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U.S. Army’s Avengers took part in joint exercise with Osa and Kub air defense systems
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M23 rebel leader in Uganda for peace talksPublish Date: Oct 30, 2013
par webmaster le 30 octobre 2013
Congolese M23 rebel leader Bertrand Bisiimwa
newvision
By Vision Reporter
Congolese M23 rebel leader Bertrand Bisiimwa is in Uganda for peace talks between his group and the Congolese government.
The facilitator of the talks, the Ugandan minister for defense Dr. Crispus Kiyonga sent a chopper to pick Bisiimwa from the Ugandan border at Bunagana border contrary to reports the rebel leader had surrendered to Ugandan security, army Spokesperson Paddy Akunda said.
nal leaders last month directed that peace negotiations between the M23 rebels and the Government of Congo should resume as a way of ending fighting in eastern DR Congo.
This was in a declaration made at the end of an emergency meeting called by President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as the chairperson of the regional body, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
The meeting was attended by the four other regional Presidents Joseph Kabila (DR Congo), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania).
Also present were Mary Robinson the UN special envoy to the Great Lakes region and Dlamini Zuma the chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The Presidents directed that the peace negotiations should resume within the three days after their Heads of State summit, and conclude within a maximum period of 14 days.
Tags: Bunagana Democratic Republic of the Congo, democratic republic of congo, KAMPALA TALKS, M23, Uganda
De : Congo Kinshasa
← DIOMI NDONGALA EN RDC COMME INGABIRE AU RWANDA VICTIMES DE L’INTOLERANCE POLITIQUE DE KABILA ET KAGAME / TEMPETE DES TROPIQUES
Canular téléphonique: Un faux François Hollande téléphone à Joseph Kabila, sa bande des mammouths, apparatchiks et barons joséphistes jubilent ! /Freddy Mulongo →
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Category Archives: D&D
The Adventure Continues: The Final Chapter
Posted by darkomenclub on March 23, 2018
For the final time, we follow our heroes; and whether it’s their finest hour or a glorious demise, there is only one way this ends: a battle with the vampire lord will ensue….
As the heroes approach the high looming Castle Ravenloft, they see and hear the dark flutter of crows overhead. They pause, take a moment before entering and consider all that has happened that has lead them here. With Godfrey at the fore, he suggests that there is not time to waste, and he moves the group forward. As he moves deliberately towards the gate, it is already open, but Andromeda almost too excited, pushes through the gate. She goes first followed by Shamesh, Malrick, Bent, Hugo, Lythander, and Godfrey. Our heroes are ready to embark on what may be their greatest triumph, or ultimate demise.
They march, deliberately, to the front door and attempt to enter through the garden, as Lythander moves through the green outdoor conservatory an animated broom, almost in mockery of what he has encountered before, leaps out at him; this time however the rogue is ready, strokes an arrow and splits the old wooden broom in two. Now at the front door, just as they arrive in expected fashion a finely dressed, yet worn and weathered elf, carrying a scimitar, greets them solemnly and professionally, citing that their master is expecting them… beyond creepy but not really surprising. He leads them to a larger room up a set of stairs. There they see a feast on the table in front of them and the heroes hear a familiar voice, “come eat, enjoy some food”; they hear the sultry voice of Strahd. Then the music arises and catches all their attention, the lord vampire appears to be playing the large organ across the room. Shamesh motions to his companions to halt, and he waves his hand across the feast and the room from a far; after pausing a moment he says that the whole thing is an illusion, but the elf minion is evil; that’s all Melrick needed to hear, axes drawn he attacks!
Before anyone can get to the elf, he unleashes a wave of energy and the whole group grabs its’ head in pain, clearly he was doing some psychologically incantation and then he immediately tried to dance to safety. Melrick swings wildly landing one blow and missing with the other, Bent, Hugo, and Andromeda all miss slinging spells at him. Shamesh lands a big blow and Lythander lands an arrow strike. Then the elf unleashed another wave of psychological energy, and the group once again has to steady itself after being caught in the magical blast. Then Melrick lands another blow, Bent finally casts a successful spell, as does Hugo, and Shamesh landing the final blow laying the elf minion low. They search the body and find nothing more useful; the party quickly moves on.
As the heroes move further up to the second level of the castle, the come upon a man scribing something in a small study, and immediately they to take up arms, but Lythander has a steady hand and Shamesh holds off the heroes, who are now on high alert, from unleashing on this elderly man. The man tells the group he is a slave to Strahd, and very much wants to leave. He does have some direction to give them, and sends them back downstairs where they may find Strahd in the castle, in the cathedral.
They enter the cathedral and see a row of windows down a long, fairly narrow, hall lined in windows. At the end they see brass locked openings or doors, with the image of a rising (or setting) sun above the enclosed openings. They move through the long hall into the a larger hall almost like a cavern alter, through the brass doors. Once inside, they see a cloaked figure genuflecting at the altar across the room where sunlight is shining through a worn hole in the roof onto the space where the cloaked figure is kneeling altar, with a mace at his feet. At closer look, the kneeling figure is a dead body and after Bent detects the magical aura in the room and advised that the mace and the silver statue on the altar are magical. They approach the figure and confirm he does not move or animate, he is in fact, simply dead. They pick up the mace to see if it will fit in the statues hands on the altar and it will not fit. Having deemed it’s magical properties Shamesh decides he will wield it for the benefit of the party as they hunt the undead Lord. The group looks around the rest of the altar but finds nothing; as Melrick clumsily looks around he knocks over a candelabra and the noise flutters out a small flock of ravens, and one falls upon the group in a large swoosh… Strahd, has finally emerged.
With the group reeling Strahd immediately strikes at the heart of the heroes, and unleashes a flurry of blows on Andromeda, and then locks a nearby door closing Bent out of the fight. Lythander tries to strike back and misses, moving farther away to the altar to stay at a safe distance. Then Strahd continues to unleash blows on the little druid girl and before she can even react she is knocked unconscious, Godfrey conjures a protective incantation and then magically unlocks the door that Strahd had previously used to hold Bent out of the room. Andromeda groans on the floor, she’s still alive, but critically hurt. Bent moves to quickly re-enter the room now that he heard the door unlock. Hugo unleashes lightening on the undead Lord, and Strahd moves quickly through the crowd, grabbing the lifeless body of Andromeda and begins to suck her blood after biting her on the neck. He seems restored, and rises to smack Shamesh in the face. Shamesh calls down a holy prayer to see his weapon illuminate with power. Strahd moves and lays into Bent who is his next biggest threat, and is able to land a blow and the Tiefling sorcerer erupts in a shield of power, protecting him from more damage. Godfrey moves aggressively toward Strahd looking to bring a final end to his enemy With an unholy blow Godfrey splits Strahd into a cloud of dust that washes over the heroes and filters through the floor. Shamash dives at the dust trying to finish the foe, but only hits the solid clay floor.
Hugo moves quickly to heal Andromeda after Lythander stabilizes her. She was conscience and gathering herself to once again fight. Shamash moves and hugs his friend, with a hug, she seems fully refreshed. As they are healing Andromeda, Bent is melding stone digging a staircase through the ground to chase Strahd, nearly 80 feet they find a hole through the floor and descend to what appears to be a crypt. They see gravestones, nearly 40, and as they look through the writing on the graves, they find nothing of consequence. They chase down the stairs feeling like Strahd is not in one of these graves. As they descend the stairs they don’t find anything anything until they run into a purple velvet curtain, large, ceiling to floor, and they end in a room where there is two coffins, they read the inscriptions on the caskets and they appear to be the resting place for Strahd’s parents. They find nothing else in the coffins other than stately dressed corpses. They move back into the large crypt, the find two rough exits on each end of the crypt. Heading toward one far end lead by Bent, they enter a room with a portcullis covering a door. Bent uses a mage hand to move the portcullis and they find resting place of Sergei, Strahd’s brother. The heroes, now smelling the final battle upon them. They head to the other far side of the Crypt. They find another portcullis, and Melrik steps forward and grunts loudly pushing the large heavy door aside. They enter the room and they find the unearthed dirt and the fresh smell of death, they believe this was where Strahd rests; when they enter the find that there is one casket and the decide before they open the casket to pull out the Sword of Dawn that they have carried with them for many days now. Hugo raises the sword high above his head ready to dive it down into the vampire lord’s chest, while Melrick and Shamesh move to either end of the casket with Bent and his mage hand in the middle. However, as soon as their hands touch the casket, four eruptions from around the casket happen all at once, four undead zombie woman ready to defend their lord emerge and start scratching and clawing at our heros.
The undead woman form a line in front of the casket almost like a dead meat wall in front of the coffin. Bent moves to one side and slings a missile exploding the first female abomination. Then Shamesh and Melrick land consecutive blows on another, making it turn to dust and ash. However the final two fight on, seemingly immune to Andromeda’s noxious puff of smoke, and Lythander is unable to land consecutive bow shots. The unholy essence of the final two in Strahd’s harem starts to take effect as the heroes begin to weaken. Melrick steadies himself to land another blow, and Hugo launches a magical attack destroying the final wretch.
And so, the moment they have fought, and bled for over the past days weeks and months. They all move to open the casket at the same time, assuming the same positions at before, bracing themselves for anything that may happen. Andromeda eagerly looks on and Lythander strings an arrow tight, and once again Hugo raises the big blessed blade above his head. In unison, Melrick, Bent, and Shamesh open the casket and Hugo dives the sword into Strahd’s chest just as he opens his eyes but barely before he can move! In a final surge Strahd reaches out grips Bent pulls him close and tries one final time with a grasp of his wrist, only to see it fail and explosion of ash and magical dust erupts from the casket and an explosion of magical essence and fog all around Barovia is lifted… our heroes have conquered the undead overlord of this other dimensional land!!!!
As the heroes brush away the dust and death of the room and world around them, they all react differently. Shamesh bows his head in prayer, Andromeda sits huddled and begins to cry, Hugo and Lythander search the casket for anything that might mean the vampire lord has survived. Melrick takes in the scene around him and strokes his beard wondering what to do next, while Bent, of all the heroes, is peculiar, touching his own skin, almost as if he absorbed some essence of the dust. As the heroes make their way back through the castle they do not move briskly, but slowly, steadily, wearily. Bent hovers further and further back behind them, Andromeda the closest link between the group and tiefling sorcerer who continued to silently insist on moving slower and slower. As they near the exit of Castle Ravenloft, the heroes wait at the exit peering out to the world without the heavy mist they had been accustomed to; and slowly Bent approaches. In a solemn tone he asks his companions to leave him, while their journey has been together it is time for them to part, he is not ready to leave the castle. Perplexed the group tries to inquire, and Melrick protests, but Andromeda, quietly looks upon the face of the sorcerer and understands… the being whose face they look upon is no longer the same, he is different, and so are they. She looks at her longtime companion Shamesh with a gentle glance and subtle nudge encourages him out the door, the holy dragonkin puts a big arm around his dwarven friend and pulls him with them out the door and Lythander and Hugo never really protested having understood it was time for all of them to move on, and go home. As they exit the castle the rest of the mist raise up and they are once again whisked away before they can comprehend their surroundings.
The fade to black was broken by the heroes, deja vu sets in, in a subtle yet horrifying way; again the heroes find themselves to just be waking up, amidst a dense heavy fog that seems to be falling from above their heads. They look around and realize they are on the end of the embankment where this adventure had began so long ago just outside of town, and Bent is not with them. The fog is descending, and this place, is not familiar at first, but then again all too familiar to where all of this began. Could this really be, are they in the same place where they first found themselves in, in… in Barovia? As they rub their eyes, and gather themselves realizing the nightmare that is now closing in on them, they hear a familiar voice, more sultry than than they remember, and with a tone of darkness that is not familiar, Bent is in their ears and in their heads, “my friends, it’s good to see you are still here…”
A nightmarish end to never ending story, we thank our hero characters from DOGC friends: Mike, Dave, Will, Anthony, Eric, special occasional guest Josh, and of course our beloved DM extraordinaire Bryan. It was a gripping six month adventure and forever will our characters be enthralled to Barovia; we leave it to your imagination what becomes of them…
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The Adventure Continues: The Revenant Hero
This castle is nearly complete and they have yet to find what they are looking for, however, they bravely seek a dragon to sleigh; they should be careful what they wish for…
The heroes continue to ascend through the dilapidated cathedral and tower, as they climb higher, the group finds very little of use. While they are rummaging room by room, Andromeda finds a tomb that is half burned and hacked up. She gives the book to Bent and he thumbs through it carefully, not finding anything of significance… however a page flies out and lands at his feet. He looks at it, with a peculiar glare, and tilts his head. After a few moments he realizes he is reading the last words of Argynvost; citing to the group that he was saying goodbye to his mortality and taking his “true from”, which the heroes took to mean this man must have been becoming the dragon itself, in order to join the fight presumably against Strahd. After reading the slip of parchment, Bent starts to say the name aloud, almost calling to the being, giving the notion to the group that he believes this being is still here; perhaps this is the reason the ghostly dragon has been following them through the building. As they ponder the thoughts, a cloud of dust emanates from the room they are in and a figure sitting on a throne at the far side of the room is revealed, and a loud hissing voice emerges “gooo awaaayyyy”. The party is startled, but Bent begins to ask many questions of the figure that appears to be animated, and not a real person. As he asks more questions, the hand around the hilt of the sword the figure is holding seems to clench tighter, but no other movements are made. The form of a knight is clear and he only says that Strahd cannot be destroyed and they are doomed to stay as Strahd suffers in this reality. They implore the knight to help them repeatedly and the knight stops responding. As the group continues to question the stoic inanimate knight, Andromeda quietly moves closer to the figure and reaches out for his sword, as soon as she does he animates stands up and assumes his fighting position.
The heroes immediately takes an aggressive position, Melrick strikes first trying to disarm the knight, but was unsuccessful. After the dwarf hacked away he seemed to do no damage but undead skeletons seems to manifest all around the party almost as if they were coming from the knight as he was attacked. Bent lashes out sending magical bolts at the nearest skeletons that had animated around them blowing magical holes in the skeletons. Then Shamesh swings wildly trying to fend off the nearby foes accidently landing a glancing blow on the nearby dwarf who was obviously not expecting the incoming sword from his friend. Melrick was not phased, despite the disadvantage he had incurred. He lands several blows on the knight who is finally starting to seem phased by the oncoming assault. However the knight was skilled, despite the source of his animation being unknown, and he laid consecutive strikes into Shamesh, thankfully Andromeda was not far and was able to keep her friend from falling. Melrick, Hugo, and Bent continue to unleash their fury on the surrounding undead, the dwarf focusing on the knight who was now taking blow after blow; this did not stop him from proclaiming that no matter what happened in this fight his demise would only mean a new host tomorrow. As Shamesh took more damage from the surrounding undead and the knight himself, Andromeda was able to move closer to employ more healing on her companion keeping him in the fight. The dragonkin, despite being kept in the fray by his druidic companion, was unable to land any successful blows clearly shaken by the battle as he was taking the majority of the eyre of the undead enemies. Bent unleashed a chain of magical lightning into the nearby enemies, anddespite taking damage he is able to hold his concentration dropping a nearby skeleton. Hugo unleashed more magical energy that drops another undead. Andromeda seeing the opportunity to help her friends with the tide turning, stepped aside and dropped a bolt of lightning from her fingertips electrifying the undead who were conveniently in it’s line of fire with Melrick stepping forward to land the final blows on the knight; as he crumbled he swore vengeance on the paladin that stands before him, but Shamesh was vigilant turning his attention to the nearby skeleton, and finally was able to land a blow and drop another skeleton. Bent continued to concentrate and land more lightening onto the final skeleton and while Andromeda grunted some magical words in angry fashion at her quarterstaff and watched it curl, whither, and gnarl while glowing; she charged into the last skeleton landing the last blow that watched it crumble. Needing a rest the heroes searched the skeletons to see what they could find. There was a magical sword, and an amulet that the party decided to keep and the druid girl took a moment to mediate.
After they gather themselves they search the remainder of the room and Shamesh found another door that appeared to lead further up the tower, and up they went. As they ascended the stairs they received shots from above and Hugo ran toward the door that was protecting the area where the skeleton warriors were firing from and with a wave of thunder slammed them with the door and crumbled them. As they continued to move up the narrow stairwell they were met at a doorway with another skeletal warrior. While being stuck on the stairwell there are skeletal warriors are coming from the walls as they are at a choke point trying to enter the final landing spot at the top of the tower. While they fend off the ghostly skeletal figures they fight their way to the top of the stairs and ascend into the room through the narrow doorway. They pass through the gargoyles that looked like dragons… and the statues spoke to the heroes, saying:
“When the Dragon dream’s its dream within it’s rightful tomb, the light Argynvost will beam and rid the land of gloom”
They enter the room and they see five revenants that animate demanding to know why the living are so intent on disturbing the dead. Bent speaks for his companions and once again proclaims that they are there seeking help in destroying Strahd; no sooner does he utter the words that one of the revenants steps forward and says, “say no more, I am Sir Godfrey, and I will help you destroy Strahd!” As he states his claim the fellow revenants are not pleased and they turn to attack, the heroes seeing their opportunity to fulfill one of the final prophecies, they know they need to save this fallen knight. Andromeda slings a fiery cantrip from across the room as the revenants surround Godfrey. Melrick rushes forth and starts swinging wildly at the nearest revenant. Shamesh finally finds some skill with his sword and lands some blows on the most damaged revenant, while Bent lights up the far corner with a fire blast trying to take down a revenant flanking Godfrey. As the heroes come to the aid of the knight Shamesh conjures more magical power and smites the knight standing in front of him. Bent then continues to unleash his magical power onto the corner revenant knight flanking Godfrey; seeing the opportunity to get into the fray, Andromeda growls angrily and once again her quarterstaff withers and gnarls as it starts to glow as she charges in to lay blows into the revenant that Bent had been trying to bring down. Seeing the cue her companions focus fire down the flanking undead, freeing up Godfrey a bit more. Shamesh moves to the opposite flank to get Godfrey further protection and tries to draw attention off of their new paladin friend, however the effort fails as these ghostly legends are ruthlessly intent on destroying Godfrey. Bent continues to rain witchfire down on the enemies, and after moving between the final two revenants Andromeda sends another fire blast at the enemy being attacked by Godfrey, then opens her palm and blows a noxious magical gas at the undead being watching it whither beneath the puff of sparking green dust. Behind her back the final revenant moves forward and tries to flank her but Hugo draws its attention with a shocking grasp pushing it away to save both himself and Andromeda. Shamesh fails again to do anything of consequence with his blade but is continuing to protect his allies from incoming blows. Melrick, in an antagonized rage of frustration with being in this castle brought the engagement to an end, bringing down the final revenant with a flurry of axes. Godfrey looking grim, but pleased with his new companions and said:
“We go to Castle Ravenloft….”
The end is nye, and one way or another, our heroes are entering the final chapter and versus of this saga; will they live to tell the tale, or become ever part of the story of Barovia, allowing Castle Ravenloft to claim their lives…
The Adventure Continues: The Battle in the Cathedral Tower
Posted by darkomenclub on March 9, 2018
The heroes survived a legendary encounter, and now with a growing sense of purpose they find themselves delving deeper, or higher, into the cathedral in pursuit of the answers they need to defeat Strahd…
The heroes, growing very weary both mentally and physically, searched the bodies on the scene in this cathedral and find nothing on the fallen creatures. The group looks around the decrepit castle and doesn’t see anything distinct. They step past the undead knights on the floor and approach the alter. Look up through the broken top of the building they see a beacon tower; they believe this where they need to go. On each side of the altar there is a spiral staircase, ascending up toward the second level of the church toward the tower. They approach the door and Lythander inspects seeing no traps and discerning the door is open, the heroes enter. There is a balcony and two doors, Lythander checks both doors again and one appears to be compromised so they use the other, which is covered by a curtain. They walk through the curtain and see a marble pedestal with a black cloth covering the top of it. Shamesh walks up to the cloth with no fear and pulls it off… it’s… it’s… it’s Bent’s head!!! … or at least identical to it. Andromeda, seemingly unphased, walks up to it and does what appears to be a medical inspection on the head, and it is in fact a real head, no longer alive or producing blood. She then walks up to Bent and touches his head indicating she is looking for similarities; indeed it does not appear to be an illusion. While this is going on, Hugo walks up to the other curtain in the room and there is nothing behind it; after he walks away from the curtain it closed behind him on it’s own with nobody noticing.
They walk further into the tower and up another set of stairs; Lythander slips ahead and, in an attempt to try to be sneaky, accidentally hits a loose board which makes a loud creak followed by a swarm of giant spiders emerging from all around the room the rogue just entered. Bent, having been unshaken by the recent experience of seeing his own head on a pedestal, steps forward throws a fireball over his companions into the room dense with spiders and turns them into a smoldering fury, leaving only a couple still moving. Shamash rushes past Lythander to take the first attack and dismisses it with little affect. Lythander drops an arrow into one of the overgrown arachnid, a deadly shot indeed, killing it where it stood leaving only a single over sized insect remaining. As the last spider leapt in desperation at her friends, Andromeda slung a fiery cantrip at the giant creature and it exploded into a ball of flame hitting the floor dead and smoldering. Seeing the room was clear the heroes headed across the floor to see what else they can find. They make their way to the other side of the same floor and find another tattered room and look out the windows to see the familiar fog overhanging the surrounding property, they know Strahd, or at least his influence, is here.
As they cross to the far side of the room they head toward the next area of the tower to try and find what other secrets this cathedral has to offer, the party moves to turn a corner and as they do, a magical wall appears amidst the room and separates the party at least momentarily. Hugo, quick to react, separates the stone wall with his own incantation, and the wall is pulled apart to make room for himself, Andromeda, and Shamesh to move through uniting the team again. They turn the corner to the last room, and after they enter three phantoms appear, and they clearly are moving in a quick aggressive manner towards our heroes. Imbued with a magical bow, thanks to Shamesh, Lythander lights up the first shadowy figure, followed by Shamesh himself who lays a magical weapon into the nearest phantom. Bent then conjures a fire bolt and fells another, while Andromeda conjures a friendly companion, a large white polar bear, sending it off to aid her allies while she grunts some healing noises toward her dragonkin friend. Meanwhile Hugo, Lythander, Melrick, and Bent focus fire down the final phantom, and in a wisp of smoke it disappears. With no more foes in the room, they move farther into the tower and encounter another four shadowy phantoms. Melrick tears into the nearest set of shadowy figures, and does damage, though not magical enough to banish it. Shamesh whispers a prayer to his weapon, now imbued with holy magical energy his sword prepares to smite while Andromeda gives Guidance to her conjured bear. Nearby Hugo lights the nearest foe with a Sacred Flame; unable to avoid the incoming burn from the cleric, the phantom is consumed and dismissed. Another fire bolt from Bent, and magical blows from Shamesh to the nearest enemy and the room is cleared for the fey polar bear to charge into action, landing bite and claw attacks at all the nearby enemies. Andromeda heals her dragonkin friend, again, and this time the dwarf too, while the conjured polar bear continues to tear at the abominations. Melrick follows with another blow, dropping another phantom, the magical bow rings true from Lythander and drops a third shadowy figure, and finally Shamesh charges and lands a final aggressive swing on the final evil shadow. The party looks at each other after having cleared yet another room in this haunted tower when Lythander proclaims, “let’s go find that dragon”.
Confidence is growing among our heroes and they have all but called out the shadow dragon looming over the fallen castle; do they know what they have done? Find out next week…
The Adventure Continues: Figments of Imagination
We left our heroes in a perilous position last time, with an animated hut that was now a monstrous creature rumbling the ground as it headed directly for the heroes controlled by a legendary evil hag who they could not bring down; the situation is dire, and would this be the end???
The heroes stand awe struck with the monstrosity that was previously just a wooden hut heading toward them; Bent, desperately makes directly for the cage to free the remaining ravens who release and immediately rush the polymorphed hag forcing her to rush off; at the same time Melrick steadies his dwarven courage rushing the monster, dive bombing his axe into its’ leg. In a large SWOOOOSSHHH he lands face first onto the ground and realizes that the enormous moving hut was just a figment of their imagination. The last two animated scarecrows fall lifelessly on the ground seemingly being sapped of power as the hag has flown off chased by the wareravens; our heroes had survived, yet again. Just a trick? The heroes don’t feel like they have won this battle as much as the hag was likely done toying with them and they were somehow spared.
They now take in the scene around them; they see that the animated house had never moved and was still sitting there where they originally saw it. The party moved into the hut to see what happened to the child that was being rocked in the cradle by the old hag. Lythander approached first, reaching in to try and take the baby out of it’s bed; the flesh of the child turned to a moist smoke as he reach his hands in, it was another figment. It seems all of the hag’s incarnations will not stand now that she is gone, but they had all equally left the heroes perplexed not knowing if anything that they have seen was truly real. Underneath the crib, where there was a green glow emanating from the area that they had seen during the battle. Melrick took his axe to the floor and ripped up the floorboard finding the acorn they were seeking; seems all was not lost here. They find a trunk in the same room and Lythander cannot help himself, as he hastily looks over the box seeing nothing unusual and picks the lock successfully….
BBBBBOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!
He had set off a massive explosion. The whole party, save for Andromeda, took collateral damage while Lythander, and his lightning reflexes, were able to avoid the repercussions of his own handy work. As the smoke cleared four dismembered hands crawled out of the box and jumped onto the closest hero to them. Lythander, caught completely caught off guard, unleashes a point blank arrow at the first hand diving for him which missed completely splintering the the nearby wall; the rogue fell back screaming, tripped over his own feet running toward the nearest door and landed falling into the wall. Shameesh, hacking wildy at the floating hands like swatting flies, split three of them in half. Bent reached out with a calm deathly handshake giving the final hand an electrified grasp. With the creepy tiny abominations now dismissed, they search the rest of the box and find a number of items that might be handy as their journey continues, both magical and mundane.
The heroes searched the remainder of the little village, then went back to the original grave, found nothing new and finally headed up to the mansion. At the mansion they encountered a spirit, a man, ghostly, wispy in shape, with a bluish green hue and a dank smell of death but not one of fear or of anything the party felt they should fear. The spirit man nonetheless threatened the heroes, demanding they stand down, wanting to know why they were all there. Lythander stepped forward and told the ghost that they are enemies of Strahd and seek to destroy him. The spirit tells them that Strahd has put him here and his soul cannot rest until Strahd is destroyed. The ghost tells him the story of what happened to the village, and to him. He says that to save his daughter from Strahd he had to kill her, a tragic sad end to his daughters life. He laments how Strahd sought to claim his daughter as his bride and how he had bit her, taking her blood; killing her was the only thing he could do to save her from damnation. Once she was dead Strahd became enraged, losing control and destroyed the village killing both this man and his brother who had taken the young girl’s life. He said that his daughter reminded Strahd of his first lost love and Strahd felt like they had taken her from him again. The vampire lord cursed this man, the former Burglemeister of the town, to be bound as a ghost to the village for all eternity. After the spirit ghost told his story he shriveled back toward the basement which was sealed by a pile of rocks. Bent steps forward and willed the stone away to clear a path toward the basement, where the party quickly followed to see where the ghost had gone. Unfortunately they didn’t find the spirit, or besides some rotted champagne bottles; however there was a small crate in one corner. They opened it to find a half dozen healing potions, which the heroes knew would be useful at some point; they divided them up and moved on.
They exited the mansion and looked across the fjord that old stone house was built adjacent to and see some lights coming from a small stone collection on the far side. They overlook the water’s surface; it was pitch black, and almost entirely still across its’ expanse. They seem to all be pondering if they wanted to cross; Andromeda stepped forward and put her staff in to gauge the depth of the water and it’s about 4 feet or so. Besides Melricks natural apprehension to be up to his eyes in murky water, the rest of the group decided to brave the fjord and cross to the other side. They approach the area and see a person as the come closer to land; there was a woman who comes from a hiding position to confront the group, she did not seem to have ill intent. She identified herself as a scout and spy for their wareraven friends. She advises that the old crone was Strahd’s wet nurse and he was as near and dear to her as her own child might be; she hated anything that opposes Strahd. The group made camp deciding to stay for the night resting their weary heads. In the morning they offer the scout an opportunity to join them however she declined; she felt this was not her adventure and reminding the group that she was not the hero that they are. As such they headed out and bid their new acquaintance farewell.
On their way to Argonyvast they see the rising sun dry the dew on the grass as the heat warmed the earth; what they didn’t expect was the the sounds of battle rising around them; louder it grew but they did not see anything. Lythander motioned that he would scout ahead to see if he could figure out what was going on. Once there the rouge finds nothing, he returns to tell them he sees no sign of battle; no sooner does he finish speaking when the familiar dense fog they can’t seem to escape anywhere in Barovia settles onto them yet again; all of a sudden they see cavalry heading at them from one side and on the other a regiment of pikemen bracing themselves for impact. As they draw their weapons to defend themselves they are too late the cavalry crashes into them….
Wincing at the impact, the heroes look at each other and notice the mist is gone, there was no battle around them and the whole thing was not real, yet again another figment. The group is beginning to question the reality of everything they see. Gathering their wits as best they can they head the rest of the way toward Castle Argonyvast.
When they finally arrive at the castle they see a giant statue of a dragon, they slow their approach as they hear the thunderous noise from above descending on them and a gargantuan silver dragon flies low over their heads forcing all the heroes to duck instinctively covering themselves in weak hope of surviving any impending attack! Once again the heroes realize it is yet another figment as the dragon turns into a mist as the form of the dragon “crashed” upon them. Growing more annoyed the group is growing tired of these illusions frustrated with the world around them. They approach the front door and knock to enter and the large statue of the dragon nearby turns to open its mouth and blows a 60 foot cone of cold worthless air at the group as they all scatter out of the way, diving to avoid whatever was about to happen. They pick themselves off the ground, dusting off the dirt, realizing nothing at all happened other than them diving on the ground to avoid some funky smelling air being blown from an old dragon statue. They realise the protective nature of that statue has long since been gone, it no longer breathes whatever it had in the past. Once upon a time they may have been incinerated, now they are just dirty from pointlessly diving out of the way; this castle is decrepit or so it would seem.
As the group returns to the door they realize they were told that the dragon they just had the vision of has long since been dead as well and so has probably everything in this castle. Upon second approach the door was open and they enter, skeptically; once inside they see a big open hall and a number of stone busts of what appear to be fallen knights that had protected the once proud castle. The huge hall had a shadow cast across it from overhead as they look up they realize the shadow is again a reminder of the once great dragon that roamed these lands, it’s ghostly form must continually haunt the halls and lands around the castle. They advance farther into the castle and into the next room adjacent to the great hall it appears to be the entrance to a chapel with three kneeling figures farther ahead into the main chapel area on the stairs to the alter. The stained glass windows in the chapel are destroyed as is most of the chapel. To the heroes surprise the figures rise as the group enters chapel area; they were approaching the adventurers, and did not appear to be friendly. Instinctively Shamash stepped forward to intercept the undead beings, not wasting any time to even entertain discussion; he knew whatever must be moving in this castle cannot be good. From behind the paladin, Ben fired on the skeletal warriors but seems to do little damage to them; then Lythander fired a dead shot into the nearest undead knight, shattering a piece of skeletal bone off in an otherwise grotesque fashion. Melrick then engaged, slashing away at the nearest foe he was able to disarm one of the knights. Hugo also fired into the skeletons to try and bring down one of these animated abominations; as they closed ranks Andrameda ran around her friends to find a clear lane of fire to the three enemies and unleashed a lightning bolt from her fingertips igniting all three of the foes, yet still they stood; this was not good!
The undead warriors began to fight back and the heroes could see their skeletal bodies mend and repair as they inflict damage on them; the fear starts to set in that these undead warriors were regenerating. Shamesh, the holy paladin ever steady and unwilling to waiver, won’t be denied as he smites one warrior watching it finally crumble leaving two remaining skeletons. Emboldened now that they have seen one fall, Melrick continues to fight and tear at the enemies and again disarms his nearest foe. With renewed concentration, the little druid girl unleashes another bolt of lightening into the enemies, and this time a skeletal warrior is shattered falling to a pile of dust leaving just one remaining undead warrior. Seeing an opportunity to end this scrum, Merick rushes to land the final blows hacking the foe to pieces. Our heroes look at each other consider where to go next…
With uncertainty at every turn, surrounded by figments of their imagination as well as undead terrors trying to end them, their sanity hangs by a thread, as does their courage and vigor. We leave them in the castle to see if they can survive long enough to find their next clue!
The Adventure Continues: The Old Witch!
Posted by darkomenclub on February 23, 2018
Our heroes were left on the mountain above a cemetery resting before they head down toward the blighted graveyard, do they have enough left to survive?!
The heroes took a short rest atop the hill where we left them then descend to the cemetery below; immediately after they enter hallowed ground, the shrubbery around the dead tree animates and the stick figures they once before encountered emerge. The group rushes the down the slope of the hill and they are quickly engaged by the animated twigs. Bent lights the initial cluster of evil shrubbery ablaze and leaves them incinerated. The remaining animated branches rush the heroes attempting to grapple them to the ground. Bent avoids engagement, Andromeda turns into a snake to attempt to wither away, but is pinned and morphs back nearly the moment she tried to turn; Melrik turns lashes through the twig in front of him. Lythander is able to break free and point blank shoots an arrow through the head of the nearest creature, then turns and fires into the other creature pinning Andromeda. Shamesh fighting bravely against the largest of the evil twigs lands blow after blow into the big creature and then Melrick comes over and lays into it again; finally the paladin lays low the creature with his last swing. Hugo is able to clean the last of the twigs from around himself and Bent.
As the dust settles from the scrum, they realize that the animated twigs are coming from the main dead tree, the party thinks that they should burn the tree down, and Lythander points out that the sap leaking from the tree is blood and they should uproot it in addition to burning it. They entertain the idea of having Andromeda morph again into a large mule or horse to pull it out of the ground, but Bent conjures a cantrip to start magically digging the roots up while the rest of the party are still debating the possibility. He molds the earth to his will and at the end when the tree is finally completely dug out Andromeda lights the uprooted tree on fire with a small flame from her hand; with the tree ablaze the felt assured this tree would not longer be a problem for future travelers. As the tree was uprooted the shining hilt of a sword was revealed. They pull it out of the ground slowly and surely not knowing what to expect. After having unearth it safely they gather the rest of the items they have found thus far, laying them on the ground in middle of the loose circle the heroes now stand in. They see the cloak, the hat, the hilt of sword, and the axe they had pulled from the base of the tree before uprooting it. Bent waves a hand and some arcane words over the items and they all start to glow, it appears they are all imbued with some kind of magic.
As they are dividing the items amongst themselves for safe keeping they hear a scream from a woman running up the mountain and they run to chase after what they heard. Andromada stays behind wondering why they are taking off so quickly… and behind her, suddenly, unexpectedly, she is aggressively grabbed! Feeling the squeeze around her arms, abdomen, and throat! Her eyes grew wide with terror as the realization of what is happening washes over her. She knows before she even sees the abomination; it’s Strahd! He laughs as sees the panic on her face; she squirms to look behind all she can see is her friends too far away to try to save her and below there are skeletal hands reaching up clawing at her pulling her down towards the hole in the earth underneath her. He lowers her into the hole as she flails wildly in panic, unable muster any noise because Strahd had her by the throat. The ground closes in around her and she begins to suffocate; drawing a final bated breath in absolute terror.
Andromeda is back to reality and all her friends are right next to her, there was no screaming woman nor had her friends left her. She has imagined the whole thing… and then she hears a chuckle off in the distance, as does Melrick, Bent, and Lythander; it appears Strahd was in fact nearby but nobody else is aware of the vision she just had, frightened she sits on the ground, and waits for the group to gather themselves and head out.
They head back to winery to tell the warepeople what occurred and return what they have found. Their friends were happy to hear that the heroes found the magic acorn and the source of the evil tree creatures that were attacking their vineyards. They decide to throw the heroes a celebratory feast to commemorate the great victory. While they are feasting Bent takes time to really examine the items they have found. After deliberation he is unable to discern the true source of the arcana within these items; however the sword he can see that there is clearly another piece of it somewhere, but more importantly he realized that the sword can destroy Strahd. He can sense that the sword itself is afraid of Strahd, and more importantly that the Strahd is afraid of it; he realizes that this sword should be wielded by his paladin friend. Meanwhile Melrick spends time inspecting his new axe, and the hilt of the axe is made of vines and leaves, and it appears that it was created to kill plant and tree life. The party, after further discussion realizes that the the skeleton they found at the bottom of the tree was likely somebody that was trying to chop down the tree to get to the sword hilt below. In fact they believe the tree, an unholy entity itself, was probably put on top of the sword to hide it by Strahd.
They are given provisions by their friends at the vineyard to complete the shipment and journey to Irwin at the Inn. Before leaving they express gratitude for the generosity and they have now made allies of the druids. Off they go and on their way they decide to travel near to the tower where they last saw Esmerelda hoping for some inclination of what became of her. They find two dead naked men with claw marks all over. They deduce that the large wolves they keep seeing must be warewolves. They find nothing further, and thus head the rest of the way back toward Valaki. After an uneventful trip back the rest of the way, they return the wine as promised. Irwin looks approvingly upon them and sends his daughter to gather something for his adventuring friends. She returns with something wrapped in cloth, it’s a big old book, dusty, and imbued with an essence they don’t quite understand. Bent takes the book, blows the dust from the book and begins to read from it aloud.
The book is hand bound, old, leather, and brittle. It takes little time to realize that the book itself must have been written by Strahd, in a shorthand that is known to be unique to him (according to Irwin). After reading a few passages from the book, it reads as if it is an autobiography from Strahd telling his story; might this be a diary? The heroes agree that this is indeed his journal. The story tells that he had an unrequited love, a woman named Tatyana, who instead loved his younger brother, Sergei. On the day they were to marry, Strahd made a pact with Death to prevent the loss of his love to another man; completing the pact by killing his own brother and preventing the marriage. Tatyan despaired, now hated Strahd; he chased her to try and explain that he made the pact because of his love for her, but she would not listen. She ran to the top of the castle and flung herself over the walls, to her death. Strahd tried in vane to find her body but never did. He fears she still haunts him, and now his is locked in debt to Death forever. In the journal he admits that the only way to kill him is the blade of the sun that his brother once wielded and the he intends to destroy it; furthermore he explained that a stake through his own heart will not kill him but will only pin him in place until he can remove it. The passages also reveals that he now eternally sleeps under Castle Ravenloft, and the walls of the stairwell that lead to there are sealed. This revelation now has the group pondering the the whole of what they have learned; in a way, this almost humanized the monster.
They know they are still not yet ready to deal with Strahd, they still have more to do as they need to all the help they can find if they are to destroy this undead lord. Off they head to the ruins of Berez, the location of the last seed, to help their druid friends gather the remains of what they have lost from the vineyard. On the way they find the very same lantern that was not lit before, however now it is burning without any plausible explanation; more importantly it appears to be burning without any source of fuel. Sensing no evil they decided it could be useful, and Melrick insisted they were going to use it; proudly carrying it on their journey the dwarf lead the way.
They arrive in Berez and notice that the town is essentially in ruins and rubble left in the aftermath of an attack from Strahd (as they were told previously). The town buildings are crumbling and all of them appear to have previously been the homes of a bustling little township. As they approach the rear of the village they see a large tree stump with a light emanating from it. Lythander sneaks up and sees inside the big tree trunk a decrepit old woman rocking a baby cradle with a glow coming from underneath the crib; it appears the large tree was hollowed out into a home. Nearby there’s a pot containing… warm blood? Adjacent to the pot is a large glowing skull, floating, with two cages hanging off of it that are holding imprisoned ravens. The rogue believe these must be some of their wareraven friends! Lythander is able to sneak inside the tree hut undetected and proceeds to pick the locks on the cages releasing the wareravens; they immediately head toward the old woman to attack her! She turns and starts flailing at the birds; seeing the chaos ensue the rest of the party starts to rush the entrance to assist Lythander. The old hag rushes to the glowing skull fighting off the ravens swirling around her and jumps into the skull that was now upside down. The hag, protected securing herself in the overturned skull was able to fend off the annoying wareravens in time to unleash what was intended to be a fireball into the approaching heroes, but not before Bent was quick to counterspell saving his friends lives. The hag was not able to avoid Lythander’s arrow, she never saw him in the waylay of birds and the arrow struck at her back delivering a devastating wound to the unholy creature. While all this was happening in the hut, the scarecrows around the property began to animate and attack getting to Shamesh first, working their their way toward the whole group. Their claws, magically imbued, cause Melrick to flee in fear down the nearest ally taking more claw swings as he ran. Shamash, fighting at the front, steps forward and breathes flame into the nearby foes including into the hag.
Andromeda seeing the hag hiding in the skull decides to drop an explosion of lightning directly toward her and destroyed two scarecrows that fell in the path of the surge, while also burning up another and finally ending at the skull and the hag herself laying an explosion of electricity on everything it touched. Unfortunately, her companion Hugo was also caught in the path of lightning; and she immediately recognized she had to help him, growling some noises to heal her friend. Hugo grits through the pain, and unleashes a wave of thunder toward the nearest scarecrows. Bent unleashes another fire bolt at another scarecrow, then Lythander drops another arrow into a nearby scarecrow. Again the hag was thwarted by Bent who dispelled the next incantation she attempted. Melrick comes to his senses, finally stopping himself from fleeing and returns to the fight; with a dash he engages the nearest scarecrow to try to help Andromeda. Now free the druid girl can unleash another explosion of lightening into more scarecrows ending at the hag, one more scarecrow is destroyed and the skull is further charred and again Hugo is electrified badly hurt by the Andrameda; she grunts and growls some additional healing incantations toward her cleric friend to keep Hugo in the scrum. Still on his feet thanks despite being electrified twice, Hugo finally successfully creates a thunderous wave of wind to destroy a nearby scarecrow and move out of the path of lightning coming from Andromeda. The hag seeing the situation getting dire turn herself into a swarm of flies, and then the hut they found her in all of a sudden shakes the ground and animates into a massive abomination that rumbles the ground all around it as it walks toward the heroes. In awe everyone stops to turn and look…
This may well be the end, the monstrosity is too much for the heroes at full strength, and certainly too much when they are on their last efforts, next week will we read their doom?
The Adventure Continues: The Hill They Will Not Die On
We left our heroes once again bruised and battled, but doing the greater good. They saved the vineyard but this time, and now they are about to be asked yet again, to help another Barovian; however will this task set them back on track?
Our heroes gather themselves after the fight with the unknown animated stick beings and the head of the vineyard thanks them for warding off these needleblights; because the group demonstrated such prowess he asks them if they would be willing to take on another task. The vineyard needs help finding some seeds that are missing, it seems they have been taken by the creatures they just fought; three special seeds in total. They are larger in size, about the size of a child’s ball and glow green; they believe they are in the area atop a small clove and nearby cemetery; they are the key to the vineyards future growth and prosperity, key to their survival. The heroes discusses briefly and decide to help their new friends and also believe that this may be key to another piece of the gypsy’s riddles if they are recalling it correctly. Off they go making their way to the hill where they believe the evil druids come from in hopes they will find the missing seeds. Before leaving Lythander and Melrick arrive at the vineyard sent by Irwin to help them with the shipment of wine. The group explains to their newly arrived companions what has occurred and where they are going.
On the way Lythander sees a glow coming from off the road in the woods, a sort of green floating orb. The group stops and takes stock of the situation around them. Hugo sends in his owl to see a bit closer and there appears to be nothing in the way that needs to be concerning, so they move in closer. Shamesh heads directly, but cautiously, towards the glow and the green light moves away from the him… then stops. Hugo decides to send his owl in to see if the light moves again, as it approaches, the light does not move but the owl combusts as soon as it approaches the light and it’s incinerated inexplicably; Hugo is furious, and the heroes are in a bit of shock. The heroes not sure what to do decide the light is not worth pursuing; Andrameda contemplates shape shifting to move closer, however Shamesh concerned for her well being, immediately discourages her as he sees she’s considering the notion. They move on towards the hill and eventually arrive without further incident. The trail they are on leads up the hill and forks to encircle the top. They don’t see a tree on the hill (as the riddle from the gypsy suggested they would), which perplexes Bent in particular, as he notes aloud he was thinking this is where one of the particular riddles would lead.
On top of the hill, they see an encirclement of rock formations in an alcove with a statue made of dark burnt wood tree branches formed into the shape of a man clad in armor snarling with fangs at the very center. A wicker man of sorts that Lythander proclaims immediately as “Strahd!”. Not that it was the abomination himself, however it was clearly erected in his likeness. The group then notices as they search the area, a dozen covered graves around the hill, inside below the wicker statue they see what appears to be one seed. They review the riddles again, and believe this may well be gypsy’s riddle related the druid card:
This is a card of power and strength and tells of a weapon of vengeance, a sword of sunlight. An evil tree grows atop a hill of graves, where the ancient dead sleep
They further recite to themselves the advice they had received: “The ravens can help you find it, look for the treasure here”. The group discusses the whole thing and decides that this cemetery is not something to trifle with and they shouldn’t be standing here any longer, decide to light the statue ablaze. Andrameda steps forward muttering a low growl and slings a flame from her palm at the wicker man, and up in flames it goes. As soon as it lights, the graves around the hill erupt with earth covered figures emerging from the graves.
It is scary site to see them so quick to action; Lythander looses an arrow and downs one. Hugo unleashes lightning into another one and starts to damage the oncoming undead creatures. The undead charge in and start tearing and ripping at the heroes; Bent takes damage and tries to recover as he stumbles back. Lythander rolls to avoid but still takes a glancing blow, as he glides away Melrik rushes in and lands multiple blows and takes stock of all the enemies threatening Andromeda. The dwarf crushes one abomination and wounds two others; following that incoming barrage of attacks as the undead are clearly trying to get to little druid girl clearly angry she lit their statue ablaze. Andromeda takes the opportunity to disengage her nearby foes and as she frees herself she heals Shamesh who was wounded throwing himself in front of her. The paladin responds in kind to these evil undead giving them the honor of his blade and delivers holy contrition on his undead enemies as he closes ranks with Melrik. Lythander now freed up having dove away sends another arrow into a nearby foe, sticking right into the shoulder blade of the target, it turns toward him glaring, angry and ready to reciprocate against him. The monsters continue to attack and claw and fight to destroy the party. Shamash and Melrik are being battered, but the dwarf is not dismayed, he tears into another skeletal warrior and rips his axe through it and into another; Lythander still firing but can’t bring any of them down, but remains steadfast. Hugo is unable to dodge the incoming barrage and he falls to the ground unconscious. Andrameda rips through a wreath of vines growing from the ground around her feat, reacting quickly to revive Hugo, and then in a surge of anger she unleashes a massive bolt of lighting into two of the undead, badly charred they both fight on, with Hugo now on his feet, he heals himself further and then unleashes a wave of thunder emanating out from him. The far off creature with a staff closes on Andrameda and wraps her in vines again from the ground around her. Meanwhile Melrick continues to fight back, continuing to flay wildly around him taking another undead soldier down. Bent finally after a whirlwind of spells takes another down, as does Lythander; the undead are starting to fall. Andromeda unleashes another single explosion of lightning from her fingertips; this time into the oncoming undead spell caster. It was clearly controlling these risen dead and it was destroyed where it stood leaving a track of charred ground right through the middle of where it once was; the vines holding Andrameda in place wither and fall to the ground as the necromancer fell. She turns quickly and moves towards Shamesh firing a flame at the last whirling undead maniac near the paladin but misses; however it was enough to distract him so Shamesh can beat it into the ground until it stopped moving. They have seemingly held of the undead.
The engage the only undead that was not destroyed to try to get answers but realize quickly it will be no help and Lythander put his dagger through its head. The heroes gather themselves and walk to the edge of the hill to look over the other side; looking down they see a tree that appears to almost be bleeding, with a half dozen undead mulling around what seems to be a dead creature laying against a shimmering axe that is buried into the base of the tree. They decide they need to gather themselves and rest before engaging what’s there. Shamesh and Lythander stand watch while the group ponders its next move.
Our heroes once again live to tell the tale and may have found the first real piece to this puzzle, but stranded atop a hill in a blighted cemetery their options are low and all they have left is their resolve, until next time…
The Adventure Continues: The Gypsies, Strahd, and the Riddle
Posted by darkomenclub on January 13, 2018
We return to find our heroes in the midst of a melee with a being very much their supperior surrounded by screams of illusionary cultists. The nightmarish scene is complete chao, and Andromeda was the first to gather her wits. In a thunderous wave she pushes back the creature of refuse while Shamesh grabs Melrick, who has passed out from the horrific odor and fear, and begins to drag him backwards through the swampish water on the floor. Bent, taking cue, begins to send magic missiles at the abomination, as does Lythander. Andromeda moves to help Shamesh pull Melrick to safety, thankfully this pile of muddy earth and refuse moved very slowly giving the druid girl a chance to unleash another thunderous wave pushing the abomination yet further back and away from the portcullis doorway.
Lythander and Bent continued to ravage the being from a far unleashing missiles, both mundane and magical, while Shamesh and Andromeda continue to pull Melrick to safety. The monstrosity seemed to not be interested in their unconscious friend any longer as he now moved toward Bent and Lythander, who were clearly now much more than an annoyance each taking pieces out of it with every attack. Shamesh seizing the moment rushes toward the beast diving his weapon into it’s midriff, with a large gasp the monstrosity was clearly hurt, and the gash unleash a noxious gas while the abomination delivered a muddy angry claw in response that threw off the paladin. Andromeda, who was about to cure the dwarf, now had to help Shamesh back on his feat after being on the receiving end of a big muddy claw or the group was done for sure; none of the other heroes could hope to stand up to this creature. Her instincts were right, as she revived her friend and cured his wounds the big muddy beast was back on top of Shamesh throwing him into the nearest wall. Meanwhile Bent and Lythander continued to take chunks off the monster from afar. Seeing that this was not going to work much longer Andromeda threw herself in front of the beast unleashing what was likely a final thunderous wave blowing off the front bits of the base of the creature, and seeing it wobble as Bent and Lythander continued to fire upon it with their last bits of bows and magical energy; it tobble backward into the wall falling into a pile, all three remaining heroes slumped having their energy and resolve all but exhausted.
After defeating the abomination, they quickly exit the house and exit that nightmare. As they move to leave the home, the heavy thick mist that surrounded the house lifts and they see the town around them. It’s now almost as if they are again, in a different place, not being able to see the creepy emptiness of the town or haunted house they just left behind them. Knowing they are clearly in a place they don’t understand. They head toward what appears to be the center of the town where they now find themselves. The s heroes are seeking locals to garner some insight into where they are and see if they can find a place to rest as well as sell their new found wares. They still don’t know where they are but they need to heal their wounds get their bearings. They find a merchant shop, but the unfriendly shopkeep is not interested in most of what they have, save for the sword; which Lythander did not want to part with. They leave the shop and decide they need rest, so they find an inn.
On their way to the inn, they hear a faintly wailing woman as they pass one particular house, but after a brief conversation they decide they can’t solve all the problems in this town in one day, and at this point they don’t even know what day it is and as such Melrick pushes the group on towards the inn. Once there the dwarf immediately heads for some ale while Shamesh and Lythander try to make arrangements for the night. The bartender, who is also the innkeep, is curt at best; he wants two silver pieces per adventurer for the night. They counter with two silver pieces for the group, and savvy inkeep is unyielding, as he counters back with the same two silver pieces per adventurer per night; he will clearly not be negotiated with. Growing short on patience and wanting rest Bent throws two gold on the bar and says how about some food, lodging, and drinks for the night. The innkeep doesn’t crack a smile, takes the money and tells them to have a seat.
Once settled in at the bar, a stranger from the across the bar, fairly stately in stature, asks the group to join him, his name is Ismark. The heroes, wanting a friendly person to speak with and potentially someone to garner any information from, are easily persuaded to go and join him. At this point Andromeda leaves the bar, without anyone noticing not even her friend Shamesh saw her sneak out.
Once sitting with Ismark, the rest of the group find out that this man is the Burgermeister’s son, and the girl referenced in the letter they found is his sister, Irena. After a little more conversation he realizes the group is a bunch of adventurers and he offers them a healthy amount of gold to help his own cause asking them to join his barbarian friend to protect his sister. Irena has a house in town and there is a very unholy being, one who oversees, dominates, commands this land. A vampire that is an overlord of these lands who has taken an unhealthy interest in his sister; the vampire’s name is Strahd. They don’t know why he has taken an interest in Irena, but she is not safe. It seems Strahd himself has not tried to enter her home but his minions keep trying on a nightly basis, though there hasn’t been any attacks on the home the last two nights; Ismark is asking for their help.
After some deliberation they realize they need to do something, as it currently appeals to their good nature to want to help, but it sounds like they are outside of their ability to deal with this problem. That said, they are do gooders at heart and decide they want to help.
While they are talking to Ismark, Andromeda is moving around town and comes across a gypsy selling some pies from her rickety cart. She is peddling something called “dream cakes”. Andromeda detects something poisonous in the cakes, but wants to learn more about this place, and feels like she might be able to garner more info about the land they are in if she can pick through the cake. She begins to approach the cart and suggests she wants to purchase one; out of the shadows to her right appears a very intimidating but well groomed and very well spoken cloaked man. He warns “excuse me young lady… do not buy one of those cakes” in a sultry voice. Eyes wide, Andromeda is taken aback by the stately gentlemen and his presence is thick near her; so much so it almost makes her shrink. As her eyes grew wide, and she could feel the evil surround her, not knowing who she was dealing with she must have instinctively shrunk backwards. The man spoke again, “tell your friends their plan will not work…”; then he turns and in a cloud of smoke that turns into a flock of birds that fly away and the man was gone. Andromeda, trying to figure out what she had just encountered, decides to heed the strangers advice and head back to the inn.
Once back at the inn, Andromeda meets her friends and they are discussing what they can do for the young woman and her brother that has offered to help. They still don’t know where they are, what time of day it is or how they can get back to Daggerdale. They start to conversate about the vampire Strahd which catches Andromeda’s attention. She looks at her dragonborn friend inquisitively, and he explains that the town aristocrat’s son had told them of a vampire in town and he was terrorizing his sister whom they were considering helping. The horrific look on the young girl’s face seemed to indicate she had intimate knowledge of the vampire of which Shamesh had spoken; the paladin realized his friend had seen this frightening being. He asked what had happened and Andromeda acknowledged the conversation with Strahd; she described on a piece of parchment that the vampire lord had told her that what they were trying to do won’t work.
The adventurers made the decision to go to the one house in town that they believe Strahd can’t enter, where Irena is staying and apparently they have been able to keep these monsters out. Once there they set up watches throughout the night and the group mostly rested or meditated. During the night, as the moon reached its peak, they saw a parade of ghosts from the cemetery in town rise up and walk towards the castle where Strahd supposedly resides. Terrified they stay clear of the ghosts outside, but in the morning they immediately go see Ismark to discuss what they have seen. He informs them that the ghosts marching towards the castle happens every night and that the ghosts are the souls that rebelled against Strahd; or so the gypsies have told. Unfortunately those storytellers are gone now, having headed west out of town, but alas, back to the matter at hand.
They find out that they are in the land of Barovia and in the town of Barovia (yes one in the same name); additionally there is a nearby town, Valeekey, where they think the best place to keep Irena safe. If they can get her out of town and beyond the potential reach of Strahd they may well be able to solve at least this one problem for the family. After discussing the potential solution amongst themselves they present the notion to Irena who is apprehensive. She does not want to leave the safe confines of the home but reluctantly agrees to leave if they agree to bury her father in the cemetery in Barovia, the same cemetery where they saw they dead rising earlier. This perplexes the adventurers but they trust her intentions and believe she is truly trying to set the soul of her father to rest. They found out the father died two days before they arrived and they have not been able to bury him, being afraid to go into that cemetary themselves.. They agree to help her, and head toward the church.
On the way to the cemetery they once again hear the loud moans of the woman they now know is called Mad Mary; they still do not have interest nor time to investigate that further, but it is clear that they need to at some point. They arrive at the church before heading to the cemetery and they talk to someone who appears to be the resident priest. Shamesh explains what they are there for, and the priest is amiable, though he has a request of the dragonborn priest, he asks them to help his son who is ill. They ask what the problem is and he doesn’t know, but he would like them to do it while they prepare a new burying spot for Burgermeister.
They head down the stairs into the basement of the church and the paladin detects evil to discover immediately that the son is an undead being, in fact a vampire. As the group descends to the bottom of the stairs the son screams “I can smell your blood!” and begins to rush the heroes. Lythander immediately slips past the party to gain a vantage point so he can deliver a critical blow to sick boy. Shamesh casts a blessing on the party and Melrick curses the unholy being where he stands. The boy’s priest father quickly tries to put himself between the heroes and his son, only to slip and fall. As he falls to the ground Ismark’s barbarian mercenary charges and collides with the vampire. After tearing into him, it seems that the wounds were meaningless to this being. Bent sends flames leaping towards the vampire and sets him ablaze, and the heroes can see him start to take damage. Lythander emerges from his new vantage point and lands some advantageous blow to try and divert the vampires attention toward himself and away from the barbarian. It did not work as he tears into the barbarian more, whose wounds look grievous. Shamesh then lays his blessed weapon into the abomination, and Andromeda then produces flame sending it toward the vampire that lights the undead man ablaze again, this time once and for all, as the priest’s son screams in agony burning and collapsing to the ground..
The priest curses the adventurers for destroying his son, they offer condolences but he will have none of it. He dismisses them from his church, so they leave him in the basement, however they decide to take it upon themselves to finish burying the body of the Burgermeister and bless his final resting place as they had promised Ismark and Irena.
They leave the cemetery and realise the moans of Mad Mary have not stopped since they entered the town and after a brief discussion on what they learned at the inn, she has been wailing for a week and nobody has checked on her. On their way out of town they decide to stop at the house and see if they can help her. The adventurers go to the house and when the knock the wailing gets softer, they call her name and the moaning stops. The barbarian goes around the back of the home and breaks a window to see if he can see inside the house. Lythander sneaks up the stairs to the backdoor with the barbarian and when he arrives at the top of the stairs he sees an old woman crumbled on the floor crying and clutching a deformed baby doll. The woman does not seem to acknowledge them and the rogue immediately runs back to tell the rest of the party; the barbarian instead heads straight into the room and tries to interact with the woman. The rest of the party heads up once Lythander tells them what he saw, with a sigh the rogue follows and the Burgermeister’s kids stay behind. The group spend some time trying to garner the woman’s attention, and she responds only slightly but never really changes her current state. They eventually give up and leave the woman to her misery feeling that at least they tried.
Out of town they head moving west toward the town of Valeeky. On their way, the encounter a gypsy encampment, to which Melrick immediately stopped wanting to speak with them; partly his own excitement, and partly remembering the conversation a day earlier with the Ismark. After a few short conversations with a few gypsy they meet as they head into the camp, they are eventually introduced to Madame Eva; a very old gypsy who tells them she knows them, and asks if they made a mistake chasing those bandits in Daggerdale. Dumbfounded the adventurers are all of a sudden listening intently, she says she knows all of stating each of the heroe’s names. Seeing they are eager to learn more, Madame Eva sees an opportunity to solicit some gold from this group, and they do not disappoint handing over healthy payment to learn more. She says she must read their future, the dwarf excited to see the gypsy magic sits front and center while Andromeda, unimpressed, looks on skeptically while the rest of the heroes listen intently. The old gypsy shuffles a deck of cards and deals five cards, four a circular order and the fifth in the middle. Here is what she saw…
The Rogue: history, knowledge of the ancient will help you better understand your enemy. I see a nest of Ravens there you will find your prize.
The Wizard: Powerful force for good, a holy symbol of great hope. Look for a wizards tower on a lake, let the wizards name and servant guide you to that which you seek.
The Druid: This is a card of power and strength and tells of a weapon of vengeance, a sword of sunlight. An evil tree grows atop a hill of graves, where the ancient dead sleep. The Ravens can help you find it, look for the treasure here.
The Ghost: This card sheds light on one who will help you greatly in the battle against darkness. I see a fallen paladin of a fallen order of knights. He lingers like a ghost in a dead dragon’s lair.
The Artifact: Your enemy is a creature of darkness who’s power is beyond mortality. This card will lead you to him. He lurks in the darkness where the morning light once shown, a sacred place.
What does it all mean? Where will this lead our heroes? The adventure continues next week…
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342 Results filtered by...
Categories > Communities and Social Services
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Birth Registrations 1864-1877, 1908-1917 (delayed registrations 1830-1917)
Civil registration of births in Nova Scotia began in 1864, continued to 1877, then lapsed until 1908, when the province resumed record-keeping. Registrations for 1864-1877 are incomplete. Since 1 October 1908 the records have been maintained without interruption.
Tags vital statistics births demographics names
Crime Statistics - Crime Severity Index
The dataset includes crime statistics at the provincial and police service levels. It is based on police reported incidents of crime reported through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR). Statistics include the crime severity index, violent crime severity index, and non-violent crime severity index overall for provincial and police service levels. The Youth Crime Severity Index is based on the same principles as the overall Crime Severity Index, which reflects the seriousness of offences, but uses the number of youths accused instead of an incident count. Statistics included are: youth crime severity index, youth violent crime severity index and youth non-violent crime severity index for provincial level data only. This data is sourced from Statistics Canada through CANSIM.
Tags crime severity youth crime crime justice crime statistics and 1 more
Marriage Bonds 1763-1864; Marriage Registrations 1864-1942
Civil registration of marriages in Nova Scotia began in 1758, with the introduction of procedures for obtaining a marriage license. The license was optional, surviving records are incomplete, and 'calling the banns' remained the preferred procedure for formalizing the marriage ritual. The parallel custom of posting a Marriage Bond, in addition to taking out a license, also dates from this early period. The bond was an optional adjunct which served to indicate the absence of legal impediments to the intended marriage; an incomplete series of these bonds exists for the years 1763-1864. Mandatory civil registration of marriages began in 1864 and has continued since, although compliance was not universal throughout the province until the early 20th century.
Tags names marriages vital statistics demographics
Death Registrations 1864-1877, 1908-1967; City of Halifax 1890-1908
Civil registration of deaths in Nova Scotia began in 1864, continued to 1877, then lapsed until 1908, when the province resumed record-keeping. Registrations for 1864-1877 are incomplete. There are two registers for the city of Halifax 1890-1908. Since 1 October 1908, the records have been maintained without interruption.
Tags names deaths vital statistics demographics
Public Housing Units - Nova Scotia Seniors
Location of Public Housing Units in Nova Scotia for seniors
Tags seniors location public housing community services
Census, Assessment and Poll Tax Records 1767-1838
The database presented here brings together an assortment of early census, property assessment, and poll tax records, providing a total of 69,807 personal names. None of the census, assessment or poll tax records presented here is complete for the province - even if they claimed to be so at the time. None of the individual returns is complete internally either; people and households were overlooked, and sections of communities were undoubtedly missed.
Tags demographics census names
"Book of Negroes", 1783
The "Book of Negroes" is the single most important document relating to the immigration of African Americans to Nova Scotia following the War of Independence. It provides the names of 3000 black refugees registered on board the vessels in which they sailed from New York to Nova Scotia between 23 April and 30 November 1783.
Tags african nova scotians genealogy nova scotia archives american revolution black history and 2 more
This program provides affordable rental housing to seniors (age 58 and older) with low incomes. Rent is determined by your annual income.
Tags location seniors public housing community services
NS Births and Deaths with Rates and Natural Increase
Number of births and deaths by County, with rates (per 1000), showing the the excess of births over deaths and the natural increase rate
Tags demography deaths births population
Department of Community Services Offices by Location
DCS Office locations including Civic Address, City, Postal Code, Name of Office, Phone #, Fax #, Hours, Website
Tags offices location community services
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Husker Recruiting
Husker History
Tre Bryant
PositionRB RB
Height5/11 5/11
Weight200 200
HometownSt. Louis, MO St. Louis, MO
High schoolChristian Brothers College High Christian Brothers College High
RecruitmentScholarship Scholarship
RecruiterReggie Davis Reggie Davis
Offer date June 3, 2015
Official visit Nov. 7, 2015
Commit date Nov. 8, 2015
St. Louis Christian Brothers running back Tre Bryant — fresh off his official visit for Nebraska's exciting 39-38 win over Michigan State — announced Nov. 8 on Twitter that he'd committed to the Huskers.
Running backs coach Reggie Davis is Bryant's lead recruiter. Bryant said this about his future position coach during a Nov. 9 interview on "The Bottom Line":
"I can see he’s a laid-back coach and he’s real chill, and I like that because I’m a laid-back type of guy, but I can also tell he’s a guy who just wants to get on the field. I can tell he’s really knowledgeable about the game, so I really like that about Coach."
Bryant was the first ever freshman to play varsity at Christian Brothers College High School.
During his career, he helped lead his team to the Missouri state championship game in both his junior and senior seasons, winning a title in 2014. His team was undefeated entering the 2015 title game but suffered their first defeat in that one. His team had won 27 straight games before that loss.
Bryant was named the St. Louis metro-area offensive player of the year in 2015 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was all selected All-USA Missouri first team by USA Today.
Bryant ran for 1,331 yards and caught 18 passes for 287 yards during his senior season. He finished with a combined 33 touchdowns, setting a new school record.
Bryant is a four-star and No. 8 running back in the nation according to 247 Sports. He is rated three stars by Rivals, Scout and ESPN, respectively. On the 247 Sports Composite rating, Bryant is the No. 564 prospect overall this year and the No. 36 running back.
Bryant considers himself to be an all-purpose back. He's been clocked with a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. At 5-foot-10, he has been compared to Ameer Abdullah.
"He's going to be compared with Ameer a lot because of his size," said former Husker Joe Ganz during this video breakdown of Bryant. "His ability to change direction full-speed. The thing that makes great running backs, like Ameer at Nebraska, is they don't have to slow down when they make that cut. You see a lot of that in this kid."
Bryant is the only running back in NU's 2016 class. He'll join four other scholarship backs on the Huskers' roster for 2016.
Bryant has a medical condition known as alopecia areata.
He was a little under the radar during the early months of his recruiting process. But he certainly proved in 2015 that he has the skills to be a quality FBS running back. His recruiting rating doesn’t necessarily reflect that, but he appears capable of joining Nebraska’s battle for playing time at I-back right away. He’s got speed and elusiveness. He’s willing to lower his shoulder and pick up the tough yards inside. NU needs more big-play potential in its backfield. Bryant can bring that threat.
Below is the tweet from when he announced his commitment and video from his Nov. 9 TBL interview:
I am extremely excited and blessed to announce that I have committed to The University of Nebraska!! #GBR pic.twitter.com/k3TtxzSyih
— Tre Bryant (@TreBryant_8) November 9, 2015
Photo: PAUL KOPSKY OF STLHIGHSCHOOLSPORTS.COM
» Tre Bryant commits to the Huskers
» TBL analysis: Tre Bryant
» Tre Bryant among new offers extended in late October
Hudl highlight video
Similar players in Husker history
More in 2016 »
John Raridon • Matt Farniok • Bryan Brokop • Quayshon Alexander • Greg Simmons • JoJo Domann • JD Spielman • Ben Stille • Jack Stoll • Patrick O'Brien •
More from Missouri »
Cameron Brown • Mario Goodrich • Jaevon McQuitty • Boe Wilson • Tre Bryant • Khalil Davis • Carlos Davis • Freedom Akinmoladun • Monte Harrison • Zach Hannon •
Every Husker ever.
These are the players who built Nebraska football.
©2018 BH Media Group
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How many degree applicable units can I take via Open University?
Undergraduate students may take a maximum of 24 semester units that can be applied toward a degree. Graduate students may take a maximum of 9 semester units. Units in excess of the designated maximums will not count toward CSUSM degree requirements. For those students not seeking a degree, there is no preset limit on classes that may be taken in the Open University program.
What if I have been denied admission to the University?
Students who have been disqualified from or denied admission to the University are not eligible for Open University. A student who has been disqualified but wishes to be considered for enrollment as an Open University student must petition to the Office of the Registrar.
What if I want to take upper-division Business Administration courses?
Individuals wanting to enroll in an upper-division business administration course must complete and submit the following forms to the CoBA Advising Offices (Markstein Hall, Suite 126) prior to the start of the semester (these forms are available from the CoBA Advising Offices or at www.csusm.edu/cba).
A Special Permission Form, which is available from the CoBA Advising Offices.
A Business Status Application along with unofficial transcripts/copies of grades.
An Upper-Division Transfer Credit Approval Formalong with a syllabus and unofficial transcripts for any business course that has upper-division prerequisites.
What types of payment methods are accepted?
In person at Craven Hall 3107: cash, check, money order and ATM/Debit Cards
Drop Box: check and money order - no cash
Online or Telephone: MasterCard, American Express, Discover and E-Check
You may pay your fees with a credit card by accessing MyCSUSM or call (866) 486-0459. Payments made via MyCSUSM are received by the University Cashier's no later than the next business day. MyCSUSM assesses each customer a 2.9% convenience fee based on the transaction amount.
Other payment methods?
Only checks/money orders can be dropped in the drop box located in the breezeway outside the University Cashier’s office (CRA 3107). Write your Student ID on your check/MO. The drop box is checked every morning and payments are processed by 9:00 am.
How do I drop my course(s)?
You may drop a course during the ADD/Drop period (refer to registration calendar). Please be aware that if you decide to drop a class and add another class, the fees are NOT transferable. You pay for each class you register for. You will be charged a fee for every class you drop (refer to the Open University drop/refund schedule).
Please reference the University's refund schedule. For additional information visit Refunds.
Refund amounts are calculated in accordance with the Formula for Refunds established in the California Administrative Code, Title 5, sections 41802. The following fees are nonrefundable according to California Administrative Code, Title 5: Late Registration Fee of $25.00; Late Administrative Fee of $15.00.
In the case of extenuating circumstances, in which you feel you may be eligible for a refund outside of the normal refund schedule, you can complete and submit a University Fee Appeal form, which will be reviewed by Student Financial Services. Please follow the submission instructions found on the form.
Students who wish to withdraw from all classes (after the end of the add/drop period) must petition for complete semester withdrawal through Registration and Records located in Cougar Central on the third floor of Craven Hall. If you do not formally withdraw from your class you will receive a "WU" (equivalent to an F in GPA calculation).
What about Independent Study?
Registration for any of these is handled through the academic department.
If I later decide to enroll in a regular degree program, can Open University credit be app
A maximum of 24 units may be applied to a bachelor's degree. The number of Open University course credits applicable toward a master's degree is determined by the appropriate college and academic department. Academic credit earned through any other extension program would also be calculated into these maximums. You cannot earn a degree through Open University. All 24 units through Open University may be applied to the 30-unit residency requirement. Grades earned through this program will affect your grade point average at CSU San Marcos.
If I am a foreign student, can I obtain a visa through Open University?
Immigration regulations prohibit issuing a visa unless students are enrolled in a regular program. Units completed through Open University cannot be counted toward full-time enrollment certification for an F-1 visa. However, if you have a visa and a valid I-20 form, you may take courses through Open University. Please contact Global Education for further information.
Can I use the library?
Open University students are entitled to use the library. To check out books, you will need a student photo ID card, which are issued by Media Services in the Kellog Library, 2nd Floor. To obtain a CSU San Marcos identification card, students must present proof of registration and payment of fees.
How do I obtain access to an online class?
Students who register for online classes will most likely be required to use Cougar Courses. For additional information about logging in to online courses visit the IITS website.
How do I obtain an official CSU San Marcos transcript?
Transcripts are not automatically sent. There is no charge for transcripts. Students who have attended CSUSM may request official transcripts by sending a written request to: Cal State San Marcos, Transcript Request, Office of Registration and Records, San Marcos, CA 92096-0001. Transcripts are not issued until all outstanding accounts or holds with the university are paid or cleared. For more information call 760-750-4814. Please visit the Registration & Records website.
CSUSM Class Schedule
These are the courses available to you via Open University. Courses are available on a space-available-basis.
Non-Credit Schedule
Professional development and personal enrichment classes offered via CSUSM Extended Learning.
Learn more about CSUSM academic programs and policies.
Becoming a Student
Interested in becoming a matriculated CSUSM student? Learn more from our Admissions and Recruitment office.
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Cybershack TV
DS Announcements All Week
Exciting times if you’re a Nintendo DS gamer with the announcement of some very cool titles this week
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Xbox 360 Rumour Gets Hopes Up High
For people who bought the original Xbox 360 and don’t want to shell out more cash for an HDMI capable […]
Make Your Own NES!
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Square Enix and PS3? Not Until Next Year…
If you own a PlayStation 3 and love Square Enix’s Final Fantasy games, you’ll be waiting a while.
Nicole Kidman Has The Urge To Train Her Brain
If you see Nicole Kidman holding a Nintendo DS Lite, it isn’t a joke; Kidman is the new face of […]
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In spite of its boring look, weak controls and uninspired sound, Formula One Championship Edition is still a lot of […]
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Manhunt 2 Might Not Make It Out Alive
The future doesn’t look too promising for the newest Rockstar game with Nintendo & Sony not supporting the release of […]
Another Stab In The Format Wars
Rental chain Blockbuster has made a deciding swing in favour of Blu-ray in the format wars.
Review: Gamepark Holdings GP2X
This portable console changes the way games are made as you and the Internet community are its sole software provider.
Review: Shadowrun
With the rich Shadowrun universe at their disposal, it’s sad to note that FASA Studio’s new Shadowrun game is little […]
Review: Forza Motorsport 2
I could go on and on about Microsoft’s newest racer but simply put, Forza Motorsport 2 is breathtaking.
5 Apps to help make the most of your Valentines Day
CyberShack Christmas Gift Guide: Gadgets Under $1000
CyberShack Christmas Gift Guide: Gadgets Under $100
AI and Machine Learning May Reduce My Power Bill Further
LG’s ThinQ WK7 Review
HTC U12+ Review
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← National Waters, Legal Fictions, and Rivers of Fertilizer
Ebola and our Nation →
Mapping the New Enemy
Maps offer a unique tool to display the relation of power to territories, and the use of a magnified map of Syrian airstrikes performed a useful function in the news conference of Defense Department Spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby. “We hit them [in airstrikes] last night out of a concern that they were getting close to an execution date of some of the plans that we have seen,” said Attorney General Eric Holder–whose tenure at the Department of Justice must have been more consumed by approving surveillance activities than he had expected–on the eve of his resignation from the Obama Administration. Using such a circumlocution was tellingly (if not intentionally) obfuscating, in ways that may acknowledge the prominent role of the Department of Defense in the decision to launch such airstrikes. For the Attorney General–whose tenure at the Department of Justice now seems more consumed by approving surveillance activities than he ever expected–boasted about successfully delivering a round of airstrikes of Tomahawk missiles into Syria.
The map’s finality effectlivly obscured the problematic legal status of launching the airstrikes. Holder omitted that planes fired into Syrian territory on September 23 was not only mapped in the image issued by the Department of Defense, and explained by its spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, against strongholds of the new enemy to the Homeland identified as the “Khorasan Group,” but defined the legitimacy of airstrikes that had expanded the fight against ISIS to a new enemy. “I think it’s absolutely safe to say [the group’s plots have been] disrupted,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey noted, although he kept alive the justification for future strikes by adding that “their aspiration to conduct attacks in Europe and the United States and elsewhere in the region remains an aspiration.”
The Khorasan Group have yet to make themselves known or confirm their very own existence. Rear Admiral Kirby described how the attack had disrupted “imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests” from the very “training camps” and “bomb-making facilities,” destroying a “safe haven” they secured in Syria to develop the very sort of external attacks with which ISIS has not been identified and had even distanced its principal goals. But the existence of “bomb-making facilities,” almost designed to trigger fears in the American public, keying in as they do to a narrative of terrorist attacks against the Homeland, provided a rationale for extending the airstrikes campaign into Syrian territory in order to eliminate the threat that the Khorasan Group posed. The dangers that were posed by the group against whom the attacks had been directed, according to US Central Command, justified expanding the war that intended to “degrade” ISIS to a broader fight to protect national interests. The situation maps Kirby showed also mask both the failure to seek broader Congressional authorization for the strikes and the potentially disastrous long-term consequences of continuing such attacks and targeting sites that involved untold civilian casualties. Although the map did their best to isolate the targets for these strikes, they illustrated both the pronounced geographic and cultural remove of Department of Defense decision-making, as well as the costs of staging these attacks from aircraft carriers in the Red Sea or Persian Gulf.
Mapping the airstrikes served several functions, ranging from putting the unknown Khorasan Group on the map to lending legitimacy to incursions into Syrian airspace, without Congressional approval or UN support. Indeed, the flatly declarative map advanced arguments about the just nature of the war against the “Khorasan Group” by American forces, even if few had heard of the Group only days before. With the crude map, the presence of sites of danger suddenly assumed concrete locations and had already been vanquished: eight “Khorasan sites” according to anonymous sources, were hit by Tomahawk Cruise Missiles launched from ships or submarines in the nearby Red Sea and F-22 Raptor stealth aircraft and Predator or Reaper drones, as if those same sites of training camps where alleged threats against the Homeland were being planned did not lie in Syrian territory or the attacks against them did not violate Syrian airspace. Rear Admiral Kirby, the Department of Defense spokesperson, bluntly summarized the results of the airstrikes with the satisfied resolve of self-justification: “We certainly believe that we hit what we were aiming at.”
The map before which he spoke at the DoD news conference suggests more targets, but show eight yellow bursts west of the embattled city of Aleppo, where the Khorasan Group is said to be based, close to the border with Turkey. The strikingly cartoonish map signs that designate targets of airstrikes are akin to explosive bursts as if taken from an outdated video game that suddenly seem the centers of attention in an opaque landscape, which is so different from the recent maps we have seen of an expanding Islamic State–the alleged focus of earlier airstrikes across the region. And rather than display the movement of arriving airstrikes, moreover, the explosions ringed with orange suggest an ability to attack across the country.
Such situation maps immediately circulated on the nightly news and online alike, in a remarkable instance of a single map that has been adopted wholesale to explain and describe the airstrikes effectiveness against targets. Attorney General Holder’s odd obfuscations seemed desperate attempts to justify the bombing of select Syrian sites, and broader justifications that claimed the airstrikes were performed “out of concerns that they were getting close to” attacks. This affirms claims that the bombings were needed to stop “imminent” attacks on the “homeland” of the United States, in ways that evoked 9/11–although “imminent attack plotting” was newly qualified in Orwellian Newspeak when intelligence identified plans as “in an advanced stage,” albeit without known targets or actual attacks suspected or needing to be feared. (The discussion of these bombing strikes from planes and ships conspicuously did not include acknowledging possible civilian deaths or casualties–and neither did President Obama’s speech to the nation–as civilian casualties reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights including at least 300.)
