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Category Archives: Election 2012
The traveling cavalcade of clowns that is the Republican primary season kicks off with the Iowa caucuses this week. As if that haven of corn-fed schmucks is representative of the nation as a whole yet in our sham of a political system this somehow passes for a legitimate process. The entire gaggle of swine have been working the hustings and to add further insult the next step to the coronation of their prospective Führer the equally unrepresentative state of New Hampshire is next. This is serious corn pone along the lines of cheesy 1960’s sitcom Green Acres with all of the hayseeds like the Kimballs and the Haneys rolling into town in their Sunday finery to cast their lot with the one seriously deranged GOP jackass that truly represents them. I do find that Newton Leroy Gingrich has more than a passing resemblance to Arnold Ziffel. Iowans are just more refined versions of the red state fascist peckerwoods down yonder behind the cornbread curtain, hicks and rubes are hicks rubes no matter what neck of the woods that they may hail from.
Now I am sure that Iowa is a nice place and there is much to see and do there (ha ha ha), thanks to deranged Republican candidate Michelle Bachmann it was pointed out that notorious serial murderer John Wayne Gacy began his illicit activities in Waterloo, a neighbor to Cedar Falls. Famous Iowans include Marion Morrison (the other John Wayne), Herbert Hoover (how apropos), Johnny Carson, Buffalo Bill and a true American hero in former FDR Vice President Henry A. Wallace who certainly knew a fascist when he saw one and must be rolling over in his grave over the GOP invasion. Other famous Iowans resonate greatly with the one true demographic that the Republicans routinely target, the geriatric Fox News viewers whose Cold War and anti-hippie, homophobic and predominantly white worldview easily accommodates such nonsensical horseshit as the Obama is a secret commie Muslim scam. Get a load of some of these names and see if you can find any sort of discernible pattern here:
William Frawley: Fred Mertz of I Love Lucy
Ann Landers: Professional gossip monger
Cloris Leachman: TV actress
Glenn Miller: Big band maestro
Harriet Nelson: THE Harriet from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Donna Reed: Star of The Donna Reed Show
Andy Williams: Legendary crooner (once sang with Bing Crosby)
According to the 2010 Census Iowa is a whopping 91 percent white, 14.9 percent over 65 years of age and at with a population that is just a tad above 3 million represents less than one percent of the population of the nation as a whole. To sum it all up it is idiotic for the corporate media and the thoroughly corrupt political establishment to tout Iowa as some great representation of the entire United States. As Abe Lincoln once famously remarked:
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out that it’s one hell of a lot easier to fool a very small, predominately white and chock a block with famous 1950s-1960s television icons as the greatest former residents slice of the demographic pie like the cornshuckers in the Hawkeye State than the more sophisticated city slickers who have a better knack at spotting flim flam men. So the legend of Iowa as the great American weathervane ranks right up there with all of the other big lies of our times like the phony war on terror, the greatness of the American capitalist system and Tim Tebow as a legitimate starting NFL quarterback (he isn’t fit to carry the jockstrap of former Iowan Kurt Warner, himself a Jesus freak albeit a more humble one) and the increasingly creeping fascist police state apparatus as some sort of benevolent protector. Iowa brings to mind the great and underrated movie Pleasantville where the black and white 1950’s style of television show utopia is forever changed by two modern day teenagers who have been magically teleported into a sitcom by a TV repairman/ sorcerer played by Don Knotts and proceed to change the place for the better.
Pleasantville is a perfect metaphor for the conservative nonsense that is peddled by the traveling shit salespeople of the Republican party, their entire schtick falls apart if they can’t sell their silly non-reality based nostalgic gimmickry harkening back to a simpler and more moral time. The kids in the movie turn the black and white naivete and innocence into a stunning world of color and the hated nuance by introducing art, sex and non-conformity and rapidly run afoul of the town honchos who unleash the typical conservative reaction of violence, intimidation, hatred and rigged legal proceedings to stop the transformation. The “there are no roads out of Pleasantville” type of mentality that has allowed for the permeation of the poisonous disease carried by the Republicans that has for decades eaten our society from within. The world is a vastly more complicated, rapidly changing and thanks to new technologies interconnected environment and the changes represent a mortal threat to the white picket fence style of Americana that was mainlined into the consciousness of generations thanks to television, the most potent drug of them all. The Republicans are able to tap into this Pleasantville mind warp and to blame all of the real perceived evils of those chaotic decades of the 1960s and 1970s on those who would choose to live in a world of color and nuance rather than be mired like dinosaurs in a black and white tarpit, braying and keening as they are sucked under. The civil rights movement, equal rights for women, the Vietnam war, sexual liberation, Watergate, the hippies and drugs and rock and roll music really put a serious mindfucking on a lot of folks and they are desperate to cast their lot with whatever silver-tongued devil riding in on a white horse to rescue them from the savages best appeals to their longing for the past.
Republicans Troll For Rubes In The Hawkeye State
The entire fraudulent Republican bill of goods is designed to appeal to the suckers who can’t deal with social change. Their followers have rejected any form of progress of the past half century. They cling to their false idols like John Wayne and Ronald Reagan, both of whom are invoked constantly by the cynical and dishonest sheep herders trolling through the teenubg metropolises of Des Moines, Dubuque, Davenport and Waterloo as well as the outlying burgs like Battle Creek, Fort Dodge, Hawkeye and even Pleasantville (population 1,694 according to the 2010 census) as they sell peddle their lies. The lunatic Rick Santorum has found that his snake oil sells far better in Iowa and the man who once brought a dead fetus home to his wife is basking in the national media attention, he has visited all 99 counties and as of last week had conducted nearly 400 town halls and has taken to wearing a sweater vest as a costume. There was much made over the pilgrimages to the Evangelical Christian fast food franchise Pizza Ranch, a western themed restaurant that serves up greasy, cheesy pies along with bible based nonsense, the chains’ motto is PizzaRanchServes. In combining two of the most irrational aspects of modern conservative thinking being the revisionist version of history as filtered through John Wayne’s undershorts and the weaponized form of modern American Christianity (Billy Sunday also hailed from Iowa) Pizza Ranch is a slam dunk with the deniers and haters of the base. Moonbat Michelle Bachmann who gained attention for performing simulated fellatio on a foot long corndog at the Iowa State Fair last summer reportedly visited 14 pizza ranches in one week, Santorum’s kids it has been said are sick of pizza by now and even Ron Paul is holding sessions at the chain. It’s more than a bit ironic that Herman Cain, who made quite a name for himself in the pizza business before his proclivity to serve up the pepperoni to women other than his wife has dropped out and isn’t able to hit the cheese and sausage circuit. One of the more frequent pizza parlor visitors is of course Newton Leroy Gingrich, he didn’t after all get more chins than a Chinese phone book by hitting the salad bar. I don’t suppose that the pizza chain Cheesus Crust from the otherwise lamentable movie My Best Friend’s Girl will be opening any franchises in Iowa in the near future.
And so it begins, the New Years hangovers haven’t completely dissipated and the real onslaught is beginning in earnest. The sick joke of the national media swarms like flies to a fresh dungpile in Iowa, a thoroughly appropriate metaphor for the Republican candidates (Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman excepted) and the flies will soon migrate north to New Hampshire and other locales as the carnival of perversion, a moveable feast of bullshit that is the fascist Republican party primary season. This is going to be the greatest show on earth as well as a glittering showcase of all that has gone so terribly wrong and ugly in America today until the entire kit and kaboodle roars into Tampa come August for the largest gathering of Nazis, degenerates and stone cold freaks since the Nuremberg rallies of 1933.
Posted in Election 2012, Iowa Caucuses, mIchele Bachmann John Wayne Gacy, Pizza Ranch, Republican War On America, Republicans Iowa, Right Wing Lies
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Sonya's Sampler
‘Play of Light’ art exhibition speaks to rhythms, harmonies
Column by Sonya Ellingboe
Artist Jane Guthridge will exhibit her artworks large and small in the gallery at Littleton Museum from June 28 to Aug. 25. “Play of Light: Works by Jane Guthridge” will include large …
Detail from Jane Guthridge’s “Reflected Light” to be in her exhibit June 28-Aug. 25 at the Littleton Museum.
Posted Tuesday, June 18, 2019 3:07 pm
Sonya Ellingboe
Artist Jane Guthridge will exhibit her artworks large and small in the gallery at Littleton Museum from June 28 to Aug. 25. “Play of Light: Works by Jane Guthridge” will include large installation pieces and smaller dimensional work, all focused on what she calls “underlying rhythms and harmonies of our environment.” The Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton, is open Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is free. 303-795-3950.
Sinatra tribute
“My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” is presented by Performance Now Theatre Company through June 30 at Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway. The theater piece, conceived by David Grapes and Todd Olson, will be directed by Kelly Van Oosbree, featuring Isabella Duran, Alisa Metcalf, Thom Lich and Adam Luhrs. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays. Tickets: $20-$36. 303-987-7845, PerformanceNow.org.
Prairie Sky Park, 9381 Crossington Way in Lone Tree offers free RidgeGate Summer Beat Concerts, rain or shine. June 20: Michael Friedman Band, contemporary jazz, R&B; July 18: Skean Dubb, Celtic folk music. Activities start at 5 p.m., bands play 6 to 8 p.m. Bring chairs or blankets, picnics, kids. Food trucks and art activities.
Dakota Blonde
Local favorite band Dakota Blonde will perform at 7 p.m. June 19 on the lawn at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. Acoustic rock, bluegrass, folk. Food truck Mile High City Sliders will be on hand, and attendees are also welcome to bring a picnic along with chairs or blankets. Free.
Free community dinner
A taco bar will be featured at the monthly free community dinner from 6 to 7 p.m. on June 25 at Littleton’s First Presbyterian Church, 1609 W. Littleton Blvd. Beef tacos, green chili and chicken casserole, chips and salsa, fruit and handheld desserts. Information; 303-798-1389, fpcl.org/dinner.
Theater openings
“Bull in a China Shop,” by Bryna Turner, is the story of the controversial Mary Woolley, longtime president of Mount Holyoke College. It plays through June 29 at Benchmark Theatre, Bench at 40 West, 1560 Teller St., Lakewood. Performances: 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 6 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $30, $25. Industry Night, June 17, $12; Thursdays June 20 and 27; half price. Benchmarktheatre.com. “Be More Chill,’ a musical, is presented by Equinox Theatre Denver at The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., Denver, through June 29. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $25 in advance; $30 at the door. Equinoxtheatredenver.com.
Denver Public Art announces a Hentzell Park Public Art Commission for the Cherry Creek Trail near Joe Shoemaker School, 3333 S. Havana St. Artwork should be appropriate for students and engage with trail users. Applications; callforentry.org. Commission amount approximately $35,000. Denverpublicart.org/for-artists.
Englewood chamber music
Summer matinee performances will be offered on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in Hampden Hall, in Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway: June 26 — Piano Trios by Mendelssohn and Piazzola; July 10 — Trios by Beethoven, Grofe and Mozart; July 17 — Brahms “Clarinet Sonata” plus “Schilflieder” by August Klughart and “Solo de Concours” by Messager. Tickets: $20/$15. Free under 18. Englewoodarts.org or at the door one hour before concert.
Court the Arts
More than 40 artists’ booths will line the 300 block of Wilcox Street and the Courthouse lawn in Castle Rock on June 22 and 23 for the annual Court the Arts Fine Arts Fair show and sale. Hours: June 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; June 23: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Sonya Ellingboe, Littleton Museum, Littleton Colorado, Frank Sinatra, Lakewood Cultural Center
Looks like a fun family fishing season
Egypt trip builds bridges in event shared on film
Meet the queen of conspiracy, Mae Brussell
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The Wheel for April 27, 2017
by Las Vegas Rotary Club | Apr 27, 2017 | The Wheel | 0 comments
Mark Shunock-Mondays Dark
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada, Mark is a former member of the Canadian Hockey League. After his hockey days ended, he spent almost 10 years living in New York City performing on Americas premiere stages. He earned a Helen Hayes Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Timon in DISNEY’S THE LION KING. He recently starred in the smash hit ROCK OF AGES playing at the Venetian/Palazzo in Las Vegas.
He is the creator of MONDAYS DARK, a monthly variety show in Vegas where 100% of all proceeds go to a local charity and feature Headliners from various shows on the strip. To date he has raised over 300k for local Las Vegas charities, one party a month, $20 & 90 minutes at a time. He is the recipient of the 2014 Angel Award for Cultural Advocate/Entertainer of the Year. 2016 Review Journal Philanthropist of the Year. National Philanthropy Day Impact Award Recipient.
Mark recently opened The Space. Vegas’ first Community Driven, Charity Based Arts Complex.
Dear Rotarians,
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then today’s Wheel is worth a million memories! Great job on a highly successful Cars for a Cause Show 2017! We will have a full operational and financial report from the show for our next meeting.
Las Vegas Rotary Club
Scribe – April 20, 2017
• President David Thorson called the packed-house meeting to order.
• Jimmelle Siorot gave the invocation. Sidra Kain led the club in singing the National Anthem. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the Sergeant-at-Arms was Larry Tomsic.
• There were (0) International Rotarians, (0) Visiting Rotarians and (1) UNLV Rotaract Member were introduced.
• There was no drawing today due to the Valedictorian program.
• President David Thorson reminded everybody that a Club Board meeting is scheduled today after the meeting in the Vintage Room.
• President Elect Michael Gordon presented three $2,500 checks to Principal Katie Decker to support Bracken, Long and Hollingsworth Schools. Katie reported on great progress and results at all schools!
• Francesca Gilbert reported that our 4 Way Test Speech Contest winner was awarded alternate status for our area. Interestingly, the area winner was present at our meeting representing Palo Verde High School as their valedictorian!
• Larry Rouse announced an upcoming vacancy on the Las Vegas Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. If you are interested in applying for consideration, please contact Larry.
• President Elect Michael Gordon got us all excited about our Cars for a Cause Show happening this weekend, April 23rd. All Rotarians are asked to participate.
• Tim Mullin reminded us that we are hosting airmen at a 51’s game on May 27th. The Club has already paid for the airmen’s tickets so Rotarians who want to attend only need to buy their own tickets.
• Bill Steiren reminded the club that the Atomic Test Site tour is on May 24, 2017 at 8am.
• Carolyn Sparks announced that our Club will hold a Rotary Foundation 100th anniversary celebration at the Neon Museum on June 6, 2017 5:30-7:30PM.
• Deb Granda discussed the District Conference May 18-21 in Palm Springs. The evening’s theme is ‘Latin Night’. Our Club hospitality theme “Puerto Rican” shirts are available for $30 each.
• Kirk Alexander reminded us of the Corazon Superbuild on May 6th in Tecate, Mexico.
• Past President Mary Ann Avnet kicked off the procession of the valedictorians of 51 participating Clark County Schools. We were inspired by these young men and women as we learned about their academic aspirations and goals.
• Carolyn Sparks introduced our speaker Len Jessup – President of UNLV. Len congratulated the valedictorians and then informed us on the many exciting developments happening at UNLV and discussed the very positive likely effect the Raiders stadium will have on UNLV.
• President David Thorson presented President Jessup with Sole Power Award, congratulated the valedictorians and adjourned the meeting.
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The Norwegians are coming! (and the Swedes too)
November 2, 2010 | 2:21 pm
Hollywood has absorbed a wave of directors from Britain, and welcomed genre auteurs from Spain and Mexico. But perhaps no foreign influx in recent years is coming as fast and as furious as the Scandinavian invasion.
Most filmgoers are familiar with the influence of the Millennium Trilogy -- the three Swedish-language films based on Stieg Larsson's books, as well as David Fincher's upcoming remake of the first movie, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." Turns out it's only the beginning. As we explore in a print article in Tuesday's Times, a group of film types on both sides of the Atlantic are bringing actors, directors and, of course, remakes to these shores.
Monday night, we caught up with a monster mockumentary called "The Troll Hunter" from a Norwegian up-and-comer named Andre Ovredal that's essentially "The Blair Witch Project" meets "Men in Black" meets "The Host." (Really.) After a successful run at Fantastic Fest, the movie is set to come out in the U.S. next year. Universal owns remake rights, so don't be surprised if that happens too.
Meanwhile, Hollywood powerhouses such as United Talent Agency have signed nearly the entire cast of movies such as the Swedish crime drama "Snabba Cash," as well as the film's director, and deployed them in a host of big American movies. (The film's director, Daniel Espinosa, is directing the Denzel Washington thriller "Safe House.") "Snabba" itself will be released stateside next year and is getting remade by Warner Bros. with Zac Efron playing the title character (an ordinary 20-something who leads a double life as a cocaine runner).
Meanwhile, John Ajvide Lindqvist, the author of the novel on which vampire hit "Let the Right One In" was based (itself remade as the Chloe Moretz movie "Let Me In"), has another book; this one is about zombies and is called "Handling the Undead." The rights will soon be shopped to U.S. studios.
And when it comes to actors, there's the queen of the Swedish invasion -- Noomi Rapace, the original girl with the dragon tattoo. She's in "Sherlock Holmes 2" and is being mentioned for seemingly every other big role in Hollywood.
All this is happening because Hollywood is looking for new places to mine talent -- but also because there's a feeling that, if remakes are going to happen, they may as well be sourced from a place with some filmmaking chops. That Scandinavia has its wealth of English-speaking actors and directors -- and a dark sensibility that Americans are coming around to -- doesn't hurt either. Bring a surfboard: This wave could be here for a while.
-- Steven Zeitchik
twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT
Photo: A scene from "The Troll Hunter." Credit: Magnolia Pictures
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Liam Gaughan – Guitar Lessons, Bass Lessons in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Liam Gaughan is a professional musician based in Newcastle Upon Tyne offering all types of Guitar, Music Theory and Music Production Tuition.
I have vast experience as a performer playing Electric Bass, in 4 and 6 string varieties. A strong sense of rhythm, impeccable improvisation, and sight reading abilities make for exciting performances in all Jazz and Popular styles.
I also have years and years of experience ‘depping’ for other musicians, and can seamlessly integrate into your musical performance. Being critical of tone and stylistics, it ensures a great sounding performance every time. Playing bass in some of the best north-east professional function bands including Groove Allstars, The Regulators, Emerald Thieves, Funk Conspiracy, The Imposters, Groove Central Station, and The Strictly Smokin’ Soul Band just to name a handful is what keeps me busy. Here’s an example of a typical performance scenario with NO rehearsal needed.
Not Now Charlie [Jazz]
With a love for jazz, rock, pop, neo soul and R&B it was inevitable that Not Now Charlie’s music would reflect many of these elements. Melody and groove are at the heart of their playing and they aim to have even the non-jazz lover hooked. Taking their influence from the likes of Christian Scott, Manu Katche, Chris Potter, Roller Trio and Joshua Redman yet still managing to create their own individual sound. Their debut was made at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival 2014 to an enthusiastic audience and had a great reception when they supported The Slowlight Quartet in Jan 2015. They are planning to record a live EP for release in early 2016 on Jazz Sound Records.
Cyndi – The UK Theatre Show [Pop]
I am very happy to be the Musical Director for a brand new Theatre production covering the entire career of Cyndi Lauper. This includes transcribing material from scratch, arranging the band, scoring all parts, creating click and cue tracks, and just generally overseeing the band. Again, my thorough experience with all aspects of band performances guarantees clear and efficient charts, along with getting the most out of all the talented players in the band.
Mixes I received from Liam were of an extraordinary quality. As a music lover I can really compare his work to the best recordings I have! Liam's secret (I think) is a combination of experience and knowledgeable recording engineering with skilled mixing and on top of it clever and quality production. Every time I work with Liam, I am very excited, because I know the music will be something special.
Filip, Mastering Engineer [redmastering.co.uk]
An easy man to get along with from first meeting, it was evident that here was a man who lives and breathes music. He understands not just how digital recording and production work, but how music works; I regard this level of knowledge and passion as priceless.
Matt Stalker Matt Stalker & Fables
Liam has helped us receive vast amount of airplay on Chris Moyles (BBC Radio 1), Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson (BBC6 Music) as well as a whole host of local BBC shows. Our track 'Broken Record' reached #1 in the national unsigned AR chart and was voted Best Of MySpace in December 2010. We are continuously asked about the production on our tracks, and it is to Liam 'Weez' Gaughan that we owe the credit.
Ben Dancer Vinyl Jacket
OMGGGG I LOVE IT :D Ah, Now it is exactly how I imagined it would be. Well done and a big thank you! You're a genius!!
Sophie Bangor University Cheerleaders
One other thing we would like to mention is special thanks to Liam Gaughan. Without him, our music couldn’t have been translated to a language we can all understand and is one of the few people that we consider talented and honest enough to make the band overcome the size of this project.
I was recording with a band who had only rehearsed the material four days before entering the studio and we had never played with each other before. Needless to say the pressure was on! However, Liam's patience, good humour and ability to listen to the whole spectrum of the recording process was invaluable in making our jobs simple. His impartial ears helped us to make great choices in the sounds we used and the parts we settled on. I would recommend his talents to anyone looking for a confident, mature and dependable musician/ producer.
Pete Morris Session Player
I can't begin to tell you how difficult music like that is to A. Write, B. Perform and C. Record to that kind of standard. That's extraordinary!
Tom Robinson BBC6 Music
We would highly recommend Liam, he was easy to work with (patient!) and most importantly we are delighted with the final outcome! Big help that he's a great musician too so we could rely on his input musically as well as on the recording side of things! We look forward to being back in the studio with him again soon!
Tom Chapman Blu*Jam
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March Gaming
Games completed this month
I’m three for three so far in gameplay months worthy of an update. Some progress has been made, and I’ve identified a few more games I might pick up due later this year.
Rise of the Tomb Raider – Xbox One: No surprise here, as I was fairly close to completion in February. I finished the main story early in March. Really enjoyed the game, but the Challenge Tombs remain the highlight, and the parts that feel like the games I remember. I won’t be going for 100% completion, as there appear to be hundreds of pointless collectables, but I do fancy going back and clearing the few Challenge Tombs I missed on my way.
Panzer Dragoon Saga – Sega Saturn: One from my long term bucket list, it’s only taken almost 20 years to get around to. A game that by all accounts was well out of my price range, but the recent addition of a modded Saturn to my collection changed that. I’m going to write a bit more about this game in a following post, but I’ll just say how well it holds up considering its age, and how satisfying it was to play. My getting through any RPG is a rare thing indeed, and should be acknowledged.
Firewatch – PS4: I picked this up along with the other PS4 games mentioned below in a recent Playstation Store sale. I was a bit wary getting another “Walking Simulator” (urgh) as I bounced off the Vanishing of Ethan Carter and actively disliked Dear Esther. I enjoyed Gone Home however, and the art style of Firewatch was instantly appealing. I was hooked pretty quickly and played it over two nights. At 4 hours long it’s still a short game but about twice the length of Gone Home. The story is engaging, and as I’d done a good job of avoiding any spoilers, I also found it surprisingly tense.
Also played in March
Epistory – PC: Grabbed this in a Steam Sale as it had been on my radar for a while. It’s a sort of cross between an isometric Action RPG and Typing of the Dead. Great little game where all the combat and some of the exploration is done via typing. I love the Typing of the Dead games, and played the second one to death (ahem) when it came to Steam. More games should have Typing combat as a mechanic.
Panzer Dragoon: Playing through Saga this month really got me back in the mood for revisiting the original games. Haven’t quite managed to beat it yet but I think I’ll keep it in the Saturn for a while.
Forza Horizon 3 – Blizzard Mountain: This month I grabbed the DLC expansion as it was on offer for 50% off. Played a couple of hours of it so far and it is good fun. Like the main game it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and delivery an enjoyable arcade style Rally in the Snow experience.
Games picked up:
Abzû – PS4: Not really sure what to expect here, all I know is it’s an underwater adventure game along the same lines as Journey. However I still have Journey in my “to play” pile, so we’ll see. Looks really pretty though, and I’m a sucker for the theme.
Inside – PS4: The follow up to the superb “Limbo” looking forward to getting on this one, I’ve heard lots of good things!
Caladrius Blaze – PS4: Was a bit disappointed with this, and glad I only paid a small amount for it in the sale. At its core it’s a fun vertical shmup, but unfortunately has an overdose of Japanese “fanservice” that gives it a disturbing creepy vibe. When choosing your ship style, you’re also effectively choosing a pilot. The pilots are mostly (possibly all) Anime women, in revealing attire (so far so par for the course). However during the game whenever you take damage, you get a pop up graphic of your clothes gradually disappearing. To make this even trashier than it already is, they also manage to call this the “shame” system, because getting your clothes ripped when fighting to save the world/galaxy/whatever is obviously shameful.
I did discover after my first go that you can turn this shite off, so the game is at least playable. I’m annoyed I didn’t know about it before I started, and have to live with the trophy it awarded me for having ‘experienced’ all the shame breaks of the first character I chose. *shudder*
Gears of War 4 – Xbox One: Won’t be on this yet, as I will be playing it in co-op with a buddy. However we’re half way through Halo 1 on the Master Chief Collection atm, and intend to play Halo 2 before we start Gears 4. Was a great price though, and it is one from my list of games to play in 2017.
More releases I’m looking forward to:
When I compiled my list of 2017 games, I struggled a bit to find many games due this year to add. Indeed of the three I did select, I don’t think Life is Strange 2 will appear till at least 2018 (if at all). I’ve since found a few more that I’m now intending to play however, although all but 1 are remaster/reboots of games I’ve played before.
Crash N Sane Trilogy: I was a big fan of the Crash Bandicoot games on the original Playstation, but don’t think I ever finished any of them. Looking forward to putting that right with this collection.
Wonderboy – The Dragon’s Trap: A game I remember fondly from my Master System days, and another I never finished, although I put that down to my still being in single digits at the time.
Wipeout Omega Collection: Essentially the third time I’ll have bought some of this content, it represents a collection of the PS3 & Vita Wipeout games, but delivering them at a crisp & smooth 1080p 60fps (hopefully). Let’s be honest though, it’s Wipeout and I was always going to be buying it.
Nex Machina: The one new game in this list is a new shmup from Housemarque. Big fan of their previous games, and optimistic that this could do for Robotron what Resogun did for Defender.
This entry was posted in Games played, Videogames and tagged PS4, Retrogaming, Sega, Sega Saturn, writing, XboxOne on April 3, 2017 by Kay Joon.
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Home | Mises Library | 7. Crisis and Liberty
7. Crisis and Liberty
Tags Economía de EEUUHistoria de EEUUTeoría Política
09/03/2004Robert Higgs
WWII was the most terrible, most deadly war of all mankind. As early as 1919 WWII was seen as inevitable because of the destructive details of the Versailles Treaty. In 1939, when WWII began, less than ten percent of Americans wanted anything to do with another war.
Roosevelt’s objective was simply to retain power. He was no ideologue. The 1940 easy German invasion of France made the pro-war argument stronger. By the 1941 attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, the US had greatly beefed up its military. The draft was begun in 1940. Local civilian boards did the dirty work. Draft evasion carried a fine of $10,000. Ten million men were drafted. Many voluntarily joined to avoid infantry duty.
Through War Powers Acts, the President acquired dictatorial-like powers. Price controls of ordinary goods and services were enacted with the usual consequences of scarcity and bad quality. Prices were not the result of market rationality. Ration booklets were issued to every man, woman, and child. Counterfeiting boomed. Key commodities – steel, copper and aluminum – were controlled. 300,000 airplanes were manufactured in five years.
Private investment almost disappeared because of the high risk of making contracts with government. Government invested about one hundred billion dollars, including bases and training grounds, weapons and ammunition. This war boom is a gigantic fiction. Government output should be subtracted from GDP.
The tax system that had been created for the government to fund the war turned out to be a wonderful way to fund a welfare state once the fighting was over. Marginal tax rates reached 72%.
WWII gave us the legacy of people thinking that federal governments accomplish amazing things. Confidence in government was never higher.
Lecture 7 of 10 from Robert Higgs' Crisis and Liberty: The Expansion of Government Power in American History.
Robert Higgs
Robert Higgs is senior fellow in political economy for the Independent Institute and editor of...
Robert Higgs: The State is too Dangerous to Tolerate
Robert Higgs demolishes many of the popular misconceptions about — and justifications for — the state.
Bob Higgs: War is the Master Key of the State
Dr. Higgs discusses war and the growth of the state.
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The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials
His Dark Materials: Book #1
By Philip Pullman
Narrated by Philip Pullman & Full Cast / 10 hours 32 minutes
#4 in Bestselling Children's Audiobooks
HIS DARK MATERIALS IS SOON TO BE AN HBO ORIGINAL SERIES STARRING DAFNE KEEN, RUTH WILSON, JAMES McAVOY, AND LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA!
The modern fantasy classic that Entertainment Weekly named an “All-Time Greatest Novel” and Newsweek hailed as a “Top 100 Book of All Time.” Philip Pullman takes readers to a world where humans have animal familiars and where parallel universes are within reach.
Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want.
But what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other...
A masterwork of storytelling and suspense, Philip Pullman's award-winning The Golden Compass is the first in the His Dark Materials series, which continues with The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the Guardian Prize for Children's Fiction
Published in 40 Countries
"Arguably the best juvenile fantasy novel of the past twenty years." —The Washington Post
"Very grand indeed." —The New York Times
"Pullman is quite possibly a genius." —Newsweek
Author Philip Pullman
Narrator Philip Pullman & Full Cast
Libro.fm Rank #191 Overall
Genre Rank #4 in Children's
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Home Shows & Happenings Arts and Culture
Cultured!: The Galleries At Art Fair Philippines Were More Than Just A Background For Your Selfies!
By Nikki Quiambao
From all the stress in our lives, sometimes all we need is one big inhale of art. Last March 1-4, The Link’s carpark housed a seven-floor collection of artworks from various Filipino visual artists. From contemporary photographs, to mind-boggling installations, the four floors of the carpark building were oozing with passion, stories, and colors, all part of an annual initiative to generate support for Filipino visual artists and make the best of the Philippine contemporary and modern art more accessible to the public. A total of 51 galleries participated in the fair, including 36 local ones that we could visit soon. Apart from the #ahrt, people flocked to the fair for the talks and tours offered which added another dimension of appreciation for contemporary Philippine art. An immersive experience such as ArtFairPH cultivates a deeper understanding of the art of our roots, where Filipinos can forge forward to #CreateLegacies.
ALSO READ: Cultured!: Why Yayoi Kusama’s Works Are More Than Just 'For The ‘Gram'
Photographs by Mels Timan
TAGS: art Art Fair Philippines 2018 culture Cultured filipino art
In Focus: Liu Yifei Proves That She's The Perfect Mulan And You Can't Tell Us Otherwise
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Tropical Animal Health and Production
February 2011 , Volume 43, Issue 2, pp 331–338 | Cite as
Preparation and evaluation of chicken embryo-adapted fowl adenovirus serotype 4 vaccine in broiler chickens
Muhammad Khalid Mansoor
Iftikhar Hussain
Ghulam Muhammad
First Online: 28 September 2010
The current study was planned to develop an efficient vaccine against hydropericardium syndrome virus (HSV). Currently, formalin-inactivated liver organ vaccines failed to protect the Pakistan broiler industry from this destructive disease of economic importance. A field isolate of the pathogenic hydropericardium syndrome virus was adapted to chicken embryos after four blind passages. The chicken embryo-adapted virus was further serially passaged (12 times) to get complete attenuation. Groups of broiler chickens free from maternal antibodies against HSV at the age of 14 days were immunized either with 16th passage attenuated HSV vaccine or commercially formalized liver organ vaccine. The antibody response, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the group immunized with the 16th passage attenuated HSV vaccine compared to the group immunized with liver organ vaccine at 7, 14, and 21 days post-immunization. At 24 days of age, the broiler chickens in each group were challenged with 103.83 embryo infectious dose50 of pathogenic HSV and were observed for 7 days post-challenge. Vaccination with the 16th passage attenuated HSV gave 94.73% protection as validated on the basis of clinical signs (5.26%), gross lesions in the liver and heart (5.26%), histopathological lesions in the liver (1.5 ± 0.20), and mortality (5.26%). The birds inoculated with liver organ vaccine showed significantly low (p < 0.05; 55%) protection estimated on the basis of clinical signs (40%), gross lesions in the liver and heart (45%), histopathological lesions in the liver (2.7 ± 0.72), and mortality (35%). Birds in the unvaccinated control group showed high morbidity (84%), mortality (70%), gross (85%), and histopathological lesions (3.79 ± 0.14) with only 10% protection. In conclusion, this newly developed HSV vaccine proved to be immunogenic and has potential for controlling HSV infections in chickens.
Hydropericardium syndrome Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 Attenuated vaccine Hexon gene
Hydropericardium syndrome
Hydropericardium syndrome virus
FAV-4
Fowl adenovirus 4
Chorioallantoic membrane
We acknowledge the financial support from the Pakistan Science Foundation under the project PSF #P-AU/Bio (367) entitled “Preparation of an in-vitro passaged live attenuated hydro-pericardium syndrome virus (local isolates) vaccine” is greatly appreciated. The authors are also thankful to the director of the Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology for providing facilities for the present study. Technical assistance of Dr. Faisal Saeed Awan is highly acknowledged.
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© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
1.Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of AgricultureFaisalabadPakistan
2.Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary ScienceUniversity of AgricultureFaisalabadPakistan
Mansoor, M.K., Hussain, I., Arshad, M. et al. Trop Anim Health Prod (2011) 43: 331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9694-z
First Online 28 September 2010
Publisher Name Springer Netherlands
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The True Repentance of a Reformation Martyr
When is it too late to repent? That was the question that faced the dishonored and imprisoned, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer. The Reformation movement had shaken all of Europe throughout the 1500’s, and nowhere could its effects be seen more clearly than in England. Through the work of men like William Tyndale, new ideas had been circulated and King Henry the VIII (looking for a way to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon) appointed Reformer Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury. Eager as Cranmer was to promote the Protestant doctrine, his devotion to King Henry forced him to make very difficult decisions. The primary contribution Cranmer made to the Reformation was his Book of Common Prayer, a liturgy of the Anglican church that (in spite of protests) Cranmer made compulsory.
Cranmer’s open support for the Protestants led to serious trouble with the Roman Catholic Church, and after the death of King Henry VIII, and his son Edward VI, Bloody Mary took the English throne and brought the vengeance of the Catholic Church down on Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Imprisoned and facing execution, Cranmer lost faith and recanted his Protestant beliefs in writing, but this was not enough to satisfy Mary I, who demanded Cranmer make a public confession. Given a script to read for the recantation, Cranmer was taken to University Church and allowed to stand in the pulpit. He began reading but after a brief time he threw the script aside and spoke out against the Catholics, renouncing his recantations he had signed as well as the doctrines of the Pope. Ripped from the pulpit, Cranmer was dragged to the steak where he was to burn alive and as the fire rose around him he quoted the words of the apostle Steven, “I see the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
There are many heroes of the Reformation and we are so excited to be able to look at their work on our Reformation Heroes tour with The Master’s Academy International. At the TMAI conference. Featured speakers like James White, John MacArthur, Mike Abendroth, Paul Washer, and others will be speaking on the topic of the European Reformation, and the brave Christian men whose mission it was to share the truth about God’s Word.
How Jan Hus Ignited Christian Reformation in Europe
The problem of evil with Dr. Lutzer
How does John Calvin Fit into the Reformation?
Posted in Europe Reformation Tours and tagged Protestant Reformation, Thomas Cranmer
5 Top Reasons Switzerland is a Hot Reformation Teaching Site
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Myanmar policeman who said Reuters reporters were framed details sting operation – Reuters
Reuters International
This content was published on May 10, 2018
Detained Police Captain Moe Yan Naing (C) escorted by police arrives for a court hearing in Yangon, Myanmar May 9, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
(reuters_tickers)
By Shoon Naing and Thu Thu Aung
YANGON (Reuters) – A Myanmar policeman now serving a prison sentence gave more details to a court on Wednesday about how he says two Reuters reporters were framed by police, in what has become a landmark press freedom case for the Southeast Asian nation.
Police captain Moe Yan Naing, 47, who since his original testimony on April 20 has been sentenced to a year in jail for violating police discipline, gave a blow-by-blow account of how he says a police chief ordered subordinates to give “secret” documents to Reuters reporter Wa Lone in a sting operation.
“I gave the testimony as I know and as I saw,” Moe Yan Naing told reporters after the hearing. He said he did not regret giving his testimony.
Lead prosecutor Kyaw Min Aung did not respond to a request for comment after the hearing.
Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay said: “It will be carried out according to the law. The court is free, impartial, independent and reliable. We guarantee that the defendants will have their own rights, which means choosing their own lawyers etc.”
The court in Yangon has been holding hearings since January to decide whether Wa Lone 32, and his Reuters colleague Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, will be charged under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
At the time of their arrest in December, the reporters had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The killings took place during an army crackdown that United Nations agencies say sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh.
DOCUMENT TRAP
In an account that closely followed his original testimony, but went into greater detail, Moe Yan Naing said that on Dec. 12 – hours before the reporters were arrested – he was among six officers who had previously been contacted by Wa Lone who were interrogated by the Police Special Branch.
The internal investigation was led by Police Brigadier General Tin Ko Ko, according to Moe Yan Naing.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/myanmar-policeman-who-said-reuters-reporters-were-framed-details-sting-operation/44107160
May 10, 2018 May 10, 2018 Don Michael Adeniji Tagged Framed, Myanmar, Policemen, Reuters Leave a comment
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Marlene Tromp
Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-Boise
Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls
A short honeymoon: New Boise State president steps into a political crossfire
Kevin Richert IdahoEdNews
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on July 12.
BOISE — Marlene Tromp has been on the job for less than two weeks, but she is already at the center of a political crossfire.
Twenty-eight House Republicans say the new Boise State University president should reject a series of programs and initiatives to promote campus diversity — a multipronged effort that far predates Tromp’s 12-day tenure.
“This drive to create a diversified and inclusive culture becomes divisive and exclusionary because it separates and segregates students,” lawmakers said in the letter, written by Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls.
The letter wasn’t just a missive from one lawmaker: It was co-signed by 28 of the House’s 56 Republicans. The co-signers include two members of GOP leadership, and eight of the 15 members of the House Education Committee — a panel Tromp will almost surely address at some point in the 2020 legislative session.
Tromp already has her defenders. The Legislature’s 21 Democrats wrote a letter urging Tromp to maintain a safe and welcoming campus for all students. “We appreciate Boise State University’s efforts to maximize educational outcomes while ensuring equal and diverse access to Idahoans,” said the Democrats, which include several lawmakers who represent legislative districts encircling the Boise State campus.
On Friday, Tromp said she looked forward to meeting with Ehardt, and tried to carve out a middle ground.
“I believe we can have a meaningful dialogue that underscores our common commitment to the well-being of our students and to the future of the state.”
What does Tromp say?
She released a statement late Friday afternoon through spokesman Greg Hahn. Here it is, in full:
“I care deeply about all students and believe it is a public university’s job to provide both the academic rigor and the support students need to earn their degrees and to succeed in their careers and their lives. Political divisions in our country often make these conversations very difficult and can even cause harm. I believe we can have a meaningful dialogue that underscores our common commitment to the well-being of our students and to the future of the state.
“I had previously scheduled a meeting with Representative Ehardt, and I look forward to hearing her concerns and ideas and to talking with her and others about Boise State’s mission to serve all students. I am grateful for the genuine engagement of our legislators, as well as to people from across the state who have reached out to me to express support. Public universities must foster and protect the open exchange of ideas in order to ensure a broad and deep educational experience. Boise State is honored to carry forward this critical charge.”
Boise State’s diversity campaigns aren’t new. The university created a student diversity and inclusion director’s position in 2008. In 2017, former President Bob Kustra’s office adopted a diversity and inclusivity statement. But the current controversy stems from a June letter from Martin Schimpf, who served as Boise State’s interim president through June 30.
In his letter to the university community, Schmipf spotlighted a long list of diversity initiatives at Boise State. These efforts include advertising geared to attract a more diverse pool of job applicants, funding for multicultural student events and graduate fellowships designed for underrepresented minority groups.
“I have every confidence that Dr. Marlene Tromp has the background, experience and drive to take Boise State to new levels of diversity and inclusive excellence,” Schimpf wrote.
Within days, the Idaho Freedom Foundation President Wayne Hoffman wrote an opinion piece blasting Schimpf for writing a “buffet of braggadocio.”
Said Hoffman: “It’s unknown whether Tromp will deploy the same condescending rhetoric, but the fact that she has described herself in interviews as motivated by ‘social justice’ makes one wonder.”
Hoffman’s opinion piece singled out several of the very programs Schimpf highlighted in his essay. Hoffman criticized multicultural “Black Graduation” and “Rainbow Graduation” ceremonies. He called out Schimpf for encouraging so-called “Dreamers” — undocumented immigrants covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — from applying for state college scholarships.
Several of these criticisms resurfaced in Ehardt’s letter.
A debate over affordability — somewhat
In her letter, Ehardt says multicultural graduation events and scholarships for “Dreamers” will drive up the cost of college for all students.
“Despite the many goals Schimpf outlined, none address making tuition more affordable so our Idaho kids can afford to actually attend Boise State, an Idaho school,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, not one of these initiatives will help our Idaho students achieve their dreams of obtaining a degree and a career without an undue debt burden.”
In their response, legislative Democrats blame rising tuition costs on legislative “neglect,” and suggest Ehardt’s argument is a red herring.
“Exclusion won’t make college more affordable, but it will destabilize our economy and threaten our quality of life. Increasing accessibility and making college more affordable will tear down barriers,” they wrote.
For 2019-20, Boise State’s in-state tuition will be $8,088, a 4.9 percent increase. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved a 3.5 percent budget increase for higher ed — but this budget left some holes to fill. For instance, the budget didn’t fully cover a 3 percent pay raise approved by the Legislature.
The ‘Idaho way’
Gov. Brad Little is also embroiled in the debate.
“(As) Little has stated on numerous occasions: We need to do things the ‘Idaho way!’ Ehardt wrote. “This means Idaho’s universities should always seek to treat all students fairly and equitably.”
Democrats latched onto this talking point in their letter to Tromp.
“Idaho’s higher education institutions create welcoming environments to serve students from diverse backgrounds who are striving for a better life and more opportunity,” they wrote. “This is the ‘Idaho way.’”
For now, Little is staying silent. He was out of the office Friday and has not discussed the issue with staff, spokeswoman Marissa Morrison said Friday afternoon.
Boys and Girls Club breaks ground on $2.1 million expansion
TWIN FALLS — Children of the Magic Valley will soon have a multimillion-dollar facility to go to after school.
Minidoka school board chooses replacement for trustee seat
New Boise superintendent gets $29,000 pay raise, makes almost as much as Blaine school chief
Blaine County has one of highest teacher retention rates in state
State-government
Barbara Ehardt
Latest in section
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Home > Talisman Emperor
Chapter 764 Bai Jingchen
Chapter 764 Bai Jingchen
Violet Thistle Mountain Range rose and fell endlessly at the eastern part of the Dark Reverie, and it was luxuriant, lofty, vast, and grand.
When looked down at from midair, this mountain was like an 5,000km long enormous dragon residing on the ground. Its was winding like a serpent, covered in the violet qi of kings, and every time the sun rose, this mountain would be enveloped within a violet colored mist that was solemn, thick, and carried the aura of an emperor.
Violet qi that came from the east; it was a rare paradise where Dragon Veins converged.
The Violet Thistle Mountain's Bai Clan was situated here.
The Bai Clan was an ancient clan whose history could be traced back to the primeval times, and its forces were so enormous and its foundation so thick that it was comparable to the 10 great immortal sects.
What people took the greatest delight in talking about was that the Bai Clan's customs were very brutal. All the male children of the clan were like heroes that were upstanding, dauntless, and extraordinarily bold and powerful.
In other words, the bodies of the members of the Bai Clan innately flowed with the blood of war, and they'd placed their gazes outside of the Dark Reverie and had advanced towards the Xeno-race a long time ago!
There was no reason but merely for the sake of battle!
They carried out slaughters in the name of battle, causing them to seem exceptionally overbearing and ferocious.
But the thing that caused everyone in the world the greatest headache was this as well. The Violet Thistle Mountain's Bai Clan loved battle and were extremely protective, so if someone dared to offend their Bai Clan, then there was utterly no need to care about if there was a reason because they would beat first and ask questions later.
So if it was in terms of the most terrifying power to the people in the cultivation world, then it wasn't the immortal sects, nor the demon sects, but the Bai Clan!
In the martial practice grounds in the Bai Clan.
A robust and tall middle aged man squatted at the corner of the wall while his enormous hand held a large bowl. This large bowl was simply like a wooden basin, and within it was steaming white and jade-like noodles that were sprinkled with some verdant coriander.
The middle aged man's face was craggy, his pitch black beard stood up straight like iron needles, and he was extremely heroic and unrestrained. He was gobbling down these noodles, and he was eating with extreme satisfaction to the point soup dripped from the corners of his mouth.
In the blink of an eye, he'd finished the entire large bowl of noodles, and even the soup was swallowed entirely with a raise of the bowl. Only after he did all this did he smack his lips in a slightly unsatisfied manner.
After that, he stood up to arrive at a 3m tall wooden bucket at the side before lifting up his chopsticks and filling another bowl of the noodles...
Then, he squatted down at the corner and chowed down.
He simply seemed like a laborer at the side of the road, like a hungry ghost that was reborn.
The youths on the martial practice grounds were already accustomed to this scene, and they didn't even take a glance at the middle aged man as they tempered their bodies with concentration.
These oldest amongst these youths were around 11 or 12, and the youngest were around eight or nine. Their upper bodies were laid bare, and every single one of them had strong physiques, bulging muscles, and seemed to be filled with explosive strength.
Before every single youth was a pitch black and enormous rock that was like a small hill. This was a type of rock called Heavyhell Rock, and a fist sized piece of it was already over 1,500kg in weight. For example, the small hill sized Heavyhell Rock before these youths were probably no less than 1.5 million kilograms.
But shockingly, these youths were able to casually lift up the Heavyhell Rock before them like they were lifting wooden sticks, and it seemed to be done easily and in a very relaxed manner.
Some older youths even tossed the Heavyhell Rock repeatedly into the air, and it was simply as if they were playing ball. If this were to be seen by people of the outside world, their eyeballs would surely drop out of their sockets.
But the robust middle aged man at the corner of the wall similarly remained indifferent to this, and he enjoyed his noodles.
Right at this moment, a wave of rapid footsteps resounded out abruptly as a young man that wore a luxurious robe and a golden belt ran over and said, "Uncle, I've done what you asked."
As he spoke, he took out a jade fan with a swish before fanning it repeatedly, and then he took out a white handkerchief with golden borders with his left hand and wiped the sweat of his forehead, causing him to seem exhausted.
If Chen Xi was here, he would surely be able to recognize that this young man was Bai Gunan.
"Pretentious fool!" The middle aged man remained squatted on the ground while he drank up the bowl of soup with a slurp, and then he glanced at Bai Gunan before passing the same judgment he usually did.
Bai Gunan was embarrassed and very sensibly put away the jade fan and handkerchief.
"Pretentious fool, what did you tell him?" The middle aged man put the bowl down and burped with satisfaction.
"I told him that Little Aunt will only be able to return 10 years from now, and he should remain calm." Bai Gunan replied quickly, and then he asked. "Uncle, is Little Aunt fine in the battlefield outside the three dimensions?"
The middle aged man laughed with ridicule. "What the fuck could happen to her? With Elder Teng following by her side, unless a Saint Emperor makes a move, otherwise who could harm her?" Even though his words were crude, they carried a convincing feeling of confidence and heroism.
Bai Gunan was greatly reassured, and he let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good. That fellow Chen Xi will probably be at ease this time."
The middle aged man looked at him with surprise. "Pretentious fool, didn't you think everyone in the world is an eyesore? Why have you actually started to be concerned about that kid?"
Bai Gunan said with displeasure, "Uncle, stop calling me pretentious fool."
The middle aged man nodded. "Alright, pretentious fool, it won't be repeated."
Bai Gunan. "..."
"Uncle, I do indeed think that those disciples of the 10 great immortal sects and six lineages of the devil sect are an eyesore. But only Chen Xi is special to me, and he's worthy for me to associate with him. Coupled with his relationship with Little Aunt, I've already taken him to be a part of my family since a long time ago." After a short moment, Bai Gunan spoke with a prideful expression.
"Oh? What's special about him?" The middle aged man asked with interest.
"How do I say it? In any case, amongst all the people in the world, only he dares to beat me, and I feel he isn't bad. He has backbone and is responsible." Bai Gunan pondered for a moment before speaking in an extremely serious manner.
The middle aged man. "..."
After a short moment, the middle aged man tilted his head and said while seeming to be lost in thought, "You've done well this time, and you didn't get beaten for nothing."
The corners of Bai Gunan's mouth twitched, and he said with a helpless expression, "Uncle, can't you speak properly?"
The middle aged man stood up and stretched his body lazily, and then he stretched out his enormous hand to pat Bai Gunan on the shoulder. "Aren't you afraid if Uncle gets serious?"
Bai Gunan's small body was patted to the point of trembling, and he grimaced in pain. But, when he heard what the middle aged man said, his body couldn't help but shudder, and then he hurriedly shook his head and said, "Forget it."
He knew that once his uncle got serious, then his uncle would be even more ferocious than an infuriated god, and he wouldn't stop until he killed a few people! Moreover, no one could stop him!
The middle aged man roared with laughter and walked off with large strides. "Come, meet those fellows from the Zuoqiu Clan with me. What a headache! How can your Little Aunt come back if they don't fuck off?"
Bai Gunan's face turned pale with fright. "Uncle, speak softly. Don't let anyone hear you."
The middle aged man was completely indifferent. "So what if they hear me, what the fuck is there to be afraid of? Pretentious fool, go home and tell your ancestor that there'll be no lack of benefit for him if he supports me, and if he dares to think about relying on the strength of the Zuoqiu Clan like the other elders and plays all sorts of tricks with me, then watch out because I'll go deal with him! Tell him that I, Bai Jingchen, do as I say!"
Bai Jingchen. Merely these two words represented a great figure with monstrous authority who commanded the winds and clouds. He was naturally the current Patriarch of the Bai Clan!
Bai Gunan was both embarrassed and scared, and he swept the surroundings with his gaze before pleading anxiously. "Uncle, can you not be so loud? My heart was almost crushed by you."
The middle aged man roared with laughter that shook the skies once more, and then he shook his head. "Oh you. When will you dare to be like me? When will you attain success? Then that ancestor of yours wouldn't be worried about not having a successor."
As he spoke, he raised his leg and kicked forward, causing the space before him to be shattered apart, whereas he himself had already walked in and vanished. No matter if it was how he acted or how he did things, they were done in an unrestrained manner that was overbearing to the bone.
Bai Gunan stood on the spot and stared blankly, and then he grunted. "If I dared to be so arrogant, I would have been killed since a long time ago. How the fuck would I attain success!?"
If this were to be heard by the cultivators of the outside world, they would surely be angered to the point of spitting blood. Are you, Bai Gunan, not arrogant?
Ten years?
Chen Xi put the jade slip away and frowned without end.
This jade slip Bai Gunan sent over didn't explain too much, and it only said that Bai Wanqing was supposed to return to the Bai Clan this year. But because of certain reasons, she had no choice but to remain in the battlefield outside the three dimensions, and it would at least require 10 years before she could return. So he asked Chen Xi to stay calm and cultivate.
It wouldn't be related to those members of the Zuoqiu clan that have appeared in the Bai Clan, right? Chen Xi still remembered that Bai Gunan had once said that Bai Wanqing's status in the clan was rather bad now, and she suffered being driven out by many seniors of their clan. The reason for this was the members of the Zuoqiu Clan that had arrived in the Bai Clan.
In next to no time, Chen Xi didn't have time to ponder more about this because the battle between the Violet Lightning Camp and Azurefrost Camp had ended, and as the youths hadn't seen him for a long time, they'd surged over immediately.
After three years, these youths had changed greatly. Some that were slightly older had become young men, whereas the younger ones like the snotty kid had grown into a youth.
This was the magic of time. When one suddenly turned around, it had already silently changed many things.
Since Chen Xi had left his closed door cultivation, Qing Yu made an exception and gave them a day off. So everyone gathered together to drink wine, chat, and they were filled with joy. Even Xueyan seemed to have started to adapt to her new identity. She seemed to get along well with them and was helping Chen Xi and A'xiu pour wine from the side, and she didn't reveal the slightest trace of a feeling of being wronged.
Up until late into the night, when Chen Xi returned to his room, Long Zhenbei and An Wei paid him a visit, and they didn't chat long before leaving.
Both of them had come to invite Chen Xi to head one of the 10 great immortal sects, the Skylift Palace, to participate in a grand event of the immortal sects. This was a supremely grand event held amongst the Seed Disciples of the immortal sects, and only top Seed Disciples had the qualifications to participate.
This grand event represented the highest level of competition within the entire Dark Reverie, and every single time it was held, it would receive the attention of the entire cultivation world of the Dark Reverie.
After all, it was held by extraordinary powers like the 10 great immortal sects. Everyone that participated was a peerless figure in the world, and they deserved to be called the most outstanding existences amongst their peers.
It could be said that so long as figures who were able to participate in this grand event didn't die early, they would sooner or later grow into a great figure that shook the world!
But Chen Xi refused. With his current strength and thoughts, it was impossible for him to arouse the slightest interest in such a grand event. Not to mention he had a more important things to do.
That was to comprehend the bone left behind by the Exalted Ant Emperor!
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The Prodigal Sun (2019)
CHAPTER 1 OF 3! The first of three interconnected special issues featuring the FANTASTIC FOUR, the SILVER SURFER and the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY! Introducing PRODIGAL, a strange alien being who has crash-landed in the Savage Land. When he becomes worshipped by a race of swamp-dwelling barbarians, Ka-Zar and Shanna call upon the Fantastic Four to aid them in stopping the barbarians’ plans to conquer the entirety of their world. Join Prodigal on his lengthy journey to try to return home to settle old scores.
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Invisible Woman (2019-)
Fresh from the pages of FANTASTIC FOUR, for the first time Susan Storm-Richards stars in her own limited series – and the secrets about her past revealed therein will shake readers’ perceptions of the Invisible Woman forevermore! Years ago, she undertook an espionage mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. – and now it’s up to her to save her former partner from death at the hands of international terror
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Collects Secret Warps Solider Supreme Annual #1, Secret Warps: Weapon Hex Annual #1, Secret Warps: Ghost Panther Annual #1, Secret Warps: Arachknight Annual #1, Secret Warps: Iron Hammer Annual #1. The mashed-up heroes of INFINITY WARPS return! When villains Madame Hel, Red Dormammu and Stane Odinson work together to cause a rift between Iron Hammer and Soldier Supreme, it leads to a crisis acr
War Of The Realms Omega (2019)
THE WAR IS OVER – AND THE MARVEL UNIVERSE MUST PICK UP THE PIECES! Midgard is broken, and as heroes of Asgard and Earth alike start to sift through the pieces, new heroes — and villains — emerge. What’s next for Jane Foster, now free of the hammer she was willing to die to hold? Thor’s brother Loki faced a terrible fate in the War of the Realms — and now the god of mischief must make h
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Collects Giant-Man (2019) #1-3 and material from War of the Realms: War Scrolls (2019) #1 and The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015) #6. Malekith's invading army has giants - but so does Midgard! As the War of the Realms rages, four men must rise to monstrous heights at the behest of All-Mother Freyja and infiltrate the savage territory of Florida - now known as New Jotunheim! Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Golia
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Humane Tech
About Anil Dash
Tech and the Fake Market tactic
In one generation, the Internet went from opening up new free markets to creating a series of Fake Markets that exploit society, without most media or politicians even noticing.
Feb 10, 2017 · 11 min read
1. The open internet markets
American culture loves to use the ideal of competitive free markets as the solution to all kinds of social problems. Though the vaunted Free Market has no incentives to, say, take care of babies with cancer, a well-functioning market can definitely be a great way to see which provider offers the cheapest price for a roll of toilet paper or a bushel of apples.
Given that cultural predilection, some of the first things people made in the early days of the web were new markets. Perhaps the canonical example was eBay; anybody (well, almost anybody) could list their ceramic figurines for sale on eBay and participate in a relatively fair market. On one side, a gaggle of figurine aficionados, enthusiastically searching for the best deals. On the other, a bunch of figurine vendors, competing on price, quality and service. In the middle, a neutral market that just helps connect buyers and sellers through instantly updated information. Everybody’s happy!
Later, a seller could buy preferred positioning for their products in eBay’s search results, and some product categories started to be dominated by wholesale suppliers, but it still remained a relatively open system. Everybody’s mostly happy!
Not long after eBay started, Google launched, as a sort of market of content, with its PageRank system choosing which pages show up in our search results, ranked by the number of inbound links. On one side were readers, and on the other side we had publishers, and in between was Google using a mysterious but still kind of comprehensible algorithm to create a market where almost everybody felt like they could participate.
But before long, those rankings started to be tainted by spammers, due to the fact that higher ranking in those listings suddenly had monetary value, and making spam links was cheaper than paying for Google’s advertising products. What was an open market to do?
2. The rise of rigged markets
The inevitable automated gaming of the early open digital markets inadvertently catalyzed the start of the next era: rigged markets. Google got concerned about nefarious search engine optimization tricks, and kept changing their algorithm, meaning that pretty soon the only web publishers that could thrive were those who could afford to keep tweaking their technology to keep up in this new arms race. After just a few years, this became a rich-get-richer economy, and incentivized every smaller publisher to standardize on one of a few publishing tools in order to keep up with Google’s demands. Only the biggest content providers could afford to build their own tools while simultaneously following the demands of Google’s ever-changing algorithm.
The problem inevitably became most pronounced in the most valuable markets. Eventually, in lucrative vertical markets like travel, Google started showing its own flight booking tools ahead of the third-party results from travel booking sites, based on the idea that their experience was better for consumers than the confusing and inconsistent results from third parties. This was true, but it was also pretty damn convenient for Google, which now started to make more money on those links.
This was the start of a subtle but critically important pattern on the web: A short-term improvement in user experience helped a single dominant tech company to take over a legacy market in the long term.
Amazon went through a similar process, when it started putting its thumb on the scale, showing its own products first when doing a product search, even if they weren’t the cheapest. We saw a rapid shift where the companies hosting formerly-open markets started to give themselves unfair advantages that couldn’t be countered by the other sellers in the market.
Illustration from Rob Weychert/ProPublica https://www.propublica.org/article/amazon-says-it-puts-customers-first-but-its-pricing-algorithm-doesnt
We saw a rapid shift where the companies hosting formerly-open markets started to give themselves unfair advantages that couldn’t be countered by the other sellers in the market.
This shift to rigged markets was perfected in the app stores, where the major players like Apple and Google choose which apps get featured and promoted, and prevent the creation of any apps that would displace or threaten their market dominance. Even if an app does succeed, the app stores promote an ad-supported model that makes app creators dependent on the tech company’s platform for distribution, instead of an app deriving revenues directly from its users.
But even today’s rigged markets have some ways that new players can compete. You could release a new photo-sharing app and theoretically try to compete with Instagram or Snapchat on Apple’s app store. An ordinary shopper could search for “bedsheets” on Amazon’s website and expect to get a list of linens to purchase, both from independent manufacturers and from Amazon’s own Pinzon brand. Even if these markets are skewed, they’re still markets, and that leaves some opportunity.
That’s not to say these systems are fair: the big companies can pick which players in the market get to compete, and issues of network inequality mean people or companies that are privileged enough to be early adopters get unfair advantages. But even with these inequities, we could muddle through and new products or competitors could sometimes emerge.
This has been the status quo for most of the last decade. But the next rising wave of tech innovators twist the definition of “market” even further, to a point where they aren’t actually markets at all.
3. Now: The Fake Markets
Uber‘s promise is simple: you use their app to hail a car, and one driver from a pool of independent drivers agrees to pick you up, and everybody’s happy. In their formulation, they’re a neutral marketplace connecting customers and service providers — kinda like eBay!
But unlike competitive sellers on eBay, Uber drivers can’t set their prices. In fact, prices can be (and regularly have been) changed unilaterally by Uber. And passengers can’t make informed choices about selecting a driver: The algorithm by which a passenger and driver are matched is opaque—to both the passenger and driver. In fact, as Data & Society’s research has shown, Uber has at times deliberately misrepresented the market of available cars by showing “ghost” cars to users in the Uber app.
It seems this “market” has some awfully weird traits.
Consumers can’t trust the information they’re being provided to make a purchasing decision.
A single opaque algorithm defines which buyers are matched with which sellers.
Sellers have no control over their own pricing or profit margins.
Regulators see the genuine short-term consumer benefit but don’t realize the long-term harms that can arise.
This is, by any reasonable definition, no market at all. One might even call Uber a “Fake Market”. Yet, by carefully describing drivers in their system as “entrepreneurs” and appropriating the language of true markets, Uber has been welcomed by communities and policymakers as if they were creating a new marketplace. That has serious implications for policy, regulation and even civil rights. For example, we can sincerely laud Uber for making it easier for African American passengers to reliably hail a car when they need a ride, but if persistent patterns of bias from drivers arise again in the Uber era, we’ll have a harder time regulating those abuses because Uber doesn’t usually follow the same policies as licensed taxis.
These pseudo-market patterns also mask patterns of subsidy, like the fact that Uber’s current operations are subsidized by investors to the tune of $2 billion per year. That’s a cost that will be immediately passed along to consumers as soon as Uber succeeds in displacing conventional taxis.
The Financial Times states the implications of this economic arrangement very clearly:
[A]ll this equates to is an economic transfer from the working class over to urban metropolitan elites, which benefits one particular corporation over others. This is plainly crazy.
These new False Markets only resemble true markets just enough to pull the wool over the eyes of regulators and media, whose enthusiasm for high tech solutions is boundless, and whose understanding of markets on the Internet is still stuck in the early eBay era of 20 years ago.
Fake markets don’t just happen in traditional products and services — they’re coming to the world of content and publishing, too. Publishers are increasingly being incentivized to use platforms like Facebook’s Instant Articles and Google’s AMP format. Like Uber’s temporarily-subsidized cheaper prices and broader access to ride hailing, these new publishing formats do offer some short-term consumer benefits, in the form of faster loading times and a cleaner reading experience.
But the technical mechanism by which Facebook and Google provide that faster reading experience happens to incidentally displace most of the third-party advertising platforms — the ones that aren’t provided by Facebook and Google themselves. Facebook publishers who use these new distribution channels are incentivized to use Facebook’s advertising platform, where payment rates and profit margins can be unilaterally changed at any time. Just as Uber subsidizes fares during the phase when they’re displacing regulated taxis, Facebook subsidizes publishers’ ad rates during the phase when they’re displacing third-party advertising networks.
In addition to making publishers even more dependent on the two tech titans for revenues, there’s the issue of the algorithms used to discover content. Almost everyone who uses Facebook has become aware that its algorithm for showing content is opaque, to both publishers and readers. As a result, there are fewer understandable tricks that publishers can use to ensure that readers will see their content — and publishing in the Instant Articles format is one of the few that’s known to work. It also happens to require a publisher to invest scarce resources in supporting the Facebook format, with the result of that publisher becoming even more dependent on Facebook for distribution.
So: Neither readers nor publishers know why Facebook shows a particular story in a feed. And media regulators and policymakers can’t see past the short-term benefit of faster-loading stories.
The Fake Market for content looks like this:
Readers can’t trust the information they’re being provided to make a content decision.
A single opaque algorithm defines which readers are matched with which publishers.
Publishers have no control over their own ad rates or profit margins.
Regulators see the genuine short-term reader benefit but don’t realize the long-term harms that can arise.
4. After Markets: Self-Driving News
But wait, it gets worse. Next we replace the sellers in the market.
What we have in ride sharing or content publishing is a rapid move to locked-down systems controlled by one, or at most two, privately-held corporate players. But even in these fake markets, there are currently multiple providers offering their services within the ecosystem. The providers are those Uber drivers or Facebook publishers being lauded as independent entrepreneurs thriving on the platform.
But Uber has already plainly announced its roadmap: Self-driving cars. The much-lauded independent driver-entrepreneurs will be replaced by completely automated service providers as quickly as possible, and not only will those new self-driving cars not have drivers who need to be paid, they will all be owned by Uber itself. When this transition happens over the next decade, we’ll have entire markets of independent contractors displaced by the transition, precisely at the point when the social safety net is being dismantled. In the meantime, politicians across the political spectrum have been presenting these “gig economy” non-jobs as the future of work.
Self-driving cars are hard, though. Making a robot that can navigate through a city and deliver a passenger safely and reliably to their destination is an incredibly hard problem that will take a long time to get exactly right.
By contrast, what are the barriers to self-driving news? We’ve already seen that a lot of news consumers aren’t interested in being safely and reliably delivered to accurate news. Success in this case will be much easier: A robotic publisher only has to deliver content that’s emotionally engaging enough to earn a person’s readership for a few moments. That’s even easier to do if the publisher or distributor of the content doesn’t care if the story is true or not. Peter Thiel is on Facebook’s board of directors.
And remember, Facebook tends to subsidize publishers taking advantage of its new platform features just until the point at which those publishers become dependent on them. Publishers are already struggling with overall media industry economics; Facebook’s promised payouts may be an offer they don’t feel like they can refuse.
Most of the people building these features at these companies don’t mean to undermine markets. The coders and designers at companies like Uber and Facebook and all the others are usually well-intentioned and genuinely see their work as benefiting users. In the immediate term, they’re not even wrong; being able to easily hail a cab or quickly read a story is a real benefit. But most tech workers, including at the biggest tech companies, are blind to the radical political and social agendas of their companies’ owners and investors.
Worse, we’ve lost the ability to discern that a short-term benefit for some users that’s subsidized by an unsustainable investment model will lead to terrible long-term consequences for society. We’re hooked on the temporary infusion of venture capital dollars into vulnerable markets that we know are about to be remade by technological transformation and automation. The only social force empowered to anticipate or prevent these disruptions are policymakers who are often too illiterate to understand how these technologies work, and who too desperately want the halo of appearing to be associated with “high tech”, the secular religion of America.
It’s essential we develop a vocabulary for talking about these issues, and perhaps the single most effective action we can take is to educate our elected officials about the changes that are happening. This stuff is complex, and it’s going to take time to teach all our representatives about why all the changes wrought by these new high-tech apps aren’t necessarily the best thing for our communities in the long term.
But there’s still time to get it right. It’s not inevitable that we have to give over our open markets to new Fake Markets dominated by one or two giant tech companies. And perhaps the single biggest thing we can do is both the hardest and the easiest: We can change our own behaviors. Look at the apps on your phone right now. Are you sure you are comfortable with what’s going to happen when everyone’s running the same apps that you are?
There are people making tech who are positive, ambitious, thoughtful, inclusive, curious, empathetic and self-aware. They’re going to win.
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CEO of @Glitch. Trying to make tech more ethical & humane. (Also an advisor to Medium.) More: http://anildash.com/
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2nd Amendment, adult industry, adultery, amendments to law, Anwar, Apartheid, apostasy, Bersih, crypto-apartheid, duplicity, extreme red tape, LGBT, Malay introspection, paintball, privacy, same sex marriage, Weapons
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GOOD JOB Guan Eng & team: The Pearl of the Orient’s charm is back! – Thursday, 26 July 2012 09:41
One would need courage and humility to recognize the transformation taking place over these past several years in Penang since 2008. Indeed, a visit to Penang is the best way to learn, witness and partake in the beauty that is becoming of the once raped island.
Notice the ample thought given in creating bicycle lanes. Note too how motorists keep to the law even when out of sight of the law keepers.
Notice how the ferry is kept refreshingly clean. And sense the improved work attitudes of its employees – including clean uniforms and engaging charm.
Notice that the rotting stench of uncollected garbage and choking debris along the island’s shores have all gone missing. Improved too is the absence of stench from covered drains. And see how the shops and stall operators appear cleaner and more ‘schooled’ in mannerisms and hygiene.
Most noticeable is the re-appearance of retired senior citizens back on the circuit of being gainfully employed. From hotels to restaurants, you notice more grey hairs and weather beaten brows easily warming you with caring aged eyes and toothless grins.
Noticeable too is the almost near absence of imported legal (together with Malaysia’s paradoxical illegal labour) workers. It appears that now every Penangite has equal opportunity to work.
Chocking, honking traffic has almost vanished. In place, you sense that people are more in less a hurry.
Trishaw riders are miraculously back with a vibrancy in their characteristic all yellow trappings. And what a joy to see these peddlers have nice park benches to rest, chat and even play a round of checkers in between trips.
What seemed impossible not so long ago and for a long time but now so naturally possible is also significant. There is ample space created for taxis to park in an orderly un-obstructive manner while waiting to get customers.
More cheerful Penangites
No wonder the people of Penang now seem more cheerful as they go about their business of the day. Listening to their relaxed and open conversation makes you wonder too ‘how come’? Where did they get this sudden courage to speak their mind so candidly and without fear or cover?
The taxi drivers are making a joke of the hand-out for tyres, saying, “bagi tangan kanan, ambil balik tangan kiri biasa loh.” And the retirees back on the job market are saying, “sekarang senang mah, boleh cari makan loh.”
Food prices are far more cheaper than Kuala Lumpur – never mind the fact that Penang is only four hours driving distance. You can have a decent nasi kandar of choice for below ten ringgit. And serving you is no ‘pendatang haram’ but family and kin of Malaysian citizenry.
It appears that it does makes economic sense to do away with import labour and give citizens a chance to make a living.
Syabas Penangites. And a feather for your able island’s leadership.
Indeed the Pearl of the Orient is back and the people have proven that when you give back to society what rightly belongs to humanity, people take personal responsibility more seriously and they need little prodding with slogans and reprimands through long preaching down.
But you will need courage and humility to witness and acknowledge the glow that is being put back on that island beauty Penang.
Gratuituous praise as usual eh? Penang is not the Pearl of the Orient. Hong Kong is. The pearl held by the lion in the crest of the Hong Kong insignia personifies the romanticised (though west inspired) phrase “Pearl of the Orient” referring to Hong Kong – NOT Penang, which has a palm tree signifying a plantation which is now a bleak and spiritually unhappy (mentally or superficially most in Penang are quite happy, abit deeper and just horror . . . ) expense of urban landscape no different from any other on the planet, except for the pretentious, narrow minded and parasitic insanity of some (not too many but quite numerous, so careful you visitors, NWO alert if anything . . . ) the residents.
Also the local DAP politicians are so dirty and vicious and accepting of second class citizenships that they will poison activists with the psychiatric establishment because their politics differ and ask for funeral funds before their deaths. Penang features far too much (there are some normal people but even these get swept up in whatever b.s. herd mentality style . . . ) of a charmless waste bin of fundos posing as good citizens parasiting off the poorer or ‘less well thought’ (some of the rich are nigh unthinking and can be quite insane when infected by religion or cults of personality in politics, infecting the poor and the greedy in turn) lot who have suffered so much (or inflicted so much harm) that they are no civilised people/no longer people beyond a veneer or brittle smiles or superficial politics.
Too few ‘pearls of people’ here in Penang either! Now if Sipadan tried, MAYBE because there are at least REAL PEARL farms there, but Sipadan is 30 years behind Penang, even as Penang is 30 years behind Hong Kong . . . Penang is too often (read the news and apply some logic to see what I mean) a cursed place peopled by political deadwood and the damned fundos backed by poisoners of a psychiatric establishment that have so far been hiding behind a complicit legal system from punishment for abusing people active in politics and activism, minority-fringe group issue advocacy (Minority of 1 is NOT insanity, in fact virtually nothing is insanity . . . ), outside the ‘allowed groups’ . . .
Meaning, Penang is a Fascist dictatorship of an oligarchic/plutocratic elite, NOT a real democracy where anyone can speak freely and participate . . . is the UN paying attention and identifying which ‘stupidos’ are insane as opposed to the non-establishment contrarians being labelled and sabotaged, now without privacy thanks to neurotech abuse sanctioned by the psy-establishment? Some fundos, politicians and psyche-personnel need to be put in prison and stripped of their social and professional status to exhonerate those they have abused and subverted, families they destroyed . . .
The principle behind the stand: the lesser of the evils – Friday, 27 July 2012 Super Admin – Raja Petra Kamarudin
What if His Majesty the Agong wants to see a Memorandum of Understanding signed by all three parties that spells out very clearly and specifically the terms of the ‘Unity Government’ that DAP, PKR and PAS are going to form? And what if DAP insists that one of the terms of the MoU must be that Malaysia retains its Secular State status while PAS insists that the implementation of Hudud be one of the terms of the MoU? And because of this conflict, DAP, PKR and PAS end up in a deadlock and cannot sign the MoU and hence the Agong swears in the new Barisan Nasional government.
I said the lesser of the evils, not the lesser of the two evils. That is because in some cases there may be more than just two evils. And I am writing this article in response to the posting by Haris Ibrahim titled Manchester’s Plan B, stands and directions? Will RPK make sense of these for us?
In that posting, today, Haris gave me 48 hours to respond. This was what he said in the concluding paragraphs of his posting:
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I must confess that Plan B leaves me very troubled with the stand and the direction of RPK. Only RPK can lay those concerns to rest. Will the master strategist share his master strategy relating to Plan B, or so much of it as he can, with us? I will wait 48 hours to hear from him.”
Now, if you remember what I had said in the past, politics is always about compromises and choosing the lesser of the evils (or two evils). And that is why, as I had also said, I did not agree with Dr Chandra Muzaffar’s concept of ‘Politik Baru’ or ‘New Politics’.
