pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 156
1.01M
| source
stringlengths 39
45
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.633197
| 0.633197
|
Daily Deal Apps Roundup
Whether shopping at home or looking for a place to grab lunch, everyone loves a bargain. That's why daily deal apps are so popular. According to a report by BIA/Kelsey, Americans are expected to spend nearly $5.5 billion in 2016 on daily deal sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial. Such sites have expanded since their humble beginnings several years ago with offers on a wide variety of products, services, and experiences at steep discounts. They've also pushed into the mobile world, allowing users to buy and redeem deals quickly from smartphones.
We checked reviews of some daily deal apps to find the best resources for consumers.
Groupon is, without doubt, king of the daily deal sites. Launched in 2008 and taken public in late 2011, it operates internationally and features hundreds of deals every day.
45 Travel Discounts for Seniors
20 Vintage or Common Household Items to Sell for Extra Cash
15 Items That Will Cost More in 2019
The free Groupon app is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows phones. Once set up, users have mobile access to local daily deals, getaway deals, Groupon goods (physical products), and online deals. A gifts section helps gift-givers save some cash, and the new reserve section lets users make reservations at restaurants and receive a discount. Daily deals also are redeemable on smartphones upon entering a store.
The Groupon app scores rave reviews from users and is among the top 50 free apps in iTunes. The current version claims 4.5 stars with more than 750 reviews. Consumers call the app amazing and note how easy it is to see products, find and purchase deals, and save money. They also warn others to keep an eye on deal expiration dates. The Groupon app likewise receives 4.5 stars in the Google Play store with more than 250,000 reviews. Blackberry users approve of their version of the app, as well, although it earns only 3 stars through Windows Phone, where users report it loads slowly, has trouble finding their location, and lacks a search function.
LivingSocial is a lot like Groupon and gaining ground against that market leader. This daily deals site offers handpicked experiences in numerous stateside locations as well as several international spots. The LivingSocial app is available for iPhone, Android, and Windows phones. Like Groupon's daily deals app, it offers deals targeted to a location or uses GPS to show deals near the user. LivingSocial categorizes its deals as home, escapes, fun and events, and shop. When purchasing a deal you're prompted to share it with friends via social networks or email. If three friends buy the deal you get your deal for free (except on vacation packages).
The LivingSocial app garners good reviews on iTunes, where most consumers say it's user-friendly, although one who lives far from a major city wasn't able to find any deals for local stores. The Android version of the LivingSocial app doesn't hold up, though. Daily deal app reviews on Android Market assert that the LivingSocial app doesn't show local deals even though it should, won't allow users to change locations, and often freezes.
iOS Android Windows Blackberry
Groupon 4.5 (346,000+) 4.6 (257,000+) 3.0 (150+) 4.0 (10,000+)
LivingSocial 4.0 (69,000+) 3.9 (10,750+) 4.0 (90+) N/A
Gilt 4.5 (23,000+) 3.4 (1,000+) N/A N/A
Fab 4.5 (11,000+) 4.5 (2,500+) N/A N/A
The Gilt family of three apps -- Gilt, Gilt City, and Jetsetter -- focuses on luxury. The first features deals on designer clothing and accessories for women, men, and children as well as deals in major cities, travel deals, and bargains on designer home goods. The second simply replicates the local deal portion of the first app. Jetsetter is all about vacation packages and deals on last-minute hotel bookings. All deals are open to members only, but sign-up is free.
The latest version of the Gilt app for Apple devices picks up only 5-star reviews, but there aren't enough to form a clear picture. The posted reviews focus on the excellent customer service and the value -- the deals aren't cheap but the items are high quality. Android users complain that their version of the daily deal app isn't as good. They say it's sluggish, settings are limited, and scrolling can be difficult. The Gilt City and Jetsetter apps are only available on iOS and both have 10 or fewer reviews for the current versions; all versions of Gilt City have received an average of 3 stars with slightly more than 450 reviews and Jetsetter boasts an impressive 5 stars with 1,700 reviews.
Fab is a (free) membership deal site focused on designer products in many categories, from food to fashion. Deals come at a variety of price points as well. The Fab app lets members browse and buy deals on the go and is available for iOS and Android devices. The latest iOS version wins 5 stars from a few reviews but all versions combined have received an average 4.5 stars from more than 11,000 reviews. Users say it offers fabulous deals, and one jokes that the biggest downside is the potential pain it causes their wallets. The Android app does equally well, with 4.5 stars based on more than 2,500 reviews. Again, the focus is on ease of use and the unique items available at bargain prices.
Despite ongoing offers of steep discounts on everything from flashlights to week-long vacations in Asia, enthusiasm for some daily deals has waned. Small businesses have complained about their experiences with some of the companies, and the deal offerings now seem limited to a few types of products and services. This may explain why sites like Gilt and Fab have become popular, with their focus on high quality and unique products or experiences rather than bottom line savings.
Is Long-Term Care Insurance for You?
Americans are living increasingly longer lives, but few can afford...
Elizabeth Sheer October 04, 2017
Amazon vs. Target: Which Subscription Service Is Best?
Amazon Subscribe and Save offers better prices and more variety but...
Louis DeNicola March 17, 2016
10 Ways to Make Sure You're Seeing the Lowest Price Online
Online retailers such as Amazon continually show different prices for...
Michael Davidson January 21, 2016
How to Save Up to 20 Percent By Using Bitcoin
There are several ways consumers can pay with Bitcoin, the digital...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6380
|
__label__wiki
| 0.943982
| 0.943982
|
Brookings Register
Court/Police
Bandits split two high-scoring games at home
Andrew Holtan/Register: Tyler Kruetner hits the baseball during the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game of two Wednesday against Aberdeen. Brookings won the game 17-6 and had 16 hits. The Bandits fell 22-12 against Sioux Falls East in the second game of the night.
By: Staff reports - Updated: 1 month ago
• Brookings 17, Aberdeen 6 (5 inn.)
The Bandits used 16 hits and a 14-run third inning to topple Aberdeen 17-6.
The game was tied 2-2 after the first inning, but Brookings blew the game wide open in the third inning. The Bandits scored 14 runs on 10 hits in the inning highlighted by a two RBI double and a three RBI triple by Justin Devine. Rhett Zelinsky had an RBI double. Trevor Berreth had two RBI singles. Cole Mahlum and Tyler Kreutner had RBI singles as well.
Zelinsky started the game for the Bandits and picked up the win. He pitched four innings giving up six runs, five earned, on five hits with five strikeouts and six walks. Christian Mediger pitched one inning and gave no runs and one hit with no strikeouts or walks.
Devine went 4-for-4 with six RBIs. Kruetner went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Mahlum went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Zelinsky and Berreth both went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
BROOKINGS 17, ABERDEEN 6
Brookings 2114 0x – 17 16 0
Aberdeen 200 40 – 6 6 4
• Sioux Falls East 22, Brookings 12
Sioux Falls East scored 22 runs on 20 hits and handed Brookings its fourth loss of the season.
Heading into the top of the sixth inning the Sioux Falls East led 13-11 and then they took command. They scored seven runs on six hits to make it 20-11. Hammer and Ford had RBI doubles. Wingblade also had a two RBI triple.
Parker Rykhus picked up the loss for Brookings. He pitched three innings and gave up nine runs, four earned, on seven hits with no strikeouts and one walk. Jackson Krogman pitched two innings and gave up eight runs, five earned, on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Schoon went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Zelinsky had no hits but picked up three RBIs. Trevor Berreth went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Tanner Shepardson went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
SIOUX FALLS EAST 22, BROOKINGS 12
Brookings 340 131 0 – 12 9 7
Sioux Falls East 504 227 2 – 22 20 3
Twins win series opener in Cleveland
Williams advances to semifinals at Wimbledon after 19 aces
Toscano to represent Spain in golf tournament
Federer beats Nadal in Wimbledon semifinals
BROOKINGS – The Bandits used 16 hits and a 14-run third inning to topple Aberdeen 17-6. Later in the evening, Sioux Falls East scored 22 runs on 20 hits and handed Brookings its fourth loss of the season.
312 5th St Brookings SD 57006
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6391
|
__label__cc
| 0.742494
| 0.257506
|
Brown SchoolCurrently selected
The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis uses Google Analytics for user data to improve our sites. We adhere to the privacy policies established by Washington University, published at http://www.wustl.edu/policies/internetprivacy.html.
Google site analytics do not include any personally identifiable information. The reports are password protected and only available to the Brown School Communications and web teams and other designated staff requiring this information to perform their duties.
We utilize AdRoll retargeting to improve the effectiveness of its online marketing. Retargeting uses advertising cookies that collect data about website usage to selectively display ads.
The cookies record your visits to Brown School pages. Data recorded through the use of this technology is aggregated, and third-party vendors through AdRoll’s network will show Brown School ads on their sites based on a fit between your interests as ascertained by pages you've previously visited. Learn more about Adroll's privacy policies and/or opt out of Adroll retargeting here.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6392
|
__label__wiki
| 0.697771
| 0.697771
|
Who we’re voting for
The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) held a first-rate debate yesterday in which the characters, opinions and platforms of its presidential and vice presidential candidates were well illumined.
Both pairs of candidates are impressive and unequivocally well-qualified. But though the Isaac Lampner and Cassaundra Spaeder duo might not have been in USG as long as their opponents, The Buchtelite’s editorial board is voting for them.
Megan Bodenschatz and Sterling Galehouse’s direct employment with two top administrators, President Scott Scarborough and Vice President of Advancement Larry Burns, is worrisome.
The pair says these connections will build a bridge between students and administrators, and make it easier to get things done.
But the bridge must be built between USG and students first, before USG and administrators. If anything, USG must be the watchdog of its University’s leaders, and friendships could get in the way of that. Especially because Galehouse, in an interview with The Buchtelite, says he would continue working in President Scarborough’s office while vice president.
The important thing, however, is that students vote, regardless of whether it’s for one pair or the other. Check the candidates’ websites, email them your questions, read about them in the paper. Find out for yourself who would be the best leaders for you. We hope to see you at the polls.
Tags: for, voting, we're, who
All comments that are well-informed, civil and relevant to the story are welcome. To leave a comment, please provide your name and email address. The Editorial Board reserves to right to remove any comment that is submitted under false pretenses or includes personal attacks, libel, hate speech, profanity, spam or inaccurate/misleading information. All comments are screened and are generally approved unless they are found to be found in violation of these standards. Readers who notice comments that appear to violate these standards are encouraged to contact the Online Editor at online-editor@buchtelite.com.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6394
|
__label__cc
| 0.527975
| 0.472025
|
Solutions Finder
About Panasonic System Solutions
An example project
From manufacturing plants, to diagnostic workshops, through to showrooms,...
Whether it’s within a single site or across cities and countries, our...
In the specialised surroundings of a pharmaceuticals plant, errors and...
From rugged mobile computers and tablets for faculty and staff, to...
Panasonic’s primary education solutions help you deliver lessons that will...
Chain Stores
Panasonic retail solutions can extend across many sites and many stores,...
To improve your efficiency and productivity, our technology integrates into...
There are many challenges facing the managers of a shopping mall. But with...
In the ultra-competitive fast-food industry, efficiency, inventory control,...
Transport - road and rail
How do Panasonic solutions support the road and rail transport sectors?. In...
How do Panasonic solutions support the logistics sector?. From your...
How do Panasonic solutions support aviation?. Supporting the maintenance and...
Panasonic’s casino solutions are designed to help you enhance the visitor...
For the ultimate in guest convenience and comfort, Panasonic provides hotel...
In museums around the world, whatever the setting and however significant...
Visitors to your premises want entertainment, enjoyment and convenience....
Rental & Staging
At corporate events, concerts, exhibitions, displays and major international...
How do Panasonic solutions support the fast food restaurant sector?. In the...
How do Panasonic solutions support Finance, Banking and Insurance?. More...
How do Panasonic solutions support the construction and engineering sector?....
How do Panasonic solutions support the utilities sector?. The operations of...
To serve the public effectively, you need technology that serves you...
Respond fast, respond effectively, respond accurately. Panasonic’s...
Technology in military environments must be capable of performing without...
How do Panasonic solutions support medical practices?. .
How do Panasonic solutions support hospitals?. The demands of running a...
How do Panasonic solutions support care homes?. A safe, comfortable and...
Scanners. .
All-in-one printers and fax
All-in-one printers and fax. .
PBX/SIP
PBX/SIP. Designed to maintain effective, consistent communications for...
HDVC. .
Toughbook. When smooth communications, efficiency operations and...
Toughpad. .
EPOS systems. .
Broadcast & ProAV
Broadcast & ProAV. .
Industrial Medical Vision (IMV)
Industrial Medical Vision (IMV). Have confidence in the quality of...
Video Surveillance. .
Video Intercom. .
Projectors. .
Professional displays. .
Olympic Museum
Historic Royal Palaces
Our partnership enables HRP to create memorable events and provide an improved visitor experience for its customers.
Working together to travel back in time
Panasonic has a long-term corporate partnership with Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the independent charity which manages six former Royal residences in the UK.
Working partnership
The partnership presents Panasonic with the opportunity to showcase its latest, innovative business technologies, while enabling HRP to provide an improved visitor experience for its customers.
HRP puts Panasonic business technology through its paces and in return Panasonic uses some of the UK’s most famous venues for a variety of events.
Ongoing solutions
Historic Royal Palaces look after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle. Each of the palaces have witnessed peace and prosperity and splendid periods of build and expansion, but they also share stories of more turbulent times, of war and domestic strife, politics and revolution.
Panasonic technology enhances visitors experience by using projection and display products to showcase exhibitions which create atmospheres and capture the imagination. The exhibitions tell stories of different people across a range of periods in history.
The first joint initiative saw 12 Panasonic high brightness projectors (PT-DZ21K2) used as part of the 500th anniversary celebrations at Hampton Court Palace. A 22-minute projected artwork, which told the architectural and cultural history of the palace, played for three nights over the Easter weekend 2015.
Panasonic laser projectors are now being used in a new exhibition in the Palace, bringing animation to the Hampton Court story. A total of eight projectors have also been installed within the Tower of London jewel house, helping to interpret the story of the Crown Jewels.
For more information about integrated solutions from Panasonic, please visit: https://business.panasonic.co.uk/solutions/
SIDELINKS
Press release - Panasonic and Historic Royal Palaces announce corporate partnership
Lesiure
Office and Communication Solutions
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6396
|
__label__cc
| 0.560598
| 0.439402
|
← Greek | “Midnight Clear”
‘Mr. Sunshine’ review | BP at the Daily →
Glee | “Comeback”
There was another new episode of Glee last night, and I have a review of it after the jump.
I follow a lot of TV critics/writers on Twitter, so as the episode aired last night, I kept getting up-to-the-minute reactions. Most of the responses I saw where ambivalent to overwhelmingly negative; essentially none was positive. Of course, that evidence is purely anecdotal, and doesn’t necessarily represent a broad spectrum of opinions, but I have found my takes on Glee have largely lined up with those of the critics I follow in the past. I braced myself for a return to mediocrity, after last week’s “Silly Love Songs” proved Glee can play to its strengths when it actually tries.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised by “Comeback.” It is far from the best episode Glee has done, and there were plenty of problematic story elements, but overall I was entertained and didn’t keep nodding my head in disbelief or annoyance.
The relationship drama continued between Quinn, Finn, and Sam. For a while (I guess it’s just a few days, but still) Quinn can’t decide between the two, but when she finally picks Sam after his heartfelt Justin Bieber tribute to her, Santana lets him in on the truth about Quinn’s “lifesaving” kiss. Most of this actually made sense: Sam understandably doesn’t want to lose Quinn, since she looks like Dianna Agron and also helps him hide his nerdiness, so he rationalized her unbelievable story. Quinn is caught up in her old attraction to Finn, but realizes it was more a momentary flashback than true feelings. And Santana is being Santana, wreaking havoc and trying to get her next guy. It all moved a little fast, and having Sam and Quinn make their opposite decisions at the exact same time was more than a little convenient, but the world of high school relationships often defies logic, and it made sense in the heightened universe of McKinley High.
Puck continued to make progress with Lauren, giving her tips for her first solo performance (picture everyone in their underwear! At least he acknowledged it was “the oldest trick in the book,” but that doesn’t make the trope any less tired). I like the slow buildup the writers are giving them. The push-back from Lauren only makes Puck want her more, and it’s nice to see their relationship be taken seriously and not just played as a big joke. And it doesn’t hurt that Mark Salling and Ashley Fink actually have great chemistry.
The worst subplot (surprise!) involved Sue and Will and some strange depression scam for Sue to infiltrate the glee club before becoming coach of Aural Intensity, New Directions’ big rival at regionals. Emma made a throwaway appearance to bring Sue’s apparent “Sue-icide” to Will’s attention, but from there out Will went back and forth on trusting Sue and, just as he thought he had won her over, she revealed her betrayal. Sue is a firm antagonist at this point, so the fact that they keep trying to do these Will/Sue friendship episodes makes no sense. Sue can’t go from physically throwing students into lockers to nearly crying in a pediatric cancer ward, to leading the glee club take on My Chemical Romance’s “SING” to becoming coach of the rival glee club all in one episode with any semblance of realism, and it just shows how little grasp the three writers/co-creators have on her character at this point. Sue’s antics completely derailed the Super Bowl episode and were only saved last night by not being completely over-the-top. At least she had some key one-liners (“I will not date a curly”), which at this point is about all they can guarantee.
So I don’t know if I’m offbase on this one, or if I’m just more of a sucker for J.Biebs than I thought (I have to agree with Tina — “Baby” is actually a good, or at least really catchy, song), but I didn’t find “Comeback” half bad. Not a lot really happened, and there weren’t any huge memorable moments, but aside from the Sue/Will subplot, the glee club stuff mostly worked for me. Sure, the Rachel/Mercedes diva-off was little more than an excuse for them to duet on “Take Me or Leave Me,” and the post-Valentine’s slump was just an excuse to throw in a few Bieber songs, but the songs at least made sense story-wise and were well-performed, which can’t always be said.
Glad they got in that shot of Santana in her candy striper outfit from last week in the “here’s what you missed” montage. Very essential to this week’s plot.
“The old Will Schuester is back.” Just the words we never want to hear…
“Leg-warmers are more likely to catch on than reindeer sweaters.” Obviously, Rachel underestimated Britanny’s trend-setting skills.
Of course, Rachel’s outfit was “sexy schoolgirl librarian chic.” And it was from Kids ‘R Us.
Why did everyone wear plaid for the “SING” anthem?
Some good jabs at Chord Overstreet’s mouth: “That haircut makes your mouth look even bigger.” “Mouth to face ratio is way off.”
Obviously, people probably have different opinions about “Comeback.” Share yours in the comments section below!
This entry was posted in Glee and tagged Dianna Agron, Glee, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Recap, Sue Sylvester, Television, TV. Bookmark the permalink.
2 responses to “Glee | “Comeback””
Tanya Lee Stone | February 16, 2011 at 7:35 pm | Reply
Excellent review! I’ll add that, musically, the “Take Me or Leave Me” duet was the single best part of the episode, and the only thing we rewound the DVR to replay after the show was over.
Ben Phelps | February 16, 2011 at 8:11 pm | Reply
Thanks, Tanya! I agree, that was a great performance by Lea Michele and Amber Riley. I don’t know a ton of show tunes, so I’m always happy when the ones they choose are the ones I do know, and it’s even better when they do them well.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6399
|
__label__cc
| 0.746122
| 0.253878
|
Stocks Brokers
Barclays (BARC) Brokers
Lloyds (LLOY) Brokers
Vodafone (VOD) Brokers
Unilever (ULVR) Brokers
Home › Compare CFD Brokers › How to Trade Marks and Spencer Group shares (MKS)
How to Trade Marks and Spencer Group shares (MKS)
Live updates every hour. Updated today (May 22, 2019)
To trade Marks and Spencer Group shares you can either use a traditional stock brokerage firm (such as IG) or you can use a CFD service, such as LCG We'll explore the pros and cons of both approaches in a moment.
Currently, IG charge a minimum of £5* per trade for buying and selling shares online, while LCG take a fee from the spreadThe spread is the difference (in pips) between the buy price and the sell price.
Example: If the current buy price of EURUSD is 1.0004 and the sell price is 1.0003, there is a 1 pip spread. for stocks such as MKS
Share Price£259.90
30-Day Change-8.13%
90-Day Change -10.66%
52-Week Low £240.00
52-Week High £316.60
Show me the top brokers I can trade Marks and Spencer Group shares (MKS) with
*For frequent traders or clients who place at least one CFD trade or Spread bet per month. Applies to UK shares only.
Pros & Cons of Trading Marks and Spencer Group shares (MKS) as a CFD
A CFD (or 'contract for difference') is a way of trading instruments like shares without having to own the shares. Here are some of the pros and cons of CFD trading compared to using a traditional stock brokerage.
The main advantage of a CFD broker is the leverage they offer their clients. This means that a trader would require a much smaller account sizes relative to the size of a trade in comparison to a traditional share dealing broker.
At the current price of £259.90 per share, to buy 50Marks and Spencer Group shares with no leverage, it would cost a total of £12,995.00 £12,995. However, using leverage of 1:20, a trader would only require an account size of £721.94 £650 to place the trade with a CFD broker.
CFD brokers allow traders to go long or short, which means a trader could benefit from rising and falling markets.
CFD brokers usually do not charge a commission and instead have their fees included in the spread.
CFD brokers like AvaTrade that offer the MT4 platform, allow clients to use expert advisors to automate their trading strategies.
UK shares that are purchased as a CFD are not liable for the usual 0.5% stamp duty payable with a traditional share purchase (please note that tax laws can change and are subject to individual circumstances).
Unlike traditional brokerages that only offer stock trading, CFD brokers like LCG give access to a wide variety of instruments like stocks, commodities and currencies.
As mentioned, leverage is a double-edged sword that can magnify both gains and losses. And as with all trading, traders are at the risk of the markets moving against them.
CFD brokers typically charge an overnight fee for holding a long position overnight. This is essentially the cost of borrowing the money from the broker to purchase the shares on margin. There would be no overnight fee if you closed the position on the same trading day. Therefore, this would only be a disadvantage if you are not a day trader or intraday trader.
For example, LCG currently charge an overnight financing fee of 2.73% for individual equities. This means that for the example trade above, it would cost a trader £0.97 every day the position was open.
For further information on trading stocks as a CFD, visit out "trading stocks as a CFD page". It is important to remember leverage can work both ways and magnify gains and losses.
*All information collected from https://www.lcg.com/uk/, see website for full terms and conditions. Your capital is at risk. Last updated on 20th March, 2017.
Marks and Spencer Group: Key Stats & Background Information
Marks and Spencer Groupshares are currently priced at £259.90, after opening the day at £260.50. As of 22/05/2019, Marks and Spencer Group have 1,625 million shares available, bringing their market capMarketing capitalisation is the value of a publicly traded company, calculated by multiplying the current share price by the total number of shares available. to £4,225 million.
This market cap makes Marks and Spencer Group the 80th largest stock on the FTSE 100 index by market capitalisation. In the past 30 days, the Marks and Spencer Group share price has decreased by -8.13%, from £282.90. In the past 90 days, it has ' ; decreased by -10.66%, from £290.90 to the current price of £259.90.
In terms of trading activity Marks and Spencer Group is the 6th most actively traded stock in the FTSE100, with an average of 6,099,715 shares being traded per day.
Marks and Spencer Group had a profitafter tax for the financial year ending 26/12/2015of £489 million, a decerease from £600 million for the financial year ending 27/12/2014, an overall -19% change in profit after tax.
Marks and Spencer Group was listed on the London Stock Exchange on March 19, 2002, and can be traded on Monday-Friday between 8am and 4.30pm GMT (UK time).
Marks and Spencer Group paid a dividend of 18.40p in 2016, an increase from 17.20p in 2015.
Top 10 FTSE 100 Companies by Trading Volume
Lloyds Banking Group PLC 48,564,260
Vodafone Group plc 13,179,891
Royal Mail PLC 9,080,697
Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 8,135,383
Barclays PLC 7,062,263
Marks and Spencer Group Plc 6,099,715
Glencore PLC 5,612,741
Babcock International Group PLC 5,065,413
BP plc 4,728,521
Legal & General Group Plc 4,680,032
Top 10 FTSE 100 Companies by Market Cap
Royal Dutch Shell Plc £234,574,796,465
Unilever plc £138,569,535,040
HSBC Holdings plc £133,133,889,667
BP plc £114,657,026,502
Diageo plc £79,898,032,876
GlaxoSmithKline plc £77,370,845,911
AstraZeneca plc £77,308,918,690
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC ADS Common Stock £68,836,193,752
Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc £45,287,177,680
Lloyds Banking Group PLC £42,457,331,616
In the past 52 weeks, Marks and Spencer Group's shares hit a low of £240.00 and a high of £316.60. This means that their current share price is 8.29%above the 52-week low and 17.91%below the 52-week high.
Comparison of Marks and Spencer Group's EPS & P/E Ratio with other General Retail companies
Marks and Spencer Group has a price/earnings ratio of 11.64. For comparison, Kingfisher's P/E ratio is 14.82 and NEXT's P/E ratio is 15.65. Marks and Spencer Group's basic earning per share from continuing operations for the 26/12/2015 financial year was 24.90p, which was a decrease from the previous financial year of 36.71p.
Basic - EPS
Market Cap (Million)
Marks and Spencer Group ( LON:MKS) 24.90p 11.64 £4,225
Kingfisher ( LON:KGF) 17.80 14.82 £4,750
NEXT ( LON:NXT) 450.50 15.65 £8,032
*Information is provided "as is" and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and may be delayed.
for FTSE100
Haven’t tried our broker matching tool?
Let our tool do the hard work of finding your next broker. It’s free and only takes 15 seconds.
Try it Now Visit BrokerNotes.co on desktop to try it
CFDs are leveraged products and can result in the loss of your capital. All information collected on 1/11/2017.
marks-and-spencer-group-shares-mks
Spreads are indicative only. Visit Broker website for more details.
Our trust rating is calculated as follows:
To achieve a B rating:
The broker must be regulated
To achieve an A rating:
Everything above, plus:
The broker must have been established for more than 10 years
Must use segregated bank accounts to hold client funds
Must use Tier-1 bank accounts to hold client funds
To achieve an AA rating:
Must be in the top 100,000 most popular websites according to Alexa
To achieve an AAA rating:
Must not have received any fines in the past five years
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6401
|
__label__cc
| 0.612475
| 0.387525
|
CANADA STOCKS-TSX drops on commodities prices, but off early lows
(Updates market action and adds analyst’s comments)
* TSX down 52.97 points, or 0.37 percent, at 14,323.27
* Six of the TSX’s 10 main groups were down
By Solarina Ho
TORONTO, July 22 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index fell on Wednesday, but was well off session lows, as weakness in heavily weighted bank, oil, and mining shares continued to pressure the market.
Oil prices dropped as U.S. inventories rose, with U.S crude prices down 1.2 percent at $50.25 a barrel, while Brent crude lost 0.7 percent to $56.64.
Those drops pulled the Toronto index’s energy sector down 0.7 percent after a bigger loss earlier in the day.
Pipeline company Enbridge Inc topped the index’s losers, giving up 1.82 percent to C$56.61. Oil producer Canadian Natural Resources was not far behind, declining 1.0 percent to C$31.43.
At 11:12 a.m. EDT (1512 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was down 52.97 points, or 0.37 percent, at 14,323.27. That was well off the 1 percent drop hit shortly after the open.
Of the index’s 10 main groups, six were in negative territory. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones for a 1.95-to-1 ratio on the downside. The index was posting five new 52-week highs and 39 new lows.
“It’s the summer doldrums, so there are few bulls around,” said John Ing, president of Maison Placements Canada.
“Technically we’re oversold, we’re due for at least the odd dead-cat bounce ... but I suspect this has got to wring itself out.”
The index’s materials group, home to mining companies, also pared earlier losses, but was still trading 0.7 percent lower. First Quantum Minerals fell 3.6 percent to C$13.49.
Gold futures fell 1.3 percent to $1,088.70. Prices had slid to five-year lows as investors continued to pull away from the safe-haven precious metal. Copper prices slipped 1.6 percent to $5,366.5 a tonne. Prices touched a two-week low on rising concerns over demand from China, a top consumer.
Financials were off 0.3 percent, with Royal Bank of Canada giving back 0.6 percent to C$76.13.
Bombardier Inc was also a heavy decliner, falling more than 16.1 percent to C$1.50. The struggling Canadian plane and train maker’s CSeries jetliner program has been plagued with years of cost overruns and delays, while the company has made a long string of management changes over the past year.
Among gainers, Canadian Pacific Railway recouped some of Tuesday’s sell-off after it cut its full-year forecasts, and rose 3.9 percent to C$202.62.
$1=$1.30 Canadian Reporting by Solarina Ho; Editing by Peter Galloway
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6412
|
__label__wiki
| 0.802028
| 0.802028
|
« What are some free sex chat that have no registration
Dating sim jeux video
You can download Fire Hawk: Thexder The Second Contact by clicking the button below.
Third-party trademarks are used solely for distributing the games indexed herein and no license or other affiliation is implied.
The word was originally used to describe an author's distinctive style, for example, the styles of Yukio Mishima and Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.
Akiko Mizoguchi describes its application to male-male stories as "misleading", but notes "it was the most commonly used term in the early 1990s." and were replete with "philosophical and abstract musings".
The term shōnen-ai (boy love) originally connoted ephebophilia or pederasty in Japan, but from the early 1970s to the late 1980s, was used to describe a new genre of shōjo manga, primarily produced by the Year 24 Group of women authors, about beautiful boys in love.
Characteristics of shōnen-ai include exoticism, often taking place in Europe, Jeffrey Angles particularly notes Moto Hagio's The Heart of Thomas (1974) and Keiko Takemiya's Kaze to Ki no Uta (1976–1984) as being groundbreaking, noting their portrayal of intense friendship between males, including jealousy and desire.
In the late 1970s, shōjo magazines devoted to the new genre began to appear; and, in the 1990s, the term boys' love or BL was invented for the genre, which replaced earlier terms such as tanbi, shōnen ai and juné in Japanese usage.
datingsitebangladeshi
Yaoi also attracts male readers, but manga specifically marketed for a gay male audience (bara) is considered a separate genre.Deploying shield now consume only 5% of the energy, which immediately translate to twice the life of our robot.Also, the improved auto-guided laser will now target the nearest target first rather than the furthest one.I always complain Thexder for the absence of powerful boss, and was really delightful to see the boss appearing in Fire Hawk.
dating vsop 77 minsk
All bosses are unique in their features and weapons, which serve as a good eye candy every time we meet one.The main characters in yaoi usually conform to the formula of the seme (the "top", or dominant figure) who pursues the uke (the "bottom", or passive figure).Material classified as yaoi typically depicts gay relationships between male characters and may include homoerotic content.The use of yaoi to denote those works with explicit scenes sometimes clashes with use of the word to describe the genre as a whole, creating confusion between Japanese and Western writers or between Western fans who insist on proper usage of the Japanese terms and those who use the Westernized versions.
Kizi - Life is Fun! Play Free Online Games
Kizi offers a selection of the best games on the web, including exclusive Kizi games. Play now for free!… continue reading »
Chatte bite
largest dating site in usa
ultrasound for dating
dating vintage fender bass
validating identity firewalled
Naked live chat iphone
Cooking dating show
Live vodeo chat sex for man
A brief history of courtship and dating in america
Hobson consolidating student loans
Dating manning alberta
Dating singles in victoria texas
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6414
|
__label__wiki
| 0.690336
| 0.690336
|
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Home
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences News
Faculty Focus
AgPack Strong
Gifts and Awards
Building The Next-Generation Student Issue
Our Rural Future Issue
What’s Next? Issue
CALS is Here Issue
The Access Issue
CALS Events
Economic Perspective
The One Who (Almost) Got Away
November 9, 2016 | Chelsea Kellner
“You will not be admitted into the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State University.”
Discouraged and upset, Susan Jones stopped reading after the first sentence of her admissions letter. She was an honors student and FFA president, with a long list of extracurriculars ranging from softball center fielder to snare drummer in the marching band. CALS had been her goal since sophomore year of high school.
Just a few paragraphs down was her ticket to CALS: an invitation to the second-ever class of an innovative new program called “STEAM,” short for Student Transfer Enrollment Advising and Mentoring. The first program of its type at the university, STEAM is an invitation-only alternate admissions pathway for students from rural North Carolina.
But Susan was too crushed by that first sentence to keep reading.
It was the first in a series of unfortunate miscommunications, each of which came close to toppling Susan’s dream of a CALS education – and the college’s chance to nab a stellar student.
Stories from students like Susan have been inspiring change at CALS. Administrators are currently revamping the communications sent during the CALS admissions process to better frame all available paths to CALS. Admissions is broadening its view of what makes a great CALS student to include factors like grit and passion for the field.
“This is a very important issue, and we have a lot of smart, dedicated people working on it,” Dean Richard Linton said. “We’re letting students know that if you get that letter saying you haven’t been accepted, don’t forget your dream. There is a way to get here.”
“I feel like I’m home.”
After her first letter from CALS, Susan began considering other schools. It wasn’t until six weeks later that her mom convinced her to read the rest of the letter. When she got to the invitation to join STEAM, she thought it was a misprint for “STEM,” the educational acronym for “science, technology, engineering and math.” Inspired by two of her FFA teachers, Susan had her heart set on an agricultural education major, not a STEM field.
“That’s not for me,” she thought.
Luckily, Susan spotted a social media post from a friend excited about his own STEAM acceptance letter. “What’s STEAM?” she texted.
Her friend explained. Susan had a decision to make. At first, she was still leaning toward another school. She felt there was a stigma around staying home for a year in rural Sampson County. And she wanted to dive straight into her four-year degree.
“But my agriculture adviser said, ‘It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,’” Susan said.
After a summer program on campus and a year at Sampson Community College, Susan is now in her junior year at CALS. She’s a recipient of the Roy R. and Alice Barber Bennett Scholarship and the M.B. “Dutch” Gardner Memorial Scholarship. As a member of the CALS Honors Program, she’s planning to research the impact of hands-on learning.
Susan is well-prepared and ready to speak up in class, said poultry science professor Ken Anderson.
“What I see in STEAM students is confidence and focus,” Anderson said. “They come in with a greater appreciation for the program because they had to come at it from a different angle.”
Outside the classroom, Susan volunteers as a CALS Ambassador, representing CALS students to faculty and alumni – and mentoring prospective students, some of whom have a familiar story.
“I’ve wanted to go to State all my life. I knew I would be challenged here,” Susan said. “I feel like I’m home.”
Subscribe to CALS News Bulletin
Magazine, Newswire
Access, Magazine, poultry science, We Grow Access
7 responses on “The One Who (Almost) Got Away”
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Newswire Test | NC State University
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Prestage Department of Poultry Science | NC State University
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences | NC State University
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Crop and Soil Sciences | NC State University
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Applied Ecology | NC State University
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Entomology and Plant Pathology | NC State University
Pingback: The One Who (Almost) Got Away | Plant and Microbial Biology | NC State University
Youth Partner With Food Banks In Chicken Project
It doesn’t get more local than the Coastal Plains Chicken Project: aided by the Prestage Department of Poultry Science, the chickens were raised by local youth, processed by local experts and distributed to local food banks.
High School’s Not Too Early For Internships – Just Ask Addison Furr
Raleigh Charter High School senior Addison Furr talks the challenges and triumphs of tackling internships early – in her case, with the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service.
CALS Magazine
Give to CALS
CALS Intranet
Administrative Resources for Faculty and Staff
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6415
|
__label__cc
| 0.635762
| 0.364238
|
ACTIVISM, advocacy, Expungement, GOVERNMENT, Grassroots, Job Discrimination, legalization, legislation, Legislative Update, opioids, policy, SOCIETY
Weekly Legislative Roundup 12/21/18
by Carly Wolf, NORML Political Associate • December 21, 2018 • 0 Comments
Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!
History has been made at the federal level this week! President Donald Trump signed The Farm Bill into law on Thursday that includes language lifting the United States’ decades-long prohibition on domestic, commercial hemp production. Specifically, the 2018 Act amends the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 so that hemp plants containing no more than 0.3 percent THC are no longer classified as a schedule I controlled substance under federal law.
On the other hand, Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) blocked lawmakers from considering an amendment on the floor of the U.S. Senate that sought to permanently remove the threat of federal intervention in states that regulate marijuana sales.
At the state level, Vermont’s Marijuana Advisory Commission delivered its final report to Governor Scott, which outlines recommendations on how a legal adult use market should be implemented. Recommendations include a 26% tax on cannabis sales, and that a consistent way to test for impairment among drivers is needed before the state moves forward.
At a more local level, Mayor DeBlasio of New York City officially announced his support for legalization; this came soon after Governor Cuomo also endorsed legalizing adult use marijuana. Also, prosecutors in Brooklyn, NY began to expunge records for minor marijuana offenses.
Following are the bills that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check http://norml.org/act for legislation pending in your state.
Don’t forget to sign up for our email list and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and at the federal level. Another great way to stay up to date is Marijuana Moment’s daily newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.
Your Highness,
Penalize States that Maintain Criminalization: The Marijuana Justice Act would (1) remove marijuana from the US Controlled Substances Act, thereby ending the federal criminalization of cannabis; (2) incentivize states to mitigate existing and ongoing racial disparities in state-level marijuana arrests; (3) expunge federal convictions specific to marijuana possession; (4) allow individuals currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana-related violations to petition the court for resentencing; (5) and create a community reinvestment fund to invest in communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs.
Click here to email your federal lawmakers and urge them to support this important legislation
Legislation has been pre-filed by Senator Tallian (D), Senate Bill 213, to allow adults to possess up to two ounces of marijuana.
IN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of depenalization
State Senator Karen Tallian also plans to introduce a bill in 2019 that would allow qualified patients to use and possess physician-authorized medical marijuana.
IN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical marijuana access
Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R) plans to introduce legislation during the 2019 legislative session to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.
The measure would impose a civil penalty of $200 for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, as well as for the cultivation of up to two marijuana plants.
ND resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of decriminalization
Legislation is pending, H. 3276, to decriminalize the possession of certain controlled substances, including marijuana.
The measure would impose a civil penalty for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, resulting in a fine only, between $100-$200 for the first offense, and between $200-$1,000 for the second offense.
SC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of decriminalization
Legislation has been pre-filed to permit physician-authorized access to medical marijuana for qualified patients.
H. 3272: The Put Patients First Act allows registered patients to use, possess, and cultivate specified quantities of medical marijuana.
A separate measure, H. 3081: The Medical Use of Marijuana Act, also seeks to regulate medical cannabis distribution and access, but does not permit patients to home-cultivate the plant.
SC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical marijuana access
Other Actions to Take
Two pieces of legislation are pending that would allow Missourians with certain prior cannabis convictions to get their records expunged.
House Bill 292 requires the court to expunge the records for those previously convicted of the possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana possession.
House Bill 341 would allow registered medical marijuana patients to have their records expunged if they were convicted of a possession offense that occurred prior to their participation in the state’s cannabis access program.
MO resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement
Legislation is pending, LC 2152, to protect responsible adult cannabis consumers from employment discrimination.
The measure would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees who legally consume marijuana off-the-job in accordance with state law.
OR resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of employment protections for consumers
Legislation has been pre-filed, HB 33, to permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to those struggling with opioid abuse or dependence.
MD resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of cannabis as an alternative to opioids
Delegate Chris Hurst has filed HB 1720, which seeks to permit any student who is a registered Virginia medical cannabis patient to possess and use Virginia-allowed medical cannabis oil on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity.
If passed, this bill would prohibit a school board from suspending or expelling from school attendance any such student who possesses or uses Virginia-allowed medical cannabis oil on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity.
VA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of protections for student patients
That’s all for this week, happy holidays everyone!
← FDA Weighs In On Legal Status of Commercially Available ‘Hemp-Derived’ CBD Products
Say Happy Birthday to NORML’s Founder →
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6419
|
__label__cc
| 0.642584
| 0.357416
|
New Library Updates
About the Friends
Capitola Library Friends Meetings
Donate/Purchase a Paver
Homejp2019-02-17T13:19:30-07:00
Outside Library entrance
View from Clares Street
View from the corner of Wharf and Clares
Reading area with fireplace
Check out station
Looking into the main room of the library from the fireplace area
Children's wing
Adult Reading Nook for quiet study or reading
The Gallery- flexible seating for book talks, meetings, individual studies
Media Room with large media screen and seating for group meetings, tutoring and studying
The Community Room and Community Porch
Librarian’s desk
Teen room, the glass makes it quiet for the rest of the library
All lit up
IMAGINE the Library
Pave the Way.
Be a part of Capitola history. Purchase your paver today to help support our efforts! The official groundbreaking was November 9, 2018. Construction is now underway.
PURCHASE A PAVER
The Santa Cruz Public Library system “connects, inspires, and informs,” transforming lives and strengthening communities. The Capitola Branch (one of 10 branches in the system) serves people from throughout Santa Cruz County. For its size and staffing, the Branch is one of the most heavily used in the entire system and is an important asset to our community. It is currently housed in six bolted-together portable modules — a 17-year- old structure that is timeworn, outdated, and undersized.
New Branch Updates
To make a memorial gift in Barbara Gorson’s honor, donate to support the Capital Campaign for Capitola Branch Library. Read more…
Progress on the new Capitola Branch Library: City of Capitola is moving forward with construction of the new Library. More info…..
“Libraries have always seemed like the richest places in the world to me, and I’ve done some of my best learning and thinking thanks to them. Libraries and librarians have definitely changed my life, and the lives of countless other Americans.”
Barbara Bush, First Lady of the United States, 1989-1993
Booksales:
The Capitola Friends holds book sales (including CD’s, DVD’s) Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and also adds a few extra sales when we have enough inventory and volunteers to run the store. All genres, most books from $1 – $2!
When: Every Friday and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Where: We have a storefront at the Capitola Mall between Macy’s and the Food Court.
How you can support the book sales:
Come and shop and buy!
Donate books, CDs and DVDs in good condition – contact Karen for pickup
Attend a Friends meeting or send an email to find out what you can do to volunteer to help out with the booksale.
Meetings:
We hold meetings on the third Saturday every other month from 9:00 to 10:00am. Anyone interested in supporting the Capitola Branch is welcome to attend. Come join a great group of library lovers and find out more about the Friends and what we’re up to. And join us in helping to make our new branch a reality!
Click here to go to the calendar listing for the next meeting.
We Love Capitola Branch Library! What People Are Saying About the New Library.
Gayle Ortiz, Jamie Goldstein, Toni Campbell, Mike Termini and Susan Nemitz talk about the upcoming construction of the new library building in Capitola.
Mailing Address: Friends of Capitola Branch Library PO Box 1046, Capitola, CA 95010 | Email us at: contact@CapitolaLibraryFriends.org | Privacy Policy | site designed by Forest Design LLC
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6421
|
__label__cc
| 0.639073
| 0.360927
|
Commons Commons Transition Ethical Economy Food and Agriculture P2P Collaboration P2P Cultures and Politics P2P Development P2P Localization P2P Public Policy P2PF Articles Urban Commons
Ghent’s Quick Rise as a Sustainable, Commons-Based Sharing City
August 14, 2017 No Comment Shareable read
Maira Sutton: A renewable energy cooperative, a community land trust, and a former church building publicly-controlled and used by nearby residents — these are just a few examples of about 500 urban commons projects that are thriving in the Flemish city of Ghent in Belgium. A new research report shows that within the last 10 years, the city has seen a ten-fold increase in local commons initiatives. The report defines commons as any “shared resource, which is co-owned or co-governed by a community of users and stakeholders, under the rules and norms of that community.”
With a population of less than 250,000, Ghent is sizably smaller than the other, more well-known Sharing Cities such as Seoul and Barcelona. But this report shows how it is quickly becoming a hub of some of the most innovative urban commons projects that exist today.
The study was commissioned and financed by Ghent city officials who were keen to understand how they could support more commons-based initiatives in the future. It was conducted over a three-month period in the spring of 2017. The research for the report was led by the P2P Foundation’s Michel Bauwens, in collaboration with Yurek Onzia and Vasilis Niaros, and in partnership with Evi Swinnen and Timelab.
Given how self-governance is central to the success of a commons, the primary methodology employed by the researchers was to meet and talk with the members of various projects. Additionally, they conducted a series of surveys, workshops, and interviews with Ghent residents to explore how these projects came about and what could be done to encourage more commons initiatives to emerge. One result of this process is an online wiki that maps hundreds of successful such projects in the region.
These are a few notable projects mentioned in the report that embody the type of commons work currently underway in Ghent:
REScoop — Renewable energy cooperative
For a moderate sum, a resident can become a member of this green energy cooperative to co-own and co-manage the enterprise. Not only is this model more affordable for lower income residents, members can share the efficiency of solar panels. For example, many members’ roofs may not be optimally located to get enough sunlight at all times of the year. But with collective ownership, people can access and share the available energy, whether or not their own home is collecting as much solar power as other locations.
Buren van de abdij (“Neighbors of the abbey”) — Neighborhood-managed church building
A decade ago, the city gave the keys to a formerly abandoned church to neighboring residents. Since then, the space has been turned it into a thriving center for exhibitions, meetings, and other community events, and it is entirely self-governed by the residents.
CLT Gent — Community land trust
Community land trusts (CLTs) are associations that develop and manage land in order to keep housing or other types of properties affordable and accessible to lower income populations. When the city of Ghent develops housing, it dedicates a percentage of it to CLT Gent to manage and oversee it.
NEST (Newly Established State of Temporality) — Former library building turned into a temporary urban commons lab
The city made plans to renovate an old library. Instead of leaving the building empty for the eight months leading up to its reconstruction, officials decided to turn it into an experimental urban commons project. Now, the space is a thriving community center with meeting and event spaces, a music studio, children’s play area, and more. Each of the services and spaces are operated by different community organizations and enterprises. They also have a contributory rent arrangement, where organizations that are more participatory and sustainable in their practice pay less rent. That means 20 percent of the enterprises pay 60 percent of the rent, thereby subsidizing the commons activities of the other spaces.
NEST opening day. Photo courtesy of Evi Swinnen
The strength of Ghent’s commons can be traced to how the projects encourage participation by individuals and community organizations to steward the shared resource, according to lead researcher Bauwens. There are a few factors that stand out among Ghent’s various commons projects. The first is that the projects’ members invite residents to openly contribute their time, skills, money, or goods, while at the same time not requiring contributions by people to make use of the resource. Secondly, these urban commons projects rely on some aspect of their operation on “generative market forms” that can produce income to sustain them. And finally, they also require support from government agencies or nonprofits to help manage the resource.
Despite the plethora of commons projects that are there, however, the commons-based economy is still relatively small. The report concludes with a series of 23 proposals for actions the city could take to support and strengthen the urban commons in Ghent. Much of the recommendations are aimed at addressing the underlying problem that the researchers identify — that the movement is very fragmented.
The local commons initiatives do not actively collaborate or cooperate with one another. Bauwens noted that he saw members of commons projects within the same domain not know of one other’s commons initiatives. That’s why the report suggests the city set up alliances and other opportunities for cooperation between individual commoners, civil society organizations, the private sector, and agencies within the government itself.
An innovative proposal is what one of the researchers, Swinnen, refers to as a “call for commons.” The idea emerged from the way the NEST Experiment came about. Where major work is required to build a shared space or resource — such as a new library or community space — heavy institutional support is needed to carry forth the project. The idea is that instead of having potential developers individually compete to win the bid for the project to build it — as is the case in most commercial-style development contracts — the project would be rewarded to the strongest coalition of community partners and organizations. And instead of giving it to one developer of one winning proposal, this method enables several organizations to have all their winning ideas realized in tandem. The coalition would have to prove its ability to collaborate, share resources, and maximize community benefit, all the while enabling the most public participation.
Commons as a School for Democracy
Bauwens says that with any commons project, urban or otherwise, there are two major potential benefits of having people share and govern over a common resource. The first is that it can reduce the environmental and material footprint of that community. With any physical commons, people can mutually share and provision its use. Instead of having many people buy or own their own car or tools for example, they can share it, leading to less of those goods having to be produced or transported in the first place.
The second potential of the commons is that they can help build a true democracy, or what Bauwens calls a “school for democracy.” When people have to govern something together, they need to make decisions collectively and work together. The commons is where people can practice and exercise their civic muscles by talking and meeting with other members of their community face-to-face.
Hopefully, we will continue to see the people of Ghent build new urban commons projects as fervently as they have done in the last 10 years. With the additional support of their city government as proposed by this report, Ghent could become one of the leading urban commons capitals of the world.
Header image of NEST in Ghent courtesy of Evi Swinnen
CLT Gent Commons Transition in Ghent Evi Swinnen Ghent Maira Sutton Michel Bauwens NEST REScoop Timelab Vasilis Niaros Yurek Onzia
Commons Commons Transition Cooperatives Ethical Economy Featured Podcast Open Coops & Sustainable Livelihoods P2P Business Models P2P Collaboration P2P Lifestyles P2P Solidarity Peer Property
Team Human: Silvia Zuur “Progress through collaboration”
August 13, 2017 0 Comment Douglas Rushkoff read
← Team Human: Silvia Zuur “Progress through collaboration”
Koppelting: the great gathering of the commons →
Shareable is an award-winning nonprofit news, action and connection hub for the sharing transformation. What’s the sharing transformation? It’s a movement of movements emerging from the grassroots up to solve today’s biggest challenges, which old, top-down institutions are failing to address. Behind these failing industrial-age institutions are outmoded beliefs about how the world works – that ordinary people can’t govern themselves directly; that nonstop economic growth leads to widespread prosperity; and that more stuff leads to more happiness. Amid crisis, a new way forward is emerging – the sharing transformation. The sharing transformation is big, global, and impacts every part of society. Visit Shareable.net for more.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6422
|
__label__cc
| 0.529317
| 0.470683
|
Activism Empire Featured Essay P2P Cultures and Politics P2P Ecology P2P Spirituality P2P Subjectivity
Seeing Wetiko: Dreaming Beyond Capitalism – A Culture Without Fear
October 8, 2016 No Comment The Rules read
By Martin Winiecki
In the 1990s an unusual encounter took place in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In plant rituals, shamans of the Achuar, a tribe living in pristine forest that had never been in touch with Western civilization, received the warning that the “white man” would try to invade their lands, cut down the forest and exploit the resources. Deeply shaken, they called out to the Spirits for help. Soon after white people did approach them, coming to them however with supportive intentions – a group of activists from the United States, searching for ways to protect Indigenous Peoples from the oil industry. The Westerners found a deeply interconnected tribal society living in profound symbiosis with the Earth. Seeing the bulldozers coming closer and closer, they asked the Elders of the tribe how they could survive. Their answer was surprising and straightforward: “Don’t try to help us here. Go back to your own culture and change the dream of the modern world! It is because of this dream that we are perishing.”[i]
This experience gave rise to the Pachamama Alliance, an international educational network dedicated to changing the dream of the Western world.
What is the dream of the Western world? When asked, most young people say: A perfect partner, a beautiful house, successful career, lots of money and travel to exotic places. Amplified a million times a day by Hollywood and the advertisement industry, promoted by parents, self-help gurus, schools and fairytales, this lifestyle became the central motif of our collective longing, the blueprint of globalized society.
Fulfillment became a matter of possession, of how much wealth, fame, power and sex we earned for ourselves. Rewarding people with profit and status for the most competitive and destructive behavior, worshiping the golden calf of maximal economic growth, capitalism has effectively manufactured and then exploited people’s dream image. Humanity’s general ethical decline is the result of this collective corruption.
First Nation tribes from North America coined a term to describe the ‘disease of the white man’ – wetiko. In their understanding, wetiko consists of two essential characteristics: chronic inability for empathy and an egoistic fixation on ones own personal benefit and profit. The First Peoples used this word specifically because they could not fathom any other explanation for the behavior of the European colonialists. While often declared as unchangeable psychological features of humanity, greed, selfishness and violent impulses may in fact not be our “human nature” as many claim, but rather the outcome of our alienation under capitalist conditions. Marx said, “Social being determines consciousness.”[ii] According to epigenetic research, our genetic programming contains many different possibilities of existence. We only consider egoism, hatred and brutality to be “normal” because over the past few thousand years our civilization has been conditioned in this way – basing its economy on war, its social organization on domination and conformity, its religion on punishment, damnation and sin, its education on coercion, its security on the elimination of the supposed enemy, its very image of love on fear of loss.
Patriarchal conditioning – carried out worldwide, generation after generation, with the most aggressive means – has created a cultural matrix of violence and fear, which at present nearly all of humanity more or less unconsciously follows. This matrix, or more accurately ‘patrix’, steers the global processes of politics and economics in similar ways as people’s interpersonal relationships, families and love lives. As psychoanalyst Dieter Duhm writes, “Automatic, usually unconscious, habits of thinking stand behind our daily misery.”[iii]
Duhm started out as a leading Marxist writer during the anti-imperialist struggles of the 1960s and 70s in Germany, when he asked himself how it could be that billions of people comply with and obey the rules of society without being forced to do so. Shaken by the horrors of the Vietnam War, he needed to find a credible answer for how to overcome the imperialist system causing these atrocities. Working as a psychoanalyst, he faced the same basic structure in all his patients – no matter whether they suffered depression, heartache or schizophrenia – deep-rooted existential fear. The further he inquired, the more he realized this fear is not only in the “mentally ill,” but also appears in the “sane” as fear of what others could think of them, as speech anxiety, as fear of authorities and institutions, fear before and after intercourse, fear of the future, of getting sick and so on. “This inconspicuous, socially omnipresent and ‘normal,’ fear is neurotic,” he writes. “Fear is not only the product of capitalism, but part of its foundation, an element without which this entire system would collapse.”[iv]
For Duhm, the consequence was clear: If we want to escape from the wetiko disease of our current capitalist culture, we need a credible concept for a new nonviolent global society and for transforming the old matrix of fear and violence into a new matrix of trust, compassion and cooperation. Healing wetiko would be nothing short of reinventing our entire civilization and basing human existence on new social, ethical, spiritual and sexual foundations allowing profound trust between people as well as between humans and animals.
In 1978 Duhm started out with a group of people to engage in an interdisciplinary research project for social and ecological sustainability to develop precisely such a concept. Having witnessed the failure of countless communes in the 1970s, most due to unresolved interpersonal conflicts around money, power and sex (i.e. the inability of the groups to resolve wetiko among one another), the project focused its cultural experiment on creating new social structures able to resolve the psychological substratum of fear. They knew the answer could not be found in therapies, spiritual exercises and rituals alone, as helpful and healing as they may be – but that a whole new way of communitarian coexistence would have to be developed, from which one would no longer need to retreat in order to become human. Rather, it would be designed in a way that would foster compassion, solidarity and cooperation.
The development of such a society would need to begin with initial models researching its basic structures and demonstrating its viability. Thereby, an adventurous research project began, establishing functioning communities of trust. The deeper they went the more they realized they needed to work on all basic areas of human existence: starting with the intimate questions of sexuality, love and partnership, questions of raising children, coexistence with animals, self-sufficiency in water, energy and food systems. From this experiment, the peace research center, Tamera, came into life along with the vision of creating “Healing Biotopes” as catalysts for planetary system change.
For much of the last million years, human beings have lived in communities; in fact, the era in which we have not is only a tiny fraction in the entirety of human history. In order to subjugate people under their systems of dominance, patriarchal rulers systematically destroyed tribal communities, thereby inflicting a profound collective trauma onto humanity. Humanity thereby lost its spiritual, social and ethical anchor, drifting off in a self-destructive frenzy of atomization, self-interest and othering. As we are reaching the pinnacle of a culture of global wetiko, the last throes of late-stage capitalism, healing our collective trauma, re-establishing functioning communities based on trust, and making our human existence compatible with the biosphere and nature again, may well be our only opportunity to secure ourselves and our children a future worth living on Spaceship Earth.
[i] Speech by Lynne Twist at the “Awakening the Dreamer” Symposium. USA, Los Angeles. Sept. 2008.
[ii] Marx, Karl. A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. New York: International, 1970. Print.
[iii] Duhm, Dieter. Beyond 2012. The Birth of a New Humanity? What Is the Shift of Consciousness?. Bad Belzig: Verlag Meiga, 2010. Print.
[iv] Duhm, Dieter. Angst Im Kapitalismus: Zweiter Versuch Der Gesellschaftlichen Begründung Zwischenmenschlicher Angst in Der Kapitalistischen Warengesellschaft. Lampertheim: Kübler, 1975. Print.
Cross-posted from Kosmos Journal and written by Martin Winiecki from The Rules.
Part of the Seeing Wetiko series. See all articles here.
First Peoples Indigenous Peoples Martin Winiecki Pachamaa Seeing Wetiko sustainability Tamera
Conferences Events Networks Open Calls P2P Collaboration P2P Labor
Digital Transformations of Work: Labouring in the Digital Economy (ILPC 2017)
October 8, 2016 0 Comment Vasilis Niaros read
← Digital Transformations of Work: Labouring in the Digital Economy (ILPC 2017)
What We Know About Worker Co-ops →
The Rules is a worldwide network of activists, artists, writers, farmers, peasants, students, workers, designers, hackers, spiritualists and dreamers, linking up, pushing the global narrative in a new direction.We focus on five strategic areas that are in desperate need of radical reform: Money, Power, Secrecy, Ideas and The Commons. We work with social movements, community leaders, cultural players, and everyday people with common adversaries and common goals. We explore world-changing ideas, dig up dirt on corporations and corrupt CEO’s, hurl metaphysical stones at governmental and societal repression, and offer material support to emerging movements and spontaneous activist fissures, wherever they occur.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6423
|
__label__wiki
| 0.942353
| 0.942353
|
Diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Glossina populations in Nigeria and the Cameroonian border region
Stephen Saikiu Shaida†1,
Judith Sophie Weber†2,
Thaddeus Terlumun Gbem^2, 3, 4,
Sen Claudine Henriette Ngomtcho5,
Usman Baba Musa1,
Mbunkha Daniel Achukwi6,
Mohammed Mamman1,
Iliya Shehu Ndams4, 7,
Jonathan Andrew Nok^4, 8 and
Soerge Kelm2Email author
^Deceased
BMC Microbiology201818 (Suppl 1) :180
© International Atomic Energy Agency; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2018
Tsetse flies are vectors of trypanosomes, parasites that cause devastating disease in humans and livestock. In the course of vector control programmes it is necessary to know about the Glossina species present in the study area, the population dynamics and the genetic exchange between tsetse fly populations.
To achieve an overview of the tsetse fly diversity in Nigeria and at the Nigeria-Cameroon border, tsetse flies were trapped and collected between February and March 2014 and December 2016. Species diversity was determined morphologically and by analysis of Cytochrome C Oxidase SU1 (COI) gene sequences. Internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) sequences were compared to analyse variations within populations. The most dominant species were G. m. submorsitans, G. tachinoides and G. p. palpalis. In Yankari Game Reserve and Kainji Lake National Park, G. submorsitans and G. tachinoides were most frequent, whereas in Old Oyo National Park and Ijah Gwari G. p. palpalis was the dominant species. Interestingly, four unidentified species were recorded during the survey, for which no information on COI or ITS-1 sequences exists. G. p. palpalis populations showed a segregation in two clusters along the Cameroon-Nigerian border.
The improved understanding of the tsetse populations in Nigeria will support decisions on the scale in which vector control is likely to be more effective. In order to understand in more detail how isolated these populations are, it is recommended that further studies on gene flow be carried out using other markers, including microsatellites.
Glossina sp.
Glossina palpalis palpalis
Glossina morsitans submorsitans
Glossina tachinoides
Glossina populations
ITS-1
Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the main vectors of trypanosomes, protozoan parasites that cause human African trypanosomosis (HAT) and animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) in livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. HAT cases are on the decline during the last decade to below 10,000 cases per year [1], however, sleeping sickness remains endemic in several countries, including Nigeria [2]. AAT is resulting in annual losses of approximately 5 billion US Dollars due to restricted agricultural development and livestock production [3]. The disease thus poses a big socioeconomic burden on sub-Saharan African countries.
Trypanosomes rely on tsetse flies as vectors during their infectious life cycle, where they develop into mammalian infective forms. Control and elimination of the vector is therefore considered the most appropriate technique for disease management [4].
The genus Glossina comprises 33 species and subspecies of tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) distributed across 38 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The genus is split into three subgenera, Glossina (Morsitans group), Nemorhina (Palpalis group) and the Austenina (Fusca group) based on differences in their morphological characteristics and habitat preferences [5–7]. This has been confirmed by molecular analysis [8]. Members of the Glossina (Morsitans) and Nemorhina (Palpalis) groups are main vectors of AAT in livestock and HAT in humans respectively, and thus cause great public health hazard [9–11]. In contrast, members of the Austenina (Fusca group) are predominantly inhabitants of the tropical forests and considered to be of less economic importance due to their restricted distribution [9].
Presently, control campaigns against the disease vectors are limited to sequential aerial application of insecticides, pour-on formulations, impregnated screens and use of sterile insect technique (SIT) for mop up operations [12–14]. A major problem faced by all these strategies is reinvasion of cleared areas by other tsetse populations. Therefore, identification of the Glossina vector species and understanding of their population dynamics are core to control success and effective control measures against the vectors [15, 16]. This is especially important in the application of SIT, where sterile males are released in an existing population. Where extensive migration occurs, SIT may not succeed, but where there is limited migration, SIT may succeed [17].
Dispersal of tsetse fly populations can be monitored indirectly by studies on gene flow [18]. Genetic analysis of tsetse populations is important in determining isolation status and the likelihood of reinvasion of controlled areas by surrounding tsetse fly populations [19, 20]. Several studies have indicated that tsetse populations are genetically structured [21, 22]. Especially G. p. palpalis, clustering has been observed with distinct West African and Central African clades [8, 15, 23, 24], however, very few of such data are available on tsetse populations in Nigeria [15, 17, 18, 25, 26], where these two clades could meet as the country links West and Central Africa.
Game parks hold the highest populations of tsetse flies from where they disperse at periods of high population densities, as has been observed by studies in Nigeria [27, 28]. Some sleeping sickness cases have been linked to their closeness to national parks [29, 30]. Therefore, control of tsetse flies in National Parks will no doubt improve human and animal health and will boost agricultural production and livestock development in the country.
The aim of the study was to investigate the diversity of Glossina species in Nigeria in National Parks and Game Reserves as well as at the Cameroon - Nigerian border of the Adamawa region, as reservoirs for tsetse populations during dry season. Cytochrome C Oxidase SU1 (COI) and Internal Transcribed Spacer-1 (ITS-1) sequences were used as molecular markers for overall population structure, as well as morphometric analysis of wing landmarks. Information obtained in this study provides the first countrywide picture of tsetse populations in Nigeria in at least five decades that will aid the choice of effective anti-tsetse intervention strategies by Nigerian authorities and the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) in Nigeria.
Description of study areas
Tsetse flies were collected from various highly tsetse infested areas in Nigeria (Table 1), among these three National Parks. The sampling sites were located several hundred kilometres from each other ranging from the forest, derived savannah to southern guinea savannah geo-ecological zones [31]. The survey was conducted during the end of the dry season March 2014. In Cameroon, samples were collected during March 2014 [32] and March and December 2016.
GPS coordinates of the base camps of sampling areas in Nigeria (A) and Cameroon (B)
A. Nigeria sampling locations- Base Camps
1 Yankari Game Reserve
9° 45.240’
10° 30.448’
2 Kainji Lake National Park
3 Old Oyo National Park
4 Cross River National Park Akamkpa
5 Cross River National Park Butateng
6 Ijah Gwari
B. Cameroon sampling location- Base Camp
7 Dodeo Region
Yankari Game Reserve is situated in Bauchi State within the Northern Guinea/Sudan savannah vegetation zone. It covers an area of 2244 km2 and is located between latitude 9° 45′ N and longitude 10° 30′ E. Kainji Lake National Park spans an area of 5340 km2 across Niger and Kwara States (10° 22′ N and 4° 33′ E), within the southern guinea savannah vegetation zone. Old Oyo National Park is located in the northern part of Oyo State, South Western Nigeria. It has a total land area of 2512 km2. The Park lies within the derived savannah vegetation zone between latitudes 8° 10′ and 9° 05′ N and longitudes 3° 00′ and 4° 02′ E. Cross River National Park is located in the rainforest ecological zone in the extreme South East of Nigeria on the border with Republic of Cameroon. The park occupies a total land area of about 4000 km2 of tropical rain forest ecosystem, which thins out progressively into montane vegetation at the edge of the Obudu Plateau in Okwangwo area. Geographically it exists as two non-contiguous divisions, Oban and Okwangwo. The Southern Oban sector has an area of 3000 km2 while the Northern Okwango Division near Obudu covers an area of 1000 km2. The Park lies between latitude 5° 05′ and 6° 29′ N and longitude 8° 15′ and 9° 30′ E [33]. Ijah Gwari (near Suleja) is located between latitude 9° 12′ N and 9° 24′ N and longitude 7° 12′ E and 7° 20′ E in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State. Several small streams traverse the area and the vegetation is riverine fringing forest forming a dense two-storey canopy.
The sampling site in Cameroon is Dodeo, close to the Nigerian border, located in Adamawa at latitude 7° 27′ N and longitude 12° 04′ E. Vegetation of the trapping sites was characterised by gallery forest along rivers.
Tsetse sampling
Adult tsetse flies were collected using standard biconical traps [34] supplied by Vestagaard Frandsen. Ten to 18 traps were deployed at distances of at least 100 m intervals in riparian vegetation along the banks of rivers or streams and were continuously harvested for 48 h before redeployment. Flies were collected after every 24 h and all catches were harvested and transferred into cool boxes for conveyance to the base camp for sorting, physical examination and dissections. Each trap position was geo-referenced using a GPS device (GPSMAP® 60CSx Garmin). Ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded at each trap position using a thermohygrometer during trap setting and harvesting of flies. Trap catches were sorted according to species, sex and nutritional status (teneral or non-teneral). Glossina species were identified morphologically using species identification keys [6, 35]. Fly apparent densities were calculated as number of flies per trap per day (F/T/D).
Only live flies were dissected and wings, legs, proboscis, salivary glands and gut were collected. Wings were stored dry for geometric morphometrics. Legs, proboscis and salivary glands were preserved in 200 μL nucleic acid preservation agent (NAPA: 25 mM sodium citrate, 10 mM EDTA, 70 g ammonium sulfate/100 mL solution, pH 7.5) in 1.5 mL cryotubes. Gut tissues were homogenized in 200 μL 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 9.0 by vortexing for 1 minute with four 2.38 mm metal beads (MoBio Laboratories, Carlsbad, California, USA). 50 μL of the homogenate was then added to 500 μL NAPA and preserved for subsequent DNA extraction. All collected tissues were kept cold and at − 20 °C when available. Long-term storage was at − 80 °C.
DNA was extracted from gut samples in NAPA using the Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Germany) following the manufacturer’s instructions and quantified using Nanodrop 1000 apparatus (Thermo Scientific-Germany) at a wavelength of 260 nm. DNA extraction from proboscis was done as described before [32] by grinding the proboscis with a mortar in 50 μL 10 mM Tris pH 8.0/ 0.5 mM EDTA. Extracted DNA was stored at − 20 °C until used.
Molecular species identification
Partial gene fragments of COI and ITS-1 were amplified from purified gut DNA as described in [8]. PCR reactions were carried out in 25 μL final volume containing 2.5 μL 10× DreamTaq Green Buffer, 0.5 μL 10 mM dNTPs, 0.5 μL DreamTaq Polymerase (all supplied by Thermo Scientific, Dreieich, Germany), 0.5 μL 100 μM primers and 5.0 μL DNA template.
CO1 was amplified with CO1-forward (5′ TTG ATT TTT TGG TCA TCC AGA AGT-3′) and CO1-reverse (5′-TGA AGC TTA AAT TCA TTG CAC TAA TC-3′) primers, with an initial denaturation step at 95 °C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of 1 min at 94 °C, 1 min at 55 °C and 2 min at 72 °C. The final elongation was 10 min at 72 °C.
The ITS-1 region was amplified with ITS-1-forward (5′-GTG ATC CAC CGC TTA GAG TGA-3′) and ITS-1-reverse (5’-GCA AAA GTT GAC CGA ACT TGA-3′) primers, with an initial denaturation step at 95 °C for 5 min, followed by 30 cycles of 1 min at 94 °C, 1 min at 60 °C and 1.5 min at 72 °C. The final elongation was 7 min at 72 °C.
PCR amplicons were visualized in 1–2% agarose gel stained with G- Stain (Serva, Heidelberg, Germany) in TAE- Buffer (40 mM Tris, 10 mM Na-acetate, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0).
DNA purification and sequencing
PCR amplicons were purified using GeneJet DNA purification kit (Thermo Scientific, Dreieich, Germany) following the manufacturer’s instruction and used for direct sequencing at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology-Bremen, Germany and by SeqLab, Göttingen, Germany.
Obtained sequences were subjected to BLAST searches at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) data base (Genbank). Sequences were analysed using Geneious Pro Version 5.5.9 and aligned by the Geneious Alignment algorithm, using the cost matrix for 93% similarity with a Gap open penalty of 12 and Gap extension penalty of 3. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA 6.0. Alignments were calculated with Muscle alignment tool (Gap open penalty − 400, Gap extension 0, Clustering methods (all iterations) UPGMB). Maximum likelihood trees were calculated using the model finder tool of MEGA. Tamura-Nei-93-model assuming gamma distribution with invariant sites using 900 bootstrap replicates was selected for COI sequence alignments of a 592 bp stretch of selected COI field sample representatives and reference. Tamura-3-parameter model with gamma distribution was selected with the default setting for number of discrete gamma categories and 800 bootstrap replicates for comparison of a 563 bp stretch of field samples. Complete gap deletion was employed for all COI samples.
ITS-1 sequences were analysed as described above, using pairwise gap deletion due to inherit variations in lengths.
Geometric wing morphometrics
Forty-one individual G. p. palpalis flies collected at the border region in Cameroon had wings in a state suitable for morphometric analysis. Wings were secured on a microscope slide using a drop of 1:100 diluted Faure’sche solution (33.3 mL distilled water, 13.3% v/v glycerol, 20 g gum arabicum, 33.3% v/v chloralhydrate) on the wing root. They were covered with a cover glass and dried overnight. Pictures were taken using a Olympus SZX16 binocular (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany) with upward light (Olympus KL1500 LCD, Olympus, Hamburg, Germany) employing 10× magnification and scale bar added using Cell^F program (Olympus, Hamburg, Germany). Nine landmarks were selected for analysis using the CLIC package [36] as described previously [37]. COO was used to digitalize the landmarks. Procrustes superimposition (centring of configuration of landmarks, scaling, rotation) and comparison of centroid sizes was done using MOG. Samples were segregated according to their genetic group or sex.
Tsetse fly collection
To provide an overview of the Glossina species present in Nigeria during the end of dry season, six collection areas were visited from 22nd February to 19th March 2014. A total of 1802 tsetse flies were captured and morphologically identified (Fig. 1a). The most prevalent tsetse fly species were represented in the various sampling sites in Nigeria. G. m. submorsitans and G. tachinoides were found in Yankari Game Reserve and Kainji Lake National Park. G. p. palpalis was the predominant species in Old Oyo National Park and Ijah Gwari, while in Yankari Game Reserve only 2 specimens of G. p. palpalis were collected (Fig. 1a, third column). G. p. palpalis co-existed only with a low number (3) of Glossina sp. in Cross River.
Total tsetse fly catches and sex ratio in Nigeria. All trapped tsetse flies regardless whether alive or dead are shown. A. Morphologically identified Glossina species are segregated according to the sampling region. Highest number of fly catches occurred in Yankari Game Reserve, Kainji Lake National Park and Old Oyo National Park (a). Low numbers of tsetse flies were caught in Cross River National Park and from Ijah Gwari (b). B. Sex ratio within the different species. *Two G. p. palpalis were collected in Yankari Game Reserve. **Two G. m. submorsitans from Old Oyo NP were later genetically identified as Glossina sp. ***Tsetse flies morphologically recorded as G. fusca were genetically identified as various Glossina species and were further referred to as Glossina sp. ****Glossina sp. refers to all unidentified Glossina species
Of the 1802 flies collected, 391 were alive and used for dissection. Of all flies collected, the sex ratio was 48.7% males to 52.3% females in G. p. palpalis. However, while for G. submorsitans slightly more females were trapped, the opposite was observed for G. tachinoides, where about two third (68.1%) of all flies trapped were males (Fig. 1b).
The apparent fly densities were 23.6 F/T/D in Yankari Game Reserve, 22.5 F/T/D in Kainji Lake National Park, 13.8 F/T/D in Old Oyo National Park and 1.0 F/T/D in Cross River National Park. Apparent density of fly population in Ijah Gwari was 4.0 F/T/D.
Further trappings took place in March and December 2016 in Cameroon, Dodeo. All flies caught were G. p. palpalis. The sex distribution was close to equal between females (47%) and males (53%).
Molecular analysis of COI
COI sequencing was done to analyse overall population structure among the different survey locations. A 900 bp fragment was amplified from 192 representative samples and a 592 bp (Fig. 2) or 563 bp (Fig. 3) stretch used for sequence comparison [8]. The unknown Glossina sp. 352 and Dodeo were used as outgroups to the other species.
Phylogenetic analysis of Glossina sp. field samples (▼) and reference Glossina species by comparison of partial COI sequences. 592 bp stretches of representative samples for each species and sampling spot were compared to sequences obtained from NCBI as described under Methods. Tamura-Nei-93-model assuming gamma distribution and invariant sites was used to construct the tree and was evaluated with 900 bootstrap replicates. Accession numbers of reference sequences are indicated after the species name. EG Equatorial Guinea, CAM Cameroon, CR Cross River National Park
Maximum likelihood tree of partial COI sequences from Glossina sp. field samples. 563 bp stretches of 74 sequences were aligned and analysed as described under Methods to provide an overview of the population diversities in the different sampling sites. Tamura-3-parameter model with gamma distribution with the default setting for number of discrete gamma categories was used to construct the tree and evaluated with 800 bootstrap replicates. Sampling sites are indicated in brackets. Sequences with different positions than in the phylogenetic analysis shown in Fig. 2 are indicated. CAM Cameroon [32]
The sequence analysis revealed an even larger species variability as recorded during fly trapping and dissections. Closely related species were observed to cluster together and separately from their distant cousins. Figure 2 shows selected samples of the respective species at each sampling site in comparison with COI sequences obtained from the database. The overall structure is as described previously [8], however, interestingly various genetically non-identified groups were recorded.
Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis of larger subgroups revealed the clustering of several subpopulations depending on the respective locations for some, but not all species (Fig. 3). The most striking observation was the division of G. p. palpalis populations along the Cameroon-Nigerian border. They cluster in two different branches, in one branch they grouped together with sequences from West African palpalis samples, while the others clustered with those from the Central African clade. Interestingly, all analysed G. p. palpalis from Old Oyo National Park and Ijah Gwari clustered together with the West African samples, indicating that the mixture of these clusters is locally restricted along the border. Interestingly, COI sequence divergence of these two clusters is 1% within the clusters, but 3.3–5.3% between them, independent of geographical origin.
While samples collected in Cross River National Park showed a higher divergence, samples from Dodeo seemed to be of a more homogeneous population in both clusters (West and Central African clades). The Old Oyo G. p. palpalis populations also clustered slightly separate from the other of the border region and Ijah Gwari.
Interestingly, Glossina sp. from Cross River National Park clustered in two distinctive groups, none of which is represented in the database.
The first one, Glossina sp. 352, clusters away from the palpalis and morsitans group, and appears to be closely related to G. medicorum, most likely belonging to the fusca group, similar to the unidentified Glossina sp. Dodeo (Fig. 2) collected in an earlier study in Dodeo [32].
The second one, Glossina sp. 351, seems to belong to the palpalis group (Figs. 2 and 3). However, its position within the branch is not well defined.
Furthermore, two specimens morphologically identified as G. m. submorsitans and caught in Old Oyo clustered together with an unidentified Glossina sp. (50) from Cameroon (Fig. 2, Glossina sp. 162). As for Glossina sp. 351, its position within the Glossina species cannot be clearly stated, in respect to the reference sequences it groups together in the morsitans group unexpectedly closely together with G. pallidipes (Fig. 2). However, this relation was not observed in the maximum likelihood analysis of the field sequences only (Fig. 3).
ITS-1 analysis
The two G. p. palpalis clusters and various unidentified Glossina sp. were further analysed regarding changes in their ITS-1 regions [8].
The ITS-1 regions of the G. p. palpalis subpopulations did not show any differences and were very homogeneous. In the case of Glossina sp. Dodeo, the marker could be used to detect differences in the populations. In contrast to the homogeneous population indicated by the COI analysis, ITS-1 comparison grouped the sequences into two branches (data not shown). The observed differences are due to very distinct nucleotide deletions as well as several substitutions.
Analysis of 9 landmarks was performed as previously described [37] on 41 tsetse fly wings from G. p. palpalis of the two genetic clusters obtained by COI analysis. The selected landmarks are shown in Fig. 4a. Due to the low number of samples collected in Nigeria’s Cross River National Park, samples collected in Dodeo, Cameroon, were used for this analysis. COI sequences from all these flies were analysed and grouped in the two observed clusters. Twenty flies belonged to the Central African cluster, while 21 samples grouped in the West African cluster.
Geometric wing morphometric analysis of G. p. palpalis wings. (a) The nine landmarks selected for analysis as described previously [37] are indicated on an example wing. Centroid size (b) and principle component analysis of partial warps (c) were analysed as described under Methods. The four groups representing males and females from the Central and West African clades are indicated
The centroid size was used as a measure of geometric size [38] and the distance indicated a difference in the two genetic clusters in the total sample, with the Central African group showing a smaller median than the West African group. However, when comparing the principal component analysis (PCA) of the partial warps, no difference could be seen between the centroid sizes of the two populations (data not shown).
When sex distribution of the subgroups was taken into account and the samples were split accordingly, the samples showed a sex dependent shape dimorphism (Fig. 4b). The centroid distance was larger in female flies. Interestingly, PCA on the partial warps indicated that the female subgroup of the Central African cluster segregates from the others (Fig. 4c).
Tsetse fly species diversity and distribution
Increased understanding in the population structure of Glossina species in the different vegetation zones of Nigeria will aid decisions on appropriate control strategies.
Similar fly densitites were recorded in Yankari Game Reserve and Kainji Lake National Park, while they were lower in Old Oyo National Park. During a survey in the wet season in 2012 in Yankari Game Reserve, apparent densities were 128 and 101 [39], reflecting the seasonal fluctuation compared to the apparent densities recorded in our study. The only two species identified in an earlier study [39] were G. tachinoides and G. m. submorsitans, which corroborates our results.
While in Kainji Lake National Park only G. m. submorsitans and G. tachinoides were collected, another study found G. p. palpalis co-existing with G. tachinoides in Kainji Lake National Park [40]. This discrepancy with our results may be attributed to variations in microclimatic conditions at the sampling spots.
Interestingly, the group of the unknown Glossina sp. 162 matches a fly collected in Dodeo, hinting towards a ubiquitously distributed species. It will be necessary to investigate the vector capacity of these species, as they are present in various study areas and have so far not been genetically characterized. In contrast to the survey conducted in Dodeo in 2014 [32], no Glossina sp. Dodeo were collected during later trappings in 2016. This might be due to slightly different trap locations or the different conditions during the surveys in 2016.
Molecular analysis of COI revealed large diversity among tsetse populations
Phylogenetic analysis using COI encoding sequences was done to observe the overall genetic species diversity and possible subpopulations within the different sampling regions. The phylogenetic tree resembles the Glossina species structure described previously [8], although only one mitochondrial marker was used (Fig. 2). G. m. submorsitans forms a group distinct from G. tachinoides and G. p. palpalis. Glossina sp. 352 and Glossina sp. Dodeo group further away from the main tree, close to the fusca group, and were used as outgroups.
Overall, G. m. submorsitans showed a slight clustering in subpopulations according to the sampling site (Fig. 3). The population in Yankari was more homogeneous and clustered away from Kainji Lake. The opposite was observed for G. tachinoides, where the population from Kainji Lake appears to be more homogenous than the population in Yankari, which appeared more diverse. In a study on G. tachinoides population structure in Burkina Faso, the homogenous population structure over a large area has been attributed to less restricted migration because of a broader temperature and humidity tolerance [41]. The observed small differences between the populations of G. m. submorsitans and G. tachinoides could therefore be due to environmental factors that may be restricting or facilitating dispersal of the respective Glossina species. This is indicated by the average temperature of 32.5 °C and 32% relative humidity in Yankari, which are favourable conditions for savannah species like G. m. submorsitans. On the contrary, in Kainji Lake a higher relative humidity of 49% at an average temperature of 31.8 °C was recorded.
In contrast to the Glossina species discussed above, the G. p. palpalis populations showed a very distinct divergence. It has been described previously that G. p. palpalis populations are very divergent and it has repeatedly been suggested that they represent a species complex [4, 8, 15, 23, 42]. In previous studies, genetic analysis showed a clear grouping in Central and West African clades, which has been suggested to be a process of sub-speciation [8, 15, 42]. Interestingly, also in this study we observed the same clustering, but not in geographically isolated populations, as described previously [8, 15, 23, 42], but for flies at the same location, even within the same trap. While in Central and Northwest Nigeria all G. p. palpalis collected group together with reference sequences of the West African Clade, all flies collected at the Nigeria-Cameroon border region segregated in two clades, the West and Central African Clade. This is especially interesting, as it has already been suggested that there might be subspecies of G. p. palpalis existing based on samplings in West and Central Africa [15]. In Equatorial Guinea, two geographically separated clades have been described, the island clade clustering with the West African, the main land clade with the Central African G. p. palpalis group [24]. The divergence of G. p. palpalis in Cameroon has been already observed by Dyer et al. [8], but has up to now not been investigated in detail.
Another interesting observation has been the occurrence of unidentified Glossina sp. In the context of vector control programs, it is very important to have a complete knowledge about all the vector species present. However, our data shows that there are still many gaps in molecular analysis, in particular for less abundant Glossina species. The finding of four different groups of not well-described Glossina species further indicates high species diversity in the forest species along the belt between the two countries Nigeria and Cameroon. The occurrence of Glossina sp. 162 in Old Oyo and in Dodeo indicates a wide distribution of this species in Nigeria and across the border region.
To completely resolve and correctly identify the four species clusters observed in this study, it would be necessary to collect more specimens and accurately describe them morphologically as well as to characterise them genetically.
The ITS-1 region is characterized by a high variability and can thus indicate more recent changes within species and even sufficiently isolated populations. However, in the case of G. p. palpalis we did not identify any differences in the populations at the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. This inability of ITS-1 to distinguish G. p. palpalis at the population level has also been observed by others [8]. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a homogenous population. This might indicate that the segregation in two groups observed by looking at COI resembles two different maternal lineages, but not clades segregating into distinct species.
Wing landmarks were chosen according to [37], in which subpopulations of G. m. submorsitans were analysed for segregation. The sexual dimorphism observed here has also been described previously for G. p. gambiensis [43]. Principal component analysis of the partial warps indicates a segregation of the female population belonging to the Central African group. However, due to the low sample size available for analysis, no final conclusion can be drawn and it remains to be seen whether this can be reproduced with a larger sampling size. It is interesting that the observed difference is not detectable, if data from male and female flies are pooled together.
As the divergence of G. p. palpalis is strongly supported by COI analysis, it is important to acknowledge this factor in breeding and vector competence, as it reflects the maternal lineage. It was shown in breeding experiments with G. m. centralis that susceptibility to trypanosomal infection is maternally inherited [44]. A sex dependent breeding preference has been observed and sterility in tsetse fly males has been linked to sex-chromosomal factors [45, 46]. It has been proposed that this might be due to chromosomal incompatibility [46]. Interestingly, in that same study a breeding barrier was observed between G. p. palpalis colonies originating from Nigeria and Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo), while they also had different vector capacities. Similarly, in a study comparing the performance of G. pallidipes originating from two allopatric Kenyan populations, one from the Shimba Hills and the other from the Nguruman, it was observed that bionomic parameters did not differ between the two [47]. However, fecundity of the Shimba Hills colony females was significantly greater than that of the Nguruman colony. In addition, Nguruman culture flies were more likely to develop mature infections [48]. Furthermore, different feeding frequencies of female G. pallidipes from allopatric Kenya populations was demonstrated in an earlier study [49]. Differences were also recorded in activity patterns and responses to temperature [50]. In a separate study, it was shown that G. pallidipes cultures established from the Lambwe and from Kibwezi Forest populations differed significantly in the duration of copulation [51].
Taken together, these observations bring up the questions, if the coexisting clusters observed in this study are actually representing subspeciation or even subspecies in the classical sense in G. p. palpalis, and if so, can these flies interbreed or do they exhibit different breeding preferences or breeding incompatibility as observed by [46] and is there a difference in vector competence regarding trypanosomal infections between these clusters. These questions have to be investigated closely to see whether gene flow occurs between these clusters. Answering these questions is expected to generate crucial information for the application of SIT or paratransgenesis approaches.
This study revealed a large diversity of Glossina species in Nigeria and across the border to Cameroon. The most striking observation is the coexistence of two distinctively differentiated G. p. palpalis groups along the Nigerian-Cameroonian border. Further characterization of these tsetse populations and dynamics is important with regard to area-wide eradication of Glossina species using SIT. These studies should provide information on the status of isolation of these fly populations, which would aid decision on whether control would be implemented simultaneously or continuously following the principle of the “rolling carpet” [52].
Of equal importance is the need to investigate the status of cryptic Glossina species or other less abundant vectors for trypanosomes in Nigeria in view of the presence of closely related sibling species, which are geographically distributed distinctly in the country.
Stephen Saikiu Shaida and Judith Sophie Weber contributed equally to this work.
Jonathan Andrew Nok and Thaddeus Terlumun Gbemis are deceased. This paper is dedicated to their memory.
AAT:
Animal African Trypanosomosis
COI:
Cytochrome C Oxidase SU1
HAT:
Human African Trypanosomosis
ITS-1:
Internal Transcribed spacer 1
PCA:
Principal component analysis
SIT:
Sterile Insect Technique
The manuscript is dedicated to late Prof. Jonathan Andrew Nok and late Dr. Thaddeus Terlemnum Gbem, who untimely passed away while this publication was in review. Both have been a fundamental supporters and collaborators in our work. Prof. Jonathan Andrew Nok has been a really outstanding scientist on Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa and beyond. Without his continuous support and always motivating drive for numerous young scientists from Africa, many scientists and their projects would not have made it to the point where they are now. This holds in particular for this project and the authors, as former or present PhD students (SSS, JSW, TTG and SCHN) or direct co-PIs (MDA, MM, ISN and SK) all of whom are personally indebted to Prof. Jonathan Andrew Nok. Dr. T. T. Gbem, whose death came as a rude shock to us who were close to him. His death came at a time he is needed most, especially by his immediate constituency, undergraduates, MSc and PhD students from Africa and all over the world, whom he has successfully groomed, mentored and graduated. His mentoring and astute contributions to the successful completion of the programmes of so many of these students will remain indelible in their minds. His immeasurable skills in the field, classroom and the laboratory, for which he was admired for, will greatly be missed by all. At his prime, Dr. Gbem’s immense contributions to the knowledge of science was outstanding. This is especially so for “The African Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology”, “DFG laboratory” and “Centre for Biomolecular Interactions”, for which the Ahmadu Bello University, Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research and the University of Bremen Germany are partners. Adieu Dr. Gbem, We miss you all.
The authors thank Mr. Ahmadu Adamu, Ms. Petra Berger and Mrs. Felicia Ibiyemi for technical assistance. All the help rendered in the National Parks, by the Leadership and Rangers are gratefully acknowledged.
Financial support for the project came from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; project grants to SK, Ke428/8–1, Ke428/10–1), from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA; travel funds to SK), and from Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACE-NTDFB; sponsoring training workshops on collection and dissection of tsetse flies). The publication costs have been funded by IAEA.
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files or available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
COI sequences generated in this study have been deposited in NCBI database with accession numbers MG839129-MG839140 and MG839142-MG839169.
About this supplement
This article has been published as part of BMC Microbiology Volume 18 Supplement 1, 2018: Enhancing Vector Refractoriness to Trypanosome Infection. The full contents of the supplement are available online at https://bmcmicrobiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/supplements/volume-18-supplement-1.
SSS: collected samples, performed analysis by PCR and sequencing, wrote the manuscript. JSW: collected samples, performed analysis by PCR and sequencing, wrote the manuscript. TTG: designed specific primers, gave advice for the development of PCR analysis. SCHN: collected samples, performed analysis by PCR and sequencing. UBM: collected samples. MDA: supervised the fieldwork and laboratory experiments, obtained ethical clearance, and facilitated the support of traditional and administrative authorities. MM: supervised the fieldwork and laboratory experiments, obtained ethical clearance, and facilitated the support of traditional and administrative authorities. ISN: supervised the Ph.D proposal (SSS). JAN: supervised the Ph.D proposal (SSS), obtained ethical clearance, and facilitated the support of traditional and administrative authorities. SK: designed the project, supervision of the laboratory experiments, wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Approval to set traps and collect tsetse flies was obtained from the local and national authorities according to current legislation in Nigeria and Cameroon.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution IGO License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source is given.
Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna, Nigeria
Centre for Biomolecular Interactions, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
Department of Biology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
TOZARD Research laboratory, P.O.Box 59 Bambili-Tubah, Bamenda, Cameroon
Department of Zoology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Zaria, Nigeria
Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Zaria, Nigeria
Simarro PP, Diarra A, Ruiz Postigo JA, Franco JR, Jannin JG. The human African trypanosomiasis control and surveillance Programme of the World Health Organization 2000–2009: the way forward. Aksoy S, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis Public Libr Sci; 2011;5:e1007.Google Scholar
Franco JR, Simarro PP, Diarra A, Jannin JG. Epidemiology of human African trypanosomiasis. CLEP. Dove Press. 2014;6:257–75.Google Scholar
Swallow BM. Impacts of trypanosomiasis on African Agriculture PAAT Technical and Scientific Series, 2: Rome: FAO; 2000.Google Scholar
Ravel S, de Meeus T, Dujardin JP, Zézé DG, Gooding RH, Dusfour I, et al. The tsetse fly Glossina palpalis palpalis is composed of several genetically differentiated small populations in the sleeping sickness focus of Bonon, Côte d’Ivoire. Infect Genet Evol. 2007;7:116–25.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Gouteux JP. A new Glossina from the Congo: Glossina (Austenina) frezili sp. nov. (Diptera: Glossinidae). Trop Med Parasitol. 1987;38:97–100.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Pollock JN. Training manual for tsetse control personnel Vol.1 Editor: FAO Publ. No. M/P5178/E. 280p. 1982.Google Scholar
Krafsur ES. Tsetse flies: genetics, evolution, and role as vectors. Infect Genet Evol. 2009;9:124–41.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Dyer NA, Lawton SP, Ravel S, Choi KS. Molecular phylogenetics of tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) based on mitochondrial (COI, 16S, ND2) and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences, with an emphasis on the palpalis group. Mol Pylogenet Evol. 2008;49:227–39.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Leak SGA. Tsetse biology and ecology: their role in the epidemiology and control of trypanosomosis. Wallingford: CAB; 1999.Google Scholar
Jordan AM. Man and changing patterns of the African trypanosomiases. In: Service MW, editor. Demography and vector-borne diseases. Boca Raton, Florida: Demography and vector-borne diseases; 1989. p. 27–48.Google Scholar
Abila PP, Slotman MA, Parmakelis A, Dion KB, Robinson AS, Muwanika VB, et al. High levels of genetic differentiation between Ugandan Glossina fuscipes fuscipes populations separated by Lake Kyoga. King CH, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2008;2:e242–11.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Vreysen MJB, Saleh KM, Ali MY, Abdulla AM, Zhu Z-R, Juma KG, et al. Glossina austeni (Diptera: Glossinidae) eradicated on the island of Unguja, Zanzibar, Using the Sterile Insect Technique ec 2000;93:123–135.Google Scholar
Allsopp R. Options for vector control against trypanosomiasis in Africa. Trends Parasitol Elsevier. 2001;17:15–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Proceedings of the FAO Panel of Experts. Programme for the control of African animal trypanosomiasis and related development. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 1992.Google Scholar
Dyer NA, Furtado A, Cano J, Ferreira F, Odete Afonso M, Ndong-Mabale N, et al. Evidence for a discrete evolutionary lineage within Equatorial Guinea suggests that the tsetse fly Glossina palpalis palpalis exists as a species complex. Mol Ecol. 2009;18:3268–82.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Gooding RH, Krafsur ES. Tsetse genetics: contributions to biology, systematics, and control of tsetse flies. Annu Rev Entomol. 2005;50:101–23.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Krafsur ES. Tsetse fly population genetics: an indirect approach to dispersal. Trends Parasitol. 2003;19:162–6.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Aksoy S. Control of tsetse flies and trypanosomes using molecular genetics. Vet Parasitol. 2003;115:125–45.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Hendrichs J, Vreysen MJB, Enkerlin WR, Cayol JP. Strategic Options in Using Sterile Insects for Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management. Sterile Insect Technique. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 2005. p. 563–600.Google Scholar
Torr SJ, Maudlin I, Vale GA. Less is more: restricted application of insecticide to cattle to improve the cost and efficacy of tsetse control. Med Vet Entomol. 2007;21:53–64.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Kaba D, Ravel S, Acapovi-Yao G, Solano P, Allou K, Bosson-Vanga H, et al. Phenetic and genetic structure of tsetse fly populations (Glossina palpalis palpalis) in southern Ivory Coast. Parasit Vectors. 2012;5:153.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Kato AB, Hyseni C, Okedi LM, Ouma JO, Aksoy S, Caccone A, et al. Mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence and diversity of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in the Lake Victoria basin of Uganda: implications for control. Parasit Vectors London: BioMed Central. 2015;8:385.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Melachio TT, Simo G, Ravel S, De MeEüs T, Causse S, Solano P, et al. Population genetics of Glossina palpalis palpalis from central African sleeping sickness foci. Parasit Vectors. 2011;4:140.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Cordon-Obras C, Cano J, Knapp J, Nebreda P, Ndong-Mabale N, Ncogo-Ada PR, et al. Glossina palpalis palpalis populations from Equatorial Guinea belong to distinct allopatric clades. Parasit Vectors BioMed Central. 2014;7:31.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Solano P, La Rocque de S, Cuisance D, Geoffroy B, de Meeus T, Cuny G, et al. Intraspecific variability in natural populations of Glossina palpalis gambiensis from West Africa, revealed by genetic and morphometric analyses. Med Vet Entomol. 1999;13:401–7.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Ouma JO, Marquez JG, Krafsur ES. Macrogeographic population structure of the tsetse fly, Glossina pallidipes (Diptera: Glossinidae). Bull Entomol Res. 2007;95:89–447.Google Scholar
Daniel AD, Joshua RA, Kalejaiye JO, Dada AJ. Prevalence of trypanosomiasis in sheep and goats in a region of northern Nigeria. Revue délevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux. 1994;47:295–7.Google Scholar
Obaloto OB, Shamaki BU, Idehen CO, Eche TA, Balak GG, Dongkum C, et al. Survey of animal trypanosomosis and biting flies flies in parts of Alkaleri local government area, Bauchi state, Nigeria. J Biol Agr Healthc. 2015;5:16–20.Google Scholar
Ngutor KS, Lawal IA, Okubanjo OO. Feeding patterns and Xenomonitoring of trypanosomes among tsetse flies around the Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Nigeria. J Parasitol Res. 2016;2016:1–6.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Squarre D, Kabongo I, Munyeme M, Mumba C, Mwasinga W, Hachaambwa L, et al. Human African trypanosomiasis in the Kafue National Park, Zambia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. Public Library of Science. 2016;10:e0004567.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Fashae O, Olusola A, Adedeji O. Geospatial analysis of changes in vegetation cover over Nigeria. Bull Geog Phys Geog Ser. 2017;13:234.Google Scholar
Ngomtcho SCH, Weber JS, Ngo Bum E, Gbem TT, Kelm S, Achukwi MD. Molecular screening of tsetse flies and cattle reveal different Trypanosoma species including T grayi and T theileri in northern Cameroon. Parasit Vectors. 2017;10:631.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
National Parks of Nigeria. A publication of National Park Service Abuja. Nigeria: Haligraph printers Minna; 2004.Google Scholar
Challier A, Laveissiere C. Un nouveau piège pour la capture des glossines (Glossina : Diptera, Muscidae): description et eassais sur le terrain. Ent méd et Parasitol. 1973;11:251–62.Google Scholar
Davies H. Tsetse flies in Nigeria: a handbook for junior control staff. Ibadan, Nigeria: Oxford University Press; 1977.Google Scholar
The CLIC Package - MoMe-CLIC. Available from: http://xyom-clic.eu/clic-collection/. Accessed on 01.01.2017, 1:59 pm.
Achukwi MD, Gillingwater J, Nloga AMN, Simo G. Lack of evidence for sufficiently isolated populations of Glossina morsitans submorsitans on the Adamawa plateau of Cameroon following geometric morphometric analysis. Adv Entomol Scientific Research Publishing. 2013;01:1–7.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Rohlf FJ, Loy A, Corti M. Morphometric analysis of Old World Talpidae (Mammalia, Insectivora) using partial-warp scores. Syst Biol. 1996;45:344.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Isaac C, Ciosi M, Hamilton A, Scullion MK, Dede P, Igbinosa BI, Nmorsi, OPG, Masiga DC, Michael R, Turner CRM. Molecular identification of different trypanosome species and subspecies in tsetse flies of Northern Nigeria Parasites and Vectors. 2016;9:301. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1585-3.
Ajibade WA, Agbede SA. Tsetse fly species diversity in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria. Afr J Agric Res. 3:753–8.Google Scholar
Koné N, Bouyer J, Ravel S, Vreysen MJB, Domagni KJ, Causse S, et al. Contrasting population structures of two vectors of African Trypanosomoses in Burkina Faso: consequences for control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011;5(6):e1217.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
De MeEüs T, Bouyer J, Ravel S, Solano P. Ecotype evolution in Glossina palpalis subspecies, major vectors of sleeping sickness. Caccone a, editor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015;9:e0003497–16.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Camara M, Caro-riaño H, Ravel S, Dujardin J-P, Hervouet J-P, De MeEüs T, et al. Genetic and morphometric evidence for population isolation of Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Diptera: Glossinidae) on the Loos Islands, Guinea. J Med Entomol. 2006;43:853–60.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Moloo SK, Kabata JM, Waweru F, Gooding RH. Selection of susceptible and refractory lines of Glossina morsitans centralis for Trypanosoma congolense infection and their susceptibility to different pathogenic Trypanosoma species. Med Vet Entomol. 1998;12:391–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Gooding RH. Genetic analysis of hybrid sterility in crosses of the tsetse flies Glossina palpalis palpalis and Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Diptera: Glossinidae). Can J Zool NRC Research Press. 1997;75:1109–17.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Gooding RH, Solano P, Ravel S. X-chromosome mapping experiments suggest occurrence of cryptic species in the tsetse fly Glossina palpalis palpalis. Can J Zool. 2004;82:1902–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Moloo SK. A comparison of colony performance of Glossina pallidipes originating from two allopatric populations in Kenya. Med Vet Entomol Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 1992;6:399–400.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Moloo SK. A comparison of susceptibility of two allopatric populations of Glossina pallidipes for stocks of Trypanosoma congolense. Med Vet Entomol Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 1993;7:369–72.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
van Etten J. Comparative studies on fat reserves, feeding and metabolic strategies of flies from two allopatric populations of Glossina pallidipes Austen in Kenya. Acta Trop. 1982;39:157–69.PubMedGoogle Scholar
van Etten J. Comparative studies on the diurnal activity pattern in two field and laboratory populations of Glossina pallidipes. Entomol Exp Appl. 1982;32:38–45.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Jaenson TGT. Mating behaviour of Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera, Glossinidae): genetic differences in copulation time between allopatric population. Entomol Exp Appl. 1978;24:100–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Vreysen MJB, Gerardo-Abaya J, Cayol JP. Lessons from area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programmes with an SIT component: an FAO/IAEA perspective. In: Vreysen MJB, Robinson AS, Hendrichs J, editors. Area-Wide Control of Insect Pests: From Research to Field Implementation. Dordrecht: Springer; 2007:723–44.Google Scholar
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6432
|
__label__wiki
| 0.775261
| 0.775261
|
Dialogue between Staphylococcus aureus SA15 and Lactococcus garvieae strains experiencing oxidative stress
Clothilde Queiroux1,
Muriel Bonnet1,
Taous Saraoui1,
Pierre Delpech1,
Philippe Veisseire1,
Etienne Rifa1,
Cécile Moussard1,
Geneviève Gagne1,
Céline Delbès†1Email authorView ORCID ID profile and
Stéphanie Bornes†1
BMC Microbiology201818:193
© The Author(s). 2018
Staphylococcus aureus is an important foodborne pathogen. Lactococcus garvieae is a lactic acid bacterium found in dairy products; some of its strains are able to inhibit S. aureus growth by producing H2O2. Three strains of L. garvieae from different origins were tested for their ability to inhibit S. aureus SA15 growth. Two conditions were tested, one in which H2O2 was produced (high aeration) and another one in which it was not detected (low aeration). Several S. aureus genes related to stress, H2O2-response and virulence were examined in order to compare their level of expression depending on the inoculated L. garvieae strain. Simultaneous L. garvieae H2O2 metabolism gene expression was followed.
