage,
escape, release, or
migration of the post-injection
sequestered gas that was
injected during the operation of the
FutureGen Project by the
FutureGen Alliance, and the circuit
court is
granted jurisdiction over these matters.
Section 915. The State Lawsuit Immunity Act is amended by
changing Section 1 as follows:
(745 ILCS 5/1) (from Ch. 127, par. 801)
Sec. 1. Except as provided in the Illinois Public Labor
Act, the Court of Claims Act, and the State Officials
Employees Ethics Act,
or Section 1.5 of this Act, and,
except as provided in and to the extent provided in the Clean
Coal FutureGen for Illinois Act, the State of Illinois shall
not be made a
defendant or party in any court.
(Source: P.A. 93-414, eff. 1-1-04; 93-615, eff. 11-19-03;
revised 12-19-03.)
Section 997. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
Section 998. Repeal. This Act is repealed on December 31,
2010 unless the FutureGen Project has been located at either
the Mattoon or Tuscola site in Illinois.
Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
Effective Date: 7/30/2007
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3466
|
__label__cc
| 0.624342
| 0.375658
|
Vancouver & Lower Mainland
BC – Interior
BC – North
Just a Bit Outside
Gregg Drinnan
Brandy Saturley
Paul Stewart
Contact ISN
Submit Story/Photo
BCIHL
PACWest
Home North America Canada
The fun runs in Canada… and a few other places
By Scott Harrigan -
This story is part of an Olympic.ca series on running called Canada Runs.
For some foot racing aficionados, running on asphalt is no great challenge. What they really need to have fun is an added obstacle.
The Night Race is a five or ten kilometre race or walk that winds through various parks in Canadian cities.
In what way does it stand out from the rest? It begins at sunset! It’s safe: upon registration, each participant receives a headlamp. Registration is now open for the race’s 2015 edition in Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
Source: Night Race Web Site
Similarly, the Course nocturne de Montréal will be back for a third edition on May 15, when Olympic triathlete Kathy Tremblay will be on hand as a spokesperson. Last year, a total of $20,023 had been raised for the Dr. Julien Foundation.
Color Me Rad
We have all seen on our Facebook news feeds pics of our friends who had gone to this famous Color Me Rad race. Although we get the impression that the event is nothing more than an opportunity to take selfies while completely covered in coloured powder, you should know that participants must run five kilometres! It is while running through an untimed course in a white shirt that runners encounter “colour zones” where participants get splashed with yellow, green, pink or blue powder, all of it is non-toxic, non-stinging and hypoallergenic.
The Santa Clause Race
The Santa Clause Race takes place in several Canadian cities a few weeks before Christmas, when racers and runners alike dress up as Santa Clause or elves. The money raised through registration fees goes to the Salvation Army in support of families and individuals in need. The race is quite entertaining to run or to watch, unless of course you are a four year-old child who is fixated on the belief that there is only one Santa Clause…
Source: Salvation Army
Total Zombie
There should be a large number of Resident Evil fanatics who sign up for this frightful three or five kilometre race. Participants must try to survive by preventing their three scarves from being snatched by zombies. It all takes place in a grisly setting, beginning at nightfall. For wimps, there is the “chicken” start, which is essentially the same event, albeit experienced in the daytime.
Mud Hero
The Mud Hero race is a six kilometre run that features 16 obstacles along the way, each one “muddier” than the previous! Fortunately, an outdoor wash station is set up to make the return trip by car possible.
Source: Mud Hero Web Site
Foam Fest Canada
Do the words “inflatable games,” “Styrofoam,” “50-foot slide” and “death fall” grab your attention? If so, Foam Fest Canada is for you. Throughout this five kilometre foot race, several stations, each one more outlandish than the other, await you.
High Heels Race
Montreal’s high heels race takes place each year to kick off the city’s Festival Mode & Design. Teams of two, consisting of ladies or…men, take part in this 100-metre relay race while trying to avoid spraining an ankle. The money raised goes directly to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Source: Sensation Mode Facebook Page
Cours après moi
Are you desperate to avoid finding love on Tinder? This is your chance to meet single sports enthusiasts on a 400 metre track! On Saturday, May 9, at the Université Laval, the Cours après moi event will bring together singles passionate about foot racing for a five or ten kilometre run. Running around in circles on an outdoor track is one way to keep on running into that one person who catches your eye…
Cheese Race, in England
Naked Run, at the University of California Berkeley
(To avoid naked pictures of university students for obvious reasons, here’s Frank “The Tank”)
Will Ferrel’s Frank “The Tank” from the film Old School.
Beer Mile
And the not so fun…
Running of the Bulls, in Spain
Editor’s note: we don’t recommend anyone try this, ever.
Previous articlePara-swimmers earn high marks during test at meet in Glasgow
Next articleRichardson and Sadowski named to 13th annual East West Bowl
Scott Harrigan
http://www.independentsportsnews.com
Your #1 source for community and amateur sports related news on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond! Send stories to scottharriganisn@gmail.com
Canada wins two bronze medals at the final World Cup event of 2019 in Rotterdam
Canada advances to semi-finals and finals in Rotterdam-World Rowing Cup 3
Canadian World Champions advance in Switzerland
Women’s indoor team picks up another win in Peru
2019 Para Sport Jumpstart Fund distributes $800,000 to grassroots programs across Canada
Canada sweeps Cuba at the Pan Am Cup
Place your vote!
Who will win the Stanley Cup in 2019?
Canucks to Host NHL Gaming Tournament
Scott Harrigan - July 15, 2019
The Vancouver Canucks are proud to host their first ever EA Sports NHL 19 tournament, the 2019 Canucks Chel Challenge, from August 3rd to...
New Zealand win Women’s Rugby Super Series 2019
Renee Wickliffe's hat-trick inspired the Black Ferns to victory over England that secured not only the Women's Rugby Super Series 2019 title but also...
England secure Team GB’s place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Great Britain are the latest to confirm their places in the men’s and women’s competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after England won...
U21 Roster for Men’s Volleyball World Championships
Volleyball Canada is pleased to announce the team set to represent Canada at the Men’s U21 World Championship in Manama, Bahrain, July 18-27, 2019. After...
Canada wins two bronze medals at the final World Cup event of 2019 in...
Andrea Proske (Langley, BC) and Gabrielle Smith (Unionville, ON) captured Canada's first medal of the day taking the bronze in challenging head wind conditions (8:03.77) with...
Your #1 source for community and amateur sports related news on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond!
Contact us: info@independentsportsnews.com
ISN Daily Digest
© Independent Sports News 2019
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3467
|
__label__wiki
| 0.817193
| 0.817193
|
Difference between revisions of "Up in Barney's Room (TAGS Episode)"
Tagsfan (talk | contribs)
m (→Odd Facts Known by Few)
(→Odd Facts Known by Few: Adding the More Information section)
* Actress Enid Markey had a television and film career that spanned from 1911 to 1968. She would later appear in an episode of "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." as Grandma Pyle.
* Actor J. Pat O'Malley would later be a semi-regular on "My Favorite Martian", appearing in 7 apisodes.
==More Information==
* Two Chairs No Waiting 522: [http://imayberry.com/podcasts/2019/03/tcnw-522-mrs-mendlebright/ Mrs. Mendlebright] - Podcast episode dealing with both Mrs. Mendlebright and Mr. Fields.
== Character List ==
1 Episode Info
3 Odd Facts Known by Few
5 Character List
Up in Barney's Room
Filmed: 104
Aired: 105
Original Air Date: 1963/12/02
Writer(s): Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum
Director: Jeffrey Hayden
Barney is evicted from his room at Mrs. Mendelbright's boardinghouse after being caught violating her rules regarding cooking and high-wattage bulbs. With nowhere else to go, he moves in temporarily to the back room of the courthouse. When he goes back to beg for his room, he learns that Mrs. Mendlebright is about to sell her home in order to pool assets with her new boyfriend, Mr. Fields, whom she plans to marry. Something about the whole deal doesn't smell right to Barney. Andy finds out Mr. Fields is a con man, and he and Barney save Mrs. Mendelbright from financial ruin.
Odd Facts Known by Few
Actress Enid Markey had a television and film career that spanned from 1911 to 1968. She would later appear in an episode of "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." as Grandma Pyle.
Actor J. Pat O'Malley would later be a semi-regular on "My Favorite Martian", appearing in 7 apisodes.
Two Chairs No Waiting 522: Mrs. Mendlebright - Podcast episode dealing with both Mrs. Mendlebright and Mr. Fields.
Andy Griffith - Andy Taylor
Don Knotts - Barney Fife
Ronny Howard - Opie Taylor
Betty Lynn - Thelma Lou
Enid Markey - Mrs. Mendlebright
J. Pat O'Malley - Oscar Fields
Retrieved from "http://www.mayberry.info/history/index.php?title=Up_in_Barney%27s_Room_(TAGS_Episode)&oldid=5900"
The Andy Griffith Show Episodes
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3472
|
__label__cc
| 0.726296
| 0.273704
|
QK Round 1: FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER versus THE ONE ABOUT TEMPLES, TYRANTS, and TWINS
Entry Nickname: Fake Heirs Do It Better
Title: The First Law of Loyalty
Word Count: 99k
Genre: YA Fantasy
Every night, seventeen-year-old Arun climbs above the mud and grime of the streets into the Grand Hotels to steal the foreigners’ gold. Her gang is her family, and she follows the old philosophies that say serving one’s family is more important than any laws.
