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JOIN TBS SUBSCRIBE DONATE
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Loose Blues News – July 2016
Published July 1, 2016 in Loose Blues News, News
Vote for Mel Brown documentary! Love Lost & Found
The Story of Mel Brown has been nominated for a Living Blues Award for Best Blues DVD of 2015. To cast your vote go to www.lbawards2016.speedsurvey.com to help honour Mel Brown’s legacy in our community and beyond. For more information about the film visit www.lovelostandfoundmovie.com. You can vote for this film and your other blues faves at www.livingblues.com. Voting ends July 15.
International Blues Music Day
The 4th “International Blues Music Day” is Saturday August 6th and it’s being celebrated around the world. There are events from New York to California, Australia to the Phillipines. To find out more (and register your own event) go to www.internationalbluesmusicday.com.
Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival artistic director and Maple Blues Award committee member Peter North has been inducted into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame in the Builders category, which is designed “to recognize individuals and organizations who have contributed to the Edmonton blues community through their work.” North’s eclectic career has included stints as a writer, journalist, radio producer, radio announcer and music promoter, as well as producing a music column for the Edmonton Sun and Journal newspapers. The induction took place May 29.
Blues for Soldiers
The 3rd annual Blues for Soldiers event takes place in Brantford on Saturday July 9. This Blues Festival is held in support of veterans who are homeless and suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). This fundraiser will pack the Henry Street Brant Artillery Gunners Club outside parking lot and patio featuring exciting blues bands throughout the day: Spencer MacKenzie, Smoke Wagon Blues Band, Brant Parker Band, Jerome Godboo, and Jack de Keyzer.The gates will open at noon. There is limited seating so bring your own chair. There will be a parking shuttle available plus food will be catered by Strode’s of Brantford. The admission for this full day of Blues for Soldiers is ten dollars and tickets are available at the Gunner’s Club and Hip’s Cycle of Brantford. The Gunner’s Club is located at 115 Henry Street in Brantford.
The Blues Tribe
Each month The Blues Tribe profiles a different Canadian Blues artist, most recently Canadian rockabilly blues band The Kat Kings. They interview band leader Kevin McQuade who discusses writing some of the songs for his new album at the hospital bedside of his daughter, the story behind the band name, and showcases his custom guitars. Songs performed from the new album are “When I Say Jump” and “It Came from the Swamp”. www.bluestribe.ca
Rez Blues in Toronto
Murray Porter is coming in from Vancouver to play a solo set at The Eagles Club, 17 Elm Street in Toronto. on Friday, July 8. David Deleary will open. Rez Bluez was a showcase at Toronto’s Silver Dollar for 13 years, before it became a TV variety series on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network for 2 seasons. The show featured some of the best in Native blues and comedy. Rez Bluez was also a one hour radio documentary in Elaine Bomberry’s award-winning series ‘The Aboriginal Music Experience’. Now back to the original model of having a live music showcase at blues-friendly venues, Rez Bluez shows have popped up in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, over the past 6 years.
Fresh Baked Blues at Southside Shuffle
This year’s Southside Shuffle will feature a stage dedicated to artists from the TBS compilation CD, Fresh Baked Blues.
Top Blues - July 2016
June 2016 - Sue Foley
Tweets by TOBluesSociety
The Toronto Blues Society
Donate Join TBS Volunteer
©2019 Toronto Blues Society. Design by Janine Stoll Media.
TBS logo and WBR artwork by Barbara Klunder
The Toronto Blues Society acknowledges the annual support of the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage, and project support from FACTOR< and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Broadcasters, The Canada Council for the Arts, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
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Emily A. Dowsett1
F, #168831, b. 1915, d. 1915
Last Edited=29 Aug 2005
Emily A. Dowsett was born in 1915 at Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 She was the daughter of Mark Dowsett and Agnes Daley.1 She died in 1915 at Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1
[S126] George Snell, online unknown url, George Snell (No longer available online), downloaded 29 August 2005.
John Dowsett1
M, #168832, b. 1915, d. 1915
John Dowsett was born in 1915 at Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 He was the son of Mark Dowsett and Agnes Daley.1 He died in 1915 at Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1
Harriet T. Purcell1
F, #168833, b. 23 April 1843, d. 22 April 1914
Last Edited=11 Nov 2005
Harriet T. Purcell was born on 23 April 1843 at Boorowa, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 She was the daughter of Captain Charles Purcell and Jane Turpin Reynolds.1 She was baptised on 25 November 1849 at Church of England Church, Yass, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 She married Frederick Merrett Roe, son of Charles Roe, on 1 September 1864 at Upper Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 She died on 22 April 1914 at age 70 at Tumut, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1
From 1 September 1864, her married name became Roe.1 On 1 January 1905 at Bago, New South Wales, AustraliaG, a bushfire spread throughout the area and they lost everything, house, and all possessions. They then sold out and spent the rest of their lives near Adelong, New South Wales.1
Children of Harriet T. Purcell and Frederick Merrett Roe
Emma Jane Roe+1 b. 15 Jan 1865, d. 30 Dec 1939
Charles Roe1 b. 1867, d. 4 Jan 1953
Annie Marian Roe+1 b. 10 Feb 1869, d. 1933
Maria Margaret Roe+1 b. 13 Jan 1873, d. 1 Mar 1941
Jane Roe+1 b. 26 Sep 1875
Nancy Jane Roe+1 b. 1 Jan 1878
Louisa Roe+1 b. 30 Jun 1880
Harriet Roe+1 b. 8 Apr 1883
Frederick William Thomas Roe1 b. 13 Mar 1888
Frederick Merrett Roe1
M, #168834, b. 7 June 1840, d. 1922
Frederick Merrett Roe was born on 7 June 1840 at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, EnglandG.2 He was the son of Charles Roe.2 He married Harriet T. Purcell, daughter of Captain Charles Purcell and Jane Turpin Reynolds, on 1 September 1864 at Upper Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 He died in 1922 at Liverpool, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1
On 1 January 1905 at Bago, New South Wales, AustraliaG, a bushfire spread throughout the area and they lost everything, house, and all possessions. They then sold out and spent the rest of their lives near Adelong, New South Wales.1
Children of Frederick Merrett Roe and Harriet T. Purcell
[S1517] Dale Parker Anderson, "re: Purcell Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 8 November 2005. Hereinafter cited as "re: Purcell Family."
Emma Jane Roe1
F, #168835, b. 15 January 1865, d. 30 December 1939
Last Edited=6 Feb 2007
Emma Jane Roe was born on 15 January 1865 at Reedy Creek, Batlow, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2 She was the daughter of Frederick Merrett Roe and Harriet T. Purcell.3 She married James Mosley Dickinson, son of William Mosley Dickinson and Catherine Riley, on 27 September 1883 at Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2 She died on 30 December 1939 at age 74.3
From 27 September 1883, her married name became Dickinson.3
Children of Emma Jane Roe and James Mosley Dickinson
William Dickinson3 b. 24 Jun 1884, d. 1967
Frederick Cecil Dickinson3 b. 14 May 1886, d. 1 Aug 1965
Harriett Annie Marcia Dickinson+3 b. 25 Mar 1888, d. 9 Aug 1966
Ester Dickinson3 b. 1 Apr 1890, d. 1 Apr 1890
Stanley Francis Dickinson+3 b. 4 Apr 1891
Edward George Dickinson3 b. 19 Dec 1892, d. 27 Mar 1893
Hilda Maude Catherine Dickinson+3 b. 31 Mar 1894, d. 28 Mar 1924
Cecil Laun Dickinson+3 b. 4 Apr 1898, d. 18 Jul 1950
Roy Theodore Castle Dickinson3 b. 9 Jul 1899, d. 13 Feb 1976
Albert James Dickinson3 b. 30 Jun 1901, d. 14 Apr 1942
[S2123] Lynne Ford, "re: Broome Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 5 February 2007. Hereinafter cited as "re: Broome Family."
James Mosley Dickinson1
M, #168836, b. 29 August 1858, d. 17 June 1951
James Mosley Dickinson was born on 29 August 1858 at Riley's Crossing, Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2 He was the son of William Mosley Dickinson and Catherine Riley.2 He married Emma Jane Roe, daughter of Frederick Merrett Roe and Harriet T. Purcell, on 27 September 1883 at Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2 He died on 17 June 1951 at age 92.2
Children of James Mosley Dickinson and Emma Jane Roe
William Dickinson1
M, #168837, b. 24 June 1884, d. 1967
William Dickinson was born on 24 June 1884 at Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2,1 He was the son of James Mosley Dickinson and Emma Jane Roe.2 He died in 1967.1
Frederick Cecil Dickinson1
M, #168838, b. 14 May 1886, d. 1 August 1965
Frederick Cecil Dickinson was born on 14 May 1886 at Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2,1 He was the son of James Mosley Dickinson and Emma Jane Roe.2 He died on 1 August 1965 at age 79.1
Harriett Annie Marcia Dickinson1
F, #168839, b. 25 March 1888, d. 9 August 1966
Harriett Annie Marcia Dickinson was born on 25 March 1888 at Adelong, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 She was the daughter of James Mosley Dickinson and Emma Jane Roe.2 She married Thomas Sturgess, son of George Sturgess, in 1912 at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2 She died on 9 August 1966 at age 78 at Tumut, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1,3
From 1912, her married name became Sturgess.2
Children of Harriett Annie Marcia Dickinson and Thomas Sturgess
Fred Sturgess1
Ned Sturgess1
Keith Sturgess1
Thelma Sturgess1
Hazel Irene Sturgess+1 b. 17 Oct 1915, d. 3 Jul 1994
Thomas Sturgess1
Thomas Sturgess was born in 1875 at Gilmore, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2 He was the son of George Sturgess.2 He married Harriett Annie Marcia Dickinson, daughter of James Mosley Dickinson and Emma Jane Roe, in 1912 at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, AustraliaG.1 He died in 1945 at Tumut, New South Wales, AustraliaG.2
Children of Thomas Sturgess and Harriett Annie Marcia Dickinson
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The Syria Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals in need amid the chaos that is the Syrian Refugee Crisis.
Our mission is to restore dignity and enrich the lives of Syrian refugees and other vulnerable families by providing critically-needed items and supporting educational programs.
The Syria Fund provides opportunities for refugee families to create a sense of normalcy after experiencing tremendous hardships over these last 7 years of conflict. In the face of this enormous humanitarian crisis, we focus our efforts on families living outside of UN-organized refugee camps in Northern Jordan. These families are underserved by large, mainstream aid organizations and The Syria Fund provides meaningful contributions to directly better their lives.
The Syria Fund's major programs include:
The Azraq School
The Syria Fund’s flagship education program provides daily remedial education and enrichment programming to 110+ children in rural South Azraq, Jordan.
With our partners at the Middle East Children’s Institute (MECI), The Sal School brings remedial education and psychosocial support to 150 children in East Irbid, Jordan.
The Syria Fund directly serves the communities we serve with regular distributions of critically-needed items like food, hygiene, fuel and more.
Songs for Syrians is a music education program in collaboration with NY-based non-profit S’Cool Sounds. SFS provides instruction in instrument performance and musical ensembles.
View The Syria Fund’s Financial Information
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VICE News Tonight
SN 0 | EP | July 12, 2019
The first news program of its kind to air on HBO, 'VICE News Tonight' provides an indispensable source of up-to-date news. Distinguishing itself from the format of traditional daily TV newscasts, the show has no anchor, and instead utilizes correspondent-reported field pieces, newsmaker interviews and profiles, animation and graphics, and 'from-the-desk' reports.
Available: HBO GO
For decades, newscasts -- at both the local and national level -- have had an anchor or anchors sitting behind a desk and reading news stories.The half-hour "VICE News Tonight" does away with that tried-and-true formula in an attempt to create what it calls "the first modern news show," offering a variety of presentation styles and storytelling capabilities intended to resonate with the growing social and mobile audience. From traditional newscast elements, such as field pieces and newsmaker interviews, to more unique elements like animations and data visualizations, the show takes a flexible approach to reporting the news --- with no anchor in sight. Stories focus on topics ranging from U.S. politics and national security to technology and the environment.
Season 3 Season 1 Clips & Extras
Josh Tyrangiel
Madeleine Haeringer
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How Jimmy Carter Helped Soothe My Election Blues
Lynn LaPlante Allaway, November 21, 2016 January 30, 2017 , Politics, 2016 Presidential election, Dexter, Donald Trump, Girls Weekend, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Carter's Sunday School, Plains Georgia, True Crime Novels, 0
I don’t have much to say about this election. Well, that’s not true exactly. I have so much to say– so many, many, many things to say– that it all goes around and around in circles and cancels everything out and in the end, there’s nothing left but a huge, heavy sigh. And some tears, compulsive chocolate-eating, swearing, quiet rage, uncertainty and exhaustion.
I haven’t felt like writing because it seems like everyone has already written what needs to be read about this all. I’m still trying to make intellectual and emotional sense of our country and our voting process. While I do that, I’m also just coping anyway I know how and anyway I can. “Whatever gets you through the night” is my motto right now. For me, that means reading lots and lots of true crime novels. Isn’t that weird?
When the stock market crashed in 2008, it sent my extremely even-keeled husband into a tailspin. As a financial advisor, he watched in horror as portfolios disappeared, clients’ panicked and his colleagues freaked out. I remember trying to calm him down and nothing worked until I stumbled on the cable series Dexter, about a serial killer in Miami.
I tucked him into the couch with lots of blankets, turned on Dexter and started baking a mountain of muffins. It worked. Watching this vigilante serial killer calmed his nerves and took his mind off the stock market. We binge watched three seasons in one weekend. He slowly got better, subsisting on a diet of muffins and nonstop Dexter.
So I borrowed a page from that dark episode in our country’s financial history and applied it to this latest shock. I started with “The Michigan Murders” which is as highbrow as the title suggests. Then I moved onto “The Monster” which is, as you may have guessed, a very subtle true story about a horrifying serial killer. I’m scared as to what I’ll read next, but I can’t seem to stop it.
I also have a slight obsession with President Jimmy Carter. As far as obsessions go, I think this is a pretty healthy one, especially when compared to my true crime bingeing. It started years ago with my Mom and I talking about him and all the amazing things he has accomplished in his life. And then, I took my family down to Plains to attend his Sunday School last year and that really sealed the deal.
My friends got used to listening to me gush about President Carter and our trip to Plains. We always said we’d go back and make a weekend of it and finally, one day a couple of months ago we just put it together, easily and quickly. Someone found a cheap fare to Atlanta and we all booked it within five minutes; I booked our hotels in another five minutes; someone else got a rental car and boom– our trip was planned. There were originally six of us going, but one of our friends had to have an emergency surgery the week before, so she was with the five of us in spirit.
We picked this particular weekend knowing it would be the first Sunday after the historic election: “It’ll be amazing to hear what President Carter says about electing our first female President,” we all said.
None of you reading this need a spoiler alert for what happened instead.
After the election, I was so upset I couldn’t imagine getting up the energy to head down to Plains a mere four days after the election. I could hardly muster up the physical or emotional strength to put a bra on for two days. How was I going to fly to Atlanta and drive three hours to Plains? My friends all felt the same way.
But I had a concert that week with my beloved Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and that slowly and gradually lifted my spirits. I was surrounded by my musical family who were all in the same beginning stage of grief as I was, and misery sure does love company. Our conductor, Orbert Davis, lifted us up with his composition, his playing and his leadership. I was still dazed and upset, but the music was getting in through the cracks and healing me, note by note. Our concert was Friday night and it was amazing. The audience needed healing, too, and the energy in the Auditorium was intense: grateful, thirsty, sad, triumphant, and powerful. I got home around 11:30 Friday night, slept for a few hours, got up to finish packing and our taxi picked us up at 6AM.
We were all tired having been dragged through an emotional ringer all week. We were wounded, we were limping. But we had our bras on and we were ready to hear what President Carter had to say. I needed to be in the company of like-minded women where I didn’t have to explain or rationalize all the intense emotions I was having. Where no one, no one, was going to tell me to get over it and no one was going to wonder why on earth I was so upset. (Side note to anyone who thinks this way: stop saying that to people about this election. Just stop saying it. If you even think it, immediately tell yourself: “Shut up, Self, don’t say that out loud. It’s a stupid and ignorant thing to say to someone else who is in considerable pain.” Got it? Good.)
I love the women I was travelling with: they are smart, engaged, passionate, confident and capable Moms in my town. We all have kids the same ages, we all share the same interests and we are fierce. We had all voted for Hillary, we were all scared half to death at the thought of President…oh I still can’t say it, let alone write it. You know who and what I mean.
It was so healing being with them all on our “Thelma and Louise and Jimmy” trip. We were all in the same exact boat (or in this precise case, rental minivan. How we could go away for a weekend and leave our collective twelve children behind us and still end up in a damn minivan boggles my mind.) and no explanation was necessary. This was so healing, almost immediately, like a salve applied to a burn.
By the time we made it to Plains after we drove there from Atlanta, we were in good form. We went to President Carter’s boyhood farm and sat in the rocking chairs and swing on his porch. We sat in the beautiful, blessed peace, surrounded by nature. We were so at home, content and relaxed, that when other visitors showed up, they saw us sitting there and actually knocked on the screen door and asked if they could come in because it looked like we owned the place.
We had a lovely dinner that night over in Americus, at our haunted hotel, the Windsor. We laughed, drank wine and ate fried pickles. We talked politics, kids, politics, kids. We went back to our room for a nightcap and I played my violin for a bit to warm up and get my fingers used to it since I had been playing viola all week for my CJP concert. My friends sat and drank wine while I played and we decided that if anyone called up to complain about all the racket, we’d play dumb and say it must be a musical ghost, surely not us, why would we be playing a violin at 10:00 on a Saturday night? That would be really weird.
We got up super early the next morning to get ready and be at President Carter’s church by 8:30. We were so excited and I was a little nervous about playing. Miss Jan sat us in the first two rows, just like last time.
President Carter and Rosalyn looked spry and remarkable for 92 and 89 years old, respectively. They take your breath away to see them; it really is a remarkable life experience. When President Carter began his Sunday School lecture, we were all waiting with baited breath: how is he going to make this all better? How is that even possible?
He did and it was.
He spoke about the election right off the bat. He began by saying that he and his family did not vote for the winner; no surprise there as he had very clearly, publically and loudly announced his support for Hillary Clinton early in the campaign.
Instead what he did was reference his work that he does with the Carter Center, based in Atlanta. They go around the world, into the most volatile, war-torn spots on our planet and monitor elections in order to preserve the democratic process of voting.
He said immediately: this was a fair election. He won. This is the democratic process that we have (darn you, Electoral College!). We have to accept the results, he said.
I felt a shift. For the first time since the night of the election, I felt like the heavy boot that had been pressing down on my throat had been lifted off. I was still on the floor, yes, but no one was stepping on my neck any more. It was a start, however pitiful.
President Carter then told us how he called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his win and I’m not exactly sure, but I think I saw a statue of Baby Jesus weeping in the corner as he said this. I could be projecting just a little bit, though. President Carter told us that he offered Donald Trump his support and his help, since he knew he would need it in the coming years.
If I were Jimmy Carter, I would not have handled things with such grace. I probably would’ve called Donald Trump, yes, but I would’ve been roaring drunk and they would’ve been obscene prank calls, not calls of support and offers of help.
President Carter then told us he called Hillary, to offer his condolences and his understanding since he felt he was in a particularly unique position of having both won and lost a Presidential Campaign. I’m sure Hillary was very happy to hear from him. I hope she Ugly Cried to him on the phone and they both said horrible, horrible things about Donald Trump until Rosalyn had to interrupt them and scold them– but not before she also got in on the act, too.
And finally, President Carter talked about our most valued precious and commodity in our country: freedom. In other countries, he said, their most precious and valued commodities might be shelter, food and clean water. And after those requirements are met, then you look for fair elections.
As Americans, we have all those things. We don’t have to like the results of the election, but we can choose how to respond and how to go forward. We can choose to accept the outcome. We can choose to love. We can choose to hope. That hope that President Carter offered was a glimmer of light for me: it got in through the cracks, as light always does. President Carter spoke elegantly, knowledgably, beautifully about the scriptures of the day and inspired us all.
But this is the nugget I took home and which gave me hope: If you borrow President Carter’s global view, if you borrow his vast life experience, you can look at this election with a different perspective.
In our country, we expect fair elections. We had them. Step One.
I’m not ready for Step Two yet, but like finally getting the strength to put on my bra, it’s the first step towards getting dressed. I experienced a tiny shift with the realization that this was a democratic process, fair and square. It was enough of a shift to hit the pause button in my brain and land on Acceptance.
After church, we all went out to lunch to the only restaurant open in Plains on Sundays, along with the rest of the congregation. We spent the afternoon shopping and walking around tiny Plains and hanging out at the Carter’s old high school, now a National Historic Site. We kept running into the same people around town, some of them relatives of President Carter, some of them close friends. We felt peaceful, safe, and happy. That whole town has a magical feel to it that is very hard to explain. It’s like you’re time-travelling back to a different era in our country. We ended the day by wrapping ourselves in blankets and sitting in rocking chairs on the veranda of the Plains Inn, overlooking Main Street. We laughed until our sides hurt and talked until we froze and had to go inside to continue our talk on the couches. It was so healing. We were transformed.
Someday, I’ll be ready to move towards Step 2, whatever that may be. Until then, I’ll wallow in my puddle of true crime novels and maybe bake some muffins. See you all on the other side.
How Phyllis Schlafly Turned Me Into A Radical Feminist Lesbian Over Dinner
Lynn LaPlante Allaway, September 10, 2016 September 12, 2016 , Politics, ERA, LGBTQ, Phyllis Schlafly, Sarah Weddington, 0
Hearing the news that Phyllis Schlafly has passed away at the age of 92 brings up a bizarre memory...
Hey you Fiscal Conservatives: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Lynn LaPlante Allaway, March 3, 2016 May 4, 2016 , Politics, Donald Drumpf, Drumpf, Fiscal Conservatives, George Michael, John Oliver, 0
With Donald Drumpf looking like he’ll nab the Republican Presidential Nomination, I’d like to address this essay to the...
Facebook Friend Request: Accept or Deny?
Lynn LaPlante Allaway, February 9, 2017 March 21, 2017 , Chicago, Politics, Cabin Fever, Facebook, February, Friend Request, Matinees, Old Boyfriends, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Winter Blues, 0
February sucks. February in Chicago sucks even more. February in Chicago under a newly installed regime that has you...
Turn Off The Tap: The Only Way To Stop Gun Violence
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Michigan police officer appears to punch 16-year-old girl during arrest, bodycam footage shows
Lansing Police Department(LANSING, Mich.) -- A Michigan police department has released body camera footage that appears to show an officer striking a 16-year-old runaway they were apprehending to return to a youth center.
Officers from the Lansing Police Department were called on Friday morning after emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from a resident asking police to pick up two teens who had escaped from an in-county youth center, Lansing Police Chief Mike Yankowski told reporters during a news conference on Friday.
The teens, a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, were being housed at the center for probation violations, and police had warrants to re-detain them, Yankowski said. Officers had been looking for them in the same area the day before, Yankowski said.
When officers arrived to the neighborhood, they spotted two people who matched the teens' descriptions who "took off running" once the officers identified themselves, Yankowski said.
Body camera footage from officer Bailey Ueberroth begins as he chases the 16-year-old girl through a residential neighborhood in Lansing. After Ueberroth handcuffs her, they walk together back to his patrol car, and she begins shouting at people on the street before slipping out of her handcuffs.
Another officer then comes to assist re-securing the handcuffs as the teen and Ueberroth struggle on the ground, the video shows, and the teen continues to yell at the onlookers on the street.
"I didn't put my hands on her," she screams in frustration. "You called the police for no reason."
The teen then falls to the ground, causing the officers to carry her back to the patrol car by her legs and arms, the video shows.
Once she was placed in the backseat, she extended her right leg to prevent the officers from closing the car door.
PHOTO: Body camera footage from the Lansing Police Department shows an officer striking a 16-year-old girl who had escaped from a youth home on probation violation charges on Friday, June 14, 2019. Lansing Police Department
The teen could be heard yelling at the officer to stop hitting her, but she continued to hold the car door open with her foot, telling officers "no" when they told her to put her leg in the car.
"I ain't doing s---," the teen says as multiple people on the street admonish the officers for how they handled the situation.
Once the officers finally close the door, Ueberroth starts the car and drives away as the teen cries in the backseat.
The 15-year-old male was also captured and returned to the youth center, Yankowski said. He did damage to another patrol car by kicking it, Yankowski added.
Officers are permitted to use force that is "objectively reasonable," and this case will be thoroughly reviewed, Yankowski said.
Ueberroth has been with the department for six months and Howley has been with the department for a year, police said in a press release. They have been placed on administrative leave as the department conducts the internal investigation.
The girl was not injured in the incident and did not require medical attention when she returned to the youth center, according to the police chief.
Both officers suffered minor scrapes and cuts and one of the officers strained a hand, Yankowski said.
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Husband of California camper who disappeared with small dog cleared by authorities
iStock(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) -- The husband of a camper who went missing Friday along with her small dog is not connected to her disappearance, according to authorities in California.The Inyo County Sheriff's Office said Monday that Sheryl Powell's...
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Technical meeting: IMarEST UAE, Sander Meson Group and Insatech Marine
Associations, Events, Conferences,Forums and Symposiums, IMarEST — By admin on June 6, 2016 at 7:10 PM
The IMarEST UAE, Sander Meson Group and Insatech Marine teams.
Under the auspices of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) UAE Branch, the Sander Meson Group and Insatech Marine hosted a knowledge sharing session for the Middle East maritime fraternity.
Opening the event, Nikeel Idnani, Honorary Secretary, introduced the IMarEST UAE branch committee which was elected on 16 April 2016 during their Annual General Meeting. Having invited the 90-strong audience to welcome Honorary Chairman – Jacque Powell, Nikeel went on to emphasize that the newly formed committee will uphold the aims and core values of the institute by facilitating knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and continuous professional development for the Middle East’s maritime community. They intend to achieve this by hosting technical meetings and participating in industry events with other organizations.
The knowledge-sharing session benefited from contributions by three speakers:
Andreas Schalla (CEO) and Stefan Sandberg (Sales Manager) explained that the Sander Meson Group provides turnkey solutions in the design and production of valves, actuators, tank measuring systems and anti-heeling systems. A primary reference was the package of 750 hydraulically actuated high performance butterfly- valves during the conversion of the world’s largest ships ULCCs TI Asia and TI Africa into FSO in Drydocks World Dubai in 2009.
Henrik Nielsen, Sales Manager, Insatech Marine described the company’s Bunker Management System (BMS) which is developed, designed and constructed to act as a safeguard against manipulation of bunkered marine fuel oil. The system uses Coriolis flow meters to measure the mass of the fuel oil directly, without the need to rely on conversions from volume. Furthermore the system automatically adjusts for temperature variations and is able to detect any air in the oil as well as vent any excess air. According to the IMO in 2014, the total annual worldwide bunker consumption was 300m MT. Bunker volume losses are between 3-5%, corresponding to 9m-15m MT. Using this BMS ensures that the ship receives the amount of fuel oil that has been paid for, as a pro-active tool to be used against short deliveries when bunkering within optimized ship turnaround. Understandably, this presentation attracted lively participation from the audience.
Henrik Otendal, CEO Sander Meson Group delivered the closing remarks and a vote of thanks. On behalf of the IMarEST, Jacque Powell presented tokens of appreciation to the speakers.
Nikeel, who presided over the informative meeting, thanked the local agent (Futuristic Middle East), and principals Sander Meson Group and Insatech Marine, for their combined sponsorship of the event, as well as the speakers for sharing their knowledge and the audience. A great deal of interest was also generated by a business card raffle draw with total prizes valued at AED3800 donated by the Marriott, Futuristic Middle East, Arc Group, Drydocks World Dubai, Al Mufaddal Engineering, Interocean Ship Repair and Bureau Veritas. The evening culminated in further networking, in part assisted by an impressive array of contemporary international cuisine served up by the chic Marriott Al Jadaf hotel against the dazzling backdrop of the Dubai skyline.
Tags: IMarEST UAE, Insatech Marine, Sander Meson Group
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Lyon Housemuseum’s New Art Gallery To Open In March 2019
by Dennis Mao
The Lyon Housemuseum in Melbourne has revealed that its new contemporary art building, the Housemuseum Galleries, will open on March 15, 2019. Pictured: three-dimensional render of the Housemuseum Galleries’ bluestone facade detail. All images courtesy Lyon Housemuseum.
On December 10, the Lyon Housemuseum in Melbourne announced that its new art gallery will officially open on March 15, 2019. Named the Housemuseum Galleries, the AUD 14.5 million (USD 10.5 million) extension to the Lyon Housemuseum was built with the financial support of the Lyon family and will be operated by the non-profit Lyon Foundation and an independent board of directors. The Galleries consist of five exhibition spaces and a sculpture courtyard, and will be open to the public six days a week throughout the year.
The inaugural show at the Housemuseum Galleries is titled “ENTER,” and will explore the relationship between art, the exhibition space, and the viewer. The group exhibition will feature newly commissioned works by 16 celebrated Australian contemporary artists, including painter Ry David Bradley, video and performance artist Shaun Gladwell, and multimedia artist Patricia Piccinini. Part of interdisciplinary artist Reko Rennie’s large-scale project VISIBLE INVISIBLE (2017) will also be on display at the museum.
REKO RENNIE’s VISIBLE INVISIBLE, 2017, is the foundational artwork marking commencement of the construction of the new Housemuseum Galleries. Photo John Gollings.
Architect and collector Corbett Lyon, who established the Housemuseum with his wife Yueji, commented: “We are very excited by plans for the Galleries, with its potential to foster experimentation, ideas and conversations across disciplines—between artists, architects, designers and the public to contribute to our city’s cultural life. Although a small crucible, our museum’s ambitions are great, and our intentions adventurous.”
The original Housemuseum, which opened in 2009, will continue to showcase works from the Lyon Collection and stage temporary exhibitions that complement the program of the new Galleries.
Dennis Mao is an editorial intern of ArtAsiaPacific.
To read more of ArtAsiaPacific’s articles, visit our Digital Library.
Blog From Blueprints to Housemuseum: In Conversation With Corbett and Yueji Lyon
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Williams powers US into Hopman Cup final
June 30th, 2019 / / categories: 柳州桑拿 /
World No.
1 Serena Williams has the chance to make Hopman Cup history after regaining her winning mojo to power the US into Saturday’s final of the mixed-teams event.
Needing to win their tie against the Czech Republic 3-0 in order to qualify for the decider, the US shot out to a 2-0 lead following singles wins to Williams and John Isner.
Williams overcame the wobbles in the second set to beat Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (8-6), before Isner defeated Adam Pavlasek 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 at Perth Arena.
The Czech Republic only needed one rubber win to reach Saturday’s final, but the US pipped them courtesy of a 6-3 6-3 triumph in the mixed doubles.
Williams now has the chance to become the first person to win three Hopman Cup titles, with the US to take on either Poland, France or Great Britain in the final.
“It would really mean a lot for me to come out and to do well and win the event,” Williams said.
“I’m excited because our backs were against the wall. We play well under pressure.”
The 18-time grand slam champion complained of fatigue in her recent matches against Eugenie Bouchard and Flavia Pennetta, but the 33-year-old felt energised on Thursday night.
“I have an ache here and there, but physically I feel like I can run a 10km,” Williams said.
“It feels so much better than I did a couple of days ago. I feel really good now.
“I feel like I’m getting back in the groove. I’m not moving as well as I was last year. But I’m going to try to improve that. I know I can. I’m getting there.
“I needed that win. I was over losing to her in Perth. It feels really good to get through that.”
Williams banged her racquet in frustration during the second set of her singles win, but her fighting spirit spurred her on during a see-sawing third set.
“I just never give up,” Williams said.
“I have been through so much in my life and on the tennis court, I just keep fighting and just keep doing the best that I can and just keep going for it.”
Isner served 20 aces during his 67-minute demolition of world No.239 Pavlasek.
The big-serving American was full of praise for Williams’ efforts.
“That was one of the best singles games I’ve ever seen,” Isner said.
“She did her job. I was sweating bullets in the locker room watching.
“But then I was able to win my match and then win the mixed doubles.”
Toure wins African Footballer of the Year award
The Ivory Coast midfielder joins Samuel Eto’o as the only players to win the continent’s top individual award four times but only Toure has done it in successive years, starting in 2011.
His latest triumph came ahead of two other finalists, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, in a poll of the coaches and captain’s of Africa’s national teams.
“I’ve been very blessed all these years,” Toure said at the ceremony. “I want to thank all the football fans and say ‘Thank you Africa’.” Toure’s award comes on the back of his stellar performances for Manchester City in the Premier League rather than his achievements with the Ivory Coast.
The Ivorians failed to reach the second round at last year’s World Cup in Brazil and struggled through the qualifiers for the 2015 African Nations Cup.
The 31-year-old Toure scored in Manchester City’s League Cup final win over Sunderland in March and notched 20 goals in helping his side regain the Premier League title, a feat for a midfielder that only Frank Lampard had managed before him.
However, Toure suffered heartbreak in Brazil when the Ivory Coast were denied progress from their World Cup group by a last minute Greece goal. He captained the Ivorians in two of their three games ahead of Didier Drogba.
Toure will lead the team at this month’s African Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea.
He had won the award ahead of Seydou Keita (Mali) in 2011, Drogba in 2012 and John Obi Mikel of Nigeria in 2013. Aubameyang and Enyeama were finalists for the first time at the 2014 awards.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Apple turns stores into art galleries
NEW YORK (AP) – Apple is turning its retail stores into art galleries featuring the work of professional photographers and other artists who use iPads, iPhones and Mac computers to create.
Travel photographer Austin Mann used an iPhone 6 to take otherworldly panoramic photos of an Icelandic glacier.
Mann, who recalls mowing lawns as a young high school student to save up for his first, bright green iMac in 1998, says his use of an iPhone and high-end cameras is “split pretty even” when it comes to professional work.
“In the photography industry especially, when you are getting started you are always seeking gear, ‘If I could only get this $1000 lens’,” he says.
Using just an iPhone to take great photos encourages people to “shift away from focusing on gear and equipment”.
Apple commissioned the work of 12 artists at various stages of their career to create works meant to inspire. Showcasing the people who use its technology – in this case, painters, photographers, filmmakers and other visual artists – is a shift for a company long focused on making its products front and centre.
The artwork, done on iOS devices and Macs using various apps, is displayed on Apple’s website as part of an ad campaign called “Start something new”.
And the California-based company is replacing all product signage in its retail stores with the artwork.
Just as technology has transformed the way we work and interact with one another, it has also changed the way we create. For painter Roz Hall, that’s meant shifting away from the canvases and acrylic paint he started out using in art school to an iPhone app called Brushes.
After not painting for many years, Hall in 2010 read about a group of artists who started using their iPhones and sometimes iPads, which had just come out.
“I had an iPhone at home and I downloaded the Brushes app,” he says. “That was a wonderful, simple application.”
It was also challenging. When he painted on a canvas, he painted life-size works. Painting on a 3.5 inch-screen was an entirely different thing.
“What I liked about it was that there was no set-up,” Hall says. With all the prep work that comes with traditional painting, he says, “by the time you have everything out the moment has (often) passed.”
Hall, whose website lists exhibitions in cities from San Francisco to New York to Shanghai, says he has not painted traditionally for many years.
And he prefers painting on the iPad to using a traditional computer. Using the app Procreate to paint with his fingers on the iPad, “you don’t feel like you are fighting a computer to create your art. You feel connected to the artwork”, he says.
“When I first used an iPad, it made me think of cave paintings, or when a child first paints using their finger.”
While some artists may look at digital painting as “cheating” – after all, you can delete mistaken brush strokes – Hall, who lives in Britain, thinks it actually makes artists more daring.
“If you spent STG50 on canvas and another STG50 on paint, at some point you are going to get careful. You don’t want to waste what you spent,” he says.
For Apple’s display, Hall used Procreate to paint portraits of people he encountered at the university where he lectures.
They include a bearded, moustached young man with bright yellow glasses and an intense stare, and a woman in a floppy black hat lost in thought.
Alistair Taylor-Young, whose photography career spans two decades and has shot for fashion icons such as Armani and Fendi and magazines ranging from Conde Nast Traveller to French Vogue, took photos of rainy cityscapes with the iPhone 6 for Apple’s project. “Crystal Mosaic” uses the phone’s own camera app to bring drops of rain on glass into focus, showing ordinary scenes through a different perspective.
Taylor-Young bought an iPhone in 2007, when they first came out. Having worked with Polaroid cameras early in his career, he found the quality of the original iPhone’s camera very similar.
“It was quite soft and the colours were muted and distorted,” he says.
“The moment I picked up the phone and started taking pictures, it reminded me of photography in its infancy. You couldn’t focus, change exposure. You just saw something and took a photo.”
The quality of phone cameras has certainly improved in the last several years. But more importantly, the ease of use and always-in-hand nature of a smartphone camera has in many ways democratised photography, encouraging anyone to make a photo diary of daily moments, not just special events or trips.
“Digital hasn’t made any nicer pictures,” Taylor-Young says. “But they have opened up the world to people who would have not necessarily thought of taking pictures, or sharing them.”
Charlie Hebdo: Silence observed as France mourns victims
Office workers stood shoulder to shoulder, buses and metros halted, and only the toll of bells and sound of weeping broke the silence as France honoured the 12 people massacred at Charlie Hebdo magazine.
“Charlie will be free!” cried a woman joining a large crowd in front of Paris’ medieval Notre Dame cathedral a moment before noon on Thursday when the country observed a national minute of silence.
Among the hundreds gathered on the ancient square, many were in tears or stood with their eyes closed, while some prayed and a long line formed to enter the cathedral for a special memorial Mass.
Across the city, at the major rail station of Saint-Lazare, staff called on travellers and workers to pause at midday. “We must stick together and save our freedom of speech,” said Julie, 37, who works for the national SNCF rail company.
Another Paris icon, the Eiffel Tower, was to dim its lights at 8pm.
Charlie Hebdo: Thousands turn out for Melbourne, Sydney vigils
Ten people at Charlie Hebdo — including the chief editor and renowned cartoonists — were gunned down on Wednesday by two men who shouted they were taking revenge for the magazine’s repeated publication of cartoons widely seen as insulting to Islam.
Two policemen were also shot, one of them finished off at close range as he lay wounded on the sidewalk.
Shocked politicians led by President Francois Hollande were seen on television taking part in the minute of silence.
Sorrow and fear spread through a country that has long prided itself on freedom of expression, but which for decades has struggled to integrate its rapidly growing Muslim population.
In Bordeaux, capital of France’s most famous wine growing region, mourners gathered late into the night and continued to come by early Thursday leaving candles, flowers, inscriptions of support and old copies of Charlie Hebdo at a makeshift memorial.
In Nantes, in western France, a young man at a similar memorial was in tears, bearing the words “Je suis Charlie” or “I am Charlie” on his black T-shirt.
The phrase has gone viral at impromptu demonstrations and in social media campaigns over the last 24 hours, even featuring at a demonstration of several hundred people on the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean.
“They wanted to kill Charlie Hebdo, but they made it immortal,” the man in Nantes said.
In the neighbourhood where the Charlie Hebdo offices are located, Herve Roch, the father of two, said he’d told his children, “that evil people came to do bad things and the police would catch them.”
Computer program ‘cracks’ poker
May 30th, 2019 / / categories: 柳州桑拿 /
A computer program that taught itself to play poker has created nearly the best possible strategy for one version of the game.
Researchers believe this shows the value of techniques that may prove useful to help decision-making in medicine and other areas.
The program considered 24 trillion simulated poker hands per second for two months, probably playing more poker than all humanity has ever experienced, says Michael Bowling, who led the project.
The resulting strategy still won’t win every game because of bad luck in the cards.
But over the long run – thousands of games – it won’t lose money.
“We can go against the best (players) in the world and the humans are going to be the ones that lose money,” said Bowling, of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.
The strategy applies specifically to a game called heads-up limit Texas Hold ’em.
While scientists have created poker-playing programs for years, Bowling’s result stands out because it comes so close to “solving” its version of the game, which essentially means creating the optimal strategy.
Poker is hard to solve because it involves imperfect information, where a player doesn’t know everything that has happened in the game he is playing – specifically, what cards the opponent has been dealt.
Many real-world challenges like negotiations and auctions also include imperfect information, which is one reason why poker has long been a proving ground for the mathematical approach to decision-making called game theory.
Bowling’s paper, released on Thursday by the journal Science, introduces some techniques that could become useful for applying game theory in real-world situations.
Bowling is investigating the possibility of helping doctors determine proper insulin doses for diabetic patients, for example.
Game theory has also been used to schedule security patrols, and it has implications for other areas like developing strategies for cybersecurity, designing drugs and fighting disease pandemics.
Paw mittens needed for koalas burnt in bushfires, animal welfare group says
Koalas injured in bushfires across SA, Vic and NSW are in desperate need for cotton paw mittens, animal welfare groups say.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare has asked volunteers to sew cotton mittens for koalas that have been severely burnt. The mittens would be used to cover the animals’s bandages.
Volunteers are encouraged to use the sewing template on IFAW’s website, and to drop off completed mittens at local wildlife centres or at their Sydney offices.
“Koalas with burns to their paws need to have them treated with burn cream and wrapped in bandages. They then need special cotton mittens to cover the dressings. All this needs changing daily so we’re asking if you can help us by sewing koala mittens – as many as they can before the fire season truly hits,” said IFAW’s Josey Sharrad.
Post by International Fund for Animal Welfare – IFAW.
Jeremy was the first koala to be treated at the Australian Marine Wildlife Research & Rescue Organisation (AMWRRO) in Adelaide. All four of Jeremy’s paws were treated for second-degree partial thickness burns, but the group assures that he is showing positive signs of recovery.
Animal welfare groups believe more koalas will be admitted to centres in the coming days.
“We’ve got one coming in very shortly and another following it,” Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital founder Rae Campbell told ABC. “I think over the coming days and weeks there will be many, many more.
“Many of them, if they’re picked up early enough and treated, are able to be released and have normal lives.”
Authorities declared on Thursday that the Sampson Flat bushfire had been fully contained, six days after the blaze began its trail of destruction.
The fire destroyed 27 homes, burnt through almost 13,000 hectares and left 134 people, mainly firefighters, injured.
Remarkably, no lives were lost.
Post by Australian Marine Wildlife Research & Rescue Organisation Inc. (AMWRRO). Post by Australian Marine Wildlife Research & Rescue Organisation Inc. (AMWRRO). Post by Australian Marine Wildlife Research & Rescue Organisation Inc. (AMWRRO).
Rio Olympics may add new football venues
Organisers of the Rio Olympics said on Thursday they may decide to use more cities to host football action amid concerns that pitches slated to host matches may get burnt out.
Rio, welcoming South America’s first ever Olympiad in 2016, is scheduled to share out the games with fellow World Cup venues Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Salvador.
But Carlos Nuzman, who chairs the Brazilian Olympic Committee, told reporters FIFA has voiced concern at whether the four pitches will stand up to multiple use in early rounds.
“Can we have one more city? Yes,” Nuzman said. “This is under discussion with FIFA and the Brazil soccer federation.”
Adding venues would not just protect pitches from cutting up but would have the added benefit of bringing potential use to one or more of Brazil’s potential “white elephant” World Cup venues such as Manaus in Amazonia and Cuiaba, both of whom boast multimillion-dollar swanky new stadiums but have no major local side to fill them.
Nuzman said adding venues – rather as London did for the 2012 event when some matches were played as far away as Newcastle and Glasgow, some 400 kilometres away – would respond to FIFA concerns of pitch maintenance.
With 16 men’s teams and 12 for the women, the current four-city structure could mean some stadiums hosting more than one match a day during the August 3 to 19 football event.
Rio’s legendary Maracana, which hosted Germany’s World Cup final win over Argentina in July, is scheduled to host semi-final and final matches.
Brazil used 12 venues at the World Cup, giving the Maracana a massive $400 million overhaul and spending almost $3 billion in all to spread the tournament across the country despite fears that several host cities would struggle to fill their new grounds thereafter.
As a partial solution, the Brazilian league brought domestic matches to the likes of Manaus’ Amazonia Arena last season.
Nuzman hinted a decision would be made by February, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is due to visit to monitor progress on Games’ preparations.
Neymar hits double as Barca put five past Elche
The Brazilian put the Catalan club ahead after 34 minutes when he fired home following a well worked move and after that the flood gates opened against the bottom side in La Liga.
Six minutes later Luis Suarez slotted past Przemyslaw Tyton after creating the chance with a delightful dummy as he allowed the ball to run through his legs before bearing down on goal.
Lionel Messi, who was the focus of attention following a reported bust-up with Enrique, looked very motivated from the start with some lively runs and converted a penalty just before halftime after Neymar was felled by defender Enzo Roco.
Jordi Alba made it 4-0 with a clinical finish from a Messi pass after 55 minutes and Neymar got his second foal with a deflected drive from distance five minutes later.
Shortly afterwards Neymar was substituted and made it clear he was unhappy as he shook his head when walking off.
It was an important win for Enrique who was criticised for leaving Messi and Neymar on the bench for the defeat by Real Sociedad last Sunday with his team stuttering under him.
The coach put out a first choice strike force against Elche as he could not afford another slip-up and he received a mixed reception from the Camp Nou crowd.
At several times during the game fans chanted his name but they were then drowned out by whistles.
“The only reflection that I will make is that which interests me, and I value the support of the fans to the players. They are the protagonists in this show and I like it that they are supported,” he told a news conference.
“This is basic if we are going to have a good season and it is great if they can back the players.”
It has been a difficult week with presidential elections brought forward a year to the end of this season due to general dissatisfaction with the management of the club.
“I think that our supporters have belief in us and in this sense I am in favour of the decision to hold elections by the president (Josep Maria) Bartomeu as a generous gesture” said Luis Enrique.
“This is a way of bringing some calm and hopefully we can build on that with some good results.”
Barca will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the King’s Cup quarter-finals once they finish off Elche. Atletico hold a 2-0 first-leg lead after the home leg on Wednesday.
(Editing by Ken Ferris/Peter Rutherford)
‘I saw horror’: survivor of Paris attack
Charlie Hebdo: A history of the French satire magazineIn pictures: Rallies held across Europe for Charlie Hebdo shootingWorld leaders condemn Paris attackCartoonists pay tribute to Charlie Hedbo<strong style="line-height: 1.
538em;”>Comment: we are all Charlie Hebdo – and this is an attack on our rightsLIVE UPDATES: the hunt for Paris attackers countinues
When a masked gunman burst into the Charlie Hebdo editorial meeting shouting “Allahu akbar” and fired off a hail of bullets, journalist Laurent Leger threw himself behind a corner table and hid as horror unfolded around him.
The journalists were wrapping up their weekly meeting when they heard what sounded like “fireworks” outside, said Leger, whose reflex to hide would make him one of few survivors of the bloodbath.
He looked like a member of the special forces, “he was masked, dressed all in black, he was holding his weapon with both hands,” Leger told France Info radio.
He said the gunman called out “Charb!” the name of editor-in-chief and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier who was living under police protection after receiving death threats for the magazine’s provocative content mocking Islam.
“And then the shooting started, the smell of gunpowder … by chance I threw myself behind the table and he didn’t see me … a few seconds, and everyone was on the ground,” he said, adding the gunman had shot at random.
Leger said that as the satirical Charlie Hebdo team were “jokers”, he at first thought it may be some kind of a prank.
But the reality quickly sank in as the sharp sting of gunpowder hit his nose and one by one his colleagues crumpled to the ground.
Helpless, the veteran reporter huddled tightly in his hiding place.
“I saw the others on the ground, the sound of explosions, then suddenly there was silence. A long silence.”
Leger said he heard footsteps and realised the gunman was returning.
He heard the man exchange a few words with someone else and realised there were two attackers.
“I thought they were going to walk around to find survivors,” he said. But they were unable to walk around the cramped room and left.
When the coast was clear he and others who were not hit got up to try to help their colleagues. Leger said he held the hand of the weekly’s webmaster while waiting for help to arrive.
“I saw a lot of blood, I saw half the editorial team on the ground,” he said. “I saw horror.”
“I still don’t know how I managed to escape.”
Some of the country’s best-known cartoonists such as Charb, his police guard and an invited visitor were among the 10 who died in the room.
A maintenance man was shot in the reception area and another policeman was murdered outside as the two attackers fled. Eleven people were wounded, four of them seriously.
“It all happened so fast … it still hasn’t sunk in for anyone in this small team of survivors that it really happened.”
Clearly stunned, the journalist described a tight-knit group of colleagues whose job centred on humour, almost wiped out by the attack.
But the weekly’s biting irony and irreverent style made it a key target of jihadist groups.
But to Leger, the massacre was “unimaginable. Charb felt more threatened than the others, we stopped thinking about it”.
And as the country plunges into mourning, Charlie Hebdo has refused to be cowed by terror, and with the help of several other French media plans to put out next week’s issue.
The newspaper’s lawyer, Richard Malka, said one million copies would be printed instead of the normal 60,000.
Leger said it was “important” to publish something.
“I don’t want it to be an issue about death. I want a magazine on the challenge to exist, to say things, to fight against idiocy, against human stupidity, against all fundamentalism.”
Cowboys-Packers set for NFL battle
April 29th, 2019 / / categories: 柳州桑拿 /
In a rematch of a brutally cold 1967 playoff classic dubbed the “Ice Bowl,” the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers top a weekend of intense knockout clashes.
The Cowboys, unbeaten on the road this season, travel to Green Bay, perfect at home in the campaign, in sub-freezing conditions and one team will have its title dreams ended on Sunday (Monday (AEDT).
“We don’t pay attention to them being 8-0 on the road because they haven’t come here and beaten us here at Lambeau,” Packers defensive back Micah Hyde said. “But it’s going to be a tough matchup and we understand that.”
It’s the first time the Cowboys have visited Lambeau Field for a playoff game since New Year’s Eve in 1967, when Bart Starr’s late touchdown plunge in wind chills averaging minus-48 (minus-44 Celsius) gave the Packers a 21-17 triumph on their way to winning the second Super Bowl.
The last time an unbeaten road team visited an unbeaten host in the playoffs came in 1972 when visiting Miami won at Pittsburgh on the way to the only undefeated Super Bowl championship run.
“This will be a big challenge,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.
“It’s definitely something that jumps off the stat sheet when you see eight wins on the road.”
The Cowboys, featuring NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray and standout quarterback Tony Romo, have lost their past six road playoff games while the Packers, whose quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been nagged by a calf injury, has thrown 38 touchdowns without an interception in 477 passes over his past 16 home games.
The Cowboys have not reached the Super Bowl since winning their third in four seasons in 1996.
And since the Packers last won the Super Bowl in 2011, they saw a 15-1 season end with a home playoff loss to the New York Giants and exits to San Francisco the past two years.
The Packers-Cowboys victor will face the winner of Sunday’s (Monday AEDT) clash between defending Super Bowl champion Seattle or upstart Carolina, who are only the second playoff qualifier with a losing regular-season record, in the National Conference final.
In the American Conference, Denver quarterback Peyton Manning will guide the Broncos against his former club, the visiting Indianapolis Colts, on Sunday (Monday AEDT) while the top seed New England Patriots play host on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) to Baltimore, the Ravens fresh off winning their playoff opener at Pittsburgh.
Winners of the conference finals on January 18 will advance to the Super Bowl championship spectacle on February 1 at Glendale, Arizona.
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柳州桑拿
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Ciabatta Bread
By krashed24
I found this recipe on Williams Sanoma website. I devoted a weekend to making it and I am so glad that I did. While it was baking I roasted a head of garlic and made the best roasted garlic, parmesan bread ever!
The Italian word ciabatta, or "slipper," describes the shape of this loaf, which is like a flat slipper or old shoe. The dough is so wet that it is easiest to mix by machine. It is made with an Italian-style starter called a biga, which is firm like a bread dough rather than soft like a sponge. The biga must rest overnight, so plan to make this bread over the course of 2 days. The chewy loaf is dimpled with big, uneven holes, known as occhi, or "eyes."
The bread is baked on a baking stone, also called a pizza stone or a baking tile. These are available in large rounds and rectangles. Made of high-fired unglazed clay stoneware, they retain and distribute heat evenly, producing a more uniformly baked loaf and nicely browned crusts. To be effective, the stone must be preheated in the oven for at least 30 minutes before the bread is placed on it. Wipe the cooled stone clean after use; do not use soap and water.
For the biga starter:
1 1/3 cups water, at room temperature
2 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose or bread flour
3/4 tsp. active dry yeast
3 Tbs. warm water (105° to 115°F)
3/4 cup warm milk (105° to 115°F)
2 tsp. active dry yeast
2 to 2 1/3 cups bread flour, plus more as needed
2 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for greasing
To make the starter, in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the water, 1 cup of the all-purpose flour and the yeast. Mix on low speed for 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour and mix until smooth and soft, about 1 minute. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until almost tripled in bulk, 4 to 6 hours. The starter will smell yeasty. Refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours or for up to 3 days. When ready to make the dough, remove the starter from the refrigerator and let stand for 1 to 2 hours.
To make the dough, fit the mixer again with the paddle attachment. Add the warm water and milk and the yeast to the starter and mix on low speed, making a souplike mixture. Add 1 1⁄2 cups of the bread flour, the salt and the 2 Tbs. olive oil. Mix on low speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add only as much of the remaining bread flour as needed to form a very soft, moist dough, and mix on low speed for 5 minutes, occasionally scraping the dough off the bowl sides and paddle. The dough should be very soft and sticky, pulling away from the sides of the bowl but sticking to the bottom.
Cover the bowl with oiled plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled or tripled in bulk, about 2 hours. The top will be smooth, but the dough will be sticky under the surface.
Line a large, heavy baking sheet with aluminum foil and sprinkle generously with bread flour. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board (it will deflate), sprinkle lightly with flour, and pat with your fingers into a 14-by-5-inch rectangle. Fold the rectangle like a letter, overlapping the 2 short sides in the middle to make 3 layers. Turn the dough 90 degrees and repeat the sprinkling and folding, letting the dough rest for 10 minutes if it seems too springy to fold. Cut the dough crosswise into 2 equal rectangles and place each half on the prepared baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle the tops generously with flour. Holding your fingers in an open, splayed position, press, push and stretch each dough rectangle, making an irregular rectangle about 11 inches long and the width of your hand. Your fingers will press the dough unevenly, producing the characteristic dimpled texture in the baked loaf. Cover again loosely with plastic wrap and let rest until tripled in bulk, about 1 1⁄2 hours. Press the dough to accentuate the dimpling 2 more times during this rise. The loaves will remain relatively flat.
Place a baking stone on the lower rack of an oven and preheat to 425°F.
Sprinkle the tops of the loaves with flour and place the baking sheet on the stone. Bake until the loaves are deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 2 large loaves.
More Great Recipes: Bread | Misc. Bread | Oven
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Are you ready to MOVE?
Thursday 24 Mar 2016
Brentwood School's annual dance show took place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening this week in the Memorial Hall. It was the culmination of months of dedication and practice by the School's committed and hard-working dancers, and Head of Dance Miss Kimberley Herterich. The whole cast exceeded expectations and each and every performer radiated with energy and enthusiasm during polished dance routines.
It's the 11th year that the dance show has delighted audiences with show-stopping talent and passion. This year the dancers performed a production entitled 'MOVE', inspired by the choreographic works of Derek and Julianne Hough, whose careers have transcended to the world stage after starring in 'Dancing with the Stars', USA.
The audience was dared to love, feel, try, and move through a series of set pieces such as Fever, Swing the Mood, Getting Jiggy with it and Shut Up and Dance, and the technical expertise shone through both Acts. An array of vocalists, accompanied by the talented Matthew Charlesworth on keys, performed with verve and panache. Senior dancers Megan Wise, Honor Wray and Nyle Amin danced wonderfully and Dance captains Jenny Warren and Ellie Fewster showed power and poise in their stunning final performance.
Jenny and Ellie appeared in their last dance show before they leave the School this summer and both reflected on their memories. They both spoke of the closeness of the groups they’ve worked with and the friendships they’ve made. Ellie even said she wishes she was back in the First Year with seven years of dance still ahead of her.
Headmaster Ian Davies commented “We celebrate with our dancers the abiding influence or Miss Herterich, our Dance Supremo, who has once again crafted a series of evenings which will live long in our collective memory. We will celebrate with them every step they take and every move they make will add to our enjoyment of the music.”
You can view more photos from this spectacular show here.
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By Stephen Blank
July 8, 2019, the CACI Analyst
In late 2018, National Security Council Director John Bolton signaled a revived U.S. interest in the South Caucasus by visiting all three states of the region. While the outcome remains unclear, the visit itself clearly signaled a U.S. interest in reviving a robust presence in the Caucasus. Indeed, U.S. interest should not only stem from the Caucasus’ proximity to Iran and Russia, or considerations relating to energy flows to Europe. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has seen repeated recent outbreaks of violence and the issues and alignments growing out of this conflict spill over into all the other issues pertaining to the Caucasus that justify a renewed U.S. presence. Regenerated U.S. action to help terminate the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully is necessary because of the visibly mounting frustration and despair in the war zone.
BACKGROUND: The Pashinyan government in Armenia remains unwilling to make territorial concessions that alone would break the logjam and by creating the basis for peace, open the way to lasting reforms inside Armenia. During his visit, Bolton made clear that he fully grasped the linkage between Pashinyan’s sweeping electoral mandate for reform and the need to make concessions based on that mandate in order to drive reform forward. Beyond Bolton’s statement, President Trump’s congratulations to Pashinyan echoed these sentiments. Indeed, even Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that, “the declarations about readiness to search for resolutions, which are coming from Baku, should be fully supported” and expressed a hope for Armenian reciprocity.
The Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh have created their own government, demanding recognition as an independent state along with their partisans in Yerevan and the Armenian diaspora. This demand essentially legitimizes forceful territorial land grabs – if Nagorno-Karabakh became independent it would reunite with Armenia and thus ensure perpetual war with Azerbaijan. Since these demands are unacceptable to Baku and other interested parties, the political situation is stalemated.
This stalemate provokes frustration and episodic violence. Samvel Babayan, a former “Minister of Defense” of Nagorno-Karabakh, has advocated transferring the territory to a Russian mandate. This proposal naturally generated an uproar in Nagorno-Karabakh and Yerevan but it also signifies that neither one of those political entities grasps the need for peace. Babayan’s proposal, if implemented, would violate the Madrid principles forged by the OSCE Minsk Group of France, Russia, and the U.S. and that serves, with Azerbaijani and Armenian agreement, as the only acceptable negotiating framework. The Madrid principles also insist on returning undisputed territories other than Nagorno-Karabakh conquered by Armenia in 1993, to Azerbaijan. Yet neither the leaders in Nagorno-Karabakh nor Yerevan appear willing to comply.
Transferring Nagorno-Karabakh to a Russian mandate is also not a viable solution. That outcome would further consolidate Russian hegemony in the Caucasus, directly threaten Azerbaijan, and add to Russian pressure on Georgia. Since there is no earthly chance of an international mandate over Nagorno-Karabakh, Babayan’s statements suggest that neither Armenia nor the “government” in Nagorno-Karabakh, are ready to take steps for peace. Indeed, Armenia’s government, despite its commitment to democracy and socio-economic-political reforms, advocates resuming negotiations with a delegation from Nagorno-Karabakh representing it as an independent state, an obvious non-starter. Since Russia has no ideas other than to sell both sides weapons, strengthen its military and economic domination of Armenia, and mount constant threats against Georgia, it certainly cannot be counted on to bring peace to the Caucasus.
IMPLICATIONS: If one adds the real danger of revived hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh to the issues of Russian hegemony, energy routes to Europe, and the Caucasus’ proximity to Iran and Russia it becomes clear why a robust U.S. presence in the region is needed. This is the only viable chance for peaceful resolution of this war, assistance to Armenia in its democratic reforms, and support for the security of Georgia and Azerbaijan, the latter having also made several fundamental changes to its political makeup that have gone largely unreported abroad. Only Washington can persuade Armenia that if it wants democracy, security and prosperity, it must make peace on an acceptable basis with Baku and help broker the deal. A U.S. investment in the Caucasus that helps bring peace will assist all three states in dealing with their pressing need for economic and political reconstruction while adding to their security against Russian and Iranian threats. However, for this to happen, voices like Babayan’s and those of his colleagues who think they can preserve the state of war at a tolerable cost must be overcome. Should Armenia fail to see that peace is the necessary precondition for reform it will lose both the war and the best chance it has had since 1990 for real domestic progress.
Armenia has also stonewalled Bolton for no apparent good reason and thereby lost the chance to achieve real benefits. It may be argued that Pashinyan has reason to believe that any concessions on Karabakh, including the non-Karabakh lands that Armenia has conquered, would cost him his position despite his mandate. Yet he has apparently gone out of his way to reassure Moscow that he will remain loyal and to assure everyone in Armenia that no concessions will be made to Azerbaijan.
Bolton also made it clear that Washington views Armenia’s close ties with Iran, its major trade partner, with disfavor. In order to induce Armenia to take “decisive steps” towards resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to distance itself from Moscow and Tehran, Bolton offered economic incentives and even the possibility of U.S. arms sales to Armenia. This would provide an alternative to Armenia’s dependence on Russia, whose arms sales to both sides certainly make it harder to regenerate a peace process concerning Nagorno-Karabakh and subordinate Armenia to Russian interests.
However, Armenia apparently disregarded both Bolton and its own domestic needs. Not only did Pashinyan visit Iran on February 27, his ambassador said Armenia would do everything it could to boost ties with Iran. Once in Iran, Pashinyan stated Armenia’s readiness to transport Iranian gas and oil abroad. Rather than buy U.S. weapons, Armenia has again turned to Moscow to buy 12 Sukhoi-30 fighters that it neither needs, nor can afford. In another gesture to Russia, Pashinyan sent a delegation of 83 Armenians (admittedly many of who are doctors) to Syria to relieve the humanitarian nightmare there. In still another move that makes no sense for a government ostensibly committed to a democratic transformation in Armenia, it is discussing with Huawei, the giant Chinese telecom firm, to purchase “smart city” technology that Freedom House defined as exemplifying “the Chinese model of extensive censorship and automated surveillance systems.”
CONCLUSIONS: Pashinyan’s government seems to believe it can allay Russia’s unceasing suspicions about its democratic reforms based on an unyielding approach to Azerbaijan, and that Armenia has no choice but to embrace Iran and Russia, neither of whom has the means or inclination to bail out Armenia, whose economic problems will only affect its revolution negatively. If the war continues, Armenian reform will stagnate and pro-Moscow factions triumph. It is entirely arguable that absent robust U.S. engagement with all three Caucasian states, those negative trends will continue.
Neglect of the Caucasus, as practiced by the Obama Administration, is inevitably malign in its results whatever its intention and rhetoric. Therefore neither Bolton nor President Trump should simply write off the Caucasus as too hard to crack and hunker down until better times appear. If that is their response, better times will not occur and war will remain a real possibility. Another reason for the necessity of a vigilant U.S presence in the Caucasus is that nothing can really assure Moscow of Pashinyan’s reliability. Moscow tolerated the revolution because of his promises of fidelity to a pro-Russian foreign policy. Yet it is precisely this policy that creates the nexus between corruption, authoritarianism, and belligerence that must be broken if Armenia is to move forward. Only a well-conceived and gradual turn to the West can help him stay in office and reduce the clout of the old corrupt and warlord-type elites who have held Armenia in thrall for a generation and surrendered its effective sovereignty to Moscow. In turn, this requires a U.S. that is ready to embrace support Armenia.
If Pashinyan and his team embrace the war they also embrace Moscow and its elites. If they reject Western efforts to bring Armenia into a closer embrace they will consign Armenia to long-running backwardness and war, hardly an environment conducive to democratization. And if the U.S., frustrated by Yerevan’s recalcitrance, turns its back on the region, this will only lead to stalemate and war. Although Armenia has for now spurned the U.S. initiative, the need for a robust U.S. presence in the South Caucasus is greater than has heretofore been the case.
Stephen Blank is a Senior Fellow with the American Foreign Policy Council.
Image Source: By Gage Skidmore via Flickr accessed on 7.8.2019
Read 1113 times Last modified on Tuesday, 09 July 2019
Will Kadyrov be Dismissed? Assessing the Truth Behind the Rumors
Connecting Eurasia: Is Cooperation Between the EU, China and Russia Possible in Central Asia?
More in this category: « Will Kadyrov be Dismissed? Assessing the Truth Behind the Rumors Central Asia: Delayed Consultations, Suspended Integration »
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HUMBERTO CALZADA
Paintings - Retrospective Gallery
Paintings - Available Work
Selected One-Man Shows
2011 “The Fire Next Time: New Work by Humberto Calzada,” The Patricia and PhillipFrostArt Museum at FloridaInternationalUniversity, Miami, FL, USA
“Retrospect and Restoration,” Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL, USA
2006 “Humberto Calzada: In Dreams Awake – A Thirty Year Retrospective,” LoweArt Museum, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
2003 “Cuba: La Hora Azul,” ICCAS, Bacardi Gallery, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
2002 “Cuba y la Noche II,” Galería Arteconsult, Panama, República de Panama
2001 “Cuba y la Noche,” Jose Alonso Fine Art, Miami, FL, USA
2000 “Humberto Calzada: New Collection of Graphic Work,” Jose Alonso Fine Art, Miami, FL, USA
1999 “Sanctuaries for the Spirit,” Corbino Galleries, Longboat Key, FL, USA
1998 Galería Arteconsult, Panama, República de Panama Museo Ixchel, Guatemala City, Guatemala
1997 Galeria Amalia Mahoney, Chicago, IL, USA Galería Acquavella, Caracas, Venezuela
1996 Freites-Revilla Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA
1995 Galería Arteconsult, Panama, República de Panama
Galería Forum de Las Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Corbino Galleries, Sarasota, FL, USA
1994 The Americas Collection, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Freites-Revilla Gallery, Boca Raton, FL, USA
1993 Corbino Galleries, Sarasota, FL, USA
The America’s Collection, Coral Gables, FL
1992 Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Panama, República de Panama
KennesawState CollegeArtGallery, Marietta, GA, USA
Galería 1.2.3, San Salvador, El Salvador
1991 “Humberto Calzada: Fifteen Year Retrospective,” Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL, USA
Fredric Snitzer Gallery Gallery, Coral Gables, FL, USA
1990 Gloria Luria Gallery, Bay Harbor Islands, FL, USA
Galería Arteconsult, Panama, República de Panama
1989 Galería 1.2.3., San Salvador, El Salvador
1988 Galería 9, Lima, Peru
Park Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Galería 1.2.3., San Salvador, El Salvador
1987 Galería Acquavella, Caracas, Venezuela
1986 Galería Arte Actual, Santiago, Chile
1985 Gallery Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL, USA
Gutierrez Fine Arts, Key Biscayne, FL, USA
Galería Etcetera, Panama, Republic of Panama
Galería 9, Lima, Peru
1984 Baumgartner Galleries, Washington, DC, USA
Forma Gallery, Coral Gables, FL, USA
SavannahCollege of Art & Design, Savannah, Ga
Galería Coabey, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1982 Forma Gallery, Coral Gables, FL, USA
1978 Galería Coabey, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1975 BacardiArtGallery, Miami, FL, USA
Selected Group Shows
2014 "Impact and Legacy: 50 Years of the CINTAS Foundation," Miami, FL, USA
2014 "The Miami Generation Revisited," Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
2010 Beaux Arts Gallery, Miami International Art Fair, Miami Beach, FL, USA
Beaux Arts Gallery, Art Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
2007 “Layers: Collecting Cuban-American Art,” PolkMuseum of Art, Works by Artists of Cuban Ancestry From the Permanent Collection, Lakeland, FL, USA
2006 “Masters of Latin America: Selections from the Joan and Milton Bagley Collection”, Boca RatonMuseum of Art, Boca Raton, FL, USA
“A Sense of Space: Cuban Artists and Architecture,” Cuba Art New York (CANY), University of BuffaloArtGallery, New York, NY
Center for the Arts, “Layers: Collecting Cuban-American Art”
2004 “Hope and Glory: The Enduring Legacy of Oscar B. Cintas,” Miami Art Central, Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation, Coral Gables, FL, USA
2003 “Three Cuban Masters, Three Visions of One Reality,” King Fine Arts, New York, NY, USA
2002 “Art Trends: Miami’s Trek III: A Decade of Art in Miami,” Miami Dade College (MDC) KendallCampusArtGallery, Miami, FL, USA
2000 “From Modern to Contemporary: Cuban and Cuban-American Art From the Permanent Collection,” LoweArt Museum, Coral Gables, FL, USA
“Memoria: Veinte Años,” Galería Arte Consult, Panama, República de Panama
“Images and Reflections,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Springfield, IL, USA
1998 “Breaking Barriers: Contemporary Cuban Art,” Art Museum of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
TampaMuseum of Art, Tampa, FL, USA
1997 “Latin American Art Biennial, Galería 1.2.3.,” San Salvador, El Salvador
“Changing Images from the Americas,” MiamiUniversityArt Museum, Oxford, OH, USA
1993 “Cuban Artists of the Twentieth Century,” Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
1992 “Eco Art,” Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1991 “CUBA - U.S.A.: The First Generation”
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, USA
Fondo del Sol, Washington, DC, USA
MinnesotaMuseum of Art, St. Paul, MN, USA
The Art Museum at FloridaInternationalUniversity, Miami, FL, USA
1991 “South Florida Invitational,” Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
1990 “Leading Hispanic Artists of South Florida,” Northwood Institute, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
“Miami Artists: Fifty Years of Collecting,” Main Library, Metro-Dade Cultural Center, Miami, FL, USA
1988-1989 “MIRA! Canadian Club Hispanic Art Tour III”:
MunicipalArtCenter, Los Angeles, CA, USA
MeadowsMuseum and Sculpture Court, Dallas, TX, USA
Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL, USA
TerraMuseum of American Art, Chicago, IL, USA
Museo del Barrio, New York, NY, USA
“Acquisitions from the Last 10 Years,” Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Chile
1988 “Latin American Artists from the Southeast Coastal Region”:
ContemporaryArtCenter, New Orleans, LA, USA
The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL, USA
1987 “Cuban Artists in North America,” National Library of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
1987- 1989 “Outside Cuba/Fuera de Cuba”:
Jane Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Museum of Contemporary Hispanic Art, New York, NY, USA
MiamiUniversityArt Museum, Oxford, OH, USA
Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Center for the Fine Arts, Miami, FL, USA
“Visual Arts: the Southeast 1986,” GeorgiaStateUniversityArtGallery, Atlanta, GA, USA
“Rutgers National 85/86, Works on Paper,” StedmanArtGallery, RutgersUniversity, Camden, NJ, USA
“Expatriates: Paintings by 15 Young Latin American Artists,” Thomas Center Gallery, Gainesville, FL, USA
Instituto Cultural Domecq, “V Bienal Iberoamericana de Arte,” Mexico, D.F., Mexico
1985 “American Artists of Cuban Origin”, KendallCampusArtGallery, Miami-DadeCommunity College, Miami, FL, USA
1983-1985 “The Miami Generation,” CubanMuseum of Art and Culture, Miami, FL, USA
Meridian House International, Washington, DC, USA
The Balch Institute of Ethnic Studies, Philadelphia, PA, USA
1983 “VI Latin American Graphics Biennial Exhibition,” San Juan, Puerto Rico
“Five in Florida Plus Two,” North MiamiMuseum and ArtCenter, North Miami, FL, USA
1982 Museum of Art, “Hort Memorial Exhibition,” Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
1981 Gallery Camino Real, “Five Contemporary Realists,” Boca Raton, FL, USA
“Recent Acquisitions,” Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States (OAS), Washington, DC, USA
“IV Biennial Art Exhibition of Medellin,” Medellin, Colombia
“Contemporary Cuban Painting,” Moss Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
1979 “The Cuban Exhibition,” De Armas Gallery, Editorial America, Miami, FL, USA
1978 “Latin American Artists of the Southeastern United States,” LoweArt Museum, Coral Gables, FL, USA
“Hispanic-American Artists of the United States” Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States (OAS), Washington, DC, USA
1981 Cintas Fellowship, Cintas Foundation,
Institute of International Education, New York, NY, USA
1980 Painting Fellowship, Division of Cultural Affairs of the State of FLorida, FL, USA
1979 Cintas Fellowship, Cintas Foundation, Institute of International Education, New York, NY, USA
Selected Public and Corporate Collections
PerezArt Museum of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
BlantonMuseum of Art, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of
American States (OAS), Washington, DC, USA
Centro de Arte Fundacion Ortiz-Guardian, Granada, Nicaragua
LehighUniversityArtGalleries, Bethlehem, PA, USA
LoweArt Museum, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
MiamiUniversityMuseum, Oxford, OH, USA
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Maria Zambrana, Velez-Malaga, Spain
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Panama,
República de Panama
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Chile
NortonGallery & School of Art, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL, USA
St. LouisArt Museum, St. Louis, MO, USA
The Patricia & PhillipFrostArt Museum at FloridaInternationalUniversity, Miami, FL, USA
The UniversityMuseum, Southern IllinoisUniversity at Edwardsville, IL, USA
ZimmerliArt Museum, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
FloridaInternationalUniversity, Primera Casa, Miami, FL, USA
University of Miami, Goizueta Pavillion, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Miami-DadeCollege, Miami, FL, USA
DadeCountyArt in Public Places Program, MiamiInternationalAirport, Miami, FL, USA
CINTAS Fellows Foundation, MiamiDadeCollege, Miami, FL, USA
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Miami Branch
Office, Miami, FL, USA
Gulf & Western Industries, La Romana, Dominican Republic
Banco de Viscaya, Miami, FL, USA
Banco Nacional do Brasil, Miami, FL, USA
Bank of Tokyo, Miami, FL, USA
Capitol National Bank, Miami, FL, USA
International Bank of Miami, N.A., USA
Republic International Bank, Interamerican Office, Miami, FL, USA
Regions Bank, Miami, FL, USA
Wells Fargo International Bank, Miami, FL, USA
Bank of Boston, Miami, FL, USA
humbertocalzada
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The Mighty Mighty
SnackBox Brigade
In Dreams...
We face persistent chaos, never relenting to the silence that becomes us.
In the metropolis we are constantly surrounded by the mass of the public sphere. We breathe the motion of the city as it engulfs us in its rapture. But in that sweeping momentum we tend to sacrifice our identity, surrendering our individual ambitions to the instincts of the crowd. It calls us, it longs for us, it takes us away.
And so we find many times that in our greatest moments of interconnectedness the metropolitan dweller is lost in the magnitude of the machine. Its gravity has stripped us of our idiosyncrasies and derailed the random locomotion of our orbits. We become bound by the will of its superstructures and there on the crowded streets we find ourselves alone as a firefly lost deep in the night forest. Each of us in a bubble sealed off from the substance of our existence, always compliant to the demands of the great mass that is The City.
Amidst the den and the chaos there was one who dared to resist. He discovered purpose in the university but in in the process nearly lost it all. From the depths of a brain on the edge of deranged, he found himself suddenly stranded in the Desert of Isolation. On the horizon lay a mirage—nothing more than a gateway to the vacant Land of Loneliness. In order to preserve its integrity his mind became divided, compartmentalizing itself beyond the realms of id, ego, superego, and breaking consciousness on much more dangerous grounds. Enter our champions . . .
The Mighty Mighty SnackBox Brigade are a pint-sized collective of charismatic misfits born of the pure volition for survival. Brothers in arms—they are eternal companions on the voyage of life sharing a bond which can never be broken. From the abandoned corners of the mind they arose as autonomous fragments of the alter-ego of Stylés Akira, each bearing its own set of traits. A coping mechanism for the solitude of graduate study, at times they were the only outlet for socializing and they became the nexus of his creativity as they are presented here—Soldiers of Fortune, and Superheroes in the making.
In addition to serving as the in-house session band for Casa La Doniccé Studios, the Brigade are also the marquee artists of the recording label. Building much anticipation for the release of their debut EP, Little Kids, and the follow-up Long Play album, Captive Youth, their rise to stardom was hinged On The Precipice of Infinity between nap-time and bedtime, always with a snack for good measure.
No. 1 Capitão Stanzi Sempre VerdE Doniccé
—Commander In Chief (VOCALS, Lead GUITAR, Keyboards)
Capitão Stanzi Sempre Verde Doniccé
Captain Stanzi Always was the original alter-ego and imaginary friend of young Stylés Akira. He is an adventurer of many sorts and the commander of an array of strange vessels which he has used for his fantastic exploits. His regular role of authority amongst the crews of these vehicles earned him the title of "Capitão" or Captain. He is an expert in driving subterranean ships, submarine ships, sea ships, amphibious ships, air ships, and space ships. The fearless leader of The Mighty Mighty SnackBox Brigade, Stanzi is the oldest and most sophisticated of the crew, and though it is believed that he stopped aging around seven years, he has been a constant presence in the psyche of Stylés Akira since at least Kindergarten and perhaps before. Within the SnackBox "Capt. D", as he is affectionately known by his comrades, serves as the Commander in Chief, and represents healthy Fruits & Vegetables, as suggested by the middle name 'Verde'. His favorite snacks are Strawberries, Blueberries, Brussels Sprouts, Asparagus, and Spinach, but he is a fan of all vegitative foods and produce. His known powers include an uncanny influence over plant life, and efficiency in its cultivation, problem solving skills beyond recorded levels, advanced mechanics and weapons expertise; and he has been known to demonstrate early stage levitation and telekinesis. As a band member he handles vocals, lead guitar, and keyboards.
NO. 2 Teeter Totter Cheese Doniccé
—Logistics Specialist (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Brass Instruments, "Hey!")
Teeter Totter Cheese Doniccé
Teeter Totter was the alter-ego of Capt. Doniccé. Specializing in aerial, terrestrial and nautical operations, Teeter proved himself a master of tactical assault strategies by the time he reached the perpetual age of three and a half. Longing to become four he undertook the rigorous pursuit of scholarly subjects in hopes of gaining age with wisdom in contrast to the proverbial notion of the vice versa. He can be noted for his general keenness of wit and stern personality, especially when dealing with enemies. Teeter is a phenom of political diplomacy and a military tactician of the highest order. He serves as the Brigade's head of strategy and logistics, and he represents the Dairy food group within the SnackBox. His favorite foods are Munster, Havarti, Mild Cheddar, and Goat Cheese, as well as Honey flavored Greek Yogurt, and Quatro Formagio Macaroni. His revealed powers consist of prodigious mathematical abilities, advanced spatial reasoning and depth perception, savant level logical evaluation, uncontrolled levitation and early signs of mind reading capabilities. He is the fraternal twin of Custard Crème with whom he forms the indomitable duo 'Cream & Cheese', renowned for their enhanced abilities when their forces are combined under dire straits. His role in the group's band includes vocals, rhythm guitar and brass instruments. He is recognized for his distinct pronouncement of the phrase "Hey!" when his efforts in life have been derailed or otherwise frustrated.
NO. 3 Custard Crème Doniccé
—Weapons Specialist(Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Wind Instruments)
Custard Crème Doniccé
One half of 'The Indomitable Cream & Cheese Duo', Custard was conceived in the imagination of Teeter Totter as his alter-ego in his own image on the day of his own creation, technically making the pair twins. He has a high degree of proficiency with the development and invention of advanced military grade weaponry such as land to air, sea to air, and sea to land defenses, including the Brigade's Meat-Seeking Missilesystems and High Capacity H2O Bombs. He is a also a master in close-range combat; maintaining the Brigade's store of handheld arsenal such as its Pudding Grenades, Rocket Powered Pasta Slingers, Pie Bazookas, Vegetable Mortars, Semi & Fully Automatic Bean Machine Guns, Snow Pea Sniper Rifles, Kumquat Slingshots, and Tortilla Blades used in hand-to-hand assault. He is the Brigade's Master of Arms and within the SnackBox he represents the Sugars & Fatty Oils food group. His favorite snacks are Organic Custard Cream Cookies, Avocado Cocao Pudding, Honey Bee Honey Combs, and Animal Crackers. His known powers closely complement those of his twin with hyper-advanced mathematical abilities, and a particular expertise in physics. He has shown accelerated capabilities with kinetic intelligence, and physical dexterity, as well as highly sensitive reaction speeds giving him unordinary skills in vehicle navigation and physical combat. And he is known to possess the same incipient levitation and mind-reading abilities as his twin. The pair can read one another's minds perfectly and when their forces combine Cream & Cheese have been observed exhibiting full control of their levitation, higher order external mind reading abilities, and increased speed, physical strength, and stamina. He performs vocals, rhythm guitar, and wind instruments.
NO. 4 PopCorn Doniccé
—COMMUNICATIONS Specialist (Vocals/Lead Guitar/Keyboards/Orchestral Strings)
PopCorn Doniccé
So named for the illustrious crop of curly locks adorning the top of his head, PopCorn was the alter-ego of Custard Crème. He is permanently four years of age and is well regarded for his adroit skill with communication systems, algorithms and methods of coding. Recognized for his high facility with language, PopCorn is the author of both of the secret languages used by the SnackBox Brigade. He developed the onboard and roving communication systems used by the unit, and he is a master of encryption used to ward off interception of classified information in addition to being able to decipher any code that is placed before him. It is said that PopCorn's only weakness is that he is afraid of nothing, and he has been repeatedly decorated for saving his comrades in the face of certain peril, defeating several bullies, boogiemen, and monsters many times his size without hesitation or fault. He is the Brigade's head of communication and he represents the Grains and Cereals food group within the SnackBox. His favorite foods are Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal, 12-Grain Whole Wheat Bread, Quinoa, Soft Pretzels, and of course Cheese PopCorn. His demonstrated powers include lightning speed analytics and code deciphering for information transfer and problem solving, unusually high-precision aim and accuracy with all manner of projectiles, super-human physical speed, intermediate levitation, and early phase telekinesis. He performs vocals, bass, keyboards, and orchestral strings for the Brigade band.
NO. 5 LunchMeat Doniccé
—Technology Specialist (Vocals/Bass/Drums/Percussion)
LunchMeat Doniccé
LunchMeat was the alter-ego of Popcorn and therefore took a natural likeness to the use of technology. He is an expert in computer science, and has been instrumental in the development of both vehicles and weaponry used by the Brigade. He is the grande architect of the intelligent operating system used aboard the Starship Doniccé and its component vessels on land, sea, and air. LunchMeat is the most reticent of the Brigade's ranks and therefore has often been cited as the silent weapon of the unit as a result of his unpredictable reactions to adversity. His age is fixed at five years, and It is believed that he is the most physically agile and endurant member of his crew. His favorite foods are Chicken Milanese, Churrasco, Lobster, Shrimp, and Red Snapper. Within the SnackBox he represents the Meats, Fish, & Poultry food groups. He serves as the principle engineer of the Starship Doniccé and the head of technology for the Brigade at large. His known powers include advanced-human speed and strength, unlimited perceptual framework (meaning he can mentally visualize the size differences between atoms and galaxies), basic levitation, and telekinesis. It has been noted that he is often capable of remembering, with vivid accuracy, events at which he was not present and for which he has no otherwise discernible means of knowing their premises, let alone their details. In his spare hours he worked tirelessly inventing and programming the artificial intelligence being which was to serve as the alter-ego of his stoic personality known as Snaxx. His specialties in the music group include vocals, bass, and drums as well as rhythmic and chromatic percussion.
NO. 6 Snaxx Doniccé
—Mechanics Specialist (Vocals/DJ/Sound FX/Synthesizer/Synth Drums)
Snaxx Doniccé
Snaxx is the alter-ego of LunchMeat. He was imagined, designed, prototyped, and constructed by LunchMeat himself in his laboratory throughout the wee hours of many long nights. Snaxx is a cybernetic robot form with artificial intelligence programmed to have free will. It is suspected that he is capable of dreaming and imaginative abstract thought. He is equipped with advanced weapons and transportation systems for sea, land, air and deep space navigation. Snaxx's processing hardware is of a specification unknown and it is believed that Lunch Meat supplied him with an integrated bio-tech system that gives his central intelligence core organic life that is able to progressively evolve as the robot experiences the external environment over time, and therefore never requires upgrading. Likewise, his operating system is also self-sustaining and free of upgrade requirements. Snaxx is the primary medic of the Brigade alongside Wingnut and the starship operating system. He is the head mechanical engineer within the SnackBox, and has constructed and oversees all maintenance on the crew's vehicular stable, including the Starship Doniccé and its fleet of vessels from Snack Pods to Subma-Onion-Rings to Rotten Tomato Tanks, and Atomic-Jelly Fighter Jets. He has built the Brigade's fleet with adaptable design technology similar to his own and incorporated unit integration technology for use with the secret NUTRITI-on system. He has no favorite foods, rather preferring to be surprised at mealtime, and represents Creative Juice within the collective. His housing unit is composed of an indestructible poly-carbon fiber, which allows him effective invulnerability to physical conditions ranging from the cold of deep space to the touch of molten lava. His body is composed of 24 modules, held together by induced gravity fields, which can be disengaged at will for transformation, maneuvering purposes or use as projectiles. His known powers include super-computing, Mach 3 flight speeds, he can lift 2 metric tons, and his housing incorporates a host of built-in tactical gadgets and weapons used for everyday obstacles and tight situations. In the vein of the other Brigade members he built WingNut as the manifestation of the alter-ego, which existed in his imagination. In the SnackBox's band he takes on vocals, DJ'ing, sound FX, synthesizers and synth drum sounds.
NO. 7 Wingnut Doniccé
—INTELLIGENCE Specialist (Vocals/DJ/Sound FX/Synthesizer/Mixing)
WingNut Doniccé
WingNut is the seventh and final member to join the SnackBox Brigade. He is the alter-ego of Snaxx the robot, and is himself a half-scale version of Snaxx, who constructed him in a single night. He possesses the same artificial intelligence and organic processing core as his larger counterpart, and earned the name Wingnut after developing the gliding flaps for his housing unit that he and Snaxx now use for increased maneuverability during aerial operations. WingNut is a skilled mechanic who manages the Brigade's vehicle store alongside his creator. He is known for performing unexpected upgrades to machinery including vehicles and weapons, which have been critical to his comrades in moments of greatest need. He serves as the troop's head of intelligence being a master of espionage and counter-intelligence operations. Due to his small size, he is able to bypass many enemy security defenses, and his self-modified hardware system has been optimized for data collection, storage, encryption and transmission, making him the perfect spy-bot. Like Snaxx, WingNut is capable of physical integration with any of the Brigade's technology systems including all vehicles and weapons, and even Snaxx. When the two combine, with Wingnut becoming a backpack to Snaxx, using their NUTRITI-on technology their jet-propulsion systems multiply their combined top speed from Mach 3 to Mach 7. His favorite foods are Brasil Nuts, Macadamia Nuts, Almonds, Pistachios, and Peanuts. Within the SnackBox he represents the Nuts, Legumes, & Seeds food group. His known powers include the same computing, resistance, speed, and strength abilities as Snaxx, and he has self-modified his exoskeleton to exhibit cloaking capabilities for covert operations. He performs vocals, DJ'ing, synthesizers, sound FX, and mixing within the band.
MixTape: On the Precipice of Infinity
EP: Little Kids
Debut Album: Captive Youth
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COMMUNITY PLAYS
What is a Community Play?
Past Plays >
Aldgate Project 2018
Legends of the Rocks
Legends Events
Legends Booking
Legends Devising
Claqueur Impro
Past Impro Shows & Events
Empty Gallery
DEVISING THE LEGENDS
.INTRODUCING COLLABORATIVE DEVISING
Collaborative Devising is the act of writing as a group.. In a typical devising workshop participants compose pieces for the stage by putting together raw material into a form that is repeatable, theatrical, and communicative. The process is by nature collaborative. Participants arrive at solutions to specific delineated tasks within a short period of time. The compositions are based on given material, theme, an idea or a hunch. Composition work functions the way sketching does for a painter, creating ideas and presenting and discovering notions that may be useful for the play. The key to composition work is to do a lot in a little time.