I also wrote about how Dr Chandra ‘lectured’ me and was quite exasperated when I said ‘Politik Baru’ is an oxymoron. Politics is the oldest profession in the world (or second oldest if you regard prostitution as the oldest). Hence how can you have ‘New Politics’ when politics itself is the oldest game in town?
I was, of course, being cheeky. I knew what Dr Chandra meant. When he said ‘Politik Baru’ he meant we should indulge in clean politics and not in dirty politics. But can you really expect politics to be clean when the only way to win in the political game is to ‘play dirty’, as Malaysians would say?
And that is where the oxymoron comes in. To win you need to play a dirty game. If you play a clean game you would get whacked good and proper.
I used the analogy of a street fight. When someone walks up to you in a bar and punches you, do you put up your fists and defend yourself using Queensbury Rules? Queensbury Rules would work in a boxing ring with referees to monitor the boxing match. But in a bar where your opponent is not only drunk but also much bigger than you, you need to grab a bottle and whack him over the head with it. You floor the bugger then get the hell out of there in double-quick time.
Is this fair? Who cares? Your objective is not to get whacked, or worse, get killed. So you grab whatever you can and finish the guy off. Fair does not apply in such a situation when limb and life are in jeopardy.
Hence, in politics, if your opponent is not playing fair why should you? If you want to win against a dirty opponent you need to be even dirtier than your opponent. And if you do not have the stomach for such a dirty game then do not become a politician because politics is dirty. It is as simple as that.
Dr Chandra was trying to change the rules of the game. But the other side will not play by your rules. They will set their own rules. And the rule is there are no rules. Hence it should be the law of the jungle. And the law of the jungle is about survival of the fittest. The weak die. You either move to the top of the food chain or else you will become food for those stronger than you.
And that is what politics is all about.
For more than a year I have been raising all sorts of issues involving Pakatan Rakyat. I have pointed out the weaknesses in Pakatan Rakyat. I have pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat is no longer honouring the letter and the spirit of The Poeples’ Declaration although they had endorsed it in the run-up to the last general election.
I also pointed out that we are perturbed by the quality of the candidates. We do not trust some of the people in Pakatan Rakyat and feel that they are for sale. In fact, some have even proven us correct by defecting to the other side.
In our meeting with Anwar Ibrahim in London, we warned him that in the last general election most people were happy to just vote for anyone who was not Umno or Barisan Nasional. However, we have found some of these candidates a huge disappointment. The next time around, we warned Anwar, the voters are going to look at the candidates closely and will vote based on candidates, no longer based on party lines.
Anwar said that he agreed with our observation and that they have taken note of this point and plan to address it when they choose the candidates for the next general election. Anwar also explained that Pakatan Rakyat was having problems attracting candidates to contest on the Pakatan Rakyat ticket.
We were actually quite aware of this. And the problem existed even back in 1999 when Pakatan Rakyat did not exist yet and the opposition coalition then was called Barisan Alternatif. We also personally know some of those people who had been approached. But they declined the offer to contest the election even when they were told they need not join the party but could contest as ‘independent’ candidates. However, they would need to contest on the party ticket even if they did not sign up as party members.
We told Anwar that if this was the only problem they faced then we would be very happy to assist the opposition in sourcing for candidates. Following that, the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) was launched and one of the first tasks of many that we embarked upon was to look for candidates to contest the general election.
We were very surprised, however, when we were told that Pakatan Rakyat would not accept our candidates. We were even more surprised when they started saying that our purpose in looking for candidates was to trigger three-corner contests in an effort to ‘pecah undi’ (split the votes) and help Barisan Nasional win the election.
After a year of trying to explain that this was not our ‘hidden agenda’ and that what we were doing was merely in response to what Pakatan Rakyat said — their problem in finding candidates — I decided to abort the exercise.
To make matters worse, we could not meet our target of 30 candidates because of the negative publicity about what we were trying to do. When we met with resistance, we stopped at seven candidates. We thought it was futile to push for 30 when there is so much bad publicity about our effort.
Eventually, the candidates dropped out one-by-one until we were left with just one candidate. And even that solitary candidate was going to be a problem because he wanted to contest in Kapar, Kelang, and that seat was ‘owned’ by PKR and PKR’s man in Kapar, Mike, was not going to give up his seat.
Hence Kapar would have to be a three-corner contest. And if the MCLM candidate contests Kapar in a three-corner fight this will only prove our critics right, that we are splitting the votes to help Barisan Nasional win the seat.
So, as I said, after more than a year of trying unsuccessfully to explain what we were doing and still not making any headway, I announced on 1st January this year that we are abandoning the independent candidate initiative. Actually, what I said was in response to a question by the chap interviewing me.
Jalil Hamid of NST asked me about MCLM and about MCLM’s plan to contest the general election. I corrected him by saying that MCLM never planned to contest the general election. That was not our intention at all. What we were trying to do was to help Pakatan Rakyat look for candidates. However, since this effort is not welcomed, we are dropping the whole idea.
Haris was most unhappy about this and he accused me of making a unilateral decision and said that this had never been discussed. Haris then resigned from MLCM while the others who were supposed to have been the candidates announced that they were distancing themselves from me. It appears my announcement that the independent candidate initiative is now off was not received well at all.
My contention was that if Pakatan Rakyat wanted our support then more effort needed to be put into fielding better candidates. And we told Anwar so, which he did not dispute. However, if what we were trying to do is going to be met with such a negative response then we might as well just abandon the whole exercise.
However, Pakatan Rakyat cannot expect our support if they field substandard candidates. Then everyone screams and tells me that it must be anything but Umno (ABU) and nothing else. Even when I pointed out that Pakatan Rakyat is not perfect, they scream, “Never mind. Pakatan Rakyat may not be perfect. There may be many weaknesses and even some corruption in Pakatan Rakyat. However, compared to Umno and Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Rakyat is the lesser of the two evils.”
So there you have it. We are supporting Pakatan Rakkyat not because they are perfect. We know they are not perfect. But compared to Umno and Barisan Nasional they are the lesser of the two evils. And that would be the principle behind why we should support Pakatan Rakyat. It is a very clear stand we take. Our stand is to support Pakatan Rakyat on the principle that it is the lesser of the two evils.
Okay, if that is what the majority wants then I can live with that. Unfortunately, in a democracy, it is what the majority wants that counts. Whether what the majority wants is right or wrong is not crucial. If the majority in Germany during WWII wanted the Jews exterminated then the Jews will get exterminated. Is this the right thing to do? Maybe not but majority rule is not about what is right. That is the downside of democracy, as history has time and again proven.
Okay, I was opposed to the ends justifying the means, and I said so many times. I was opposed to the concept of choosing the lesser of the two evils, and I said so many times. The end justifying the means is a dangerous concept.
The Americans tried to assassinate Fidel Castro to solve their problem with Cuba. Assassination of a foreign leader is wrong but then the end justifies the means. They were looking at the lesser of the two evils. Assassinating a foreign leader is an evil thing to do. However, allowing Castro to rule Cuba is a bigger evil. Hence assassinating him is the lesser of the two evils.
And that is why I was opposed to the concept of the end justifying the means and the lesser of the two evils. Where do we stop? How far do we go? What becomes halal (allowed) and what becomes haram (forbidden)? Under the concept of the end justifying the means and the lesser of the two evils there is no haram. Everything is halal. So see how dangerous it can become?
While we in the opposition propagate the concept of the end justifying the means and the lesser of the two evils, Umno and Barisan Nasional too play that same game. And they are in power so they can play the game more effectively and more successfully than us.
Okay, what stand do Umno and Barisan Nasional take? Their stand is very simple. They do not want to lose power. So they need to retain power by defeating Pakatan Rakyat in any way possible, fair or foul means never mind.
Umno works on one very basic principle. And that principle is the Chinese control the corporate sector. Hence the Malays must control the political arena. The Chinese cannot dominate both the corporate world as well as politics. The Malays must dominate politics at all costs. And no cost is too great to pay.
What if Umno is going to lose political power? What if the majority of the voters vote against Barisan Nasional? Umno will have to make sure that this does not happen. They cannot allow a level playing field and face the risk of losing power. Hence all manner of gerrymandering must be applied plus the electoral roll will have to be padded with ‘BN-friendly’ voters.
What if after doing all this they still lose the election? Say, in spite of all the manipulation, Barisan Nasional still gets ousted. Are they prepared to quietly walk away and concede defeat? Or will they embark upon a post-election ‘exercise’ ultra virus to the Constitution to prevent Pakatan Rakyat from walking into Putrajaya?
Barisan Nasional has lost the election. But they refuse to give up power. They are retaining power through unconstitutional means. And that is evil. So what do we do? Do we just keep quiet or do we also play that same evil game?
No doubt what we need to do will also be evil. But it is going to be the lesser of the two evils. And the lesser of the two evils would be to launch a civil war against an unconstitutional government that refuses to concede defeat in the general election.
Take note, though, many lives will be lost. And that, of course, is an evil thing to happen. But is the loss of thousands of lives a lesser evil than the loss of the government? Or will it be the other way around? Will the loss of the government be the lesser evil? Would you consider lives as very precious and that the loss of thousands of lives can never justify the quest for power?
Another possible scenario would be that Pakatan Rakyat wins the next general election and there is a smooth and peaceful transfer of power. We cannot rule out that possibility as well. Then that would make this entire discussion purely academic.
Yet another possibility would be that Barisan Nasional wins the general election but with such a slim majority that it is almost a hung Parliament plus they lose almost half the 13 state governments, like what happened once upon a time. Then this triggers a power struggle in Umno, like what happened once upon a time. The group that wants to oust the group in power is more radical and believes in a hard-line action against the opposition to totally wipe out the opposition once and for all.
Now, we want to see the emergence of a two-party system in Malaysia. And two party-system means two parties equally-balanced where one can check the other. However, if the radical group succeeds in grabbing power then this aspiration of a two-party system would be buried. Thus, we need the liberals and not the radicals to hold power in Putrajaya.
If the radicals take over then there would no longer be any credible opposition come the general election, say, in 2018. However, if the liberals rule then the opposition still has one more shot in 2018, or whenever.
Okay, this is based on the scenario that Pakatan Rakyat fails to win the coming general election and Barisan Nasional is weakened further from the 2008 general election. If Pakatan Rakyat does worse than it did in 2008 then the problem ends. If Pakatan Rakyat wins the general election then we may have a problem but a different kind of problem. And if Pakatan Rakyat does better than it did in 2008 but Barisan Nasional still wins then it would be yet another kind of problem.
So there are three possible outcomes and three possible problems attached to these outcomes. Hence, based on the lesser of the evils, as what you all want, we have to figure out our course of action. Each course of action has some evil attached. The question would be: which would you regard as the lesser of that evil?
You may think that the above is mere speculation and not based on anything tangible. Okay, let me put it another way. Say Barisan Nasional wins 110 Parliament seats in total. The balance 112 Parliament seats are shared between PKR, DAP and PAS. Say DAP wins 40 seats, PKR 37 seats and PAS 35 seats. Who will get to form the government?
Barisan Nasional, a legally registered party, has the most number of seats, 110, compared to DAP, PKR and PAS who all won less than 110 seats each. You may argue that DAP, PKR and PAS can always combine their seats, which means the total would be 112 and hence more than Barisan Nasional’s 110.
Are you sure? What if they can’t? What if His Majesty the Agong wants to see a Memorandum of Understanding signed by all three parties that spells out very clearly and specifically the terms of the ‘Unity Government’ that DAP, PKR and PAS are going to form? And what if DAP insists that one of the terms of the MoU must be that Malaysia retains its Secular State status while PAS insists that the implementation of Hudud be one of the terms of the MoU? And because of this conflict, DAP, PKR and PAS end up in a deadlock and cannot sign the MoU and hence the Agong swears in the new Barisan Nasional government.
Yes, yet a fourth possible scenario. And in politics anything is possible. In fact, the more impossible it may appear the more possible that it may happen. So, in this case, which would you regard as the lesser of the two evils? I don’t know so you tell me. Migrate? Take up arms and start a civil war? Curse PAS and DAP for not coming to an agreement on the matter of Hudud? Curse Anwar for not resolving this matter before the general election? What? You tell me!
This article is most ingenuous and insulting to the Rakyat’s intelligence!
a) What if His Majesty the Agong wants to see a Memorandum of Understanding signed by all three parties that spells out very clearly and specifically the terms of the ‘Unity Government’ that DAP, PKR and PAS are going to form?
No such requirement in UN or foreign nation recognition – the Agong can denounce a MOU refusing political party yet that party can still be recognized worldwide. Only a majority of MPs matters even if no MOU’s exist. This is ‘Absolute Monarchy’ talk. Are you mad RPK? Bodeking back into favour?
b) And what if DAP insists that one of the terms of the MoU must be that Malaysia retains its Secular State status while PAS insists that the implementation of Hudud be one of the terms of the MoU?
The UN insists that ALL countries of the world are secular to a point. Or do we need NATO peacekeepers to remind? Hudud as mentioned can be implemented in majority assenting districts in Malaysia, ridiculous to suggest Hudud in ALL of Malaysia ESPECIALLY in majority non-Malay districts and even in non-assenting majority Malay districts which have Malay majorities that do not want Hudud which by all common sense considerations leaves only Terengganu and Kelantan as possible consideration for Hudud (even Kelantan and Terengganu might have significant though not necessarily majority numbers of districts that do not want Hudud which by UN standards may not be enforced upon those populaces either.).
c) And because of this conflict, DAP, PKR and PAS end up in a deadlock and cannot sign the MoU and hence the Agong swears in the new Barisan Nasional government.
RPK must be senile here saying ‘And hence the Agong swears the new Barisan Nasional government (minority) voted government.‘
If BN is a minority, BN cannot be sworn in by the Agong – the UN or any responsible foreign government would never recognize the new MINORITY government! Because internationally only the majority coalition is recognized! More Absolute Monarchy from RPK. RPK, you really disappointed in this article and treat the Rakyat and readers like simpletons. RPK may be well informed but RPK can’t think straight for sh1t these days or presumes that everyone else can’t. Just look at the quality of articles RPK has been dishing out these days. Tsk tsk tsk . . . RPK should return to Malaysia and stand against Anwar in Penang, that perhaps RPK can do, something useful like give an alternative to Anwar – I think RPK is no more fundo and potentially more open minded than Anwar though no word yet on that backtrack LGBT yet . . . RPK shouldn’t don’t bother throwing strawmen scenarios and absolute monarchy at the Rakyat from jolly England and do something useful for GE13.
d) Curse PAS and DAP for not coming to an agreement on the matter of Hudud? Curse Anwar for not resolving this matter before the general election?
No. The Rakyat just won’t vote for them. The best curse is to not vote for any MP. In either case 2 terms only!
Anwar’s anti-homosexual hypocrisy – Wednesday, 25 July 2012 Super Admin
“While this might be a good vote-getting strategy in some parts of Malaysia, his claim shamefully runs completely contrary to the central principle of non-discrimination in international human rights law,” was Robertson’s rants against Anwar, picked up in a statement the HRW issued last week.
Azmi Anshar, NST
DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been busted again, playing both sides of the coin when he should have picked one and be done with it. But then, it’s an Anwar speciality over the years he’s been grating the public consciousness.
This time though, his duality — this split personality meandering on human rights issues — is his own doing, one that invited a stricture that, surprisingly, didn’t bore from a Federal Government leader, backer or blogger.
It was unloaded by Human Rights Watch’s (Asia division) Phil Robertson, an ally fuming at Anwar’s doublespeak uttered during his revealing testimony in his lawsuit against Utusan Malaysia last week.
Responding to defence counsel’s questions, Anwar the plaintiff explicitly agreed that homosexuals should be discriminated to protect the sanctity of marriage. Full stop? Not quite. It was not the point that Anwar wanted to make as he insisted that “archaic” laws should be reviewed to prevent punishment of the innocent.
Defence lawyer Datuk Firoz Hussein’s question could not have been clearer: “Should we discriminate against homosexuals?” Firoz asked. “Yes” was Anwar’s emphatic reply.
Anwar went on: “We don’t give space to homosexuals and uphold the sanctity of marriage…the law must be crafted in a way we must believe the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman…we do not promote homosexuality.”
Anwar had a partisan reflection when he articulated why Malaysia’s anti-homosexual laws were “archaic”, illustrating something that seemed “personal” when he intoned, “legislation to punish innocent people should not be condoned or tolerated”.
When pressed to elaborate on why he considered existing laws against unnatural sex under Section 377 of the Penal Code to be “archaic”, Anwar was more direct: “…because it is hardly used and only used for political reasons”.
That’s Anwar speciality, that ability to tie you up in literary knots even under oath. For the general populace, he wants homosexuals discriminated — banned, barred, isolated or alienated — yet he wants “archaic” laws governing the counter-culture to be reformed. Which is it?
Robertson wasn’t having any of Anwar’s nonsensical flip-flops, directly denouncing his anti-gay position as “shameful”, “fundamentally wrong” while accusing him of playing politics with civil liberties.
Bang goes Anwar’s carefully manufactured reputation as an international human rights advocate. The malarkey of his global pulpit, centred upon caressing his image in the likes of civil rights battlers Aung San Suu Kyi, is exposed as untenable when it comes to defending political self-preservation, especially his vested interest with Islamic allies Pas and a host of like-minded religious jurors.
To be sure, Robertson would just have imposed a similar judgment against the Federal Government, but there are diametric differences: whereas Anwar speaks with a forked tongue, the Barisan Nasional has consistently insisted that gays have no role to play in the mainstream.
To be plain, Anwar is a hypocrite (by Robertson’s angry diatribe) and a liar (by the rants of disappointed supporters) as he speaks for the downtrodden before international audiences, but deserts them at home. On the other hand, the Federal Government opposes — as representative of the moral/religious majority and a matter of national law/policy — the LGBT (Lesbians Gays Bisexual Transgender) movement propelled by Bersih leader Datuk S. Ambiga.
Going by the consistency of his ironies and deceptions, Anwar wants to be a man of all seasons for everybody and if he trips on his convoluted political rhetoric, that’s fine because in his mind, enough people have the required gullibility to believe in his “heartfelt” empathy.
Until someone like Robertson comes along to fiercely prick Anwar’s hydrogen-inflated and moveable balloon.
Less LGBT hate by allowing a pro-LGBT article is NOT an apology or backtrack on some of RPK’s less LGBT neural articles.
Stop playing race game – FROM AROUND THE BLOGS – Wednesday, 25 July 2012 Super Admin – AZMI SHAROM
The country has changed so much since 1969 that to keep using the argument that we are on the verge of race war is rather obsolete.
I WAS wondering when it was going to happen; when certain quarters were going to dust off that old chestnut of May 13, 1969, and use it as a political tool.
It all seems terribly coincidental that as the general election draws nearer, suddenly race riots get inserted into political speech, and a movie about May 13 is apparently waiting to be released.
Let’s look at some facts. Firstly, the vast majority of the Malaysian population were not even born in 1969.
This means that first-hand knowledge of that terrible time is simply not part of most of us. Without that emotional connection, I believe that younger Malaysians are willing to question the feasibility of such a thing happening again.
And really, could it? In 1969, the politics of the nation was so very clearly divided along racial lines. The Opposition was not united as it is today. PAS won 12 seats, DAP 13 and Gerakan 8.
They were not part of a coalition and each stood on its own, therefore it was possible to play the race game because, in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor in particular, the Opposition had the face of “the other”.
Today, with the Pakatan coalition in existence, the Opposition is a much more complex animal. If the Opposition wins, how can the race card be played when two of the component parties are so predominantly Malay?
Let’s take a look at recent events that has got some powerful people’s knickers in a twist.
In particular the Bersih demonstrations of 2007, 2011 and 2012. The demographics of these events were multi-ethnic and became even more multi-ethnic with each progressive one.
By the time of this year’s Bersih demonstration, the make-up of the people who took part was much closer to the make-up of the country as a whole. However, the predominant ethnic group was still Malay.
This goes to show that the political divide, not of political parties but of ordinary citizens, can no longer be conveniently divided along ethnic lines.
Significant numbers of Malaysians, regardless of their background, can be united when they have a common political goal, in this case clean and fair elections.
Furthermore, ethnic Malays can be vocally unhappy with the status quo. In the present-day scenario, it is ridiculous to say that the politics in Malaysia is simply a matter of Malays versus Non-Malays.
And let us look at the 2008 elections. The results were unprecedented and surprised most people. I remember that night very well, as the results became clear that Barisan had lost their two-thirds majority and five state governments.
I decided to drive around Kuala Lumpur, just to see what would happen. And what happened? Nothing.
The streets were quiet. No celebratory parties, no processions, no fireworks; nothing.
The Opposition and their supporters on the streets were as muted as the Barisan and their supporters.
No gloating, no taunting, no excuses at all to provoke a reaction from the supporters of the powers-that-be.
Still no stand on :
;crypto-racism is very dangerous when held in the heart by racists-would-be. Btw, those giving free citizenships are causing more harm than any non-Bumi does, by lowering overall wealth.
No new taxes after car excise duty cut, says Pakatan – by Ida Lim – July 27, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will not impose new taxes to compensate for any potential loss of revenue from its plan to shelve excise duties to lower the sticker price for cars if it takes power in the next general election.
PKR’s strategy director Rafizi Ramli had on Tuesday announced that the federal opposition intends to cut the triple tax on cars — import, excise and sales tax — if it wins the coming general election.
Today, Rafizi (picture) said that there will be “no introduction of new taxes”.
Instead, he said, a PR federal government would instead cut spending and also revamp the current Approved Permit (AP) system to make up for any losses.
“I think we can look at how we manage APs. APs now… to give riches buta-buta (blindly),” he said.
“If AP is managed well, there will be a source of wealth that can balance the loss of revenue from excise duty.”
However, he said, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would only announce details of PR’s mechanism for the alternative source of revenue next week.
Rafizi had previously admitted that the government could lose RM8 billion in yearly revenue if car taxes are cut.
But the offer to voters will effectively boost the disposable incomes of Malaysians and reduce household debts.
Malaysians pay inordinately high prices for cars mainly because of the protection afforded to national carmaker Proton since 1984.
The public pays import, excise and sales taxes that translate into some of the highest car prices in the region and the world.
A recent income survey found that a household earning RM3,000 a month could spend up to 50 per cent of its income on maintaining a car.
A cut in car duties — which currently run as high as 105 per cent — could help stimulate the economy by boosting disposable income and reducing household debt burden, analysts have also told The Malaysian Insider.
The high taxes now have resulted in about 20 per cent of the RM581 billion total household debt in the country last year being held in cars, an asset that depreciates over time.
Pakatan must be mad if they think the Rakyat are going to continue paying extra for their cars to some AP Crony – this shows Anwar supports apartheid in some manner as well! Unvotable! Vote 3rd Force which will make ALL OF MALAYSIA an AP and duty free zone. Who ever suggests or supports keeping AP must be enmired in crony politics mentality, a crony or plain greedy. Look around the world, there is no such thing as AP in any developed country and even in Africa where apartheid has officially ended, there is no AP, though apartheid still exists in some places unofficially from unremoved legal or social or other embedded structures.
Don’t waste public funds by appealing: Bersih to govt – Harakahdaily, 25 July 2012
Jul 25: Acknowledging it is the government’s right to appeal against yesterday’s decision by the High Court declaring the coalition a legal entity, the grouping however advised Home minister Hishamuddin Hussein not to do so.
“For the sake of our country, we sincerely ask them not to pursue with an appeal and to drop all the civil suits against us as it is a waste of public funds,” Bersih 2.0 steering committee members said in a statement.
The coalition said it hoped BN would accept present political realities and deal with Bersih 2.0 as a legitimate entity demanding free and fair elections on behalf of the people.
Judge Rohana Yusof ruled in favour of Bersih, pointing out to contradiction by the authorities who allowed Bersih to hold its third rally this year despite not revoking the pronouncement that it was ‘illegal’.
Bersih is led by former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreevenasan and literary icon Samad Said, along with 14 other steering committee members.
Responding to the judgement, Hishamuddin said his ministry would discuss with the Attorney General whether to appeal against the decision.
Bersih meanwhile called on BN to start cooperating to improve the electoral system.
Meanwhile, PAS information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, describing the judgement a victory for the people, hoped that lesson was learnt by BN.
“This is a reminder against issuing a declaration which violated the law, and Hishamuddin should be aware that many rally participants were arrested because of that wrong declaration,” he added.
A group of citizens backed by the Bar Council, could file a lawsuit against the Home Minister, CPO of the district or at least the highest ranking officer at the rally for not making orders clear or controlling their men. As for being beaten and hurt during the rally where provable (i.e. has filmed evidence) compensation by the ENTIRE police force perhaps in salary dockings collectively shared rather than taxapayers’ monies, no offense to police but this shouldn’t be too much individually when divided, and does give a message to the police to not resort to violence or at least use submission holds and moves (no hitting with batons or rubber hoses unnecessarily, what does the PDRM think this is, Camel Riders in Egypt under Mubarak?), with any protestors and ralliers who threw the first punch first being left out of any compensation unless obviously retaliated against in an inequitable manner. Lets see if the Courts or Bar Council get blackballed internationally or the Home Minister, CPO or Ranking Officer has to resign at very least. As for BERSIH, please make clear on the below, Anwar’s ‘keep AP in place’ fortells much cronyism and potential apartheid if anything :
;and field some candidates for GE13! We can’t hand the government to either BN or PR, 3rd force is best (well maybe DAP and PKR if the 90% and 50% family blocs (and crony capitalists) respectively are not fielded in GE13!
PKR Youth wing against hudud – Wednesday, 25 July 2012 Super Admin
NOT IN FAVOUR: Its chief, Shamsul Iskandar, on same wavelength as Karpal in opposing the Islamic law
(NST) – PARTI Keadilan Rakyat’s Youth wing has chosen to side with DAP chairman Karpal Singh in opposing Pas’ hudud aspirations.
Its chief, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, yesterday warned his Pas counterpart, Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, that he had opened a Pandora’s box over his recent comment on the implementation of hudud, which had raised the ire of Karpal and other DAP members.
He said it was improper for Nasrudin to dredge up the longstanding issue as he claimed that the stance of the alliance between PKR, DAP and Pas on the Islamic criminal law was clear.
“I would like to advise Nasrudin to refer to our agreement late last year that hudud is not part of Pakatan Rakyat’s joint policy until all member parties agree to it.”
Shamsul Iskandar added that close to 30 top opposition party leaders had met for over three hours on Sept 29, last year to resolve the deep-rooted hudud issue, which has seen DAP and Pas repeatedly at loggerheads.
“DAP’s objection has to be respected and PR will continue to allow its members to air different views,” he said.
On Friday, Karpal had expressed displeasure upon learning that Nasrudin had, during a political debate, suggested that he was willing to consider hudud for the country.
Hudud is a term used in Syariah to describe the class of punishment for certain crimes such as theft, fornication and adultery, consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants and apostasy.
Nasrudin had uttered the remark during a debate with Umno Working Committee Secretariat of Young Ulama chairman Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya.
The debate on Thursday, titled “PRU13: Orang Muda Pilih Siapa”, was organised by the tabloid, Sinar Harian.
Karpal had also asked Pas leaders to keep its “members in the lower ranks” in check, and urged them to pursue the welfare state, an ideal endorsed by the DAP, PKR and Pas alliance.
He had also claimed that Pas had abandoned its aspirations to set up an Islamic state and implement Islamic laws in the country as a trade-off for its cooperation with DAP and PKR.
On Monday, however, Pas syura council member Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed refuted Karpal’s statement and said having Islamic laws and setting up an Islamic state were still high on Pas’s agenda.
Pas Youth deputy chief Dr Raja Ahmad Al Hiss yesterday said he did not want the dispute between Karpal and Nasrudin to interfere with preparations for the elections.
“Since the general election is approaching, Pas does not want to get distracted as we want to stay committed to ensuring Pakatan Rakyat’s victory and capturing Putrajaya,” he said in a text message yesterday.
Meanwhile, MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong challenged senior PKR and DAP leaders to state their stand on hudud and to “chastise Pas” over its plan to implement Islamic laws in the country.
“If PKR is for the creation of a welfare state, does that mean it is for or against hudud, considering the fact that its leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had voiced his support for hudud?” Wee asked in a statement here yesterday.
“So far, Karpal has been a lone ranger in speaking against hudud. (Are) the DAP office-bearers distancing themselves from their chairman?”
Wee’s deputy, Dr Mah Hang Soon, said the opposing viewpoints between DAP and Pas were “embarrassingly inconsistent”.
“Karpal cannot confidently say that Pas gave up on the creation of an Islamic state in favour of a welfare state if Nasrudin publicly declares otherwise and has the support of a Pas Syura council member.”
I can imagine DAP and PAS throwing even more religious strawmen at the Rakyat if they win. What will be left of Malaysia may be worse but in a different way than if BN won. BN – Corruption and Racism, or PR – Fundamentalism and Nepotism? Choose neither BN nor PR by voting for 3rd Force. BN came and went. Pakatan failed and needs to be booted. 3rd Force must prevail or more madness, but of a different sort, looks set to continue under PR unless all Pakatan MP’s sign a statuary declaration supporting a bill for :
But only 3rd Force looks able to sign a Statuary Declaration confirming their committment to ensure the above, with BN actually currently having the mandate to grant the above but simply refusing to use that mandate! Failed coalitions both! Vote for 3rd Force!
Amanah has decided to go with BN’s ‘don’t use mandate’ to ‘not end apartheid’ or ‘don’t end 2 classes of citizenship’ – so Amanah becomes non-3rd Force. Does the Rakyat know how to vote yet?
When moving forward means moving sideways – Monday, 30 July 2012 Super Admin RPK
Career politicians — which would be what most Malaysian politicians are — are in it for the money. If politicians are not paid any salary or allowance and, say, wakil rakyat, instead of receiving a salary/allowance, need to pay for the ‘honour’ of being a wakil rakyat, how many would want to become a wakil rakyat?
For example, the First Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, took six months no-pay leave to campaign in the general election (he handed the administration of the country to his deputy, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein). He also sold a lot of his personal property to finance Umno. When the Tunku retired he was almost broke and could not even afford to pay his income tax. So the government froze his gratuity.
How many politicians would do what the Tunku did?
The Tunku, understandably, was very sad. After being ousted and forced out of office on allegations that he was a ‘Chinese lover’ and that he is to blame for the 13th May 1969 race riots due to his excessive ‘compromises’ with the Chinese, he is whacked with a huge income tax bill and his gratuity is frozen.
The Tunku who did so much for the country and sacrificed his personal wealth for the sake of the country is made into a pariah and suffers persecution. That turned him into a bitter old man and when the old Umno was wound up and the new Umno (Umno Baru) was formed he refused to become a member. In fact, he worked with Semangat 46 to oppose Umno Baru. And when he died he died outside Umno.
The Third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn, also opposed Umno Baru and, just like the Tunku, died outside Umno. He too did not like what Umno had become. His intentions never changed. Neither did the Tunku’s. But Umno had changed. And both these gentlemen did not like what they saw in the new Umno that rose from the ashes of the old Umno.
. . . what happens if the party has transformed or mutated into something that you do not believe in? Do you call it a day and move on or do you bite the bullet and stifle your dissent? Dissent would be considered as rebellion in a political party. Demonstrating dissent would weaken the party as it gives an impression that the party is divided, or worse, disintegrating.
But doing so goes against what you believe in. So what do you do? Do you speak out and risk being seen as not toeing the party line or do you leave and be called a traitor or turncoat? Not an easy decision, especially for someone who has attained a high profile status in the party.
For example, the Qur’an starts by saying that there is good and there is bad in liquor but there is more bad than good. Hence this verse can be taken as an advice about the ills of liquor but not quite a prohibition from drinking.
Then the Qur’an says you must not drink before your prayers. This is a prohibition but a prohibition only when you are going to pray. In other words you can still drink as long as you are not about to pray.
Finally, the Qur’an prohibits liquor altogether.
Now, the Qur’an is supposed to be the word of God but sent to us through the Prophet Muhammad. So why can’t God (or Muhammad) make up His mind? Why the ‘U-turn’? Why like this one day and like that another day? Why not be consistent?
Students of the Qur’an can tell you that in the early days of Islam when the pagans of Mekah were not yet ready to fully abandon their old customs and traditions, Muhammad (or God, if you embrace the belief that the Qur’an is God’s word) had to be more compromising and less hard line. However, after more than a decade, after Islam had become well entrenched in Medinan society, Muhammad was able to be more intolerant and less compromising on what was considered unIslamic.
True, people have left Umno-BN and people have crossed over from the opposition to join Umno-BN. But different people have done so for different reasons.
Onn Jaafar, as an example, left Umno because Umno would not accept non-Malays into the party. He wanted Umno to abandon its Malay agenda and transform itself into a Malaysian party. But Umno could not agree to that. So, since Umno did not share his ideals of a non-race-based party, he left. Since he could not change Umno and since he was not prepared to change his stand just to toe the party line, he quit to form his own non-race-based party UMNO Baru.
The above article is the cleaned up and manipulation free version of the original. Read the original at your own risk at :
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/no-holds-barred/50854-when-moving-forward-means-moving-sideways
RPK is still manipulating, propagating (replicating more like) a certain ‘definitely skewed’ mode of thought, though far more cautiously after the past few responses on this blog which some might consider harsh. But when a man as old as RPK speaks, tolerance for manipulation and inaccuracy or lack of logic is virtually zero by the standards of today’s youth. More rebuttals :
1) But doing so goes against what you believe in. So what do you do? Do you speak out and risk being seen as not toeing the party line or do you leave and be called a traitor or turncoat? Not an easy decision, especially for someone who has attained a high profile status in the party.
This presumes or causes the reader “corruptible ethics” as well as pre-empts political parties to be undemocratic . RPK sinks to new lows, or displays more uncorrected character flaws . . .
2) . . . Muhammad was able to be more intolerant and less compromising on what was considered unIslamic. . . .
Shows that RPK is not ‘naturally nice’ or ‘naturally all encompassing’ or not inclined to diversity. So if RPK is praising and intending to be like Muhammed, fully expect that IF RPK has the ‘power’, RPK will be merciless but meanwhile will play nice because RPK has no power at the moment. So who needs this sort of MP/leader like RPK? Fail again, and more authoritarianism. I still encourge RPK to return to Malaysia and stand against Anwar in Anwar’s constituency, choosing between the lesser of 2 evils and all that y’know . . . UMNO Baru could even be revived but only if the below 3 items are part of the new party and part of all MP or required as candidates’ statuary declarations for the Rakyat :
Otherwise only 3rd Force candidates fresh from the Rakyat with a Statuary Declaration on the above 3 items, and ready to leave after 2 terms are the only votables. End the APARTHEID of Bumiputra and make Apostasy something that cannot be punished! The Quran cannot be misinterpreted in this manner as a tool of control against Malays, even as APARTHEID of Bumiputra is against all concept of Islamic (and Human) civilisation!
‘Kit Siang main force behind May 13′ – Tuesday, 31 July 2012 Super Admin
An article in the Perkasa website accuses the DAP veteran of being the main force behind the riots which, according to the writer, claimed 2,000 lives.
RK Anand, FMT
Ruling politicians have never failed to remind Malaysians of the sectarian violence which rocked the nation more than four decades ago.
The spectre was often summoned to stoke fear in the hearts of the electorate and served as a convenient tool to create suspicion and animosity between the races.
And while the soon-to-be repealed Sedition Act was used against those who uttered statements of comparatively lesser evil, those who peddled the May 13 bogey were however left untouched.
With the 13th general election looming and being touted as the nation’s most pivotal political bout, the bloodletting of 1969 had cropped up with increasing frequency, especially with the Chinese having turned their backs on the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition as evident in their voting trend.
And in the forefront of this bandwagon was Perkasa, the self-appointed vanguard of the Malay race in Malaysia.
In a recent article published on its website, the writer had accused DAP’s Lim Kit Siang of being the prime mover behind the racial riots.
The article was accompanied by a macabre montage depicting the veteran politician with a bloody hand print in the background and blood dripping over his face, with the words “13 Mei”.
The article claimed that the opposition leader later sang a different tune, saying that DAP was willing to work with BN to ensure that such a tragic episode did not recur.
“His aim was to put a lid on his cardinal sin as the main force [pengerak utama] behind May 13 and to wash his hands of the blood of the innocent victims [of the riots],” it read.
The article, titled “Kit Siang pernah halau Melayu dari Kg Baru”, was penned in reaction to Lim’s vexed response to the accusation that DAP was infiltrated by Communist elements.
Delving into the history of DAP’s formation, the article stated that since its inception, the party had close ties with Singapore’s People’s Action Party or PAP.
Following Singapore’s departure from the Federation, the article said DAP was formed with Lim, who was said to share family ties with Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, being one of the pioneers.
“There is not much difference between DAP and PAP. So it does not come as a surprise that the new generation of DAP leaders like Lim’s son Guan Eng continue the tradition of ‘worshipping’ PAP,” it added.
The ‘big headed’ Chinese
Following the 1969 general election, the article stated that DAP and Gerakan (which was then an opposition party) grew arrogant after securing a huge victory in Selangor.
“DAP used the freedom of expression without limits to condemn and insult the Malays during a mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur which saw them bring banners and loud-hailers.
“It had only been 12 years since the Chinese were accorded full citizenship based on one of the conditions set forth by the British and they [the Chinese] had grown big headed,” it read.
Citing a report by the National Action Council then, the article said it was found that DAP’s street procession in which racist sentiments were spewed against the Malays was the catalyst behind the racial riots.
Interestingly, the article stated that 2,000 lives were lost in the riots despite official statistics placing the death toll at under 200 amidst claims that it was an attempt to downplay the incident.
According to the article, the slogan bandied about by Lim and the other Chinese leaders in DAP during their procession was “Malai si which meant ‘Mati Melayu’ [Malays are dead].”
The article also cited several other slogans purportedly chanted during the rally, which among others were: “Apa polis boleh buat, kita raja. Buang sama polis Melayu”, “KL sekarang Cina punya” and “Melayu balik kampung, Melayu sekarang tidak ada kuasa. Sekarang kita Cina sudah control.”
The fact was, claimed the article, DAP cannot change to become a party which would champion the rights of the Malays and Bumiputera “because racism runs deep in its veins”.
” The fact was, claimed the article, DAP cannot change to become a party which would champion the rights of the Malays and Bumiputera “because racism runs deep in its veins”. “
Tsk! RK Anand’s line reads no better being racism by neglect of consideration that all citizens have the same rights under law and that Bumiputra Special Privileges were as per the Reid Commission only allowed to be in place fo 15 years and then reviewed for removal. The way RK Anand speaks, sounds as if Bumiputra was intended to be forever! That is the Social Contract. Equality for all Malaysians AFTER 15 years of Special privileges. How about we have parties that do not champion rights of any race and instead champion rights of MALAYSIAN citizens . . . DAP and PAS get along because of a sense of Fundamentalism. What does RK Anand think of the below and will RK Anand even dare ask for what is merely equality even where Pakatan cynically and unfairly fail to act to ensure what UN and Quran assure all humanity?
‘Do your worst, we will do our best’ – Tuesday, 31 July 2012 by Kua Kia Soong, FMT
The NGOs in Malaysia have found themselves ‘between a ROC and a hard place…’, says Suaram’s adviser Kua Kia Soong.
While the Registrar of Societies may now feign innocence regarding their selectivity in registering societies by questioning Suaram’s registration as a business, let me remind the young generation and those with short memories about our nation’s shortcomings relating to the freedom of association in our recent history.
As you know, ‘Operation Lalang’ was Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s autocracy at its worst when he arrested and detained more than a hundred innocent Malaysians without trial in October 1987.
Upon the release of the last Operation Lalang detainees in 1989, several of these detainees including my goodself and members of the Families Support Group formed this human rights organisation known as Suaram (Suara Rakyat Malaysia). Aware of the obstacles in registering a human rights society under the Registrar of Societies, Suaram registered as a business under the Registrar of Business.
At the time, another human rights organisation, Hakam had taken more than two years to be registered in 1989 even though it boasted two former prime ministers (Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn) as its patrons. It had tried unsuccessfully several times to register as a society in the eighties.
The Malaysian chapter of Amnesty International also tried unsuccessfully for five years to register as a society under the Societies Act. Two applications and an appeal to the Home Minister were also rejected.
Consequently, quite a number of NGOs decided that in order to carry out their services to society, they had no choice but to register as businesses.
So why is there a sudden interest in Suaram’s status after its 23 years’ existence? Is it coincidental that this has arisen out of our recent request to the French judicial system to pursue suspected commissions embroiled in the RM7 billion Scorpene submarine deals?
Given the difficulties created by the Societies Act, some non-governmental organisations, including Suaram decided to register as companies or businesses.
As the corporate gurus say, “If something is not working, do something else.” Or, as Deng Xiaoping famously said, “It does not matter if the cat is white or black, as long as it catches the mice.” The mice, in the case of NGOs, are defending human rights, democracy and social justice.
NGOs registering as companies were certainly not a secret. In fact, in early 1997 the government threatened to force all NGOs to register under the Societies Act. Nonetheless, registration as a company has not completely protected NGOs from harassment by the government, as the recent intrusion by the SSM into Suaram’s accounts has demonstrated.
In 1996, the Institut Pengajian Komuniti (IPK), an NGO taking up the issue of rights of indigenous peoples in Sarawak was de-registered by the Registrar of Business over a legal technicality.
The ROC’s Tenaganita fiasco
In 1997, the Registrar of Companies raided the offices of Tenaganita, the NGO that had exposed inhuman conditions in immigrant detention centres, and confiscated their documents.
Tenaganita and two directors were subsequently charged in court in March 1997 under the Companies Act for late filing of audited financial statements of 1994. And most unusual was the fact that the charges were prosecuted by a Deputy Prosecutor from the Attorney-General’s Chambers instead of the usual officers of the Registrar.
The charges were subsequently withdrawn on July 9, 1997 when it was pointed out in court that the Registrar had already compounded the offences and accepted payment of a fine through Tenaganita’s accountants.
Then on Sept 5, 1997, the Registrar again issued fresh charges against Tenaganita and two directors on minor technicalities. This time around, the Registrar refused to compound the alleged offences for a fine.
After Tenaganita mounted a legal challenge to the prosecutions alleging mala fide prosecution, the charges were withdrawn on Nov 25, 1997.
As you can see, NGOs in Malaysia have found themselves “between a ROC and a hard place…”
PSM’s Greek tragedy
Opposition political parties have fared no better. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) only obtained its legal registration as a political party in 2008, 10 years after it first filed its application. The entire saga endured by PSM in its struggle to be registered reads like a Greek tragedy in modern Malaysia.
And of course, the Registrar of Societies can feign selective outrage yet again: “Wasn’t the Malaysian Indian United party (MIUP), whose founding leader is S Nallakaruppan swiftly registered in October 2007, just five months after he quit PKR in May 2007?”
“You mean the party that pledged to work closely with, and give its support to, the ruling BN coalition? Yes, we believe the ROS acted expeditiously on their application…”
Restrictions to the fundamental right to freedom of association are also imposed on trade union officials through the Trade Unions Act. Today, less than 10 per cent of Malaysian workers are unionised compared to more than 60 per cent at the time of Independence. What a transformation indeed!
Inspecting the good guys
We stress that the entire charade by the government to harass Suaram through a complaint by some nonentity in the public and CCM’s ‘routine’ inspection is political and uncalled for.
We do not even know if the complaint was made officially to the CCM. It would appear that the CCM is acting on every single complaint (offical or otherwise) from the public at a highly efficient rate.
We question if there is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within CCM that provides guidelines on receiving and acting on a complaint.
We also question whether or not the SOP requires the CCM to first verify the background of the complainant prior to receiving and acting on a complaint.
From the evidence in the Paris (Scorpene Scandal) Papers, one would have expected that the CCM would know its priorities and begin “routinely inspecting” the highly dubious activities and accounts of Perimekar Sdn Bhd and Terasasi Sdn Bhd, but have they?
Show us that people who can look like so-called ‘leaders’ are able to do good and not merely ask for funeral funds. Run for election as an independent candidate Kua Kia Song.
‘As for the technicality of registration’, my dear Perfessher, there is no need for that. A statuary declaration to abide by certain items for any group of candidates is all thats needed. ROS which is being a problem and obviously less than neutral becomes a perfunctory body that can be safely ignored and bypassed (in a neutral ROS peopled by neutral people that may not be the case but in Malaysia, very much so), political parties are an instrument of control. The technicality and illusion of a ‘great party’ of unity is to con the people with. The people however do not care about political parties anymore. All want to be entertained and all want social freedoms. If an independent candidate or a group of independant candidates runs for election, can give that, as opposed to a oh-so-unified party controlled by an undemocratic term limitless supremo who fears activists and independent minded persons so much they would prefer to sabotage and poison and drug then label these potential competitors as insane, guess who the people would rather vote for? Taking the above into consideration, the ROS is absolutely redundant when faced with independent candidates.
Conform much Dr. Kua? Even the below commentator thinks more outside the box that this preconceived acceptance of ROS and being in a political party to participate in democratic processes! Looks very much like so but all PHd. holders are brainwashed confirmists to a degree . . . there is no need to belong to a political party or need association with the ROS. And all MPs and Assemblymen should GTFO of Dewan to allow the next generation of people to take over and perhaps even like Tunku Abdul Rahman did specifically – FOR FREE not asking for state funds. Wanna join 3rd Force on this premise? To not collect a single cent of salary like Tunku Abdul Rahman, AND leave after 2 terms? Now THAT would be statesmanship! Not the shameless demands for 750K funerals, pretenses about normalcy of family bloc term limitlessness ,or morons impressed by the concept of political parties and the need for ROS controlling whether or not a group of people may peacefully engage in democratic processes like politics.
ROS is not worth talking to because ROS is so un-neutral – totally idiotic ROS won’t even let a political party choose a logo IN THIS DAY OF CUSTOMISATION, DISALLOWING LOGO CHOICE IS TOO IDIOTIC AND BACKWARD!!! ROS is absolutely dictatorial and BACKWARD ! Let a particular logo of free choice represent a statuary declaration that all ‘unaffiliated independent’ candidates have signed, and let the ‘unaffiliated independent’ candidates wear a button badge that features the logo, or insert that logo in every public photo. There, ROS refusal to register party and logo problem solved.
Break the mold or be broken by the mold! Lets make this square (w)hole!
written by A Bolehlander, July 31, 2012 14:42:21
ROC often expound that they are merely handling the registers and not a regulator (that’s when you lodge a complain over something and they refuse to take any action). Good reason why a change of governance is necessary. as Tao sage says, if you keep walking the same path, you’ll just continue reaching the same destination. 55 years of strolling down the slope (and gaining momentum too). How about changing the vehicle, the direction and way of doing things, for better or worse, we are sure at least we won’t be going down the same slope, a risk worth taking
written by malsia1206, July 31, 2012 14:12:13
The Pedigree in Barisan’s stable – AG, PDRM
The Thorougbreds in Barisan’s stable – EC, MACC
The Lower Liners in Barisan’s stable – ROS, CCM, National Registration, Immigration
The Judiciary is another prime suspect to fit into the upper tier.
That’s the critical setup of this present regime. Keep em all in Putrajaya’s pockets.
written by singhkris, July 31, 2012 14:17:06
Why is the Registrar not being challenged in court.
Anyway you continue with your challenge and the case in France. If you have to mount a legal challenge to fend off any trumped up charges, I am sure there are enough Malaysians who will support you financially. Just give a call!
PKR pledges open bidding for auto APs – UPDATED @ 02:17:26 PM 31-07-2012 = By Mohd Farhan Darwis – July 31, 2012
PETALING JAYA, July 31 — PKR today suggested auctioning off Approved Permits (APs) for imported vehicles through an open bidding process in the first three years under Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) rule before abolishing the system entirely in 2015.
The party’s strategy director Rafizi Ramli said this would be on top of PR’s electoral pledge to slash excise duties and to help reduce household debt and boost the disposable incomes of Malaysians.
He told a press conference today that if an estimated 70,000 APs are awarded every year, the auction should fetch nearly RM3 billion in revenue annually for the government.
He said this would help compensate for the RM8 billion in annual losses expected from PR’s plan to slash car excise duties, which currently run as high as 105 per cent.
“Under Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN), the AP system only benefits those who are close to them.
“This is why PKR suggests that the next government, whether or not under BN or PR, must abolish the AP system by 2015 in order to comply by agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA),” he said.
Rafizi pointed out that under the country’s National Automotive Policy (NAP) in 2005, the AP system was supposed to be abolished by December 31, 2010, but was instead extended by five years to 2015.
He said Malaysians must be reminded of this, as the system was meant to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs to flourish in the automotive industry.
“In his Budget 2010 speech, (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak annnounced that every AP will be sold for RM10,000 and funds from them will be channelled to a special Bumiputera entrepreneur fund.”
Rafizi said that in 2011 alone, some 600,123 new cars were registered. Of that total, he said 533,515 units were manufactured and assembled in Malaysia, which meant that some 66,608 APs were issued for imported vehicles.
He said if APs were sold at RM10,000 each, the government should have spent RM666 million to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs from the fund.
“But until today, we still do not know what has happened to that fund or how funds from the sale of APs have been spent,” he said.
“This is why PKR suggests that the next government adheres to the commitment to abolish the AP system by 2015. But for the first three years from 2013 to 2015, necessary measures must be taken to ensure that we get the best value from the APs issued through this open auction,” he said.
Rafizi suggested that the opening bid for the auction of an AP should be set at RM10,000 for fuel-saving vehicles, RM20,000 for regular vehicles and RM30,000 for higher capacity vehicles.
He said with the estimated revenue from the auction, PR’s plan to reduce car prices by slashing excise duties would be easier to implement as it would compensate for the RM8 billion drop in government revenue.
“At the same time, our tax revenue from other means would also increase because when we return RM8 billion into the pockets of Malaysians, this would in turn be pumped back into the economy,” he pointed out.
PKR had last week promised not to impose new taxes to compensate for any potential loss of revenue from its plan to shelve excise duties to lower the sticker price of cars if it takes power in the next elections.
“At the same time, our tax revenue from other means would also increase because when we return RM8 billion into the pockets of Malaysians, this would in turn be pumped back into the economy,” he pointed out. Exceptional . . . LIKE! Frankly the above logic could be applied to almost every other tax or fee or toll or even road tax. The money should be flooating in the system not sequestered by government departments to ‘spend on our behalf’, we can do the spending instead of passing the money to the government to spend ‘for us’. Oh and remember Encik Ramli, – 2 TERMS ONLY, then GTFO of the Dewan and let another try their hand at governance before nepotistic family blocs form, power madness or corruption begins – AGAIN.
“This is why PKR suggests that the next government, whether or not under BN or PR, must abolish the AP system by 2015 in order to comply by agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA),” he said. “This is why PKR suggests that the next government adheres to the commitment to abolish the AP system by 2015. But for the first three years from 2013 to 2015, necessary measures must be taken to ensure that we get the best value from the APs issued through this open auction,” he said.
How about abolishing the AP system immediately? But Pakatan would rather not educate the citizens or voters on how (lets say at 3 APs per receipient) AP enriches 23,000 or less cronies while the rest of the populace has to pay these 23,000 people who doubtless will Pakatan voters and supporters! This is unjust and, 23K people will be enriched at the expense of everyone else . . . thats 0.1% out of 26+ million citizens. Who is stupid enough to support this sort of thing? Just scrap the AP system, this is stealing from BN to enrich PR! Drop the pretence and WORK or do business or what not. AP is RENT-SEEKING plain and simple – for 23,000 CRONIES!!! Want to do something real? Allow car modders to indulge their modifications and see a boom in the most important lower end economy of garage owners and small accessory or customisable part imports, REAL work and REAL economy, not this 23K cronies get rent seeking money justified by bad laws.
Then remove Road Toll Concessionaires or limit charges to no more than 10% of month salaries at most! This way disposable income will not end up in ‘Toll Booth Corp’ or what not crony company! PAS not talking about bulldozing Tolls anymore? Greed got to them then? During the Prophet’s time, EVERYONE travelled for free, and the only people who stopped others and asked for money were HIGHWAY ROBBERS or BEGGARS which are now legitimized into the toll booth form! Even beggars are rich (though they pretend to be poor) and highway robbers have moved to high tech or less risky or more people friendly ways of making cash – like targeting the wealthy, ripping out ATMs and stealing cars for parts! The Toll Booth structure is too much like PROTECTION MONEY and gangsterism! Even gangsters prefer to set up their own pubs or mini-casinos (LEGALIZE THIS non-Muslim ENTERTAINMENT – Issue Mini Licenses . . . or run for candidacy as indies who will! ) instead than need to go door to door demanding cash. So think how unpleasant and lowly Toll Booths are in the eyes of the Rakyat (For the ‘adventurous’, how about – – – – ing the Toll Booth as well . . . ). Start bulldozing the Toll Booths or limiting the charges to no more than 10% of income at most . . .
The whole point of AFTA is do remove red tape and make the burden less on the consumers. These delays are intolerable. And no matter what way they present Vehicular AP, BN or PR, there is no wealth being spread here, but rent seeking and parasitism of political parties off ordinary citizens! These guys also do know that Bumiputra Apartheid was supposed to be ended in 1976 but to honestly concede, some of us are aware of how entrenched and stagnant the shameful AP mentality is now. 3 years eh? But what about completing the end of the Reid Commission’s near 60 year postponed review like gentlemen who can keep their word? The Malay leader who speaks about this would gain the respect of the international community – the above is more compromise and pandering to weakness than progress but that Reid Commission Review cannot be ignored any more. Will 3rd Force win on the back of this against BN and Pakatan failures to address? Pakatan must be aware that the very same could be given by BN IMMEDIATELY or in a statuary declaration by 3rd Force indie candidates as well. So how about making moves to ensure tha 30-40% non-Malay demographic as well with something definitive towards :
Man held for menacing neighbour with paintball gun
BESUT, Aug 2 — A civil servant allegedly threatened his neighbour with a paintball gun in Kampung Raja here, after his child was awakened by fireworks yesterday afternoon.
He was later detained by police at 11.25 pm last night.
“The 44-year-old suspect went to the victim’s house about 12.30 pm and threatened to shoot him with a paintball gun,” Besut police chief Supt Kamaruddin Zakaria told Bernama here today.
The victim, a 35-year-old labourer, lodged a report at the village police station the same evening, he added.
“We also seized a paintball gun at the suspect’s house,” he said.
Kamaruddin said the suspect was detained for criminal intimidation under the Penal Code and for not having a licence for the gun. — Bernama
Any person with common sense would be laughing if someone threatened with a paintball gun and invite the person to a paintball game or match. Seized a paintball gun? Licensing is needed for a painball gun?!? So will a can of paint be considered similar to a grenade? I think the cops need to go after those with real illegal weapons instead. PB guns are toys. Fireworks in residential areas (especially at certain hours) are an offense though. Commercial areas, not really. The police sure this arrest or even this Penal Code is correct or makes sense?
We are Malay-Muslims, we are entitled (the author is being sarcastic) 1 August 2012 | Why You Can, I Cannot? | Posted by Syahredzan Johan
Syahredzan Johan asks during this holy month, are Malay-Muslims entitled to better rights than others?
Photo credit: http://www.techwithus.com/2012/07/6-ways-to-survive-16-hours-of-ramadan-fasting/ | Is it time to have that sandwich?
So you are fasting. The sun is bearing down on you, your stomach is growling and your throat is parched. It is only 12.30 in the afternoon; you still have hours to go before you may break your fast. All of a sudden, a non-Muslim person appears before you, enjoying an icy cold can of your favourite cola. He looks like he is savouring the cola. You could imagine the sensation of that very same cola filling your throat with diabetes-inducing caffeine goodness. So you flare up. How dare this person drink in front of you? Does he have no respect for the holy month of Ramadhan, to be wantonly quenching his thirst in full view of Muslims? Does he not know that Muslims form the majority of this country and therefore must be respected?
This is the basic premise prevalent amongst many Malay-Muslims in this country. Muslims form the majority and therefore they are entitled to be respected. Malay-Muslim sensitivities must not be offended; the Malay-Muslim public must be protected from harm, confusion and many other bad and insidious things that may threaten the ummah. In recent times, these deep rooted sentiments are brought to the fore by opportunistic politicians. Thus it appeared as if Malay-Muslims have become more and more intolerant of minorities.
Malay-Muslims are entitled not to have a Hindu temple in the vicinity of their housing estate. Malay-Muslims are entitled to dictate what names others may invoke the Creator. Malay-Muslims are entitled to stop the sale of alcohol beverages and deny the establishment of a cinema in Malay majority areas.
Every Friday, Malay-Muslims are entitled to abandon their civic consciousness and park all over the place as if the streets belong to them. Malays-Muslims are entitled to blare religious ceramahs to every corner of the neighbourhood and into the wee hours of the night.
The prime minister must be Malay-Muslim, the civil service must be filled with Malay-Muslims and government bodies are seen as Malay institutions, tasked first and foremost to safeguard Malay and Muslim interests.
This premise of entitlement has also been used to justify the persecution and discrimination against sexual and religious minorities, purportedly because Article 3 provides that Islam is the religion of the Federation. So we say that LBGTs do not enjoy protection of the Constitution because their sexual orientations are against Islam, although we conveniently forget that other things, like gambling, are also forbidden in Islam but are still legal in this country. Books are seized and banned and fatwas are made absolute. In a recent decision, the Federal Court went so far to say that the integrity of the religion needs to be safeguarded at all costs. Does ‘at all costs’ include the supremacy of the Federal Constitution as the highest law of the land?
Make no mistake, this is not about Islam. It is about how we justify the discrimination, persecution and blatant disregard for fundamental liberties, all in the name of religion. It is how we view and treat others as inferior to us because we believe that we are entitled to do so. We permit transgressions because we labour under this presumption that Malay-Muslims, by virtue of being Malays and Muslims, are entitled to the best of the country as they occupy a higher standing than the rest of the rakyat out there.
There is no legal or constitutional basis for this. Article 3 does not make Malaysia an Islamic state and Article 4 expressly provides that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Article 8 provides that every citizen is equal before the law and enjoys equal protection of the law. The oft quoted Article 153 does not make Malay-Muslims superior in law or fact, it only provides for the reservation of quotas for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak in certain matters.
So what if Muslims are the majority? We have such a flawed understanding of democracy; as if in a democracy, the rights of minorities are inferior to the rights of the majority. That is why we have a Constitution, which protects and guarantees the fundamental liberties of citizens from the tyranny of the majority.
We find ourselves up in arms at the fate of Muslims minorities in other countries like Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar and China. We invoke freedom of religion when we hear of minarets being banned in Switzerland or burqas being banned in France. But if the rights of Muslim minorities should be protected in the face of the majority, why is it that we do not have the same vigour to protect the rights our non-Muslim minorities? Why must the rights of others here only be exercised if we deem those rights as exercisable?
So before you take offence at someone who is drinking in front of you while you are fasting, take a step back and think of your religion. Put aside your sense of entitlement and think; just because you are fasting, does it mean that everyone else around you must stow away their food and drinks?
Conversations on the Constitution: Anand Grover an…
“Yellow, Yellow, Dirty Fellow.”
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Tags: Article 153, Article 3, Article 8, discrimination, fast, Federal Constitution, holy month, LBGT, Malay interests, Muslim, Muslim interests, Ramadhan, religious rights, Syahredzan Johan
Posts by Syahredzan Johan
Syahredzan Johan adalah seorang peguam muda dan seorang rakan kongsi di sebuah firma guaman di Kuala Lumpur. Dia melihat dirinya sebagai seorang pengkritik politik dan pengulas sosial. Tetapi dia sebenarnya hanyalah seorang warga Malaysia yang mempunyai terlalu banyak pendapat. Dia adalah seorang yang patriotik, walaupun bukan dengan cara biasa seperti mengibar bendera. Dia percaya Malaysia mempunyai potensi yang hanya dapat direalisasi sekiranya rakyatnya belajar bersatu-padu dan bukannya berpecah-belah. Ikutilah Syah di Refleksi Minda.
Posted on 1 August 2012. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Read more articles posted by Syahredzan Johan.
Apply accordingly the laws. In China or India, does a Malay or Muslim who is a full citizen have full access to whatever social services or some acronym b.s. government outfit funded equally from all tax payers? So in Malaysia, the same can only be applied on Chinese or Indian. This Syahredzan Johan writer sounds like an MP worthy sort, do run for private candidacy if able to endorse :
I believe that parallel comparisons of policy and constitution in Malaysia to India, and Malaysia to China, will confirm that the Indian and Chinese citizens here in Malaysia are getting a very bad deal – social and economic apartheid, and that the Indian or Chinese reps. (out of sheer greed or fear and cowardice) here have failed their duty as ‘leaders’ of their commmunities for allowing APARTHEID while the Malay MPs have been complict in not acting against such ill natured and shameful policy.
Selected Commentator Comments :
@starranise – 1 August 2012 – 5:54 pm
Apologising to all Muslims during Ramadhan when you have done nothing wrong is unnecessary. It is your right to eat or drink whenever you choose. You’re not the one fasting. Resisting temptations is one of the fundamental motives behind fasting. It is part of a Muslim’s trial. If they are offended or angry with you, they are jeopardising their own fast. Food and drink are secondary to the process of fasting. It is discipline, patience, consideration, empathy, feeling at peace with oneself and the people around you. That’s the deeper meaning of Ramadhan.
Selangor allowed 4,000 massage parlours’ – Saturday, 04 August 2012 18:51
KUALA LUMPUR- Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew of DAP was taken to task by a MCA leader yesterday for not explaining why there was a growing number of illegal massage parlours operating in Selangor.
MCA Selangor liaison committee secretary Wong Kun Moon claimed that since DAP and its allies took over the state in 2008, the number of massage parlours had increased from 800 to 4,000.
“Liu had repeatedly denied this during state assembly sessions by saying that the previous administration under Barisan Nasional had put a freeze on the applications of new massage parlours since 2006.
“However, despite the freeze, about 3,200 illegal centres are now operating in the state,” Wong said when contacted yesterday.
(Liu is the Selangor executive council member in charge of Local Government, Research and Development and also Pandamaran assemblyman.)
Wong said several Selangor leaders, including Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, had queried Liu over the rising number of illegal massage parlours in the state.
“Every time the issue is raised, Liu will put the blame on the previous BN-led Selangor government.”
According to Wong, there were about 4,000 massage parlours operating in the state and a majority of them had no licence.
“There are more than 400 illegal centres operating in Klang alone. If Liu is sceptical, I urge him to take a look for himself and to stop lying.”
Wong, who is also Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman, also urged Liu to clarify the matter by disclosing the number of massage parlours approved by the state government since 2008.
“The Selangor government has the authority to issue permits for these parlours, but its failure to enforce its rules over these centres has resulted in the rise of social problems.”
Wong also challenged Liu to prove he was not colluding with the owners of such centres “for his own personal benefit”.
He was referring to an incident on Nov 2, 2007, where Liu was accused of inciting the staff and customers of a hotel in Puchong to prevent a Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) enforcement officer from performing his duties.
In the anti-vice operation, police and MPSJ officers had raided the unlicensed hotel and detained 22 foreign prostitutes, including 12 male patrons.
In response to the allegations, Liu told Wong to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims and challenged him to disclose the list of the 4,000 massage parlours within 24 hours.
We may not like Ronnie Liu supporting nepotism (close 1 eye mentality to democracy killing nepotism by Ronnie shows unethical mindset), but in this case let the people hang around these supposedly illegal bars instead of getting bored which leads to all kinds of negative behaviour. Make drinks cheap so they will be drinking instead of robbing to pay for expensive drinks. Legalise small-bet casinos and RLDs or Organics Psychedelics Bars so that they will be playing games and f- – – ing, or getting pleasantly stoned (price controls on organics please, these things grow FOR FREE and cost nothing!!! Prohibition mindset causes crime and high prices.) Instead of robbing people and burgling homes. Take away the entertainment districts at your own risk fools.
Guess who the first people they target will be? The MPs, Assemblymen, EXCOs, Residents Committees, even the people who set customs duties and tax levels (too damn high) and any law makers who took away their entertainment or made entertainment too expensive . . . on top of apartheid and extreme religion the Malaysian Fed Gov. want to take away places of entertainment? The Malaysian Fed Gov. must be insane . . . run for election and remove these red tape extremists and moralists. There are fun loving people who are not Muslims that need their spaces for entertainment too. Licence and legalize instead of creating more dangerous urban environments by boring the citizens out of their minds AMEND LAWS or GTFO of Dewan! . . .
Fined for offensive weapon possesion, failure to produce IC – Thursday, August 02, 2012 – 15:48 – by Bernama
A MECHANIC was fined RM1,000, in default a month’s jail, by the Magistrate’s Court here today for possession of an offensive weapon in front of a hotel here last week.
Magistrate Azmil Muntapha Abas handed down the sentence on Mohamad Audadi Mad Sarmor, 24, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
He was charged with having an iron knuckle duster in front of GEA Hotel, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Dang Wangi here at 2.20am last July 27.
Azmil Muntapha also fined another RM1,000, in default a month’s jail, for failing to produce his identity card or personal documents when requested by the police at the same place, time and date.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Zuraimi Kamarozzaman prosecuted, while Mohamad Audadi was unrepresented.
In the same court, a wireman pleaded not guilty to a charge with breaking into a laboratory of a primary school in Sentul here four years ago.
Johan Afandi, 28, was charged with breaking into the laboratory of Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Jalan Fletcher in Sentul here and stealing a projector, worth RM600, on Aug 10, 2008.
Azmil Muntapha allowed him bail of RM4,000 in one surety and set Sept 10 for mention.
Earlier, Zuraimi requested bail at RM5,000, but Johan, who was unrepresented, requested for a lower bail, saying that he had five children, including a two-year-old, and was the sole breadwinner.
A knuckle duster is no less dangerous than any metal components or machine parts that can act like knuckledusters, or a glass bottled drink, any table wear or a heavy handbag filled with coins. Even a heavy chain for locking up gates is as dangerous. This is not a very good law. Then also the IC which is overkill. The police could ask the person to go home and pick up the IC instead of fining the person. 1000 is alot of money for most of the lower income types! Even 50 is alot . . . Actually knuckle dusters are manly accessories much like large steel rings set with large faceted stones on every finger.
Illegal to wear large rings on every finger then?
Even a steel weight for training could become a weapon more dangerous than a knuckle duster. How could the law be so unreasonable? Leave the ‘cool guys’ alone until they actually hurt someone. Just because someone forgot an IC or wore a knuckle duster does not entitle the state to treat them so badly or take awat so much money from them, inconvenience them with the court etc… The police are men too are they not? So don’t oppress your fellow men. These are MALE accessories. Surely the police have male relatives that keep their sense of ‘macho’ in an item or few on their person at all times? Amend all these chilling effect laws immediately! By this sort of logic, might as well ban motor vehicles, which possibly account for as many if not most of the injuries and deaths world wide overall . . .
Hardly weapons, but cool looking accessories . . . some handbags also incorporate knuckle dusters into the handles as a design statement.
Several DAP Indian leaders furious at being left out – Sunday, 05 August 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – Several DAP Indian leaders are furious after reports of their activities were conspicuously missing from the inaugural issue of the party’s Tamil newsletter, Makkal Kural (Peoples’ Voice).
They said only programmes of selected leaders were given prominence in the eight-page newsletter, which is distributed free.
Several DAP Indian MPs, when contacted, said they were unaware of the Tamil newsletter, which gave prominence to Bersih 3.0 chairman Datuk S. Ambiga, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, chairman Karpal Singh, vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Perak deputy chairman V. Sivakumar.
There was also a question-and-answer with Kulasegaran and a one-page report on former Hindraf leader V. Ganabatirau.
Conspicuously missing were reports on DAP deputy secretary-general Dr P. Ramasamy and other Indian elected MPs and state assemblymen from the party.
DAP Bagan division assistant secretary G. Asoghan said many questioned why the newsletter did not carry reports of other DAP Indian leaders.
“This newsletter is for distribution to the Indian voters. We have to show what our (Indian) leaders have achieved to be able to convince them to support us,” he said.
“Anyone reading the newsletter will have the impression that Ambiga is a DAP leader. It is our own newsletter and we must highlight our leaders,” he said.
Pahang vice-chairman J. Appala-samy said he was surprised as he had compiled the reports of the various Indian leaders.
“None was used. For me, it was a waste of time,” he said.
A national DAP official said there would always be complaints but they will look into it.
Several Indian leaders could set up an alternative Indian based party not beholden to the term limitless DAP Karpal family bloc nor lapdogs that accept apartheid like MIC. How about teaming up with Hindraf? DAP always glory hogs, and DAP is infected by PAP-USA-Zionist mentality. How about a 3rd Force NEUTRAL party? Look at Konsensus Bebas which is daring enough to kick Pakatan where deserved by leaving and setting up their own (unfortunately very likely lapdog party – as claimed by RPK had received millions in bribes to defect – that has not spoken against APARTHEID). In these few Indian leaders’ case, seperate from DAP and set up a 3rd Force Party working towards :
Konsensus Bebas might yet drop alliance with BN and with several Indian leaders here, a viable party in Penang could be set up to remove BOTH Pakatan’s nepotist gloryhog cliques and BN’s racists. The Rakyat should already be clear enough that the term limitless creeps hjave been in power too long, now punish Pakatan and DAP by dropping the undemocratic and sidelining freaks. Local intelligensia can dedicate efforts to Pakatan but not even the courtesy of an invitation to join or response. Indian leaders here, do you know how to respond to DAP’s Rakyat unfriendly and politically-door-closing sidelining behaviour?
Malaysians of all races should protest……. NO HOLDS BARRED – Wednesday, 08 August 2012 Super Admin (Raja Petra Kamarudin)
Well, in case you have not realised, Yang Berhormat, not only same-sex marriages, as you said, erode the family institution. Sex outside marriage does as well. And there are many more Malaysians bonking outside marriage than Malaysians entering same-sex marriages. So why aren’t you appealing to all Malaysians to ‘protest en masse’ regarding this? This is a bigger problem than same-sex marriages.
(Bernama) – Malaysians of all races should protest en masse the practice of same sex marriages as they would erode the family institution, advised Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Commenting on the recent wedding reception here of Malaysian gay Christian priest, Ngeo Boon Lin and his musical producer partner, Phineas Newborn III, who were married in New York last year, he said that even the Christians in the country prohibited such practices.
“The reception portrayed Malaysian society as confused. It’s clear their motive was to fight for gay rights,” he said.
He was speaking a press conference after breaking fast with the Department and agencies’ staff at the National Mosque, here.
There are five references in the Qur’an regarding gay behaviour. The two main references to homosexual behaviour are:
“We also sent Lut : He said to his people : “Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.” Qur’an 7:80-81
“What! Of all creatures do ye come unto the males, and leave the wives your Lord created for you? Nay, but ye are forward folk.” Qur’an 26:165
Both these verses refer to gay sexual activities involving men. Gay sexual activities involving women or lesbian practices are not mentioned in the Qur’an. There is at least one mention of lesbian behaviour in the Hadith, though. However, while traditionalist orthodox Muslims regard the Hadith as the authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad, liberal Muslims doubt their authenticity. And some sects of Islam reject the Hadith totally or have a different version of the Hadith.
In many Muslim countries, homosexuality is condemned and subject to legal punishment. The specific punishment varies among jurists, ranging from jail time and/or flogging to the death penalty. In Islam, capital punishment is reserved only for the most grievous crimes that would hurt society as a whole. Some jurists place homosexuality under that category, particularly in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen etc.
Arrest and punishment for homosexual crimes, however, are not frequently carried out because Islam also places a strong emphasis on an individual’s right to privacy. If a ‘crime’ is not committed in the public sphere, it is largely overlooked as being a matter between the individual and God.
Now, is that clear, especially to the non-Muslims reading this piece? In short, a crime that is damaging to society is taken seriously and the punishment is severe. A crime that does not affect society and is committed behind closed doors is between you and God.
One very important aspect of Islam is: a person’s privacy must be respected and you should not spy on your neighbour. Spying on your neighbour is a bigger sin than the sin committed by your neighbour behind closed doors.
Now, why is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, so kaypoh about what others do? Whatever perceived sin the Christian priest, Ngeo Boon Lin, and his partner, Phineas Newborn III, did was done outside Malaysia. Even if a crime had been committed it was done so outside Malaysia’s jurisdiction. If these two had committed a crime then let the US punish them since they did it on US soil. What next does the Minister want to do? Peep on Malaysians in the UK who do not pray and fast and drink beer? Do you think Scotland Yard has no other problems to deal with?
If you were to ask a Muslim what is Islam all about, he or she would reply that Islam is about justice. If you were to ask a Muslim who may support the Islamic Sharia laws, in particular that branch of the Sharia called Hudud, he or she would reply: because the Sharia and Hudud is about justice.
Islam And Obsession of Muslims With Sex (and homosex)
But why do the religious scholars and politicians always and only talk about sex?
Islam is supposed to be about justice. But they talk as if Islam is only about sex. Everything that comes out of their mouths is about sex. I am yet to hear anyone talk about justice. It is always about sex. You are giving people the impression that Islam is so focused on sex that sex has become an obsession to Muslims.
Okay, Islam is against homosexuality. I am not going to deny that fact. But Islam also says that what you do behind closed doors is between you and God. Islam also says you should not spy on your neighbour or peep into your neighbour’s house. Islam also says that what you do in your home is your business as long as what you do does not hurt society. Only if it hurts society should we be concerned, even if it is done in the privacy of your home and office.