The results showed that under high aeration condition, L. garvieae strains producing H2O2 (N201 and CL-1183) inhibited S. aureus SA15 growth and impaired its ability to deal with hydrogen peroxide by repressing H2O2-degrading genes. L. garvieae strains induced overexpression of S. aureus stress-response genes while cell division genes and virulence genes were repressed. A catalase treatment partially or completely restored the SA15 growth. In addition, the H2O2 non-producing L. garvieae strain (Lg2) did not cause any growth inhibition. The SA15 stress-response genes were down-regulated and cell division genes expression was not affected. Under low aeration condition, while none of the strains tested exhibited H2O2-production, the 3 L. garvieae strains inhibited S. aureus SA15 growth, but to a lesser extent than under high aeration condition.
Taken together, these results suggest a L. garvieae strain-specific anti-staphylococcal mechanism and an H2O2 involvement in at least two of the tested L. garvieae strains.
Lactococcus garvieae
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human pathogen that can be responsible for food poisoning [1]. Its pathogenic activity is due to the production of various enzymes and toxins. It can be found in different environments including milk and dairy products [2]. In cheese, its level should not exceed 105 CFU.g− 1 (European Community Regulation No. 852–853/2004).
Lactococcus garvieae is an ubiquitous LAB (Lactic Acid Bacteria) that can be found in various fermented foods including dairy products [3, 4], in fish, ruminant or human microbiota [5] and can be associated with pathologies such as fish lactococcoses [6, 7]. LABs such as Lactococcus lactis or Lactococcus garvieae are able to inhibit the proliferation of pathogens in cheese by the production of hydrogen peroxide [8], bacteriocins [9], by competition for nutrients [10, 11] or by acidification of the medium [12–14]. Depending on its concentration, hydrogen peroxide has a bactericide or a bacteriostatic effect on S. aureus [15]. L. garvieae raises our interest because a specific dairy strain of this LAB, N201 strain, can inhibit S. aureus growth by the production of H2O2 [2, 16, 17]. Moreover, it has a strong technological potential as a ferment for cheese production [18] and has almost no effect on acidification of the medium, compared to other LABs [2]. The inhibitive properties of L. garvieae N201 were confirmed on 2 strains of S. aureus: a human pathogenic strain, MW2 [19] and a non-pathogenic dairy strain, SA15, isolated from Saint-Nectaire cheese [17]. Delpech et al. [20] showed that S. aureus had no effect on L. garvieae growth and H2O2-related gene expression. On the contrary, L. garvieae N201 impaired the capacity of both strains of S. aureus to deal with the presence of H2O2 which led to growth deficiency [2, 16, 17].
In order to investigate the interaction between S. aureus and L. garvieae in oxidative stress-inducing culture conditions, genes involved in H2O2 metabolism were first choice targets, whose expression has been monitored by Delpech et al. [17, 20] in co-cultures of L. garvieae N201 and S. aureus SA15 or MW2.
In L. garvieae, superoxide dismutase sodA [21, 22] and pyruvate oxidase poxB genes [23, 24] are involved in H2O2 synthesis. As they do not have any catalase, LAB generally degrade H2O2 using alkyl hydroxyperoxidase (Ahp) [25] or glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) [26]. Thioredoxine reductase (Trx) are involved in response to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) [27, 28].
In S. aureus, Catalase (KatA) and Alkyl hydroxyperoxidase (Ahp) play a role in H2O2 degradation [29, 30]. Ahp leads to a dual function in oxidative-stress resistance, environmental persistence and host-pathogen interaction [29]. Amongst the targeted genes, dnaK is known to be involved in H2O2-resistance [31, 32], clpC has an important role in oxidative stress regulation, and ctsR is a transcriptional repressor of stress-genes [33]. Moreover, the 2 latter genes, belonging to the dcw cluster involved in cellular division, might be modulated by H2O2-stress, leading to S. aureus growth impairment [34]. So, if LAB can modify this genes cluster expression, it could have an inhibiting effect on cellular division.
In addition to S. aureus growth modulation, L. garvieae may also have an effect on its virulence. Enterotoxins are the main toxins responsible for S. aureus food poisoning. Ninety-four per cent of S. aureus isolated from cow milk have at least one enterotoxin-encoding gene [35]. Amongst the different enterotoxins, enterotoxin C, encoded by sec4 gene, is the most frequently involved in food poisoning [36–39]. Cretenet et al. [40] showed that this virulence-related gene expression can be modified by L. lactis in cheese. S. aureus virulence is under control of the agr system which is involved in regulating many stress response and virulence genes [41–43]. agrA is a response regulator [44] and is able to induce hld, a δ-lysin gene [43], and enterotoxin C encoding gene sec4 [45]. The agr system itself is controlled by several molecular intermediates such as SaeRS and SrrAB. SaeRS is a two-component system involved in response to environmental stress which could inhibit agr system [46] and also control virulence genes [47–50]. SrrAB is also a two-component system activated in an anaerobic environment [51]. It would be involved in virulence gene control [52] in response to H2O2. Indeed, in the presence of H2O2, srrA is repressed in S. aureus [53]. Under anaerobic conditions, SrrA represses agrA and hld expression [54, 55]. CodY, a regulatory protein involved in repressing virulence gene expression in S. aureus, is also involved in controlling agr system and virulence genes [56].
The level of aeration can change the level of H2O2-production according to the LAB strain. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that the transcriptomes of L. lactis and L. garvieae are significantly modified by the aeration level [20, 57]. Lactobacillus crispatus can produce H2O2 in high aeration conditions but not in static conditions [58]. Contrariwise, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus can also produce H2O2 in static conditions, even though the amount produced is lower than in high aeration conditions [59].
The aim of the present study was to compare the transcriptional response involved in the antagonistic interaction between S. aureus and different strains of L. garvieae. In addition to N201 strain isolated from raw milk Saint-Nectaire cheese and already well described [2, 16], two other L. garvieae strains were selected for their different capacities to produce H2O2: a H2O2 -producing strain, CL-1183 (VIVASET, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University from Madrid) isolated in Brazil from the milk from buffalo cows affected by subclinical mastitis [5] as well as a H2O2-non producing strain, Lg2, a fish pathogenic strain isolated in Japan [60]. The expression of S. aureus genes related to oxygen metabolism, response to stress, cell division and virulence was measured as well as the expression of L. garvieae genes related to oxygen metabolism.
In order to investigate the interaction between S. aureus and L. garvieae in oxidative stress-inducing culture conditions, we followed the growth of the strains and measured the amount of H2O2 in two culture conditions i.e. under high and low aeration levels. The genes whose expression has been monitored by Delpech et al. [17, 20] were chosen to compare the transcriptional response involved in the antagonistic interaction between S. aureus and different strains of L. garvieae. The expression of S. aureus genes related to oxygen metabolism, response to stress, cell division and virulence was measured as well as the expression of L. garvieae genes related to oxygen metabolism (Table 1).
Differentially expressed Staphylococcus aureus genes in co-culture with 3 Lactococcus garvieae strains (N201, CJ-1183 and Lg2), summary table
24 h
High aeration
Up-regulated
dnaK
clpC
Down-regulated
mraW
ahpF
srrA
sec4
Low aeration
For detailed values, see Additional files 2 and 3
Ability of L. garvieae strains to produce H2O2 and to inhibit S. aureus growth
The effect of aeration level on microbial growth was tested by determining cellular concentrations of both microorganisms. In pure culture, S. aureus growth was almost identical under both high and low aeration conditions. However, the population count reached at 24 h was 1.2 log CFU/ml lower under low aeration than under high aeration (Fig. 1a). The 3 different strains of L. garvieae grew as well under high aeration level as under low aeration level independent of the presence of S. aureus (Additional file 1). pH values remained stable (7.0 ± 0.2) in all cultures over the whole experiment (data not shown).
Effect of Lactococcus garvieae strains on Staphylococcus aureus SA15 growth, under high aeration levels (without and with catalase (4000 IU/ml)) and under low aeration level. a, b, c, d, e represent groups determined with LSD test, a same letter indicates values not significantly different (p-value < 0.05 by ANOVA1) through one Time
Detectable amounts of H2O2 were produced exclusively under high aeration level by N201 and CL-1183 strains in co-culture with SA15. N201 strain produced from 1.327 mM ± 0.09 to 1.517 mM ± 0.18 of H2O2. The strain CL-1183 produced slightly more H2O2 than the strain N201, from 1.663 mM ± 0.23 to 2.415 mM ± 0.34. While N201 H2O2-production peak was at 9 h, CL-1183 H2O2-production stayed stable after 9 h (Table 2).
H2O2 concentration produced by Lactococcus garvieae in pure culture and in co-culture with Staphylococcus aureus SA15, under high aeration
Hydrogen peroxide concentration (mM)
Time (h)
SA15 + N201
1.343 ± 0.141
SA15 + CL-1183
SA15 + Lg2
ND not detected
Under high aeration, when co-cultivated with N201, SA15 growth was 2.1 log [CFU.ml− 1] lower than in pure culture as early as 6 h with a maximal growth inhibition of 5.8 log [CFU.ml− 1] at 24 h. SA15 growth co-cultivated with CL-1183 was 1.7 log [CFU.ml− 1] lower compared to pure culture as early as 6 h. The maximal growth inhibition was observed after 24 h of co-culture (4.5 log [CFU.ml− 1] lower). SA15 co-cultivated with Lg2 did not show any significant impairment in growth throughout the experiment compared to pure culture (Fig. 1a).
Under low aeration level and in co-culture with N201, CL-1183 or Lg2, SA15 growth was lower than in pure culture as early as 6 h (0.6 log [CFU.ml− 1], 0.9 log [CFU.ml− 1] or 0.6 log [CFU.ml− 1], with a maximal growth inhibition at 24 h (2.5 log [CFU.ml− 1], 3.5 log [CFU.ml− 1 or 1.6 log [CFU.ml− 1]], respectively) (Fig. 1a).
To determine the involvement of H2O2 produced by N201 and CL-1183 in growth inhibition of SA15, co-cultures of SA15 with these 2 strains were performed under high aeration level in presence of catalase (Fig. 1). No detectable amount of H2O2 was observed at any time. S. aureus cell concentration was not significantly different in presence of catalase compared to control (Fig. 1) during both exponential and stationary phases. Statistical analysis, using ANOVA, showed that in presence of catalase there was no significant difference of SA15 count after 24 h in co-culture with CL-1183 compared to pure culture. In contrary, SA15 cell concentration in co-culture SA15/N201 was still 0.8 log [CFU.ml− 1] lower than in pure culture. These results showed that the inhibition of SA15 growth by N201 and CL-1183 was partially or completely suppressed by catalase.
Effect of L. garvieae strains on S. aureus genes expression under high aeration level (Additional file 2)
Whatever the L. garvieae strain cultivated with SA15, none of the H2O2-response genes tested was up-regulated. When SA15 was cultivated with L. garvieae N201 or CL-1183, katA was down-regulated, at 9 h and 24 h with N201 (3.7 and 3.0-times, respectively), or at 6 and 9 h with CL-1183 (3.9 and 3.2-times, respectively). When cultivated with N201, ahpF expression in SA15 was not modified in comparison with pure culture, whereas in co-cultures SA15/CL-1183 and SA15/Lg2, it was down-regulated (2.1-times at 6 h and 2.9-times at 24 h, 6.9-times at 24 h, respectively). sodA was down-regulated at 6, 9 and 24 h in co-cultures with N201 (2.2, 4.4 and 3.9-times, respectively) or at 24 h (2.2-times) with CL-1183. No change in expression of katA and sodA was observed with Lg2.
L. garvieae N201 induced an up-regulation of the three SA15 stress-response genes tested at 9 h; clpC, ctsR and dnaK were 2.0-times, 3.7-times and 2.5-times more expressed than in pure culture, respectively. When cultivated with CL-1183, only dnaK was 2.8-times up-regulated at 6 h, while clpC and ctsR expressions were not affected. Conversely, in co-culture SA15/Lg2, clpC and dnaK were 3.9-times and 19.8-times down-regulated respectively, while ctsR did not show any significant difference in its expression.
In both SA15/N201 and SA15/CL-1183 co-cultures, mraW cell division gene was strongly down-regulated at 6 and 9 h (7.0-times and 20.3-times, and 20.0-times and 12.0-times, respectively). In co-culture SA15/Lg2, mraW expression was not affected.
In co-culture, the five SA15 virulence-related regulator genes tested displayed contrasted patterns of expression. At 9 h, in both SA15/N201 and SA15/CL-1183 co-cultures, agrA was up-regulated (4.0-times with N201 and 3.4-times with CL-1183), while srrA was down-regulated (7.1-times or 6.4-times with N201 or CL-1183 respectively). codY expression was down-regulated 4.1-times at 24 h by N201 and 3.6-times at 6 h by CL-1183. saeS expression was 2.4-times lower at 24 h in co-culture with N201 than in pure culture, whereas it was not affected by CL-1183. hld expression remained stable until 24 h when SA15 was in co-culture with N201 or CL-1183. In co-culture SA15/Lg2, at 24 h, agrA, codY and hld expressions were all down-regulated (3.0-times, 2.6-times and 3.9-times, respectively), while saeS and srrA expressions remained stable.
In co-cultures SA15/N201 and SA15/CL-1183, amongst the 2 enterotoxins-encoding genes tested, only sec4 expression was modified at 24 h, with a 4.1-times and a 9.0-times down-regulation, respectively. sel2 expression was not modified whatever the SA15 culture conditions were. In co-culture SA15/Lg2, no enterotoxin gene expression was affected.
Effect of L. garvieae strains on S. aureus genes expression under low aeration level (Additional file 3)
Under low aeration level, in presence of CL-1183, the H2O2-response gene ahpF was 4.2-times up-regulated at 9 h, whereas in presence of Lg2, sodA was 6.5-times down-regulated at 24 h. All the stress-response genes tested were up-regulated at 9 h (3.4-times for clpC, 4.0-times for ctsR and 2.1-times for dnaK) with Lg2. No change in stress-response genes expression was observed when SA15 was cultivated with N201 or CL-1183. Concerning the cell division gene mraW, its expression was not modified, whatever the strain cultivated with SA15.
Amongst virulence-related regulator genes, agrA was up-regulated in all three co-cultures at different stages of growth. It was the only virulence-related regulator gene differentially regulated by N201 (6.0-times up-regulated at 9 h). In the same way, this gene was 4.1-times up-regulated at 9 h by CL-1183, and 2.5-times up-regulated at 24 h by Lg2. codY was 2.0-times down-regulated at 6 h but 2.0-times up-regulated at 24 h with CL-1183, while codY and srrA were 2.1- and 2.7-times down-regulated at 9 and 24 h, respectively with Lg2.
The enterotoxin gene sec4 was up-regulated in both N201/SA15 and CL-1183/SA15 co-cultures, (3.5- and 2.7-times, at 6 and 9 h respectively, with N201, and 2.5-times at 9 h with CL-1183). sel2 was 3.5-times up-regulated at 9 h only in the presence of CL-1183.
Effect of aeration on L. garvieae strains (Additional file 4)
To evaluate the strain-specific effect of aeration on L. garvieae, expression of 5 H2O2-related genes of them (trxB1, ahpC, gpx, poxB and sodA) was monitored and compared between the 3 L. garvieae strains in co-culture with SA15. Overall, most differential expressions concerned H2O2-degradation genes. Differences between H2O2-producing and non-producing strains were essentially related to ahpC: both N201 and CL-1183 overexpressed this gene under low aeration (5.6-times at 24 h in N201, 4.0-times at 6 h and 6.5-times at 9 h in CL-1183). Conversely, Lg2 overexpressed ahpC (4.7-times) at 9 h under high level of aeration. Both CL-1183 and Lg2 overexpressed trxB1 under high level of aeration (2.9-times at 6 h in CL-1183 and 2.1-times 24 h in Lg2). Amongst H2O2-synthesis genes, only CL-1183 overexpressed poxB (4.1-times at 9 h under low aeration).
The aim of the study was to compare the transcriptional response involved in the antagonistic interaction between S. aureus and different strains of L. garvieae. Three strains of L. garvieae from different origins were used: N201, a dairy-isolated strain known to be a S. aureus inhibiting strain; CL-1183, a strain isolated from milk from buffalo cows suffering from mastitis; and Lg2, a fish pathogenic strain. Under high aeration condition, two of them were shown to be able to produce detectable amount of H2O2 (N201 and CL-1183), whereas the third one (Lg2) was not.
L. garvieae strains and aeration level effect on S. aureus SA15 growth and on H2O2- and stress-responses
Under high aeration level, only L. garvieae N201 and CL-1183 inhibited S. aureus growth. CL-1183 down-regulated S. aureus H2O2-degradation genes (ahpF and katA) and N201 and Lg2 only down-regulated katA or ahpF respectively. This could mean that SA15 lost its ability to deal with H2O2-stress and suggest that the H2O2 detoxification occurred predominantly via KatA. These results are in accordance with those obtained by Cosgrove et al. [29], showing that S. aureus ahpC-katA mutant was no more sensitive to H2O2 than the katA mutant. They also found out that, Ahp would have less affinity for H2O2 than KatA and that it could be an alternative solution for H2O2-degradation when KatA was not functional. In our study, despite N201 only down-regulated katA and not ahpF, AhpF did not play its compensatory role in H2O2 detoxification. This result can be explained by the fact that KatA was responsible for detoxifying high levels of H2O2, whereas AhpC was responsible for the removal of low levels of H2O2 [29]. This could be correlated with the large amounts of H2O2 detected in the co-cultures SA15/N201. The down-regulation of katA, at 9 h and 24 h, can be explained by the fact that srrA was also down regulated. Mashruwala and Boyd [61] found that srrAB mutant strain had decreased transcription of genes encoding for H2O2 resistance factors as katA. They also reported that SrrAB positively influenced H2O2 resistance during periods of high O2 dependent respiratory activity, but not when cellular respiration was diminished as a result of lower O2 availability. S. aureus SA15 genes involved in stress-response (clpC, ctsR, dnaK) were all up-regulated by N201 and only dnaK was up-regulated by CL-1183, whereas clpC and dnaK were down-regulated by Lg2. These results indicated that in presence N201 and CL-1183, SA15 detected an oxidative stress as a result of H2O2 production by these two L. garvieae strains. However, the up-regulation of these genes did not allow SA15 to fight against this stress, although precedent studies reported that S. aureus clpC or dnaK mutants growth was impaired in the presence of H2O2 stress [32, 62, 63] and that a basic level of expression of dnaK was sufficient in response to this stress [32]. All these data highlighted the complexity of the stress response machinery and the important role of clpC, ctsR and dnaK genes. Moreover, while mraW gene was not differentially expressed in presence of Lg2, it was repressed at 6 and 9 h by N201, confirming results obtained by Delpech et al. [17], and by CL-1183 in our study, when S. aureus growth was inhibited. The repression of mraW by N201 and CL-1183 was positively correlated with inhibition of SA15 growth. These results are supported by Cretenet et al. [40] showing that L. lactis was able to inhibit ftsH, ftsL and ftsZ genes also involved in cellular division. Interestingly, several studies reported that inhibition of cell division protein is a promising approach for anti-staphylococcal therapy [64, 65].
Catalase treatment partially reduced SA15 growth inhibition by N201, confirming the result obtained by Delbes-Paus et al. [2], whereas the inhibition by CL-1183 was completely suppressed. Oogai et al. [66] observed that in presence of catalase, the S. aureus MW2 growth inhibition by Streptococcus sanguinis was completely suppressed. These observations confirmed the role of H2O2 produced by LAB in growth inhibition of S. aureus. Our study demonstrated that under high level of aeration, the inhibition of S. aureus by L. garvieae involved strain specific mechanisms. Indeed, CL-1183 inhibited SA15 growth mainly by H2O2 production whereas inhibition due to N201 may involve the combined action of H2O2 and other antagonistic mechanism.
Under low aeration condition, S. aureus growth was almost identical to that measured under high aeration condition, except after 24 h, when we observed a 1,2 log reduction in the S. aureus population level that could be due to the depletion of oxygen. Ledala et al. [67] showed that the growth rate of S. aureus was independent of oxygen limitation over 12 h although its metabolome was significantly affected. S. aureus growth was slightly inhibited by the three L. garvieae strains, although none of them could produce detectable amounts of H2O2 (Fig. 1). This suggests that there was another inhibitory mechanism involved. These results match those obtained with N201 in the previous studies [2, 17, 20]. Delbes-Paus et al. [2] have shown that in milk, even if H2O2 was not detected, S. aureus growth was inhibited by L. garvieae N201. However, no clear hypothesis to explain the mechanism of the anti-staphylococcal activity under low aeration could be drawn from the gene expression data. However, the up-regulation of stress-response genes in the presence of Lg2 was observed. Indeed, clpC, ctsR and dnaK genes, were all up-regulated at 6 h in co-culture with Lg2, suggesting that Lg2 triggered a stress on SA15 which led to a growth inhibition.
L. garvieae strains and aeration level effect on S. aureus SA15 virulence gene expression
Under high level of aeration, L. garvieae N201 reduced S. aureus virulence-related genes expression confirming results obtained by Delpech et al. [17]. Cretenet et al. [40] and Queck et al. [68] have shown that the agr system, involved in the regulation of genes linked to S. aureus virulence, was repressed by L. lactis even if L. lactis does not produce H2O2 in this condition. Molecular intermediaries SaeRS and SrrAB are involved in controlling the agr system [46]. We showed srrA expression was repressed in co-culture with N201 and CL-1183, when H2O2 was produced as already observed by Chang et al. [53]. Moreover, Majerczyk et al. [56] have shown that a codY mutant could derepressed agr system. In our conditions, codY was repressed by CL-1183 at 6 h explaining agrA up-regulation at 9 h, whereas repression of codY at 24 h by Lg2 cannot explain agrA down-regulation suggesting that another regulator might be involved. Moreover, at 24 h, despite SA15 growth was not modified, Lg2 caused a down-regulation of three virulence-related regulator genes tested in this study (agrA, codY, hld). sec4 and sel2 are two enteroxin-encoding genes found in S. aureus SA15 [17]. Although enteroxin C-encoding gene sec4 is under the control of the agr system [45], agrA expression was only induced by N201 and CL-1183 and sec4 was repressed under high aeration level as shown by Delpech et al. [17]. Our data showed the repression of virulence associated genes and of enterotoxin encoding genes as well as simultaneous S. aureus growth inhibition in the presence of N201 or CL-1183, indicating that these 2 strains not only inhibited SA15 growth but also potentially attenuated its virulence.
Under low aeration condition, S. aureus over-expressed agrA and enterotoxin-encoding genes sel2 and sec4 in presence of N201 and CL-1183, whereas Lg2 did not induce any modification. In presence of Lg2, agrA was up-regulated at 24 h. This result can be explained by the fact that SA15 srrA gene was down-regulated, at the same time. The same observation was reported by Yarwood et al. [55]. They showed that transcription of RNAIII from the agr locus was inversely dependent on expression of srrAB. Inherently, despite SA15 agrA up-regulation by Lg2, no modification in enterotoxin genes expression was observed. Yarwood et al. [55] also reported that the SA15 srrB mutant growth was significantly slower in anaerobic condition, which is in accordance with SA15 growth inhibition in presence of Lg2.
L. garvieae strain responses to low and high levels of aeration in co-culture with S. aureus SA15
It seemed that the three strains of L. garvieae differed essentially in their ability to degrade H2O2. Presence of H2O2 would not depend only on H2O2-synthesis, but also on H2O2-degradation by L. garvieae strains, which is an original mechanism, and in accordance with the results obtained by Delpech et al. [20].
In high aeration level, Lg2 overexpressed two H2O2 degradation genes ahpC and trxB at 9 and 24 h respectively. The non-detection of H2O2 could be explained by the absence of production of H2O2 or by its degradation by AhpC and TrxB. The latter mechanism could explain why, under low aeration, despite CL-1183 overexpressed an H2O2-synthesis gene, poxB, no detectable H2O2 was observed. Indeed, at the same time, this strain overexpressed the H2O2 degradation gene ahpC. Our data showed that the importance of the inhibition varies depending on the presence or absence of H2O2. Indeed, inhibition can occur while H2O2 is not detected. As regards other potential explanations for the growth inhibition, the only putative bacteriocin identified in the L. garvieae N201 genome was homologous to garvieaecin Q (GarQ, data not shown), a class IId bacteriocin [69]. In view of the results of previous experiments on L. garvieae N201 [20], the inhibition was probably caused neither by garvieaecin Q nor by a protein, nor by a lipid, and nor by a polysaccharide. In the present study, we evidenced L. garvieae strain-specific response in S. aureus gene expression which suggests that molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibition could differ between L. garvieae strains. Further investigations are needed to elucidate these mechanisms. A detailed analysis of strains physiology is needed to evaluate the potential role of nutritional competition in the inhibition. A global transcriptomic approach of the interaction would shed some light on the metabolic dialogue between these strains, and more particularly the potential involvement of quorum-sensing.
Our data evidenced an impact of the aeration condition on the interaction between SA15 and L. garvieae strains.
Under high level of aeration, only N201 and CL-1183 produced detectable amounts of H2O2 and consequently inhibited SA15 growth. Both L. garvieae strains activated SA15 stress-response genes and inhibited the expression of several genes involved in H2O2-degradation, virulence and cellular division. A catalase treatment partially or completely suppressed this inhibition and no H2O2 was detected. Lg2 strain did not produce any detectable amount of H2O2 and did not inhibit SA15 growth. However, as N201 and CL-1183, Lg2 inhibited SA15 virulence-related genes and stress-response related genes.
Under low aeration level, none of the L. garvieae strains produced any detectable amount of H2O2. N201 and CL-1183 were still able to inhibit SA15 growth, as well as, Lg2. While N201 and CL-1183 induced the up-regulation of the SA15 enterotoxin-encoding genes and related regulator agrA, Lg2 caused up-regulation of SA15 stress-related genes and down-regulated virulence-related regulators genes.
The antagonistic properties of L. garvieae against S. aureus were strain- and aeration level-dependent. Under high aeration, they involved H2O2 production by two out of the three L. garvieae tested strains. This study provides new insights into microbial interactions mechanisms and shows the importance of investigating strain-specific effects.
Strains and culture conditions
Strains Lactococcus garvieae N201, CL-1183 and Lg2 and Staphylococcus aureus SA15 were cultivated in Brain-Heart Infusion buffered to pH 7 using Potassium Phosphate (BHI, Biokar Diagnostic, Pantin, France) at 30 °C and 37 °C, respectively, under static condition. After 20 h, cells were harvested at 3500 g during 15 min. Cell pellets were resuspended in 2 ml of BHI and syringed 5 times. Cell concentration was then determined using a Petroff-Hausser counting chamber. Fifty milliliters of buffered BHI, containing or not 4000 IU ml− 1 of catalase from bovine liver (ref. C100, Sigma), were then co-inoculated at ~ 107 cells per ml for L. garvieae and ~ 106 cells per ml for S. aureus, or just with L. garvieae or S. aureus at the same concentration in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks or in 50 ml Falcon tubes, as described previously [2, 17].
Then, Erlenmeyer flasks were incubated for 6, 9 or 24 h at 30 °C under shaking condition (150 rpm), corresponding to the high level of aeration condition. The low level of aeration condition corresponded to static fully filled 50 ml Falcon tubes. At 0, 6, 9 and 24 h, 1 ml of the cultures was removed to be syringed and serially diluted in Ringer’s solution. After adequate mixing, 100 μl of each dilution were plated onto solid Baird Parker for S. aureus and BHI agar for L. garvieae for numeration. Colony-forming units were counted after overnight incubation at 37 °C for S. aureus and 30 °C for L. garvieae. Also, 1 ml was removed from the cultures for H2O2 content analysis and 40 ml for RNA extraction. Cell pellets from 6, 9 and 24 h cultures were resuspended in 200 μl of cold Tris-EDTA buffer and then frozen at − 80 °C. The experiment was carried out in triplicate within each of three independent biological replicates, for a total of 9 samples per time point. pH measurements were made with the rest of the cultures.
Quantitative analysis of H2O2 in L. garvieae cultures supernatant
Hydrogen peroxide concentration was determined according to Batdorj et al. protocol [70] with slight modifications. Cells were harvested by centrifugation at 11500 g, 15 °C for 10 min. One hundred microliter of the sample supernatant were mixed with 100 μl of 4-aminoantipyrine 4 mg.ml− 1 (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri, USA), 20 μl of water-saturated phenol (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri, USA), 750 μl of phosphate buffer Na2HPO4/NaH2PO4 0.1 M (pH 7) and 30 μl of horseradish peroxidase type VI-A (500 U.ml− 1 in sodium phosphate buffer pH 6 (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Sample was mixed by inverting the tube and OD was measured at 505 nm. Blank was done by replacing sample by sterile medium. H2O2 concentration was determined using a standard curve performed with concentrations ranging from 0 to 3 mM. The minimal concentration that could be detected was 0.5 mM.
RNA extraction and DNase treatments
Cells in Tris-EDTA buffer were thawed out and 25 μl of 20% SDS, 500 μl of phenol (pH 4), 3.5 μl of β-mercaptoethanol and 600 mg of Zirconium beads were added. The cells were broken twice in a tissue homogenizer (Precellys® 24, Bertin Technologies, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France). Then, 200 μl of chloroform were added and mixed with the solution and sample was centrifuged at 11400 g for 20 min at 4 °C. RNA extraction was performed using NucleoSpin RNA Midi kit (Macherey-Nagel, GmbH & Co. KG, Düren, Germany) following the supplier’s instructions. The RNA extracts were treated twice with DNAse I using an Ambion DNA-free kit following the supplier’s instructions (Ambion, Inc., Austin, Texas, USA). The RNA extracts were quantified using a Nanodrop™ 2000C (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, USA).
Reverse transcription and quantitative PCR
Reverse Transcription (RT) was performed using 0.5 μg of RNA twice treated with DNase, 5 μl of 10X buffer, 2 μl of 25X dNTP, 5 μl of random primers and 2.5 μl of retrotranscriptase (Applied Biosystems®, Life Technologies, Foster City, California, USA). The RT was done in a thermocycler (Techne® Prime, Bibby Scientific, Stone, Staffordshire, UK) with the following parameters: 10 min at 25 °C and 120 min at 37 °C.
Genes Of Interest (GOI) Ct were determined in quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays using 2.5 μl of cDNA suspensions 10-fold diluted in RNAse-free water and 10 μl of qPCR mix containing 1.25 μl of each primer (10 mM, Tables 3 and 4), 6.25 μl of qPCR Rotor Gene SybrGreen mix (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) and 1.25 μl of RNAse-free water. The qPCR was performed according to the protocol on Rotor Gene Q (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) with the following parameters: 4 min at 94 °C, then for 35 cycles, 30 s at 94 °C, 30 s at 55 °C, 60 s at 72 °C. Each reaction was performed in triplicate within each of three independent biological replicates, for a total of 9 reactions per time point.
Targeted Staphylococcus aureus genes
Primers references
hu a
DNA-binding protein
Housekeeping gene
recAa
Recombinase A
Accessory gene regulator A
Virulence-related regulator
Alkyl hydroperoxidase F
H2O2-response
Clp proteinase C
Stress-response
ctsR
Transcriptional repressor of stress-genes
Transcriptional repressor
Chaperone protein DnaK
Deltahemolysin
Catalase
S-adenosyl methyltransferase
Histidine protein kinase
Enterotoxin C
Enterotoxin
Enterotoxin L
Staphylococcal respiratory response
aReference genes
Targeted Lactococcus. garvieae genes
tufBa
Elongation factor Tu
ahpC
Alkyl hydroxyperoxide reductase
H2O2-degradation
Glutathione peroxidase
poxB
Pyruvate oxidase
H2O2-synthesis
trxB1
Thioredoxin reductase
aReference gene
Primers efficiencies were determined according to a 10-fold template dilution standard and were all ranging from 1.90 (~ 95%) to 2.293 (~ 115%) according to the following equation: Efficiency = 10^(− 1/slope of calibration curve) [71]. The primers used were previously described by others [17]. One reference gene was used for L. garvieae data: tufB encoding the elongation factor Tu. Considering that the lag in growth phase reflects the inhibition of S. aureus by L. garvieae, we evaluated gene expression at identical time points corresponding to different population levels. Two reference genes whose expression was stable over time under the different conditions were used for S. aureus data: housekeeping genes recA, encoding the recombinase A, and hu, encoding a DNA-binding protein. The GOI expression was calculated according to the formula introduced by Hellemans et al. [72].
Comparison of gene expression
Differential gene expression was evaluated by comparing expression between two conditions. First, the influence of aeration on gene expression in pure culture was evaluated for S. aureus. Then, the influence of different strains of L. garvieae (N201, CL-1183 and Lg2) on S. aureus SA15 gene expression was observed under high or low aeration condition. Secondly, L. garvieae gene expression was compared between the different strains in co-culture with S. aureus SA15 under both aeration conditions. A gene was considered as differentially expressed when its expression was changed by at least a factor of 2.
Statistical analyses on microbial counts were performed using R software [73] by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. The gene expression statistical analyses were performed using R by ANOVA with Newmann-Keuls post-hoc test. Significance was declared at P < 0.05.
Céline Delbès and Stéphanie Bornes contributed equally to this work.
BHI:
Brain heart infusion
GOI:
Gene of interest
LAB:
Lactic acid bacteria
ROS:
The authors acknowledge Mr. Mar Blanco for the gift of Lactococcus garvieae strain CL-1183, as well as Masahira Hattori and Hidetoshi Morita for the gift of Lactococcus garvieae strain Lg2 and Maryline Bornes and Kate James for English proofreading.
The authors of this work as well as the collection of data were supported by the University Clermont-Auvergne (IUT Clermont-Ferrand) and by the Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA). The funding bodies did not have any influence neither in the design of the study, in the analysis and the interpretation of data, nor in the writing of the manuscript.
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].
CQ performed the RT-qPCR, analyzed genes expression, ran statistical analyses and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. MB contributed to cultivate the different strains, performed the quantitative analysis of H2O2 in L. garvieae cultures, the RNA extraction, DNase treatment and the RT-qPCR, and was also a contributor in writing the manuscript. TS cultivated the different strains, performed the tests with added catalase, and contributed in writing the manuscript. PD helped in RT-qPCR, genes expression analysis and improvement of the manuscript. PV contributed to cultivate the different strains and to extract the RNA. ER contributed to statistical analyses. CM contributed to the adjustment of the method of quantitative analysis of H2O2. GG read and corrected the manuscript. SB and CD conceived the study. CD contributed to genes expression analysis and to the structuring and improvement of the manuscript. SB contributed to cultivate the different strains, performed the RNA extraction and was also a contributor in writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Additional file 1: Figure. S2. L. garvieae strains growth in pure culture and in coculture with S. aureus SA15, under different levels of aeration. (DOCX 116 kb)
Additional file 2: Table S5. Gene expression changes in S. aureus SA15 co culture with 3 L. garvieae strains under high aeration level. (DOCX 24 kb)
Additional file 3: Table S6. Gene expression changes in S. aureus SA15 co culture with 3 L. garvieae strains under low aeration level. (DOCX 24 kb)
Additional file 4: Table S7. Aeration induced changes in L. garvieae (N201, CL 1183 and Lg2 strains) H2O2-related gene expression in co-culture with S. aureus SA15. (DOCX 17 kb)
Université Clermont Auvergne, INRA, UMRF, F-15000 Aurillac, France
Le Loir Y, Baron F, Gautier M. Staphylococcus aureus and food poisoning. Genet Mol Res. 2003;2:63–76.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Delbes-Paus C, Dorchies G, Chaabna Z, Callon C, Montel M-C. Contribution of hydrogen peroxide to the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by Lactococcus garvieae in interaction with raw milk microbial community. Food Microbiol. 2010;27:924–32.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Callon C, Duthoit F, Delbès C, Ferrand M, Le Frileux Y, De Crémoux R, et al. Stability of microbial communities in goat milk during a lactation year: molecular approaches. Syst Appl Microbiol. 2007;30:547–60.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Villani F, Aponte M, Blaiotta G, Mauriello G, Pepe O, Moschetti G. Detection and characterization of a bacteriocin, garviecin L1-5, produced by Lactococcus garvieae isolated from raw cow’s milk. J Appl Microbiol. 2001;90:430–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Aguado-Urda M, Cutuli MT, Blanco MM, Aspiroz C, Tejedor JL, Fernández-Garayzábal JF, et al. Utilization of lactose and presence of the phospho-β-galactosidase (lacG) gene in Lactococcus garvieae isolates from different sources. Int Microbiol Off J Span Soc Microbiol. 2010;13:189–93.Google Scholar
Eldar A, Ghittino C. Lactococcus garvieae and Streptococcus iniae infections in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: similar, but different diseases. Dis Aquat Org. 1999;36:227–31.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Vendrell D, Balcázar JL, Ruiz-Zarzuela I, de Blas I, Gironés O, Múzquiz JL. Lactococcus garvieae in fish: a review. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2006;29:177–98.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Klebanoff SJ, Hillier SL, Eschenbach DA, Waltersdorph AM. Control of the microbial flora of the vagina by H2O2-generating lactobacilli. J Infect Dis. 1991;164:94–100.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Gálvez A, Abriouel H, López RL, Ben ON. Bacteriocin-based strategies for food biopreservation. Int J Food Microbiol. 2007;120:51–70.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Charlier C, Even S, Gautier M, Le Loir Y. Acidification is not involved in the early inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus growth by Lactococcus lactis in milk. Int Dairy J. 2008;18:197–203.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Haines WC, Harmon LG. Effect of selected lactic acid bacteria on growth of Staphylococcus aureus and production of enterotoxin. Appl Microbiol. 1973;25:436–41.PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Charlier C, Cretenet M, Even S, Le Loir Y. Interactions between Staphylococcus aureus and lactic acid bacteria: an old story with new perspectives. Int J Food Microbiol. 2009;131:30–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Minor TE, Marth EH. Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in acidified pasteurized Milk. J Milk Food Technol. 1970;33:516–20.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Tatini SR, Jezeski JJ, Morris HA, Olson JC, Casman EP. Production of staphylococcal enterotoxin a in cheddar and Colby cheese. J Dairy Sci. 1971;54:815–25.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Amin VM, Olson NF. Influence of catalase activity on resistance of coagulase-positive staphylococci to hydrogen peroxide. Appl Microbiol. 1968;16:267–70.PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Alomar J, Loubiere P, Delbes C, Nouaille S, Montel MC. Effect of Lactococcus garvieae, Lactococcus lactis and Enterococcus faecalis on the behaviour of Staphylococcus aureus in microfiltered milk. Food Microbiol. 2008;25:502–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Delpech P, Bornes S, Alaterre E, Bonnet M, Gagne G, Montel M-C, et al. Staphylococcus aureus transcriptomic response to inhibition by H2O2-producing Lactococcus garvieae. Food Microbiol. 2015;51:163–70.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Fernández E, Alegría Á, Delgado S, Mayo B. Phenotypic, genetic and technological characterization of Lactococcus garvieae strains isolated from a raw milk cheese. Int Dairy J. 2010;20:142–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Baba T, Takeuchi F, Kuroda M, Yuzawa H, Aoki K, Oguchi A, et al. Genome and virulence determinants of high virulence community-acquired MRSA. Lancet. 2002;359:1819–27.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Delpech P, Rifa E, Ball G, Nidelet S, Dubois E, Gagne G, et al. New insights into the anti-pathogenic potential of Lactococcus garvieae against Staphylococcus aureus based on RNA sequencing profiling. Front Microbiol.2017;8 [cited 2017 Mar 7]. Available from: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00359/abstract
Chiang SM, Schellhorn HE. Regulators of oxidative stress response genes in Escherichia coli and their functional conservation in bacteria. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2012;525:161–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Condon S. Responses of lactic acid bacteria to oxygen. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1987;46:269–80.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Murphy MG, Condon S. Correlation of oxygen utilization and hydrogen peroxide accumulation with oxygen induced enzymes in lactobacillus plantarum cultures. Arch Microbiol. 1984;138:44–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Quatravaux S, Remize F, Bryckaert E, Colavizza D, Guzzo J. Examination of Lactobacillus plantarum lactate metabolism side effects in relation to the modulation of aeration parameters. J Appl Microbiol. 2006;101:903–12.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Mishra S, Imlay J. Why do bacteria use so many enzymes to scavenge hydrogen peroxide? Arch Biochem Biophys. 2012;525:145–60.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Margis R, Dunand C, Teixeira FK, Margis-Pinheiro M. Glutathione peroxidase family - an evolutionary overview. FEBS J. 2008;275:3959–70.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Holmgren A. Thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems. J Biol Chem. 1989;264:13963–6.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Lu J, Holmgren A. The thioredoxin antioxidant system. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014;66:75–87.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Cosgrove K, Coutts G, Jonsson I-M, Tarkowski A, Kokai-Kun JF, Mond JJ, et al. Catalase (KatA) and alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) have compensatory roles in peroxide stress resistance and are required for survival, persistence, and nasal colonization in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 2007;189:1025–35.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Seaver LC, Imlay JA. Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase is the primary scavenger of endogenous hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 2001;183:7173–81.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Rockabrand D, Arthur T, Korinek G, Livers K, Blum P. An essential role for the Escherichia coli DnaK protein in starvation-induced thermotolerance, H2O2 resistance, and reductive division. J Bacteriol. 1995;177:3695–703.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Singh VK, Utaida S, Jackson LS, Jayaswal RK, Wilkinson BJ, Chamberlain NR. Role for dnaK locus in tolerance of multiple stresses in Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiology. 2007;153:3162–73.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Fiocco D, Capozzi V, Collins M, Gallone A, Hols P, Guzzo J, et al. Characterization of the CtsR stress response regulon in Lactobacillus plantarum. J Bacteriol. 2010;192:896–900.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Hara H, Yasuda S, Horiuchi K, Park JT. A promoter for the first nine genes of the Escherichia coli mra cluster of cell division and cell envelope biosynthesis genes, including ftsI and ftsW. J Bacteriol. 1997;179:5802–11.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Srinivasan V, Sawant AA, Gillespie BE, Headrick SJ, Ceasaris L, Oliver SP. Prevalence of enterotoxin and toxic shock syndrome toxin genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk of cows with mastitis. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2006;3:274–83.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Cha JO, Lee JK, Jung YH, Yoo JI, Park YK, Kim BS, et al. Molecular analysis of Staphylococcus aureus isolates associated with staphylococcal food poisoning in South Korea. J Appl Microbiol. 2006;101:864–71.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Chiang Y-C, Liao W-W, Fan C-M, Pai W-Y, Chiou C-S, Tsen H-Y. PCR detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) N, O, P, Q, R, U, and survey of SE types in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from food-poisoning cases in Taiwan. Int J Food Microbiol. 2008;121:66–73.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Kérouanton A, Hennekinne JA, Letertre C, Petit L, Chesneau O, Brisabois A, et al. Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with food poisoning outbreaks in France. Int J Food Microbiol. 2007;115:369–75.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Wieneke AA, Roberts D, Gilbert RJ. Staphylococcal food poisoning in the United Kingdom, 1969-90. Epidemiol Infect. 1993;110:519–31.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Cretenet M, Nouaille S, Thouin J, Rault L, Stenz L, François P, et al. Staphylococcus aureus virulence and metabolism are dramatically affected by Lactococcus lactis in cheese matrix. Environ Microbiol Rep. 2011;3:340–51.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Dassy B, Hogan T, Foster TJ, Fournier JM. Involvement of the accessory gene regulator (agr) in expression of type 5 capsular polysaccharide by Staphylococcus aureus. J Gen Microbiol. 1993;139(Pt 6):1301–6.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Gaskill ME, Khan SA. Regulation of the enterotoxin B gene in Staphylococcus aureus. J Biol Chem. 1988;263:6276–80.PubMedGoogle Scholar
Janzon L, Arvidson S. The role of the delta-lysin gene (hld) in the regulation of virulence genes by the accessory gene regulator (agr) in Staphylococcus aureus. EMBO J. 1990;9:1391–9.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Peng HL, Novick RP, Kreiswirth B, Kornblum J, Schlievert P. Cloning, characterization, and sequencing of an accessory gene regulator (agr) in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 1988;170:4365–72.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Regassa LB, Couch JL, Betley MJ. Steady-state staphylococcal enterotoxin type C mRNA is affected by a product of the accessory gene regulator (agr) and by glucose. Infect Immun. 1991;59:955–62.PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
Liang X, Yu C, Sun J, Liu H, Landwehr C, Holmes D, et al. Inactivation of a two-component signal transduction system, SaeRS, eliminates adherence and attenuates virulence of Staphylococcus aureus. Infect Immun. 2006;74:4655–65.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Giraudo AT, Rampone H, Calzolari A, Nagel R. Phenotypic characterization and virulence of a sae − agr − mutant of Staphylococcus aureus. Can J Microbiol. 1996;42:120–3.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Goerke C, Fluckiger U, Steinhuber A, Bisanzio V, Ulrich M, Bischoff M, et al. Role of Staphylococcus aureus global regulators sae and σB in virulence gene expression during device-related infection. Infect Immun. 2005;73:3415–21.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Rogasch K, Rühmling V, Pané-Farré J, Höper D, Weinberg C, Fuchs S, et al. Influence of the two-component system SaeRS on global gene expression in two different Staphylococcus aureus strains. J Bacteriol. 2006;188:7742–58.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Steinhuber A, Goerke C, Bayer MG, Döring G, Wolz C. Molecular architecture of the regulatory locus sae of Staphylococcus aureus and its impact on expression of virulence factors. J Bacteriol. 2003;185:6278–86.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Fuchs S, Pané-Farré J, Kohler C, Hecker M, Engelmann S. Anaerobic gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 2007;189:4275–89.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Ulrich M, Bastian M, Cramton SE, Ziegler K, Pragman AA, Bragonzi A, et al. The staphylococcal respiratory response regulator SrrAB induces ica gene transcription and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin expression, protecting Staphylococcus aureus from neutrophil killing under anaerobic growth conditions. Mol Microbiol. 2007;65:1276–87.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Chang W, Small DA, Toghrol F, Bentley WE. Global transcriptome analysis of Staphylococcus aureus response to hydrogen peroxide. J Bacteriol. 2006;188:1648–59.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Pragman AA, Yarwood JM, Tripp TJ, Schlievert PM. Characterization of virulence factor regulation by SrrAB, a two-component system in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 2004;186:2430–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Yarwood JM, McCormick JK, Schlievert PM. Identification of a novel two-component regulatory system that acts in global regulation of virulence factors ofStaphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 2001;183:1113–23.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Majerczyk CD, Sadykov MR, Luong TT, Lee C, Somerville GA, Sonenshein AL. Staphylococcus aureus CodY negatively regulates virulence gene expression. J Bacteriol. 2008;190:2257–65.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Dijkstra AR, Alkema W, Starrenburg MJ, Hugenholtz J, van Hijum SA, Bron PA. Fermentation-induced variation in heat and oxidative stress phenotypes of Lactococcus lactis MG1363 reveals transcriptome signatures for robustness. Microb Cell Factories. 2014;13:148.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Ocaña VS, Holgado AAP de R, Nader‐Macías ME. Growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by H2O2- producing Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei isolated from the human vagina. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1999;23:87–92. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-695X.1999.tb01227.x/abstract;jsessionid=3D0D6339EEB88C5073FB7F86C2639DCE.f04t02
Marty-Teysset C, de la Torre F, Garel J. Increased production of hydrogen peroxide by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp bulgaricus upon aeration: involvement of an NADH oxidase in oxidative stress. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000;66:262–7.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Morita H, Toh H, Oshima K, Yoshizaki M, Kawanishi M, Nakaya K, et al. Complete genome sequence and comparative analysis of the fish pathogen Lactococcus garvieae. PLoS ONE. 2011;6 [cited 2016 Feb 1]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150408/ View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Mashruwala AA, Boyd JM. The Staphylococcus aureus srrAB Regulatory system modulates hydrogen peroxide resistance factors, which imparts protection to aconitase during aerobic growth. PLoS ONE. 2017;12 Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5242492/.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Chatterjee I, Becker P, Grundmeier M, Bischoff M, Somerville GA, Peters G, et al. Staphylococcus aureus ClpC is required for stress resistance, aconitase activity, growth recovery, and death. J Bacteriol. 2005;187:4488–96.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Krüger E, Völker U, Hecker M. Stress induction of clpC in Bacillus subtilis and its involvement in stress tolerance. J Bacteriol. 1994;176:3360–7.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Singh P, Panda D. FtsZ inhibition: a promising approach for antistaphylococcal therapy. Drug News Perspect. 2010;23:295.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Kim B-M, Choi H-Y, Kim G-W, Zheng C-J, Kim Y-H, Kim W-G. Madurahydroxylactone, an inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus FtsZ from Nonomuraea sp. AN100570. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2017;27:1994–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Oogai Y, Kawada-Matsuo M, Komatsuzawa H. Staphylococcus aureus SrrAB affects susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide and co-existence with Streptococcus sanguinis. PLoS ONE. 2016;11 Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4956065/.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Ledala N, Zhang B, Seravalli J, Powers R, Somerville GA. Influence of iron andaeration on Staphylococcus aureus growth, metabolism, and transcription. J Bacteriol. 2014;196(12):2178–89.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Queck SY, Jameson-Lee M, Villaruz AE, Bach T-HL, Khan BA, Sturdevant DE, et al. RNAIII-independent target gene control by the agr quorum-sensing system: insight into the evolution of virulence regulation in Staphylococcus aureus. Mol Cell. 2008;32:150–8.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Tosukhowong A, Zendo T, Visessanguan W, Roytrakul S, Pumpuang L, Jaresitthikunchai J, et al. Garvieacin Q, a novel class II Bacteriocin from Lactococcus garvieae BCC 43578. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012;78:1619–23.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Batdorj B, Trinetta V, Dalgalarrondo M, Prévost H, Dousset X, Ivanova I, et al. Isolation, taxonomic identification and hydrogen peroxide production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis T31, isolated from Mongolian yoghurt: inhibitory activity on food-borne pathogens. J. Appl. Microbiol. 2007;103:584–93.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Rasmussen R. Quantification on the LightCycler. In: Meuer PD, Med S, Wittwer PDC, Nakagawara DK-I, editors. Rapid Cycle Real-Time PCR. Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2001. p. 21–34 [cited 2016 Feb 3]. Available from: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-59524-0_3
Hellemans J, Mortier G, De Paepe A, Speleman F, Vandesompele J. qBase relative quantification framework and software for management and automated analysis of real-time quantitative PCR data. Genome Biol. 2007;8:R19.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
R Core Team. R. A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2014. Available from: http://www.R-project.org Google Scholar
Valihrach L, Demnerova K. Impact of normalization method on experimental outcome using RT-qPCR in Staphylococcus aureus. J Microbiol Methods. 2012;90:214–6.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
Microbial genetics, genomics and proteomics
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6433
|
__label__cc
| 0.71632
| 0.28368
|
Home News Penalty rate reduction will help small businesses to create jobs
Penalty rate reduction will help small businesses to create jobs
Tuesday 28 February, 2017 | By: Default Admin | Tags: penalty rates, fair work commission, jobs and growth
Small business operators from across Australia have spoken loud and clear – reducing penalty rates will allow them to hire more staff and give more work hours to existing staff, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said today.
James Pearson, CEO of the Australian Chamber, said: “Small businesses in retail and hospitality are saying that existing excessive penalty rates are holding back job opportunities, and the decision of the Fair Work Commission will unquestionably help them to hire.
“While some staff may have their hourly pay reduced, extra work hours are likely to be available, and people who up until now have been squeezed out of the job market will get new opportunities. We know that retail and hospitality are the sectors where many young people get their first job, so this decision will be a boon for youth employment.
“With 725,000 people out of work, including 259,000 young people, we need to make it easier for employers to take on employees. Last week’s penalty rates decision does just that.
“The Parliament needs to respect the decision of the Commission, which was based on the evidence of more than 100 experts and many weeks of hearings. Parliament needs to respect the decision of the independent umpire rather than seeking to meddle.
“Reducing penalty rates will create job opportunities, improve levels of service the community and help more small businesses remain competitive. But all these benefits will be put at risk if the Parliament tries to overall the decision.”
Since the penalty rates decision many small business operators have spoken to the media about how the decision will improve job opportunities. Here is a selection:
“As a business owner it means we can hire more staff and have more working on Sundays which works best for customers.” – George Kanellos, Rose Hotel, Sydney
“It will certainly increase our ability to put on more people. In the current situation the consumer gets less amenity, staff get less work, the government gets less tax and businesses get less turnover. I fail to see a winner.” – Will Nevile, Wharf One, Cairns
“Staff might find they get more hours or get hours on Sunday all together.” – John Lynch, Jack Hotel, Cairns
“This means more choice for consumers and more flexibility for restaurants, plus with many people unemployed across the country we need to make it easier to for employers take on new staff.” – Steven Premutico, Dimmi
“I don’t want to be there on a Sunday, I work six days a week at the moment, and that’s my family day with the kids. So if I can staff it at a reasonable price, I absolutely would do it.” – Carla Burns, Vanilla Pod Cake and Deli Café, Brisbane
“I know a lot of local businesses who are running lean on staff or don’t open the hours they want to open because of the pay rates on Sundays. It will give them incentive to put on more people and open longer. It’s a job creation move.” – Martin Brady, Gold Coast Combined Chamber of Commerce
“Retailers have been operating smaller staff on Sunday due to higher costs. … It’ll bring better service and more hours for staff.” – Michael Newtown-Brown, Leisures, Sydney
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6439
|
__label__cc
| 0.565914
| 0.434086
|
HomePosts tagged 'Gallery'
Upcoming: THE THREE SECRET CITIES by Matthew Reilly (Gallery/Orion)
April 18, 2018 Civilian Reader Upcoming Action, Adventure, Gallery, Jack West Jr Series, Matthew Reilly, Most Anticipated 2018, Orion, Simon & Schuster, Thriller
This November, Jack West Jr. returns! The Three Secret Cities is Matthew Reilly’s fifth novel featuring the soldier-turned-adventurer. I’ve enjoyed all of the novels in the series (as well as Reilly’s loosely-connected Scarecrow series), and so I am very much looking forward to this latest thriller. Here’s the synopsis:
A shadow world behind the real world
When Jack West, Jr. won the Great Games, he threw the four legendary kingdoms into turmoil.
A world with its own history, rules and prisons
Now these dark forces are coming after Jack… in ruthless fashion.
That is reaching into our world… explosively
With the end of all things rapidly approaching, Jack must find the Three Secret Cities, three incredible lost cities of legend.
It’s an impossible task by any reckoning, but Jack must do it while he is being hunted… by the greatest hunters in history.
The Three Secret Cities is published in November 2018 by Gallery in North America and Orion in the UK.
Also on CR: Guest Post on “Four Kingdoms and Twelve Labours: Turning Myths into Reality”; Reviews of Six Sacred Stones, Five Greatest Warriors and The Great Zoo of China (I thought I had reviewed The Four Legendary Kingdoms, but I can’t find the review — I’ll try to post one up soon.)
Follow the Author: Website, Goodreads, Twitter
New Books: March #2
March 28, 2015 August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Christopher Golden, Dan Simmons, David Levien, Debbie Johnson, Del Rey, Eve Darrows, Gallery, Harlan Coben, Hodder, JF Lewis, Jo Fletcher Books, Keija Parssinen, Kristi Charish, Lachlan Smith, Lindsey Davis, Lucasbooks, Mike Lawson, Owen Laukkanen, Paul S Kemp, Ravenstone, Robert Karjel, Scott McCloud, Shane Kuhn, Simon & Schuster, Sue Tingey, Tim Lebbon, Titan Books, Transworld, Zachary Brown
A few more thrillers this time around, most of which I bought – this has been part of a conscious decision on my part to read more non-SFF books. Mainly because I think I’m overdosing on those genres, and I feel like I’m missing out on authors I ordinarily would love to read.
Featuring: Zachary Brown, Kristi Charish, Harlan Coben, Eve Darrows, Lindsey Davis, Christopher Golden, Richard Kadrey, Robert Karjel, Paul S. Kemp, Shane Kuhn, Owen Laukkanen, Mike Lawson, Tim Lebbon, Scott McCloud, Keija Parssinen, Dan Simmons, Lachlan Smith, Sue Tingey
[GIF from Black Books – a fantastic, curmudgeonly UK TV comedy series. Recommended.] Continue reading →
New Books (Jan-Feb 2015)
January 24, 2015 August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books 4th Estate, Ally Carter, Ben Tripp, Caitlin Kittredge, Chris Evans, Dave Bara, Del Rey, Del Rey UK, Dick Wolf, Douglas Coupland, EJ Swift, Erika Johansen, Erika Swyler, Gallery, Gollancz, Hammer, Harper, Ian Tregillis, JL Bourne, Maria Dahvana Headley, Mark Stay, Mats Strandberg, Michael Moorcok, Naomi Novik, Neil Gaiman, Orbit, Patricia Briggs, Peter V Brett, Royce Scott Buckingham, Sara B. Elfgren, Thomas Dunne, Thomas Dunne Books, Titan Books, Voyager, Wayne Gladstone, Will Wiles
Featuring: Dave Bara, J.L. Bourne, Peter V. Brett, Patricia Briggs, Royce Scott Buckingham, Ally Carter, Sara B. Elfgren, Chris Evans, Neil Gaiman, Wayne Gladstone, Erika Johansen, Caitlin Kittredge, Michael Moorcock, Naomi Novik, Mats Strandberg, Mark Stay, E.J. Swift, Erika Swyler, Ian Tregillis, Ben Tripp, Will Wiles, Dick Wolf Continue reading →
New Books (2015 Inaugural Edition)
January 13, 2015 August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Alan Finn, Angry Robot, Anthony Reynolds, Beth Shapiro, Black Library, Brandon Sanderson, Brian Staveley, Daniel José Older, David Walton, Deborah Install, Duane Swierczynski, Ferrett Steinmetz, Forge, Gail Carriger, Gallery, Ha Jin, Haruki Murakami, Henry Holt, James Grady, Jim C Hines, Kevin Hearne, Louis Bayard, Michael Moorcock, Mulholland Books, Olen Steinhauer, Orbit, Pierce Brown, Princeton University Press, Pyr, Severn House, Simon R Green, Star Wars, Susan Wilkins, Titan, Tom Doyle, Tor, Transworld
Featuring: Louis Bayard, Pierce Brown, Gail Carriger, Tom Doyle, Alan Finn, James Grady, Simon R. Green, Kevin Hearne, Jim C. Hines, Deborath Install, Ha Jin, Michael Moorcock, Haruki Murakami, Daniel José Older, Anthony Reynolds, Brandon Sanderson, Beth Shapiro, Brian Staveley, Olen Steinhauer, Ferrett Steinmetz, Duane Swierczynski, David Walton, Susan Wilkins Continue reading →
Review: THE GREAT ZOO OF CHINA by Matthew Reilly (Gallery/Orion)
January 2, 2015 January 2, 2015 Civilian Reader Review Action, Adventure, Dragons, Gallery, Macmillan, Matthew Reilly, Orion, The Great Zoo of China, Thriller
A ferociously-paced action adventure
It is a secret the Chinese government has been keeping for 40 years. They have found a species of animal no one believed even existed. It will amaze the world.
Now the Chinese are ready to unveil their astonishing discovery within the greatest zoo ever constructed. A small group of VIPs and journalists has been brought to the zoo deep within China to see its fabulous creatures for the first time. Among them is Dr Cassandra Jane ‘CJ’ Cameron, a writer for National Geographic and an expert on reptiles.
The visitors are assured by their Chinese hosts that they will be struck with wonder at these beasts, that they are perfectly safe, and that nothing can go wrong…
I’m a big fan of Matthew Reilly’s novels — they’re unashamedly fun, action-packed adventure stories writ large. There is always a lot of research behind the extravagant action, which keeps the story rooted in reality (slightly twisted on occasion, of course). Each new novel by the author is a very welcome addition to my library, and I have enjoyed each one I’ve read (I’ve fallen a bit behind, recently). The Great Zoo of China is no exception: this is an absolute blast of a read.
New Books (November #1)
November 17, 2014 August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Abaddon, Ace Books, Adaptive Studios, Ben Aaronovitch, Ben Okri, EC Myers, Francesca Haig, Gallery, Gollancz, Head of Zeus, Matthew Reilly, Myke Cole, Simon and Schuster, Stephen Blackmoore, Stephen King
A quieter month — I don’t know if that’s just because there’s less coming out, or because I’ve somehow missed a bunch of new releases that never made it on to my radar. Feel free to add suggestions and recommendations in the comments, if you think I’ve missed something I shouldn’t have.
Featuring: Ben Aaronovitch, Stephen Blackmoore, Myke Cole, Francesca Haig, Stephen King, E.C. Myers, Ben Okri, Matthew Reilly Continue reading →
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6449
|
__label__cc
| 0.740346
| 0.259654
|
A Brilliant Life
October 7, 2017 By dave Leave a Comment
4 Achievable Steps for Turning Burnout into Brilliance
By Denise R. Green
Stress is eroding the lives of too many of today’s professionals. A landmark study by the Mayo Clinic identified the traits associated with workplace stress and burnout, including emotional exhaustion, bitter cynicism, a plummeting sense of accomplishment and “a tendency to view people as objects rather than as human beings.” Whether you suffer from all these symptoms or just one or two, know that life doesn’t have to be this way.
We’re all born with a spark, and then life piles on. But it’s possible to clear off the muck so you can shine brilliantly again.
Brilliance occurs when you feel a sense of freedom and agency over your life — ease instead of struggle, and freedom instead of feeling trapped in a toxic body, relationship, thought pattern or job. Brilliance is the opposite of burned out, and a serious upgrade from blah. Through incremental and attainable steps, you can reignite that flame within you that has dimmed over the years.
Consider what brilliance can mean across different areas of your life — your mind, your body, your relationships with others and your relationship with technology. For example, your mind and inner world are brilliant when you feel a sense of ease, gratitude and confidence. Your body attains brilliance when you feel strong, grounded, energized and rested; when you have relationships that are full of ease, trust and curiosity; and when you have strong boundaries around your use of technology.
Use these four achievable steps to turn your stress around, and to find your way back to a brilliant life that shines with purpose and fulfillment.
Tame your thoughts.Getting hooked on emotionally charged narratives of anger, resentment, guilt or fear can have devastating consequences for your physical and mental well-being, affecting your emotional and physiological circuitry in powerful ways. Upgrade your thoughts by noticing when you think the original painful thought. Catch yourself thinking, and replace the painful thought with an upgraded belief that brings relief and prompts better actions. Repeat the new belief over and over until it becomes an embedded belief. Use daily routines as cues to remember to repeat your upgraded thought, like brushing teeth or before entering a meeting. In this way, you become the director of your life, empowered to change the script (and ending), rather than a mere actor performing at the whim of your brain’s habitual thinking.
Exude authentic confidence.Truly confident people exude both warmth and strength. Aligning your outward appearance and actions with who and how you want to be in the world can improve your self-perception, as well as other’s perceptions of you. You can make changes to improve your confidence almost instantly: get a great haircut, improve how you dress, make eye contact, smile, stand and sit with good posture and keep your chin level with the floor. Changes to your physiology can take more time and effort, such as losing weight and feeling rested and alert. Exercising with weights or boxing will eventually create physical strength and a sense of empowerment that will carry over into your interactions.
Nurture brilliant relationships.Toxic encounters switch on your sympathetic nervous system, putting your brain in a threat state where you’re less able to access your “intelligent” brain, the prefrontal cortex. To live a brilliant life, you must attract and nourish relationships that make you happy, healthy and more effective in your life. You need people who make you laugh, who pick you up on a bad day and who remind you of your brilliance. If you’re unhappy with your relationships, what qualities do you need to improve in yourself to build and sustain brilliant relationships? Do you need to be more appreciative? A better listener? More forgiving? Do you need to seek out new friends in places you like to frequent, like coffee shops or workout classes? Take steps to improve your relationships and connect with positive people. You can start by telling people how much you value them.
Manage your relationship with technology.Most of us don’t use technology as much as we let it use us. Technology has created a “constantly on” environment where we actually have less free time. It takes incredible willpower to resist our screens, but our addiction to technology and our mobile devices allows us less space to just be. It also zaps our productivity. If you want to have productive, fulfilling days, you must mindfully choose not to fall into the social media or news and entertainment rabbit hole. Turn off sound notifications, leave your phone behind in meetings and choose face-to-face conversations whenever possible.
Remember this about brilliance: It’s not a destination you reach and then set up camp. It’s more like a journey with unpredictable twists and turns. It’s easy to fall off the path, but with attention and shifting, you can find your way back again.
Denise R. Green is a speaker, writer and executive coach committed to helping people go from burned-out (or blah) to brilliant. After a successful career with Oracle Corporation and Charles Schwab, Denise founded Brilliance Inc., a coaching corporation whose purpose is to unleash human potential. For more than a decade, she and her team have helped thousands of people feel less stressed, and have more ease and fulfillment in all areas of their lives. Her new book, Work-Life Brilliance: Tools to Break Stress and Create the Life & Health You Crave (Brilliance Publishing, April 2017) is about reigniting one’s internal spark. She has also authored the ebooks: Conversations for Brilliance, Influence the Boss, and How to Say No With Grace, Not Guilt. Learn more at BrillianceInc.com.
Filed Under: Life Tagged With: burnout, Denise Green, exercise, relationships, storage technology, technology
Transform Your Leadership Style
July 23, 2017 By dave Leave a Comment
4 Emotional Intelligence Skills to Transform Your Leadership Style
By Steven Stein, Ph.D.
In today’s work settings, many of the old-style hierarchical and authoritarian styles of leadership have become obsolete. We’ve witnessed significant strides in replacing rewards-punishment “transactional” management styles — that have mostly proven unproductive — with “transformative styles” in which organizational leaders inspire their teams to achieve a collective purpose.
And yet we’re still in the transition zone where we need more leaders equipped with the skills that combine interpersonal abilities, including empathy and trust, with the capacity to model creative problem solving when faced with tough situations. We refer to this skill set as Emotional Intelligence, or EI. The awareness that EI is an important job skill — in some cases even surpassing technical ability — has grown in recent years.
In simple terms, EI is the ability to identify and manage emotional information in oneself and in others. But, we continue to experience a scarcity of this new brand of leadership talent. According to a global survey by Deloitte, leadership was rated the most urgent concern when considering gaps in workforce readiness.
Why haven’t we done a better job of cultivating emerging leaders? One reason is that we continue to mistakenly believe good technical or sales skills translate to good management skills. The thinking seems to be: if they excel at analyzing, fixing, selling and so on, then they can likely lead others to excel as well. But these skills and competencies have little to do with being a good leader.
Another erroneous standard of leadership talent is mistakenly assuming that high IQ is a predictor of leadership strength. While it’s likely that leaders have higher IQs than followers, the qualities that make up strong leaders go far beyond one’s cognitive intelligence.
Finally, choosing leaders based on personality remains widespread. Characteristics such as aggressiveness and extroversion, that tend to stand out in job candidates, don’t always correlate with self-awareness, flexibility and influencing others. The forceful leaders may be good at giving orders, but that doesn’t always translate into inspiring subordinates into action.
The traits that new bodies of research confirm as the most effective in improving workplace morale — and the bottom line — directly relate to qualities associated with EI. After gleaning results from the largest database of EI test scores in the world, researchers have identified four pillars of EI that form the foundation of competencies needed to buttress today’s business world for success now and into the future.
The good news is that EI traits can be cultivated and improved. Practice these four pillars of EI to transform your personal and organizational leadership style:
Express authenticity on every level.Acting without integrity can be the kiss of death in today’s world. Today’s best leaders must be viewed as credible, fair and “real.” Bombastic, arrogant and dominating people are out. For today’s leaders, humility is a strength. People will respect you more and go the extra mile if they think you are real.
Coach others to realize their full potential.Today’s more equitable workplaces run on collaboration and mentoring, not policing. The best leaders coach their teams through tactics as simple as “management by walking around” and one-on-one meetings where they listen to employees’ concerns, offer feedback and guidance and take responsibility for removing any roadblocks.
Communicate the organization’s mission in a way that inspires employees, suppliers and customers.More and more companies are realizing they are not in business just to make money or produce a product. Developing a sense of higher purpose (for example, Google’s mission is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”) heightens engagement and motivation for employees and other stakeholders, which helps attract and retain the right people. Insightful leaders communicate a purpose, meaning and vision, and express a hopeful view of the future.
Encourage innovation and risk-taking.More success will accrue to organizations that encourage their employees to think creatively and champion new ideas. That doesn’t mean everyone gets their own R&D budget, but it does require that leaders give their people more autonomy and license to explore changing customer needs and provide a fair, safe and encouraging hearing when employees propose new ideas. They also need to be understanding when new, risky ideas don’t succeed. Innovative leaders spur imaginative and autonomous thinking and see challenges as learning opportunities.
Steven Stein, Ph.D., is a leading expert on psychological assessment and emotional intelligence. He is the founder and CEO of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), a leading publisher of scientifically validated assessments. Dr. Steven Stein is the author and coauthor of several books on emotional intelligence, including his new book, The EQ Leader: Instilling Passion, Creating Shared Goals, and Building Meaningful Organizations through Emotional Intelligence (Wiley, May 1, 2017), and the international best-seller, The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success. He has consulted for military and government agencies, corporations and professional sports teams. Dr. Stein has also consulted on numerous reality TV shows, providing psychological expertise and candidate screening. He has appeared on more than 100 TV and radio shows throughout North America. For more information, visit drstevenstein.com
Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Emotional Intelligence, leadership, Steven Stein
Turning Naysayers into Innovators
March 13, 2017 By dave Leave a Comment
Three Practical Ways to Turn Naysayers into Innovators
by Ed Harrington
Finding new product ideas and innovations to excite customers requires colossal creative effort and a certain comfort level with risk-taking. The considerable effort to take a product from idea to development to launch is both time and energy intensive. If it also demands dealing with naysayers at the table who poke holes in every idea expressed along the way, valuable momentum is lost.
It’s important to acknowledge that we all have an inherent bias against venturing into unknown territory. We’re descendants of risk adverse ancestors whose self-preservation instincts served them well in a time when potential danger lurked behind every boulder or bush. But in today’s world where innovation rules the day, our survival necessitates overcoming these ingrained behavioral biases that hinder new ideas and stifle creative solutions.
Take for example Negativity Bias: We’re conditioned to allow negative impressions to form more quickly than positive ones. A seminal study has proven that, in our minds, bad is stronger than good — negative information, experiences, and even negative people have a stronger effect on us than positive ones. When Negativity Bias joins us at the table, it can stymie even the most adept thinking — like trying to run with lead shoes.
Negativity Bias often keeps us from voicing creative ideas for fear of being thought foolish, impractical, or just plain odd. Yet, early in the innovation process, ideas should be golden nuggets that expand our thinking and promote discovery. When we err on the side of caution and believe that early-stage ideas need to be fully formed and complete, we automatically lapse into judgment mode instead of discovery mode. To preempt this natural tendency, each member of the group needs to set out in the spirit of contributing half-baked, even impractical ideas, just to see where they might lead.
To get past our individual and collective Negativity Bias when the goal is to create something new, turn to these three useful practices:
Consciously change from “Yes, but…” to “Yes, and…” language.Groups effectively kill innovative ideas with “Yes, but…” comments. Purposely using “Yes, and…” emphasizes what people are in favor of, and invites broader participation. It helps the team respond to new ideas in a way that illuminates their potential while also acknowledging that ideas don’t have to be perfect at the outset.
List what you’re for along with what you wish for.When you think of a new idea, make a list of the aspects that are interesting or promising about it (what you’re for), and that show its potential. Don’t worry about addressing any problems with the idea. Instead, focus on what’s good about it. Next to the for list, make a list of what you wish for with the idea. This isn’t a list of cons, but focuses on the issues within the idea that may require problem solving. Use language when you propose wish for items, such as “How might we…(reduce the cost);” or “I wish…(it could be safe).” Finally, use the wish for list and try to generate solutions. This method allows you to optimize the original idea.
Let humility keep you honest.No one has the complete picture, ever. Imposing idea-killing pronouncements when the group is striving for creative ideas is not only counter-productive, it smacks of arrogance. It’s possible to extract value from even the most outlandish ideas if you give them proper consideration. Let humility give you the space to become more playful in the creative process and get the most out of every idea.
Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Adam Hansen, innovation, Negative Bias, OutSmart Your Instinct
Rewire Your Thinking
March 1, 2017 By dave Leave a Comment
In a recent interview with Ms. Bijou we discussed simple ways that you could begin to rewire your thinking in order to help begin to resolve some of the destructive negative thinking we all find ourselves doing from time to time. Enjoy the insights of one of the leading Therapist in the country.
Jude is the Founder of Attitude Reconstruction, Teacher, Trainer and Workshop Leader of Attitude Reconstruction and Communication. In addition she is the best selling author of: Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life which has won the following awards:
2012 Winner of Benjamin Franklin Award
2012 Fore Word Reviews Gold Award in both Self-Help and Psychology
2012 Silver Nautilus Award in Self-Help, Personal Growth, Psychology
2012 Winner Los Angeles Book Festival in How-to category
2012 Living Now Book Awards, Gold Medal Winner Personal Growth
2012 International Book Awards, Winner Health: Psychology/Mental Health
Filed Under: Life Tagged With: Attitude Reconstruction, Jude Bijou
ZIKA is HERE
August 10, 2016 By dave Leave a Comment
“The first case of locally-acquired Zika virus has arrived in Palm Beach County.
Gov. Rick Scott said Monday the infected person recently traveled to Miami-Dade County, ground zero for an outbreak of Zika acquired through domestic mosquitoes. State health officials are attempting to determine where the unidentified person contracted the virus.
Before Monday’s announcement, the state said that 20 people in Palm Beach County had been infected while traveling outside the United States to countries — mostly in the Caribbean and Latin America — where the virus is widespread.
South Florida has 17 cases of locally-acquired Zika, including at least 14 in a one-square-mile area in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, a popular arts district just north of the city’s downtown. There have also been two confirmed cases in Broward County of non-travel-related Zika.
Scott said Monday that state officials still believe local transmission of Zika remains confined to the Wynwood area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the unprecedented step last week of warning pregnant women not to travel to Wynwood. People who have visited Wynwood since June 15 have been advised by the CDC to put off getting pregnant for several weeks.”
Michael’s book: Devil Inside the Beltway
Michael Daugherty is a government whistle blower by necessity, and CEO of a cancer detection laboratory by trade. A small business owner taking on federal agencies with courage that rivals David meets Goliath, Michael is on a tireless crusade to honor his constitutional rights and the rights of every U.S. citizen. Michael s story of victimization by a cyber-security company linked to federal agencies is not unique that he s telling his story is. In a play-by-play account of questionable government practices, Michael reveals his chilling tale about how our security is not the safety we think it is. His book The Devil inside the Beltway is a must read for anyone who values freedom or takes it for granted.
Filed Under: Life Tagged With: CDC, Michael J Daugherty, Mosquitoe, Zika
Get the newest podcast episodes & articles delivered straight to your inbox:
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6451
|
__label__cc
| 0.738741
| 0.261259
|
by Toy Line
by Fetish
by Toy Designer
by Character Designer
Yahoo Japan Auctions (VIP)
Home » 2011 » Gokai Saber
Gokai Saber
Name: Gokai Saber
Toy Line:
Char. Design:
Toy Design: Bandai
Fetish:
Review by EVA_Unit_4A
In the past, the thirty-four Legend Sentai teams fought a great battle against a large alien invasion force called the Space Empire Zangyack. The Legend War ended in one great blast when the Legend Sentai sacrificed all their powers to successfully drive Zangyack away.
Many years later, Captain Marvelous and his small crew of space pirates approach Earth aboard the Gokai Galleon starship in the hopes of taking “The Greatest Treasure in the Universe” for themselves. Unfortunately, at this same moment, the son of the Zangyack Emperor, Commandant Toiles Gils, launches a renewed attack on Earth, and the five space pirates suddenly find themselves begrudgingly forced into the role of defenders of this backward planet. The Pirate Taskforce Heroic-rangers have a special and unique power that will give the rekindled Space Empire Zangyack pause: the mysterious ability to use Ranger Keys to transform themselves into- and harness all the powers of- any of the 199 members of the disappeared 34 Legend Sentai!
“Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger” celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the Super Sentai Series in 2011!
The Gokai Saber is one of two standard common sidearm used by the Gokaiger. While each Gokaiger has both a Gokai Saber and a Gokai Gun when they first henshin, their personal fighting styles often lead to them swapping weapons mid-battle to wield dual weapons, though Gokai Red usually keeps his weapons as deployed. (In an extreme case, Gokai Blue wielded all five Gokai Sabers at once for an improvised-yet-successful ‘Five Sword Technique’.)
Lacking individual weapons for each, the Gokaiger can transfer the power of any Ranger Key they have into a Gokai Saber for the powerful Final Wave- Gokai Slash or Final Wave- Gokai Scramble finishing attacks (the latter while wielding the weapons in dual fashion).
Ranger Key #004- Gokai Yellow is provided with this set, although it can also be acquired through other official accessory sets (namely capsules and candy toys) with other Ranger Keys.
The Gokai Saber is shaped after cutlass-type swords commonly seen during the 17th century. As short but robust swords, cutlasses were commonly used by sailors at sea as both a tool and a weapon in close quarters. Such short swords were often used to off-set the extended reload times of one-shot flintlock guns.
When the toy’s electronics are turned on, an electronic horn sounds, and the LEDs along the left side inside the transparent Gokaiger logo will flash. When the trigger is squeezed, only one simple blade clashing sound is heard.
If the trigger is held down for two seconds, the TV series’ narrator and voice of Gokaiger technology will enthusiastically say “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger!” one time, but a clash will not be heard when the trigger is released.
To initiate a Final Wave attack, the button brandishing the Gokaiger logo between the blade’s edge and the guard of the Gokai Saber is depressed, and a section of machinery above your hand will spring downwards. Then you can insert any Ranger Key into the provided slot, turn it horizontally (a power-up sound is briefly heard), and then pressed the inserted Ranger Key flush with the rest of the weapon. The voice will declare “Fi-i-i-i-nal Wave!” and a new repeating power-up sound will be heard until the trigger is depressed for the actual Final Wave blasting sound. As long as a Ranger Key is inserted into the Gokai Saber, the single Final Wave blasting sound will be heard. (However, unlike when it is removed, the finishing attack sound cannot be interrupted by squeezing the trigger rapidly as it’s playing.)
Like the Henshin Keitai Mobirates transformation device, the Gokai Saber uniquely recognizes individual Ranger Keys, and so it will change the colors that flash during a Final Wave attack based on which Ranger Key you insert. There are many different colors, all associated with Super Sentai heroes- white, red, blue, yellow, purple (the stand-in for black), green, and pink. Then, when the Final Wave is triggered, only the color of the Ranger Key that is inserted will flash. For example: since Gokai Yellow’s Ranger Key is provided, when inserted during a Final Wave only the white and yellow colors will flash.
This is certainly not the first time in Super Sentai history where a sword- or in a few cases, dagger- has been the primary sidearm of the team. In past uses of a common-use blade, however, that was the only weapon the core team had (examples of this include the Juoken from 2001’s “Hyakujuu Sentai GaoRanger” and ShinkenMaru from 2009’s “Samurai Sentai Shinkenger”). In this case, however, a sword is being teamed up with a completely-separate blaster, the flintlock-styled Gokai Gun (which was commonly seen with pirates in the 17th Century on the high seas), and they are not capable of merging with each other in any fashion. And as I mentioned in my review of the Gokai Gun, the more traditional approach to the common-use Super Sentai sidearm has been to have a blaster that transforms in some fashion into a sword or dagger- which has been discarded at least for “Gokaiger”.
The big issue that a lot of people had with the Gokai Gun is resolved nicely here, as the toy can uniquely identify Ranger Keys, though the only changes it makes is in the colors it displays rather than in audio drops like in the Mobirates. Also the Ranger Keys are used once more for the finishing attack, though I found it awkward now to insert-or-remove a Key with the cylindrical section now bent at almost-90-degrees. (I don’t know why it’s awkward, it just is. Maybe because it’s wielded in the right hand and I have to use my left hand to insert a Key…?) What is nice, though, is that the cylindrical section isn’t a copy of the one on the Gokai Gun even though they look and function similarly.
Many fans have found this toy to have rather odd proportions as far as the length and breadth of the blade section. While still unmistakably a cutlass sword, I found the kid-ified blade more mildly amusing, and so I am not as offended as others are in this issue. It is, after all, a toy meant for children less than half my size!
That being said, I have two minor complaints of my own, including tacking-on my typical problem nowadays with the speaker volume being too high- louder than the simultaneously-released Gokai Gun! The first is how thin the light-gray PVC blade is. My Geki Saber from 2007’s “Jyuken Sentai GekiRanger” was understandably thin because the blade was meant to be flexible in the show due to how it was used (and the toy came off more like a glorified pair of butter knives as a result). And while thin blades aren’t unheard of in Super Sentai role-play toys, for a blade this size it is rather unusual. And unfortunately they overcompensate for this here by making the black ABS plastic enveloping it project out too far, so if you look at the blade from the front, it’s totally unconvincing as a weapon. (Maybe a wedge block for cutting down trees instead…?)
The other complaint is much pettier, but must be spoken aloud regardless. While- for a change!- the hand guard and grip allows just enough room for my adult-sized hands, ironically it’s the Gokaiger symbol on either side that proves to be the main squeeze- pressing down painfully on the side of my knuckles! So I end up holding it at a slightly-awkward angle anyways. (Damn, so close this time…) But I can deal with that inconvenience quite easily considering how nice the rest of this toy is.
It is unquestionably clear to me, though, that one cannot really enjoy the Gokai Saber without a companion Gokai Gun. Simply put, it’s like having jelly without peanut butter, carrots without peas. The button in front of the guard is obviously meant to be pressed up against the equivalent on the Gokai Gun just like they do on the show because it is so bad ass to do so! While having separate standard sidearm swords and blasters is not unheard-of in Super Sentai, it is a potential turn-off to a modern audience used to the more common integrated-and-transformable designs.
The Gokai Saber is a perfect companion to the Gokai Gun (not that one has more importance than the other). It shares the Gokaiger aesthetics very well, functions great, molded and painted in exquisite detail, and utilizes the Ranger Keys in a very fun way. Oh, and it doesn’t have one, but seven lights built into it! Win all the way around. Strongly recommended!
Posted 6 September, 2011 - 03:11 by EVA_Unit_4A
A few notes on the background info
Just a couple notes:
It's "Oiles Gil" not "Toiles Gils"
The GokaiYellow key can be acquired by other means, but like the rest of the team (except, I believe, GokaiRed) you can only get the DX version of the key with its respective toy.
You call the series "Heroic-ranger" once and then switch to Gokaiger. That's usually bad form in writing.
Other than those nitpicks, nice review!
Posted by Podcast Sentai ... on 7 September, 2011 - 05:22
...And here I was, being
...And here I was, being praised by others for saying "Toils". Can't win 'em all I guess.
Umm, I already said that about the Key above. >.>
I called them that one time so that people know what the title is translated.
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 7 September, 2011 - 12:29
but there's no "T" when they
but there's no "T" when they ever say his name or in the spelling of his name... At least you're not calling him "Waruzu Giru" though
Dammit!
I have a soft spot for Power Rangers, but I've managed to avoid both the show and the toys for many years now. But you throw THIS in my face?!? Pirates? The sacrifice of all the other rangers?! Access to all their powers? A pirate-themed megazord with both a galleon AND a submarine as components?!?! Those nifty new Ranger uniforms?
Looks like I need to jump back in. Now the big question is to whether blow the big bucks and import the megazord or wait for a much cheaper--but potentially watered-down--domestic release.
Posted by japester on 7 September, 2011 - 16:04
I said the exact same thing!
So much madness but it works!
Posted by Showapop on 7 September, 2011 - 18:10
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6458
|
__label__wiki
| 0.69887
| 0.69887
|
Jared Stutzman Joshua Patton Izayah Mauriohooho-le'afa Brandon Boyd Bryce Fowler Marcus Graves Sports Men's basketball Men's sports Basketball College basketball College sports Men's college basketball Shootings Violent crime Crime General news
Idaho State Big Sky Sacramento State
Sacramento State has easy time with Idaho State in 74-58 win
- Jan. 31, 2019 11:22 PM EST
POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — Marcus Graves scored 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting and added six assists to lead Sacramento State to a 74-58 victory over Idaho State on Thursday night.
Sacramento State (9-9, 3-6 Big Sky Conference) rebounded from a 94-92 overtime loss to Eastern Washington in its last outing and a 72-70 defeat to Idaho State (7-12, 3-7) on Jan. 12.
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa added 16 points for the Hornets, who shot 55 percent from the floor. Joshua Patton had 12 points and Bryce Fowler chipped in 10.
Brandon Boyd scored 17 points and Jared Stutzman had 12 for Idaho State, which has lost five straight since its win against the Hornets.
Mauriohooho-Le'afa hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 22-11 run that helped build a 42-22 halftime advantage. Patton had two dunks and scored all 12 of his points in the first half. The Bengals pulled to 56-48 with 8:24 remaining but didn't get closer.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6459
|
__label__wiki
| 0.977086
| 0.977086
|
Intermedia.net Nets 8,400 sf Lease in Midtown
By Daniel Edward Rosen April 19, 2012 9:00 am
Intermedia.net, a provider of cloud-based services to small and mid-sized businesses, will be moving to the SL Green-owned Tower 45 as the site of its new NYC headquarters, it was announced in a press release yesterday.
SEE ALSO: Commodities Trader Expands Offices in Midtown East Tower Once Again
The firm will be moving from 156 West 56th Street, a 77-story office tower owned by Tishman Speyer, in favor of an 8,400 square foot space.
Tower 45 (photo courtesy of Property Shark)
The lease is for seven years. Asking rents in the building range from $50 to $70 a square foot, according to CoStar. Intermedia.net will be moving into the space immediately.
Bob Stella and Ed Wartels, both of CresaPartners, represented InteMedia.net in the transaction. Diana Biassotti, Dana Kleiner and Frank Doyle, all of Jones Lang LaSalle, represented the landlord, along with Ashley Gee and David Kaufman, both of SL Green.
Founded in 1995, Intermedia was the first to offer cloud email and other services, like VoIP telephony, instant messaging, and file management, according to its website.
Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity group, snatched up Intermedia last May for an undisclosed amount. Intermedia had been growing by 30 percent per year since 2007 and was managing 320,000 premium hosted Microsoft Exchange mailboxes, said Oak Hill Capital partner Robert Morse in an interview with Web Host Industry Review last year.
Oak Hill Capital Partners wanted Intermedia’s new New York City headquarters to have enough space to house the firm’s marketing and sales teams, Mr. Stella said in a press release.
“This modified pre-built in a great location will enable Intermedia to ramp up its operations here in New York,” Mr. Stella added.
drosen@observer.com
Keywords: 156 West 56th Street, Ashley Gee, Bob Stella, CresaPartners, Dana Kleiner, David Kaufman, Diana Biassotti, Ed Wartels, frank doyle, Intermedia.net, Oak Hill Capital Partners, Robert Morse, SL Green Realty Corp., Tishman Speyer, Tower 45
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6463
|
__label__wiki
| 0.680606
| 0.680606
|
The Elections and the Left: Some Thoughts June 8, 2009
Posted by Garibaldy in Irish Politics.
Bit early to be doing this given that all the results aren’t in yet, but it seems like it might be useful to have a dedicated post on which the issues resulting from the election can be debated all together. So, clearly this has been a good election for the left, both broadly defined and more narrowly. The Labour Party did the best of the parties on the broad left. Its share of the vote has gone up from 11% to around 14% (I’ve also seen 15 and 17% given). It has around 30% of the local election vote in Dublin, and is the biggest single party on Dublin City Council. So in terms of seats, vote share, and profile, it has done very well in the local elections. On top of that, they have done very well in the European elections. We shouldn’t forget that a couple of months ago, when Labour’s Dublin candidate was being discussed, there were some suggestions that De Rossa was running again at 69 because they were in a real battle to keep the seat either with or without him. As it turns out, he took the seat easily. Overall then, a very effective campaign.
The next biggest winning party on the left is the Socialist Party. I said to regular commenter Joe in the comments on a thread some weeks ago that I thought Joe Higgins had no chance of becoming an MEP. Shows you what I know. Well done to him and to the Socialist Party. I’d be interested to hear what people think happened. It seems to me that until a couple of weeks ago, people weren’t really talking about him as a likely winner, and that the campaign was realistically about building towards the next Dáil election. Then about two weeks ago he emerged as a serious candidate and kept building momentum. Not being in Dublin, it’s hard for me to judge. But clearly, the Socialist Party does not have the type of party or electoral machine to match the parties it was competing with against for the seat, except on a localised basis. As everyone knows, Higgins is an extremely articulate and able representative, well-regarded across the political spectrum. So it looks like a party machine operating at maximum capacity added to a very capable and media-effective candidate. I’ll come back to this below. In the local elections, they have taken four seats, with three candidates topping the poll. It seems their first preference vote has almost doubled since 2004. There is another candidate involved in a recount. However, Mick Murphy lost his seat in Tallaght Central. Joe Higgins looks a shoe-in for the next Dáil election in Dublin West. WBS has noted that he thinks there might be other SP TDs too. I’m not sure that that is the case, but it certainly cannot be ruled out. In short, the Socialist Party can be well pleased. The profile, money, and organisational outcome of these elections for them is very positive.
As can the People Before Profit Alliance. It also did very well, with five candidates elected. Boyd Barret has a very real chance of taking a seat at the next Dáil election, but I think it is far from certain. While equivalent alliances (or SWP electoral fronts if you prefer) in the UK have collapsed, it looks as though People Before Profit is here to stay, and it stood candidates in rural areas where the further left has little tradition.
The Workers’ Party’s Davy Walsh kept his seat in Waterford, against the predictions of many. Ted Tynan also took a seat in Cork, which is significant because it means that The Workers’ Party once again has represetantion outside Waterford. In Waterford East The Workers’ Party stood for the first time since 1991, and Joe Tobin missed a seat by 8 votes in the final count. Willie Moore missed out by about 40 votes in the final count in his constituency, where former WP councillor John Halligan topped the poll by a country mile. The other candidates in Cork did relatively well, on about 5%. In Dublin and Dundalk, the percentage of the vote taken was higher than it has been in the past. The WP also stood in the Dublin Central constituency for the first time since 1991. The performance in Dublin was more about reflecting organisational growth and redevelopment, and in that respect is a fairly satisfactory result. Overall, The WP can be pleased with the performance, doing relatively well in securing transfers athough it could easily have won double the number of seats with a few more. So positive signs for the future after a long period of disappointing elections.
Maureen O’Sullivan taking the seat in Dublin Central was a great thing for the left. Given WBS’ extensive and superb discussions, I’ll say nothing more.
To move then to those within the broad left who can not be so pleased. Firstly there is the Green Party. It now has only three councillors, none of them in Dublin where its TDs are situated. It had the biggest disaster of election. If economic conditions do not improve, it could be facing wipe-out at the next election, and without a strong local government profile to rebuild from. I think that they will probably hold at least one Dáil seat, but they can be in no doubt that their voters are thoroughly disgusted with them. An economic upturn might save more than one of them, but we shall see. Having said that, I doubt their activist base will disappear on the back of this, given that many have been active in green politics long before it was fashionable.
Gerry Adams is putting a brave face on his party’s mixed southern performance. Their performace in Dublin was, frankly, disastrous. Six seats in Dublin City Council have been lost, including Daithí Doolan’s. He has been someone in whom high hopes had been invested for the future, and he may of course come back. Overall, there was a slight slip in percentage in the locals, but an increase in seats, including in some virgin territory such as Limerick. Adams was saying that he expected a difficult time for Mary Lou, and that the loss of her seat was not a surprise. That might be true. What is a surprise is who she lost the seat to. Losing the seat to a sitting Fianna Fáil MEP would have been entirely understandable, even if a little disappointing in the present economic circumstances. Losing it to Joe Higgins will probably set alarm bells ringing. It demonstrates that there remains a huge reluctance to transfer to PSF among many in the southern electorate, and it is possible that part of Joe Higgins’ momentum was a desire to see neither Fianna Fáil nor the Provisionals in that seat. having said that, at the time of writing, Ferris remains in contention for a European seat in Ireland South. The Fine Gael candidate Burke has just been eliminated, which should benefit Kelly and Sinnott much more than Ferris. I doubt she’ll take that seat on the basis of transfers. In the north, there was success in Bairbre de Brún taking her seat on the first count, and topping the poll due to Jim Allister’s success in taking around 40% of the DUP’s vote. So a very mixed day overall, with neither major progress nor decline. But a halted momentum in current circumstances would I imagine be a big worry.
Overall then, a good set of elections for the left. But we should not get carried away. In the south, there are causes for serious pause. Firstly, Fine Gael did the best in the elections, taking 32% of the vote, and in a general election this would be 70-something seats. There is no prospect of a left-led coalition government, and there are serious doubts that any FG-led coalition would behave that differently to the current government, although that would depend on how far Labour – or indeed PSF – played hard ball. Which none of us places that much expectation in. Secondly, will Fianna Fáil ever do this badly again, or at least in a Dáil election? That will depend on where the economy is two years from now. The example of Fine Gael after 2002, or the Tories after 1997, suggest that we should not expect to see Fianna Fáil stay at this level forever. There needs to be a lot of hard work put in by the successful left candidates – especially those who took the latter seats – to save them at the next local elections. I say regular comment Wednesday on Politics.ie say that there was no chance of Joe’ Higgins’ European substitute holding that seat. I am inclined to agree, and I am sure the Socialist Party will be planning to use that seat primarily for domestic advantage. If the left continues in the fragmented state it is in now, then will we be able to do so well in two years or five years? I doubt it. We are looking at maybe three or four TDs to the left of PSF as things currently stand. If a left alliance of some sort can be put in place, then that could change, and these elections could mark a significant long-term change. We should note that there was no left candidate in the north’s European elections, despite some attempts to find a way forward to get one. That should be a worry. If the left is to stop being a mere spectator in the north, it needs to find a new approach. It seems to me that the time is right for a convention of the left to meet with the aim of securing electoral alliances to secure a serious left voice in Ireland north and south. It might be now or never.
ADDS: Bits I forgot to include.
While the results have been good, we also need to think about what the elections tell us about the strength of the parties of the left. The reality is that the left remains very geographically concentrated, even the bigger parties in the Dáil. If you look at the parties outside the Dáil, of the further left, then you see just how small and concentrated it remains. PBPA put up the most candidates – 14 – overwhelmingly in the Dublin area, but distributed a bit more widely, with candidates in Dundalk, Tralee and Roscommon. The WP put up 12 candidates, in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, and Dundalk. The SP put up 11, in Dublin, Cork and Drogheda. The west is basically out of electoral bounds, as are rural areas. We need to work on that as well.
In NI, the turnout was lower than the EU average of 49%. This represents a withdrawal from political engagement, and when you look at the Greens/Alliance vote, you see that the united community/broadly progressive vote has also suffered. This disengagement is also bad for the left.
UPDATE: Thanks to No.11 in the comments for further details confirming that The SP has taken 6 seats.
1. jc - June 8, 2009
While Labour did well compared to its recent history, it is well below its recent opinion poll highs and, more importantly, its1992 peak of 19.1%. This should be rather depressing for Labour, as a complete collapse of the FF vote should have been an opportunity to move to another level. It is true that Labour did well in Dublin, but will it be able to add second seats in Dublin constituencies or will it simply retain its existing single seats in a number of constituencies with a larger share of the first preference vote? What was also striking was the continued weakness of Labour outside the cities. Remember that Labour had seats in Sligo, Clare, Laois/Offaly, Kerry (North and South) and Louth in 1992. Does anyone seriously believe they will take seats in any of those (except Kerry on a good day) in the next election? Can any Labour member on here provide an insight into what the party’s reasonable seat target is for the next election and where the gains will come?
2. Mark P - June 8, 2009
On Joe’s campaign:
The Socialist Party will be thinking about the results over the next while and coming to a more considered conclusion but two things occur to me off the top of my head which provided a major boost during the campaign. Firstly, the MRBI opinion poll which put him level with Ryan with a week to go suddenly promoted him from also ran to dark horse in the media. Media coverage is extremely important to a candidate in a vast constituency who doesn’t have much money and before that poll, Joe wasn’t getting much despite having 7% support in an earlier poll.
Secondly, even before that poll (and probably contributing to the showing in that poll), the Socialist Party received a phenomenal number of phone calls and emails from people who aren’t our members, who we largely had never met before, who wanted to help out in the campaign. On top of our members and the supporters who have helped out in previous elections, I believe that there were more than a hundred completely new (to us) people out leafletting, canvassing, postering etc. A lot of the credit has to go to those people, who made it possible for a small organisation to run a campaign out of all proportion to our membership and financial resources.
3. alastair - June 8, 2009
Losing it to Joe Higgins will probably set alarm bells ringing. It demonstrates that there remains a huge reluctance to transfer to PSF among many in the southern electorate, and it is possible that part of Joe Higgins’ momentum was a desire to see neither Fianna Fáil nor the Provisionals in that seat.
I’d suspect there more antipathy to MLM than SF in that vote. No-one likes a cocky representative who doesn’t pull their weight in the job. deRossa might well be accused of coasting in Europe too, but he’s nowhere near as grating in defending his record.
But maybe I’m just projecting my own prejudices.
4. Garibaldy - June 8, 2009
Thanks for that Mark. I agree that that poll was vital. I hadn’t realised it was so soon before the election. Somewhat amazing when you think about it.
5. Tim Von Bondie - June 8, 2009
‘Maureen O’Sullivan taking the seat in Dublin Central was a great thing for the left. Given WBS’ extensive and superb discussions, I’ll say nothing more.’
You might tell us why the WP called for transfers to Ivana Bacik rather than O’Sullivan?
6. Brotherhood of Man - June 8, 2009
‘No-one likes a cocky representative who doesn’t pull their weight in the job.’
I suspect that if the going was good for SF nobody would give a shite how many meetings in Europe Mary Lou missed. Its when your in trouble people look at your record- when she and SF were spearheading the anti-Lisbon campaign nobody was talking about her going to the ploughing championships or whatever.
Given that she seems to be a political animal she’ll be back looking for a Dail seat I presume, though not in Dublin Central.
As for the rest- Killian Forde retained his seat easily while Seamus McGrattan (who? exactly) scraped in ahead of de brudder Ahern in Cabra. They got a couple in Tallaght, where the SP lost a seat.
I believe SF poll topped a couple of seats in Cork city, got one in Limerick city, did well in Waterford but lost in Wexford and Meath.
Noting JC’s comments, given the scale of the mess we’re in, and all the hype, Labour did not do as well as hoped, while FG clearly are cok of the walk- and who runs FG these days, in terms of driving theirt policy…come on Leo, Lucinida and now George of the cut, slash and burn school. Happy days ahead?
Drithleog - June 8, 2009
Sinn Féin LOST a seat in Waterford and went to a position where they were seen as potentially challenging for a Dail seat to just 117 votes ahead of the Workers Party across the whole city.
SF did disastrously in Dublin too.
This was discussed on a previous thread IIRC. I saw Malachy call for a vote for left candidates on the Browne show, rather than anyone in particular. This has been party policy, especially where there is no WP candidate. That statement on the website refers to the need for those in leadership positions in the Labour movement to become involved in discussions to form a serious left alternative to the right consensus shared by FG and FF, and so it is in that context I’d have thought.
Well – some of us were on the opposite side of the fence in regard to Lisbon, so the going was never good on account of that campaign afaic.
All I can tell you is that I (once again) gave Christy Burke a preference, but wouldn’t consider it for MLM. The difference? Burke can be relied on to do something other than promote himself.
9. sonofstan - June 8, 2009
Remember that Labour had seats in Sligo, Clare, Laois/Offaly, Kerry (North and South) and Louth in 1992.
An absolutely crucial point – and remember, Labour (or the Spring family) had a seat in Kerry North for ever: there was always, until the ’90s a labour seat in Louth, and one and sometimes two in Tipp. North and/or South. These weren’t Spring tide gains: they were seats rooted in the larger industrial towns, and nurtured through the trades unions over decades.
The withdrawal of that tide didn’t just lose the bien- pensant middle-classes who voted for Eithne Fitzgerald in Dublin South – it lost seats that had sustained Labour through lean years. Labour needs to work hard to get these seats back: urban Ireland isn’t just Dublin and the other cities: it’s towns like Dundalk, Drogheda, Sligo, Clonmel, Tuam and Tralee as well.