When her cousin, Jaruk, is one of several boys kidnapped by a Grand Duke as part of a plot to put a fake prince on the throne, her loyalties are torn. Although gang rules forbid her from meddling with nobility or politics, she can’t abandon him to the duke’s schemes. Arun loves him like a little brother, and the duke is torturing the boys in his attempts to recreate the long dead royal family’s magic. But what the gang doesn’t know, they can’t punish. Sneaking behind their backs, she steals and trades for information she needs to break Jaruk out of the duke’s guarded mansion.
Taking Jaruk back isn’t enough to keep him safe. He knows too much for the duke to let him go, and there will be nowhere to hide when the duke’s “prince” controls the country. To protect Jaruk, Arun must outwit the duke and discredit his prince. That means creating her own more convincing fake heir, a con too high-profile to hide. Saving Jaruk will not only bring dishonor to her family, but it will be the end of her place in the gang.
First 250:
I would've rather been with my brothers, slinking through darkened hallways and snatching treasures from empty rooms. Instead, I sat at the back bar of a dockside inn. The stench of booze and sweat strangled me, the pressing heat like chains. Through the smoky haze, I stole glances at the unfortunate pair of foreign sailors beside me, their misfortune being they were idiots about to lose a bunch of money. At least, that was the plan.
They watched my accomplice, Petch, move three cards in circles on the bar top. Their thick, hairy arms folded across their chests gave them an intimidating edge, but the ignorance plastered on their pale faces indicated they'd make fine marks.
Petch stopped shuffling the cards. "Which one is the queen?" he shouted. The din of the off-key piano and the men bellowing along nearly swallowed his words. I placed a silver coin on the middle card. He flipped it, showing me the face of our country's first queen. Black smudged the edge of her gold headdress. I sent a silent apology her way for Petch shoving her face into the bar’s grime like that.
Petch pushed me two silver coins. Now came the part where I persuaded these sailors to throw money at the game, and therefore convinced Boss Suttirat I wasn't a completely incompetent con artist.
"You look intrigued." I turned to the sailors, tried to make my voice feathery and cute—not so easy with all the noise.
Entry nickname: The One About Temples, Tyrants, and Twins
Title: The Diminished
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Sixteen-year-old Vi has always dreaded the violent mania that inevitably destroys everyone whose twin has died. Just when she finds a way to escape the city and the grasp of the temple where she was abandoned, her freedom is ripped away. Vi is sold to a cruel man whose collection of oddities is completed by the addition of one of the diminished.
Disgusted with the brutality she and the other servants are subjected to, Vi embroils herself in an underground rebellion. But when she discovers that her twin may not be dead after all, she must decide between staying to aid the rebels and escaping to find the twin she's spent her whole life missing.
The tide was low and the boats not yet in the water, and so I walked, shivering, into the sea. Though the weight of the whole ocean pushed me back toward the shore, I slogged through the icy surf as fast as my legs would propel me. A wave crashed into me, sending me reeling back a step. The cold wind whipped black curls loose from my braid and into my eyes, but I kept my focus on the red marker bobbing in the waves and my fingers in my ears. Eight more strides before I could dive.
I checked my knives, my nets, my ballasts. The rabid cheers from the square rang out over the roar of the waves, mingling with the screams of the seabirds. I tried to breathe deeply, to get ready. Focus, Vi, I thought. Seven more steps.
The crowd had begun to gather, still drunk from the night, long before dawn. Their voices swelled as the sun peeked above the horizon, and before the Ancients chanted the morning prayers the crowd was calling for the dimmy's blood. Six more steps.
Her name was Skalla. I'd only met her the once. She was some spice trader's daughter, and he'd had coin enough to dress his girls in silks and brocades. When Skalla's twin sister died, sudden-like from the whispering cough, Mother Lugine dragged me on her visit.
"Vi," Mother Lugine had said, " it's important that she sees an example of a dimmy who's managed to keep from going bad."
Michelle 4 Laughs June 1, 2015 at 7:54 AM
This space reserved for judge feedback and votes. Thanks!
SIR COFFEETON June 2, 2015 at 8:07 PM
Query: Fake Heirs
Wordcount is a wee bit high. Can you get this down to 95k? I’m not sure we need to know she loves him like a little brother. Her gang is her family, and he’s her cousin already makes the connection clear.
What are the stakes? What will the gang do to her if they catch her?
I really like the Anastasia esque fake heir thing. I think with more clear stakes on what the gang will do to her, and how exactly she’s going to procure an heir, this query will shine.
There’s a little too much telling here. (for example “at least, that was the plan” let us see the plan going astray instead.) I think if you trim words to show her actually conning the men, or starting to, we might get a better sense of her personality. The setting is very clear, and very vivid. Great job here. However, I’ve seen a lot of fantasies open in dingy bars. What does yours bring to the table? What unique spin will you have? I am totally sure your story has it, I would just like to see it more on the first page.
The One About Temples
Query: This query is a little short. What can you add in way of stakes and background? What type of a world does Vi live in? Medieval? Dystopian? Etc I do really like the concept of twins without a half being evil, but I’d like to know how rare they are in this world. Likewise, I’m a sucker for an underground rebellion, so maybe that’s a spot you can shine more of a light on. The wordcount is spot-on, so nicely done with that!
The voice and world-building is very strong in this. Although I’m a little confused as to why Vi is in the water, I am hooked to find out what is happening next with Skalla. The other judge has given some tightening tips, so I won’t repeat those. The sort of flash back with Mother Lugine is also a bit jarring. Do we need that in the first page? But if I was an agent, I would turn the page and keep reading.
That being said, victory to THE ONE ABOUT TEMPLES!
Princess of Llamas June 2, 2015 at 11:43 PM
FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER: This sounds a lot like THE FALSE PRINCE. A lot. That being said, I think this query needs to be tightened. You tell us her gang is her family, so no need to say she loves Jaruk like a brother. Also, the entire second paragraph is meaningless unless we know what she’s risking by breaking the gang’s rules. Is the crux of the book her battle with the duke? If so, I’d consider taking out all the stuff about abandoning, what they don’t know they can’t punish, etc., and move straight into the conflict with the duke. There’s no need to raise a question about her loyalties being torn when you tell us in the same query she picks Jaruk over the family. I’d also consider revising for a stronger last sentence that concisely sums up the stakes. Right now, I’m not sure what they are. If she fools the duke, she saves Jaruk but they’re kicked out of the gang? And if she fails they’re dead? This needs to be clearer.
As for the 250, I’m not crazy about the first line. Maybe, “I should have been with my brothers, slinking through . . .” ??? Right now it reads clunky. Then, for the last line, “I turned to the sailors, trying to make my voice” instead of “tried to make.” That being said, I really, really like these 250. It establishes the scene, world, and is a great starting place. Nice!
THE ONE ABOUT TEMPLES, TYRANTS, AND TWINS: OK, I’m just going to admit it. I’m lost. The only thing I take from the query is that her twin might not be dead and she has to leave some kind of rebellion if she wants to find her. I don’t get how, if at all, those things are related. I don’t get a sense of her world, the violent mania she’s afraid of, or what the rebellion is about. You have a lot of room in here to add more details to give the reader an idea of what kind of world this is, who Vi is, and the stakes. If she finds her sister, what? If she doesn’t, is the rebellion affected? More specifics would make this so much stronger.
As for the 250, I don’t get why she’s in the water, what she’s doing, what a dimmy is, and who Mother Lugine is. Now, that being said, if the query provided more insight, this might make more sense. But right now, taken in the abstract, I’m really in the dark. Yes, there’s vivid imagery here, but to me the first 250 really needs to get that plot moving, and this doesn’t do that.
Two twins stories! I’d really like to see both of these after a revision, as there’s such potential here. Both queries need work, but the 250s are strong and well-written. As I just can’t get my head around what’s really going on in the second one though, victory to FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER.
Regina Phalange June 3, 2015 at 1:23 PM
Fake Heirs Do It Better
Query: After reading this, I feel like I have a general idea of the story, but there's not enough clarity here for me to really understand what's going on. Some questions: Is there already a prince on the throne? Why would she be allowed to steal, but not meddle in politics? Why is torturing boys helping him revive dead magic? What part does magic play in this at all? Is the story mainly focused on saving Jaruk or creating a fake heir? Whichever it is, I'd focus more on one than the other. What are the real stakes here? The choice is to save Jaruk, or lose her family? I know it's against their rules, but if they're all really as close as you say, I'm not sure I'm buying no one else would be upset about Jaruk being captured.
250: Great setting/world-building here. I'm really feeling the bar and the noise and all that good stuff. The writing is good too, though I'd love to see a little more personality here for our main character. I guess my biggest criticism is that this is a familiar opening, and I'd really like to see a little more uniqueness in it. Show me how your MS is really going to standout.
The One About Temples, Tyrants, and Twins
Well, let me just say how much I love your nickname, for the obvious reason ;)
Query: I think the other judges have mainly hit on this, but you're query is too short and doesn't have enough information/detail. Here are some questions I have that might help you decide what else to add in (of course you don't need to answer all these questions): Why are the twins dying? Do one half of all twins always die? How prevalent are twins in your world? I'm assuming Vi doesn't suffer from the same mania and that's odd? Why is she trying to escape? What is the diminished? (I'm guessing it's a twin who's lost their other twin) What is the rebellion about, what are they rebelling against? Also, I think you need stronger stakes. Show us why she can't do both. Is her presence in the rebellion really that necessary for it to succeed?