So, what are these crimes that do affect society and which we should be concerned about even if committed in the privacy of your home and office, and which the Minister should be talking about? Well, what about bribery, corruption, abuse of power, mismanagement of the country’s (meaning taxpayers’) resources, police violence, manipulation of the judiciary, cronyism, nepotism, racism, persecution, denial of someone’s fundamental rights, etc? There are loads and loads of sins and crimes that affect society and which Islam forbids. And on a list of 100 such sins and crimes, homosexuality sits at the bottom of that list. Yet we talk about the bottom 100th and not the top 99.
What is wrong with Muslims? They turn Islam into a religion of ridicule. And when people ridicule Islam these Muslims get angry. They threaten revenge and bloodshed. They demand death for those who insult Islam and/or Prophet Muhammad.
How do you expect people not to insult Islam if the Muslims themselves make a mockery of Islam? When you act like a lunatic of course people are going to call you a lunatic. And when Muslims act like lunatics you can expect non-Muslims to say that Islam is a bad religion.
You are demanding for non-Muslims to respect Islam. But how can you expect them to respect Islam when Muslims themselves act disrespectfully toward their own religion. You are turning Islam into a circus with the things you are doing and saying. And when people laugh you get angry.
Malaysians of all races should protest en masse the practice of same-sex marriages as they would erode the family institution, advised the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Bangang sungguh menteri Melayu ni!
This above is the ‘cleaned up version’ as far as I can note. Read the original littered with propaganda and NLPs at :
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/no-holds-barred/51013-malaysians-of-all-races-should-protest
Also there are also some who actually tolerate or turn a blind eye to what their wives do for some emotional reasons, or for the sake of keeping appearances for their young or (familial stability craving) children (in this case the Syariah Courts and Islam have no right to destroy such private efforts to keep face or contrived respectability). In some other cases the older Muslim wife has been ‘given leave’ (verbally or non-verbally the intent is clear) by the husband who has new wives or a mistress even though the libido of the old (or aging) wife is still strong. These sorts of situations probably are met with very insensitive treatment by the Syariah Courts if any, given even that the religious police even target Mat Sallehs (in a most tribal/communal and uneducated manner), who sleep with Malay GROs or even casual sex between races by young persons married (more problematic) or unmarried (still a Human Right, but try broaching this IRL in Malaysia and get some very ugly feelings and looks, even outright violence).
Meanwhile the LGBT community which keeps to themselves is targeted, Muslims are effectively disallowed from going apostate – Inquisition style. Is Malaysia a civil society? Hardly and I’d say the Islamic Al-Azhar University at Cairo needs to send a delegation headed by a ‘Grand Inquisitor’ to address these Syariah and Hudud inspired abuses occuring in Malaysia by gathering all the State Muftis, Imams, Mullahs also Religious Police, any (corrupted as hell, also power mad likely, Federal Department Heads related to Islam) here and TELLING THEM CLEARLY what punishment or enforcement is allowed in Islam, the above examples invlving adultry definitely amounts to abuse – Bumiputra Apartheid IS an abuse.
Note that I do not mention the Sultans who are supposed to be the Heads of the Ummah here but who evidently would retain more dignity if Faith and State were separate . . . given the terrible mess ‘on the ground’ a far cry from insular world they live in (no Muslim would ever broach again, the parochialism in malay society is still medieval and thus the vicious cycles of ‘bohsia’ in abuses of all sorts continues without address) mentioning the same would be a disservice in some ways for certain, let the dirt of politics messed with faith be fronted by the above groups instead . . . doubtless Cairo would find that Malaysia is run as if by medieval era tribal minded barbarian warlords via religious codes, NOT educated and NOT civilised people.
Heck that delegation might even give Nik Aziz flak for views on hudud, specifically limb hacking! How about this ‘clean up’ tour of duty Al Azhar University? Tell Malaysian Muslims right at the top levels how Malay Muslims shame themselves with their ill treatment and abuse of the Ummah and even non-Muslims here! Then also tell these fundo-cases that Malaysia has no right to withhold :
Any honest Muslim cannot deny the points just made above. And Ulama though honest to what the Quran might be in their limited intellect or lack of communication outside their own community (much less internationally o understanding of the UNHCR) to understand or apply, render the Islamic faith in Malaysia dishonest and abusive in effect, especially so in a multipolar, multi faith or multi ethnic society that can only be equal and humane. Want to try what some of us have suffered? So please send that Inquisitor’s delegation from Al-Azhar pronto! Al-Azhar Islamic university in Cairo needs to give BOTH Muslims and non-Muslims a hand here in backward 3rd world, barbaric Malaysia! Get over here, hear out the abused and aggrieved, for those who want to go apostate but DARE NOT, for those who are not allowed non-Muslim rights, and tell these fundo-cases off !
But that’s just it; Islam IS politics – Tuesday, 07 August 2012 Super Admin (Raja Petra Kamarudin)
No doubt Islam had Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Father of Modern Turkey, the seat of the Ottoman Empire, who attempted to impose the separation of church and state. Atatürk, however, although viewed as a reformist by those from the west, is viewed as a traitor by most Muslim scholars. In fact, people like the PAS President, Abdul Hadi Awang, label Atatürk as an apostate and one of Islam’s greatest traitors.
(Malaysian Digest) – Do not politicise Islam, as it can lead to disunity.
This was the message sent out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who said Islam should instead be placed at the highest level so that a lot of problems faced by the Muslim community could be overcome.
“We must not politicise the religion, as Islam is not politics.”
“If politics is made to be above Islam, the Muslim community will be confronted with a lot of problems, causing disunity which today is the source of the community’s weaknesses and the enemies of Islam belittling the religion,” he said in his speech at the at the Quran reciting completion and breaking-of-fast at the Tan Sri Ainuddin Wahid Mosque, Taman Universiti in Skudai, here, yesterday.
Najib said the Barisan Nasional administration has always prioritised Islam in its governance of the country, and adhered to the requirements of the religion.
“We developed our administration based on syariah and that is the Islamic requirement for us and among the five things we have done is looking after Islam, and that is why Malaysia is known as an Islamic country.”
“We protect the Islamic faith and character, promote the religion, provide Islamic infrastructure and Islamic law and so on,” he said.
Najib said the government’s success in managing Malaysia well, despite facing numerous challenges, was recognised by other Islamic nations to the extent that Malaysia is now the model for a successful Islamic country.
However, he stressed that the government has never neglected the welfare and interest of Malaysians, as it has extended numerous forms of aid, which are not available to people in other countries.
“Last night, I was in Bachok, Kelantan where I found out that there is even aid for disturbance from wildlife, for instance, you can get aid if you’re bitten by a snake. Where else in the world, a government does this?”
“This is a government which takes care of the overall welfare of the people, where we want an Islamic concept and the same time, we want progress and development.”
“We don’t want Islam to be linked to poverty and weakness but to be linked to strength and empowerment because Allah loves people who are successful,” he said.
Here we go again. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is preaching Islam to Malaysians. I doubt, however, the ulama’ (religious scholars) would agree with Najib’s prognosis on Islam — if they are honest ulama’, that is. Either Najib has the wrong impression of Islam or he is indulging in wishful thinking.
To understand the present, we need to go back and look at the origins, the origins of religion, that is. Let us start with Christianity and I am going to refer to Britain for purposes of this discussion.
Britain used to be pagan. In the beginning the druids ruled Britain and the Britons worshiped many gods. 50 years or so before the birth of Christ, the Romans invaded Britain and brought their gods to the island, also paganism. This triggered a struggle between the old English gods and the new Roman gods.
Around 400-500 years later, the Romans left Britain and the Saxons and Franks began to migrate to Britain in hordes, as did the Vikings. They too brought their gods. Invariably, Britain saw 500 years of wars between the many kings, as Britain did not have one king but different kings ruled the different regions (at that time there were more kings and gods than virgins in Britain).
In 313, the Emperor Constantine granted the Christians freedom of worship. Thereafter Christianity began to rapidly spread and it was only a matter of time before it reached Britain. Some say Constantine died a Christian while others say he died a pagan (only he would know).
The Britons and Saxons, however, resisted Christianity and it was not until the Christians took up arms that paganism was defeated and replaced with Christianity. Hence Christianity was spread through the use of force.
Around that time, Islam began to establish itself in the Arabian Peninsular and it too began to spread at the point of a sword, just like Christianity had done over 300 years before that. Hence both Islam and Christianity spread the same way, through conquests and persecution.
Eventually, Christendom saw the separation of church and state. But this did not happen overnight. It took more than 1,000 years for that to happen. Islam, however, although it took the same route as Christianity to spread, did not go the same route of separation of church and state, as Christianity had.
In short, both Islam and Christianity started the same way, by the use of force. However, they did not both end up the same way. Christianity the church ‘split’ into two entities while Islam the adeen remained one entity.
The notion of separation of church and state is not an acceptable concept in Islam. And any ‘true’ Muslim would agree with this. To disagree would make you a deviant Muslim or a Muslim who is defying God’s command and who is violating the Qur’an.
As I said, Najib either has the wrong impression of Islam or he is indulging in wishful thinking. Islam has not yet gone the way of Christianity in being able to accept the concept of separation of church and state. Will that time ever come? I don’t know but for sure it is not going to happen in our lifetime — so don’t hold your breath or else you might turn blue.
Now, if you are an honest Muslim, you will acknowledge this fact. To argue otherwise means you are not being honest and are trying to mislead the people. So, Najib, are you an honest person or not? And if you can understand this then you might be able to understand PAS as well.
. . . doubt, however, the ulama’ (religious scholars) would agree with Najib’s prognosis on Islam – . . .
The ulama’ (religious scholars) are out of touch with LIVING reality and obsessed with the afterlife, they do not understand what politicians understand. Najib’s ‘prognosis’ is not necessarily wrong as this is pplicable to the majority portion of LIVING Muslims, and we do know most Muslims ARE NOT focused on the afterlife like the dedicated Ulama. Now if the Muslim population in general thought like Ulama though, Islamic civilisation would not even need sovereign states or kings but only want to be judged as pure and pious, focusing on the afterlife – this would mean that ALL MUSLIMS by now if they were ‘Ulama minded’ or ‘honest Muslim’ would have forgone most earthly trappings for afterlife instead.
Honesty is knowing that Muslims would be destroyed were they ‘Ulama minded’, Islam is a relgion for the old and the dispassionate, and no honest Muslim would be able to progress in most of the ‘modern world’ otherwise. Malays though are ANIMIST originally, and being born in an animist region of the world, will not be likely to pledge allegiance to the far off Kabaa spiritual colony, thus making political relevance always stronger than religious afterlife obsessed Islam’s ‘honesty’. RPK a traditionalist? Well unless Islam is intended to be ‘Amish’ in scope WITH women living like nuns and men quite insular and living within their own comunities, an honest Muslim will be the picture of stagnation . . .
The notion of separation of church and state is not an acceptable concept in Islam BUT necessary if Muslims are to be able to engage the rest of the world, without being able to separate the two we end up with the suicide belt types or extreme among Taliban with honour killings and what not, RPK must understand that this seperation f Church and State is a DEVELOPMENT in Islam, Hadhari if you will (not Badawi’s Hadhari but hadhari nevertheless), Najib is as astute as those writing articles to elicit responses which will be entered simply to enable a large portion of humanity to get along with everyone else. An honest Muslim cannot deny the points just made above. And Ulama though honest to what the Quran might be, are not considering what politicians and the state have to deal with, thus rendering the word of the Ulama dishonest in effect, especially so in a multipolar multi faith or multi ethnic society.
Good meanderings of thought with a skewed stand are better than no meanderings at all RPK . . . but that an article as above would take aging Malay (former) royalty with all the funds and social networks available and an education at University to produce this half baked sort of thought process is telling (what I leave to the reader to decide) . . . If only Najib were less corrupt and UN Human Rights Charter aware, would abolish the apartheid Bumiputra system, and not be enmired in C4 cases would that second term as PM should be assured and allow BN to win, but it is still not too late to endorse :
Politics is dirt and sullies any and all faiths. the sooner Muslims realise this and not be so lazy as to be unable to differentiate the hegelian dialectic of the 2, Malaysia will be a better place. With PM Najib on this statement, but deplore Najib’s inability to implement the above 3 items. RPK, Najib would be one up on a debate about necessity of seperation of state and faith. Not so ‘no holds barred‘ now eh? Establishment poseur . . . change that outdated thinking, or just stay in England and retire among the pseudointellectuals spouting semi intelligent, if not propaganda filled nonsense as above. Some people are good for the country, some people are not.
But that’s just NOT it; Islam IS NOT politics
Still hate LGBT? Or prepared to withdraw an article or few? The older generation is old ! (and full of selfish and self serving contradications)
Note that currently Malaysia makes illegal possession or set-up of your own satellite dish in Malaysia. A person convicted under Section 239 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to two years, or both. Do the Rakyat really want these laws? To enrich Astro and the colluding MPs’ monopoly? Or does the Rakyat prefer the MPs to make this law redundant so that Malaysians can watch everything that is free world wide? why should we pay anything at all to watch what is free after all? Because the Rakyat did not think before voting, the Rakyat did allowed MPs that will keep these idiot laws in place.Iif 222 MPs decide to scrap Section 239 to ALLOW Satellite dishes, Astro could go out of business, and Malaysian television would become even more redundant *BUT* – the Rakyat could access ALL channels world wide without having to pay a single cent. Do you love the Rakyat? Do you want the Rakyat to vote for you? So help the Rakyat end an unnecessary monopoly.
The owner of this dish definitely would not be able to afford ‘Astro’ fees but because the lucky fellers are not in Malaysia’s collusive monopoly minded law writers grips, they get ALL the channels of the world without the government harrassing them. Vote for MPs who will end Section 239!
Voters demand that your MP accede to ending Section 239 before voting for said MP. If the MP will scrap Section 239 the MP is votable. If that MP does not want to, then said MP has been on the take from Astro and does not want freedom of information which a private satellite dish can give. Also remember the items . . . any MP who can sign a statuary declaration to give :
;would likely win enough seats to become PM. Racists and fundos, crony capitalists and ponzi communications companies won’t like the above but the above is the best way forward for Malaysia. Any MP who refuses to scrap Section 239 is UNVOTABLE. Make private satellite dishes legal and stop enriching monopolistic companies that government allows! This is as bad as Anti-Trust or Anti-Monopoly anywhere else! Illegal and an abuse via profiteering off the Rakyat!
More low cost slum dwellers who get to access more of the world’s channels than any Malaysian ever will UNTIL the term limitless nepotist and racist MPs who refuse to remove Section 239 GTFO of Dewan or AMEND and ABOLISH OFFENDING LAWS! 222 Unvotable MPs seating in Dewan!
2nd Amendment, Allodial, cost saving measures, Property Rights, right to bear arms
Ideas for A Worldwide Magna Carta 2.0 – original by @AgreeToDisagree – 6th January 2012 AND @RPK’s repost of the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen” by Marquis de Lafayette ( 26 August 1789)
In 99%, cost saving, Law, martial culture in society, preventing vested interest, rigth to bear arms, self policing, unprofessional behaviour, War on February 6, 2012 at 9:51 am
1. Abolishment of Forced Military Conscriptions (i.e. without Abstention Clauses, or backed with punitive fines and prison terms)
2. Abolishment of Eminent Domain Powers, ALL private properties – will automatically have an Allodial Title option. Abolishment of invasive municipal by-laws, i.e. no premission is required to build an awning or a staircase or a basement or for additional floors, additional floors can be limited to 3 times height of the typical unit (i.e. to keep density low).
3. Disallowing members of Parliament and Assemblymen and Cabinet, or within any political party or NGO or labour Union from holding a seat or committee post for more than two 4-year terms OR having their children or relatives take up posts they held or to hold parallel posts to prevent blocs of family members forming. Any beyond these terms will be not just benched but expelled the political establishment. This ensures distribution of political power aming citizens. (i.e. a Minister ignores a death or makes statements that are callous about the death that occured in a district . . . voters in the district can withdraw their vote immediately, with the next most popular candidate-in-waiting for taking over, nationally if enough voters withdraw support for the Minister (instead of collusive MPs), the Minister loses his job.
4. All members of Parliament and Assemblymen and Cabinet must be voted at 66.6% quorums by the entire population at a ‘one-man one-vote’ level appropriate to district, state or national level depending on the seat.
5. A constant state of election where that anyone may change support or withdraw support of their vote, replaces the typical once per 4 year vote. This ensures any abuse of power or bad laws approved will immediately be retaliated against by the voters instead of only 4 years later when irrevocable damage has been done to the economy.
6. Sequestration of maximum wealth and personal assets may not exceed 1000 times average national wage or 20 million in local currency, whichever is lower. Private land sequestration of the wealthy may not exceed 100 times subsistence requirement. Food production business related land use is unlimited.
7. Eye for eye tooth for tooth justice system. Prison contractors or imprisonment paradigm abolished – prison is only for people who imprison.
8. Population is to be maintained at levels (i.e. no immigration or sale of citizenships allowed) where the country is able to feed it’s citizens without import of food. Agriculture must be kept at levels that can feed the current population.
9. Tertiary education may not cost more than 10 times average wage. Medical education being a necessity and to cutr down costs of healing will be free. There must be sufficient educational facilities for all persons.
10. Social welfare. Free Hi Rise Housing of a size of 1000 sqft (Single), 1500 sqft (Couple/married) with additional 500 sq ft for each additional child, is to be provided for all citizens of age. BASIC Staple foods are entirely free and distributed at state funded offices. Landed properties are bought at own cost. By law, developers may not develop properties of sizes smaller than above detailed – sale of basic single units may not exceed average national wage. Developers have to pay the local citizens ‘Loss of Quality of Life’ fees fo every category of density raised in any local community due to high density housing. 30% of any project should be green lung to prevent heat-sink concrete jungles from forming that ultimately harm the environment.
11. All privacy invasive technologies (bugging devices, hidden cameras, smart meters, anything affecting thought or consciousness) are to be licenced, removed from ownership by civilians and may not be sold to civilians. Use to monitor criminals may be done in a transparent manner with records accessible to accountable government registered professionals.
12. Right to ‘negative freedoms’ such as gaming, adult services, organic psychedelics (synthetics are poisonous and cause brain damage and thus are disallowed) where religion does not prohibit AND in suitable districts or enclosed dedicated districts.
13. Right to bear arms and any military vehicles of any type (i.e. it is legal to buy a tank or warship, crew at civilian’s own cost). Weapons, equipment and maintainance of weapons will be at civilian cost. The state will no longer fund a police or a military, EXCEPT where insufficient volunteers and militias occur AND if there is a FORMAL threat of war (the real battle will be fought by the media to maintain peace, warmongers doubtless will try to create conditions where funding of military or police is necessary), a census of volunteer/samaritans/retirees (who will be subject to a psyche check to determine the type of weapons allowed) will be taken daily.
i) The state will however host police and military drills and coordination exercises for volunteering civilians with weapons. Volunteers to uniformed services will NOT receive any pay and will be required to register on a roster and be on time for shifts of 1 hour minimum.
ii) Highest hour volunteers will be given promotions but will still remain unpaid and ENTIRELY self-funded right down to the uniform and medals awarded for any worthy actions (they will pay for their own medals). This will abolish military and police costs, a self policing population will occur. Paramilitaries are also allowed at own cost.
iii) With the savings from removal of uniformed military and police, a welfare state for the elderly, the poor or trhe sick, even for soup kitchens can be funded properly.
iv) Damages arising from firing or weapons in public places . Where weapons may cost too much damage in certain areas or the person in question will not be able to afford damages), weapons may be disallowed (i.e. missile launchers or tanks not allowed in city areas unless the owner can afford to pay for any discharge damages). In the event of loss of life, equal number of livee lost, may be extracted starting with the person firing the weapon (this is a strong deterrent, if anyone dies – the firer must die in turn by the hand of nearest relatives or pardoned if they so choose) tracing relatives in the event of multiple deaths – (i.e. mass killings result in mass retaliations AGAINST the family members of the firer). This is better than jailing at cost to the taxpayer.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789
(nominally the Magna Carta 2.0 but probably the UNHCR Beta . . . ) Tuesday, 07 February 2012 Super Admin NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin
Malaysians in general, Malaysia Today readers included, do not appear to understand the meaning of democracy, equality, freedom, and the rights of man and of the citizens. That is why most look at rights from only one side of the coin. Before you scream about rights and respect of these rights, maybe you can read what was passed in France on 26 August 1789. Then start debating, or else you will appear very shallow and narrow-minded in your views.
The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties; in order that the acts of the legislative power, as well as those of the executive power, may be compared at any moment with the objects and purposes of all political institutions and may thus be more respected, and, lastly, in order that the grievances of the citizens, based hereafter upon simple and incontestable principles, shall tend to the maintenance of the constitution and redound to the happiness of all.
Therefore the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of man and of the citizen:
1 Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. [[[ *** No bumi, non-bumi dichotomy ya? *** ]]]
2 The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3 The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.
5 Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law. [[[ ****This means the humans who are part of the legal fraternity? Note that the LAW is not written in stone and can be changed where required or where obviously flawed or impinging on social freedoms. *** ]]]
6 Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law.
7 Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents. [[[ *** No bumi, non-bumi dichotomy ya? *** ]]]
8 No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law. Any one soliciting, transmitting, executing, or causing to be executed, any arbitrary order, shall be punished. But any citizen summoned or arrested in virtue of the law shall submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offense. [[[ *** Don’t like this subjugative and accusatory language – submit? How about COOOPERATE. Resistance? People resist all the time. How about SABOTAGE? *** ]]]
9 The law shall provide for such punishments only as are strictly and obviously necessary, and no one shall suffer punishment except it be legally inflicted in virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense.
10 As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty, if arrest shall be deemed indispensable, all harshness not essential to the securing of the prisoner’s person shall be severely repressed by law.
11 No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law. [[[ *** Facing this everyday . . . surrounded by mob mentality minded peasants. *** ]]]
12 The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law. [[[ *** Who defines? *** ]]]
13 The security of the rights of man and of the citizen requires public military forces. These forces are, therefore, established for the good of all and not for the personal advantage of those to whom they shall be intrusted. [[[ *** Nonsense collusion, read no. 13 of my article above : Magna Carta 2.0 : https://malaysiandemocracy.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/ideas-for-a-worldwide-magna-carta-2-0-by-agreetodisagree-6th-january-2012/*** ]]]
14 A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.
15 All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives, as to the necessity of the public contribution; to grant this freely; to know to what uses it is put; and to fix the proportion, the mode of assessment and of collection and the duration of the taxes. [[[ *** Abolish all taxes for the poor. *** ]]]
16 Society has the right to require of every public agent an account of his administration. [[[ *** Transparency and Right of Information Laws *** ]]]
A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all.
17 Since property is an inviolable and sacred right, no one shall be deprived thereof except where public necessity, legally determined, shall clearly demand it, and then only on condition that the owner shall have been previously and equitably indemnified. [[[ *** The organic version would have Allodial property inviolate so that the contours of the city will be built around the contours of the land owned by citizens See Note 1 until the owner decided to sell the property off without coercion, which is implied AGAINST by the portion on ‘public necessity’ – *every* citizen is the PUBLIC (no citizens means no public), their privacy and ownership is NECESSITY itself – you’re not shilling for the MRT bunch now are you RPK?) *** ]]]
This document was written by Marquis de Lafayette, with help from his friend and neighbor, American envoy to France, Thomas Jefferson.
No holds barred eh? Just 1 very big hold RPK, not even in Malaysia or running as a candidate . . . (also RPK’s too damn WHITE . . . warn to remove this part if any feel lawsuit inclined a$$es begin to itch . . .)
Note 1 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_house
This one’s for Malaysia’s dinosaur politicians :
“ . . . contrary to what the left’s relativist ideology says, for us, all civilisations are not of the same value”. “Those which defend liberty, equality and fraternity, seem to us superior to those who accept tyranny, the subservience of women, social and ethnic hatred . . . ” Interior Minister Claude Guéant (5th February 2012)
2nd Amendment, Democracy
Ideas for A ‘Manlier’ 2nd Amendment (2nd Amendment On Steroids!) – Mid February 2012
Ideas for A revised ‘Small Firearms/Large Weapons Law’ – Gun/Weapon owner’s Responsibilities :
– Firing into the sky is legal provided it does not hit any aircraft
– Firing at consensual persons (with written or recorded permission not taken out of context) or property with consent is allowed
– Firing at oneself is allowed (injuries are not claimable for insurance or from the state)
– Modification of weapons is allowed
– openly carried weapons need no licence, while carrying hidden weapons, or hiding weapons (presumably for purposes of keeping thieves or criminals from getting hold of them) needs a licence
– private building owners may set their own policy for whether guns are allowed to be brought into buildings, if not must provide secure holding areas for weapons, this can override crowded area laws if clearly stated
– public government building concourses allow weapons to be brought in, secure areas of public government builings (i.e. staff areas) are weapons free zones
– due to potential of high costs and clean up periods, crowded areas like CBDs, shopping centres or any High Rise zone, require that the safety be on at all times, warning will be issued to first offenders, small fines to repeat offenders for every 3rd offense.
Responsibilities / Legal Use
– To not fire at any wildlife not considered edible
– To not fire at civilians/peaceful foreigners unless threatened with lethal force
– To pay support and damages for any incidental deaths/building cracks/blemishes (road damage) from firing of weapon (large weapon)
– To pay clean up costs for large shell removal
– To pay damages for any ear/auditory damages shattered glass (this will make silencers fasshionable) if identifiable and lawsuit filed
– To stockpile quantities of ammunition amounting to not more that what is the military standard for what is issued to a 1 soldier multiplied by 3 (i.e. ammunition of 3 soldiers), on the battlefield. This ensures regular trips to the ammunition shop.
– Grenades or Mortars or Flamethrowers or Bazookas may be thrown in or fired into or directed at or launched at –
a) places where nobody cares about the damage (including derelict buildings or unbuilt areas) and if no non-consensual people (signed waiver and video pre-registered at any police station required as proof otherwise manslaughter charges will be applicable) are killed. If fires result, costs from the fire department will be applied against the firer.
b) consensual persons; if non-consensual people (without signed waiver and video pre-registered at any police station) are killed, the firer will have to pay reparations and support or be killed in turn by the victim (if survives) or the victim’s family
– all weapons and ammunition are to be numbered and registered to the buyer and intended user or intended users at point of sale
– weapons may not be lent or carried by persons not registered as a user of the pre-serialised weapon
Prohibited Users
– violent criminals or any who have engaged in violent acts amounting to deaths are not permitted to carry to carry both hand or projectile weapons
– violent criminals or any who have engaged in violent acts not amounting to deaths are permitted to carry hand weapons but not projectile weapons
– any instance of accidental death by passers by will be the responsibility of the firer; the law of ‘Tooth for tooth, eye for eye, life for a life applies here.’ Torture may not be used by victims or families of deceased victims to kill a weapons firer who pruposly or accidentally killed a family member or friend with the authority (try non-sexual civil unions), but a similar method or any method of execution to be applied by the victim or victim’s family, can be used that produces equitable pain in application of causing death as well.
2nd Amendment, Liberties, Smoking
Smokes and Guns
Death of the Gun Toting, Smoking American symbol of freedom (and colonialism in those cases where Native American Red Indians were ever dealt with less than fairly). No more Rednecks left? Just Metrosexuals?
For every street or shop that is no-smoking, there shuld be another for smoking. None of that hegelian dialectic or absolutism in application of law.
Am surprised that Texas isn’t here, those 10 Gallons could be banned next for being symbols of ‘racism’ if you guys aren’t careful. 2 and a Half Cowboys (Men) remain from the looks of it.
Illinois and Wisconsin are the very worst here probably, with extreme deterrents to gun ownership. These 2 states have made public a list of registered Gun Owners (effectively punishing forthright and open people while unregistered owners go unlisted) and personal information of Gun Owners.
The entirety of the USA needs to re-establish the goodly Cowboy (Totin’ Smokin’) culture instead of the 10th Crusade Corporate Ziono-inVADER nonsense USA has become.
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Posts Tagged ‘EU’
England, EU, Malaysia, Royalty
In Abuse of Power, Anders Behrin Breivik, Charlemagne, England, Imperial Aachen, Imperial Europe, Imperial Germany, Islam, Knights Templar, Malaysia, misplaced adoration, non-Muslim rights, non-Muslim Rights in a Muslim country on March 25, 2012 at 6:26 pm
A load of codswallop! Labour MP’s astonishing outburst at plan to rename Big Ben tower for the Queen – a ‘fifth-generation German’ – by Simon Walters And Brendan Carlin – PUBLISHED: 02:07 GMT, 25 March 2012 | UPDATED: 11:58 GMT, 25 March 2012
Outburst: Ex-miner Ronnie Campbell MP described the Queen as a ‘fifth generation German’
A left-wing Labour MP last night launched a campaign to stop Big Ben tower being renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Ex-miner Ronnie Campbell said he resented being ‘ruled over by fifth-generation Germans who changed their name from Battenberg to Windsor’.
The anti-monarchist denounced a plan backed by Tory Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Labour’s Jack Straw to rename the tower containing Big Ben the Elizabeth Tower as ‘a load of codswallop’.
The MP for Blyth Valley in Northumberland said: ‘I don’t think the Queen would want it. She is probably embarrassed.
These MPs are only doing it to suck up to her. Big Ben has always been known as Big Ben and always will be. It is ludicrous to change it.
‘It would be much better to rename Heathrow Airport or the new London skyscraper, The Shard, after her. At least they have been built in her lifetime: Big Ben is older than she is.’
PM chimes in to back calls to rename Big Ben landmark Elizabeth Tower after the Queen
The tower’s official name is the Clock Tower, but it is known universally as Big Ben, the nickname of its bell.
Praise: Despite his anti-Royal views Mr Campbell said now was not the time to abolish the Monarchy, because the Queen was ‘a nice lady’
A lesser-known tower, completed in 1860, was named the Victoria Tower in honour of Queen Victoria.
Time for change? Big Ben may be renamed the Elizabeth Tower
Mr Campbell said: ‘Every socialist bone in my body tells me we should abolish the Monarchy as an outdated institution that nurtures a class system based on birth, not worth.
‘Why should we be ruled over by families descended from robber barons, bandits and illegitimate heirs?
‘Or, in the case of the current lot, fifth-generation Germans who changed their name from Battenberg to Windsor during the First World War.’
Mr Campbell also said the Queen had ‘no right to lord it’ over ordinary working-class people like him.
‘I bend my knee to no one,’ he continued. ‘Without the Monarchy, there would be no aristocrats owning vast swathes of our green and pleasant land simply because their ancestors stole it from the previous occupants.’
Mr Campbell claimed his own family of miners had done more for Britain than the Queen.
‘It is a better legacy than waving from cars and opening Parliament while wearing a heavy crown,’ he said.
But despite his anti-Royal views, now was not the time to abolish the Monarchy, Mr Campbell said, because the Queen was ‘a nice lady’.
But despite his anti-Royal views . . . because the Queen was ‘a nice lady’. . . . (this is a ‘u-turn’ type of article, draw’em in, key’em up then make a sudden u-turn – right at the end in this case. Wow DM how pro-Tory though semi subtle can DM get? The sod just expressed support of the Queen DM, though the title condemns on their behalf. Please report honestly instead of being manipulative, or DM will be insulting the intelligence with all this pro-royal propaganda! NLP closing statement alert!
Germany and France backed by a NORMALIZED and transparent 4th Reich, and a neo-Imperial Frankish Imperator via the EU, should just revive Charlemagne’s Lion Throne (Imperial Capital at Aachen, with vassal Kings in Spain, France and Germany? Africa would be pleased to provide REAL Lions, or would the EU prefer to cast replicas in solid gold for effect as well . . . heck have both . . . would convert a whole lot of weak minded ‘Sand N1ggers’ and ‘Gooks’ to Xianity (if Germany’s neo-paganiss do not dominate the religious scene – Paganism btw is more PC than Xianity) at once . . . WH40K! Emperors don’t die, but become more than the living . . . their children’s iniquities or inaccuracies being punished accordingly, those able to hear would doubtless fight on – in this case for the EU.
. . . though PC EU would probably ferret out those who were victims of proselytization (also what would the neo-nazis and Templars say???) and declare England a mere colony and abolish the monarchy for the English since they need ‘codswallopers’ like Mr.Campbell to throw semi-obvious counter-counter propaganda [ . . . ] those gemstones mentioned earlier would also be returned to the rightful owners [ . . . ] . But would the PC Germans consider the original inhabitants, Irish, Scots and Welsh as the original sovereigns rather than the 5th generation German who waged war AGAINST Germany the motherland in WWII? And if not under consideration for TREASON against Europe, what does the south-eastern portion of the North Atlantic Isles (England), represent but a Barony (see note 1) comprising East Wessex up to South Anglia (North Anglia being Danish territory though originally Scottish) at most?
– Considering that England is only less than one quarter the size of India or the EU
– if India and EU were proper Kingdoms
– Africa and Russia would be true Empire size, China, Europe and Old Rome (the planetary/Archon worshippers under the Legions) barely making the size requirement
– England unless with every other ethnic group’s territory (with Wales, Scotland and Ireland all brutally colonized, probably not considering the German link through the Angle conquest later but maybe under EU auspices, only if those 3 kingdoms want to)
– England on their own (East wessex to South Anglia) would be a Barony.
The long passed Charlemagne would never have allowed a claim of Royal title ahead of a Throneless heart of the EU European Empire and probably led to this inspired backlash. Doubtless the greatest among that era would not tolerate a smaller area led by one of his distant scions to ATTACK Germany (how could they?). Claim sovereignty over what that one still considers sovereign territory via the EU.
Germany and France doubtless will benefit much from close consideration of what Charlemagne would have thought and reinstatement of the Frankish Empire under Constitutional Monarchy (what else is the Western portion of EU after all??? A spiritual continuation of France, Germany and Spain, being vassal Kings under a Frankish Emperor probably to match and equal what the Commonwealth or whats left of the Commonwealth is . . .).
England being quite un-PC though always acting as if England was PC, and not suitably sized to warrant a kingdom title (size wise Charlemagne would never allow the use of the Royal title by such a small territory, even the whole of the Atlantic Isles would probably be a Duchy at most), the English have been so insulting and ‘British’ for so long, that no unity could really count, could under EU, after straigtening out the sovereignty issues with the Triple Crown (of Ireland, Wales and Scotland), re-formalise itself as an independent Barony based from East Wessex to South Anglia region which pledges allegiance to the Imperial Capital of Aachen in Germany (after all the Battenburgs are 5th generation Germans so why keep up the creepy name 1917 change to ‘Windsor’ from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha – thats the REAL name of the ‘English’ Royals btw – pretense, might as well revive House Hanover (truly the last pure English line) as the apex English family which is 100% English pureblood . . . ) with that royal title reduced to one of nobility at most.
The NWO needs reshuffling, the head of EU being a FRANKISH pure blood European from Charlemagne’s Merovingian line if still traceable. EU should also reinstate Old Frankish as the EU’s national and court language, and DROP English which belongs in a small south-eastern corner (much like the Balkans perhaps?) of the North Atlantic Isles as a local dialect instead. Russia, Africa, India and China, could start learning Old Frankish instead of English here on. The other nations worldwide should also learn this language of a potential future Imperial European Court. (Hitler may have been Charlemagne reborn who knows, but society, life experiences and upbringing did not contribute well to the expression of the conquering instinct . . . that and France was no longer close to Germany at that point . . . ). EU is the European (perhaps Imperial European) revival after all with England a vassal fief at very most. The trappings are waiting to be formalized with the re-Imperialisation of Aachen . . . this one’s for good side of Anders Breivik (the Fifth Columnist Outer Breivik, not the Fifth Columnist Killer Breivik . . .) and the good side of Hitler (the Nazi franchise Hitler, not the Nazi-Auswitch Hitler . . .). . . depending on how EU fares, those considered mad in this sick era could true champions be, in a revival . . .
Sultan: Set aside political differences – Friday, 23 March 2012 17:45
SHAH ALAM- The Sultan of Selangor on Monday advised all state lawmakers, regardless of political affiliation, to cooperate with the state administration for the sake of the people’s welfare.
“Political differences shouldn’t be a barrier (for any assemblyperson) to assist the state in (carrying out) measures that would benefit the people,” said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah when opening the state assembly.
He reminded the elected representatives to put the people’s and state interests before party interest.
He added that lawmakers play a key role in scrutinising policies and programmes to ensure they have a positive impact for both people and the state.
The Sultan also advised lawmakers to debate intellectually, not emotionally, and to voice out the views of the people in the House.
“Every matter (debated in the House) should be judged wisely and fairly, based on the merits and substance of the proposal itself, not just the person who made it,” he said.
He praised the state for achieving 5.9 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth last year and attracting RM8.74 billion investments.
However, the Sultan also reminded the Selangor government to protect the state’s forest reserves, water catchment areas and river reserves.
“Encroachment must be eradicated and approval shouldn’t be given for development projects in these areas,” he said in his address.
Finally, the Sultan also cautioned the state to preserve Malay reserve land and prevent it from being transferred to non-Malay individuals or companies.
-Selangor Times
“Every matter (debated in the House) should be judged wisely and fairly, based on the merits and substance of the proposal itself, not just the person who made it,” the Sultan said.
How does the below sound to the Sultan? Someone who has the ear of the Sultan needs to stress how important the below 3 items are :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 of the UNHCR, non-Asabiya in Islam, non-“Al-Fitrah”)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 of the UNHCR, Qur’an 2:256 “let there be no compulsion in religion)
Would never do to claim double standards against you-know-who, but for certain the 3 items are already well known to the Sultan. Why is this institution being so oblique if not obtuse?
Political differences shouldn’t be a barrier for any assemblyperson to assist the state in carrying on measures that would benefit the people,” but should the state not act as required per the state’s responsibility to remove any such remaining political differences?
The dual system of citizenships based on race and face doubtless make carrying out any measures to benefit the people more difficult. Would be unconscionable for the state to continue these political differences? Tacit approval by inaction only weakens the right and voice of those who should act at a considerate pace. The dual system of citizenships (aka non-Bumi / Bumi) based on race and faith, doubtless make carrying out any measures to benefit the people more difficult.
If the petitioned will not bend to the truth, (do not wait till) then the truth bends the petitioned. The socio-political fallout of this Bumi /non-Bumi divide is very serious as of now, and cannot be ignored. Let Malaysia adhere to what being a signatory of UNHCR Article 1 requires, and consider the disenfranchisement of non-Muslim and non-Malay citizens who have always been forthcoming and supportive of the institution that keeps Malaysian flaws uncorrected. Act in the interest of humanity, be Royalty to all men not just men of your own ethnicity or own faith. Continued neglect to address these issues is unconscionable.
Sultan Idris said set aside political differences via Article 1 of the UNHCR. Well The best way to to this is to end apartheid. Religious difference can also be ended but this will need Article 18 of the UNHCR. Who better than the Royal Collective of Malaysian Princes to make the initiative? We’re not waiting for a 10,000 B.C. (2008 Roland Emmerich) or Arab Spring now are we? These are basic human rights elucidated in the UNHCR, shall we all leave the 3rd World status behind from here on . . .
“AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU (you here refers to any formally converted Muslim person) THAT YOU (you here refers to any any formally converted Muslim person who has consensually in full awareness and without coercion and in free will embraced that faith) FIGHT NOT IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH, AND FOR THOSE WEAK , ILL TREATED AND OPPRESSED AMONG MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WHOSE CRY IS: “OUR LORD! RESCUE US FROM THIS TOWN WHOSE PEOPLE ARE OPPRESSORS; AND RAISE FOR US FROM YOU ONE WHO WILL PROTECT, AND RAISE FOR US FROM YOU (you here refers to any formally converted Muslim person) ONE (one here refers to any formally converted Muslim person who has consensually in full awareness and without coercion and in free will embraced that faith) WHO WILL HELP.” SURAH AN-NISA -verse 75
“THE ONE WHO WORKS FOR ASABIYA, CALLS FOR ASABIYA OR FIGHTS FOR ASABIYA IS NOT ONE OF US….AND HE IS LIKE THE (censored in case of lese majeste) WHO LIVES IN (censored in case of lese majeste)“. PROPHET MUHAMMAD(PBUH). 14+ centuries on, the Quran can be applied, well in obvious cases like these at any rate.
Asabiyyah is most strong in the nomadic phase, and decreases as civilization advances. As this Asabiyyah declines, another more compelling Asabiyyah may take its place; thus, civilizations rise and fall, and history describes these cycles of Asabiyyah as they play out. – Ibn Khaldun, Tunisian Ruler and Historiographer.
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MaryJo Webster
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Data journalist. Watchdog reporter. Educator.
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School choice reshapes Minnesota's public schools
The number of school-age children is on the rise again in Minneapolis and St. But the number enrolled in their home school districts is still falling. Mostly, other public schools. Nearly one-third now attend charter schools and schools in other districts. The same thing is happening in the suburbs and around the state, with some schools gaining and others losing.
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A 3-part series focused around fact that 40% of the people killed by police in Minnesota were mentally ill or in the midst of a mental crisis. All the work stemmed from a database we built of all the deaths since 2000, culled from media reports, death records, police records, etc.
Indian kids in foster crisis
From his bench on the second floor of Hennepin County’s juvenile courthouse, Judge Luis Bartolomei will determine the future of five American Indian families. Among them: A father accused of beating his 8-year-old daughter. A mother who gave birth to a methadone-addicted baby. A mother who at one point shot up heroin eight times a day.
Unlikely new hot spots in Twin Cities housing market
Stacey and Ardy Gibbs ran into the same problem that face many Twin Cities homeowners these days: selling their house was a snap but buying another was difficult. What’s worse, the couple live in Richfield, the hottest real estate market in the metro. They looked at nearly 30 houses, offered on two and lost out to other buyers.
Equity-strapped sellers holding back supply
Housing prices were just starting to slip a decade ago when Erin Simonson paid $152,000 for a tidy split-level on the northwestern edge of the Twin Cities suburbs. The market tumbled for the next three years. Her house lost more than half its value. Simonson couldn’t sell, but unlike many in a similar situation she opted not to walk away and let the house go into foreclosure.
Urban school districts are among least integrated
An analysis of elementary school enrollment data, by race, going back to 1980-81, shows a dramatic shift. In the mid-1990s, Minneapolis and St. Paul schools were very integrated -- thanks to busing and other integration efforts -- while the suburbs were nearly all white students. That shifted after 2000, as the suburbs diversified and the urban schools became almost entirely minority.
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Fans burned by ticket scalping
An analysis showing the flow of concert tickets to secondary ticket markets, such as StubHub, that make it difficult -- or at least more expensive -- for people to get tickets to their favorite shows.
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Scope of nationwide heroin ‘epidemic’ unknown; drug-related death, overdose data lacking
Elected officials, law enforcement officers and others proclaim there’s a heroin “epidemic” sweeping the country, and it’s taking hold in rural and suburban communities once considered unlikely places to find illicit drugs. Nobody even knows for certain where the problem is most severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 3,036 people died in 2010 from heroin overdoses, but due to problems with how death investigations are conducted and how those deaths are documented, the CDC estimates that its tally is at least 25 percent short, possibly more.
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MaryJo started her journalism career in 1995 at a small, daily newspaper in New Ulm, Minn., where the so-called "dumb terminals" used for writing stories didn't even have spell checking, let alone the Internet.
After a few years at the Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern, she attended graduate school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. A graduate research assistant position with Investigative Reporters and Editors built up her data skills and introduced her to the fabulous world of data journalism and the NICAR community.
After graduation, she worked at the non-profit Center for Public Integrity, leading a national, data-driven investigation into campaign finance abuses. Then she spent nearly three years as the sports database editor for USA Today.
In 2005, she chose to move to her home state of Minnesota and spent nine years as data editor at the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Her contributions to the Pioneer Press were wide-ranging, including development of a set of public searchable databases, a steady stream of data-driven stories, and the more than two years she spent reporting on the spectacular and massive crash of Twin Cities' auto mogul Denny Hecker (writing more than 150 stories in that time).
In Feb. 2014, she started as the Senior Data Reporter for Digital First Media's Thunderdome newsroom. In that role she helped all of the company's papers produce more data-driven content. Unfortunately, Digital First Media shut down Thunderdome a couple months later.
She returned to USA Today in a contract position, working from Minnesota, as part of their data team. She was the primary reporter on a series of business stories called, "Where the Jobs Are."
In March 2015, Webster joined the Minneapolis Star Tribune as its data editor. She has been a key player in numerous projects, including "Denied Justice", "Shielded by the Badge", "A Cry for Help" and "Students in flight," as well as smaller-scale enterprise stories on housing, teen deaths, school segregation, police misconduct payouts, and a variety of other topics. She also launched Data Drop, a weekly, data-driven, digital-first series.
Webster teaches data journalism part-time at the University of Minnesota and is a regular panelist and teacher at national journalism conferences and workshops. In 2018, she spoke at the International Open Data Conference in Buenos Aires.
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California’s Deadliest Catch
The Secret Driftnet Fishery for Swordfish and Shark Off Our Coast
by Todd Steiner, Executive Director, Turtle Island Restoration Network
Few Americans realize that a deadly driftnet fishery targeting swordfish and shark operates off the California coast with fatal consequences for ocean wildlife.
Driftnets, which have been described as “curtains of death,” were banned on the high seas by the United Nations in the 1994. On the West Coast, Oregon and Washington have banned this deadly and unsustainable fishery, but unbeknownst to the public, they are still legal in California–plying our waters out of sight and out of mind.
In a new expose entitled, “CALIFORNIA’S DEADLIEST CATCH: The Drift Gillnet Fishery for Swordfish and Shark,” author Teri Shore lays out the impact this fishery is having on the discarded catch of whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and scores of fish species and outlines a plan of action to end this destructive fishery.
Over the past decade, more than 1,300 whales, dolphins, and sea turtles drowned after getting tangled in these large-mesh drift nets. Additionally, over a hundred thousand giant ocean sunfish and ten thousand blue sharks were also caught and discarded during the last 10 years. Recently, an estimated 16 endangered sperm whales were fatally injured.
Many schemes have been tried to limit the high collateral damage to marine species — including adding acoustical pingers on nets to reduce entanglement of dolphins and porpoises, time-area closures to reduce turtle and shark catch, and lowering the net depth to try to reduce whale entanglements. Yet more than 90 percent of the ocean life indiscriminately caught by these nets is neither swordfish nor shark, but dozens of other fish species that are caught and discarded overboard injured or dead.
Fewer than 20 vessels are left in this fishery, providing few jobs and little income. In comparison, businesses like whale watching and diving companies create recreational opportunities for tens of thousands of Americans, generating many more jobs and contribute much more to California’s economy. Yet federal fishery managers, under pressure from a small group of individuals, continue to promote this destructive, unnecessary and unhealthy fishery.
What about food security? California’s drift net fishery target the ocean’s top predators– swordfish and sharks that contribute to balanced and healthy ocean ecosystems. These species also contain some the highest levels of toxic mercury of any fish. Both the EPA and FDA recommend women of child-bearing age and children not eat swordfish and shark.
Turtle Island is leading the fight to demand that our political representatives permanently retire this fishery and stop the strip-mining the California coast before more whales, dolphins and sea turtles die in these curtains of death. As a result, Turtle Island has just sponsored a new state bill to protect marine life from driftnets, AB 2019 (Fong-San Jose). You can help pass the bill and end driftnetting along the California coast once and for all. Visit www.SeaTurtles.org to find out how.
Featured image: NOAA
Wallace J Nichols says:
Thanks for sharing this information. Gill nets of all kinds remain a problem in many places where they are used.
Just south of us here in California, in Baja California Sur, 2,000+ loggerhead sea turtles along with olive ridleys, green turtles and hawksbill turtles, die in bottom set gill nets EVERY YEAR.
This is the most acute sea turtle bycatch problem in the world.
We have nearly 2 decades of research, recommendations, and solutions on record but the state government continues to dismiss the problem.
One misinformed administrator suggested that the turtles die because they are “tired”. Others mistakenly blame the mortality on toxins. Hoping Mission Blue and all of its partners can help solve this before the fishery reopens this spring.
Jonathan Gonzalez says:
NMFS scientists report that over 90% of the total bycatch by numbers in the DGN fishery comes from a single species, the common mola (sunfish). Although there has not been a definitive study on the survivorship of common mola released from DGN gear, observations by NMFS observers and researchers suggest that a high percent (>90%) of them are released alive.
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/migratory_species/2011_swordfish_wksp.html
The information from these workshops was instrumental in the Seafood Watch programs decision to change the ranking of common thresher and shortfin mako sharks caught in California and Hawaii from “avoid” to a “good alternative” ranking just months after these workshops.
Also, the CA DGN fishery has not killed one single sea turtle in over 14yrs. Why do you suggest otherwise? Prove it.
Stop looking for the low hanging fruit and go after the real bad guys. Go after the IUU fisheries.
Todd Steiner says:
I was an invited participant at the workshop you mentioned and here is my response:
Common Mola-
• Data from the past 10 years suggests that common mola represent closer to 50% of the bycatch, rather than 90% you report. This represents about 105,000 molas captured over this period.
• Released alive is not the same as released unharmed. Driftnets definitely cause injuries to these large fish- it cuts into their skin, scrapes off their protective mucus, flood their gills with air, likely causes a significant buildup of lactic acidosis as a result of stress which can be fatal to some fish species, to name a few of the impacts of capture. Mortality rates after release in driftnets is not known, nor is there any information on impacts of injuries from driftnets that may reduce reproductive fitness, ability to feed normally, etc.
Sea Turtles-
• It is untrue that no sea turtles have been captured in the past 14 years. In fact, there have been 2 OBSERVED captures in the past decade. Please note the vast majority (85%) of vessels do not have observers, so the actual number is likely 6 to 7 times higher… Furthermore, the lower numbers in recent years are the result of the fact that environmentalists sued in federal Court which resulted in 250,000 square miles of ocean being closed to driftnetting during the time of year sea turtles are most likely to be present. Yet, the industry continues to work to end or reduce the time and size of this closure, despite its success in reducing (but not eliminating) sea turtle bycatch.
Seafood Watch-
• I have been a Seafood Watch data reviewer for swordfish and other species in the past and I can assure you that their decisions are based on carefully reviewed data AND politics. When National Marine Fisheries Service places restrictions on a given fishery (even when under force of litigation), I believe Seafood Watch feels obliged to move fish out of the “red” category into the “yellow” and that probably explains the current status of some of the target species for this fishery being upgraded from the avoid category. I suspect that the recent capture of an estimated 16 endangered sperm whales, despite all the current restriction on the fishery, will likely result in swordfish being moved back to the avoid (red) category when Seafood Watch issues their next report.
• Swordfish and sharks (including mako and thresher), the primary harvested species from this fishery are high in mercury and can be harmful to your health. The EPA, FDA and CA Department of Health Services warn women of reproductive age and children NOT to eat these species.
We believe the CA driftnet fishery is currently one of the most harmful fisheries off our coast. Furthermore, it catches species high in mercury that humans should avoid. We do not disagree that IUU fishing is also a very real problem for ocean biodiversity and the organizations calling for the closure of the CA driftnet fishery has also been and continues to be involved in actions to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries throughout the world.
Hello Todd,
Thanks for the reply. I just have a few questions.
Can you please provide me with a link to a source stating that the common mola accounts for 50% of DGN catch as opposed to 90%?
Can you please provide a link to the source stating 2 sea turtles have been caught accidentally by DGN in last 14 years? About a year ago I saw an online observer database that showed zero turtles caught in last 14 years, but now the site/link is not working.
You also note DGN observer coverage is only around 15%, but in recent years it’s been more like 22%. Even so, what are your thoughts on the fact that most swordfish consumed in US comes from fisheries with 0% observer coverage? Are you helping to fund RFMOs to help fix this?
As for the swordfish workshop you attended, I set up and attended the one prior to that. It was such a success that they did it again a month later (the one you went to.)
http://organiccreativity.com/eatusseafood/?p=119
Interesting how you hint that SeafoodWatch is influenced by fishing industry. That’s a loaded statement.
As for threshers being high in mercury, you’re wrong. “Analysis of mercury in the muscle (Suk et al. 2009) reveals levels substantially lower (mean 0.13 ± 0.15 μg/g) than the FDA recommendations of 1.0 μg/g. Mercury concentration increased with shark size to a maximum of 0.7 μg/g for a 241 cm fork length (~ 425 lb) individual, still below the FDA recommendations.”
http://www.slofiberfish.org/files/ThresherSharkFactSheet.pdf
Lastly, what are you doing (specifically) to combat IUU fishing?
Jan Dicahrry says:
I met Sylvia Earle a a Marine Debris Conference in Galveston. A treasure I will never forget. She had a huge impact on me..So many things have changed…I know fight,with many to help the endangered/vulnerable to extinction species being killed 24/7,no bag limit,no monitoring,etc,under the Native Title Act 1993. .Even protected Marine parks are hunted.While I respect all cultures,people,this is not traditional hunting going on.We are talking about VULNERABLE TO EXTINCTION species,sea turtles,dugongs,etc. I so wish others would help us stop this.
http://youtu.be/2zFBzAnBCn0
Please watch the video above. Please be warned it’s graphic. If there is anyone out there that would like to help spread the word,share a link,please do..We need to change the outdated Native Title Act 1993, to protect the endangered species .
https://www.facebook.com/colin.riddell?ref=stream
Please look at these pages.You will see what is happening…Join the group ,lead by an indigenous woman,so very intelligent and compassionate. Very respectful group,all cultures,from all over the world. Please help us fight to change the outdated Native Title Act .
sharon wardle says:
Do the right thing!!
i dont understand how these are still legal.
Mission Blue Admin says:
Thank you Bruce and Alma – we totally agree! California needs to lead the way, not lag behind!
Tony Lubner says:
We are preparing the documents to become a Hope Spot in Plettenberg Bay South Africa. Communication to all NGO’s, schools, government etc is needed to get all on board. Please can you advise or recommend the branding and logo that we can use to be identified. ie. do you have a ‘Hope Spot’ logo that we can use. Many thanks
We’ll answer you at your email! Thanks!
Alma Kulmala says:
Drift net fishery is a big problem as these nets don’t always catch their main target (which is also not a good thing for the balance of the ocean’s ecosystems) It’s time to let nature heal our oceans without the intervention of humans and their killer instruments.
Bruce Hudson says:
We need to set an example for the rest of the world … and until we do, we cannot discourage or eliminate this crime against nature anywhere else on the planet. California should set the standard and not be calling other States or countries to task whilst allowing the practice inside their own jurisdiction. It’s totally unacceptable.
The CA gillnet fishery takes less swordfish than any other fleet in the Pacific rim and is the most regulated of all other gillnet fisheries in the world. They do lead the way. This is good news. The bad news comes when you eliminate a fishery that leads the way. Then you are left with nothing but imported fish from nations with no regulations or enforcement at all. Don’t believe the hype. Do your homework. http://www.eatusseafood.com
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Archive | January 2010
in Government Relations
The Medical Society of New Jersey Lauds Governor Christie’s Selection for Health Commissioner
The Medical Society of New Jersey today commended Governor Chris Christie’s selection of Poonam L. Alaigh, MD to head NJ’s Department of Health and Senior Services. Dr. Alaigh is a member of MSNJ.
The following is a statement by Dr. Joseph H. Reichman, MD, the 217th president of the Medical Society of New Jersey.
“Our organization is delighted to learn that Dr. Alaigh, a physician, was named to the commissioner’s post. New Jersey, along with the rest of the country, is facing its fair share of public health dilemmas and it is comforting to know that we will have a medical doctor in charge — someone who is well-versed in vaccine-preventable diseases, disease management and understands the issues relating to healthcare in the Garden State.”
MSNJ looks forward to working with Dr. Alaigh and the DHSS in our shared mission to improve and protect the health of our citizens.
“We thank the governor for entrusting a seat in his cabinet to one of our own,” said Dr. Reichman.
in Haiti
List of Antibiotics, Supplies Needed and Recommendations for Medical Teams
Antibiotics:
IV antibiotics: Penicillin G, Ceftriaxone, Gentamycin, Vancomycin, Unasyn, Cefazolin, Cefepime, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, Azactam
PO Antibiotics: Bactrim (double strength tab), Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, Ceftin, Keflex, Doxycycline, Clindamycin, Augmentin, Dicloxacillin
Topical Antibiotics: Bactroban ointment, Bacitracin, Neosporin
Wound Care:
Tetanus Immunoglobulin and tetanus toxoid, Hydrogen Peroxide, Betadine solution, Sterile Water, Sodium Chloride for Irrigation, Gloves sterile and non sterile (size: small, medium and large), Alcohol, Silvadene cream
Penrose, Foley catheter
Analgesic and Anesthesia:
Motrim, Tylenol, Topical lidocaine, Bupivacaine, Demerol, Diclofenac
Diprivan, Atropine, Ephedrine, Narcan, Fentanyl, Pentotal, Succinil Choline, Reglan, Diazepam, Oxygen Tank, Epidural Kit
Anti Allergic:
Benadryl iv, Solumedrol iv and prednisone po, Albuterol
IV Fluids:
Lactate Ringer, Normal Saline, D5W, D5NS, Dextran
Surgical Material:
Vicril (0 1 2/0 3/0 4/0), Silk (000 3-0 / 2-0/ 0 1), Chromic (1 0 2/0), Scalpels and Operative Knives, Scissors, Applying Forceps and Suture instruments, Casting supplies, Traction equipments, Splints (all kinds), Foley catheters, Straight cath catheters, Tourniquet, Suture Kit, Minor surgery instruments, Crutches, ACE bandages (3” 4” 6”), Kerlex bandage, Sterile gauze 4×4, Iodoform gauze, Steristrips, ABD pads, Tape, Metallic boxes for instruments, Surgical masks, Gigli saw, Bone rongeur, Sling, Needles, Angiocath, Urinary bags, Irrigation syringes, Sterile draping for surgery, Vaseline gauze
Other supplies needed:
Crash cart items, oxygen tanks and nebulizer machines
Recommendations for medical teams:
1. The following specialties are the most needed: orthopedists, general surgeons, anesthesiologists, family physicians and ID specialists, counselors for emotional support, trauma and emergency care nurses, infection control nurses.
2. Small and well balanced teams of physicians (3) and nurses (3) adjusted to the level of care of the setting, can provide efficient care, if supplies and proper logistics are available. It’s good to have some information on where the teams are going and tailor the teams based on needs.
3. Some temporary hospitals will keep operating for months. After the acute phase, there will be a need for other specialists (internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatrists, and rehab specialists) to provide treatment for common illnesses, follow up for post op patients and attend to the needs of the amputees.
4. Port au Prince, Delmas, Leogane and Jacmel are places to consider. It’s possible to piggy back on existing units of care to enhance their ability.
Please visit the website www.amhe.org for more information on how you can help.
Donate supplies through NJ4HAITI
The Association Des Medecins Haitiens a L’etranger (AMHE), the Haitian physician society and most humanitarian non-profit organizations have consolidated our forces to now provide assistance with the Haiti Earthquake Disaster. We are working with www.nj4Haiti.org. They have several warehouses throughout New Jersey.
The main coordinator/facilitator of this symbiotic aid activity is Mr. Stan Neron. The donate supplies is contact: Ms. Katia Theodore 908-922-1228. The individual in charge of picking up and warehousing the supplies is Hiver Ambrose. He may be reached at Jefferson Park Ministries, our coalition partner. Thus far, the AMHE has sent all hospital donated supplies to the warehouses of NJ4HAITI. I would encourage you to contact them and they would instruct you as to delivery or pick up.
In the meantime, we are in the process of streamlining the humanitarian assistance process. We are working with various humanitarian, political, and governmental agencies to organize regular flights to Haiti. MSNJ will keep you informed as soon as this is set up; we presume in the following one to three weeks. Thus, anyone that may be interested in participating in the relief effort would be able to go to Haiti and help.
Special thanks to Yvan Ducheine, MD for continuously updating the Medical Society of New Jersey
Update on the situation in Haiti
Haiti was stricken by a catastrophic earthquake of 7.0 magnitude. The main city of Port-au-Prince close to the epicenter was severely damaged. Others cities like Leogane and Jacmel are also hit. An estimation of 100,000 lives lost has been recorded. This unfolding tragedy in front of our own eyes has reached historical proportion.
The AMHE Relief Mission of the Haitian Physicians Abroad is monitoring the situation very closely. The New York Chapter disaster relief has sent a note asking physicians to volunteers and the line up is good. 60 physicians are already signed up, ready to go. We encourage emergency physicians, nurses, dialysis technicians to be in line. However we have to insure a long term commitment since everyone can not go at once.
Contacts have been made with other organizations US agency for international development (www. usaid.org) and USsouth.com for logistics. Other organizations AAP, (Dr Danielle Laraque), MSSM We are in contact with Haiti through our Relief member Dr Aldy Castor who is helping us in assessing the situation, the president of AMH (Association Medical Haitienne), Dr Claude Surena. Information gathered so far indicates that aftershocks of Richter scale magnitude of 4 to 5 are still occurring.
Major problems facing the citizens of Haiti remain
crush injuries
respiratory ailments
risks for infection (diarrheas)
acute depression
As soon as the logistical problems are solved, the AMHE Relief Mission will develop a bridge with permanent rotations of Haitian Physicians between US Canada (different chapters) and Haiti like we did in 2004.
The organization is looking for IV fluids, Medicines including antibiotics and anti-diarrheal, peritoneal and hemodialysis materials to be shipped immediately.
Because of complications of crush injuries, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are needed. The University hospital of Haiti (HUEH) has a four machine hemodialysis unit not very functional in normal time (our own assessment from December 2009). Therefore supplies would be essential for allowing a smooth operation Point of care testing for creatinine, potassium, sodium, and glucose would also be needed http://www.abbottpointofcare.com/istat/. We are in contact with American Society of Nephrology (ASN).
Contact for the Relief Mission
Paul Nacier MD pnacier@aol.com
Eric L. Jerome, MD FACP eljerome@pol.net
by larrydowns
Assignment of Benefits Bill Signed into Law
MSNJ has learned that Acting Governor Stephen M. Sweeney signed S114 into law this past Saturday. The law will take effect in 12 months.
Under the new law, when a patient assigns their benefits under a health insurance policy to a healthcare provider, their insurer must honor that request. The insurer may opt to issue a check jointly payable to the healthcare provider and patient, however the check must physically be sent to the provider of services.
This law remedies years of frustration where a provider of medical services who is out of network with a patient’s insurance company would see payments go directly to patient, leaving the provider to collect the fee. The cost to collect would reduce the provider’s income and in some instances the provider would never be paid.
The Medical Society of New Jersey partnered with many medical specialty societies to move this bill through the Legislature. This bill represents two years of advocacy on behalf of physicians.
54 AMHE Physicians, Surgeons, Orthopedists, Nurses on the way in Haiti
A message from the President of the Association of Haitian Physicians
The Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad with the acronym AMHE with chapters along the east coast and Montreal representing 10% of all black physicians in the US again expresses to all its deepest sorrow for this unparalleled tragedy that has afflicted our country.
For the past five years, we have worked with the Minister of Health in Haiti to address a few challenges and we stand ready to roll our sleeves, help again with a short term and a long term plan.
On day one, we have activated our AMHE Medical Relief mission Task force to inquire, assess the needs through a member of the mission in the field Dr Aldy Castor and Dr Claude Surena AMH (Association Medical Haitienne) President, our sister organization in Haiti.
On Thursday the 14th January 2010, a group of ten of our members were sent to Port-au-prince via Miami, Florida. One Report from Haiti outlined:
“The biggest challenge is to perform surgeries on site. Ninety percent of patients are in dire need of surgery. Great need for Tetanus vaccines, antibiotics (IV and PO) IV fluids, disinfectants, autoclaves to sterilize material, sheets, scrubs, etc. We need volunteers with clipboards and paper to document the care to create a database of the patients. Creole speaking staff needed. Communication makes a big difference.”
Therefore, today AMHE dispatched a group of 54 physicians, orthopedists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses.
We plan to send close to 200 physicians and nurses by the end of next week.
We will work with other groups to maintain a smooth operation. We have touched base with Dr Alix Lassegue Medical director of the state university hospital and Dr William Pape of Gheskio with “slightly injured knee due to fallen concrete”.
The Ultimate goal is to alleviate pain and suffering of the proud people of Haiti struggling with the aftermath of a monstrous earthquake.
To register, Volunteers will call 718 2451015 or go to the our web site http://www.amhe.org
Make your checks to AMHE Foundation.
We want to thank the United States President Barrack Obama and his administration, the United Nations and the all international community for a quick response to the disaster in Haiti.
Christian Lauriston, MD
President AMHE
Information on How Physicians in New Jersey Can Assist with the Crisis in Haiti
From Yvan Ducheine, MD — Executive Member of the New Jersey Chapter of the Haitian Physicians Association (Association Des Medecins Haitiens a L’etranger) and member of MSNJ
The AMHE Central Executive Committee, Mission Relief Task Force had a teleconference on the night of 1-15-10. It addressed many issues having to do with the disaster in Haiti. One of which has to do with the volunteers who want to go to Haiti to provide assistance.
There are flights scheduled to go to Haiti on 1-16-2010 (Catholic Charities), 1-18-2010 (JetBlue), and 1-23-2010. These flights are leaving from JFK, interested volunteers are encouraged to contact Dr. Paul Nacier via email @ pnacier@aol.com, or may text him @ 917-748-1326. He will put you on the list.
The transportation logistics, once arrived in Port-au-Prince or via Dominican Republic, have been taken care of in terms of transportation from the airport to the area of service, or assistance. Prior to traveling, you are encouraged to bring dry foods for 3 days, a sleeping bag, change of clothes. You will most likely be sleeping in large communal tents, eating food rations, etc. The rotations are for 3 to 5 days. It is a long term endeavor, if you cannot go this week, you can go the following week.
Interested volunteers are also encouraged to go to the website for further information www.amhe.org, www.amhenj.org, www.amheflorida.com. Please pay attention to the CDC travel recommendation that are linked to the Haiti earthquake link, while at the website.
Dr. Marie Evelyne Moise, member of AMHE has just returned from a two-day trip to Haiti and has filed the following report:
The UM/Medishare effort is very appreciated, their logistic for moving personnel is commendable.
The biggest challenge is to perform surgeries on site. Ninety percent of patients are in dire need of surgery. Many local Haitian resources are helping out (Surgeons, Nurses), but they are not informed on when and how the rescue teams are arriving.
Great need for Tetanus vaccines, antibiotics (IV and PO), gauze bandages, IV fluids, disinfectants, autoclaves to sterilize material, sheets, scrubs, gloves, and suture kits.
Urgent need for nurses, which will alleviate physicians’ tasks. Example: IV dressing, etc.
Documentation issues: we need volunteers with clipboards and paper to document the care to create a database of the patients.
Creole speaking staff needed. Communication makes a big difference.
Volunteers need to know that there are no sleeping accommodations, not much time to take a break, there are sleeping bags available for 1-2 hour naps as needed. The only thing that is provided is drinking water, so bring sustenance for 2-3 days (protein bars, crackers, etc.). Ideal length of stay under these circumstances should be 2-3 days at a time.
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Health Screening Find a doctor Enquiry and Feedback
24-hour hotline:+65 6347 6688
Our Heritage Story
Inpatient Guide
Patient’s Charter
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Nursing @ Mount Alvernia Hospital
Dr Poh Yu-Jin
Doctor's Profile
MT A Dental Centre
Mount Alvernia Hospital
Medical Centre D #08-51
9am to 12pm (Mon)
Dr Poh Yu-Jin focuses in the field of Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment) and Dental Pain Management. He has had over 10 years of specialized practice in this field and is very well equipped to manage most aspects of Dental Pain.
Dr Poh has a keen interest in pain of non-dental origin and works regularly with specialists in other disciplines of Dentistry and Medicine to offer a holistic management of patients with Dental / non-Dental pain with many causative factors. Dr Poh has a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Singapore and a Masters in Endodontics from University College London in 1998. He is actively involved in activities to promote Professional Continuing Dental Education among Dentists in Singapore and overseas.
Your email will be sent to the doctor’s clinic and they will get back to you as soon as possible.
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O Gauge RailKing Tank Car
Tank Car - Western Maryland
DF 2011 Volume 2
Delivered Dec. 2011
The tank car was relatively uncommon until the 1870s, when the nascent petroleum industry ordered large quantities of metal tanks carried on wooden car bodies. By the early 1900s, a standard design had evolved that lasted throughout the steam and early diesel eras: an 8,000-11,000 gallon metal tank perched on a metal flatcar-like underframe.
The one big change during that time was the transition from riveted to welded construction beginning in the late 1930s. Car builders introduced X-ray inspection of welds to ensure safety, as well as giant annealing ovens that could heat-treat assembled tanks to relieve joint stress. Welded tanks were stronger, less susceptible to rust and corrosion, and less likely to rupture in the event of a wreck.
Our model represents a typical all-welded, insulated tank car built in the late 1940s or 1950s. A layer of insulation protected cargos that were sensitive to temperature extremes, and some such cars also had heating coils under their outer layer. Our model also features a safety platform around the dome - insulation and safety platforms being features commonly found on cars used in the chemical industry.
Durable ABS Intricately Detailed Bodies
Chrome Plated Body Finish
Unit Measures:10 3/8" x 2 3/8" 3 13/16"
NICHOLAS SMITH BROOMALL PA 19008
THE TRAIN ROOM HAGERSTOWN MD 21740
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O Gauge RailKing Box Car
Box Car - Illinios Central
Car No. 400379
DY 2014 Volume 1
Delivered Jul. 2014
The 40' steel box car so familiar to model railroaders was a product of the 1930s. Wood box cars, which were built into the World War I era, and early steel cars were largely non-standardized, with details varying from railroad to railroad. The move toward standardization began with American Railway Association (ARA) designs of 1923 and 1932. It culminated in the 1937 AAR boxcar, which was adopted by railroads from coast to coast and built in the tens of thousands. (The AAR (American Association of Railroads) was and still is the successor to the ARA.)
While the original paint schemes were usually drab variations on standard box car red, new schemes in the 1950s and later brought color back to the American freight train. Our models replicate many of the most fondly remembered paint schemes seen on these cars.
Unit Measures:11 1/2" x 2 3/8" x 2 5/16"
GRAND CENTRAL LTD. LINCOLN NE 68507
THE TRAIN LOFT WINSTON-SALEM NC 27104
EASTSIDE TRAINS KIRKLAND WA 98033
STOCKYARD EXPRESS OBERLIN OH 44074
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That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I’ve seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door
We’re back. Not going to lie, it has been a journey the past few months. Life happens and we must travel the long, winding road at times. We’ve been watching the city, the elections, the candidates, the weather and it’s been interesting, to say the least.
Now that we have the niceties out of the way, let’s get down to business.
The City of Muncie is out of control. Shocking, we know. If it’s not Mayor Tyler’s city council giving him the nod for nearly eight years, it’s the board of public works approving the purchase of ambulances. Before the deal was even sealed, the city lined up an EMS director.
Dear people, don’t be fooled with Mayor Dennis Tyler’s feigned concern for the “underserved” of this city. He had ample time to address the “underserved” and did nothing much, in fact, he never even considered it until a few weeks ago. He held the position of state representative for six years. Again, where was his concern?
Tyler has never been one to be proactive, rather he would be considered reactive at least when it comes to serving his constituents. Do you know when he was proactive? When he was in the back room of 214 Walnut St. Also known as Democrat Headquarters. Talk about designing an elaborate scheme to funnel tax dollars into the pockets of the elite.
After the 4th of July, the campaign season will kick into high gear. You will hear promises, see plenty of smiles, handshakes. In fact, you may even see city council members actually looking as if they are working for you.
Here’s what we have, incumbents all have records. How did they vote? Did they spend the past seven years voting straight down 214 party lines? Suddenly, they are giving volume to your voice, or so it seems. Are they really? What will they be doing come January 1st, 2020? Will, there still be a place for them at the 214 dinner table? Probably.
You can be certain Tyler and Company had a plan in 2011 and it was executed fairly well. We believe all the things we are seeing today is also a plan. No, Mr. Tyler won’t be on the ballot but he and his cohorts will still be guarding their territory, make no mistake about it. They must have their own sitting on the council and in the top seat.
Voters! Wake-up and smell the stench.
This entry was posted in 2019mayor, DCEMS, MSD, Muncie City, Muncie Sanitary District, Uncategorized and tagged 214 Democrats, City of Muncie, Doug Marshall, FBI investigation City of Muncie, Mayor Dennis Tyler, Nora Powell.
Larry Riley
Terry Whitt Bailey, Democrat candidate for Muncie mayor, has tried to separate herself from scandals at City Hall, where for years she’s led Community Development department, appointed by Mayor Dennis Tyler. “I was not involved in any of that,” Bailey wrote in today’s Star Press. How uninvolved?
In autumn of 2015, I was one of few people following Muncie’s building demolition program – this was months before the FBI got interested – and saw an odd new company enter the picture.
Capitol Consulting and Property Management began getting municipal, Muncie Sanitary District contracts for demolishing houses. I wanted a copy of city documents with the firm, whose sole contract person was an obscure south-side woman who had run an income tax prep firm. Company headquarters was her home in a residential neighborhood.