EXQUISITE TIME PRESSURE
When we set a time limit so there's not much time to think or talk wonderful work often emerges; what surfaces does not come from an analysis of ideas, but from our impulses. Some pressures are far from being freeing or constructive but exquisite pressure comes out of an environment where forces lean on the participants in a way that enables more, not less, creativity. Exquisite pressure comes from an attitude of necessity, trust and respect for the people you are working with, for the amount of time you have, for the room you work in, the materials you work with and for what you’re doing with all of these.
The group does not spend their time sitting and discussing and planning; but are on their feet from the start. When a group is stuck- they will invariably revert to sitting in a circle, looking at pieces of paper, talking all at once or not at all, trying to come up with ideas; generally that's not a lot of fun. But when a group is engaged they look like kids in a playground, they are moving about, animated, listening, making offers of help, saying "yes...and." to ideas, and enjoying being in the moment.
We create exquisite pressure by giving the right amount of ingredients for the assignment, not too few, not too many, putting the proper number of people in the group, and determining the challenging nature of the task.. There should be levels of difficulty with which you begin and to which you graduate. But in all cases, the challenge needs to be challenging enough, and the stakes high enough for the group to enter into a state of spontaneous play.
FOLLOW THE DEVISING & ADD YOUR VOICE
You can follow the progress of the devising on the blog pages. This is the real information centre for devising process.. This is a great place to add your voice and influence the play. Here you'll find a description of what we did at each workshop, what we discovered and feedback and ideas from the people who took part. You can add your own ideas and views here too. We will also be adding suggested further reading, pictures and video clips.
The Time Table of Devising The Legend
STEP 1 PREPARATION
Crowd Funding Launch
Funding has already begun and will be ongoing. We have some leads to some trusts to apply to, if you have ideas let us know. We will also be running our own fund- raising events, Claqueur Impro Theatre will be doing some shows and we will shortly launch crowd funding.
Research and Gathering Material
There will be a number of ‘gatherings in March to collect research material to inform our play. It could be historical research about Rusthall and Denny Bottom in the late 19th Century 1860-1910, or facts about the topography of the Rusthall rocks. The research doesn’t have to be based on facts it could be folk tales, legends, or fairy tales, creation myths, rituals or rites of passage from which we can create our own Legend. We would love it if you wrote your own stories. Music, artwork, photographs, artefacts could give us clues too. This material will be used as a stimulus for composition workshops where it will be transformed into theatrical presentations.
STEP 2 COMPOSITIONS
17th Project Start Date
The project officially starts on 17th February. A Launch Party in late February TBC. We hope our preparation stage has produced a good range of inspiring research material for the composition workshops and are well on our way with funding and support in kind.
19th February Launch Event
Toad Rock Retreat 1 Upper Street, Rusthall TN4 8NX 7.30pm An Invitation to all local artists and others who want to contribute activities or events to the Festival to find out more about the project and input their own ideas. Light Bites and Pizza Van.
22nd Feb Claqueur Impro Theatre Show
At King Charles Church Hall, 3 Warwick Park Rd.Tunbridge Wells. TN2 5TA To launch our fund raising Claqueur Impro Theatre will be performing a show with guest improviser actor Roddy Maude Roxby of Theatre Machine
Sat 23rd Full Day Composition Workshop
10.30am - 4.30pm At Age UK, Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells. TN1 2QS (off Camden Rd.) A full day composition workshops focusing on masks, creating mask scenarios with Roddy Maude-Roxby, one of this countries leading improviser actors and mask teachers
March 5th & 19th March Evening Composition Workshop based on Images & Mime
At The Rusthall, 5 St Paul's St Rusthall.TN4 8RJ. 7.30- 9.30pm This evenings composition workshops focusing on mime, movement and creating images. We don’t know what the play will be, that’s what for the compositions for, to find out. But’s very likely it will involve big images and movement.
24th March Full Day Composition workshop focus Music
At Age UK, Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells. TN1 2QS (off Camden Rd.) 10.30am- 4.40pm Sunday composition focusing on music and sound and how they can enhance theatre movement and images, and be used to tell stories. With David Brett, Actor Musician, David has worked with 7:*4 Theatre and was a member of The Flying Picket's he wrote the harmonies of their number one hit cover version of "Only You" He is a member or Atelier Theatre company.
6th April Mask Making Workshops
The Rackcliffe Centre, Old Fire Station, 26 Lower Green Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8TE 11am- 5pm A series of workshops making masks will begin in April. Many of the masks will be based on the faces, characters and creatures carved in the rocks by weather and erosion.
2nd April Evening Composition Workshop based on words
At The Rusthall, 5 St Paul's St Rusthall.TN4 8RJ. 7.30- 9.30pm. A workshop to inspire writing collaboratively, around themes emerging from previous workshops. The words we create will be be used within the play as dialogue, songs and concrete poetry incorporated into the sets and props.
14th April Tour of the Rocks
Starting at The Toad Rock Retreat, Harmony Street, Rusthall at 11am. Come with us on a learning and imaginative exploration the rocks. Learn something of the history of the Rocks from ‘landscape Investigator Nigel Stapple, and local resident John Hayes, and be prompted by theatre director and playwright Jon Oram into imagining the stories the rocks are telling us.
16th April Evening Composition Workshop based on words
At The Rusthall, 5 St Paul's St Rusthall.TN4 8RJ. 7.30- 9.30pm. The second workshops to inspire writing collaboratively and individually on themes emerging from previous workshops.
April 28th Full Day Composition Workshop based on Design
At Age UK, Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells. TN1 2QS. 10.30pm -4.30pm.
This composition workshop is all about what the play will look like. Toad Rock is the best set imaginable, there is little we can do to improve on that, but the characters and creatures that emerge from them need to be spectacular, colourful and imaginative. Laura Stanfield our Designer will be working with us to create fast make images.
April 30th Evening Composition Workshop Following the Narrative
At The Rusthall, 5 St Paul's St Rusthall.TN4 8RJ. 7.30- 9.30pm
Building the narrative of the play, exploring character and scenes,
14th May Composition Workshop Following the Narrative
STEP 3 CONSTRUCTIONS
May 18th - 19th Weekend Construction Workshop
At Age UK, Wood Street, Tunbridge Wells. TN1 2QS 10.30pm -4.30pm Two full days the draft script from the development meetings we have two days to create the rehearsal script. We'll be doing a little more devising, trying out scenes and exploring new ideas.. The more people, the more heads the better. It will be challenging, but fun and rewarding. Come for the whole week-end, when you can or just pop in to see how it's all going.
25th May Archeological Garden Dig
Back Garden of 18 Apsley Street. Under the supervision of Nigel Stapple Landscape interpreter. bring a trowel pr hand fork, gloves and kneeling pad. See what you can find in a shallow dig in your garden and Nigel will help you interpret what you discover. A fascinating exploration.
STEP 4 CASTING
MAY 20st - 23rd CASTING
At The Rusthall, 5 St Paul's St Rusthall.TN4 8R1 and other venues TBC
Everyone who turned up got a part. Jon saw people in groups of 8-10 so if they wanted to come with friends they booked into the same session. The sessions are meant to be fun and relaxing. This is unlike a conventional play as it’s being devised, some scenes may not yet be fully developed, or indeed exist. The coming weeks they will be involved in creating scenes with others. In the casting session we worked together to find the roles that most suit and interests individuals..
STEP 5 PRODUCTION PERIOD
MAY to JULY
May 28th - July 16th Rehearsals
Rehearsals are as likely to be much more much about building and making the play than repetition and learning lines. We want to create a visual feast in a fabulous setting. They will evenings and occasional Sundays. We try very hard to call people according to their availability.
May 28th - July 2rd Design Workshop
Laura Stanfield our designer and the design team have only eight weeks to create the costumes and props for the show. It will be dependent on the help of the community. We have a design studio workshop on the Upper Floor of Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre in Tunbridge Wells. Workshop will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11am - 5.pm and on Thursdays 1pm- 8.pm No previous experience required though it’s a great opportunity for skilled artists to use their talents as well as broaden your experience.
STEP 6 PERFORMANCES
PERFORMANCES JULY 24th-28th
There will be six performances at Toad Rock. Weds 24th to Fri 26th July 7.30pm; Sat 27th 2pm and 7.30pm and Sunday 7.30pm.
Follow the Devising
Claque Theatre Limited (Formerly Colway Theatre Trust) established 1979
Registered in England Company Registration No. 1464536 Registered Charity No. 279311
Artistic Director: Jon Oram Board of Directors: John Harries – Chair, Andy Brett, Brian Blunden
Websites: Community Plays. Empty Gallery Claqueur Impro
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Ben Affleck >
Ben Affleck Will Donate Future Weinstein Profits To Charity
By Daniel Falconer in Movies / TV / Theatre on 06 November 2017
Follow Ben Affleck
The actor will split any residuals between two charities.
Ben Affleck is returning to the big screen a little later this month in 'Justice League', following his debut as the Dark Knight himself, Batman in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' in early 2016. Though that film wasn't seen as anything too special by a large portion of critics and the public, Affleck's performance as Bruce Wayne was one of the standout moments that did work, according to many.
Ben Affleck is currently promoting upcoming DCEU film 'Justice League'
Returning to the role alongside Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg and Ezra Miller as The Flash, he'll be a part of the first ever big screen live adaptation of the comic book superhero group, the Justice League. It's history in the making.
Unfortunately, Affleck's name hasn't been in the news for all the right reasons as of late; especially so following the accusations of sexual harassment and assault levelled at movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Speaking with FOX 5, the actor was asked about Kevin Smith's decision to donate future earnings from Weinstein projects to charity, and said: "It's funny you mention that because once Kevin suggested that, I decided to do the same thing, so I'm giving any further residuals that I get from either a Miramax or a Weinstein movie; [they] will go either to FI or to RAINN. One is Film Independent and the other is a women's organisation, and I just didn't want to cash any more checks from the guy, you know? I don't usually bring it up."
He added: "It was Kevin's idea, I thought it was a good one and I hope it catches on. Some people probably couldn't afford to give all those residuals away, but even if you're doing 10%, you know, that's something."
The move is one that will be respected by those in the industry, but there will still be the fact that questions have been raised about Affleck's own behaviour in the past. As the subject of a number of allegations himself, it's going to be very interesting to see how he, and his accused brother Casey Affleck, deal with the entire situation.
As more and more producers are brought into the scandal, with all sorts of allegations being thrown around by a number of names, both high-profile and those lesser-known, it'll be intriguing to see just how responses like this will snowball.
More: Ashley Judd Details Sexual Harassment Encounter With Harvey Weinstein
We'll bring you more details surrounding the Weinstein scandal as the story rolls on.
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Justice League Trailer
The planet is in turmoil. Superman is apparently dead and crime rates have surged around...
Justice League Teaser Trailer
In the wake of his friend Clark Kent's monumental sacrifice, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince...
Live By Night Movie Review
Ben Affleck launched his directing career 10 years ago with his film of Dennis Lehane's...
The Accountant Movie Review
While this slick dramatic thriller plays with some intriguing ideas and themes, it never actually...
Live By Night Trailer
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Suicide Squad Movie Review
DC Comics' villains team up for an overcrowded action movie that never quite finds its...
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Bruce Wayne knows that the Earth is under threat from evil forces much worse than...
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Ben Affleck is cast as Christian Wolff in this new action thriller film The Accountant....
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The Suicide Squad was formed by Amanda Waller, the head of Belle Reve Penitentiary and...
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Movie Review
After 2013's beefy Man of Steel, director Zack Snyder goes even bigger and darker with...
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Trailer
Every superhero has a dark side and being 100% human, Batman is in doubt over...
When there's nowhere left to turn, the bad guys might just turn out to be...
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice - Official Trailer
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Actors Index: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Beijing 999 Buys Airbus Helicopter H145 for Medical, Search and Rescue Operations
By Prei Dy | May 06, 2017 02:38 PM EDT
Workers check an Eurocopter Tiger military attack helicopter at the Eurocopter plant in Donauworth, Germany.(Photo : Getty Images)
China's Beijing 999 Emergency Rescue Center (Beijing 999) has ordered one Airbus Helicopter H145 to be fitted with a hoist for medical, search, and rescue purposes.
The rotorcraft is expected to be delivered by 2019 and will be used for airborne mountain rescue services in time for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Beijing 999, a subsidiary of Beijing Red Cross Foundation, currently has two H135s used for emergency medical services (EMS) around Beijing, Hebei, and Tianjin.
Meanwhile, Bell Helicopter and Air Method's subsidiary United Rotorcraft have delivered one unit of Bell 429 helicopter to Reignwood Investment, representing its first EMS in China.
United Rotorcraft installed a medical interior including machined aluminum floor, additional crew seating configurations, and product improvements for optimum patient care and assess. The helicopter also has a rescue hoist and other program-specific support equipment.
The Bell 429 is the only light twin-engine helicopter on the market with true two-liter capability. It has sufficient room to accommodate two medical attendants and two other crew members plus an extra-large 60-inch side doors. It also boasts of an exceptional flight performance, with a fully integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive system, and an SBAS navigation and instrument flight rules capability.
The Bell 429 is also the first helicopter to receive an MSG-3 process certification, resulting in lower maintenance costs for operators.
"There is a critical need for HEMS in China, and we are honored Reignwood has selected the Bell 429 to assist in life-saving missions," Patrick Moulay, executive vice president of commercial sales and marketing of Bell Helicopter, said.
Tag:Beijing 999 Airbus Helicopters Airbus Helicopters 145 EMS Bell 429
First Bell 429 Helicopter for EMS Service Arrived in China
India, US, Japan to Conduct Trilateral Naval Drills; China Expected to Closely Monitor Exercises
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Mass tourism forces mobbed museums to rethink welcome
Antoine FROIDEFOND| Agence France Presse
Chinese-American architect of Louvre pyramid dies at age 102
Museum of Modern Art
Jean Luc Martinez
Alain Seban
Guy Cogeval
Bertrand Guay
Catherine Pegard
Lionel Bonaventure
Justin Tallis
Susan Foister
Glenn Lowry
Georges Pompidou
Jean-Leon Gerome
Pyramid Project
Nearly 10 million people a year pass through the Louvre, 7 million visit the British Museum, and 6 million go to the Met in New York.
A decade after an extension that saw MoMA double its capacity to 3 million visitors a year, the museum wants to grow again by tearing down an adjacent building.
The French government is asking the Louvre, Versailles and the Musee d'Orsay to follow suit.
The Musee d'Orsay's president, Guy Cogeval, agreed that finding a way to manage 3.5 million visitors annually was a priority.
(AFP/Justin Tallis)
Polling shows that many visit just one landmark museum per year, and that their average age has dropped significantly. At the Musee d'Orsay 30 percent of the visitors are under 26, and at the Louvre half are younger than 30 .
The Musee d'Orsay, for instance, was surprised to see "a lot of young people" turn up to an exhibition of works by a little-known French painter named Jean-Leon Gerome, whose paintings recalled the heroic dioramas used in video games.
So how can the museums adapt to the changing face of their visitors?
The Met's website last year received more than 26 million visits, while the National Gallery had 6 million.
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Jun. 26, 2017 | 06:30 PM
Djokovic to have Agassi in his corner throughout Wimbledon
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros - Paris - 26/05/2017 - Novak Djokovic of Serbia and his coach Andre Agassi attend a training session. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier French Open - Roland Garros
Devonshire park
Novak Djokovic will have coach Andre Agassi in his corner for as long as required at Wimbledon as the Serb tries to claim back one of his lost grand slam titles.
The 30-year-old teamed up with the eight-times major winner before the French Open, having split with his long-time coaching team.
But the American had already flown home before Djokovic crumbled against Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.
A year ago Djokovic arrived at Wimbledon as holder of all four grand slams.
Djokovic is playing a grasscourt warmup tournament for the first time in seven years and looked relaxed as he walked about in the south coast sunshine on Monday.
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Sumatra Saved My Life, Now I Want to Save Sumatra
January 04, 2016 in Travel, Wildlife
Palm plantation workers bring in a large haul of palm fruit.
The purpose of my trip to Sumatra last year was to film behind-the-scenes of Photographers Without Borders (PWB) photographer Gita Defoe’s trip to document the work of the Orangutan Information Centre (OIC). This organization is valiantly endeavouring to save rainforest and orangutans from extinction in Sumatra by doing a number of things: OIC has a rescue unit to rescue orangutans that come into conflict with humans or that are being illegally kept/trafficked; they work with another local organizations that helps rehabilitate rescued orangutans; they protect and reclaim conserved rainforest that is illegally cleared by palm oil companies; they reforest old palm plantation site and reclaimed lands; and they educate and involve local people and children in these efforts. I ended up taking a few snaps of my own along the way of documenting these activities, which you will see in the body of this story (there is also a full gallery at the end).
Our main mode of transportation through the palm plantations.
Sumatra is losing rainforest to palm oil plantations and animal agriculture so fast that it is estimated Sumatra will have no forest left in 20 years. Sumatra is currently home to thousands of people, as well as the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan, tiger, elephant and rhino. It is a difficult issue to contend with as many livelihoods now depend on palm oil. It is not easy to boycott regardless as it is disguised in so many products as "vegetable oil" (click here for a list of everyday products containing palm oil).
What OIC does is truly remarkable and I feel privileged to have been able to meet these people, whom I like to call “everyday heroes,” who work day in and day out to see that the orangutan and its forest friends are not pushed to extinction.
Queen of the forest.
Before starting we met Panut Hadisiswoyo, who is the founder of OIC and is now one of my great personal friends and heroes. He gave us an overview of the courageous work he and OIC do before we left for Gunung Leuser to track and document some of the wild and rehabilitated/released orangutans.
Darma and Katerine, Mina's eldest daughter.
Once there, our first few days were spent trekking in the Gunung Leuser National Park with our guide and new friend Darma, who also hosted us at his house for a few days. He used to work at the orangutan rehabilitation clinics, so many of the orangutans that have been rehabilitated and reintroduced to the forest recognize him fondly. He even helped deliver one of their babies once and he recalls how the orangutan mother placed the baby in his arms, signifying a very strong bond of friendship and trust.
Mina and her baby.
During our time in the jungle we learned that there are only a few thousand Sumatran orangutans left, and that palm plantations are rampantly and greedily chopping down pristine forest at rates that made me weep. We spent an enormous amount of time with an orangutan mother named Mina, her baby and her older daughter Katerine. I was blown away at how she allowed us to watch her for hours. We even walked with her through the forest as she chased tourists. When this happens it’s because some tour guides bring along bananas to satisfy their tourists, but this endangers both human and animal by making the animals dependent on humans, and makes for a very unpleasant visit to the jungle (If you ever go trekking with orangutans, get Darma to take you; if he’s not available, request a guide who respects the forest and does not tote bananas for your enjoyment). We had the most incredible experience because our amazing guide had incredible respect and reverence for the environment.
Critically endangered Sumatran elephant, the smallest elephant in the world.
We also learned that animals such as the Sumatran tiger and elephant are critically endangered, and that the Sumatran rhino is all but extinct. I felt something die in my soul after seeing these creatures up close and in the wild.
Next we went to a restoration site where our spirits were lifted. OIC spends much of their time and resources suing palm plantations that illegally chop down conserved forests, as well as reforesting these reclaimed sites. By planting many kinds of native, fast-growing species, a forest can be regenerated in a matter of years, and while new forest is never the same as old-growth forest, it is nevertheless inspiring.
Cece, a 5 year old baby orangutan who was being kept illegally in dire conditions at an amusement park before we rescued her.
The most daring part of the documentation process was when we went to an amusement park to rescue this illegally-kept 5 year old baby orangutan. We learned that these kinds of situations are especially sad because in order to acquire a baby orangutan, one must kill its mother. We called this little one Cece. We could really see how much Panut and the Human-Orangutan Conflict Rescue Unit (HOCRU) these people care about these animals. We took her to a rehabilitation centre where she will be taken care of and hopefully released back into the wild in time. We had to pay the government officials to come with us to complete the seizure as it was a Sunday, and we also had to take them to lunch and have them pose for an awkward photo (see gallery below; government officials are relatively idle on this pressing issue and this rescue would not have happened without the persistence of Panut and the OIC staff).
Peanut makes a promise to Cece that he will get her to safety.
A poorly kept pair of Sumatran orangutans at the Medan Zoo. The male can be seen clutching the bars of the house.
Again, we were reminded that not everybody can be saved when we went to the Medan Zoo to visit a pair of orangutans that Panut and his team have been trying to rescue for some time now. It was raining hard, which was a good thing since my eyes wouldn't stop crying. The poor creature sat dejected in a little green house, with no trees to climb on, and plastic bottle in hand.
OIC educates villages and future generations about how forests impact livelihoods and the environment.
Sumatra is a small island with a beautiful culture and beautiful people. It's not just animals that are suffering from human greed, but other humans as well. Palm plants take up so much water from natural aquifers that some villages have to get bottled water delivered. If this is happening now, what will the future hold? It doesn't look good.
I am now determined to give back to the forest that gave so much to me. What started as a plan to buy my own land in Sumatra has now turned into a venture among special friends who feel the same way I do. We're calling it the "Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary," and simply put, it will be a privately conserved rainforest area where wild animals can find sanctuary, migrating in and out of other areas safely, at least while on our property.
Sumatra saved my life, so now I'd like to give something back.
To read more about the Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary, click here.
To donate to the Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary, click here.
They say in 20 years Sumatra’s rainforest will be gone completely. We need to do something about this now.
Tags: Sumatra, Danielle Da Silva, Indonesia, orangutan, elephant, travel, conservation, Sumatran Wildlife Sanctuary, wildlife, wildlife conservation, Panut Hadisiswoyo, Orangutan Information Centre, rainforest
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I'm not sure I'll truly believe in a Florida-Oklahoma BCS national-title game until I see it in the official reveal tonight. It is absurd that I should be worried about Florida's place in the game.
But if it is Florida-Oklahoma, I project that the Sooners will get worked over as roughly as they have been in their past two BCS bowl games.
The fact is: Oklahoma's prolific offense -- which scored the most points in a season in D-1 history -- is complemented by an utterly porous defense, which doesn't even crack the top half in D-1.
If there is one common trait that national champions share, it is stifling defense -- at least Top 20 in the country. Florida is No. 3.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma's defense is in a competition with its offense to see who can score highest into the 60s.
So: Florida's offense can overwhelm OU's defense -- especially with Percy Harvin back. (They scored 31 points on Alabama's Top 5 defense...without Harvin.)
And Florida's defense -- again, Top 3 in the nation -- can contain Oklahoma's offense.
We have seen this before, both with Florida ('06) and with Oklahoma (the last two BCS bowl games it played in).
I wouldn't be surprised if Florida won by 20+. Florida's toughest game of the season was played last night.
(Now: Will there be a split champ? If Florida is ranked ahead of Texas in the AP poll today -- especially at No. 1, where it should be, given that it was No. 2 heading into a win over No. 1 last night -- it would be very hard for AP voters to vault Texas over Florida, unless they were simply interested in the college football equivalent of "jury nullification.")
I don't think I've ever pulled for something not involving my teams as much as I'm pulling for an Oklahoma-Texas rematch.
Ted said...
Dan, I understand your point about Oklahoma not having a great defense. But, they did hold Missouri to 21 last night. Also, their defense doesn't need to be that good. With an offense that puts up as many points as they do, it only takes a few stops to get their team a sizable lead. I'm not saying the Sooners would definitely win, but I think your early prediction of a 20+ point victory is a tad off. Remember, it's the Big 12, not the Big 10.
Also, you may want to wait until Florida actually gets in the title game before talking about it. Computers still love Texas and we have seen crazier things before.
Drunken said...
If the Gators beat the Sooners, but by a margin less than Texas did, I can see AP splitting the championship...
OU would've destroyed Alabama yesterday. There is no way they could've kept up with the Sooners offense. Florida's toughest game (if they're fortunate enough to be chosen), is still coming. Much like USC and the weak Pac-10, Florida's defensive stats are a direct result of the pathetic offenses in the SEC.
It's unfortunate for OU that Florida will have a home game for the National Championship (much like LSU in '03).
DougOLis said...
# of Top 25 Scoring Offenses Florida has played: 0
So Florida's defense didn't really have to stop any good offenses
Florida played 6 teams with decent offenses and the rest were bad
# of Top 25 Scoring Offenses Oklahoma played: 7
Now do you see why Oklahoma gave up more points than Florida?
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The Burden of Job Role Complexities
By Caterina Spinaris
While reviewing a manuscript by Bruce Perham, an Australian behavioral health provider, on trauma inherent to prison work, I was once again struck by the complex psychological demands faced by security/custody staff in today’s corrections world. In this article I specifically address complexities involved in custody staff’s dual role as keepers of safety/law enforcement and facilitators of re-entry/ rehabilitation.
Since the criminal justice pendulum has swung towards more re-entry efforts and away from sheer containment, and since custody are the staff that offenders interact with the most, custody staff’s job description has expanded. (Similar issues may be faced by probation and parole officers, and to a certain degree by non-custody staff as well.)
In addition to ensuring safety and securing offenders’ adherence to rules, custody staff are now tasked with being part of the effort to help “reprogram” offenders’ thinking toward becoming more prosocial and toward making more constructive choices. This requires the use of interpersonal skills beyond those needed in traditional custody work, such as good communication skills. Custody staff’s expected involvement with offenders now may range from empathetic listening, to giving words of affirmation or encouragement, to engaging in the application of motivational interviewing techniques or problem-solving strategies. In short, custody staff are currently expected to operate as both cops and lay counselors, both law enforcers and mentors.
The intent for promoting such dual professional roles is good. It does make eminent sense that offenders should be given every opportunity to improve themselves, so there are positive outcomes to their incarceration experience—whether they return to the community or not.
And at the same time, the expansion of the custody staff’s role increases the complexity of their work and its psychological burden on them. To understand that, the context in which custody staff operate needs to be considered.
There are two types of danger that shape corrections work, because the possibility that they may happen is ever-present: the danger of violence and the danger of being manipulated by offenders.
Custody staff’s dual professional role is expected to be carried out in a context where the potential for violence and manipulation is never eliminated. Staff may be assaulted at work, witness violence against others, and might endure verbal assaults and verbal threats on a regular basis. And they may at times encounter offender manipulation “games,” or see other staff be taken down through such “games.”
Both the possibility of violence and the possibility of manipulation can result in staff feeling apprehensive around offenders, and wanting to reduce the likelihood of their exposure to these dangers by maintaining their distance—both physically and psychologically. That is, anticipation of both these types of danger interferes with what it takes to interact with offenders in the lay counselor/mentor role, as this role requires approaching and “connecting” with offenders, not avoiding them.
So, due to their work experiences, in the brains of custody staff, at a “hard-wired,” neurological level, offenders become synonymous with danger, and are perceived to be the “enemy.” Offenders and their reminders can now trigger in staff cascades of biochemical events (through activation of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and the Sympathetic Nervous System), resulting in the fight-or-fight response. These are automatic physiological realities that happen involuntarily, and may be followed by self-protective thoughts and actions. Such reactions can happen at any time, not only in the midst of a critical incident. Under such conditions, empathetic communication and motivational interviewing techniques usually take the back seat.
Studies have shown [1], [2] that about one-third of custody staff meet PTSD criteria on valid screening instruments. That means that about a third of the custody staff have significant offender-based traumatic triggers. Similarly, having been manipulated, having witnessed other staff being manipulated, or merely being concerned about that happening, can cause custody staff to experience anxiety and/or hostility when interacting with offenders.
Yet, the custody staff’s expanded role now includes being supportive to those who trigger fight-or-flight alarms in their brain.
Asking custody staff to put their physiological and psychological reactions aside, and to be impartially and objectively available to offenders in a helping role, is a very complex expectation. It places a considerable psychological burden on custody staff, especially if self-regulation and interpersonal skills are not their strong suit. That is, custody staff are tasked with overriding their apprehensions or frustrations regarding offenders, and instead building rapport with them within a professional relationship.
Such behaviors necessitate that custody staff exercise supreme self-control, superb management of their emotions and thoughts, and effective processing of high-stress events on an ongoing basis, if they are to be able to interact daily with offenders with a clean slate. It takes a tremendous amount of self-regulation skills to be able to be genuinely supportive to those perceived to be “the enemy.”
("Professional rapport” with offenders in corrections work refers to a one-way relationship of staff tending to offenders’ needs, while maintaining their own professional boundaries —not disclosing personal information to offenders, and not looking to them to meet their own personal needs or wants. This type of rapport is unlike the usual relationships in the “free world,” which are based on mutual disclosing, and a degree of mutual dependence and trust. Custody staff’s professional rapport with offenders must be more akin to the relationship of psychotherapists with clients. Therapists focus on client needs and show empathy, but self-disclose minimally, and do not seek to meet personal needs or wants through their clients. Maintaining such tight professional boundaries requires self-awareness and self-discipline, and adds to the psychological burden of the custody staff’s job.)
And to be effective as law enforcers in addition to mentors, custody staff must interact with offenders as helpers while also remaining vigilant, on guard, keeping “emergency preparedness plans” at the forefront of their mind at all times, in case violence does break out or in case they become the target of a “game.”
It is not suggested here that it is impossible for the dual mindsets of self-preservation and supportiveness to co-exist. It IS possible, especially in work environments where there is not a lot of violence. However, having these two mind-sets, and switching from one to the other according to situational demands, is hard to do. It takes above average skillfulness, motivation and tenacity to be able to pull it off, especially in the long run.
One way to address these issues is to provide training to staff that emphasizes self-regulation and interpersonal skills, and maintaining professional boundaries. Administrators can begin to address these matters at the hiring/screening stage, selecting candidates that demonstrate a proclivity for skillful self-management and communication. Such selection of new staff needs to be followed with training on self-regulation and interpersonal skills, and professional boundary setting.
If this dual-role difficulty is not acknowledged at the administrative level, and if staff are not supported and trained regarding their complex job roles, it is likely that some may deal with this job requirement by simply “going through the motions,” only paying lip service to the expectation that they function in a supportive role toward offenders. Others who experience negative interactions with offenders (including violent incidents or manipulation attempts) may pull back, opting to operate along the containment part of their job only. Such behaviors are understandable, when the neuropsychology of traumatic/high-stress reactions is taken into consideration, and coupled with the lack of “emotional intelligence” skills training.
Given the complexity of what custody staff are asked to do, it is critical to validate staff’s dilemma (self-preservation vs. helpfulness), and provide officers with support and ongoing specialized training on how to fulfill both of their key job requirements in today’s corrections world—and how to do so well.
Author's Note: I thank Brent Parker for reviewing an earlier version of this article and for providing thoughtful comments and suggestions, which were incorporated in the article’s final version.
This article as been reprinted with permission from the March 2018 Issue of Correctional Oasis, a monthly e-publication of "Desert Waters Correctional Outreach".
Editor's note: Caterina Spinaris is the Executive Director at Desert Waters Correctional Outreach and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Colorado. She continues to contribute to the field of corrections staff well-being individually and organizationally, in particularly regarding issues of traumatic stress due to exposure to violence, injury, death on the job, and also issues of organizational climate improvement.
Visit the Caterina Spinaris page
Other articles by Spinaris:
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Carnival Corp’s claim taken to task
david 2019-03-16T13:58:55+00:00 March 16th, 2019|Ships|
In an article published recently in TradeWinds, Carnival Corp claimed that it has switched all of its cruise ships sailing to the Arctic from burning heavy fuel oil to low-sulfur marine gasoil.
Since December, 2016, international environmental organisations involved in the ‘Clean Up Carnival’ coalition have been calling on the cruise giant to reduce its environmental and human health impacts by ending its use and carriage of HFO.
“If true, (this) announcement makes Carnival Corp the first major cruise company to pledge this kind of commitment to protecting the Arctic. Stand.earth applauds this as an important step in the right direction, and a move that puts the shipping sector on the pathway to a truly heavy fuel oil-free Arctic.
“Now Carnival should take the next logical step to ensure that none of its ships travelling to the region are carrying heavy fuel oil on board,” said Kendra Ulrich, Senior Shipping Campaigner, Stand.earth.
However, when this change actually took place remains unclear, the environmentalists claim. They said that Carnival made contradictory statements to TradeWinds in October, 2018 that it uses HFO and exhaust gas scrubbers to power its cruise ships in the Arctic, while the latest announcement claimed Carnival had been using marine gasoil to power its ships in the Arctic since late 2016.
Due to the conflicting statements, the coalition said it remained cautiously optimistic, but asked Carnival to release its data on ship fuel use beginning in 2016.
“In the interest of transparency, Carnival should release its fuel logs to show the world it has been, and will continue to be, a leader in getting heavy fuel oil out of this fragile Arctic ecosystem,”Ulrich said.
Carnival’s announcement likely applies only to ships sailing within Arctic waters as defined by the IMO. Only nine Carnival-owned ships travel to IMO-defined Arctic waters, while 49 Carnival-owned ships travel north of the 50th parallel to the wider geographic Arctic, sub-Arctic, and Alaska.
“Switching to a cleaner fuel while still carrying heavy fuel oil on board doesn’t address the concerns about the long-term impact of a spill of this thick, tar-like oil in this fragile region. Multiple Arctic countries, as well as indigenous leaders and organisations, have called for an end to heavy fuel oil in this region. The only appropriate response that respects the will of the people who have called this place home for tens of thousands of years is to stop bringing heavy fuel oil to the Arctic altogether,” said Verner Wilson III, Senior Oceans Campaigner with Friends of the Earth US and member of the Curyung Tribe.
Carnival Corp is the largest fee-paying member of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and Carnival CEO, Arnold Donald sits on CLIA’s board. CLIA regularly participates in international policy negotiations at the IMO, where member states are working toward a global ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic.
With this announcement, the ‘Clean Up Carnival’ coalition is asking CLIA to follow Carnival’s example and fully support a ban.
The Clean Arctic Alliance, a coalition of 18 non-profit organisations calling for a ban on the use and carriage of HFO in Arctic waters because of the impact of spills and higher emissions of black carbon contributing to melting sea ice, also welcomed the news.
“With the IMO’s Arctic ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil on the horizon, and measures to reduce black carbon emissions from shipping currently under discussion at the IMO, Carnival’s decision to not use heavy fuel oil lays down a challenge to all Arctic shipping operators. Banning the world’s dirtiest fuel from Arctic shipping is the simplest and easiest way to reduce the risks of long-lasting, damaging oil spills, and will result in a significant reduction in emissions of black carbon, which exacerbates sea ice melt when it settles on snow and ice. Now it’s up to Arctic operators to meet Carnival’s challenge, by making the switch to cleaner fuels,” added Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance.
‘Clean Up Carnival’ members include Stand.earth (North America); Transport & Environment (Europe); Friends of the Earth US; Pacific Environment (North America and Asia); and ECODES25 (Spain).
As for the IMO, at the February Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR6) meeting, this Sub-Committee began work to develop measures to reduce the risks of use and carriage of HFO in Arctic waters.
A draft methodology for analysing impacts of a ban on HFO for the use and carriage as fuel by ships in Arctic waters was agreed. The meeting invited submissions to PPR 7, especially those by Arctic States, containing impact assessments guided by but not limited to the methodology.
The methodology sets out five steps to assess the impact of a ban. Specific analyses that are detailed include: determination of the study area; assessment of the costs to Arctic indigenous and local communities and industries; assessment of the benefits of an HFO ban to Arctic indigenous and local communities and ecosystems; and consideration of other factors that could either ameliorate adverse impacts of a ban or accommodate specific situations.
Meanwhile, last month, an IMO correspondence group was instructed to develop guidelines on measures to reduce risks of use and carriage of HFO in Arctic waters. The guidance could include sections on navigational measures; ship operations; infrastructure (onshore and offshore) and communications; enhanced preparedness for emergencies of oil spills, early spill detection and response; drills and training; and economic assessment of potential measures.
PPR6 also identified a number of potential control measures to reduce the impact on the Arctic of black carbon emissions from international shipping.
A simplified compilation of the identified control measures was forwarded to MEPC 74, due to meet in May. The Committee was asked to provide instruction on further work on the reduction of the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping.
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Film: Phnom Penh, Rescue Archaeology
« HIFF Film: SWEET 20 (Em là bà noi cua anh)
Talk: Malay Theatre Traditions: Mak Yong and Wayang Kelantan »
Phnom Penh, Rescue Archaeology: The Body and the Lens in the City presents a collection of video and performance works produced by ten Cambodian artists since 2010. The concept for this film was derived from the 2013 exhibition Phnom Penh, Rescue Archaeology: Contemporary Art and Urban Change in Cambodia in the ifa in Berlin and Stuttgart. In this film, contemporary Cambodian arts capture and critically engage with the rapid urbanization that has recently transformed the architecture, environment, and culture of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.
Features the following works:
Khmer Arts/Studio Revolt ‘s Neang Neak
Svay Sareth’s Mon Boulet
Khvay Samnang’s Untitled
Khvay Samnang’s Where Is My Land?
Anida Yoeu Ali’s Enter the Ruins series or Buddhist Bug series
The films will be followed by a discussion led by University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Art History professors Jaimey Hamilton, Associate Professor of Art History and Critical Theory and Paul Lavy, Associate Professor of South and Southeast Asian Art History.
Curated by Erin Gleeson, Curator and Founding Artistic Director of SA SA BASSAC in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Art Exhibit, Film
Art, Cambodia, Discussion, Exhibit, Film, Phnom Penh
http://www.hawaii.edu/art/exhibitions+events/exhibitions/?p=1733
Department of Art & Art History
http://www.hawaii.edu/art/index.html
John Young Museum of Art
2500 Dole Street
Honolulu , 96822 United States + Google Map
http://www.hawaii.edu/johnyoung-museum/
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By Laura Aasland PLAY, Pure Culture Honey March 27, 2017
Kamala Khan – The Hero This World Needs
In February of 2014, Kamala Khan debuted in her first series as the new Miss Marvel. She was the first Muslim character to have their own series in the history of Marvel. While there may have been tensions when she first premiered, Kamala has gone on to become one of the most beloved comic book characters in Marvel’s pantheon. As Miss Marvel, Kamala continues the legacy of those who came before her, but she offers a fresh take, a contemporary look at what superheroes should be. She is the face of the current generation, those raised in a global, postmodern world.
One of the things that makes Kamala Khan great is that while she brings diversity to Marvel, being a Pakistani-American, she never comes across as a token character. Kamala is a well-developed heroine with multiple facets to her personality. Kamala struggles as all teenagers do with trying to find a place in the world to belong. Oftentimes her background makes her the “weird” kid in the crowd, but that does not mean she disrespects or rejects her roots. Fatemeh Fakhraie, founder of Muslimah Media Watch, a diversity advocacy group, told Al Jazeera America that, “She is going to be a window into the American Muslim experience” and that she “normalizes this idea of the American experience as Muslim.” Kamala’s journey as Miss Marvel is not primarily about being Muslim, but this does affect her journey, just as Matt Murdock’s life as Daredevil is colored by his Catholic upbringing.
The fact that Kamala is American born and bred is just as vital to her identity. She has a deep love for America, especially her neighborhood of Jersey City, and defends it tenaciously. This is another way in which Kamala’s life is different from most big-name heroes. As Wilson, the writer of Kamala’s original series, said, “A huge aspect of Ms. Marvel is being a ‘second string hero’ in the ‘second string city’ and having to struggle out of the pathos and emotion that can give a person.” Being from Jersey City gives Kamala a special grit and determination that’s not often seen with the heavyweight heroes.
Probably the best thing of all about Kamala is how relatable she is. Kamala is a GINORMOUS geek. In a world where superheroes are real, she does exactly what we readers do: writes fanfics about them, ships different superheroes together and geeks out whenever she meets an actual hero in person. It’s awesome to see Kamala get her superpowers and grow into a superhero because it feels like we the readers are going through the journey ourselves. Dan Slott described Kamala as “the closest character to classic Peter Parker (Spiderman),” saying, “She’s a teenage superhero, juggling her life, making mistakes, trying to do everything right.” At her core, Kamala is just a normal teenage girl and that’s part of what makes her so awesome.
It’s great to see Kamala mature as each new chapter of her story unfolds. While she takes on the mantle of Miss Marvel, Kamala soon realizes that she is not the same as Carol Danvers, the previous Miss Marvel. She is a different person from Carol, with different strengths and goals. After joining the Avengers, a dream come true for Kamala, she eventually finds her priorities diverging from those of her older comrades. She leaves the Avengers and forms the Champions, a team focused on social reform and empowerment rather than using violence as their primary weapon against injustice. I believe this is the perfect place for Kamala at this point in her journey: a young, diverse team working together to determine what sort of change they want to see in their world.
Many things change in the world of Marvel and heroes come and go, but it looks like Kamala Khan is here to stay. Kamala is beloved by so many because she speaks for so many people in our world today: women, Muslims, immigrants, social justice warriors… the list goes on. Kamala’s spunk and heart bring joy wherever she goes, and that is why she is celebrated this Women’s History Month as a shining light in our world today.
You can also read about more of Kamala’s adventures with her current team, the Champions!
Comic BooksMarvelPop Culture!PURE CULTURE HONEY!!Superheroes!
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Home Business US gathers great Asian democracies to its side
US gathers great Asian democracies to its side
Posted By: RAJOWAN Son: September 30, 2015 11:26 am In: Business, Common, Expo & Conferences, Global News, Military & Defense, NRB, Politics
e-News® | The NEWS Company…NEW YORK, Sept 30, 2015 : The United States took a moment Tuesday to gather the great Asian democracies to its side to reassure them of the strength of their ties in the face of North Korean threats and an assertive China.
New threats from Pyongyang, ominous economic signals and China’s aggressive stance on its territorial claims in the South China Sea and the Pacific have sent jitters through the region. President Barack Obama’s administration has long talked about a “rebalancing” in America’s strategic focus, the so-called “pivot to Asia,” but has often been distracted by crises elsewhere. Officials say 21st century America will be as much a Pacific power as an Atlantic one, but in recent months Syria, Ukraine, Iran and Cuba have used up a lot of diplomatic bandwidth.
So on Tuesday in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, senior officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea met to renew their ties and show a common front. Later in the day, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj of India, the world’s largest democracy and a growing economic partner of the United States, was also to meet her US and Japanese counterparts. “The primary purpose of this is to recognize that the region is going through certain challenges, but also faces major opportunities,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
Kerry cited negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a major free trade deal — as a chance to deepen economic ties, and North Korea’s rogue regime as an immediate danger to the region. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida agreed, calling the security environment “very severe” and stressing the importance of the US-Japan and US-South Korea military alliances. After the first annual US-India-Japan trilateral meeting, the US camp said: “The three countries agreed to work together to maintain maritime security through greater collaboration.”
This will include Japanese forces joining Indian and US naval vessels on the Malabar 2015 training exercise next month. South Korea’s foreign minister, Yun Byung-se, said the meeting came “at a very critical juncture, when the eyes of the world are set on the major challenges involving all of us.” He said the talks would send a “very clear” message to North Korea in particular not to provoke the allies.
Tags: US gathers great Asian democracies to its side
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The First Thing You Unpack
Am looking after a kitten in a Golders Green house for one night. The owners are a US couple, a detail borne out by one notable omission in the kitchen. There is no electric kettle. Just a coffee machine.
Neither person is a tea drinker. When visitors have asked for a cup they use the microwave oven to boil a cupful of water. Asking around the modern hive mind that is Twitter and Facebook, I learn that this substitute method is quite common for US households entertaining British guests.
In fact, I now know that in the US electric kettles are a distinctly rare kitchen appliance. Stove top kettles are a more likely choice for the mere 4 per cent of Americans who drink tea. One reason is the difference in mains voltage – 120v in the US, compared to the UK’s 240v – doubling the boiling time for electric kettles in the States. But there’s the whole ritualistic connotations of boiling an electric kettle that the US doesn’t have: it’s what you’re meant to do during a TV advertising break (fewer of those in the UK per hour of TV, making it more of a big deal). It’s something you can easily set up in a room without a cooker: offices, student rooms, hotel rooms.
Suddenly fascinated by this subject, I chat to people online and find that one US store, Target, does stock affordable electric kettles on their website, though they’re not always in the physical shops.
From a Brit who lived in LA: “After months of no joy at even Target I finally bought a new one in a Persian market on the westside of LA. Ridiculous.”
From a Brit in Arizona: “Been here 4 yrs and only spotted electric kettles within the last six months, at Target. In Arizona you make ‘Sun Tea’, teabags in water and leave it outside to brew.”
Target’s item description has one sentence that would never appear on a UK listing:
“- Boils faster than a microwave”
And by way of a counterpart appliance, I had this from an American in the UK:
“It took me nearly a decade to find a reasonably-priced decent waffle iron in Britain, which is standard kit in any US kitchen shop.”
But for me the most defining aspect of the electric kettle is its importance during one of the most stressful and defining experiences in life: moving house.
As one Brit reminds me:
“When you hire boxes from a moving company, the ‘how to pack’ instructions tell you to leave the kettle till last.”
And from another Brit:
“That’s exactly how it is: electric kettle packed last, and first item to be plugged-in. That first cup makes it feel you’ve arrived.”
Thanks to everyone on Twitter and Facebook for the enlightenment. Quotes from Stuart Nathan, Sophie Heawood, Caroline Corbett, @eighths, @cybermango.
Tags: americanness, britishness, electric kettles, englishness, Lovely Americans, tea, US/UK differences
What To Celebrate
To become a UK citizen, the British government requires all applicants to make the following Affirmation of Allegiance:
“I (name) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her Heirs and Successors, according to law.”
(Source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/applying/ceremony/)
There’s also a lengthy Citizenship Test to take about Life In The UK. Sample questions are:
– Where are Geordie, Cockney and Scouse dialects spoken?
– What and when are the Patron Saints’ Days of the four countries of the UK?
– What are bank holidays?
Well, they’re what we’ve just had, two previous weekends in a row. As a child, I associated bank holidays with a couple of things that always popped up on TV: James Bond films, and ‘Disney Time’, a special programme of clips from Disney movies, linked by a British presenter (Jimmy Tarbuck is the only one I can remember. There must have been others).
This most recent bank holiday weekend felt like a real life Disney film followed by a real life Bond Movie.
On the Friday, a royal Prince – William – married a non-royal girl – Kate Middleton – making her a Princess (Actually, due to those funny rules about heirs and bloodlines she was made a Duchess, but it was good enough). I can’t help thinking of the last woman to get a Royal Wedding at Westminster Abbey – Sarah Ferguson – and how she was excommunicated from this event, while her children were invited instead. It’s suggested that she had her revenge by supplying her daughters with particularly bizarre hats.
Modern ways: I don’t have a TV, but watch the service on the internet, while enjoying the real-time jokey comments from people on Twitter. I enjoy the Abbey music and the sense of history, but find myself wincing at the more jarring anachronisms. The service includes the phrase “I pronounce you man and wife”, rather than the more up-to-date ‘husband and wife’.
After that, I go down to the Not The Royal Wedding street party in Red Lion Square, Holborn. It’s organised by the pressure group Republic, who are keen to abolish the British monarchy by campaigning through the proper democratic channels, rather than anything that might get them arrested. Actually, that seems to be easier than ever right now: anarchists in Soho Square are bundled away by the police while the wedding is going on, purely for singing “We All Live In A Fascist Regime” to the tune of ‘Yellow Submarine’. Thus rather proving their own point. The reported charges are pure Thought Crime: “on suspicion of planning a breach of the peace”.
One time-honoured tradition of Royal Weddings is the souvenir mug, and the Republic movement has their own for sale today: it bears the slogan “I’m Not a Royal Wedding Mug”. They sell out by the time I arrive. But the Republic lot are keen to point out that they wish William and Kate no ill will personally. This isn’t about heckling a couple in love’s wedding – how mean-spirited that would be – but gently raising awareness that many Britons aren’t happy with the whole monarchy set-up. Keep the weddings, and the titles, though. Says one female organiser “I am anti-monarchy, but I still want to see the dress. I’m still a girl.”
Also at the party is a stall where one can pledge allegiance to something British other than the Queen, in a reference to the aforementioned UK Citizenship requirements. The pledges take the form of triangular bits of paper pinned to the railings of Red Lion Square – a witty take on bunting. There’s quite a few pledges to Doctor Who by children, some to London, and quite a lot to tea. I pledge my own allegiance to Tim Berners-Lee, the British inventor of the Web, without whom these words wouldn’t have their readership, there’d be no Royal Wedding on the Internet, or Twitter, or Facebook, or so much of what the world depends on today. Bring out the bunting for British inventors, I say.
One of the organisers recognises me and takes my photo:
Then on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday, with the news of Osama Bin Laden, we got the Bond film: a villain craving world domination tracked down by the good guys in his secret lair, then meeting a violent end. It’s not reported if the soldiers who dispatched Bin Laden did so with a corny Roger Moore pun, but The Sun obliges with its front page the next morning: “BIN BAGGED”. The news shows footage of young Americans in Times Square shouting “USA! USA!” in jubilation at the news.
English people are obviously glad to hear of a terrorist leader put ‘beyond use’ as they say now, but cheering and shouting “ENGLAND! ENGLAND!” in the streets for any reason other than football is thought to be A Bit Much. That most English trait of all: fear of bad social etiquette. Celebrate a wedding, not a killing.
Tags: americans, bin laden, englishness, royal wedding
Unknown Pleasures: The Varicose Remix
To Cad & The Dandy in Hanover Square for a second tailored suit: this time for summer wear. Mohair, two button, light navy blue: their recommendation as an alternative to linen. The trouble with linen suits is their tendency to look utterly creased and grubby within minutes. Which I don’t mind so much, but I’m curious about the mohair argument and as a known-suit fancier I think I should own one.
C&D were featured in an article on the summer suit debate in City AM, which a kind colleague on the night shift had put aside for me. The sentiment ‘I saw this and thought of you’ is responsible for about 90% of my wardrobe, and indeed my library.
At the Whittington Hospital’s Imaging Department the other day for an ultrasound on my left leg. A decade after the removal of a large varicose vein, it’s come back to haunt me once more. Dad is apologetic about this, as it’s his family’s hereditary condition. I tell him not to feel bad, that it’s a small price to pay for the privilege of being his son. Being English, I can’t let this statement hover for too long and quickly add, ‘And thanks for the full head of hair.’
So here I am again, back at the Whittington a decade later. I stand on a footstool in my underwear while a lady engineer applies the gel and the plastic thing on a wire and insists I look at the screen. I can’t make out what she’s referring to, and the only comment that springs to mind is ‘Isn’t there a Joy Division sleeve that looks like this?’
She says it’s good news: the new vein is operable after all.
‘You’ll be able to wear shorts again!’ she beams.
Tags: cad & the dandy, englishness, mohair, suits, varicose tiresomeness
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Tag Archives: Noel Fielding
BBC2….QI XL Kit and Kaboodle
As we all go through life we generally collect more than we let go, relationships, assets, debts, regrets, memories, kids and also lots and lots of sometimes useful, sometimes useless facts as well as things we think are facts but actually aren’t.
The last two things we collect for almost no reason other than we can’t stop collecting them, we find interesting, and maybe even that we live in hope that we might just one day we could catch an edition of the QI and smugly say to friends or family as Stephen Fry reels out some incredibly obscure snippet of information “yes, I knew that, you guys might be surprised but I knew that all along that there are 15 Marsupials for every Australian alive.”
If you are a fan of the all things factual you would no doubt know that BBC2′s QI (Quite Interesting) is back for its eleventh series, the K Series.
I find the show, for want of a better descriptive phrase, quite interesting but only when the panel is a good mix of comedic talent and purveyors of esoteric nuggets of information. Masters of this fine balance are folks like David Mitchell , Sandi Toksvig and Bill Bailey
Sometimes like this episode there is too much “comedic” talent at the expense of amusing but informative anecdotes or contributions from the panel. The “over-comedic” panel was the Australian comic Colin Lane, Ross Noble and Noel Fielding , alongside Stephen Fry and his regular sidekick Alan Davies .
One interesting nugget at the beginning of the show was the connection between Colin Lane, Alan Davies, Stephen Fry and Noel Fielding. Colin Lane was the winner of the prestigious Perrier Comedy award at the Edinburgh festival in 1994, and who was the runner up? None other than Alan Davies. Alan Davies recounted how on a trip to Australia he stayed at Colin’s house in Melbourne and woke up one morning to find the Perrier award on his beside, a bit of one-upmanship from Colin.
To add to the panel’s award related navel grazing Stephen reminded how he had won the inaugural Perrier award, and that Noel Fielding had won the best newcomer in 1998. With the panel’s ego suitable massaged the programme proper began.
The edition was amusing in parts, but was largely dominated by Ross Noble’s scatter gun comedy, you could sense almost at times some exasperation on Stephen Fry’s part as he wanted to push on with the programme but had to wait as Ross unleashed another bout of Zany-ness. Noel Fielding was also a culprit in the zany-ness, the difference was Ross was occasionally funny, Noel just wasn’t.
Alan was Alan, happy and comfortable in his role being a counterfoil to Stephen. Colin was quite quiet and probably just overwhelmed by all the Zany-ness flying about. He did tell a good joke on how you would know you are being followed by a Gay Shark.
Some of the facts we learnt.
Cat litter (or kitty litter to fit in with the “K” theme) was used by American tobacco manufacturers to bulk up to cigars as it was cheap, odourless, burnt and was tax free.
Churchill put a needle in his cigars so the ash never fell away and created increasingly long finger of ash at the end of the cigar often mesmerising his audience.
Mint cake was not, as many people would assume, the thing that made Kendal famous, rather it has had the longest running snuff manufacturing in the world starting back in in 1750
The 18th century courtesan Kitty Fisher was reputed to be the first celebrity in modern British history on account of her having gone “commando” in St James Park, London.
The follies of the British K Class submarine were discussed. A submarine which relied on a steam engine submarine and thus needed funnels, a clear disadvantage in a submarine’s design especially when diving.
Flat-pack furniture was invented in 1956. One of the first Ikea employees, Gillis Lundgren, came up with the idea of flat-pack furniture when he took the legs off a table to transport it in a car.
Although the word salary is derived from salt, Roman soldiers were never paid in salt.
Tags: Alan Davies, BBC2, Bill Bailey, Colin Lane, David Mitchell, Kitty Fisher, Noel Fielding, QI, Ross Noble, Sandi Toksvig, Stephen Fry
Categories BBC2, Comedy
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ARTICLE / SHORT READ
KISS - A LOVE STORY
FRANCK AUBRY AND JOSEPH HODGSON / 2012
PUBLISHED 24 JUL 2017
KISS - A LOVE STORY is a short, dialogue-free 3D-animation about the sun and moon’s tender meeting in the form of an eclipse. As a film with no identifiable characters and a limited narrative, how can it fit into what we define as a short film? If there is seemingly no story, is KISS nothing more than a video art piece fuelled by appealing aesthetics?
KISS is described by the filmmakers as “a love story plain and simple, personified by the sun and moon and told as a solar eclipse”. The team originally considered adding subtle facial features to help personify the spatial beings but eventually decided to leave the personalities of the two entities up to its audience. As a result, the film is immediately engaging as we are forced to use our own imaginations to picture what is happening on screen, imagining how exactly these two solar beings could possibly be “kissing”.
The way in which the narrative unfurls within KISS is unique. There is no conflict driving the short but the characters are shown to be polar opposites, visually represented by the stark and limited colour palette the film begins with. The moon is moody and grey while the sun is shining white. This suggests a rivalry of sorts as the oppositional planets orbit one another, with their blank surfaces allowing audiences to imagine if they are fuelled by hatred or love as they float ever closer. These emotional possibilities may be difficult to read but the film does present a clear answer as the sun and moon begin to intertwine.
As an eclipse begins, the planets reach out to one another, sending cascading tendrils of desire to one another. We witness this moment from afar before being submerged into the monochromatic fusion. This is where the “kiss” in the title comes from. Although no lips are present, the fusion of the sun and moon feels intimate, sparking romance in the surreal nothingness of outer space. The contrasting colours beautifully marry in a shower of light and dark and, after a moment of silence, a firework sound signals the success of the eclipse. After this delicate moment, colour rains down upon the world, filling the previously greyscale landscape with life.
There is not necessarily a meaning to take away from KISS, it exists to allow the viewer to relish in its beautiful visuals, aided by the haunting soundtrack that melts into the world of the short. The engaging beauty of KISS creates a bond with the audience; even if we don’t understand what is happening, we still ultimately feel something. KISS feels simultaneously homely and other-worldly, creating familiarity without the comfort of language or colour. We have little grasp of narrative other than our own interpretations, which Aubry and Hodgson suggest was their intention all along. For the directing duo, any time spent pondering their mysterious short film is a success as it means an emotional response - positive or negative - was achieved. This, for a seemingly characterless silent short, is a victory.
Watch KISS - A LOVE STORY here
More short reads about SHORT >>>
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Diving Nassau
Home | Locations | Caribbean | Bahamas | Nassau
Country: Bahamas Area: Bahamas
Visibility: 24 - 30m (79 - 98 ft)
Lobster March
Turquoise water, soft powdery white sand beaches, world-class casinos, duty free shopping, and succulent seafood draw hundreds of thousands to Nassau, Bahamas every year. The Bahamian capital and tourist hot spot is located on New Providence Island, 290km (156 miles) southeast of Miami, Florida.
During the seventeenth century, Nassau was the home of a ‘Privateer’s Republic’. Edward Teach, alias ‘Blackbeard’ took over the job of town magistrate. Many infamous pirates, including Anne Bonney, Mary Read, and Calico Jack Rackham, made Nassau their home base.
After England banned the slave trade in the early 1800s, royal navy ships started intercepting slave ships in route to America. The West Africans were set free in Nassau. Their descendants make up a large percentage of the population today.
During prohibition, Nassau ran a wildly successful liquor smuggling business. The people of the Bahamas have always had a very independent spirit. They like to make their own rules. They are also a warm and welcoming people with a rich culture. Their smiles can lift the spirit and their laid-back lifestyle and focus on family reminds us of what is truly important.
Nassau Coral Credit
The Bahamas National Trust, a non-profit organization that manages the island nation’s 27 national parks, is headquartered in Nassau. Since the early 1950’s, many MPAs (marine protected areas) have been established in the effort to protect the coral reefs and keep fish populations healthy.
Other non-profit organizations like The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), The Nature Conservancy, The Creator’s Project, and Mission Blue are making great strides in marine conservation through scientific monitoring, habitat restoration projects, invasive species removal, and educational outreach.
Many global volunteer organizations provide opportunities to get a hands-on, fins-on experience in on-going conservation projects.
Nassau has a subtropical climate with an average of 340 days of sunshine during the year. The ocean breezes moderate the humidity. From December through May, air temperatures are 18°C - 25°C (65°F - 77°F). From June through August, they are 24°C - 33°C (75°F - 91°F). The waters are warm and generally calm throughout the year. The dive season is year round. Even in the rainy season, the water is crystal clear. This amazing visibility is due to virtually no runoff from the land, whose porous limestone absorbs nearly all precipitation.
Hurricane season is from June through November, although the likelihood of a storm is greatest from August through November.
The Diving
Nassau sits along the edge of the ‘Tongue of the Ocean’, a deep ocean trench that runs between Andros and New Providence, in crystal clear waters. The ‘Tongue of the Ocean’ drops off to a staggering 2,000m (6,600ft.). The sheer wall and deep water provide adrenaline packed diving.
On the south and east of the island are miles and miles of shallow water peppered with shipwrecks and coral reefs.
Over the last twenty years, many ships have been strategically sunk to serve as artificial reef, making Nassau the unofficial artificial reef capital in the Bahamas. One dive site, the Steel Forest, has three wrecks positioned side-by-side 26m (85ft.) deep. Here, you are likely to see grouper, barracuda and moray eels. Numbers of small colourful reef fish have declined here because of the exploding lionfish population. Native to the Indo-Pacific, this invasive species has spread across the Caribbean and up the east coast of the United States.
Reef Sharks, Goliath Groupers and Nassau Groupers attack a bait ball Credit
Many of the wrecks around Nassau were sunk for use as a movie set. Experience a bit of movie history when you dive the Bond Wrecks. Resting on the bottom is the shipwreck, “Tears of Allah”, used in the James Bond movie “Never Say Never Again” and the “Thunderball” airplane wreck used in the movie “Thunderball”. Parrotfish, snapper, nurse sharks and schools of thousands of silversides make these wrecks their home.
A twin Cessna airplane used in the movie “Jaws IV, The Revenge” sits in 14m (45ft.) of water, close to the nearby Nari Nari Reef. A variety of hard and soft corals, turtles, eagle rays, and the occasional Hammerhead shark can be seen here. At the base of the Nari Nari Reef sits an abandoned shark cage.
The Creators’ Project is a partnership between Intel and VICE (world’s top youth media company). Their mission is to “celebrate visionary artists across multiple disciplines who are using technology in innovative ways to push the boundaries of creative expression”. Through a joint effort with The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), the Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden was created. The biggest underwater sculpture on earth, Jason deClaires Taylor’s 60 ton ‘Bahamian Ocean Atlas’ was installed in October, 2014. The statue joins Andret John’s ‘Lucayan Faces’ and Willicey Tynes’ ‘Virtuoso Man’.
A Nassau Grouper Credit
The Elkhorn Gardens is a dive site that was used in the filming of “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea”. With a maximum depth of 25m (82ft.), the gardens are filled with elkhorn, star, and brain coral; purple tube sponges, orange elephant ear sponges, sea fans, and gorgonians; angelfish, grouper, snapper and masses of colourful reef fish; turtles, Caribbean reef sharks, and morays. This site is a photographers delight.
The Lost Blue Hole lays 16km (10 miles) east of Nassau, at a depth of 12m (40ft.). The hole is approximately 30m (100ft.) across and 91m (300ft.) deep. Coral heads wrap around the entire perimeter. The sheltered walls of the crater provide habitat to sea turtles, Nassau grouper, Caribbean reef sharks and schools of French angelfish.
Shark Dives have become such a popular experience that most dive shops offer one or more of these thrilling dives.
The “March of the Spiny Lobster” is one of the oceans most spectacular migrations. In response to the first polar storm front of the fall, lobsters leave their ledges and overhangs, emerging by the thousands to march single file toward deeper water. Each lobster protects the one in front of it, and in this way, they march for days. Seemingly oblivious or fearless, they will march right over the top of a diver who lies down in their path
Nassau is the point of departure for many of the live aboard dive trips in the Bahamas. The live aboard vessels typically head out to the Exumas, Bimini, Andros, Grand Bahama, and the Berries.
Dive Centers in Nassau
Bahama Divers
Blackbeard Cruises
Nassau Scuba Dive
Sandals Resort
Stuart Cove's Dive
The Lynden Pindling International Airport, the largest in the islands, is served by most major commercial airlines as well as being a major hub for Bahamasair. A number of small aircraft charter services are also available. There is currently no public transport available at the airport. Taxis can take you the 16km (9.0 miles) into Nassau.
Prince George Wharf, the main port in Nassau, serves as the receiving port for cruise ships, a very popular way to visit Nassau. The port can accommodate up to seven cruise ships at a time.
A solitary Ocean Trigger Fish Credit
Water taxis are a great way to get around Nassau and take of tour of the island at the same time.
Rental cars are available through most major car rental agencies. Remember, British driving rules apply (stay to the left) and the Bahamian people drive with wild abandon. For this reason, bicycle rental is not a good idea.
Jitneys (mini-buses) make up the public transportation system. Inexpensive and inconvenient, they provide a glimpse of the authentic local culture. The jitneys stop operating by 7pm.
The majority of restaurants, bars and nightclubs can be found on Paradise Island. From a quick snack to fine dining, from casual alfresco to buffet style for the whole family, Nassau Paradise Island has it all.
Arawak Cay, on the north shore of Providence Island is the home of a community of locals who specialize in conch dishes. Called The Fish Fry, this string of brightly colored restaurants is the perfect place to grab a snack or lunch, experience authentic Bahamian cuisine, and get to know the locals.
For contemporary Mediterranean-influenced cuisine in a romantic setting, try the Courtyard Terrace. Graycliff Restaurant, the first five-star restaurant in the islands, boasts an award-winning wine cellar and internationally celebrated chef. For a taste of southern Italy infused with Bahamian, try Casa D’Angelo in the Atlantis resort.
Anthony’s Grill, The Clubhouse at the Ocean Club Golf Course, the O’Grille and the Point Restaurant and Bar are just a few of the casual dining options. The Mosaic and Seagrapes, both at the Atlantis resort, serve extensive buffets featuring cuisines from around the world.
The Atlantis Casino is the Caribbean’s largest, 18,288 sq. km (60,000 sq. ft.) of table games, tournaments, slot machines, and other gaming experiences. At the top of the grand staircase, The Aura, an upscale, glass-floor dance club is all about decadent luxury and entertainment.
Fun opportunities exist outside of the Atlantis Resort, as well. Try a fresh fruit daiquiri at The Daiquiri Shack, dance the night away at Bambu, or stop by Sharkeez Tiki Bar for a late night snack, cold drink and a bit of people watching.
Dolphin encounters, sightseeing and fishing charters, sailing charters, parasailing, and seaplane tours are popular activities in and around the water. On land in Nassau, you will find beautiful beaches, gardens full of lush tropical plants, museums, historical ruins, art galleries, cathedrals, a monastery, and a large variety of shopping options.
For a bird’s eye view of all the beauty that is the Bahamas, try parasailing. This visually sublime experience feels as though you are floating on air.
Imagine stepping onto the beach of a small, uninhabited island; uninhabited by humans, that is. When you glance up you see a 1m (3ft.) lizard running straight toward you. He is mottled grey with red and orange patches on his head, forearms and down the ridge of his back. You freeze. The Bahamian iguana stops less than a meter from you and looks up expectantly. He is expecting you to feed him and fruit is a favourite. It’s not long before you are surrounded by dozens of this endangered species. Protected by the Bahamas National Trust, visitors are allowed to feed and photograph the iguanas.
Watch fire dancers and join in the limbo contest at the Conch Kraal Native show. Play a round of golf at Cable Beach Golf Club or indulge with a massage at one of the many spas.
Visit the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Center for an intimate experience with endangered flora and fauna of the Caribbean. Mingle with the Pink Flamingos, the national bird of the Bahamas, and feed the parrots.
Iguana Credit
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism sponsors the Children’s Adventure and Museum Tour, a fun and educational tour that combines history, culture, and the natural environment.
At the Atlantis Resort, on Paradise Island, a journey of discovery awaits. Kids of all ages can swim with dolphins, slide down waterslides, play in waterfalls and fountains, learn about marine life, and dig for buried treasure on the beach.
The Marine Habitat at Atlantis Resort, one of the world’s largest, contains 14 lagoons showcasing over 250 marine species. Snorkel in the Ruins Lagoon, walk the clear tunnel through the Predator Lagoon, and feed the sea turtles at the Hibiscus Lagoon.
•Downtown Nassau has seen a major spike in armed robberies of tourists over the past few years. Avoid the ‘Over-the-Hill’ area south of downtown.
• Ride in licensed taxis only (yellow license plates). Many tourists have unwittingly become assault and robbery victims after accepting rides from criminals pretending to be taxi drivers.
• In the winter months, a wetsuit is strongly recommended. Also, it can be quite cool in the evenings. A sweatshirt or light jacket will make your stay more pleasant.
• Pack sunscreen at any time of year and bug spray (with DEET) during the summer and early fall. Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne illness that has become more prevalent in the Caribbean over the last few years. Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, rash, joint aches, and muscle and bone soreness.
• Pack handheld VHF and GPS if you will be exploring on your own.
Electrical outlets are 120volt. A 220volt converter and flat two-pin adapter are necessary for British and European appliances.
• Allow 12 – 18 hours between flying and diving to avoid decompression sickness.
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Rating 10/10
Stuart Cove's = Incredible!
Nassau20 Nov 2013 - 20 Nov 2013 with Stuart Cove's Dive
I dove with the crew from Stuart Cove's and found them to be most helpful, personable, professional, and accommodating. I am a newly certified diver and was grateful for their watchful attentiveness, monitoring dive habits, depths, ascension rates... Very safety conscious.
I had efficient email conversation before my trip, was picked up right at the cruise port, and their home dock is only 5 minutes from the reef. The only thing more incredible than the staff was the Shark Adventure itself. The serenity of the ocean with 40 sharks crowding around... Not to be missed. I'd cross it off my bucket list but you can bet I'll be going back!
Morgan Bennett
Awesome pic with you and the sharks!
Jeff Weishar
Just dove with them best dive experience ever plus the sharks were amazing
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Clemente: Ideas in Action
East High Clemente Students
Clemente: A College Humanities Course for High School Students from Groups Underrepresented in Higher Education
The Clemente Course in the Humanities is offered by Utah Humanities in partnership with the University of Utah Honors College, Westminster College, and East High School to provide a college-level academic experience for high-school students who will be first-generation college applicants. Clemente is an interdisciplinary course typically structured to match a four-quarter high school year with units in philosophy, art history, United States history, and literature. The course is intellectually rigorous, focuses on significant multicultural works, and uses primary documents, group discussion, writing, and collaborative projects as the basis for learning. The curriculum is consistent with Utah's Common Core. The goal of Clemente is to encourage students to find their own voices and agency in their communities, as well as to apply for and succeed in college. Utah's Clemente Course has been underway at East High School in Salt Lake City since 2013.
2014 East High Clemente: "We Are One Inside Out Project"
In March 2014, Clemente students at East High turned their school "inside out." Although East High School is now 63% “minority” with Latino, Pacific Islander, Asian, and African American students and student refugees from around the world in its classrooms, many in Salt Lake still imagine the school as it used to be—predominantly white. The Clemente students wanted to show East High's true face to the world. Read more about the "We Are One Inside Out Project".
Utah Humanities Website
This link will take you to the Utah Humanities website.
Bonnie O'Brien
EHS Program Administrator
bonnie.obrien@slcschools.org
Josh Wennergren
Center for Educational Access
Wennergren@utahhumanities.org
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Faske Lay & Co., L.L.P.
Certified Public Accountants & Business Advisors
File Share
Tax Notebook
Tax Briefing(s)
2018 Year-End Tax PlanningTax Reform 2.02018 Post-Filing Season UpdateCongress Approves Sweeping Tax Overhaul
2019 Luxury Auto Depreciation Caps and Lease Inclusion Amounts Issued
The IRS has issued the luxury car depreciation limits for business vehicles placed in service in 2019, and the lease inclusion amounts for business vehicles first leased in 2019.Luxury Passenger Car D...
2020 Inflation Adjustments for HSAs Released
The IRS has released the 2020 inflation-adjusted amounts for health savings accounts (HSAs) under Code Sec. 223. For calendar year 2020, the annual limitation on deductions under Code Sec. 2...
IRS Unveils New Draft 2020 Form W-4
The IRS on May 31 unveiled a new preliminary draft of the 2020 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Although an earlier version of the Form W-4 had been released last June, Tr...
IRS Discontinues Certain Faxing and Third-Party Mailing Service
The IRS will be ceasing its tax transcript faxing service, and will also amend the Form 4506, Request for Copy or Transcript of Tax Form, series to end third-party mailing of tax returns and transcrip...
New Actuarial Tables Delayed, IRS Tells Wolters Kluwer
The new actuarial tables are delayed, the IRS told Wolters Kluwer on May 30. "We are currently working on new actuarial tables, but we cannot predict when they will be published."Generally, the I...
IRS Updates 2018 Schedule D Instructions to Correct Worksheet Error
The IRS posted updated instructions for 2018 Schedule D (Form 1040), Capital Gains and Losses, that include a corrected worksheet. The revised worksheet corrects a rate error that may have calculated ...
IRS Finalizes Rules Increasing Enrolled Agent Application and Renewal Fees
The IRS has finalized regulations that increase both the enrollment and renewal user fee for enrolled agents from $30 to $67. The rules also increase the renewal user fee for enrolled retirement plan ...
Indian Tribal Casino Distributions Taxable to Members
A married couple had unreported taxable income in the form of distributions received from casino revenue. However, the IRS did not obtain written supervisory approval before the first formal communica...
IRS Allowed to Treat Partnership as Aggregate of its Partners
The IRS was allowed to assert its authority under the abuse of entity rule of Reg. §1.701-2(e) to treat a partnership as an aggregate of its partners. Treating the partnership as an agg...
IRS Issues Nonconventional Source Fuel Reference Price for 2018
The IRS has published the reference price under Code Sec. 45K(d)(2)(C). The credit period for the nonconventional source production credit under Code Sec. 45K ended on December 31, 2013...
Comments Sought on Carbon Oxide Sequestration Credit
The Treasury Department and the IRS have requested general comments on issues arising from the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA) ( P.L. 115-123) amendments to the Code Sec. 45Q credit...
IRS Clarifies Treatment of Refunds with New SALT Limits
The IRS has provided four examples of the interaction of the new limit on the deduction on state and local taxes (SALT) under Code Sec. 164(b)(6) with the tax benefit rule for refunds under&...
Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit to Phase Out for GM Vehicles
The tax credit for new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles sold by General Motors, LLC, will begin to phase out April 1, 2019. The credit begins to phase out in the second calendar quarter...
2019 Foreign Housing Expense Limitations Released
The IRS has provided the adjustments to the limitation on foreign housing expenses for specific locations for tax year 2019. Generally, a qualified individual whose entire tax year is within the appli...
2018 Waivers of 911 Eligibility Requirements Due to Adverse Conditions
The IRS has provided a waiver for any individual who, for the 2018 tax year, failed to meet the eligibility requirements of Code Sec. 911(d)(1) due to war, civil unrest, or similar adverse c...
IRS Revises EIN Application Process
As part of its ongoing security review, the IRS is revising the application process for obtaining an employer identification number (EIN). Starting May 13, 2019, only individuals with social security ...
IRS Issues 2018 Nonconventional Source Fuel Reference Price
The IRS has published the nonconventional source fuel reference price for calendar year 2018. The credit period for the nonconventional source production credit under Code Sec. 45K ended on ...
TX - May 2019 certification of average closing price of gas and oil released
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has determined the average taxable price of crude oil for the reporting period May 2019 is $42.91 per barrel for the three-month period beginning on February 1...
The Senate has approved a bipartisan IRS reform bill, which now heads to President Trump’s desk. Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
The reworked Taxpayer First Act ( HR 3151) cleared the Senate on the evening of June 13. The revamped measure had been approved unanimously in the House on June 10.
"After years of good-faith, bipartisan work, our IRS reforms are finally going to become law," House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., and ranking member Kevin Brady, R-Tex., said in a joint statement. "In this historic legislation, we focused on putting taxpayers first."
Likewise, Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, praised the passage of the bipartisan, bicameral IRS reform bill. "It’s a big first step toward strengthening taxpayer protections and turning the IRS into the customer service organization it ought to be," Grassley said in a statement. "I look forward to President Trump signing it into law so the IRS can begin implementing long overdue reforms that will put taxpayers first," he added.
Reworked Bill
The reworked IRS reform bill, originally introduced in the last Congress, was revised earlier in June after the House passed a prior version in April. However, the original House-approved Taxpayer First bill (HR 1957) was deemed doomed in the Senate by May because of recent controversy surrounding the IRS’s Free File program. Thus, the provision codifying the Free File program was stripped from the original bill; the measure was reintroduced as HR 3151. It then quickly cleared each chamber.
Service Improvements
Generally, the Taxpayer First Act aims to reform the IRS for the first time in 20 years to better meet the needs of taxpayers. It requires the IRS to develop a comprehensive customer service strategy, as well as a plan to redesign its structure, modernize its technology, and enhance its cyber security. In addition, the new law will:
waive the application fee for an offer in compromise (OIC) by a low-income taxpayer;
clarify information available about low-income taxpayer clinics (LITCs);
codify the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program;
require notice regarding the closure of taxpayer assistance centers (TACs);
improve the IRS whistleblower program; and
modify the private debt collection program.
The legislation includes a number of provisions to help protect taxpayers from tax ID theft and improve taxpayer interaction with the IRS should they become a victim. For example, the IRS must provide a single point of contact for victims of identity theft, notification of suspected identity theft, and guidelines for stolen identity refund fraud cases.
The IRS is required to expand its current program that allows victims of tax ID theft to obtain a personalized PIN. Any individual must be allowed to request an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) to confirm a taxpayer’s identity on tax returns.
The IRS reform bill directly impacts taxpayers and other persons by reducing the threshold for filing electronically from 250 or more returns during the year. The threshold is 100 or more returns for 2021, and 10 or more return after 2021. The IRS can waive the e-file requirement for tax return preparers in areas with limited internet access.
The e-filing threshold for a partnership with 100 or fewer partners remains unchanged before 2022. The threshold is 150 returns for 2019, 100 returns for 2020, and 50 returns for 2021.
E-filing requirements are also extended to all tax-exempt organizations that file returns or statements, regardless of amount of assets, gross receipts, or number of returns to be filed. In addition, the IRS is directed to develop an internet portal to allow taxpayers to file series Form 1099, similar to the portal used to file series Form W-2 with the Social Security Administration.
Other Electronic Services
To help increase the use of electronic services, the IRS must publish within six months uniform standards for accepting electronic signatures on requests for disclosure of taxpayer information (Forms 2848, 4506-T, and 8821). It must also limit the redisclosure of return information by a designee to only those expressly consented to by the taxpayer.
The new law increases the penalty for improper disclosure or use of information by return preparers. It also puts new limits on access to returns and return information by non-IRS employees.
Overall, the IRS must develop procedures to authenticate users of its suite of electronic services, to prevent tax refund fraud. Included in these services, the IRS must develop an automated version of its Income Verification Express Service (IVES) for third-parties.
Planning Note: The legislation also allows the IRS to accept credit and debit card payments for the payment of taxes directly, as opposed to through a third party. In addition, the IRS must establish procedures for taxpayers to report misdirected deposits of refunds.
Other Changes
Additional changes made by the Taxpayer First Act include:
clarifying procedures for equitable relief from joint liability;
establish new safeguards on the seizure of funds believed to be structured to avoid the $10,000 financial reporting requirement; and
modify procedures for the issuance of summons and notice of third party contacts by the IRS.
To help pay for these changes, the minimum penalty for failure to file returns is increased after 2019 to the lesser of $330 (indexed for inflation) or 100 percent of the amount required to be shown on the return.
Taxpayers may rely on two new pieces of IRS guidance for applying the Code Sec. 199A deduction to cooperatives and their patrons:
Proposed regulations provide detailed rules for coop patrons and specified cooperatives to calculate the deduction.
A proposed revenue procedure provides three methods for specified cooperatives to calculate W-2 wages.
199A Deduction for Cooperatives and Patrons
The 199A deduction, also known as the pass-through deduction or the QBI deduction, generally allows individuals, estates and trusts to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income (QBI) from sole proprietorships and pass-through entities. Since most coops are C corporations, they cannot claim the deduction. However, their members may receive patronage dividends that are included in QBI.
Despite these general rules, certain agricultural or horticultural coops, known as "specified cooperatives," can claim their own version of the a deduction under Code Sec. 199A(g). A specified coop can also pass through any portion of this deduction by making qualified payments to its patrons. The patrons must reduce their own QBI accordingly.
For specified coops, the 199A(g) deduction retains many of the rules that governed the Code Sec. 199 domestic production activities deduction before it was repealed at the end of 2017. For example, the 199A(g) deduction is based on the specified coop’s domestic production gross receipts (DPGR) and qualified production activities income (QPAI), rather than its QBI.
Sec. 199A Deduction for Coop Patrons in General
Under the proposed regulations, any coop patron’s QBI may include patronage dividends and an exempt coop’s non-patronage dividends that:
are related to the patron’s trade or business,
are qualified items of income, gain, deduction or loss at the coop level,
are not from a specified service trade or business (SSTB), and
are properly reported to the patron.
The proposed regulations provide detailed rules for how coops must report the required information to their patrons. However, the coop does not report any W-2 wages or unadjusted basis in qualified property immediately after acquisition (UBIA). The W-2/UBIA limit that can reduce QBI for higher-income taxpayers is calculated only at the patron level.
Sec. 199A(g) Deduction for Specified Cooperatives
Code Sec. 199A(g) allows specified coops to claim a 199A deduction and pass through any portion of it by making qualified payments to its members. However, as mentioned above, a specified coop’s deduction is largely based on the pre-2018 domestic production activities deduction (DPAD). This means that the 199A(g) deduction for specified coops is effectively separate from the general Code Sec. 199A(a) deduction for other taxpayers.
Since specified coop patrons might be able to claim both the general 199A(a) deduction and the passed-through portion of the coop’s 199A(a) deduction, they must reduce their 199A(a)deduction by nine percent of QBI (or if less, 50 percent of W-2 wages) that is allocable to the qualified payments from the specified coop.
The proposed regulations offer a safe harbor that patrons can use to calculate this reduction. The patron allocates aggregate business expenses and W-2 wages between qualified payments and other gross receipts by ratably apportioning them based on the ratio of qualified payments to total gross receipts in QBI.
The proposed regulations also define several terms that are relevant to the 199A(g) deduction for specified coops, including:
Patron,
Specified cooperative,
Agricultural or horticultural products (though the IRS is also considering broader definitions), and
In whole or significant part.
Sec. 199A(g) Deduction and DPAD
The proposed regulations also provide four steps to determine the amount of a specified coop’s 199A(g) deduction. A specified coop that is not tax-exempt must:
separate patronage and non-patronage gross receipts and related deductions;
identify patronage gross receipts that qualify as DPGR,
use the patronage DPGR from step (3) to calculate QPAI, and
calculate the 199A(g) deduction, which is generally nine percent of the lesser of QPAI from step (4), or taxable income
These last three steps are virtually identical to the pre-2018 DPAD rules.
A tax-exempt specified coop calculates two separate 199A(g) deductions: one based on gross receipts and related deductions from patronage sources, and one based on those items from non-patronage sources.
The proposed regulations also apply DPAD-types rules to:
determine the coop’s DPGR,
reduce a specified coop’s 199A(g) deduction to reflect oil-related QPAI, and
pass through the deduction to patrons.
In addition, the proposed regulations provide special rules for partnerships and expanded affiliated groups (EAGs).
Specified Coops and W-2 Wages
Although the proposed regulations treat the 199A(g) deduction as largely independent from the general 199A(a) deduction, both deductions generally use the same rules for W-2 wages. However, under the proposed regulations, W-2 wages for the 199A(g) deduction cannot include wages paid with respect to employment in Puerto Rico.
As mentioned above, a wages/UBIA limit may reduce the 199A deduction for higher-income taxpayers. A proposed revenue procedure provides three methods for calculating W-2 wages for purposes of the 199A(g) deduction:
unmodified Box method
modified Box 1 method
tracking wages method.
These methods are largely identical to the methods provided in Rev. Proc. 2019-11, but are intended to better reflect changes that may be made in the underlying Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
Effective Dates for 199A Proposed Regulations and Revenue Procedure
The regulations are proposed to apply to tax years beginning after the date they are published as final. However, taxpayers may apply them in their entirely before that date.
The notice of the proposed revenue procedure is effective on June 18, 2019. Specified cooperatives may rely on the proposed procedure before it is published in its final form.
IRS Invites Comments on Proposed Rules for Sec. 199A
The IRS requests comments on the proposed regulations and the proposed revenue procedure. In particular, the IRS invites comments on the following elements:
A coop’s reporting of W-2 wages and UBIA,
The safe harbor for coop patrons,
Definitions,
A specified coop’s separation of patronage and non-patronage income,
DPGR treatment of minor assembly and contract work, and
W-2 wages and Puerto Rico.
Comments are due by August 19, 2019. They may be mailed or hand-delivered to the IRS, or submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Comments on the proposed regs should reference "IRS REG-118425-18" and comments on the proposed revenue procedure should reference "Notice 2019-27".
The IRS has issued final regulations that require taxpayers to reduce the amount any charitable contribution deduction by the amount of any state and local tax (SALT) credit they receive or expect to receive in return. The rules are aimed at preventing taxpayers from getting around the SALT deduction limits. A safe harbor has also been provided to certain individuals to treat any disallowed charitable contribution deduction under this rule as a deductible payment of taxes under Code Sec. 164. The final regulations and the safe harbor apply to charitable contribution payments made after August 27, 2018.
SALT Limit
An individual’s itemized deduction of SALT taxes is limited to $10,000 ($5,000 if married filing separately) for tax years beginning after 2017. Some states and local governments have adopted laws that allowed individuals to receive a state tax credit for contributions to certain charitable funds. These laws are aimed at getting around the SALT deduction limit by creating a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes. Regardless of state and local law, however, federal law controls when determining charitable deductions for federal income tax purposes.
Return Benefit
The final regulations generally adopt the rule in proposal regulations ( NPRM REG-112176-18) that the receipt of a SALT credit for a charitable contribution is the receipt of a return benefit (quid pro quo benefit). If a taxpayer makes a payment or transfers property to Code Sec. 170(c) entity, he or she must reduce any charitable contribution deduction for federal income tax purposes if he or she receives or expects to receive a SALT credit in return. A taxpayer is generally is not required to reduce the charitable deduction on account of its receipt of state or local tax deductions. However, the taxpayer must reduce its charitable deduction if it receives or expects to receive state or local tax deductions in excess of the taxpayer’s payment or the fair market value of property transferred.
De Minimis Exception
The final regulations retain the de minimis exception that a taxpayer’s charitable deduction is not reduced if the SALT credits received as a return benefit do not exceed 15 percent of the taxpayer’s charitable payment. The 15-percent exception applies only if the sum of the taxpayer SALT credit received or excepted to receive does not exceed 15 percent of the taxpayer’s payment or of the fair market value of the property transferred.
The IRS has also issued Notice 2019-12 providing a safe harbor for certain individuals if any portion of a charitable contribution deduction disallowed due to the receipt of a SALT credit. Under the safe harbor, any disallowed portion of the charitable deduction may be treated as the payment of SALT taxes for the purposes of deducting taxes under Code Sec. 164.
Eligible taxpayers can use the safe harbor to determine their SALT deduction on their tax-year 2018 return. Those who have already filed may be able to claim a greater SALT deduction by filing an amended return if they have not already claimed the $10,000 maximum amount ($5,000 if married filing separately).
Final regulations address the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) provisions of Code Sec. 951A. The final regulations retain the basic approach and structure of the proposed regulations published on October 10, 2018. The final regulations address open questions and comments received on the proposed regulations.
Final regulations on the foreign tax credit also adopt proposed regulations published December 7, 2018. These rules were issued to ensure that the applicability dates coincide with the applicability dates of the Code sections to which they relate. The final foreign tax credit regulations also retain the basic structure and approach of the proposed regulations.
Also, a number of provisions were substantially revised.
The final regulations treat a domestic partnership as an entity for purposes of determining whether a U.S. person is a U.S. shareholder and whether a foreign corporation is a controlled foreign corporation (CFC). But the final rules treat a domestic partnership as an aggregate for purposes of determining whether and to what extent a partner of a domestic partnership has a GILTI inclusion.
Transfers During Qualified Period
The final regulations allow taxpayers to make an election that eliminates disqualified basis in property, by reducing a commensurate amount of adjusted basis in the property for all purposes of the Code.
Specified Tangible Property
A CFC may elect to use its non-ADS depreciation method for property acquired before enactment of the GILTI rules. A special rule requires depreciation of the salvage value: the portion of the basis in the property that would not be fully depreciated under the non-ADS depreciation method.
Anti-Abuse Rule
Under a "per se" rule in the proposed regulations, property was deemed to be held for the principal purpose of reducing a GILTI inclusion if held by the CFC for less than a 12-month period. The final regulations convert the per se rule to a rebuttable presumption. Under a second presumption, property held for more than 36 months is not subject to the rule. A safe harbor applies for certain transfers.
The foreign tax credit proposed regulations contained a rule for determining the adjusted basis of the stock of the foreign corporation for purposes of allocating expenses to stock of certain foreign corporations. The final regulations provide that a taxpayer should not have an adjusted basis below zero in stock of a foreign corporation. A taxpayer’s adjusted basis may be reduced below zero as a result of an adjustment for earnings and profits deficits, as long as the adjustment for earnings and profits increased the adjusted basis of the foreign corporation above zero.