The signs designating hit targets, akin to dated video games, but seemed, placed on a map, to affirm the remove at which Pentagon mappers of the scene of battle, as if to designate the complete obliteration of a place without civilian casualties:
What were these targets they took out, and how immanent was their threat? The maps issued by the Department of Defense did the difficult work of parsing a national incursion aimed at cells lying within a country but is not part of it, in what seems a new triumph of the logic of a war on terror that knows no bounds. With “US-only strikes against the Khorasan group” sent into Syrian airspace beside an unspecified number of other international pilots to perform over 200 strikes on a dozen targets, they gave legitimacy to the “Khorasan Group”–evocative less of an insurance firm than an Afghan drug cartel traded on the deep web or Silk Road–as being worthy for attack that did not deviate from a mission ostensibly directed against the expansion of the Islamic State. Indeed, while the territory that the Islamic State controlled have been so often mapped and re-mapped in recent weeks, the Khorasan Group has suddenly emerged, territory-less, just around September 20, three days before the airstrikes, as “the cell in Syria that may be the most intent on hitting the United States or its installations overseas with a terror attack.” The maps elevated targets of alleged imminent danger at the same time as apparently wiping them out.
The map persuaded public viewers that our bombing campaign was indeed justified, against the specter of a careful construction of the danger of an immanent “homeland” attack. The designation of the Khorasan Group was explicit, effective and swift. Martin Dempsey, Joint Chiefs Chairman, described “imminent attack plotting” as if to compensate for the acknowledgement that, for all its horrors, ISIS did not in itself pose a threat to the United States; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff William Mayville, a public face for the army, described “The Khorasan group [as] in the final stages of plans to carry out attacks against Western targets and potentially against the US homeland,” although he was loathe to say the effects of strikes definitively degraded or deterred imminent threats to the “West and the homeland.” The implicit narrative, of course, was of an attack forestalled, and, this time, the eradication of conspirators poised to attempt to hijack another airplane destined for the United States. The existence of such a super-national entity raised some eyebrows in Syria, as well as in the US-based press; Glenn Greenwald wryly noted how government leaks “after spending weeks promoting ISIS as Worse Than Al Qaeda™, . . . unveiled a never-before-heard-of group that was Worse Than ISIS™.”
The maps issued by the Department of Defense jumped several steps in logic in order to advance this argument, skipping over questions of international law or powers to declare war. “Imminent” is a key word by argued the attacks made without Congressional consultation were justified. They almost represented an interesting illustration of the evolving nature of President Obama’s thoughts on Presidential prerogative. For the situation map legitimized the prerogative to invade a nation’s sovereign boundaries without Congressional oversight. If Senator Obama had forcefully argued in 2007 “The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation,” holding “military action most successful when it is authorized and supported by the legislative branch,” decisive weight fell on the formulation “imminent threat.” United States Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes described the Khorasan Group as holding “very clear and concrete ambitions to launch external operations against the United States or Europe” in ways that justified their inclusion in an already loosely justified attacks on the Islamic State–even if the strikes were clearly removed from the areas under IS control in maps as the below, as if in the hope that this detail would not be noticed.
The singling out of this region of attack is a clear expansion from maps of earlier airstrikes that were diffused by Central Command, where bomb-bursts correlated closely with strategic points held by the Islamic State, as if to demonstrate the effectiveness of the response that the United States was asked to contribute in Iraq:
The strikes seem planned with the intent to show the ability of the American air force to strike targets in western Syria, even should Turkey not grant them permission to use a nearby air base, as well as to generate a confidence in the US government’s vigilance against terrorist threats. This alternate configuration of the airstrike map did interesting work by isolating the Khorasan Group as something of a separate entity from other Syrian rebels, worthy of intense attention from American air force. Although the identity of the Khorasan “Group” was much less clear to most Syrians on the ground, including members of the US-backed Syrian Free Army, among whom some eyebrows were quickly raised about the expansion of the attack; Charles Lister quite damningly questioned the proper nouns as a “label created by officials in the US and has no recognition within Jahbat al-Nusra or al Qaeda circles.” Indeed, a US official even set the size of the alleged cell as but a few dozen.
The relation of Khorasan Group to the Al-Nusra Front was important for the US to solidify, given that the last folks we should to attack are those aiming to topple Assad. But the two groups overlap in the eyes of Syrians who watched them at first hand–and speculated as to their danger. Indeed, since the Al-Nusra Front is dedicated to toppling Assad’s bloody dictatorship in Syria, the attack seems to have deemed important as a means to “take out” an international player in Syria–rather than interfere with Syria’s ongoing civil war. In a majestic bit of Orientalist rhetoric, among the “hardened al Qaeda members” killed in the airstrikes was the leader of the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, Abu Yousef al-Turki, “also known as ‘The Turk.”’
The Khorasan Group were identified as the targets of exclusively US airstrikes indeed do seem to have their own black flag–distinct from that of Jabat al Nusra–that jibe with the evocative hadith from which the name of this “Group” seems to derive: “If you see the black banners coming from Khorasan, join that army, even if you have to crawl over ice; no power will be able to stop them. And they will finally reach Baitul Maqdis [Jerusalem], where they will erect their flags.”
We were familiar with the terrifying mobilizing force of the closely similar flag of the Al-Nusra front, although it lacks scimitars as the Khorasan flag:
Although the Group may only number several dozen folks, the possibly organization was itself persuasively mapped to 9/11. The Khorasan Group™ were tied to a bomb-maker in Yemen, responsible for terrorist explosives that have been found on air flights, providing grounds for aims beyond the Syrian and Iraqi fronts–apparent validation of their association with Homeland threats to “U.S. aviation”–as if U.S. aviation has come to constitute a threat worthy of defense or surrogate for globalization. “Khorasan members come from Pakistan,” explained former CIA director Mike Morrell on televisions news programs, and “focus on attacks in the West” and even fixate on the aviation industry itself “as a symbol of the West.” The argument did not go over well in Syria, but played well in the Homeland, where many Khorasan members have been tied to to al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen, AQAP, including al Qaeda’s bomb-builder Ibrahim al-Asiri, of underwear bomber fame and to Musin al-Fadhli, an al-Qaeda insider who knew of plans for the 9/11 attacks, further justifying links to Homeland threats–rather than understanding their actual agendas in Syria.)
The logic of bombs fit closely into the rationale that lent the airstrikes legitimacy. President Obama explained the parallel ongoing strikes against areas occupied by ISIS, not themselves controlled by Assad, but his opponents, as giving Syrians a choice “in side of Syria other than between ISIL and Assad,” but found it justified to initiate the bombing without Congressional authority as Commander in Chief. The naming of a precise region in Syria bequeathed a more concrete logic for bombing by mapping a site that became a safe land for “a mix of hardened jihadi from Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Europe,” according to unnamed US officials, which by this past September 13 was identified as posing a greater danger to the US than ISIS itself–the original target of attacks, undertaken at the alleged request of an Iraqi state in need of defense from internal dangers.
The story led to a rather rehearsed an improvised re-mapping of terror threats–and seems to have followed a search for how one could possible pinpoint a direct threat to the United States in an area of the Middle East where the Islamic State existed, which could be said to pose concrete threats to American well-being and be seen as lying within the broad rubric “national security” rather than military aggression. The “cell in Syria” that was “little-known but well-resourced” could pose a direct threat to the US, the Pentagon explained, possessed “training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communications building and command and control facilities.” Televised graphics suggested the vigilance of F-22 Raptor stealth aircraft overlaying Syria, targeting presumed national enemies:
The apparent widespread newsleaks that led to clear hyping created a new sense of who we were targeting and why, providing a basis for attacks that did not need Congressional approval, or require more evidence aside from “aspirational” terrorism. Reporter Ken Dilanian offered the somewhat more “nuanced” take FBI director James Comey offered that “the U.S. did not have precise intelligence about where or when the cell, known as the Khorasan Group, would attempt to strike a Western target,” but that Syria is “a place where we don’t have complete visibility.” Director Comey offered that the FBI and US government was working with intelligence of “the kind of threat you have to operate under the assumption that it is tomorrow;” in the words of Pentagon spokesperson Kirby, “I don’t think we need to throw up a dossier here to prove that these are bad dudes [italics added].” Comey backtracked a bit from the “imminent danger” that the bad dudes posed, even as the battle drum had begun. “I don’t know exactly what that word means,” Comey added when questioned about the dangers’ identified as “imminent,” Dilanian notes quite amazingly. The group was identified in the media as able to “launch more-coordinated and larger attacks on the West in the style of the 9/11 attacks from 2001,” although by mid-September, or days previous [i.e., earlier] to the strikes, no official pronouncements had yet been made about the Group known as “Khorasan.”
The quite nondescript map of airstrikes unveiled and glossed at the DoD news conference does considerable work to tell a single story about the range of airstrikes US planes made with regional “allies” primarily concerned to communicate the danger Islamicists posed their own states. The map suggested an intensity of concerted actions, as if all of the airstrikes were directed against a common or single enemy, despite their distinctly separate targets of attack:
The eight strikes convey an odd sense of attacking an uninhabited borderland, which is also the very region where many Syrian refugees have passed on the way to crossing Turkish border:
Who are these new folks who our are enemies? For Thomas Joscelyn, whose The Long War Journal has described the extended war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Khorasan consists of members of “core Al Qaeda” dispatched to Syria by Ayman al Zawahiri, and are embedded in the Al-Nusra Front, but the references of “seasoned al Qaeda operatives in Syria,” provides a new nomenclature of evil by which the US can, as CNN put it, “take the fight to the terrorists” hiding in “safe havens” west of Aleppo which, as Samantha Power put it as if to offer a validation for the ongoing attacks, “The Syrian regime has shown that it cannot and will not confront . . . effectively itself.” The US-only airstrikes–in which “coalition members” as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, each eager to address Islamicist threats endangering their own states, were absent–constituted something of the chief area that the US government seems to have wanted Americans to watch. But the low quality of the DoD map–and absence from it of a layover showing the Islamic State’s regional presence, or terrain–evokes a Google Maps base-map and image, designed less for informational value than to illustrate the clustering of American airpower west of Aleppo–outside regions held by the Islamic State.
The ill-defined maps on most new services were strikingly opaque and stripped of local detail, especially for showing such a frequently mapped area of strategic importance to the world. For they elicited minimal interest in the area or region where the airstrikes occurred, almost disembodied from thickly traced lines marking a sense of territoriality which most folks who have been following the news realize are increasingly of questionable value as points of actual reference or political orientation, but are presumably on the rather minimal base-maps afforded by Google Maps.
The concreteness implied by the use of this new proper name for a seemingly small group of individuals evokes a land “of the rising sun,” oddly quite similar to the Levant, but invested with tones of violence by the hadith of classical Islamic teachings that describes an army worth joining “even if you have to crawl over ice.” The pre-Islamic area of Khorasan from the 5th century A.D. till the second half of the 19th century A.D. is no real help–but seems to bring us back to Afghanistan and the AfPak problem of old. Despite much of the skepticism about how a group “suddenly went from anonymity to the ‘imminent threat’ that became the [compelling] rationale for a emergency air war” coming from the right, who mockingly distinguished “core al-Qaeda” from “al-Qaeda in Iraq” or the “Islamic State” that was formerly “al Qaeda in Iraq and al-Sham,” itself unlike “al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb,” charging Obama with a strategy of “miniaturizing” a problem rooted in the reading of Islamic scriptures that drives Sharia suprematism and the deception perpetrated by a misguidedly Islamophilic President, according to former terrorism federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy in the National Review; Glenn Greenwald and Murtaza Hussain offer a parallel critique of how news feeds from Washington have incrementally but steadily perpetuated the myth of a deadly Khorasan splinter aimed at attacking America through hijacked planes, feeding legal justification for bombing Syria to a national press ready to recycle with appropriate graphics for broadcast on Nightly News.
The attacks did not hit the “Khorasan Group” seem rather transparently about a form of “degrading” that had little to do with the organization of the Islamic State. Multiple news graphics on nightly television focussed on targeting of makeshift oil refineries that have financed the Islamic State’s revenues upwards of $3 million/day from oil smuggled out from eleven fields under their control–refineries that our “partners” were eager to help destroy–as if this somehow lessened the danger of collateral damages of airstrikes by legitimizing their targets. Yet despite the preemption of an ability to “degrade” what is now the richest terrorist organization in the world, existing investment in institutions and bureaucracies that uphold and strengthen Sharia law and governance and an efficient financial network will simply not be able to be destroyed through use of airstrikes alone.
Associated Press Interactive
A collapsed map of the extent of “allied” airstrikes over the region tragically reveals, however, the intensity with which the area has continued to be pounded from the skies by manned or unmanned flights already for a series of months, in what can almost be mapped as an extended war of nerves.
The Department of Defence situation maps that described the bombing of the Khorasan Group west of Aleppo served, in reference to a mythic land or region, to embody the enemy in a new way, giving them a redolent name–even if one not actually apparent on the several situation maps so conspicuously displayed, by evoking a group which once constituted a region, or territory, until the late nineteenth century ruled by the “Khorasan” Kings. Although the term that jihadists used to refer to folks from that area in the world–described by the West as “embedded” in the Al-Nusra Front–suggests a recycling of the toponym perhaps helps suggest a site of mythic struggle for US airplanes to attack, as if to deflect the question that we are not attacking Syria’s sovereign lands without Congressional authorization, if only since the Group seemed to arrive from a different territory.
The Khorosan region perhaps gains its very nefariousness since it is not a state, but its statelessness manages to overlap with a region of danger, but itself to possess even more terrifying but less recognizably coherent bounds than the Islamic State–and as if the association of the name with the region of Afghanistan communicated its credibility as a national threat. (The very fact that Jihadists are themselves widely known to refer to anyone who comes from the geographic area as “Khorasan” raises questions about the integrity or identity of an actual fully-fledged “Group.”)
The name inspires terror, indeed, as, while never used to name the interests of a purported Al-Qaeda cel, it is implicitly linked to the threat of redrawing the map of the Mideast in an imaginary optative geography in which the current group of US allies would no longer exist:
Few would be likely to consult early nineteenth-century printed maps to locate the Khorasan Group or follow the rapidly evolving news, but a simple search would have led to a region suspiciously near to Afghanistan, and not a disembodied “Group” that the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper suggested, when he warned on September 13 with administration sources of “veteran al-Qaeda fighters . . . who travelled to Syria to link up with the al-Qaeda affiliate there, the Nusra Front,” going so far as to admonish the public that “in terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State.”
As the thinly informative airstrike maps made their circle on the news circuit, embodying the threat of the Khorasan Group as if it had migrated from Central Asia to west of Aleppo, instead of lying in Syrian “safe-havens,” that constituted a “serious threat to our peace and security” as if they offered grounds that the airstrikes constituted a means “to defend our country.” The striking thin-ness of the map of airstrikes contrast to even the far greater local detail with which Khorasan was embodied as a region in this 1881 map “Khorasan and Neighboring Countries,” whose topography was delineated with lavish local detail by Lieut. Colonel C.E. Stewart: if Stewart attempted to concretely render the region, the danger of the “Group” lies in its ability to move, hidden, under the radar as it accomplishes underground and illegal acts of terror both outside and against the recognized group of nations.
Rather than map the lay of the land or encourage interest in its inhabitants, the maps used in news conferences and that migrated to news shows are dense graphics that limit their content to the view from the Pentagon. It bears remembering that the stories that our current strategic maps tell are far more limited, and seem designed to display far less curiosity about who are the inhabitants of these lands; they go so far as to embody them far less concretely, displaying the overlays of boundary lines between nation-states in thick black lines, as if to create the somewhat outdated illusion that sovereign states of Syria and Iraq still exist in what seems a staging area for war. The maps situate the location of the strikes against the Khorasan Group–which somehow seems improbably hit without civilian casualties–in the far left cluster of explosions sent by American planes based in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, using symbols that recall the medium of an old arcade video game so clearly that one is tempted to take the thin view of history they offer as their message–in a radically flattened view of the complexity of ongoing conflicts between Syrian opposition, ISIS, Iraqi troops, and Islamist movements. What, the message of the graphic seems, else do we need to know?
Where they are located perhaps seems less the point anyway, since they have been “taken out.”
What seems less widely mapped is the extent to which the folks we are attacking are already surrounded, and we sought to display how even an area near the Turkish border–where the United States has an Air Force Base, but from which the Turkish government would not allow United States planes to fly or missiles launched into Syria–but also lying at much remove from what we have mapped as the expanse controlled by the Islamic State as of September 23, 2104. It allowed us to defend American interests at the same time as we continued to “degrade” the Islamic State from military bases that lie to the South, as both “allies” like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan allowed their airspace to be used, at significant cost.
Washington Post, September 23 2014
U.S. Defense Department; Institute for the Study of War; September 23
AP Interactive; October 2
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
The extreme short-term benefits the Department of Defense claimed for the airstrikes –allegedly stopping planned attacks on the United States–may have unplanned consequence of creating deeper ties between the rebels, Islamic State and Al Qaeda, and cast the US as a protector of Assad.
Syrian reactions to airstrikes have not been mapped sufficiently or in detail. But unannounced strikes extending beyond attacks on ISIS both raised suspicions about US priorities and intents and suggested an unwarranted deflection of attacking the Islamic State among groups who long hoped that the very same airstrikes would be launched at Assad’s forces, and not at an organization not known to Syrians, who deemed it a creation of the US government and false screen for giving cover to Assad’s government troops to advance. With houses destroyed, numbers of refugees increasing, and women and children injured in targeted marketplaces in Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, local desperation has grown in direct reaction to foreign interference. Despite claims the US has a comprehensive strategy to defeat the Islamic State, the attacks seem short-sighted in encouraging the very conditions to encourage the spread of extremism, local instability, distrust, and the isolation of local forces, both breeding insecurity and hurting a crumbling infrastructure. The reclusive leader of the Al-Nusra Front, Abu Mohammed Jolani, previously presumed dead, foretold the eruption of a “volcano” against the US and its allies would be the consequence of the attacks, and argued that the airstrikes were leaving Aleppo vulnerable to government forces. “Short-termism” sadly afflicts the strikes whose results extend far beyond the assassination of Al-Nusra frton leader Abu Yousef al-Turki. Meanwhile, ISIS advanced within shooting range of Baghdad.
The spread of protests across the country against US-led airstrikes raise questions about what their long-term strategic value really was, aside from leading many to question whether western help would ever arrive. (Questions about the precise accomplishments of the strikes seem deflected by Pentagon spokesmen.) Protests against the airstrikes are poorly mapped, but seem to have grown from Islamic State strongholds like Raqqa to cities held by the rebel alliance in Idlib province, as Maaret el Numan, or centers of the Free Syrian Army like Talbiseh, near Lebanon, as well as some forty other towns including Homs and Aleppo–some bearing signs such as “The International Alliance Kills Civilians.”
For the strikes indeed confirmed deep suspicions that official US policy is less concerned with ending Assad’s dictatorship, lent credence both by the public statements from Assad’s foreign minister that the Assad regime was “OK” with such airstrikes, which implied a collusion between Americans and the Assad regime; the occurrence of the first airstrikes to enter Syrian territory without any coordination with rebel groups to whom they might have offered strategic value seems to have sidestepped any support from the Syrian Free Army or its allies. For Americans find themselves in the intensely awkward position of relying on the OK of the Assad regime to “downgrade” or attack ISIS in Syria. The strikes seemed to realize fears and distrust about whose interests the United States wants to serve: Rami abdul Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights alleges that the airstrikes illustrate the start of “a phase of targeting civilians under the excuse of targeting the Islamic State.” In a region where the claim “We kiss the hand that holds the trigger against Assad” is common, it is hard to know how bombings undertaken with the Assad regime’s OK would be seen as constructive. The bombings may have provoked a rise in Syrians declaring allegiance to the Islamic State.
Idlib News Network: Syrians examining the ruins of a house allegedly targeted by airstrikes in Kfar Derian, a center for Nusra Front opposition
We might remember that most all maps posted above derived from a map that really was carefully staged as a screen, which obscured far more that it revealed.
Filed under Al Qaeda, human rights, Islamic State, Mapping Terror, Maps and Politics, Syrian Civil War
Tagged as Al Qaeda, DoD Maps, ISIS, Khorosan Group, Nusra Front, Syrian Airstrikes, Syrian Civil War, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
3 responses to “Mapping the New Enemy”
Evelyn Lincoln
Dan–thank you for this. Really informative and smart–I sent it to several people.
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Tag Archives: Dorset AONB
Sharing Heritage: Museum Makers Group celebrates £6,000 Heritage Lottery Fund Grant
Posted on April 19, 2016 by dorsetcountymuseum
The Museum Makers rehearsing for their latest performance ‘The Vikings are Coming!’ at the Dorset County Museum
Dorset County Museum has received a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Sharing Heritage grant, it was announced today. The grant will fund an exciting Museum Makers project which will provide educational and inspirational opportunities for adults with learning disabilities as they engage with the collections at the Museum.
The project will work with local disability groups, carers, specialist artists and performers on a wide range of creative activities inspired by the Museum’s desire to share the stories of Dorset’s heritage with vulnerable adults in the community. Weekly creative sessions will include activities such as acting, music, craft making and shadow puppetry which will result in the group producing and performing a play and a film for friends, family and the wider community to enjoy, all inspired by the Museum’s collections.
The initial focus for the group will be recently acquired archaeology collections including the Viking skeletons discovered on the South Dorset Ridgeway, which the Museum Makers will use to explore the Viking connection with Dorset, performing a play based on their discoveries.
The latter half of the project will see the group explore themes relating to the Museum’s current exhibition of railway posters of the twentieth century, Speed to the West: a Nostalgic Journey. From this they will produce a film on the coming of the railway to Dorchester, connections with Dorset’s literary heritage and the founding of the Museum itself in response to the threat posed by the construction of the new railways to Dorset’s archaeological heritage and natural history.
Commenting on the award, Andy Worth, Museum Makers Volunteer, said “We’re thrilled to have been awarded this grant and we can’t wait to get started on the project. The Museum Makers group will feel a stronger sense of belonging to their community through engaging with Dorset’s past, and at the same time they will be developing their own self-confidence through learning new skills, performing and film-making. We’re also delighted by the support we’ve had from Dorset County Museum, and can’t emphasise enough how crucial this interim grant is to the Museum Makers. ”
Dr Peter Down, Chairman of Dorset County Museum added “This will be a really fantastic project, and staff and volunteers here at the Museum will give our whole hearted support to the Museum Makers in any way that we can.”
Museum Makers
Posted in Archaeology, Art, Dorset County Museum, Events, History, Museum Makers, News, Work Shops | Tagged Ancient Dorset, Andy Worth, Archaeology, Arts, Disability, Dorchester, Dorset, Dorset AONB, Dorset County Museum, Education, Heritage Lottery Fund, Learning, Museum Makers, Natural History, Norse, Peter Down, Skeletons, South Dorset Ridgeway, Speed to the West, Tim Laycock, Viking | Leave a reply
TV Historian Dan Snow visits Dorset County Museum for his latest TV Series
Posted on August 25, 2015 by dorsetcountymuseum
Dan Snow with Dr. Louise Loe – Andy Worth/Dorset County Museum © 2015
On Wednesday the 19th August 2015, TV Historian, Dan Snow came to the Dorset County Museum to film his latest BBC TV series exploring the age of the Vikings.
This programme will feature the discovery of a mass grave of skeletons in 2009 on Ridgeway Hill during the construction of the Weymouth Relief Road in Dorset. Around 50 skeletons, predominantly of young Scandinavian adult males, were found in an old quarry pit. All had been decapitated. Their heads had been placed in a pile located at one edge of the grave.
Dr. Louise Loe, Head of Heritage Burial Services at Oxford Archaeology discussed with Dan the evidence in identifying these individuals, their origins and even their state of health.
The remains of these Ridgeway Vikings and other important archaeology treasures will be on permanent display in the museum’s newly refurbished Ancient Dorset Gallery. The refurbishment of this gallery has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership Scheme, Dorset County Council, West Dorset District Council and Alice Ellen Cooper-Dean Charitable Foundation.
The Ancient Dorset gallery at Dorset County Museum will become the visitor centre for the South Dorset Ridgeway. Ultimately it will link in with information panels to be displayed along the ridgeway itself helping visitors explore this area which is rich in heritage. This landscape is considered by many to be as important as Stonehenge and Avebury for revealing the lives of our ancestors. The ridge of high land, running parallel with the coast between Weymouth and Dorchester has been an important place for people for over five thousand years. It has over 1,000 monuments that record the history of the Ridgeway since that time.
Jon Murden, director of Dorset County Museum said “The archaeology of Dorset is the history of over 400,000 years of human habitation in the county – our collections are nationally significant and cover the entire period from Palaeolithic times to Saxon and Viking Dorset, so it will be especially exciting for the Museum to be featured in this programme which will be screened later this year.”
New Book of a remarkable Viking age mass burial near Weymouth featured in British Museum Viking Exhibition
Archaeology Gallery at Dorset County Museum being redeveloped in spring 2015
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ancient Dorset Gallery, Archaeologists, Archaeology, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Æthelred, Belarus, Bincombe, British Museum, Came Down, Cnut, Dan Snow, Dorchester, Dorset, Dorset AONB, Dorset County Museum, Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, Heritage Lottery Fund, Iceland, Jon Murden, Louise Loe, Norse, Norway, Oxford Archaeology, Pit, Re-enactment, Ridgeway Hill, Saxon, Skeletons, Skulls, South Dorset Ridgeway, South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership Scheme, Viking, Vikings, Wessex | Leave a reply
The Dorset Archaeological Award 2015
The 14th biennial award to celebrate contributions to the present understanding of Dorset’s archaeological past
Dorset Archaeological Committee
The Dorset Archaeological Committee consists of representatives from local government, museums, archaeological societies, the National Farmers Union, the County Landowners and Business Association and other interest groups.
The committee promotes all aspects of archaeological work in the county of Dorset and has established three awards to recognise outstanding contributions to Dorset archaeology.
The Dorset Archaeological Award
The Ian Horsey Memorial Award
Young Archaeologist’s Award
The judges for the 2015 Dorset Archaeological Awards are:
Mr Les Ames MBE
Mr David Carter
Mrs Penny Copland-Griffiths
Dr Jon Murden (Chair)
Mrs Maureen Putnam
Mrs Francesca Radcliffe
Nominations can be made for any project involving the preservation or conservation of the county’s heritage, excavation, publication, surveys, reporting of finds, education or sponsorship.
Nominations can be submitted either by those personally involved in projects or by another individual or group, provided that the permission of the nominee is obtained.
The nomination should consist of a written submission together with a description, maps or diagrams, and a selection of photographs. Wherever possible five images should be submitted to support the application.
Credits should be given for images and permission obtained for their possible publication. Projects will be summarised and may be displayed by the Dorset Archaeological Committee, and may be used in publications subsequently.
An occasional award given, at the judges’ discretion, to an individual for a significant personal contribution to archaeology in Dorset.
The winner will receive a trophy; in previous years this has been an engraved glass bowl.
Written nominations alone are required for the Ian Horsey Memorial Award.
The winner will be presented with a trophy, to be held for two years and a commemorative certificate. Certificates will be given to the runner-up and up to two highly-commended entries.
The 2013 Dorset Archaeological Award was won by St Mary’s church, Puddletown for a major conservation programme involving the relocation of the important monuments in the Athelhampton Chapel. The Ian Horsey Memorial Award was won by Dr Alistair Somerville-Ford, Julian Richards, and Claire Ryley, for the ‘What’s Under Your School?’ project.
Previous winners are:
1988 The Studland Bay Wreck
1990 The Duchy of Cornwall (sponsorship)
1992 Norman Field (Roman Dorset)
1994 David Strange (Worth Matravers)
1996 Jill Phillips (quarr houses in Purbeck)
1998 The Bestwall Quarry Project
2000 John Stark and Crickmay Partnership (Roman Town House)
2002 Bill Putnam (Dorchester Roman aqueduct)
2004 Ed Cumming (Earl of Abergavenny)
2007 Christopher Dalton (bells and belfries of Dorset)
2009 Dan Carter (buildings of the Verwood Pottery industry)
2011 Priest’s House Museum and Garden, Wimborne Minster (‘Dig it!’ community project)
Any young person who is still at school or college can be nominated for this award for an archaeological project, presentation of an archaeological or historic site, or an exceptional examination achievement.
Written nominations alone are required for the Young Archaeologist’s Award, but may be accompanied by images or examples of the person’s work, as appropriate. The winner will receive a certificate.
This year the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership is sponsoring an additional award for a project that focuses on the prehistory of the South Dorset Ridgeway.
This ancient ceremonial landscape stretches parallel to the coast, from Eggardon Hill in the west to the villages of Osmington and Poxwell in the east. The South Dorset Ridgeway has been a place of importance since the Neolithic period (4000-2000 BC) with over 500 ancient monuments recording the history of the Ridgeway at that time.
The winner will receive £25 to be spent on a book related to the South Dorset Ridgeway.
Find out more about the Partnership and the Ridgeway at www.southdorsetridgeway.org.uk
Nominations should be sent by email to c.j.pinder@dorsetcc.gov.uk or by post to: Dorset Archaeological Awards (for the attention of the Hon Secretary, Dorset Archaeological Committee), Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XA by 30th June 2015.
The 2015 awards will be presented by Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn MA, PhD, Hon DLitt, FBA, FSA. The ceremony will be held at The Corn Exchange, Wareham on Friday 16th October 2015 at 6.30pm.
The ceremony is open to all, but attendance is strictly by ticket only because accommodation is limited.
Tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Please apply for tickets to the Hon Secretary, Dorset Archaeological Committee, 20 Frome Terrace, Dorchester DT1 1XJ. Please note that tickets will be circulated shortly before the ceremony.
Posted in Archaeology, Dorset County Museum, Events, News | Tagged Alistair Somerville-Ford, Archaeology, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bestwall Quarry Project, Bill Putman, Christopher Dalton, Claire Pinder, Claire Ryley, Corn Exchange, Crickmay Partnership, Dan Carter, David Carter, David Strange, Dorchester, Dorset, Dorset AONB, Dorset Archaeological Award, Dorset Archaeological Committee, Dorset County Museum, Duchy of Cornwall, Ed Cumming, Francesca Radcliffe, Ian Horsey Memorial Award, Jill Phillips, John Stark, Jon Murden, Julian Richards, Les Ames, Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, Maureen Putnam, Norman Field, Penny Copland-Griffiths, Priest’s House Museum, Roman, South Dorset Ridgeway, South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership, Studland Bay Wreck, Verwood Pottery, Wareham, Wimborne Minster, Young Archaeologist’s Award | Leave a reply
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Diligent Candy
About Amrita Das
Apoorva Mathur
The Horror Within: On watching Life
Audience, Awareness, Customer Review, diversity, Gender, Travel by Diligent Candy February 10, 2019
After watching Life (2017) on Netflix I wondered how the small responsive unassuming alien life form grows, feeds, and transforms into a creature that eventually squeezes the vital parts of the body in order to nurture itself. Much in the vein of Frankenstein (1818) killing its creator/stimulator and thus, warning of the perils of meddling with science, space, and life forms.
As literary students, we were taught to look upon monsters, aliens, ghosts, devils, as unknown beings that were meant to be feared as they disrupted the status quo. Post-colonial literature and its theory reveals how we are conditioned to be afraid of “the other” as it is uncivilized and manic, in comparison, to the refined, evolved, educated, white first world. Thankfully, now we have rudimentary tools (much more work needs to be achieved before we have a sophisticated measure) with which we can unpack these constructs.
The extra terrestrial being in Life named Calvin is intelligent, but wild. It consumes without discernment. It develops at a rapid speed. With the body that looks like a sea creature – a cross between an octopus, jellyfish, and frog fish, it retaliates with the ferocity of an attacked snake. Calvin in the end – supposedly, impacts Earth as well.
What irked me was not the fear factor Calvin invoked (he reminds me of most of my right-wing friends), but the half-baked diversity representation the movie offered. Admittedly, with the first death being of a white “lead” actor I thought that this film might handle things differently, however, that was not the case.
The three characters who die in succession are the black scientist in a wheelchair, the Russian female astronaut, and the Japanese character. Thus, leading to a climactic scene in which we have two white people, heteronormatively a man and a woman, looking protectively towards Earth while reading “Goodnight Moon”. Though romance is never brought up, it should not be a coincidence that they read a children’s story while gazing longingly into each other’s eyes – this is how children life is created. It is a tender moment. Thankfully, they too die in the end, and apparently, so does all of Earth.
The message of Life is that in order for life to be protected we should not toy with lives. I think more than this, for me, it managed to expose that more than the alien who awaits the unsuspecting innocent Vietnamese fishermen, we need to be very worried if we have the perception of our scientific best being such a bunch! Please!
Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com
aliensdiversityheteronormativelifemovienetflix moviepost colonial
Dealing with Darkness, a year later, two years in fact…
Thinking about Beauty
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San Cristobal, Chiapas: It’s Disneyland, But With More Exploitation!
Mexico's San Cristobal de las Casas has hippies, overpriced beers and buildings that spontaneously explode.
25 Ways You Know You’ve Hit Hygiene Rock Bottom as a Traveller
Sometimes I even disgust myself.
There's nothing more beautiful than a well packed bag, and nothing uglier than a bag packed like a dog's breakfast.
10 Tips on How to Do Galapagos on the Cheap
Now that I've finally conquered Galapagos, I can officially say you don't need to incinerate your savings to actually put together a decent trip.
Travel Doesn’t Broaden The Mind, People Do
Done wrong, travel can be can be one of the most closed-minded, narcissistic experiences possible. The world flattens into two dimensions, like those cheesy backgrounds used in driving scenes in old Hollywood flicks. The background moves, but there's no sense of motion. The frame remains focused on you, because you're the only constant. What could possibly be more narcissistic?
Memories of Morocco’s North, In Photos
The fertile thumb of land north of the Atlas Mountains is the heart of Moroccan civilization. This is where Amazigh, Arab and French culture have fermented into a
Memories of Morocco’s Wild South, A Photo Story
The southern desert is probably best described as Morocco's deep end. Sandwiched between the Atlas Mountains and the disputed territory of Western Sahara, Morocco's south is a desolate strip of dusty wasteland peppered with sand-swept towns and villages stubbornly weathering the searing hot winds.
The Ecuadorian village of Oyacachi is a brilliant example of community-managed tourism at its best.
Every country has its quirks, and Ecuador is no exception.
Why You Should Travel to More Shitholes
Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, is a typical shithole.
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EVENTS / OTHER
IMD and ECAL launch partnership
Monday 29.01.2018
IMD & ECAL
Two of the Vaud region’s leading academic institutions join forces to deliver programs on business and design
IMD and ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne, have established a partnership agreement and are currently working together on a series of joint initiatives. The two leading academic institutions recently jointly delivered a three-day program on Foundations of Business at IMD for students undertaking ECAL’s MAS in Design for Luxury and Craftsmanship. The program focused on the major facets of branding and the creation of products and companies. Several other joint initiatives with IMD and ECAL are planned for the current and upcoming semesters. The current line-up of joint programs includes:
Foundations of Business
This three-day program is led by IMD Professors and is destined for students in ECAL’s MAS in Design for Luxury and Craftsmanship. Through practical exercises it focuses on familiarizing students with the creation of products and companies as well as the many facets of branding.
IMD Professors provide personalized coaching, advising ECAL students on business projects the students undertake as part of their diploma and with a view to kick-start their careers.
MBA Innovation Lab
From 23 to 28 April, ECAL students and participants in the IMD MBA program work together on the Debiopharm Inartis Challenge, a competition organized to harness innovation and tackle a societal challenge: to improve the lives of healthcare patients. During the week, the IMD and ECAL students will explore the processes of creating new ideas, insight-gathering, prototyping and pitching.
Orchestrating Winning Performance (OWP)
On the occasion of IMD’s signature program, Orchestrating Winning Performance from 25 to 29 June 2018, several graduates from ECAL will participate in discussions in the design thinking stream led by Cyril Bouquet and will focus on what business can learn from the art world.
Professor Cyril Bouquet leads IMD’s participation in the partnership and focuses on teaching innovation and design thinking notably in the MBA innovation Lab. Professor Stéphane J.G. Girod delivers teaching on the luxury industry and Prof. Professor Peter Vogel shares his expertise in entrepreneurship and start-ups. Other focuses include business model strategy, marketing and sustainability. Nicolas Le Moigne is in charge of the MAS in Design for Luxury and Craftsmanship at ECAL.
According to IMD President Jean-François Manzoni: “IMD is delighted to partner with ECAL. We look forward to sharing our expertise in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship and to contributing to developing up-and-coming leaders in the art and design sector. We also warmly welcome ECAL’s contribution and participation in several of our programs, including the MBA and our signature program OWP. Our region is rich in outstanding academic institutions and our growing interaction with several of them is extremely promising.”
Alexis Georgacopoulos, ECAL’s Director said: “I am glad to collaborate with such a prestigious institution as IMD, thus connecting two worlds, business and design, that are not always taught together at the academic level. “
IMD is a top-ranked business school, expert in developing leaders, transforming organizations and creating positive, sustainable impact – immediate and long-term. We strive to ensure this impact is felt by the individual, the team and the entire organization. IMD is based in Lausanne, Switzerland and Singapore.
www.imd.org
Enjoying international renown and featuring regularly among the world’s top ten universities of art and design, ECAL is directed by Alexis Georgacopoulos. The school currently offers six Bachelor programmes (Fine Arts, Cinema, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Media & Interaction Design, Photography), five Master programmes (Fine Arts, Film, Photography, Product Design, Type Design) and two Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship and in Design Research for Digital Innovation (with EPFL+ECAL Lab). ECAL also offers a one-year Foundation Course to prepare students for entrance to the different Bachelor’s programmes.
www.ecal.ch
Aïcha Besser
Global Media Relations
Tél: +41 21 618 0507
aicha.besser@imd.org
www.imd.org/in-the-media
Selim Atakurt
ECAL Head of Communications
ecal@ecal.ch
ECAL MAS in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship students at IMD, Lausanne. Image ECAL/Calypso Mahieu
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Metais /
Trompa /
Trompa e Piano /
Song for Emma
PrevSonatina para Trompa e Pian...
NextSuspiro d'Alma
Composer: Ricardo Matosinhos
de Ricardo Matosinhos
SKU: ava181766
Song for Emma, was composed for Emma Gregan, an Australian horn player and composer, in gratitude for the piece Rose-Coloured Glasses that she wrote for me.
The piece starts with a mysterious introduction based on large stopped glissandi, an effect seldom used by horn players. Minor 2nd glissandi are very common Major 2nd, minor and major 3rd smooth glissandi are possibile on the horn but they depend on the range. So fingerings are indicated in order to help on the task. The piece gets gradually faster and arrives at a slow section featuring the lyrical character of the horn, which starts with a melody on the low range, that slowly raises up to the high range.
The melody suffers an unexpected twist and becomes a swinged dance on 5/4 followed by a written improvisation for the horn. This section (between letter E and G) can be transformed into a real improvisation that can be repeated according to the will of the performers. Next, there is a written improvisation for the piano, that can also be transformed into a live improvisation. The chosen key looks tricky on fingerings, but, actually if some alternative fingerings are used it will become very idiomatic. For example if some of the g#’s are played as a fifth overtone (B?2), the e?’ on bar 77 played also as 5th overtone (B?2•3), or the d?’’s at letter D played as 9th overtone (B? 2•3). Finally, on bars 137 & 140 a good option is playing the 1st F? with (B?1•2) and the 2nd using (B?2).
Ricardo Matosinhos
About AVA Editions
Rua Nova do Loureiro nº14 | 1200-295 Lisboa
info@editions- ava.com
Copyright © 2019 AVA Editions. All rights reserved.
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Mitotane in the treatment of childhood adrenocortical carcinoma: a potent endocrine disruptor
Philip D Oddie, Benjamin B Albert, Paul L Hofman, Craig Jefferies, Stephen Laughton and Philippa J Carter
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) during childhood is a rare malignant tumor that frequently results in glucocorticoid and/or androgen excess. When there are signs of microscopic or macroscopic residual disease, adjuvant therapy is recommended with mitotane, an adrenolytic and cytotoxic drug. In addition to the anticipated side effect of adrenal insufficiency, mitotane is known to cause gynecomastia and hypothyroidism in adults. It has never been reported to cause precocious puberty. A 4-year-old girl presented with a 6-week history of virilization and elevated androgen levels and 1-year advancement in bone age. Imaging revealed a right adrenal mass, which was subsequently surgically excised. Histology revealed ACC with multiple unfavorable features, including high mitotic index, capsular invasion and atypical mitoses. Adjuvant chemotherapy was started with mitotane, cisplatin, etoposide and doxorubicin. She experienced severe gastrointestinal side effects and symptomatic adrenal insufficiency, which occurred despite physiological-dose corticosteroid replacement. She also developed hypothyroidism that responded to treatment with levothyroxine and peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) with progressive breast development and rapidly advancing bone age. Five months after discontinuing mitotane, her adrenal insufficiency persisted and she developed secondary central precocious puberty (CPP). This case demonstrates the diverse endocrine complications associated with mitotane therapy, which contrast with the presentation of ACC itself. It also provides the first evidence that the known estrogenic effect of mitotane can manifest as PPP.
Adrenocortical carcinoma is an important differential diagnosis for virilization in young children
Mitotane is a chemotherapeutic agent that is used to treat adrenocortical carcinoma and causes adrenal necrosis
Mitotane is an endocrine disruptor. In addition to the intended effect of adrenal insufficiency, it can cause hypothyroidism, with gynecomastia also reported in adults.
Patients taking mitotane require very high doses of hydrocortisone replacement therapy because mitotane interferes with steroid metabolism. This effect persists after mitotane therapy is completed
In our case, mitotane caused peripheral precocious puberty, possibly through its estrogenic effect.
Insulin degludec overdose in an adolescent with type 1 diabetes: proactive management including monitoring using the Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system
Harmony Thompson, Helen Lunt, Cate Fleckney and Steven Soule
An adolescent with type 1 diabetes and a history of self-harm, which included intentional overdoses and insulin omission, presented with an insulin degludec overdose. She had been commenced on the ultra-long-acting insulin, degludec, with the aim of reducing ketoacidosis episodes in response to intermittent refusal to take insulin. Insulin degludec was administered under supervision as an outpatient. Because it was anticipated that she would attempt a degludec overdose at some stage, the attending clinicians implemented a proactive management plan for this (and related) scenarios. This included long-term monitoring of interstitial glucose using the Abbott Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitor. The patient took a witnessed overdose of 242 units of degludec (usual daily dose, 32 units). She was hospitalised an hour later. Inpatient treatment was guided primarily by interstitial glucose results, with capillary and venous glucose tests used as secondary measures to assess the accuracy of interstitial glucose values. Four days of inpatient treatment was required. The patient was managed with high glycaemic loads of food and also intermittent intravenous dextrose. No hypoglycaemia was documented during the admission. In summary, while a degludec overdose may require several days of inpatient management, in situations where proactive management is an option and the dose administered is relatively modest, it may be possible to avoid significant hypoglycaemia. In addition, this case demonstrates that inpatient interstitial glucose monitoring may have a role in managing insulin overdose, especially in situations where the effect of the insulin overdose on glucose levels is likely to be prolonged.
Degludec overdoses have a prolonged effect on blood glucose levels, but if the clinical situation allows for early detection and management, treatment may prove easier than that which is typically needed following overdoses of a similar dose of shorter acting insulins.
Inpatient real-time interstitial monitoring helped guide management, which in this context included the prescription of high dietary carbohydrate intake (patient led) and intravenous 10% dextrose (nurse led).
Use of inpatient interstitial glucose monitoring to guide therapy might be considered ‘off label’ use, thus, both staff and also patients should be aware of the limitations, as well as the benefits, of interstitial monitoring systems.
The Libre flash glucose monitor provided nurses with low cost, easy-to-use interstitial glucose results, but it is nevertheless advisable to check these results against conventional glucose tests, for example, capillary ‘finger-stick’ or venous glucose tests.
Severe diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by hypocapnic seizure
A Majid and B J Wheeler
In clinical practice, seizures independent of hypoglycemia are observed in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) more frequently than expected by chance, suggesting a link. However, seizures during management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) have generally been considered a bad prognostic factor, and usually associated with well-known biochemical or neurological complications. We present the case of a 17-year-old girl with known T1DM managed for severe DKA complicated by hypocapnic seizure. We review the literature on this rare occurrence as well as outline other possible differentials to consider when faced with the alarming combination of DKA and seizure.
Seizures during DKA treatment require immediate management as well as evaluation to determine their underlying cause.
Their etiology is varied, but a lowered seizure threshold, electrolyte disturbances and serious neurological complications of DKA such as cerebral edema must all be considered.
Sudden severe hypocapnia may represent a rare contributor to seizure during the treatment of DKA.
Adrenal insufficiency in a child following unilateral excision of a dual-hormone secreting phaeochromocytoma
Annika Sjoeholm, Cassandra Li, Chaey Leem, Aiden Lee, Maria P Stack, Paul L Hofman and Benjamin J Wheeler
Phaeochromocytomas are a rare clinical entity, with dual hormone-secreting lesions particularly uncommon, seen in <1%. ACTH is the most common hormone co-produced, and is potentially lethal if not diagnosed. We present the case of a previously well 10-year-old boy, who presented acutely with a hypertensive crisis and was found to have a unilateral, non-syndromic phaeochromocytoma. Medical stabilization of his hypertension was challenging, and took 3 weeks to achieve, before proceeding to unilateral adrenalectomy. Post-operatively the child experienced severe fatigue and was subsequently confirmed to have adrenal insufficiency. He improved markedly with hydrocortisone replacement therapy, which is ongoing 6 months post-operatively. In retrospect this likely represents unrecognized, sub-clinical ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome secondary to an ACTH/or precursor dual-hormone secreting phaeochromocytoma. At follow-up, his hypertension had resolved, there was no biochemical evidence of recurrence of the phaeochromocytoma, and genetic analysis was indicative of a sporadic lesion.
Dual hormone secreting phaeochromocytomas with ACTH/or a precursor may cause secondary adrenal insufficiency following surgical removal.
The concurrent features of Cushing's syndrome can be mild and easily overlooked presenting diagnostic and management pitfalls.
As concomitant syndromes of hormone excess are rare in phaeochromocytomas; the diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion.
Serial/diurnal cortisol levels, ACTH measurement +/− low dose dexamethasone suppression (when clinically stable, appropriate adrenergic blockade in place, and well supervised), can all be considered as needed.
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Home Entertainment The BTS Love Yourself Era Takes You On A Journey From Self-Hate...
The BTS Love Yourself Era Takes You On A Journey From Self-Hate To Self-Love
Swarnima Ruria
BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan/ Beyond The Scene), the boy band from South Korea, conquered over the boundaries of language, culture and barriers of nationality by leading the Hallyu Wave.
The group contains 7 members namely; RM (leader), JIN, SUGA, J-HOPE, JIMIN, V and JUNGKOOK.
With the support of their devoted and dedicated super fans called ARMYS, they have achieved many prestigious awards and recognition.
From starting with small fan meets to selling out shows in some of the biggest stadiums around different countries and endorsing many global brands, the band’s name is hardly unfamiliar to people across the world.
But underneath all the glory and enchantment, what really draws me to them is their last album concept.
BTS endorsing LG
THE ALBUMS
The LOVE YOURSELF era which began in September 2017 has officially ended. The album encapsulated the journey of finding a way to love ourselves despite having scars and dark sides.
In order to truly love someone, we must first accept ourselves and find solace in who we are, is something that the album really focused on.
The topic is mainstream, many people have talked about this idea, but the way the band has ingrained the idea in not just their songs but also photo albums, music video (MV) and highlight reels, takes it to another notch.
The story has been explained in 3 different physical albums namely, LOVE YOURSELF: HER, LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR and LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER.
The album is woven together with a gradual and profound story-line, that unfolds the concept revealing the beautiful message throughout the discography.
LOVE YOURSELF SERIES
In my opinion, like every plot, for LOVE YOURSELF series, HER, was the beginning. It described the first part of the story; falling or being in love.
The album takes up a colourful and optimistic look as it describes the feeling of chance events that directs up to meeting a significant one.
With songs like DNA and Serendipity, it condensed the essence of love and the promises we make to our loved ones, promising them forever and happiness.
LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR
The climax of the story is portrayed through the discography and MVs of TEAR. This was the second Korean studio album of the band after their 2014 DARK AND WILD and it was the first album from the group to earn No.1 Album in Billboard 200 chart. The lead single ‘Fake Love’ even came in the Top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 chart, a first for any K-pop group.
The album defines the comprehension of being dishonest and harsh towards our own selves.
It wraps around the feeling of hiding behind a mask in order to hide our true identity because of our apparent faults and insecurities and thus we fail at loving the people in our lives and end up hurting them.
Songs like FAKE LOVE and THE TRUTH UNTOLD draws out such emotions through their intricate lyrics and dance.
Also Read: ED VoxPop: What Indian Conservative Men Should Take Away From BTS?
LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER
The conclusion of the story is wrapped with the third repackage album, ANSWER. With the title track IDOL and songs like EPIPHANY and LOVE MYSELF; ANSWER talks about having the realisation of self-love and worth.
It focuses on the act of courage in facing our true selves and embracing all our faults, scars and insecurities and love ourselves despite everything.
It talks about how in order to love others we first need to accept ourselves and cherish our existence in this world. With a beautiful and deep conclusion, the series ends its message of acceptance and love.
FILMS AND CAMPAIGNS
Through their Highlight Reels, Short Films, elaborate VCR and detailed dance performances, they highlighted the sense of being entangled in chains and shackles of doubt, self-loathing and the confusion we face while in our adolescence.
BTS performing FAKE LOVE, showcasing the essence of “wearing a mask”
They talked about topics that are still rudimentary in many cultures across the globe, like depression, anxiety, societal pressure and more.
Diseases like Munchausen syndrome have been touched upon as seen in this shot from J-HOPE’s MAMA MV, released with their 2016 WINGS album where fans have speculated it to be an aspect of his individual story-line.
A still from MAMA mv
Theory from fans explaining the story-line
Through their videos and songs, they have raised topic of youth agenda. With issues like unemployment, peer and societal pressure, women empowerment etc they have successfully influenced not only their fans but many other people.
Thus, their conscious and self-aware efforts towards society as an artist has made them the global ambassadors of UNICEF’s LOVE MYSELF campaign, which endorses the mantra of:
“Find love in myself, embrace people and society in a larger sense with love”
Together with UNICEF, they believe to empower the youth as they are the base of the future and work towards making their lives better by providing quality health and education and supporting the END VIOLENCE agenda.
BTS for UNICEF campaign
They donated around KR₩ 500,000,000 (US$448,000) to help fund and support youth around the world.
Such views, concept and actions seem more meaningful in today’s times, where we are subjected to criticism and condemnation at a regular basis.
In this age of social media as the basic platform for exposure, we are constantly exposed to judgement and negativity over every tiny detail.
Number of likes and followers determines our worth way before our personality and character. The fake stupor of our social face is cementing day by day, which contributes majorly to the cause of depression and anxiety.
It has now become an enormous race to impress people to such a length where we leave behind our own health and morals. We outwardly encourage people to love themselves but hypocritically we reprimand ourselves and are the harshest towards judging ourselves.
I personally take a lot from their songs and stories that they depict in their albums. Like many people I have come to terms with myself.
I embrace all my scars and instead of doubting myself I have realised my potential and I am no longer scared of rejections and criticism.
It is a long and tiring journey but it is always worth it, finding your beautiful self and knowing to love ourselves is something we all need to practice.
BTS LOVE YOURSELF; ANSWER photo jacket
BTS like many other legendary artists who have raised this agenda, have given their fans a voice to speak for themselves.
They say music is a way to heal our souls, and it is true so, as through their music this band has given hope to their enormous band of followers to have courage and love themselves and not let doubts and low self-esteem come in the way of achieving their dreams.
This is something we all should realise as we all deserve true happiness and love.
Image Credits: Google Images.
Source: UNICEF, Popcrush and Billboard
Find Blogger: @CherryJimin17
Here’s How You Can Experience The BTS ‘Love Yourself’ Concert Movie If You Couldn’t Watch The Film: LivED It
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Impulsive. Psychotic and charming. You would probably wanna kill me because frankly I would do it too. I eat my feelings and spout sarcastic comments. I would probably fight you if you mistake me for a warm blooded damsel in distress. BEWARE. I like to consider myself as a weird alien. Thank you very much.
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Avni February 8, 2019 at 5:20 PM
Wow I like bts a lot
Varsha February 8, 2019 at 8:05 PM
Thanks a lot for I this information.
I love BTS.
Sakshi February 8, 2019 at 8:59 PM
That’s true. I Disco BTS 5 months ago and the journey of starting to love myself has been wonderful. I now embrace everything about myself. Because of BTS
Anu February 8, 2019 at 9:51 PM
So proud to be an ARMY
Proud to be an army
Falak malik February 9, 2019 at 12:05 AM
You should love yourself first!
Ah! This what makes me more proud!!!!!!!!!
It was a really good article!!!
Loved it!.
BTW waiting for the next album!(after their rest)….
army’s keep supporting and loving!!!!
Yourself and bts both!
Stay strong !
I purple you!!!
Swarnima Ruria February 9, 2019 at 6:02 PM
Thank you! Fighting!
vibha February 10, 2019 at 1:29 AM
This article explained everything so well and it really makes me happy to be a part of BTS ARMY. In today’s generation where music is losing all the ethnicity, talking about alcohol, drugs, sex etc BTS are truly a revolution. Increase in the number of suicide rates tell us how harsh society is and we too on ourselves. This message should reach to everyone out there and everyone should accept their mistakes and flaws. We all are humans after all. Love yourself, love myself, peace
Ethics* not ethnicity ♀️
Swarnima Ruria February 11, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Thank you. You have correctly stated that BTS as a band are very revolutionary. They teach us many things.
Aki February 10, 2019 at 6:24 PM
Great concept & love the album and movie !
shivangi sharma March 14, 2019 at 11:59 AM
self-love is the best kind of love.
thank you for sharing your amazing words on this topic.
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Equality is about treating individuals fairly, supported by legislation designed to promote equality and eliminate discrimination and harassment. Diversity is about the recognition and valuing of difference for the benefit of the Council and the individual. Equality and diversity are not interchangeable but are interdependent. There is no equality of opportunity if difference is not recognised and valued.
The Equality Act came into force in October 2010 to protect people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations. It sets out the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone.
It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:
Gender Re-assignment
These are called ‘protected characteristics’.
The Equality Act introduced a new Public Sector Equality Duty that came into force in April 2011. This means that all public bodies have to consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work – in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees.
The general duty has three main aims. It requires public bodies to have ‘due regard’ to:
eliminate discrimination;
advance equality of opportunity; and
foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.
Having ‘due regard’ means consciously thinking about the three aims of the equality duty as part of the process of decision making. This means that consideration of equality issues must influence the decisions reached by the Council such as how it acts as an employer, how it develops, evaluates and reviews policy or how it designs services. Undertaking equality impact assessments is an excellent tool for demonstrating due regard.
The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations came into force in September 2011 designed to help public bodies meet the general duty. The specific duties require public bodies to publish relevant, proportionate information showing compliance with the Equality Duty, and to set equality objectives.
In this section you will find our key policies and action plans showing how we will be working to improve equality and diversity at the Council. Please follow the links below:
Single Equality Scheme 2016-2020
Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs)
Translation & Interpretation Services
If you have any further queries regarding equality and diversity you can contact the Council's HR Team on 01353 665555.
Single Equality Scheme 2016-2020 : 359.68 KB
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Gardens · March 29, 2019
The Dainty Flower of Devon: Primula Vulgaris (the Common Primrose)
Primula Vulgaris, commonly known as the primrose is a tough little perennial, with dainty pale yellow petals, that has become synonymous with the County of Devon. There’s probably nowhere else in Britain where this little plant will grow so prolifically quite literally anywhere in either the sun or shade.
‘The Primrose opens wide in spring;
Her scent is sweet and good:
It smells of every happy thing
In sunny lane and wood…’
(The Primrose Fairy by Mary Cicely Barker – 1895-1973)
History of the Common Primrose (Primula Vulgaris)
Primula Vulgaris as it’s known today is so named due to being one of the first Spring flowers to burst forth after the dreary winter draws to a close. Primula is a diminutive of the Latin word primus meaning first and Vulgaris in this sense means common as in grows everywhere.
The vernacular term, Primrose, is also derived from Latin prima rosa and literally means first rose of the year despite having no link to the Rosaceae (rose) family.
In John Gerard’s (c.1545-1612) illustrated Herball or General Historie of Plantes that was first published in 1597 the primrose was classified as a Primula Veris Minor or Field Primrose.
“5 – The fifth being the common whitish yellow field Primrose, needeth no description”.
It’s interesting that he named it primula veris minor and classified it as a small or lesser cowslip (primula veris). Veris means true in Latin and so perhaps, since both plants are native, closely related and grow in similar conditions, but the primrose is smaller, it sort of makes sense. When not in flower the rosettes are remarkably similar, both have remarkably wrinkled leaved but those of the cowslip are shorter and flatter.
The term Primula Vulgaris as used today was first coined by William Hudson (1730-1793) in the book Flora Anglica Published in 1762.
Primula Vulgaris
The small native perennial is often evergreen throughout the winter except in extremely exposed cold locations where the wrinkled leaves will die back until early spring. It grows anywhere from 4-12 inches tall and flowers between February – May but that is variable depending on region and weather conditions.
Delicately perfumed flowers grow on short individual slender stems and are normally a delicate pale yellow, but can range from almost white to a pale pink. In the wild the plant reproduces mainly through seed but also by clump forming rosettes.
Devon – The Ideal Habitat
The primrose thrives in moist damp clay soils where the top soil never fully dries out during the flowering process. With its temperate but somewhat damper climate than the South-East and warmer than more northern counties Devon is the perfect location for the plant to thrive – and thrive it certainly does.
In other counties the little primrose is happiest in more shaded areas of deciduous woodland, but, in Devon the plant is not shy and is unashamedly out in the open. It can be seen all along the famous Devon banks, along the hedgerows and is prolific in both graveyards and gardens. Some large banks and meadows, with no shade to speak of, literally turn a glorious yellow, sometimes with the odd hint of pink, for a number of weeks during the Spring period.
Yes, there’s absolutely no doubt that the dainty Primrose is The Flower of Devon. In fact, it was voted the county flower in 2002 after a poll conducted by Plantlife, a British conservation charity.
The Perfect Edible Flower
Both the leaves and flowers are edible and make marvellous crystallised decorations for cakes especially over Mothering Sunday or Easter. They can also be added to salads to give that dash of something a little out of the ordinary. An earlier in the year version of the Nasturtium flower but without the peppery heat.
Symbolism of Primroses
Throughout the centuries flowers have long held a place in communication through the language of flowers.This reached its zenith, during the 19th century, as people were able to express their feelings in a way that was not possible within polite society.
The Primrose was a flower for lovers and sent a message that said, ‘I can’t live without you’.
… And finally Primrose Day in Honour of Benjamin Disraeli
‘ I am a flatterer. I have found it useful. Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.’
(Benjamin Disraeli – (allegedly) in a letter to Matthew Arnold, in G W E Russell ‘ Collections and Recollections, ch.23 – 1898)
Yes – believe it or not this diminutive little plant has even got a day just to itself on the 19th April which is known as Primrose Day. In reality, Primrose Day is a Memorial Day for the Statesman Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) who was Prime Minister in 1868 and again from 1874-80 and died on 19th April 1881.
He was a firm favourite of Queen Victoria’s (flattery obviously works!), both were highly patriotic and imperialistic, and she was instrumental in creating Primrose Day in his honour.
It’s said that Queen Victoria sent a wreath of yellow primroses with a note referring to them being ‘his favourite flowers’. There has been some confusion as to whether the Queen was referring to Disraeli or in fact her late husband, Albert.
Nevertheless, for many years afterwards wreaths were placed on Disraeli’s monuments and people wore primrose buttonholes on this day.
Posted By: Caren · In: Gardens
A Brief Guide to St. Martin’s Church, Sherford, the South Hams
A Drought Tolerant Plant: Sicilian Chamomile (Anthemis Cupaniana)
About Caren
Caren is an art and history lover based in the Devonian countryside. With a love of stained glass windows and galleries, when she's not out researching her next post, she can be found hiking on the moors or playing the piano.
Victoria Tower Gardens: The Secret Space Hiding Behind Parliament
Three Plants to Brighten up Your Late Winter Garden
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Cosmopolitan Estonian of the Week
Obituary: The legendary Estonian politician Mart Nutt dies
By Estonian World / June 3, 2019 June 3, 2019 / 3 minutes of reading
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Sir Arvi Parbo, an Estonian-Australian mining entrepreneur and a knight – obituary
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Sir Arvi Parbo, one of Australia’s most well-known and recognised mining entrepreneurs, and probably the only knighted Estonian, died on 1 May at the age of 93 in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian newspaper, Financial Review, calls Parbo “one of corporate Australia’s most significant figures”. “Sir Arvi Parbo will be fondly …
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Politico lists Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as one of the most influential MEPs
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The Politico magazine has picked the chair of the Estonian Reform Party, Kaja Kallas, as one of the 40 members of the European Parliament “who mattered in 2014-2019”, the current term of the legislative body of the European Union. “As MEPs’ terms come to an end this month ahead of …
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Lennart Meri, the president many loved, and everybody respected
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Today, the former president and foreign minister, Lennart Meri, would’ve celebrated his 90th birthday; a Statesman with a capital S, he’s one of the founding fathers of the Estonian post-occupation success story, and one of the politicians in Estonia that everybody truly respected. My best friend celebrates his birthday on …
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Top 12 most outstanding Estonian women in the world 2019
By Estonian World / March 8, 2019 March 8, 2019 / 10 minutes of reading
For International Women’s Day, Estonian World has compiled a list of the most outstanding Estonian women on the global stage. It is important to emphasise that this is not the ultimate list of the most important Estonian women in the world. There are many others who work hard and stand …
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Kelly Sildaru wins her third gold in Aspen
By Silver Tambur / January 25, 2019 January 28, 2019 / 2 minutes of reading
The Estonian freestyle skier, Kelly Sildaru, has won her third gold medal in women’s ski slopestyle – at the X Games Aspen 2019, setting a new games record in the process. In 2016, Sildaru made free-skiing history, becoming the youngest athlete ever to win a gold medal at the Winter X …
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Estonia’s first cybersecurity ambassador among the shapers of Europe
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Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Estonia’s first ambassador at large for cybersecurity, has been nominated by the Politico magazine as one of the 28 people shaping, shaking and stirring Europe – placing her at number four among the “doers”. “Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar wants to write the rules of cyber conflict,” the magazine says. “As …
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Former British MP Lembit Öpik considers running for Estonian presidency
By Silver Tambur / November 22, 2018 November 29, 2018 / 3 minutes of reading
Lembit Öpik told the BBC that he is considering contesting the Estonian presidency when it next comes up for election. Öpik, who served as a Liberal Democrat member of the UK parliament representing the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat in the 2010 general election, told the BBC that “he is …
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Ahto Valter – the Estonian who sailed around the world
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It took nine years of detective work to finish a documentary about Ahto Valter, the first Estonian to sail around the world; this layered story about a hero from a past era takes the viewer on a journey through time. This article is published in collaboration with the Estonian Film Institute. …
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The Estonian member of the European Parliament, Tunne Kelam, is to be awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will award the Medal of Freedom, alongside with Kelam, also to the former president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, and …
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Dharmadhatu
From Encyclopedia of Buddhism
Dharmadhatu (Sanskrit) is the 'dimension', 'realm' or 'sphere' (dhatu) of the Dharma or Absolute Reality.
2 Historical origin
3 Understanding in Buddhist tradition
3.1 Indian Buddhism
3.1.1 Śrīmālādevī Sūtra
3.1.2 Nagarjuna
3.2 Chinese Buddhism
3.2.1 Mahaparinirvana Sutra
3.3 Tibetan Buddhism
3.3.1 Five Wisdoms
3.3.2 Dzogchen
7.1 Published sources
7.2 Web-sources
In Mahayana Buddhism, dharmadhātu (Standard Tibetan: chos kyi dbyings; Chinese: 法界) means "realm of phenomena", "realm of Truth", and of the noumenon. It is referred to by several synonymous terms from Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, such as Tathata (Reality "as-it-is"), emptiness, dependent co-arising and eternal Buddha. It is the "deepest nature, or essence".[1]
Dharmadhātu is the purified mind in its natural state, free of obscurations. It is the essence-quality or nature of mind, the fundamental ground of consciousness of the trikaya, which is accessed via the mindstream.[citation needed]
When the buddha-nature has been realised, dharmadhātu is also referred to as the Dharmakāya, the Body of Dharma Truth.
It is associated with Vairocana.
Historical origin
Kang-nam Oh traces the origin of dharmadhatu to the Avatamsaka Sutra. It has been further developed by the Hua-yen school:
This idea of dharmadhātu-pratītyasamutpāda which was originally found in the Avataṁsaka-sūtra or Hua-yen ching,[note 1] was fully developed by the Hua-yen school into a systematic doctrine palatable to the Chinese intellectual taste. The dharmadhātu doctrine[note 2] can be said to have been, by and large, set forth by Tu-shun (557~640 C.E.), formulated by Chih-yen (602~668), systematized by Fa-tsang (643~712), and elucidated by Ch’eng-kuan (ca. 737~838) and Tsung-mi (780~841).[2]
Understanding in Buddhist tradition
Indian Buddhism
Śrīmālādevī Sūtra
The Śrīmālādevī Sūtra (3rd century CE[3]), also named The Lion's Roar of Queen Srimala, centers on the teaching of the tathagatagarbha as "ultimate soteriological principle".[4] It states that the tathagata-garbha is the "embryo" of the Dharmadhatu and the Dharmakaya:[5]
Lord, the Tathagatagarbha is neither self nor sentient being, nor soul, nor personality. The Tathagatagarbha is not the domain of beings who fall into the belief in a real personality, who adhere to wayward views, whose thoughts are distracted by voidness. Lord, this Tathagatagarbha is the embryo of the Illustrious Dharmadhatu, the embryo of the Dharmakaya, the embryo of the supramundane dharma, the embryo of the intrinsically pure dharma.[5]
In the Śrīmālādevī Sūtra, there are two possible states for the Tathagatagarbha:
[E]ither covered by defilements, when it is called only "embryo of the Tathagata"; or free from defilements, when the "embryo of the Tathagata" is no more the "embryo" (potentiality) but the Tathāgata (=the Dharmakaya)(actuality).[6]
The sutra itself states it this way:
This Dharmakaya of the Tathagata when not free from the store of defilement is referred to as the Tathagatagarbha.[7]
Nāgārjuna wrote a treatise on the dharmadhatu, In praise of the Dharmadhatu (Skt. Dharmadhātustava).[8] According to Nagarjuna, the dharmadhatu is the ground which makes liberation possible:
The dharmadhatu is the ground
For buddhahood, nirvana, purity, and permanence.[8][note 3]
According to Nāgārjuna, the dharmadhatu is seen when the afflictions are purified:
As butter, though inherent in the milk,
Is mixed with it and hence does not appear,
Just so the dharmadhatu is not seen
As long as it is mixed together with afflictions.
And just as the inherent butter essence
When the milk is purified is no more disguised,
When afflictions have been completely purified,
The dharmadhatu will be without any stain at all.[8]
Mahaparinirvana Sutra
In the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Buddha states of himself that he is the "boundless Dharmadhatu" - the Totality itself.
Five Wisdoms
The Dharmadhatu is comprehended by one of the Five Wisdoms:
Dharmadhātu wisdom,
Mirror-like wisdom,
Equality wisdom,
Discriminating wisdom,
All-accomplishing wisdom.
In the Dzogchen text Gold refined from ore[9] the term Dharmadhatu is translated as 'total field of events and meanings' or "field of all events and meanings".[9]
Four Dharmadhātu
↑ There are three Chinese translations in the name of Ta-fang-kuang-fo hua-yen-ching. 1) T.9, no. 278, tr. by Buddhabhadra in sixty fascicles during 418-420; 2) T.10, no. 279 , by Śiksānanda in eighty fascicles during 695-699; and 3) T.10, no. 293, by Prajñā in forty fascicles during 795-798. The last one is basically equivalent to the last chapter of the previous versions, i.e., the Chapter on Entering into Dharmadhātu. This chapter is available in Sanskrit as an independent sutra called Gaṇdavyuha-sūtra, one ed. by D. T.Suzuki and H. Idzumi (Kyoto: The Sanskrit Buddhist Texts Publishing Society, 1934-36), and the other ed. by P. L. Vaidya, Buddhist Sanskrit Texts, no. 5 (Darbhanga: The Mithila Institute of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Sanskrit Learning, 1960).
↑ To be exact, it should be called the “dharmadhātu-pratītyasamutpāda” doctrine. But for the sake of convenience, it will be referred to as dharmadhātu doctrine hereafter.
↑ In cooperation with the Indian Khenpo, Krishna Pandita, it was translated (from Sanskrit to Tibetan) by Lotsawa Tsultrim Gyalwa. Based on teachings given by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, it has been translated from Tibetan into English by Jim Scott, April 1997, and edited by Ari Goldfield, September 1998.
↑ Chang 1992, p. 253.
↑ Oh 2000.
↑ Wayman 1990, p. 2.
↑ Brown 1994, p. 10.
↑ 5.0 5.1 Wayman 1990, p. 106.
↑ Wayman 1990, p. 45.
↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Nagarjuna 1998.
↑ 9.0 9.1 Namkhai Norbu and Kennard Lipman (translators) 2001.
Brown, Brian Edward (1994), The Buddha Nature. A Study of the Tathagatagarbha and Alayavijnana, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
Chang, Garma C.C. (1992), The Buddhist teaching of Totality. The Philosophy of Hwa Yen Buddhism, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
Nagarjuna (1998), In Praise of the Dharmadhatu, Translated by Lotsawa Tsultrim Gyalwa (Tibetan) & Jim Scott (English)
Namkhai Norbu and Kennard Lipman (translators) (2001), Primordial experience. An Introduction to rDzogs-chen Meditation, Also translated by Barrie Simmons, Boston & London: Shambhala
Oh, Kang-nam (2000), The Taoist Influence on Hua-yen Buddhism: A Case of the Sinicization of Buddhism in China. In: Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal, No. 13, (2000)
Tsogyel, Yeshe, (terton: Nyang Ral Nyima Oser); Rangdrol, Tsele Natsok (1990), Marcia Binder Schmidt, ed., The Lotus-Born: The life story of Padmasambhava, Rangjung Yeshe Publications
Wayman, Alex and Hideko (1990), The Lion's roar of Queen Srimala, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
Yamamoto, Kosho (1999–2000), Tony Page, ed., The Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra in 12 Volumes (PDF), Nirvana Publications
Web-sources
Digital Dictionary of Buddhism, log in with "guest"
The Seeker's Glossary of Buddhism, see: Dharma Realm, p. 190
This article includes content from Dharmadhatu on Wikipedia (view authors). License under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Retrieved from "https://encyclopediaofbuddhism.org/index.php?title=Dharmadhatu&oldid=30309"
Buddhist philosophical concepts
Nondualism
Imported from Wikipedia
Content is available under CC by 3.0 - Creative Commons Share Alike (see Attribute Encyclopedia of Buddhism) unless otherwise noted.
About Encyclopedia of Buddhism
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The Church Built a Classroom
March 2, 2015 EOC News
By Tammy Kuntz*
A United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) team from East Ohio traveled to Manos Juntas in Rio Bravo, Mexico Dec. 28, 2014 – Jan. 3, 2015.
Our team expected to help teach Vacation Bible School. After settling in at the mission site, Willie and Julian explained there had been a change of plans – the team would do work on a new classroom at a preschool.
We started work Monday morning. The structure of the classroom was already up, so our job was to put on the roof, gables, eaves, stucco, inside and out, and install the windows. We assisted Julian and Justo, the same builders we worked with the year before, with painting, measuring and cutting, nailing, and stuccoing to complete the classroom.
The request was made to us to bring socks and sweatshirts for the children of the community. Our congregations donated over 300 pairs of socks and 30 sweatshirts. The principal had some students come to the school and we distributed these things to the children. We learned that the school receives no funding from the government beyond teacher’s salaries. There were 17 children waiting for this classroom to be finished. They hoped to start school the next week.
New Year’s Eve in Mexico is celebrated with fireworks. From the mission site, fireworks could be seen all over the city. We were treated to dinner with Julian’s family. It was a joy to celebrate the New Year with friends.
This year, we worked through the rain. The windows were not delivered and the classroom was as complete as possible. The Manos Juntas builders would install the windows when they arrived. The building was basically ready for students.
This was another great mission journey. Each year, the people of Rio Bravo bless us with their caring and their compassion for us as we open ourselves to the culture and work alongside them to create a better place for God’s mission on earth.
The next mission journeys to Manos Juntas are scheduled for Oct. 11-17, 2015 (medical) and Dec. 27-Jan 2 (construction).
For more information, please e-mail Tammy Kuntz at eoumvim@gmail.com.
*Tammy Kuntz is chair of the EOC United Methodist Volunteer in Missions Committee.
Posted in Missions
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Underwater UFO Sightings (USOs) From Atlantis to Modern Day
A look at reports of Underwater UFOs (USOs) "Unidentified Submerged Objects", throughout history -- from the ancient legends of Atlantis, to the reports of Christopher Columbus, to modern sightings around Laguna Cartagena, Puerto Rico (a supposed USO hot bed).
"What secrets lurk in ocean depths? Are there alien forms of intelligent life that occupy the vast volumes of water that constitute our oceans, seas, and lakes? The largest of our oceans, the Pacific, covers 64,000,000 square miles and reaches a depth of 36,198 feet, a depth that no ray of sunlight ever reaches. Could these depths hide alien submarine bases?
Underwater UFOs have been sighted on many occasions lifting out of their submerged depths and taking to the air. In an article entitled "UFOs - at 450 Fathoms," UFO Reporter Ed Hyde told of the sighting made by Dr. R. J. Villela, a Brazilian scientist, who saw a UFO smash through an estimated 40 feet of ice at the South Pole and soar into the sky at amazing speed.
It was author and researcher Dr. Ivan T. Sanderson who suggested that aliens could remain undetected by building their bases beneath the world's oceans. Dr. Sanderson found that by actual count, over 50 percent of the UFO sightings had occurred over, coming from, or plunging into or coming out of water. This includes oceans, seas, lakes, and reservoirs. Of the oceanic UFOs (some term them USOs or Unidentified Submersible Objects), one was tracked by the U.S. Navy near Puerto Rico in 1963. Of course many of these objects have been tracked over Puerto Rico since that time. On a training maneuver, a sonar operator detected a sub aqueous object traveling at over 150 knots! The technicians tracked this object for four days and it maneuvered down to the incredible depth of 27,000 feet. Submarines of 1963 could not dive further than a fraction over a mile into the ocean deeps. What kind of submersible could withstand the tremendous ocean pressures? And how could it overcome the tremendous resistance of water moving at such incredible speeds?
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NSC Codes
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The Shizuoka Bank, Ltd Branch Code And Bank Code List
Branch Code is a three digits numerical codes used to identify an individual branch of a financial institution or a bank in Hong Kong. To make money transfer, the Branch code and clearing codes are used together with the bank account number of the recipient. Branch code and clearing codes are regulated by HKICL (Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited).
Home Hong Kong Code The Shizuoka Bank, Ltd
The Shizuoka Bank, Ltd
Message: Undefined variable: branchcodelist
Filename: templates/hongkongcode.php
File: /home/bigdahyx/public_html/finclan.com/application/views/templates/hongkongcode.php
File: /home/bigdahyx/public_html/finclan.com/application/controllers/Hongkongcode.php
File: /home/bigdahyx/public_html/finclan.com/index.php
or Choose Branch from list below
Finclan.com
Please take note: Finclan.com no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information or material that may be set out below. You agree to take independent steps to verify the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any such information or material before acting on the same. Finclan.com not be responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever and howsoever caused and in any way arising from or in connection with your reliance on such information and material.
Analysis of Financial Ratios
NIM (Net Interest Margin): Net interest margin (NIM) is a measure of the difference between the interest income generated by banks or other financial institutions and the amount of interest paid out to their lenders (for example, deposits), relative to the amount of their (interest-earning) assets. Thus, it also has high correlation to interest spread and thus impacts profitability of the bank. NIM of Andhra Bank is 2.77 which is greater than the average of all public sector banks but less than average NIM of all banks in India. This indicates that the bank is doing well as compared to an average PSB in India but lagging among all banks in India.
COF (Cost of Funds): Cost of funds for a bank is the average interest rate paid to depositors on financial products such as savings account, current account, and fixed deposits etc. Lower CoF is better for banks as it will increase profitability. COF of Andhra Bank is 7.13 which is poorer than the average among PSBs as well as poorer than average CoF of all banks.
Return on Advances: Return on advances indicates the average interest rate at which the bank lends money to the borrowers. Higher return of advances is better for higher profitability of the bank (however, higher interest rates also indicate risky assests). So this ratio should be read along with NPA Ratio for better understanding about the bank.
Return on Equity (ROE): Return on equity is the measure of bank's profitability. Higher the better. [RoE = Net Profit / Total Equity].
CRAR: Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (also known as Capital Adequacy Ratio is the ratio of bank's capital to its risk. This ratio is also monitored by RBI for all banks and higher value indicates higher stability for a bank. CRAR of Andhra Bank is 11.76 which is less than group average among PSBs and also less than average of all banks.
NPA Ratio: Non Performing Assets refer to loans that are in jeopardy of default. Once the borrower has failed to make interest or principal payments for 90 days the loan is considered to be a non-performing asset. Thus, NPA Ratio = [Non Perforing Assets/Total Assets]. Higher NPA Ratio indicates riskiness of the bank and losses as it may result in write downs. If you are investing in a bank, be aware to check this ratio carefully. NPA Ratio of Andhra Bank is 2.45 which is high and it is poorer than average NPA of PSBs as well as average NPA of all banks.