My request to the Board of Works for the Capitol Consulting contract was turned down: the board didn’t have a copy. That seemed odd, too, since the board, presided over by a city attorney named Quirk, is the official agency that handles city business. I was, however, told to ask Terry Whitt Bailey. Only she had a copy of the contract. Nobody else.
The city’s CD office had for years handled routine demolitions of abandoned and blighted housing, usually with a $100,000 annual budget covering 20-25 demolitions – at the usual price of $4-5,000 tops for tearing a structure down.
So I asked Bailey for a copy of the Capitol contract, a public record. She gave me a copy. I read it, checked with the Secretary of State’s office. Sole name I could find was the same south-side woman. The company incorporated only a few months earlier. I dug through records of Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management to find Capitol had *no* employees certified for asbestos testing or abatement. Yet asbestos work and demolition is what Capitol would do for the city and MSD. Law requires asbestos inspection prior to any building demolition. More oddities.
At the time, a confluence of events shaped up that I was trying to connect dots on. First, a new federal Blight Elimination Program had dumped $4 million on Muncie, but the city was sitting on the grant, taking forever to get its program underway. Admittedly federal and state requirements were complex, but was anything else at work?
Meanwhile, Bailey fired the one CD employee experienced in property demolitions. The employee was in charge of the city’s demolition program and worked with the city building commissioner and Unsafe Building Hearing Authority. She kept the records and prepared bids for demolitions. No one else knew as much about the process. I had known the employee for a long time: she worked hard and honestly.
About the same time, I uncovered phantom demolitions done by the building commissioner’s private firm under pretense of emergency work – billing the city more than $80,000 for razing just four houses, none of which actually had been taken down by the firm. I wrote that up in early 2016.
A few months later, for reasons unknown The Star Press decided to part ways with me.
Now, as is well known, the city’s former building commissioner Craig Nichols has started a federal prison term for those phantom demolitions that the FBI investigated. That strange new company Capitol Consulting? Turns out to have been a firm Nichols secretly owned, too. Capitol would bill the city, say, $800 for an asbestos inspection, then farm out the actual inspection to a certified firm from Fort Wayne who’d do the job for $500. Then another firm would be contracted to do the demolition for less than what Capitol was charging.
In retrospect, one can’t help but think somebody was putting all the pieces in place for the right people to siphon off lots of the federal millions coming up for demolition: get rid of an honest employee who wouldn’t have put up with the corruption and concoct a sham company to get the contracts. Amidst it all was the woman now chosen to be Democratic Party Headquarters candidate for mayor, to succeed Dennis Tyler, who decided not to run for re-election.
Bailey was at the nexus, a key to both the fired, honest employee and the bogus contractor.
At best, was Bailey manipulated and used by forces more powerful than she to do their bidding? At best, could she have been naïve beyond unbelief? At worst … well, you decide whether she “was not involved.” I always got along well with Bailey. She was always willing to see me. When the employee in question was let go, Bailey was the person I went to for comment. Bailey had none, but she confirmed the employee’s discharge. When I asked for the Capitol contract, she did not evade the request.
Yet she straddled the corruption of the Tyler administration. She was at the epicenter of wrongdoing and would appear to have been on the precipice of helping create an even bigger money grab at City Hall before the feds stepped in. Now she runs for mayor. The candidate of Democratic Headquarters.
This entry was posted in MSD, Muncie City, Muncie Sanitary District, Uncategorized and tagged Candidate Terry Whitt Bailey, Community Development, Craig Nichols, Demolitions, larry riley, Muncie City Election.
Not an April Fool’s Day Joke
Are you pulling my tail? Photo by Helena Lopes
Do you all remember Hank the Dog? If not, here’s a synopsis. Once upon a time, there was a dog named Hank. Hank was notorious for being picked-up by city animal control. You might go as far as to say he was targeted. The owner was summoned to city court, and although the details are a little murky, one thing we do know, the City of Muncie violated their own animal control ordinances. You see, there was nothing about the number of times an animal could be picked up and nothing about an owner having to appear in court. Later they did change the ordinance after they violated it.
Dennis Tyler hired a local attorney firm to represent the City of Muncie. (We’ll leave out Tylers Indy firm for now.)
First, we need to ask, “Why are we paying for their services?” Did the law firm not read city ordinances pertaining to Hank the Dog? Did they not know about the Indiana law from 2013? Mayor Tyler and his administration are surrounded by attorneys. Think about this for just a minute.
Funny, how the city’s attorney could find an ordinance that was decades old. Suddenly, the elected officials are concerned because they aren’t following this ordinance. City Code 32.33.
Sec. 32.33. Time and place for regular meetings.
The first regular meeting of the council shall be
held on the first Monday in January after the
general election of the members-elect of the council, at 7:30 p.m. as provided by IC 18-1-3-2. All
regular meetings shall be held on the first Monday evening of each month at 7:30 p.m. and may
be adjourned at the pleasure of the council. Adjourned meetings shall have all the force and
effect of regular meetings. Meetings shall be held
in the council chamber, unless otherwise determined by the president and designated on the
agenda.
(Code 1968, § 31.14; Ord. No. 620-80, 10-10-80)
The city council has been in violation of this for years. So, what’s to stop them from violating a 2013 Indiana State law? Or any law, for that matter? As you can see, absolutely nothing. Ah ha. Let’s have a meeting on January 1, 2018. Surely no one would show. And, and, and we’ll be following an ordinance we have never observed.
As the City-run EMS began to heat up, the elected officials, who are supposed to represent the people were hoping to find a something that would weaken the DCEMS supporters on council turnouts. Wrong on Muncie City Proper’s part.
Demolishing empty lots? No problem. We’ll change the addresses. Who said anything about bid rigging? Did you hear anything about bid rigging?
This has to be the most poorly run administration to date. Or at least it comes close. With all of the history and many of the old-timers would remember days gone by, there was quite a bit of action. Have talked with a few and the stories they would tell. Sadly, many have passed from this earth. Oral history is most effective.
So just for fun, and possibly to jog a few memories, here is a clipping from the local newspaper dated February 21, 1993. You would think the cost of corruption would be enough to throw these characters out on their ear. Nope. They are like a bad penny…just keep showing up again and again. Most have been replaced with the younger generation. Make no mistake they learn from their elders.
History of Del Cty 1980-94
How do you define insanity? Well, yes, it’s doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
This entry was posted in DCEMS, Delaware County, Indiana, MSD, Muncie City, Muncie Sanitary District, Uncategorized and tagged 214 Democrats, Animal Shelter, Craig Nichols, Double Dipping, Doug Marshall, Muncie City Council.
As we were sifting thru the Muncie Politics files we found an editorial written after McShurley lost the election. The editorial ended with McShurley saying she is leaving the city in better shape than when she took office. The writers of the editorial concurred. This piqued our interest and decided to see if it was an accurate statement.
Mayor McShurley announced in 2011 during the Chats with the Mayor there was enough money to provide raises/or bonuses to every employee. At the end of her term, she said there would be enough money to fund the MFD if the SAFER grant was not renewed. These comments infuriated Dennis Tyler’s supporters and they lost no time calling her a liar and various other vulgar adjectives.
Was it a lie? She did leave the city with $8 million and it was confirmed by the audit Mayor Tyler’s administration commissioned. Government reports showed a minimal amount of debt. Of course, we knew the debt was Tuhey Pool.
The debt spiked in 2013 and it appears the city borrowed money and the next year paid off some debt. This is the only logical explanation minus a clerical error, which is doubtful. So, listed is the principal debt only (no interest) owed by the City of Muncie and MSD. If you want more complete detail, simply click on the link directly below each year.
Oh yea, 2013 is the year Mayor Tyler appointed Todd Donati as the MRC director.
Pulled up the Annual Financial Reports for 2011 & 2018 and searched for accounts which had a negative beginning or ending balance. The search showed 2011 with 10 negative balances and 2018 having 25 negatives. You will find the full Annual Reports for 2011 and 2018 at the end of this post.
All the data is from the Indiana Transparency Portal and based on the financial reports submitted to the State of Indiana from the City of Muncie and Muncie Sanitary. The city, knowing the revenue was declining, the debt growing and the insatiable need to use taxpayer-funded-monies for personal and party gain had no recourse but to increase taxes 43% in 2015.
If you’re reading this and a candidate for a city position, you may consider taking some time to review the documents. After all, should you win, this will be your baby to diaper.
Muncie Civil City, Delaware County, Indiana
Total Outstanding Debt Obligations
As of 3-16-19
Muncie City: Principal & Interest Debt as of Mar. 16, 2019 $69,899,513
Muncie Total Debt 3-16-19
Wastewater: Principal & Interest Debt as of Mar. 16, 2019 $177,301,243
Muncie Sanitary Debt 3-16-19
Debt Statement – 2011-2018
Muncie City: Ending Principal Balance as of Dec. 31, 2011 $2,682,274.00
Wastewater: Ending Principal Balance as of Dec. 31, 2011 $22,530,000.00
Muncie Debt 2011
Muncie City: Ending Principal Balance as of Dec. 31, 2013 $53,596,000.00
Muncie City: Ending Principal Balance as of Dec. 31, 2016 $ 38,562,681.56
Wastewater: Ending Principal Balance as of Dec. 31, 2016 $137,838,344.85
AFR_Muncie 2011
This entry was posted in DCEMS, Delaware County, MSD, Muncie City, Muncie Sanitary District, Uncategorized and tagged dennis tyler, Muncie City Council, Muncie Debt, Sharon McShurley, Todd Donati.
Ex-building commissioner – going down
Bad company corrupts good morals.
One who runs from corrupt people is wise indeed.
Birds of a feather, flock together.
Be sure, your sins will be found out.
Here we are nearly three weeks into 2019 and finally, the sentencing memorandum of Muncie’s ex-building commission has been made available. So, let’s begin with the persons named in the memorandum.
Here is every name listed in the Nichols sentencing memo
(Full text of the memo is located at the end of the post.)
The names have not been changed to protect the innocent. Some of the people were doing their jobs – their consciences could not be seared. Those would be the ones who resigned or perhaps fired.
One name, Aaron Kidder, was a rising star in the city’s administration. He was the right-hand man to Mayor Tyler. Intelligent, well spoken and to his detriment (at least in this administration) honest.
“Nichols asked Kidder if he would be willing to say that he acquired quotes from Gibbs even though he had not. Kidder refused.”
And then there is Audrey Jones, the city controller. She complied with an FOIA.
Jones gave Marsh copies of the original invoices, and then approached Nichols to inform him that she had turned them over during the FOIA request.
What exactly did Dennis Tyler know and was he aware of the bid-rigging, demolitions? The answer would be yes. Although when issues came up, he blew them off with a “nah” and a smile. How could average citizens, people not privy to the inner workings of his administration, have information and the mayor didn’t know?
Note Ross Bater’s comment:
Brater states that had they been competitively bid instead of awarded to Nichols through fraud, it would have cost the Muncie taxpayers between $8,800 and $9,200 on average to demolish each property. Nichols (according to his own calculation) billed on average $19,500 per property. Source: Muncie Star Press 1-18-19
Local columnist and what he knew
Three years ago Larry Riley wrote about the cost of demolitions done by Nichols’ company. We might presume Gibbs Construction would be the one and the same. Just a wild guess. Amazingly, Riley had all the facts, figures and names and the column published in the local paper yet Mayor Tyler did nothing. Larry was on top of it and the FBI confirms it.
Certainly having him give quotes to compare with Advanced Walls helped the latter immensely, as each Gibbs Construction quote was even higher, usually a few hundred bucks, than the unduly high Advanced Walls quote. Thus a cost conscious administration went with the lower quote.
The four demolitions averaged $20,375 each, or more specifically:
— 527 W. Wilson, an 850 square-foot house with no basement, razed for $22,000 by Advanced Walls.
— 424 S. Proud St., 1,700 square feet, two stories, plus 400 square-foot detached garage, for $19,500.
— 320 S. Beacon, 1,216 square feet, no basement, for $19,500.
— 909 S. Wolfe St., 964 square feet, half basement, for $21,500
Source: Muncie Star Press March 6, 2016
Check-out the full column below.
Larry Riley: More lair-razing questions
No one would notice or no one would care
Given his powerful allies, Nichols figured that either no one would notice or no one would care, and he quietly submitted $81,500 in invoices to the City between August 7, 2015, and October 5, 2015 for work he didn’t perform. Nichols used his company, Advanced Walls and Ceilings, for this.
What did the mayor know and when
Did no one notice or did no one care? The administration did notice and no one cared. It’s amazing all the channels put in place and Nichols slipped by? The public didn’t seem to care and so it continued. But yes, considering all the information we have received in the past 24 hours and past articles, State Board of Accounts audits, and the continuous presence of the FBI should have been a wake-up call and instead, it was business as usual.
To read the full report click the link below (pdf).
craig-nichols-sentencing-memo 1-16-19
This entry was posted in Delaware County, MSD, Muncie City, Muncie Sanitary District, Uncategorized and tagged Craig Nichols, democrats, Government corruption, Mayor Dennis Tyler, Muncie City Council, nichols phil.
Another City Audit … yea
Muncie Star Press reported the MSD was dinged by the State.
Click for the full report: Muncie SBOA 12-18 yr 2017 The audit report covers the city’s SAFER Grant as well as the Muncie Economic Redevelopment.
This entry was posted in Delaware County, MSD, Muncie City, Muncie Sanitary District, Uncategorized and tagged Mayor Dennis Tyler, Muncie City Controller, Muncie City Council, SAFER grant, State Board of Accounts, Todd Donati.
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Obituaries » Thomas Bowman Johnson
Thomas Bowman Johnson
The funeral will be on Friday with services by Pastor Ginger Daubenhauser at 11 a.m. in the Frank T. Mazur Funeral Home, Inc., 601 Dundaff St., Dickson City. Interment with military honors will be at Union Cemetery, Peckville. Friends may call on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers family requests donations be made to True friend’s animal welfare center, Montrose PA.
To leave an online condolence visits the funeral home website.
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Thomas Bowman Johnson, 75, of Peckville, died Sunday evening June 16, 2019, at the Lackawanna Health Care Center, Sturges; after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Valerie Smith.
Born September 29, 1943, in Patterson, NJ, he was the son of the late John A. and Dorothy Jean Williams Johnson. He attended Blakely High School, and after high school enlisted in United States 109th Army Reserve where he served for five years. Thomas was a founding member of Johnsons Towing Company with his father, brother, and sister where he worked until he fell ill. Tom’s favorite passion was going to truck auctions and buying and restoring big rigs. Thomas took great pride in his rigs and wreakers.
Surviving is a son, Thomas Scott Johnson, Peckville; a daughter, Vanessa Ragan, and fiancé, Robert Kurilla, Jessup; grandsons, Thomas J. Johnson, and David Ragan; a brother, Ralph Johnson, and wife, Janet, Dickson City; a sister, Kathy Lee Siwinski, and husband, Steven, Dickson City; and; nieces and nephews.
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Goosebumps (2015) Movie Review by Darrin Gauthier
March 25, 2018 Movie Burner Entertainment Leave a comment
Director: Rob Letterman
Writers: Darren Lemke (screenplay), Scott Alexander (story)
Stars: Jack Black, Dylan Minnette, Odeya Rush
Plot: A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R. L. Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free on the town of Madison, Delaware.
Why I Watched It: There was good buzz behind the film and the trailers looked fun, so I was hopeful.
Random Thoughts: This was a bit of a comeback for Jack Black, he got stuck in a rut, playing the same guy making good money but his films under preformed, going to a youth friendly film could be the kiss of death just ask Eddie Murphy. I thought it was a smart change of pace give him a different character to play. The other thing about this movie that might confuse people R.L. Stine is a hugely successful author but this movie is not based on one of his many books, and here he’s a character in it.
What I liked: This film reminded me a lot of the first Jumanji, which is not a bad thing, the thing that the film nails is tone, it’s not too scary and it’s not to kiddie it hits middle ground pretty well.
The anchor of the film is Jack Black he doesn’t overplay, he’s not over the top and dare I say he’s understated, he doesn’t force it and he does play R.L. Stine different that most of his other film characters. In a film like this all the characters are there to keep the plot moving cause this film is about all the creatures and monsters. With that being said this is a very good cast. There’s no big standout but all help keep the film going.
The best part of the film is the idea, and it’s a different one that R.L Stine has created all these monsters and he keeps them locked up so they won’t do harm. It’s a clever idea about imagination and also keeping the monster at bay, every horror film has to toe that line, they have to convince you monsters are real but always have a way to defeat them and the key to this story is have it scary but not to make it too dark. I also liked the character played by Odeya Rush, it was different and I didn’t see it coming and I think her character shows that the filmmakers might have made a formula film but it wasn’t weighed down by using all the standard cliches they bought in different takes and breathed fresh air into the story.
What I Didn’t Like: It was too bad that they had to rely on CGI so much, it would have been nice if they honoured the stories by going old school. Now some worked but some kind of took you out of the film.
Also though the film was a little long as it did drag at the beginning it’s the only part of the story that seemed forced, they pushed the neighbours together to get the plot going now once R.L. Stone is introduced then the film flows better. I mentioned the cast and they’re good but Amy Ryan has nothing to do and Jillian Bell could have been used better.
Final Thoughts: I liked it and it’s one of those films that even though it’s not great you really appreciate the fact that it’s not nearly as bad as it could of been or you feared it was going to be. It was a nice surprise.
Dylan MinnetteGoosebumpsJack BlackOdeya RushRob Letterman
Previous PostThe Hunter’s Prayer (2017) Movie Review By Darrin GauthierNext PostBlack Panther (2018) Movie Review By John Walsh
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Thread: Conspiracy theories
Sandra Siren
Senior Member Pod of Cali
I don't know how many people are aware of this, but there has been a conspiracy theory roaming the internet and I don't think it's OK. Normally I'm a very "live and let live" sort of person, and that people's personal beliefs shouldn't be attacked. I still believe that, only with a qualifier: as long as it doesn't harm other people. Right now a conspiracy theory saying No one was shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, it was all a big hoax to take away your guns. This is a hurtful belief to the survivors and the friends and family of those who died, and I would like to encourage those of you who have seen the articles, or posts to speak up and speak out against the people spreading it.
User formerly known as "TheaChic".
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Mermaid Neri Elvina
What?! That is not right, I feel so sorry for the families of those poor children!
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I have to be honest, the gun culture in america terrifies me. We have gun laws in Canada and it's never been an issue. If I saw a person carrying a gun I would assume if they weren't in clear military or police uniform- that they were a a criminal because open carry does't exist. We don't have anti-gun propeganda or anything. Loads of people have guns. I do. We just all have to have licenses, no one but law enforcement or military get military weapons, and known criminals can't legally purchase guns. Does it solve all the problems? No. but in multiple studies that take into account the population difference, we have less mass shootings victims in 40 years than America has had in 1. American gun culture terrifies me to the point I don't feel safe when I travel. And the way people will go crazy defending it, at the cost of someone else's safety, astounds me. If pro gun lobbyist fought as hard for other things in America as they do for their right to openly carry a gun into a family restaurant, I think you'd all have a lot less problems. America has a real culture of fear that I think American's don't often see them self- but is glaringly obvious to the rest of the world. I could never live there because of it. I feel much safer in Canada. Yeah, bad things do happen, gun control does not solve all the problems, but I much prefer it. Many americans do not understand what gun control means, and for most americans it wouldn't change a darn thing for them.
MerEmma
Senior Member Pod of The South
It scares me too, and many other Americans, Raina, so you're not alone. s: To the point where I want to move to Canada pretty dang bad, but just...a warmer version of Canada. ;\
We all want a warmer version of Canada let's be honest lol
Mermaid Galene
Senior Member Pod of the Great Lakes
What Raina said. Exactly.
And the other frightening thing about American culture is how readily many people believe malicious, politically motivated propaganda, ignoring fact and logic.
Mermaid Galene (pronounced Guh-LEE-nee)
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I hear you, our complete lack of gun control is terrifying, and I don't think I'll ever understand some people's need for open carry rights. I especially will NEVER understand why some feel they need freaking assault rifles, and other weapons that were obviously made for the military. I have so many members of my family in some branch of the military, and I never grew up with any weapons in the house.
I hear the argument guns don't kill people, people kill people. So why do you allow the people who are at risk of harming others... Buy guns. Lol criminals don't get the same rights as everyone else. They forfeit that when they break the law. Having a background check to determine if someone can have a gun shouldn't be perceived as voiding the average joes right to a gun. If your a non criminal you have nothing to fear. And if you're a criminal access to a gun isn't the only right you lose.
That's how it works here. Everyone has the right to a gun unless they have a criminal background.
Mermaid Kelda
Senior Member Pod of Oceania
It's similar in Australia to what you have in Canada, I think. You need a license to own a gun, and there's a background check. You also have to keep it securely stored at all times. Only... Almost no one has a gun. Seriously. Wild pig shooters have guns, cattle farmers have guns, professional or casual shooters have guns. But only 765,000 people as of the last census actually own a firearm - that's 5.2 percent of our population.
And I couldn't even tell you the last time a mass shooting happened. 20 years ago? 30? Before I was born, I think. Before these laws came into effect. It is so so obvious that stricter gun laws save lives. And we just don't have the culture here. Anyone over 18 can own a gun as long as they're not a felon, but only 5 percent of us do. Why does the right to beat arms need to include semi-automatic weapons, anyway? How is your liberty being infringed there? Ugh seriously those activists and conspiracy theorists make me mad
A lot of times when we have mass shootings it is an American who immigrated, crossed the border, or someone who got their guns in America it's actually freaky. We stop plenty of attempts at mass shootings though without a single victim. I was quite impressed at how many were stopped when I read through the info.
We did in the spring have a terrible shooting where a guy had a family with a gun collection and he had all sorts of psychological problems, and he killed a bunch of Mounties which was awful for the community. Prior to that there was a terrible shooting in the 80s of women in a Quebec school that was more about violence against women. Just awful. Shit does happen, just very rarely.
Toxotes
First of all, when such cruel things happen, people try to understand it. A conspiracy of any sort is a easy explanation.
There was a school shooting in Germany in 2009, and many questions remained unanswered, too.
For me, the call for more gun control is not the solution. The shooter does typically not run amok from one second to the other. They plan that for weeks or even months. And they start the killing in "gun-free zones". Which was for example a certain cinema in Aurora, or in my case, the whole country. Here almost nobody can carry a gun legally for self-defense. Only as a licensed competitive shooter, hunter or gun collector you can legally own guns. Your background check must be OK, you have to prove that you own the necessary gun safe(s), you have to pass a certain test depending on your intention, and all of your guns are registered. After 2009, the officials can visit you at home and check if all your guns are in the gun safe. If not, you can lose your license. If you don't let them in because of your inviolability of the home, you can lose your license. And of course, if you commit a crime, or drive your car drunk, you lose your license. And all your guns. Because the officials know about every firearm a licensed owner has. To me, it is nonsense, because we aren't safer than in parts of the United States with less strict gun laws. And should ever all registered firearms be confiscated, there still will be around 20 million guns remained from the last wars in Europe.
To that assault rifle topic, aren't fully automatic guns (a.k.a. machine guns) strictly regulated since 1968 in the U.S., so no civilian can buy a machine gun that was built after this date? And any other is beyond expensive...
If it's about these semiautomatic rifles which fire one bullet with each pull of the trigger, they are no greater risk than any other firearm in the hands of a experienced user.
For the record,I posted this, not to discuss various opinions on gun regulation, but to ask people to refrain from encouraging those who would spread harmful rumors. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and I'm glad to read various viewpoints. I just don't think it's OK to trivialize the pain families of the victims are going through by spreading a "theory" around that a tragic incident was all a hoax.
You're completely right.
I heard of that theory just about a week after it happened. And I don't believe that the whole incident could be a hoax.
But fact is also, that people get paid for crying in tears in front of TV cameras.
And several other things that make the main street media less credible.
I think when a school shooting happens at an elementary school- there's no need to *pay* people to cry. And honestly, gun culture IS part of the conspiracies. It's usually behind it.
Meronica
Not to get political but it's interesting how most of the recent idiotic conspiracies lately have clearly been thought up by those on the radical right.
The most recent one being that ebola is all part of a plan by the government for population control that will inevitably force us all into FEMA camps. *eye roll* People need to leave their agendas out of tragedies.
Of course these conspiracy theories are idiotic.
FEMA or otherwise concentration camps do not exist and never existed.
No government would ever deport or oppress its people.
And the "radical right" denies that? Where do they live?
Originally Posted by Toxotes
lolwat?
happened countless times in various countries already.
Edit; or maybe my sarcasmometer is broken.
Yes, that was sarcasm.
It's difficult for me to express that in English.
And that's the point, it is always a conspiracy theory until it happens really, or it becomes known.
Not every theory must become reality, nor it must always be based on paranoia.
@AniaR:
Of course you don't have to pay people to cry, but to do that in front of cameras.
To me, there are too many clues that those tragedies aren't always what we get presented by TV. Just not one hundred percent.
AptaMer
Senior Member Union of Pods of the North
Hey, we could have our very own conspiracy theory.
It's that all the boats and planes that disappear in the Bermuda Triangle are actually lured in by sirens, who then have their way with the human occupants. I bet this could go viral, then mermaids will regain some of their badass reputation like they had in olden times
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Boy, 9, horrifically burned after light-up shoes leak acid over his feet
Jimmy McCloskeyTuesday 3 Jul 2018 12:00 pm
A nine year-old boy suffered second-degree chemical burns after his light-up sneakers leaked acid over his feet.
The battery on Peyton Foster’s Skechers S-Light shoes malfunctioned after they got wet during a water activities day at his school on June 24 and began spewing the corrosive.
He complained of minor pain that evening – but it was only at the end of the day that Peyton’s mother Sherry Foster realized that something was badly wrong.
These are the horrific second-degree chemical burns suffered by Peyton Foster after the battery in his Skechers light-up sneakers malfunctioned and spewed acid into his shoes (Picture: Sherry Foster/Metro.co.uk)
Peyton’s Skechers S-Light shoes stopped working after he got them wet at school – and left him so badly burnt he was unable to walk (Picture: Sherry Foster/Metro.co.uk)
Peyton shows off his bandaged feet. His mother Sherry says the experience has given him a phobia of shoes (Picture: Sherry Foster/Metro.co.uk)
Foster, who lives in Hinsdale, New York, told Metro US: ‘When the sneakers got wet that caused them to release a chemical that burnt the bottom of his feet.
‘He did not complain to his teacher. He waited until the next day until he came home to tell us.
Violent tribal fight in Congo broken up by British documentary maker
‘The day it happened, he came home and said “My feet hurt.”
‘They were a little bit red, I didn’t think anything of it – maybe that they were cold from playing in the water.
‘The next day he came home and was really complaining.
The Skechers S-Lights shoes which filled with battery acid and burnt Peyton’s feet (Picture: Sherry Foster/Metro.co.uk)
Skechers have offered Peyton a replacement pair of sneakers – but he is apprehensive after his last pair bathed his feet in acid (Picture: Sherry Foster/Metro.co.uk)
‘That’s when we decided, okay, what do we do, so we took him to the doctor.
‘She’d seen it one other time, that’s what gave it away. He had second degree chemical burns.’
Foster said hearing what had happened to Peyton made her feel ‘horrible’ – and revealed that the pain left him unable to walk.
He was prescribed an antibiotic cream to help tend his blisters, and will move on to a steroid in the coming days.
Peyton should make a full recovery in about three weeks, but his mother says the experience has left him with a phobia of wearing shoes.
Peyton with his mother Sherry. She is considering taking legal action against Skechers, but says she is currently focused on her son’s recovery (Picture: Sherry Foster/Metro.co.uk)
Foster explained: ‘He was in quite a bit of pain. He wasn’t able to walk, or run, or go swimming, or anything that would cause his feet further irritation.
‘We had to carry him. There wasn’t much that he could do.
‘I felt horrible, absolutely horrible.
‘He’s worried and stuff. He’s nine, so he understands a little bit better.
‘If it had happened to another child, or someone younger, it could be even more stressful for them.It’s left him with a phobia of wearing shoes.’
Peyton before his injuries. Doctors have said his skin should recover within the next three weeks (Picture: Sherry Robinson/Metro.co.uk)
Foster bought the Skechers from a local store for $60 in April, and says she has been loyal to the brand for years because it is American.
After Peyton was injured, she got in touch with Skechers, who have offered him any free replacement pair. But Foster says she is still considering legal action.
She said: ‘He is very cautious and hesitant about (a new pair of sneakers).
‘He burn his feet, but he doesn’t want another pair.
‘There was no warning on them, like don’t get wet, or battery inside shoe or anything like that.
‘How are you supposed to know? What if it rains the next day?
Metro US has contacted Skechers for a comment.
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Naturally Orla
Writer | Poetry | D&D | Biodiversity | Writes Stories About Witches
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Being Biodegradable
By Orla in Environment, Gardening, Politics on January 25, 2018
There has been some controversy in my life recently from a source I would never have expected.
Teabags.
Those who know me know that the volume of tea I can drink on a given day in likely outside of safe levels but at least I always knew that my compost bin was healthy.
Or not, I guess.
The vast majority of commercial teabags are heat-sealed rather than sown shut which means that there is up to 10 or 15% plastic in the otherwise paper covering of a teabag. This means that as the teabag breaks down in your compost it leaves the plastic in your soil.
Moral Fibres ran the story that brought me onto the issue. This then led to me getting into arguments with one of Ireland’s biggest tea companies while trying to get to the bottom of it. At least they bothered to reply which the other two largest, Beweleys and Barrys, did not.
Microplastics
So why are tiny pieces of plastic in my compost bin such a big deal? Microplastics have received some well-earned media attention in recent months as various European countries (Ireland included) debated legislation which would ban them from products like face-wash and toothpaste.
The UK successful brought the microbead ban in 2017 which comes into force this year. But this ban only covers microplastics that are deliberately part of the product rather than products which result in microplastics as an aftereffect of degrading. But as this will lead to changes at the manufacturing level for a big economy like the UK so will likely reduce the amount of microbeads on the Irish market as well.
Much of this attention came from the release of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2 which dealt with the hazard of plastic pollution on our oceans.
We all have a part to play in protecting #OurBluePlanet.#BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/ESc27LyStV
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) December 10, 2017
So how is that biodegradable?
According to EU standard (EN 13432, a compostable material must have the following characteristics:
Biodegradability, which is determined by measuring the actual metabolic conversion of the compostable material into carbon dioxide. This property is quantitatively measured using the standard test method, EN 14046 (which is also published as ISO 14855: biodegradability under controlled composting conditions). The acceptance level is 90%, which must be reached in less than 6 months.
Disintegrability, that is, the fragmentation and loss of visibility in the final compost (absence of visual contamination). This is measured with a composting test (EN 14045). The test material is degraded, together with organic waste, for 3 months. After this time, the compost is sieved with a 2 mm sieve. The residues of test material with dimensions higher than 2 mm are considered as not having disintegrated. This fraction must be less than 10% of the initial mass.
Absence of negative effects on the composting process. This is checked with a composting test.
Low levels of heavy metals (below the predefined maximum values), and absence of negative effects on the quality of the compost (e.g. reduction of the agronomic value and presence of eco-toxicological effects on the growth of plants).
Each of these requirements must be met simultaneously for a material to be defined as compostable. For example, a biodegradable material is not necessarily compostable because it must also break up during one composting cycle. On the other hand, a material that breaks up, over one composting cycle, into microscopic pieces that are not totally biodegradable, is not compostable
While all this sounds lovely, the 10% margin of error for slow-degrading materials means companies can include 10% not-at-all-degradable material and still refer to it as compostible in a letter but not the spirit of the law situation.
This is also the issue with “biodegradable” bin layers which 90% cellulose with some of polymer lattice to hold it temporary together – again leading to microplastics.
Long story short – I’m back on the loose-leaf tea.
Tags: biodegradable, microbeads, microplastics, sickofplastic, stoptheplastictide, tea
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Should ministers (who are essentially "paid employees" of the church) chair council meetings or be members of the council?
This question is from a real-life situation to which Dr. Henry DeMoor has responded to based on his extensive knowledge of the Christian Reformed Church Order. The first answer given has been taken from the Christian Reformed Church Order Commentary written by Dr. DeMoor.
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Henry DeMoor on June 4, 2013
A minister is an elected officebearer, set aside by the congregation as Christ’s representative to exercise spiritual oversight and to equip members of the congregation to fulfill their calling in the church and in the world. As our Belgic Confession makes clear in Article 30, ministers of the Word together with the elders and deacons “make up the council of the Church.” This confessional basis must translate into organizational/administrative reality. I am not fussy about ministers having to chair council meetings. That requirement is more common in Presbyterian polity and in the RCA. For the CRCNA, there is a selection process in Article 36, recognizing that certain elders or deacons may be more gifted for that position. Broadly speaking, churches may never exclude ministers from membership in the council. I fully understand that certain tax regulations or other government regulations applying to nonprofit corporations or charitable institutions may suggest or state outright that this amounts to a clear instance of conflict of interest: a “paid employee” on the board. This, however, should not lead us to the extreme of forbidding ministers from being seated on the council in clear violation of the confessional basis and the text of our Church Order. In most cases, it is possible to exclude the minister from all decision-making that involves ministerial salary and benefits and other agenda items that such government regulations clearly envision. In fact, this has been our traditional practice at both council and congregational meetings. Local articles of incorporation could even spell out that the church has a council (all officebearers) and also a board (all officebearers minus employees, including ministers). The latter would be responsible for all matters relating to the remuneration or employment of staff, if not the entire budget.
Lubbert van der Laan on June 5, 2013
As a former senior administrator, who has been involved with municipal governance boards, I would tend to agree with what John Kralt has to say. In terms of Board Governance and conflict of interest matters, the matter is a bit more than amusing, notwithstanding the fact that the individuals are working for the welfare of the Body of Christ.
A question that begs to be answered is whether the current practice undermines the role of elders and deacons, and by extension the local church as set out in Church Order by creating a parallel universe. Inherently, is this not one of the key issues the the Structure and Culture Report is trying to grapple with, and indirectly the Diaconia Remixed Report?
Keith Knight on June 18, 2013
There is an interesting difference between Christian Reformed pastors and, say, Presbyterian pastors. CRC pastors are members of the local congregation and as members they can vote at congregational meetings. Presbyterian pastors are members of the presbytery (ie classis) and they are appointed by presbytery to chair a local congregation's session (council). They chair and they 'run' the local church. Presbyterian pastors are accountable to presbytery (classis), not the local session (council).
Is there any merit in changing our polity, Henry, so that our pastors are members of classis and accountable to classis, rather than being members of the local congregation?
Lubbert van der Laan on June 18, 2013
If not a union, then perhaps a guild. :-)
James VanderSlik on July 14, 2013
I strongly believe in individual spiritual gifts and think that it applies to this discussion. There are many ministers who possess the gifts of administration and leadership and when a church calls him/her to give leadership to the body, it is most appropriate that he "lead" the Council. There are other ministers who do not possess such gifts and would prefer to devote their time and energy to other essential areas of ministry, who would be most relieved to have such leadership of the Council handled by an elder.
It must also be kept in mind that it is the minister of the church that eats, sleeps and lives for and with the church, whereas the elders and deacons have other areas of life as their higher priority. Praise God that while the minister is no longer the most educated person in the church, he is the only one who has had the spiritual, Biblical, theological and church organizational training at Seminary qualifing him/her for such leadership.
Lubbert van der Laan on July 15, 2013
Though I can appreciate the matter of individuals being gifted in the area of administration and leadership, and that some pastors may possess these gifts.
Nonetheless, church polity is out of step with contemporary political governance being more in line with 15th / 16th century divine right of kings political theory.
Having an employee as an elected/voting member of the governing board/Council, and possibly as Board Chair, places the church as an institution at jeopardy legally, quite apart from issues of conflict of interest.
That doesn't preclude the pastor, as an elder, being an ex-officio non-voting officer.
Even the Canadian Council of Christian Charities requiries the following standards of charities, i.e. churches:
Standards of Acccountability: http://www.cccc.org/standards_2 "No member of the governing board shall be entitled to receive, either directly or indirectly, any salary, wages, fees, commissions or other amount for services rendered to the organization."
Lubbert, I'm on vacation in Montana and don't have my books (like CO), however is thd ruld you cited for Canadian churches? For my 22 years I was the President of the council and also the elders. I certainly did not have a kingly role.
Consider new church development, the pastor functions as the visionary leader and as the body matures, he teaches and trains the office bearers to assume more and more responsibility. I won't make a sweeping generalization however many of the GROWING and MISSIONAL CRC churches are "pastor & vision" driven, not lay leader driven.
Now just to clarify, when I say "pastor & vision" driven I don't mean that the pastor is a lone ranger doin his own thing, but rather that he is in tune with God's will regarding the church and works with his leadership team and is affirmed by them.
Hi James...
My comment is not specifically directed at pastors, but the underlying theory of political governance imbedded in Church Order which comes from the 15th and 16th century. Throughout the 17th to 20th century this theory of governance was gradually abandoned. Also, over time, administrative and governance functions have become more clearly demarcated.
Though pastors are "called" to the ministry, they are nonetheless also "staff" who are employed by churches.
Over the last 20 - 25 years federal and provincial governments, and oversight agencies like the Canadian Council for Christian Charities have put legislation and guidelines in place to regulate NGO's and charities to ensure transparency and accountability to deal with matters like conflict of interest, due diligence, fiduicary obligations, etc.
You're probably right in that churches are looking to pastors to take a lead in shepherding their communities as quasi CEO/executive directors, but these are paid staff [administrative/management positions] and not governance positions.
Governance ought to rest with the elected elders and deacons who are called by the congregation to serve in their respective areas.
You are also right, in that the administrative and governance arms need to work in concert as shepherds of the flock.
Where this becomes problematic is at the classis and synodnical level where employees [pastors] are making decisions on behalf of local congregations that should rest with elected elders and deacons, especially in areas where there are obvoius conflicts of interest. This is not to say that the employees are not motivated by the best of intentions.
Keith Knight on July 16, 2013
I sense a bit of unintentional arrogance in James VanderSlik's comments. "(The pastor) is in tune with God's will regarding the church and works with the leadership..."
Whose task is it to develop a vision for a local congregation: the pastor or the council/elders? Pastors come and go, and probably take their 'vision' with them as they make the church rounds. The local congregation is presumably there for several generations.
It is indeed somewhat arrogant that only the pastor is 'in tune with God's will for the church'. I would hope that the elders (and some churches have specific visionary elders) are equally in prayer and equally in tune with God's will.
I fondly recall a church that was vacant for four years. During that time the congregation decided that their church building was too small so they sold it, they held a fundraising drive, they collectively build a new church, they established a vision for the church as it related to the community, and then they called a pastor.
Vision, wisdom, strategic planning ... and prayer ... are not the sole pervue of pastors.
And as to Lubbert's comments, yes it is Canadian law that a minister who receives remuneration may not serve as a voting member on a church board/council. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities, which advises Christian non-profits, including churches, is diligent in regularly pointing that out.
"OUCH" Keith...this is suppose to be a diagogue...I'm not arguing for "one size fits all" and acknowledge that different pastors have different gifts. If you look at many of the ads in the Banner seeking a Senior Pastor, they use words like energetic...dynamic...enthusiastic. Most often they are seeking someone who will motivate and lead them from where they are to where they want to go (and most of the time that is from an "inward" oriented church to an "outreach" oriented church.
I will tell you that it would be a pastors answer to prayer to go to a church which is as you described, with goals and vision statements already articulated, but in 9 out of 10 churches that is not how it is.
Thanks for the discussion.
I apologize for that, James. Indeed, this is a dialogue. That was a tad harsh.
By way of background, I wear a couple of hats: stated clerk of a Canadian classis and also the executive director of the Canadian Christian Business Federation. I regularly connect with about 3,000 Christian business leaders across Canada. I know their minds and I know their areas of expertise. Among them is a group of 300 Christian multimillionaires and billionaires.
I hear two interesting messages: one is that the church just doesn't know how to use the gifts of those business leaders (other than appoint them to a property committee or to head up a capital campaign). As I regularly 'preach' to those 30 groups of Christian business leaders, "if you're involved in business,you're involved in ministry."
The second message that I regularly hear ... through my contacts with various church leaders ... is that we don't have many really good preachers. I just came across this ad for a senior pastor: "We are looking for someone who has a passion to lead the congregation in ministry, someone with excellent interpersonal skills, who can work collaboratively to further refine God's vision for our church and to bring it to life practically. Top priorities would include preaching and teaching, oversight of the small group ministry, strengthening discipleship opportunities, and providing leadership, support and direction to a small staff." This is a church council (ie elders) that has abrogated its responsibility as office-bearers. They want a CEO with an MDiv.
The church needs pastors who preach well. Throw in some pastoral care. Period.
Back to the original question, this is one of those binational structure issues. I don't know of any church within Canada where the minister serves as chair of council. He/she might serve as chair of the elders since he has a pastoral role to play there. It's simply the law.
But even though the pastor doesn't chair council, he/she is still usually involved in leadership development and plays a role in casting the vision of the church. A 'non-chair' has a voice and much more weight in carrying discussions.
Most councils of which I have been a part over the years consists of at least some business types who know how to run a meeting and how to lead a group through strategic planning and vision-casting. And this process is always, always bathed in prayer ... whether that prayer is offered by a pastor or someone else.
I agree with you, James, that congregations and councils often look to a new pastor to add a spark to their vision-casting, and to inject enthusiasm and a new perspective in a council room that may have grown stale by decades of navel-gazing.
But a minister does not need to chair a meeting to accomplish that. In fact, by not chairing the meeting, the pastor can often accomplish a lot more.
Keith, looks like Henry's open question has turned out to be a coffee talk between us...that's OK. I think that if we were in the same church we'd get along like two peas in a pod. Before seminary I had a BBA degree with.majors in management and marketing. I functioned as manager, regional manager and VP of field operations in the home health care. I attended CTS for five years from age 37-42. I served two established churchs and started a nee one.
I say this sincerely, if only a minister could come into a congregation which had developed a visiion and were enthusiastically pursuing it and the pastor could just concentrate on preaching, teaching and pastoral care, you'd have to beat off the candidates with a stick! The problem too often is that the members believe the church is "theirs" and they would prefer that the minister function more like a country club pro than the shepherd of the flock who leads them from one green pasture to the next.
I believe Jesus was very clear in telling us the "vision" of the church: go into a the world BAPTISING (growing) and teaching them what I have tagh you. Then go to Acts 1:8 and he lays out the expansion plan of "start where you are at and progressively move out (outreach and growth.
I appeciate your thoughts and feelings and am sure you are a blessing to your congregation...have a great day!
A discussion on coffee row between old administrators who have worked for and on boards works for me having lived in Saskatchewan in a previous life for 20 years. Like Keith, I am a stated clerk, chair of the personnel committee at church, etc. Won't bore you with the details: http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/lubbert-van-der-laan/19/53a/391
Dialogue is perferable. Thank you. Hope it's not to hot in Montana. Just got back from Saskatchewan, where for a change it was muggy because of all the rain.
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Big Labor, The Number One Special Interest Spent $2 Billion to Influence the 2018 Elections
April 23, 2019 by NILRR Staff
To the tune of $2 Billion, Big Labor Bosses used money, primarily from forced-dues union treasuries in their control, to influence the 2017-2018 Elections.
Big Labor’s 2018 Election Cycle by the Numbers
Download the report.
Union Treasury Self-Reported “Political” Disbursements (Source: U.S. Department of Labor) — $1,369,936,480
Total Disclosed Federal Union PACs (Source: OpenSecrets.org) — $58,217,310
Total Disclosed Union State Political Spending (Source: FollowTheMoney.org) — $478,654,746
Total Disclosed Union Federal-Focused 527s (Source: OpenSecrets.org) — $43,486,102
Total Disclosed Union State-Focused 527s (Source: OpenSecrets.org) — $42,146,933
Union Treasury Self-Reported “Donations” Disbursements Misclassified* (Source: U.S. Department of Labor) — $14,000,000
The total $2,006,441,571 in union political expenditures is the result of analysis of four major public disclosure resources: U.S. Labor Department enforcement of the LMRDA and its required public disclosures, Federal Election Commission PAC expense reports and Section 527 Committees imported into OpenSecrets.org research tools, and union state level political and lobbying activity data derived from FollowTheMoney.org.
Union Treasury Funds
Based on required self-reported disclosures to USDOL, union officers admitted to spending $628,307,137 and $741,629,343 on “Political Activities” during the 2017 and 2018 reporting periods. Union officials spent $1.37 billion directly from union treasuries (filled with forced dues and fees) on politics, dwarfing the reported combined political spending of George Soros, the Koch Brothers, and Hollywood during the same period.
Additionally, union reports reveal that union officials misclassified several hundred million dollars more in union officer’s political and lobbying expenses which were misclassified as “Contributions, gifts, and grants” on their union disclosure reports.
To highlight the problem, we easily found (and included in our total) that the National Education Association (NEA) paid $14 million to a 501(c)4 organization, but incorrectly identified it as a non-political lobbying expense on their USDOL financial disclosure report.
Union treasury funds accounted for 68% of the $2 billion total in this report. Labor union officials report on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Union Financial Disclosure Form LM-2 the amount of expenditures each year in categories called “schedules.” Schedule 16 is “POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND LOBBYING.”
These USDOL disclosure reports are signed by union presidents and union secretary-treasurers. Union officers are subject to criminal penalties for willful failure to file a required report and for false reporting. False reporting includes making any false statement or misrepresentation of a material fact while knowing it to be false, or for knowingly failing to disclose a material fact in a required report.
The self-reported “SCHEDULE 16 – POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND LOBBYING” disbursement amounts for the filing years 2017 and 2018 were used in this research. It is worth noting that the source of these disbursements includes dues or fees collected from men and women who could be fired for refusing to pay.
Additionally, LM-2 reporting often contains under-reporting of political expenditures which may inappropriately appear on other schedules such as “SCHEDULE 17 – CONTRIBUTIONS, GIFTS, AND GRANTS.” (Only one payee from a Schedule 17 disbursement was included in this NILRR tally of labor political spending. That payee was a 501(c)4 that received $14 million from the National Education Association.)
The following are examples of such likely misclassifications disclosed by union officials on 2018 LM-2 reports recording political activities as non-political SCHEDULE 17 – CONTRIBUTIONS, GIFTS, AND GRANTS.
Below are “Contributions, Gifts, and Grants” entries NOT included in $2 Billion Union Political Spending total, but could have been included in our grand total.
STATE VICTORY FUND LLC
contribution/natl partnership grant
(3/15/2018 ) $ 1,000,000
(9/19/2017) $ 1,000,000
VOTERS NOT POLITICIANS
(9/20/2018) $ 500,000
WE ARE MISSOURI
AMERICA VOTES
Michigan Senate Democrats
(9/27/2018) $100,000
SENATE MAJORITY FUND
Political Support
USDOL instructions for what should be reported in Schedule 16:
SCHEDULE 16 – POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND LOBBYING: A political disbursement or contribution is one that is intended to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of anyone to a federal, state, or local executive, legislative or judicial public office, or office in a political organization, or the election of Presidential or Vice Presidential electors, and support for or opposition to ballot referenda. It does not matter whether the attempt succeeds. Include disbursements for communications with members (or agency fee-paying nonmembers) and their families for registration, get-out-the-vote and voter education campaigns, the expenses of establishing, administering and soliciting contributions to union segregated political funds (or PACs), disbursements to political organizations as defined by the IRS in 26 U.S.C. 527, and other political disbursements. Also report the labor organization’s direct and indirect disbursements to all entities and individuals during the reporting period associated with dealing with the executive and legislative branches of the Federal, state, and local governments and with independent agencies and staffs to advance the passage or defeat of existing or potential laws or the promulgation or any other action with respect to rules or regulations (including litigation expenses). It does not matter whether the lobbying attempt succeeds.
U.S. Department of Labor LM-2 Instructions (2016)
USDOL reports do not require all unions to file reports. In recent years, the fastest reported membership growth has been in unions that exclusively “represent” state and local government employees which are not covered by USDOL disclosure reports. Therefore, the USDOL numbers exclude most of the state and municipal employee unions.
FED PAC as defined by OpenSecrets.org
All 2018 Federal Election Cycle PACs identified as “Labor” by OpenSecrets.org, accessed on or before 4/12/2019.
527 Committees as defined by OpenSecrets.org
All 2018 Election Cycle 527 Committees as identified as “Labor” by OpenSecrets.org, accessed on or before 4/12/2019.
State Political Spending Reports (Public Sector Unions)
NILRR.org used state-only political expenses from state and local disclosure reports gathered from FollowTheMoney.org.
*On balance, the aggregate $2 Billion in political and lobbying expenditures by labor unions in the 2018 election cycle reported here is likely an understatement because National Institute for Labor Relations staff chose to mostly ignore the heavily misclassified $514 million of union reported “Contributions, gifts, and grants” that, after just cursory glance, it was revealed that a majority of the money in this category appeared to be of a political nature as describe in the LM-2 disclosure instructions.
Nothing here is to be construed as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress or any state legislature.
https://nilrr.org/files/NILRR-Big-Labor-Politics-2018-election-cycle-published.pdf
Analysis: Big Labor Political Spending Topped $2 Billion on 2018 Election Cycle
Business Decisionmakers Lopsidedly Prefer to Hire in Right to Work States
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Home / Uncategorised / Decap Attack (Vic Tokai/Sega, 1991)
Decap Attack (Vic Tokai/Sega, 1991)
Hey, RetroFiends! I can’t be the only one who’s pumped that Halloween is coming next month. I get excited about the impending fright-fest around mid-September every year, and since we’re also talking about Genesis games this month, today’s selection seemed all too appropriate.Decap
bryan.eddy@newretrowave.com
Hey, RetroFiends! I can’t be the only one who’s pumped that Halloween is coming next month. I get excited about the impending fright-fest around mid-September every year, and since we’re also talking about Genesis games this month, today’s selection seemed all too appropriate.
Decap Attack has so much to love. While it got nowhere near the attention it deserved, it is still one of the best platform titles for the Genesis console, even though it is a recycled game engine. You see, in Japan, this game has completely different graphics, a different plot… you could say it wears a whole different skin. The Japanese game is based off an anime TV show called Magical Hat, which I have never heard of and honestly didn’t bust my ass reading about. In fact, we’re done talking about it. The licensing to release the game was never done in North America, and anime wasn’t hot here yet in 1990 anyway, so Vic Tokai and Sega made a plan. They revamped the entire game using the same programming code and released it to the Western world in October of 1991 as Decap Attack.
Magazine ad from late 1991. Note the attentive but lazy ad copy. Puns galore.
The plot of the game revolves around Chuck D Head, a living mummy created by the maniacal Dr. Frank N. Stein (I know). A horrible tyrant named Max D. Cap has risen from the Underworld and split apart the islands these fine folks live on, and it’s up to Chuck to send Max right back where he came from and save the day. Thankfully, Chuck is no spring chicken; he was built with a face in his chest, which he can fire out like a battering ram to beat on anything that gets in his way. If he’s lucky enough to find a “real” head to put on his shoulders during his adventure… well, things get even better.
This is what the islands look like when reassembled. They live on a big skeleton. Okay…
As Chuck, you wander through seven “areas,” each consisting of three separate stages. Each area has a boss, the final one being Max D. Cap himself. Movement is a lot like you’d expect from a platformer, with a couple of little twists. Most notably, if you tap the jump button in midair after jumping, Chuck can do a little skippy-foot dance that makes him descend more slowly. If used cleverly, this can get you to a lot of places. There are also level-specific ways to move around; sometimes you can bounce off special walls to slowly move upward, and sometimes there are little bendy poles in the ground for you to jump on and then launch yourself from once you’ve built some momentum.
Chuck must navigate this landscape while constantly under assault by Max’s cronies. These include goofy ducks, little ghosts, arrow-launching monsters, and other cartoonish (but very legitimate) threats. Some of the monsters are easy to avoid, but their sheer numbers will make up for their lack of prowess. Thankfully, there are little dog-headed statues everywhere, and they aren’t just for decoration. Most of them contain powerups of various kinds. Another neat thing about Decap Attack is the powerup menu. When you pick up a powerup, it doesn’t activate immediately; instead it goes into an inventory that you can access in a menu hosted by your friend Frank N. Stein. He and his assistant kindly explain what the various goodies do as you scroll through them, and you activate them right there. This allows you to conserve resources and even come up with some strategies… especially with boss fights. Another thing you’ll find is a skull. Chuck immediately plops this sucker between his spacious shoulders when he finds it, and it can be thrown kind of like a morbid boomerang in lieu of his regular face-launch. The skull has far greater range, but takes a moment to return to you, and can be lost if you are hit. you can also find coins, which give you chances at a bonus game after each area is completed. Lastly, you can find hearts to replenish your life meter. They look just like the ones on the life bar, in fact… not cartoon hearts, but beating, organic-looking ones.
One of the best parts of the game. These gruesome dudes walk you through all the cool things you can drink to get a boost in a hostile world. They are basically drug dealers, but way nicer, and they don’t insist out of paranoia that you stay and hang out for half an hour.
The graphics are pretty cool, with a very Saturday-morning-cartoon feel to them. The sound effects are both humorous and well-polished, with my favorite being the sort of synthesizer-yell Chuck lets out when he’s hit. The music, composed by Fumito Tamayama and Hiroto Kanno, is among the best ever done for the Genesis system, period. My personal favorite is this track, but the entire soundtrack is fantastic. It fits the game perfectly, with a good mix of silliness and horror-style minor key stuff. At times, it gets VERY rock & roll, like the introduction sequence music, and all of it has a lot of backbone. The Genesis’s beautiful sound chips are put to good use.
Decap Attack’s Difficulty level is moderate but approachable. I remember playing it as a kid and being impressed at how far I could get, but still feeling challenged by the game as it progressed. I was sucked in visually and by the music, and it has remained one of the titles I think of first when I talk about the Sega Genesis system. I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
Stay tuned! More frights and delights to come!
1991decap attackhorrorreviewsegaSega Genesisvic tokaivideo game
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Home / Business / Akzo Nobel sells Unit for € 10.1 billion to Carlyle
Akzo Nobel sells Unit for € 10.1 billion to Carlyle
Akzo Nobel NV
AKZA
On Tuesday, the company will sell its specialty chemicals business to US private equity firm Carlyle Group LP
CG, -0.47%
for an enterprise value of 10.1 billion euros ($ 12.5 billion) and said it would receive the bulk of the proceeds from the sale to shareholders to distribute.
The sale is expected The Dutch chemical company, which received shareholder approval to sell the business in November, posted net sales of EUR 7.5 billion.
"Today marks an important milestone in the creation of two focused, high-performance companies" We have completed our commitment to separate the Specialty Chemicals business prematurely, "said Thierry Vanlancker, CEO of Akzo Nobel.
After Akzo Nobel's billions of dollars Takeover averted Last year, US competitor PPG Industries Inc. (PPG) announced its intention to divest its specialty chemicals segment, either through a private sale or a spin-off, to focus on the paint and coatings business. [More] 1
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Dr Gail Marie Bradbrook: Compassionate Revolutionary… for hire?
By UN Extinction 4 months ago
This is part 1 of a series of articles entitled ‘Astroturfing the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution’.
Here are the links to the other parts:
0) Introduction: Some Inconvenient Truths about Extinction Rebellion and the Climate Mobilisation movement
2) Political Charities and the Brave New World of Professional Activism
3) Green Gail and the Technocratic Industrialists: Citizens Online’s Digitopian Nightmare
4) Extinction Rebellion and the Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism
5) #XRSpaceJunk 5G & Citizens Online: Industry Agents, Digital Acolytes and State Agitators
Introducing Gail Bradbrook, professional activist
In order to understand an organisation or entity, one must first come to an understanding of its founders. Dr Gail Marie Bradbrook, along with Julian ‘Roger’ Hallam, appear to be the two primary instigators of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) movement.
The following is an investigation into Bradbrook, her background, professional associations, ideology and influences.
Screenshot from the transcript of a speech given by Dr Gail Bradbrook at a joint IPPR & Oxford
Internet Institute conference, 12/4/04, entitled ‘Whose Responsibility is Digital Inclusion?’. [Here]
Gail’s profile on citizensonline.org.uk, now taken down as of late 2018.
Gail and the other budding public figures involved in XR have chosen to enter the public eye by asking millions of people to stand with them in a campaign of non-violent civil disobedience, aimed at making profound changes to an economic and political system which millions of people rely on to stay warm, and obtain basic things like food and water. Due to the serious nature of the changes they are proposing (albeit without mentioning that they’re all taken straight from the UN’s ‘Sustainable Development Goals [1]’), they should welcome criticism and scrutiny of their activities. If they are sincere, they should demonstrate integrity, and not dismiss dissenting voices, but instead engage openly with people who question their motives and stated objectives.
The Mother of Extinction
Often called “the Mother” by members of Extinction Rebellion, Gail is a molecular biophysicist by training, though she hasn’t worked in that capacity for quite some time. Not long after finishing her post-doctoral research into ‘protein saccharide interactions’, she became a consultant for several ‘political charities’ and has, for the past 18 years worked exclusively as a professional campaigner – a role which, during a talk at Off-Grid Festival, she admits is “mostly about securing your own pay-check.[2]”
Gail epitomises the new generation of ‘professional activists’, having positioned herself at the epicentre of the revolving door between big business, government bureaucracies and establishment-friendly NGOs, campaign groups and charitable organisations, all of which increasingly function as the public face of international corporate and financial power.
Acting through proxy organisations permits these forces to obscure the fact that government policies are being swayed by corporate entities that fund entire networks of charities and non-governmental organisations to interact with government on their behalf. NGOs and charities tend to be seen as more caring and less corrupt than their corporate sponsors; and are presented as such in the media, even when their staff and financials reveal them to be entirely monetarily dependent on the corporate entities and supranational bureaucracies that they covertly campaign on behalf of. There appears to be no remedy or legal redress we can use to reveal the true nature of these NGOs and charities, or hold them to even the most basic ethical and moral standards.
As described in our introduction, corporate entities have previously paid firms such as Stratfor to disrupt and neutralise inconvenient campaign groups. It would seem that in recent years they’ve increasingly taken to the expedient of simply funding the ‘right ones’ into existence in the first place, and then nudging less amenable competitors out from (as they no doubt see it) the ‘marketplace’ of causes. Worse still, these ostensibly ‘independent’ NGOs, charities and professional ‘campaign groups’ are increasingly tasked with stewarding government policy and objectives.
It is unclear precisely when, or more importantly how Gail transitioned from molecular biophysicist to collecting causes like a declining civilisation accumulates laws; but what we do know is that for the past two decades, she has been a favoured ‘activist’ of the British State, at least when it comes to their ‘digital inclusion’ and ‘universal internet access’ agendas. These euphemisms today refer to the 5G / Internet of Things roll-out; aimed at making sure that absolutely everybody, without exception, gets plugged-in to the emerging smart-grid, which incorporates both military hardware – used for crowd control [3], as well as psychological operations[4] with next-generation mind-control, surveillance and communications systems [5]. In other words, a full-spectrum cybernetic control apparatus which “if fully exploited could make Orwell’s 1984 seem like a benevolent utopia” (-William Burroughs, “Limits of Control [6]“).
The 5G network is primary to this apparatus, an essential component for the ‘scientific management’ global society; as envisioned and now being assembled all around us by an international oligarchy of techno-industrial and financial elites – the very same people who stand behind the UN [7], and are positioned to become its beneficiaries.
-Gail Bradbrook; taken from the same speech as her ‘secret agents’ quote.
Still available (at the time of writing) on the IPPR’s website, here.
As well as having the ear of government, many of the directors and trustees of Gail’s Citizens Online charity just so happen to be people whose companies stand to make an absolute killing from the 5G roll-out – which is covertly promoted by Extinction Rebellion, due to its coming under the auspices of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 (the current rebranding of Agenda 21), which is most often referred to with deceptive simplicity, as ‘Sustainable Development’ [SD]. Indeed, the smart grid / 5G infrastructure roll-out and the United Nation’s ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG) are entirely inseparable.
[SD] When you hear governments or NGOs use the phrase ‘Sustainable Development’, they do not simply mean development that is sustainable – they are, in fact, referring to a very specific series of policy documents, all of which were designed by the United Nations. Climate policies are one aspect of the UN’s SD goals.
Huawei: Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals through ICT (Information & Communications Technology). Note item 9: “Digital solutions for the SDGs could generate $2.1 trillion in new annual revenue for the ICT sector by 2030”.
“Government must enact legally-binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions in the UK to zero by 2025 and take further action to remove the excess of atmospheric greenhouse gases.” – XR demands [here].
Extinction Rebellion’s demands (above) were in-fact taken straight from the objectives laid out by Hallam and Bradbrook in their Campaign Overview document of October of 2018, [here] back when the pair were still calling themselves the “coordination group coordinators”.
Download the document, here.
We’re curious to know which “legally-binding policy measures” you had in mind, Gail? (And by the way, what kind of arrangement were you imagining where the “Government” is to be “work(ing) alongside the media”?)
There is only one policy framework to this effect, developed by the UN’s technocratic ‘global governance’ bureaucracy; and it involves establishing world-wide CO2 taxation – which we’re being told (by the corporate-industrial elite), is ‘necessary to save the planet.’
‘Fast Forward Together’ graphic from the International Telecommunications Union expanding on UN SDG number 11, ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’
We’ll explore these topics more, and expose the treasonous and subversive activities of the UN and their vast networks of industry sponsored ‘change agents’ later on. For now, let us return to that spear-head of ‘Sustainable Development’, Dr Gail Bradbrook.
Much of Gail’s career seems to have been spent sat in air-conditioned corporate conference centres with the likes of John Varney, Chief Technology Officer of the BBC, and any number of government and industry talking heads. Here’s the guest list from a standard ’roundtable’ meeting, the kind which Gail has spent nearly two decades attending. The document begins, “On Monday 7th June 2004 the IPPR’s Digital Society team hosted a private roundtable seminar to discuss forthcoming reforms to central Government IT.” Original [here].
Gail even had dinner at Number 10 Downing Street to ‘brainstorm on digital inclusion’.
Don’t know about you, but we tend to socially exclude ‘revolutionaries’ who previously worked
for the Cabinet Office, and get invited around for dinner at the Prime Minister’s house…
The fact of the matter is, Dr Gail Bradbrook is one of the UK State’s go-to ‘experts’, chosen to give (the right kind of) evidence at various parliamentary hearings and committees (which we’ll get to). Her job also has her attending high-level private sector meetings where she frequently rubs shoulders with telecommunications oligarchs, international business moguls and the whole autocratic circular-jerkular of highly politicised ‘scientists’ and other ‘experts’ who are invariably presented to us in the media as impartial and unbiased, but who (in reality) float like a layer of congealed scum on the surface of the EU and UN gravy-boat [*].
[*] Gravy-boat: “it’s bigger, slower and you can help yourself as often as you like.” -Sir Greville McDonald, The New Statesman (TV Series).
Sustainable compliance and inclusive surveillance
Before she was engaged in (pre-approved) rabble rousing, or pretending to glue herself [*] to the Department of Energy Headquarters, Gail was more likely to be found attending meetings held under Chatham House Rules, sat alongside people like Anthony Walker, former communications officer for the American Chamber of Commerce, who previously worked for the European Commission’s PR firm Rowland Company (owned by Saatchi & Saatchi)
[*] Gail admits she only pretended to super-glue herself to the department of energy HQ, in an interview with Margaret Klein Salamon [here], the ‘fundraising director’ of XR and founder-director of the Climate Mobilization [8] group. Salamon has written a book entitled ‘Leading the Public into Emergency Mode [9]’ and describes herself as a ‘climate psychologist [10]’.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Antony Walker “was responsible for providing PR and communications consultancy to the European Commission on environment, information society and social fund policy areas. I was also responsible for supporting DG[*] Environment’s Local Agenda 21 sustainable development initiative.” [*] DG refers to the EU’s Directorate-General for Environment.
As you’ll see, there’s a fine line between Agenda 21/ 2030, or ‘Sustainable Development’ as they like to call it, and the techno-corporate oligarchy behind the 5G roll-out. When Gail met him, Walker was CEO of the Broadband Stakeholder Group; and he remains deputy CEO of TechUK (the Trade & Industry Association of GCHQ and the wider ‘information technology industry’).
Here’s Walker promoting Greta Thunberg’s ‘School Climate Strike’:
Walker’s Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) recently published a report tellingly entitled ‘Lowering barriers to 5G deployment’ [11], which makes ‘recommendations’ to industry, central government and local authorities. Seeing as how the BSG is comprised of all of the biggest telecommunications and mobile network providers, you can be sure that their ‘recommendations’ are going to be enshrined in policy by the central government. The BSG report [11] even suggests a dedicated ‘task force’ to hunt down any non-complying local authorities and to make sure that they’re all keeping in line with the government’s desire for the UK to be a ‘5G leader’.
In the course of its 65 pages, the report mentions neither the mounting scientific evidence [12] pointing to serious health implications of microwave exposure for both humans and animals, and especially those used by the 5G infrastructure, nor the multiple surveillance and privacy concerns.
Why? Because the scientists studying and raising awareness of the dangers of the millimetre and microwave radiation used by 5G, are simply the ‘wrong sort’ of scientists – meaning those without their biscuits in the gravy-boat.
They’re getting away with pushing 5G and military-grade ‘smart-grid’ surveillance hardware, by wrapping it up in platitudes about ‘Sustainable Development’ and claiming that we need these technologies for environmental monitoring [13]. Everything from air-quality control to climate prediction and modelling (a quack science if ever there was one). What they fail to mention, is that these applications are secondary to the mass-surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities [14]; and that 5G uses the same hardware (just re-branded) as is currently deployed by coalition forces in the Middle East as crowd control weaponry.
Inclusion = there is no escape!
The Orwellian ‘Digital Inclusion Unit’ (DIU), comprised of Gail, J. D. Fisher (the former Air Force officer who started Gail’s ‘CitizensOnline’ charity) and their whole cadre of industry-sponsored activists and academics, have previously suggested that they, as the DIU, be given powers to “influence the funding streams” of Local Authorities (already strapped for cash and struggling to provide front-line services, like housing and waste collection) as punishment for non-compliance with the central government’s Digital Inclusion Agenda. An agenda, largely written by NGOs and charities like Gail’s who’re funded by internet and mobile phone infrastructure providers.
No doubt similar penalties await any Local Authority who dares to resist the roll out of military-grade surveillance hardware and ‘crowd-control’ weaponry into the residential areas of their constituents.
“A ‘weapons grade’ phone technology (5G) being tested in Cornwall is sparking health concerns – after a spate of suicides at Bristol University.”
Astroturfing for Justice and Money
Professional activism also works in the inverse: lobbying and campaigning within the ‘corporate world’ on behalf of governments and supranational bureaucracies. Gail’s career effortlessly transitions from industry-funded roles to government ones, and more often than not, there is no meaningful separation between the two. An example of this is her involvement with the EU/ UN proxy known as the ‘Tax Justice Network’ (TJN). We’ll be delving much deeper into this subversive economic ‘think-tank’ later on in ‘Red Gail and the Borderless Tax Collectors’; for now, a brief overview of the organisation will serve as a good example of how ‘astroturfing’ works.
A star-struck Gail alongside astroturfer extraordinaire John Christensen.
John Christensen, described by the ever-critical Guardian as “the unlikely figurehead of a worldwide campaign against tax avoidance.”
The reason the TJN provides such a good case study is because, whereas many such NGOs go to the trouble of disguising themselves, with the TJN there isn’t even a pretence of separation between them and the EU/ UN, whose people brazenly sit on its board as Trustees and Directors alongside ‘tax justice activists’ who audaciously present themselves as ‘reformed tax avoiders’ – owing to the fact that they previously held high-ranking positions within some of the world’s largest ‘offshore’ accountancy firms.
The TJN’s founder, John Christensen, previously worked for the offshore financial services firm Touche Ross & Co; and for 11 years he was economic adviser to the government of the British Channel Island of Jersey. This is another reason why the TJN and its subsidiary organisations provide such a clear example of what has become known as ‘controlled opposition’ – the process whereby an entity, be it an industry giant or government agency, actually creates and funds its own opposition groups.
Take, for example Greenpeace, whose two largest U.S. donors [15] are the Rockefellers (whose money paid for the land on which the UN headquarters in New York was built), and the foundation of Ted Turner, media mogul, largest land owner in the U.S., and creator of Captain Planet, who in 1997 donated 1 billion dollars to the UN [16][17]. Or the 100+ ‘environmental’, ‘social justice’ and ‘sustainable development’ groups [18] that are funded by the oil barons and arch-eugenicists of the Rockefeller clan.
The most advanced and pernicious form of these tactics is known as ‘astroturfing’, which is the creation of fake ‘grass-roots’ (hence, astroturf) campaigns, then used to push for, or smother authentic opposition to industry and/or government policies and agendas. Astroturfing uses networks of paid, ‘professional activists’ who operate through the various proxy organisations. We hope this demonstrates the cold, calculative efficiency with which these people operate. Anyhow, there’s much more to come on the TJN, in the strand entitled “Red Gail and the Borderless Tax Collectors.”
Throughout this investigation into the creators of Extinction Rebellion, we’ll be delving deep into world of the ‘professional activist’. Along the way we’ll explore many of the think-tanks, NGOs and campaign groups involved in astroturfing the environmental movement, as well as dredging up some of the sharks and bottom feeders that lurk in their depths.
You’ll see many individuals cropping up again and again, with some members of the NGOligarchy presiding over vast constellations of charities, think-tanks and lobby groups, all designed to create the appearance of an organic ‘ground-swell’ of concerned citizens, academics and ‘thinkers’ who all (coincidently enough) push for near-identical policies and reforms; most of which mirror, perfectly, the objectives and policies of the EU, UN and their foundation, trust and funding body puppetmasters. One merely has to look at who funds these NGOs and charities to conduct their ‘research’ and to promote their toothless campaigns or quack economic theories cum technocratic, globalist ideology. Follow the money, as the saying goes!
We’ve traced the development of these ideas within the academic-intelligence apparatus, back to (at least) the early 90s, and to a new generation of internet-savvy intelligentsia – keen to leverage their understanding of emerging technologies by studying their sociological and political implications, and then ‘selling’ what they learn back to the corporate-state (as a means of preserving their monopoly on cultural and intellectual expression, increasingly threatened by the advent of more horizontal, network orientated information technologies). Gail, her mentors and employers, have been on the peripheries of these concepts since their genesis. We will explore these networks more in the strand entitled: Digital Citizenship in the New Dark Age.
BITC’s corporate sponsors from when Gail first joins.
Citizens Online ‘partners’ just before Gail starts to work for them.
Gail Bradbrook has spent the past 18 years on the pay-roll of charities, NGOs and political ‘think-tanks’ (like the Blairite/New Labour IPPR), being funded by J. P. Morgan Chase (which happens to be the UN’s bank), BT, Shell, Microsoft, CISCO, Panasonic, Goldman Sachs, BAE Systems, NEON Communications (whose ‘Director of Global Sales’, Lord Anthony Tudor St John, is heavily invested in 5G technology and also sits as trustee of Citizens Online), IBM, Unilever, N. M. Rothschild & Sons [19]… you name it: the whole ‘in the club’ of corporate funny-handshake hegemony – to give ‘independent advice’ to government and help develop government strategies, policies and to define their objectives.
This, we can prove beyond any doubt: the paper trail exists and will be presented throughout this series – the question which yet remains unanswered is whether or not Gail’s latest project, Extinction Rebellion, should be seen simply as a continuation of this work, or whether she has genuinely ‘gone rogue’ and is now biting the hand that has been (and still is) feeding her, quite handsomely, for the vast majority of her adult life.
This is just the beginning: stay tuned.
[Click here for part 2]: Political Charities and Professional Activism: NGOs for hire.
Please note that we also have a page on Facespook, which you can ‘like’ or ‘follow’ to be kept up to date on new articles (assuming that the algorithims permit it): https://www.facebook.com/UNExtinction/
UN Extinction
Tags: extinction rebellion, XR
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8 thoughts on “Dr Gail Marie Bradbrook: Compassionate Revolutionary… for hire?”
It’s amazing how much time one person can waste on a bizarre and malicious conspiracy theory if the chip on their shoulder is large enough. I can tell by your uniquely tenuous claims that we’ve actually conversed on Twitter before. You’re the same person who got all upset when young activists showed up at *your* fracking site, didn’t respect your weird rules, and made you feel ashamed for eating meat. Then when Caroline Lucas came and had the temerity to join their camp not yours, you got bent right out of shape.
And here you are, utterly bitter, utterly hopeless and utterly confused about the real threats we all face. While the real environmentalists have been reaching out to wider society, organising and taking action, you’ve dug the depths of internet conspiracy theory and come up with your own ridiculous story which reads like a tour of every racist troupe going:
**of course you’re blaming the UN, NGOs, Rockefellers and other so called globalists!
**of course the naïve youngsters are just being manipulated by the ingenious dark forces of “other” you blame for all your frustrations!
**of course the truth is that those XR youngsters are all funded by the wealthy jews who control the world!
I’m afraid you sound like a crusty old hobbit muttering away to herself on the weirdo fringes of a Republican tea party event.