Applicability of Final Regs
The final GILTI regulations generally apply to tax years of foreign corporations beginning after December 31, 2017, and to tax years of U.S. shareholders in which or with which such tax years of foreign corporations end.
Proposed Regulations
The Treasury Department and the IRS also issued proposed regulations on the treatment of domestic partnerships for determining amounts included in their partners' gross incomes under Code Sec. 951 with respect to CFCs owned by the partnership, and the GILTI treatment of gross income that is subject to a high rate of foreign tax under Code Sec. 951A.
The proposed regulations would affect U.S. persons that own stock of foreign corporations through domestic partnerships and U.S. shareholders of foreign corporations. The Treasury Department and the IRS request timely comments on all aspects of the proposed rules. A public hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that timely submits written comments.
Aggregate Treatment Adopted
To be consistent with the treatment of domestic partnerships under Code Sec. 951A, Treasury and the IRS determined that a domestic partnership should also generally be treated as an aggregate of its partners in determining stock owned under Code Sec. 958(a) for Code Sec. 951 purposes.
Expansion to Exclude Other High-Taxed Income
Treasury and the IRS also determined that the GILTI high tax exclusion should be expanded (on an elective basis) to include certain high-taxed income even if that income would not otherwise be foreign base company income (FBCI) or insurance income. Further, taxpayers should be allowed to elect to apply the Code Sec. 954(b)(4) exception (the "GILTI high tax exclusion") for certain classes of income that are subject to high foreign taxes.
Newly issued temporary regulations limit the application of the Code Sec. 245A participation dividends received deduction (the participation DRD) and the Code Sec. 954(c)(6) exception in certain situations that present an opportunity for tax avoidance. The temporary regulations also provide related information reporting rules under Code Sec. 6038.
Participation Exemption Regime
The transition to the participation exemption system introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, P.L. 115-97 (the Act) is effected through several interlocking provisions – Code Secs. 245A, 951A, and 965. All three provisions have different effective dates so there are periods in which some but not all of them apply. The participation exemption system operates alongside the subpart F regime.
Code Sec. 245A generally allows a domestic corporation a 100-percent dividends received deduction (a participation DRD) for the foreign-source portion of a dividend received after December 31, 2017, from a specified 10 percent-owned foreign corporation (an SFC). Generally, only earnings that are not taxed under the subpart F or the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) regime can, upon distribution, give rise to a dividend eligible for the participation DRD. Distribution of earnings and profits that is taxed under the subpart F or GILTI regime is a distribution of previously taxed earnings and profits (PTEP) that is not treated as a dividend and cannot qualify for the participation DRD. The participation DRD applies to distributions made after December 31, 2017.
The participation DRD does not apply to untaxed earnings of U.S. shareholders as of December 31, 2017. Instead, such earnings are subject to a transition tax under Code Sec. 965. For fiscal year CFCs, there is a gap period during which certain of their earnings may escape taxation.
Code Sec. 951A (the GILTI regime) taxes a U.S. shareholder on its global intangible low-taxed income, or GILTI, with respect to its CFCs at a reduced rate. The GILTI regime applies in the first tax year of a CFC beginning after December 31, 2017.
Code Sec. 954 generally provides that a dividend received by a CFC is included in the CFC’s foreign personal holding company income (FPHCI). Under Code Sec. 954(c)(6), however, a dividend received by a CFC from a related CFC is not included in the CFC’s FPHCI if certain requirements are satisfied (the section 954(c)(6) exception).
Scope of the Temporary Regulations
The temporary regulations limit the availability of the participation DRD and the section 954(c)(6) exception in specific and narrow cases where the deduction or exception, respectively, effectively eliminates subpart F income or GILTI from the U.S. tax system. Specifically, the temporary regulations address transactions that have the effect of avoiding tax under Code Sec. 965, 951A, or 951by inappropriately converting income that should have been subject to U.S. tax into nontaxed income. The temporary regulations also include information reporting rules under Code Sec. 6038 to facilitate administration of certain rules in the temporary regulations. The temporary regulations do not include general rules relating to dividends eligible for the participation DRD since those rules will be included in separate guidance.
Overview of the Temporary Regulations
Code Secs. 245A, 951A, and 965 generally act to tax foreign source income equivalently across taxpayers and sources so long as a U.S. shareholder owns the same amount of stock of a calendar year CFC throughout the CFC’s entire tax year. However, deviations from this condition potentially allow taxpayers to avoid tax by claiming a participation DRD in situations where otherwise identical income would be subject to U.S. tax. The following two situations may present such an opportunity for tax avoidance: (1) a U.S. corporation is the shareholder of a fiscal year CFC during 2018, or (2) a CFC pays a dividend and experiences a direct or indirect change in ownership during a tax year. The temporary regulations limit the application of the participation DRD in these situations.
With respect to the first situation, described above, as a result of a gap in the effective dates of these related international tax provisions, the difference between calendar year and fiscal year CFCs is significant and presents the potential for substantial tax avoidance when utilized to artificially generate earnings and profits in non-ordinary course transactions between related parties.
The temporary regulations refer to the portion of a dividend attributable to earnings and profits arising from such a transaction during this period as an "extraordinary disposition amount." An extraordinary disposition amount consists of certain earnings and profits resulting from transactions between related parties during the disqualified period. Although the period during which extraordinary dispositions may have occurred has passed, the regulations will potentially apply to any distributions of the associated earnings and profits after 2017.
In the second situation, described above, the participation DRD could facilitate the avoidance of the subpart F and GILTI regimes by allowing a U.S. shareholder to transfer, before the end of a CFC’s tax year, stock of the CFC to a new shareholder who will not be taxed on the CFC’s subpart F income or tested income.
The earnings and profits representing the portion of a dividend of a CFC attributable to subpart F income or tested income that, absent a transfer of the CFC stock pursuant to an extraordinary reduction, would have been subject to the subpart F or GILTI regimes are referred to as an "extraordinary reduction amount" in the temporary regulations. An extraordinary reduction amount consists of certain earnings and profits generated during a CFC’s tax year beginning after 2017 in which a domestic corporate U.S. shareholder reduces its ownership of the CFC by certain threshold amounts (e.g., a decrease in ownership of more than 10 percent). For this purpose, "certain earnings and profits" refers to income generally subject to inclusion under the subpart F or GILTI regimes.
Results similar to the ones described in the context of extraordinary disposition amounts and extraordinary reduction amounts can be achieved using the exemption from subpart F income under Code Sec. 954(c)(6) and lower-tier CFC dividends to upper-tier CFCs. Thus, the temporary regulations limit the application of the section 954(c)(6) exception in order to prevent similar results in circumstances in which a lower-tier CFC pays a dividend to another CFC, instead of directly to a U.S. shareholder.
Operation of the Temporary Rules
The temporary regulations do not permit the participation DRD for the portions of dividends made by CFCs that are attributable to ineligible amounts, which comprise extraordinary reduction amounts and 50 percent of any extraordinary disposition amounts.
To accomplish this, the temporary regulations disallow a deduction for transactions that have the effect of avoiding tax under Code Sec. 965, 951A, or 951. The extraordinary disposition rules accomplish this by denying the participation DRD for a narrowly and objectively defined class of earnings and profits generated by transactions undertaken in the disqualified period in circumstances that raise abuse concerns.
The extraordinary reduction rules accomplish this by denying the participation DRD for certain earnings distributed in the same year as reductions in ownership of CFC stock by a controlling Code Sec. 245A shareholder. The temporary regulations contain similar rules with respect to the section 954(c)(6) exception.
Information Reporting under Code Sec. 6038
Ineligible amounts, tiered extraordinary disposition amounts, and tiered extraordinary reduction amounts must be reported on the appropriate information reporting form in accordance with Code Sec. 6038. A transition rule mandates that taxpayers report the required information on the first return filed following the issuance of revised forms, instructions, or other guidance with respect to reporting such information. The transition rule also requires a corporation to report the information with respect to a predecessor corporation.
Applicability Dates
The rules in the temporary regulations relating to eligibility of distributions for the participation DRD apply to distributions occurring after December 31, 2017. The rules in the temporary regulations relating to the eligibility of dividends for the section 954(c)(6) exception also apply to distributions occurring after December 31, 2017, subject to a transition rule.
Final regulations reduce the Code Sec. 956 amount for certain domestic corporations that own stock in controlled foreign corporations (CFCs). The regulations are intended to ensure that Code Sec. 956 is applied consistently with the participation exemption system under Code Sec. 245A.
Subpart F Rules
Under the subpart F rules, U.S. shareholders of a CFC are currently taxed on their pro rata shares of the CFC’s subpart F income without regard to whether the income is distributed to the shareholders ( Code Sec. 951(a)). Subpart F income generally includes passive income and other income that is readily movable from one taxing jurisdiction to another ( Code Sec. 952). A U.S. shareholder is a U.S. person (e.g., individual citizen, domestic corporation, etc.) that owns or is treated as owning 10 percent or more of the voting power or value of a foreign corporation ( Code Sec. 951(b)).
The U.S. shareholders of a CFC are taxed on their pro rata share of the CFC’s earnings that are invested in U.S. property during the tax year and not distributed or otherwise taxed (the "section 956 amount"). U.S. shareholders are effectively taxed on foreign source earnings brought back into the United States, on the theory that the returned earnings are substantially the same as a dividend. This rule is intended to create symmetry by taxing effective repatriations of earnings in the same manner as actual repatriations of earnings are taxed.
Participation DRD
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97) added Code Sec. 245A, which allows a 100-percent participation exemption deduction—a participation dividends-received deduction (DRD)—for the foreign-source portion of dividends received from a specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation by a domestic corporation that is a U.S. shareholder of the foreign corporation. A specified 10-percent owned foreign corporation is any foreign corporation (other than certain passive foreign investment companies) in which a domestic corporation is a U.S. shareholder.
However, a domestic corporation cannot claim a participation DRD for a dividend on any share of the foreign corporation’s stock:
that the domestic corporation holds for 365 days or less during the 731-day period that begins on the date that is 365 days before the date when the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to the dividend; or
to the extent the domestic corporation is obligated to make related payments on positions in substantially similar or related property ( Code Sec. 246(c)).
Under the TCJA, a Code Sec. 956 inclusion is not eligible for the DRD because it is not a dividend.
Tax Treatment Symmetry
The participation exemption system has made the current broad application of Code Sec. 956 to corporate U.S. shareholders inconsistent with the Code section’s purposes and the scope of the transactions it is meant to address. In response, the regulations:
exclude corporate U.S. shareholders from the application of Code Sec. 956 to the extent necessary to maintain symmetry between the taxation of actual repatriations and the taxation of effective repatriations, so that neither an actual dividend to a corporate U.S. shareholder nor the shareholder’s Code Sec. 956 amount will result in additional U.S. tax; and
reduce the Code Sec. 956 amount otherwise determined regarding a U.S. shareholder for a CFC’s tax year ( "tentative Section 956 amount") to the extent that the shareholder would be allowed a participation DRD had the shareholder received a distribution from the CFC equal to the tentative Code Sec. 956 amount (the "hypothetical distribution").
The regulations include an ordering rule to address the previously taxed earnings and profits (PTEP) rules in Code Sec. 959. Under the ordering rule, the hypothetical distribution is treated as:
first attributable to earnings and profits (E&P) described in Code Sec. 959(c)(2) (amounts attributable to subpart F inclusions); and
then attributable to E&P described in Code Sec. 959(c)(3) (all other E&P).
The regulations also address the tentative section 956 amount with respect to domestic partnerships. The regulations provide that the tentative section 956 amount with respect to a domestic partnership is reduced to the extent that one or more of the domestic corporate partners would be entitled to a participation DRD if:
the partnership received the amount as a distribution; and
the remaining amount of the inclusion under Code Sec. 956 is allocated to the partners in the same proportion as net income would result to partners upon a hypothetical distribution.
Applicability Date
The regulations will apply to tax years of CFCs beginning on or after July 22, 2019, and to tax years of U.S. shareholders in which or with which such tax years of CFCs end.
The regulations may be applied to tax years of CFCs beginning after December 31, 2017, and to tax years of U.S. shareholders in which or with which such tax years of CFCs end, provided the rules are applied consistently by the taxpayer and U.S. related persons.
Final rules allow employers to use health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to reimburse employees for the purchase individual insurance coverage, including coverage on an Affordable Care Act Exchange. The rules also allow "excepted benefit HRAs," which would not have to be integrated with any coverage. The rules generally apply for plan years starting on or after January 1, 2020.
HRA Use Expanded
The final rules expand the use of HRAs by:
allowing integration of an HRA with individual health insurance coverage and thereby satisfy the Affordable Care Act’s annual dollar limit and preventive care cost sharing requirements;
creating "excepted benefit HRAs" limited in amount and to the types of coverage for which premiums may be reimbursed;
providing new premium tax credit eligibility rules for individuals who are offered an HRA integrated with individual health insurance coverage;
clarifying that individual health insurance coverage, the premiums of which are reimbursed by an HRA or qualified small employer HRA (QSEHRA), does not become part of an ERISA plan when certain conditions are met; and
adding new special enrollment for the individual market for individuals who gain access to HRAs integrated with individual health insurance coverage or who are provided a QSEHRA.
The final regulations add conditions on individual coverage HRAs intended to prevent a negative impact on the individual market.
Integration With Individual Coverage
Almost any employer can satisfy Affordable Care Act reimbursement requirements by having employees buy their own individual coverage. An employers may integrate an HRA with individual health coverage only if:
participants and dependents are actually enrolled in individual health insurance coverage (though not coverage that consists solely of excepted benefits) for each month they are covered by the HRA;
coverage is offered to a class of employees to whom a traditional group health plan is not offered;
coverage is offered on the same terms in amount and conditions to all employees within each class (though certain variations based on age are allowed);
an opt out option is provided for individuals who prefer Affordable Care Act Exchange coverage, but would not be eligible for the premium tax credit if enrolled in an employer health plan such as an HRA; and
substantiation and notice requirements are met.
To guard against adverse selection, the final rules add a minimum class size requirement that will apply to certain classes of employees in certain instances. Classes of employees may include full-time employees; part-time employees; seasonal employees; employees who are included in a unit of employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement in which the plan sponsor participates; employees who have not satisfied a waiting period for coverage; employees who have not attained age 25 prior to the beginning of the plan year; nonresident aliens with no U.S.-based income; employees whose primary site of employment is in the same rating area; and groups combining any of these classes of employee.
Excepted Benefit HRAs
An employer that wants to offer an HRA that is not integrated with non-HRA group coverage, Medicare, TRICARE, or individual health insurance coverage may do so as an excepted benefit. As excepted benefits, these HRAs would not be subject to the employer group plan rules, including the market reforms under the Affordable Care Act. An excepted benefit HRA:
must not be an integral part of the plan;
must provide benefits that are limited in amount ($1,800 per year, adjusted for inflation after 2020);
cannot provide reimbursement for premiums for certain health insurance coverage; and
must be made available under the same terms to all similarly situated individuals.
Final regulations provide requirements that a person must satisfy to become and remain a certified professional employer organization (CPEO), as well as the CPEO’s federal employment tax liabilities and other obligations.
CPEOs
Some employers contract with PEOs to complete and file tax returns, pay and withhold employment taxes on wages paid to employees, or provide other employee benefits. Code Sec. 3511 and Code Sec. 7705 provide certification requirements for PEOs, and codify the employment tax consequences of being CPEO.
For federal employment tax purposes, a CPEO is generally treated as the employer of any individual who is:
performing services for a customer of the CPEO; and
covered by a contract between the CPEO and the customer.
Employer treatment applies only to remuneration paid to the covered employee by the CPEO. If an individual covered by a CPEO contract performs services for a customer at a work site that meets certain coverage requirements, only the CPEO is treated as the employer for federal employment tax purposes for remuneration its pays to that work site employee.
A person must apply to the IRS to become a CPEO, and the IRS must certify that the person meets certain requirements. A CPEO must:
meet tax status and background requirements;
meet bond, financial review, and quarterly reporting requirements; and
notify the IRS of any change that materially affects the continuing accuracy of information it has provided to the IRS.
The Treasury Secretary can suspend or revoke CPEO certification if the person does not satisfy certain agreements or applicable requirements.
Final Regs
The final regulations adopt and amend proposed regulations published in 2016 ( NPRM REG-127561-15), and reflect and address certain interim guidance ( Rev. Proc. 2016-33, 2016-25 I.R.B. 1034; Notice 2016-49, 2016-34 I.R.B. 265; Rev. Proc. 2017-14, 2017-3 I.R.B. 426). In finalizing the regulations, the IRS reviewed and analyzed a variety of issues affecting CPEOs, including:
maintaining a separate annual FICA tax and FUTA tax wage base and withholding threshold for each customer for which a covered employee performs services during a calendar year;
the treatment of tax credits, including the addition of the employer credit for paid family and medical leave and certain employee retention credits to the list of specified credits that apply to the CPEO customer and not the CPEO;
the treatment of self-employed individuals under the CPEO rules;
CPEO reporting to the IRS, such as reporting the commencement or termination of CPEO contracts and service agreements;
the meaning of key terms such as "responsible individuals" (certain owners, officers, and other persons of the CPEO), "work site," and "work site employee";
the CPEO application process, including when an applicant may reapply for certification;
CPEO "suitability" requirements, including domestic disregarded entity and sole proprietorship certification, fingerprint cards and background checks, and the waiver of confidentiality and privilege;
working capital requirements, including a limited exception to the positive working capital requirement;
bond requirements, including a provision that the IRS Commissioner may provide exceptions to the rule that a CPEO must meet the bond requirements without posting collateral; and
maintaining employee records.
The final regulations are effective on May 28, 2019.
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Home Lies Man Enters St. Patrick’s Cathedral In NYC With Gas Cans, Lighter Fluid...
Man Enters St. Patrick’s Cathedral In NYC With Gas Cans, Lighter Fluid and Lighters Was Only Trying To Gas Up His Minivan
Philosophy Professor Marc Lamparello was apprehended by police after entering St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC with 2 full cans of gasoline, 2 containers of charcoal lighting fluid and 2 lighters. He was arrested, but hours later had not been charged.
According to the pudgy Lamparello, he had run out of gas and was just returning to his minivan to refuel it with the 4+ gallons of gasoline, 2 quarts of charcoal starting fluid and two butane lighters he was carrying. And silly us, we actually thought minivans ran on either diesel or gasoline only. Our bad.
Lamparello arrived outside St. Patrick’s on Fifth Avenue, parked and walked around the area for a few minutes, then he returned to his minivan at 7:55 PM EST to retrieve the gas, lighter fluid, and butane lighters and immediately went inside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral where he was confronted and apprehended.
He told the police that he was cutting through the cathedral to get to Madison Ave. because his car had run out of gas. The police who stopped him then went to his vehicle to determine if it was out of gas, and it was not. He was lying because he was about to pull a “Notre Dame” on St. Patrick’s Cathedral. No reasonable thinking person would assume otherwise.
The gas was in the vehicle, video shows him retrieving it from his minivan, so he wasn’t “returning” to his vehicle as many in the Leftist media are trying to portray.
Lamparello has taught for Lehman College, Brooklyn College and Seton Hall University, but where he is currently indoctrinating our youth is unknown at this time. He looks like the typical fat, slobby, stupid looking, unkempt Socialist professor in any other college, kind of like a white Stacey Abrams.
Of course, the police, who are never suspicious of a Leftist college professor carrying 4 gallons of gas, lighter fluid, and butane lighters in America’s most sacred church, said they have no idea what his intentions could have been.
Really? Take a wild guess…
lamparello
Previous articleLiar? Hypocrite? Ideologue? Socialist? Heeeere’s Jerrold!
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Why Do Our College Youth Idolize Che Guevara?
It Is NOT His Fault
Ilham Omar – The New Pig On The Block
It’s Not Just YOUR Country!
Hate Crime Hoaxing For Fun and Profit
And the Enemy Is… The Media & Social Media
Brennan and Clapper Roam Free and Still Conspiring
April Ryan Calls for Sarah Sanders To Be Decapitated
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Erwin Aichele
Animal artist (1887 - 1974)
Observing animals and drawing them was Erwin Aichele’s passion from an early age.
Farm animals or wild animals - there was no shortage of models in the village where his father was a school teacher.
All his life he was surrounded by animals - and especially birds - that he kept as models. Like his dogs, most of these animals roamed free. A few, such as his deer, were kept in enclosures.
Erwin Aichele’s love for animals and nature on the one hand - and his creative drive and artistic talent on the other - came together to forge a truly unique artist.
He left behind an important portfolio of work: not only animals represented in their natural surroundings but also landscapes and flowers.
In the particularly productive period that followed his sixtieth birthday, he painted primarily watercolours. These display a Japanese influence and reveal an increasing drive towards abstraction.
The animals appear to be almost interwoven with their surrounding natural landscape.
DE FR EN
Painting Drawings of animals War Drawings Biography
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PHRs after Meaningful Use: Extending the Provider’s Workflow into the Patient’s Home
Dramatic changes were afoot in 2007, when the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) chartered a committee to explore the potential of personal health records (PHR). PHR’s were capturing national attention with offerings from leading healthcare and IT brands including WebMD, Microsoft, and Google. Most were disconnected from the provider’s workflow, leaving HIMSS to ask, what is the value of a PHR from a primary care perspective?[1]
By mid-2009, after expert interviews, literature and research reviews, the committee came up with 10 benefits a primary care provider could realize through PHR adoption and use. Seven demonstrated PHRs’ potential to improve healthcare quality and patient safety; three focused on efficiency and lowering the total cost of clinic operations.[2]
At HIMSS10, the Committee debuted its findings and caught the attention of a GE Healthcare team, already working on concepts for its next-generation patient portal.
Many capabilities found desirable by the HIMSS research weren’t available from any commercially available product. Even the most advanced portals, which had some desired functionalities, lacked features that providers said would help them survive the systemic shift toward collaborative care and outcomes-based payments.
The HIMSS researchers reached three conclusions, left as guideposts for industry consideration:[3]
PHRs can be vehicles for innovation in self-service, self-management and more productive patient visits;
PHRs can be key components of a practice re-designed to transfer tasks from doctors to support staff and patients themselves and;
PHR technologies can be leveraged to increase patient loyalty and improve outcomes.
If GE Healthcare was to act on this information, more specificity would be needed so that its product developers could determine the relative importance of these product features. HIMSS identified more than 30 key attributes of the next generation health information platform. It was up to GE Healthcare to benchmark their relative importance – through the eyes of the paying healthcare providers.
Based on the HIMSS findings, GE Healthcare developed a survey for members of the College of Health Information Management Executives (CHIME). Though no participation incentive existed, 34 CHIME CIOs completed it.
One important distinction of the GE Healthcare research is the simplification of the HIMSS value prop list by reducing it from 10 value propositions to six and their underlying attributes. The increased focus made it possible for CIOs to really consider the fundamental jobs that patients and providers must do, rather than a particular PHR or patient portal product.
The GE Healthcare team heard from survey responders that they want a PHR to contain the following:
Capabilities to support continuity of care across non-affiliated health systems;
Applications that could be leveraged by the marketing organization to gain a competitive advantage;
Capacities for communications that go well beyond HIPAA-compliant, secure messaging;
Content and tools for engaging patient participation in health interventions;
Functionality that delights patients and contributes efficiency gains inside the clinic walls and;
Ability to monitors and act prescriptively to guide appropriate patient behaviors.
Signals of an emerging consumer market are everywhere. Body scans, elective surgery, genotyping, and medical tourism are all early indications of the consumer’s willingness to pay for the procedures they deem valuable. These early market trends and sweeping changes to provider reimbursement models combine to give consumers greater exposure to the true cost – and the ultimate ownership of the quality – of their healthcare decisions.
Meanwhile, the barriers to provider adoption of personal health IT are coming down. Government regulations now require secure communications of personal health data and the patient’s right to access it. Challenging though they may be, these mandates have come just in time. According to Manhattan Research, consumers already turn to health web sites more frequently than they do to their own physicians when trying to answer a question about their health. [4]
Information technology and systems will enable healthcare institutions to better compete for patients in the same way it has enabled universities to compete for students. This isn’t the “fuzzy front-end” of the innovator’s product development process. It’s a future that is in plain sight. All we need to do is work together to develop and follow the roadmap that will guide us there.
Editor’s note: the complete GE-HIMSS research study was presented during a Webinar on May 2. For information and to access the presentation, visit the HIMSS eConnecting with Consumers Web site. For more information on patient portals, visit the Patient Engagement Knowledge Center at GE Healthcare.com. This article was originally published by Executive Insight.
David Rowe, MBA, is the Global Director of Consumer Product Marketing at GE Healthcare. Mary Griskewicz, Ms, FHIMSS, is the Senior Director, Healthcare Information Systems for HIMSS.
Figure 1: The value of PHR’s from a primary care provider’s perspective viewed through the lens of GE Healthymagination.
[1] “Integrated Personal Health Records: Transformative Tools for Consumer-Centric Care,” Detmer, Bloomrosen2, Raymond, Tang. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2008.
[2] “The Value of Personal Health Records from the Primary Care Perspective, V7.3,” HIMSS, March 2009.
[4] Cybertizen Health, 2011, Manhattan Research, Inc.
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Volume 4, Issue 3, September 2018, Page: 84-90
Kierkegaard, the Spirit of Time and the Individual: Implications for Clinical Psychology
Myriam Moira Protasio, Post-Graduate Program in Social Psychology, Psychology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ana Maria Lopez Calvo de Feijoo, Post-Graduate Program in Social Psychology, Psychology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Elisabete Marques de Sousa, Philosophy Center (CFUL), School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Received: May 8, 2018; Accepted: Jul. 2, 2018; Published: Jul. 26, 2018
The aim is to analyze how Søren Kierkegaard, by the voice of his pseudonym “A”, in the chapter the tragic in ancient drama reflected in the tragic in modern drama from Either-Or. Part I, discusses time and the individual, namely by contrasting Zeitgeist, as the spirit of time, and Zeitgeist, as the spirit in time in his presentation of two existential situations of Antigone, namely, the modern character he creates and the Greek character. Kierkegaard claims that the lamentations of the modern Antigone show less sorrow but more pain than the classical Antigone. This difference allows him to posit modern spirit as ready for reflection and in tension with the ancient spirit which is more prone to action. Hence, the tension between the ancient tragic and the modern tragic keeps the universal character without abandoning the individual and, thus, brings to light the individual in history, and this is exactly what is enhanced in this article as of great interest for psychologists, in particular, in clinical existential practice. After an introduction mapping the question, there follow 4 sections focused on the spirit of time, the tragic, Antigone, and Antigone and the spirit of time; and, finally, section 5 presenta the final conclusions, focusing on the relevance of the discussion of the idea of the spirit of the time, and of Kierkegaard’s questioning of this idea, for psychology.
Kierkegaard, Antigone, The Spirit of Time, Existential Psychology
Myriam Moira Protasio, Ana Maria Lopez Calvo de Feijoo, Elisabete Marques de Sousa, Kierkegaard, the Spirit of Time and the Individual: Implications for Clinical Psychology, Journal of Health and Environmental Research. Vol. 4, No. 3, 2018, pp. 84-90. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20180403.11
Sören Aabye Kierkegaard, The tragic in ancient drama reflected in the tragic in modern drama In Either/Or, Part 1, trans. by Howard V, Hong. USA, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1843/1987.
Sören Aabye Kierkegaard, De la tragedia, trans. by J. Zavália. Buenos Aires: Editora Quadrata, 1843/2005.
Sören Aabye Kierkegaard, El reflejo de lo trágico antiguo en lo trágico moderno In O lo uno o lo otro. Un fragmento de vida, trans. by Darío González. Madrid: Editorial Trotta, v. 1, 1843/2006.
Sören Aybe Kierkegaard, O reflexo do trágico antigo no trágico moderno In Ou – ou Um fragmento de vida, primeira parte, trans. by Elisabete M. de Sousa. Lisboa: Relógio D´Água, 1843/2013.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Fenomenologia do Espírito, parte 2. Trans. by Paulo Meneses. Petrópolis: Vozes, 1807/1992. (Phenomenology of Spirit).
Gabriel Guedes Rossati. Kierkegaard e o reconhecimento do espírito do tempo, chapter 2 in O conceito de modernidade nos escritos primeiros de Kierkegaard, p. 40. Thesis to the Interdisciplinary Program in Human Sciences of the Federal University of Santa Catarina UFSC, 2012. Available at https://repositorio.ufsc.br/bitstream/handle/123456789/106733/310359.pdf?sequence=1. (Kierkegaard and the recognition of the spirit of time)
Karl Löwitt. De Hegel a Nietzsche: La quiebra revolucionaria del pensamiento em el siglo XIX, trans. by Emilio Est. Buenos Aires: Katz Editores, 1939/2011, p. 17. (From Hegel to Nietzsche).
Sören Aabye Kierkegaard. On my work as an author. In The Point of View. Trans. by Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong. USA, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1851/1998.
Sören Aabye Kierkegaard. The sickness unto death: A Christian psychological exposition for upbuilding and awakening. Trans. By Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1849/1980.
Sören Aabye Kierkegaard. The concept y of anxiety: A simple psychologically orienting deliberation on the dogmatic issue of hereditary sin. Trans. By Reidar Thomte in collaboration with Albert B. Anderson. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1844/1980.
Rachel Gazolla, Para não ler ingenuamente uma tragédia grega, São Paulo: Edições Loyola, 2001.
Bruno Snell, The Discovery of the Mind, trad T. G. Rosenmeyer, New York: Dover Publications, 1982.
Roberto Machado, O nascimento do trágico, Rio de Janeiro: Zahar, 2006.
Aristóteles, Poética, trans. Ana Maria Valente. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2008. (Aristotle, Poetics).
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Cursos de Estética, vol. IV. Trans. Marco Aurélio Werle e Oliver Tolle. São Paulo: EDUSP, Editora da Universidade de São Paulo, 1835/2004. (Hegel's Lectures on Aesthetics).
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. The Birth of Tragedy and Other Writings. Trans. Ronald Speirs. New York, USA: Cambridge University Press, 1872/1999.
Sören Aybe Kierkegaard, La época presente. Santiago do Chile: Editorial Universitária, 1846/2001. (Two Ages)
Maria Jose Binetti. El estadio estético de Kierkegaard en las categorías lógicas de Hegel: inmediatez, reflexión y posibilidad forma. In Enfoques, vol. 22, no. 1 – Libertados San Martín, otoño 2010, p. 31-51.
Ana Maria Lopez Calvo de Feijoo & Myriam Moreira Protasio. The Rescue of the Aesthetic Character of Existence in Kierkegaard’s Philosophy, J Relig Health (2015) 54:1470–1480. DOI 10. 1007/s10943-015-0026-5.
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You are here: Home»World News»Asia / Australia»Man in coma racks huge hospital bills
Man in coma racks huge hospital bills
JOSE ELMER LEONARDO CASTRO
DUBAI — A Filipino in coma for nearly three months following a brain hemorrhage lies in limbo at a private hospital with his post-surgery care bills reaching a massive Dh210,000.
Jose Elmer Leonardo Castro, 46, who worked as a heavy equipment painter at Arcom, was admitted to Cedars Jebel Ali International Hospital on May 12 after he suffered an intra-cerebral hemorrhage as he was returning to his accommodation inside the free zone after work.
Doctors performed a life-saving neurosurgical intervention after Castro was wheeled into the hospital’s emergency ward.
He was then immediately transferred to another private hospital in Sharjah for decompression craniotomy and evacuation of the hemorrhage and was kept in the ICU on artificial ventilation.
While his insurance company paid for the emergency treatment and surgery, they declined to pay for the treatment at the Sharjah hospital as they [insurer] did not have a contract with the hospital.
Back to Cedars
On May 24, Castro was transferred back to Cedars, with feeding done through a tube.
On June 7, a gastric feeding fistula was established and on June 11 he was taken off the tube and has since been breathing on his own.
With post-operative care not covered by his insurer, Castro has run up a bill of Dh210,000.
His wife Annette, a street food vendor and part-time dressmaker in San Fernando, Philippines, told XPRESS over phone it is “impossible” for them to pay the Dh210,000 in hospital bills that her husband has racked up till this week.
“My husband was our main breadwinner,” she said.
“He used to send us between 12,000 pesos and 13,000 pesos (about Dh1,100 per month), most of which went towards our children’s expenses and education.”
She said her three children now depend on charity to go to school.
While Castro is now reacting to speech, he is only able to display minimum movement by squeezing someone’s hand and nodding.
His doctors said further rehabilitation may take months, if not years.
Amilbahar Amilasan, a Philippine Consulate official in Dubai, said they are working on Castro’s case and will facilitate his repatriation as he is a member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), but said that the bill is “huge” and won’t be fully covered by the agency.
“We have made requests to OWWA and other charities for financial help to settle his bills,” said Amilasan.
Dr. Guenther Kieninger, head, Department of Surgery, and medical director of Cedars, said Castro is now fit to travel but needs a nurse to accompany him during flight.
“We believe that being with his family will be good for his continuous recovery,” said Dr. Kieninger.
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if i read correctly..., 2004-11-05 18:01:57 | Main | Assault on Fallujah began. Ir..., 2004-11-06 16:40:53
dumbest analysis I've seen yet:
makin the rounds on the talk of the town:
"45 percent of the people who voted for Bush are self-described liberals or moderates. (Earth to Democrats: That’s why he beat you.) Only 55 percent of the people who voted for Bush are conservatives." (totten, citing coyne)
This is based on CNN's exit polling, see 2000 and 2004. Assuming the exit polling is accurate, lumping moderates and liberals together in this fashion of reading tea leaves doesn't make sense, and here's why:
More conservatives voted for Kerry (15%) in this election than liberals voted for Bush (13%), but fewer conservatives than voted for Gore (-2%): so first of all Kerry lost Gore's conservative vote, Bush kept his liberal vote. This is exactly the opposite of what Totten/Coyne argue. I wonder why?
Since 2000 Kerry gained more support from the moderate vote (54% to Gore's 52%) than Bush did (45% to 2000's 44%). The total 3% difference was made up by the lack of moderate Nader/3rd party voters.
The biggest difference since 2000 was that fewer moderates overall made up the electorate (-5%, down to 45%), most of the difference going to conservatives (+4% to 34%). What Kerry lost according to the CNN's exit polls, the same used by this superduo, was moderate voter turnout and conservative votes. What Bush gained was conservative voter turnout. There's what lost the election for Kerry, so far as peoples' self-descriptions mean anything. You can compare the results by party identification and end up with about the same conclusion.
Why? Stir the owl droppings and invent any narrative that conforms to the evidence. For now I'm going with the: more conservatives turned out over terrorism/democrats are appeasers/republicans stronger of foreign policy mythology, if Kerry was elected - and Uncle Cheney told us - we were all gonna die.
Other narrative confluences would be: moderates picked sides, and now self-describe as conservative (check PEW studies on such shift in public attitudes); liberal get-out-the-vote drives backfired and found a lot of conservative lurkers in 'blue' areas; conservative efforts at getting out the vote were more effective than liberal efforts; Kerry failed to energize "base" sufficiently to get out liberal/left voters in sufficient numbers to balance out turnout of conservative "base", who were definetly energized by Bush; Karl Rove was a better campaigner than Kerry's team of muck mucks; etc. etc.
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My favourite TV couples
Emma at ASAMUM BOOKTOPIA was originally going to host an event for Valentine's Day and she sent me an email asking if I would like to write a post about love or romantic moments or favourite couples. The idea of writing a list of favourite couples from TV made me really excited and this was meant to be the post that I'd written for her event but on my blog.
That afternoon, going for my run, TV couples just kept popping into my head and I'd remember a little bit about why I loved them so much, it was a lot of fun reminiscing. Of course I didn't have any means of writing them down, and promptly forgot about the majority of them.
Fast forward a week or so and I was telling N in the car about this idea for a blog post. I asked him if HE was writing a list, who would be on list of favourite TV couples?
N: George. And. Mildred. (in his sarcastic voice)
Me: Who the hell are George and Mildred?
N: (gives me a look) Google them.
(Silence between both of us)
N: Ooh, ooh! HOMER AND MARGE!
Me: Ohmygod, Homer and Marge! That's a really good one.
N: I KNOW! I'm really good at this game.
He goes on to suggest some really old TV couples. And I tell him to stop suggesting TV couples I've never heard of/from TV programmes I've never watched. The Goodes from The Good Life. Two people from Fawlty Towers? He suggests couples just to wind me up and I giggled quite a lot. Had to clarify that I meant 'romantic couples from TV'
He did actually have some great suggestions and helped me a lot with the following list. Even though I'm not including most of his couples from '70s TV. (N's older than me!) Also, I couldn't find a good picture of Frank and Betty from Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.
My favourite TV Couples (the actual list!)
Ross and Rachel from Friends - These two were the first couple I thought of. I love Ross and Rachel together. All my favourite scenes or quotes from the show usually involve the two of them. I love how they got together and broke up and got together and broke up. They had a very complicated and ongoing relationship and I wanted to witness every bit of it. My heart ached for these two. From that first romantic kiss in the cafe, to Ross saying 'I take Rachel' at his wedding, to WE WERE ON A BREAK to being 'never off the table' - I think Ross and Rachel deserve their position at number one on my list.
Jin and Sun from LOST - Lost, now there's a TV programme chock full of romance. N suggested Kate and Jack originally, but changed his mind once I'd said 'Jin and Sun.' I could have picked Charlie and Claire, or Sawyer and Juliet, or Penny and Desmond. There was so much romance going on on that desert island, it was fantastic. But something about Jin and Sun just did it for me. Their marriage was really failing at the beginning of the show, and as it went on we could see how much of a disaster it had really been: with Jin being so controlling that Sun had an affair... and then they really turned things around. Jin worked so hard to win Sun back. And then just as they were falling in love with each other all over again, they get separated and separated and then that ending. I cried absolute bucket loads. In fact, I'm tearing up now just thinking about it. Oh, Jin and Sun.
Willow and Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Oh my god! How much did I love Willow and Tara as a couple? I've always been a HUGE fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I was really, really sad when Oz left the show. In fact, I was bereft. Oz and Willow were adorable together and I didn't think anyone could replace him. And then we're introduced to Tara, beautiful and stuttering, magical Tara! Oz who? I think the feelings between Willow and Tara are so tangible as a watcher, instantly believeable. I thought they had great chemistry together and ohmygod, how HOT are they as a couple? The scene where Tara sings for Willow in Once More With Feeling? Steamy.
Haley and Nathan from One Tree Hill - I adore Nathan and Haley. I love how very different they are to each other and despite all of the hardships they've gone through - Haley leaving on tour, very early marriage and pregnancy, they're still together. And still cute together. There's been so much character development with Nathan. He starts out as a bit of a douche only hanging out with Haley to make Lucas mad, and then they end up being this great and romantic couple. I'm relieved and ecstatic that Nathan remains loyal to Haley, no cheating and no melodrama between the two of them. I like solid relationships like theirs.
Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek - Will I lose all my credibility with this last choice? I don't care! I was just the right age when Dawson's Creek came on air. There were those who couldn't stand the show or the characters, who found it all to be too much. But everything about the show appealed to me, both then and now. When Joey and Pacey started getting involved, I instantly loved them. I was always put off by the label of 'soul mates' between Joey and Dawson and was rooting for Joey and Pacey all the way to the end. I thought they were quite sweet together and my overwhelming crush on Joshua Jackson didn't hurt one little bit.
With honourable mentions which go to Mulder and Scully from The X Files and Brennan and Booth from Bones - both shows that carried on the will-they/won't-they? to the very extremes.
Who would make your list of favourite romantic couples from TV?
Labels: love month
Kenny 9:40 am, February 02, 2011
Ooo, great list! I like the Tara/Willow choice, they were adorable together, and Under Your Spell is a wonderful song! I also like Bones/Booth, though there is a bit too much self-deception there for my taste. However, when it really comes down to it, there is just one TV romance for me, Cory and Tapanga from Boy Meets World. That was my dream as a high schooler.
Luisa at Chicklish 9:43 am, February 02, 2011
Great list! I agree about Tara and Willow!
I'd like to add Rory and Jess from The Gilmore Girls. On-screen chemistry or what?! :)
Clover 10:18 am, February 02, 2011
Kenny - OHMYGOD! I can't believe I forgot to include Cory and Topanga!! Best couple ever. God, I loved that show.
(I could listen to Under Your Spell non-stop for hours and not get tired of it. The whole Once More With Feeling episode was just fantastically done.)
Luisa - You know, I never remember The Gilmore Girls when I think of my favourite shows, but it's definitely one of them. Maybe because I came so late to it? But oh yes, I did love Rory and Jess together!
Leanna (Daisy Chain Book Reviews) 12:19 pm, February 02, 2011
Aw, I loved Pacey and Joey in Dawson's Creek! So cute! <3
Vivienne 1:01 pm, February 02, 2011
Ross and Rachel are the ultimate couple for me. Also Meridith and Derek from Greys's Anatomy. Is it sad that I know who George and Mildred are????
Clover 1:08 pm, February 02, 2011
Leanna - I do too. I have a mad crush on Joshua Jackson though, so I don't know if that clouds my judgement or not!
Vivienne - I never watched Grey's, so I have no idea who they are.
And no, it isn't sad that you know who George and Mildred are! I'm young, and American and therefore didn't grow up in England like you and N. He grew up with his parents watching these shows, whereas I have never heard of most of them!
Jenny 1:08 pm, February 02, 2011
I love Tara and Willow -- I wasn't in love with Tara at first but she grew on me so much. Hearts. (I still a little bit missed Oz though, because I love Seth Green.)
Jenny, I'm with you, I really like Seth Green, and I did love him as Oz. I just loved Tara more. She was just so cute and her transformation from awkward shy girl into confident woman was really great to watch.
Fiona 2:41 pm, February 02, 2011
This is such a good idea... I love Monica and Chandler from Friends too :)
I don't watch THAT much TV so I'm having trouble thinking of any...
I'll def try harder... And maybe I will consider Love Month for my spanking new blog that I'm hiding so far (I only have one post) haha xx
Jo 4:49 pm, February 02, 2011
Hmmm. How about couples that never get it right, but SO should, do they count? In that case...
Doctor Who (David Tennant's Doctor) and Rose Tyler! Oh, if only he wasn't so much himself! And that scene with the two doctors! Oh my gosh, how I cried!
Leonard and Penny from The Big Bang Theory. Simply because they just make me laugh SO much, and it was so sweet when Leonard was all happy when they were together.
That's that category done. Now for normal couples... It's quite old, but I LOVED Ephram and Amy from Our New Life in Everwood. Gosh, fromt the first series to the last, their story was just.. wow, so much drama, but so beautiful! I loved it!
You know, I think that's it. I don't think I watch too many things where there are story threads for romance that aren't either all over the place too much be a fave, or because there are just too many. They'll do for me!
Library Mice 5:50 pm, February 02, 2011
Ross and Rachel were the first ones to pop into my head. What a great couple! I never get tired of watching them.
I'm sooooo with you on Jin and Sun! I cried so much during the scene in the submarine, I couldn't see the screen anymore. And when they are in their parallel lives and Juliet tells them about their baby, awwww
My mind has gone blank so I will be back with other favs LOL
Linda 5:58 pm, February 02, 2011
You picked all my favorites! But I would add Barney and Robin from How I Met Your Mother.
Suey 6:21 pm, February 02, 2011
Many of these shows I'm not familiar with! They look great though. I may have to do my own post on this one... too much fun!
Becca Watson 7:20 pm, February 02, 2011
Love Willow and Tara! And so with you on the whole Oz thing! I was very unhappy when he left, but in walked Tara..
Charley 7:43 pm, February 02, 2011
Ross and Rachel would be on my list, too. Whenever I think of them, I think of Phoebe's "He's her lobster" quote.
Clover 7:59 am, February 03, 2011
I'm LOVING the response to this post!
Fiona - Ooh, good luck on the blogging, it's been an incredible epxerience for me so I wish you the very best!
Oh Jo, I love your comment, I really do. I just don't watch ANY of those programmes. I've at least heard of the sort of heartbreaking thing between the Doctor and Rose but I still don't fully understand.
My dad is trying to get me to watch the Big Bang Theory but I don't know, the adverts for it haven't convinced me yet. Never heard of Our New Life In Everwood! :)
Library Mice - I'm glad it's not just me with Jin and Sun. I couldn't see the tv screen either from all the tears in my eyes. :( :(
Linda - Ahhh, I don't watch that show so I have no idea who they are! I feel like I don't watch very much TV recently.
Suey - Ooh, would love to see what you come up with.
Becca - Yeah, it seems that's how many of us felt. Though I did really love Oz..
Charley - He's her lobster!! That's a fantastic quote :)
SisterSpooky 10:53 pm, February 03, 2011
Great list and so happy that Mulder and Scully got an mention. :-)
one of my fav TV couples is Penny and Leonard from The Big Bang Theory (they are just so cute) and if you've seen The West Wing any of those relationships are soooo sweet too!
Diane 8:15 am, February 04, 2011
What about "I love Lucy's" Ricky and Lucille Ball? And Gilmore Girls': Luke and Loralai; and Alias: Sydney and Vaughn (before it got awkward in the third season...); and...
Laura - I don't watch the shows most people watch, I don't think :( I don't watch Big Bang Theory OR The West Wing. I sort of meant to watch WW, but never got around to it. And my dad thinks I'll like BBT but he's been wrong about these things before :)
Diane - Ricky and Lucille Ball? Oh, Diane. You can be sure I didn't watch that! It's a little old-school for me :)
I said it to someone else, but I can never remember The Gilmore Girls when I think about my favourite television programmes, so it always gets left off. But I did think of Vaughn and Sydney, except it was so .. weird like you said. First two seasons of Alias? I would have totally put them on my list. Not so much afterwards..
Aritul 5:02 am, July 30, 2011
Nice list. I had always wanted Joey and Dawson to end up together, but after recently rewatching the Joey~Pacey scenes, those two are a great couple.
My list would include Jack and Martha (Home and Away), Lana and Clark (Smallville), Lois and Clark (The New Adventures of Superman), and perhaps my favorite couple ever Chuck and Sarah (Chuck).
Clover 8:26 am, August 01, 2011
THanks for your suggestions Aritul :)
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by Alison Green on June 28, 2019
It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…
1. One of our bosses got invited to our rowdy beach weekend
I am good friends with three of my coworkers, let’s call them Billy, Goat, and Gruff. The four of us are distributed across three different teams, but we work together a lot on various projects and also hang out with some regularity outside of work. As such, we are planning a big beach weekend getaway in August.Figma Kawamura Yuu School Uniform Ver. (PVC Figure) by Max FactoryJapan import We’ve all invited various friends, booked a giant house for the weekend, and have been making plans for a super fun, rowdy weekend of drunken shenanigans (as beach excursions tend to be).
Billy is also friends with Goat and Gruff’s boss, Gabby. Like us, Gabby is in her 30s, friendly, fun, lively, and would logically be friends with all of us if she weren’t Goat and Gruff’s boss. She has been to dinner and drinks with us, and on one occasion the whole group went back to Billy’s house to drink more beer and eventually play a well-known boundary-pushing party card game. We all had fun, but Goat and Gruff both left early-ish, and didn’t drink much (as you’d expect).1 6 tbleague sexy arhian pirate full set without head-brand new
This is where it starts to go sideways. Billy, in a fit of generosity, invited Gabby to the beach weekend. Since then, Gabby has asked me for additional details and if there’s room for her to join. My hostess/planner self is screaming that Gabby really, truly cannot come. That there’s a world of difference between the equivalent of a rowdy happy hour with coworkers and a whole weekend of road-tripping, mostly-naked (swimsuits!) heavy-drinking shenanigans, communal living, and collective reckoning with rampant hangovers and sunburn. Regardless, what was a smooth-sailing fun weekend is now embroiled in office hierarchy drama.
It seems to me like my options here are a) ask Billy to tell Gabby not to come, and run the risk that he’ll blame it on Goat and Gruff for being spoilsports, b) be the bad guy myself and tell Gabby that she can’t come, blaming it on my delicate/old-fashioned sensibilities about mixing work dynamics (possibly damaging our relationship in the process), c) pray that she won’t attend, either because her schedule will prohibit or because her sense of decorum kicks in and she decides to bow out, or d) be a terrible hostess, stew in my own stress, and let things play out as they may. I could use some help figuring out how to approach this.
Green Camo Hello Kitty TEQ63 Vinyl Figure Quiccs x Sanrio x Kidrobot - IAmRetroGabby can’t come. It’s crossing too many professional boundaries for a manager to attend a “rowdy weekend of drunken shenanigans” with two people who report to her. Presumably, Goat and Gruff are going to have to be on guard if she’s there, and it’s just not the weekend you planned. Ideally you’d do choice A — have Billy tell Gabby he didn’t think it through and since it’s going to be a rowdy weekend, he shouldn’t have invited two of the organizers’ boss. If you don’t trust him to do that without blaming Goat and Gruff (despite your explicit instructions), then you need to move to choice B — deliver that message yourself. Do not just hope she won’t attend or suffer in silence.
But really, Billy messed this up and he should fix it.
2. My wife doesn’t believe me that cold-contacting people on LinkedIn is annoying
My wife has been on the job hunt a very long time (nearly two years). She is currently employed on contract as a scientist with a large pharma company. During this time, she has been interviewing constantly and has had a few offers made, but with our family and financial situation, none were palatable enough to accept (though she did attempt to negotiate, and in our opinion the concessions she had asked for were reasonable). Sam Flores Kid Dragon bluee Vinyl Figure SIGNED The Loyal SubjectsAt this point, she has started just spamming employees via LinkedIn in departments at institutions she wants to work at, asking about positions she has applied to or feedback on her CV.
She asked me about it and I gave her my opinion that (1) what she’s doing is kind of annoying; I know I would not appreciate being bombarded by some stranger, (2) I think she would have more success if the people she was reaching out to had stake in her success, and (3) I think she should try to go to networking events and do some heavy research on the networking process and figure out what other methods may lead her to her goal.
Was I incorrect in my assessment? I love my wife and want her to be happy and successful more than anything, but I think her approach is taking away her allure as a candidate, and the advice that I have given is not well received.
Yeah, cold-contacting people via LinkedIn is going to be annoying, especially with those particular questions, and it’s not likely to get any results. If she doesn’t believe you (or me), though, she’ll probably figure that out pretty quickly when she doesn’t get helpful responses.
If she’s had a few offers that weren’t financially right, it’s worth looking at whether her expectations are realistic for the market. Maybe they are, and these were just bad offers — but it’s possible they’re not.
If she’s getting lots of interviews, the problem isn’t her application materials. And if she’s getting to the offer stage repeatedly, it’s probably not her interview skills.Lego Large Bulk Lot 48 lbs. of Loose Random Assorted Parts & PiecesSo you may be exactly right that leaning more heavily into networking (good networking, not LinkedIn spamming) is what will help. But again, urge her to check her expectations against the reality of the market and make sure that’s not the issue.
3. Manager let me go but said he wants to create a new job for me
After two months of unemployment, I got hired to do freelance data wrangling at a major company by Dale, who saw my resume and said I had great potential. However, since I had never worked at such a large company before, it was on the condition that I would have a one-month trial period. I would be on a two-week trial first, then a two-week hold and if I did well during both those periods, I would be kept on until the end of the year. So I worked incredibly hard. I came in an hour early, stayed late, took shortened lunches, wrote detailed notes, asked tons of questions, and always offered to help out the rest of my team. But at the end of my third week, Dale called me into a private meeting and said that he didn’t realize how green I was and that the project I was put on was too intense for someone of my skill level so I was to be let go early.
However, he said that I had great potential and that he wanted to talk to his bosses about creating a position for me directly under him, but that it would take a while — “hopefully before the end of the season” — and I should take short-term positions until then. How much can I trust that this will happen? Should I ask Dale to get this in writing? Dale kept repeating that I wasn’t fired, but I feel like a deadbeat who can’t keep a job.
You shouldn’t rely on it at all. Dale isn’t saying it will definitely happen; he’s saying he’s going to try to convince his bosses to do it. So it wouldn’t make sense to ask him to put it in writing; he’s telling you clearly that he can’t commit to it
Since it might or might not happen, you should proceed as if it isn’t — and let it be a pleasant surprise if it does happen (if the offer is one you want). That means that you should not only pursue short-term work meanwhile. You should pursue whatever type of work you want to pursue, not put your job search on hold for something he’s been up-front that he can’t guarantee. (Frankly, even if he did tell you he could promise it, I’d tell you the same thing — because until there’s a firm offer, stuff like this can always fall apart.)
4. Switching to a gender-neutral nickname at work
I am a nonbinary AFAB (assigned female at birth) person who is not out at my workplace. I present as female at work, including going by my very feminine wallet name (e.g., “Katherine”). I don’t mind it, but a few of my coworkers recently started calling me by a gender-neutral nickname — think “Katherine” to “KC.” It’s caught on with some of our user community, and I kind of love it!
Do you or your readers have any tips for encouraging people you’ve worked with for a while to start calling you by a new nickname, especially if you mostly interact with them through phone or text? I don’t think it’d be appropriate to completely change my email signature, since I’m still “Katherine” in all of our directories and official communications, but I’d really like if more people started calling me “KC.” (I work in IT at a fairly large university in the Midwest, if that helps.)
The easiest way is to start signing your emails with KC. If you don’t feel comfortable charing your official email signature, you can still do it like this:
Katherine Mulberry
And with emails to people you work with frequently, you can leave the official signature stuff off anyway. They know who you are! And if they’re confused, it sounds like the “from” field of your email will still say Katherine.WINGNUT WINGS 32603 - 1 32 Fokker E.II Max Immelmann But by signing KC, you’re signaling “this is what you can call me,” just like a Jennifer signing her emails with Jen or so forth.
And even though people don’t normally sign text messages, signing those KC for a while might help as well. You can also do the same thing on the phone — “hey, it’s KC” — to anyone who will recognize your voice and not be confused about who they’re talking to. And whenever you’re ready, start telling new people you meet, “Hi, I go by KC.”
5. Everyone wants to know why I don’t work for the department that ghosted me
I work in academia (let’s say the field of Teapot Studies) but not as a professor. I have been active in my field, working in Teapot Research, focused mostly on Handle Design. I was moving on from a job after a grant finished and I applied for a job at another university in the School of Teapot Studies within their Handle Design department. I got an initial Skype interview. Then two months later I was invited to an in person interview. Then I heard nothing for two more months, even after two (very well spaced) emails. A job opened up in Teapot Studies but in the Department of Lids, which I applied for, interviewed for, and was offered a job in less than two weeks. I took that job because I wasn’t soon going to be unemployed.
Now I’ve run into a problem. EVERYONE asks me why I am not in the Departments of Handle Design because of my background and I’m not sure what to say besides “They ghosted me after multiple interviews.” Additionally, I run into the people who interviewed me in that department at least once a week in meetings and they are either acting like they don’t know me or actually have forgotten me. It’s super awkward and my coworkers have pointed out how weird it is since “you have so much in common!” How do I navigate being in close contact with people who were so rude and other people’s questions about the situation?
To the people who ask why you’re not in the Handle Design department: “I actually talked to them about a role there, but this is where I ended up!” Say it cheerfully and matter-of-factly and people will likely move on.
Masters of the Universe Classics MOTUC Terror Claws Skeletor Flying Fists He-ManTo the Handle Design people who seem not to recognize you: Break the ice yourself. Go up to them confidently and say, “It’s good to see you again! I’m Jane Warblesworth — we talked a few months ago about the open role you had on your team. I’m working in the Lids department now.”
To people who comment that it’s weird that you’re not on closer terms with the other department because you have so much in common: “I’d like to get to know them better at some point, but I’m happy being here in Lids!”
That’s it! I think you’re feeling more awkward about it than you need to because of the ghosting, but you can leave that out of this completely. Just be matter-of-fact and it’ll be fine.
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A reader writes:
I’m in a tricky spot with a long-time employee of mine, “Bob,” and I need advice on how to deliver a potentially devastating piece of feedback: “You just don’t have what it takes to succeed in this role.”
Bob is interested in growing from his current position (let’s say teapot painting) into a teapot spout design manager role.Ty Beanie Baby Cats - Scat 1998, Sneaky 2000, Snip 1996 He has studied spout design for about two years now, including reading several books and taking a few training courses, all paid for by the company. He’s been provided a few mentors, some inside the company and some through a network of industry contacts.
Bob has been given oversight of several small design projects as part of his learning process. He works hard, but there are a few problems that we keep coming back to, including a lack of communication skills — he frequently mishears or misunderstands initial design requirements, which means that he spreads misinformation and leaves the rest of the team playing catch-up when the correct information filters through – and a completely misguided sense of urgency. For example, a non-urgent request was tacked on toward the end of Bob’s current project. It was made clear when the request was sent that it was out of scope for our current targets, but that it should be addressed by the end of next quarter. Bob immediately rounded up several team members, phrased this as an urgent request, and asked them to step away from their current tasks to ensure that this request was completed within the week. I received several confused and panicked questions from team members asking for additional resources, overtime, and so on.
Bob struggles to receive feedback, even mild course corrections. Each coaching session, no matter how focused on concrete, actionable requests, leads to a spiral of anxiety, depression, and irritability, which ends up impacting the team. Bob has damaged relationships to the point that a few coworkers refuse to work with him or even acknowledge him without me signing off on the legitimacy of his requests. Plus, the mistakes Bob makes as he learns are sucking up so much of my time and energy that I’m not completing other tasks such as developing other employees or growing my own skills in any of my functional areas.Solent MODEL SHIPS SHIP 1 1250 GB. Freighter haparangi SOM 15
Bottom-line: as eager as Bob is to learn this role and develop his skills, he’s bad at this stuff. A few of his coworkers have picked up a more solid understanding of the fundamentals of spout design simply by spending time in meetings with Bob than Bob himself has acquired. He lacks many of the innate skills that anyone who wants to work effectively in this role require, including communication, time management, and collaboration. He’s willing to train in these areas but hasn’t shown any improvement, and I spend many hours per week clarifying his messages and dealing with conflicts he’s created among his coworkers over what are essentially extra credit assignments. That, plus the inability to respond professionally to feedback makes me think that he’s fundamentally unsuited for this role.
My company won’t spend more resources on Bob, and individuals who had previously offered to mentor him implied that teaching him is kind of a waste of time. So how do I tell Bob that this is not a role he can excel at, at least in our company? How do I say, kindly but truthfully, “I’ve stuck my neck out for you as far as I’m willing and unfortunately, you just don’t measure up. Find another goal”?
Yeah, unfortunately just wanting to do a particular job doesn’t mean someone will be well suited to do that job. It sounds like you and your company have taken Bob’s interest seriously and invested significant resources in helping him gain the skills he’d need for the job he wants — and it’s just not working. That’s okay. That’s not anyone’s fault; it’s just how it goes sometimes.
Hopefully you and the people who have been mentoring Bob have been giving him feedback all along, so this won’t be the first time he’s hearing that there are problems with his work. (If not, this is a harder conversation — and you’d want to resolve to change that for everyone you manage going forward — but it can still be done.)
The best thing you can do is to be direct with Bob. Sit down with him and say this: “I want to talk about where we are with your interest in spout design. I know you’ve worked hard to build expertise, and I appreciate the energy you’ve put into training and working with mentors. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing the skill level we’d need to see to move you into a design role. 4x Foil Thopter Foundry Alara Reboern LP ARB Urza Lot 2We’re at the limits of what we can invest in training you, and we’re at the point where I need to move those resources to other projects. I think you’re a great painter and I’m happy to have you stay in your current role, but I want to be up-front with you that I can’t keep you on a training path for spout design any further.”
Bob may have questions — answer them as honestly as you can — and he may be upset or defensive. You noted that he’s traditionally struggled to receive feedback, and that it often leads to “a spiral of anxiety, depression, and irritability,” so I’d expect that to be the case here as well. Being irritable with team members post-feedback really isn’t okay — and I really, really wish you’d addressed that with him earlier on, because it’s not ideal to to address it for the first time right after what might be the biggest blow to him of all. But you do need to step in if he’s rude or irritable with people; that’s not okay and you can’t let him subject colleagues to that. He can be disappointed or upset, but he does need to treat people respectfully while he works through this.
Speaking of other things that I wish we had a time machine for: It’s great that you invest in employees and try to help them meet their own goals. But two years of investing your own time without much payoff, letting it bump other important priorities, and letting Bob damage relationships with people is too long. I’m curious about why this was the priority — versus developing other people and investing your time in other projects — and why Bob was allowed to cause the sort of problems he’s caused. It sounds like you might struggle to set boundaries with employees (any chance you’re a people pleaser, or someone who avoids having tough conversations?) and if that’s been the case here, it’s probably not limited only to Bob. It’s worth taking a look at how that might be playing out in your management more broadly — in particular, what the impact of all this investment in Bob has been on your other staff members and whether there are other tough conversations/decisions you’ve put off too long.
One other thing: It’s possible that Bob will ultimately end up leaving your company over this. If that happens, that’s not a sign that you somehow failed. This might be the nudge that Bob needs to realize he’s not going to meet his goals there, and that’s okay. Dracaufeu no, Charizard gx rainbow ghost 150 147 secret full art rare hyperOr he might just want to try pursuing them in a different context, and that’s okay too. Your obligation isn’t to make this work out for everyone (you probably can’t do that) — just to be direct and straightforward with him about what he can and can’t expect at your company, so he can make good decisions for himself.
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GreaterEastEnd@thegoodmancorp.com
Greater East End Management District
Ezzell
Managing Director of Economic Development and Infrastructure
pezzell@greatereastend.com
3211 Harrisburg Boulevard
City of Houston
Moses-Burnside
Division Manager, Transportation Planning
Sharon.moses-burnside@houstontx.gov
Eastwood Intermodal Terminal Project
Eastwood St. and Harrisburg Boulevard
4500 Block of Harrisburg Boulevard
A defining characteristic of the East End District (District) is the light-rail service (Green Line) that runs east-west from downtown Houston eastward along the Harrisburg corridor. Since the line opened on May 23, 2015, it has served as an active and reliable transportation option for residents and area commuters. With the recent completion of the Hughes Street Overpass over the Union Pacific Railway, the Green Line now extends to Cesar Chavez/67th Street Station and to the Magnolia Transit Center. The direct connectivity to various METRO transit routes in this area, provides an opportunity to stimulate further economic development in the district, through the creation of reasonably priced parking for commuters, which is otherwise, non-existent in the area. This opportunity, realized by the District, is also identified in Houston METRO’s 2016 East End Corridor Transit Oriented Development Study. This study identifies the need to “incorporate shared parking within potential redevelopment on the parcel adjacent to the CVS Pharmacy.” In response to this opportunity, the District has identified the development of a transit/parking facility on this parcel, and is taking the next step to work with H-GAC to “align project evaluation and funding levels for the TIP to support TOD projects” which is also a recommendation of the plan. A 2017 demand analysis commissioned by the District identifies that there is a total daily transit demand for an additional 450 to 517 transit-oriented parking spaces at the intersection of Harrisburg and Eastwood. This demand is being generated by the following activity centers: The Downtown Houston Central Business District, Texas Medical Center, Rice University, Museum District, and the University of Houston/Texas South University. This demand is validated by parking rates and limited availability within the activity centers serviced by Metro’s light rail line. A 2017 survey of Downtown Houston parking rates indicates an average daily rate of $24. The City of Houston Department of Parking Management indicates that approximately 30% of vehicles in Downtown Houston are circulating, searching for parking. The 2013 Texas Medical Center (TMC) Mobility Study targeted remote parking facilities as a means to reduce traffic congestion, and the need to address parking deficiencies as priorities within the TMC. Finally, significant parking deficiencies have been noted at University of Houston, Rice University, and throughout the Museum District.
Through coordination with private sector partners, the District was able to reach the following agreement: • The developer is donating 1.75 acres of property, valued at $2.67M, for the parking facility. This is conveyed via a 40-yr ground lease (attached). An appraisal report is included with this grant application. The value of this property will satisfy the local match required for this funding request. The remaining value will serve as an over match (approximately $1.4M). • The developer has agreed to construct a 450 space parking facility, of which 200 spaces will be utilized by an adjacent Baker-Ripley (non-profit) facility and by other adjacent commercial development. 250 spaces are being set aside for public transportation utilization. 250 spaces are the maximum number of spaces agreed to by METRO and the District for a park-n-ride concept. • The garage is being constructed currently. The construction contract was procured by the District to Federal Transit Administration specifications related to capital leasing. • The garage is being designed with METRO Q-card compatibility in mind. • The cost to build a stand-alone 250 space garage, as estimated by the construction contractor, is $4.9M. This is used as the estimated value of a 40-yr capital lease for the 250 spaces for public transit purposes. This value discounts the land value entirely. Typically a 40-yr lease exceeds the initial capital cost (otherwise leasing would be a better financial option than a purchase). This amount is commensurate with the funding request. • If the District receives approval for the $4.9M in funding, that funding will be used to secure a long-term capital lease of 250 parking spaces and associated incidental space. The District will complete a competitive RFP process to identify if other providers are willing to construct or lease 250 spaces for a 40-yr period. This will ensure the best use of government funding and will comply with FTA procurement regulations. • Prior to executing a capital lease for the spaces, the District will enter into an Operating and Management agreement with the owner of the facility. This will set up a framework for the management of the parking. The District will allow the garage owner to operate and manage the garage. The District will require quarterly meetings with the owner/manager of the garage to review financial results from operations and parking. Rates will be adjusted dependent upon occupancy and net revenues. The OMA will define net revenue but it is anticipated that net revenue will be minimal or non-existent due to O&M costs. See attached fee analysis. • The intent of the District is to establish initial daily parking fees between $4-$6. This will be adjusted based on parking utilization/ridership. However, the District’s intent is to provide rates which are more competitive than those of Downtown, TMC, and other activity centers. This will ensure the long-term viability of the Park and Ride concept.
The primary outcomes of this project include: • Working toward accomplishing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) objectives set by Houston METRO and the District. • The provision of a subsidized park and ride option for at-risk and environmental justice populations within the vicinity of the project. Environmental Justice populations being served by this project above the H-GAC regional averages include: o Minorities o Households below the poverty line o Limited educational attainment o Female head of households o Limited English proficiency o Senior population • This project would serve to increase annual transit ridership by approximately 223,000 unlinked passenger trips and reduce vehicle miles travelled (VMT) by approximately 870,000 annually. Over a 20-year planning horizon, this equates to 17.4M VMT reduced. • The increase in METRO farebox revenues generated by increased ridership is estimated to be approximately $14M over the useful life of the project (50 years x $279,540). • The project, through decreased VMT, will lower the incidence of preventable traffic crashes due to reduced driving over the projects’ evaluation period. There is anticipated to be an annual reduction in approximately 2.5 crashes and 18.5 injuries within the local transportation network due to this project. This carries a benefit of approximately $6.8M over a 20-year period. • The project will result in a reduction of approximately 340 tons of air pollutants per year, which carries a value of approximately $470k over a 20-year period.
A. MPOIDs
(Expand) Transit Passenger Facilities
View Uploaded File: 14_GEEMD Resolution & Funding Commitment.pdf
100% PS&E
C-List Categorical Exclusion Type C-9
View Uploaded File: 19_METRO and COH Support.pdf
View Uploaded File: 16_Terminal Timeline.xlsx
The project will work synergistically with existing and adjacent transit service, but it will not significantly impact METRO owned infrastructure. Letters of support from COH and METRO are attached. Several alternatives have been contemplated during the planning and development of this project: 1. The District constructs its’ own garage. This alternative will be more costly as the District will have to purchase the land and construct the garage. This would also involve legal fees related to ROW acquisition and time delays related to acquisition, design, and construction. Additionally the District would have to procure and pay for the design of this facility. In this case, this burden is being shifted to the private sector. The cost of this alternative is estimated to be at least $3M more than the 40-year capital lease being sought. 2. Identify an alternative site to complete a capital lease along the METRO Green Line. This alternative is still viable. When the District secures the funding for this project, a competitive request for proposals (RFP) will be initiated. This will seek interested parties in constructing or otherwise providing a 250-space parking garage for a transit purpose. This will afford public and private developers the opportunity to bid on creation of a similar facility. Coordination and Project Status: FTA is aware of the project and has reviewed the project report that outlines the project components and the environmental assessment for the project. A categorical exclusion (CE) has been granted by FTA for this project. The CE protects the construction and the capital lease of a parking facility for a transit purpose at the project location. If through a RFP, the project is implemented elsewhere along the Green Line, the CE would be updated for the new location. Public Involvement: The letter of intent outlining this project has been discussed at several District Board meetings dating back to 2016. The Board meetings are open to the public on the fourth Thursday of every month. The METRO TOD study, which originally identified this project, included coordination and outreach with the general public and with project partners to include COH PWE, COH Economic Development, several TIRZ and Management Districts, and private sector interests. Materials regarding this study are available on the METRO website and the District website for review. https://www.ridemetro.org/Pages/TransitOrientedDevelopment.aspx http://www.greatereastend.com/metro-releases-transit-oriented-development-study/ This project was amended into the H-GAC Transportation Improvement Program in October 2017. This involved four public meetings at H-GAC. A TAC preview, a TPC preview, a TAC action, and a TPC action. The MPO ID is 16312. This project is shovel ready and funding can be expended upon the award of funds, the transfer of funds to FTA, and the execution of a capital lease. All procurement and agreement actions can take place during this administrative time. The attached project development timeline demonstrates the execution the capital lease in CY2020, only because it is anticipated to take that long for the required TIP/STIP and FTA transfer actions to occur. If those actions can occur more expeditiously, this lease and this project can be completed in CY19.
View Uploaded File: GEEMD Terminal TIP Readiness Materials.zip
View Uploaded File: GEE Terminal Parking MPK map.zip
View Uploaded File: 15_Eastwood Intermodal Budget Worksheet.xlsx
View Uploaded File: GEE Transit Facility_Transit-Active-Transportation-Safety-Benefit.xlsx
View Uploaded File: GEE Transit Facility_delay-benefits.xlsx
View Uploaded File: Facility Emissions Benefits.pdf
View Uploaded File: GEE Transit Facility_Supporting Data.zip
Planning Factors - Includes Facility Maintenance Plan/Strategies
1. Does the proposed project application include Facility Maintenance strategies/plan?
A. Please provide adopted asset management plan.
View Uploaded File: Facility Maintenance Strategy.zip
This Transit Passenger Terminal is identified in Houston METRO’s 2016 East End Corridor Transit Oriented Development Study. The project and other associated sidewalk infrastructure is also identified in the 2017 report entitled Eastwood Intermodal Terminal and Associated Pedestrian-Transit Corridor Improvements. The project was also adopted in the H-GAC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) in October 2017 and subsequently approved in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program in February 2018. The TIP process involved four public meetings at H-GAC. A TAC preview, a TPC preview, a TAC action, and a TPC action. The MPO ID is 16312.
Houston METRO’s 2016 East End Corridor Transit Oriented Development Study: https://www.ridemetro.org/MetroPDFs/AboutMETRO/CurrentProjects/TransitOrientedDevelopment/METRO_TOD_Report_East_End_Corridor_Final_022216.pdf East End District’s 2017 Eastwood Intermodal Terminal and Associated Pedestrian-Transit Corridor Improvements Advance Plan: https://www.dropbox.com/s/m0w0gnvfyh8m734/Eastwood%20Intermodal%20Terminal%20and%20Associated%20Pedestrian%20Transit%20Corridor%20Improvements%20Advance%20Plan.pdf?dl=0 H-GAC Transportation Improvement Program (MPO ID 16312): https://www.h-gac.com/taq/transportation-committees/TAC/2017/09-sep/documents/ITEM-04C-Amendment-Detail-Pages-090617.pdf
Planning Factors - Project is Part of a Transit Oriented Development
1. Is the transit passenger facility part of a transit oriented development?
Planning Factors - Provides Safe Ped/Bike Accommodations
1. Does the proposed project provide safe pedestrian and bicycle accommodations?
Planning Factors - Ridership Impact (Expected Ridership Growth)
1. Will the project provide ridership growth?
A. If Yes, please provide documentation showing expected ridership and potential growth, backed by supporting data.
View Uploaded File: Ridership Impact.zip
Supported or Served by Multiple Transit Providers (Max 20 Points)
1. Is the facility supported by or used by multiple transit providers?
If yes, please explain which transit providers and services the facility is used by.
Yes – via connectivity provided by the METRO LRT service, this facility can be accessed, used, and integrated with multiple transit service providers. Those other providers and related connection points include: • Fort Bend County Transit, which services the Texas Medical Center, which can be accessed directly via the LRT network. • Conroe Connection, which will soon be servicing the Texas Medical Center and Downtown Houston, both of which can be accessed directly via the LRT network. • The Woodlands Express Service, which currently services the Texas Medical Center and Downtown Houston, both of which can be accessed directly via the LRT network. This service offers reverse-commute options as well, further growing transportation choices for transit users. • When the Uptown BRT project is completed, riders will be able to access the Galleria via a transfer at the Downtown Transit Center. Additionally, future connectivity to the Texas Central Rail Partners High Speed Rail has been contemplated from the Uptown “Gold Line” service. • METRONext is contemplating expanded connectivity to the future Texas Central Partners Bullet Train as well as George Bush/ Hobby Airports. Existing and expanded connectivity will provide access to numerous jurisdictions and activity centers.
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South Florida’s Premier Hair Salon
“devoted to the art of beauty”
OR SPECIAL
Cuts & style
Color & Highlights
Treatments & Conditioning
All Natural, No Glue or Wax
Weddings, Formals & Parties
About us, Photos & Staff
Client Testimomials
hair industry salon
About usSalon Photos Salon StaffSalon Cut-A-ThonSalon 5K Run
At Hair Industry Salon, we have always been devoted to the art of beauty. Our talented and passionate associates are some of the best hair stylists in South Florida, and are dedicated to giving you the most innovative styles.
Our stylists listen to your goals and desires and work with you to achieve the look you want. From the newest and trendiest styles to traditional favorites, you won’t be disappointed at Hair Industry. Our full-service salon also features body services and hair treatments delivered by industry experts, including a full-service nail salon.
Located in downtown Hollywood, FL, Hair Industry is centrally located and easy to find from I-95. We cater to clients from all walks of life with one thing in common: They want to look and feel their best!
Communication, creativity, and knowledge will encapsulate your experience in our friendly, relaxed environment.
Need an appointment:
Call us. We can help!
Hair Industry Products We carry a full line of Redken and L’ Oreal Majirel hair color.
We carry only the finest, professional grade retail products. Including blow dryers, flat irons,curling irons, Moroccan oil and Moroccan oil brushes, Unite, AG, Indie, Scruples, Keratin Complex and Uberliss.
Db N1101392845 30341847 23897262
Album Salon Photos
Mindy Cousineau
Mindy Cousineau | Stylist/Owner
Mindy Cousineau has been residing in South Florida since 1982. She has been doing hair in the Miami/Aventura area for over 25 years. During that time, along with working as a stylist, Mindy became a color educator with Redken.
Hair color and resolving color issues became her passion. Mindy is also certified in Keratin Complex and Uberliss smoothing systems. She has also become an Aqua hair extension specialist. In 2002, she partnered with long time friend and co-worker Kim Longmire and Hair Industry was born. “We are very proud of the business we have built”, says Mindy. Hair Industry is going into its 13th year and going strong.
Kimberly Longmire
Kimberly Longmire | Stylist/Owner
Kim has worked in both the Aventura and East Hollywood area for over 30 years. Her decision to enter the industry was a natural one. ” I love people… working so closely with them to attain their desired look is so much fun and gives me great satisfaction”. In the last ten years Kim has enjoyed the creative freedom of extensions. She has been certified over fifteen years with “Great Lengths”. Single free flowing protein bonds which she custom color blends to match your hair color exactly in lengths from 8″ to 24″. She is also certified in “Aqua hair extensions”. “Extensions has become my greatest passion”. “I love the transformations you can achieve with extensions, the choices are endless”.
In 2002, Kim, with her good friend and associate of over 20 years “Mindy Cousineau”, opened “Hair Industry Salon” in Downtown Hollywood. We take great pride in what we have achieved at Hair Industry and are pleased to have some of the most talented professionals working with us.
Lisa | Stylist
Beginning her career 20+ years ago with lots of advanced training in London and New York. Lisa has always kept up with the latest trends and techniques. Specializing in precision cutting and corrective color, Lisa says “Nothing makes me happier than a happy client!”
Revi | Stylist
Revi began her career in hairstyling 20 years ago apprenticing for a leading salon in the Aventura area. Soon after completing her apprenticeship program she was promoted to stylist where her career quickly took off.
Over the years she made a name for herself specializing in color and precision cuts. Revi enjoys working with scissors and a razor to achieve a wide range of styles from classic and conservative to trendy and modern. Her passion for styling and keeping up with the latest styles, trends and techniques has always left Revi’s clients coming back for more. Revi is best known for her flawless highlights, spot on color, and her wet and dry cutting techniques.
Louis | Stylist
Louis began his career in 1995, a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage with an extreme passion for the beauty industry. Specializing in all areas from make-up & up-dos to corrective color & precision haircuts. Louis’ educational background includes advanced training with Toni & Guy, Vidal Sassoon, L’Oreal and Paul Mitchell. These are just some of the top names in the business who have inspired his ability to cover the whole spectrum of creativity in this industry.
Peter | Stylist
Peter has been in the beauty industry for over 30 years. Starting as a stylist in 1984 in Coral Springs, he quickly moved into an artistic director position at a very prominent salon in Aventura. Years later, he transitioned into a Sales representative/educator position for Sebastian, but realized his passion was being hands on and personal with the clients.
He partnered in a salon in Williams Island for six years but had a taste for the big apple. He moved to New York City to work for Tony and Guy and then Antonio Prieto. After a few years there, he decided to come back to Miami where he worked for several years until landing at Hair Industry.
We love having Peter as part of our team here at Hair Industry. He has brought with him his vast experience, expertise and passion with his perfect blondes, beautiful color tint backs, and years of different hair extension applications and more.
Hope | Full Specialist
Hope is a native Floridian. She has been a full specialist for 23 years. She enjoys making her clients feel special and won “the best manicurist” in the Hollywood Gazette.
Sandra | Salon Manager/Coordinator
Semra
Semra | Full Specialist
Semra Nagle has been in the beauty industry for 35 Years. Her education began in Istanbul Turkey where she learned the ancient method of hair removal, also known as “facial hair threading” at a very young age. She has since continued to grow through many years of continued education. Her talents don’t just stop with perfect eyebrow shaping. Semras’ specialties include acrylic, gel manicure, pedicure and wax. Putting your nails in Semra’s hands promises to be an experience that is exceptional as well as unforgettable.
Her dedication, attention to detail, and rapport with her clients has helped build a reputation of excellence at Hair Industry Salon for the past 3 years. Her extraordinary abilities are complimented by her personality. She believes in making her clients feel relaxed and comfortable while they are getting the best nail services they have ever received.
David | Salon Assistant
Analia | Stylist
Analias’ passion lies in haircolor and she loves creating unique color. She also specializes in corrective color. Analia continues to train in advanced haircolor education. She is certified in Keratin Complex and Uberliss smoothing systems. Aqua tape hair extensions is also one of Analias’ specialties. Creating long,voluminous styles with a damage free technique. Analia always does her very best to listen to her clients needs and wants.
“It makes for a wonderful day when I have made my client look and feel great. I love meeting new people and showing how much I care”!
Db Hairindustry-583
Album Salon Cut-A-Thon
Db Hairindustry-1653
Db 5k Run 83
Album salon run
Hair Industry Salon 2000 Harrison, Street Hollywood, FL 33020 | (954) 920-8220
© Copyright 2009 Hair Industry Salon. All rights reserved.
Hair Salon in Hollywood, FL
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"WhiteSections 2018 NFL Draft2018 NFL Free Age
von panxing18 • | 59 Beiträge
The Super Bowl is compete http://www.thedolphinslockerroom.com/authentic-mark-clayton-jersey , with the New England Patriots beating the Los Angeles Rams last night. With the conclusion of that game, the entire NFL has now shifted its focus to 2019, with teams...ncy2018 Mock Drafts2018 Draft ProspectsBreakingDolphins 2019 Draft picks: 13 - Christian Wilkins; 78 - Michael Deiter; 151 - Andrew Van Ginkel; 202 - Isaiah Prince; 233 - Chandler Cox; 234 - Myles Gaskin2019 NFL Mock Drafts2019 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation 2-round post-Super Bowl projectionNew,60commentsESTShareTweetShareShare2019 NFL Mock Draft: SB Nation 2-round post-Super Bowl projectionJerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsThe Super Bowl is compete, with the New England Patriots beating the Los Angeles Rams last night. With the conclusion of that game, the entire NFL has now shifted its focus to 2019, with teams looking toward free agency and the NFL Draft. This morning, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar released his latest 2019 NFL Mock Draft, taking a shot at a two-round projection for April’s prospect selection process.Kadar starts with the Arizona Cardinals adding Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. Then the San Francisco 49ers use the second overall pick to add Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen, followed by the New York Jets selection of Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and the Oakland Raiders using the fourth overall selection on Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers then round out the top five picks with Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary.The first quarterback - which could be of key interest for the Miami Dolphins - comes of the board with the sixth pick as the New York Giants grab Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins. The Denver Broncos take the second quarterback with the tenth pick, adding Missouri’s Drew Lock.The Dolphins come up on the clock with the 13th overall pick, with Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray available, but Kadar does not see them making that pick. Instead, he has the Dolphins using their pick on Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor.Of the pick, Kadar wrote:The Dolphins then come back on the clock with the 48th pick Womens Nat Moore Jersey , with Kadar projecting Miami to use their pick on Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams.He explains:The reports have indicated the Dolphins intend to focus on rebuilding the foundation of the team this year, while focusing on 2020 to put the finishing touches on the team. Adding an offensive lineman and a cornerback could fit perfectly into the team’s plans. My only issues with Taylor as the first pick come if the Dolphins re-sign Ja’Wuan James. Taylor is likely a right tackle, especially with Laremy Tunsil locked into the left tackle position. If Miami brings back James, then the team needs to address guard more than tackle, and while Taylor could slide inside to guard, he does not seem - at least to me this early in the scouting period - as a natural guard. I am also still hopeful that, with a new defensive system and coaches, Cordrea Tankersley can rebound from a bad 2018 and become the cornerback to pair with Howard. If the new coaching staff does not think Tankersley can develop into a full-time corner, then I understand an early round pick at the position, but for now, I lean toward the defensive line or wide receiver in the second round.What do you think of the mock from Kadar? How would you make the picks? MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — When John Isner first got to town for his Miami Open title defense, he went for a practice session at the old tournament site in Key Biscayne instead of the new location at the stadium used by the NFL’s Dolphins.It wasn’t that he wasn’t sure where to go, of course. Nor was he trying to soak up the good vibes at the place where he won an ATP Masters 1000 trophy for the first time.“It was just about convenience. Close to my hotel. I just wanted to break a sweat and went out there. It was pretty weird, actually. Kind of quiet. The place still has its allure to it Jordan Phillips Jersey , but it definitely seems different,” Isner said Tuesday. “We’re all used to pulling into that parking lot and the place is bustling. Wasn’t like that.”There wasn’t much bustle at the new-look Miami Open on the initial day of scheduled main-draw play, which was completely wiped out because of rain throughout Tuesday.They’ll try again to get started Wednesday; No. 9 Isner and other seeded men such as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer won’t play before Friday thanks to first-round byes.Isner, 10-6 this season, arrived at the hard-court tournament in 2018 with a 1-6 mark. He proceeded to win six matches in a row, three against men ranked in the top six.“I do know that, look, odds are, I probably won’t defend this title,” he said with a chuckle after touring the Humane Society of Greater Miami with Alexander Zverev, the runner-up at the Miami Open a year ago. “At the same time, it is cool coming back as the defending champion of a tournament of this magnitude. Never been in this situation before. Just looking forward to it. No pressure. I don’t look at it as, ‘Oh, I’m going to lose a bunch of points.’ You can’t look at it like that. It’s just another tournament you want to do well in.”Isner says his performance in Florida gave him a boost that helped him later in the season, including his semifinal showing at Wimbledon in July http://www.thedolphinslockerroom.com/authentic-jesse-davis-jersey , the best he’d ever done at a Grand Slam tournament.So did that carry over into this season, too?“Unfortunately, I feel like it has a shelf life,” said Isner, who lost to Reilly Opelka in an all-American matchup in the first round of the Australian Open in January. “Every player is different, but I feel like, for me, when you start the new year, everything is reset. Even if you played fantastic at the end of the year last year, you have two months off, and everything resets.”
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Andy Walker
Engineering, environment and design consultancy Sweco UK is celebrating a successful 12 months since its rebrand from Grontmij in April last year.
Sweco employs 800 people in the UK in 11 offices with expertise in energy, transportation, environment, asset management, sustainable buildings and water.
Max Joy, Sweco UK managing director, said: “Rebranding to Sweco has enabled us to plan for sustainable, profitable growth. We had strong, positive momentum from day one of the rebrand and our teams have thrived upon the new and exciting opportunities that this brings.”
The consultancy has secured a number of high value multidisciplinary projects since the rebrand. These include the transportation team being appointed as a design partner for the delivery of improved facilities across British Antarctic Survey research stations in the Antarctic over the next seven years.
Sweco UK’s energy unit has continued the development of Galway Wind Farm, the largest of its kind in Ireland, with the capacity to generate enough green energy to power around 84,000 homes, while the environment team was named on the National Grid Land Regeneration Framework.
In December 2016, Sweco’s water and asset management team was appointed by Irish Water to assist them with the delivery of a broad-ranging modernisation project relating to their real time systems, data and analytics capabilities, whilst in March this year the consultancy’s buildings unit claimed its third BREEAM Assessor of the Year Award.
Commenting on the UK consultancy’s past 12 months, president and CEO of Sweco, Tomas Carlsson, said: “The UK is an important market for us where we see a lot of potential. The integration of our UK business has exceeded our expectations both in terms of pace and performance.
“This has been achieved by developing and empowering a strong leadership team who are efficiently delivering Sweco’s collaborative multi-disciplinary approach by inspiring both their people and our clients.
“We are confident that our UK consultancy will go from strength-to-strength and look forward to supporting Max and his team as they continue to expand our operations.”
Looking to the future, Max Joy said “We are delighted with the progress that Sweco UK has made over the past 12 months. Key in our continuous growth plan is the recruitment of more talented individuals to complement our highly skilled employees. This will ensure that we further establish our position in the UK market as the most approachable and committed partner with recognised expertise.”
The consultancy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sweco, which has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. The consultancy is the European leader and has 14,500 employees, sales of approximately £1.4 billion and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
If you would like to contact Andy Walker about this, or any other story, please email awalker@infrastructure-intelligence.com.
Interserve appoints Alan Lovell as new chairman
US consultancy HDR acquires Hurley Palmer Flatt Group
McAlpine returns to profit following heavy losses in 2017
Galliford Try Partnerships buys Strategic Team Group
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You are here: Home Books Dibuka Dibuka Library Festival
Dibuka Library Festival
Not your ordinary book festival!
Spring is coming! And with it, the Dibuka Library Festival, a new kind of book festival to celebrate Dibuka's new revamping and its 15th birthday.
Dibuka Library Festival will run from the 1st to the 29th of September at the newly revamped multimedia francophone library Dibuka, located in the gardens of the Alliance Française of Johannesburg. On the 29th, will be organized the Dibuka Day a special festive day, to wrap up this unique DIY festival!
During the whole month, come and take part in the various workshops, screenings, talks and kids' activities organised around storytelling, bookmaking, animation and bande dessinée. Every thematic offers a reflexion about the new form of books and literary creation. It is also a family festival since all the activities are kids-friendly and most of them are bilingual (French/English).
The Dibuka library festival is a collaborative project between the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Alliance Française of Johannesburg with the support of the French Institute in Paris.
Let's begin...
© icinori
Saturday 1 – 11.00 > 12.30
WORKSHOP / Illustration with Icinori
Create your own imaginary landscape using hand-made stamps with French illustration duo Icinori. It is a workshop about experimentation, imagination and fun.