250: Without as much clarity as we need in the query, the 250 is slightly confusing. I'm not sure why she's wading through the water, but with the crowd gathering I'm also getting a sense that this is an execution or some type of rescue. (I could be way off-base here). My gut is telling me that a "dimmy" is the twin who lived and is therefore diminished without their twin. I'm also guessing that it's rare for Vi to not have gone crazy/violent when her sister died and she's being used as an example. Again, lots of guessing that can be cleared up with a more to-the-point query. Beyond the confusion, I think the writing is really good. Great imagery, sensory details. You give us information without overloading us. Good job.
It's interesting because one entry I feel has too much information to be clear, while the other doesn't have enough to be clear. Both 250's are well written, so this is really tough. Overall, I think one of these seems to be more unique, and the writing resonates more with me. Therefore, VICTORY TO THE ONE ABOUT TEMPLES, TYRANTS, AND TWINS!
Scott Pilgrim June 3, 2015 at 1:28 PM
I’d say this one is close. A few thoughts: 1) the whole “fake heir” think feels a bit thin at the moment because we don’t know who the fake heir is and yet she or he presumably plays a key part in the story; 2) it says “one’s family is more important than any laws,” but isn’t Jaruk family (he’s Arun’s cousin)? 3) the two halves of the final sentence basically say/imply the same thing. Plus, it’s not as strong a hook as it could be. We need to know the actual consequences of her breaking the rules, and we need to know a bit more about why she’s willing to do so to help Jaruk (“loves him like a little brother” is a bit cliché; it’ll do, but I guess I wonder if there isn’t an even stronger motivation).
This is solid. A confident voice. Lots of great little observations. Well done.
I’m going to take a slightly different approach here and comment directly as I read:
Sixteen-year-old Vi has always dreaded the violent mania that inevitably destroys everyone whose twin has died [this mania needs more unpacking so the reader understands; and is this saying she had a twin who died? I know it says so later, but make it clear here so the reader knows]. Just when she finds a way to escape the city [what city?] and the grasp of the temple where she was abandoned [so, is this her home?], her freedom is ripped away [by whom?]. Vi is sold to a cruel man [too vague; name him and give us some idea of who he is] whose collection of oddities is completed by the addition of one of the diminished [I get the sense this is intended as “one of The Diminished” which means is also needs further unpacking; your reader has no idea what these terms mean in your story].
Disgusted with the brutality she and the other servants are subjected to, Vi embroils herself in an underground rebellion [if she’s been sold, how does she become part of a rebellion?]. But when she discovers that her twin may not be dead after all, she must decide between staying to aid the rebels and escaping to find the twin she's spent her whole life missing [if life was so brutal, and escaping was an option, why wouldn’t she have tried to do so even before she learned about her sister].
I can see the basic foundation of what the story is, but you could easily make the query twice as long and give your reader a lot more detail to work with without the fear of being too long.
There’s good writing here. I think it could be made stronger given that it’s using 1st person POV (see judge Tracy Townsend’s recent tweets on this)—less straight reporting and more introspection/opinion on what is taking place—but overall it’s working pretty well.
Both entries have decent writing and an intriguing overall premise, but at this point I felt one to be more developed. So I’m giving VICTORY TO FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER!
MoulinMystery June 4, 2015 at 9:32 AM
Interesting premise, but a bit muddled. Which is the main plot? Saving Jaruk from the Duke's Dungeon or making her own more convincing heir? OR is she doing them both at the same time? It's unclear whether she only starts making the heir after Jaruk is back with her or not. Revise to give us less plot and more about the stakes and overarching premise of your novel. Also...you make it sound like Arun runs this gang, so it's odd she can't change the rules. I assume she doesn't run the gang, but perhaps knowing who does would clarify why the rules cannot be broken? That being said, if explaining all that is going to make you reveal more background/plot just revise to make those kinds of questions less immediate in the reader/agent mind.
I like what you've got here. We get a strong sense of Arun here, and who doesn't love watching a con from a con-artist's perspective. Very solid writing, that makes it seem effortless, which is always a plus!
I'm assuming Vi is a "diminished" because her twin is assumed to have died? It's not really clear why she must make the choice you pose. Wouldn't it be easier to escape if she led the rebellion? Also...is this "cruel man" surrounded by an army? Why will it take all of them to overthrow him? Your query is wonderfully short and to the point for a fantasy novel, but you might want to try revising it so readers don't have as many questions. However, keep at it in terms of brevity. It's a welcome bit of fresh air in queries!!!
I have no idea what is going on in these first 250 words. Why is she swimming? What is the transition from swimming to thinking of Skalla? You need to give us some context here, and there doesn't appear to be any reason to hide it. Let the reader in, so they can enjoy the journey with Vi.
VICTORY goes to FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER
Thursday Next June 4, 2015 at 2:11 PM
Fake Heirs Do It Better: I have a soft spot for likeable criminals, and friends as family, so this hooks me. All the same, I think you could cut some of the lengthy plot points and inject some more voice in their stead. I bet a thief/con artist MC has plenty of voice to spare. I’d also like a name of the city, and am not sure why grand hotels is capitalised. You also don’t end very pithily – you should try to finish with a ‘if MC doesn’t succeed in doing X, Terrible Thing will happen.’ formula, or alternatively make it sound like she has an impossible choice to make.
First page: very nice first page. Clearly written, lively sensory and setting details, tells us about the MC and makes her interesting, hooks us with possible danger or at least intrigue. Very well done, I honestly don’t have anything to add.
The One About Temples: This query is far too brief – don’t sell your story short, it can comfortably be twice as long. And because it’s so short, it reads disjointedly and I’m completely confused about what happens. Give us some worldbuilding information and some personality and voice of Vi’s. Start by telling us what happened to her twin, why Vi’s been abandoned, why she’s in the grasp of a temple she needs to escape from. What is the rebellion about – who are they rebelling against? There’s a lot more information need here.
First page: This has got some nice writing and great atmosphere in it, but could use some clarity, as I don’t really understand what’s happening. I’d start with the time of day and crowds and chanting and setting, *then* zoom into your MC walking through the sea, and I’d explain exactly what’s happening, what a dimmy is – it can be a good hook.
VICTORY TO FAKE HEIRS
Sally Sparrow June 4, 2015 at 3:14 PM
Note: For round 1 since there's so many entries, I'm judging based on the query only!
Sounds like you've got some high-profile scheming going on in this story, which could be a ton of fun.
One thing that confuses me a bit - the first paragraph states that family is more important than laws, but if Jaruk is like a brother to her, then why wouldn't his safety trump the gang's rules anyway? I'm not seeing the reason for that internal conflict.
-vs-
You win the shortest query award! (Kidding. That's not really a thing.) The good news is, that gives you lots of breathing room to delve into more specifics about Vi and the world she lives in. I'm particularly interested in what it is she THINKS happened to her twin at the beginning, WHY she was at the temple, what the mania entails, and why she can't both help the rebellion AND find her twin.
Victory to... FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER!
Mrs. Pollifax June 1, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Two really intriguing entries! I enjoyed reading them both.
HEIRS: What a fun idea, and I like the protagonist already. I was immediately reminded of some other books I enjoyed (THE FALSE PRINCE and Ally Carter's HEIST SOCIETY books) so that's a plus for me! :) I am a bit worried about the high word count -- anything over 90,000 is a red flag for agents, unfortunately. Perhaps there will be some who will be willing to work with that! A few nitpicks: QUERY - lose the commas around "My cousin, Jarek," because that makes it seems as though he's her only cousin.; maybe use Jarek's name in the second paragraph instead of "him," to make it clearer; and what would you think of swapping the "love him like a little brother" sentence and the "what the gang doesn't know" sentence (with a few revisions to make this work). I had to read those a couple times to make it work. FIRST 250: Enjoyed this scene! It's a little awkward starting the book with "would've" right away. How would you feel about making it "I would rather have been" to make it read a little smoother? The sweat and booze actively do something to her, so the heat needs to, as well, not just "like chains." Make sense? Finally, "convinced" needs to just be "convince." Great job!
TWINS: What a neat idea! Haven't seen this before about the twins, and I love it. I do feel like the query is a little too sparse to really get a hold of what the book is about, though. Can you add some more detail? More about her freedom, that "dimmy" is short for diminished (I had to read this a few times in the 250 to get that), about who else is involved in the rebellion. Are there any other characters you can mention? FIRST 250: Do you think it might read better is the boats "were" not yet in the water? Also, the word "propel" stopped me, as it kind of stood out. How would you feel about using a more "normal" word here? Other than those things, the 250 reads really well, and I enjoyed it!
Both of these entries are intriguing and I can see them both doing well. Congrats to the authors! But I have to choose, and while I am concerned about the high words count of HEIRS, I think the query itself is stronger, so I have to say
Victory to FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER
Peggy Rothschild June 1, 2015 at 6:02 PM
Fake Heirs -
I always enjoy stories with grifters, cons and thieves! In the query, I wasn't clear on how saving her cousin will dishonor her family. Perhaps add a bit of specificity there? I enjoyed the opening 250 and just had one quibble -- perhaps rejig the first paragraph to avoid using 'unfortunate and 'misfortune' in the same sentence?