You’ve taken a superficial understanding of Chomsky and bolstered up your own flimsy claims with various clumsy Trumpian delusions. You’re desperate for attention so why not appeal to all the classic Trump-like beacons of paranoia and suspicion: evil NGOs, malignant charities, those “globalists” and typical swivelled eyed myopathy towards the UN. Anyone who knows anything about these largely inept organisations finds your presumption of competence hilarious – as if any of them have the capability to pull off such a grand conspiracy! I bet you’re just bursting to tell us how naïve we all are: how the scientists are all lying to us, climate change is fake, how chem-trails are real, how Savory’s right about cattle, how CO2 is just distraction from the real threats. We got into this on twitter but your argument collapsed at the first sniff of any science.
You’re not totally wrong about the threat of surveillance capitalism though. But you’re also not above conducting your own creepy surveillance against the leaders you’re so painfully jealous of, are you?
Your character assassination of Gail and Roger is disgusting. Even by your own surveillance of Gail’s career, her crime seems to be to have amassed decades of experience working in development based jobs, including a few NGOs. The fact some of them have funding links to various well known Jewish finance surnames is not going to soil Gail’s reputation in the eyes of anyone other than a few brain dead anti-semites who are still hanging around our movement like a musty old fart. I see you haven’t even bothered publishing anything on Roger yet (but that’s not stopped you trashing his character) I look forward to seeing how you attempt to twist his personal story into some secret service for the powerful elite. Good luck making that even remotely plausible.
Traditionally the left loves an infight. We love grand critiques of everything other than ourselves, a lot of us are suckers for conspiracy theory and can’t resist reading anything that purports to expose the bad guys in our midst. But this is a pathetic effort which we just don’t have time for. You might not believe the IPCC reports but we’re taking them seriously. You can slag off your betters until you’re blue in the face, but unless you have positive plan of what we need to actually do, based on real evidence, you are simply a fantasist wasting everyone’s time.
UN Extinction says:
1) Not one of the researchers involved use twitter.
2) “(…) made you feel ashamed for eating meat.”
Not likely, I’ve been ketogenic paleo for the best part of 10 years.
3) I’ve been involved in environmental activism and campaigning all my life. This in an attempt to help the real environmental movement, break free from UN and industry co-option.
4) the rest of your rant read likes this, “racist / anti-Semite / swivelled eyed / crusty old hobbit / Trumpian delusions”… and so on.
ad hominem does not pass for argument here, so why don’t you shuffle along back to your buzzfeedlot or whatever echo-chamber you ordinarily augment with your state-sanctioned view of reality.
Astorm says:
Col. thinks this is written by Frances Leader? Which would explain the frenzied adhominem attack clutching at that to defend his myopic view of the situation, and so failing miserably to address any of the issues raised in the article.
Pingback: Extinction Rebellion and 5G – Full Disclosure UK
The last statement is quite key ? Is Gail still being paid by Citizens Online at £335 per day. This report points to the fact that she is weaning off it.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Imi5IyEHKG9DPe_tPOY2cMXHCzRI-6iWCOK3zaxtjqQ/htmlview?fbclid=IwAR03UAuhuHEcRSzsJqu1DZ1HbrIiOMwG6PXe-VglQHKWUmIqJpY-IzK1tYw#gid=0
If all this is verified why not add it to wikipedia? The XR and Gail and Roger’s pages are rather thin.
Marcus, I parted with a little bit of cash once since Wikipedia was quite useful when I was studying plants, (no pun intended) and they apparently needed the funds. Once I got into studying how the world works, however…
Paul Vonharnish says:
In reading the inflamed comments by Col : I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the person who designed and wrote the rant. Sorry, but it comes off like a professional trolling piece…
Try contacting Extinction Rebellion members regarding the disastrous environmental consequences of Solar Radiation Management programs. Planet wide geoengineering processes have been playing out for over 70 years, but no one notices the disaster. Citizens should try looking at the sky once and a while. See any problems? What’s in that silver grey muck the aircraft leave behind? Breathe deep the gathering gloom of near term planet-wide extinction – PRIMARILY driven by toxic aerosol release operations …
Geoengineering is largely funded and controlled through Raytheon, Boeing, Airbus Lockheed Martin, NASA , and other corporate eugenics ghouls. You will get “conspiracy theory” brush offs from most Extinction Rebellion members and nearly ALL corporate funded “environmental” NGOs like Greenpeace. Why is that?
Extinction Rebellion is still foolishly quoting from IPCC climate nonsense and ignoring the realities of climate and populations being controlled by paramilitary entities. We are under siege. Get a grip.
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Nuclear Power Institute
GAEC Institutes
Localization and Stakeholder Support
Nuclear Energy Planning
Nuclear Power Management
Nuclear Safety Assessment
Public Relations and Information
Nuclear Power Programme
Since the establishment of NPI;
A clear and comprehensive road map has been developed for the nuclear power programme which is divided into three (3) Phases with three Milestones. Currently, the programme is nearing the completion of Phase 1; Most of the infrastructural issues have been developed to meet Phase 1 target;
Siting studies have advanced to meeting Phase 1 target;
Human resource development plan developed and undergoing review;
Currently reviewing the existing environmental protection framework to be consistent with nuclear power requirements;
Plans, strategies and options for the management and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel are being finalised;
Preliminary grid studies conducted, planning for detailed studies already started with the grid operator;
A number of stakeholder engagement/involvement conducted. Questionnaires developed to conduct a nationwide survey on public perception and receptiveness of nuclear power
Successfully conducted an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission for Phase 1;
Ghana has enacted a comprehensive nuclear law and established an independent nuclear regulatory authority and
Ghana has adhered/signed to most of the international conventions on development of nuclear power programme.
Ghana has started the process of identifying and establishing an owner/operator organization for the first nuclear power plant.
IAEA Submits INIR Mission Report To Ghana June 11, 2017
Hundred Metres In All Races – A Case Of The Major Electricity Sources June 11, 2017
2017 © Copyright- Nuclear Power Institute
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Archive for the ‘Gloucestershire’ Category
A painting by Cornelis de Heem acquired for Dyrham Park
Cornelis de Heem (1631-95), A Still Life of Flowers and Fruit arranged on a Stone Plinth in a Garden, at Dyrham Park, NT 2900107. ©National Trust Images/John Hammond
It has been announced today that we have acquired this painting by Cornelis de Heem for Dyrham Park.
The de Heem being taken out of its crate on arrival at Dyrham Park. ©National Trust Images/Barry Batchelor
The picture was purchased by the builder of Dyrham, William Blathwayt, in the 1690s. It stayed in the house until it was sold at auction in 1956.
A moment of contemplation after the de Heem has been hung in the Diogenes Room. ©National Trust Images/Barry Batchelor
Now, after an absence of almost sixty years, it is returning to Dyrham. The acquisition has been made possibly by grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Mr and Mrs Kenneth Levy bequest, the Art Fund, a fund set up by the late Hon. Simon Sainsbury, the Royal Oak Foundation’s Ervin-DesChamps Fund and a private donation.
Silk flowers being arranged in the Delft vase underneath the de Heem. ©National Trust Images/Barry Batchelor
Apart from being a display of virtuoso painterly skill, the picture also hints at the transience of material culture. Some of the fruits are beginning to rot and the wild plants are encroaching on the garden, ready to undo man’s efforts.
Further Delftware in the Diogenes Room, also from Blathwayt’s collection. ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel
Blathwayt is thought to have acquired this picture on one of his trips to the Low Countries in the 1690s, when he was accompanying King William III on his military campaigns.
Another flower still-life, signed ‘PHK’, in the Balcony Room at Dyrham. ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel
Blathwayt’s ‘Hollandophile’ taste is still very much in evidence at Dyrham, with its collections of Dutch paintings (including other flower paintings) and blue and white Delftware. The de Heem will look right at home in the Diogenes Room, next to the Diogenes tapestries (also richly festooned with flowers) and Delft flower pyramids.
Posted in Dutch paintings, Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire | 2 Comments »
A closer look at Dyrham Park
Dyrham Park ©National Trust Images/Rupert Truman
From a distance historic houses can appear almost eternal. But a closer look usually reveals some evidence of the ravages of time.
Experts inspecting Dyrham’s roof. ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Dyrham Park has been receiving quite a lot of scrutiny recently. Its roof is now over 200 years old and beyond its natural life.
Patch repairs on the roof at Dyrham. ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Patch repairs are no longer sufficient and the roof needs a complete overhaul.
Spalling stonework on the roof at Dyrham ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
Some of the stonework is also beginning to fail, exacerbated by the freezing and thawing of excess rainwater. So as well as urgent stone repairs the house needs improved gutters to prevent future damage.
Damaged stonework on the west front of Dyrham. ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
In addition access to the orangery roof needs to be made safer, so that high-level maintenance can be carried out more frequently and efficiently.
Water damage in the orangery at Dyrham. ©National Trust Images/Chris Lacey
That is why we are trying to raise £500,000 towards the total cost of £3.54 million. Any donation is welcome, and can be made here.
Posted in Conservation, Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire | 2 Comments »
A Dutch house in Gloucestershire
View of Dyrham Park from the entrance drive, with Claude David’s statue of Neptune, acquired by William Blathwayt for his baroque garden. ©National Trust Images/Rupert Truman
In an article in the recently published 2013 National Trust Historic Houses and Collections Annual, Rupert Goulding reconstructs the personality and taste of William Blathwayt (?1649-1717), the builder of Dyrham Park.
The Great Hall at Dyrham, showing William Blathwayt’s bookcases. ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel
By analysing an inventory of Blathwayt’s lost print collection, Rupert has found telling details of Blathwayt’s intellectual interests and love of art and gardening.
Portrait of William Blathwayt by Michael Dahl. ©National Trust Images/Ian Blantern
Blathwayt was a government minister under King William III, ‘a master at managing information’ as Rupert characterises him.
Vanitas still life by Edwaert Colliers at Dyrham, 1675, reflecting Blathwayt’s love of books, the visual arts and music. ©National Trust, image supplied by the Public Catalogue Foundation
This not only made Blathwayt an able Secretary of State and Secretary at War, but it was also reflected in the architecture and gardens of Dyrham Park and the collections he assembled there.
A view through a house by Samuel van Hoogstraten, 1662, at Dyrham Park. William Blathwayt liked to keep exotic and song birds, like the one shown in this painting. ©National Trust, image supplied by the Public Catalogue Foundation
Blathwayt might be dubbed a ‘Hollandophile’: he not only spoke Dutch (which was useful when serving under a Dutch king), but he also owned many Dutch paintings and prints.
Engraving of Dyrham Park by Johannes Kip, 1712. ©National Trust Images
Blathwayt shared an appreciation of gardens with William III, and his print collection included a number of views of contemporary gardens. The garden at Dyrham was laid out in Dutch baroque style, like those at William’s palaces at Hampton Court and Het Loo. Rupert defines Dyrham as ‘essentially a Dutch house in Gloucestershire.’
Portrait of King William III after Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1690s, at Dyrham. ©National Trust, image supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation
Rupert’s article clearly demonstrates how an inventory can be the key to revealing the rich personal meanings contained within a house, a garden and a collection.
Posted in Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire | 3 Comments »
Keeping up with the Jansens
Dutch family taking tea, c. 1680, attributed to Roelof Koets II (c. 1650-1725). ©Sotheby’s
The 17th-century Dutch family shown in the painting above are clearly very proud of their tea things. The wife and the child are dressed to the nines and the splendid Javanese lacquer table is filled expensive-looking tea utensils.
Javanese lacquer table in the Duchess’s Private Closet at Ham House. ©National Trust Images/John Hammond
At this time the drinking of tea was still a relatively exotic and glamorous activity in Europe – perhaps reflected in the fact that it is the husband in the painting, the head of the household, who demonstratively holds the teapot. And it was obviously deemed appropriate to have a trendy oriental lacquer table to go with this trendy oriental drink.
Javanese lacquer table in the Balcony Room at Dyrham Park. ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel
Javanese lacquer tables from that period haven’t survived in large numbers, but they can still be found in a few English and German public collections. I have just published a little article about them in the May 2013 issue of the National Trust’s Arts, Buildings and Collections Bulletin.
Posted in Chinoiserie, Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire, Ham House, Lacquer, Surrey | 6 Comments »
Globalised lacquer
The Balcony Room at Dyrham Park, with the so-called Javanese lacquer table in the foreground. ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel
In mid-December I attended the Global Commodities conference at the University of Warwick, which examined the role of material culture in shaping world-wide connections in the early modern period. It was an extremely stimulating event that brought together social historians, economic historians and art historians.
Close-up of the table at Dyrham (inv. no. NT452980). ©National Trust Collections
Ulrike Körber, who is connected to the José de Figueiredo Laboratory at the University of Évora, gave a fascinating lecture about the complex manufacturing and trade patterns of east Asian lacquer in the 16th and 17th century. She described how objects could be designed in one place, made in another, lacquered or relacquered in a third and used in a fourth. Globalisation is clearly not just a recent phenomenon.
The Duchess’s Private Closet at Ham House, with the so-called Javanese table raised on a European base. ©National Trust Images/John Hammond
This reminded me of the unusual lacquer tables at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire, and Ham House, Surrey, which have traditionally been called ‘Javanese’. They both date from the late 17th century and somehow reached England through the East India trade. The one at Ham was adapted to the needs of chair-sitting Europeans by being mounted on a barley-twist base, a telling example of the appropriation – at once practical and symbolic – of an Asian object into a European setting.
Close-up of the table at Ham (inv. no. NT1140034). ©National Trust Collections
But we are not even sure whether these tables did indeed come from Java. There are some related tables in a few German collections, dating from around the same time and with similar distinctive pie-crust rims, but drum-shaped instead of rectangular.
Drum-shaped, reputedly Javanese lacquer tea table (Teetrommel), formerly in the state apartments of the Residenz, Rastatt, Baden. ©Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe
I am hoping to correspond further with Ulrike and with some of the other conference participants to try to find out more about this rare category of lacquer objects – and of course I would very much welcome any suggestions here too.
Dyrham Park: global crossroads
Garden² (no. 7), by Marc Quinn, 2000. © the artist and Arts Council Collection
Dyrham Park is about to host an exhibition of contemporary art from the Arts Council Collection. Entitled A World Away, it will include work by Marc Quinn, Helen Sear, Mark Wallinger, Yinka Shonibare and Leo Fitzmaurice.
Dutch Delftware flower vase with decoration inspired by Chinese porcelain, at Dyrham Park. ©NTPL/John Hammond
The exhibition is part of the Trust New Art programme, a three-year partnership between Arts Council England and the National Trust to promote contemporary art in historic places.
The Diogenes Room at Dyrham, showing one of the English 'Diogenes' tapestries and part of the collection of Delftware. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
The exhibition at Dyrham will interact with the career of William Blathwayt, a politician and administrator handling colonial affairs and global trade under kings Charles II, James II and William III.
Line Painting, by Yinka Shonibare, 2003. © the artist, Stephen Friedman Gallery and Arts Council Collection. This work includes various Dutch wax fabric prints, which originated in Indonesia, were exported by the Dutch to West Africa and were later also produced in Manchester.
Dyrham is still filled with reminders of late-seventeenth-century globalisation, such as the Virginian cedar wood used for the main staircase, the collection of Dutch Delftware, the slave torcheres – shocking to twenty-first-century sensibilities but clearly not so to seventeenth-century ones – and the rare Javanese tea table.
The Balcony Room, with the Javanese tea table and the torcheres supported by chained black slaves. Both William Blathwayt and his uncle Thomas Povey were involved in adminstering the slave plantations in Jamaica. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
As exhibition curator Rupert Goulding says: “We would like the contemporary art to help our visitors look again at the historic collection and perhaps gain a deeper understanding of the house and its creator.”
The Virginian cedar staircase. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
The exhibition will run from 30 March to 28 October 2012.
Posted in Contemporary art, Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire | 4 Comments »
A bureaucrat’s inner Versace
Bureau-cabinet in the Closet at Dyrham. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire presents an interesting curatorial problem: the house is a miniature Baroque palace with a wonderfully rich collection, but its original builder and collector, diplomat and minister William Blathwayt, appears, at least on the surface, to have been rather dull (see his portrait in this previous post).
An illusionistic interior painting by Samuel van Hoogstraeten seen at the end of an enfilade at Dyrham. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
William Blathwayt was nicknamed ‘the elephant’ by his friends, because of the ponderousness of his jokes. He was methodical and very efficient, which allowed him to flourish in government service, first at the British embassy in The Hague, then as clerk to the Privy Council, and finally as Secretary at War, Secretary of State and member of the Board of Trade. But his personality doesn’t seem to have been the stuff that gripping biographies (let alone historical romances) are made of.
The Balcony Room, with its gilded panelling, garden-themed paintings, slave torcheres, Javanese lacquer table and Delft ceramics. ©NTPL/Angelo Hornak
Blathwayt’s collections at Dyrham show the full range of grand Baroque taste, including panoramic tapestries, Dutch paintings, embossed leather wallhangings bursting with fruit and cherubs, a rare Javanese lacquer table and a collection of exuberant Delft earthenware.
Dutch walnut and tortoiseshell chest on stand with Chinese ceramics displayed on top, in the Tapestry Room. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
How did such an apparently grey bureaucrat end up with such a flamboyant house? Was there a hidden side to him? This is what curator Rupert Goulding and visitor experience consultant Jess Monaghan are trying to work out, as they re-assess the way Dyrham is shown to the public. I hope to be able to reveal more about this project (and perhaps even about Blathwayt’s inner Versace) in due course.
Posted in Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire | 11 Comments »
The power of packaging
Shortbread packaging with a design by Adrian Johnson ©Adrian Johnson/Studio H
Recently I began to notice the striking new designs on the boxes of biscuits sold in National Trust shops. It turns out that the graphics have been designed by design consultancy Studio H, who commissioned artist Adrian Johnson to provide illustrations for them.
Biscuit packaging with designs by Adrian Johnson. ©Adrian Johnson/Studio H
Johnson’s work, which is bold and yet gently whimsical, seems to be building on the style of British modernism of the 1940s and 1950s.
To make the designs more specific to the National Trust, Studio H asked Johnson to incorporate visual references to Hidcote Manor, Little Moreton Hall and Seaton Delaval Hall – can you spot them?
Icons designed by Rob Hall of Studio H. ©Rob Hall/Studio H
Rob Hall of Studio H has designed a range of ‘icons’ in a similar romantic modernist style. These icons can be used in different combinations for different products.
Rob Hall's icon designs used in various configurations on National Trust chocolate packaging. ©Rob Hall/Studio H
All this is part of a programme to refresh the National Trust’s corporate brand. The main brief was to give the range of products more visual coherence while at the same time reflecting the huge diversity of what the organisation looks after.
Posted in Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Hidcote Manor, Little Moreton Hall, Northumberland, Seaton Delaval Hall | 8 Comments »
The secret life of objects
I have been awared the Stylish Blogger Award by Colette of NH Design Blog. Isn’t that a pip?!
Set of samurai armour, at Snowshill Manor, Gloucestershire. ©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
I would like to hand the award on to Barbara Sarudy of It’s About Time and Janet Blyberg of ~ JCB ~, two of my blog gurus, leading by example.
Figure of Japanese wind god, at Snowshill Manor. ©NTPL/Stuart Cox
As part of this award one is supposed to share some stylish things. I would like to use this opportunity to show a few more images (which I hope are reasonably stylish) relating to ‘Japaneseness’ and ‘Britishness’, in response to the throughtful comments on a recent post on the subject of preconceptions.
The Japanese Garden, Kingston Lacy, Dorset. ©NTPL/Mark Bolton
The images in this and the earlier post are all of artefacts that have been taken out of their original context and appropriated by someone for whom they were not originally intended. In all these cases this was done lovingly and with admiration, but inevitably the meaning of the objects changed along the way, although that might not be obvious at first glance. One might call this elusive pattern of change the secret life of objects.
Granite temple lantern in the Japanese Garden at Kingston Lacy. ©NTPL/Mark Bolton
The Japanese artefacts at Snowshill were originally made either for the Japanese market or for the export trade. They must have been bought by a British visitor or entrepreneur, probably sold again in Britain at some point and then picked up by Charles Wade, who was continuously adding to his Aladdin’s cave at Snowshill in the 1920s and 1930s.
Wade admired Japanese objects as examples of fine craftsmanship, which he saw as being in decline in Britain. That response drove his collecting mania, which has made Snowshill what it is today. But the previous lives of these objects are interesting as well. Was the suit of armour sold by an impoverished samurai family after the abolition of the military class in 1871? Was the wind god part of the decoration of a temple, and if so why was it disposed of?
Corner cuboard at Hill Top with ceramics including an Edward VII coronation teapot which found its way into one of Beatrix Potter's illustrations for 'The Pie and the Patty Pan.' ©NTPL/Geoffrey Frosh
The Japanese garden at Kingston Lacy was created for Henrietta Bankes around 1910. Even though she clearly wanted a ‘genuine’ Japanese garden it was inevitably influenced by its time and place.
Furthermore, its current appearance is a recent restoration, after it had become overgrown and almost lost. It was recreated as faithfully as possibly, but inevitably the result is slightly different from the ‘original’ – which itself was a recreation on foreign soil of a Japanese original. Nevertheless these echoes, and echoes of echoes, are now part of the genius loci, the spirit of place, of Kingston Lacy.
Vignette in the Hill Top garden reminiscent of Mr McGregor's garden implements in Beatrix Potter's 'Peter Rabbit'. ©NTPL/Stephen Robson
At Hill Top Beatrix Potter preserved the old Lake District farmhouse and collected local furniture and furnishings. She played an important role in preserving parts of the Lake District, but at the same time her view was inevitably that of a well-off, philanthropically-minded outsider. Originally cottage gardens and interiors like this would not have been quite as pretty as she made them, with her artist’s eye.
We owe Beatrix Potter a great debt of gratitude, but at the same time we should not forget that her vision of the place is a particular one, coloured by her Edwardian aestheticism. Today, of course, Hill Top receives many visitors from far and wide (including from places like Japan), who know it through the illustrations in Potter’s famous children’s books, and of course they see it through a slightly different lens again. And so the secret life of objects continues.
Posted in Beauty, Cumbria, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hill Top, Kingston Lacy, Snowshill Manor | 6 Comments »
Later generations
William IV Blathwayt and his wife Frances with Dyrham Park in the background, by Thomas Phillips, 1806. ©NTPL
In the new edition of ABC Bulletin, assistant curator Alison Harpur writes about the family portraits at Dyrham Park ascribed to Thomas Phillips (1770-1845).
Alison was able to check the artist’s sitters book, which is now kept in the National Portrait Gallery in London. She duly found a mention of the double portrait shown above listed under October 1807. It was probably begun in 1806, before William IV Blathwayt’s death.
William Crane Blathwayt, by Thomas Phillips, 1832. ©NTPL/John Hammond
The portraits of the next generation to own Dyrham, William Crane Blathwayt (1795-1839) and his wife Frances Margaret, were also painted by Phillips, and were listed in the sitters book under July 1832. It is interesting that even after more than twenty-five years the family still went back to Phillips for their portraits.
Frances Margaret Blathway, née Taylor, wife of William Crane Blathwayt, by Thomas Phillips, 1832. ©National Trust
William Crane Blathwayt was the son of William IV’s sister Penelope. She had eloped with a Jeremiah Pierce Crane and married him in Gretna Green. The childless William IV and Frances raised William Crane as their son and heir, and he took the name Blathwayt in 1817.
Dyrham Park. ©NTPL/Rupert Truman
These paintings record how, after the explosion of Baroque exuberance at Dyrham under the first William Blathwayt (as shown in previous posts) the later generations of Blathwayts settled down to mostly quiet – and occasionally scandalous – lives as members of the country gentry.
Posted in ABC Bulletin, Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire, Phillips, Thomas, Portraits | 4 Comments »
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What Happens When Senator Chuck Schumer Doesn’t Like the New Bike Lane?
By Ben Fried
United States Senator and Prospect Park West resident Chuck Schumer opposes the two-way, protected bike path in front of his home and has spoken privately with City Council members to discuss “what they’re going to do about [this and other] bike lanes,” the Post’s David Seifman reported this weekend.
U.S. Senator and Prospect Park West resident Chuck Schumer. Photo: Noah Kazis
The Seifman report is the first news account to provide details of the Senator’s involvement in efforts to eradicate the popular PPW redesign and have the street revert to its old form, with three traffic lanes, two parking lanes, zero bike lanes, and rampant speeding. Other members of Schumer’s family, including his wife Iris Weinshall, the former DOT commissioner, were already known to oppose the project.
The news about Schumer’s opposition came the same weekend that WNYC’s Andrea Bernstein reported that PPW opponents including Weinshall and former deputy mayor Norman Steisel have arranged for the white-shoe law firm Gibson Dunn to represent their interests. Randy Mastro, head of the firm’s litigation arm and a former deputy mayor under Rudolph Giuliani, referred the anti-bike lane group to attorney Jim Walden, who took it as a pro bono case. (Walden made the maximum contribution to Schumer’s re-election campaign in 2010.) A lawsuit is expected as soon as this week.
So what happens when a traffic-calming street redesign, which originated from community-based planning workshops and enjoys broad public support, encounters opposition from the most powerful politician in the state? Here’s a timeline of the highlights.
Community groups including the Park Slope Civic Council and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition convene a series of public workshops to discuss traffic, street safety, and public space issues in Grand Army Plaza and the vicinity. The need to redesign Prospect Park West to reduce speeding and improve the neighborhood’s bikeability emerges as a high priority.
In June, as part of its resolution approving the 9th Street bike lane, Brooklyn Community Board 6 asks DOT to study the implementation of a two-way protected bike lane on Prospect Park West.
Park Slope Neighbors collect 1,300 signatures requesting traffic calming and a two-way protected bike lane on Prospect Park West.
April: DOT presents the concept for a two-way protected bike lane on PPW to the transportation committee of CB6. The committee supports the concept in a unanimous vote.
May: The full community board votes in favor of the project, 18-9, then votes 16-14 to request that construction be delayed until September.
April: With the PPW project not built yet, DOT holds an open house explaining the redesign and showing radar data that measured more than 70 percent of motorists speeding on the street, as a result of excess road capacity for traffic.
April: A segment on NY1 reports that anonymous flyers have been distributed on PPW, claiming that the project is proceeding without public notification.
June: The Prospect Park West bike lane is striped.
June: Opponents of the lane, including Chuck Schumer’s daughter Jessica, begin to organize. They form a Facebook group called “No Bike Lane on Prospect Park West Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes.” Membership in the group is quickly eclipsed by membership in a pro-bike lane Facebook group.
July: The Daily News reports that Iris Weinshall is opposed to the bike lane.
Sometime after the lane has been installed, Senator Chuck Schumer speaks privately with City Council members to share his displeasure, asking what the legislators are “going to do about [this and other] bike lanes,” the Post reports.
October 21: Supporters of the redesign and opponents hold simultaneous rallies on PPW. Most estimates have the pro side at about 250 participants, and the antis at about 50.
October 22: DOT releases the first batch of preliminary data on the PPW redesign, showing that speeding has declined by a factor of five and that cycling has substantially increased.
December 7: Results from a survey conducted by City Council members Brad Lander and Steve Levin and CB6 show 78 percent of Brooklynites and more than 70 percent of Park Slope residents want to keep the bike lane.
The Times reports that Schumer’s wife Iris Weinshall and former Deputy Mayor Norman Steisel met with Lander and Levin to lobby for the PPW redesign to be undone.
December 8: DOT releases a second batch of preliminary PPW data, showing that traffic travel time has not been discernibly affected by the redesign.
December 9: The City Council transportation committee holds a hearing on the city’s bike policy. Committee chair James Vacca devotes a disproportionate amount of attention to one bike lane – Prospect Park West – describing a personal visit to PPW and allowing project opponents Marty Markowitz and Norman Steisel to testify at length, before anyone else.
December 31: DOT’s six-month PPW study period ends.
The year begins with a barrage of negative press and opinion pieces about NYC DOT’s bike program. A common claim is that the city is installing bike lanes without public input.
January 21: With the PPW study period over, DOT releases its final data on traffic, cycling, and crashes and injuries on the re-designed street. The injury rate is down significantly and no bike-ped injuries have been reported by NYPD. Bike lane opponents say they do not believe DOT’s data.
City Council Member James Oddo sends a letter to City Hall asking that all bike lanes be subject to environmental review. Experts on environmental review say the proposal holds no water.
With assistance from politically connected white-shoe law firm Gibson Dunn, bike lane opponents file a freedom of information request for DOT’s data on PPW. “Legal action” is expected soon, potentially using environment review law as the basis for suing the city.
Filed Under: Bicycling, Bike Lanes, Charles Schumer, Park Slope, Streetsblog
Is it too late to start helping potential primary challengers against Schumer?
Sen. Schumer (D – Wealthy NY) needs to hear from his constituents directly. Preferably in writing or by phone to his District Office (Not DC office)
Senator Schumer
Suite 17-02
District Office Phone: 212-486-4430
Joel Epstein
Could it be that his wife Iris, the former DOT commissioner, isn’t enthusiastic about being outshone by the current DOT commissioner, a safe streets and pro-community leader who has a million things, including the PPW bike lanes, to show for her time in office? Just saying.
http://www.theurbn.com/2010/09/bike-route-grows-brooklyn/
Doug G.
Ben, don’t forget to mention that Chuck Schumer LOVES biking in Brooklyn:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-charles-e-schumer/exploring-new-york-by-bik_b_218468.html
“But this journey is not one that can be undertaken in a car – you’d miss the details, the human scale, and the pace of life as you fly by. Even walking won’t do – you won’t be able to cover nearly enough ground. To really get to know New York, you’ve got to ride a bicycle.”
Unless you’re his wife, of course.
Nice work, Ben.
Agreed. This timeline should be presented at the opening of the next CB6 hearing.
JBK
Hey hey, ho ho, Chucky Schumer’s got to go?
Can the WFP mount a senatorial campaign?
Schumer is not up for re-election until 2016 so you have plenty of time to organize a primary challenge. Make sure you raise many millions because he will have an enormous campaign war chest if he thinks he needs it.
As a Manhattan resident, I can’t do much about Markowitz but complain. Schumer, on the other hand, is subject to my whims in the voting booth. As of now I am looking for an alternative in the next Democratic primary. If any livable-streets challenger even comes close to gaining traction, I am also open to campaign contributions.
Schumer has always given me a queasy stomach. Lest we forget, he was instrumental in the repeal of Glass Steagall, and therefore contributed directly to the current financial mess.
m to the i
Talk about not being engaged in the public process. He was and is able to speak his mind at any community board hearing on the topic. But our representative has decided that it would be more effective to go behind the scenes and swing some favors from the City Council despite overwhelming public support for the project. Shady!
(The only place I don’t ride frequently is Staten Island, because the Verrazano Bridge still doesn’t have a bike path).
$100 to anyone who gets a photo of Sen. Schumer riding in the PPW bike lane. Seriously, I’ll pay for that out of my own pocket.
Marcia Kramer’s Eyebrow
Nice to know that Chuck is so “green”. As this makes national news, it is sure to get enviro groups extremely mad at him.
Lois Carsbad
Glenn, your $100 prize money is no match for the thousands and thousands Chuck is getting from Norm, Louise and the rest of NBBL.
He’s the classic definition of a limousine liberal.
P-Dubs
let’s not forget this NY Post blast from Chuck’s biking past (jan 10, 2005)
“He sticks to bike paths when he can, noting the conflicts he’s had with wife Iris Weinshall, the city’s transportation boss, who does not place the same importance on creating these paths as he does: ‘The bike people drive her crazy, but they know they have an ally in me,’ Schumer says.”
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/spokes_man_chuck_sen_bikes_brooklyn_wQdvi3ursYnx98j7qqF3CP
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/item_wQdvi3ursYnx98j7qqF3CP#ixzz1DIAmyHdu
To his credit, Chuck and his fellow U.S. Senators were always pretty comfortable riding on the street and sidewalk on PPW, at least for one or two blocks.
http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/30/eyes-on-the-street-tour-de-senator-schumer
http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/30/eyes-on-the-street-critical-mass-of-us-senators/
This issue is going symbolic. The efforts and objections of those opposed simply do not make sense in any other context.
I feel bad for the Senator, given family views, and don’t blame him too much. But this is a case where, symbolically, he can’t afford to win.
Imagine if this issue were to become nationalized. It wouldn’t affect his continuance in office, but it would affect Democrats in general in their competition to appeal to younger generations, by seeming to screw them somewhat less. (What I say now is that no one under 55 should ever vote Republican at the national level based on generational equity; if they believe in small government they’ll just have to start some other political party).
The bike lane stays, it doesn’t matter, because those in favor chill out. The bike lane goes, its loss becomes symbolic of the “real” Democrats for years.
Think of it. The Democratic political class over-rides the majority of the loyally, thoughlessly Democratic voting serfs in a true blue neighborhood, a grass roots neighborhood group, a four year process, the official advisory body for what its worth, and even the local City Council member, a Democrat himself.
And the longer the bike lane stays, the worse it gets. I met a woman at church yesterday evening who I hadn’t met in a few years — we were in a babysitting swap club when our kids were young. We both rode our bikes there, and used the PPW bike lane. She has been commuting by bicycle for two years; I’ve been doing it for 3 1/2 years, neither of us thought to do it years ago. It’s going exponential.
eveostay
P-Dubs. Oh well; some allies were made to be stomped on when the issue gets too personal, I guess.
Mitchell L
Bicycling Senator Chuck Schumer is an utter hypocrite. DOT builds the best bike lane in the city on his street, and he hates it. Why? Because it doesn’t work or is dangerous? No. It’s clearly working. Chuck’s involvement has nothing to do with protecting the community from a bad design, and everything to do with the most truly petty personality politics. This entire affair reeks of entitlement, and Chuck seeking to placate his wife, Iris Weinshall’s petulance and immaturity. Streetsblog has diplomatically characterized the Post and Daily News editorials and columns as attacks on bike lanes and DOT. No. They have primarily been personal attacks on Janette Sadik-Khan. Her name has been raised repeatedly, including in headlines. What appears to be really going on here is that Sadik-Khan pissed off Weinshall, and Weinshall wants her powerful husband to achieve retribution. Whether Park Slope and Brooklyn support the bike lane, or whether that lane is making their neighborhood a better and safer place, well, they don’t care.
I doubt if anyone on this blog is qualified to analyze the dynamics of the Schumer-Weinshall marriage.
rlb
Is anything stirring the pot besides this one quote: “He’s asked legislators what they’re going to do about [this and other] bike lanes.” ?
Because that could mean a lot of things.
As I’ve said all along: surprise, Dems are the conservatives!
Has Streetsblog asked Schumer’s office if the story in the Post is accurate, and, if so, why he opposes the Prospect Park West bike lane? Schumer should have a chance to set the record straight instead of being convicted in the court of public opinion based on a Post story. If he does oppose the lane, it would be good to hear it from him. If he supports the lane, he should say so. Either way, you have a major media outlet bringing him into the fray, and he should clarify what he’s about here.
Larry’s right. The symbolism of Schumer (or his wife) tearing out a bike lane near his home will hurt anything else he tries to do on sustainability issues moving forward.
Much like the Kennedy family’s Cape Wind fiasco, this will only undermine his and his party’s credibility on environmental issues (as soon as FOX news gets a hold of it).
In the 1980s, NIMBYs protested nuclear power plants. In the 2010s, NIMBYs protest bike lanes. Progress?
I wouldn’t say Schumer has any responsibility, as Senator, to take a position on the bike lane, just as I wouldn’t bother state legislators about it.
But my comments about this becoming a potential symbolic issue for the city’s Democratic establishment — both in their own eyes and in the eyes of voters under age 55 — stands. It may not be Schumer’s responsibility, but as a very prominent national Democrat and party leader, it could become his problem if, and only if, the bike lane were removed.
This is hugely symbolic, both from a sustainability perspective, and from a basic democratic process. This was done through a lot of work at the grass roots level. If Schumer succeeds in reversing that effort, he will gain a name as a man with no respect for the constituents he claims to represent.
You can and should participate in the democratic process, just don’t do it near where the senator lives. Shameful.
Ignatz Mouse
I don’t know whether I favor or oppose a bike lane, but Schumer using his Senatorial weight to fix something on his street that he personally doesn’t like is really, really reprehensible.
Hey, Chucky, I don’t like the Stop sign on my corner. Too bad I’m not a Senator.
Bike lanes sounds like an issue for the Greens. The Ds being moribund.
I a head Democrat is leading efforts to destroy community-backed bike lanes, what does that say about the state of the Democratic party? Kinda takes the wind out of the sustainability sails.
We have a message in with Schumer’s office asking for comment on the Post story and the PPW project.
Larry, you’re right that normally there’s no reason at all to ask a US Senator what their position on a bike lane is. After a major paper reports the senator is using their influence to oppose a lane, there’s every reason to ask about it, especially a senator who bikes a lot.
Westchesterite
Just called Schumer’s office — thanks Glenn above for providing the number.
I know people want to run someone against him, but he is one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington and he is solid on lots of other issues.
Just can’t believe he is being so undemocratic about this issue.
Senator Schumer is very likely the only person in New York City who has “yet to take a public position” on the Prospect Park West bike path, if the Post’s David Seifman is correct. Care to enlighten your constituents, Senator?
JamesR
I think the livable streets community can take all of this as a tough lesson in NYC power politics. No one gave a damn about obscure city transportation bureaucrats prior to this flap, and now, thanks to a few entitled, narcissistic blowhards, the initials JSK have become toxic.
I’m 99.9% certain that if the equivalent of the Prospect Park West lane had been installed in, say, Washington Heights or Fordham and given the appropriate due process in public outreach that DOT always utilizes, you’d never hear a peep about it again, and if there was discontent with the lane, it would receive a tiny fraction of the media attention. I’m saddened by what this reveals about how things really work here – I thought we were different than, say, SF and their injunctions on bike infrastructure – but reality has borne out something else. Coupled with the ticketing blitz, a lot of my enthusiasm for cycling as well as posting on here has been sucked out.
Chuck Schumer is a heavy hitter to say the least. Bloomberg is down for the count, post-Snowmageddon. Does anyone else on the political scene here have the balls to cross Schumer on this issue? Paging Scott Stringer? What I want to know is this: just how big of a constituency do we make up, anyway, and is it worth any political actor’s while to take up our cause?
ddartley
In the Post story today, Weinshall is quoted, ”
“When new bike lanes force the same volume of cars and trucks into fewer and narrower traffic lanes, the potential for accidents between cars, trucks and pedestrians goes up rather than down,”
Okay, is that really what’s generally accepted in engineering these days? Sounds either outdated, or if not, faulty because it assumes that speeds don’t go down in smaller spaces, which assumption I believe is wrong. Anyone?
ddartley:
Speeds do go down in smaller spaces. It’s a matter of environmental psychology. If road lanes are narrower, then drivers feel less safe traveling at higher speeds, and adjust their behavior accordingly. It doesn’t mean that streets with narrower lanes are less safe; it just means that drivers are exercising more caution, which is a good thing, especially when the potential for conflict/accidents is high. Reducing lane width is a textbook example of how to make streets safer.
In the specific case of PPW, the road was three lanes wide, but only carried enough traffic to warrant having two lanes (traffic lanes carry a maximum of 500-700 vehicles per hour, and PPW carried about 1,000 vehicles during rush hour). The road was downsized to reflect the reality of the needs of the neighborhood.
Weinshall is off her rocker.
Weinshall’s opinion is contradicted by the fact that since the bike lane was installed there have been fewer crashes on PPW. She needs a new theory.
Thanks, Andrew, exactly as I thought.
Worse than being “off her rocker,” I would say that she was outright deliberately dishonest. Pretty shameful for a former DOT Commissioner trading on her old title.
Imagine that: a former DOT Commissioner who oversaw the reduction of traffic fatalities greater than her successor and installed miles and miles of bike lanes being pilloried here by a few entitled narcissistic blowhards.
You people have no manners.
Nathan H.
At least no one is taking this personally.
Joe R.
Give this time. In a few years, as gas prices rise, and the subway reverts back to the way it was in the 1970s, there will be such heavy demand for bike infrastructure that it will become the “third rail of politics” ( i.e. touch it and you die ) in big cities. As things stand, despite the press being given to Markowitz ( and now Schumer ) on this issue, when the facts boil to the surface they will come out looking like regressive a-holes. The whole world is finally waking up to the fact that private cars are at best a convenience in dense urban environments. By no means should transportation policy revolve around moving as much car traffic as rapidly as possible in a big city. NYC already has rapid transit. Sure, it needs funding. It also needs to be greatly expanded. Cycling can sure as a great adjunct to this mass transit, serving areas which the subways don’t cover.
Hint to DOT regarding traffic calming-start taking out as many traffic lights as it safely can. Basically only leave them in place where major arterials intersect each other. Why? No single one thing allows motorists to feel safe driving at high speeds than a wave of greens. If not for that, few motorists would dare go over even 30 mph for fear of having a collision at every uncontrolled intersection. Try it. It works well. It’s less contentious than calming traffic by installing bike lanes. As a plus, removing most traffic lights suddenly makes it possible to get decent trip times by bike without flouting the law at nearly every intersection. It also removes one weapon from the anticycling brigade-namely that bikes never stop at lights. My guess is if red lights were a relative rarity on an average cycling trip, rather than a once in every three blocks occurrence, the majority of cylists would obey them. Come to think of it, overuse of ANY traffic control device generally results in its being casually treated by all users. That’s why motorists in NYC “gun it” on yellow to make the light. When you constantly hit lights, this behavoir is no surprise. So in addition to facilitating speeding, excess use of traffic lights also seems to encourage dangerous behavoir on the part of motorists. And replace stop signs with yields in most cases. Stop signs are yet another overused device in NYC.
It may be quite possible that transportation is even more corrupt than the financial industry.
Chuck Schumer’s Office Has No Comment on Prospect Park West
By Noah Kazis | Feb 16, 2011
Streetsblog has contacted Senator Chuck Schumer’s press office twice asking for comment on the Prospect Park West bike lane and received no reply. Reports have recently surfaced personally tying Schumer to efforts to reverse the Prospect Park West redesign, which enjoys broad popular support according to a web survey of nearly 3,000 Brooklynites. Schumer’s wife, […]
The NBBL Files: Chuck Schumer “Doesn’t Like the Bike Lane”
By Noah Kazis | Dec 20, 2012
Editor’s note: With yesterday’s appellate ruling prolonging the Prospect Park West case, Streetsblog is running a refresher on the how the well-connected gang of bike lane opponents waged their assault against a popular and effective street safety project. This is the third installment from the six-part NBBL Files. This piece originally ran on October 5, 2011. This is […]
The NBBL Files: PPW Foes Pursued Connections to Reverse Public Process
Editor’s note: With yesterday’s appellate ruling prolonging the Prospect Park West case, Streetsblog is running a refresher on the how the well-connected gang of bike lane opponents waged their assault against a popular and effective street safety project. This is the fifth installment from the six-part NBBL Files. This piece originally ran on November 10, 2011. This is […]
Have You Seen the Latest Marcia Kramer Segment on Prospect Park West?
By Ben Fried | Feb 14, 2011
Hey, have you seen Marcia Kramer’s latest segment about Prospect Park West? It’s at least her third piece on a single Brooklyn bike lane in the last year. You can tell she’s had some practice — take a look (sorry about the minivan ad you’ll have to sit through first): If you only got your […]
Ten Things NBBL Doesn’t Want You to Know
By Ben Fried | Apr 26, 2011
If opponents of an effective street safety project repeat dishonest distortions about it often enough, does that make their position true? Apparently, the Daily News editorial board thinks so. An opinion piece they published over the weekend on the Prospect Park West bike lane might as well have come straight from the desk of Gibson […]
For Nearly Two Years, Ex-NYC DOT Chief Has Undercut the Signature Street Safety and Sustainable Transportation Agenda of Her Successor
By Ben Fried and Noah Kazis | Jun 21, 2011
Tomorrow, Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Bert Bunyan is expected to weigh in for the first time on the core arguments brought by opponents of the Prospect Park West redesign against the City of New York. Ostensibly, the dispute is between the anti-bike lane groups known as “Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes” (NBBL) and “Seniors for […]
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We are The Stem Cell Nutrition Company®, pioneers in stem cell science, and we have demonstrated that adult stem cells function as the natural renewal system of the body. Our products enhance and support the work of the body’s stem cells by releasing more stem cells, helping to circulate them in the blood and migrate them into tissues, where they can perform their daily function of renewal for optimal health. Our Mission is to enhance wellness and prosperity around the world.
2018: STEMTECH SUCCESSFULLY RESTRUCTURES
The company successfully restructures by adding valuable and experienced business professionals to its ownership team. Former president of GNC Nutrition joins the Board of Directors. DermaStem Advanced™ skin renewal serum formula is launched.
2017: THE RENEWAL OF STEMTECH AND INTRODUCTION OF RCM
The company started the year with one of the most successful conventions in its history where we officially launched the new website, new tools, and three new advanced formula products - StemRelease3™, MigraStem™, and DermaStem Lift. We also introduced the highly-qualified and prominent Scientific Advisory Board headed up by Dr. Mira Gadzala. The most exciting announcement was the introduction of the new standard in stem cell nutrition and total body support with the RCM system.
2016: New Product Division and Expansion Milestone
The company expands to over 50 countries! Our expansion comes along with the launch of D-Fuze, an innovative product aimed to dissipate the EMFs that radiate from cell phones. D-Fuze opens a new division in the Stemtech line - ECO Products. The company adds prominent Dr. Yury Kronn, PhD, to its scientific board. Dr. Kronn specializes in Vital Force Technology, also called “subtle energy,” which is the basis for D-Fuze.
2015: The Next Generation of our Flagship Product
Stemtech unveils se3 advanced formula, the pinnacle of wellness. An amazing 11 new markets open, bringing our global family to 45 countries! We are named to the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing companies for the third year in a row!
2014: A Year of Worldwide Expansion and Recognition
2014 was a landmark year for Stemtech, with a number of significant developments. The company relocated our World Headquarters to Pembroke Pines, Florida, along with establishing a new European HQ in Strasbourg, France, and a new Latin American HQ in Jalisco, Mexico. Stemtech has embarked on a focused branding campaign, starting with the unveiling of a sleek, new company logo and a new line of product labels, designed to raise our level of recognition and provide a seamless experience for our Independent Business Partners, as well as for their customers. In 2014, Inc. Magazine recognized Stemtech for the third time in 5 years, and for the second year in a row, with a place on the Inc. 5,000 fastest growing companies list. We have now set up operations in over 30 nations around the world. Stemtech will look back on 2014 as a banner year for us all.
2013: The Year of the Stem Cell
2013 was hailed “The Year of the Stem Cell” by The Atlantic. Another publication, Popular Science, followed suit shortly after, both pointing out that great strides in stem cell science are being made now, thus giving more people access to stem cell related health technologies.
On March 1, 2013, Stemtech launched a major campaign —Stem Cells for All— to help educate the world about stem cells and support the growing awareness.
June 2013: Dr. Allan Somersall PhD, MD released The Amazing Power of Stem Cell Nutrition, the first ever book written about Stem Cell Nutrition. The response was so positive that it made the Best Seller List shortly after its release.
2012: Stemtech Applauds Nobel Prize Award Winner, Stem Cell Research
Stemtech applauds the Nobel Committee’s selection of stem cell researchers John Gurdon of Great Britain and Shinya Yamanaka of Japan for the 2012 Prize in physiology and medicine.
In experiments spanning over a 50-year period, Gurdon and Yamanaka “have revolutionized our understanding of how stem cells and organisms develop,” the Committee said in its announcement.
Stemtech’s President and CEO Ray C. Carter, Jr. said, “The award of this Nobel Prize further supports the recent momentum that sees adult stem cells as the most credible and promising answer to the major health challenges of our time.”
2011: Two New Products & Record Sales
SE2® Advanced Adult Stem Support is launched! As a longer-lasting formula, it supports the release of MORE adult stem cells. This patent-pending, proprietary, all-natural health advancement supports the body’s natural renewal system to help the body maintain and repair tissue and organs.
DermaStem® Renewal Serum does what no other skincare product can. Revolutionary, all-natural, it revitalizes the skin at the cellular level to restore the skin’s youthful vibrancy, and unveils brighter, smoother, younger-looking skin, starting in just 7 days.
2011 is a ground-breaking year for Stemtech. We are enjoying record sales in over 20 countries and are proud to see our growing family of Business Partners achieving success around the world.
2010: National Recognition
Following industry wide accolades, a year earlier, Stemtech received national recognition in 2010 by making Inc.’s coveted Inc. 5,000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies in America (ranked 1,484 out of over 29 million companies).
2009: Industry Accolades
2009 proved to be a big year for Stemtech. In addition to establishing a solid reputation as the global leader in adult stem cell nutrition, Stemtech is chosen as one of three finalists for the US Direct Selling Association’s prestigious Rising Star award.
2008: Growth and Expansion
With its network marketing business model in full effect, sales of Stemtech products begin to boom. Worldwide demand for stem cell nutrition encourages global expansion and Stemtech opens offices in more than a dozen countries on six continents.
2007: Stemtech on the Rise
With the launch of stem cell nutrition, Stemtech grows exponentially. Growth is partially fueled by a groundbreaking clinical study published in the highly respected journal, Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine. This study helps to define Stemtech as the leader of the adult stem cell nutrition industry.
2005: Stemtech is Founded
With a unique product in their possession, the researchers needed a business partner who shared their passion for adult stem cell nutrition and their vision for the future. They found such a partner in Ray Carter, a seasoned business entrepreneur. Ray worked tirelessly to form Stemtech, launching the company with a single dietary supplement that supported stem cell release.
2000's: Amazing Discovery
Inspired by new developments in adult stem cell research, scientists were struck with a novel idea: what if this algae was somehow supporting the body in naturally releasing more stem cells?
Motivated by the new challenge, a research team went into high gear. More than 150 experiments later, the scientists experienced a breakthrough. At last, they had isolated the unique components responsible for the health benefits.
1980's – 1990’s: Good News Travels Fast
The multitude of reports touting the results experienced by consumers of algae helped sales of the botanical soar. However, the secret to the plant’s wide range of benefits had yet to be revealed.
1970's: Remarkable Beginnings
In the 1970s, a school teacher who was concerned about his student’s lack of focus and energy wondered if his students would benefit from eating nutrient-dense algae. Inspired by the idea, the teacher began experimenting with a natural growing freshwater plant. Those who tried the algae reported remarkable benefits.
10370 USA Today Way
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This post is part of a series aimed at finding the best places for finding writing jobs online. So far, our favorite website for an average person trying to make money online is Upwork.com (links to full review).
WriterAccess Review For Writers: Will I Get Past The Wide Moat At This Elite Site
How easy is it to land paid gigs at Writer's Access?
Introduction to WriterAccess
Web site: WriterAccess.com
This is a successful content mill. It has:
Strong graphics
the messages on each of its pages is convincing
the functionality is spot on
The site is growing and is among the top content mills in the nation
But, does this Boston-based site provide paying work for freelance writers?
Yes. Acceptance was not a foregone conclusion, but I was added to the crew and got access to jobs. But before getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s look at how it all started.
Getting Started with WriterAccess
Much of the WriterAccess opening page is dedicated to customers of content, rather than the creators. However, WriterAccess does a bit better than most, by at least allowing us our own top menu item. To access information about writing for the site, select “For Talent” in the top menu bar or talk to the “Wabot” messenger that pops up on the screen.
But when you get to the section for freelance writers, a large amount of content and questions awaits.
Join Our Liberated Workforce
These are jobs available for freelancers at the site WriterAccess.
This includes whether you want to join:
After selecting writing projects, the focus of this review, I was asked to fill out a number of biographical items:
Summaries of Experiences
Full Summary
Specialties Industry
Summary Content
Type Summary
W-9 and PayPal information
The next stop was the writing test. Normally, content mill tests are kind of a throw-away item. It takes about a third-grade education to pass most of them.
But WriterAccess’s test is a little scary. The site says questions are not meant to “trick” a prospective writer, but there is a “subtle” “logic” that is meant to help test takers learn and help discern the rating a writer deserves. And “(w)e do not allow re-takes under any circumstances,” the site says. So if you plan to apply, learn from my experience below:
What are my views after taking the test?
It was hard. AP test hard.
Most questions involved rare grammatical or word usage situations.
Most questions involved writing quandaries writers wouldn’t entertain in the first place.
I kind of imagined a bunch of really smart English majors in a Boston coffee shop to creating the test. I see them trying to one-up each other, living up to the standards of town with 35 colleges. I think the aim of the exercise was to create a really hard test that weeds out writers, which it does, and maybe provide test creators with a serving of highbrow pie.
Needless to say, I didn’t do very well, about average really, which explains my sarcasm. (Was that the best use of grammar? What would WriterAccess editor say?)
It took me about three hours to finish the test and preliminary items in order to get work. They said they would get back to me in a week or so with a rating based on the test and information submitted. Spoiler alert! They took much longer.
Other Reviews of WriterAccess
Reviews of WriterAccess are mostly positive. Like me, many are impressed with the design and confident money can be made at the site.
Probably the most consistent complaint was the lack of work. According to some, the number of jobs was low and those that arrived in the work queue were quickly snapped up. One complained that if you weren’t a morning person than the site could be a problem. The list of jobs arrive at 5 a.m. and they are gone soon.
This indicated to me that WriterAccess already has a full stable of writers, making me question whether it makes sense to even try my hand at this freelance writing gig.
Reviewers said communication with WriterAccess staff was impressive, and that was my finding as well. Although not yet accepted, the staff did answer my pestering queries very promptly.
How WriterAccess Works
This is the pay scale offered to freelancers at WriterAccess. Freelance writers are given a star rating upon acceptance.
Writers are given a rating between two and six stars based on the test and evaluation of the sign-up stage info. The higher the rating, the more money a writer can make:
6-star: minimum 7.0-cents per word
The site has an open queue with available work. But it is not the only queue. Three areas pair clients with writers based on resumes and summaries provided in the sign-up section:
Love lists
Freelancers make proposals for projects in the Casting Calls section. This is a competitive area where clients choose the writer that best fits their needs. That client offers compensation that’s usually higher than the advertised amounts.
Love Lists include the names of freelance writers chosen by clients for doing a good job on other projects, because of the information in the summaries and samples, or by applying for Casting Calls. Being on a Love List does provide exclusivity, but the size of a list depends on how much love a client wants in his or her stable.
Solos are arrangements between a client and certain freelancer.
The accepted writer dashboard, seen here, is one the most robust and easy-to-use tools available to freelancers. The tool tells everything from projects done to amount to be paid and when.
Working for WriterAccess
As an accepted writer, I get access to an amazing dashboard. It’s robust, sophisticated and perfectly organized. If I had to compare the dashboard, it’s like the “Insert Post” dashboard in WordPress with all the functional items to the right and links to pages of all sorts on the left column.
It really has everything.
You can see:
Pay and when it will be available.
Number of jobs available based on different categories of work.
Personal status updates.
Links to messages.
Messages show up in my personal email daily alerting me to new jobs in the “Content Orders” queue and others. These job emails are sent at 5 a.m. and the queue indeed shrinks pretty quick, so jumping on projects early helps. These emails often alert you to empty queues as well, of which there were more than a few.
Speaking of those job in the queue…
Instructions describing these projects are more than a page long, discussing everything from the audience to the client site to content ideas. It’s all very good for a writer, in my opinion. There are few questions about the product a client expects.
And the pay is OK. I, like most beginning writers according to WritersAccess, started out at a 3-star rating and the jobs available pay about 1.3 cents a word. Though, after WriterAccess takes its cut the price drops to about 1 cent a word.
Three-star writers access some pretty simple projects, usually product descriptions from companies offering items from shoes to adult products on the day I looked.
This was the first time I got a chance to write about X-rated merchandise. What will I tell my children?
A Brief History of WriterAccess
The Boston-based company was started in 2010, without VC capital as they often mention. The company says their focus has always been content and matching talent with the needs of its customers. They also keep up with changes in the marketplace, such as providing analytics tools to help customers know that content is working and providing different content styles.
WriterAccess joined the elite content bandwagon and started conferences in 2015. Conferences are the content mills’ “social media” strategy to prove they are experts in the field. The company has been at it for three years and clearly, the event is a highlight.
It was selected as an INC5000 company and is continuing to explore new avenues, such as “psychometric matchmaking” and “expansion of an influencer marketplace.”
These moments in company history are notable. In my opinion, it shows the blueprint of success for a content creation company. I was actually a fan of their blog as well, and there's one post I liked that concentrates on content expectations. It was very informative and pro-writer!
This is the dashboard freelance writers see after submitting sign-up information and taking a test at WriterAccess.
Landing Jobs and Pay at WriterAccess
I didn’t get a job yet. Pay is done through Paypal twice a month, according to the site. An account must have at least $10 before money can be withdrawn.
In general, jobs completed and submitted for payment at the end of the month will be paid between the 7th and 9th of the following month. Those submitted for pay halfway through the month, the 15th, will be paid between the 22nd and 24th.
Pros and Cons of WriterAccess
They know what they are doing.
They are growing and have a good reputation.
Pay seems reliable.
They ask for proof of strong English skills, beyond that of a native speaker.
One of the best, if not the best, dashboard for writers on the market.
Despite the level of writing, pay is still low.
Getting started can be a daunting task.
The site can be seen as snobby.
No byline.
Possibly already has enough writers.
Would I recommend WriterAccess?
WriterAccess sets a pretty high bar.
Their screening process is meant for strong writers who are serious about freelancing. And being demoralized by not doing well on the test or not having a hefty biography can take the steam out of a writer new to freelancing.
Is it worth it given the rather lackluster pay rates? I think yes.
WriterAccess is successful and being accepted as a writer means being associated with a venerable brand. And now that I’ve been accepted, my bias for the site only increases.
WriterAccess is also a good place to see where a freelance writer stands. The creators of the site did their homework and have the apparatus to identify effective content creators.
If I were in the market for content, I would actually trust WriterAccess to provide decent copy.
The pay rates, however, are a bit low compared to the three-plus hours spent setting up an account. The creators of the site can get all the information they need about a writer without the robust requirements, in my opinion.
Being accepted to the site does give me a different outlook on the site, however. I am happy I tried my hand and impressed by the super robust dashboard that leaves no questions about what is available to you as a freelance writer.
None of my previous comments, mostly negatives, about the site changed much. The barrier to entry is still there and it can be cumbersome. And, again, the pay is still a little light as is the number of available jobs.
As a writer, you have an in-demand talent that can be used to earn you TONS of money online. Information is the currency of the internet! Learn how to create your own blog-style website and make money through advertising.
You can choose to promote affiliate products or just use general advertising that pays per click. Write daily on a topic you think is interesting, and you can make a bunch of money online doing what you love!
Filed Under: Make Money Online Through Writing Tagged With: Get Paid To Write, Online Income Writing, Online Writing Jobs, Writers, Writing Jobs
C.J. says
I was recently accepted by writeraccess and I’m looking forward to giving it a shot.
I do agree with much of what you said but the dashboard is a bit confusing to me compared to Verblio (formerly blogmutt).
Verblio’s pay is also much better with a very inclusive writer’s forum and responsive administration.
OlafKS says
Thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
You’re welcome Olaf!
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« “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan”
“Wall E” »
He’s allowed into the court room, and there, standing center camera is an older gentleman, with thick glasses, and a scowl on his face, and with a deliberate flap he pops open his folding fan and quickly airs himself off. We’re drawn immediately to that flap of the fan, and to Mifune’s Gorilla like performance. He spits the word “fools” out when speaking of his children. You now know who’s story this is. The boldness of a singular movement with the fan speaks volumes. And this gesture is taken advantage of whole heartedly and with great effect throughout the rest of the film.
In this first scene with Kiichi, the patriarch of this crumbling family, Kurosawa holds the wide shot, keeping Mifune dead center. But suddenly in a fit of rage Kichii’s hand swings down. The camera suddenly jumps to a close up of the hand hitting the desk, overturning a glass full of liquid. Emphasis. This boldness of visual directing and strong character choices signifies Kurosawa’s career as a director and Mifune’s collaboration with him as an actor.
The gasping and panting death scene Mifune has in Seven Samurai, the slow motion shot of a downed thief by Shimura’s samurai blade in the same film, pretty much every moment of Rashomon is filled with distinctly bold decisions (the structure itself breaks about every convention imaginabe), Ran is full of bold colors and violence, the final shot of Sanjuro holds on the two samurai as they stare each other down for an incredibly extended moment of time – then in one quick movement and spray of blood their fates are decided. Pick up any number of Kurosawa’s films and you’ll see this same boldness at work.
This type of boldness feels largely lacking in our modern era of cinema. It feels largely lacking in any form of storytelling from novels to live theatre. There’s a comfort that studios and publishers take in the same old thing. Or a pandering ensues that studios seem to lap up. Few directors or writers attempt to play with the reality of the world around us. Little is exaggerated for effect, instead everything is grounded to help keep the reality of the situation supposedly easy to relate to. I can name off a handful of directors that reach and claw for such moments of levity, sometimes to great effect – sometimes to cinematic floundering. The Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, Alexander Payne, David Lynch, Takashi Miike, David Cronenberg and M. Knight Shyamalan spring to mind. (As does Chuck Palahniuk as far as novels go.)
The most recent of these that I’ve seen is Shyamalan’s The Happening. Shyamalan makes very bold decisions, but in a different way than Kurosawa. He tries to avoid all of the cliches of the modern disaster movie. For one, he holds shots for too long and at a distance so we feel helpless, where as other big budget disaster films throw you into the explosions and cut around quickly.
As Jim Emerson describes in his write up, certain coverage shots to help define spacial relationships are left out. I hardly think that this is a fault that the film holds, as Emerson feels. By leaving out shots that give us our bearings we’re left with several sequences that are almost surreal and dream-like in nature: the bodies dropping off of the roof of the construction site one after the next, floating to a ground we can’t see is a great example. It’s not horrifying, but strange. It’s the line from the construction worker that kills the moment.
This visual trickery is meant to put us into the shoes of the people witnessing these events. It’s not scary but so bewildering that a person shouldn’t know how to react. If the person next to you suddenly and without warning committed suicide, how would you feel? Then a few feet away another person, then another person. I don’t know if you’d feel scared for your life, but you’d probably feel down right left helpless. Leaving the audience with the feeling of bewilderment and helplessness times 10 as Shyamalan does is perhaps a bad goal to shoot for, because that’s what they leave the theatre feeling. Even though he pretty much hits us over the head with the message of the film.
So what constitutes a bold choice worth taking and one that’s not worth taking? Where is that line drawn? Watching Day Lewis’s performance as Daniel Plainview, at what point does it become too much. Bold for the sake of being bold. At what point does boldness become cheap shock? I think boldness becomes cheap when the filmmaker stops being honest and/or doesn’t treat his audience with emotional respect.
I agree with most other reviewers, including Emerson, that Shyamalan treats his audience like idiots at times during The Happening. I also felt that there were moments in which his bold decisions became almost exhibitionist in nature. As when the two kids are blown away by shotguns at point blank range. It was a cheap moment.
In Hostel I and II, a much lesser film in theory than The Happening, Eli Roth shows great skill as to when gratuitous violence is worth showing and when it isn’t. To not show something sometimes is a far more bold decision than to show something. For instance in Brian DePalma’s Mission Impossible he slowly fades out just as Tom Cruise takes his woman’s hand.
I digress, let’s look at the flap of the folding fan again, if Mifune hadn’t committed completely to that one swift movement at any one occasion it would have been silly. It would have been dishonest. And the believability of the film and the character would have suffered, because everything hinged on those singular beats of Mifune’s performance. You would have seen through the guise, that the movie was created to impart a message or a moral — Nuclear weaponry is bad!
Now look at The Happening. Where in the film do the performances, the script or the direction become dishonest? When are decisions made that break from the believability of the world Shyamalan is creating. A world that, like I Live in Fear, is there to present a message — treat our environment with care, Shyamalan screams at us, as Kurosawa did about the awful power of the H-Bomb. I’ve already named a few moments that for me distract from the reality of the film in their blatant disregard for, not logic, but emotional intelligence among the audience members.
Takashi Miike is another one of those directors who’s films sometimes blow me away with their bold choices and other times turn me off when things are done just to shock us into submission.
Consider these questions with any film that attempts to be bold. There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. 12 Monkeys and L’Age D’or. Lust/Caution and Psycho. And hopefully more bold decisions like moments in many of these films will continue to be made. Remember, if movies like The Happening weren’t attempted, we also wouldn’t have movies like Unbreakable, which is bold in how it deals with the relationships of its characters and then how it concludes, and feels just right.
Tags: 12 Monkeys, Akira Kurosawa, Bold Cinema, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Eli Roth, Emotional Intelligence in Art, I Live in Fear, Japanese cinema, Jim Emerson's Scanners, L'Age D'or, M. Knight Shyamalan, Meaning in The Happening, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Takashi Shimura, The Happening, Toshiro Mifune
This entry was posted on June 23, 2008 at 11:03 pm and is filed under Cinema, Film, Film Criticsm, Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
2 Responses to ““I Live in Fear” of “The Happening”: The Art of Boldness, Kurosawa, and Shyamalan”
Trying to find meaning in “The Happening” « Phil-zine! Says:
[…] Shyamalan’s new film The Happening. If you want to read my original post, here. And a later post that’s about the boldness of directors like Shyamalan and further talks about why this film […]
“The Happening”: Meaning in the Mess « Phil-zine! Says:
[…] over my little blog looking for the meaning. They want to know JM! (You can also check out my later post in which I talk about the boldness of directors like Shyamalan, and I continue to do some […]
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Internationally Comparable Mathematics Scores for Fourteen African Countries
Center for Global Development Working Paper No. 444
52 Pages Posted: 7 Jan 2017
See all articles by Justin Sandefur
Justin Sandefur
Date Written: December 2, 2016
Internationally comparable test scores play a central role in both research and policy debates on education. However, the main international testing regimes, such as PISA, TIMSS, or PIRLS, include very few low-income countries. For instance, most countries in Southern and Eastern Africa have opted instead for a regional assessment known as SACMEQ. This paper exploits an overlap between the SACMEQ and TIMSS tests — in both country coverage, and questions asked — to assesses the feasibility of constructing global learning metrics by equating regional and international scales. I compare three different equating methods and find that learning levels in this sample of African countries are consistently (a) low in absolute terms, with average pupils scoring below the fifth percentile for most developed economies; (b) significantly lower than predicted by African per capita GDP levels; and (c) converging slowly, if at all, to the rest of the world during the 2000s. While these broad patterns are robust, average performance in individual countries is quite sensitive to the method chosen to link scores. Creating test scores which are truly internationally comparable would be a global public good, requiring more concerted effort at the design stage.
Keywords: learning assessments, education quality, human capital, Africa
JEL Classification: I25, J24, O15, O55
Sandefur, Justin, Internationally Comparable Mathematics Scores for Fourteen African Countries (December 2, 2016). Center for Global Development Working Paper No. 444. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2893768 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2893768
Justin Sandefur (Contact Author)
Center for Global Development ( email )
2055 L St. NW
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Justia Patents US Patent Application for Exercise device Patent Application (Application #20070232465)
Exercise device
A resistance device for an exercise machine which includes a flywheel which is mounted for rotation about an axis and two actuators, on opposed sides of the flywheel, which are mounted for rotation in unison about the axis and which are directly coupled to the flywheel.
This invention relates to a resistance device which is of compact construction and which can be used in a variety of applications e.g. in an energy storage mechanism, or in an exercise machine such as a treadmill, exercise cycle, elliptical-type machine, or a fly-wheel based system, and wherein, according to requirement, the exercise machine can be actuated by a user's hands and arms, or legs.
The invention provides a resistance device which includes a load-resisting member which is mounted for rotation about a first axis, a drive member which is mounted for rotation about the first axis, at least a first actuator for rotating the drive member, and a drive transfer arrangement for translating rotational drive from the drive member into rotational drive of the load-resisting member, and wherein the rotational speed of the load-resisting member is greater than the rotational speed of the drive member.
The first actuator may take on any suitable form but, preferably, is in the nature of a crank.
Preferably the resistance device includes a second actuator and the first and second actuators are located, respectively, on opposed sides of the load-resisting member. In the case in which each actuator is a crank the cranks are preferably angularly displaced at 180° relatively to each other.
The load-resisting member may be mounted on an axle and it may be freely rotatable about the axle. In other words the load-resisting member is not necessarily fixed to the axle. Each actuator may be directly fixed to the axle.
The drive member may be mounted to the axle and it may be fixed to the axle.
The drive transfer arrangement may be of any appropriate type and preferably includes a shaft which is parallel to the first axis, a first pulley which is driven by means of a belt, chain or similar device from the drive member and which is mounted to the shaft on a first side of the load-resisting member, the first pulley being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the drive member, a second pulley which is positioned on a second side of the load-resisting member, remote from the first side, the second pulley being fixed to the shaft, a third pulley which is fixed to the load-resisting member and which is on the second side of the load-resisting member, the third pulley being smaller in diameter than the second pulley and being rotatable in at least a first direction about the first axis, in unison with the load-resisting member, and a belt, chain or similar device for driving the third pulley from the second pulley.
The third pulley may be fixed to the load-resisting member via a one-way drive device, such as a one-way clutch or bearing so that rotational drive in a first direction is transferred from the pulley to the load-resisting member. However the action of the one-way drive device is such that drive is not transferred from the load-resisting member to the third pulley.
“Pulley” is used herein in a generic sense and includes a pulley, cog, roller or similar rotational drive or driven device.
The load-resisting member may of any appropriate kind and preferably is in the nature of a flywheel. The flywheel may be braked in any appropriate way to provide a yielding load-resisting force which acts against free rotation of the flywheel. In this regard use may be made of a belt or similar friction device which acts against movement of the flywheel, a magnetic brake, or any equivalent device. The invention is not limited in this regard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, in exploded form, a resistance device according to one form of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The accompanying drawing illustrates, in exploded form, a resistance device 10 according to the invention. Only those components which are necessary for an understanding of the working of the invention are illustrated. It is to be understood that other components such as a housing, safety guard or the like have been omitted for clarity of illustration.
The device 10 includes an axle 12 which is positioned on a first axis 14. A load-resisting device in the form of a flywheel 16 is mounted for free rotation on the axle. Thus the flywheel is not rotatable together with the axle but is rotatable about the axle.
The axle 12, on a first side 18, has a number of flat surfaces 20. A drive member 22, in the nature of a ribbed pulley, is fitted over an end of the axle which protrudes on the first side and is fixed thereto so that the pulley and the axle are rotatable in unison.
A cranked actuator 24 with a hole 26 which is complementary to the end of the axle with the flat surfaces 20, is engaged with the flat surfaces in a non-releasable manner. The actuator includes a lever 28 which terminates in a handle 30 which is rotatable about a stub axle 32.
A support frame member 34 is used to support the protruding end of the axle and to shield the actuator 24 from the drive member 22.
A shaft 40, located on a second axis 41 which is spaced from and which is parallel to the axis 14, is mounted, at one end, to a bearing, not shown, which is engaged with the support frame member 34. A first pulley 42 is fixed to the shaft so that it is rotatable together with the shaft. The pulley has a smaller diameter than the drive member 22. A ribbed belt 46 which passes over a jockey wheel 48 is used for transferring rotational movement from the drive member 22 to the first pulley 42.
A second pulley 60, which is larger in diameter than the first pulley 42, is mounted to one end of the shaft 40 on a second side 62 of the flywheel 16. A ribbed belt 64 is engaged with the second pulley and is used for transferring rotational movement from the second pulley to a third pulley 70 which is fixed to the flywheel. The third pulley 70 is smaller in diameter than the second pulley. The axle 12 protrudes from the flywheel and the third pulley 70, on the second side 62. This protruding end of the axle is similar to the protruding end on the first side of the flywheel and carries flat formations 20A which are similar to the flat surfaces 20. A crank actuator 80 is engageable with the flat formations 20A.
In this example the actuator 80 is offset, in an angular sense, by 180° with respect to the actuator 24. The actuators are however linked and when one actuator is rotated in a first direction about the axis 14 the other actuator is rotated in the same direction and at the same rate.
In the illustrated example the device 10 is designed to be actuated by hand. The flywheel 16 may be frictionally braked using a belt or similar device, which is engaged with a periphery of the flywheel, using techniques which are known in the art. Preferably however a magnetic brake, of a kind which is known in the art, is used for inhibiting free rotation of the flywheel, according to requirement. The magnetic brake typically includes one or more magnets 90 which are fixed to the flywheel and which are rotated, together with the flywheel, passed ferro-magnetic components in which electromagnetic fields are induced which restrain flywheel rotation. This kind of brake is readily adjustable to exert a greater or lesser braking force on the flywheel.
If the axle 12 is rotated, by operating one or both of the actuators 24 and 80, then the drive member 22 is rotated in the same direction. Rotational drive is then transferred to the shaft 40. As the drive member 22 is larger in diameter than the first pulley the rotational speed of the first pulley is greater than the rotational speed of the member 22. The second pulley has a larger diameter than the first pulley and thus, although it moves at the same rotational speed as the first pulley, its peripheral speed is greater. This means that the third pulley, which is of smaller diameter than the second pulley, is rotated at an increased rotational speed. The third pulley, as noted, is fixed to the flywheel and the flywheel therefore rotates at a substantially increased speed relatively to the rotational speed of the actuators 24 and 80.
The construction illustrated is of a compact nature and is highly effective in offering load-resisting movement of the flywheel when the actuators are employed.
Each handle 30, in this example, is designed to be used by hand, but, through suitable shaping, may readily act as a pedal so that the device may be hand or foot operated, according to requirement.