Eamonn Cork - June 8, 2009
Great point. Labour could start by seeing if they could get Bree back in the party in Sligo and the Healy people back in Clonmel. Otherwise those two constituencies are probably lost for good. Arthur Spring’s poll-topping performance, beating Toireasa Ferris, was very encouraging for the party in Kerry North. From that point of view Labour’s performance in Kildare, for example, is poor in terms of making a general election breakthrough.
Regarding Mary Lou McDonald, it’s been mentioned before that her total when elected to Europe was less than the total Sinn Fein local vote of the time. She’s not a particularly charismatic figure and I imagine all those articles written about her as the new face of SF, not like the old working class one, would piss me off if I was an activist on the ground. I wonder if SF staking so much on her as the face of the party in the Republic was a disaster. Compare how well Ferris did in a much less promising situation in Munster. Jonathon O’Brien in Cork city is another impressive young candidate.
10. Dr. X - June 8, 2009
Is Labour even capable of doing the work required in that area? Bertie labelled Ruairi Quinn (I think it was RQ) as ‘Mr. Angry of Sandymount’, because he knew that if he slinged that particular kind of mud, it would stick very effectively.
All I’ve seen over the past few years is a Labour party that is only interested in appealing to those ‘bien-pensant middle classes’. That’s the only reason I could see for the way Pat Rabitte picked a fight with Declan Bree, for example. . .
11. Pete - June 8, 2009
Labour not doing well in rural areas – who cares, its a Labour Party, I’m not aware of many landless Labourers contuning to ply their trade in bungalow Ireland. On another note where stands Gerry Adams dream of left unity? Let the Provos soak up the left vote in rural Ireland and the north, let Labour (“stickies”) rule the cities – finally put the ghosts of 69 to 94 away.
sonofstan - June 8, 2009
I didn’t say ‘rural’ areas – i specified larger, somewhat industrialised towns. And there are still landless labourers plying their trade alright, all over the place. There’s plenty of casual, unskilled labouring work going on, possibly right under your nose: way below the purview of the taxman or the unions.
12. Joe - June 8, 2009
Gari: “I said to regular commenter Joe in the comments on a thread some weeks ago that I thought Joe Higgins had no chance of becoming an MEP. Shows you what I know.”
Joe knows, Gari.
IIRC, you also dissed my suggestion several months back that FF might lose its MEP in Dublin. Joe knows.
I also know this. Bree and Healy should stay a country mile clear of the Labour Party. It’s not of the left but of the centre – see Eamonn Cork’s well made point about why he preferred SF’s Ferris to Labour’s Kelly. And I know that the left candidates who won local election seats did work on the ground in their communities, turned up at boring community meetings and put their views across and helped communities sort out problems. And if the left is to build on the modest gains it made in these local elections, that is what it has to do more and more.
13. Garibaldy - June 8, 2009
Joe, Guilty. And my Higgins prediction was related to my FF prediction. A twin-headed mistake.
You’re right on what is required at local level. My point being that even that mightn’t be enough unless we can forge some kind of left cooperation.
14. jc - June 8, 2009
Having spent my formative years in Clonmel, with family and friends still there, I can tell you that you have little understanding of “rural” Ireland. Clonmel has long had a significant industrial working class, working for multinationals like Merck and indigenous companies like Showerings (they make Bulmers cider) and Clonmel Healthcare. This is why Seamus Healy has had a significant political base there since the 1980s for a political group to the left of Labour. By the way, the Labour Party was actually founded in Clonmel. Only a small (and ever-declining) proportion of the population of rural Ireland works in agriculture. As most of the non-farm working population are not managerial or self-employed, it should be obvious that most of them are non-managerial employees and therefore a suitable target audience for any serious left party. Labour may need a change of tone to make itself viable in places like Clonmel — a little less Chardonay and a little more GAA.
15. sonofstan - June 8, 2009
BTW, and this ties in weirdly with the mention of Sligo Rovers earlier on another thread, one of the best portraits of working class life outside the cities in Ireland is contained, inter alia, in Eamonn Sweeney’s great book about supporting that club, ‘Only One Red Army’
16. Thoughts on the Elections « Garibaldy Blog - June 8, 2009
[…] Thoughts on the Elections By Garibaldy Anyone who is interested can read some thoughts I’ve put up on the recent elections in Ireland, north and south, over at Cedar Lounge Revolution here. […]
17. Brotherhood of Man - June 8, 2009
Ignorant shite from Pete. Where was that great ‘Sticky’ TD Joe Sherlock from again-Mallow.
A substantial share of working people live in the country- some of them even, gasp, work in Dublin!
The Sticks have not radiclaised labour in any way; Gilmore and co can not think beyond getting into bed with FG, and pissing away whatever gains they have made, and they haven’t actually even done that well.
18. alastair - June 8, 2009
A substantial share of Labour’s vote comes from the, gasp!… middle class. Last I heard, there’s working and middle class voters all over the bog, as well as the big smoke.
Ignore at your electoral peril.
19. No.11 - June 8, 2009
“In the local elections, they [the SP] have taken four seats, with three candidates topping the poll.”
Hi Garibaldy,
Good piece, but the SP also picked up a council seat on both Drogheda and Balbriggan town councils. Six councillors in total.
I’d be grateful if someone could let us know how the WUAG got on as well, they were tipped for big gains beforehand.
20. Mark P - June 8, 2009
The WUAG won five seats on Clonmel Town Council and one on Carrick on Suir Town Council. It also won 2 seats on South Tipperary County Council (which I believe are also held by two of the Clonmel Town councillors).
I believe that this represents only one new seat, the one in Carrick. That’s quite significant though as previously all of their representation was based in Clonmel and as far as I know this is the first time they’ve managed to break out of their stronghold.
21. Eamonn Cork - June 8, 2009
By the way, the last seat in South comes down to Alan Kelly and Kathy Sinnott. It will be decided by Ferris’s transfers. I suppose you could use it as a test case as to the nature of the SF vote as it pits a (kind of) left wing candidate against a (fairly) rght wing candidate.
I kind of agree with the man who says Healy and Bree should steer clear of the Labour Party. But I’d like to see them in it, just as I’d like to see Joe Higgins in it, because then it would be a very different kind of party. A pipedream but pipedreams are what keeps a man going.
As for the suggestion that everywhere outside the cities constitutes some kind of zone of reaction, to qoute Steely Dan, not incidentally a nickname for Dick Spring’s father, “the things that pass for knowledge I can’t understand.” I thought that notion went out with the Irish Industrial Revolution.
The Joe Sherlock reference was apposite. Bree in particular sees himself as part of a tradition stretching back to Jimmy Gralton. Some of the descendants of the landless labourers are working in pretty unrewarding poorly paid jobs. I know this because that’s who I drink, bet and generally hang out with. The property boom was built on the backs of labourers, not all of them East European by any means, whose average wage was around 600 Euros a week. I’d submit that for the work involved that’s a pretty poor return. I wouldn’t be able to put in too many days of it. They’re also the first people to have suffered from the downturn. There are also a lot of skilled tradesmen short of work at the moment who will be eating their Breakfast Rolls in other jurisdictions before long. The “harsh decisions,” are harsher on them, and that frighteningly large number of people below the poverty line, than the pundits who advocate them.
And, of course, as Alastair points out only a fool would turn down middle class votes. But there are areas which are more fruitful for Labour parties than that of the much invoked small businessman whose only feeling about trade unions, for example, is that he won’t have them in his shop because they’d drive up wages.
I agree with sonofstan that Eamonn Sweeney’s book is quite good. But then that’s probably because I am Eamonn Sweeney.
Thought I’d smoke you out…..
23. Cathal - June 8, 2009
In Louth Lab cllrs in Drogheda topped the poll in two LE areas. The rise of SF in Louth stopped chances of regaining a seat there, and Bell the former Labour TD wasn’t what you would call left wing.
I think we are missing the wood from the trees, in urban areas FF vote collapsed and that has ensured strong left gains. They have lost the benefit of incumbency and tribal voting has disappeared in our cities.
Look at the numbers in any rural area and FF support held up well. Its tribal support more than anything else, people vote for who they know and have always known.
There will always be exceptions to this with someone scraping past the FF/FG dominance in rural areas but to change this requires an almighty effort on the ground to attract the support.
FF and FG always have the twin advantages in rural areas of incumbency and tribal support which isn’t present for left wing candidates.
Its taken SF 15 years to build support up in many areas and they have been helped significantly by nationalist voters.
The challenge for Labour now is to build on gains in Louth, Meath, Donegal, Sligo, Galway, Kerry, Carlow, kilkenny,Cork and Tipp. No one said it would be easy. There are seats there to be won and over time it will happen once the organisation is continued to be built on.
Simply put Labour’s vote has grown in the Dublin area, in a European sense the only area along with Cork and greater Belfast that in this country constitutes a truly urban, industrialized region. I don’t see the small working classes of the small towns in Ireland giving Labour the amount of votes to see TDs elected that will have to pander to ‘rural concerns’ and act as drag upon the party’s attempts to bring a social democratic government to Ireland – re abortion etc Joe Sherlock was a drag on the WP and his tendency to parish plump poltics damged the party’s growth IMHO. I’m not saying that rural Ireland is per se reactionary, although Fianna Fail’s votes in Cavan and Longford would point to a certain support for corruption and narrow mindedness in at least parts of the our less developed areas. What I mean is it takes different approaches to crack a nut, and it would seem the Sinn Fein radical approach is paying more dividends in rural Ireland than Labour’s. So let Labour develop along its course in urban Ireland and the commuter belt Ireland, which saw Childers elected, and let the Shinnners develop their formula in rural areas and the North. If both parties are turely Social democratic and place these values above sham careerism and dead nationalism, they should work together to challenge the conservative hegemony – ITS A VERY BIG IF – but in my opinion it is the fastest track to social democratic government in this country, Socialism can follow later.
On whether the former sticks have made Labour more radical, who gives a shit, as they have certainly helped create more votes for the Left – taking SF, Labour and the Hard Left Indos all together support is now standing for the Left of center at around 30% quite a leap form the Lab, WP, DSP etc under 15% of the 1980s.
Line above should read
TDs elected that will NOT have to pander to ‘rural concerns’ and act as drag upon the party’s attempts
26. Omar Little - June 8, 2009
‘agree with sonofstan that Eamonn Sweeney’s book is quite good. But then that’s probably because I am Eamonn Sweeney.’
If you really are ES then your article on Rabbitte and Labour in the SINDO magazine two years ago was one of the better things written on the subject. Any links to it exist on the net?
The short answer is that I don’t know.
And believe me, no-one would claim to be Eamonn Sweeney if they weren’t.
This, by the way, is a great site. I’m an old school print snob and web sceptic but there isn’t anywhere in print you’ll find anything like the Cedar Lounge Revolution, it’s the only internet forum I’ve written a word on. Being here as the results came in was more fun than being in a pub with particularly intelligent company.
Cathal,
You are assuming that this does mark a permanent sea-change. I think that that is far from certain. Though I agree with hard work and new tactics we might be able to make it so to some extent.
As for the DL crowd. They’ve probably pushed Labour to the right, not the left.
28. Paddy Matthews - June 8, 2009
Fianna Fail’s votes in Cavan and Longford would point to a certain support for corruption and narrow mindedness in at least parts of the our less developed areas.
Corruption and narrow-mindedness is neither equivalent to or exclusive to Fianna Fáil, either down here in “our less developed areas” or in the haven of civilisation that you are presumably fortunate enough to inhabit.
A Fine Gael-controlled county council in Longford (with county councillors doubling up as property developers) presided over the smothering of half the county with poorly-built, half-finished, three-quarters-empty housing estates.
29. Eamonn Dublin - June 8, 2009
Talk of Mary Lou being given the shinners senate seat to maintain her profile. May happen after by election of Gallaghers seat.
The problem with that is that even if Doherty wins the by-election in Donegal SW, the senate vacancy would be filled by the Dáil, ensuring a seat for FF (or perhaps a consolation prize for the Greens).
31. Niall - June 8, 2009
Since we’re playing the “if you’re really Eamonn Sweeney game”, if you’re really Eamonn Sweeney, tell me what does a Paddy Nangle do?
He was my English teacher, and also the man who attempted to make a footballer out of me.
I’d have to say that set down in print, “I am Eamonn Sweeney,” looks considerably less stirring than, “I am Spartacus.”
32. WorldbyStorm - June 8, 2009
Hmmm… this thread is interesting… for lots of reasons 😉
What’s that about a senate vacancy being filled by the Dáil, is that definite?
Oh yeah, and a further question. How does this play out in terms of left seats at the next election… Healy? Boyd-Barret? etc…
Every Green seat is clearly up for grabs, and in quite a few there’s a well placed left candidate in the wings: Alex White in Dublin South (Eamonn Ryan), Clare Daly in Dublin North (Trevor Sargent), RBB in Dun Laoghaire (Chemical Cuffe) – Gormley has to be vulnerable as well, though it could be taken by anyone from SF to FG. Is there a PbP hopeful in place in Mid-West to target Gogarty?
WorldbyStorm - June 8, 2009
`Interesting, although that would suggest a cannibalisation of a broadly speaking left leaning vote…
gabbagabbahey - June 8, 2009
since Ciaran Cuffe’s seat is gone anyway (constituency resize from 5 to 4) a Boyd Barrett win would be at the expense of FF or Labour. according to RTE the FG voteshare in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown locals went up 10%, with Labour only up 2%. I presume that’s the PBPA eating into the Labour vote.
so my constituency would be Gilmore v. Boyd Barrett v. Hanafin/Andrews for the non-FG seats, which wouldn’t be that many (and Labour would be against three sitting FG TDs in Dublin South). some fun!
Tim Buktu - June 8, 2009
Dublin MW. Councillor Gino Kenny is in the middle of the constituency.
But the Green vote has mainly been a Lucan vote, and has its grounding in the long-standing, organised and independent) strong opposition to bad planning (as in bad on planning grounds, not simply because of the brown envelopes; The activists wiped the county manager’s eye a year or so ago on the stated impact of the Clonburris SDZ). FF has no councillor in the Lucan half of the constituency in both the outgoing and incoming elections.
Dublin MW will be interesting: Harney is not running the next time (her brother Richard told the Labour party that when it came time after the general election to take down posters — the two parties took down each other’s in different areas)
And Gogarty’s “eccentricities” will have lost him votes apart from any change in sentiment about his Party.
Should have said: Cllr Gino Kenny is PbPA
34. Starkadder - June 8, 2009
Slightly off-topic, but Mr. Ganley appears to have conceded
defeat:
http://news.eircom.net/breakingnews/15842705/
Not at all off-topic on a thread about good news for the left Starkadder!
If left voters abandon the greens, WBS, I think that would be a good thing, although obviously the left also has to take on board more environmentalism. Though as a class issue, which it is.
If the broad left moves forward you’ll find no argument from me 🙂
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/national-elections/seanad_panel_by_elections
There are still some left-leaning people in the Greens, but as the real Eamonn Sweeney suggested, they’ve been taken over by the kind of people who think ‘politics needs people like us’ – Ciaran Cuffe, in particular, is a PD in environmental clothing.
40. Tim Buktu - June 8, 2009
I think there are two issues here, one of which I will call “bean counting”. On that front, Labour has a lot of work to do to mend bridges. (For example, what ever the rights and wrongs of what Declan Bree is supposed to have done about Traveller accommodation, it was outrageous that the party leader should use the letters page of the Irish Times to make his case. And the overlooking of Denis Landy for Michael Ferris’s widow was another blunder. They risk another one emerging in Dublin Mid West where the Tuffy clan has antagonised foot soldiers in the south of the constituency.) The party needs to get its own people and new people into the tent.
Overall, I think using a bean counting approach there isn’t anything of substance to the left’s gains in the elections. What really happened is that Fianna Fáil (and the Greens) lost, and the votes and seats went to a variety of alternatives on offer, some of which are part the left.
And that leads to the second issue. If (a form of) the left is to grow to become dominant, it needs people voting for it for the sake of what it stands for rather than because it is “not the other shower”. Labour seems to me to lack that, and the other parties of the left that do have it do not seem to be able to secure engagement with it. Even Joe Higgins’s win I would see as being a recognition of and support for a man of integrity (who stood with GAMA workers, went to jail for his stance on the bin tax, etc.) than support for nationalisation of industry.
Thanks Paddy, that’s certainly clearcut and likely to make them stay their hand on shifting indviduals around…
sonofstan… there are more than some, but they’ve allowed their voice to be too muted. Not sure about CC, I think he’s a bit more left of centre than that. But I could be wrong.
42. anthony bosco oneill - June 8, 2009
Just read through this thread, took me awhile, but am enjoying it immensly.Have to say made a few bad predictions re: Christy Burke in DC but was delighted to see Maureen get it still think she is to much of a lady for leinster house though.
She polled almost 7500 first preferences almost 80% more than Tony ever managed so whether these stay with her indefinitely will be a subject for future debate.
SF in dublin lost 5 seats and gained 1 with Mary Lou also gone. Outside Dublin SF done rather well which has gone unnoticed by most media pundits with the exception of Bowman. They picked up seats in Cork LImerick Roscommon and a number of other areas where they had no representatives previously. In the Europeans which is a national poll they were only 3% behind labour although with no seat gain.
I am still undecided whether the emergence of so many other left wing groupings is a good or bad thing. Not taking away from the efforts and the dedication of the various candidates, at the end of the day the left seems to be fragmenting while the right is still represented by the 2 main parties.
Labour although having a good election are still a long way off the spring tide and it is an indication of how far they slipped that they think 14% is good. There needs to be an agreed left alternative unfortunately all i can see is gilmore in his pyjamas waiting to jump into bed with enda.
Joe taking the seat in Dublin was a nice sweetener and he has made it very clear that he is waiting for the next dail elections, perphaps he should be proposed as an agreed left candidate for lord mayor. Wouldnt that throw the shit in the fan.
43. gabbagabbahey - June 8, 2009
Mary Lou floating a left alliance on Q & A – incl. Greens.
interesting comment about CC as “PD in environmental clothing” and for the party in general. unless you’re doubting their sincerity on the environment itself, which I assume you aren’t, then there’s a couple of interesting similarities and differences to my mind: they were both socially liberal, gay rights, privacy, etc; and in fundamental economic terms environmentalism doesn’t sit will with neo-liberalism insofar as it calls for a reduction and sustainability of economic growth – which is in turn fundamental to having an equitable society.
I’d welcome a broad left focus on the environment – and it’s probably fair to say that Labour has moved away from mere lip service, e.g. Tommy Broughan is/was quite good on Transport – but I fear it’s a while before they can supplant an active Green movement on the issue.
(btw I’ve been lurking on this site for several months now – really enjoy the coverage!)
44. CL - June 8, 2009
‘Waiting for the Healer’-by Eamonn Sweeney,- a great read. Hope there’s more to come.
Thanks for the kind words. I’m writing a history of Ireland between 1973 and 1985 at the moment for Gill and Macmillan, also a novel set in Dublin in the eighties.
On the day of the election I was, funnily enough, reading up about the PAYE protests of 1979, perhaps an object lesson of how a great wave of radicalism can be dissipated into not very much.
One of the joys about reading up on the period is the unlikely sightings, young Eamon Gilmore becoming President of the USI, beating Carol Coulter (replacing one Patrick Rabbitte), young Brendan Howlin in the anti-nuclear movement in Wexford, Frank Connolly at Carnsore as well, Kevin Myers arguing in Magill that we should never forget that colonialism and the nature of the Northern state is the cause of IRA violence (seriously), Eamonn Dunphy as Magill health columnist.
And, seeing as he’s been mentioned here, Ted Tynan playing a big role in the rent strike on the North Side of Cork city in the mid seventies (along with, among others, Kathleen Lynch’s father in law) where people held out for years, went to jail, took over the council chamber, because they refused to live in houses everyone admitted were sub standard. It’s incidents like that, too little known I suspect, I’d hope to shed some light on in the book.
And, I’ve asked WBS this already, if anyone has any suggestions on books, magazines, other sources from the period which they feel might be helpful, I’d be a very grateful man. Or if anyone thinks there might be some story which, though overlooked, might be telling about those years. Thanks, and thanks again for the comradeship over the election nights.
45. Betty - June 9, 2009
Even including Joe Higgins winning the seat ahead of Ryan, even including Maureen O’Sullivan’s success – I can’t think when I’ve read a sweeter headline!
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0608/euroelection.html
“Ganley quits politics after conceding NW seat”
There’s a map, rather amateurishly added to, showing the areas in Dublin where FF have zero seats here: http://www.gaire.com/db1-images/04951023_fianna_fail_zero_seats_5.jpg
47. Leveller on the Liffey - June 9, 2009
From Sinn Féin Cllr Seán Crowe in Tallaght on Sunday:-
[Sinn Féin South Dublin County Councillors] call for Left alliance against cuts. Tallaght Cllr Seán Crowe called for unity against cuts and for better delivery of public services. Cllr Crowe said that the local and European election results give left-wing parties the chance to offer people what he called a Left Alternative to Fianna Fáil and, he emphasised, an alternative also to Fine Gael.
The Workers’ Party’s Davy Walsh kept his seat in Waterford, against the predictions of many. Ted Tynan also took a seat in Cork, which is significant because it means that The Workers’ Party once again has represetantion outside Waterford.
Ted Tynan got rave reviews on RTÉ Radio 1’s Late Debate on Monday night from Fergal Keane (a Corkman) and another reporter from down that way for his hard work over the years.
Ted Tynan was also, if I remember rightly, involved in the marches out to the Old Head of Kinsale where people from Cork who’d walked and picknicked over there for years protested against the fact that they’d been excluded because the amenity had become part of one of the most expensive golf courses in Europe. The manner in which they were derided by local press and politicians was a case study in modern snobbery which would have been derided as unsubtle if included in a Ken Loach movie.
Garibaldy - June 9, 2009
You do indeed remember rightly Eamonn. My inbox is still full of the emails about the campaign. It certainly was class war.
Thanks for that Leveller. I might try and get it on Radio 1. There was a thread on P.ie congratulating him started by a member of the SP. So he must be doing something right to get praise from such disparate viewpoints.
50. Wahlsplitter « Entdinglichung - June 9, 2009
[…] Zumindest in Irland ist, wie Cedar Lounge Revolution berichtet, die Welt noch einigermassen in Ordnung, Joe Higgins von der Socialist Party […]
51. Seán Ó Tuama - June 9, 2009
Since Joe is drawing attention to his own predictive abilities, may I humbly point out that I predicted a few weeks ago, on the basis of the Suday Indo poll, that MOS was likely to take the Dublin Central seat rather than FG?
I note from Pete’s comments that the old Eoghan Harris-WP urban chauvinism is still unfortunately alive in parts of the left. Will these people ever learn?
I write as a person Dublin born and bred who was active in left and union activities in Dublin and am convinced many like me despise this urban chauvinism.
Isn’t it strange how that if Ganley had won we would now be reading tons of articles about how this boded a huge seachange in Irish politics and announced the arrival of a serious new force, but that Joe Higgins’ victory is kind of getting the, “ho-hum, of course it’s all a protest vote nobody really takes his politics seriously.”
Good point, Eamonn, very good point.
One more thing before I go off and do a bit of work. Mark Hennessy in the Irish Times suggest that one way back for the Greens will come through Gormley’s imposition of water charges. You see, it will be Gormley’s idea but people will blame the local councils because their name will be on the bills.
1. If Mark Hennessy is clever enough to figure out that Gormley is behind the legislation, maybe, just maybe the voters will be too.
2. I’d like to see a government with 25% support trying to railroad through nationwide water charges.
Also, I notice that my reading of the election counts was almost always wrong. The confident predictions in favour of Burke in South and Ryan in Dublin stand out. My dreams of becoming the new Richard Sinnott lie in tatters. Maybe I’ll buy a Cara computer next time.
I also said that Labour had done badly in Kildare, this stems from a lifelong tendency to get Kildare and Meath mixed up.
Sometimes I wonder if we can be too harsh on the left for not making big breakthroughs in Ireland. The Ryan Commission report lays bare, as I don’t think had been done previously, that class was probably a greater motivator behind the operation of these gulags than sexual repression. In a society where a large amount of the poorest children were incarcerated and many of the others were emigrating, the left was never going to have an easy time. In the McGreil report, Prejudice and Tolerance in Ireland, published in 1977 only 23% of people said they would welcome a Communist as a member of the family, 29% would have welcomed criminals and the same figure would have welcomed “itinerants.” The Reds also trailed Pakistanis (24%) but did slightly better than Africans (22%). This is where we’re coming from.
Seán Ó Tuama: “Since Joe is drawing attention to his own predictive abilities,”
Sad saddo that I am, I have to also claim credit for first spotting Eamonn Red Army Sweeney on another thread. SINDO columnist on CLR – be careful, man! I wonder could we get Declan Lynch on too? I’d like that.
Keeping up the plámás, yes There’s Only One Red Army is a great read. And iirc the correct line was also taken on the Cork hurling “dispute”. I’d be afraid to ask for a retrospective view on Keane/McCarthy in case feet of clay might be revealed. But keep on writin and rockin.
PS: I am not Joe Higgins.
56. Stephen Spillane - Green Down But Not Out - June 9, 2009
[…] The Elections and the Left: Some Thoughts (cedarlounge.wordpress.com) // Share this Post[?] […]
57. Gypsy - June 9, 2009
Speaking of predictions – did anybody forsee Christy Burke leaving SF. Just been announced on IT breaking news.
Gypsy - June 9, 2009
Oops, just seen that Garibaldy has started a new thread on it.
Jesus, Burke leaving after all those years is an odd one.
Does anyone know if there are any actual political differences between him and SF, or is this all about personal and organisational disagreements?
59. Jim Monaghan - June 9, 2009
I wonder will Christy B. orient to Eirigi.
SF are paying the price for respectability. I think their willingness to go into coalition was a factor in the steady drift of people waay from them. was not Gilmore lucky that Bertie selected the Greens for the treatment.
Again it is up the the LP to show that reformism works but they will alas be happy with mercs and perks.
The FFers have a point what is the opposition plan. Besidwes just replacing the useless present government.
We need a program for government. There is a left plan for the crisis and a rightwing one.
Again who will pay for the crisis. And lest it be forgotten who will be punished.
Oh and I would like to see the orders pay for the child abuse. Like we suspect of the bankers they have moved their assets into trusts.
Nationalise the education system and the hospitals for a start.
What about it a mimimum plan for government.
I suspect that Lemass was right the LP will wrestle with its conscience and the LP will win.
60. Fergal - June 9, 2009
Eamonn Cork,
Writing a history of the country from ’73 to ’85 you lucky so and so!
As you’ve asked for ideas here’s my penny’s worth-try to get your hands on the minutes books from as many unions as possible,you could try out the various trades councils to get them.I reckon they’d be a goldmine and would fit into the whole idea of history from below.History from below as opposed to the usual “important” people/events.Howard Zinn has written a great history book in this genre called “A people’s History of the United States”.Brecht puts brilliantly in his poem “Questions from a worker who Reads”Anyway,keep it up!
Eamonn Cork - June 10, 2009
I must check out the Zinn. By the way, an absolutely brilliant book, which is described as “a people’s history of the third world,” is The Darker Nations by Vijay Prashad, a genius young Indian academic working in the States. It’s a fantastic overview of independence struggles and the post-colonial world.
Fergal - June 10, 2009
Cheers Eamon, I’ll check out Prashad’s book
61. Ferenka Fred - June 10, 2009
Eamonn,
I won’t presume to tell you how to do your job or write your book; that excellent piece you wrote on Michael O’Leary in the SINDO was one of the few articles on our beloved business leader that actually talked about class and class background and how it affects people’s world view.
I’m very interested your writing on the 70s; might I humbly suggest you have a look at the files of the SF-WP paper The Irish People for the kinds of stories they were breaking in the late 70s (lots on PAYE of course) or perhaps talk to Padraig Yeates the former editor of the IP.
There would be interesting stuff there. Look forward to reading the book.
Fred. Thanks for that suggestion. It’s an awful pity that there isn’t a full-scale history of the WP like Michael Gallagher or Niamh Puirseil’s book on the Labour Party. Whatever anyone’s political affiliation, it is a fascinating story. By the way, if anyone had any old magazines from the period, I’d love to get hold of them and would return them in pristine condition.
Have you a connection with Ferenka? One of the things that fascinated me is that although the factory closure has now become a right wing myth about the perils of union intransigence, at the time even Des O’Malley apportioned equal blame to the company and the inherent crappiness of the working conditions were widely stressed, something I don’t think would happen now. It’s striking that most industrial correspondents of the time seemed sympathetic to the unions whereas now even the ostensibly liberal ones seem to focus on the man standing at the bus station saying, “I know they’re protesting to save their jobs but I’m going to be late home from work.”
By the way, whatever happened to Philip Byrnes?
I might also add that in my opinion Zinn’s book is too polemical and lacks a bit of nuance and complexity. The annoying stuff that makes us human.
I’ve no connection with Ferenka except it loomed large in my childhood and in my teens was always held up as an example how the ‘greedy’ unions had destroyed Limerick (article on it in the early Magill which I’m sure youv’e seen). On the WP, theres a book out soon I believe.
There was supposedly graffiti in the toliets at Ferenka ‘Herrema kidnapped up years ago’! That episode also sticks in my mind.
It should be ‘us’ years ago- kind fucked up that joke didn’t I?
66. sonofstan - July 6, 2009
Late entry here, but i implore you to listen to this – Cork rapper Gerry MacCarthy’s tribute to the new Labour MEP in Munster: a new benchmark for irish political songs….
67. Bartholomew - July 7, 2009
If only the visuals had as much oomph as the music – ‘twould be a masterpiece, boy!
68. WorldbyStorm - July 7, 2009
It’s certainly a benchmark… just at what point? 😉
“25 year old man goes back to UCC/
To do a two year masters degree”
that’s my favourite line, only rivalled by ‘Fianna Faíl without the fadá is Fianna Fail‘
Thanks are due to my daughter for bringing it to my attention – apparently it gets played more than once at every social gathering of her friends, and they know all the words…….kids are weird…..
Speaking of broad churches cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2019/07/16/spe… 1 hour ago
Discrimination – some new figures to analyse cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2019/07/15/dis… 1 day ago
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6465
|
__label__cc
| 0.572897
| 0.427103
|
Consensus Ontario
Because Your Priorities Matter!
Policy Discussions
Voter Feedback
How Consensus Government Would Work
2018 Consensus Election Platform
Consensus Ontario Candidates 2018 election
Donate to Consensus Ontario
Welcome CONSENSUS CANADA!
Please call us for more information: 519-851-2041
Email for more information or to join: [email protected]
***HELP US REGISTER CONSENSUS CANADA AS A NEW FEDERAL PARTY WITH THE SAME AIM OF GETTING RID OF POLITICAL PARTIES...FROM OTTAWA!***
Visit www.consensuscanada.ca
“Ontarians want their MPPs to listen to them, they want them to represent their riding's views at Queen's Park, not the party's views back to the riding. Enter Consensus Ontario...!”
Brad Harness, Executive Director,
CABINET SHUFFLE SAME-OLD GAME OF PARTISAN-POLITICS RATHER THAN GIVING VOTERS WHAT THEY WANT: PROPER REPRESENTATION
Each party in power gets to the point where they need to form government…and then reshuffle the deck.
The reshuffling this month by the Doug Ford PC’s is all about responding to a quick and sharp drop of the PC Party in public opinion polls. That is what partisan politics does to politicians – it makes them worry about re-election.
But that is precisely what is wrong with party politics. It wraps up many important issues and priorities into take-it-or-leave-it big packages of policies. Rarely do voters like all the policies a party has to offer. Often they get frustrated by the inability to get politicians and parties to listen to their concerns.
And if it’s their elected representative who is really just representing the party’s interests to the riding’s voters, how is that a good example of democratic representation?
Under Consensus Government, all MPPs are equal and not tied to any party. Their sacred duty is to represent their ridings interests. Consensus Government itself is composed of cabinet ministers and a premier chosen – by consensus – of their fellow MPPs at Queen’s Park. This Government governs only so long as they maintain the confidence of their fellow MPPs. If they lose that confidence, they are replaced and governing proceeds anew. A far better system, than a party-based system where every move, every consideration and promise is merely a vote-buying effort. That is not how democratic representation and government is supposed to be. Ask those around you which system they would prefer: I wager the majority will pick Consensus Government over today’s partisan politics!
Brad Harness
ONTARIANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING
AROUND THE PROVINCE
Fly, take a ferry, drive, walk, bike, take a bus, streetcar or a taxi - an Uber even - or travel on a train or the subway and you will hear your fellow Ontarians sharing their views about Transportation. For the majority it is a discussion about commuting between home and work on a daily basis. What is the fastest way? What is the most comfortable way? What is the most efficient way? What is the most affordable way to get around living here in Ontario?
Urbanites have more choices. Rural residents considerably fewer. Are we trying to get from town A to Village B? Are we trying to get from the suburbs into the downtown core?
Clearly, regional transportation systems allow us to leave the car at home for some or all of the trip. Integration of local transit systems into a seamless provincial network makes sense to a lot of people, especially in the Greater Toronto Area.
For those living in places like London, Kingston, Ottawa or Sudbury, it is about highways. The province must maintain top-quality highways to serve the millions of Ontarians who live in places such as these. Even in smaller centres like Brockville, Pembroke, Sarnia, Welland, Milton and Sault Ste. Marie, reliable and safe highways get people and goods where they need to go.
Yes, it would be nice for everyone to get rid of personal vehicles and use public transit but that is simply unrealistic. What we can do is offer incentives to use transit, incentives to use vehicles that pollute less, incentives for people to live closer to their place of work so that they place less strain on provincial transportation systems.
As for highway speeds, raising these to 120km/hr makes sense as most traffic on the province's 400-series highways travel at least at 120 km/hr most of the time (in good weather). On smaller provincial highways (such as Hwy.7 between London and Stratford) having an 80 km/hr limit and a solid line simply encourages drivers to pass in order to go faster. Lets up the limit and reduce the need to pass, especially in unsafe areas of the smaller highways.
Having police stop drivers for exceeding a lower speed limit by small amounts is poor use of expensive police time. Police should tackle unsafe drivers - we all agree with that! This means impaired by alcohol or drugs, and it also means drivers going 50km/hr over the posted limit, as well as drivers weaving in and out of traffic.
Finally, lets take a serious look at high-speed rail and how it can be implemented without requiring additional farmland to put together a route. Ideally such rail lines should run along existing 400-series highways. And they should incorporate passengers as well as freight to ensure financial viability. This would mean building stations for both in key destination cities. The more transport trucks we can get off our 400-series highways the less pollution and the safer the roads will be. Fewer drivers will be needed (there is a significant driver shortage already and that will only get worse in the future) and their surfaces and subsurface structure will last longer and need fewer repairs and less future widenings.
CONSENSUS ONTARIO CALLS FOR
MORE THOUGHTFUL CUTS - NOT CUTTING
FOR CUTTING'S SAKE!
With four months and a bit under his belt, Ontario's new premier Doug Ford and his PC government have been busy. Busy slashing programmes started by their nemesis, the Ontario Liberals. Ford has yet to launch any significant initiatives other $1 beer pricing.
Ford's first moves are prescient - they fall squarely into what Consensus Ontario predicts for a political system based on party politics. Once in government the party will scrap as much of their predecessor's work as possible. While some of those programmes deservedly needed to be ended, Consensus Ontario thinks the wiser way to proceed is to complete the full in-depth financial review of all government spending, programme by programme, to see how much dead wood is in there, available for chopping. It likely doesn't exceed 10% of total spending, but 10% will be a step in the right direction to do what we call for - at least balancing the budget within the first term of government...leaving things no worse than you found them.
CONSENSUS ONTARIO BOARD OPTS TO START BUILDING TOWARDS 2022 ELECTION & BY-ELECTIONS
Consensus Ontario's Board of Directors held it's first post-election meeting in Barrie on 23 June to review our individual campaign experiences and lessons learned. It was well-attended and provided a great opportunity to reconnect organizers and candidates, and to chart the course for the next year, and the next four years, when the 2022 general election will take place.
It was decided that Consensus Ontario will field a minimum of 62 candidates in that 2022 election. We now have time for well-crafted organizing, voter education, and fund-raising campaigns to assist us in our outreach work around the province.
I invite all voters who are curious about Consensus Ontario and Consensus Government to read our webpage entitled 'How Consensus Government Would Work', as well as to contact us to ask questions, get answers, and hopefully join your local Consensus Team in your riding.
Executive Director, CONSENSUS ONTARIO
The Big Reveal
Unhappy with Ontario politics?
Then 2017/18 is your lucky year...
CONSENSUS ONTARIO'S FIRST PROVINCIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS COMPLETE
The very significant 2018 Ontario general election has come to an end and we have a new PC majority government headed by Doug Ford. The Official Opposition is the diametrically opposed NDP caucus led by Andrea Horvath. It will be four years of potentially extreme right-wing views being rammed through the Ontario Legislature, with nothing to stop it but the opposite views of the Socialists. The Liberals, who played to the left this year, are now a small rump of a party that has lost its leader and its research money becomes just another minor party on Ontario.
As leader of Consensus Ontario I am very proud of what our small team of dedicated believers have been able to achieve in such a short period of time: Registering the party, recruiting and fielding candidates who ran excellent initial campaigns in their ridings, and putting together a party platform, campaign materials, and so on...on a shoe-strong budget. We received some excellent media coverage and will work to further the public's awareness of who we are. We were able to place 9th overall in the province among a field of 28 parties. Not bad for a first try, eh? We edged out the much older Freedom Party of Ontario in votes received.
We all have wonderful tales of curious, surprised and thoroughly happy voters we spoke with on the campaign trail who simply love the idea bringing Consensus Government to Ontario. They know voters did not have much to choose between in this election: Bad...or worse?
Consensus Ontario's Board of Directors will be meeting in Barrie on 23 June to review our individual campaign experiences and lessons learned, and to chart the course for the next year, and the next four years, when the 2022 general election will take place. Consensus Ontario will field 62 candidates in that election. We now have time for a serious organizing and fund-raising campaigns to assist us in our outreach work around the province.
The response we have received has been one of curiousity, hope, and support. Six out of 10 voters at the door say they love CONSENSUS ONTARIO's push to get rid of all parties in Ontario and replacing them with only Independent MPPs, properly representing the majority view in your riding, issue by issue...this system is called Consensus Government, and it is not new to Canada, being in use in our northern territories for over 100 years now.
Our policy positions have been crafted to meet the random voter priorities that we identified in 2016 and 2017 as we surveyed random voters in random ridings around the province. Please read our Election Platform page. For more indepth policy details, please visit the Our Policy and Policy Discussions pages on this website.
I, along with the rest of our candidates and party members, welcome your participation in our new party, the party to end all parties, so please join and get active in your riding... donate to our party, too, to help fund this worthwhile change in Ontario politics.
Thanks to all who voted for our candidates and spoke so nicely to our candidates at their front doors.
Riding by riding surveys get at your real priorities
ONTARIO - The riding survey work began in May 2016. The survey includes asking random, ordinary voters - who live in the riding - which of the province’s 43 responsibilities they care about. In this way, the surveyor is able to rank the voter’s priorities. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes and the goal is to produce a ranked list of the Top 15 priorities for that voter in that riding.
Additional voters in the same riding are surveyed, of course, and then a Riding Priority List is compiled. That riding list is then used later by the party to craft its province-wide Provincial Priorities List, which compiles the riding priorities lists from the other ridings in Ontario.
This survey work is an annual event for Consensus Ontario, and is considered vital, as it is at the very heart of true representation, ensuring government does those things voters care about and really want done.
Consensus Ontario policies
***BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE "OUR POLICY" PAGE ON THIS WEBSITE***
ONTARIO - The Provincial Priorities List created through the riding by riding surveys each year is an important tool for Consensus Ontario. It is what determines where party and candidate/MPP’s efforts must be focused. The Riding Priority List is what determines how a Consensus Ontario MPP will vote on each issue - truly representing the majority view in their riding.
As it is an annual survey, it is fully expected that the priorities of Ontario voters may - and likely will - change over time. That is why it is done each year, to ensure we are plugged into what is important to Ontarians. Parties that are out of step with voters can expect to be judged harshly at election time...and rightly so!
Government exists to do those things with voters cannot efficiently and economically do for themselves. That does not mean doing everything for voters, but rather, just certain specific things where government could do it better and more cost-effectively. Hence, the survey work to identify those priorities people want their provincial government to be involved with.
Once those priorities are identified, then it is time to create the policies which Consensus Ontario believes are the best way to implement each priority and make it a reality for voters. Party riding delegates form working groups that are tasked with developing detailed policy for each priority identified by you, the voter.
Based on the initial riding survey work, priorities for voters so far seem to focus on the expected issues of electricity, health care, education, transportation, and housing. Policies to address these priorities will include a standardized electricity rate in lieu of time of day charges; an increase in preventative health care to reduce health care costs in the mid- to long-term; a revision of the school curriculum to focus on identified short-comings, a back-to-basics curriculum, and a breaking up of large school boards; an emphasis on ways to improve highway traffic and safety and improve the commuter experience - including transit systems and high-speed rail for both passengers and freight; and measures to make housing more affordable to both middle and low-income Ontarians.
See What People Are Saying:
"Consensus Ontario is an idea whose time has come!"
Calling All Ontarians Who Long For Real Change!
We are open to new members and new candidates. Persons interested in this bold & fresh idea for Ontario politics & government - and who would like to run as the Consensus Ontario candidate in their riding in the 2022 election - should contact us using the form below.
Consensus Ontario will be successful only through the outreach efforts by our candidates in your ridings right across Ontario. Those efforts are now underway. Join today to help Build A Better Ontario.
You have nothing to lose: Contact us today and ask whatever questions are on your mind. Share your comments with us. Better still, join us as a member of Consensus Ontario.
To become a member, SIMPLY email us with the names and addresses of those who wish to become members of Consensus Ontario. You can also post us that same information in the snail mail and send it to:
CONSENSUS ONTARIO Association
446 Base Line Road East,
N6C 2P6
***Be sure to include your full mailing address as well as the names of all of the voters in your household 16 years of age and older whom you wish to be registered as Consensus Ontario members.
New members/households will receive a welcome letter and membership card (s).
Membership entitles you to:
a. Run as the Consensus Ontario candidate at election time;
b. participate in our annual priority surveys;
c. do volunteer work for the association to organize;
d. nominate your riding's Consensus Ontario candidate;
e. help develop our policy from priorities identified; and,
f. receive our association newsletter each season.
© 2019 Consensus Ontario
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6468
|
__label__cc
| 0.715134
| 0.284866
|
Missouri-Electrical Online Practice Test
These are actual questions from our online practice test.
We have included a question from each chapter of the test. Every question will be multiple choice. The answers are not included with the sample.
# Chapter Title Question
1 Electrical, Wires, Cables and Raceways For most 120/240V systems using cables of adequate ampacity, voltage drop is not a concern unless cable lengths are well over a hundred feet.
2 Electrical, Heaters, Conductors, Bonding and Voltage 120/240 V single phase system with single black-red-white conductors (installed in single conduit) select "single set of conductors", 120/208 V 3 phase system with 2 conductors per phase and neutral (installed in 2 parallel conduits) select _________ conductors per phase in parallel", dc system with 3 positive and 3 negative conductors select "3 conductors per phase in parallel".
3 Electrical, Connections, Panel Boards and Grounding What clearance is required for the front of a 208/120 panel?
4 Electrical Systems, Cables, Wires and Electrical Sign Installation
A sign can be used as a pull box or junction box for adjacent signs, outline lighting systems, or floodlights that ______________..
5 Electrical Branch Circuits Dual Element Fuse =
6 Motor Controls and Occupancies The smallest bonding conductor permitted for pool equipment is No. ___ AWG.
7 NEC and Electrical Materials
If a 60 gallon water heater has a name plate rating of 4500 watts and is fed by a 2 wire, 240 volt circuit, what is the minimum size NM cable conductors that can be used?
8 Electrical Transmission Lines and Communication Lines A messenger that is effectively grounded throughout its length will have the same clearance from the communications facilities that are required for a neutral conductor meeting regarding Rule ___________ in reference to fiber optic supply.
9 Electric Power Conditioning and Mechanical Electrical Lamp pole for exterior use is located 20 ft. away from the building. What type of raceway would be used?
10 Conduits, Voltmeters, Ammeter and Ohmmeter What color are the wire for pins 2 and 5 on an RJ13 jack?
11 Protected Premises, Fire Alarm Systems and Fundamentals
Every low power radio transmitter will automatically repeat alarm transmission at intervals not exceeding __ seconds until the initiating device is returned to its normal alarm condition.
12 Alarm Inspections, Testing and Maintenance How often shall detectors be tested?
13 Emergency Alarm Communication Systems, Control Functions and Interfaces What do smoke detectors mounted in the air ducts of HVAC systems do?
14 Sensors, Devises, Controls and Conductors By using a combination of magnetic contacts and _________________, a glass door with a glass transom may be protected.
15 Electrical Miscellaneous, Conductors, Wires, Panels, EMT and Currents The maximum secondary conductor length permitted by the NEC from a transformer to a main breaker in an office building is _________ ft. The rules in Sec. 240.4 require you to protect all conductors against over current in accordance with their ampacities as specified in Sec. 310.15.
16 Computers, Satellite Dish, Transmission Systems and Communication Circuits All TV satellites rotate in the _____ orbit.
17 Telecommunications Cross Talk A delay line based on the time of propagation of electromagnetic waves is considered to be an _________________________.
18 Cable and Phone Installation Systems
A _____________ is a network that covers a broad area (i.e., any telecommunications network that links across metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries) using private or public network transports.
19 Topology, Cable Specification and Telecommunications _________________ is the mathematical study of shapes and spaces. It is a major area of mathematics concerned with the most basic properties of space, such as connectedness, continuity and boundary. It is the study of properties that are preserved under continuous deformations including stretching and bending, but not tearing or gluing.
20 Electrical Signs and Components
The voltage and current ratio of autotransformers can be formulated the same as other two-winding transformers:
(0<V2<V1)
The ampere-turns provided by the upper half:
The ampere-turns provided by the lower half:
For ampere-turn balance, FU=FL:
21 Sign Design and Mounting
Programmable electronic signs shall be located in a manner that the director determines based on reasonable evidence will not adversely interfere with the visibility or functioning of traffic signals and traffic signage, taking into consideration the physical elements of the sign and the surrounding area, such as information analyzing physical obstruction issues, line of sight issues, brightness issues and visual obstruction or impairment issues, but not including the message content on the sign.
22 Sign Troubleshooting and Repair
The thermoplastic used to mold many common cheap connectors softens or melts at relatively low temperatures. This can result in the pins popping out or shifting position (even shorting) as you attempt to solder to them to replace a bad connection. One approach that works in some cases is to use the _____________ socket to stabilize the pins so they remain in position as you solder. The plastic will still melt - not as much if you use an adequately sized iron since the socket will act as a heat sink - but will not move.
23 Safety Electrical and Grounding Signs
Portable or mobile signs must be adequately supported and readily movable without the use of tools . Each portable or mobile sign must have an attachment plug. Remember that 400.8(2) and (5) prohibit flexible cords from being run through (or above) a suspended ____________.
24 OSHA Safety, Dig Alert, Fire Extinguishers, Asbestos and Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29, Part 1926
If an emergency notice must be given to Ohio Utilities Protection Service 811 Dig Alert, the utility company, will attempt to respond within _______.
25 Mathematics, Calculations and Formulas
The voltage of E of an alternating current electrical circuit can be represented by the sinusoidal function E=220cos(pi t) where E is measured in volts and t is measured in seconds. how long does it take the alternating current to complete one cycle?
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6470
|
__label__wiki
| 0.856192
| 0.856192
|
Home » Legal Services » Property Solicitors
Whether you’re buying your first home, looking to invest or involved in conflict, property law can be a difficult world to navigate. With so many loopholes, it’s important to get the right advice for you, to make sure everyone’s needs are met in a timely, fair manner. This is where we come in. The expert property team at Coole Bevis are well-versed in the ins and outs of property law and have years of experience in the sector.
When it comes to your business, practicality and efficiency are everything. This is exactly what our experienced team offers, helping you to fulfil your commercial property needs, with minor impact on business operations.
Buying and selling property can be as stressful as it is rewarding, whether it’s your first transaction or your tenth. We understand that, for many, buying a property represents buying a home. That’s why everything we do is tailored to you.
Residential leasehold law is complex and constantly evolving. Our team are here to assist both freehold landlords and leaseholders, offering rounded, expert and practical advice
Property disputes are a fact of life whether you own or occupy property, with landlord and tenant disputes becoming more and more common. If not handled correctly from the outset, they can be lengthy and expensive to resolve and can easily become unpleasant and emotional.
In Brighton
In Horsham
In Hove
In Worthing
Information About Brighton
Coole Bevis LLP is proud to offer Legal services in Brighton, a Town located in East Sussex in England.
Brighton is a Town and part of East Sussex which forms part of the Brighton and Hove adminstrative area in England.
Brighton was previously a part of the County of Sussex.
Brighton provides residents and businesses local services and administrative duties from Hove Town Hall.
Brighton’s governing local authority structure is a Unitary_authority.
Brighton is based within South East England.
Brighton is linkedd to county district shires including Brighton and Hove.
Subdivisions of the Town of Brighton include but are not limited to Varndean College.
Administrative ward subdivisions of a Brighton also include Queen’s Park (ward).
The Town of Brighton consolidates hamlets such as Balsdean within its border.
The Town of Brighton additionally contains villages such as Stanmer, Hangleton, West Blatchington, Saltdean, and Ovingdean its boundaries.
Brighton contains a number of settlements including Montpelier, Kemptown, North Laine, Elm Grove, Round Hill, Saltdean, and Ovingdean.
Coole Bevis LLP’s Legal service area in the Town of Brighton also includes Brunswick (Hove), Seven Dials, West Hill, Hanover, and Hangleton.
Other service areas of Coole Bevis LLP in Brighton, England encompass Hollingbury, Preston Village, Patcham, Coldean, and New England Quarter,
in addition to Brighton’s outer urban areas Mile Oak, Bear Road, Prestonville, Moulsecoomb, and West Blatchington.
Last but not least Coole Bevis LLP’s Legal services cover the greater Brighton area including Woodingdean, Black Rock (Brighton and Hove), Carlton Hill, Whitehawk, and Westdene.
The small communities of Roedean, Old Steine, Kemp Town, Bevendean, and Portslade are located within Brighton, East Sussex.
Towns such as Hollingdean, Aldrington, Stanmer, The Lanes, and Rottingdean are are part of Brighton.
Additional towns such as Brighton can be found within the Town of Brighton.
The cities of Brighton and Hove can be found within Brighton.
Moulsecoomb Place, Brighton Business School, and Waste House are respected through out the England and the United Kingdom.
Amongst the numerous schools and further education establishments in Brighton are Falmer High School, and Roedean School.
Jubilee Library, and Libraries in Brighton and Hove helps preserves Brighton’s history.
Promoting cultural heritage in Brighton are Booth Museum of Natural History, and Brighton Fishing Museum.
Brighton is served by Royal Sussex County Hospital, and Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.
Queen’s Park, Preston Park, and Wild Park are popular with Brighton residents and known through out England.
The major roads feeding Brighton includes the A23 road.
Notable roads within Brighton include Old Steine, Bear Road, and London to Brighton Way.
The Town of Brighton’s is bordered by Lewes, and Burgess Hill to the south.
Brighton reputation can be ascribed to its rich heritage including Royal Suspension Chain Pier, Chattri, and Brighton Lifeboat Station.
Brighton Iconic Buildings include St Mary’s Church, Brighton Forum, and Gothic House.
Blended into Brighton a number of buildings of national importance can be found including Libraries in Brighton and Hove, Clock Tower, Thomas Simpson (architect), King and Queen, and 11 Dyke Road.
Information About Horsham
Coole Bevis LLP offers Legal services in Horsham, which is located in England, and a Town in West Sussex.
Horsham is found in South East England.
Horsham is attributed to Horsham administrative county districts.
Local government Civil Parishes in the Town of Horsham include Woodmancote, West Sussex.
The Town of Horsham additionally contains the hamlets such as Tisman’s Common, Maplehurst, and Blackstone its boundaries.
The Town of Horsham also encompasses villages such as Rudgwick, Storrington, Partridge Green, Small Dole, and West Grinstead within its administrative area.
Villages in Horsham, include Nutbourne, Edburton, Woodmancote, Pulborough, and Monk’s Gate.
Dragon’s Green, Hardham, Washington, Five Oaks, and Upper Beeding are also part of Horsham
Incorporated settlements within Horsham’s boundary now include Rudgwick, Brooks Green, Faygate, Coolham, Slinfold, Dial Post, and Tisman’s Common.
Crabtree, West Sussex are included withinin Coole Bevis LLP’s Legal service area in the Town of Horsham.
Other towns including Storrington, and Horsham can be found within the Town of Horsham.
Horsham is within the RH12, RH13 area.
The Town of Horsham is flanked to the East by Broadbridge Heath, and St_Leonard’s_Forest.
Bordering the Town of Horsham and to the south Southwater, Billingshurst, and Mannings_Heath are immediately adjacent.
Adjoining Horsham to the north, Dorking, Burgess Hill, Southwater, Haywards Heath, and Faygate are a short-distance.
Horsham encompasses notable heritage assets including Madina Mosque, Horsham.
A range of West Sussex businesses including Coole Bevis LLP make their home in Horsham.
Information About Hove
Coole Bevis LLP is proud to offer Legal services in the Town of Hove, which lies within England in East Sussex.
Hove is situated in South East England.
Hove is attributed to shire districts including Brighton and Hove.
The Town of Hove additionally includes hamlets such as Balsdean its administrative area.
The Town of Hove additionally contains villages such as Stanmer, Hangleton, West Blatchington, Ovingdean, and Saltdean its boundaries.
Over the years Hove has assimilated a number of settlements including Saltdean, Aldrington, Rottingdean, Brighton, and Portslade.
Additional towns such as Brighton can be found within the Town of Hove.
A number of prestigious cities including Brighton and Hove can be found within Hove.
The Hove postcode district is BN3.
Notable educational establishments in Hove include Deepdene School.
Libraries in Brighton and Hove helps preserves Hove’s history.
The Hove area is the location of several hospitals including The Montefiore Hospital, and Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital.
Queen’s Park, Hove Park, and Stanmer are popular with Hove citizens and known through out England.
Essential roads and infasructure in Hove include Old Steine, Bear Road, and Elm Grove.
Unusual (and unique) places within Hove include Hove War Memorial, and Old Steine Gardens.
Famous buildings include Brighton Forum, Gothic House, and St Mary’s Church within Hove.
Structures and Buildings of special interest within Hove include Hove War Memorial, The Old Market, British Engineerium, Barford Court, and Hangleton Manor Inn.
Information About Worthing
Coole Bevis LLP offers Legal services in Worthing, which is located in England, and a Town in West Sussex.
Worthing was previously a part of the County of Sussex.
Worthing Rural District is Worthing’s local authority administrative HQ.
Worthing’s local authority/administrative division is a Borough_status_in_the_United_Kingdom.
Worthing is situated in South East England.
Boundaries to an original ecclesiastical parish in the Borough of Worthing incorperate Worthing College.
The Borough of Worthing consolidates hamlets such asHeene, Durrington, Goring-by-Sea, Salvington, and Offington within its border.
Other villages in Worthing include Broadwater, Cote, Findon Valley, High Salvington, and Tarring.
Worthing contains a number of settlements including Heene, Goring-by-Sea, and Salvington.
Other towns including Broadwater, and Tarring can be found within the Borough of Worthing.
Prestigious schools in Worthing are Durrington High School, and Schools in Worthing.
Promoting cultural heritage in Worthing are Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, and High Salvington Windmill.
Worthing Hospital are located within the Worthing District.
Beach House Park, and Highdown Gardens are popular with Worthing citizens and known through out England.
Worthing is the starting-point of the A24 road (England).
The Borough of Worthing is bordered by Shoreham_by_Sea to the East.
Bordering the Town of Worthing and to the south Picardy, Normandy, and Buncton are immediately adjacent.
Worthing northern boundaries are bordered by Buncton, Steyning, and Clapham
Worthing is best known for Cissbury Ring, and High Salvington Windmill.
Examples of famous architecture in Worthing include St Mary of the Angels, Worthing.
Situated in Worthing, notable heritage assets include East Worthing railway station, Schools in Worthing, Our Lady of Sion School, Manor Sports Ground, and Durrington-on-Sea railway station.
Leasehold Enfranchisement Disputes
Realted Articles
Private Equity Venture Capital Deal of the Year Awards
The Corporate & Commercial team at Coole Bevis LLP are delighted that their professionalism and expertise has been recognised...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6472
|
__label__cc
| 0.721749
| 0.278251
|
Our Chat
Our Business Site
Computer Tips & Trix
Password Tester
E-Mail Encoder
Avoiding SPAM
Scammer Scams
Scammer Scam
Scammer Scam II
Scammer Scam III
Your Internet Speed
Humor & Fun
Baby Namer
Speak Easy
Evil Overlord
Name Bander
Random Nonsense
Mob Alias Generator
DO NOT click this link!!!
Wingo (WAL-MART Bingo)
Encrypter/Decrypter
Photo (face) Animator
Case Converter
Story Chain... "Wally"
Comment on our site...
Helena Weather
3rd Annual Montana Ride to Remember
Written by Layne Cope
Written on Friday, 09 December 2016 05:46
Written on Saturday, 11 January 2014 08:27
Starter Chop
Written on Friday, 26 April 2013 21:52
We're members of the
We've ridden there:
The Baptist Preacher & the Montana Cowboy
A Baptist Preacher was seated next to a cowboy on a flight to Texas.
After the plane took off, the cowboy asked for a whiskey and soda, which was brought and placed before him.
The flight attendant asked the preacher if he would like a drink. Appalled, the preacher replied, "I'd rather be tied up and taken advantage of by women of ill-repute, then let liquor touch my lips."
The cowboy handed his drink back to the attendant and said; "Me too, I didn't know we had a choice."
Published in Chuckler
Saturday, 21 January 2012 16:43
APHORISM: A SHORT, POINTED SENTENCE THAT EXPRESSES A WISE OR CLEVER OBSERVATION OR A GENERAL TRUTH.
1. The nicest thing about the future is . . . that it always starts tomorrow.
2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.
4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
7. Business conventions are important. . .because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?
9. No one has more driving ambition than the teenage boy who wants to buy a car.
10. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 a.m. - like, it could be the right number.
11. No one ever says "It's only a game" when their team is winning.
12. Be careful about reading the fine print. . . . there's no way you're going to like it.
13. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
14. Do you realize that, in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos?
(And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)
15. Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Cadillac than in a Yugo.
16. Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind . . . . and the ones that mind don't matter.
17. Life isn't tied with a bow . . . . . . . . but it's still a gift.
May you always have enough!
I had to look up "paraprosdokian." Here is the definition: "A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."
e.g. "Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.
Ok, so now enjoy!
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.
3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.
12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'
13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.
17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.
21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.
22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.
23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.
28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.
29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.
30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." ~ Jon Hammond
True Friends
Published in Politico
As I get older I found this most meaningful. Please take the time to read.
Walk with me by the water, well worth the read...
A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE ABOUT GROWING OLDER:
Shit...
I forgot the words...
Published in Awesomeness
After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.
Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: "California archaeologists, finding of 200-year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers."
One week later, a local newspaper in Montana reported the following: "After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Miles City, Fred, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. He has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Montana had already gone wireless."
Just makes a person proud to live in or have lived in Montana , doesn't it?
(courtesy of my friend Sharon)
Designed by Rocky Mountain Web Solutions.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6474
|
__label__wiki
| 0.666448
| 0.666448
|
About CVI
Intranasal Immunization against Dental Caries with a Streptococcus mutans-Enriched Fimbrial Preparation
Margherita Fontana, Ann J. Dunipace, George K. Stookey, Richard L. Gregory
Margherita Fontana
Oral Health Research Institute 1 and
Ann J. Dunipace
George K. Stookey
Richard L. Gregory
Departments of Oral Biology 2 and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 3 Schools of Dentistry and of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5186
Streptococcus mutans has been identified as the major etiological agent of human dental caries. The first step in the initiation of infection by this pathogenic bacterium is its attachment (i.e., through bacterial surface proteins such as glucosyltransferases, P1, glucan-binding proteins, and fimbriae) to a suitable receptor. It is hypothesized that a mucosal vaccine against a combination ofS. mutans surface proteins would protect against dental caries by inducing specific salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies which may reduce bacterial pathogenesis and adhesion to the tooth surface by affecting several adhesins simultaneously. Conventional Sprague-Dawley rats, infected withS. mutans at 18 to 20 days of age, were intranasally immunized with a mixture of S. mutans surface proteins, enriched for fimbriae and conjugated with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) plus free cholera toxin (CT) at 13, 15, 22, 29, and 36 days of age (group A). Control rats were either not immunized (group B) or immunized with adjuvant alone (CTB and CT [group C]). At the termination of the study (when rats were 46 days of age), immunized animals (group A) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher salivary IgA and serum IgG antibody responses to the mixture of surface proteins and to whole bacterial cells than did the other two groups (B and C). No significant differences were found in the average numbers of recoveredS. mutans cells among groups. However, statistically fewer smooth-surface enamel lesions (buccal and lingual) were detected in the immunized group than in the two other groups. Therefore, a mixture of S. mutans surface proteins, enriched with fimbria components, appears to be a promising immunogen candidate for a mucosal vaccine against dental caries.
Copyright © 1999 American Society for Microbiology
Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology May 1999, 6 (3) 405-409; DOI:
Thank you for sharing this Clinical and Vaccine Immunology article.
You are going to email the following Intranasal Immunization against Dental Caries with a Streptococcus mutans-Enriched Fimbrial Preparation
Message Subject (Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from Clinical and Vaccine Immunology
Message Body (Your Name) thought you would be interested in this article in Clinical and Vaccine Immunology.
Submit a Manuscript to mSphere
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6477
|
__label__wiki
| 0.860152
| 0.860152
|
CWA e-Newsletter: Dec. 10, 2015
Sign up for CWA's weekly e-Newsletter
Send tips to blog@cwa-union.org or @CWANews.
Democracy Initiative Sets 2016 Course
Robert Reich Looks at Who's Buying up American Democracy
CWA Files Objections to Altice-Cablevision Deal
The Fed Thinks The Economy Is Healthy – But It's Not
Organizing Update
Tragedy in North Carolina Kills Members of CWA Local 3676
Consumer Advocates Urge Regulators to Investigate T-Mobile's False Ads, Abusive Debt Collection
CWA AT&T Southeast, AT&T Utility Operations, and BellSouth Billing Workers Ratify Contracts
CWA members working for AT&T Southeast, AT&T Utility Operations, and BellSouth Billing have overwhelmingly approved contracts covering a total of 28,000 workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The new contracts will provide increases in wages, pension safeguards and improvements in job security, a better work/home life balance, and many other gains that will provide real economic improvement for workers.
CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt thanked everyone involved in the ratification of the agreement between CWA and AT&T in District 3, from the bargaining team, mobilizers and the members.
"It was a hard fought battle for all and we were able to get an agreement that will benefit the members during this rapidly changing environment that we are seeing in the telecom industries," Honeycutt said.
CWAers Continue Struggle to Win Fair Contracts at Verizon
Despite fielding insulting proposals from Verizon, IBEW and CWA bargaining committee members negotiating contracts for 39,000 members since August 1 continue to work hard for a fair agreement. Progress remains slow as this wealthy corporation persists with demands that workers relinquish job security and retirement and other benefits.
CWA Local 1120 members, Verizon workers fighting for a fair contract, did not let the fog deter them as they rallied near a Poughkeepsie, NY, Verizon Wireless store on Sunday.
IBEW 2321, IBEW 2222 and CWA Local 1400 members were at the Peabody, Mass., Verizon Wireless store on Saturday to let the public know that workers are united for a fair contract. "Our CWA and IBEW members are out there educating the community about our prolonged contract fight. We're going to fight one day longer, one day stronger," CWA Local 1400 President Don Trementozzi said.
The Democracy Initiative's 58 endorsing organizations this week adopted a strategic action plan for 2016, calling for a major grassroots mobilization and setting a national innovative strategy for joint action to build a democracy where the voice of every American is heard and counted, with a government that is of, by and for the people.
Democracy Initiative Chair Larry Cohen said stopping the deluge of money that has warped our political process and the wave of voter suppression laws across the nation will need all the organizations working together.
In fact, two member organizations – Public Citizen and the NAACP – have begun coordinating their campaigns at the highest levels, to take on the linked consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court's assaults in recent years on voting rights and campaign finance reform. The organizations are committed to working together to restore the Voting Rights Act and to stop the flood of big money into politics unleashed by the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision. Voter suppression and the wholesale purchase of the political establishment by the wealthy in this country are destroying democracy for Americans.
"Together we can build a democracy where our members' dreams are imaginable and not blocked by a system with abysmally low voter participation and outrageously high spending that's considered by many to be 'business as usual,' " Cohen said. "We can't accept that and we won't accept that."
CWA President Chris Shelton said CWA will be a big part of the national mobilization and other actions.
"It's time to put up or shut up," Shelton said. "We need millions of people on the streets to fight back and save our democracy. The spring mobilization that DI is organizing is a tremendous opportunity to show people that we are sick and tired of our country being held hostage to special interests. If we do not support the DI in this we will never get the important work of our organizations done."
CWA President Chris Shelton, with Marge Baker of the People for the American Way and NAACP President Cornell Brooks, at the Democracy Initiative's annual meeting.
Founded in 2012, the Democracy Initiative is committed to mobilizing millions of activists to build the movement for a 21st century democracy. Endorsing organizations adopted a plan for specific campaigns in at least six states, support for other local and state reform efforts, training for hundreds of thousands of activists, a major spring mobilization and a national plan to rebuild our democracy.
A major goal of the spring mobilization will be to overcome the public cynicism that little can be done about the corporate stranglehold on decisions affecting the lives of Americans. The action plan for 2016 will build on victories that already have been achieved in communities and states.
The national strategy calls for increased integration of democracy issues into the work of issue-based member organizations, by connecting organizations and promoting discussion and action on democracy work.
For more information and a list of endorsing organizations, please visit www.democracyinitiative.org.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich explains how a handful of super-wealthy Americans is in the process of buying up our government.
In his latest YouTube video, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich cites a New York Times investigation that said half of all the money contributed so far to Democratic and Republican presidential candidates – $176 million – has come from just 158 families, along with the companies they own or control. Who are these people? They're almost entirely white, rich, older and male – even though America is becoming increasingly black and brown, young, female, and with declining household incomes.
CWA has filed official objections with the Federal Communications Commission over the proposed sale of Cablevision to Dutch company Altice.
The deal is not in the public interest, will lead to outsourcing of jobs and too much debt, CWA said, citing the Moody's ratings agency's concerns about the $8.6 billion in debt that Altice would take on to complete the purchase.
CWA represents 300 Cablevision technicians and workers in Brooklyn. These CWAers successfully ratified a contract with Cablevision in February 2015 after a multi-year fight with the company, first over union representation and then for a fair contract.
"Altice's track record in France and Portugal clearly shows the danger this deal poses to Cablevision's customers and employees," CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor said. "Altice takes on too much debt, outsources as much work as possible and then downsizes its workforce. Customers get worse service and employees lose their job. Unless Altice makes commitments to protect customer service and Cablevision employees, the FCC should reject this deal."
Read the full filing here. Altice has outlined plans to take on $8.6 billion in debt to finance the deal – on top of Cablevision's existing $5.9 billion in debt. This level of debt will require such deep cost-cutting at Cablevision that both staffing and network investments are likely to suffer, harming consumers and workers. As a result of the heavy debt financing, Moody's immediately put Cablevision under review for downgrade, noting that its eye-popping debt level "creates risk for a company in a capital intensive, competitive industry."
According to the filing, Altice's planned $1.05 billion cuts in operating expenses and capital expenditures will likely lead to significantly worse customer service. This has been the experience in France, where Deutsche Bank reports that over the past year, Altice-owned Numericable-SFR lost 5.4 percent (1.256 million) of its mobile subscribers, another 246,000 retail broadband subscribers, or 3.7 percent, and 719,000 home connections, 7.2 percent of subscribers.
In addition, in France and Portugal, Altice has a troubling track record of refusing to pay its contractors. Recently, two Altice companies were fined the equivalent of $410,000 (in Euros) for not paying its contractors.
CWA will weigh in with the New York State Public Service Commission, the New York City Franchise Concession Review Committee and the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which play a role in reviewing the deal.
In a new Medium blog post, CWA President Chris Shelton outlines why the Federal Reserve's hints at raising interest rates are so troubling.
He writes:
In contract bargaining this year, we've seen very wealthy companies seek to shift higher health care costs to workers and slash retirement security. We've seen companies look to cut good, full-time jobs that support families and communities, only to replace them with temporary and part-time work with limited or no benefits.
The current struggle of working families will only deepen under higher interest rates. It'll make it more expensive for us to pay our credit cards, student loans, mortgages, car payments and more. That means we'll have less cash in our wallets to purchase the goods and services we need. And when families don't have money to spend, that extreme budget tightening quickly ripples throughout our communities. Local businesses earn less and hire fewer workers, and the economy slows.
We're making it clear: the American Dream isn't only for Wall Street bankers and the 1 percent. It's supposed to be for all of us. Workers helped corporate America make a full recovery. Now it's our turn.
In September, Shelton pressed this point when he joined AFL-CIO leaders at a meeting with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. They warned Yellen that raising interest rates would further harm the ability of working families to improve their wages and standard of living.
But will the Fed listen? We'll find out when the central bank meets to decide monetary policy next week.
Read Shelton's full blog post here.
Nearly 1,000 Sports Broadcast Members Join NABET-CWA
Nearly 1,000 technicians and other workers who bring television sports to millions of viewers have joined NABET-CWA over the past year, following new work agreements reached with ABC Sports and NBC Sports.
NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico said the program, "Growing the Union at ABC Sports and NBC Sports," has been very successful and will continue to bring union representation to hundreds of workers, especially in sports field production.
"There has been a huge expansion in the coverage of sports, especially for college athletics. The number of college football games broadcast in a weekend – and covered by NABET-CWA collective bargaining agreements – has grown from five to as many as 35 games. Most of these workers are daily hires, who are hired show to show, season to season. It's clear that they want the benefits of NABET-CWA representation," he said.
Daily Hire/Freelance members are an integral part of NABET-CWA, and the union has focused on ensuring that these workers have the opportunity for a union voice.
On Nov. 30, two members of CWA Local 3676, Dennis Martin and Daniel Anderson, were working on a huge transformer at SPX Transformer Solutions in Goldsboro, when they were overcome by nitrogen gas and died.
William Sariak, a co-worker who entered the transformer, was stricken but was taken to a nearby hospital and survived.
The North Carolina Industrial Commission has begun an investigation to determine the cause of the tragedy and identify steps to prevent future cases. CWA's occupational safety and health director Dave LeGrande will work with the state regulators and the employer on the investigation.
The local and CWA District 3 are providing support to the grieving families and co-workers during this difficult time, said Local 3676 President Gilbert Cutlip and District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt.
SPX Transformer Solutions is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of medium and large power transformers for the transmission and distribution of electric power.
Consumer advocates are calling out T-Mobile.
A coalition of leading civil rights, consumer, labor and social justice organizations has filed complaints with both the New York Attorney General's office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), calling for the regulators to investigate misleading ads and abusive debt collection at T-Mobile.
"It is profoundly disappointing that T-Mobile markets itself as a provider of equal access, but its misleading claims and aggressive debt collection likely have a disparate impact on communities of color and low income consumers," said Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change. "We believe an investigation is necessary, and will hopefully force much needed change at the company."
Led by Change to Win, the coalition analyzed more than 5,500 consumer complaints filed with federal agencies and the Better Business Bureau since 2013, when the company launched its campaign promising consumers "contract freedom" and "no contract."
Researchers found that while T-Mobile boldly claims to rip up contracts, its equipment financing plan locks customers into two-year contracts, just like before. As a result, about 90 percent of customers enter into contracts with financial penalties for early termination.
The complaints also detail the company's broken debt collection practices. Of consumers with accounts in collection, 71 percent said that T-Mobile gave incorrect information to debt collection agencies. Nearly half reported little-to-no notice of the debt before it was referred to an agency.
The report clearly got under T-Mobile CEO John Legere's skin. When USA Today covered it, Legere harassed the reporter, Kaja Whitehouse. "Makes me think you were suckered? OR you in someone's back pocket?" Legere tweeted. Whitehouse responded that she understood he was unhappy, "But personal attacks? Really?"
In its story, USA Today reports that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched an investigation into the company. Advocates are urging the CFPB to do the same soon.
"We fear that without swift action by the CFPB, millions of more consumers will be put in harm's way by T-Mobile's misleading claims and unfair debt collection practices," said Nell Geiser, research director for Change to Win Retail Initiatives.
Learn more at www.callingouttmobile.com.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6478
|
__label__wiki
| 0.794553
| 0.794553
|
/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/methodologies/babynamesqmi
English (EN) | Cymraeg (CY)
Calendar datganiadau
Methodoleg
Busnes, diwydiant a masnach
Diwydiant adeiladu
Masnach ryngwladol
Newidiadau i fusnesau
Y diwydiant TG a'r rhyngrwyd
Y diwydiant gweithgynhyrchu a chynhyrchu
Y diwydiant manwerthu
Y diwydiant twristiaeth
Cyflogaeth a'r farchnad lafur
Pobl mewn gwaith
Pobl nad ydynt mewn gwaith
Pobl, y boblogaeth a chymunedau
Addysg a gofal plant
Cyllid personol a chyllid aelwydydd
Etholiadau
Genedigaethau, marwolaethau a phriodasau
Hamdden a thwristiaeth
Hunaniaeth ddiwylliannol
Iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol
Lles
Nodweddion aelwydydd
Poblogaeth ac ymfudo
Troseddu a chyfiawnder
Yr economi
Allgynnyrch economaidd a chynhyrchiant
Buddsoddiadau, pensiynau ac ymddiriedolaethau
Cyfrifon amgylcheddol
Cyfrifon gwladol
Cyfrifon rhanbarthol
Cynnyrch Domestig Gros (CDG)
Gwerth Ychwanegol Gros
Llywodraeth, y sector cyhoeddus a threthi
Mynegeion chwyddiant a phrisiau
Cymryd rhan mewn arolwg?
Chwilio am allweddair neu ID cyfres amser
People, population and community
Live births
Baby names QMI
Quality and methodology information for baby names statistics produced for England and Wales.
Cyswllt:
vsob@ons.gov.uk
Methodology background
Important points about baby name statistics
Overview of the output
Output quality
About the output
How the output is created
Validation and quality assurance
Sources for further information or advice
Print this Methodoleg
1. Methodology background
National Statistic
How compiled Based on third party data
Geographic coverage England and Wales
Last revised 21 September 2018
Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys
2. Important points about baby name statistics
Baby name statistics are compiled from first names recorded when live births are registered in England and Wales as part of civil registration, a legal requirement.
The statistics are based only on live births that occurred in the calendar year, as there is no public register of stillbirths.
Babies born in England and Wales to women whose usual residence is outside England and Wales are included in the statistics for England and Wales as a whole, but excluded from any sub-division of England and Wales.
The statistics are based on the exact spelling of the name given on the birth certificate; grouping names with similar pronunciation would change the rankings – exact names are given so users can group if they wish.
3. Overview of the output
Baby names presents data on the first names of live-born babies. The statistics are published annually and represent births occurring in England and Wales. Figures are derived from names recorded when a birth is registered in England and Wales. The release provides counts and ranks for:
names in England and Wales
the top 100 names in England
the top 100 names in Wales
the top 10 names by month of birth
the top 10 names by mother’s region of usual residence
Office for National Statistics (ONS) took responsibility for producing baby name statistics for England and Wales in 2009. Prior to this, figures were produced by the General Register Office (GRO). A time series of baby names for boys and girls back to 1996 is available, providing counts and ranks of names in England and Wales as well as the top 10 names by month of birth. For years prior to 1996, the top 100 rankings in England and Wales were produced by GRO for 1904 to 1994 at 10-yearly intervals. These statistics are published on our website. We are unable to provide any more detailed data for these years, including counts.
For information on data quality, legislation and procedures relating to birth statistics, please see our User guide to birth statistics.
4. Output quality
This report provides a range of information that describes the quality of the data and details any points that should be noted when using the output.
We have developed guidelines for measuring statistical quality; these are based upon the five European Statistical System (ESS) quality dimensions. This report addresses these quality dimensions and other important quality characteristics, which are:
timeliness and punctuality
coherence and comparability
output quality trade-offs
assessment of user needs and perceptions
accessibility and clarity
More information is provided about these quality dimensions in the following sections.
5. About the output
(The degree to which statistical outputs meet users’ needs.)
Our annual baby names release provides statistics on the first names given to live-born babies born in England and Wales in a given calendar year. The release is published around nine months after the end of the data year. A statistical bulletin provides commentary on the published datasets.
There is no publicly available register of stillbirths. For this reason baby name statistics are based only on live births.
Baby name statistics do not include births to women usually resident in England or Wales who give birth abroad. They do include births that occurred in England or Wales to women whose usual residence is outside England and Wales. Such births are included in total figures for England and Wales, but excluded from any sub-division of England and Wales.
An interactive data visualisation tool has been produced by a web developer external to Office for National Statistics (ONS) and enables users to visually compare changes in the popularity of different names since 1996.
The primary users of the data are parents, soon-to-be parents and the media. Baby name websites and those who manufacture and sell named items such as souvenir mugs also make use of the data.
Requests for more detailed information on historic baby names are often received. We are unable to provide any further information for the years 1904 to 1995 beyond that available. We took on the responsibility for producing baby names in 2009 and do not have the necessary data to be able to compile figures prior to 1996. For years prior to 1996, the top 100 rankings put together by the General Register Office are published for all possible years (1904 to 1994 at 10-yearly intervals). This represents all the historic data available.
The baby name statistics are based on the exact spelling of the name given on the birth certificate. Some users request that similar names be grouped. We provide only statistics based on the exact spelling and do not group names because some groupings are not straightforward and are subjective. Users can create their own groupings if they wish.
It is necessary to protect the confidentiality of uncommon baby names, to prevent the identification of individuals and the potential linkage of these data to other datasets, so all names with counts of fewer than 3 in England and Wales as a whole are redacted. Further information on the ONS policy on protecting the confidentiality in tables of birth and death statistics is available.
The assessment of user needs and perceptions section provides further information about processes for finding out about uses and users, and their views on the baby names release.
(Timeliness refers to the lapse of time between publication and the period to which the data refer. Punctuality refers to the gap between planned and actual publication dates.)
The annual release of baby names is announced on the GOV.UK release calendar at least four weeks before publication.
Baby names are published around nine months after the end of the data year following the full quality assurance of the data. This time lag is necessary to ensure that the statistics are based on the annual births dataset ensuring the highest possible quality.
Prior to 2009 when the General Register Office produced statistics on baby names, figures were published several months earlier as they were based only on births registered in the first 46 weeks of the year. This could have introduced some seasonal bias. For example, Holly is a very popular girls name in December and a large proportion of girls called Holly born in the data year would consequently have been excluded from published figures.
Baby names for 2009 was delayed because of methodological changes to the way the dataset was created. These changes were necessary to enable us to answer customer requests regarding the number of babies registered without a name.
For more details on related releases, the GOV.UK release calendar is available online and provides 12 months’ advance notice of release dates. In the unlikely event of a change to the pre-announced release schedule, public attention will be drawn to the change and the reasons for the change will be explained fully at the same time, as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
6. How the output is created
Baby name statistics are derived from final annual births registration data and represent all live births occurring in England and Wales in the specific calendar year. The statistics are based on the exact spelling of the name given on the birth certificate. The compilation of these statistics has been automated as much as possible to ensure efficiency. Consequently, minimal automated editing is conducted on the names. For more information on the edits applied, see the section on output quality trade-offs.
7. Validation and quality assurance
(The degree of closeness between an estimate and the true value.)
Baby names are based on actual birth registrations. These data represent the legal record, making it the best and most complete data source. As part of the birth registration process, before data are submitted through the Registration Online System (RON), the registrar asks the informant (typically one or both of the parents) to verify that all data entered are accurate. The registrar is then able to correct any errors. The name supplied will be the name on the birth certificate required in order to obtain a passport or a school place.
The births annual dataset used to produce the statistics is a static file of birth registration records available at the time the dataset is closed. Revisions to records can still be made after the dataset has been finalised but these will not be reflected in the annual dataset or in published statistics.
Between 1996 and 2000, the cut-off date for inclusion in the annual dataset was births occurring in the reference year that were registered by 11 February of the following year, this being 42 days after 31 December, the legal time limit for registering a birth. For 2001, the cut-off date was extended to 25 February 2002 to allow increased capture of births registered late. This change means that the annual statistics are prepared on as close to a true occurrences basis as possible without further delay to publication.
Since 2001 the annual dataset includes:
births occurring in the reference year that were registered by 25 February the following year
births occurring in the year prior to the reference year that were registered between 26 February in the reference year and 25 February the following year; that is, births in the previous year that had not been tabulated previously
Prior to 2001 the annual dataset included:
Annual datasets for 1996 to 1999 were derived in a similar way, except that late registrations for births for all earlier years were included in the annual total, not just late registrations for births in the previous year.
(Coherence is the degree to which data that are derived from different sources or methods, but refer to the same topic, are similar. Comparability is the degree to which data can be compared over time and domain, for example, geographic level.)
We provide a time series of counts and ranks of baby names for boys and girls back to 1996. For years where we are unable to provide detailed data (prior to 1996), the top 100 rankings put together by the General Register Office are published for all possible years (1904 to 1994 at 10-yearly intervals). Counts are not available before 1996, which affects the comparability of baby name statistics prior to this date.
The published counts are based on the exact spelling of the first name given on the birth certificate. This is consistent internationally with countries such as Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, the US, Canada and the Republic of Ireland. There are, however, some differences internationally, for example, New Zealand uses date of registration rather than date of birth.
We publish Baby names around nine months after the end of the data year. Baby names for Scotland and Northern Ireland, published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) respectively. National Records of Scotland publish provisional data for the first 11 months of the year in December, figures for the whole calendar year are then published around March time. NISRA provides final figures, around spring or summer time. ONS, NISRA and NRS all produce baby name statistics using information collected at birth registration for live births only.
We are not the only organisation to produce annual baby name statistics for England and Wales. Bounty (a parenting organisation) produces statistics using voluntary responses received from new mothers. These statistics are not as complete as those produced by us, since not all women giving birth volunteer the information to Bounty.
8. Concepts and definitions
(Concepts and definitions describe the legislation governing the output and a description of the classifications used in the output.)
Baby names are derived from names recorded when a birth is registered in England and Wales. Birth registration is a legal requirement under the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1836. The registration of births occurring in England and Wales is a service carried out by the Local Registration Service in partnership with the General Register Office.
(Trade-offs are the extent to which different dimensions of quality are balanced against each other.)
Baby name statistics are derived using information recorded at birth registration in the first forename field. The compilation of these statistics has been automated as much as possible to ensure efficiency. Consequently, minimal automated editing is conducted on the names with only the following edits being applied:
the removal of spaces and any text following a space; text following a space is considered to be a second name rather than a first name
the removal of accents; names are analysed without those accents since they cannot be processed within the software used to automatically generate the statistics
In the majority of cases these editing rules result in an accurate set of baby name statistics being compiled. However, there are a very small number of names in the annual datasets that are recorded in such a way that automated editing is unable to fully identify the first forename, for example:
hyphenated names where spaces have been included between the names, for example, Amelia- Lily; such names will appear in the statistics as Amelia-
hyphenated names where the first part of the name was included in the first forename field and the second part in the second forename field rather than all of the name being included in the first forename field; for example, Amelia- is recorded in the first forename field while Lily is recorded in the second forename field; such names will also appear in the statistics as Amelia-
In recent years, the number of hyphenated names not fully deciphered by automated editing has been very low, less than 0.01%.
Manual editing would be required to fully decipher all forenames. Manual editing is not used in the compilation of baby name statistics because the benefits from applying manual editing would be far outweighed by the extra time and costs associated.
(The processes for finding out about uses and users, and their views on the statistical products.)
A feedback survey for baby name statistics took place in July 2011. The results and responses to this survey were published in August 2012.
User feedback is requested at the bottom of all emails sent by customer service teams within Vital Statistics Output Branch (VSOB).
10. Sources for further information or advice
(Accessibility is the ease with which users are able to access the data, also reflecting the format in which the data are available and the availability of supporting information. Clarity refers to the quality and sufficiency of the release details, illustrations and accompanying advice.)
Our recommended format for accessible content is a combination of HTML web pages for narrative, charts and graphs, with data being provided in usable formats such as CSV and Excel. Our website also offers users the option to download the narrative in PDF format. In some instances other software may be used, or may be available on request. Available formats for content published on our website but not produced by us, or referenced on our website but stored elsewhere, may vary. For further information please contact us via email at vsob@ons.gov.uk.
For information regarding conditions of access to data, please refer to the following links:
terms and conditions (for data on the website)
Special extracts and tabulations of baby names for England and Wales are available to order (subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control, resources and our charging policy, where appropriate). Such enquiries should be made to Vital Statistics Outputs Branch via email to vsob@ons.gov.uk or by telephone on +44 (0)1329 444110. We also publish user requested data.
We welcome feedback on the content, format and relevance of releases. Please send feedback to vsob@ons.gov.uk.
Annual baby names for 1996 onwards are available in annual files: one for boys and one for girls. Alongside these, a statistical bulletin provides supporting commentary. The bulletin outlines main findings and describes recent trends.
To aid visual interpretation further there is a baby names interactive data visualisation tool. The tool shows how names have changed in popularity since 1996.
To help users identify changes within the published tables, increases in rank are denoted in blue, decreases in red and a black hyphen used to denote no change in rank. New entries into the top 100, when ranks for the year are compared with ranks for another year, are denoted by an asterisk. A colon is used to denote when a name has not previously been included in the rankings, that is, it had a count of fewer than three in the comparison year.
Annual baby names are published by month of birth and country and region of usual residence of the mother. An interactive data visualisation tool enables users to visually compare changes in the popularity of different names since 1996.
Baby names for Scotland and Northern Ireland are published by National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency respectively.
Manylion cyswllt ar gyfer y Methodoleg
Baby names in England and Wales : 2017
Efallai y bydd hefyd gennych ddiddordeb yn:
Baby names for girls in England and Wales
Baby names for boys in England and Wales
Top 100 baby names in England and Wales: historical data
Briwsion a phreifatrwydd
Local statistics
Ynglŷn ag SYG
Beth rydym yn ei wneud
Rhybuddion ebost
Mae'r holl gynnwys ar gael o dan delerau'r Drwydded Llywodraeth Agored f3.0, ac eithrio lle y nodir fel arall
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6480
|
__label__wiki
| 0.557175
| 0.557175
|
Board index C8 Info Events
5.11.2016 - Pirate Beats Soliparty @ KØPI (Berlin)
Events Listings... post 'em here!
catzwailen
Post by catzwailen » Fri Oct 21, 2016 7:51 pm
Digital Junk & Kaometry present:
PIRATE BEATS
Antirepression Soliparty
Digital Junk and Kaometry unite for organizing a fund raiser in support of the arrested for the NOEXPO MAYDAY 2015 Demonstration in Milan (more info here: https://scateniamoli.info/)
In this occasion we bring you some of the best musicians and djs from the european underground tekno scene and some visual surprises.
Where? In the best party-cellar in town!
SUBURBASS (Le Diable Au Corp/Astrophonics) Hardtek
WOLFENOIZ Hardcore/Crossbreed
ANNA BOLENA (Idroscalo Dischi) Hard Industrial Techno
DJ ZENUWPEES (Nimatek) Hardcore/Breakcore
DJ SUSE (Amazing Mono) Tekno/Bass/Breaks
DJ SERVICE PROVIDER (Knatterkiste/Anachronism)
Breakcore/Mashupcore
CRASH 0.1 (Digital Junk/ATNT) Hardcore/Breakcore/Industrial/Bass
CONTROL/DELETE (ATNT/Cyberrise) Tekno
Visuals and videoinstallations: GUINEA PIG, DECK, Hmtl://S
Deko: GoGoTrash
Powered by Cyberrise Sound System
@ KØPI-KELLER
Köpenicker Str. 137 - 10179 Berlin
S-Bahn Ostbahnhof
https://koepi137.net/
Don't get confused!!! Our party's in the Tekkno-Cellar. Next door in the same yard, in Koma-F, a punk concert takes place.
Last edited by catzwailen on Thu Nov 03, 2016 4:21 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: 5.11.2016 - Pirate Beats Soliparty @ KØPI (Berlin)
Post by catzwailen » Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:06 pm
Important edit
Post by catzwailen » Fri Nov 04, 2016 7:25 am
Here's a text about the reasons of the fund raising:
Expo Milano 2015 has been a huge global event organized in Milan by the local state institutions with the approval of the whole italian political enviroment. It involved many of the world's governments, multinational concerns, companies and industries providing them a platform to interact and showcase their projects and plans on the yearly theme "feeding the planet, energy for life". Hyped up as a glamourous event, it was supposed to be an occasion for the city to re-evaluate itself through the creation of new employment and the financements for the public works necessary to its preparation.
Beside the obvious corruption during the public works and the unpleasant show of McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Monsanto explaining their plans to save the planet to a paying public, Expo 2015, in spite of being state organized and funded, employed its workers under extremely exploitative conditions (In Italy the absence of social system and unemployment welfare payments forces workers to accept unfair working conditions, under the fear of not being able of support themselves, in a kind of social blackmail). Moreover, following police controls requested by the government, in the greatest mass surveillance of workers ever seen, more than 600 of them were refused entrance to the building on the first day of work (thus revoking without notice their employment contract) due to their alleged belonging to radical political enviroments.
All this was supposed to encounter some backlash: on May 1st 2015, during a demonstration against Expo, huge riots broke out in the rich areas of Milan's city center, followed by a big scandal and long trail of controversial debate.
On November, 12th 2015 5 people get arrested in Athens and other 5 in Milan, as a consequence of an investigation by the italian police following the events happened during the NoExpo MayDay: among other charges they are accused of "devastation and plunder", an offence punished with up to 15 years imprisonment.
"Devastation and plunder" is an offence originally introduced during the italian fascist regime (whose penal code is in Italy still partly in use). Meant by the fascist legislators for repression in civil war contexts, it punishes violent acts directed exclusively at objects and properties. In the last years it's being used by modern Italy's supposedly democrating goverments to repress internal dissent, terrorizing protesters with extremely heavy and unproportioned penalties. This happened for the first time after World War II during the trial against the protesters in 2001's Genoa anti-WTO demostrations. At the present moment, and for the first time in history, 3 different trials for such charges are simultaneously taking place.
Thanks to a big solidarity movement, Greece refused to concede extradition for the 5 arrested in Athens. Those arrested in Milan were taken to trial, after spending long time in jail waiting for it, as usual by the slow times of italian judicial system. The evidence against them was weak and proved nothing except their presence at the demonstration. The prosecutors made use of a juridical norm called "psychic joint participation": this means that who did not necessarily commit a crime, but is present without preventing it, is punishable as much as if they were commiting it. Luckily, the date of the trial was strategically placed during the elections for the new major in Milan and the candidate of the Democratic Party was in need of support by the left wing voters, so the sentences have been unusually mild for the kind of accusations. They are anyway heavy, especially considering that they are not even accused of having personally commited the crimes they are condemned for.
One of them was judged innocent and was released, (after anyway having spent 6 months in jail waiting for trial), after it's been proved that he was already under police custody when the damages took place. Most of the others, after some time in jail and at house arrest, have been now released, each of them receiving 15.000€ fine. One, still under house arrest, has now to fight against a civil court lawsuit for damages to a bank, under the ridiculous accusation of being "the leader of the black blocks". Being responsible, as leader, for all the damages happened during the demonstration, he's risking being condamned to refund the bank for 900.000€ (!!!): a clear attempt to ruin his life.
The legal and detention costs and the fines of our mates are extremely expensive and none of them can afford bearing them. For who knows them personally and knows the situation in the city, it's clear that the reasons why they are being prosecuted are others than what they are accused of and are related to their engagement and/or notoriety in the city's squatter and radical scene.
With these trials and sentences the italian state means to warn and threaten whoever wants to oppose with strength and determination its merciless capitalist politics.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6483
|
__label__wiki
| 0.73795
| 0.73795
|
Ain’t Karma a Bitch??
Jul14 by anonymous
Eventually, no matter how wonderful the party, the chickens have to come home to roost.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3148451/A-island-pretending-blind-benefits-8-500-pensioners-faked-aged-100-lawyers-claim-earn-just-12-000-New-book-reveals-Greeks-cheated-ruin.html
A whole island pretending to be blind to get benefits, 8,500 pensioners who faked being aged over 100 and lawyers who claim to earn just €12,000: New book reveals how Greeks cheated THEMSELVES into ruin
James Angelos’ book looks at widespread tax evasion and benefit fraud
Includes case of the island where 498 people pretended to be blind
Also reveals how super-rich bought camoflage for pools to avoid tax
Greece is on the brink of collapse as it decides whether to reject EU bailout
By FLORA DRURY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 08:44 EST, 3 July 2015 | UPDATED: 10:51 EST, 3 July 2015
Greece in teetering on the brink of ruin – and it is hard not to feel sympathy for the pensioners crying in the street and the mothers facing empty supermarket shelves.
Yet those reading a new book may find themselves feeling a little less compassionate towards the Greeks. It reveals an eye-popping catalogue of benefits scams and tax avoidance schemes that have robbed the public purse.
James Angelos’ The Full Catastrophe: Travels among the New Greek Ruins lays bare the corruption which filtered through all levels of society – from the islanders who pretended to be blind, to the families who forgot to register their parents’ death and the doctors who ‘earn’ just €12,000 a year – yet live in Athens’ most exclusive neighbourhood.
Distress: An elderly man cries outside a bank in northern Greece this morning, after queuing to take out his pension this morning – which has been reduced to 120 euros this week. Some claim Greece is going to run out of cash within days if it does not accept the bailout offered to the country
It was the rumours of an ‘island of the blind’ which first bought Angelos, a journalist, to Greece in 2011.
He had heard that on Zakynthos, something like two per cent of the population were registered blind.
All was not quite how it seemed, however, and it transpired that 61 of the 680 ‘blind’ residents were quite happily driving around the island.
In fact, an astonishing 498 of those 680 were not blind at all – or even partially sighted.
But being ‘blind’ had its advantages – in particular, the €724 paid in benefits once every two months, and a reduction in utility bills.
It was a scam which could be traced back to one ophthalmologist and one official, which was estimated to have cost the country €9 million.
And, as Angelos discovered, it was only the tip of the iceberg.
How big is the problem of disability benefits fraud, Angelos asked the then-deputy health minister Markos Bolaris.
‘Very big,’ came the accurate, but short, reply.
Indeed, when those claiming disabilities were asked to present themselves at government offices so records could be updated, 36,000 failed to do so.
That translated to an immediate saving for the government of €100m a year.
Long queues form in Athens as pensioners try to access banks
Fraud: One of the most famous examples is that of Zakynthos, the holiday island (pictured) where almost 500 people pretended to be blind in order to get benefits and discounts
Widespread: When the Greek government took a closer look at those who were claiming disability benefit, they realised as many as 36,000 were claiming the handout, despite not being entitled
But the fraud was certainly not confined to just disability benefits.
When the government chose to take a closer look at who they were paying pensions to, they found a slightly suspicious 8,500 pensioners had surpassed the milestone age of 100.
An even closer look revealed, 40,000 pension claims were fraudulent. It seems people were forgetting to register their loved ones’ deaths.
It’s not that these scams were not known about before, of course.
A Daily Mail investigation in 2011 revealed the subway system was essentially free for the five million residents of Athens – because, with no barriers, it relied on an honesty system which few were honest enough to use.
It described street after street of opulent mansions and villas, surrounded by high walls and with their own pools, which, on paper, were the homes of virtual paupers.
They were all allowed to declare their own income for tax purposes – and officially, they were only earning €12,000 – or a paltry £8,500 – a year, below the tax threshold.
Apparently, only 5,000 people admitted to earning more than £90,000 a year – prompting one economist to describe Greece as a ‘poor country full of rich people’.
The lengths these doctors, lawyers and businessmen would go to to hide their wealth from the government was, it has to be said, impressive.
According to official records, just over 300 homes in Athens’ most exclusive neighbourhood had swimming pools, and had paid the resulting tax for such a luxury.
Hundreds of desperate pensioners flock to banks in Greece
Tax evasion: But it is not just people claiming benefits when they shouldn’t. Some of the richest people in the country go out of their way to avoid paying tax – claiming they only earn £8,500 a year
Desperate: Indeed, they even bought tarpaulin to hide their swimming pools from tax inspectors
But when the government decided to have a look on Google Earth, it became clear these residents hadn’t been totally honest.
The real figure for swimming pools in the area is believed to be closer to 20,000.
But instead of coming clean, there was a boom in sales of camouflage tarpaulins to conceal their existence from the tax inspectors flying over the gardens.
And then there are the tales which seem to be more down to incompetence, rather than actual fraud.
In particular, there is the tale of treasury employee Savvas Saltouridis, who used an Uzi submachine gun to murder the mayor of his Greek mountain town in 2009, who remained on the municipal payroll for years afterwards – even though he was languishing in jail.
He was taking advantage of the complex disciplinary system
Angelos, then working for the Wall Street Journal, was told by retired clerk Apostolos Tsiakiris, who took over as mayor after the killing: ‘You can’t be a murderer and keep getting paid.
‘That doesn’t happen in any other government.’
But what do when so many are cheating the system? It is estimated tax evasion alone might be costing the country as much as €20billion a year in lost revenue, while years of benefit fraud will certainly have added up.
But when Angelos suggested punishing those who tried to play the system, he was given a straight forward – if depressing – answer.
‘If you start putting people in jail, maybe you’ll have to put half of Greece in jail,’ an official said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3148451/A-island-pretending-blind-benefits-8-500-pensioners-faked-aged-100-lawyers-claim-earn-just-12-000-New-book-reveals-Greeks-cheated-ruin.html#ixzz3fteSccgN
This entry was posted in Ayn Rand(om), Uncategorized and tagged blind, cheating, corruption, Greece, Grexit, island, lying, Zakynthos.
← Now that the “dad-bod” is in style, I can’t wait for the next step….”grandpa bod”
A Modest Proposal for the NHL: Hockey Night in Riyadh →
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6485
|
__label__wiki
| 0.871506
| 0.871506
|
Disney’s Bob Iger On Need For Fox Deal: “The Consumer Is Voting — Loudly”
By Dade Hayes, Dawn C. Chmielewski
UPDATED with analysis
Disney CEO Bob Iger said changes in consumer habits are driving the company’s aggressive pursuit of 21st Century Fox studio and network assets.
Facing historic levels of competition from Netflix and other digital players, traditional media powers have no choice but to act, he said in a conference call this morning with Wall Street analysts.
“Direct-to-consumer distribution has actually become an even more compelling proposition in the six months since we announced the deal,” Iger said. “There has just been not only a tremendous amount of development in that space, but clearly the consumer is voting—loudly.”
Just a few minutes before Iger and other Disney brass got on the phone this morning, they announced a new bid for Fox that is nearly 10% above the one submitted last week by Comcast. Disney’s latest enticement is worth $71.3 billion in cash and stock — nearly $19 billion north of the company’s $52.4 billion bid, which Fox accepted last December.
'The Lion King' Rises To $35M In China Through Saturday
“To us, the fact that Disney went well above the current $35 per share Comcast bid with a 50-50 blend of cash and stock proves to any doubters how serious The Walt Disney Company is about acquiring these assets,” veteran media analyst Michael Nathanson said in an analyst report.
Nathanson anticipates a follow-up bid from Comcast, though none is expected today.
Iger said that the combination seems even more compelling, six months into integration planning, as Disney contemplates the significantly expanded presence and distribution in Europe, India and Latin America.
As to another scenario that some analysts and media observers have floated — Disney and Comcast dividing up the Fox assets — Iger said the agreement with Fox “precludes that.”
Iger emphasized the regulatory advantages enjoyed by Disney. Even though a federal judge resoundingly defeated the government’s lawsuit seeking to the merger of AT&T and Time Warner, the Disney CEO cautioned against an over-broad reading of Judge Richard Leon’s ruling as giving a green light to all vertical mergers.
“The temptation by some to view this decision as being something more than a resolution of a specific case should be resisted by one and all,” said Iger, quoting from the judge’s ruling. “One and all, as we read it, really includes Comcast.”
Iger said Comcast is not only the nation’s largest cable TV distributor, but it controls 40% of the U.S. broadband market.
“When you factor in their content ownership, already including a major broadcast network and multiple television stations and multiple cable channels, it’s just simply an apples to oranges comparison to what the Justice Department was considering when you consider the AT&T acquisition,” Iger said.
Analyst Nathanson agreed with Iger’s assessment, saying Comcast would likely face higher regulatory hurdles, noting, “Don’t forget that in the AT&T/TW case, the DOJ failed to bring up the issue of broadband ownership and zero-rated content!”