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In addition to individual Contacts, your database comes with a Group functionality. This is similar to "Households" in typical CRMs. To allow full flexibility, the Flipcause CRM allows you to have various types of Groups: Household, Business, Nonprofit, Foundation, School, Team, Club, Association, Religious Organization, Media Organization, Fraternity, Sorority, Other, or just a general Group.
How do Groups work?
The Group Record will reflect a cumulative total of all the contributions and activities made by all members in that group.
Every Group will also have a primary contact whose information will serve as the contact information (email address, phone number, etc.) for the entire group.
Contacts can be part of multiple Groups. For example, if Christy Yip is one of your contacts, she can be part of the Yip Family Group (Household) along with other family members of hers that are in your database, as well as the Flipcause Group (Business) along with other colleagues of hers that are in your database.
Any time a Contact Record is created, a Group Record is also created for it, and that Contact becomes the Primary Contact for its Group. The Group Record that is automatically created will be named after the Contact. For example, when a Contact is created for Alex Paranada, he is automatically part and primary of the Alex Paranada Group Record. However, once this is created, you can rename the group to anything you like, or add Alex to another Group if that is more appropriate. You can only delete the original, automatically-created Group, after Alex is added to another group.
Even though Groups are created automatically, for them to work correctly and reflect the most accurate information, you will want to keep them maintained manually, as in the above example. To get the full utility out of your CRM, you will want to ensure to put your related Contacts into the appropriate Groups.
Every individual Contact must be part of a Group, even if it's just their own individual group. In fact, most of your Contacts will be on their own in their respective Groups. We explain why this matters in the below section on how to use Groups vs. Contact Records.
When would I use Groups instead of Contacts?
Usually, when you'd like to send an email appeal, it makes sense to email every single person (Contact) in your database. This is when you would pull a report of all Contacts and their email addresses.
But often, when you want to send out an appeal with a physical mailer, you don't want to send 5 copies of the same letter to the same address. This is when it becomes useful to put your Contacts into Groups - whether it's by their households, work places, or other groups that might make contributions as a unit.
By using Groups and ensuring that the Primary Group Contact's mailing address is accurate, you can pull a report of your Groups for the purpose of creating a mail merge to send out physical letters or postcards. This way, each business, household, organization, or other location will receive only one mailing for the entire group.
This is exactly why every Contact must be part of a Group - you want to be sure all individuals get their own mailer, too.
How should I use Business Contacts with Groups?
Some organizations need the individual Contact Record to reflect a business/organization itself rather than any single person within that business. In these cases, be sure to indicate the Contact Type as "Business" and input the business/organization name instead of a first and last name.
Whenever you add a Contact Record, it will create a Group Record automatically. This works the same way with Business Type Contacts - they will get a Group Record also named after the Business name, and that Business Contact will be automatically the Primary Contact for the Business Group. You can certainly also add individual Contact Records to this same Group.
Whether your Business or Organization type Groups have a Business or Individual type Contact Record as their Primary Contact is up to you!
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Shared Workspace
Shared Workspace, Productivity, News
Engage Workspace
Very exiting times for one of my colleagues, Chelsea Green. Chelsea, CEO of Engage, recently announced the formal launch of Engage Workspace, a new shared office center focused solely on attorneys.
There are many ‘shared workspace’ companies – some, like IWG plc (formerly Regus), have been around since the ‘80s. But, the “shared” office model has been rapidly increasing in popularity over the last decade. According to Forbes.com, shared workspaces will host more than 3.8 million people by 2020. WeWork now has 502 locations since opening their first shared office space in 2010.
But, what makes Engage so unique is that it is designed specifically to cater to the requirements of independent attorneys and small law firms.
From the Dallas Morning News article:
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2019/01/29/coworking-center-targets-legal-eagles-new-north-dallas-shared-office-location
“The new Engage Workspace in North Dallas is targeting attorneys with its co-working facility in the landmark Campbell Centre complex on North Central Expressway.
The just-opened workspace is designed to accommodate more than 60 attorneys with workstations, offices, meeting space, office equipment and other amenities.
So far, the co-working operation takes up a full floor in the building, but Engage says it hopes to expand to additional floors of the iconic gold Campbell Centre II tower.
"Independent attorneys and small law firms represent nearly half the legal industry," Engage CEO Chelsea Green said. "With continuing market changes and technology advances, that looks to accelerate over the next several years.
"With Engage, we have created an office environment that has the familiarity of a traditional law office but with the greater independence, flexibility and efficiency of an executive suite or co-working space."
Green and partners Jim Chester and Darin Klemchuk opened the co-working center Jan. 1. Chester and Klemchuk are both partners in the Dallas law firm Klemchuk LLP.
The owners are planning to upgrade this spring with a new coffee bar and more collaborative space.
"Attorneys are a perfect fit for the Engage office space model," said Chester. "Law practice is collaborative by nature, and attorneys benefit from networking with other lawyers to share referrals and resources."
Stephen Holley of Holley + Co. Real Estate negotiated the office lease for the co-working center with Barbara Houlihan of Peloton Commercial Real Estate.
Shared office providers now occupy more than 1.5 million square feet of building space in North Texas. Co-working firms are one of the fastest-growing sectors in the office industry.”
What is not mentioned in the article is that the Engage Workspace will also provide the level of technology, IT support and cybersecurity necessary for attorneys. All companies require technology and cybersecurity, but attorneys have the additional challenge of needing to collaborate and exchange information externally while also keeping their practice and data isolated and secure. Engage understands this, often overlooked, requirement and will include it as a part of their service.
At Engage, attorneys will be able to be as productive and efficient as possible, while knowing their data is secure. Each tenant will also be provided with ongoing IT support from a team of technology experts. The blend of amenities, technology support and cybersecurity, creates compelling value that independent attorneys and small practices typically would not be able to take advantage of.
For more information, visit www.engagelawspace.com.
Tagged: #DFW, #fluiditservices, #SharedWorkspace, #Engage
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KELANTAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESPECT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES LAND RIGHTS
Apr 3, 2018 | Human Rights Defenders
The Kelantan State Authorities has been approving logging activities, monoculture plantation projects, land-use conversion to agriculture and mining in the Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF) in the east coast state of Kelantan in Peninsular Malaysia without respecting the customary rights of indigenous peoples (Orang Asli).
The land conversion in PRF does not only destroy the original forest cover (natural forest) through the clear-felling harvesting method, affecting forest biodiversity, it also affected the rights and lives of the Orang Asli in particular.
Since 15 February 2018, the Orang Asli community from the Temiar tribe had set up several blockades in Cawas, Simpor, Kampung Kuala Wok in Gua Musang District, Ulu Kelantan, to prevent logging, mining and large-scale plantations in the PRF.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is disappointed with the Kelantan state authorities which did not consider the recommendations that SAM and the Orang Asli community had submitted in the past.
During SAM’s meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister of Kelantan, YB Dato’ Haji Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on 1 November 2016, SAM submitted a memorandum titled “Proposed Improvement of Forest Management in Kelantan” to the State Authority.
Among the main points in the memorandum are our concerns over the increasing implementation of monoculture plantation projects which covered 162,485 hectares or 26% of the total area of 623,849 hectares of PRFin the state of Kelantan in 2013.
An Orang Asli community representative who accompanied SAM also explained to Dato’ Haji Mohd Amar on issues faced by the community as a result of forest harvesting activity (especially logging) for the purpose of developing monoculture plantations. We also submitted our recommendations in a memorandum on that occasion.
Prior to that, on March 25, 2015, SAM had submitted a letter to the Kelantan Menteri Besar, YAB Dato’ Haji Ahmad Yakob through the Senior Private Secretary to the Chief Minister on matters pertaining to forest management in the State of Kelantan.
During a discussion session held on 26 May 2017 between the Director General of Forestry, Peninsular Malaysia and environmental NGOs, SAM submitted recommendations in writing.
One of the recommendations is that all State Forestry Departments should stop the implementation of monoculture plantation projects and other activities such as mining and quarrying in the PRF.
To date all documents submitted by SAM has yet to receive any feedback from the Kelantan State Government or the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia.
On the contrary, the Kelantan State Government is still pursuing the implementation of large-scale monoculture plantation projects in the PRF area.
The lives of local communities, especially Orang Asli communities, arise from the disturbance to their water sheds, settlements, cemeteries and collection of forest produce which are destroyed by companies that were given licence to take forest produce and/or undertake monoculture plantation projects in Kelantan.
While in Kelantan recently to monitor the blockade of Orang Asli communities, SAM staff met up with Mustafa Along, the Chairperson of the Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network who expressed his concern and demands to the State Authority.
SAM produced a short video interview with Mustafa where his concerns and demands have been captured. Apart from demanding that logging, mining and large scale plantation activities should stop on the customary lands belonging to these indigenous communities, Mustafa wants everyone to know of their plight and struggle and raise the awareness of ordinary people to the forest destruction and the impacts on not just indigenous communities but the world over.
Therefore, SAM urges the State Authority to implement the following recommendations:
1. Stop the conversion of PRF to monoculture plantations and mining operations.
2. Comply with the National Physical Plan (RFN) in relation to Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) and the Central Forest Spine (CFS).
3. Do not allow logging in forested area above 1,000m. These areas are already categorised as ESA Rank 1.
4. Ensure that indigenous customary land rights are respected and taken into account in forestry and land management, including:
a) Stop the issuance of logging operation licences, plantation development, mining, and taking of natural resources in indigenous peoples’ land.
b) Ensure that the procedure of Free Prior Informed Consent from the Orang Asli community is fully applied in all processes during the gazetting of land and forest as well as any proposed land-use conversion of PRF in Kelantan.
c) Introduce the process of mapping and marking of boundaries together with the territories of the Orang Asli customary land based on the area agreed upon by members of the Orang Asli community for the purpose of gazetting these territories and accompanied by the granting of communal grants.
SAM is concerned that if the above-mentioned recommendations are not implemented, more serious environmental impacts such as floods, sedimentation and pollution of river pollution, loss of biodiversity, flora and wildlife will occur. The lives and livelihoods of these indigenous people who depend on natural resources will be further marginalised.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia – Friends of the Earth Malaysia
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Scientific American: Prevention Can Benefit Any Suicidal Person
We only seek to prevent some suicides these days. If a suicidal person lives in a state where assisted suicide is legal, and is qualified to receive prescribed poison with which to overdose, they will probably never receive prevention interventions.
That’s an abandonment. In Scientific American, Michael Shermer reviews a book about suicide and describes how prevention can benefit any suicidal person. From, “Why Do People Kill Themselves?” (my emphasis):
Like most human behavior, suicide is a multicausal act. Teasing out the strongest predictive variables is difficult, particularly because such internal cognitive states may not be accessible even to the person experiencing them. We cannot perceive the neurochemical workings of our brain, so internal processes are typically attributed to external sources. Even those who experience suicidal ideation may not understand why or even if and when ideation might turn into action.
This observation is reinforced by Ralph Lewis, a psychiatrist at the University of Toronto, who works with cancer patients and others facing death, whom I interviewed for my Science Salon podcast about his book Finding Purpose in a Godless World (Prometheus Books, 2018). “A lot of people who are clinically depressed will think that the reason they’re feeling that way is because of an existential crisis about the meaning of life or that it’s because of such and such a relational event that happened,” Lewis says. “But that’s people’s own subjective attribution when in fact they may be depressed for reasons they don’t understand.” In his clinical practice, for example, he notes, “I’ve seen many cases where these existential crises practically evaporated under the influence of an antidepressant.”
Assisted suicide advocates claim this has nothing to do with their cause because the terminally ill just don’t want to die in agony.
But that’s more fear mongering to win a political debate than reality. The actual reasons people commit assisted suicide or ask for euthanasia — verified from the published statistics from Oregon, Netherlands, and elsewhere — usually has little to do with physical pain. Rather, people ask for suicide help because of existential issues, such as fears of being a burden or being remembered poorly by their loved ones after going through a natural dying process (one of Brittany Maynard’s two primary reasons for wanting to die).
Crucial Issues, Good News
Don’t get me wrong: These are crucial issues that should be taken very seriously. The good news is that they can often be remedied:
In consulting suicide attempt survivors, Lewis remarks, “They say, ‘I don’t know what came over me. I don’t know what I was thinking.’ This is why suicide prevention is so important: because people can be very persuasive in arguing why they believe life — their life — is not worth living. And yet the situation looks radically different months later, sometimes because of an antidepressant, sometimes because of a change in circumstances, sometimes just a mysterious change of mind.”
Exactly. I have met such people who would be qualified for assisted suicide. Indeed, my last hospice patient (I was a volunteer) died peacefully in his sleep of ALS. When I first met Bob, he described being suicidal and wanting to go to Kevorkian (this was in the 1990s). His family refused to cooperate and he was so glad! He told me that after some months of just wanting to be dead (because he could not properly support his family anymore and felt abandoned by his priest), that he had “come out of the fog” (his words). He later wrote about how the assisted suicide movement corroded his morale and was harmful to the wellbeing of terminally ill people. Please read it here.
When we accede to an assisted suicide request of a person with a terminal illness, we send the insidious message: “Of course you want to die. I would too in your place.” That’s potentially devastating. And families dragged into the death spiral may support their loved one’s suicidal wishes thinking they are being supportive — when they are unintentionally confirming the patient’s worst fears and unaware that with proper care, their loved one could, one day, be thankful they did not commit suicide.
Photo credit: Free-Photos, via Pixabay.
Cross-posted at The Corner.
ALSantidepressantassisted suicideBrittany MaynardcancerdepressioneuthanasiaFinding Purpose in a Godless WorldinterventionsJack KevorkianMichael ShermerNetherlandsOregonoverdosepainRalph LewisScientific Americansuicide preventionterminal illnessUniversity of Toronto
Brazilian Scientist Marcos Eberlin: More on Diarrhea by Design
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The Ausiello Files for November 14, 2008
EW's TV scooper reveals why ''Grey's Anatomy'' 's Dr. Hahn got the axe, spoilers for ''The Unit,'' and more
By Michael Ausiello
November 07, 2008 at 05:00 AM EST
Why did Grey’s discharge Dr. Hahn?
Grey’s Anatomy‘s first significant same-sex romance, between Brooke Smith’s Dr. Erica Hahn and Sara Ramirez’s Dr. Callie Torres, came to an abrupt and anticlimactic end in the Nov. 6 episode, when Dr. Hahn left work for the day, presumably to return — but she never will. Smith was suddenly released from her contract, and she’s not quite sure why. But one show insider tells me that Dr. Hahn may have been booted, at least in part, because ABC wasn’t digging Callica.
My source says that this fall network execs expressed concerns to series creator Shonda Rhimes about some explicit aspects of the love story, specifically recent episodes with Callie rhapsodizing about exploring Erica’s ”undiscovered country…south of the border.” (ABC declined to comment.) But Smith heard no bad buzz: In fact, she says that after shooting her monologue in the Oct. 30 episode, in which Erica had the revelation that she is gay, producers raved that ”it was one of the best scenes they ever shot. So I was floored when they told me [I was being let go after only one more episode].”
Another insider says ABC just disliked the brash Hahn, and homosexuality had nothing to do with it; after all, Meredith’s bisexual BFF (played by Melissa George) arrives on Nov. 13. The bigger story, some say, is that execs are imposing creative decisions in ways that they previously never had. Smith didn’t feel her departure was Rhimes’ choice, saying, ”It definitely seemed like [her] hands were tied…. She seemed upset.” But Rhimes took responsibility in a statement: ”Sara Ramirez is an incredible comedic and dramatic actress and we wanted to be able to play up her magic. Unfortunately, we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke’s character would sustain in the long run.” Whatever the reason, Dr. Hahn has magically disappeared.
Ask Ausiello
Q: Now that we’ve seen the big House-Cuddy smooch, what can we expect from these two next? —Samantha
A: Less kissing, more hissing. The fallout from an emergency at Princeton Plainsboro will force Cuddy to temporarily move into House’s office, thereby creating a new, even bigger emergency. How bad do things get between the modern-day Sam and Diane? Picture The War of the Roses with different leads, more bruised egos, and less attempted murder.
Q: Got any scoop on the series finale of The Shield? —Thomas
A: Yes, but I’m going to be extra careful and slap a ”major spoiler alert” on this thing: Nov. 25’s 90-minute capper features at least four significant deaths, one of the most intense Mackey-Claudette confrontations ever, and a final scene that is equal parts funny, tragic, and suspenseful. Oh, I forgot to add satisfying. Insanely satisfying.
Q: When is Greek returning? And what do you have in the way of scoop? —DL
A: The super-fun college soap returns in March and the action picks up at the start of a new school year. ”We’re finally out of Rusty’s freshman year,” declares the show’s creator, Patrick Sean Smith. ”New year, new fun, new pledges!” Speaking of new pledges, one of them is kind of famous: Actor-singer-songwriter Jesse McCartney is joining the cast as Andy, a heavily recruited freshman jock who’ll be torn between rushing the Kappa Tau and Omega Chi houses.
The Ausiello Files: February 13, 2008
The Ausiello Files: January 23, 2008
The Ausiello Files for Sept 12, 2008
The Ausiello Files for August 1, 2008
The Ausiello Files for Sept 5, 2008
The Ausiello Files: December 19, 2008
The Bachelorette recap: The Luke Show continues in Scotland
The Ausiello Files for October 17, 2008
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The Ausiello Files for Oct. 3, 2008
The Ausiello Files for November 7, 2008
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Independent Publisher with Passion and Purpose sales@exislepublishing.com
EK Books
Emotional Inheritance
Pets and Animal Happiness
Bees and Horses
Bookseller’s Zone
View cart “Sleep Sense” has been added to your cart.
See Monkey
USD $18.95 Tax Included
From morning to night, Monkey loves to play and have fun. And even if his antics can go a bit wrong, he’s always endearing! See Monkey is a warm, funny story about the busy day of a toddler and his favourite toy, perfect for sharing.
SPECIFICATIONS: 238 x 238 mm | 9.5 x 9.5 inches | Hardback | 32 Pages
A Little Pink Dog Books Publication
Wake of the Invercauld
Shipwrecked in the sub-Antarctic: A great-granddaughter’s pilgrimage
This is the story of Robert Holding, a young English adventurer who was only 23 when he was shipwrecked with 19 others on the Auckland Islands in the sub-Antarctic Ocean in 1864. A year later he was rescued, along with only two of his shipmates. The others had perished from starvation and exposure.
It was when Madelene Ferguson Allen was researching the history of her birth family that she discovered she was Holding’s great-granddaughter. Then she learned of the existence of his account of the shipwreck and his enforced stay on the Aucklands, so she decided to retrace his footsteps. This book is an account of her journey, not only tracing the voyage of the Invercauld, but also the life of Robert Holding. Allen intersperses her narrative with extracts from Holding’s own journal, revealing an extraordinary tale of survival, in which conflict, cannibalism and cunning all play a part. The survivors’ rescue is in itself a hair-raising tale of intrigue and deception.
Wake of the Invercauld is a gripping story that will enthral anyone interested in true adventure at sea.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 260 x 186 mm | 10.2 x 7.3 inches | Colour | 256 Pages
Tissywoo and the Worry Monsters
Worry monsters can be scary! This beautifully illustrated and reassuring story will help children who are anxious about starting school for the first time, by teaching them mindful breathing techniques to calm their anxiety.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 238 x 238 mm | 9.5 x 9.5 inches | Colour | 36 Pages
Grey-glasses-itis
Life’s Brighter When You’re Not Wearing Grey Glasses!
The fourth book in the popular ‘Lessons of a LAC’ series, Grey-glasses-itis helps children to understand the link between how they see things and how they feel. Loppy notices that he feels differently when he looks at the world around him through different-coloured glasses. Yellow glasses make him feel cheerful. Grey glasses make him feel sad. Children will learn that a simple shift in perception can often give them some influence over their feelings, helping to build their emotional resilience.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 305 x 230 mm | 12 x 9 inches | Colour | 32 Pages
Invisible Jerry
People don’t notice Jerry. If someone bumps into him, they don’t say sorry. If he makes a joke, no one laughs. He never gets picked last for sports teams — but that’s because he never gets picked at all. It’s like he’s invisible. Until Molly comes along. Molly asks Jerry his opinion. She laughs with him. She sees him. This is a picture book with humour and heart for everyone who has ever felt like they’re on the outside looking in.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 245 x 255 mm | 9.5 x 10 inches | Colour | 32 Pages
The Man Behind the Myth.
A comprehensive biography of General Sir Alexander Godley, presenting for the first time a fair and balanced look at his time as commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) and II ANZAC Corps during World War I. While Godley is generally remembered as being a poor field commander, Terry Kinloch argues that he was in fact a capable one who had little or no ability to influence the failed battles at Gallipoli and Passchendaele that he is often seen as responsible for. Kinloch also presents, for the first time, a detailed account of Godley’s long pre- and post-World War I career in the British Army. After the war Godley returned to the British Army, eventually reaching the rank of general before retiring in 1933. During his 48-year military career, he also served on operations in Rhodesia and South Africa, as a mounted infantry instructor, in the post-war British occupation force in Germany, and as the Governor of Gibraltar.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 240 x 160 mm | 9.5 x 6.25 inches| 328 Pages
Cluck
A book of happiness for chicken lovers.
Any chicken owner will know that there’s more to these endearing, quirky, clever characters than the eggs they produce. Cluck is a celebration of hens, roosters and chicks, combining high-quality photography with inspirational and amusing quotes to create the perfect gift for chicken fans. Some of the collection’s quotations come from famous people (Oscar Wilde, C. S. Lewis, Mark Twain, Plutarch), others don’t; some are philosophical, others light-hearted — all are memorable. Accompanied by beautiful pictures of a variety of these farmyard birds, from Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons to Welsummers and Silkies, this collection of quotes and proverbs will steal any chicken lover’s heart.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 225 x 203 mm | 8.75 x 8 inches | 160 Pages | Colour
Australia Illustrated (2nd edition)
Australia. Big. Beautiful. Diverse. From the First People to washing lines and crocodiles, football and sunshine, koalas and akubras, skyscrapers and beaches, this is a glorious tribute to this wide brown land and its rich and varied multicultural communities. Vibrantly illustrated with watercolour, ink and mono-printing, it not only celebrates the more ‘typical’ Australian flora, fauna and landmarks, but also showcases the everyday quirks and idiosyncrasies that make Australia unique.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 280 x 245 mm / 11 x 9.5 Inches | Colour | 96 Pages
Curious English Words and Phrases (2nd edition)
The truth behind the expressions we use.
‘Cloud nine’, ‘at the drop of a hat’, ‘spitting image’, ‘mollycoddle’, ‘rigmarole’, ‘round robin’, ‘spill the beans’, ‘kick the bucket’, ‘balderdash’ and ‘touch wood’. There are so many curious words and phrases that we often use and yet haven’t you ever wondered why we say them, where they come from and what they mean?
Written by language expert Max Cryer, Curious Words and Phrases has all the answers behind some of the most interesting and perplexing words and expressions in the English language. Bulging with information, it’s a useful reference book and the ideal gift for anyone curious about the words and phrases we use.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8.25 x 5.25 Inches | 432 Pages |
True rulers of our world and the key to our survival.
Lavishly illustrated with breathtaking macrophotography, this stunning insight into the world of the minibeasts reveals the critical role these true rulers of our world play in our survival. Topics covered include the jobs invertebrates (insects) perform that enable life on earth to exist, as well as how they have evolved to suit their environments. From new medical drugs to hi-tech robotics, minibeasts provide a wealth of material for humans to draw on to help solve our 21st-century problems.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 254 x 254 mm / 10 x 10 Inches | Colour | 160 Pages |
Trial of Strength
Adventures and misadventures on the wild and remote subantarctic islands
The subantarctic islands circle the lower part of the globe below New Zealand, Australia, Africa and South America in the ‘Roaring Forties’ and ‘Furious Fifties’ latitudes. They are filled with unique plants and wildlife, constantly buffeted by lashing rain and furious gales, and have a rich and fascinating human history. Trial of Strength tells the compelling stories of these islands and will leave you with an appreciation for the tenacity of the human race and the forbidding forces of nature.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 260 x 186 mm / 10.25 x 7.25 Inches | Colour | 264 Pages
At the End of Holyrood Lane
Flick is just like any other youngster. She loves to chase butterflies and jump in autumn leaves. But life at the end of Holyrood Lane is often violent and unpredictable due to the constant storms that plague her home, causing her to cringe with dread and flee whenever they strike. Visually arresting, emotionally incisive, and ultimately uplifting, this beautifully crafted picture book provides a sensitive glimpse into one aspect of domestic violence and how it can affect young lives.
WINNER OF THE 2019 SCWBI Crystal Kite Award, Australia/New Zealand Division. Congratulations Dimity and Nicky!
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 245 x 255 mm / 9.5 x 10 Inches | Colour | 32 Pages |
AS RECOMMENDED BY
Untangling the Mix-ups, Misuse and Myths of Language
Even the best wordsmiths can trip over words that are commonly misused, mixed up or misspelled. This useful reference gets to the bottom of these language issues so that you can ensure you’ve got the word you’re looking for. With examples of how to sharpen up text and improve your writing, lists of useful social media abbreviations and a discussion of unusual plurals, this playful look at the often bizarre English language has got you covered, whether you’re writing a book, blog or an email.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches | 192 Pages |
Escaping the Emotional Roller Coaster
ACT for the Emotionally Sensitive
If you’ve ever been told that you’re ‘too sensitive’ or felt overwhelmed by your emotions, this is the book for you. Using the principles of ACT and positive psychology, Dr Zurita Ona provides a simple roadmap for every ‘super-feeler’ on how to avoid being hijacked by your emotions. You will discover that you are far more than your emotions, and that you can always choose to act in a way that is consistent with your personal values, in order to experience fulfilling, loving relationships.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches | Black & White | 248 Pages |
Finding Granny
We never really lose the people we love…
Every two seconds, someone in the world suffers a stroke. In Finding Granny, that someone is Edie’s beloved grandmother. When Edie comes to the hospital, she is confronted by the physical changes in her grandmother: muddled words, a crooked face, a woman confined to bed. This isn’t the ‘playtime, bedtime, story-time pantomime Granny’ that Edie knows. ‘That’s not my Granny,’ she says, as she waits outside in the corridor during her mother’s visits. But when her mother takes Edie to watch one of Granny’s art therapy sessions, Edie starts to understand that the Granny she loves is still there. Finding Granny is a heart-warming story of changing relationships and the bond between children and grandparents. It’s also a sensitive exploration of coping with illness and disability that will offer children much-needed comfort.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 245 x 255 mm | Colour | 32 Pages
Renew Your Mind
How to rewire your brain for a happier, healthier life
Developed from clinical psychologist and executive coach Chantal Hofstee’s highly successful book, Mindfulness on the Run, Renew Your Mind is the essential guide to rewiring your brain so that you can lead a rich and rewarding life that leaves you energized, healthy and happy. Incorporating the latest neuroscience as well as aspects of mindfulness, the result is an effective program that leads to a calmer, more focused mind; greater productivity; enhanced creativity; and improved relationships.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 mm / 9 x 6 Inches | 320 Pages
Skip the Drama
Practical, Get-Ahead Strategies to Survive Your Daughter’s Teenage Years
Top specialist clinical psychologist Dr Sarah Hughes delivers new practical, immediate strategies for parents living with potentially difficult, rebellious, or irresponsible teenage daughters. Supported by real-life examples, studies and research into the adolescent brain, Hughes’ solutions will help mothers and fathers grow a stubborn, reckless or challenging teenager into a well-adjusted, respectful, and self-sufficient young woman.
Social Courage
Coping and thriving with the reality of social anxiety
Whether you are struggling with social anxiety of phobic proportions or are just held back when it comes to public speaking or meeting a specific social goal, Social Courage offers help with its effective, structured, step-by-step program that draws from a range of therapeutic approaches. Packed with practical exercises and case studies, it gives you the tools to boldly move towards your social goals, while minimizing suffering along the way.
SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 229 x 152 / 9 x 6 Inches | 232 Pages |
Sleep Sense
Sleep is the critical missing ingredient for physical and mental health. Everyone sleeps, yet few of us understand the importance of sleep, nor learn how to optimize our sleep habits for maximum health benefits.
In her highly anticipated debut book, international sleep expert Dr Katharina Lederle draws on the latest research to explore how sleep is connected to each of the three pillars of successful living: physical health, cognitive performance, and emotional wellbeing.
Inside, you’ll learn how to identify your own internal biological rhythms, and synchronize them with your day to day life. Choosing from a menu of simple options, you’ll discover how to create your own sleep symphony, resulting in more energy, clearer thinking, steadier emotions and better health.
My Grandfather’s War
The award-winning team of Glyn Harper and Jenny Cooper share this poignant story about a Vietnam veteran and his relationship with his granddaughter. While the relationship is a positive one, the young girl senses her grandfather’s pain and is curious to find out the cause. She discovers her grandfather’s sadness is a legacy of the Vietnam War and his experiences there. This is a sensitive exploration of the cost of war on those who serve.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 245 x 255 mm / 9½ x 10 Inches | Colour | 32 Pages |
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Tracey Paleo
Tracey Paleo is Associate Editor at FootLights Magazine. She's also the Founder and Chief Editor of the arts and culture site, Gia On The Move, where she often reviews live performance events.
@GiaMedia3
Rogue Machine Announces 2017 Season
Tracey Paleo February 3, 2017 0 2,397
Rogue Machine Theatre announces its 2017 season with 5 plays new to Los Angeles: March 4, 2017 – April 23, 2017 West Coast Premiere Still Life Directed by Michael Peretzian Broadway playwright and Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman; On Your Feet) examines the causal link between life and death, ethics and success, art and redemption. How do we endure loss and re-find the will ...
Bucket List Theatre Announces 2017 Season
Tracey Paleo January 25, 2017 0 2,214
Bucket List Theatre has announced their updated 2017 season. All productions will take place at the Let Live Theatre (The Actors Company, 916 N Formosa Ave): April 20-28, 2017 Pageant Play by Matthew Wilkas & Mark Setlock Welcome to the hilarious, terrifying and surreal world of child beauty pageants. Pinky Corningfield will do anything to make sure her little angel wins the ultimate title, Supreme Queen. Glitz. ...
Press Release: New Board Members for Actors’ Gang
Tracey Paleo January 23, 2017 Comments Off on Press Release: New Board Members for Actors’ Gang 2,613
PRESS RELEASE LOS ANGELES (January 23, 2017) — The Actors’ Gang Artistic Director Tim Robbins, Executive Director Simon Hanna, and chair of the Board, Collette Brooks proudly announce the addition of two new members to The Actors’ Gang Board of Directors since January 2017. The newly elected board members are Billie C. Greer and Malissa Feruzzi Shriver. “We are thrilled to welcome Billie and Malissa ...
Shakespeare on Trump
Far from dealing with “alternative facts, ” the Bard dealt with eternal truths. Any other quotes come to mind?
Practical Coeurage
A Saturday afternoon lunch with Jeremy Lelliot, founding artistic director of Coeurage Theatre Company, immediately erupted into a snowball of hilarious storytelling in which Jeremy also revealed an intriguing insight about himself. “I love baseball. I played baseball for one inning. Second base. I’d been on the bench the whole time pre-season. In the first game, the ball hit my glove, jumped up, hit my ...
2016 Ovation Awards: Nominations & Winners
Tracey Paleo January 17, 2017 Comments Off on 2016 Ovation Awards: Nominations & Winners 3,387
The 2016 Ovation Awards were held on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in the Ahmanson Theatre. The winners in each category are italicized and in red. The evening’s host was Alexandra Billings. Best Season CELEBRATION THEATRE Bootycandy Dream Boy The Boy From Oz GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Barcelona Big Sky Guards at the Taj In & Of Itself Outside Mullingar Sex with Strangers Stage Kiss These Paper Bullets! ...
Press Release: 8 Theaters Split $400K Gift
PRESS RELEASE LOS ANGELES (January 14, 2017) — Honoring the wishes of his sister Pearl Bordy Frazier, who passed away on October 9 of last year, Drama-Logue founder Bill Bordy has donated a total of $500,000 to LA STAGE Alliance and eight of its member theatres in the Los Angeles area. “Pearl loved going to work each day,” said Bill Bordy. “Despite what some considered her ...
Sierra Madre Playhouse Wins Grant
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation has bestowed a $15,000 grant on Sierra Madre Playhouse in support of its upcoming production, Thomas Gibbons’ Bee-luther-hatchee. The Sierra Madre Playhouse is one of four Los Angeles and Seattle area theaters newly designated as a grantee and is the only intimate theater to be so awarded. According to the Foundation, its “theater enrichment work fosters the art ...
Burt Young’s Last Vig? Not Quite
Tracey Paleo January 9, 2017 0 4,980
Walking in at the tail end of rehearsal to interview Academy Award-nominated actor Burt Young (Rocky, Chinatown, The Pope of Greenwich Village), starring this month in The Last Vig, a new comedy by David Varriale at the Zephyr Theatre, was like stepping into my dad’s old social club where many a film, tv and music star, played and lost at poker at one time or ...
Remembering Barbara Tarbuck
The following is a letter to the press from Los Angeles publicist Philip Sokoloff: Actress, Director, and Teacher Barbara Tarbuck passed away at the age of 74 on December 26th, 2016, after suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Her last work as a director was Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang at the Edgemar Center for the Arts. The Cast is so grateful ...
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Search in titles only Search in Padres only
The 2018-19 MLB Offseason Thread (aka "Hot Stove League")
Previous 1 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 template Next
Henry Silvestre
Master of my Domain
Re: The 2018-19 MLB Offseason Thread (aka "Hot Stove League"
Jesus you think Marlin or Phillies fans would be dominating the JT R chats.... BUT its all Brave fans wanting heads to roll in Atlanta...funny
Sheshhh after the JTR trade Philly 10th ranked system..dropped to 19th mainly because Six to... That shows you how thin some of these systems are... I don't recalled who said it but aomeone said we could lose our top 10 prospects and still be a top ten system ...we are very very deep..where most are top heavy with no depth.. And I like it
dannyboy
Back in SD
Originally posted by Henry Silvestre View Post
I think that mostly goes to the arbitrariness of the rankings.
Büey 45
QEPD
Kyler Murray announced he's going to play football.
Originally posted by Büey 45 View Post
I know nothing about him, but the concussion / brain injury risk of playing in the NFL should get any dual-sport athlete to go baseball. I saw that fully aware that the guaranteed money for an NFL draft pick is significantly more than a baseball player.
Not that is a picnic delivery a ball under pressure, but the rules are pretty cozy for QBs these days. $10M guaranteed and likely a whole lot more v. $7M guaranteed and then a few years in the minors and then three years making the minimum and then a few years still being paid below market value and then teams won't give you a lucrative deal because now you are 30 even if you do make it. Oh, and there may be a work stoppage in a few years.
If he was playing RB or LB, I'd go baseball. The money and the way the system is built to protect QBs has me thinking he is making the right call.
Yeah, you can barely touch quarterbacks anymore.
Murray isn’t going to get nearly as much playing football imo. He’s not a 1st rounder and is a 5’9 qb. He could be undrafted even. Also heard that he will have to give back his signing bonus from the A’s
HollywoodLeo
Most mocks have him in the 1st round
http://www.rachelschallenge.org/
padres15
The gurus at ESPN have him as a top 15 pick. Football makes a lot more sense to me, assuming he's a 1st rounder, given that that seems to be his true passion and he'll hit the big stage immideately.
But I have a hard time believing a 5'9" QB will hold up over the long haul even with all the rule changes that favor QB's.
Originally posted by HollywoodLeo View Post
yah I have seen them, I truly dont think any GM is going to want to roll the dice on a 5'9 QB in the 1st round, its a recipe to be not a GM very quickly
QB's have a huge % of busting and this dude has everything against him physically on top of it
Michael Vick was considered a small QB, and he was 6'0 and had the best running skills of any QB I have ever seen
RG 3 is another guy that I would look at dude is 6'2 and got destroyed with that style
Murray is nowhere near the runner that Vick or RG3 were, and even smaller, he will be killed
Originally posted by Golden Spikes 19 View Post
Drew Brees is 6'0, Russell Wilson is 5'11 and both have Super Bowl rings.
But I'm not here trying to argue that Murray is going to be an awesome QB. I'm simply pointing out that he's being projected as a 1st rounder and you said he'll go undrafted.
I doubt he makes it past round 4 unless he just has a terrible combine.
There's no way he makes this decision if he's not confident, and someone's not telling him, that he could go in the first round.
yah I have seen them, I truly dont think any GM 8is going to want to roll the dice on a 5'9 QB in the 1st round, its a recipe to be not a GM very quickly
News flash they play touch football now in the NFL.. A different game..and Flutie did just fine at 5-6...
I didnt say he will go undrafted, I said I could see him going undrafted
I think hes a 3rd rounder type
Brees is a bad comparison hes a pocket passer. Wilson is a good comp though, maybe someone will hope for that, and maybe with his background like Wilson in baseball he knows how to slide, thats what has kept him healthy
Its going to be hard to design an offense for him, especially under center, hes going to have a really hard time seeing the field unless he is in shotgun every snap
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Bannon Said Nazi Influenced His World View
February 10, 2017 By Daniel J. Solomon
Steve Bannon apparently referenced an infamous Italian fascist thinker as influential on his own ideology in a talk he gave at the Vatican three years ago, continuing to raise alarms about the extent of connections between the chief White House strategist and the far-right fringes.
Bannon made passing mention in that address to Julius Evola, who actively wrote under Benito Mussolini’s regime and afterward, espousing a philosophy of Traditionalism that presented concepts like equality and progress as false ideals. His work has been taken up in the past decade by leaders of the “alt-right,” with the white nationalist Richard Spencer praising Evola as one of his intellectual fathers. Evola has also been adopted by far-right parties in Europe, including Hungary’s Jobbik and Greece’s Golden Dawn.
In an ironic twist, Evola was not only a fascist – he met with Mussoolini and influenced the dictator’s writing of racial laws against Jews and other minorities – but even more radical than the Italian leader, castigating him for being too compromising and instead finding his intellectual model in the Nazis.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon
This story "Bannon Said Nazi Influenced His World View" was written by Daniel J. Solomon.
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Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth
Adams Presidency
Documents filtered by: Author="Hamilton, Alexander" AND Recipient="Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
Results 1-30 of 44 sorted by recipient
1From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 7 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary at War has informed you that the General Superintendence of the Recruiting service...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 5 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 28th. ultimo. I approve of your reasons, & the plan you...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 2 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to a conversation which we had while you were in this city I have directed Lieutenant...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 20 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Not knowing certainly what may be the communication to you from the Department of War, I think it...
I have received your letter of the twenty fourth of March. You will find its general object...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 18 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to a conversation which I had with you while in this city I have concluded to offer to...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 29 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The S of War mentions to me that the recruiting service still continues in some of the corps...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 4 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I expressed to you my wish in conversation that you would be so good as to fix upon and name to...
I have directed the Pay Master General to send to his Deputy in your district bounty money...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 14 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the third instant with its enclosure. The arrangement of which you...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 8 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 8, 1799. “I enclose to you a letter from Col. Lear on the subject of winter...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 23 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 12th. inst. found me at Trenton, from which place I have recently arrived. The...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 18 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secy. of War has Sent to me for Distribution a number of copies of ye. Contract with James...
I send you enclosed for your information a Copy of a letter which I have written to the Deputy...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Nathan Rice, and William S. Smith, 17 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Altho’ I have not been officially advised of it, yet I have received information sufficient to...
I have received your two letters of the tenth and eleventh instant. You will have been informed...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 13 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 13, 1799. “Your several favours of the 10th. of June 12. and 29 of July have...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 7 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received My Dear Sir Your letter of the 17th of January. Accept my thanks for the remarks...
The following is an Extract of a — letter recd. from Col: Parker dated Winchester Oct. 16th....
20From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, [22] December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The death of our beloved commander in Chief was known to you before it was to me. I can be at no...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 6 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you duplicate of my official letter of the 13 of August. If necessary for me to send...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 6 January 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just recd. the enclosed letter to which I have returned the following answer— “ The whole...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 27 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The enclosed letter from Major Ford was sent, thro’ misapprehension to you — me instead of you...
Enclosed are a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury and one from the Secretary of War. It...
I send you a letter from — Mr. James Mitchell with my reply to it. As the letter appears to...
I have consulted the Secretary of War on the subject of the relative rank of the Field officers....
New York, November 4, 1799. “I send you by way of information an order of the 1st. inst. issued...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 14 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I was in due time favoured with your letter of 25 of April. I am glad that our ideas coincide as...
I am perfectly content with the delay of communication to the Revd. Mr. Hill, till the effect of...
Major Bradley of the fourth regiment who has been a long time in the western Country and is now...
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Health & How To
Author Representation
Filmed Entertainment
Jessica Felleman
Jessica represents a range of fiction and non-fiction, from fun pop culture, popular science, history, and psychology, to contemporary literary memoirs and graphic novels. On the nonfiction side, she looks for projects with a strong, relatable, and often humorous voice, and prescriptive titles that offer realistic advice or new perspectives that help readers better understand themselves and the world.
Jessica looks for fiction featuring compelling and underserved voices that focus on strong characters and interesting worlds, including commercial and literary fiction, fiction that balances on the edge of genre, and some science fiction and fantasy. She loves fresh stories about magic, complicated families, everyday people doing extraordinary things, and unforgettable places.
Jessica grew up in Massachusetts, earned joint B.A.s in both English and French from Syracuse University, and completed her MFA in Writing at The California Institute of the Arts. She began her publishing career at the Los Angeles based Black Clock literary magazine, and with Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises, before relocating to New York for a position at Foundry Literary + Media in 2015, where she is actively building her list.
Jessica only accepts email submissions. You can query her at jfsubmissions@foundrymedia.com. For more information on submitting your project, please see the Foundry Submissions page.
33 West 17th Street PH, New York, NY 10011
© Foundry Literary + Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Teen survives 10-inch knife lodged in face: ‘It could have been the end of me’
Posted 9:34 PM, June 17, 2019, by CNN Wire
Eli Gregg, 15, is recovering after a 10-inch knife pierced his face.
BOURBON COUNTY, Ks. — When Dr. Koji Ebersole laid eyes on the boy whose face was impaled on a 10-inch knife, the neurosurgeon thought, “here we go again.”
Eli Gregg, 15, of Bourbon County, Kansas, is recovering from the freak accident after going home from the hospital on Monday. In a rare occurrence, he’s the second boy Ebersole has treated recently for a sharp object piercing the head.
The first was 10-year-old Xavier Cunningham. In 2018, he survived a penetrating injury to the head after falling from a treehouse ladder in Missouri and landing on a footlong metal meat skewer. He said he was being attacked by yellowjackets, a type of wasp, before he fell.
“When it happened to Xavier, as soon as we saw the X-ray, my colleague said, ‘this is going to go viral,’ ” said Ebersole, a neurosurgeon at the University of Kansas Health System.
Teen stabbed in skull during Santee brawl
A medical team at the University of Kansas Health System then operated on Xavier and removed the skewer.
“I think going through Xavier’s case helped us a lot for this one,” Ebersole, who’s also an associate professor at the University of Kansas in Kansas City, said of treating Eli.
“At the time of Xavier’s case, nothing like that had been seen at our hospital amongst the personnel that were involved,” he said. “This is supposed to be once in a career.”
In the Kansas countryside, Eli was playing outdoors with his brothers and some close family friends on Thursday evening when they came across the knife, Ebersole said.
“It didn’t belong to the family. They found it, it sounds like, outside in the grass, about 10 inches long,” he said. “My understanding is, Eli wanted to take it away from the younger kids for protection, and in that transition, there was a trip and a fall, and it was in the hand of another boy at the time, and … it fell into his face.”
Baby brothers beat all odds after horrific attack
In a video interview released by the hospital, Eli said that the incident happened “very quickly” and that when he found his mother in their kitchen, she immediately called 911.
“When she looked at me, she just gasped,” Eli said.
“I love her, and I’m glad she was there for me,” he said. “It could have been the end of me.”
With the knife embedded in his skull, Eli was sent to the University of Kansas Health System early Friday. Ebersole said he and his colleagues started to operate on Eli about 7 a.m.
Teen stabs principal during graduation rehearsal
While closely monitoring blood vessels near where the knife was lodged, Ebersole and his colleagues used catheters, tiny balloons and other tools to carefully remove it.
“Once it started moving, it was out in 10 seconds,” Ebersole said.
He added that Eli “didn’t suffer any brain injury. No injury to vision. No injury to the movement of the eyes. No strokes. No brain bleeding. Really, he’s just got a small little cosmetic incision line, if you will, from the knife on his right cheek. You would never know that he went through all of this.”
Of course, Eli was alarmed about the incident, but “I saw a small smile today when he realized that his story was bringing hope to other people,” Ebersole said Monday.
While at home, Eli was instructed to “take it easy for a couple of days, and then we’ll take another MRI in about a week,” Ebersole said.
Eli’s mother, Jimmy Russell, called her son’s recovery “answered prayers” in a video released by the hospital.
“I’m really happy that they were able to get it out and keep me alive,” Eli said of the surgery to remove the knife.
“I finally get to see the rest of my family,” he said through tears. “I get to go home.”
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Ziggy's Gift
BBC One London, 26 December 1985 13.00
Ziggy - a little guy in a big world, overweight and underwhelmed - takes a job as a street-corner Santa, but he finds himself working for a con man ...
Music and lyrics by HARRY NILSSON
Produced by LENA TABORI
Animation by ERIC GOLDBERG
Directed by RICHARD WILLIAMS (R)
Unknown: Harry Nilsson
Produced By: Lena Tabori
Unknown: Eric Goldberg
Directed By: Richard Williams
Feedback about Ziggy's Gift, BBC One London, 13.00, 26 December 1985
Please leave this link here so we can find the programme you're referring to: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ac42f8fce1c945e48aa8b4e9c0e8d894
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Home Male Singers Asrar
Asrar
Asrar is Pakistani sufi singer, received training from Ustad Sultan Ahmed Khan in Hyderabad then in 2007 he moved the lahore where he participated and stood first in Pakistan Musical Conference. In 2011 he released his debut single “Nai Saiyyo”. He joined the television program Coke studio in 2014 and released his song “Sub Aakho Ali Ali” during the show. He made his bollywood debut in July 2015 with a song Afghan jalebi for the film phantom Asrar has also started his own music production company named Soul Speaks.
Contact Asrar (musician)
Categories: Sufi Singers, Male Singers Tag: 4 Star Artist
Asrar (musician) (born 20 April 1985) is a Pakistani Sufi singer from Lahore Pakistan.
Asrar was born on April 20, 1985, in Pakistani Kashmir later in 1992 his family moved to Hyderabad and then to Lahore in 2007. From an early age, he was inspired by Sufi music and started writing his own songs.
Asrar received training from Ustad Sultan Ahmed Khan in Hyderabad then in 2007 he moved the Lahore where he participated and stood first in Pakistan Musical Conference. In 2011 he released his debut single “Nai Saiyyo”. He joined the television program Coke studio in 2014 and released his song “Sub Aakho Ali Ali” during the show. He made his Bollywood debut in July 2015 with a song Afghan jalebi for the film phantom Asrar has also started his own music production company named Soul Speaks.
Contact Asrar (musician),
Catagory
Punjabi, Urdu
Performance Style
1 review for Asrar
Saba Noreen – December 28, 2018
How can I contact to Asrar for my event?
Asghar Khoso
Shazia Manzoor
Hina Nasrullah
Najam Sheraz
Natasha Baig
Mehwish Hayat
Shehzad Roy
Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi
Taher Shah
Farhan Saeed
Raheem Shah
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Home / Pakistan / Pakistan’s ties with India linked to resolution of Kashmir issue: Qureshi | Pakistan
Pakistan’s ties with India linked to resolution of Kashmir issue: Qureshi | Pakistan
February 7, 2019 Pakistan Leave a comment
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Photo: File
BIRMINGHAM: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said Pakistan’s ties with India are linked with the resolution Kashmir issue and if India takes one step, we will take two steps.
Addressing a gathering of overseas Pakistanis in Birmingham, Qureshi said, “Pakistan will continue its efforts to bring peace and stability in the region.”
He added the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has effectively highlighted Kashmir issue at international forums. “The US and Taliban are now holding talks due to efforts of PM Imran.”
The foreign minister continued, “Due to prudent economic policies, international companies are now coming to Pakistan for investment in diverse sectors. New agreements for trade and investment will soon be signed with the European Union and the United Kingdom.”
The minister added the government is also committed to complete all projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
A day earlier, FM Qureshi inaugurated an exhibition on Kashmir marking the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day in London.
The event was attended by a large gathering of guests including British parliamentarians, members of Cross-party Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate of Pakistan, representatives from civil society organizations, students, Kashmiris and members of the British Pakistani diaspora.
The exhibition showcased a wide array of photographs that shed light on the plight of Kashmiris, including women and children who suffered from injuries at the hands of Indian security forces in occupied Kashmir.
In his remarks as chief guest, the foreign minister while highlighting the prevailing human rights situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) strongly condemned the ongoing atrocities and expressed solidarity with Kashmiris in their struggle for their legitimate right to self-determination.
He assured that the government and the people of Pakistan remain steadfast in their moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris. “Pakistan government and its people spare no occasion to create awareness on IoK with the view to ensuring that bloodshed in the occupied valley is halted immediately and unconditionally and that the perpetrators of crimes against innocent Kashmiris are brought to justice,” he said.
FM Qureshi further said the deteriorating situation in IoK has made it all the more necessary to establish an independent, impartial and international investigation to assess the situation in the occupied valley. “Pakistan has repeatedly called for an unbiased investigation into the gross human rights violations in IoK.”
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The national assembly has held seven sessions, comprising of 42 sittings, to date since August. …
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liberia: Educator Calls on Gov’t to Support Female Vocational Education
By admin Last updated Oct 9, 2018
Gardnersville – Why the George Weah led-government maybe prioritizing road over other sectors of the country, the founder of the Addo-Mills Vocational Institute, Madam Oretha B. Mills, is calling on the government of Liberia to give more support to female vocational education in the country.
Report by Jackson F. Kanneh, [email protected]
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica Monday, October 8, on the campus of the institute in Gardnersville, the Liberian educator urged the current leadership of government to focus on vocational education. She said by doing so, the government will help to empower more out-of-school youths, especially females.
“We are calling on the government of Liberia especially the Office of the Vice President and that of the First Lady to really help vocational schools. We vocational school operators really need help in order to transform the lives of our sisters and daughters, who are not in school,” she noted.
According to her, giving support to vocational institutions whose students are mostly females will go a long way in buttressing government’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
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She further stated that Addo-Mills Vocational Institute was opened as a means of getting females out of the street and back into the classroom.
She further stated that since the George Weah-led administration is running a pro-poor agenda, by putting out-of-school girls into various vocational institutions, will only help to promote the PDAP.
“We are running this school in order to get these girls from out there. We want them to do some thing for themselves. It is only fair if this government that was elected by the popular will of the people will support us in that direction,” Madam Mills stated.
The school, which was established in 2005, provides lessons in tailoring, pastry, cosmetology and event decoration, etc.
She urged female students, who are now in classrooms to put more time to their lessons and take pride in themselves.
She also frowned at parents, who sent their little girl children out into the streets to sell; adding: “Being in the streets will not really do anything for them. They need to come to vocational school like ours to learn something and be able to do something for themselves so that tomorrow they cannot be liability in the community,” she stated.
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BMW refocuses 'i' division on self-driving cars as Honda shows off autonomous prototypes
Posted: June 2, 2016 5:16PM
More potential competition for the rumored "Apple Car" emerged on Thursday, as BMW said that it is relaunching its "i" division to concentrate on self-driving vehicles, just a day after Honda revealed its own prototypes in that field.
BMW's electric i3.
BMW made the changeover in April, board member Klaus Froehlich told Reuters. The initiative -- called "Project i Next" -- is now in a "ramp-up stage," according to Froehlich. The company is reportedly hiring people with experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and working to integrate current computer-assisted systems like automatic parking and lane-holding.
Froehlich hinted that BMW might eventually be able to launch its own ridesharing business, but might also partner with an existing company, particularly in regions like China. The carmaker's strategy on such partnerships is still being developed.
BMW's existing i-series vehicles -- the hybrid i8 and fully electric i3 -- have largely failed to take off, with the latter managing only 25,000 sales in 2015. Cost may be a major issue, since while the i3 starts at $42,400 -- making it much cheaper than a Tesla Model S -- it's more expensive than something like the Nissan Leaf without offering a matching leap in driving range.
One of Honda's self-driving prototypes.
Honda meanwhile showcased two self-driving prototypes on Wednesday, promising to put its first fully automated cars on sale in 2020, Reuters said. The company noted that it is already building some semi-autonomous functions into current models, namely Acuras and the 2016 Civic.
The chief engineer for Honda Research and Development Americas, Jim Keller, pointed out that the company is planning to offer self-driving systems across its lineup, instead of just reserving them for luxury vehicles.
Honda's demonstration notably took place at GoMentum Station, a place Apple has considered for testing its own self-driving technology. It's not clear if Apple has signed any deal, but the company is nevertheless expected to ship its first electric car in 2019 or 2020, even if the first model may not be self-driving.
volcan Posts: 1,789member
June 2, 2016 5:25PM
I don't think they will sell very well until they can eliminate all that crap on the roof.
edited June 2016
schlack Posts: 695member
volcan said:
It's a prototype man. And those sensors are far more advanced than what Tesla uses in the Model S/X.
mcfrazieriv Posts: 70member
25,000 is not a failure for a niche division of a major company using that niche division to test modular design and carbon fiber. They are taking what they've learned in real world tests and placing that in all their other vehicles. Stick to Apple "rumors," at least there you can speculate failures before they actually fail just like the rest of the world and appear to know what you're talking about.
davebarnes Posts: 272member
I agree. Get some decent design sense, people.
schlack said:
I realize that, but can they attain the required precision without such bulky equipment? It is a laws of physics issue. Lidar, cameras and lasers, etc have to be rather big to guarantee the level of effectiveness needed to meet the safety requirements of the system.
staticx57 Posts: 399member
No, they can't. Only Apple can.
blitz1 Posts: 412member
So Apple is entering a market where every major player has already working prototypes?
blitz1 said:
That's what they always do. They let the others blaze a trail littered with broken axe handles and then they come in and pave the way.
Really? Do you expect prototype, testing equipment to be completely polished and consumer-ready at v1.0 or don't even bother developing it?
johnny mozzarella Posts: 1,814member
How do we know Apple doesn't already have a working prototype?
Apple doesn't show off prototypes, or even talk about what they are working on or how far along they are.
ronmg Posts: 163member
Exactly, johnny mozzarella. I hate when people think Apple is far behind just because they don't broadcast where they are in development/prototyping.
June 2, 2016 10:39PM
Apple car:
- no dealers
- no experience
- no track record
- no wide spread servicing
competing against BMW, Audi, Mercedes, ...
Again, interesting!
(But then, of course, their car won't break - a.k.a. our software doesn't have bugs)
colinng Posts: 112member
June 3, 2016 8:29AM
You could have said exactly the same for iPhone in 2007. They're bright people - they'll figure it out.
apple tree Posts: 17member
I wonder what's the life expectancy of these high tech wonders? My truck is 18 years old, and it is just getting broken in!
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What exactly is the divorce bill paying for? And why are we paying it?
Published: 7th Dec 2018
We’ve had help answering this question from our friends at the Institute for Government and UK in a Changing Europe.
Experts at UK in a Changing Europe told us that the UK is paying this to ensure it has cleared its liabilities with the EU.
During its time as a member of the EU, the UK has made various commitments for future spending and contributed to the EU budget. The EU distributes money from this budget to projects across the EU, including some back in the UK. The budget is set out in blocks in advance, the most recent one runs from 2014 to 2020.
Some of the UK’s other commitments also stretch over long time periods: for example contributing towards pensions of UK citizens working in EU institutions, or long-term infrastructure investments through the European Investment Bank.
The “divorce bill” settles the outstanding commitments and obligations that the UK has incurred while an EU member.
It’s made up of three key elements:
The UK’s contribution to EU annual budgets up to 2020;
Payment of outstanding commitments (EU spending programmes we’ve said we’ll contribute to that haven’t happened yet); and
Financing liabilities (like our share of pensions) accrued up to the end of 2020.
The government has committed to the items it will cover, not to specific amounts—which may change depending on the exchange rate (payments are in euros) and how big our economy is. Some of the liabilities may not materialise.
The latest estimate is that the bill will come to around £39 billion, to be paid between 2019 and 2064. £16 billion will go towards annual EU budget payments, £20 billion will go towards spending the UK has committed to within the EU but which hasn’t yet been spent, and just under £3 billion will go towards other liabilities (for example pensions).
The UK is also getting some money back from the EU—for example, money paid into the European Investment Bank.
We’ll be paying some of the divorce bill until 2064—but most of the bill will be paid off by 2021, according to estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility. All our payments from 2029 onwards will be for meeting the cost of pensions.
The withdrawal agreement negotiated by the UK and EU (but not yet passed by the UK parliament) committed to paying a divorce bill in principle, but the government has also said if the UK leaves the EU with no deal on 29 March then its position on the subject could change.
This article is part of our Ask Full Fact series on Brexit, answering your questions about Brexit and the latest negotiations between the UK and the EU.
You can see all the questions we’ve answered so far here. If you want to ask us your own question, do that here.
We updated this article with new content provided by UK in a Changing Europe.
By Full Fact Team
If we leave with no deal, how much of the divorce bill will we be legally obligated to pay?
Ask Full Fact: Brexit
Ask Full Fact: your Brexit questions answered
Will there still be a transition period if we leave with no deal?
Can Article 50 be extended or stopped, and how would this happen?
Can we unilaterally quit the withdrawal agreement or backstop in future?
Would a trade deal with the USA mean lower food standards?
Why is avoiding a hard border in Ireland a priority?
Can Spain really veto the withdrawal bill?
If there is no deal will any restrictions apply to flights to and from EU airports?
What does it really mean to take back control of our waters and fishing, are there controls outside the EU which we will have to adhere to after Brexit?
Will the UK be able to do separate trade deals during the transition period?
What will happen to the European Health Insurance Card and emergency medical treatment after Brexit?
Where does Brexit leave us with regards to the Galileo project?
What will be the repercussions of Brexit on our membership of Interpol?
Will the UK remain part of the "Everything but Arms" initiative after Brexit?
During the transition period will the European Court of Justice be able to veto or change any UK laws?
Is the divorce bill that we’re paying less than half of what the EU originally asked for?
What would happen to medical supplies and drinking water if we left with no deal?
How long will we be paying the divorce bill?
If we go into the backstop, will the UK be making any financial contributions to the EU for that period?
Will we be able to implement trade deals with other countries if the Irish border situation is unresolved?
If we leave without a deal, what happens to the Irish border?
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Nintendo’s next mobile game, Mario Kart Tour, is getting a closed beta next month. The trial will be available in the US and Japan on Android devices only.
The beta, which is designed to help Nintendo fine-tune the game before its full release in summer 2019, will run from May 22 through June 4. You can apply until May 7 on the Mario Kart Tour website, though you must be using an Android phone to even see the option to apply. Also note that applying doesn’t guarantee you access: Nintendo says it will pick participants at random if there are more applicants than spaces.
In order to run the beta, your device must be running Android 4.4 or later and possess at least 1.5 GB of RAM. Android tablets are not supported in the beta, Nintendo says. One final stipulation is that your Nintendo account must be registered to a Gmail address, and not any other email provider. This is so your Nintendo account matches the Google account you’ll use to download the beta from the Google Play store.
Otherwise, Nintendo has not revealed much information about the beta, or indeed about the game itself. We don’t know what courses or characters will be playable, for example. The game was scheduled to be released before the end of March, but was then delayed until this summer.
For a long time, Nintendo refused to bring its franchises to mobile devices, in part because the company maintained that it would rather focus on its own dedicated gaming devices. However, this stance changed, and Nintendo has already released a few mobile games and apps, including Miitopia, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Looking ahead, Dr Mario World is due to launch this summer along with Mario Kart Tour.
The latest game in the racing series is Nintendo Switch’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which has now sold nearly 17 million copies worldwide. For more on that title, read our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review.
Beta Game... Heres Kart Mario Receive Sign 2019-04-28
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The Free Game Fallout Shelter Has Made More Than $90 Million From Microtransactions
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Sana’s Shokugeki – Part 1
On our way to school in the mornings, Ii-san—Kanata ended up joining us. Lately, she could be found waiting for Sana and I part way on the road to school. From there, we would continue on together.
“Before, when there were other upperclassmen, what was the home economics club like?”
Sana’s casual question was something that I was also curious about. After the two of us have entered the club, we end up gathering inside the home economics room and just playing games while passing our time together as a club. Sana and Kanata seemed to be fine with that so I didn’t have any problems with such loosely handled club activities.
“… we cooked… we made snacks… we sewed… we made a lot of different things.”
“Then, Kanata is good at stuff like cooking and sewing?”
When I asked her that, Kanata’s expression broke as she turned away. Somehow, she seemed curiously hurt…
“… I thought that I would practice, so I entered last year. However, I’m still bad with it…”
“Then you’re the same as Sana.”
“Sana isn’t bad at it, Sana just doesn’t want to do it. You should stop sleep talking.”
Sleep talking? Isn’t that the truth? The Sana in the future was the same as me, and had left home to live by herself. It seemed that she lived a life where she would just go back and forth between work and home.
“I-if it’s just chores, Sana can easily do that.”
That was something that the adult Sana from before the time leap would say. If it was like that, she probably wouldn’t be fine at all. As far as I knew, she didn’t have a boyfriend yet either. Comparing the adult Sana to the current Sana, she was only slightly more mature, and there was almost no difference.
Her chest was still small like it is now. She hadn’t grown at all.
When I looked at the search history on our shared family computer, “Chest, bigger”, ended up coming up. It seemed that she was curious about it, such a blunder on her part. Please don’t mind that. It’s useless even if you massage your chest while taking a bath. You’re just pretty. With a loud mouth, no life skills, she was just your typical selfish princess type girl…
She was definitely a girl that was not conscious of marriage. If I leave Sana as she was now, she’ll end up like the adult Sana that I know (a flat chested selfish princess). It was fine if it was just in her twenties, but once she passes thirty it would be tough. As her older brother, since I know the future, I must change the pitiful future of my little sister.
I grabbed the shoulders of Sana who was walking beside me, and stared straight at her.
“Sana, do your best. It all starts with you admitting that things that are wrong are wrong.”
“W-what is it… so suddenly…”
“… Home economics, are we doing it?”
As Kanata pushed along her bike, she tilted her head.
“Yeah. Let’s properly do our activities.”
The home economics club, or rather the wife training club.
“Even if we don’t do it, isn’t it fine? Hiiragi-sensei hasn’t said anything after all.”
“… Hiiragi-sensei is just a decorative advisor after all.”
“I see. Sensei doesn’t seem great at doing chores, right?”
If Hiiragi-chan were to hear that, she would probably complain, saying that she could do chores perfectly fine.
“Sana. You know? Boys like girls who can do chores, you know? Society these days has become a place where men will end up doing chores as well, but having a girl that would cook and keep the house clean all the time holds a lot of charm in the eyes of boys.”
The female that had come into my mind was Hiiragi-chan. Piku, Sana and Kanata ended up raising their eyebrows.
“He… heeeh, is that so? … Nii-san as well thinks that way…?”
It seemed like Kanata also wanted to know the same thing as she was also staring at me.
“Of course. That included general theory and my personal opinion.”
““We’ll do it.””
The power of general theory is amazing… What was mentioned there, we ended up mentioning Hiiragi-chan during lunch.
“I see I see. So you want to properly do club activities. Everyone’s such good students! You guys were originally just playing around all the time, so I was at a loss of whether or not I should warn you guys or not…”
Ahahaha, Hiiragi-chan made a bitter smile.
“Since there’s enough budget, if you have anything you want, Sensei will prepare it for you, okay?”
“I don’t care about whether or not you will prepare it… but Sensei, can you even cook?”
“Aah. Sana-chan, you’re asking me that? Sensei, makes handmade bentous everyday though.”
“… At the start, it was definitely handmade. But, partway through, it ended up becoming frozen foods that were precooked.”
“Ugi… Y-you have really good eyes, Ii-san…”
“… That’s why, I thought you were just trying to make an appeal at the start to get new members by acting like you could cook.”
“T-that’s not the case! It’s not just an act, I really can do it, okay?”
Since we were with the home economics club for lunch recently, she didn’t need to make a bentou for me. Because of that, it was true that Hiiragi-chan’s bentous for herself had become simpler and simpler. As Sana and Hiiragi-chan continued to discuss, Kanata would interject every once in a while. The three girls became more and more excited.
“Mou, if it’s like this, it’s war! In two days, club activities will be a cooking competition.”
Hearing Sana’s suggestion, the two others nodded with complete confidence.
“… Understood.”
“I will have a complete victory as a teacher, is that alright?”
“I’ll make you eat those words later.”
“… Cooking, as long as you make some sort of logical combination… I can win…”
This was said to be the start of the “Shokugeki” cooking (kind of) competition in the near future.
“The judge will be Nii-san.”
“Eh. Me? I guess that’s fine…”
The three of them seemed to be fine with it, so I nodded in agreement. The statement of, “I need to protect my pride as you girlfriend”, was clearly written on Hiiragi-chan’s face. In this way, a cooking battle ended up being held.
“If Hiiragi-sensei ends up bringing out her all, wouldn’t it seem like you couldn’t read the mood? It would be very unadultlike, right?”
That night, Hiiragi-chan gave me a call and seemed to be completely unfazed.
“However, showing the overwhelming difference between a woman and a little girl is also the role of an adult ♪”
She seemed to intent on committing something that was definitely childish.
“Since it’s been a while, I can make Seiji-kun’s favorite meal ♡.”
… She’s definitely going to fry something. This teacher, she’s definitely going to fry some chicken.
On the first floor, Sana was super loud.
“O-Okaa-san!? C-can you come here for a bit?”
I don’t know what she was thinking of making, but it seems like Sana was planning on starting her arrangements. Hiiragi-chan’s advantage did not change though. It’s just, the results will have to really depend on how Kanata will perform. Probably.
“Okaa-san, what does Nii-san like to eat?”
“Hmmm… Doesn’t he like karaage or stuff like that?”
“I see…!! Sana also likes it!”
Today, Kanata had messaged as well and had asked what food I liked. My reply had ended up being karaage as well.
… I have a really bad feeling about this.
Food Fights starts \o/
wwlnl123 says:
It’ll definitely become kaarage festival
Isaac Cunningham says:
He will be eating a lot of fried chicken (kaarage) the next day
Terratech says:
Guh , If Sensei Made Karaage, and Sana Made Karaage… Then, Ii Kanata-chan’ll be Perfect Win with a refreshing Food for Seiji-kun’s stomach that’ll end up Kanata become…. Damn
Sensei Jealousy+1
sweed says:
Nope. karaage matsuri 300% I think this is a more fitting title. ^.^
Thanks for the chapter : )
altair545 says:
lol i also thought that it said sensei in that last line, thx brother, i guess this confirms Kanata is also interested in him?
blackysensei9 says:
If i were in his place i wouldn’t tell her karaage, afterall u got the chance to have multiple meals, just let each of them cook u a certain type and enjoy
Kurorin0130 says:
coz it’s all free to eat.
I wonder if he will get a trauma with karaage after this karaage festival.
+ +
∧＿∧ ／
+ ( n ´ ∀ ` n NEPUUUUU~~~♪
/ ノ ＼
+(_＿)＿)+
kuroumaru says:
Hmmm, so he’s gonna overdose on Kaarage. What a way to go out…
Thanks for the hard work. Much appreciated.
Kurumi69 says:
better ask Hiiragi-chan for some tea to wash down all that kaarage
Wow, the power of general theory sure is amazing huh. I should try using that as my trump card whenever I try convincing someone of something now lol.
Well i think this chapter confirms that Kanata is also gunning for him ? which is all right i guess but …. cmon girl you think you can beat the ultimate Goddess Haruka ????? ha ha ha it must be hard living in dreamland.
haiph22 says:
Thanks for the chapter 😊
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Tag - electronic arts
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Official Gameplay Demo –...
The Empire won’t stop until every Jedi is purged from the galaxy. As a young Padawan on the run, the odds are against you—but the Force is with you. Discover the Jedi abilities you must...
EA PLAY 2019 Live Stream Schedule Announced
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced its full livestream schedule for EA PLAY 2019 with three hours of content, highlighting six blockbuster...
EA Expands Subscription Service to PlayStation 4
May 7, 2019 — Today, Electronic Arts Inc. announced that it is bringing EA Access* to the PlayStation®4 (PS4™) system. Starting this July, players can sign-up for a monthly...
Apex Legends Season 1 Begins
19th March 2019 Guildford – The Apex Games are about to get a little wilder. The inaugural season of Apex Legends™ starts today on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC via Origin...
EA PLAY 2019 Announced
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Anthem Officially Launches
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and BioWare officially launched Anthem™, inviting players to don their javelins and fully immerse themselves in...
Conviction – An Anthem Story From Neill Blomkamp Teaser
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Neill Blomkamp, the Academy Award-nominated director of District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, have announced that they...
Command & Conquer: Rivals Release Date
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Assemble your forces, mobile commanders – Command & Conquer™: Rivals from Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that Command &...
NHL 19 Launch Trailer
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Anthem Release Date and Cinematic Trailer
LOS ANGELES — Today, at EA PLAY, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) revealed that Anthem™ , the brand-new IP from BioWare’s renowned team, will launch on Feb 22, 2019. Anthem is...
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Rebuilding Earth – Plants of the Post Anthropocene
Introduction to the Weeds
The likelihood of an impoverished Earth of weeds and remnant human societies is growing stronger every day now. Human population, climate change, toxic pollution, and dwindling resources needed by living beings are all reaching points of no return. In a few years now, it will be too late to prevent global catastrophe.
The ability of weeds to reach and thrive in damaged and inimical environments suggests that they may be the principal survivors of the impacts to nature by human overpopulation, pollution, and climate change. In this book, I attempt to answer two questions:
Which weeds are present in Dewey-Humboldt (D-H) now or will arrive in the future? Answering this question requires that we can identify the weeds. Drawings and descriptions of the weeds take up most of the pages. The descriptions contain answers to the second question:
Are the weeds of D-H valuable resources for wildlife and people? I reviewed the literature and added symbols for edible and medicinal weeds.
The inspiration for the book is a fascination with the intricate shapes and dynamic features of the weeds. I warn you that there is a danger that if you look closely at these creatures, you might never turn away.
D-H Weed Links:
Reviews of Weeds of Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona.
Articles on Weeds by Garry Rogers.
Weeds of Coldwater Farm photograph gallery.
Bibliography for Weeds of Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona.
Weed anatomy drawings and definitions.
The first weed is:
Weed No. 1. Alkali Heliotrope (also known as Quail’s Delight).
Alkali Heliotrope (Quail’s Delight) Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum. A. Pair of flower spikes. B. Young fruits. C. Fruit composed of four small brown nutlets about 1/16 inch long. D. Single nutlet. Older flowers are at the fork of the uncoiling spikes. A native perennial, the plants spread to form protective carpets over bare ground. Drawing: Lucretia Breazeale Hamilton. Copyright (c) 1972 The Arizona Board of Regents. Reproduced from Parker (1972) with permission of the University of Arizona Press.
Alkali Heliotrope (Quail’s Delight)
(Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum ).
Alkali Heliotrope’s tiny fragrant flowers delight bees and gnats. The uncoiling spike, a flower-studded fiddleneck, reveals little beauties pure white with yellow-green eyes that purple in sunlight. This bluish green perennial grows to about one foot, but mostly it forms flat patches of overlapping branches up to four feet wide. The plants are hairless, but lightly dusted with a white powder that easily rubs off.
A native of arid North America, Quail’s Delight can edge into a lawn or garden. Removal by pulling is a simple cure, but the plant has no thorns or burrs and you might wish to leave it on unused sites where it will protect your soil from wind and water erosion.
The plants colonize exposed alkaline or saline soils and the banks of streams and washes in arid western U. S. and Baja California. You will find similar varieties around the world. I’ve seen this one growing beside a canal in Tempe, Arizona, and a very similar variety beside limestone rocks near Fourteen Mile Creek in Oklahoma.
Alkali Heliotrope flowers. © David Eickhoff (License: CC BY 2.0)
2. Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua)
3. Annual Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus indicus)
4. Barestem Larkspur (Delphinium scaposum)
5. Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crus-galli)
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An Introduction to Worshipping Angels: Images and Idols
" Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels …"
-Saint Paul to the Colossians, chapter 2, verse 18
Although we believe that above quotation to be good advice, we are confused by the statement. We understand the plain meaning of Saint Paul's statement, but we must inquire: Who is suggesting or causing others to submit to angels?
Part the First
The number of times that Saint Paul mentions angels is surprisingly small when compared to "principalities" and "powers". Saint Paul warns the reader that if "we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8). According to the Blue Letter Bible, the word for heaven has the following meanings:
I. the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it
A. the universe, the world
B. the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced
C. the sidereal or starry heavens
We bring to the reader's attention the definition of letter "B", that is, the sky where thunder and lightning are generated and we immediately recall Ephesians 2:2:
"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air"
We can reasonably conclude that the humility towards angels can either be through "intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Col 2:18) or through "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph 2:2).
Part the Second
Saint Paul writes that the law "was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator" (Gal 3:19). The word "ordained" is from the Greek word "diatasse" which is variously translated as" command", "appoint" or "set in order". The word "mediator" is from the Greek word "mesites" meaning" one who intervenes between two." The sentence can be understood as "the law was commanded by messengers in the hand of one who intervenes between two"
Many elementary students were taught not to define a word by using that word in the definition as this practice can not clarify the meaning of the word and frequently leads to ambiguity or misunderstanding. Saint Paul writes a statement regarding the function of a mediator:
"Now a mediator is not a mediator of one..." Galatians 3:20
We agree with Saint Paul's obvious statement, but then he adds a curious conclusion: "but God is one".
We must gather the various threads (spread over Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians and Colossians) to form a coherent understanding of Saint Paul's warning concerning the worshipping of angels.
Saint Paul clearly teaches that the law was commanded by angels, whereas the "fleshly mind" insists that the law was appointed by God, Jehovah or Elohim. If our understanding of Saint Paul is correct, it would mean that the vast majority of people do not worship God, but the angels that gave the law to Moses. "In whom the god of this world (presumably the Creator of this world) hath blinded the (vain and fleshly) minds of them which believe not" (2 Cor 4:4).
It is through this exegesis that we can understand the rhetorical question from 1 Corinthians:
Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
Idolatry, per the Oxford English Dictionary:
"Etymology: < Old French idol-, ydolatrie (12th cent. in Littré), modern French idolâtrie= Italian idolatria , ... , repr. late Latin (and Common Romanic) īdōlatrīa (Vulgate, Acts xvii. 16), shortened form of ecclesiastical Latin īdōlolatrīa (Tertullian), < Greek (N.T.) εἰδωλολατρεία , < εἴδωλον idol+ λατρεία service, worship..."
Idol, per the Oxford English Dictionary:
"Etymology: Middle English < Old French id(e)le, and idole, < late Latin īdōlum (alsoīdŏlum in Prudentius c400, Sedulius c470), image, form, spectre, apparition, in eccl. use ‘idol’, < Greek εἴδωλον image, phantom, idea, fancy, likeness, in LXX ‘idol’, < εἶδος form, shape. The early Old French idele, idle (11th cent.), represent the Latin ˈīdŏlum, the accentuation following that of the Greek. The current French idole was adapted in 13th cent. from Latin īdōlum."
The order of appearance of the senses in English does not correspond to their original development in Greek, where the sequence was apparently: ‘appearance, phantom, unsubstantial form, image in water or a mirror, mental image, fancy, material image or statue’, and finally, in Jewish and Christian use, ‘image of a false god’. In English this last was, under religious influence, the earliest, and in Middle English the only sense; hence (as also in French) came sense 2. These are the only popular uses of the word. The other uses are 16th c. adoptions of earlier Greek senses, often however coloured by association with sense 1.
Idols, Idolatry and Idolaters, Per Saint Paul
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters ... shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Cor 6: 9-10
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Cor 10:14
Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
1 Cor 12:2
Idolatry... and such like...that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:20-21
For this ye know, that no ... idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Icon, per the Oxford English Dictionary
"Etymology: < late Latin īcōn (Pliny), < Greek εἰκών, εἰκον- likeness, image, portrait, semblance, similitude, simile, < *εἴκειν to be like""
Icon, per Saint Paul
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man...
Rom 1: 23
...he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...
Rom 8:29
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God...
1 Cor 11:7
... we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1 Cor 15:49
But we all... are changed into the same image from glory to glory...
2 Cor 3:18
... Christ, who is the image of God....
2 Cor 4:4
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:15
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Col 3:10
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miranda pakozdi
NY Times: Cross Assault Sexual Harassment in Gaming & FGC
By: goukijones Aug 2, 2012 | 1 Comments
The NY Times posted a great story about Cross Assualt and the sexual harassment women face not only in the FGC, but in the gaming community as a whole. Great story with video of harassment.
When Miranda Pakozdi entered the Cross Assault video game tournament this year, she knew she had a slim chance of winning the $25,000 prize. But she was ready to compete, and promised fans watching online that she would train just as hard as, if not harder than, anyone else.
Over six days of competition, though, her team’s coach, Aris Bakhtanians, interrogated her on camera about her bra size, said “take off your shirt” and focused the team’s webcam on her chest, feet and legs. He leaned in over her shoulder and smelled her.
Ms. Pakozdi, 25, an experienced gamer, has said she always expects a certain amount of trash talk. But as the only woman on the team, this was too much, especially from her coach, she said. It was after she overheard Mr. Bakhtanians defending sexual harassment as part of “the fighting game community” that she forfeited the game.
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We are a proud partner of United Way of the Greater Dayton Area
Ambassador Tony Hall
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Daily News Local Voices – Tony P. Hall
The Miami Valley has taken it on the chin lately.
We’ve endured a KKK rally, 15 devastating tornados, groceries stores closing, farmers unable to plant crops because of constant rain, and more. In the last few years, we have been listed as the FOURTH hungriest city in the nation and noted for having one of the highest opioid deaths rates in the nation. Our community continues to suffer from high infant mortality, loss of good paying jobs, the biggest food desert in the state, and more.
Dayton is a resilient community and has shown incredible strength in continuing to face crisis after crisis. There has been strong community support for the Gem City Market, thousands rallied to oppose the KKK and countless volunteers are pitching in to aid residents impacted by the tornadoes. However, at some point we need to ask “Why does this keep happening here? Is God testing us?”