> Facebook event
R50 - RSVP is recommended due to limited space
©Icinori
Tuesday 4 September – 18.30
TALK / The craft of independent publishing
Icinori* and Alphabet Zoo* will share their experiences in independent and self-publication; from creation to distribution, advantages and disadvantages, and the differences between French and local markets. Facilitated by Griffin Shea from Bridge Books.
Wednesday 5 September – 19.00
CINEMA / Aya of Yop City
Screening of Aya of Yop City by Clément Oubrerie & Marguerite Abouet (2013)
French with English subtitles, 1h24
Welcome to Yopougon, a working-class neighbourhood of Abidjan in the late 70s! This is home to Aya and her two friends, Adjoua and Bintou. The are 19-years-old, a time in your life when everything seems possible. But while Aya would like to become a doctor one day, her friends are hunting for a husband.
An animation adapted from the francophone comic Aya of Yop city by Marguerite Abouet (2005)
> Trailer
Saturday 8 September – 11.00 > 13.00
WORKSHOP / Bookbinding with Young Bucks*
With the digitalization of novels, the traditional form of the book seems to become obsolete. But book-making is still an art of its own! With Young Bucks discover how to create your own book during a bookbinding workshop. A craft activity for all ages.
The Little Prince © Dee-Ann Kaaijk
Tuesday 11 September – 18.30
TALK / Studies in France with Campus France
Learn about the scholarship and study opportunities in France with English as medium of instruction in all academic fields. Meet with Lesego Vorster, student in animated film making who went to Gobelins, l'Ecole de l'image and Steffen Fischer, student in architecture who went to Ecole Boulle.
> www.southafrica.campusfrance.org
Wednesday 12 September – 19.00
CINEMA / Corniche Kennedy
Screening of Corniche Kennedy by Dominique Cabrera (2017)
In Marseille (South of France), a group of idle teens attempt to defy the laws of gravity by diving along the Kennedy coastline, a dangerous diving spot. Suzanne, a young girl from the upper class, tries and succeeds to be one of them. But the boys she bonds with have troubled life... Between their insatiable taste for freedom and everything that is forbidden, a fragile future begins to take shape.
A movie adapted from the book of the same title by Maylis de Kerangal.
Friday 14 September / 15.00 > 17.00
DIBUKIDS / Art activities en français with Raoudha Charni
Come explore your creativity and manual skills while improving your French.
For children between 7 and 12 years old (level A1-A2)
Saturday 15 September – 11.00 > 12h.30
WORKSHOP / The Little Prince with Kwasha! Theatre Company
Inspired by The Little Prince, this workshop is a launch pad for a flight into the imagination, exploring how to create stories using everyday objects.
The Little Prince production is currently touring South Africa after it premiered at the National Arts Festival in June.
©Naomi Van Niekerk
Wednesday 19 September - 15.00 > 16.30 (A2 level) & 16.45 > 18.15 (B1 level)
WRITING / How to Haiku en français with Raoudha Charni
Haiku is a very short poem that originates from a Japanese tradition – learn how to do it in French!
CINEMA / OSS 117 – Lost in Rio
Screening of OSS 117 – Lost in Rio by Michel Hazanavicius (2009)
The French series of OSS 117 adventure comedies showcase the globetrotting exploits of Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath (aka OSS 117), a Derek Flint-like super-spy in the 60's. This outing finds OSS 117 shuttled off to Rio de Janeiro, where his assignment involves retrieving microfilm that lists French Nazi collaborators during World War II. Adapted from the book series "OSS 117" by Jean Bruce.
Thursday 20 September - 18.30
CINEMA / Short Animation Movie Night
A night dedicated to the short animation movies selected by Naomi van Niekerk, an inter-disciplinary and multi-awarded artist working in film, theatre and print-making. She will offer an international selection of the best of animation today.
Friday 21 September – 16.00 > 17.00
DIBUKIDS / Story Time with Lindiwe Matshikiza
Everyone loves a good story, and especially when it's alive! Lindiwe Matshikiza* tells stories taken from books at Dibuka, creating a poetic and interactive moment in English and French for children from 3 to 7 years old.
Saturday 22 September – 11h00 > 13.00
WORKSHOP / Stop Motion with Naomi Van Niekerk
Join us for an exclusive hands-on introduction to the world of stop-motion animation.
Engage with the different aspects of making an animated film from assembling characters to creating a short-animated sequence using your Smartphone. Young and less young are all welcome!
©Alphabet Zoo
TALK / BD in France & Comics in South Africa, with Breeze Yoko & Daniel Browde
Breeze Yoko* is back from his residency in Paris where he learnt how to make a bande dessinée, aka the french way of making comics. Daniel Browde is the scenarist of the South African comic Rebirth. What are the differences and common inspirations of BD in France and Comics in South Africa? How to start a comic from scratch? Come and ask your questions!
Wednesday 26 September - 15.00 > 17.00
WRITING / Creative Writing en français with Marylise Gordon (Levels: A2-B1)
Give some flair to your French through fun challenges and activities.
CINEMA/ Lulu in the Nude
Screening of Lulu in the nude by Sólveig Anspach (2013)
Following a botched job interview, Lulu decides not to return home, leaving her husband and their three children in the lurch. During her few days of stolen freedom, she crosses paths with a variety of people who, like herself, are at the edge of the world.
Based on the comic book Lulu in the nude (Lulu femme nue) by Etienne Davodeau (2013)
DIBUKIDS / Activities around A Mouse's tale
Using a short animation movie by Benjamin Renner, this workshop is a fun way to educate young ones how to analyse visual language in a world full of images and sounds. For children between 7 and 12 years old. Workshop facilitated by Muriel Huet, course director at the Alliance Française of Johannesburg.
Saturday 29 September - 11.00 > 12.30
WORKSHOP / Make a Zine! with Alphabet Zoo
A zine is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images. Alphabet Zoo invites you to create your own zine following a theme during an hour and a half. DIY and creativity are the two key words for this workshop!
DIBUKA DAY!
To celebrate the end of this month full of creativity, joins us for a festive day at Dibuka in the garden of the Alliance Française of Johannesburg!
Until 17.00...
Make your own silkscreen on bags with Alphabet Zoo
Take part in one of the kid friendly activities
Enjoy music from State Proof inspired by francophone musicians
Get new books at the Bridge Books stall
Have food and drinks at the food market
ICINORI
Icinori, aka Mayumi Otero & Raphael Urwiller are a French duo whose collaborative efforts have been them illustrate, design, print and publish works across a range of mediums. They have been commissioned by Le Monde, New York Times, and Canal + among others.
ALPHABET ZOO
Alphabet Zoo is a duo of Johannesburg based traditional printmaking artists that formed a street-culture zine that invites collaboration from artists, illustrators, publishers and designers. It was established in 2010.
YOUNG BUCKS
Young Bucks is a new platform for experimenting with books and creating custom stationery. Based at the up-and-coming maker space at Victoria Yards in Lorentzville, the artists' collective includes Victoria Wigzell and Madeleine Dymond they have facilitated bookbinding workshops for over two years at NGOs, schools, universities, and private venues.
KWASHA! THEATRE COMPANY
Kwasha! is a young theatre company that was formed as part of a collaboration between the Market Theatre Foundation and the historic Windybrow Arts Centre. Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi is a self-taught dancer-choreographer with 11 years of experience, having started in community theatre at the age of 4. Along with Sinenhlanhla, Mathews Rantsoma toured the UK last year with the international production Encountering the Othe. Khanyisile Ngwabe is an accomplished singer who also got her start in community theatre. Lesego Chabedi made her television debut this April on the new web series Bold Girls and Balindile ka Ngcobo is a popular voice-over artist who also makes her television debut later this year in the British drama series The Widow.
NAOMI VAN NIEKERK
Naomi van Niekerk is an inter-disciplinary artist working in film, theatre and print-making. She was awarded the prize for the best first film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2016 ('n Gewone blou Maandagoggend) as well as the Creative Revelation Award at the Anima film festival in Brussels (My mamma is bossies)
She is the Creative Director of Dryfsand-productions and collaborates with composer with Arnaud van Vliet. They are 2018
Digilab Africa Winners in the VR Category with their project II Worlds.
LINDIWE MATSHIKIZA
Lindiwe Matshikiza is an artist who uses theatre making tools to extend into film, music and various other disciplines. She is a performer, as well as a director and a writer.
BREEZE YOKO
Breeze Yoko is a South African-based multidisciplinary artist specialising in video/film and graffiti. His films have won awards at the Tricontinental Film Festival, South Africa; Special mention in the Sienna Film Festival, Italy; and Dak'Art, Senegal. Traveling by road across west Africa to Europe, he painted in over 13 countries. Yoko recently went on residency at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris where he started his first bande dessinée.
DANIEL BROWDE
Daniel Browde has worked variously as a researcher, actor and editor (film and text). With artist Josh Ryba he published the graphic novel Rebirth in 2013. His book The Relatively Public Life of Jules Browde, an experimental biography of his grandfather, was long-listed for the Alan Paton Award in 2017.
STATE PROOF
State Proof is an ongoing sonic research project between Simnikiwe Buhlungu, Nathaniel Sheppard III, and Chad Cordeiro, which is aimed at exploring the ways in which individual and common music collections illustrate complex personal and global historical narratives. This project employs processes of listening, sharing and collecting: crate digging, listening sessions and freestyle DJ sets.
Muriel Huet is the course director at the Alliance Française of Johannesburg. She is also a teaching consultant, conducting workshops on different pedagogic approaches at school and university level.
Raoudha Charni is a French teacher at Kingsmead College and part of the association of the French teachers of Gauteng.
Marylise Gordon is a French teacher at Roedean School and part of the association of the French teachers of Gauteng.
Griffin Shea is an American journalist and writer who moved to Johannesburg nine years ago. In 2016, he opened Bridge Books, an independent bookstore in the Joburg CBD that focuses on African writers.
#DibukaFest
> French Institute of South Africa
> Alliance Française Johannesburg
> Full programme
Books - Dibuka
Programme DibuKlub and DibuKids - February to June
February - June 2019 Dibuka Francophone Multimedia Library at the Alliance Française of Johannesburg This year will be full of exciting events and activities at Dibuka. With movies twice a month on Wednesdays for adults; and storytime, films or activities twice a month on Saturdays for kids, there… Read more
Not your ordinary book festival! 1 – 29 September 2018 Spring is coming! And with it, the Dibuka Library Festival, a new kind of book festival to celebrate Dibuka's new revamping and its 15th birthday. Dibuka Library Festival will run from the 1st to the 29th of September at the newly revamped… Read more
Discover the new Dibuka
The Embassy of France in South Africa, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and the Alliance Française of Johannesburg are proud to present the newly revamped francophone multimedia library, named after the Setswana word for "books": dibuka. Dibuka is today the biggest francophone multimedia… Read more
Dibuka is revamping!
Dibuka is revamping! Due to a delay in the renovation work, Dibuka will only re-open on… Read more
Dibuka receives books from the Fondation RATP and the Biblionef association
Thanks to the Fondation RATP, also known as the Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens… Read more
The Rentrée Littéraire Comes to Dibuka!
Discover a selection of books from the Rentrée Litteraire at Dibuka Library, the… Read more
Dibuka Library: Hundreds of New Books For All Ages
What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible… Read more
Dibuka - 2014 end of year closure dates
Dibuka will be closed from Friday 19 December 2014 evening until Monday 5 January 2015… Read more
A special collection dedicated to the Indian Ocean at Dibuka raises awareness about this fascinating area
Literature, but also gastronomy, rum, ecology... and even comics: a new collection… Read more
"Waowh": an exceptional collection of Francophone authors translated into English now available to SA audiences
"Waowh" is the name of a project started by Dibuka, the French media centre in… Read more
A children's story series exposes rare tales from South Africa
ololo "The Three Thieves", "Barren Child", "King Ntholeng and the Camel"... Few of us… Read more
Thanks to Dibukids, children also get the chance to enjoy the France-South Africa seasons
The Dibukids project started in 2011 with the aim to promote youth literature and to… Read more
Dibuka : new thriller by Michiel Heyns!
Michiel Heyns : "Invisible furies" (2012) Read more
Dibuka : nouveaux DVD pour la section Adultes!
"Vénus noire" d'Abdellatif Kechiche (2010) Read more
New DVDs for the children section!
Dibuka has recently received new DVDs! "Une vie de chat" by Jean-Loup Felicioli and… Read more
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17, 2012
On May 17 we will celebrate the 7th International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia… Read more
The learners' library of Dibuka awaits for you!
Specially dedicated to students of the French language, Dibuka's learners' library has… Read more
"The Night Cleaner", a terrific investigation on the frontline of economic recession, is now available at Dibuka
In 2009, at the peak of economic recession in Europe, the well-known reporter Florence… Read more
An essential French essay on Nadine Gordimer's work translated into English
You are passionate about Nadine Gordimer's fictional work? You would like to prolong your… Read more
"Mitchell's Plain - A place in the Sun" : a new, original book on the great township of the Cape Flats awaits you at Dibuka
Right from the beginning, the tone is set. "Mitchell's Plain – A place in the sun" is not… Read more
"The Map and the Territory", Michel Houellebecq's last novel, waits for you at Dibuka in French and English!
Michel Houellebecq embodies a strange paradox among French contemporary writers. Hated… Read more
"Carte Blanche" to Joan Rankin - South African children's books author and illustrator
On the Saturday 3 March 2012, from 10am to 3pm, Dibukids will give "Carte Blanche" to… Read more
Discover "M", the new magazine of the French newspaper "Le Monde"
Discover "M", the new magazine of the French daily of reference "Le Monde". With "M",… Read more
"The French Art of War": the new "Prix Goncourt" waits for you at Dibuka
As you might have read in a previous article, seasonal awards are a distinctive feature… Read more
Focus on Ahmadou Kourouma, a Francophone writer from Ivory Coast
Ahmadou Kourouma died in 2003 in Lyon (France), far away from his home country of Ivory… Read more
Focus on Kossi Efoui
A novelist of Togolese origin living in France since 1990, Kossi Efoui has published… Read more
Le Petit Nicolas: the magic of every-day life through the lenses of childhood
In March 1959, the legendary French comics writer René Goscinny associated with… Read more
Workshop for kids by Maja Sereda, illustrator
The 19th of November will see the start of a new initiative at Dibuka. Dibukids, the new… Read more
Alliance française of Mbabane (Swaziland)
The multimedia library of the Alliance française de Mbabane is located behind the… Read more
BNF for children
Enter the children section of the French National Library (BNF)! You will discover a… Read more
Find the complete online catalogue of our library network
Find the complete online catalogue of our library network here Read more
Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre of Windhoek
The Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) is one of most important players in Namibia’s… Read more
The clever editorial policy of "Autrement Jeunesse"
For years, the French publishing house “Autrement Jeunesse” – of which some books are… Read more
Marie-Aude Murail's "Oh, boy!" : a story like no other
A prolific French author, Marie-Aude Murail has published several teen novels in which… Read more
French art at Dibuka!
Are you fascinated by the Roaring Twenties or the Great Depression? We have just the book… Read more
Hélène Berr's "Journal": the descent to hell of a young Jewish woman in occupied Paris
She felt something for Gérard but was not quite sure what it was. Then she met Jean and… Read more
"The Little Brown Bear" alive and kicking at Dibuka
Thirty-six years later, the Little Brown Bear (Petit Ours Brun) is still three year old… Read more
New story telling by Sandra, Mbali and Billy
Our three enthralling storytellers, Sandra Mbali and Billy will take you and your little… Read more
"Vol de Vaches à Christol Cave" now available at Dibuka
This Critical history of a South African rock painting is now available at Dibuka. A… Read more
A South African promenade in Paris
An actor, media guru and blogger darling, Eric Miyeni is also a photographer and writer.… Read more
New DVDs at Dibuka!
Dibuka has recently received a new batch of DVD! Music / Dance - «So Frenchy, so chic»… Read more
3 new box sets "book-movie"
Three new box sets (with paperback, DVD and booklet) from the Folio Cinema collection… Read more
New books at Dibuka!
Dibuka has recently received a new batch of books! Here is the list of the last arrivals… Read more
Alliance française of Durban
Founded in 1936, the Alliance Française of Durban was the first alliance in South Africa.… Read more
Aya of Yop City
New at Dibuka! Following the reading session with Marguerite Abouët on the 17th of May,… Read more
"Naissance d'un pont", last book of the French author Maylis de Kerangal
New at Dibuka! Maylis de Kerangal’s last novel entitled "Naissance d’un pont" won her the… Read more
Alliance française of Cape Town
155, Loop Street P.O. Box 16 527 8001 Cape Town Vlaeberg 8018 Tel +27 - (0)21 423 56 99… Read more
Alliance française of Maseru (Lesotho)
The Alliance française of Maseru is situated in the city center, opposite the Lancer’s… Read more
Alliance française of Pretoria
The Alliance Française in Pretoria is open from Monday to Thursday (from 8h30 à 18h30) ;… Read more
Alliance française of Port Elizabeth
Newly renovated library – Bring your children to discover our kiddies’ corner!The… Read more
Tuesday - Wednesday:
9.30 - 12.30 | 14.00 - 19.30
According to your personal taste and interests, Frenchlinks helps you get in touch with the French speaking community and agencies in South Africa and Lesotho. Learn more...
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VIDEO: JUTC bus destroyed by fire in Half-Way Tree
Screen grab of video showing a JUTC bus on fire in Half-Way Tree on Tuesday evening.
A Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus was destroyed by fire in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew on Tuesday evening.
Reports are that about 6pm, commuters saw smoke coming from the bus and raised an alarm.
Soon after the alarm was raised, the bus caught fire.
A team of firefighters was called to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze.
Emilio Ebanks, communication officer for the Jamaica Fire Brigade, said there were no reports of injury.
He said a team of investigators will be carrying out checks on Wednesday morning to establish the cause of the blaze.
JUTC bus
Half-Way Tree
Jamaica Fire Brigade
Port Antonio gas station attendant averts potentially dangerous fire
Two injured as JUTC bus catches fire
One dead after car swerves into the path of a JUTC bus
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RFQ: Provide Baseline Sediment and Water Quality Assessments for Area Watersheds
REVISED, April 23, 2019
REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
TO PROVIDE BASELINE ASSESSMENTS TO INCLUDE SEDIMENT AND WATER QUALITY ANALYSES FOR THE FLY CREEK, BAYOU SARA AND COLD CREEK, WHITEHOUSE CREEK AND BAY MINETTE CREEK, PALMETTO CREEK, PERDIDO/GULF FRONTAL, MOBILE-TENSAW APALACHEE, LOWER CHASAW, WESTERN SHORE (OF MOBILE BAY), AND DAUPHIN ISLAND WATERSHEDS.
Download RFQ (PDF, 71KB)
The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is seeking to procure qualified engineers, land surveyors, geoscience, or other similar professionals through a competitive, qualification-based selection process to perform baseline assessments to include sediment and water quality analyses at the 12-digit hydrologic unit code scale for watersheds slated for development of comprehensive watershed plans. These assessments include determination of bed and suspended sediment loads and water quality sampling to establish baseline data and sedimentation rating curves to inform subsequent watershed management planning. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process will be used to select a Contractor who can successfully deliver:
Stream discharge data over a range from high to low flow at selected sites across drainage areas,
Field parameters (including pH, specific conductance, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen) at each site for monitored discharge events with multiple, depth-integrated measurements to establish vertical profiles,
Bed-sediment regression models to determine bed sediment transport rates at each site,
Regression with Centering digital models developed based upon collection of water samples to determine total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations with stream discharge data and nitrate and total phosphorus concentrations at each site, evaluation of land use with acquired field data and sediment and nutrient loads to determine likely sources of sediment and other water quality impairments, and
A final report including descriptive text and supporting charts, graphs, and maps.
Interested firms should respond with a letter of interest, statements of qualification, firm brochures, and photographs of previous projects, experience, and other relevant information.
Submit one hard copy and one electronic copy of the responses to the address below, as follows:
Ms. Roberta Swann, Director
118 N. Royal St., Suite 601
rswann@mobilebaynep.com
Proposals should be received no later than 4:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, May 6, 2019.
Summary of Offering
The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program has secured funding from the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council and the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act to continue undertaking a watershed approach to coastal environmental resource management that prescribes watershed management plans (WMPs) at the 12-digit hydrologic unit code scale to ensure restoration efforts are based in science and fit into an overall management plan. This approach is directed to areas draining to specific bodies of water, independent of geopolitical boundaries that limit available actions. The protocol of performing sediment loading and water quality analyses to inform watershed management planning efforts has been adopted by the MBNEP’s Project Implementation Committee and incorporated into its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) five-year Ecosystem Restoration and Protection Strategy. Sediment and water quality analyses identify sources of sediment and establish baseline data and sedimentation rating curves useful to watershed planners. Contractors have utilized modeling techniques to determine bed and suspended sediment loads and identify point sources of sediment, including man-made and natural drainage ways. Monitoring is based on precipitation and resulting stream discharge and includes basic field acquired physical and water quality parameters useful in determining impacts of land-use change and to focus resources in areas of greatest need for remedial actions.
SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT
The basic concept of constituent loads in a river or stream is simple. However, the mathematics of determining a constituent load may be quite complex. A constituent load is the mass or weight of a constituent that passes a cross section of a stream in a specified interval of time. Loads are expressed in mass units (e.g., tons, kilograms) and are considered for time intervals that are relative to the type of pollutant and the watershed area for which the loads are calculated. Loads are calculated from concentrations of constituents obtained from analyses of water samples and stream discharge, which is the volume of water that passes a cross section of the stream in a specific amount of time.
Suspended sediment is defined as that portion of a water sample that is separated from the water by filtering. This solid material may be composed of organic and inorganic material that includes algae, industrial and municipal wastes, urban and agricultural runoff, and eroded material from geologic formations (for example, sand and silt). These materials are transported to stream channels by overland flow related to storm-water runoff and cause varying magnitudes of turbidity. Concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) in mg/L are determined by laboratory analysis of periodic water grab samples. Annual suspended-sediment loads are estimated using the computer regression model Regr_Cntr.xls (Regression with Centering). The program is an EXCEL adaptation of the U.S. Geological Survey seven-parameter regression model for load estimation (Cohn et al., 1992). The regression with centering program uses average daily discharge and TSS to estimate annual loads.
BED SEDIMENT
Transport of streambed material is controlled by a number of factors primarily related to stream discharge and flow velocity, erosion and sediment supply, stream base level, and physical properties of the streambed material. Most streambeds are in a state of constant flux in order to maintain a stable base level elevation. The energy of flowing water in a stream is constantly changing to supply the required force for erosion or deposition of bed load to maintain equilibrium with the local water table and regional or global sea level. Stream base level may be affected by regional or global events including fluctuations of sea level or tectonic movement. Local factors affecting base level include fluctuations in the water table elevation, changes in the supply of sediment to the stream caused by changing precipitation rates, and/or land use practices that promote excessive erosion in the floodplain or upland areas of the watershed.
Bed-sediment is composed of particles that are too large or too dense to be carried in suspension by stream flow. These particles roll, tumble or are periodically suspended as they move downstream. Traditionally, bed sediment has been difficult to quantify due to deficiencies in monitoring methodology or inaccuracies of estimating volumes of sediment being transported along the streambed. This is particularly true in streams that flow at high velocity or in streams with excessive sediment loads.
Excessive nutrient enrichment is a major cause of water-quality impairment. Excessive concentrations of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, in the aquatic environment may lead to increased biological activity, increased algal growth, decreased dissolved oxygen concentrations at times, and decreased numbers of species.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for nitrate in drinking water is 10 mg/L. Typical nitrate (NO3 as N) concentrations in streams vary from 0.5 to 3.0 mg/L. Concentrations of nitrate in streams without significant nonpoint sources of pollution vary from 0.1 to 0.5 mg/L. Streams fed by shallow groundwater draining agricultural areas may approach 10 mg/L (Maidment, 1993). Nitrate concentrations in streams without significant nonpoint sources of pollution generally do not exceed 0.5 mg/L (Maidment, 1993). ADEM established a reference standard for nitrate+nitrite nitrogen for level IV ecoregion 65f (including the MTA) of 0.33 mg/L.
Phosphorus in streams originates from the mineralization of phosphates from soil and rocks or runoff and effluent containing fertilizer or other industrial products. The natural background concentration of total dissolved phosphorus is approximately 0.025 mg/L. Phosphorus concentrations as low as 0.005 to 0.01 mg/L may cause algae growth, but the critical level of phosphorus necessary for excessive algae is around 0.05 mg/L (Maidment, 1993). Although no official water-quality criterion for phosphorus has been established in the United States, total phosphorus should not exceed 0.05 mg/L in any stream or 0.025 mg/L within a lake or reservoir in order to prevent the development of biological nuisances (Maidment, 1993). ADEM established a reference standard for total phosphorus for level IV ecoregion 65f (including the MTA) of 0.04 mg/L.
Concentrations of nitrate and total phosphorus, in mg/L, are determined by laboratory analysis of periodic water grab samples. Total phosphorus loads are estimated using the computer regression model Regr_Cntr.xls (Regression with Centering). The program is an EXCEL adaptation of the U.S. Geological Survey seven-parameter regression model for load estimation (Cohn et al., 1992). The regression with centering program uses average daily discharge and constituent concentrations to estimate annual loads.
Land use is directly correlated with water quality, hydrologic function, ecosystem health, biodiversity, and the integrity of streams and wetlands. Land-use patterns, when evaluated with stream discharge and water-quality data, can be an essential part of an overall assessment strategy to determine sources of water-quality impacts, to support watershed management, and to develop remedial actions. Land use classification for this project area will be determined from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service 2013 Alabama Cropland Data Layer (NASS CDL) raster dataset (USDA, 2013).
The contractor will consider locations; proximity to wetlands, impoundment, and tidal influence; accessibility; and stream channel and flow characteristics to determine sampling sites in all accessible tributary locations in each watershed.
The contractor will conduct sampling across the range of precipitation events to determine stream discharge rates, basic field parameters, and targeted constituent loads, including suspended sediment, bed sediment, nutrients (e.g., nitrate and phosphorus).
The contractor will evaluate current land use with acquired field data and sediment and nutrient loads to determine likely sources of sediment and other water quality impacts in the watershed.
Scope of Work and Deliverables
Work elements and deliverables will include:
The contract will develop a sampling strategy and determine site locations designed to comprehensively determine general water quality, physical characteristics, volumes and sources of sediment, and nutrient loading.
The contractor will measure or estimate stream discharge over a range from low to high flow at each sampling site within the watershed.
The contractor will collect field parameters at all sampling sites for each monitored discharge event, including pH, specific conductance, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. Multiple depth-integrated measurements will be made at determined sites to establish vertical profiles for field parameters.
The contractor will measure bed sediment transport rates at all applicable sites for each monitored discharge event. The contractor will use bed sediment transport rates and stream discharge to prepare a bed sediment load regression model to determine bed sediment loads at each monitored site.
The contractor will collect water samples at each sampling site for each monitored discharge event and submit samples to a certified geochemical laboratory for analysis of TSS concentrations. The contractor will use TSS concentrations and stream discharge with the Regression with Centering digital model to estimate suspended sediment loads at each monitored site.
The contractor will collect water samples for each monitored discharge event at each sampling site and submit samples to a certified geochemical laboratory for analysis of nitrate and total phosphorus concentrations. The contractor will use analytical results and stream discharge with the Regression with Centering digital model to estimate nitrate and phosphorus loads at each sampling sites.
The contractor will prepare a final report including descripting narrative and supporting charts, maps, and graphs, and provide a digital version of the report.
Proposal Submittal Instructions
The Proposal should be not more than ten 8.5” X 11” single-sided pages, Times New Roman 11-point font (inclusive of the cover letter, conceptual approach, experience and background, and project team/level of participation), and should be divided by section, with Table of Contents (cover pages and table of contents do not count against the 10-page limit).
An original hard copy Statement shall be received by mail or hand-delivered to the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (Attn: Bethany Dickey), 118 North Royal Street Suite 601, Mobile, AL 36602. An electronic copy in PDF format should be delivered on CD or jump drive or email to bdickey@mobilebaynep.com.
Submitted Proposals shall include a complete response to the requirements in the order presented below. Statements should provide a straight-forward delineation of the Respondent's capability to satisfy the intent and requirements of this RFQ without redundancies or conflicting statements. An officer authorized to make a binding commitment for the Respondent submitting the Proposal shall sign the Cover Letter. Contents of the submitted Proposal must include the following to be deemed responsive for evaluation:
A. Cover Letter
The Proposal must include a cover letter acknowledging receipt of all issued amendments to the RFQ. The letter should be addressed to Roberta Swann, Director, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, 118 North Royal St. Suite 601, Mobile, AL 36602.
The letter should indicate a primary contact for the Respondent and that person's name, title, address, phone number, and email address.
The letter should introduce the Respondent’s project team.
The letter should include a general statement of approach distinguishing why the Respondent is the most suitable choice for this planning effort.
The letter should include the statement that the Project Team is willing to complete the Project in a timely manner.
The letter must include a statement that the firm is not in arrears in the payment of any obligation due and owing to the State of Alabama, including tax payments and employee benefits, and that it shall not become so during the term of the agreement if selected; a statement that the proposing Respondent will negotiate in good faith with the MBNEP, and a statement that the firm grants to the MBNEP a non-exclusive right to use, or cause others to use, the contents of its Statement, or any part thereof, for any purpose.
B. Conceptual Approach and Methodology
Respondents are requested to demonstrate their understanding of this process by submitting a conceptual approach and methodology for project implementation. This narrative should articulate the Respondent’s methods and approach of:
Determining appropriate and representative sampling sites.
A strategy for data collection over the range of stream discharge from low to high.
A strategy for collecting and quantifying bed and suspended sediment loads.
Strategy for evaluating land use to determine sources of sediment and water quality impacts.
C. Experience and Background
Given the unique nature of the Project and its importance as a precedent for watershed management planning, it is essential to fully understand the experience and capabilities of all key members of the contractor’s team. Respondent should include the following information:
Describe the contractor’s experience in projects of similar scope.
Provide the names and phone numbers of references for at least two completed projects for which the contractor acted as a consultant and may be considered comparable to the project envisioned in this RFQ. For each reference, indicate the contact person’s role in the completed project and the period of their involvement.
Proposal Evaluation and Contract Award Procedures
A. Project Selection Criteria
All Statements of Qualifications accepted by the MBNEP will be reviewed to determine whether they are responsive to the requisites of this RFQ. Statements that are determined by the MBNEP to be non-responsive will not be further considered. The MBNEP will evaluate Statements based on the project selection criteria below.
a. Specialized expertise, capabilities, and technical competence, as demonstrated by the proposed approach and methodology to meet project requirements.
b. Resources available to perform the work, including any specialized services within the specified time limits for the project.
c. Record of past performance, quality of work, ability to meet schedules, cost control, and contract administration.
d. Availability to and familiarity with the project locale.
e. Proposed project management techniques.
f. Ability and proven history in handling special project contracts.
B. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Demonstrated Quantity and Quality of Successful Relevant Experience (50 points)
Demonstrated Level of Organizational Capability (25 points)
Quality of Program Approach (25 points)
C. Basis for Contract Award
A contract will be awarded to the responsible proposer whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the MBNEP, taking into consideration factors or criteria which are set forth in this RFQ. Greater consideration will be given to statements that propose a match or in-kind services. Contract award will be subject to the timely completion of contract negotiations between the MBNEP and the selected proposer.
MBNEP reserves the right to reject all proposals, negotiate further with any entity submitting proposals, or seek additional proposals. Selection is estimated to occur on or before May 30, 2019.
Non-Discrimination. The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, pregnancy, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, or disability in its hiring or employment practices nor in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities.
Open Trade. By submitting a statement of qualifications, the Submitter represents that he/she and the business entity he/she represents is not currently engaged in the boycott of a person or entity based in or doing business with a jurisdiction with whom the State of Alabama can enjoy open trade, as defined in Act 2016-312.
Non-Commitment of Funds. Any contract related to this proposed project is subject to the availability of funds and/or the needs of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and therefore the MBNEP, at its discretion, may or may not issue a final contract as a result of this RFQ. Further, even in the event an initial selection is made by the MBNEP, no selection is final until full execution of a written agreement detailing an agreed upon scope of work. If the MBNEP deems, at is sole discretion, that a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached in accordance with an initial selection; the MBNEP reserves the right to proceed with efforts to make another selection based upon proposals submitted pursuant to this RFQ.
Open Records Act. All responses received will be subject to the Alabama Open Records Act, Ala. Code § 36-12-40, (1975), as amended, and may be subject to public disclosure upon request.
Posted on 04/15/19 at 04:20 PM Permalink
The 2019 Spring/Summer Newsletter has been released!
Three Mile Creek - Invasive Species Control Plan
RFQ: Fowl River Marsh and Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration Phase I Engineering and Design
Two New Additions to the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
RFQ: Deer River Coastal Marsh and Shoreline Stabilization Engineering and Design
45 Day Open Public Comment Period - RESTORE Council Planning Framework Draft
RFQ: Develop A Standard Habitat Classification Scheme and Change Analyssis
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)
D'Olive Creek
Dog River
Fowl River
Perdido Pass/Little Lagoon
Three Mile Creek
RFQs and RFPs
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Syria Says Trump Position on Golan Ignores International Law
by Naharnet Newsdesk 22 March 2019, 09:03
The Syrian government on Friday condemned US President Donald Trump's pledge to recognise Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights, which it seized from Syria in 1967.
"The American position towards Syria's occupied Golan Heights clearly reflects the United States' contempt for international legitimacy and its flagrant violation of international law," a foreign ministry source told the official SANA news agency.
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NBA Press Release 21 July 2000
Jail Road , Mandleshwar, MP
Telefax: 07283-33162,
E-mail: nobigdam@vsnl.com
SCRAP MAHESHWAR PROJECT, REFUSE HERMES GUARANTEE
Images from the Rally
Around 5000 people gathered at Maheshwar affected village Pathrad today to welcome the recently released German Development Ministry report on the status and possibility of rehabilitation of the affected people of the Maheshwar Project impact zone. At the initiative of the elected people's representatives of the area, the affected people passed an unanimous resolution calling upon the German government to refuse the Siemens application for a German guarantee to this Project. The resolution also asked all foreign companies to leave this destructive Project, sooner rather than later. The resolution urged the State and Central governments to scrap this Project and implement cheaper and better energy alternatives.
Today on the 21st of July, 2000 a beautiful and spectacular boat rally was held at Pathrad on the Narmada river. The boats that had been brought in by boatspeople - the Kewats and the Kahars sailing all night from villages several kms. upstream, but in the submergence of the Maheshwar Project, sported brilliant sails as they floated on the rain swollen monsoon river, many sails having been painted by renowned artists from all over India. The air was thick with slogans, especially: Kewat - Kahar ka ek hi nara / Nahi chodenge Narmada kinara(The Kewats and Kahars have only one cry , we will never leave the banks of the Narmada). The boat rally was followed by a large sammelan of thousands of affected men and women along with the majority of the elected representatives of the area, as well as supporters from all over India. These included people from Bargi dam, Sardar Sarovar,Adivasi Shramik Sanghatan, Betul,representatives from Delhi,Hoshangabad,Ahmedabad,Jabalpur,Tamil Nadu and Indore.
It may be noted that in a very significant development, a hard hitting report of the Development Ministry of Germany made public last fortnight has severely indicted the social and environmental viability of the Maheshwar project and found that the rehabilitation of the thousands of affected families is well nigh impossible . The report was an investigation of the Siemens application for an export guarante to be given to a 5300 million Rs. tied loan to be given by the private German Hypo- Vereinsbank to the Maheshwar Project for the purchase of turbines from Siemens. The investigation team comprised of the renowned experts from India ,Germany and the U.S.
This report stated that even at this stage there was significant uncertainty about the numbers of families and the area to be affected by the Project, that the "Land for land" principle of the state rehabilitation Policy had been flagrantly violated by the Project authorities, more, that the principle of land even to the landless stipulated by the Ministry of Environment's conditional clearance had been violated. Rather the Project authorities had tried to compel the affected people to accept cash compensation, and that those who had accepted were in an economic position whereby they could never hoped to have their livelihoods restored. The report noted that the Project authorities simply have no cultivable lands to rehabilitate the affected people, and that if all the affected people were included in the affected category and were to be compensated by land, the cost of the new package would be several times larger than the original package and that the Project might even become financiallly unviable.
The program at the river began with a Narmada Bhajan. The Kewats and Kahars standing in the scores of boats bobbing on the river, spoke about what it means to live on the banks of the Narmada. Babu bhai,Kahar, from Pathrad said that we,the Kewats and Kahars are the children of the Narmada and will never leave her banks or let this dam be built even if we have to face submergence.
Mangat Verma, a fisherman and leader of the Andolan from the first village Lepa on which the dam is to be built said that " We welcome the report because it has highlighted the issue of our livelihoods. For generations our ancestors have led prosperous lives along the banks of this river fishing, doing cultivating on the river draw-down and now quarrying sand as well. Yet thousands of such families who are losing their livelihoods because of the submergence of their resource base, have not even been counted as Project affected and the few whose names have been included were sought to be dispensed off by a pittance in cash. This report has raised the question of this exclusion and emphasised that we have to be compensated by giving us 5 acres land per family as per the conditions of the Environmental clearance."
In the Jan sammelan organised on the banks of the river Narmada, Matamai of Pathrad said that we women have been at the fore of the struggle against the Project that threatens our communities and our children.Yet the government and the Project authorities have only replied to our valid concerns and questions with the use of lathis and violent repression. This report has been able to bring out the repressive nature of the process.
Kalu bhai of Village Mardana said that it is clear to the people to be affected by the Mahehswar Project and a matter of deep anxiety for them that the submergence would be much larger than anticipated by the authorities. In fact the authorities have deliberately minimised and trivialised the extent of the submergence. The report has highlighted this. Kalu bhai said that the struggle is now rapidly moving towards victory.
A large number of elected people's representatives of the area from the district, Janpad and village Panchayat levels were present for the program. Kala bai, Vice Chairwoman of the Maheshwar Janpad read out a resolution on behalf of the elected representatives calling upon the Indian and state governments to scrap this unviable and destructive Project, in the light of this report, and implement cheaper and less destructive energy alternatives, such as pump storage, biomass based generation, better energy saving appliances,etc. This was enthusiastically endorsed by thousands of people gathered on the occasion. Manish Chauhan from the LIC trade union at Indore said that their unions would support the struggle of the affected people and oppose the induction of funds from LIC, GIC and IDBI into the privatized Maheshwar Project.
Alok Agarwal, leader of the movement said that this report has once again confirmed the truth of the issues raised by the Andolan. It has exposed the bankruptcy of the rehabilitation process of the Project authorities. We have made significant progress in our struggle against this destructive Project. The Project has not been able to achieve financial closure for the last three years because of the mass struggle. This report will help stop the Rs.530 crore loan from the German bank. We are confident that we will be able to scrap this destructive Project.
He said that the real challenge now before the people of the state and the nation is not to let the nexus of multinational corporations, private companies and politicians sell away our vast energy infrastructure to private companies and reverse important social policies such as subsidised energy to agriculture and to the poor. Critising the proposed Energy Reform bill,2000 of the government of Madhya Pradesh, to be brought before the State Assembly during this session, he said that "what we require are not guarantees for the profits of multinationals but the guarantee of energy to every common citizen of this country."
Chittaroopa Palit
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NDP points to Sask. Party austerity as cause of slow GDP growth
Faced with a struggling economy, the Sask. Party government chose to raise taxes on the middle class and cut services instead of investing in the people of Saskatchewan, despite warnings that such moves would only deepen the downturn. New data from Statistics Canada bears out those warnings, with Saskatchewan posting the slowest GDP growth outside of Atlantic Canada in 2017 and half the growth rate of our neighbours to the west.
“Governments are rightly judged by the decisions they make when times are tough,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “And by that measure, this government has failed Saskatchewan people. They cut precisely the things that would restore us to strength — they hurt people in the process, and prolonged the pain of this economic downturn.”
NDP and advocate call on Sask. Party to properly fund addictions treatment
Losing a loved one to an addiction while they are actively trying to get help is beyond difficult for any family, which is why Jenny Churchill joined the NDP at the Legislature to call for the necessary changes so that no other family would have to go through what hers has.
“The reality for far too many families throughout the province is that the needed care simply isn’t available when a loved one struggling with addiction is ready to reach out and begin their healing process,” said NDP Mental Health and Addictions Critic Danielle Chartier. “We need to do better to deal with the issue of addictions in Saskatchewan – and that starts with addressing the severe shortage of addictions services.”
NDP calls for fully funded national pharmacare program
Helen Campbell, a nurse and healthcare provider in the province, has seen firsthand the difficult choices that people have had to make when they can’t afford their medication on top of everyday bills and expenses. She joined NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat at the Legislature today to add her voice to the call for a fully funded national pharmacare program.
“Our health care system cannot function to its full potential without universal pharmacare,” said Mowat. “Being unable to afford needed medication shouldn’t be a barrier to people’s basic health, but that is the reality that so many in our province face today.”
Balgonie semi truck traffic jam exposes flaws in over-priced and poorly designed Regina bypass: NDP
The fact that producers and truck drivers find the Regina bypass roundabouts too small to navigate has been well documented. However, the Sask. Party’s mismanagement of the $2 billion P3 project has had a knock-on effect on the residents of Balgonie who, documents obtained by the NDP reveal, have felt “trapped” because they have had their Main Street access blocked off.
“Under Sask. Party direction, this $400 million P3 project swelled to $2 billion, and they still managed to get it wrong,” said NDP Highways and Infrastructure Critic Buckley Belanger. “Because it wasn’t designed using local expertise, their $2 billion by-pass doesn’t fit farm equipment, it doesn’t fit tractor trailers and it’s not working for residents in the area.”
NDP calls on government to address gaps in long-term care
Seniors Critic Danielle Chartier raised concerns in the Legislature today about gaps in the delivery of long-term care to our province’s seniors. She was joined by Brenda Cromwell, who is speaking out about the challenges her family has experienced getting their father into a suitable care situation.
“Years of Sask. Party underfunding and underinvestment in infrastructure have created a long-term care crisis of their own making,” said Chartier. “Shunting our elders into publicly funded for-profit care, as this government has said it’s considering, is absolutely not the answer. We need clarity from this government on what they’re doing to address the serious shortage in long-term care beds.”
NDP raises concern over incidents with privatized laundry services
Many workers were laid off following the Sask. Party’s decision to privatize laundry services in the health sector, and since then, stories have come to the surface about laundry coming back to healthcare centres soiled. Most recently, a discarded shank has shown up in the sheets delivered to a seniors’ facility.
“The Sask. Party didn’t seem too concerned when they shut down Saskatchewan’s five publicly owned hospital laundry facilities and sent the contract off to an Alberta company, but these complaints should change their tune,” said Seniors Critic Danielle Chartier. “No family should have to worry about their loved one not receiving properly cleaned and inspected laundry when they’re in the care of the health authority.”
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Guitar World, Fender Style
by Delore Zimmerman 04/22/2011
Estimates put the number of guitar players in the world at about 50 million. Something like 20 million of these pickers, strummers and shredders are Americans.
Fender®, a name synonymous with rock n’ roll dreams, was founded in Fullerton, California by Leo Fender in 1946. Recently Fender began selling the world's first guitar that is also a Rock Band 3® video game controller. According to Fender’s website, “the Squier Stratocaster blends state-of-the-art gaming and guitar technology with the authenticity of Fender design and engineering, The controller elevates the gaming experience to the level of real music making by letting users play the actual notes and chords of their favorite songs while racking up high gameplay scores.”
Aligning with the Rock Band phenomenon is not Fender’s first foray into nurturing a new generation of guitar gods wherever they might be around the world.
Fender's headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona with manufacturing facilities in Corona, California (USA) and Ensenada, Baja California (Mexico). To maintain and control costs over the years, Fender introduced Squier instruments in 1982, which have been produced in several nations, including Japan, Korea, India, China, Indonesia and Mexico.
The Squier brand’s main focus and most successful approach has been to be the “value brand” alternative to its big brother, Fender. Squier versions of signature models including the Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars provide an official” cost-conscious alternative that has enabled successive generations of guitar players to pick up an axe at a reasonable cost. In Fender’s words, Stop Dreaming, Start Playing ™
Squier is considered the launching pad for guitar players and owners who are expected to eventually upgrade to the more expensive Fender guitars. Nonetheless, Squier has established its own fan base over the years. Oftentimes this is because the lower cost emboldens guitar player to customize their guitars in ways that might be unthinkable with their higher priced counterparts. Many famous musicians for whom price is irrelevant cling to the brand.
The world of Fender sound also includes a history of amplifiers whose distinctive tones and cabinets have defined generations of rock, jazz, country, pop and all combinations thereof.
Today many of these Fender tones are available to the masses of guitar players on the recently released AmpliTube Fender app for Apple’s iPad. Developed by IK Multimedia and Fender, the iPad app enables guitar players to use their favorite gear anytime and anywhere, including the ’65 Deluxe Reverb™, the Super-Sonic™, the ’65 Twin Reverb™, the ’59 Bassman™ LTD and the Pro Junior™.
With the AmpliTube Fender for iPad app anytime, anywhere joins stop dreaming, start playing as yet another way that Fender will continue to nurture and grow a new generation of guitar players. It will also rekindle the youthful dreams of an older generation of pickers and strummers who have now begun or are now resuming their guitar playing.
Pricing for entry-level users through global manufacturing, integrating core capabilities with the latest technologies, creating and leveraging strong brands in multiple ways for multiple generations. Fender’s formula is working and holds valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and large companies alike.
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Borderline Reality
Big Movers – Up and Down the 2009 Best Cities Rankings
NG Publisher in Fargo Forum Regarding FM Economy
New Deal Investments Created Enduring, Livable Communities
Why Small Cities Rock
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California Feudalism: The Squeeze on the Middle Class
by Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky 10/20/2018
Is the California Dream unraveling? Joel Kotkin and Marshall Toplansky warn how California is headed towards an increasingly feudal future in their latest report, "California Feudalism: The Squeeze on the Middle Class." Click the PDF link below to read the full study.
California was built by people with aspirations, many of them lacking cultural polish or elite educations, but dedicated to hard work, innovation, family and community. A large number came from other countries or poor backgrounds: sharecroppers from the South, campesinos from Mexico, people fleeing communism and poverty in Asia, escapees from Hitler’s Europe or Okies and others fleeing the dust bowl.
This proud legacy is threatened. California has now taken on an increasingly feudal cast, with a small but growing group of the ultra-rich, a diminishing middle class, and a large, rising segment of the population that is in or near poverty. Indeed, amidst some of the greatest accumulations of wealth in history, California has emerged as a leader in poverty, particularly among its minority and immigrant populations and throughout its interior.
Something is clearly wrong with this picture. Yet our state leaders, and too many of our business and civic leaders, are convinced that California, far from being something of a cautionary tale, offers a great “role model” for the rest of the country.
The state’s drift towards an ever more unequal, feudalized society, characterized by concentrated property ownership, persistent poverty levels, and demographic stagnation does not seem to concern our Sacramento leadership.
What needs to change? If we want to again be a place of opportunity for all, we need to dial down California’s increasingly expensive, messianic land use and climate change policies, which have dramatically increased housing and energy costs, forcing individuals and companies elsewhere. This will allow us to develop more housing and middle-class jobs, especially in more affordable areas such as the Central Valley and the Inland Empire. A dramatic reform of our education system, which underserves our next generation, particularly in poor and minority communities, needs to be enacted. Other steps, like investing in basic infrastructure—roads, dams, electric transmission—could boost the flagging blue collar economy of the state.
Feudalism_Web.pdf 2.59 MB
California Becoming More Feudal, With Ultra-Rich Lording Over Declining Middle Class
Gentrification Is Failing in Los Angeles
OC Model: A Vision for Orange County's Future
Can California Transition to Next Tech Wave?
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We watch Fox so you don't have to!
Despite Fox & Friends Challenge, Pompeo Reveals Khashoggi Merely Collateral Damage In Push For War With Iran
Posted by Ellen -7795.60pc on December 12, 2018 · Flag
Mike Pompeo repeatedly dodged Fox & Friends’ questions about the guilt of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
The 11:20 minute chat with Pompeo was mostly chummy. There was no skepticism, for example, when Pompeo exploited the recent terror attack in France as an excuse to fear monger about Mexican immigrants trying to enter the U.S.
But at 4:34, cohost Ainsley Earhardt started what turned out to be quite sharp questioning about the Khashoggi murder. Nobody on Fox challenges a Trump administration official this way, much less on Trump's favorite morning show, without orders from above. The hosts' open disbelief and criticism suggests the orders came from a Murdoch.
Pompeo called Khashoggi’s death “tragic” and “not something America approves of” but that was clearly the extent of his concern. “We have already held a number of individuals accountable,” he said, thereby giving Crown Prince MBS, as he is known, a giant pass. “America has an important ally in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia … and we intend to continue to protect the American people in the way that voters back two years ago demanded.”
His smug smile as he said that, seen above, is sickening.
Cohost Brian Kilmeade was not buying it: “They’re the ones who are putting it in peril, not us,” he said. He cited Senators Lindsey Graham and Bob Corker who, after a briefing by the CIA, thought MBS’ guilt had been proven beyond a doubt.
Pompeo waffled: “It is absolutely America’s intent to hold everyone accountable who was responsible for this.”
Kilmeade pressed: “So that’s yes. You—when you looked him in the eye and he denied it, did you believe him?”
Once again, Pompeo signaled his plan to give MBS a pass. He replied, “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia decides who’s running the country. … We are working closely with the kingdom to make sure that America is protected. That’s—that’s—that’s our interest there.”
Earhardt took up the reins. “What’s your response? The CIA says that they’re highly confident that, that the Saudi crown prince did order the murder of Khashoggi.”
Pompeo is the former head of the CIA but he threw his own former agency’s findings under the bus. “Some of the reporting that you’ve seen on that has been inaccurate,” he claimed.
“That’s false?” Earhardt sounded dubious.
“Is that inaccurate?” Kilmeade echoed.
“Look—look, we all know that they’re still working on this,” Pompeo claimed. “This is still a developing set of facts with respect to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The intelligence community is working diligently on that.”
Earhardt continued pressing: “Someone has to pay the price, though. It’s so brutal. Apparently, those audiotapes are awful.”
That’s when Pompeo all but declared that he has no problem letting a foreign power murder an American resident in service of his long-held desire for war against Iran, a plan he moved along at the U.N. later today.
POMPEO: Well, we—the Saudis have already paid the price. There are the folks who actually committed the murder, we’ve held accountable. We will continue to do that. No one underestimates how horrible this murder was.
But, remember, Iran is running rampant throughout the Middle East. The death of any one individual is awful. The death of hundreds of thousands of people in Europe or the Middle East or the United States matters an awful lot. President Trump is committed to protecting America.
Trump’s Fox Friends had no challenge about that.
Watch Pompeo disgrace America below, from the December 12, 2018 Fox & Friends.
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Kevin Koster commented 2018-12-13 13:33:10 -0500 · Flag
Pompeo’s smugness is interesting. And yes, he is part of the wing of the Pence White House (along with John Bolton) who’s been annoyed that their march to open warfare against Iran has been interrupted by this irrelevant Khashoggi guy. The Right Wing has never cared for a second that this man was killed. In fact, multiple Right Wing pundits have come out attacking Khashoggi and effectively saying that he deserved to be murdered. The initial reaction of the Pence White House was to downplay this whole situation, even to the point of doubting that it even happened. Given their inability to act like adults and own anything, they’ve chosen to double down on their downplaying.
We should absolutely remember the smugness of despicable people like Pompeo and Bolton. We should remember that this was their behavior when it mattered. And we should remember that they would never have been in their positions to do this damage had 2-3 million Americans actually showed up to vote in the swing states in 2016. Elections Have Consequences.
John McKee commented 2018-12-13 07:16:18 -0500 · Flag
Over and over again, I am struck by the number of Republican politicians and RWNJ commentators who have no problem confronting the administration on the Saudi situation, but who continue to deny, deny, deny there’s anything fishy about the stinking Russia connections. Tells me that Putin’s kompromat net has been spread far and wide, that ALL these people are complicit.
Ben Newmark commented 2018-12-12 22:31:27 -0500 · Flag
“America has an important ally in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia … and we intend to continue to protect the American people in the way that voters back two years ago demanded.”
HOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S ELECTION DESTROYING YOU, POMPEO!!
Terry Stodolka commented 2018-12-12 21:33:08 -0500 · Flag
Oh no! Not are Allie friend Prince kill’im!
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Encyclopædia Iranica
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HELLANICUS OF LESBOS
HELLANICUSOF LESBOS, a polyhistorian, probably younger than Herodotus but older than Thucydides (ca. 480-395 B.C.?), who was much read in the ancient world. He wrote on mythology, ethnography, and universal chronology; and he was the first to compile a history of Athens. However, only about 200 fragments of his works have come down to us.
In his four monographs on certain great lineages (Phorōnis, Deukaliōneia, Atlantias, and Asōpis), he condensed the entire mythological genealogy in a reductionist manner and in chronological order. Linked to these were the Trōika (intwo books), which formed the point of departure for the later Troy romances. His ethnographical works were less influential due to their lack of originality, but no doubt also because of the competition from Herodotus. They took account, not only of Greece (Argos, Arcadia, Boeotia, Thessaly, Lesbos), but also of foreign peoples, realms, and cultures (Egypt, Cyprus, Scythia, and Persia [FGrHist 687a]). Hellanicus’s most important achievement is represented by the Hiereiai, a Hellenic universal chronicle in three books, which permitted the arrangement of ‘historical’ facts, from mythical times up to the author’s own day, by the orientation of its chronological system to the list of Hera’s priestesses in Argos. His Karneonikai, a chronicle of the Carnean festivals, also probably was ‘panhellenic’ and chronologically oriented.
The Atthis belongs to his last years; it treated the history of Athens from its mythical beginnings to roughly the end of the Peloponnesian War and was chronologically structured with the aid of a list of kings and archons. Thucydides cites Hellanicus by name as his sole predecessor (1.97.2), criticizing his presentation of the Pentekontaetia (the roughly fifty-year period between the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars). He also made use of the Hiereiai (2.2.1, 4.133.2).
Texts. F. Jacoby, Die Fragmente der Griechischen Historiker [FGrHist], Part I: Genealogie und Mythographie, A., Leiden, 2nd ed., 1957 [FGrHist 4]; Part III B, Leiden, 1950 [FGrHist 323a: Atthis]; Part III C, Leiden, 1958 [FGrHist 608a: Aigyptiaka; 687a: Persika].
Other references. F. Jacoby, “Hellanikos,” in Pauly-Wissowa VIII, 1913, pp. 104-53 (= Griechische Historiker, Stuttgart, 1956, pp. 262-87).
Idem, Atthis, Oxford, 1949. O. Lendle, Einführung in die griechische Geschichtsschreibung, Darmstadt, 1992, pp. 63-71.
(J. Wiesehöfer)
Originally Published: December 15, 2003
This article is available in print.
Vol. XII, Fasc. 2, p. 156
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Untethered Magnetic Micromanipulation
Diller, E., Sitti, M.
In Micro-and Nanomanipulation Tools, 13, 10, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, November 2015 (inbook)
This chapter discusses the methods and state of the art in microscale manipulation in remote environments using untethered microrobotic devices. It focuses on manipulation at the size scale of tens to hundreds of microns, where small size leads to a dominance of microscale physical effects and challenges in fabrication and actuation. To motivate the challenges of operating at this size scale, the chapter includes coverage of the physical forces relevant to microrobot motion and manipulation below the millimeter-size scale. It then introduces the actuation methods commonly used in untethered manipulation schemes, with particular focus on magnetic actuation due to its wide use in the field. The chapter divides these manipulation techniques into two types: contact manipulation, which relies on direct pushing or grasping of objects for motion, and noncontact manipulation, which relies indirectly on induced fluid flow from the microrobot motion to move objects without any direct contact.
pi Diller, E., Sitti, M. Untethered Magnetic Micromanipulation In Micro-and Nanomanipulation Tools, 13, 10, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, November 2015 (inbook)
Causal Inference for Empirical Time Series Based on the Postulate of Independence of Cause and Mechanism
Besserve, M.
53rd Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing, September 2015 (talk)
ei Besserve, M. Causal Inference for Empirical Time Series Based on the Postulate of Independence of Cause and Mechanism 53rd Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing, September 2015 (talk)
Kernel methods in medical imaging
Charpiat, G., Hofmann, M., Schölkopf, B.
In Handbook of Biomedical Imaging, pages: 63-81, 4, (Editors: Paragios, N., Duncan, J. and Ayache, N.), Springer, Berlin, Germany, June 2015 (inbook)
Web link (url) [BibTex]
ei Charpiat, G., Hofmann, M., Schölkopf, B. Kernel methods in medical imaging In Handbook of Biomedical Imaging, pages: 63-81, 4, (Editors: Paragios, N., Duncan, J. and Ayache, N.), Springer, Berlin, Germany, June 2015 (inbook)
Lernende Roboter
In Jahrbuch der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Max Planck Society, May 2015, (popular science article in German) (inbook)
am ics Trimpe, S. Lernende Roboter In Jahrbuch der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Max Planck Society, May 2015, (popular science article in German) (inbook)
Schaal, S.
In Jahrbuch der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, May 2015 (incollection)
am Schaal, S. Autonomous Robots In Jahrbuch der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, May 2015 (incollection)
Independence of cause and mechanism in brain networks
DALI workshop on Networks: Processes and Causality, April 2015 (talk)
ei Besserve, M. Independence of cause and mechanism in brain networks DALI workshop on Networks: Processes and Causality, April 2015 (talk)
Information-Theoretic Implications of Classical and Quantum Causal Structures
Chaves, R., Majenz, C., Luft, L., Maciel, T., Janzing, D., Schölkopf, B., Gross, D.
18th Conference on Quantum Information Processing (QIP), 2015 (talk)
ei Chaves, R., Majenz, C., Luft, L., Maciel, T., Janzing, D., Schölkopf, B., Gross, D. Information-Theoretic Implications of Classical and Quantum Causal Structures 18th Conference on Quantum Information Processing (QIP), 2015 (talk)
Justifying Information-Geometric Causal Inference
Janzing, D., Steudel, B., Shajarisales, N., Schölkopf, B.
In Measures of Complexity: Festschrift for Alexey Chervonenkis, pages: 253-265, 18, (Editors: Vovk, V., Papadopoulos, H. and Gammerman, A.), Springer, 2015 (inbook)
ei Janzing, D., Steudel, B., Shajarisales, N., Schölkopf, B. Justifying Information-Geometric Causal Inference In Measures of Complexity: Festschrift for Alexey Chervonenkis, pages: 253-265, 18, (Editors: Vovk, V., Papadopoulos, H. and Gammerman, A.), Springer, 2015 (inbook)
The search for single exoplanet transits in the Kepler light curves
Foreman-Mackey, D., Hogg, D. W., Schölkopf, B.
IAU General Assembly, 22, pages: 2258352, 2015 (talk)
ei Foreman-Mackey, D., Hogg, D. W., Schölkopf, B. The search for single exoplanet transits in the Kepler light curves IAU General Assembly, 22, pages: 2258352, 2015 (talk)
Robot Learning
Peters, J., Lee, D., Kober, J., Nguyen-Tuong, D., Bagnell, J. A., Schaal, S.
In Springer Handbook of Robotics 2nd Edition, pages: 1371-1394, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2015 (incollection)
am Peters, J., Lee, D., Kober, J., Nguyen-Tuong, D., Bagnell, J. A., Schaal, S. Robot Learning In Springer Handbook of Robotics 2nd Edition, pages: 1371-1394, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2015 (incollection)
Bousquet, O.
Machine Learning Summer School, August 2003 (talk)
ei Bousquet, O. Statistical Learning Theory Machine Learning Summer School, August 2003 (talk)
Remarks on Statistical Learning Theory
ei Bousquet, O. Remarks on Statistical Learning Theory Machine Learning Summer School, August 2003 (talk)
Rademacher and Gaussian averages in Learning Theory
Universite de Marne-la-Vallee, March 2003 (talk)
ei Bousquet, O. Rademacher and Gaussian averages in Learning Theory Universite de Marne-la-Vallee, March 2003 (talk)
Bousquet, O., Schölkopf, B.
March 2003 (talk)
ei Bousquet, O., Schölkopf, B. Statistical Learning Theory March 2003 (talk)
Concentration Inequalities and Data-Dependent Error Bounds
Uni. Jena, February 2003 (talk)
ei Bousquet, O. Concentration Inequalities and Data-Dependent Error Bounds Uni. Jena, February 2003 (talk)
Introduction: Robots with Cognition?
Franz, MO.
6, pages: 38, (Editors: H.H. Bülthoff, K.R. Gegenfurtner, H.A. Mallot, R. Ulrich, F.A. Wichmann), 6. T{\"u}binger Wahrnehmungskonferenz (TWK), February 2003 (talk)
Using robots as models of cognitive behaviour has a long tradition in robotics. Parallel to the historical development in cognitive science, one observes two major, subsequent waves in cognitive robotics. The first is based on ideas of classical, cognitivist Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the AI view of cognition as rule-based symbol manipulation, these robots typically try to extract symbolic descriptions of the environment from their sensors that are used to update a common, global world representation from which, in turn, the next action of the robot is derived. The AI approach has been successful in strongly restricted and controlled environments requiring well-defined tasks, e.g. in industrial assembly lines. AI-based robots mostly failed, however, in the unpredictable and unstructured environments that have to be faced by mobile robots. This has provoked the second wave in cognitive robotics which tries to achieve cognitive behaviour as an emergent property from the interaction of simple, low-level modules. Robots of the second wave are called animats as their architecture is designed to closely model aspects of real animals. Using only simple reactive mechanisms and Hebbian-type or evolutionary learning, the resulting animats often outperformed the highly complex AI-based robots in tasks such as obstacle avoidance, corridor following etc. While successful in generating robust, insect-like behaviour, typical animats are limited to stereotyped, fixed stimulus-response associations. If one adopts the view that cognition requires a flexible, goal-dependent choice of behaviours and planning capabilities (H.A. Mallot, Kognitionswissenschaft, 1999, 40-48) then it appears that cognitive behaviour cannot emerge from a collection of purely reactive modules. It rather requires environmentally decoupled structures that work without directly engaging the actions that it is concerned with. This poses the current challenge to cognitive robotics: How can we build cognitive robots that show the robustness and the learning capabilities of animats without falling back into the representational paradigm of AI? The speakers of the symposium present their approaches to this question in the context of robot navigation and sensorimotor learning. In the first talk, Prof. Helge Ritter introduces a robot system for imitation learning capable of exploring various alternatives in simulation before actually performing a task. The second speaker, Angelo Arleo, develops a model of spatial memory in rat navigation based on his electrophysiological experiments. He validates the model on a mobile robot which, in some navigation tasks, shows a performance comparable to that of the real rat. A similar model of spatial memory is used to investigate the mechanisms of territory formation in a series of robot experiments presented by Prof. Hanspeter Mallot. In the last talk, we return to the domain of sensorimotor learning where Ralf M{\"o}ller introduces his approach to generate anticipatory behaviour by learning forward models of sensorimotor relationships.
ei Franz, MO. Introduction: Robots with Cognition? 6, pages: 38, (Editors: H.H. Bülthoff, K.R. Gegenfurtner, H.A. Mallot, R. Ulrich, F.A. Wichmann), 6. T{\"u}binger Wahrnehmungskonferenz (TWK), February 2003 (talk)
Extension of the nu-SVM range for classification
Perez-Cruz, F., Weston, J., Herrmann, D., Schölkopf, B.
In Advances in Learning Theory: Methods, Models and Applications, NATO Science Series III: Computer and Systems Sciences, Vol. 190, 190, pages: 179-196, NATO Science Series III: Computer and Systems Sciences, (Editors: J Suykens and G Horvath and S Basu and C Micchelli and J Vandewalle), IOS Press, Amsterdam, 2003 (inbook)
ei Perez-Cruz, F., Weston, J., Herrmann, D., Schölkopf, B. Extension of the nu-SVM range for classification In Advances in Learning Theory: Methods, Models and Applications, NATO Science Series III: Computer and Systems Sciences, Vol. 190, 190, pages: 179-196, NATO Science Series III: Computer and Systems Sciences, (Editors: J Suykens and G Horvath and S Basu and C Micchelli and J Vandewalle), IOS Press, Amsterdam, 2003 (inbook)
An Introduction to Support Vector Machines
Schölkopf, B.
In Recent Advances and Trends in Nonparametric Statistics , pages: 3-17, (Editors: MG Akritas and DN Politis), Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003 (inbook)
ei Schölkopf, B. An Introduction to Support Vector Machines In Recent Advances and Trends in Nonparametric Statistics , pages: 3-17, (Editors: MG Akritas and DN Politis), Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003 (inbook)
Statistical Learning and Kernel Methods in Bioinformatics
Schölkopf, B., Guyon, I., Weston, J.
In Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Methods in Bioinformatics, 183, pages: 1-21, 3, (Editors: P Frasconi und R Shamir), IOS Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003 (inbook)
ei Schölkopf, B., Guyon, I., Weston, J. Statistical Learning and Kernel Methods in Bioinformatics In Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Methods in Bioinformatics, 183, pages: 1-21, 3, (Editors: P Frasconi und R Shamir), IOS Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003 (inbook)
A Short Introduction to Learning with Kernels
Schölkopf, B., Smola, A.
In Proceedings of the Machine Learning Summer School, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 2600, pages: 41-64, LNAI 2600, (Editors: S Mendelson and AJ Smola), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany, 2003 (inbook)
ei Schölkopf, B., Smola, A. A Short Introduction to Learning with Kernels In Proceedings of the Machine Learning Summer School, Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 2600, pages: 41-64, LNAI 2600, (Editors: S Mendelson and AJ Smola), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany, 2003 (inbook)
Bayesian Kernel Methods
Smola, A., Schölkopf, B.
In Advanced Lectures on Machine Learning, Machine Learning Summer School 2002, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 2600, LNAI 2600, pages: 65-117, 0, (Editors: S Mendelson and AJ Smola), Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2003 (inbook)
ei Smola, A., Schölkopf, B. Bayesian Kernel Methods In Advanced Lectures on Machine Learning, Machine Learning Summer School 2002, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 2600, LNAI 2600, pages: 65-117, 0, (Editors: S Mendelson and AJ Smola), Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2003 (inbook)
Stability of ensembles of kernel machines
Elisseeff, A., Pontil, M.
In 190, pages: 111-124, NATO Science Series III: Computer and Systems Science, (Editors: Suykens, J., G. Horvath, S. Basu, C. Micchelli and J. Vandewalle), IOS press, Netherlands, 2003 (inbook)
ei Elisseeff, A., Pontil, M. Stability of ensembles of kernel machines In 190, pages: 111-124, NATO Science Series III: Computer and Systems Science, (Editors: Suykens, J., G. Horvath, S. Basu, C. Micchelli and J. Vandewalle), IOS press, Netherlands, 2003 (inbook)
Magnetism and the Microstructure of Ferromagnetic Solids
Kronmüller, H., Fähnle, M.
pages: 432 p., 1st ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003 (book)
mms Kronmüller, H., Fähnle, M. Magnetism and the Microstructure of Ferromagnetic Solids pages: 432 p., 1st ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003 (book)
Investigation of the Initial Oxidation of Surfaces of Quasicrystals by High-Resolution RBS and ERDA
Plachke, D., Khellaf, A., Kurth, M., Szökefalvi-Nagy, A., Carstanjen, H. D.
In Quasicrystals: Structure and Physical Properties, pages: 598-614, Wiley-VCH GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2003 (incollection)
mms Plachke, D., Khellaf, A., Kurth, M., Szökefalvi-Nagy, A., Carstanjen, H. D. Investigation of the Initial Oxidation of Surfaces of Quasicrystals by High-Resolution RBS and ERDA In Quasicrystals: Structure and Physical Properties, pages: 598-614, Wiley-VCH GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, 2003 (incollection)
AMOC in positron and positronium chemistry
Stoll, H., Castellaz, P., Siegle, A.
In Principles and Applications of Positron and Positronium Chemistry, pages: 344-366, World Scientific Publishers, Singapore, 2003 (incollection)
mms Stoll, H., Castellaz, P., Siegle, A. AMOC in positron and positronium chemistry In Principles and Applications of Positron and Positronium Chemistry, pages: 344-366, World Scientific Publishers, Singapore, 2003 (incollection)
Nonparametric regression for learning nonlinear transformations
In Prerational Intelligence in Strategies, High-Level Processes and Collective Behavior, 2, pages: 595-621, (Editors: Ritter, H.;Cruse, H.;Dean, J.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999, clmc (inbook)
Information processing in animals and artificial movement systems consists of a series of transformations that map sensory signals to intermediate representations, and finally to motor commands. Given the physical and neuroanatomical differences between individuals and the need for plasticity during development, it is highly likely that such transformations are learned rather than pre-programmed by evolution. Such self-organizing processes, capable of discovering nonlinear dependencies between different groups of signals, are one essential part of prerational intelligence. While neural network algorithms seem to be the natural choice when searching for solutions for learning transformations, this paper will take a more careful look at which types of neural networks are actually suited for the requirements of an autonomous learning system. The approach that we will pursue is guided by recent developments in learning theory that have linked neural network learning to well established statistical theories. In particular, this new statistical understanding has given rise to the development of neural network systems that are directly based on statistical methods. One family of such methods stems from nonparametric regression. This paper will compare nonparametric learning with the more widely used parametric counterparts in a non technical fashion, and investigate how these two families differ in their properties and their applicabilities. We will argue that nonparametric neural networks offer a set of characteristics that make them a very promising candidate for on-line learning in autonomous system.
am Schaal, S. Nonparametric regression for learning nonlinear transformations In Prerational Intelligence in Strategies, High-Level Processes and Collective Behavior, 2, pages: 595-621, (Editors: Ritter, H.;Cruse, H.;Dean, J.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999, clmc (inbook)
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NUFC History
NUFC Squad
Archive for tag: Alan Smith.
Alan Smith: Thoughts from an NUFC Blogger on ‘The Scratching Shed’.
July 29th, 2011 | 13 Comments |
Alan Smith: Holding on...
Some time ago, when Leeds United and Newcastle United last played a friendly game in 2009, David from excellent Leeds United ‘blog, ‘The Scratching Shed’ very kindly wrote a match report of the game.
At long last I have now finally returned the favour by writing a ‘blog on one player who unites both clubs. I am of course referring to Alan Smith, who has been linked with a return to his home club in recent times.
In it, I have given a recap of Smith’s ups and downs (mostly downs it must be said) on Tyneside, since he joined the club as one of a series of somewhat misguided signings by Sam Allardyce in the Summer of 2007.
It’s called ‘Alan Smith: Holding on to the bitter end‘.
Hope you like it. I also hope that you will share some of your thoughts on Alan Smith’s time at Newcastle United too. (more…)
Newcastle United player review 09/10 – Midfielders.
May 7th, 2010 | 88 Comments |
Has been a key player for us.
Having already taken a look at our goalkeepers and defenders, the focus for the next edition of our player review moves up the pitch again to see how our midfield have performed throughout the season.
It’s been a strange position for us this year. On one hand, some say the midfield has been our achilles heel, it lacks mobility and creativity. On the other hand though, it has been a position that has yielded a return of 30 goals from the season. Without checking, that is probably a damn sight more than what we have had in return from the past few seasons. Of course 17 of them have come from Kevin Nolan which has helped improve that figure, but despite the criticism that has been aimed at them from time to time they have chipped in with their fair share of assists aswell. After all, strikers need service from somewhere, right? (more…)
What do we think of the Newcastle engine room? – Part deux.
January 7th, 2010 | 66 Comments |
Looking and feeling a little rusty in the middle?
The previous review of the current squad, took a look at the Newcastle defence, an area that this season we’ve been surprisingly strong in, given our poor reputation in recent years.
Today’s review looks at arguably the fulcrum of a successful team, the midfield, the place that could and should control a game and dictate the style of play. Our midfield this season has been very much part of a strong defensive ethos, and while we have grafters in there, we’re also lacking some natural creativity and pace.
Looking at the current crop, it really makes you pine for some of our former midfielders who have graced the hallowed St James’ turf in the last couple of decades. Reminisce about the grace of French wingers David Ginola and Laurent Robert. Recall the guts, determination and drive of Robert Lee and Gary Speed. Consider the guile we had in Emre, albeit fleetingly, and the sheer brilliance of Nobby Solano. Even having pure pace a la James Milner, Keith Gillespie to worry the opposition. You can even look at some of the less popular characters. We would kill for the pace of Kieron Dyer and dare I say, I could forgive Jermaine Jenas. Possibly even Damien Duff is a big miss? Maybe that’s stretching it…
Anyway, that was the past, what about the present? (more…)
Swan song gone wrong! – Newcastle 3 Swansea 0
November 28th, 2009 | 51 Comments |
Two goals and two fingers!
Seems like everybody was expecting a tight if tidy affair at St James’ today and with two of the meanest defences in the division, a high-soring game wasn’t on the cards. But with barely a third of the game gone, Newcastle were three goals to the good and showboating as some of the travelling contingent headed for early beers.
Expectations were high that Swansea would prove to be a well-organised and competent football team, particularly stingy at the back but a new-look forward line of Peter Lovenkrands and Marlon Harewood put paid to that theory within half an hour of the kick-off, and Swansea looked like just another fairly average Championship side. Eeh that Marlon Harewood, eh? I always knew he just needed time to settle in…
Harewood’s first came from a bouncing ball in the box and with the defence hesitant he headed the ball in the net to make it 1-0. After some good build up play on the left, Gutierrez finally managed to do what we have been crying out for him to do and delivered perfectly with his left, so that Lovenkrands had the simplest of headers to make it 2-0 with 21 minutes gone. And before we’d reached the thirty minute mark, more good work on the left and and an almost identical cross from Lovenkrands and a similar finish from Harewood and the game looked to be beyond the Welsh side at 3-0. (more…)
12th man helping out at Newcastle?
Not underestimated?
Alan Smith believes that Newcastle Untied’s fans are as much the reason for our good start to the season as the players on the park. Having averaged over 40,000 for our homes games this season, I think we’ve dispelled the theories that we would see some 20+ thousand shaved off Premiership gates following relegation.
Smudger reckons that without the customary ’12th man’ theory, Newcastle wouldn’t be where they are in the league now. And he insists that the ’12th man’ isn’t just a factor at home either, it’s away as well:
“They want to see us win, and that’s what we’re doing,”
“Their support’s driving us on to keep winning, and long may that continue.
“It’s unbelievable. There’s times when people say it’s difficult to play in front of our fans, because they expect so much, but I think that’ll help us. (more…)
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Ja Ko Raakhe Saiya Maar Sake Na Koi!
Whom the Lord protects, none can harm! The Pandavas are a shining example of this maxim. Their opponents, the land-hungry Kauravas, tried to harm them using various stratagems, but failed every single time. In fact, not only did their strategies fail, they actually led the Pandavas to unforeseen, beneficial outcomes.
As a child, Bhima, the middle of the Pandava brothers, was poisoned and thrown into the river. Much to the disappointment of his foes, however, he was rescued by the King of Serpents, who not only administered an antidote to the poison, but also administered a divine ambrosia that granted Bhima the strength of thousands of elephants.
As they grew younger, the Kaurava brothers arranged for the Pandavas to live in a palace of wax, which to all normal human appearances resembled a regular palace, but was actually made from wax. The same was set on fire, but the Lord arranged for an underground rescue at the last minute and saved the Pandavas’ lives.
As they escaped from the fire, they were mysteriously led to a forest where Bhima met Hidamba and fathered a divinely-powered son who rescued them
during a very serious situation in the war. Furthermore, in their travails they became relatives of
the powerful King Dhrupad who served to a very potent ally in the war against the Kauravas.
When the Pandavas demanded a share of their kingdom, the greedy king Dritrashtra granted them the barren land of Khandava Van (an uninhabited and barren forest). Due to the divine help of Krishna, however, the forest was transformed into a magical kingdom that later came to be known as Indraprastha (the abode of the heavenly king, Indra).
In this manner, Lord Krishna rescued them from every difficulty, every challenge that was thrown their way by their opponents and in the end all of them emerged victorious.
It was their adherence to the code of righteousness, their surrender to God, and God’s grace that enabled them to face all adversities and emerge victorious and safe.
This entry was posted in Editor, Om Sai Mandir on January 12, 2013 by omsaimandir.
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One thought on “Ja Ko Raakhe Saiya Maar Sake Na Koi!”
Sheetal April 1, 2016 at 11:20 am
Jab koi nahi aate, mere baba aate hai…Om Sai Ram
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Waverley Volume XII
by Sir Walter Scott
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The landscape was still illuminated by the reflection of the evening sun, sometimes thrown back from pool or stream; sometimes resting on grey rocks, huge cumberers of the soil, which labour and agriculture have since removed, and sometimes contenting itself with gilding the banks of the stream, tinged, alternately grey, green, or ruddy, as the ground itself consisted of rock, or grassy turf, or bare earthen mound, or looked at a distance like a rampart of dark red porphyry. Occasionally, too, the eye rested on the steep brown extent of moorland as the sunbeam glanced back from the little tarn or mountain pool, whose lustre, like that of the eye in the human countenance, gives a life and vivacity to every feature around.
The elder and stouter of the two travellers whom we have mentioned, was a person well, and even showily dressed, according to the finery of the times, and bore at his back, as wandering minstrels were wont, a case, containing a small harp, rote or viol, or some such species of musical instrument for accompanying the voice. The leathern case announced so much, although it proclaimed not the exact nature of the instrument. The colour of the traveller's doublet was blue, and that of his hose violet, with slashes which showed a lining of the same colour with the jerkin. A mantle ought, according to ordinary custom, to have covered this dress; but the heat of the sun, though the season was so early, had induced the wearer to fold up his cloak in small compass, and form it into a bundle, attached to the shoulders like the military greatcoat of the infantry soldier of the present day. The neatness with which it was made up, argued the precision of a practised traveller, who had been long accustomed to every resource which change of weather required. A great profusion of narrow ribands or points, constituting the loops with which our ancestors connected their doublet and hose, formed a kind of cordon, composed of knots of blue or violet, which surrounded the traveller's person, and thus assimilated in colour with the two garments which it was the office of these strings to combine. The bonnet usually worn with this showy dress, was of that kind with which Henry the Eighth and his son, Edward the Sixth, are usually represented. It was more fitted, from the gay stuff of which it was composed, to appear in a public place, than to encounter a storm of rain. It was party-coloured, being made of different stripes of blue and violet; and the wearer arrogated a certain degree of gentility to himself, by wearing a plume of considerable dimensions of the same favourite colours. The features over which this feather drooped were in no degree remarkable for peculiarity of expression. Yet in so desolate a country as the west of Scotland, it would, not have been easy to pass the man without more minute attention than he would have met with where there was more in the character of the scenery to arrest the gaze of the passengers.
A quick eye, a sociable look, seeming to say, "Ay, look at me, I am a man worth noticing, and not unworthy your attention," carried with it, nevertheless, an interpretation which might be thought favourable or otherwise, according to the character of the person whom the traveller met. A knight or soldier would merely have thought that he had met a merry fellow, who could sing a wild song, or tell a wild tale, and help to empty a flagon, with all the accomplishments necessary for a boon companion at an hostelry, except perhaps an alacrity at defraying his share of the reckoning. A churchman, on the other hand, might have thought he of the blue and violet was of too loose habits, and accustomed too little to limit himself within the boundaries of beseeming mirth, to be fit society for one of his sacred calling. Yet the Man of Song had a certain steadiness of countenance, which seemed fitted to hold place in scenes of serious business as well as of gaiety. A wayfaring passenger of wealth (not at that time a numerous class) might have feared in him a professional robber, or one whom opportunity was very likely to convert into such; a female might have been apprehensive of uncivil treatment; and a youth, or timid person, might have thought of murder, or such direful doings. Unless privately armed, however, the minstrel was ill-accoutred for any dangerous occupation. His only visible weapon was a small crooked sword, like what we now call a hanger; and the state of the times would have justified any man, however peaceful his intentions, in being so far armed against the perils of the road.
If a glance at this man had in any respect prejudiced him in the opinion of those whom he met on his journey, a look at his companion would, so far as his character could be guessed at—for he was closely muffled up—have passed for an apology and warrant for his associate. The younger traveller was apparently in early youth, a soft and gentle boy, whose Sclavonic gown, the appropriate dress of the pilgrim, he wore more closely drawn about him than the coldness of the weather seemed to authorize or recommend. His features, imperfectly seen under the hood of his pilgrim's dress, were prepossessing in a high degree; and though he wore a walking sword, it seemed rather to be in compliance with general fashion than from any violent purpose he did so. There were traces of sadness upon his brow, and of tears upon his cheeks; and his weariness was such, as even his rougher companion seemed to sympathize with, while he privately participated also in the sorrow which left its marks upon a countenance so lovely. They spoke together, and the elder of the two, while he assumed the deferential air proper to a man of inferior rank addressing a superior, showed in tone and gesture, something that amounted to interest and affection.
"Bertram, my friend," said the younger of the two, "how far are we still from Douglas Castle? We have already come farther than the twenty miles, which thou didst say was the distance from Cammock—or how didst thou call the last hostelry which we left by daybreak?"
"Cummock, my dearest lady—I beg ten thousand excuses—my gracious young lord."
"Call me Augustine," replied his comrade, "if you mean to speak as is fittest for the time."
"Nay, as for that," said Bertram, "if your ladyship can condescend to lay aside your quality, my own good breeding is not so firmly sewed to me but that I can doff it, and resume it again without its losing a stitch; and since your ladyship, to whom I am sworn in obedience, is pleased to command that I should treat you as my own son, shame it were to me if I were not to show you the affection of a father, more especially as I may well swear my great oath, that I owe you the duty of such, though well I wot it has, in our case, been the lot of the parent to be maintained by the kindness and liberality of the child; for when was it that I hungered or thirsted, and the black stock[Footnote: The table dormant, which stood in a baron's hall, was often so designated.] of Berkley did not relieve my wants?"
"I would have it so," answered the young pilgrim; "I would have it so. What use of the mountains of beef, and the oceans of beer, which they say our domains produce, if there is a hungry heart among our vassalage, or especially if thou, Bertram, who hast served as the minstrel of our house for more than twenty years, shouldst experience such a feeling?"
"Certes, lady," answered Bertram, "it would be like the catastrophe which is told of the Baron of Fastenough, when his last mouse was starved to death in the very pantry; and if I escape this journey without such a calamity, I shall think myself out of reach of thirst or famine for the whole of my life."
"Thou hast suffered already once or twice by these attacks, my poor friend," said the lady.
"It is little," answered Bertram, "any thing that I have suffered; and I were ungrateful to give the inconvenience of missing a breakfast, or making an untimely dinner, so serious a name. But then I hardly see how your ladyship can endure this gear much longer. You must yourself feel, that the plodding along these high lands, of which the Scots give us such good measure in their miles, is no jesting matter; and as for Douglas Castle, why it is still three good miles off."
"The question then is," quoth the lady, heaving a sigh, "what we are to do when we have so far to travel, and when the castle gates must be locked long before we arrive there?"
"For that I will pledge my word," answered Bertram. "The gates of Douglas, under the care of Sir John de Walton, do not open so easily as those of the buttery hatch at our own castle, when it is well oiled; and if your ladyship take my advice, you will turn southward ho! and in two days at farthest, we shall be in a land where men's wants are provided for, as the inns proclaim it, with the least possible delay, and the secret of this little journey shall never be known to living mortal but ourselves, as sure as I am sworn minstrel, and man of faith."
"I thank thee for thy advice, mine honest Bertram," said the lady, "but I cannot profit by it. Should thy knowledge of these parts possess thee with an acquaintance with any decent house, whether it belong to rich or poor, I would willingly take quarters there, if I could obtain them from this time until to-morrow morning. The gates of Douglas Castle will then be open to guests of so peaceful an appearance as we carry with us, and—and—it will out—we might have time to make such applications to our toilet as might ensure us a good reception, by drawing a comb through our locks, or such like foppery."
"Ah, madam!" said Bertram, "were not Sir John de Walton in question, methinks I should venture to reply, that an unwashed brow, an unkempt head of hair, and a look far more saucy than your ladyship ever wears, or can wear, were the proper disguise to trick out that minstrel's boy, whom, you wish to represent in the present pageant."
"Do you suffer your youthful pupils to be indeed so slovenly and so saucy, Bertram?" answered the lady. "I for one will not imitate them in that particular; and whether Sir John be now in the Castle of Douglas or not, I will treat the soldiers who hold so honourable a charge with a washed brow, and a head of hair somewhat ordered. As for going back without seeing a castle which has mingled even with my very dreams—at a word, Bertram, thou mayst go that way, but I will not."
"And if I part with your ladyship on such terms," responded the minstrel, "now your frolic is so nearly accomplished, it shall be the foul fiend himself, and nothing more comely or less dangerous, that shall tear me from your side; and for lodging, there is not far from hence the house of one Tom Dickson of Hazelside, one of the most honest fellows of the Dale, and who, although a labouring man, ranked as high as a warrior, when I was in this country, as any noble gentleman that rode in the band of the Douglas."
"He is then a soldier?" said the lady.
"When his country or his lord need his sword," replied Bertram—"and, to say the truth, they are seldom at peace; but otherwise, he is no enemy, save to the wolf which plunders his herds."
"But forget not, my trusty guide," replied the lady, "that the blood in our veins is English, and consequently, that we are in danger from all who call themselves foes to the ruddy Cross."
"Do not fear this man's faith," answered Bertram. "You may trust to him as to the best knight or gentleman of the land. We may make good our lodging by a tune or a song; and it may remember you that I undertook (provided it pleased your ladyship) to temporize a little with the Scots, who, poor souls, love minstrelsy, and when they have but a silver penny, will willingly bestow it to encourage the gay science—I promised you, I say, that we should be as welcome to them as if we had been born amidst their own wild hills; and for the best that such a house as Dickson's affords, the glee-man's son, fair lady, shall not breathe a wish in vain. And now, will you speak your mind to your devoted friend and adopted father, or rather your sworn servant and guide, Bertram the Minstrel, what it is your pleasure to do in this matter?"
"O, we will certainly accept of the Scot's hospitality," said the lady, "your minstrel word being plighted that he is a true man. Tom Dickson, call you him?"
"Yes," replied Bertram, "such is his name; and by looking on these sheep, I am assured that we are now upon his land."
"Indeed?" said the lady, with some surprise; "and how is your wisdom aware of that?"
"I see the first letter of his name marked upon this flock," answered the guide. "Ah, learning is what carries a man through the world, as well as if he had the ring by virtue of which old minstrels tell that Adam understood the language of the beasts in paradise. Ah, madam! there is more wit taught in the shepherd's shieling than the lady thinks of, who sews her painted seam in her summer bower."
"Be it so, good Bertram. And although not so deeply skilled in the knowledge of written language as you are, it is impossible for me to esteem its value more than I actually do; so hold we on the nearest road to this Tom Dickson's, whose very sheep tell of his whereabout. I trust we have not very far to go, although the knowledge that our journey is shortened by a few miles has so much recovered my fatigue, that methinks I could dance all the rest of the way."
CHAPTER THE SECOND.
Rosalind. Well, this is the Forest of Arden. Touchstone. Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I. When I was at home I was in a better place; but travellers must be content. Rosalind. Ay, be so, good Touchstone. Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old, in solemn talk. As You Like It. Scene IV. Act 2.