Disney-Fox Deal
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6497
|
__label__wiki
| 0.606598
| 0.606598
|
Geospatial and Intelligence
Net-Centric Training
Sensors and UAVs
Battlespace IT
Logistics IT
Networks and Spectrum
Digital Conflict
New! Cloud Computing Special Report
Securing Government Systems Special Report
Special Report: Mobile & Wireless
PEO C3T
PEO-EIS 2011 Catalog
Special Report: JTRS 2010
Simplifying Storage
Storage virtualization technology that sits in front of existing assets can ease management and maximize capacity
By Cara Garretson
Perhaps one of the most essential technologies to help federal agencies grapple with storage management issues is storage virtualization. Closely aligned with cloud storage, storage virtualization will no doubt also play a significant role in the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative outlined by Federal CIO Vivek Kundra. Yet the lack of budget to accommodate up-front storage virtualization costs, as well as not enough trained staff to maintain the technology, is rendering it under-utilized, at least for now.
According to the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), the primary benefit of storage virtualization is to help the overall management of storage. In the long term, the technology offers significant cost benefits as well.
“Today, storage infrastructures represent one of the most heterogeneous environments found in modern IT departments, with a multitude of different systems at all levels of the stack – file systems, operating systems, servers, storage systems, management consoles, management software, etc.,” reads the SNIA Technical Tutorial on storage virtualization, which is available here (http://www.snia.org/education/storage_networking_primer/stor_virt/sniavirt.pdf). “This complexity has become a hindrance to achieving business goals such as 100% uptime.”
Storage virtualization addresses these issues by providing a less costly way to eliminate the single point of failure within a storage-area network; improving storage performance and managing that performance in real time; offering more affordable disaster recovery and data archiving than traditional options; and reducing poor utilization of storage that leads to unnecessary hardware and management costs, according to the tutorial. SNIA has developed the Shared Storage Model that illustrates how layering technology in modern storage architectures creates a complete range of storage functions. (see graphic).
The Storage Networking Industry Association’s Shared Storage Model
In addition, virtualization vendor VMware says storage virtualization can help increase storage utilization by allowing administrators to dedicate more storage than there is actually capacity for, helping to cut down on unused space while eliminating the need to fully dedicate capacity up front. Storage virtualization can also enhance application uptime by doing away with the need to provision more capacity from time to time, which can require coordination among application owners, virtual machine owners, and storage administrators that often results in application downtime, says VMware.
But despite these benefits, storage virtualization adoption still lags significantly behind other forms of virtualization – server, in particular.
“I would say for server virtualization we’re well down the path, but with storage virtualization we’re still at the beginning, the efficiencies are in front of us,” says Mark Weber, president of NetApp’s U.S. Public Sector division.
Once agencies realize the benefits that storage virtualization offers in being able to use existing heterogeneous storage assets but manage them in a unified way, and given the efficiencies that model offers, the technology will see significant upticks in deployment, says Weber. Another piece in the puzzle is desktop virtualization – which hasn’t seen significant adoption in the federal market either – that allows for IT departments to stop having to manage all the disk drives on desktops deployed throughout the organization. “Instead, all of that data becomes part of the storage infrastructure,” he says, and as such becomes significantly easier to manage.
Cara Garretson is a freelance writer for 1105 Government Information Group’s Custom Media unit. This Snapshot report was commissioned by the Custom Media Group, an independent editorial arm of 1105 Government Information Group. Specific topics are chosen in response to interest from the vendor community; however, sponsors are not guaranteed content contribution or review of content before publication. For more information about 1105 Government Information Group Custom Media, please email us at GIGCustomMedia@1105govinfo.com
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6498
|
__label__cc
| 0.549281
| 0.450719
|
Tag Archives: Albuquerque Isotopes
Dodgers MiLB Stuff: Post-Jerry Sands Edition
Congrats to Jerry Sands on making the big leagues! All Dodger fans are rooting for him now.
What this means, though, is that a few players are flying under the radar.
In Albuquerque:
Dee Gordon improved a bad start to the season into his regular looking stat line: .298/.333/.383. Of course, the focus on Dee isn’t offense, but defense, and it looks like he’s become pretty adept at making quick transfers from fielding the ball to throwing it.
In spring training
And in a game for the Dukes
Rough camera work on that second one, but you can see he’s doing the same motion he did in spring training. Transferability of skills from practice to games is a major plus.
Trayvon Robinson, likewise, has improved his average from a rough sub-.200 start to an average .278. His line so far is a nice even .278/.350/.500 with three extra base hits (one triple, two homers) in 40 PA.
There’s no current video of him in Albuquerque, so use your imagination.
It’s been a while since you’ve heard this name: Roman Colon. That’s right, the same one. The 31-year-old is dominating in the PCL and has given up one run on three hits and no walks in 5.2 innings. He’s the featured closer for the Dukes and although it’s a small sample size, it seems like he’d be the first person to be called up for bullpen help.
In Chattanooga:
Rubby De La Rosa is the star. You’ve heard his name brought up once or twice, but now it seems his legend is growing. Here’s ESPN’s Keith Law’s report from 2009:
“The best stuff of the day belonged to Rubby de la Rosa of the Dodgers, who turned 20 earlier this month and has yet to pitch in a pro game in the United States. De la Rosa sat at 91-95 mph with a solid change-up from 84-86 that he turns over hard. His breaking ball was a slow curve in the mid-70s, although the harder he threw it the sharper the break became. He clearly has the arm speed to throw a good breaking ball and the laxity in his wrist to throw a curve, so it might just be a matter of development with better coaches as he moves up. The two red flags on de la Rosa were poor command Monday and the fact that his listed weight of 170 might be generous.”
And Keith Law just a couple of weeks ago:
Scout just texted me to say he saw Rubby de la Rosa hit 100 with “a wipeout slider”
That is to say, he was hitting 100 with the fastball and he also has a wipeout slider.
I’m working on getting video for this one, stay tuned.
Strangely, Nathan Eovaldi has been putting up the exact same numbers as Rubby: 10 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, on seven hits and four walks. Eovaldi has 12 strike outs to Rubby’s 13.
And Chris Withrow has started 2011 off with some issues: 10 innings pitched, 7 runs (all earned), 11 hits, 6 walks, and two home runs. Ouch. Here’s hoping it gets better.
A player who’s flying under the radar: OF Alfredo Silverio. Silverio is 24 and has had some success at every level he’s played in. He’s a bit on the older side, certainly, but this is what he’s putting up so far in 35 PAs: .313/.343/.719. Yes, that is an awfully high slugging percentage: 1 double, 3 triples, 2 homers. He’s never gotten many walks, and it may be too late for him, but you’ll probably hear about him in ABQ before the year is over (or maybe just next week, since Sands was promoted).
Kyle Russell was a bitter debate point last year. Russell had power and average in A+, but was 24 already. Starting in AA Chattanooga, he’s done well enough for himself in 43 PAs: .289/.372/.447.
In Rancho Cucamonga:
Jake Lemmerman (22yo SS) was a hot name at the end of last year and he was promoted from Rookie league Ogden to A+ Rancho this year. An impressive jump, but questions are still abound about whether or not his dominance last year in Ogden was simply because he was above his age group.
Well Lemmerman has done well early, but has struggled with contact in 53 PAs: .261/.340/.413. That’s four doubles and one homer. The contact drop probably has more to do with adjusting to A+ than anything, but we’ll keep an eye on Lemmerman as the year progresses.
So you can see a video of Lemmerman, here he is playing for Duke vs. UVA just before the 2010 draft:
Not a bad swing, let’s see how it plays out later.
In the mold of Kyle Russell, Blake Smith (23yo OF) was a decent power hitter playing above his age group in A Great Lakes last year. This year, Smith is in Rancho and the power and contact have weakened, though we’re only 55 PAs in: .250/.345/.417.
The three hot pitching names this year in Rancho are Allen Webster (21), Ethan Martin (22) and Matt Magill (21). Though Webster and Martin were the hotter names last year, it’s Magill who’s doing the showing off.
Magill: 12 IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 0 home runs, 9 strike outs, 3 walks
Webster: 16.1 IP, 18 hits, 11 runs, 10 earned, 1 home run, 18 strike outs, 9 walks
Martin: 12 IP, 12 hits, 10 runs, 10 earned runs, 3 home runs, 10 strike outs, 4 walks
Important thing to note for Martin is that his walks are way down. This may be a reason why his numbers are spiked so high–he’s focusing way more on control than working on his stuff. Likewise, Webster may be focusing on something other than end results. This is pretty typical in the Dodgers system, though maybe Webster and Martin are just not doing as well against tougher competition.
In Great Lakes:
The big name so far on offense for the Loons is Jonathan Garcia, a toolsy 19-year-old OF who has only improved his line since our last post on him (in 51 PAs): .313/.353/.813, six homers, six doubles. He leads all of the league with six home runs, which is more than his number of walks (3). He’ll probably get a promotion to A+ soon.
Another name you may be familiar with via the 2010 draft is Leon Landry. Landry has struggled mightily out of the gate (50 PAs): .190/.286/.238 with one triple. We’ll keep an eye on him.
The pitching in Great Lakes is noteworthy for two 19-year-old names: Zach Lee and Garrett Gould.
Zach Lee: 14.0 IP, 14 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 0 home runs, 7 walks, 21 Ks
Garrett Gould: 11.0 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 1 home run, 4 walks, 8 Ks
Gould’s numbers aren’t as gaudy, for sure, but he’s almost as effective. The coolest thing to note is Gould’s lack of hits against. Lee, meanwhile, has 21 Ks and a 3.0 K/BB ratio, which will likely improve as the season goes on–something for him to work on.
Filed under Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, prospects
Tagged as Albuquerque Isotopes, Chattanooga Lookouts, Great Lakes, Great Lakes Loons, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Youtube: Jerry Sands and Jonathan Garcia Hit Some Long Balls
Correction: The Jerry Sands home run was from TONIGHT, April 12, not April 11.
via Scott Northrup
The great thing about baseball: there’s always hope.
Potential 2011 call-up Jerry Sands hit a home run tonight that went more than 428. It was hit off a right-handed pitcher and to straight center. Here’s the video:
Pretty effortless swing and he drove it deep. Some of that may be Albuquerque, but you don’t see everyone hitting it that deep to straight center. That was Sands’ fourth home run in four games. It’ll be interesting to see the difference between this home run and one at an away park.
Jonathan Garcia is another Dodgers MiLB product. He’s a toolsy 19-year-old in A Great Lakes (which is where Sands was at the beginning of last year.
On April 10, 2011, Garcia hit two home runs. Here are both videos:
Beautiful swing, very quick. He got around on that pitch very, very quickly and that allowed his hips to pull strong on the second one. It’s also an awesomely crisp swing, but the problem with toolsy guys is repeating success. It’s obvious the second swing is much cleaner than the first. Perhaps he’s emulating Sands, but he has three home runs in five games. And oddly, all of his five hits have been XBH.
Garcia had a pretty decent season in Rookie Ogden last year: .305/.365/.527 (18 doubles, 10 homers) in 266 plate appearances. Not the most patient batter, but that’s a pretty stat line.
Definitely keep an eye on him as the season progresses.
Tagged as Albuquerque Isotopes, Great Lakes Loons, Jerry Sands, Jonathan Garcia
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6502
|
__label__cc
| 0.747022
| 0.252978
|
Collection:IOS
Revision as of 18:16, 16 April 2018 by David Hedlund (talk | contribs)
⋔ This project is forked from gnu.org
This page is a fork of https://www.gnu.org/software/for-ios.html. I didn't start this page to propose changes to the Windows/iOS pages on gnu.org I rather want us to continue the work on the Free Software Directory. -- David Hedlund
Apple's operating systems are malware, we urge all iOS users to switch to a mobile device that supports Replicant.
Here is a list of free iOS programs, some some of them can also run on Replicant and/or can exchange data with Replicant programs—along with the proprietary applications they replace.
We have long had [Windows|a page which lists free replacements for popular Windows programs] as a first step towards replacing Windows with GNU/Linux. Someone suggested making a similar page for iOS, but the two cases are quite different. Windows can be easily replaced with a free operating system on most PCs, but not iOS: there are ways to install Android on some iThings, but its free counterpart, Replicant, cannot be installed on any of them.
These reasons could be sufficient for us to avoid recommending any iOS apps altogether; however, we feel that it is valid and useful to list those few free programs which can also run on Replicant or can interoperate with programs on Replicant.
Free program[1]
Replacement for
3D computer graphics software
iOS VoiceOver[2]
Anonymous P2P
BitTorrent client
Diagramming software
Email client, news aggregator
Apple iMessage
Instant messaging client
Telegram ICQ
Live USB
VLC media player (VLC)
Microsoft Office Mobile
ownCloud (client only) Dropbox
Raster graphics editor
Vim Notes
Vector graphics editor
Web browser[3]
OnionBrowser Apple Safari[2]
This is a selection of the more common free software applications available for Apple iOS, and is nothing like a comprehensive list. You may want to check the Runs-on/iOS category for more software. If you are technically minded, you may find it interesting to build these apps from source code rather than download them from the App Store.
Included in the operating system.
Mozilla branded programs such as Firefox and Thunderbird are not free software unless their names are changed. This is due to Mozilla's trademark policy that forbids selling copies of unmodified executables.
Synced https://www.gnu.org/software/for-ios.html and
Added Riot.im
Added Wire
Removed LibreSignal (abandonware) - https://github.com/LibreSignal/LibreSignal/blob/master/README.md
Replaced VimTouch (abandonware, and removed from F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/net.momodalo.app.vimtouch -> https://f-droid.org/packages/net.momodalo.app.vimtouch/) with Markor
FSD: Free software replacements
FSD: Antifeatures
FSD: Participate/Project Team
Adobe's Software is Malware
Apple's Operating Systems Are Malware
Google's Software is Malware
Microsoft's Software is Malware
Retrieved from "https://directory.fsf.org/wiki?title=Collection:IOS&oldid=68128"
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6503
|
__label__wiki
| 0.6143
| 0.6143
|
Middle Eastern/North African/Arab Collection Breakdown
About the Numbers
Of the notably small number of books depicting Middle Eastern, North African, and Arab characters at all, most are portrayed in stories about cultural particularity (Beautiful Life) or in traditional tales (Folklore). Perhaps more notable, they are entirely absent in books that do not make race, ethnicity, or culture a part of the plot (Any Child).
Our Interpretation
Similar to books about characters of Asian descent, a focus on cultural stories and folktales can provide excellent windows and mirrors* into Middle Eastern/North African/Arab cultures, histories, and experiences. However, an overemphasis on these kinds of stories risks suggesting that Middle Eastern/North African/Arab people are "exotic" and exist in a land far away. This is troubling, considering the long history of exaggerations and distortions of difference to portray the Middle East and Arab people as backward and a threat to “the West.” This perceived threat is reinforced in the absence of Middle Eastern/North African/Arab characters in Any Child books, so that these characters are never allowed to stand in for “everyone everywhere.”
*The commonly-used metaphor of “windows and mirrors” was originally articulated by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop.
As with our hopes for depictions of characters across all of these racial/cultural categories, we argue for a balanced portrayal that makes visible the rich diversity and full humanity of Middle Eastern/North African/Arab people, cultures, histories, and experiences.
Our Invitation
We invite you to consider the other meanings and effects these numbers may reveal.
Of the 79 books featuring Middle Eastern/North African/Arab characters:
5% do not make race, ethnicity, or culture part of the plot. We call these Any Child Books.
52% take readers into the everyday world of characters in countries around the world, with specific cultural components such as language, food, celebrations, traditions, and/or other elements. We call these Beautiful Life books.
8% are biographies.
16% portray character interactions across racial or cultural difference. We call these Cross-Group books.
24% introduce readers to traditions, activities, languages and experiences, and includes all types of retellings and adaptations of traditional folktales. We call these Folklore books.
1% have a white protagonist. We call these Incidental books.
6% are nonfiction books that may not have a story line and do not always have to do with difference. These books are factual and may be encyclopedic. We call these Informational books.
9% are stories of prejudice, mistreatment and discrimination based on race, ethnicity or culture. We call these Oppression books.
5% invite readers to consider new perspectives related to racial, ethnic, or cultural commonalities and differences. We call these Concept books.
Other Breakdown Charts
Asian/Pacific Islander/Asian American Bi/Multiracial/Mixed Race Black/African/African American Brown-Skinned and/or Race Unclear First/Native Nations/American Indian/Indigenous Latinx/Hispanic/Latin American Middle Eastern/North African/Arab Multi-Racial Cast of Characters White/European American/Caucasian
Diverse BookFinder Middle Eastern/North African/Arab Collection Breakdown
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6505
|
__label__wiki
| 0.561576
| 0.561576
|
Support South Africa’s Appeal of Assisted Suicide
A man who had petitioned a South African court to avail of doctor assisted suicide has died of natural causes. Mr Robin Stransham-Ford, 65, who was battling prostate cancer, passed away before the...
GoFundMe: Stop Discriminating Against Christians!
GoFundMe just removed a campaign... simply because it supported a couple exercising their Christian faith. Sweet Cakes by Melissa owners Aaron and Melissa Klien refused to bake a cake for a lesbian...
Save Blessed Junipero Serra, the first Hispanic saint in the United States
In the Capitol Building in Washington, DC there are 100 statues of distinguished persons most representative of each state. In the National Statuary Hall there are only two Hispanics; one of them...
We Demand A Nuclear-Free Iran
As a matter of great importance to the national security of our great nation and our allies across the world, urge members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, to stand united by adopting the...
Support Archbishop Cordileone in San Francisco
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco has been an outspoken defender of the Catholic belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman. His comments are often considered "...
Solidarity with Ethiopian Christians #WeAreN2015
ISIS continues to murder Christians... and the West watches in silence. The so-called Islamic State brutally murdered approximately 30 Ethiopian Christians captured in Libya, who they describe as "...
We Are All Nazarenes #WeAreN2015
Just a couple of weeks ago, on April 2nd, an Islamic fundamentalist group killed 147 Christian university students in Kenya. Before this assassination, the assailants separated the Muslims from the...
Support Christians in the Middle East Against Censorship in Europe
Recently, the RATP (the operator of Paris' system of mass-transit) and its advertising agency, Metrobus, forbade the use of the phrase "Christians of the East," in an advertisement for a musical...
Indiana: Fix the “Fix”
Update: Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act “clarification” into law. The new law holds Christian business owners criminally liable for refusing service to LGBT...
#SupportIndiana: Religious Freedom is a right!
The state of Indiana is under fire, simply for reaffirming the God-given, Constitutionally-protected right of religious freedom. The state government is being persecuted by a vocal, powerful minority...
Tell the OAS to respect life, family, and parental rights
Let’s tell our representatives at the Organization of American States (OAS) to respect life, the natural family, and parental rights! On April 8-10, heads of state and representatives from 34 nations...
Catholic school fires teacher...for being Catholic?
UPDATE: Thanks to massive public outcry, Immaculata High School has restored Patti Jannuzzi to her teaching position and she will return again in the Fall. Thank you for your support! Your help...
Protect the Family at the UN!
Dear Friends of the Family, Will you help us protect the institution of the family at the UN? Will you stand with the countries that just issued a bold statement to the UN calling for the...
URGENT! Ashers Bakery in court against the Equality Commission TODAY!
Erratum - Apologies! I mistakenly wrote that the hearing against Ashers Baking Co was going to be heard by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. I was wrong. The Equality Commission is the...
No to abortion in Chile
President Bachelet presents project on decriminalization of "therapeutic" abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation. The initiative will allow abortion on three grounds: rape, fetal risk infeasibility and...
#SupportAshers as they defend Christian ethics in the workplace
Right now, Ashers Baking Co, in Northern Ireland, is facing a huge challenge. In May of 2014, Ashers refused to decorate a cake with the slogan, "Support Gay Marriage", because of their Christian...
#SupportDolceGabbana against Elton John's intolerant inquisition
In the issue of Panorama magazine released on March 18, the famous fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have a long interview, in which they express support for the natural family....
Navy Chaplain Wes Modder fired for being Christian
This is a story that is becoming all-too-familiar, and unless we act now, it will only become more common. A highly-decorated Christian chaplain in the U.S. Navy has been suspended for providing...
Tell Planet Fitness to protect women's safety and privacy
Planet Fitness calls itself the "no judgment zone." But when one of its female members complained about a man using the women's locker room, Planet Fitness acted judgmentally toward her and SHE was...
EU Parliament to vote on the "right to abortion"
This campaign is a continuation of the campaign against the Tarabella report which was released last January 15, and managed to attract 60,413 signatures.The European Parliament is about to vote on...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6512
|
__label__cc
| 0.730004
| 0.269996
|
Court upholds Cardinal Dolan’s segregation of $55M Milwaukee Archdiocese cemetery fund.
In issuing the ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Rudolph T. Randa said including the funds would violate free exercise of religion under the First Amendment and a 1993 law aimed at protecting religious freedom. Randa cited the Catholic belief in the resurrection, which teaches that the body ultimately reunites with the soul, and the role of Catholic cemeteries in the exercise of that belief under canon law.
“The sacred nature of Catholic cemeteries – and compliance with the church’s historical and religious traditions and mandates requiring their perpetual care – are understood as a fundamental exercise of this core belief,” said Randa in overturning an earlier decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Susan V. Kelley.
The decision was a major victory for the archdiocese, and appears to eliminate one of the last large assets available to sex abuse victims who have filed claims in the bankruptcy.
Categories: Books & Publications, Events, Human Rights, Politics, Scandals . Tags: Archdiocese of Milwaukee, bankruptcy, Cardinal Dolan, cemetery trust fund, clerical abuse, court ruling, religious liberty . Author: Doug Lawrence . Comments: Leave a comment
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6515
|
__label__wiki
| 0.56141
| 0.56141
|
1. H.R.299 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] (Introduced 01/08/2019) Cosponsors: (333) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-58 Latest Action: 06/25/2019 Became Public Law No: 116-23. (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2019-05-10 [displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 116-58. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2019-05-14 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 - 0 (Roll no. 203).(text: CR H3743-3746) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2019-06-12 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S3450) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
2. S.863 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the grade and pay of podiatrists of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (Introduced 03/25/2019) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 04/08/2019 Became Public Law No: 116-12. (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2019-03-25 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1942-1943; text: CR S1942-1943) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2019-03-28 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H2900) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
3. S.49 — 116th Congress (2019-2020) A bill to designate the outstation of the Department of Veterans Affairs in North Ogden, Utah, as the Major Brent Taylor Vet Center Outstation. Sponsor: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (Introduced 01/08/2019) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 03/21/2019 Became Public Law No: 116-10. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2019-02-05 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S847-848) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
4. H.R.4958 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018 Sponsor: Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (Introduced 02/07/2018) Cosponsors: (5) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-688 Latest Action: 10/09/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-258. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-05-18 [displayText] => Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-688. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
5. H.R.4910 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] (Introduced 01/30/2018) Cosponsors: (11) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources Latest Action: 06/15/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-184. (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-05-07 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 388 - 0 (Roll no. 167).(text: CR H3753) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
6. H.R.4533 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To designate the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the "Lexington VA Health Care System" and to make certain other designations. Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (Introduced 12/04/2017) Cosponsors: (5) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 03/09/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-132. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-02-13 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 0 (Roll no. 70).(text: CR H1081-1082) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
7. H.R.3949 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) VALOR Act Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (Introduced 10/04/2017) Cosponsors: (6) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-398 Latest Action: 11/21/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-89. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-11-07 [displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-398. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
8. H.R.3946 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) An Act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Statesboro, Georgia, the Ray Hendrix Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic. Sponsor: Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (Introduced 10/04/2017) Cosponsors: (13) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/14/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-315. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-11-27 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-12-10 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate Amendment: CR H9802) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
9. H.R.3819 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-18] (Introduced 09/25/2017) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Budget, Armed Services Latest Action: 09/29/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-62. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-09-25 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7469-7471) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
10. H.R.3663 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Huntington, West Virginia, as the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center. Sponsor: Rep. Jenkins, Evan H. [R-WV-3] (Introduced 08/22/2017) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 06/15/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-183. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
11. H.R.3656 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for a consistent eligibility date for provision of Department of Veterans Affairs memorial headstones and markers for eligible spouses and dependent children of veterans whose remains are unavailable. Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3] (Introduced 08/18/2017) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-387 Latest Action: 03/16/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-136. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
12. H.R.3562 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish assistance for adaptations of residences of veterans in rehabilitation programs under chapter 31 of such title, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] (Introduced 07/28/2017) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-386 Latest Action: 06/01/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-177. (All Actions) Tracker:
13. H.R.3218 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (Introduced 07/13/2017) Cosponsors: (121) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-247 Latest Action: 08/16/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-48. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-07-24 [displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-247, Part I. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
14. H.R.3122 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17] (Introduced 06/29/2017) Cosponsors: (6) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-385 Latest Action: 03/09/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-131. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
15. H.R.2772 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) SEA Act of 2018 Sponsor: Rep. Taylor, Scott [R-VA-2] (Introduced 06/06/2017) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-248 Latest Action: 06/21/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-188. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-06-07 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H4871) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
16. H.R.2288 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (Introduced 05/02/2017) Cosponsors: (26) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-135 Latest Action: 08/23/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-55. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
17. H.R.2210 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To designate the community living center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the "Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center". Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3] (Introduced 04/27/2017) Cosponsors: (17) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 08/16/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-47. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
18. H.R.2147 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018 Sponsor: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] (Introduced 04/26/2017) Cosponsors: (53) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-682 Latest Action: 09/17/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-240. (All Actions) Tracker:
19. H.R.1900 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) National Veterans Memorial and Museum Act Sponsor: Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15] (Introduced 04/04/2017) Cosponsors: (19) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources | Senate - Energy and Natural Resources Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-399; S. Rept. 115-304 Latest Action (modified): 06/21/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-186. (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-05-23 [displayText] => Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. Without written report. [externalActionCode] => 14000 [description] => Introduced )
20. H.R.1725 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit certain reports relating to medical evidence submitted in support of claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary. Sponsor: Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] (Introduced 03/24/2017) Cosponsors: (8) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-133 Latest Action: 03/09/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-130. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
21. H.R.1545 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) VA Prescription Data Accountability Act 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] (Introduced 03/15/2017) Cosponsors: (11) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-144 Latest Action: 11/21/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-86. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
22. H.R.1362 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin VA Clinic. Sponsor: Rep. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] (Introduced 03/06/2017) Cosponsors: (5) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 03/31/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-16. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
23. H.R.1329 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (Introduced 03/02/2017) Cosponsors: (12) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-134 Latest Action: 11/02/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-75. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
24. H.R.1162 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) No Hero Left Untreated Act Sponsor: Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25] (Introduced 02/16/2017) Cosponsors: (56) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-147 Latest Action: 12/21/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-339. (All Actions) Tracker:
25. H.R.609 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs health care center in Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the "Abie Abraham VA Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3] (Introduced 01/23/2017) Cosponsors: (17) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 03/13/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-9. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-03-13 [displayText] => Became Public Law No: 115-9. [externalActionCode] => 36000 [description] => Became Law )
26. H.R.244 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 Sponsor: Rep. Cook, Paul [R-CA-8] (Introduced 01/04/2017) Cosponsors: (28) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Action: 05/05/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-31. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-03-21 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
27. S.2372 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) VA MISSION Act of 2018 Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] (Introduced 02/05/2018) Cosponsors: (10) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources Latest Action: 06/06/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-182. (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-03-01 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1321) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-05-23 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2372 by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 5. Record Vote Number: 106. [externalActionCode] => 20500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
28. S.1282 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) A bill to redesignate certain clinics of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in Montana. Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (Introduced 05/25/2017) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 06/05/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-181. (All Actions) Tracker:
29. S.1266 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Enhancing Veteran Care Act Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] (Introduced 05/25/2017) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/20/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-95. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-11-09 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S7166-7167) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-12-06 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 661).(text: CR 12/5/2017 H9641-9642) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
30. S.899 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Veterans Providing Healthcare Transition Improvement Act Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (Introduced 04/07/2017) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform Latest Action: 09/07/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-238. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-08-22 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5869) [externalActionCode] => 20500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
31. S.585 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 Sponsor: Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI] (Introduced 03/08/2017) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | House - Oversight and Government Reform, Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: S. Rept. 115-44 Latest Action: 10/26/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-73. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-05-04 [displayText] => Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-44. [externalActionCode] => 14000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-05-25 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3190; text as passed Senate: CR S3192-3194) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-10-12 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 420 - 0 (Roll no. 568).(text: CR H7989) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
32. S.114 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017 Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] (Introduced 01/12/2017) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 08/12/2017 Became Public Law No: 115-46. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Failed House
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-07-24 [displayText] => Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 219 - 186 (Roll no. 408). [externalActionCode] => 9000 [description] => Failed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-07-28 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 414 - 0 (Roll no. 438).(text: CR H6531-6535) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-08-01 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments to the Senate bill by Voice Vote.(text as Senate agree to the House amendment: CR S4686) [externalActionCode] => 20500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
33. S.35 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] (Introduced 01/05/2017) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources | House - Natural Resources, Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-626; S. Rept. 115-35 Latest Action: 05/25/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-175. (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-04-10 [displayText] => Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-626, Part I. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2017-12-21 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S8267-8269; text: CR S8267-8268) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2018-05-16 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 0 (Roll no. 187).(text: CR 5/16/2018 H3951-3952) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
34. H.R.6416 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (Introduced 12/01/2016) Cosponsors: (5) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Budget, Armed Services Latest Action: 12/16/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-315. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-12-10 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S7109-7121) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
35. H.R.6323 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system in Long Beach, California, the "Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center". Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] (Introduced 11/15/2016) Cosponsors: (51) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-313. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-11-29 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text of measure as passed: CR H6344) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
36. H.R.5985 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 09/09/2016) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Budget Latest Action (modified): 09/29/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-228. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-09-19 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 89 - 0. Record Vote Number: 143. [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
37. H.R.5937 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To amend title 36, United States Code, to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to acquire, operate, and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 09/06/2016) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Foreign Affairs, Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 09/29/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-227. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
38. H.R.5936 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 09/06/2016) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 09/29/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-226. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
39. H.R.5588 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Veterans' Compensation COLA Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Abraham, Ralph Lee [R-LA-5] (Introduced 06/28/2016) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 07/22/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-197. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
40. H.R.5509 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs temporary lodging facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, as the "Dr. Otis Bowen Veteran House". Sponsor: Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5] (Introduced 06/16/2016) Cosponsors: (8) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/14/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-259. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
41. H.R.5392 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act Sponsor: Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] (Introduced 06/07/2016) Cosponsors: (26) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 11/28/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-247. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
42. H.R.5099 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Ashford, Brad [D-NE-2] (Introduced 04/28/2016) Cosponsors: (4) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 114-814 Latest Action: 12/16/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-294. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
43. H.R.4437 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To extend the deadline for the submittal of the final report required by the Commission on Care. Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 02/02/2016) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 02/29/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-131. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
44. H.R.4352 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Faster Care for Veterans Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (Introduced 01/08/2016) Cosponsors: (228) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-286. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
45. H.R.4336 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery of the cremated remains of certain persons whose service has been determined to be active service. Sponsor: Rep. McSally, Martha [R-AZ-2] (Introduced 01/06/2016) Cosponsors: (191) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 114-459 Latest Action: 05/20/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-158. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-05-10 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S2673) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
46. H.R.4056 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convey to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs all right, title, and interest of the United States to the property known as "The Community Living Center" at the Lake Baldwin Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Orlando, Florida. Sponsor: Rep. Mica, John L. [R-FL-7] (Introduced 11/18/2015) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 02/29/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-130. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-02-09 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H616) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
47. H.R.3969 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, as the "Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean VA Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Heck, Joseph J. [R-NV-3] (Introduced 11/05/2015) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 09/23/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-220. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
48. H.R.3471 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016 Sponsor: Rep. Walorski, Jackie [R-IN-2] (Introduced 09/10/2015) Cosponsors: (51) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 114-709 Latest Action: 12/14/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-256. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-11-29 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate Amendment: CR H6354-6355) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
49. H.R.3262 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To provide for the conveyance of land of the Illiana Health Care System of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Danville, Illinois. Sponsor: Rep. Shimkus, John [R-IL-15] (Introduced 07/28/2015) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 02/29/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-129. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
50. H.R.3236 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 Sponsor: Rep. Shuster, Bill [R-PA-9] (Introduced 07/28/2015) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, Veterans' Affairs, Education and the Workforce, Budget, Homeland Security Latest Action: 07/31/2015 Became Public Law No: 114-41. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2015-07-29 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 385 - 34, 1 Present (Roll no. 486).(text: CR H5640-5647) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2015-07-30 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed (under the order of 7/29/15, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative) without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 91 - 4. Record Vote Number: 261.(consideration CR S6165-6166) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
51. H.R.2814 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Sevierville, Tennessee, the Dannie A. Carr Veterans Outpatient Clinic. Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (Introduced 06/17/2015) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 06/03/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-164. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
52. H.R.2693 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To designate the arboretum at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, as the "Phyllis E. Galanti Arboretum". Sponsor: Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7] (Introduced 06/09/2015) Cosponsors: (11) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/18/2015 Became Public Law No: 114-103. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
53. H.R.2496 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Construction Authorization and Choice Improvement Act Sponsor: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] (Introduced 05/21/2015) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 05/22/2015 Became Public Law No: 114-19. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
54. H.R.1762 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in The Dalles, Oregon, as the "Loren R. Kaufman VA Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2] (Introduced 04/13/2015) Cosponsors: (4) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 06/22/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-179. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
55. H.R.960 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Newark, Ohio, as the Daniel L. Kinnard VA Clinic. Sponsor: Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12] (Introduced 02/12/2015) Cosponsors: (14) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-280. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
56. H.R.203 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Clay Hunt SAV Act Sponsor: Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] (Introduced 01/07/2015) Cosponsors: (39) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: S. Rept. 114-34 Latest Action (modified): 02/12/2015 Became Public Law No: 114-2. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2015-01-21 [displayText] => Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Isakson without amendment. Without written report. [externalActionCode] => 14000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2015-01-12 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 403 - 0 (Roll no. 17).(text: CR H196-198) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2015-02-03 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 99 - 0. Record Vote Number: 50. [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
57. H.R.91 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Veterans Identification Card Act 2015 Sponsor: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16] (Introduced 01/06/2015) Cosponsors: (82) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 07/20/2015 Became Public Law No: 114-31. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
58. S.3492 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) A bill to designate the Traverse City VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Traverse City, Michigan, as the "Colonel Demas T. Craw VA Clinic". Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (Introduced 12/01/2016) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/14/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-276. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-12-01 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6680-6681; text as passed Senate: CR S6681) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
59. S.3283 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) A bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Pueblo, Colorado, as the "PFC James Dunn VA Clinic". Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO] (Introduced 07/14/2016) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 10/07/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-243. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-07-14 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5185; text: CR S5185) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-09-28 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0, 1 Present (Roll no. 567).(text: CR H6021) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
60. S.3076 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Charles Duncan Buried with Honor Act of 2016 Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (Introduced 06/20/2016) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/14/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-273. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2016-09-20 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S5911) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
61. S.1004 — 114th Congress (2015-2016) Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act Sponsor: Sen. Kirk, Mark Steven [R-IL] (Introduced 04/16/2015) Cosponsors: (7) Committees: Senate - Judiciary | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 10/07/2016 Became Public Law No: 114-240. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
62. H.R.5404 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 Sponsor: Rep. Denham, Jeff [R-CA-10] (Introduced 09/08/2014) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Budget Latest Action: 09/26/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-175. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
63. H.R.4276 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014 Sponsor: Rep. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA-6] (Introduced 03/18/2014) Cosponsors: (6) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 113-598 Latest Action: 12/18/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-257. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
64. H.R.4199 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Waco, Texas, as the "Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center". Sponsor: Rep. Flores, Bill [R-TX-17] (Introduced 03/11/2014) Cosponsors: (35) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/18/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-256. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
65. H.R.3682 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) To designate the community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 1961 Premier Drive in Mankato, Minnesota, as the "Lyle C. Pearson Community Based Outpatient Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] (Introduced 12/09/2013) Cosponsors: (7) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-217. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
66. H.R.3375 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) To designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be constructed at 3141 Centennial Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the "PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5] (Introduced 10/29/2013) Cosponsors: (6) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-215. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
67. H.R.3302 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bay Pines, Florida, as the "C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center". Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 10/22/2013) Cosponsors: (378) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 11/13/2013 Became Public Law No: 113-49. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
68. H.R.1412 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013 Sponsor: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] (Introduced 04/09/2013) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 113-64 Latest Action: 09/30/2013 Became Public Law No: 113-37. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2013-09-27 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 0 (Roll no. 491).(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H5888-5889) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
69. H.R.1402 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2013 Sponsor: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] (Introduced 03/25/2013) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/20/2013 Became Public Law No: 113-59. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
70. H.R.1216 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Vet Center in Prescott, Arizona, as the "Dr. Cameron McKinley Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center". Sponsor: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] (Introduced 03/15/2013) Cosponsors: (8) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 07/25/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-138. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
71. H.R.803 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Sponsor: Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5] (Introduced 02/25/2013) Cosponsors: (23) Committees: House - Education and the Workforce, Judiciary, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure | Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Reports: H. Rept. 113-14 Latest Action: 07/22/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-128. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2013-03-12 [displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 113-14, Part I. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2013-03-15 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 202 (Roll no. 75). [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2014-06-25 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 - 3. Record Vote Number: 214. [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2014-07-09 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 6 (Roll no. 378).(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H5887-5962) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
72. H.R.307 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 Sponsor: Rep. Rogers, Mike J. [R-MI-8] (Introduced 01/18/2013) Cosponsors: (5) Committees: House - Energy and Commerce, Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Action: 03/13/2013 Became Public Law No: 113-5. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2013-01-22 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 29 (Roll no. 24).(text: CR H187-197) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2013-02-27 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S948-957; text as passed Senate: CR S948-957) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2013-03-04 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 28 (Roll no. 56).(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H823-832) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
73. H.R.272 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense joint outpatient clinic to be constructed in Marina, California, as the "Major General William H. Gourley VA-DOD Outpatient Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20] (Introduced 01/15/2013) Cosponsors: (81) Committees: House - Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 07/25/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-130. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
74. S.2921 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) A bill to designate the community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 310 Home Boulevard in Galesburg, Illinois, as the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic". Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 11/13/2014) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-234. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
75. S.1471 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act Sponsor: Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN] (Introduced 08/01/2013) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services Latest Action: 12/20/2013 Became Public Law No: 113-65. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
76. S.1434 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) A bill to designate the Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (Introduced 08/01/2013) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-231. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
77. S.893 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (Introduced 05/08/2013) Cosponsors: (17) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: S. Rept. 113-87 Latest Action: 11/21/2013 Became Public Law No: 113-52. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
78. S.229 — 113th Congress (2013-2014) Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013 Sponsor: Sen. Toomey, Pat [R-PA] (Introduced 02/07/2013) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/16/2014 Became Public Law No: 113-230. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
79. H.R.6375 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) VA Major Construction Authorization and Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2012 Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 09/11/2012) Cosponsors: (1) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Budget Latest Action: 10/05/2012 Became Public Law No: 112-191. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2012-09-22 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR 9/21/2012 S6671) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
80. H.R.4114 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2012 Sponsor: Rep. Runyan, Jon [R-NJ-3] (Introduced 02/29/2012) Cosponsors: (13) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 112-486 Latest Action: 11/27/2012 Became Public Law No: 112-198. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
81. H.R.4057 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012 Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9] (Introduced 02/16/2012) Cosponsors: (25) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 112-646 Latest Action: 01/10/2013 Became Public Law No: 112-249. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
82. H.R.3670 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) To require the Transportation Security Administration to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Sponsor: Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] (Introduced 12/14/2011) Cosponsors: (22) Committees: House - Homeland Security, Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Reports: H. Rept. 112-487 Latest Action: 08/16/2012 Became Public Law No: 112-171. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2012-05-18 [displayText] => Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 112-487, Part I. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
83. H.R.2646 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011 Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6] (Introduced 07/26/2011) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 112-209 Latest Action: 10/05/2011 Became Public Law No: 112-37. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
84. H.R.1627 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 04/15/2011) Cosponsors: (3) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 112-84 Latest Action: 08/06/2012 Became Public Law No: 112-154. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2011-05-20 [displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 112-84, Part I. Filed late, pursuant to previous special order. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2012-07-31 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H5416-5428) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
85. H.R.1383 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 Sponsor: Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1] (Introduced 04/06/2011) Cosponsors: (11) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 112-81 Latest Action: 08/03/2011 Became Public Law No: 112-26. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2011-05-20 [displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 112-81. Filed late, pursuant to previous special order. [externalActionCode] => 5000 [description] => Introduced )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2011-07-21 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4810) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2011-07-26 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 638).(consideration: CR H5507-5508; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR 7/25/2012 H5471-5472) [externalActionCode] => 19500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
86. S.3202 — 112th Congress (2011-2012) Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 05/17/2012) Cosponsors: (5) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Budget Latest Action: 01/10/2013 Became Public Law No: 112-260. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
87. H.R.4667 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010 Sponsor: Rep. Perriello, Thomas S.P. [D-VA-5] (Introduced 02/23/2010) Cosponsors: (8) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 111-452 Latest Action: 09/30/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-247. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
88. H.R.4505 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) To enable State homes to furnish nursing home care to parents any of whose children died while serving in the Armed Forces. Sponsor: Rep. Thornberry, Mac [R-TX-13] (Introduced 01/26/2010) Cosponsors: (30) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 09/30/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-246. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
90. H.R.3219 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51] (Introduced 07/15/2009) Cosponsors: (29) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 111-223 Latest Action: 10/13/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-275. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
91. H.R.1377 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51] (Introduced 03/06/2009) Cosponsors: (2) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 111-55 Latest Action: 02/01/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-137. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
92. H.R.1016 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 Sponsor: Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51] (Introduced 02/12/2009) Cosponsors: (125) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Committee Reports: H. Rept. 111-171 Latest Action: 10/22/2009 Became Public Law No: 111-81. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2009-06-23 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 409 - 1 (Roll no. 420).(text: CR H7094-7095) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2009-08-06 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 423 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text as passed Senate: CR S9059) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2009-10-13 [displayText] => Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to Senate amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S10376-10378; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S10376) [externalActionCode] => 20500 [description] => Resolving Differences )
93. H.J.Res.80 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) Recognizing and honoring the Blinded Veterans Association on its 65th anniversary of representing blinded veterans and their families. Sponsor: Rep. Halvorson, Deborah L. [D-IL-11] (Introduced 03/04/2010) Cosponsors: (23) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 04/07/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-156. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2010-03-23 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 174).(text: CR 3/22/2010 H2182) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
Array ( [actionDate] => 2010-03-26 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2166) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
94. S.3860 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) A bill to require reports on the management of Arlington National Cemetery. Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO] (Introduced 09/28/2010) Cosponsors: (12) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 12/22/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-339. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
95. S.3447 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] (Introduced 05/27/2010) Cosponsors: (35) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs, Armed Services, Budget Committee Reports: S. Rept. 111-346 Latest Action: 01/04/2011 Became Public Law No: 111-377. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
96. S.1963 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 Sponsor: Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] (Introduced 10/28/2009) Cosponsors: (7) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 05/05/2010 Became Public Law No: 111-163. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2009-11-19 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98 - 0. Record Vote Number: 352.(text: CR S11553-11572) [externalActionCode] => 17000 [description] => Passed Senate )
97. S.509 — 111th Congress (2009-2010) A bill to authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 03/02/2009) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: Senate - Veterans' Affairs | House - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 11/11/2009 Became Public Law No: 111-98. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
98. H.R.6580 — 110th Congress (2007-2008) Hubbard Act Sponsor: Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3] (Introduced 07/23/2008) Cosponsors: (7) Committees: House - Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform Latest Action (modified): 08/29/2008 Became Public Law No: 110-317. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
99. H.R.4918 — 110th Congress (2007-2008) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Miami, Florida, as the "Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center". Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] (Introduced 12/19/2007) Cosponsors: (24) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 08/12/2008 Became Public Law No: 110-304. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Array ( [actionDate] => 2008-06-26 [displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 6/24/2008 H5974) [externalActionCode] => 8000 [description] => Passed House )
100. H.R.4289 — 110th Congress (2007-2008) To name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the "Euripides Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic". Sponsor: Rep. Fortuno, Luis G. [R-PR-At Large] (Introduced 12/05/2007) Cosponsors: (0) Committees: House - Veterans' Affairs | Senate - Veterans' Affairs Latest Action: 07/30/2008 Became Public Law No: 110-292. (TXT | PDF) (All Actions) Tracker:
Legislation [265]
Introduced [7,706]
Committee Consideration [1,586]
Passed Both Chambers [288]
Resolving Differences [137]
To President [266]
Veto Actions [2]
Became Law [265]
Armed Forces and National Security [226]
Government Operations and Politics [4]
Veterans' Affairs [265]
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [4]
Referred to [265]
Markup by [104]
Reported by [140]
Discharged from [20]
Domestic Marketing, Consumer Relations, and Nutrition [1]
Military Personnel and Compensation [2]
Employment Opportunities [1]
Environment and the Economy [1]
Transportation Security [2]
Constitution [1]
Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security [1]
Federal Lands [3]
Census and Population [1]
National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands [1]
Science, Research and Technology [1]
General Oversight and the Economy [1]
Benefits [14]
Compensation, Pension and Insurance [6]
Compensation, Pension, Insurance, and Memorial Affairs [1]
Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs [26]
Economic Opportunity [13]
Education, Training, Employment and Housing [1]
Hospitals and Health Care [8]
Housing and Memorial Affairs [4]
Oversight and Investigations [1]
Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation [1]
Montgomery, G. V. (Sonny) [D-MS] [31]
Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ] [13]
Satterfield, David E., III [D-VA] [10]
Miller, Jeff [R-FL] [9]
Stump, Bob [R-AZ] [9]
Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV] [3]
Specter, Arlen [R-PA] [3]
Hartke, Vance [D-IN] [2]
Evans, Lane [D-IL] [65]
Hammerschmidt, John P. [R-AR] [64]
Bilirakis, Michael [R-FL] [56]
Hefner, W. G. (Bill) [D-NC] [52]
Burr, Richard [R-NC] [7]
Thurmond, Strom [R-SC] [7]
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6519
|
__label__wiki
| 0.682373
| 0.682373
|
Home > Committee Reports > 109th Congress > H. Rept. 109-680 > Part 1
H. Rept. 109-680 - ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE MODERNIZATION ACT109th Congress (2005-2006)
Committee Report
Report Type:
House Report
Accompanies:
H.R.5825
Intelligence (Permanent Select) (Part 1)
Judiciary (Part 2)
Parts for H. Rept. 109-680
Part 1 - H. Rept. 109-680
All parts of H. Rept. 109-680
Report text available as:
PDF (PDF provides a complete and accurate display of this text.) Tip ?
109th Congress Rept. 109-680
2d Session Part 1
ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE MODERNIZATION ACT
September 25, 2006.--Ordered to be printed
Mr. Hoekstra, from the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL AND MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 5825]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to whom was
referred the bill (H.R. 5825) to update the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, having considered the
same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend
that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Electronic Surveillance Modernization
Act''.
SEC. 2. FISA DEFINITIONS.
(a) Agent of a Foreign Power.--Subsection (b)(1) of section 101 of
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
``;''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(D) possesses or is reasonably expected to transmit
or receive foreign intelligence information while in
the United States; or''.
(b) Electronic Surveillance.--Subsection (f) of such section is
amended to read as follows:
``(f) `Electronic surveillance' means--
``(1) the installation or use of a surveillance device for
the intentional collection of information relating to a person
who is reasonably believed to be in the United States by
intentionally targeting that person, under circumstances in
which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a
warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes; or
``(2) the intentional acquisition of the contents of any
communication, without the consent of a party to the
communication, under circumstances in which a person has a
reasonable expectation of privacy and a warrant would be
required for law enforcement purposes, if both the sender and
all intended recipients are located within the United
States.''.
(c) Minimization Procedures.--Subsection (h) of such section is
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``importance;'' and
inserting ``importance; and'';
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``; and'' and inserting
``.''; and
(3) by striking paragraph (4).
(d) Wire Communication and Surveillance Device.--Subsection (l) of
such section is amended to read as follows:
``(l) `Surveillance device' is a device that allows surveillance by
the Federal Government, but excludes any device that extracts or
analyzes information from data that has already been acquired by the
Federal Government by lawful means.''.
(e) Physical Search.--Section 301(5) of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1821(5)) is amended by striking
``Act, or (B)'' and inserting ``Act, (B) activities described in
section 102(b) of this Act, or (C)''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE FOR FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE PURPOSES.
Section 102 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50
U.S.C. 1802) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``transmitted
by means of'' and all that follows and
inserting ``of a foreign power, as defined in
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 101(a),
or an agent of a foreign power, as defined in
section 101(b)(1); or''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``or (3);''
and inserting ``or (3); and'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph
(B);
(2) by striking subsection (a)(4);
(3) in subsection (b), to read as follows:
``(b)(1) The Attorney General may require, by written certification,
any person with authorized access to electronic communications or
equipment used to transmit or store electronic communications to
provide information, facilities, or technical assistance--
``(A) necessary to accomplish electronic surveillance
authorized under subsection (a); or
``(B) to an official designated by the President for a period
of up to one year, provided the Attorney General certifies in
writing, under oath, that the provision of the information,
facilities, or technical assistance does not constitute
electronic surveillance.
``(2) The Attorney General may require a person providing
information, facilities, or technical assistance under paragraph (1)
to--
``(A) provide the information, facilities, or technical
assistance in such a manner as will protect the secrecy of the
provision of such information, facilities, or technical
assistance and produce a minimum of interference with the
services that such person is providing the customers of such
person; and
``(B) maintain under security procedures approved by the
Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence any
records concerning such electronic surveillance or the
information, facilities, or technical assistance provided which
such person wishes to retain.
``(3) The Government shall compensate, at the prevailing rate, a
person for providing information, facilities, or technical assistance
pursuant to paragraph (1).''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may
designate an official who may authorize electronic surveillance of
international radio communications of a diplomat or diplomatic mission
or post of the government of a foreign country in the United States in
accordance with procedures approved by the Attorney General.''.
SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS FOR COURT ORDERS.
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (6), (9), and (11);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (10) as
paragraphs (6), (7), and (8), respectively;
(C) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph
(B)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking ``or officials designated'' and all
that follows through ``consent of the Senate''
and inserting ``designated by the President to
authorize electronic surveillance for foreign
intelligence purposes'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``techniques;'' and inserting ``techniques;
and'';
(iii) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E)
and inserting the following:
``(D) including a statement of the basis for the
certification that the information sought is the type
of foreign intelligence information designated;'';
(D) in paragraph (7), as redesignated by subparagraph
(i) by striking ``a statement of the means by
which the surveillance will be effected and'';
(ii) by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(E) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by subparagraph
(B), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period;
(2) by striking subsection (b); and
(3) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as
subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER.
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and
(5) as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4), respectively;
(2) in subsection (c)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``known;'' and
inserting ``known; and'';
(B) by striking subparagraphs (C), (D), and (F);
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph
(C); and
(D) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by
subparagraph (C), by striking ``approved; and'' and
inserting ``approved.'';
(3) by striking subsection (d);
(4) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i)
as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (4)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``for the period
necessary'' and all that follows and insert ``for a
period not to exceed one year.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``original order,
except that'' and all that follows and inserting
``original order for a period not to exceed one
year.'';
(6) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (4), to
read as follows:
``(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Attorney
General may authorize the emergency employment of electronic
surveillance if the Attorney General--
``(1) determines that an emergency situation exists with
respect to the employment of electronic surveillance to obtain
foreign intelligence information before an order authorizing
such surveillance can with due diligence be obtained;
``(2) determines that the factual basis for issuance of an
order under this title to approve such surveillance exists;
``(3) informs a judge having jurisdiction under section 103
at the time of such authorization that the decision has been
made to employ emergency electronic surveillance; and
``(4) makes an application in accordance with this title to a
judge having jurisdiction under section 103 as soon as
practicable, but not more than 120 hours after the official
authorizes such surveillance.
If the Attorney General authorizes such emergency employment of
electronic surveillance, the Attorney General shall require that the
minimization procedures required by this title for the issuance of a
judicial order be followed. In the absence of a judicial order
approving such electronic surveillance, the surveillance shall
terminate when the information sought is obtained, when the application
for the order is denied, or after the expiration of 120 hours from the
time of authorization by the Attorney General, whichever is earliest.
In the event that such application for approval is denied, or in any
other case where the electronic surveillance is terminated and no order
is issued approving the surveillance, no information obtained or
evidence derived from such surveillance shall be received in evidence
or otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or
before any court, grand jury, department, office, agency, regulatory
body, legislative committee, or other authority of the United States, a
State, or political subdivision thereof, and no information concerning
any United States person acquired from such surveillance shall
subsequently be used or disclosed in any other manner by Federal
officers or employees without the consent of such person, except with
the approval of the Attorney General if the information indicates a
threat of death or serious bodily harm to any person. A denial of the
application made under this subsection may be reviewed as provided in
section 103.''; and
(7) in subsection (h), as redesignated by paragraph (4), by
striking ``assistance in accordance with a court order'' and
all that follows and inserting ``assistance--
``(1) in accordance with a court order or request for
emergency assistance under this Act for electronic surveillance
or physical search; or
``(2) in response to a certification by the Attorney General
or a designee of the Attorney General seeking information,
facilities, or technical assistance from such person that does
not constitute electronic surveillance.''.
SEC. 6. USE OF INFORMATION.
Section 106(i) of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978
(50 U.S.C. 1806(i)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``radio communication'' and inserting
``communication''; and
(2) by striking ``contents indicates'' and inserting
``contents contain significant foreign intelligence information
or indicate''.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION AFTER AN ARMED ATTACK.
(a) Electronic Surveillance.--Section 111 of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1811) is amended by striking ``for
a period not to exceed'' and all that follows and inserting the
following: ``for a period not to exceed 60 days following an armed
attack against the territory of the United States if the President
submits to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House
of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate notification of the authorization under this section.''.
(b) Physical Search.--Section 309 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1829) is
amended by striking ``for a period not to exceed'' and all that follows
and inserting the following: ``for a period not to exceed 60 days
following an armed attack against the territory of the United States if
the President submits to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate notification of the authorization under this
section.''.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AFTER A TERRORIST
ATTACK.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.) is further amended--
(1) by adding at the end of title I the following new
``authorization following a terrorist attack upon the united states
``Sec. 112. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, but subject to the provisions of this section, the President,
acting through the Attorney General, may authorize electronic
surveillance without an order under this title to acquire foreign
intelligence information for a period not to exceed 45 days following a
terrorist attack against the United States if the President submits a
notification to the congressional intelligence committees and a judge
having jurisdiction under section 103 that--
``(1) the United States has been the subject of a terrorist
attack; and
``(2) identifies the terrorist organizations or affiliates of
terrorist organizations believed to be responsible for the
terrorist attack.
``(b) Subsequent Certifications.--At the end of the 45-day period
described in subsection (a), and every 45 days thereafter, the
President may submit a subsequent certification to the congressional
intelligence committees and a judge having jurisdiction under section
103 that the circumstances of the terrorist attack for which the
President submitted a certification under subsection (a) require the
President to continue the authorization of electronic surveillance
under this section for an additional 45 days. The President shall be
authorized to conduct electronic surveillance under this section for an
additional 45 days after each such subsequent certification.
``(c) Electronic Surveillance of Individuals.--The President, or an
official designated by the President to authorize electronic
surveillance, may only conduct electronic surveillance of a person
under this section if the President or such official determines that--
``(1) there is a reasonable belief that such person is
communicating with a terrorist organization or an affiliate of
a terrorist organization that is reasonably believed to be
responsible for the terrorist attack; and
``(2) the information obtained from the electronic
surveillance may be foreign intelligence information.
``(d) Minimization Procedures.--The President may not authorize
electronic surveillance under this section until the Attorney General
approves minimization procedures for electronic surveillance conducted
under this section.
``(e) United States Persons.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), the
President may not authorize electronic surveillance of a United States
person under this section without an order under this title for a
period of more than 90 days unless the President, acting through the
Attorney General, submits a certification to the congressional
intelligence committees that--
``(1) the continued electronic surveillance of the United
States person is vital to the national security of the United
States;
``(2) describes the circumstances that have prevented the
Attorney General from obtaining an order under this title for
continued surveillance;
``(3) describes the reasons for believing the United States
person is affiliated with or in communication with a terrorist
organization or affiliate of a terrorist organization that is
reasonably believed to be responsible for the terrorist attack;
``(4) describes the foreign intelligence information derived
from the electronic surveillance conducted under this section.
``(f) Use of Information.--Information obtained pursuant to
electronic surveillance under this subsection may be used to obtain an
order authorizing subsequent electronic surveillance under this title.
``(g) Reports.--Not later than 14 days after the date on which the
President submits a certification under subsection (a), and every 30
days thereafter until the President ceases to authorize electronic
surveillance under subsection (a) or (b), the President shall submit to
the congressional intelligence committees a report on the electronic
surveillance conducted under this section, including--
``(1) a description of each target of electronic surveillance
under this section; and
``(2) the basis for believing that each target is in
communication with a terrorist organization or an affiliate of
a terrorist organization.
``(h) Congressional Intelligence Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term `congressional intelligence committees' means the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate.''; and
(2) in the table of contents in the first section, by
inserting after the item relating to section 111 the following
new item:
``Sec. 112. Authorization following a terrorist attack upon the United
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE DUE TO IMMINENT
THREAT.
``authorization due to imminent threat
intelligence information for a period not to exceed 90 days if the
President submits to the congressional leadership, the congressional
intelligence committees, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court a written notification that the President has determined that
there exists an imminent threat of attack likely to cause death,
serious injury, or substantial economic damage to the United States.
Such notification--
``(1) shall be submitted as soon as practicable, but in no
case later than 5 days after the date on which the President
authorizes electronic surveillance under this section;
``(2) shall specify the entity responsible for the threat and
any affiliates of the entity;
``(3) shall state the reason to believe that the threat of
imminent attack exists;
``(4) shall state the reason the President needs broader
authority to conduct electronic surveillance in the United
States as a result of the threat of imminent attack;
``(5) shall include a description of the foreign intelligence
information that will be collected and the means that will be
used to collect such foreign intelligence information; and
``(6) may be submitted in classified form.
President may submit a subsequent written notification to the
congressional leadership, the congressional intelligence committees,
the other relevant committees, and the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Court that the circumstances of the threat for which the
President submitted a written notification under subsection (a) require
the President to continue the authorization of electronic surveillance
additional 90 days after each such subsequent written notification.
communicating with an entity or an affiliate of an entity that
is reasonably believed to be responsible for imminent threat of
``(e) United States Persons.--Notwithstanding subsections (a) and
(b), the President may not authorize electronic surveillance of a
United States person under this section without an order under this
title for a period of more than 60 days unless the President, acting
through the Attorney General, submits a certification to the
congressional intelligence committees that--
person is affiliated with or in communication with an entity or
an affiliate of an entity that is reasonably believed to be
responsible for imminent threat of attack; and
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Congressional intelligence committees.--The term
`congressional intelligence committees' means the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Senate.
``(2) Congressional leadership.--The term `congressional
leadership' means the Speaker and minority leader of the House
of Representatives and the majority leader and minority leader
of the Senate.
``(3) Foreign intelligence surveillance court.--The term
`Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court' means the court
established under section 103(a).
``(4) Other relevant committees.--The term `other relevant
committees' means the Committees on Appropriations, the
Committees on Armed Services, and the Committees on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate.'';
inserting after the item relating to section 112, as added by
section 8(2), the following new item:
``Sec. 113. Authorization due to imminent threat.''.
SEC. 10. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
(a) Electronic Surveillance Under FISA.--Section 108(a) of the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1808(a)) is
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) the authority under which the electronic
surveillance is conducted.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Each report submitted under this subsection shall
include reports on electronic surveillance conducted without a
court order.''.
(b) Intelligence Activities.--The National Security Act of 1947 (50
U.S.C. 401 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 501 (50 U.S.C. 413)--
(A) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection
(g); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (e) the following
new subsection:
``(f) The Chair of each of the congressional intelligence committees,
in consultation with the ranking member of the committee for which the
person is Chair, may inform--
``(1) on a bipartisan basis, all members or any individual
members of such committee, and
``(2) any essential staff of such committee,
of a report submitted under subsection (a)(1) or subsection (b) as such
Chair considers necessary.'';
(2) in section 502 (50 U.S.C. 414), by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(d) Informing of Committee Members.--The Chair of each of the
congressional intelligence committees, in consultation with the ranking
member of the committee for which the person is Chair, may inform--
of a report submitted under subsection (a) as such Chair considers
necessary.''; and
``(g) The Chair of each of the congressional intelligence committees,
of a report submitted under subsection (b), (c), or (d) as such Chair
considers necessary.''.
SEC. 11. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(1) in section 102(a)(3)(A), by striking ``sections 101(h)(4)
and'' and inserting ``section'';
(2) in section 105(a)(4), as redesignated by section
5(1)(B)--
(A) by striking ``104(a)(7)(E)'' and inserting
``104(a)(6)(D)''; and
(B) by striking ``104(d)'' and inserting ``104(c)'';
(3) in section 106--
(A) in subsection (j) in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``105(e)'' and inserting
``105(d)''; and
(B) in subsection (k)(2), by striking
``104(a)(7)(B)'' and inserting ``104(a)(6)(B)''; and
(4) in section 108(a)(2)(C), by striking ``105(f)'' and
inserting ``105(e)''.
The purpose of H.R. 5825 is to modernize the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act, to strengthen oversight of the
executive branch concerning electronic surveillance and
intelligence, and to provide clear electronic surveillance
authority to the nation's intelligence agencies in the event of
a terrorist attack, armed attack, or imminent threat against
the United States.
Committee Statement and Views
A. Background and need for legislation
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (``FISA'')
provides the legal framework for collecting specified types of
foreign intelligence information within the United States. The
current legal and technical framework relative to FISA was
constructed in 1978. The complexity, variety and means of
communications technology has since mushroomed exponentially
and globally--but the structure of our surveillance laws has
remained hidebound around the technology of generations-old
wired telephones.
The Committee received testimony that the current
provisions of FISA are ``dangerously obsolete''. This bill
modernizes the law in a number of critical respects. It updates
FISA to make it technology neutral, and neutral as to the means
of communication. It streamlines the surveillance approval
process to keep the focus on gaining knowledge of those who
would do harm to the United States while protecting the civil
liberties of average Americans. It gives our intelligence
personnel the necessary tools to help detect and prevent acts
of terrorism, and to respond to armed attacks and terrorist
attacks. As reported, the bill also ensures that adequate
authority exists to conduct necessary electronic surveillance
when a threat of imminent attack exists.
H.R. 5825 also enhances congressional and judicial
oversight of U.S. government electronic surveillance activities
to ensure that activities conducted under both FISA and the
authorities provided in the bill will be utilized by the
President only with the knowledge and coordination of the other
branches of government. More broadly than just FISA, the bill
as reported also addresses fundamental separation of powers
concerns expressed by members of the Committee through
amendments to the National Security Act by providing express
authority for the Chairmen of the congressional intelligence
Committees to broaden reporting on sensitive issues to
additional members of the Committee at his or her discretion on
a bipartisan basis in the necessary circumstances.
This bill enhances the overall authorities of our nation to
act as a whole to protect itself in times of war and heightened
threat of attack--both terrorist and otherwise.
B. Legislation
The bill contains provisions relating to modernization of
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, additional
authorization to conduct limited electronic surveillance in
specifically defined emergency circumstances with enhanced
reporting to Congress and the Judiciary, and to enhance
congressional oversight of both electronic surveillance and
other intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the
1. FISA modernization
Sections two through six of the bill, further detailed in
the following section-by-section analysis, contain provisions
intended to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act. The bill updates the definition of electronic surveillance
contained in the statute to make it technology neutral and to
ensure that the FISA process is directed to circumstances where
a reasonable expectation of privacy exists and a warrant would
be required for law enforcement purposes. The bill also would
modernize and simplify the process of getting a FISA warrant in
order to focus resources on protecting the civil liberties of
Americans.
2. Enhanced authorities
Sections seven through nine of the reported bill provide
clear authority to United States intelligence agencies in the
event of an armed attack, terrorist attack, or threat of
imminent attack on the United States. These provisions include
limits on the type of surveillance that may be conducted, and
provide for enhanced accountability.
Section seven expands the authority in current law to
conduct electronic surveillance following an armed attack
against the United States to a period of sixty days, and adds a
requirement that the President submit notification of any
authorization under this authority to the congressional
intelligence committees.
Section eight provides authority to conduct specified
electronic surveillance after a terrorist attack on the United
States, on notification to the congressional intelligence
committees and a judge of the FISA court. The authority is
limited to renewable 45 day periods, and the authorization is
limited to electronic surveillance of persons when the
President determines there is a reasonable belief that a person
is communicating with a terrorist organization or an affiliate
of a terrorist organization that is reasonably believed to be
responsible for the terrorist attack, and that the information
obtained may be foreign intelligence information. Additional
constraints are provided with respect to electronic
surveillance of United States persons.
Section nine provides authority to conduct specified
electronic surveillance when the President has determined that
there exists an imminent threat of attack likely to cause
death, serious injury, or substantial economic damage to the
United States, on notification to the congressional
intelligence committees and the FISA court. The authority is
limited to renewable 90 day periods, and additional
congressional committees must be notified if the authority is
renewed. The authorization is limited to electronic
surveillance of persons when the President determines there is
a reasonable belief that a person is communicating with the
entity or an affiliate reasonably believed to be responsible
for the imminent threat of attack, and that the information
3. Enhanced Congressional oversight
The bill enhances congressional oversight not only of
electronic surveillance, but also more generally of
intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United
States Government. Each of the enhanced authorities provided in
the bill includes specific and detailed requirements for
reporting to Congress. In addition, Section ten of the bill
requires the FISA semi-annual report to include information
regarding the authority under which electronic surveillance is
conducted, and provides for reporting on any electronic
surveillance conducted without a court order.
The bill also makes significant amendments to the National
Security Act of 1947 that would authorize the Chair of each of
the congressional intelligence committees to inform any or all
other members and essential staff of each Committee of
reporting of intelligence activities received under that Act,
on a bipartisan basis, as such Chair considers necessary in his
or her discretion.
Committee Hearings
The Committee held two public hearings with respect to
modernization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. On
July 19, 2006, the Committee received testimony from Judge
Richard A. Posner; Mr. Kim Taipale of the Center for Advanced
Studies in Science and Technology Policy; Mr. Michael Greco of
the American Bar Association; and Mr. James Dempsey of the
Center for Democracy and Technology. On July 27, 2006, the
Committee received testimony from Representative Heather Wilson
regarding H.R. 5825; from Representative John Conyers regarding
H.R. 5371; and from Representative Adam Schiff and
Representative Jeff Flake regarding H.R. 4976.
Committee Consideration and Rollcall Votes
On September 20, 2006, the Committee met in open session
and ordered the bill H.R. 5825 favorably reported, as amended.
Ms. Wilson offered an amendment in the nature of a
substitute to H.R. 5825, which was considered as base text by
unanimous consent. The contents of the amendment in the nature
of a substitute are described in the Section-by-Section
analysis and the Explanation of Amendment. The Committee
considered the following amendments:
Ms. Harman offered an amendment in the nature of a
substitute containing the text of H.R. 5371, the ``LISTEN
Act''. It was not agreed to by a record vote of 9 ayes to 10
noes:
Voting aye: Ms. Harman, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Reyes, Mr.
Boswell, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Holt, Mr.
Ruppersberger, Mr. Tierney.
Voting no: Mr. Hoekstra (Chairman), Mr. LaHood, Mr.
Everett, Mr. Gallegly, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Davis, Mr.
Thornberry, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Renzi.
Ms. Eshoo offered an amendment making modifications to the
definition of electronic surveillance. It was not agreed to by
a record vote of 9 ayes to 10 noes:
Mr. Hastings offered an amendment relating to acquisition
of communications among foreign parties. It was not agreed to
by a record vote of 8 ayes to 11 noes:
Boswell, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Holt, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr.
Tierney.
Thornberry, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Renzi, Mr.
Issa.
Mr. Holt offered an amendment inserting a finding that in
passing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Congress
expressly stated that FISA and specified provisions of title
18, United States Code, were the exclusive means by which
surveillance can be conducted in the United States. It was not
agreed to by a record vote of 8 ayes to 9 noes:
Everett, Ms. Wilson, Ms. Davis, Mr. Thornberry, Mr.
McHugh, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Renzi.
Mr. Reyes offered an amendment inserting a finding that the
Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40)
does not constitute legal authorization for electronic
surveillance not authorized by specified provisions of Title
18, United States Code, or the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act. It was not agreed to by a record vote of 8
ayes to 9 noes:
electronic surveillance can be conducted in the United States.
It was not agreed to by a record vote of 8 ayes to 9 noes:
McHugh, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Renzi
The Committee then adopted the amendment in the nature of a
substitute by a record vote of 9 ayes to 8 noes:
Voting aye: Mr. Hoekstra (Chairman), Mr. LaHood, Mr.
Voting no: Ms. Harman, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Reyes, Mr.
By voice vote, the Committee adopted a motion by the
Chairman to favorably report the bill H.R. 5825 to the House,
as amended.
Section-by-Section Analysis and Explanation of the Amendment
The provisions of the bill are as follows:
Section 1--Short title
Section 1 contains the short title for the bill.
Section 2--FISA definitions
Section 2 would update the definition of electronic
surveillance. This change would update the law to take into
account significant changes in technology since the enactment
of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (``FISA''). This
section would remove the current distinction between treatment
of ``wire'' and ``radio'' communications, and use a technology-
neutral definition of electronic surveillance. This section
also provides protection for persons with a reasonable
expectation of privacy if both the sender and all intended
recipients are located within the United States.
Section 3--Authorization for electronic surveillance for foreign
intelligence purposes
Section 3 would modernize the law by including providers of
any electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or
other person who has access to electronic communications. This
section updates the current ``common carrier'' definition.
Sections 4 and 5--Applications for court orders/issuance of an order
Sections 4 and 5 would simplify the process for developing
information to get approval of a FISA warrant. This section
would reduce the volume of material required for a FISA
application, including minimizing the detailed description of
the nature of foreign intelligence information sought and the
detailed descriptions of the intended method of collection. The
FISA application should focus on probable cause for a warrant
rather than technical details about the means of collection.
Current protections and minimization procedures will remain in
place to protect unintended targets. In the event of an
emergency employment of electronic surveillance, the Attorney
General would have up to five days to file for an emergency
Section 6--Use of information
Section 6 clarifies and makes conforming changes with
respect to previous sections and FISA.
Section 7--Authorization after an armed attack
Section 7 updates the current FISA provisions for
electronic surveillance to provide clear authority for U.S.
intelligence agencies to conduct electronic surveillance in the
event of an armed attack on the United States. The President,
through the Attorney General, is authorized to collect
electronic surveillance without a court order to acquire
foreign intelligence information for a period not to exceed 60
days following an armed attack against the territory of the
United States. The current statute allows for 15 days after a
declaration of war by the Congress. Notification to the House
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (``HPSCI'') and
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (``SSCI'') is required.
Section 8--Authorization of electronic surveillance after a terrorist
Section 8 governs electronic surveillance after a terrorist
attack. The President, acting through the Attorney General,
would have the authority to authorize electronic surveillance
to acquire foreign intelligence information without an order
when the terrorist organizations and their affiliates
responsible for the attack have been identified and notified to
the Congress and the FISA court, when there is a reasonable
belief that the target is communicating with a terrorist
organization, for a period not to exceed 45 days following a
terrorist attack against the U.S. Notification to the HPSCI and
SSCI and to the FISA court is required. The President may
submit a subsequent certification to Congress which would allow
for an additional 45 days of electronic surveillance.
Section 9--Authorization of electronic surveillance after threat of
imminent attack
Section 9 allows the President to authorize electronic
surveillance when there exists an imminent threat of attack
likely to cause death, serious injury, or substantial economic
damage to the United States when the entities and their
affiliates responsible for the threat have been identified and
notified to the Congress and the FISA court, when there is a
reasonable belief that the target is communicating with those
entities and affiliates, for a period not to exceed 90 days.
The President must submit notification to Congress as soon as
practicable, but not later than five days after the
authorization. The President may submit subsequent
certifications to Congress which would allow for additional 90
day periods of surveillance, with notification to additional
congressional committees.
Section 10--Congressional oversight
Section 10 of the Act would strengthen congressional
oversight by amending current law to provide authority to the
Chairman of each of the Intelligence Committees to notify all
members or any individual members of the Committees, on a
bipartisan basis and as the Chair considers necessary, of
reporting of intelligence activities received under the
National Security Act.
Section 11--Technical and conforming amendments
Section 11 makes technical clarifications and conforming
amendments to FISA.
Oversight Findings and Recommendations
With respect to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee held two open
hearings, receiving testimony from outside experts, interested
citizens, and Members of Congress. The Committee reports that
the findings and recommendations of the Committee are reflected
in the bill, as reported by the Committee.
General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with Clause (3)(c) of House rule XIII, the
Committee's performance goals and objectives are reflected in
the descriptive portions of this report.
Constitutional Authority Statement
The intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the
United States government are carried out to support the
national security interests of the United States.
Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States provides, in pertinent part, that `Congress shall have
power * * * to pay the debts and provide for the common defense
and general welfare of the United States; * * *'; and `to make
all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into
execution * * * all other powers vested by this Constitution in
the Government of the United States, or in any Department or
Officer thereof.'
Unfunded Mandate Statement
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement of
whether the provisions of the reported bill include unfunded
mandates. In compliance with this requirement, the Committee
has received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office
included herein.
Applicability to the Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not address
the terms of conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Earmarks Statement
The reported bill contains no earmarks, as defined in H.
Res. 1000.
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to
requirements of 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the House of
Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for H.R. 5825 from the Director of the Congressional Budget
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 25, 2006.
Hon. Peter Hoekstra,
Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5825, the
Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jason
Wheelock.
Donald B. Marron,
Acting Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 5825--Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act
Summary: H.R. 5825 would modify the rules and procedures
the government must follow to use electronic surveillance
programs in the investigation of international terrorism. The
bill would amend the definition of electronic surveillance
under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to
remove the current distinction between treatment of wire and
radio communications, and to focus FISA protections on domestic
The bill also would expand the ability of the government to
conduct electronic surveillance without warrant when:
The target of the surveillance is an agent
of a foreign power;
There has been an armed attack against the
territory of the United States;
There has been a terrorist attack against
the United States; or
There exists an imminent threat of attack
likely of cause death, serious injury, or substantial
economic damage to the United States.
H.R. 5825 would also authorize the Attorney General, after
obtaining the certification required under the bill, to require
any U.S. citizen, legal alien, or organization with access to
electronic communications to provide the government with all
assistance necessary to conduct electronic surveillance and to
acquire foreign intelligence information. Under current law,
the Attorney General may direct a ``common carrier'' to provide
such assistance with electronic surveillance. Thus,
implementing H.R. 5825 could expand the number of entities that
may be required to provide assistance to the government when it
conducts electronic surveillance.
The bill would also make a number of changes that could
reduce the volume of material required for a FISA application,
including minimizing the detailed descriptions of both the
nature of the foreign intelligence information sought and the
intended method of collection.
CBO has no basis for predicting how the volume or type of
surveillance would be changed if H.R. 5825 were enacted.
Furthermore, information regarding surveillance techniques and
their associated costs is classified. For these reasons, CBO
cannot estimate the impact on the federal budget of
implementing H.R. 5825.
Section 4 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
excludes from the application of that act any legislative
provisions that are necessary for national security. CBO has
determined that section 9 of this bill, which would authorize
certain electronic surveillance without a warrant due to an
imminent threat of attack, falls under that exclusion; we have
not reviewed it for intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates.
One of the other provisions of H.R. 5825 contains an
intergovernmental mandate, but CBO estimates that costs to
state and local governments would fall well below the annual
threshold established in UMRA ($64 million in 2006, adjusted
annually for inflation).
H.R. 5825 contains a private-sector mandate, as defined in
UMRA, because it would require certain entities to assist the
government with electronic surveillance. Because CBO has no
information about the prevalence of electronic surveillance and
the cost of compliance for entities assisting the government
with electronic surveillance, CBO has no basis for estimating
the costs of the mandate or whether those costs would exceed
the annual threshold established by UMRA for private-sector
mandates ($128 million in 2006, adjusted annually for
inflation).
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: CBO cannot
estimate the budgetary impact of implementing H.R. 5825 because
we cannot predict how the volume or type of surveillance would
change under this legislation. Moreover, information regarding
surveillance technologies and their associated costs are
classified.
Any changes in federal spending under the bill would be
subject to the appropriation of the necessary funds. Enacting
H.R. 5825 would not affect direct spending or revenues.
Estimated impact on state, local, and tribal governments:
Section 4 of UMRA excludes from the application of that act any
legislative provisions that are necessary for national
security. CBO has determined that section 9 of the bill, which
authorizes certain electronic surveillance without a warrant
due to an imminent threat of attack, falls under that
exclusion; we have not reviewed it for intergovernmental
One of the other provisions of the bill contains an
intergovernmental mandate, as defined in UMRA, because it would
allow federal law enforcement officers to direct public
institutions such as libraries to provide information. Because
data about the number of public entities currently complying
with similar requests and the costs of that compliance are
classified, CBO cannot estimate the total costs state and local
governments would incur to comply with this mandate. Based on
information from a recent survey of public libraries, however,
CBO estimates that the number of requests would probably be
small and that the total costs to those entities would be well
below the annual threshold established in UMRA ($64 million in
2006, adjusted annually for inflation).
Estimated impacts on the private sector: Section 4 of UMRA
determined that section 9 of the bill, which authorizes certain
electronic surveillance without a warrant due to imminent
threat of attack, falls under that exclusion and has not
reviewed it for private-sector mandates.
government with electronic surveillance. CBO has no basis for
estimating the costs of the mandate or whether those costs
would exceed the annual threshold established by UMRA for
private-sector mandates ($128 million in 2006, adjusted
H.R. 5825 would authorize the Attorney General, after
obtaining the certification required under the bill, to direct
a person to immediately provide the government with all
information, facilities, and assistance necessary to conduct
electronic surveillance and to acquire foreign intelligence.
Under current law, the Attorney General may direct a ``common
carrier'' to provide such assistance with electronic
surveillance. This bill would expand the scope of entities that
must comply with the government's orders in such cases. Because
CBO has no information about how often such entities would be
directed to provide assistance or the costs associated with
providing assistance, CBO has no basis for estimating the costs
of this mandate. The bill also would authorize the government
to compensate, at the prevailing rate, a person for providing
such information, facilities, or assistance.
Previous CBO estimate: On September 25, 2006, CBO
transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 5825, as ordered reported
by the House Committee on the Judiciary on September 20, 2006.
The language of the two versions of the bill is similar. CBO
cannot estimate the federal budgetary impact of implementing
either version of H.R. 5825 because we cannot predict how the
volume or type of surveillance would change under either
The House Judiciary version includes an intergovernmental
and private-sector mandate that is not included in the
Intelligence Committee's bill. That provision would provide
protection from a cause of action for any person providing
information, facilities, or assistance as well as conducting
physical searches in accordance with a directive from the
Attorney General under the bill.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jason Wheelock. Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell.
Impact on the Private Sector: Victoria Liu.
Estimate approved by: Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT OF 1978
AN ACT To authorize electronic surveillance to obtain foreign
intelligence information.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this
Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
of 1978''.
TITLE I--ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES FOR FOREIGN
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 112. Authorization following a terrorist attack upon the United
Sec. 113. Authorization due to imminent threat.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 101. As used in this title:
(a) * * *
(b) ``Agent of a foreign power'' means--
(1) any person other than a United States person,
who--
(B) acts for or on behalf of a foreign power
which engages in clandestine intelligence
activities in the United States contrary to the
interests of the United States, when the
circumstances of such person's presence in the
United States indicate that such person may
engage in such activities in the United States,
or when such person knowingly aids or abets any
person in the conduct of such activities or
knowingly conspires with any person to engage
in such activities; [or]
(D) possesses or is reasonably expected to
transmit or receive foreign intelligence
information while in the United States; or
[(f) ``Electronic surveillance'' means--
[(1) the acquisition by an electronic, mechanical, or
other surveillance device of the contents of any wire
or radio communications sent by or intended to be
received by a particular, known United States person
who is in the United States, if the contents are
acquired by intentionally targeting that United States
person, under circumstances in which a person has a
reasonable expectation of privacy and a warrant would
be required for law enforcement purposes;
communication to or from a person in the United States,
without the consent of any party thereto, if such
acquisition occurs in the United States, but does not
include the acquisition of those communications of
computer trespassers that would be permissible under
section 2511(2)(i) of title 18, United States Code;
[(3) the intentional acquisition by an electronic,
mechanical, or other surveillance device of the
contents of any radio communication, under
circumstances in which a person has a reasonable
expectation of privacy and a warrant would be required
for law enforcement purposes, and if both the sender
and all intended recipients are located within the
United States; or
[(4) the installation or use of an electronic,
mechanical, or other surveillance device in the United
States for monitoring to acquire information, other
than from a wire or radio communication, under
for law enforcement purposes.]
(f) ``Electronic surveillance'' means--
(1) the installation or use of a surveillance device
for the intentional collection of information relating
to a person who is reasonably believed to be in the
United States by intentionally targeting that person,
under circumstances in which the person has a
be required for law enforcement purposes; or
(2) the intentional acquisition of the contents of
any communication, without the consent of a party to
the communication, under circumstances in which a
person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a
warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes,
if both the sender and all intended recipients are
located within the United States.
(h) ``Minimization procedures'', with respect to electronic
surveillance, means--
(1) * * *
(2) procedures that require that nonpublicly
available information, which is not foreign
intelligence information, as defined in subsection
(e)(1), shall not be disseminated in a manner that
identifies any United States person, without such
person's consent, unless such person's identity is
necessary to understand foreign intelligence
information or assess its importance; and
(3) notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2),
procedures that allow for the retention and
dissemination of information that is evidence of a
crime which has been, is being, or is about to be
committed and that is to be retained or disseminated
for law enforcement purposes[; and].
[(4) notwithstanding paragraphs (1), (2), and (3),
with respect to any electronic surveillance approved
pursuant to section 102(a), procedures that require
that no contents of any communication to which a United
States person is a party shall be disclosed,
disseminated, or used for any purpose or retained for
longer than 72 hours unless a court order under section
105 is obtained or unless the Attorney General
determines that the information indicates a threat of
death or serious bodily harm to any person.]
[(l) ``Wire communication'' means any communications while it
is being carried by a wire, cable, or other like connection
furnished or operated by any person engaged as a common carrier
in providing or operating such facilities for the transmission
of interstate or foreign communications.]
(l) ``Surveillance device'' is a device that allows
surveillance by the Federal Government, but excludes any device
that extracts or analyzes information from data that has
already been acquired by the Federal Government by lawful
means.
AUTHORIZATION FOR ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
Sec. 102. (a)(1) Notwithstanding any other law, the
President, through the Attorney General, may authorize
electronic surveillance without a court order under this title
to acquire foreign intelligence information for periods of up
to one year if the Attorney General certifies in writing under
oath that--
(A) the electronic surveillance is solely directed
at--
(i) the acquisition of the contents of
communications [transmitted by means of
communications used exclusively between or
among foreign powers, as defined in section
101(a) (1), (2), or (3); or] of a foreign
power, as defined in paragraph (1), (2), or (3)
of section 101(a), or an agent of a foreign
power, as defined in section 101(b)(1); or
(ii) the acquisition of technical
intelligence, other than the spoken
communications of individuals, from property or
premises under the open and exclusive control
of a foreign power, as defined in section
101(a) (1), (2), or (3); and
[(B) there is no substantial likelihood that the
surveillance will acquire the contents of any
communications to which a United States person is a
party; and]
[(C)] (D) the proposed minimization procedures with
respect to such surveillance meet the definition of
minimization procedures under section 101(h); and
(3) The Attorney General shall immediately transmit under
seal to the court established under section 103(a) a copy of
his certification. Such certification shall be maintained under
security measures established by the Chief Justice with the
concurrence of the Attorney General, in consultation with the
Director of National Intelligence, and shall remain sealed
unless--
(A) an application for a court order with respect to
the surveillance is made under [sections 101(h)(4) and]
section 104; or
[(4) With respect to electronic surveillance authorized by
this subsection, the Attorney General may direct a specified
communication common carrier to--
[(A) furnish all information, facilities, or
technical assistance necessary to accomplish the
electronic surveillance in such a manner as will
protect its secrecy and produce a minimum of
interference with the services that such carrier is
providing its customers; and
[(B) maintain under security procedures approved by
the Attorney General and the Director of National
Intelligence any records concerning the surveillance or
the aid furnished which such carrier wishes to retain.
The Government shall compensate, at the prevailing rate, such
carrier for furnishing such aid.]
[(b) Applications for a court order under this title are
authorized if the President has, by written authorization,
empowered the Attorney General to approve applications to the
court having jurisdiction under section 103, and a judge to
whom an application is made may, notwithstanding any other law,
grant an order, in conformity with section 105, approving
electronic surveillance of a foreign power or an agent of a
foreign power for the purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence
information, except that the court shall not have jurisdiction
to grant any order approving electronic surveillance directed
solely as described in paragraph (1)(A) of subsection (a)
unless such surveillance may involve the acquisition of
communications of any United States person.]
(b)(1) The Attorney General may require, by written
certification, any person with authorized access to electronic
communications or equipment used to transmit or store
electronic communications to provide information, facilities,
or technical assistance--
(A) necessary to accomplish electronic surveillance
(B) to an official designated by the President for a
period of up to one year, provided the Attorney General
certifies in writing, under oath, that the provision of
the information, facilities, or technical assistance
does not constitute electronic surveillance.
(2) The Attorney General may require a person providing
information, facilities, or technical assistance under
paragraph (1) to--
(A) provide the information, facilities, or technical
assistance in such a manner as will protect the secrecy
of the provision of such information, facilities, or
technical assistance and produce a minimum of
interference with the services that such person is
providing the customers of such person; and
(B) maintain under security procedures approved by
Intelligence any records concerning such electronic
surveillance or the information, facilities, or
technical assistance provided which such person wishes
to retain.
(3) The Government shall compensate, at the prevailing rate,
a person for providing information, facilities, or technical
assistance pursuant to paragraph (1).
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President
may designate an official who may authorize electronic
surveillance of international radio communications of a
diplomat or diplomatic mission or post of the government of a
foreign country in the United States in accordance with
procedures approved by the Attorney General.
APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER
Sec. 104. (a) Each application for an order approving
electronic surveillance under this title shall be made by a
Federal officer in writing upon oath or affirmation to a judge
having jurisdiction under section 103. Each application shall
require the approval of the Attorney General based upon his
finding that it satisfies the criteria and requirements of such
application as set forth in this title. It shall include--
[(6) a detailed description of the nature of the
information sought and the type of communications or
activities to be subjected to the surveillance;]
[(7)] (6) a certification or certifications by the
Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs or an executive branch official [or officials
designated by the President from among those executive
officers employed in the area of national security or
defense and appointed by the President with the advice
and consent of the Senate] designated by the President
to authorize electronic surveillance for foreign
intelligence purposes--
(C) that such information cannot reasonably
be obtained by normal investigative techniques;
[(D) that designates the type of foreign
intelligence information being sought according
to the categories described in section 101(e);
[(E) including a statement of the basis for
the certification that--
[(i) the information sought is the
type of foreign intelligence
information designated; and
[(ii) such information cannot
reasonably be obtained by normal
investigative techniques;]
(D) including a statement of the basis for
the certification that the information sought
is the type of foreign intelligence information
designated;
[(8) a statement of the means by which the
surveillance will be effected and] (7) a statement
whether physical entry is required to effect the
surveillance; and
[(9) a statement of the facts concerning all previous
applications that have been made to any judge under
this title involving any of the persons, facilities, or
places specified in the application, and the action
taken on each previous application;]
[(10)] (8) a statement of the period of time for
which the electronic surveillance is required to be
maintained, and if the nature of the intelligence
gathering is such that the approval of the use of
electronic surveillance under this title should not
automatically terminate when the described type of
information has first been obtained, a description of
facts supporting the belief that additional information
of the same type will be obtained thereafter[; and].
[(11) whenever more than one electronic, mechanical
or other surveillance device is to be used with respect
to a particular proposed electronic surveillance, the
coverage of the devices involved and what minimization
procedures apply to information acquired by each
device.]
[(b) Whenever the target of the electronic surveillance is a
foreign power, as defined in section 101(a) (1), (2), or (3),
and each of the facilities or places at which the surveillance
is directed is owned, leased, or exclusively used by that
foreign power, the application need not contain the information
required by paragraphs (6), (7)(E), (8), and (11) of subsection
(a), but shall state whether physical entry is required to
effect the surveillance and shall contain such information
about the surveillance techniques and communications or other
information concerning United States persons likely to be
obtained as may be necessary to assess the proposed
minimization procedures.]
[(c)] (b) The Attorney General may require any other
affidavit or certification from any other officer in connection
with the application.
[(d)] (c) The judge may require the applicant to furnish such
other information as may be necessary to make the
determinations required by section 105.
[(e)] (d)(1)(A) * * *
ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER
Sec. 105. (a) Upon an application made pursuant to section
104, the judge shall enter an ex parte order as requested or as
modified approving the electronic surveillance if he finds
that--
[(1) the President has authorized the Attorney
General to approve applications for electronic
surveillance for foreign intelligence information;]
[(2)] (1) the application has been made by a Federal
officer and approved by the Attorney General;
[(3)] (2) on the basis of the facts submitted by the
applicant there is probable cause to believe that--
(A) the target of the electronic surveillance
is a foreign power or an agent of a foreign
power: Provided, That no United States person
may be considered a foreign power or an agent
of a foreign power solely upon the basis of
activities protected by the first amendment to
the Constitution of the United States; and
(B) each of the facilities or places at which
the electronic surveillance is directed is
being used, or is about to be used, by a
foreign power or an agent of a foreign power;
[(4)] (3) the proposed minimization procedures meet
the definition of minimization procedures under section
101(h); and
[(5)] (4) the application which has been filed
contains all statements and certifications required by
section 104 and, if the target is a United States
person, the certification or certifications are not
clearly erroneous on the basis of the statement made
under section [104(a)(7)(E)] 104(a)(6)(D) and any other
information furnished under section [104(d)] 104(c).
(c)(1) Specifications.--An order approving an electronic
surveillance under this section shall specify--
(B) the nature and location of each of the facilities
or places at which the electronic surveillance will be
directed, if known; and
[(C) the type of information sought to be acquired
and the type of communications or activities to be
subjected to the surveillance;
[(D) the means by which the electronic surveillance
will be effected and whether physical entry will be
used to effect the surveillance;]
[(E) the means by which the electronic surveillance
[(F) whenever more than one electronic, mechanical,
or other surveillance device is to be used under the
order, the authorized coverage of the devices involved
and what minimization procedures shall apply to
information subject to acquisition by each device.]
[(d) Whenever the target of the electronic surveillance is a
foreign power, the order used need not contain the information
required by subparagraphs (C), (D), and (F) of subsection
(c)(1), but shall generally describe the information sought,
the communications or activities to be subjected to the
surveillance, and the type of electronic surveillance involved,
including whether physical entry is required.]
[(e)] (d)(1) An order issued under this section may approve
an electronic surveillance [for the period necessary to achieve
its purpose, or for ninety days, whichever is less, except that
(A) an order under this section shall approve an electronic
surveillance targeted against a foreign power, as defined in
section 101(a), (1), (2), or (3), for the period specified in
the application or for one year, whichever is less, and (B) an
order under this Act for a surveillance targeted against an
agent of a foreign power who is not a United States person may
be for the period specified in the application or for 120 days,
whichever is less.] for a period not to exceed one year.
(2) Extensions of an order issued under this title may be
granted on the same basis as an original order upon an
application for an extension and new findings made in the same
manner as required for an [original order, except that (A) an
extension of an order under this Act for a surveillance
targeted against a foreign power, a defined in section 101(a)
(5) or (6), or against a foreign power as defined in section
101(a)(4) that is not a United States person, may be for a
period not to exceed one year if the judge finds probable cause
to believe that no communication of any individual United
States person will be acquired during the period, and (B) an
targeted against an agent of a foreign power who is not a
United States person may be for a period not to exceed 1 year.]
original order for a period not to exceed one year.
[(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, when
the Attorney General reasonably determines that--
[(1) an emergency situation exists with respect to
the employment of electronic surveillance to obtain
foreign intelligence information before an order
authorizing such surveillance can with due diligence be
obtained; and
[(2) the factual basis for issuance of an order under
this title to approve such surveillance exists;
he may authorize the emergency employment of electronic
surveillance if a judge having jurisdiction under section 103
is informed by the Attorney General or his designee at the time
of such authorization that the decision has been made to employ
emergency electronic surveillance and if an application in
accordance with this title is made to that judge as soon as
practicable, but not more than 72 hours after the Attorney
General authorizes such surveillance. If the Attorney General
authorizes such emergency employment of electronic
surveillance, he shall require that the minimization procedures
required by this title for the issuance of a judicial order be
followed. In the absence of a judicial order approving such
electronic surveillance, the surveillance shall terminate when
the information sought is obtained, when the application for
the order is denied, or after the expiration of 72 hours from
the time of authorization by the Attorney General, whichever is
earliest. In the event that such application for approval is
denied, or in any other case where the electronic surveillance
is terminated and no order is issued approving the
surveillance, no information obtained or evidence derived from
such surveillance shall be received in evidence or otherwise
disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding in or
before any court, grand jury, department, office, agency,
regulatory body, legislative committee, or other authority of
the United States, a State, or political subdivision thereof,
and no information concerning any United States person acquired
from such surveillance shall subsequently be used or disclosed
in any other manner by Federal officers or employees without
the consent of such person, except with the approval of the
Attorney General if the information indicates a threat of death
or serious bodily harm to any person. A denial of the
application made under this subsection may be reviewed as
provided in section 103.]
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the
Attorney General may authorize the emergency employment of
electronic surveillance if the Attorney General--
(1) determines that an emergency situation exists
with respect to the employment of electronic
surveillance to obtain foreign intelligence information
before an order authorizing such surveillance can with
due diligence be obtained;
(2) determines that the factual basis for issuance of
an order under this title to approve such surveillance
exists;
(3) informs a judge having jurisdiction under section
103 at the time of such authorization that the decision
has been made to employ emergency electronic
(4) makes an application in accordance with this
title to a judge having jurisdiction under section 103
as soon as practicable, but not more than 120 hours
after the official authorizes such surveillance.
electronic surveillance, the Attorney General shall require
that the minimization procedures required by this title for the
issuance of a judicial order be followed. In the absence of a
judicial order approving such electronic surveillance, the
surveillance shall terminate when the information sought is
obtained, when the application for the order is denied, or
after the expiration of 120 hours from the time of
authorization by the Attorney General, whichever is earliest.
In the event that such application for approval is denied, or
in any other case where the electronic surveillance is
terminated and no order is issued approving the surveillance,
no information obtained or evidence derived from such
surveillance shall be received in evidence or otherwise
provided in section 103.
[(g)] (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title,
officers, employees, or agents of the United States are
authorized in the normal course of their official duties to
conduct electronic surveillance not targeted against the
communications of any particular person or persons, under
procedures approved by the Attorney General, solely to--
[(h)] (g) Certifications made by the Attorney General
pursuant to section 102(a) and applications made and orders
granted under this title shall be retained for a period of at
least ten years from the date of the certification or
[(i)] (h) No cause of action shall lie in any court against
any provider of a wire or electronic communication service,
landlord, custodian, or other person (including any officer,
employee, agent, or other specified person thereof) that
furnishes any information, facilities, or technical [assistance
in accordance with a court order or request for emergency
assistance under this Act for electronic surveillance or
physical search.] assistance--
(1) in accordance with a court order or request for
emergency assistance under this Act for electronic
surveillance or physical search; or
(2) in response to a certification by the Attorney
General or a designee of the Attorney General seeking
information, facilities, or technical assistance from
such person that does not constitute electronic
surveillance.
Sec. 106. (a) * * *
(i) In circumstances involving the unintentional acquisition
by an electronic, mechanical, or other surveillance device of
the contents of any [radio] communication, under circumstances
in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy and a
warrant would be required for law enforcement purposes, and if
both the sender and all intended recipients are located within
the United States, such contents shall be destroyed upon
recognition, unless the Attorney General determines that the
[contents indicates] contents contain significant foreign
intelligence information or indicate a threat of death or
serious bodily harm to any person.
(j) If an emergency employment of electronic surveillance is
authorized under section [105(e)] 105(d) and a subsequent order
approving the surveillance is not obtained, the judge shall
cause to be served on any United States person named in the
application and on such other United States persons subject to
electronic surveillance as the judge may determine in his
discretion it is in the interest of justice to serve, notice
of--
(k)(1) * * *
(2) Coordination authorized under paragraph (1) shall not
preclude the certification required by section [104(a)(7)(B)]
104(a)(6)(B) or the entry of an order under section 105.
Sec. 108. (a)(1) * * *
(2) Each report under the first sentence of paragraph
(1) shall include a description of--
(B) each criminal case in which information
acquired under this Act has been authorized for
use at trial during the period covered by such
report; [and]
(C) the total number of emergency employments
of electronic surveillance under section
[105(f)] 105(e) and the total number of
subsequent orders approving or denying such
electronic surveillance[.]; and
(D) the authority under which the electronic
surveillance is conducted.
(3) Each report submitted under this subsection shall
include reports on electronic surveillance conducted
without a court order.
AUTHORIZATION DURING TIME OF WAR
Sec. 111. Notwithstanding any other law, the President,
through the Attorney General, may authorize electronic
surveillance without a court order under this title to acquire
foreign intelligence information [for a period not to exceed
fifteen calendar days following a declaration of war by the
Congress.] for a period not to exceed 60 days following an
armed attack against the territory of the United States if the
President submits to the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate notification of the
authorization under this section.--
AUTHORIZATION FOLLOWING A TERRORIST ATTACK UPON THE UNITED STATES
Sec. 112. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, but subject to the provisions of this
section, the President, acting through the Attorney General,
may authorize electronic surveillance without an order under
this title to acquire foreign intelligence information for a
period not to exceed 45 days following a terrorist attack
against the United States if the President submits a
notification to the congressional intelligence committees and a
judge having jurisdiction under section 103 that--
(1) the United States has been the subject of a
terrorist attack; and
(2) identifies the terrorist organizations or
affiliates of terrorist organizations believed to be
responsible for the terrorist attack.
(b) Subsequent Certifications.--At the end of the 45-day
period described in subsection (a), and every 45 days
thereafter, the President may submit a subsequent certification
to the congressional intelligence committees and a judge having
jurisdiction under section 103 that the circumstances of the
terrorist attack for which the President submitted a
certification under subsection (a) require the President to
continue the authorization of electronic surveillance under
this section for an additional 45 days. The President shall be
authorized to conduct electronic surveillance under this
section for an additional 45 days after each such subsequent
certification.
(c) Electronic Surveillance of Individuals.--The President,
or an official designated by the President to authorize
electronic surveillance, may only conduct electronic
surveillance of a person under this section if the President or
such official determines that--
(1) there is a reasonable belief that such person is
communicating with a terrorist organization or an
affiliate of a terrorist organization that is
reasonably believed to be responsible for the terrorist
(2) the information obtained from the electronic
(d) Minimization Procedures.--The President may not authorize
electronic surveillance under this section until the Attorney
General approves minimization procedures for electronic
surveillance conducted under this section.
(e) United States Persons.--Notwithstanding subsection (b),
the President may not authorize electronic surveillance of a
United States person under this section without an order under
this title for a period of more than 90 days unless the
President, acting through the Attorney General, submits a
certification to the congressional intelligence committees
(1) the continued electronic surveillance of the
United States person is vital to the national security
of the United States;
(2) describes the circumstances that have prevented
the Attorney General from obtaining an order under this
title for continued surveillance;
(3) describes the reasons for believing the United
States person is affiliated with or in communication
with a terrorist organization or affiliate of a
terrorist organization that is reasonably believed to
be responsible for the terrorist attack; and
(4) describes the foreign intelligence information
derived from the electronic surveillance conducted
(f) Use of Information.--Information obtained pursuant to
electronic surveillance under this subsection may be used to
obtain an order authorizing subsequent electronic surveillance
under this title.
(g) Reports.--Not later than 14 days after the date on which
the President submits a certification under subsection (a), and
every 30 days thereafter until the President ceases to
authorize electronic surveillance under subsection (a) or (b),
the President shall submit to the congressional intelligence
committees a report on the electronic surveillance conducted
under this section, including--
(1) a description of each target of electronic
surveillance under this section; and
(2) the basis for believing that each target is in
communication with a terrorist organization or an
affiliate of a terrorist organization.
(h) Congressional Intelligence Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``congressional intelligence committees''
means the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate.