The One About...-
I liked the idea of a place where people believe a surviving twin will automatically go bad, but felt a little unmoored in the query. Though it's a fantasy, I still wanted some sense of where the story would take place. In the opening 250, the prose was lovely. I did want a better sense of where Vi was in relation to the gathering crowd -- is the town square visible from the water's edge or out of sight? I had one picky point -- I thought the 'long before dawn' would work better if inserted earlier in the following: 'The crowd had begun to gather, still drunk from the night, long before dawn'
Amelinda June 1, 2015 at 7:28 PM
FAKE HEIRS: Identifying the gang as her family in the first paragraph muddied the waters for me a little bit when you bring up her cousin and the potential for bringing “dishonor to her family.” If there’s a dichotomy in play between blood family and chosen family, can you set it up a little more clearly at the outset? I feel like I need to know who the former group is before bringing them dishonor really has any bite as a potential consequence.
I like the scene-setting in the opening 250!
TEMPLES: I agree that we need more specifics to give the same concrete sense of place you communicate in your 250. Can you add a few words, for example, to tie the term “the diminished” to the first sentence more clearly?
Nice images in the 250, very vivid, and you add some great touches to make the voice match the fantasy setting. My one quibble is that Mother Lugine’s line here makes it sound like she’s talking *about* Vi instead of to her (as the opening salutation seems to indicate).
Karen Hanes June 2, 2015 at 12:58 AM
FAKE HEIRS: Love your premise so much. I’d amp up Arun’s stakes even further: Saving Jaruk will not only be the end of her place in the gang or bring dishonor to her family of thieves, but it will make the Duke her mortal enemy.
The opening 250 left me salivating for more! I loved how seamlessly you wove together elements of your plot and your world-building (the playing card portraying the land’s former queen used to con the sailors). Great voice and imagery. Your writing reminded me of Marie Rutkoski’s The Winner’s Curse series.
TEMPLES: Very unique and compelling concept with clear, nicely defined stakes. I felt that your query, at only 115 words, could be expanded to explain Vi’s circumstances in greater detail. I wanted to know what she did before she was sold, who ripped away her freedom and what made it so hard for her to leave the rebellion (Are there friendships/romances she would have to give up? Obstacles she would have to overcome?).
First 250. Your writing is lovely and engaging, your pacing is perfect: Vi’s tense, quiet scenes provide striking contrast with the escalating violence in the square and set the mood for your story. I would recommend mentioning the shouts from the square sooner to explain why Vi was stuffing her ears, maybe even show her external thoughts. Well done!
Kimberly Kay June 2, 2015 at 2:03 PM
Fake Heirs,
I agree about the query being a little unclear as to how the political con will dishonor her family. I understand that she swore to not get involved in politics, but if she's saving her cousin, isn't that more important? Besides that, I'd like a hint as to who the fake heir will be. Is she going to use her cousin, or someone else? Otherwise, interesting premise. I agree with Mrs. Pollifax that for me, this brought to mind THE FALSE PRINCE.
You have a fantastic 250. Great descriptions, good pace, interesting characters. My favorite description was "The din of the off-key piano and the men bellowing along nearly swallowed his words." Gorgeous.
Temples,
I'd like to see more world building in your query. As Mrs. Pollifax mentioned, you have a really interesting/engaging/unique idea here with what you're doing with the twins. Build on that! I want just a hint of history. In a world where everyone has a twin, what's it like? Do the twins do the same job? Or do they finish each other's jobs? Setting up how the world acts when its made of twins will help explain why it's such a problem to have your twin die. Your query strikes me as timid. Take confidence, you have an interesting story, and we want to hear about it.
As the others have mentioned, your 250 is lovely. I am, however, confused as to what your MC is doing. She's wading into the water, about to dive. A crowd is gathering. Suddenly there's this Skalla character. Is she diving to find Skalla, or just remembering Skalla in this moment for some reason? Oh wait, just reread it. I see Skalla is the dimmy. My bad, I thought that "dimmy" was referencing the MC, and that they were gathering to see HER death. Now this looks more like a rescue attempt. In that case, I definitely need to know your MC's relation to the crowd. Beside? Below? Can they see her?
Good luck to you both!
Ashley Hearn June 2, 2015 at 8:58 PM
FAKE HEIRS
So cool. I love fantasy-heist stories.
A few notes on the query...
I would make the first sentence of second paragraph active: “When the Grad Duke kidnaps her cousin, Jaruk, as part of his plot to put a fake prince on the throne, Arun’s loyalties are torn.”
Well, except the fact I’m not sure how her “loyalties are torn.” Sounds to me like this Grand Duke is a bad dude and she would risk anything to save her cousin.
Similarly with the “dishonor her family” line, how will saving Jaruk bring dishonor and end her place in the gang? It’s not something I’ve been able to determine from the information in the query alone.
Love where the opening scene jumps in. Feels like just the right place. And the subtle ways you pull in world building (such as the line about their first queen on the card) are awesome!
A few line edit suggestions...
“Through the smokey haze, I stole glances at the unfortunate foreign sailors beside me. They were about to lose a bunch of money.” I actually think you can drop the line about the plan. I gathered it through her talking about them losing money, and then her accomplice is in the next line.
I want something more concrete than “ignorance” plastered on their faces that make them a fine mark. Ignorance isn’t concrete, therefore, it’s more difficult to picture.
“Now came the part where I persuaded...” I’m not sure I want you to tell me this. It’s telegraphing. Granted, I don’t know what happens beyond the first 250 words, but I’d rather see her trying to con the sailors without her giving it away first.
Overall, great job!
TEMPLES, TYRANTS, AND TWINS
OOoh! Twin stories.
The concept of the remaining twin going crazy sounds really creepy/cool; however, after reading the query a few times, I’m not sure I grasp the plot beyond that. When did her twin die, before or after she was abandoned? What do you mean by “the addition of one of the diminished?” The dead twin?
In the second paragraph, where do these other servants come from? How does she find out her twin is not dead?
If you can clarify the conflict so that it reflects the awesome premise, I think you’ll have something really special here.
Minor note, try to make your first sentence of the query as punchy as possible. Avoid wishy-wash terms like “has always dreaded.” Rephrased it could read: “Sixteen-year-old Vi dreads the violent mania...”
Really beautiful writing in the 250. I felt like I was right there in the ocean with Vi. But...why was she in the ocean? She’s diving for something, obviously. I’m guessing food at this point. But what about all the cheers? That makes it sound like she’s doing this for sport and there are spectators watching.
I agree that “Her name was Skalla” comes out of nowhere. Anyway to smooth the transition from her actions to this thought?
Love the last line! Clear up my points of confusion, and it’s one that would make me turn the page.
Good job, both you of you! I feel like these comments should come with a disclaimer for my current lack of coffee. >.<
Fake Heirs:
Intriguing plot! But for a story with kidnapping, dark magic, and con-artists, the query reads a little flat. I don’t get a sense of urgency. The 250, however, did give me a better feel for the world. Not sure I would keep reading from the query alone, but I would keep going from the 250.
The “diminished” made me do a double-take – I assume it’s a reference to Vi?
And see, now the coffee is kicking in and I see that your title is also The Diminished. Ahhh. Perhaps you could work in an explanatory aside in the first or second sentence? Your query is exceptionally concise - so concise that you have plenty of room to give a bit more about the diminished-twin-mania, the man who captures her, or the rebellion (or all three! ☺).
Meradeth Houston June 3, 2015 at 11:40 PM
My two cents, for whatever they're worth:
FAKE: Interesting premise and great stakes. Your query sets this up well, though I would have liked a bit more attention on how she's going to set up the fake heir than on why she has to do it. Otherwise, it flows well and got me interested. The first 250 are good, but don't completely drag me into the story. Is there a reason she's playing the card game, some stakes at risk? I'm not sure the first couple of sentences are strictly necessary, but I'd definitely keep reading!
THE ONE ABOUT: Hmm, I left this one with more questions than I would like. Could you potentially show some more of this world in your query? Does everyone have a twin? A detail or two about what happens to them if their twin dies? It's very sparse, which can be good, but I wanted to hear a bit more to get me interested. Your first 250 are very interesting, though I'm still not completely sure I knew what was going on. Skalla's the one in the water? Is Vi trying to save her? I was just a little too confused to get what was going on, though the writing itself was great.
Getting the Submission Call with Piper Huguley
New Agent Contest Announcement
Query Kombat 2015 Round 5
Query Kombat Round 4 Winners and a Game
Getting the Call with Kaye Callard
Query Kombat '15 Round 4
Subrights Explained by Jess Dallow
Query Kombat 2015 Round 3!
QK Round 3: MIDDLE GRADE LEVERAGE vs EAVESDROPPING...
QK Round 3: PAPER GIRL IN THE LAND OF YESTERDAY ve...
QK Round 3: BEST(IARY) WESTERN versus GUINNESS
QK Round 3: ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET versus FAKE HEI...
QK Round 3: MY MONSTER TWIN IS ROTTING versus THE ...
QK Round 3: LIFE SUCK, I'M STUCK IN PODUNK versus ...
QK Round 3: A THOUSAND MILES ASTRAY versus IF YOU ...
QK Round 3: GUILT BY ASSOCIATION versus A GIRL AND...