If this is a test, there’s only one answer: Prayer. We need to pray as individuals, as families and as a community for the strength and guidance to overcome the obstacles we face.
Prayer is a time-tested response to the most difficult times and one that spans various faiths. Harriet Tubman, as she led her dangerous efforts to help slaves escape asked for God’s help, “I’m going to hold steady on You, and You’ve got to see me through.”
During the Holocaust, Jews in concentration camps prayed for guidance, including this prayer "I believe in the sun even when it's not shining. I believe in love even when not feeling it. I believe in God even when He is silent."
The Quran also reminds us to pray in times of trouble - “Call me! I will answer” (Quran 40:60)
Prayer unites us, prayer gives us a focus on a higher calling than ourselves and prayer starts the conversations which can lead to new strength and answers.
I know that prayer alone won’t bring rebuilt destroyed houses, end the drug epidemic, or open grocery stores in the food desert. Prayer needs to be the beginning of our response, not the end.
I understand that people will say, “I don’t want to hear about your faith, I want to see it.” So I’m asking people of faith to join me in combining prayer and action to guide our actions, sustain our resiliency and rebuild our community.
Many of our churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques already contribute volunteers and money, doing amazing work. Now, it’s the time to really challenge ourselves and prayerfully ask – what more can we do?
Each person, each faith community, must find their own answers but there are plenty of paths to choose. There are opportunities for education, advocacy, volunteering and financial support. Information on ways to help can always be found at our website – hallhunger.org
I’ll be meeting with faith leaders and exploring ways we can answer that challenge. Together, we will create new ways to live our faith by serving our neighbors.
It’s a mission I believe in deeply. I had the opportunity to work with Mother Teresa in Calcutta and witness her compassion. I watched her care for people literally dying alone on the streets. She told me “Congressman, not everyone can come to Calcutta like you. I want you to go back and tell everyone to do the thing that is in front of you.”
Too many of our neighbors are hurting. It’s time for people of faith come together in both prayer and action to do what’s in front of us – create a healthy, thriving community for everyone.
Tony Hall is the founder of the Hall Hunger Initiative, a local food justice project funded by the Jack W. and Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation, in partnership with United Way of Greater Dayton.
Contact: Hallhunger.org
Mark Willis: 937 225-3056
Markw.hhi@dayton-unitedway.org
Get in touch with us to help bring food security in the Dayton-Montgomery County area.
© Copyright 2016-2017 Hall Hunger Initiative, All Rights Reserved
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HHI in the News
2017 Montgomery County Food Summit
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Dr. Huai Bao a.k.a. H.B. Dhawa
Welcome to Dr. Huai Bao's official website!
Bio 简介
Research 研究
Teaching 教学
Talks 演讲
Publications 出版
Press 媒体
Shop 网店
Q&A 问答
Contact 联络
Coming from a literature background and having a major monograph by Routledge on gender studies and performance studies, my research interests are not fixed or finalized. New discoveries, new technologies, new concepts, ideas, terminologies, and theories emerge every year. A research program that you did years ago might be new and fresh back then, but may not be perceived as ground-breaking this year. Therefore, we cannot stay where we were, but move on.
Although my doctoral dissertation was focused on gender in Chinese culture, it does not mean that I only excel in researching and teaching in that specific field and in that specific geographic region. Over the past few years, I have studied and published in the following areas–
Gender and sexuality in literature, cinema, theatre, religions, media and popular culture in the Global South
The evolution of the belief system in contemporary Chinese society
Sexualities, world religions, and new trends
New technology, the cyber space, and the cyber celebrity culture
Women, politics, public safety, and terrorism
Interracial and cross-cultural relationships and marriages in North America
Women and queer Asian diaspora in Canada
Modern legends of the supernatural in the Buddhist culture in Asia
The interplay between spirituality and sexuality in Oriental and Western religious practice
Currently, I’m working on a two new projects, one on the gender dynamics in China’s cyber celebrity culture, the rising nationalism and new media in China, and the other on the social and individual realities behind the secrets of religious conversions, which has been chosen to be presented at University of California at Berkeley in April 2018.
Click the link below to read a recently published paper (p. 41-50): Case Studies of Prior Self-Knowledge and Synchronistic Signs of Approaching Death
dd11eBookfinal
Email: baohuai@yahoo.com
Archives Select Month September 2016 (1)
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The Comforting Zones in the Plywood House II in Sydney, Australia
One of the most important materials that we are usually writing in our list is the plywood. We use it in the walls, floors and ceilings. I believe that this is one of the vital elements in order to achieve a comfortable and contemporary house design. Today we will be sharing to you a house design that take the full advantage of using plywood in its building. This house is named as the Plywood House and built in Sydney, Australia.
Well, let us carefully examine how the designer successfully made use of plywood in the interior and exterior of their house. This house is a new two-storey house and the designer said that the concept of this house is to make use of the elements in the interior. Through the geometrical figures found in the indoor this will place the house away from its neighbours and associate the house to the garden and nature. Let us see more of the amazing details of this house through the images below.
Clean and sustainable atmosphere may certainly be experienced even in the front area of the house, right?
See how the strips in the windows and screen positively allow the natural light to enter the interior of the second level.
Wooden elements are religiously utilized in the exterior to keep the comfortable and contemporary theme of this house.
As you enter the house, you may carefully witness the different movement of these lines and rough textures that may delight you to explore the other areas.
I love the lines and patterns visibly seen in the wooden floor that emphasize the comfort and relaxing space in the interior.
Wow! The designer consistently takes the full advantage and ideas of using the wooden materials in the interior.
The two lamps in the kitchen table is perfect to make this area charming and sophisticated.
The designer creates geometrical forms in the interior to emphasize the different amazing areas in the house.
High-value and great design furniture is what this living space is made up of to highlight its style.
From the second level of the house, you may freely take a glimpse of the fashionable kitchen, dining space and the moving patterns in the wooden floor.
Geometrical forms of the interior are consistently illustrated from its walls, floors and furniture.
When you open the garage, you may see how the other accessories of the homeowner are neatly arranged.
To achieve a modern bathroom design, the homeowner chooses the wooden theme that may incorporate the trendy fixtures and mirrors.
The designer accommodates a certain area in the house to utilize as a library and a working space for the homeowner.
In the garden area, we may never deny the crucial role of the trees and plants in maintaining the contentment and comforting place in the house.
With the help of the photographs taken by the designer, Andrew Burges Architects, excellently display and explains the significant role of the plywood in order to achieve the demands of the client and the house concept as well. Natural light is successfully experienced in the interior through the continuous strip of windows and screen in the second level of the house. With that sustainable elements were also added. We hope that once again you may be inspired of the concept and theme utilized to make this Plywood House design possible.
50+ Remarkable Modern House Designs
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Floriza Lerasan
Aside from her zeal for writing, she has an eye for beautiful home designs that inspires her to achieve her dream home. Her prowess in writing inspired her to continuously engrave her ideas and gracefully illustrate the dream stored in her heart and mind.
Andrew Burges Architects
Plywood House
Plywood House II
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The Extravagant Views in the River Bank House in Big Sky, Montana
Breathtaking Views and Sophisticated Design of the Tanager Residence
The Scenic View in the Stoneridge Residence in Bel Air, Los Angeles, CA
A Contemporary House in Scotch Cove Intended for Family Gatherings
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Jakub Kroustek
Major cyber attacks strike worldwide
A fast-moving wave of cyberattacks swept the globe Friday, apparently exploiting a flaw exposed in documents leaked from the US National Security Agency.AFP | May 13, 2017, 06:27 IST
London, May 12, 2017 -
A fast-moving wave of cyberattacks swept the globe Friday, apparently exploiting a flaw exposed in documents leaked from the US National Security Agency.
The attacks came in the form of ransomware, a technique used by hackers that locks users' files unless they pay the attackers a designated sum in the virtual currency Bitcoin.
The scope of the attacks was not immediately clear, but some analysts reported that dozens of countries had been affected, with the malware linked to attacks on hospitals in Britain as well as the Spanish telecom giant Telefonica and the US delivery firm FedEx.
The US Department of Homeland Security's computer emergency response team said it was aware of ransomware infections "in several countries around the world."
"We are now seeing more than 75,000 detections... in 99 countries," Jakub Kroustek of the security firm Avast said in a blog post around 2000 GMT.
Earlier, Kaspersky researcher Costin Raiu cited 45,000 attacks in 74 countries, saying that the malware, a self-replicating "worm," was spreading quickly.
Forcepoint Security Labs said that "a major malicious email campaign" consisting of nearly five million emails per hour was spreading the new ransomware.
The malware's name is WCry, but analysts were also using variants such as WannaCry.
Forcepoint said in a statement that the attack had "global scope", affecting organisations in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Mexico.
In the United States, FedEx acknowledged it had been hit by malware and was "implementing remediation steps as quickly as possible."
The UK's state-run National Health Service declared a "major incident" after the attack, which forced some hospitals to divert ambulances and scrap operations.
In Spain, major firms including Telefonica were hit, with employees told to shut down workstations immediately through megaphone announcements.
- 'Direct infection' -
At least 16 organisations within the NHS, some of them responsible for several hospitals each, reported being targeted.
"We are aware that a number of NHS organisations have reported that they have suffered from a ransomware attack. This is not targeted at the NHS, it's an international attack and a number of countries and organisations have been affected," said Prime Minister Theresa May.
Britain's National Cyber Security Centre and its National Crime Agency were looking into the UK incidents.
Pictures posted on social media showed screens of NHS computers with images demanding payment of $300 (275 euros) in Bitcoin, saying: "Ooops, your files have been encrypted!"
It demands payment in three days or the price is doubled, and if none is received in seven days, the files will be deleted, according to the screen message.
A hacking group called Shadow Brokers released the malware in April claiming to have discovered the flaw from the NSA, Kaspersky said.
Although Microsoft released a security patch for the flaw earlier this year, many systems have yet to be updated, researchers said.
"Unlike most other attacks, this malware is spreading primarily by direct infection from machine to machine on local networks, rather than purely by email," Lance Cottrell, chief scientist at the US technology group Ntrepid.
"The ransomware can spread without anyone opening an email or clicking on a link."
- Ambulances diverted -
NHS Incident Director Anne Rainsberry urged the British public to "use the NHS wisely while we deal with this major incident which is still ongoing".
The sort of ransom demands seen on the NHS screens are not without precedent at medical facilities. In February 2016, a Los Angeles hospital, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, paid $17,000 in Bitcoin to hackers who took control of its computers for more than a week.
"Ransomware becomes particularly nasty when it infects institutions like hospitals, where it can put people's lives in danger," said Kroustek, the Avast analyst.
A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust in London said it was experiencing "major IT disruption" and delays at all four of its hospitals.
"We have activated our major incident plan to make sure we can maintain the safety and welfare of patients," the spokesman said. "Ambulances are being diverted to neighbouring hospitals."
Two employees at St Bartholomew's Hospital, which is part of Barts Health, told AFP that all the computers in the hospital had been turned off.
Caroline Brennan, 41, went to the hospital to see her brother, who had open heart surgery.
"They told us there was a problem. They said the system was down and that they cannot transfer anyone till the computer system was back up so he is still in the theatre."
bur-rl/ec/sst
Monster cyberattack hits hospitals, telcos in 12 nations
Tags : Industry, cyberattack, Telefonica, Ransomware, National Health Service, Jakub Kroustek, Bitcoin
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More TV Please
The trailer for Dakota Fanning's new TV show is here, and this is the gothic series of our nightmares
Gwendolyn Purdom
Take the urban crime-solving spirit of Law & Order, send it back to 1896 New York, dip it in the bloody old-timey medicine of The Knick, and throw in Dakota Fanning in Leg O’ Mutton sleeves for good measure, and you’d probably get something akin to TNT’s new psychological thriller, The Alienist. Along with a dark and twisty new trailer, the cable network has released a premiere date for the series: January 22nd.
Channels previously known for soapy dramas and Shawshank Redemption marathons like TNT and USA have been upping their prestige original television game recently (um, have you seen The Sinner?), and this star-studded series is part of that trend. Along with Fanning, the show — based on the novel by Caleb Carr — will feature Luke Evans in all his brooding glory, as well as Daniel Brühl (The Zookeeper’s Wife). The three play, respectively, a secretary set on being the city’s first woman detective, a newspaper illustrator, and the titular alienist (otherwise known as an old school criminal psychologist).
A serial killer is murdering young male prostitutes on the show, and Fanning, Evans, and Brühl are on the creepy case.
All muted tones and flickering gas lanterns, the trailer paints an unsettling picture of turn-of-the-20th century New York — one we can’t wait to see more of, TBH. Between the dramatic history lesson on the beginnings of modern forensic science and the tense action (“Gentlemen, you have made yourself a wide variety of very powerful enemies,” someone says ominously in the trailer), the series won’t be skimping on intrigue.
Now it’s just a matter of building up enough nerve to actually watch it.
By Gwendolyn Purdom
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All Topics in TV Shows
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Terrible ’80s Karate Rap Video Is the Best Worst Thing You’ll Ever See
The Internet is a safe haven for cringeworthy videos. Add a new one to the list.
This is a rap video from the '80s all about karate. Look, we all know that when it comes to the decade of decadence, all things karate in visual form begin and end with 'The Karate Kid.' The crane, Johnny Lawrence and the headbands, Ralph Macchio acting about a decade younger than he really was -- they all played a part in why the movie rocked.
Then there's this. This is 'The Next Karate Kid' of videos in that there's simply no need for it. And while that trainwreck of a motion picture had a pre-Oscar winning Hilary Swank, this dud has geishas and a blonde female lead who hopefully kept this off her reel.
Try to stick around 'til the second half when the karate parakeet makes an appearance because as we all know, karate parakeets were needed in videos back then, right?
Source: Terrible ’80s Karate Rap Video Is the Best Worst Thing You’ll Ever See
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HRIC Daily Brief
The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.
Access to Justice (司法公正)
傅政华：律师要自觉拥护党的领导拥护社会主义法治 做全面推进依法治国的奋斗者 (Minister of Justice Fu Zhenghua: Lawyers should conscientiously embrace Party leadership and “socialist rule of law,” fight to promote ruling the country by law)
Legal Daily, March 29, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-03/29/content_7510204.htm?node=5955
王乐泉在中国法学会研究会工作会议上强调，高举旗帜建设中国特色新型法学社团 (China Law Society Director Wang Lequan: Hold high the banner to build a new type of law study group “with Chinese characteristics” that connects the Party with legal practitioners)
北京锋锐所被吊销执业证 合伙律师转所遥遥无期 (Beijing Fengrui law firm’s license revoked, partners have nowhere to go)
Radio Free Asia, March 29, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-03292018104316.html
“709”律师王宇汇款海外受阻 银行指天津公安下指令 (Bank says Tianjin public security ordered it to block overseas money transfer by 709 Lawyer Wang Yu)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-03292018104157.html
Labels: Access to Justice, 司法公正
Access to Information (信息公开)
最高法：累计公开老赖信息990多万人次 (Supreme People’s Court has released personal information of 9.9 million “deadbeats,” restricted 10 million from buying flight tickets and 3.9 million from riding trains)
China’s Communist Party tightens grip on media, message
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-tighten-grip-on-media/4322048.html
Labels: Access to Information, 信息公开
Citizen Participation (公民参与)
“玫瑰团队”遭持续打压 河南国保暴力胁迫退群 (Civil rights group “Rose Team” continually suppressed and coerced by Henan domestic security)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-03292018104355.html
Labels: Citizen Participation, 公民参与
Government Accountability (政府问责)
国际人权组织：中国人权状况比5年前差得多 (International human rights organizations: situation in China has steeply worsened over past five years)
Voice of America, March 30, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/reports-from-human-rights-group-20180329/4323125.html
China’s Challenge to International Human Rights at UN Threatens Everyone: HRIC Submission to the Human Rights Council
Human Rights in China, March 30, 2018
https://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/chinas-challenge-international-human-rights-un-threatens-everyone-hric
Stakeholder submission by Human Rights In China
Human Rights in China, March 2018
https://www.hrichina.org/sites/default/files/hric_china_upr_2018_submission.pdf
人权组织呼吁释放记者、提李明哲案 (Human rights NGOs urge China to release journalists, also raise Lee Ming-Che case)
Deutsche Welle, March 30, 2018
http://p.dw.com/p/2vFKj
Sweden could pressure China to release the author and publisher Gui Minhai… if it wished
Hong Kong Free Press, March 30, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/30/sweden-pressure-china-release-author-publisher-gui-minhai-wished/
The Disappeared: China’s global kidnapping campaign has gone on for years. It may now be reaching inside U.S. borders
Foreign Policy, March 29, 2018
https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/29/the-disappeared-china-renditions-kidnapping/l
China’s Communist Party meets the world
Economist, March 28, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21739659-socialism-chinese-characteristics-explained-sort-chinas-communist-party-meets-world
India spurns the Dalai Lama’s celebration, worried about China
New York Times, March 29, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/world/asia/dalai-lama-india-china-.html
Labels: Government Accountability, 政府问责
ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)
中国：VPN整治大限将至 外企忧网络封锁升级 (China: Foreign businesses fear further limit on circumvention by VPN regulations)
Radio France International, March 30, 2018
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20180330-中国vpn整治大限将至-外企忧网络封锁升级
China aims for near-total surveillance, including in people's homes
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/surveillance-03302018111415.html
The Chinese unknown that’s making Africa’s phones
Bloomberg, March 28, 2018
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-28/this-chinese-phone-maker-has-taken-over-africa-for-better-and-worse
China hackers ordered to report software holes to spy agency
中国指示本国黑客不要参加黑客大赛
Financial Times, March 27, 2018
EN: https://www.ft.com/content/eaf7f080-3186-11e8-b5bf-23cb17fd1498
CH: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001076933
Labels: ICTs and Human Rights, 信息技术与人权
National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)
China steps up scrutiny of IP transfers to foreign firms on national security grounds
South China Morning Post, March 30, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2139713/china-steps-scrutiny-ip-transfers-foreign-firms-national-security
国办印发《知识产权对外转让有关工作办法（试行）》涉及技术出口外国投资者并购境内企业 (State Council new rules: cross-border intellectual property transfer to go through national security review)
Labels: National Security & Counterterrorism, 国家安全和反恐
港议会「一地两检」案审议遭抗议被迫中断 (Co-location case in Hong Kong forced to stop by protest)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-03282018110710.html
Labels: hong kong, 香港
Commentary (评论)
China’s new surveillance state puts Facebook’s privacy problems in the shade
Washington Post, March 27, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/03/27/chinas-new-surveillance-state-puts-facebooks-privacy-problems-in-the-shade/
Labels: Commentary, 评论
Jailed Taiwan activist Lee Ming-cheh denied correspondence rights by China, wife says
Agence France-Presse, March 29, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/29/jailed-taiwan-activist-lee-ming-cheh-denied-correspondence-rights-china-wife-says/
一部电影让他失去十年青春和自由 (He lost ten years of youth and freedom for making a documentary)
https://www.voachinese.com/a/tibetan-filmmaker-20180328/4321410.html
China detains “underground” bishop with role in deal with Vatican
Reuters, March 28, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-china-bishop/china-detains-underground-bishop-with-role-in-deal-with-vatican-idUSKBN1H4196?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
China’s supreme court calls for more leniency in air gun cases
Sixthtone, March 28, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002013/China%E2%80%99s%20Supreme%20Court%20Calls%20for%20More%20Leniency%20in%20Air%20Gun%20Cases
Chinese police jail two women over “vehicle reversing” video clip
武汉市民因“倒车”视频遭超期羁押后获释
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinese-police-jail-two-women-over-vehicle-reversing-video-clip-03282018104812.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf2-03272018103516.html
Labels: Access to Justice, Rule of Law, 司法公正, 法治
Shanghai to ease restrictions on foreign law firms
Shanghai Daily, March 29, 2018
http://english.sina.com/buz/b/2018-03-29/detail-ifyssmmc0860684.shtml
When Xi met Kim: How China and North Korea depicted it
中朝媒体如何报道金正恩访华？
The New York Times, March 28, 2018
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/world/asia/xi-jinping-kim-jong-un-meeting-.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/asia-pacific/20180329/xi-jinping-kim-jong-un-meeting-/
台电影大陆遭封杀 国台办要禁台独艺人 (China bans a Taiwan movie, Taiwan Affairs Office says China will block actors who support Taiwan independence)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hcm1-03282018104725.html
有企业规定不转发单位公号文章就扣钱, 有公司要求员工二十四小时打开定位系统, 一些企业内部管理奇葩规定有侵权之嫌 (Companies demand employees to turn on GPS 24/7, repost companies’ public account articles on personal WeChat or have pay docked)
Labels: Access to Information, Censorship and Surveillance, Information Control, internet, 互联网, 信息公开, 信息控制, 审查和监控
现代版连坐第一案 “屠夫”父亲诉国家赔偿1千万 (Right activist “Butcher” Wu Gan’s father file court action against China for arbitrary arrest and harassment)
China is trying to prevent the formation of a vocal Uighur diaspora
The Economist, March 28, 2018
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21739777-it-has-persuaded-friendly-countries-send-lots-them-home-china-trying-prevent
Labels: Citizen Participation, civil society, protests and petitions, 公民参与, 抗议和请愿, 民间社会
七城市国控空气监测站点受人为干扰 相关人员被处理 (Seven cities officials are held accountable for cheating air quality monitoring station)
Chinanews.com, March 29, 2018
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2018/03-29/8478750.shtml
第二批中央环保督察7省份共问责1048人 其中省部级3人(Central environmental inspectors scrutinized, 1048 held accountable, including 3 provincial level officials)
Beijing News, March 29, 2018
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2018/03/29/481108.html
China urges northern cities to shut factories as smog builds - report
https://goo.gl/c53gNA
Labels: corruption, Government Accountability, 政府问责, 腐败
五角大楼顾问警告：中国人工智能武器不得不防 (Pentagon advisor warns of China’s “artificial intelligence weapon”)
https://www.voachinese.com/a/china-ai-20180329/4321837.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Hong Kong privacy watchdog demands answers from Facebook on data security after Cambridge Analytica scandal
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2139340/hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-demands-answers-facebook-data
Airbnb China tells hosts it will share their data with the gov’t from Friday
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/28/airbnb-china-tells-hosts-will-share-data-govt-friday/
China academics divided over Australia influence crackdown
The Financial Times, March 28, 2018
https://www.ft.com/content/d79f10c4-3224-11e8-b5bf-23cb17fd1498
Hong Kong court rejects legal bid to disqualify pro-democracy lawmaker Au Nok-hin
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/29/breaking-hong-kong-court-rejects-legal-bid-disqualify-pro-democracy-lawmaker-au-nok-hin/
Hong Kong youth commission starts work, as teenager becomes youngest adviser to the government
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2139359/hong-kong-youth-commission-starts-work-teenager-becomes
反佔中青年自薦加入成功 團體批新青年委員會「掩耳盜鈴」促全港青年民選產生 (Groups criticize Youth Development Commission choice of vocal anti-Occupy youth as advisor, urge direct election of representatives by all Hong Kong youth)
Inmedia, March 29, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1056079
Rent control, subsidies dismissed for Hong Kong – “but we’ll build more flats”, leader Carrie Lam says
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2139285/rent-control-subsidies-dismissed-hong-kong-well-build-more
Hong Kong lawmakers receive letters calling for “assassination” of election officers and justice chief
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/28/hong-kong-lawmakers-receive-letters-calling-assassination-election-officers-justice-chief/
Hong Kong Baptist University student union hopeful has ‘no bottom line’, vows to continue Mandarin fight
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2139330/hong-kong-baptist-university-student-union-hopeful-has-no
Can Xi Jinping make use of the power he has accumulated?
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21739770-promoting-party-expense-bureaucracy-deters-reform-can-xi-jinping-make-use
Can China's great show of unity last?
The Diplomat, March 28, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/can-chinas-great-show-of-unity-last/
Chairman Xi, Chinese idol
China File, March 14, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/library/nyrb-china-archive/chairman-xi-chinese-idol
Labels: Commentary, Government Accountability, 政府问责, 评论
RSF urges China to free citizen-journalist held at “black site” for six months
Reporters Sans Frontières, March 28, 2018
https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-urges-china-free-citizen-journalist-held-black-site-six-months
Beijing rights lawyers prevented from sending money to son studying overseas
“709”律师王宇给海外留学儿子汇款受限
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/overseas-03272018130235.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-03272018103137.html
Xinjiang authorities detain Uyghurs “wanting to travel abroad”
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/travel-03272018162009.html
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-03/27/content_7506291.htm
“一点也不在乎习近平”：新一波海外学运观察 (“Don’t give a damn about Xi Jinping”: New wave of student movement overseas)
https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180328/never-my-president/
吕梁原副市长张中生受贿10.4亿一审被判死刑 (Disgraced former deputy mayor sentenced to death penalty for accepting RMB 1.04 billion bribe)
The Beijing News, March 28, 2018
China and Russia accused of waging “war on human rights” at UN
The Guardian, March 27, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/27/china-and-russia-accused-of-waging-war-on-human-rights-at-un
Xiaomi forms AI team to develop more leading edge products
Sina English, March 28, 2018
http://english.sina.com/buz/b/2018-03-28/detail-ifysqfnh8023283.shtml
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un met China’s Xi Jinping on first foreign trip
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/28/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-met-chinas-xi-jinping-first-foreign-trip/
Exclusive: Satellite images reveal show of force by Chinese navy in South China Sea
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-defence/exclusive-satellite-images-reveal-show-of-force-by-chinese-navy-in-south-china-sea-idUSKBN1H3135
Hong Kong court urged to dismiss voter’s judicial review bid on pan-democrat’s election candidacy
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2139270/hong-kong-court-urged-dismiss-voters-judicial-review-bid-pan
Activist jailed again for desecrating flags
The Standard, March 28, 2018
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=194224&sid=4&sid=4
Former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang lodges appeal against order to pay HK$4.6 million court costs
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2139189/former-hong-kong-chief-executive-donald-tsang-lodges-appeal
Is Hong Kong “ceding” land to mainland China? Fears grow after revelation joint checkpoint at rail terminus will not operate under lease
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2139179/hong-kong-ceding-land-mainland-china-fears-grow-after
Video: Drama at Express Rail Link meeting as democrats protest bid to move controversial bill forward
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/27/video-drama-express-rail-link-meeting-democrats-protest-bid-move-controversial-bill-forward/
保安上訴脫襲警罪 官斥警方過度武力不合理 (High Court acquits bar security over assaulting police charge, slams police for using excessive force)
Mingpao, March 27, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180327/s00001/1522134506328
Is Xi flying too close to the sun?
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/is-xi-flying-too-close-to-the-sun/
Li Ao, writer and political firebrand in Taiwan, dies at 82
李敖：捍卫自由的反叛“狂人”
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/obituaries/li-ao-taiwanese-dissident-who-fought-martial-law-dies-at-82.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/obits/20180327/li-ao-taiwanese-dissident-who-fought-martial-law-dies-at-82/
余律师案情况通报: 许艳起诉澎湃新闻 (Xu Yan, wife of rights lawyer Yu Wensheng, sues The Paper for reporting fake news)
Weiquanwang, March 26, 2018
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/03/blog-post_748.html
为获释访民接风洗尘 江苏10人以“寻衅滋事”被抓捕 (10 arrested in Jiangsu for welcoming out-of-prison petitioner)
司法部召开部长办公会议 傅政华要求把习近平总书记的要求和人民的期待作为检验全系统工作的最高标准(Minister of Justice Fu Zhenghua: “Newly structured MOJ is first and foremost a political institution,” studying the important instructions of Xi Jinping should be top priority)
“Call me by your name” joins an illustrious list of great films censored in China
Quartzy, March 27, 2018
https://quartzy.qz.com/1237821/call-me-by-your-name-joins-the-list-of-movies-banned-in-china/
China deletes posts about article calling on academics to resist thought control
北大元培学院副院长请辞 校方封锁消息
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/deletes-03262018122047.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/kejiaowen/ql1-03262018111054.html
北大元培學院院長亮相闢謠 (Dean of Peking University talks to party mouthpiece and denies resignation)
Sing Tao Daily, March 26, 2018
http://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/chi/1175241/
Shining a cleansing light on China’s dark secrets
学者沈志华：盼共产党将隐秘历史公诸于世
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/world/asia/shen-zhihua-china-history-north-korea.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180326/shen-zhihua-china-history-north-korea/
专访文革研究专家宋永毅：唯有甄别史料真伪，才能认识文革性质 (Song Yongyi: Cultural Revolution can only be understood when real history is separated from the fake)
The Initium, March 26, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180327-opinion-songyongyi-cultural-revolution/
微博社区公告：关于处置发布违禁节目影片账号的公告和短视频发布重要提示 (Sina Weibo shuts down 436 and suspends 66 accounts for 30 days for posting “illegal” videos or links, SAPPRFT bans re-editing of classics)
Sina Weibo, March 23, 2018
https://www.weibo.com/1934183965/G8KNlenLe?type=comment#_rnd1522134603616
China accuses U.S. of arrogance for Xi criticism at rights forum
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-usa/china-accuses-u-s-of-arrogance-for-xi-criticism-at-rights-forum-idUSKBN1H20ZA
At the U.N., China and Russia score win in war on human rights
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/26/at-the-u-n-china-and-russia-score-win-in-war-on-human-rights/
Shanghai U-turn after outcry over revoking residency rights
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2138916/shanghai-u-turn-after-outcry-over-revoking-residency-rights
观海解局：最高法一审判长与律师勾结，敛财数百万 (Supreme People’s Court judge found guilty of colluding with defense lawyer, accepting bribes of RMB 3 million)
Kanfanews, March 26, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2043798
Jaywalkers under surveillance in Shenzhen soon to be punished via text messages
http://www.scmp.com/tech/china-tech/article/2138960/jaywalkers-under-surveillance-shenzhen-soon-be-punished-text
扎克伯格刚刚登报道歉，李彦宏说中国人对隐私没那么敏感 (Robin Li, chief of Baidu, claims Chinese are not as sensitive in terms of privacy and love to trade it with convenience)
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/invest/2018/03/27/480762.html
China flies long-range bombers, fighter jets through Miyako Strait
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/china-flies-long-range-bombers-fighter-jets-through-miyako-strait/
Taiwan scrambles jets as China's air force holds drill near island
The Independent, March 26, 2018
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/taiwan-china-jets-air-force-drill-island-bashi-channel-a8274571.html
Carrie Lam sorry HK$30k Democratic Party donation caused “inconvenience” and “anxiety”
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/27/carrie-lam-sorry-hk30k-democratic-party-donation-caused-inconvenience-anxiety/
王志民讚林鄭立場堅定 稱習近平為香港注入正能量 (Wang Zhimin, head of Liaison Office, praises Carrie Lam for being firm, claims Xi Jinping “injects Hong Kong with positive energy”)
Ex-US consul-general says Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong serves as a warning to Taiwan
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/26/ex-us-consul-general-says-beijings-treatment-hong-kong-serves-warning-taiwan/
Civil claim slapped against former Hong Kong care home warden accused of molesting mentally disabled resident
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2138990/civil-claim-slapped-against-former-hong-kong-care-home
Hong Kong families lose appeal against immigration rule denying stay of loved ones in city
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2138983/hong-kong-families-lose-appeal-against-immigration-rule
RFA独家：热热闹闹但是毫无法律含义——续评2018人大修宪 (Bao Tong on constitution amendments: Bustling with noise and excitement, but without any legal meaning)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/pinglun/baotong/bt-03262018093846.html
How onscreen “losers” mirror the lives of young professionals
Sixth Tone, March 26, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001989/how-onscreen-losers-mirror-the-lives-of-young-professionals%E2%80%8B
中华人民共和国监察法(全文) (Supervision Law of PRC (full text))
Xinhua News Agency, March 26, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/nd/2018-03-26/doc-ifysrfff9510840.shtml
中华人民共和国国家监察委员会举行揭牌和宪法宣誓仪式 赵乐际出席并在机关干部大会上讲话 (Secretary of CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection at inauguration of National Supervisory Commission: It should consciously safeguard Xi Jinping’s core status and obey CPC Central Committee)
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-03/23/c_1122582879.htm
Pakistanis distressed as Uyghur wives vanish into China’s shadowy network of “reeducation centers”
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/26/pakistanis-distressed-uighur-wives-vanish-chinas-shadowy-network-reeducation-centres/
China allows wife of Taiwan activist to visit him in prison
Associated Press, March 26, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-allows-wife-of-taiwan-activist-to-visit-him-in-prison/2018/03/25/3b29c5e0-30a8-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html
为孙子网购火柴枪 厦门男子一审获刑两年 (Man sentenced to 2 years for buying "match gun" online for grandson)
基督徒曹三强被判刑七年 (China jails underground Church priest and believer to up to 7 years)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql-03252018105940.html
Shanghai Public Security Bureau: No canceling of hukou for Chinese living abroad
What’s On Weibo, March 25, 2018
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/shanghai-public-security-bureau-no-canceling-of-hukou-for-chinese-living-abroad-at-this-point/
山东记者齐崇怀坐牢逾10年获释 构陷官员已升职 (Journalist spends over 10 years in Shandong prison as official that framed him gets promoted)
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/reporter-03242018112931.html
Tatt’s your lot: Chinese Football Association bans players from showing their ink during matches
http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2138864/tatts-your-lot-chinese-football-association-bans-players-showing-their
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/world/asia/shen-zhihua-china-history-north-korea.html
China bans mashups, spoofs and re-dubs of “classic literary works” in online media
中国发文禁重编经典文艺作品 网民集体炮轰
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-bans-mashups-spoofs-and-re-dubs-of-classic-literary-works-03232018120018.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/yf1-03232018100249.html
China cracks down on video parodies
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 23, 2018
傳北大元培學院三正副院長辭職抗議修憲 籲師生「拒做犬儒」文章幾全遭刪除 (Peking University deans reportedly resign in protest of constitution amendments, urging staff and students to “refuse cynicism”)
李沉簡：挺直脊樑，拒做犬儒 (Li Chenjian: Stand tall and refuse cynicism)
Inmediahk, March 25, 2018
关于印发《2018年民政部业务主管的社会组织党建工作要点》的通知 (Ministry of Civil Affairs: Social organizations under MCA supervision to strengthen Party building)
Ministry of Civil Affair Social Organization Administration Bureau, March 23, 2018
http://www.chinanpo.gov.cn/2351/110345/index.html
What Chinese high school students learn in America
http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/culture/what-chinese-high-school-students-learn-america
China issues three-day smog alert and orders factories to cut output by 50%
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/beijing-china-smog-alert-air-pollution-environment-factories-industry-a8272791.html
Grinding poverty in China – is Xi Jinping’s alleviation campaign making any difference?
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2138807/grinding-poverty-china-xi-jinpings-alleviation-campaign-making
China brings warm words to U.N., and rights activists feel a chill
中国在国际人权领域话语权渐增
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/world/asia/china-human-rights-united-nations.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180326/china-human-rights-united-nations/
China: UN experts concerned about health of jailed rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong
中国: 联合国专家对被监禁人权律师江天勇的健康状况表示关切
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, March 23, 2018
EN: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22890&LangID=E
CH: http://www.ohchr.org/ch/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22890&LangID=C
U.N. rights experts urge China to provide care for rights lawyer
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un/u-n-rights-experts-urge-china-to-provide-care-for-rights-lawyer-idUSKBN1GZ179
声纹认证技术助力我国网络身份认证建设 (China develops voiceprint recognition technologies for identity authentication online)
Why borrowers on China’s Belt and Road will go from Euphoria to depression
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2138499/why-borrowers-chinas-belt-and-road-will-go-euphoria-depression
“The biggest game changer in 100 years”: Chinese money gushes into Sri Lanka
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/26/the-biggest-game-changer-in-100-years-chinese-money-gushes-into-sri-lanka
Dutton's department denies delaying Chinese student visas for political reasons
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/23/duttons-department-denies-delaying-chinese-student-visas-for-political-reasons
7 protesters to plead guilty to criminal contempt over Mong Kok Umbrella Movement camp clearance
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/26/7-protesters-plead-guilty-criminal-contempt-mong-kok-umbrella-movement-camp-clearance/
”How can she now say she represents us?”: Hong Kong’s poorly housed reject city leader Carrie Lam using their plight to back controversial land plans
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2138845/how-can-she-now-say-she-represents-us-hong-kongs
Philippines recalls Hong Kong labor attaché, known for his strong anti-human trafficking views, sparking outrage
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138853/philippines-recalls-labour-attache-hong-kong-sparking
Hong Kong pro-democracy party defends acceptance of donation from city leader Carrie Lam
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138833/hong-kong-pro-democracy-party-defends-acceptance-donation
Worker News: Hongkongers run website reporting from the grassroots side of labor disputes
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/25/worker-news-hongkongers-run-website-reporting-grassroots-side-labour-disputes/
Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities: we are not a burden, but an opportunity our government is ignoring
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/25/hong-kongs-ethnic-minorities-not-burden-opportunity-government-ignoring/
“Foreword to Hong Kong’s national anthem law will promote patriotic spirit”
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138704/foreword-hong-kongs-national-anthem-law-will-promote
陳紹銘：口說關心劏房兒童 心中更愛高球權貴 (Carrie Lam claims to care about children living in sub-divided apartments, but she loves the golf-playing elites much more)
Are loving China and the Communist Party the same thing? Hong Kong and Beijing each grapple with question
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2138802/are-loving-china-and-communist-party-same-thing-hong-kong
大學怪談﹕向大學派錢，錢往哪裏去了？(Tale of university: With all the resources allocating to Hong Kong universities, where does the money go?)
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20180325/s00005/1521912848774
憲法是根本大法，還是一紙空文？(Is Constitution the cornerstone of state, or merely a piece of paper?)
http://www.chinafile.com/library/books/curating-revolution
Guerrilla ideology
厉害了，中国之声
EN: http://chinamediaproject.org/2018/03/26/guerrilla-ideology/
CH: https://goo.gl/fjtFEm
Detained Chinese lawyer “at risk of torture” in China's Jiangsu: rights group
律师要求见余文生再遭拒绝 家属在徐州遭全程监控
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/yuwensheng-torture-03222018150114.html
Xinjiang authorities targeting Uyghurs under 40 for re-education camps
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/1980-03222018155500.html
台湾李净瑜获签证将赴大陆探监 (Wife of Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che granted mainland entry to visit husband after many attempts)
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hcm-03222018114423.html
遭羁押的徐秦罪名又加“煽动颠覆国家政权罪” 不准会见 (Human rights activist Xu Qin charged with subversion and denied access to legal counsel)
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/03/blog-post_78.html
任全牛律师：甄江华被捕近7个月 律师要求会见 被告知仍处于指定监居 (Human rights activist Zhen Jianghua remains under residential surveillance at designated location for 7 months)
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2018/03/7.html
中国社科院发布司法透明度指数： 呈两极化，文书公开待完善 (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Report on 2017 Rule of Law in China shows 60-point gap in judicial transparency extremes, Tibet High Court and Xinjiang Urumqi Intermediate Court at bottom)
The Paper, March 22, 2018
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2037308
国家新闻出版广电部门：网站不得擅自重新剪辑经典文艺作品 (SAPPRFT bans re-editing, re-dubbing, re-subtitling of classic and original audio and video programs)
http://www.xinhuanet.com/2018-03/22/c_1122577762.htm
China tightens scrutiny over online videos, bans illegal downloads and remakes
China Film Insider, March 22, 2018
http://chinafilminsider.com/china-tightens-scrutiny-online-videos-bans-illegal-downloads-remakes/
西藏网信办研究部署网络正能量传播工作 (Tibet Internet Information Office deploys online propaganda on “positive energy,” upholds principle of “Party controlling the media”)
Cyberspace Administration of China, March 20, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-03/20/c_1122563720.htm
Why are Shenzhen police regulating labor relations in the food delivery business?
China Labor Bulletin, March 23, 2018
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/why-are-shenzhen-police-regulating-labour-relations-food-delivery-business
OHCHR, March 23, 2018
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22890&LangID=E
Shanghai orders citizens to give up their local residence rights if they have a foreign green card
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2138437/shanghai-orders-citizens-give-their-local-residence-rights-if
上班期间冲饮功夫茶 广东揭阳27名公职人员被处理 (27 public servants punished in Guangdong for drinking kung fu tea at work)
First China ambassador calls for calm in influence debate
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 22, 2018
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/first-china-ambassador-calls-for-calm-in-influence-debate-20180322-p4z5r0.html
China should prepare for military action over Taiwan: Chinese paper
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-taiwan-usa/china-should-prepare-for-military-action-over-taiwan-chinese-paper-idUSKBN1GY015
JUST IN: Hong Kong gov’t announces HK$4,000 cash handouts to around 2.8 million eligible residents
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/23/just-hong-kong-govt-announces-hk4000-cash-handouts-around-2-8-million-eligible-residents/
Court rejects activist Raphael Wong’s appeal to overturn Occupy jail sentence
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/23/court-rejects-activist-raphael-wongs-appeal-overturn-occupy-jail-sentence/
Should Hong Kong’s national anthem law specify the responsibility of schools to teach the song?
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138506/should-hong-kongs-national-anthem-law-specify-responsibility
數十團體聯署要求政府就《國歌法》立法進行公眾諮詢 (Dozens of groups launch signature campaign demanding public consultation of local legislation of National Anthem Law)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 23, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1387521-20180323.htm
Hong Kong police officer fired two gun shots to save stricken colleague’s life, Edward Leung riot trial hears
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2138477/hong-kong-police-officer-fired-two-gun-shots-save-stricken
Hong Kong’s new human trafficking action plan – a rhetorical maneuver or reason for hope?
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/22/hong-kongs-new-human-trafficking-action-plan-rhetorical-manoeuvre-reason-hope/
【浸大炒工會主席】黃偉國評估表現「very good」學校話唔夠「outstanding」 (Baptist University refuses to renew contract with assistant professor Benson Wong claiming he is “very good” but not “outstanding”)
Hong Kong justice seen to be done with two more foreign judges
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2138525/hong-kong-justice-seen-be-done-two-more-foreign-judges
各就各位 思想審查開步！ (On your marks and march toward censorship of thought!)
How democracy can survive big data
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/opinion/democracy-survive-data.html
Is democracy dying?
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/22/is-democracy-dying/
一個年代就在一個星期裏匆匆終結 (An era in Hong Kong ends with red capital replacing local capital, pro-establishment replacing pan-dems, and unification replacing diversification)
https://m.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20180321/s00022/1521536966921
Nobody knows anything about China
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/21/nobody-knows-anything-about-china/
余文生遭刑拘律师求见 国际特赦紧急救援 (Rights lawyer Yu Wensheng denied access to legal counsel under detention. Amnesty urges international community to take actions)
China: Further information: Human rights lawyer detained incommunicado: Yu Wensheng
Amnesty International, March 21, 2018
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/8106/2018/en/
China gives Communist Party more control over policy and media
中国公布改革方案，加强党对文化外交等领域控制
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/world/asia/china-communist-party-xi-jinping.html
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180322/china-communist-party-xi-jinping/
（两会受权发布）第十三届全国人民代表大会第一次会议主席团关于《中华人民共和国宪法修正案（草案）》审议情况的报告 (Report of NPC Presidium on Constitutional amendments: Deputies unanimously endorse changes to Party leadership, term limits and Supervision Commission)
When reform means tighter controls
China Media Project, March 22, 2018
http://chinamediaproject.org/2018/03/22/when-reform-means-tighter-controls/
Australian critic of Beijing refused entry to China and deported
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/22/australian-critic-of-beijing-refused-entry-to-china-and-deported
Sensitive word of the week: King Sager
China Digital Times, March 21, 2018
https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/03/sensitive-word-of-the-week-king-sager/
Separated Souls: Uyghur journalist’s unbreakable resolve to help her detained family
分离的灵魂：维族女记者帮助家人获释的坚定决心
EN: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/uighur-journalists-unbreakable-resolve-to-help-detained-family/
CH: https://zh.amnesty.org/more-resources/uighur-journalists-resolve-help-detained-family/
China’s forced labor problem
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-forced-labor-problem/
南京一公务员非法泄露他人信息82万余条，获刑四年 (Nanjing public servant sentenced to 4 years in prison for leaking 820,000 pieces of personal information)
Campaign targets Apple over privacy betrayal for Chinese iCloud users
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/apple-privacy-betrayal-for-chinese-icloud-users/
China activists fear high-tech crackdown in Xi's “new era”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-activists-fear-high-tech-crackdown-in-xi-s--new-era--10063418
US lawmakers seek to force Confucius Institutes to register as foreign agents
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2138313/us-lawmakers-seek-force-confucius-institutes-register-foreign-agents
China’s Trojan Horse human rights resolution
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-trojan-horse-human-rights-resolution/
It’s the mysterious department behind China’s growing influence across the globe. And it’s getting bigger
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2138196/its-mysterious-department-behind-chinas-growing
習近平：台獨「注定受到歷史懲罰」 台灣外交部：別國不該說三道四 (Xi Jinping claims Taiwan independence “destined to be punished by history”. Taiwan MFA refutes “other country shouldn’t make irresponsible remarks”.)
Local Press, March 21, 2018
http://www.localpresshk.com/2018/03/taiwan-independence-xi-jinping/
辽宁舰现身台湾海峡 台媒:解放军舰机绕台极大化 (China sails aircraft carrier through Taiwan Strait)
People’s Daily, March 22, 2018
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/gat/2018-03-22/doc-ifysnuae7316693.shtml
Chief Exec. Carrie Lam hails “historic moment” as Hong Kong set to welcome first female judges to top court
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/22/chief-exec-carrie-lam-hails-historic-moment-hong-kong-set-welcome-first-female-judges-top-court/
Hiring more ethnic minority staff a “win-win” scenario in Hong Kong workplaces, leaders say
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2138290/hiring-more-ethnic-minorities-win-win-scenario-hong-kong
Hong Kong launches action plan on human trafficking but critics say more must be done
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2138273/hong-kong-launches-action-plan-human-trafficking-critics
Hong Kong’s new top Basic Law official: the bureaucrat involved in drafting recent amendments to China’s constitution
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138288/hong-kongs-new-top-basic-law-official-bureaucrat-who-drafted
收威權政府三萬元的代價 (Price to pay for accepting 30,000 dollars from the authoritarian government)
Chinese rights activists fearful as policeman takes charge of legal affairs
https://goo.gl/ozEfPJ
Chinese dissident and official trade barbs at UN human rights meeting
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/20/chinese-dissident-and-official-trade-barbs-at-un-human-rights-meeting
China sets up state monitoring agency with sweeping powers to detain
新《国家监察法》威胁中国基本人权
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/powers-03202018151434.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/nu-03202018105808.html
Tibetan man detained after villagers protest Chinese mine plans
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/mine-03202018170709.html
陕西安康一男子篡改歌曲讥讽交警并发到微信群，被行政拘留 (Shaanxi man detained for remixing a song to satirize police in WeChat)
西安网警：一公众号发文歪曲事实损害警察形象，两人被罚款 (Xi’an public account administrator fined for publishing article that “damages” police image)
A Beijing bookstore where George Washington is on the shelves
一家門口掛著《獨立宣言》的北京書店
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/world/asia/beijing-bookstore-allsages.html
CH: https://goo.gl/dLjvjJ
今天起，电影管理工作划入中共中央宣传部 (Publicity Department of Communist Party to oversee China’s film sector)
Chinafilm.com, March 20, 2018
http://www.chinafilm.com/xyfx/4136.jhtml
China tightens grip on media with regulator reshuffle: Communist Party document
https://goo.gl/s2pwDt
China approves giant propaganda machine to improve global image
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-20/china-to-open-manufacturing-cut-tariffs-and-taxes-premier-says
Professor accused of sexual abuse to resign, says University
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001927/Professor%20Accused%20of%20Sexual%20Abuse%20to%20Resign,%20Says%20University
Tibet and India’s China policy
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/tibet-and-indias-china-policy/
Xi Jinping: How China's president got ahead, in hats
Yunnan to open first Biobank for ethnic minorities
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001937/Yunnan%20to%20Open%20First%20Biobank%20for%20Ethnic%20Minorities
闯红灯，个人信息被当场曝光！网友吵翻，交警回应… (Shenzhen police release jaywalkers’ photos and personal information online, netizens debate right to privacy versus public safety)
China Youth Online, March 20, 2018
http://news.cyol.com/content/2018-03/20/content_17035552.htm
China trials unmanned tanks in latest modernization push
https://goo.gl/ye9AGS
Xi Jinping tries to rally support for Chinese dream in nationalist speech
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2138112/xi-jinping-tries-rally-support-chinese-dream
China sends carrier through Taiwan Strait after Xi Jinping warning against separatism
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2138165/china-sends-carrier-through-taiwan-strait-after-xi
We are helping, not infiltrating other countries, says Chinese premier
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/we-are-helping-not-infiltrating-other-countries-says-chinese-premier-20180320-p4z5b0.html
Exco member Regina Ip upstages new lawmakers by chanting slogans at Legco swearing-in
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2138145/exco-member-regina-ip-upstages-new-lawmakers-chanting
Advocates of ending “one-party dictatorship” cannot serve in Hong Kong legislature, says Chinese official in Macau
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/20/advocates-ending-one-party-dictatorship-cannot-serve-hong-kong-legislature-says-chinese-official-macau/
Hong Kong’s top court clears the way for 13 land protesters to appeal
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/21/hong-kongs-top-court-clears-way-13-land-protesters-appeal/
林鄭出席黨慶捐3萬 民主黨尹兆堅：不滿施政就拒邀請是極端 (Carrie Lam donates 30k to Democratic Party’s Gala, leader says “it would be too extreme" not to invite her)
66 per cent discount on land fees for Hong Kong’s elite sports clubs draws fire, but minister defends plan
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2138177/66-cent-discount-land-fees-hong-kongs-elite-sports-clubs
一黨專政 (One Party dictatorship)
補選後的香港民主派統合困局 (The political quagmire of Hong Kong's democratic camp post by-election)
https://theinitium.com/article/20180321-opinion-mangok-311-hong-kong/
What the West doesn’t get about Xi Jinping
西方世界沒有讀懂習近平
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/opinion/xi-jinping-china-west.html
CH: https://goo.gl/L7gzZB/
China: New Supervision Law a systemic threat to human rights
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/china-new-supervision-law-threat-to-human-rights/
Xi Jinping tells parliament China must not be complacent
最高法：案件当事人婚姻登记等信息被纳入查询范围 (Supreme People’s Court and Ministry of Civil Affairs to share social credit information including marriage status, social organization registration, individual income, and a “blacklist of dishonest people or groups”)
专访：用李明哲案件恐吓整个台湾 (China use Lee Ming-Che case to scary Taiwan)
https://goo.gl/1uPXmg
Xinjiang authorities up detentions in Uyghur majority areas of Ghulja city
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/detentions-03192018151252.html
China improves social credit system
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201803/19/WS5aafcebea3106e7dcc14292d.html
浙江发布首起对编外人员使用监察留置措施案件 (Zhejiang Provincial Supervision Commission unprecedentedly “retains in custody” (liuzhi) a worker who is neither a Party member nor public servant)
http://www.xinhuanet.com/local/2018-03/16/c_1122548541.htm
Soldiers put on social credit blacklist for leaving service
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001938/Soldiers%20Put%20on%20Social%20Credit%20Blacklist%20for%20Leaving%20Service
India: Chinese hackers spying on Indians using WhatsApp, warns army
http://www.dw.com/en/india-chinese-hackers-spying-on-indians-using-whatsapp-warns-army/a-43042013
Detained Chinese environmental worker released after public outcry
环保人士调研广东信宜非法开采排污遭拘留
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/release-03192018105728.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/ql1-03192018103305.html
Five important takeaways from China’s national people’s congress
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/world/asia/china-national-peoples-congress-xi-jinping.html
China's radical plan to limit the populations of Beijing and Shanghai
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/19/plan-big-city-disease-populations-fall-beijing-shanghai
Xi Jinping warns he is ready to “fight bloody battles” against China's enemies
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/20/xi-jinping-warns-fight-bloody-battles-chinas-enemies
The Taiwan travel act in context
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/the-taiwan-travel-act-in-context/
Hongkongers may be barred from elections over “end one-party dictatorship” slogans, says top Beijing delegate
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/20/hongkongers-may-barred-elections-end-one-party-dictatorship-slogan-says-top-beijing-delegate/
Hong Kong election disqualification for those who lobby against one-party rule a “betrayal” to city values
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137916/hong-kong-election-disqualification-those-who-lobby-against
Hong Kong’s Chinese national anthem law “shouldn’t include rule for schools”, legal scholar says
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137863/schools-clause-national-anthem-bill-will-undermine-law-warns
Insult China’s national anthem at your peril
Human Rights Watch, March 19, 2018
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/03/19/insult-chinas-national-anthem-your-peril
年輕大狀陳偉彥：大律師本應無畏無懼 (Young Barrister Joe Chan says “Barrister should be fearless”)
Standnews, March 19, 2018
https://goo.gl/6sFjNA
Two Hong Kong activists admit roles in anti-Beijing protest, where crowds thronged liaison office and charged at officers
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2137923/two-hong-kong-activists-admit-roles-anti-beijing-protest
The voters speak, and surprise: Democrats no longer do “better than expected”
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/20/voters-speak-surprise-democrats-no-longer-better-expected/
習近平會做「終身領導人」嗎? (Will Xi rule for life?)
https://cn.nytimes.com/opinion/20180320/deng-yuwen-forever-xi-jinping/zh-hant/
Xi reforms will tighten his control over China
中國通過機構改革加強行政管控
EN: https://www.ft.com/content/bf2a315a-2b6b-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381
CH: http://big5.ftchinese.com/story/001076807
When China’s top lawmakers don’t go by the Communist Party’s playbook
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137742/when-chinas-top-lawmakers-dont-go-communist-partys
中國即將通過國家監察法 紀委「雙規」將合法化 (China to pass Supervision Law, legalizing detention of party members during investigation)
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-43451802
China anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan named Xi Jinping's deputy
Surprise choice for China’s new anti-graft watchdog signals Communist Party’s authority over the state
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137735/yang-xiaodu-surprise-choice-head-chinas-new-powerful
Detained Chinese rights group spokeswoman denied visit from defense lawyer
人权斗士徐秦被监视居住 律师会见遭拒
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/spokeswoman-isolation-03162018164533.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf-03162018103211.html
中國網絡安全法：外企為何抱有疑慮? (Why foreign enterprises worry about the China's Cybersecurity Law?)
http://big5.ftchinese.com/story/001076746
多部门：适当限制特定严重失信人乘坐民航火车，5月起实施 (Multiple departments issue opinions on restricting “seriously untrustworthy people” from travelling on trains and planes)
China steps up pressure on dissidents who oppose changes to constitution
广东维权人士接受外媒采访被警方警告
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/pressure-03162018151240.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf3-03162018103356.html
China propaganda kicks into overdrive as “helmsman” Xi re-anointed president
https://goo.gl/4d4AM3
Digital protectionism and national security
https://www.ft.com/content/112e233c-2912-11e8-b27e-cc62a39d57a0
How a viral eye roll broke the silence on China's heavily censored web
Global Voices, March 16, 2018
https://advox.globalvoices.org/2018/03/17/how-a-viral-eye-roll-broke-the-silence-on-chinas-heavily-censored-web/
最高法网络公开审判流程信息新规解读：杜绝“选择性公开” (Supreme People’s Court issues regulations to prohibit “selective” disclosure of judicial process information online)
China Court, March 16, 2018
2017年四季度9省份名义GDP负增长 (9 provinces record negative nominal GDP growth in Q4 2017, likely resulting from correction of false data)
Nikkei, March 16, 2018
http://cn.nikkei.com/china/ceconomy/29646-2018-03-16-08-58-45.html
Made-in-China halal: Online discussions on “Halalification”
https://www.whatsonweibo.com/made-in-china-halal-online-discussions-on-halalification/
Young China: How the restless generation will change their country and the world
http://www.chinafile.com/library/books/young-china
異鄉人——竺晶瑩：從「盛世」中出走，那些與我同行的中國年輕人 (The Stranger: Story of young Chinese and I who exit from a “Golden Age” China)
https://theinitium.com/article/20180316-strangers-sandi/
Why ghost marriages live on in rural China
http://bit.ly/2ppmdLi
China widens Xi's corruption crackdown
https://www.afp.com/en/news/23/china-widens-xis-corruption-crackdown-doc-12m7op1
China has new three-year plan to clean up environment, minister says
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2137666/china-has-new-three-year-plan-clean-environment
China’s new frontiers in dystopian tech
The Atlantic, March 18, 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/04/big-in-china-machines-that-scan-your-face/554075/
Deleted, suspended, demoted: Censorship, Silicon Valley-style
Al Jazeera, March 18, 2018
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2018/03/deleted-suspended-demoted-censorship-silicon-valley-style-180317111051502.html
工业和信息化部关于做好电信业务经营不良名单和失信名单管理工作的通知 (MIIT: New credit system for telecommunications industry will blacklist/expose harmful, dishonest companies)
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, March 16, 2018
http://www.miit.gov.cn/n1146285/n1146352/n3054355/n3057709/n3057714/c6088105/content.html
China urges US to “correct mistake” on Taiwan
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/18/china-urges-us-to-correct-mistake-on-taiwan
Prague opened the door to Chinese influence. Now it may need to change course.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/16/prague-to-czech-chinese-influence-cefc-energy-communist-party/
“We Are Chinese”: How China is influencing Sierra Leone’s presidential election
https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/we-are-chinese-how-china-is-influencing-sierra-leones-presidential-election/
Hong Kong’s proposed national anthem law deviates from common law norms, says legal scholar
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/19/hong-kongs-proposed-national-anthem-law-deviates-common-law-norms-says-legal-scholar/
No need for formal consultation over law against national anthem abuse, says Hong Kong leader
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137650/no-need-formal-consultation-over-law-against-national-anthem
專訪余英時 拒絕變順民 寄語港人：不要放棄 (Renowned Sinologist Yu Ying-shin encourages HongKongers to never give up and become docile people)
Apple Daily, March 18, 2018
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/wonder/realtime/article/20180318/57946191
最年長被告 周樹榮：公民抗命就係無畏無懼 (Oldest defender in anti-NPC interpretation protest says civil disobedience means being fearless)
Hongkongers who lobby for end to “one-party dictatorship” run risk of election disqualification, top Beijing delegate warns
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2137638/hongkongers-who-urge-end-one-party-dictatorship-run-risk
Never mind the partisan labels: the real loser of Hong Kong’s by-elections was our political system
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/19/never-mind-partisan-labels-real-loser-hong-kongs-elections-political-system/
Youth commissions? Hong Kong should stop prosecuting and disqualifying young people to regain their trust
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/03/18/youth-commissions-hong-kong-stop-prosecuting-disqualifying-young-people-regain-trust/
Xi’s indefinite grasp on power has finally captured the West’s attention – now what?
The Conversation, March 16, 2018
https://theconversation.com/xis-indefinite-grasp-on-power-has-finally-captured-the-wests-attention-now-what-92721
Human rights are not enough
The Nation, March 16, 2018
https://www.thenation.com/article/human-rights-are-not-enough/
Policy analysis on China’s civil society organizations
China-Europe Association for Civil Rights, March 15, 2018
http://www.chinafile.com/ngo/analysis/policy-analysis-chinas-civil-society-organizations
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About IAI
Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Sequence heterogeneity of PsaA, a 37-kilodalton putative adhesin essential for virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
A M Berry, J C Paton
A M Berry
Molecular Microbiology Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, S.A., Australia.
J C Paton
psaA encodes a 37-kDa putative pneumococcal surface adhesin. Although its complete nucleotide sequence has been determined, its contribution to the pathogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae has not previously been assessed. In this study, we used a PCR-amplified internal fragment of the psaA gene from S. pneumoniae type 2 strain D39 cloned in pVA891, to direct the construction of D39 derivatives in which the psaA gene had been specifically interrupted, by insertion-duplication mutagenesis. Two independent D39 psaA mutants (PsaA-(1) and PsaA-(2)) were significantly less virulent (as judged by intranasal or intraperitoneal challenge of mice) than either the wild-type D39 strain or a derivative of PsaA-(1) in which the psaA gene had been reconstituted by back-transformation with an intact copy of the cloned gene. pVA891-directed mutagenesis of an open reading frame (designated ORF3) immediately 3' to psaA or insertion of pVA891 between psaA and ORF3 had no impact on intranasal virulence. However, a small but significant difference in virulence was observed between these two derivatives and the parental D39 strain in a low-dose intraperitoneal challenge model, suggesting that the ORF3 product may also contribute to pathogenesis. Adherence of PsaA-(1) to A549 cells (type II pneumocytes) was only 9% of that for D39, while the ORF3-negative strain exhibited intermediate adherence (23%). This is the first functional evidence that PsaA is an adhesin. Sequence analysis of the psaA gene from D39 indicated significant deviation from that previously published for the homolog from S. pneumoniae R36A. The deduced amino acid sequences of mature PsaA from the two strains had only 81% homology, with the bulk of the variation occurring in the amino-terminal portion.
Infection and Immunity Dec 1996, 64 (12) 5255-5262; DOI:
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Print ISSN: 0019-9567; Online ISSN: 1098-5522
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Botulinum Toxin Injections -- Medical
Botulinum toxin is made from a type of bacteria. It is a toxin that affects nerves. An injection puts this toxin into muscle. There, it blocks the release of the chemical signal from the nerves to muscles. This will decrease the muscle contraction.
Botulinum toxin is used for cosmetic and medical reasons. The injection process is often called botox injection, although any brand of the botulinum toxin may be used.
The injection is FDA approved to treat:
Cervical dystonia—abnormal spasms of neck muscles
Blepharospasm—spasm of eyelid muscles
Strabismus —crossed eyes
Hyperhidrosis —excessive sweating
Chronic migraines
The injection has also been used to treat other conditions, such as:
Achalasia —spasm of esophageal muscles that cause problems swallowing
Spasmodic dysphonia
Muscle spasms due to cerebral palsy
Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
Spasticity in leg and arm muscles due to brain injury/stroke
Focal limb dystonias
Incontinence due to bladder problems
Anal sphincter disorders
Peripheral nerve pain
Temporomandibular disorder (jaw disorder)
Complications are rare. When they occur, they are often temporary and mild. Side effects are related to the site of injection. For example, if injections take place near the eyes, there may be complications with the eyelids or brow line.
Temporary issues may include:
Stinging around the injection sites
The following are less common reactions. They are generally mild and do not last long.
Flu -like symptoms
Other complications that may occur include:
Excessive weakness of the muscle around the eyes—can cause drooping of the eyelids or obstruction of vision
Difficulty swallowing—can occur in people receiving injections in their neck
Compensatory hyperhidrosis—people being treated for hyperhidrosis may develop increased sweat production at another area of the body
Excessive weakness or wasting in certain muscles—the injection may slow any improvement in the muscle
Neck weakness in people with long, thin necks
Risk of the botulinum toxin spreading beyond the injection area—may cause botulism symptoms, including difficulty breathing and death in severe cases. Children with cerebral palsy may be at a higher risk for this side effect.
This procedure may worsen nerve or muscle disorders, such as:
The toxin can also interact with medications such as antibiotics. Tell your doctor about all of the medications that you are taking.
You should not have botox if you:
Have an infection or inflammation in the area where botox will be injected
Are sensitive to the ingredients in botox
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Most often, none is given. Some people may prefer to have the area numbed for comfort. In this case, a topical anesthetic may be used.
Description of the Procedure
A thin needle will be used. The toxin will be injected through the skin into the targeted muscle. You will often need several injections in a small area.
After Procedure
Remember to:
Remain upright for several hours
Avoid alcohol
The time needed will depend on the number of sites involved. It is often less than 20 minutes.
You may have some minimal discomfort.
Normal activities may be resumed after the procedure.
The toxin temporarily weakens targeted muscles. The treatment lasts up to 4 months. With repeated use, the effects may last longer.
Contact your doctor if your recovery is not progressing as expected or you develop complications, such as:
Difficulty speaking
Severe lower eyelid droop or obstructed vision
Excessive weakness around the injection site
Rash or any other sign of an allergic reaction
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
http://www.asds.net
http://www.plasticsurgery.org
Canadian Dermatology Association
http://www.dermatology.ca
Allergan physician production information. Botox cosmetic (botulinum toxin type A). Available at: http://www.allergan.com/miscellaneous-pages/allergan-pdf-files/ehs-botox. Updated April 2, 2015. Accessed February 21, 2018.
Ondo WG, Gollomp S, Galvez-Jimenez N. A pilot study of botulinum toxin A for headache in cervical dystonia. Headache. 2005;45(8):1073-1077.
Ward A, Roberts G, Warner J, et al. Cost-effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of post-stroke spasticity. J Rehabil Med. 2005;37(4):252-257.
11/4/2009 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com : FDA gives update on botulinum toxin safety warnings. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm175013.htm. Updated April 17, 2013. Accessed February 12, 2016.
3/19/2010 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance https://www.dynamed.com : FDA approves Botox to treat spasticity in flexor muscles of the elbow, wrist and fingers. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm203776.htm. Updated April 24, 2013. Accessed February 12, 2016.
5/17/2012 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T253050/Migraine-prophylaxis-in-adults : Jackson JL, Kuriyama A, Hayashino Y. Botulinum toxin A for prophylactic treatment of migraine and tension headaches in adults: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2012;307(16):1736-1745.
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Archive for 2015|Yearly archive page
ferrite, iphonereporting, MoJoCon, wooji juice
In Uncategorized on December 3, 2015 at 1:23 pm
While trying new applications is part of the fun of mobile reporting, changing from a proven app to a new one can be nerve wracking.
Since Day One of my #iphonereporting — February 2010, to be a bit more specific — I’ve used Vericorder apps , most recently Voddio, for my multi-track audio editing.
After years of neglect, I began looking, and eventually waiting, for a new multi-track editing app that looked like the Adobe Audition desktop software I’m familiar with.
And then, the Ferrite Recording Studio app, by wooji juice arrived.
With a few taps, I can record interviews, pull cuts, record voice tracks, finely edit, rearrange tracks, change volumes, and mix ambient sounds into a professional-quality report, which can be emailed and shared on social media.
While there are plenty of multi-track recorders for musicians, Ferrite is aimed at journalists and podcasters, in terms of functionality and workflow. It’s iOS-only.
I’m very impressed by the responsiveness of the lead developer, Canis, who has demonstrated an interest and willingness to integrate suggestions from working journalists into feature updates.
Check out the new kid.
In Uncategorized on April 9, 2015 at 5:37 am
In the old days — the 1990s — radio reporters and anchors played soundbites on cartridges, or carts. They looked like the 8-track tapes your parents may remember.
I’m not advocating going back to that ancient technology, but I am longing for the way journalists crafted their stories around their soundbites.
Since the cart sometimes wouldn’t play when the journalist pressed the On button, scripts were written to deal with that inevitability. Lead-ins to soundbites came at the end of a sentence, so if there was silence because of cart failure, the audience wouldn’t know, and the anchor would move on to the next story.
That meant that a journalist might have to get creative, and change his or her wording if the soundbite started in the middle of a sentence, or didn’t contain a complete thought.
It’s called “writing around sound.”
Nowadays, reporters and anchors often lead into their soundbites without finishing their sentences, stopping at an awkward point and inserting an actuality that starts in the middle of a sentence.
I recall hearing a reporter leading into an MOS soundbite stopping after saying a football quarterback’s first name, because the person on the street’s response began with the quarterback’s last name.
How jolting to the listener. And unnatural.
A person listening to audio on the radio or online has to be able to follow the storytelling flow effortlessly. It’s difficult or impossible to rewind to hear something that was missed or confusing.
So, it’s important for reporters and journalists on all platforms to make it easy for users to hear and understand their story, the first time they hear it. Sometimes that involves taking time and creativity to make the story flow.
In this case, old school is better.
iphonereporting, neal augenstein, police, standoff, SWAT, twitter
One of the benefits of #iphonereporting is that the journalist can quickly share photos, videos, audio reports and text descriptions of an ongoing dangerous situation.
Yet, misusing the power of a mobile device can have deadly consequences.
Armed with an iPhone, content creation apps, and social media, a reporter is able to provide a vivid picture of a SWAT standoff to a huge audience within seconds, but those modern tools need to be tempered with old-school journalistic judgment and restraint.
As an example, let’s say an armed man is holding a hostage inside a home.
Experienced reporters know that a journalist should avoid describing operational details of the standoff, while it is happening.
Describing SWAT team movements, tactics, and strategies in real-time may result in an action-packed Twitter feed. It may also result in people being killed.
A reporter who photographs and tweets, or simply describes seeing a police sharpshooter crawling across a roof to get into position is putting several lives at risk.
Describing the location of SWAT members provides information to the hostage-taker that could jeopardize the operation.
A distraught hostage-taker, intent on making a point through the media, could fire at the sharpshooter, or kill the hostage.
If a reporter has a law enforcement source who is willing to share police strategy — for instance, attempting to lure the hostage-taker toward a window — tweeting that information might be a “Twitter scoop,” but it could also sabotage the plan to free the hostage.
The responsible way to live-tweet a standoff
So, what should the reporter report online and on the air as the standoff is happening?
Any information gathered at a news conference is considered “on the record.” As always, it is not a reporter’s job to simply parrot what law enforcement says, but in a standoff situation police sometimes communicate with a hostage-taker through the media. The decision of whether to repeat the police message verbatim lies with you and your news director. In a life-or-death situation, most news organizations will comply.
Tweeting images of the standoff gathered behind the police crime scene tape is fine.
Describe how the standoff is affecting the neighborhood, including traffic tie-ups, school lockdowns, and neighbor reactions to the situation. If neighbors mention the hostage-taker or the hostage’s name and background, don’t just tweet that information without verifying. Hold onto that information until the appropriate time, generally after police have released it. Consider how family members would feel if they heard the details from you, rather than authorities.
While the situation continues, gather photos, videos, and natural sound that can be tweeted and reported upon after the standoff is resolved.
Remember, bad or dangerous information that you report on Twitter will likely spread faster than you can imagine, and is nearly impossible to retract.
Will your journalistic reputation or someone else’s life be put at risk by your Twitter scoop?
Consider the ramifications before hitting Tweet.
iphonereporting, mobile journalism, mojo, MoJoCon
In Uncategorized on February 21, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Here’s the introduction to an essay I’ve contributed to next month’s MoJoCon. An e-book containing essays from all the presenters will be provided to all who join us in Ireland.
This past February marked 5 years since I decided to try to do all my field reporting with mobile devices.
Many aspects of #iphonereporting have changed between 2010 and 2015 — some for better, some for worse..
As I prepare for the RTE International Mobile Journalism Conference, March 27-28, in Dublin, one clear change is the growing number of journalists utilizing, or at least curious about, using mobile devices for creating content in the field.
Many reporters who still use legacy TV or radio gear for their broadcast packages are supplementing those reports with content created on mobile.
Sadly, it’s become clear that few app developers believe there’s a healthy enough market to create apps specifically for journalists.
While “apps designed for journalists” are becoming fewer and fewer, storytelling opportunities are increasing because of the influx and improvements of general interest apps like Twitter and Instagram.
These and other apps harness the power of the phone’s camera and audio, in intuitive ways that make it easy for anyone to record, edit, and share content.
In my opinion, the biggest opportunity (and challenge) for journalists is to embrace the notion that “old school news packages” are no longer the only way to reach your audience, and that there are now more, and easier storytelling avenues.
A well-crafted report, created on these new storytelling apps and shared through social media, may seem like an extra burden and waste of time for a radio or television reporter, yet I’d suggest it’s a new and valuable way to connect with, and expand your audience.
In Uncategorized on January 14, 2015 at 9:36 am
UPDATE (1/17/2015): WTOP’s new engagement app is available for download, in iOS or Android. Click here to see how the app is an easier alternative to VoiceMemo.
EARLIER (1/14/2015): Ask any radio or television news organization, and they’ll tell you “mobile is the future.”
So why aren’t any broadcasters acting that way?
Most news bosses have read the headlines — more people are consuming news on mobile devices, so news organizations need to make their content easy to view on phones and tablets.
Responsive mobile sites accomplish the important goal of ensuring a user can view and navigate stories and advertisements.
Yet, all these organizations that unveil a new site and consider their “mobile strategy” done are missing half of the opportunity — to harness and harvest the audience’s infatuation with always having our phones in our hands, and our tough-to-quench thirst for having our say.
Click here to read my entire PBSMediaShift post.
In Uncategorized on January 6, 2015 at 2:56 pm
It pains me to report that VeriCorder — the single company (besides Apple) that facilitated my #iphonereporting — is on its death bed.
VeriCorder, whose multi-track audio editing app has gone by the name of Poddio, VC Audio Pro, VC 1st Video, and now Voddio hasn’t updated the app since November 2013, hasn’t tweeted in 15 months, and has removed its mailing address from its website.
Yes, the app I’ve used for multi-track audio and video editing since 2010 still works with iOS 8, but with more and more crashes.
And now we know why.
Gary Symons, a Canadian former journalist who founded VeriCorder, while technically still president, has moved onto other things, says cousin Kirk Symons, in response to my emailed inquiry about who’s in charge.
Kirk Symons tells me the software assets of VeriCorder Technology are in the process of being sold to a company that hopes to renew and grow the services in the near future.
Kirk Symons says he’s taken over the sales of hardware accessories — including one of my key accessories, the XLR Adapter, which Kirk says he designed — into his own business, called VeriCorder Outlet.
It’s kind of bittersweet the moribund VeriCorder website still contains an unpaid testimonial I contributed, circa 2011: “With my iPhone and VeriCorder apps in my pocket I’m always ready for whatever happens.”
Ironic. And sad.
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By Simeon on November 5, 2017 • ( Leave a comment )
Winwyn Marquez is the first filipina to win Reina Hispanoamericana 2017
Winwyn Marquez who is the first from Philippines to compete in Reina Hispanoamericana becomes the first filipina to win the crown of Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 on Saturday night in Bolivia . She bested bested 26 other beauties from Spanish speaking countries and former Spanish colonized countries in the competition, which celebrates the Hispanic heritage and culture. The outgoing queen Maria Camila Soleibe from Colombia crowned Marquez at the end on the event.
In second place was the representative of Brazil, Venezuela came in third, Mexico was in fourth place, Bolivia in fifth place. Misses Cuba, Paraguay, Chile and Peru were the other finalists.
At the finals of the contest, Marquez was asked how she would promote the Hispanic-American culture with the great difficulty or barrier of language during the question and answer round. She answered: “Language can be learned but the will and determination to contribute to the organization cannot. It has to come from the heart. It has to be natural. I believe that kindness is a universal language that if you treat people with tolerance, patience and love, you will understand each other. The Hispanic culture is not about language only. It’s about love for God, love for country, love for history and culture and love for family. As a Filipina with a unique heritage, I have instilled that. I am ready to promote the Hispanic culture not just in Asia but in the whole world. It is time to celebrate the Hispanic culture. It is meant to be celebrated,”
This brilliant answer was enough to win her the crown for her and the first for Philippines.
Before winning the crown Marquez already had won various special awards such as Miss Ipanema at the second Gala de la Belleza (Gala of Beauty), and first runner up in the Miss Personalidad Udabol competition.
Categories: WORLD PAGEANT
Tagged as: Reina Hispanoamericana 2017, Winwyn Marquez
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/ Corporate / Terra Drone Eyes Middle East Market with New Joint Venture to Provide UAV Solutions for Survey Activities
Terra Drone Eyes Middle East Market with New Joint Venture to Provide UAV Solutions for Survey Activities
Parul Dubey on July 11, 2019 - in Corporate, News, Technology
Terra Drone sets up joint venture with NDTCCS, the largest NDT inspection services provider in the Middle East
Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – One of the largest providers of industrial drone solutions in the world, Tokyo-headquartered Terra Drone Corporation, has entered into an investment agreement with NDT Corrosion Control Services Co. (NDTCCS), a leading Saudi company which has been providing nondestructive testing and inspection services in the Middle East since 1975. With this agreement, Terra Drone and NDTCCS will establish a new joint venture, Terra Drone CCS, focusing on the Middle East market.
NDTCCS counts some of the biggest oil and gas companies in the Middle East among its clients. These include major national oil and gas companies like the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Oil Company, and Oman Oil Company to name but a few. With branches in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain that NDTCCS has, Terra Drone CCS will provide UAV inspection and testing services to a variety of sectors, including power line, utilities, renewables, telecommunications, and oil and gas facilities. The company will also contribute to surveying activities and urban development using drones.
With Terra Drone’s innovative technology, Terra Drone CCS will be able to cater to its client base in a much more time- and cost-efficient manner. Terra Drone CCS will also utilize the technology stack of Terra Inspectioneering – Terra Drone Corporation’s newest branch which performs visual and ultrasonic inspections using proprietary drone technologies.
Energy consumption in the Middle East is expected to rise sharply on the back of rapid industrialization and infrastructure development. And with the push being toward renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, the demand for inspection of these power generation facilities is also expected to increase. Terra Drone CCS will be in a prime position to provide these services to power generation facilities using drones.
According to L.M. Murugan, Group General Manager, NDTCCS, “Joining forces with Terra Drone will not only add value to our customers, but it would also spark a digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). By collaborating both companies’ technical expertise and experience, Terra Drone CCS will become a pioneer of emerging technologies like drones, Internet of Things, data analytics, and artificial intelligence in the region.”
Explaining his motivation toward the new joint venture establishment, Terra Drone Corporation CEO, Toru Tokushige, says, “Of the many NDT and inspection companies we came across, we were most impressed by the capabilities and track record of NDTCCS. The company is already a market leader in GCC and the best partner we could ask for to serve clients in this region. We look forward to bringing our leading technologies such as Terra UTM, Terra Wing, Terra LiDAR, 4G LTE drones, and our proprietary mapping software Terra Mapper to the region.”
With more than 25 group companies already in its network, Terra Drone takes pride in collaborating with cutting-edge drone technology providers. If you also want to support Terra Drone on its quest to generate aerial innovations that have a lasting impact on communities the world over, please contact info.en@terra-drone.co.jp
About Terra Drone Corporation
Established in 2016, Terra Drone Corporation has quickly become one of the world’s largest industrial drone solution companies employing over 500 drone industry professionals. The company’s head office is located in Tokyo, Japan, and more than 25 branches are spread globally throughout Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, and Oceania. Terra Drone provides innovative enterprise drone services for oil and gas, utilities, renewables, mining, construction, and GIS sectors, among others.