The resistance device can be incorporated in various forms in exercise machines such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, cycles, rowing-type machines, and the like. Also, the resistance device can be used as an energy storage mechanism, with rotational energy stored primarily in the flywheel.
A one-way clutch or bearing 84 can be used between the flywheel 16 and the third pulley 70 so that the rotational drive is transferred in a first direction only from the pulley to the flywheel. Rotational movement will not however be transferred from the flywheel to the pulley.
1. A resistance device comprising:
a load-resisting member mounted for rotation about a first axis; a drive member mounted for rotation about the first axis; at least a first actuator for rotating the drive member; and a drive transfer arrangement for translating rotational drive from the drive member into rotational drive of the load resisting member, wherein the rotational speed of the load-resisting member is greater than the rotational speed of the drive member.
2. The resistance device according to claim 1 wherein the drive transfer arrangement further comprises:
a shaft which is parallel to the first axis;
a first pulley driven from the drive member and mounted to the shaft on a first side of the load-resisting member;
a second pulley positioned on a second side of the load-resisting member, remote from the first side, the second pulley being fixed to the shaft; and
a third pulley which is fixed to the load-resisting member and which is rotatable in at least a first direction about the first axis, in unison with the load-resisting member.
3. The resistance device according to claim 1 wherein the load-resisting member is a flywheel.
4. The resistance device according to claim 3, further comprising a braking mechanism which is operable to vary a force which acts against rotation of the flywheel.
5. The resistance device according to claim 1 wherein the first actuator is on a first side of the load-resisting member, said resistance device further comprising a second actuator for rotating the drive member on a second side of the load-resisting member opposite the first side.
6. The resistance device according to claim 1, further comprising an axle disposed along the first axis, said driver member being first to said axle.
7. The resistance device according to claim 2, wherein the first pulley has a smaller diameter than the drive member, and the third pulley has a smaller diameter than the second pulley.
8. The resistance device according to claim 2, further comprising a one-way drive device connecting the third pulley to the load-resisting member.
an axle;
a flywheel mounted for rotation about the axle;
a drive pulley fixed to the axle on a first side of the flywheel;
a shaft which is spaced from, and which is parallel to, the axle;
a first pulley fixed to the shaft, and being driven by the drive member;
a second pulley fixed to the shaft;
a third pulley disposed on a second side of the flywheel for rotation about the axle, said third pulley connected to the flywheel and being driven by the second pulley; and
at least one actuator for rotating the axle.
10. A resistance device for an exercise machine comprising:
a flywheel mounted for rotation about an axis; and
two actuators disposed on opposing sides of the flywheel, said actuators mounted for rotation in unison about the axis and being directly coupled to the flywheel.
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2007
Inventor: Michael Roydon Puzey (Randburg)
Current U.S. Class: 482/110.000; 482/57.000
International Classification: A63B 22/06 (20060101); A63B 21/22 (20060101);
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Justia Patents US Patent for Apparatus for transmitting contents information Patent (Patent # 5,448,220)
Apparatus for transmitting contents information
An system is provided which, in one embodiment, utilizes an identification unit to identify the contents of a container and to transmit a coded identification signal to a remote receiver unit, thereby allowing emergency personnel or other interested persons to ascertain the contents of the container at an accident site. The identification unit includes a sensor positioned within the storage cavity of the container to detect whether a predetermined unsafe temperature or pressure condition exists therein. If the condition is detected, a coded identification signal, which may be in 8-bit binary form, is generated and transmitted. In an alternate embodiment, the identification unit is modified to answer an interrogation signal transmitted by a remote interrogation device when the interrogation signal corresponds to the material stored in the associated container.
This invention relates generally to a system and method for communicating information between one or more sensors and at least one receiver or station at which a person may obtain information regarding the contents of one or more containers, and more particularly to a system which allows fire fighters, rescue workers, and other emergency personnel to identify, from a remote location, the specific hazardous substance stored in each container, thereby allowing the risk of explosion, contamination, or other uncontrolled release of hazardous substances to be quickly and safely evaluated at an accident site.
An important requirement in transporting hazardous materials such as flammable or corrosive substances, is that both the containers and the vehicles transporting them be clearly and conspicuously labelled to identify the dangerous properties of the cargo within. In the case of over-the-road transportation, the labelling allows regulatory personnel to determine whether the vehicle driver has selected an improper route (such as through a tunnel where vehicles carrying hazardous materials are not permitted) or prompts them to verify that all applicable safety procedures have been taken. In the case of accident or fire, conspicuous labelling further alerts members of the public as well as emergency personnel arriving at the scene to the elevated risk of physical injury which could result from an explosion or other uncontrolled release of the hazardous substance.
While stringent labelling requirements are obviously a critical element of a safe hazardous material transportation system, however, there are certain limitations which have heretofore remained unaddressed. Specifically, while a "flammable" label on the side of a truck alerts emergency personnel to the risk of fire or explosion, it does not reveal the specific contents of the drums or barrels being transported thereby. Further, where an emergency situation such as a fire exists, it may be inadvisable to venture close enough to the vehicle to read the labels on the drums themselves. The resulting lack of information may force emergency personnel to use procedures reserved for the highest risk situations, even where relatively stable hazardous materials are involved.
Devices for monitoring temperature, pressure or other conditions in a transport container and transmitting data corresponding to said conditions have been proposed in the past. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,739 entitled TANK LEAK DETECTOR, which issued on Mar. 17, 1992 to Robert C. Hedtke, there is proposed a system which utilizes a pressure sensitive transmitter positioned within the tank. The transmitter uses either an absolute pressure sensor or a differential pressure sensor to detect any changes in the liquid level within the tank and transmits an output signal corresponding to the change via an output cable. While the '739 system allows a condition in a transportable container to be monitored from outside the container, it relies on an output cable between the sensor location and the monitoring station and is thus limited in range to the transport carrier itself. Further, the '739 system provides no means for determining the contents of the one or more tanks from a safe distance during a fire or other emergency.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,564 entitled REMOTE TEMPERATURE MONITORING SYSTEM, which issued on Nov. 21, 1989 to Monroe et al, there is disclosed a remote temperature monitoring system for a refrigerated trailer in which a temperature sensor such as a thermistor and transmitter unit are positioned in a transport container and a display receiver unit is provided at a remote location in the cab compartment. The temperature sensor generates an output voltage dependent upon the temperature sensed and a frequency shift keyed output signal is transmitted to a display unit via an output cable. The output signal is received by the display unit, which displays the sensed temperature, and is compared to an alarm limit corresponding to an upper temperature threshold for possible triggering of an alarm in the display unit. Like the '739 system, the range of the '564 system is limited because it relies on an output cable between the sensor in the trailer and the monitoring station. Also, the '564 system is not adapted to permit the contents of one or more trailers to be determined from a remote location.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,984, entitled INFORMATION CODING SYSTEM and issued on Oct. 9, 1973 to James S. McCartney, there is disclosed an information coding system in which a plurality of remote sensing units are monitored by a radio link with a central monitoring station. Each sensing unit is adapted to monitor a condition such as temperature, power loss, or unauthorized entry and to generate an alarm signal when a certain condition occurs. Alarms of each particular type of sensing unit are similarly coded and each sensing unit is adapted to generate a series of marker pulses which uniquely identify the location of that particular unit when it is activated.
The identification system according to the present invention comprises at least one identification unit positionable within the cavity of a container and adapted to communicate with at least one fixed receiver unit at a central monitoring station and/or with one or more portable receiver units accessible to those personnel requiring information as to the contents of the container.
The identification system preferably comprises means for sensing a condition within the container and means operable in response to the sensing of the condition to generate and transmit an identification signal identifying the material to be stored in the container. If desired, however, the sensing means may be omitted and the transmitting means may be operable to constantly transmit a signal identifying the contents of the container.
The sensing means of each identification unit are operable to energize the generating means when the temperature and/or the pressure in the container exceeds a predetermined limit or rises at a rate greater than a predetermined rate. If desired, the predetermined temperature or pressure limit may be selected based upon the type of material being stored in the container so that the identification signal is only transmitted when conditions inside the container make it unsafe to approach it.
Preferably, the identification unit comprises means for sealing the dispensing opening of the container and the sensing means is coupled to the sealing means so that it is positioned in the cavity when the sealing means is positioned in the dispensing opening. To ensure a tight seal of the container, the sealing means is configured as a plug and has a threaded exterior which is adapted to engage corresponding threads on the sidewall of the container opening.
The generating means preferably includes encoder means for storing a binary code label corresponding to the material being stored in the container. It is also preferred that the encoder means be adapted to provide a binary code signal corresponding to the binary code label. The binary code signal is then modulated to provide the identification signal which is then transmitted by radio or other means.
FIG. 1 shows a plurality of transportable containers each including an identification unit adapted to correspond with a remote transmitter/receiver in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an identification unit constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a transportable container defining a storage cavity and a dispensing opening in communication therewith dimensioned to receive the identification unit of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the components of the identification unit of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the components of the identification unit and transmitter/receiver unit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the identification unit 10 of the present invention may be advantageously utilized to transmit a signal identifying the material 11 stored within a transportable container such as a drum 12. As desired, the identification unit may transmit the material identifying signal continuously, upon the receipt of an interrogatory signal from a portable transmitter/receiver unit 13, or when a predetermined condition has been sensed inside the drum.
In the illustrated embodiment, the identification unit 10 is provided within a bung plug 14, which is sealingly positionable within the dispensing opening 16 of the drum. It will, however, be apparent to those of ordinary skill that the identification unit may be utilized to identify substances contained in any type of container (e.g., a tank) and that alternate means of coupling the identification unit to the container may be employed.
As more clearly shown in FIG. 2, in order to monitor the condition to be sensed, identification unit 10 includes a sensing means 18 which may comprise a sensing element 20 submergible into the substance being stored in the drum. Alternatively, the sensing element may be constructed so as to operate in a cavity between the drum lid and the surface of the stored substance. If conditions on the exterior surface of the drum are to be monitored, the sensing element might also be positioned on the external surface of plug 14 or on some other surface outside the drum. The plug 14 is inserted into the drum 12 as shown in FIG. 3.
Many of the electrical components of the identification unit may be constructed of GaAs or other suitable semiconductor. It should be readily appreciated that all exposed components of identification unit 10 should therefore be constructed of materials designed to resist corrosion or other damage which may be caused by direct contact with the contents 11 of the container 12. As a further means of extending the life of the unit 10 and protecting the components therein, a coating of a protective compound such as polytetraflouroethylene is preferably applied to all exposed surfaces thereof.
Returning once again to FIG. 2, it should be understood that the applicable safety procedures for handling or otherwise processing hazardous materials at an accident site vary with the particular type of material involved and with the specific conditions present at the site. Accordingly, when emergency personnel first arrive at the scene, there is an immediate need to obtain as much information as possible about the shipment in order to follow the established procedures. Because the danger is often greatest where fire or the threat of fire is involved, the sensing element 20 is preferably a thermistor, a thermocouple, or some other temperature sensitive device which is adapted to energize transmitting means 22 when the temperature inside the container exceeds a predetermined limit or rises faster than a predetermined rate. Alternately, however, the sensing element 20 may also take the form of a pressure sensitive transducer which measures pressure within the container. For maximum safety, sensing means 18 may comprise both temperature and pressure sensing elements each adapted to energize the transmitting means if either measure exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
If desired, the temperature or pressure limits may be selected on the basis of the specific properties of the material contained in the container. For example, the temperature limit might be selected at a specific temperature below the flash point or vaporization temperature of the particular material.
Once the condition or conditions have been sensed, an encoder means 23 is operated in a known manner to generate a coded signal which uniquely identifies the contents of the container. The signal is modulated, amplified and transmitted by transmitting means 22 which includes an antenna 24. Preferably, the identification signal is transmitted in the microwave range (e.g. 600-800 MHz) so that the antenna need only be a few centimeters in length. The antenna may be configured spirally as illustrated or as a dipole type and is preferably protected by a coating of plastic or other suitable material capable of enabling signal propagation therethrough.
FIG. 4 illustrates the electronic construction of one embodiment of identification unit 10. A suitable power supply 25, such as a battery, is connected to power the system by closure of a normally open contact 26. When the condition is sensed by sensing element 20, contact 26 is closed and power is supplied to an oscillator 28. In a conventional manner, oscillator 28 generates a suitable carrier frequency, for example 800 MHz, which is supplied to modulator 30 and to the encoder means 23, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a divider 32, an IC chip 34, and a shift register 36.
Under certain circumstances, it may be desired that the identification unit 10 transmit an identification signal when no emergency condition exists. Examples of such instances might include a spot check by regulatory personnel seeking to verify a bill of lading or by highway authorities seeking to prevent certain materials from being transported within a tunnel. It may also be desirable to test the unit 10 from time to time to ensure that it is operating properly. With the system of the present invention, such verifications may be readily performed using a transportable transmitter/receiver unit such as the one indicated in FIG. 1 to transmit a request signal. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the identification unit 10 includes a receiver 37 for receiving such a request signal and a contact or switch 38 which is operable in response to the receipt of the request signal to power the system and commence transmission of the identification signal.
In accordance with the aforementioned objective, the identification unit 10 is adapted to transmit a signal which allows emergency personnel, regulatory officials, and others having suitable signal receiving and/or transmitting means to immediately ascertain the type of material stored in container 12. To this end, each type of material to be transported is assigned a specific label. It should, of course, be understood that any suitable coding system which allows each of the various transported or stored materials to be distinguished from one another may be employed. For illustrative purposes only, an 8-bit binary coding system is used. Thus, for example, isopropyl alcohol receives a binary code label of 00000011 while sulfuric acid receives a binary code label of 00010010.
The code corresponding to the material within the container 12 may be provided using any suitable combination of logic devices in a known manner. For ease of manufacture, however, the label code may be supplied by an integrated circuit chip 34. In the illustrated embodiment, an E-PROM chip is used so that the identification unit 10 may be programmed as required for use in the transportation or storage of containers containing different materials.
The E-PROM 34 delivers the binary code corresponding to the material stored in container 12 to shift register 36. Shift register 36 also receives the output of divider 32, and in a well known manner provides a coded signal corresponding to the binary code label to modulator 30. Modulator 30 modulates the coded signal in conjunction with the oscillator frequency to provide an identification signal to power amplifier 40 which is suitable for transmission. Antenna 24 receives the amplified signal from amplifier 38 and broadcasts the same so that it may be received by emergency personnel. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the code signal from the shift register of each identification unit may be modulated in frequency or in amplitude, or the identification signal may be pulsed at a different time interval, so that respective identification signals from plural identification units may be separately received and/or distinguished from each other without interference. If desired, an intermediate receiver/transmitter (not shown) may be provided in a nearby location (e.g., in the cab of a trailer hauling a plurality of containers), to receive short range signals transmitted by individual identification units and re-transmit them at a higher power level so that they may be received at distant monitoring stations.
It will of course be apparent that the receiver and decoder unit 13, which may be portable or fixed, would be required to receive and decode the modulated identification signal of each identification unit 10. Such receiver units are believed to be well known in the art and for this reason a detailed discussion of the same has been omitted.
As discussed earlier, the receiver and decoder unit 13 may be modified to transmit a signal that requests one or more identification units to transmit respective identification signals even in the absence of a dangerous condition. An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. In the modified identification unit 100 of the alternate embodiment, the decoder means and condition sensing means are omitted and the unit 100 is adapted to transmit only in response to an interrogation signal generated by remote transmitter unit 113. The transmitter unit 113 is preferably provided with a suitable memory means 115 for storing the code label of each type of material in accordance with a material identification system such as the 8-bit binary code system described above. The transmitter unit 113 is also equipped with a suitable microprocessor 117 which retrieves successive code labels from memory in accordance with a predetermined routine.
A pulsed interrogatory signal corresponding to each retrieved code label is transmitted by the transmitter unit 113 in a known manner until the identification unit 100 responds thereto. For this purpose, the identification unit 100 includes a receiver means 102 which, in a conventional manner, receives the interrogation signal via antenna 108 and changes the state of switch 104 to closed when the interrogation signal corresponds to the specific code label of the material being stored in the associated container. Upon the closure of switch 104, transmitter means 106 is energized to transmit a response signal which is received and processed by the transmitter unit 113, thereby establishing the contents of the container associated with identification unit 100.
The transmitter unit 113 may, if desired, be a single transportable device operable in close proximity to the identification units. As such, the identification units 100 may be configured to transmit over a very short range, such as one meter or less so that the transmitter unit could be operated in a hand-held manner to perform self-test or to enable regulatory personnel to conduct a spot check. Alternately, however, the microprocessor means 117 and memory means of the transmitter unit 113 might be provided at a central location while individual handheld units adapted to communicate therewith might simply be provided with means to relay the interrogation signal and response signal therebetween. The primary transmitter found in the container may be reprogrammed should the contents of the container not correspond with the ID in the memory. This may be accomplished through the application of a handheld computer used by registered and authorized reprogrammer personnel.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
1. An identification device for use with a container that defines a cavity for retaining a material therein, said container having a dispensing opening, said identification device comprising:
sensing means, positionable within said cavity, for sensing a condition within said container that exceeds a predetermined threshold;
sealing means for sealing said dispensing opening, wherein said sensing means is coupled to said sealing means and is adapted to be positioned in said cavity when said sealing means is positioned in said dispensing opening: and
signal means, coupled to said sensing means, for generating an identification signal that identifies said material stored in said cavity in response to said sensing means sensing said condition.
2. The identification device of claim 1, wherein said sensing means senses a temperature associated with said material in said cavity when said temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature limit.
3. The identification device of claim 2, wherein said sensing means includes a thermistor.
4. The identification device of claim 1, wherein said sensing means senses a rate of temperature rise associated with said material in said cavity when said rate of temperature rise exceeds a predetermined rate.
5. The identification device of claim 1, wherein said sensing means senses a pressure associated with said material in said cavity when said pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure limit.
6. The identification device of claim 1, wherein said signal means includes encoder means for providing a code label signal that identifies said material in the container.
7. The identification device of claim 6, wherein said code label signal includes an 8-bit binary code.
8. The identification device of claim 6, wherein said identification device further comprises transmitting means responsive to said code label signal for transmitting said identification signal.
9. The identification device of claim 1, wherein said identification signal is a microwave signal.
10. A system for identifying material being stored in at least one container, each container defining a cavity for storing the material and having an opening for dispensing the material into said cavity, said system comprising:
first transmitting means, external to said container, for wirelessly transmitting an interrogation signal towards said container;
receiving means, disposed within said container, for receiving said interrogation signal;
second transmitting means, disposed within said container, for wirelessly transmitting an identification signal that identifies the material being stored;
sensing means, coupled to said second transmitting means, for sensing a condition within each said container that exceeds a predetermined threshold, and;
mounting means for coupling said second transmitting means to said container, wherein said second transmitting means wirelessly transmits said identification signal when said interrogation signal received by said receiving means corresponds to the material being stored in said container or when said condition in excess of said predetermined threshold is sensed.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said first transmitting means includes storage means for storing a plurality of codes with each said code indicative of a particular material.
12. A method for identifying a substance stored within at least one container when a predetermined environmental condition within said container arises, comprising the steps of:
sensing said predetermined environmental condition via a sensor positioned within said container;
generating an identification signal indicative of the substance when the predetermined environmental condition within the container is sensed;
automatically, wirelessly transmitting said identification signal via an antenna coupled to said sensor; and
receiving said identification signal at a location remote from said container.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said predetermined environmental condition is a temperature that exceeds a given threshold.
14. The method according to claim 12 wherein said predetermined environmental condition is a pressure in excess of a given threshold.
15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:
wirelessly transmitting an interrogation signal from an external source;
receiving said interrogation signal via a receiver positioned within said container; and
generating said identification signal indicative of said substance upon said receiving of said interrogation signal.
3961323 June 1, 1976 Hartkorn
4028688 June 7, 1977 Goleman
4278841 July 14, 1981 Regennitter et al.
4835522 May 30, 1989 Andrejasich et al.
4924210 May 8, 1990 Matsui et al.
4970496 November 13, 1990 Kirkpatrick
5008661 April 16, 1991 Raj
5099226 March 24, 1992 Andrews
6230980 February 1987 JPX
Filed: Apr 8, 1993
Inventor: Raymond H. Levy (Bridgewater, NJ)
Primary Examiner: Jeffery A. Hofsass
Assistant Examiner: Daniel J. Wu
Law Firm: Plevy & Associates
Application Number: 8/44,399
Current U.S. Class: 340/539; Interrogator-responder (340/505); Thermal (340/584); Rate Of Temperature Change (340/589); Pressure (340/614); 340/82554; With Telemetry (342/50)
International Classification: G08B 310;
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Lifelong Ambitions | Success & The Spirit to Keep Growing
Listen to episode 365 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Lifelong Ambitions | The Spirit to Keep Growing. Edited and adapted from Ambition and Success by Orison Swett Marden.
Motivational Podcast Transcript: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Ambition and Success, by Orison Swett Marden, published in 1919.
One of the saddest things in life is to see people who started out with high hopes and proud ambitions settle down in mediocre positions, half satisfied just merely to get a living, to plod along indifferently. What tragedy there is in being content with mediocrity, in getting into a state where one is indifferent to the larger, better things of life!
When you are satisfied with the life you are living, with the work you are doing, with the thought you are thinking, with the dreams you are dreaming — satisfied with the character you are building, with your ideals — you may be sure that you are already beginning to deteriorate.
There is little hope for the person who feels satisfied with themselves, who does not know, “the noble discontent that stirs the acorn to become an oak.” It is our ambition to improve something somewhere every day, to get a little further on and a little higher up than we were the day before — an insatiable passion for bettering things all along the line — that is the secret of human progress.
Self-Respect & Living Up to Our Better Selves
Listen to episode 364 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Self Respect & Living Up to Our Better Selves. Edited and adapted from Work by Hugh Black.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If you would like to support our podcast with a one-time donation, you can do so by visiting LivingHour.org/donate. Thank you.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from the book entitled Work by Hugh Black, published in 1903.
Life is more than money and trade, more than business and cash transactions. If there were not more than this in our lives (nobler thoughts and larger endeavors), society could not have existed for so long.
No individual can be wholly paid in money for their work, if it be true work. We cannot buy love, nor pay for it — and without love in all its grades and forms, our social life, and even our business life, are failures. Faithful dealing between people cannot be bought and sold. Such work is a spiritual thing (as well as a material), and money has no currency in such trafficking.
We need an ideal to save our lives from deadly dullness. We need the light of the ideal to inspire us and to ennoble our activities. Otherwise, what poor petty drudgery it all is, a meaningless bending of the neck to the yoke.
We must make all our occupations truly spiritual, inspired by spiritual motives. To spiritual beings like you and I there is no detail of life which doesn’t have spiritual significance. And the failure of our days is due to our neglect of the unseen in dealing with the seen, our forgetfulness to live every common hour in the power of an endless life.
Viewed practically, and put into simple language, the ideal of work is faithfulness — work done according to a high standard which we ourselves set up. The problem is that we have such easy and elastic consciences, and such low selfish standards! What will get by, what will do the turn, is often all that we aim at. We do not put our conscience into our work.
Henry Ward Beecher | Wisdom, Quotes & Inspiration
Listen to episode 363 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Henry Ward Beecher | Wisdom & Quotes. Edited from the works of Henry Ward Beecher.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. A special thanks to our newest patron Sharmaine Jennings. Coming up this Sunday, I’ll be starting again the series Our Sunday Talks, exclusively for patrons like Sharmaine. The first 13 episodes will be a complete reading of my book The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life, a thought-provoking and non-dogmatic meditation of this beloved prayer. Learn how you can become our patron at: LivingHour.org/patron. Thank you.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from the writings of Henry Ward Beecher.
“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard taskmaster to yourself — and be lenient to everybody else.”
“No person can tell whether they are rich or poor by turning to their bank book. It is in the heart that riches lie. You are rich according to what you are, not according to what he have.”
“If you harbor any sort of fear, it percolates through all your thinking, damages your personality, makes you landlord to a ghost.”
“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.”
“We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started.”
“Never forget what someone says to you when they are angry — for that reveals their hidden feelings.”
“Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house…A little library, growing larger every year, is an honorable part of a person's history. It is our duty to have books. A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life…..Books are the windows through which the soul looks out. A home without books is like a room without windows.”
The Strenuous Life | Great Speeches, Essays & Addresses
Listen to episode 362 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Strenuous Life | Great Speeches, Essays, and Addresses. Edited from a speech by Theodore Roosevelt.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. If you have been inspired by our podcast, you can help us spread the word by sharing your favorite episodes on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Thank you. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from a speech delivered by Theodore Roosevelt in 1899.
Today I would like to talk with you about the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes to the individual who shrinks not from danger, from hardship, nor from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.
A life of ignoble ease, a life of that peace which springs merely from lack of desire (or power to strive after great things) is as little worthy of a nation as of an individual. I ask only that what every self-respecting citizen demands from themselves and their children shall be demanded of the country as a whole.
Who among us would teach their children that the easy life is to be the first consideration in their eyes, to be the ultimate goal after which they strive? If you are rich and are worth your salt, you will teach your children that though they may have leisure, it is not to be spent in idleness — for wisely-used leisure means merely that those who possess it (being free from the necessity of working for their livelihood) are all the more bound to carry on some kind of noble work in the sciences, the arts, in exploration of some kind — work of the type the world most needs, and the successful carrying out of which reflects great honor upon themselves and helps or inspires others.
We do not admire the person of timid peace. We admire the individual who embodies victorious effort; the one who never wrongs their neighbor, who is prompt to help a friend, but who has those vigorous qualities necessary to win in the stern strife of actual life. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Road Signs on the Road to Happiness | Life Lessons
Listen to episode 361 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Road Signs on The Road to Happiness. Edited and adapted from Working With God by Gardner Hunting.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. Visit our website BookofZen.com for inspirational t-shirts and gifts – all featuring my own original sayings inside a classic zen enso circle. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Working with God by Gardner Hunting, published in 1934.
Did you ever start out on a road trip of a hundred miles or more, from a height which gave you a view of the whole road you had to travel, from beginning to end? It would be a high mountain indeed that would give you such a view.
There are doubtless places in the Rockies from which we can see the country for long distances, sometimes perhaps for fifty miles, maybe much more. Sometimes the air is so clear that distant things seem much closer than they actually are. Sometimes we can actually see the road itself, its twists and turns, its straight stretches, its climbs and descents, its bridges, the towns along the way, even the detours, so far ahead that we can anticipate nearly all the conditions we shall have to meet on the way to where we plan to go.
But usually the road ahead of us is not so clear. Usually we get out a road map and study it, and lay out our route by what somebody else (the mapmaker) tells us is the most practical, the most direct, the easiest way. Then we get reports from some website as to the condition of rods, shortcuts, points of interest, places to find food and shelter, the safe, comfortable highways to follow — all based on 1st-hand experience in driving over the route we intend to follow.
The Secret of Doing Really Great Things | Success Habits
Listen to episode 360 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Secret of Doing Really Great Things. Edited and adapted from Working With God by Gardner Hunting.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. You know, I like reading all kinds of books, but lately I’ve been reading biographies of people who have achieved great things, whether it be in the arts, sciences, or business. If you don’t have the time to read the full autobiographies of great women and men, well, you don’t have to. Instead, you can check out Blinkist, the knowledge-boosting app that takes the best key takeaways, the need-to-know information, from thousands of nonfiction books and condenses them down into just 15 minutes of reading or listening time.
Two very good biographies that you can find on Blinkist are Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson and Harriet Tubman (The Road to Freedom) by Catherine Clinton.
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Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Working with God by Gardner Hunting, published in 1934.
It is almost funny sometimes how we get ourselves all primed with good intentions to love and trust, to give out what we want to get back, to do unto others what we want them to do unto us, and then the minute we find some "trouble" bobbing up in an unexpected way, we get all upset, and confused, and scared, and grasp at the first thing that suggests itself for getting even, for getting our own way, for avoiding humiliation, for "saving face." It would be funny if it weren't so tragic! How we do despair at our failures, when we ought to laugh at ourselves.
It seems sometimes that when troubles face us, our first impulse is to fight, resist, snarl, scratch, bite, strike, crush. We find it hard to understand why things have turned out the way they have. We grow desperate with a sense of our own uncontrollable emotions, our ingrained weaknesses, our wretched inconsistencies.
If you are like me — or rather if I am like you (which I am inclined to believe I am) — we both often wish that we could find some idea to cling to, some phrase that we could repeat, some reminder of our principles that we could use on all occasions when "trouble" appears and that would start us off just right in dealing with it — some formula or recipe for immediate "first aid" that we might act upon until we had time to think, until we could bring up our reserves of experience and conviction and seasoned wisdom. Sometimes I think that that is what everybody wants most: a formula (a brief rule) for first aid when facing life’s problems.
What is a Life Worthwhile? | Finding Purpose
Listen to episode 359 of the Inspirational Living podcast: What is a Life Worthwhile? | Finding Purpose. Edited and adapted from The Art of Being Alive by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. A special thanks to our newest patron Norman Grills. For those thinking about becoming a patron, you might be interested to know that I am going to be resuming the exclusive patron series Our Sunday Talks on Easter, April 21st. And the first episodes of the new series are going to be a complete reading of my book The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life, which was published in 2008 and I am currently re-editing.
You can gain access to the Our Sunday Talks series, as well as full transcripts to our entire podcast archive, for as little as $3 a month. Learn more by visiting LivingHour.org/patron. Thank you.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from the book entitled The Art of Being Alive by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, published in 1914.
"The Life Worthwhile" differs in the minds of individuals. That which seems worthwhile to one person may seem unendurable to another; and so any analysis of the subject must be made from a purely personal standpoint, and must not be considered an effort to lay down arbitrary laws for all people to follow.
The scientist in the laboratory, the painter in the studio, the preacher in the pulpit, the lawyer in the courtroom, the teacher in the classroom, the carpenter on the building site, all feel that they are living a life worthwhile. And indeed so long as there is deep interest, enthusiasm, and pleasure in the life we are living that life is worthwhile.
The world is made interesting by its variety of inhabitants, with their varying ideas and occupations. People it with one kind of human being, all bent on the same object and doing the same kind of work, or following the same kind of pleasure, and earth would become intolerably monotonous. Even the frivolous things, the mistaken things, and the wrong things which people do, are sometimes worthwhile because they lead those who are engaged in them to knowledge of their worthlessness.
How Successful People Think, Grow, and Win
Listen to episode 358 of the Inspirational Living podcast: How Successful People Think, Grow, and Win. Edited and adapted from How to Win Success by B.F. Austin.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: If that statement of the Bible is correct that says the individual who rules their own spirit is greater than one who takes a city, who shall say that the possession and retention of faith, hope, patience and love amidst life's trying scenes, is not as great an achievement as the building of the lofty pyramid. May there not be a majestic structure of character as well as of bricks and granite?
Let us all then note the true standard of success. Let us seek especially the growth and development of our own powers — not despising great achievements (not unduly valuing achievements which the world calls great), but looking on them as no more, at best, than proofs of that spiritual unfoldment in which life's true success must always be found.
How is Success Won? One great secret of success is found in Concentration. This consists in centering our thoughts upon a single object and holding this object in the mind's eye persistently. The thoughts, purposes, will power, effort and resources of every life should be united in some single great object.
A life unified, united, concentrated, dominated by one great purpose, becomes mighty, while a life with a thousand diverging purposes must necessarily be weak. Gunpowder exploded in the open air is comparatively ineffective and harmless because the energy let loose takes a thousand different directions. So with the inherent energies of any life. Divide them and you weaken them. Unite them into one purpose, as the energy of gunpowder is united in the rifle barrel, and the effect is mighty.
Motivation for Initiative, Success & Concentration
Listen to episode 357 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Motivation for Initiative, Success & Concentration. Edited and adapted from Making the Grade by C.V. Mosby.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. Now is your last chance to get all 3 of our inspirational eBooks, featuring the best of our podcast, totaling 150 life lessons, for just 10 dollars. To take advantage of this special ebook sale visit LivingHour.org/ten. The sale ends on Sunday.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Making the Grade by C.V. Mosby, published in 1917.
Resistance gives way to superior force continuously applied upon a given point. This is a law of physics and also a law of life. Concentrate your energy and you burn a way through opposition. One of the chief difficulties in life consists of not being able to concentrate. Few people when they work throw their entire energy into the task.
Go into a store or a factory and take note of the employees. You will find most of them working in a lackadaisical manner, doing just enough to keep up a semblance of being busy and thereby escape a reprimand from the manager. The clock is watched assiduously and as soon as closing time arrives, nothing can keep them one minute longer than is necessary to put their stocks in order and get away.
Lack of concentration is one of the great contributing factors among those who cannot make the grade. Concentration is no easy task. It demands the most carefully trained will and a powerful determination. Thinking must always precede the act.
If we act with concentration, we must think in the same way. And let it be said here that well-trained, concentrated thinking comes only after much effort has been expended upon it. To think correctly is hard work. If you do not believe me, try to concentrate your mind on a given object for five minutes; exclude all extraneous matter and think upon that one subject continuously. Try this for a time and you will be astounded at the magnitude of the task.
Inspiration for Generosity, Contentment & Companionship
Listen to episode 356 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Generosity, Contentment & Companionship. Edited and adapted from Our Sunday Talks by James J. Owen.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast, brought to you by the generous financial support of listeners like you. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Our Sunday Talks by James J. Owen, published in 1883.
REAL, downright unselfish, generous natures ought to be more numerous than they are — that is, natures who can feel an unselfish joy in the prosperity of others, even though their own lot may be a hard one.
Some people are so constituted that they are happy only in proportion as others are miserable. In other words, though they may possess a reasonable measure of wealth and those material things that are supposed by many to be wholly essential to happiness, their joy is dimmed in the presence of someone who possesses a larger measure of those same material goods.
They must possess more than their neighbor, or else the mean little cross-eyed demon of envy nestles in their bosoms and robs them of their peace of mind.
It requires no great amount of magnanimity of character to be generous to the downtrodden; but it does really take a large nature to be charitable and unselfishly generous towards the ostentatious and purse-proud — those people whose only merit is in the husk and not the kernel.
We can all be generous towards the dead. Even those who in life we cared the least for (and who were least worthy of our respect) call forth a heart-throb of sympathy now that they are gone. It is only then that we think of their virtues, and even chide ourselves for not being more generous to their imperfections when living.
What the world most needs is a spirit of humanity that can anticipate death in the exercise of nobler sympathy and charity — one that does not wait till the pale specter sets its seal upon the heart of a fellow being to send forth an impulse of sympathy on their behalf.
Rejuvenate Yourself | The Power of Silence
Listen to episode 355 of the Inspirational Living podcast: Rejuvenate Yourself | The Power of Silence. Edited and adapted from Growth in Silence, the Undertone of Life by Susanna Cocroft.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. I’d like to start today with a special announcement. Thanks to the generosity of our patrons, my daily video series 30 Seconds to a Beautiful Life is being made available to everyone on our YouTube Channel.
This series was previously only for our patrons, but the feedback from them has been that it should be made available to everyone. So to view this daily motivational video series, subscribe to our YouTube Channel at LivingHour.org/youtube. To become a patron yourself, visit LivingHour.org/patron.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Growth in Silence, the Undertone of Life by Susanna Cocroft, published in 1917.
What a breeze of pure exhilaration there is when we open the eastern windows of the morning to the new day! The new day! Its surface is unruffled! Yesterday has gone into the west — only the thoughts of that day which make for eternity have been traced upon its pages. The mantle of rest and silence has tenderly covered it, while the night has borne it hours away! The soft night wind has lulled it to dreamless, lasting sleep.
Leave it in peace — today, tomorrow are before us. With the dew of morning, all vegetation drinks in new life, new growth. The buds fill the air with fragrance. The birds nigh burst their throats in the ecstasy of a new song. Life is swelling, pulsing, from every crack and crevice. Mental forces adjust themselves under the cover of the night, and thoughts (that in the evening were confused) by morning are clear and unruffled, ready for a fresh beginning.
Do not stir up the contention of yesterday — carve the future on the clear surface of today. Have you awoken solitary and downcast, heavy hearted, with drooping shoulders, clouded face, and careworn brow — a discordant note, out of harmony with the song of the universe? Well, then lift your chest, head, and eyes — fill the lungs to overflowing with pure fresh air. Then be passive — listen.
The Art of Happiness | Contentment & Joy | Inspiration
Listen to episode 354 of the Inspirational Living podcast: The Art of Happiness. Edited and adapted from the book Happiness by Hugh Black.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. The topic of today’s reading is the art of happiness. To explore additional advice (beyond our podcast) on how to achieve lasting happiness in your life, check out Blinkist, the knowledge-boosting app that takes the best key takeaways, the need-to-know information, from thousands of nonfiction books and condenses them down into just 15 minutes of reading or listening time.
Two very good books on happiness that you can find on Blinkist are The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor and The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from the book “Happiness” by Hugh Black, published in 1911.
There is an art of happiness, which is like the art of living. No list of rules can cover all the ground — for life does not go in straight lines, and never runs exactly according to schedule. There is also the personal equation, the peculiar angle from which each person looks at life.
Now, it’s true that no art can be taught beyond certain broad principles and general rules. The rest has to come through constant practice and through the enrichment of the mind, aided by inspiration and example and a little counsel. It’s also true that some get more from teaching than others — though all can get something, if only through the opportunity to reconsider methods and examine results.
Everyone will probably acknowledge that they have not completely mastered the art of happiness, and that they might have made more of their lives if they had known better. So, with that in mind, there are some general rules I’d like to lay down, each of which will apply to many people, though (of course) not to all.
Guardian Angels, Fairies & A Love That Lifts Us Up
Listen to episode 352 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Guardian Angels, Fairies & A Love That Lifts All. Edited and adapted from Little Builders by Dorothy Grenside.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. A special thanks to our newest patrons Mariama Alice Sheriff and Elaine Estenson. If you would like to give back to this podcast and financially support the work I do, please visit LivingHour.org/patron. Thank you.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Little Builders by Dorothy Grenside, published in 1916.
When those we love have laid aside their earthly coats and are what the world calls "dead," we speak of them as Angels, yet they were Angels just as much before. It was only that we could not see the shining of their Spirits, because an earthly coat lay in between.
I want you always to remember to look inside the coat until you see the Angel's Light within, for an angel is only someone who is learning to bring God's message to others. Each Angel, in turn, is helped by others who are nearer to God, and they as well are guided by a Greater One above.
There is no one, however frail or full of failure (no one however strong and pure of heart) who has no Guardian Angel to shelter them with wings of love. I think that if two people love, it is because their Angels have seen and loved each other first, and that a picture of their love reflects within the hearts of the children whom they guard. So, if you quarrel with the one you love, I fear you raise a veil of mist between these two Angels' faces. Mist: grey mist of quarreling and hate! Blow it away with a tender breath of Love and let the Sunlight of the Angels’ Joy be yours.
Just as an Angel guards each one of us with loving, watchful care, so I think that a little spirit watches over every flower and tree — one who grieves when the flower is trampled on, or when the tree is rooted from the ground. I fancy that these little guardians paint each petal of a rose; perhaps they lays their color in the heart at eventide, and leave it through the summer night, until the tender dew washes the rosy stain throughout the opened petals.
Thoroughness: The Key to Success in Business & Life
Listen to episode 351 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Thoroughness: The Key to Success in Life. Edited and adapted from The Mastery of Destiny by James Allen.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. To celebrate the approach of Springtime, the season of rebirth, I have partnered up with Fiverr.com to offer a special deal on our inspirational e-books. That includes Evergreen: 50 Inspirational Life Lessons, Everest: 50 Motivational Life Lessons, and Evermore: 50 Life Lessons for Spiritual Growth.
Right now you can get all three of these e-books together in one package for only $10. And for an extra $5 you can also get our MAJESTY meditation program.
To take advantage of this special deal, go to LivingHour.org/ten. Thank you.
THOROUGHNESS consists in doing little things as though they were the greatest things in the world. That the little things of life are of primary importance, is a truth not generally understood. And the thought that little things can be neglected and thrown aside is at the root of that lack of thoroughness which is so common and results in imperfect work and unhappy lives.
When you understand that the great things of the world, and of life, consist of a combination of small things, and that without this aggregation of small things the great things would be nonexistent, then you begin to pay careful attention to those things which you formerly regarded as insignificant. You thus acquire the quality of thoroughness, and become a person of usefulness and influence — for the possession or non-possession of this one quality may mean all the difference between a life of peace and power, and one of misery and weakness.
Every employer knows how comparatively rare this quality is — how difficult it is to find people who will put thought and energy into their work, and do it completely and satisfactorily. Bad workmanship abounds. Skill and excellence are acquired by few. Thoughtlessness, carelessness, and laziness are such common vices that it shouldn’t appear strange that, in spite of "social reform," the ranks of the unemployed continue to swell — for those who skirt their work today will, another day (in an hour of deep necessity) look and ask for work in vain.
The Power of Purpose and Joy of Accomplishment
Listen to episode 349 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Inspiration for Perfect Poise & Personal Honor. Edited and adapted from The Mastery of Destiny by James Allen.
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Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Concentration is power. But dispersion is weakness. Destruction is a scattering, while preservation is a uniting process. Things are useful and thoughts are powerful to the degree that their parts are strongly and intelligently concentrated. Having a purpose is to have a highly concentrated thought. All the mental energies are directed to the attainment of an object, and obstacles which intervene between the thinker and the object are, one after another, broken down and overcome.
Purpose is the keystone in the temple of achievement. It binds and holds together in a complete whole that which would otherwise lie scattered and useless. Empty whims, ephemeral fancies, vague desires, and half-hearted resolutions have no place in purpose. In the sustained determination to accomplish, there is an invincible power which swallows up all inferior considerations and marches direct to victory.
All successful men and women are people of purpose. They hold fast to an idea, a project, a plan, and will not let it go. They cherish it, brood upon it, tend and develop it. And when assailed by difficulties, they refuse to be beguiled into surrender. Indeed, the intensity of the purpose increases with the growing magnitude of the obstacles encountered.
Inspiration for Perfect Poise and Personal Honor
Listen to episode 348 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Inspiration for Perfect Poise & Personal Honor. Edited and adapted from Making the Grade by C.V. Mosby.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. For inspirational t-shirts and gifts, be sure to check out our website BookofZen.com. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Making the Grade by C.V. Mosby, published in 1917.
BALANCE is necessary in all things. Nature demands and preserves an equilibrium. Get out of balance and you are in danger of a fall. A well-ordered and successful life consists of being able to preserve your poise, and keep it in tune and harmony with nature. Confusion is caused by a loss of mental balance, and failure comes to a life that is not well poised.
It is amusing to see so much energy wasted upon things over which we have no control, like complaining about the weather. “This is the hottest day ever” is hurled at you again and again on a summer morning by some fuming, fussy neurotic — when a glance at the thermometer would convince anyone that the temperature is pretty normal.
“I am dead tired, utterly worn out, worked to death,'' is said repeatedly, day after day, by people who are perfectly normal in every way except for a lack of poise. Haste, extravagant statements, fussing and fuming, does nothing but burn up your gasoline. You stand still all the time, but your engine is running at top speed.
An engine needs a governor. Without it, the engine’s value is nil. Instead of serving us, it destroys. The same is true of life. Lack of poise, lack of perfect control of our emotions, lack of order and equanimity, and life becomes chaos. Nothing is accomplished. All the energy and efforts needed in climbing, in making the grades, are burned up while we stand still.
Motivation for Self-Confidence | Be Confident in Yourself
Listen to episode 347 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Motivation for Self-Confidence | Success Can Be Yours. Making the Grade by C.V. Mosby.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. The topic of today’s reading is the importance of having confidence in yourself. To explore additional advice on how to build self-confidence, check out Blinkist, the knowledge-boosting app that takes the best key takeaways, the need-to-know information, from thousands of nonfiction books and condenses them down into just 15 minutes of reading or listening time.
Two excellent books on self-confidence that you can find on Blinkist are The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, and The Six Pillars of Self Esteem by Nathaniel Branden.
Faith in one's abilities has removed mountains. But lack of such faith fills one's life with swamps of despondency. You cannot climb successfully unless you have unbounded confidence in your ability to reach the top. Life is one constant succession of suggestions, and it bends in accordance with the trend of those suggestions.
Self-confidence is an auto-suggestion that you have the ability to win, that your ship is sturdy enough to weather the storm, that your motor is strong enough to climb the hill. If you lack this requisite to success, you might just as well get on a sidetrack and content yourself with watching others pass by — for lack of confidence is deadly to success in life.
Self-confidence is termed nerve by some. “That guy or gal has the nerve to win” is frequently said about someone who dares opposition, who defies oppression, who challenges obstacles; but self-confidence is the better term. It simply means that you have faith in your undertaking and confidence in your ability to win.
Motivation in Rhyme | Inspiration to Get Up and Try!
Listen to episode 346 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Motivation in Rhyme | Inspiration to Get Up and Try!. Edited and adapted from Up and Doing by C.P. McDonald.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, please help us spread the word by sharing your favorite episodes on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Up and Doing by C. P. McDonald, published in 1918.
WAKE UP! Dismiss the notion that you're defeated before you’ve hardly gotten into the scrap. Stand on the hill to which you’ve retreated, and plan the contours of your business map. Reorganize your forces for a rally. You too can do what others have done. Let perseverance guide you from the valley, until the game worth winning has been won.
Shake off the dreams that have you shackled, the dreams that have kept you from doing things. Assail the jobs you’ve left untackled, and earn the joy that honest effort brings. You've got to sweat and swelter in the doing, if you expect to achieve and produce. You won’t accomplish anything pursuing the cheater's attitude of "Oh, what's the use!"
Forget the grumbling and the grunting — the whimpering, the whining, and the rest. The one who wins Success by bunting has a chuckle, smirk, and chortle on their chest. Get out into the open — quit the woods. Today, and not tomorrow, is the right time to wake up — buckle down — produce the goods.
WHAT are you waiting for? Why not go after the prizes you think you're entitled to get? Nothing is gained without tears and laughter. And ease is the offspring of labor and sweat. Make up your mind that merely waiting’s a blunder — that action is what the world calls for today. Roll up your sleeves and go at it like thunder, and stake yourself to a claim that will pay.
The Building Blocks of Courage, Strength & Bravery
Listen to episode 345 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: The Building Blocks of Courage, Strength & Bravery. Edited and adapted from Little Builders by Dorothy Grenside.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. I’d like to start today by thanking our newest patrons, Daisy Ortiz and Ramon Untalan. If you would like to give back to our podcast, and become a monthly patron, you can do so for as little as $1 a month. To learn more, please visit LivingHour.org/patron. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Little Builders by Dorothy Grenside, published in 1916.
Whether you are weak, healthy, or strong, depends much upon the kind of thoughts that you allow to rest within your mind. "Thought grows by Thought." Remember that, and you will understand that the way to be healthy and brave is to think of Health and Bravery, and the way to be weak and unhealthy is to fear that weakness and sickness may come to you. So learn to put every fear of pain or weakness right away from you.
If you are weary from the heat and disinclined to work, don't think to yourself, "Oh, how hot it is! — I can’t work anymore;” for such a thought will make your body all the weaker. If you are tired with a long day's work, turn the thought of weariness out of your mind and say to yourself: "My Body is made of Strength, For My Spirit is Strong," and you will be filled with a wave of strength, and weariness will leave you.
When you were a child, you may have been afraid to enter a room that was dark, or sometimes perhaps you woke in the night trembling at shadows across the room. As an adult, you now have different dark fears. But if you remember that "as you thinketh, so you are," and that if you think bravely your body will answer and become built upon solid lines of Courage, no Fear or Cowardice can or will rest within you.
Lifelong Learning: A Course in Character Building
Listen to episode 344 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Lifelong Learning: A Course in Character Building. Edited and adapted from Levels of Living by Henry Frederick Cope.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. I’d like to start today by announcing a new t-shirt and gift line that I’ve developed called Creed of the Dauntless. The first design is now on sale, featuring a great, motivational quote from Hellen Keller. To see the first t-shirt offering, please visit LivingHour.org/believe. If you order within the next 2 days, you’ll get $6 off the retail price. Thank you.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Levels of Living (Essays on Everyday Ideals) by Henry Frederick Cope, published in 1908.
With all our learning, the greatest lesson before us is this one: living right —finding our full heritage and filling our places as men and women in the world. If our systems of education fail to teach us how to live, they fail altogether.
The great need of our day is that we shall train the conscience to right moral judgment, that we shall educate all for the business of living, and that we shall so educate all that we shall not only have a generation of bright, smart, money-making people, but that we may have joyful, upright, hardworking, service-minded women and men.
There is little likelihood that our country will fail for lack of business ability. The danger is that we shall fail at the point of character; that we shall fail where failure is fatal to every other kind of success. This is the crucial point.
We would do well to perfect the plans by which we teach citizens the encyclopedia of their bodies, their nation, the world and its history. We should recognize that we must learn to live as truly as we must learn to read, and that the culture of the soul must profit by the wondrous strides that all educational science has made; that all our efforts to produce character must be so wisely directed that we shall secure the best and most enduring results.
One message comes from the lips of every seer, from every page of history. It is that the citizen or nation alone is wise (alone finds enduring life) who sets before commercial supremacy, political power, or fame the learning of the glory of character, the beauty of practical morality. The person who is wise and rich in the things within, possesses a wealth that lies beyond corruption, and their days know no end.
Spiritual Inspiration | Creating a Work that Endures
Listen to episode 343 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Spiritual Inspiration | Creating a Work that Endures. Edited and adapted from Levels of Living by Henry Frederick Cope.
Spirituality Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. To get fireside chat versions of our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Visit LivingHour.org/youtube. Today’s talk was edited and adapted from Levels of Living (Essays on Everyday Ideals) by Henry Frederick Cope, published in 1908.
In our age of things, we easily forget how large is the place of the ideal and the spiritual. Ever estimating our assets in the concrete, we fail to recognize that our real wealth lies in thoughts and abstract things. The permanent possessions of humanity are spiritual. Not acres nor armies, not banks nor business make a nation, but mighty, compelling ideals and traditions.
Jesus, Buddha, Shakespeare, Browning, Emerson left no goods and chattel, no bonds and mortgages. They left inspirations; they bequeathed ideals. Living first for the soul, their souls survive and remain to us all. The truly great who still stand after the test of the years are those who have lived for the spirit.
This is as true of the worker and the warrior as of the philosopher and poet. All were inspired by glowing visions. They set their affections on things above the trifles for which we struggle and spend ourselves. They lived for glories that are to us invisible; therefore their names endure.
The great undertakings of our own day are possible only under spiritual inspiration. No rewards of money alone can induce someone to steadfastly conduct affairs of great import and enterprise. They are buoyed up by a great hope. Often the very greatness of the task and the sense of serving great ends carries them on. Always they see the worth in the ideal rather than the wage.
We must learn to measure life with the sense of the infinite. We must not think that a person has failed because they have not left money and treasure behind. We must cease to think that we can tell whether work is high or lowly by the size of the wage. We need eyes to see the glory of the least act in the light of the glowing motive.
Sex, Virtue & Problem Solving | Divine Sexuality
Listen to episode 342 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Sex, Virtue & Problem Solving | Divine Sexuality. Edited and adapted from Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. If you have benefited from our podcast and would like to support us with a one-time donation, you’re financial support will help ensure our podcast stays freely online for years to come. To make a donation, please visit LivingHour.org/donate. Thank you.
Today’s reading was edited and adapted from Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone.
So, have you got a problem? That's good! Why? Because repeated victories over your problems are the rungs on your ladder of success. With each victory you grow in wisdom, stature, and experience. You become a better, bigger, more successful person each time you meet a problem, and tackle and conquer it with a positive mental attitude.
Stop and think about it for a moment. Do you know of a single instance where any real achievement was made in your life, or in the life of any person in history, that was not due to a problem with which the individual was faced?
Everyone has problems. That’s because you and everything in the universe are in a constant process of change. Change is an inexorable natural law. What is important for you to know is this: that your success or failure to meet the challenges of change are dependent upon your mental attitude.
You can direct your thoughts and control your emotions, and thus regulate your attitude. You can choose whether your attitude will be positive or negative. You can decide whether you will affect, use, control, or harmonize with the changes in yourself and your environment. You can ordain your own destiny. When you meet the challenges of change with a positive mindset, you can intelligently solve each problem with which you are confronted.
How do you meet a problem with positivity? Well, if you know and believe the first principal element of a positive mindset: That God is always a good God — then you can effectively use the following formula to meet your problems, regardless of how perplexing they may be....
Success, Failure & The Law of Habit | A New Mindset
Listen to episode 341 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Success, Failure & The Law of Habit. Edited and adapted from How to Develop Your Will Power by Clare Tree Major.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. The topic of today’s podcast is on the importance of success habits. To go beyond today’s podcast for further listening or reading on habit building, check out Blinkist, the knowledge-boosting app that takes the best key takeaways, the need-to-know information, from thousands of nonfiction books and condenses them down into just 15 minutes of reading or listening time.
Two great books on habit building that you can find on Blinkist are Mini Habits by Stephen Guise and The 7 Habits of High Effective People by Stephen Covey.
Right now, for a limited time, Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to https://blinkist.com/living to start your free 7 day trial.
Today’s reading has been edited and adapted from How to Develop Your Will Power by Clare Tree Major, published in 1920.
THE world lives, moves, and has its being in obedience to established and unchanging law. The human individual (physically, mentally, and emotionally) is also subject to law. If you understand and work with the law, you are master of your life. If you are ignorant of the law, and so fail to live in harmony with it, you will suffer.
The laws of life cannot be changed. They are beneficial if used, and harmful if disobeyed. For example, there is a natural law that electricity will kill you if it enters your body in sufficient quantity. However, this does not prevent us from gaining all the benefits of the use of electricity, such as light, heat, and locomotion.
Water will drown us, but it will also help to sustain life. Fire destroys, but under our control it warms and serves us. The laws under which these things work must be understood and obeyed. Then that which would otherwise prove harmful becomes a blessing....
The Best Wisdom of Aristotle | Philosophers & Philosophy
Listen to episode 340 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: The Best of Aristotle | Philosophers & Philosophy. Edited and adapted from the works of Aristotle.
Inspirational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. If you enjoy our podcast, you can help us spread the word by sharing your favorite episode on Facebook or Twitter, or by simply mentioning us to a friend. Thank you. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from the works of Aristotle.
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution. It represents the wise choice of many alternatives — and choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
“Anybody can become angry — that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not within everybody's power, and it is not easy.”
“Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.”
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
“The one who overcomes their desires is braver than the one who conquers their enemies, for the hardest victory is over oneself.”
“To write well, express yourself like the common folk, but think like the wise individual.”
“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.”
“A friend to all is a friend to none.”
Mastering Your Fate & Destiny | Life Lessons
Listen to episode 339 of the Inspirational Living Podcast: Mastering Your Fate & Destiny | Life Lessons. Edited and adapted from The Book of Business by Elbert Hubbard.
Motivational Podcast Excerpt: Welcome to the Inspirational Living podcast. Get thought-provoking gifts, t-shirts, iPhone cases, and more by visiting our sister website BookofZen.com. Today’s reading was edited and adapted from The Book of Business by Elbert Hubbard, published in 1913.
The driving theme of Ecclesiastes is moderation. Buddha proclaimed that the greatest word in any language is "equanimity." William Morris said that the finest blessing of life was systematic, useful work. Saint Paul declared that the greatest thing in life was love. Moderation, equanimity, work and love — you need no other physician.
The individual who has achieved success is the one who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much. The secret of success is this: There is no secret of success. Keep your chin up and your head high. We are gods in a chrysalis.
Success is a result of mental attitude, and the right mental attitude will bring success in everything you undertake. In fact, there is no such thing as failure, except to those who accept and believe in failure. Failure! There is no such word in all the bright lexicon of speech, unless you yourself have written it there.
A great success is made up of an aggregation of little ones. These finally form a whole. The person who fills a position of honor and trust has first filled many smaller positions of trust. The leader who oversees ten thousand has had the charge of many small squads. And before that leader had charge of a small squad, they had charge of themselves. The one who does their work so well that they need no supervision has already succeeded. And the acknowledgment of their success is sure to follow in the form of a promotion.
The world wants its work done. And civilization is simply a search for men and women who can do things. Success is the most natural thing in the world. The worker who does not succeed has placed themselves in opposition to the laws of the universe.
The world needs you — it wants what you produce. You can serve it, and if you will, it will reward you richly. By doing your work, you are moving along the line of least resistance — it is a form of self-protection. You need what others have to give — they need you.
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Digital Cabinet
Polevaulter Donkeyman's rants, raves musings and flame wars
Posts Tagged ‘BBC’
Way to Hide the Ball BBC
The BBC in an article about whether social media is another dotcom bubble:
Henry Blodget, editor-in-chief of Business Insider, believes the excessive valuations put on some social media companies were partly due to weakness in the economy in recent times, which left investors desperate for opportunities. …
But he says the good news is that the current technology bust is unlikely to be as serious as the one in 2000.
“To call the social media situation a bubble in the same way as the dotcom bust is almost an insult to a real bubble,” he says.
He played a controversial role promoting internet companies at that time and so is well placed to comment.
No shit, BBC. Blodget publicly bigged up stocks which he privately disparaged.[1] As the SEC stated in its settlement with Blodget:
Henry Blodget, a former managing director at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Incorporated and the senior research analyst and group head for the Internet sector at the firm, will be censured and permanently barred from the securities industry, and will make a total payment of $4 million to settle the charges against him.
The regulators charged that, among other things, Blodget, of New York City, issued fraudulent research under Merrill Lynch’s name, as well as research in which he expressed views that were inconsistent with privately expressed negative views. Blodget’s conduct constituted violations of the federal securities laws and NASD and NYSE rules, which require that, among other things, published research reports have a reasonable basis, present a fair picture of the investment risks and benefits, and not make exaggerated or unwarranted claims.
[1] Blodget’s internal e-mails ↩
Written by Polevaulter Donkeyman
Tagged with BBC, Dishonesty, sloppy journalism
“The Ship of State is the Only Ship that Leaks from the Top”, or Why “Yes (Prime) Minister” is the Greatest Political Show Ever!
Thanks to Brian Doherty at Reason, Wired on the US government’s mounting campaign against leakers:
The NCIS’ continued interest in an unclassified document posted over five years ago comes amid a new push by the Obama administration to crack down on leakers. The effort has been Kafka-esque from the start. It started when a pair of books revealed that the White House is intimately involved in approving drone attacks and cybersabotage operations against its foes. Days after the leaks, President Obama scolded the secret-spillers — even though the books’ authors were granted officially access to the highest levels of the administration. Congress has also stepped in with its own legislationthat would punish leakers of classified information. But the bill, recently passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee, exempts from reprisal most senior White House and administration officials — and, of course, members of Congress, as well.
As always Yes Minister anticipated this nearly 30 years ago
The Ship of State, Bernard, is the only ship that leaks from the top.
Tagged with antony jay, BBC, bed of nails, bernard woolley, derek fowlds, humphrey appleby, jim hacker, jonathan lynn, leak inquiry, nigel hawthorne, paul eddington, ship of state, yes minister
Your Lobbying Bad, My Lobbying Not … So Bad?
Tamasin Cave, of the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency on the Today in Parliament for March 2, 2012:
Tamasin Cave neatly sidesteps the lobbying by the BMA and the Royal College of Nursing
Ms. Cave correctly points out the first order relationship between the lobbying for NHS reforms and the size of the NHS budget (around 100 B GBP).
However Ms. Cave then fails to see the second-order relationship i.e. lobbying is directly related to and caused by the power of the government to grant special favours. As long as government has the power to dispense such special favours, groups will continue to lobby it.
If you want to reduce lobbying, if you want to control it, then reduce the power and size of the government to dole out special favours.
Because of the enormous benefits that can be won from the political process, it is rational for interest groups to spend large sums on lobbying for special privileges – an activity known as ‘rent seeking’.[1]
[1] Butler, E., Public Choice — A Primer, The Institute of Economic Affairs, 2012, p. 16 ↩
Tagged with alliance for lobbying transparency, BBC, bbc radio 4, british medical association, classical liberalism, free market, lobbying, national health service, public choice, rent seeking, royal college of nursing, small government, special favours, special interest groups, special pleading, special privileges, tamasin cave, The Institute of Economic Affairs, today in parliament
The Greatest Generation
There is a reason why they are called The Greatest Generation
Tagged with BBC, bbc radio 4, choice, classical liberalism, newspod, smoking
Why Yes Minister is vastly superior to The West Wing
From the BBC Radio 4 Documentary of the Week of March 2, 2012
Tagged with antony jay, armando iannucci, BBC, bbc radio 4, Bernard Donoughue, bernard woolley, comedy, derek fowlds, documentary of the week, humphrey appleby, jim hacker, jonathan lynn, ken clarke, nigel hawthorne, norman tebbit, paul eddington, public choice, Robin Butler, the west wing, william hague, yes minister, yes prime minister
Sexing up Sherlock Holmes
Due to the Copyright Act 1976 in the United States, a few of the later Sherlock Holmes stories are still under copyright. That has led the publishers to offer a slightly modified version. Changes include:
A Study in Scarlet — A Stud in Scarlet
Sherlock Holmes — Hemlock Bones
John Watson — Tom Hotson (Genius!!)
Baker Street — Laker Avenue
It also seems that due to the similarity in the names, trademark law will preclude the sale of this book in the US. Rest of the World, however, may breathe easy.
Update over
From Clandestine Classic’s Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet
When Dr John Watson takes rooms in Baker Street with amateur detective Sherlock Holmes, he has no idea that he is about to enter a shadowy world of criminality and violence. Nor does he anticipate falling in love with Holmes and having his sexual needs attended to in a way he had only previously dreamed about.
In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. It was a somewhat difficult time, being among so many men, with me being who and what I am. I suppose people may have guessed… I did not join in the rather ribald conversations regarding women, talking about their breasts and cunts as other men did, telling one and all I wished I had a buxom female to curl up to at night. It was a revelation, that time, learning perhaps what I should have been thinking about, what I should have wanted, and realising I wanted no part of it. Could not have any part of it. How could I explain that the softness of a woman did not appeal? That the swells on their chests were not something I wished to explore? That I preferred the flat planes belonging to a man, the smaller nipples that I longed to flick my tongue over? And their private parts… Those did not excite me either. I did not relish, as my fellow companions did, the thought of pushing my fingers inside a soft, wet slit. No, I found pleasure in the thought of grasping a cock, knowing exactly how it would feel having palmed my own every night. To bring another man to the brink, knowing he enjoyed my touch as much as I enjoyed touching him… That was what I wanted.
Would Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss please, please, commission a TV adaptation starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman?
Oh and one more thing, I hope Mrs. Hudson does not get involved in any hanky panky.
Tagged with BBC, benedict cumberbatch, classics, erotica, john watson, mark gatiss, martin freeman, random, sherlock holmes, steven moffat
Bad Analogy
The February 29, 2012 episode of the Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 focused on the morality of sex-selective abortions. One of the panelists was Melanie Phillips and one of the guests selected to defend current abortion law over attempts to make it more restrictive to prevent sex-selective abortions was Kate Smurthwaite.
Smurthwaite drew an interesting analogy between denying a pregnant women an abortion and thus forcing her to carry a foetus until birth and forcing a person to donate an organ again their will to a recipient who will otherwise die without the donation.
For some reason I was not too satisfied with the analogy so I decided to explore a bit more:
In Smurthwaite’s analogy the pregnant woman is equivalent to the donor
The foetus is equivalent to the intended recipient
We don’t force donors to the donate organs to recipients who need them so how can we force pregnant women to carry their foetus to term?
But there is a difference:
The natural course of action (without any intervention) in the pregnant woman’s case is that the foetus will be born. The natural course of action (without any intervention) in the organ donation case is that the recipient will die.
The foetus will live if not interfered with. The recipient will die if not interfered with.
The pregnant woman has to affirmatively make the choice for abortion. The donor does not have to undertake any such affirmative action.
Therefore I find Smurthwaite’s analogy a little unsatisfying. But what if we switch the analogy and consider the pregnant woman and the organ recipient as equivalent?
According to Smurthwaite the women suffers physically and mentally if the abortion is not carried out. In the same way the recipient suffers physically (and mentally, surely) if the organ donation is not carried out.
If the donor is someone like Terri Schiavothen is it moral to harvest an organ from them? Is such a donor equivalent to a foetus?
Obviously an embryo with no neural development is not equivalent to the donor.
What about a 30 week old foetus?
It is viable ( > 95%[1])
It can, if not aborted, enjoy a life. Unlike the donor who is in a persistent vegetative state
If the health[2] of the pregnant woman can be privileged over that of the foetus, can the health of the recipient be privileged over that of the donor who is in a persistent vegetative state?
One important question of course is at what stage of the fetal development do we consider it a person? Reasonable people can disagree. For some[3] birth is the marker. Others choose a different time point.[4]
A Digression Regarding Mental Health
Regarding the effect on the mental health of the woman, in case abortion is not carried out, can such fears for mental health be extended beyond birth? As Giubilini and Minerva[5] point out:
Actual people’s well-being could be threatened by the new (even if healthy) child requiring energy, money and care which the family might happen to be in short supply of.
Giubilini and Minerva also tackle adoption as an alternative:
Why should we kill a healthy newborn when giving it up for adoption would not breach anyone’s right but possibly increase the happiness of people involved (adopters and adoptee)? … On this perspective, the interests of the actual people involved matter, and among these interests, we also need to consider the interests of the mother who might suffer psychological distress from giving her child up for adoption. Birthmothers are often reported to experience serious psychological problems due to the inability to elaborate their loss and to cope with their grief. It is true that grief and sense of loss may accompany both abortion and after-birth abortion as well as adoption, but we cannot assume that for the birthmother the latter is the least traumatic. For example, ‘those who grieve a death must accept the irreversibility of the loss, but natural mothers often dream that their child will return to them. This makes it difficult to accept the reality of the loss because they can never be quite sure whether or not it is irreversible’
If mental health is a suitable reason for abortion can it also be a suitable reason for an after-birth abortion?
Melanie Phillips raised the issue that Smurthwaite’s position is identical to supporting eugenics. In my opinion Smurthwaite has it right when she says:
Eugenics is where the government decides what characteristics it considers desirable in the next generation and then forces some women to have children (often with men they don’t want to have children with) and others not to. What I’m advocating is the opposite of that, where the government butts the hell out and lets women choose for themselves. Of course individuals selecting for themselves what genetic traits they’d like their kids to have is as old as the hills. That’s exactly what is going on (subconsciously or consciously) when a woman looks across a crowded bar at a guy and thinks “nice eyes”. She’s picking traits that she thinks might help her offspring. But of course then she also gets to know the guy and is highly likely to change her mind if she finds him stupid or unimaginative. Of course he’s doing the same to her, checking out her genes. And great news – science is getting much much better at helping us do this. Increasingly we can actively allow wannabe parents to select embryos to be implanted during IVF to avoid hereditary diseases where it may not be obvious in the bar whether the object of your desires is a carrier of the gene. In a few generations, at least in the west, this is likely to mean much lower incidence of things like sickle cell anaemia and Huntingdon’s disease. It would be unspeakably cruel not to allow that sort of progress to be used to prevent suffering. And if it became possible to select embryos for hair and eye colour too then firstly – that would be pre-implantation IVF embryo selection – not abortion.
The question though does arise, would Smurthwaite be OK with pre-implantation IVF diagnosis which screens for homosexuality (if possible) such that parents can reject embryos which show markers for homosexuality (and thus the probability of the embryo growing up into a homosexual man or woman is high)? Based on her answers to the question of sex selective abortions I am guessing she would be OK. I don’t think I will (just like for sex-selective abortions).
Some more final points:
Re: Honour killing and abortion. Honour killing and abortion are not comparable because honour killing is a crime? That is circular reasoning. Once can reasonably say that honour killing is a crime and abortion is not because the two are not comparable.[6]
Just because one believes an act is foolish and that one wouldn’t do it, does it automatically follow that that particular act should not be made illegal? I may find reckless or drunk driving foolish and I wouldn’t drive recklessly or drunk, but does it follow that they should be legal?
Melanie Phillips needs to work harder to understand analogies. Nowhere in Smurthwaite’s analogy does it make any sort of equivalence between the donor organ and the foetus.
[1] Information for parents of preterm babies less than 30 weeks gestation, p. 4 ↩
[2] Physical and mental. However while indications of threats to the physical health of the pregnant women are objective, is the same level of objectivity present in the evaluation of the mental health? ↩
[3] 44 minutes into the video ↩
[4] At around 24 weeks of gestational age a prematurely born fetus/infant has a 50% chance of long-term survival outside its mother’s womb. Cite. ↩
[5] After-birth abortion: why should the baby live? J Med Ethics, 2012 ↩
[6] One involves killing a human teen/adult and the other may involve the termination of an embryo (though the later stages provide a more difficult situation to rationalise). ↩
Tagged with abortion, bad analogy, BBC, moral maze
Mr. Brigstocke, what’s wrong with free movement of capital and labour?
Marcus Brigstocke on The Now Show of June 29, 2012 in a rant titled “Thank You and Goodbye!” (around the 20’40” mark)
…I’ve had it with bankers, multimillionaires and businesspeople and the rest announcing their imminent departure from the UK every time they are held to account by those of us who pay our taxes and vote. They are like teenagers who’ve had a row with their parents. <In an angry teen’s voice ranting> So for those threatening to leave when they are asked to pay their share of living here … GO. <Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive> Yes and once you’ve gone we will survive very happily. In fact I will happily drive any of you to the ferry terminal and push you off it. Here’s a thought, just so we don’t have to keep coming back to this tiresome discussion, its a simple honest decent proposal: <drumroll> Everyone has to live where their money is. See — easy! Now off you go …
If everyone has to live where their money is, what about people who have invested money in different places? Say they live in Manchester and have invested in a business in London? What if they live in Hull and their pensions are invested in e.g. BP? Mr. Brigstocke’s solution is simple enough.
Around the 25’30” mark:
I only wish that low income workers were able to hold the government to ransom by threatening to leave the country when they’re challenged. Just to wake up one day to a country where the only people at work spend their days moving fictional sums of money from one screen to another in the hope that the sums get bigger and they get a bonus. And somewhere in the distance as the streets lie unswept, unpoliced, shops shut, hospitals empty, schools boarded up, they hear “Goodbye Goodbye…<Some song which I cannot identify>
What is left unanswered is that if the current low income workers in the UK follow on their threat and leave, why would low income workers from other countries, whose income is vastly smaller,[1] not emigrate to the UK and sweep the streets, police the streets, open the shops, staff the hospitals and school?
[1] The UK defines poverty as income less than 60% of the median household income. In 2007-08, this was calculated to be GBP 115 per week for single adults with no dependent children. Source. In 2004-05 a fifth to a quarter of India’s population, around 200 M – 300 M (compare to UK population of 62 M in 2010) lived on less than GBP 2 per week. Source ↩
Tagged with BBC, classical liberalism, free market, free movement, free trade, The Now Show
This Explains A Lot
David Cannadine explains FDR’s antipathy to capitalism and the free-market
Like his earlier presidential cousin Theodore, Franklin D Roosevelt felt a strong patrician disdain for big business and upstart wealth. This was partly because the Roosevelt clan was never very rich but it was also because in terms of their lineage and their lands, they were about as close to being aristocracy as it’s possible to get in a country, which came into being by proclaiming that all men were created equal.
Audio here
This lends support to Deirdre McCloskey‘s thesis of Bourgeois Dignity
According to McCloskey, our modern world was not the product of new markets and innovations, but rather the result of shifting opinions about them. During this time, talk of private property, commerce, and even the bourgeoisie itself radically altered, becoming far more approving and flying in the face of prejudices several millennia old. The wealth of nations, then, didn’t grow so dramatically because of economic factors: it grew because rhetoric about markets and free enterprise finally became enthusiastic and encouraging of their inherent dignity.
Tagged with A Point of View, BBC, David Cannadine
Luddism, sigh . . .
In an article BBC travel writer Huw Cordey heralds new technology as a mixed blessing for travellers. He laments
It may be a cliche but there is no doubt that technology makes the world feel a smaller – and less interesting – place . . . You crave more of it but, deep down, you know you would be happier with a lot less.
I just wish he would realise how technology has been so important for Wilberth Matamoros and Jenny Neeve. Huw does write
Until the internet arrived, he talked to Jenny virtually every day from his mobile. Half the time she would call him, the other half he phoned her.
Unfortunately that sort of love did not come cheap. Wilberth was spending nearly half his $500 (£300) a month salary talking to Jenny.
Now with the internet and Skype, communication is free which means that they can talk for as long or as often as they like, and the money he saves he can spend on flights to actually see Jenny.
Does Huw think that Jenny and Wilberth would be happier with a lot less? Does he think that their relationship would last in the absence of technology?
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Middle and Upper School Students Perform in 2018 Spring Dance Concert
Melissa D'Alessio, Staff WriterApril 25, 2018Leave a Comment
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Freshmen Sophia Falbo and Ella Barnett perform a routine during the spring dance concert.
via Communications
April often makes people think of warmer weather or the impending end of yet another school year. However, for the dancers in Poly Prep’s community, April is the culmination of their entire year of hard work and endless practice as well as their final opportunity to come together and display their talents to their friends and family. Poly’s 22nd annual spring dance concert shocked and impressed the Poly community through its showcase of a vast array of styles of dance. From ancient Egyptian to contemporary to Afro-Caribbean, this year’s dance concert gave the dancers and their audiences the chance to travel through different cultures and time periods as they witnessed the dancers’ interpretations of technical styles of dance.