Query Kombat Round Three Matchups
Query Questions with Eric Smith
The Word on Self-Publishing and Querying Agents
Query Kombat Round 2
Query Kombat 2015 Round 2 Matchups
Cover Reveal for CHAMELEON: THE DOMINO PROJECT
Query Kombat '15 Agent Round
QK Agent Round: Eavesdropping Monkey, PB Humorous
QK Agent Round: Sand Dollar, PB Humorous, lyrical
QK Agent Round: Librarians, Curses, and Mysteries,...
QK Agent Round: Paper Girl in the Land of Yesterda...
QK Agent Round: Elephants Never Forget, YA Contemp...
QK Agent Round: Guinness, YA Supernatural Fantasy
QK Agent Round: Life Sucks--I'm Stuck in Podunk, Y...
QK Agent Round: Queen of Drones, YA Sci-fi Postapo...
QK Agent Round: My Monster Twin is Rotting, YA Got...
QK Agent Round: No Such Thing as Coincidence, NA F...
QK Agent Round: Greek Gods Make the Best Kind of T...
QK Agent Round: Orphan Red, Women's Fiction
Query Kombat '15 Winners 1st Round
QK Round 1: IF YOU GIVE A GIRL A REDO versus BABY ...
QK Round 1: FORGET YOU, STALIN versus FIGHTING THE...
QK Round 1: THE PIED PIPER versus PARANORMAL FEAR
QK Round 1: I KISSED A GHOUL versus SKINS OF THE F...
QK Round 1: NO SUCH THING AS COINCIDENCE versus BE...
QK Round 1: TEXTING BUDDIES AT 8% versus FED TO TH...
QK Round 1: DEATH BY DOZIER versus A GIRL AND HER ...
QK Round 1: A SPARKLING WILDFLOWER versus MIDDLE G...
QK Round 1: TRIAC GIRL versus STELLAR TWINS KICKIN...
QK Round 1: FAKE HEIRS DO IT BETTER versus THE ONE...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3485
|
__label__cc
| 0.593416
| 0.406584
|
Home eBulletin 1st Amendment We’re a big part of the fix for ‘junk news’
We’re a big part of the fix for ‘junk news’
Gene Policinski
Inside the First Amendment
Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute and senior vice president of the Institute’s First Amendment Center. He can be reached at gpolicinski@newseum.org.
Follow him on Twitter:
@genefac
Let’s stop talking so much about “fake news.”
Not that we should ever cease identifying, talking about or countering misinformation, be it accidental error, the result of negligent work, or deliberately false — to which we must now add propaganda tactics aimed at destabilizing our democracy.
We face all those types of misinformation today; amplified as they are by platforms that allow for instantaneous, worldwide communication.
But the term “fake news” no longer has any real meaning as a national concern or a problem to be dealt with. The term has become far too politicized and much too imprecise, now serving as a catch-all for information anyone sees as divisive, disagreeable, biased or plain wrong. Instead, I prefer a term offered by my Newseum Education colleagues: “junk news.”
Regardless of what we call it, less talk and more action on misinformation is where our focus ought to be. Media Literacy Week, which took place Nov. 6 through 10, is as good a time to start as any.
NewseumED, the Newseum’s nonpartisan education arm, offered information and tools to help students — and all of us — navigate today’s complex media landscape. Its collections of resources are all aimed at helping us understand how news is made and how we can take a more active and responsible role in the information cycle. That includes having the skills to evaluate information, filter out fake news, separate facts and opinions, recognize bias, detect propaganda, spot errors in the news and take charge of our role as media consumers and contributors.
As junk news continues to infiltrate the newsfeeds of millions of social media users, education and awareness have become the best line of defense against the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Where journalists once served as the “gatekeepers” of society’s daily information consumption, today anyone with internet access can create and distribute content, and spread information by sharing it on social media.
For many people, that’s more comfortable and a better option: the power to choose and shape what we need to know, rather than having it fed to us by a select few. But with that power should come a greater sense of responsibility to draw our news from as many reliable, diverse sources as we can.
Failure to do that has created the now-infamous condition in which social media’s omnipresent algorithms track our every keystroke to present us with news that we “like” — or in other words, news that plays to our existing opinions and biases.
Sure, there was a time when readers would settle on a favorite TV network or, in an even earlier era, a favorite radio station for the nightly news. Newspaper readers in communities where there were multiple daily publications would subscribe to one over the others. Much of the non-local news, for good or bad, contained the same information — very often taken from wire services that prided themselves on their ability to “get it first, get it right — but above all, get it right, first.” Those were the days when CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite was called the “most trusted man” in the nation, by virtue of that news media mantle.
In today’s news world, where those long-standing print and broadcast news outlets are barely standing, and new media players have yet to show the depth or credibility it takes long to develop, we as consumers must take less on “faith” and more on “fact.”
For their part, news operations, think tanks, social media companies and others are working on ways to help consumers play a more responsible role in the daily news cycle. Verifying stories and tightening ethical standards are good starts, but significant obstacles lay in the path — namely, the declining revenue and resources of traditional press organizations, and the new Web-based media economy that depends on eyeballs and clicks. In such an environment, thorough “accountability” reporting — often dull but always necessary — has fallen by the wayside.
There are some signs that people are rethinking a reliance on just one site, which is a good first step to improving our news diet. According to the Pew Research Center, about a quarter of all U.S. adults (26 percent) get their news from two or more social media sites, up from 15 percent in 2013 and 18 percent in 2016. But consumers shouldn’t stop with just “more” — our daily intake needs to consist of varied, credible sources. Otherwise, consumers trap themselves in a news bubble or echo chamber, in which they only see information that confirms and reinforces their opinions instead of challenging them.
At a recent forum on First Amendment issues and fake news, I advanced a long-held theory of mine that eventually news consumers will demand information on which they can rely, and will over time migrate to those sources; that credibility will be the news currency of the 21st century
But it’s no longer the province of news providers alone to build that demand. Individual consumers must join in that effort by getting savvier about the news. In a twist on an old saying, “Let the buyer be aware.”
Previous articleTransitions
Next articleLike mac ’n’ cheese, papers due for resurgence
Link McKie
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3493
|
__label__cc
| 0.682181
| 0.317819
|
30th Oct2017
Interview: John Adams discusses Brit Horror ‘Aux’
by Stuart Wright
Aux is the latest film from Evolutionary Films and stars John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, The Shannara Chronicles), Rosie Fellner (Liar, Heist, Age of Heroes), Tristam Summers (Eastenders, Hollyoaks, Tin Holiday), Paul Reynolds (Terminal, Level Up, Eddie The Eagle), Tanya Franks (Chewing Gum, Broadchurch, Liz & Dick), Jack Derges (Eastenders, Humans) and Theo Devaney (Supernatural, Once Upon A Time In London).
Deep in the woods, two boys discover the entrance to a secret military bunker that has remained hidden since World War II. They awaken something so deadly that one boy doesn’t make it out alive and the other flees for his life, only to be hit by a car. A police investigation begins but, one by one, even the armed police are hunted and killed in grotesque and almost ritualistic ways. Meanwhile, at a local nursing home, an elderly WWII veteran watches all of this unfold on the news and realises what is happening. But will anybody believe a senile old man as the remorseless nightmare spreads?
Written by Pete Adams and directed by John Adams, Aux is set for release in UK cinemas on Friday November 10th. In anticipation of its release, host Stuart Wright talks with writer/director John Adams about his directorial debut…
Category : Contributors, Interviews, Podcasts
Tags : Aux, Evolutionary Films, Jack Derges, John Rhys-Davies, Paul Reynolds, Rosie Fellner, Tanya Franks, Theo Devaney, Tristam Summers
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3494
|
__label__wiki
| 0.595992
| 0.595992
|
Tuscany is the quintessence of everything that is glorious about Italy. The landscape is stunning the food delectable, the wine fine the paintings sublime the buildings Magnificent the people friendly the light clear and golden and the country unspoiled. But it is the harmony with which these elements are combined their continuity with the past and the feeling that the heavenly jigsaw has been in place for centuries becoming evermore mellow as the years pass that make Tuscany so very seductive.
More than anywhere else Siena embodies the aspect of a medieval city. As a center for the arts Siena is an enticing maze of narrow streets lined with tall palaces and patrician mansions which come together on the famous Piazza del Campo.
San Gimignano is surrounded by a gently rolling countryside dotted with vines and olive trees. Its 14 greystone towers set on a hilltop are enclosed within an outer wall including five gates. It has all the charm of a small medieval town built mainly of brick and has been amazingly well preserved.
Montepulciano is an attractive small town typical of the Renaissance period. It occupies a remarkably picturesque setting on the top of a hill separating two valleys. Poets have long sung the praises of itsruby-red wine (“Vino Nobile”).
Montalcino, the capital of the Brunello wine, is an intact medieval village rich in monuments and artworks.
Cortona occupies a remarkable area surrounded with olive trees on the steep slope overlooking the Chiana Valley. It has retained its medieval town wall, and has barely changed since the renaissance period.
Lucca has preserved within its girdle of ramparts, a rich heritage in churches, palaces, squares and streets which gives the town a charming air, unscathed by contemporary developments.
Beyond the kitsch that the Leaning Tower has spawned, Pisa has much to see. Its treasures are more subtle than Florence’s, but the cathedral baptistery- campanile complex on Piazza del Duomo is among the most dramatic ensembles in Italy.