Terra Drone provides end-to-end solutions specializing in each sector by using high-performance hardware, cutting-edge software and customizable drone traffic management systems (UTM). The company actively invests in UAV technology providers to help them promote their products and services in the global market.
For all the latest news and information about Terra Drone, visit the company’s LinkedIn and Twitter handles
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Unmasking Halloween Horror Nights 2012: Lights-on look behind the scenes of Universal Orlando’s most original haunts
in Entertainment, Events, Theme Parks, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Florida
Posted on November 1, 2012 November 1, 2012 by Ricky Brigante
Another Halloween season has come and gone and with the conclusion of October 31st came the final night of Halloween Horror Nights 2012. This year’s event featured an uncharacteristic mix of haunted houses, many based on outside intellectual properties ranging from the music of Alice Cooper to the “The Walking Dead” TV series. The nighttime experience walking these mazes places visitors in a world of sensory overload, with loud sounds and spooky characters filling dimly-lit environments all in the name of scaring. But now that it’s all over for the year, it’s time to pull back the proverbial curtain and see the extreme detail created by Universal’s team of artists.
Throughout the run of Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando offers a special daytime tour called “Unmasking the Horror.” In this tour, the lights are turned on in three of the year’s haunted houses and guests are free to roam without any threat of being scared. Though the elaborate environments are still unto themselves often spooky, there are no actors, no sound effects, and no special lighting to cause any anxiety. Instead, visitors may slowly walk through each mazes’s twisted halls, taking pictures and marveling at the intricacies, many of which are lost under the extreme environment when the show is in full swing.
This year, the Unmasking the Horror tour led guests through Gothic, Dead End, and Penn & Teller New(kd) Las Vegas. Internally at Universal, Gothic is the 2012 winner of House of the Year and there’s no question why, with impressive and towering set design creating a believable cathedral environment that seemed to exist far larger than any sound stage could hold. Dead End was Universal’s other completely original maze this year, building off of traditional home haunts but adding a few twisted twists. Penn & Teller’s house was wacky, packed with brightly-colored 3-D visuals depicting Las Vegas gone horribly wrong.
All were exciting to explore with the lights on, snapping photos along the way. Unfortunately, no video recording was allowed during this year’s Unmasking the Horror tours, specifically due to the popularity of last year’s tours on YouTube.
So while I can’t offer lights-on video walkthroughs of these three houses, I do present picture highlights below, with a few favorites from each first, followed by a full slideshow gallery.
(Photos by Ricky Brigante and Michael Gavin)
Penn & Teller New(kd) Las Vegas
Fortunately, this year did also present a few unique opportunities beyond the Unmasking the Horror tour. A special media preview also provided a lights-on tour of the Silent Hill haunted house, still under construction at the time, though largely complete, allowing a close-up look at how Universal created the Fogworld and Otherworld from the popular video game (and movie) series.
Video: Full Silent-Hill lights-on haunted house walkthrough at Universal Orlando
The same media preview also presented a chance to record a walkthrough of Dead End under normal show lighting, with actors present. Not all special effects were turned on during this preview, but the general idea of the maze came across well.
Video: Dead End full preview walkthrough at Universal Orlando
Universal also showed off an assortment of its costumes and masks that were to be used at this year’s event, not only from each of the haunted houses but also the street characters that would haunt every corner of the theme park.
Video: Costumes and masks of Halloween Horror Nights 22
Though the scares and the screams of Halloween Horror Nights are always incredibly entertaining, it is the sheer attention to detail that continues to astound visitors to the event year after year. Though Halloween Horror Nights 22 just wrapped up last night, its creative team is already hard at work concocting the terrors that will take over the streets of Universal Studios Florida at Halloween Horror Nights 23, likely to debut on September 20, 2013.
Tagged:behind the scenesDead EndGothicHalloweenHalloween Horror NightsHalloween Horror Nights 2012Halloween Horror Nights 22haunted houselights-onPenn & TellerPenn & Teller New(kd) Las VegastourUnmasking the Horror
Disneyland celebrates 60th anniversary with huge crowds, special character entertainment
Introducing the all-new Inside the Magic web site!
Insidious haunted house announced for Halloween Horror Nights 2015 at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood
Ricky Brigante
Founder of Inside the Magic. Since growing up in Miami, Florida and ultimately moving to Orlando after college, Ricky has become an expert on Central Florida's many theme parks and attractions. He founded Inside the Magic in 2005.
Older Older post: The real story behind ‘Missing in the Mansion’, the short film adding new scares to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion
Newer Newer post: Transformers: The Ride 3D announced for Universal Orlando, set to roll out in Florida by Summer 2013
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Listeria: The Ten Dumbest Scenes in “The Town”
Posted by Andrew Unterberger on October 3, 2010
“Heat meets The Departed!!” screamed the rave reviews of the trailer. Having seen those two movies probably a combined 20 times in my life, I was a pretty easy sell for The Town, newfound double-threat Ben Affleck’s heist flick follow-up to the similarly New England-set Gone Baby Gone. Also starring longtime IITS favorite Jeremy Renner and TV stars Jon Hamm and Blake Lively in gloriously quintessential “Hey remember those TV characters that you’ll always associate us with well we can do other things too look at us!!” roles, I knew this was that all-too-rare flick I actually wanted to make the effort to get out to the theaters to see.
And to be fair, the quote was not wrong–except I was kind of hoping it was more of a qualitative statement than a quantitative one. The Town is indeed Heat meets The Departed–it’s pretty much the exact plot of Heat, with even thicker accents and crazier locals than in The Departed. I’m not sure what I was expecting, precisely, but I was hoping for something a little less eye-rolling, something a little more substantial. Instead, it was mostly a bunch of scenes of Ben Affleck trying to imply soulfulness by not smiling and Jon Hamm testing the limits of how disheveled he could get his hair and still look devastatingly handsome (Unsurprising answer: Very.)
Naturally, credibility-straining interactions and cliche-ridden set pieces abound. Here are the ten worst offenders, in roughly chronological order, though it also basically doubles as a countdown since things tend to get dumber as it goes:
10. Dougie (Affleck), after his meet-cute with bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall) in a laundromat, picks her up for their makeshift first date. Dougie was supposed to just supposed to monitor how closely Claire, who Dougie and his masked crew momentarily held hostage during their latest boost, was helping out the feds, but wouldn’t you know it, ends up developing feelings for her. Talking with her in his car, she confesses to him that she was recently involved in a heist, and Dougie, barely registering any surprise at this hardly run-of-the-mill news, starts to needle her about the fine points of the FBI’s investigation before saying anything like “Wow, that must have been horrible!” or “Hey, so did anyone get shot or anything?”
Just in case that didn’t tip Claire off enough (who by the way, is inordinately trusting of strangers for someone who just was blindfolded and taken hostage by a number of armed thugs), he responds to her statement claiming that she’d definitely be able to identify the robbers by voice by saying something like “Well, it might be harder than you think.” Oh really, Dougie? Do tell.
9. Dougie enlists the help of psycho bestie Jem in intimidating some no-goodniks. Dougie deliberately undersells on his pitch to Jem, saying something along the lines of “I can’t tell you why we’re doing this, you can never ask me why afterwards, and we’re going to hurt some people.” A second’s pause where we’re supposed to imagine Jem demanding more info before signing on with his bullying service, but instead, he merely inquires “Whose car are we taking?” Ba-dum ching! I guess this guy Jem really likes to hurt people, huh? What a psycho!
8. Dougie, after a heart-wrenching confession to Claire about his mom leaving when he was young, goes to confront daddy Stephen (Chris Cooper) about it in prison. Why, Dougie wonders, didn’t Stephen ever look for her after she went missing? (“She was a druggie whore” is basically the extent of his explanation.) Not a terrible scene, and Cooper kinda kills it on his end, but it did strike me as a little amazing that it took Claire’s innocuous questioning some thirty-plus years after the fact for Dougie to raise the question to Pops of “So, by the way, why did Mom peace out all those years ago?” Seems like something that might’ve come up in conversation in the decades in between, dunno. Maybe the two would rather just talk about the Bruins during visitations.
7. Jem, noticing with irritation that Dougie has been seeing Claire socially, decides to crash one of their dates, introducing himself to her as Dougie’s long-time friend in an extremely tense scene involving a lot of doublespeak and glaring matches between Jem and an obviously none-too-pleased Dougie. After Jem leaves–though not before Dougie has to inconspicuously grasp his neck during his departure, so Claire won’t notice the distinctive Notre Dame tattoo he revealed on his neck during the bank heist–Claire’s one takeaway from the encounter is “So, I guess you didn’t tell your friends about me, huh?” A more pressing question might have been “OK, that guy introduced himself as your friend but you were clearly pissed off to see him and wanted to get rid of him before he revealed some big secret, what’s the deal?” These are the kind of people that pass for bank managers in The Town? No wonder it’s getting robbed all the damn time.
6. In the bureau office during the investigation of the crew’s first robbery, Agent Frawley (Hamm) gets a call on his cell phone, presumably related to the more-recent heist that the boys pulled off seconds earlier. “Close the bridge!,” he commands his partner without explanation. “What?” he understandably asks. “Close the fucking bridge!!” clarifies an evidently impatient Frawley. I mean…what bridge? Why? Do you really need to prove what a no-time-to-talk badass you are that you can’t elaborate a little on your big-deal imperative? Better yet, close the fucking bridge yourself, Jon Hamm. You’re not the boss of me.
5. Frawley, desperate for a lead in chasing Dougie and his crew, decides to bully his old squeeze Krista (Lively) for some information, using her apparently well-known role in an Oxycontin-running operation as leverage. But rather than come right out and say that, he cozies up to her in her home bar and flirts with her for a few minutes, even launching into a ridiculous extended metaphor about the weight of a $20 bill (which starts off sounding like a boast about his dick–don’t ask) before dropping the bombshell of the bill “not being worth its own weight…in Oxy” as Krista’s expression drops. I mean…for all Frawley’s time’s-a-wastin’ bombast, he certainly loves to meander around the point when chatting up the floozies. Chemistry between the two wasn’t bad, though–do I smell a Gossip Girl / Mad Men crossover?
4. Before the two embark on their latest, biggest, presumably final heist, Jem gives Dougie a little speech demonstrating how much he hated the nine years he spent in prison when he was young. Thus, he says, if he gets cornered by the cops during the upcoming job, he’s going to die shooting his way out rather than go back to jail. I wonder how many big-moment speeches in crime-flick history have focused around thugs saying to each other “You know, if the cops corner us on this one, let’s just surrender, because bullets hurt a lot and I’m actually kind of afraid of dying, and besides my cousin’s a really good defense attorney and could probably get our sentence down to 15-20 if we cop a plea.” Could you count them on one hand? I’m betting you could count them on one hand.
3. OK, this one might actually be on me. After pulling off the movie’s climactic heist at Fenway Park (where else?), crew member Gloansy (Slaine–also a member of La Coka Nostra, apparently) makes a crack about how “No one’s robbed the Sawx like that since Jack Clark!” Over my head in the theaters, I checked Clark’s Wikipedia page hoping it would partially explain the reference. After poring over it a couple times, I still got nothing. Anyone wanna help me out? (And in the meantime, if they were going the baseball route, wouldn’t “No one’s robbed the Sawx like that since [Yankees Owner Who Traded for Babe Ruth]!” have been the obvious choice? Guess it’s a townie thing.)
2. After the final heist goes awry (Damn, damn, damn!!) and Dougie is the only one of the crew who makes it out alive, he gives Claire one last call to try to persuade her to come away with him. Unbeknownst to Dougie–well, actually, entirely beknownst to Dougie, since he’s watching with binoculars from across the way–Claire has agreed to cooperate with the Feds, and uninspiringly tries to get him to meet her at her apartment, where the cops will be waiting for him. Heartbroken at her collaboration, Dougie unconvincingly agrees to come over, but just before he’s about to hang up, a suddenly motivated Claire tells him just how much she wants to come over, saying it’ll be just like one of her “sunny days”–a call back to a previous conversation between the two where she’d mentioned that she always associates sunny days with death. Clearly relieved at her trying to help him out, Dougie says he’ll be right there and hangs up.
Generally, I’d think this would be the point where one of the feds would take the phone from Claire and say something like “OK, so you obviously just tipped him off with that last part there, now what’s the deal and where can we find him?” Instead, Frawley and company’s conclusion is more along the lines of “Great! Did you hear that guys? He’s coming over! This is gonna be easy!” They set up their semi-inconspicuous trap for him while Dougie gets an hour’s head start on his getaway. Eventually, Frawley realizes he’s not coming and makes a “Sunny days, huh?” type comment to Claire, just to let her know that her little ruse wasn’t completely lost on him. This is the best and brightest the local FBI has to offer? Once again, no wonder this town gets robbed all the damn time.
1. After Dougie gets away–and yes, he actually does get away, presumably because Affleck was always as crushed as I was when DeNiro got killed at the end of Heat–Claire digs up a bag that he left buried in her garden before splitting from The Town. The bag contains Dougie’s share of the money from the Fenway heist, with a note saying that she should use the money to do some good. I figured the next scene would feature a guilt-ridden Claire turning over the money to the feds, possibly exchanging an understanding glance with a resigned Frawley. But no, apparently Claire’s good with spending Dougie’s blood money, and she uses it to refurbish a skating rink that the two had previously bemoaned having lost its ice. (Dougie was once a hockey prospect, you see.)
Uh…what? Claire, an ex-bank manager (she quits halfway through the movie for some reason) who presumably knows a thing or two about money, doesn’t see the risk in laying down such a large cash donation? Do suspicions in The Town not arise when unemployed consorts of known felons suddenly shell out five or six-digit amounts for local charity projects? And on the off chance that it wasn’t already 100% transparent where she got the money from, Claire has the rink dedicated to the memory of Dougie’s departed mother. Subtle.
In conclusion, go see The Social Network. Trent Reznor does the music!
This entry was posted on October 3, 2010 at 9:47 am and is filed under Listeria. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
28 Responses to “Listeria: The Ten Dumbest Scenes in “The Town””
Visceralist said
Just caught this movie this weekend and agree wholeheartedly. What a waste…
Al-2 said
You forgot to add to No. 2, Hamm and his entire squad decide to stand in the picture window while Claire receives the call from Dougie. Perhaps they should’ve thought of hiding from plain sight or thought ‘hmmm, what if he’s (or someone’s) watching Claire’s apartment?’ Also, the scene is a direct ripoff of the Val Kilmer scene from Heat.
Duff said
In defense of #8, these characters don’t really strike me as being the most emotionally open people in the world.
MBI said
Of this list, only #2 and maybe #1 strike me as particularly thoughtful or meaningful criticisms, rather than just superficial nitpicking.
At least Natalie Portman never commits suicide for no justifiable purpose.
Bob said
Jack Clark signed a 2 year deal with the Red Sox in the early 90’s, after a monster year in San Diego. Put up half decent numbers first year, but second year he was constantly injured, didn’t produce, complained about everything, was generally considered to be a disruptive jerk, and the final straw was him filing bankruptcy for spending too much $$$ on cars while on the DL. Best line in the movie.
Taylor Evans said
You should check your facts. Clark signed a 3 year deal, not 2, for 5 million per year, back when 5 million was a huge salary. The Sox waived him halfway through the contract, and had to pay him for a year and a half after he had played his last game in Boston. (thus he ROBBED the Sox)
Jack Clark said
Oh, it was three years instead of two? BIG DEAL! Bob was the first to explain the Jack Clark line’s meaning. Who cares if he said two years instead of three? The last thing we need is you smarting off with “You should check your facts”, you tool.
Mildred said
Criticisms of your criticisms (:
10. Of course he had to have feelings for Claire! The only reason they can make a movie out of it is BECAUSE he took her as a hostage and then had feelings for her. It’s interesting and different compared to the norm, which would be taking a hostage and then keeping an eye on them afterwards to make sure they don’t know too much, so that’s why it’s in a movie. But anyway, the first thing out of his mouth after her confession is “I’m sorry” and throughout her explanation there was a look of interest and concern on his face, so I guess that counts for something. But yeah, I agree his question about the FBI were suspicious but I think it was definitely a natural reaction just because he was kind of like “oh shoot” I need to watch myself and it probably surprised him (don’t know why it would though)
9. How is this a bad scene?… I think it’s one of the best… shows he’s bad ass and doesn’t mess around and YES, he does like to hurt people. He’s always the one of the group looking to do the most damage. He wanted to kill Claire, so YES he is a psycho… which makes an interesting character
8. Maybe Dougie and his dad didn’t have that kind of relationship where they could talk about that, and you have to remember Dougie is a tough guy from Charlestown as is his father. He was kind of young when it happened too, so back when the issue was really pressing to him his dad probably gave him a dumb answer or he was too unsure to ask, but now that he’s older and the matter was in his mind because of his conversation with Claire, he wants to know the truth.
7. I agree, it was strange. Maybe Clare is too stupid and oblivious to notice he was glaring at the creep.
6. What do you mean what bridge? Since the movie is about Charlestown… the Charlestown Bridge but I can see how you wouldn’t get that if you weren’t from the area but it’s a big landmark. And Frawley should be allowed to be bossy since ya know he’s the boss and they’re in the midst of dealing with hardcore criminals who they’re sort of in a rush to catch so I’m sure it’s okay if he yells and swears, which is part of the Boston language anyway.
5. Frawley probably wanted to see if he could get Krista to talk about her drug deals and I think this scene was an OH SHIT moment which was much appreciated.
4. This wasn’t really a big moment speech… more of something Jem mentioned in passing but I don’t really understand your issue with it he’s just saying he would rather die than go back to jail, it’s just his personal opinion you can’t really criticize that ya know?
3. Already explained but yeah I can understand how a lot of people wouldn’t catch, they probably could have said something more well known but it was still a great line
2. I didn’t really think that the sunny days thing was obvious when she said it. I actually was confused by it and only realized it was code for GTFO when Frawley said that to Claire. One would think sunny days is an invitation for “hey come over it’s so nice out let’s hang” just because that’s what most people associate sunny days with but not Claire because she’s a freak.
1. No argument there. You’re completely right, that was totally unsubtle, and I don’t know how much it costs to put ice in a rink but maybe it wasn’t a crazy amount of money and just seen as very generous from a dedicated volunteer but yeah still a stupid idea and she realistically would have been questioned about it.
As far as #1 is concerned, I guess I’m the only guy who actually READ the plaque, which reads “anonymous gift in the memory of…” No one knows WHO made the gift, because it was ANONYMOUS. So no one can prove it was from her. They can speculate, but they have no proof. Simple.
Joe (@wild_krrd) said
No. 1: Go back and read the plaque at the rink. It says “Anonymous donation in Loving Memory of Doris MacRay.” The operative word being “Anonymous.” Claire is a bank manager with the level of education that implies. I’m sure she knew how to wash the money before sending it to whoever in Doug’s mother’s name.
Mike said
9. One of my favorite scenes of the movie. Guess you lack that killer instinct. This was a great movie that offers a very realistic depiction of Charlestown. Your obvious disliking of this movie and the fact that you did not know who Jack Clark was leads me to believe your a feminine man and one that lacks the masculinity to appreciate it.
Ingvild said
DOES HE LACK THE MASCULINITY TO APPRECIATE IT? I am a seventeen year old girl who loves musical theatre and romantic comedies, and I enjoy this kind of movie too. So shut your sexist mouth.
Nahlidge said
10. as if bein’ all “OMGBYBFF darlin’ I’m so sorry” fits the character that he’s playin’ in the movie. did you want him to shed a tear for her or somethin?
9. stop bloggin’ and go make some friends. jem did what a close friend is supposed to do. doofus.
8. you didn’t pick up on the fact that he doesn’t really get along with his dad? so maybe he barely visits him. much less have a heart to heart with him. again. doofus. say hi to mom and dad.
7. now youj’re just trollin’. lol. I’m not even commentin’ on this one. but it’s the CLOSEST you’ve been to bein’ anywhere near havin’ a valid point so far. so semi kudos.
6. if you were from the area you’d probably know. so again. moot point. I feel I’m gettin’ dumber by the minute readin’ you babble on about nonsense.
5. lmaoooo “no time wastin'”? I think you just proved the point of you just wantin’ to ramble for an entire blog post instead of prove any points of why the scenes were dumb. smh.
4. Huh? smh.
3. a quick google search would have stopped this idiocy from happenin’. how do you post on a blog. but can’t comprehend how google works? smh.
2. you obviously didn’t catch on to the obvious fact that you can tell he knew what she did when he commented on her “one of your sunny days huh?” comment. good job dude!
1. did u see where the donation came from smart guy?
smh. can’t believe I read this whole thing. I almost quit about 2452434 times. but decided to give you a chance to make any valid points. but nope. successful fail is successful in your case. keep tryin’.
FromBoston said
Thank you, I really enjoyed this movie. If you’re going to nit-pick it to death, then just don’t watch it… you suck at life.
mplo said
The Town: A Stupid, Overrated, Crappy Movie:
Hey, folks, I’m in the mood to post this, so here I am. I recognize the fact that most people really like Ben Affleck’s most recent movie, The Town, and I would’ve wanted to like it, too, but imho, there’s too much wrong with The Town for me not to look at this film with much harsher judgement and a much more critical eye than many, if not most people.
I admittedly liked Ben Affleck a lot in Good Will Hunting. He and Matt Damon also did a great job working together in this particular movie. Good Will Hunting, imo, is a good film that really worked. However, I think that Ben Affleck fell badly on The Town, and part if it is probably due to the fact that he took on two jobs; directing and playing the lead character.
Imho, The Town is an overrated, cheesy piece of junk that’s more like a feature-length made-for TV soap opera than a regular movie, which never, ever should’ve made it into the cinemas at all, in the first place. Yet, I realize that, in order to get the democratic society that we all long for, different viewpoints have to be aired, no matter how much at odds they may be with each other. .
The cast is mediocre at best, the plot and story are overused, the Boston accents, especially on the part of Ben Affleck, are forced and way overdone, and the chemistry between Doug and Claire is non-existent to paltry, at best. One of the most, if not the most bothersome aspects of The Town is the message that it clearly conveys; that it’s okay to steal and rob innocent people of money that they don’t deserve to lose, to terrorize, permanently maim, put innocent bank employees and customers’ lives and safety at risk, to abet an armed felon and wanted fugitive (Doug MacRay, the ringleader)to escape the law by getting involved romantically with him, allow him to buy expensive Tiffany diamond necklaces for one, and make utter dupes of law enforcement people who’ve been assigned to bring guys like Doug MacRay to justice and end their robbery careers once and for all, by lying to the Feds, and tipping an armed felon and wanted fugitive (Doug MacRay) off to them and helping them escape. I think it’s totally wrong.
Oh, and why is it okay for good-girl Claire to receive stolen goods and spend that ill-gotten money on the renovation of a seedy hockey rink and dedicate it to her criminal boyfriend’s mother who she never knew, instead of arranging to turn it into the police anonymously?
Hey…come on! Doug put the romance moves on Claire when he met her, in order to shut her up and warn her oh, so subtly not to talk to the Feds or else! One’s supposed to think that Doug really loves Claire and is attrracted to her by her winsome personality, but nothing could be further from the truth, imo. He found Claire attractive, in that she was clearly vulnerable after being traumatized by him and his guys after they held up her bank at gunpoint, and therefore quite gullible and open to exploitation. Almost as soon as Doug got what he wanted out of Claire (a promise not to go to the cops or the Feds), he left the money in her garden and skipped town for Florida, because he was on the lam from the law and couldn’t elope with Claire and exploit her as a bargaining chip, the way he’d wanted to do. Yet, there’s another reason why Doug left Claire behind when he skipped town for Florida instead of taking her with him; Doug’s days of hiding out down in Florida in a house overlooking a bayou were numbered, that sooner or later he’d be hunted down and caught, perhaps violently, by the Feds, and at some level, both he and Claire must’ve known that. It was especially obvious when FBI Agt. Frawley said to Claire “You know the FBI is a national organization”, and then requested that the descriptions and photos of Doug MacRay be circulated. Isn’t it funny how the vast majority of people, either naively or in willful ignorance, miss all of the above!
It’s funny how most people don’t realize that Doug was a sociopath who totally exploited the women in his life; Krista for sex, and he left her with nothing, even though he knew she had a young child to take care of (who might or might not be Doug’s), and Claire, who he thought he could elope to Florida with, but could not, after having charmed her into trusting him and then worming his way into her heart so that she’d shut up and not talk to the Feds. One is supposed to sympathize with both Doug and Claire, but, in reality, neither of them deserved any sympathy.
Imho, when the Feds had Claire and Doug meet at her Charlestown condo in a last-ditch effort to nab Doug MacRay and send him off to a Federal penitentiary for his crimes, the Feds should’ve made Claire keep her big fat trap shut, not call Doug or answer any of his phone calls, and let them do their job of arresting Doug and bringing him to prison for his crimes.
Doug deserved to end up in a federal penitentiary for his crimes, and Claire deserved to be criminally prosecuted herself, or at least put on some sort of probation, for abetting Doug and for receiving stolen goods (Doug’s ill-gotten heist money).
I’m sorry, folks, but I cannot bring myself to be sympathetic to either Doug or Claire, who, imho, turned out to be the most dislikable, and annoying characters in The Town. I also think the fact that Claire quit her job as a bank manager after the robbery without telling anybody, including the Feds, is also rather suspicious. What most people don’t realize is that Doug is an armed felon and wanted fugitive who’s on the lam from the law, so he’s not going to Florida on vacation. Happily, there’s no way that he and Claire will ever meet again, which is what the final “I’ll see you again, this side or the other” sentence in Doug’s “goodbye, I’ll always love you” letter to Claire before he skipped town for Florida means, but the fact that Claire didn’t turn to Frawley for help after learning the truth about Doug and reallizing that she was in over her head, is beyond stupid, and wrong.
The fact that Doug and Jem beat the crap out of two Dominicans from a housing project who’d supposedly thrown bottles at Claire when she’d been stupid enough to walk by herself through a housing project (no woman in her right mind would do that, at any time of night or day) and permanently cripple them, especially since they didn’t even tell the two Dominicans why they are beating him up, shows that underneath that smooth, sweet-talking, gentle veneer of his, Doug, as well as Jem, is a man of unprovoked violence, and more like his incarcerated father (who, btw, is serving several life sentences in MCI-Cedar Junction for bank robbery and murder) than he would’ve liked to admit. My, my!…Lady Claire must’ve felt flattered that two armed felons who were also wanted fugitives from the law came to her defense! Pretty sickening, this whole thing.
SocioIdentifier said
Your own issues and baggage are bleeding through every whiney word of this review.
Speak for yourself, SocioIdentifier! You’re the one with issues, not me!
Steve Norfolk said
You must be a lot of fun at parties. You can’t just enjoy things without viewing them at a literal level? It is a movie. For entertainment. Not a true crime documentary. I hope since this killjoy review you’ve lightened up a bit. Otherwise I feel bad for you, and more so for your family for having to put up with a live-in buzzkill.
Imho, “The Town” conveys the message that pretty-looking people can do whatever the hell they want, and not suffer any consequences. Priceless. Claire was a chick with a hot body, an angelic-looking face, and nothing behind the ears. Inotherwords, despite being a bank manager, she was just a bubblehead..plain and simple. Doug was a handsome failed hockey star, who also had a hot body, but nothing between the ears. Hah! The two of them had more in common than most people realized, even though they came from two different worlds.
Nick Y said
It’s a movie, there is a reason they call it cinematic. It’s supposed to pike interests and be a thriller right in front of you. There may have been some corny parts; but it achieved it’s goal in being am action hit, so sorry it wasn’t the non-fiction FBI big book of history.
Sure, it’s a movie, but it’s a piece of junky cinematic technology. Sure, it’s supposed to whet interests and be a thriller, but, in reality, it wasn’t, imo. It’s more like a made-for-TV feature-length soap opera than a regular movie. I enjoyed the beginning of The Town, with the various shots of Charlestown, both aerial and on the ground, as well as the opening bank heist, but The Town went from being okay to being just plain bad, in a matter of minutes.
TJ said
Your number 3 you got wrong. It’s no one has robbed the red sox like this since jack Clark. Not Sawx
This is something that still continues to dog me, even though I’ve written about it so many times. Why, oh why do so many people fall for such a hyped-up, cheap, overrated, trashy movie such as The Town, and, more to the point, refuse to accept dissenting opinions on it? It beats me…I don’t know!
I admit to one thing, however: The Town left me rooting for the cops and the FBI, especially Agt. Adam Frawley and wanting them to catch Doug MacRay and his men and send them to jail for their crimes, and to have Claire either criminally prosecuted herself for being an accessory to Doug’s crimes and for tipping him Doug off with a “sunny days” code and enabling him to elude the law, or at least put on some sort of probation for her bullshit. Sure, I sympathized with Claire at first, because she was the victim of an armed bank robbery, which wasn’t her fault, but I completely lost my sympathy for her when she not only got involved, wholesale, in a romance with Doug, but refused to sever all contacts with him even after she learned through Agt. Frawley who Doug MacRay really was, and what he was up to.. Unlike most people, who are sympathetic with Ben Affleck’s character in that film, and with Claire, I am not.
Why should I be sympathetic to either Doug or Claire? The idea that Doug MacRay wanted to change and redeem himself through Claire is utter bullshit, especially after he engaged in an act of vigilantism by taking the law into his own hands, going back to Charlestown, and gunning down Rusty and Fergie just because they threatened Doug’s ladygirl Claire with physical harm. Come on now! Doug MacRay’s still a criminal and he was not the decent guy he came across as when he and Claire met “by chance” in a C-Town laundromat.
Doug MacRay, like his friends and partners in crime, are not only skilled, disciplined and ruthless in their quest for quick money through parasitic behaviors such as armed robbery, and who’d unquestionably kill or seriously injure people enough to put them in the hospital if they’re considered obstacles to what they want, but Doug knows how to come across as a nice guy, when he’s really not. He may not be crazy like his best friend and righthand man, Jem, but he’s a sociopath and a person of unprovoked violence just the same. The fact that he came across as such a nice, charming guy and deceived Claire by pretending to be an upstanding, law-abiding citizen, when he’s really not, is more than disgusting…it’s part of his criminal behavior. As for Claire, the fact that she took Doug’s bait and rose to it is pathetic indeed.
If Doug had really wanted to change, imo, he would’ve turned himself and his guys in, come forward, negociated with the Feds for some protection for him and Claire, and stopped robbing banks once and for all. Doug left for Florida without Claire for two reasons:
A) Doug macRay was an armed felon and wanted fugitive who’d been on the lam from the law for quite awhile, plus he’d just killed Fergie and Rusty.
B) Doug had gotten what he really wanted out of Claire all along; a promise from her not to turn him in, which he got.
How can so many people be so naive or willfully stupid as to miss that?
Also, if Doug wanted to redeem himself, he would’ve come forward, served his time, and
after a prison term, found honest ways to raise the funding for the renovation for the C-Town hockey rink himself, instead of using Claire Keesey as a go-between. What people don’t realize is that Doug wasn’t a nice guy…even to Claire, even though most people firmly believe that. The fact that he deceived her, seduced her and made a total fool out of her was vicious. The fact that Claire acted like a poor, confused, dumb-assed adolescent and allowed herself to be manipulated, made a fool out of and taken advantage of by Doug is pitiful, but she doesn’t deserve pity, due to the fact that she helped the very guy who turned her life upside down and caused her a ton of grief in the first place escape the law.
Now that I think of it, I wouldn’t cared one iota if Doug and Claire had either ended up in jail, or been shot and thrown into the Charles or the Mystic River. An awful thing for me to say, but that’s how disgusted I am with this kind of thing.
As for Kristina, well, I don’t like her sordid lifestyle or behavior (drug and alcohol addiction, sleeping around with too many men, and the fact that she was in the business herself by helping to book hotel rooms and get costumes for Doug and his men, and being a drug mule for Fergie and Rusty), but i’ll say this: I feel kind of sorry for Krista, in a way, because she had far fewer choices than Claire; she’d grown up with Doug and Jem, who, like many other men, abused and exploited her for their own ends. Krista’s daughter, Shyne, still an infant, caught in the middle of all this shit, was innocent, and I felt sorry for her, too.
I’m so sick of people saying that what the white collar criminals (not defending them, btw) are worse than guys like Doug MacRay and his gang, because it’s unrelated, and not true.
Neither the book Prince of Thieves, on which The Town was based, or the movie, make any effort to get at causes of bank robbery and other crimes, and the circumstances under which Doug and his men had grown up under. Moreover, the movie asks the audience to sympathize with Doug MacRay and his men, as well as Claire, who acted stupidly enough to allow Doug to take advantage of her, and who became an accessory to his crimes, while considering law enforcement officials assigned to bring criminals like MacRay and company to their knees and have them locked up in penetentiaries once and for all.
Dez was a smart (he was college-educated and had a regular job) but stupid guy; he was pretty much just along for the ride, and did what he was told to do by the gang, and yet, at the same time, he seemed to be pretty much their victim, as well, if one gets the drift. Dez allowed himself to be taken for a ride, also.
At least the book fleshes out the characters and spends more time on Dez and Krista, and doesn’t focus on the viewpoint of Doug and Jem so much, plus the book takes a far less sympathetic outlook towards Doug and his men.
Sorry, folks, but I can’t bring myself to like this film, except for the very beginning.
Here’s another question:
Why in the world is Claire so interested in a guy like Doug MacRay, who’s not only a convicted felon with an extensive criminal record of armed bank/armored car robberies (Federal offenses, btw) and severe assault, who also commits two murders on top of all that, and, moreover, has no family and has nothing to recommend him? It beats me!
I think that one of the dumbest parts of the film were the conversations that occurred in the first two dates between Doug and Claire. The fact that Doug acted like a big know-it-all, schpieling off to Claire about how the criminal justice system supposedly works and then admitting “I watch a lot of TV” after being challenged by Claire, who said “You’re quite the expert”, should’ve been a red flag for Claire about who Doug MacRay really was and what he was up to from the get-go. A smarter, more streetwise woman than Claire Keesey would’ve had Doug pegged even before the FBI Agt. intervened on her behalf, bailed and immediately turned to FBI Agt. Frawley for help and protection.
The dumbing down of America and the world at large continues! How so many people here in the United States and throughout the world, to boot, could’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for this hyped-up piece of junk of a film indicates precisely how far popular culture, in general, has fallen. It totally takes the viewpoints of Doug MacRay and his posse of murderous, thieving thugs, and a stupid, immature and confused bank manager who’s either so willfully stupid or gullible that she falls, hook, line and sinker for Doug MacRay, a wanted armed robber, thug and killer, and wiles the willfully ignorant or gullible audiences into sympathizing with them while condemning law enforcement people as a bunch of incompetent, stupid jerks.
S said
The town is awesome. I’m watching it right now. Your comments suck. And no I don’t need to come up with some witty remark either. Your comments just suck.
Bill Bratton said
I am a real Townie born in 58 and raised in Charlestown, as a fellow Townie said, a movie by a guy based on a book by a guy, both from the suburbs who would never dare cross the bridge into Charlestown as kids, neither are even from Boston. Worked for the Teamsters in the movie business a long time and with Affleck a couple of times, Hollywood tough guy trust me.
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Tag Archives: Regency romance
Blog Tour Feature: Tempted by the Viscount by Sofie Darling
¸.•*´¨❥¸.•*´¨ NEW RELEASE¸.•*´¨❥¸.•*´¨
Sometimes once is all the heart needs to risk all and follow a mad passion wherever it may lead.
I am pleased to announce a cool book blog tour going on right now, presented by Sofie Darling, an author I met during my journey! Congratulations on your new historical romance release!
Plus, here at the I Love Romance Blog, we love discovering new romance novels!
Yowza!
This is the blurb for Tempted by the Viscount:
London, April 1825
Lord Jakob Radclyffe left his past behind in the Far East. Or so he thinks until a ruthless thief surfaces in London, threatening to ruin his daughter’s reputation. With the clock ticking, Jake needs the scandalous Lady Olivia Montfort’s connections in the art world to protect his daughter’s future.
Olivia, too, has a past she’d like to escape. By purchasing her very own Mayfair townhouse, she’ll be able to start a new life independent from all men. There’s one problem: she needs a powerful man’s name to do so. The Viscount St. Alban is the perfect name.
A bargain is struck.
What Olivia doesn’t anticipate is the temptation of the viscount. The undeniable spark of awareness that races between them undermines her vow to leave love behind. Soon, she has no choice but to rid her system of Jake by surrendering to her craving for a single scorching encounter.
But is once enough? Sometimes once only stokes the flame of desire higher and hotter. And sometimes once is all the heart needs to risk all and follow a mad passion wherever it may lead.
Sofie is giving us a peek at her Regency romance, Tempted by the Viscount, today.
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
“Am I late?” he asked in a tone that didn’t sound as concerned as his words might have suggested.
“Yes,” she replied, sounding distressingly like Lucy on a petulant day.
“My apologies,” he said on a shallow bow, even as his mouth, that talented, efficient mouth of his, maintained its familiar firm line.
“No need for apologies, my lord. In fact, your tardiness is promising evidence that you are settling into the viscountcy quite well.” She liked the way his eyes narrowed at her stern tone, a tone she couldn’t help borrowing from Mrs. Bloomquist. “It is the first rule of the nobility. Everyone can wait.”
“Then my apologies for not having made you wait longer.”
A begrudging smile found its way to her lips. “Now for the second rule of the nobility.” She allowed a beat to pass. A flash of pleasure coursed through her at the very idea that she could hold this glorious man in suspense. It wasn’t every woman who could boast that particular thrill. “Never apologize.”
He stepped forward, halving the distance between them, and took another bow. “Again, my apologies.”
His gaze pinned her in place, and, like that, the power of the moment shifted to him. Oh, how an unmanageable part of her wanted him to use it. This felt dangerously like flirting. Was she flirting?
She was. In the presence of the tease playing about his eyes and mouth, she couldn’t seem to help herself.
She tried clearing her throat, hoping to clear her head in the process.
He should be more careful with that smile. It could give a woman ideas.
And here are some teasers to entice you with.
Universal reader link: books2read.com/u/bWzRg0
BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Tempted-Viscount/Sofie-Darling/9781682916346?id=7205747130327
Wow! Love the tension here. ♥♥♥
Follow the blog tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, and check out the Rafflecopter giveaway on the link below for a $20 Amazon gift card!
Link: http://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/tempted-by-the-viscount-release-tour-and-giveaway
Thank you for telling us about your new historical romance, Sofie! I know I can’t wait to read this riveting novel! 🙂
Readers, don’t forget to pre-order a copy of this awesome book! Or add it to your Goodreads list!
Sofie spent much of her twenties raising two boys and reading every book she could get her hands on. Once she realized that she was no longer satisfied with simply reading the books she loved, that she must write them, too, she decided to finish her degree and embark on a writing career. Mr. Darling and the boys gave her their wholehearted blessing.
When she’s not writing heroes who make her swoon, she runs a marathon in a different state every year, visits crumbling medieval castles whenever she gets a chance, and enjoys a slightly codependent relationship with her beagle, Bosco.
Website: www.sofiedarling.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sofiedarlingauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sofie_darling
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sofie-Darling/e/B0751Z1X5N/
https://amzn.to/2HjWnQ2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16594212.Sofie_Darling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiedarlingluv/
Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of this delicious romance!
Thanks again to Sofie and her blog tour sponsor!
Happy reading, everyone! ♥♥♥
Filed under Authors, Blogging, Book Release, Books, Event, Fiction, Historical Romance, new release, Readers, Romance
Tagged as author, blog tour, book spotlight, books, feature, featured, giveaway, historical, historical romance, i love romance, new book, new book release, new release, news, readers, Regency, Regency romance, romance, romance books, romance novel, romance readers, Silver Dagger Book Tours, Sofie Darling, Tempted by the Viscount
Pre-Release Blog Tour Feature: Tempted by the Viscount by Sofie Darling
¸.•*´¨❥¸.•*´¨ PRE-RELEASE¸.•*´¨❥¸.•*´¨
Sometimes once is all the heart needs to risk all and follow a mad passion wherever it may lead…
When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for an author!
His feet began a slow prowl forward, steadily erasing the distance between them, inch by deliberate inch.
She should feel panicked, or, at least, unsettled, by his purposeful approach. But those feelings refused to take hold. The anxiety and anticipation of seconds ago flared into a single overwhelming sensation: desire, white hot, ravenous.
He drew within a foot of her and stopped. The only sound in the room the jagged in and out of her breath.
So this was what it was to be a wanton? Aching from the nearness of his withheld touch, excruciatingly delicious and exquisitely tortured all at once.
“Why are you here?” she muttered.
“How should I answer that question?” he returned, his voice a low, masculine register that quaked her to her core. His head lowered, lips hovering just above hers for one, two, three rapid heartbeats, his breath a whisper across her lips. “Like this?”
And another excerpt!
An image of tonight’s hostess came to mind. Of her surface . . . Her eyes fluttering shut, lashes dark against her pale skin, parted lips reaching up, up, up . . .
And her depths . . . The quality that made him want to forget his place, his purpose, himself, and dip his head and claim those lips until they were satisfied, sated. As if a mere kiss could accomplish satisfaction and satiety between them.
A soft swish of skirts whispered behind him, and a voice sounded in his ear. “Does it disappoint? Disappointment can leave one feeling decidedly unfulfilled.”
Jake looked right, and the room fell away. There she stood, throwing that word at him again. Disappointment. The idea that he’d disappointed her had gnawed at him since yesterday. And now she was throwing another word into the mix. Unfulfilled.
While he had no desire to leave this woman disappointed, he certainly didn’t want to leave her unfulfilled.
In fact, under a different set of circumstances for their acquaintance, he wouldn’t walk away from this woman until she was thoroughly . . . exhaustively . . . fulfilled, satisfied, sated . . .
Amazon Universal link: https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07CHP5ZSD
Follow the blog tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, and check out the Rafflecopter giveaway below!
Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/23d974a9717/
Thank you for telling us about your upcoming historical romance, Sofie! I know I can’t wait to read this wonderful novel! 🙂
Thank you for telling us about your awesome book tour! I know readers can’t wait to get ahold of this Regency romance!
Filed under Authors, Blogging, Book Release, Books, coming soon, Event, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, new release, Readers, Romance, Writing
Tagged as author, blog tour, book spotlight, books, coming soon, feature, featured, historical romance, i love romance, new book, new book release, new release, news, pre-release, preorder, readers, Regency, Regency romance, romance, romance books, romance novel, romance readers, Sofie Darling, Tempted by the Viscount
New Release Feature: A Vindicated Heart by author C.L. Bush
I am pleased to announce a great book release by C.L. Bush, an author I met during my journey! Her historical mystery romance, A Vindicated Heart, officially released today! Yay! That’s awesome, C.L. Bush! Congrats on your new release!
C.L. is giving us a look at her new intriguing, mysterious Regency story, A Vindicated Heart, today.
This is the blurb for A Vindicated Heart, book six of the Fire in My Heart Series:
Rotting away in a jail cell is dangerous to a man’s health. So is being on trial for murder. Simon Tucker’s health is diminishing as it seems the world is colluding against him. The evidence is stacking up – not in his favor – and his future is looking bleaker and bleaker.
Lucy Livingston and her family are not standing idly by and letting the man she loves be convicted of a murder he didn’t commit.
But when sleuthing turns deadly and an old, unexpected foe turns up, Lucy is put into a situation that could change everything – and possibly cost her life in exchange.
And here is an excerpt to tease you with.
A day later, Laurie knew he couldn’t put off work any longer. The mining operation, now missing Simon and having been left in the hands of the foreman, was sadly lacking in attention. It had been a month since he had been out there and he had only kept up with the goings on via messages.
He leaned down and kissed Franny on the forehead as he breathed in her scent. It had changed with her pregnancy, becoming earthier. Smiling, he made his way downstairs for a quick breakfast.
Thompson met him at the breakfast room with the morning mail.
“Thank you, Thompson. I will be riding out today. Please inform Gerring to saddle Markum.”
“Right away, sir.”
Once the dour butler had exited the room Laurie took the time to go through his post. Issues with the land he was trying to buy that abutted the mining operation and his own property were not going well. The thousand acres would greatly increase the farming yield, but he wanted it more so because he felt there was more to mine on that acreage than what he had now.
Knowing it was something he would have to deal with soon, he put it at the back of his mind to ponder as he rode.
Markum was saddled and ready to go. At eighteen hands he was a huge animal; his black coat shining in the meager sunlight of the day, his muscles only hinting of his ability for speed and maneuvering. He was an amazing beast and Laurie thanked the stars for the day he had found him at market.
He mounted and made his way across the back lawn. Normally, he rode this way with Simon, but today he felt lonely. Opting not to take a groom, he knew it wouldn’t take long to get to the mines, and he longed for some peace and quiet to ponder all that was going on.
Ten minutes in, he came upon the meadow and allowed Markum his head. The river ran to his right with the waterwheel that ran the pump for the mines about a mile downstream. He would be there in a few minutes’ time, but he wanted Markum to get some of his restlessness out before they got to the mine. The feeling of the wind in his face and the animal moving beneath him was freeing.
He slowed him as he came within half a mile of the mill, not wanting to scare anyone by riding up like a bat out of hell. The feeling of peace buoyed him as he made the last bit at a walk on Markum.
That feeling of peace lasted only as long as it took for the arrow to fly by his face and lodge in the tree next to him.
Markum reared but Laurie, ever the trained horsemen, managed to keep his seat. He whipped around looking for the assailant and saw some fluttering of leaves over in the direction of the river.
Pressing himself low over his horse, Laurie galloped towards the spot he saw movement and broke through the bushes to find the river just twenty feet in front of him. Looking up and down the bank he saw no one.
Making his way back through the brush and hurrying along to the safety of others, he saw footprints. The river had risen with the rains of a few days ago and when it had receded it had left the earth damp.
The clear imprint of footprints led directly into the river.
With nothing further to go on and his safety now a concern, Laurie kicked Markum into a canter and headed for the mine.
Universal Amazon link: http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01KW962QY
Ooh! What a fascinating mystery! And I love Regency novels. ♥♥♥ This looks like an interesting ride! 😉
Thank you for telling us about your book, C.L.! I know I can’t wait to read this historical mystery romance series! 🙂
Readers, don’t forget to pick up a copy of this awesome book on Amazon!
C. L. Bush started reading at a young age. Since then, she has voraciously read all she could get her hands on. With a degree in Business and another in Marketing, as well as being the mother of two boys and three grown stepdaughters and the wife of a soldier in the U.S. Army, her life is busy, but she has always kept her love of reading and writing. History is also a passion of hers and she regularly goes on trips with her family to experience it firsthand.
Embarking on a new historical mystery series, Fire In My Heart, she also has a successful coloring book series, I F*cking Love Coloring.
Check out all her books now and follow her here for emails about any new releases, discounts and giveaways coming up!
Website/Blog: http://www.clbush.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorclbush/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C.-L.-Bush/e/B017OA7HV8
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14648833.C_L_Bush
Thanks again, C.L.! We hope to see you back on ILRB sometime.
Happy reading, everyone! 🙂
Filed under Authors, Book Release, Books, Event, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Mystery, new release, Readers, Romance, Writing
Tagged as A Vindicated Heart, author, C.L. Bush, Fire in My Heart Series, historical, historical romance, i love romance, mystery, new book, new book release, new release, news, Regency, Regency romance, romance books, romance novel, romance novels, romantic mystery
A to Z Challenge: Weather the Storm by Jean Ferris
As you know, I’m putting myself to the A to Z Challenge for blogging for the month of April.
For these posts, I’ll be giving an I Love Romance Blog score, not an official review, for books currently on my shelf at home (I know readers must wonder what books inspires us as authors) or ones that are on my TBR list (what I want to read so bad I can’t stand it!). For each book, I will give the blurb, a few lines from the text, then why I liked the book or why I’d want to read it. And for fun, I’ll give a heart rating! ♥
This is my scoring system:
I hope these A to Z Challenge suggestions will help you find a new favorite author, or further cement your love for one, if that’s the case.
Let’s jump into our next book, shall we?
Weather the Storm by Jean Ferris
Genre: YA Historical Romance
When Raider takes Rosie to England she finds no living kin-and long buried family secrets. When Raider offers to take Rosie to New Orleans, she sees no other option. But it is a journey that brings her closer than ever to the daring buccaneer who has captured her heart yet farther from the romantic dream that torments her. As the war rages at sea, Rosie once again watches Raider sail into battle, driven by the obsession that consumes him, and taking with him the love that has become the very soul of Rosie’s life.
Also in the trilogy:
Into the Wind
A few choice lines from the book:
“The most extraordinary thing has happened,” she blurted. “I’ve just discovered I might have been a countess.”
The expression on his face remained impassive. It didn’t surprise her that he didn’t believe her. She could hardly believe it herself.
“There was a letter from my mother in Aunt Polly’s Bible,” she went on, in spite of his face. “Maybe that’s why the Bible was locked up; to keep the letter safe. My mother was a countess before she married my father, a Portuguese countess. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I believe it. My locket has her family crest. They disowned her when she married my father and she lost her title, but if they hadn’t done that, I would’ve been a countess!”
Why was she bothering him with this? He clearly thought it was preposterous. She did herself. And it didn’t make the slightest bit of difference in what her life would be like now. But she’d had to tell someone, and who else was there? And once, he might have cared.
Finally he spoke, his face unchanged, but his voice hollow. “I thought it might be something like that.”
“You…what?” She felt almost as if he’d struck her. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t quite know how to…” He seemed unsure, almost embarrassed. He turned away from her and leaned his shoulder against a stable post, his hands in his pockets. The cloth of his jacket stretched across his wide shoulders. She stayed where she was because she was shaking too much to move.
“What are you talking about?” she asked again, somehow frightened.
“I have a jewel cask,” he said, not turning around. “I’ve had it for five years. My brother and I took it from a pirate ship that had taken it from a Portuguese barkentine on its way to Brazil. You may not be aware that the entire Portuguese court fled Portugal for Brazil, its colony in the New World, in November of 1807 when General Junot invaded. The capital of Portugal has been in Rio since January of 1808. When the nobility fled, they took everything with them: their books, jewels, archives, everything. Rich pickings for pirates, and many of the Portuguese ships were captured, looted and sunk. The cask I have once held a treasure in jewels of some highborn Portuguese family, all of whom are probably lying at the bottom of the sea now.”
“I don’t understand,” Rosie said when he was silent.
“I sold all the jewels long ago. They brought a great deal of money. A great deal. But I kept the cask. I’m not sure even why. I liked the look of it.” He paused again. When he spoke, his voice was so low she could hardly hear him. “It has a design on the lid. A silver hind with a golden apple around her neck.”
“A silver…? The same as on my locket?”
“Exactly the same. The same as in the story you told me when I was ill. Those jewels must have belonged to your mother’s family. You could have had a countess’s fortune if not her title.”
With the idea of a title not fully assimilated, the notion of a fortune seemed simply impossible. Rosie shook her head, as if to dislodge a swarm of gnats.
Finally Raider turned to face her. “I seem to have spent my life ruining yours. Even before I knew you.”
He looked so genuinely stricken her heart contracted. This lost fortune was too abstract for her to take seriously; in fact, it seemed to be causing him more pain than it did her. The notion that her mother had loved her enough to make the deathbed effort to speak to her across all these years meant far more to her than any kind of fortune.
She put her hand out to him. “It doesn’t matter. How could you know? And if you hadn’t told me, I’d never have known either. It will make no difference in what I do.”
“I should repay you. The jewels were yours.” He ignored her hand, which she withdrew into the folds of her skirt.
She was rather taken aback by such evidence of probity in his character, and at the same time, pleased. Perhaps the man she imagined to be hidden behind Raider’s alternately cool and hot facade actually existed.
“You can repay me by taking me to New Orleans,” she said, without knowing in advance that she was going to say it. “I’ve decided to accept your offer. Fowey isn’t a place where I could feel at home, if only because of the weather.” As she spoke, she recognized within herself the truth of what she said. And congratulated herself for finding the strength to say it, knowing what the price would be: more unrequited time with him, more anticipation of the painful farewell. “In New Orleans,” she went on, sound surer and more adult than she felt, “with its mix of people, I think I’m more likely to find a place for myself. That will be enough.”
“It’s not enough to satisfy me.” He stood looking at her through the gloom of the stable, his eyes catching what light there was. “My debt to you is greater than that.”
“Then I cancel your debt. You owe me nothing now other than passage away from here.” His insistence mystified her. Still, how unaccountable it was that he was the one to find her family jewels. It was as if their lives were fated to intersect, if only for an interval, if only glancingly.
“You can sell the land your aunt owned,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard her. “That will give you a stake. We should try to take care of that before we leave. That means this afternoon or tomorrow. If there’s anything from her trunk you want to take with you, you should arrange for that, too.” He had the inward look of someone preoccupied with plans. And what he was planning was her life. Again.
“Stop doing that,” she said, exasperated. “You keep taking over and making all the plans without ever asking me. This is my life, not yours.”
She was right. He couldn’t seem to stop trying to make them the same. “Do forgive me,” he said, willing mischief into his voice and his eyes, protecting his emotions once again by teasing. “Just what is it you think we should be doing in order to get on with this enterprise?”
“Well…of course I should see about selling that land. And there are a few things I’d like to have from the trunk. Oh, don’t look so pleased with yourself. I could have thought of those things without your help. You’re not going to be around forever to do my thinking for me, so you’d better let me have some practice.”
She was right; of course she was. “Very well,” he said.
My Score:
This book, along with the others in the series, has been on my shelf for a long time. I read it many years ago, probably when I was a teenager. I take it out now and then to remind myself of those rampant emotions in one’s youth, the heartaches and how simple, yet complicated, love could be somehow in the past. This series is the perfect example of how a good romance should be. It’s not without danger or conflict between the hero and heroine, though.
This series is also set in the Regency era, one of my favorite time periods. 😉
But seriously, this book is excellent. Rosie and Raider’s journey is one you’ll fall for over and over again. I’d recommend reading the series together to get the full effect!
I’d give this one five hearts!
Filed under Authors, Blogging, Books, Event, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Readers, Reviews, Romance, Young Adult
Tagged as A To Z Challenge, blog post, blogging, conflict, hearts, historical, historical romance, Jean Ferris, maritime, rating, readers, Regency, Regency romance, review, romance, romance books, romance novels, score, series, Weather the Storm, young adult
A to Z Challenge: One Illicit Night by Sophia James
For these posts, I’ll be giving an I Love Romance Blog score, not an official review, for books currently on my shelf at home (I know readers must wonder what books inspires us as authors) or ones that are on my TBR list (what I want to read so bad I can’t stand it!). For each book, I will give the blurb, a few lines from the text, then why I liked the book or why I’d want to read it. And for fun, I’ll give a heart rating!
One Illicit Night by Sophia James
After one uncharacteristically wicked night, the once-reckless Eleanor Bracewell-Lowen now leads a safe and prudent life.
On his return to London’s high society, Lord Cristo Wellingham looks different from the man she knew so briefly in Paris, but he is still as magnetic….
In his cold amber eyes Eleanor detects something she has seen mirrored in her own—longing. His touch invites passion, but this is a man who could destroy her good name with just one glance….
Lady Eleanor Jane Bracewell-Lowen could not quite focus on the form of the man who carried her, could not through the dizzy grey fog of lethargy see the expressions on his face or hear the cadence of his words. With a growing dread she tried to shift her weight so that he might let her down, let her escape, but even that was impossible. Nothing on her body worked and the tight mesh of the heavy wig she wore brought a strange dislocation.
She was naked! She knew that, for she had felt his hands on the curve of her breasts and in the warmth beneath her legs. Rough. Lewd. She could not even turn away in protection. Nay, sheer apathy held her caught against breath that smelt of hard liquor and bad teeth.
‘You’re too beautiful for une pute. When you finish here we’ll treat you well below.’
Une pute? A whore? Two words that did make sense. Eleanor closed her eyes against the horror of truth, this small movement all she could muster as shock made the hairs on her arms stand out straight against the chill of the night.
‘I…am…not a… whore.’ The sounds came out as only nonsense, no meaning in them as she failed to form the letters on her lips, just gibberish, fear making her feel sick.
A door opened and warmth beckoned. Beyond the darkness in a circle of light, a solitary figure sat at his desk writing.
‘Monsieur Beraud sends you a gift, Comte de Caviglione.’
She stiffened. The man she had come to see! Perhaps he would help her. If only she could speak clearly.
Silence was the only response.
‘He said that she was new to the game.’
At this the man in the shadows stood. Tall and blond, the expression on his face matched exactly the wariness of his words. His eyes were the deepest of brown.
‘Did you search her for weapons?’
‘I did much more than that, oui.’
In one movement the blanket was gone and Eleanor was set down on to a bed.
‘Merde!’ The tall man’s curse was rough. ‘You stripped her?’
‘In readiness, you understand. It’s rumored to have been a while since you last had a woman and it’s my master’s view that the bile of celibacy can make any man cantankerous.’
Dark eyes wandered across her own and Eleanor failed to summon the energy to protest.
‘A whore who even now readies herself for your use, mon Comte, though if you do not want the gift, I could take her below.’
‘No, leave her.’ The blond man raised his hand, a flash of heavy gold rings caught in the light, the expression on his face guarded.
She tried to blink, tried to warn him, tried in the singular and only way that she could to alert him to the wrongness in all of this, but the second was gone as he looked away, his hair falling across his face as he turned.
Beautiful. At least he was that. Closing her eyes, she was lost into the ether of nothingness.
Cristo Wellingham waited until the minion of Beraud had gone before crossing the room to slide the heavy slats of oak into place.
He had never trusted locks, for a soul well versed in the art of picking them could take but a moment to force his way through any door. Neither did he trust the fact that Etienne Beraud had sent this whore to him as a gift. The man was a scoundrel and a cheat working for the French police in a way that was blatantly illicit and this ‘offering’ was undoubtedly another of his attempts to gain favour and benefit from the world surrounding the Chateau Giraudon.
Looking down at the girl, Cristo doubted that she was as inexperienced as Beraud claimed her to be, with her plumped-up lips and overdone face powders. She smelt of cheap drink and old perfume, the sort that was sold in the markets on a Monday where the Boulevard de Clichy crossed into the Place de Blanche.
Still to give Beraud some due, she was indeed striking, though he doubted the overlong blonde curls to be her own, wound as they were around her hips and catching the firelight in a way that seemed patently false.
Tweaking a single lock, he let it fall across her ample breasts with their pale pink nipples and a smattering of freckles.
Freckles. God. Swiping his hair, Cristo moved back, afraid suddenly of the immensity of desire that ran through him. Beraud had his reasons in trying to sweeten a deal between them, he supposed, for the wide and varied circle of acquaintances flowing through the chateau represented a great cross section of Paris society, making any gathering of information infinitely easier.
The girl moved, her hair falling from the line of her breast, and his body tightened unbidden. He loosened the folds of fabric around himself. Already the small whistles of slumber came from her breathing, the sleep he had seen in her blue eyes taken with all the speed of one who was not quite.cognisant.
Drugs? Or wine? With the telltale odour of alcohol on her breath he determined it to be the latter. Brandy, probably, and a dosage that was far too high for a woman so slight. If she died here.?
His fingers closed around one shapely calf and he shook her awake, pleased when her eyes opened again.
‘What’s your name?’ He didn’t particularly want to know it, but if he kept her talking she might give him some clue as to Beraud’s intentions, and with the way Fouche’s forays into politics were shaping up that could be more than useful.
The candlelight reflected in her pale eyes and she remained silent.
Sensual. Worldly. A voluptuous and erotic token from a man used to blackmailing and bribing his way into power. Why here and now? His mind ticked over the timing as he tried to determine what Beraud might gain tonight in his desire to have her in this room with him. The codes he had been working on were close to being finished. Had the French police some word of that? Even a glance from a practised eye might unearth secrets that would be better hidden and Cristo was well experienced in the fact that spies were most efficient when their form was unexpected.
The clock on the mantel chimed the hour of eleven and downstairs in the salons another bout of debauchery was in full flight. There were sounds of women laughing, a bottle being de-corked and the louder chants of men made loose with sex and spirits.
Once he would have been amongst them, taking his chances with courtesans who welcomed his attentions. But he hadn’t for an age now, the ease of orgasm no longer an opiate for what his life had become.
The girl before him moved suddenly, her scent potent, and his fingers dropped away. She was young to be so very badly used and Beraud’s taste in the intimate arts had never been simple. Two marks on her left thigh caught his attention, the burn of raised blisters sitting strangely against alabaster skin. When he leant forwards to touch the wounds she did not flinch, but watched him under languidly hooded lids.
“Combien as tu bu, mon amour?”
‘How much did you drink, my love?’
A murmur he could not fathom was her only answer as she turned to him, a come-hither look in the way her limbs fell loose accompanied by the heavy smell of her perfume. The powder she wore smeared beige across the white of his clean linen sheets. He hated the way his hand would not obey his mind and pull away, the heat of her quiet seduction a narcotic without rival, the contrived ‘little girl’ look a decided bonus in her line of work.
Lord. If he could have imagined a woman to ignite his fancy she would indeed have been the one lying naked and available on the bed before him.
He should leave her, should walk away and order her removed, but he found that he could not. It was the feel of her skin that pulled him closer and the shape of her hips tapering down to long and damned fine legs.
Tight bound in a growing need, one finger nudged all that was hidden and he smiled as her head arched back against the pillow. A courtesan of some skill, he determined, as her muscles coiled, tighter than a whore should ever be and her breath no longer steady. With a care that surprised him he began to stroke, wanting her pleasure to match his and their coupling to resemble something far from the quick and lurid encounter that Beraud probably had in mind. As he closed his eyes against the cosmetic accoutrements of her trade and the falseness of the wig, it was easy to imagine other things—things that were true and right and good, the world that had been his once, before his sins had changed it.
I love Regency novels, and this one does not disappoint! Take a lady certainly out of her element and thrust her into some terrible circumstances with a mysterious gentleman…add some espionage, the pressures of society, a passion that can’t be denied…and you have the recipe for not only disaster, but a compelling literary ride.
Eleanor finds herself in Paris, attempting to deliver a letter to a Count, as her grandfather’s final wish. But the place is shady and she’s unfortunately mistaken for a prostitute. She is delivered drunk and naked to the gentleman, who despite his best intentions, helplessly sees her only as she seems. By the time it’s too late to have prevented the deed, she is out of his life, leaving only more questions behind. Years pass and Eleanor has since moved on from that shameful yet passionate moment of her life. But then, he enters society, and they are both forced to look at their shared past and the future in new ways.
Is their connection enough to risk everything Eleanor has now? You’ll have to read it to find out the rest, but I guarantee you won’t regret it. I give this one four hearts.
Filed under Authors, Blogging, Books, Event, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Readers, Reviews, Romance
Tagged as #AtoZChallenge, A To Z Challenge, blog post, blogging, complications, espionage, hearts, historical, historical romance, One Illicit Night, rating, readers, Regency, Regency romance, review, romance books, romance novels, score, society, Sophia James, spies
A to Z Challenge: Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare
Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare
In this lush and seductive novel, exciting new author Tessa Dare takes desire to brazen heights.
Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion–one that could send all her plans up in smoke.
Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart and claim her for his own?
His heart thudded wildly in his chest. He paused, clutching the door handle, cursing his body for recalling so quickly what he’d worked long years to forget.
Logic caught up to his racing pulse, reining it in. The dim glow of banked coals cast ominous shadows, but Jeremy forced the room into focus. This was not that night. He was in his usual bedchamber at Waltham Manor, not wandering Corbinsdale Woods. More than twenty years had passed, and he was no longer a boy. Whatever surprise awaited him on the other side of the door, he was fully equipped to face it.
When he slid back the rusted bolt and wrenched open the door, Jeremy was prepared for the worst.
“Hold still,” came the whispered command.
He had an instant to register a feminine silhouette, a tangle of dark curls, and two hands grasping his shoulders. Then Lucy Waltham, the younger sister of his oldest friend, popped up on her toes and pressed her lips to his with such force, he stumbled against the doorjamb.
Good Lord. The girl was kissing him.
Well, he thought ironically, he’d been prepared for the worst. And of the many kisses Jeremy Trescott had experienced in his nine-and-twenty years, this was, undoubtedly, the worst.
Lucy kissed with her lips perfectly puckered and her eyes open wide. And if she lacked in finesse, she compensated with bold enthusiasm. Her hands were everywhere at once—tangling in his hair, skimming his shoulders, exploring the broad expanse of his chest.
This wasn’t a kiss. It was a siege.
Furthermore, it was incomprehensible, wholly illogical, and a dozen different shades of wrong.
Somehow Jeremy’s hands found their way to her elbows, and he wrested himself from her eager embrace. “Lucy! What the devil do you think you’re doing?”
“Shhhh.” Her eyes darted to either side, scanning the darkened corridor. Then her gaze tilted back up to his, narrowing with a disturbing intensity, and Jeremy fancied briefly—absurdly—that someone had painted a target on his face.
“I’m practicing,” she whispered, her fingers tightening over his arms. “Let me try one more time.”
She swooped up for another kiss, and he instinctively ducked, pulling her into the room and shutting the door behind them. In a more rational moment, it might have occurred to him that the impropriety of kissing his host’s sister in the corridor would only be compounded by yanking her into his bedchamber. But Jeremy’s faculties of reason had temporarily vacated Waltham Manor.
Lucy had, quite literally, kissed him witless.
“Did it work, then?”
He stared at her, mute with confusion. Did what work? At the moment, it seemed that nothing worked, least of all his brain. Shock had frozen his limbs. He certainly couldn’t force an answer from his lips.
Stepping back, she crossed her arms over her crimson velvet dressing gown and surveyed his form boldly. As her gaze traveled downward, Jeremy grew uncomfortably aware of his own dishabille, from nightshirt to worn breeches to bare feet.
A satisfied smile spread across her face. “It must have worked. You did pull me into your bedchamber.” She reached for the door handle. “Very well, Jemmy. I suppose that’s enough practice. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
She cracked open the door. Jeremy put out a hand and slammed it shut.
Shooting him a glare, she grasped the handle with both hands and tugged. “I beg your pardon. I’ll be on my way, then.”
“No, you won’t.” He leaned his weight on the door, effectively bolting it closed. Lucy might be used to flouting her brother’s half-hearted attempts at guardianship, but Jeremy had four inches and two stone on Henry Waltham, not to mention an iron will. Lucy did not walk all over him.
He mustered his most autocratic, Earl-of-Kendall tone. “You are not going anywhere. You’re going to sit down and explain yourself.” She opened her mouth to object. He grabbed her by the elbow and steered her toward the chair. “But first,” he said, “I am going to have a drink.”
She stopped struggling under his grip and dropped gracelessly into the chair. “A drink,” she repeated. “Why didn’t I think of that? A drink would be just the thing, thank you.”
Shaking his head, Jeremy strode to the bar and poured a single glass of whiskey. He downed half the liquor in one greedy swallow, closing his eyes to savor the burn spreading down his throat. When he opened them again, he looked around to assure himself this was, indeed, the same Waltham Manor he’d been visiting each autumn since Cambridge. Roughhewn beams scored the sloping ceiling. Muted tapestries covered the walls, and an unfussy, timeworn carpet obliged his bare feet. The room had not altered in the past eight years, anymore than it likely had in the past one hundred.
In décor, in landscape, in the quartet of old friends enjoying their annual sporting holiday—Waltham Manor had remained a welcome constant in Jeremy’s life. Until this year, when everything had changed.
“Why couldn’t everything just go on as it was?” Lucy stirred the fire with a poker, sending swirls of agitated sparks into the air. “Why did Felix have to go and get married? He’s ruined everything.”
Jeremy drowned his reply with a sip of his drink. He would not have admitted it, but he rather agreed.
“It was all right when Henry got married,” she continued. “Marianne’s so busy with the children, at least she stays out of the way. But that shrew Felix married is going to expect to be entertained. And to make it all worse, she’s brought along her sister, that Sophia.”
“Mrs. Crowley-Cumberbatch and Miss Hathaway are, by all accounts, charming young ladies. One would think you’d be glad of their company.”
She threw him an incredulous look.
“Or not.” Truth be told, Jeremy wasn’t glad of their presence, either. There was nothing precisely offensive about Felix’s wife, Kitty, or her sister, Sophia. To the contrary, Sophia Hathaway was the epitome of an inoffensive, well-bred society beauty. A bit of meringue—insubstantial, but pleasing enough, if one’s tastes ran to sweet. As Toby’s apparently did.
Jeremy tossed back another swallow of whiskey and tasted the irony. Henry and Felix married, Toby on the verge … their bachelor’s retreat had become a family house party. Well, if all his friends were determined to shackle themselves in marriage, at least he would be in no imminent danger of joining them. All three ladies at Waltham Manor were safely accounted for.
The sound of fingers drumming wood interrupted his thoughts. “Do you intend to drink the whole bottle yourself?”
Unless, of course, one counted Lucy.
And he did not count Lucy. She was neither eligible, nor a lady. She was Henry’s much younger sister and ward, and she was Jeremy’s personal version of a biblical plague. She’d spent years devising ways to get under his skin. Now she was charging into his bedchamber and … and practicing.
Much as he wished to erase that kiss from his memory, he couldn’t ignore it. Neither could he ignore the obvious implications of that word, “practicing.”
He could, however, ignore her request for a drink. Jeremy refilled his own glass and carried it toward the hearth, dropping into the chair opposite hers. Raking a hand through his hair, he exhaled slowly. “I don’t like to ask this. I dread your response. But for what, exactly, are you practicing?”
“Not ‘what,’” she answered. “Who.”
Oh, it only got worse. “For whom are you practicing, then? Some local youth? The vicar’s boy?”
“For Toby, of course.”
He gave a wry laugh. “For Toby? Why would you be kissing Toby? He’s all but engaged to Miss Hathaway.”
She hugged her knees to her chest, curling into a ball of red velvet and chestnut curls. The chair’s masculine proportions dwarfed her, and her green eyes brimmed with raw, undisguised hurt. “Then it’s true.”
Bloody hell. Suddenly this bizarre nighttime visit made sense. Jeremy punched the arm of his chair. Of all the irretrievably stupid things to say.
“My maid said she heard it from Toby’s valet. I didn’t want to believe her. I couldn’t believe her. But it’s true.”
Jeremy had to look away. It was a matter of self-preservation. Lucy’s countenance was a collection of pixie features set within a heart-shaped face—a face designed to display, unfiltered, every emotion of the heart within. One couldn’t look at her without knowing exactly how she was feeling—and Jeremy didn’t wish to know how Lucy was feeling. He preferred to keep a respectful distance from even his own emotions.
“How could he?” she squeaked.
Jeremy winced. Lucy sniffed loudly, and he took another slow sip of whiskey. She could not cry, he wanted to remind her. That was the rule—Henry’s single exercise in authority. He’d allowed the chit to run roughshod over them every autumn, tagging along on their hunting and fishing excursions, parroting their curses, even taking nips off their flasks—under one condition. Lucy was not to cry. In eight years, Jeremy had never seen her shed a single tear. He prayed she wasn’t about to start now. If there was one thing he couldn’t abide, it was a crying woman.
He stole a glance at her. Damn it, her chin was quivering. “You’re not going to start weeping, are you?”
“No.” Her voice quivered, too.
Jeremy busied himself adding wood to the fire, stalling for time.
Curse Toby. This was all his fault. He’d always made such a pet of the girl. Every autumn, Lucy clung to Toby like a tick on a hound. He baited her hooks and taught her bawdy Latin conjugations. He brought her flowers and wove her crowns of ivy that went straight to her head. His Diana, Toby called her. Goddess of the hunt.
Goddess he may have dubbed her, but the worship was all on Lucy’s side. A young girl’s harmless infatuation—that was all it had seemed. Obviously, to Lucy it had seemed much more. And now the task of disabusing her of all those romantic notions had somehow fallen to Jeremy. Just his luck. But also fitting, he supposed. If he’d ever harbored a romantic notion, which was doubtful, he’d been disabused of it long ago.
He clapped the dust from his hands and reclined in his chair. In his most magnanimous tone, he began, “Now, Lucy, you must understand…”
She shot him a murderous glare. At least it wasn’t that mournful expression she’d worn just moments ago. “Don’t, Jemmy. Don’t you dare speak to me as if I were a child. I ought to have come out two seasons ago. If only Marianne weren’t perpetually confined. Perhaps I am not a genteel lady like Sophia Hathaway. But I’m not a girl any longer, either.”
She stretched a bare foot toward the fire and absently flexed her ankle. The sinuous grace of the motion caught Jeremy’s gaze. Caught it, and trapped it. He couldn’t look away. She circled her foot idly, her skin glowing golden in the firelight. His eyes swept upwards, tracing the sweet curve of her calf to where it disappeared under her dressing gown.
Then Lucy shifted, crossing her legs. Red velvet fell like a theater curtain, abruptly ending the show. A swift blow of disappointment caught Jeremy in the chest. The sensation drifted downwards, mellowing to the familiar ache of thwarted desire. God, this night was simply rife with surprises.
“I suppose you’re not,” he muttered, tearing his gaze away and giving himself a mental shake.
I love a good Regency novel, and with this one I have to recommend reading the whole series because it’s so damn good. But, as this is the first book, it’s an excellent start. I have a few other Tessa Dare books as well, and she never disappoints.
In Goddess of the Hunt, this unlikely pair, Jeremy and Lucy, are thrown together through unusual circumstances. But you can’t deny the tension or the heat between them. Jeremy goes to some underhanded lengths to keep her from making a foolish mistake, and ends up succumbing to the girl’s charms. There is a constant push-pull between this couple, which makes you wonder if they’ll ever figure it out. It’s passionate and emotionally compelling.
I recommend the sequels as well, because once you have a taste of the first book you’ll be dying to read the next.
I give this one four hearts.
Filed under Authors, Blogging, Books, Event, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Readers, Romance, Writing
Tagged as #AtoZChallenge, A To Z Challenge, blog post, blogging, complications, Goddess of the Hunt, hearts, historical, historical romance, rating, readers, Regency, Regency romance, review, romance books, romance novels, score, series, society, Tessa Dare
A to Z Challenge: Courting the Countess by Barbara Pierce
As aforementioned in my last A to Z post, I’m putting myself to the A to Z Challenge for blogging.
Courting the Countess by Barbara Pierce
A scoundrel whose fame as an artist, libertine, and notorious seducer of beautiful women is ongoing fodder for the ton, Mallory Claeg has a secret obsession-Brook Meylan, Lady A’Court, a beautiful widow who abandoned London two years earlier, deliberately severing all ties to her past. Under the pretense of his interest in the primitive landscape of the Cornish coast, Mallory watches her, fascinated and utterly mesmerized by her beauty…
Brook tried to escape the gilded cage of the ton’s merciless gossip, the memory of a cruel husband, and the pity of well meaning friends. But meddling relatives and unwanted suitors shatter her peace. At first, Mallory Claeg was another intrusion. Yet his sinfully handsome face and irresistible charm bring both temptation and torment. Now Brook must choose between opening her heart-or sealing it off forever…
Mallory had been drawn to the intriguing vision of the lone woman in black challenging the sea he had glimpsed while searching for a location to sit and sketch. He had been too far away to hear her words, but her gestures were violent and poignant. He would have left her undisturbed if the silly creature had not been determined to kill herself. As he dropped his sketching book and small box of supplies, his quick stride erupted into a full run when he realized she was fighting the wind for her balance.
He caught her arm and spun her toward the safety of firmer land. The momentum sent both of them falling. It was too late to be noble. The woman landed on her back with him on top of her. He grunted, taking the brunt of the fall on his forearms. Gazing down at her ashen face, he adjusted his initial impression that she was an older woman. The lady underneath him was quite lovely and familiar. He blamed the unflattering black she was bundled in for his error. She was short in stature. Grief had whittled her slender frame, enhancing her fragility. Even tragedy could not steal her beauty.
She pushed him away and he willingly rolled off her. “Are you mad, sir, or simply drunk?” she demanded in a trembling voice. Still shaken by the encounter, she remained seated on the ground.
“Neither. I was sparing your family the grief of searching for your broken body this afternoon amidst the rocks below,” he said, irritated that his heroism was perceived as lunacy.
Her anger changed to stunned outrage. “I was not—I could not.” She gazed weakly at the edge before struggling to her feet.
Mallory measured the doubt he noticed in her eyes in silence. He only allowed her a moment to deduce her legs were still too wobbly for the grace he had always attributed to her. “Here. Take my hand, my lady.”
He pulled her roughly onto her feet. To make certain she was paying attention, he tightened his grip on her arm until she winced. “No trouble is worth casting yourself into the sea.” He released her and put a respectable distance between them.
“I was not throwing myself off the cliff. The notion sounds painful, not to mention messy. I will have you know that I walk here daily and am quite familiar with the dangers—” She broke off, realizing she was explaining herself to someone she considered an underling. She shivered as the wind buffeted them. The spring air had put a healthy bloom on her cheeks. “Besides, what would you know about me or my troubles?”
He gave her a slow, roguish grin. “Well, Countess, the answer to that particular question might take some time. Why don’t you let me escort you home and I will make my confession over a pot of tea?”
Mallory was quite used to women who acquiesced to his dictates without question. It was a rather novel experience to observe that his limitless charm had altered her expression from mistrust to blatant hostility.
“Who are you, sir?”
He mockingly patted the imaginary wound over his heart. “Why, Lady A’Court, your forgetfulness smites a lethal clout on my self-love. During your absence from London, have you forgotten your old friends?”
She glanced away at the mention of London. “I have few friends in town these days, sir, and you are not one of them.”
“Perhaps not,” he acquiesced. “We, however, are connected by friendship. A lady in your position should be basking in the affection of her companions.” He let his gaze roam the bleak landscape. “Not praying for an early death in the remoteness of Cornwall.”
“Who sent you?” she demanded with unexpected bluntness.
Surprised by her intensity and the impact of her blue gaze focused on him, Mallory shifted his stance and concealed his visceral reaction to her proximity with a grin. “Such ferocity! Dear madam, you make me want to confess everything, but alas, only my selfish pleasures have brought me to you.”
She blinked at the double entendre, uncertain if it was deliberate. “You claim you know me.”
“Indeed. I believe you once honored me with a dance at your come-out ball. There were so many admirers that evening, I could hardly fault you for not recalling.” He offered his arm, wanting to get her away from the cliff and out of the cold before her teeth began to chatter. “You mentioned tea.”