AUTHORIZATION DUE TO IMMINENT THREAT
period not to exceed 90 days if the President submits to the
congressional leadership, the congressional intelligence
committees, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court a
written notification that the President has determined that
United States. Such notification--
(1) shall be submitted as soon as practicable, but in
no case later than 5 days after the date on which the
President authorizes electronic surveillance under this
section;
(2) shall specify the entity responsible for the
threat and any affiliates of the entity;
(3) shall state the reason to believe that the threat
of imminent attack exists;
(4) shall state the reason the President needs
broader authority to conduct electronic surveillance in
the United States as a result of the threat of imminent
attack;
(5) shall include a description of the foreign
intelligence information that will be collected and the
means that will be used to collect such foreign
intelligence information; and
(6) may be submitted in classified form.
thereafter, the President may submit a subsequent written
notification to the congressional leadership, the congressional
intelligence committees, the other relevant committees, and the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that the circumstances
of the threat for which the President submitted a written
notification under subsection (a) require the President to
written notification.
communicating with an entity or an affiliate of an
entity that is reasonably believed to be responsible
for imminent threat of attack; and
(e) United States Persons.--Notwithstanding subsections (a)
and (b), the President may not authorize electronic
surveillance of a United States person under this section
without an order under this title for a period of more than 60
days unless the President, acting through the Attorney General,
submits a certification to the congressional intelligence
committees that--
with an entity or an affiliate of an entity that is
reasonably believed to be responsible for imminent
threat of attack; and
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Congressional intelligence committees.--The term
``congressional intelligence committees'' means the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House
of Representatives and the Select Committee on
(2) Congressional leadership.--The term
``congressional leadership'' means the Speaker and
minority leader of the House of Representatives and the
majority leader and minority leader of the Senate.
(3) Foreign intelligence surveillance court.--The
term ``Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court'' means
the court established under section 103(a).
(4) Other relevant committees.--The term ``other
relevant committees'' means the Committees on
Appropriations, the Committees on Armed Services, and
the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
TITLE III--PHYSICAL SEARCHES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES FOR FOREIGN
(5) ``Physical search'' means any physical intrusion
within the United States into premises or property
(including examination of the interior of property by
technical means) that is intended to result in a
seizure, reproduction, inspection, or alteration of
information, material, or property, under circumstances
in which a person has a reasonable expectation of
privacy and a warrant would be required for law
enforcement purposes, but does not include (A)
``electronic surveillance'', as defined in section
101(f) of this [Act, or (B)] Act, (B) activities
described in section 102(b) of this Act, or (C) the
acquisition by the United States Government of foreign
intelligence information from international or foreign
communications, or foreign intelligence activities
conducted in accordance with otherwise applicable
Federal law involving a foreign electronic
communications system, utilizing a means other than
electronic surveillance as defined in section 101(f) of
this Act.
Sec. 309. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
President, through the Attorney General, may authorize physical
searches without a court order under this title to acquire
foreign intelligence information [for a period not to exceed 15
calendar days following a declaration of war by the Congress.]
for a period not to exceed 60 days following an armed attack
against the territory of the United States if the President
submits to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of
the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate notification of the authorization
NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947
TITLE V--ACCOUNTABILITY FOR INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
GENERAL CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS
(f) The Chair of each of the congressional intelligence
committees, in consultation with the ranking member of the
committee for which the person is Chair, may inform--
(1) on a bipartisan basis, all members or any
individual members of such committee, and
(2) any essential staff of such committee,
of a report submitted under subsection (a)(1) or subsection (b)
as such Chair considers necessary.
[(f)] (g) As used in this section, the term ``intelligence
activities'' includes covert actions as defined in section
503(e), and includes financial intelligence activities.
REPORTING OF INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN COVERT ACTIONS
(d) Informing of Committee Members.--The Chair of each of the
congressional intelligence committees, in consultation with the
ranking member of the committee for which the person is Chair,
may inform--
of a report submitted under subsection (a) as such Chair
considers necessary.
PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL AND REPORTING OF COVERT ACTIONS
(g) The Chair of each of the congressional intelligence
of a report submitted under subsection (b), (c), or (d) as such
Chair considers necessary.
MINORITY VIEWS
All nine Democratic Members of the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence support strong, modem, and lawful
tools to fight terrorism. We want to intercept their
communications, track their whereabouts, and disrupt their
plans. We stand ready and willing to respond to any reasonable
request from the Administration for additional legal tools for
the National Security Agency (NSA). But we believe that how we
use these tools is a measure of who we are as a nation--a
yardstick by which the rest of the world will view our
commitment to the values upon which this country was founded.
Those who founded our country created a system of checks and
balances and we believe their vision should be preserved.
Congress should not give any President unchecked authority to
eavesdrop on Americans.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is a
modern, flexible statute that allows the government to conduct
electronic surveillance on Americans. As the record in our
Committee has made clear, FISA is a vital tool for the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the NSA in their
investigations of terrorism and espionage.
There is no evidence in the record of our Committee that
FISA must be rewritten in favor of a new regime permitting
broad warrantless surveillance of Americans. Yet H.R. 5825 does
exactly that.
We have heard the claim that the law is ``outmoded,'' but
FISA has been amended and modernized numerous times over the
past 28 years, including most recently in the reauthorization
of the USA PATRIOT Act in March. The Congressional Research
Service (CRS) provided a report to this Committee showing that
51 separate provisions in twelve different bills have amended
FISA--many of those in just the past five years.
Given that H.R. 5825 is intended to address concerns over
the President's domestic surveillance program, it is stunning
how little oversight this Committee has actually conducted and
how little information we have about the program.
For months we have asked that Committee members meet with
the NSA Inspector General, members of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Court, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI,
and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to learn whether the
program has helped stop any terrorist attacks. The Majority
denied each of those requests. We have asked for a copy of the
President's Authorization for the program and for other core
documents. The Administration has refused to produce them. In
June, the Ranking Member asked the Chairman to join her in
sending a letter to the NSA Inspector General asking to review
his seven reports on the program. The Chairman did not agree to
send that letter.
We have received occasional briefings from NSA officials,
but none of these briefings have been on the record, on the
purported theory that we could not find a single cleared
stenographer. This problem persisted despite the fact that
thousands of Executive Branch officials have been briefed into
this program.
The Chairman committed in public to hold hearings with
Administration officials to help determine what changes to
FISA, if any, were needed to accommodate the President's
program. We had hoped to have Attorney General Gonzales
testify. But no such hearings were held. In fact, the Committee
never even extended an invitation to the Attorney General.
H.R. 5825 is a dangerously broad bill that would turn FISA
on its head by making warrantless surveillance the rule rather
than the exception. It does so by altering the definition of
key terms within FISA that govern what forms of surveillance
require a warrant and by carving out giant loopholes that give
the Administration broad powers to conduct all types of
surveillance without a warrant.
H.R. 5825 proposes sweeping alterations to the definition
of ``electronic surveillance'' that would drastically shrink
the universe of communications for which a warrant is required.
It radically expands the definition of ``agent of a foreign
power.'' It seriously erodes the protections against
dissemination of information collected on U.S. persons. And it
offers a new definition of ``surveillance device'' that would
allow the government to conduct unregulated data retention and
mining operations on all the information collected from the
vast warrantless surveillance that this bill authorizes.
In other sections, H.R. 5825 grants the Administration the
authority, under poorly defined circumstances, to conduct
surveillance without a warrant. The bill grants the government
the power to conduct unlimited surveillance in the event of an
``armed attack'' and in the event of a ``terrorist attack.''
Though neither of these terms is defined anywhere in the law.
Therefore, these sweeping exceptions give the Executive Branch
carte blanche authority to conduct surveillance as it sees fit.
Further, the Majority offered an Amendment in the Nature of
a Substitute to H.R. 5825 to create yet another loophole that
would allow the same sort of warrantless surveillance when the
United States is facing an ``imminent threat of attack.'' Here,
again, the terms are so loosely defined that the potential for
abusive interpretation threatens to swallow the statute whole.
In sum, H.R. 5825's vague definitions and broad loopholes
allow the Executive Branch to conduct electronic surveillance
of telephone calls and e-mail in the United States without
court orders and without meaningful oversight.
The Minority offered several amendments to address these
concerns; sadly, all were rejected during markup on a party-
line vote.
First, Representatives Harman and Boswell offered an
amendment that would have substituted H.R. 5825 with H.R. 5371,
the LISTEN Act (Lawful Intelligence and Surveillance of
Terrorists in an Emergency by the NSA). The strength of the
LISTEN Act is that it only fixes what is broken.
This amendment would have made clear that FISA is the
exclusive means by which the Executive Branch may conduct
electronic surveillance of Americans for intelligence purposes.
It would have reiterated that the Authorization for the Use of
Military Force (AUMF) did not authorize the President's
domestic surveillance program; it did not repeal FISA. It would
have invited the President and the Attorney General to tell us
what is wrong with the FISA process so that we can fix it. It
would have also required the President to identify any
additional resources needed to help the NSA and the DOJ fight
the war on terror using FISA authorities. And it would have
pledged that Congress would fund additional attorneys, analysts
and information technology upgrades to make FISA more
efficient.
An amendment offered by Representatives Eshoo and Holt
would have altered FISA's definition of ``electronic
surveillance'' to make the statute technology neutral. Making
this fix would require changing only a few words in the statute
to eliminate the distinction between wire and radio
communications. Unlike H.R. 5825, the tailored fix offered by
Representatives Eshoo and Holt would have updated the law
without gutting FISA.
An amendment offered by Representatives Holt and
Ruppersberger would have reaffirmed the principle that FISA is
the exclusive means for conducting electronic surveillance in
the United States. This amendment would have ensured that the
President would be held to the rules--even the permissive rules
of H.R. 5825. As it stands today, if H.R. 5825 passes, the
President can avail himself of its loose rules when he wishes
or circumvent those loose rules if he so chooses.
Representative Reyes offered an amendment finding that the
AUMF does not constitute legal authorization for electronic
surveillance outside of FISA. We do not believe that any
Member's vote on the AUMF was a vote for warrantless
surveillance of law-abiding citizens in contravention of the
Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.
Representative Hastings offered an amendment that would
have clarified existing law by reaffirming that FISA does not
require a warrant to monitor telephone calls where all
participants are located outside the United States. This
amendment would have allowed free surveillance of foreign-to-
foreign communications but would have left the other critical
FISA provisions intact. There is no reasonable explanation why
the Majority would oppose this provision.
Protecting America from terrorism is our highest duty. We
need to get serious about the task. It is election season, and
a debate on surveillance brings political benefits to some. But
that is a terrible reason to legislate. We do not want to
suspend our 217-year-old Constitution, whether for political
reasons or for no reason at all.
Jane Harman.
Ranking Democrat
Silvestre Reyes.
Bud Cramer.
Rush Holt.
John F. Tierney.
Alcee L. Hastings.
Leonard L. Boswell.
Anna Eshoo.
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger.
I have joined my Democratic colleagues in signing the
minority views as they reflect the ``mark-up'' session's events
and general overview of the situation surrounding the meeting.
It is instructive, I believe, to make some brief additional
observations.
The Administration has yet to articulate on record specific
justifications for arguing that executive powers broader than
those within the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act would be
necessary in order to intercept communications under the so-
called ``President's Program.'' As more than one witness
pointed out in the course of related hearings, the President
and his Administration assert only broadly that there may be
some issue with respect to complying in a timely manner with
emergency provisions for seeking a warrant. Any problems in
this regard seem self-induced as a result of bureaucratic
processes established within the originating agency or the
Department of Justice, and not from any delay in the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Court. Additional staff or revised
procedures could address the matter without statutory
amendment. Nevertheless, the LISTEN Act, proposed by
Representative Harman and co-sponsored by 64 of other members,
including the minority HPSCI members, would make clear
Congress' willingness to make additional resources available as
There was some assertion that agencies were interpreting
the law to indicate that they felt certain foreign-to-foreign
communications routed in any way through domestic
infrastructure might necessitate a warrant, thus burdening the
process. Experts have indicated that a clear reading of
existing statutory language would obviate such concerns as it
addresses intercepts of communications from and to foreign
persons. A simple clarification of the statute (offered as an
amendment by Representative Hastings of Florida) could resolve
any lingering doubts, and Senator Feinstein's bill even goes so
far as to clarify it statutorily.
A wholesale revision of the FISA, especially one so radical
as that proposed in Representative Wilson's bill, is not
necessary to address the only concerns of record articulated by
the Administration. It would be reasonable for the public to
then wonder whether the Administration is being forthcoming in
its real purposes for having surreptitiously conducted the
``President's Program'' for so long or for seeking new
legislation. Is there more to the Executive's intentions under
such broad authority, or, as some have speculated, are those
within the Administration who have chafed under what they
perceived as a loss of executive authority under FISA simply
asserting a point here? With respect to the latter, we should
note that the United States Supreme Court has recently made it
abundantly clear that when Congress has spoken by law on a
matter within its purview, the Executive is not at liberty
simply to controvert Congress' intentions unilaterally.
Congress should not be an accomplice to a diminution of its
rightful authority by passing unnecessarily broad legislation
absent specific evidence of its necessity for the nation's
security. That burden has not been met in this instance. The
Executive, under FISA, has ample authority to intercept
terrorists' communications as appropriate to protect the
country, and a Congress willing--as shown over time and most
recently since 9/11 via the PATRIOT Act--to amend FISA if
necessary to resolve clearly articulated needs.
John Tierney.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6524
|
__label__wiki
| 0.848854
| 0.848854
|
xiaomi-seeks-valuation-us50b-ipo-20171204
Next Article: Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi seeks IPO in 2018 at US$50B valuation
BUSINESS FEATURES INDONESIA MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
TemanJalan co-founder once lost motivation to work after raising VC funding. Here's how he got it back
From starting on a university campus to getting acquired by LINE Indonesia, TemanJalan shares the ups-and-downs of running a startup
The TemanJalan team at LINE Indonesia HQ
When e27 visited TemanJalan‘s new office at the LINE Indonesia’s headquarters, the carpooling startup was just a week old in the new place. But its Co-founder Fauzan Helmi Sudaryanto feels they already have many things to learn from the instant messaging behemoth.
“As a startup we tend to be really scrappy, we like to find our own style [in doing our work] … But here we are being exposed to millions of users. We should try our best to reduce risks although we do enjoy taking risks. So it has to be a calculated one,” he says.
The carpooling platform recently scripted history when it got acquired by Japanese/South Korean messenger platform LINE.
Started off as a standalone mobile app for Android and iOS devices, TemanJalan later pivoted to a chatbot-based service for users on LINE. The startup’s relationship with the messenger began when it was staring at bleak future after it registered a stagnant growth. “We gathered users’ feedback and one of them said, ‘Everybody is on LINE these days. Nobody wants to download another app’,” Sudaryanto says.
Despite the merits in the feedback, TemanJalan was unable to do much here as LINE was yet to open its APIs for Indonesian startups to integrate their services. “I would call it a divine intervention, that a week later, LINE opened its APIs for developers. Without wasting much time, we grabbed the opportunity and built an MVP and a prototype, and launched the app on LINE within two weeks,” Sudaryanto says.
“Within just two months of the integration with LINE, we secured more transactions than what we got in seven months spending on other platforms. We then decided to close down the service on all the other platforms,” he adds. “Soon, TemanJalan drew the attention of LINE, and a few company executives approached us in July this year with a proposal to acquire.”
Sudaryanto says the exit process was rather quick, but he had never planned for it. In the initial days, the startup did not even want to raise external funding, let alone acquisition.
“We didn’t want to take someone’s money and not being able to return it,” he laughs.
After securing an investment from an angel investor, TemanJalan got a VC funding offer from Golden Gate Ventures but it turned down the offer, because they thought ‘too much money could be a problem’. But the VC firm convinced the startup about various benefits of taking VC investments, such as mentoring and networking, and they eventually went for it.
Also Read: Following Tiket.com acquisition, Blibli acquires online travel agent Indonesia Flight
#CampusLyfe
TemanJalan offers a carpool matchmaking service to university students. The platform connects students, travelling on the same route and schedule it through a chat feature. It also offers a gamification feature whereby it allows users to score points that can be exchanged with prizes.
“We enable students to meet new friends everyday…It’s not about going from A to B, but it’s all about [the people] they are going with,” Sudaryanto explains, emphasising the importance of networking for university students.
TemanJalan decision to target campus students came from the fact that its own journey started at a university. The entrepreneurship bug bit the three co-founders Sudaryanto, Caraka Nur Azmi, and Rasmunandar Rustam when they were pursuing a Computer Science degree at the University of Indonesia. They came up with the idea of TamanJalan just months before their graduation.
“We joined competitions together, built products together, and skipped classes together,” Sudaryanto laughs.
“We took the risk to build the startup because we had invested in each other’s time for the previous three years. If we decided to apply for jobs instead, then I am not sure if we could ever meet again,” he adds.
It is not that the startup had never tried to reach out to the other segments in the market. For a while, TemanJalan tried to reach out the professionals segment, but they found out that this segment had “too many constraints.” “We just couldn’t connect with their culture at all, and many users ended up complaining. So that’s when we put an end to it,” he says.
Building a platform that specifically targets students comes with its own unique challenge: sales tend to slow down during semester breaks when there are fewer number of students going to campus on a regular basis. To address thus challenge, the TemanJalan team uses school holidays as an opportunity to build and test out new features for the next semester.
“It’s a kind of a break that helps to balance it out, as we only get to do minor updates during the school season,” Sudaryanto explains.
Also Read: Indonesia’s Kioson acquires Narindo as part of its post-IPO plan
#StartupLyfe
In July, Rappler Indonesia, based on a survey conducted by LinkedIn Indonesia, reported that entrepreneurs and IT specialists are the top two “dream jobs” among local students. The results indicated the increasing popularity of tech entrepreneurship in the country as represented by the meteoric rise of unicorns, such as Go-Jek or Tokopedia.
Though building their own startup has become the new definition of “cool” among Indonesian students, things are not always as pleasant as it seems.
Sudaryanto speaks about a time when he suddenly lost the motivation to work hard on his startup. Strangely enough, this happened right after his startup closed a funding round with Golden Gate Ventures.
“Before we raised any funding, we used to work like crazy. But once we had an investor on board, we started to slow down as we thought, ‘Phew, we can finally have a monthly salary’,” he begins. “Then I thought, ‘Wait, how did it come to this?’ Eventually I decided to set up a KPI for myself. I had to be able to secure 100 trips per day, and if that didn’t happen, I was not going to receive my salary. And I ended up not getting paid for eight months,” he laughs.
This is when LINE opened its APIs, and this helped Sudaryanto to get his spirit back.
“It was a pressure that I made for myself. I need to constantly push myself,” he laughs.
Sudaryanto also has some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. “Don’t build a startup only to get acquired. Because if we don’t get to that point, we will be extremely exhausted. And I believe that startups that end up getting acquired actually don’t plan that in advance. It just happens.”
“Just focus on building the stuff that matter, as it is going to be tough,” he adds.
TemanJalan users regularly submit “wefie” pictures to the platform as a way for them to secure extra points, that can be exchanged for prizes. While this may seem trivial, seeing the pictures often makes Sudaryanto and his team feeling touched.
“This really makes us happy because we get to connect new people, so that they can even take photos together,” he ends.
Image Credit: LINE Indonesia
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6530
|
__label__cc
| 0.55002
| 0.44998
|
Modelflow method versus continuous thermodilution technique for cardiac output measurement in liver transplant patients.
In Young Huh, Soon Eun Park, Hyun suk Yang, Gyu Sam Hwang
DOI : https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.55.1.57
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 2008;55(1):57-65.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.55.1.57
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. inyoung_huh@uuh.ulsan.kr
2Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
In critically ill patients, cardiac output (CO) is used as a parameter for assessing hemodynamic status and efficacy of treatment. Continuous CO (CCO) could facilitate this assessment during general anesthesia. A new method of arterial pulse wave analysis has been introduced, which estimates beat to beat CO from arterial pressure via Modelflow. It remains uncertain how well this method performs in high output states. We analyzed the relationship between CCO and Modelflow computed from radial and femoral pressures (MFCO(RA), MFCO(FA)) during liver transplantation (LT).
Measurements were performed in 100 liver transplant patients. Groups A had 36 patients, and group C had 64 patients with both groups composed of Child-Turcotte A, B and C patients Eighty patients had CCO < 10 L/min (group D), and 20 patients had CCO > 10 L/min (group E) during anhepatic phase.
CCO ranged from 5.0 to 15.4 L/min (MFCO(RA) 3.2 to 10.7 L/min, MFCO(FA) 4.3 to 11.8 L/min). Bland-Altman analyses showed the limit of agreement of MFCO(RA) (-1.5 to 5.2, bias = 1.9 L/min) and of MFCO(FA) (-2.6 to 4.4, bias = 0.9 L/min). CO measured by the two methods was significantly different in groups, except for MFCO(FA) in group C. In group D, bias was 1.5 L/min (SD 1.3 L/min) for MFCO(RA) and 0.9 L/min for MFCO(FA) (SD 1.4 L/min). In group E, biases of 3.5 L/min and 2.4 L/min were obtained for MFCO(RA) and MFCO(FA), respectively.
These results suggest that the group-average value of MFCO is not an accurate parameter for estimating CO during LT, with the exception of MFCO(FA) in groups C and D.
Key Words: cardiac output; liver transplantation; Modelflow; thermodilution
Related article in KJA
A Comparison of the Transoesophageal Doppler and Thermodilution Techniques for Cardiac Output Measurement in Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Patients.2002 July;43(1)
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6537
|
__label__wiki
| 0.628712
| 0.628712
|
Colonel Violet
Colonel Violet is the only somewhat notable female officer in the Red Ribbon Army, although she appears very briefly.
Bio Edit
While Colonel Violet was briefly seen in only two short panels in the manga, handing a Dragon Ball to Commander Red, her role is somewhat increased in the anime, but not enough for
further consideration. Though she valued the money she received from the Red Ribbon Army for her services, she frequently demonstrated a callous disregard for the army's goals and soldiers. An example of this is when an alligator was harassing Colonel Violet and her soldiers when they were hunting for a Dragon Ball, she throws two of her soldiers overboard as bait while she escapes to shore. Another example is when her pilot was killed by some angry natives, she didn't seem to care in the least and takes off though as nothing had happened. However, in the same scene she shows concern for a frightened baby monkey, which she consoles and helps escape the melee.
During Goku's invasion of the Red Ribbon base, instead of fighting Goku like the other soldiers, Colonel Violet runs to the vault, blows it open by pulling a piece of chewed up gum out of her mouth, and placing a bomb on it, which she sticks to the safe, resulting in an explosion. She proceeds to steal all of the army's valuables (except for the Dragon Balls, which were in Commander Red and Staff Officer Black's possession) and escapes the base in a private aircraft. She is later seen when Goku's friends, who had been flying a plane to see if they could help Goku fight the Red Ribbon Army, she opens fire on them from her jet to get past them, though they manage to avoid her blasts. It is unknown what happened to her after that. She appears briefly in a flashback in the Androids Saga as Master Roshi is telling Maron the story of Goku's battle with the Red Ribbon Army.
Colonel Violet also makes an appearance in The Path to Power
, the 10th anniversary special,
for a few mere seconds, flying an orange jet, before Goku knocks it out of the sky, presumably killing her.
Her appearance in the Red Ribbon Army is contrary to what General Blue says earlier in the series, that women are essentially not needed in the Red Ribbon Army. However, her appearance in the manga is extremely limited to one panel, so it is possible that she is a hired mercenary to that extent.
Violet is seen chewing bubble gum.
Assuming that she was a real member of the Red Ribbon Army and not a mercenary, she is probably one of the few Red Ribbon Army members to have survived the events of the Red Ribbon Army saga (Others include Colonel Silver, and possibly General Copper). This is the last time she is seen or heard from in the series. Her appearance in the manga is so limited that she plays no role whatsoever except handing a Dragon Ball to Commander Red.
* Japanese Dub: Kazuko Sugiyama
Ocean Dub: Angela Costain
FUNimation Dub: Kasey Buckley
Latin American Dub: Belinda Martínez
Retrieved from "https://dragonballzbj.fandom.com/wiki/Colonel_Violet?oldid=4849"
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6539
|
__label__cc
| 0.629491
| 0.370509
|
Lovecraft and Labyrinth Lord
Does it get any cooler - Lovecraft and LL?
Check it out! Lovecraftian critters are coming to Labyrinth Lord.
I just need to call out a few things that seem exceedingly cool - new Race-Class options for Labyrinth Lord! Tired of Tolkien Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings wringing the "Weird Horror" vibe out of your game with their Middle Earthness? The Innsmouth Look is coming to Labyrinth Lord. Arthur Jermyn would be proud of the horrible White Ape Hybrids...
Alright Dan & Co, can you tell me if there are Valusian Serpent Men in there too?
Looks like the Black City campaign will be getting a dose of cool monsters. And stuff. Although this part of the blurb interested me - Evil cultists consummate their union with Shub-Niggurath in dark woods... to the best of my knowledge, Shub didn't originate with HPL and *may* not be public property... but I'm sure those guys did their diligence - could LL have gotten use of Chaosium's whole bestiary?*
I will even do my best to stifle complaints that once again, Lovecraftian critters will be used as fodder in standard D&D campaigns everywhere, stand-ins for ordinary monsters, instead of dread-inspiring antagonists in horror scenarios...
*Geeky clarification; the name Shub-Niggurath appeared in Lovecraft, but the creatures commonly encountered in Cthulhu scenarios, the Dark Young, seem to be Chaosium's, so it could be the open source stuff only...
Labels: Cthulhu, Gaming, News
James January 6, 2011 at 8:54 PM
It's gonna be Awesome!
velaran January 7, 2011 at 7:20 AM
"Tired of Tolkien Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings wringing the "Weird Horror" vibe out of your game with their Middle Earthness?"- I guess nothing scares these guys, huh?(But yet they suffer the level limits! ;-)) Seemed to work in Ravenloft, IIRC. I personally don't want to encroach on player choice, especially under the ludicrous rubric of humano-centrism. So, I figure the demi-humans are gonna have to learn to be lunch for Eldritch Abominations. Souls, Spirits, what have you D&Disms. Besides Aragorm and Boromir(we're heroes, don't ya know...) are just as resistant to a good fright as Legiolas, Gimli or Meriadoc! It's all in the attitude... I mean dude, don't forget Nazgul, Shelob, barrow-wights, and even the werewolves, and the vampire from the Silmarillion. Middle-Earth Lovecraft mashup can be awesome! I think it's just a failure of the imagination, and/or the popularity backlash on D&D-isms but YMMV. Just my ¢2!
"once again, Lovecraftian critters will be used as fodder in standard D&D campaigns everywhere, stand-ins for ordinary monsters, instead of dread-inspiring antagonists in horror scenarios...": this goes for pretty much any horror game fantasy or not, ever(anything by Chaosium exempted, of course; with the exceptions of games that go out of their way to avoid the 'Mythos' like Kult, Sine Requie, Armaggeddon, etc... I would argue that no game has bastardized the atmosphere of pervasive aliennes, loneliness, and dread more than CthuluTech. Giant Fytin Weaboo Robots Smash! FTW! Realms of Cthulu: Cthulu Savage Worlds, what? Survival isn't the point. :-) Delta Green: for all its supposed relevance(i.e. set in the modern day), it boils down to Delta force Rambos shooting Star Spawn and nuking Cthulu... D20 Cthulu? Seriously? And so it goes...*sigh*
That said, this is definitely a purchase. Looks like it might be the product I hoped Tainted Lands for C&C was going to be...
Beedo January 7, 2011 at 9:58 AM
@Velaran
Wow, thank you for pointing out why to avoid CthulhuTech like the plague. I think my head would explode.
Regarding traditional demi-humans; D&D is a catch-all pastiche that has found a home for every fantasy element around, that doesn't mean it's a good idea to use everything in every campaign. But now that I think about the potential of a Tolkien vs Lovecraft mashup, having a Great Old Ones smash Lothlorien and Rivendell, and sending the elves into paroxysms of eldritch horror would make me smile.
On it's own, Tolkien's world does have potential for horror - certainly the Mirkwood spiders are creepy, as is Shelob's lair - but the tone is too heroic and optimistic.
velaran January 7, 2011 at 11:04 AM
@Beedo:
The Tone of the Legendarium:
This is mostly a perception of the recent LOTR movies.(Even the MERP material was more sober and restrained, with a sense of fighting back the tide of darkness for just one more minute.) Read even the Hobbit without visualizing the standard Conan the Barbarian/Destroyer/Comics fight scenes with their pithy rejoinders and see what happens. The world centers on change, leading inevitably to loss, and no sure gain. Note the ending of LOTR; the scouring of the Shire, the Departure of the Elves to the West, the coming loss of Magic. That's not even getting into the Silmarillion! It's not Cthulu, soul-crushing, I wanna die rather than live another minute bleak, but it's not sunflowers, fairy wine, and clean living either.
JRRTvs. HPL:
But now that I think about the potential of a Tolkien vs Lovecraft mashup, having a Great Old Ones smash Lothlorien and Rivendell, and sending the elves into paroxysms of eldritch horror would make me smile.: See there ya go!
'On it's own, Tolkien's world does have potential for horror - certainly the Mirkwood spiders are creepy, as is Shelob's lair' and the Eye of Sauron(Trapped forever as THIS, yeesh!)-Let this vision guide you!
Bog-standard D&D
'Regarding traditional demi-humans; D&D is a catch-all pastiche that has found a home for every fantasy element around, that doesn't mean it's a good idea to use everything in every campaign.'-Agreed! For example, running a campaign with either humans being the equivalent of the 'goblinoids'(PCs could be these, of course) or no Homo Sapiens at all. Very fun. Extracting/twisting other elements can be interesting also; I like to tinker. Of course, you know this, you're in the planning stages of just this right now!
Thought-provoking post!
Beedo January 7, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Thanks for coming by and defending Tolkien! The sad, elegiac quality of the work tends to get lost when we think about using Tolkien elements in gaming terms; it's hard to carry it over into a game (well). Literature emulation through RPGs is hard in general. So what we end up with are just the superficial trappings - it's good to be reminded sometimes about what made the literature awesome to start with.
In the taxonomy of horror, Tolkien's horror elements are very much supernatural horror. There are powerful forces of good in the world, and even though there are terrifying moments, the characters are part of a larger conflict; it's a much different tone than the Weird (bleak) horror you see in Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith. And what I'd expect in Realms of Crawling Chaos.
But one last thing - how about those Barrow Wights? I had forgotten how creepy those things were - musing on Tolkien's horror moments got me remembering. Get rid of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry (more of those supernatural forces for good hanging out in the background...) - and the wights are pretty dang horrific.
velaran January 7, 2011 at 1:00 PM
On the Horror found in Tolkien:
Both the mundane sorrow of war and the headlong rush into otherwordly terror are well represented. The knowledge that there are 'Good' Gods utilizing you as playing pieces to defeat one of Their own rogue servitors is probably not any more reassuring than Unknown Aberrations Who Just Don't Care About You Doing Whatever Mysteriously.(At least the Gods 'Love' us as a consolation prize probably falls flat.) You still get ground up into hamburger either way, amirite? I doubt dogs are trying to gain an understanding as to why they are being 'spayed/neutered', for their own good, of course.
Tom Bombadil/Goldberry:
It doesn't seem like they help out the 'Good Side' that much, or not as much as they could. They seem to be existing for themselves. One odd note is Tom's resistance to the Ring's powers; it means NOTHING to him!(How limited can his power be) This is very disconcerting. He seems to help the Hobbits only out of Noblesse Oblige. Who IS this guy, exactly. He's NOT a Vala! But Tom has always Been... HE scares the Wights!(Who are creepy as all Hell.)
Agents of 'Good':
Beorn is largely self-absorbed, the Ents slowly fading away(degenerating, you could say), the Elves succumbing to apathy, humans callously disregarding nature(and they're on the rise), Dwarves slowly dying out, etc... The Istari Maiar seem to exist only to intervene before All is Lost.(Keep the rolling wheel creaking along, tottering, but not falling, if you will.) Not a lot of hope there. Elrond Half-Elven and Rivendell would be about the one bright spot in this potential campaign world. I'd say that'd be necessary, however;
one could argue that moments of respite between bouts of grueling terror makes the experience worse, as it lessens the likelihood of going psychologically numb.
Differences between HPL vs JRRT in this context:
It's the contrast between being on your own in an unfathomable, occasionally hostile, universe with no-one to call on for aid vs. an orderly realm devastated by massive bloody conflagrations overseen by Powers who are using you for their own purposes, out of 'Duty' to 'Law' or 'Love of Life' or 'Universal Order' or Rebellion against an Unjust Cosmic Hierarchy, and suchlike. How comforting! But, of course, only HPL tried to scare people with frickin' angles. Multispatial Physics, how does that work!?!? :-)
Also, different campaigns could be set in different Ages, as MERP suggested, that changes the degree and flavor of play, depending.
Great points!
Mythic Monday: The Witch
Review: Weird Fantasy Role-Playing
A Tale of Two Trolls
Death to Kings
Inspirational View of the Black City
Mythic Monday: The Ghoul
X is for Killing
Does a Sanity Mechanic belong in D&D?
Most Anticipated Gaming Products - 2011
Review: Blood Moon Rising
The Shared Experience of Modules
Mythic Monday: The Medusa - Female Rage Unleashed...
The Sandbox of Modules
Religion, Clerics, and Gothic Greyhawk
Religion and Clerics
Mythic Monday: The Lord of Misrule
A Brief History of the Black City
Review: The Grinding Gear
Campaign journal updates
DCC game announcement - the non-retro-clone retro-...
Fear and Trembling and Dungeons
Mythic Monday: Keeping Evil Under Guard…. On New ...
Designing the Black City
Some Quick New Year's Resolutions
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6541
|
__label__cc
| 0.621038
| 0.378962
|
Horror Revisited
More musings on Horror in D&D
Horror in Dungeons & Dragons is a popular post here. I wanted to point out a few situations from last game session and show how easily a bit of horror can work its way into the session (for the entertainment of all). Note: spoilers follow for the module Hammers of the God.
Ankle Biters
Early in the game, the group walked through a room where a thick purple mist covered the floor. They had just passed through the room a short while ago, but on the second time across, a pair of zombies huddling out of sight under the mist grabbed two of the characters by the legs and attacked them.
Quarantine!
The group spiked the door to the purple mist room behind them (which also meant they locked themselves in the dungeon). Later, they discovered the mist room had filled with zombies behind them - they were trapped. They left a bunch of their gear outside the dungeon. Did they have enough supplies? Would they have to fight their way out? The room had roughly 100 corpses - would they have to battle 100 zombies to freedom?
My Biscuits are Burning
Late in the night, they lowered their halfling by rope down a 40' shaft into a dark cave on the next level. Yikes. Scouting ahead alone can be a little stressful. But when a hulking monster rushes out of the dark, breathing fire, it gets really stressful! And when the fire is burning the rope, and there's a chance that everyone is about to see the scout get stuck down there, now we're speaking the horror language. (There were cheers when the rope made its item save vs fire...)
Elements of Horror
The purple mist lent atmosphere and tension just by obscuring the floor, and created the opportunity for monsters to pop up and startle the characters (Atmosphere and Shock/Scare). Getting trapped in a dungeon with a large throng of hungry dead between you and the door creates stress and Resource Pressure. Getting ambushed by a big monster is Danger, and since everyone else is watching the train wreck, it's a bit of Vicarious Horror as well. That James Raggi fellow knows a thing or two about putting good horror tools into the DM's hands (Hammers of the God is a flame princess module).
Any of the situations I described above would be a nice moment in a horror movie. D&D characters are more immured to danger and capable of dealing with adversity, so these horror situations end up being thrilling, stressful (in a good way), challenging and exciting - moments to strive for in your table top game.
Threaten the character, stress the player, enjoy the game.
Could be a new motto for me.
Labels: Gaming, Horror
Mythic Monday: The Sidhe
I met a lady in the meads,
Full beautiful—a faery’s child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—“La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!”
--John Keats, La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Mythic Monday - using elements of folklore, myth and legendry in your game.
It's funny how many quotes you read, either from Gary Gygax or his defenders, that minimize the influence of Tolkien on Dungeons & Dragons and argue that D&D is based primarily on pulp fantasy. Regardless of Gary's intention, every time a new person picks up a book, the first thing they see when they build a character are dwarves, elves and hobbits halflings - 3 out of the 4 character types are straight out of Tolkien. It's inevitable the first thought is, "Oh, this game is based on Lord of the Rings!" The Conan or Lankhmar advocates never stand a chance. Our actual games may resemble the adventures of pulp fantasy more than high fantasy, but at that point, the horse has already left the barn.
There wouldn't be halflings in the game without Tolkien; I find the Tolkien influence is equally ingrained in the D&D elf.
The pre-Christian folklore of Europe is populated with mysterious, semi-divine beings that were the inspiration for the modern elf - the Alves and Vanir of old Norse, the Tuatha de Danann of ancient Ireland, the Daoine Sidhe of Gaelic folklore, the Fairies of medieval romance. Yet with all that myth and folklore available, we get the Tolkien-style elves. It demonstrates the long shadow Middle Earth casts on modern fantasy.
Luckily, many of the fantasy authors on the Appendix N list were well versed in folklore and willing to develop interpretations of the Fair Folk that were quite a bit different than the esteemed Professor's. I'm a realist; the Tolkien elf is so well-rooted in D&D and the popular conscience, there's no going back. Rather than go down the path of "My Elves Are Different", we can leave the elf alone and use these different approaches to create a figure that fits the role of the elf of legend before Tolkien's powerful vision dominated the field.
The Daoine Sidhe of Fairy
The Daioine Sidhe (dee-na shee) are the immortal inhabitants of the Fairy otherworld. I'm drawing inspiration for them directly from some Appendix N materials, The King of Elfland's Daughter, Three Hearts and Three Lions, and The Broken Sword. (And a healthy dose of Hellboy comics and Dresden).
The Sidhe inhabit the fantastic palaces and forests of the twilit realm of Fairy. There was a time when portals between the Fairy otherworld and the mortal world were common, and the Sidhe walked the forests of the mortal world and took endless delight observing and interfering in the world of men. As the power of Law waxes throughout the realms of man, and the reach of the church grows, the realm of Fairy withdraws deeper into itself. Encounters with the Sidhe are often tinged with the sadness of this long withdrawal and their loss of relevance. The world is changing.
Morgan Le Fay, from Hellboy
The Sidhe exist with a morality defined by Chaos and magic, that predates the influence of Law. Their motives are otherworldly and alien to mortals; they abduct peasants in darkened woods and play cruel pranks; they lure devoted spouses of both sexes into amorous trysts; they exchange mortal infants for sickly changelings. Sidhe lords and ladies are haughty, dismissive and capricious. Queens of faerie, such as Morgan le Fay (pictured), take particular delight in luring mortal knights (especially paladins) into the realm of Fairy and distracting them with sensual delights until their cause is lost.
The Sidhe are immortal but soulless. They are gifted with magic and touched by Chaos, but their powers are limited against Law. They fear the holy church and cannot intrude on consecrated ground without taking damage. They are driven off by the sound of church bells, and are burned by the touch of iron weapons. The church prosecutes a war against the inhabitants of Fairy by barring and sealing fairy portals with holy symbols and chains of iron. Churchmen urge their followers not to be led astray by the guise of beauty these beings display through their glamours.
While many of the Sidhe recognize with sadness that the day approaches when the last Fairie portal to the mortal realm will close forever, there are those that fight back - they commune with demons and other thralls of Chaos, incite the pagan folk in the borderlands and wilds against the realms of Law, and seek to return the mortal world to the eternal twilight before the cycles of day and night were established by divine decree.
Game Statistics for a Sidhe Lord
Laybrinth Lord / BX
No. 1(1)
AL C
MV 120(40)
HD 10d6**
ATK weapon +2
D 1d8 +2 or by weapon+2 or spell
Save E10
Morale 8
Hoard XVIII
Suggested Spells:
1. Charm person, Darkness, Sleep, Ventriloquism
2. Detect Invisible, ESP, Levitate, Phantasmal Force
3. Clairvoyance, Hold Person, Lightning Bolt
4. Charm Monster, Polymorph Others
5. Geas, Flesh to Stone
The Sidhe lord will have fairy armor, shield and sword granting +2 enchantment bonuses in the land of Fairy, but will crumble to dust after spending too much time in the mortal world without exposure to the magicks of Fairy.
In game terms, the Sidhe are similar to elves in appearance, with some important differences.
All Sidhe can become invisible at will (limit once per round); elves are not affected and can see invisible fairies. There are rare magical ointments, spells, and boons that will allow mortals to pierce fairy invisibility (and the spell Detect Invisibility works as well). The Sidhe speak their own language, Fairy, along with the common tongue, and numerous woodland dialects. Elves have an increased chance of knowing Fairy (I'm using the excellent LotFP language rules).
The Sidhe have unusual vulnerabilities. They can be turned by clerics as an undead of the same level. (I would suggest waiving this in the realm of Fairy. Additionally, I'm using Turn Undead as a 1st level spell, so it's not a ridiculous every-round super power). They take 1hp per round of damage when intruding on consecrated ground, and take 1d4 hp per round from the touch of iron. Iron weapons (not steel) deal an extra 1d4 hp per attack. The tolling of a church bell will force a save vs death or cause the Sidhe to flee the area.
There are rules of magic that may place a mortal within the Sidhe's power. A mortal forfeits the ability to make a saving throw against Sidhe magic (until the next dawn) whenever they partake of Sidhe food and drink or willingly enter a fairy ring beneath a full moon. This vulnerability is most often used for Charm Person or Geas spells.
A very small percentage of mortals are born with the ability to see fairies (let's make it 1%).
Relation to Elves
The elves are those Sidhe that chose to permanently remain in the mortal world ages ago when the current relationship of the planes was fixed in place by the great powers of Greyhawk; the elves of that bygone age forfeited their immortality and some of their magic, but gained immunity to the vulnerabilities that plague their distant cousins. The Sidhe consider elves flawed, lesser beings.
Faeries in my Gothic Greyhawk game
Pig-headed Pooka from Helboy
There was an incident earlier in the campaign where the characters were accosted by a pooka, Hogsbottom, at a cross roads. Hogsbottom appeared as a small pig-headed fairy wearing a suit and vest with buckled shoes. In the best tradition of slippery deals with faeries, he managed to get the players to agree to perform a service for his mistress, sight unseen. I loved it.
They later learned the job was to remove the iron chains and holy symbols draped all around the faerie circle in a local grove, placed their by the devout churchmen of the nearby village (Poignard). The grove was a fairy crossing for Hogsbottom's mistress, the sidhe Lady of Dawn, and he desperately wanted to let her and her court of revelers back into the mortal realm in time for the equinox.
The players liberated the grove, and decided to visit the fairies on the night of the equinox and collect their boons in person. Much fun and revelry was had ala A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Lady of Dawn turned out to be pleased that her crossing was opened. However, their cleric at the time, Friar Crimson, didn't fare well in the deal - they were separated from him during the revel, and he ended up cursed, stripped, shaved and tattooed for his troubles. They found him sometime the next day, caught in a bramble. It was funny watching him explain his new appearance back at the monastery.
Upcoming Development
One of the next cosmology articles will feature the Realm of Fairy, and I'll include details on fairy crossings and portals.
Labels: Gaming, Gothic Greyhawk, Mythic Monday
New header for Dreams in the Lich House
I've put up a new Dreams in the Lich House header. One benefit of moving back to the east coast, I reconnected with a great friend from high school, and he kindly agreed to put together that awesome header (the text overlay is still a work in progress on my part). You can check out some of his online sketches here: psychiatry album.
Oh, and we've been chatting about the Black City - when he heard about vikings in an alien city with mesoamerican themes, he doodled the sketch below. The Black City and AD&D Implied Setting are neck and neck in the new projects poll!
Labels: Beedo
Law in Gothic Greyhawk
In the beginning, Oerth was without form; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit moved upon the face of the waters…
The first mythic act of the divine being is to bring order to Chaos, to create the heavens and the Oerth. This is the second article adding detail to the cosmology of Gothic Greyhawk. Last week, when we looked at Chaos, we touched on the Elemental Chaos that existed before the world. This week, we'll look at the "one god" , the divine realms, and the role of Law in Gothic Greyhawk.
There are two principle divine realms that concern the mortals of Gothic Greyhawk. The realm of Heaven is the abode of the god called Pholtus, who revealed himself as the creator to the great prophet of Nyrond cy320 (when Nyrond threw off the yoke of the overlord of Aerdi). The worship of Pholtus swept through the west lands with evangelical zeal.
Theologists debate the nature of Pholtus - is he the uncreated prime mover, or an outside being that enforced order on a fallen material universe when he imprisoned the Chained god? Were the titans and Tharizduin the creators of the world, and Pholtus only the savior of man?
In the northlands of the Theocracy of the Pale, Pholtus is also called the Blinding Light; in the Archclericy of Veluna and places south, he is referred to as the Eternal Spirit; Velunites do not call their deity by name. The two denominations are rivals, and disagree on theological differences about the nature of their god and the universe; however, both churches put aside their differences in the face of larger external threats, and there are many.
Heaven - Home of the Blinding Light, the Eternal Spirit
The churches of Veluna and the Pale both preach of an eternal, unchanging heaven for believers that uphold a life of goodness, virtue, and law. They claim Pholtus is the sole god in the universe, and that all other "gods" worshipped by the pagan folk of Greyhawk are demons or mere spirits; evangelism and conversion are important church functions. They believe only followers of the light will achieve eternal salvation.
A visitation by Pholtus?
Pholtus operates in the world through the actions of prophets and champions gifted with divine powers (clerics and paladins, respectively). Both the Theocracy and Veluna have large bureaucratic churches managed by non-spell casting clergy. Actual spell casting ability is bestowed by angelic messengers of Pholtus on prophets, mystics, and the unlikeliest of people. Guided by divine messengers, these god-touched folk become clerics and get thrust into the front lines of the cosmic war against Chaos. The churches find and draw clerics into their sphere of influence, and many clerics join the hierarchy, but there have been famous clerics that operated outside of the church institutions as reformers.
Pholtus is served by a host of divine messengers known as angels; his other heavenly servants are saints. Devout clergy and spell casting clerics over the past few centuries have been canonized as saints, and can intercede on behalf of the faithful and inspire clerics. One of the most famous of these saints is Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel.
The evil one looks like David Warner
The Nine Hells
Similar to Heaven, the Nine Hells are a divine realm in the astral sea. Both the realms of Heaven and Hell are built on principles of cosmic order and law; however, where the realm of Heaven promises eternal good for the faithful, the Hells are a place of punishment and torment.
Theologists of Oerth argue about the nature of the Hells; is Asmodeus a fallen angel that turned against the creator with an army of faithless angels? Are the Hells part of a divine plan - do the devils play an important role as Accusers of the mortal races, to lure the unworthy off a righteous path so only the worthy advance? The devils are in the forefront of the war between Law and Chaos, fighting demons in an eternal struggle known as the Blood War. Are the devils the ancient soldiers of Law, turned into monsters due to their constant fighting, or is their rivalry due to something else?
Regardless of their origins, the devils delight in laying snares for mortals. Limited to haunting lonely crossroads or appearing through mystic summons, they act as testers, tempters, and deceivers - especially versus followers of Pholtus. The lords of Hell are worshipped from time to time by the misguided, and grant limited powers to anti-clerics and witches. There are ways to sign a pact with the devils of Hell, wagering one's soul for temporary youth, knowledge, wealth, or power; such victims may never be Raised or Resurrected. The devil doesn't give up his due.
I'm using Alignment as allegiance - more specifically, alignment is a supernatural aura for creatures that draw power from either the divine realms (Law) or Chaos. Clerics (both good and evil) are touched by Law, and magic users and elves are touched by Chaos. That doesn't mean they have to act a certain way - just that they're detectable as users of power.
Good and evil are important concepts in the game world, I just don't want to manage them as game concepts with rules tied to them.
Clerics without gods?
In a setting where the powerful churches espouse monotheism, where do "other clerics" get their powers?
You may recall that in Deities and Demigods, there are provisions for demons, devils, and lesser beings to grant some clerical spells. Greater gods are the only beings that can grant 7th level spells. Lesser gods can grant 6th level spells. Demigods grant 3rd-5th.
Clerics of Pholtus will be the only ones able to cast 7th level spells -though I'm not sure how many 17th level clerics are hanging around right now! Some of the powerful saints (like Cuthbert) will be able to grant 6th level spells. I'd like to limit followers of demon princes or arch devils to 5th level spells, where possible.
A History of Greyhawk Deities
Long time fans of Greyhawk may think this monotheistic approach is too far out there. What the heck is Beedo thinking? What about Obad-Hai, Pelor, Hextor, Nerull and the rest of the "beloved" Greyhawk deities?
Ironically enough, the earliest campaign used deities from the real world - Zeus, Odin, guys like that. Gygax introduced some monotheistic, faux Christian churches thereafter, such as the church of St Cuthbert, or the Church of the Blinding Light (which later became Pholtus). You can see the faux-Christian influence in early locales like Hommlet, which feature tension between the church of Cuthbert and a pagan Old Faith. This makes sense, seeing as the cleric is basically a medieval templar with a touch of Van Helsing.
The World of Greyhawk was published in 1980, but the Greyhawk deities that became so popular in later years (I'm thinking of 3.x Living Greyhawk, for instance) weren't published until 1982 in Dragon magazine, and then were added to a published version of Greyhawk in the boxed set of 1983. We do know a few demigods were in the campaign earlier, such as the ones that were freed in the depths of Castle Greyhawk.
However, I'm fairly comfortable using the early version of the published World of Greyhawk, without the gods that were tacked on later. Interlopers! I'll likely work them in here and there where possible (not as gods, but other types of beings - like St Cuthbert as an actual saint).
Further Development and Notes
Cosmology, religion, the role of clerics - these are big topics. I had created a large list of saints, religious orders, and tenets to give the church of the Eternal Spirit a bit more depth and interest; detail on the churches may make future appearances.
When I first created my alternate Greyhawk timeline, I put the great prophet of Nyrond at the time of the revolution from the demon-infested Great Kingdom; using a historical model, that would put the churches in the same mode as the late Roman era in earth history. Spirited philosophical differences have arisen as the churches confront theological questions, but the decadence and corruption of the papacy in the middle ages is remote and distant.
To develop gothic themes, it was important to me to have a pseudo-Christian church in Greyhawk, replete with gothic cathedrals, stained glass windows, and that rich supernatural atmosphere of the medieval church.
As for Hell, I wanted to keep the origins ambiguous, but otherwise plan to use Hell pretty much as is (Ed Greenwood's Dragon articles detailing Hell do just fine). The Monster Manual is woefully missing the archetypical silver-tongued "tempter" devil, so expect to see one in an upcoming Mythic Monday.
Labels: Gaming, Gothic Greyhawk
Game Report: Gothic Greyhawk game 22
Cast of Characters:
Mordecai, a Cleric-4: Adam
Forlorn, an Elf-3: Bo
Mister Moore, Magic User-4: Mike
Grumble the Smug, Halfling-3: Nogal
Henchmen:
Shy, a Fighter-3
Phat Kobra, a Dwarf-3
Zeke, a Fighter-3
Starkweather, a Thief-4
Barzai, a Cleric-3
Hammers of the God: Spoilers
Back at the table again! We did a recap of last week - the group is exploring a dwarven tomb and had ended the night fighting some dwarf zombies. The entry areas of the tomb were permeated by a purple mist that preserved anything that was lying in the mist - bodies were still fresh after falling in a battle a thousand years ago. And the tomb had worship areas with various murals depicting dwarven progress and peace. The players began to question whether the tomb was actually dedicated to an evil god or not…
Forlorn was certain the purple mist had something to do with the 5 dwarves that had arisen as zombies, and he convinced the group to return to the tomb entrance and spike open the door to the outside. It would let cold, fresh mountain air pour into the tomb and disperse the purple mist.
On their way back from the entrance, the group was waylaid by a pair of dwarf zombies that reached up out of the mist as they traversed the massive mural room - both Grumble and Mordecai were cracked for some damage, and then the group shifted into beat down mode on the zombies.
Something funny happened - Starkweather had this ring of invisibility from a previous adventure, and he thought it would be good to use invisibility to get behind a zombie and do a backstab. But the zombie saw him while invisible! Both of the zombies were enraged that he used the ring to enter the shadow world.
He quickly pulled off the ring, and the zombies were destroyed before they could inflict too much punishment. ZOMG, does Starkweather have the One Ring?
Perplexed that zombies seemed to spontaneously awaken in the mural room, they chose to heavily spike the door behind them when they left the mural room. Immediately they questioned whether dispersing the mist was a good idea. What if the mist was actually keeping the zombies asleep? Everyone started musing whether this was Death Frost Doom all over again. (James Raggi is turning my players into meta gamers).
Down the hallway to the south, they found a library. A dwarf library. As in, each book was 40lbs and made out of stone. There was even a "card catalog" of sorts - or at least, an index. They decided to spend time puzzling over the index, to determine the proper chronological sequence of the books. They asked me to read off the title of every book, and they took notes on the interesting ones. Very meticulous. There were like a hundred books. Mister Moore dryly remarked, "Obviously the books are here for us for a reason…" (Did I mention the players are becoming meta gamers?)
Anyway, they literally spent days in the library - just not all at once. On this pass, they read a book or two from the early days, and a book or two from the end, to learn that the library started with an "In the beginning…" narrative about the ancient burrower (old miner?) - possibly the first god of the dwarves. Later books had to do with a secret, heretical cult of the old miner. They did learn about some possible traps elsewhere in the complex, and this hooked them on the value of the library. They even picked some random titles distributed amongst the hundred to see if they'd hit on something super useful. They had 3 or 4 party members that could read dwarvish, so they used a divide and conquer approach.
Meanwhile, daylight was burning because each book was taking hours to read. They had started the delve mid-day, many hours had passed since then, and they knew they'd be approaching exhaustion. They left the library and decided to explore another door off the hallway to see if there was someplace defensible to camp.
But first they sent the halfling up the hallway to listen to the main door back into the mural room - the heavily spiked door. He listened, thought he heard some noise, tapped on the door lightly. His knocking was answered by hungry moans and the sound of many dwarf hands smacking in frustration on the other side. The mural room was full of zombies!
Groans from all the adults around the table. "Here we go again". Then they noticed Nogal, Grumble's player, out of his seat, fists pumping in the air, and gyrating his hips in a crazy happy dance. "What are you so happy about?"
"I'm living the dream", he said. "Only 9 years old and I'm in my first zombie apocalypse." Where he came up with the phrase 'living the dream', I don't know - but kids are awesome.
The DM got to do some chuckling next. The group had made a big production last session of dumping their heavy gear, tents, and bedrolls out in the canyon, hiding them out of sight behind some boulders, to free up encumbrance for treasure. Looks like they'll be spending some uncomfortable time sleeping on the cold stone floor. Muhaha. Plus, now there was a limit to their time in the dungeon - just how much food and light were they carrying?
They scouted the next couple of rooms, discovering strange walls carved with layered runes. No time to puzzle over them, so they plunged forward. In one room, they were attacked by an amorphous monster that changed its attack each round - it was black and indistinct, and generated blade-like appendages, quills, and acid spittle. As its form shifted, so did its defense. Since they expected to rest soon, the the magic user and elf dumped all their magic missiles into it, and it was destroyed fairly quickly.
The small complex of rooms had a door leading out, and they wanted two doors between them and the zombies, so they camped near a small fountain. No healing in the dungeon, but since Mordecai has a staff of healing, they were able to recover hit points. Backpacks were used as pillows, cloaks as blankets, and guards were set.
The next morning, they noted the zombies hadn't broken through the main door - maybe they where all waiting for them in the mural room? So the group split up. The 3 readers took the lantern and a guard back to the library and continued pouring over books. The big dumb fighters went into the last rune-room and started to work on opening the pedestal by torchlight.
Let me explain about the pedestal. At the end of the previous day's scouting, the last room had a three foot tall column with a large hole in the top of it. The hole led to a deep shaft. They sent a rope down the shaft, with the lantern on the end of the rope, to see how deep it went. It ended in a cave.
"You've got to be kidding me", complained Mister Moore. "Sure, we can squeeze through the hole - if we dump our armor and backpacks. I hate this frackin' place already". Then they noticed the column was built onto the floor and bolted, and a plan was hatched. They had plenty of heavy hammers and a maul, and figured that if they took enough time, they'd be able to knock the pedestal off its mooring and have a decent sized entrance to get down to the cave. Since this part of the dungeon was a closed-loop, they weren't too worried about wandering monsters from the noise, as long as the zombies didn't come through the mural door.
Hours later, the pedestal was smashed, the readers took a break, and a call went out for the halfling. "Yeah, send in the halfling", croaked Mordecai. They tied Grumble to the end of the rope, stuck a lantern in his hand, and lowered him down the shaft. "You'll be fine, buddy. It's your job to scout." The cleric made some holy signs - last rites? - the dwarf took off his hat to pay his respects, and they lowered the halfling. When he got to the bottom, he had just enough time to see a large, slug-like bulk ahead in the cave, and then it's mouth gaped open and a stream of liquid fire spurted all over him. "Get me out of here", he yelled up the shaft. "I'm burning!". Luckily, the rope didn't catch fire, and they were able to haul the burning halfling back up. He was able to tamp out most of the flames by the second round, and still had a few hit points left. "That sucked".
That was a good place to stop, and it will give them some time to think about how to tackle the shaft and the slug monster. Nogal has his own take on the session over at the kiddo's blog: Zombies all over again.
Labels: Game Reports, Gaming
Too many projects?
Perhaps it's "new blogger exuberance", but I'm finding that I keep proposing new projects for myself, and I need to do some prioritizing or I won't get any of them done.
The Black City
I've crumpled at least 3 map attempts to make a surface ruins of the Black City that I like; I've been feeling a bit blocked (but my friend Dave has come to the rescue with some super cool inspirational sketches). I feel a blitz of cool Black City development coming on, once I get a workable surface map. (Or I'll just skip the surface for now).
War Machine and Domain Economics for Greyhawk
The progress of the Ghoul Plague in my weekly game (and getting to use the companion set War Machine) got me thinking how cool it would be to stat out all the Greyhawk nations similar to the old Known World of Mystara, and create the standing armies in War Machine terms.
AD&D Implied Setting
I've been using the AD&D DMG more and more at the table for ideas (not rules) and it got me thinking about going through the whole thing and creating a list of attributes that would be part of any core D&D setting if one played 100% by-the-book.
For instance, if you use the training rules in the DMG, it implies the ready availability of paid trainers in some of the home bases, which would imply an economy where adventurers show up for training... maybe even adventurer guilds for networking with trainers. That's just one element, and the DMG is full of them!
I threw another quick poll on the side there - which project is most interesting to readers?
Oh, and to help apologize for some blatant navel-gazing, here are some interesting quotes on sandboxes vs railroads to ponder - since I mentioned I'm introducing some metaplot to my sandbox:
Sandbox: An imaginary environment within which the game master builds enough railroad tracks to create the illusion that the players aren't being railroaded.
--Frank Mentzer, BECMI author
Railroading is a perjorative term for a game where something gets done. Most players would rather be on the Orient Express than standing in the station waiting for something to happen.
--Ken Hite (Call of Cthulhu, Trail of Cthulhu author)
Chaos in Gothic Greyhawk
Spoilers: note to my players, because I muse about some future adventure opportunities here, you may want to skip this one...
One of the trends in urban fantasy I wanted to pilfer for D&D was to turn some of the "great powers" of the world into recurring characters that interact with the player characters from time to time, more so as they become powerful and noteworthy.
I'm sure you've read of plenty of stories like this - I'm thinking of the works of Mike Mignola (Hellboy and BPRD), the stories of Neil Gaiman, even the Dresden Files.
This ties right into the cosmology post I made a week or so past. I'll start with the powers of Chaos and build from there in future posts.
Chaos and the Abyss
There are many elemental lords and suzerains throughout the elemental chaos, including the elemental Princes of Evil (from the Fiend Folio). The following powerful entities are the ones currently exerting the most influence on Greyhawk.
Symbol of Tharizdun
The Chained God
Most myth cycles begin with the universe in a state of Chaos, and the first act of creation is to bring order to the maelstrom by subduing the monsters of chaos. Whether it's Marduk quelling Tiamat, Ymir slain by the Borrs brothers, or Kronos defeated and imprisoned by the Greek gods, it's repeated again and again; so it was the same in the mythic past of Oerth.
A primeval force of Chaos, the Elder Elemental God, was imprisoned at the dawn of creation, and ever has it strived to break it's bonds. Illicit cults in Greyhawk call this primeval monster or titan, Tharizdun. The Chained "God" represents ultimate evil and the source of all corruption. It's presence in the Elemental Chaos created the Abyss, and the door to its prison is the lowest lair of the Abyss. The first act of creation was when the Eternal Spirit (known in the Theocracy of the Pale as the Blinding Light) defeated Tharizdun and imprisoned it, bringing order and stability to the mortal world.
There are many who strive to learn the way to open the prison and free this entity.
I can envision a time in the future where the party will have the opportunity to explore a forgotten temple to the Chained God, and perhaps run into a cult of drow that have forsaken worship of Lolth for the chained god as well. :wink:
Best Orcus picture ever
Orcus is the Demon Prince of Undeath and is responsible for unleashing corporeal undead on Oerth, particularly ghouls and vampires. (Yeenoghu is associated with King of Ghouls in the 1E MM, but I'm stripping him of that misplaced honor).
Orcus is the source of the vampire curse, the ghoul curse, and the ghoul sickness that is currently tearing up Sterich. His long term agenda is the cessation of all Oerthly life. He's the patron for Cyris Maximus, the vampire freed on Death Mountain, and it's Orcus's dream sendings that cause Strahd to reawaken from his ages long sleep in the Valley of the Mists.
Other powerful entities that will play a role as the campaign develops are Lolth, demon queen of spiders; the demon prince Graz'zt, Iuz the Old; and Iggwilv, greatest of evil magic users.
Metaplot and the Sandbox
There is no single force of Chaos; there are many factions that draw on the power of Chaos for their own destructive ends. The power of Chaos is waxing as the Ghoul Plague spreads. Orcus will begin to marshal the forces of his death cult to find lost Iggwilv's trove and return the demonomicon to the world, while striking a blow at his rival, Graz'zt. Will the players compete with the death cultists and race to be the ones to find the demonomicon first?
Meanwhile, rogue drow in league with the Chained God will see the opportunity to extend their dominion to the surface world. The instability brought to Sterich by the Ghoul Plague will make the land a ripe target for the giants. (At this point, I haven't gotten far enough in my War Machine work to know if the plague will be contained in Sterich or if neighboring kingdoms like Geoff or Keoland must lend aid).
The trick to having big metaplot type events in a sandbox, is to have them going on in the background and let the players ignore them if they want. I know the group's mid-range goals involve visiting Barovia. After that, they hinted that they might return to Sterich and see if they can help with the mop up. I expect the Flannish hill and mountain people to reclaim the upper valley in the power vacuum, throwing off the yoke of Istivin, and that could result in a civil war between the Oeridians and the Flans - something ideal for the players to choose sides and tip the balance - and maybe get their own dominions, too. Meanwhile, the death cult would be hunting for the artifacts, and the giants would be making preparations for war.
New Poll: Emulation vs D&D Fantasy
Yesterday's post about Goodman and emulating Appendix N source material got me thinking how many DMs use D&D to emulate their favorite fantasy setting or historical era, or use a homebrew or published setting, with most of the D&Disms intact.
With that in mind, feel free to drop a note on the new poll. How do you use D&D or AD&D in your current setting?
I voted for # 3 - I'm running the World of Greyhawk in our current campaign, and I'm not overhauling the fundamentals of D&D to do it.
Mythic Monday: The Bodak
'O,' answered Fergus, with a melancholy air, 'my fate is settled. Dead or captive I must be before tomorrow... Upon authority which never failed a person of my house. I have seen,' he said, lowering his voice, 'I have seen the Bodach Glas.'
--Sir Walter Scott, Waverly
The Mothman was a Bodak
The Bodak (in folklore, Bodach) is a Scottish ghost or spirit that foretells doom. In Scott's tale, it's a spectral figure that appears on the moors whenever great disaster was impending, and always before approaching death. In folklore, the Bodach (literally old churl) could slither down the chimney, creep along the floor, and torment children like a bogeyman.
I like Walter Scott's interpretation, that the Bodach is a harbinger of doom. I'd argue "the Mothman" from The Mothman Prophecies legend was a Bodach, as were the bizarre shadow creatures in the horror movie The Eye. (I may have a small thing for Jessica Alba, so I can be forgiven for seeing it). In both cases, otherworldly shades are drawn to a location where a great tragedy is about to happen.
When Gary Gygax created an AD&D version of the Bodak in S4, the Lost Caverns of Tsocjanth, he did a funny thing - the Bodak no longer observes upcoming death as a witness, it literally sees death everywhere through it's own death gaze!
The 1E version of the Bodak is described as a monster from the Abyss, a mortal transformed into a demon spawn, and it shares immunities with demons. By the time 3.x and 4E rolled around, the Bodak was made into an undead, fitting the folklore a little better.
Here is a version we can use in our classic D&D game:
The Bodak (for BX and Labyrinth Lord)
MV 60(20)
HD 9+9
ATK weapon
D 1d10
Save F9
Morale 12
Hoard None
Bodaks are shadowy, spectral undead drawn to locales where great amounts of death or tragedy will occur. Their visage is tormented and hideous. Mortals slain by a Bodak will return as a Bodak the following night. Bodaks are vulnerable to sunlight, and take 1hp per round of exposure to direct sunlight. The Bodak is turned as infernal/special.
Bodaks have the standard undead immunities, and can only be hit by +1 or better magic weapons. The Bodak will typically carry a large pole arm (like a halberd). However, the Bodak's fearsome attack is it's Death Gaze. The gaze of a Bodak, when met, causes death unless a save vs Death Magic is made. The range of this effect is 30'.
Using the Bodak in Your Game
Going back to the folklore, I like the idea of the Bodak as a harbinger of death and tragedy; the Bodaks, as servants of Death and the Wyrds, are able to read the skeins of fate, learn of upcoming tragedies, and follow them back to the tragic victims. They're also known to stalk particular families through the generations.
As harbingers of doom, the monster shows itself to a victim on successive nights to torment them and foreshadow the upcoming doom. The Bodak will stay at a range outside of the death gaze to prevent inadvertent killing. If the victim somehow cheats their fate, the Bodak is well equipped to step in and correct the situation itself with it's Death Gaze! (The Bodak always gets his man).
Under some circumstances, a locale that has seen a great amount of death will be claimed and guarded by a Bodak forever, such as a gruesome battlefield slaughter.
Labels: Gaming, Monsters, Mythic Monday
Goodman Games and the Genius of Gygax
Planning the next adventure at the Shady Dragon...
I noticed a week or so ago that the second designer's blog for the Dungeon Crawl Classics game got posted. This one focused on Joseph's deep dive into the Appendix N material and his efforts to try and build a game that cleaves closer to the Sword & Sorcery inspirations. By way of reminder, a fair statement of the DCC manifesto seems to be:
It is a version of what D&D could have been, if the early pioneers had access to an existing, robust rules engine to which to adapt their Appendix N inspirations.
This new post has lots of things to me make smile - a discussion of the source material, mention of such characters as Skafloc and Valgard and Holger Danske, figures I recently encountered in my own reading . I've learned the new game will have race-as-class. It sounds like the designers are still figuring out what to do with divine characters and clerics. The focus of the game will be on grand adventures - does that mean out of the multi-leveled dungeon? This is an intriguing project; I'm sure most of us would love to see an old-school style game make it big again and get back into wide spread distribution. It's still mostly hype while we wait for the betas.
One thing I wonder about with this focus on Appendix N… is literary emulation actually a good thing?
D&D is a self-referential genre of fantasy. Our D&D campaigns are filled with "D&Disms" that have now crept into popular culture, modern fantasy novels, and the world of computer gaming. They've become institutionalized.
Let me throw out some examples. Raise Dead. Buying and selling magic items. The social status of the adventurer. Classes and levels. I would define a D&Dism like this: If the game concept presents problems when you're adapting your campaign to emulate specific literature or a historical period, it might be a D&Dism. The related problem is that D&D is a kitchen sink pastiche, borrowing from everything, so we have an additional issue - not every D&D element fits into every campaign world.
Let's look at Raise Dead. The DMG provides explicit costs for going into a town or city and buying Raise Dead for a fallen character. There's not much discussion of religion, deities, limitations or exclusions; the implied setting Gary Gygax is presenting would make Raise Dead an available resource for the right price. One of the most common campaign nuances I see are DM's placing limitations or exclusions on raise dead. (I'm guilty).
Magic items have prices in the DMG. A long campaign will see a fighter get progressively better magic weapons. What to do with that 'now crappy' sword +1? The implied answer is sell it, but many genre emulators will limit magic or otherwise ignore the magic item price tables. Conan never went to the bazaar to get some chainmail +1, after all.
Our games are often influenced by historical periods that lacked the social mobility to support armed adventurers rolling into town, swaggering up to the bar at the nearest tavern, and leaning over to the barkeep, "So - I hear y'all got an Orc problem 'round these parts, partner. We're here to clean up the mess." Pardon the bad gunslinger dialogue, but Gygax actually compares adventurers to Wild West gunslingers in the DMG, and the metaphor has stuck with me - that's how we play!
The implied D&D world has a level of social mobility that lets freemen or sons of nobles head out onto the road and seek adventure in a way that just wasn't possible in many of the eras we emulate. I confess - I love the idea of historical settings with a veneer of magic smeared on top, whether it's ancient Greece, dark ages Germany, or the Viking Age. But it's hard to reconcile these D&Disms in a world without inns, taverns, cities, shops, or even much trade. Where do wandering adventurers stay, or buy and sell their items, in such a world? When I've done those types of games, it's always involved a patron sending retainers on choice missions - the Greek king of the city state, the Thane or Jarl, the Frankish Count. It provides the structured home base necessary to support adventurers, but it's not a great match for the free-style sandbox, go-anywhere-you-want style of adventure I prefer nowadays. I want the Wild West in our fantasy games.
The commonness of adventurers in the implied setting goes further in the DMG. Take training and advancement. The DMG implies that there are commercial trainers available to improve your ability to adventure, or teach new spells to magic users. Training costs are practically a mandate in the DMG. I don't know that the 1E DMG ever explicitly calls out the existence of Adventurer's Guilds, but it's a logical evolution - where else do adventurers find the trainers? And how often did our old games start in the tavern, "I'm going out to the old monastery to seek my fortune, and I need a cleric, a wizard and a thief. Who's with me?" And thus the adventuring party was formed.
It would be interesting to list out these implied setting elements of D&D and AD&D and create a checklist. When designing a campaign, the checklist would be the types of things that would need adjusting if you're adapting it to emulate a historical or literary setting. A few are rules related, but most would be social.
As I read sections of the 1E DMG and take in Gary's campaign advice (these days, with a fresh eye!) I continue to be impressed by how many of these conventions are explicitly laid out in his suggestions on running a world with adventurers. 30+ years later and his ideas are still on point.
I'm sure some smarter folks than me have already generated a list of D&D tropes out there - I'll do some digging and see what I turn up.
How about you - do you emulate other genres in your D&D games, cutting out the things that don't fit, or do your worlds incorporate most of the elements of the implied setting?
As the guys over at Goodman Games develop their "fresh take on the Appendix N literature", it makes me wonder how they'll provide alternates to many common D&D tropes and problems. Stay tuned - should be interesting.
Labels: Essays on Gaming, Gaming
In which an ancient dwarven tomb is breached, and the players have the opportunity to remark "Purple haze all in my brain, lately things just don't seem the same..."
Cast of Characters;
Shy, a Fighter-3: ? (Gary)
Grumble the Smug, Halfling-3: L
In the month or more the group stayed at Stonegate dwarf hold, dwarven patrols began to return with refugees that were drifting up the valley, trying to escape from the ghoul plague. Reports from the refugees indicated the main force of ghouls and zombies had marched north, along the river, into the heavily populated lowlands. (Note: none of the players chose to ask whether the refugees were followed, or whether they were screened for infection with the ghoul curse. Muhaha.)
The characters recruited amongst the refugees for henchmen, and were able to find a new player character (Grumble the Smug, a halfling) and Barzai, a clerical retainer for Mordecai. Gear was purchased and food was stocked, and they headed to the surface to seek out the entrance to the tomb.
They decided not to set up a camp, but to hid their heavier gear (bedrolls and tents) in the box canyon where the tomb entrance was located. They went right to exploring. It was mid-day, and the weather was bright, cold and clear. It's mid-December (Sunsebb in Greyhawk), and the altitude is in the 8,000 foot range.
Using the witch's map, they were able to find the entrance to the tomb. However, the various new people were unable to perceive the entrance at all. The obfuscation went beyond illusion; until a character that knew about the tomb entrance explained to one of the others it was there, and guided him to it, it was as if the tomb didn't exist for the him. Strange effects were at work.
The entrance to the tomb was engraved with symbols bespeaking an ancient dwarven demon, something like 'ancient burrower' or 'old miner' - an early 'god' from the dwarves' bloody, pagan past. Phat Kobra remarked this might be an evil place. The word Shame was emblazoned equally prominently on the door. Meanwhile, a peculiar purple mist seeped from beneath the door. Grumble sniffed it and declared it to be 'Not poison'. They entered.
The corridor beyond was tall and majestic, and the floor was obscured with thick, purple mist that came up to their knees. They went forth very carefully, testing the floor with poles and spear hafts because of the poor visibility.
Over the next few rooms, they made a bizarre discovery. Anything covered by the mist was completely preserved. They were fishing thousand-year old footwear and cloaks up and out of the mist, as if they were just dropped on the floor yesterday. In the main temple room, there were well over a hundred preserved bodies just beneath the surface of the mist, obscured from sight. They would plunge their hands down into the mist, and pull up a dwarf or human corpse, eyes bulging and throat engorged as if they asphyxiated and fell to the ground, choking. Many of the dwarves were killed violently by weapons, and their slick blood was still fresh and slippery. The players were quite disturbed by it all.
It took a long time to explore the dwarven temple. They puzzled over the corpses lining the floor, signs of an ancient struggle. They theorized that heavily armored humans had been attacking robed and shoeless dwarves in this sanctuary. Many of the dwarves had shaved heads, or were beardless. Wasn't this supposed to be a tomb?
The walls had spectacular murals that showed the forging of the banes, the great weapons of war. There were depictions of a time when dwarves and humanoid races were at peace. There were pictures that showed the technological advances of the dwarven race. Kobra was expecting the temple to be a bit darker in tone, for a demon shrine.
There was an altar at the head of the room, with golden mining implements on it (and a massive chunk of meteoric star rock nearby). Bo had to miss this game session, so of course they picked Forlorn, his character, to take the golden hammer and sickle. Just in case they were cursed. (They haven't seem to be cursed so far, Bo).
Then it was off to the right, to start exploring the rooms beyond the temple. After exploring a northern 'shaving room' and then dipping south, there was the sound of a heavy door closing behind them. The party doubled back and ran into a small mob of dwarven zombies. It seemed as if some of the 100+ dwarves lying on the floor of the sanctuary climbed to their feet and shambled after the party. (Uh-oh, not this again, the group groaned).
They joined a battle with the dwarf zombies in the corridor, using their standard 'hall-fighting' tactics of shield-men up front with smaller weapons, and spearmen in the second rank. They managed to beat down the zombies without too much difficulty, but found that spears (puncture weapons) were minimally effective against zombies.
The group fell to musing about the 100+ corpses in the sanctuary. If they opened the door that lead out, would all 100 dwarf corpses be standing in the purple mist, waiting for them?
We stopped there for the night.
Note: We may be losing a player or two due to work/timing issues, so we're definitely recruiting. If you happen to live not far north of Philadelphia, drop a line! Otherwise we may consider promoting a few of the kiddos who are ready for the "serious" game.
War Machine for Greyhawk?
Does anyone know if stats were ever produced for the armies of Greyhawk for the War Machine rules? War Machine was published in the Companion rules for classic D&D (BECMI) and again in the Rules Cyclopedia. The War Machine rules are quite a bit more abstract and simpler than Battle System.
Here's the need - there's a zombie/ghoul army raging across Sterich, and I'm starting to create troop ratings for the remaining Counties. I had started this campaign with the idea of building towards Against the Giants, so it makes sense to create statistics for the Giantish armies, as well as the defenders in Sterich, Geoff, Keoland and the Yeomanry. The instability created by the plague of undead will give Chaos the opening it needs to strike!
Here is a snapshot of a typical War Machine write up from back in the day. A big part of the War Machine ratings involved knowing the leaders and officers within the force; I'm not sure that level of detail was ever presented in Dragon magazine, so it'd need to be made up whole cloth. I recently discovered Grendelwulf's place and there are write-ups of some armies, though I don't believe he covers the countries I need.
I'll do some more poking around the internet, otherwise I feel a new project coming on. I'll be glad to post War Machine stats here.
Recipient of the prestigious Newbie Blogger Award
Welcome to the Award Winning Dreams in the Lich House blog. Thanks Tim, over at Gothridge Manor, for the kindly attention - it's very cool. If you're new here, I like to explore the intersection of fantasy and horror gaming and the awesome literature supporting it; since I'm working hard to grow a new crop of younger gamers, there are also some posts on how the kids are doing in their game.
If you're just dropping by for the first time, here are the posts that seem to be the most popular (based on page views):
An exploration of how to slip some horror elements into your D&D game
The two posts about my players unleashing a zombie apocalypse on the campaign setting through LotFP's Death Frost Doom adventure.
Gothic Greyhawk - My Current Campaign
An overview of the current campaign setting
Winter is Coming… and so is Gamer A.D.D.
Some techniques for handling Gamer Attention Deficit Disorder
Useful, (non-self-promotional) posts will resume shortly...
Dungeon Mastering for 9-year olds
Things you find yourself saying when DMing for 9-year olds.
No dice stacking.
No pog stacking.
Don't try to stack miniatures, either.
No, I don't have an elf miniature throwing a spear; I'm sorry you think that miniature sucks.
Could you stop rolling all your dice over and over again?
Put up your hand to ask a question.
No drumming with your hands, please.
Pencils aren't drumsticks either.
Try to roll your dice *on* the table.
Quick, get your dice off the floor before the dog gets it.
The dog got your dice.
Please stop tearing chunks off your character sheet.
Who's kicking the table?
Ahem. No dice stacking, remember?
Someone's kicking the table again.
Careful with the water pitcher… uh. You did it. You swamped your character sheet.
Also, my son decided to start his own blog. Chronicles of Nogal. He just turned 9, so we have plenty of work to do with basic gammar, but he's getting pretty good at typing. Here are his thoughts on the recent kid's game:
Kids game part 1
Labels: Gaming, Kids and Gaming
Kids Game Report - Session 10
GEOFF GAME (The Kids)
Current Cast of Characters:
Soap the Wizard: MU-3, played by L age 8
Glass the Second: T-1, played by B, age 8
Arden the Elf: E1, played by Z, age 9
Topaz the Fighter: F1, played by G, age 9
Henry the Conqueror: F1, played by J, age 10
Lennon the Dwarf: D2, played by D, age8
Morgan: E2, played by Adam – a dad
Wallaby: H1, played by Bo - a dad
Friar Shane: C1, played by Jeff - a dad
Serge: F-3, henchman to Soap
We've been playing an intermittent kid's D&D game over 6 months; the previous session reports are over at Dragonsfoot. Due to the extremely high mortality rate, the fact that the kids play only 1-2 times per month, and the games are limited to about 2 hours, advancement has been fairly slow.
Quick campaign recap:
After taking on a job as caravan guards, the group left Geoff and traveled across the Sea of Dust. They became lost in a sandstorm and discovered the Lost City (module B4). The descendants of the ruined city live deep underground, dark-dwelling humans know as Cynidiceans. The pyramid is now home to different factions of the Cynidiceans. After exploring the upper two levels, the kids made friends with members of the Brotherhood of Gorm, an ancient cult of the Cynidiceans trying to restore the old ways of the culture. The three ancient gods of Cynidicea are Gorm, Usamigaras, and Madarua, but the decadent elements in the culture turned to the worship of a demon, Zargon.
Unfortunately, the Brothers of Gorm have a grudge against magic users, and when the group's resident chaotic magic user, Soap, heard that the Brothers hate magic, he tried to plunge a dagger into the back of the leader of Gorm, yelling "Death to Gorm the oppressor of magic!" Soap was subdued and imprisoned; that's about where we resumed.
Arden's player must have been thinking about the game between sessions, because he came into this session with a bold plan. "We need to figure out how to get the Brotherhood of Gorm and the other factions working together against the Priests of Zargon. If we can convince them to let Soap go, Soap can help us make an alliance with the Magi of Usamigaras." It was some excellent role playing, especially because the 9 year olds are usually a bit shy when it comes to talking to NPCs. Arden articulated his plan to Kanadius, leader of the Brotherhood, and managed to free Soap, negotiate a truce with the Magic of Usamigaras, and got the two groups to agree to work together. The party promised the Brothers and Magi that they would track down the Priest of Zargon that was terrorizing the factions in the pyramid.
The Brothers had a base on the second tier of the pyarmid, the Magi had their hideout on the third tier of the pyramid, and the groups believed the Priest of Zargon would be found on the larger fourth or fifth tiers. The Magi guided the party to the entrance down to the fourth tier and wished them luck.
The fourth level of the pyramid was dark and fairly quiet. The corridors were dusty and formed from huge dressed blocks of stone. After descending a ramp, heading out into the corridors, and finding a room, they were attacked by a dozen or so skeletons that moved from their waiting guard positions.
They quickly smashed most of the skeletons and Friar Shane turned the last few, which were also quickly destroyed. Then the kids went into action.
Lennon the Dwarf wanted more fighting and started smacking the flat of his axe on the wall and howling. Henry the Conqueror upped the ante by picking up various pottery jars from around the room and smashing them to make more noise. Just in case that wasn't enough chaos, Soap started yelling, "Monsters, monsters, come and get us, come and eat us", or something similar. They shouldn't have been surprised when a pack of screaming rock baboons burst through the door.
Soap got nailed in the head by a rock and dropped unconscious; everyone else ducked or absorbed the impact of the rocks, and the battle was on. It raged for a turn or two, until the cleric was able to give the magic user a Cure Light Wounds, and he recovered enough to Sleep the baboons. At this point, a few of the dads started in with the lecture, "We're trying to avoid monsters and stay alive, not attract them.."
Their next exciting moment came when they found a spectacular sarcophagus room - a sarcophagus on a dais, surrounded by burning brass urns, and pillars that supported a marble dome over the dais. Spectacular. The kid's reaction to the room was here: tomb robbers.
When they exited the room through the other door and started down another corridor, a rolling boulder trap was triggered. The hallway shook as the huge round rock rumbled side to side in the hallway, dust dropped from the ceiling, and then a massive 10' diameter sphere, filling the whole passage, rolled to the edge of the latern light.
I gave the table time to discuss.
A few plans were discussed, but someone (one of the dads, I'm sure) pointed out that if everyone just jumped back into the room, the boulder would pass harmlessly by. I started to go around the table to ask actions. Soap, Morgan, Serge, Shane, Arden, Topaz, Glass, Wallaby… all back into the room. Then I got to Lennon.
"I start humming Indiana Jones and run down the hall in front of the boulder". You're kinda slow buddy, you're a dwarf. In plate mail. Carrying a ton of gear. "I don't care", said Lennon. "I do it too", blurts out Henry the Conqueror. And both kids start humming Indiana Jones, ignoring the pleas from their dad that this wasn't such a great idea. Meanwhile, Soap decides to run back into the corridor after the boulder passed, to see what happened to his friends and jump in on the "fun".
Thump-thump, squelch. Uh oh, I think it rolled over Lennon.
Meanwhile, Henry found himself running (alone) into the dark, since Soap had carried the group's lantern back into the room with him. "I just keep running as fast as I can straight ahead", said Henry,"I don't want the boulder to catch me like Lennon". The boulder was right behind him.
The problem with sprinting in the pitch dark, is when the corridor turns, there's a stone wall right in front of you. I gave him a save vs paralysis to see if he was able to shake off the effect of running face first into a stone wall in the dark, and get out of the way of the boulder before it smashed into him a few seconds later.
When Soap made it that far (hundreds of feet down a dark corridor from the party's room) all he could see was an arm reaching out from behind the boulder. Boulder 2-0.
"Well, what have we here? A lonely human all alone in the dungeon, without any armor or weapons?"
A group of hobgoblins with spears were attracted to all the noise, and they proceeded to stick spear points into Soap's face. "I totally give up, and can fork over some treasure", Soap answered in hobgoblin, flashing a cheesy grin.
"Hey, he speaks the lingo - he's like a goblin brother", said the hobgoblins, rolling an 11 on the reaction roll. (Friendly). I decided that 'friendly' hobgoblins would take Soap's backpack and equipment belt, and leave him standing in the dark with just his lantern. "The Priest of Zargon thanks you for your contribution", said the hobgoblins, and they sauntered off laughing.
"That wasn't so bad", said Soap, as he headed back up the corridor. "Are you kidding?", pointed out the DM. "Those hobgoblins walked off with your spell book and your wand of magic detection".
Groan. "Soap would want to kill himself", said the player, "but now I don't even have a knife!"
We ended when dead Henry's player declared, "Ha ha, Soap got mugged. By hobgoblins."
Dm's note:
After the session, I realized Lennon might have been able to get away - his movement rate is only 20' per round, but with running he might have stayed a little ahead of the boulder, and with infravision he wouldn't have run head first into a stone wall like Henry. I'll have to chat with the kiddo, see if he wants to make another level 2 guy.
Labels: Game Reports, Gaming, Kids and Gaming
A Cosmology for Gothic Greyhawk
If you haven't noticed, I try to draw inspiration from real-world myths and folklore for gaming. With that in mind, let me just say, the AD&D cosmology bugs the crap out of me. Al over at Beyond the Black Gate appears to be starting a review of AD&D, and every time I look at those amazing hardback books, it brings me right to the crux of the matter - is it a more satisfying exercise to play a version of OD&D and add in elements you miss, or play AD&D and gut or house rule huge swaths of the rules?
A good example is the default cosmology. I start reading about Negative and Positive Energy Planes, Para-Elemental Planes of Dust and Vapor, the rules for Ethereal Travel, and the 17 Outer Planes (all arranged according to Alignment, no less) and my eyes glaze over. An outer plane for neutral good chaotics - really? If anyone has a clue where such ideas came from, or whether they were created whole cloth, by all means - would love to hear it.
Let's take a concrete example - the cosmology we see in Greek myth. We know of a few supernatural realms - Mount Olympus, Hades, perhaps Tartarus (I'd argue that Tartarus is just an extension to Hades, but whatever). The gods live on Olympus, Hades rules his eponymous underworld, and the imprisoned titans are stuck in Tartarus.
But when our 1E Hades hangs out his laundry to dry, what does he see? Unwanted neighbors. How did Hel, the death goddess of Asgard, afford some real-estate next door? And why are those moving trucks unloading boxes for Nergal of the Babylonians? There goes the property values.
Apparently Bast, the cat goddess, enjoys the snows of Asgard - she got stuck in Gladsheim. Lots of deities inadvertently find their mail being delivered to the Nine Hells, like Hecate. (Sure, she's not an Olympian, but sticking her in Hell? That's just mean spirited). Basing the cosmology around alignment doesn't work for me, and certainly doesn't make sense with how these mythic places are depicted in literature.
I'm finding quite a few OSR bloggers like myself that tried 4E, grew dissatisfied with it as a role playing game (it's a decent tactical combat game), and returned to earlier editions. Some of the 4E ideas on cosmology, monsters, and assumptions about a D&D style world, work really well, and are worth porting back into older editions. Just jettison the 4E rules.
Take the divine realms - 4E calls them "astral dominions". Built by the gods, they're no longer organized by Alignment, but by pantheon. The realm of Asgard no longer needs to host interlopers from Egypt who just happen to share the same alignment; Bast is free to go home to wherever the Egyptian deities hang their sandals. Hades can issue eviction notices to Hel and Nergal; Hel can now have her own little realm of Niffleheim adjacent to Asgard, even though her alignment is different. There's no problem with Ares, a god of chaotic evil, sipping nectar or ambrosia with the rest of the (chaotic good) Olympians. You get the idea. Each pantheon can "own" it's own conception of the underworld and hereafter, too.
The 4E cosmology gets rid of the ethereal plane, the elemental planes (as well as the quasi, para, pseudo, demi and whatever other unusable elemental planes got tacked onto it) and throws them in the trash along with the positive and negative planes; all those "inner planes" get rolled into the Elemental Chaos. In the traditional 1E elemental planes, you die the moment you get transported there - the Plane of Fire is nothing but fire, Earth is solid earth, etc. Not very fun or useful for adventuring.
4E also adds two mirrors of the mortal world, the Feywild and the Shadowfell. Pretty hard to say those names with a straight face, I agree, but the concepts are solid; the Feywild is essentially the realm of Faerie, a realm of magic ruled by Archfey and home to faeries of all sorts. Lots of literature posits a realm of Faerie that intersects the mortal world. The Shadowfell is the realm of the dead, a benighted land of shades and ghosts.
What I like about these mirror worlds is that the same location will have parallels between the three of them; a sprawling city in the real world, crammed with people and filth, might be a blighted place in the Faerie world, and a crumbling ruin haunted by shades in the Shadow realm.
I haven't given a ton of thought to how the cosmology works in Gothic Greyhawk (yet), seeing as the group is only about 3rd and 4th level, but porting some of the 4E approaches back to OD&D makes it easy to present a simplified cosmology.
Divine Realms
The divine realms of Heaven and Hell exist as dominions out in the Astral Sea; the main deity of the Church is the Great Spirit, served by legions of angels and exalted saints. Hell is populated by the devils and the fallen angels. (I would argue how I'm using this dualistic approach draws more from Zoroastrianism than Christian theology).
The Mortal Realm
The various pagan "deities" are more akin to powerful nature spirits, inhabiting the mortal realm
Realm of Faerie
Faerie is an alternate earth with numerous portals and ways of crossing back and forth; it's ruled by powerful arch faeries like Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, or Titania, Lady of Summer. I especially like this approach as a lot of the medieval romances and pulp fantasy place Faerie as an alternate or adjacent dimension to the mortal world.
Realm of the Dead
The shades of dead mortals drift into the Realm of the Dead after death. Many find their way beyond the Realm of the Dead to one of the divine realms; those that get stuck here become incorporeal undead - ghosts, wraiths and spectres. (Corporeal undead are created in the mortal world by the power of Orcus).
Elemental Chaos
This is an amalgam of the inner planes from 1E AD&D and home to Djinn, Efreet, Elementals, Slaads, and some notable locations, like the City of Brass. However, when high level mortals travel there, there is air to breath and places to stand, unlike a realm of pure [insert homogenous element here].
The Abyss is a great hole torn into the Elemental Chaos and descends down into the 666 layers. It is the home to demons. In the 4E view, demons are elementals corrupted by the shard of pure evil at the heart of the Abyss. Works for me.
There - reduces 33 various planes down to 6, and 3 of them are mirror worlds. My work here is done.
Labels: Gaming, Gothic Greyhawk, Rules
Literary Review: The Broken Sword
I had finished Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword as part of my Appendix N reading a few weeks ago, but hadn' t gotten the chance to circle back and do a review. Pondering The Ring yesterday made me remember how many common elements the stories share, since they draw inspiration from the same myths.
Like my other 'literary' reviews, I'll only provide some general impressions of the work, then dive into what elements I found inspirational for gaming - why it's part of the Dungeon Master's Guide reading list in the first place.
The Broken Sword takes place in Norse England, the Danelaw, during the Viking Age. It tells the story of the doomed hero Skafloc and his villainous "brother", Valgard. Skafloc is abducted by the elves as an infant and raised in the mythic world amongst magic. Valgard is a changeling, son of a troll and an elf, substituted for the infant Skafloc and raised in his place. The story details the rise to prominence of the two brothers in their respective spheres, Skafloc becoming a hero to the elves and Valgard becoming a murderous leader for the trolls.
The story is epic in scope. Much of the major action revolves around a war between the elves and the trolls, but the story includes gods, giants, monsters, magic, quests for a magic sword, fate, destiny, and plenty of blood, gore and violence - much more so than the other book I read of Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions. There are many common themes with The Ring cyle of operas, such as the incestuous love between a brother and sister (who tragically don't know they're related), the re-forging of a broken magic sword, and the certainty of fate.
The Broken Sword is an easy read, and would be good general inspiration for a Viking-era game or one with Norse themes. Here are some more specific elements I liked:
The Sword of Wrath
I don't believe the broken sword is named in the novel, but it's the sword Gram (or Nothung, from The Ring) - a gift of the gods that is forged anew through the efforts of the hero. In The Broken Sword, it is cursed to always kill when it's been drawn from it's sheath, and fated to bring doom to its wielder. Along the way, it lends great strength, cuts through anything, and turns Skafloc into an engine of destruction. What gamer doesn't want to be an engine of destruction and get to have their own Stormbringer or Blackrazor?
Machinations of the Gods
Was Poul Anderson channeling some post-war geopolitics? The gods, as superpowers, intervene in the mortal world only through proxies, and let their followers battle it out. Neither side (the Asgardians or the Giants) wants to commit themselves to the mortal realm and bring about Ragnarok, so they arm the combatants and provide indirect help like the Cold War. It’s a model that would work well for D&D.
Both of the fantasy novels I've read by Poul Anderson put Christianity directly in conflict with the magical world, but in both cases, the power of belief in Christianity trumps all other magic. In The Broken Sword, the armed combatants fight in the mythic realm and mostly avoid the civilized world with its churches and parishes, lest they wake the sleeping giant, the religion of the "White Christ".
I remember a conversation with James Raggi where he mentioned using a monotheism that "shut off" pagan faiths as it became the primary belief system in an area; I get the sense the ideas would be game-able and create interesting conflicts between faiths. I find these questions come up any time I consider settings that mix polytheism and monotheism and I'm trying to reconcile which belief system is 'true'.
Note: I have yet to see a cleric that can turn undead in any pulp fantasy, but there are tons of priests that turn elves. Funny stuff.
The Mythic Realm
Urban fantasy has co-opted the idea of the mythic realm that's all around us, we just can't see it; at some point I'd like to trace that idea back and see how deep that rabbit hole goes.
In The Broken Sword, the mythic realm overlaps the mortal realm; ordinary folks catch glimpses of trolls and elves during storms and foul weather, on certain nights of the year or during the largest of battles. But mortals can be ensorcelled so they can see elves and trolls and creatures of magic all the time.
I don't recall any D&D settings taking this tact - making the world extremely mundane, but having a coterminous secret world where anything goes. I do like the idea of making the mundane and magical world's adjacent - the magic world is across the river, or just past the old forest. It's out there.
Too often I use maps rooted in real-world ideas of countries and borders, where each country has it's own little borderlands or sections of chaos. How about a map where a large homogenous region is settled, mundane LAW, and everything past a certain point - across the river, perhaps - to the very edge of the world, is CHAOS?
I feel some West Marches style EGADD coming on...
Labels: Gaming, Literature, Reviews
EGADD - too good not to repost
Sifting through recent comments, I meant to call out this one left by C'Nor regarding my approach to managing GADD - Gamer ADD.
"So… is Electronic Gamer ADD (the version specific to bloggers), EGADD?"
Yes. Yes it is.
Labels: Bloggers
Mythic Monday: Down with Love
Love in the Time of Dungeons & Dragons
I pondered what elements of Feb 14th's folklore would be interesting for gaming - perhaps the story of the St Valentines, the imagery of Cupid, something to do with the Roman Lupercalia feast? How about love itself? How often do themes of love appear in your games?
I know, I know - "We explore dungeons, not characters". Leave those fruity stories and plot narratives at the door when playing old school D&D - we kick down doors and kill monsters. The D&D character's role in the game world is defined by their actions, not by their relationships. (See White Wolf for that).
But tales involving magic and love make a few appearances in D&D's source literature, and certainly in the larger ecosystem of folkore, fairy tales, myth and legendry. Perhaps your medieval game has elements of chivalry and courtly love. Maybe your long-running campaign has seen characters create dominions and (gasp) take spouses. What I've typically observed is that the character in a D&D game is more likely to have a regular room at the brothel instead of a spouse or love interest. And how does this relate to the cheesecake art discussion?
Players don't need to initiate a love story. In a world where geases and quests are real, where magical curses, oaths and promises are binding, why not adopt the classic (Disney) trope - "true love's kiss can break any curse". Curse a character with a malign effect that no spell caster's magic can undo, but can be broken through the kiss of a princess or the character's true love. I can hear my players groaning now, "You have got to be kidding me". Muhaha. Could make for some interesting problem solving.
How about the theme of forsaking love to gain power? It has mythic roots and would work well for a D&D villain. I'm a big fan of Der Ring Des Nibelungen; I've managed to see live performances of Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, and Siegfried through the years, though never yet gotten to see Götterdämmerung. The Ring is an epic cycle of operas that draws heavily from themes of Norse and Teutonic mythology, the Edda, and the Nibelungenlied. One of the central themes of the cycle is love versus power.
Early in Das Rheingold, a lecherous dwarf, Alberich, lusts after the beautiful Rhinemaidens. They taunt him, laugh at him, flash their boobies, and splash away through the water, while driving the dwarf to extremes of rage. In their taunting, they reveal that they possess a wonderful treasure, the Rhine gold, which can be used to forge an all-powerful ring; only "he who forsakes love forever" can steal it. Certainly they have nothing to fear from the lustful Alberich, mock the nymphs. But Alberich, realizing he can't win the attention of the water nymphs with either his charms or by chasing them down, renounces love forever, steals the gold, and goes on to forge the ring of power. He enslaves the race of dwarves and industrializes them. (He uses his new found wealth to get a lady, too, fathering the villainous Hagen; even in Teutonic pre-history, money can't buy you love, but it can get you laid).
As the story develops, the ring is cursed. It becomes an artifact coveted by the Norse gods, the giants, and various heroes; it spends time in a dragon's horde, and it brings doom to all its owners. The stories are rich in symbolism and open to multiple interpretations, but a simplistic reading is that exploitive, antisocial behavior results from the absence of love (especially sexual love). Loveless people turn to materialism and power politics; they use their power to enslave those around them. It's a simple interpretation that makes me laugh - "He never found love, so he turned to a life of utter evil."
Industry and exploitation are the opposite of the romantic ideal. Power displaces love. I see elements of it in The Lord of the Rings movies with the despoiling of Isengard:
The old world will burn in the fires of industry. The forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fists of the Orc. - Saruman
Spoken like a true mad wizard who's not getting any love action. Think how differently the trilogy could have been if Saruman had a girlfriend.
Time for a new poll
I had a dominion game a few years back where a player's character got married, but those situations tend to be rare. More often than not, D&D is our beer and pretzels game and there are very few relationships in the game. How about your games? Drop a comment and/or chime in on the new poll.
Labels: Gaming, Mythic Monday
Archive of Polls
A couple of years from now I'm going to want to remember all the stupid instant polls I've slapped up in the corner of my blog; it's time I made an archive. I'll archive completed polls here.
Mar 4, 2011: Which Approach to the Realm of Fairy is Most Interesting?
Celtic (39%), Alien and Bizarre (27%), Law vs Chaos (24%), Shakespearian (9%), The Dresden Files (0%).
The crowd has spoken. Celtic faeries, with a touch of the alien and bizarre. Cut to Jim Butcher sitting in his living room with a fat zero: "What's wrong with me?"
Feb 21, 2011: How do you use D&D or AD&D in your current setting?
My setting uses most of D&D as is (55%), I've overhauled D&D to fit my homebrew (26%), I tweak D&D to emulate a literary or historical setting (17%).
See, this is where I realize most DMs are lazier wiser than me, letting D&D play to it's strengths. I've tried to do countless historical settings (I usually get burnt out at some point on the sheer amount of details available).
Feb 23, 2011: Which Lich House project is most interesting?
The Black City (61%), War Machine for Greyhawk (6%), AD&D's Implied Setting (31%). Well - there's a clear message - maybe less blogging on, get off the fence and work on the Black City again? I've crumpled a bunch of maps (literally and figuratively) and realized I was making the surface ruins too complicated - I've got a plan now - check in early next week.
I still plan on working through the DMG on the AD&D implied setting, and need to do bits and pieces of the Greyhawk War Machine as my current campaign moves along.
Feb 14, 2011: Do you use love in your D&D games (from Valentine's Day):
Random harlot chart, page 192 1E DMG (50%), We explore dungeons, not characters (41%),
Characters have gotten married (41%), Our games feature chaste, courtly love (23%), My character is a fantasy heartbreaker (8%).
These results kind of speak for themselves. Though I would think more people who voted for the random harlot table might have thought of themselves as fantasy heartbreakers.
Oh yeah, I forgot - most folks use 4d6, drop the lowest, arrange as you like, and make Charisma the dump stat.
Feb 5, 2011: Should I post Game Reports Here?
The majority of readers thought it would be a good idea to have game reports out here
I like game reports, put 'em here (53%), Keep 'em on Dragonsfoot (15%) ,Cross-post in both places (30%).
Jan 23, 2011: Can the player's kill the king?
This one came out like 24-2 in favor of giving players freedom in the sandbox to try and overthrow kings and rulers, versus barring such activity as 'not what the game is about'.
Dec 29, 2010: Who were the founders of the Black City?