Pienza is a perfect example of Renaissance town planning. It was commissioned by Pope Pius II, the diplomat and humanist poet, who wanted to build the ideal town.
Siena Guided Walking Tour
A comprehensive guided walking tour will take you along the medieval streets, admiring the splendid squares and medieval monuments, ending up at...
€ 20.00 per person
Pisa Guided Visit and The Leaning Tower
Your informative guide will take you on a thorough outdoor guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments (exterior). You will be...
Pisa Small Group Walking Tour
Pisa, Lucca and Viareggio Tour
Plunge into a sea of beauty, and experience the heart-stirring discovery of splendid architectural, sculptural and painted masterpieces, the...
Siena, Monteriggioni, S. Gimignano, Pisa
Allow your senses to be captivated by the eternal appeal of the Tuscan towns where the beauty of the monuments, sculpture and painting is linked...
Chianti, Montalcino & Montepulciano
Penetrate the heart of the most genuine aspects of Tuscany with medieval villages of incomparable charm, an ancient farming tradition that...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3500
|
__label__wiki
| 0.943086
| 0.943086
|
Constitutions and rules
Election Rules
SIAA Offer Floral Tributes to Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan on his 15th Memorial Day
By admin No comments yet
South Indian Artistes' Association members took a great pride in remembering the eternal Beacon of Tamil cinema and salute the legend offer a floral Tributes to Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Statue in Beach Road on his 15th Memorial Day.
240th Anniversary of U.S Independence function
240th Anniversary of U.S Independence function was celebrated in Consulate General of the US, Chennai, as a special guests SIAA members and many actors was called off to celebrate this function. On Behalf of SIAA’s President Mr. Nasser, Vise President Mr. Ponvannan, Executive members Mr. Sriman, Mr. Udhya, Ms.Latha, Mr. Hemachandran, and Actors Mr. Bhagyaraj, Ms. Poornima Bhagyaraj, Ms. Gowthami,
PRO Union election swearing-in function held SIAA participated and shared their wishes
Elections for Public Relation Officer (PRO) Union of Tamil cinema in Kollywood, was held on Sunday. Diamond Babu was elected as the president of the association for the sixth time, while John was selected as its secretary. During this swearing-in function SIAA's President Mr. Nasser, Vise President Mr. Ponvannan, Trustee Mr.Ishari K. Ganesh, Executive members Mr. Ajay Rathinam, Mr. Ayuf
An appreciation Ceremony was organised for Mr. M Venkaiah Naidu Union (I&B) Minister
As M Venkaiah Naidu has been sworn in as the new Information and broadcasting (I&B) Minister recently, an appreciation Ceremony was organised and hosted by the South Indian Film Producers Association. In which, behalf of South Indian Artistes' Association Vise President Mr. Ponvannan, Executive Committee member Mr. S. Ve. Shekher and the Executive Manager Mrs. Kutti Padmini participated and gave
Nasser, Actor and President of the South Indian Artistes’ Association receives a honorary doctorate
Nasser, Actor and President of the South Indian Film Artistes' Association receives a honorary doctorate from Vel's University for his outstanding contributions in the field of Acting. The executives of SIAA has organised an appreciation ceremony to convey their wishes to him.
Actor S. Ve. Shekher’s drama was staged at Vani Mahal.
Actor S. Ve. Shekher's drama was staged at Vani Mahal, during the play his friends (Co-actors) intruded in a scene. To our surprise S.Ve. Shekher has managed the scene with his own unique comic sense and entertained the show, which was a new and wonderful experience to all spectators.
‘Star Cricket’ fundraising for SIAA’s distributed momento to all senior actress construction.
For SIAA's new Building construction "Star Cricket" was organized and fund was raised. During the event, many senior actor and actress attended and shared their experiences with all. To thank them on behalf of the SIAA, the Executive Manager Mrs. Kutti Padmini and Executive Administrator Mrs. Latha Prakashraj have meet all of them and presented a memento.
Former Chairman and Senior Actor S.S.R family’s Marriage function
Behalf of SIAA , Vise President Mr. Ponvannan and Treasurer Mr. Karthi has participated in S.S.R who is a former Chairman and Senior Actor family’s Marriage function and wished the new weds.
Instruction to film industry from IT department
[pdf-embedder url=”http://www.nadigarsangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IT-Department.pdf”]
Nadigar Sangam is now debt free
Nadigar Sangam General Secretary Vishal has said that the association has settled the 2cr loan amount, which they had bought from Isari Velan. He has also said that now the association’s account has 8cr and this is the first time that the sangam is free from debts. “Happy to announce that we have cleared the loan amount of 2 crores
About SiAA
The Nadigar Sangam (English: Actors' association), historically known as the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA), is a union for film, television, and stage actors in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, based in Chennai. Formed in 1952, the group has a charitable trust fund to provide pension to retired actors, voiced support for actors caught in controversy, and have collectively protested socio-political issues.
No 16, Habibullah Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600017
Phone : +91 44 - 2834 2832
Email: info@nadigarsangam.org
Copyright © 2019 South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA). All rights reserved.
Designed by ImagiNET Ventures | Unit of SSR Pankajam
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3503
|
__label__cc
| 0.721169
| 0.278831
|
Home- Flame Arresters Prevent Burn Injuries
Graphic Content - Live Example
Burn Reconstruction - A Lifetime of Pain and Suffering
Aubrey's Story
Healing Progress
Flame Arresters
Help Us Stop Burning Kids- Support Congressional Bill H.R.919
Congressional Staff Briefing
200 Years Of Experience
Videos- ATF, CBS & Others
Google Search of Survivor's- News Articles
Our Proof - References, Resources & Awareness for these Innovators
Flame Thrower Effect (Neck Vessel Effect)
A Burn Mom Fights for Her Daughter’s Recovery - Maureen Mackey
Daughter’s Severe Burn Injuries Set California Mother On Crusade...
Taking Action - Leadership in Safety
For Survivors To Get Involved
A common household product set my daughter on fire. I want to stop it from happening to you.
In California recently, a 9-year-old boy was severely burned at summer camp when a science demonstration went wrong. In May, 17 people in Nashville were injured in a chemistry class.
They join the ranks of Americans, many of them children or young adults, who have been burned by a phenomenon called flame jetting.
My daughter became one of those innocent bystanders, on a beautiful Sonoma Valley night in May 2014. One moment I was listening to my twin 16-year old girls giggling as they roasted marshmallows, then blood-curdling screams pierced our neighborhood. I was a first responder- grabbing her with my hands. Wrapping my body around her, to suffocate the flames. That event changed my family forever.
Fire professionals documented flame jetting in 2010 when a Michigan man was charged with murder in the death of his 6-year-old daughter. Fire engineers for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms conducted experiments that proved the man had, as he claimed, been trying to reignite a backyard tiki-torch when the container in his hand turned into a flamethrower, shooting a stream of fire and covering his daughter with flaming liquid fuel. She died from her burns. Initially skeptical of the Father’s story, investigators learned his unlikely explanation could be true.
Flame jetting occurs when the vapors of flammable liquids, like gas, lighter fluid, or ethanol biofuels ignite and spray burning fuel. This is also referred to as the flame-thrower effect because flames can shoot as far as 15 to 20 feet. The container itself is often virtually untouched in these incidents, but the thousands burned by the phenomenon spend months in burn centers and undergo years of treatment. Hundreds die from their injuries each year.
My family had a ventless fireplace, and I had only purchased recommended biofuel, because the label said it was safer. That May night, while refueling, one of my daughters was carefully pouring the container to restart the firepit – just as we all had done many times before, without incident. Instantly, invisible vapors ignited, shooting flames that engulfed her sister. After months in a burn center and countless surgeries, she is thriving again. So is her sister, finally. But that night caused devastating suffering for both of my girls. The road to recovery for each of them – and for our whole family-- was unbelievably painful.
These “freak accidents” are not accidents at all. They happen because common consumer products are not required to have a simple flame arrester- this safety device is an anti-flash screen on the opening of the container. Examples: gasoline cans, alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, ventless fireplace fuel and biofuels.
And all of this pain, all of these lives lost or interrupted could be prevented if these containers were manufactured with safety in mind. Flame arrestors – a simple plastic or metal screen on the mouth of containers with flammable liquids --have been proven effective at preventing flame jetting in every test that has been conducted by the ATF and independent research labs.
Flame arrestors allow the flammable liquid to escape the container, but stop sparks or flames from escaping. They cost about five cents (5¢) per container during the manufacturing process. I was shocked and outraged to learn they are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on flammable liquid containers used in industrial settings, and required by the Department of Defense to protect combat and non-combat personnel. But there is no such requirement for consumers or students in our schools.
Why isn’t the average American citizen entitled to the same protection as trained commercial and military employees? How about our children?
A bill currently in Congress would require manufactures to put flame arrestors in all liquid fuel containers. This is not a partisan issue. It is not a complex problem or one that would put an undue burden on manufacturers. Some manufacturers have already started doing this – voluntarily.
Please contact your Congressional representative and urge them to vote for HR-919 The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2017. This is a simple way to make our homes and classrooms safer, and prevent thousands of injuries each year. When buying a container, look for one that has a flame arrestor installed, if it is available. Contact science teachers and make them aware, so they are no longer charged criminally, like the chemistry teacher in a Denver, Colorado high school.