As the travellers spoke together, they reached a turn of the path which presented a more extensive prospect than the broken face of the country had yet shown them. A valley, through which flowed a small tributary stream, exhibited the wild, but not unpleasant, features of "a lone vale of green braken;" here and there besprinkled with groups of alder- trees, of hazels, and of copse-oakwood, which had maintained their stations in the recesses of the valley, although they had vanished from the loftier and more exposed sides of the hills. The farm-house or mansion-house, (for, from its size and appearance, it might have been the one or the other,) was a large but low building, and the walls of the out-houses were sufficiently strong to resist any band of casual depredators. There was nothing, however, which could withstand a more powerful force; for, in a country laid waste by war, the farmer was then, as now, obliged to take his chance of the great evils attendant upon that state of things; and his condition, never a very eligible one, was rendered considerably worse by the insecurity attending it. About half a mile farther was seen a Gothic building of very small extent, having a half dismantled chapel, which the minstrel pronounced to be the Abbey of Saint Bride. "The place," he said, "I understand, is allowed to subsist, as two or three old monks and as many nuns, whom it contains, are permitted by the English to serve God there, and sometimes to give relief to Scottish travellers; and who have accordingly taken assurance with Sir John de Walton, and accepted as their superior a churchman on whom he thinks he can depend. But if these guests happen to reveal any secrets, they are, by some means or other, believed to fly towards the English governor; and therefore, unless your ladyship's commands be positive, I think we had best not trust ourselves to their hospitality."
"Of a surety, no," said the lady, "if thou canst provide me with lodgings where we shall have more prudent hosts."
At this moment, two human forms were seen to approach the farm-house in a different direction from the travellers, and speaking so high, in a tone apparently of dispute, that the minstrel and his companion could distinguish their voices though the distance was considerable. Having screened his eyes with his hand for some minutes, Bertram at length exclaimed, "By our Lady, it is my old friend, Tom Dickson, sure enough!—What can make him in such bad humour with the lad, who, I think, may be the little wild boy, his son Charles, who used to run about and plait rushes some twenty years ago? It is lucky, however, we have found our friends astir; for I warrant, Tom hath a hearty piece of beef in the pot ere he goes to bed, and he must have changed his wont if an old friend hath not his share; and who knows, had we come later, at what hour they may now find it convenient to drop latch and draw bolt so near a hostile garrison; for if we call things by their right names, such is the proper term for an English garrison in the castle of a Scottish nobleman."
"Foolish man," answered the lady, "thou judgest of Sir John de Walton as thou wouldst of some rude boor, to whom the opportunity of doing what he wills is a temptation and license to exercise cruelty and oppression. Now, I could plight you my word, that, setting apart the quarrel of the kingdoms, which, of course, will be fought out in fair battles on both sides, you will find that English and Scottish, within this domain, and within the reach of Sir John de Walton's influence, live together as that same flock of sheep and goats do with the shepherd's dog; a foe from whom they fly upon certain occasions, but around whom they nevertheless eagerly gather for protection should a wolf happen to show himself."
"It is not to your ladyship," answered Bertram, "that I should venture to state my opinion of such matters; but the young knight, when he is sheathed in armour, is a different being from him who feasts in halls among press of ladies; and he that feeds by another man's fireside, and when his landlord, of all men in the world, chances to be the Black Douglas, has reason to keep his eyes about him as he makes his meal:— but it were better I looked after our own evening refreshment, than that I stood here gaping and talking about other folk's matters." So saying, he called out in a thundering tone of voice, "Dickson!—what ho, Thomas Dickson!—will you not acknowledge an old friend who is much disposed to trust his supper and night's lodging to your hospitality?"
The Scotchman, attracted by the call, looked first along the banks of the river, then upward to the bare side of the hill, and at length cast his eyes upon the two figures who were descending from it.
As if he felt the night colder while he advanced from the more sheltered part of the valley to meet them, the Douglas Dale farmer wrapped closer around him the grey plaid, which, from an early period, has been used by the shepherds of the south of Scotland, and the appearance of which gives a romantic air to the peasantry and middle classes; and which, although less brilliant and gaudy in its colours, is as picturesque in its arrangement as the more military tartan mantle of the Highlands. When they approached near to each other, the lady might observe that this friend of her guide was a stout athletic man, somewhat past the middle of life, and already showing marks of the approach, but none of the infirmities, of age, upon a countenance which had been exposed to many a storm. Sharp eyes, too, and a quick observation, exhibited signs of vigilance, acquired by one who had lived long in a country where he had constant occasion for looking around him with caution. His features were still swollen with displeasure; and the handsome young man who attended him seemed to be discontented, like one who had undergone no gentle marks of his father's indignation, and who, from the sullen expression which mingled with an appearance of shame on his countenance, seemed at once affected by anger and remorse.
"Do you not remember me, old friend?" said Bertram, as they approached within a distance for communing; "or have the twenty years which have marched over us since we met, carried along with them all remembrance of Bertram, the English minstrel?"
"In troth," answered the Scot, "it is not for want of plenty of your countrymen to keep you in my remembrance, and I have hardly heard one of them so much as whistle
'Hey, now the day dawns,'
but it has recalled some note of your blythe rebeck; and yet, such animals are we, that I had forgot the mien of my old friend, and scarcely knew him at a distance. But we have had trouble lately; there are a thousand of your countrymen that keep garrison in the Perilous Castle of Douglas yonder, as well as in other places through the vale, and that is but a woful sight for a true Scotchman—even my own poor house has not escaped the dignity of a garrison of a man-at-arms, besides two or three archer knaves, and one or two slips of mischievous boys called pages, and so forth, who will not let a man say, 'this is my own,' by his own fireside. Do not, therefore, think hardly of me, old comrade, if I show you a welcome something colder than you might expect from a friend of other days; for, by Saint Bride of Douglas, I have scarcely anything left to which I can say welcome."
"Small welcome will serve," said Bertram. "My son, make thy reverence to thy father's old friend. Augustine is learning my joyous trade, but he will need some practice ere he can endure its fatigues. If you could give him some little matter of food, and a quiet bed for the night, there's no fear but that we shall both do well enough; for I dare say, when you travel with my friend Charles there,—if that tall youth chance to be my old acquaintance Charles,—you will find yourself accommodated when his wants are once well provided for."
"Nay, the foul fiend take me if I do," answered the Scottish husbandman. "I know not what the lads of this day are made of—not of the same clay as their fathers, to be sure—not sprung from their heather, which fears neither wind nor rain, but from some delicate plant of a foreign country, which will not thrive unless it be nourished under glass, with a murrain to it. The good Lord of Douglas—I have been his henchman, and can vouch for it—did not in his pagehood desire such food and lodging as, in the present day, will hardly satisfy such a lad as your friend Charles."
"Nay," said Bertram, "it is not that my Augustine is over nice; but, for other reasons, I must request of you a bed to himself; he hath of late been unwell."
"Ay, I understand," said Dickson, "your son hath had a touch of that illness which terminates so frequently in the black death you English folk die of? We hear much of the havoc it has made to the southward. Comes it hitherward?"
Bertram nodded.
"Well, my father's house," continued the farmer, "hath more rooms than one, and your son shall have one well-aired and comfortable; and for supper, ye shall have a part of what is prepared for your countrymen, though I would rather have their room than their company. Since I am bound to feed a score of them, they will not dispute the claim of such a skilful minstrel as thou art to a night's hospitality. I am ashamed to say that I must do their bidding even in my own house, Well-a-day, if my good lord were in possession of his own, I have heart and hand enough to turn the whole of them out of my house, like—like"——
"To speak plainly," said Bertram, "like a southern strolling gang from Redesdale, whom I have seen you fling out of your house like a litter of blind puppies, when not one of them looked behind to see who had done him the courtesy until he was half-way to Cairntable."
"Ay," answered the Scotchman, drawing himself up at least six inches taller than before; "then I had a house of my own, and a cause and an arm to keep it. Now I am—what signifies it what I am?—the noblest lord in Scotland is little better."
"Truly, friend," said Bertram, "now you view this matter in a rational light. I do not say that the wisest, the richest, or the strongest man in this world has any right to tyrannize over his neighbour, because he is the more weak, ignorant, and the poorer; but yet if he does enter into such a controversy, he must submit to the course of nature, and that will always give the advantage in the tide of battle to wealth, strength, and health."
"With permission, however," answered Dickson, "the weaker party, if he use his facilities to the utmost, may, in the long run, obtain revenge upon the author of his sufferings, which would be at least compensation for his temporary submission; and he acts simply as a man, and most foolishly as a Scotchman, whether he sustain these wrongs with the insensibility of an idiot, or whether he endeavour to revenge them before Heaven's appointed time has arrived.—But if I talk thus I shall scare you, as I have scared some of your countrymen, from accepting a meal of meat and a night's lodging, in a house where you might be called with the morning to a bloody settlement of a national quarrel."
"Never mind," said Bertram, "we have been known to each other of old; and I am no more afraid of meeting unkindness in your house, than you expect me to come here for the purpose of adding to the injuries of which you complain."
"So be it," said Dickson; "and you, my old friend, are as welcome to my abode as when it never held any guest, save of my own inviting.—And you, my young friend, Master Augustine, shall be looked after as well as if you came with a gay brow and a light cheek, such as best becomes the gay science."
"But wherefore, may I ask," said Bertram, "so much displeased but now at my young friend Charles?"
The youth answered before his father had time to speak. "My father, good sir, may put what show upon it he will, but shrewd and wise men wax weak in the brain these troublous times. He saw two or three wolves seize upon three of our choicest wethers; and because I shouted to give the alarm to the English garrison, he was angry as if he could have murdered me—-just for saving the sheep from the jaws that would have devoured them."
"This is a strange account of thee, old friend," said Bertram. "Dost thou connive with the wolves in robbing thine own fold?"
"Why, let it pass, if thou lovest me," answered the countryman; "Charles could tell thee something nearer the truth if he had a mind; but for the present let it pass."
The minstrel, perceiving that the Scotchman was fretted and embarrassed with the subject, pressed it no farther.
At this moment, in crossing the threshold of Thomas Dickson's house, they were greeted with sounds from two English soldiers within. "Quiet, Anthony," said one voice,—"quiet, man!—for the sake of common sense, if not common manners;—Robin Hood himself never sat down to his board ere the roast was ready."
"Ready!" quoth another rough voice; "It is roasting to rags, and small had been the knave Dickson's share, even of these rags, had it not been the express orders of the worshipful Sir John de Walton, that the soldiers who lie at outposts should afford to the inmates such provisions as are not necessary for their own subsistence."
"Hush, Anthony,—hush, for shame!" replied his fellow-soldier, "if ever I heard our host's step, I heard it this instant; so give over thy grumbling, since our captain, as we all know, hath prohibited, under strict penalties, all quarrels between his followers and the people of the country."
"I am sure," replied Anthony, "that I have ministered occasion to none; but I would I were equally certain of the good meaning of this sullen- browed Thomas Dickson towards the English soldiers, for I seldom go to bed in this dungeon of a house, but I expect my throat will gape as wide as a thirsty oyster before I awaken. Here he comes, however," added Anthony, sinking his sharp tones as he spoke; "and I hope to be excommunicated if he has not brought with him that mad animal, his son Charles, and two other strangers, hungry enough, I'll be sworn, to eat up the whole supper, if they do us no other injury."
"Shame of thyself, Anthony," repeated his comrade; "a good archer thou as ever wore Kendal green, and yet affect to be frightened for two tired travellers, and alarmed for the inroad their hunger may make on the night's meal. There are four or five of us here—we have our bows and our bills within reach, and scorn to be chased from our supper, or cheated out of our share of it by a dozen Scotchmen, whether stationary or strollers. How say'st thou?" he added, turning to Dickson—"How say ye, quartermaster? it is no secret, that by the directions given to our post, we must enquire into the occupations of such guests as you may receive besides ourselves, your unwilling inmates; you are as ready for supper, I warrant, as supper is for you, and I will only delay you and my friend Anthony,—who becomes dreadfully impatient, until you answer two or three questions which you wot of."
"Bend-the-Bow," answered Dickson, "thou art a civil fellow; and although it is something hard to be constrained to give an account of one's friends, because they chance to quarter in one's own house for a night or two, yet I must submit to the times, and make no vain opposition. You may mark down in your breviary there, that upon the fourteenth day before Palm Sunday, Thomas Dickson brought to his house of Hazelside, in which you hold garrison, by orders from the English governor, Sir John de Walton, two strangers, to whom the said Thomas Dickson had promised refreshment, and a bed for the evening, if it be lawful at this time and place."
"But what are they, these strangers?" said Anthony, somewhat sharply.
"A fine world the while," murmured Thomas Dickson, "that an honest man should be forced to answer the questions of every paltry companion!"— But he mitigated his voice and proceeded. "The eldest of my guests is Bertram, an ancient English minstrel, who is bound on his own errand to the Castle of Douglas, and will communicate what he has to say of news to Sir John de Walton himself. I have known him for twenty years, and never heard any thing of him save that he was good man and true. The younger stranger is his son, a lad recovering from the English disorder, which has been raging far and wide in Westmoreland and Cumberland."
"Tell me," said Bend-the-Bow, "this same Bertram,—was he not about a year since in the service of some noble lady in our own country?"
"I have heard so," answered Dickson.
"We shall, in that case, I think, incur little danger," replied Bend- the-Bow, "by allowing this old man and his son to proceed on their journey to the castle."
"You are my elder and my better," answered Anthony; "but I may remind you that it is not so clearly our duty to give free passage, into a garrison of a thousand men of all ranks, to a youth who has been so lately attacked by a contagious disorder; and I question if our commander would not rather hear that the Black Douglas, with a hundred devils as black as himself, since such is his colour, had taken possession of the outposts of Hazelside with sword and battle-axe, than that one person suffering under this fell sickness had entered peaceably, and by the open wicket of the castle."
"There is something in what thou sayest, Anthony," replied his comrade; "and considering that our governor, since he has undertaken the troublesome job of keeping a castle which is esteemed so much more dangerous than any other within Scotland, has become one of the most cautious and jealous men in the world, we had better, I think, inform him of the circumstance, and take his commands how the stripling is to be dealt with."
"Content am I," said the archer; "and first, methinks, I would just, in order to show that we know what belongs to such a case, ask the stripling a few questions, as how long he has been ill, by what physicians he has been attended, when he was cured, and how his cure is certified, &e."
"True, brother," said Bend-the-Bow. "Thou hearest, minstrel, we would ask thy son some questions—What has become of him?—he was in this apartment but now."
"So please you," answered Bertram, "he did but pass through the apartment. Mr. Thomas Dickson, at my entreaty, as well as in respectful reverence to your honour's health, carried him through the room without tarriance, judging his own bed-chamber the fittest place for a young man recovering from a severe illness, and after a day of no small fatigue."
"Well," answered the elder archer, "though it is uncommon for men who, like us, live by bow-string and quiver, to meddle with interrogations and examinations; yet, as the case stands, we must make some enquiries of your son, ere we permit him to set forth to the Castle of Douglas, where you say his errand leads him."
"Rather my errand, noble sir," said the minstrel, "than that of the young man himself."
"If such be the case," answered Bend-the-Bow, "we may sufficiently do our duty by sending yourself, with the first grey light of dawn, to the castle, and letting your son remain in bed, which I warrant is the fittest place for him, until we shall receive Sir John de Walton's commands whether he is to be brought onward or not."
"And we may as well," said Anthony, "since we are to have this man's company at supper, make him acquainted with the rules of the out- garrison stationed here for the time." So saying, he pulled a scroll from his leathern pouch, and said, "Minstrel, canst thou read?"
"It becomes my calling," said the minstrel.
"It has nothing to do with mine, though," answered the archer, "and therefore do thou read these regulations aloud; for since I do not comprehend these characters by sight, I lose no chance of having them read over to me as often as I can, that I may fix their sense in my memory. So beware that thou readest the words letter for letter as they are set down; for thou dost so at thy peril, Sir Minstrel, if thou readest not like a true man."
"On my minstrel word," said Bertram, and began to read excessively slow; for he wished to gain a little time for consideration, which he foresaw would be necessary to prevent his being separated from his mistress, which was likely to occasion her much anxiety and distress. He therefore began thus:—"'Outpost at Hazelside, the steading of Goodman Thomas Dickson'—Ay, Thomas, and is thy house so called?"
"It is the ancient name of the steading," said the Scot, "being surrounded by a hazel-shaw, or thicket."
"Hold your chattering tongue, minstrel," said Anthony, "and proceed, as you value your ears, which you seem disposed to make less use of."
"'His garrison'" proceeded the minstrel, reading, "'consists of a lance with its furniture.' What, then, a lance, in other words, a belted knight, commands this party?"
"'Tis no concern of thine," said the archer.
"But it is," answered the minstrel; "we have a right to be examined by the highest person in presence."
"I will show thee, thou rascal," said the archer, starting up, "that I am lance enough for thee to reply to, and I will break thy head if thou say'st a word more."
"Take care, brother Anthony," said his comrade, "we are to use travellers courteously—and, with your leave, those travellers best who come from our native land."
"It is even so stated here," said the minstrel, and he proceeded to read:—"'The watch at this outpost of Hazelside [Footnote: Hazelside Place, the fief granted to Thomas Dickson by William the Hardy, seventh Lord Douglas, is still pointed out about two miles to the southwest of the Castle Dangerous. Dickson was sixty years of age at the time when Lord James first appeared in Douglasdale. His heirs kept possession of the fief for centuries; and some respectable gentlemen's families in Lanarkshire still trace themselves to this ancestor.—From Notes by Mr. Haddow.] shall stop and examine all travellers passing by the said station, suffering such to pass onward to the town of Douglas or to Douglas Castle, always interrogating them with civility, and detaining and turning them back if there arise matter of suspicion; but conducting themselves in all matters civilly and courteously to the people of the country, and to those who travel in it.' You see, most excellent and valiant archer," added the commentator Bertram, "that courtesy and civility are, above all, recommended to your worship in your conduct towards the inhabitants, and those passengers who, like us, may chance to fall under your rules in such matters."
"I am not to be told at this time of day," said the archer, "how to conduct myself in the discharge of my duties. Let me advise you, Sir Minstrel, to be frank and open in your answers to our enquiries, and you shall have no reason to complain."
"I hope at all events," said the minstrel, "to have your favour for my son, who is a delicate stripling, and not accustomed to play his part among the crew which inhabit this wild world."
"Well," continued the elder and more civil of the two archers, "if thy son be a novice in this terrestrial navigation, I warrant that thou, my friend, from thy look and manner of speech, hast enough of skill to use thy compass. To comfort thee, although thou must thyself answer the questions of our governor or deputy-governor, in order that he may see there is no offence in thee, I think there may be permission granted for thy son's residing here in the convent hard by, (where the nuns, by the way, are as old as the monks, and have nearly as long beards, so thou mayst be easy about thy son's morals,) until thou hast done thy business at Douglas Castle, and art ready to resume thy journey."
"If such permission," said the minstrel, "can be obtained, I should be better pleased to leave him at the abbey, and go myself, in the first place, to take the directions of your commanding officer."
"Certainly," answered the archer, "that will be the safest and best way; and with a piece or two of money, thou mayst secure the protection of the abbot."
"Thou say'st well," answered the minstrel; "I have known life, I have known every stile, gap, pathway, and pass of this wilderness of ours for some thirty years; and he that cannot steer his course fairly through it like an able seaman, after having served such an apprenticeship, can hardly ever be taught, were a century to be given him to learn it in."
"Since thou art so expert a mariner," answered the archer Anthony, "thou hast, I warrant me, met in thy wanderings a potation called a morning's draught, which they who are conducted by others, where they themselves lack experience, are used to bestow upon those who undertake the task of guide upon such an occasion?"
"I understand you, sir," quoth the minstrel; "and although money, or drink-geld, as the Fleming calls it, is rather a scarce commodity in the purse of one of my calling, yet according to my feeble ability, thou shalt have no cause to complain that thine eyes or those of thy comrades have been damaged by a Scottish mist, while we can find an English coin to pay for the good liquor which would wash them clear."
"Content," said the archer; "we now understand each other; and if difficulties arise on the road, thou shalt not want the countenance of Anthony to sail triumphantly through them. But thou hadst better let thy son know soon of the early visit to the abbot to-morrow, for thou mayst guess that we cannot and dare not delay our departure for the convent a minute after the eastern sky is ruddy; and, with other infirmities, young men often are prone to laziness and a love of ease."
"Thou shalt have no reason to think so," answered the minstrel; "not the lark himself, when waked by the first ray peeping over the black cloud, springs more lightly to the sky, than will my Augustine answer the same brilliant summons. And now we understand each other, I would only further pray you to forbear light talk while my son is in your company,—a boy of innocent life, and timid in conversation."
"Nay, jolly minstrel," said the elder archer, "thou givest us here too gross an example of Satan reproving sin. If thou hast followed thy craft for twenty years, as thou pretendest, thy son, having kept thee company since childhood, must by this time be fit to open a school to teach even devils the practice of the seven deadly sins, of which none know the theory if those of the gay science are lacking."
"Truly, comrade, thou speakest well," answered Bertram, "and I acknowledge that we minstrels are too much to blame in this matter. Nevertheless, in good sooth, the fault is not one of which I myself am particularly guilty; on the contrary, I think that he who would wish to have his own hair honoured when time has strewed it with silver, should so rein his mirth when in the presence of the young, as may show in what respect he holds innocence. I will, therefore, with your permission, speak a word to Augustine, that to-morrow we must be on foot early."
"Do so, my friend," said the English soldier; "and do the same the more speedily that our poor supper is still awaiting until thou art ready to partake of it."
"To which, I promise thee," said Bertram, "I am disposed to entertain, no delay."
"Follow me, then," said Dickson, "and I will show thee where this young bird of thine has his nest."
Their host accordingly tripped up the wooden stair, and tapped at a door, which he thus indicated was that of his younger guest.
"Your father," continued he, as the door opened, "would speak with you, Master Augustine."
"Excuse me, my host," answered Augustine, "the truth is, that this room being directly above your eating-chamber, and the flooring not in the best possible repair, I have been compelled to the unhandsome practice of eavesdropping, and not a word has escaped me that passed concerning my proposed residence at the abbey, our journey to-morrow, and the somewhat early hour at which I must shake off sloth, and, according to thy expression, fly down from the roost."
"And how dost thou relish," said Dickson, "being left with the Abbot of Saint Bride's little flock here."
"Why, well," said the youth, "if the abbot is a man of respectability becoming his vocation, and not one of those swaggering churchmen, who stretch out the sword, and bear themselves like rank soldiers in these troublous times."
"For that, young master," said Dickson, "if you let him put his hand deep enough into your purse, he will hardly quarrel with any thing." "Then I will leave him to my father," replied Augustine, "who will not grudge him any thing he asks in reason."
"In that case," replied the Scotchman, "you may trust to our abbot for good accommodation—and so both sides are pleased."
"It is well, my son," said Bertram, who now joined in the conversation; "and that thou mayst be ready for early travelling, I shall presently get our host to send thee some food, after partaking of which thou shouldst go to bed and sleep off the fatigue of to-day, since to-morrow will bring work for itself."
"And as for thy engagement to these honest archers," answered Augustine, "I hope you will be able to do what will give pleasure to our guides, if they are disposed to be civil and true men."
"God bless thee, my child!" answered Bertram; "thou knowest already what would drag after thy beck all the English archers that were ever on this side of the Solway. There is no fear of a grey goose shaft, if you sing a reveillez like to that which chimed even now from that silken nest of dainty young goldfinches."
"Hold me as in readiness, then," said the seeming youth, "when you depart to-morrow morning. I am within hearing, I suppose, of the bells of Saint Bride's chapel, and have no fear, through my sloth, of keeping you or your company waiting."
"Good night, and God bless thee, my child!" again said the minstrel; "remember that your father sleeps not far distant, and on the slightest alarm will not fail to be with you. I need scarce bid thee recommend thyself, meantime, to the great Being, who is the friend and father of us all."
The pilgrim thanked his supposed father for his evening blessing, and the visitors withdrew without farther speech at the time, leaving the young lady to those engrossing fears, which, the novelty of her situation, and the native delicacy of her sex being considered, naturally thronged upon her.
The tramp of a horse's foot was not long after heard at the house of Hazelside, and the rider was welcomed by its garrison with marks of respect. Bertram understood so much as to discover from the conversation of the warders that this late arrival was Aymer de Valence, the knight who commanded the little party, and to the furniture of whose lance, as it was technically called, belonged the archers with whom we have already been acquainted, a man-at-arms or two, a certain proportion of pages or grooms, and, in short, the command and guidance of the garrison at Thomas Dickson's, while in rank he was Deputy- governor of Douglas Castle.
To prevent all suspicion respecting himself and his companion, as well as the risk of the latter being disturbed, the minstrel thought it proper to present himself to the inspection of this knight, the great authority of the little place. He found him with as little scruple as the archers heretofore, making a supper of the relics of the roast beef.
Before this young knight Bertram underwent an examination, while an old soldier took down in writing such items of information as the examinate thought proper to express in his replies, both with regard to the minutiae of his present journey, his business at Castle Douglas, and his route when that business should be accomplished; a much more minute examination, in a word, than he had hitherto undergone by the archers, or perhaps than was quite agreeable to him, being encumbered with at least the knowledge of one secret, whatever more. Not that this new examinator had any thing stern or severe in his looks or his questions. As to the first, he was mild, gentle, and "meek as a maid," and possessed exactly of the courteous manners ascribed by our father Chaucer to the pattern of chivalry whom he describes upon his pilgrimage to Canterbury. But with all his gentleness, De Valence showed a great degree of acuteness and accuracy in his queries; and well pleased was Bertram that the young knight did not insist upon seeing his supposed son, although even in that case his ready wit had resolved, like a seaman in a tempest, to sacrifice one part to preserve the rest. He was not, however, driven to this extremity, being treated by Sir Aymer with that degree of courtesy which in that age men of song were in general thought entitled to. The knight kindly and liberally consented to the lad's remaining in the convent, as a fit and quiet residence for a stripling and an invalid, until Sir John de Walton should express his pleasure on the subject; and Sir Aymer consented to this arrangement the more willingly, as it averted all possible danger of bringing disease into the English garrison.
By the young knight's order, all in Dickson's house were despatched earlier to rest than usual; the matin bell of the neighbouring chapel being the signal for their assembly by daybreak. They rendezvoused accordingly, and proceeded to Saint Bride's, where they heard mass, after which an interview took place between the abbot Jerome and the minstrel, in which the former undertook, with the permission of De Valence, to receive Augustine into his abbey as a guest for a few days, less or more, and for which Bertram promised an acknowledgment in name of alms, which was amply satisfactory.
"So be it," said Bertram, taking leave of his supposed son; "rely on it I will not tarry a day longer at Douglas Castle than shall suffice for transacting my business there, which is to look after the old books you wot of, and I will speedily return for thee to the Abbey of Saint Bride, to resume in company our journey homeward."
"O father," replied the youth, with a smile, "I fear if you get among romances and chronicles, you will be so earnest in your researches, that you will forget poor Augustine and his concerns."
"Never fear me, Augustine," said the old man, making the motion of throwing a kiss towards the boy; "thou art good and virtuous, and Heaven will not neglect thee, were thy father unnatural enough to do so. Believe me, all the old songs since Merlin's day shall not make me forget thee."
Thus they separated, the minstrel, with the English knight and his retinue, to move towards the castle, and the youth in dutiful attendance on the venerable abbot, who was delighted to find that his guest's thoughts turned rather upon spiritual things than on the morning repast, of the approach of which he could not help being himself sensible.
CHAPTER THE THIRD.
This night, methinks, is but the daylight sick. It looks a little paler; 'tis a day Such as the day is when the sun is hid. MERCHANT OF VENICE.
To facilitate the progress of the party on its way to Douglas Castle, the Knight of Valence offered the minstrel the convenience of a horse, which the fatigues of yesterday made him gladly accept. Any one acquainted with equestrian exercise, is aware that no means of refreshment carries away the sense of fatigue from over walking so easily, as the exchange to riding, which calls into play another set of muscles, and leaves those which have been over exerted an opportunity of resting through change of motion, more completely than they could in absolute repose. Sir Aymer de Valence was sheathed in armour, and mounted on his charger, two of the archers, a groom of mean rank, and a squire, who looked in his day for the honour of knighthood, completed the detachment, which seemed so disposed as to secure the minstrel from escape, and to protect him against violence. "Not," said the young knight, addressing himself to Bertram, "that there is usually danger in travelling in this country any more than in the most quiet districts of England; but some disturbances, as you may have learnt, have broken out here within this last year, and have caused the garrison of Castle Douglas to maintain a stricter watch. But let us move on, for the complexion of the day is congenial with the original derivation of the name of the country, and the description of the chiefs to whom it belonged—Sholto Dhu Glass—(see yon dark grey man,) and dark grey will our route prove this morning, though by good luck it is not long."
The morning was indeed what the original Gaelic words implied, a drizzly, dark, moist day; the mist had settled upon the hills, and unrolled itself upon brook, glade, and tarn, and the spring breeze was not powerful enough to raise the veil, though from the wild sounds which were heard occasionally on the ridges, and through the glens, it might be supposed to wail at a sense of its own inability. The route of the travellers was directed by the course which the river had ploughed for itself down the valley, the banks of which bore in general that dark grey livery which Sir Aymer de Valence had intimated to be the prevalent tint of the country. Some ineffectual struggles of the sun shot a ray here and there to salute the peaks of the hills; yet these were unable to surmount the dulness of a March morning, and, at so early an hour, produced a variety of shades, rather than a gleam of brightness upon the eastern horizon. The view was monotonous and depressing, and apparently the good knight Aymer sought some amusement in occasional talk with Bertram, who, as was usual with his craft, possessed a fund of knowledge, and a power of conversation, well suited to pass away a dull morning. The minstrel, well pleased to pick up such information as he might be able concerning the present state of the country, embraced every opportunity of sustaining the dialogue.
"I would speak with you, Sir Minstrel," said the young knight. "If thou dost not find the air of this morning too harsh for thine organs, heartily do I wish thou wouldst fairly tell me what can have induced thee, being, as thou seemst, a man of sense, to thrust thyself into a wild country like this, at such a time.—And you, my masters," addressing the archers and the rest of the party, "methinks it would be as fitting and seeming if you reined back your steeds for a horse's length or so, since I apprehend you can travel on your way without the pastime of minstrelsy." The bowmen took the hint, and fell back, but, as was expressed by their grumbling observations, by no means pleased that there seemed little chance of their overhearing what conversation should pass between the young knight and the minstrel, which proceeded as follows—
"I am, then, to understand, good minstrel," said the knight, "that you, who have in your time borne arms, and even followed Saint George's red- cross banner to the Holy Sepulchre, are so little tired of the danger attending our profession, that you feel yourself attracted unnecessarily to regions where the sword, for ever loose in its scabbard, is ready to start on the slightest provocation?"
"It would be hard," replied the minstrel bluntly, "to answer such a question in the affirmative; and yet, when you consider how nearly allied is his profession who celebrates deeds of arms with that of the knight who performs them, your honour, I think, will hold it advisable that a minstrel desirous of doing his devoir, should, like a young knight, seek the truth of adventures where it is to be found, and rather visit countries where the knowledge is preserved of high and noble deeds, than those lazy and quiet realms, in which men live indolently, and die ignobly in peace, or by sentence of law. You yourself, sir, and those like you, who hold life cheap in respect of glory, guide your course through this world on the very same principle which brings your poor rhyming servant Bertram from a far province of merry England, to this dark country of rugged Scotland called Douglas Dale. You long to see adventures worthy of notice, and I (under favour for naming us two in the same breath) seek a scanty and precarious, but not a dishonourable living, by preparing for immortality, as well as I can, the particulars of such exploits, especially the names of those who were the heroes of these actions. Each, therefore, labours in his vocation; nor can the one be justly wondered at more than the other, seeing that if there be any difference in the degrees of danger to which both the hero and the poet are exposed, the courage, strength, arms, and address of the valiant knight, render it safer for him to venture into scenes of peril, than for the poor man of rhyme."
"You say well," answered the warrior; "and although it is something of novelty to me to hear your craft represented as upon a level with my own mode of life, yet shame were it to say that the minstrel who toils so much to keep in memory the feats of gallant knights should not himself prefer fame to existence, and a single achievement of valour to a whole age without a name, or to affirm that he follows a mean and unworthy profession."
"Your worship will then acknowledge," said the minstrel, "that it is a legitimate object in such as myself, who, simple as I am, have taken my regular degrees among the professors of the gay science at the capital town of Aigues-Mortos, to struggle forward into this northern district, where I am well assured many things have happened which have been adapted to the harp by minstrels of great fame in ancient days, and have become the subject of lays which lie deposited in the library of Castle Douglas, where, unless copied over by some one who understands the old British characters and language, they must, with whatever they may contain, whether of entertainment or edification, be speedily lost to posterity. If these hidden treasures were preserved and recorded by the minstrel art of my poor self and others, it might be held well to compensate for the risk of a chance blow of a broadsword, or the sweep of a brown bill, while I am engaged in collecting them; and I were unworthy of the name of a man, much more of an inventor or finder, [Footnote: The name of Maker stands for Poet (with the original sense of which word it exactly corresponds) in the old Scottish language. That of Trouveur or Troubadour—Finder, in short—has a similar meaning, and almost in every country the poetical tribes have been graced with the same epithets, inferring the property of those who employ invention or creation.] should I weigh the loss of life, a commodity always so uncertain, against the chance of that immortality which will survive in my lay after my broken voice and shivered harp shall no longer be able either to express tune or accompany tale."
"Certainly," said Sir Aymer, "having a heart to feel such a motive, you have an undoubted right to express it; nor should I have been in any degree disposed to question it had I found many minstrels prepared, like yourself, to prefer renown even to life itself, which most men think of greatly more consequence."
"There are, indeed, noble sir," replied Bertram, "minstrels, and, with your reverence, even belted knights themselves, who do not sufficiently value that renown which is acquired at the risk of life. To such ignoble men we must leave their own reward—let us abandon to them earth, and the things of earth, since they cannot aspire to that glory which is the best reward of others."
The minstrel uttered these last words with such enthusiasm, that the knight drew his bridle, and stood fronting Bertram, with his countenance kindling at the same theme, on which, after a short silence, he expressed himself with a like vivacity.
"Well fare thy heart, gay companion! I am happy to see there is still so much enthusiasm surviving in the world. Thou hast fairly won the minstrel groat; and if I do not pay it in conformity to my sense of thy merit, it shall be the fault of dame Fortune, who has graced my labours in these Scottish wars with the niggard pay of Scottish money. A gold piece or two there must be remaining of the ransom of one French knight, whom chance threw into my hands, and that, my friend, shall surely be thine own; and hark thee, I, Aymer de Valence, who now speak to thee, am born of the noble House of Pembroke; and though now landless, shall, by the grace of Our Lady, have in time a fitting establishment, wherein I will find room for a minstrel like thee, if thy talents have not by that time found thee a better patron."
"Thank thee, noble knight," said the minstrel, "as well for thy present intentions, as I hope I shall for thy future performance; but I may say, with truth, that I have not the sordid inclination of many of my brethren."
"He who partakes the true thirst of noble fame," said the young knight, "can have little room in his heart for the love of gold. But thou hast not yet told me, friend minstrel, what are the motives, in particular which have attracted thy wandering steps to this wild country?"
"Were I to do so," replied Bertram, rather desirous to avoid the question, as in some respects too nearly bordering on the secret purpose of his journey, "it might sound like a studied panegyric on thine own bold deeds, Sir Knight, and those of your companions in arms; and such adulation, minstrel as I am, I hate like an empty cup at a companion's lips. But let me say in few words, that Douglas Castle, and the deeds of valour which it has witnessed, have sounded wide through England; nor is there a gallant knight or trusty minstrel, whose heart does not throb at the name of the stronghold, which, in former days, the foot of an Englishman never entered, except in hospitality. There is a magic in the very names of Sir John de Walton and Sir Aymer de Valence, the gallant defenders of a place so often won back by its ancient lords, and with such circumstances of valour and cruelty, that it bears, in England, the name of the Dangerous Castle."
"Yet I would fain hear," answered the knight, "your own minstrel account of those legends which have induced you, for the amusement of future times, to visit a country which, at this period, is so distracted and perilous."
"If you can endure the length of a minstrel tale," said Bertram—"I for one am always amused by the exercise of my vocation, and have no objection to tell my story, provided you do not prove an impatient listener."
"Nay, for that matter," said the young knight, "a fair listener thou shalt have of me; and if my reward be not great, my attention at least shall be remarkable."
"And he," said the minstrel, "must be a poor gleeman who does not hold himself better paid with that, than with gold or silver, were the pieces English rose-nobles. On this condition, then, I begin a long story, which may, in one or other of its details, find subject for better minstrels than myself, and be listened to by such warriors as you hundreds of years hence."
CHAPTER THE FOURTH.
While many a merry lay and many a song Cheer'd the rough road, we wish'd the rough road long; The rough road then returning in a round, Mark'd their impatient steps, for all was fairy ground. DR. JOHNSON.
"It was about the year of redemption one thousand two hundred and eighty-five years," began, the minstrel, "when King Alexander the Third of Scotland lost his daughter Margaret, whose only child of the same name, called the Maiden of Norway, (as her father was king of that country,) became the heiress of this kingdom of Scotland, as well as of her father's crown. An unhappy death was this for Alexander, who had no nearer heirs left of his own body than this grandchild. She indeed might claim his kingdom by birthright; but the difficulty of establishing such a claim of inheritance must have been anticipated by all who bestowed a thought upon the subject. The Scottish king, therefore, endeavoured to make up for his loss by replacing his late Queen, who was an English princess, sister of our Edward the First, with Juletta, daughter of the Count de Dreux. The solemnities at the nuptial ceremony, which took place in the town of Jedburgh, were very great and remarkable, and particularly when, amidst the display of a pageant which was exhibited on the occasion, a ghastly spectre made its appearance in the form of a skeleton, as the King of Terrors is said to be represented.—Your worship is free to laugh at this, if you think it a proper subject for mirth; but men are alive who viewed it with their own eyes, and the event showed too well of what misfortunes this apparition was the singular prognostication."
"I have heard the story," said the knight; "but the monk who told it me, suggested that the figure, though unhappily chosen, was perhaps purposely introduced as a part of the pageant."
"I know not that," said the minstrel, dryly; "but there is no doubt that shortly after this apparition King Alexander died, to the great sorrow of his people. The Maid of Norway, his heiress, speedily followed her grandfather to the grave, and our English king, Sir Knight, raked up a claim of dependency and homage due, he said, by Scotland, which neither the lawyers, nobles, priests, nor the very minstrels of Scotland, had ever before heard of."
"Now, beshrew me," interrupted Sir Aymer de Valence, "this is beyond bargain. I agreed to hear your tale with patience, but I did not pledge myself that it should contain matter to the reproach of Edward the First, of blessed memory; nor will I permit his name to be mentioned in my hearing without the respect due his high rank and noble qualities."
"Nay," said the minstrel, "I am no highland bagpiper or genealogist, to carry respect for my art so far as to quarrel with a man of worship who stops me at the beginning of a pibroch. I am an Englishman, and wish dearly well to my country; and, above all, I must speak the truth. But I will avoid disputable topics. Your age, sir, though none of the ripest, authorizes me to suppose you may have seen the battle of Falkirk, and other onslaughts in which the competition of Bruce and Baliol has been fiercely agitated, and you will permit me to say, that if the Scottish have not had the right upon their side, they have at least defended the wrong with the efforts of brave men and true."
"Of brave men I grant you," said the knight, "for I have seen no cowards amongst them; but as for truth, they can best judge of it who know how often they have sworn faith to England, and how repeatedly they have broken their vow."
"I shall not stir the question," said the minstrel, "leaving it to your worship to determine which has most falsehood—he who compels a weaker person to take an unjust path, or he who, compelled by necessity, takes the imposed oath without the intention of keeping his word."
"Nay, nay," said De Valence, "let us keep our opinions, for we are not likely to force each other from the faith we have adopted on this subject. But take my advice, and whilst thou travellest under an English pennon, take heed that thou keepest off this conversation in the hall and kitchen, where perhaps the soldier may be less tolerant than the officer; and now, in a word, what is thy legend of this Dangerous Castle?"
"For that," replied Bertram, "methinks your worship is most likely to have a better edition than I, who have not been in this country for many years; but it is not for me to bandy opinions with your knightship. I will even proceed with the tale as I have heard it. I need not, I presume, inform your worship that the Lords of Douglas, who founded this castle, are second to no lineage in Scotland in the antiquity of their descent. Nay, they have themselves boasted that their family is not to be seen or distinguished, like other great houses, until it is found at once in a certain degree of eminence. 'You may see us in the tree,' they say, 'you cannot discover us in the twig; you may see us in the stream, you cannot trace us to the fountain.' In a word, they deny that historians or genealogists can point out the first mean man named Douglas, who originally elevated the family; and true it is, that so far back as we have known this race, they have always been renowned for valour and enterprise, accompanied with the power which made that enterprise effectual."
"Enough," said the knight, "I have heard of the pride and power of that great family, nor does it interest me in the least to deny or detract from their bold claims to consideration in this respect."
"Without doubt you must also have heard, noble sir," replied the minstrel, "many things of James, the present heir of the house of Douglas?" "More than enough," answered the English knight; "he is known to have been a stout supporter of that outlawed traitor, William Wallace; and again, upon the first raising of the banner by this Robert Bruce, who pretends to be King of Scotland, this young springald, James Douglas, must needs start into rebellion anew. He plunders his uncle, the Archbishop of St. Andrews, of a considerable sum of money, to fill the Scottish Usurper's not over-burdened treasury, debauches the servants of his relation, takes arms, and though repeatedly chastised in the field, still keeps his vaunt, and threatens mischief to those, who, in the name of his rightful sovereign, defend the Castle of Douglasdale."
"It is your pleasure to say so, Sir Knight," replied Bertram; "yet I am sure, were you a Scot, you would with patience hear me tell over what has been said of this young man by those who have known him, and whose account of his adventures shows how differently the same tale may be told. These men talk of the present heir of this ancient family as fully adequate to maintain and augment its reputation; ready, indeed, to undergo every peril in the cause of Robert the Bruce, because the Bruce is esteemed by him his lawful king; and sworn and devoted, with such small strength as he can muster, to revenge himself on those Southrons who have, for several years, as he thinks, unjustly, possessed themselves of his father's abode."
"O," replied Sir Aymer de Valence, "we have heard much of his achievements in this respect, and of his threats against our governor and ourselves; yet we think it scarce likely that Sir John de Walton will move from Douglasdale without the King's order, although this James Douglas, a mere chicken, take upon himself to crack his voice by crowing like a cock of the game."
"Sir," answered Bertram, "our acquaintance is but brief, and yet I feel it has been so beneficial to me, that I trust there is no harm, in hoping that James Douglas and you may never meet in bodily presence till the state of the two countries shall admit of peace being between you."
"Thou art obliging, friend," answered Sir Aymer, "and, I doubt not, sincere; and truly thou seemest to have a wholesome sense of the respect due to this young knight, when men talk of him in his native valley of Douglas. For me, I am only poor Aymer of Valence, without an acre of land, or much hope of acquiring any, unless I cut something huge with my broadsword out of the middle of these hills. Only this, good minstrel, if thou livest to tell my story, may I pray thee to use thy scrupulous custom of searching out the verity, and whether I live or die thou shalt not, I think, discover that thy late acquaintance of a spring morning hath added more to the laurels of James of Douglas, than any man's death must give to him by whose stronger arm, or more lucky chance, it is his lot to fall."
"I nothing fear you, Sir Knight," said the minstrel, "for yours is that happy brain, which, bold in youth as beseems a young knight, is in more advanced life the happy source of prudent counsel, of which I would not, by an early death, wish thy country to be deprived."
"Thou art so candid, then, as to wish Old England the benefit of good advice" said Sir Aymer, "though thou leanest to the side of Scotland in the controversy?"
"Assuredly, Sir Knight," said the minstrel, "since in wishing that Scotland and England each knew their own true interest, I am bound to wish them both alike well; and they should, I think, desire to live in friendship together. Occupying each their own portion of the same island, and living under the same laws, and being at peace with each other, they might without fear, face the enmity of the whole world."
"If thy faith be so liberal," answered the Knight, "as becomes a good man, thou must certainly pray, Sir Minstrel, for the success of England in the war, by which alone these murderous hostilities of the northern nation can end in a solid peace. The rebellions of this obstinate country are but the struggles of the stag when he is mortally wounded; the animal grows weaker and weaker with every struggle, till his resistance is effectually tamed by the hand of death."
"Not so, Sir Knight," said the minstrel; "if my creed is well taught me, we ought not so to pray. We may, without offence, intimate in our prayers the end we wish to obtain; but it is not for us, poor mortals, to point out to an all-seeing Providence the precise manner in which our petitions are to be accomplished, or to wish the downfall of a country to end its commotions, as the death-stab terminates the agonies of the wounded stag. Whether I appeal to my heart or to my understanding, the dictate would be to petition Heaven for what is just and equal in the case; and if I should fear for thee, Sir Knight, in an encounter with James of Douglas, it is only because he upholds, as I conceive, the better side of the debate; and powers more earthly have presaged to him success."
"Do you tell me so, Sir Minstrel," said De Valence in a threatening tone, "knowing me and my office?"
"Your personal dignity and authority" said Bertram, "cannot change the right into wrong, or avert what Providence has decreed to take place. You know, I must presume, that the Douglas hath, by various devices, already contrived to make himself master of this Castle of Douglas three several times, and that Sir John de Walton, the present governor, holds it with a garrison trebled in force, and under the assurance that if, without surprise, he should keep it from the Scottish power for a year and a day, he shall obtain the barony of Douglas, with its extensive appendages, in free property for his reward; while, on the other hand, if he shall suffer the fortress during this space to be taken, either by guile or by open force, as has happened successively to the holders of the Dangerous Castle, he will become liable to dishonour as a knight, and to attainder as a subject; and the chiefs who take share with him, and serve under him, will participate also in his guilt and his punishment?"
"All this I know well" said Sir Aymer; "and I only wonder that, having become public, the conditions have, nevertheless, been told with so much accuracy; but what has this to do with the issue of the combat, if the Douglas and I should chance to meet? I will not surely be disposed to fight with less animation because I wear my fortune upon my sword, or become coward because I fight for a portion of the Douglas's estate, as well as for fame and for fatherland? And after all"—
"Hear me," said the minstrel; "an ancient gleeman has said, that in a false quarrel there is no true valour, and the los or praise won therein, is, when balanced against honest fame, as valueless as a wreath formed out of copper, compared to a chaplet of pure gold; but I bid you not take me for thy warrant in this important question. Thou well knowest how James of Thirlwall, the last English commander before Sir John de Walton, was surprised, and the castle sacked with circumstances of great inhumanity."
"Truly," said Sir Aymer, "I think that Scotland and England both have heard of that onslaught, and of the disgusting proceedings of the Scottish chieftain, when he caused transport into the wild forest gold, silver, ammunition, and armour, and all things that could be easily removed, and destroyed a large quantity of provisions in a manner equally savage and unheard-of."
"Perhaps, Sir Knight," said Bertram, "you were yourself an eyewitness of that transaction, which has been spoken of far and wide, and is called the Douglas Larder?"
"I saw not the actual accomplishment of the deed," said De Valence; "that is, I witnessed it not a-doing, but I beheld enough of the sad relics to make the Douglas Larder never by me to be forgotten as a record of horror and abomination. I would speak it truly, by the hand of my father and by my honour as a knight! and I will leave it to thee to judge whether it was a deed calculated to secure the smiles of Heaven in favour of the actors. This is my edition of the story:—
"A large quantity of provisions had during two years or thereabouts been collected from different points, and the Castle of Douglas, newly repaired, and, as was thought, carefully guarded, was appointed as the place where the said provisions were to be put in store for the service of the King of England, or of the Lord Clifford, whichever should first enter the Western Marches with an English army, and stand in need of such a supply. This army was also to relieve our wants, I mean those of my uncle the Earl of Pembroke, who for some time before had lain with a considerable force in the town called Ayr, near the old Caledonian Forest, and where we had hot wars with the insurgent Scots. Well, sir, it happened, as in similar cases, that Thirlwall, though a bold and active soldier, was surprised in the Castle of Douglas, about Hallowmass, by this same worthy, young James Douglas. In no very good humour was he, as you may suppose; for his father, called William the Hardy, or William Longlegs, having refused, on any terms, to become Anglicized, was made a lawful prisoner, and died as such, closely confined in Berwick, or, as some say, in Newcastle. The news of his father's death had put young Douglas into no small rage, and tended, I think, to suggest what he did in his resentment. Embarrassed by the quantity of provisions which he found in the castle, which, the English being superior in the country, he had neither the means to remove, nor the leisure to stay and consume, the fiend, as I think, inspired him with a contrivance to render them unfit for human use. You shall judge yourself whether it was likely to be suggested by a good or an evil spirit.
"According to this device, the gold, silver, and other transportable commodities being carried to secret places of safety, Douglas caused the meat, the malt, and other corn or grain, to be brought down into the castle cellar, where he emptied the contents of the sacks into one loathsome heap, striking out the heads of the barrels and puncheons, so as to let the mingled drink run through the heap of meal, grain, and so forth. The bullocks provided for slaughter were in like manner knocked on the head, and their blood suffered to drain into the mass of edible substances; and lastly, the flesh of these oxen was buried in the same mass, in which was also included the dead bodies of those in the castle, who, receiving no quarter from the Douglas, paid dear enough for having kept no better watch. This base and unworthy abuse of provisions intended for the use of man, together with throwing into the well of the castle carcasses of men and horses, and other filth for polluting the same, has since that time been called the DOUGLAS LARDER."
"I pretend not, good Sir Aymer," said the minstrel, "to vindicate what you justly reprove, nor can I conceive any mode of rendering provisions arranged after the form of the Douglas Larder, proper for the use of any Christian; yet this young gentleman might perhaps act under the sting of natural resentment, rendering his singular exploit more excusable than it may seem at first. Think, if your own noble father had just died in a lingering captivity, his inheritance seized upon, and occupied as a garrison by a foreign enemy, would not these things stir you to a mode of resentment, which in cold blood, and judging of it as the action of an enemy, your honour might hold in natural and laudable abhorrence?—Would you pay respect to dead and senseless objects, which no one could blame your appropriating to your own use, or even scruple the refusal of quarter to prisoners, which is so often practised even in wars which are otherwise termed fair and humane?"
"You press me close, minstrel," said Aymer de Valence. "I at least have no great interest to excuse the Douglas in this matter, since its consequences were, that I myself, and the rest of my uncle's host, laboured with Clifford and his army to rebuild this same Dangerous Castle; and feeling no stomach for the cheer that the Douglas had left us, we suffered hard commons, though I acknowledge we did not hesitate to adopt for our own use such sheep and oxen as the miserable Scots had still left around their farm-houses; and I jest not, Sir Minstrel, when I acknowledge in sad earnest, that we martial men ought to make our petitions with peculiar penitence to Heaven for mercy, when we reflect on the various miseries which the nature of our profession compels us to inflict on each other."
"It seems to me," answered the minstrel, "that those who feel the stings of their own conscience should be more lenient when they speak of the offences of others; nor do I greatly rely on a sort of prophecy which was delivered, as the men of this hill district say, to the young Douglas, by a man who in the course of nature should have been long since dead, promising him a course of success against the English for having sacrificed his own castle to prevent their making it a garrison."
"We have time enough for the story," said Sir Aymer, "and methinks it would suit a knight and a minstrel better than the grave converse we have hitherto held, which would have beseemed—so God save me—the mouths of two travelling friars."
"So be it," said the minstrel; "the rote or the viol easily changes its time and varies its note."
CHAPTER THE FIFTH.
A tale of sorrow, for your eyes may weep; A tale of horror, for your flesh may tingle; A tale of wonder, for the eyebrows arch, And the flesh curdles if you read it rightly OLD PLAY.
"Your honour must be informed, gentle Sir Aymer de Valence, that I have heard this story told at a great distance from the land in which it happened, by a sworn minstrel, the ancient friend and servant of the house of Douglas, one of the best, it is said, who ever belonged to that noble family. This minstrel, Hugo Hugonet by name, attended his young master when on this fierce exploit, as was his wont.
"The castle was in total tumult; in one corner the war-men were busy breaking up and destroying provisions; in another, they were slaying men, horses, and cattle, and these actions were accompanied with appropriate sounds. The cattle, particularly, had become sensible of their impending fate, and with awkward resistance and piteous cries, testified that reluctance with which these poor creatures look instinctively on the shambles. The groans and screams of men, undergoing, or about to undergo, the stroke of death, and the screeches of the poor horses which were in mortal agony, formed a fearful chorus. Hugonet was desirous to remove himself from such unpleasant sights and sounds; but his master, the Douglas, had been a man of some reading, and his old servant was anxious to secure a book of poetry, to which he had been attached of old. This contained the Lays of an ancient Scottish Bard, who, if an ordinary human creature while he was in this life, cannot now perhaps be exactly termed such.
"He was, in short, that Thomas, distinguished by the name of the Rhymer, and whose intimacy, it is said, became so great with the gifted people, called the Faery folk, that he could, like them, foretell the future deed before it came to pass, and united in his own person the quality of bard and of soothsayer. But of late years he had vanished almost entirely from this mortal scene; and although the time and manner of his death were never publicly known, yet the general belief was, that he was not severed from the land of the living, but removed to the land of Faery, from whence he sometimes made excursions, and concerned himself only about matters which were to come hereafter. Hugonet was the more earnest to prevent the loss of the works of this ancient bard, as many of his poems and predictions were said to be preserved in the castle, and were supposed to contain much especially connected with the old house of Douglas, as well as other families of ancient descent, who had been subjects of this old man's prophecy; and accordingly he determined to save this volume from destruction in the general conflagration to which the building was about to be consigned by the heir of its ancient proprietors. With this view he hurried up into the little old vaulted room, called 'the Douglas's study,' in which there might be some dozen old books written by the ancient chaplains, in what the minstrels call the letter black. He immediately discovered the celebrated lay, called Sir Tristrem, which has been so often altered and abridged as to bear little resemblance to the original. Hugonet, who well knew the value in which this poem was held by the ancient lords of the castle, took the parchment volume from the shelves of the library, and laid it upon a small desk adjacent to the Baron's chair. Having made such preparation for putting it in safety, he fell into a brief reverie, in which the decay of light, and the preparations for the Douglas Larder, but especially the last sight of objects which had been familiar to his eyes, now on the eve of destruction, engaged him at that moment.
"The bard, therefore, was thinking within himself upon the uncommon mixture of the mystical scholar and warrior in his old master, when, as he bent his eyes upon the book of the ancient Rhymer, he was astonished to observe it slowly removed from the desk on which it lay by an invisible hand. The old man looked with horror at the spontaneous motion of the book, for the safety of which he was interested, and had the courage to approach a little nearer the table, in order to discover by what means it had been withdrawn.
"I have said the room was already becoming dark, so as to render it difficult to distinguish any person in the chair, though it now appeared, on closer examination, that a kind of shadowy outline of a human form was seated in it, but neither precise enough to convey its exact figure to the mind, nor so detailed as to intimate distinctly its mode of action. The Bard of Douglas, therefore, gazed upon the object of his fear, as if he had looked upon something not mortal; nevertheless, as he gazed more intently, he became more capable of discovering the object which offered itself to his eyes, and they grew by degrees more keen to penetrate what they witnessed. A tall thin form, attired in, or rather shaded with, a long flowing dusky robe, having a face and physiognomy so wild and overgrown with hair as to be hardly human, were the only marked outlines of the phantom; and, looking more attentively, Hugonet was still sensible of two other forms, the outlines, it seemed, of a hart and a hind, which appeared half to shelter themselves behind the person and under the robe of this supernatural figure."
"A probable tale," said the knight, "for you, Sir Minstrel, a man of sense as you seem to be, to recite so gravely! From what wise authority have you had this tale, which, though it might pass well enough amid clanging beakers, must be held quite apocryphal in the sober hours of the morning?"
"By my minstrel word, Sir Knight," answered Bertram, "I am no propagator of the fable, if it be one; Hugonet, the violer, when he had retired into a cloister near the Lake of Pembelmere in Wales, communicated the story to me as I now tell it. Therefore, as it was upon the authority of an eyewitness, I apologize not for relating it to you, since I could hardly discover a more direct source of knowledge."
"Be it so, Sir Minstrel," said the knight; "tell on thy tale, and may thy legend escape criticism from others as well as from me."
"Hugonet, Sir Knight," answered Bertram, "was a holy man, and maintained a fair character during his whole life, notwithstanding his trade may be esteemed a light one. The vision spoke to him in an antique language, like that formerly used in the kingdom of Strath- Clyde, being a species of Scots or Gaelic, which few would have comprehended.
"'You are a learned man,' said the apparition, 'and not unacquainted with the dialects used in your country formerly, although they are now out of date, and you are obliged to translate them into the vulgar Saxon of Deira or Northumberland; but highly must an ancient British bard prize one in this "remote term of time," who sets upon the poetry of his native country a value which invites him to think of its preservation at a moment of such terror as influences the present evening.'
"'It is, indeed,' said Hugonet, 'a night of terror, that calls even the dead from the grave, and makes them the ghastly and fearful companions of the living—Who or what art thou, in God's name, who breakest the bounds which divide them, and revisitest thus strangely the state thou hast so long bid adieu to?'
"'I am,' replied the vision, 'that celebrated Thomas the Rhymer, by some called Thomas of Erceldoun, or Thomas the True Speaker. Like other sages, I am permitted at times to revisit the scenes of my former life, nor am I incapable of removing the shadowy clouds and darkness which overhang futurity; and know, thou afflicted man, that what thou now seest in this woeful country, is not a general emblem of what shall therein befall hereafter, but in proportion as the Douglasses are now suffering the loss and destruction of their home for their loyalty to the rightful heir of the Scottish kingdom, so hath Heaven appointed for them a just reward; and as they have not spared to burn and destroy their own house and that of their fathers in the Bruce's cause, so is it the doom of Heaven, that as often as the walls of Douglas Castle shall be burnt to the ground, they shall be again rebuilt still more stately and more magnificent than before.'
"A cry was now heard like that of a multitude in the courtyard, joining in a fierce shout of exultation; at the same time a broad and ruddy glow seemed to burst from the beams and rafters, and sparks flew from them as from the smith's stithy, while the element caught to its fuel, and the conflagration broke its way through every aperture.
"'See ye that?' said the vision, casting his eye towards the windows and disappearing—'Begone! The fated hour of removing this book is not yet come, nor are thine the destined hands. But it will be safe where I have placed it, and the time of its removal shall come.' The voice was heard after the form had vanished, and the brain of Hugonet almost turned round at the wild scene which he beheld; his utmost exertion was scarcely sufficient to withdraw him from the terrible spot, and Douglas Castle that night sunk into ashes and smoke, to arise, in no great length of time, in a form stronger than ever." The minstrel stopt, and his hearer, the English knight, remained silent for some minutes ere at length he replied.
"It is true, minstrel," answered Sir Aymer, "that your tale is so far undeniable, that this castle—three times burned down by the heir of the house and of the barony—has hitherto been as often reared again by Henry Lord Clifford, and other generals of the English, who endeavoured on every occasion to build it up more artificially and more strongly than it had formerly existed, since it occupies a position too important to the safety of our Scottish border to permit our yielding it up. This I myself have partly witnessed. But I cannot think, that because the castle has been so destroyed, it is therefore decreed so to be repaired in future, considering that such cruelties, as surely cannot meet the approbation of Heaven, have attended the feats of the Douglasses. But I see thou art determined to keep thine own faith, nor can I blame thee, since the wonderful turns of fate which have attended this fortress, are sufficient to warrant any one to watch for what seem the peculiar indications of the will of Heaven; but thou mayst believe, good minstrel, that the fault shall not be mine, if the young Douglas shall have opportunity to exercise his cookery upon a second edition of his family larder, or to profit by the predictions of Thomas the Rhymer."
"I do not doubt due circumspection upon your own part and Sir John de Walton's," said Bertram; "but there is no crime in my saying that Heaven can accomplish its own purposes. I look upon Douglas Castle as in some degree a fated place, and I long to see what changes time may have made in it during the currency of twenty years. Above all, I desire to secure, if possible, the volume of this Thomas of Erceldoun, having in it such a fund of forgotten minstrelsy, and of prophecies respecting the future fates of the British kingdom, both northern and southern."
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Green Sports Alliance all set for Philadelphia
You are here: Home / Latest news / Green Sports Alliance all set for Philadelphia
Tags: Green Sports Alliance, Lincoln Financial Field
The 2019 Green Sports Alliance Summit will take place from June 19-20 at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field.
The Summit is the largest and most influential gathering for the sports community to unite around sustainability, bringing together hundreds of industry stakeholders to learn and share better practices and the latest innovations in greening operations, advancing the supply chain, engaging fans, and more.
Roger McClendon, executive director of the Green Sports Alliance, said:
The Alliance is excited to bring our 9th annual Summit to Philadelphia and Lincoln Financial Field—it’s a homecoming of sorts for the sports greening movement.
The Eagles and Lurie Family have been instrumental in leading the way towards a more sustainable future and we’re looking forward to showcasing their work and others’ throughout the Summit program. Collectively, we will reflect on our past accomplishments, celebrate our current successes, and make a renewed commitment to play for the future of the next generation.
This year’s Summit theme, Playing for the next generation, will focus on working together to harness the immense cultural influence of sports to make positive change for greener fields and stadiums, and healthier cities and communities, globally and locally.
The Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, James F. Kenney will be addressing attendees from the main stage. Since taking office in 2016, Mayor Kenney has implemented a progressive agenda that supports working families and creates more opportunities for the city’s children. Mayor Kenney will speak to the importance of equity and sustainability in ensuring a brighter future for the City of Philadelphia and the world.
Several keynotes are scheduled throughout the 2-day Summit program.
Federico Addiechi, head of sustainability & diversity at FIFA, will provide remarks focused on sustainability and the FIFA World Cup.
Mike Zimmer, presidentof the Miami Superbowl Host Committee, will discuss sustainability initiatives, environmental stewardship, and legacy components of the upcoming 2020 Super Bowl.
Bill Reed, principal, Integrative Design Inc.and Regenesis, will close the Summit and leave attendees inspired to make positive change within their organisations and communities.
Mainstage plenary panels round out programming including: a panel focusing on the Role of Sports in Environmental Justice Reform featuring Kunal Merchant (Managing Director of Lotus Advisory)and Mustafa Santiago Ali (Co-Host, Hip Hop Caucus’ “Think 100% – The Coolest Show on Climate Change” & former Senior Vice President of Climate, Environmental Justice & Community Revitalization); an Athlete Panel discussing How Athletes are Using the Role Model Status to Positively Influence the Next Generation with Arielle Gold (Olympic Champion Snowboarder) Ryan Mundy (Founder of SWZLE and former NFL Pittsburgh Steelers player), and more; and a fireside chat centring on the Role of Sport in Civic Engagement & Sustainability Policy featuring Charlie Gay (Solar Energy Technologies Office Director at the Department of Energy), Kyle Lierman (CEO of When We All Vote and former White House Policy Advisor), Perfecto Sanchez, (Founder of Keep the Change Consulting), and moderated by Cyrus Wadia (Former Vice President at Nike and Assistant Director at The White House).
The Thought Leadership Forum on the mainstage will highlight Corporate Sustainability Leadership Propelling Sports Through Private Sector Innovation with a wide variety of private sector leaders examining corporate sustainability trends, initiatives, and vision with an eye to their application to the sports industry. Women, Sports & the Environment, now in its seventh year, will discuss Coaching for Culture: Youth Experiences for the Next Generation, Today, featuring a powerhouse panel of women leaders in the sports industry.
Real Sociedad debuts smart wearable tech
Sheffield United team up with SeatGeek
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Madala Kunene Tribute At Kwantu Village
Madala Kunene Tribute at Kwantu Village – 15 & 16 December
In association with Concerts SA and Kwantu Village, revered veteran Zulu folk guitarist Madala Kunene headlines the Folk & Griot Festival (FAGF) in Utrecht with a special tribute programme on the long weekend of 15th and 16th December 2018.
“Bafo”, as Madala Kunene is affectionately known, is visiting Kwantu Village after completing a successful national tour with Mabi Thobejane, marking his 50th year anniversary in music.
Commonly referred to as the king of the Zulu guitar, Bafo has no interest in genre specifications and prescriptions. His brand of blues operates in an opaque space where cool jazz, maskandi, mbaqanga, and a myriad of East Coast blues intersect.
The Madala Kunene tribute will culminate in an intimate two-day celebration featuring fellow griots who have worked with the man himself – Sowetan percussionist Gontse Makhene, and Swati folk guitarist Sibusiso Nkambule.
The performances are based on Madala’s minimalistic expressions, which he calls Madala-line. “The Madala-line is not only about rearranging the strings on the guitar but it is also about how you play it,” he says. “You don’t have to take on too much responsibility or to play too many chords. Just play what feels right for the mood and the moment.”
The tribute will have other activities around life and times of Bafo, such as a dinner with dialogue, an art exhibition, and action painting. Master classes and drumming sessions by various artists and art practitioners will also take place over the long weekend.
Legendary vinyl collector and digger, DJ Bob, will be playing his music collection befitting to the life and times of Madala Kunene. Please see the 15th & 16th December festival line-up and programme for a full list of art, music and lifestyle activities.
The Folk & Griot Festival (FAGF) is an art, music and lifestyle festival that celebrates the tradition and heritage of story-telling. This edition sees the official launch of the festival from 15th to 28th December, having hosted Sun Xa Experiment & Ntsane Lerato Lichaba (Urban Village) in 2016 and 2017 respectively as Folk & Griot Session (FAGS). The line-up consists of exciting and innovative griots who blend diverse artistic expressions, influences and folktales with true traditions of folklore.
The Madala Kunene Tribute is supported by Concerts SA through the Music Mobility Fund, a funding mechanism which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music.
Website: www.madalakunene.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/madalakunenesa
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/madalakuneneofficial
Hastags: #MadalaKunene #FAGF #ConcertsSA #MobilityFund
Utrecht – Folk & Griot Festival @ Kwantu Village
Saturday 15 December – 8pm – R50 (standard) / R150 (guest)
Address: 46 Voor Street, Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal
Bookings: 071 182 0613 / info@kwantuvillage.co.za / www.facebook.com/kwantuvillage
Sunday 16 December – 8pm – R50 (standard) / R150 (guest)
Sophie Thompson 2018-12-06T15:00:07+00:00 6th December, 2018|Music|Comments Off on Madala Kunene Tribute At Kwantu Village
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EQ the Return Part 3: Legitimizing your “Mistakes”
March 20, 2008 Patrick 1 Comment
After an exploratory return to the game, we mulled last time over how “abhorrent behaviors” in Everquest became acceptable, reasonable tactics for players. As silly as they were in the game, the players were still having fun, perhaps only at the cost of detracting from the immersion in game’s fiction. Of course Everquest’s world seemed to be pretty much a lump of 20 years of the creators’ favorite Dungeons and Dragons campaigns (Racial languages? Foraging skills?) so there wasn’t a whole lot of immersion to break.
Of course that was okay! They were forging new territory… While Ultima Online was the first large-scale success in the online space, with Everquest it got even more widely-accepted… and new gamers were still enamored with this persistent multiplayer combat-and-socialization model and discovering what they enjoyed doing. If people found, say, staking their virtual claim on a small collection of huts, systematically killing every orc that appeared there to be effective (that is, spawn camping) perhaps there’s something to it. These gamers didn’t want to wander around and trust that a patrolling creature might not jump them at the wrong time, but rather find an area of a reasonably predictable challenge and socialize while they waited.
Subsequent games tried to change that habit. Dark Age of Camelot gave players an extra XP incentive to kill creatures that hadn’t been killed in a while, encouraging them to move between spawns rather than stick to a single one. Star Wars Galaxies had the interesting take of creating monster “hives” that continuously spawned its supply of mobs until it culminated with a boss fight, after which the hive was destroyed. A shame that the world wasn’t an interesting place to venture out in otherwise. :-/
But in both those cases they tried to change the core behavior of those gamers, which was to seek out a location of stability where they could grind in peace. In most cases MMO’s since Everquest has tried to create alternatives, but I’m not aware of any (with the possible exception of Galaxies above) that tried to create new gameplay around it.
I actually find that surprising because in many cases game developers are pretty good about taking an odd bit of unexpected gameplay and turning it into an asset. Take the practice of kiting, for instance, where a player uses a combination of damage and incapacitating powers to keep a powerful creature at a distance while they slowly whittle them down to their eventual death. In Everquest, this was seen as an abhorration that allowed players to kill things that were genuinely higher than their appropriate level. A series of nerfs ensued to try to rectify the situation, but the tactic (there’s that word again) entered the basic toolkit of the everyday MMO player.
These days, kiting is less often frowned upon and considered more of a valid tactic in games like LOTRO and City of Heroes, although maligned by some. It still bears the mark of being player-driven, however… there are occasions where players accomplish feats that the designers never even dreamed of, like these WOW players that awesomely kited a devastating boss into the main human city of Stormwind. My hat’s off to you, lads.
Anyway, games are full of unexpected surprises that delight gamers and even their creators. When id Software added knockback damage to rockets to Doom and Quake, they didn’t initially do so with the intent of creating the technique of rocket jumping (that is, to fire your own rocket at the ground to blast you high into the air). This only became apparently through play. However, once it happened, they didn’t shut it down. In subsequent games like Quake III they made it easier, and better balanced the risk-reward of liftoff versus damage taken. These days, Team Fortress 2 has turned these antics into practically a twisted, explosive ballet.
Consider also the “errors” that gave us attack canceling in Street Fighter II (brilliantly explained in this article by God of War’s Eric Williams) that led to the lengthy combos that are integral to tourament play over 15 years after the game’s creation. The ridiculous pistol juggling seen in Devil May Cry, where a “bug” caused a damaged creature to stop falling, was embraced by its creator and set itself as the hallmark move of the game. The entire game of Deus Ex relied on emergent gameplay (whose very definition implies unforseen uses of gameplay elements) to deliver the player an experience made unique by their solutions to problems placed before them.
Without these “accidents”, gaming might be a lot less interesting these days.
Classic GamesEmergenceEverquestFPSMMO
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Auto Fire is a transformation of the great auto combat games of the 1980’s: Car Wars, Autoduel, and Roadwar 2000. It combines the dynamic world-building, player advancement and careful combat planning of Roguelikes with the rough, outlaw environments of the Mad Max series and classic western films.
Does that sound pretty rad? Of course it does, so check out the home page here or filter the blog for just Auto Fire updates here.
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Breaking News: Obama Is Out of His Mind
By Rick Pearcey June 14, 2016, 09:32 AM
As noted by the ever-subtle wallflower and radio/TV talk show host Mark Levin, here.
Mark Levin Interviews Kentucky Governor Elect Matt Bevin
By Rick Pearcey November 5, 2015, 04:44 PM
Yesterday "on his radio program, Conservative Review Editor in Chief [and nationally syndicated radio host] Mark Levin interviewed Kentucky Governor Elect Matt Bevin."
As CR Wire continues:
Levin and Bevin talked about a wide range of subjects including how Bevin outwitted the establishment of two parties to win his election.
Bevin also went through the uplifting history of the Lieutenant Governor elect of Kentucky, an African American Female Tea Party leader named Jenean Hampton, a 57 year old native of Detroit, who rose through the ranks of corporate America to run a manufacturing plant for a Fortune 500 company. Hampton is the first African American statewide elected official in the history of Kentucky, a former slave state.
To listen to Levin's interview with Bevin, go here.
Cruz to Hannity: How About GOP Debate With Hannity, Levin, and Limbaugh as Moderators? -- Video
By Rick Pearcey October 29, 2015, 01:41 PM
In this video clip of Sean Hannity discussing with Ted Cruz last night's CNBC debate debacle (see "Corrupt Media: CNBC Bias Loses the Republican Debate"), Cruz makes the case that a GOP presidential primary debate would be better served with Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh as moderators.
"In my view, Republican primary debates ought to be moderated by people who would vote in a primary," the Texas senator says to Hannity in the above-mentioned clip.
"How about a debate moderated by Sean Hannity and Mark Levin and Rush Limbaugh?" Cruz says.
"I'm in," Hannity replies. "And I think I can speak for the other three. They're in as well."
My view: A Hannity-Levin-Limbaugh moderated debate would be a blockbuster ratings event and a highly productive, informative evening. I'm in, too. Let's do it.
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Useful for MicroEconomics
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The Basic Economic Problem. UK bonuses soar to £44bn beating pre-financial crash peak for the first time. Eight years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers sparked a global financial crisis, the spread of Britain’s bonus culture from the bankers of the City to the hi-tech startups of London’s Shoreditch has seen pay top-ups leap to a new record level.
While regular pay growth has remained modest for most UK workers, generous bonuses at firms outside the financial sector have pushed bonuses above their previous pre-financial crisis peak. Many car brands emit more pollution than Volkswagen, report finds. A year on from the “Dieselgate” scandal that engulfed Volkswagen, damning new research reveals that all major diesel car brands, including Fiat, Vauxhall and Suzuki, are selling models that emit far higher levels of pollution than the shamed German carmaker.
UK households to choose water supplier under Ofwat shakeup. Households would be able to choose their water supplier for the first time under proposals from Ofwat which it claims would cut bills and improve services by introducing competition.
However, the proposed overhaul of British water supply would only save households about £8 a year on their water bill, the industry watchdog said. Under the existing system homeowners can only buy water from a handful of regional suppliers such as Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent or Thames Water. But a report by Ofwat suggests restructuring the industry to encourage new entrants to the market in an effort to improve services and bring down bills. The new regime would allow private companies to buy water in bulk from the existing major suppliers and sell it on to households. Competition Policy Case Study - Royal Mail Privatisation.
AS Microeconomics Study Notes - Topic Listing. Analysis Skills for AS Micro Exams. Evaluation Skills for AS Microeconomics Exams. Recent Resources on Market Failure (Jan 2016) The National Health Service (NHS) Explained. Anti-Dumping Duties and WTO Rules. The statistics behind UK steel job losses. Why is China economic growth slowing? Agency warns of teacher recruitment crisis. Why won’t oil producers cut supply to boost the price? Ebola: $5m vaccine deal announced. Image copyright Getty Images The Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, has signed a $5m (£3.5m) deal for an Ebola vaccine, to protect against future outbreaks of the deadly disease.
Energy firm E.On cuts gas prices by 5.1% Image copyright Getty Images E.On has announced a 5.1% reduction in its standard gas price for residential customers.
The company said the cut was the price equivalent of £32 off the average annual bill. It is the first time in six months that any of the big six energy firms have cut their prices. Last week both the regulator and the prime minister expressed concerns that prices were not being cut in line with falls in the wholesale cost of gas. Slump in oil prices drives green energy takeup in top exporting nations. The oil price slump below $30 barrel is spurring some of the world’s biggest oil exporters to curb domestic consumption of fossil fuels and invest in wind and solar power, according to government officials meeting in Abu Dhabi.
A month after the historic climate agreement in Paris, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and other oil exporters are in the midst of overhauling domestic energy policies and seeking alternatives to oil and gas for electricity. The main motive is not reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but cutting back on domestic energy demand that is taking up a rising share of production. Oil exporters would rather sell their fossil fuels abroad than burn them at home, government officials attending meetings of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) said. Marmite Easter eggs – the final frontier of brand extensions? Not long ago, opinions about salty-sweet candy combinations ranged from “curious” to “disgusting”.
Marks & Spencer was ahead of its time when it introduced salted caramel chocolates in 2006; consumers were put off by the mix of flavours and the line failed. By 2015, salted caramel sweets are ubiquitous and nearly a cliche. Buy a house under a mile away and save £1million. The average price drops by £280,000 moving from Vauxhall to Stockwell on the Victoria line, while house values plummet another £480,208 when moving from Stockwell to Brixton, the data revealed.
At the other end of the Victoria line, prospective homeowners can save £390,465 by looking around the Highbury and Islington area rather than King’s Cross. Tesco's store closures and abandoned developments - interactive. Tesco may have breached groceries code in two areas, says adjudicator - video. Royal Mint sells gold bars directly for the first time.
Investors can buy them through a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) or Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) and benefit from their marginal rate of tax on their gold purchases.
Lisa Elward, the Royal Mint’s head of international sales, said: "The combined heritage and integrity of the two brands is an added reassurance to customers looking for a cost effective way of buying gold and silver from a trusted source. " Royal Mint revives 'refinery' brand with new gold bars. 21 January 2015Last updated at 08:21 ET By Brian Milligan Personal Finance Reporter, BBC News.
Gold – investing. Cheaper oil: Winners and losers. OECD: changes must cut inequality, not just boost economic growth. Politicians must focus on policies that ensure stronger economic growth goes hand in hand with fairer distribution of the gains if they are to stem rising inequality, a leading economic thinktank has said. Analysing the effects of pro-growth policies on inequality, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified widening gaps in wealth distribution in many rich nations, with the the poorest hardest hit. The OECD urges governments to prioritise policies that help reduce inequality while also boosting growth, such as more education for low-skilled workers and measures to get more women into work. The recommendations, part of the thinktank’s annual “Going for Growth” report, are being unveiled in Istanbul on the first day of the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in the Turkish city.
Greece’s falling GDP per head. Labour to double paid paternity leave to four weeks. 9 February 2015Last updated at 05:53 ET Labour says the plan will give children "the best start in life" A future Labour government would double the amount of paid paternity leave available to new fathers from two to four weeks, Ed Miliband has announced. Cheer for motorists as fuel prices hit five-year low. Land and property Stamp Duty Tax calculator. Discount store Netto back trading in UK. Discount supermarket Netto is back trading in the UK after opening its first store under a partnership with Sainsbury's.
The site at Moor Allerton, in Leeds, will be followed by another 14 over the next year as part of a trial scheme funded by Netto owner Dansk Supermarked and Sainsbury's. Netto left the UK market five years ago when it sold its 198 stores to Asda. Emma Simpson reports. Pharmaceutical industry gets high on fat profits. Image copyright Thinkstock. Osborne 'expects' fuel price drop after fall in oil price. UK unemployment falls below two million. 15 October 2014Last updated at 10:29 ET. Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports sold in £1bn deal. 16 October 2014Last updated at 12:49 ET. Who are the "big six" energy companies? 27 March 2014Last updated at 13:48 ET. Switching sites hiding best energy deals, claims rival. 20 October 2014Last updated at 08:34 ET.
Child poverty set to rise, says social mobility commission. 20 October 2014Last updated at 09:00 ET. Housing market at 'plateau' as mortgage rates fall, CML says. 20 October 2014Last updated at 06:08 ET A number of mortgage lenders have cut rates in recent weeks. Drinkers offered pill to help reduce alcohol consumption. Drinkers who have half a bottle of wine or three pints a night are to be offered a life-saving pill which helps reduce their alcohol consumption. Price elasticity of demand. Shoppers lose appetite for big supermarkets. However, Tesco's shares have never reached such heights since and last week Buffett made a rare and stark admission, saying: "I made a mistake on Tesco. " UK house price growth rate slowing, Halifax says.
The annual house price growth rate has peaked at 10% and will now continue to grow at a considerably slower pace, Halifax said after reporting a modest 0.6% rise in prices for September. Unemployment. Economy tracker: Unemployment. 19 March 2014Last updated at 06:42 ET Continue reading the main story Latest news: Ebola outbreak: Britain sending 750 soldiers and medics to Western Africa - Health News - Health & Families - The Independent. Milk: NFU urges more supermarkets to help dairy farmers. Dairy farmers protest over milk price cuts.
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Gerstein plays Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F
Labels: cd review, video
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto in F; Kirill Gerstein, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson; Myrios Classics
Reviewed by Robert Hugill on Feb 19 2018 Star rating: 4.0
Performances which combine jazz sensibility with classical virtuosity
George Gershwin's symphonic music, the Rhapsody in Blue, the Piano Concerto in F and the Second Rhapsody exist on the cusp between popular jazz and classical. As such the works can have a variety of interpretations, and it says something for the remarkable strength of the Rhapsody in Blue that it can stand up to a wide variety of approaches. The problem comes when classical artists venture too close to jazz, and the results can sometimes seem strained.
This new disc from pianist Kirill Gerstein and the St Louis Symphony Orchestra, conductor David Robertson, has an interesting pedigree because Gerstein's training in fact spanned the classical and the jazz, which makes his interpretations well worth hearing. Recorded live, we have a pairing of Rhapsody in Blue and Piano Concerto in F, plus a selection of Earl Wilde's Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin, a piece by Oscar Levant (a composer/pianist much associated with the later recording history of the Rhapsody in Blue), and Gershwin's Summertime.
As a young man in Russia, Kirill Gerstein was much influenced by his parents' jazz record collection, and at the age of 14 he moved to the USA to study jazz piano with Gary Burton (who plays vibraphone on the Oscar Levant piece on the disc) at Berklee College, and only later did Gerstein decide to focus on classical piano.
This means that his approach to the music is quite free, in both the Rhapsody in Blue and in the Piano Concerto in F, Gerstein introduces improvisations and takes a creative approach to the solo part, this is very much not 'come scritto' but is certainly in the spirit of the original works.
Rhapsody in Blue is performed in the original jazz band orchestration, which the St Louis forces take to well giving a lithe yet vibrant account of the score. It is a well nourished sound, yet conductor David Robertson is able to move tempos with the right degree of liveliness. Gerstein's playing is fluid, and combines a classical pianist's technical ability with a nice freedom. His performance seems to ignore the bar lines in the right way, yet he kicks up a wonderfully devastating storm in the final sections of the work. This is wonderfully exciting, and fluid interpretation.
The Piano Concerto in F is far more symphonic in style, partly because Gershwin was writing a full-scale three-movement concerto but also because Gershwin's own technique had developed and he orchestrated the concerto himself. That is not to say there are not jazz influences here too, and Gerstein plays with great freedom, introducing jazz-influenced flourishes and creating some really cocktail-bar-jazz like moments in the more intimate solo passages, yet there is grand symphonic sweep too and the two seem to integrate well. The first movement finishes in a wonderfully exciting, virtuoso manner which manages never to be untrue to Gershwin. The slow movement has a wonderfully laid-back bluesy feel from both the orchestra and soloist, and I am reminded of the rather sleazy visuals which Jerome Robbins added to this movement in his 1982 ballet for New York City Ballet.
Earl Wilde's Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin were a delightful new discovery for me, lovely combination of the Romantic 19th century piano tradition with Gershwin's melody, recalling Percy Grainger's Gershwin arrangements. The other pieces make and attractive and slightly unusual fillers, and Storm Large's vocals in Summertime certainly do takes us more into the jazz-inflected mood.
The recording was made live, at various times, but based around pair of concerts which Gerstein, the St Louis Symphony Orchestra and David Robertson gave in 2017, this means that the performances have a real vibrancy and tingle to them, a combination of genuine excitement and live thrills from Gerstein. The record producers seem to have decided to keep rather more of the audience reaction than is desirable, not just the roar after the end of the Rhapsody in Blue but the similar eruption after the conclusion of the first movement of the concerto, well deserved certainly but likely to annoy after repeated listening.
The CD booklet includes an article by Joseph Horowitz (the American writer rather than the composer), which gives some fascinating background to differences in reception of Gershwin's music in America and in Europe.
George Gershhin (1898-1937) - Rhapsody in Blue (jazz band version, orch. Ferde Grofe)
Earl Wilde (1915-2010) - Virtuoso Etudes After Gershwin: 'Somebody Loves Me', 'I Got Rhythm', 'Embraceable You'
Oscar Levant (1906-1972) - Blame It On My Youth
George Gershwin - Piano Concerto in F
Kirill Gerstein (piano)
Storm Large (vocals)
Gary Burton (vibraphone)
St Louis Symphony Orchestra
David Robertson (conductor)
Recorded live 7-9 April 2017 in Powerll Hall, St Louis, 8 May 2014 at Gilmore Festival, Williams Theatre, Kalamazoo, 30 March 2012 at Berkelee Performance Center, Boston
MYRIOS CLASSICS MYR022 1CD [73:45]
Available from Amazon.
Elsewhere on this blog:
Satyagraha: Philip Glass's opera at ENO - Opera review (****)
Musical Arcadia: Handel at Vauxhall on Signum Classics - CD review (****)
Motherhood and memory: Helen Grime's Bright Travellers at the Wigmore Hall - Concert review (****)
Bernstein, Gubaidulina & more: violinist Vadim Gluzman on the importance of contemporary repertoire - Interview
Music in a cold climate: the sounds of Hansa Europe - CD review (***)
Spices! Perfumes! Toxins! Approachably melodic percussion concerto - CD review - CD review (***)
A Triptych: Irrational Theatre at the King's Head - Opera review (***)
Topsy-turvy fun: Cal McCrystal directs G&S's Iolanthe - Opera review (*****)
Old-fashioned passion: Benjamin Godard's Dante - CD review
Korngold's Die tote Stadti at the Semperoper in Dresden - Opera review (****)
Powerful stuff: Verdi's La forza del Destino in Cardiff - Opera review (****)
A Portrait: composer Dai Fujikura introduces the music at the forthcoming Wigmore Hall concert - my interview
Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen - Willy Decker's production at the Semperoper, Dresden - opera review
Posted by Planet Hugill at Tuesday, February 20, 2018
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GOP Coalesces Around Toomey Supercommittee Plan
By Sari Heidenreich, Contributing Writer
The name of Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey — and his deficit reduction plan — is on the lips of just about everyone in Washington this week.
Now the supercommittee has only four business days left to agree on legislation that would reduce future deficits by $1.2 trillion over 10 years. If the committee fails to meet that goal — or the November 23 deadline — $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts would be split between domestic spending and national security starting in 2013. This would also happen if Congress fails to pass the supercommittee’s legislation by the end of the year.
With the deadline looming, it’s Toomey’s plan to modify the tax code and raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67, that Republicans have “warmly received,” the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Known as one of the most conservative members of the House, Representative Jeff Flake of Arizona told the NYT, “All of us have a lot of respect for Pat Toomey … He’s a good free-market conservative.”
But Democrats worry that Republican support of Toomey’s plan may be too staunch for an agreement to be reached by Wednesday. On Tuesday, Bloomberg Businessweek reported that “the panel’s six Democrats and six Republicans remain hundreds of billions of dollars apart on the tax revenue issue with eight days until the deadline.”
“Republicans took a step backward today by coalescing around the Toomey plan, which Democrats have roundly rejected,” a Democrat close to the negotiations told the New York Times Tuesday night. “That’s a troubling, worrisome sign. The door is still open; discussions will continue. But if this becomes the Republicans’ last, best, final offer, they could be dooming these negotiations.”
Republicans say Toomey’s proposed modifications to the tax code, which would include eliminating some speciality tax breaks, would bring in $300 billion in additional revenue
The AP reported Thursday that Toomey’s plan “would raise revenue by limiting the tax breaks enjoyed by people who itemize their deductions, in exchange for lower overall tax rates for families at every income level. Taxpayers who already take the standard deduction instead of itemizing — about two-thirds of filers — could see tax cuts. The one-third of taxpayers who itemize their deductions might find themselves paying more.”
The AP also noted that the “top income tax rate would fall from 35 percent to 28 percent, and the bottom rate would drop from 10 percent to 8 percent. The rates between would be reduced as well.”
However, Toomey told Fox News on Sunday that he’s “not giving up on getting something done. I think we still can and I am going to do everything to achieve that.”
Bloomberg Businessweek said House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters Wednesday that he believes the “supercommittee can get a report done” and said many Democrats are likely to vote for such a deal, noting that a “very, very large number” supported the legislation that set up the panel.
House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday that Toomey’s proposal or “something like” it would be a “fair offer,” adding that he is convinced that Congress can pass an agreement if the supercommittee reaches one.
November 18th, 2011 | Posted in Front Page Stories, Top Stories | 4 Comments
4 thoughts on “GOP Coalesces Around Toomey Supercommittee Plan”
Toomey is fast becoming the Republican powerbroker of record. His plan is workable. He earned the respect of fellow Republicans and Dem’s alike. Pa. politicos should take note. Toomey is the man to do business with if it’s about getting the job done.
kerby ellis says:
CUT SALARIES ALONG FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AS FOLLOWS: THOSE WHO MAKE OVER 200,000 PER YEAR REDUCE BY 20%. THOSE WHO MAKE OVER $150,000 REDUCE BY 10%. 5% CUTS FOR THOSE WHO MAKE LESS THAN 95,000. NO CUTS FOR THOSE LESS THAN 60,000 PER YEAR. DIRECTORS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES POSTAL REDUCE SALARY TO 180,000. AMERICAN RED CROSS REDUCE TO 18000. THIS SHOULD AGAIN HELP OUR DEFICIT REDUCTION
GET RID OF THE DEPT OF ENERGY AND EDUCATION AND THERE IS YOUR SAVINGS. DO NOT GET RID OF MORTGAGE INTEREST ON TAXES. REDUCED FEDERAL GOVERNMENTOFFICES BY 25%. THIS WILL REDUCED OUR DEFICIT IN 7 YEARS.