Folks thought Yog-Sothoth worshipping aliens (The Greys) made better antagonists than time-traveling dinosauroids (The Reptoids).
Best line from last night's kid's game
Game Report: Gothic Greyhawk session 20
Observations on Henchmen
Ghouls Galore
The Junkyard of Ideas: The Glantri Game
Review: The Hidden Serpent
New Look for Dreams in the Lich House
Mythic Monday: the Winter Hag
Progress of the Zombie War, a campaign journal, an...
The Junkyard of Ideas: Midnight for Old School D&...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6542
|
__label__cc
| 0.627138
| 0.372862
|
Category Archives: othello the moor of venice shakespeare
April 19, 2019 by Dr. Joseph Suglia - 10 Comments
An Analysis of THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE – by Joseph Suglia
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice (Shakespeare) by Joseph Suglia
A question that arises in the minds of readers of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is inescapably the following: “Why does Iago have a pathological hatred for Othello?” Well, why does anyone hate anyone? Why does anyone love anyone? The sources of hatred, as of love, are largely unconscious. Hatred and love are not the products of conscious agency. They are feelings that appear inexplicably in the mind. The unconscious sources of human behavior can be marked in literature, however. We are dealing here with a literary fabrication, a figure made of paper and ink, not a human being, and there might be textual clues that would explain Iago’s seething hatred for Othello.
There seem to be four hypotheses for the grounds of Iago’s vehement antipathy toward Othello:
Iago resents Othello for choosing Michael Cassio as his lieutenant.
Othello passes over Iago for promotion to lieutenant and instead selects him as his ensign or “ancient.” He becomes someone who delivers Othello’s letters and carries his luggage. Iago inveighs against the election of Cassio, whom he considers someone who has a merely theoretical knowledge of the science of death, a “great arithmetician… [t]hat never set a squadron in the field / Nor the division of a battle knows / More than a spinster” [I:i]. And yet Othello does raise Iago to the lieutenancy in Act Three, Scene Three. Why, then, would Iago continue to hold a grudge?
Iago abominates Othello because he suspects that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia.
This is mere rumor, and Iago knows that the rumor is probably a canard: “I hate the Moor / And it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He’s done my office. I know not if’t be true, / But I for mere suspicion in that kind / Will do as if for surety” [I:iii]. Iago admits that he has no evidence to support this hypothesis, and it doesn’t matter to him one way or the other whether Othello has cuckolded him. Iago seizes upon the rumor as a pretext for his boundless negativity.
Iago is sexually jealous of Othello. He is desirous of Desdemona, Othello’s wife.
This interpretation is not altogether without evidence, but it is not a comprehensive interpretation. If Iago is sexually possessive of Desdemona, why, then, would he offer her to Roderigo?: “[T]hou shalt enjoy her—therefore make money” [I:iii].
Iago makes his lust for Desdemona plain in the following lines: “Now I do love her too, / Not out of absolute lust—though peradventure / I stand accountant for as great a sin— / But partly led to diet my revenge, / For that I do suspect the lusty Moor / Hath leaped into my seat, the thought whereof / Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards…” [II:i]. This passage makes it clear that “love,” for the immoralist Iago, is the mere scion of lust and that his desire for Desdemona is really the desire to screw Othello over. He cannot bear the thought that Othello has “leaped into his seat”—which is to say that Iago’s rivalrous-emulous identification with Othello takes precedence over his carnal interest in Desdemona.
Iago despises Othello for his race.
It is true that Iago repeatedly calls Othello “the Moor.” Depriving someone of a proper name, and replacing that person’s proper name with a common noun, is a common way of depersonalizing someone. George W. Bush engaged in this linguistic practice quite often, renaming Vladimir Putin “Ostrich Legs,” Tony Blair “Landslide,” Silvio Berlusconi “Shoes,” and John Boehner “Boner.”
There is no question that Iago uses ugly racist language: Othello is nominated “an old black ram [that is] tupping [Brabantio’s] white ewe” [I:i]; he is “a Barbary horse” that covers his daughter; “you’ll have your nephews neigh to you, you’ll have courses for cousins and jennets for germans” [Ibid.]. Consider the audience to whom this language is addressed. Iago’s invective might be used for purely rhetorical purposes, in order to produce specific effects within Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. Brabantio is clearly a hardcore racist idiot who thinks that all North Africans are witches and warlocks and that Othello, therefore, could only win his daughter through ensorcellment: “Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her” [I:ii]. He makes this point with deadening repetitiousness. He cannot conceive of his daughter “fall[-ing] in love with what she feared to look on” and cannot comprehend why she would reject the wealthy “curled darlings” [I:iii] of the state in favor of the Moor.
Iago, the reptilian-Machiavellian manipulator, might be playing on the racist sympathies of Brabantio in the way that a clever lawyer might stir up the racist antipathies of a jury without being a racist him- or herself. While it is possible that there is a racial element in Iago’s hatred for Othello, his hatred is not reducible to racism or racialized nationalism.
Iago’s hatred for Othello is an absolute hatred—a hatred absolved from qualification, from relation. A textual clue for the unconscious sources of his hatred is contained in the following lines: “Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago… I am not what I am” [I:i].
Were Iago the Moor, Iago would not be Iago: Am I alone in hearing in this line an unforgiving self-contempt and the desire to become Othello? Whenever a human being encounters a stranger, the question is always the same: “Who are you?” In other words: Who are you in relation to me? Are you similar to me? Are you different from me? To what degree are you different from me? How do I measure myself against you? In the case of the stalker Iago, there is, I suspect, the painful consciousness of his own inferiority vis-à-vis Othello and the painful desire to become Othello, which is an absolute impossibility. This is the meaning of the last line quoted: “I am not what I am.” Iago is not identical to himself because he identifies himself intimately and yet impossibly with Othello. If you are obsessed with someone, you desire to become the person with whom you are obsessed. This will never happen, but what will happen is that you will no longer be your own, you will no longer be yourself, for the object of your obsession will engulf you.
Iago’s rivalry with Othello embodies the dialectic of the self in relation to the other human being. There is, on the one hand, the self-assumption of the self–which is based on the differentiation of the self from the other human being–and, on the other hand, the becoming-other (Anderswerden) that Hegel describes in The Phenomenology of Spirit. In the lines cited above, Iago articulates how he imagines himself as other-than-himself–how he exteriorizes himself as Othello–and recuperates himself from this self-exteriorization.
Would Othello have murdered Desdemona even without Iago’s deceptions and interferences? This, of course, is a silly question from a philological point of view, since we only have the text and any speculation about “what would have happened” outside of the text is absurd. However, it is important to think through the necessity or the non-necessity of Iago in relation to the act of uxoricide that Othello performs.
Let me rephrase the question, then: How integral is Iago to the act of uxoricide that Othello performs?
My interpretation is that Iago plays a non-essential role in the murder of Desdemona. He externalizes a jealous rage that is already within Othello. Iago echoes prejudices and suspicions that are already seething inside of him. From the third scene of the third act:
OTHELLO: Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
IAGO: Cassio, my lord? no, sure, I cannot think it / That he would steal away so guilty-like / Seeing you coming.
Notice that Iago is merely reflecting Othello’s suspicions. Iago is reactive, not active. It is Othello, not Iago, who questions Cassio’s honesty:
OTHELLO: Is [Cassio] not honest?
IAGO: Honest, my lord?
OTHELLO: Honest? Ay, honest.
IAGO: My lord, for aught I know.
OTHELLO: What does thou think?
IAGO: Think, my lord?
OTHELLO: Think, my lord! By heaven, thou echo’st me / As if there were some monster in thy thought / Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something, / I heard thee say even now thou lik’st not that / When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?
The monster does not dwell in Iago’s thought, but in Othello’s. Iago draws out the monstrous thoughts that have been devouring Othello for some time. It is Othello who does not like the way in which Cassio slinks away from Desdemona when her husband approaches. It is Othello who finds Cassio’s behavior suspect, not Iago. Iago eschews direct accusation and instead employs innuendo.
It is often said, as I discussed above, that Othello is a victim of racism and nationalism. One should not also forget that Othello has nationalist prejudices of his own, absorbing, as he does, the idea that all Venetian women are whores—hence, his rush to judge Desdemona as licentiously “liberal” as he inspects her hand: “This hand is moist, my lady… This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart: / Hot, hot, and moist. This hand of yours requires / A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer, / Much castigation, exercise devout, / For here’s a young and sweating devil, here, / That commonly rebels. ’Tis a good hand, / A frank one” [III:iv].
The inspection of Desdemona’s hand was Othello’s idea, not Iago’s. Othello impulsively believes Iago’s every word condemning Desdemona, for Othello has already condemned Desdemona in his mind. Just as Othello impulsively believes Iago’s every word condemning Desdemona, and denies Emilia’s every word defending her, Desdemona impulsively takes the side of Cassio, pledging to be his mediator until the end. Both Othello and Desdemona are impulsive, acting without evidence.
Nor is Desdemona entirely innocent in her own annihilation. When she falls in love with Othello, Desdemona falls in love with what she once and always has feared to look upon. She loves Othello because of his violence, not despite his violence. Desdemona is what psychologists call a “hybristophiliac”: someone who, like Rhianna or Bonnie Parker, is sexually attracted to violent criminals. She is originally drawn to Othello for his adventurous exoticism and his proximity to death. As Othello puts it in the first act of the play: “[Desdemona] loved me for the dangers I had passed” [I:iii]. Iago suggests to Roderigo that Desdemona will grow tired of Othello’s differentness and seek out another lover: “[Desdemona] must change for youth; when she is sated with [Othello’s] body she will find the error of her choice; she must have change, she must” [I:iii]. Is Iago wrong? As Rene Girard suggests in A Theatre of Envy, Othello could eventually be replaced by a younger version of himself, for, in marriage, what husband could escape the crushing banalizations of the everyday? The “extravagant and wheeling stranger” [I:i] would become a boring and bored husband like any other. Othello, if he does not solidify his role as the death-giving general, is doomed to disintegrate into a cuckold.
In a sense, Othello is never other than who he appears to be. By contrast, following Harold Bloom, Iago is engaged in a war against being. Iago is anti-being or nothingness: He is not what he is. When Iago says, “For I am nothing, if not critical” [II:i], this may be taken literally: He is divided against himself. Othello, on the other hand, is always only what he is. From the beginning of the play until its terrifying end, Othello is the violent warrior who loves death more than he loves love.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6543
|
__label__cc
| 0.57722
| 0.42278
|
Loosli, Aido, Adams win events at 2019 EPT Monte Carlo
Tuesday April 30, 2019 at 3:08 pm
The 2019 EPT Monte Carlo is underway. This year's series features a multitude of events. French pro Sylvain Loosli shipped Event #2 €10,300 NL for a score worth €198,610. Sergio Aido won the €100,000 Super High Roller for €1.6 million, and Tim Adams took down the €25,000 Single-Day High Roller for €548,030. Italy's Stefano Schiano won the French National Championship for €209K.
Pic by PokerStars Blog
The European Poker Tour reached the end of their season with the EPT Grand Finale at the Monte Carlo Casino in swanky Monte Carlo. Even the stray dogs drive Bentleys in Monte Carlo, where wealth is a mere afterthought because when you're so stinking rich, you don't care about overpriced things. Of course, that mentality is perfect for outside sharks look to feast on the uber-rich. That's why the convergence of the poker world and the uppercrust always makes a unique experience. Love it, or hate it... the EPT Monte Carlo is truly a high-balla visceral experience any way you cut it.
Thus far, they played a bunch of side events at the EPT Monte Carlo including a pair of high roller events and a modest 10K. Sylvain Loosli shipped Event #2 €10,300 NL for €198,610.
Only nine players were paid out in Event #2, but he outlasted a difficult final table that included Erik Seidel, Charlie Carrel, Seth Davies, Ole Schemion, and Joao Vieira. Seidel busted in fifth place, while Carrel hit the road in fourth overall. Loosli defeated Georgios Kitsios heads-up for the victory.
Spanish pro Sergio Aido is the third-most successful player in the history of his country. Aido won the €100,000 Super High Roller by fading a field of 52 entries, which includes 18 re-entries in this SHR affair. That event had a 5 million prize pool and only seven players were paid out.
Aido banked €1,589,190 for first place. He picked off fellow countryman Jesus Cortes heads-up for €1.1M. Canadian pro Sam Greenwood got stopped cold in third place. Daniel Dvoress, another Canuck, finished in fourth overall. Mikita Badziakouski final tabled the 100K SHR, but he finished in fifth place. Charlie Carrel made yet another final table, but the British pro bounced in sixth place. Poland's Wiktor Malinowski took seventh place for a min-cash.
Canadian pro Timothy Adams binked the single-day 25K High Roller. That event paid out €548,030. The 25K attracted 82 runners including 26 re-entries. The total prize pool fell short of 2M. Only the top 11 places paid out in that one.
Lots of familiar faces cashed in the 25K including Matthis Eibinger, Ole Schemion, Ike Haxton, Alex Foxen, Charrlie Carrel, and Sean Winter. Carrel took fourth place and made yet another final table. Canada beat out America in this one and Sean Winter finished in second place after losing heads-up to Tim Adams. Winter took home €390K for a runner-up prize. Not too shabby, eh?
Oh, and in case you were wondering, an Italian player won the French National Championship. The €1,100 buy-in National attracted 1,425 runners and a prize pool worth €1,382,250. Stefano Schiano beat Aussie Sam Higgs heads-up for the National title and €209,000 in cash.
2019 EPT Monte Carlo Event #2
Buy-in: €10,300
Prize Pool: €679,000
Payouts: 9
Event #2 Results:
1. Sylvain Loosli €198,610
2. Georgios Kitsios €142,590
3. Seth Davies €92,680
4. Charlie Carrel €69,940
5. Erik Seidel €54,320
6. Joao Vieira €42,100
7. Ole Schemion €33,270
8. Thomas Muehloecker €25,800
9. Pablo Melogno €19,690
PokerStars LIVE: read the article
HIGH ROLLERS, FISH-N-CHIPS, WEEKLY CHALLENGES: read the article
The poker dictionary definitions: Final Table, Hit, Prize Pool, Table, Min-cash, Buy-in
PokerStars: PokerStars bonus - Download PokerStars - PokerStars user reviews - PokerStars tournaments - PokerStars freerolls
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6553
|
__label__cc
| 0.687202
| 0.312798
|
Difference between revisions of "Answer 2008 06"
From ECGpedia
Drj (talk | contribs)
85.144.210.221 (talk)
(→Answer 2008)
AV conduction and some intraventricular conduction
delay) in combination with a family history of dilated
cardiomyopathy is highly suggestive for a ‘laminopathy’,
cardiomyopathy is highly suggestive for a '''‘laminopathy’''',
i.e. a familial dilated cardiomyopathy based on a
mutation in the lamin A/C gene. A comparable ECG
Author(s) A.A.M. Wilde
NHJ edition: 2008:06,221
These Rhythm Puzzles have been published in the Netherlands Heart Journal and are reproduced here under the prevailing creative commons license with permission from the publisher, Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum.
The ECG can be enlarged twice by clicking on the image and it's first enlargement
A36-year-old male comes to your outpatient clinic because of his family history. His father died suddenly at age 43 and his brother died suddenly at age 39. Both had documented dilated cardiomyopathy. He has no symptoms whatsoever. His ECG is presented in figure 1. Ten years before the current presentation he had an unremarkable cardiological check-up (ECG, echo, X-ECG).
What is the most likely diagnosis, what would be your next step and what would your eventual treatment be?
Answer 2008
The ECG shows a supraventricular rhythm (60 beats/ min) where the P wave is only clearly visible in lead V1. The PQ interval is markedly prolonged (400 msec), QRS width is 110 msec with an intermediate electrical axis. From the rhythm strip at the bottom of the figure it is clear that the heart rate on the left side of the figure is similar to that on the right side which argues in favour of a regular supraventricular rhythm with very low amplitude P waves in the extremity leads. In the middle and on the far right the P wave is not followed by a QRS complex. As judged from lead V1 there is no preceding (further) PQ prolongation. Hence, a Mobitz II AV block should be diagnosed.
This ECG (very low amplitude P waves, impaired AV conduction and some intraventricular conduction delay) in combination with a family history of dilated cardiomyopathy is highly suggestive for a ‘laminopathy’, i.e. a familial dilated cardiomyopathy based on a mutation in the lamin A/C gene. A comparable ECG (without second-degree AV block) can be seen in a previous rhythm puzzle. A myopathy is frequently present as well, but neuromuscular tests in this case revealed no abnormalities. An echocardiogram revealed cardiac dimensions at the upper limit of normal, which perfectly fits with the diagnosis because frequently the conduction disorders precede LV dysfunction. A mutation in the lamin A/C gene could indeed be demonstrated. The ECG without doubt necessitates pacemaker implantation. Patients with laminopathies, however, seem to be at particular high risk for sudden cardiac death, even with a pacemaker implanted.[1] ICD implantation is therefore recommended when a pacemaker is considered. Results from a recent small-scale prospective study seem to underscore this policy,[2] but this study may have been hampered by selection of particularly ‘malignant’ families. The present family history, however, definitely warrants prophylactic ICD implantation in this case.
van Berlo JH, de Voogt WG, van der Kooi AJ, van Tintelen JP, Bonne G, Yaou RB, Duboc D, Rossenbacker T, Heidbüchel H, de Visser M, Crijns HJ, and Pinto YM. Meta-analysis of clinical characteristics of 299 carriers of LMNA gene mutations: do lamin A/C mutations portend a high risk of sudden death?. J Mol Med (Berl). 2005 Jan;83(1):79-83. DOI:10.1007/s00109-004-0589-1 | PubMed ID:15551023 | HubMed [Berlo]
Meune C, Van Berlo JH, Anselme F, Bonne G, Pinto YM, and Duboc D. Primary prevention of sudden death in patients with lamin A/C gene mutations. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jan 12;354(2):209-10. DOI:10.1056/NEJMc052632 | PubMed ID:16407522 | HubMed [Meune]
All Medline abstracts: PubMed | HubMed
Retrieved from "http://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Answer_2008_06&oldid=8352"
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6566
|
__label__cc
| 0.623507
| 0.376493
|
Monday, January 12th 2015 - 09:22 UTC
Paris is the capital of the world said President Hollande next to 44 foreign leaders
Dozens of world leaders including Muslim and Jewish statesmen liked arms leading hundreds of thousands of French citizens in an unprecedented march under high security to pay tribute to victims of Islamist militant attacks.
Sunday, January 11th 2015 - 22:26 UTC
Falkland Islands unveils bronze to 'hero forever' Baroness Thatcher
Describing Baroness Margaret Thatcher as a “hero forever” the Falkland Islands unveiled on Saturday a bust of the former British Prime Minister whose determination was decisive in recovering the Islands from invading and occupying Argentine forces in 1982, helping to propel the Islands to what they are now. Sir Mark Thatcher, son of the late PM was especially invited to the ceremony.
Falklands demining season scheduled to begin next Monday
The Falkland Islands is set to begin another demining and ground clearance activity next week at Minefield number 59 at Wall Mountain on East Falkland.
Rousseff orders ministries to cut spending by a third
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has instructed a budget cut which affects 39 ministries, reducing their funds by a third, in order to save a figure estimated at 703 million dollars per month.
Saturday, January 10th 2015 - 07:27 UTC
Falklands unveil bronze bust dedicated to Baroness Margaret Thatcher
Falkland Islands residents will gather this Saturday afternoon next to the 1982 Liberation Monument for the unveiling and dedication of the Falkland Islands Government commissioned bronze bust of Baroness Margaret Thatcher.
European leaders will march on Sunday in Paris against terrorism
Several European head of states will join a manifestation in Paris on Sunday, to express their solidarity following the recent attacks. France’s President Francois Hollande will be accompanied by an important number of leaders, including Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK David Cameron and Italy’s Matteo Renzi among others.
The ten safest airlines in 2014 has Australia's Qantas top of the list
With 2014 having the dubious distinction of being the year of some of the most tragic and mystifying aviation incidents in modern history, the announcement of AirlineRatings.com’s top 10 safest airlines and top 10 safest low cost airlines for 2015 is timely.
Caricom countries want to use Chinese credit to restructure debt
Caribbean Community countries (Caricom) want to use the three billion US dollar concessionary facility announced by China last year for debt restructuring and refinancing among other initiatives, CARICOM Chairman Perry Christie has said.
Argentina's comprehensive strategic (and vital) association with China
Argentina and China entered a new phase of their relationship in July last year after upgrading it to a “comprehensive strategic association” and signing a battery of agreements, which include a 4.7 billion investment in hydroelectric dams, 2.09 billion in the renovation of the rail system and an 11 billion currency swap.
China pledges 250bn in investments and 500bn in bilateral trade with Latam
Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Thursday 250 billion dollars in investment in Latin America over the next five years as part of a drive to boost resource-hungry China’s influence in the region.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6567
|
__label__wiki
| 0.887429
| 0.887429
|
Adyghe people
Adyghe / Adygeans
250,000 (est)
4,000[3][4]–5,000[5]
Adyghe language, Russian language
Sunni Islam, Irreligion
Other Circassians and Abazgi (Abkhaz, Abazin)
The ethnonym "Adyghe" (Adyghe: Адыгэ/Adygè, Russian: Ады́ги) is used as an endonym by the Caucasian-speaking Circassians of the North Caucasus and as a demonym for the inhabitants of the Republic of Adygea, a federal subject of Russia located in the southwestern part of European Russia, enclaved within Krasnodar Krai, where it is also rendered as Adygeans (Russian: Адыгейцы).[a] The Adygeans (of Adygea) speak the Adyghe language.
1 Ethnology
4 Annotations
Ethnology[edit]
See also: Circassians
The Adyghe people are one of the Circassian peoples, along with the Cherkess (of Karachay-Cherkessia) and Kabards (of Kabardino-Balkaria), from whom they are geographically separated by the Slav-inhabited Laba region.[6] The languages of the Adygheans, Cherkess and Kabards are mutually intelligible, however, there is a consensus that these are typologically distinct languages.[7] The standard (literary) Adyghe language is based on the dialect of the Temirgoy tribe.[8]
The Adygheans, known as "western Circassians" per Soviet terminology from the 1930s, use a written language separated by Soviet policy from those of the Cherkess ("central Circassians") and Kabards ("eastern Circassians"), despite the possibility to have a unified one. The Adyghe-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast was established in July 1922, "Cherkess" being dropped from the name in August 1936.[9]
The Circassian peoples are divided into tribes or clans (tlapq). There are ten Adyghe tribes (or subgroups),[10][11] out of which four are identified[by whom?] as speaking mutually intelligible Adyghe dialects: Abzakh, Bzhedug, Temirgoy and Shapsug.[10][8] The Shapsug were counted as a separate ethnic group in the censuses.[12]
Distribution of Adygeans in Adygea, Russia (2002 census)
According to the 2010 census of Russia, the number of self-declared ethnic "Adyghe" is 124,835 (0.09%). The community included 107,048 in Adygea itself (ca. 25% of the republic's population), 13,834 in Krasnodar Krai, 569 in Moscow.[12] The majority of the population in Adygea declare as Russians (63.6%). In 2002 it was estimated that the community numbered 131,000 in all of Russia.[6] The other closely related groups, Kabards and Cherkess, numbered 516,826 (0.38%) and 73,184 (0.05%), respectively.[12] Those that declared as Shapsug, who speak an Adyghe dialect and are regarded an Adyghe subgroup, numbered 3,882.[12]
There is a significant Adyghe diaspora. It was estimated in 1997 that there were 71,000 Adyghe-speakers in Turkey, 44,000 in Jordan, and 25,000 in Syria.[13]
Main article: History of the Circassians
The political history of the Adyghe in Adygea since the Russian Revolution is complex. On 27 July 1922, a Circassian (Adygea) Autonomous Oblast was established in the Kuban-Black Sea Oblast, which would later become Krasnodar Krai. After several name changes, the Adyghe Autonomous Oblast was established on 3 August 1928. On 5 October 1990, the Adygea ASSR was proclaimed and separated from Krasnodar Krai. On 24 March 1992, it became the Republic of Adygea. A significant population of the Adyghe community now lives in the Black Sea region of Northern Turkey where their culture is preserved in villages in the area.[14]
Annotations[edit]
^ In Russian, Adygea's Circassian residents are called Adygejtsy (Адыгейцы, meaning 'those [of the Republic] of Adygea'), whereas the Circassians in general are called Adygi (Адыги, meaning 'the Adyghe'). In English terminology, on the other hand, many foreigners fail to distinguish between these Russian-specific administrative (former) and ethnolinguistic (latter) terms, and misuse the word Adyghe to refer only to the Adyghe in Republic of Adygea (only a small part of the historical Circassian lands). The majority of the Circassians in Russia today reside in neighbouring regions of Adygea.
^ Официальный сайт Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года. Информационные материалы об окончательных итогах Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года ‹See Tfd›(in Russian)
^ "About number and composition population of Ukraine by data All-Ukrainian census of the population 2001". Ukraine Census 2001. State Statistics Committee of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
^ Besleney, Zeynel Abidin (2014). The Circassian Diaspora in Turkey: A Political History. Routledge. p. 96. ISBN 978-1317910046.
^ Torstrick, Rebecca L. (2004). Culture and Customs of Israel. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 46. ISBN 978-0313320910.
^ Louër, Laurence (2007). To be an Arab in Israel. Columbia University Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0231140683.
^ a b Minahan 2002, p. 36.
^ Hewitt, George (2005). "North West Caucasian". Lingua. 115 (1–2): 17. doi:10.1016/j.lingua.2003.06.003.
^ a b Michael Fortescue; Marianne Mithun; Nicholas Evans (29 July 2017). The Oxford Handbook of Polysynthesis. Oxford University Press. pp. 949–. ISBN 978-0-19-968320-8.
^ Olson, Pappas & Pappas 1994, p. 152.
^ a b Olson, Pappas & Pappas 1994, p. 15.
^ Minahan 2002, p. 37.
^ a b c d 2010 census of Russia
^ Anatole Lyovin (1997). An Introduction to the Languages of the World. Oxford University Press. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-0-19-508116-9.
^ "Adyghe in Turkey". Archived from the original on 2011-08-21. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
James Minahan (2002). "Adyge". Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: A-C. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-32109-2.
Alexandre Bennigsen; S. Enders Wimbush (1986). Muslims of the Soviet empire: a guide. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-33958-4.
James Stuart Olson; Lee Brigance Pappas; Nicholas Charles Pappas (1994). An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 152–. ISBN 978-0-313-27497-8.
Circassian diaspora
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Historical Circassia (in European Russia and Ukraine[citation needed]) · Circassian genocide
Circassians: Adyghe (Abzakhs, Besleney, Bzhedugs, Hatuqwai, Kabardian, Mamkhegh, Natukhai, Shapsugs, Chemirgoys, Ubykh, Yegeruqwai, Zhaney)
Muslims in Europe
Gorani
Kurds in Germany
Kurds in France
Kurds in the Netherlands
Muslimani
Pomaks
Talysh
Azerbaijanis
Balkars
Bashkirs
Crimean Tatars
Karachays
Kazakhs
Kumyks
Lipka Tatars
Volga Tatars
Meskhetian Turks
North Caucasian
Abazins
Aghuls
Akhvakhs
Archis
Bagvalals
Botlikh
Budukh
Chamalals
Chechens
Kists
Circassians
Dargins
Hinukh
Hunzib
Jeks
Khinalugs
Khwarshis
Kryts
Lezgins
Rutuls
Tabasarans
Tsakhurs
Tindis
Tsez
Arabs in Europe
Moroccans in Spain
Berbers
Berbers in France
Berbers in Belgium
Berbers in the Netherlands
Dönmeh
Abkhazians
Adjarians
Lazs
Ingiloys
Vallahades
Cretan Muslims
Maghrebis
Megleno-Romanians
Ossetians
Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians
Russia articles
Proto-Indo-Europeans
Scythians
East Slavs
Rus' Khaganate
Kievan Rus'
Novgorod Republic
Vladimir-Suzdal
Grand Duchy of Moscow
Tsardom of Russia
Russian Republic
Russian SFSR
Journalism
European Russia
Caucasus Mountains
Ural Mountains
West Siberian Plain
Law enforcement (Prisons)
President of Russia
Russian oligarchs
Space industry
Peoples of the Caucasus
Avar–Andic
Akhvakh
Bagvalals–Tindis
Botlix–Godoberi
Didoic
Hunzibs
Khwarshi
Lezgic
Aguls
Archin
Jek
Nakh
including Kists
Khinalug
Kartvelian
including Lazs and Ingiloys
Abkhaz–Abaza
Caucasus Greeks
including Urums
Pontic Greeks
Iranic
Kuban Cossacks
Terek Cossacks
Mongolic
Kalmyks
Kipchak–Cuman
Karachay–Balkars
Kipchak–Nogai
Nogai
Oghuz
Turkmens
Ethnic minorities in Armenia
Ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan
Ethnic minorities in Georgia
Ethnic minorities in Russia
Ethnic groups in Russia
Cherkess
Kabardians
Belarusians
Buryats
Karelians
Mordvins
Mokshas
Tatars
Tuvans
Udmurts
Yakuts
Other indigenous
Ainus
Aleuts
Alyutors
Chukchis
Chuvans
Dolgans
Itelmens
Kereks
Koryaks
Nenets
Nganasans
Siberian Yupik
Naukan
Sirenik
Yukaghir
Evenks
Evens
Negidals
Udege
Ulchs
Kets
Selkups
Siberian Tatars
Chelkans
Kumandins
Soyots
Tofalars
Tozhu Tuvans
Abaza–Abkhaz
Besermyan
Nagaybaks
Setos
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adyghe_people&oldid=897702634"
History of Kuban
Indigenous peoples of Europe
Muslim communities of Russia
Articles with Russian-language external links
Articles containing Adyghe-language text
Articles containing Russian-language text
Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from April 2018
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6568
|
__label__wiki
| 0.845883
| 0.845883
|
ISO 3166-2:PS
Main article: ISO 3166-2
ISO 3166-2:PS is the entry for the State of Palestine in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions (e.g., provinces or states) of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1.
Currently for the State of Palestine, it claims the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, but in fact controls only about 40% of the West Bank. ISO 3166-2 codes are defined for 16 governorates.
Each code consists of two parts, separated by a hyphen. The first part is PS, the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code of the State of Palestine. The second part is three letters.
1 Current codes
1.1 Governorates
Current codes[edit]
Subdivision names are listed as in the ISO 3166-2 standard published by the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency (ISO 3166/MA).
ISO 639-1 codes are used to represent subdivision names in the following administrative languages:
(ar): Arabic
(en): English
Governorates[edit]
Click on the button in the header to sort each column.
Subdivision name (en)
Subdivision name (ar)
(BGN/PCGN 1956)
PS-BTH Bethlehem Bayt Laḩm
PS-DEB Deir El Balah Dayr al Balaḩ
PS-GZA Gaza Ghazzah
PS-HBN Hebron Al Khalīl
PS-JEN Jenin Janīn
PS-JRH Jericho and Al Aghwar Arīḩā wal Aghwār
PS-JEM Jerusalem Al Quds
PS-KYS Khan Yunis Khān Yūnis
PS-NBS Nablus Nāblus
PS-NGZ North Gaza Shamāl Ghazzah
PS-QQA Qalqilya Qalqīlyah
PS-RFH Rafah Rafaḩ
PS-RBH Ramallah Rām Allāh wal Bīrah
PS-SLT Salfit Salfīt
PS-TBS Tubas Ţūbās
PS-TKM Tulkarm Ţūlkarm
Changes[edit]
The following changes to the entry have been announced by the ISO 3166/MA since the first publication of ISO 3166-2 in 1998. ISO stopped issuing newsletters in 2013.
Description of change in newsletter
Code/Subdivision change
Newsletter I-3 2002-08-20 Insertion of a new entry between PUERTO RICO and PORTUGAL; in accordance with ISO 3166-1 Newsletter V-2 New entry (no codes)
Newsletter II-3 2011-12-13
(corrected
2011-12-15) Administrative division taken into account. Subdivisions added:
16 governorates
Online Browsing
Platform (OBP) 2013-02-06 UN notification of full name
2015-11-27 Addition of romanization system for ara; change of spelling of category name in ara; change of spelling of PS-QQA, PS-JRH, PS-RBH; update List Source
Subdivisions of the State of Palestine
ISO Online Browsing Platform: PS
ISO 3166 – Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions
List of ISO 3166 country codes
country subdivision codes
codes for former names of countries
a Changed from TP
b Changed from YU
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ISO_3166-2:PS&oldid=872632164"
Governorates of the Palestinian National Authority
State of Palestine-related lists
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6569
|
__label__wiki
| 0.862349
| 0.862349
|
Innovation@Purdue Engineering
Strategic Growth
Gary Cheng, associate professor of industrial engineering. Purdue University photo/Mark Simons
Research advances large-scale nanoshaping of ultrasmooth 3D crystalline metallic structures Latest results chronicled in Dec. 12 issue of Science
By Emil Venere
Research advances large-scale nanoshaping of ultrasmooth 3D crystalline metallic structures
Emil Venere
Latest results chronicled in Dec. 12 issue of Science
Magazine Section:
Feature CSS:
background-size: 110% auto;
background-position: 100% 15%;
Page CSS:
#article-banner {
background-size: 100% !important;
Research led by Gary Cheng, associate professor of industrial engineering, is breaking new ground in nanomanufacturing. Central to his work is the use of a pulsing laser to induce a shockwave inside a multilayered film topped with a glass sheet, creating large patterns of three-dimensional nanoshapes from metal sheets.
Research led by Gary Cheng, associate professor of industrial engineering, is breaking new ground in nanomanufacturing. Central to his work is the use of a pulsing laser to induce a shockwave inside a multilayered film topped with a glass sheet. In the latest results, researchers showed how to create large patterns of three-dimensional nanoshapes from metal sheets. The concept represents a potential manufacturing approach to inexpensive mass production of plasmonic metamaterials for advanced technologies.
“Traditionally it has been really difficult to deform a crystalline material into a nanomold because at these small sizes materials are super-hard,” Cheng says. Whereas other researchers have created nanoshapes out of relatively soft materials, the new work shows how to create shapes out of hard metals. “These nanoshapes have extremely smooth surfaces, which is potentially very advantageous for commercial applications,” Cheng says. Moreover, the new method, called laser shock-induced shaping, creates shapes out of crystalline metals, potentially giving them ideal mechanical and optical properties using a bench-top system capable of mass producing the shapes inexpensively.
To overcome the limitation of formability at nanoscale, this transformative approach realizes a high strain rate deformation in nanoscale. The multilayered sandwich structure has a nanomold at the bottom. Exposing this layered film to a pulsing laser causes the ablative layers to generate an ionized gas and a shockwave that exerts a downward pressure, forcing the metal film into the mold. The 3D crystalline metallic structures, some as small as 10 nanometers, include pyramids, gears, bars, grooves and a fishnet pattern stamped out of titanium, aluminum, copper, gold and silver.
Think of it as a mini-explosion that’s contained so that the force is directed downward,” says research collaborator Minghao Qi, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. A key benefit of the shock-induced forming is sharp corners, or high-fidelity structures, and aspect ratios as high as 5.
A new technique that uses a pulsing laser to create synthetic nano diamond films and patterns from graphite has potential applications from biosensors to computer chips. Purdue University photo/Mark Simons
“It is a very challenging task from a fabrication point of view to create ultra-smooth, high-fidelity nanostructures,” Qi says. “Normally, when metals recrystallize they form grains and that makes them more or less rough. Previous tries to form metal nanostructures have had to resort to some sort of amorphous metal, which gives them smooth surfaces and high strength, but they also have drawbacks including very high resistance. For potential applications in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics and plasmonics you want properties such as low resistance and thermal conductivity, and you want it to be very smooth. You also want it to be very high fidelity in terms of the pattern, sharp corners, vertical sidewalls, and those are very difficult to create. Before Gary's breakthrough, I thought it unlikely to achieve all of the good qualities together.”
Hybrid structures could expand applications
The researchers also created hybrid structures that combine metal with graphene, an ultrathin sheet of carbon that is promising for various technologies. Such hybrid structures could enhance plasmonic effects and bring metamaterial perfect absorbers, or MPAs, which have potential applications in optoelectronics and wireless communications. Plasmonic metamaterials could harness clouds of electrons called surface plasmons to manipulate and control light. They have engineered surfaces that contain features, patterns or elements on the scale of nanometers that enable unprecedented control of light and could bring advances such as high-speed electronics, advanced sensors and solar cells.
The research had its early beginnings between Cheng and his graduate students five years ago.
While silicon is too brittle to be considered practical for roll-to-roll nanomanufacturing, the discovery does lay the groundwork for future work to create molds out of more ductile and durable materials such as metals. “If you want to stamp 3D metal molds, you need to have a stamp first, and if you want a smooth metal surface you need to make your stamps very smooth, almost atomically smooth in silicon,” Qi says.
The nanosecond-pulsing laser is critical to the process. “When you make it fast, the materials have a higher formability,” Cheng says. While the pressure generated is not high — less than 2 gigapascals — the strain rate applied at the corners of the molds is considerably greater, resulting in high-fidelity nanostructures. The research team spent two years studying and documenting the effect with a variety of measurement techniques. "And we did a lot of molecular dynamics simulations to study what happens during this high strain rate,” he says.
Qi’s group created the silicon molds using facilities in Purdue’s Birck Nanotechnology Center. “Super high-fidelity metallic structures could make possible new devices based on patterned metals, roll-to-roll manufacturing of nanostructures and even large-scale metallic structures with functionalized surfaces, perhaps for aircraft,” Cheng says, “but such potential applications are likely far in the future.” Analyses showed the structures — such as the tiny pyramidal shape with a 500 nm base — are made of a single crystal.
The Science paper was authored by Purdue doctoral students Huang Gao, Yaowu Hu, Ji Li and Yingling Yang; researcher Ramses V. Martinez from Harvard; Purdue research assistant professor Yi Xuan, Purdue research associate Chunyu Li; UCSD professor Jian Luo; Purdue associate professor Minghao Qi; and Cheng. Future research may focus on using the technique to create a roll-to-roll manufacturing system, which is used in many industries including paper and sheet-metal production.
The research is ongoing and supported by National Science Foundation (grants CMMI–0547636, CMMI–1436305, CMMI–1120577 and CNS–1126688), National Institutes of Health (grant 1R01RR026273-01), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (grant HDTRA1-10-1-0106) and Office of Naval Research (grant N00014-11-1-0678). Other support has come from a Senior Research Associateship award by the National Research Council, the FP7 People program under the project Marie Curie IOF–275148 and an NSSEFF fellowship (N00014-15-1-0030).
In other research
In related work, Cheng’s group has shown how to create synthetic nanodiamond films and patterns from graphite, with potential applications ranging from biosensors to computer chips. “The biggest advantage is that you can selectively deposit nanodiamond on rigid surfaces without the high temperatures and pressures normally needed to produce synthetic diamond,” he says. “We do this at room temperature and without a high temperature and pressure chamber, so this process could significantly lower the cost of making diamond. In addition, we realize a direct writing technique that could selectively write nanodiamond in designed patterns.” The researchers have named the process confined pulse laser deposition (CPLD).
This illustration depicts a new technique that uses a pulsing laser to create synthetic nanodiamond films and patterns from graphite, with potential applications from biosensors to computer chips. (Purdue University image/Gary Cheng)
The ability to selectively “write” lines of diamond on surfaces could be practical for various potential applications including biosensors, quantum computing, fuel cells and next-generation computer chips. The technique works by using a multilayered film that includes a layer of graphite topped with a glass cover sheet. Exposing this layered structure to an ultrafast-pulsing laser instantly converts the graphite to anionized plasma and creates a downward pressure. The graphite plasma then quickly solidifies into diamond. The glass sheet confines the plasma to keep it from escaping, allowing it to form a nanodiamond coating.
“These are super-small diamonds and the coating is super-strong, so it could be used for high-temperature sensors,” Cheng says. Findings were detailed in a paper that appeared online in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. The paper was authored by former Purdue doctoral students Yuefeng Wang, Yingling Yang, Ji Li and Martin Y. Zhang; postdoctoral research associate Jiayi Shao; doctoral students Qiong Nian and Liang Tang; and Cheng.
“This technique has several important advantages to allow scalable processing, such as high speed, direct writing without a catalyst, selective and flexible processing, low cost without expensive pico/femtosecond laser systems and high temperature/vacuum chambers,” Cheng says.
The research team confirmed that the structures are diamonds using a variety of techniques including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and the measurement of electrical resistance. A U.S. patent application has been filed on the concept through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. More research is needed to commercialize the technique.
Various 3D ultrasmooth metallic structures: nanogears (top left), nanobars (top right), nanotrenches (bottom left), nano-V-groove (bottom right). Purdue University image/Gary Cheng
Read Other Stories:
Pioneering Partnership
Pursuing Answers
Big Systems Analyst
U.S. Department of Energy selects team, including Purdue, for new NNMI composites manufacturing center
Purdue, GE to collaborate on advanced manufacturing to enable faster, efficient brilliant factories
Two Purdue innovators named to Forbes 30 Under 30
If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact the Webmaster at webmaster@ecn.purdue.edu © 2019 Purdue University An equal access/equal opportunity university
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6571
|
__label__wiki
| 0.996458
| 0.996458
|
Ross Butler included in cast of ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ sequel
By: Noreen Jazul
Updated April 2, 2019, 1:05 PM
“Riverdale” and “13 Reasons Why” star Ross Butler has been officially cast in Netflix’s “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” sequel.
Butler announced that he will be part of follow-up film of the hit teen flick — “PS. I Still Love You” — on Twitter.
Casual business calls. But yeah, we're making a movie. No joke.@noahcent @netflix#TATBILB2 pic.twitter.com/T7difQbW4Z
— Ross Butler (@RossButler) April 1, 2019
“Casual business calls. But yeah, we’re making a movie. No joke. @noahcent @netflix #TATBILB2,” Butler tweeted alongside a photo of him and Noah Centineo who plays Peter Kavinsky in the film.
TATBILB producer Matt Kaplan also confirmed Butler’s addition to the cast, saying that the actor will portray Peter’s best friend, Trevor Pike.
“We’re thrilled to announce that the endlessly charming Ross Butler has joined the cast of the To All the Boys sequel as Trevor Pike,” Kaplan said in a statement sent to Entertainment Tonight.
“His real-life friendship with Noah brings a natural chemistry and great rapport to the set and we can’t wait for fans to see this friendship play out onscreen,” the producer added.
Earlier, Netflix also revealed that Jordan Fisher will join TATBILB 2 as John Ambrose McClaren, one of the recipients of Lara Jean’s (Lana Condor) love letters.
“To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” is based on Jenny Han’s namesake book, which was followed by two sequels, “PS. I Still Love You” and “Always and Forever, Lara Jean”.
TATBILB follows the story of Lara Jean and her secret love letters which was sent out to her crushes without her knowledge.
‘Game of Thrones’ and Netflix tipped to sweep Emmy nominations
Gazini recalls grandpa who is Rizal’s trusted person
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6572
|
__label__cc
| 0.55268
| 0.44732
|
Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 222, 2895-2909 (2013)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2013-02065-0
Manipulating the self assembly of colloids in electric fields
A. van Blaaderen1, M. Dijkstra1, R. van Roij2, A. Imhof1, M. Kamp1, B.W. Kwaadgras1, T. Vissers1 and B. Liu1
1 Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
2 Institute for Theoretical Physics, Utrecht University, Leuvenlaan 4, 3584 CE Utrecht, The Netherlands
Received: 6 September 2013
Revised: 17 September 2013
During the last decade the focus in colloid science on self-assembly has moved from mostly spherical particles and interaction potentials to more and more complex particle shapes, interactions and conditions. In this minireview we focus on how external electric fields, which in almost all cases can be replaced by magnetic particles and fields for similar effects, are used to manipulate the self-assembly process of ever more complex colloids. We will illustrate typical results from literature next to examples of our own work on how electric fields are used to achieve a broad range of different effects guiding the self-assembly of colloidal dispersions. In addition, preliminary measurements and calculations on how electric fields can be used to induce lock-and-key interactions will be presented as well.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2013
Introduction to colloidal dispersions in external fields
Electric double layer of anisotropic dielectric colloids under electric fields
Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics 225, 685-698 (2016)
Influence of hydrodynamic interactions on lane formation in oppositely charged driven colloids
Eur. Phys. J. E (2008) 26: 143-150
Impact of electric fields on the speed of contact line in vertical deposition of diluted colloids
Confined colloidal crystals in and out of equilibrium
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6576
|
__label__wiki
| 0.514193
| 0.514193
|
Fast Forward Promotions
Promoting Live Music In The North East
Rock Garden Revisited
Rock Garden Revisited History
Rock Garden Revisited List Of Shows
Rock Garden Revisited Show Posters
Minus Me Promotions
Minus Me History
Minus Me List of Shows
Minus Me Show Posters
Martin Stephenson – Georgian Theatre Stockton. 16th September 2017
First show of the Autumn/Winter schedule sees the return of the Tyneside troubadour Martin Stephenson
Martin is an outstanding singer and songwriter, whose career in music now stretches back over thirty years of critical acclaim and relentless touring.
The Daintees became one of the first bands to sign to the Newcastle based label Kitchenware, releasing a string of albums until disbanding in 1992. Martin has played literally 1000’s of shows, both solo and with the reformed Daintees. This will be his 3rd solo appearance at The Georgian Theatre. Each show is unique, there is no set formula, just great songs mixed with fabulous stories and jokes along side a total engagement with the audience.
Tickets available from the venue and usual on line outlets.
This entry was posted in General, Live Shows on 05/08/2017 by fastforwardpromotions.
← Forthcoming Shows Martin Stephenson on the radio! →
Follow Fast Forward Promotions on WordPress.com
Cyanide Pills with The Filth & Continental Quilts 27/09/2019 at 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm The Green Room, Green Dragon Studios, Theatre Yard, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1JZ, UK
Goodbye Mr MacKenzie 02/11/2019 at 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm Westgarth Social Club, 99 Southfield Rd, Middlesbrough TS1 3EZ, UK
Fallen Leaves 16/11/2019 at 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm Westgarth Social Club, 99 Southfield Rd, Middlesbrough TS1 3EZ, UK
A Certain Ratio 06/12/2019 at 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm The Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees, Georgian Theatre, Green Dragon Yard, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1AT, UK
Autumn/Winter Shows
Kitty Daisy & Lewis
The Pack – Newcastle 7th June
Spear Of Destiny 1st May at The Westgarth
May Shows at The Westgarth
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6577
|
__label__wiki
| 0.983175
| 0.983175
|
City of Angels FC Bayern take up residence in Los Angeles On Monday, FC Bayern began their Audi Summer Tour 2019 to the USA. The first stop for the team ... ‘Visiting friends’ at the Audi Summer Tour 2019 FC Bayern take 27-man squad to the USA FC Bayern head off for the Audi Summer Tour 2019 in the USA on Monday and are looking forward to... FCB train in new away shirt Last session before Audi Summer Tour The German record champions and adidas today presented the new away kit for the 2019/20 season. Looking back When seven FCB players won the World Cup Five years ago today, seven Bayern players won the 2014 World Cup with Germany against Argentina...
FC Bayern.tv Day 1 of the Audi Summer Tour Arrival, first training and media activities The best footage of FC Bayern's first day of the 2019 Audi Summer Tour in Los Angeles. Friday in focus Pavard unveiled, international stars return The latest star signing was unveiled and a clutch of stars reported back for duty on Friday Thomas Müller on Bayern's pre-season preparations 'You feel it in your legs' After the first few training sessions Thomas Müller commented on Bayern's pre-season preparations... Puck Ma's! FC Bayern + LA Kings How The Beautiful Game inspired a unique pre-game ritual at the rink!
FC Bayern Munich First team squad First team squad Women's team The FC Bayern Women represent the club in the Bundesliga and Women's Champions League. Legends team The FC Bayern Legends team was founded in the summer of 2006 with the aim of bringing former players...
Successful end to the season Bayern go into the summer break with a 4-2 win against Lindau FC Bayern visited SpVgg Lindau as part of their 100th anniversary Capacity crowd at the Betzenberg 1-1 draw in benefit match at Kaiserslautern FC Bayern played a benefit match at 1. FC Kaiserslautern - the match report. On-song Reds edge out Leipzig Double glory! Lewy and King seal DFB Cup FC Bayern rounded off the double on Saturday evening, beating RB Leipzig 3-0 in the DFB Cup final... 'No favourites' Bayern looking to make it a dozen doubles The preview of Saturday evening's DFB Cup final between FC Bayern and RB Leipzig.
Membership Become part of the FC Bayern family! You can become a club member on January 1st or on July 1st each year. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM The Allianz Arena Bayern's home Bayern's home in facts and figures. more
Telekom Fanawards
Telekom Fanawards 2019 Many thanks to all fans of FC Bayern! The winners of all categories have been selected! more Fans FC Bayern Fan Clubs FC Bayern maintains close links with a huge network of official fan clubs. FC Bayern in social media You can also stay completely up-to-date with news and developments at FC Bayern via social media...
Erlebniswelt Touring exhibition Venerated – Persecuted - Forgotten Let us remember, lest we forget: as in previous years FC Bayern is marking the international Day... more Your Event at the FCB Erlebniswelt For Business and pleasure The FC Bayern Erlebniswelt is an exceptional location for exclusive events. more
Full focus on domestic titles after CL exit
'We must look ahead with optimism'
Created on 14-03-2019 at 13:00 PM by Redaktion
Acknowledging the opposition's performance after a bitter defeat is part of sport. "Liverpool were better and won deservedly," Uli Hoeneß summed up after the 3-1 defeat. "Our own display certainly played a role, but Liverpool's performance was the main reason," Niko Kovac analysed after the Champions League exit. After the goalless draw at Anfield three weeks ago, Wednesday's defeat meant Bayern's 2018/19 European campaign came to an end in the last sixteen.
The Bavarians by no means turned in a poor display. "We were very well-organised at the back for long spells, we only lacked punch up front," said Niklas Süle. Jürgen Klopp's men closed down their opponents "very quickly and early" to stifle their play, explained Kovac. Robert Lewandowski drew a sober conclusion: "We didn't have many chances in either of the two matches, so there are no arguments why we should have gone through."
On a par for long spells
Bayern took their chance when Serge Gnabry's low cross forced an own-goal by Liverpool's Joel Matip after 38 minutes, cancelling out Sadio Mané's opener. Bayern were close to the quarter-finals for a long time. "It was a scrappy game until Liverpool's second goal. There wasn't a lot of action, both teams were cautious," said Mats Hummels.
When Virgil van Dijk's header restored the lead for the visitors after 68 minutes it was a setback from which Munich did not recover. "The goal was a blow to our confidence, Liverpool were the better team then," added the centre-back. Mané's second goal in the closing stages was little more than a footnote.
Bayern failed to make it to the last eight for the first time in eight years. "We have the right to be disappointed," said Kovac: "That's why our players play football: to be in the Champions League." However, it would be wrong to dismiss the 2018/19 European campaign as unsuccessful. FCB finished first in their group, going unbeaten in the first seven Champions League matches for only the third time. In the knockout stages they were drawn to last year's finalists Liverpool, the perhaps toughest challenge in the competition.
Unbeaten in Europe until the return leg
"We must put this season's Champions League campaign behind us and attack next year," said Kovac. His players know how to cope with the setback despite the disappointment. "It was a little blow," commented Hummels: "But I'm pretty sure we want to make up for it as soon as possible." The goal is clear: "We'll try to achieve maximum success and clinch the two domestic titles," demanded the 30-year-old.
The Bavarians next face FSV Mainz, and they will be looking to retain top spot in the league. "We must clear our minds, pick ourselves up and look ahead with optimism. We're on a very, very good run in the Bundesliga, and I hope we can go on like that," said Kovac.
FC Bayern take up residence in Los Angeles
On Monday, FC Bayern began their Audi Summer Tour 2019 to the USA. The first stop for the team ...
Cover boy Gnabry
'See who I take to the cleaners first'
The 2018/19 FC Bayern player of the season, Serge Gnabry, will be on the cover of KONAMI’s eFootball...
Memento of good times
Surprise for Ribéry
On Thursday Franck Ribéry came to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's office for a coffee with the chairman...
No pain, no gain
Bayern players sweat and toil in pre-season training
On Wednesday evening head coach Niko Kovac had once again prepared a tough session for the FC Bayern...
On Wednesday, the German Football League finalised the dates and kick-off times for Bundesliga ...
FC BAYERN HOME SHIRT 19/20
The official FC Bayern App
Always stay right up to date.
Always stay right up to date even when you’re on the move with FC Bayern App.
FCBayern.tv News
FCBayern.tv plus
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6578
|
__label__cc
| 0.516466
| 0.483534
|
Difference between revisions of "Community biology"
Mspevack (talk | contribs)
It is critical to recognize that the end state of every community is not the same, and therefore the engagement model is not necessarily the same for each community. It is also worth noting that some communities will neither ''need'' nor ''want'' to work with the Community Architecture team.
== Metrics ==
Apollo project:
* Track everything that a person has done within a project (emails, commits, irc logs, wiki edits, etc.)
Two categories:
* Leverage index (discussing resource allocation, tends to be more quantitative)
* Effectiveness index (getting stuff done, tends to be more qualitative)
=== Leverage ===
==== Daily dashboard ====
* Where are contributions coming from? (domains)
* How many contributions are being made? (numbers)
* Is the community productive? (face)
** Social to effectual.
* Newbies versus old-timers in the community.
* What is the rate of change of contributions over time?
* How large is the (active) community?
* Are community members coming from customers/partners?
==== Quarterly dashboard ====
* Associated with other timeline events (releases) and over one year.
* Is the community happy? (face)
** Welcoming to exclusionary.
* How easy is it to join the community?
* What is the barrier to making an initial contribution?
* Are community members in places of leadership?
* Are community members distinguishing themselves as potential Red Hat
hires?
* Are community members distinguishing themselves as potential hires for us/customers/partners?
=== Effectiveness ===
* Does the community have public discussions?
BUG TRACKING
* Number of bugs submitted by not-@redhat.com
* Bugs addressed by non-@redhat.com (comments, etc.)
* Who logs the bug, who fixes, who closes
DOWNLOADS/USERS
* How many users does something have?
* Fedora yum connection tracking
* Fedora MirrorManager
* Fedora downloaded package count
* Size of a project's IRC channel and mailing lists.
* @redhat.com vs. non-@redhat.com breakdown on IRC and mailing lists.
* New wiki pages from non-@redhat.com
* Wiki pages edited by non-@redhat.com
* Number of commits from non-@redhat.com
* Total commits to the project.
* Does the community have an opportunity to meet in person?
* Is someone tasked with addressing the community's concerns?
* Does the community have a public roadmap with milestones?
* How often does the community meet its milestones?
* How easy is it to get a product/project installed?
[[Category:Community Architecture]]
The community dashboard is a research and analysis project. The goal is to help the team bring rigor to its goal-setting and also to give us a means of measuring success over time.
There are many successful communities within Red Hat, Fedora, and JBoss, and those communities have been built by many different people. The Community Architecture team wants to understand how these communities are created, and how we ensure that every member of Red Hat, Fedora, and JBoss is capable of creating and leading a successful community.
1.1 Community Biology 101
1.2 Incremental vs. Continuous
2 Engagement Strategy
2.1 Actions
Community Biology 101
Community serves as a catalyst in everything that Red Hat, Fedora, and JBoss does.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/courses/c2005/purves6/figure06-14.jpg
Reaction: The progress of any task from idea to reality. The task can be as simple as a one-page summary of Fedora 10 for the press, or as complicated as the feature planning process for Fedora 11. The task can be code, leadership, process documentation, testing, writing, artwork, etc.
For any reaction to complete requires some amount of energy. From a business point of view, energy, time, and money are all synonymous.
The blue curve represents a reaction that does not operate with a community-building mindset. Perhaps this is a proprietary software project, and community isn't even an option. Perhaps it is an open source upstream that is so focused on coding, it doesn't have the time to properly build a community. Either way, the amount of energy required to reach a successful end state is high.
The red curve represents a reaction that does operate with a strong community. Whether it is a Fedora sub-project, Fedora as a whole, the RPM upstream, OLPC, or an emerging technology like Cobbler or Func is irrelevant.
Note that both reactions ultimately reach the same end state. The difference is the energy required to get there. Microsoft and Red Hat can both produce an operating system. Our job is to ensure that Red Hat does so more efficiently, and community is the mechanism by which we achieve that.
Incremental vs. Continuous
We still need to define the end state of a successful community-catalyzed reaction. The end state has two characteristics:
The community has a clearly identified critical path and roadmap for the future.
The community has a clearly defined leadership structure that does not depend on any of the catalysts.
In short, the reaction will have reached critical mass. The Community Architecture team can disengage from day-to-day operations in the community, but the community will continue to grow and thrive. Perhaps certain members of the team still participate in the community because they choose to, but the community is self-sustaining. We have made ourselves redundant, and therefore free to choose a new community to catalyze.
If we have done our job correctly, the activation energy needed to reach critical mass will be lower than in an equivalent reaction that did not focus on community building.
Engagement Strategy
There are four main types of communities that we must track:
Fedora communities
RHEL communities (Emerging Technologies, Red Hat upstream projects, etc.)
JBoss communities
Other upstreams and other distributions (to serve as a point-of-comparison)
Determine the initial subset of communities to include in the dashboard.
Poll Red Hat stakeholders for communities that are of particular strategic importance, and ensure that we are tracking them.
Create a subset of Fedora communities that Community Architecture has engaged with over the past year, or that we consider of specific importance to the overall health of Fedora.
Conduct a time-based analysis of these communities, looking back as far as possible.
New action items will fall out of this analysis.
In the case that certain communities that have been identified as strategic appear that they could use some community-building assistance, reach out to the leadership of those communities. Begin a constructive (not critical) conversation, and see if they are interested in working with us.
When we discover thriving communities that we have not previously engaged with directly, speak to their leaders and perhaps learn some new tricks, and build relationships.
It is critical to recognize that the end state of every community is not the same, and therefore the engagement model is not necessarily the same for each community. It is also worth noting that some communities will neither need nor want to work with the Community Architecture team.
Retrieved from "https://fedoraproject.org/w/index.php?title=Community_biology&oldid=133893"
Community Architecture
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6579
|
__label__wiki
| 0.756643
| 0.756643
|
Colin Hanks celebrates dad Tom Hanks’ birthday with another photo of Michael Keaton
Tom Hanks is 63-years-old today, so obviously his son, Colin, celebrated the occasion by sending a heartfelt message to Michael Keaton.
“Wanna wish a Happy 63rd Birthday to my dad!!!” the younger Hanks wrote on Instagram, next to a photograph of Keaton. “He’s a good man with a great sense of humor. Love ya Pops!”
This is not the first time Hanks has insisted his father is the Oscar-nominated star of Spotlight and Birdman rather than the two-time Oscar-winning star of Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan. In 2016, Hanks posted an image of Keaton in Night Shift on Father’s Day and repeated the gag in 2018 and 2019 when he posted photos of the actor in Mr. Mom and Gung Ho, respectively. On that latter occasion, Hanks addressed his Father’s Day felicitations to the character Keaton played in Ron Howard’s 1986 car industry comedy. “Happy Fathers Day, to all the dads out there but specifically to my dad,” wrote the Life in Pieces actor. “He’s a good man and always lead by example. Like that time he rallied the guys to try and make that 15,000 cars per month quota to impress the big wigs at Assan Motors. He lead by example and gave his all. Of course, they didn’t make the quota but it was the effort that counts! Way to go Dad!”
In the real world, Keaton will celebrate his 68th birthday on Sept. 5.
Colin Hanks says ‘Happy Father’s Day’ to his famous dad… Michael Keaton?
Watch Tom Hanks pal around with Woody on the Toy Story 4 red carpet
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner share sweet first photo of their wedding day
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son Archie celebrates christening at Queen's private chapel
What is love? Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal's SNL homage at Spider-Man premiere
Celebrities honor their dads with special Father's Day photos
Beyoncé and Meghan Markle embrace at The Lion King premiere in London
Terry Crews wants to play King Triton in The Little Mermaid — see images of him as Ariel's father
Reese Witherspoon unearths 20-year-old photo of her and Selma Blair from Cruel Intentions set
Watch Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal compliment each other over and over during EW's digital cover shoot
Eddie Jones, Lois & Clark and A League of Their Own character actor, dies at 84
Denise Nickerson, Violet in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, dies at 62
Zendaya leads online celebration after Halle Bailey cast as Ariel in live-action The Little Mermaid
Rip Torn, Larry Sanders Show and Men in Black actor, dies at 88
Tom Holland reacts to Benedict Cumberbatch's impression of him
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6583
|
__label__wiki
| 0.915947
| 0.915947
|
Fear the Walking Dead recap: Some major clues revealed for the three rings
By Nick Romano
Ryan Green/AMC
Last week, “Skidmark” from Fear the Walking Dead (the episode, not the cat) confirmed what many of us already surmised: the three-ringed symbol Althea found on a series of maps that were in the possession of a mysterious soldier in black is the same symbol on the side of the helicopter that ferried off Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead. This week, we get even more answers… well, teases to who this mysterious group really are, at least.
The downside, the intel comes via a solo episode for Al, which isn’t the worst thing. At least nobody finds themselves locked in a moral dilemma about helping people who don’t want to be helped.
Meet Happy
The Walking Dead universe gets its own “Happy,” who is not played by Jon Favreau this time.
“The End of Everything” takes us back to the night Al was knocked out by that soldier. She wakes as she’s being dragged off and attempts to flee with her stuff through the woods. Thanks to some walker-related obstacles, she can’t escape her pursuer, but the scuffle knocks off the soldier’s helmet, revealing a woman. She’s played by actress Sydney Lemmon from one episode HBO’s Succession and a small role in Netflix’s Velvet Buzzsaw.
This woman needs the tape containing what Al recorded of her former comrade and his maps, but Al hid it somewhere and won’t fork it over until she hears this woman’s story. Thus begins their own mini adventure.
Al first ironically calls this woman “Happy,” but later learns her name is Isabelle. She and her former partner Beckett are part of a squadron, “Ground 17,” from this mysterious group. During a radio call back to base, she confirms the lead (that would be Beckett) was killed in action and that she needs to refuel her helicopter before returning, but the payload is secure. The voice on the other end says he’s sending a Reclamation Team, news that causes her some anxiety. Al picks up on it. Isabelle will later tell her that when the Reclamation Team arrives, if she’s “anywhere near that helicopter… just don’t be.”
Isabelle and Beckett were on a mission: retrieve supplies for purifying water. They’ve done this kind of thing all the time: get in, get the package, get out. Are they the ones who set up traps at grocery stores all around Daniel’s warehouse? We don’t know, but it doesn’t seem like it. These guys operate in the shadows. They are not supposed to be seen by anyone.
“If you see someone wearing this jacket, you should be afraid,” Isabelle initially warns Al. “We are a force who are not living for ourselves or for now. We have the future.” This woman connects with Al because, like herself, Al “had a job” and “kept doing it and it mattered more” to her “than peoples’ lives.”
When Isabelle and Beckett arrived at the nearby nuclear power plant — presumably the same one Grace came from with the toxic radiation — Beckett cracked, fearing he would end up like the radioactive walkers. He kept a key on him, one to a remote cabin somewhere with a great view. But, as Isabelle says in opening up to Al, nobody just walks away from their group, especially someone like Beckett with the maps he carried. A fight broke out between him and Isabelle. Part of their protocol is to “extinguish the threats to operational security.” Beckett became a threat, but Isabelle hesitated in facing her friend. But she shot him anyway.
Beckett was the walker body Al initially stumbled upon, and “operational security” is why Isabelle needs the tape Al recorded. As we gather over the course of the episode, Isabelle would give her life to help this community, whatever and wherever it might be.
The three rings
So, what are the three rings? Who’s behind it? What’s their name? We still don’t have answers to any of these questions, but do have answers to others.
“Everything I do is to ensure there’s more than stories left after I die,” Isabelle tells Al. The word “future” is also brought up a lot. Whoever these people are, their goal is to create a future for the world… by any means necessary. To Isabelle, they are the future. “It’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than you, it’s bigger than all of us,” she says.
Al wants to see this place, but Isabelle warns “you don’t want to go there.” This place may be innovating for some good down the road, but right now they are hostile. “If someone finds the tape, if they figure out how to read the map, it makes what we have, what we’re working towards, vulnerable.” And that’s not a good thing. “This isn’t about me or Beckett,” Isabelle adds. “This is about the future and rebuilding what we all once had.”
The group, we know, also has a lot of tech. Aside from the helicopter and Isabelle’s automatic rifle tipped with a three-pronged spear, she comes with clothing durable enough to withstand walker bites, mountain climbing supplies tucked away in the side of the chopper, and a tent that suspends in the air with rope so they can sleep without being surprise attacked by the dead. She also has access beer, so there’s a brewery where she comes from.
Unless this is some brand-new group the architects of the Walking Dead universe are trying to introduce into the series, all signs, for me, keep pointing back to The Commonwealth, a highly advanced society that plays a significant role in later story arcs in the comics. It’s a group with everything from militia to coffee shops.
It would also seem the reach of this group exceeds what we previously thought. We know the base lies somewhere far away from Hilltop and Alexandria, but now we know they also have refueling stations for their choppers in various locations. To refuel her own craft, Isabelle takes Al mountain climbing up the side of a cliff, avoiding rock slides and zombified mountain climbers along the way. These stations also have food and other supplies, and it’s here where Isabelle and Al share a peaceful night under the stars.
Breaking protocol
Despite all of her operational protocols, Isabelle takes a risk.
Over the course of their trials, the two women fall for each other. As Al learns more about Isabelle and her group, she reveals something she never told anyone. There’s a tape hidden underneath the cloth of bag titled “The Bog #7.” As Isabelle watches, she hears how Al left her brother to find out more about the outbreak and watches as the National Guard and the army fight each other in the streets. Her brother died while she was doing this and the guilt has long remained with Al.
Al eventually agrees to hand over the tape of Beckett’s maps to Isabelle. She hid it on a walker lying in a riverbank while she was attempting to flee through the woods. In the event she died, she wanted it to be somewhere where someone could eventually find it. But after Al hands it over and watches as it’s destroyed, Isabelle says she now needs to kill Al. It’s protocol. Al gives Isabelle “The Bog” tape and asks her to make sure this story means something. But Isabelle, with a gun pointed at Al’s head, can’t bring herself to pull the trigger. They share a deep kiss instead and go their separate ways, with Al promising not to go looking for Isabelle or to chase this story.
Isabelle suits back up and carries the fuel tanks along the old utility road, which brings us back to the present where Annie and Max once hid beneath a tree when they saw a mysterious soldier. Isabelle starts flying away in her helicopter, the same chopper Morgan and the others hid from in last week’s episode, and Al starts radioing to her friends. She reunites with Morgan and Alicia, but makes no mention of Isabelle or the three rings. Instead, she claims she got overrun by walkers and has been fleeing them since.
So, the secret of the three rings is safe. For now.
Fear the Walking Dead recap: Rick Grimes connection confirmed
Althea’s fate revealed in Fear the Walking Dead clip
Watch Daniel Salazar go shopping on Fear the Walking Dead
Alycia Debnam-Carey,
Lennie James,
Garret Dillahunt,
Jenna Elfman
The Lord of the Rings TV series taps Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. recap: A spaceship, an airplane, and an armed truck walk into a tower...
Third Walking Dead series casts its first three leads
Fear the Walking Dead showrunners share insight on the Dwight crossover
Fear the Walking Dead showrunners weigh in on Alicia's fate
Jane the Virgin recap: 'Sin Rostro is on the move'
The Bachelorette recap: Luke who's leaving (finally)
The Walking Dead showrunner 'working on' bringing Lauren Cohan back
Watch Fear the Walking Dead go full-on Western
Big Brother recap: Nick considers a bold move as HOH
Fear the Walking Dead premiere recap: A crash landing leads to new threats
The 100 recap: The journey of the minds
Fear the Walking Dead recap: Attack of the radioactive walkers
Everwood star Stephanie Niznik dead at 52
Big Brother recap: There’s a snake (or three) in the house
Stranger Things 3: All the surprises, from the major deaths to the shocking ending
Fear the Walking Dead recap: Dwight crossover lands in West world
Althea's fate revealed in Fear the Walking Dead clip
<em>Fear the Walking Dead</em> recap: Some major clues revealed for the three rings
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6584
|
__label__cc
| 0.705593
| 0.294407
|
Flying in the face of widespread left wing extremism!
Nicely said…
"Hear me more plainly. I have in equal balance justly weigh'd what wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer, and find our griefs heavier than our offences".
W.Shakespeare. (Henry IV)
"Ceterum censeo Conventus Europae esse delendam".
Exile.
UK Referendum Voting System
Motivational Poster #1
Camerons Deal–No Deal
A Valuable Addition?
Alms for the Poor
A Step in the Right Direction
Proper Correctness
Re-writing the Dictionary..
A Gift for a Would-be Rapist
1 picture..
1000 words!
The private life and thoughts of Exile...
The ICSC
And you really should see this. It will be a well spent 1 hour and 6 minutes.
Global warming is NOT your fault.
European Freedom Alliance
SIOE Denmark
SIOE England
SIOE Flanders
SIOE France
SIOE Germany
SIOE Netherlands
SIOE Norway
SIOE Poland
SIOE Rumania
SIOE Russia
SIOE Wallonia
Latest Headlines from CVF members
EU Civil Rights Charter Brussels Journal Westminster Journal
Fight Censorship
We’re Doomed – Again
Posted by Exile on February 25, 2009
The climate is heating up far faster than scientists had predicted, spurred by sharp increases in greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries like China and India. At least it is according to a “top climate scientist”. Again. Which is strange, because as we all know, the world has been cooling down for the past ten years straight and right now, I’m freezing my ass off.
Chris Field, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, said recent studies suggested the continued warming of the planet from greenhouse gas emissions could touch off large, destructive wildfires in tropical rain forests and melt permafrost in the Arctic tundra, releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gases that could raise global temperatures even more.
Uhm.. What continual warming?
“The consequence of that is we are basically looking now at a future climate that is beyond anything that we’ve considered seriously,” Mr Field told the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago.
“There is a real risk that human-caused climate change will accelerate the release of carbon dioxide from forest and tundra ecosystems, which have been storing a lot of carbon for thousands of years.”
Look, we’ve never seriously considered the future climate. We have seriously considered man made and flawed models of future climates, but never the actual climate. And as for the “real risk” of man made acceleration of released gases, well, there is also a real risk that it won’t. Mainly because, it’s getting colder, not hotter.
However, all that aside, the dire and dreadful warnings continue:
He said that "the actual trajectory" of climate change was more serious than any of the predictions in the IPCC’s fourth assessment report called “Climate Change 2007, which had underestimated the potential severity of global warming over the next 100 years.
“We now have data showing that from 2000 to 2007, greenhouse gas emissions increased far more rapidly than we expected, primarily because developing countries, like China and India, saw a huge surge in electric power generation, almost all of it based on coal.”
“Actual trajectory”? As in “Hockey stick”? And so what? As I understand it, CO2 is what plants thrive on. Could this be the answer to desertification? I can’t help wondering how all this is affecting the percentage of O2 in our beleaguered atmosphere? Maybe this is why I’m so short of breath in the mornings? The damn chinks are suffocating me, albeit very slowly. I mean, our atmosphere is only so big, there’s only so much oxygen to go round. Dilute it with CO2 and there you go. Strange as it may seem though, that isn’t actually happening. O2 percentage is constant. I wonder why and breathe more easily.
He said that trend was likely to continue if more countries turned to coal and other carbon-intensive fuels to meet their energy needs. If so, he said the impact of climate change would be“more serious and diverse” than the IPCC’s most recent predictions.
Oh no. What could be more more serious and diverse than my slow suffocation and eventual slow roasting in the hot dry winters ahead? I’m so glad the IPCC made me aware of that. Mind you, they didn’t tell me how, or what, would be more serious and diverse. Rainfall? Snow? Fish and chips? Anybody?
As if all that scary stuff wasn’t enough the article then goes on to list some pretty wild figures about gassy stuff that really knocks my socks off with worry.
Research presented at the AAAS yesterday suggested that the frozen soil of the tundra stored far more greenhouse gas that previously thought, with about 1,000 billion (one trillion) tonnes of carbon now believed to be frozen in permafrost soils.
By comparison, the amount of CO2 that has been released through the burning of fossil fuels since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution is around 350 billion tonnes.
Ooh.. Research. Must be true then. Mind you, it only suggested, didn’t really confirm. Notice too, “more than previously thought”, not “previously known to be”, and “now believed to be” and not “now proven to be”. Sounds a bit hit and miss to me. A sort of guesstimate. Or maybe just grabbed out of thin air. Or should that be thin, CO2 enriched, air?
Meanwhile, new research on the Southern Ocean surrounded Antarctica suggest that the sea, a vital “carbon sink,” is sucking up less CO2 than before.
More new research. More suggested figures. Pretty lousy research for a genuine scare story. Sorry. Just my humble observation.
I’m sure we’re going to get even more of this claptrap now that we have a brand new president in the USA who is labouring under the Gorian belief that the world is on the verge of atmospheric disaster and that we’re all gonna fry by the year 2100 and that CO2 is the denizen of the planet. Frankly, I never believed it. CO2 levels follow global warming, they do not lead it. The world has been a whole lot warmer than it is now and polar bears and penguins survived that too, otherwise, they wouldn’t be here now.
I also realise that taxes have to be paid to finance this rubbish. Rubbish which feeds itself with our money which is fraudulently raised by idiotic green taxes which help proliferate and finance this stuff. It’s the serpent, eating it’s own tail.
I’m tired of it.
Posted in Global Warming | 2 Comments »
Living Under the Taleban
Want to know what’s really going on inside Pakistan? I found this on the Timesonline.
What I found in Swat was a hell-hole. Suicide bombings, car bombs and artillery have scarred the valley’s roads and buildings. The charred remains of hospitals and even a madrasah (seminary) litter the landscape.
Nearly 200 schools have been destroyed, all girls over the age of eight are banned from lessons and, in a symbol of the Taliban’s hatred of learning, the public library in Mingora has been wrecked..
There’s more.
Tell me. How can the Pakistani government allow this?
Our allies?
No. I don’t think so.
Hat tip: Timesonline.
Posted in Generic | 2 Comments »
My hat’s off to the Czech President, Vaclav Klaus. His latest description of the EU is absolutely correct. Quoting here from the Timesonline;
In his latest diatribe, this time before the European Parliament on Thursday, President Klaus, whose country assumed the rotating EU helm in January from France, branded the organisation an undemocratic and elitist project comparable to Soviet-era dictatorships that forbade free thought.
“Not so long ago,” Mr Klaus thundered, “in our part of Europe we lived in a political system that permitted no alternatives and therefore also no parliamentary opposition. We learned the bitter lesson that with no opposition, there is no freedom.”
It doesn’t get much better than that.
Of course there are those who see it somewhat differently than Mr. Klaus and I:
Lawmakers were aghast at Mr Klaus’s attempt to compare the EU to the Soviet bloc. “Mr Klaus outlined a completely twisted and manipulated view of European reality,” said Daniel Cohn-Bendit, leader of the Greens. “To seriously compare the decision-making process in the EU with that of the Soviet Union indicates that the man has lost all touch with reality.”
Just who these “lawmakers” are is anybody’s guess. In my humble opinion it is they that have lost touch with, if not reality, then the people of Europe. Quite frankly, Brussels is looking more like a communist Moscow copy job on a daily basis.
Perhaps I should let the Timesonline have the last word Here. They put it better than I could and I agree with the sentiments reflected there:
While deeply unpopular in EU circles, Mr Klaus strikes a deep chord in some member states where citizens fear European plans to share more powers come at the cost of national sovereignty. He has refused to fly the EU flag over his official seat in Prague during the Czech presidency, saying the country is not an EU province.
Hat tip: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5775780.ece
Posted in Generic | Leave a Comment »
The First Bullshit Award of 2009
From an article in the UK Press Association on Google:
Exposure to other people’s smoke could increase the risk of dementia, researchers have said.
Second-hand smoke can cause damage to the way the brain works, making dementia more likely, they said.
People exposed to high levels of other people’s smoke were 44% more likely to suffer cognitive impairment – affecting things like memory and ability to perform calculations.
It has already been established that smoking can increase a smoker’s risk of dementia but this is the first study looking at the effect of smoking on other people.
How surprising.. Yawn. Actually, that’s lie. Or, to put it kindly, not entirely true. Because according to this:
A team of London scientists have found clues for the potentially therapeutic benefits of nicotine on learning, memory and attention while minimising the risk of addiction. The research announced in Geneva Monday will assist the search for new drugs for dementia.
“Nicotine, like many other drugs, has multiple effects some of which are harmful whereas others may be beneficial,” said Professor Ian Stolerman from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. Previous research has revealed these cognitive effects in humans and in laboratory animals.
The hidden equation is simple enough to see. Non smokers are automatically passive smokers. Non smokers are more likely to suffer from dementia. Therefore, passive smokers are more likely to suffer from dementia.
There’s nothing like a good scare story, is there? Like man made global warming. Which is undoubtedly somehow linked to passive smoking et al.
I haven’t given one out for a while but here it is then. The first Bullshit award of 2009, dedicated to those staunch anti smoking researchers and the UK Press Association, who are, by my reckoning at least, all totally, barking mad, demented.
Congratulations. Have a cigar.
Posted in Bullshit Award | Leave a Comment »
Where’s the Crime in That?
I have just read the most grotesque story.
Women in Saudi are not allowed to drive, nor are they allowed out unless they are accompanied either by their husband or by another male member of the family. Therefore, when a lone and single woman of 23 accepted the offer of a lift from a stranger, she effectively broke the law.
He took her to a house to the east of the city of Jeddah where she was attacked by him and four of his friends throughout the night. This rape, which she tried to hold secret, resulted in her being pregnant and, not wishing to be a single woman with a baby in Saudi, she attempted to get an abortion in the King Fahd Hospital. It was here that the assault was first “discovered” and reported to the police. Now, one might wonder why she didn’t go to the police after being raped? Well read on and you’ll see.
She was denied an abortion, was arrested and tried for “adultery”. Which is strange because she is, as stated, a single woman. Unless, of course, one or more of her rapists is married? But as they are not mentioned, under arrest, nor on trial for their crimes, we’ll never know. The judge, being in no doubt about it all, found her guilty and her sentence is to receive 100 lashes and be imprisoned for a year after giving birth to the child she is bearing, which was, as stated earlier, forced into her by one of five rapists. She gets gang raped and she is guilty?
So much for women’s rights in Saudi. Where are the UNHRC people now? Why isn’t Amnesty International all over this? European human rights organisations? Women’s rights organisations? Not a murmur.
Strangely, when people speak out about this sort of thing, they are ostracised or imprisoned. Ask Geert Wilders.
I’m having a real hard time here seeing where the real crime is. I have a suspicion it is being a single woman in Saudi.
Hat tip: The Daily Mail.
So Much for Arab Solidarity
Posted by Exile on February 6, 2009
Ever wondered where the true Palesinian refugees are? If you say Gaza, then you are very, very wrong. Not only that, but one can’t really be a refugee for sixty years on a stable piece of landscape. But that is by the by. No, the true refugees are not that many but they do exist. For example, the few hundred or so that are caught between the borders of their brother Arab countries. Iraq and Syria and Jordan.
Here’s a telling quote from an article in the Times:
Arab solidarity is not a phrase that Salim Ahmad wants to hear any more. On a battered television inside a windblown tent he watches with scepticism as the crowds demonstrate in the streets of Damascus over Israel’s war in Gaza.
“If they really cared anything for Palestinians, they would not leave us here in this terrible place,” he said, gesturing around him. “Don’t tell me about solidarity when nobody cares that we are here at all.”
And just where is our man Salim?
For the past three years this desolate spot between the Iraqi and Syrian border posts has served as home to hundreds of Palestinians fleeing persecution in Iraq.
When they tried to flee to Syria, however, they found their paths blocked. While Iraq citizens swanned through the border post Palestinians were turned back, unable to enter Syria but unable to return to Iraq either. Stateless and without passports the Palestinians sat down where they were dumped, in the walled-off layby by the road between the two glowering border posts.
And there they remain. Syria doesn’t want them. Iraq doesn’t want them. Jordan has had them and doesn’t want them back.
Why don’t they want them? Why has Syria refused aid to these people from the UN? Why not let them in and resettle them?
The answer is simple. Screw the Palestinians. They aren’t important.
What is important to the Arab community is that they have the forlorn hope of a Palestinian state to hang on to. Which gives them a reason not to resettle the Palestinians they have on their own doorstep and a reason to continue to attack Israel. They won’t take the Palestinians in, they say, because to do so would mean giving up the idea of a state of Palestine. It would also mean having to take in, and support, the filthy Palestinians.
It would appear that the Palestinians are the Gypsies of the Arab world.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article5671797.ece
Posted in Generic | 1 Comment »
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6587
|
__label__wiki
| 0.688688
| 0.688688
|
13/15 Argyle Street, King's Cross, London WC1H 8EJ | Tel : +44 207 837 3134 | Email: info@fairwaylondon.com |
and our History
We invite you to make our home to your home.
We are now open
The Fairway Hotel facade is part of an elegant row of Victorian houses.
The original “Kings Cross” was a 60ft high statue of KING George (1820) built in the middle of a major CROSS road and so it became known as Kings Cross.
St Pancras was a 15 year old Christian Orphan who was martyred in Rome in 303 AD.
The original St Pancras train Station was designed by William Barlow and took 6000 men 1000 horses and 100 steam cranes four years to complete and opened in 1868.
Today King’s Cross most famous export is children’s favourites Harry Potter. In the film Harry’s train leaves from King’s Cross from platform 9 and ¾ ers.
Fairway Hotel London
The hotel has been owned by the Caruana family from Malta for over fifty years. The hotel is now being run by the third generation Benjamin and Michael.
We take pride in knowing that we go the extra mile to make your stay as pleasant on possible and with pleasure provide you with all the information you require. Together with our staff we are able to communicate in eight languages including Italian, Arabic, Russian and Spanish.
13/15 Argyle Street, King’s Cross, London WC1H 8EJ | Tel : +44 207 837 3134 | Email: info@fairwaylondon.com
Copyright © 2018 Fairway Hotel London
Login to Fairway Hotel London
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6590
|
__label__cc
| 0.709312
| 0.290688
|
YouTube Interview
Interview with YouTuber Kingj0444
Posted on March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017 by Rob
We interviewed youtuber Kingj0444 who’s been creating content on YouTube for 5 years with some pretty impressive speedruns, oh yeah – and he’s 16. Check this out.
My name is Joey, though most know me as Kingj0444. I live in Kitchener, Ontario. I’m 16 years old and in Grade 11. I started my YouTube channel 5 years ago but just recently 3 years ago began taking it more seriously than I did before, uploading one or 2 videos every single day, mainly playing Nintendo game at a PG 13 rating. In my spare time I like to speedrun some games and aim to set world records in various games I enjoy. I also like interacting with my subscribers by replying to comments on a regular basis to maintain a personal connection with my viewers. I also collect Amiibos and currently have 57 different amiibos as of now.
Are you a gamer and what are your top picks?
Yes, I am a big Nintendo Gamer. I started in 2006 with my sister’s GameCube playing Mario Party 4 whenever I happened to be over there. I then ended up getting my own GameCube and continued with Nintendo ever since, getting a Gameboy, Wii and currently a Wii U and a 3DS. My favourite games right now are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Final Fantasy 7, yet I always seem to change my mind every now and then.
How long have you been creating content? Goals?
I created my channel back on February 12th, 2012. Back then, I wasn’t very good at sitting in a room alone, talking to myself for 20 minutes at a time, but I quickly learned strengths to apply and grew as a Youtuber over the years. My goals vary depending on the year. Each year I set new goals I want to personally reach within the span of that year. Overall though, I mainly want to grow my community and keep a connection between me and my YouTube fans by committing to being consistent and just being proud of the content I put out and love what I do.
[ms-form id=1]
What made you get into it?
Ever since I was the age of 10, I really enjoyed watching other Youtubers Let’s Play games. It helped me feel better whenever I turned it on and got me through some depressing moments in my life, just from watching someone play a game on Youtube. Around the age of 12 I thought to myself that I wanted to be one of those people someone looks up to. While a lot of kids were doing it be famous and tried so hard to go viral, I did it just because I wanted to make people laugh and to entertain the public with my sense of humor while I played some games! My motto has and always will be: As long as I make someone laugh with one of my videos each day, I’ve done my job right.
Most challenging part.
When it comes to being a Youtuber, there are many hardships you need to go through. One that gets a lot of people is the amount of negative comments everyone eventually gets. It took me a long time to get past some of the hate comments I’ve had in my 5 years, but each time, it made me stronger and I learn to just ignore it. As long as I like what i’m doing, that should be all that matters. The other challenge is sticking to a consistent schedule. Somedays I would miss a day of uploading and feel discouraged because I wasn’t keeping up, but since then i’ve learned from my mistakes, making a schedule for myself to edit the next day’s video the night before and post it in the afternoon. It’s all about overcoming challenges.
Most Rewarding?
I honestly have to say, the thing that motivates me to keep going with creating and posting videos is the amount of support and love I get from my viewers. Whether it’s just them saying they like something I said, something I added in editing or someone just leaving a like on a video, then I feel I’m providing value to others and that makes me feel good. More and more it makes me realize i’m building a community of people who support me and what I do, which i’m always forever grateful for. During my first year on Youtube, nobody was really watching and I just thought to myself that if I ever hit 100 subscribers, it would be the best day in my Youtube career. That night I went from 45 subscribers all the way up to 117 out of nowhere and I was blown away that I had actually made it past 100! I felt so accomplished and that’s when I started making new goals to achieve every year. It was the most surprising yet happiest moment from Youtube!
As of the moment, my current projects are Let’s Play’s of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild and Super Mario Galaxy 2, a co-op of The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes and a 4 player race of Super Mario 3D World. I plan to continue building me connection with all my viewers as well as posting a new video every day for as long as my channel goes. As for upcoming series, the next Let’s Plays I want to do after my current ones are Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Super Mario Sunshine which I plan to start later this year!
Any tips/tricks for people starting out?
I could go on and on with advice for people who were like me starting out, but i’ll keep it brief and to the point. Do what you want to, whether it’s beauty tutorials, challenge videos or even to be a Let’s Player like myself. Do something you enjoy and most importantly have fun while doing it and people will want to watch, I guarantee it! Stay consistent, positive and once in awhile try to find some time to reach out to your viewers either by comments or twitter, keep them interested by showing your care for them!
Follow KingJ0444
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/Kingj0444
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kingj0444?lang=en
This entry was posted in YouTube Interview. Bookmark the permalink.
Interview with TheAngryHoneyBadger
Interview with Minecraft YouTuber HalfSlab Bacon
2 thoughts on “Interview with YouTuber Kingj0444”
Joey Kingston says:
Love it! Thanks for the interview!
Myles says:
First run GG! 20 minutes on the dot! (Vod got corrupted but rules state i dont need it since its not less than 20) sub 20 might come!
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6595
|
__label__wiki
| 0.621906
| 0.621906
|
Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Programs | Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Courses
Faculty List (Undergraduate only)
A.N. Doob, AB, Ph D, FRSC
R. Gartner, BA, MS, Ph D
† P.H. Solomon, MA, PhD
Professor and Director
A. Macklin, BSc, LLB, LLM
K. Hannah-Moffat, BA, MA, Ph D
M. Valverde, BA, MA, Ph D, FRSC
M. Light, AB, MA, JD, Ph D
S. Wortley, MA, Ph D
†V. Chiao, BA, JD, Ph D
C. Evans, BA, MA, Ph D
B. Jauregui, BA, MA, Ph D
A. Laniyonu, BA, MA, Ph D
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
K. Taylor, BES, LLB, D Jur
W. Watson, BSc, Ph D
† Cross-appointed
The Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies (CrimSL) is a research and teaching unit at the University of Toronto. Founded in 1963 by Prof. John Edwards, CrimSL faculty and students study crime, justice, and governance through law from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and theoretical approaches. With backgrounds in sociology, anthropology, history, law, psychology, philosophy and political science, the faculty are actively engaged in Canadian and international criminological and sociolegal research. The CrimSL library (the Criminology Information Service) houses the leading Canadian research collection of criminological material, consisting of more than 25,000 books, journals, government reports, statistical sources and other documents.
The Criminology and Sociolegal Studies program incorporates theory, research methods, and knowledge from a wide range of disciplines. The program provides students with a sound foundation for the understanding of crime and the administration of justice in Canada and abroad, and, more generally, the processes of social order and disorder. The curriculum also responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action by offering courses in Indigenous peoples and criminal justice and Indigenous law, as well as incorporating attention to Indigineity in other courses. Most students combine their studies in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies with programs in Political Science, Psychology or Sociology.
People with backgrounds in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies are found working in Correctional Services, Law Enforcement, Courts, Government departments, NGOs and other settings. Some careers in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies require additional education and experience beyond the undergraduate level. Please visit our website for a comprehensive career information page, course forms and other program resources. The Program Office is located in Woodsworth College and students in the program continue to benefit from the rich academic support services and facilities available at the College.
Program Office | Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
Woodsworth College | 119 St. George Street - Room 236 | Toronto ON M5S 1A9
CrimSL@utoronto.ca
http://wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php/programs/affiliatedCentres
http://criminology.utoronto.ca/
Regarding Program Enrolment
Admission to major and specialist programs will be determined by a student's mark in specific courses taken in the Fall and Winter terms immediately preceding the Spring program admission cycle. Details on the entry requirements are listed below. These are limited enrolment programs that can only accommodate a limited number of students. Achieving the minimum required marks does not necessarily guarantee admission to the program in any given year. Requests for admission will be considered in the first program request period only. For detailed program application instructions, please consult the Arts & Science Program Toolkit. Do not change your program after year 3 if you are required to complete your degree in four years as prerequisites and program requirements will not be waived. Due to the limited enrolment nature of this program students are strongly advised to enroll in backup programs.
Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Programs
Criminology and Sociolegal Studies - Specialist (Arts Program) - ASSPE0826
Enrolment Requirements:
This is a limited enrolment program and achieving the minimum mark threshold does not guarantee admission to the Criminology and Sociolegal Studies specialist in any given year. Eligibility will be based on a student’s mark in the required courses listed below. The precise mark threshold is an estimate of what will be required in the Spring program admission cycle.
Applying after first year: There is no admission to this program after first year.
Applying after second year:
Student must be enrolled in the Criminology and Sociolegal Studies major (ASMAJ0826) and have completed a minimum of 8.0 FCEs.
The estimated mark threshold is a combined average of at least 80% in CRI205H1, CRI210H1 and CRI225H1.
Applying after third year:
Student must be enrolled in the Criminology and Sociolegal Studies major (ASMAJ0826) and have completed at least 12.0 FCEs.
The estimated mark threshold is a combined average of at least 80% in four 300+ level half-credit CRI lecture or seminar courses and 1.0 FCE from CRI205H1, CRI210H1 and CRI225H1.
Requests for admission will be considered in the first program request period only. For detailed program enrolment instructions and application deadlines for restricted programs please click here.
Due to the limited enrolment nature of this program students are strongly advised to enroll in backup programs.
Completion Requirements:
The following requirements apply to students admitted to the Criminology and Sociolegal Studies specialist in 2018. Each course requirement is individual and cannot be used more than once. A course taken on a CR/NCR basis may not be used to satisfy program requirements.
Total FCEs: 11.0 of which 7.0 FCEs must be CRI courses (including 3.0 FCEs 300+level courses from Group A and 1.0 FCE 400-level from Group B) .
1. 2.0 FCEs from ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC (any combination/level)
2. All of: CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1, CRI335H1, CRI340H1, CRI343H1, CRI350H1
3. At least 2.5 FCEs from Group A
4. At least 1.0 FCE from Group B
5. Additional FCEs (excluding those already counted) from Groups A, B or C for a total of 11.0 FCEs
Note: Students may use a maximum of 1.0 Independent Study FCE and 1.0 Research Participation FCE towards their Criminology & Sociolegal Studies program.
Group A: CRI300H1/ CRI364H1/ CRI365H1/ CRI370H1/ CRI380H1/ CRI383H1/ CRI385H1/ CRI390H1/ CRI391H1/ CRI392H1/ CRI393H1/ CRI394H1/ CRI395H1/ CRI396H1/ CRI450H1
Group B: CRI415H1/ CRI420H1/ CRI422H1/ CRI425H1/ CRI427H1/ CRI428H1/ CRI429H1/ CRI431H1/ CRI435H1/ CRI445H1/ CRI480H1/ CRI487H1/ CRI490H1/ CRI491H1/ CRI498H1
Group C: ANT444Y/ HIS411H1/ PHL271H1/ PHL370H1/ POL242Y/ PSY201H1/ PSY202H1/ PSY220H1/ PSY240H1/ PSY328H1/ SOC205H1 / SOC212H1/ SOC306Y/ SOC313H1/ SOC315H1/ SOC413H1/ TRN412H1/ CRI215H1/ CRI389Y0
Note about non CRI courses:
Group C courses are offered by other departments. Registration in these courses may be available only to students who have completed specified prerequisites and/or are enrolled in a program sponsored by the department offering the course. Course enrolment conditions are listed in the Arts and Science timetable. Course descriptions, prerequisites, corequisites and exclusions are listed in the Calendar.
Students who have completed criminology/sociolegal type courses in the Faculty of Arts and Science that are not included in Group C may email the Program Coordinator to find out if the courses can be used towards the Group C program requirements.
Criminology and Sociolegal Studies - Major (Arts Program) - ASMAJ0826
This is a limited enrolment program and achieving the minimum mark threshold does not guarantee admission to the Criminology and Sociolegal Studies major in any given year. The precise mark threshold is an estimate of what will be required in the Spring program admission cycle.
Applying after first year:
Completion of at least four full-course equivalents including two full-course equivalents with the following course code indicators: ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC.
The two ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC full-course equivalents must be taken in the Fall and Winter terms immediately preceding the Spring program admission cycle.
Any course and level combination from the ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC list is acceptable.
Courses with other course code indicators will not be accepted.
The estimated mark threshold in these two full-course equivalents is a combined average of 70%.
Applying after second or third year: Same as above.
The following requirements apply to students admitted to the Criminology and Sociolegal Studies major in 2018.
Students must complete a total of 8.0 FCEs including a minimum of 2.0 CRI 300+level FCEs, of these 0.5 must be a 400-level CRI course. A course taken on a CR/NCR basis may not be used to satisfy program requirements.
1: 2.0 FCEs from ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC
2: All of CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1
3: At least 2.0 300+ level FCEs from Group A, at least 0.5 must be a 400-level lecture/seminar course
4: At least 0.5 from Group B
5: Additional courses (excluding those already counted) from Groups A and C for a total of 8.0 FCEs
Note: Students may use a maximum of 1.0 Independent Study FCE and 1.0 Research Participation FCE towards the Criminology & Sociolegal Studies program.
Group A: CRI300H1/ CRI335H1/ CRI340H1/ CRI343H1/ CRI364H1/ CRI365H1/ CRI370H1/ CRI380H1/ CRI383H1/ CRI385H1/ CRI386H1/ CRI390H1/ CRI391H1/ CRI392H1/ CRI393H1/ CRI394H1/ CRI395H1/ CRI396H1/ CRI415H1/ CRI420H1/ CRI422H1/ CRI425H1/ CRI427H1/ CRI428H1/ CRI429H1/ CRI431H1/ CRI435H1/ CRI445H1/ CRI480H1/ CRI487H1/ CRI490H1/ CRI491H1/ CRI498H1
Group B: PSY201H1/ PSY202H1/SOC200H/ SOC202H1/ CRI350H1
Group C: ANT444Y/ HIS411H1/ PHL271H1/ PHL370H1/ PSY220H1/ PSY240H1/ PSY328H1/ SOC205H1/ SOC212H1/ SOC306Y/ SOC313H1/ SOC315H1/ SOC413H1/ TRN412H1/ CRI215H1/ CRI389Y0
Group C Courses: These courses are offered by other academic units. Registration in these courses may be available only to students who have completed specified prerequisites and/or are enrolled in a program sponsored by the academic unit offering the course. Check the Faculty of Arts and Science's timetable for details.
Students who have completed criminology/sociolegal type courses in the Faculty of Arts and Science (not included in Group C) may email the Program Coordinator to find out if theses courses can be used towards the Group C requirements.
Not all courses are offered every year. Please check the timetable for current course offerings and enrolment restrictions/conditions. Students without course prerequisites may be removed at any time they are discovered. Course descriptions, prerequisites, corequisites and exclusions are listed below.
Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Courses
Search Courses by Keyword
- Any -Creative and Cultural Representations (1)Thought, Belief and Behaviour (2)Society and its Institutions (3)Living Things and Their Environment (4)The Physical and Mathematical Universes (5)
CRI205H1 - Introduction to Criminology
Hours: 24L/12T
An introduction to the study of crime and criminal behaviour. The concept of crime, the process of law formation, and the academic domain of criminology. Theories of crime causation, methodologies used by criminologists, and the complex relationship between crime, the media and modern politics.
Prerequisite: Min. 4.0 FCEs
Corequisite: CRI225H1
Exclusion: WDW205H1, WDW200Y1
Recommended Preparation: 2 FCEs from ECO/HIS/PHL/POL/PSY/SOC with a combined average of at least 70%
Distribution Requirements: Social Science
Breadth Requirements: Society and its Institutions (3)
CRI210H1 - Criminal Justice
An introduction to the Canadian criminal justice system. The institutions established by government to respond to crime and control it; how they operate, and the larger function they serve; including the role of the police, the trial process, courts and juries, sentencing, imprisonment and community corrections.
Prerequisite: CRI205H1, CRI225H1
CRI215H1 - Introduction to Sociolegal Studies
The course covers several major issues that will help prepare students for advanced courses in the criminology major: the meaning of law, the production of laws and legal institutions, law in action, comparative legal traditions, and the methodology of sociolegal studies.
Exclusion: WDW215H1
CRI225H1 - Criminal Law
The main principles and themes of Canadian criminal law; legal definitions of crime, requirements of a criminal act (actus reus), criminal intention (mens rea), causation and defences. The origins, goals and functioning of criminal law, and limits on the power of the state to criminalize behaviour.
CRI300H1 - Theories of Criminal Justice
Hours: 36L
A survey of the evolution of normative theories of criminal justice, which examines how major theorists from the Enlightenment to the contemporary period have understood the normative justification for criminal prohibition and punishment. Although the course focuses on western political philosophy and social science, there will also be some attention to theories of criminal justice in selected non-western traditions.
Prerequisite: ( CRI205H1 and CRI225H1) or (1.0 FCE 300+ level from HIS/PHL/POL/SOC and a min cgpa of 2.5)
CRI335H1 - Policing
A theoretical framework is developed to examine the nature of policing, its structure and function. Attention is given to the history of policing as a global form of social practice. We examine the perspectives of both “the police” and “the policed”, as well as the objectives, domains, strategies, and authority of contemporary policing, including decision-making, organizational culture, and accountability.
Prerequisite: CRI210H1/ CRI215H1
CRI340H1 - Punishment: Theory and Practice
The study of punishment from historical and philosophical perspectives, with a focus on contemporary Canadian policy issues. Topics covered include penal theory, prisons and non-carceral forms of punishment, and the goals of penal reform.
Prerequisite: CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1
CRI343H1 - Comparative Criminal Justice
Criminal justice issues outside Canada, based on a variety of international and historical studies. The evolution of criminal justice systems in Western Europe, including the English adversarial and continental European inquisitorial approaches. A comparison of policing, criminal procedure, forms of punishment, and crime rates in the contemporary world.
Exclusion: WDW393H1 taken in 2008-09, WDW343H1
CRI350H1 - Understanding Criminological Research
An introduction to social science research methods used by criminologists. An understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of published criminological research is developed. Specific technical issues such as sampling and measurement are taught in the context of examining alternative ways of answering research questions.
Exclusion: SOC200H1, SOC200Y1, WDW350H1, WDW350Y1
CRI364H1 - Indigenous Peoples & Criminal Justice
An introduction to issues affecting Indigenous peoples in the Canadian criminal justice system identified by Indigenous scholars, activists and allies. Topics include: effects of colonization, legal discrimination and disenfranchisement, Treaties and land claims, criminalization, Indigenous activism, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Prerequisite: 1 FCE from CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI215H1, CRI225H1
Exclusion: CRI394H1 Topics: Indigenous Peoples & Criminal Justice taken in 20171
CRI365H1 - Crime and Mind
Legal, psychological and sociological understandings of issues in the criminal justice system, through a consideration of topics including: criminal intent, the Not Criminally Responsible on Account of Mental Disorder defence, the use of battered woman syndrome as part of a self-defence, infanticide, issues of transcultural psychiatry, and jury screening for bias.
Prerequisite: 1.0 FCE from CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1
CRI370H1 - Youth Justice
The course will examine what is known about offending by youths and the various purposes that have been attributed to youth justice systems. The course will focus, in large part, however, on the nature of the laws and youth justice systems that have been designed in Canada and elsewhere to respond to offending by youths.