There are so many tragedies that could befall our families we can’t prevent. This is one where we can make a difference. Let’s make our elected representatives do the right thing.
Margrett A. Lewis is a California mother and the founder of Not Your Turn to Burn, an organization dedicated to burn survivors and advocates for flame arrestors. She travels the country, educating individuals about flame arrestors and burn injuries.
URGENT WARNING: I need your help to stop burning people alive. This happens every single day.
HELP ME - I am requesting Congressional Representatives to cosponsor Bill HR#919- The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act- BEFORE IT EXPIRES, IN DECEMBER. This Bill, in Congress, requires flame arresters to be put on consumer products. Manufacturers also support this Bill for public safety, to reduce product liability and to make the marketplace fair & competitive again- if every one is required to put them on- it's equal and neutral.
Share to Teachers, Parents & Community Leaders- Hurry Congress ends in a couple of weeks. Let's get this done already. I further request, this Mom, Margrett Lewis to get a copy to my representative:
I am a constituent of Congressman/ Congresswoman: __________________________________________________
My Name is: _______________________________________
My address in this district is:
Email To: NotYourTurnToBurn@gmail.com
Fax: (510) 962-8230 Attention: NYTTB
PM (Priv.Mess.) To- (Margrett Priest Lewis):
Your Name, Your Address, Your Representatives' Name
Please keep the details coming. For those that want to confirm your Representative’s Name- enter your zip code, then send to me. Link Here: https://www.house.gov/representa.../find-your-representative
Congressman Mike Thompson (CA #5) on HR#919- Portable Fuel Container Safety Actf 2017 for American Burn Association's National Leadership Conference, February, 2017, in Washington, DC.
H.R.919 - Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2017
Click here to read the H.R. 919 Bill for information and updates on Cosponsors, Committees, and more information on the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2017
Bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter
Dear Colleague:
Portable fuel containers can be found in households across America. But over the years, thousands of people have suffered serious burn injuries and even death when ignited vapors flash back and ignite the contents within the container. This can cause a flashback explosion or flame jetting. These horrific accidents can be devastating.
The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act provides a simple, common sense solution to this dangerous situation. This bipartisan legislation is supported by industry groups and would require manufacturers to include simple flame mitigation devices, or flame arrestors, in these containers. These devices are simple – mesh screens or thin barriers that allow liquid to pass through but prevent flames from traveling into the container and igniting the contents.
Consumers need this protection. Not only is it inexpensive, but it is completely effective. We are not aware of any case involving a flashback explosion from a portable fuel container equipped with a functioning flame arrestor causing injuries.
This bill adopts a balanced approach and gives the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) up to 18 months to adopt a voluntary standard. However, if ASTM does not act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) must issue a final rule regarding flame arrestors in portable fuel containers within 30 months of enactment. It also directs the CPSC to conduct an education campaign to alert consumers to the dangers of using or storing of portable fuel containers near ignition sources.
I encourage you to support this important public safety legislation. If you would like to be a cosponsor, or if you would like additional information, please contact Erin Helling (Thompson) at 5-3311 or erin.helling@mail.house.gov.
Mike Thompson & David Joyce
Members of Congress, Bipartisan Co-Sponsors
Supported by Industry and Manufacturers
Tonia Clark, Baltimore, MD
Dear Congressman Ruppersburger,
Let's work together!!! I am a burn mom that is in need of your support and help. My daughter was burned in Dec 2011 from a horrific accident that we now know is called flame jetting and could have been prevented with a less than 5 cent device. There are over 300 documented cases of people and families that are affected by this and I working diligently to make sure that this does not happen to another family. I am working with a team of burn survivors and Moms and thanks to Congressman Thompson's office from California he will be again this year be presenting again a bill called the Portable Fuel Containers Safety Act (PFCSA) previously H.R. 5900 or Burn Survivors Act. Interest in this is snowballing and not only from everyday citizens but from government entities such as ATF that has done research on these fire arrestors and CPSC that has created committees and subcommittees looking at this issue. Brian Kuebler Investigative Reporter from WMAR TV originally did the story of my families tragic accident and has taken an interest in updating the story. There are a lot of moving parts in this and we are looking for your support to get this bill passed. This is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. You can follow the links below that shows our story and the research the ATF has done regarding Flame Jetting and Fire Arrestor testing. Let's Talk!!!
ATF Article: https://www.atf.gov/arson/atf-fire-research-laboratory-gasoline-flame-jetting-videos
ABC News: http://www.abc2news.com/news/region/baltimore-county/atf-studies-fire-phenomenon-that-a-burned-baltimore-county-teenager
Tonia Clark
Feike Van Dijk, Lander, WY
Dear Congressman Cheney,
This letter is meant to request your endorsement in regards the Bill of Congress H.R.5900 - Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2016. This Bill will be presented by Rep. Thompson, Mike (D-CA-5) who introduced this specific Bill 07/14/2016. Recently, Congressman Thompson held a legislative staff briefing in Wash. DC (on September 28th ) to bipartisan representatives on this issue for Public Safety and to build bipartisan support. Many National Organizations in the fire service and specialists have endorsed this specific Bill in the hopes it will save lives and it will change the rapidly increasing burn patients in hospitals. Since your responsibility is to pass laws regards the safety of the American Citizens, I am asking for your endorsement hoping this Bill will pass.
Every day vapor explosions cause flashback burn injuries in homes, labs and schools. This happens quite often from the simple act of pouring which allows a gas/vapor mixture to be ignited when near any ignition source- a flame, a spark, an intense heat source or even static electricity can initiate an explosion. Pouring a fuel is a hazard and it should always have a Flame Arrester on the spout or opening to mitigate this hazard.
A Flame Arrester- is a small insert in the opening- it looks like a screen or a filter. This simple safety guard has been in use since they were first documented in 1800’s. Further a flame arrester is in use today in every step from the oil well to shipping and transport and even the gas pump but it is no longer on every fuel container, spout or opening. These use to be considered a standard safety measure. Why? Cost-cutting measures by manufacturers have removed this safety guard to save 5¢-1¢ of unit cost which translates directly to manufacturer’s profit. But at what cost to human beings? Medical Insurers? Liability Insurers? State and Federal Budgets? Without this Flame Arrester every single unit sold is a defective product. We must insist that this game of Russian Roulette end- Our Families’, Our Children’s and Our Student’s safety must trump profit. Without it, human beings are burned alive, maimed and killed. Innocently pouring a bottle is currently risking life and limb from an unprotected container.
State and Federal Budgets are already over stressed. Knowing that they pick up over a million dollars of healthcare insurance costs for each severe incident which is avoidable. The more severe the injury, the more expensive the cost.
Being a burn survivor and fire fighter myself I’ve seen the enormous damages vapor explosions cause. On July 15th 2014 I experienced my own tragedy, I lost my house and two dear sons due to a fire which is still not fully determined how it occurred. My youngest son (9months at the time) ended up with severe burns and spend three months in Salt Lake City’s University of Utah’s burn unit, my wife had 2nd and 3rd degree burn and also I was Life-Flighted to SLC with severe burns. In the Burn Unit I was surrounded by individuals of all ages that were scarred for life due to vapor explosions which could have been avoided if the specific containers contained a flame arrestor. My life has been completely changed since my own tragedy, where now I can advocate for fire safety not only in my community but also nationally. 9 months after my own tragedy I became a firefighter to be able to help where I wasn’t able the day of my tragedy hoping other parents don’t have to go through the same suffering as I do. This specific Bill I’m asking for your endorsement has been a brainchild of a fellow burn survivor parent (Margrett Priest Lewis), since her teenage daughter got severely burned due a vapor explosion while she was making s’mores, Margrett has been working hard making the flame arrestor a mandatory Federal required part of flammable liquid containers.
Rep. Thompson, Mike (D-CA-5) will speak in the near future in the Wash. DC. Congress (date will be determined after the National elections) in front of the Public Safety Initiative, accompanied by Leigh Ann Price, MD: Burn Surgeon, Glen Stevick, PhD: ASTM Flame Arrester Subcommittee member, Adam St John, PE: Fire Research Engineer- ATF, Jennifer Radics-Johnson- Chairwoman: ABA’s Burn Prevention Committee, Margrett
Sarah Strode: Graham, WA
July 2nd, 2011 is a day that will never be erased from my memory. After a day of yard work and errands, my husband and I told our four small children that we would end the summer evening with s'mores. After 20 minutes of trying to start a fire in our small fire pit, my husband, David, went to the garage and came back holding a 7 inch can of remote control car fuel. The can had a thin straw that you would insert into an opening in the RC car to fill with fuel.
The bottle seemed harmless and truthfully I was more concerned about our three little ones lined up on a bench next to me. They were getting antsy and tired and I had already loaded there marshmallow sticks with the fluffy little treats. What held my attention was my two year old waving her stick around and I was so worried she might poke someone's face! Our youngest son was in his crib sleeping.
As stated before the can seemed harmless. I truly doubted it would even help us start a fire it was so small. David drizzled some of the fuel and tried to light the wood, nothing. He then drizzled more and what happened next still shocks me to my core...five years later.
A huge plume of fire exploded right at my children and I. Dave was standing on the other side of the fire pit and witnessed the whole thing. I had to shut my eyes and by the time I opened them I saw David walking through the fire to grab our four year old Addison. Her hair, face, neck, shirt, arms, hands and thighs all on fire. I then picked up our two year old Brooklyn, as her hair was on fire.