“You mentioned tea,” she countered. “As well as plunging from cliffs, forgotten acquaintances, selfish pleasures, and a ball I barely remember. I warrant you have spoken more words than I have in the past week. Do you ever hush?”
Mallory sat down on a nearby flat stone and laughed, enjoying the way her brow wrinkled in exasperation. Whatever her intentions before he had gained her attention, he was satisfied that the dark moment has passed. “Occasionally, my lady. I treasure the awakening colors of dawn, the sound of the wind rattling the windows, spring and the new life it yields. When I awaken each morning, I lie abed listening to the soft breathing of my lover and savor the warmth of our embrace. I expect I appreciate my moments of silence like any other man.”
She made a choking sound that she quickly muffled with her gloved hand. It was terribly mischievous to speak so boldly, yet the widow sparked something in him. Her reactions were too charming to resist.
Clearing her throat, she said, “My mother always said that rudeness begets rudeness, and she is correct. Regardless of your playful objections, you are a stranger to me, sir, and my speech was most forward. Please accept my apologies.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “No, I do not believe I will.” He crossed his arms, awaiting her response.
“Y-You must!” she stuttered, flustered by his refusal. She started pacing in her agitation. “No gentleman ever leaves a lady obligated.”
Briefly an image of Carissa flickered in his mind. “I have never been one for polite rules, Countess.”
Noticing his enjoyment, she stopped and sighed. “You are teasing me.”
“Beautiful ladies are always so much fun to tease.” He stood and clasped her elbows lightly when her expression blanked. “You are supposed to smile when a gentleman gives you a compliment.”
“I have tarried too long. My family is expecting me,” she said in a breathy rush, finally noticing their close proximity.
“And what of your expectations?”
“I have none. Good day, sir.” She stepped out of his embrace and turned to leave.
“My name!” he shouted to her departing figure.
She hesitated at his words.
“Claeg. Mr. Mallory Claeg. I believe you claim my younger sister, Amara, as one of the few friends you have left in London.”
He had truly managed to shake her with his announcement. Something akin to shame moistened her gaze. “You do your sister no favor by connecting our names. In remembrance of old friendships, I beg of you to forget that we ever met.”
Watching her hasty retreat, Mallory crouched down to retrieve his abandoned sketching book and supplies he had dropped earlier. Well, well, who would believe he and the pretty widow would be sharing secrets? Forget? He rose, brushing off some grit that clung to his left knee. “Not bloody likely!”
This book is also on my shelf. I love Regency novels and Courting the Countess did not disappoint. It’s the perfect tale of a scoundrel with a dark past meets a lady who has been away from society for awhile. With passion, endless complications and emotional roller coasters, this novel will keep you guessing until the end. Are these two ever going to figure things out, or will pride and misplaced beliefs keep them apart?
You’ll have to read it yourself to find out, but I do recommend it. I give this novel four hearts for an entertaining read!
Filed under Authors, Blogging, Books, Event, Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Readers, Reviews, Romance, Writing
Tagged as #AtoZChallenge, A To Z Challenge, Barbara Pierce, blog post, blogging, complications, Courting the Countess, hearts, historical, historical romance, rating, readers, Regency, Regency romance, review, romance books, romance novels, score, society
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Beginning July 31 Canada Will Use Biometrics to Make Canadians Safer
Beginning July 31. 2018, Canada will require biometrics including fingerprints and a photo for most Canadian immigration applications beginning July 31 for people from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and on December 31, 2018, for applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Biometrics are tools for the measurement of unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints or eye scans and are globally recognized identification and security tools. Biometrics make travel to Canada easier and keep Canadians safer, says IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).
According to immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah,
The Canadian government will be launching a new biometrics program which means that they will be collecting personal information fingerprints pictures and other identifiers for all applications for immigration going forward. For study permits, visas and work permits they will be collecting them as a normal course. Once they do collect them, they’ll be valid for ten years so you won’t have to keep doing them every time you change your immigration category in Canada.
This will be launching at the end of July and for those who are concerned about privacy this might be a good opportunity to call us and we can discuss what happens to your biometrics, how they’re stored and if you can be certain that they will be kept private by the Canadian government.
Biometrics are tools for the measurement of unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints or eye scans and are globally recognized identification and security tools. Canada has been collecting fingerprints since 1993 for refugee applicants for TRVs (Temporary Resident Visas.)
Watch: Immigration Lawyer Evelyn Ackah discusses Canada’s new biometrics requirement for immigration applications:
Learn more: How Canada Uses Biometrics to Make Canadians Safer
Do you have questions about Canada immigration?
Evelyn Ackah is a US and Canada immigration law expert and founder and managing lawyer at Ackah Business Immigration Law. Business immigration law focuses on helping people move into new opportunities — both personally and professionally. Ackah Immigration Law helps you to navigate the complex maze of rules and regulations involved with Canadian, U.S. and international immigration law with confidence. Headquartered in Calgary and with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, Ackah Business Immigration Law provides legal immigration advice for those looking to move for work, education or personal reasons.
We provide expertise in all areas of immigration law ranging from corporate immigration to personal and family immigration matters. We provide comprehensive immigration services to clients around the world representing corporations, institutions, not for profit organizations and individual clients. As your immigration lawyers and paralegals, we provide you with timely and strategic advice relating to the constantly changing immigration laws and regulations.
Calgary: (403) 452‑9515 Vancouver: (604) 985‑9512 Toronto: (416) 643‑7177
North America: 1 (800) 932-1190
contact@ackahlaw.com
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Keith Edward English, Wordsmith
Professional site for all of Keith's writing adventures
The Ruination Gods Series
Thoughts of Steel
Game of Gods
Revival of Fire
Fragments of the Coil
Monolithic (A Free Test Drive of my Work)
Dargonzine Short Stories
Expanded Universe
One Last Vigil
Hold my Battleaxe
Prologue & 1st Chapter of Revival of Fire
Take a peek at a snippet of the 1st draft for the cover of Revival of Fire, the final novel in the Ruination Gods series, and read the prologue and first chapter below.
Heart pounding, Rilaena slipped down the natural path carved through the overgrowth of wavering brush. She ran beneath the witness of the three moons and several distant planets that spun through the cosmos around Expansion, the planet she now called home. Stephan clutched the tips of her fingers as she ran, staggering as she darted down the trails that branched off from the main road. She prayed that not a single person from her guard or entourage–or anyone for that matter–had seen them. Her silent plea fell on deaf ears, it seemed, as several winged figures rose up into the sky behind them, engines whirring, announcing their presence.
“Rilaena, we should just go back!” Stephan pleaded, resisting her pull slightly. She would have none of it, and ran on without response. To his credit, he didn’t voice another concern and simply allowed her to pull him along.
She knew they’d stand out amidst the brush, the fibers within the long, soft stalks reacting to the lack of light from above by glowing a faint blue. The creatures in the air giving chase were biomechanical organisms, grown by her father as much as built by the engineers who served him. Their eyesight was impeccable, durability unmatchable, speed and agility unbeatable, and they were far more clever than any mere machine.
She recalled their details, as she’d often seen them up close. Scaled skin, varying between different shades of yellow and orange, sometimes striped by black or white, covered the creatures. Six thin legs terminating in wicked, three-pronged pincers dangled from beneath them, folding in along their bodies as they flew. Two sets of transparent wings—one wing atop another on each side—has extended from a point directly behind their first set of legs. The shape of their bodies constantly reminded Rilaena of a dog, void of fur, and disgusted her often for taking such an animal and perverting its kind image. A nest of horns grew from the top of each one’s head, laying back against their skulls and along their necks in a mockery of flowing hair. Various pieces of light-steel and smaller components made up of heavier metals clung to each creature, enhancing them in a dozen or more ways.
Her father and the engineers who served him fondly referred to the creatures as the Appointed. She couldn’t bring herself to call them anything other than monsters. Her father’s creativity and power had birthed them and his engineers had shaped them further into what they were now. While they were living beings, they were nothing more than tools with a high status.
Rilaena pulled on Stephan’s hand hard as she turned off the path and ran straight through the glowing brush, trampling it underfoot and creating her own trail. She sprinted to the main road and doubled back down a preexisting trail. Then she cut down another to continue running away from the stronghold and the patrol behind her.
Her target came into view as they turned down another path. A lone tree sitting near the edge of river aglow with pink light feebly poked out from beyond the edge of a copse of trees throwing off a dim green luminescence. The pink tree glowed with far more intensity than anything else in the meadow, a brilliant white in places where the leaves clustered thickly. As always, she thought of it as a fallen star, descended from the heavens to gently plant itself in Expansion’s soil, sharing its splendor with the planet and its inhabitants.
“You’ve seen it! Now, can we go back?” Stephan pleaded once again.
“You know that’s never enough!” she shot back breathlessly.
The sounds of flittering wings and churning engines grew louder, and Rilaena doubled her efforts to flee from the sky patrol. The drones found the trail she had made through the brush, and the direction from which their sounds came shifted suddenly as they buzzed down it.
Rilaena wrenched Stephan from the path and into the copse of green, glowing trees, named verdant willows. The long, thin, drooping branches of the trees slid past their shoulders and cheeks, gently caressing their skin with leaves rimmed by a pleasantly soft fuzz. They hunkered down behind the thick, squat trunks and watched as the Appointed continued down the main path that would meander toward the river and then cut north to the Great Arc Bridge that spanned the Valenfire River and led from the island her home sat on and to the mainland where Ultimate City sprawled, rivaling the very sun with its brightness.
Her gaze alternated from trailing the Appointed and glancing at Stephan. His handsome features were hard and stern, his clean-shaven jaw clenched. He was a large man, with rippling muscles accustomed to swinging a heavy blade with deadly efficiency, but the kind light in his green eyes clashed with his imposing physical appearance. She knew his ire would melt away once they had returned safely to the stronghold.
After a silent minute passed, Rilaena pulled Stephan from beneath the veil of willow branches and leaves. He resisted slightly and the frown upon his face changed into a smile, a familiar light twinkling in his eyes. Now was not the time for passion; they had plenty of opportunity for that back in the stronghold. It was this time, away from it, that she savored most, especially with him by her side. They dashed through the brush, careless of the mark they left in their wake, and were soon standing beneath the tree she sought, known to the people of Expansion as a pink wisp. According to the records, there were only several dozen spread across the planet, and this one was only a half mile from her room.
She often sat on her balcony, admiring it from afar. Even through her spy glasses and scopes with specialized lenses that altered her perception of reality, the wisp was never so beautiful than when she was within reach of it, running her fingers along its smooth, white bark. She’d closed her eyes often as she’d caressed the tree, and each time she’d believed that she truly was stroking polished marble that breathed and squirmed beneath her very touch.
Each leaf burst from the stem in a tri-point design. Rilaena thought of how Stephan had told her they reminded him of a spear with three tips. Pink light blossomed from each one while the flowers that bloomed from the tips of the branches and twigs were a stark white. In the water, just a stone’s throw away, the wisp was reflected as an explosion of light constantly wavering as though disturbed by a perpetual breeze.
Stephan seemed encapsulated by the tree just as Rilaena was, but his silent wonder ran its course far quicker than hers did. “Is this your favorite place to be?” he asked.
“Of course,” she whispered.
“Well, my favorite place to be is with you.”
“No, that’s your favorite place for us to be. Not you. But, this is far more my favorite place when you’re in it as well.” She leaned back into him as she spoke and he wrapped his arms around her. Enraptured, it was a long moment before she could turn from the wisp and looked over her shoulder. He leaned down slightly and their lips locked together in a deep kiss. She stepped forward and his arms relaxed, his lips leaving hers. She stood directly beneath the wisp and looked up, into a sky, a wondrous sprawl of swirling light and beauty.
The smooth surface of the bark reflected the intense glow from the leaves and flowers, turning the trunk and branches into jagged columns of light. The infrequent breaks in the foliage opened holes in the otherwise solid tarp of color and light, furthering its splendor by reminding her that it was not infinite, and thus should be cherished. She reached out and caressed its glassy surface, then ran her fingers along its leaves and its flowers. A petal fell free of its perch, instantly dimming to a dark blotch against the backdrop of luminescence.
Rilaena’s breath caught. Stephan took a step forward warily, obviously searching for whatever had startled her in case he was needed to defend her. “Stephan, the seasons are changing,” she whispered. Each year, when the leaves and flowers of the wisp she admired fell to become nothing more than mulch to be trampled beneath the feet of animals and people alike, Rilaena despaired. She dreaded this change, and thus needed to see the wisp as often as she could manage before its beauty was taken from her.
Stephan brushed back her dark, wavy hair and placed a soft kiss on her chestnut-colored, freckled cheek.
“We should go,” she whispered, her eyes rimmed by a wet sheen. “Before they find us here. I don’t want them to take it away.”
Stephan placed his hand on the small of her back, and she leaned her head on his shoulder in response. “Just another minute. Then we’ll go. I didn’t let you nearly pull my arm off for a few seconds of bliss.”
She smiled and let loose a giggle despite herself.
Beyond the wisp, across the massive Valenfire River flowing calmly before her, sat Ultimate City. An aura of pinkish-white light battled the dark sky valiantly, more victorious than not. From this distance, it seemed like nothing more than a star rising over the horizon. The city was like an ever-churning machine filled with life, continuously breathing and spreading its warmth and light deep into the night and early into the morning where other individuals rose to take up their seat behind the helm that drove Ultimate.
The light from the city, coupled with the many astral bodies above, the glowing greenery, and the massive Valenfire river made night nothing more than a mere shadow poorly draped over the day. Light abounded in many ways, filling corners with ghostly luminescence, glinting sharply off mountaintops and building corners, flooding the very air with the buzz of life. Rilaena experienced darkness only when she was caged inside the stronghold. She’d spend her life outside if she could, waking when the sun began to descend, sleeping only when it was high in the sky.
An angry whir rattled overhead, followed by the hasty beating of wings. A gale struck immediately after, before either of them could even turn their heads, and Rilaena watched as a hundred leaves and dozens of flowers burst from the wisp and at once lost their magnificent light. Her breath left her in a gasp as a pit of cold bloomed in her stomach and she whirled around, reacting without thought.
Stephan glanced into her eyes, saw her fury, and then scrambled away, ensuring he was far from her path. Rilaena thrust her hands outward at the two Appointed buzzing belligerently overhead, and light blazed from her palms.
The flesh of the beasts exploded with wounds as skin split, muscle tore, and bone shattered. Their wings seized up as their bodies convulsed. Over the din of the lithe creatures perishing, Rilaena screamed. The several small motors embedded deeply in their bodies beneath their wings, legs, and jaws, shuddered, then exploded. Small bursts of fire blossomed beneath the creatures’ yellow and orange skin, providing a glimpse at the shattered bones and machinery beneath. Their faces twisted into agonized visage of what they should have been beneath their cracked faceplates. Then, they plummeted and crashed into the brush.
Rilaena stood tall before the creatures as their bodies caught fire and began to smolder, casting flames high up into the sky. The long grass on which they burned, thick with water, resisted the fire. Had it been the drier, hotter months, the entire meadow would have been engulfed in moments.
Her breath came and went as though into and from a bellows, her face twisted in a soundless snarl, her mouth twitching often from her barely controlled rage. A hand brushed her shoulder and it felt as though she had been seared by flame at the touch. She twisted away and dropped into a crouch, snarling at Stephan.
“It’s over, Rilaena,” he cried. “It’s me. Come down from it, love. Come down.”
The mantra cut through her fury and seemed to wash her in cold water, calming her. She looked to the Appointed, saw them for what felt like the first time, and her hand darted to her mouth. She knew she’d been the cause of their destruction, just as she had done many other times before. Stephan, relaxing his raised arms as he realized she had been released from the embrace of her fury stepped forward and wrapped in one of his own.
A dozen more Appointed leapt into the sky from above the black stronghold beyond the rising flames. Despite the lushness of the meadow, the fire would spread unless it was stopped, and it would devour the wisp she had grown to love, the burden of its destruction her doing. With a thought, she reached out the way her father had taught her to the lines of power that swam through the air and formed a net within the Valenfire. She tugged on it and a wavering sphere of water arced over her head and splashed down on the drones, extinguishing them and drenching her feet.
She turned her head, rested it against Stephan’s chest again, and stared at the wisp. Nearly half of its splendor had been wiped away in a heartbeat. She began to cry, for if she tried to bottle her emotions she’d surely explode and begin turning the stronghold she called both her home and prison into a ruin.
Felicia lay next to Phalax, morning light streaming from the window above their bed gracing her cheeks and the curve of her body beneath the silk covers like sunlight glinting on the surface of a softly rolling sea. The world seemed oddly quiet, or perhaps Phalax was too intent on drinking in the visage of his gorgeous wife to notice anything else. He dismissed the notion of his dulled senses and let himself drown in absolute happiness. Comfort wrapped him in its caring embrace, whispering to his heart that he had everything he ever needed before him right now.
He reached out and ran his hand across her cheek, rubbing her ear gently between his fingers. Her blue eyes fluttered open, sparkling sapphires that twinkled in the light. Her smile nearly brought him to tears, so loving and perfect. She began to speak, but before she could utter a word, footsteps pounded on the wood floor outside their room.
Phalax rolled over, looking to the door just as it swung open and Holris came barreling in. He leapt and soared through the air to land between his parents. He giggled, happy with his performance, and his laughter increased tenfold as both Phalax and Felicia began tickling him. Phalax slung his arm over both his son and wife, wrapping his entire family, his very reason for existence, in his love.
But then, he was somehow looking upon himself, at the short beard covering his face and his own lively gray-blue eyes and the prominent bridge of his nose. Sleep had propped the front of his hair up, giving it a spiked look where it otherwise lay flat and disheveled.
Trepidation began to suffuse the air. He wondered about how he could view himself this way, as a spectator of his own life on the outside, then the Phalax before him suddenly turned grave, as though remembering something heart-breaking, and the brightness of the room dimmed.
The sun was suddenly snuffed and the darkness that fell stole the smiling faces of his wife and child from him. He lay there for a time, acclimating to the shift, staring at what he eventually realized was hard dirt, broken up by patches of weeds and long grass. A worm inched its way across the dirt, painted blue by the early morning still awaiting the sun’s rays. He watched it until it disappeared behind a short patch of crabgrass, then looked up when he noticed a figure in the distance.
A stone’s throw away, sat his son. The sight of him now, however, was far from comforting. Holris sat on a low-hanging branch at the edge of a copse of trees, blood spilling from his stomach, dripping from the branch and his feet. He was ghostly white, and not even the wan light creeping across Baronfall as the morning brightened changed his pallor. Phalax knew this version of his son was a figment of his imagination, twisted by the effects of the spell known as Uxra’s Tree.
Before returning to Zepzier, his home planet, where his city, Cavia, waited for him to deliver it from the control of a man acting as a god, he along with a handful of others had removed Uxra’s Tree. The spell had nearly destroyed a city on another planet and had prevented them from leaving it. It had also dug into Phalax’s mind, discovered his worst fears, and manifested them. Since then, he had been plagued by visions of his dead child, twisted into grotesque displays.
Although the initial pang of horror and pain was unavoidable, Phalax had grown somewhat accustomed to seeing Holris at random, and the shock passed relatively quickly. Still, in those few moments where he and Holris locked eyes, the son accusing the father of failing in his responsibility to protect him, Phalax couldn’t help but imagine how easy it would be to send a vein of steel, sharper than any razor, right across his own throat, ending it all.
Who then would prevent the same fate from befalling another father?
While there were others with amazing talents and abilities—the fighter name Micale who slept next to him at this very moment being one—Phalax was an imperative cog in the machine needed to end the reign of the fake gods. There were many others, but they had been forced to go after the gods on their own. Each man or woman needed to kill their respective god to prevent the Convergence, a mass transportation of dozens of cities and peoples from across the cosmos. Already these men and women who played as gods commanded unimaginable power, but if they completed the Convergence, their abilities would be limitless. They’d become indestructible, and hundreds of thousands would perish in the process.
Phalax sat up and turned his head away from his son, burying his guilt as he had done so many times before, and found Vesik standing just beyond Daeson’s sleeping form. His initial alarm caused waves of steel to spill out from the disk lodged deep in his chest and cover him a second skin, impenetrable and weightless. Blades sprang from his hands as he stood, but Vesik raised a hand, his hawkish features twisting with concern.
“Phalax, don’t be alarmed,” he said. “It really is me. It’s Vesik.”
Vesik had been a native to Cavia, when he was a human. Not much longer after his twentieth year he had accepted a “gift” of grand power from the gods that allowed him mastery over the arcane. This power, however, had come with a great price. He had been betrayed and slaughtered. His death, however, hadn’t been his end.
Edmund, a man who had originally been no different than the gods, had saved Vesik. He had taken Vesik’s soul and placed it into a golem created in the image of his original form. Together, the two men had worked for years to interfere in the gods’ machinations and would continue until every single one of them was destroyed.
This figure standing before him seemed like the Vesik he had come to know. He was a thin man with hawkish features and brow-length dark hair that fell across his forehead at an angle. His dark, brooding eyes seemed unfocused, lost in his many thoughts or taxed by exhaustion. Both, most likely.
“How do I know that?” Phalax asked, still tense and bathed in steel.
“This,” Vesik said as he pulled on a chain around his neck. A talisman slid from beneath his shirt, one that mirrored the very amulet dangling from Phalax’s neck. Edmund had crafted them, and they kept the fake gods from being able to track the wearers or even target them with their destructive spells.
“And how do I know they didn’t find out about those as well? Vesik, you just sent us here last night. Why would you be back so soon?”
Phalax remembered their departure, trying to glean some important detail that would help him decide whether or not this really was Vesik. Instantly, his thoughts went to Trinika, the cartographer he had confided in, and her daughter. Trinika had reminded him so much of his wife, her fiery attitude and sparkling eyes a mirror image of Felicia’s. He had wanted to explore that spark he felt when he was with her, but the fates wouldn’t allow him that time.
Still, though, he knew she wouldn’t leave his thoughts. Perhaps when this was all said and done, Edmund or Vesik could take him back to her. Perhaps there could be something for him after the tragedy of his life.
Daeson stirred, still half consumed by his slumber, groaning and mumbling about herding pigs. Daeson had been a northerner—a man who wore ice and snow like a second skin—before journeying to Cavia to become a soldier, and had found himself unlucky enough to get snapped up in the struggle between the gods and their champions.
He was no more extraordinary than a spotted cow, unlike the others who fought against the gods. Still though, he was a valiant fighter and wouldn’t be deterred from the task at hand. He had been travelling the world with his brother, Kellum, when the man had been killed in the demon invasions, thus giving him as much reason as anyone to hunt the gods.
Much of Daeson’s face was covered by his now scraggly, sandy beard and bushy eyebrows. High cheekbones made his beard seem to reach ever higher up his face. When not slumbering, the man’s fierce blue eyes showed his battle spirit, and his smashed nose bespoke of his experience with battle.
Micale, lying a few strides away, rolled backward suddenly and snatched a bronze gauntlet from its place near his pack then sprang up to his feet. As he bent his knees, he fastened the scavenged gauntlet to his right hand, claws extending from the knuckles, lending each strike fatal power.
Micale was similar to Phalax; he’d been chosen by a god, and given a gift. His came in the form of being kidnapped from the world then secluded in a desolate place to train and hone his abilities until he was an absolute master of martial prowess. He could do to a crowd of people what Phalax needed a very sharp blade for.
Bald with a simple tattoo of a serpent winding about the side of his head and down his neck and sporting a few golden earrings on each side, the man seemed a constant ball of tension. At times, his intense stares and ever-vigilant awareness dulled and he let loose a joke or enjoyed the company of those around him. But more often than not, like now, he seemed cloaked in solemnity.
“The time was ripe,” Vesik explained. “We sent you all as soon as possible, hoping to ride the same veins they had used to get here. This way, it would be far more difficult to notice then creating our own. It seems to have worked. I then spent the rest of the day preparing this spell of transportation that would get me here unnoticed.”
Silence reigned.
“Listen,” Vesik urged, exasperated. “If I was one of them, I wouldn’t be here chumming it up with you three. I’d be dropping fireballs and other painful shit on your heads.”
“Oh yeah?” Daeson murmured. “Well, you’d be in for a world of surprise and hurt.” He swung his hand out as he spoke. Gripped in his hand was one of his twin hand axes but he stopped the blade just a handspan from cleaving into Vesik’s ankle.
“I knew you were awake, Daeson,” Vesik said.
“Not a chance,” he insisted as he rose.
“Cracking your eye every five seconds to make sure I’m still where you think I am is a really bad tactic when it comes to playing asleep.”
“Well, the other two didn’t know…”
“I did,” Micale offered.
Daeson turned to glare at Micale but Phalax’s frown abruptly stopped him.
“Can we stop this and figure out what’s going on?” Phalax said. “There’s an entire city behind us being controlled by some by kid with a hammer and a temper. And it’s our city… Our city.” Although Micale hadn’t done more than take a stroll through Cavia months ago, Phalax liked to think he considered it his to protect as well. It was, after all, the beacon of civility in Baronfall, its massive castle visible for miles.
“Sure, Phalax,” Micale said, confirming Phalax’s suspicion.
“Now,” Vesik continued, “the reason why I’m here. You recall how Cavia’s castle used to shine? Lit like the very moon had crashed down into the center of the town? Well, that was an intricate enchantment that had been working its magic for decades. It’s been triggered. Everyone who had ever walked into the castle since the spell’s inception is now under the absolute control of Regzenier. Granted, only those still alive. He doesn’t dabble with the dead like some of the others. Regzenier, as I’m sure you already know, is Hakmrid, and a whole hell of a lot of other things.
“There are also a whole bunch of Deth Uk, several tribes, within the city as well. And they all believe Regzenier truly is Hakmrid. If the Convergence commences, the Deth Uk will run the campaign while all of your neighbors act as their slaves, both as soldiers dying on the front lines and subservient workers. If you kill him, however, all the people he’s primed to transfer will be saved. I’m not talking about a handful here, guys. I’m talking several hundred thousand. Anyone under his control are no less than an extension of him, so what they see, he’ll see.
“If he finds out where you’re at, you’ll be dead in moments. You need to find a way to catch him off guard. Get in without being noticed, kill him before the Convergence, and you’ve done more than your fair share.
“There is a large chance that you don’t even run into him, however. He has his hands more than full with all the planets he preparing for the Convergence. He could be here for a few minutes at a time before hopping across the cosmos, or he could stick around for several days. But there are others on those other planets, going after him just like you are. You push forward as if he’s in there. If you hold back at all, there’s no chance you’ll defeat him.” He paused momentarily, fixing each man with his expectant gaze. “Questions?”
Each man shook their head.
“You’re here now,” Phalax said. “Can you stay? Can you help us?”
Phalax was as prepared as the others. Still though, he knew that Regzenier was terribly powerful. What chance did they have at defeating him on their own?
Vesik eventually shook his head, as though he had been contemplating the tempting offer but found himself incapable of accepting it. “You’ll have to go it alone for now. And don’t expect me to just pop up out of thin air, or Edmund for that matter. Although we will do what we can.”
Daeson raised his hand in the air as though he needed permission to speak, then without waiting for anyone to acknowledge said raised hand, said, “I have a question; you got your leg back?”
Vesik smiled then lifted his leg and flexed his foot, showing it off as though it was a prized possession. “Edmund was working on me while I was working on getting myself here. Fits like a charm.”
In the final moments of the struggle to dispel Uxra’s Tree, Vesik had lost his entire leg, torn from him by a massive rock hurled by a nightmarish beast. Thankfully, being that he was a golem, he’d been able to sustain the damage without faltering. He could curb the sensation of physical pain with little effort he had explained to them before.
“So,” Phalax interrupted, “How do you propose we even get past the walls?”
“Creep up, study the people affected by the spell, then copy their mannerisms and walk right on in as though you’re just another group of people under Regzenier’s control. There’ll be herds of people coming from all over. Slip in with them.”
“Like this?” Micale said, brandishing his gauntleted hand and then motioning at the rest of his brutally fashioned armor sitting in a neat array on the ground near his pack.
“Nope. You’ll be a merchant. Here.” Vesik snapped and two large burlap sacks appeared in the air, suspended somehow five feet above the ground. “Throw your armor in those, and ride that on in.”
The three men looked at each other quizzically. Daeson pointed at the two sacks and said, “Ride what? A floating sack?”
Vesik snapped his head to the side as though he’d been stung by a bee and dropped his eyes to the ground, shaking his head and sighing as he looked at the floating sacks. “That happens sometimes. Hold on.” He snapped again, and nothing happened. He did it again, to no avail. He tried twice more before he growled in anger and shut his eyes tight, his brow wrinkling as he focused on whatever it was he was doing. Daeson raised his hand and started saying something when a donkey suddenly appeared, bearing the two sacks on either side of it.
“Sorry,” Vesik said as he opened his eyes and rubbed his temples. “I’m pretty tapped. It’s getting harder and harder to manage things.”
“Was the snapping supposed to take care of that for you?” Daeson asked as he began snapping his fingers at the donkey, obviously hoping he could also make it disappear. Micale slapped his hand, shaking his head and Daeson took visible offense to the slight.
“No, actually. I just like to punctuate my spells sometimes. Helps me focus on the exact moment something should happen. Doesn’t make for my best work sometimes though, so it’s best saved for really easy things… like making an invisible donkey appear.”
Daeson lifted his chin once, his eyes squinting, as though he had just learned a very important lesson about tampering with magic.
“And us?” Phalax asked. His attention was suddenly stolen as Holris came stalking toward them, his fingers ending in wickedly curved claws that dripped blood, his face turned down to the ground and his eyes endless pits of black. Phalax watched as the boy sidled up to Vesik and reached over his shoulder to place the tips of his claws on the wizard’s throat. Then, he raked them across Vesik’s flesh. And nothing happened.
Vesik waited for Phalax’s focus to return, nodded once as though he was offering his sympathies, then said, “There are outfits in there for you three. I don’t much mind who gets what. I’ll leave the arguing to you gentlemen. I’m needed elsewhere. I’ll be seeing you.” Vesik turned slowly, drinking in his surroundings with longing in his eyes, then bent low and ran his hand lovingly across the hard dirt. He rose, looked off to Cavia, standing silently for a long moment, then disappeared.
Daeson darted for the sacks slung across the donkey’s back and untied them quickly. He rifled through the first one, tossing a pair of pants, lacquered, knee high boots, a long-sleeved shirt that seemed too slender a fit for any of them, and a wide-brimmed, stylish hat with raised edges. The fine cloth was a deep red and brown with black stitching. The other two outfits were far more plain, and obviously larger.
“Well, I’m not all that important in this whole thing, so no one’s going to be looking for me. Same with Micale, seeing as how he’s never even been to Cavia.”
“Actually, I have, although briefly. Chaetor took me there to fetch Daria. Gods, that seems far away. Hell saying ‘gods’ doesn’t even make any sense any longer! I agree, though.”
Daeson bent low and scooped the hat and shirt from the ground and held the former up. “That leaves this one to you, Phalax. However,” he said as he withdrew the hat and thrust the shirt out in front of him, “this is a woman’s outfit!” The man’s beaming face poking from around the articles of clothing exposed the joy Daeson found in announcing this to Phalax. Despite Phalax’s urge to wipe the smile from Daeson’s bearded face with his knuckles, he still couldn’t help but crack a smile.
The shirt was cut to fit the shape of a thin, curvy woman, and even sported a low V-neck. The boots were slender, far too much for Phalax’s wide feet. And the pants would cling to his backside, and frontside for that matter, like a second skin. “What was Vesik thinking?” he fumed.
“He’s tired, remember,” Micale explained, lifting a shoulder and tilting his head briefly. “I’m sure it was an innocent mistake.”
“Besides,” Daeson teased, “I’m sure you’ll look lovely in it. Well, only if you shave, of course.”
“So many times I’ve told you,” Prosectero chided his daughter, shaking his head tiredly. “Don’t go running off at night. Only leave during scheduled times, cleared by Arlenti and me. Take a dozen armed guards and the Appointed with you. Stop pulling my first general’s youngest son along with you unless he’s a part of the armed escort!”
Prosectero’s brow furrowed in frustration beneath his slicked hair, styled in a sweeping pattern to the side and back. His grey, sharp eyes narrowed further to menacing slits and his nose, characterized by a prominent and pointy bridge, flared. His normally full lips were a firm, hard line. Only the smallest slight separated him from a relative calm and a burst of anger that would end painfully for Rilaena, she knew.
Rilaena sat quietly, staring out a magnificently large window at a sky brimming with stars and sweeping constellations. Stephan stood at attention somewhere behind her, likely bearing the hardened gaze of his father, Arlenti, who stood next to her father in a flowing night robe, dagger strapped to his waist. Great creases lent his scornful gaze a palpable force, like a wizened owl frowning intently at its prey before striking.
Two dozen men, at least eight feet in height and bursting with coiled muscle, were cast about the room at regular intervals. Their bodies seemed to have been blasted from iron then clad in burnished steel. Each gripped a long-shafted axe in hand. A half-dozen servants gallivanted about Prosectero, Arlenti, and the entourage that followed the former like coat tails.
The great poet Hauris, who followed any and all drama he could catch wind of as he kept his nose turned up, lounged on a divan. He was soft-featured and slow to anger, but quick with his mocking wit. The master engineer Enauth, who had likely been roused to discuss how best to improve the Appointed, leaned against a liquor cabinet. The golem Lo, whose sweeping form of smooth silver gleamed with a dozen reflections bright enough to rival the dawn, stood rigidly near Prosectero, its master and creator.
The walls of the grand study they were all comfortably corralled in sported swirling patterns of red amidst a tan backdrop, painted by the recently deceased artist Dotera. Her work was sought after by all when she lived, and further coveted after her passing. Within the walls were flecks of gold, inlaid without pattern, clashing wonderfully with the silver and white trim.
High above were vaulted ceilings that anchored many pennants and flowing carpets of Dotera’s work that draped a full twenty feet, hanging just out of reach above the heads of the massive guards posted along the walls. More artwork decorated the walls, all of it Dotera’s, depicting glorious battles or resplendent fields and lush forests. Couches and divans lay here and there, lending the room a sense of openness and invitation to conversation as they carved a circle in the center.
Rilaena stalled, her father on the verge of lashing out at her, then said, “I’m sorry, father. It was wrong of me. I won’t do it again.”
“I’ve written this drama before,” Hauris scoffed, taking and swirling a glass of brandy proffered to him by a servant.
Rilaena trained her fiery gaze on the thin man. “You have no right to words here, Hauris. Shut your mouth.”
“Me, shut my mouth? The great poet who makes gold out of words? Whose songs have been sung for a decade and will live on far after my passing? I think not, child.”
“Hauris, quiet yourself,” Prosectero murmured half-heartedly.
“Of course, sire.” Hauris drained his brandy then snapped his fingers, one servant snatched the glass from his hand to pour another drink while another handed him a pewter bowl of grapes.
“He has a point, though, Rilaena. Incessantly you spin me the same yarn. I’ve grown sick of your empty promises.” He sighed and his features sagged, apologetically. “Henceforth you will be monitored at all times, and an escort will bring you to your room at nightfall.”
“Father!” she cried.
“You will,” he shouted, cutting off any further protest, “of course, be allowed your privacy when necessary. You and Stephan as well. Lo,” Prosectero addressed the golem without looking at him, “you will be responsible for my daughter’s wellbeing.” Lo tilted his featureless head toward his master as he spoke, nodding slightly at the command. “You’ll ensure she follows the rules I have set forth for her.”
Rilaena looked at the creature with disdain, knowing that it likely couldn’t fathom her derision and that it wouldn’t care one way or the other if it could. Its flowing form was sculpted in a manner that suggested rippling strength, its head nothing but a wide dome atop broad shoulders. Its mirror-like surface reflected the room and people within in twisted proportions.
Rilaena wasn’t sure of its full potential but knew it was powerful. She’d seen it once crush a man’s throat with its three-fingered hand and even toss a dozen resistance fighters a hundred feet into the air with a concussive blast of power. Her father had created many implements to crush any resistance that rose within his people, and Lo was certainly one of them, nothing more.
“I’d like to speak with you alone, Prosectero,” she growled. Rarely did she call her father by his name. When she did, he quickly understood she expected to be heeded. A fire was burning in her as she relived the destruction of her beloved pink wisp. The accusing eyes of those assembled along with her father’s new edict further kindled that blaze, and she feared she’d lash out at them. Surely he saw that as well, else he would have continued his deriding speech without pause to even consider her words.
“Everyone, out for a moment,” he commanded. Each man and woman shuffled from the room quickly and without so much as a murmur of disapproval, although Stephan did cast her a look of worry as he exited. The vast room was now empty but for Rilaena, her father, and Lo. Prosectero plopped down on a lounge chair and held his empty hand out as though waiting for a servant to offer him something. A glass half full of dark wine swirling gently within appeared and he sipped it, shutting his eyes as he savored the first taste. “What is it?” he finally asked around the brim of the glass.
Rilaena sat and stewed for a moment, trying and failing to calm her anger. “It isn’t just me, father,” she finally said. “This whole damn palace, all of Expansion feels like a prison. Like we’re all supposed to sit in our corners and wait for something to happen. For you to do something to us, or for us. Why does it feel like that? Why all the machines and magic?”
“What is this? You’ve railed against my rules concerning you before, but not my reign over the others.”
Rilaena tried to keep her emotions in check. Images of the wisp’s desiccation flooded past her mind’s eye and she failed, however. “They destroyed my wisp, father!” she cried, tears falling from her eyes. “I’ve watched it grow for years and they nearly wiped it away in a moment!”
Prosectero sagged into his seat, his frown melting into a weary expression that conveyed his relief and frustration.
“It’s more than that, though,” she said, her voice firming and the tears drying from her eyes. She would not let him dismiss her like the many times he had done before. “That is just an illustration of the world we live in. The world you and the others created. This place was grand and wondrous and new when we came here. Now, it’s shrouded in darkness and behind every corner lies death, and you’re responsible for that. Why, father? Why is it like this?”
“This is a special place, and you are integral to its well-being.”
“Cryptic. Always you say cryptic things that you think will placate me. No longer, father. I want to know the truth of this place and I want to know it now!”
Prosectero seemed lost in the crimson liquid spinning in his glass. He lifted it and drained the wine in a single gulp, looking upon Dotera’s pieces. Rilaena’s patience had worn thin long ago and yet her father continued to ignore her, obviously believing her qualms were unwarranted. He was on the verge of dismissing her like an annoying fly when her anger spilled over and she lost control of it.
The glass in Prosectero’s hand suddenly erupted, millions of glass shards blasting the room and its occupants. Those that would have struck Prosectero and Rilaena dissipated against a bright aura of orange, shielding them from harm. Lo stood still as the glass chimed across its metal form. Dotera’s work and the furniture in the room lay buffeted by the shards, ripped and torn in a thousand places.
Rilaena sat breathing heavily, her eyes smoldering. Prosectero stared back angrily, and she prepared herself for pain. Instead, he looked away from her and surveyed the damage to his possessions, frowning. With a wave of his hand the room reverted to its previous state, all the damage she had done vanishing. “I can do that to the tree, you know? I can put it back to how it was.”
He looked out the large windows and toward the Valenfire where a small pink speck glittered. “Don’t you dare,” she seethed. “I don’t want it touched by you or your people.”
“You want to know the truth of things, Rilaena? Fine.” He stood and walked around the sofa he had been sitting in, placing his hands on its back. “This world is a key that unlocks new places and far greater power to me and the others. To you even. I gave you your power. I made you like us before you were even born. I raised you with careful hands. And now you’re a woman of twenty-two. All the hard work I’ve put in, the life you’ve created for yourself, there are those that seek to take it all away. That is why I have to keep you, this planet, all of us safe.”
“So all of this,” Rilaena whispered, “is just a play for power. You’re doing this just to get more of it. How is that any way for me to live? What if I don’t want it?”
“What is so terrible about this, Rilaena? You’re looked after. You’re taken care of. Anything you want in this world, you can have. Hells, you have the power to get it for yourself even!”
“Can I have my freedom?”
Prosectero’s breath caught and his mouth fell slack. He shook his head, sighing. “Stop this, Rilaena. I love you. I am your father. I want you to be happy. But I need you. And you owe me this, at the very least you owe me this. Once this is over with, and it will be soon, you will have all the freedom in the universe.”
Rilaena nodded somberly, her brain working. There was still something he wasn’t telling her. She played an integral part in Expansion’s function, and she didn’t know what that yet was. She relented, if only for now, certain that her father was not who she believed he once was. Rarely was he around any longer, and he reacted far more ruthlessly. He wanted his power, and she knew he wouldn’t pale before a harsh decision to get it, regardless of the gruesome consequences.
Something deep within her told her she needed to stop him.
keithedwardenglish
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Home » Trump Will Meet with Putin Despite the Immigration Furor Meant To Stop Him
Trump Will Meet with Putin Despite the Immigration Furor Meant To Stop Him
Almost a year ago today, Presidents Trump and Putin had their last face to face meeting at the Group of Twenty Summit in Hamburg, Germany. July 7 − 8, 2017 (en.kremlin.ru)
20180626-trump-putin-meet-despite-furor.pdf
It is increasingly likely that President Donald Trump will have the "impossible summit" for the second time in a month, meeting Russian President Putin on July 15 in Vienna. There are already signs of what the potential may be, toward ending many years of war and terrorism in Syria and Afghanistan. Trump's determination to advance great-power cooperation with Russia, China (despite mistakes and trade tensions), India, and Japan continues to advance, and has the support of the American people. "Russiagate" is becoming a curse-word.
There should be no doubt that the current hysteria over immigrants, unleashed by a few liberal officeholders and a lot of national and international media, is a last-ditch attempt to grasp at Trump's impeachment — perhaps even set him up for physical attempts — before he and leaders like Putin and Xi Jinping completely demolish the British geopolitical "world order". That world order, of sole superpower and no limits on regime-change war, is slowly giving way toward peace. With it comes the opportunity for productivity and economic growth to be unleashed around the world, as through China's Belt and Road of great infrastructure projects — even if the Administration has not shown an understanding of this yet.
London, still the world's dominant financial center, cannot stand for this. Only two months ago the UK was driving for total isolation of Russia with the Skripal poisoning case — which Theresa May's government would now like forgotten. It was drawing Trump into a British-French missile attack on Syria, pushing hard for permanent U.S. occupation and large military forces in that country. Then there was London financial publication The Economist's sardonic headline, "Kim Jong Won": too cute by half, false, and showing too clearly London's hatred for the historic change being accomplished around the Trump-Kim summit.
That's why, when the Trump Administration does exactly what the Obama Administration did with illegally immigrating families, the President is called a fascist by the Democratic faction trying to impeach him. In fact, Obama never mentioned the human trafficking operation bringing Central American children to the U.S. border; President Trump has denounced it, for reaping $500 million/year — probably an extremely conservative estimate — by trafficking in lives.
Leading "impeacher" Rep. Al Green of Texas is going to be put out of office himself by the independent LaRouche candidate, Kesha Rogers, in Houston's 9th C.D. That is how this phony impeaching campaign has to be dealt with.
But the only fundamental attack on these trafficking operations from economically prostrate countries, is development which provides productive employment and productivity breakthroughs, in the United States and in those countries. China's Belt and Road Initiative is doing that for China and for many developing countries, including in Ibero-America. If Trump's America joins in that great infrastructure initiative, it will also have the basis for settling the trade disputes. The United States must issue national credit for infrastructure building and productivity breakthroughs, in order to do it. And it has to break up the Wall Street banks before they trigger another speculative financial crash instead.
Helga Zepp-LaRouche on June 15 issued a proposal that the major European countries join with China's Belt and Road development in Africa, instead of tearing the European Union apart over immigration. It points to the basis for action in the United States as well.
But the President has to be defended against the British-led drive to impeach him or stop his great power cooperation policies. Let there be more "impossible summits."
PETITION: TRUMP, DECLASSIFY
UK MEDDLING DOCUMENTS
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Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Sera from Transplant Recipients with Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Ajit P. Limaye, Meei-Li Huang, Ederlyn E. Atienza, James M. Ferrenberg, Lawrence Corey
Ajit P. Limaye
Department of Laboratory Medicine & Medicine (Infectious Diseases), University of Washington, 1 and
Meei-Li Huang
Program in Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 2 Seattle, Washington 98195-7110
Ederlyn E. Atienza
James M. Ferrenberg
Lawrence Corey
Early diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is important because many patients respond to reduction in immunosuppression, especially if PTLD is detected at an early stage. Previous studies have found elevated EBV DNA levels in blood from patients with PTLD, but these assays required isolation of cellular blood fractions and quantitation. We evaluated the presence of cell-free EBV DNA in serum from solid-organ transplant recipients as a marker for PTLD. Five of 6 transplant recipients with histopathologically documented PTLD had EBV DNA detected in serum at the time of diagnosis (sensitivity = 83%), compared with 0 of 16 matched transplant recipients without PTLD (specificity = 100%) (P < 0.001 [Fisher’s exact test]). Furthermore, EBV DNA was detected in serum 8 and 52 months prior to the diagnosis of PTLD in two of three patients for whom stored sera were analyzed. Detection of EBV DNA in serum appears to be a useful marker for the early detection of PTLD in solid-organ transplant recipients. Further studies to define the role of such assays in evaluating solid-organ transplant patients at risk for PTLD are warranted.
Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is an uncommon but important cause of morbidity and mortality in organ transplant recipients; it results from uncontrolled Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced proliferation of B cells in the setting of immunosuppression (7, 11, 18, 28). Early detection is critical, since reduction in immunosuppression may result in regression of PTLD (5, 26). Given the close association of EBV and PTLD, both invasive and noninvasive strategies have been devised to monitor patients for EBV after transplantation (10, 13,15, 17, 19, 20, 22-25, 29). Previous studies have reported high levels of EBV DNA in the blood of patients with PTLD as determined by assays designed to detect EBV DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) (9, 10, 15, 17, 22-25). The assays used in these studies required separation of lymphocytes and/or mononuclear cell fractions from whole blood. But, since latent EBV DNA is present in EBV-seropositive persons, the demonstration of quantitative differences between EBV DNA levels in patients with and without PTLD was required when this sample source was utilized.
We have sought to address some of these issues by evaluating whether we could detect EBV DNA directly from serum and by analyzing sequentially collected sera from transplant recipients who subsequently did or did not develop PTLD. We hypothesized that detection of EBV DNA in acellular specimens (i.e., serum) would occur only for patients with very high systemic EBV genome loads and thus might better differentiate patients with PTLD from transplant recipients with low levels of EBV reactivation as a result of immunosuppression.
Patients and specimens.All recipients of abdominal (kidney, pancreas, liver) transplants with histopathologically confirmed PTLD were identified prospectively during the study period (1 January 1996 through 30 June 1998) at the University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle). PTLD was diagnosed according to previously published clinical and histologic criteria (16, 19). All biopsy specimens were analyzed by routine histochemical stains, flow cytometry (cell surface markers and determination of clonality), and both immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization for EBV-specific products as previously described (4, 16, 19, 27).
Six patients were diagnosed with PTLD during the study period, and in each case, a sample of serum or plasma was obtained within 1 week of the diagnosis of PTLD and stored at −70°C until analyzed. Control patients included 16 transplant recipients who were matched with regard to the organ transplanted, pretransplant EBV serostatus, and immunosuppressive regimen used. Each control patient had a minimum of 1 year of follow-up (or until death) after the date of the last serum sample collection to determine whether PTLD had developed.
A total of 23 serum samples from the 6 case patients with PTLD and 87 serum samples from the 16 matched, control patients were analyzed. The collection dates of the 23 samples from the case patients ranged from 0 to 79 months posttransplant (median of 5.5 months posttransplant), while those from the control patients ranged from 0 to 72 months posttransplant (median of 4 months posttransplant). Five of the 6 case patients (83%) and 15 of the 16 control patients (94%) were EBV seropositive at the time of transplant.
EBV PCR.All PCR analysis was performed by persons who were blinded to the clinical status of the patient whose sera were being analyzed (i.e., PTLD case versus control). The EBV PCR assay was performed as previously described (12). DNA was extracted from 200 μl of serum by using the QIAamp blood kit (Qiagen) and was eluted with 100 μl of 10 mM Tris (pH 8.0). Ten microliters of DNA was used for each PCR. Primers EBER1-A and EBER1-B (GTT TTG CTA GGG AGG AGA CG and GAC CGA AGA CGG CAG AAA GC, respectively) were used to amplify a 118-bp region of EBER1 (1). Each 100-μl PCR mixture contained 50 mM KCl; 1.5 mM MgCl2; 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.4); 2 U of AmpliTaq DNA polymerase (Perkin-Elmer, Foster City, Calif.); 200 μM (each) dGP, dATP, and dCTP; 400 μM dUTP (Pharmacia); a 0.83 μM concentration of each primer; 10 μl of glycerol; and 10 μl of purified DNA template. PCR conditions were as follows: 96°C for 2 min; 35 cycles of 94°C (30 s), 54°C (30 s), and 72°C (30 s); and 72°C for 5 min. The EBER1-A–EBER1-B PCR product was detected by liquid hybridization with32P-labeled probe, EBER1-P (GAC ACC GTC CTC ACC ACC CG) (12). Seven microliters of PCR product and the probe (106 cpm) were heated in 25 μl of a solution containing 1.2 M NsCl, 100 μM each deoxynucleoside triphosphate, and 44% formamide at 97°C for 5 min. Ten-microliter samples of cooled hybridization products were analyzed on 6% acrylamide gels, dried, and then autoradiographed. To ensure that negative results were not due to nonspecific inhibition of PCR, each PCR product was spiked with 50 copies of EBER-fly2 DNA. EBER-fly2 is identical to the EBER1-A–EBER1-B PCR product except that the EBER1-P probe sequence is replaced by 21 bp of Drosophila DNA (6). Each EBER1-A–EBER1-B PCR product was also hybridized with 32P-labeled fly probe, electrophoresed, and then autoradiographed. All the negative EBER1-A–EBER1-B PCR results required detection of EBER-fly2 DNA. To monitor for false positives, specimens were processed in parallel with aliquots of phosphate-buffered saline. PCR mixtures without DNA were also included in each PCR run. To ensure reproducibility of the PCR result, each specimen was run in duplicate and the assay was repeated for each specimen.
Statistical analysis.Fisher’s exact test on a two-dimensional contingency table was used to compare the EBV PCR assay results for patients with PTLD and control patients.
Six patients were diagnosed with PTLD during the study period; the clinical characteristics of these patients are shown in Table1. Five of the six patients were EBV seropositive prior to transplant. The time of diagnosis of PTLD ranged from 7.5 months to 79 months after transplant. All biopsy specimens met criteria for PTLD (16, 19), and all specimens were determined to contain EBV-related products by immunocytochemistry and/or in situ PCR.
Clinical characteristics of patients with PTLDa
EBV DNA was detected in the sera of 5 of 6 patients at the time of diagnosis of PTLD. In contrast, EBV DNA was not detected in the serum of any of the 16 matched control patients (P < 0.001 [Fisher’s exact test]) (Table 2). The single patient for whom EBV DNA was not detected in serum at the time of diagnosis of PTLD presented with a solitary skin nodule and no evidence of disease elsewhere (patient 5) (Table 1).
Serum EBV PCR results for transplant recipients who developed PTLD and those who did not develop PTLD
A total of 87 serum samples from 16 control patients were tested, and all were negative for EBV DNA by our assay (Table 2). Stored sera from three of the patients with PTLD were available for analysis, and the results are shown in Table 3. For two of the three patients, EBV DNA was detectable in serum as early as 8 and 52 months prior to the diagnosis of PTLD (patients 1 and 3, respectively). For patient 2, only two stored serum samples were available, collected 13 and 19 months prior to the diagnosis of PTLD, and both were negative for EBV DNA in our assay.
Retrospective analysis of stored sera from patients with PTLD for EBV DNA
Noninvasive monitoring could theoretically be a useful method for evaluating transplant patients at risk for developing PTLD and might provide a basis for the use of preemptive strategies, such as reduction in immunosuppression or antiviral therapy, to reduce the incidence and severity of PTLD after transplantation. Several studies have assessed EBV DNA levels in transplant recipients with PTLD and have demonstrated elevated levels in PBL from patients with PTLD compared to controls (10, 15, 17, 19, 22-25, 29). All of these studies used assays that required the separation of cellular fractions from blood (i.e., either peripheral blood mononuclear cells or PBL) and required quantitation. In the present study, a technically simpler method of EBV DNA amplification directly from serum was used to analyze samples from solid-organ transplant recipients with and without PTLD.
We evaluated the sensitivity of PCR in serum to provide a screening method for PTLD, thereby obviating the need for both separation of cellular fractions from whole blood and quantitation of levels if EBV DNA was detected. We hypothesized that detection of EBV DNA in serum (as opposed to PBL) would occur only for patients with relatively high systemic EBV loads and thus would better differentiate transplant recipients with and without PTLD than assays that measure EBV DNA levels in PBL. Barkholt et al. published a study in which EBV DNA was measured in the sera of a cohort of liver transplant recipients at risk for developing PTLD (3). A nested-PCR assay was used, and 58% of all patients had detectable EBV DNA levels at some point within the first 3 months posttransplant. The assay’s sensitivity was such that 33% of patients had EBV DNA detectable in serum even before liver transplantation. Although EBV DNA was detected in the serum of all three patients who subsequently developed PTLD, the high frequency of EBV detection in patients without PTLD limited the assay’s specificity and clinical utility for predicting subsequent development of PTLD. In contrast, we used a nonnested PCR and found that 0 of 87 sera from 16 control patients had detectable EBV DNA at various times after transplant (specificity = 100%). Conversely, 5 of 6 prospectively identified patients with PTLD had EBV DNA detected in serum at the time of diagnosis (sensitivity = 83%). The only patient who was negative in the assay at the time of PTLD diagnosis had a single subcutaneous skin nodule (without any evidence of PTLD elsewhere by clinical exam or total body imaging) as the sole manifestation of PTLD. In the only other study of EBV DNA detection in acellular specimens, Fontan and colleagues documented EBV DNA in serum of patients with PTLD, but few details about the timing of the collection of the positive serum samples relative to the time of diagnosis or clinical characteristics of patients were provided (8).
If our findings are validated in larger studies, detection of serum EBV DNA could prove to be useful for evaluating solid-organ transplant patients with clinical syndromes compatible with PTLD. For example, two of the patients in the present study presented with pulmonary nodules and fever (patients 1 and 3). A variety of infectious and noninfectious etiologies were considered, and detection of EBV DNA in sera from these patients led us to temporarily reduce immunosuppression (as empiric treatment for possible PTLD) until a definitive invasive procedure (i.e., open lung biopsy) could be performed and the diagnosis of suspected PTLD could be confirmed. In both cases, the results of the serum EBV PCR were available before histopathologic evaluation of the lung biopsy specimens. Thus, such an assay could potentially serve as a useful adjunct to definitive histopathologic evaluation for the early diagnosis of PTLD.
In addition to potentially serving as an adjunct to the early diagnosis of PTLD, detection of EBV DNA in serum might be used to identify patients at risk for developing PTLD. In the present study, we were able to detect EBV DNA persistently in the sera of two of three patients who subsequently developed PTLD, thereby supporting a role for closely monitoring patients with EBV DNA detectable in serum. If our results are validated in larger studies, routine monitoring for EBV DNA in serum may provide a marker by which preemptive strategies are implemented (e.g., antiviral therapy or reduction of immunosuppression when EBV DNA is detected in serum). Only randomized prospective trials will clarify the effectiveness of such a strategy.
Several limitations of the present study should be noted. The numbers of patients were relatively small, and larger studies validating our results are necessary. Further, although the sera collected at the time of PTLD diagnosis were from prospectively identified patients, the other samples from the same patients were not necessarily collected at identical times for all patients. Moreover, some cases of PTLD develop after primary EBV infection, and acute EBV infection may be associated with serum viremia and thus not necessarily predict subsequent development of PTLD. This is an important consideration in the pediatric transplant population, where a significant proportion of patients are at risk for acquiring primary EBV infection.
In summary, we have used PCR to amplify EBV DNA directly from sera of patients with PTLD and have evaluated the assay by using a group of transplant recipients with and without PTLD. The ease of performance, sensitivity, and specificity of the assay for the early detection of PTLD appear to be promising, and further studies using this assay for monitoring patients for PTLD after solid-organ transplantation are warranted.
Received 9 October 1998.
Returned for modification 7 December 1998.
Accepted 13 January 1999.
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Posts tagged ‘advocacy’
Name Change from Media Specialist to School Librarian- moving forward?
by April Bunn, Media Specialist, Teacher-Librarian, School Librarian
NAME CHANGE ALERT!
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) decided to change our job title. We’re going to be called School Librarians… again.
The board of directors voted for the change at January’s midwinter meeting in Boston. The response has been heated.
Response to the news:
What’s in a Name?, LearnCentralWebinar
Nancy White’s Calling All School Librarians!
Cathy Nelson’s Techno Tuesday
Many feel this name change represents a loss in a long-standing battle with our image . University of Washington I School professor and school library advocate Mike Eisenberg responds, “To me, it’s retro – conjuring black and white images of stereotypical 1950s librarians.”
My first response is one of fear. Taking the words ” media specialist” out of my title will just give the powers that be (Board of Ed. or the state) more juice to eliminate my job. Public and academic libraries have held on to the traditional title without change through the years, so what’s the difference? In schools, we’re in a crises of unknown identity- Administration still doesn’t know exactly what we do.
“Branding” the Name and the Space
In New Jersey we are School Library Media Specialists- at least that’s what’s listed on our teaching certificates- but not necessarily the name listed in our outdated job descriptions and contracts. In other places the most common title is Teacher-Librarian. In a power-house packed webinar, called What’s in a Name?, Mike Eisenberg encouraged us to find a consistent “brand” in what we do. Our librarians, our spaces, and our local and national organizations all have different names (i.e., Media Center, School Library, Information Center). In the Garden State, we were ahead of ourselves when the Educational Media Association became the New Jersey Association of School Librarians in 2006, to match the national organization of AASL, and help people understand who we are. Maybe we just didn’t see that this change was always in our future?
Do we need the word “Teacher”?
As an elementary teacher, I would prefer to have “teacher” (Teacher-Librarian) in the title, but either way, it’s a “kinder and gentler” name for what I do- Media Specialist was always a foreign concept to young children. It also coordinates much better with my colleagues in public and academic libraries.
The problem continues to be that the public doesn’t understand all that we do in a 21st Century learning environment. As a single-operator school librarian, I wear every hat, from traditional storytelling and book searches to Web 2.0 infused lessons, and I work every day to keep my program afloat and dynamic.
In an effort to include advocacy in this post, I looked for a good job description for our position. I like this one, by Sara Kelly Johns, President of AASL (and currently running for ALA President), describing our essential (and varied) role in the school-
Media Specialists:
work with educators to design and teach curriculum
create curriculum and promote an engaging learning experience tailored to the individual needs of students
evaluate and “produce” information through the active use of a broad range of tools, resources, and information technologies
provide access to materials in all formats, including up-to-date, high-quality, varied literature to develop and strengthen the love of reading
provide students, educators, and staff with instructional materials that reflect current information needs.
Budget Cuts & Lost Jobs
If the state and school boards really understood what we do, they wouldn’t approve massive job eliminations during budget cuts, like the local situation in Woodbridge, where they eliminated all the elementary school librarians, serving 16 schools, in a massive budget cut this year (by the way, in that article, they called them “librarians”).
If there is a person in the position of school librarian who is indispensible, making an impact (and showing it!) on student achievement, creating a culture of collaboration, and being a leader in the integration of 21st century skills – whether that person is called a school librarian, library media specialist, or teacher-librarian – they will survive this and any future budget crisis.
– Nancy White, on CASL’s blog
Advocacy tools:
I love my job, no matter what the name or the place is called. I pledge to continue to work as hard as I can to keep my board and community aware of what I am doing as Media Specialist, Librarian, or Teacher-Librarian in our Media Center, School Library, or Information Center.
School Libraries Work!-outstanding resource, including research statistics on the impact of school libraries on student achievement.
NJASL Advocacy Wiki– great resource, including procedures and contacts divided into areas of concern
I hope we can save ourselves before it’s too late, and stop this nonsense of cutting positions that are essential in the 21st Century.
February 20, 2010 at 8:09 am April Bunn
Advocate in 2008 – Wait, don’t tune me out!
You might think this doesn’t really apply to you, or that it won’t really affect you, or (most likely) that you do care but you don’t have time for it . . . but the truth is, we all must be advocates for libraries all the time, especially here in NJ, and what better time than 2008?
2008 provides us with the easily rhyme-able number 8 and is a “great” year that provides us with many ways to call for action:
Advocate in ’08!
Be Great in ’08!
Communicate in ’08!
Demonstrate in ’08!
Personally, I really love all of these, but we have to do much more than just come up with cute rhyming mottoes.
I know you have been bombarded with information about contacting Governor Corzine’s office to request that the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative (NJKI) be fully funded. As you probably know, NJKI was funded for $3 million dollars. Then, it lost $1 million of it’s funding. If it isn’t fully funded we will lose it on February 29. BUT PLEASE, stick with me here.
By now, you have all seen this:
Special Message from New Jersey Knowledge Initiative staff:
“Access to RefUSA (and other databases) may end on February 29, 2008 due to a cut in state funding for the NJ Knowledge Initiative. To help keep this resource for NJ, please call Governor Corzine’s office at (609) 292-6000 and ask that the Knowledge Initiative be fully funded for 2008.”
You might not think it really matters if you call. You may think this really isn’t your fight – that this is for the State Library and for NJLA and Pat Tumulty and others to do. Well, this IS all of our fight and making a phone call DOES matter and only takes literally about two minutes.
You pick up your phone and dial the number. Someone answers. You literally say, “I am calling to request that the Knowledge Initiative be fully funded.” The person says okay I’ll put down the message. You say thank you and hang up. THAT IS IT. I’m not kidding. I don’t mean to be condescending, but sometimes it is the simplest things that we don’t do.
For those of you who have placed the call, and I know there are many of you, thank you! I also appreciate everyone who has echoed my testimony that this is a very quick and simple thing to do.
Does it matter if you do this or not? Well, yes. They are counting all the calls. I personally have always believed that one person can make a difference. I can’t promise that your call will be the one to put us over the top, or that this phone campaign will definitely work, but I personally would feel terrible if I didn’t call at least once and we lost the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative.
Do you know what NJKI is?
There is information here. There is also an article from the Daily Targum that is very informative here. Also, SJRLC Connections provides a lot of good information. You can find information from NJLA and the New Jersey State Library.
You might think if you don’t work in or use an academic library, a special library, a scientific or business environment or governmental agency that this doesn’t matter. If you work in a public library, you probably use and know the popularity and value of at least ReferenceUSA. If you work in a school library you may not use the resources of the NJKI. Does this mean you don’t need to call? No, saying that this isn’t a resource you use and so you can ignore these pleas is like the old refrain, “First they came for the Communists, but I wasn’t a Communist so I did nothing.” We all know how that ends. (I know, it’s controversial and possibly incorrect, but….you get my meaning here.)
Now, I am not picking on school libraries – many school library staff have called, and this may sound extreme, but if we do not learn how to, and commit to, doing a better job of speaking up about our value, we literally will not be around anymore.
Even after this NJKI challenge passes – whether we win or lose – there will always be other issues to face. Please think about the ways in which you can become a true advocate for libraries in 2008.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to say Celebrate in ’08 and beyond!
January 6, 2008 at 10:01 pm Amy
Support Emergency Legislation to Remove Municipal Libraries from the Levy Cap . . .
Go! Do it! NOW!
Support emergency legislation to remove municipal libraries from the levy cap . . . THERE IS A VOTE TOMORROW!
I just wanted to share the link to look up your legislator – it is EASY! You can look on the right side by alphabetical list, municipality, district, etc…
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
You get your district and you click on that to see the people and contact info.
I JUST CALLED them – I have always e-mailed in these cases but today I CALLED because I had just been in one of the webinars on WebJunction for the Spanish Language Outreach Program with some people who talked about advocating.
PHONE CALLS ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE than e-mails!
It only took me about 5 minutes!
The people are nice!
They want these calls.
I identified myself as a librarian living and/or working in the district and asked for them to support the emergency legislation to remove municipal libraries from the levy cap. I said there is a vote tomorrow.
They already knew what I was talking about!
They took my name and seemed very interested to hear from me.
You either leave a message or talk to an assistant who takes the information.
REALLY – it took me less than five minute total for me to call three people!
PLEASE CALL!
Original message from Pat Tumulty:
CRITICAL UPDATE, MUNICIPAL CAP LEVY EXEMPTION.
We need your assistance right now to contact your NJ State Senators. Not tomorrow. Right now. Please ask your state senator to support emergency legislation which would allow an adjustment to levy cap calculations for local public library funding.When the new municipal cap levy legislation was passed this year, municipal libraries were included as part of the calculation for the levy cap.
This, unfortunately, created an inequity for the 245 communities which support municipal libraries. Communities which support county libraries have library expenditures excluded from the municipal levy because county libraries are funded by a dedicated tax and, therefore, outside the levy cap.
New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Library Association and the NJ State Library have been working for a month on what we hoped would be a solution to this issue by adding language to state budget bill. Unfortunately, we were told last Friday, that this solution would not work and that we would need legislation. We must correct this inequity before July 1 because urban communities begin a new budget year on that date and would become subject to the levy cap. All other communities will be impacted with the budgets beginning on Jan. 1, 2008.
The Assembly, under the leadership of Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, will consider emergency legislation to exempt municipal libraries from the cap legislation TOMORROW- Thursday, June 21.
We have every indication that there is support for this legislation.We are less certain of Senate approval, and we have learned that the Senate will cancel next week’s scheduled meetings and recess for the Summer. Therefore, it is imperative that this legislation pass tomorrow.
We must have this emergency legislation enacted in the Senate before the Legislature goes on summer break. Please contact your State Senator’s legislative office today and tell them you support emergency legislation to remove municipal libraries from the levy cap and that it must be enacted before summer recess.
Pat Tumulty, Executive Director
New Jersey Library Association
ptumulty@njla.org
June 20, 2007 at 1:31 pm Amy 2 comments
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Wrongful Death, Brain Injury, Car Accident, Personal Injury
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Home Consumer Law New Jersey Vineland
Vineland, New Jersey Consumer Lawyers
Andrew D. Swain
Cherry Hill, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 25 years experience
(215) 702-2708 2091 Springdale Road, Suite 2
Free ConsultationConsumer, Business, Personal Injury and Products Liability
Temple University Beasley School of Law and Temple University Beasley School of Law
Mr. Swain has investigated and recovered millions in compensation for those who have been catastrophically injured or who have died as a result of their injuries. He has successfully litigated claims involving medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, work-related accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and other wrongful death and permanent disability matters. The Swain Law Firm specializes in the following areas of practice: * Catastrophic Personal Injury Matters * Medical Malpractice * Motor Vehicle Accidents * Work Related Injuries & Worker's Compensation * Construction Accidents ...
Andrew Michael Milz
Marlton, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 11 years experience
(888) 668-1225 525 Route 73 South
Free ConsultationConsumer
Temple University Beasley School of Law
Andy Milz was raised in a union household in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he was taught by his parents' example to never stop pursuing economic fairness and social justice. He has dedicated his career as a trial lawyer to fighting for American consumers and workers who have been victimized by corporate greed.
Mr. Milz specializes in representing people harmed by consumer finance fraud, debt collection harassment, improper repossessions and inaccurate credit reporting. He has also handled litigation involving a variety of other issues, including auto fraud, abusive robocalls, product defects, data security and identity theft, invasion of consumer privacy, securities fraud,...
Esther Eva Berezofsky
(856) 667-0500 210 Lake Drive East
Consumer, Appeals, Environmental and Products Liability
Rutgers School of Law-Camden
View Website View Lawyer Profile
Esther Berezofsky is nationally recognized and respected for representing plaintiffs in complex litigation involving mass torts, pharmaceutical drugs and medical device products liability, consumer fraud class actions, environmental litigation and chemical exposure cases. As one of the foremost environmental attorneys in the country, she has litigated high-profile cases including– notably as lead counsel the Toms River case–which has been profiled in books, television news programs and other media.
Shauna Friedman
Haddonfield, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 2 years experience
(856) 470-9777 8 Kings Highway West Suite B
Consumer, Civil Rights, Environmental and Products Liability
Rutgers School of Law-Newark
Ms. Friedman joined Williams Cedar as their newest associate immediately after graduating from Rutgers Law School with honors in May 2017. During law school, she received the Deans Academic Excellence Award, the Rutgers Alumni Scholarship, and the Deborah Michael Richards Memorial Family Law Scholarship. Due to her remarkable research and writing skills, Ms. Friedman was also selected to serve as a legal research and writing teaching assistant for first-year law students.
Before joining Williams Cedar as an associate, she worked as a paralegal for the Cedar Law Firm and was an integral part of the firm’s daily operations. She worked closely...
Joseph A Mullaney III
Haddon Heights, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 17 years experience
(856) 861-7241 423 White Horse Pike
Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
Free ConsultationConsumer and Bankruptcy
Widener University Delaware School of Law
Robert Andrew Loefflad
Linwood, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 22 years experience
(609) 653-1500 Central Square, Suite 42A
199 New Road, PO Box 405
Linwood, NJ 08221
Free ConsultationConsumer, Bankruptcy, Divorce and Domestic Violence
I concentrate in the areas of family law, divorce mediation, bankruptcy, consumer law, foreclosure defense and real estate law. I strive to provide exceptional legal services in a cost effective and efficient manner.
Peter M. Draper
Marlton, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 6 years experience
(856) 985-9800 The Joseph Bucknell House
30 South Maple Avenue Suite 201
Free ConsultationConsumer, Criminal Defense, Municipal and Personal Injury
Mr. Draper is an associate at McOmber & McOmber, P.C. His primary areas of practice are personal injury litigation and employment practices. He is admitted to the New Jersey State Bar and the Federal District Court for New Jersey.
Mr. Draper has extensive experience both prosecuting and defending personal injury matters, premise liability cases, insurance defense, and employment matters on behalf of employers and employees throughout the State of New Jersey. He also has experience handling criminal matters, including drug charges, weapons offenses, expungements, and DUI cases. He has successfully argued motions to suppress and negotiated favorable resolutions with prosecutors...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawgsearch
Adrianne Elizabeth Walvoord
Cherry Hill, NJ Consumer Law Attorney
(215) 825-3211 1040 N. Kings Highway
Free ConsultationConsumer, Business and Products Liability
Adrianne Walvoord grew up in the greater Philadelphia area and joined Anapol Schwartz as an associate in 2007. She is a member of the firm's Unsafe Drug and Medical Device Team. Adrianne's practice involves pharmaceutical and medical device mass tort litigation involving complex medical, scientific and legal issues. Anapol's Unsafe Drug and Medical Device Team has successfully represented and obtained compensation for clients from all over the country in state and federal courts across the nation. Currently, Adrianne represents clients in the Paxil Birth Defect (Pregnancy) Litigation in the mass tort program in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas,...
Beth Cole
Haddonfield, NJ Consumer Law Attorney
Consumer, Civil Rights, Environmental and Personal Injury
Beth Cole is a litigator specializing in personal injury, auto accident cases, civil rights, dram shop, liquor liability cases, “lemon law” claims, consumer protection and pharmaceutical litigation. She also has significant experience with — and interest in – veterans issues, including assisting those disabled due to Agent Orange exposure.
“Not a lot of firms do civil rights work because it’s very difficult. Everyone deserves a voice, to be treated with respect, and to have the protection of the Constitution. “
Ms. Cole has been recognized for her civil rights work. Cole and two Williams Cuker Berezofsky colleagues, Gerald Williams and...
Ellen M. McDowell
Maple Shade, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 31 years experience
(856) 482-5544 46 West Main Street
Free ConsultationConsumer, Bankruptcy, Business and Real Estate
Rutgers University - Camden
Ellen has been representing individuals and businesses in the Delaware Valley area for thirty years. She is a litigator at heart, but works hard to get results for her clients through negotiation and out-of-court settlements if at all possible to save them time and money. Many of Ellen's success stories involve bankruptcy cases, but Ellen has also had successes in State Court, including obtaining an impressive $1.8 million jury verdict in New Jersey Superior Court not long ago.
David I Sinderbrand
Somers Point, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 31 years experience
(609) 927-7808 624 Shore Road
Somers Point, NJ 08244
Consumer, Personal Injury and White Collar Crime
Graduate of Ithaca College with a political science and economics degree. Graduate of California Western School of Law. Achieved American Jurisprudence Achievement Award for highest grade in Trial Advocacy. Proudly serving as a "Grateful" Lawyer For The People since 1988.
Daniel A. Frischberg
Marlton, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 11 years experience
(856) 988-9055 525 Route 73 South, Suite 200
Consumer, Bankruptcy and Municipal
Douglas W. Jones, Jr.
Barnegat, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 19 years experience
(609) 242-5319 59 Nautilus Drive
Barnegat, NJ 08005
Free ConsultationConsumer, Business, DUI & DWI and Personal Injury
As a former Municipal Prosecutor/Alternate Municipal Prosecutor who served in 27 towns in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Mr. Jones has the knowledge and trial experience to help protect your rights. Mr. Jones represented the State of New Jersey and now individual defendants in the following Courts - Barnegat, Bay Head, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Brick, Brielle, Eagelswood, Harvey Cedars, Holmdel, Howell, Jackson, Lacey, Lakewood, Lavallette, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach, Manasquan, Mantoloking, Ocean Gate, Ocean Township (Waretown), Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Plumsted (New Egypt), Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford Township (Manahawkin), Surf City and...
James Phan
(888) 588-6982 1500 North Kings Highway
Free ConsultationConsumer, Arbitration & Mediation, Business and Collections
James graduated from California State University Northridge with honors and a B.A. in Electronic Media Management. He received his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the State of New Jersey. After admission to the State Bar of California, James served as General Counsel for various entities. James has significant knowledge in the development and implementation of legal protocols and processes geared for the development of small to medium sized businesses. His experience in business law, employment law, tax, contracts, acquisitions, risk prevention and general...
Christopher Markos
Christopher Markos joined Williams Cuker Berezofsky in 2012, bringing significant experience to the firm’s civil and human rights law practice. Public Interest advocacy has been his passion since law school, and he was recognized by the Rutgers-Camden School of Law with the prestigious Mary Philbrook Public Interest Award.
Mr. Markos began his legal career as Law Clerk to the Honorable Jose L. Fuentes of the New Jersey Superior Court- Appellate Division, conducting legal research and drafting bench memos, coordinating intake and advising Judge Fuentes on emergent matters.
“I like being an advocate for my clients and the Constitution at the same...
Timothy J. Abeel Jr.
Mt. Laurel, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer
(888) 830-1474 309 Fellowship Road
East Gate Center Suite 200
Mr. Abeel started his own consumer law firm with the basic principle - to treat and approach each case in the same way he would want his own case treated. With that principle in mind, Mr. Abeel has been able to achieve great results for consumers who need an advocate in their corner. Tim will work to get your case resolved as soon as possible and has the experience to take your case as far as needed to get you a great result.
Jeffrey S Walters
Mount Laurel, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 28 years experience
(856) 552-1045 3000 Atrium Way Suite 2201
Free ConsultationConsumer, Bankruptcy, Collections and Estate Planning
Michael S Simone
Collingswood, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 17 years experience
(856) 833-1788 900 Haddon Ave
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Consumer, Business, Collections and Construction
Paul DePetris
Cherry Hill, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 24 years experience
(609) 714-2020 532 Route 70
2nd Flr.
Free ConsultationConsumer and Appeals
CASES AND CLAIMS FOR WHICH THE LAW OFFICES OF PAUL DEPETRIS OFFERS LEGAL SERVICES The Firm gives one no obligation phone consultation to possible clients and provides statewide (North, Central & South Jersey) representation to people and businesses involving the following types of claims and cases: Appeals Auto & Boat Disputes Auto Sales Disputes Auto Warranty Disputes Auto Fraud Disputes Auto Repairs Disputes Bailment Disputes Bill & Debt Collection Litigation Boat Repair & Sales Disputes Breach Of Contract Disputes Breach Of Warranty Disputes Business & Commercial Litigation Business Forms Preparation Business Insurance Coverage Cases Civil Appeals...
Christopher John Curylo
(856) 910-0202 501 King Avenue
Consumer, Arbitration & Mediation, Collections and Products Liability
Laura J. Neville Esq.
Mount Laurel, NJ Consumer Law Attorney
(877) 638-1776 309 Fellowship Road Suite 200
Consumer, Bankruptcy and Collections
The firm’s founder and managing attorney is Laura J. Neville, Esq. Ms. Neville graduated from Rutgers University School of Law – Camden with Honors and was the recipient of the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence and a Pro Bono Publico Award for her volunteer work. As a law student Ms. Neville was recognized for her persuasive and effective oral argument and legal writing skills, finishing with the Top Ten Brief and as Top Ten Oralist in the Honorable James J. Hunter Memorial Moot Court Competition. After receiving her Juris Doctorate, Ms. Neville was selected to serve an Appellate...
Jay B Feldman
Columbus, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 12 years experience
(609) 298-4280 24622 East Main Street
Columbus, NJ 08022
Consumer, Arbitration & Mediation, Bankruptcy and Collections
Jason Pressman
Clark, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 15 years experience
(732) 388-2121 1435 Raritan Road
Clark, NJ 07066
Consumer, Business, Landlord Tenant and Real Estate
Fast representation to solve your legal problem.
Gary Ahladianakis
Toms River, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 15 years experience
(732) 797-1600 9 Robbins Street
Consumer, Appeals, Employment and Personal Injury
University of Connecticut School of Law and Ramapo College
As a seasoned litigator, I am always guided by my belief in a practical approach to litigation which combines a strong work ethic with common sense and attention to the finest detail. This guiding principle, along with my natural talent for selecting and relating my client’s position to a jury, has enabled me to obtain very favorable verdicts, both on the plaintiff- and defense-side of the bar, in several counties throughout the State of New Jersey.
By joining the Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle & Sacks, L.L.C. team of lawyers, I bring thirteen (13) years of trial experience handling litigation matters involving...
Andy Winchell
Berkeley Heights, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 22 years experience
(973) 457-4710 100 Connell Drive
Free ConsultationConsumer, Bankruptcy and Business
The Law Offices of Andy Winchell, P.C., is a law firm in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, that handles many types of financial issues for both individuals and businesses. We focus our practice on means to help your financial situation through bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, mortgage loan modification, actions against debt collectors and insolvency issues for consumer and commercial clients. We take a personalized approach to every client who contacts our office. We understand there are various types of problems and situations, and each one calls for a different, specialized strategy based on the particular circumstances. It is our goal to...