Exclusion: WDW370H1, WDW375H1
CRI380H1 - Crime, Gender and Sex
Theory, research and policy related to the ways in which gender shapes criminal behaviour, the administration of criminal justice, and the criminal law. How notions of different types of masculinity and femininity are embedded in and influence both the operation of the criminal justice system as well as criminal behaviours. The regulation of gender and sexuality through the criminal law and through crime.
Prerequisite: ( CRI205H1 and CRI210H1) or (70% in SOC212H1 and enrolment in Sociology program)
CRI383H1 - Immigration, Ethnicity and Crime
The connection between immigration and crime, the effect of immigration on crime rates, discrimination against immigrants, the representation of immigrants in crime statistics, public perception of risk and security, and criminal justice policy changes which affect immigration. We consider research conducted in North America and Europe.
Prerequisite: CRI205H1 or SOC212H1
Exclusion: WDW383H1, WDW390H1 in 2008
CRI385H1 - Representing Crime and Authority
Cultural constructions of crime, disorder, dangerousness and risk are integral parts of the criminal justice system. A critical analysis of how criminal justice personnel, the media, and academic criminologists construct their authority through symbols and images, in order to “explain” and manage crime, and how these representations are regarded in public discourse.
CRI386H1 - Origins of Criminal Justice
Criminal justice practice, as well as political debate concerning crime and criminal justice, are often influenced by ideas that are initially developed outside the criminal justice arena. This course examines the history, current influence and efficacy of a range of such ideas, such as: the role of religious practice in rehabilitating offenders; military service and participation in sports as preventive of delinquency; the influence of environmental pollution on crime rates; the concept of the ‘problem family’; intelligence based policing and the use of management theories in criminal justice organizations.
Note: The course may include an optional Service Learning component. If offered, additional information will be provided in the Faculty of Arts and Science's timetable.
Exclusion: CRI390H1 Roots of Criminal Justice Policy taken in 20141/20151/20161.
CRI389Y0 - Topics in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Abroad
Hours: TBA
Topics in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies offered in an international setting. The content may vary from year to year.Details are posted on the Summer Abroad website.
Prerequisite: Consult the Summer Abroad Program Office.
Exclusion: WDW389Y0
CRI390H1 - Topics in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
The objective of the course is to explore emerging issues in Criminology, and their social, legal, ethical and political implications. Topics vary from year to year.
Prerequisite: 1 FCE from CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1
CRI395H1 - Independent Study
Independent study under the direction of a faculty member. Open only when a faculty member is willing and available to supervise. Consult the program website for additional information. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
Prerequisite: CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1 and 2 CRI 300 half-credit lecture/seminar courses, approval of the Program Coordinator
Exclusion: CRI395Y1, WDW395H1 Criminology
CRI396H1 - Research Participation
Credit course for supervised participation in a faculty research project. Offered only when a full-time faculty member from the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies is willing and available to supervise. Consult the program website for additional information. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
Prerequisite: 9 FCEs. A CGPA of at least 3.0 is recommended. Approval of the Program Coordinator.
CRI399Y1 - Research Opportunity Program
Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details at http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/rop. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
CRI415H1 - Politics and Crime
Hours: 24S
An advanced seminar examining the development of criminal justice and penal policies in Canada, the United States, Western Europe and Russia; the way authorities in those countries define and manage political deviance and the intrusion of politics into the administration of justice, especially in non-democratic settings.
Prerequisite: A minimum average of 77% in 4 CRI 300 half-credit lecture/seminar courses
Exclusion: CRI3120H1, WDW415H1
CRI420H1 - Current Issues in Criminal Law
An advanced seminar exploring in detail current issues in criminal law. The objective of the course is to discuss current policy and case law developments in the criminal law, and their social, political and ethical implications. The role of Parliament and the judiciary in the development of the criminal law is considered. Topics vary from year to year.
Prerequisite: 2 CRI 300 half-credit lecture/seminar courses
CRI422H1 - Indigenous Law
Seminar course exploring Indigenous law, settler state law, and the complex interrelationship between the two in Canada. Topics include: legal sources, forms and processes; sovereignty, territory and jurisdiction; treaty relationships; Indigenous peoples in international law; Indigenous rights and the constitution; environmental use, relations and protection; and Indigenous self-determination and governance.
Prerequisite: 1 FCE from CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI215H1, CRI225H1. 0.5 FCE from CRI 300-level
Exclusion: CRI490H1 Advanced Topics in Criminology: Indigenous Law taken in 20169
CRI425H1 - The Prosecution Process
A critical examination of the process by which certain conduct is identified, prosecuted and punished as “crime”, and the process by which individuals become “criminals”. The evolution of the modern prosecution system, including the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, rules of evidence, socially constructed defences, disparity in sentencing, and wrongful convictions.
Prerequisite: CRI205H1, CRI210H1, CRI225H1, 0.5 CRI 300 level course
CRI427H1 - Organized Crime and Corruption
An advanced seminar exploring the history and characteristics of organized crime and corruption.
CRI428H1 - Neighbourhoods and Crime
An advanced seminar exploring the connection between neighbourhoods and the perpetuation of poverty, social marginalization, segregation and crime. The course may include an optional Service Learning component. Check the timetable for details.
CRI429H1 - Youth Culture, Racialization and Crime in the Global Context
An advanced seminar exploring youth culture and its possible connection to criminality from an international perspective.
Prerequisite: 2 CRI 300 half-credit lecture/seminar courses (0.5 may be substituted by a 300+ level HIS/PHL/PSY/SOC course)
CRI431H1 - Mental Health, Morality & Legal Controls
A critical exploration of contemporary debates in criminology, and legal and moral philosophy concerning the diagnostic and criminal justice labeling of mental disorders such as psychopathy and paedophilia, and their representation in popular culture.
CRI435H1 - Advanced Seminar in Policing
This course will explore policing in a comparative and historical context. Issues to be covered include the following: the maintenance of law and order before police forces; development of police forces in continental Europe and the English-speaking world; structure and function of national police forces around the world today; the role of political and secret police forces; and contemporary debates on the mission and regulation of the police in contemporary North America including issues such as police-community relations, private policing, and counter-terrorism.
Prerequisite: 2 CRI 300 half-credit lecture/seminar courses.
CRI445H1 - International Criminal Law
An advanced seminar focusing on the legal and conceptual framework for responding to state violence and war crimes, and the challenges faced by various international legal institutions. Legal doctrines of sovereign immunity and universal jurisdiction, the history of international criminal prosecutions, and substantive international criminal law are examined.
Exclusion: CRI3340H1, WDW425H1 taken in 2008-2009; WDW445H1
CRI450H1 - Advanced Research/Reading
A supervised individual or group project under the direction of a faculty member from the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies. Approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator is required. Form is available on the Program Office website. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.
Prerequisite: 3 CRI 300 half-credit lecture/seminar courses and minimum 3.0 CGPA.
CRI480H1 - Interpersonal Violence
The meaning, purposes and sources of interpersonal violence, including an examination of debates over defining and documenting violence, and a review of the research on the relationships between illegitimate, interpersonal violence and state-approved or state-initiated violence. Cultural, social and individual correlates of interpersonal violence; the violence of the law; and how violence is justified and denied.
Exclusion: WDW400H1 in 2004-2006, WDW480H1
CRI487H1 - Law, Space, and the City
An introduction to interdisciplinary studies of law and space, this course covers a broad range of topics, from work on empire and colonialism by legal historians and indigenous scholars to studies of national spaces, urban spaces, and bodily spaces. Some background in either legal studies or cultural geography is desirable. Open to students in law, geography, anthropology, women/gender studies, and sociology, though permission of the instructor is required.
Exclusion: CRI3256H1 (when offered as a joint course), WDW487H1
CRI490H1 - Advanced Topics in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies
Topics vary from year to year. The objective of the course is to explore emerging issues in Criminology, and their social, legal, ethical and political implications.
CRI498H1 - Intensive Course
Content in any given year depends on instructor. Intensive courses are offered by distinguished visitors from around the world. Students in their 4th year are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to study with one or more outstanding visiting international scholars that the Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies brings from time to time. The intensive course usually runs for approximately 3-4 weeks.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6596
|
__label__cc
| 0.680517
| 0.319483
|
Alnylam Starts Rolling NDA Submission for RNAi Candidate
Zacks November 17, 2017
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ALNY announced that it has initiated submission of a rolling New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for lead candidate patisiran. The candidate is an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting transthyretin (TTR) for the treatment of hereditary ATTR (hATTR) amyloidosis. The rolling submission allows completed portions of an NDA to be reviewed by the FDA on an ongoing basis.
Alnylam has also requested priority review of application for patisiran, if granted, it might result in a six-month review process.
Notably, the NDA filing is based on promising results from the APOLLO phase III study that met its primary as well as all secondary endpoints. The patients who were administered patisiran experienced significant improvement in quality of life compared to placebo. In fact, APOLLO was the largest randomized study ever completed in this disease. The study also demonstrated the first-ever positive results for an RNAi therapeutic.
So far this year, shares of Alnylam have skyrocketed 237.5% compared with the industry’s gain of 1.6%.
Recently, Alnylam also announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (“CHMP”) of the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) has granted an accelerated assessment for patisiran. With the accelerated assessment, the company can expect the review timeline to be reduced from the typical 210 days to 150 once the marketing authorization application (MAA) is filed and validated in the EU.
Alnylam and its partner Sanofi SNY plan to submit Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency around the year-end.
Meanwhile, Sanofi is preparing for regulatory filings for patisiran in Japan, Brazil and other countries , beginning in the first half of 2018. Once it gets the required regulatory approvals, Alnylam will commercialize patisiran in the United States, Canada and Western Europe with Sanofi commercializing the product in the rest of the world.
Going forward, the potential approval of patisiran is likely to be a huge boost for the people suffering from this often fatal disease.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Alnylam carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked health care stocks in the same space include Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated LGND and Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated CORT holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Ligand’s earnings per share estimates have moved up $3.68 to $3.70 for 2018 over the last 60 days. The company pulled off positive earnings surprises in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 8.22%. The share price of the company has increased 39.4% year to date.
Corcept’searnings per share estimates have moved up from 45 cents to 47 cents for 2017 and from 77 cents to 88 cents for 2018 over the last 60 days. The company delivered positive earnings surprises in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 14.32%. The share price of the company has increased 162.4% year to date.
Sanofi (SNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (CORT) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Flex Pharma shareholders OK reverse-merger after drug failure
Tennessee man dies after contracting flesh-eating bacteria
The Healing Power of Nature
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6597
|
__label__cc
| 0.545927
| 0.454073
|
Breeding and Nesting
BirdingBirding BasicsBreeding and NestingPhotography
The hidden miracle of summer: Here comes a new feathered generation
by Anders Gyllenhaal July 5, 2019 July 7, 2019
written by Anders Gyllenhaal
Early one morning on a bird walk in Cape May, N.J., our guide was excited to show us something exquisite: A tiny and all but hidden nest of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting on a nest woven into a tree branch
We walked in utter silence, single file, through a swamp lined with trees and brambles. Then he came to a stop and set up a telescope. The nest was on a thin branch 20 feet overhead. Still, it took a while to spot the hummingbird – weighing about an ounce – sitting on a nest the size of a quarter, barely visible through the leaves.
The arrival of a new generation is taking place this summer almost entirely hidden from view.
Most birds don’t sing nearly as much as they go about their work of building nests, producing eggs and raising their young. They hide for obvious reasons: To protect their hatchlings from hazards, predators and the elements during their first fragile weeks.
And yet with a little luck — and the occasional guide who knows just where to look — we can catch a glimpse of this annual miracle. Here are some photos from our travels so far this nesting season:
A Canada Goose makes use of an Osprey platform
BirdingBirding researchBreeding and NestingConservation
Magnificent photography fuels a campaign to save the Earth’s rarest eagle
by Anders Gyllenhaal June 17, 2019 June 17, 2019
Toward the end of the full-length documentary “Bird of Prey” about the quest to save the Great Philippine Eagle, a chick followed from birth to adulthood takes off for its first flight and slowly soars high above the jungle.
A Philippine Eagle soars over the jungle. Photo by Neil Rettig. The display photo above is also by Neil Rettig.
It’s a breathtaking scene that is the crescendo of Cornell Lab of Ornithology”s first feature film. To capture that shot took six months of trudging through the jungle, fighting off swarms of insects, avoiding poisonous snakes, shimmying up giant trees and waiting days on end for the key moments to unfold.
A close-up look at the feathers that frame the Eagle’s face. Photo by Neil Rettig.
This is a remarkable creature, and its first flight drives that point home. It’s one of the largest Eagles on Earth, with a mop of feathers that frames its face and a wingspan of seven feet. But today just 400 pairs of the Great Philippine Eagle remain due to years of logging, poaching, careless development, and public indifference.
Here’s a trailer for the documentary:
BirdingBreeding and NestingFeaturedMigration
Love is in the Air: As the migration slows, the woods are heating up
by Anders Gyllenhaal May 23, 2019 May 24, 2019
When I was in the fifth grade in my little hometown in Pennsylvania, the school put on dancing lessons. At the start of each session, the boys and girls would line up on either side of the auditorium and then race toward each other in a chaotic rush to find partners for that day.
I’m reminded of that frantic and frightening pairing as the spring migration comes to a close across the U.S. and billions of birds are searching for mates. Instead of a few weeks of dancing lessons, they will commit to building homes, starting families and raising their young.
A pair of Great Blue Herons meet up in Viera, Florida.
It’s no wonder that the woods, fields and marshes are filled with birds howling at the top of their lungs. They have a lot riding on a song.
A few species, including Bald Eagles, Atlantic Puffins, Black Vultures and Blue Jays, mate for life. But most of North America’s 1,000 or so species have to find new mates every spring.
Romance is very much in the air in the birding world.
Click for our gallery of two amorous Barn Swallows — offered for biology’s sake only.
BirdingBirds storiesBreeding and NestingMigrationPhotography
by Beverly Mills Gyllenhaal April 28, 2019 April 28, 2019
written by Beverly Mills Gyllenhaal
Love can be dangerous. We know it. And yet, there are times when this most elemental of emotions pushes you beyond all reason.
Why else would an otherwise elusive, tiny yellow bird end up walking down the middle of the road in broad daylight? It was a gorgeous spring day, and this Yellow-throated Warbler was drunk in love.
Typically Yellow-throated Warblers are so difficult to find that they’ve hardly been studied. They spend most of their lives hidden, conducting all of their daily activities behind the leaves of trees some 200 feet tall.
And yet…there he was, hopping down the road in mid-May at the Pokomoke River State Park on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Anders and I had just finished a long birding hike through the forest, heading back to build a fire and call it a day. Out of the corner of my eye there was a suddenly a splash of lemony yellow where it wasn’t supposed to be.
A jolt of something akin to electricity shot down the backs of my legs as I realized what was happening. I dug my fingernails into my husband’s arm and pointed, resisting the urge to jump up and down.
Then all I could do was stand by and watch, holding my breath to see if Anders could move fast enough to get the photo.
BirdingBirding researchBreeding and NestingPhotography
by Anders Gyllenhaal April 15, 2019 April 23, 2019
Jerry Lorenz, Florida’s leading expert on the Roseate Spoonbill, kept hearing about a new nesting ground in Central Florida named for the nearby town of Stick Marsh. So he decided to see for himself what was happening on the string of small inland islands where dozens of the state’s most elegant bird had set up living quarters.
Audubon research director Jerry Lorenz / photo by Mac Stone
“They told me, ‘We think there’s probably 25 or 30 nests.’ But I sat there on the shoreline and counted,” said Lorenz, state research director for the Audubon Society in Florida and professor at Florida International University. “There were at least 150 nests there.”
A Spoonbill in full breeding allure balances on a Stick Marsh branch
A surprising and encouraging trend is under way with the Spoonbills, a striking specimen with deep pink and red coloring and a frame that harkens back to its dinosaur origins. As changes in water levels and habitat play out in Florida, this is one bird whose numbers and range have steadily expanded.
The Spoonbill is thriving at least partly as a result of the climate trends that are working against many species. The rising water and temperatures have forced the Spoonbill to move north, expand its reach and find new sources of food. Lorenz believes that the population of one of Florida’s emblematic birds has never been higher in modern times. Across, Florida, he estimates their numbers at 3,500 to 4,000; though not a huge number, it’s many times what it was at the turn of the century when the Spoonbills feathers were so popular hunters almost wiped them out entirely.
As water levels have risen in coastal nesting places, the Spoonbills have looked elsewhere to find the unique environment they need. That in turn has helped them to spread their reach beyond heavily developed South Florida and the Everglades that had been their primary Florida breeding grounds for decades.
They’ve found inland nesting locations such as Stick Marsh and Merritt Island in Central Florida. They’ve moved into other southeastern states, including Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and the Carolinas. As they’ve scouted new locations, Spoonbill have showed up as far away as Minnesota and New England, though they aren’t expected to put down roots that far afield.
BirdingBreeding and NestingFeaturedPhotography
The first chicks have arrived: beautiful, gawky, hungry and often noisy
by Anders Gyllenhaal March 28, 2019 April 9, 2019
Wood Stork chick
Great Egret chick
Anhinga chick
You can sometimes hear them before you see them: Sweet but incessant cries of early life, calling for food, warmth, attention. If you’re lucky — and in the right place — you get a look at the first chicks of the season, which can be found all across Florida this month where the warm temperatures get the breeding season off to an early start.
The photos above, (from left to right), include a weeks-old Wood Stork, a Great Egret so new its feathers are nothing but fuzz, a Sandhill Crane already up and walking and a very young Anhinga, calling for food.
A Great Egret carries a branch to its nest
We spent the past six weeks roaming Florida on a spring-time birding trip. The nesting and breeding season is still many weeks away farther north, but here it’s in full swing for large coastal birds. You can see Egrets and Herons hauling sticks and branches across the marshes, and Wood Storks in the midst of their mating rituals. We witnessed the first generation of Anhingas, Cormorants and other new hatchlings in the nest, then perking up, and finally standing, walking and attempting to fly.
March 28, 2019 April 9, 2019 0 comment
“The radical otherness of birds is integral to their beauty and their value. They are always among us but never of us. They’re the other world-dominating animals that evolution has produced, and their indifference to us ought to serve as a chastening reminder that we’re not the measure of all things.”
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6600
|
__label__wiki
| 0.759508
| 0.759508
|
FoodCon has ended
FoodCon
Idea Lab
Jillian Hishaw
F.A.R.M.S.
30000acres.org/#about-section
As a Midwest native for the past seven years, Ms. Hishaw has worked extensively in the area of environmental education, civil rights, and agricultural policy. Ms. Hishaw’s dedication to public service is reflected in the 2006 establishment of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program, an inner-city environmental education program in Kansas City, Missouri, geared towards educating young Black males about ecology and conservation. The program was later adopted by a neighborhood association and the City of Kansas City Green Block Initiative.
After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Tuskegee University, and a Juris Doctorate and Legal Master’s Degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Ms. Hishaw’s work experience in environmental and agricultural advocacy has varied. As an Environmental Planner, Hishaw had the opportunity to enforce policy on a grassroots level, in working with federal, state and local municipalities to ensure compliance of the Clean Water Act provisions in low income communities. Furthermore, her work in civil rights within the federal sector to providing legal assistance to Black and Native American farmers during the settlement phase of two discrimination class action suits, influenced her current efforts in establishing a legal non-profit for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in the Southeast. Ms. Hishaw is licensed in Wyoming.
Notably, Ms. Hishaw’s extensive law review and American Bar Association includes her latest Co-Authored article, How Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Initiatives Have Not Resolved USDAs History of Discrimination and Recommendations From Front Line Agricultural Workers, Tuskegee University-Production Agricultural Workers Policy Journal (Fall 2013 Edition).
Land Access, Land Security, and Conservation Finance McColl - 2000LIMITED
Filter By Date FoodCon Nov 20-21, 2014
Kenan Institute Room 204
McColl - 2000
McColl Building Lobby
McColl Cafe
MRMitchell Ryan
CClaire
Mina Shahid
Sean Lilly Wilson
Rachel Karasik
Siying Liu
BNBrian Naess
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6606
|
__label__cc
| 0.50228
| 0.49772
|
Gazing Outward, Looking Inward: Caspian – Dust And Disquiet (Triple Crown)
Massachussett instrumental rock quintet Caspian return with a wild, windswept meditation on vastness and our place in it, on Dust And Disquiet.
Whether ocean or desert, tundra or the depths of space, there is a feeling that comes from contemplating the nearly infinite. Gazing out at the landscape, a person contemplates their place in things. If they stay there long enough, still enough, they become just another point on the landscape, receding into insignificance, fading away. Instead of being a lamentation, mourning one’s self, instead one begins to imagine the landscape without you in it. Perhaps how it was 10,000 years ago, or how it will be in 2,500 years time.
It invites reflection, and a deep feeling of potential and wild adventure, if you let it.
Caspian’s music, nearly all instrumental as ever, is like watching weather patterns emerge and unfold, with heavy banks of distorted guitar coming on like a tsunami wave, while powerful punishing drums cut the scene like granite cliffs. It’s the sound of gazing, unflinching, into the future.
I always got the feeling, with the genre formerly known as post-rock, that this music was speaking for a generation., or for a particular segment of it anyway. Young earnest young men and women, perhaps dredded, perhaps not. Perhaps vegan, perhaps carnivorous. It’s the soundtrack of a certain kind of bookish sort who cares a lot about the world, but does not necessarily go monkeywrenching or pipe bombing.
Instead, the intensity goes inward, and becomes a kind of internal fantastic war epic. Battles are clashed, sometimes good falls and does not get up. It’s the kind of music that makes you want to write combative poetry.
And while, back in 2002, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and A Silver Mt. Zion were dancing in the ashes and throwing parades and writing romantic poetry on ruin, in 2015, Caspian are trying to sort out the pieces and put it back together again with Dust And Disquiet.
Perhaps more than any other genre, post-rock succumbed to its own genre limitations. Understandably, everyone with electric guitars was excited when they heard Mogwai’s Young Team and Godspeed You!’s F# A# Infinity. Here was music aspiring to classical heights, using all kinds of unconventional un-Pop song structures and non-Rock instrumentation. Here was a way for rock ‘n roll to remain vital, rather than devolving into a nostalgia industry.
Except too many bands began to copy the cinematic climactic crescendo build verbatim. It became a cliche, a caricature of earnest young men. And people stopped taking it seriously, as a musical movement, and ultimately stopped paying attention. People could just say, “Oh, that’s another post-rock record. I know what that is.”
This is one of the most serious shortcomings of any attempt to talk about art of any kind. It’s like saying, “Oh, this is a forest. I know what a forest is,” instead of going to scope the trees. That’d be like saying Beethoven’s Piano Sonata no. 14 is a romantic solo piano work in the sonata form, perhaps going so far as to note it was composed in the key of C# minor, rather than notating how the music sounds like moonlight rippling on the surface of Lake Lucerne. It’s every music journalist’s, and listener’s, job to get inside of the work, to let it take you over, let it inhabit you.
It’s like a willful seance, a vodoun, ridden like a horse, being overtaken by visions.
If people were to take the time to listen, they’d notice that Caspian have a unique, opiate lush twin guitar attack, with one being distorted to infinity, giant fogbanks of crushing waves of leaden power chords, while the other darts and ripples like a winnow in a glistening melodic lead.
Then perhaps you’d notice that the bass punches like a velvet-wrapped piston and glistens like oil, sounding halfway between Tool and The Cure, in the best possible way.
And it’s impossible NOT to notice that the drums hit like the wrath of g_d, falling from heaven like Babel as the drummer subdivides a steady whirlwind beat, equal parts metronomic and ritualistic.
2/3’s of the way through opening track Separation No. 2, it’s clear you’ve got a stone classic on yr hands, and yr in for a trip. The band bolster their instrumentation even further with blurry sax, with a full-blown string quartet sawing away yr heartstrings in a mighty Americana meltdown. There’s even a slide guitar.
It seems like there’s new elements coming in every song, on Dust And Disquiet. Caspian are pushing themselves, trying new things. A good majority of the album is made of the gradually building epic fury post-rock/post-metal is best known for. Each song is like its own marble universe, and is best heard rather than described. “Rioseco”, however, is a particular knockout, at a respectable 7:55. Clean crystalline guitars hang over like watchful angels, while powerful drums keep it driving at a mid-tempo ballad pace. Aforementioned cello and strings re-emerge, sighing mournfully, soaring like geese overhead, fleeing for the winter. There’s even a bit of oscillator tunage, and more pedal steel. It’s like the mightiest instrumental metal space Western ballad you’d ever want; music for dunebuggying across Jupiter.
It builds and builds, to an unbearable climax, that will have yr eyes rolling up in yr head, with guitars freaking out like classic David Gilmour, drums driving you into the dust.
Part of what makes me love Dust And Disquiet so much is it reminds me of certain lesser known and underappreciated post-rock bands, like June Of 44 side project Shipping News, or Modest Mouse offshoot Red Stars Theory. At the same time, it also reminds me of my most favorite post-metal acts – particularly Pelican, Red Sparrowes, Neurosis/Tribes Of Neurot, Nadja. The guitars have that same fuzzed out immense quality, heavier than dark matter, that i can never tire of. And with the post-rock bands, i always felt like they had such great tone. The bass and drums just sound so fucking fantastic.
So you’ve got a bunch of really technically talented musicians, with sick tone and seemingly endless musical ideas, experimenting with various structures and styles. There’s even a slow country ballad, by way of “Run Dry”.
Personally, i want to see this kind of music come on again. I want to hear rock bands bringing in sounds, instruments, styles, from all over the world. I want punk bands playing African rhythms, and i want DJs spinning wax cylinders. I want to push the envelope, and make everything sound great.
But more than all of that, Caspian have told a story. They have taken us somewhere, and opened up worlds inside of us. Put this music on yr headphones, put it in yr car. Go for a drive. Go stare out at the horizon and let it take over you.
Caspian FB
@caspian
caspianmusic.net
This entry was posted on September 25, 2015 by forestpunk in album reviews, Best New Music, Genre-fication and tagged Caspian, elemental, Genre-fication, Massachussetts, monolithic, post-metal, post-rock.
https://wp.me/p1T8Zz-uV
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6608
|
__label__cc
| 0.513436
| 0.486564
|
The Atheist Voice
Contact/Submissions
Patheos Nonreligious
Don’t Blame Joel Osteen for Keeping His Megachurch Closed During the Hurricane August 28, 2017 Hemant Mehta
Patheos Friendly Atheist. ... Want more from the Friendly Atheist? Get our FREE Newsletters and special offers!
Don’t Blame Joel Osteen for Keeping His Megachurch Closed During the Hurricane
By Hemant Mehta
***Update*** (10:56p): The church may finally be opening its doors to hurricane victims.
While hurricane Harvey wreaks havoc in the city of Houston and surrounding areas, a lot of people on social media are wondering why one of the largest churches in the country isn’t opening its doors as a shelter.
Pastor Joel Osteen‘s Lakewood Church is the former home of the Houston Rockets. It seats 16,800 people and has the kind of indoor capacity that you’d think would be incredibly helpful while the city is suffering. But the church hasn’t opened its doors to strangers. Rather, they’ve posted information about resources on Facebook for visitors. (Even the Superdome in New Orleans was a “shelter of last resort” after Hurricane Katrina, and a shelter during other less threatening hurricanes, but it wasn’t ideal for a host of other reasons.)
So what gives in Houston? Why aren’t the Osteens and the folks running Lakewood offering their religious home as a shelter for those in need? Wouldn’t that be the “Christian” thing to do?
There are plenty of people online who think this is a sign of hypocrisy:
Hey Joel, don't you have the biggest and richest church? Why don't you open up the doors and the wallet in the name of Jesus for the people!
— Mozez713 (@Mozez713) August 28, 2017
Why isn't Joel Osteen mega church in Houston Texas is not open to the public in need of shelter, food and protection?
— Mr. Weeks (@MrDane1982) August 27, 2017
Joel Osteen has a HUGE church in Houston that would make a great shelter. pic.twitter.com/byqHxXrHQn
— Brasilmagic (@Brasilmagic) August 28, 2017
Why haven't you opened your massive church there in Houston to shelter #Harvey flood victims? a real Christian would do that
— Nancy G (@Nancylyn1) August 28, 2017
It’s tempting to bash the Osteens. Believe me, I would love to point out the hypocrisy of a Prosperity Gospel preacher leaving poor people out in the cold. It’s easy for an atheist to criticize a wealthy pastor for offering only prayers in a time of need when he could be doing so much more.
But that’s just not the reality of the situation.
As Lakewood Church has pointed out on its social media, the church is literally “inaccessible due to severe flooding.” That’s referring to the roads and highways leading to the church, but one reporter notes that the underground parking garage is flooded as well. In addition, think of the chaos it would create to invite thousands of people into the building — knowing that many more may be trying to get in — and the amount of people and resources they would need to manage everyone. By turning the church into a temporary shelter, it may create more problems than it solves.
And it’s not like they’re letting their own people inside during this tragedy. Church services were canceled over the weekend, as were classes run inside the building.
The church actually has a history of helping people during natural disasters, so it’s not like this is part of a pattern where they turn their backs on their community in a time of need. After a tropical storm in 2001, the church became a shelter for about 5,000 people. And just last year, after local floods in April, Lakewood held a benefit concert with all proceeds going to the Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund.
The point is: I’m sure they’d open up the building as a shelter if they could. (Just think of how much good publicity they’d get!) The fact that they haven’t done it suggests they’re unable to help, not that they’re refusing to help.
That said, for a guy who makes as much money as he does, Osteen could earn some goodwill by announcing any donations he’s making in the wake of the disaster. He hasn’t done that yet. Instead, he’s just rattling off a bunch of prayers as usual.
There are plenty of reasons to criticize Osteen. We’ve done it a number of times on this site. But this isn’t one of them.
***Update***: Snopes says the claim that Lakewood Church is inaccessible is “unconfirmed,” all the more reason to be skeptical about claims that this is Christian hypocrisy. We just don’t have any information that says Lakewood Church is able to function as a shelter right now, yet refusing to do it.
(Screenshot via YouTube)
Want more from the Friendly Atheist? Get our FREE Newsletters and special offers!
Bryan Fischer Took "Authority" Over Hurricane Harvey... Just Before It Hit Texas
August 28, 2017 Joel Osteen's Church May Finally Be Opening Its Doors for Hurricane Victims
"i can't help your utter lack of knowledge. sure don't have time/energy to rectify THAT!"
schpadoinkle
Anti-Vaxxer Sues NY to Give Religious ..."
"wow, how stupid can you be?"
"This explains why one of the songs off her original CD has suddenly shown up ..."
CageGirl
Christian Critics Condemn Avril Lavigne for ..."
"lyin again!"
Select a Category Abortion Adam Fannin Advice Appignani Humanist Legal Center Ark Encounter Atheist Advertising Atheist Demographics Atheist Generosity Atheist Parenting Atheist/Christian Cooperation Babies Bangladeshi Bloggers Book Club Books Brittany Meyer Camp Quest Canada Captain Disillusion Cartoons Center for Inquiry Churches Coming Out Congressional Freethought Caucus Contests CosmicSkeptic DarkMatter2525 Death Debates Downloadable PDFs E.W. Jackson Education Edward Tarte Ex-Muslims Feminism FFRF Fine Arts Flat Earth Foundation Beyond Belief General Genetically Modified Skeptic Heathen Holiday Cards Housekeeping Humor Infiltration Interviews Investigations Jehovah's Witnesses Jesse Galef Jill Stein Jim Bakker Jonathan Shelley Joshua Feuerstein Latino Atheists Law Lee Strobel LGBTQ Longform Love/Sex Magazine Articles Math Matt Powell Mike Clawson Military New IFB Pastor Matt Powell Pastor Steven Anderson PictureoftheDay Podcast Poetry Politics Pop Culture Pseudoscience Rachel Oates Rationality Rules Reason Rally 2016 Richard Wade Ron Gold Science Secular Avenue Secular Coalition for America Secular Group Showcase Secular Invocations (Post-Greece) Secular Student Alliance Shades of Black Atheism Sports Street Epistemology That Old-Time Religion The Atheist Voice The Young Atheist's Survival Guide TheraminTrees Trina Hoaks War on Christmas
Select a Month July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006
Podcast Ep. 250: 2018 in Review!
A Pastor Who Wanted Women Executed for Abortions Was Arrested for...
The "Christian's Against the Little Mermaid" Facebook Group is Fake
Pastor Who Raped Adopted 14-y.o. Daughter Gets Lenient Sentence Due to...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6613
|
__label__wiki
| 0.69226
| 0.69226
|
About: Future
About: Past
Mayor Quan as secretive as Mayor Dellums?
Oakland is two months into the administration of Mayor Jean Quan. In one mayoral campaign mailer from 2010, Ms. Quan compared her approach to governance to an open door, in contrast with the closed, secretive decision-making of former Mayor Dellums or rival candidate Don Perata. Unfortunately, because of steps the Mayor and some Council Members are taking to limit public review of important decisions, the new Mayoral administration is falling short of being the model of transparency many Oaklanders thought they were promised.
Monday night, Mayor Quan urged the City Council to make a controversial public policy decision based on a secret document - a private poll purporting to show 66% support for an $80 parcel tax (she also claims it shows her with a 71% approval rating). Under pressure from public speakers to disclose its funders, the Mayor allowed that it came from different labor groups in addition to her own campaign funds, including the Police Officers’ Association, and added that taxes are needed to prevent layoffs. Oddly for a labor group funding polling on taxes, the Police Officers’ Association was not among the city workers’ representatives speaking in support of raising taxes, even though POA members were out in force for a later item.
This poll, which was not provided to the public, played a key role in the Mayor’s argument for conducting a special election for a tax, because it’s not worth the expense of an election if the taxes are doomed to fail. Councilmember Libby Schaaf pointed out that a special election could cost as much as a million dollars, and is essentially a gamble for $11m. Without seeing the wording of the question or the demographics of respondents, the secret document was not enough to persuade Ms. Shaaf to support an election. The City Council voted 5-2, a two-thirds majority, to place the taxes on the ballot, and at least one Council Member said the poll neither they nor the public had seen was a reason for their vote. Hiding important documents from the public, as Mayor Quan chose to do despite criticism from speakers during the meeting, is the exact opposite of conducting government transparently.
In April, the Council will grapple directly with the issue of providing public disclosure of information intended to inform Councilmembers’ decision-making. The Council will decide whether Oakland’s Lobbyist Registration Act will be updated to provide transparency to the public, or gutted to provide political cover for certain advocates. Due to problems with the act that made it overly broad, the Public Ethics Committee drafted a new act that more clearly defined a lobbyist. At Rules Committee last Thursday, Council Member Jane Brunner said she wants to change the Act because professional policy advocates from nonprofit organizations would have to register as lobbyists. (I once brought a complaint against a professional lobbyist for a national nonprofit and it was successful.) Ms. Brunner also said that the Rockridge Business Improvement District is in daily contact with her office, and said they shouldn’t register. But if a business association that is regularly asking for public assistance isn’t a lobbyist, then what is a lobbyist? If Ms. Brunner’s version passes, the Lobbyist Registration Act will be eliminated and there will be no way to know if, say, a former Councilmember urging the City to raise taxes on homeowners is being paid to lobby to reduce taxes on yacht owners.
Perhaps more important to people’s lives than small tax hikes or insider-y sunshine legislation is the search for a new City Administrator. Mayor Quan has conducted her quest for the most powerful City post in total secrecy. She said she hired a recruiter but only outlined the barest qualifications (including being “progressive”), has been purposefully vague about everything but the timing of her announcement, hasn’t allowed even senior City staff any input, and will present the nominee sometime this week as a fait accompli. This is very similar to Ron Dellums’ approach, where he claimed to have hired a national search firm (and, indeed, spent $500,000 on the search process), and then appointed his totally unqualified longtime aide, current City Administrator Dan Lindheim, to the position.
So perhaps that’s par for the course in Oakland, but it’s certainly not any more transparent or accountable to the public than Ron Dellums’ administration. Contrast Oakland’s search for a City Administrator to Alameda’s for their City Manager, where the public knows the names of all three final candidates, and the City Council has appointed committees of citizens to interview and provide recommendations on their picks. You’d think that this kind of citizen involvement would be a feature of a Mayor who was elected with a promise to be more accessible and transparent than her predecessor, but instead we get a City Administrator search as opaque and removed from public view as Ron Dellums’. We’ll find out within days if a similar process yields a similar result – cronyism.
Posted in california, citycouncil, dellums, janebrunner, jeanquan, libbyschaaf, oakland.
By dto510 – March 10, 2011
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
V Smoothe says
I agree that the way Mayor Quan has gone about the process of selecting a City Administrator reflects extremely poorly on her commitment to transparency in her administration. It is very disappointing.
The League of Women Voters sent a letter urging a transparent process in December:
Dear Mayor-elect Quan,
The League of Women Voters of Oakland congratulates you on your election as Mayor of Oakland. We are pleased that you have selected Henry Gardner to head your transition team.
It is clear that the selection of the new City Administrator is a critical decision for the whole City. We believe that there should be transparency in the process, and that the public and city staff should feel they have been consulted so that the new Administrator can be an effective manager.
We suggest that you make regular reports about the progress of the search, making as much information public as can possibly be made public. We also suggest that those conducting the search be required to spend time talking with–and listening to–Oakland citizens and city staff. They may not learn significantly more than they would by reading reports, but by doing this kind of public listening, they gain the trust of the public.
We recognize that the public cannot be a part of the actual process of the selection, but at the same time, citizens need to feel that their concerns have been heard and recognized. People also simply want to know what is going on, and that progress is being made.
It is extremely disappointing that Mayor Quan did not heed their suggestions.
After our painful years of the Dellums administration, OF COURSE Jean Quan has a 71% approval rating after such a relatively short time in office! If nothing else, she was definitely seen at the White House and at the Target opening, which is more positive publicity than Dellums got in years. I fear that the money spent on an election over taxes is not going to be successful unless they spend millions more in trying to spin it positively. Perhaps a net gain is worth it, but that’s a lot of money to be gambling away…
dto510 says
Joanna, I am dubious that her approval rate is so high considering how narrowly she was elected, but there’s no reason to think she’s unpopular with everyone who didn’t vote for her. In any event, we don’t know how the question was phrased or how the responses for weighted, so we can’t tell. It wouldn’t matter except that she’s using the same secret poll as a reason to make a decision that costs the City money.
I’m glad the LWV encouraged an open process. In addition to Alameda, the OUSD conducted an public process for choosing its new superintendent, who is remarkably popular and well-respected, perhaps partly because of going through a public vetting.
jsmith says
If you care about Oakland and want an end to this ridiculous violence join the effort to RECALL the incompetent gang pandering Jean Quan and any of the council members that support her.
AC says
The OPOA did NOT fund this poll in any way. The OPOA has confirmed they did NOT contribute to this poll. Why do people repeat Mayor Quan’s lies?
Ken O says
This new mayor leaves a bad taste in my mouth already with behind closed door same ole’ just like her previous decades of “service” and predecessors.
All politicians suck. The ones that don’t are offed like Paul Wellstone, MLK, John F Kennedy, John F Kennedy Jr., etc….
BarryK says
Libby Schaaf did not support this tax due to the cost of a special election. However, if this were a “general election” then, she would have voted YES to get it on the ballot. Contrast to DeLaFuente who said he was against this tax.
len raphael says
Now that the CC has committed to an election, it’s a good time to compare the cost of putting on an election in Oakland vs other neighboring cities to see where we can cut election costs.
A couple of years ago the registrar in one of the CC cities claimed a substantially lower per voter election cost than ours.
-len raphael, temescal
livegreen says
I agree with the concerns of secrecy expressed about our new Mayor. The precursor to this is how the non-profits funded by OFCY operate, and how decisions by that POC are made behind closed doors. Though the Mayor has not caused this, she has permitted it and ok’d their decisions without much cross examination. (As have other members of the Life Enrichment Committee).
It seems the primary difference between this Mayor and her predecessors or opponents is who has the secretive influence.
One question for Becks and V about the Business Improcement Districts: What happens when they or their individual members have issues pertaining to City services, or lack thereof? Is getting assistance from an agency (on a specific issue, as opposed to broader policy issues) or their City Councilmember considered lobbying?
What about individuals who do the same? Where is the line drawn?
Recall Jean Quan says
Recall Jean Quan!
https://www.facebook.com/recalljeanquan
« Blog on hiatus Is Mayor Quan’s visibility also productivity? »
About FutureOakland
In the present, decisions are made which shape the future. This blog comments on those decisions.
Comments are not moderated but may be caught in the spam filter. If your comment has not appeared within 24 hours, contact me at:
DTO [at] THEDTO [dot] COM
Moral Failures in Oakland « George Willcoxon on Why defend the indefensible?
V Smoothe on Why defend the indefensible?
George on Why defend the indefensible?
MarleenLee on Why defend the indefensible?
Recall Jean Quan on Mayor Quan as secretive as Mayor Dellums?
dto510 on Five years of Oakland’s Future
Navigator on Five years of Oakland’s Future
Another magical night in downtown Oakland « Living in the O on Uptown rises
V Smoothe on Cuts to basic services jeopardize Oakland’s recovery
MarleenLee on Cuts to basic services jeopardize Oakland’s recovery
dto510 on Cuts to basic services jeopardize Oakland’s recovery
Why defend the indefensible?
Cuts to basic services jeopardize Oakland’s recovery
Five years of Oakland’s Future
Is Mayor Quan’s visibility also productivity?
Transportation is Oakland’s key environmental opportunity
The grassroots case for increased campaign finance limits
actransit airport alameda armybase bart berkeley blogoaksphere breakingnews brt budget california citycouncil cityworkers delafuente dellums desleybrooks development downtown edgerly elections endorsements housing iz janebrunner jeanquan jerrybrown johnrusso kaplan kernighan larryreid libbyschaaf measurekk nadel news o29 oakland opd ousd planningcommission san francisco san jose taxes taxis transportation zoning
Select Month November 2011 (1) June 2011 (1) April 2011 (2) March 2011 (1) June 2010 (1) March 2010 (2) January 2010 (4) December 2009 (2) November 2009 (3) October 2009 (2) August 2009 (1) June 2009 (1) May 2009 (3) April 2009 (3) March 2009 (1) February 2009 (2) January 2009 (7) December 2008 (6) November 2008 (5) October 2008 (6) September 2008 (6) August 2008 (4) July 2008 (7) June 2008 (11) May 2008 (5) April 2008 (3) March 2008 (3) January 2008 (1) November 2007 (5) October 2007 (7) September 2007 (8) August 2007 (5) July 2007 (1) June 2007 (2) May 2007 (9) April 2007 (2) March 2007 (2) November 2006 (6) October 2006 (5) September 2006 (7) August 2006 (4) July 2006 (3) June 2006 (5) May 2006 (8) April 2006 (8)
: dto510 on Twitter
: The DTO
A Better Oakland
City Homestead
Drake Talk
Fragmentary Evidence
New Oaktown
OakTalk
Oaktown Art
Our Oakland
Ruth Miller
TransForm Blog
We Fight Blight
All content is copyrighted by its author. FutureOakland was a project of Jonathan Bair, 2006-2011.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6616
|
__label__cc
| 0.733965
| 0.266035
|
Documents filtered by: Correspondent="Adams, John" AND Correspondent="Stoddert, Benjamin"
To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 18 May 1801
Geo Town—18 May 1801.
I have been for sometime past honored with your letter from Quincy, which afforded great gratification to my feelings, because it convinced me, you thought of me, & was not indifferent to my reputation. My first wish is to Act my part in life, with propriety & honor—my second, that minds like yours, should think I do so Act it.
The attack made upon me in the wretched paper of Lyon, which no longer exists, was so impotent, & the Printer himself so early acknowledged the malevolence & the folly of the charges exhibited against me, that I did not think the matter of sufficient importance to trouble you about it.
It is impossible for me to form any correct Idea of the course intended to be pursued by the new administration—To Judge from present appearances, it would seem that no violent changes in Men, or things, were contemplated—& that the course would rather be a conciliatory one. Genl Smith, who without being Secy of the Navy, is executing the duties of that Department acknowledged to me two Days ago, that moderate & honest Men of all parties, might have met on your System of Politics—There is no great merit in a concession like this from Genl Smith, & I only repeat it after him, because I presume he repeated it after others.
Capt Dale is now here on his way to Norfolk, to take command of a squadron of three Frigates & a schooner, for the Mediterranean—No other Vessels are to be employed except the George Washington, with more Tribute, until it is time to relieve Dale—& then three other Frigates I understand are to be sent—all the rest are to be laid up in the Eastern Branch of Patomak—not in different ports of the United States. This arrangement seems to be calculated for a long Peace—& I imagine it is the determination that there shall be a long Peace—and if there is a general Peace in Europe quickly, there will be no difficulty in adhereing to this determination—but if the War continues, it will require great resolution to resist the strenuous efforts which will be made to draw us into the coalition against England.
Mr Jefferson has no levees—& is therefore in a great degree excluded from intercourse with Federal Men—at least modest Federal Men, who wish not to be thought Intruders—For my own part, I have not once seen him since I quit the Office of the Navy.
If any thing turns up here, worth your attention, I shall take the liberty to communicate it, as I am sure you cannot be indifferent to whatever affects a People & a Country, you have so long, so zealously, & so successfully served—& who cannot be long insensible to the merit of such services, in times so critical & so important—Indeed, there is no man of real understanding & real candor, who is not already prepared to acknowledge the vast merit of those services.
I hope Mrs. Adams enjoys better health, than she did at Washington, & that you both enjoy & will long continue to enjoy every human felicity—My Wife & even my Children desire me to present their most respectful & most affectionate regards to her.
I have the honor to be, with real / & great esteem Dr Sir Yr. Obed / Obliged & grateful servt
Ben Stoddert.
Stoddert, Benjamin
“To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 18 May 1801,” Founders Online, National Archives, accessed April 11, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-4913. [This is an Early Access document from The Adams Papers. It is not an authoritative final version.]
From Adams to Stoddert [31 March 1801]
From Stoddert to Adams [12 October 1809]
All correspondence between Adams and Stoddert
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6619
|
__label__wiki
| 0.656694
| 0.656694
|
Teen convicted of murder in beheading case
Posted 6:33 AM, May 15, 2019, by CNN Wire
A Massachusetts teen was found guilty of murder Tuesday, convicted in the killing, mutilation and beheading of his classmate.
A jury found 18-year-old Mathew Borges of Lawrence, Massachusetts, guilty of first-degree murder for the 2016 killing of then-16-year-old Lee Manuel Villoria-Paulino. Borges was 15 at the time of the murder.
“Nothing can bring Lee Paulino back to his family, who obviously love and miss him very much,” Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement Tuesday. “It is my hope that this verdict gives them some comfort and peace.”
Borges’ attorney, Edward Hayden, did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Paulino’s body was discovered on the bank of the Merrimack River in December 2016, decapitated and missing its hands.
Sentencing is scheduled in July
In his closing arguments Monday, Assistant District Attorney Jay Gubitose said that Borges had the means, motive, and opportunity to kill Paulino.
“He had this fascination, some sort of obsession, with killing someone,” Gubitose said.
The prosecution argued that Borges was jealous because Paulino had spent time with his girlfriend. Prosecutors said Borges distracted Paulino to get him out of his house while other teens robbed it, and then killed him.
CNN affiliate WCVB reported that medical examiners found 76 wounds on Paulino’s body — and that they were unable to determine whether particular wounds, including his beheading, took place before or after his death.
Since Borges was a minor when Paulino was murdered, he faces a life sentence with the possibility of parole, according to the Essex District Attorney’s office.
Borges is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9.
Topics: beheading, conviction, Massachusetts
Abraham Cruz Jr. convicted for role in 1980 murder of two Adams County women
Teen accused of killing her friend after a man she met online offered her $9 million, police say
Michelle Carter files appeal with the Supreme Court
Charlottesville car attacker pleads for mercy in sentencing memo
More than 3,000 motorcyclists ride through New Hampshire to honor the seven bikers killed in a June collision
A pair of teachers, husband & wife, convicted of child sex abuse charges in Lackawanna County
Murder victim’s family ‘tickled to death’ wrongfully convicted man is out of jail
Wrongfully convicted man earns law degree to help prevent cases like his
Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher not guilty of murder in ISIS detainee’s death
Baby cut from womb of murdered mother passes away after weeks on life support
York County woman who killed 3-year-old daughter will serve 15-30 years in prison
Serial killer’s mother stabbed to death in the home where her son was arrested
Convicted crack dealer jailed for up to 10 years in Lancaster
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6621
|
__label__cc
| 0.712082
| 0.287918
|
Reduzieren, Wiederverwenden, Recyceln
Minimierung
Über FP
From Waste to Winner: The Reclaimed Plastics Economy
August 29, 2018 /0 Kommentare/in Unkategorisiert /von admin
Plastic waste remains one of the largest global ecological issues, but earth-friendly entrepreneurs are increasing demand for reclaimed plastic to give it new life beyond the landfill..
The production of plastic requires complex methods and costly equipment. It is mind-boggling to think that so much time, energy, and money is spent on something that ends up doing more harm than good by polluting the ocean and filling up landfills.
Every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste finds its way to the ocean. That is the equivalent of dumping the contents of a garbage truck into the sea every minute of every day. This rate is set to double by 2030 if our habits do not change. Los Angeles alone contributes five tons of plastic fragments into the Pacific Ocean daily, equaling roughly 1,825 tons annually. These stats do not even include the tons of plastic waste taking up precious space in landfills.
So, why are plastics not more widely recycled? Like most things, it comes down to cost. Recycling machines are expensive, and plastic is a fickle material. Impure plastic can easily damage or slow down machinery, making increased maintenance or costly replacement necessary. The cost, however, is not just derived from the machines themselves. Recycled plastic also costs ten times more than virgin plastic because it is much more difficult to make. One piece of lesser quality in a batch of recycled plastic can render the entire cycle unusable, wasting money, time, and driving up the price of the material.
In turn, businesses and customers who choose to use or purchase goods made from recycled plastic spend a lot of money to do so. Regardless of the extra cost, recycled and reclaimed plastic is in high demand for companies and customers who care deeply about the environment. Organizations and companies like Precious Plastic, the Plastic Bank, VolkerWessels, and ByFusion are working actively to turn plastic waste into a commercially viable, reusable material.
People-Powered Solutions
Dave Hakkens, a pioneer in reclaimed plastics, created an open source suite of machines designed to turn plastic waste into a reusable resource. Precious Plastics allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to access, download, and build devices capable of converting plastic waste into literally anything. A person can become a self-sufficient entrepreneur of upcycled plastic goods, not unlike a carpenter or sculptor; the only difference is that instead of wood or clay, your medium of choice is… well… plastic.
What you create is limited only by your imagination and the supply of plastic garbage you find laying around. Even the machines — whose open-source designs are available for free on the Precious Plastics website — are customizable to your needs. By offering a solution to the problem of plastic waste, Hakkens has empowered anyone and everyone to assist in the recycling of plastic in a way that also benefits the recyclers financially.
The Plastic Bank is another organization treating plastic as a material rather than a waste product. The Plastic Bank brought its concept of “Social Plastic” to Port Au Prince, Haiti to assist struggling residents and improve infrastructure after recent hurricanes. 30 recycling markets set up around the city allow residents to collect and turn in plastic in exchange for credits which they can then claim for “anything from a sustainable stove to a solar-powered phone charger.” What’s interesting here is that this system changes the perception of plastic from trash into a monetary unit, using humanity’s natural inclination to increase its wealth to also increase the recycling effort. For this system to work in the long term, there must be demand for reclaimed plastic as a raw material — a trend that seems to be gaining momentum.
Infrastructural Solutions
VolkerWessels and ByFusion are two companies looking to capitalize on recycled plastics, creating prototypes that could utilize this resource on an enormous scale.
VolkerWessels’ PlasticRoad would use reclaimed plastic as an alternative to asphalt to pave roads. Using plastic waste would minimize the carbon emissions traditionally associated with the construction, installation, and maintenance of conventional roads, as well as promote the use of recycled plastic as a raw material.
Plastic road segments would arrive prefabricated to the installation site. Then, workers need only dig a trough, place the road segments, and join them together. Should PlasticRoad become the new standard for road building, construction time could be reduced from months (or years on extensive projects) to mere weeks.
These roads are still undergoing testing before being released into the market, but VolkerWessels already has a partner on board. The city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, home to the world’s most technologically advanced port, will likely become a test city for VolkerWessels’ PlasticRoad. Jaap Peters, a member of the Rotterdam City Council Engineering Bureau, explains the natural partnership: “We’re very positive towards the development around PlasticRoad. Rotterdam is a city that is open to experiments and innovative adaptations in practice. We have a ‘street lab’ available where innovations like this can be tested.”
So far VolkerWessels has not tested their product in the real world, but the prototypes show promise of a multitude of benefits compared to traditional roads. Plastic is more resilient to chemical corrosion, meaning less maintenance and repairs are needed over the course of a road segment’s life. They also last about three times as long and can withstand more extreme temperatures than asphalt roads. The road’s hollow core makes it easier to install cables or pipelines below and allows for better drainage, making them virtually flood-proof.
However, roads are not the only thing that recycled plastic can build. ByFusion, a New York-based startup with a mission to “reshape the future of plastic,” has created RePlast bricks, an eco-friendly building material made from recycled plastic. The bricks range from 8 to 27 pounds, have better thermal and sound insulation than conventional concrete, and don’t require glue or adhesive to use – snapping together similarly to LEGOs.
The recycling process developed by ByFusion to make the bricks allows for the use of all types of commercial plastics, even those usually considered too toxic or too costly to process. The process is also 100% carbon neutral, non-toxic, and boasts 95% lower greenhouse gas emissions than mixing conventional concrete. Machines to turn the raw plastic waste into bricks are deployed directly to the job site to make construction projects of any scale easy to complete.
Recycled Plastic – The Material of the Future?
Is recycled plastic the new concrete, the new asphalt, or the new clay? That depends entirely on us. As demand for these products grows alongside the need to reduce the plastic waste already floating around, more money can be spent to improve and refine the recycling process – ultimately lowering the cost of production. It may seem strange that using plastic could be the greenest possibility in a world that generally considers the material an environmental enemy.
Embracing and utilizing recycled plastic as a raw material will not only help to advance technology, but could also act as a catalyst to heal the world from human wastefulness. Where our ancestors once mined for precious metals, the generations of this millennium might find their riches by “mining” the plastic from the oceans and landfills. These are just four examples, but I wonder what interesting treasures other green-minded entrepreneurs will make from all this trash.
https://fp-sustainability.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/waste-to-winner-blog.jpg 400 750 admin https://fp-sustainability.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/logo-tm.png admin2018-08-29 09:13:172018-08-31 09:03:44From Waste to Winner: The Reclaimed Plastics Economy
Nijverheidsweg 4
NL- 6422 PD Heerlen
16 avenue des Entrepreneurs
95400 Villiers Le Bel
Victory House
400 Pavilion Drive
Northampton NN4 7PA
89542 Herbrechtingen
© Copyright - FP International
The Benefits of Sustainable Packaging
Diese Seite verwendet Cookies. Indem Sie die Seite weiter durchsuchen, stimmen Sie der Verwendung von Cookies zu.
OKWeitere Informationen
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6622
|
__label__cc
| 0.744782
| 0.255218
|
Kingdom Hearts 3D demo headed to North America
Full translation of Weekly Famitsu and Ultimania interviews.
Olivia IwaiMay 12, 2012 at 9:09 AM EDT26 Comments0
In the Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania (a detailed encyclopedia released on May 1 in Japan), director Tetsuya Nomura dropped a few hints about the future of the series and shared details regarding the game’s mysterious events. In Famitsu this week, he confirmed the Sora scenario Traverse Town demo currently available in Japan for North American distribution.
Kingdom Hearts 3D launched on March 29 in Japan and has since amassed 308,000 sales. It is scheduled for North America and Europe on July 31 and 20, respectively.
Regarding future titles, Nomura claimed he could not say when, but “various developments have already started regarding a new title in the Kingdom Hearts series.” Just this week, he went on to joke that the next title “might be a curve ball.” In Game Informer, he said he feels “that it’s about time that Kingdom Hearts should go back to being on a console.”
If you would like to read the complete translations of his latest interviews, including those from the Kingdom Hearts 3D Ultimania, please check them out on my personal blog. (Please be warned, they are spoiler intensive for fans who have not already completed Kingdom Hearts 3D.)
Famitsu #1223 Interview
Ultimania – Director Interview
Ultimania – Scenario Mysteries Interview
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Toki to Towa: Meet Towa, Toki's other half Previous post
Spanish retailer lists Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi HD Collection Next post
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6627
|
__label__cc
| 0.594771
| 0.405229
|
Sugar-based learning/memory/cognitive-enhancement therapy: Trehalose, a sugar joined by two glucose molecules, increases Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) levels, improves cognition, and decreases age-associated decline in memory and learning, via down regulation of its target genes, 26/March/2018, 5.54 pm
Molecular therapy for anxiety and depression: Tranilast, an anti-allergic medication, decreases PHF8 levels, increases the expression of serotonin receptors Htr1a and Htr2a, and promotes resistance to stress-induced -anxiety and -depression via down regulation of its target gene, 24/March/2018, 11.48 pm
Sugar-based anti-ageing and Lifespan extension therapy: D-Tagatose, a natural sweetener, increases CHIP levels, increases monoubiquitylation of insulin receptor (INSR), decreases INSR protein levels and enhances lifespan via down regulation of its target gene, 26/March/2018, 6.00 am
memory and cognition
Introduction: What they say:
A study from Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA; Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA Neuroscience Graduate Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, V.A. Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA shows that “Human umbilical cord plasma proteins revitalize hippocampal function in aged mice.“ This research paper was published, in the 19 April 2017 issue of the journal “Nature” [One of the best research journals in General sciences with an I.F of 43+], by Prof. Wyss-Coray, Castellano JM and others.
What we say:
On the foundation of this interesting finding, Dr L Boominathan PhD, Director-cum-chief Scientist of GBMD, reports that: Sugar-based learning/memory/cognitive-enhancement therapy: Trehalose, a sugar joined by two glucose molecules, increases Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) levels, improves cognition, and decreases age-associated decline in memory and learning, via down regulation of its target genes
What is known?
Prof.Tony Wyss-Coray’s research team has recently shown that: (1) human cord plasma treatment promotes cognitive and learning function in aged mice; (2) blood-borne component Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) is enriched in human cord plasma, young mouse plasma, and young mouse hippocampi; (3) TIMP2 increases hippocampal-dependent cognition; and (4) treating brain slices with TIMP2 antibody inhibits long-term potentiation and prevents hippocampal function, suggesting that increasing the expression of TIMP2 in aged individuals may enhance learning and memory.
From Research findings to Therapeutic opportunity:
This study suggests, for the first time, a sugar-based therapy for age-associated decline in memory function in hippocampus.
Trehalose, by increasing the expression of its target genes, may increase the levels of TIMP2. Thereby, it may: (1) increase the expression of genes that promote learning and memory; (2) cognition and learning; (3) improve spatial memory; and (4) promote hippocampal function (fig.1).
Figure1. Mechanistic insights into how Trehalose functions as a regulator of learning and memory. Trehalose, by increasing the expression of TIMP2, it increases learning and memory in aged individuals
[easy_payment currency=”USD”]
Thus, pharmacological formulations encompassing “trehalose or its analogues, either alone or in combination with other drugs,“ may be used to suppress age-associated overall physiological decline of hippocampal function and improve cognition and memory (fig.2).
Details of the research findings:
Idea Proposed/Formulated (with experimental evidence) by: Dr L Boominathan Ph.D.
Undisclosed mechanistic information: How does trehalose increase the levels of TIMP2?
Amount: $500#
For purchase and payment details, you may reach us at info@genomediscovery.org
# Research cooperation
Web: http://genomediscovery.org or http://newbioideas.com
Citation: Boominathan, L., Sugar-based learning/memory/cognitive-enhancement therapy: Trehalose, a sugar joined by two glucose molecules, increases Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) levels, improves cognition, and decreases age-associated decline in memory and learning, via down regulation of its target genes, 26/March/2018, 5.54 pm, Genome-2-Bio-Medicine Discovery center (GBMD), http://genomediscovery.org
Courtesy: When you cite, drop us a line at admin@genomediscovery.org
Small molecule-based Lifespan extension comes of age-β-guanidinopropionic acid (β-GPA) aids in Lifespan extension: β-guanidinopropionic acid (β-GPA) activates autophagy, promotes leanness, increases insulin sensitivity, improves motor function, increases adult stem cell proliferation, alleviates ageing feature and extends lifespan, via upregulation of its target genes ATG5 (Autophagy-related 5) and telomerase, 15/July/2019, 10. 6.31 am
Solving a long standing puzzle as to how Astragalus membranaceus functions as a pain reliever: Mechanistic insights into how Astragalus membranaceus-derived compound Astragaloside functions as a pain medication: Astragaloside, derived from Astragalus membranaceus or its oil, increases the expression of PD-L1, TRPV1, and CGPR, decreases the expression of Cox-2, attenuates acutes and chronic pain, and suppresses mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity and inhibits nociceptive neuron excitability, via up-regulation of its target gene, 12/July/2019, 11.39 pm
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6629
|
__label__cc
| 0.574679
| 0.425321
|
Documents filtered by: Author="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Recipient="Hamilton, Alexander" AND Recipient="Knox, Henry" AND Period="Washington Presidency"
From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, with their Replies, 25 June 1793
To Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, with their Replies
June. 25. 1793.
Th: Jefferson has the honor to submit to the correction and approbation of the Secretaries of the Treasury and War, the inclosed draughts of letters to the French minister on the subject of the ship William and others in her situation, and to Mr. Hammond and Mr. Pinckney on the subject of the Snow Suckey.
[Replies by Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox:]
The letters to Mr. Hammond and Mr. Pinckney appear to me proper, according to the facts stated in them.
The object of that to Mr. Genet also appears to me desireable; but I am not wholly without scruple as to the proposition going from the UStates.
A Hamilton
Approved H Knox
RC (DLC); addressed: “The Secretaries of the Treasury & War”; with replies by Hamilton and Knox at foot of text. PrC (DLC); lacks replies. Tr (DLC); 19th-century copy; lacks replies. Recorded in SJPL. Enclosures: (1) Draft of TJ to Edmond Charles Genet, 25 June 1793. (2) Draft of TJ to George Hammond, 26 June 1793. (3) Draft of TJ to Thomas Pinckney, 26 June 1793.
“From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox, with their Replies, 25 June 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, accessed April 11, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-26-02-0332. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 26, 11 May–31 August 1793, ed. John Catanzariti. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995, p. 361.]
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6632
|
__label__wiki
| 0.556526
| 0.556526
|
Home Lifestyle 21-Year-Old Man Steals Grandma’s Pant In Ekiti
21-Year-Old Man Steals Grandma’s Pant In Ekiti
Efoghae Friday, 21, is assisting the police in Ado Ekiti to explain why and for what purpose he allegedly stole a pant belonging to a grandmother in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The said underwear, belonging to Mrs Modupe Adekoya, was allegedly stolen from her residence, No.15, Olorunsogo St., Basiri Area of Ado Ekiti.
It was learnt that some of policemen attached to the Irewolede Police Station arrested Friday on Tuesday afternoon after a report was made by a relative of the old woman.
It was also learnt that the suspect and three others arrested in connection with the crime were later transferred to the New Iyin Road Police station on Bank Road, Ado Ekiti same day.
It was there that Efoghae allegedly confessed to committing the crime.
The victim, Mrs Modupe Adekoya, confirmed that her underwear was stolen where it was hung outside of the house after washing.
She said, “I know Friday Efighae very well as he usually come to assist me in doing some domestic chores at home.
“To appreciate him, I used to give him meals but I never thought he could do this.
“I had washed my pants and spread two of them outside to dry at about 3a.m., on June 10, at the corridor in my house.
“But when I wanted to remove them in the morning, I found out that one was missing, and then I raised the alarm.
“When efforts to locate the missing pant were unsuccessful, a relative who suspected Friday called him and they urged him to confess, promising not to do anything untoward.
“He eventually confessed to stealing the underwear and that was when we invited the police to arrest him.’’
Adekoya added that when he was arrested, he took the police to the house of three boys.
She said that the suspect claimed that one of them had prior to the incident asked him to help him get the underwear and promised him N2,000.
NAN reports that a lawyer, Layi Obisesan, contacted by the family of the woman to handle the matter, also confirmed the development.
According to Obisesan, the family is interested in pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion.
He said that the family would ensure that police prosecute the case and also ensure that the old woman would get justice.
“We want the police to charge the case to court since the suspect, Friday, has made confessions that he indeed stole the underwear.
“ He gave the colour of the underwear he stole which was identified as belonging to Madam Adekoya.
“He also gave the location from where he stole it. He said he was asked to bring the underwear by one Enyinma who was living around Irewolede area of Basiri in Ado Ekiti.”
Three Hoodlums Nabbed For Stealing Female Pants In Ogun State
Previous articleWhat A Loss! Popular Actress/ Vixen Dies
Next articleAgainst Fraudulent Practice – Samuel Ortom Warns Newly Inaugurated Caretaker Chairmen
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6634
|
__label__wiki
| 0.655819
| 0.655819
|
December 17, 2014 - 5:12 pm EDT 5 years ago
Back9Network Gift Guide: TaylorMade RSi Irons
back9network Follow
Throughout the month of December, Will Christien and Shane Bacon are bringing you gift ideas for the golfer on your list. Today, they take a look at the new TaylorMade RSi irons.
The RSi irons feature new Face Slot Technology to help with golfers’ mishits, because well, mishits happen. For more information on the irons, click here.
Back9Network’s flagship hour of golf, pop culture, debate, and entertainment will be delivered on “The Turn.” Co-hosted by veteran golf writer Shane Bacon, former E! Network Host Erica Bachelor, and Emmy Award-winning sports personality Lou Holder, “The Turn” will tackle the industry’s biggest topics by blending news, analysis and user-generated content with behind-the-scenes perspectives from the game’s most colorful icons and personalities. Shane, Erica, Lou, user-generated content, and social media interaction will guide the conversation.
Tune into “The Turn” airing Monday-Friday at noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST on Back9Network — DIRECTV channel 262.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6636
|
__label__cc
| 0.573115
| 0.426885
|
Audio: Hannity Says Bundy's 'Negro' Comments Are 'Beyond Repugnant To Me'
'It reminds me of Todd Aiken'
Sean Hannity on Bundy ‘Negro’ Remarks: ‘Beyond Repugnant to Me’ (Mediaite)
Sean Hannity reacted to Cliven Bundy‘s slavery remarks at the top of his radio show Thursday, making it clear he finds them unequivocally repugnant and horrible, but also calling out Democrats for racially insensitive remarks made on the left that were never condemned or rebuked.
Hannity admitted he’s incredibly “pissed off” about the whole thing, saying, “His comments are beyond repugnant to me. They are beyond despicable to me. They are beyond ignorant to me.” He said that plenty of conservatives have been supporting Bundy’s case because of sincere beliefs about eminent domain abuse but now they’ll all be “branded because of the ignorant, racist, repugnant, despicable comments by Cliven Bundy.”
CNN’s Berman: It’s No Accident When the ‘Co-President’ Sean Hannity Says Trump Might Be Willing to Deal on DACA
Hannity: Media’s ‘Alternative Universe’ on Trump Is ‘Beyond Despicable’
Cuomo: What Hannity Says, the President Does
Stephens: I’d Like to See What Hannity Says When Kamala Harris Calls for National Emergency over Climate Change
Stewart: Why Does 'Patriotic' Hannity Defend Bundy, a 'U.S.-Atheist?'
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6640
|
__label__cc
| 0.659234
| 0.340766
|
Druid Hill Complete Streets
Published at November 1, 2018 December 7, 2018 In Category Advocacy, News Tags: auchentoroly terrace, baltimore, complete streets, druid hill complete streets, druid hill park, druid park lake drive, green space, mondawmin, open society institute, OSI, placemaking, public art, public health, public space, reservoir hill, transportation 1 Comment
I’m honored and humbled to announce that I have been awarded a 2018 Open Society Institute (OSI) Baltimore Community Fellowship providing me with eighteen months of funding and organizing support as I collaborate with residents on reconnecting our West Baltimore neighborhoods with Druid Hill Park. Through the Druid Hill Complete Streets project I will be working with my neighbors to ensure that a forthcoming Baltimore City Department of Transportation (DOT) planning effort is as reflective of community voices as possible as we seek to convert the dangerous barrier highways around Druid Hill Park into complete streets safe and accessible for all – especially the approximately 50% of area residents who do not drive. Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to be safe and accessible for all, including pedestrians, transit users, wheelchair riders, and people who rely on bicycles. During the fellowship I will be working with local youth to create traffic calming public art to slow down cars and improve pedestrian safety. Potential ideas include mural-filled crosswalks, artistic planters protecting pedestrians, and creative signs reminding motorists where pedestrians have the right-of-way.
Auchentoroly Terrace community advocacy walk with city agencies, 2017.
West Baltimore’s historic work class neighborhoods of color have systematically been denied safe access to Druid Hill Park due to dangerous six-to-nine-lane-wide highways constructed over community opposition between the 1940s and the 1960s. Click here to read my story about the history behind the highways cutting off the neighborhoods of Mondawmin, Penn North, and Reservoir Hill from Druid Hill Park. The formerly two-lane, park-front streets of Auchentoroly Terrace and Druid Park Lake Drive were widened into high-speed highways primarily serving suburban commuters at the expense of park access for local residents.
Structurally racist urban planning decisions to build highways around Druid Hill Park make it difficult for the residents to enjoy the park’s public health benefits, including exercise, healthy food, and clean air. The Baltimore City Health Department’s 2017 Neighborhood Health Profiles show that the majority working class, African American communities around the park have some of the city’s highest mortality rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Click here for the Penn North / Reservoir Hill and Greater Mondawmin health reports. Census data also shows that approximately half of residents in the immediate area code of 21217 do not drive. As pedestrians, transit users, wheelchair riders, and people who rely on bicycles, our residents deserve priority access to the park.
Since moving to Auchentoroly Terrace in 2013 I’ve listened to my neighbors talk about and experienced firsthand the need for more crosswalks, narrower roadways, less vehicular traffic, and slower speeds. With no playground in our neighborhood, I all too often witness small children on foot and bike darting across eight lanes of high speed traffic to reach the safe green spaces and play areas of Druid Hill Park. I also see how my retired, car-free neighbors are unable to reach the Druid Hill Farmers Market due to a lack of safe, convenient crosswalks. Most at risk are wheelchair riders who along sections of the park are blocked by non-ADA pathways.
In response to community transportation needs, 7th District Councilman Leon F. Pinkett III convened the Druid Hill Park Stakeholders group in early 2017. The group includes representatives from Mondawmin, Auchentoroly Terrace, and Reservoir Hill; Baltimore City agencies including the Departments of Transportation, Public Works, and Recreation and Parks; as well as non-profits including Bikemore, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and Parks & People. We are also reaching out to more local leaders and organizations to bring into the planning and advocacy effort. Thanks to the councilman’s leadership, in February 2018 Baltimore City DOT agreed to conduct a major transportation study to address our community’s concerns. This study will build on two ongoing local initiatives, the Big Jump Baltimore and the Baltimore Greenway Trail Network northwest trail planning effort. As an OSI Community Fellow, I will work full-time with my neighbors to shape this forthcoming transportation plan for rebuilding the dangerous barrier-highways of Druid Park Lake Drive and Auchentoroly Terrace as accessible boulevards that safely connect our most vulnerable residents with Druid Hill Park.
The Druid Hill Complete Streets initiative will support community education, creative urban planning, and traffic calming through public art. We will organize community-led walking tours in which youth, seniors, wheelchair riders, elected officials, and city planners learn from one another while seeking common ground for enacting equitable park access. We will also creatively engage residents in the ongoing DOT planning process through a new website, social media campaign, and activities at places like the Druid Hill Farmers Market to get input from residents who may not be able to make traditional public meetings. Lastly, we will collaborate with youth to create traffic calming public art around Druid Hill Park based on community design workshops in which residents will identify sites for enhancing pedestrian safety and reconnecting with the park. These low-cost interventions will have an immediate positive impact on park connectivity and public health while enabling residents and the public at large to envision the possibilities for complete streets.
The schedule of events and public art production will be determined by the yet-to-be-confirmed DOT study timeline. The Druid Hill Complete Streets project will bring together diverse neighborhood groups to shape the upcoming improvements around the park, empowering communities to claim our public spaces through creative city planning and public art interventions.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6641
|
__label__wiki
| 0.628325
| 0.628325
|
priest shortage
Worship, Vatican, Terry Mattingly, Pope Francis, Marriage & Family, Godbeat, Clergy, Catholicism, Anglicanism
Thinking about married priests: Has this issue outgrown old 'left' vs. 'right' framework?
Long ago — in the mid-1980s — I covered an event in Denver that drew quite a few conservative Catholic leaders. There was lots of time to talk, in between sessions.
During one break, I asked a small circle of participants to tell me what they thought were the biggest challenges facing the Catholic church. This was about the time — more than 30 years ago — laypeople people began talking about the surge in reports about clergy sexual abuse of children and teens.
Someone said the biggest challenge — looking into the future with a long lens — was the declining number of men seeking the priesthood. At some point, he added, the church would need to start ordaining married men to the priesthood. Others murmured agreement.
I made a mental note. This was the first time I had ever heard Catholic conservatives — as opposed to spirit of Vatican II progressives or ex-priests — say that they thought the Church of Rome would need to return to the ancient pattern — with married priests as the norm, and bishops being drawn from among celibate monastics. Since then, I have heard similar remarks from some Catholics on the right.
That hot button term — “married priests” — is back in the news, with open talk in the Amazon region about the ordination older married men, drawn from their local communities, to the priesthood.
Could this happen? Let’s look at two think pieces by well-known Catholic priests, one on the left side of the church and one on the right. The conservative priest — a former Anglican pastor — is married, with a family.
First up is the omnipresent — in U.S. media circles — Jesuit journalist Father Thomas J. Reese, a senior analysts at Religion News Service. He used to be the editor at America magazine. Here is a crucial chunk of a recent Reese commentary for RNS:
Celibacy is not dogma; it is a legal requirement that can be changed. … Although Pope Francis places a very high value on celibacy, he is also a pragmatist who recognizes that indigenous communities are being denied the Eucharist and the sacraments because they don’t have priests.
After all, which is more important, a celibate priesthood or the Eucharist? At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me” not “have a celibate priesthood.”
Tagged: married priests, female deacons, Dwight Longenecker, Thomas Reese, RNS, priest shortage, Jesuits, theology, doctrine
Terry Mattingly, Sex, Pope Francis, Vatican, LGBTQ, Clergy, Catholicism
AP digs into 'gay priests' wars, starting with views of 'moderate' Father James Martin
First things first: Let me point readers to a must-watch video feature that will be taking place in real time in an hour or so after this post.
At 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, veteran Washington Post religion reporter will take part in a streaming video session focusing on the Pennsylvania grand jury report on Catholic Church sex abuse. Watch here: Watch here: https://www.twitch.tv/washingtonpost
Then, at 3:30 p.m. ET, Post editor Marty Baron will take part. The Post PR email said he will be talking about the "Boston Globe reporting and present day accountability in the Catholic Church." Baron was, of course, editor of the Globe during it's famous "Spotlight" project on clergy sexual abuse.
The Post media team said that video clips will be available -- hopefully on YouTube -- after the live stream.
Now, back to business. Needless to say, readers saw the Associated Press report that ran all over the place with headlines similar to this one, from Religion News Service: "Cardinal McCarrick scandal inflames debate over gay priests."
Yes, your GetReligionistas saw it, too. In fact, you would not believe the amount of email I am getting (lots of nasty "spiked" comments board stuff, as well) about how the mainstream editors and even GetReligion folks have downplayed the "gay priests are the problem" angle in this story.
It is certainly true that some elite newsrooms don't want to investigate the issue of sexually active gay priests -- period. However, as I stressed the other day, There are crucial voices on the Catholic left and right who agree that the "non-celibate gay priests" angle has to be seen in a larger, more complex context.
Please allow me to repeat my summary on that subject, included in a post the other day with this headline: "The must-cover 'Big Ideas' at heart of the complex Catholic clergy sexual abuse crisis." I do this because I think that this is the clearest statement I have made, so far, on journalism about this hot-button topic:
Tagged: Associated Press, gay priests, clergy sexual abuse, priest shortage, Richard Sipe, James Martin, Boston Globe, The Washington Post, celibacy, Theodore McCarrick
Women, Vatican, Terry Mattingly, Surveys & polls, Sex, Pope Francis, Marriage & Family, International News, Godbeat, Europe, Demographics, Catholicism
Pope worries about Europe 'hemorrhaging' priests, nuns: Spot big hole in short AP story? (updated)
I apologize for going on and on about this subject, but when it comes to the religion beat this is only one of the most important Catholic news stories in the world.
Come to think of it, questions about changing birth rates and demographics are important when covering Judaism, Islam, Pentecostal Christianity, Mormons, liberal Protestantism and other major faith groups, as well.
So let's connect some dots here, starting with another one of those formal Pope Francis statements that receives little mainstream news coverage, as opposed to the off-the-cuff or maybe even misquoted Francis statements (click for the latest) that leap into the headlines.
So here is the top of a short Associated Press report that probably didn't appear in your local newspaper. Yes, this is a summary of some very familiar trends:
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis voiced alarm Monday at the “hemorrhaging” of nuns and priests in Italy and Europe, saying God only knows how many seminaries, monasteries, convents and churches will close because fewer people are being called to lives of religious service.
Francis told Italy’s bishops he was concerned about the “crisis of vocations” in a region of the world that once was one of the biggest sources of Catholic missionaries. He said Italy and Europe were entering a period of “vocational sterility” to which he wasn’t sure a solution exists.
The number of Catholic priests worldwide declined by 136 to 415,656 in 2015, the last year for which data is available. But according to Vatican statistics, the decrease was greatest in Europe, where there were 2,502 fewer priests compared to 2014. The number was offset by increases in priestly vocations in Africa and Asia, where the church as a whole is growing.
Let's pause for a moment and ask: Why are the statistics for vocations so much higher among Catholics in Africa and Asia? Might this have something to do with that familiar duo of doctrine and demographics?
So what did Pope Francis have to say, this time around, in terms of the cause of the current crisis in Europe?
Tagged: birth rate, Pope Francis, AP, France24, Associated Press, demographics, France, Italy, priest shortage, Humanae Vitae, Crux
Terry Mattingly, Worship, Social Issues, Evangelicals, Godbeat, Church & State, Mainline, Religious Liberty, Sex, Politics, Marriage & Family, Catholicism, LGBTQ, TV-Radio, WWW-Tech, Books, Podcasts, Surveys & polls, Supreme Court, Demographics
Three decades of 'On Religion' columns: tmatt offers five 'Big Idea' takeaways
This week was an important one for me, since it marked the 30th anniversary of the start of my weekly national "On Religion" column. That very first column on April 11, 1988, focused on Pat Robertson -- but the real topic was American evangelicals trying to figure out White House Politics (imagine that).
Now, if you do some #DUH math, that would mean that 20 years ago I wrote a 10th anniversary column. In that column I focused on what I thought was the "Big Idea," the central theme, I had spotted in American religion-beat news over that time.
I described a scene that I kept seeing in my work as a journalist, one most easily seen at rallies linked to "culture wars" topics in American public life. Thus, I wrote this in 1998:
A pro-life rally, for example, would feature a Baptist, a Catholic priest, an Orthodox rabbi and a cluster of conservative Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Lutherans. Then, the pro-choice counter-rally would feature a "moderate" Baptist, a Catholic activist or two, a Reform rabbi and mainline Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Lutherans.
Similar line-ups would appear at many rallies linked to gay rights, sex-education programs and controversies in media, the arts and even science. Along with other journalists, I kept reporting that today's social issues were creating bizarre coalitions that defied historic and doctrinal boundaries. After several years of writing about "strange bedfellows," it became obvious that what was once unique was now commonplace.
That led me back to the work of the scholar whose work had influenced me the most in that era. You see, all kinds of people use the term "culture wars" these days, but it's important to remember how that term was defined by the man who wrote the book.
Yes, this is precisely where "Crossroads" host Todd Wilken and I started this week's podcast. Click here to tune that in.
Now, back to the 1998 column. This is long, but essential:
Tagged: Culture Wars, Nones, James Davison Hunter, Pew Forum, Oprah, First Amendment, RFRA, birth rates, priest shortage, demographics, On Religion, Donald Trump
Worship, Terry Mattingly, Urban ministry, Surveys & polls, Marriage & Family, Lutherans, Lifestyle, Podcasts, Jews and Judaism, Godbeat, Evangelicals, Churches, Baptists, Nones
Some flocks grow, while others shrink: Yes, that's a big, complex, religion story. So there!
This week's Crossroads podcast is all about connecting the dots.
Warning: This is a rather confusing podcast (click here to tune that in). Host Todd Wilken and I wander all over the map, touching on topics ranging from shuttered Episcopal cathedrals to declining (and growing) Southern Baptist statistics, from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod arguments about worship to declining numbers of students in Catholic seminaries, as well as in some (repeat some) urban Catholic parish pews.
Along the way, there's lots and lots of talk about religious real estate (as in my recent post, "There may be faith angles in all those stories about fading flocks in urban America"). Lots of this once-sacred real estate is for sale in prime urban locations, from sea to shining sea.
Do you see any connections yet? Basically, we are talking about some of the biggest stories in American religion. The thread that connects them is demographics and the tricky subject of why some religious congregations (and denominations) die while others grow.
Ah, you say, that's all about where these institutions are located! How did The New York Times team -- not the religion desk, by the way -- put it the other day, in the latest of many Times stories about religious sanctuaries sporting "for sale" signs? That headline proclaimed: "Struggling to Survive, Congregations Look to Sell Houses of Worship." The key paragraph looked like this:
This situation is playing out again and again across New York City. Upward mobility, suburban growth and the dissolution of traditional ethnic enclaves have all contributed to empty pews, said Robert P. Jones, chief executive of the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute. Twenty-seven percent of New Yorkers identified as religiously unaffiliated in 2014, compared with 17 percent in 2007, according to the Pew Research Center.
Now, in my post I noted that the final sentence there points off the secular real estate map, with a reference to the "Nones" trend that has been one of America's biggest religion-beat themes in recent years.
But, you see, even in New York City there are booming religious movements and congregations, as well as those that are fading. Did you know that?
Tagged: The New York Times, demographics, birth rates, Baptist News Global, American Baptists, Seven Sisters, Mainline Protestantism, priest shortage, Nones, real estate
Worship, Vatican, Terry Mattingly, Catholicism, Clergy, Anglicanism, Latin America, Africa, Pope Francis, Lutherans, International News
More married priests? This was the rare papal sound bite that received some calm, informed coverage
Of all the Catholic debates I have watched through the decades, I think stories about the ordination of married men have been the hardest for mainstream journalists to fit into the old left vs. right format.
Yes, it's easy to find priests and scholars on the left for whom changes of any kind are good. Thus, they say hurrah for married priests. Many of the priests who hit church exit doors to get married soon after Vatican II fit this model. Shake up the church is their mantra.
Obviously, you can always find conservative Catholics who will oppose just about any change in church life, just by reflex. Their dogma is to leave everything the way it is.
However, you will also find plenty of Catholic experts -- left and right -- who know that this issue is a matter of church order and tradition, not carved-in-stone doctrine. They know that married men now serve as priests, under certain circumstances, and they know that the celibate priesthood evolved over the centuries. I have interviewed many Catholics -- especially Latinos -- who for a variety of reasons believe the church needs married priests. I have long argued that Rome will ordained more men when conservatives seek the change.
In other words, this isn't really a Sexual Revolution issue. Thus, if you have been seeing generic left vs. right press coverage of the latest Pope Francis statement on this issue, then move on. Find a better story.
In this case, you can start with The New York Times, with the calm headline stating: "Pope Francis Signals Openness to Ordaining Married Men in Some Cases." This story sounds all the crucial notes right up top, in the overture or soon thereafter:
Pope Francis this week signaled receptiveness to appeals from bishops in the remote and overwhelmed corners of the Roman Catholic Church to combat a deepening shortage of priests by ordaining married men who are already committed to the church.
Tagged: The New York Times, CNN, The Atlantic, married priests, priest shortage, Pope Francis, St. John Paul II, ordained women, Eastern Rite Catholicism
Catholicism, Churches, Clergy, Worship, Women, Vatican, Richard Ostling, Pope Francis, Orthodoxy, Godbeat
Will Catholicism admit women deacons or deaconesses to ranks of ordained clergy?
What are the reasons the Catholic Church might, or might not, ordain women in the clerical rank of deacon? (Almost all Q and A topics are posted by our online audience, but The Guy decided to pose this timely question himself.)
THE RELIGION GUY’S ANSWER:
Catholicism’s long-simmering discussion about whether to ordain women into the clerical ranks as “permanent deacons” took a dramatic turn May 12 when Pope Francis said he’ll form a commission to study the issue. His promise came during seemingly off-the-cuff answers to questions during a Rome session with the International Union of Superiors General, whose members lead nearly 500,000 nuns and sisters in religious orders.
Without doubt, female deacons would be a major change. Liberals hope — and conservatives fear — that permitting women to be deacons would be a step toward allowing female priests. However, that’s a distant prospect if not an impossibility considering Pope John Paul II’s absolute prohibition in his 1994 apostolic letter “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis.”
To explain that term “permanent diaconate”: The order of deacons in the early church gradually dwindled over centuries so that eventually ordination as a “deacon” became a mere stepping-stone for men on the path to priesthood. (That usage occurs in Anglican and Episcopal churches. Lutheran deacons, male and female, fill a permanent office, not a temporary one. Baptists use the deacon title for lay members who govern congregations with the pastor.)
Catholicism’s Second Vatican Council (1962-65) restored the “permanent diaconate” as a third, separate and ongoing ministerial order in its own right that is subordinate to priests and bishops. Particularly in North America, which has half the world total, such deacons help ameliorate the shortage of priests.
Tagged: deaconesses, Permanent deacons, feminism, Pope John Paul II, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, Second Vatican Council, priest shortage
Catholicism, Churches, Clergy, Godbeat, Journalism, Lifestyle, Marriage & Family, Pope Francis, Sex, Terry Mattingly, Worship
Doctrinal questions? Chicago Catholics have fewer marriages, babies and, well, priests
The big Catholic news out of the Archdiocese of Chicago -- the nation's third-largest diocese -- has become shockingly normal, perhaps so normal that journalists aren't even asking basic questions about this trend anymore.
The Chicago Tribune put one of the big numbers right up top in its latest report, noting that the Chicago archbishop -- a man closely identified with the tone of the Pope Francis era -- is now facing a crisis that will literally cost him altars. How many churches will he need to shutter? The current estimate is 100.
It's hard to keep Catholic church doors open without priests:
A radical overhaul in the nation's third-largest Roman Catholic archdiocese could shutter many of the Chicago church's houses of worship by 2030 as it reckons with decaying buildings and an expected shortage of priests, the church's chief operating officer confirmed Friday.
Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich told priests and advisers in meetings in recent weeks that the shortage -- an estimated 240 priests available in 2030 for the archdiocese's 351 parishes -- could necessitate closings and consolidations. The archdiocese governs parishes in Cook and Lake counties.
So what are the basic questions here? Yes, obviously, there is the question Catholic leaders have been asking for several decades: Where have all the seminarians gone? Why is a larger church producing fewer priests?
Looking at the hard-news coverage of the Chicago crisis, other questions leap to mind (or to my mind, at least). People keep saying that the "demographics" of the church have changed. This is true, but that only raises more questions that link demographics and doctrine. Hold that thought.
Tagged: demographics, doctrine, priest shortage, Archbishop Blase Cupich, Chicago, The Chicago Tribune, Crux, weddings, baptisms, babies
Worship, Vatican, Terry Mattingly, Catholicism, Churches, Clergy, Music
Yo, New York Times: Does everyone agree as to why all those Catholic parishes are closing?
Faithful GetReligion readers know that, in the past, we have praised the New York Times Metro desk team for its coverage of the painful wave of Catholic church closings and parish mergers that has hit the Archdiocese of New York.
However, there has been a rather ironic subplot running through some of the coverage.
You know how your GetReligionistas are always complaining that mainstream reporters always find a way to find each and every possible political thread in religion-news stories, even if there are doctrinal themes that are much more central to the event? Think coverage of papal tours, for examples.
Now, the irony is that the Times team -- when covering these parish mergers and closings -- seems almost completely tone-deaf to some pretty obvious elements of Catholic politics (and real-estate business) linked to this story, elements that are pretty easy to tune in online.
I know that the Times folks know these elements are there, because they have seen them in the past and I praised them for it:
So implied issues of ethnicity, history, economic justice, liturgical style and theology. I've heard of churches exploding in fits of bitterness over the changing of hymnals and stained-glass windows. Imagine closing 50 churches in a city as complex as New York -- with all of the economic questions raised by locations of these facilities.
Air rights? How about prime land in a city with a real-estate and building boom that is almost out of control. For Cardinal Timothy Dolan, there are no easy financial and spiritual decisions here.
But the latest story is totally centered on people and emotions -- which are crucial elements of the story, of course. But there are other layers worth pursuing, especially linked to liturgy and tensions in the church. Oh yes, and demographics loom in the background, once again.
Tagged: The New York Times, priest shortage, demographics, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Latin Mass
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6643
|
__label__cc
| 0.687191
| 0.312809
|
"Asian women are better than White women.", "Half-Asian Children are Better than Half-Black Children.", "I hope my baby looks White." What happens when we grow up to look Asian?, "I look more Asian than her." (Squints), "I'm Not Racist, My Mother is Asian.", "I'm Not Racist, My Wife is Asian.", "It's the Kalergi Plan!" (Kalergi was Half-Asian with a White Dad and Asian Mom), "The Dean Cain Phenomenon: WMAF claiming the children of AMWF.", "White women love n*gg*rs, so I will marry an Asian.", Academic Resources for Hapa Identity, Asian women hate White women, Asian Women Hating Half-Asian Men, Asian women in the far-right, Asians and the Alt-Right, Based Stickman and his Asian wife and Kids
Felix Lace, also known as the white nationalist BlackPigeonSpeaks who once posted a video called “How Women Destroy Civilizations,” lives in Japan, exclusively dates Asian women, and is apparently married to an Asian woman. What will happen to his children?
Date: February 23, 2019Author: EurasianTiger 0 Comments
An expose on BlackPigeonSpeaks can be seen at Kiwifarms.
A discussion of his racism.
The most repugnant, racist white men on the planet specifically target “traditional, family oriented” Asian women who will not sleep with black men or embrace feminism. Asian women we’ve as a backup plan for the masculinity crisis of many men seeking to maintain leverage over change, liberalism and multiculturalism that disfavors Caucasian males.
At the same time, these men promote white male supremacy, especially over Asian men, who they view as the only thing beneath them, since white nationalists and far-right white men generally suffer from crippling insecurity and social-isolation, and white women will not take them.
This has been going on for decades and continues to go on; while Asian women, for whatever reason, still see white men as the key to a higher status life, or to escape low-status Asian men, or the crippling insecurity their Asian faces bring them, or to escape “infidelity.” Lace now joins Richard Spencer, Kyle Chapman, John Derbyshire, and a host of other white nationalists who specifically married “white skinned” Asian women as a way to manifest white male power over white women, black men, Asian men, and many others.
Again, they specifically target Asian women, above all other women, because Asian women are seen as the most “family oriented,” and “pure,” and non “challenging;” but moreso, because only Asian women are receptive, on the whole, to low-status white men.
Many of these men create children who are incredibly uncomfortable with their Asian heritage, as well as indoctrinated by their white fathers. Examples of this have already played out – with Daniel Holtzclaw, Elliot Rodger, and many others displaying their fathers’ far-right desperation for control, despite having Asian mothers.
I was crucified for pointing this out, yet my father was a Holocaust denier, far-rightist who hated multiculturalism, Jews, blacks, Hispanics, and Muslims, but married an Asian woman with the belief that she was “pure,” and “chaste.” My brother and I look, and identify, as Asian males, and have faced racism for it.
There are millions of these children out there – and nobody seems to want to acknowledge this because it’s not socially acceptable. I somehow get slandered as being an incel, a full-Asian, bitter, jealous, simply because I pointed out that white nationalists love Asian women.
Previous Previous post: AMWF Hapa with last name Gee raises his children as a single dad
Next Next post: KTLA Anchor Chris Burrous dies after insert crystal meth through his rectum, leaving behind an Asian wife, Mai Do Burrous, and an Asian looking daughter
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6649
|
__label__cc
| 0.66412
| 0.33588
|
Best Horror Soundtracks of 2017
Posted on December 11, 2017 by Ahlissa Eichhorn Leave a comment
Music is the backbone of horror films. The scoring of any horror film is what incites emotion within the viewer, when paired with the right imagery. In some cases, it is the calculated use of no sound or the exaggerated addition of volume that gets the most response. A proper soundtrack is key in order to fully mantle the story a director is trying to tell and solidify the world the film is inviting you to step into. For 2017, the explicit influence of the 80s caught on in both film and television. However, the inrush of synthy themes and bass didn’t deter others from seeking out their unique sound that was true to their film. Both routes offered audiences an auditory experience both enjoyable and invoking.
The following films have successfully told their stories and enriched their worlds through the composition of music.
It (Composed by Benjamin Walfisch)
This had to be a winner of the year in more than one aspect. The 1980s are alive and kicking in this feature with tracks ranging from Anthrax to Siouxsie to XTC. Not to mention the riveting score that is composed of monstrous, screaming children (how’s that for horrifying?) and the shrillest strings of 2017. It could very well double as a score for games like Dead Space and The Evil Within. Creepy out the ass.
Highlights: Six Different Ways by The Cure & Deadlights
The Blackcoat’s Daughter (Composed by Elvis Perkins)
Not sure if this can be considered 2017 but damn, is it eerie. It’s rock, it’s folk (it’s eerie folk rock). It has screams of female agony and dull cellos and haunting organs in the mix, too. It has a little bit everything and that’s what’s unnerving about it; you’re not sure what to expect but when you hear it, the chills come in waves. Much like the film cannot be unseen, the opening track cannot be unheard.
Highlights: Mare’s Milk & In the Garden
Super Dark Times (Composed by Ben Frost)
Set in the 1990s, this under the radar flick beautifully captured the 90s feel in both style and sound. Within seconds, Bitch Magnet’s Sadie’ is roaring its way into your ears and defining the chaos that engulfs the lives of a boy and his friends. The score of ambient synth and faint feedback perfectly compliments the brief spurts of punk and nasally guitars. Frost’s score has such a heavy and defined mood that it supersedes the tension and terror radiating throughout the film. It’s like music to listen to while pretending to be in slow motion. Or in the case of Super Dark Times, frozen in a moment of incomprehensible fear.
Highlights: I Have No Maximum Velocity & Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand by Primitive Radio Gods
Raw (Composed by Jim Williams)
The soundtrack for Raw was supported by fast paced, electronic French-spitting club songs. Paired with Williams’ classical approach, the sound was wonderfully youthful and feminine, with just enough edge to kilter pivotal moments of suspense. With quiet pianos, banging harpsichords, and lazily strummed chords, the score alone is enough to transport you into a drama of its very own. Check out the main theme here for a sense of gorgeous dread.
Highlights: Lust & Despair, hangover & ecstasy by The Do
Death Note (Composed by Atticus and Leopold Ross)
Think what you want about the movie, but it had a killer track list for any die hard 80s love song fan. It’s treacherously difficult to find the Ross’ score online, which ultimately means you have to watch the Netflix exclusive again. Take heed of the glorious Air Supply blaring and the electronic-violin-whimsy that makes this adaptation seem more like a weird, black comedy in the greatest respect.
Highlights: Take My Breath Away by Berlin & Main Title
Other stand out compositions of 2017 include:
The Temple of Lilith by Stephan Ortlepp
Midnighters by Chris Westlake
The Killing of the Sacred Deer by Various Artists
Tags: 2017 horror best of, best of 2017, horror, horror soundtracks. Bookmark the permalink.
Previous post ← Review: Humbug (2016) Horror Short
Next post Once Upon a Time at Christmas (2017) Review →
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6652
|
__label__wiki
| 0.500632
| 0.500632
|
Beating Stage 4 Colon Cancer with Trust, Treatment and Community
Beth Uznis Johnson
A stage 4 colon cancer patient shares his journey to becoming cancer-free. He credits his health to a comprehensive team approach from his Michigan Medicine doctors.
When Phil Scamihorn was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012, a tumor blocked about 50 percent of his colon. He hoped that surgery would remove it with clear margins, meaning the entire growth — and the cancer contained within — was taken out.
MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter
But even after surgery, Scamihorn’s bloodwork showed an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen. The CEA is a protein in the blood used to assess colon cancer activity.
That led doctors to discover a small nodule on the patient’s lung. His colon cancer had spread.
Soon after receiving the news, Scamihorn shared his emotions through a blog.
“Of course, I don’t know the end of my story at this point, but I will start by writing the end anyway,” he wrote. “By the grace of God and the skilled hands of many doctors and surgeons, Philip is now NED (no evidence of disease) for five years, six years, seven, 10, 15 …”
It was an ambitious prediction, but he had a lot to live for — including a long career in software development and his wife, Connie, whom he married in 2009, and their combined five children.
It would also require a skilled medical team and a personalized approach.
"There are many studies on colorectal cancer, and it’s important we utilize the available data and then make individual treatment recommendations for each patient."
John C. Krauss, M.D.
Trusting a hunch
An initial consultation didn’t sit well with Scamihorn. He didn’t like that his doctors in Battle Creek, Michigan, cracked open a book and read what his treatment plan should be.
At Scamihorn’s job directing a team of business intelligence developers at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, data drove the decision-making.
SEE ALSO: Should Young People Get a Colon Cancer Screening? It Depends on Their Risk
Scamihorn decided to do some research of his own by getting a second opinion from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, a move that quickly validated his intuition.
“The Michigan oncologist was very informed. He drew pictures of the process of cancer and explained why certain chemotherapies would be tried. I thought he was very optimistic in the approach they were going to take,” Scamihorn says. “The bottom line is the U-M oncologist won our confidence and trust.”
Most important, the doctor told him that stage 4 colon cancer can be cured.
Perhaps Scamihorn’s initial blog prediction could be reality.
“The University of Michigan is a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which continuously updates guidelines consolidating all of the known treatment information regarding treatment of colon cancer,” says Scamihorn’s oncologist, John C. Krauss, M.D. “There are many studies on colorectal cancer, and it’s important we utilize the available data and then make individual treatment recommendations for each patient.”
After six surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy, Scamihorn credits his team of doctors, including Krauss and surgeon James A. Knol, M.D., for bringing him into remission.
He has been cancer-free for two years.
Scamihorn says his doctors’ combined knowledge brought him to a major turning point in his road to becoming cancer-free.
In response to a new tumor growth in Scamihorn’s liver, for instance, Krauss ordered aggressive chemotherapy to prove to Knol that another surgery was worth it.
Notes Krauss: “Having the chemo first proved Phil’s disease was responsive to it. So if any cancer remained after this surgery, it could be treated with chemo after to eradicate it.”
The initial chemotherapy brought Scamihorn’s CEA from 18 to 7, showing its effectiveness. The surgery brought the CEA back to normal range.
In stage 4 colon cancer, only about 5 to 10 percent of patients can discontinue maintenance therapy. Scamihorn was prescribed one year of maintenance therapy to ensure there was no evidence of disease.
Part of trusting his care team included learning to control the things he could and leaving the rest to his doctors. He ate a healthy diet, took vitamins and followed doctors’ orders. And Scamihorn never missed an appointment, even when his final chemotherapy treatment coincided with a major snowstorm.
Scamihorn, who has been cancer-free for two years.
Trust in community
Early in his cancer journey, Scamihorn decided to blog to keep friends and loved ones informed of his progress.
SEE ALSO: Collecting a Family’s Cancer History: What You Should Ask
Blogging, he says, revealed the power of a supportive community — benefits that came as word spread about the blog in the author’s small town of Marshall, Michigan.
“The town was very helpful. I believe it takes a village,” he says. “For example, if my child’s teacher knows what’s going on, she can offer better support at school.”
Now that he is cancer-free, Scamihorn frequently offers support to patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He is a member of the online support community Cancer Survivors Network, where he assures participants that it is possible to have successful treatment for stage 4 cancer.
“There are many patients in the online support community who have had five years without cancer,” says Scamihorn, now 53. “I also encourage people to find a doctor they trust, someone they’re comfortable with, and let them do their job.”
For those friends and loved ones without cancer, he can’t say enough about following recommendations for screening and early prevention. Colonoscopy can prevent cancer if precancerous polyps are discovered and removed. And it is easier to treat cancer if detected early.
Because Scamihorn was diagnosed at age 47, his children will be screened 10 years earlier, at age 37.
For questions about colorectal cancer screening, call the Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.