Pedro Rodriguez says:
Any deal that cuts Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security is a bad deal for the country. Sen. Toomey’s Plan to raise the eligibility age for Medicare to 67 should be a non starter. Seniors in Pennsylvania shall never forget!
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Nicolas Fillion: The Vindication of Computer Simulations
Martin2015-02-14T21:43:40-04:00February 13th, 2015|2014 Conference, Climate Change|
Nicolas Fillion (Simon Fraser University)
Title: The Vindication of Computer Simulations
The relatively recent increase in prominence of computer simulations in scientific inquiry has transformed both science and philosophy of science. In fact, a practical knowledge (a ‘know-how’) of scientific computation has become essential for scientists working in all disciplines involving mathematics. This situation has given rise to a fair amount of literature bearing on the epistemology of computer simulations. Despite their incontestable success, it must be emphasized that the numerical meth- ods subtending simulations provide at best approximate solutions and that they can also return very misleading results. Accordingly, epistemological sobriety demands that we clarify the circumstances under which simulations can be relied upon. More specifi- cally, our presentation will characterize the type of justification that must be sought for computer simulations and the circumstances in which such a justification can be given. It is becoming increasingly popular to distinguish to modes of justification of sim- ulations, namely, verification and validation. Following this terminology, verification is the assessment of the accuracy of the solution to a computational model and validation is the assessment of the accuracy of a computational simulation by comparison with ex- perimental data. The relationship of computer simulations is only at issue in validation. Now, most of the literature on the epistemology of simulations has been about validation; our presentation focuses on verification. If the process of verification does not involve a justification that can be articulated in terms of correspondence with the world, what then is the type of justification involved? We maintain that the type of justification required is a vindication, in the sense in which Reichenbach claimed to have given a vindication of induction. We will not debate the vices and virtues of his claim about induction, but we will elaborate on his work (and that of Feigl) towards a distinction between justification as vindication and justification as validation. Then, adopting the perspective that is common among numerical analysts, we will articulate a view according to which computer simulations are best understood as inferential recipes and that, as a result, the type of justification they require is a vindication. Finally, we develop an important consequence of treating the justification of computer simulations. As Reichenbach has emphasized, a vindication is a fundamentally pragmatic affair. Thus, the justification of computer simulations would also be a fundamentally pragmatic affair. We push this point further than Reichenbach. In fact, by ‘pragmatic’ he meant that the sort of justification involved was goal-directed, i.e., assessing an inferential practice as a means to an end. However, in addition to this pragmatic consideration, we use the conceptual apparatus of a method of error analysis known as “backward error analysis” to show that the vindication of computer simulations is fundamentally context- dependent. This sensitivity to the modelling context reveals that, despite not being directly established by correspondence to the world, vindication nevertheless depends on factual considerations.
Putting Environmental Philosophy to Work: Interview with Justin Donhauser
Video Posting — Andrew Light: What Happened in Paris? How Differentiation Evolved to Create a Global Climate Agreement.
Andrew Light and the Paris Agreement
Video Posting — Evan Fraser: Food in 2050: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion
#TBT Video Postings — Doing Science in the Dark and Clarity before Consensus
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A Devilish Slumber by Shereen Vedam
A Devilish Slumber
The Rue Alliance
Shereen Vedam
Genre: Regency paranormal romance
Publisher: ImaJinn Books/Belle Books
Date of Publication: Feb. 19, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-61194-609-3 (ebook)
ISBN: 978-1-61194-592-8 (print)
ASIN: B00TT7UGR2
Cover Artist: Debra Dixon
Beauty awoke, and then the trouble began . . .
Since dealing with the death of her sister and her abandonment by Sir Phillip Jones, the man who professed to love her, Lady Roselyn Ravenstock has lived as if sleepwalking. Mired in grief, she sequestered herself in her home, avoiding all callers. Then she meets Mrs. Helen Beaumont, and Rose starts to come to life . . . until Helen is murdered. But this time, Rose isn't going back to sleep. Vowing to avenge her friend, Rose dons a costume and goes out into the night looking for a killer.
Sir Phillip, the Regent's favored spy, returns from war determined to win back the woman he was forced to leave three years ago. But when he witnesses Rose covered in blood, racing from a brutal scene while gripping the murder weapon, he goes on a desperate mission to unravel what he hopes is a case of mistaken identity.
The investigation leads Rose into a world of enchantment, where people can re-shape their features, fires are begun with a snap of fingers and objects move of their own accord. But the real magic is the blazing attraction that is re-awakened between her and Phillip.
Will Rose ever get her happily-ever-after? Possibly. But first, she'll have to convince Phillip of her innocence-before the killer strikes again. . . .
Available at Amazon Google Books BN Chapters
Excerpt: A Devilish Slumber Chapter One
Midnight, Wednesday, April 8, 1813, London, England
A SCREAM RIPPLED across the misty, dockside air.
Sir Phillip Jones's pulse lurched at that mournful cry. Gripping his walking stick, he raced down the hilly road of the deserted warehouse district in Wapping. A second muffled scream rang out and was then abruptly cut off. No longer concerned about keeping his movements covert, he ran toward those terrified shrieks. Rounding a corner, he tore past a man staring toward where the screams had come from.
"Imbecile," the large man grumbled from behind him.
Phillip was ten feet away before it registered that the man had sworn in French. By then, the woman who ran out of a warehouse gripping a bloody dagger had captured his focus. For a split second, her face was clearly highlighted by a stray shaft of moonlight piercing the mist. He stumbled to a halt, his chest heaving for air as stunned recognition sank in.
Rose?
The lady started and swung toward him. Had he spoken aloud? Pulling her hood up, she then sprinted off into the night.
Phillip instantly gave chase, but when he reached the open warehouse door through which she had fled, he pulled back. If that had been his Rose, he knew where she lived.
Rapidly retreating footsteps behind him suggested the irate Frenchman, probably a sailor, was also prudently withdrawing from this possible crime scene.
Inside the warehouse, despite the wide open door, it was pitch black, but that coppery scent of fresh spilled blood was unmistakable in the chilly sea air. Instead of blindly stepping in, Phillip pulled out his candle and circular silver tinderbox from his pocket. He had not survived the dangers of being an intelligence officer for the past five years by acting foolishly during a crisis.
He methodically placed the candle's wick end into the hole on the lid and struck the flint until the candle lit. Then, with flickering candle attached to the tinderbox's socket, he cautiously proceeded inside, his walking stick, with a sword hidden inside, raised to act as a club. If someone lurked within this warehouse, he would need blunt force, not blade finesse.
The warehouse was empty except for the victim who was slumped on the grimy floor, blood pooling at her side. Her throat had been slit. Her eyes were wide open as if in shock. He lowered his weapon, placed his candleholder on the ground, and knelt to check for signs of life. Her arm was limp and there was no pulse at the wrist, and not even a hint of a breath. Her skin was still warm, but her spirit had been effectively extinguished.
With a defeated sigh, he searched her reticule and found calling cards which confirmed her identity. This was indeed Mrs. Beaumont, the woman he had come to meet tonight. Not many from this riverside section of London could afford the luxury of calling cards. Her gown was serviceable, but not of high fashion. He strode restlessly around the empty warehouse, kicking aside empty crates and litter, poking at the walls in search of a hidden door, anything to prove that Rose was unlikely to be the culprit of this crime.
Anger built as he returned, empty handed, to the body. With a grunt of frustration, he flung his weighty walking stick across the room. It struck the wooden wall with a satisfying bang and then clattered as it rolled across the hollow chamber.
Shoulders set with resolve, he proceeded with his last distasteful but necessary search. He examined the underside of Mrs. Beaumont's sleeves and delved into her bodice. Nothing. He then lifted her gown in case she had strapped something to her limbs. Disappointed there too, he removed her boots and stripped off her stockings. Finding nary a clue, he carefully redressed her, making sure she would be respectably covered before the river police arrived. All the while, words rang through his mind. That cannot have been Rose running away.
As he re-positioned her arms at her side, he noticed one of the lady's clenched hands. Pulse speeding in anticipation, he raised her fist for closer study. Probing with his forefinger revealed something held inside her fist. He pried her fingers apart until they revealed a scrunched-up handkerchief. Drawing his candle holder closer, he carefully spread apart the material on the floor. There, on the top right, was a small, black, neatly embroidered crest of a raven.
That further evidence of Rose's guilt left him in choking silence as he battled the urge to compare it to the handkerchief now burning a hole in his breast pocket. Finally, knowing he had no choice, he pulled out the other and gently unfolded it beside the crumpled one. The two crests were a match. His handkerchief had been a gift from Lady Roselyn Ravenstock.
Once upon a time, Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure. She’s a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.
Website: http://www.shereenvedam.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShereenVedam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShereenVedam
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3415603.Shereen_Vedam
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shereenvedam/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101842144538025992079
Blog (A step beyond the ordinary): http://shereentwo.livejournal.com/
Posted by Roxanne Rhoads at 12:00 AM
Labels: A Devilish Slumber by Shereen Vedam
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magazine archive features rt profiler realtimedance mediaartarchive
realtime 102
Choose... ------------------ editorial editorial - rt102 in the loop – may 10 in the loop – may 24 ------------------ festivals jam tomorrow: art, science & magic sparks in the dark: ideas & forms the city: reversing lines of sight the speculative fringe ------------------ special features china: creative expression on notice dance like never before erupting from the archive in the heat of the moment into the dance-scape intro: maintain critical mass! journey of the tribe let's dance—and we do present, tense sounds massive talkin' 'bout my generation the ambiguities of happiness the art machine dances turning the tables, working the audience ------------------ performance embracing chaos new music theatre in utero opinion: the wild duck re-make reworking language for the theatre the pleasures of meta-performance ------------------ dance kinetic art machine makes waves for dance shooter with silencer the body infinite ------------------ visual arts after cinema: the meeting of feeling & meaning into the void: nature distilled performance art up close at a distance photography here, there & everywhere putting the work back into networks the dance of language wormholes into new dimensions ------------------ sound/music another acoustic reality delicacies, brutalities & inbetween music and the unruled eye new music: challenge as fun pure pursuits sounds found & introduced ------------------ onscreen - film between the notes indigenous media art: complex visions small stories, big pictures, bigger reach the magical meeting of cinema & media arts ------------------ onscreen - media art a transmedia fairytale conversation for adults aligning senses and ethics apps, dim sum & astronauts' wives into a hall of mirror gazes refracted cities
bigpond adelaide film festival
indigenous media art: complex visions
tom redwood: stop(the)gap, adelaide film festival, samstag museum
Warwick Thornton, Stranded, 2011, film still, commissioned by Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund 2011
AT THE EXHIBITION OPENING, AMID ENDLESS GLASSES OF CHENIN BLANC, THE GUESTS WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WITNESS A TRADITIONAL KAURNA SMOKING. LOCAL ELDER UNCLE LEWIS O’BRIEN THEN WELCOMED ARTISTS, CURATORS AND GUESTS IN KAURNA LANGUAGE TO STOP(THE)GAP, AN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF INDIGENOUS MEDIA ARTS, BEFORE ADDING A BRIEF FOOTNOTE IN ENGLISH: “WE HAVE BEEN WELCOMING VISITORS TO OUR LAND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THE PROBLEM IS WE’VE NEVER TOLD THEM TO GO HOME.” HIS COMMENT MET A GENERAL SILENCE.
A similar frankness runs through curator Brenda L Croft’s introductory essay in the exhibition catalogue. In an aggressive and confessional style Croft outlined her infuriation at being Indigenous and intelligent in a place as heart-poundingly and mind-numbingly stupid as mainstream Australia, where even the most elementary reflection on colonisation and the marginalisation of Indigenous Australians is consistently and wilfully avoided. It was an angry and perhaps reckless decision to share such unrestrained thoughts. For daring to express her outrage in forthright political language Croft was ruthlessly attacked by The Australian’s Christopher Allen in a review less concerned with discussing the artworks on display than with celebrating the writer’s tiresomely cynical politicking.
Such political directness was not, however, to be found in the artworks on display in Stop(the)Gap. Indeed, the exhibition is surprisingly non-confrontational. Something quite different (and often more complex than) direct ideological or political discourses on ‘Indigeneity’ is on offer here. Suggesting no easy answers, or even difficult answers, the conceptual implications of the seven featured artworks (of which I will discuss four) are instead fleeting and poetic, grasped for a moment.
The elusiveness of the artworks on display at Stop(the)Gap points to what might be understood as the exhibition’s determining ethos. Opening the forum held to discuss the exhibition, curator Croft (who coordinated the choices of her overseas guest curators) clearly explained her key goal for the exhibition as a movement (or series of movements) beyond colonial forms of representation towards Indigenous self-representation. And this, of course, means a movement into the unknown. In Croft’s words:
“Indigenous communities around the globe share colonial histories relating to dispossession, injustice, inequity and misrepresentation. Even in the 21st century, indigenous art continues to be negatively configured through the historical contexts of Western art.” Exhibition catalogue.
Alan Michelson’s large four-channel work TwoRow II (2005) stands as an emblematic expression of this ethos. Michelson (a Mowhawk member of the Six Nations) is clearly aware that a large part of the contemporary Indigenous artist’s energy must be spent bending, breaking, transgressing, transcending the constrictive and static representations of Indigeneity perpetuated by colonial discourses. That’s a no-brainer. Michelson is also aware, however, that there are two sides to this agenda. In TwoRow II, two horizontal bands of purple and white images (alluding to a belt woven by the Native American Haudenosaunee people to mark their 1613 treaty with Dutch colonists) denote the two sides of the Grand River in southern Ontario, Canada. One bank is populated by non-Native townships. The other is the site of a Six Nations reserve. Travelling in both directions along the river, the viewer absorbs these juxtaposed rows simultaneously (along with the contrasting Indigenous and non-Indigenous stories and tourist commentary played on loudspeakers).
For Michelson the river both links and divides the Native and the non-Native. Ideas of ‘Coloniality’ (as well as ‘Indigeneity’ or ‘Aboriginality’) must therefore be opened up for questioning. The Colonial and Indigenous are interrelated and in a constant state of change. Quite literally, Michelson’s work keeps moving. The literal two-sidedness of Two Row II undermines the viewer’s desire to focus on one of these sides independently of the other. There is no stationary reference point.
Two other interesting and very different large-scale works came from Canadian artists Rebecca Belmore (of Anishinaabe-Canadian heritage) and Dana Claxton (of the Hunkapa Lakota Sioux nation). Noting their obvious differences, Canadian curator David Garneau (who selected both works for exhibition) emphasised his interest in their paradoxical commonality. Beginning at either end of a hypothetical Indigenous artistic spectrum, Belmore and Claxton seem to be moving towards something in the middle, some common problem or ideal perhaps. This dialectical relationship was emphasised by Croft, who positioned the two works opposite one another on the ground floor of the Samstag Museum.
Dana Claxton, Rattle, 2003, installation view
At one end, Claxton’s Rattle (2003) is one of the most beautiful examples of installation art in motion I have seen. A difficult work to describe in concrete terms, Rattle is in the artist’s own words “a visual prayer attempting to create infinity...[much] like a palindrome” (catalogue). Across four screens—the inner two mirroring and the outer two mirroring—Claxton offers the viewer-listener a hypnotic and strangely powerful aural-visual experience of perceptual and perpetual rhythm. It is a delicately made and extremely impressive work, of living art over artefact, invoking traditional Sioux singing, music and movement without conceding to any coy idea of the ‘traditional.’
Rebecca Belmore, The Named and the Unnamed, 2002, video installation, Collection of the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, The University of British Columbia
photo by Howard Ursuliak, © the artist
Rough, handheld and with a markedly street aesthetic, Rebecca Belmore’s The Named and the Unnamed (2002) seems to be everything that Rattle is not, certainly no delicate expression of Indigenous spirituality. Also seemingly the most overtly political work of the exhibition, The Named and the Unnamed is an installation based around Belmore’s performance work Vigil (in fact it is, more or less, a recording of this performance projected onto a wall sparely quilted with small lights perhaps indicative of the women lost—the subject of the work). Approaching performance as a sacred act, Belmore acts out a series of painful rituals on a street corner in downtown Vancouver, a site where many missing and now presumed murdered Indigenous prostitutes worked. It’s not entirely clear as to precisely why the artist performs particular rituals (stripping roses with her teeth, nailing her dress to telephone poles) but that’s how rituals work. In the exhibition notes, Jolene Rickard suggests Belmore’s intent is to set right or balance imbalance (“Rebecca Belmore: Performing Power,” 2005). With no material justice coming from authorities who have shown little interest in pursuing the cases of these poor, marginalised, Indigenous women, Belmore aims at a higher spiritual justice for these young souls in trauma. It is a problematic but also very arresting piece, demonstrating that sacredness has nothing, essentially, to do with style.
Finally, there’s Warwick Thornton’s Stranded —a difficult work to pin down, all the more so coming from the director of the realist masterpiece Samson and Delilah. On entering the space—with 3D glasses and complementary popcorn in hand—we see the artist himself, nailed to a kitsch fluorescent cross that spins slowly, hovering above a richly coloured central Australian landscape with wide open skies and waterholes. At the base of the cross is a skull and crossbones. Dressed in a drover’s outfit (a reference to Aboriginal stockmen?), Thornton seems at first to be feigning an heroic machismo, but then, in close-ups, is revealed as simply drowsy: sleeping, yawning, head slumping. On his chest (in intense close-up) are the bloody traces of a whipping.
The only explanation we are offered in the exhibition notes is that Stranded was inspired by a drawing the artist made when six years old, under which he wrote, “When I grow up I want to be just like Jesus.” Thornton’s decision not to attend the exhibition forum only reinforced a sense of his reluctance to explain anything more about the work. The ironic tone (the ludicrous cross, the costume, the flaccid hero) suggests a playful critique of European Christianity’s influence on First Australians, or of Thornton himself. But that doesn’t seem nearly enough. Perhaps what we are seeing here is the juxtaposition not only of ideologies but of histories: the ‘newness’ of the flash cross (Christianity) highlighted by the ‘ancientness’ of the surroundings (Country, Dreaming). We are also possibly witnessing a representation of a ‘lost’ Aboriginal generation, Thornton’s own, no longer under missionary control, yet still nailed to the cross, detached and hovering above the Land. Perhaps in Stranded we encounter another ‘muddying of the waters:’ art that worries at the line between Indigenous and non-indigenous, elusively pushing beyond established concepts.
If it can be put into words, Stop(the)Gap seems to outgrow old restrictions, naturally and organically, advancing towards new, as yet unformulated conceptions of Indigenous self-representation. The role Brenda Croft assumes as curator is unusually active in this respect. With a second chapter of Stop(the)Gap due for exhibition in various Adelaide gallery spaces in October, Croft envisions the exhibition as spreading worldwide, in a state of continual relocation and reconfiguration.
Stop(the)Gap: International Indigenous arts in motion, curator Brenda L Croft, artists Rebecca Belmore, Dana Claxton, Alan Michelson, Nova Paul, Lisa Reihana, Warwick Thornton, Samstag Museum, Adelaide Film Festival, Feb 24-April 21
RealTime issue #102 April-May 2011 pg. 23
© Tom Redwood; for permission to reproduce apply to realtime@realtimearts.net
living cultures, moving images
stop(the)gap: international indigenous art in motion : RT 101
Double vision at Stills
Virginia Baxter, Brenda L Croft, Christine Cornish, Rebecca Shannahan : RT 42
rt90 editorial : RT 90
in the loop - rt100
realtime news and advance word : RT 100
code + design by airstrip additional code + maintenance netpraxis
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This week's youth stories
St Constantine's Primary School, Govan, turned 10 years old on Tuesday June 18, and enjoyed Mass with Archbishop Tartaglia, parish priest Fr Robert McCann, Fr Peter Dowling and Fr Brendan Murtagh at St Constantine's Church. The school invited special guests, including Maureen McKenna, executive director of education for Glasgow City Council, to the occasion which all 370 pupils, 35 staff and a further 50 parishioners attended. At the Mass, Archbishop Tartaglia awarded Certificates of Service to two pupils, Antonina and Alexandra (above, far right), for their excellence in leading a Rosary club and a Sacred Heart club at the school. The ... continue reading.
The Camino was the start of a life-long journey for two young Scots as they got engaged to be married outside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela during a student pilgrimage. ... continue reading.
It was a great day of Faith and celebration for one South Lanarkshire school last week, as a new statue of Our Lady was blessed and the school handed over thousands of pounds to help those less fortunate.... continue reading.
St Luke’s pupil boxes clever with winning Baby Box design
Newborn babies across Scotland are being given a trendy welcome to the world thanks to baby boxes designed by a Barrhead school pupil.... continue reading.
February 22nd, 2019 | 0 COMMENTS
A ‘Phenomenal’ Catholic youth festival at Craig Lodge House of Prayer that sees young people grow in their Faith is set to return for a second year.... continue reading.
From homelessness to bereaved families, Andrew’s fundraising has the X-Factor
A young boy with additional support needs (ASN) has been praised for his ‘kindness and compassion’ after he led a fundraising drive to support parents who have lost newborn babies.... continue reading.
Cardinal Newman High pupils hoping for trip to Rome for saint’s canonisation
Pupils from a Catholic high school are hoping to organise a trip to Rome in celebration of their namesake cardinal’s upcoming canonisation.... continue reading.
More youth news
Pupils with learning disabilities make friends with the elderly
Young people who have additional learning needs have spent the last few months getting to know elderly residents of their neighbouring care home.... continue reading.
Young people spell out a big celebration at Carfin
Our Lady of St Francis Primary school in Carfin marked the centenary of the Education Act in style, at one of many upcoming occasions held outside Carfin Grotto... continue reading.
First Catholic appointed head of Scouts Scotland
A Catholic school headteacher has been appointed as the new chief commissioner for Scouts Scotland, which means he is now the leader of more than 50,000 scouts across the country... continue reading.
First for Aberdeen University as students pick up Catholic teachers’ certificates
July 20th, 2018 | 1 COMMENT
The first teachers at Aberdeen University to achieve a Catholic teaching qualification celebrated their graduation last month, where they were joined by the local bishop on the special occasion... continue reading.
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Janice Hoppe-Spiers
Ripple Foods
Ripple Foods focuses on product innovation to offer its customers more options while continuously working to improve the flavor profile.
By Janice Hoppe-Spiers, Senior Editor at Knighthouse Publishing
Competition in the plant-based protein segment continues to rise as more consumers actively seek these options in their diets. Plant-based food sales have doubled over the past year and research firm Markets and Markets projects the global plant-based protein market to reach $5 billion by 2020.
Ripple Foods entered the market in 2016 to offer consumers dairy-free, plant-based milk, half and half, and yogurt in a better way. The company’s goal has always been to provide a product that tastes good first and foremost, and is nutritious, and continues to do so today.
“People are looking for more plant-based protein sources, and what was once a few brands when we first launched in 2016 has turned into people clamoring for space,” Vice President of Supply Chain Brian Hudon says. “The No. 1 obstacle we have to overcome when we are trying to get people to buy our products is their initial negative response to our products being made with peas. When we do demos in stores and get people to try the product, we win based on flavor.”
Neil Renninger and Adam Lowry co-founded the Berkeley, Calif.-based company after working in the biofuels and environmental products industries. “The name ‘Ripple’ was derived from the idea that small changes that you do in your life can have a ripple effect and create products that have a chance to facilitate change in the world,” Hudon explains.
Ripple Foods’ milk products are sold in 48- and 12-ounce containers, along with its shelf-stable kids’ products, and a vegan half and half product. Each product is on par with those from dairies, Hudon says. “We deliver eight grams of protein per serving,” he says, adding that they feature lower sugar and fat contents. “We don’t want our customers to feel like they’re making a trade-off.”
Taste the Difference
Ripple Foods takes a raw material plant source and extracts protein, which is tasteless, and leaves behind the starchiness. This process results in a cleaner protein base. Today, the company uses peas for this process.
Ripple Foods’ vendors have contributed to its success over the years, including Roquette America Inc., a global leader in plant-based ingredients and a pioneer of new vegetal proteins. “Roquette continues to be one of our strongest partners,” Hudon says. “They have been instrumental in helping us keep up with our demand in terms of supplying us with the protein source as the market gets tight in terms of pea protein availability. Roquette has been with us since the beginning and continues to be a strong advocate for our brand and continue to supply us with the resources we need.”
Ripple Foods has discovered a way to make the protein taste even better. “Our protein is core to the brand,” he says. “It’s very visible on the packaging and we are about to announce a breakthrough that makes protein taste even better. We will launch new products in 2019.”
Ripple Nutrition
In September, Ripple Foods launched Ripple Nutrition protein powder and shakes with 20 grams of protein. Like all Ripple products, Ripple Nutrition is plant-based, dairy-free, nut-free and soy-free. The new line debuted exclusively at Target, but the company will be expanding distribution in 2019 to all its retail partners including Whole Foods Market and Meijer Inc.
“We have had a lot of buzz around these products as consumers were looking for something in the plant-based nutritional space that delivered a better overall flavor profile and these products deliver that,” Hudon says. “The space is cluttered with plant-based options that taste chalky and are off-putting from a flavor profile, so we are excited about the launch of these products and expect great things from this.”
Maintaining Supply
Ripple Foods has expanded its supply chain in response to launching new a new product line. The company uses contract manufacturers and continues to seek new partners and experts in the space as product innovation remains a priority.
Prior to its entry into nutritional powder and shakes, Ripple Foods was a cold chain, shipping everything via refrigerated trucks and storage. “That’s quite a bit more expensive than ambient, but with the launch of these new products we had to find partners on the ambient transportation side to maximize our cost,” Hudon says.
Ripple Foods has invested more resources into securing continuity of supply in the event one co-packer can’t service the business. “We had a brief supply interruption this year,” Hudon says. “Our customers were disappointed they couldn’t find our product for a period of time and we put significant effort into making sure that won’t happen again. We developed a long-term plan to ensure our co-packers align with our long-term plans.”
In addition to investing in supply chain resources, Ripple Foods also began advertising campaigns in three core markets that Hudon says was a huge success. “The metrics demonstrate that we contribute to the market growth. We are going to expand our campaign to eight markets in 2019 and gain distribution in key regions of the country,” he adds. “We are putting our marketing efforts towards ensuring folks are aware we are available to purchase our products.”
Moving forward, Ripple Foods plans to continue innovating and educating consumers about its plant-based protein products. “Consumers are buying based on the nutritional aspects of plant-based products, ones higher in protein that meet their nutritional needs and also on taste,” Hudon says.
Tags: Ripple Foods, Knighthouse Publishing
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The Sportsbook of MansionBet
Some new sportsbooks would struggle to stay alive in this competitive industry but this is not the case when it comes to MansionBet, despite its seeming lack of experience. At first glance, the sportsbook may appear a bit basic with its toned down design but you should not let this fool you – in reality, there is plenty of substance to MansionBet.
The website offers a very detailed coverage of pretty much all sporting events and leagues one can think of. As many as 36 sports are present on MansionBet’s list, including football, tennis, basketball, baseball, cricket, golf, volleyball, hockey, and American football, with coverage of major leagues and championships like the NBA, the NFL, the ATP, and the Premier League.
Football fans have every reason to be content since MansionBet offers them a great coverage of major championships, including this year’s World Cup. There are all sorts of bets you can experiment with at Mansion, if you are reluctant to go for the usual 1×2 Full Time wagers. The sportsbook offers very competitive odds of most events from the prestigious international championship.
When you click on the drop-down menu in the World Cup section, you get to choose from a variety of bets like Double Chance, Both Teams to Score, Total Goals, Exact Score, Winner Offside, Draw No Bet, and Winning Margin but keep in mind some of those predictions are very difficult to get right. You can back your favorite teams with individual straight bets or unite several selections in a multiples bet. More daring football fans who have done their research and are not afraid to risk their money can even experiment with Heinz bets, which comprise 57 wagers on six different selections. You need at least two of your 57 selections to be successful in order to receive a payout from your Heinz bet.
In addition to its great coverage of leagues and events, the sportsbook offers football fans one very useful feature, called the Statistic Tooltip. It opens in a separate window and shows you the extensive statistics on the teams involved in the fixtures, including how many matches has a given team lost in a row and what its average goal score per match is.
The World Cup options for outright bettors are just as diverse. You can bet on who you think will win the entire championship, on the footballer to score the highest number of goals, or on the teams you believe will reach the semi-finals, among other options.
Additionally, there are all kinds of less popular sports you can bet on. If you prefer, you can stake some money on unconventional options like bowls, Gaelic hurling, futsal, surfing, water polo, and pesapallo.
Racing fans will not be disappointed by what MansionBet can offer, either. Wagers are accepted for a vast range of horse racing events that are held at some of the oldest racecourses in the UK and Ireland, including Salisbury, Roscommon, and Lingfield. Of course, international horse racing events also receive a good coverage.
You can browse through the racing events that are to be held during a specific day or check the ones that are to take place in the future. The starting times of all races for the day are also listed at the sportsbook to the convenience of punters. The weight, age and previous odds of all horses partaking in a given race are readily available as well, allowing punters to make educated guesses with their bets.
Harness racing is also an option for MansionBet’s customers. If interested, you can check the trotting section where you will find markets for prestigious trotting competitions like Australia’s Inter Dominion, for example.
Horse racing sometimes does not cut it, especially when one is into high-speed racing competitions that can truly give you an adrenaline rush. MansionBet has got them covered with a speedway section where they can make punts on events from elite competitions such as the Speedway Grand Prix and Sweden’s Elitserien. Cycling is yet another option for bettors as MansionBet would accept wagers for the Tour de France and Tour de Suisse, among other competitions.
MansionBet has plenty of surprises in store for fans of the e-sports that have been enjoying a good deal of popularity as of late. The sportsbook makes it possible for punters to back their favorite League of Legends, Counter Strike, or Heroes of the Storm teams.
The website even caters to the needs of people who are not interested in sports or are simply looking for a way to make a few extra bucks on less conventional markets. For example, you can try to guess who the next American president will be or who will win BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award.
Like any good online sportsbook on the web, MansionBet gives its customers the opportunity to make punts on ongoing events on the in-play markets where bets are accepted after the game has already commenced. You can visit the In-Play section of the website where you can check all international events that are currently in progress. These are separated into different categories on the basis of sport.
An extensive live schedule of all events for the day is also included here for punters to check. Another useful feature of the In-Play section allows you to save your most favorite bets. All in all, the only downside of the sportsbook is the absence of a live-streaming service but we believe this is to be expected from such a young sports betting website. Besides, Mansion is an experienced brand and would probably fix this omission in the near future.
Mobile Compatibility
MansionBet works on a rather decent range of portable devices but does not have a dedicated mobile application for a free download at the moment of writing this review. The brand has already launched a dedicated iOS app for its online casino which leads us to the conclusion there is a good chance it would soon develop a downloadable mobile software for its sports betting offering as well. We shall wait and see, but for the time being, punters who register at the website will be able to access the sportsbook in their mobile browsers only.
The absence of a native app cannot really be viewed as a disadvantage due to the fact MansionBet’s website has been fully optimized for mobile sports betting. The sportsbook’s platform responds seamlessly to both tablets and smartphones using the iOS and the Android operating systems. The mobile version of the sportsbook borrows all the useful features of the desktop version. Punters can browse through a huge variety of great markets with good odds as they go and place bets on popular sports like tennis, horse racing, basketball, hockey, football, golf, and cricket. A variety of in-play markets are also readily available at the fingertips of sports bettors.
Some of the features incorporated into the mobile version of the website aim specifically at making things easier for mobile bettors. One glaring example would be the YourBet feature. It grants on-the-go punters a speedy and hassle-free access to their wagers, enabling them to add more markets to their football bets and customize them into lucrative accumulators.
Additionally, punters at MansionBet are no longer forced to scroll through all the odds for the live markets. They can add in-play football bets to their slips with a simple tap on their touchscreens thanks to the ActionBetting feature. The latter would also show notifications when Action Bets are available and update the odds for the in-play markets automatically.
Bonuses and Promotional Offers
All the available promotional incentives you can partake in at MansionBet are listed in the dedicated Promotions tab of the sportsbook but as of now, the options do appear a bit scarce. Newly registered punters can kick off their betting sessions at MansionBet with a nice 50% sign-up bonus which offers them up to $50 extra after their first deposits. The minimum amount you need to deposit to become eligible is set at $10.
Similarly to those who claim bonuses at Mansion Casino, punters should do their best to comply with all the terms and conditions the sportsbook has attached to its sign-up offer. If you contravene the promotional conditions, there is a good chance your sports bonus will be voided by the operator so your first deposit will go for naught. The wagering requirements for this sign-up bonus are 6x the total of the deposit and bonus amounts. Keep in mind this sum needs to be wagered at minimal odds of 4/5 (1.80 in decimals and -125.00 in moneyline odds).
But these are not the only conditions since some of the markets are also excluded and if you punt on them while the bonus is still active, this would again lead to the forfeiture of your free credits. Single bets on the handicap and over/under markets are excluded. The bonus funds can be invested into accumulators involving multiple bets as long as all the selections have odds of 1/5 (1.20 in decimals and -500.00 for moneyline bettors).
Those who are into horse racing should also abstain from making any forecast and tricast wagers as these have zero contribution towards the wagering requirements of the bonus. Do not forget that these requirements need to be cleared within a certain period of time – in this case, you are given 30 days after depositing for the first time which is a reasonable timeframe in our opinion.
MansionBet extends its generosity towards current customers by offering them ongoing promotions like the ACCA Boost. The bonus is not valid for accumulators from all markets, however. One way to tell whether you qualify is to look for a gift icon that would appear on your betting slip when you add at least five selections to it.
The more selections you add, the larger the boost of your accumulator wins. Five and six selections can potentially boost your wins by 10%. Each subsequent selection would increase this bonus percentage with five or ten units until you eventually reach the 60% bonus added to the profits from winning accumulators consisting of 15 or more selections. The maximum you qualify for in extra profits is capped at $10,000 per selection.
Some of the promotional terms you need to pay a closer attention to again have to do with the odds allowed per selection. In the case of the ACCA Boost bonus, each selection you add to your accumulator should have odds of at least 1.20 (1/5 in fractions and -500.00 for the moneyline). Totals and Asian handicap wagers are excluded from participation and so are many of the markets available at MansionBet. The Boost can be used only on winning selections on pre-match markets like football, tennis, snooker, baseball, hockey, basketball, horse racing, and American football, among few others. Do not forget to check the promo terms for full details on this promotion.
Banking Solutions
The deposit and withdrawal options at MansionBet are somewhat scarce. At the moment of writing, MansionBet processes deposits via several trusted methods but these are all very popular, straightforward and safe to use, so customers will not have to fret over security matters. Punters can load funds into their sportsbook accounts via credit and debit cards by Visa and Mastercard, the e-wallet PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, Paysafecard, and fast bank transfers. Punters from some locations should also feel free to use Euteller, Sofort, Trustly, or Giropay. The minimum you are allowed to deposit is $10, i.e. if you are using the e-wallets or cards. Those who resort to fast bank transfers when topping their betting balance should comply with a deposit minimum of $20.
The deposit maximums are not explicitly listed in the cashier but all players are generally prompted to set their upper deposit limit they feel comfortable with during the registration procedure. When you click on the drop-down menu, you will see all available maximum limits. However, we can tell you from personal experience that the maximum sum you can deposit at MansionBet with a single transfer is capped at $25,000 if you are depositing with a credit or a debit card and $10,000 for deposits via e-wallets and fast bank transfers.
When you hover your mouse over your balance, another drop down menu would appear, showing you that the funds available in your account are divided into bonus and real-money balance for both the sportsbook and the casino. Each time you initiate a deposit, you will be asked to specify whether you want the money to be transferred to your sportsbook balance or you want it added to your casino balance. We believe this makes things more organized for depositors and enables them to keep a closer track of their funds.
As far as withdrawals go, the options are currently a bit limited, with punters having to choose from PayPal, fast bank transfers, Skrill, Neteller, and cards by Visa and Mastercard. The minimum limits for withdrawals coincide with those imposed on deposits, namely $10 for cards and e-wallets and $20 for the bank transfers. The maximum cap is again $100,000. Withdrawal requests at MansionBet are normally processed within a period of 48 hours. The currencies the sportsbook uses are EUR, CAD, USD, GBP, NZD, SEK, and ZAR.
Customer Support and Security
Mansion has 15 years of experience as an online gambling brand so it makes sense it knows how to approach its customers so that they feel valued and in good hands. Registered members of the sportsbook would also benefit from this long experience because it translates into a high-quality customer support service.
You can obtain all the information that you need to ensure your trouble-free betting session from the members of the support team, who are always friendly and will go out of their way to assist you in any manner possible. The team can be contacted via a handy live chat feature. You can see the speech bubble icon in the upper right corner of the homepage after you log into your account. Make sure you choose a subject before you input your question into the chat box – this would make things much easier both for you and the support staff.
That being said, it would have been much nicer if unregistered punters were also granted access to the chat facility but unfortunately this is not the case at MansionBet. If you need additional information prior to signing up, you will not be able to make use of the live chat. Your other options are to drop the support staff a few lines via an email or to call on the phone. There are two telephone lines listed on the contact page on the website, but only the UK number is toll-free. Those who use the international phone line will be charged for their conversations with customer support.
In addition to the effective customer support service, registered members of the MansionBet sportsbook will reap the benefits of placing their bets in a well-protected environment. Security at the website is ensured by the latest safety measures and technologies out there. Not only is personal information kept confidential but it is also protected by sophisticated firewalls and the latest RSA 128-bit encryptions.
Licenses and Restricted Countries
Joining a sports betting site that is operated by an experienced company usually serves as a good indicator of high quality and trustworthiness. MansionBet does not fall flat in this respect since it is managed and operated by the widely known company Mansion Europe Holdings Limited whose strong presence in the interactive gambling industry can be traced back to 2003.
Many punters have already heard the name of this company and know it is based in Gibraltar. Mansion is also responsible for the operations of several other successful gambling websites, the most notable mentions being the famed Casino.com and Slots Heaven. This only goes to show you can fully trust Mansion to deliver a world-class quality with its latest gambling product, its sportsbook MansionBet.
The brand has been given the green light to offer its services legitimately by the world-renowned UK Gambling Commission. It also has another license, granted by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission. These two authorities oversee all operations of the sportsbook and ensure it complies with their regulatory frameworks. This way, all players are protected and can rest assured that there is a regulatory body that can offer assistance in cases of any ensuing disputes between them and the sportsbook.
MansionBet is geared towards the needs of customers from the United Kingdom but players from some other countries can also sign up with accounts for the sportsbook. Some of the jurisdictions excluded from participating in the betting activities at MansionBet include Russia, Singapore, Bulgaria, Belgium, the USA, Japan, Greece, the Czech Republic, Spain, China, and Australia. You can find the full list in the sportsbook’s terms and conditions.
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Related Topics: @CloudExpo
Swisscom Taps Proofpoint for Cloud Services
Proofpoint's SaaS Email Archiving Solution Now Available to Enterprise Customers as Part of New Swisscom Cloud Services Offering
SUNNYVALE, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 06/22/10 -- Proofpoint, Inc., the leading provider of SaaS email security, email archiving and data loss prevention solutions, today announced a partnership with Switzerland's leading telecoms provider, Swisscom, to offer Proofpoint's SaaS email archiving solution, Proofpoint ARCHIVE as part of Swisscom's new range of Cloud Services.
Announced today in a separate Swisscom press release, Swisscom Cloud Services (http://www.swisscom.com/cloud) is a new family of on-demand IT offerings that combines cloud-based computing, storage and email archiving features powered by leading cloud-based solution providers including Proofpoint, Nirvanix and Verizon. Swisscom's Cloud Services gives enterprises a cost-effective way to build up their computing and storage capacity at any time, without investments in IT infrastructure or specialized staff.
"Today's enterprises are looking to cut costs and improve efficiency without sacrificing quality or security and Swisscom's customers expect the highest levels of service quality, availability and stability," said Roger Wüthrich-Hasenböhler, head of marketing and sales for Swisscom Corporate Business. "As a high-security, high-performance, low total-cost-of-ownership solution, Proofpoint's email archiving product was the perfect fit for our portfolio of cloud-based services."
"Proofpoint's SaaS solutions for email archiving, security and data loss prevention are an ideal value added offering for service providers and ISPs looking to broaden their cloud-based service portfolios," said Peter Galvin, chief marketing officer for Proofpoint. "We're proud to be part of the launch of Swisscom's innovative Cloud Services and look forward to helping their customers reap the many benefits of email archiving in the cloud, including reducing costs, speeding electronic discovery and improving compliance and litigation readiness."
Proofpoint ARCHIVE is a SaaS solution that makes it easy for organizations to securely archive email and solve the storage management, legal discovery and regulatory compliance challenges associated with email retention. Proofpoint ARCHIVE delivers the performance, scalability and cost savings of SaaS while providing the highest levels of security for each organization's archived data.
Proofpoint's patented DoubleBlind Encryption ensures that customer data is fully protected both in transit and in the cloud, while still providing full search and discovery capabilities. Proofpoint's grid storage and search architecture ensures high-speed search results for Proofpoint ARCHIVE users. Search results are returned in just seconds, regardless of the size of a customer's archive, with near-instantaneous search results guaranteed by Proofpoint ARCHIVE's service level agreements.
Proofpoint ARCHIVE's centralized, searchable, policy-based archive ensures that customers are always ready for litigation and regulatory audit requests and the solution makes it easy to create and enforce the legal holds required during eDiscovery. At the same time, it makes email end-users more productive by providing easy, self-service access to all of their historical email. IT administrators benefit from improved email system performance and simplified email system management through features including automated removal of large attachments ("stubbing") and PST file elimination.
Learn more about Swisscom's Cloud Services offerings by visiting http://www.swisscom.com/cloud.
To explore partnership opportunities with Proofpoint, please email [email protected].
Learn More about Email Security and Compliance in the Cloud
Learn more about how Proofpoint's Software-as-a-Service email security and email archiving solutions deliver maximum security at the lowest total cost of ownership. Download two Osterman Research whitepapers, Using SaaS to Reduce the Costs of Email Security and Email Archiving: Realizing the Cost Savings and Other Benefits from SaaS, by visiting:
http://www.proofpoint.com/tco
About Proofpoint, Inc.
Proofpoint secures and improves enterprise email infrastructure with solutions for email security, archiving, encryption and data loss prevention. Proofpoint solutions defend against spam and viruses, prevent leaks of confidential and private information, encrypt sensitive emails and archive messages for retention, e-discovery and easier mailbox management. Proofpoint solutions can be deployed on-demand (SaaS), on-premises (appliance), or in a hybrid architecture for maximum flexibility and scalability. For more information, please visit http://www.proofpoint.com.
About Swisscom Corporate Business
Swisscom Corporate Business specialises in communications solutions for corporate customers. Voice or data, mobile or fixed network, individual products or integrated solutions: as a leading independent business communications provider, the Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd division supports its customers with the planning, implementation and operation of their IT and communications infrastructures (ICT). Swisscom Corporate Business offers one-stop voice and data solutions in the areas of multimedia, security, alarms and collocation services. The division works closely with Swisscom IT Services to support its customers, for example with IT outsourcing. In 2009, Swisscom Corporate Business employed a workforce of 2,220 and generated net revenue of CHF 1 825 million. For further information, please visit www.swisscom.ch.
For more information on Swisscom's new Cloud Services, please visit http://www.swisscom.com/cloud.
Proofpoint, Proofpoint ARCHIVE and DoubleBlind Encryption are trademarks or registered trademarks of Proofpoint, Inc. in the US and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Proofpoint Press Contacts:
Christine Huynh
LEWIS PR
Marty Tacktill
EMC Explores New Cloud Services Via Acquisition
More Stories By Liz McMillan
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T3DB
Browse Toxins
ChemQuery Structure Search
Molecular Weight Search
Text Query
Sequence Search
LC-MS Search
LC-MS/MS Search
GC-MS Search
About T3DB
You are using an unsupported browser. Please upgrade your browser to a newer version to get the best experience on Toxin, Toxin Target Database.
Browsing Toxins
Displaying toxins 26 - 50 of 3678 in total
T3DB ID
Mechanism of Toxicity
T3D4979 Isoprenaline
7683-59-2 C11H17NO3
Adrenergic beta-Agonist
Bronchodilator Agent
Cardiotonic Agent
Metabolite
Sympathomimetic
Synthetic Compound
The pharmacologic effects of isoproterenol are at least in part attributable to stimulation through beta-adrenergic receptors of intracellular adenyl cyclase, the enzy...more
Number of Targets: 7
T3D4978 Cytarabine
147-94-4 C9H13N3O5
Antimetabolite, Antineoplastic
Antiviral Agent
Immunosuppressive Agent
Cytarabine acts through direct DNA damage and incorporation into DNA. Cytarabine is cytotoxic to a wide variety of proliferating mammalian cells in culture. It exhibit...more
T3D4977 Edetic Acid
62-33-9 C10H16N2O8
Anticoagulant
Chelating Agent
The pharmacologic effects of edetate calcium disodium are due to the formation of chelates with divalent and trivalent metals. A stable chelate will form with any meta...more
T3D4976 Clomifene
911-45-5 C26H28ClNO
Estrogen Antagonist
Fertility Agent, Female
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator
Clomifene has both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic properties, but its precise mechanism of action has not been determined. Clomifene appears to stumulate the release o...more
T3D4973 Cobalt-60
10198-40-0 Co
59.934 g/mol
Cobalt Compound
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Cobalt is believed to exhibit its toxicity through a oxidant-based and free radical-based processes. It produces oxygen radicals and may be oxidized to ionic cobalt, c...more
Number of Targets: 38
T3D4972 Chlorine gas
7782-50-5 Cl2
Industrial Precursor/Intermediate
Inorganic Compound
Lachrymator
Natural Compound
Chlorine is a strong oxidizer that hydrolyzes in water forming hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids. In this form, it can penetrate the cell and form N-chloro-derivativ...more
T3D4971 Bromide ion
24959-67-9 Br
The bromide ion is also known to affect the central nervous system, causing bromism. This is believed to be a result of bromide ions substituting for chloride ions in ...more
T3D4970 Sodium hypochlorite
7681-52-9 ClNaO
Sodium hypochlorite is a strong oxidizer. Oxidation reactions are corrosive, solutions burn skin and cause eye damage, especially when used in concentrated forms. In p...more
T3D4968 Hydrochloric acid
7647-01-0 ClH
Both hydrogen chloride gas and hydrochloric acid are highly corrosive. Many strong acids cause tissue burns through the denaturation of proteins and partial hydrolysi...more
T3D4967 L-Dopaquinone
110810-88-3 C9H9NO4
Animal Toxin
T3D4966 3-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropanoic acid
3247-75-4 C9H10O4
T3D4965 1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid
2906-39-0 C5H7NO2
T3D4964 Glyceraldehyde
56-82-6 C3H6O3
T3D4963 Lithocholic acid
434-13-9 C24H40O3
T3D4962 Galactosylsphingosine
T3D4961 Deoxycholic acid
83-44-3 C24H40O4
T3D4960 Galactonic acid
13382-27-9 C6H12O7
T3D4959 Pyrophosphate
14000-31-8 O7P2
T3D4958 Deoxyadenosine
958-09-8 C10H13N5O3
T3D4957 (E)-N-[2-[[5-(Dimethylaminomethyl)furan-2-yl]methylsulfanyl]ethyl]-1-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-2-nitroethenamine
102787-23-5 C17H29N5O3S
Acts as a neurotransmitter mimic , having both excitatory and depressant effects, eventually blocking postsynaptic nicotinic receptors. (T10)
T3D4956 Tritium
10028-17-8 H2
6.032 g/mol
Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen, which allows it to readily bind to hydroxyl radicals, forming tritiated water (HTO), and to carbon atoms. Since tritium is a low ene...more
T3D4955 2,3,6,9-Tetrachlorodecane
Not Available C10H18Cl4
Organic Compound
Organochloride
T3D4954 2,3,4,6,7,8,11-Heptachlorotridecane
T3D4953 2,3,4,6,7,8-Hexachlorodecane
T3D4950 Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate
115-96-8 C6H12Cl3O4P
This project is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and by The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC), a nationally-funded research and core facility that supports a wide range of cutting-edge metabolomic studies. TMIC is funded by Genome Canada, Genome Alberta, and Genome British Columbia, a not-for-profit organization that is leading Canada's national genomics strategy with $900 million in funding from the federal government.
T3DB Version 2.0 — Contact Us
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Accuracy of cystosonography in the diagnosis of vesicourethral reflux in children
Hasan Otukesh1, Rozita Hoseini1, Ashkan Heshmatzade Behzadi2, Mahsa Mehran2, Ali Tabbaroki3, Behnaz Khamesan3, Reza Farjad3, Violet Amirjalai3
1 Pediatric Nephrology, Labafi-Nejad Hospital, Tehran, Iran
2 Medical Faculty Research Center, Tehran, Iran
3 Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Date of Web Publication 7-May-2011
Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is found in 1% of all children and in 30%-50% of those with urinary tract infection. Furthermore, VUR in childhood is the main reason for pyelonephritis, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Recently, a variety of procedures with low radiation have been recommended for diagnosis of VUR. Therefore, in this study, voiding urosonography (VUS) or cystosonography was performed for evaluation of VUR and for comparing it with radio nucleotide cystography (RNC). We studied 25 children admitted with initial diagnosis of VUR in our center in the year 2007. Simultaneously, RNC and VUS were performed for all the patients. VUR was detected in eight patients with the VUS procedure and in nine children with RNC. Another patient was diagnosed only by RNC, and two other patients by only VUS. The two methods were concordant in detection and exclusion of urinary reflux in 87% (P: 0.000, r: 0.728). Furthermore, the diagnosis of various grades of reflux by these two schemes were comparable (P: 0.0000, r: 0.724). Sensitivity and specifity of VUS was determined as 87% and 88%, respectively, with a 94% positive predictive value and a 77% negative predictive value. We conclude that VUS is a highly accurate, safe and inexpensive tool for the screening, diagnosis and follow-up of VUR.
Otukesh H, Hoseini R, Behzadi AH, Mehran M, Tabbaroki A, Khamesan B, Farjad R, Amirjalai V. Accuracy of cystosonography in the diagnosis of vesicourethral reflux in children. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2011;22:488-91
Otukesh H, Hoseini R, Behzadi AH, Mehran M, Tabbaroki A, Khamesan B, Farjad R, Amirjalai V. Accuracy of cystosonography in the diagnosis of vesicourethral reflux in children. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl [serial online] 2011 [cited 2019 Jul 16];22:488-91. Available from: http://www.sjkdt.org/text.asp?2011/22/3/488/80485
From 1990 until now, there have been several attempts for finding an efficient, practical and with less-imposing radiation technique for screening of children with different grades of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). Upon this, sonography with echo contrast materials, which has been introduced as a routine and safe diagnostic method in some centers. [1]
Essential substances for filling up the bladder in voiding ultrasonography (VUS) are normal saline, air bubbles and radio opaque derivatives. In two different studies, air was emphasized as a validate material for accentuating the diagnosis of VUR in VUS. [2],[3] Furthermore, Haburg et al demonstrated that the combination of air and normal saline enhance the accuracy of diagnosis of all of grades of VUR. [4]
Some studies compared VUS with other methods such as radio nucleotide cystography (RNC), of which many claimed a high specificity of VUS in distinguishing a variety of VUR, particularly the transitional one (pseudo VUR).
In this study, VUS was evaluated for safety, sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of VUR in children referred to our center.
We studied 25 children under the age of 15 years with first episode of urinary tract infection evaluated at the Labafai Nejad Education and Treatment Center in the year 2007. All patients suffering from acute pyelonephritis or any complication of malfunction and/or anatomical defects related to the lower urinary tract system were excluded.
RNC and VUS tests were performed sequentially on all the study patients. RNC was considered as the gold standard diagnostic method. Before performing any diagnostic tests, a negative result of urine culture in the cases should be obtained.
VUS was accomplished by using a real-time equipment (Hitachi, 7.5 MHTZ transducer) under the supervision of an expert specialist in a double-blind fashion. The echo contrast solution used was Levovist suspension, an echo contrast substance composed of glucose and air bubbles with Pamtic acid.
Initially, the kidneys, ureters and bladder were evaluated by using ultrasonography, followed by measuring the urine residue in the bladder after voiding. In the final step, 10-20 mL of normal saline with a 5 mL/kg of Levovist suspension in children and 1 mL/kg in infants were entered into the bladder by a urine catheter. The diagnostic images were obtained during the loading and unloading periods of the contrast suspension in the bladder. The different grades of reflux were classified similar to the RNC. Accordingly, grade I was considered as mild, grades II and III as moderate and grades IV and V as severe. [5]
All the study findings were analyzed by SPSS (Version; 14). Specifically, sensitivity and negative and positive predictive values were determined for all the outcomes obtained from both the tests. A P-value < 0.05 was set as significant.
The study patients had an average age of 4.5 years (min, 6 months; max, 13 years). Twenty percent of the patients were male and the rest were female.
VUR was found in eight cases when using RNC and in nine cases with VUS. Another patient was diagnosed only by RNC, and two other patients by only VUS. In these two cases, Di Mercapto Succynil Acid (DMSA) scan demonstrated scarring damage [Table 1].
Table 1: Comparative results of radio nucleotide cystography and voiding ultrasonography in the study patients.
VUS showed a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 88%, a positive predictive value of 77%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94%, and accuracy of 88%.
The results gathered from performing VUS and RNC were compared and a significant correlation was found (P: 0.000, r: 0.728). In addition, there was a positive correlation between various grades of reflux diagnosed by these two techniques (P: 0.000, r: 0.724).
VUR is one of the most common findings among children suffering from recurrent urinary tract infection. Congenital defects of the urinary tract are the main reasons for VUR. [6] The risk of fibrosis due to pyelonephritis is increased according to the severity of VUR. [7],[8],[9],[10],[11]
VUR is considered as one of the major predisposing factors for elevated blood pressure in children. In addition, VUR followed by renal fibrosis may result, gradually, in chronic renal failure in children. [12],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17]
VUS and RNC have been compared in previous studies in the literature. Meutzel et al reported that the sensitivity and specificity of VUS in comparison with RNC was 90% and 94.6%, respectively. [18] In a similar study, the specifity and sensitivity of VUS was reported as 100% and 88%, respectively. [1] In our study, all the patients with VUR diagnosed with VUS had grade I, and 40% of the cases assessed only with RNC suffering from grades I and II of VUR. [1] In our study, the NPV was 94%, being in the range of other previous studies. [8]
Accordingly, VUS at least has this capability to exclude high-grade VUR. In fact, some researchers recommend VUS as an initial test for evaluation and screening of VUR in females, for follow-up of cases and in high-risk patients, including the first degree relatives of the patients. [19]
In two studies, specifity and sensitivity of VUS as a comparison with RNC were reported as 86-100% and 88-100%, respectively, [1],[20],[21] which is in the range of our findings.
In contrast, sensitivity in VUS was lower in another study (67-79%), but specificity was 96%, similar to our study. [22]
In all these researches, there were some cases that reported the existence of VUR only with the RNC method. [20]
DMSA scan could be used to confirm the findings obtained by RNC. Two cases in our study were diagnosed only by VUS. DMSA has this ability to augment the transient VUR due to complete filling up of the urinary bladder. [1]
Although VCUG is considered a standard procedure for detecting VUR and contrast enhanced scentigraphy were introduced as a reliable imaging modality, which can be administrated in many cases. [24]
VUS and VCUG were compared. Interestingly, the range of disagreement between them was high (22%) in some studies. [25],[26] On the other hand, in some studies, the results were very close, but in case of disagreement, DMSA was performed to confirm the final result. RNC has less-invasive imaging than VCUG in the terms of exposure radiation. [26] The concordance between DMSA scan and VUS was reported to be around 85.3%. [23]
We conclude that VUS as a screening and diagnostic technique is highly useful, especially during follow-up of VUR with a low amount of exposure radiation and high accuracy.
1. Darge K. Diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux with ultrasonography. Pediatr Nephrol 2002;17 (1):52-60.
2. Azen G, Wildberger JE, Ferris EJ, et al. Sonographic detection of vesicoureteral reflux with air: A new method. Eur Radiol 1994;4:142-5.
3. Siamplis D, Vasiou K, Giarmenitis S, et al. Sonographic detection of vesicoureteral reflux with fluid and air cystography: Comparison with VCUG. Rofo 1996;165(2):166-9.
4. Hanbury DC, Coulden RA, Farman P, et al. Ultrasound cystography in the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux. Br J Urol 1999;65(3): 250-3.
5. Atala A, Keating MA. Vesicoureteral Reflux & Megaureter. In: Walsh PC, Retik AB, Vaughan ED, Wein AJ. Campbell's Urology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Saunders. 2002:2060-1.
6. Elder JS. Vesicoureteral reflux. In: Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 17th ed. Philadelphia, Saunders. 2004:1790-4.
7. Tanagho EA.Vesicoureteral reflux. In: Tanagho EA, McAninch JW. Smith' General Urology. 15th ed. San Francisco, Appelton & Lange. 2000:179-94.
8. Edmond T, Gonzales, JR, Roth RD, et al. Urinary tract infection. In: McMillian JA, DeAngeli GD, Feigin RD, Warshaw JB. Oski`s Pediatrics. 3rd ed. Pennsylvania, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 1999:1560-2.
9. Kanematsu A, Yamamoto S, Yoshino K, et al. Renal scarring is associated with nonsecretion of blood type antigen in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux. J Urol 2005;174(4):1594-7.
10. Tombesi M, Ferrari CM, Bertolotti JJ, et al. Renal damage in refluxing and non-refluxing siblings of index children with vesicoureteral reflux. Pediatr Nephrol 2005;20(8):1201-2.
11. Goldman M, Bistritzer T, Horne T, et al. The etiology of renal scars in infants with pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux. Pediatr Nephrol 2000;14(5):385-8.
12. Hellerstein S. Urinary tract infections- old and new concepts. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1995;42 (6):1433-57.
13. Roberts JA. Etiology and pathophysiology of pyelonephritis. Am J Kidney Dis 1991;17:1-9.
14. Gill DG, Mendes de Costa B, Cameron JS, et al. Analysis of 100 children with severe and persistent hypertension in children with chronic pyelonephritis. Arch Dis Child 1976;51(12): 951-6.
15. Holland NH, Kotchen T, Bhathena D, et al. Hypertension in children with chronic pyelonephritis. Kidney Int Suppl 1975;Suppl:S243-51.
16. Holland NH, Kotchen T, Bhathena D. Reflux nephropathy and hypertension. In: Hodson CJ, Kincaid-smith. Reflux nephropathy. New York, Masson. 1976:257.
17. Madani K, Otoukesh H, Rastegar A, et al. Chronic renal failure in Iranian children. Pediatr Nephrol 2001;16(2):140-4.
18. Mentzel HJ, Vogt S, John U, et al. Voiding urosonography with ultrasonography contrast medium in children. Pediatr Nephrol 2002;17 (4):272-6.
19. Darge K, Bruchelt W, Roessling G and Troeger J. Interaction of normal saline solution with ultrasound contrast medium: significant implication for sonogramphic diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Eur Radiol 2003;13(1):213-8.
20. Kenda RB, Novljan G, Kenig A, et al. Echoenhanced ultrasound voiding cystography in children: A new approach. Pediatr Nephrol 2000; 14(4):297-300.
21. Gross G, Perlmutter S. VUR in children. e-Med 2002;20:14-8.
22. Giordano M, Marzolla R, Puteo F, Scianaro L, Caringella DA, Depalo T. Voiding urosonography as first step in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux in children: a clinical experience. Pediatr Radiol 2007;37(7):674-7.
23. Synder H. Vesicoureteric reflux. BJU Int 2000; 85:54-7.
24. Vassiou K, Vlychou M, Moisidou R, Sioka A, Fezoulidis IV. Contrast-enhanced sonographic detection of vesicoureteral reflux in children: comparison with voiding cystourethrography. Rofo 2004;176(10):1453-7.
25. Ascenti G, Zimbaro G, Mazziotti S, Chimenz R, Baldari S, Fede C. Vesicoureteral Reflux: comparison between urosonography and radio-nuclide cystography. Pediatr Nephrol 2003;18 (8):768-71.
26. Piaggio G, Deglinnocenti ML, Toma P, Calevo MG, Perfumo F. Cystosonograhy and voiding cystourethrography in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Pediatr Nephrol 2003;18(1):18-22.
Ashkan Heshmatzade Behzadi
Medical Faculty Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran
Otukesh H
Hoseini R
Behzadi AH
Mehran M
Tabbaroki A
Khamesan B
Farjad R
Amirjalai V
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Download The Blast Furnace PowerPoint Presentation
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Slide 1 - The Blast Furnace By Chan, Sam and Elly
Slide 2 - What is a Blast Furnace? The purpose of a blast furnace is to reduce and convert iron oxides into liquid iron called "hot metal". The blast furnace is a huge, steel stack lined with refractory brick. Iron ore, coke and limestone are put into the top, and preheated air is blown into the bottom.
Slide 3 - Why does Iron have to be extracted in a Blast Furnace??? Iron can be extracted by the blast furnace because it can be displaced by carbon. This is more efficient method than electrolysis because it is more cost effective
Slide 4 - ppt slide no 4 content not found
Slide 5 - Three substances are needed to enable to extraction of iron from its ore. The combined mixture is called the charge: Iron ore, haematite - often contains sand with iron oxide, Fe2O3. Limestone (calcium carbonate). Coke - mainly carbon The charge is placed a giant chimney called a blast furnace. The blast furnace is around 30 metres high and lined with fireproof bricks. Hot air is blasted through the bottom. The Method
Slide 6 - Oxygen in the air reacts with coke to give carbon dioxide: C(s) + O 2(g) CO2(g) The limestone breaks down to form carbon dioxide: CaCO3(s) CO2 (g) + CaO(s) Carbon dioxide produced in 1 + 2 react with more coke to produce carbon monoxide: CO2(g) + C(s) 2CO(g) Several reactions take place before the iron is finally produced...
Slide 7 - The carbon monoxide reduces the iron in the ore to give molten iron: 3CO(g) + Fe2O3(s) 2Fe(l) + 3CO2(g) The limestone from 2, reacts with the sand to form slag (calcium silicate): CaO(s) + SiO(s) CaSiO3(l)
Slide 8 - Both the slag and iron are drained from the bottom of the furnace. The slag is mainly used to build roads. The iron whilst molten is poured into moulds and left to solidify - this is called cast iron and is used to make railings and storage tanks. The rest of the iron is used to make steel.
Slide 9 - Thank you for watching!!!
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1.Background
2. Principles
3. Types of Recognised Prior Learning
6. Appeals
Safeguarding Policy 2018-19
Staffordshire University has long been committed to excelling in support for learning and teaching and to widening participation in higher education.
The Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme (RPLS) seeks to recognise and value prior learning and help students find their level and make the best use of their learning experiences. It provides a framework to bring together all RPL provision and ensure equity of treatment across subject disciplines.
The RPL Scheme is designed to encourage achievers to participate in higher education by enabling them to utilise prior knowledge and skills appropriately against the Learning Outcomes of their chosen programme.
The RPLS enables an individual, or group of students to incorporate previous relevant theoretical and/or practical learning into a programme of study and be accredited for this learning. Accreditation is a means of considering all relevant formal certificated learning and experiential learning for credit towards a named award. Units of learning, theoretical or practical that are accepted for accreditation must be of compatible value to the programme content and academic level. The smallest unit of accreditation or recognition will be a module. RPL applications cannot be made retrospectively in the event that a module has been taken and failed.
The methods and processes of acquisition of knowledge and skills may be different but the learning outcomes must be seen as substantially equivalent to those identified in the approved award. This equivalence can be claimed against a level of study using the level learning outcomes and/or individual module(s) using module learning outcomes and applies to both specific and general credit. The RPLS will only accredit prior learning where the University award is of an equal or higher level than that previously studied.
When Faculties review the evidence they must satisfy the following criteria:
Validity – evidence must be provided that the prior learning for which the applicant is claiming credit is relevant to the programme they have applied for at Staffordshire University. The applicant must demonstrate that there is an appropriate match in both level and content between the previous studies and the Staffordshire University module or modules for which they are seeking accreditation.
Currency – prior learning must have been gained sufficiently recent to make it still of value. The RPL Scheme will recognise formal certificated or experiential learning which has occurred up to five years prior to the start date of the course. Articulation and Advance Standing Agreements will be reviewed periodically and when there are significant changes to either institution’s courses.
Sufficiency – applicants must provide enough evidence to fully demonstrate they have achieved the credit currently being claimed.
Authenticity – evidence must be provided that relates to the applicants own efforts and should be able to be verified as such.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to gather evidence for any claim.
A maximum of 30 credits from a completed award can be used to count towards a qualification at the same level. So a student with a BSc can only reuse a maximum of 30 credits from that award towards another BSc and a student with a Masters can only reuse a maximum of 30 credits from that award towards another Masters qualification.
However, a student may seek to use credits previously gained in order to contribute to a higher level award or to an award that is larger in terms of the number of credits. For example:
• A student with a Certificate of Higher Education could use the credits from that award towards a honours degree (if appropriate);
• A student with a Postgraduate Certificate could use the credits from that award towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters (if appropriate).
Prior learning can only be used for accreditation purposes once. Students who have been accredited for specific prior learning at Staffordshire University or another institution cannot apply for accreditation of this specific learning again.
No student should be disadvantaged whether through progression opportunities or award classification through following a Recognition of Prior Learning route. Some University courses are accredited by professional bodies and in some instances this may prevent the University from accrediting prior learning.
Admission to the first year without any module exemptions of a higher education course is not considered within RPL as this is considered in recruitment and admissions policies and covered by the QAA Quality Code chapter B2* .
There are a number of instances where either individual applicants claim for RPL, or the University uses RPL for a group of applicants for example:
An individual applicant** may claim for RPL before they enrol on their course.
A group of applicants, for example from a corporate client, may apply for accreditation of their learning.
The University may formalise accreditation of a qualification from an external body (such as Edexcel).
The University may accredit prior study or qualification on a particular course from another educational institution***
These pre- course enrolment RPL claims are dealt with by admissions or course tutors/ leaders using the principles above.
A student may, once commenced their studies, decide that they have a case to be accredited for a module(s) on their course. These post- course enrolment RPL claims are dealt with by the course leader, again, using the principles above.
Credit Transfer is the mechanism whereby individual students who have successfully completed a level, stage or module(s) in an HE course at another institution may apply to transfer that credit to an appropriate course at the university.
Advanced Standing is the process by which students are advanced on a course through APCL or APEL.
Articulation is the process by which the University makes the judgement whether students from another institution are admitted to a course with advanced standing.
Articulation Agreements are the means by which cohorts of students on a particular course and institution, who satisfy academic criteria, are automatically entitled to be admitted with advanced standing to a specified course at Staffordshire University. Articulation Agreements are formally approved via an agreement between the University and the institution or approved as a progression agreement at a course approval event.
Advanced Standing Agreements are the means by which Staffordshire University agree by prior arrangement that students who are either on a particular course and institution (who satisfy academic criteria), or have passed a qualification from a particular awarding body, or have been accredited with specific learning, may apply to transfer an agreed stage of a particular programme of study and/or be accredited with certain modules (subject to general admissions considerations, for example, visas and English language requirements). Advanced Standing Agreements are formally approved by Staffordshire University.
Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL) is the means by which previously assessed and certificated learning is considered and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes. This learning may or may not be credit-bearing.
Accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) is the means by which learning achieved outside education or training systems is assessed and, as appropriate, recognised for academic purposes. Credit is awarded not on the experience itself but on what the student has learned from that experience. Therefore there has to be submission of an assessment of this learning reflecting the learning outcomes of the level/module(s) claimed for accreditation.
* QAA (2013) UK Quality Code for HE ‘Chapter B2: Recruitment, Selection and Admission to Higher Education’ Gloucester: QAA
** QAA (2013) UK Quality Code for HE ‘Chapter B6: Assessment of Students and Recognition of Prior Learning’ Gloucester: QAA
*** QAA (2013) UK Quality Code for HE ‘Chapter B10: Managing Higher Education Provision with Others’ Gloucester: QAA
Normally a maximum of 50% of credits for any award may be set against the Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme. Exceptions have to be approved by the relevant Faculty who will in turn forward minutes covering these approvals to the University Quality Committee. The scope of RPL is subject to the specific requirements of the approved course, any professional, regulatory and statutory bodies and the discretion of the relevant Faculty.
The maximum volume of RPL is indicated in the table below with examples of approved exceptions to the usual 50% maximum. This is for guidance only and does not constitute an entitlement. Applicants would be required to claim for RPL unless covered by Advanced Standing or Articulation Agreements.
Maximum Volume of RPL on Staffordshire University Courses
Award Credit Required for Award Max credit via RPL Minimum Credits to be taken on Staffordshire University approved course
Grad Dip
120 60 60 credits at Level 6 or above
Grad Cert
60 30 30 credits at Level 6 or above
Honours Degree 360 240 120 credits with at least 90 at Level 6
Ordinary Degree 300 240 60 at Level 6
FdA/FdSc 240 120 120 credits with at least 60 at Level 5
DipHE 240 120 120 credits with at least 60 at Level 5
HND 240
120 120 credits including at least 60 at Level 5
HNC 120 60 60 credits at Level 4 or above
CertHE 120 60 60 credits at Level 4 or above
480 320 160 credits with at least 90 credits at level 7
Masters 180 120 60 credits at Level 7 (including the Dissertation)
PgDip 120 60 60 credits at Level 7
PgCert 60 30 30 credits at Level 7
Credit bearing doctoral awards (e.g. DBA, EdD, DClinPsy) 540 180 360 credits at level 8
Chapter B6 ‘Assessment of students and the recognition of prior learning’ of the QAA UK Quality Code states that ‘judgements of student performance are based on the extent to which the student is able to demonstrate achievement of the corresponding intended learning outcomes’**** Academic judgement is at the core of these decisions.
Each RPL decision is arrived at on a course by course basis by mapping either the stage, or level, or module learning outcomes (according to the type of application). Mappings for group RPL will be documented in the associated advanced standing or articulation agreements and individual RPL will be recorded on the notes pages of the student information system (SITS) by the relevant member of staff (usually course or admissions tutor).
All applications for RPL should be made as early as possible – before a module commences is preferable. If the module has already commenced, the module/course leader will need to advise the student that applications can be rejected and therefore there may be a need to continue with module attendance/learning while the application is being processed. All RPL claims must be made in the English Language and where necessary the student will need to provide translations of evidence for the claim. If the decision is that the learning (certificated or experiential) has not met the learning outcomes the student should continue to study the module and undertake the full assessment in the usual way.
For students who have progressed to an Honours degree from another award of this University (e.g. Foundation Degree, HNC or HND) credit awarded will carry the marks achieved and these will be included in the calculation of the Honours degree. For all other instances, credit awarded through the RPLS will be ungraded and will be recorded as the pass mark of 40%E for undergraduates (50%E for postgraduates) on the students’ profile. This mark will not be taken into account when calculated the average mark for classification purposes.
Advanced Standing and Articulation Agreements
Applications for Advanced Standing and Articulation from other educational institutions will be considered by the Faculty, usually at the Faculty Quality Committee. A list of Articulation/Advanced Standing agreements will be held within the relevant Faculty. Students who apply to the University under these arrangements are not required to complete an individual APL application.
Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL)
Students applying for APCL should provide copies (sight of originals may be requested for verification) of the certificated learning to the admissions/ course leader. This Faculty will then check that the learning outcomes from the certificated prior learning align with the learning outcomes of the module/level/stage of the Staffordshire University course. This may be via a Faculty committee or designated individuals.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
Students applying APEL should discuss with the admissions tutor or course leader the specific evidence of the claim and submit an assessment determined by the admissions tutor/ course leader. This may be in the form of a portfolio. The assessment brief will be submitted for approval through the usual Faculty processes. A form should be completed (in appendix (PDF, file size: 14.79KB) ) for the application and assessment. A clear indication should be made at the front of the submission indicating the mapping of the learning outcomes of the claimed module(s)/ level to the evidence of experiential learning submitted. These will be assessed by the course/ module leader as pass/fail (ungraded) and if passed will be recorded as the pass mark of 40%E (50%E postgraduate) on the students’ profile. This mark will not be taken into account when calculated the average mark for classification purposes. The submitted assessments will be subject to the usual Faculty moderation and external examining processes.
These assessments will be retained by the relevant Faculty and made available to the relevant award or module external examiner.
In some cases, where the course is subject to specific professional, regulatory and statutory bodies there may be a further Faculty based approval for any claims of RPL.
There is usually no cost to the student for Advanced Standing, Credit Transfer, Articulation and Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL). However where there is extensive scrutiny of non-standard certificated evidence there may be a fee charged.
Due to the assessment element of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) there is a charge of 40% of the module fee.
**** QAA (2013) UK Quality Code for HE Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality. Chapter B6 ‘Assessment of students and recognition of prior learning’. Gloucester: QAA (page 3).
^ Staffordshire University Academic Award Regulations
In accordance with the University’s student appeals regulations, an appeal can only be made against an RPL decision on the basis that there was a material error or irregularity in the process.
The process for appealing against an RPL decision will be as per the ‘Procedure for a student to appeal against the decision of an Assessment/Award Board’ available on the University Web Site.
Equality issues have been taken into account during the development of this policy and all protected characteristics have been considered as part of the Equality Analysis undertaken.
Recognition of Prior Learning Policy 2018-19 (PDF, file size: 127.2KB)
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Distracted driving tops drivers' concerns, AAA study finds
By Tim Harlow
March 29, 2018 — 8:37am
April is Distracted Driving Awareness month and it's a topic that will be in the news quite a bit over the next 30 days, and for good reason.
Distracted driving is the top concern of motorists, worse than other risky behaviors such as aggressive driving, drunken driving and drivers who are high on drugs, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's 2017 Traffic Safety Culture Index released Thursday. It even outpaced the concern over congestion.
Nearly 88 percent of motorists say distracted driving is worse than it was three years ago. More than 58 percent say drivers talking on a cellphone while behind the wheel is a serious threat to their personal safety and 78 percent believe that texting is a significant danger.
But drivers' behaviors don't match their talk. Nearly half of drivers admit to talking on a hands-held cellphone while motoring and 35 percent say the have sent a text or email message, the survey found.
"There is a disconnect between what drivers do and what they believe," said Jake Nelson, the foundation's director of traffic safety advocacy and research. "While most recognize the dangers created by taking your eyes off the road, they engage in distracting behaviors anyway, creating a 'do as I say, not as I do' culture on the roadway."
A previous study found that drivers who talk on a cellphone are four times more likely to be involved in a crash and those who text and drive are eight times more likely to be involved in a wreck.
As more and more people get smartphones, drivers say they have noticed more motorists using them while behind the wheel. More than half of survey respondents report that they regularly see other motorists emailing or texting. Despite identifying those behaviors as a threat to their safety, 44.9 percent of drivers read a text or email while driving. And 34.6 percent were guilty of tapping out and sending a message, the survey said.
As researchers continue to look for hard evidence that links traffic crashes to cellphones, just about every week there are accounts of deadly crashes involving drivers who likely were on their phones. Just last month a semitrailer truck driver was allegedly texting when he plowed into a car stopped at a red light on Hwy. 36. The impact killed the other driver and the semi driver was charged in connection with the Feb. 27 wreck at Lake Elmo Avenue that killed Robert Bursik.
Those types of incidents are why many are pushing for Minnesota to pass a law that would prohibit drivers from talking on a hands-held cellphone while behind the wheel. A bill outlawing the practice is currently being debated at the capitol.
An overwhelming majority of drivers appear to support some legislation. More than 73 percent favor laws against using a hand-held cellphone while driving. But only 41 percent support an all-out ban on using any type of cellphone, including the hands free variety.
Two airlifted to hospital after minivan and semi collide on Hwy. 23 near Paynesville
Not Super Bowl levels, but spring break passenger volume booming at MSP
The Drive will keep you up to speed with the latest on Twin Cities commuting.
More From The Drive
Freezing drizzle has motorists slipping, sliding, crashing
Light fog and freezing drizzle moved into the metro area and the result has been scores of wrecks and spin outs.
New East Bush Lake Road ramp to I-494 may open to drivers by Friday
Bloomington motorists have waited a long long time - 58 years to be exact - for a ramp leading from East Bush Lake Road to westbound Interstate 494, and the wait is nearly over.
Weekend I-35W closure in Minneapolis will be last of the year
Drivers can plan on more weekend closures in the spring as the $239 million I-35W downtown-to-Crosstown project continues until 2021. In a shred of good news, MnDOT will reopen ramp access from northbound I-35W to 5th Avenue on Monday.
Here we go again: 35W closing this weekend between I-94, Crosstown
Winter's arrival has not put the chill on road construction as drivers will encounter another weekend freeway closure in Minneapolis, and bridge work in Forest Lake is expected to bring traffic delays.
Slippery roads spawn scores of morning rush hour crashes
It's hardly a big snow storm, but snow combined with temperatures at or just below freezing is all it takes to create slick conditions on metro area roads.
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Duration: 26 September '12
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr in assosciation with the Directorate of Art & Culture, Panaji, Go, organised Poetry Recitation Competition for the North Goa School of Std. V & VI at the Institute on September 8, 2012.. In all 20 schools participated. Miss Shenaya Pereira of Mary Immaculate Girls High School, Panaji, bagged the first place, while Miss Stcey D'Souza (Holy Cross High School, Bastora), Miss Shenaya Mahale (People's High School, Panaji), Miss Siddhi Sidruk (Assagao Union High School, Assagao),Master Marlon Cardozo (Holy Family High School, Porvorim) bagged the second, third, fourth and fifth prizes respectively. Certificates and Gift Hampers were given to the other participants. Fr. Ave Maria Afonso, Mrs. Nila Padte and Mrs. Shaila Dhumatkar were the judges. Mr. Rene Mesquita, a teacher from Loyola HIgh School, Margao compered the programme. Ms. Minakshi Khandolkar gave the vote of thanks.
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Grammy Award winner, Cece Winans and her electrifying five-piece band and singers present music from her latest praise and worship CD. This performance exemplifies Winans' onstage charm and charisma, and offers a selection of songs shot through with a vital Christian message. The incredible worship experience not only includes 90 minutes of the worship experience, but also includes... Read More »»
Darlene Zschech - Revealing Jesus (DVD)
Iconic worship leader Darlene Zschech presents Revealing Jesus: A Live Worship Experience , produced by Grammy winner Israel Houghton and special guest appearances as well as co-writes with Micheal W. Smith and Kari Jobe. The songs on this live album reflect on the grace given through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as how believers perceive Jesus and can walk in His truth.... Read More »»
Deitrick Haddon's LXW (League of Xtraordinary Worshippers)
The Return of the Choir Movement is back and its being ushered in by Deitrick Haddon’s LXW. The 100 member strong, young adult choir adds some energy into this genre. It contains the hit “Great God” and features guest artists such as Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, Jessica Reedy and Ricky Dillard. It includes a bonus 4-page comic book! This dynamic DVD was filmed at the City of Refuge Church... Read More »»
KSH795.00 KSH450.00
Heaven is fo Real
A must see for the whole family! Included with purchase is Digital Ultraviolet to Watch it Anywhere Based on the number 1 New York Times best-selling book, Heaven is for Real recounts the true story of a small town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world. Starring Academy Award Greg Kinnear (Best Supporting... Read More »»
Hope For The Hurting Hearts
Everyone has to deal with crises in life, including Christians. And sometimes, the reality of life can seem unbearable. But we can rest in the knowledge that God loves us, He weeps in our times of pain, and He can be glorified through suffering. Narrated by Dr. James Dobson, Hope for Hurting Hearts tells the stories of how Greg and Cathe Laurie, Jeremy Camp, Nick Vujicic, and their families dealt... Read More »»
Israel and New Breed-Live From Another Level (DVD)
This concert will take you on an extraordinary ride; a journey in the presence of God with the songs from “Live From Another Level.” Join Israel and New Breed as they express their love for God and present a sacrifice of praise before the nations. Read More »»
IT’S4REAL: Anchor Your Hope/Champing At the Bit-Martin McCroy
“ITS4REAL” is a very popular moral regeneration program for South with an audience of 320,000 right across the nation. ITS4REAL is a solution-focused initiative, which emphasizes on positivity. This creates an appetite for a higher way of living, without being condescending. “Anchor Your Hope” explains how hope, like an anchor, is the great stabilizer of humanity. “Champing At The Bit” parallels... Read More »»
IT’S4REAL: Taming the Tiger/On Cutting Edge-Martin McCroy
“ITS4REAL” is a very popular moral regeneration program for South with an audience of 320,000 right across the nation. ITS4REAL is a solution-focused initiative, which emphasizes on positivity. This creates an appetite for a higher way of living, without being condescending. Featured on this DVD are teachings about the tongue-one of the smallest, yet impactful parts of the body. Martin explains... Read More »»
iWorship @home Volume 11
Now homes everywhere can experience the iWorship adventure that's brought a visual dimension to worshiping churches around the world. Each iWorship @ Home DVD features 14 breathtaking videos - combining sight and sound to bring the world's best worship songs to life. With optional on-screen words and long play or select-by-song options, these DVDs are perfect for home groups, family gatherings... Read More »»
iWorship @home Volume 2
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Tagged Election
How the NDP toppled a 44-year PC dynasty
By Fabian Mayer, May 14 2015 — Prior to last week, only Albertans over the age of 65 could say they had voted in a provincial election that did not result in a Progressive Conservative majority government. The PCs’ near 44-year reign ended when Albertans elected the New Democratic Party as their government on May…
Student issues ignored during provincial election campaign
By Fabian Mayer, May 14 2015 Taxation, healthcare and K-to-12 education were all hotly debated during Alberta’s election. Student issues, on the other hand, were all but ignored. Both post-secondary funding and the tuition cap were left out of the election’s lone televised debate and they were seldom mentioned on the campaign trail. Students’ Union…
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Interview | Fake Club
From Bangor’s brightest Two Door Cinema Club to the 90s pop troupe of seven, the idea of the ‘Club’ is no new notion when it comes to band monikers. Even unassuming North London quartet Bombay Bicycle Club switched between various aliases before sticking with the collective ring of similarly named Indian restaurants. Yet, unlike their pop predecessors before them, Fake Club are a band that won’t be accompanied by any sort of questionable kids TV show nor even a scent of their manufactured musical tones [or a Sag aloo for that matter!]
With hints of 70’s Led Zeppelin macho nonchalance in the bands garage rock riffery and growling lead vocals, Fake Club create a visceral, defiant and powerful noise. Kicking back against the “Gameboy generation”, the band only go to show fellow femmes out there that it’s OK to cut their nails and pick up a guitar and that’s something we fully applaud here at The Girls Are. So, what do the self professed haters of our reality obsessed generation think of X Factor generated, 1D going up against bands like the XX at this year’s Brit Awards and who were their pop muses growing up? We chat the relevance of the full length format, Daddy Warbucks and keeping it real with our blues sisters…
TGA: How did you all come together to form Fake Club and, more importantly, how can we join?
Chloe: Vicky and I knew each other from uni and Vicky was friends with Aicha so she got her involved. Aisha stole Rosie from another band.
Rosie: I was playing and Aicha saw me in my poor, little band who are now probably all working in Asda…[Laughter] but yeah, basically she came up to me and said ‘You have to come and have a jam with us. I came and had a jam and then we all went out to the Blues Kitchen in Camden one night and heard this amazing lead guitarist and were just like ‘What, the…?’ We obviously thought it was going to be a boy and then saw her [!] …
Vicky: She does have short hair!
Rosie: We were just like ‘Oh my god, Justin Bieber’s got really good at guitar’.
Vicky: Either way, if she’d been a boy or a girl; she would have been in.
Rosie: So, we took her back to our rehearsal space that night and all had a drunken jam with a couple of bottles of whiskey and a year later, here we are.
TGA: As you mentioned briefly Rosie, you were in another project before this [Big Kids with Mr Hudson] Are any of you doing any other projects at the moment or have you all dedicated time to this one?
Carmen: Not now…We did all used to have different projects but we’ve all said goodbye to those because we’ve found each other.
[what a lovely story]
Rosie : It warms the cockles.
TGA: To describe your sound, you do reference the Spice Girls [but with guitars] If you all had to have a similarly Spice girl-esque name for Fake Club, what would you all be called and why?
Chloe: We’ve got a few nicknames between ourselves anyway…I’m The Force.
Rosie: …because she loves Star Wars.
Chloe: I love Star Wars and I’m the rhythm guitarist so…
[TGA: a nod to The Edge as well perhaps?]
Rosie: Aicha is The Pacemaker being the drummer
Aicha: And, I soothe people’s hearts and keep them going, of course!
[TGA: We feel like you guys have probably already thought of this before]
Vicky: No, no! Well, we’re all stuck for ours though…and up for suggestions?
Rosie: I wanted to be Daddy Warbucks because I think it just sounds cool. So, then when I’m meeting people, I can be like ‘Hey, my name’s Daddy Warbucks but you can call me Daddy’. I thought that would be really cool…
Vicky: Maybe I could be something bear related as I do love bears…Grizzly V?
Rosie: Beetlejuice has been one in the past…Or Sticky Vicky?
Vicky: Oh, but that’s just horrible. The thing with the name Vicky is that all the shit things rhyme with it so you’ve got “sticky”, ‘Vicky’s got a hicky..’ Well, tricky.
Aicha: We call Carmen Tin Tin.
Rosie: Tell the story behind Tin Tin.
Carmen: There’s was this one day when my hair was kind of sticking up all over the place and I turned round to say I look a bit like ‘Tan Tan’ but they wouldn’t understand for about twenty minutes…They were all just like what’s ‘Tan Tan?’ So, I googled the picture and was like, ‘Look, Chloe- it’s this’.
Vicky: It’s because she’s multi-lingual.
Carmen: Well, it’s a Belgian cartoon. I just didn’t realise you guys call him Tin Tin.
Aicha: We say Totem Carmen sometimes…
Rosie: Spaghetti Carmenara?
TGA: The band is co-managed by Guy Chambers who is notorious for his work with Robbie Williams; how did that collaboration come about?
Chloe: We played at one of his gig nights and he really liked us and wanted to get involved.
Vicky: We always joke that he’s a bit like the film ‘The Runaways’. He’s a bit like the manager in that.
Rosie: We’re so honoured to have him as part of the team though, it’s amazing. To have someone like that thinking what we are writing is amazing is so encouraging…
Aicha: …and he leaves us to it, as well. He just lets us get on with it and then says that’s cool. We’ve got amazing managers really; we’ve got a wicked team. We are kind of strict with who we work with so, we just want those people to be on the same sort of level as us.
TGA: You’ve recently been in the studio, what are forthcoming release plans looking like for Fake Club?
Vicky: We’re not sure yet, really. We’re going to release a new single in January [now out] called ‘Over and Over’ and then after that we might do an EP. We would really like to do an album but you know, people don’t really buy albums anymore.
Aicha: We want people to though..
Vicky: We want people to pick up our stuff though so we’re just going to go with the times.
Rosie: Ultimately, we’re just going to do what feels right. We put ‘Do What You Gotta Do’ out; we got our amazing friend Ralph to put out a video for us and we put it out just to basically see what would happen. To see the kind of stuff that’s coming in off the back of that is absolutely amazing.
Aicha: There’s nothing contrived about this. What we’ve got is about 25 songs and loads of gig experience.
Carmen: Essentially, two albums worth so we can pick and choose.
Rosie: When it feels right to release the album; we’ll release an album.