Poly’s spring dance concert is one of the unique occasions during which the middle school and upper school come together to showcase their talents for the Poly community. The spring dance concert often acts as a bridge for middle school students into their future years as a member of Poly’s performing arts community. The middle school students are given a chance to see how successful of a dancer they can become in a few years if they continue to dance, making the dance concert is often a place where talents are refined and passion is discovered.
Directors Danielle Bensky and Ashley Hacker not only organized the presentation and message of this year’s concert, but also choreographed most of the pieces that were performed. Together, they used their extensive experience in the world of dance to teach the dancers the very technical methods behind dance and push the dancers toward exploring the elements that go into creating an entire dance from just a song.
“With Ms. Pollock gone halfway through the year, Ms. Bensky was able to take control of the dance concert and it really showed through our performances,” said senior Eva Williamson-Kanter. “I truly enjoyed working with Ms. Bensky, and I think our final dances showed her hard work.”
The dance concert offered several students the opportunity to express their leadership skills and creative sides as choreographers. Seniors Ana Reyes and Olivia Whitmer led the Dance Team in their renditions of Bishop Briggs’ River and seniors Shakaa Chaiban, Lotoya Francis and Kayla Williams led Poly Prep’s Step Team in their piece titled Legacy of 18. Both groups, as well as Poly’s African Dance and Drum Club, were supported and advised by French and Spanish teacher Angela Gittens.
“It has truly been a labor of love working as the adviser to the Poly African Dance & Drum Club, for which I also serve as their resident choreographer, and the Step and Dance Teams,” Gittens said. “While this year was especially challenging due to the need to balance each of the club schedules, the senior co-captains each used their skills as leaders and their talents as dancers to organize rehearsals and help the groups shine onstage. And what a delight getting to know Bensky who led the way with her artistic vision for the concert!”
The ending of the spring dance concert is always bittersweet. Poly’s dance community is finally rewarded for their year of hard work. However, the community must say goodbye to many talented and passionate senior dancers. Although saying goodbye to the senior dancers is very difficult, the dance community at Poly is always hopeful that it will welcome another new year of skilled dancers and creative minds.
Tags: Ana Reyes, Angela Gittens, Arts, Ashley Hacker, Dance Concert, Danielle Bensky, Eva Williamson-Kanter, Kayla Williams, Lotoya Francis, Olivia Whitmer, Pamela Pollock
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The Billionaire Raj
Author(s): James Crabtree
A colorful and revealing portrait of the rise of India's new billionaire class in a radically unequal society
India is the world's largest democracy, with more than one billion people and an economy expanding faster than China's. But the rewards of this growth have been far from evenly shared, and the country's top 1% now own nearly 60% of its wealth. In megacities like Mumbai, where half the population live in slums, the extraordinary riches of India's new dynasties echo the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers of America's Gilded Age, funneling profits from huge conglomerates into lifestyles of conspicuous consumption.
James Crabtree's The Billionaire Raj takes readers on a personal journey to meet these reclusive billionaires, fugitive tycoons, and shadowy political power brokers. From the sky terrace of the world's most expensive home to impoverished villages and mass political rallies, Crabtree dramatizes the battle between crony capitalists and economic reformers, revealing a tense struggle between equality and privilege playing out against a combustible backdrop of aspiration, class, and caste.
The Billionaire Raj is a vivid account of a divided society on the cusp of transformation--and a struggle that will shape not just India's future, but the world's.
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint : Oneworld
Publication date : August 2018
Author : James Crabtree
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Music and Lyrics by Okuda Tamio
Travel across the universe… Across the Milky Way…
On a planet… a small island in the east
Snow melts… Pink blossoms
Withstanding the hurricane… Orange blooms
Across time… Across the ages…
On this planet… a verdant island…
…of the sun and the starry sky…
Sing to the sky… Reach to the oceans…
Sing here… Cry out from here…
Translator’s notes
This song has a very raw, soulful sound that reminds me of Bob Dylan and other rock and folk singers since him. Though the lyrics are sparse, the imagery and emotion are deep.
In typical Japanese fashion, the song progresses from the large to the small, the general to the specific. It evokes a sense of flying through space, watching the earth from above, seeing the seasons pass in time-lapse. The snow of winter melts and the sakura cover the land. A storm strikes, ripping up much in its wake, and after it has passed, the orange of rust blooms. Though everything is destroyed, there is beauty still. This island has stood the test of time, has weathered many a storm, and has stayed green and growing. It is from this place, this small island, that voices sing out, cry out, with rage and sorrow and determination and gratitude.
The last line of the song reads “ここで歌え ここから叫べ” (koko de utae, koko kara sakebe). The verbs “utau” (to sing) and “sakebu” (to cry out) are both in command form, ordering the listeners to make themselves heard. The verb “sakebu” can also be translated as “to scream”, but in Japanese culture a scream is much like the whistle of a teakettle – a focused release after emotions have built to unbearable extremes.
Red Flowers (Akai Hana)
(M’s Japan Orchestra)
You, my lady, looked up into the sky
Sorrow surged up and crashed down upon you
Even so, bloom… Spring flowers
enough to cover the vast ash grey land
Red flowers above the tears
One day, they’ll make our dreams blossom
here, in the wreckage of this land
la la la la la
Children play innocently
Shadow figures sway
One day they’ll bloom… Spring flowers
enough to resurrect the love that was here
Red flowers… rest your cheek gently against them
We will never forget kindness and tenderness
We, the people who live here
Red flowers… resting my cheek gently against them
Your kindness will never be forgotten
Until the day we can meet again
Beyond this vast sadness…
You flowers that bloomed red…
Translator’s notes:
This is a song about a land haunted by loss, and a song about hope and rebirth. The song is personal. It begins with the word “anata” which means “you,” but in this case the characters used specifically indicate that the “you” is female leaving us to wonder who the woman in the first stanza was and what happened to her. Did she die? Did she come home to find everything she loved washed away?
We are immediately confronted with the image of a devastated land bereft of life. Still, the singer believes that there is beauty in the world, and that one day the scars will heal allowing dreamers to dream again.
The innocence of children is shown as both a balm and a reminder of all that was lost. We are shown children at play, their shadows flitting across the rubble. This may recall Japanese ghost stories where we see three children playing and five shadows stretching out behind them. Here the song speaks of a hope that one day the love that once was there will be drawn back into this world.
The song ends in gratitude – for everything that once was and for everything since received. There are promises to never forget and a promise to meet again. And in the midst of this determination, loss, and hope, the song invites people to lay down their burdens for a moment and rest. It says that it will be possible to move beyond the sadness, and, in the final line, it both beseeches the flowers for their help and berates them for blooming.
In Japan, the color red is a color of strong emotion – celebration, danger, protection, victory, loss. The Japanese flag is the red sun on a white background. The red camellia is associated with samurai – camellia flowers fall whole, at the peak of their beauty, just as samurai once fell. The gates that stand at Shinto shrines are red as are cloths placed around the shoulders of jizo and kitsune statues.
Traditionally, at celebrations, sekihan (literally “red rice”) is served, and on a person’s 60th birthday they’re given a red vest and hat to wear. A red thread is thought to connect soul mates, two people who are meant to love each other. In traditional kabuki the hero’s face has red lines to show his passion and courage and fire. And in Japan, instead of saying that “the grass is always greener” they say “the neighbor’s flowers are red” (隣の花は赤い, tonari no hana ha akai).
It is not by chance that the flowers in this song have bloomed red.
Our thanks to Elanor Sakamoto for the translations and the notes about the translations.
Original Japanese-language lyrics here
Return to Culture Notes main page
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Porsche Cayenne Coupe video review: the best high performance SUV you can buy? New, style-focused Cayenne variant gets driven for the first time to find out if it can topple the luxury SUV set The all-new Cayenne Coupé is Porsch...
The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe Doubles Down on Absurdity but It’s Fun and Fast The 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe takes one of the sportiest crossovers on the market and gives it a slight redesign that better reflects the speed its 5...
Cueva Pintada: Painted Cave of Gran Canaria Reveals Mystery of Ancient Inhabitants In 1862, in the center of the Spanish town of Galdar, an incredible archaeological discovery was made while agricultural work was being undertaken. ...
Video: Sports coupe shootout - Toyota Supra vs biggest rivals The new Toyota Supra goes head-to-head with sports cars from Porsche, Alpine and platform partner BMW to see if it can topple the class best What’s t...
College World Series: Michigan pounds Vanderbilt in Game 1 of championship series Pitcher Tommy Henry was stellar and Michigan's offense double up Vanderbilt in hits in a Game 1 win in the College World Series championship seri...
College World Series: Both Vandy whistlers are at national championship series game Both Vandy whistlers are at the College World Series national championship series opener between Vanderbilt and Michigan. ...
Ferrari won't appeal Australian Gran Prix decision… but they're far from happy with the outcome Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto has hit out at the decision not to penalise Max Verstappen after he won the Austrian Grand Prix following a coming togeth...
Ferrari won't appeal Austrian Gran Prix decision… but they're far from happy with the outcome Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto has hit out at the decision not to penalise Max Verstappen after he won the Austrian Grand Prix following a coming togeth...
Apple Watch Series 3 Repairs Being Substituted With Series 4: Report Running low on inventory for the older model, Apple has informed its retail staff to substitute some Apple Watch Series 3 repairs with the Series 4 gl...
W Series 2019: Calendar, dates, cars, drivers, TV - F3 racing series ushers in new era for women's motorsport After eight days of testing in Almeria and Melk, 18 drivers have been selected to drive in the W Series and contest the first-ever season of the singl...
| Rabiot completes move to Juventus Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot has completed his move to Juventus with the Italian champions announcing the signing of his contract on M...
The Latest: Nishikori completes 5-set win over 2 days The Latest on the French Open: Kei Nishikori completed a five-set win over two days to reach the French Open quarterfinals &#...
Boeing Faces More FAA Requests as It Completes 737 MAX Fix Boeing completed a software fix for its 737 MAX jets but faces additional information requests from U.S. aviation regulators, another hurdle in return...
Mordashov's Severgroup completes acquisition of Lenta Russia's Severgroup, controlled by billionaire Alexei Mordashov, has completed the acquisition of a 42-percent stake in food retailer Lenta, Lenta sai...
PG&E completes safety inspection of distribution infrastructure Electric utility PG&E Corp said on Wednesday it has completed visual inspections of about 99% of its distribution infrastructure to provide additional...
Boeing completes software update on 737 Max planes Jets have been grounded since March after being involved in two fatal crashesBoeing has completed a software update for its 737 Max jets, which have b...
Man City completes sweep of English trophies with FA Cup win Raheem Sterling scored a hat trick as Manchester City completed the first sweep of English men's football trophies by routing Watford 6-0 in a re...
Hummels completes move back to Dortmund "World Cup winner Mats Hummels on Wednesday completed a move back to Borussia Dortmund after three years at German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich....
Jehan Daruvala Completes Hat-trick Of Podiums In F3 Jehan Daruvala was at his dominant best during the French GP and picked up his third consecutive podium finish in Formula 3. The Prema Racing driver s...
Garcia completes comeback to win Nottingham title "Top seed Caroline Garcia came back from a set down to beat Donna Vekic 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 to win her first title of the season in Sunday\u0027s final in N...
FCA completes sale of Magneti Marelli for $6.5 billion Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has completed the sale of supplier Magneti Marelli to Calsonic Kansei for $6.5 billion, slightly below the initial price tag...
Tesla Completes $2.35 Billion Stock and Bond Sale Tesla has completed a $2.35 billion stock and bond sale, giving the company a much-needed boost of liquidity as it continues its quest to become the f...
What's Left Of The Warriors Completes Sweep Of The Trail Blazers The Golden State Warriors, minus Kevin Durant, minus DeMarcus Cousins, minus Andre Iguodala, completed a four-game sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers...
| Thompson completes sprint double at Jamaican championships Elaine Thompson won the 200m to complete a sprint double at the Jamaican Athletics Championships as she continues her return from an injury marred 201...
FCA Completes Sale Of Magneti Marelli To CK Holdings For $6.5 Billion Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has approved the sale of its car parts corporation Magneti Marelli to Japanese firm CK Holdings. The latter is part of...
Branson's Virgin Orbit completes key rocket test Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit on Wednesday released a rocket from the wing of a modified Boeing 747 jetliner in mid-air in a key test of its high-alt...
Fiat Chrysler completes sale of components maker MILAN (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it has completed the sale of components maker Magneti Marelli to Japanese supplier Calsonic Kansei, allowi...
State Fails, Odisha Man Completes Bridge With Own Savings Frustrated with years of government apathy, a retired employee of the Veterinary Department has invested all his savings in completing a half-finished...
Navy completes tests of Raytheon's upgraded RAM missile The U.S. Navy completed a series of guided flight tests for Raytheon's upgraded RAM Block 2A short-range, surface-to-air missile, which is expected to...
Viviani completes set of grand tour stage wins Italy’s Elia Viviani completed his set of grand tour stage wins when he claimed the fourth stage of the Tour de France, a 213.5-km flat ride from Reim...
MotoE World Cup completes first test since devastating fire The MotoE World Cup has held its first test, including a simulated qualifying and race at Valencia, since the entire electric bike series paddock was ...
Johnson completes runner-up grand slam at PGA Championship Dustin Johnson narrowly missed out on winning his second career major at the PGA Championship on Sunday but in doing so he joined some very select com...
Kraft Heinz completes internal investigation on procurement practices Kraft Heinz Co said on Friday the company's internal investigation into its procurement practices and internal controls assessment is now complete and...
Athletics: Thompson completes sprint double at Jamaican trials Olympic champion Elaine Thompson posted a world-leading 22.00 to win the 200 meters on Sunday and complete the sprint double on the last day of the Ja...
Low-cost Valkyrie unmanned aircraft completes second test flight Billed as a "low-cost" drone, the XQ-58A met all test objectives during a 71-minute flight last week at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona, its second te...
Dustin Johnson Completes a Grand Slam of Runner-Up Finishes “Yay,” Johnson said when told the news that he now had a second-place finish in each of the four majors. This time, he lost to his friend and training...
Russia's Transneft completes planned maintenance at Druzhba pipeline Russia's oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said on Tuesday it had completed the scheduled maintenance at Kuibyshev - Unecha-2 section of the Druzhba oil...
Kraft Heinz completes internal probe into its procurement practices Kraft Heinz Co said on Friday the numbers it restated last month were accurate following completion of an internal investigation, but that the matter ...
NORAD completes bomber intercept exercise over Alberta, Canada NORAD on Wednesday announced a successful simulated intercept over Canadian airspace with Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighters and U.S. B-52 long-r...
Bianca Andreescu Completes a Stunning Run to the Indian Wells Title The 18-year-old Canadian, ranked 60th, is the youngest player to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 1999. Dominic Thiem beat Roger Federer fo...
Murray completes fairytale return, Lopez claims 2 titles Andy Murray completed a fairytale return from hip surgery by winning the Queen's Club doubles title with Feliciano Lopez ...
Boeing completes update of 737 Max software cited in deadly crashes Boeing announced Thursday that it has completed a software update for its 737 Max planes, which have been grounded globally after a pair of deadly cra...
World number one Osaka completes remarkable comeback to progress "World number one Naomi Osaka completed an extraordinary comeback on Tuesday as she beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 0-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in the first round...
Viviani completes Grand Tour clean sweep with Stage 4 win "Italy’s Elia Viviani put to bed his Giro d’Italia nightmare with a maiden win on the Tour de France, the Deceuninck-QuickStep rider powering to Stage...
Podimetrics completes $13.4 million funding for disease-detecting foot mat Podimetrics, the maker of a smart foot mat that detects warning signs of diabetic foot ulcers, said on Thursday it raised $13.4 million in a funding r...
Netflix completes 'Kimmy Schmidt' with an interactive episode in 2020 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt fans will get one more episode of the series, which ended its four season run on Netflix in January. During a Netflix FYSEE ...
Jack Clarke completes Tottenham medical ahead of £10m Leeds transfer Leeds United winger Jack Clarke has completed a medical ahead of a £10million move to Tottenham, with the deal set to be announced before the end of t...
Thai coup leader completes transition to elected PM, cabinet unclear Thailand's king formally endorsed former army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha as an elected prime minister on Tuesday, five years after he seized powe...
Lucy Bronze's Stunning Goal Completes England's Demolition Of Norway England had themselves a chill afternoon in the quarterfinals against Norway, scoring twice in the first half and once a little later on to beat the N...
UPDATE 1-Kraft Heinz completes internal probe into its procurement practices Kraft Heinz Co said on Friday the numbers it restated last month were accurate following completion of an internal investigation, but that the matter ...
HII completes flight deck of Ford-class carrier John F. Kennedy Huntington Ingalls Industries has installed the final piece of the flight deck on the new Ford-class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, the company ann...
Boeing completes 737 MAX software update, working on pilot training plan Boeing Co said on Thursday it had completed a software update for its 737 MAX jets, which have been grounded worldwide since March after they were inv...
Future littoral combat ship Indianapolis completes acceptance trials The U.S. Navy's future USS Indianapolis, a Freedom-class littoral combat ship, has completed its acceptance trials, designer Lockheed Martin said on W...
Ducati MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso completes first Audi DTM test Ducati MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso has completed a full Audi DTM test alongside Mattias Ekstrom at Misano ahead of his guest race appearance at the c...
NASA's Astrobee cube robot completes first hardware tests in space NASA just inched closer to having robots take care of spacecraft. The agency recently completed its first hardware checkouts for Bumble (above), one ...
Chevron completes purchase of Houston-area refinery from Brazil's Petrobras Chevron Corp completed a $350 million purchase of a refinery in the Houston suburb of Pasadena, Texas, from Brazil's national oil company Petrobras , ...
CBOE Holdings Completes Acquisition of Livevol Data, Analytics Platforms CHICAGO, IL -- August 7, 2015 -- CBOE Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) announced today that it has finalized the acquisition of the market data service...
Navy hospital ship Comfort completes first 2019 mission in Ecuador The USNS Comfort finished up a medical mission in Manta, Ecuador, which included caring for 7,799 patients and performing more than 120 surgeries on t...
China completes outer dome on overseas Hualong One reactor in Pakistan China has finished building the outer safety dome at its first overseas "Hualong One" nuclear reactor in Pakistan, with the project scheduled to be fi...
Disgraced Former Fox Sports Exec Jamie Horowitz Completes Soft Landing At DAZN Almost two years after being fired from Fox Sports amid an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, Jamie Horowitz has secured a cushy exe...
UPDATE 1-Chevron completes purchase of Houston-area refinery from Brazil's Petrobras Chevron Corp completed a $350 million purchase of a refinery in the Houston suburb of Pasadena, Texas, from Brazil's national oil company, Petrobras ,...
Santi Cazorla Completes His Resurrection By Earning A Spanish National Team Spot The last time Santi Cazorla played for the Spanish national team, Donald Trump wasn’t President, Vine still existed, and Real Madrid only had one Cham...
Kraft Heinz completes internal investigation on procurement practices, says returning to normal Kraft Heinz said on Friday the company's internal investigation into its procurement practices and internal controls assessment is now complete a...
Wells Fargo champ Max Homa completes two-year climb out of ‘dark’ times CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In his own words, Max Homa had “some serious scar tissue,’’ on the PGA Tour. Two years ago, as a PGA Tour rookie, Homa failed to mak...
India's DHFL pays some investor dues, completes stake sale in Aadhar Housing Indian mortgage lender Dewan Housing Finance Corp Ltd (DHFL) said it has paid the interest and principal on certain debt instruments that was due on M...
Antoine Griezmann’s wife stuns in bikini snap as star completes move to Barcelona ANTOINE Griezmann’s transfer from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona has finally been agreed – but his wife was looking chilled out about it all on holiday....
Royal baby completes Prince Harry's journey from rebel to role model Marriage and the birth of a son gives Prince Harry a stability that appeared a world away in the aftermath of his mother's death Follow all the latest...
Ford-class combat system completes test as Ford availability further delayed The USS Gerald R. Ford completed the final developmental test of its integrated combat system off the coast of California -- a major accomplishment af...
Uber prices IPO at $45 a share, at low end of range Uber, in one of the most high-profile U.S. listings since Facebook's IPO seven years ago, raised $8.1 billion in adopting a risk-averse stance with it...
This $19 Wi-Fi Range Extender Is Also a Smart Plug. Or Is It the Other Way Around? Wi-Fi range extenders aren’t a cure-all for your networking issues. But if you have one particular device in one particular corner of your house that ...
Used car buying guide: Range Rover P38 P38 was the number of the Range Rover Mk2 development team’s office building Risk and reward? You can expect plenty of both from the Mk2 Range Rover...
Google brings a whole new range of Chromebooks Down Under The phenomenon of the affordable Chromebook that offers a simpler, more immediate experience than a laptop has been making waves overseas for quite so...
Prices announced for the new Lexus RC F range News 1 May, 2019 UK prices for the new Lexus RC F coupe have been released , following its debut at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this ...
Renault reveals second-gen Zoe EV with 242-mile range Updates prepare Zoe's EV pioneer for increasingly fierce competition from Peugeot, Vauxhall, VW and Honda Subtly restyled Peugeot e-208 rival receiv...
What is the normal range for troponin levels? Troponin levels in the blood are normally very low and increase when the heart becomes damaged. Very high levels usually indicate that a person has re...
Beyond Meat raises the price range for its IPO Leanna Garfield/Business Insider Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat increased the expected price range and size of its initial public offering, ahead...
Hyundai Ioniq updated with more EV range and new kit Extended range for electric Ioniq while all variants get revised styling and uprated interior technology Hyundai has unveiled a refreshed version of ...
Philips TV range 2019: everything you need to know from OLED+ to ‘The One’ Philips TVs had a stellar 2018, boosting the company’s Ambilight line with quality LCDs and one of the best OLED televisions we’ve ever ...
The Mets Bullpen Completes A Remarkable Phillies Sweep Of The Mets Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: The New York Mets lost in deeply dispiriting fashion Thursday, to finish off a gruesome series and drop eight...
BMW plots major expansion of M performance range New M4, M3 and X8 M, as imagined here by Autocar, will be high-profile debutants Limited-run models and petrol-electric powertrains on the cards as ...
HTC U19e, Desire 19+ Mid-Range Smartphones Launched HTC has added two new smartphones to its portfolio after not launching a single phone in almost six months. The new HTC U19e and Desire 19+ are mid-ra...
Uber Set to Price IPO at Midpoint of Target Range or Below Uber Technologies is on track to price its initial public offering at the midpoint of its target or below, according to people familiar with the matte...
Philips' Hue range may soon include a smart plug Philips Hue might be one of the biggest names in smart home technology, but one product it has not yet managed to bring to market is a smart plug. Tha...
Audi RS5 returns to range with 444bhp V6 for 2019 Audi's online configurator shows the revived RS5 Coupé in Audi Sport Edition trim Just 250 Coupé and 250 Sportback versions of BMW M4 rival to be s...
CHEAP: You only have THIS WEEKEND to get $100 off the Samsung Galaxy S10 range Welcome to CHEAP, our series about things that are good, but most of all, cheap. CHEAP! Damn, now this is a deal. Yep, you can currently get $100 off ...
Netanyahu warns Iran about range of new F-35 fighter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally viewed a squadron of F-35 fighter jets Tuesday, and warned Iran the state-of-the-art aircraft can...
AMD partner leaks two mid-range Navi GPUs AMD is set to announce more GPUs based on its 7-nanometer Navi tech, according to a leak from Sapphire, one of its largest graphics card partners. At ...
Sony built an IoT chip with a 60 mile range Sony is quietly launching a chip that could change how e-bikes, cars, street lamps and all kinds of other connected devices can relay information. The...
iPhone 11 range shown off in leaked CAD images The iPhone 11 range, like most of its predecessors, has been heavily leaked many times now, with the latest leak taking the form of CAD (computer-aide...
CBOE to Launch S&P 500 Index Range Options CHICAGO, Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE) announced today that it will launch trading in a new type o...
Get Virgin's impressive new range of SIM only deals from as low as £6 per month No matter how much data you're looking to grab, Virgin Mobile seems to have just come in and dominated the whole SIM only market. From cheap offe...
This Range Extender Won't Work Miracles, But It Doesn't Have To For $15 Wi-Fi range extenders aren’t a networking cure-all, but if there’s one spot in your house with spotty coverage, they can be a much cheaper solution th...
APNewsBreak: Nearly all states use drones for range of work SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A survey obtained by The Associated Press shows that public transportation agencies are using drones in nearly every state. The ...
The 2020 Mini Cooper SE Goes Electric, but Is the Range Enough? A punchy, little electric car is some people’s idea of the perfect city car. Just ask Smart, before it folded here. And now, Mini is taking a stab at ...
Love Island launches its own make-up range – here's where to get it LOVE Island fans can now get their hands on make-up products dedicated to the ITV2 show. Highlighter, bronzer and lipstick are among the merch availab...
New facelifted Hyundai Ioniq range uncovered News 3 May, 2019 The Hyundai Ioniq range has been revised with fresh styling, new tech and a reworked electric drivetrain, borrowed from...
New 2021 Range Rover: first prototypes seen testing Fifth-gen Range Rover gets new aluminium chassis, electrified powertrains and a BMW-sourced V8 The next generation of Land Rover’s flagship Range Rov...
The Moto Z4 launches as a $500 mid-range smartphone with 5G upgradability The Moto Z4, featuring the return of the headphone jack! Motorola provided this loving render of the phone on top of a tangle of headphone wire. ...
The electric cars with the best real-world range Range estimates are exactly that - estimates. We show you what you can expect from an EV in the real-world Battery technology and charging infrastruc...
Georgia man killed in accidental shooting at gun range A Georgia man was killed at an indoor gun range — when a member of his party inadvertently fired at him over Memorial Day weekend, officials said. Joh...
New MINI Electric revealed with 124 miles of range News 9 Jul, 2019 New MINI Electric hatchback revealed with a pure EV range of 124 miles with prices starting from £24,400 and deliveries...
New MINI Electric revealed with 124 miles range News 9 Jul, 2019 New MINI Electric hatchback revealed with a pure EV range of 124 miles with prices starting from £24,400 and deliveries...
New Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Shooting Brake joins the range News 4 Jun, 2019 The new Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Shooting Brake has arrived with mechanicals borrowed from the AMG A 35, meaning 302bhp and ...
Range Rover gets new mild-hybrid powertrain News 1 May, 2019 Jaguar Land Rover’s six-cylinder Ingenium engine is now available in the Range Rover, with an MHEV system and electric ...
Samsung could soon unveil the world's first mid-range 5G smartphone Promotional Galaxy A80 image showing the rotating, pop-up triple camera in actionAfter a few rather lackluster years, Samsung has managed to breathe n...
Airbus launches new long-range jet as Boeing struggles Airbus has launched a new long-range jet at the start of the Paris Air Show as main rival Boeing continues to face questions over the crisis for its 7...
Two men rescued by Border Patrol in Tucson mountain range TUCSON – A man was airlifted and rescued by Border Patrol after he was found unconscious with a group of undocumented immigrants in a desert mou...
Audi revamps A4 range with hybrid options for 2019 S4 will be diesel only with a 48V mild-hybrid set-up Substantial styling, technology and chassis updates will appear on Audi’s mid-range option late...
North Korea fires several short-range projectiles into sea SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired several unidentified short-range projectiles into the sea off its eastern coast on Saturday, the South Korean J...
Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A50 is already discounted by $110 to $240 with Verizon installments Like almost every other major smartphone vendor, Samsung is going through a bit of a rough patch, as both global sales numbers and profits derived fro...
No electric Range Rover Evoque planned, PHEV instead Firm believes plug-in hybrid powertrains are the way forward, and Evoque platform not ready for full-EV An electric Range Rover Evoque won’t arrive t...
SUV showdown: Range Rover Evoque vs major rivals There's no shortage of compact SUVs on the market, so how will the new Evoque stand out? Can Range Rover’s second-generation fashion icon retain its...
Mini goes electric with Cooper SE, offering range of 114 miles The electric Mini Cooper SE arrives as the BMW brand grapples with an existential crisis. Customers, especially in the U.S., have ditched micro cars f...
Wizz Air CEO looks to connect the dots with new long-range A321s Wizz Air will use 20 new extended-range, narrow body Airbus jets primarily to connect existing destinations in its disparate network rather than to fl...
Samsung's next 2019 mid-range tablet leaks for the first time Unlike Google, Samsung is far from being done with tablets. The South Korean company has at least two new devices in this category in the pipeline: a ...
Traton trading at mid-point of IPO range in gray market Shares in Volkswagen's truck unit Traton were trading on the gray market at around the mid-point of its initial public offering price (IPO) range ahea...
Lightyear One solar-charging EV revealed with 450 mile range Solar-electric hybrid, set for production in 2021, will offer extended range through lightweight construction and innovative powertrain Dutch start-u...
Traton trading at mid-point of IPO range in grey market Shares in Volkswagen's truck unit Traton were trading on the grey market at around the mid-point of its initial public offering price (IPO) range ahea...
Airbus launches 'longest range' narrow plane Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has unveiled designs for the A321XLR -- an aircraft it claims will be the world's "longest range single-aisle airliner."...
Lightyear unveils long-range solar-electric car News 25 Jun, 2019 Lightyear, a Dutch mobility company, will put the world’s long-range first solar powered electric car into production ...
17 migrants rescued after wandering into bombing range near Yuma YUMA, Ariz. – More than a dozen undocumented immigrants were rescued by Border Patrol after the group crossed into the Barry M. Goldwater Bombin...
Airbus to make new midsize long-range plane LE BOURGET, France — Airbus will start making a new single-aisle long-range jet, beating rival Boeing to the market in this category. The European pla...
US puts rush order on long-range air-to-air missile The US is developing a new very-long-range air-to-air missile to counter Chinese and Russian weapons (transcript here). (video link) It has been more ...
Oppo's mid-range Realme X is inspired by garlic and onions We don't often highlight mid-range smartphones these days, but when we do, there's a good reason. Following yesterday's flagship OnePlu...
North Korea tests short-range missile North Korea fired an unidentified short-range missile Saturday morning from the country's eastern coast, the South Korean Defense Ministry confirmed t...
The Meizu 16s offers flagship features at a mid-range price Smartphones have gotten more expensive over the last few years even though there have only been a handful of recent innovations that really changed th...
Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A line is selling like hot cakes Back in March, Samsung started selling its latest mid-range Galaxy A models. According to Reuters, Samsung India’s chief marketing officer Ranjivjit S...
Cybersecurity Firm CrowdStrike Prices IPO Above Expected Range The company priced its initial public offering above its expected price range, raising $612 million and valuing the company at $6.8 billion, if underw...
The Moto Z4 Is a Solid Mid-Range Contender, But It Might Be Time for a Reboot While Samsung, Apple, Huawei, and others continue to push out $1,000 phones, Motorola has run in the other direction and completely abandoned the flag...
FCC certifies a new entry-level mid-range Samsung phone While Samsung has found gold with its mid-range Galaxy A line, the company is adding an ever lower-priced version to the series. The FCC has certified...
Cupra to expand range with Frankfurt-bound concept Short video shows a car closely resembling the previously revealed e-Racer Cupra has released a video hinting at a forthcoming concept, to be shown a...
Law shoots 67, completes wire-to-wire LPGA win Bronte Law shot a 3-under 67 and held off a series of challengers to win the Pure Silk Championship by two shots for her first career victory on the L...
Tesla's China-made Model 3 may be priced in $43,400-$50,700 range: Bloomberg Tesla Inc is considering pricing its China-manufactured Model 3 vehicles between 300,000 yuan and 350,000 yuan ($43,431-$50,670) before subsidies, Blo...
Seat range updated with infotainment, safety additions for 2019 Leon, Arona and Ateca best-sellers get upgraded interior tech, Alhambra MPV gains more safety as standard Seat has overhauled its entire UK line-up f...
Tesla's China-made Model 3 may be priced in $43,400-$50,700 range- Bloomberg Tesla Inc is considering pricing its China-manufactured Model 3 vehicles between 300,000 yuan and 350,000 yuan ($43,431-$50,670) before subsidies, Blo...
The Sports Highlight Of The Day Is This Cow's Long-Range Turd Hitting Its Mark This dairy farmer knew that the cow needed to crap. You can see his hesitation as he stopped working and stood back so it could let loose. But Bessie ...
Nancy Pelosi Keeps Coming for the Fab Freshmen of Congress but She Doesn’t Have the Range House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) may have overstayed her welcome. For some reason—maybe it’s jealousy, maybe it’s because the new crop of freshme...
The Latest: South: NKorea Fires Several Short-Range Missiles SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The Latest on North Korea test firing short-range missiles (all times local): 10:45 a.m. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of...
North Korea fires an unidentified short-range missile SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff says North Korea has fired an unidentified short-range missile from its eastern coast...
Forget the rebrand – Kim Kardashian West should ditch her shapewear range entirely Shapewear or ‘Solutionwear’ is a necessity – if you don’t want your butt, boobs, gut or thighs to move or breathe at all. Let’s get rid of it altogeth...
Range Rover gains 395bhp Ingenium straight-six petrol Range Rover Land Rover adds 395bhp turbocharged and supercharged engine to luxury SUV, replacing V6 Land Rover has added its new 395bhp Ingenium st...
North Korea Fires Unidentified Short-Range Weapon North Korea fired a type of short-range weapon off the country’s east coast on Saturday morning, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the late...
North Korea fires short-range missiles into the sea, report says South Korean and US experts were analysing the launches, says Yonhap news agencyNorth Korea has fired a number of short-range missiles into the sea fr...
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 range could land on August 10, but without a key upgrade Given that the last few Galaxy Note phones all landed in August it was always likely the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 would too, but we now have an idea of ...
For 30 Minutes on a Hot Friday Morning, Trump Lashes Out at a Range of Critics The president’s targets included Bill de Blasio, Paul D. Ryan, the outgoing British ambassador and the press. But he said that Nancy Pelosi was not a ...
Burger King takes on McDonald's with a range of 'unhappy' meals Burger King has launched a range of burger meals that focus on "real" moods. The fast-food chain introduced a range of boxed deals it's calling "...
Sensex, Nifty Move In A Range Amid Cautious Trade Top laggards on the 50-scrip index were Dr Reddy's, Cipla, Reliance Industries, Coal India and Yes Bank, trading between 1.12 and 2.63 per cent lower....
Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic 2019 review Long-legged, limited-run luxury Velar V8 steps into the ring with hottest Alfa Stelvio and Porsche Macan There’s very little about the fast, handsom...
Uber prices IPO at $45 per share, at lower end of target range -sources Uber Technologies Inc on Thursday priced its initial public offering at $45 per share, according to people familiar with the matter, at the lower end ...
Lightyear unveils its solar car prototype with a 725km range and $170,000 price tag Dutch automotive firm Lightyear has unveiled a prototype of the One, a solar-powered car that can travel up to 725km (450 miles) on a full charge. You...
Volkswagen's Traton sets price range for IPO at 27-28 euros a share Volkswagen's truck unit Traton narrowed the price range for its initial public offering (IPO) to between 27 euros ($30.74) and 28 euros a share, the ...
Small Premium SUV of the Year 2019: Range Rover Evoque Awards 9 Jul, 2019 The Range Rover Evoque is the 2019 Auto Express Small Premium SUV of the Year, with the Audi Q3 and Lexus UX commende...
Novartis CEO plans gene therapy price 'far lower' than $4 mln to $5 mln range Novartis AG's top executive said on Wednesday it expects to price its gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy “far lower” than the $4 million to $5 m...
Rugged new Skoda Superb Scout joins facelifted range Skoda brings 4x4 Scout trim to newly updated Superb, but it's currently not destined for the UK Skoda has added a new Scout variant to its Superb fla...
Mitrita’s long-range goal gives NYCFC 1-1 draw with Fire BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (AP) — Alexandru Mitrita tied it in the 40th minute and New York City FC held on for a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire on Saturday. Ma...
LEVC reveals new taxi-based range-extender delivery van Range-extender van promises 80 miles of electric-only running; order books will open next year LEVC has given the green light to a new delivery van, ...
Samsung could soon break camera resolution record... with a mid-range phone The Galaxy A70 comes with a 32 + 8 + 5MP triple lens setupSamsung's mid-range smartphone lineup is larger and more diverse than ever, as the world's t...
Range Rover Velar 2019 long-term review Can the road-biased Land Rover step out from its storied siblings’ shadow? We have six months to find out Why we’re running it: To see if this newest...
CHEAP: Samsung’s Galaxy Watch range has some BEEFY DISCOUNTS Welcome to CHEAP, our series about things that are good, but most of all, cheap. CHEAP! Smartwatches face a simple, important question: why? As cool a...
Mitchell Robinson’s expanded shooting range still just tease for Knicks LAS VEGAS — The wait is still on. Any expansion to Mitchell Robinson’s game from his stout rookie season will have to come during preseason in October...
Iran Guards commander says U.S. bases are in range of its missiles: Tasnim A commander in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday that U.S. regional bases and its aircraft carriers in the Gulf are within the range ...
Scientists Have Recorded A Rare Right Whale Singing For the First Time. It Does Have the Range (ANCHORAGE, Alaska) — It’s not America’s Top 40, but it’s a cutting edge song. Federal marine biologists for the first time ha...
Volkswagen's Traton expected to price IPO toward lower end of range: sources Volkswagen's truck unit Traton is expected to price its initial public offering (IPO) this week toward the lower end of the marketing range, people cl...
New Vauxhall Corsa: full engine range details released Vauxhall's new-generation supermini features petrol, diesel and electric variants, shared with the Peugeot 208 Vauxhall has revealed details of the a...
Pakistan tests nuclear-capable missile with 900-mile range Pakistan conducted a successful test of a ballistic missile Thursday, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead nearly 1,000 miles, officials sai...
Long-range plan: Garland’s shooting floored Cavs in workout INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Darius Garland showed the Cavaliers his range from 2,000 miles before they selected him in the NBA draft. The Cavs selected ...
Mitrita's long-range goal gives NYCFC 1-1 draw with Fire Alexandru Mitrita tied it in the 40th minute and New York City FC held on for a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire ...
North Korea fires two short-range missiles in second test in a week North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range missiles on Thursday in a likely protest by leader Kim Jong Un at the United States after he and...
Range Rover Astronaut Edition launched for space flight customers Range Rover Astronaut Edition Revamped version of Range Rover Autobiography features exclusive design tweaks, will only be offered to Virgin Galacti...
Burger King Debuts ‘Real Meals’ To Honor Range Of Emotions Burger King (TODAY)– Happy Meals have been synonymous with fast food for decades, ever since McDonald’s first rolled out its kid-friendl...
Free-range parents let 4-year-old play with fire and curse like a sailor Pint-size Naylan Patel, age 4, runs in the middle of a street in Orlando, Fla., to chase his tiny dog, Ireland — after dark, and by himself. He goes t...
North Korea Has Fired An "Unidentified Short-Range Missile", Says Seoul North Korea launched an "unidentified short-range missile" towards the East Sea -- also known as Sea of Japan -- on Saturday, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of ...
Telstra is discounting its entire range of mobile plans for Click Frenzy Optus rolled out some pretty terrific deals for Click Frenzy over the last couple of days, but with those offers now expired, and it's apparently...
The Range Rover Astronaut Edition Is for Fools Who Need to Get Back to Work, for Me, on Earth “Space is the new frontier,” is a phrase you often hear from dreamy losers with their heads stuck in the clouds. Every time I hear this, I am compelle...
Trump sounds off on wide range of topics including Census, ICE raids President Trump opined on a wide range of topics during a 31-minute back-and-forth with reporters on Friday. The commander in chief held court on the ...
PetSmart's online business, Chewy.com, prices IPO at $22 a share, above expected range Following the IPO, PetSmart will remain majority owner of Chewy. It will use proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purp...
Mercedes-Benz Introduces Offers Across SUV Range To Celebrate 25 Years In India The offer includes 25 per cent more value on interest rates, insurance, service packages, extended warranty and accessories on the GLC, GLE, and the G...
Elon Musk talks up Tesla's 'Cyberpunk truck,' and 400-mile range EVs This year at Tesla's annual investor's meeting the conversation went pretty much as we'd expect, with teases of some upcoming products,...
Vegan burger maker Beyond Meat raises price range in upsized IPO Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat Inc on Tuesday increased the expected price range and size of its initial public offering, ahead of an expected mar...
CBOE Launches S&P 500 Range-Bound Premium Income Index (SPRI) CHICAGO, IL – January 31, 2017 – Chicago Board Options Exchange® (CBOE®) today announced it has launched the CBOE S&P 500 Range-Bound Premium ...
South Korea set to respond to North’s launch of short-range ‘projectiles’ South Korea is poised to respond to additional missile launches after North Korea fired several short-range “projectiles” into the sea off its eastern...
North Korea fires several short-range missiles, its first launch in more than a year North Korea has fired several unidentified short-range missiles from its eastern coast — its first missile launch in more than a year — ac...
You'll never be able to drive this rare 2019 Range Rover Sport — but I did Land Rover's Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid has luxury and performance but its range may not justify the price. ...
Citroen's 19_19 Concept Is An Aviation Inspired Electric Vehicle With A Range Of 800 km As for power, Citroen says the dual motors generate 340 kilowatts of power which is over 450 horses and there's 800 Nm of torque on offer. 0-100 kmph ...
Pete Buttigieg Promises Range of Reforms to Address Systemic Racism Seeking to overcome a deficit with black voters, Mr. Buttigieg addressed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, founded by the civil rights leader Jesse Jackson,...
Okinawa Announces Road Side Assistance Across Electric Scooter Range Gurugram-based electric two-wheeler maker Okinawa Autotech has announced 24x7 Road Side Assistance (RSA) programme for all its customers. The electric...
Blues 4, Sharks 2 | Series is tied, 1-1: Blues Defeat the Sharks, Tying Their Series Logan Couture scored two goals in a span of 1 minute 59 seconds for San Jose, giving him an N.H.L.-leading 13 this postseason, but that wasn’t enough....
Garmin’s new Forerunner watch range brings phone-free Spotify to the masses The launch of the new Garmin Forerunner 945, Forerunner 245 Music and Forerunner 45 will literally be music to the ears of anyone wanting to ditch the...
Honor 20, hands on: A high-quality mid-range smartphone, with complications courtesy of Huawei The Honor 20 is a competent mid-range smartphone that compares well to similarly priced competition. The Huawei connection is the only factor that mig...
UPDATE 1-Chewy raises IPO price range amid strong investor demand Online pet products retailer Chewy Inc raised the price range of its initial public offering on Wednesday, indicating strong investor demand and valui...
Superdrug's Naturally Radiant £3 'magic' skincare range getting rave reviews: 'It works!' THE health and beauty retailer's own brand skincare range 'Naturally Radiant' is being heralded as an affordable alternative to posh serums and potion...
The making of a long-range assassin: How Damian Lillard turned ‘bad shots’ into good ones The Trail Blazers guard’s series-clinching shot against Oklahoma City was the product of a year-long effort to extend his range through shooting drill...
Indiana man allegedly shot 60-year-old veteran 20 times with paintballs at close range An Indiana man allegedly shot a 60-year-old military veteran at least 20 times at close range as the alleged victim walked on the street, authorities ...
Asus ZenFone 6 review: A surprise mid-range contender with a clever flip camera Asus deserves to have a success with the ZenFone 6. Long battery life, a configurable Smart Key, useful tweaks to Android and a clever camera system c...
New blow to Boeing from engine delay, Airbus long-range rival takes off Boeing suffered a fresh setback at the opening of the Paris Airshow on Monday as the U.S. planemaker's engine supplier revealed a delay affecting its ...
Leak reveals U.S. pricing range for the entry level Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Many in the market for a new smartphone are eagerly awaiting the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. Earlier today, we passed along renders of the "standard" vers...
North Korea fires short-range missile: Yonhap News Agency North Korea fired a short-range missile from the east coast city of Wonsan toward the east on Saturday morning, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing So...
NATO Ally Turkey Gets Long-Range Russian S-400 Missiles Amid US Warning Turkey received the first batch of Russia's S-400 missile defence system on Friday, the defence ministry said, despite repeated warnings from its NATO...
North Korea Fires Projectile, Days After Short-Range Weapon Launch North Korea launched a projectile that appeared to have been fired from a missile base in the country’s western region, according to South Korea’s Def...
Tesla sneaks past Canada EV incentive law with cheap 93-mile-range Model 3 The workaround allows customers to take advantage of the $5,000 EV incentive.The Tesla Model 3 has been too expensive to qualify for the federal EV in...
North Korea fires short-range missiles as US envoy visits the South North Korea fired two short-range missiles on in its second test in under a week. The United States said it seized a North Korean cargo ship as tensio...
North Korea launches two short-range missiles, at same time as U.S. ICBM test The launches come amid a chill in relations between Pyongyang and Washington, and some experts said the tests were a signal that Kim Jong Un is not pr...
Snowball the dancing cockatoo has wide range of killer moves, new study finds Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo shows off 14 different dance moves to the beat of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." The movements come from different video...
NASA Awards Launch Range Operations Contract for Wallops Flight Facility NASA has awarded a contract to KBRwyle Technology Solutions LLC of Columbia, Maryland, to provide launch range operations support at the agency’s Wall...
Samsung may be about to launch an ultra-cheap tablet to rival Amazon's Fire range It looks like Samsung could be about to launch a new tablet - or rather, upgrade an old one - with leaked specs claiming to be for the Samsung Galaxy ...
The 2019 Audi E-Tron Makes a Strong Case for Choosing Charge Speed Over Range It’s 2019 and the electric luxury car scene is finally starting to grow and diversify. The 2019 Audi E-Tron—Audi’s first fully electric mass-productio...
North Korea Test-Fires Short-Range Projectiles, Prompting Trump Tweet North Korea has test-fired what South Korean officials are describing as short-range projectiles into the sea off the North’s eastern coast. The term ...
'I said no shoot, Vinnie': Pep Guardiola on Kompany's long-range stunner for Manchester City – video Manchester City are one win away from the Premier League title after captain Vincent Kompany scored from 30 yards to give his side a 1-0 victory over ...
2019 Mahindra Bolero Camper Range Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 7.26 Lakh The 2019 Mahindra Bolero Camper range has been launched in India with a host of upgrades for the new year. Prices for the new Bolero Camper range star...
Oil to trade in current range or higher this summer as US-Iran tensions simmer — CNBC survey Oil experts surveyed by CNBC don't expect talks between the U.S. and Iran for at least 6 months, and more than a third see no military confrontat...
Climate change threatens 26 native species in Great Dividing Range, study finds Australian researchers say governments must step up and protect critical habitats to give wildlife a chanceMore than 20 native animals would disappear...
North Korea's Kim Jong Un Ordered "Long-Range Strike" Drill: State Media North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a "long-range strike" drill, the state news agency reported Friday, a day after South Korea said the weapons f...
North Korea fires short-range projectiles, raising tensions amid stalled U.S. talks North Korea fired several short-range projectiles from its east coast on Saturday, South Korea's military said, as analysts said the country is steppi...
Vladimir Putin submits bill to withdraw Russia from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Russian President Vladimir Putin moved Thursday to remove the country from a nuclear arms control treaty that has been active since the end of the Col...
CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Vegan burger maker Beyond Meat raises price range in upsized IPO (April 30) Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat Inc on Tuesday increased the expected price range and size of its initial public offering, ahead of an expected mar...
South Korean military says North Korea has fired “several” short-range missiles, increasing count from previous one SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean military says North Korea has fired “several” short-range missiles, increasing count from previous ...
South Korean media: Military says North Korea fires an unidentified short-range missile toward the ocean SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean media: Military says North Korea fires an unidentified short-range missile toward the ocean....
CBOE Stock Exchange Completes Acquisition of National Stock Exchange CHICAGO, January 9, 2012 - CBOE Stock Exchange (CBSX) announced today that it completed the acquisition of all-electronic National Stock Exchange (NSX...
North Korea fires several short-range missiles off its coast, South Korea says North Korea fired several short-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday morning local time — the country’s first test launch in a year and ...
North Korea Has Fired an Unidentified Short-Range Missile, South Korea Says (SEOUL, South Korea) — North Korea on Saturday fired an unidentified short-range missile from its eastern coast, the South Korean Joint Chiefs o...
Novartis CEO plans gene therapy price 'far lower' than $4 million to $5 million range Novartis AG's top executive said on Wednesday it expects to price its gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy “far lower” than the $4 million to $5 m...
METALS-Base metals in tight range amid demand worries Industrial metals traded in a tight range on Tuesday as investors continued to be worried about demand for metals as well as global growth, amid a lac...
Google Pixel 3a vs OnePlus 6T: Google's affordable flagship against the mid-range heavyweight The OnePlus 6T currently reigns as champion of the affordable flagship market, a position it’s held for several months – but Google want...
South Korea: North Korea fires short-range projectiles North Korea fired numerous short-range projectiles into the East Sea Saturday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, amid stalled U.S. nuclear tal...
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque P200 2019 UK review Entry-level petrol power doesn’t show the otherwise excellent new Evoque in its best light The second-generation Range Rover Evoque has quickly esta...
Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Velar hybrids spotted Petrol-electric versions of new Defender 4x4 and Velar SUV are seen testing in prototype form Land Rover is primed for a major electrification push n...
Land Rover Introduces Range Rover Astronaut Edition Specially Designed For 'Future Astronauts' What looks as a regular Range Rover is actually a bit special and has been designed by the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division. It's been finish...
Land Rover Range Rover Sport HST 2019 review JLR’s new-gen straight six is super-refined and free-revving, though complex-feeling at times. Will suit urban-driven Range Sports very well. The ...
Upgraded BrahMos With 500-Km Range Ready: BrahMos Aerospace Chief The upgraded version of the homegrown BrahMos missile with an enhanced range of up to 500 km is ready, the Chief Executive Officer of BrahMos Aerospac...
Jaguar Land Rover readies electric XJ, Range Rover Jaguar Land Rover, aiming to pad profit margins and earnings while reducing complexity, is expected to use its new electric-capable modular platform f...
Jaguar Land Rover Launches Made-In-India Range Rover Velar; Prices Start At Rs. 72.47 Lakh JLR is offering the locally assembled Range Rover Velar in a single R Dynamic S trim. Engines on offer are a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol and diese...
North Korea missile launch: Two short-range missiles fired in 'return to classic escalation tactics', says South North Korea has fired two suspected short-range missiles less than a week after its leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the test-firing of multiple rockets, So...
BMW 3 Series Can Munich’s seventh-generation 3 Series reclaim compact executive class honours? Even BMW probably didn’t anticipate just how radically the 3 Series...
Sixers even series with 112-101 rout The Raptors arrived in Philly on the heels of their biggest playoff victory in franchise history. A spot in the Eastern Conference finals was just 48 ...
Nearly-new buying guide: BMW 3 Series (F30) Its handling is one of many reasons for picking an F30 This could be all the car you’ll ever need. We talk you through the choices The spectacle o...
The Raptors win Game 4 and we now have a series SportsPulse: The Raptors were dominant in their Game 4 victory over the Bucks and much of the credit deserves to go to the Toronto bench. USA TODAY S...
Red Sox know this series is about more than just growing the game LONDON — In his book “Francona: The Red Sox Years,” written with Dan Shaughnessy, former Red Sox skipper and current Indians manager Terry Francona re...
Where these unlikely Subway Series heroes are now The moments age but can never fade. Every approaching Subway Series brings its past closer to view, a reminder of the outsized meaning attached to eve...
Opinion: is the new 1 Series still a driver's car? BMW's shift from rear-wheel drive for the latest 1 Series won't please everyone, but it makes sense when you look at the figures In an increasingly h...
What Do You Want to Know About the 2020 BMW 3 Series xDrive? The BMW 3 Series is all-new for 2020, and naturally there’s an all-wheel drive version. I’ve driven the European diesel, an M340i prototype, the 330i ...
A's pick up series win over Angels Stephen Piscotty drove in two runs with a home run and a sacrifice fly, and right-hander Mike Fiers worked six effective innings Thursday night, helpi...
MLB London Series: Yankees vs. Red Sox London is hosting Major League Baseball's first game in Europe this weekend between the Yankees and Red Sox. ...
New BMW 1 Series: first deliveries due by the end of 2019 News 17 May, 2019 Following a barrage of teaser images, BMW has announced that first deliveries for the new 1 Series will arrive before ...
What you need to know about London Stadium before the series Will there be "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "Sweet Caroline"? Can you get a hot dog? As MLB gears up for the Red Sox-Yankees series in the U.K., h...
How the Nationals won a series for the first time in a month It has been a grim start for Washington, but with Gerardo Parra providing a spark Thursday, the Nats and their fans finally have something to shout ab...
How Yankees could map out rotation after London Series LONDON — Domingo German will start either Wednesday against the Mets or Thursday against the Rays. What game German doesn’t start, J.A. Happ likely wi...
Nikon may have three new Z series cameras in the pipeline Nikon’s first attempt at a full-frame mirrorless camera was a success, although there were some who were expecting a pro-level body to lead the...
Braves top Tigers 7-4, 1st home series win vs AL since ’16 ATLANTA (AP) — Dansby Swanson homered, drove in three runs and scored the tiebreaker on Freddie Freeman’s double in the eighth inning as the Atl...
The Wagon Version of the New BMW 3 Series Is Here and It Looks Fantastic BMW showed the new “G20" BMW 3 Series last October at the Paris Motor Show, and it looked fine as a sedan, but today the Munich-based automaker r...
New BMW 1 Series reinvented with focus on practicality Front-driven platform for mainstream models, AMG A35 in crosshairs of new 302bhp, all-wheel drive M135i range-topper BMW has revealed the completely ...
Xiaomi Mi CC 9 Series Launch Set for Today: Here's All You Need to Know Xiaomi's Mi CC 9 series is set to launch later today at an event In China. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Mi CC 9 series phones...
This is the Subway Series’ most glaring mismatch The back end of the Yankees bullpen features one reliever after another with closer stuff. When a significant portion of the Mets bullpen enters, it u...
HBO's 'Hackerville' cybercrime series debuts in the US HBO is releasing Hackerville, its German series about a talented Romanian teenage hacker, to American audiences. The show follows German cybercrime in...
House used in ‘Sopranos’ TV series on the market NORTH CALDWELL, N.J. (AP) — Two decades after the debut of the Sopranos, the house used in the filming of the HBO series is up for sale — long drivewa...
First look at Netflix series that may be next ‘Game of Thrones’ With “Game of Thrones” dead and buried, it’s time to find a new epic adventure to devour, and lucky for fans of such adventures, we’ve got...
| Sri Lanka Emerging win Tri-Series title Lahiru Madushanka played a pivotal role as Sri Lanka Emerging won the ODI triangular series by comfortably beating the University Sports South Africa ...
LG debuts W series in India with W10, W30 and W30 Pro starting at Rs 8,999 LG has launched three phones in India under its all-new W-series. These are the LG W10, LG W30, and LG W30 Pro. These are budget to mid-range smartpho...
Thank you! With your help, we raised $150,000 for our Toxic America series We have reached our goal for this series but you can still support The Guardian’s independent journalism by making a contribution. Thanks to the gener...
Farmville is getting a new game as series turns 10 Farmville is 10 years old, and Zynga is celebrating by announcing a new Farmville game is in the works and that Trisha Yearwood is coming to Country E...
2020 BMW 1 Series Breaks Cover The BMW 1 Series has been one of the most fun to drive hatchbacks over the previous generations and the automaker has now released the all-new generat...
Here's What the 2020 BMW 3 Series Wagon Looks Like With Every M Accessory The 2020 BMW 3 Series Touring wagon came out earlier this month and it looks Good, without a doubt. It also comes with a manual transmission, which is...
Yankees’ rotation not completely set for Red Sox series Aaron Boone said he hopes CC Sabathia will be able to face the Red Sox on Sunday night at Yankee Stadium in his first start back from the injured list...
Nuggets even series with Blazers at 2 with 116-112 victory Nikola Jokic had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his second straight triple-double and fourth of the playoffs, and the Denver Nuggets evened...
Cuphead Is Getting An Animated Netflix Series And so the hit hand-drawn animated video game spawns a hand-drawn animated Netflix series. Called The Cuphead Show, the series will chronicle Cuphead ...
Executive Car of the Year 2019: BMW 5 Series Awards 9 Jul, 2019 The BMW 5 Series is the 2019 Auto Express Executive Car of the Year, with the Mercedes E-Class and Volvo S90 commende...
Most wins all time in NASCAR Cup Series Who has claimed the most victories in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series? A look at the drivers in order of most wins. ...
N.B.A. Finals: Warriors Tie Series With Raptors A starting lineup change and a huge third quarter helped Golden State beat Toronto, but the win came with injuries to Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney....
Five for five: Every winner on Contender Series gets a UFC deal For the first time in the history of Dana White's Contender Series, the UFC president awarded contracts to all of the fighters who won on Tuesday's sh...
Video: Can anyone beat Chadwick in W Series? As the W Series finally began at Hockenheim last weekend, the focus could turn to the on-track product after seven months of debate over the champions...
Best of the 2019 College World Series The 2019 College World Series is underway in Omaha, Nebraska. Take a look at the best images from the NCAA's baseball championships. ...
Vizio's Stunning 65" M-Series 4K TV Has Never Been Cheaper $650 for a 65" 4K TV is a pretty good deal on its face, no matter what TV it is. But this isn’t just any old television; it’s the widely regarded...
The Wizardry Series’ Return To America Has Hit Another Snag Last Wednesday, in the early afternoon, at least one obsessive Wizardry fan (me) was eagerly reloading the Steam Store page for Wizardry: Labyrinth of...
AOC touts Netflix series ‘When They See Us’ on Central Park Five WASHINGTON – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave a thumbs up to the new Netflix series about the Central Park Five, which launched on the streami...
AMD's first Navi GPUs are the Radeon RX 5000-series Just as we expected, AMD took the wraps off of its first 7nm Navi consumer GPU's today at Computex, though the company is still playing coy with ...
Todd Frazier, and the Mets, Dig In for a Series Win Over the Giants Frazier got underneath an eighth-inning curveball to help the Mets to a 7-3 win, delivering a positive end to a series that began with criticism of Mi...
4K TV deal at Walmart: the Vizio P-Series TV gets a $500 price cut If you're looking for a killer discount on a top-quality TV, then look no further than this excellent deal from Walmart. You can get the Vizio P-...
Charlie McAvoy Made The Save Of The Series Ignore the 5-1 final score. Far from a blowout, Game 6 had the feel of a rain-swollen reservoir. With the Blues one game away from their first Cup in ...
D-day remembered: a series of interviews on the 75th anniversary The stories of those who were there on 6 June 1944 and others involved in this week’s commemorationsThousands of people are preparing to mark the 75th...
Apple Watch Series 4: Cheat sheet The Apple Watch Series 4 includes a 30% larger screen, an updated UI, and a number of business-friendly and health features, including the ability to ...
Russia hates HBO’s ‘Chernobyl’ so much that it’s making its own series HBO’s recently-ended Chernobyl mini-series is easily one of the best shows of the year — and so much better than Game of Thrones season 8,...
‘Baby Shark’ is being turned into an animated series, doo doo doo doo doo doo Baby Shark / Courtesy: CNN (CNN) – YouTube sensation “Baby Shark” (an earworm curse to parents everywhere), is being developed into ...
Sato over 220 mph to get IndyCar Series pole at Texas FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Takuma Sato has earned the pole for the IndyCar Series race at Texas with a two-lap qualifying average of 220.250 mph. Sato g...
All You Need to Know About Leila, Netflix's Next Indian Original Series Leila Netflix India series cast, book, trailer, director, cinematographer, review, release date, synopsis, and poster - here's all you need to know ab...
Cardinals get 1st win over Rangers since 2011 World Series ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Paul DeJong homered and had a season-high four RBIs, Matt Carpenter’s opposite-field double off the very top of the outf...
Raptors come up short as Warriors take Game 2, even the series Klay Thompson scored 25 points before leaving with a hamstring injury, Stephen Curry had 23 and the Golden State Warriors ran off the first 18 points ...
Total War: Three Kingdoms review — Best in the series, best in the setting Beyond best-in-setting and best-in-franchise, Total War: Three Kingdoms is a game that instantly contends for best of the year, or best in its genreRe...
Braves top Tigers 7-4, 1st home series win vs AL since '16 Dansby Swanson homered, drove in three runs and scored the tiebreaker on Freddie Freeman's double in the eighth inning as the Atlanta Braves beat...
MLB going to great lengths for Yankees-Red Sox series in London NEW YORK — The traditional rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will take a radical twist when they meet in London next month: They...
More Track Capable Cadillac V-Series Models Are on the Way Cadillac unveiled the new CT4-V and CT5-V to the public late on Thursday evening. The cars were not received by the enthusiast public particularly ent...
Blues even series on overtime goal by Gunnarsson A goal by Carl Gunnarsson gave the St. Louis Blues a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the Stanley Cup Finals on We...
Honor 20 Series to Be Sold via Flipkart in India Honor 20 series is all set to launch in India on June 11, and ahead of that, the company has confirmed that the series will be available on Flipkart....
Bellinger gets a day off as Dodgers open series in Arizona PHOENIX (AP) — Major league batting leader Cody Bellinger is sitting out the Los Angeles Dodgers’ series opener against the Diamondbacks in Ariz...
Trial begins for ex-NFL player in series of rapes A jury in Southern California has heard opening statements from the prosecution and defense in the trial of former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. He fa...
Binnington sparkles again, Blues top Sharks to tie series Jordan Binnington made 29 saves to set a franchise record with his 10th playoff win this postseason and the St. Louis Blues edged the San Jose Sharks ...
At $5,500, Would You Let This 1980 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Class Up the Joint? There’s nothing quite like driving a Jag. Smooth, cosseting, and unflaggingly refined, it’s an experience every enthusiast should have on their bucket...
'Baby Shark' is being turned into an animated series, doo doo doo doo doo YouTube sensation "Baby Shark" (an earworm curse to parents everywhere), is being developed into an animated series for Nickelodeon, a rep for the net...
Gonzaga and Washington extend series through 2023-24 SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Gonzaga and Washington have agreed to extend their basketball series through the 2023-24 season. The current four-year series wa...
The Latest: WH hails ‘Red Socks’ for ‘World Cup Series’ win WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Boston Red Sox at the White House (all times local): 7:45 p.m. The Boston Red Sox are being hailed by President Do...
Harden scores 38 as Rockets even series with Warriors HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored 38 points and the Houston Rockets held on for a 112-108 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night to even ...
Murray scores 34 as Nuggets even series with Blazers Jamal Murray scored 34 points and Nikola Jokic collected 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists as the visiting Denver Nuggets wrested back homecourt a...
BMW 3 Series 330i M Sport 2019 UK review Brilliant handling smarts allied to greater sophistication and completeness than any 3 Series before it The ‘G20’ new-generation BMW 3 Series for yo...
Women's W Series could link up with F1 in future seasons "The new W Series, which aims to help women such as inaugural race winner Jamie Chadwick make it to Formula One, could itself be on the fast track to ...
Thunderstorms in forecast for NASCAR Cup Series race JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Weather is a concern for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. There are scattered thunderstorms in the forecast Sun...
New Motorola Moto G7 series price cuts available now Since Motorola launched the Moto G7 smartphone series in the US some months back, all G7 models have seen price cuts at some point or another. Now, th...
Chadwick on pole for first all-female W Series race British racer Jamie Chadwick took the first pole position of the new all-female W Series by a comfortable margin on Saturday after also dominating Fri...
Animated 'Gremlins' prequel series in the works WarnerMedia announced Monday it ordered an animated series that will serve as a prequel to the 1980s live-action blockbusters "Gremlins" and "Gremlins...
Rockets even series with Warriors, Harden scores 38 James Harden scored 38 points and the Houston Rockets held on for a 112-108 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night to even their Western C...
Raptors rout 76ers for 3-2 series lead Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 125-89 Tuesday night to take a ...
Kerr confirms KD out remainder of Rockets series Golden State's Kevin Durant suffered a mild strain to his right calf and will miss the rest of the Warriors' Western Conference semifinal series with ...
Final Fantasy V Reminds Me Of What I Loved About The Series Talking about Final Fantasy has become complicated. A lot of my favorite Final Fantasy memories are from games in the series that are over a decade ol...
Philadelphia hosts Toronto with 2-1 series lead Toronto Raptors (58-24, second in the Eastern Conference during the regular season) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (51-31, third in the Eastern Conference dur...
Autosport Podcast: Is W Series conquering its sceptics? As the all-female W Series made its on-track debut at Hockenheim last weekend, the media interest and public reception was as intriguing as the compet...
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Home /Climate Change, Whimsy/Twinning Tweets
Gordon Price
These two items came within minutes of each other (one from Durning). Can you guess the connection?
European heatwave this week:
Chesterfield advertisement:
Vancouver City Council does a Delbrook
Canada and California’s Power Play Trumping Vehicular Emission Standards
Thomas Beyer says:
Connection ?
You mean scientist should also be believed ?
Or that smoking causes heat waves ?
Or that Southern Europeans smoke more, therefore it is hotter in the summer than in northern Europe ?
Or that America is wealthier than S-Europe – partly because they have less regulations, left the unrealistic Paris climate accord and have more coal plants than socialist Europe – therefore they have far more A/C units in cars, condos and houses – probably approaching 100% – to make life more bearable in this annual summer heat ?
Or that A/C units pose a bigger threat than fossil fuels as they blow a lot of hot air and will use far FAR more electricity ? https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-06-28/air-conditioning-is-the-world-s-next-big-threat
Tom Durning says:
Yes, Thomas. Very well put, love that stream of consciousness. Now if I only understood what the f*ck you were talking about.
If it’s hot, unusually windy or very rainy: it’s climate change – or now a climate emergency or climate crisis, but if it is unusually cold or snowy or glaciers expand it’s just weather ?
In other news, on the heal of the federal climate emergency declaration and B.C. Premier Horgan’s continues (and futile) opposition to the TMX pipeline expansion: YVR expands airport and plans to spend over 9 billion on it https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-international-airport-expansion-2018-plan-yvr
Enjoy your long weekend – perhaps take a stroll or bike ride on the beautiful sea wall before it is (allegedly soon, but likely not for 200 years, if ever) submerged !!
Ideally not smoking while walking or riding your (e)bike as that is actually scientifically proven to be unhealthy – and widely accepted unlike other weather related theories !!
Ron van der Eerden says:
Still trying to find the answer to what climate scientists got wrong, Beyer? You’ve had a week. Not so good when it comes to real evidence are you? Obviously you prefer following wing-nuts on the topic. Your lack of understanding is truly impressive.
I’d define 97% as widely accepted. You’re not going to have any success pulling informed people into your delusion but you’re having plenty of success looking like a stubborn (old) fool.
97% consensus refers to “Do you agree that it is warming and that there is some human impact?” This is not consensus on an emergency or draconian New Green Deals or vastly increased energy costs to force unreliable solar or wind farms !!
Jeff Leigh says:
That isn’t true at all. The 97% scientific consensus refers to the agreement that the earth is warming, and that humans are the primary cause of it. Many studies put it at around 110% human caused, which is to say that if we weren’t influencing the climate with GHG emissions the world would be cooling, eg we have reversed the natural cycle.
The rest of your post refers to political questions, not scientific questions.
Chris Keam says:
“unreliable solar”
Me and Annie would both bet our bottom dollar on the sun coming out tomorrow. It must suck to be more depressed than a plucky Depression era orphan.
NASA:
Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.
At 2 degrees Celsius warming, the deadly heatwaves India and Pakistan saw in 2015 may occur annually.
Projected food availability will be less at 2 degrees Celsius warming than at 1.5 degrees in Southern Africa, the Mediterranean, the Sahel, Central Europe and the Amazon.
Warming of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius will lead to a reduction of rainforest biomass and will increase deforestation and wildfires. Trees at the southern boundaries of boreal forests will die.
Ocean warming, acidification and more intense storms will cause coral reefs to decline by 70 to 90 percent at 1.5 degrees Celsius warming, becoming all but non-existent at 2 degrees warming.
Only we’re headed for four degrees or more if we don’t get things turned around really quick.
Beyer wants to leave behind a degraded planet that will be increasingly deadly and miserable just so he can avoid admitting he’s wrong. Shallow much? Insecure?
Add pathetic and immoral to foolish. Foolish is way too kind.
The 97% “consensus” is false. Many papers about it. https://www.forbes.com/sites/uhenergy/2016/12/14/fact-checking-the-97-consensus-on-anthropogenic-climate-change/ Or here https://www.econlib.org/archives/2014/03/16_not_97_agree.html
Or here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2014/jun/06/97-consensus-global-warming
Even if humans are a driver or main driver even, it begs the question on what to do about it and at what cost. Are artificially increasing energy costs and impoverishing people the best approach or is it better to have far more far more wealthy humans with more means to build higher dykes or install A/C units in all homes or cars, unlike Europe where not even 4% of homes have A/C for example. Poorer, sweltering with no A/C is better why?
Cost – benefit analysis is missing when discussing where to spend a billion or a trillion over a few decades. If it is such an alleged emergency why do we expand YVR, allow immigration on a large scale or stall a subway to UBC ?
Your pathetic, hopeless delusion continues Beyer. I’ll take NASA’s claim based on several peer reviewed evaluations of the consensus rather than an article in Forbes. And even that piece shows the science is settled while they nit-pic over the exact number.
Are you going to equip polar bears, orcas and coral reefs with A/C? Is everything expendable to you Beyer?
Are you going to help fund dikes for the billions of people affected by rising oceans when they aren’t of your obviously superior race?
You have no evidence that human wealth would be reduced by climate action. Certainly fossil fuel profits would decline and eventually disappear and that’s why they work so hard to convince the gullible that we’re forever a slave to their product. And the gullible buy it. They love you Thomas! They really really do.
The orcas? Do they know the difference between a cruiseship, a BC Ferries ship, an inbound oil tanker to WA state (with allegedly good oil) or an outbound oil tanker to Asia from BC (with allegedly evil tar sands oil?).
Where are the protests to protest the massive expansion of cruise ships into Vancouver Harbor over the last decade and a half ? You honestly believe one tanker a day (up from 4/month to about 30/month) makes a difference ? WA state has far FAR more oil tankers arriving/going than from any BC port. Where are those protests ?
Opportunity costs matter. If we spend $s on climate change then that $ cannot be used elsewhere, say on cancer research or new drug research, or on mitigating toxins into air or water (and there are many and far more dangerous such as diesel soot, coal dust, NOx, SO2, methane, ..)
Humans will adapt to a warmer world, where they live, how they dress, what they drive or what they grow. It’s a non-issue, and at least a minor one.
Oh yeah, and the polar bears: they are thriving too https://polarbearscience.com/2019/01/18/images-from-2017-and-2018-show-polar-bears-thriving-in-a-warming-world/
Missing the point is your preferred defense strategy so you’ve become very good at it.
Anthropomorphic global warming and climate change unbalance ecosystems that can’t adapt quickly enough and lead to the extinction of species, further degrading the ecosystems humans depend on for survival in a vicious cycle. I wasn’t talking about the number of ships (which is also a problem) but the degradation of our biosphere in general. If the biosphere suffers humans suffer. I know that’s way over your head but maybe one day you’ll get it.
If we spend money on climate change measures that money circulates in the economy just as fossil fuel money does. The wealth remains within society, it does not disappear. One used to be able to argue that the energy produced by fossil fuels added economic value that wouldn’t otherwise exist, but with renewables becoming economically competitive that argument is no longer valid. Whether we invest in filthy old technology or cleaner new technology society reaps the same immediate economic benefit – arguably more because the wealth is, by its nature, more evenly distributed. Fossil infrastructure needs a constant source of fuel which fossil companies are happy to keep selling you over and over and over. Sucker! Renewables get it virtually for free.
If we continue to invest in filthy old technology we’ll pay a much higher price in unnecessary infrastructure, more air and water pollution, flooding, fire, drought, famine, disease, mass migration and war with increasingly degraded ecosystems leaving humans vulnerable to further strife even if you, personally, don’t give a damn about the wellbeing of the creates we share our only planet with. Do you really want us to believe that you think that species around the globe are benefiting from such human activity?
The best way to reduce all those other pollutants you are concerned about is to stop burning fossil fuels!
There is no valid economic argument in remaining in the caves where your ilk would have us. Which societies have thrived and which have crumbled? The ones that identified threats, innovated and moved forward have always fared much better than the ones that stagnated under the orthodoxy and paralysis that you prefer.
Beyer likes to get his latest scientific information from blogs because they tell him what he wants to hear.
From a peer reviewed scientific study.
Increasing surface temperatures, Arctic sea-ice loss, and other evidence of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) are acknowledged by every major scientific organization in the world. However, there is a wide gap between this broad scientific consensus and public opinion. Internet blogs have strongly contributed to this consensus gap by fomenting misunderstandings of AGW causes and consequences. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have become a “poster species” for AGW, making them a target of those denying AGW evidence. Here, focusing on Arctic sea ice and polar bears, we show that blogs that deny or downplay AGW disregard the overwhelming scientific evidence of Arctic sea-ice loss and polar bear vulnerability. By denying the impacts of AGW on polar bears, bloggers aim to cast doubt on other established ecological consequences of AGW, aggravating the consensus gap. To counter misinformation and reduce this gap, scientists should directly engage the public in the media and blogosphere.
I too love green clean energy. For the same price and comfort incl range I too prefer an EV over an ICE vehicle. Who wouldn’t?