Ekaterina Schoenefeld
Princeton, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 13 years experience
(609) 688-1776 32 Chambers Street, Suite 2
Princeton, NJ 08542
Consumer, Collections, Employment and International
Prior to opening my practice, I worked as an associate at Messina Law Firm, P.C., Holmdel, New Jersey; subsequently, I remained there as "of counsel." I have worked on a number of cases, including complex civil litigation, that involved a broad range of various questions of state and federal substantive law; sophisticated procedural, discovery and evidentiary issues; and post-judgment motions and appeals. The cases I worked on involved complex issues of federal and state law, relating to the Sherman Act; Lanham Act; Federal Communications Act; Truth in Lending Act; Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, New Jersey Consumer Fraud...
Gerald Hayes Clark
Belmar, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 21 years experience
(847) 781-8855 811 Sixteenth Avenue
Consumer, Business, Personal Injury and Products Liability
Fordham University School of Law
Gerald H. Clark has been Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney and he is a Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He is the principal of the Clark Law Firm, PC. His practice concentrates on complex litigation, class actions, civil rights and personal injury with an emphasis on traumatic brain and construction injury cases. Gerald has also served as a lead attorney on a number of mass tort and class action lawsuits including the largest groundwater contamination case in the State of New Jersey. He played a key role...
R. Armen McOmber
Red Bank, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 20 years experience
(732) 842-6500 54 Shrewsbury Avenue
McOmber & McOmber, P.C.
Free ConsultationConsumer, Appeals, Collections and Products Liability
American University Washington College of Law
Mr. McOmber is a third generation attorney and a lifelong resident of Monmouth County. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts and a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law, in Washington, D.C. In 1998, he was admitted to New Jersey and Federal District Court Bars and joined the firm of McOmber & McOmber, which was established by his parents, Richard and Adrienne McOmber, in 1974. He was promoted to partner in 2001. In 2004, Mr. McOmber moved to Red Bank with his wife, Dr. Nathalie Zenian McOmber,...
Warren Levy
Edison, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 29 years experience
(732) 253-7630 340 Route 1 North
Department of NJ Family Law & Divorce
Free ConsultationConsumer, Bankruptcy, Divorce and Family
Attorney Warren D. Levy is one of the original key founders of the law firm and is the head attorney behind the Law Offices of Kasuri & Levy, LLC. With over 20 years of experience in various fields, primarily in Divorce & Family Law: (Child Custody, Child Support, Domestic Violence, Domestic Partnerships, Collaborative Law, Protection Orders, Restraining Orders, Men/Father Rights, Female/Mother Rights, International Divorce, Invalid Marriages, Fraudulent Marriages, Legal Separation, Non-Paternal Custody, Adoption, Paternity, Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Post-Nuptial Agreements, Cohabitation Agreements, Name Change, Jewish Gets (religious divorce), Annulments, IVF Donor & Surrogacy Agreements, Family Law Mediation, Parenting Plan Agreements,...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ABlawgsearchSocial Media
Jonathan Rudnick
Tinton Falls, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 28 years experience
(732) 709-7277 788 Shrewsbury Ave
Free ConsultationConsumer, Business, Employment and Products Liability
Pace Law School
Thomas J. Sateary
Westfield, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 30 years experience
(908) 233-6800 53 Cardinal Dr
Consumer, Municipal and Real Estate
Thomas Sateary concentrates his practice in the areas of automotive law, contract law, defense of automobile distributors and dealers against breach of warranty and “lemon law” actions. He also represents applicants before municipal planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment.
James D. DeRose
Westfield, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 41 years experience
Consumer, Business and Products Liability
The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law
James D. DeRose concentrates his practice in the areas of automotive law, product liability, warranty law, lemon law, and regulatory matters relating to the automotive industry. He has served as counsel to numerous automotive importers and distributors, including companies engaged in automobile, truck, motorcycle, and tractor manufacturing and distribution. He also represents machine, tool, and electronics manufacturers and distributors as well as numerous insurers.
Michael Millar
(732) 914-9114 98 East Water Street
Consumer, Business, Construction and Products Liability
Michael Millar is a lifelong resident of New Jersey. He is a graduate of Point Pleasant Beach High School, Lafayette College and Vermont Law School. Between college and law school, he served as a combat arms officer in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Captain. While in law school, he served as associate editor of the law review and interned with the Environmental Crimes Section of the United States Department of Justice. After law school, he clerked for two trial judges in Atlantic County. Mr. Millar has been teaching business law and risk management at the University...
William Edwin Denver
(732) 784-1807 331 Newman Springs Road #143
Consumer, Business, Environmental and Insurance Claims
The Denver Law Firm LLC is led by experienced trial attorney William Denver. Mr. Denver started his career as a clerk to NJ Appellate Division Chief Judge Hermann Michels. Mr. Denver then spent three years trying felony cases as an Assistant District Attorney for the Manhattan DA’s office before moving to Robertson, Freilich Bruno & Cohen and undertaking insurance recovery work on behalf of policyholders. Mr. Denver was later elected as a partner in the insurance recovery group of two AmLaw 100 firms in New York City before forming The Denver Law Firm in 2014.
Robert Magnanini
Berkeley Heights, NJ Consumer Law Attorney
(973) 218-1111 100 Connell Dr
Consumer, Environmental and Stockbroker Fraud
Michael D. Fitzgerald
Eatontown, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 34 years experience
(732) 223-2200 1 Industrial Way W
Free ConsultationConsumer, Employment, Stockbroker Fraud and Tax
David C. Ricci
Short Hills, NJ Consumer Law Attorney
(973) 218-2627 51 John F Kennedy Pkwy
1st Floor West
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Free ConsultationConsumer and Collections
Andrew W. Li
Trenton, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 21 years experience
(732) 545-7900 198 West State Street
Andrew W. Li, Counsel, represents consumers who are entitled to protection under state and federal consumer protection laws. His practice involves both individual claims and class actions involving consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices, including motor vehicle sales and repairs, home improvement contracts, abusive debt collection practices, and other types of protected consumer transactions. Mr. Li received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School in 1997. He attended St. John’s College, where he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in the History of Mathematics and Science and in Philosophy, including metaphysics, ethics, and political theory. He...
Steven Weisbrot
Springfield, NJ Consumer Law Lawyer with 15 years experience
505 Morris Ave.
Mr. Weisbrot has been associated with several leading plaintiffâs firms where he practiced in the areas of complex personal injury, wrongful death, class action and general commercial litigation. Mr. Weisbrot embraces progressive trial and law office technologies and uses those technologies for his client's benefit. Mr. Weisbrot is also a court certified arbitrator and represents select clients in criminal and municipal matters. Steven Weisbrot, is admitted before to the bars of the State of New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the district courts for the Districts of New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Central Pennsylvania.
Jason Shamy
Point Pleasant, NJ Consumer Law Attorney with 24 years experience
(732) 202-7206 2400 Route 88
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
Free ConsultationConsumer, Business, Construction and Personal Injury
I have been a Lawyer for over 20 years. But, as a second generation Lawyer I feel as though I have been interested and involved in the Law for my entire life. Fighting for justice for my clients is my passion. I have dedicated my practice to providing honest advice and determined representation to my clients that have entrusted me with their case.
Throughout my career, I have successfully represented clients in every county in the State of New Jersey, before New Jersey Federal District Courts, State Administrative Agencies, State Commissions, Zoning and Planning Boards, Municipal Governments and hundreds of Municipal Courts throughout...
Consumer Attorneys in Nearby Cities
South Vineland
Consumer Attorneys in Nearby Counties
The OneCLE Lawyer Directory contains lawyers who have claimed their profiles and are actively seeking clients. Find more Vineland, New Jersey Consumer Lawyers in the Justia Legal Services and Lawyers Directory which includes profiles of more than one million lawyers licensed to practice in the United States, in addition to profiles of legal aid, pro bono and legal service organizations.
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California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment
Posted by Leslie Eastman Friday, March 16, 2018 at 9:00am | 3/16/2018 - 9:00am
Newsom’s past affair disqualifies him from governorship, Democratic rival Amanda Renteria says.
The “Most Interesting Governor’s Race” in the nation just got a little more interesting.
Legal Insurrection readers who have been following my posts about the 2018 election will recall that California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom failed to get a Democratic Party endorsement but is ahead in all the polls
This has made him a target…of fellow Democrat Amanda Renteria, who is giving Newsom the #MeToo treatment. Renteria is focusing her attacks by citing his affairs while holding public office as a reason not to elect him.
“If he was in the Legislature right now, he’d be called out, and like what we’ve seen, being forced out,” Renteria said in an interview with The Sacramento Bee. “We’ve got to be sending the message that the more power you have, the more responsibility you have to protect others.”
As mayor of San Francisco more than a decade ago, Newsom had an affair with one of his City Hall aides, who was also married to his campaign manager at the time. Newsom has repeatedly apologized for the transgression, and in a Facebook post last month, his former appointments secretary, Ruby Rippey Gibney, said she was “doubtful” it was workplace sexual harassment.
…But Renteria told The Bee that “a boss having sex with his employees is an unacceptable situation.”
“No one should be beyond that accountability,” she said. “The bar needs to be higher. And in fact, the bar is lower here.”
Renteria went on an epic Twitter rant, and cited Newsom’s date with a 19-year old model as troubling and likened it to the sexual harassment case of a state senator who recently was forced to resign over his own scandal.
Also, @SFChronicle reported that Newsom, then a 38 yr old mayor, dated a 19 year old student. He took her to a city gala where she was photographed consuming alcohol. Similar to what CA State Senator Mendoza had to step down for recently. https://t.co/WBR74Gyibo
— Amanda Renteria (@AmandaRenteria) March 15, 2018
If you ever wonder about the “state of the state”, then wonder no longer. Here is how then-mayor’s relationship with the young lady was described by the locals.
…So, when the news first broke that San Francisco’s popular 39-year-old mayor Gavin Newsom was dating a 19-year-old model and restaurant hostess (she’s since turned 20), the city buzzed with gossip — and more than a little scuttlebutt — about the City by the Bay’s newest power couple.
…But in tune with the free-thinking spirit of the city, most San Franciscans don’t seem bothered by Newsom’s new romance. “I haven’t heard anyone say anything negative about the young woman he’s seeing,” says Chronicle gossip columnist Leah Garchik. “It’s a live-and-let-live city, and we have a young handsome mayor. More power to them.”
So the next time a 40-something Republican politician has an under-20 date, I will assume it is OK to refer to them as a power couple!!! Bookmark this post for reference, then.
By way of background, Renteria was the political director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Prior to working in politics, she worked for Goldman Sachs, the city of San Jose, and as a high school math teacher. If she doesn’t drink the Napa Valley Chardonnay, she should.
Newsom is still ahead in the polls and seems uninclined to leave the race that has a wide array of candidates. But, in the meantime, enjoy the blue-on-blue battle.
22 22 Comments California
RT @LegInsurrection: California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/f6p5VrCh9p
@Carrie Webb
@🇺🇸 🇺🇸 Jerry 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 #MAGA2018 🤨
@Right Road 🇺🇸
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/f6p5VrCh9p
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/OkW1IVSbR0 via @Mutnodjmet
@Mary #FlyTheW
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/4bdRNUH10C
California’s Lt. Gov. and Serial Sex Predator Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/Dx4jMAULWU
@mathewsjw
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/S5Fg9Bcv1d
@Hat Team Epic, Proud Kyriarch
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/azOWfOESPe
@= Linda🇺🇸Wray =
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/OkW1IW9NfA via @Mutnodjmet
California’s Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom gets the #MeToo treatment https://t.co/pimhopwtYI via @LegInsurrection https://t.co/2mKRWlFLNk
@Chris 🇺🇸
American Human | March 16, 2018 at 9:10 am
“…forced to resign over his own sandal.” Sorry, just having a little fun.
The Friendly Grizzly | March 16, 2018 at 9:30 am
I guess Newsome is no longer a shoe-in, huh? Will he get the boot? Will the Democrats revamp their ticket?
Leslie Eastman | March 16, 2018 at 11:14 am
Fixed. Thank you.
If I were a betting woman, I would think this is a play by the Democrats for one of two things:
1) Remove Newsom, so a leading Hispanic candidate can be made Governor, ushering in a whole new era of California politics.
2) Clear the way for Chiang, who is about as moderate and scandal-free as the Democrats can find in this state.
georgfelis | March 16, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Talk about a low bar to clear…
rinardman | March 16, 2018 at 9:22 am
Wait, I thought Bill Clinton made that acceptable for Dimocrats.
elle | March 16, 2018 at 10:18 am
The Clintons are uncool and sins for supporting them have been washed away by publicly confessing at #Look@MeToo, lighting a candle and tithing to a Marxist approved womyns’ charity.
alaskabob | March 16, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Sen Harris rose in the Dem Party due to Willie Brown’s affair with her. I guess this is the accepted “passing of the torch” within the Party.
The Democrats wrote the new, post Bill Clinton, rules and Newsom has clearly broken them to a degree both sides can agree he’s a cad, unworthy of public trust.
I predict Renteria will get the nomination because so many will not want to give up on bashing Trump.
georgfelis | March 16, 2018 at 10:59 am
Amazing how photographs can detect alcohol in a drink.
Yeah, they’re going to give him heck and elect him anyway. If he treats this as a signal he can do whatever he wants, his career will go down in flames, but if this becomes a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment and he bends more to the Pence model of behavior, we may see him as Governor or President someday. (God forbid)
You may be right, but I believe that leopards don’t change their spots. They may be able to handle him so he appears to move towards the Pence model. His only problem right now is that his behavior makes it inconvenient to bash Trump on his Stormy Daniels behavior.
wendybar | March 16, 2018 at 11:22 am
Kimberly Guilfoyles Ex husband and Nancy Pelosi’s nephew!
Nephew through marriage. Guilfoyle talked about it on The Five.
elle | March 16, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Interesting. So this will be a major blue on blue war. Mafia vs Communist/Marxist/Socialist vs I$lamic influence. Should be an interesting fight.
buckeyeminuteman | March 16, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Since when did the Democrat party become a bunch of outspoken prudes? All other evidence would suggest otherwise.
notamemberofanyorganizedpolicital | March 16, 2018 at 3:38 pm
“Liberal” – the word – originally meant something such as “sexual pervert.”
Perfect for the Democrat peeples……….
Democrat governor Moonbeam better start worrying.
“California Appoints Illegal Alien, Ineligible to Work (or Even Reside) in US, to Statewide Political Job”
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=374353
American Human | March 16, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Come on, this is California for Pete’s sake. He’s way too handsome to not be elected. He’s trod the correct pathway to power: SF Mayor, LT Governor, now to the TOP Spot in Sacramento, no longer the servant’s quarters.
He can assure himself of election by claiming to be an illegal. Remember now, we are in the age of you are what you claim to be i.e. Black, female, Indian, whatever you claim!!
tgrondo | March 16, 2018 at 1:26 pm
But…but…he’s got such great hair!!!!!
elle | March 16, 2018 at 1:38 pm
I think he and Justin Trudeau came from the same test tube.
You’re right, Justin and Gavin are soooooo dreamy….sigh!!!!
Virgo | March 16, 2018 at 9:23 pm
This is interesting in that I haven’t heard the current governor Brown intercede for his trusted lieutenant, which makes me think the hard leftists of the party don’t want a “whitey” in there, even with the scarlet credentials of Newsom. He may be in trouble.
Nobody cares about his mores. We are discussing Democrats, here!
NoFlow | March 17, 2018 at 10:06 am
But, it’s really still OK, he was just drunk out of his mind then. And he only drinks wine now….
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What is a Jew?
By Chloe Sehati
You could call Judaism a religion, a culture, a race, or even a nation—all have been done before, but which one is right? Is a Jew someone who keeps all the commandments of the Torah? Is a Jew someone who believes in the existence of the land of Israel? Is a Jew someone who marries other Jews and goes to synagogue every week? These are questions I’ve been wrestling with, and I’m just now beginning to find some answers.
The problem is that as the world evolves, so does Judaism– finding one, stiff definition for something constantly in motion is extremely difficult. So who is one to tell another whether he or she is Jewish? If one person observes every Jewish holiday, does that make him or her more Jewish than someone who doesn’t observe every Jewish holiday?
Even at the Western Wall in Israel, there is argument over which form of Judaism to follow: the head rabbi can only represent one sector of Judaism, yet there are always disputes between the different sectors about who that head rabbi should be. On a universal level, the Jewish community is split into levels of religious observance, from Orthodox to Reform. There are Jews who believe in God and there are Atheist Jews; there are Jews who believe in Jesus and Jews who practice Buddhism. How can each one of these people identify as a Jew—and again, who is one to say that one person is less Jewish than another? Who can decide that?
That’s Judaism as a religion– now, what about Judaism as a race and culture? There are Caucasian Jews, African-American Jews, Asian Jews– the list goes on. As a Sephardic Jew, I celebrate Passover much differently than most of my friends— one of my family’s traditions is going around with leeks during the Passover Seder and hitting each other with them. This tradition represents the lashes the enslaved Jews underwent. Despite our diverse traditions, my friends and I consider each other just as Jewish as the other. So, Jews are scattered– since Jews all over the world look dissimilar and practice Judaism in dissimilar ways, does that mean we can rule out race and culture?
And now, the nation of Israel. Some people believe that Israel is critical to the identity of Jews. The reality is that politically, Jews stand all over the spectrum when it comes to this country. It’s a place in which any Jew can become a citizen, a place considered “The Promised Land,” and a place in which thousands of young Jews are given the opportunity to go on an all-expense-paid trip, otherwise known as Birthright. All of this aside, the politics to any country can be tricky and should always be examined, and there are many, many Jews out there who oppose or strongly question the existence of Israel. Does this mean that all Jews stand as a nation?
We’ve questioned the Jewish people as a religion, made note of Judaism’s evolution, looked into concepts of Jews as a race, culture, and nation– all of these observations and inquiries have connected to one point: Judaism is all about interpretation. What are we to make of this? Well, the Jews are people, and that is vaguely stated because it’s all about interpretation—Judaism, I have realized was built on the basis of questions, arguments, and personal meaning.
Tagged on: Chloe Sehati, Winter 2015
By Kelsey Eiland | January 21, 2016 | Winter 2015 | No Comments |
← Makovsky Comes to UC Santa Cruz
Commemorating the Liberation of Auschwitz →
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§ 65.1 — Cosigners and Joint Obligors Are Protected
Revised: May 5, 2004
Show Section Text Show Updater Cases
One of the extraordinary benefits of Chapter 13 is that nondebtor individuals who are liable with the debtor on consumer debts are protected from collection actions by the codebtor stay of 11 U.S.C. § 1301.
The codebtor stay protects Chapter 13 debtors from indirect pressure through coworkers, friends and relatives who are obligated with the debtor.1 Under other chapters, bankruptcy may discharge the debtor’s personal liability, but it leaves cosigners exposed to collection actions. Debtors will often voluntarily repay co-signed debts after discharge in a Chapter 7 case to protect a codebtor. The nondebtor can be protected in a Chapter 13 case by proposing full payment of the joint obligation and, in appropriate circumstances, by separate classification of co-signed claims for full payment even when the debtor is unable to pay all debts in full.2
Section 1301(a) states that a creditor “may not act, or commence or continue any civil action, to collect all or any part of a consumer debt of the debtor from any individual that is liable on such debt with the debtor or that secured such debt . . . .”3 The codebtor stay is not worded quite as broadly as the automatic stay in § 362(a); however, § 1301 is clear that a creditor cannot take action in or out of court to collect a co-signed consumer debt from the nonfiling codebtor. Notice that § 1301(a) only refers to the commencement or continuation of “any civil action.” The section does not stay a criminal action against a codebtor, even if it is in the nature of debt collection.4
There are few reported cases discussing either the reach of the codebtor stay or the appropriate sanction for its violation. One court expansively interpreted § 1301(a) to prohibit a “write off” notation on the credit report for a nondebtor comaker.5 This court held that the remedy for violation of § 1301 was appropriately borrowed from stay violation cases under § 362:6 “cause the profit and loss write off notation to be deleted from the non-debtor comaker’s credit report and [the creditor] shall cause the corrected credit report to be reissued to the affected parties . . . . [A]n award of damages to the debtor is appropriate . . . reasonable attorney fees and court costs in favor of the Debtors.”7 Other reported decisions determine whether sanctions are appropriate for a codebtor stay violation by reference to § 362 standards, sometimes with and sometimes without citation to § 362 itself.8
The codebtor stay is intended to protect debtors and only incidentally protects the nonfiling codebtor.9 When the Chapter 13 debtor is no longer personally obligated—for example, because the debt has been discharged in a prior Chapter 7 case—§ 1301 does not protects the cosigner.10 On the other hand, that the nonfiling codebtor has discharged personal liability in a separate bankruptcy case does not disrupt the codebtor stay when the Chapter 13 debtor remains personally obligated and the codebtor has pledged property to secure the debtor’s obligation.11
The codebtor stay delays collection of a co-signed claim to the extent the claim is paid through the Chapter 13 plan; the codebtor stay does not change the substantive rights of the creditor to ultimately collect its entire claim from the cosigner. As explained in the legislative history, “the [codebtor stay] does not prevent the creditor from receiving full payment, including any costs and interests, of his claim. It does not affect his substantive rights. It merely requires him to wait along with all other creditors for that portion of the debt that the debtor will repay under the plan.”12 Nothing in § 1301 presumes to discharge any obligation of the codebtor to the creditor.13
The codebtor stay protects “any individual that is liable on such debt with the debtor or that secured such debt.”14 This language is broad enough to protect traditional cosigners, joint obligors, guarantors, sureties and others who have permitted their property to be used to secure a claim against the debtor. On unusual facts, the individual protected by the codebtor stay was interpreted by one court to include the estate of a cosigner when the cosigner died before the debtor filed a Chapter 13 petition and the creditor sought to collect from the estate of the cosigner.15 The existence of a codebtor for § 1301 purposes is measured at the petition—that the creditor convinces a friend or relative of the debtor to co-sign a debt after the petition does not implicate the codebtor stay.16 Although it is not always simple to distinguish the principal obligor from the codebtor,17 if the debtor and the codebtor are jointly obligated, the debtor is protected by § 362 and the nondebtor is protected by § 1301. If the codebtor actually received the consideration, the creditor may be entitled to relief from the codebtor stay under 11 U.S.C. § 1301(c)(1).18 Even if the nonfiling codebtor is characterized as the principal obligor, the effect of § 1301 is unchanged—the codebtor is protected until relief from the codebtor stay is granted.19
Not every three-party debt involving the debtor will produce a codebtor protected by § 1301. For example, in Jett v. Norwest Financial (In re Jett),20 before the Chapter 13 petition, the debtor was ordered by a domestic relations court to pay his ex-spouse’s debt to Norwest. The confirmed plan proposed to pay 100 percent of Norwest’s claim; but after confirmation, Norwest demanded payment from the ex-spouse. The bankruptcy court found that the codebtor stay did not protect the ex-spouse because the debtor was obligated to her and not to Norwest. The court defined codebtor in § 1301 to mean “‘the signing obligor who did not receive the consideration for the claim held by the creditor, and, therefore, who put forward his creditworthiness and assumed liability on the debt solely for the benefit of the debtor now in bankruptcy.’”21 The court held the ex-spouse (Stephanie) did not satisfy this definition, though she was a creditor in the Chapter 13 case:
Stephanie should have been listed as an unsecured creditor in the plaintiff’s Chapter 13 petition and . . . she should have filed a claim in the case. . . . The [debtor] has characterized the subject debt as “co-signed” when in fact Stephanie is indebted to [Norwest] and the [debtor] is indebted to Stephanie. In seeking to protect Stephanie from collection efforts by [Norwest], the [debtor] has created an artificial scenario that does not correspond to the facts. . . . [Section] 1301 does not apply in this matter because Stephanie is [the debtor’s] creditor and not a co-debtor.22
The codebtor stay can prohibit collection action against property that is neither property of the estate nor property of the debtor. For example, when a third party has provided collateral for a debt, the codebtor stay prevents repossession notwithstanding that the collateral is not property of the Chapter 13 estate and is not property of the Chapter 13 debtor.23 Perfection of a lien on the nonfiling, codebtor’s property after the Chapter 13 petition violates the codebtor stay and is void (or voidable).24 Unlike most of the protections of the automatic stay in § 362, there is no property-of-the-estate or property-of-the-debtor predicate in § 1301. The codebtor stay prohibits “in rem” and “in personam” actions against the codebtor.25
Codebtors are not protected by § 1301 if the codebtor became liable on or secured the obligation in the ordinary course of the codebtor’s business.26 The codebtor stay does not protect commercial sureties. But an allegation that the debtor became obligated with the codebtor in the ordinary course of the debtor’s business does not forfeit the codebtor stay because the exception for liability in the ordinary course of business applies only to the nondebtor cosigner’s business.27
The codebtor stay is not a complete protection of the codebtor. 11 U.S.C. § 1301(b) permits the creditor to present a negotiable instrument and to give notice of dishonor to the codebtor. If the instrument or state law requires a creditor to give notice to a codebtor within some period of time after default, the creditor cannot argue that a Chapter 13 filing by the principal obligor prevented the giving of notice or presentment of the instrument to the nonfiling codebtor.
1 See H.R. Rep. No. 95-595, at 121 (1977):
[The codebtor stay] is designed to protect a Chapter 13 debtor from indirect pressure from a creditor exerted through his friends or relatives, to favor or prefer that creditor. A creditor is often able to obtain a co-signer on a loan when the loan is extended . . . . A creditor with a co-signer on a note is often able to use the threat of collection from the co-signer as leverage to obtain preferential treatment from the debtor. Most often, co-signers are relatives, friends, or co-workers of the debtor, who have signed as a favor to the debtor, without a full understanding of their ultimate liability on the debt. The moral pressure brought to bear on the debtor to protect his family or friends gives the creditor a significant advantage over other creditors in a way that is not related to legitimate financial considerations.
[ Return to Text ]
2 See § 150.1 [ Co-signed Debts ] § 87.3 Co-signed Debts.
3 11 U.S.C. § 1301(a).
4 Compare the effect of the automatic stay on criminal prosecutions, discussed in § 70.1 [ Criminal Action or Proceeding Exception ] § 58.7 Criminal Action or Proceeding Exception.
5 In re Sommersdorf, 139 B.R. 700, 701–02 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1991) (Write-off notation on credit report for nondebtor comaker is violation of § 1301. “[P]lacing of a notation on an obligor’s credit report . . . most certainly must be done in an effort to effect collection of the account . . . . [A] notation on a credit report is, in fact, just the type of creditor shenanigans intended to be prohibited by the automatic stay . . . . [T]he stay created by § 1301 is not as broad as the stay created by § 362. But the policies of the two provisions are related and the two provisions must be read together . . . Therefore, . . . the notation on the non-debtor comaker’s credit report violates the automatic stay of action against the codebtor of § 1301.”). Accord Singley v. American Gen. Fin. (In re Singley), 233 B.R. 170, 173 (Bankr. S.D. Ga.) (On motion for summary judgment, debtor may be entitled to some remedy under § 1301 when creditor truthfully informed credit bureau that debtor and nonfiling co-debtor were in a Chapter 13 case. “[E]ven if it is true that Movant’s report to the credit bureau contains truthful information that is a matter of public record, such a report, if made with the intent to harass or coerce a debtor and/or co-debtor into paying a pre-petition debt, could violate the automatic stays of section 362 and/or 1301.”), on reconsideration, 236 B.R. 105 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. 1999).
6 See § 78.1 [ Remedies for Violation of Stay ] § 62.5 Remedies for Violation of Stay.
7 139 B.R. at 702. See Singley v. American Gen. Fin. (In re Singley), 233 B.R. 170, 174 n.1 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. 1999) (In a footnote, “[u]nlike section 362, section 1301 contains no provision for awarding damages. Therefore, any damages award would have to result from a finding that Movant wilfully violated section 362.”).
8 See, e.g., In re Patti, No. 98-17719 DWS, 2001 WL 1188218 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. Sept. 14, 2001) (unpublished) (Plaintiff in state court litigation violated codebtor stay by not informing state court that one defendant had filed Chapter 13 and by not vacating resulting judgment against the codebtor. Judgments in violation of codebtor stay are “void ab initio.” Violator of § 1301 is in civil contempt, but attorney fees are refused because codebtor made no attempt to communicate with the creditor before actions were taken in violation of the codebtor stay.); Hope v. United Cos., Inc. (In re Holder), 260 B.R. 571, 576–77 (Bankr. M.D. Ga. 2001) (Perfection of lien against codebtor’s property violated codebtor stay and is void. “[I]t seems that Congress did intend for Section 1301’s codebtor stay to apply to the perfection of a creditor’s interest and did intend for the perfection of a security interest to be viewed as an act to collect all or any part of a debt. . . . Under Section 362 of the Code, stay violations are considered void ab initio . . . . [T]his same general rule should apply to codebtor stay violations under Section 1301.”).
9 “[The codebtor stay] is not relief for an individual that is not a debtor under the bankruptcy laws. It is designed only to protect the principal debtor, not the co-debtor. Any protection of the co-debtor is incidental.” H.R. Rep. No. 95-595, at 123 (1977).
10 In re Quinn, 60 B.R. 286 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 1986).
11 See Heritage Fed. Credit Union v. Cox (In re Cox), 162 B.R. 191 (Bankr. C.D. Ill. 1993) (Codebtor stay of § 1301 prohibits foreclosure where prior to bankruptcy debtors conveyed real property to their daughter; the daughter borrowed money secured by the real property; but the debtors actually received the loan proceeds, continued to live in the residence, paid the taxes and insurance, and made payments on their daughter’s loan. That the daughter discharged her personal liability on the loan in a separate Chapter 7 case does not defeat the protection of the codebtor stay with respect to foreclosure on the real property owned by the daughter but in the possession of the debtors.).
12 H.R. Rep. No. 95-595, at 122.
13 “The [codebtor stay] is finely tuned. . . . It does not affect the creditor’s substantive rights in any way. It operates only as a procedural delay. The creditor remains entitled to full satisfaction.” H.R. Rep. No. 95-595, at 123.
14 11 U.S.C. § 1301(a).
15 In re Case, 148 B.R. 901, 902–03 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 1992) (The “individual” protected by the codebtor stay includes the decedent estate of a cosigner. The debtor’s aunt co-signed a prepetition claim. The aunt died before the debtor filed a Chapter 13 petition. The bank holding the co-signed debt filed a claim in the probate estate. The debtor sought to amend the Chapter 13 plan to pay 100% of the co-signed claim. The bank moved for relief from the codebtor stay, arguing that the stay did not extend to the estate of the cosigner. “The decedent’s estate is simply the extension of an individual natural person and exists only for the purpose of distributing that individual’s assets, paying the individual’s debts and generally winding up the individual’s affairs after death. . . . [F]or all intents and purposes, a decedent’s estate is merely carrying out the decedent’s wishes. . . . The codebtor stay is ‘designed to protect a debtor operating under a Chapter 13 individual repayment plan case by insulating him from indirect pressures from his creditors exerted through friends or relatives that may have cosigned an obligation of the debtor.’ . . . When a codebtor dies, the burden of the codebtor’s obligation is transferred, in essence, to that individual’s legatees and heirs because any obligations paid by the decedent’s estate reduces [sic] assets that may be distributed to them. In a case, such as this one, where the cosigner is a relative of the debtor, the legatees and heirs are also likely to be relatives of the debtor. . . . Thus, the same policy considerations are present in relation to a creditor’s actions to collect a debt from a codebtor decedent’s estate as a creditor’s acts to collect from a living codebtor.”).
16 See In re Kirby, 151 B.R. 463 (Bankr. M.D. Tenn. 1992) (Debtor’s parents are not protected from creditor collection action by the codebtor stay because debtor’s parents were not codebtors for purposes of § 1301. Creditor, after the petition, convinced parents to buy the debtor’s obligation and to put up their home as collateral for the debt. These actions did not violate the codebtor stay.).
17 See, e.g., In re Lopez Melendez, 145 B.R. 740, 742 (D.P.R. 1992) (Under conjugal partnership law of Puerto Rico, an obligation contracted during a marriage becomes a community claim. The conjugal partnership is liable for the debt, and the obligation is chargeable to community property. However, if the intention is clear in the underlying loan document, it is possible under Puerto Rican law for the individual spouses to also be jointly and severally liable for a community claim. “Where the non-filing spouse has assumed personal liability, she should be protected [by § 1301] from collection.”); In re Cooper, 3 B.R. 246 (Bankr. S.D. Cal. 1980) (Under California law, it is not clear whether the debtor’s wife is a “debtor” or a “cosigner.”).
18 See § 87.1 [ Codebtor Received the Consideration ] § 67.1 Codebtor Received the Consideration.
19 See In re Patti, No. 98-17719 DWS, 2001 WL 1188218, at *6 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. Sept. 14, 2001) (unpublished) (Allegation that cosigner was the “primary obligor” and the debtor merely a guarantor does not forfeit codebtor stay because “‘Section 1301(a) simply makes no distinction between “primary” and “secondary” liability. The question is liability in general, and if both the debtor and co-debtor are liable, the co-debtor stay of § 1301 applies. . . . [T]o the extent that a debtor acts merely as a guarantor of debt incurred primarily by the co-debtor, § 1301(c)(1) provides relief from the stay in such a situation where only the alleged co-debtor received consideration for the claim.”); In re Zersen, 189 B.R. 732, 741 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 1995) (Parents of debtor’s wife are codebtors protected by § 1301 where debtors received consideration, notwithstanding that bank documents indicate parents are the “primary obligors.” “Section 1301(a) simply makes no distinction between ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ liability. The question is liability in general, and if both the debtor and co-debtor are liable, the co-debtor stay of § 1301 applies. . . . [T]he only time the co-debtor stay should be lifted are [sic] in situations in which the debtor is actually the co-debtor in the disputed transaction. In these circumstances, § 1301(c)(1) provides the creditor with relief from the stay to the extent that the nondebtor party received the consideration for the creditor’s claim. . . . Even under § 1301(c), however, the co-debtor stay should be lifted only in those situations where the debtor did not receive any of the consideration for the loan, as otherwise the indirect pressure to pay will still exist. . . . In this case, the Zersens and the Hills are clearly jointly obligated on the loan. . . . The Hills did not receive any of the consideration for the loan; the debtors did. The money was deposited directly into the debtors’ account. Therefore, there is no basis for finding that the debtors were actually the co-debtors. Even if the Hills were the ‘primary obligors,’ an assertion which is not borne out by the evidence, there is still no basis for precluding them from benefitting from § 1301 and the debtors’ plan. The co-debtor stay protects those who are ‘liable on such debt with the debtor,’ . . . and as the debtors received the loan proceeds the Hills are co-debtors within the meaning of that section.”).
20 198 B.R. 489 (Bankr. E.D. Ky. 1996).
21 198 B.R. at 490.
23 In re Jones, 106 B.R. 33 (Bankr. W.D.N.Y. 1989). See Heritage Fed. Credit Union v. Cox (In re Cox), 162 B.R. 191 (Bankr. C.D. Ill. 1993) (Codebtor stay of § 1301 prohibits foreclosure where prior to bankruptcy debtors conveyed real property to their daughter; the daughter borrowed money secured by the real property; but the debtors actually received the loan proceeds, continued to live in the residence, paid the taxes and insurance and made payments on their daughter’s loan.).
24 See Hope v. United Cos., Inc. (In re Holder), 260 B.R. 571, 576–77 (Bankr. M.D. Ga. 2001) (Although perfection of lien was not a preference because it occurred more than 90 days before the petition, perfection violated the codebtor stay in former spouse’s separate Chapter 13 case. Debtor and former spouse were jointly liable for purchase of mobile home. During former spouse’s Chapter 13 case, lender perfected its lien. More than 90 days later, debtor filed Chapter 13 and trustee filed complaint to avoid perfection of the security interest. Bankruptcy court rejected the trustee’s preference theory because the lien was perfected more than 90 days before the debtor’s Chapter 13 filing. However, perfection violated the codebtor stay and was void: “[I]t seems that Congress did intend for Section 1301’s codebtor stay to apply to the perfection of a creditor’s interest and did intend for the perfection of a security interest to be viewed as an act to collect all or any part of a debt. . . . Under Section 362 of the Code, stay violations are considered void ab initio . . . . [T]his same general rule should apply to codebtor stay violations under Section 1301.” Chapter 13 trustee has standing to void the lien perfection as a violation of the codebtor stay.).
25 In re Jones, 106 B.R. 33 (Bankr. W.D.N.Y. 1989).
26 11 U.S.C. § 1301(a)(1).
27 In re Patti, No. 98-17718 DWS, 2001 WL 1188218, at *6 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. Sept. 14, 2001) (unpublished).
Smith v. Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. (In re Smith), 845 F.3d 256 (7th Cir. Dec. 22, 2016) (Flaum, Kanne, Magnus-Stinson) (Co-debtor stay did not prohibit suit against nondebtor spouse to collect on credit card in spouse’s name only—notwithstanding Wisconsin marital law. “Ordinarily, one’s credit card debt is one’s own, and the co-debtor stay would not bar a creditor from collecting on a non-bankrupt spouse’s own debts simply because the other spouse had filed for bankruptcy. Smith argues . . . this Court should read ‘debt of the debtor’ to include ‘liability on a claim against the debtor.’ However, the Bankruptcy Code explicitly provides debtors with protections against ‘claims’ in other provisions. . . . [A]ttempting to collect a judgment from a spouse’s marital property would likely violate the automatic stay that already protects the filing spouse. . . . The best reading of the co-debtor stay involves shielding non-filing co-debtors from actions to collect on the consumer debts only of the filing debtor. . . . [Wisconsin law] would ordinarily allow appellees to satisfy Capital One’s judgment from the Smiths’ marital property were the Smiths not under Chapter 13 protections. Appellees in this case, however, could not have sought to satisfy the judgment against Smith’s husband from the marital property due to the automatic stay. Consequently, Smith had no liability whatsoever, and thus no debt, for her husband’s credit card bills. . . . [W]ith respect to consumer debts, the state’s marital laws do not give rise to direct causes of action against, or liability on the part of, the non-incurring spouse.”).
Radogna v. Williams Twp. (In re Radogna), No. 08-2358, 2009 WL 1416696 (3d Cir. May 21, 2009) (unpublished) (Barry, Smith, Garth) (Without discussion of § 1301, because son was not a "codebtor" in deceased mother's Chapter 13 case, son lacks standing to enforce automatic stay on his own behalf and cannot represent his mother, pro se, to assert stay violation on her behalf.).
Griffin v. Griffin (In re Griffin), No. 05-8020, 2008 WL 2265178 (B.A.P. 6th Cir. June 4, 2008) (unpublished) (Aug, Fulton, Parsons) (When plan scheduled brother as codebtor but did not disclose contention that brother was owner of vehicle, complaint alleging that brother owned vehicle and that it was improperly repossessed upon debtor's default fails to state claim upon which relief could be granted.).
Williams v. Levi (In re Williams), 323 B.R. 691, 699 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. Mar. 25, 2005) (Brandt, Klein, Pappas) (Arguably in dicta, debtor does not have standing on appeal to argue that a foreclosure sale during the Chapter 13 case violated the codebtor stay when codebtor is not a party to the appeal. Debtor lived in a condominium that was titled in his fiancée. Homeowner's association foreclosed a few days after the Chapter 13 petition. Bankruptcy court annulled the stay retroactively to validate the foreclosure sale. On appeal, BAP observed that the fiancée's interest in the condominium "presumably was protected by the co-debtor stay of § 1301 . . . she is not a party to this appeal, and [the debtor] has no apparent standing to appeal on her behalf.").
Morris v. Zabu Holding Co. (In re Morris), 385 B.R. 823 (E.D. Va. Mar. 28, 2008) (Spencer) (Recognizing that codebtor stay may be annulled under balancing of equities test, in dicta, damages may be imposed "against any party that created, encouraged, or actively participated in violations of the codebtor stay, even though those violations have been subsequently ratified by annulment of the codebtor stay." Section 1301 does not specifically authorize damages for willful violations, as does § 362(k), but damages may be awarded under § 105(a).).
In re Stevens, No. 18 BK 04348, 2018 WL 3120785, at *4 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. June 22, 2018) (Schmetterer) (Motion for relief from codebtor stay is denied because codebtor is a corporation and § 1301 does not extend codebtor protection to a corporation notwithstanding confirmation of a plan that pays cosigned debt in full. “Debtor is attempting to expand the court protection offered by Chapter 13 bankruptcy to his company, which is expressly prohibited by the Bankruptcy Code. 11 U.S.C. § 1301 (a). It does not matter whether the loan is ‘consumer’ or ‘commercial’ in nature. The stay plainly does not apply to ARMS because it is not an individual and no exception can be made.”).
In re Kunkel, 582 B.R. 184, 188 (Bankr. W.D. Mich. Feb. 5, 2018) (Dales) (Codebtor stay applies to debtors’ children when security for debt to credit union is certificate of deposit co-owned by debtor and debtor’s children notwithstanding that children do not owe any debt to credit union. “[T]he co-debtor stay does not just apply when a co-debtor is obligated on the debt, but also in non-recourse settings where co-debtors have ‘secured’ a consumer debt by pledging their interests in property as collateral. . . . [A]ssuming the CDs belong to the Children as the Trustee and the Debtors contend, creating the CDs as multi-party accounts effectively secured Ms. Kunkel’s debt to [credit union], triggering the co-debtor stay.”).
In re Whitlock-Young, 571 B.R. 795, 801–05 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. Aug. 10, 2017) (Barnes) (In sixth Chapter 13 case in five years, although no automatic stay came into effect because of § 362(c)(4), codebtor stay applied to real estate–secured debt cosigned with nondebtor spouse; foreclosure sale after petition violated codebtor sale and was void. Debtor has standing to enforce codebtor stay. Although codebtor stay does not protect against in rem actions, foreclosure is quasi in rem under Illinois law, thus the codebtor stay does prohibit an Illinois foreclosure. Actions in violation of codebtor stay are “ordinarily” void. Looking to § 362(k) and remedies for contempt, debtor failed to plead or prove damages. “[T]he day after the Petition Date the Property was apparently sold at public auction . . . . Both the Debtor and the Co–Debtor were named as defendants in the foreclosure Sale. . . . [T]his case defies traditional analysis. The Debtor here, while clearly a repeat filer with a history of failing to make her required bankruptcy payments, has nonetheless had more success in her cases than the average repeat filer—confirming plans in four out of six cases . . . . There is . . . no indication that the Debtor sought to manipulate the operation of her bankruptcy cases. . . . Because the Debtor had had two cases pending and dismissed in the year prior to this case being filed, she did not receive protection from the general bankruptcy stay automatically. 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(4). She did, however, receive protection from the co-debtor stay. 11 U.S.C. § 1301(a). . . . Congress . . . intended the protections under section 1301 and section 362 to exist independent of one another.”).
In re Tucker, No. 16-01127, 2017 WL 2773523, at *2–*3 (Bankr. N.D. Iowa June 26, 2017) (Collins) (Citing § 105, attorney fees and compensatory damages for emotional upset and stress are appropriate when utility admittedly violated co-debtor stay by garnishing wages of non-filing co-debtor. “Section 1301’s silence on damages has led to uncertainty about whether damages are available and courts are split on the issue. . . . [T]he Court finds that an award of attorney’s fees under § 105 is appropriate to carry out and give meaning to § 1301 in this case. . . . The Court does not have authority to sanction Heartland under § 1301. The Court also cannot sanction Heartland under § 362 because it did not violate § 362. Heartland violated § 1301 and Heartland’s conduct in this case warrants sanctions. . . . It was not until Mr. Ahrenholz filed this motion for contempt that Heartland stopped the garnishment. Mr. Ahrenholz’s work was absolutely necessary to get Heartland to stop garnishing Mr. Tucker’s wages and to stop violating the co-debtor stay. Those fees must be reimbursed by Heartland. . . . Heartland’s action in this case also harmed Debtor’s ability to make her mortgage and plan payments. . . . The Court finds . . . an additional $1,500 for emotional upset and needless stress it created on both Debtor and her spouse, Mr. Tucker. The $1,400 in attorney fees and $1,500 in additional damages [are] appropriate to carry out the protection and implementation of § 1301 in this case.”).
In re Gilbert, No. 16-30040-pcm13, 2016 WL 5864494 (Bankr. D. Or. Sept. 15, 2016) (unpublished) (McKittrick) (No codebtor stay applied because alleged codebtor—debtor’s attorney and caregiver—was not a codebtor with respect to the landlord’s action against the debtor.).
Smith v. Capital One Bank (USA) N.A. (In re Smith), No. 15-2066, 2015 WL 3961422, at *2 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. June 29, 2015) (Kelley) (Codebtor stay protects nonfiling spouse from credit card collection action because under Wisconsin law, marital property is liable for debt incurred by nonfiling spouse during marriage notwithstanding that debtor is not personally liable. "[U]nder Bankruptcy Code § 102(2), a 'claim against the debtor' includes a claim against property of the debtor. Capital One has a claim against the Debtor's property even though Daniel, not the Debtor, incurred the debt, by virtue of [state law], which provides that marital property assets held by either the incurring or non-incurring spouse are available satisfaction of family purpose obligations."), rev'd, Nos. 15-C-0849, 15-C-0851, 2016 WL 334985 (E.D. Wis. Jan. 28, 2016) (Adelman).).
Hudson v. PrimeSouth Bank (In re Hudson), No. 13-03114, 2015 WL 1598116, at *2-*4 (Bankr. M.D. Ala. Apr. 9, 2015) (Williams) (Bank did not violate codebtor stay by accepting codebtor's unilateral offer to pay off debtors' debt with new loan; each payment from Chapter 13 trustee was credited to codebtor's new loan without implicating codebtor stay. "Following Sellers paying off of Hudson's note, PrimeSouth did not withdraw its claim against Hudson in the bankruptcy proceeding. Instead, PrimeSouth continued to receive plan payments from the chapter 13 trustee and applied those payments to Sellers' note. Sellers did not file a claim in Hudson's bankruptcy case. . . . Under 11 U.S.C. § 509, a codebtor, guarantor, who pays the claim of a creditor against the debtor, is subrogated to the rights of such creditor. . . . Once Sellers paid PrimeSouth, he stood in the shoes of PrimeSouth with respect to its claim against Hudson. While PrimeSouth did not withdraw its claim, nor did Sellers file one, the evidence, here, is that all trustee payments, post Sellers paying Hudson's debt to PrimeSouth, were credited to Sellers' loan. . . . PrimeSouth, in concert with Sellers, acted as a mere conduit crediting the monies that it received from the chapter 13 trustee to Sellers' outstanding loan. Therefore, PrimeSouth did not violate the automatic stay by wrongfully obtaining possession or control of property of the estate. . . . Nothing in this record . . . indicates that PrimeSouth initiated any action against Sellers in connection with Hudson's debt. . . . Sellers took action, of his own initiation and volition, to pay PrimeSouth for Hudson's debt. Such action was not prompted or urged by PrimeSouth and as a result, PrimeSouth did not violate the codebtor stay of § 1301.").
In re Rick, No. 12-31026-svk, 2014 WL 7011029, at *2-*4 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. Dec. 11, 2014) (Kelley) (Divorce decree requiring debtor to pay former spouse's separate credit card debt did not render former spouse a codebtor for § 1301 purposes; rather, former spouse was the principal obligor and debtor was liable to former spouse because of divorce decree. Credit card debt of former spouse is not a debt "of the debtor" but is a debt of the former spouse. Debtor owes a debt to the former spouse arising out of hold-harmless provision of divorce decree. Alternatively, former spouse is only liable "with the debtor" to extent of 2% that plan proposes to pay holder of credit card debt. Former spouse did not prove actual knowledge of Chapter 13 case or damages, assuming that credit card holder violated codebtor stay by collection action against former spouse after the petition. "Michele is not a co-debtor in the sense contemplated by the Bankruptcy Code. . . . Michele was the account holder and received the consideration for the debt; [the debtor] only became liable by virtue of the divorce agreement. . . . [T]he debt to Discover is not a debt of the Debtor, Tim, but rather is a debt of Michele to Discover, and of Tim to Michele. . . . Tim's confirmed plan provides that he will pay 2% to the unsecured creditors. Even assuming that the debt owed to Discover is a debt 'of the debtor,' . . . Michele is only liable 'with the debtor' as to the 2%, and the co-debtor stay does not apply to the 98% of the debt that the Debtor is not liable for with Michele. . . . Section 1301 does not provide an affirmative remedy for violations of the co-debtor stay. Instead, a bankruptcy court may redress violations of the co-debtor stay through the power granted under § 105(a) of the Bankruptcy Code. . . . Michele has not proven that [the credit card holder] had notice of the existence of the co-debtor stay before contacting Michele, she could not prove that they willfully violated the stay. And she has not alleged, much less proven, any damages.").
In re Cook, No. 14-20547, 2014 WL 5686272 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. Nov. 4, 2014) (Dalis) (Decedent estate was "entity," not "individual," and not protected by codebtor stay. Codebtor stay applies only to an "individual" liable with the debtor.).
Cordero v. Cooperativa De Ahorro Y Credito De Isabela (In re Cordero), No. 13-00081 BKT, 2014 WL 2624936, at *4 (Bankr. D.P.R. June 12, 2014) (Tester) (Applying Citizens Bank of Maryland v. Strumpf, 516 U.S. 16, 116 S. Ct. 286, 133 L. Ed. 2d 258 (Oct. 31, 1995), bank willfully violated codebtor stay when it failed to follow freeze of pledged shares with motion for relief from codebtor stay. Bank "could have imposed a temporary freeze while it sought relief from the automatic stay, but the record demonstrates that such was not its intention.").
In re Juliao, No. 07-48694-wsd, 2011 WL 6812542 (Bankr. E.D. Mich. Nov. 29, 2011) (Shapero) (Electronic transmission of late payment information to credit reporting agencies did not violate codebtor stay with respect to nonfiling spouse because § 1301(a) only enjoins acts to collect prepetition debt. Furnishing information to credit reporting agencies was not collection action. Civil contempt remedy was available for codebtor stay violation but credit reporting did not trigger that remedy.).
Morales v. Banco Poplar de P.R. (In re Morales), No. 10-0133, 2011 WL 4459210 (Bankr. D.P.R. Sept. 26, 2011) (Tester) (Not clear that codebtor stay would prevent collection action when debtor was not primary obligor. Debtor was co-obligor with deceased mother as primary obligor. Collection letters to deceased mother did not violate automatic stay, and debtor did not allege that collection letters sent to deceased mother at same address as debtor violated codebtor stay.).
In re Stacker, No. 10-30262, 2011 WL 182846, at *2 (Bankr. S.D. Ill. Jan. 20, 2011) (Grandy) (Former spouse was co-obligor on second mortgage but had no damage remedy for violation of codebtor stay; jurisdiction rested elsewhere for former spouse's claims under Fair Credit Reporting Act. Protections afforded by § 1301(a) are intended for benefit of debtor rather than co-obligor. No damage remedy exists for co-obligor for violation of co-debtor stay. Any relief former spouse had under Fair Credit Reporting Act was not within bankruptcy court's jurisdiction, since former spouse was not Chapter 13 debtor. "The purpose behind the section is to prevent a creditor from indirectly coercing a debtor to pay a debt by taking action to collect the debt from a co-debtor who will, in turn, put pressure on the debtor to pay the debt.").
Brothers v. Blount County Water Auth. (In re Brothers), No. 09-40098-JJR, 2010 WL 2720962 (Bankr. N.D. Ala. June 29, 2010) (unpublished) (Robinson) (Arguably in dicta, Water Authority did not violate § 1301 when it notified poultry production contractor that payment of debtors' water bill was delinquent—which inspired contractor to pay the bill and deduct the amount from what it owed to the debtors. Poultry contractor was a corporation, not an individual, and contractor was not liable for debtors' water bill as a co-obligor or otherwise.).
In re Grinstead, No. 09-50810-NPO, 2009 WL 2499610, at *2-*3 (Bankr. S.D. Miss. Aug. 14, 2009) (Olack) (Spouse is not a codebtor and foreclosure sale did not violate § 1301 when spouse was not personally liable on note and was not an owner of property—notwithstanding that spouse signed deed of trust. "The foreclosure sale did not violate the codebtor stay pursuant to § 1301. Marcus Grinstead was not entitled to protection under § 1301 because he was not a co-debtor. He is neither 'liable on such debt' with the Debtor, nor did he 'secure[ ] such debt.' . . . By signing the Deed of Trust in the case at bar, Marcus Grinstead did not convey a property interest or act to secure a debt. Since he had no right in the Property, his signature on the Deed of Trust did not secure the Note but merely waived his power of veto against the Debtor's incumbrance of the Property.").
In re Thongta, 401 B.R. 363 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. Mar. 24, 2009) (Kelley) (Debt of nondebtor spouse arising out of car accident was spouse's debt only and was not incurred by debtor for purposes of codebtor stay.).
In re Crawford, 388 B.R. 506 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. June 5, 2008) (Morris) (Foreclosure sale violated codebtor stay as to debtor's spouse, and sale is void; announcement by referee that he was uncertain of effect of automatic stay but that he was aware of bankruptcy filing did not excuse violation of stay. Out-of-pocket $66.88 in expenses of codebtor are awarded as damages.), aff'd in part, vacated in part, remanded, 476 B.R. 83 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 6, 2012) (Jones).).
Moore v. Alabama Power Co. (In re Moore), Nos. 07-11407-DHW, 08-1028-DHW, 2008 WL 2225757 (Bankr. M.D. Ala. May 28, 2008) (unpublished) (Williams) (Creditor did not violate codebtor stay by issuing garnishment, which was released shortly after petition.).
In re Just, No. BK05-83727-TJM, 2008 WL 1995309 (Bankr. D. Neb. May 6, 2008) (unpublished) (Saladino) (Purchaser of credit card account violated codebtor stay by obtaining default judgment against debtor's spouse; creditor ordered to pay attorney fees and costs.).
In re McCormick, 381 B.R. 594 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Feb. 8, 2008) (Morris) (Because limited liability company is not eligible for Chapter 13 relief, LLC is also not beneficiary of codebtor stay. Authority extending stay to nonbankruptcy codefendants in Chapter 11 cases is distinguishable. There is no precedent for extending automatic stay to a nonindividual in Chapter 13.).
In re Cain, 347 B.R. 428, 431-32 (Bankr. N.D. Fla. Aug. 2, 2006) (Killian) (Because codebtor stay only applies to an individual "liable on such debt with the debtor," codebtor stay does not apply to amount owed in excess of amount allowed by bankruptcy court. Creditor filed proof of claim for $87,161.95. After objection by debtor, bankruptcy court allowed claim in reduced amount of $38,517.39. Confirmed plan proposed to pay 100% of allowed claim. "When the Court confirmed the debtor's chapter 13 plan, which proposed to pay 100% of Cadle's allowed claim, the debtor became liable for only the allowed amount of the claim. Cadle is attempting to collect the balance . . . from the debtor's husband, who was a co-maker. . . . [B]ecause the debtor is no longer liable on this balance, the requirements of Section 1301(a) are not met. The debtor's husband, as a co-maker, is independently liable to Cadle for the entire amount of the debt. . . . [H]e is no longer a co-debtor for purposes of Section 1301(a) . . . . There is no co-debtor stay in place with respect to the amount Cadle asserts it is owed over and above the allowed claim in the debtor's bankruptcy case, and if there was such a stay, it would be lifted as to the balance because the debtor's plan does not propose to pay that part of Cadle's claim.").
In re Hughes, No. B0580389C13D, 2005 WL 1293982, at *1 (Bankr. M.D.N.C. May 2, 2005) (unpublished) (Carruthers) (Cosigner on J.C. Penney account is protected by codebtor stay; although creditor willfully violated codebtor stay by demanding payment, § 1301 "does not provide for sanctions for a violation of the co-debtor stay . . . . The sanctions imposed under 362(h) are expressly limited to violations under 362 and do not extend to Section 1301." Order finding codebtor stay violation is served on creditor, and any further violation "shall constitute a willful violation of an order of this court and the court will consider awarding damages.").
In re Rouse, No. 03-12205-JDW, 2005 WL 4979064 (Bankr. M.D. Ga. Apr. 11, 2005) (unpublished) (Walker) (Modification to reclassify creditor in order to protect codebtor denied because that person was not actually a co-obligor with the Chapter 13 debtor; instead, he had guaranteed a note of the debtor's deceased husband. Chapter 13 plan could not be modified to unilaterally alter contractual relationship between creditor and nondebtor guarantor, citing § 524(e) and In re Davis Broadcasting, Inc., 176 B.R. 290, 292 (M.D. Ga. 1994).).
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HomeCALGARYMarda Loop pop-up ‘parklet’ converting parking spaces to community hub
Marda Loop pop-up ‘parklet’ converting parking spaces to community hub
Other Calgary park activations expected at Municipal Plaza and Chinatown
June 4, 2018 Darren Krause CALGARY 0
This pop-up parklet sprang to life late last week in the community of Marda Loop. BRODIE THOMAS / For LiveWire Calgary
It’s a community experiment conjured up in the city’s newest urban spaces program – the Pop Up Lab.
The recent rollout of a ‘parklet’ at 22 Street and 34 Ave SW in Marda Loop is one of three spots slated for public realm activations by the City of Calgary this year – the others are pegged for the Municipal Plaza and Chinatown later this summer.
It’s fairly low key; a handful of tables in the style of a Parisian outdoor café, nestled into a handful of on-street parking spots in the busy Marda Loop business corridor.
“It’s allowing more of the walkable, casual dining, hangout space that a lot of inner city communities are lacking because of the street parking,” said Alyssa Berry, communications consultant for the Marda Loop Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ).
“It all sort of fits in with the eclectic style that is Marda Loop and wanting to have that relaxed component of the area.”
The project, which cost less than $10,000 to implement in Marda Loop, and will be used in multiple locations, is part of the city’s goal of activating different spaces around Calgary. It will cost $5,000 each time the installation is moved.
“Our real objective here is to test out low-cost installations, public realm ideas with the hope of creating more vibrant and well-used spaces – to really add life to neighbourhoods,” said Thom Mahler, manager of the city’s urban strategy.
Mahler said this current Marda Loop project will stay until Aug. 30, but they may also test other projects in the same area – though those new ideas are top secret.
“Over time the idea is to get people to think about the possibilities where you can do these kinds of fun installations to make these spaces a little more interesting and more usable,” Mahler said.
Arabelle Jimenez was in the area Sunday and said it’s a space where she’d love to stop and have a coffee on a nice day. She also wasn’t concerned about losing a few street parking spaces, noting though that it’s almost impossible to grab a parking spot on the busy street most days.
“It’s so colourful,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
And that’s what the Marda Loop BRZ is going for.
“It creates that sense of community where you can sit down for a couple of hours and sort of experience the neighbourhood and allow yourself the opportunity to go visit other businesses as opposed to getting out of your car and then leaving,” said Berry.
– with files from Brodie Thomas
marda loop
About Darren Krause 244 Articles
Journalist, husband, father, golfer, writer, painter, video gamer, gardener, amateur botanist, dreamer, realist... never in that order.
New art installation at cSpace pays tribute to historic Calgary school
Editor’s launch note: Calgary is changing, including the media
Reilly has six touchdowns to lead Eskimos to 48-42 win over Calgary Stampeders
September 9, 2018 The Canadian Press CALGARY, Calgary RSS 0
EDMONTON — Offence was certainly not in short supply in Edmonton on Saturday. Quarterback Mike Reilly ran in three touchdowns and passed for three more as the Edmonton Eskimos snapped a two-game losing skid in […]
Admitted to taking down endangered trees: Lake Louise ski resort to be sentenced
November 30, 2018 The Canadian Press CALGARY, Calgary RSS 0
CALGARY — A judge is to sentence a world-renowned Alberta ski resort today for cutting down endangered trees five years ago. The Lake Louise resort in Banff National Park pleaded guilty last December to taking […]
Hidden gems: 5 Calgary parks you still need to check out this summer
August 20, 2018 Darren Krause CALGARY 0
Calgary’s beautiful (but smoky and dry) summer is winding to a close – but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the great outdoors before winter arrives. The city has more than 8,000 hectares of […]
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About strip and gentlemen's clubs
Striptease, as we know it, owes its origin to an incident occurred in 1893 at famous Paris Moulin Rouge Cabaret. It was hosting the student beauty contest when one of the models named Mona suddenly threw off her clothes. This “performance” is considered to be the world's first striptease. Afterwards this hot dance began to win funs’ hearts from all around the world. The first nude girls-dancers and the first public places for such performances appeared in France and the United States and then globally.
Nowadays it is impossible to imagine a country or a city without these fascinating performances of professional dancers admired by passionate audience. Having transformed from easy movements and simple dance to the real dance art, striptease changed significantly and has become a dance full of creativity, artistry and undying flame of life.
Behind the scenes. General terms
There are two types of striptease: topless (a dancer reveals only her breasts) and total (a dancer took off all her clothes). The typical dance column is called the pole. By the way, this word is of an ancient origin: the Egyptians used this word for columns in temples. The poles can be of various materials and of different height and diameter. The pole with less slip and larger diameter is called rura. The strip-dancers wear special shoes on an extremely high heels - strip shoes. But such shoes can be worn only while pole-striptease.
Instead conclusion
In spite of outdated attitudes of some members of the society and widespread disapproval of striptease, it is pure art comprising beauty of a human body, choreography and a rhythm of perfect movements which you can’t take your eyes off. To deny it means that you will never feel that incredible energy which this seductive dance performed by real professionals may expose.
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Home News State News Ho-Chunk Nation Digital Library Project Celebrates Its Third Year of Work
Ho-Chunk Nation Digital Library Project Celebrates Its Third Year of Work
Ardith Van Riper
The Ho-Chunk Nation Language Division along with the participants from the UW-Madison Tribal Libraries Archives and Museums (TLAM) class hosted a thank you luncheon on May 9 at the Language Division Office in Mauston.
Their unique partnership celebrates its third year of work on the Ho-Chunk Nation Digital Library project that helps the Nation curate and use its language resources while providing the UW students with a service learning project involving an actual working collection of materials.
The success of this project is primarily due to Omar Poler, instructor of the TLAM class at UW-Madison; Janice Rice, retired UW librarian and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation; and the students from the last three spring semesters’ TLAM classes. George Greendeer, who has previous genealogy work experience with the Nation’s Enrollment Division and co-authored People of the Big Voice: Photographs of Ho-Chunk Families by Charles Van Schaick, 1879-1942, was hired back in December as the Project Specialist.
TLAM is an effort at UW-Madison to bring indigenous information to library and information science education through coursework, service-learning, continuing education, community-building, networking, resource sharing, and long term partnerships with Native American cultural institutions. The TLAM course runs every spring.
This spring, the TLAM class worked in groups on the Ho-Chunk Nation Digital Library project. Kristen Maples, Amy Sampson, and Alicia Eldridge worked with the Ho-Chunk elders. The elders provided translation and background information on audio and video recording for the students to include in the catalog. These elders were Maxine Kolner, Andy Thundercloud, Georgia Lonetree, Elliott Garvin, Hope Smith, and Richard Mann.
Elders who are recorded on the audio or video reviewed to date are Kenneth Funmaker, Sr., Edward Lonetree, Jr., Corina Lonetree, Sidney Hall, Ardella Quackenbush, Bill O’Brien, Merlin Redcloud, Gordon Thunder, Annabelle Lowe, Maxine Kolner, Lila Blackdeer, Wayne Falcon, Rebecca Greendeer, Tom Hopinkah, Myron Lowe, Eugene Cloud, George Stacy, Cecil Garvin, Larry Garvin, Richard Mann, Dennis Funmaker, Sr., Chloris Lowe, Velma Lewis, Arvid WhiteEagle, Carlos Funmaker, and John Greengrass.
UW-Madison students Alianna Bozhardt, Alicia Eldridge, and Kristen Whitson worked on policy. The policy included Deed of Gift form, Donor Guide, and applicable copyright and intellectual property law.
Justin Cornille, Samantha Wolfe, and Sarah Drake worked on cataloging. Kristen Whitson and Sarah Drake worked on scanning. Dani Fulwilder worked on archival.
The Digital Library project began three years ago with planning on what needed to be done to catalog, digitize, and archive the Language Division’s audio, video, and written documents. The initial steps were sorting and organizing material. Then converting all the Nation’s audio and video recordings and scanning the hard copy written documents into digital files.
Each item is meticulously cataloged using 36 fields of keywords and descriptor details, which are being filled in as the group of students and Nation staff make their way through each item.
Items are then uploaded to the Mukurto (MOO-koo-too) management system after the cataloging process has been completed. This management system is where users will be able to search online and see items that are in the Language Division’s collection. The total number of files in the catalog exceeds 1,000, and that number will be more significant when the site goes live.
“Users will be able to create an account, and then the users will be grouped into what are called communities. They’ll be levels of access. Depending on the type of material and subject matter, we can group people by user class group and then assign them the kind of access that we want them to have,” said Division Manager Adrienne Thunder.
“We can even change the setting so that only students and mentors from the Language Apprentice Program can access these materials or only employees of the Language Division. There is no limit to the number of layers we can create,” said linguistics student Andrea Cudworth.
Thunder says tribal members will have specific access that the general public wouldn’t have. Eventually, this will all go through the Language and Culture committee to determine the accessibility of the items.
The Nation benefits from having language resources made more accessible, better accounting of materials, and preservation of the original materials. Some language resources include audio and video capturing the spoken Ho-Chunk language, children’s books in the Ho-Chunk language, photos of Ho-Chunk ancestors, Ho-Chunk dictionary, photos of Ho-Chunk crafts, Ho-Chunk language lessons, and the collection keeps growing.
The project provides valuable professional and learning experiences for UW-Madison students.
“All of us are library and information study students that means we are studying to become librarians and archivists. I have to tell you that for me, I am in archives to do exactly what we got to do here. This has been a very fulfilling experience,” expressed UW-Madison Graduate Student Kristen Whitson.
Project Specialist George Greendeer said, “They (students) cataloged 500 items, documents. We were only expecting 300 for the semester because they had a lot of other stuff to do for their course study.”
The luncheon celebrating this work started with Division Manager Adrienne Thunder speaking and elder Maxine Kolner saying a prayer over the food. Janice Rice and Andrea Cudworth were each presented with a certificate of appreciation and a blanket for their efforts on the project.
The UW-Madison students prepared the food shared with Language Division staff and honored guests at the luncheon. The students who worked with the elders presented the elders and George Greendeer with homemade mini loaves of breads.
Staff at the Language Division office were also gifted with an Instant Pot by the UW-Madison students.
Kelly Jo Funmaker attended, representing the Office of the President, and extended gratitude to the individuals who assisted in the project.
“I know that this one of the President’s top priority, not even for the Ho-Chunk Nation but himself also. I know that he would be very proud and very happy with what is going on today,” said Funmaker.
“The fact that they’ve (UW-Madison students over the past three years) not only categorized all of the material, digitized all of the material, and now we are to the point where we are starting to populate the site that’s going to developed for real use,” explains Thunder.
Some of the UW-Madison students have volunteered to return in the summer and continue their work.
Thunder says this work, as much as has been done, is only the beginning. “In the future, the Division hopes to add to the collection with contributions of materials collected by other libraries and museums, tribal and public personal collections, and the Division’s own continuing language revitalization work.”
The Nation’s Mukurtu database will house a vast collection of resources to aid us in the coming years as our Hoocak-first speaker availability declines and our new learners are adding to their knowledge and increasing their use of our language.
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Make Believe Melodies’ Top 50 Japanese Songs Of 2010: 20-11
Posted on December 16, 2010 by Patrick St. Michel
20. Your Gold, My Pink “Adolescence”
Back in May I saw Your Gold, My Pink play the Nara Street Style Music Festival, going into their late-day set absolutely jazzed to see what they could do live. An hour later I wanted to hightail it to the McDonald’s across the street to drown my disappointment in barbecue sauce. Their set didn’t clank off the rim as much as it felt like a layup drill – the energy seemed off, the songs didn’t pulse with the awkward manicness of their recorded material and even the Mates Of State intro seemed stupid. I saw a lot of great performances on that day, but it was Your Gold’s show I ended up remembering the most because of how let down I felt.
A couple months later, though, and they’d won me back by growing up right in front of my eyes. Their Pray mini-album saw the group make a monumental leap forward from their earlier material and proved the nap of a live show wasn’t an indicator of future direction. It features plenty of great, spazzy songs but “Adolescence” captured everything great about Your Gold in one place. A lot of bands across Japan have started taking the same meds that give Los Campesinos! their ADD drive, but those groups (no names dropped) seem to be forcing the it, trying to throw a confetti-laced party inside a strip mall. “Adolescence,” though, fucking nails it – Your Gold aren’t shouting because they have no other idea, they are shouting because it works perfectly in context. Besides featuring an opening guitar line that’s the sonic equivalent of making out on the first date, this song goes all over the place, to the point where dropping a critical turd like “it’s just like an actual n!” actually wouldn’t be means for being shot out of a cannon. I want to see them play this live.
Sample here
19. Tokyo Jihen “Noudouteki Sanpunkan”
Like, the last thing James Bond needed was more mojo. Which is to say…”Noudouteki Sanpunkan” slinks the hell out. Ringo Shiina sings like a covert agent bends through a laser-security system, threading her voice perfectly through the mix of funky guitar and gurgling electronics. She’s the star…as she so often is…but the whole package comes together so seamlessly it’s hard to notice just how great she is. This might be the sexiest jam of the year. Those with bear-trap domes might be saying right about now “hey, this came out in December 2009!” Yessir, but back then it only sounded really good. A year later, and I can’t hit the “repeat” option on iTunes fast enough.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61-PymUKtBM”]
18. Asian Kung-Fu Generation “Shinseiki No Love Song”
Making grand societal gestures through song isn’t an easy task regardless of how many Rolling Stone articles ponder “what happened to the protest song?” Outside of “Fortunate Son,” how many of those much ballyhooed activist songs do we not wince at today? Isn’t this “voice of a generation” thing the reason a lot of people got sick of Green Day…or even the reason The Suburbs sorta struggles? Don’t we all hate Bright Eyes’ political junk? Trying to be relevant via direct confrontation with the ills of today isn’t something to ignore completely, but it’s also a risky move that can make you look like a dick. Scattered across Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s 2010 album Magic Disk are such instances, awkward attempts at making something “big” that ultimately hit like a high-school kid who read about Communism for the first time in history class. It’s on “Shinseiki No Love Song,” though, where they do what the rest of the CD fails to do…capture the boxed-in feeling modern life drapes over people oh so well.
What makes Magic Disk’s lead single rise above the rest of the album is how Asian Kung-Fu Generation make the music do all the talking. Here old-hat tricks like backwards guitars and muffled, plain spoken vocals create a suffocating atmosphere dripping with something-isn’t-rightness. The translated lyrics and the video…though both border on the melodramtaic tripe oh so much Japanese media bathes in…do a good job of driving the message home. As those English words hint at, “Shinseiki” mostly dwells on the terror of coming of age in today’s world – the inevitable acceptance of death lurking around every corner taught via terrorist attacks broadcast on corporate news shout-loops and realizing all the junk you buy won’t be joining you six feet under. Smartly, a personal element plays a prominent role, the narrator also obsessed with crippling regret. Which leads to “Shinseiki’s” most transcendent moment, the song bursting into catharsis and refusing to settle back down. Because a bumper sticker quoting “Imagine” is cool, but actually confronting your woes gets stuff done.
17. Nini Tounuma “Face It”
Plenty of folks whose opinion I greatly value have spilled enough positive digital-ink on Spangle Call Lilli Line that I wouldn’t tell singer Kana Otsubo to quit her day job. Yet…I’d implore her to explore her Nini Tounuma solo-project a lot more, even if it means slowing down the Spangle Call output. “Face It” imagines what chill-out music would sound like delivered by Dirty Projectors but produced by Flying Lotus – Otsubo nails the relaxed-but-still-groovin’ element down, but she adds in enough digital-wrinkles to make every second of this already irresistible tune consistently brainy as well. Yet what makes “Face It” distinctively hers is her voice, a quiver sometimes backed up by itself that’s unafraid to breakaway from its self. I’ve said a lot of the songs on this list feature star vocal performances that elevate the single into something special, but Otsubo instead chooses to blend into the background and bit more to make the actual music stand out more. And moving back turns out to be a brilliant choice.
16. Kimonos “Soundtrack To Murder”
Greg Saunier of Deerhoof plays drums on “Soundtrack To Murder” but without the Kimonos liner notes you would have tricked me. With his regular band, Saunier pounds the skins like he has six arms, each one more jacked on protein powder than the last. On this, the second single from Mukai Shutoku of Zazen Boys side project Kimonos, Saunier goes to work with way more restraint by his standards. “Milk Man” this isn’t – he keeps the zaniness in check to instead deliver a slower, sustained beat that sometimes sounds a little like something an 80s hair band would use. As much as I love hearing Saunier destroy his kit, I admit it’s a smart move as “Soundtrack To Murder” shines thanks to all its elements coming together so well.
Besides the star-powered drums that aren’t that star-powered, “Soundtrack To Murder” cherrypicks the best elements of Zazen Boys (the math-rock construction of the guitar and bass parts) plus the ominous electric side perpetually hanging out. Yet the surprise here comes from the other dominant member of Kimonos, Leo Imai. He seemed like the most suspect aspect of Kimonos when the duo first surfaced, his pretty-boy singing an odd choice to combine with Shutoku’s eccentric self. “Soundtrack To Murder,” though, proves the decision to be a into-the-parking-lot homerun – Imai can, pardon my language, fucking sing. He gives this song its emotional center and an energy not even Saunier could have dropped in. And it still hangs on the rest of the music to reach its potential. “Soundtrack To Murder” avoids the fate of similar respected-artist-choked songs of the past by not trying to showcase how great each contributor is, but instead letting them just go to work.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiMiq45_VfA”]
15. Nu Clear Classmate “Causeless Pain”
In five and 10 spots time you’ll understand why I don’t want to spend much time on “Causeless Pain.” Let’s drill right into this song then – no song came as close to being as claustrophobic as this Nu Clear Classmate jam. The wall of harsh synths making up the bulk of “Pain” never relent, cascading down on the listener as lead-singer Chick gets absolutely covered in the muck. It’s also on the shortlist for most flat-out depressing Japanese song of 2010, Chick’s downtrodden singing made even more melancholy when suffocated by some of the grimmest electronics anyone concocted.
14. Capsule “Can I Have A Word”
Player boasts a lot of moments of great experimentation. The sunny-pop strokes of “Stay With You,” the glitched-out stroll of “I Wish You,” the extended club menaces plopped into its middle, any instance of rapping. Yasutaka Nakata also helped inch Perfume into more wild-for-them territory. He seemed to be in a forward-thinking mood this year. MEG should sue for not getting a drop of those creative juices.
Yet for all the change-ups, Capsule’s best individual song ended up being the one that stuck to the hyper-loaded formula they established long ago. “Can I Have A Word” opens with strings ripped from a big budget musical but this just ends up a cinematic fake-out because just as quickly enter the bubbling synths and the glow-tinged voice of Koshijima Toshiko. From their the song spirals into an especially manic Capsule track, hints of disco mixed with a unflappable energy capped off by Toshiko’s incredible vocal performance. Nakata tried out a lot of new looks in 2010, but it’s nice to know he can still pump out an infectious clectro-whirlwind like this.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spLDny3uQvg”]
13. Soutaiseiriron “Miss Parallel World”
Like a really well-done Photoshop, it takes a few listens to “Miss Parallel World” to start noticing the details that make it seem a bit strange. The bright, pirate-ish guitar sucks you in and keeps the whole track moving forward at a nice, hoppy pace. Yet then the stranger sides start sticking out – Etsuko Yakushimaru’s nearly whispered, nearly instructional singing on the verses don’t standout as much as they creep around the corners. Plenty of J-Pop singers tried out slightly weirder ways of singing this year…this list features a few of them…yet Yakushimaru towers over all of them due to how unforced she sounds. Then the chorus, wherein “Miss Parallel World” bends into itself, the word “parallel” said repeatedly. It gives the whole track a hypnotic edge that, even once you spot the irregularities, keeps you zoned in.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvGHbnah-hI”]
12. Hotel Mexico “It’s Twinkle”
After being heavily featured in an introduction to chillwave article in Snoozer magazine and being profiled in the Japan Times, Hotel Mexico have basically already cemented their legacy as the band responsible for turning the sub-genre into a micro-trend in Japan. Time will tell us whether that distinction actually deserves a standing ovation or arms-crossed scorn, but for now it’s just sort of unfair. Yeah, this Kyoto band definitely fit all the requirements for a little Altered Zone’s love…general fuzziness, cheesy “retro” sounds, album artwork managing to both have a maritime theme AND be a found photo…but at times Hotel Mexico absolutely shatter all the trappings we’ve come to associate with these types of bands. Their breakout song and still showstopper “It’s Twinkle” features bedroom production values but nothing about it sounds “chilled out.” This song straight-up builds, and not in a subtle way – Hotel Mexico make the opening minute and a half sound gargantuan. Then it cuts out and we’re left with some confused vocals just getting through, “And I don’t know quite what to do/I’m always gonna be here sleeping alone.” Then…that steady build starts up again, and smothers all the way to the end save for a slight break. It never explodes…”Twinkle” ends just as the guitars seem prepared to let completely loose, leaving the listener right on the verge of something even bigger…but always sounds big. Call them chillwavers all you want, just remember “It’s Twinkle” glows a whole lot more massively than that term implies.
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSytPR7a3fM”]
11. Perfume “575”
“Every Perfume song generally sounds the same,” yours-truly wrote back in April for the “Fushizen na Girl” single review. Four months later, Yasutaka Nakata completely clowned me with “575.” The B-side to the “VOICE” single isn’t so much a dramatic overhaul as much as an economically-appropriate “doing more with less” approach from a trio known for music choking on excess. “575” doesn’t go full thrift store – Nakata fits some strings into the chorus and this song does feature the members of Perfume psuedo-rapping – but for once the most prominent addition is silence. The verses, in particular, are refreshingly sparse, nothing but downplayed drum machine, undramatic singing and a neon-tinged keyboard line that Nakata should place pretty high up on his resume. It’s exciting new territory for a group regularly classified as pop-bots, but would just be “different” if the song itself didn’t work so well. The slinky verses bend into a potent chorus (those strings!) before dissolving into the Perfume rap…which over time grows on you to the point where I couldn’t picture “575” without it.