Carmen: It could even be something we do to take on tour so we have something to offer out…it might not be. We’re seeing various different options.
Rosie: We’re looking towards doing something new as well, aren’t we? We had an idea of using these twenty odd songs for people to compile their own album.
Carmen: That way we’d have all twenty songs up there with a snippet and people can just pick their favourite tracks.
Aicha: With different covers as well because we all love the tangible side of the album thing and that idea of seeing who’s done what and who’s drawn which element. It is a big part of it and it would be a shame for that to die so we just want to think of ways for people to be part of that. So, maybe you will download something and then print something alongside that we might have designed some lyrics as well perhaps…
TGA: You were lucky enough to get Bob Ludwig to master the record who’s worked with some pioneers of rock in his time; Nirvana, Foo Fighters and Smashing Pumpkins to name but a few. What was that experience like? Did you go over to the states?
Aicha: No, what happened was we recorded and self-produced our album basically with one of our friends and we had the studio for a week to ourselves. Kevin Killen heard the recordings that we were doing and absolutely loved it and wanted to get involved. We were chuffed and couldn’t really believe it, to be honest. So we sent the stuff over to him and it was through Kevin that Bob Ludwig got involved as they work quite closely together. I mean, that was just like the extra cherry on top really!
TGA: Obviously, Bob Ludwig has worked with some incredible bands in the past; were they your pop muses when you were growing up? Who inspired you to pick up your instruments?
Aicha: Oh yeah, definitely. Massively. I was the grebo at school, you know? We were all the grebos in our separate schools. We were all into Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. Soundgarden and that sort of stuff.
Vicky: It’s just really important to us that people are doing it because they really like the music, not because they’re being paid to or told to. Bob really wanted to do it so he did and that’s incredible.
[TGA: It sounds quite organic as a process]
Aicha: Yeah, definitely. That’s one of the reasons and ideas behind why we’re called Fake Club because we just want to keep it real.
Carmen: Embrace the fake so you can keep it real.
Aicha: Embrace the fake, ey? Nice.
Rosie: One for the merchandise stall…
Aicha: But it is confusing and it is just about being in a band as a form of expression. You know, being with the people you want to be with and making something good and that you’re proud of and it’s amazing how complicated other people can make that.
TGA: You’ve said before in previous interviews that it’s not the fact that you are girls; this is just the music you want to make with the people you want to play it with. Genre rather than gender, would you say that’s true?
Rosie: Yeah, that’s not really the point. I think the more you’re talking about the fact that it is a woman, the more it makes it a big deal. Hopefully, we prove that point that we’re a band that just happen to be girls..
Aicha: We just want to be compared to other bands, rather than other females.
Vicky: We’ll often get referenced to the likes of Suzi Quatro and the Runaways and we don’t actually sounds anything like them…it’s just the fact that we’re girls.
TGA: The other issue with that would be that there has been quite a flurry of similarly blues tinged, femme rock of late with the likes of Haim and Deap Valley; would you say Fake Club fit into that scene or would you place your music away from that?
Vicky: I’d say more Deap Vally than Haim, but we are different. It’s great that they’re out there doing that though. It makes us really happy.
Rosie: I don’t think musically we sound the same.
Aicha: Yeah, I mean with Deap Vally it’s a two piece for a start whereas we’ve got four instruments and four voices in this band. So, we actually do build layers and try to make big sounding songs. It’s a totally different sound.
Rosie: [whispers] five instruments…
Aicha: Oh and the cowbell, of course! So sorry, Rosie. But yeah, we want to make this a big sound. A lot of people nowadays would probably use a backing track for a keyboard or something to get that extra layer or texture, whilst we’d put another harmony in. So, it’s just coming from the five of us. What you see is what you get.
Carmen: What you hear is what you get too though. So, like the recordings we could do live. There’s nothing added in there. It’s just a version of our live show.
TGA: Tying into that idea, when recording your latest album, you recorded all the tracks live in the studio with no click and a maximum of two takes per song. Is it important for you to keep the live element to these recordings?
Aicha: Yeah, we want our songs to breathe. Music moves, there are pushes and pulls and as a band, you get tight and then you move together so having something metronomic in this style of music wouldn’t work. It’s got no relevance.
Rosie: Also, the aim of what we’re doing is that we want to be at a point where we don’t need it. You know, Aicha is an amazing drummer and she doesn’t need to have a click clicking in her ear. What we try and do is we will play with her and I will lay down a guide vocal as we’re going and sometimes we might even use that vocal take. Obviously, there’s a few bits that we keep and some stuff we might have to add over the top but the actual bones of the recording will be live.
Carmen: Basically, in the studio where we record you can’t keep the amps at full volume or they will feed into the drum mics so we play with her and she can hear us in her headphones but then we’ll go back and crank the amps up and do just one take. It’s basically live.
Aicha: I’m the one who definitely has to get it right!
Carmen: If she doesn’t do it in three takes, she gets a bad star.
TGA: The manifesto behind Fake Club, as you’ve already mentioned, seems to be steering away from the manufactured music that’s so popular of late. Sadly, we’re now in day and age where X factor generated, One Direction can go up against Mercury nominated acts like Alt-J and the XX for Best British Group at this year’s Brit Awards. If you were hosting your own underground awards show, who would you like to highlight?
Aicha: Jake Bugg is definitely the best male out there at the moment.
Rosie: Tribes are amazing, they’re doing their own thing and they’re insane.
Aicha: We’re going to be doing some support slots with them in the next couple of months too. We’re mates with them and they really like are band so that’s awesome.
Vicky: I think Lianne La Havas is a really good female, I know she’s not really like our style of music but she really knows how to play and sing. I’ve seen her live and she’s amazing. She’s been doing really well though, she got best album over at iTunes and stuff like that; she obviously had the Mercury nomination too so she is getting recognised but her live show is just insane. She’s a great example of female talent out there at the moment.
TGA: Can you sum up Fake Club in five words?
Aicha and Rosie in unison: Keep. It. Real. “!!”
Carmen: Love FakeClub [if you have Fake Club as one word]
Aicha: Keep it Real [comma] Fake Club.
Vicky: But this isn’t a sign off is it so we can have two more words?
Carmen: Keep it Real, fuck yeah.
Vicky: Keep it Real, Go Create.
And on that inspirational note, our time with the quintet is done as they kick back with some whisky’s in the hidden Holloway, Club house. The band’s latest free download single, ‘Over and Over’ is now available over at the bands soundcloud page. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the groups next North London club night up not to mention, those print out and keep album artwork designs.
Fingers crossed for The Force on A3!
Cheri Amour
Tags: Big Kids, blues, Bob Ludwig, BRIT Awards, Cheri Amour, Deap Vally, Do What You Gotta Do, Fake Club, femme rock. the XX, foo fighters, garage rock, Guy Chambers, Haim, Interview, Led Zeppelin, Lianne La Havas, london, mercury prize, Mr Hudson, new music, new single, Nirvana, Over and Over, soundcloud, Spice Girls, Suzi Quatro, the girls are, The Runaways
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Moral Technology
NUI Hubs
Legal Hub
'Moral Technology' defined:
Moral Technologies are technologies developed in balance and harmony with people and the planet.
An example of a Moral Technology developed by the NUI Foundation are 'New Energy Technologies' (NET) that provide a decentralised form of abundant and clean electricity for homes, vehicles and businesses that means we can finally overcome the need to rely on polluting forms of electricity from coal, gas, oil and nuclear power plants.
Pioneers of Moral Technology
The NUI Foundation for Moral Technology seeks to bring forward the work of many great pioneers in technological development who are almost unknown in today's world of science and technology. These include the following:
Rudolf Steiner [1861-1925]
Philosopher & Scientist
Rudolf Steiner was the first person to define 'Moral Technology'. He described a future path for Mankind's development where "consciousness" and "morality" would be intrinsic in the development of science and technology.
Inventor & Scientist [1856-1943]
Nikola Tesla was a prolific inventor of hundreds of technologies we take for granted today, including alternating current (AC) electricity, motors, radio, X-rays and wireless power amongst many other inventions. His greatest gift to Mankind was 'New Energy Technology' that created a clean and abundant source of power and electricity that has yet to be taken up into our society.
John W. Keely
Inventor [1837-1898]
According to Rudolf Steiner, John Worrell Keely was the pioneer of true 'Moral Technology' - technologies that work with harmony, vibration and frequency. It was said that Keely's inventions worked depending upon the "morality" of the person operating them. This, Steiner said, was the future for humanity's technological development - true Moral Technology.
info@thenuifoundation.com
Join Our NUI Foundation Newsletter
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You are in: Home » Travel
Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi crashes, killing 157Sun, 10 Mar, 2019 | Posted By: The Times Of Earth (TOE)
Workers service an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane at the Bole International Airport in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, January 26, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet to Nairobi crashed early on Sunday with 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard, the airline said, and there were no survivors, according to the state broadcaster.
The flight left Bole airport in Addis Ababa at 8.38 am local time, before losing contact with the control tower just a few minutes later at 8.44 am.
"There are no survivors onboard the flight, which carried passengers from 33 countries," said state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, quoting an unidentified source at the airline.
Flight ET 302 crashed near the town of Bishoftu, 62 kilometres southeast of the capital Addis Ababa, the airline said, adding that the plane was a Boeing 737-800 MAX, registration number ET-AVJ.
That model number does not exist however and multiple aviation websites later identified the plane as a new 737 MAX 8, the same plane that crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189.
"Search and rescue operations are in progress and we have no confirmed information about survivors or any possible casualties," the airline said in a statement.
The flight had unstable vertical speed after take off, said flight tracking website Flightradar24 on its Twitter feed.
At Nairobi airport, many relatives of passengers were waiting at the gate, with no information from airport authorities.
"We're just waiting for my mum. We're just hoping she took a different flight or was delayed. She's not picking up her phone," said Wendy Otieno, clutching her phone and weeping.
Robert Mutanda, 46, was waiting for his brother-in-law coming from Canada.
"No, we haven't seen anyone from the airline or the airport," he told Reuters at 1pm, more than three hours after the flight was lost. "Nobody has told us anything, we are just standing here hoping for the best."
The Ethiopian prime minister's office sent condolences via Twitter to the families of those lost in the crash.
On Oct. 29, a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after take-off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.
The plane is the latest version of the 737 family, the world’s best selling modern passenger aircraft and one of the industry’s most reliable.
State-owned Ethiopian is one of the biggest carriers on the continent by fleet size. It said previously that it expected to carry 10.6 million passengers last year. [nL8N1XX14P]
Its last major crash was in January 2010, when a flight from Beirut went down shortly after take-off.
Iran condemns detention of oil supertanker in Gibraltar Sherpa guide climbs Everest 24th time, outdoing own record 41 people killed after plane erupts in flames in emergency landing at Russian airport Scores missing, 13 dead in Congo boat accident: president Singapore, Malaysia reach deal to end months-long airspace dispute Cruise ship reaches Norway port after near disaster, dramatic rescues Italy seizes rescue ship, permits migrants to land in Italy Ethiopian crash black boxes arrive in Paris for analysis Singapore, Australia, China, Indonesia ground Boeing's 737 MAX 8 as concerns mount UN environment talks open under shadow of Ethiopian plane crash Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi crashes, killing 157 Colombia to allow Venezuelans to enter on expired passports Hundreds of travellers stranded in Nairobi airport strike Tensions grow between France and Netherlands over airlines Nepal tourism minister among seven killed in helicopter crash
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Other Road Trips from Hell - A bad day in Gungahlin
The story of our adventures on the West Coast brought forth a wave of nostalgia. A friend in the US told me about a similarly ill –starred journey to San Francisco during the Summer of Love, driving back in in a ’55 Chevy that had to have its gears changed manually by having someone climb underneath it, and my son in Canberra sent some pictures about a camping trip they were about to take last Easter in their new old car.
It was to be its maiden voyage, its first off the bitumen, out of city excursion, but when they stopped at the service station to fill up, the LPG just kept leaking out.
“I’ve never seen that happen before,” said the service station attendant. The NRMA were called and the Fire Brigade arrived as well.
NRMA and the Firemen inspect the gas leak
They take a closer look while firemen stand by with hoses
They decide it looks a bit dangerous.
The next photo shows my son and his girlfriend running away.
The fire and emergency services personnel take over.
This service station and the one on the other side of the road are shut down and the area is evacuated.
They seem to do that a lot in Canberra.
The car is removed to an empty paddock in case it explodes
The car is towed to an empty paddock, several hundred metres away.Then it's goodbye car. Goodbye camping trip.
The last shot shows them both at the bus stop, looking very dejected as they wait for the bus home.
You'll be pleased to know that they have since acquired a new car.
I don't know why people think our national capital is a dull place. It seems to me that there is always something going on. When the whole family gets together there at Christmas, it should be a real blast!
at September 19, 2011
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Features and More
Transition from prisoner to mother fraught with tension (watch)
A mother fresh from prison. A grandmother ready to hand over the reins. And a little girl caught in the middle.
A trying day: Mary picks Nevaeh up from school, and Nevaeh refuses to put her seatbelt on, climbing into the front seat. It's frustrating and exhausting for the grandmother, who is raising the girl while her mother is in prison but finds it hard to discipline her. “It is not my place to bring up my daughter's children,” Mary says. “This is her life. Those children are her children. I'm always going to be there for them, but my daughter needs to be the head of her household. It is not my place anymore. I want to go out and live some more.”
No peace: Nevaeh jumps on her bed as Kyle, 14, texts his girlfriend. Kyle and Nevaeh share a bedroom divided by a large cork board. Kyle feels the lack of privacy and quiet, but his grandmother cannot afford to rent a larger house. A month later the room will get even more crowded, when his mother comes home from prison.
Mother-daughter reunion: Just before 1 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2013, Nichole is released from prison in Ocala. Her mother Mary has taken out a loan to pay for the gas to drive to the prison.
Mary holds Nevaeh's hand while they wait in a secure holding room at Lowell Annex prison in Ocala on November, 26, 2013. Nichole and Nevaeh hardly know each other, since almost all of their interactions have been during prison visitation hours and through video conference calls. Though she canÕt see her mother, Nevaeh looks in NicholeÕs direction.
Never forget: Nichole keeps a picture of Kyle and Nevaeh pasted on the back of her inmate ID card. While she's in prison her children are far from her, in more ways than one, so she keeps them close in the one way she can.
Day-to-day living: Home for a few days, Nichole has gone grocery shopping with Mary, and Nevaeh helps put the groceries away. It's a family moment that Mary dearly hopes to see repeated — and expanded upon. “I've got so much riding on her to pull through, and I don't want her to know it,” Mary says. “I don't want her to know how much it means to me for her to really make a success out of this.”
So far apart: While Nichole and her son Kyle watch a movie, Nevaeh slumps at her mother's feet. She had wanted to play or watch Barbie, but Nichole wasn't ready for that, despite Mary's wish to see her step up and take over the parenting duties.
By Caitlin Johnston
Published February 27 2014
Updated February 27 2014
Two cars wait beneath the bright lights and barbed wire of Lowell Correctional Institution.
In a black Ford 500, Mary Harris watches the clock creep closer to 1 a.m.
"It's like giving birth all over again," Mary says. "I'm like, 'When's the baby coming?' "
Mary has waited years for the moment when her oldest daughter would walk free. Nichole, 38, was sentenced to five years for possession and trafficking of drugs and car theft. She still blames it on her former husband, who is also the not-around father of the girl Nichole gave birth to just weeks before she went away.
Responsibility for caring for this child fell to another family member, as often happens when women are incarcerated. In this case it was Mary, 60, who already had custody of Nichole's older son.
"I figure when Nichole gets home, I'll be able to take care of myself," Mary says, hope evident in her voice.
Each day, an average of 10 women are released from prison in Florida, and many of them, like Nichole, return to children with whom they have had only limited contact. They are awkward, sometimes tense reunions. This is one of them.
Nichole's first taste of freedom is the Pilot Travel Center 4 miles from the prison in Ocala.
Overwhelmed by the choices, she settles on something familiar — S'mores Pop-Tarts and Mountain Dew. She pays with a $20 bill. It's the first time she has touched money in years.
As the two huddle in the 38-degree weather wearing matching oversized red sweat shirts and smoking cigarettes, Mary explains the setup at home. There are two bedrooms: one for Mary and her husband, and one for Nichole's two children — Kyle, 14, and Nevaeh, 5. A cork partition splits it in two. Nichole will share Nevaeh's bed.
"She doesn't take up much room," Mary says. "Oh, wait till you see the room. Do you like small spaces?"
"Listen, I lived out of a metal box for three-and-a-half years," Nichole replies. "A metal box."
"Well, this is one grade up."
In the car, Mary tries to engage Nichole with talk about home and the kids and the neighborhood. Nichole replies with stories of prison and the other inmates. She cried when she left, she said. They were like family.
Over and over, Mary's talk of the kids is met with silence, one-word answers or prison stories.
"Kyle was going to wait up all night," Mary tells her.
"Some people in there don't learn," Nichole replies. "They come right back."
Mary tries again.
"I hope you learned a lot of hair things in there so you can do your daughter's hair," Mary says.
"I'd be at work right now," Nichole says.
Later: "You have to be strong with those kids," Mary says. "And have patience with your daughter."
"It's going to feel weird not taking a shower with 80 women," Nichole says.
"You know," Mary says, after a bout of silence, "you took away the golden years of my life."
Nichole doesn't answer.
It's after 3 a.m. when they walk into the house. Nichole says she feels lost. She doesn't know what she's doing, she says. The house looks different, she says.
Nevaeh sleeps soundly in Mary's bed, where she often dozes off. Nichole peeks in on Kyle before going out to smoke another cigarette.
She says she's nervous about her time with Nevaeh, partially because their contact consisted almost entirely of video conversations and a handful of prison visits. But also because she wonders how the drugs she was on during her pregnancy have affected Nevaeh.
"That baby's messed up because of that," Nichole says as she smokes on the front porch. "I know she is."
"Mama's home, Mama's home!" Nevaeh yells when she wakes to see Nichole wrapped in the pink and purple comforter of her bed.
Nichole doesn't move, appearing to still be asleep — a 5-foot-8-inch woman in a child's Hello Kitty twin bed.
After several attempts to wake her, Nevaeh retreats to the living room with her coloring books. Later, Nichole admits she was only pretending to sleep.
Mid morning, Nichole clutches a cup of coffee.
"Do you want to play?" Nevaeh asks her mom repeatedly.
"No," Nichole says, going outside with Mary to smoke.
Nevaeh buzzes around anxiously. Mary chides her repeatedly, reminding her to say "excuse me" or to put on warmer clothes.
"Go get your hair brush and hair tie," Mary tells Nevaeh.
After Nevaeh runs inside, Mary takes a drag of her cigarette and turns to Nichole.
"Take over anytime," she says. "I'm just shooting orders because I'm used to it. How long do you need? A half hour? An hour?"
"I just got out," Nichole says. "I'm trying."
"Fine," Nichole says, after Nevaeh asks to play for the dozenth time.
Nevaeh pulls her into the playhouse. She plays in the kitchen and gives her mom a broom to sweep away the sand. Nichole doesn't mind. Chores and cleaning filled her days at Lowell.
"I'm going to go to the store," Kyle says, just minutes after the two started playing.
"Maybe I'll come with," Nichole says.
"Can I come?" Nevaeh asks.
"No, you stay here with Nana," Nichole tells her.
Nevaeh is hurt, but Nichole is more comfortable with Kyle. He was 9 when she went to jail. She knows his personality.
But because of prior charges, Nichole lost custody of Kyle years ago. Even if she manages to move out on her own, Kyle would stay with Mary. Nevaeh would move in with Nichole.
In the afternoon, after much debate over what movie to watch — Nevaeh wanted to watch Barbie, but Nichole refused to watch a kids' movie — the family squeezes onto the couch to watch Grown Ups.
Nevaeh rolls on the ground during the opening credits.
"Can't you sit through anything?" Nichole asks.
"No," she says with a smile.
"At least you're honest."
Nevaeh gets up and slides along the wall, already bored.
"Nevaeh, we're watching a movie," Nichole says, eyes not leaving the screen. "Either watch with us or play in your room."
Nevaeh retreats to her room, where she remains almost the entirety of the movie, playing with Strawberry Shortcake and watching Dora the Explorer on her small bedroom television.
Late afternoon and the movie's over. Nevaeh plays with a friend next door. Nichole is drained.
She rests on the couch, trying to get some energy. She was awake for 24 hours before her mom picked her up, and she barely slept last night.
"I'm exhausted," Nichole says. "That child will drive me crazy."
Nichole worries what their relationship will be like. And she worries about getting a job. And taking care of her family. She worries a lot.
"I need to get on some kind of caffeine kick," she says. "I'll be fine once I get out of this."
Right now, her routine is all backward. She worked in the kitchen in prison, waking up at 2 a.m. and coming back and sleeping by noon.
"I know that I seem like I don't care, like I'm a blob," Nichole says. "I'm not. I'm confused. I'm lost."
Nevaeh's crying.
All was well as she ate dinner. And as she was playing with Kyle. And as she brushed her teeth.
But then it was time to choose where to sleep: with her Nana, who had raised her, or the mom she doesn't remember living in the same home with.
"She wants it like it's always been," Mary tells Nichole, who is sitting on Nevaeh's bed. "Is that okay? For tonight?"
"It's okay," Nichole replies, her voice even-toned.
Nevaeh stands frozen, torn.
"I know it's a big decision," Mary says.
Without saying anything, Nevaeh walks into Mary's room.
"She doesn't want to hurt your feelings," Mary says, her voice softer.
"It's okay, but she better clean up these toys," Nichole says.
Nevaeh comes back and starts putting away her cooking set.
"You don't need to cry to get what you want," Nichole says. "You just say to me what you want."
Nevaeh nods and starts to leave the room.
"Do I get a kiss tonight?" Nichole asks.
Nevaeh gives her a quick kiss and returns to Mary's room for their nightly ritual. Curled in a blanket, Nevaeh asks questions as Mary rubs her stomach and head.
One room over, Nichole sits alone on her daughter's bed, eyes fixed straight ahead.
Times news researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Caitlin Johnston can be reached at cjohnston@tampabay.com or (813) 661-2443.
Caitlin Johnston
Transportation and General Assignment Reporter
Arrest made in deadly shooting outside Tampa mosque
Muhammad Rakibul Haque, 42, turned himself in after learning he was wanted for second-degree murder.
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There were 772 cases of police shootings between 2009 and 2014. Use the filters below to find cases that match a certain set of criteria.
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Or start with these randomly selected cases:
MIAMI, 2009 — Dario Ovejero, 24, had been drinking beers and smoking marijuana with a buddy on New... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Police officers and deputy U.S. marshals were following Justin McMillian, 24, a suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, 26-year-old Danielle... 1 injured
PLANTATION, 2009 — Carl Brewster, 27, was sitting at a gas station in a stolen... 1 killed
PANAMA CITY, 2009 — Deputies James Minchew and Richard Bagwell went to the house of Sean Creamer to serve a child abuse... 1 injured
PALM BEACH, 2009 — After a fight with his fiancee at his residence, Adalberto Martinez told her that he would not make it out alive. He grabbed a pistol, fired and drove away in his... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2009 — Around 1 a.m., police responded to an armed robbery at a Winn-Dixie... 1 killed
LAKE PARK, 2009 — Shoplifting suspect Broderick Hay jumped into an idling Jeep Wrangler outside a Walmart and tried to drive... 2 injured
RIVIERA BEACH, 2009 — Officer William Saunders was investigating a suspicious vehicle when he pulled over 16-year-old Alexander... 1 injured
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, 2009 — Thomas Skiba, 29, had already fled an accident in Pompano Beach when he was spotted driving recklessly in a residential area by Officer Brian... 1 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2009 — Around 5 p.m., officers spotted Dijon Williams and another man, loitering or walking along Fifth Street in West Palm... 1 killed
FORT MYERS, 2009 — The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force was looking for Arthur Lee Coleman, 33, who had several felony... 1 killed
NORTH MIAMI, 2009 — Officers stopped a BMW which had been reported stolen in West Palm Beach months... 1 injured
STARKE, 2009 — James Estes, 46, a depressed carpet installer, stole the money tray from the cash register of a gas... 1 killed
HOLLYWOOD, 2009 — Police followed the trail of Elio Enrique Lleo and Gustavo D. Fernandez from Hialeah to... 2 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — Five police detectives were running a surveillance operation in a Best Buy parking lot in Kendall where there had been car... 1 killed 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — At an ATM, Rachel Etheridge displayed what looked like a gun and demanded money from two... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Two undercover narcotics officers posing as drug buyers were in a car waiting for a suspect to... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — As the Plush nightclub was closing, Michael Felder ran into the crowd outside and began firing a 9mm handgun in the... 1 killed
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, 2009 — Deputy Phillip Currid was dispatched to a possible suicide attempt. When he pulled into the driveway, the suspect fired a weapon inside the home to make sure it... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2009 — Officer Robert Virant and Sgt. Joseph Collins were among officers sent to a house on Second Avenue N in St. Petersburg to check on the welfare of a 911... 1 killed
KISSIMMEE, 2009 — Around 7:30 p.m., an undercover deputy was making a meth buy from three men in a Publix parking... 1 injured
BONITA SPRINGS, 2009 — Guy Petrey, a 47-year-old bipolar scrap metal collector, made several disturbing, belligerent calls to the Lee County Sheriff's Office communications... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Police began to chase Darrell Ernest Phillips, 40, after he robbed a Fifth Third... 1 injured
FORT MYERS, 2009 — Deputy Bryan Perera responded to a call about George Vincent, 49, armed with a handgun and threatening to commit suicide after an argument with his... 1 killed
HOLIDAY, 2009 — Luther Hudson, 38, was suspected of running a drug house and had a history of violence against law enforcement... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2009 — Michael Davis, 31, who had previously been identified as 22-year-old Oswain Walcott, was wanted in connection with a Feb. 21... 1 killed
LAKELAND, 2009 — A suicidal man called police to report he was armed. Officers showed up and formed a perimeter around the house. SWAT team members assembled as... 1 injured
MIAMI GARDENS, 2009 — Miami-Dade police and a deputy U.S. marshal were attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Anthony Levy, 30, an aspiring rapper and father, but wound up killing... 1 killed
CLEARWATER, 2009 — On Monday, March 2, 2009, Elizabeth Cardarelli called 911 because of a domestic... 1 killed
DELRAY BEACH, 2009 — Dallas Adkins Jr. was acting suicidal, according to a 911 call from a... 1 killed
INDIAN RIVER, 2009 — Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Coulter and county deputies were chasing carjacking suspect Carlos Javier Perez-Alonso on Interstate... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2009 — Javery Holliday, 18, and his cousin, Derrick Mortin, 18, robbed a Circle K convenience store around 2:30... 1 killed 1 injured
MARATHON, 2009 — Lt. Nancy Alvarez was told by federal agents that a wanted man might be coming through Marathon and for her to keep an eye... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2009 — Pinellas sheriff's detectives raided a house on Second Avenue S and arrested a man on drug... 1 injured
MIAMI BEACH, 2009 — The shooting took place near a lifeguard stand on Miami Beach around 10... 1 killed
OKALOOSA, 2009 — Ronald Willard, 39, was wanted for shooting Jason Ward near the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds shortly after 3... 1 injured
LAKE WORTH, 2009 — Palm Beach County sheriff's Major Richard Jenkins was getting ready for work when Cesar Maldonado, 22, knocked on his door around 8... 1 killed
LAKELAND, 2009 — Carlos Torres-Ramos, 35, sought out a man, Jose Negron, at his house on Idaho Avenue after suspecting that Negron had broken into his home a few days... 1 killed
CRYSTAL RIVER, 2009 — Around 1:30 a.m., Citrus County Deputy Todd Cridland responded to a call of a suspicious person in the middle of U.S. Highway 19 in Crystal... 1 killed
SEFFNER, 2009 — At about 6:40 p.m., Deputy Ricco Palermo confronted Gilbert Velez on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr... 1 injured
COCOA, 2009 — Sgt. David Baker and Officer Debra Davis responded to a call about a suspicious... 1 injured
DUNNELLON, 2009 — At 5:47 a.m., deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call north of County Road 39 in Citrus... 1 injured
PALM SPRINGS, 2009 — Palm Springs Police Officer Douglas Rua used his Taser on fleeing robbery suspect Mauricio Cruz, 35 twice. It had little... 1 killed
HOLLYWOOD, 2009 — Hollywood police Det. Sergio Lopez was conducting a sting operation to buy cocaine from Jermaine... 1 injured
CRESTVIEW, 2009 — While raiding a house as part of a SWAT team to serve a search warrant, Sgt. Matthew Purvines fired three shots at an advancing pit... 1 injured
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2009 — Police had been looking for Rodney Joseph Lasseigne since July 21, 2008, the day his mother was found bludgeoned to death in their home in... 1 killed
PEMBROKE PARK, 2009 — Around 3 a.m., undercover deputies confronted Luke Singletary as he was pulling a gun in an attempt to rob a Circle... 2 injured
MIAMI GARDENS, 2009 — Police responded to a report of a man exposing himself and masturbating about 2:30... 1 injured
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2009 — Around 7 p.m., Donnell Miller sold $100 worth of crack cocaine to a confidential informant in a drug... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2009 — Thomas Ford McCoy, 42, was suspected of murdering Curtis Brown in DeFuniak Springs on April... 1 injured
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, 2009 — Joshua Cartwright shot and killed two Okaloosa County sheriff's deputies who tried to arrest him on domestic battery charges at a shooting... 1 injured
CLEARWATER, 2009 — Around 9 p.m., Jeffrey Lee, 19, was critically wounded during an undercover operation to buy... 1 injured
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2009 — Tra'Don Johnson, 24, was shot after attempting to flee from Fort Lauderdale police in his... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2009 — Just before 3 a.m., Vales Delices, 23, was driving his Cadillac CTS west on Church Street, which had limited access because of Cinco de Mayo... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2009 — A tactical unit was patrolling the Metro Place Apartments when officers saw a vehicle run a stop... 1 injured
WINTER HAVEN, 2009 — On May 14, 2009, Polk County Sheriff's Office Deputy Ivan Navarro met with Danita and Albert Sutton at a gas... 1 killed
ROYAL PALM BEACH, 2009 — Gleen Gomez, 21, kidnapped his ex-girlfriend at... 1 killed
GAINESVILLE, 2009 — Shortly before 1 p.m., Nicholous Weeks, 18, was walking through traffic on a busy street, reaching into cars, grabbing... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2009 — Just before 6 p.m. Tampa officers ran the license plate of a white Chrysler Concorde that passed them as they sat at a traffic... 1 injured
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2009 — Three officers shot Vietnam veteran Jackie Beasley outside his home after he refused to drop his water pistol, which they thought was a... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2009 — Deputy Robert Ricks attempted to pull over a vehicle for having illegally tinted... 3 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — A woman called police saying that Dominic Davis was in her home harassing her despite a restraining order against... 1 killed
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2009 — Officer Nicholas Rollins was set up as a decoy in an attempt to catch a robber who had stolen a woman's purse earlier that... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Officer Perry Yarber noticed Ronald Evans, 26, driving a truck similar to a one linked to several... 1 injured
MIAMI BEACH, 2009 — Police received 911 reports of two "agitated" men acting... 1 killed
PORT ST. LUCIE, 2009 — Manny Morales' sister called 911 because her brother was drinking, said he was "going to die," and was brandishing a... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Two officers were working off-duty and in uniform when they approached Kiko Battle and his... 1 killed
LANTANA, 2009 — At about 2:20 a.m., two deputies were investigating a possible burglary in... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2009 — Deputies were working an undercover drug buy that led them to the Shoppes of South... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2009 — Lawrence McCoy hijacked a taxi and pistol-whipped the driver outside the Miami Beach Marina around 11... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2009 — On June 20th, 2009, Richard Blount, 56, was killed by a Miami-Dade police officer after authorities said Blount charged at the officer with a... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2009 — Deputies were planning to arrest Rodney Burton, 16, for driving a stolen Dodge Intrepid, when he pulled into a Chevron gas... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — A homeless man told a corrections sergeant near the jail complex that Quang Due Do had struck him with the flat side of a... 1 killed
GAINESVILLE, 2009 — At about 4:30 a.m., Ezra Strickland's mother made two calls to 911 asking police to take her son to the hospital under the Baker... 1 injured
PANAMA CITY, 2009 — Dustin Garland's wife said she called authorities because her husband was out of control, walking around the house yelling and... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — Around 7 p.m., Catherine Chabot called 911 saying that Celso Marrero had threatened her with a... 1 killed
POMPANO BEACH, 2009 — At about 9:45 p.m., a friend of Daniel Cook called 911 to say that Cook had gone to the Fort Lauderdale area to commit suicide with a... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — Around 9:30 p.m., Officer Eric Guzman pulled over the borrowed truck that Kiana Lamb was driving in the Overtown... 1 killed
HALLANDALE BEACH, 2009 — Off-duty Hallandale Beach police Officer Matthew Casey was working security at the Mardi Gras Casino when he learned of a robbery taking place in the parking... 1 injured
HOLLYWOOD, 2009 — Peter James Bonfiglio, 22, called 911 claiming to be an Iraq war veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2009 — Sarasota police responded to a call reporting a man harassing a woman at a... 1 injured
RIVIERA BEACH, 2009 — Police responded to a call from the mother of Ramon Gomez, who said that her son had attacked... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — Iran Delima, 39, who was mentally ill, armed himself with a handgun and began banging on the door of a tenant who lived beside him in an apartment in... 1 injured
GENEVA, 2009 — Melanie Lee, a sergeant with the state Department of Corrections, was an hour late picking up her boyfriend, Seminole County Jail guard Jeff... 1 injured
MAITLAND, 2009 — Maitland police responded to a domestic violence call in August 2009 and found Alex May, 18, stabbing his mother, Diana May, with a butter knife, then a barbecue... 1 killed
FREEPORT, 2009 — Deputy Nick Embry responded to a call from a woman saying that an intoxicated Jeff Weekley, 39, was at her house uninvited and had started up a chainsaw in the shed. She also said that he usually... 1 killed
PALATKA, 2009 — Around 8:30 a.m., Michael Andrew Campbell, an inmate at Putnam County Jail, was spotted trying to scale the fence of the recreation... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2009 — An Escambia County deputy was justified in shooting at a West Pensacola man who flashed a "shiny object" in the window of his home, according to the state... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2009 — Around 4:30 a.m., Hialeah police officer Alexis Barrios responded to a 911 burglary... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2009 — Officer Eric Goss responded to an armed robbery call at a Circle K... 1 injured
POMPANO BEACH, 2009 — Deputies were staking out the Dixie Way Superstore, which had been robbed four times in a little more than a... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Officers chased a car with five armed men wearing Halloween masks after the group robbed a man of $60 and forced him to strip... 1 killed
MIAMI GARDENS, 2009 — Police responded to a home around 10 p.m. after reports of shots... 1 killed
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, 2009 — Just after midnight, a North Miami Beach police officer approached John Benjamin Witherell, who was riding a... 1 injured
MARIANNA, 2009 — Marianna Police Officer Bliss Moreau attempted a traffic stop on Mark Anthony Daniels around 7:20 p.m. Daniels, 31, had already fled a previous... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Patrol officers responded to a complaint that Christopher Reynoso had become violent during an all-night poker... 1 killed
SARASOTA, 2009 — Two deputies responding to a call about a domestic disturbance were outside the rear of a Sarasota... 2 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Officer Theodore Burnley pulled over Robert Johnson for rolling through a stop... 1 killed
STARKE, 2009 — Sergeants Kevin Mueller and James Hooper were hoping to question a suspected gunman in a recent robbery at King's Produce... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2009 — Deputy Jason Ates was shot in the upper thigh after he and Deputy Jennifer Lovley-Gandy went to the Motel 6 on Pensacola Boulevard to do a welfare check on a missing... 1 killed
HOMESTEAD, 2009 — Three Miami-Dade police officers were called to a home by a woman who said her boyfriend, Carlos Valdes, had threatened to kill... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2009 — Officers pulled over Jakob Cunnien, 18, for driving on a suspended license and to question his involvement in burglaries in the... 1 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2009 — Just before 3 p.m., a shopper told off-duty Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputy Donald Smith that a man inside the grocery store had a gun in his... 1 killed
OCALA, 2009 — Deputy Zackary Hughes responded to a disturbance at a mobile home in Marion... 1 injured
DADE CITY, 2009 — Mildred "Chrissy" Pace, 33, was the suspect in two... 1 injured
MIDDLEBURG, 2009 — Deputies went to a house on Killarn Circle to investigate reports of a suicidal... 1 killed
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2009 — Around 2 a.m., police spotted a car with a broken light stopped in the street. Officers turned on their lights but the driver, Bastiany Georges, 29, sped... 1 killed
SARASOTA, 2009 — According to police, Ladarius Rainey, 18, was a member of the Second Line street gang, which favored armed robbery and terrorized the Newtown area of... 1 injured
WINTER PARK, 2009 — After hours of sexually assaulting a woman, Jerry Camp told her that he was going to force the police to kill... 1 killed
EUSTIS, 2009 — Ricky Cyrus Moriani, 62, wanted to return a set of keys to his former... 1 injured
INDIAN SHORES, 2009 — Sheriff's deputies and Indian Shores police tried to pull over a black Ford Mustang about 11 p.m. that was moving erratically on Gulf... 1 killed
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2009 — On Nov. 4, 2009, Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Dean Schoen was working off-duty but uniformed as security at the bus... 1 injured
PORT CHARLOTTE, 2009 — Reserve Deputy Ed Jaques and Deputy Abimael Renta responded to Kande Lafferty's 911 call about her husband, who had found her revolver and threatened to kill himself and... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Responding to a report of a robbery in progress, police surrounded a Family Dollar... 1 injured
OCALA, 2009 — Officer Eric Reese was on a burglary stakeout after dark at a business that had been robbed several times. He was waiting in an upper floor storage... 1 injured
KEY BISCAYNE, 2009 — While conducting a training exercise, Officer Alfredo Alvarez hit Recruit Trainee Jonathon John with pellets from a live buckshot... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — Officers Omar Ayala and George Diaz were in their patrol car when they spotted Corey McNeal walking on the... 1 killed
LAKE WORTH, 2009 — Shortly after 7 a.m., three Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic violence... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — During a drug sting, Det. David Sosnowski met Bruce Kohn to obtain... 1 injured
NORTH PORT, 2009 — On Nov. 23, 2009, an alert was sent out about a shooting in the parking lot of the south Sarasota County... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2009 — A standoff between Palin Perez Jackson and police began about 9 a.m., after the artist's estranged girlfriend, Mandy Small, escaped from his... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2009 — Derrick Cox, 39, called in a false report, hoping police would locate his ex-girlfriend by claiming that she had threatened him with a... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — On Dec. 12, 2009, Duane Armstong was shot by Miami-Dade police Detective Tracy... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2009 — Around 11 p.m., two officers responded to an aggravated battery at a duplex. When they arrived, they found that two men had been... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Around 3 a.m., Neil Southerland, 30, was in a slow-speed chase with... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2009 — Deputy R.C. Hope shot Trumaine Corbitt when Corbitt reached for a .380-caliber handgun that he had dropped while fleeing a traffic... 1 injured
CAPE CORAL, 2009 — Around 1 a.m., police pulled over a car containing Tyson Richardson, 21, Patrick Nelson, 19, Mike Borrell, 27, and Jarrett Mundle,... 1 killed 2 injured
BOYNTON BEACH, 2009 — Off-duty Riviera Beach police Officer Adnan Raja accidentally shot himself in the forearm while unloading his gun at... 1 injured
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, 2009 — Around 3:30 a.m., chiropractor Xavier Escobar, 39, walked to an apartment complex holding a gun and began knocking on doors and asking for... 1 injured
RIVERVIEW, 2009 — The day before Christmas, Aisha Warren called authorities from Publix supermarket about a argument she was having with boyfriend Richard Longstreet,... 1 killed
AVENTURA, 2009 — The day after Christmas, police responded to a call about an enraged motorist in a black Mustang who had pointed a handgun at another driver at Aventura... 1 injured
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2009 — Four officers arrived at the Downbeat Club on 15th Way after 3 a.m. following a report of a man with a... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2009 — Officers George Graves, Michael Karayianes and Michael Romano responded to a call about a... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2010 — On the night of Jan. 4, 2010, police responded to an Amscot on N Armenia Avenue after getting a call about a man trying to pass counterfeit... 1 injured
PEMBROKE PINES, 2010 — At around 12:15 p.m., Clifford McLean, 24, doused his mother with a flammable liquid and set her on... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2010 — Around 8 p.m., sheriff's deputies from the auto theft unit had a stolen Dodge Ram under surveillance in an apartment complex parking... 1 killed
FORT MYERS, 2010 — Dion Maycock, 19, called 911 to alert police about a man with a gun walking down Canal... 1 injured
GREENWOOD, 2010 — Deputy Michael Baxter responded to a robbery in progress at the PeoplesSouth Bank in... 1 injured
CROSS CITY, 2010 — Levy and Dixie county deputies received an alert that Hernando County homicide suspect John Kalisz may have been heading their... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2010 — Officers James Fallis and Clay Harris were working security at a nightclub when patrons told them a man in the parking lot was threatening people with a... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2010 — Shortly after 10 a.m., a customer called 911 to report a robbery at a Walgreens on Tamiami... 1 killed
LAUDERDALE LAKES, 2010 — Broward County’s regional anti-crime squad detectives were conducting an undercover operation with a confidential informant in Lauderdale... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2010 — Around 4:30 p.m., three officers responded to a domestic battery call and were directed by family members toward a man leaning against the corner of the... 1 injured
LAKE PLACID, 2010 — Rocky Allen Watson, who worked for FDOT, had been acting strangely for four months, ever since he started taking Vicodin for a work... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2010 — Police were monitoring Club Mirage around 3 a.m., when Eugene Scurry shot two people during a fight outside the club, then jumped into his... 1 injured
MIAMI BEACH, 2010 — Police responded to a call about shots fired around 4:30... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Around 2 a.m., Officer Jared Famularo approached Phillipe Louis' red Toyota pickup at an intersection near Universal Orlando theme... 1 killed
SANFORD, 2010 — Nicholas Eugene Scott, 23, was classified as a violent felon wanted on two warrants: violating probation and failure to... 1 killed
GAINESVILLE, 2010 — University of Florida graduate student Kofi Adu-Brempong, 36, thought there was a plot to kill... 1 injured
WINDSOR, 2010 — When deputies arrived, Windsor-resident Edward Thomas Frey was outside holding a gun to his... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2010 — Deputies were investigating Rodney R. Newberry for an open... 1 injured
CLEARWATER, 2010 — Alexander Epstein, 19, was a suspect in a shooting at a party in which two men were killed and a third... 1 killed
LANTANA, 2010 — Around 10:40 a.m., Deputies Ronald Boiuso and Krystal Johnston tried to serve a probation violation warrant on Allen... 1 killed
WINTER GARDEN, 2010 — During a movie night, four friends were surprised by two men who entered their Winter Garden apartment... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2010 — Jeremiah Mathis had just robbed a... 1 killed 2 injured
TARPON SPRINGS, 2010 — Arunya Rouch, a seafood specialist for Publix who had been fired earlier in the day, returned to the store and shot and killed co-worker Gregory... 1 injured
LAKELAND, 2010 — Lakeland police were called to the hospital to interview a woman who had been... 1 killed
BONITA SPRINGS, 2010 — Four Lee County deputies arrived at a home to investigate reports of an armed... 1 killed
WINTER PARK, 2010 — Around 1:30 a.m., Deputy Luke Healy stopped Bernard King, a 47-year-old homeless man who was riding a bicycle without... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2010 — Shortly before dawn, deputies found Richard Montero, 44, passed out behind the wheel of his Ford Explorer at a red... 1 killed
FLORAL CITY, 2010 — Sandra and Eddie Silcox had been married for nearly 30 years but had recently... 2 killed
COCOA, 2010 — At 6 a.m., four deputies arrived at the residence of Larry... 1 killed
DELTONA, 2010 — A sheriff's SWAT team was assisting narcotics detectives in serving a search warrant at the home of Jason Tucker, 31, at about 6:15... 1 injured
KISSIMMEE, 2010 — Four deputies were following up an tip about marijuana dealing when they knocked loudly on Carl Dykes' front door at 1:30... 1 injured
VENICE, 2010 — Tyler Spann, 20, and his friend were walking home from a bar and played a prank by ringing a deputy's doorbell and running... 1 killed
WILTON MANORS, 2010 — Wilton Manors Police Officer Mario Diaz responded to a security alarm at the Natural Health Care Clinic and found Alfred E. Sewell trying to break into the clinic with an angle... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2010 — Two armed men broke into a home on S Willow Avenue at 3:45 a.m. After robbing the two residents at gunpoint, the men fled north on... 1 injured
LEHIGH ACRES, 2010 — Arnold Alfonso shot his brother, Alexander, around 2 a.m. on April 24,... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2010 — Steven Caponi, 45, walked into a Subway and ordered two sandwiches. Instead of paying, he demanded money, claiming that he had a gun in his... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2010 — Carlos Sierra, 41, had robbed a Farm Store at... 1 killed
DELAND, 2010 — Sarah Gerard called police to tell them her husband, Joshua Gerard, 29, an Iraq War veteran with PTSD, had attacked her and poured gasoline on... 1 injured
COCONUT CREEK, 2010 — Police were aware of a string of robberies at cell phone stores in Broward and Palm Beach... 1 injured
BONITA SPRINGS, 2010 — Craig Spitz, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, fled the shooting of a former co-worker at the Inn at the Springs in Bonita... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2010 — Disabled Vietnam veteran Ronald J. Bullock, 61, lived in an RV park on MacDill Air Force... 1 killed
COCOA, 2010 — Around 11 a.m., deputies and ATF agents were conducting an undercover buy of weapons and drugs when the suspects decided to rob the... 2 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2010 — Detectives had staked out a store, hoping to catch robbers responsible for several recent armed thefts in the Jacksonville Gate... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2010 — On May 31, 2010, Leon County sheriff's deputies were checking on the welfare of an armed and suicidal man, Jerome... 1 injured
BOCA RATON, 2010 — Sgt. Shannon Wendlick noticed a suspicious car and followed it as it pulled into the driveway of a... 1 injured
PEMBROKE PINES, 2010 — Around 5:30 a.m., Abel Martinez' wife called police because her husband was acting irrationally after having a... 1 injured
MELBOURNE, 2010 — On June 16, 2010, Michael Pagan was driving erratically, not stopping at red lights and... 1 killed
SOUTHWEST RANCHES, 2010 — A June 19, 2010, burglary of a Maytag washing machine in Southwest Ranches escalated into the shooting death of Jesus Borrel Vazquez,... 1 killed 1 injured
LAKELAND, 2010 — Around 2:30 a.m., Deputies Paul Fairbanks and Michael Braswell pulled over a bicyclist who was riding without... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2010 — Around 11:30 a.m., two officers were patrolling the Overtown... 1 killed
ARCADIA, 2010 — Jason Todd Brown, 26, was shot and killed by Desoto County Sheriff's Sgt. Bill Bevis during a physical altercation in a secluded wooded area in... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2010 — Orlando police responded to an apartment complex after receiving calls about a suicidal man with a... 1 injured
BELLEVIEW, 2010 — Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Black pulled over Clifton Austin Salter's red pickup for... 1 killed
PACE, 2010 — On the evening of July 18, 2010, authorities received two calls about shots fired at a fifth-wheel camper trailer on Tamarind... 1 killed
BOCA RATON, 2010 — A SWAT team member shot South Florida developer Robert Geiserman, 69, after he raised what appeared to be a... 1 injured
CRESTVIEW, 2010 — At approximately 2:50 p.m., Deputy Miguel Rojas, 33, shot himself in the lower right leg while at the police arms... 1 injured
DELTONA, 2010 — On July 28, 2010, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office sent two deputies to investigate a report someone had been... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2010 — Miami Gardens officers approached three men to question them in connection with a... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2010 — An officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department robbery intervention detail noticed a car at a BP gas station in Miami that records showed was stolen in an armed... 1 injured
SEBRING, 2010 — Deputy Steven Ritenour responded to a home in Sebring after a 911 call from a woman stating that her mother's boyfriend was drunk and trying to get into the... 1 killed
SPRING HILL, 2010 — Deputy Robert Somers was sent to 5351 Joyner Ave. to check on the well being of homeowner Robert Capkovic,... 1 killed
BROOKSVILLE, 2010 — Keith Matthew Ritchie, 39, was wanted for questioning related to a domestic... 1 killed
LAKE WALES, 2010 — Jose Lopez-Ortiz attempted to drive his Ford Expedition into a lane of traffic occupied by a Toyota Corolla driven by Brittany... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2010 — Someone in the Overtown section of Miami called for pizza and then robbed the delivery... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2010 — Shortly after noon, police were summoned to a domestic disturbance in Little... 1 killed
DAVIE, 2010 — Max Earney, 54, approached Officer Raphael Garcia on the street. Authorities say that he was armed with a knife and threatening to commit suicide by... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2010 — Harry Lee Bell, 30, was linked to a hit-and-run and fled the scene. Bell was pursued by police on U.S. 41 to Clark Road and Beneva... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2010 — Miami police Officer Ricardo Martinez and a federal agent were patrolling a Liberty City neighborhood in an unmarked white... 1 killed
HIALEAH GARDENS, 2010 — Shortly after 2 a.m., off-duty narcotics Officer Jason Benitez, accompanied by his girlfriend, was withdrawing cash from an... 2 injured
FORT MYERS, 2010 — Around 10:30 p.m., Gilberto Amaya, 32, and Kamyn Bright, 17, stormed into a McDonald's wearing masks and armed with... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2010 — David Bennett was spotted sitting in a car in an office parking lot, muttering to himself and behaving... 1 killed
CALLAHAN, 2010 — On the night of Sept., 11, 2010, Deputy Ernie Cole shot and killed Franklin Bodden,... 1 killed
DELRAY BEACH, 2010 — The Delray Beach Police Department SWAT team was executing a search warrant at a local... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2010 — Police received a call from Carlos Felipe Laoveiga, 27, saying that he was being followed in a car by Yoel Leon,... 1 injured
MICCO, 2010 — Eric Bricker, 43, called 911 and told the dispatcher, "I'm done." He threatened to kill his family and then commit... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2010 — Marcus Rogers, 18, was accused of using a Craigslist ad to rob two men who thought he was going to sell them a used... 1 killed
CLEARWATER, 2010 — In September 2010, Robert Roll armed himself with a BB gun and tried to rob a Walgreens drugstore in... 1 killed
PARKER, 2010 — According to prosecutors, Officer Mark Bomia was jealous and angry when he went to his ex-girlfriend's... 1 killed
PALATKA, 2010 — Palatka Police Department Officer Caleb French, 20, responded to a report of a robbery and started chasing after a fleeing... 1 injured
ROYAL PALM BEACH, 2010 — Jeremy Hutton, 17, was shot by Palm Beach County sheriff's Deputy Jason Franqui after a low-speed car... 1 injured
CLEARWATER, 2010 — Police attempted to box in a white pickup driven by Tony McAffee, 14, that was seen at the robbery of a home in the... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2010 — Christopher "Scott" Kilgore was suspected of killing his brother and another man and gravely wounding his... 1 killed
LOXAHATCHEE, 2010 — Detective William Saunders of the Riviera Beach Police shot an intruder who tried to get into his home while he and his family... 1 injured
WINTER HAVEN, 2010 — Around 2:30 p.m., deputies responded to the home of Thomas Steidley after reports of a confrontation with his girlfriend and a call of “distress” to his... 1 killed
VERO BEACH, 2010 — Deputies from the Indian River County Sheriff's Office were investigating a shooting when they spotted a vehicle speeding away from the... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Video of a robbery at a GameStop showed Acrifa Soman, 21, with a handgun, forcing patrons to the floor and stealing cash and... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2010 — A man barged into his former girlfriend's home, used her as a shield and then exchanged shots with responding sheriff's deputies, wounding three of them before he... 2 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to West Fairbanks Avenue to investigate a burglary... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — At about 8:30 p.m., Deputy Brian Hummel pulled over Bruce Lee Smith for a routine traffic... 1 injured
POMPANO BEACH, 2010 — The Selective Enforcement Team was conducting an undercover buy-and-bust operation. A detective met with Justin Wade Tellis in a Taco Bell parking lot to buy... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Deputy Stephen Cook arrived at a 7-Eleven to investigate a report that employee Gibran Flores-Remigio, 25, was stealing from the... 1 killed
DAVIE, 2010 — A confidential informant tipped off police that Hugh Barrighton Smith, 37, had drugs in his... 1 killed
GAINESVILLE, 2010 — Sgt. Joshua Crews was doing surveillance in an unmarked car on the home of Mitch "Crawdaddy" Conan Smith, a suspect in a double... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Deputy Frank Bonetti pulled over Johnny Veloz' white pickup at about 10... 1 killed
ORANGE PARK, 2010 — Deputy Con Kelley responded to a call about suspicious activity at a home. Two men ran from the garage... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2010 — Members of a specialized crime unit were conducting surveillance of a shopping plaza on Ninth Avenue N in an area where several businesses had been... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Two officers were investigating credit card thefts from LA Fitness lockers when they spotted three suspects fitting the thieves' descriptions in the parking... 1 injured
MIAMI BEACH, 2010 — Joseph Richer, 44, and his father were involved in a legal dispute over a Miami Beach condo where Richer had lived for seven... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — Trevis Sherwood, 22, was speeding the wrong way on a one-way street toward Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Jeanpaul Mora as he was directing traffic near the Citrus... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2010 — Deputy Kenneth Kimberlin tried to pull over a black Ford Explorer that strayed from its lane and made a U-turn in an unsafe... 1 injured
SATELLITE BEACH, 2010 — Police arrived at a house on Grant Avenue just before 7 p.m., answering a call about shots... 1 killed
POMPANO BEACH, 2010 — Pompano Beach police were watching the home of Brenda Van Zwieten, 52, who was suspected of illegally selling prescription... 1 killed
HASTINGS, 2010 — St. Johns County sheriff's deputies were escorting a woman and her child out of the house when, they said, Lawrence O'Bryan appeared in the doorway with a handgun and fired shots at... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2010 — A witness told police that a man was walking down the street with an AK-47 assault... 1 killed
STUART, 2010 — Kevin Cyr, 36, and Sarah Gauvin, 30, made off with a little over $1,000 when they robbed a Chase... 1 killed 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2010 — On Dec. 18, 2010, two police officers in an unmarked car spotted a Ford Expedition with windows tinted beyond the legal... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2010 — Reginald Rishawn Henley, 27, was shot in the back as he ran away from an... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2010 — Mark Stephen Yoachum, Jr. and another man had robbed a Family Dollar story at... 1 killed
PEMBROKE PINES, 2010 — The mother of John McCully called the police in response to her son's aggressive... 1 killed
OAKLAND PARK, 2010 — At about 5:20 p.m., Kelly Garrick's mother called 911 to ask for help with her daughter, 41, who was armed and... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2010 — On New Year’s Eve, Reynaldo Rodriguez, 37, was seen taking a GPS device from a... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — Nine SWAT members in two unmarked SUVs were serving as backup for patrol officers investigating reports of shots fired on New Year's... 1 killed
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2011 — Police responded to a report of an attempted armed... 1 injured
MADISON, 2011 — A sheriff's deputy and a state trooper approached a tent pitched in a drainage ditch by... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2011 — Sheri Carter, 29, had a bachelor's degree in English and was studying for the Law School Admissions... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2011 — Escambia County Deputy Courtney Clanton twice shot Harold Baggett, 50, on Jan. 12,... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2011 — Sarasota Police Officer William Schwenk tried to stop Devon Evans, 22, a suspect in a year-old armed robbery case, on U.S... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — Four Miami-Dade warrants bureau officers attempted to arrest Johnny Simms, 22, on a murder... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2011 — Hillsborough County deputies responded to a domestic violence call at Waters Edge Apartments and learned that the suspect was armed inside the... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2011 — At 7 a.m., officers and a U.S. marshal questioned Christine Lacy about the whereabouts of her husband. Hydra Lacy, 39, was wanted for failing to appear in... 1 killed
OLD TOWN, 2011 — Dixie County sheriff's deputies were called for a domestic dispute between a mentally ill man, Richard Yearwood, and his... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2011 — Police were investigating a report of a stolen car near the Lakewood Forest subdivision when they received a call about a suspicious person in the... 1 injured
LARGO, 2011 — Edward Sliger, 54, had some drinks at the Dog House Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg. He then began asking patrons for prescription... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2011 — Pedro Quiles was pulled over near 16th Street and Bougainvillea Avenue by Officer William Cain, who was getting ready to give Quiles a ticket for aggressive... 1 killed
MIRAMAR, 2011 — On foot patrol after dark, Miramar Police Officers Michael Bolduc and Damaso Espiritusanto observed the Hilaire brothers through a window, apparently cutting and packaging crack... 2 killed
HOLMES, 2011 — Wade Williams, 35, was suspected of shooting and then mutilating his parents in their Jackson County... 1 killed
APOPKA, 2011 — Gregory A. Horne, 29, had battled mental illness for 10... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Detectives from Miami-Dade's robbery unit were set up near NW Sixth Avenue and 75th Street in Liberty... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — The operation was meant to arrest gang members and get guns off the... 1 killed 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — A U.S. Marshals Service task force was attempting to arrest Barion Blake, 30, a fugitive from New York wanted for auto theft and aggravated... 1 killed
HOLLYWOOD, 2011 — Michael Morrow was firing a 12-gauge shotgun into the second-floor condo where his daughter and her boyfriend were... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — In the early hours of Valentine's Day, deputies responded to a report of an armed... 1 killed 1 injured
NEW PORT RICHEY, 2011 — Pasco County Sheriff's Office deputies and New Port Richey Police Department officers stopped a car for a minor violation at a location known for drug... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — Police had received a 911 call about an armed disturbance at the Eureka Garden... 1 injured
BELLE GLADE, 2011 — Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Jeffrey Johnson accidentally shot Trooper Mellow Scheetz when he was demonstrating how to clean a... 1 injured
TAMARAC, 2011 — A task force was conducting an undercover operation designed to smoke out heavily-armed men who had been committing robberies in the Fort Lauderdale... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — Police in full tactical gear were serving a search warrant for drugs at the Cleveland Arms... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2011 — Police and deputy U.S. marshals were trying to arrest a homicide suspect who they were tracking using his cell phone. The suspect, Kendrick Herring, 21, was spotting dozing at a bus stop on Capital... 1 injured
LAUDERHILL, 2011 — Cedric Telasco, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and whose medicine had been adjusted the day before, called 911 around 1:30 a.m. from his mother's... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — Officers received a 911 call about a man in a trench coat brandishing a sword on a city... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — Around 3 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a stabbing at Betty's Laughing Horse... 1 killed
EDGEWATER, 2011 — Derrick Grippin, 30, had fired a gun at a bar during an argument with his girlfriend. He then went home around 11 p.m. and fired off more... 1 injured
OCALA, 2011 — Gloria Rust, 50, called law enforcement because her husband had just attacked her, leaving bruises, and had shot out the tires of one of their... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Miami-Dade police Officer Kelvin Cox spotted a gray 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix with a stolen license plate driving... 1 killed
BRANDON, 2011 — Two deputies approached Evelio Rodriguez, 20, near a trash bin in a restaurant parking lot to arrest him on a trespassing charge. He tried to walk away and deputies... 1 injured
MILTON, 2011 — Johann "Joe" Felber snapped, authorities said. He and his wife, Ruth, were separating. He began drinking, throwing things around the house and pulling out... 1 killed
MIAMI GARDENS, 2011 — Officers responded to a domestic violence call at a home in southwest Miami-Dade... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — Brandon Paul McCrory, 28, was shot and injured by Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer Jeremy... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2011 — Jerry Cardin's wife called authorities because he was damaging their home and threatening to kill... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2011 — Around 7:15 p.m., Jonathan Bestoso, 24, threw a maintenance worker on the ground and hijacked his golf cart at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2011 — A police officer working as security at the Roxy nightclub called for assistance after a man was shot at the club around 2:30... 1 injured
LANTANA, 2011 — Relatives told police that Susan Jayne Pacifici, 50, was driving to Lantana to shoot herself in front of her estranged... 1 injured
BRANDON, 2011 — Thomas Noettl, 30, was a suspect in a bank robbery. Initially cooperative when arrested, he was taken to the home he shared with his parents to retrieve the... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — Ricardo Orta pulled a gun on a man during an argument in a dollar store in Little... 1 injured
POMONA PARK, 2011 — An undercover officer arranged a sting in Putnam County to illegally purchase a firearm from convicted felon Rodrigo Espinoza and Avery... 1 killed 1 injured
SUNRISE, 2011 — A Sunrise man depressed over the death of his father and his inability to find work was fatally shot in front of a police... 1 killed
INTERLACHEN, 2011 — A SWAT team made up of Putnam County sheriff's deputies were serving a search warrant at the home of alleged drug... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2011 — Police responded to a robbery call at The Villages apartments. They attempted to pull over a red Camaro on Millenia... 1 injured
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, 2011 — An officer from the Intracoastal Unit was patrolling an area in North Miami Beach when he approached Manuel Bueno,... 1 killed
HIGH SPRINGS, 2011 — Robert Nodine, 63, arrived at school to pick up his grandchildren only to find that the Florida Department of Children and Families asked that the children not be... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — Antonio Cooks was fatally shot and Verne Williams was critically injured by Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer Jason... 1 killed 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2011 — William Jimmy Page, Jr., 39, was a federal fugitive living in a garage apartment in St... 1 killed
FT. MCCOY, 2011 — Lavada Kirk, 76, called the police to report that her mentally ill grandson, Bruce McDonald, had just shot her... 1 injured
MIAMI BEACH, 2011 — Around 4 a.m. on Memorial Day, a bicycle officer approached the driver of a car that was peeling out on crowded Collings... 1 killed 4 injured
LAKELAND, 2011 — Around midnight, Eric Bradwell, 29, was shot and killed by Polk County deputies after an investigation into of a string of home invasions led them to his... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Edilberto Santana, 51, was being investigated for several... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — Ronnerry Fell sold $40 worth of marijuana to two undercover Orlando police detectives then tried to flee on his... 1 injured
ZELLWOOD, 2011 — In the early morning hours of June 11, 2011, Bradley Blanton, 24, and Sidney Abrams, 41 robbed a man at gunpoint at a Circle K gas... 1 killed
WINTER GARDEN, 2011 — After a domestic violence call just before midnight, Winter Garden officers found Margaret Gibbs at her neighbor's house, where she ran to to call the... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2011 — Richard Williams, 28, was arrested for stalking and ordered to stay away from his former girlfriend. The same day he was released on bail, he went to her... 1 injured
GAINESVILLE, 2011 — Robert McBride, 43, was acting strangely and a woman he visited told dispatchers she was concerned for his safety. She said that he was... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, 2011 — Jacksonville police found Carl Torrance Brennan, 23, in the back seat of a vehicle near the scene of an attempted... 1 killed
PALM HARBOR, 2011 — Edward DiGrandi, 73, arrived at his ex-wife's home in Palm Harbor just before 7 a.m., upset about the financial settlement in their recent... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — Around midnight, four deputies responded to a domestic violence complaint involving Benjamin Whitted and his girlfriend, Brittany... 1 injured
ST. CLOUD, 2011 — At about 9:30 a.m., police respond to a domestic dispute at a home on Tennessee... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Miami-Dade police had been tracking a crew of violent home-invasion... 4 killed
PLANTATION, 2011 — Officer Joseph Santy, 31, was listening to his iPod while cleaning his service weapon in his... 1 injured
VERO BEACH, 2011 — James Noble, 70, who suffered from dementia, had watched Wheel of Fortune, then Jeopardy, then his disabled wife fell... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — At 9:40 p.m., officers arrived at a Red Carpet Inn looking for a suspect in the robbery of a grocery... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2011 — Umberto Ferrara's wife called 911 at around 6 a.m. on July 12, 2011, to say that her husband was on the back porch with a... 1 killed
PEMBROKE PINES, 2011 — Broward County sheriff's Deputy John Milligan showed up to evict Allen Gauntlett, 52, a Jamaican immigrant and ex-security guard, from a foreclosed... 1 injured
GAINESVILLE, 2011 — Around 2:30 a.m., police tried to pull over Tamara Lockley for a traffic... 1 injured
QUINCY, 2011 — Around 7 p.m., five deputies approached Carmelo Quijada's house to arrest him on domestic battery... 1 injured
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, 2011 — Jonathan Woolfson, 37, shot and killed a friend who came to help him at his North Miami Beach... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — A task force was trailing Michael Jenkins, the suspect in a violent robbery and unrelated... 1 killed
PALM HARBOR, 2011 — About 1:30 a.m., July 25, a deputy spotted a car driving erratically near the Shoppes at Boot Ranch. Bradley Gaus pulled over into the parking lot, near... 1 injured
CAPE CANAVERAL, 2011 — Francis "Howard" Morrell, a retired space engineer and dentist, barged into Whiskerz in Cape Canaveral and threatened two people with a gun about a business... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Officers, responding to a series of car theft complaints, were looking for a stolen green 1996 Honda... 2 injured
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2011 — Around 9:30 a.m., Stanley Beasley, 33, robbed a Check Cashing Store and killed the clerk, Clairemathe Geffrard,... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2011 — Wesley Sylvester Moore, 49, was shot and killed when a sheriff's felony squad went to Gamble Drive in the Pine Hills area to serve felony arrest... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Catawaba Howard, an Air Force veteran, had threatened to harm herself and others before someone called... 1 killed
WELLINGTON, 2011 — John Haulotte, 23, was shot by Palm Beach County sheriff's Deputy Latoya Rouse at Wellington Regional Medical Center on Aug. 14,... 1 injured
RIVIERA BEACH, 2011 — During a routine traffic stop, passenger Robert Robinson jumped out of the vehicle and ran, holding a... 1 injured
PLANT CITY, 2011 — Jacob Munt, 25, crashed into police patrol cars after he was allegedly involved in the armed robbery of nearby Plant City... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — An officer approached Drew Randolph Pozdol, 26, outside a restaurant and bar just before 2... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2011 — The getaway driver in a botched convenience store robbery identified Carlos Laboy as the man who had shot the store's... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2011 — Around 7:30 p.m., Janira Calderin, 31, pulled up to a house to pick up Samir Herrera, a man she had met a few weeks... 2 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — Around 9 p.m., detectives with the narcotics tactical unit spotted Johnny Outler, 34, driving... 1 injured
DELAND, 2011 — Lake County sheriff's deputies responded to call about William Paul Hill, 46, being inside a neighbor's house with a... 1 killed
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, 2011 — Residents called 911 to report that a man was in the street carrying a rifle, at one point threatening a... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2011 — A woman called 911 and whispered that someone in the house had a... 1 injured
MELBOURNE, 2011 — A surfer called 911 after seeing a man forcing a woman into a car at a beach near Patrick Air Force... 1 killed
WINTER PARK, 2011 — Just before 7 p.m., Orange County sheriff's Deputy Anthony Shea found Jose Rodriguez-Gallo on top of Carlos Monsalve-Correa, pointing a gun at his... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2011 — Police had been called to the Hutchenson home several times. On Sept. 20, 2011, they received reports of a man arguing with an elderly... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2011 — On Sept. 22, 2011, Leon County sheriff's Deputy Michael Crego pulled over Fernando Lazaro, 29, who was suspected of leaving the scene of a... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2011 — Around 1:40 a.m., several officers were investigating an empty vehicle near Jungle Prada... 1 killed
WEEKI WACHEE, 2011 — Deputies were serving a search warrant at a home on Owl Road when Brett Hattenbrun opened the front door and threw a homemade firebomb at a... 1 injured
FORT MYERS, 2011 — Police tried to pull over Starling Javier's blue Lincoln Navigator but he refused to... 1 killed
WINTER PARK, 2011 — At around 1 a.m., police responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at an intersection in Winter Park. Deputies found Wadkys Napoleon, 24, passed out in his car at a traffic... 1 injured
DELAND, 2011 — Around 11:15 p.m., a call was made to 911 to report that Mary Cecil's son struck her during an... 1 killed
PEMBROKE PINES, 2011 — Around 4 a.m., a neighbor woke up homicide Sgt. Confesor Gonzalez to tell him that someone had broken into Gonzalez'... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2011 — Hialeah police got a tip from a confidential source that a 2002 Cadillac Escalade was en route to commit an armed... 2 injured
MIAMI GARDENS, 2011 — Police Sgt. Brendolyn Spence was pursuing Jose Almonte when he turned and charged at her with his arms... 1 killed
FORT MYERS, 2011 — Deputies Shilo Johnson and John Morgan responded to a domestic violence call where Robert McCracken answered the door with a gun behind his... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2011 — Cecilia Harris called police at 7:30 p.m. to report that her son was acting... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2011 — Just after 6:30 a.m., Glenn Humes T-boned an SUV taxi, killing the cab driver and critically injuring the cab driver's... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2011 — Deputies were looking for Lennox Lowery, 53, who allegedly shot an acquaintance who had begun dating his... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — Officer Carlos Ramos as conducting a traffic stop when a man, driving erratically, narrowly missed... 1 killed
CRESTVIEW, 2011 — At about 10 p.m., police tried to pull over Jason Chessher, 29, who was driving a stolen Jeep... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2011 — Deputy Luis Tabio observed a white Toyota driving erratically and followed it down a dirt... 1 injured
LAKE WORTH, 2011 — Two deputies were called to a domestic disturbance around 9... 1 killed
LANTANA, 2011 — William Dabbs pulled up next to the car of Lawrence Modena, his employer, in a parking lot near the Home Depot on SW Eighth Street. He shot Modena in the torso and... 1 injured
CRAWFORDVILLE, 2011 — Authorities were notified of a possible break-in at a Chevron gas station around 11 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2011. Two deputies arrived at the scene and searched around the... 1 injured
LAKE WORTH, 2011 — Deputies were called to a home invasion robbery in... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2011 — A murder investigation led Officer Justin Roedel to approach two men parked in a maroon... 1 injured
ROYAL PALM BEACH, 2011 — Deputies were called to a home invasion in progress around 10... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2011 — Edward J. Littleton, 22, and a teenager tried to rob a Family Dollar store at 4:45... 1 injured
LAUDERDALE LAKES, 2011 — Deputy Kyran Ramcharan confronted Joe Toney, 20, a suspect in a purse... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2011 — At about 8:30 p.m., Miami-Dade police officers were watching the apartment of Reynaldo Cabrera Hernandez, who allegedly killed his... 1 killed
LAKELAND, 2011 — Off-duty police Officer Preston Chatmon arrived home and found two men standing in his living room with his flat-screen TV in their... 1 injured
DANIA BEACH, 2011 — Broward sheriff's deputies and Hollywood police were assisting Hallandale Beach police in locating four car burglary... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2011 — On Dec. 1, 2011, a multi-agency task force was searching for a wanted man named Shantwaun Turner, 22. A confidential informant alerted police to Turner's... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2011 — Fernando Benavides hit another motorist with his pickup and took off, police... 1 killed
HOLLYWOOD, 2011 — Officer Jaime Cerna stopped Kareem Jabar McDonald, 38, who matched the description of a man who had just committed an armed... 1 injured
MIAMI-DADE, 2011 — U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents and Miami-Dade police officers tried to arrest Ricardo Aviles at a house in... 1 killed 1 injured
MILTON, 2011 — A U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force that included deputies from the Santa Rosa sheriff's SWAT team was positioned around a house on Camille Gardens... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2011 — Keshaun Fleming, 29, walked into a McDonald's dressed as a woman and held up the cashier at... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2011 — Police responded to a domestic violence complaint from the girlfriend of Marcos Bonia,... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2011 — Around 7 p.m., Officer Usilia Emilione and a trainee went to a home in East Tampa to check on a call about an erratic... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2011 — Officers from the narcotics unit were conducting "citizen contacts" in an area known for drugs and violent... 1 injured
HUDSON, 2011 — Around 6:15 p.m. on Christmas Day, deputies arrived to find Brian Naab and Candi Schonemen struggling over a shotgun in front of Naab’s... 1 killed
CAPE CORAL, 2011 — Joseph Cleary, a 22-year-old from Rochester, N.H., was shot and killed by Deputy Michael Tamulionis after he pulled out a gun and pointed it at another... 1 killed
HIALEAH, 2011 — David Calderin's girlfriend called authorities to warn them that Calderin threatened to commit suicide and planned to speak to her father at the Maroone Ford... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — Police had received an anonymous call about Carl Ward, who was wanted on a domestic battery warrant. Officer Brian Kremler went to Ward's car and asked him to step out. Ward, 35, refused and... 1 injured
HALLANDALE BEACH, 2012 — Unarmed shoplifting suspect Gregory Ehlers Jr., a Tampa native, was shot three times by a Hallandale Beach police officer while cornered on a residential... 1 killed
LAKELAND, 2012 — Police received reports of a man firing a gun and people running near an alley between Patterson and Park... 1 injured
POMPANO BEACH, 2012 — Broward deputies, Coral Springs officers and federal agents were conducting a sting to buy three guns from Johnny Wright, 23, and two other... 1 killed
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, 2012 — St. Johns County sheriff's deputies shot Daryl L. Atkins, 59, drunk and suicidal, during a gun... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2012 — Cpl. Kyle Morse encountered Jose Simon-Dominguez, 21, on a bike trail just after... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — Devon Lavell Mitchell, 28, was shot by Detectives James Hux and George Simpson after an undercover drug bust turned... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — Craig Ruise, 17, was shot and killed by Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers William Irvin and Mark Campanaro during a robbery... 1 killed
APOPKA, 2012 — Around 10:15 p.m., Cpl. Chris Hall responded to a call about a man threatening Fire Rescue... 1 killed
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2012 — Officers responded to a hit on a stolen car's Lo-Jack and tracked the car to NE Fourth... 1 injured
DELAND, 2012 — Javier Perez, Leobigildo "Filo" Espinoza and some friends were in a backyard, drinking beer and taking pot shots at an orange with a BB... 2 injured
OCKLAWAHA, 2012 — Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Steven Simpson performed a traffic stop on Michael Lyell... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2012 — Just after 4 p.m., deputies were called to a credit union about a man in the parking lot with a... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — Two off-duty officers in uniform were working early morning security at Club... 1 killed
POMPANO BEACH, 2012 — Around 5:40 p.m., neighbors called 911 because they heard Kenneth Shewey loudly arguing with his ex-girlfriend and saw him waving a .45-caliber... 1 killed
MIDDLEBURG, 2012 — Members of the Clay County Sheriff's Narcotics Unit were investigating a possible methamphetamine lab at a house on Alligator... 1 killed
HIALEAH, 2012 — Police were called to an apartment complex in response to reports of a man with a gun behaving... 1 killed
LAKE NONA, 2012 — Police were called to Elmer Banner's home about a... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2012 — Police located two stolen cars at an apartment complex on Martins Way. They also suspected that at least one of the cars had been used in two armed robberies that... 1 injured
BEVERLY HILLS, 2012 — Nicholas Di Novo, 30, wrote suicide notes to his family and friends, then called police after a long night of... 1 injured
MERRITT ISLAND, 2012 — Stewart Gilder, 57, called 911 around 10:30 a.m. and told the dispatcher that he was in a shed in the backyard with a .9mm... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2012 — Marcus Neloms III was suspected of shooting a man at an apartment complex during an... 1 killed
MIAMI LAKES, 2012 — Officers broke open the front door of a suspected drug house using a sledgehammer and pry... 1 killed
POMPANO BEACH, 2012 — Deputies Ronald Miller and Andrea Penoyer Tianga were patrolling as part of a countywide street-crime... 1 injured
ORANGE PARK, 2012 — Deputy Christopher Ruby was returning to the Orange Park substation at the end of his shift around 6 a.m. He saw a woman, Joann Beardsley, standing in front of the... 1 killed
LAKELAND, 2012 — Officers were called to the Palms Mobile Home Park to stand by as Lisette Galarza retrieved her belongings from her boyfriend's... 1 killed
MIRAMAR, 2012 — Around 9 p.m., two Miramar police officers were talking to man who had called 911 asking authorities for help in a dispute with a... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — About 6 p.m., four officers responded to a report of shots fired during an argument between two men at the Emerson... 1 injured
FORT MYERS, 2012 — Deputies responded to call from the daughter of a woman who was threatening to harm... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2012 — At 11 p.m., two officers working on a robbery prevention detail approached Eduardo Barnes, 19, because they saw a bulge in his... 1 injured
OCALA, 2012 — Jeanette Damms called police because of her husband's menacing... 1 injured
DADE CITY, 2012 — Justin Plaza’s aunt called authorities at around 11:30 p.m. to report that Plaza was acting erratically and brandishing a gun in front of her and his... 1 killed
KISSIMMEE, 2012 — A St. Cloud SWAT team was raiding a house in Kissimmee at about 2 p.m., looking for armed drug... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — For weeks, undercover officers had been buying crack cocaine at an apartment in a complex in the Arlington... 1 killed
PALM BEACH GARDENS, 2012 — Around 9:30 p.m., police chased Leon Sahakian to an area near his home on Sun Terrace Circle in suburban Palm Beach... 1 killed
SARASOTA, 2012 — Deputy Kenneth R. Frailing was serving a final notice of eviction to 49-year-old William F... 1 injured
GAINESVILLE, 2012 — Officers were sent to investigate a possible drug deal at 1142 NE 24th Terrace. One suspect, Ronnie Williams, 23, entered his car and bumped into Officer Safiya Rim multiple... 1 injured
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2012 — Andrea Sheldon, a 46-year-old hospice nurse, and her husband, Rick, got into an argument at their rural... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2012 — Sheriff's Deputy Brett Heubach shot Shanterika Thomas, 24, three times after telling her to drop what appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol, according to the state attorney's... 1 injured
PANAMA CITY, 2012 — Panama City police responded to a disturbance at the home of 40-year-old Clifton McKinney. Upon arriving, officers were met with violent force from McKinney, who was wielding a... 1 killed
LANTANA, 2012 — Justin Heffernan, Jr., 19, was shot by canine Deputy Charles Hardy of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's... 1 injured
DAYTONA BEACH, 2012 — Daytona Beach police responded to an anonymous call about a man waving a gun in the parking lot of the Daytona Beach International... 2 injured
NAPLES, 2012 — Just before 7 a.m. Sunday morning, Collier Deputy Kenneth Vila heard Jean Rosado trying to get into his house by breaking the glass on his back... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2012 — Anthony Stahley, 27, was suspected of stealing a man's bicycle while armed with an... 1 injured
HOLLYWOOD, 2012 — Deputies stopped to investigate what they thought was a drug sale between two men in a car. The men drove away at first, but were quickly stopped... 1 injured
FORT MYERS, 2012 — Jimmie Matthews, 31, refused to pull over during a traffic stop. He attempted to ram Deputy Stephen Kirkby's vehicle twice, police... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — This deadly shooting began with officer Jeffrey Edwards pulling over Davinian Williams' Ford... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Early on the morning of May 12, 2012, South Miami police officers responded to report that Orestes Fernandez had been... 1 killed
LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, 2012 — Sgt. Michael Custer was working undercover on a string of ATM... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Undercover detectives with the robbery division stopped two men in a green Kia in West... 1 killed
FORT PIERCE, 2012 — Deputy Corey Speicker tried to pull over a Toyota Rav4 for careless driving about 10... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2012 — Rudy Eugene had been on South Beach for Memorial Day, joining in Urban Beach... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — At 3:30 a.m., Officer Luis Perez tried to stop a teen dressed in black and with a bulge under his... 1 injured
COCOA BEACH, 2012 — Officer Ronald Betts responded to a report at a 7-Eleven about a suspicious person inside, a man later identified as Olivier Babadjide,... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — At 11 a.m., police responded to a shots fired call at the Cleveland Arms... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2012 — Deputies exchanged gunfire with carjacker Michael James Wallach during a long... 1 injured
GREENACRES, 2012 — Deputes were called to a trailer park in unincorporated Greenacres about a domestic... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2012 — Five women got into an altercation at the Roxy nightclub around 2 a.m. They were ejected but continued to exchange words... 1 injured
BOYNTON BEACH, 2012 — Deputies responded to a predawn call about a fight at a sports bar west of Boynton... 1 killed
SARASOTA, 2012 — During a traffic stop for a seat belt violation, deputies Adam Shaw and Troy Sasse walked toward Rodney Mitchell's... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2012 — Calvin Wallace, 52, was the suspect in an armed robbery of a Chase Bank in Delray Beach. Wallace was fleeing from Officer Eric Reynolds and refused to... 1 killed
SUNRISE, 2012 — Around 1 a.m., an unnamed 16-year-old was shot by Lauderhill police Officer Sgt. Michael Bigwood after Bigwood tried to pull him over for erratic driving and hitting parked... 1 injured
MELBOURNE, 2012 — Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy James Harrison attempted to pull over Benjamin Dykeman, who was driving... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2012 — On June 22, 2012, the sheriff's office received a tip that Moses Hall, 33, had stolen an air conditioning unit from a house and planned to sell it for... 1 injured
GAINESVILLE, 2012 — Gainesville police officers were responding to an armed disturbance at an apartment complex owned by the Association for Retarded Citizens on June 24,... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — A man called 911 to report a suicidal friend who was threatening to cut... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2012 — Police tracked a stolen work van to the Presidente... 1 injured
NORTH FORT MYERS, 2012 — Deputy Frank Trestka pulled over Tamyria Harvey for speeding and illegal window tint. The deputy smelled marijuana when he approached the... 1 killed
DELEON SPRINGS, 2012 — Volusia County investigator Benyamin Yisrael accompanied a SWAT team to serve a search warrant for stolen goods at 6105 State Road 11 in... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2012 — Investigating a call about a suspicious person, West Palm Beach police Officer Phillip Williams confronted 20-year-old Dimitri... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2012 — Officers stopped an SUV carrying Antonio Stephens around 10:30 p.m. Stephens was a suspect in the theft of a different... 1 injured
MELBOURNE, 2012 — Officer Brian Cavanaugh was participating in a SWAT team's "buy and bust" drug raid the evening of July 3,... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2012 — On July 5, 2012, Officer Nicolo Mangiaracina chased a fleeing car carrying two men who had just robbed the Scorpion Tobacco Shop on 34th Street... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2012 — Three Escambia County sheriff's deputies fatally shot James M. Kirkland, a mentally ill man who was holding an antique rifle outside the home he shared with his... 1 killed
SUMMERFIELD, 2012 — Deputy Lauren Miley responded to a complaint about a group of people being loud and... 1 killed
EUSTIS, 2012 — Gilberto Roman Rivera went into an Advance Discount Auto Parts store on July 11, 2012, and shot and killed Rose Nelson, 54, whom he had been... 1 killed
LEESBURG, 2012 — Lake County sheriff's deputies were helping Leesburg police pursue a motorcyclist, Jonathan Brown, suspected of beating a... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Miami-Dade police responded to a call about a fight at a large... 1 killed
BRADENTON, 2012 — Around 10:30 p.m., Manatee County sheriff's deputies responded to a burglary in... 1 killed
POMONA PARK, 2012 — Three Putnam County sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic disturbance and found mentally ill Alfred Dobson, 35, who was mumbling... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2012 — Deputies responded to a 911 call about a man shooting a gun and threatening to commit... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2012 — Around 7:30 p.m., officers went to the Central Court Apartments to investigate reports of... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Miami-Dade Police Department detectives went to the home of Henry Patterson, 55, to investigate an aggravated stalking... 1 killed
CLEARWATER, 2012 — Officer Karl Wassmer, 46, and his recruit, Lauren Josey, were performing routine patrols when Wassmer suggested that he confirm the standing warrant against Julius Larrance,... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Drug officers were following up on a tip about a marijuana grow house operating in a quiet west Miami-Dade... 1 killed
COCOA, 2012 — Just after midnight, Brevard County Sheriff's officers began an undercover drug buy at a closed Sunoco gas... 1 injured
NORTH FORT MYERS, 2012 — Members of the Fugitive Warrants Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service went to an apartment on Laurel Drive to arrest Billy Ray Retherford, 42, in connection with the killing of Debra Striano in... 1 killed
HOMESTEAD, 2012 — Luis Mir-Borjas, 18, escaped from a mobile home while his kidnappers were... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Detectives went to a pawn shop in Liberty City to investigate stolen... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2012 — A woman at the Attucks Court housing project was shot during a firefight between two... 1 killed
LAKE CITY, 2012 — Police Officer Brian Bruenger responded to a domestic assault call around 2:30... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2012 — Police responded to a call about a suspicious... 2 injured
SUWANNEE, 2012 — Around 2 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Derek MacLaren tried to pull over Brent Blevins' maroon Dodge... 1 killed
MARIANNA, 2012 — Victor Morales robbed a woman of her cell phone while she was parked at a CVS... 1 killed
TREASURE ISLAND, 2012 — Authorities got a tip about 5 a.m. that rape suspect Gregory Johns was at a beach... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2012 — Police were waiting outside the Suburban Extended Stay hotel where they thought wanted felon Rafael Harrison was... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2012 — Around 9 p.m., three officers arrived at the Camden Reserve Apartments to investigate a robbery. Three brothers had called police to say they had been robbed at... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2012 — Escambia County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Moore shot and wounded 28-year-old Justin Coon, who was struck by a single bullet in the right hand and upper... 1 injured
HALLANDALE BEACH, 2012 — Police were pursuing a Lexus SUV driven by shoplifting suspect Eduardo Prieto, 32, when it pulled into the valet parking area of a... 1 killed
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, 2012 — Police were tracking a silver BMW registered to Clifton Lamonthe, 31, based on video surveillance from several armed robberies in the Hollywood and Dania... 1 injured
PINELLAS PARK, 2012 — Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Cole tracked a stolen motorcycle to Royal Palm North... 1 injured
HOLLYWOOD, 2012 — Two officers responded to a call at 11:30 a.m. about a suspicious person inside a... 1 killed
INVERNESS, 2012 — State investigators said that Citrus sheriff's deputy trainee Greg Entrekin was at his girlfriend's home when Derrick Vaccianna entered through a window around 10:45... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2012 — Responding to a report about a suicidal man, Hillsborough County sheriff's corporal shot and killed George Garrett, 66. Deputies said he was holding a gun in his mouth as he walked toward... 1 killed
LAUDERHILL, 2012 — Security guard Earl Brown called police to report a late-night prowler in the alley behind International Global... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2012 — Edward Thomas, 25, was on probation for attempted second-degree murder when police tried to pull his car over for an expired tag and seat belt violation around 11:40... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2012 — Detectives with the robbery unit were conducting surveillance when suspect David Alexis arrived at his parents' house in his... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2012 — Michael Camberdella, 18 and autistic, was fatally shot by Palm Beach County sheriff's Deputy William... 1 killed
NAPLES, 2012 — On Oct. 19, 2012, deputies approach Duane Gregory, a 49-year-old homeless man who appeared to have a... 1 injured
SPRING HILL, 2012 — Hernando Sheriff's Deputy Rocky Howard and Tampa Police Officer Bill Mechler were attending a party at Howard's in-laws in Spring... 1 killed
HOLLY HILL, 2012 — Shortly after 1:30 a.m., police took Leah Mays to her boyfriend's house to retrieve her belongings and arrest him for misdemeanor domestic... 1 injured
POMPANO BEACH, 2012 — Michael Webb tried to rob the same Chase Bank in Pompano Beach for the third... 1 killed
PORT ST. LUCIE, 2012 — Shortly after 7 p.m., the parents of Daniel Ross Fuller called 911 and told the dispatcher that their son was armed and threatening to kill... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2012 — Around 1 a.m., Ebony Oliver, 20, and Lamont Burgess, 36, robbed a 7-Eleven on Fourth Street... 1 killed
DORAL, 2012 — The victim of a home invasion followed the robbers' vehicle to a flea market and called... 1 killed 1 injured
PALM BAY, 2012 — Palm Bay police respond to calls from witnesses about a masked man robbing a... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2012 — Two officers went to the West Miami-Dade home of Alexis Suarez-Reyes, 47, to arrest him on a battery... 1 killed
YOUNGSTOWN, 2012 — A medical examiner's report said Mary Loflin, 62, had a history of suicide attempts and had been held for mental evaluation under Florida's Baker... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2012 — Around 12:45 p.m., Officers Justin Roedel and Patrick Bradley were patrolling an area of recent... 2 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2012 — Lesly Cowan and his girlfriend, Tammy Gill Lynn Gill walked into a sporting goods store to buy... 1 killed
PALM BEACH SHORES, 2012 — Adam Brown, 49, had a towel around his waist and was standing in the pool area of his apartment complex with a... 1 injured
ORANGE PARK, 2012 — Clay County sheriff's Deputy Reginald Hyatt III responded to a call on Crossing Boulevard regarding a potentially armed and suicidal Nicholas... 1 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2012 — Around 5:30 p.m., Palm Beach County Deputy Joshua Kushel investigated a call about people smoking marijuana in a... 1 killed
FORT MYERS, 2012 — Deputy Dash Lockhart saw a vehicle speeding and attempted a traffic stop on Thomas Kollman Jr.,... 1 killed
PALM COAST, 2012 — Troy Gordon, 32, was displaying odd behavior on Dec. 15, 2012. A family member called 911 to report that Gordon had a machete and had been reading the... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2012 — Officers Matthew Coverdale and Jeremy Pillow were investigating a shots fired report when they found Timothy Lowe in a hotel parking... 1 injured
CLEARWATER, 2012 — Donna and Danny Meredith had an argument on the afternoon of Dec. 16, 2012. Donna left their house on Bugle Lane for a few... 1 killed