Two Ways to Have a More Comfortable Colonoscopy
A Cheerleader’s Rallying Cry: Don’t Ignore Colon Cancer Symptoms
Make Prostate Cancer Awareness a Priority This Father’s Day, Survivor Urges
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6656
|
__label__cc
| 0.711176
| 0.288824
|
Newsletters /
Tangata Atumotu Trust Update: September 2018
Wednesday, October 03, 2018 Posted in: Newsletters By: Administrator With tags: newsletter, Community Groups, pacific health, services
Kia orana, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Kia ora koutou and Warm Pacific Greetings.
There is much to share with you, in what is just our second update! In the last few weeks we’ve welcomed three new members to Tangata Atumotu Trust.
We’re delighted to announce Community mobile nurse Suli Tuitaupe as the most recent addition to the team. A familiar face at Christchurch's Les Mills, Suli has been a fitness instructor for over 18 years. He brings to the Trust an holistic approach to health, and a passion to work with Pasifika communities.
Meanwhile, Sam and Sefa are the new faces of Polyhood - the Trust's radio show dedicated to all things Pasifika. Their banter is second to none, as is their ability to tackle tough issues on a lighter note.
Like Tangata Atumotu Trust on Facebook and stay in the know with more change on the way!
ia manuia,
Carmen and the team at Tangata Atumotu Trust
Meet Suli - the latest addition to the team
Suli Tuitaupe didn’t always want to be a nurse. The well known fitness instructor has his mum to thank for helping him to find his calling.
After 18 years in the fitness industry, Suli is turning his hand to community mobile nursing with Tangata Atumotu Trust.
“What I love about nursing is it allows me to care for people who are vulnerable, to make suggestions around how to make someone’s life - and their family’s lives - a little bit better and to also advocate for them,” says Suli.
Find out more about Suli Tuitaupe.
Sam and Sefa - your Polyhood presenters!
It’s a combination that rolls off the tongue. The pair are bringing their friendship and banter to the airwaves, to talk all things Pasifika on PlainsFM 96.9 at 4pm every Friday! After a successful launch, the show has proven so popular that it's now on twice a week!
Find out more about Sam and Sefa and their radio show.
Here's to Malo
Malo Ioane has led Christchurch’s Tangata Atumotu Trust for more than a decade.
He stood down from the position of operations manager in August 2018, to spend more time with his family.
Malo kindly sat down and shared his story.
All of us at Tangata Atumotu Trust want to thank Malo for all that he has done for the Trust, since 2003. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Malo's family, who have supported him on this journey.
We wish Malo all the very best.
New look website
We've given our website a much-needed face lift.
Here you'll find news on the Trust, as well as profiles on all our team members, upcoming events, news and contact information for our services.
We are striving to become a strong voice for the Pacific community, so please do contact us if you have any feedback for us. We welcome your comments as we head into a new era at the Trust.
Follow Tangata Atumotu Trust on Facebook.
Tangata Atumotu Trust
28 Bealey Avenue
Email: tat[at]tat.org.nz
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6657
|
__label__cc
| 0.501848
| 0.498152
|
by Joel Hruska — Friday, June 25, 2010
Intel, NVIDIA Slug It Out Over CPU vs GPU Performance
Over the past four years, NVIDIA has made a great many claims regarding how porting various types of applications to run on GPUs instead of CPUs can tremendously improve performance by anywhere from 10x-500x. Intel, unsurprisingly, sees the situation differently, but has remained relatively quiet on the issue, possibly because Larrabee was going to be positioned as a discrete GPU.
The recent announcement that Larrabee has been repurposed as an HPC/scientific computing solution may therefore be partially responsible for Intel ramping up an offensive against NVIDIA's claims regarding GPU computing. At the International Symposium On Computer Architecture (ISCA) this week, a team from Intel presented a whitepaper purporting to investigate the real-world performance delta between CPUs and GPUs. From the paper's abstract:
In the past few years there have been many studies claiming GPUs deliver substantial speedups ...over multi-core CPUs...[W]e perform a rigorous performance analysis and find that after applying optimizations appropriate for both CPUs and GPUs the performance gap between an Nvidia GTX280 processor and the Intel Core i7 960 processor narrows to only 2.5x on average.
Such statements appear to have cheesed NVIDIA off; the company posted a short blog post yesterday as a public reply to Intel's allegations. In it, the general manager of GPU Computing, Andy Keane, makes a good point when he questions whether or not the CPU optimizations Intel used in its tests are indicative of real-world performance scenarios.
Intel's own paper indirectly raises this question when it notes:
The previously reported LBM number on GPUs claims 114X speedup over CPUs. However, we found that with careful multithreading, reorganization of memory access patterns, and SIMD optimizations, the performance on both CPUs and GPUs is limited by memory bandwidth and the gap is reduced to only 5X.
This implies that there's been a whole lot of optimization and hand-tuning, with no guarantee that this work could be duplicated by a representative group of 'real-world' programmers using standard dev tools and compilers. Fermi cards were almost certainly unavailable when Intel commenced its project, but it's still worth noting that some of the GF100's architectural advances partially address (or at least alleviate) certain performance-limiting handicaps Intel points to when comparing Nehalem to a GT200 processor.
Snatching Bad Logic From The Jaws Of Victory
Unfortunately, Keane, having just raised legitimate points, begins unraveling his own argument. In reference to GPU vs. CPU performance he writes that "The real myth here is that multi-core CPUs are easy for any developer to use and see performance improvements...Despite substantial investments in parallel computing tools and libraries, efficient multi-core optimization remains in the realm of experts...In contrast, the CUDA parallel computing architecture from NVIDIA is a little over 3 years old and already hundreds of consumer, professional and scientific applications are seeing speedups ranging from 10 to 100x using NVIDIA GPUs."
There are two major problems with Keane's statements. First, Intel's whitepaper neither claims that parallel programming is easy for anyone, nor advances the argument that parallel programming for CPUs is easier than GPUs. This is a classic example of a straw man logical fallacy. Second, and arguably more important, is Keane's implication that optimizing code for a multicore x86 CPU requires teams of experts, while CUDA, just three years old, delivers 10-100x performance increases when CPU code is ported to run on an NVIDIA GPU. This isn't the first time we've seen NVIDIA make decidedly odd claims about parallelization, but there's no magical multicore fairy that makes all programs run faster on GPUs.
The reason we've seen such dramatic results, in some instances, is because some workloads--especially scientific workloads, which are often embarrassingly parallel--allow a GPU to process a huge number of calculations simultaneously. There are also consumer-level tasks, like video encoding, which modern GPU's are very good at. The implication that GPUs from any company are poised to kick performance into the stratosphere, however, is entirely untrue. Parallelization is damnably hard, whether you're working with a quad-core x86 CPU or a 240-core GPU; each architecture has strengths and weaknesses that make it better or worse at handling certain kinds of workloads.
Tags: Nvidia, Intel, GeForce, GPU, CPU, Cuda, multi-core, parallelization
Via: Intel Whitepaper
{{/Leaderboard}}
home {{#Category}} {{Name}} {{/Category}}
by {{#newsItem.Authors}} {{Name}} {{/newsItem.Authors}} — {{PostDate}}
{{newsItem.Title}}
{{{newsItem.Body}}}
Tags: {{#newsItem.Tags}} {{Name}} {{/newsItem.Tags}}
{{#ItemSource}}
Via: {{Source}}
{{/ItemSource}}
{{#TopMedRec}}
{{/TopMedRec}}
MORE HOT HEADLINES
{{#BottomRail}}
{{/BottomRail}}
Unihertz Titan Is An Android-Fueled...
Update: AMD Confirms Dell-Alienware...
Killer Prime Day Deal: Ring Doorbell...
The 8BitDo SN30 Pro+ Just Might Be...
Intel’s 64-Chip Pohoiki Beach...
ASUS ROG Phone II Gets Ready To...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6667
|
__label__wiki
| 0.587492
| 0.587492
|
Home » ICT4D Blog » fernando_galindo_ayuda
8th Internet, Law and Politics Congress (IX). Government and Regulatory Policies
By Ismael Peña-López (@ictlogist), 10 July 2012
Main categories: Cyberlaw, governance, rights, e-Government, e-Administration, Politics, Information Society, Meetings
Other tags: andrew_mcdiarmid, christopher_marsden, fernando_galindo_ayuda, idp, idp2012, laszlo_nemeth, maria_gracia_procedda
Notes from the 8th Internet, Law and Politics Congress: Challenges and Opportunities of Online Entertainment , organized by the Open University of Catalonia, School of Law and Political Science, and held in Barcelona, Spain, on 9-10 July 2012. More notes on this event: idp2012.
Communications on Government and Regulatory Policies
Chairs: Agustí Cerrillo Martínez, Senior Lecturer and Dean of the School of Law and Political Science of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).
Guiding Principles for Online Copyright Enforcement.
Andrew McDiarmid, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Democracy & Technology, Washington, DC (USA); David Sohn, General Counsel, Center for Democracy & Technology (USA).
Since the 2008, in the US there has been a pro-intellectual property regulation process, establishing the IP enforcement coordinator and increasing the resources for government enforcement. Principles for a balanced copyright enforcement:
Target true bad actors.
Preserve safe harbours.
Study the costs and benefits.
Voluntary initiatives must respect consumer interests.
Set realistic goals.
Education and lawful options are essential.
Domain Name-focused enforcement is a blunt instrument: entire sites are affected, including other sites. There are workarounds and it violates safe harbour cases. There is a harm to free expression due to overbreadth. There are risks of evasion.
Internet Co-Regulation and Constitutionalism.
Christopher T. Marsden, Director of the Essex Centre for Comparative and European Law. Senior Lecturer, Essex School of Law (UK).
Statute backed code, appointed by the Government. Threat of regulatory intervention.
Approved code, regulated by an independent body. Treat of sanctions.
Industry code, set by the industry associates. Industry self-interest.
Unilateral code, set by service providers. Individual self-interest.
Co-regulation (the independent body’s) is more interesting than statutory regulation or self (industry & unilateral) regulation, which are, notwithstanding, the ones that are more common.
Co-regulation says that civil society, the people, should have a formal role in it: multistakeholder-isation, it is a process and not a static model, e.g. the ICANN. This is yet to be enforced by governments and courts.
We need movement towards formal recognition and formalisation of co-regulation: Legislation 2.0
Electronic Democracy, Internet and Governance. A concretion.
Fernando Galindo Ayuda, Catedrático de Filosofía del Derecho, Universidad de Zaragoza.
Access to information: conscious participation of citizens over a specific matter. Governance as politics: the art of ruling in the pursuit of public well-being. The Internet is certainly boosting communication, but is it fostering democracy?
Electronic Government Observatory
Portal de e-governo, inclusão digital e sociedade do conhecimento
Reviving privacy: the opportunity of cyber-security.
Maria Grazia Porcedda, Research assistant, Department of Law, European University Institute, Florence (Italy).
What is cybercrime?
Crimes against availability, integrity and confidentiality of computer systems: illegal access and hacking, illegal interception, data interference (malware, botnets, trojans), system interference (DoS, DDoS).
Computer related: forgery, fraud.
Content-related crimes: child pornography.
Copyright infringement.
There are different notions of security and privacy, depending on where the weight is put between privacy and security and what is the approach towards cybercrime. But we can integrate de facto security and privacy. Cybersecurity is about protecting privacy, both by passive measures taken by educated users and by active measures against cybercrime.
PIPA, SOPA, OPEN — The end of piracy or privacy?
László Németh, PhD Student, Institute of Comparative Law, Faculty of Law, University of Szeged (Hungary).
PIPA and SOPA are similar in many ways: against foreign (rogue) sites, domain name seizure, in personam, in rem action, presumption of guilt, voluntary action, etc.
PIPA and SOPA have raised concerns, objections and even protests.
The OPEN act demands the web to be kept open.
We surely now need new global treaties (WIPO, WTO), and in the makings of these treaties the users should be asked for their opinion. Of course, one of the problems of “asking the users” is how to find valid interlocutors. The website KeepTheWebOpen.com includes the feature of commenting on the OPEN Act.
--- browse post --- Greg Lastowka: Copyserfs and the Stationers' Company 2.0 Fred von Lohmann: Copyright Limitations, Exceptions, and Copyright's Innovation Policy Copyright Fundamental rights New business models for contents distribution on line --- browse post --- Pedro A. de Miguel Asensio: Online entertainment and customer protection Privacy and electronic commerce Right to Be Forgotten Government and Regulatory Policies Privacy On Line Proceedings: Challenges and Opportunities of Online Entertainment
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6678
|
__label__wiki
| 0.525331
| 0.525331
|
EQUITY OWNERSHIP
DISCOVERY PACKAGE
LOWCOUNTRY LIFESTYLE
The resource cannot be found.
The Gullah people who were here before us had their own version of English,
and they used the word, “peruse” to mean a slow, ambling stroll. The pace
and rhythm of that walk come to you as you enjoy nature-sized vistas and
human-sized places.
Good food, generous hospitality and a kindly way with arrangements
characterize the lifestyle here. Add to that the passions of the people who
visit – golf, tennis, fishing, boating and beaching are just the tip of the list –
and you begin to sense the Lowcountry lifestyle. People who could live
anywhere often choose here.
Harbour Town Yacht Club
149 Lighthouse Road
About Harbour Town Yacht Club
For more than 30 years Harbour Town Yacht Club has been the centerpiece of Hilton Head Island at its best. The founder’s vision is alive here today.
Harbour Town Yacht Club has been recognized as the epitome of Sea Pines living. Founded not only for yacht owners, but for anyone who appreciates being at the heart of things, we have been home to the accomplished, the gracious, the perceptive for more than 30 years.
The balance of innovation and tradition, the preservation of nature, the respect for people and their finer inclinations – all these basic values are expressed here in a remarkable kind of hospitality.
Members know it by heart. And visitors experience it right away.
Copyright © 2013 HTYC.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6684
|
__label__cc
| 0.665011
| 0.334989
|
Tired Of All The Guru’s?
We won’t feed you crap, we tell you like it is, give you examples of what we’ve done.
What Is The HustleCondition?
Every Thursday Night at 9 PM CST
We get on Facebook Live and talk with our audience.
Learn the things we’re doing to grow our businesses.
Five Free Traffic Sourceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX0eCZsOvHs&t=14s So you’ve got your site up, all the first steps are done. How do you get people to your[…]Read More Gold nuggets everywhere! Come mine this video for amazing information – Episode 10https://youtu.be/ZTTX7_KSC-k We talked with Jay Noggle, another really good friend from Entrepreneurs Roundtable who filled in at the last[…]Read More Jason takes a big risk at a crazy time in his life to go big! – Episode 8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LUIHRm5GAw Episode 8 we going in to international air waves again with Canadian Jason Vance from Unlocked Talks. Jason[…]Read More The power of content marketing, it’s ROI, and Why you need to be on IG stories – Episode 7https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5XdkAsurc8 We talked with Sarah Moore from Eleven Lights Media about the power of content marketing, what the ROI[…]Read More How SEO and Content are essential parts of your inbound marketing – Episode 6https://youtu.be/3Iwyaz4Wfpk We had Don Seckler from Peak Inbound Marketing. Don talked about his experience in direct mail marketing, publishing, and[…]Read More David Pagano makes Nick cry – Episode 5https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icRJ-nFUPis David Pagano – real estate agent, lead generation gooroo, and urban gardener. He talked to us about his[…]Read More Check Out The Full Episode List
Killer Follow Up Course
We have a kick ass course available that will teach you how to build and manage your leads, existing customers, and former customers.
Learn Facebook Marketing
Every month we publish new videos showing the tools and methods we use in our businesses and HustleCondiiton.
Access the private group
Our private group is full of people who take action. We don’t allow people who just talk about theory to hang out.
Watch the show, learn cool stuff, meet awesome people.
Hang out with the guys
Every week we host a 30 minute live show talking about the things we’re working on. Don’t miss these episodes. But if you do miss an episode we publish them each week on Youtube.
Subscribe and get emails when new episodes are uploaded.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6687
|
__label__wiki
| 0.570167
| 0.570167
|
Tag Archive | Kieran
in Scream, TV Review
Scream Season 2 Episode 12 – TV Review
And don’t get renewed, for God’s sake.
You know, I had to really suck up my pride to pretend that Scream’s first season wasn’t that bad. Pathetic finale and all.
But Season 2 has been a lot choppier than Season 1. So you’d think they’d at least throw me a bone for the finale (and, with its piss-poor ratings, likely the series finale), right?
Fucking. Wrong.
God, I feel dirty for resorting to memes.
Yes, baby. Brooke’s back after her absence last week.
I mean, she doesn’t get anything to do other than ogle her fuckboi, but, you know.
Scream Season 2 Episode 9 – TV Review
Libby from Sabrina but without the fabulousness?
Just kidding. I know who it is. It’s Lesbait.
She doesn’t have a real name, does she?
Take me to Drown Town, Brooke.
I didn’t have a very perceptive week last week.
I thought Scream had only three, including this one, episodes left to go. And I was okay with that.
But now we’ve got four left, not including this one.
So kill a main cast member al-fucking-ready. Jesus.
“I’m sorry, but Eli’s clear mental instability is more attractive.”
EDIT: A dutiful commenter has pointed out a couple of mistakes I made in this review. I thank them for their service, and thank you, dear reader, for internally deriding me. I will mark the errors below.
With only three episodes to go (EDIT: It’s five, actually) after this one, Scream remembers that hey, it wasted time building up a pig farm nightmare backstory, so why not put all the eggs in that basket?
Because that basket is shit, baby. That’s why.
Brooke just really likes scissors.
Someone almost gets killed this episode.
So it’s progress.
Wait, I’ve got a better one:
“or Justin Bieber after a testosterone injection”
Goddamn, PLL. Scream’s even pulling off filler episodes better than you, now.
Will the embarrassment never end?
Well, we’re talking about PLL. So no.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6688
|
__label__cc
| 0.690578
| 0.309422
|
IMA Groupkeyboard_arrow_rightGreat success of the Prexima Open House
PREXIMA Open House: great success!
The Prexima Open House, which was held on 28 and 29 October 2015 in the magnificent setting of Palazzo di Varignana near Bologna and in the IMA’s plants in Ozzano dell’Emilia, ended with a resounding success for IMA Active division.
Great success of the Prexima Open House
This two–day event was attended by more than 300 pharmaceutical customers from all over the world, mainly from EMEA, but also from the Far East (Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam), who expressed great interest in the new Prexima. These results reward IMA’s commitment to the high quality of products and new technology presented at the event.
Our guests had the chance to discover Prexima, the new series of tablet press machines manufactured by IMA Activedivision. Designed with Italian style and engineered to provide high-level performance, Prexima is equipped with the new XIMA HMI, recently awarded the A’ Design Award 2015 for its ease of use and strategic role in improving operators’ efficiency.
Based on the proven Comprima concept, Prexima ensures complete separation between processing and mechanical areas thanks to the use of purposely designed seals and protections. Along with this feature, the design also provides great accessibility: the processing area is fully accessible once the external doors are opened, while access to the machine basement is required only for maintenance. The Prexima’s compression support is based on three columns linked together by two strong cast iron structures. The compression rollers are incorporated within the two cast iron structures and supported on both sides. This exceptionally sturdy structure – an essential requirement for high quality tablets – guarantees both pre-compression and main compression forces up to 100 kN with maximum reliability. The removal of the turret is quick and easy thanks to a rotating arm completely housed in the upper mechanical compartment. The HMI guides the operator step by step during each phase of turret extraction.
The new Prexima was unveiled during the course of the evening which took place on 28 October at the Palazzo di Varignana. Andrea Semprini Cesari, IMA Active Vice-President, and Alberto Vacchi, IMA’s Chairman and CEO, introduced and unveiled the new Prexima. A dedicated video mapping enhanced the advantages of this new series of tablet press machines.
The programme of 29 October included technical presentations on IMA’s latest pharmaceutical process innovations and visits to the Group’s plants in Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, where the guests were able to exchange opinions and information with our technicians: genuine added value to their daily experience in the production departments of pharmaceutical multinational corporations and companies.
IMA’s commitment to technological innovation has always given it a strong competitive advantage: constant hefty investment in R&D (approximately 5% of consolidated revenues) underlies the Group’s expansion and its ability to create value. Suffice to say that the IMA Group owns 1,300 patents and applications for patent in the world; it has more than 500 designers involved in product innovation and has launched many new machine models over the last years.
Andrea Semprini Cesari, IMA Active Vice–President, states:
“We have invested a lot in this new range of tablet press machines, by creating a department inside the IMA Active division specifically dedicated to this sector of solid dose processing. The so-called “Tablet Academy” has been created to consolidate the important investments made in the tableting sector and to better serve the needs of our customers all over the world. We are happy to announce that ten Prexima have already been sold in different countries. Everything that we have gained over years of experience and expertise in this field has been carefully channelled into this new range of tablet presses, confirming our ability to anticipate all future challenges and our firm commitment to developing new solutions that incorporate the most advanced technology. Our aim for the next three years – concluded Andrea Semprini Cesari – is to increase our market share in tablet press machines, while consolidating our wide range of products aimed at driving our customers’ productivity to a higher level of efficiency”.
The event was attended by Alberto Vacchi, IMA’s Chairman and CEO, who states:
“We were delighted to be hosting numerous customers from all over the world in the elegant Palazzo di Varignana and at the Group’s plants, emphasising the importance of our local territory. It was an opportunity to enhance the innovative capacity of our Group. IMA has grown thanks to acquisitions, but it has always remained deeply rooted to its territory. IMA looks out to the world with its brain, but its heart remains in Bologna – and this is a key value”.
Prexima on show: videomapping
Alberto Vacchi, IMA Group Chairman, presents the new PREXIMA
PREXIMA on show
Stefania Barzanti, IMA Active Marketing Manager
PREXIMA finally revealed
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6690
|
__label__cc
| 0.500516
| 0.499484
|
Miracle on East 42nd Street - Clarice Feldman
This time, Obama repaid Jewish citizens, the vast majority of whom voted for him twice, by refusing to veto this resolution
In the Jewish calendar it’s the year 5777. That’s how long we date our history. The United Nations has lasted a mere seventy-one years (arithmatic corrected) Founded to promote world peace, it has devolved into a corrupt, anti-democratic, anti-Semitic den of thieves, where a “cartel of Bronze Age backward” nations regularly gets resolutions passed to attack the only democratic, modern state in the Middle East while ignoring genocide, despotism, slavery, and ethnic and religious persecutions that take place in their own lands.
Only people as blinkered as Obama, Power, and Kerry could think otherwise, unless they, too, so despise Jews and Israel that they willingly accept the fiction that the UN is an impartial body trying to bring peace to the area. This week, with the connivance of the usual bastard nations and with the surprising addition of New Zealand (whose main export, wine, should be boycotted in disgust) rammed through a resolution to ban settlements outside the 1967 borders of Israel. They did this despite unprecedented efforts by president-elect Trump to keep the resolution from being considered. At his behest, Egypt postponed the effort to consider the resolution, only to have the administration succeed in conniving with New Zealand and the Palestinians to get it back on the agenda.
This is the very sort of resolution the United States used to veto as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. This time, Obama repaid Jewish citizens, the vast majority of whom voted for him twice, by refusing to veto this resolution, certain -- if enforced -- to make peace in the Middle East less likely and Israel’s position even more precarious.
With an eye to this week’s events at this nefarious outfit, David Goldman (as he often does) echoes my thoughts: “Trump's election was the perfectly natural outcome of political and economic processes, but to the Jewish people it was a nes, a miracle.”
According to the Washington Post:
The resolution declares settlements constructed on land Israel has occupied since the 1967 war, including in East Jerusalem, to have “no legal validity.” It said settlements threaten the viability of the two-state solution, and it urged Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations that will lead to two independent nations.
The United States’ abstention Friday was a rare rebuke to Israel, and it reflected mounting frustration in the Obama administration over settlement growth that the United States considers an obstacle to peace. With President Obama’s time in office due to end in barely a month, his decision not to veto was a last-minute symbolic statement of that displeasure and a sense of exasperation that the time has come for two states to be carved out of the contested land.
The administration’s move also defied Donald Trump’s call on Thursday for the United States to veto the resolution. The incoming Trump administration has signaled that there will be a shift in U.S. policy toward Israel, a point the president-elect hammered home about an hour after Friday’s vote when he tweeted, “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.”
Trump has supported moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He has appointed David Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer who believes Israelis should annex and settle the West Bank, as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel.
It is impossible to see how caving in to the Palestinian thugs drives them closer to a two-state solution, the fantasy of the present administration. Instead, it opens the way to countless boycott and divest actions which only encourage the Palestinians to bide their time until the UN votes to obliterate Israel altogether
At a time when the resolution was still pending, Elliot Abrams described what was so bad about it.
The first paragraph above calls all settlement activity illegal under international law. That could have an impact in Europe and elsewhere in how Israeli settlers and officials are treated. Are they all criminals? Can they be brought before the International Criminal Court? Prosecuted in local courts?
The second paragraph refers to East Jerusalem, and suggests that all Israeli housing construction must stop -- even including construction in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. That’s madness.
The third paragraph above, treating everything beyond the old “Green Line” or 1949 armistice line as illegal and demanding that all states do so, begs for boycotts. It logically means that any product from East Jerusalem, the Golan, or the West Bank be boycotted and prevented from being sold.
After its passage Abrams was no less critical of it:
President George W. Bush sought to move peace talks forward in 2004 by asserting what all sides had already tacitly acknowledged — that there could be no return to the 1967 lines in light of the blocs’ existence, and that any negotiated border would have to reflect this reality. By refusing to confirm Bush’s position, Obama dragged the process backward and harmfully reopened old debates.
This regression is enshrined in the resolution, which “underlines that it will not recognize any changes” to the armistice lines, and demands the cessation of all settlement activities everywhere. This is unnecessary and unrealistic — Israelis will not bring life to a halt in towns that no one disputes they will keep — and is more likely to obstruct than facilitate the revival of peace talks.
Second, the resolution rewards those who argue for “internationalization” of the conflict — that is, for using international forums such as the U.N., European Union or International Criminal Court to impose terms on Israel, rather than resorting to negotiations.
For the resolution does indeed dictate terms to Israel, not merely condemn settlement activity. It adopts, as noted above, the position that the 1967 lines, rather than today’s realities, should form the basis of talks — despite the fact that many Israeli communities east of those lines are decades old and that Jews have had a near-continuous presence in the West Bank for thousands of years.
It implicitly prejudges the disposition of East Jerusalem — one of most contentious issues dividing the parties — by characterizing Israeli construction as settlement activity, a stance Israelis reject. The resolution would demand an absolute halt to construction in East Jerusalem, even in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, something no Israeli government ever would agree to do.
Moreover, the resolution is conspicuously silent on Israeli concerns. There’s no demand, for example, that the Palestinians acknowledge Israel’s very right to exist.
The resolution undermines what sentient people must acknowledge is the only path to resolution—direct negotiations between the two interested parties.
Indeed, for years the U.S. position has been that only direct talks between the two parties will resolve their differences. Refusing to veto this resolution and choosing to abstain after working hard to have it back on track before Obama’s term ends defies both long-term policy and common sense.
Wars end when one side knows that it has lost and is willing to make peace. The Arab side refuses to accept that it was defeated in four wars and various insurgencies. Arafat walked away from Ehud Barak's peace offer in 1999 without a response and Abbas refused to even consider Olmert's similar offer in 2008. Like the Duke brothers in "Trading Places," the Palestinian Arabs think they can re-trade the Israeli War of Independence, go back in time, erase the historical record, and reclaim victory. If you lose and refuse to make peace, you pay a penalty, and the normal penalty is loss of territory. For opportunistic reasons (placating Muslim trading partners and restive Muslim populations) most countries indulge the Muslim fantasy that defeat is inconceivable and therefore reversible. That simply leads to more futile violence.
Just as important is the Jewish presence in what would have been a Palestinian state, if the Palestinians had wanted to have a state in 1999 or 2008. That ship probably has sailed; chaos in the region around them makes it impossible de facto to create a Palestinian state today. If the Palestinians wanted peace, then they would tolerate a Jewish population in their putative state, just as Israel embraces a 20% Arab minority. The fact that the Palestinians demand a state entirely Judenrein ("clean" of Jews) betrays hostile intent.
To indulge the Palestinians on the matter of ethnic cleansing of Jews from Judea and Samaria is unprecedented in international peace negotiations, and utterly and despicably hypocritical on the part of the majority of Security Council members.
President-elect Trump has promised a new approach to the UN after January 20 and Republicans are threatening UN funding cuts as a result of this resolution:
Senate Republicans threatened to "suspend or significantly reduce" funding for the United Nations and any American allies who support a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction in disputed Palestinian territory.
"Any nation which backs this resolution and receives assistance from the United States will put that assistance in jeopardy," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Friday in anticipation of the vote.
It remains to be seen how many Democrats, if any, will go along with this. To be sure, senators Blumenthal and Schumer, doubtless more attuned to their re-election chances than anything else, had urged lame duck Obama to veto this, but will they walk the walk when it comes to taking action against the UN and those who supported the resolution?
It would be a hoped for miracle if the UN is forced to move or shutter its operations.
David Goldman reflects: “Obama just destroyed the Democratic Party, which has splintered into a far-left hulk attended by people who would rather be somewhere else. By the time the next Democratic president is elected, Barron Trump will have turned that eyesore at 42nd St. and the East River into a hotel.”
Given that the decision to abstain came on the day before Chanukah, which celebrates both the defeat of the Syrian-Greeks who tried to abolish the Jews’ freedom of religion and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago, the move was particularly offensive.
For those Jews who voted for Obama twice, this action should not come as a surprise, though I suppose they weren’t paying attention. As far back as 2011, I noted what was happening.
The preamble to this week's Obama epic foreign policy blunder was the president's comment on May 10 in Austin that there was a "Teutonic shift" taking place in the Middle East. To me, the grandiose albeit risibly erroneous description signaled that Obama's narcissistic needs needed stoking with some bold new initiative which no one but such a genius as he is could imagine. The following day, someone in the White House brain trust corrected the transcript to read "tectonic shift," but the writing on the wall was clear, even though White House spokesman Jay Carney denied it.
Obama intended to and, in fact, did go on to make a stupid but dramatic call that Israel return to the indefensible 1967 borders.[snip] Because the president's comment lends support to the anticipated effort to get the U.N. Security Council to mandate an Israeli return to the 1967 borders, the Obama plan is more than silly and faithless -- it would mean Israel's destruction. And any suggestion that some international peacekeepers could protect Israel after a massive shift of its population to forty-year-old boundaries is beneath consideration.
Those who voted for him a second time either didn’t pay attention or like the anti-Israeli J Street adherents didn’t care.
Now, it’s time for the feckless Jewish Democrats to wake up though it seems they have been terminally hoodwinked -- seduced by social justice warriors into supporting actions that only promote war. Will the scales fall from their eyes? Will it take the selection of anti-Semite Keith Ellison as head of the DNC to do the trick? It will be yet another miracle as great as defeating the Seleucids and the election of Trump if they do -- for it is clear that their allegiance is not to the truth or their religion or the best interests of their country and the world. It is to the left and its search for ever more power, including the power to blind us to the obvious with falsehoods.
Source: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/12/miracle_on_east_42nd_street.html
Alexander said...
Amazingly clear and true! Obama's action is a crystal clear call for pure and simple take over by Israel of all the concerned areas. Period!
UN, Obama Further Radicalize Palestinians - Khaled...
John Kerry’s Farewell Stab at Israel - Joseph Klei...
Iran in Syria: Russia Took Over - Heshmat Alevi
Boeing/Airbus Deals Will Boost Iran’s Support of T...
Ending the Confusion of the Obama Years - Howard R...
Obama and Israel: Why Are People Surprised? - Jerr...
Russia, Turkey, Iran eye dicing Syria into zones o...
Andrew Torba Talks Fighting Internet Censorship an...
Dore Gold: Kerry's 'one-state solution' is an empt...
Education in Sweden: "Then Things Got Interesting"...
Obama’s “Shameful Betrayal” of Israel - Bruce Thor...
How George Soros Destroyed the Democratic Party - ...
Obama Drives a Nail into the Coffin of our Interna...
Analysis:The dangers of UN Security Council Resolu...
The EU vs. the Nation State? - George Igler
Behind the scenes of the American betrayal of Isra...
Anti-Semitism in British Universities - Michael Cu...
The Islamists of Sweden - Nima Gholam Ali Pour
Wealth, Poverty and Politics - Walter Williams
Obama's War Against America - Caroline Glick
Beyond anger: How to respond to the UN Security Co...
Obama’s Barbaric UN Resolution - P. David Hornik
Hate Spaces: The Politics of Intolerance on Campus...
Jihadists already acting to counter coming Trump p...
Obama's hatred of Israel will rebound - Karin McQu...
The UN Declares War on Judeo-Christian Civilizatio...
Iran's Monstrous Record in 2016 - Majid Rafizadeh
Does Islamic State Engage in Organ Trading out of ...
Israel's US envoy: We can prove Obama drove UN vot...
Defective Law and Morality in the UN Security Coun...
President Obama Throws Israel to the Wolves - Jose...
How Iran actually lost in Aleppo - Heshmat Alavi
The Suicide of Germany - Guy Millière
Is real change coming to Iran? Get ready for March...
Fantasy Islam (Kafir Edition), Part II - Dr. Steph...
Fatah thanks UN members for giving it 'permission'...
Obama's burden - the Nobel Peace Prize - Barry Sha...
Saudi Writer Calls To Reexamine Islamic Concepts: ...
Religious Intolerance Disguised as Freedom - Rober...
How will U.N. vote affect Obama, Trump relationshi...
Israel accuses Obama administration of helping cra...
Thousands of homes to be built in Jerusalem despit...
The United States just made Middle East peace hard...
Islamists Attack Christmas, but Europeans Abolish ...
Left lambastes government for policies leading to ...
Christmas in the Age of Civilizational Jihad - Jos...
Israel and the rising new West - Caroline Glick
Cruz: No money for UN until anti-Israeli resolutio...
Rabbi Druckman: The UN resolution is "historic opp...
Amb. Bolton on US abstention from UN Israel vote -...
Netanyahu calls UN resolution 'absurd' and 'skewed...
Bennett: Apply Israeli law in Judea and Samaria - ...
Palestinians: The Nightmare of Christians - Khaled...
Obama's 'Midnight Regulation Express' - Rick Moran...
Stop Lying About Keith Ellison’s 11 Years With an ...
Obama Oil Drilling Ban on Thin Ice - Daniel John S...
Passover Punishment Case Continues to Wander Throu...
The Season of Living Dangerously - Lloyd Billingsl...
The Saudis at the UN Human Rights Council - Giulio...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6693
|
__label__wiki
| 0.76033
| 0.76033
|
A plethora of compelling storylines play out to their inevitable, often bloody conclusions in Season 5 of HBO's blockbuster, Emmy(R)-winning drama series. In the wake of the numerous shocking deaths of Season 4, the season opens with a power vacuum that the various players all across Westeros and Essos scramble to fill. At Castle Black, Jon Snow must balance the demands of the Night's Watch with those of the newly arrived Stannis Baratheon. Meanwhile, Cersei struggles to hold on to power in King's Landing; Jaime embarks on a secret mission; Arya seeks out an old friend; Tyrion--now a fugitive--finds a new cause; and Daenerys finds that her tenuous hold on the city of Meereen requires hard sacrifices.
Game of Thrones, Season 5
© 2015 Home Box Office, Inc.
Game of Thrones, The Complete Series
Game of Thrones, Seasons 1-3
Game of Thrones, Die komplette Serie
Westworld, Staffel 2
Top Sci-Fi & Fantasy Programmes
Game of Thrones, Staffel 8
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6696
|
__label__cc
| 0.554853
| 0.445147
|
Home » Newsletter Sign-Up
Discover new big data strategies and tools for your business as big data rapidly becomes the No. 1 competitive advantage for organizations.
Let our seasoned reporters cut through the clutters for the news that matter.
Subscribe to our free insideBIGDATA Newsletter written by Rich Brueckner who was recently named by Forbes as “one of the top 20 most influential people in Big Data.” You will also get learning’s from veteran writer and data scientist Daniel Gutierrez, plus thought leadership from many industry experts.
From Out of Nowhere: the Unstoppable Rise of the Data Catalog
The data catalog has come from nowhere in the past five years to become a key enabling technology for multiple use cases including self-service analytics, self-service data preparation and multi-location data management. Download a new white paper from Unifi Software that explores the data catalog as a major data management breakthrough, as well as its importance in enabling modern analytics architecture.
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6699
|
__label__wiki
| 0.63441
| 0.63441
|
Parking system with centralized reservation, payment and enforcement
1. In a parking facility of the type comprising a plurality of parking spots provided over a geographical area, a parking system for enabling centralized parking reservation, payment and enforcement, comprising:
a central computer for generating, managing and storing subscriber data and parking data and performing a plurality of parking operations;
a user terminal connected to said central computer over a data network, for enabling user access to said central computer;
a service terminal connected to said central computer over said data network for enabling automation of said parking operations; and
a data portal provided for said central computer for enabling interactive communication of said subscriber data and parking data between said computer and said service terminal and said user terminal.
A parking system for enabling centralized parking reservation, payment and enforcement, comprises a central computer communicating with user terminals and service terminals over a data network. The parking system maintains maps for all parking facilities administered by the respective owner and maintains information regarding the user of the respective vehicle; this information is particularly useful in security sensitive areas. A subscriber may access the system using a wireless or wireline web-enabled terminal, or with the help of an agent, to identify a convenient, un-reserved parking space, reserve that space (advance reservation is available) and pay a fee corresponding to the time the space was used. For subscriber's convenience, payment is cashless, and is tailored to the subscriber's needs; overtime parking protection is also available. The service terminals enable automation of most parking operations. Efficient supervision and enforcement operations of a parking facility are ensured through use of fixed or portable license plate readers (LPR). The parking supervisor/enforcer is provided with the ability to upload into the system the current parking occupancy, download maps with the expected occupancy, and issue parking tickets to offenders. The information on delinquent cars may be sent to the local authority or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to identify repeat offenders for appropriate enforcement in traffic courts.
11 References Cited
PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
RECHARGE POWER LLC
System and Method For Deterring Vehicle Theft And Managing Vehicle Parking
Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated
Parking-zone management system
VEHICLE FUEL EFFICIENCY OPTIMIZATION BASED ON VEHICLE USAGE PATTERNS
METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM FOR SECURED ACCESS TO GATED AREAS
MOBYDOM LTD.
Method and Apparatus for Displaying Toll Charging Parameters
Kapsch TrafficCom AG
Web-based parking and traffic management system and method
Parkmobile LLC
Standard Parking Corporation
Method and system for reservation-based parking
Intuit Inc.
NAVIGATION DEVICE, METHOD & SYSTEM
TomTom International BV
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AVOIDING PARKING VIOLATIONS
Kevin Lawrence Lee
METHOD FOR PAYMENT WHEN PARKING VEHICLES IN WHICH A CREDIT CARD IS USED FOR POST-PAYMENT
MODUL-SYSTEM SWEDEN AB
PARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF EMPLOYING SAME
Beckman Hope
Systems and methods for recording parking space information
Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated
RFID based parking management system
Huang Yuanlin
Verizon Data Services LLC
Vehicle parking assistance electronic timer system and method
Staniszewski John T.
Parking space locator
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
UNIQUE IDENTIFIER ADDRESSING AND MESSAGING ENABLING DIGITAL COMMUNICATION, CONTENT TRANSFER, AND RELATED COMMERCE
BUMP Network Inc.
LOCATION-AWARE PAYMENT SYSTEM
McQuilken George C.
ONBOARD AUCTION OF A FIRST CLASS SEAT TICKET
Bayne Anthony Jeremiah
Parking reservation systems and related methods
Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
Parking lot reservation system with electronic identification
SIN ETKE TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
PROXEMICS LLC
Coordinating and managing the rental of parking spaces
GOTTAPARK INCORPORATED
Method for intelligent parking/pollution and surveillance control system
NATTEL GROUP INC.
MOORING SYSTEM
Dyhrberg Roger Wayne Richard, Cullen Terry
INFORMING A DRIVER OR AN OWNER OF A VEHICLE OF VISIBLE PROBLEMS DETECTED BY OUTSIDE VIDEO SOURCES
System for estimating the location of vehicles in parking lots
QUALITY INFORMATIONS SYSTEM S.A.
Systems and Methods for Collecting Bonds and Fines for Warrants and Traffic Tickets
PRITCHETT JOHN W.
Method and System for Monitoring Status of Vehicle Parking Spaces
METRIC GROUP LIMITED
Method of Managing Vehicle Parking Subscription Renewals
Method and system for fee payment for automotive services
METHOD OF RESERVATION
SKIDATA AG
Smart meter parking system
Fybr Co.
Portal for secure validation of parking and integrated services
Lang Darin, Harmon Vaughn, Nichols Jack, John Martin
Systems and methods for ticketless parking validation
Thorson Peter
System and method for assessing parking space occupancy and for reserving same
The Boeing Co.
Vehicle recognition using multiple metrics
ACTIVE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Inter vehicle communication system
Local enforcement of remotely managed parking payment systems
NEW PARKING INC.
Method and a system for managing a fleet of vehicles, and an associated vehicle
FLEXPLAY TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Unique identifier addressing and messaging enabling transfer of digital communication, content, and commerce
PLATESTER LLC
Method and apparatus for facilitating customer service for a parking facility
INTERPARK LLC
General Electric Capital Corporation
System and method for processing toll transactions
American Traffic Solutions Incorporated
DETECTED ARRIVAL AT NAVIGATED DESTINATION AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGERS DELIVERY OF RELEVANT LOCAL INFORMATION TO USER
Cellco Partnership Inc.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INTERNET-BASED VEHICLE PARKING REGISTRATION AND RESERVATION
PLATEPARKING INC.
Method and system of payment for parking using a smart device
LOCATION-BASED DATA SERVICE APPARATUS AND METHOD
PARKING STATUS SYSTEM
Bashani Gilad G.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND PAYING FOR VEHICAL PARKING SPACES, PROVIDING ADVERTISING, AND COLLECTION OF DATA
Kaufman Lance
PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Premier Parking LLC
PARKING LOT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
National Chin-Yi University Of Technology
Automated parking system
Unitronics Automated Solutions Ltd.
Method and system for locating an available vehicle parking space
ENHANCEMENTS TO METERLESS REMOTE PARKING MONITORING SYSTEMS
REAL-TIME PARKING AVAILABILITY SYSTEM
MOBILE PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM
Salamone Michael L.
System to Maximize Regional Regulated Revenue
Marusyk Randall W., Gill Paramjit S.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AND CHECKING PARKING PLACES OF A PARKING ARRANGEMENT
N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek Nedap
SMARTPHONE AUGMENTED VIDEO-BASED ON-STREET PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Conduent Business Services LLC
Computer-implemented system and method for managing on-street valet parking
Palo Alto Research Center Inc.
Computer-implemented system and method for hands-free tagging and reserving of parking spaces
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARKING RESERVATION AND PAYMENT
Lanier Parking Holdings
DEVICE FOR MONITORING A VEHICLE PARKING SPACE
CHARGE RESERVATION SUPPORT SYSTEM, MOBILE TERMINAL DEVICE, CHARGE RESERVATION SUPPORT METHOD AND PROGRAM
Computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations
Computer-implemented system and method for offering residential parking reservations
Computer-implemented system and method for providing gun shot detection through a centralized parking services server
Computer-implemented system and method for offering commercial parking reservations
VEHICLE MANAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., Hong Fujin Precision Industrial Shenzhen Co. Ltd.
Device availability notification and scheduling
ATT Mobility II LLC
Computer-implemented system and method for managing motor vehicle parking reservations
Method And System For Remote Reservation Of A Parking Space, And Automated Vehicle Rental Facility
Bluecarsharing
Systems and methods for providing navigational assistance to a parking facility
Computer-implemented system and method for managing interchangeable parking spaces
Systems and Methods for Providing Navigational Assistance to Reserved Parking Locations
Method And System For Managing Parking Spaces In The Context Of Automated Vehicle Rental, And Vehicle Rental Facility
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING AVAILABILITY OF A PAYMENT PROCESSING SYSTEM
TICKETZEN INC.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TOLL PAYMENT SERVICE
Ats Tolling Llc
MOBILE PARKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REAL-TIME PARKING GUIDANCE
fybr LLC
Apparatus for searching for information within space of interest
Systems and methods for providing alerts regarding expiration of authorized parking
Computer-implemented system and method for directing users to available parking spaces
Computer-implemented system and method for spontaneously identifying and directing users to available parking spaces
CENTRALIZED PARKING PAYMENT AND MONITORING SYSTEM USINGGEO LOCATION ENABLED DEVICES
Goel Sunil
Apparatus and method for generating a path
Computer-implemented system and method for providing multi-locational curbside valet parking services
Palo Alto Research Center Inc., Xerox Corporation
Computer-implemented system and method for providing just-in-time loading zone parking
Meterless remote parking monitoring system
fybr
System for managing relationship and history of combined space of interest (SOI) object and content
Transportation support network utilized fixed and/or dynamically deployed wireless transceivers
Gamba Group Ltd
Computer-implemented system and method for providing directions to available parking spaces via dynamic signs
Automated parking space management system with dynamically updatable display device
IMAGEMAKER DEVELOPMENT INC.
Computer-implemented system and method for providing available parking spaces en route
Method of processing a transaction for a parking session
Avigilon Patent Holding 1 Corporation
METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING STANDARD REAL WORLD TO VIRTUAL WORLD LINKS
Nokia Technologies Oy
Parking meter system
Municipal Parking Services Inc.
Computer-implemented system and method for managing interchangeable EV charging-capable parking spaces
Centralized parking payment and monitoring system using geo location enabled devices
Aggarwal Adityakumar Akshaikumar
Beacon deployment enabling location based services (LBS) in an urban or city environment
Ehud Mendelson
Computer-implemented system and method for providing available parking spaces
Pay-by-phone parking system aided by a vision based monitoring device
Methods and systems for interpretable user behavior profiling in off-street parking
Medical information communication method
Parking lot monitoring system
Billing a rented third party transport including an on-board unit
Computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges
Sustainable real-time parking availability system
PARK GREEN LLC
Smart key emulation for vehicles
The Crawford Group Incorporated
Systems and methods for internet communication of parking lot information
Open Parking LLC
Internet communication of parking lot occupancy
Racunas Jr. Robert Vincent
Automobile personal computer systems
F Poszat Hu LLC
Treyz Susan M., Treyz G. Victor
Computerized parking facility management system
Hall Brett O.
Terminal for communication in an urban environment
SCHLUMBERGER SYSTEMES
Method and systems for space reservation on parking lots with mechanisms for space auctioning, over-booking, reservation period extensions, and incentives
eBay Inc.
Vehicle parking system
Baran Advanced Technologies 86 Ltd., Baran Advanced Technologies 86 Ltd. Omer IL
BARAN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES 86 LTD.
Parking-site reservation control system
Tool box with a lighting apparatus
Shih Yi L.
Car rent system
Israel Hirshberg
View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
2. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user terminal is a data terminal provided with a keyboard for inputting said subscriber data and parking request data to said central computer and a display for displaying said parking data received from said central computer.
3. A parking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said data network is the Internet and said user terminal is connected to Internet over one of a dial-up and an Ethernet interface.
4. A parking system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said user terminal is a web-enabled wireless terminal using a wireless interface.
5. A parking system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data network is the Internet and said wireless interface is one of a dial-up and a General Packet Radio System interface.
6. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user terminal is an automated voice interactive system comprising:
means for converting input audio signals including subscriber information and parking information into said subscriber data and parking request data, and transmitting said data to said central computer over said data network, and means for synthesizing said parking data and instructions received from said central computer into output audio signals.
7. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said service terminal is a license plate reader (LPR) for acquiring an image of a license plate number (LPN) of a vehicle, converting said image into an LPN reading and automatically transmitting said LPN reading to said central computer over said data network.
8. A parking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said LPN reading comprises a license plate field and a date/time field.
9. A parking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein whenever said parking facility is equipped with a gate, said central computer transmits to said gate a trigger signal for actuating said gate, if said LPN reading identifies a vehicle that has a reserved parking spot within said parking facility.
10. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said service terminal is provided with a keyboard for inputting current parking occupancy data to said central computer and a display for showing expected parking occupancy data received from said central computer, for detecting illegally parked vehicles.
11. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said service terminal is a web-enabled handheld device equipped with means for acquiring an image of a license plate number (LPN) of a vehicle within said parking facility, converting said image into an LPN reading and automatically transmitting said LPN reading to said central computer over said data network.
12. A parking system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said LPR reading comprises a license plate field and a date/time field.
13. A parking system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said LPR reading comprises a license plate field, a date/time field and a parking spot number field.
14. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said service terminal is a web-enabled handheld device comprising:
means for acquiring an image of a license plate number (LPN) for a vehicle within said parking facility and converting said image into an LPN reading;
a GPS reader for providing a geographical position reading for said vehicle in said parking facility; and
means for automatically transmitting said LPN reading associated with said position reading and a time/date field to said central computer over said data network.
15. A parking system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said service terminal further comprises means for inputting a request to said central computer for expected parking occupancy data, and means for displaying a map with expected parking occupancy data received from said central computer for identifying illegally parked vehicles.
16. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said service terminal is a data terminal operated by an agent on instructions received from a subscriber, said service terminal being provided with a keyboard for inputting said subscriber data and parking data to said central computer and means for displaying said parking data received from said central computer.
17. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shuttle locator for receiving shuttle position data and converting same to any of audio and visual information.
18. A parking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central computer maintains a relational database wherein a record includes subscriber identification data, vehicle identification data, a payment type and a payment method available for the respective subscriber.
19. A method for managing and controlling operation of a parking facility, to enable centralized reservation, payment and enforcement, comprising:
connecting a parking system over a data network with a user terminal and a service terminal;
registering a user with said parking system from said user terminal;
on said user terminal, reserving a parking spot in said parking facility for a specified vehicle;
monitoring the presence said vehicle in said parking spot and measuring an effective parking time for said vehicle; and
calculating a parking fee for said effective parking time and processing said parking fee automatically according to a pre-arranged payment plan.
View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising uncovering an illegal vehicle in said parking facility and applying a parking violation procedure for said illegal vehicle.
21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of registering comprises accessing said parking system remotely from said user terminal;
providing said parking system with user, vehicle, and payment information; and
selecting a user ID and a password for secure access and use of said user, vehicle, and payment information.
22. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of reserving a parking spot comprises:
providing from said user terminal to said parking system a parking request specifying a parking facility, a parking time and a parking duration Trez;
receiving from said parking system on said user terminal a map of said parking facility, which specifies all parking spots available for said parking and parking duration Trez;
selecting from said user terminal said parking spot on said map and negotiating payment with said parking system for said parking spot; and
at said parking system, marking said parking spot as reserved if payment negotiations are successful and updating said map to show said parking spot as reserved.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said map comprises the parking spots of said parking facility, with parking spot status information attached.
24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of reserving is performed in advance of said parking time.
25. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of reserving further comprises purchasing over-parking protection for said parking spot.
26. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of monitoring comprises marking the start time Tstart when said vehicle occupies said parking spot;
and marking the exit time Tend when said vehicle leaves said parking spot.
27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said steps of marking comprise automatically reading said Tstart and Tend with a license plate reader, transmitting said Tstart and said Tend to said parking system, and verifying if said parking spot is reserved for said vehicle.
28. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said subscriber inputs the license plate number of said vehicle associated with said respective Tstart and Tend on a user terminal.
29. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said step of monitoring further comprises, at preset intervals, reading the license plate number (LPN) of said vehicle parked in said parking spot with a service terminal;
measuring the actual parking time Tpark for said vehicle;
transmitting said LPN and said Tpark to said parking system; and
comparing said Tpark with said Trez.
30. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said step of calculating said parking fee for said effective parking time comprises calculating Tpark=Tend−Tstart and charging said subscriber for said Tpark.
31. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising applying an additional fee for any additional parking time Tend−Trez whenever over-parking protection has been purchased in advance.
32. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said step of uncovering comprises:
at preset intervals of time, reading the license plate number LPN of said vehicle parked in said parking spot with a service terminal, and transmitting said LPN to said parking system;
receiving from said parking system status data indicating that an illegal vehicle is parked in said parking spot; and
initiating a parking violation procedure for said illegal vehicle.
33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein an illegal vehicle is one of:
(a) a vehicle which is not registered with said parking system;
(b) a vehicle which belongs to a subscriber to said parking system, has Trez=0 for the respective parking spot and does not have over-parking protection.
34. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said parking violation procedure comprises, for an illegal vehicle (a):
obtaining from the Department of Motor Vehicles DMV the identity data for the owner of said illegal vehicle;
initiating towing of said illegal vehicle or initiating special security protocols based on said identity data;
issuing a parking ticket based on said identity data; and
informing said owner of said ticket and of the address of the current location of said illegal vehicle after towing.
35. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said parking violation procedure comprises, for an illegal vehicle (b):
initiating towing of said illegal vehicle;
obtaining from said parking system the identity data for said subscriber;
issuing a parking ticket to said subscriber based on said identity data; and
informing said subscriber of said ticket and of the address of the current location of said illegal vehicle after towing.
[0001] The invention resides in the field of integrated parking systems and is directed in particular to a system for centralized parking reservation, payment and enforcement. In addition, the invention introduces the mobility and convenience of drivers by automation through the centralized parking system.
[0002] The parking industry is a over $500 billion industry in the US. There are over 105 millions parking spaces, which include metered parking spaces, garages, parking areas/lots, etc, with various methods for collection the parking fees. Collection of the parking fees is performed in a fragmented way using parking attendants, or automatic payment collection machines that accept cash, debit and/or credit cards.
[0003] The existing parking systems have a few disadvantages. For example, the municipalities provide parking meters on some streets; however typical street parking meters require cash, and accept only certain types of coins. In addition, the time that can be bought is limited (e.g. maximum one hour or two hours). Therefore, many users must reload the meter at regular intervals of time, if they need to use the facility for a longer time than the maximum time allowed by the parking meter. While willing to correctly pay the fee, the user may get fined if the parking time expires, and he/she could not reload the meter in time. The fine is the same for one minute or one hour violation, as there is no way to determine the duration of the violation.
[0004] Numerous parking lots or garages located within major cities use parking attendants, and generally accept only cash; the user is required generally to pay a deposit (cash) representing the payment for a full day. Still further, the user is charged in increments of ½ hours, so that the payment exceeds the cost for the actual parking time. In most cases, a flat parking fee is charged for parking spaces for sport events or shows. Two events may run concurrently on the same day, creating an opportunity for revenue scopes.
[0005] Most parking lots that accept overnight parking, such as e.g. airport parking lots, allow prepayment in increments of some larger time units (days, hours and minutes). Nonetheless, additional parking time cannot be bought and the car may by eventually towed at the expense of the user, if the pre-paid time expires before user's return (i.e. unplanned extended absence).
[0006] In large parking facilities that are generally provided for events with a large attendance e.g. sport events, shows, concerts, airports, etc., the parking spaces surrounding a respective venue are spread over a large area and divided into lots. It is not easy or automatic for a user to find a free spot in such a large parking area. As well, it is not easy for the parking administrator to determine when a certain lot is full, so as to re-direct the potential users to other lots in the respective parking facility. This impacts on the business, since unused parking spaces do not bring revenue.
[0007] Large parking facilities have been lately equipped with automated payment capabilities. However, the automatic cashiers differ from one parking facility to another; learning how to operate a particular type of automatic cashier, especially at night when the visibility is poor, and/or when there are other users waiting in line, could be quite stressful.
[0008] In some cases the automatic cashiers are provided at the site of the venue rather than in the parking facility; this implies that the user must carry the parking slip on him/her, while in most cases, the parking lip must be displayed on the dashboard.
[0009] If the payment is not automatic, it takes a long time to exit a large parking facility, since fee collection at the gates slows the traffic.
[0010] In addition, finding the vehicle in large parking areas/lots when the respective event is over may pose problems, especially at night, or after a heavy snow. To address this problem, many car models are equipped with handheld devices for audible recognition; however, not all vehicles have this feature and the sound is very similar for most vehicles.
[0011] Still further, looking for a parking spot may be time/fuel consuming, and requires knowledge of the area in advance, since it is not easy to read the parking signs while driving.
[0012] To summarize, there are numerous ways of managing a parking lot, and the fee collection varies widely with the city, county, province/state or country. Currently, the onus is on the user to continuously learn new methods of payment, to carry the right amount of cash and the correct coin denominations and to know in advance for how long the parking spot is needed. Currently, the only alternative is to pay extra money, to get a parking ticket, or to have the vehicle towed.
[0013] Lately, worldwide terrorist activities have added a new dimension to security of parking operations, especially in crowded areas such as metropolitan areas, large commercial centers, airport parking (which require 300 feet restriction during an orange alert) or large event venues. Increased protection measures are now being considered for securing public parking areas, in view of the events on Sep. 11, 2001. For example, crime investigators may exploit the information on all vehicles using the parking in the vicinity of a crime scene and on their owners.
[0014] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,246,337 and 6,249,233 to Rosenberg et al., disclose a vehicle parking network where each subscriber is equipped with a transmitter-responder device (TRD). The subscriber must attach a complementary box (CB) on the car, the CB being coupled to the TRD for communications with a central computer. A subscriber must find an empty parking spot recognized by the central computer, after which he/she has to contact the central computer by telephone for a parking authorization request. Parking is permitted after receipt of a parking authorization signal from the central computer. The CB has identification marks that can be scanned from outside the vehicle through the windshield in order to identify the subscriber. The absence of the CB renders the parking illegal.
[0015] The system of Rosenberg et al. does not provide any prior indication regarding existence of available parking spots in a particular parking area. In addition, advance reservation of a pre-determined parking spot is unavailable.
[0016] The current methods can be improved for better servicing the users and for increasing the revenue collected by the parking owners. There is a need to provide a user-friendly parking system without direct cash handling. In addition, there is a need to provide a system where the users pay for the actual parking time without being ticketed, whereas parking owners achieve maximum occupancy with minimum time violations. As well, there is a need for a centralized parking system, which allows the users to reserve in advance a parking spot in a desired parking area.
[0017] In addition, there is a need to collect additional information of the driver and the car for security sensitive parking spaces.
[0018] The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art parking systems. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized parking system, which allows reservation of a predetermined parking spot in a parking lot/area of interest. It is also an object of the invention to provide a user-friendly method of payment for the actual time of using the parking space.
[0019] A further object of the invention is to provide a parking system with enforcement means that takes into account mutual benefits for both the user and the parking authority.
[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, a parking system for enabling centralized parking reservation, payment and enforcement, comprises: a central computer for generating, managing and storing subscriber data and parking data and performing a plurality of parking operations; a user terminal connected to the central computer over a data network, for enabling user access to the central computer; a service terminal connected to the central computer over the data network for enabling automation of the parking operations; and a data portal provided for the central computer for enabling interactive communication of the subscriber data and parking data between the computer and the service terminal and the user terminal.
[0021] According to a further aspect, the invention provides a method for managing and controlling operation of a parking facility, to enable centralized reservation, payment and enforcement, comprising: connecting a parking system over a data network with a user terminal and a service terminal; registering a user with the parking system from the user terminal; on the user terminal, reserving a parking spot in the parking facility for a specified vehicle; monitoring the presence the vehicle in the parking spot and measuring an effective parking time for the vehicle; and calculating a parking fee for the effective parking time and processing the parking fee automatically according to a pre-arranged payment plan.
[0022] The system according to the invention provides an informed parking concept compared to the current uncertain “find & park” concept, presenting numerous advantages to both the parking user and the parking owner. An updated central database provides the current occupancy status of the area, so that the users can select the appropriate spot for the current use, which adds to customers satisfaction and increases parking fees generation. This database can be also used to provide statistical parking information that may be used for further improvements of the system.
[0023] Knowing in advance the location of the parking spot combined with the payment methods available with the system of the invention advantageously saves time to the users. In addition, the system of the invention allows to speed-up the access of vehicles in and out of large parking lots. This advantage is particularly relevant in case of concurrent events sharing a parking lot.
[0024] The invention provides an improved solution for the parking industry, by replacing the existing custom-made sophisticated parking meters and automatic cashiers with web-enabled mobile communications devices activated/deactivated for space assignment and collection of fees, which is automatic in some case, or is based on start-end user inputs in some other case. Correct calculation of the parking fee and convenient methods of payment (cashless) increase customer satisfaction and contribute to the success of the operation.
[0025] Moreover, the system deals with the unplanned overtime parking in a way that is satisfactory to customers, while the additional parking costs are debited to the appropriate parking authority. In addition, any overtime parking penalty is proportional to the time violated, as opposed to the flat high rate applied currently.
[0026] The system also provides for efficient parking lot supervision, which detects illegal parking and stores information to improve security protection. Thus, the system of the invention ‘knows’ the license plate of each vehicle using the facility, and maintains information regarding the user of the respective vehicle, which information is particularly useful in security sensitive areas.
[0027] The parking system according to the invention may also be used in large high-level rack storehouses to enhance space management as the merchandise is moved in and out. It may also be used by the car-rental companies to identify a rented vehicle by the parking space number and to facilitate the creation of a fleet of self-rent cars, to reduce use of private vehicles in the cities and to save on parking fees.
[0028] The “Summary of the Invention” does not necessarily disclose all the inventive features. The inventions may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.
[0029] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiments, as illustrated in the appended drawings, where:
[0030] <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference> illustrates an embodiment of a parking system according to the invention;
[0031] <cross-reference>FIG. 2</cross-reference> is a photograph of an optical reader installed at a parking facility according to the invention;
[0032] <cross-reference>FIG. 3A</cross-reference> is an example of a map used for metered parking spaces;
[0033] <cross-reference>FIG. 3B</cross-reference> is a map for a metered parking space located on a city street;
[0034] <cross-reference>FIG. 4</cross-reference> illustrates an initial portal screen for customer registration;
[0035] <cross-reference>FIG. 5</cross-reference> shows an example of a screen for advance parking reservation;
[0036] <cross-reference>FIG. 6</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating the centralized advance parking reservation process and payment method according to the invention;
[0037] <cross-reference>FIG. 7A</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating the parking time measurement for parking facilities with automatic license plate reading;
[0038] <cross-reference>FIG. 7B</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating the parking time measurement for parking facilities without automatic license plate reading;
[0039] <cross-reference>FIG. 8</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating an example of parking time enforcement procedures for un-metered parking areas; and
[0040] <cross-reference>FIG. 9</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating an example of parking violation procedure may be handled.
[0041] Similar references are used in different figures to denote similar components.
[0042] The following description is of a preferred embodiment by way of example only and without limitation to combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.
[0043] The Parking System
[0044] <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference> illustrates an embodiment of the parking system with centralized registration, reservation, payment and enforcement according to the invention. Parking system 1 serves all types of parking facilities; <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference> illustrates a complex embodiment suitable for a large corporation, which owns a plurality of parking facilities spread over a large geographical area
[0045] The system 1 is preferably an Internet-based computerized system, which communicates and interacts online with a plurality of terminals, while keeping records of all operations and transactions as desired by the parking facility management (also referred herein as the parking authority), within the framework of the existing local rules and regulations. <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference> shows the Internet 10 connecting the central computer with the terminals, however any data networks may be used for enabling this communication.
[0046] System 1 includes in this example a central computer 15, with a relational database 3. Database 3 stores subscriber data such as user identification (ID), address, e-mail, password, vehicle details, and credit card details. A general user profile is also available. Additional information may be required regarding the driver and the car for example for parking spots where security protection is critical. This information is provided by subscribers upon registration and is maintained as long as the user decides to maintain his/her subscription.
[0047] The database also comprises parking facility data such as parking space identification ID (street, garage floor, area, lot). This information is stored e.g. in the form of maps that identify each spot or in the form of ‘bulk’ space when identification of each spot is not available (e.g. street parking). The parking facility data is updated when physical changes to a certain parking area or lot occur, or when new areas, lots or spaces are added.
[0048] The database also stores temporary information, such as parking time data, which information is provided when a parking request is logged. The parking time data may be maintained for a short period, for example until the account for the respective service has been settled. Optionally, the parking time data may be maintained for as long as agreed upon with the user, or as deemed necessary by the parking authority. Receipts of fee/charges are available online or on demand.
[0049] Database 3 may be organized as a relational database, by arranging the records as a set of tables, where each table is a set of records. In turn, a record is a set of fields and each field is a pair of field-name and field-value.
[0050] Computer 15 is programmed to perform a plurality of parking-related operations, such as subscriber registration, centralized advanced parking reservation, payment and enforcement. Device 15 is provided with digital signature capabilities such as for example PKI (public key infrastructure), and SWIM (subscriber wireless information module) capabilities, to provide authentication and confidentiality of user data (identification, debit/credit card information and activities), as well as for the parking area security protection. It may also supply statistical data regarding the customer profiles and the services requested, which enables the parking authority to further enhance the operation and revenue collection, while providing high quality services to users.
[0051] The system according to the invention also incorporates a geographic information system (GIS) or other system that allows automatic identification of a parking spot on a map of the respective parking lot/area, thus facilitating reservation of a spot of interest and easy localization of the spot in the preferred parking area. The users may access the system 1 in the known way, as shown by a HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) portal 4, using a variety of web-enabled user terminals.
[0052] For example, the users may use a personal computer, notebook or laptop 17, with a dial-up interface 6, or an Ethernet interface 5 to the Internet 10 to register, to access the system and to interact with the system by requesting a parking service. Or, the user may use a WAP (wireless application protocol) cellular phone 16 with web browser capability, connected over the Internet using a dial-up interface 6 or a GPRS (General Packet Radio System) interface 9. Access over the Internet is not mandatory; the users may access system 1 over a telephone landline or a wireless line using an agent, who in turn has Internet access to the system.
[0053] Thus, for users that do not have an access terminal 16, 17 as in <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference>, the communication with system 1 may be established dialing a 1-800 number as shown at 19, to communicate with an operator (agent), who will perform the respective service such as e.g. registration, reservation, buying additional timer, payment, etc. using a service terminal 18. The agent's computer 18 is preferably connected to Internet over an Ethernet interface 5.
[0054] System 1 may also be provided with service terminals, such as voice portal 21, which enables users access to the system 1 by calling a toll-free number (1-800, or 1-888, etc) number. Voice portal 21 is an automated interactive system developed using VoiceXML technology, which harnesses the massive infrastructure developed for HTML to create and deploy voice applications over Internet. While HTML assumes a graphical web browser with display and keyboard/mouse, VoiceXML assumes a voice browser with audio output, audio input and keypad input. In this case, the voice browser's speech recognizer handles the audio input (user's voice commands). Audio output (device's 21 responses) consists both of recognition and speech synthesized by voice browser text-to-speech system. Voice portal 21 interfaces with Internet preferably over an Ethernet interface 5.
[0055] Preferably, for medium sized and large parking areas, the system incorporates license plate readers (LPR) 20, which provide automatic vehicle identification and trigger the parking process. The LPR shown at 20 is mounted for example on the gates to the parking lots and garages, so as to keep track of the vehicles entering and leaving the area. For parking facilities that are not equipped with gates, the LPR 20 may be mounted on any convenient structure from where the license plates of vehicles entering or exiting the facility may be read. The LPR 20 may be connected over data network 10 to computer 15 using a wireless interface 7 or Ethernet 5. When a car is entitled to use the respective facility, the LPR 20 sends a trigger signal that actuates gate opening and closing.
[0056] <cross-reference>FIG. 2</cross-reference> illustrates a LPR 20 by way of example. These devices are equipped with a camera 25 which is oriented so as to “see” a large portion of the back of the car where the license plates 26 are fixed (since front license plates are not always compulsory). The license plate image is converted to data and is matched with the pre-stored car identity information, the time of entry or exit is sent to database 3 and recorded against the user ID. If the parking facility has a gate, a signal is sent to open/close the gate as required. Use of LPR 20 allows total automation of the vehicle/user identification, without any action on the part of the customer.
[0057] It is to be noted that the term “license plate reader” designates generically any means for automatically inputting the lice plate number. For example, it may be a digital camera, an optical card reader, a bar code reader, a PIN code reader, a magnetic card reader, or combinations thereof.
[0058] Some of the large garages/parking areas may already be equipped with a local database 24, which keeps track of the current lot/area occupancy, the existing reservations, and the time when a reservation starts and ends. This database may be used to load the relational database 3, when created, and to synchronize it whenever changes in the layout of the respective parking facility occur. Preferably, interface 5 that connects the database 24 to the web is Ethernet.
[0059] Service terminals 12 are relevant to large parking facilities that are provided with shuttle service, such as airport parking facilities. Terminals 12 are provided at convenient locations throughout the parking facility along the route of the shuttle, to enable the users to find out where the shuttle is and the time of arrival at the stop closest to his/her current location. To this end, the shuttle is equipped with a GPS (Geographical Positioning System), which transmits its position continuously to system 15, so that the location of the shuttle is always known. The terminals 12 may use for example a SMS (Short Messaging System) interface 8 or a GPRS (General Packet Radio System) interface 9.
[0060] Service terminal 13 illustrates a handheld wireless device used by a parking attendant (enforcer) for enforcing the parking regulations and for assisting subscribers when needed. Terminal 13 could be a generic web-enabled wireless terminal, which communicates with system 15 over a WiFi interface 7 for speedy, on-line processing of information. Terminal 13 is preferably equipped with GPS and a digital camera, or optical card reader (OCR), and the appropriate software process applications, for reading the license plate of a vehicle and uploading the information to system 15. This information is used for updating the parking occupancy information, and it may also be used to read the license plate of vehicles for which the parking was prepaid, upon entry at a sport/show event for speeding-up the parking operations.
[0061] The enforcer's terminal 13 also enables the enforcer to download the expected parking occupancy information, to identify eventual offenders and to take appropriate actions. For example, the terminal downloads mapping of the parking space identification to car license plates, and the enforcer determines which cars are illegally parked, checks which cars have “over-parking” protection, issues parking tickets, requests that illegally parked cars be towed, etc. In addition, the enforcer's terminal may automatically inform the user by e-mail that the vehicle has been towed, and provide the address where it could be picked-up. A time and date stamped picture of the car may be used as proof of offense in the court, or to justify any extra charges even when the user has over-parking protection.
[0062] Terminal 13 may also be equipped with a magnetic card reader and a printer, so as to enable on the spot payment for quick entry into the parking lot at a sport/show event.
[0063] <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference> also shows that central computer 15 is connected to the Department of Motor Vehicle database 22 allowing integration of the information in the relational database 3 with the information in the DMV database 22. Thus, the information on delinquent cars can be sent from computer 15 or from the hand-held device 13 to the local authority or states Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database 22 to identify repeat offenders for appropriate enforcement in traffic courts. This also replaces the present manual parking ticketing process.
[0064] Integration of Parking Facilities with the Parking System
[0065] As discussed in connection with the relational database 3, system 1 maintains maps for all parking facilities administered by the respective owner. The type of parking facilities varies widely, and the operation of the system 1 differs accordingly.
[0066] A parking area may for example be a garage with one or more floors, or an area with a plurality of parking lots, each parking lot with the respective parking spots/spaces. In general, the spaces in such areas are identified (numbered) to enable the users to locate the car. <cross-reference>FIG. 3A</cross-reference> is an example of a map used for numbered parking spaces located in a large commercial area. Also as a convenience to the subscribers to system 1, the numbered parking spots in this type of facilities may be advertised to indicate if the respective spot is occupied, reserved, free or reserved for special parking (handicapped persons, pregnant women, mother and child, etc). As well, the occupied spots may also display the license plate of the car or the name of the individual that should use it. This information will aid the subscriber to find her/his reserved spot, and will discourage illegal parking.
[0067] The parking system of the invention may also be used for operating the street parking spaces that are traditionally controlled and enforced by means of specialized local metering. Either no meter is required or no special arrangements are needed in this case, as the system makes use of the number on existing parking meters, which identifies uniquely the parking space. System 1 also operates with parking spaces in a city block or other traditional parking areas using a concrete block, a pole, a parking meter, or any other mainstay physical property designating the parking spots with an identifying number. <cross-reference>FIG. 3B</cross-reference> is a map for a metered parking space located on a city street.
[0068] Another example of parking spaces, which are generally administered by the city, refers to the street parking spots that are not metered/numbered, where parking is allowed for a limited time. Currently, an enforcer patrols the streets and identifies the offenders, providing manual, and thus not very accurate, records of offending cars.
[0069] According to the invention, the maps, such as the ones shown in <cross-reference>FIGS. 3A and 3B</cross-reference>, may be displayed on the user's access terminal, in this example a terminal 17 in <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference>. The user terminal 17 displays the parking spots and their characteristics: reserved/occupied such as spots A2-A3, B5-B9 and D1-D2 shown in gray, free spots such as C1 to C10, and spaces A8, A9, D8-D10, shown in light gray, reserved for handicapped persons. The maps may also be downloaded on web-enabled terminals 16.
[0070] Payment methods
[0071] System 1 can work with several payment methods. Calculation of the total parking fees and automatic payment for pre-approved users ensures collection of the correct parking fees on line. In addition, the fee can be paid conveniently, using various payment instruments like credit cards, debit cards, decreasing balance, a third party billing system (micro payment), or any other smart card/prepayment method.
[0072] The option payments are numerous; the user may choose to pay by the minute/hour/day/week and/or start-end period activated/deactivated by customer's access terminal.
[0073] Rates can be flexible and can be adjusted instantaneously. In all cases, payment arrangements can be made according to a tier system, particularly in large parking areas/lots. A premium may be charged based on factors that the parking area authority deems acceptable, such as distance from the parking spot to the main entry or to the venue. The arrangement may also charge higher prices for spots close to the user's interest and decreasing as the distance to the respective place increases. Also, certain times of the days that are more valuable than others may be offered at a premium. “Auctioning of parking spaces” is a process, which can be initiated manually or automatically once a certain percentage of parking spots have been reserved, and the value of the remaining ones becomes so much higher that it is profitable to auction them. Links to other websites and company promotions may also be available in order to give more choices to the customers. Examples of such sites are frequent flyer, car service/maintenance companies, other events similar to the ones the customer chooses, etc.
[0074] As mentioned before, the payment methods are secure, as system 15 incorporates digital signature Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Subscriber Wireless Information Module (SWIM) technology. Any other security technology that conforms to the complete automation of the parking process may be used.
[0075] On-line prepayment of the parking is an important advantage of the present invention, as the user does not have to carry money or a credit card, and can always reserve a parking spot and be legally parked.
[0076] The customer may also choose “over-parking protection”. If the time parking period initially selected elapses, the customer is automatically charged for the rest of the hour/day depending on customer's desired level of protection, instead of being ticketed or the car being towed away. In any event, irrespective of the selected parking period, the customer is always charged for the effective time the car occupies the parking spot, if the start-end feature is selected.
[0077] This is another advantage of the invention, as the customer is not bound to a pre-paid parking period and can continue an activity without facing illegal parking condition.
[0078] Receipts of all parking transactions may be stored in database 3 and can be used for statistical analysis or for resolving disputes. On-line receipts are available for the lifetime of the registration (membership) and can be issued from a user access terminal.
[0079] To summarize, system 1 can be adapted to various types of parking facilities, payment methods, enforcement methods and provides the users with a variety of services that make it very attractive. For example, the system enables operations such as advanced reservation of a parking space, recording of the effective parking time, and enforcement capabilities adapted to the type of parking.
[0080] All users must register first with the system in order to receive the desired services. Registration is performed as well known by selecting a user name and a password to access the respective website 4. The user must then provide his/her name, address information, vehicle information and payment information.
[0081] <cross-reference>FIG. 4</cross-reference> illustrates an example of an initial portal screen for customer registration. This type of registration is common to web-enabled services. The user ID may for example be the serial number of the user terminal. The vehicle ID requires license number (LN), color, make, model, year, etc for all vehicles that the subscriber intends to use. The payment information may include alternative methods of payment and options such as over-parking protection.
[0082] As discussed above, secrecy of this information is guaranteed as the user interface to computer 15 incorporates digital signature Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). It is to be noted that any other authentication infrastructures may equally be used as needed and as they become available. As well, the system according to the invention improves parking venue security protection by advance identification of the vehicle and the customers making the parking reservation request.
[0083] Advanced reservation.
[0084] According to the invention, a subscriber to system 1 may reserve a parking spot in advance using a terminal such as 17. A user may request a parking reservation (in advance of the service) or may reserve the parking on the spot (parking at the moment). Advanced parking reservation is available only for the spaces that are marked or metered. Parking on demand is available in all parking facilities, be they marked, metered, or not.
[0085] <cross-reference>FIG. 5</cross-reference> illustrates an example of a screen for advance parking reservation and <cross-reference>FIG. 6</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating the advance reservation process and the method of payment according to the invention.
[0086] The reservation process begins with the user accessing system 1 using for example as the access terminal the desktop computer 17, step 30. If an account for this user already exists, branch “No” of decision block 31, the user logs-in as well known, by providing his/her user identification UI and password PW, as shown in step 33.
[0087] If a new user requires a parking reservation, branch “Yes” of decision block 31, the data for the new user is collected, as discussed in connection with <cross-reference>FIG. 4</cross-reference>. For example, the system may require user's name, address, phone, email address, type of car and license plate number, as described in connection with <cross-reference>FIG. 4</cross-reference>. The user then provides the system with the parking request information, as shown in step 34 and illustrated by way of example in <cross-reference>FIG. 5</cross-reference>. This information includes at least venue identification information (VII) and time information (TI). The venue is specified as detailed as desired, and the time as specific as possible, indicating the date, the expected time of arrival T<highlight><subscript>start </subscript></highlight>and the expected duration of the parking T<highlight><subscript>rez</subscript></highlight>.
[0088] The subscriber must also specify the automobile make if there are more automobiles registered to the respective subscriber. In case of large parking facilities, the subscriber may specify some particulars of the spot, such as floor number, terminal and gate number (e.g. for airport parking). Once system 1 receives the particulars of the request (VII, TI), a map with the area of interest showing the parking spots and their identification is displayed on the subscriber terminal. More particularly, the availability and usage status of the spaces closest to the place of interest is displayed on-line in real-time, so as to allow the user to select the preferred spot.
[0089] If a parking spot is found, as shown by branch “Yes” of decision block 35, the user selects a convenient spot, or selects a bulk space with available spots, step 36. As discussed before, auctioning for better spots is available.
[0090] Next, system 1 attempts to bill the service to the credit/debit card number, step 37. The user now specifies the payment method and payment type. To reiterate, the user may select payment by debit/credit card, decreasing balance, etc. It is noted that a subscriber has the option to maintain the number of a credit card in the parking system in order to speed-up the reservation procedure, and to direct the parking costs to one card. Alternatively, the user may enter the card information at the moment of parking, in which case the card number is entered in step 37. As also described previously, the parking time may be specified in various units of time, such as days, hours, minutes, seconds. Over-parking protection option may also be activated now for this particular parking action.
[0091] If the card verification in step 38 fails, the customer may re-try with the same or a different card, steps 37 and 38, and if this again fails, the subscriber cannot reserve the spot. This procedure is not shown in detail, as being well known for on-line transactions.
[0092] Needless to say that if at step 35 a parking spot is not available at a facility of choice, as shown by branch ‘No’ of decision block 35, the customer is notified to try another parking facility in the vicinity, step 26. If a parking spot is not available at all as shown by branch ‘No’ of decision block 27, the user is notified in step 28, and the reservation process ends. If a spot is available in another parking area close to the respective point of interest to the subscriber, as shown by branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 27, the process continues with step 36 as described before.
[0093] If the transaction is successful, branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 38, and the spaces are numbered, branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 29, the system reserves the spot, step 40. The database 3 is updated to show the newly reserved space, step 41, and the user receives a confirmation of reservation and invoice information, step 42.
[0094] If on the other hand, if the spaces in the parking are not metered or numbered, branch ‘No’ of block 29, the operations proceed in a similar way, with the exception that the system does not reserve a space. Instead, the system reserves a spot in a bulk space by decreasing the number of free spaces in the respective bulk space, as shown in step 43. In this case, the subscriber will find the reserved spot, since the bulk parking area with the respective reserved space is confined to a block or two. The system enters the VII and T<highlight><subscript>rez </subscript></highlight>in the database in step 45 (but no parking space number), and the subscriber receives confirmation of parking reservation as before, as shown in step 42.
[0095] It is obvious that in the absence of a terminal 17 the subscriber may still reserve a space in advance using a telephone or a cellular, in which case an attendant will perform the reservation on the map.
[0096] Advance parking reservation is one of the main advantages of the system 1, which allows customers to reserve desired parking spots in advance without facing the risk of going “blindfolded” in search of a parking spot.
[0097] <cross-reference>FIG. 7A</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating the parking time measurement for parking areas equipped with automatic license plate reading. In this scenario, the entry and exit time are read and entered into the system automatically.
[0098] When the vehicle arrives at parking, step 23, the license plate reader (LPR) 20 takes a picture of the car license plate, step 46. The LPR matches the license plate number with the information in the database 3, as shown in step 47, and the vehicle is allowed to enter if the subscriber has reserved a spot, as shown by branch ‘Yes’ of the decision block 47. The LPR also reads the time of entry and stores it in the system database (T<highlight><subscript>start</subscript></highlight>).
[0099] If a reservation is not found in the database 3 for the respective car, the subscriber is notified, step 48, and requested to proceed with reservation, i.e. to perform the steps shown in <cross-reference>FIG. 6</cross-reference>. The user can log-on the system if he/she is a registered user to determine what went wrong, and/or may try to reserve a spot at that moment, using an access terminal such as 16, or a cellular/fixed telephone dialing the 1-800 number to contact the agent 18.
[0100] If the advanced reservation is found in database 3, as shown by branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 47, an Anti PassBack test is performed in step 49. This test is performed for detecting eventual duplication in the license plate numbers (e.g. typos made by users at registration, fraud, etc). The users may be notified of the duplication for correcting the typo, or the authorities are notified in case of fraud. If the test fails and a car is already using the spot as shown by branch ‘Yes’, the subscriber is notified and as shown in step 48, he/she is requested to perform the same actions as above in connection with the reservation check. If the Anti PassBack test is successful, branch ‘No’, the vehicle enters the parking facility, step 50, and the user drives it to the reserved spot.
[0101] Now, if the parking area is numbered (i.e. the spots are numbered), as shown by the branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 51, the system updates the map to show that the reserved spot is now occupied, step 53. If the parking area is not numbered, the system only associates the time of entry T<highlight><subscript>start</subscript></highlight>, provided by the LPR against the subscriber/vehicle identity, step 52.
[0102] The enforcer patrols the parking area and checks if the actual time of parking T<highlight><subscript>park </subscript></highlight>exceeds the time reserved T<highlight><subscript>rez</subscript></highlight>, as shown by decision block 54. The enforcer is equipped with a hand-held device such as 13, which enables access to the system at all times, and he/she can check the status of each car. As indicated in connection with <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference>, hand-held device 13 may be a generic web-enabled wireless terminal with GPS and digital camera capabilities, with appropriate software process applications.
[0103] A parking spot is flagged in the database (on the map) for attendant's attention when the reserved parking time was exceeded. If the parking time T<highlight><subscript>park </subscript></highlight>exceeds the time reserved T<highlight><subscript>rez </subscript></highlight>for a certain vehicle, branch ‘Yes’ of block 54, and if over-parking protection is not available for the respective subscriber, as shown by branch ‘No’ of decision block 55, then the enforcer checks if additional parking time has been requested by the respective subscriber, as shown by step 56. If the system indicates that no additional time has been purchased, branch ‘No’ of block 56, the vehicle is considered as illegally parked and a parking violation procedure is initiated in step 57. A digital picture may be taken and an e-ticket, or an e-mail explaining the tow information may be sent to the customer. If the illegally parked car is not in the reservation database, it will be ticketed/towed and the information regarding the illegal vehicle stored in the enforcement database for subsequent use.
[0104] If the subscriber has overtime protection branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 55 and or has purchased additional parking time, branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 57, the enforcer considers the vehicle as legally parked and continues checking other cars.
[0105] When the vehicle exits the parking facility and arrives at the gate for leaving, step 58, the LPR 20 reads again the license plate, step 59 and the time T<highlight><subscript>end</subscript></highlight>, and sends the information to the central computer 15. The actual parking time T<highlight><subscript>park </subscript></highlight>is calculated as the difference between the T<highlight><subscript>end </subscript></highlight>and T<highlight><subscript>start</subscript></highlight>, and compared with the initially reserved period (T<highlight><subscript>rez</subscript></highlight>), and the effective duration of parking is charged to the customer account. Thus, if T<highlight><subscript>park</subscript></highlight>>T<highlight><subscript>rez</subscript></highlight>, the user is notified, step 60 and billed for the difference. If T<highlight><subscript>park</subscript></highlight><T<highlight><subscript>rez</subscript></highlight>, the user account id debited with the difference.
[0106] After the vehicle exits the parking, the system updates the database 3 by marking the respective parking spot as free, step 61.
[0107] <cross-reference>FIG. 7B</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating the parking time measurement for parking areas without automatic license plate reading. In this scenario, the subscriber must be equipped with a handheld wireless device HWD such as device 16 on <cross-reference>FIG. 1</cross-reference> for entering the arrival and the departure time into the system. The user arrives at the parking spot as shown in step 70 and accesses the system 1 on the handheld wireless device, step 71. The system checks if there is any advanced reservation for that user, as shown in step 73. If not, the subscriber is notified in step 72 and he/she proceeds with reserving a parking spot using the handheld wireless device (HDW) 16, as shown in the flowchart of <cross-reference>FIG. 6</cross-reference>. If the subscriber has already reserved a parking space in the respective facility, as shown by branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 73, the user proceeds with parking in the reserved spot. If the parking area is numbered/metered, as shown by branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 74, the user parks the car in the reserved numbered space and enters the parking start time T<highlight><subscript>start </subscript></highlight>and the space identification number, as shown in step 77. Then the system records the time T<highlight><subscript>start </subscript></highlight>and updates the map to show that the respective parking space is unavailable for the reservation time T<highlight><subscript>rez</subscript></highlight>, step 78.
[0108] If the parking area is not numbered/metered, branch ‘No’ of decision block 74, the user parks the car in a respective free space and enters the parking start time T<highlight><subscript>start</subscript></highlight>, as shown in step 75, and the system records the time T<highlight><subscript>start </subscript></highlight>and updates the number of free parking spaces available in that parking area, step 76.
[0109] During the time of parking, the enforcer controls the legality of all cars parked in the respective area. The handheld device 13, communicates with system 1 to advise which cars have been parked for more than the reserved time, step 79, and also checks if the owners of the cars with T<highlight><subscript>park</subscript></highlight>>T<highlight><subscript>rez </subscript></highlight>have over-parking protection, step 80. As before, if the vehicle is parked illegally (reserved parking time expired, the owner does not have over-parking protection and he/she did not purchase any additional parking time in step 85), the parking violation procedure is applied to that car, shown in step 86.
[0110] If on the other hand, the reserved parking time did not expire, branch ‘No’ of block 79, or if the user has over-parking protection, branch ‘Yes’ of block 80, or if he/she purchased additional parking time, branch ‘Yes’ of block 85, the enforcer considers the vehicle as legally parked and continues checking other cars.
[0111] When leaving the parking facility, the user enters the time on the HWD, step 81, and the system settles the account in accordance with the time effectively used for parking, step 83. In the meantime, the system updates the records/map to show the parking spot as available, step 84.
[0112] <cross-reference>FIG. 8</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating an example of parking time enforcement procedures for un-metered parking areas (free limited time parking). In this scenario, the enforcer patrols the area and enters the license plate numbers and the time for all parked cars, step 91. This is a very simple operation, in that he/she only has to direct the device 13 towards the license plate of each vehicle and takes a picture of the license plate. After the license plates of all cars were photographed, the enforcer accesses system 1 and uploads the license plate information, as shown at step 92. On enforcer's request, system 1 downloads on device 13 the changes form the last reading in the area under his/her administration, step 93. The system informs the enforcer of any vehicles that are not authorized to park in that area (if for example this is an area administered by system 1, where all users require subscription). If the vehicle is not in the database 3, branch “Yes” of decision block 94, or if it is, but the parking time expired, branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 95, the enforcer applies the parking violation procedure, as shown in step 96. If the vehicle belongs to a subscriber and the parking time has not expired, as shown by branch ‘No’ of decision blocks 94 and 95, the enforcer considers the vehicle as legally parked and continues checking other cars. As shown by block 97, the procedure is repeated after a certain time, calculated according to the free time parking allowance in the respective area.
[0113] <cross-reference>FIG. 9</cross-reference> is a flowchart illustrating an example of how parking violation may be handled. Once a parking violation is detected in any of the above scenarios, the enforcer captures a date and time stamped image of the delinquent car, as shown in step 98. Thereafter, he/she contacts the towing company for removing this car, step 99. If the offender is a subscriber to system 1, branch ‘Yes’ of decision block 100, the enforcer eventually uploads violation information and issues a ticket to the subscriber, as shown in step 101. Then, system 1 notifies the user (e.g. by e-mail, or by regular mail) of the towing and ticket, step 102. If the offender is not a subscriber to system 1, the system interacts with the Department of Motor Vehicle database 22 to extract the users information, step 103. Once the user ID is known, the enforcer issues a ticket as shown in step 104. Next, he/she advises the offender of ticket and towing step 102. It is to be noted that various parking violation procedures can be devised, according to the local parking laws and practice.
[0114] Numerous modifications, variations, and adaptations may be made to the particular embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
EXIMSOFT INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Cohn-Sfetcu, Sorin, Chatterjee, Amalendu, Raha, Dwijadas, Fobert, Joseph
G06Q20/127 : Shopping or accessing servi...
G06Q30/04 : Billing or invoicing , e.g....
G07B15/02 : taking into account a varia...
G07F17/0014 : for vending, access and use...
G07F17/242 : provided with token dispens...
G08G1/14 : indicating individual free ...
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6702
|
__label__wiki
| 0.534717
| 0.534717
|
intelNews.org
Expert news and commentary on intelligence, espionage, spies and spying
About intelNews
About Joseph and Ian
IntelNews FAQ
Make a Media Inquiry
A specialized intelligence website written by experts
← Canada stops sharing intelligence with Five Eyes partners over data breach
S. Korea police says professor was secret handler of N. Korea spies →
Joint British-American operation hacked Israeli drones, documents show
February 1, 2016 by Joseph Fitsanakis 2 Comments
British and American intelligence services worked together to hack Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles in order to acquire information on the Jewish state’s military intentions in the Middle East, according to documents leaked last week. Online publication The Intercept, said the operation was code-named ANARCHIST and was a joint project of Britain’s General Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and America’s National Security Agency (NSA). The publication said it acquired documents about the operation from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who defected to Russia in 2013 and was offered political asylum by Moscow.
In an article published on Thursday, The Intercept said the joint GCHQ-NSA operation was headquartered in a Royal Air Force military facility high on the Troodos Mountains in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The documents provided by Snowden suggest that British and American spies were able to collect footage captured by the Israeli drone for at least two years, namely in 2009 and 2010. It is not clear whether that period included the first three weeks of January 2009, when the Gaza War was fought between Israel and Hamas. During that time, there were persistent rumors that Tel Aviv was seriously considering launching air strikes against Iran.
According to The Intercept, the main goal of operation ANARCHIST was to collect information about Israeli “military operations in Gaza” and watch “for a potential strike against Iran”. Additionally, the UK-US spy program “kept tabs on the drone technology Israel exports around the world”, said the article. According to one GCHQ document cited by The Intercept, the access to Israeli drone data gained through ANARCHIST was “indispensable for maintaining an understanding of Israeli military training and operations”.
Speaking on Israel’s Army Radio on Friday, Israel’s Minister for National Infrastructure, Energy and Water, Yuval Steinitz, said he was not surprised by the revelations. “We know that the Americans are spying on the whole world, including their friends”, said Steinitz. But it was “disappointing”, he said, given that Israel had “not spied” on the US “for decades”. Israeli intelligence agencies had “not collected intelligence or attempted to crack the encryption of the United States”, said the Minister, implying that recent revelations of US spying on Israel may cause a change of strategy in Israeli intelligence policy.
► Author: Joseph Fitsanakis | Date: 01 February 2016 | Permalink
Filed under A specialized intelligence website written by experts Tagged with Cyprus, Edward Snowden, GCHQ, Israel, News, NSA, Operation ANARCHIST, SIGINT, surveillance drones, UK, United States, Yuval Steinitz
2 Responses to Joint British-American operation hacked Israeli drones, documents show
TFH says:
Good for them, hope China does the same on N-Korea for us.
Pingback: Joint British-American operation hacked Israeli drones, documents show | intelNews.org | anticorruptionnzblog
We welcome informed comments and corrections. Send us yours using the form below. Cancel reply
GET INTELNEWS HEADLINES VIA EMAIL
Enter your email to follow this blog.
SEARCH INTELNEWS.ORG
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6705
|
__label__wiki
| 0.783582
| 0.783582
|
Into the Popvoid
Uncharted territory: the smash hits that never were
The ITP Disco
Trending Topics: Pop music•Female Solo•British Pop•1980s•Groups
Kelly Clarkson – Catch My Breath
Niall McMurray March 2, 2015 Leave a Comment
There’s a slightly strange phenomenon in pop that I like to call Crap Single From a Greatest Hits Syndrome and it is surprisingly common. Many such collections are marred by the inclusion of a new track or two, and frequently they are not much cop. Classic examples of this include DJ Culture by Pet Shop Boys, Rescue Me by Madonna and I Think We’re Alone Now by Girls Aloud.
Why does this happen? Several reasons. Sometimes it’s a case of the record company asking if the artist has anything lying around that they wouldn’t mind chucking out because it’s Q4 and a hits collection would be nice. Sometimes they’re a bit tired out creatively, and when you think about it’s probably quite hard to record a hit single to order when you’re used to choosing from an album’s worth. And of course sometimes they just couldn’t give a toss.
As a result these songs tend to under-perform a bit, and that’s partially our fault – I think we sometimes resent new tracks on Greatest Hits compilations because technically they haven’t earned their place. Of course if the artist shoves one out without a new track we get pissed off as well (GHV2) so basically what I’m saying is pop stars really can’t win.
We could go on about this for ages, but instead let’s listen to an emphatically non-crap single from a greatest hits: Kelly Clarkson‘s Catch My Breath.
Now, unusually for a Kelly single this is not an anthem of empowerment, which might be one reason why it bombed in the UK. Instead, Kelly took the task quite literally and wrote a song about having a bit of a rest and a think about the past whilst also looking forward to the future. It’s still quite ballsy though, in a “I won’t do what I’m told” sort of way, though of course since My December that’s exactly what she’s done.
It’s oddly affecting for an out and out banger – quite melancholy in a way but chock-full of enough Kelly-isms to satisfy everyone. I’m pleased to report that the Kelly Breakdown™ is present and correct, where she goes all quiet and reflective and then nails a massive note and starts headbanging again. Brilliant.
In a post 1989 world Kelly needs to be better than ever, and I’m pleased to report that on new album Piece by Piece she is just that. One of pop’s finest.
Entered chart: 02/12/2012
Chart peak: 51
Weeks on chart: 2
Who could sing this today and have a hit? Ain’t nobody singing a Kelly song but Kelly, though let’s not forget Leona Lewis had a go at one once, and made a decent fist of it.
Like this article? For the love of all that is good, please tell someone.
Published by Niall McMurray
View all posts by Niall McMurray
2010s, Female Solo, Pop music
2012, banger, Catch My Breath, DJ Culture, GHV2, Girls Aloud, Greatest Hits, Kelly Clarkson, Madonna, My December, Niall McMurray, Pet Shop Boys, Piece by Piece, Pop, Q4, Rescue Me, Taylor Swift
Find a flop here:
Translate Into the Popvoid!
Who’s number one today?
The Lover Speaks - No More "I Love You's"
Modern Talking - You Can Win If You Want
Thunderbugs - It's About Time You Were Mine
Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life
Colors - Never Mind
Erasure - Yahoo!
Prelude - Platinum Blonde
Tears for Fears - Famous Last Words
ABBA - If it Wasn't For the Nights
a-ha - Living a Boy's Adventure Tale
Into the Popvoid on Spotify
We sort of won something
Boy Bands (1)
British Pop (158)
Duos (50)
End of Year Charts (2)
Female Solo (161)
French Pop (6)
German Pop (12)
Girl bands (15)
Male Solo (48)
Music for Spies (7)
Pop music (371)
Scandipop (22)
Scottish Pop (16)
Swedish Pop (14)
Follow on Wordpress
Susanna Hoffs – My Side of the Bed
M.O – Hot
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6707
|
__label__wiki
| 0.689638
| 0.689638
|
Does Lois McMaster Bujold count as a hard science fiction writer?
Miles Vorkosigan
Barrayar
Martin wisse
James niccol
Overmind
Is Lois McMaster Bujold really a hard science-fiction author? Her work doesn't appear, at first glance, to revolve around scientific concepts. But, suggests one blogger, that's just because she's rather more subtle about writing about hard science than some authors.
James Nicoll asked on his blog for people to name women who write hard science fiction, and Martin Wisse suggested the Miles Vorkosigan series:
Bujold writes hard science fiction you don't notice, as it's all hidden in plain view in the background.
This drew objections from some other posters, who were under the impression that the science in Bujold's writing is shunted to the background and not really central to the story. Over on his own blog, Wisse responds:
At first glance it does look like a standard mil-sf series, but the genius of Bujold is that she writes stories that revolve around science, technology and the sociological and cultural impact of these, without you realising she is doing this.
Much hard science fiction suffers from technofetishism, where the characters go around lovingly describing each type of ship taking part in a space battle or go into the finer details of the ammunition they're using in the midst of a firefight. Even when the focus is less militaristic, it can sometimes seem the future is entirely populated by geeks. This is not the case with Bujold: her characters are people comfortable with using futuretech, without particularly noticing it or how it influences their society, but this influence is still there. As a reader it means you yourself have to work harder to notice things too, as they're not pointed out to you.
He goes on to point out one example of a future technology that's central to the stories in Bujold's universe: the uterine replicator, which allows women to avoid suffering the "dangers and side effects of pregnancy." You see this technology introduced to Barrayar, and you witness how it changes society.
So what do you think? Is "technofetishism" a crucial part of hard science fiction writing, or just something it's prone to sometimes? [Wis[s]e Words]
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6708
|
__label__wiki
| 0.880123
| 0.880123
|
New Chuck Not So New After All, Sadly
Filed to: ChuckFiled to: Chuck
chuck bartowski
You don't have to wait until next Monday to see the second season premiere of NBC's spy-computer-brain comedy Chuck; it's already online, so that your long, hard summer of Buy More drought can end earlier than expected. But how do they get out of last season's cliffhanger, where Chuck was marked for death at Casey's hands, thanks to the creation of a new Intersect spy database? Spoilers await.
While it's good to have Chuck back, there's nothing special about "Chuck Versus The First Date." For all the talk about this episode acting as a second pilot episode, there's nothing here that you haven't seen done before — and, for that matter, done more entertainingly — in the show's first season. All of the show's cliches are checked off (Look! There's Big Mike being gruff! And the BuyMore employees getting all Lord Of The Dysfunctional Flies in the back of the store! Here's a hint that Sarah really does love Chuck, but can't tell him! Oh, isn't Casey sweet under that gruff exterior? etc.) , and in such a way as to make it feel lethargic and necessary instead of urgent and exciting. Using the threat of a new Intersect as a McGuffin for both of the show's plots before literally just blowing it up at the end of the episode in order to preserve the status quo, we're left with Chuck bemoaning the fact that his life is going to stay the same old drudgery forever more, with no chance of improvement... hardly the message to send viewers who'll have already spent the last hour feeling a distinct sense of deja vu. It's possible that creator Josh Schwartz just gets flattened by the idea of a sophomore slump; his (and I am not ashamed to admit it) awesome The OC had a lackluster second year, after all, and concerns about the strike-induced false start of the show's first year may have made him feel that he needed to hit the reset button and repeat everything from the show's first year — but neither of those reasons, nor this treading-water opener, are good signs for what's coming up over the next twenty-one episodes. Here's hoping the second episode starts to push things forward again. Chuck Versus The First Date [NBC]
Recent from Graeme McMillan
Goodbye, Mr. (Computer) Chips
Torchwood + Alt History Merlin = Camelot
Fox's Potential Torchwood: Captain Jack Will Not Be "De-Gayed"
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6709
|
__label__cc
| 0.657439
| 0.342561
|
Stylish Cinema
How to copy Mean Girls style in celebration of the movie's 15th anniversary
In honor of Winona Ryder's birthday, we compiled a list of her most iconic movie outfits
15 iconic mall punk looks from "Freaky Friday" on its 15th anniversary
Anna Stern is the sorely underappreciated style icon of The O.C.
An appreciation of the style and spirit of the 1980s ballroom scene depicted in Pose
A love letter to Bertie's epic thrift store style on "Love" Season 3
To celebrate "Spice World's" 20th anniversary, here's how to copy the movie's iconic '90s fashion
"Lady Bird's" costumes will make you ache for early 2000s fashion
Jennifer Lawrence is giving us "Almost Famous" vibes in her '70s ensemble
"I Know What You Did Last Summer" turned 20, so here's how to copy the film's iconic '90s fashion
9 "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" looks we'd still wear (and work our magic in) today
|
cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line6714
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.