The production deserves a lot of praise, but while we’re here at the end of the year throwing praise wildly like so many Brett Favre 4th quarter passes…how about Perfume themselves? The big critical knock against the three people who constitute the public side of Perfume…the ones shilling for Pepsi products and girly fashion boutiques…is they don’t have any “personality,” reduced to a near-software role responsible for one friend of mine saying anyone could be plugged into their roles. “575” begs to differ – Nakata definitely casts a sheen over parts of this track’s vocals and outright screws with their voices at a few points, but the majority of the time what’s coming out of their mouths barely gets manipulated. The result – the flat-out sexiest song they’ve ever recorded, their singing tangoing with that lit-up keyboard line like they majored in dance. Even the rap gushes with “personality.” “575” does everything a great Perfume song usually does but in a very un-Perfume like way. They sure know how to make us critics look dumb.
← The “When One Door Closes, Another One Opens” Award Of 2010: LILY OF THE VALLEY/SCANDAL
New Kaela Kimura: “A Winter Fairy Is Melting A Snowman” →
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Florida Cmte. Passes Bill That Would Force High Schools To Offer Bible Classes
Florida state Rep. Kimberly Daniels (D).
Florida's HB 195 would require public schools to include elective Bible classes in the curriculum.
According to The Friendly Atheist, Florida Bill HB 195 would require public schools to include elective Bible classes in the curriculum. The bill, sponsored by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Daniels, has now passed through the State House’s PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee in an 11-3 vote.
The bill would require schools to offer “objective” classes on the Old Testament, New Testament, or both. Offering classes like these is already legal, but this bill would make offering the classes a requirement.
One Democrat, Representative Jennifer Webb cast a “no” vote for the bill. She wanted to know how a class on the bible could be taught objectively.
“I did find nine federal court decisions, including one from Florida, ruling that public school Bible courses were unconstitutional in whole or in part,” Webb said. “In Gibson v. Lee County, which is a decision from the Middle District of Florida — my district — the court invalidated a Bible history course of the New Testament because it could not conceive how the resurrection of miracles could be taught as secular history.”
Representative Eskamani asked about other religious texts. “My family is Iranian-American. My family identifies with Islam,” Eskamani said. “Would you consider adding the Quran to your bill to be a friendly amendment, as another holy book that can be taught ‘objectively,’ to your language?”
Daniels replied: “No.”
Forcing schools to offer these courses could be seen as unconstitutional, because it undermines the doctrine of the separation of church and state. Beyond constitutional concerns, forcing schools to hire teachers for the bible course would take away resources from other areas of the school. For example, if a school has to hire a bible teacher, the English program may get less funding.
If the bill makes it out of the House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, it will go to the Education subcommittee and then the State House for a vote.
Cleare
if you want your kids to study the bible, send them to sunday school, take them to church, bible study through your church, bible readings at home. they should not be wasting time needed for traditional high school classes. now, if they want to teach comparative religions - teaching the tenets of Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintuism, Sikhs, and "natural" religions. but of course they don't want that.
A Majority Of Evangelicals Feel The U.S. Has No Responsibility To Help Refugees
EditorWilliam James
North Carolina Pastor Accused Of Sex Crimes Against 13-Year-Old Child
Nearly ¼ Of Americans Believe It’s Ok For Businesses To Turn Away Atheists
EditorDarren.Woon
Gallup Polling: Confidence in Organized Religion Hits An All-Time Low
Pastor Sentenced To Life In Prison For Child-Sex Trafficking
Historian: Corporations Used The Religious Right To Undermine New Deal Reforms
Pastor of Anti-Gay Church Arrested After Admitting Sexual Abuse
Social Darwinism, Not Christianity, Is What Guides The Modern GOP
Fox News Op-Ed: Atheists Are ‘Bullies’ Who Try To Force Their Beliefs On Others
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Track & Field Archive
Cross Country Archive
Team Awards
CIS and RSEQ Team Champions
McGill Olympic Club
MOC Gear
Redmen 13th, Martlets 10th at CIS championships
Nov 08, 08 Cross Country (M)
By Earl Zukerman, McGill & Michel Bélanger, CIS
QUEBEC CITY - The Guelph University Gryphons once again dominated the CIS cross-country running championships on the historical site of the Plains of Abraham, sweeping both team banners for a record third straight year, Saturday. McGill finished a disappointing 10th of 17 teams on the women's side and were 13th in the men's competition.
Freshman Melanie Myrand of Pointe Claire, Que., was McGill's top performer, placing 34th of 118 runners overall and completing the five-kilometre circuit in 19 minutes, 18.4 seconds. Other Martlets in the team scoring included Charlene Puel (48th; 19:34.5), a freshman from France, plus freshman Brittany Therrien (49th; 19:35) of Victoria, B.C., senior Christina Lo Basso (51st; 19:36.1) of Montreal and sophomore Arielle Beatty (74th; 19:52.2) of Sharon, Ont.
For the Redmen, senior Graydon Snider, a Montrealer, placed 37th of 112 competitors. He finished the 10k course in 33:54.5. Other Redmen scorers included freshman Alexander Duhault (52nd, 34:09.4) of Calgary, senior Ryan Ouckama (71st, 35:04.3) of Baltimore, Ont., freshmen Daniel Kramer (96th; 36:22.1) of Salem, Mass., and Maxime Bellemare (102nd; 37:10.2), a freshman from Sherbrooke.
Guelph native Megan Brown of the Toronto Varsity Blues won the women's competition and was clocked in 17 minutes, 36.8 seconds in wet, windy conditions. Local favourite Catherine Cormier of Laval, a native of New Richmond, Que., was a surprise silver medalist with a time of 17:58.5, edging Guelph's defending national champion Lindsay Carson of Cambridge, Ont., (17:59.3) by less than one second.
The Guelph women won with a 77-point tally, easily distancing Toronto (118) and the Calgary Dinos (126).
The Gryphons men claimed a seventh banner in 10 years and their eighth since the inaugural men's championship was held in 1963, moving them within one of the all-time record for most national titles held by the Toronto Varsity Blues. The Gryphons cruised through the men's 10k race finishing with only 27 points, the lowest total since Ottawa captured the 1986 title with the same tally.
The St. Francis Xavier X-Men ended up second with 108 points, with the Windsor Lancers rounding out the podium with 124 points.
Four Guelph teammates were among the first six runners to cross the finish line, including individual champion Matt Brunsting of Stirling, Ont. and silver medalist Kyle Boorsma of Guelph, with the team's fifth scorer taking 15th place.
Brunsting, fourth a year ago in Victoria, finished the race in 32:08.3, while teammate Boorsma stopped the clock at 32:13.6. StFX's David Gerych, an international student from the Czech Republic, took bronze in 32:19.8.
Brunsting became the first Gryphon to capture men's individual gold since Paul Williams in 1977.
Brown and Brunsting earned athlete-of-the-year honours, while Toronto native Tamara Jewett of the Varsity Blues and Calgary's Kyial Marjock were named CIS female and male rookies of the year after they both finished fifth, the best results among first-year runners.
The top seven finishers in the women's and men's races earn first-team all-Canadian status. Finishers eight through 14 are second-team CIS all-stars.
WOMEN'S RESULTS (5 km)
1. Guelph, 77 points
2. Toronto, 118
3. Calgary, 126
4. McMaster, 132
5. Western, 158
6. Victoria, 164
7. Windsor, 204
8. Laval, 237
9. StFX, 243
10. McGill, 247
11. Queen's, 247
12. Alberta, 252
13. Manitoba, 282
14. Saskatchewan, 286
15. Sherbrooke, 327
16. Dalhousie, 343
17. Concordia, 545
Individual honours
Athlete of the year: Megan Brown, Toronto
Rookie of the year: Tamara Jewett, Toronto
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: -
Coach of the year: Dave Scott-Thomas, Guelph
First all-Canadian team
1. 17:36.8 - Megan Brown, Toronto
2. 17:58.5 - Catherine Cormier, Laval
3. 17:59.3 - Lindsay Carson, Guelph
4. 18:03.3 - Paula Findlay, Alberta
5. 18:22.3 - Tamara Jewett, Toronto
6. 18:25.0 - Marilyn Arsenault, Victoria
7. 18:29.0 - Erin McClure, Toronto
Second all-Canadian team
8. 18:33.3 - Heather Sim, Calgary
9. 18:34.6 - Véronique Fortin, Laval
10. 18:36.7 - Rachel Cliff, Guelph
11. 18:38.6 - Jillian Wyman, McMaster
12. 18:41.0 - Jessica Pearo, McMaster
13. 18:42.2 - Gina Stewart, StFX
14. 18:45.6 - Lisa Brooking, Windsor
MEN'S RESULTS (10 km)
8. Sherbrooke, 205
9. Manitoba, 231
11. McMaster, 246
12. Laval, 250
14. UNB, 373
Athlete of the year: Matt Brunsting, Guelph
Rookie of the year: Nyial Majock, Calgary
1. 32:08.3 - Matt Brunsting, Guelph
2. 32:13.6 - Kyle Boorsma, Guelph
3. 32:19.8 - David Gerych, StFX
4. 32:25.2 - Allan Brett, Guelph
5. 32:28.2 - Nyial Majock, Calgary
6. 32:32.9 - Derek Snider, Guelph
7. 32:42.2 - Geoff Martinson, Victoria
8. 32:46.7 - Gavin Hamilton, Calgary
9. 32:48.2 - Johannes Mallie,, Victoria
10. 32:59.9 - Kyle O'Neill, Western
11. 33:03.6 - Etienne Bredin, Toronto
12. 33:10.5 - Russell Christie, Dalhousie
13. 33:11.3 - Matt Sinclair, Windsor
14. 33:13.3 - Jamie Weikum, Alberta
Michel Bélanger
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Ph: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
belanger@universitysport.ca
www.universitysport.ca
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Certain Songs #1578: Pixies – “The Happening”
As some of you know, perhaps our favorite category here at Certain Songs are songs about SPACE!!
And while — technically — the happening described in “The Happening” happens on Earth, it is about spacepeople, so close enough for me!
One of my favorite drives is along Highway 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, because the Mojave Desert is huge, weird and ever-changing. And while over the years some of the weirdness has been lost — good-bye Rock-a-Hula Water Park; hello outlet malls in Barstow — there’s still plenty of strangeness about it.
And, of course, aliens!!
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1578: Pixies – “The Happening”
Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Bossanova, Pixies, The Happening
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1577: Pixies – “All Over The World”
Outside of the Modern Rock — and I’m assuming the CMJ — charts, the Pixies never had much success during their initial run. And it’s a weird contradiction that their highest-charting album in the US happened to be Bossanova — which peaked at #70 — but it’s also the worst-selling record of those original four.
Which just means that Bossanova initially sold “well” because of the buzz coming off of Doolittle, but it didn’t have the legs — which is to say, reputation — of its predecessor, which actually went platinum at some point in the past 30 years.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1576: Pixies – “Dig For Fire”
Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Bossanova, Dig For Fire, Pixies
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my favorite Pixies album.
Not only that, one of top 5 my favorite albums of the 1990s; the record that finally trampled all over whatever objections I may have had to the Pixies and turned me from a skeptic into a fan. I know that some of you die-hards are even now shaking your heads about this.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1575: Pixies – “Velouria”
Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Bossanova, Pixies, Velouria
Had the Pixies decided to title their second album More Songs About Water and Death, I’m guessing that nobody would have even batted an eye, as many of their songs are about one or the other, and quite usually both. Or at least many of their songs that I truly loved, like “Wave of Mutilation,” a song so key to the Pixies legend that they recorded two versions of it.
One of the versions was slow and dreamy and they called it the “U.K. Surf” version, and while it was relegated to a b-side, they often pulled it out for concerts. But of course, I preferred the version that ended up on More Songs About Water and Death, because it was faster and noisier while still retaining both its essential prettiness and essential weirdness.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1573: Pixies – “Wave of Mutilation”
Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Bossanova, Pixies, Wave of Mutilation
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HomeBookingsLive Acts
JayDaYoungan
Amassing over 16 Million YouTube views for his viral hit ‘Thot Thot’, JayDaYoungan has made the transition from YouTube superstar with a cult following to a mainstream hip-hop sensation. From the small town of Bogalusa, Louisiana, JayDaYoungan developed a dedicated local following with a steady stream of mixtapes. However, it was the YouTube hits like ‘Sliding Freestyle’, ‘Muddy Situation’, ‘Interstate’ and ‘Elimination’ that made his name globally, all racking up over 5 million views and counting. Following a steady release schedule and feature appearances on songs by Quando Rondo and Yungeen Ace JayDaYoungan released his debut album Endless Pain in May 2019.
The twenty-year-old rapper’s melodic sensibilities and relentless work ethic have earned him over 100k Twitter followers, 200k YouTube subscribers and over 1 million Instagram followers, quite a feat considering he only began pursuing music in 2016. Inspired by the likes of Kevin Gates and Chief Keef, his first full-length project YOUNGAnimal featured guest spots from YoungBoy NeverBrokeAgain, FG Famous and Scotty Cain. His debut mixtape, the R&B-tinged RuffWayy hit the shelves in February 2017 closely followed by his breakout single, ‘Taking Off’. A steady stream of viral YouTube singles followed and in December 2018 he released his second album, Forever 23. Reaching No 86 on the Billboard 200, the record has generated a buzz around JayDaYoungan that only continues to grow.
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Patricio Pozo
I sing the body electric,
The armies of those I love engirth me and I engirth them,
They will not let me off till I go with them, respond to them,
And discorrupt them, and charge them full with the charge
of the soul.
We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher
—Eddy Grant
In the Buenos Aires gallery Monoambiente, the first exhibition by ÁREA outside of Chile presents the work of architect David Scognamiglio and designer Sergio Recabarren as an exploration around notions of technological unconscious, resistance and entropy in an artificial electrical circuit arranged to project the relationship between energy and architectural space.
Part of a generation of artists who grew up with the Internet and for whom a digital mindset comes completely natural, Scognamiglio and Recabarren are also experimenting with ways in which the concept of their work can be translated into works where the invisible becomes physical. At first glance, their works may seem abstract and connected to something immaterial, but they unfailingly suggest associations that extend far beyond the concrete reality. Both voices are combined to form architecture and signs that favor the decompartmentalisation of the senses.
In line with his work on architectural reformulation through energy, Italian architect David Scognamiglio creates a customize —site-specific— installation offering a special situation of gallery inhabiting. Its multidirectional and illuminated structure defies the horizontal and vertical forces of the exhibition room, giving visitors the experience of creating a path of their own, catering both for drifting and being on the alert. It offers a new experience of the place, which main measures were translated into the volume of wires holding them and by the electricity travelling through them and propagating through the space.
Sergio Recabarren is known for the interventions and re-functionalization of languages and codes inherent to the communications design culture into objects and experiences of digital visual representation. His work presents powerful images in turmoil, hypnotic, organic and unpredictable electronic moments that send a powerful signal that we are subject to the forces of nature and the influence of the media. Actively researching the possibilities that the Internet and technology have to offer, Recabarren stages a vocabulary of mediated images, many of which offer the spectator the opportunity to participate in the sequence or pulse of the electronically generated images. It can be understood as something where the meaning or the ending is still undefined. The visual representation of his work relates to many things at once, both to dreams and shamanic states of altered consciousness, where results and visual variations based on algorithms provide endless possibilities, as well as to a kind of electronic abstract expressionism that establishes problematic relationships between reality and fiction.
ELECTRIC AVENUE (also the first street in Brixton Market, London, to be lit by electricity) examines the forces that influence our lives but often remain intangible for us. Electric power plays a key role in the creation of economic, political, social, organic and synthetic processes, both within and outside the structures that sustain life and culture. It makes up the base of the wireless and constantly illuminated society we live in. However, being presented as isolated objects, fragments without a context, they seem absurdly mute, dysfunctional, like prehistoric relics. In this exhibition, these electric circuits explore power as a metaphor for the technological unconscious, and trigger associations that encourage us to think of it as something that can be shared, altered or guided in an unexpected direction, not devoid of sensuality, progress, melancholy and danger.
Curator, Electric Avenue
Exhibition #11 is the first in the Curators series. The curator acts as an agent for the dialog between designers and experiences, presenting new ways of looking and acting. This character is invited by Monoambiente to provide his mark as a researcher and presenter.
Photography by Manuel Ciarlotti
Constellations / Place
David Scognamiglio
Site specific installation
Lines of light, water, steel wires, paint.
Variable measures
3B4g36-M (2015)
Sergio Recabarren
1080p, 420 seconds, loop.
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ConAgra Peter Pan & Great Value Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuit - Nationwide (2006-2007)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that there had been 628 confirmed cases of Salmonella infection in 41 states from August 2006 through May 2007. Although the outbreak slowed, cases continued to be confirmed after this time period. The cases were linked to the consumption of Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter manufactured in ConAgra's Georgia peanut butter plant. Any Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 was recalled in response to the outbreak investigation.
Marler Clark filed a class action lawsuit against ConAgra, the manufacturer of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter that was traced as the source of a nationwide Salmonella outbreak, in February 2007. The class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of all individuals who became ill with symptoms of Salmonella infections, but were not hospitalized as a result of their infections, and who had strong evidence of consumption of Salmonella-contaminated peanut butter and a resulting Salmonella infection. The class action lawsuit followed on the heels of two other lawsuits filed by Marler Clark.
Marler Clark continued to pursue individual claims on behalf of all individuals who were hospitalized as a result of their Salmonella infections after the class action lawsuit had been resolved. The firm has also pursued individual claims on behalf of the families of people who died as a result of their Salmonella infections. The firm resolved over 1,000 claims on behalf of people who became ill with Salmonella infections after eating Conagra peanut butter products.
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illness outbreaks.
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Marler Clark files Lawsuits against Kroger, Safeway, and Target in SoyNut Butter E. coli Outbreak
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Oct 20 2018 Press Releases
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Based on the unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is a dark comedic tale of American figure skater, Tonya Harding, and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous and poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Featuring an iconic turn by Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, and an original screenplay by Steven Rogers, Craig Gillespie's I, Tonya is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked and checkered glory.
Bryan Unkeless
Tom Ackerley
Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney
Critics Consensus: Led by strong work from Margot Robbie and Alison Janney, I, Tonya finds the humor in its real-life story without losing sight of its more tragic -- and emotionally resonant -- elements.
Scott Marks
[Robbie] transforms what could easily have been just another grotesquerie in a grand guignol into...
New York Magazine/Vulture
Angelica Jade Bastién
[Margot] Robbie's screen presence makes her seem, at first blush, more suited to play Kerrigan. Bu...
Adam Graham
"I, Tonya" turns her tragedy into triumph.
Leah Pickett
I, Tonya seems to implicate the viewer in Harding's cultural abasement, rhetorically asking: It sh...
The Public (Buffalo)
M. Faust
Margot Robbie doesn't much resemble the real Harding but plays the role with gutsy brio.
Moira MacDonald
It is, for much of its running time, undeniably entertaining.
From the Front Row
Matthew Lucas
By peering beneath the seedy supermarket tabloid veneer of its story, it manages to find a disarmi...
The Babbling Blonde
Beth McDonough
The film scrutinizes a story as its told through the lens of Harding's family and friends, creatin...
Dan Murrell
Exposed me to a side of the story that I didn't really know about. Is that the real side of the st...
Featuring Film
Wendy Shreve
I, Tonya becomes a study in stupidity by every player.
Fact-based dark comedy has strong language, domestic abuse.
Parents need to know that I, Tonya is based on the true story of controversial 1990s figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie). It's a dark comedy with plenty of mature content. Harding is serially abused by both her mother and her boyfriend/husband; the scenes of abuse are depicted realistically and have intense emotional impact. There's also pervasive strong language ("f--k," "s--t," and more), some sexuality (including strip-club nudity), and both drug use and smoking, sometimes by world-class athletes. Plus, the movie presents a pretty bleak view of the world, in which a person can have everything she's worked for destroyed by idiots and sociopaths.
Genre:Comedy, Drama
Release Date:December 8, 2017
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shonaharding 2 months ago Leave a Comment
Major spoilers ahead
Oh my days! Well we have to talk about this one don’t we!
Finally it’s here, the end of the Thanos storyline and the end of some of our most beloved characters. When did you cry? I cried at three separate points that we will definitely be talking about today.
So I expect anyone reading this review will have already watched the film so I don’t feel I need to go into that much detail there. All I will say is the first half of the movie felt like it did drag in some parts but the second half was definitely much more enjoyable and felt like it lasted seconds!
The movie began to pick up for me when we were transported back to the different times to collect the stones. Seeing all the old moments that are distant memories now in our lives was great fanfare and did give me goosebumps. I did feel this was done very well and added a lot of closure not only for the characters but for the audience as well.
The bit that took me out to start with was Natasha’s noble death, a death that I honestly did see coming. She is a wonderful character but she always felt quite lonely and detached. It made seeing her and Hawkeye scramble to try and save the other more heart wrenching when you realised these were all the family she had and she was sacrificing herself for them.
A lot of the movie felt very funny bar the death scenes and this did keep an air of Marvel about it. It could’ve gone very dark, much like DC tend to do, but it didn’t and I appreciated that. It made the heartbreaking scenes hit so much harder.
So let’s talk about that. The first scene that made me cry was when everyone returned through their portals. Despite not having seen all the Marvel movies I did find this so lovely and to see them all together again was truly remarkable – I never realised there were so many! The scene where Iron Man and Spiderman find each other as well broke my heart. Tom is such a brilliant actor and his almost childish naivety of the whole thing really made it all the more special.
And this brings me onto Iron Man’s death. I had fears he was going to die but actually watching it happen was horrific. From Spiderman acting as if he lost a father (which in many ways he had) to the fact we only just got to meet his adorable daughter and he finally had his life together – wow even writing this now is making me well up. Not only was it wonderfully shot, the way in which it was all brought together really made it feel like you were losing someone you truly cared about.
And finally Cap, good old American ass finally got his happy ending and I’ll say this one touched me a lot thanks to my old roommate at university. She was obsessed with Captain America, I mean literally obsessed and this just reminded me of her.
Because it’s not just about the movie, it’s about the series, the people you shared your experience with, be it old friends or still close friends, ex-boyfriends or new possibilities. This isn’t just a movie, it isn’t just a franchise, it is a story we have grown up with and loved from beginning to end. It’s seeing the men fight the battles then the women taking over and doing it so well. It’s watching old characters go and new ones join and realising not only is the avengers a family but so is the community that loves it so.
This is one movie I will be recommending to everyone as well as the whole Marvel universe. It’s crazy to think the first Marvel movie of this universe came out when I was 12 years old. It’s been a wild 11 years and I am in some ways said it’s over, but happy that it ended on such a high.
What did you think of Endgame?
2019, action, adventure, avengers, endgame, fantasy, Film, review, superhero
2019, action, adventure, avengers, black widow, captain america, endgame, fantasy, film, hawkeye, hulk, iron man, review, stan lee, superhero, thor
Addicted to Sexting Review
American Pie 2 Review
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Perth St Martins Tower
44 St Georges Terrace Victoria Park Perth Western Australia Australia 6000
25 Max Attendees
14.6 km from Airport
1 Event Rooms
0 Accomm. Rooms
Book Site Inspection
The office space in St Martins Tower, Perth is in one of the tallest buildings in the city. Located in the middle of Perth, it is in the business and retail precinct of St George's Terrace, one of the most sought after addresses in the city. The building is popular with legal firms, mining and financial services companies while also hosting a wide variety of...
The office space in St Martins Tower, Perth is in one of the tallest buildings in the city. Located in the middle of Perth, it is in the business and retail precinct of St George's Terrace, one of the most sought after addresses in the city. The building is popular with legal firms, mining and financial services companies while also hosting a wide variety of other tenants. As well as offices, the tower contains a revolving restaurant and cocktail lounge on the top floor, the only revolving restaurant in Western Australia. With the office space placed on the 27th floor, there are wonderful views from the offices. The Economist magazine recently nominated Perth joint eighth place in its list of the world's most liveable cities.
Air Conditioning .glyphicons-heat
Audio Visual Equipments .glyphicons-projector
Business Center .glyphicons-briefcase
Ceremony On Site .glyphicons-ring
Disability Access .glyphicons-person-wheelchair
Internet Access .glyphicons-globe
Parking Available .glyphicons-cars
Wifi Access .glyphicons-wifi
Min 10 people, Max 25 people
Meeting Room have capacity of 25 people for official meetings and events.
44 St Georges Terrace Victoria Park
Adina Apartment Hotel Perth
Rendezvous Hotel Perth Central
Adina Apartment Hotel Perth Barrack Plaza
Speak with Meetings & Events
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CHRIS ZALDAIN
OLIVER NGY
RANDY BLAUKAT
SUMMMER
SPOTTED BASS
DEEP CRANKING
FLATSIDE CRANKING
FLIPPING & PITCHING
GLIDEBAIT
KNOTS & RIGGING
SHALLOW CRANKING
TEXAS RIG
TROPHY BASS
BIG GABOT
BOTTLE SHRIMP 4in
DARK SLEEPER
DEEP-X 100 LBO
DIVING FLAPSLAP
FLAPSLAP
DOG-X DIAMANTE
GRAND SIGLETT
i-LOUD
DOT CRAWLER
I-SLIDE 135
HAZEDONG SHAD 3in
HAZEDONG SHAD 4.2in
I-SLIDE 262T
LIVE-X MARGAY
MAGDRAFT
MAGSLOWL
MAKI JIG VOLT
OKASHIRA HEAD
OKASHIRA SCREWHEAD
SPARK SHAD 3in
VATALION
VISION ONETEN Jr
VISION ONETEN SILENT
VISION ONETEN+1
VISION ONTEN FX
VISION ONETEN SW
X-80 MAGNUM
X-PLOSE (SS)
XPOD
Z-CRANK X
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WALKING THE DOG WITH STYLE
Ever since bass anglers first learned to “walk the dog” with a cigar-shaped topwater, it has been the Holy Grail of bass bites, a way to call larger-than-average fish from a distance and force them to strike out of hunger, curiosity, territoriality or anger. While the early versions of these lures still work, seasoned pros know that specific styles, cadences and walking actions can be precisely tailored to the situation at hand.
When it comes time to cover large expanses of water during the post-spawn, both California pro Chris Zaldain and 2015 Bassmaster Classic winner Edwin Evers depend on larger-than-average walking baits to get the job done.
For Zaldain, a three-time Classic qualifier, it’s often the lure that he starts with on an unfamiliar body of water on the first day of practice, both at this time of year and again in the fall. “I can make a long cast and work it all the way back to the boat,” he said. “I can use a real steady cadence all the way back to the boat or if I come across something like an isolated patch of lily pads, I can slow down and work it like a popper or with a walk-walk-pause retrieve.” It covers more water than a popper, and it looks more natural and usually hooks more fish than a buzzbait.
While these lures are deadly around shallow cover, Evers also said that they can be exceptional for pulling bass out of deep, clear water, especially smallmouth bass and spotted bass. He’ll use a rattling version to call them up out of the depths, but if the fish are curious but won’t commit, he’ll switch to a silent version. That’s one reason he likes the 4 3/4“ Megabass Dog-X Diamante, because the same ultra-realistic profile comes in both styles. He also likes it because he can throw the ¾ ounce lure a country mile. Of course, there are plenty of walking baits that feature similar heft, but what makes this one special, Zaldain added, is that “it stays real high in the water column, which is critical when you’re dealing with a chop in clear water.”
Zaldain also likes the Diamante because it has a “very, very long stride, almost a full foot.” There are times when he wants the tighter stride of a more subtle dog walker, and then he’ll tie on something different, but when it’s time to draw fish from a distance, he wants a big profile and a wide gait.
Of course, one occupational hazard of fishing topwaters with a wide sashay is missed strikes. That’s another reason that both Zaldain and Evers like a model with three trebles when that’s possible. “Your hook up ratio will be a lot better,” Zaldain said. “Those number five trebles do not foul up and if a fish even looks at it funny he’s going to get hooked up, just the way the lure comes out of the package.” Of course, sometimes the fish miss the lure altogether. When they’re chasing but won’t take it in their mouths, that tells an angler that something is slightly off. For Evers, the first step to rectify that problem might be to switch from the rattling version to the silent one, or vice versa. If that doesn’t work, he’ll switch up his colors. In very clear water he’ll usually start with a translucent color like HT Kossori Shad or something natural like Megabass Sexy Shad, and when the water’s a bit more stained he’ll turn to something opaque, most often Bahama Milk Pearl. However, he noted that the bass can be surprisingly fickle about the paint job they’ll eat, so it pays to experiment, especially when curious fish won’t seal the deal.
HT KOSSORI SHAD
MEGABASS SEXY SHAD
BAHAMA MILK PEARL
Zaldain agreed that a high level of detail can mean the difference between tournament wins and fish that merely look or swipe halfheartedly at a lure. A dirty water largemouth sitting behind a stump might merely react to the sound and presence of the lure, and a clear water smallmouth with a head of steam might do the same, but it’s more common for a fish to examine the lure, or rocket at it and turn away if an angler has not properly dialed in the applicable profile, action and color scheme. The advantage of having both a rattling and a silent version is that if the fish become conditioned to one, the other can be used as a pinch hitter to re-energize the bite.
Evers throws the Dog-X Diamante on a 7’ medium action baitcasting rod paired with a high speed reel spooled with 40 pound braided line. That allows him to maximize his casting distance and the lack of line stretch means that he can work the bait more easily. Zaldain, on the other hand, typically uses 20 pound monofilament, which absorbs the shock of a brutal strike and allows the lure maximum range of motion as it sashays across the surface. He fishes it on his favorite topwater rod, a Megabass Destroyer USA Oneten Special, a 6’11” stick with a moderate action that also has a short butt section, which allows him to make long bomb casts when covering massive amounts of water is critical, but also allows him to work it properly at short range.
“It’s not just a great search bait,” Evers concluded. “It’s something I have tied on all the time, because I know it’ll pull in big fish.”
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Tag: Black Label Society
Possibly the best Ozzfest lineup ever? Ozzfest live at the Tweeter Center August 26th 2004
Posted on June 30, 2016 May 29, 2017 by Mike
So just over a year since my last concert I was invited by my then-bandmates, Chad and Idrees, to go with them to see Ozzfest at the Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ on August 26th, 2004. And if you looked at the main stage line up for this tour alone it’s easy to see why. Dimmu Borgir (fake, pretentious, symphonic black metal), Superjoint Ritual (Phil Anselmo acting even dumber than the last time I saw him), Black Label Society, Slayer, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath. Yeah, Judas Priest was THE big deal at the time, with the band announcing the return of Rob Halford on vocals just ten months earlier and following the release of the band’s box set. The three of us definitely had our musical differences – making me wonder how I didn’t quit them earlier – with me liking a little bit of everything yet leaning towards heavier stuff more and more, Idrees listening to Thrash and ONLY Thrash, and Chad being the Power Metal guy who was practically jerking off every night to all things Iron Maiden and Steve Vai; but who the fuck doesn’t even remotely like Judas Preist?? I’m waiting….
The morning of the show they were supposed to come to my house with Idrees’s dad driving to pick me up. They were very late and whenever I called either of their cellphones no one picked up and it really irritated me. When they finally did show up I do remember letting them both have it, although I don’t remember their lame excuse. Idrees’s dad reminds me of a cross between Nile Rodgers and Isaac Hayes, Niles in the voice department and Isaac in looks, it was pretty funny just hearing him talk. We arrived in Camden around 1pm due to shitty traffic once we got off the NJ Turnpike; ever been to Camden before? No? Ok, ever hear Chris Rock talk about why you should never anywhere that has a Martin Luther King Blvd? Well, we were on it and we saw why. Here’s an example of what we drove through to get to this place:
Isn’t this just sexy? I’d totally live here!
After maybe twenty minutes of my suddenly wishing we took Chris Rock’s advice and ran we finally got to the Tweeter Center, the huge outdoor arena placed in the location of the Armageddon we all apparently missed and right across the water from Philadelphia. Idress’s really cool dad was going to spend his day at the New Jersey State Aquarium not to far down the road from us and right by the ferry that was bringing in drunken Philly trash for Ozzfest. But I’ll get back to that later!
The three of us walked in to the horrible sounds of Otep on the second stage, having just missed God Forbid, who I really wanted to see. They sadly broke up in 2013 but if you’ve never heard of them check out their 2004 album Gone Forever. So we walked around for a bit, bought beads to throw at girls to have them show us their titties, etc. We went back to the second stage because I wanted to see Lamb Of God. They were literally five days away from release of their major label debut on Epic Records, Ashes Of The Wake, following the success of their last album, As The Palaces Burn, and it looked like they totally did a major gear upgrade with there being to big walls of speaker cabinets like only Slayer would do.
Chad and Idrees left me there because they weren’t fans of the band. I think it was literally just too modern for either of them. Lesson #1: if you’re only 19 years old – like these two knuckleheads were (I was a year older) – nothing is too modern for you. Life’s too short to be THAT pretentious over music. I may have just turned 32 but I still have an open mind! Lamb Of God were absolutely awesome, playing a good chunk of their material from the last record as well as the first single off the new album, called “Laid To Rest”. What I didn’t understand was Randy Blythe’s need to curse literally every other word – that’s not an exaggeration – as well as constantly saying he was in “Killadelphia” when we were actually across the water. Dumbass.
My two dopey friends came back just in time to rescue me from Shitknot (I was a fan of them for a few years but 2004 was the year they broke my heart Godfather Part 2 style) and Hatebreed. In fact, after LOG there were no others bands I wanted to see on the second stage at all! So we had lots of time to kill. While there I bought a BLS shirt that I still have today and the classic Slayer eagle shirt, which mysteriously disappeared on me a few years back. I’m still pissed about that one, by the way. While walking we came across a lot of that drunken Philly trash I mentioned before. I’m talking a bunch of ridiculously sunburnt dudes in Eagles jerseys (the football season had just started) yelling out in unison “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!”….over….and over….and over again. We also found a good spot at the guard rail on the lawn, where we could throw beads at bitches AND have a pretty good few of all the bands.
After while it was finally time for the main stage acts to go on. First? Black Label Society. This was to be my first of seven times seeing them, in fact I can’t make fun of Chad’s fixation on Maiden without stressing that between 2002 and 2008 I wanted to play like Zakk Wylde so bad. I had other influences, of course, but at that time Zakk was the ONLY one who was that popular while playing that kind of music. Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul had already risen from the ashes of Pantera, but their current band, Damageplan, was not getting over on the old fans easily.
Right out the gate he was ripping it up on a custom made Jackson Randy Rhoads guitar. He’s shredded for maybe two minutes before breaking into “Funeral Bell”. Idrees and I loved it. Chad? “Zakk Wylde’s not that great”, he said with this arrogant smirk on his face. Chances are he was already jaded from listening to technical shred nerds who never left their mother’s basement. Lesson #2: It really doesn’t matter how much better one guitar player is than the next. Zakk himself will even acknowledge that there are players that will bury him. But what’s more important than having all the technique there is to have is being able to have your playing reach out to more than one niche crowd. That’s why Zakk passed the audition to play with Ozzy in the first place. Even Ozzy knew Zakk had already developed a sound that would one day make him recognizable!
Superjoint Ritual were next. Where Phil Anselmo pretty much told us last year in Brooklyn where he stood in music (as in not with Pantera) he pretty much took that and acted like a dumbass this time around. First off, their latest album, A Lethal Does Of American Hatred, sucked balls in plain English. Also, it’s one thing to command your audience to mosh; but when you tell them that they’re pussies if they don’t you’re just a jackass. The band were still great…so long as the played the music off the first album…but it was weird when Phil ended the band’s set by saying “keep sucking dick!” on the mic before doing his classic shitty rendition of the last words to “Stairway To Heaven” that he’d been doing since the Pantera days. Drugs are bad, m’kay?
Dimmu Borgir were TRASH. Bad enough I already don’t like Symphonic Black Metal but Dimmu were and are just awful. Next? Slayer. How funny that, as Idrees left us to mosh in the makeshift pit area right behind us, Chad and I both realized that the guardrail was pretty wobbly – yeah, we were fucked and we knew it. Because as soon as Slayer got on stage all Hell broke loose and we were almost instantly pinned to the guardrail. That shit hurts! Of course, once they kicked into “Raining Blood”, the pit had become it’s most violent. But who really fucking cares? This is Slayer – and with the classic lineup back together! Whenever I was able to get a glimpse of the band without getting pummeled I look straight at Jeff Hanneman. He tore that guitar up better than Kerry King that night….and all the time.
After surviving the moshpit from hell we made sure Idrees came to us so we wouldn’t lose our spots before Priest came on. At this point on it was more like an arena style concert, because who moshes to Priest or Sabbath anyway? This was the one band to have a really elaborate stage setup. Here, look for yourself:
I was able to notice on my own that Halford was relying HEAVILY on a teleprompter because he’d go to one place on stage and just stay there for two of three songs before going somewhere else. Didn’t matter though because he was on fire, proving why he’s the Metal God. When they played “Breaking The Law” I called up my college radio station’s programming director to bust his balls and left him a voicemail of the band playing the chorus line. Why was I busting chops? Well…let’s just say he did just that over a month earlier.
Up last? Sabbath. But of course there was a catch. Before the band were to go on stage Bill Ward came out to announce to everyone that Ozzy was sick and could not play. BUT, apparently Rob Fucking Halford volunteered to sing so the band wouldn’t have to cancel their performance. There’s a bootleg floating around of Halford doing the favor for them back in 1992 but I was actually going to hear it?? Needless to say I wasn’t bummed out much longer after hearing that!
Being that someone else was singing, regardless of the fact that it’s a guy that’s STILL amazing at his age, they kept the setlist floating around the just the first three albums. I’d bet that was just to make it easier on Rob, who surely didn’t have enough time to practice. But it still was pretty awesome to hear.
Idrees’s dad was waiting for us right outside the arena, having stolen banana daiquiri mix from some vendor stand during what I think he said was some kind of police situation…or something. The show was awesome as a whole. If I only knew then that I’d NEVER see the classic Sabbath lineup. But was this THE best Ozzfest lineup ever? I think the following year’s beat it; but I’ll get to that in the future.
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Posted in Music RantsTagged 2003 2004 As The Palaces Burn Ashes Of The Wake August 26th 2004 Bill Ward Black Label Society Black Sabbath Camden Confessions Of An Angry Metalhead Facebook Geezer Butler God Forbid Gone Forever Jeff Hanneman Judas Priest Killadelphia Lamb of God New Jersey NJ Ozzfest 2004 Ozzy Osbourne Phil Anselmo Rob Halford Slayer Superjoint Ritual Tony Iommi Tweeter Center Zakk WyldeLeave a comment
The Rock Carnival…And The Biggest Parking Lot Fuckjob Ever.
Posted on September 26, 2015 October 21, 2015 by Mike
This past Saturday my girlfriend and I went to Day 2 of the three day Rock Carnival put together by WDHA and WRAT at Oak Ridge Park in Clark, NJ. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to go to this because the only bands I’d give a shit about at all were King’s X, Sevendust and especially Black Label Society, hell, Anthrax wouldn’t be playing until the next day and the lineup for that day was shit compared to what we saw the day we went; but Courtenay REALLY wanted to see King’s X and she REALLLYYYYY wanted to see all the food trucks. So we went.
It was a nice day out, especially with it being the last day of summer. First off – I call absolute BULLSHIT on having to pay $20 to park on the field for the day. Second, it looked real nice when we got there; they had a ferris wheel, four stages tents everywhere, a beer garden and of course, food trucks. But the set up was so fucked up and unorganized. We felt like we had to go through a fucking maze to go from one stage to another, or from the beer garden back to the one of the two main stages. Fucking stupid!
The first band that was on when we arrived was this shit emocore band called Bad Case For Big Mouth. Someone should tell them the they a real bad case of playing some really shitty music. I also think anyone with whinny vocals should just chop their balls off. Hell…whoever the first fuckface was who decided it was ok to whine like a bitch should just fucking go and kill himself now – you reading this Morrissey???? So after seeing that shit we ditched their asses immediately to check out the rest of the carnival.
While walking around we saw a tent. The closer we got I remember seeing that Game Changer Wrestling was on the bill. The closer we got after that I noticed someone a little too familiar to me. Yeah…it was Jaka…
My little backstory with him is something I’ll get into another time. The important thing is if I saw him I knew before he even told me that was definitely going to see this guy…
Chris Dickinson…wrestler turned drummer turned wrestler again. I actually played guitar in his very first band but that was about eleven years ago now. Around the time he had gone back to wrestling he and Jaka were feuding but now they’re part of Team Pazuzu and the two of them will actually be wrestling The Steiner Brothers in Manville, NJ on October 16th. Anyway, I decided to stick around to see Chris wrestle since I hadn’t since I was a ring announcer in a no holds barred match he had against Jaka six years ago.
Here’s the match:
I caught him for a few minutes after the match ended before he and the rest of Team Pazuzu had to drive off to Connecticut for another match that night. So we walked around a bit more until 5pm when Skid Row were about to go on. I personally could give two flying fucks about them without Sebastian Bach but Courtenay was curious to see what they sounded like with their brand new singer Tony Harnell, who sadly used to sing for TNT. New Jersey is the band’s home town so the old school crowd that probably saw them in bars turned up for this shit. They were not that bad but dude…their singer was in TNT. Done. Over.
After they got off they were setting up for Sevendust while methhead led Puddle of Mudd were on the other stage – I’m surprised Wes Scantlin even made it out to the gig without getting arrested again! Too bad you still sucked ass. Courtenay, being a towering 5 ft wanted to get as close to the stage as she could before anyone showed up or she knew she wouldn’t be able to see Sevendust, since she could barely see Skid Row; so there we were, standing there, subjecting ourselves to Puddle of Shit until Sevendust were to come on. The most entertaining part of the wait was the way the crowd cheered as Skid Row’s banner was being brought down. Puddle of Meth took FOREVER to finished their lame as fuck set. Of their entire catalog most people only know of one shitty CD and they just dragged it out to death.
Then…a REAL band came on:
Lajon Witherspoon? Corey Glover on steroids. The guy is still a BEAST on the mic, one of the best singers of my generation, criminally underrated. Morgan Rose…I want his drum kit…now. I lost my way with Sevendust for a long time and it’s not their fault. Starting with their 1997 debut – which I have on cassette – they were pretty much lumped in with the nu-metal movement, most likely because of their grooves but in reality they thankfully are nothing like that. Sometime in between songs Lajon decided to talk about how he’ll always be the guy that talks to all the fans and how grateful the band are to us because they’d be doomed without us. When I hear people say things like that I automatically assume they’re just full of shit. Or was he?
After Sevendust finished up I immediately took Courtenay by the hand and rushed us to the other main stage to see Black Label Society. This was going to be the seventh time I saw them and I wasn’t going to miss shit. Zakk Wylde is GOD. There was no one else that night that could play worth a shit compared to Zakk Fucking Wylde, not Slash, not the Skid Row guys, not even Ty Tabor – no one. The band’s set were intense as usual, hell, ever since he got sober the band’s shows have been like religious experiences and this was no exception.
Here are the first two songs:
Considering each band had just fifty minutes to play I found it amusing that Zakk managed to fit a brief solo section into the set. “Now this is just meedly meedly stuff”, said Courtenay. Me? It’s the best meedly meedly you can get here. After we finished watching Zakk pound his chest like Captain Caveman we relaxed a bit before we walked over to the “Birch Hill” stage to see King’s X. No way we were seeing Stephen Pearcy. Fuck him. Fuck him and every single washed up glam rock asshole that was there. But while hanging around I noticed a tent with a bunch of middle aged metalheads raffling off bass drum heads signed by 80’s thrash bands as well as selling some nice rarities. Oh shit is the Old Bridge Metal Militia really back from the dead as a result of mid life crisis? I think so! But I have to admit, it was nice to see them out. No, I didn’t talk to them. I wasn’t even born yet when they were giving Metallica a home when they came to Old Bridge from California. What was I going to say to them??
They even made an attempt at being slightly relevant by making a webpage. Aaawwww! Check them out at http://www.oldbridgemetalmilitia.com
After Ratt’s washed up ex singer finally shut the fuck up we walked to the stage. That’s when I noticed dUg’s bass cabinets and had a real bad Beavis and butthead moment:
Huh huh, hey Beavis, look at the letters on his amps, huh huh.
This was going to be my first time seeing King’s X, what an honor…just too bad Eddie Trunk had to announce them on stage. Ok we get it, you were there for everything that happened…a million years ago. I used to love listening to him but he caters way too much to his age group. The band came on…dUg Pinnick looks really good with a goatee, makes him look a lot younger than 65…it’s good to see Jerry Gaskill still doing this after enduring two heart attacks and the loss of his home to Hurricane Sandy. Ty Tabor is an incredible guitarist and he showed his ability to keep up with dUg and Jerry during some long jams.
As I was filming their set Courtenay pointed out to me the back of someone’s dreadlocked head. “Lordy lordy!!!” he yelled out with a big excited smile as he was talking with other people during the show. It was Lajon Witherspoon; I thought he was just bragging for the sake of image when he spoke about his love for the fans and not being afraid to go out to the crowd but there he was in the flesh. In fact he was standing right next to me at one point and when I said the band were amazing he talked to me about them. Wow. After King’s X ended their AMAZING set I approached Lajon, told him I’d be honored to take a picture with him and Courtenay. “Let’s do it!” was his immediate response. Amazing guy, very down to earth, more people should be like Lajon Witherspoon.
Then there’s that parking lot bullshit. We tried to leave after our selfie with Lajon but it wasn’t happening. In fact there was a line that just didn’t move. At one point Courtenay just parked her car all over again to save gas because we were going nowhere. People were increasingly enraged, drunk, both. So I walked to the nearest parking lot attendant and asked him what the fuck was happening. “None of this would be happening if the police just listened to us.” was his answer so I realized that the police were directing traffic JUST one way. This was absolutely disgraceful. It was over two hours before we finally got the fuck out of there. Hell, my friend Maureen from Brooklyn said fuck it and took car service back to her hotel and left her car in the lot just to avoid the bullshit. I also know there were a lot of complaints the next day and I also know that I’m not going back until WDHA and the Clark Police Department figured out how to safely organize and run an event like this.
The show was nice…just really fucking disorganized from start to finish.
Posted in Music RantsTagged "Angry" "Guitar" "Gym Music" "Heavy Metal" "Metal Mike" "Metalhead" "Sarcasm" Aggression Anthrax Attitude Birch Hill Black Black Label Society Chris Dickinson Clark Dario Lorina Driven dUg Pinnick Eddie Trunk Food Trucks Funeral Bell Game Changer Wrestling Jaka Jerry Gaskill John DeServio King's X Lajon Witherspoon Lita Ford Morgan Rose New Jersey Oak Ridge Park Old Bridge Metal Militia Pearl Drums Rock Carnival Sevendust Skid Row Team Pazuzu The Beginning...At Last Ty Tabor Union County WHDA WRAT Zakk WyldeLeave a comment
…if I owned my own gym…
Posted on March 21, 2015 April 20, 2015 by Mike
I’ve have thoughts about trying to open my own gym for the past four years now. Not only would I be my own boss but I could do what I want with it, which obviously includes dictating the entire vibe of the place. Who would my gym cater to? How would I design it? What equipment would I bring in? And of course there’s also the music. I love hardcore gyms like the ones I’ve seen in articles and on youtube. They cater to serious trainers, bodybuilders, powerlifters, you name it they are serious trainers. I’d love to go to a place like Metroflex in Arlington, TX, with those SICK designs all over the walls, music blasting through the speakers and dudes likes Branch Warren training their asses off; a place like Pumping Iron not too far from me. THAT place is Grunt City! The first time I walked in there they grunted and screamed so loud they were cutting through the music! These people were cutting through two big, 80’s era life size speakers! I train at a newly christened Powerhouse Gym. The owner bought Atlas Gym from the original owner and is looking to renovate the entire building. Thankfully, Mike, the new owner likes to play lots of rock music and some metal. But of course he’s not going to play the good shit all the time. I’ve already heard shit bands like Shinedown, Trapt, Limp Bizkit, Guns N Roses. Yeah I included Guns on that list – overrated and pretentious as fuck if you ask me! But Mike does let us put our phones/mp3 players into the stereo system – just ask the guy who’s always playing his Eminem mix every Thursday night! So one day I asked him if I could plug in my Spotify gym mix and he let me. I need the heaviest music I can think of to amp me up, especially when I’m squatting and deadlifting on the same day. This is my initial gym playlist called simply Gym Music:
Nevermore -Born
Meshuggah – Combustion
Crowbar – The Lasting Dose
Pantera – The Great Southern Trendkill
Morbid Angel – God of Emptiness
Black Label Society – Black Sunday
Strapping Young Lad – Shitstorm
Crowbar – All I Had (I Gave)
Pantera – Use My Third Arm
Slayer – War Ensemble
Meshuggah – Future Breed Machine
Nevermore – My Acid Words
Strapping Young Lad – Oh My Fucking God
Meshuggah – New Millenium Cyanide Christ
Pretty heavy, right? And I know a few guys in the gym that are metalheads but man, not even THEY could handle my shit. Within a few songs dudes were bitching to me that what they were hearing is “garbage”, “dude you have any Metallica?”, “Why don’t you make a playlist where you mix it up so everyone could enjoy it?”. Are you people fuckin’ pussies?? This is lifting music! It’s not supposed to be Master of Puppets; hell, everything on this list fuckin’ buries ‘Puppets six feet under in terms of intensity! The best was when the music ended Eric, one of those metalheads, quietly said “Thank god it’s over!”. Eric…I heard you buddy. But that’s not even my problem. Whenever I go to the gym a lot of what I hear is SHIT in plain English, but I don’t say a word because what right do I have? Therefore, what right do they have to bitch about my music? If you don’t like what you hear there’s a thing called HEADPHONES you pussies. Man, if I had my own gym the music would be loud and heavy as fuck all the time. And yeah, I’d probably scare a lot of people away…an exercise in weeding out the weak. Also… RIP AJ Pero 1958 – 2015
Posted in Gym RantsTagged "Angry" "Gym Music" "Heavy Metal" "Metal Mike" "Metalhead" "Playlist" "Sarcasm" "Weightlifting" Black Label Society Bodybuilders Crowbar Intensity Meshuggah Morbid Angel Nevermore Powerhouse Gym Powerlifters Slayer Strapping Young Lad2 Comments
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Temperature (°C) Anomaly temperature (K=°C) Temperature, close to the ground (°C) Max. temperature, 6h (°C) Min. temperature, 6h (°C) Freezing Level (MASL) Relative humidity (%) Dew point (°C)
Wind, gusts, direction
Wind direction and mean wind speed (kph) Wind direction and mean wind speed (m/s) Gusts, 3h (kph) Gusts, 3h (m/s) Mean wind speed (kph) with stream lines Mean wind speed, 100m (kph)
Clouds, sunshine, short wave radiation
Sunshine duration, 1h (min) Short wave radiation, last hour (Wh/m²) Cloud coverage (%) Low clouds, coverage (%) Middle clouds, coverage (%) High clouds, coverage (%)
Precipitation: rain, snow, hail
Precipitation, 1h (mm) Precipitation, 3h (mm) Precipitation, 6h (mm) Precipitation, 24h (mm) Precipitation, 24h (Snow) (mm) Accumulated Total Precipitation (mm) Anomaly 5 days total precipitation (mm) Accumulated Total Precipitation (Snow) (mm) Snow depth (cm) Snow water equivalent (mm) Snow line (MASL)
Severe Weather Parameters
Base reflectivity (dBZ) Low-Level Shear 0-0.6 mi (kn) Deep Layer Shear 0-4 mi (kn) CAPE (most unstable layer) (J/kg) CIN (most unstable layer) (J/kg) Lightning density (Flashes/km²/day) Lightn. density, 3h/6h avg. (Flashes/km²/day) Entire Atmosphere Precipitable Water (mm) Total column condensed water (kg/m²) K-Index KO-Index Soaring Index Fire Weather Index
Extreme weather index
Min. temperature, 24h (EW index) Max. temperature, 24h (EW index) Precipitation, 24h (EW index) Gusts, 24h (EW index)
Simulated satellite images
Satellite IR simulation (°C) Sat WV 300hPa simulation (°C) Simulated VIS satellite image
Heat flux, moisture flux, evaporation
Sensible heat flux at the surface (Wh/m²) Latent heat flux at the surface (Wh/m²) Accumulated evaporation (mm) Evaporation 24h (mm)
Haze (Aerosol total) Haze (Dust) Haze (Black carbon) Haze (Organic matter) Haze (Sea salt) Haze (Sulphate) Column carbon monoxide (mg/m²) Column nitrogen dioxide (mg/m²) Particulate matter, PM10 (µg/m³) Particulate matter, PM2.5 (µg/m³)
Synoptic composite Thunderstorm composite
Prob. precipitation >=1mm/24h (%) Prob. precipitation >=10mm/24h (%) Prob. precipitation >=20mm/24h (%) Prob. tropical depression within 48h (%) Prob. tropical storm within 48h (%) Prob. tropical cyclone within 48h (%)
Flight meteorology
Planetary Boundary Height (m AGL)
Oceans and lakes
Water temperature (°C) Anomaly water temperature (°C) Significant Wave Height (m) Signif. Wave Height (m) and direction Ice coverage (Sea and lakes) (%)
Pressure level - 1.000Pa / ~100m
Temperature, 1.000hPa (°C) Wind speed and streamlines, 1.000hPa (kph) Relative Humidity, 1.000hPa (%) Geopotential height, 1.000hPa (m)
Pressure level - 925hPa / ~700m
Temperature, 925hPa (°C) Wind speed and streamlines, 925hPa (kph) Relative Humidity, 925hPa (%) Geopotential height, 925hPa (m) Relative Vorticity, 925hPa (10^-5/s)
Pressure level - 850hPa / ~1.500m
Temperature, 850hPa (°C) Anomaly temperature, 850hPa (°C) Wind speed and streamlines, 850hPa (kph) Relative Humidity, 850hPa (%) Geopotential height, 850hPa (m) Relative Vorticity, 850hPa (10^-5/s) Theta-E and Geopot, 850hPa (°C)
Temperature, 500hPa (°C) Wind speed and streamlines, 500hPa (kph) Relative Humidity, 500hPa (%) Geopotential height, 500hPa (m) Anomaly Geopotential height, 500hPa (m) Relative Vorticity, 500hPa (10^-5/s)
Pressure level - 250hPa / ~10.400m
Temperature, 250hPa (°C) Wind speed and streamlines, 250hPa (kph) Relative Humidity, 250hPa (%) Geopotential height, 250hPa (m)
Pressure level - 50hPa / ~19.300m
Temperature, 50hPa (°C) Wind speed and streamlines, 50hPa (kph) Relative Humidity, 50hPa (%) Geopotential height, 50hPa (m)
Here you will find some static parameters that are used as inputs to the model's calculations, such as topography for example. The values of these parameters don't change from run to run like output parameters such as temperature or pressure.
Model orography (m)
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07/16/2019, 06:00pm EEST
ECMWF/Global Euro HD (10 days) from 07/16/2019/00z
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This product displays output from the European ECMWF global model. Global models produce forecasts for the entire world usually twice daily. Choose any country in the world using the menus to the left where you will also find a diverse range of products to choose from including temperature, pressure, precipitation, and much more. The European model runs 10 days out into the future but, like all models, gets less accurate as time goes on.
In addition to the main model run, we also offer individual “ensemble member” forecasts for the most crucial parameters. These ensemble members are created by making slight tweaks to the initial conditions of the model, then running it over and over again with those slight tweaks. This process creates a range of possible outcomes that can be analyzed to get valuable insights about the probability of various forecast solutions. The ensemble member forecasts are available between 90 and 120 minutes after the main run.
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Gatvol of all the political parties in SA – here's the Purple Cow
- biznews.com | 4 months ago
LONDON — Many South Africans find themselves in a quandary on who to vote for in the May elections.
As one friend told me, “I’m so gatvol of the political parties in South Africa. ” The ANC has that whiff of corruption, the Democratic Alliance like to stab each other in the back, the Economic Freedom Fighters are going to nationalise everything and could very well turn the country into Venezuela; who else could you vote for? A new party think that people who like capitalism, may want to support them, it is called the Capitalist Party of South Africa, or ZACP.
Now does that remind you of the South African Communist Party? Apparently by substituting the S with a Z and you turn from a Communist into a Capitalist.
read full story @biznews.com
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Home / Announcements / Announcements
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Independent publications funding available for students
Students who edit an independent, undergraduate, on-campus publication or web site that serves the Temple community as a whole may be eligible for...
Temple to test TU-Alert system
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, a test of the Temple University emergency notification system, TU-Alert, will be conducted. This...
Preview Temple’s new web site
After extensive user testing, focus groups and surveys, a newly designed Temple homepage is almost ready to launch. A collaborative project from...
Diamond Award recognizes students’ overall accomplishments
The Dean of Students Office is now accepting applications for the Diamond Awards. The Diamond Award is the highest recognition given to a Temple...
Diamond Dollars expands to off-campus vendors
Richard Rumer, associate vice president for business services, has announced that in response to frequent requests from Temple students and...
Temple opens search for senior vice provost
To apply, go to Temple University’s online employment web site and search for job number TU-10850, or apply directly to Harry Young,...
New U.S. passport card and changes in U.S. passport fees
The United States Passport Services Office has announced, effective Feb. 1, 2008, the availability of a new “US Passport Card...
W-2 forms to be mailed Jan. 25
All 2007 Temple University W-2 forms have been printed and will be mailed on Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, to faculty, staff and students who...
Brown named director of the student-athlete advising center
Temple University has named Ellen Henderson Brown as the director of the Center of Academic Advising and Support for Student-Athletes,...
New guidelines for students participating in activities
To help Temple students participate in university-recognized activities outside the classroom, the Office of the Provost has announced the...
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Duval County Chief Judge Cancels Courthouse Photography Ban
By Jim Piggot - News4Jax & Lindsey Kilbride • Jul 15, 2015
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From July 1 through July 15 taking photographs outside the Duval County Courthouse was banned by an order from Chief Judge Mark Mahon.
Credit Cyd Hoskinson / WJCT News
People can go back to taking all the photographs they want outside of the Duval County Courthouse.
Chief Judge Mark Mahon on Wednesday rescinded a week-old administrative order prohibiting filming and certain forms of demonstrations on courthouse steps, sidewalks and lawns.
In a notice rescinding Administrative Order 2015-4, Mahon wrote that the controversy about limiting free speech and public access to the courthouse overshadowed the intent of the order.
"The goal was to ensure the safety of all people who conduct business and work at the courthouse while, at the same time, ensuring such freedoms as speech and press were protected," Mahon wrote. "The intent was to strike an appropriate balance between what are, at times, competing objectives."
The order was issued after an incident in May when a press conference by State Attorney Angela Corey on the courthouse steps had to be moved because of a demonstrator who the ruling said created a security threat.
"The goal was to ensure the safety of all people who conduct business and work at the courthouse while, at the same time, ensuring such freedoms as speech and press were protected," Mahon wrote.
Earlier this month, two members of the group Photography is not a Crime were shooting video outside the courthouse when JSO officers gave them the judge’s order, threatening them with contempt of court if they didn’t leave.
Jeff Gray, the man who recorded the incident, said he thinks the order went too far.
“It’s heartbreaking that you can’t go out and take photographs of a courthouse in Jacksonville because of a judge’s administrative order. This courthouse cost the taxpayers of Jacksonville almost half a billion dollars, and this judge is telling us we can’t take photographs or videotape the courthouse the taxpayers paid for,” Gray said.
Gray was on Broad Street, opposite the courthouse, in the area that the order said was exempt from being considered part of the Duval County Courthouse Grounds.
“If someone is committing a crime on the courthouse grounds, arrest them for committing a crime, but don’t use that as an excuse to take everybody else’s rights away,” Gray said.
The initial order restricted certain activities on sidewalk leading to the courthouse, the courthouse steps, perimeter sidewalks on Adams, Duval, Broad and Pearl streets, the State Attorney’s Office and the parking garage are considered courthouse grounds.
Gray said he knows that security can be an issue, but what his organization does isn’t a risk.
The rescission comes after representatives from five media outlets, including WJCT and News4Jax, met with Judge Mahon on Tuesday to voice their concerns about the restrictions.
First-Amendment Lawyer, George Gabel spearheaded the fight against the order.
Gabel said, “It was an issue that brought together all the major news media on an issue that’s important to their ability to inform the public about courthouse proceedings even though they’re competitors in the news business.”
Mahon issued the order on July 1 in response to a group of activists who were staging daily demonstrations in front of the courthouse.
The rescission says the intent of the Order was to preserve an atmosphere of safety and decorum, but secondary issues took over the focus.
© 2018 WJCT NEWS
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Yahoo News Exclusives
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If there is a question of who worked on behalf of the Turkish government to influence the 2016 Donald Trump campaign, then the court should look no further than former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, lawyers for Bijan Kian, the Iranian-American businessman and former Flynn partner, told jurors in the Eastern District of Virginia Monday. Kian is charged with two felonies—illegally lobbying on behalf of the Turkish government and conspiring covertly to influence U.S. politics about Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric who is now living in Pennsylvania. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted.
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Land crabs infest Florida man's house after heavy rainfall
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The B-2 Stealth Bomber Is Now 30 Years Old. Take a Look Inside.
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Police officer who killed Ethiopian-Israeli released on bail
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At least 1 dead, 15 injured — including 3 firefighters — in California house explosion
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Bugatti Newsroom
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Salon Rétromobile Paris 2018
Molsheim / Paris
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New customer service programme, Loyalty Maintenance Programme (LMP), to maintain the technical condition of the Veyron fleet at a very high level in the long term
LMP helps Veyron owners reduce the operating expenses of their super sports car
With LMP, the brand continues to expand its “Bugatti Certified” quality programme for the Veyron
Bugatti is the only carmaker worldwide to offer a factory warranty of up to 15 years
Filetype: jpg
Filesize: 4.1 mb (High Res)
Bugatti is launching a new service campaign for its Veyron customers. At this year’s Salon Rétromobile in Paris, one of the world’s most renowned classic car shows and a meeting point for collectors from across the globe, the French luxury brand is presenting its new customer service programme for the Veyron. The Loyalty Maintenance Programme (LMP) has been developed to maintain the technical condition of the Veyron fleet in the marketplace at the highest level. In addition, it can also help Veyron owners to reduce the operating expenses of their super sports car. With LMP, Bugatti continues to expand its “Bugatti Certified” quality programme. By acquiring a “Bugatti Certified” seal, Veyron owners lay the ideal foundation for a sustained increase in the value of their vehicle. LMP is part of Bugatti’s Extended Warranty and Extended Warranty Plus warranty programs. Bugatti is the only carmaker to offer a factory warranty of up to 15 years.
Within the framework of the new Loyalty Maintenance Programme (LMP), Bugatti is now offering a variety of different service packages from which Veyron owners can choose in line with their requirements. “Our customers use their Bugattis in very individual ways,” says Chris Kelly, Head of Bugatti Customer Service. “Many owners enjoy driving their car every day while others see it as an automotive work of art in their private collection. This means that individual customers have very different expectations of service. We can now meet these expectations much more effectively, in line with our customers’ wishes.”
Franco Utzeri, Head of Bugatti Certified & Financial Services, has developed the new program together with Customer Service. “Our quality programme has been significantly enhanced by the Loyalty Maintenance Program. This means that our customer support has reached the high level of individualisation that customers already learned to know and appreciate when they purchased their Bugatti. No other brand is as near to the customer as Bugatti – and that applies to the whole duration of ownership.“
The super sports car brand from Alsace launched its Bugatti Certified program several years ago to ensure that the growing Veyron fleet in the marketplace could benefit from support in-line with the brand’s high standards. Vehicles are checked and prepared by Bugatti Customer Service and the official service partners of the brand. From airbags to spark plugs, everything is precisely tested and replaced if necessary. In addition, fundamental technical updates are carried out and an extended warranty is granted. At the end of this process, the vehicles receive the Bugatti Certified seal which confirms their excellent technical condition and appearance. This way, Bugatti ensures that its high standards are applied throughout the world.
Not only Veyron owners but also sports car enthusiasts wishing to purchase a pre-owned Bugatti benefit from the programme. Bugatti provides would-be owners with support in their search for a model meeting their requirements, ranging from colour to equipment and from power output to age. If customers have extraordinary wishes, Bugatti Certified also offers the possibility of customising vehicles in line with their requirements. This way, the brand ensures that pre-owned vehicles are also in impeccable condition and are 100-percent Bugatti.
By acquiring a pre-owned Veyron, new owners become part of the exclusive Bugatti family. This gives them the possibility of taking part in various special events held by the luxury brand and enjoying special offerings and events reserved for this select body of customers. And of course, all customer vehicles benefit from round-the-clock world-wide technical support from the Bugatti Flying Doctors as well as the 34 official dealers and service partners.
“The combination of a confirmed vehicle history, the Bugatti Certified warranty and individual support by Bugatti Customer Service makes the difference for Veyron owners and is more than just a seal of approval,” says Utzeri. “We are committed to providing our customers with a 360° ownership experience that is unique in the automotive world.”
This year, the vehicles on display on the Bugatti stand at Salon Rétromobile will be a 2007 Veyron 16.4 with 1,001 PS and a Type 57C Stelvio. The original version of this vehicle, the Type 57, made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1934. Up to the beginning of the Second World War, it was then Bugatti’s only model, which was produced at the factory in Molsheim, Alsace in the versions 57, 57C, 57S and 57SC. Between 1934 and 1940, more than 680 vehicles were produced with bodywork of various types, including 150 Stelvio four-seat cabriolets. The body of the 3.3-litre tourer with chassis number 57715 which is on display in Paris was built to order by coachbuilder Gangloff of Colmar in Alsace.
The Bugatti stand has the number 1 R 051 and can be found in Hall 1.
Bugatti Certified at “The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering”
Bugatti.com
© 2019 Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.
*Data determined in accordance with the measurement method required by law. Since 01 September 2018 all new cars are approved in accordance with the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure to measure fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. From 01 January 2019, all fuel consumption figures are shown as determined in accordance with WLTP. CO2 figures will be shown as NEDC-equivalent values, as CO2 based taxation will continue to be based on an NEDC value (derived from WLTP) until 06 April 2020. Fuel economy and CO2 emission figures are only intended as a means of comparing different types of vehicles tested under the same test cycle. New WLTP homologated vehicles are therefore not directly comparable with any vehicles tested under NEDC.
Values are provided for comparison only. To the extent that fuel consumption or CO2 values are given as ranges, these do not relate to a single, individual car and do not constitute part of the offer. Extra features and accessories (attachments, tyre formats etc.) can change relevant vehicle parameters such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics which may result in a change in fuel consumption and CO2 values. Additionally, weather and traffic conditions, as well as individual driving styles, can all affect the actual fuel consumption, electricity consumption, and CO2 emissions of a car.
Chiron:
Fuel consumption, l/100km: urban 35.2 / extra urban 15.2 / combined 22.5; CO2 emissions (combined), g/km: 516; efficiency class: G*
Chiron Sport:
Divo:
This model is not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC, as type approval has not yet been granted.
La Voiture Noire:
la « Voiture Noire »:
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schism in True Orthodoxy
The Fruits of a Schism
Last month (October, 2018), the Agafangel Synod deposed two of its bishops (Archbishop Andronik of Canada, and Archbishop Sophroni of St. Petersburg, Russia), and summoned the suspended Abbot Andrei (Erastov) from Australia. Why is this important to the Orthodox Faithful? Because the kaleidoscopic deceit of this synod continues to spin even beyond the boundaries of its own control.
To bring some clarity to this confused and fog-bound “circus,” I have written this brief chronology of pertinent events before and after the fall of the ROCOR into union with the Moscow Patriarchate (MP):
– Shortly after his ordination in 1994, the young Bishop Agafangel displayed his ignorance of Orthodox ecclesiology by publishing an article proclaiming the validity of sacraments outside of the Church:
“…the Grace of the Holy Spirit, the Grace of the Sacraments, resides also with the Catholics, Monophysites, and in part, with Old Believers and Protestants who have not violated the formula in performing the sacraments (baptism). The Orthodox Church does not re-baptize those who come from these heresies, but receives them through repentance. Catholics and Monophysites are not chrismated a second time. The Sacrament of Marriage is also accepted. In the Moscow Patriarchate, there are six Sacraments which have been preserved and are recognized as valid – baptism, chrismation, the priesthood, marriage, unction, repentance.”
(Bishop Aganfangel Pashkovsky, Vestnik TOC, No. 2, 1994, pg. 30)
– Assigned by the ROCOR Synod to the Ukraine (where he was born in Odessa), Bishop Agafangel worked alongside Archbishop Lazar of Odessa and Tambov (who ordained him) until 2001.
– In 2001, Metropolitan Vitaly was forced to resign by the ROCOR Synod, led by the new Metropolitan Laurus, who had a firm intention to join the Moscow Patriarchate (MP)
– Almost immediately, Met. Vitaly came out of retirement with the intent of opposing any union with the MP. Archbishop Lazar and Archbishop Benjamin (of Chernomorsk & Kuban) declared their support for Met. Vitaly, and after the First Voronezh Conference of the Russian clergy, sent Bishop Agafangel to the Synod in New York instructing him to present their protest, signed by the bishops, clergy and participants of this Conference.
– Arriving in New York, Bishop Agafangel betrayed the will of his fellow bishops and all the Russian clergy, and announced his own support of the newly elected Met. Laurus.
– Archbishop Lazar and Archbishop Benjamin soon separated from the Synod of Met. Laurus for reasons of Faith; the result of their rejection of the Sergianism and Ecumenism of the MP. They began ordaining bishops for their RTOC Synod (including the present Archbishop Tikhon and Bishop Germogen), which they were obliged to do according to the canons of the Church; appointing worthy candidates to widowed Russian cathedras.
– In 2007, Met. Laurus completed his stated mission by bringing the entire ROCOR under the jurisdiction of the MP, thereby betraying the century-long witness of Faith of the ROCOR and the persecuted Russian Church in the catacombs.
– Just prior to Met. Laurus’ betrayal in 2007, Bishop Agafangel announced that he agreed with joining the MP, but at that point in time it was “still too early.” Following this announcement, Bishop Agafangel issued a false proclamation regarding his secession from the Synod of Met. Laurus, signed by Bishop Daniel (of Erie, PA) and Bishop Agafangel. However, after two weeks Bishop Daniel dissociated himself from this appeal, saying that he remains with the Synod of Met. Laurus and does not wish to create a schism. Then, Bishop Agafangel began to form his own synod – ROCOR(A). Collecting the remaining parishes reluctant to follow Met. Laurus, Bishop Agafangel refused the offer of his former brother bishops of the RTOC to help restore the episcopate abroad, stating that anyone who left ROCOR (because of its path to the MP), before he himself left the Synod of Laurus, was a schismatic. Having made such a frivolous statement, Bishop Agafangel apparently overlooked the fact that he was thereby calling Metropolitan Vitaly a schismatic also. Met. Vitaly left his former brother bishops-betrayers in 2001.
– Bishop Agafangel appealed to the Greek Cyprianite Synod (the Synod in Resistance). The Cyprianite Synod was deposed by the True Greek Orthodox Church (TGOC) under Archbishop Chrysostom (Kousis) for creating a schism in the TGOC and for their heretical ecclesiology (Cyprianism – confessing that the Mother/World Orthodox Church was ailing, but still valid).
– Bishop Agafangel succeeded in convincing the Greek Cyprianites to ordain with him a synod of bishops for his new jurisdiction (ROCOR(A)). Lacking any understanding of his own ecclesiology, Bishop Agafangel announced that he too is a Cyprianite. Thus, he and every bishop of his new synod came under the Anathema Against Ecumenism declared by the 1983 ROCOR Sobor under the direction and guidance of the Holy Hierarch Philaret (3rd Metropolitan of ROCOR). In such a manner, the Agafangel Synod: 1) anathematized itself from its very beginning, 2) made itself uncanonical through its invalid ordinations by deposed Greek bishops, 3) became heretical through its proclaimed Cyprianite ecclesiology, and 4) became schismatic because of its rejection to recognize and join their brother bishops in the Russian Church. – Shortly thereafter, under controversial circumstances, Bishop Agafangel became Metropolitan of his newly created ROCOR(A). He expanded his synod and jurisdiction through receiving bishops and clergy of dubious ecclesiology (i.e., from the Gennady-Sekachov sect to the MP). The need to establish an Orthodox ecclesiology was never seriously addressed, or perhaps even understood. Thus, under such circumstances, the hieromonks Andronik and Sophroni became “Archbishops” of this organization.
– As usual, one schism breeds another. Soon, Archbishops Andronik and Sophroni left Agafangel’s synod for reasons of administrative disagreements (i.e., not for canonical matters of Faith). Almost simultaneously, Bishop Stefan (Sabelnik) left the RTOC Synod for similar reasons of administrative disagreements. All three bishops were suspended and retired by their respective synods for such uncanonical actions.
– Claiming to be preparing their new “church” for the “last times,” all three bishops ignored their respective synods’ decisions to suspend and retire them, and proceeded to form a “quasi synod” with no particular administration. Of course, they too claimed to be the continuation of ROCOR.
– The first major decision of this quasi synod (or The ROCOR of the Last Days) was to make the suspended Abbot Andrei Erastov a bishop. As absurd as this new schismatic organization is, what is more astounding is that Abbot Andrei agreed to such a ridiculous ordination. Of course, Abbot Andrei was also a clergyman of the Agafangel Synod.
– Subsequently, all three bishops were deposed by their respective synods. All three bishops were reduced to the status of “simple monk.” The monk Stefan (Sabelnik) died this past year.
– The suspended Abbot Andrei Erastov has been summoned to appear before the Agafangel Synod, apparently to be given a chance to explain himself and repent. Meanwhile, he has been actively parading about Australia pretending to be a bishop, and creating confusion and discord among the faithful.
Of course, almost every paragraph above could be expanded into a topic of its own. Indeed, there are more actions and details which serve to further detract from the legitimacy of this synod. Suffice it for now to simply conclude from the above, that from Agafangel to Andrei, such a delusional kaleidoscope of ecclesiology and actions could seriously harm the spiritual life of the faithful. Hence, the need for this brief summary of its history.
To complete this commentary on a lighter note, one might imagine, keeping in mind all of the above, that people amongst the Orthodox might now begin to ask: How many simple monks, who had an episcopal rank, but could not keep it, does it take to transform a suspended abbot into a bishop?
Protopresbyter Victor Melehov
The Fruits of a Schism Last month (October, 2018), the Agafangel Synod deposed two of its bishops (Archbishop Andronik of Canada, and Archbishop Sophroni of St. […]
American Metropolitan Synodal Chancery Statement with Sister Synod in Greece
NFTU Note: Earlier this year, before the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas re-entered communion with its Sister Synod in Greece [and then its Sister Synod […]
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The Russian religious news site “Portal-Credo” is reporting of a continuing breaching between the Russian True Orthodox Church centred in Omsk, under Archbishop Tikhon, and the […]
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Capitalist FM
From Nick Faro's Homepage
Capitalist FM was my entry for Ludum Dare 34. I think Duran was busy on the weekend so I decided to give another stab at an online multiplayer social experiment, this time even more abstracted away from the concept of a "game." The core gameplay revolves around creating your own internet radio station, with songs pulled from YouTube. The game shows you every other player's station and you are encouraged to give them a listen-- the more listeners your station has, the more songs you're allowed to put on your roster. The catch is that only one player can "own" a certain song at once, and nobody else is allowed to have it on their station. Once you hit a certain listener threshold and you're bigger than another station, you can forcibly take them over and absorb their song roster into your own. The idea here is that it's Agar mashed up with Pandora. I actually still think this idea is cool as hell and I want to remake it as a web-based game.
Unfortunately the server was that same damned ThinkPad from CoinSlot and the entire service crumpled once anyone tried to do anything. For a few days though it was cool and there were maybe 10 or 11 running radio stations before I just gave up and shut the whole thing down. When will I ever learn.
Retrieved from "http://nickfa.ro/index.php?title=Capitalist_FM&oldid=75"
About Nick Faro's Homepage
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Disgruntled NCP leaders gang up on Oli
Published On: September 29, 2018 07:30 AM NPT By: Republica
KATHMANDU, Sept 29: While Prime Minister KP Oli is busy holding bilateral meetings at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, a section of leaders from his party, Nepal Communist Party, are mounting pressure against him.
Dissatisfied over poor governance and the ‘monopoly’ in running the party, some party bigwigs led by former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal have warned Oli, who is also a chairman of the recently unified NCP, that he needs better performance in governance and in accommodating their concerns. Senior leaders of the ruling party, who were present at a tea reception organized by Nepal, expressed their dissatisfaction over Oli’s ‘arbitrary decisions’ in the government and his monopoly in the party.
The Nepal-led faction of the party has accused Oli of negotiating only with Pushpa Kamal Dahal in making crucial party decisions and while running the government. They vented their feelings of being sidelined in both government and party.
“It seems the prime minister wants to run the party and the government without consulting any party leader other than Pushpa Kamal Dahal. But that is no way to run party or government,” said NCP leader Ghanashyam Bhusal, adding, “We are demanding internal democracy in the party and better performance by the government.”
At the gathering which was organized to share views among the disgruntled, the party leaders stressed the need of taking up these issues with the prime minister soon after he returns to Nepal. Oli’s comrades have been feeling sidelined after the new party was formed through unification with the Dahal-led Maoists.
Frustrated with the government’s performance, Bam Dev Gautam, who was considered one of Oli’s confidants, was also present at Friday’s tea reception. Senior NCP leader Jhala Nath Khanal, however, was absent at the gathering.
One disgruntled leader said Oli had appointed a province-in-charge, a chief and a deputy chief when Nepal was abroad. “When Madhav Nepal asked about the naming of provincial chiefs, he [Oli] gave assurances that such decisions would be taken only after his (Nepal’s) return. But Oli took all these decisions when Nepal was abroad,” said the disgruntled leader.
Addressing parliament on Thursday, ex-PM Nepal had criticized the government for failing to improve service delivery and expedite development projects down to the people’s level. The government is being criticized from all quarters for failing to book the guilty in the rape and murder a 13-year-old Nirmala Panta.
“The party is not functioning. Frustrations are growing among the public. So, we will take up these and other issues shortly after the prime minister returns,” said Bhusal.
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Nepal_Communist_Party
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A never punctual prime minister !
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