I patted her out and ran into the house, while my 7 year old screamed and cried at the horror he was witnessing. I gave Brooklyn to David who was dousing Addison in our kitchen sink with water. Her hands and wrists and shirt still burning with bright flames. She was now covered in water and the water still would not put out the flames.
I told Dave to call 911, grabbed Addison out of the sink, wrapped her in a towel and smothered the flames. At this point she was lying on the kitchen floor crying, David, Thomas and Brooklyn were all sitting in the family room crying. I told them not to come in the kitchen as my precious little girls skin was now falling off her hands and face. She asked what it was that she could see falling off her hands and wrists and I didn't answer, the only thing I could think to do was sing Jesus Loves Me.
The first responders came and immediately took Addie, intubated her and airlifted her to Harborview Hospital, Brooklyn followed in an ambulance with Dave. I had to stay at home until someone could come, stay with the other children and drive me to the hospital.
Addison was intubated for over 20 days. We did not know if she would survive. Once her lungs were strong enough the surgeries to remove her 3rd degree (or full thickness) burns and then graft skin began. To date Addison has had 13 surgeries due to this horrific accident.
We cannot tell you how many people have come to us saying “We use lighter fluid daily.” “We have poured gasoline on an open flame.” “It was just an accident.”
And it was... it was... just an accident. However, no one told us that a tiny bottle of fuel that was not used on an open flame would turn into a bomb, setting two of our daughters on fire and nearly killing one. All while we were sitting four feet away from the source. The flash of fire was huge, blinding and hot and we were at least four feet away from our fire pit.
There are so many more details I could share but I want you to understand just the basic truth of our story. We are your everyday family. We were not drinking, we were not trying to build a bonfire, we were not being negligent, we were trying to make our children dessert.
Our story is one of many.
We support Margrett Priest Lewis and her fight to raise awareness of the common fuel people use day in and day out, and how we can make these life altering or fatal injuries stop by adding a “safety guard” or “arrester”. It will save lives.
Sarah Strode
Calais Weber Biery: Hudson, Ohio
Dear Congressman Joyce,
My name is Calais Weber Biery, and between 2003 and 2007 I attended high school at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. I am writing to voice my support for H.R. 5900: Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2016. During a laboratory demonstration on January 23, 2006, my chemistry teacher poured a jug containing methanol onto an open flame and, within moments, the exposed flames ignited the fumes and an orange ball of fire exploded from the jug and hit me head-on. My face, hands, abdomen, and legs took the worst of it, and I spent the next seventy days in the burn unit recovering from third- and fourth-degree burns over 48% of my body.
After I was released from the hospital, I struggled with both depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for quite some time. A simple trip to the gas station or the unexpected smell of something would trigger a complete panic attack. It was only with time and a lot of practice that I have been able to move on and resume a relatively normal life. Even to this day, however, the occasional burning smell or the sound of ambulance sirens causes a lasting burst of anxiety.
My aim in sharing some of the gory details of my injury and recovery is to shed light on the devastating consequences that so many people, particularly children and teenagers, have faced and will continue to face unnecessarily unless we stop this nonsense.
I have always known that my incident was entirely preventable for quite a few reasons, but recently a friend of mine - Margrett Priest Lewis - has brought to my attention an even more definitive method that would have saved me and so many others from unnecessary tragedy: flame arrestors. They are an incredibly inexpensive, virtually foolproof method to preventing incidents such as mine from happening, and it deeply saddens me to think of the lives that could have been saved and the trauma that could have been prevented had these arrestors been added long ago.
I stand firmly next to Margrett Priest Lewis and her family in support of H.R. 5900, and I ask for your consideration in joining us.
Calais Weber Biery
Valarie Weber: Calais’ Mom
I am the mother of Calais Weber, my name is Valarie Weber. The day is coming up this month, 1/23/06, but we do not need reminders because it's with me almost every day. I do not tell Calais, because as her Mom, she has worked very hard to move her life forward and be healthy and happy. Calais was in the hospital after the explosion at the school for 70 days and actually was sent home probably prematurely due to insurance. When the school called us, they acted like it was not too bad and Calais was burned a little. My mother's instinct knew better, we flew to the hospital and actually beat the ambulance from WRA.
When I saw Calais being brought in from the ambulance, I just cried, her face all burnt and sooty looking, her beautiful hair singed close to her scalp. Her body covered completely and really the hospital rushed her back to triage and would not let us talk except to tell her everything would be ok. Actually, Calais assured me she was fine when she saw my face.
Calais went through more torture then a body should have to endure. We are told by the nurses at the burn unit, Calais, because she had so little unburned skin, they had to take skin from her back and regrow it to take more which is the most painful area to take skin from because your spine is where all your nerve endings are. They took her scalp for her face. They put most badly burned people in a coma, but Calais contracted pneumonia right away and could not stay in a coma to miss a lot of the worse pain. The Red Cross brought my son who is in the military, home from Iraq to say his goodbyes to his baby sister, we almost lost her several times, pneumonia, infections, not enough skin to cover her body. Calais burns were 3 Rd and 4th degree, which I had never heard of fourth degree, it is when it burns through skin, muscle, fat, etc. to the bone. Calais was grafted with pig skin, cadaver skin, and a man made skin named Integra. My husband and I lived at the hospital with Calais, day and night, occasionally going home for showers in the second month, we took turns staying overnight with Calais. I could go on and on, it was a living nightmare. Calais was tired of people hurting her, so I would put her on and off bedpans and did everything I could which took a toll on my body. I ended up ripping muscles in my arm and back and have atrophy to this day. I live with chronic pain every day, a useless arm and with age, arthritis has set in.
It broke our family up in many way with her other four siblings.
It took many years of surgeries all over the country, it was my life. Calais did not want to live the first year which I was with her 24/7. We lived in a dark time for years.
The teacher was given her Miranda rights but everything was covered up. I'm sure you know the school, WRA, did settle out of court and admitted guilt but all that did was to help us pay off her medical bills and many years of surgery and education.
I am writing my story as a mom who still suffers from the negligence of the teacher with lack of all proper safety precautions. This particular teacher did not follow any rules, school policies or common sense. Then I find out from another mom, Margrett Lewis, through Calais, that is fighting to stop our children and actually all people from being needlessly burned, sometimes to death. Anyway, I now know all the bottle needed to avoid the explosion was a flame arrester, if I understood correctly it could stop most if not all methanol accidents or flammable fuel fires.
Calais told me if we write to our Congressman that maybe we can get some support and have a voice for all of the burn victim families. Just maybe, Congressman Joyce can know that he might be saving the lives of children and future suffering where even after the horrific pain gets better, the stares never do for most especially children, it's a forever torture of another kind that only they know or their parents and loved ones know.
I was told to pass this letter to you, in turn you would see that Congressman Joyce receives it. I could get other family members and friends to write who saw the suffering our family endured for years, if it would help.
I appreciate as Calais’ mom that you could pass this on. I would also be willing to speak to Congress if it ever got that far. Margrett Priest Lewis is doing the entire country service by staying on this. We wanted to do more and Calais does speak about it, also, has done safety videos for the government. Calais’ story can also be seen on PBS on a documentary that premiered in New York City and Los Angeles to help burn victims mend and heal physically and mentally.
I'm very proud of Calais, she is a remarkable woman, early acceptance into Wellesley, additional education at Harvard and John Hopkins.
We want to do our part of helping stop children being burned and perhaps dying.
Valarie Weber
John Sheetz: Kill Devil Hills, NC
(Brother of Lorrie Sheetz, Roanoke Rapids, NC)
Lorrie Sheetz was a single mother and Paramedic. She is survived by her 5 daughters, a brother, and both parents.
Article: http://www.rrdailyherald.com/news/burn-victim-passes-away/article_341c31f6-c224-11e5-9a3c-fb1b3ede8090.html
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_gfejOgnzM
Judith Constance Buys, DDS
Judith was known as a compassionate dentist and is survived by her husband, Dr. Jim McGorman (an ER physician) and two sons.
Article: http://www.macleans.ca/society/judith-constance-buys-1961-2016/
Jill Kruse- Mother of Kris Kruse- Clermont, FL.
Dear Congressman Ross:
On February 8, 2016 our son, Kris, a Clermont Police Officer, was severely burned over 70% of his body by a gasoline can explosion in Lake County. He fought for his life for weeks, and after a year and three million dollars, has mostly recovered and returned to work.
You can imagine our horror when we heard from Margrett Priest-Lewis, mother of a burn survivor, there is a single 5 cent part missing from current day gasoline cans that prevent this type of accident. Years ago this part was automatically placed inside the cans. We always thought it was a filter of some sort to keep debris from getting into the lawn mower and other equipment. Little did we know this small filter was a fire arrester that would have saved our son from this life changing event. Companies are saving pennies by eliminating these fire arresters from gasoline cans. This single piece would have saved our son, friend’s daughter and many others from severe burns and saved some from death.
Please join us in our quest by passing the Portable Fuel Containers Safety Act (PFCSA) orBurn Survivors Act. Millions of dollars can be saved by avoiding serious burn injuries but most important, lives can be saved.
Copyright © 2017 Not Your Turn To Burn. All Rights Reserved.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0053.json.gz/line3507
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.