FORT PIERCE, 2012 — John Donald Austgen Jr., 47, was reportedly seen by an officer engaging in a hand-to-hand drug... 1 killed
CLEARWATER, 2012 — On Dec. 23, 2012, the father of 56-year-old Mark Bill called law enforcement to tell them that his son was suicidal and in possession of a... 1 injured
ORMOND BEACH, 2013 — Volusia County sheriff's deputies found Kenneth Morrow by pinging his cell phone after he sent an ex-girlfriend suicidal... 1 killed
SARASOTA, 2013 — Stephanie Hick, 34, was in a suspected stolen vehicle when Sarasota police officers tried pull... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2013 — Yamil Paz, 46, had just burglarized Ocean Runner Boats when police responded to the alarm around 2... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2013 — At around 2:30 p.m., police responded to a call about a shoplifting in progress at a CVS drugstore in West Kendall, then they pursued two suspects in a... 2 killed
FORT MYERS, 2013 — Deputies responded to a call after 2 a.m. about shots fired during a fight outside Cadillac Jack's Bar &... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2013 — Police received a report of a suicidal woman from a local veterinarian, who had euthanized her... 1 injured
LAKE WORTH, 2013 — Josef Orta, 23, called 911 and told dispatchers that his wife was going to kill... 1 killed
TAMARAC, 2013 — Neighbors said Linda Sue Davis, 60, was friendly, unless she stopped taking her... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2013 — Three undercover detectives were investigating crack cocaine sales at the Cinnamon Cove apartments near University Square... 1 killed
INDIALANTIC, 2013 — Police responded to a domestic disturbance and learned that Christopher Greer, 49, had pulled a small knife on his brother, who wrestled the knife... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2013 — Police were on Cinderlane Parkway conducting surveillance in a drug investigation when two men entered and left the apartment that was under... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2013 — Eight detectives and drug enforcement deputies surrounded a building on Arlington Street after a tip about 10 pounds of... 1 killed 1 injured
FRUITLAND PARK, 2013 — Lake County sheriff's Deputies Jason Dunlap and Billy Walls were looking for Jeremy Donye Walker, who wanted in an... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2013 — Suspected of committing three armed robberies within 10 minutes, Dedrick Lewis was running from... 1 injured
VERO BEACH, 2013 — An Indian River County sheriff's deputy shot an armed man while investigating a domestic violence... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2013 — Around 2:00 a.m., deputies pulled over Lawrence Gudmestad, 49, for speeding. He initially stopped but then drove... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2013 — Escambia County sheriff's deputies shot and killed Paul Gordon Thayer, 49, after he allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — At 7:50 p.m., officers responded to a domestic violence... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Police said that around 11:30 p.m, Freddie Bradley fled a traffic... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2013 — At 8:42 p.m., deputies were waiting at a Circle K convenience store for for 31-year-old Carlos Cespedes, wanted for attempted murder and aggravated... 1 injured
FORT PIERCE, 2013 — Nkosi McClain, 19, went on an hour-long shooting spree that began with shots fired at the home of a fellow Indian River State College student. The two had been... 2 injured
MIAMI-DADE, 2013 — On Feb. 8, 2013, off-duty Miami-Dade corrections Sgt. Angeleatha Brazil-Chestnut, 43, shot her husband, Daryle Chestnut, during a domestic... 1 injured
BOCA RATON, 2013 — Police responded to a report about a man on the roof of a building at Florida Atlantic University. There they found Nicholas Squire, a 22-year-old homeless... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2013 — Police stopped Zeyken Suarez Triana because his Audi matched the vehicle used by a robbery... 1 injured
FLORIDA CITY, 2013 — Vincent Stroud, 23, was being investigated by... 1 injured
MELBOURNE, 2013 — Around 10:20 p.m., nearly a dozen police officers were dispatched to an apartment complex to check on Ryan Rader,... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — Officers pulled over a car with a broken taillight shortly after 6... 1 killed
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2013 — St. Johns County sheriff's deputies were investigating a stolen vehicle shortly before 6 a.m. outside a Quality... 1 injured
SPRING HILL, 2013 — Hernando County Sheriff's Deputy Ramona Fuhs responded to a call around 9 p.m reporting an "irrational person" and found Joseph Berrios, 18, in the street near his parents'... 1 injured
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2013 — Two officers responded to a call about a suicidal man with a knife at a home in the Victoria Park... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — SWAT officers on a dinner break saw Clifton Joel Day ram his ex-wife's car three times in an attempt to run her off the... 1 killed
BOCA RATON, 2013 — Boca Raton Police Officer Brian Pare shot and killed 20-year-old Adam Donohue after he charged Pare and Officer Chris... 1 killed
NAVARRE, 2013 — In March 2013, several Santa Rosa County sherrif's deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant for counterfeiting on Jeffrey Wright, 55, at the home of his... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Just after 7:30 p.m., members of the vice and narcotics division were trying to serve a search warrant at a home on 18th Ave... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Arthur Dixon's family called police for help after he doused the floor of his home with gasoline and rolled around in it while smoking a... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Shortly before midnight, a call came in about a suspicious man looking into... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2013 — Daniel Rhodes, 49, had hit his wife and threatened her with a... 1 killed
PEMBROKE PINES, 2013 — Pembroke Pines police were dispatched to a report of a suicidal woman who had already discharged a weapon inside her... 1 killed
HALLANDALE BEACH, 2013 — Hallandale police officers responding to a burglary call saw two suspects run from a house and enter a parked... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2013 — Officers were investigating a robbery at a home in which two men were... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — On April 15, 2013, police spotted two teens inside a stolen white Nissan parked in an... 2 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2013 — Craig Demps, 22, carjacked a white pickup at a Lake Worth restaurant, authorities... 1 killed
LONGWOOD, 2013 — Michael Morgan barricaded himself with a rifle in a storage unit after telling his estranged wife, who had an injunction against him, that he was going to... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Detectives were investigating a stolen cell phone, which led them to the home of Jeffrey... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — On April 28, 2013, Officer Christopher Dolch and Probationary Officer Nicholas Cardinal reported to 2630 13th Ave. N on a welfare... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2013 — Deputies Ronald Allen and Brian Tracy responded to a call about a man with a gun behaving erratically near the Tranquility... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — Todd Christopher Jones, 41, asked his stepfather to come to the home where they both once lived with Jones' mother before she... 1 killed
MIRAMAR, 2013 — Jean N. Printemps, 28, tried to rob a group of people at gunpoint in Pembroke Pines, eventually taking their... 1 killed
ORMOND BEACH, 2013 — An Ormond Beach woman called 911 and told the operator that there was an armed intruder trying to enter her... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2013 — Police said a Hyundai driven by Marquis Spencer pulled out into traffic from a 7-Eleven parking lot without stopping about 10:15... 1 killed 1 injured
MIAMI, 2013 — Passengers on a transit bus reported that a man was waving a... 1 killed
LEESBURG, 2013 — Leesburg Police Officer James Dunagan had pulled over a car for failure to stop at a stop sign when the driver refused to obey commands to show his... 1 killed
LAKE CITY, 2013 — On May 8, 2013, Columbia County deputies were on NW Pillsbury Drive in Lake City questioning three individuals for drug possession and... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Officers on patrol in Liberty City ran the license plate on a Nissan and discovered that the car was... 1 killed
ROYAL PALM BEACH, 2013 — Off-duty Deputy Joshua McGehee was outside his home shortly after 1 p.m. when Aldo Alvarez walked... 1 injured
BRANDON, 2013 — Detective Jack Thompson was questioning Bobby Earl Driggers, who was wanted in an auto theft, at around 1:15... 1 killed
FORT WALTON BEACH, 2013 — Deputy Elisa Tino responded to calls about an erratic driver at about 4:45... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — A wild incident at Jacksonville International Airport began when a man spotted his stolen Crown Victoria and telephoned... 2 injured
LARGO, 2013 — Around 8:30 p.m., deputies responded to a call about a man with a rifle. Deputies followed a man with what looked like an assault rifle in a black... 1 injured
LAKE CITY, 2013 — Columbia County sheriff's Deputy Shayne Foote was among police surrounding Justin Ferguson, 35, who was drinking beer and pointing a gun to his... 1 injured
HOBE SOUND, 2013 — Martin County Sheriff's Sgt. James Warren responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle around 1:30... 1 killed
BRADENTON, 2013 — On June 8, 2013, Craig Devon Rodgers, 40, was shot and killed by Bradenton Police Department Detective John... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Officers from a robbery unit tried to pull over a white Nissan that matched the description of one used in an armed... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2013 — Police shot and killed 33-year-old Joseph Paige on Interstate 4 around 3 a.m., June 10,... 1 killed
GAINESVILLE, 2013 — Alachua County Sheriff's Deputy William F. Williams was responding to an assault complaint about someone being "jumped" at the Tower Oaks Glenn apartments on June 15,... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Police responded to a domestic dispute in the Gladeview neighborhood around 8:15... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2013 — Deputy Ronald Barba shot and killed 54-year-old Eric W. Dunphy when deputies responded to the Fairway Mobile Home Park at about 6:30... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Joe White, 48, got into a fight with relatives at a Father's Day gathering in the Richmond Heights... 1 killed
CAPE CORAL, 2013 — Officers Andrew Miller and Matthew Mills were with a group of police officers responding to a report of a man walking down the street with a rifle around 2... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — At about 9 p.m., police were summoned to a dispute at a home, where an officer confronted Marcial... 1 killed
DAYTONA BEACH, 2013 — On July 4, 2013, Daytona Beach Crime Suppression Team Officers James Maher and Michael Cherry, in an unmarked car, grew suspicious of a silver Toyota Camry speeding from the... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2013 — James Wyman McGlothlin, 39, a suspect in a string of burglaries, was shot multiple times by Escambia County Sheriff's Deputy Shedrick Johnson after a... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2013 — Glenn Briggs was suspected of shooting to death Vikitha Briggs, his 44-year-old estranged wife, and Johnny Graham, a 57-year-old North Carolina man, outside of a Panama City... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — A gunman robbed MoJo No. 4 BBQ in Avondale, killing a maintenance... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — On Tuesday, July 16, 2013, police officers responded to multiple calls of "shots fired" at the Dover... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2013 — On July 17, 2013, Carlos Rivera-Rodriguez was involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend at a Tampa apartment... 1 injured
PEMBROKE PINES, 2013 — Sheriff's detectives learned from an informant that Andrew Thomas planned to rob an Allstate insurance... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2013 — Officer Jason Hajek pulled up behind Demetrius Patterson, who had run a red light and was driving... 1 injured
WARRINGTON, 2013 — Two Escambia County sheriff's deputies responding to a burglary call found Roy Howard Middleton, 60, looking for a cigarette in his mother's Lincoln Town Car after... 1 injured
HIALEAH, 2013 — Pedro Alberto Vargas, 42, called 911, claiming that he was being followed and that he was the victim of... 1 killed
BONITA SPRINGS, 2013 — Lee County sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic disturbance. Callers said that Donna Weaver was drunk and "beating on" her live-in... 1 killed
FORT MYERS, 2013 — Matthew Wilson, 23, stole a pickup truck and was later spotted by police on Interstate... 1 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2013 — Police received a call from a woman who said that Moses McCray, 31, had threatened... 1 injured
OAKLAND PARK, 2013 — Responding to calls about a man with a rifle, three deputies confronted Jermaine McBean as he was walking into his apartment... 1 killed
LAUDERDALE LAKES, 2013 — Triston Johnson, 31, was angry that tow truck driver David Herr was taking his 2001 gold... 1 injured
NEW PORT RICHEY, 2013 — Robert Kaminski phoned his wife, Lonnie, and threatened to kill her if she didn’t leave their home before he got... 1 killed
COOPER CITY, 2013 — Around 9 a.m., Lisa Taylor called 911 and said that she was "going to kill somebody" outside her... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2013 — Timothy Dillon, 43, had been drinking and was threatening to shoot himself because of back... 1 injured
OAKLAND PARK, 2013 — Just after midnight, a fugitive task force closed in on a black pickup in the parking lot of a Days Inn... 1 killed 1 injured
SEFFNER, 2013 — Deputies followed Justin Bryant, 25, who was wanted on several charges related to grand theft... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Around 1 a.m., a neighbor called police, saying that Ronald Sexton, 23, had pulled a gun on him during an argument over a barking... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Police responded to reports of an armed... 1 injured
HILLSBOROUGH, 2013 — More than 100 law enforcement officers were looking for Charlie "Chris" Bates, 24, on Sept. 6,... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Shortly after 3:30 a.m., police responded to a noise and firearm complaint on 40th Avenue... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2013 — Dontrell Stephens, 20, was riding a bicycle across Haverhill Road, against traffic, talking on his cell... 1 injured
WINTER GARDEN, 2013 — On Sept. 18, 2013, Winter Garden Police Officer Jorge Coello responded to a stabbing at 38 S. Park... 1 killed
POMPANO BEACH, 2013 — Deputies tried to stop Joshua Boyce, 34, outside a house they believed he had just... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Officer Damien Schmidt responded to a report of a man yelling and wielding an ax near Central Avenue and Fourth Street N in downtown St... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Around 9:30 p.m., police officers responded to a burglary in progress and confronted Jason O'Brien, armed with a... 1 injured
DAYTONA BEACH, 2013 — Jermaine Green, a former New York Giant, was shot multiple times by Daytona Beach police after they were called because of reports of Green holding his girlfriend at knife... 2 injured
PORT ORANGE, 2013 — Luke Daniel Castello was wanted for armed kidnapping and robbery when he held two people at gunpoint and stole $1,100 and a minivan from... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2013 — Deputy Tyler Epstein tried to pull over Nicholas Smith's black BMW for careless driving. Smith refused to... 1 injured
LAKELAND, 2013 — Jocelyn Manganello's brother, 21-year-old Sheldon Norman, said he wanted to kill... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Shortly after 11 p.m., officers were called to the Hungry Baba's restaurant where Jason Kerr was acting "irrationally" and waving a handgun in the parking... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2013 — Police stopped John Flanagan, 25, at a DUI checkpoint along Royal Palm Beach... 1 injured
BOCA RATON, 2013 — After eight years of a rocky marriage, Ian Burlakoff shot his wife, Germana, execution style, on the... 1 killed
DELAND, 2013 — Officers Joshua Santos and Julian Rioz stopped for a drink at a RaceTrac gas station around 4... 2 injured
HIALEAH, 2013 — An officer working security inside a Publix Sabor supermarket heard a woman scream in the parking... 1 injured
NORTH PORT, 2013 — James Duttman, 57, was sitting alone in his white van on a remote section of North Blade... 1 killed
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — Around 5 p.m., Vincent Young walked into the emergency room of the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center at Bay Pines carrying a... 1 killed
ISLAMORADA, 2013 — Monroe County sheriff's deputies responded to a call about gunfire around 1 p.m., Oct. 25,... 1 killed
CLEARWATER, 2013 — A client of contractor David DiRoma telephoned 911 because he feared DiRoma would commit... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2013 — Officer Christopher Nebbeling was patrolling the annual Moonfest Halloween party when he responded to a shots-fired... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2013 — About 8:50 p.m., two officers in an unmarked car saw a man matching the description of a suspect in the armed robbery of a convenience... 1 killed
HIALEAH, 2013 — Laura Guzman called police after her husband threatened to shoot... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2013 — Tampa airport police noticed a suspicious man parked in the short-term parking... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2013 — Police and a gas station employee said that Dominique Jean was trying to start a fire over a gas valve above the storage... 1 killed
LARGO, 2013 — Pinellas sheriff's deputies were staking out the Suburban Lodge Motel on a tip that someone would be selling... 1 injured
MIAMI GARDENS, 2013 — Robert Desir was suspected of shooting and killing his stepfather earlier in the... 1 killed
TITUSVILLE, 2013 — Shortly after 1:30 a.m., police responded to a call of shots fired in the parking lot of a... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2013 — Around 8:30 p.m., Jenny Riskas called 911, saying that a casual friend her husband had brought home was behaving... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2013 — Two Orlando police officers stopped David Bachelor, 35, for reckless driving at 1:30... 1 injured
SAN MATEO, 2013 — Timothy Mahoney, 58, had fired a handgun inside his mother's home after the two got into an argument. His mother wanted him to move... 1 killed
BELLE GLADE, 2013 — A security guard at an apartment complex called authorities after Lance Joseph, 25, flashed a... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2013 — A traffic stop turned deadly when Orlando police Officer Derek Briscoe fatally shot Brian Christopher... 1 killed
FORT WALTON BEACH, 2013 — Seth Shastid, 29, told friends he was going to commit suicide and walked out of his home with a .38-caliber... 1 injured
MIAMI, 2013 — At about 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a dispute outside a barbershop in Little Haiti between the owner and a security... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Officers responded to a call about a man making threats with a gun at about 11... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2013 — Surveillance video shows Adrian Montesano, 27, holding a gun to a woman's head during a robbery at a Walgreens drug... 2 killed
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2013 — St. Johns County sheriff's deputies were called to Rodney Stevens' mobile home on Katnack Road off U.S. 1 by his daughter, Angie... 1 killed
DANIA BEACH, 2013 — Brian Henderson, 49, walked into a Chase Bank just before... 1 injured
LAUDERDALE LAKES, 2013 — Det. Joe Legrasta spotted a vehicle believed to be carrying three teens accused of breaking into an unoccupied home and stealing... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2013 — St. Petersburg Police Officer Brian Fernandez was investigating a stolen truck when he walked up to a crowded duplex at 20th Avenue and 11th Street... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2013 — Pensacola police spotted 17-year-old William Goodman driving... 1 killed
CAPE CORAL, 2013 — Cape Coral police officers were taking a suspect into custody when they witnessed unrelated disturbance in a nearby... 1 injured
PALATKA, 2013 — Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Lawrence Litzell tried to stop a maroon Mercury Grand Marquis for speeding but the driver... 1 killed
CORAL SPRINGS, 2013 — Coral Springs police responding to a domestic disturbance found Alex Cohen, a schizophrenic who had not been taking his medicine, locked inside his... 1 injured
CRESTVIEW, 2014 — Robbery suspect Rasheik Calhoun was killed and two officers wounded when SWAT members executed a search warrant at a house on Savage Street at 10:45... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — A seven-hour standoff began with an aggravated battery... 1 injured
SARASOTA, 2014 — Deacon Clark, 30, was shot and killed by police after pulling a gun on two officers who were on patrol in north Water Tower... 1 killed
LEESBURG, 2014 — Leesburg and Eustis police officers arrived at an apartment to serve a search warrant allowing them to seize the cell phone and PlayStation of Vernum "Guy" Blunk... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2014 — Amanda Turk called 911 to say that her estranged husband had told her he was going to commit... 1 injured
MIAMI GARDENS, 2014 — Two officers responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex at about 10... 1 injured
FORT PIERCE, 2014 — St. Lucie County sheriff's deputies responded to a call near 3:30 p.m. about loud music coming from a garage across the street from an elementary... 1 killed
INTERLACHEN, 2014 — Sixty-one-year-old Diana Crockett Conner, who had lost her husband a year before and her mother three years earlier, called 911 to report prowlers on her... 1 killed
CLERMONT, 2014 — Ian Michael Saum, 24, was a quiet but troubled man, according to... 1 injured
DELRAY BEACH, 2014 — Around 7:20 p.m., 911 dispatchers began receiving reports that a man was attacking people near South Military... 1 killed
PERRY, 2014 — Around 10:20 a.m., Earl Edward Clague Jr., an employee of Timberland Ford in Perry, drove his truck to the front of the... 1 killed
FERNANDINA BEACH, 2014 — On Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, Deputy Wilfred Quick of the Nassau County Sheriff's Office shot and killed Anthony Jamal Bartley, 21, after Bartley allegedly attacked Deputy... 1 killed
NORTH MIAMI, 2014 — At about 3:30 a.m., police responded to a burglary in progress at an apartment... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2014 — Deputies responded to a domestic violence call at the home of Timothy Oakes, 47, after he threatened family... 1 killed
MELBOURNE, 2014 — Robert Charles Striffler, 51, drove to the Brevard County courthouse armed with a replica firearm and began a three-hour standoff with sheriff's deputies in the parking... 1 killed
FORT MYERS, 2014 — Joshua Young, 26, was sitting in a vehicle, believed to have been stolen, at a Pilot gas station at 3 a.m. Deputies converged as passenger Hope Kimber tried to re-enter the... 1 injured
BRANDON, 2014 — Deputies Steve Gutierrez, James Maiello and Marina Stroud responded to calls about a man carrying a knife and threatening people with a barbell at around 5:30... 1 killed
GAINESVILLE, 2014 — On March 3, 2014, Michael Cravey, a 28-year-old conspiracy theory researcher, stabbed a man on the University of Florida campus and then fled, Gainesville police... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2014 — Federico Osorio's mother reported that her son was behaving erratically and had threatened to harm her and himself with a... 1 killed
LABELLE, 2014 — Hendry County Sheriff's Deputies Robert Leverenz, Simeon Harrynarine and Matthew Yeomans responded to a battery call at 10:50 p.m. on March 5,... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2014 — A neighbor called when Antonio Cordoza was acting irrationally and was waving around a... 1 injured
SEBRING, 2014 — Floyd Hodge Jr. began shooting an assault-type rifle into the ground and then at his neighbors'... 1 killed
WASHINGTON, 2014 — Around 9:30 p.m., Washington County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a man armed with a rifle walking along Highway... 1 killed
HALLANDALE BEACH, 2014 — The Hallandale Beach Police Department worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency to carry out an undercover buy-and-bust drug... 1 injured
LAKE CITY, 2014 — Multiple agencies were conducting a DUI checkpoint. Jimmy Barker, 60, a convicted felon, stopped and chatted with Lake City police officer Michael... 1 killed
POMPANO BEACH, 2014 — A woman came into a convenience store and complained that a man with a machete had just threatened... 1 killed
YULEE, 2014 — Damonique Gaddist, 18, used a shotgun to hold up a Kangaroo convenience store shortly after 11 p.m. on March 19,... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Officer Matthew Bolan was investigating an abandoned car when he saw a Chrysler Sebring that had been carjacked the previous... 1 killed
BOCA RATON, 2014 — Off-duty Deputy Albert Alfonso was arguing with a couple who he said were having sex at the pool in the complex where he... 1 injured
BOCA RATON, 2014 — Deputies responded to a call from Matthew Pollow, a man diagnosed as bipolar and... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Larry Mixson shot his nephew in the leg during a confrontation at a home they shared in rural northwest... 1 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2014 — Around 1 p.m., deputies entered a vacant apartment searching for a burglary... 1 killed
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2014 — St. Johns County sheriff's deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call shot and killed Abbott Scott Bennett, 66, a self-described tree-hugger and cancer survivor who rescued stray... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2014 — Police responded to a domestic violence complaint from Timothy Kochlany's... 1 injured
PENSACOLA, 2014 — Thomas Eugene Fillingim, 53, was shot once in the stomach after he lunged at a deputy with a knife, according to the Escambia County Sheriff's... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2014 — Officer Elvis Martinez was flagged down by a person reporting a man with a knife at a... 1 injured
LEESBURG, 2014 — Lynn Burnett, 60, told a neighbor to call the police because he was going to kill... 1 injured
KISSIMMEE, 2014 — During a traffic stop in the Indian Point subdivision, Deputy Michael MacCallum realized ex-convict and "habitual offender" Ridge White had a warrant for violating... 1 injured
MERRITT ISLAND, 2014 — The Brevard County Sheriff's Office responded to a report that a man, William Poplos, was firing a gun in his girlfriend's... 1 killed
LEHIGH ACRES, 2014 — Deputies responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in Lehigh Acres just before 1 a.m. on April 24, 2014, and exchanged gunfire with four... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Officer Cliff Sames was investigating a potential suspect in a hit-and-run when he walked into Devon Rashad Spencer's front... 1 injured
ST. PETERSBURG, 2014 — Paul Sibley, 69, set his home on fire early the morning of April 27, 2014, and then sat in his backyard with a... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Officers were investigating the stabbing of a man when they knocked on the door of a home in rural northwest... 1 killed
LAKE WORTH, 2014 — Deputy Russell Brinson responded to a call about an attempted armed... 1 injured
SOUTH DAYTONA, 2014 — Officers from South Daytona and Daytona Beach police departments were pursuing the suspect in a rape and robbery case that occurred at Hot... 1 killed
HALLANDALE BEACH, 2014 — A police SWAT team was serving a search warrant at the home of Howard... 1 killed
BROOKSVILLE, 2014 — Two Hernando County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a 911 call from a man threatening to burn down his own home because he was being... 1 killed
PENSACOLA, 2014 — Kenneth Roan, 51, allegedly stabbed a man outside a Tractor Supply Store and took his... 1 injured
GAINESVILLE, 2014 — Gainesville police responded to an armed robbery at the North Main Street post... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2014 — A man reported that two armed men had robbed him on Gamble Street, and then drove toward the Florida State University... 1 killed 1 injured
CITRUS SPRINGS, 2014 — Around 10 p.m., David Barclay, 41, went to the home of his estranged wife and forced his way in to see his 3-year-old son, according to the sheriff's... 1 injured
NEW PORT RICHEY, 2014 — Patrick Tillery, upset over his purchase at Rock Bottom Auto Sales in Hudson, broke the window of one car and set two other cars on... 1 killed
CLEARWATER, 2014 — On May 16, 2014, Justin Tucker called 911 and said he had stabbed his mother to... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2014 — It began as a an argument between two... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2014 — Off-duty Officer Robert Schellhorn was investigating a shooting when he saw the suspect trying to get in a white... 1 injured
MASARYKTOWN, 2014 — Robert Sharp became violent during a dispute with his wife at their home in... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2014 — Around 2:20 a.m., police tried to box in the car of three robbery... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2014 — Orlando police shot and injured Almeb Gebreyohannes, 27, a diagnosed schizophrenic suffering a psychotic... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2014 — Jason Westcott, 29, the target of an undercover drug operation, was shot by police during a raid of his Seminole Heights... 1 killed
RIVERVIEW, 2014 — Jovanny Pena, 30, held employees at a Ruskin RadioShack at gunpoint and stole 90 cellphones worth about $56,000, authorities... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2014 — Officer Derek Hawthorne was conducting a traffic stop around 3 a.m. when he heard gunshots coming from the nearby Cheeks Sports Bar and... 1 killed
OCALA, 2014 — On June 1, 2014, a Marion County Sheriff's Office SWAT team surrounded a house in rural Williston to apprehend Dustin Heathman, 35, on a warrant for violation of DUI... 1 injured
MIAMI GARDENS, 2014 — Off-duty police Officer David Meagher tried to pull over two cars for speeding on Interstate... 1 injured
ORANGE PARK, 2014 — Tyrone Lee, 27, tried to rob a Checks Cashed store just before 10... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Police responded to an apartment complex after receiving a report of someone getting... 1 killed
LAUDERHILL, 2014 — Deputies were looking for suspects who robbed two women outside a North Lauderdale... 1 killed
PANAMA CITY, 2014 — Panama City police officers responded to an attempted robbery at the Days Inn off of Highway... 1 injured
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2014 — St. Johns County sheriff's deputies responded to a call from a woman who said she had seen a man stab her... 1 injured
LAKELAND, 2014 — Around 10:30 a.m., motorcycle Officer Doug Mills and Sgt. Jeff Gary approached Thomas... 1 injured
TALLAHASSEE, 2014 — About 1:50 a.m., two off-duty officers working security outside Club Pierre saw Jacoby Hart, 24, fire his gun into the air during an... 1 injured
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, 2014 — Jennifer Skyles called 911 a little after midnight, saying that her disabled husband was... 1 killed
HIALEAH, 2014 — A task force of officers from Miami-Dade and Coral Gables was investigating auto thefts when it received a tip about a... 1 killed
BOYNTON BEACH, 2014 — Boynton Beach police Officer Cory Herny shot Robens Estime, 20, after Estime and four other suspects tried to flee on foot after a traffic... 1 injured
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Michael Jones Keys Sr. had just turned 59 when called 911 and threatened to kill other people and... 1 killed
ZEPHYRHILLS, 2014 — A Pasco County Sheriff’s Office task force staged a buy-and-bust operation at Big Ben’s Tires in... 1 killed
FORT LAUDERDALE, 2014 — Richard Arruda, 40, and his girlfriend, Christine Menatti, 39, were arguing inside their... 1 killed
MIAMI SPRINGS, 2014 — Police pursued a silver Kia involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run from Pinecrest to Miami... 1 killed
ESTERO, 2014 — Sgt. Amy Young, 40, was celebrating a friend's birthday the night of July... 1 killed 1 injured
LADY LAKE, 2014 — The shooting of Harold Roudebush started when Karyn Hill called 911 and said Roudebush claimed he would commit suicide because of their break... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2014 — The shooting of Ta'Von Grayson started when Orlando bicycle police noticed him "acting nervous" in a parking garage as he stood with friends near his Toyota... 1 injured
BELL, 2014 — Alachua sheriff's SWAT and hostage negotiation teams were called to a property near Bell to assist in a standoff with Jay Donald... 1 killed
BELLE ISLE, 2014 — Undercover narcotics agents saw Harrison Carter, 29, pick up a package of marijuana from a delivery service outside his Belle Isle... 1 injured
DEERFIELD BEACH, 2014 — Richard Sanfratello, 67, broke into his ex-wife's unit in Century Village, authorities... 1 injured
PANAMA CITY, 2014 — Bay County sheriff's deputies found Aaron Lepak, 39, at a Budget... 1 injured
LAKE PARK, 2014 — A plainclothes deputy on bike patrol saw Perciel Hamilton, 22, at 3 a.m. trying to break into an... 1 injured
BUNNELL, 2014 — Cory Levert Tanner, 24, described as a Crips gang member, was shot and killed the morning of Aug. 13, 2014, in Espanola, a rural community west of... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2014 — Kody Christian Roach, 23, was shot and a bystander was killed by police in a nightclub shooting in... 1 killed 2 injured
WEST PALM BEACH, 2014 — Police say that Anthony Lamar Brown stole a bicycle at... 1 killed
BRADENTON, 2014 — Terry Sellars' mother called 911 from a convenience store to report that her son had choked her and beaten her with a phone... 1 killed
ORLANDO, 2014 — Deputies conducted a high-risk raid on the home of Jeremy Lewis, 33, who they believed was selling... 1 killed
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2014 — Aaron Ray, a 43-year-old retired Navy veteran, was in an argument with his wife when he began to threaten a "murder-suicide," according to the sheriff's... 1 injured
WILTON MANORS, 2014 — Thomas Carberry, 50, was reported to Wilton Manors police by his roommates for making threats to kill himself and them, and for firing shots outside their... 1 killed
HOMOSASSA, 2014 — Around 6 p.m., deputies responded to the home of Kela Souter, who was threatening suicide and had locked herself in the... 1 killed
DAYTONA BEACH, 2014 — Fryer's Towing Service employees told deputies that Edward Miller was angry and had threatened them. Miller, 52, was there with his son to retrieve the younger man's pickup, which had been towed... 1 killed
PALM SPRINGS, 2014 — Shortly after noon, Eddie Isaac Bean used a handgun to steal more than $69,000 from a TD... 1 injured
HOMESTEAD, 2014 — About 9:20 p.m., a woman and her 14-year-old son were at their home when the woman's ex-boyfriend attacked her, punching her... 1 killed
SUNRISE, 2014 — Marlon Woodstock's brother called 911 to ask for help getting his brother... 1 killed
WEST PALM BEACH, 2014 — Around 2:15 a.m., Deputy Christopher Cabrera tried to pull over Joshua Jett in a stolen white... 1 injured
TAMPA, 2014 — An officer investigating an early morning armed robbery at an apartment near Ybor City spotted John C... 1 killed
OCALA, 2014 — Just before 3 p.m., dispatchers received a call from a woman about a domestic disturbance with her... 1 killed
EDGEWATER, 2014 — Officers responding to a disturbance confronted Trevor Silvia at about 1:30 a.m. outside the house where his mother... 1 killed
HIALEAH, 2014 — A 911 caller reported an armed man in the parking lot outside a Marshall's store in a Hialeah shopping... 1 killed
GRETNA, 2014 — Around 9 a.m., Sgt. Charles Brown arrived at Juanita Donald’s home. Donald had called 911 to have her son taken to the hospital. It wasn’t the first... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2014 — Officers responded to a shots-fired call at a house on 122nd Place at around 4... 1 injured
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, 2014 — Police officers boxed in the SUV used by two suspects fleeing a robbery at a Wells Fargo... 1 killed
PLANT CITY, 2014 — Maria De Los Angeles Romano awoke around 4 a.m. to find her house on... 1 killed
FORT PIERCE, 2014 — Just before 4 p.m., deputies tried to pull over James Plain for a seat belt... 1 injured
INVERNESS, 2014 — Around 11 p.m., a deputy responded to a disturbance call at a mobile home... 1 killed
DUNEDIN, 2014 — Michael Case was stabbing himself with a steak knife and yelling "Let me die." His girlfriend called 911 shortly after midnight, while her mother restrained him on the... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2014 — Myron May opened fire with a pistol at Florida State University's Strozier Library at about 12:30... 1 killed
EUSTIS, 2014 — After a hit-and-run crash in Lake County, Pamela Edwards, 40, fled to her father’s home, where she also... 1 killed
TALLAHASSEE, 2014 — Investigators said Curtis Wade Holley, 53, set his house on fire to lure firefighters and police into an... 1 killed
BRADENTON, 2014 — According to the neighbors who called 911, Donald Wendt, 50, was in the front yard of the home he shared with his sister, threatening to kill them... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — Officer Cecil Grant pulled over a Buick with an expired... 1 killed
TAMPA, 2014 — Around 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving eve, deputies responded to Matthew Cormier's Westchase townhouse after his sister reported that he was... 1 killed
DAYTONA BEACH, 2014 — Around 2:15 p.m., Officer Michael Gavigan was running after Frank... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2014 — Detective Andre Howard and Officer Antonio Shorter went to arrest a burglary suspect at his... 1 killed
YULEE, 2014 — Around 10:20 p.m., neighbors called police about a man firing a... 1 killed
TITUSVILLE, 2014 — It started when a neighbor called off-duty Brevard Deputy Jessie Holton at 12:30... 1 injured
ORLANDO, 2014 — Officers responded to reports of a car stolen from a RaceTrac gas... 1 injured
PALM BEACH GARDENS, 2014 — Around 9 p.m., Anthony Landi went to the front desk of a hotel, said that he had a gun and asked the clerk to call... 1 killed
ST. JOHNS, 2014 — At first, Daniel Torres posed as a pizza delivery man to get inside his estranged wife's... 1 killed
HOLIDAY, 2014 — Early in the evening, Aaron David Martin argued with his girlfriend, who accused him of hitting and choking... 1 injured
LAKELAND, 2014 — Susan Monroe, a psychologist, called police about having her husband... 1 killed
DELRAY BEACH, 2014 — Just before 8 a.m., Delray Beach police received two calls about a shooting at an... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — At 2:30 a.m., the manager of a liquor store returned to reset what he assumed was a false burglary... 1 injured
COCOA, 2014 — Deputies were looking for Quinten Smith, 23, who was involved in a shooting Christmas night at his family's home in... 1 killed
JACKSONVILLE, 2014 — David Andre Scott, 28, was a suspect in the murder of Laroy Bryant Tucker, 31, during a card... 1 killed
ST. AUGUSTINE, 2014 — Two children knocked on a neighbor's door and told him that their parents had "killed themselves," just before 9:15... 1 killed
MIAMI, 2014 — Officers went to a home in Miramar looking for a white Nissan Altima seen leaving the armed robbery of a Western Union... 1 killed
WHY COPS SHOOT
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Feb. 3, 2009 — Starke
James Estes, 46, a depressed carpet installer, stole the money tray from the cash register of a gas station.
Bradford SO
When Estes drive away, the store clerk called the sheriff's office.
Capt. Eddie Broatwright, 47, saw a vehicle matching the description and pursued. The suspect drove through traffic recklessly and at high speeds. Read more
When Capt. Boatwright got close enough to the car, he fired a few shots at a tire, but it had no effect. He took two shots at Estes and then two more.
Estes' vehicle veered off the road into a ditch and eventually hit an embankment sending the vehicle 20 to 25 feet into the air before landing on its side.
Estes died at the scene.
Two grand juries in two counties ruled the chase and shooting justified, but the Bradford County grand jury chastised police, writing: "We discourage such a chase and use of deadly force unless absolutely necessary.” The grand jury went on to write: “The circumstances involved in this incident put innocent people in harm’s way, in part because there were no effective policies regarding pursuit situations in force at the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office at the time."
2009 in police shootings
This case
Case count:
This was the 13th police shooting in Florida in 2009.
The same day, one officer shot one person in North Miami .
One day later, one officer shot two people in Hollywood .
2 ways this case compares to others
Estes was fleeing from police or a crime scene, which is true in a quarter of shootings.
Estes showed signs of mental instability. Almost a third of all shootings involved someone who appeared mentally unstable.
2012. LAKE NONA — Police were called to Elmer Banner's home about a... 1 injured
2013. NORTH PORT — James Duttman, 57, was sitting alone in his white van on a remote section of North Blade... 1 killed
2012. POMPANO BEACH — Michael Webb tried to rob the same Chase Bank in Pompano Beach for the third... 1 killed
©2016 All Rights Reserved | Tampa Bay Times
Map data from Mapzen, © OpenStreetMap contributors, Who’s On First
See something wrong? Email Neil Bedi.
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Solving problems through technology at Citi’s T4I Challenge
This post is supported by Penta Security
The annual Citi Tech for Integrity (T4I) Challenge is an open innovation challenge to globally crowdsource tech solutions that promote accountability, security and transparency in the public and private sectors.
The Singapore leg of the T4I finals was hosted earlier this month at Mastercard’s new office at Duo Tower, and we were invited to the closed-door, full-day event to witness as finalists presented their solutions to a panel of judges.
Solving problems through technology
As much as 5% of the world’s GDP is compromised every year due to corruption, said Julie Monaco, the global head of Public Sector Group at Citi in her introduction. Initiated two years ago, the Citi T4I initiative was conceived as a platform to attract the best and brightest to solve this problem with the use of technology.
The creation of the right tools will hopefully serve collectively to put a dent on corruption and other financial shenanigans to benefit all, be it economies, governments, banks, and the general populace. Indeed, the theme of using technology to solve problem was repeated emphasized, as participants showcased both ingenuity and technical acumen to solve longstanding problems.
While some of the solutions pertain to specific technical operations within banks, or are geared towards fraud detection within financial institutions, there are others with broader remits. We take a closer look at a couple that can help organizations ratchet up on security in general.
Putting a face to security with Paycasso
Paycasso applies biometrics in the form of face recognition to validate that users are who they claim to be. While this is hardly novel in an age of fingerprint and palm vein readers, the barrier to use Paycasso is low, requiring nothing more than the front camera from a standard smartphone.
Implemented as an app with access to the front-facing camera, users position themselves so that their faces can be analyzed by the company’s verification engine. Results are verified against an existing repository such as government records such as a password, or a baseline identity captured during an initial onboarding process.
The objective is not so much to build a bulletproof authentication system, says the company, but to sufficiently validate the identity to a high level of confidence with commodity hardware. This means the system probably can’t tell identical twins apart, though the clever use of video ensures that tricks such as holding up a photo won’t work.
Crucially perhaps, the video stream is processed locally, and only a digital measurement of the face need to be stored remotely. This prevents the captured data from being abused, and simultaneously sidesteps a range of potential regulatory and sovereignty issues. Paycasso is currently working with pension companies to ensure that benefits go out to beneficiary.
VoxSmart for accountability
Landlines are going away, and VoxSmart offers the technology to monitor modern smartphones to comply with regulatory rules and hopefully cut down on the temptation for misdeeds. According to managing director Benjamin Ng, a persistent software is embedded on a compatible Android or BlackBerry 10 smartphone to give IT the ability to track end-users.
At the heart of VoxSmart is a highly efficient engine to continuously capture and transmit communications in real-time. This includes voice conversations, text messages, and even encrypted messages from supported messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. That’s not all: screen capture is currently in beta, and video recording is next on the to-do list.
The main beauty of VoxSmart is how it empowers organizations to unlock the power of mobility while addressing regulatory and internal compliance anywhere in the world, noted the Singapore-based executive of VoxSmart Malaysia. Installation requires physical access to the device, though the process itself is understood to be relatively quick and straightforward. A reset to factory defaults or a re-flash of the ROM will remove VoxSmart, but would be immediately apparent from its absence on the VoxSmart network.
There are obvious privacy implications the company’s solution, though Ng noted that the onus is up to company executives and the HR department to ensure that employees are duly informed. Of course, the implicit understanding is that only company-issued phones are monitored.
The role of technology
Citi’s T4I was a living showcase that technology applied correctly and responsibly can be used to solve genuine problems and make a real-world difference. This could range from the all-too-human problems of fraud and corruption, but is certainly also applicable to the constantly evolving security threats in our digital world.
In my mind, the pertinent lesson to businesses (and the rest of us) would be the folly of refusing to veer from a singular approach to solving problems. A more flexible mindset though, could see the judicious application of new solutions and strategies to help us do things much faster and efficiently – as well as more securely.
By Paul Mah|2017-10-09T13:44:54+08:00June 26th, 2017|Categories: Blog, The Work Lounge|Comments Off on Solving problems through technology at Citi’s T4I Challenge
About the Author: Paul Mah
Deploying hyperconverged infrastructure using Synology NAS
Automatically catalog years of photos with Synology Moments
Meeting your backup needs with a NAS
Penta Security on securing the autonomous vehicle
The road to Huawei’s first Leica phone camera
The changing lens of mobile phone cameras
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The Tennis Association
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Disability Tennis Strategy
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DOWNLOAD: Disability Tennis Strategy 2018-21 – Open Court
Since we published our first disability strategy in 2013, we have made tremendous progress. Tennis in Great Britain has become more inclusive and accessible, with a far greater range of opportunities for disabled people to get involved and progress.
At an international level, we have excelled. Great Britain won more wheelchair tennis medals than any other nation at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, while Britain’s tennis players with a learning disability, visual impairment or hearing impairment have all won honours on the global stage. That international success is fed by a development pathway that has its roots in tennis
clubs and venues across the country. It is here where the impact of our work has been seen, with more disabled people now participating in tennis across the network of venues that we support than ever before.
We can’t, though, stand still and admire what we have achieved to date. There remains much work to do if we are to achieve our vision of making tennis a sport that is open to all, one that is inclusive and accessible for disabled people.
We have been working with disabled people for many years. Our first strategy gave us the direction and structure to bring this work together and deliver a greater impact. We’ve titled our new strategy ‘Open Court’. This is the next step on the journey, with this document outlining the four key strategic pillars our work will be focused around to take us to 2021. At the heart of our approach is creating, supporting and promoting opportunities that provide a choice for disabled people as to how they want to get involved in tennis, developing that involvement and helping them maximise their potential.
We are excited about delivering this because we know the impact our work can have. It is focussed on addressing inactivity, and delivering real improvements in physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing and personal development.
We can’t do this on our own, and will be looking to both build on our existing partnerships and develop new ones. If you like what we have to say in our disability strategy document and want to work with us or provide your support, we would love to hear from you.
Joanna Farquharson
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Copyright © 2019 The Tennis Foundation
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MITRE partners with the UTSA National Security Collaboration Center
Bernard Arulanandam, Kimberly Andrews Espy and Sarah MacConduibh, vice president, Air Force programs, MITRE.
(May 13, 2019) -- MITRE became the National Security Collaboration Center’s (NSCC) latest partner with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UTSA leadership on Friday. The formal partnership covers membership into the NSCC, a presence on campus, research collaborations, academic modules and pilot programs specializing in cyber. These endeavors target UTSA students and local San Antonio elementary school students. This brings the number of NSCC federal and industry partners to 36 to date.
MITRE is a not-for-profit company that operates seven federally funded research and development centers and works with industry and academia to solve problems that challenge the nation's safety and stability. MITRE’s 8,000 employees at locations around the world deliver innovative solutions in the defense, intelligence, transportation, homeland security, healthcare, and cybersecurity fields.
“Today’s MOU signing exemplifies the variety of research collaborations taking place in the national security and cyber spheres. Membership in the NSCC can be customized to fit the needs of our students and other campus stakeholders while also serving the needs of our partners and the nation,” said Bernard Arulanandam, UTSA interim vice president for research, economic development, and knowledge enterprise.
Executive Julie Gravallese, vice president for programs and technology integration, was the signing official for MITRE. Representatives also included Sarah MacConduibh, vice president, Air Force programs, Joe Ferraro, technical director, cyber operations; Farrell Taylor, Air Force cyber portfolio manager; Mike Minter, Air Force cyber portfolio manager; Mike Leonard, co-department head, crypto and cyber mission systems; and Bobby Blount, department head at MITRE’s San Antonio operations.
Kimberly Andrews Espy, UTSA provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Arulanandam signed on behalf of UTSA. NSCC partners Adam Cavazos, Chris Cook, and Joe Sanchez, CyberTexas Foundation; Josh Cook, 25th Air Force; Marcel Johnson, Port San Antonio; Richard Naething, Sandia National Laboratories; Ray Bateman and Kristin Schweitzer, ARL South Cyber, were all in attendance.
MITRE is bringing its Generation AI program to campus. UTSA was selected to be an early adopter as one of five pilot schools for Generation AI. Faculty members participating in the recently-completed pilot were Jianwei Niu (the program lead), Paul Rad, Ashwin Malshe and Jeff Prevost. Further training will be provided this summer to non-STEM faculty with new AI lesson modules scheduled to be launched this fall. UTSA is considered a “Pioneer School” as the program will be rolled out to additional universities later this year.
Generation AI’s purpose is to expose every student to Artificial Intelligence (AI), independent of their field of study. MITRE has developed a cloud-based platform (Generation AI Nexus) that allows even students with limited computer science skills to manipulate large datasets using data analytics and AI without having to write code. Using Generation AI Nexus, undergraduate students across disciplines can complete projects that use large datasets, data analytics and data visualization. Mentorship and training in technology and instructional design for teachers and students are among of the benefits of the program.
"We’re pleased to partner with UTSA on this initiative to give students access to cutting-edge AI tools and data sets they’d normally never encounter,” said Blount. “The students will develop skills in AI and other areas like cybersecurity that are critical to our solving our nation’s most challenging problems.”
The two organizations will also collaborate in research and workforce development within the NSCC. While UTSA is already a member with Glenn Dietrich as its lead, the institution’s participation in the NSA INSuRE (Information Security Research and Education) project will be expanded by working with MITRE. InSuRE builds research skills for graduate students through a research network between CAE-Rs (Centers of Academic Excellence in Research) in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense, addressing government cyber-realm challenges.
The UTSA Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), MITRE, the Northside Independent School District (NISD), and the CyberTexas Foundation is also creating a pilot program using the Cyber Threat Defender game, developed by CIAS, to be used in afterschool programs in a small selection of local San Antonio schools targeting fourth and fifth graders. The game teaches the basics of cybersecurity in a fun and dynamic way.
- Sarah Hada
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UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
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Bahamas Listing Escape Awaits Fatf 'Action Plan'
Attorney General Carl Bethel.
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
The Bahamas will not be considered for removal from a 12-strong list of nations with weaknesses in their anti-financial crime defenses until it completes its "action plan" by this September.
Carl Bethel QC, the attorney general, told Tribune Business that the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) Friday statement acknowledged that The Bahamas had "made significant progress" in addressing the deficiencies that resulted in this nation being placed on its monitoring list in October 2018.
He explained, though, that The Bahamas was still working its way through a process that requires it to complete an "action plan" laying out a strategy and road map for how it will tackle the seven issues identified by the FATF, the global standard setter in the fight against money laundering and all financial crime.
The Bahamas' "action plan" is due to be completed in time for the FATF's next conference in October, and Mr Bethel said that should it be assessed positively then the organisation may elect to visit this nation to ensure the steps outlined are being implemented on the ground before there is any escape from the monitoring list.
"We're still in the same status quo because we're completing our action plan," Mr Bethel told Tribune Business of The Bahamas' standing with the FATF. "No assessment will be made by the plenary until such time as the action plan is completed in September.
"It's not due to be completed until then, and they will not consider it beyond the fact they're observing we're making significant progress. September is the deadline on the action plan, October will be the plenary. They'll assess our compliance with the action plan."
By then The Bahamas will have been on the FATF "monitoring list" for one year. Mr Bethel said a "positive assessment" of the "action plan" would lead to the FATF then deciding whether to "conduct an on-site visit to The Bahamas to check for quality and consistency, if you will". Only then would the body decide if this nation's removal was warranted.
Emmanuel Komolafe, a Bahamas-based governance risk and compliance specialist, last night told Tribune Business that the potential timeline for The Bahamas' removal could be gauged by how Serbia escaped the monitoring list at last Friday's FATF plenary.
The FATF announced a "site visit" to Serbia in February 2019, following the Balkan nation's completion of its action plan, and Mr Komolafe said similar language relating to The Bahamas after this October's conference would be an indication this nation might be removed come 2020 - especially since Serbia was added six to eight months ahead of it.
"The next update in October will give us an indication of when we will come off the list," he added. "The latest one didn't give any indication we will be off in October. If what the attorney general says holds true, we can expect they will give us a better update by October and be off the list by February 2020."
Mr Komolafe said the FATF's latest statement was slightly more upbeat on The Bahamas' progress, referring to its implementation of the Beneficial Ownership Act as opposed to its passing into law in the February 2019 update.
"The major difference between both statements is the progress from enactment to initial implementation of the Beneficial Ownership law and the bringing into force of the Anti-Terrorism Regulations," Mr Komolafe said.
"What the FATF did not seem to have opined on or provided an update on is the progress we have made vis-à-vis the seven-point action plan outlined in February and June 2019 respectively.
He added: "As the seven-point action plan is in the public domain, it may be in our interest as a jurisdiction to outline our efforts and progress in implementing this action plan. It is common knowledge that The Bahamas has done much to address identified deficiencies, and these ought to ultimately translate into our removal from the FATF's adverse listing.
"The Bahamas' regulatory framework.. has been enhanced, and the compliance burden as well as cost increased on the financial services industry, with the actions taken to date. Due credit should be given, and these should translate into success. In this regard, meaningful progress and success will be measured by our removal from the FATF list."
The US and UK advisories, warning their institutions to apply greater scrutiny to clients and transactions originating from The Bahamas, resulted directly from The Bahamas' inclusion on the FATF listing.
"The industry is eager to have this matter put behind us as it is not good for business," Mr Komolafe said yesterday. The enhanced scrutiny and additional due diligence that inclusion on the FATF list attracts is unfair and does not help us as an International Financial Centre. It is an unwanted baggage that financial institutions operating within, and from within, The Bahamas have to carry."
AG: System upgrades tackle FATF concerns
‘Not out of woods’ on financial crime rating
AG: Prosecutions rise 40-fold over money laundering
AG: Let me go tell the FATF: ‘We’ve done it’
EU’s ‘high risk’ list: We must soldier on
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Government Relations, Family
A shining star for nature
We celebrate one of our stellar volunteer leaders who has shown extraordinary commitment and dedication to The Nature Conservancy for more than thirty years.
Drought Returns to Washington. Now What?
Summer 2019 kicked off on an upbeat note for Washington hikers: our favorite mountain trails were snow-free weeks sooner than in previous years. But like schoolkids let loose unexpectedly early, we are wary of a catch. And there is a catch: it’s a drought.
Hiking the Hill: Speaking up for Nature in ...
Hundreds of trustees and staff from The Nature Conservancy’s offices around the world took a different kind of hike recently: we visited Washington, DC to meet with Congress about our policy priorities for TNC’s annual Advocacy Day.
Volunteers Plant Trees on Cle Elum Ridge
Our Central Cascades volunteers planted 450 trees in just under three hours. Soon they’ll be working on other projects such as trail-building and staffing tables at outdoor events int he region.
We’re Celebrating Pride Month, With Pride
Participating in the Pride celebration demonstrates that we are an inclusive organization and that we value diversity and equal rights for all
LWCF
Let's Get a Big Bipartisan Win in Congress
All of us who go outside — for a vigorous uphill hike or just a deep breath of fresh, cool air — need Congress to reauthorize LWCF now, and we need your voice.
Tagged: Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWCF, government relations, Congress
Our Most Important Conservation Program Expired — Let's Fix That
The popular Land & Water Conservation Fund was due for reauthorization by the end of September, and Congress has let it expire instead. Tell your members this isn’t OK.
Tagged: LWCF, Land and Water Conservation Fund, government relations
How You Can Help Save the Land & Water Conservation Fund
The clock runs out on the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at the end of the federal fiscal year, on Sept. 30. But it doesn’t have to — we are calling upon our members of Congress to permanently reauthorize this program before it’s too late.
We Just Sent a Clear Message to Congress to Fund Public Lands
We spent yesterday morning in the company of more than a hundred friends and neighbors at Green Lake Park in Seattle, gathered together in support of America’s most important conservation program, the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and all the special places it protects.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Works Across Washington
Hundreds of special places in Washington owe their existence to America’s most important conservation program.
Tagged: Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWCF, Congress
100 Days Left to #SaveLWCF
Act today and let Congress know the importance of the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has supported parks and trails in every part of our state.
Tagged: LWCF, lwcf, government relations
Our Biggest Ever Contingent Goes to Washington, D.C.
This year, the Washington chapter is bringing our biggest contingent ever to Advocacy Day, reflecting our steadfast commitment to our mission and dedication to the well-being of people and nature.
Tagged: government relations, Farm Bill, LWCF, Lobby Days, advocacy, Advocacy Day
Congress Commits to Solution to Wildfire Funding
The federal government will now be able to use disaster relief dollars to pay for fighting catastrophic wildfires, which will fund wildfire suppression like other natural disasters.
Tagged: Congress, fires, firefighting, LWCF, forests, lands
How Important is Recreation to our Economy? $26 Billion Worth
From our coastline to our mountains, forests, and shrub steppe, Washington’s abundant natural beauty and public recreation opportunities make for huge economic returns statewide.
Tagged: recreation, LWCF, government relations
We're on Capitol Hill Spreading the Word: Nature Isn't Partisan
Nature shouldn’t be a partisan issue. And we are confident that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, wants a world where people and nature can thrive.
Tagged: government relations, Puget Sound, LWCF, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., Advocacy Day
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Rapids Launch Blast Defence Against Outlaws And Bears
Monday, December 3rd, 2018
Alex Gidman says Worcestershire Rapids will be doing all they can to “keep evolving and keep improving” for when they launch their defence of the Vitality Blast with two games in 24 hours – including a home derby with Birmingham Bears.
New First Team Coach Gidman and Alan Richardson played a major role in the Rapids white ball success last summer in the Royal London One-Day Cup and then the Blast as Worcestershire emerged as T20 champions for the first time.
The former Gloucestershire captain is aware opponents will pay more attention to the Rapids after their superb success at Edgbaston on finals day in mid September but says the players are “hungry” to improve.
Worcestershire will open their 14 game North Group programme on Thursday July 19 when they take on Notts Outlaws – the 2017 champions – at Trent Bridge.
Then the following day (June 19) they will do battle with the Bears at Blackfinch New Road and looking to repeat last summer’s success over their rivals.
The Rapids won crucial One-Day Cup and Blast group matches at Edgbaston to seal their spot in the knockout stages of both competitions.
Gidman said: “Am I optimistic of making a strong defence of the Blast? We will be trying. Seventeen other counties will be trying to win it as well. It is a mistake in any competition to make predictions and assume things.
“But all I can do is assure our supporters and members that we will be looking to improve again and we will be trying our darnest when that competition comes around but there is a lot to happen between now and then.
“Someone I hugely respect said ‘you can never predict what is going to happen in this game’ and that is something I live by on a daily basis but we will definitely be trying very hard.
“Is it important to keep evolving? All of a sudden from being a team that probably all the counties respected, and thought we were a good team, now being champions we are the best team in the country.
“We will get a lot more attention as regards to how we play and what our strengths and weaknesses are.
“We need to keep evolving, keep trying to get better, and I know with the brief conversations I’ve had with the guys so far, they are all aware of that and hungry to try and do that.
“Rest assured we will be trying our best to evolve and improve.
“One thing we did in that competition very well was the basics. It is important we don’t try and find a miracle way of playing all of a sudden.
“It’s about doing the basics as well as we can and just doing those better and making some tweaks here and there to try and improve those basics and those fundamentals of the game which put us in good stead last year.”
The Blast group fixtures will be staged during the second half of July and through August.
The quarter-finals will take place from September 4 to 7 with the final a week later than this year on Saturday, September 21.
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West Hollywood Daily (http://www.wehodaily.com/category/crime-safety/)
The City of West Hollywood prevailed in court against West Hollywood landlord Anne Kihagi, who has been ordered to serve five days in Los Angeles County Jail and to pay the City’s attorney fees and costs. Kihagi was held in contempt of court on Tuesday, February 21, 2017, for violating a preliminary injunction that prohibited her from re-renting certain units at her property, located on N. Crescent Heights Boulevard. The preliminary injunction was obtained after the City of West Hollywood intervened in a case against Kihagi, filed by a former tenant, who contends he was wrongly evicted when Kihagi used the Ellis Act as a pretext to terminate all of the tenancies in the building. Kihagi violated the injunction by re-renting the former tenant’s unit. The Ellis Act is a California State Law enacted in 1985 that allows property owners to evict tenants without cause if they intend to remove properties from the residential rental market.
WeHo Sheriff Nabs Suspects in Violent Armed Robbery
WeHo Residents Escape Shotgun Blast Without Injury
Funeral Funds Needed for Family Killed in Highland Crash
FBI Seeks ‘Haggler Bandit’ in Area Bank Robberies
By admin | September 1, 2012
The FBI is seeking a bank robbery suspect that has hit two banks close to West Hollywood, along with several others elsewhere. The unidentified male bank robber has been linked to three bank robberies and two attempted bank robberies in the past week; four of the incidents occurred in the past day. The Haggler Bandit is described as an unidentified black male, between 5’8” and 6’, between 150-170 lbs. and anywhere from in his late 20s to 40 years of age. The suspect was given the nickname, “Haggler Bandit” based on the fact that victim tellers described him as having “haggled” to some extent over the amount of money he expected to receive based on his demand for cash.
Resident Fights Intruder on Huntley; Limo Driver May Be Suspect
West Hollywood Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress around 9PM on Tuesday evening. A resident on the 600 block of Huntley found an intruder inside their residence and fought with the suspect before he fled northbound on Huntley and eastbound on Sherwood. Numerous deputies were on scene within moments and setup a containment area, undertaking an exhaustive search for the suspect. The suspect was described as a male, Hispanic or Middle-Eastern, about 40 years old and heavy set. He was sporting a goatee and had a shaven head.
Transient Arrested in Pan Pacific Park for Two Cold Case Murders
Capital murder charges were filed by the District Attorney’s Office today against a 47-year-old Santa Monica transient accused of raping and fatally strangling two women in 2001 and 2002. Edric Dashell Gross (dob 7-29-1965) is scheduled to appear for arraignment tomorrow at the Airport Branch of Los Angeles Superior Court. The department will be announced in the morning. Gross was arrested by Santa Monica Police on Wednesday at Pan Pacific Park. He remains in custody without bail.
Shots Ring Out in Plummer Park, One Victim Hit in the ‘Ass’
Shots rang out in Plummer Park on Sunday night and one victim was hit while bullets missed their mark with two other victims, according to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. One male victim was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound. His reported to be in serious condition. All three victims were reported to be transients. The shooting erupted at about 11:20PM and at least one deputy was in the park at the time and heard the rounds. That deputy reported the shooting and that screams for help were coming from within the park. He detained multiple people running from the scene at gunpoint while additional units raced to the scene. Reports immediately began flooding in to Weho Daily at the same time.
DUI Checkpoint Scheduled for Sunset Blvd on Saturday Night
The Beverly Hills Police Department Traffic Bureau will be conducting a DUI Sobriety/Drivers License Checkpoint on Saturday, July 21st. The location of the checkpoint will be westbound Sunset Bl at Sierra Dr. The checkpoint will be in operation from 7:30 p.m. and conclude on July 22nd by 1 a.m.
The Beverly Hills Police Department is proud to support the Office of Traffic Safety and Mothers Against Drunk Driving in their efforts to reduce the incidents of alcohol related accidents and deaths on our public roadways. The Beverly Hills Police Department conducts regular DUI checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, and deploys officers in the field specifically for DUI enforcement thereby creating a safer environment for our community. Funding for these programs is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you have any questions regarding this program or any other traffic safety issue, please contact the BHPD Traffic Bureau at 310-285-2196.
Video: Pawn Stars Beatdown on Hollywood Blvd
Long Dead Man on Fountain May Have Had Roommate
(WeHo News) – The second badly decomposed body found in West Hollywood in a month poses tough questions for investigators as details emerge about the residents of the apartment in which the man was found. Apparently two men occupied the small apartment at 7654 Fountain Avenue until one month ago. While one of the two men decomposed, the other apparently made himself scarce. No one in the building has seen him or his car for roughly four to five weeks. Investigators refuse to share any information they might have, but neighbors are willing to talk, if not always willing to attach their name to reports.
Fire Ravages Former Home of RHOBH Star Lisa Vanderpump
By admin | June 30, 2012
The former home of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Vanderpump was heavily damaged on Friday evening by a massive fire. The fire broke out around 6:30PM in the exclusive gated Beverly Park community located in the Beverly Hills Post Office area. First arriving firefighters forced entry through the ground’s gates to find moderate smoke pouring from the roof of the two-story French chateau-style mansion. Additional firefighters were immediately requested. Entry was again forced, this time into the 15,480 square-foot residence.
Hot Tub Motor Sparks Deck Fire in Laurel Canyon
At 8:45AM Saturday morning, reports started to pour in to Weho Daily about a possible fire in the Laurel Canyon area. “Fire helicopter circling low over Kirkwood Bowl area of Laurel Canyon, area smells vaguely of smoke,” said Mark Wheaton. “Six engines-2 hook and ladders-roaring up Laurel Canyon,” said Jason R.”What’s going on?” “Fire brigade in laurel canyon up kirkwood. Helicopters too…”
Naked Man Climbs on Cars, Wants to ‘Inch Like an Inchworm’
As we reported live on Twitter, a naked man was reported running up and down the Hollywood Hills on June 12 at about 11:30AM around Outpost Drive and Franklin, even climbing on top of cars. There were paparazzi on scene since a lot of celebrities live in the area so they were able to capture the magical moments on video and in photos. In a video shown on TMZ, the man is being handcuffed by LAPD and says that he wants to ‘roll down the hill and inch like an inchworm’ while also spotting some gum on the pavement nearby and trying to lick it up. Photos from the incident were posted showing the man on top of a car trying to eat the antenna and they even made it into a UK newspaper that showed the man being cuffed by LAPD.
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The call came in the middle of the night. For each member of the President’s entourage, the message was the same, delivered with military precision: “Get up, get dressed, the President is leaving in one hour.” Hotel rooms throughout Phnom Penh subsequently echoed with a chorus of crisp cotton sheets being whipped back, the sound of hasty showers being taken and suitcases zipped up.
Leaving? But they had just arrived at the ASEAN summit. There were so many issues yet to be resolved: territorial disputes in the South China Sea, trade agreements, the way forward on energy security. The President had seemed cool and relaxed after arriving in Cambodia, sitting back in his chair in a pose that his aides knew as symbolic of his “listening” mode. Yet, some mused as they dried their hair and stuffed the remainder of their possessions into the outside pockets of garment bags, the gaze was somehow darker, more thoughtful. The wheels were turning. But in what direction?
Minivans parked outside of hotels and bleary eyed staff piled into them, heaving their overladen cases into the back. They wore suits, they sweated: even at night, the heat and humidity were oppressive, the warmth rose in waves from the ground. The scents of tropical plants, asphalt, diesel and unwashed bodies predominated. Night sounds of insects surrounded them; there was the incessant dull roar of Phnom Penh’s traffic.
Leaving? Why? What for? Some fortunate souls had managed to grab a cup of coffee from room service; they had been poured into cardboard cups and drunk with more desperation than relish. Complimentary packets of non-dairy creamer, which had been hastily stirred in, made the drink curdle in their stomachs. It was an honour to serve, they reminded themselves, but sometimes it felt more like a duty than a privilege.
The vans proceeded through the darkness, evading potholes and other drivers as best they could en route to the airport. The aides barely spoke to each other, most were still halfway locked in a dream state and hoping for respite once on Air Force One. OK, it wasn’t a bed, but once in their seats, they could hope for a few hours more of precious rest.
Where are we going, many thought, are we headed home? Has there been some sort of emergency?
The vans then pulled up onto the airport tarmac; in contrast to the somewhat makeshift airfield, Air Force One looked magnificent and proud, its blue and white hull gleaming in the dim light. Lights were already on in the windows; yes, the President was aboard.
Gazing through his window located towards the front of the plane, President Obama saw the vans arrive.
“Good,” he said, “the rest of the staff are here.” He rolled up the white sleeves of his dress shirt and loosened his blue silk tie.
He turned to his flying companion, Hillary Clinton. Her blue eyes were clear, her blonde hair pulled back into a tight hairstyle. Her navy blue jacket was neatly pressed. She held a Blackberry in her right hand; its screen was lit up from recent use. The President could detect no scent of perfume from her, just a hint of soap.
“Are you sure about this, Mr. President?” she asked.
Obama paused. “About as sure as I am of anything,” he replied.
She pursed her dark pink lips. “Going to Cairo, however…now…”
They had been over this a few times. The president sat back and clasped his hands, nearly achieving a gesture of prayer. For a brief moment, he thought of being back in Chicago, attending church on a Sunday morning and asking for God’s help; he recalled sitting in a polished wooden pew, the musty scent of old Bibles and fresh flowers in the air, and he could almost hear the choir preparing to sing the first notes of a hymn, a low growl of music rising from their throats.
The thought passed. He was still here with his disciplined Secretary of State observing him intently. She would be leaving office soon; he could see that she was relishing the prospect. Make up, no matter how well applied, could not hide the bags under her eyes, a symptom of fatigue piled upon fatigue. But he needed her. She knew Netanyahu and could speak to him on a first name basis; the President had problems even starting up a conversation with the man. The last time they’d spoke he’d said, “Bibi, you need to stop building settlements in the West Bank now, you’ll provoke a backlash.”
They were in the Oval Office, seated in the two wing chairs standing on either side of the fireplace; the reporters had left after the two leaders had expressed the usual platitudes about the special relationship between America and Israel. The President, finally, could be blunt. The chairs were parallel, they didn’t face each other directly. In reply to Obama’s warning, Bibi turned his head and looked directly at the President; the gaze was hard though not unintelligent. “No,” Netanyahu replied. This was not a refusal which could be reasoned with; Bibi’s world was painted in shades of black and white, Obama mused, you were either with him or against him. At that moment, he’d decided that Obama was against him.
So, Bibi had embraced Mitt Romney upon his visit to Jerusalem. The President was aware that Bibi had used every last bit of influence he had with America’s Jewish lobby to try and get the Republican elected. He’d gambled and lost; his response had been to double down. A folded up Washington Post that rested on the glass coffee table positioned between the President and Secretary of State showed a front page picture of a Palestinian man, in tears, holding the lifeless form of his dead small son.
No, no, this had to stop. To be the President means that one can do things, Obama thought, that was why I wanted the job. Most powerful man in the world, supposedly; but what is the pomp of the office but a hollow relic if it cannot save lives? The Marine band can play “Hail to the Chief”, the warm tones of its brass instruments hanging perfectly in the air on a warm Spring afternoon as cherry blossoms fall on the green grass of the Mall, but the song is entirely ephemeral, a whimsy, if the Chief has done little that merits the anthem.
“Your trip is going to be a security headache,” Hillary reminded him, snapping the President back into focus. Her brow was furrowed.
Obama nodded. The Secret Service had gone ballistic, well, as ballistic as any agency so devoted yet devoid of emotion could be. They had expressed “concerns” over the “threat vectors”. He’d understood; he’d expressed the service’s fears to President Morsi of Egypt when they’d spoken the previous day.
Morsi had been surprised to hear from him, Obama recalled.
“Yes, Mr. President,” Morsi’s translator had said in a clipped English accent upon picking up the phone.
“President Morsi,” Obama had said, “I would like to come visit you in Cairo and help faciltate the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian delegation. I would also like to see conditions in the Gaza Strip for myself.”
The translator turned Obama’s words into Arabic. Silence.
Morsi replied: hesitantly at first, Obama thought. The translator followed after him, “That’s very generous of you, Mr. President. We’ll be delighted to welcome you.”
The plan was, and Hillary had worked out the details, was to go to Cairo, and then meet with President Morsi. Then he’d visit both the Palestinian and Israeli delegations which were there and impress upon them the necessity of peace and attempt to facilitate the negotiations. Then, he would go to Gaza himself. If all went well, he would then follow this up with a trip to Jerusalem; Hillary thought it wise that Netaynahu was not informed in advance.
“You want to catch him off guard,” she explained. The President had understood: if Netanyahu had the opportunity to make his mind up about how to react to a particular event, he’d stick to it come what may.
“Are you certain about going to Gaza?” Hillary queried again. Obama nodded.
If the President was going to make the American public understand the need for peace, he would have to drag the American media in behind him. He knew all too well that there were far too many Americans who sat in homes in Dallas and Tucson and Salt Lake City who still lived with their mental pictures framed by the previous Administration. The Palestinians were Muslims, the Israelis said they were terrorists; pictures of Palestinians celebrating the World Trade Centre attack had streamed into American homes on September 11. They’re enemies, the Fox News watching public had reasoned: blow them up. The mainstream media didn’t care to show the parents and children huddled in dusty cellars during sleepless nights as bombs exploded and the earth trembled. Leave that to Al Jazeera, the media thought, we have prejudices for which we must cater so that we continue to accrue advertising revenues from Boeing and Coca Cola.
Perhaps, Obama thought, if he wandered amidst the wreckage, wiped the dust from his forehead and talked with workers from the Red Cross while the cameras rolled, maybe, just maybe, the complexity of real life would filter back across the ocean. Perhaps the Palestinians would be seen as they were: a people who had been yanked out by the roots, who were finding any remaining patch of earth in which to plant themselves hard to come by. Compromise, reason, rationality were the only way forward.
But then again, the Republicans could just accuse him of pandering to America’s enemies and blast him to pieces again on Fox News.
He sighed. An Air Force colonel, wearing a blue uniform with crisp seams entered in. His grey eyes were focused, emotionless.
“Mr. President,” the colonel said, “We’re ready to depart.”
The President nodded. He cast another gaze out the window; the vans had departed back into the night. By the time Phnom Penh awoke to its orange and azure dawn, he’d be gone; he had left handwritten messages for the other ASEAN leaders apologising for leaving in haste. He hoped they would understand; he was certain they would.
“Let’s go,” Obama said. The colonel nodded and departed.
Hillary looked at him; the President knew her well enough to read her thoughts, namely, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I hope so too”, he thought back. He settled into his seat and shut his eyes. All this was hanging around one word: “if”. He had mused about this with Hillary and Michelle, “If I go,” he had asked, “will I make a difference?” They weren’t sure. All he knew was that those bent on war seemed irredeemably so; the only person who had even a glimmer of a chance of moving them was himself. If he could advise, cajole, persuade, and even threaten successfully, maybe, worse than what had already happened could be prevented.
He swallowed hard. The plane began to taxi. Soon the engines would accelerate and Air Force One would launch into the darkness. He too would be flinging himself into the void. All in vain? He’d soon find out.
Posted by Christian DeFeo in Rants on November 20, 2012. (0) Comments
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Volleyball - 28. January 2008.
Getting to Know Stacy Sykora: 20 Plus Questions
Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 25, 2008) - Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas), who is competing professionally in Italy's Serie A League for Altamura, has provided the latest entry into the "Getting to Know" feature on U.S. Women's National Team players. In addition to responding to the 46 questions below, Sykora has started her own blog while in Italy.
What are the top songs in your iPod?
Everything you can imagine, I guess you can say that I “collect music”, from all over the world and I have over 100GB of it….
What kind of car do you drive?
Land Rover and a Harley Davison
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Art, Music, Video editing and basically anything to do with a computer…
What do you envision doing as a career after competing for the national team?
Becoming a famous moving star….Just Kidding, I really don’t know, I am still a kid and never really want to grow up
Other than family, who would you like to invite to complete a dinner foursome (individuals can be dead or alive)?
Angelina Jolie, Gia Marie Carangi, Jim Carey and Steven King
Where would you like to spend a week’s vacation?
Driving my motorcycle in Texas
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Modena, Italy
What is your favorite room in your house and why?
Right now, in Italy, the living room because it is the biggest
What is the one luxury item that you could not do without?
Rank the following types of television programs in order you like best: Reality TV, crime dramas, game shows, sit-coms, music television, cable news, sports.
sports, crime dramas, music television, game shows, sit-coms, reality TV, cable news,
What is your favorite television program?
I don’t watch much TV but here in Italy, I like Walker, Texas Ranger, you should see them speak Italian it is great!
What is your favorite movie?
The Dark Crystal, Beast Master and Gia
What is your favorite book?
Ummmmmm, I don’t read
Who is the funniest player on the women’s national team?
I laugh at them all :)
Who is the most under-rated player on the women’s national team?
Robyn Ah-Mow Santos and Lindsey Berg
Are you a morning person, afternoon person or night person?
What is your pre-match ritual?
Visualize, elevate the legs, write down my goals, listen to music and dance
On an airplane, would you rather, sleep, read, work on a computer or talk with the person sitting next to you?
Work on the computer and talk
What is the best thing about competing on the USA Women’s National Team?
Doing the thing I love and loving doing it with the people I love
What is your favorite volleyball drill?
Any defensive drill
What sport would you be competing in if not for volleyball?
HMMMMMMM….Basketball, Heptathlon, Triathlon or a Soccer Goalie….
Who is your favorite athlete?
Flo Jo
What is your favorite food?
Sushi or Mexican
What is your favorite restaurant to eat at?
Casa Rodriguez in Bryan, Texas or Sushi Town in Las Palmas, Spain
How many different languages can you converse in?
Italian and Spanish but I understand a lot of similar languages
What was your favorite subject in school?
What is your fondest child-hood memory?
I have so many, story telling is my life so to have to choose one right now, I would say, making commercials and a workout video with my friends in Burleson and honestly thinking I was gonna make it big one day on the big screen, I just recently watched them, yep, embarrassing
What fad were you involved in during junior high school that many would be surprised to learn?
Good Ole High Bangs, mine could stop the wind in its tracks
If you could see any musical act or performer (dead or alive) in concert, who would it be?
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing that you would buy or pay for?
Everything my family members ever wanted
If you could live as one other person (celebrity or not) for one day, who would it be?
Bin Laden, so when the day was over I would tell George where he is hiding :)
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
To stop, start, reverse and fast forward time
If a movie was made about your life, which actor or actress would you want to play you?
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?
My house with full plumbing and everything it has in it in Vegas. A plane with a pilot so I can leave when I wanted and a Super Wal-Mart
If you could live in another time period for a week, which one would you choose?
The Future, so I can bring back the ideas of the future and invent them first and be a millionaire
If you could be on the cover of one magazine, which one would you choose?
I don’t really know magazines but I would say Vogue, I guess
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Unique, misunderstood, square
What is your favorite holiday?
I don’t really like holidays but I like the post-halloween candy sells
What is your favorite season – winter, spring, summer or fall?
What is one off-the-court talent that you have?
What was the most defining moment in your life?
Coming back to the National Team
What are your most prized possessions?
My Motorcycle and House
What is your motto?
Keep Dreaming, No Excuses No Regrets…Life is Short, you never know what the next second is gonna bring so Live
What reality show (American Idol, the Apprentice, the Real World, Survivor, Big Brother, etc.) would you be best on?
I think I could make a clean sweep :)
What is your pet peeve?
Napkins on teeth
What communication tool do you use most often – text messaging, talking on the cell phone or e-mail?
Text messaging.
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Meet Fadak
Mahan
A long term collaboration with Interplast led to an opportunity to exhibit and to get awareness to a cause I’m incredibly passionate about.
In May 2018 I was invited to have an exhibition in Germany alongside Dr Jan Wylands and Ando Modular Aid.
The exhibition will be moved in September to the 49th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
Unfortunately I could not attend, so I was tasked with opening the exhibition through this video :
Paia Kukim
2 years of Interplast.
Paia Kukim - said out loud ' Fire Cook Em ' is Tok-Pisin, one of the multitude of languages in Papua New Guinea.
These images follow some brief highlights of my time following the surgeons, nurses and staff of Interplast around Mongolia, Tonga, Samoa, Mongolia and India.
I think one of the hard things about being a photographer, is that every photo you take, you live. You’re watching a moment unfold, and you have to take a perspective that is both subjective and objective. Most of these images I only really emotionally process after the fact, as you use the lens as a barrier. There have been many times that I feel like crying whilst covering my face with the camera - but then you have to remember why you’re there, to tell someone else’s story that needs to be told.
This was my introduction to Lemeck, a brave young man who has been horrifically burnt as a child, with both hands sealed under scar tissue and his left cheek fused to his left shoulder. The next few days watching his transformation is something I will never forget. In this moment, he is about to undergo surgery he has waited 20 years for.
Vanimo, Papua New Guinea.
Lemeck lays quietly on the operating table, awaiting Nkule the local Plastic Surgery trainee and Jack Justice ( real name! ) to begin anaesthesia. The full extent of his burns is visable, and upon touching his cold scar tissue I further understood his lack of mobilty as the skin felt like leather.
Lemeck raises his arms for the first time in his life, and in a surreal moments asks to take my photograph as I've spent three days taking his. To my left, is his younger brother and carer who in the moment looks serious but I knew it came from fatigue after waiting for Lemeck to come our of surgery. We all had a good laugh after this moment, part of exhaustion, but also how Lemeck was suddenly the most mobile he had ever been. He later tore his stitches from moving too much, as it was hard for him to contain his excitment at regaing the use of his left arm.
In Vanimo, a small village in northern Papua New Guinea, a young boy waits for surgery.
At first this situation looks ordinary, but in reality it was everthing but.
That morning we had an incredible storm, that broke a tree that was 3 stories high - which in turn smashed the power lines feeding the hospital.
With no back up generator, the theatre lies in the dark.
5 patients that day lost the oppotunity to have their surgery, and will wait another two years before the Interplast team returns.
This was my first encounter with a patient who's entire life had been defined by burn. Instead of being victimised after a oil burn as a child, he studied and became a social worker to help others.
There was nothing Interplast could do for him physically, but more offer emotional support which is another vital part of care.
Tonga.
A 18 month year old with Syndactyly is examimed - a condition where hands and feet are webbed. On top of the malnutrition, clefted lip and palate this young man faces many challenges.
His treatment plan will take several operations, and many years to complete and it's the relationship of trust that parents have to keep bring their children back which forms a vital part of this exchange.
Moron, Mongolia.
During our week in this small town in Northern Mongolia, the Interplast team triaged around 40 patients and quickly filled the operating list.
On the second day, this young man who had been struck by lighting was brought to out attention, he was still in a state of shock when we met him and unable to speak. The lighting bolt left a path from his ear, through his chest and out his right leg. The Interplast team couldn't operate as he deteriorating, which brain scans further revealed swelling and anaesthesia would have posed a further risk. To this day I do not know if he recovered.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
This was a difficult scene to capture, I was very emotional and dispondent when I took it, as the overwhelming situation of scavengers struggling to survive around the rubbish tips of the capital came full circle to me.
In that day I saw the full circle of migrants moving from the rural lands to a city, looking for a better life - and then having to exist off scavenging and been burnt or maimed as a result. Children having their future taken away from them, because the are left alone at home without school whilst parents scavenge.
This informal Ger sits on flooded sewage and stolen power lines, the calm sunset juxtraposed by crying children.
I love having assumptions broken, after a 'Sing Sing' performance this sweating man walked up to me and introduced himself in perfect english 'Hello, my name is Matthius how are you?'
We spoke for an hour, and he explained his performance regarding a wild boar hunt, hence the tusk in his teeth.
English, and to a greater extent an education helps the locals articulate their concerns around healthcare and it was facinating to discuss the challenges they face.
A patient in Melghat, India and a moment where as a photographer you're really left changed after the capture. During pre-operative rounds I was asked to shoot this patient.She is from the tribes surrounding the hospital and was awaiting for her mastectomy procedure the following day. Clearly at this far stage it could only be palliative treatment. I've thought about this image for 10 months since I took it, and looking at it now I see a woman with incredible strength and pride who represents one side of poverty - limited access to healthcare.
A young boy lies asleep in the dark waiting for surgery, whilst the team prepares out of frame. In this moment, the only sound is that of his heartbeat on the monitor. The 'stage' of a theatre is one I've become familar over the years, but I never loose the feeling of complete trust another human hands over to Doctor in this moment.
Moron, Mongolia
The view into the wilderness from the hospital window. The thick walls built during Soviet era expansion, and a world away from the situation inside the ward. In the distance, a Ger and a herdmans quietly go about their lives as they have for hunderds of year - and the room I'm in is filled with the sounds of crying children and desperate parents looking to have their child selected for the operating list. The quietness of the view seems at odds with where I am.
This young child has a severe burn covering her chest, hip and thigh.
The skin has contracted to the point where, at 3 years of age, she is unable to walk due to the tension. Whilst it's easy to concentrate on the immediate plight, unresolved trauma like this will have a lasting affect on her life as without surgery she'll be able to talk, go to school or become a active member of her community. A 3 hour procedure by Professor Mark Ashton, and the local general surgeon Dr Stanley Bita, completely changed the trajectory of Bethany's life.
Vanimo, Papua New Guinea
Dr Nkule Dunlop, one of only a handful of Plastic Surgery trainees around the country prepares his patient surgery to release a contracture. This hand posture immediately caught my attention, as it is completely vulnerable and speaks to the trust locals have in the medical teams. This trust has taken many years to build, as modern Papuans still have a strong belief in traditional medicine which often delays the treatment and exacerbates the condition. I saw many patients presenting so late that only palative care was a option for them.
Professor Mark holds the hand of Jeffrey, a 17 year old boy who missed the surgery window due to a storm cutting power to the operating room. This severe contracture is over 10 years old, and the damage to his muscles underneath that contracture requires extensive surgery to release.
During this moment, I watched the translator explain to his parents this situation and my heart slowly sank as I saw Jeffrey realise he would have to wait another year for his operation.
Over the years I have become facinated by hands. The hands that suffer, and the ones that heal and the years of functionality given back. These small moments where before my eyes I see structure, form and eventually function return to a patients primary tool for interacting with the world are privilaged moments for me.
A scene that plays out every day. The hospital staff greet concerned family members through this wooden hatch, to deliver either the good news or the bad. There is an intimacy here that I watched several times, a respect for the doctors and nursing staff and a stoicism that made it almost impossible to read which way the news went.
Dr Chukra, the general surgeon of Moron's hospital. Clearly an ex military man having worked previously with the UN in Sudan during the civil war. He services a hospital which looks after 300 000 in the immediate Province. Interplast have invested 3 years of training into him, and on this trip donated a Braithwaite skin grafting knife, so that he could perform skin grafts locally.
I was to later learn that due to the Communist government structure, he earnt $250.00 a month as a surgeon.
A young woman, with dreams of studying engineering waits for her surgery. A momentary lapse of judgment as a child left both her hands with severe burn contractures, and inhibitiing her ability to write.
I think one of the hard things about being a photographer, is that every photo you take, you live. You're watching a moment unfold, and you have to take a perspective that is both subjective and objective. Most of these images I only really emotionally process after the fact, as you use the lens as a barrier. There have been many times that I feel like crying whilst covering my face with the camera - but then you have to remember why you're there, to tell someone else's story that needs to be told.
A nurse peers through the window into the opeating room, waiting for her moment to wheel the patient back to the ward. Passing knowledge to local medical staff through ongoing training, empowers them to take better care of their patients against overwhelming odds.
Village Cinema
Very proud of this project - the and the privilege of being able to go to far off places to capture these stories.
It’s playing right now in Village Cinemas, in every cinema before every film in Australia - is a ad between the popcorn & trailers for Avengers - which highlights the incredible work of @interplastanz
Thank you to Shooting Star who produced the video from my content, first of many to come in 2018.
#InterplastANZ #repairingbodies #rebuildinglives #changingfuturestoday #cinema #villagecinema #mongolia #asiapacific
Interplast in Vanimo video blog
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Singapore condemns ‘vicious’ terrorist attacks in London
Asia12345 | June 4, 2017
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued a statement condemning the “vicious” attacks in London.
On Saturday night (Jun 3), London time, armed police opened fire during attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market after reports of stabbings and a van ploughing into pedestrians. “Multiple” casualties were reported in the attacks.
“Singapore condemns the vicious terrorist attacks that occurred in London,” MFA said in its statement. “There can be no justification for such attacks against innocent civilians.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and wish the injured a speedy recovery. We stand in solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom.”
There have been no reports of Singaporeans directly affected or injured in the attacks, the ministry said.
The Singapore High Commission in London has reached out to Singaporeans who are e-registered in London, MFA added. The High Commission is also working closely with the London authorities to monitor the situation.
It advised Singaporeans in the United Kingdom to keep in touch with their family and friends. Those in need of urgent consular assistance should contact the Singapore High Commission in London or MFA duty office at:
Singapore High Commission in London
Email: singhc_lon@mfa.sg
MFA duty office (24-hours)
Tel: +65 6379 8800/8855
Email: mfa_duty_office@mfa.gov.sg
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London, Singapore, Terror Attack Asia, London, UK One Comment »
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One Comment to Singapore condemns ‘vicious’ terrorist attacks in London
TimeBandit says:
Total Defence strategies must become the daily norm for Singapore The obvious vulnerable spots and people-populated areas must receive the highest form of security. The armed forces must, henceforth, work together with the police and private security agencies to pre-empt attacks. Extra vigilance is what is needed daily from everyone, including schools managements, teachers and staff, school security guards/agencies, parents, car park operators and more. We need road side barriers to be set up at vulnerable pedestrian walkways and we definitely need the toughest security implementation at crowded events – like KPOP concerts,, Speakers’ Corner major events, and religious events or festivals, just to cite some examples.
We must all stay united as one and not allow terrorists to destroy our lives. We have the right to stand tall and do our part, and it is a critical role, to save our nation from the evil of terrorism. Complacency must never creep in. We must stay constantly alert, and responsible.
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