However it will not solve humanity’s goods and food production and distribution needs, naming just one of many issues. There’s a reason why the entire good and food chain today is not based on solar or wind or even hydro or nuclear. Where are all the eTrucks, eShips, eCombines and eTractors? Are you aware of the enormous costs to switch to electric machinery at scale for 8B people? That will vastly increase food costs, you realize that? You prefer starvation, even food wars on a grand scale? It’s one thing to have a cordless electric lawnmower. It’s another to have an eTractor that pull huge equipment for a section of land in the middle of nowhere SK or Nebraska.
Scale matters. Many things “clean and green” fail at scale. Or in the winter. SK is not balmy green ground zero, Vancouver or Gulf Islands.
Another example: No one is forced to fly to Hawaii or Mexico, or buy a V8 pickup truck, or buy a big house which costs more to heat or cool than a small one, yet people do all the time. What does that tell you?
I am not advocating fossil fuel investments over solar, for example. I am merely pointing out what is done because it is a necessity. There’s a reason we’re burning over 1000 barrels of oil a second, and growing. Peak oil around 2040 then slow decline. Rising food costs too, btw.
Enjoy your long weekend. Granville Island packed. With cars. Why don’t they all get there by bus or bike?
Alternative fuel medium and heavy duty trucks. Where are they? At ACT.
https://www.actexpo.com/
250 exhibitors.
Electric agricultural tractors:
https://www.producer.com/2019/02/deeres-new-electric-tractor-tosses-the-battery/
Note the reported 50% savings in operating costs. What were you saying about increased food production costs? Did you have any rational basis for that claim? Or are you just parroting the Heritage Foundation?
All the cars on Granville Island? We rode past today without stopping. Too many cars. We will ride back tomorrow when vehicle access is closed off for Canada Day.
A tractor or combine with a one km long cable? The future of agriculture is secure.
Rapid transition from fossil fuels? Throughout history, new energy sources have largely been added to traditional supplies rather than replacing them entirely:
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/peter-shawn-taylor-a-rapid-transition-from-fossil-fuels-no-way-heres-why
The change will be very very slow, due to economics mainly. While NA slowly gets off coal plants and use gas or even solar (very few solar power plants at reliable large scale, btw) Africa and Asia adds coal plants by the dozens.
Why doesn’t green and forward thinking Vancouver use only e-buses rather than dirty diesel buses? Where is the EV only zone downtown Vancouver forcing affluent NVaners or WVaners to switch from ICE vehicles? All doable yet not done. Why?
I knew it would come to this. Didn’t we all? Time to bow to the guru of all wisdom. Thank you Beyer for saving us from ourselves. What would we ever have done without you? We’ve been defeated by the all knowing wise one,
All hail Beyer!
A lack of action is clearly proof of a lack of a problem.
Shall we sing Kumbaya? Please join me in rousing chorus.
My apologies if I borrowed that sing-a-long solution from somebody that came to this conclusion earlier. It seems familiar… but then, that may be the point. There is no other way to express our adoration.
Thomas wrote: “A tractor or combine with a one km long cable? The future of agriculture is secure.”
You should check out large mining equipment. Shovels and drills are predominantly electric, with long cables. Even in the oil sands. Imagine that.
“If it’s hot, unusually windy or very rainy: it’s climate change – or now a climate emergency or climate crisis, but if it is unusually cold or snowy or glaciers expand it’s just weather ”
That’s called begging the question. If you are going to debate, don’t do that. It’s lame. It’s also wrong. One of the central facts around climate change is more extreme swings in weather patterns as an overall cooling trend continues. Whether you are a climate change adherent or not, misrepresenting positions to bolster your own illogic is bad form old boy.
overall heating trend rather. Please don’t let stupidity be catching.
“ Are you aware of the enormous costs to switch to electric machinery at scale for 8B people.”
I will go out on a limb and say we will not be needing everyone to have their own tractor.
I will add that addressing climate change by its very nature will help with food waste and air pollution. We won’t end up fighting over food if we get busy dealing with climate change. But if we don’t, we will burn the last of the oil fighting over the last of our water. Because there’s plenty of food when things really get hairy. It’s called long pig and we are headed there fast. But water is a little harder to get when scarcity is an issue.
Jolson says:
On June 30, 2019: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on governments to stop building new coal plants by 2020, cut greenhouse emissions by 45% over the next decade and overhauling fossil fuel-driven economies with new technologies like solar and wind. The world, he said, “is facing a grave climate emergency.”
” No one is forced to fly to Hawaii or Mexico, or buy a V8 pickup truck, or buy a big house which costs more to heat or cool than a small one, yet people do all the time. What does that tell you?”
Advertising works and the people who work in the industry (including the media outlets which requires the ad revenue to survive) are largely bereft of any sense of responsibility to the future or acccountability for the stories they promote.
Next Mr Beyer will tell me brainwashing doesn’t work, despite all the evidence to the contrary — including his own unwavering allegiance to falsehoods.
“There’s a reason we’re burning over 1000 barrels of oil a second, and growing.”
One big reason is war and the toys boys need to wage it.
https://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/smart-transportation-solutions/us-military-oil-use.html
Urbanist Abroad: I’ll Have What San Francisco’s Having
Urbanist Abroad: Bligh’s Backpacking — Amsterdam & Rotterdam
Urbanist Abroad: Bligh’s Backpacking — Finland
Urbanist Abroad: Blighs’ Backpacking — Stockholm
Urbanist Abroad: Bligh’s Backpacking — Oslo
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Remembered Summers
About Remembered Summers
Policies and Copyright
Hallowe’en Memories
Halloween, Emerson Elementary School, probably 1951 or 1952
I am the masked figure in the middle. Back in the 1950s, we actually felt sorry for the few students who had to wear Hallowe’en costumes purchased from the dime store, like the one on the left. Most of my friends were able to improvise a costume from their parents’ or older sibling’s closets. The black mask with a lace veil (possibly dating back to the 1920s) had been worn by my mother, who also suggested that I should be a “Gypsy Fortune Teller.” [We were not aware of the persecution of the Romany people back then.] The necklace with coins was also from one of her old masquerade costumes (“Arabian”, as was the bolero), and she added a hem to a flowered child’s skirt and produced a flowered hankie headscarf to finish the look. The girl on the right is a female Lone Ranger. Most kids had a cowboy or cowgirl suit in the late 40s and 50s. They were often Christmas presents. Here I am riding a float in a Redwood City Fourth of July Parade in the late 1940s:
Fourth of July float, Redwood City, late 1940s.
As you can see, these four little girls all came equipped with cowgirl outfits, as did the adult rodeo “queen” behind us. We all wanted to be Dale Evans and ride a beautiful horse (hers was named “Buttermilk”) and catch rustlers and other miscreants.
Hallowe’en Costumes: You Used What You Had
Other popular and easy, no-purchase-necessary Hallowe’en disguises were:
“Hobo”– burnt-cork stuble on your face, a raggedy, old, man’s jacket with patches, your Dad’s old felt hat, and a bundle tied in a bandana hanging on a stick over your shoulder.
“Doctor” — a toy stethoscope around your neck plus a mirrored eye reflector on a headband (a cheap “doctor” set from the 5 & 10 cent store), worn with an old, white, man’s shirt as a lab coat. Shirt and Necktie required. I don’t remember the “lab coats” being smeared with “blood” but some may have been.
“Nurse” — a white dress or white apron, a starched nurses’ cap (paper would do,) plus a toy nurse’s bag with a red cross on the side (also from the dime store, it was a toy you already had, not one purchased for the occasion.)
Nurse’s cap, 1932.
“Princess, Good Witch, or Ballerina” — your big sister’s many-layered, white or pastel crinoline petticoat worn over your bathing suit. A Princess got a gold foil crown or a tiara (usually your mom’s or sister’s from a long-ago dance); a Ballerina usually wore her shoes from dance class plus a tiara and maybe some lipstick and rouge; and a Good Witch added a wand with a home-made foil star on top. (The Good Witch from Wizard of Oz was an option for girls whose sisters had pink crinolines.)
“Pirate” — pants cut short and ragged at the bottom, a striped tee or Mom’s big-sleeved blouse, a bolero vest (could be from your old cowboy suit, minus fringe,) with a black or red head scarf, plus an eyepatch. Striped socks were a plus. Wooden sword optional. One gold hoop earring — clip-on — mandatory.
What all these outfits had in common was: You used what you had. Some kids had home made-costumes sewn from store-bought patterns and cloth. But at my house, and most of my friends’ houses, we improvised. (You can see some 1950’s children’s Hallowe’en costume patterns at the blog witness2fashion. Click here.)
Outhouse Tipping
My parent’s generation grew up in Redwood City before and during the First World War. Halloween pranks then were often destructive and sometimes pay-back for real or imagined mistreatment. Windows would be “soaped” — written on — at houses where treats were not forthcoming, and the neighborhood grouch, who cursed the kids who stole his apples, might receive some rough treatment.
In those days before sewage treatment plants and municipal sewer systems, teenaged boys occasionally got into deep doo-doo by waiting in the dark until their victim had entered his outhouse. A gang of boys would sneak up behind the little building and try to push it over — preferably with the occupant still going about his business inside. This was an ill-advised stunt, since, once the outhouse started to tip, the pusher might fall into the suddenly exposed cesspit underneath it. That could be a life-threatening experience, and, even if you were quickly rescued, you were also quickly apprehended — and easy to identify!
The Gate Up the Flagpole
Both my parents grew up in Redwood City, so my father and his seven brothers knew my mother and her siblings from childhood. Once, over Thanksgiving dinner in the 70s, my father and my mother’s older sister began reminiscing about Hallowe’ens gone by. Dorothy recalled a great injustice suffered because of a Halloween prank: Somebody stole the front gate from her home, and it was eventually discovered hanging from the top of a flagpole downtown. Her father was furious. “Pa thought Mel and I knew who put it up there, and he gave us a beating because we wouldn’t tell. But we couldn’t tell, because we really didn’t know!”
My father looked at her with some surprise. A slow grin began to form on his face, but he tried to suppress it. “Dorothy, really. . . . Couldn’t you guess?”
I saw the scales drop from her eyes. All at once, a little girl who had been unfairly punished looked out from her 75- year-old face.
She stared at my father across the table for a long, long time. (Dorothy was a master at family feuds, as I described in The Icebox Battle. ) Then, slowly, she relaxed and became, again, a dignified older lady quietly eating her turkey dinner. We all let out our breaths. I suppose she had realized — just in time — that she was running out of relatives, and that my father was the only person alive who still remembered her as a child; or, perhaps, she had mellowed a bit over the years.
Happy Halloween; save some candy for later, and do not tip over any outhouses.
[Edited for typos on 10/30/14 @ 12 p.m.]
Filed under 1900 to 1919, 1950s, Tales I Was Told, Vintage Photographs
Tagged as 4th of July float 1940s, cowgirl costumes late 1940s, Dale Evans, fourth of July float 1940, hallloween costumes in the fifties, hallowe'en pranks 1950s, halloween 1910s, halloween 1950s, halloween costumes 1950s, home-made costumes for children, outhouse tipping, Redwood City California
Fourth of July Parade and Rodeo, Long Ago in Redwood City
Remembering My Father
Grocery Shopping and the Birth of the Supermarket
Monday Is Wash Day: Day of the Week Towels
Pink Sinks and Other Kitchen Ideas from the Twenties and Thirties
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Remembered Summers · Images, memories, and advertisements from the early 20th century
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Treasury Research Institute
External and Joint Papers
Treasury Working Papers
Roundup Papers
Treasury’s Two Cents
Essay Competition
Shaping a Nation
Author(s): The Treasury and the Department of Home Affairs
Document download 5.9MB 1.4MB
Population growth and immigration over time
Australia has long stood out from other similar nations as a country shaped by strong population growth and migration. Australia’s population growth rate has varied over the last century peaking after the two world wars, then slowing, only to inch up again over the last decade. While births have been the main driver of population growth, there have been times when net overseas migration has contributed a larger share, including during brief periods in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s as well as since 2005.
Migrants traditionally came from the United Kingdom but now come from a wide array of countries, despite UK‑born people remaining Australia’s largest group of overseas‑born residents. Due to changes in Australia’s immigration arrangements over time, migrants to Australia have increasingly been young and skilled. These migrants have softened the impact of Australia’s ageing population, boosted labour force participation, and increased the diversity of Australia’s workforce. The economic and fiscal benefits that migrants have brought to Australia have undoubtedly played a part in Australia’s 26 years of uninterrupted growth.
A bigger population, including through migration, can heighten existing pressures on infrastructure, housing, and the environment. Without continuing action to find innovative solutions, high rates of growth may also intensify issues such as congestion and excessive waste production. None of these issues are new and would exist even in the absence of population growth. However, to fully reap the benefits of immigration and population growth, Australia must continue to explore and address these issues.
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All posts tagged "Greta Gerwig"
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Jackie Review
Jackie is a film which comes directed by Pablo Larraín. The film stars Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig and Richard E. Grant. Jackie is a story about the events...
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Read The Last Wish Online
Authors: Andrzej Sapkowski
Tags: #Fantasy, #Science Fiction, #Horror, #Collections
The Last Wish
THE VOICE OF REASON 1
She came to him towards morning.
She entered very carefully, moving silently, floating through the chamber like a phantom; the only sound was that of her mantle brushing her naked skin. Yet this faint sound was enough to wake the witcher - or maybe it only tore him from the half-slumber in which he rocked monotonously, as though travelling though fathomless depths, suspended between the sea bed and its calm surface amidst gently undulating strands of seaweed.
He did not move, did not stir. The girl flitted closer, threw off her mantle and slowly, hesitantly, rested her knee, on the edge of the large bed. He observed her through lowered lashes, still not betraying his wakefulness. The girl carefully climbed onto the bedclothes, and onto him, wrapping her thighs around him. Leaning forward on straining arms, she brushed his face with hair which smelt of chamomile. Determined, and as if impatient, she leant over and touched his eyelids, cheeks, lips with the tips of her breasts. He smiled, very slowly, delicately, grasping her by the shoulders, and she straightened, escaping his fingers. She was radiant, luminous in the misty brilliance of dawn. He moved, but with pressure from both hands, she forbade him to change position and, with a light but decisive movement of her hips, demanded a response.
He responded. She no longer backed away from his hands; she threw her head back, shook her hair. Her skin was cool and surprisingly smooth. Her eyes, glimpsed when her face came close to his, were huge and dark as the eyes of a water nymph.
Rocked, he sank into a sea of chamomile as it grew agitated and seethed.
Later, it was said the man came from the north, from Ropers Gate. He came on foot, leading his laden horse by the bridle. It was late afternoon and the ropers', saddlers' and tanners' stalls were already closed, the street empty. It was hot but the man had a black coat thrown over his shoulders. He drew attention to himself.
He stopped in front of the Old Narakort Inn, stood there for a moment, listened to the hubbub of voices. As usual, at this hour, it was full of people.
The stranger did not enter the Old Narakort. He pulled his horse further down the street to another tavern, a smaller one, called The Fox. Not enjoying the best of reputations, it was almost empty.
The innkeeper raised his head above a barrel of pickled cucumbers and measured the man with his gaze. The outsider, still in his coat, stood stiffly in front of the counter, motionless and silent.
'What will it be?'
'Beer,' said the stranger. His voice was unpleasant.
The innkeeper wiped his hands on his canvas apron and filled a chipped earthenware tankard.
The stranger was not old but his hair was almost entirely white. Beneath his coat he wore a worn leather jerkin laced up at the neck and shoulders.
As he took off his coat those around him noticed that he carried a sword - not something unusual in itself, nearly every man in Wyzim carried a weapon - but no one carried a sword strapped to his back as if it were a bow or a quiver.
The stranger did not sit at the table with the few other guests. He remained standing at the counter, piercing the innkeeper with his gaze. He drew from the tankard.
'I'm looking for a room for the night.'
'There's none,' grunted the innkeeper, looking at the guest's boots, dusty and dirty. 'Ask at the Old Narakort.'
'I would rather stay here.'
'There is none.' The innkeeper finally recognised the stranger's accent. He was Rivian.
I'll pay.' The outsider spoke quietly, as if unsure, and the whole nasty affair began. A pockmarked beanpole of a man who, from the moment the outsider had entered had not taken his gloomy eyes from him, got up and approached the counter. Two of his companions rose behind him, no more than two paces away.
'There's no room to be had, you Rivian vagabond,' rasped the pockmarked man, standing right next to the outsider. 'We don't need people like you in Wyzim. This is a decent town!'
The outsider took his tankard and moved away. He glanced at the innkeeper, who avoided his eyes. It did not even occur to him to defend the Rivian. After all, who liked Rivians?
'All Rivians are thieves,' the pock-marked man went on, his breath smelling of beer, garlic and anger. 'Do you hear me, you bastard?'
'He can't hear you. His ears are full of shit,' said one of the men with him, and the second man cackled.
'Pay and leave!' yelled the pocked man.
Only now did the Rivian look at him.
I'll finish my beer.'
'We'll give you a hand,' the pockmarked man hissed. He knocked the tankard from the stranger's hand and simultaneously grabbing him by the shoulder, dug his fingers into the leather strap which ran diagonally across the outsider's chest. One of the men behind him raised a fist to strike. The outsider curled up on the spot, throwing the pockmarked man off balance. The sword hissed in its sheath and glistened briefly in the dim light. The place seethed. There was a scream, and one of the few remaining customers tumbled towards the exit. A chair fell with a crash and earthenware smacked hollowly against the floor. The innkeeper, his lips trembling, looked at the horribly slashed face of the pocked man, who, clinging with his fingers to the edge of the counter, was slowly sinking from sight. The other two were lying on the floor, one motionless, the other writhing and convulsing in a dark, spreading puddle. A woman's hysterical scream vibrated in the air, piercing the ears as the innkeeper shuddered, caught his breath, and vomited.
The stranger retreated towards the wall, tense and alert. He held the sword in both hands, sweeping the blade through the air. No one moved. Terror, like cold mud, was clear on their faces, paralysing limbs and blocking throats.
Three guards rushed into the tavern with thuds and clangs. They must have been close by.
They had truncheons wound with leather straps at the ready, but at the sight of the corpses, drew their swords. The Rivian pressed his back against the wall and, with his left hand, pulled a dagger from his boot.
'Throw that down!' one of the guards yelled with a trembling voice. 'Throw that down, you thug! You're coming with us!'
The second guard kicked aside the table between himself and the Rivian.
'Go get the men, Treska!' he shouted to the third guard, who had stayed closer to the door.
'No need,' said the stranger, lowering his sword. Til come by myself.'
'You'll go, you son of a bitch, on the end of a rope!' yelled the trembling guard. 'Throw that sword down or I'll smash your head in!'
The Rivian straightened. He quickly pinned his blade under his left arm and with his right hand raised towards the guards, swiftly drew a complicated sign in the air. The clout-nails which studded his tunic from his wrists to elbows flashed.
The guards drew back, shielding their faces with their arms. One of the customers sprang up while another darted to the door. The woman screamed again, wild and ear-splitting.
'I'll come by myself,' repeated the stranger in his resounding, metallic voice. 'And the three of you will go in front of me. Take me to the castellan. I don't know the way.'
'Yes, sir,' mumbled the guard, dropping his head. He made towards the exit, looking around tentatively. The other two guards followed him out backwards, hastily. The stranger followed in their tracks, sheathing his sword and dagger. As they passed the tables the remaining customers hid their faces from the dangerous stranger.
Velerad, castellan of Wyzim, scratched his chin. He was neither superstitious nor faint-hearted but he did not relish the thought of being alone with the white-haired man. At last he made up his mind.
'Leave,' he ordered the guards. 'And you, sit down. No, not there. Further away, if you please.'
The stranger sat down. He no longer carried his sword or black coat.
'I am Velerad, castellan of Wyzim,' said Velerad, toying with a heavy mace lying on the table.
'And I'm listening. What do you have to say to me, you brigand, before you are thrown into the dungeon? Three killed and an attempted spell-casting; not bad, not bad at all. Men are impaled for such things in Wyzim. But I'm a just man, so I will listen to you, before you are executed. Speak.'
The Rivian unbuttoned his jerkin and pulled out a wad of white goat leather.
'You nail this crossways, in taverns,' he said quietly. 'Is what's written here true?'
'Ah.' Velerad grunted, looking at the runes etched into the leather. 'So that's it. And I didn't guess at once. Yes, it's true. It's signed by Foltest, King of Temeria, Pontar and Mahakam, which
makes it true. A proclamation is a proclamation, witcher, but law is law - and I take care of law and order in Wyzim. I will not allow people to be murdered! Do you understand?'
The Rivi'an nodded to show he understood. Velerad snorted with anger.
'You carry the witcher's emblem?' The stranger reached into his jerkin once more and pulled out a round medallion on a silver chain. It pictured the head of a wolf, baring its fangs. 'And do you have a name? Any name will do, it's simply to make conversation easier.'
'My name is Geralt.'
'Geralt, then. Of Rivia I gather, from your accent?'
'Of Rivia.'
'Right. Do you know what, Geralt? This,' Velerad slapped the proclamation, 'let it go. It's a serious matter. Many have tried and failed already. This, my friend, is not the same as roughing up a couple of scoundrels.'
'I know. This is my job, Velerad. And that proclamation offers a three thousand oren reward.'
'Three thousand,' Velerad scowled. 'And the princess as a wife, or so rumour says, although gracious Foltest has not proclaimed that.'
'I'm not interested in the princess,' Geralt said calmly. He was sitting motionless, his hands on his knees. 'Just in the three thousand.'
'What times,' sighed the castellan. 'What foul times! Twenty years ago who would have thought, even in a drunken stupour, that such a profession as a witcher would exist? Itinerant killers of basilisks; travelling slayers of dragons and vodniks! Tell me, Geralt, are you allowed beer in your guild?'
'Certainly.'
Velerad clapped his hands.
'Beer!' he called. 'And sit closer, Geralt. What do I care?'
The beer, when it arrived, was cold and frothy.
'Foul times,' Velerod muttered, drinking deep from his tankard. 'All sorts of filth has sprung up. Mahakam, in the mountains, is
teeming with bogeymen. In the past it was just wolves howling in the woods, but now it's kobolds and spriggans wherever you spit, werewolves or some other vermin. Fairies and rusalkas snatch children from villages by the hundreds. We have diseases never heard of before; it makes my hair stand on end. And now, to top it all, this!' He pushed the wad of leather back across the table. 'It's not surprising, Geralt, that you witchers' services are in demand.'
'The king's proclamation, castellan,' Geralt raised his head. 'Do you know the details?'
Velerad leant back in his chair, locked his hands over his stomach.
'The details? Yes, I know them. Not first-hand perhaps, but from a good source.'
'That's what I want.'
'If you insist, then listen.' Velerad drank some beer and lowered his voice. 'During the reign of old Medell, his father, when our gracious king was still a prince, Foltest showed us what he was capable of, and he was capable of a great deal. We hoped he would grow out of it. But shortly after his coronation Foltest surpassed himself, jaw-droppingly: he got his own sister with child. Adda was younger and they were always together, but nobody suspected anything except, perhaps, the queen . . . To get to the point: suddenly there is Adda with a huge belly, and Foltest talking about getting wed to his sister. The situation was made even more tense because Vizimir of Novigrad wanted his daughter, Dalka, to marry Foltest and had already sent out his envoys. We had to restrain Foltest from insulting them, and lucky we did, or Vizimir would have torn our insides out. Then, not without Adda's help - for she influenced her brother - we managed to dissuade the boy from a quick wedding.
'Well, then Adda gave birth. And now listen, because this is where it all starts. Only a few saw what she bore, but one midwife jumped from the tower window to her death and the other lost her senses and remains dazed to this day. So I gather that the royal bastard - a girl - was not comely, and she died immediately.
No one was in a hurry to tie the umbilical cord. Nor did Adda, to her good fortune, survive the birth.
'But then Foltest stepped in again. Wisdom dictated that the royal bastard should have been burned or buried in the wilderness. Instead, on the orders of our gracious king, she was laid to rest in a sarcophagus in the vaults beneath the palace.'
'It's too late for your wisdom now.' Geralt raised his head. 'One of the Knowing Ones should have been sent for.'
'You mean those charlatans with stars on their hats? Of course. About ten of them came running later, when it became known what lay in the sarcophagus. And what scrambled out of it at night. Though it didn't start manifesting straight away. Oh, no. For seven years after the funeral there was peace. Then one night -it was a full moon - there were screams in the palace, shouting and commotion! I don't have to tell you, this is your trade and you've read the proclamation. The infant had grown in the coffin -and how! - grown to have incredible teeth!
In a word, she became a striga.
'Pity you didn't see the corpses, as I did. Had you, you'd have taken a great detour to avoid Wyzim.'
Geralt was silent.
'Then, as I was saying,' Velerad continued, 'Foltest summoned a whole crowd of sorcerers.
They all jabbered at the same time and almost came to blows with those staffs they carry - to beat off the dogs, no doubt, once they've been set loose on them. And I think they regularly are. I'm sorry, Geralt, if you have a different opinion of wizards. No doubt you do, in your profession, but to me they are swindlers and fools. You witchers inspire greater confidence in men. At least you are more straightforward.'
Victimized by Richard Thomas
The Rule of Won by Stefan Petrucha
The Bride's Curse by Glenys O'Connell
Deeper (The Real Fling) by Bellatas, Lyla
The Deception of Love by Kimberly, Kellz
Queen Victoria's Revenge by Harry Harrison
The Soul of the Matter by Bruce Buff
El nombre del Único by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Bride to the Alpha (The Wolf's Pet Book Two) by Aubrey Rose
We Shall Not Sleep by Anne Perry
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Book Review: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
January 18, 2019 March 21, 2019 ~ readingsumpton
Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.
Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?
There is always a sense of trepidation when knowing you will be reviewing an absolutely stellar books sequel. All too often the first book in a series is the most compelling to me. Unfortunately, that’s exactly how I feel about Thunderhead. It seems rare that I find the second book in a series more than just a “bridging novel.” Thunderhead didn’t give me the same gripping, intense love that Scythe did and I am finding it hard to pinpoint exactly why it feels that way. (Speaking of which, If you haven’t already, and would like to read my spoiler free review of Scythe, you can do so by clicking here.)
Thunderhead picks up a year after the events of Scythe. We are introduced to new characters from the get go, which felt a little bit like “starting fresh” rather than a continuation of the original plot. I understand that these characters, one in particular, will have a bigger role in future novels, however I just felt that Thunderhead was, for lack of a better word, a little boring for the majority of its pages. It took me at least 200-300 pages into a 500 page novel before I started to enjoy the book as much as I did with Scythe. I never felt that “drive” to keep reading like I do with so many other books.
The main characters from Scythe, particularly Rowan, didn’t get much airtime until later in the book which was upsetting because his chapters where the ones I found most compelling. And although we are specifically told that certain characters serve a bigger purpose in the corrupt world of the Scythes, it’s not really explored all that much in this novel and again, felt like a set up for the following book. There was however, a couple of great moments throughout the book. Times where I did find myself on the edge of my seat or being blown away at how well the author can turn us in circles before we know what’s really going on! But like I said they were few and far between or were towards the end of the novel.
The “Thunderhead” itself is described as being essentially like the “iCloud” of today but has advanced enough to become a conscious being, which acts as a virtual “mother” so to speak, to the Earth and its inhabitants. I did enjoy this books exploration into how drastically humanity relies on technology, a sentiment that resonates with us even in reality, and what happens when that technology can no longer sit idly by when the corrupt begin to disrupt the peace and order it has maintained.
I will pick up the next book, if only because the last two hundred-ish pages were action packed enough for me to want to see what happens to these characters. We are left with quite a cliffhanger and some really brilliant and tragic revelations. I just wish I could have felt that same intrigue for more than just the last half of this book. That is why I’ll be giving this book 3.5 stars.
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The Heartbreaking Reason This Cat Only Accepts Food In Bags
uber more like unter. imo
May 14, 2019 02:12:57 #961
market down in general today because of the us/china trade tariffs thing. but lyft down to a new low, uber shares down again, tesla down to their lowest value in 2 years.
uber:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-stock/uber-shares-fall-for-second-day-after-ill-fated-ipo-lyft-follows-idUSKCN1SJ1EW
The fall in shares comes against the backdrop of a global stock market selloff sparked by renewed trade tensions between the United States and China.
The stock hit a low of $36.58, valuing the company at about $14 billion less than the IPO price of $45. Shares of smaller rival Lyft Inc, which went public at $72 a share on March 29, were down 7.3% at $47.38.
Uber’s stock “did not trade as well as we had hoped post-IPO”, Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi wrote in a memo to employees that was seen by Reuters.
“Sentiment does not change overnight, and I expect some tough public market times over the coming months. But we have all the capital we need to demonstrate a path to improved margins and profits,” Khosrowshahi added.
Bloomberg first reported the news based on the memo.
Uber lowered its valuation expectations twice in the past two months to address investor concerns over its mounting losses, and finally priced its IPO at the low end of the targeted range in a bid to avoid Lyft’s stock market struggles.
Uber’s market capitalization has fallen to about $61 billion since its IPO on Thursday, still larger than Wall Street heavyweights including General Motors and FedEx.
tesla:
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-tumbles-lowest-level-since-january-2017-2019-5-1028195505
Heavy selling on Monday morning pushed shares down 4.44% to $229 apiece, their lowest level since January 2017. The stock is on track for a fifth straight day of losses.
{...}
Tesla shares have been under pressure throughout 2019 but have plunged 22% since the company reported disappointing first-quarter deliveries on April 3. Also weighing on shares was a huge Q1 loss and a capital raise that underwhelmed some Wall Street analysts.
Tesla is down 32% this year.
Edited by Chthonic_Goat_666 ( May 14, 2019 08:58:06 )
a bit more on the uber IPO
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/15/technology/uber-ipo-price.html
ilmdge
I cannot overstate what a scam this whole deal has been. https://t.co/Ss5o77OxQo
— Aaron W. Gordon (@A_W_Gordon) May 25, 2019
The fans, they love my work pic.twitter.com/MkjQDijd8W
**paging Drs. Freud, Lacan**
i should also mention, while uber and lyft shares have kind of leveled-out for now, tesla shares continue to fall. down over 40% compared to the start of the year.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-24/the-tesla-stock-bubble-burst-sparking-existential-questions
Morgan Stanley threw the biggest blow, declaring that in a worst-case scenario, Tesla’s shares could sink to a shocking $10. A Wedbush analyst said the carmaker is facing a “code red situation” and cast doubt on whether Tesla can sell enough of its electric cars to make a profit. And Citigroup and Robert W. Baird & Co. analysts, among others, slashed their target prices, citing concerns about cash flow and consumer demand.
The stock has fallen almost 10% this week, leaving it down a staggering 43% on the year. Some $23 billion in shareholder value has been wiped out, sinking the company’s market cap back below that of General Motors and Ford. Even Tesla’s benchmark bonds now trade at just 81 cents on the dollar, pushing their yield north of 9%.
after 10000 years I'm free. It's time to build a car tunnel
Chthonic_Goat_666 posted:
tesla shares continue to fall. down over 40% compared to the start of the year.
I'd consider assessments of Tesla's share price from Morgan Stanley, etc. to be at least in part a prediction from their perspective of whether Trump will be reelected in 2020, given Tesla's traditional sources of government largesse.
Not that I think Tesla will pull success out of their ass somehow, but rather that the truly dire assessments suggest the big investment houses/analysts don't think Tesla's going to be getting a public-sector injection from a Democratic executive anytime soon.
Edited by cars ( May 31, 2019 17:53:40 )
Isn't there a whole community of people shorting Tesla that Elon Musk is constantly feuding with and who are the reason why he said he was taking Tesla public at $420 and got smacked by the SEC? Are all those people going to be rich? How does that work, I think I'd like free money.
June 1, 2019 00:55:51 #971
bad news, friend. ya gotta have money, to make money.
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Students Postgraduates Staff
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University > Research portal > Researchers > Francis Stephen Halliwell
Francis Stephen Halliwell
Francis Stephen Halliwell, FBA FRSE
School of Classics - Bishop Wardlaw Professor
School of Classics
Swallowgate
The Scores
Centre for the Public Understanding of Greek and Roman Drama
Centre for the Literatures of the Roman Empire
Email: fsh@st-andrews.ac.uk
Web address: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/classics/staff/fsh/
Direct phone: +44 (0)1334 462617
Greek comedy, especially Aristophanes; Greek attitudes to laughter; Greek tragedy and theory of tragedy; Greek theatre practice, including masks; Plato, especially the Republic and Platonic attitudes to poetry and art; Aristotle, especially the Poetics and Rhetoric; fourth-century B.C. Greek oratory and rhetoric; Greek literary criticism and aesthetics; Longinus On the Sublime; Classical Tradition, especially in the fields of aesthetics and poetry.
Selected research publications (156)
Justifying the world as an aesthetic phenomenon
Halliwell, S., Dec 2018, In : Cambridge Classical Journal. 64, p. 91-112
Tolstoy, Opera, and the Problem of Aesthetic Seduction
Halliwell, F. S., Nov 2018, Tolstoy and his Problems: Views from the Twenty-First Century. Medzhibovskaya, I. (ed.). Northwestern University Press
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed)
Was Aristotle a Literary Historian?
Halliwell, F. S., 2017, Literaturgeschichtsschreibung in der Antike. Grethlein, J. & Rengakos, A. (eds.). de Gruyter, p. 189-211
Plato, Poetry and the Problems of Hermeneutics
Halliwell, F. S., 2016, Reflections on Plato's Poetics: Essays from Beijing. Benitez, R. & Wang, K. (eds.). Academic Printing and Publishing (AP Publishing), p. 39-54
Aristophanes Clouds, Women at the Thesmophoria, Frogs: a verse translation, with introduction and notes
Halliwell, F. S., 12 Nov 2015, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 400 p.
Greek Gods and the Archaic Aesthetics of Life
Halliwell, F. S., 2014, Paradeigmata: Studies in Honour of Øivind Andersen, eds. E. K. Emilsson et al.. Norwegian Institute at Athens, p. 121-7
Diegesis - Mimesis
Halliwell, F. S., 2014, Handbook of Narratology. Huehn, P. (ed.). 2nd ed. Berlin: de Gruyter, Vol. 1. p. 129-37
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary
Halliwell, F. S., Jun 2014, Cambridge companion to Greek comedy. Revermann, M. (ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 189-205 (Cambridge companions to literature).
Unity of Art without Unity of Life? A Question about Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy
Halliwell, F. S., 2013, Renaissances de la Tragédie. Zagdoun, M-A. & Malhomme, F. (eds.). Naples: Accademia Pontaniana, p. 25-39 (Atti Accademia Pontaniana; vol. Supplemento LXI).
Beyond the Mirror of Nature: Plato's Ethics of Visual Form
Halliwell, F. S., 2012, Plato on Art and Beauty. Denham, A. (ed.). Palgrave Macmillan, p. 173-204
Amousia: living without the Muses
Halliwell, F. S., 2012, Aesthetic Value in Classical Antiquity. Sluiter, I. & Rosen, R. (eds.). Brill, p. 15-45 (Mnemosyne, Supplements; vol. 350).
Between Ecstasy and Truth: Interpretations of Greek Poetics from Homer to Longinus
Halliwell, F. S., 2011, Oxford University Press. 431 p.
Halliwell, F. S., 2011, Routledge Companion to Philosophy and Music. Gracyk, T. & Kania, T. (eds.). p. 307-316
Greek Laughter: A Study of Cultural Psychology from Homer to Early Christianity
Halliwell, F. S., 2008, Cambridge University Press. 616 p.
Selected activities (141)
'Perspectivism and the Homeric Simile' (2nd Martin West Memorial Lecture), Oxford University
Francis Stephen Halliwell (Speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public lecture/debate/seminar
'Pseudo-Longinus Beyond the Affective Fallacy': invited paper for seminar series on emotions in Greek and Latin literature, Institute of Classical Studies, London
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Research seminar, 'Inside and Outside the Mind: the Greek Poetics of Inspiration': Cambridge English Faculty series on Poetics Before Modernity
Research paper, 'Justifying the world as an aesthetic phenomenon', Cambridge Philological Society
Keynote lecture, 'Longinus and Quintilian: Graeco-Roman Perspectives on the Nature of Criticism', Leiden Conference on Greek Literary Criticism and Latin Texts
7 Dec 2017 → 8 Dec 2017
Invited research seminar at The Plato Centre, Trinity College Dublin
Guest lecture, Seminar für Griechische und Lateinische Philologie, University of Zurich
Invited contribution to Ancient Philosophy seminar series, Institute of Classical Studies, London
Francis Stephen Halliwell (Invited speaker)
Invited lecture at international conference, 'Aristophanes and Politics', Columbia University, New York
30 Sep 2016 → 1 Oct 2016
Benefactors' Lecture, Dartmouth College, USA
Invited speaker at UNESCO (Paris) round-table debate on Aristotle and education
Keynote speaker at International Symposium on 'Plato's Poetics', Beijing International Studies University
Francis Stephen Halliwell (Keynote/Plenary speaker)
Contributor to BBC Radio 4 programme, 'In Our Time', on Aristotle's *Poetics*
Francis Stephen Halliwell (Participant)
Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement, outreach and knowledge exchange - Participation in radio programme
Kenneth Dover and the Greeks
McDiarmid Lecture
Funded projects (2)
EP/E500269/1 Academic Fellowship - class: Academic Fellowship
Halliwell, F. S. & Woolf, G.
Project: Fellowship
AH/F001940/1 RESEARCH LEAVE SCHEME: Between Ecstasy and Truth: Problems of Value in Ancient Greek Conceptions of Poetry
Halliwell, F. S.
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Project: Standard
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A bold new plan for Logan's beleaguered City Council.
Logan Council's Interim Administrator has announced an ambitious reformation project for the city, after it lost its entire Council less than two months ago.
Setting out a nine-month plan, advised by the interim management committee, Tamara O'Shea (pictured) told The Brisbane Times...the community wants trust in their leaders.
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This floating bar in the Caribbean sea is looking for a bartender
May 15, 2019 by mrwonderful 0 Comments
(CNN) — Another day, another company offering a “dream job” in a tropical location as a publicity stunt — although we have to admit this one’s pretty cool.
Floyd’s Pelican Bar, a wooden shack bar in Jamaica that’s only accessible by boat, is giving one lucky applicant the opportunity to “pull pints in one of the most Instagrammable drinking spots in the world.”
According to the ad created by UK travel company Virgin Holidays, owner Floyd Forbes has finally decided to take a break after nearly 18 years behind the bar, and needs someone to fill in for him this summer.
Job of a lifetime
Owner Floyd Forbes, pictured with model Jodie Kidd, is taking his first break in nearly 18 years.
Courtesy Joe Pepler/ PinPep
Sadly it’s not a permanent role. After the week’s over, it’s back to reality.
Open to UK residents with bar/pub experience, the job will involve serving piña coladas and rum punches at the wooden establishment.
Further job requirements include chatting to locals and tourists over a beer and “throwing the occasional fish to the resident pelicans,” who provided the inspiration for the bar’s name.
Candidates must also be willing to manage the play list, smile at passing boats and “commute by boat or paddle board, even when the weather is a little too beautiful to go to work.”
Dubbed one of the coolest watering holes in the world, Floyd’s Pelican Bar is a favorite with locals and travelers.
Floating structure
Virgin Holidays will be providng free flights to Jamaica and accomodation to the succesful applicant.
Located around a mile from land, visitors — or workers — can take a boat there from nearby Black River, Treasure Beach or Parottee Point.
It was first built in 2001 after Forbes, a local fisherman, apparently had a dream about opening a bar rising over the ocean, where he could hang out with his friends.
The original bar was destroyed during Hurricane Ivan back in 2004, but the local community came together to help rebuild it.
Model applicant?
The job involves serving pina coladas and rum punches at the popular bar.
Over the years, Forbes has been so busy, he hasn’t had the chance to take much time off — until now.
His temporary cover will be chosen in part by former model and pub owner Jodie Kidd, who is helping to judge the applications.
“This is an incredible chance for anyone looking to combine the best job in the world with one of the best overseas destinations — and giving a local legend a well-deserved holiday — so what are you waiting for?” she says.
The successful candidate will receive a pair of return economy Virgin Atlantic flights to Jamaica, seven nights’ accommodation, £1,000 ($1,150) spending money and a trial shift at Floyd’s Pelican Bar.
Interested applicants should visit Virgin Holidays for further details and full terms and conditions.
This article was originally published by Cnn.com. Read the original article here.
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“A Continuous Game of Exchanges and Reversals”: Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend
February 12, 2014 Rohan Maitzen
Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, the first in her trilogy of ‘Neapolitan novels,’ tells of the childhood and adolescence of two friends, Elena and Lila, living in a rough edge of Naples in the 1950s. This is not the familiar Brit. Lit. Italy of balmy escapism or emotional liberation. “I feel no nostalgia for our childhood,” Elena reports:
it was full of violence. Every sort of thing happened, at home and outside, every day, but I don’t recall ever having thought that the life we had there was particularly bad. Life was like that, that’s all, we grew up with the duty to make it difficult for others before they made it difficult for us. . . . The women fought among themselves even more than the men, they pulled each other’s hair, they hurt each other. To cause pain was a disease. As a child I imagined tiny, almost invisible animals that arrived in the neighborhood at night, they came from the ponds, from the abandoned train cars beyond the embankment, from the stinking grasses called fetienti, from the frogs, the salamanders, the flies, the rocks, the dust, and entered the water and the food and the air, making our mothers, our grandmothers as angry as starving dogs. They were more severely infected than the men, because while men were always getting furious, they calmed down in the end; women, who appeared to be silent, acquiescent, when they were angry flew into a rage that had no end.
As the girls grow older, they gradually learn more about the histories — both personal and political — behind these daily hostilities. One of the big questions of the novel (though Elena doesn’t articulate it clearly for herself until near the end) is how, or even whether, it is possible to move beyond the intricate web of hatreds, obligations, and loyalties that entangle all the families in the neighborhood. What else is there? Where else is there to go? In an early escapade that comes to seem symbolic, Lila convinces Elena “to skip school, and cross the boundaries of the neighborhood.” “What was . . . beyond its well-known perimeter?” Elena wonders, as she lies awake the night before. They head out through the “shadowy light” of a tunnel, and Elena feels “joyfully open to the unknown.” But as they walk and walk down the road that they believe leads to the sea — past the “small snotty children” and the “fat man in an undershirt who … showed us his penis” — the adventure becomes tiring; they get hungry and thirsty, and then a thunder storm moves in, and they end up running, “blinded by the rain,” soaked, frightened, back towards home, where anger and beatings await.
For most of My Brilliant Friend it seemed obvious that the title referred to Lila. But near the end, it’s Lila who turns to Elena and says, “you’re my brilliant friend, you have to be the best of all, boys and girls.” It’s an important moment, because up to that point we have been given little idea what Lila thinks of Elena or why, from her perspective, they have been friends for so long. Naturally enough, given the novel’s point of view, we know a lot more about what Elena thinks about Lila, who is part muse, part rival, part antagonist. Yet Lila herself seemed oddly opaque to me: I couldn’t really understand her or her motivations, and I can’t tell if this is a problem with the novel or one of the points of the novel (the result, for instance, of Elena’s limitations, perhaps of her inability to see Lila except in relation to herself).
Throughout the novel there is a constant push and pull between the two friends, at least in Elena’s mind. Her incessant measurement of herself against Lila motivates her and shapes her response to her own life; even as they take different paths, it seems to her that they are playing some kind of zero-sum game, as if she can only flourish if Lila falters:
I traced lines between moments and events distant from one another, I established convergences and divergences. In that period it became a daily exercise: the better off I had been in Ischia, the worse off Lila had been in the desolation of the neighborhood; the more I had suffered upon leaving the island, the happier she had become. It was as if, because of an evil spell, the joy or sorrow of one required the sorrow or joy of the other; even our physical aspect, it seemed to me, shared in that swing. In Ischia I had felt beautiful . . . But Lila now had retaken the upper hand, satisfaction had magnified her beauty, while I, overwhelmed by schoolwork, exhausted by my frustrated love for Nino, was growing ugly again.
“What I lacked she had, and vice versa,” Elena reflects, “in a continuous game of exchanges and reversals that, now happily, now painfully, made us indispensable to each other.” Close as they are, the distance between them widens as they mature. Though as a child Lila excels at school, seemingly without effort, her family circumstances and her own aspirations turn her away from her education, and it’s her physical beauty (which has always set her apart) that makes her exceptional: “When you saw her, she gave off a glow that seemed a violent slap in the face of the poverty of the neighborhood.” Elena, in contrast, persists with her studies, even continuing to the high school in Naples. Lila dedicates herself to the family business and eventually becomes engaged to someone who can finance her ambition to transform it from a simple cobbler’s shop to a high-end artisanal footwear company. Elena dreams of being a writer — and, as always, holds herself up against Lila and feels inadequate:
she would start talking about . . . shoes, shoe factory, money, and I would slowly feel that the novels I read were pointless and that my life was bleak, along with the future, and what I would become: a fat pimply salesclerk in the stationery store across from the parish church, an old maid employee of the local government, sooner or later cross-eyed and lame.
Perhaps their two different paths both lead away not just from the poverty of their neighborhood and the brutality of their immediate families, but from the past that surrounds them all. After Lila’s engagement, Elena wonders at the way she and her fiancé decide to “rise . . . above the logic of the neighborhood”:
They were behaving in a way that wasn’t familiar even in the poems I studied in school, in the novels I read. I was puzzled. They weren’t reacting to the insults . . . They displayed kindness and politeness toward everyone, as if they were John and Jacqueline Kennedy visiting a neighborhood of indigents. . . . Was this her latest invention? Did she want to leave the neighborhood by staying in the neighborhood? Did she want to drag us out of ourselves, tear off the old skin and put on a new one, suitable for what she was inventing?
But Lila’s path is not an escape route after all: though she marries well, as the novel ends Elena looks at her brilliant friend and sees that Lila is, in fact, trapped:
As a child I had looked to her, to her progress, to learn how to escape my mother. I had been mistaken. Lila had remained there, chained in a glaring way to that world, from which she imagined she had taken the best. And the best was that young man, that marriage, that celebration, the game of shoes for Rino and her father. . . . I should take note, I thought: not even Lila, in spite of everything, has managed to escape from my mother’s world.
But “I have to,” Elena realizes; “I can’t be acquiescent any longer.” If she wants a different life she has to embrace her own alienation from those she has grown up with. She sees how — through her education, through her writing — but even as she grasps at the possibility, it seems to elude her. Years before her teacher, Maestra Oliviero, pressed Elena to be ambitious for herself: “Do you know what the plebs are,” asks Maestro Oliviero;
“The plebs are quite a nasty thing.”
“And if one wishes to remain a plebeian, he, his children, the children of his children deserve nothing. Forget [Lila] Cerullo and think of yourself.”
There at Lila’s wedding, she tries to do just that, but she meets instead with a disappointment that seems to her a sign that she has no higher destiny:
At that moment I knew what the plebs were, much more clearly than when, years earlier, she had asked me. The plebs were us. The plebs were that fight for food and wine, that quarrel over who should be served first and better, that dirty floor on which the waiters clattered back and forth, those increasingly vulgar toasts. The plebs were my mother, who had drunk wine and now was leaning against my father’s shoulder, while he, serious, laughed, his mouth gaping, at the sexual allusions of the metal dealer.
Elena is left feeling that her best is not good enough — that “studying was useless.” But though My Brilliant Friend ends on this dispiriting note, we know from the Prologue, which takes place many years later, that Elena does move on, while Lila “had never left Naples in her life.” And we also know that though, in their ongoing “game of exchanges and reversals,” it was Lila who was the better writer (or so Elena thought), the novel itself stands as Elena’s ultimate triumph: angry at her friend’s latest trick, “I turned on the computer and began to write — all the details of our story, everything that still remained in our memory.” What we don’t know is how she got away — these details of the story are presumably told in the sequel.
I found My Brilliant Friend very interesting, and yet I can’t decide how high a priority it is for me to read on in the series. As I tried to write about the novel, it seemed richer and more complicated in some ways than it had while I read it, yet I didn’t find myself emotionally gripped by it and I’m curious but not anxious to know what happens next. One issue was, as mentioned, Lila’s opacity, though the one thing we do know about her experience of the world — her occasional bouts of “dissolving boundaries” — made her less, rather than more, understandable to me. I also (and this may just be a failure of my reading, of course) had persistent trouble telling the other characters apart, especially the boys (eventually, the young men). Even when I looked them up in the Index of Characters, I could not summon up more than a perfunctory recollection of what was notable about them (except the thug-like Solara brothers). Is this, again, perhaps a feature rather than a failure of Ferrante’s characterization? Is the tendency of their lives to suppress their individuality? By the final chapter, I had Nino and Stefano straight, at least. On the plus side, there’s a wonderful particularity to Ferrante’s descriptions, and though words like “evocative” and “atmospheric” seem like reviewers’ clichés nowadays, they do seem apt for the way she conveys the sights and sounds of Lila and Elena’s gritty, turbulent environment. As a story of female friendship, My Brilliant Friend is perhaps also notable for its unsentimentality and the room it makes for jealousy (but not, refreshingly, romantic rivalry), anger, and ambition.
I know Liz has read My Brilliant Friend, because she very kindly sent me her copy: I’m eager to hear her thoughts about my mixed reaction, and also to hear from anyone else who has read this or any other of Ferrante’s novels. She’s getting a great deal of attention (e.g. here, here, here – I have not read these closely yet, as I have been trying to sort out some of my own thoughts first, and also fear spoilers about the second book, but I notice James Wood calls My Brilliant Friend “a large, captivating, amiably peopled bildungsroman,” at least one word of which takes me by surprise).
Ferrante, ElenaFerrante, Elena
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8 thoughts on ““A Continuous Game of Exchanges and Reversals”: Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend”
RT February 13, 2014 / 11:31 am
The copy-editor in me regrets to suggest that you meant to write “than” rather than “that” in this: “more complicated in some ways that it had while I read it.” Perhaps my annoying tendency to correct comes from too many semesters as English Composition teacher.
BTW, your review is excellent. However, I think I would not enjoy _My Brilliant Friend_.
Rohan Maitzen February 13, 2014 / 11:51 am
No regrets necessary – I always appreciate such corrections, as I have a terrible time proofreading on screen, and it’s not getting any better as my eyes get older. Fixed!
RT February 13, 2014 / 8:15 pm
Feel free to delete my comment and your reply. It will be our editorial secret.
Liz Mc2 February 13, 2014 / 9:50 pm
Since I bought the second book, I hope I eventually read it–and I’ll send it on if you like!
I didn’t try to grapple with this as thorougly as you did, but my response was similar. I can’t really imagine how someone could describe it as “amiably peopled.” Everyone in this book is kind of awful, at least at some points, but their awfulness is often understandable, and one reason I found it hard to read is that it’s often the kind of awfulness I was forced to identify with (why yes, I have envied female friends, competed with them). It reminded me of Atwood in some ways–Ferrante’s frankness about how awful girls and women can be too each other, even when they love each other (friends, mothers and daughters).
I also really liked (?? admired, anyway) the representation of childhood; I thought the first section gave a really good sense of how frightening the world can be to children, how strange their understanding of what is going on around them (this also reminded me of Atwood’s CAT’S EYE, and of some Dickens, or the beginning of JANE EYRE). I think it’s unusual to see childhood represented so unsentimentally.
I was interested by Elena’s growing understanding and self-awareness. I had trouble distinguishing a lot of the characters too (and I agree Lila is pretty opaque), but I began to wonder how much of that had to do with the narrative perspective; so much of the novel is caught in (pre)teenage solipsism and self-absorption. It may end in Lila’s wedding, but they are still only 15 or 16. So I am curious to see if/how the perspective opens out in the next volume, as it did in this one with Elena’s growing political/historical understanding. And I was really struck by the way their culture (right down to the neighborhood) shaped their choices and who they are, how trapped and limited they are. Even Elena’s educational attainments–how much true understanding of anything or ability to think has she gained so far? My attention did wander sometimes as I read this, and it’s not my usual kind of thing, but there were some amazing scenes that really stuck with me and made it worthwhile.
Rohan February 14, 2014 / 2:42 pm
That’s a good point about childhood: now that you’ve said it, I can see the Jane Eyre connections especially. The question about narrative perspective — that is, how much it accounts for limits in what we see — I guess can be answered only by reading more. As she is explicitly writing back from adulthood, there could have been more done to integrate an “as I see things now” perspective (Pip-like, speaking of Dickens!) but it does stay pretty much all in the moment, as far as I recall.
jamesbchester February 20, 2014 / 11:19 am
Fascinating review. I have this one sitting on my TBR shelf but haven’t picked it up yet. I suspect I’m a bit hesitant over the size; knowing that it’s really three volumes won’t help, I’m afraid. But you have me thinking that reading it will be worth the effort. I’m reminded of “The Best of Youth” which is about two brothers covering the same time period more-or-less. If you have not seen it you really should. It’s only six episodes and it’s wonderful.
I haven’t seen that – or even heard of it! – so thank you for the suggestion. I do think it’s worth the effort, though I realize this post is not a rave review. Unlike a couple of other books I’ve read recently (and haven’t felt motivated to blog about), My Brilliant Friend seemed significant, as if it was really grappling with things that matter. If it didn’t work 100% for me, it’s still more interesting than most books. I happened to find the sequel at the library last week so that settled my inner debate about whether to read on: might as well!
Zelda December 13, 2014 / 8:19 pm
I began this book feeling quite ambivalent about it. But as I got deeper I started to catch the fire.
It is important to know it is contextual, I believe. Elena quotes being born in the 40’s and the post war world of Italy was pretty grim at that time as the discussion of politics shows. The women’s problems were illustrated so very well and the sheer hopelessness of their situation grabbed me as one I have heard from that era which had not changed in a long time. But this was a post war period of much change and it slowly trickled down for these women…
These were two very intelligent women but where could they go ? And this to me is the crux of the story, a piece of a bigger post war women’s story. I saw Lila as very narcissistic, or even sociopathic in her ways of making everyone pay for her position and not able to move out of it. Like all narcissists, Lila manages to cultivate admirers along the way, and Elena was the most susceptible in her mild ways as the next books showed for me.
How they react to their situation, the opportunities available and closed in their time registered very strongly knowing the difficulties for women in those times, universally. That Elena chose the path of education and Lila the path of manipulation is a remarkable story of the 50s, 60s and beyond when women were struggling for power of any kind.
Having read all three now I am totally in love with Ferrante’s story and I note the third left the door open so I see that there will be another in 2015 taking up the women’s stories beyond their 30s.
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Home / Education / Adult Programs
Awaken your curiosity!
Adult programs immerse participants in science experiences, facilitating fun, discovery and curiosity.
Fall 2019 Programming
Registration begins June 3 for members and June 17 for non-members.
Cost: Varies per program.
Adults Only Night at the Museum
Friday, September 27, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Experience the Sam Noble Museum like never before during a night of trivia, games and hands-on natural history! Have a beer under the mammoth in our Pliestocene Plaza while playing trivia for prizes and bragging rights. Explore our exhibits after hours with a scavenger hunt, work with (or against) your friends in a make-and-take challenge, perfect your selfie game at our selfie station and more! Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar all night long! This program is for adults 21+. Deadline to register is Sept. 17.
Cost: MEMBERS $25 / NON-MEMBERS $35
Adults Invertebrate Fossil Field Trip
Friday, November 1, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join invertebrate paleontology curator Steve Westrop, Ph.D., for an exciting journey into Oklahoma’s Paleozoic past. Explore life in Oklahoma’s ancient oceans on Friday evening with a close-up look at some of the museum’s finest invertebrate specimens. On Saturday morning, we will depart for the museum at 9 a.m. and travel in university vans to the site, where you will find a variety of marine fossils that you can take home. Bring a sack lunch, snacks, and comfortable shoes and plenty of water. Deadline to register is Oct. 23.
Friday, November 15, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Experience the Sam Noble Museum like never before during a night of trivia, games and hands-on natural history! Have a beer under the mammoth in our Pliestocene Plaza while playing trivia for prizes and bragging rights. Explore our exhibits after hours with a scavenger hunt, work with (or against) your friends in a make-and-take challenge, perfect your selfie game at our selfie station and more! Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar all night long! This program is for adults 21+. Deadline to register is Nov. 5.
Advance registration is required, and space is limited. On-site registration is not available for these programs. Participants are required to bring any forms sent via confirmation email (releases, waivers, etc.) on or before the first day of the program.
All cancellations must be received 10 business days prior to the start of the program for a refund or transfer to another program. Register online or call (405) 325-1008.
Email: education.samnoblemuseum@ou.edu Phone: (405) 325-1008
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Get To Know About The White Tiger
Home » Get To Know About The White Tiger
This rare species looks very charming and graceful with its white majestic robe. The fur is as white as snow with black stripes that make it look like a ruler. Ferocious and muscular ruler.
People are often think that white tiger is albino species. Or even most of them think that the tiger is bleached for the necessities of show or adaptation to its new habitat. The white tiger is Bengal tiger that is found in some sectors of the Indian subcontinent. A particular gene condition called leukism occurs in white tiger body.
Leukism is a condition of the loss of some pigmentation which makes the animal becomes white, shallow, and striped in certain parts of the body such as skin, fur, and cuticles. Only the eyes are not affected. This occurs due to the mutation of a gene in a protein known as SLC45A2.
This gene affects skin coloring in humans and animals such as horses, tigers, and chickens. It’s different from albino conditions where eyes color also change.
Watch The Harimau Show at Bali Safari Park
When you have a chance to visit Bali, don’t forget to get to Bali Safari & Marine Park. You will see groups of magnificent white tigers roam around the wild nature. You can also enjoy the Bali Agung Show or Safari Night there. Do visit our website safaribaliticket.com for reservation.
Then, what are some interesting real things about this white tiger? Let’s find out!
White tiger has Latin name, Panthera Tigris. This is the second largest tiger species after Siberian tigers. The weight of white tiger can reach 300 kilograms with a length of more than 3 meters.
White tigers often find it difficult to hunt the preys at night because of their white coats. The stripes on the skin also do not help much. The preys will immediately realize their presence.
White tiger has unique stripes that is similar to his own fingerprints. We cannot find the same stripes on the bodies of two white tigers. The stripes are identical to the body that has them. If one day the fur is shaved, the stripes will still visible and continue to grow and grow on its white coat.
If the white tiger comes to the cold temperature place, the enzyme inside his body will work. This enzyme can weaken his immune system so that his fur will look darker than before. This is a gift for white tiger in order to chase the prey.
Based on the observations of the experts, white tiger grew faster than the the orange and brownish tiger. White tiger is born with a large body stature and continue to grow with a bigger body.
A white tiger baby born because his parent carries the same gene when mating. Both of them must be white tigers, too. Female white tiger will carry the baby in her womb for about three and a half months.
A female white tiger can give birth to 2 up to 5 white tiger babies. Each white tiger baby’s weight at birth reaches 1 kilogram.
In the wild nature, white tigers have no predators. White tiger is a top predator. However, humans began to hunt and catch white tigers. Their lives are threatened with extinction. Since 1950s, white tigers have rarely seen in the forest or their natural habitat. They are mostly found in zoos or conservation centers.
White tigers are very fast and agile in running. They are also reliable swimmers which can traverse rivers and any wetlands.
White tigers have an average age of life for 12 years in wildlife. When they live in conservation center, their lifespans increase until 20 years old.
Wanna know more about our other animals? Do visit our website safaribaliticket.com to book an available packages.
Comfortable and Enjoyable Holidays According to Children’s Favorite in Bali Safari Park
Indonesian Beautiful Bird Species in Bali Safari Park
[BSM-011] Breakfast with Lion +Atv Ride Tour
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Tagged: Turn on Safe Mode
Safe Mode Droid / Oppo
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Home > System-Level Design > The Next Big Shift In Verification
The Next Big Shift In Verification
The requirements for the next era of verification have been set. It should be an interesting 2015.
November 20th, 2014 - By: Frank Schirrmeister
We are coming to the end of the year—have you started your Christmas shopping list yet?
For us bloggers, it is time for predictions about what the next year will bring in EDA technology. Three core trends will shape 2015—even more closely connected verification engines, innovations in hardware-assisted development, and software as a driver for verification.
All three core trends are related to the verification of today’s systems on chips (SoCs). How did verification evolve? Our CTO for the System and Verification Group, Ziv Binyamini, just gave a keynote this week at the Haifa Verification Conference, musing about the past of verification and charting a course for where we are going. We are approaching the third wave of verification, “Verification 3.0” so to speak. How did we get here?
In the early days of verification, the “Stone Age,” directed testing dominated verification. Design and verification engineers, at the time a still-developing species, were developing simple ad-hoc testbenches and created tests by hand. This approach was not very scalable, as it required more engineers when more verification was required. As a result, it was very difficult to achieve good quality, and the confidence on how to get there and whether everything was verified was very hard to achieve.
In sync with the era of heavy IP reuse—sometime in the late 1990s to the early 2000s—the era of hardware verification languages (HVLs) began. This is where specific verification languages such as VERA, e, Superlog and eventually SystemVerilog fundamentally changed the verification landscape. Methodologies were developed, including verification methodology manual (VMM), open verification methodology (OVM), and later universal verification methodology (UVM). In this era of verification, constrained-random stimulus automated test creation and coverage metrics were introduced to measure coverage closure. The level of automation involved in this era allowed users to scale verification by automatically generating more tests, and made the HVL-based approaches ideal for exhaustive “bottom-up” IP and subsystem verification.
So what’s next? And why is there a “next” in the first place? The objects to be verified—modern SoCs—have evolved. They now contain many IP functions, from standard I/Os to system infrastructure and differentiating IP. They include many processor cores, both symmetric and asymmetric, both homogenous and heterogeneous. Software executes on these processors, from core functionality such as communication stacks and infrastructure components like Linux and Android operating systems all the way to user applications.
We had lively discussion earlier this year at the industry conferences DVCON (“Big Shift In SoC Verification”) and DATE (“Future SoC Verification Methodology: UVM Evolution or Revolution?”), mostly whether future SoC verification methodologies are a UVM evolution or whether they really require a revolution. The answer is that UVM will not go away—it is fine for the “bottom up” IP and some subsystem verification, and will continue to be used for these applications. However, UVM does not extend to new approaches for “top-down” SoC-level verification. The two main reasons are software and verification re-use between execution engines.
When switching from bottom-up verification to top-down verification, the context changes. In bottom-up verification, the question to verify is how the block or subsystem behaves in its SoC environment. In top-down verification, the correctness of the integrated IP blocks itself is assumed, and verification changes to scenarios describing how the SoC behaves in its system environment. An example scenario may look as follows: “Take a video buffer and convert it to MPEG4 format with medium resolution via any available graphics processor, then transmit the result through the modem via any available communications processor and in parallel decode it using any available graphics processor and display the video stream on any of the SoC displays supporting the resulting resolution.” On top of the sequence of how the hardware blocks in the system interact, this scenario clearly involves a lot of software.
This is where traditional HVL-based techniques run against their limits. They don’t extend well to the software that is key to defining scenarios. Scenarios need to be represented in a way that they can be understood by a variety of users, from SoC architects, hardware developers, and software developers to verification engineers, software test engineers, and post-silicon validation engineers. As modern SoCs have grown in complexity, all available engines—from virtual platforms through RTL simulation, acceleration, and emulation, to FPGA-based prototyping, as well as the prototype chip when back from production —need to be continually used for verification. Cadence put forward this vision back in 2011 with the System Development Suite, combining virtual prototyping, RTL simulation, emulation and FPGA based prototyping into a set of connected engines, which has since then grown to include formal verification as pillar engine, is connected to high-level synthesis and uses verification IP (VIP) as well as debug across all engines. Mentor Graphics announced the Enterprise Verification Platform in April 2014, and Synopsys followed in September 2014 with the Verification Continuum.
Key Cadence innovations in the System Development Suite include the joint infrastructure for Incisive simulation and Palladium acceleration, hot-swap capability for software-based simulation, and a unified front-end for Palladium emulation and Protium FPGA-based prototyping that allows one compiler to target multiple different fabrics. There is more to come in 2015.
Some of the key requirements for top-down scenario-based verification are clear from the limitations of traditional HVL-based approaches. First, system use-case scenarios need to be comprehended by a variety of different users to allow efficient sharing. Second, the resulting test/verification stimulus needs to be portable across different verification engines and even the actual silicon once available, enabling horizontal re-use. Software executing on the processors in the system—which we call software-driven verification—is the most likely candidate. Third and finally, the next wave of verification needs to allow both the IP integration as well as the IP’s operation within its system context to be tested, i.e. vertical re-use. Ziv Binyamini’s keynote closed with the attached graph, nicely summarizing the past and where we are going from here. You can find additional insights from Ziv and Mike Stellfox here and here.
The requirements for the next era of verification—Verification 3.0—are set. It will be an interesting 2015!
Tags: Cadence emulation Mentor Graphics Synopsys verification
Frank Schirrmeister
(all posts)
Frank Schirrmeister is senior group director for product management and marketing for emulation, FPGA-based prototyping and hardware/software enablement as part of the Cadence Verification Suite.
Tudor Timi says:
You didn’t mention anything about Accellera’s portable stimulus initiative. Does this mean that Cadence isn’t really committed to it?
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INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS FLASHBACK: BLOG TOUR – The Wishing Stone
DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS by Virtual AuthorvBook Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.
Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing (August 10, 2014)
Category: Mystery, Soft Science Fiction, Technothriller, Humor, Quirky
ASIN: B00MMQYLPU
Tour Date: Feb/Mar, 2016
Available in: ebook, 151 Pages
During that last summer, as if in punishment for being happy, Kate was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
The last time we used the wishing stone was at the hospital the morning she died.
On that day, all three of us made a silent wish, certain the others had wished the same. Kate died that afternoon and I never thought about it again. It was the last time I believed in magic, in love or in the existence of God.
Then, after three miserable lonely years, the unthinkable, a second chance . . . Warwick.
‘The Wishing Stone’ ebook price has been reduced to 99 cents for the duration of the tour on Kindle.
Excerpt from The Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus
We walked in silence back to the front door and outside where the car waited. The driver opened the door for her and Williams slid over out of the way; the desire to get in with her pulled at me as she wrapped her arms around me.
“Be good,” I said as we kissed. “If you can’t be good… be funny.”
“Three days, Ben… I’ll be back… and we’ll go home. Three days,” she said, kissing me again.
“Three days,” I repeated and almost before I realized it she had slipped into the vehicle, the door had closed and she was gone.
I watched the car for as long as I could before it finally faded from view.
The others had returned inside, all except Director Meadows.
“Ready?” she asked, rubbing her arms, warming them in the cold air.
“So ready I’m first in line,” I joked. The tug of Audrey and homesick hit me all at once.
She slipped a warm arm around my shoulder, guiding me back inside.
As we reentered Roger and the others had disappeared. We were greeted by two people, a man and a woman, both in white coats.
“Mr. Harris, this is Doctor Richard Prout and his wife, Doctor Joan Prout. They will be your -”
“Guides,” the woman interrupted, leaning forward a little.
“Yes, I like that… guides… for the next few days,” she continued with an odd smile. “They will help you get to the bottom of your… situation.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said, shaking each of their hands in turn.
Meadows went about her way leaving me with my two new companions.
Praise for Machines of the Little People (The Eve Project- Book 1)
“The plot is unique, I must say that I haven’t read a Sci Fi book so original in a long time. It has everything, mystery, suspense, romance, eccentric characters, conspiracy theories, and of course the little people with their machines!
Crazy, Wild, Excellent Written. Highly Recommended!!!”- Julia Damatto, Romorror Fan Girl
“the real joy of this book is not the plot itself. The real joy is the way in which Maus keeps his readers constantly off guard, stringing them along for pages before flipping the situation on its head and forcing readers to reevaluate whatever they thought they knew. Normally, that just pisses me off, but the way Maus manipulates his readers makes us squeal with delight at every turn. There is an energy to his novels, a sense of urgency tinged with wonder. We trust that wherever he takes us–and it won’t be somewhere we expect–it will be an adventure in the truest sense of the word.
And then we have the characters. At the end of the day, it’s the characters that make a Maus book what it is.
Definitely recommended for anyone who just wants a cracking good story. “-Jonathan Cook, Author ‘Youth and Other Fictions’
“Anyone who loves a good science fiction/fantasy story would have a hard time putting this one down.”- Lisa Binion, Author ‘Softly and Tenderley’
Praise for Wishing Stone (The Eve Project- Book 2)
“More great Sci-Fi adventure from Tegon Maus. He doesn’t just give us a good Sci-Fi story. He gives us a story with great characters and a unique story and is able to include many other genres in his Sci-Fi stories. Comedy, drama and action. Let’s pray for a book three in the series.”-Erik Nelson, Author ‘Unlawful Protection’
“This is a great science fiction story, which follows on nicely from The Eve Project: Book 1, Machines of the Little People, however could easily be read as a stand-alone.
It has it all for science fiction fans, top secret scientific projects, a great storyline, twists and turns round every corner, yet, at its very core lies, dare I say it, a love story.
It has a great finish, however, at the end, all I wanted to know from the author – is there is another book in the series coming? I hope so”-Susan Keefe, Author ‘Toby’s Tales’ Series
“I enjoyed The Wishing Stone even more than the first book, even though, again, it’s not my usual read. I really liked the eccentric scientist characters Ben meets at Warwick, and as with book one, Tegon Maus did a great job of keeping me guessing what was really going on right to the very end. I look forward to finding out what book 3 has in store!”-Nick Stead, Author ‘Hybrid’
About Tegon Maus
Tegon Maus was raised pretty much the same as everyone else… devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends he could conjure. Not that he wasn’t friendly, he just wasn’t “people orientated”. Maybe he lived in his head way more than he should have, maybe not. He liked machines more than people, at least he did until I met his wife.
The first thing he can remember writing was for her. For the life of him he can’t remember what it was about… something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married him shortly after that. He spent a good number of years chasing other dreams before he got back to writing.
It wasn’t a deliberate conscious thought, it was more of a stepping stone. His wife and himself had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. “Be as detailed as you can,” we were told.
He was thrilled. If there is one thing he enjoys it’s making people believe him and he likes to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an outright lie mind you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn’t be sure if it were true or not. When he writes, he always write with the effort of “it could happen” very much in mind and nothing, he guarantees you, nothing, makes him happier.
He has consistently placed in the top 3 in 189 writing contest in a variety of genres and has been featured in magazines a couple of times to raise money for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Tegon Maus Website: http://www.tegonmaus.com/
Author on Tirgearr Website: http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Maus_Tegon/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TegonMaus
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tegon-Maus/150255051766767
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tegon/tegon-maus/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/101974688416833509592/posts
Buy Wishing Stone by Tegon Maus
Amazon (Kindle on sale for only 99 cents through March)
Follow The Wishing Stone Tour
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Feb 15 Review & Giveaway
Second Book to the Right Feb 16 Excerpt & Giveaway (Postponed)
Pomegranate Radio Feb 16 Podcast Review
Father, Writer, Logistical Wizard Feb 17 Review
Father, Writer, Logistical Wizard Feb 17 Excerpt
Bad Case of Libromaniac Feb 18 Interview
Inspire to Read Feb 22 Review
Books, Books, and More Books Feb 23 Review
Christy’s Cozy Corners Mar 1 Review & Giveaway
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 3 Interview
INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS Mar 10 Excerpt
Dejann LaFleur Amazon Reviewer Mar 11
fuonlyknew Mar 14 Review & Giveaway
Lisa’s Writopia Mar 17 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 17 Interview
INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS FLASHBACK: BLOG TOUR – In the Mind of Revenge
ANIMATED INSIGHTS BY SHANNON MUIR – Thoughts and Reflections on the VOLTRON Wondercon 2016 panel
Teddy Rose
Thanks for taking part in the tour!
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The Coulomb Blockade in Coupled Quantum Dots
C. Livermore*,
C. H. Crouch,
R. M. Westervelt,
K. L. Campman,
A. C. Gossard
C. Livermore, C. H. Crouch, R. M. Westervelt, Division of Applied Sciences and Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
K. L. Campman and A. C. Gossard, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
↵* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Science 22 Nov 1996:
C. Livermore
C. H. Crouch
R. M. Westervelt
K. L. Campman
Individual quantum dots are often referred to as “artificial atoms.” Two tunnel-coupled quantum dots can be considered an “artificial molecule.” Low-temperature measurements were made on a series double quantum dot with adjustable interdot tunnel conductance that was fabricated in a gallium arsenide-aluminum gallium arsenide heterostructure. The Coulomb blockade was used to determine the ground-state charge configuration within the “molecule” as a function of the total charge on the double dot and the interdot polarization induced by electrostatic gates. As the tunnel conductance between the two dots is increased from near zero to 2e2/h (where e is the electron charge and h is Planck's constant), the measured conductance peaks of the double dot exhibit pronounced changes in agreement with many-body theory.
You are going to email the following The Coulomb Blockade in Coupled Quantum Dots
By C. Livermore, C. H. Crouch, R. M. Westervelt, K. L. Campman, A. C. Gossard
Science 22 Nov 1996 : 1332-1335
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Dave Broom
Becky Paskin
Richard Woodard
Opinion & Debate
Ask the professor
The whisky virgin
Famous whisky drinkers
Whisky heroes
Collecting & Investing
Legendary Bottlings
Magazine >
Latest news >
Scotch exports fall for third year running
19 February 2016 by Richard Woodard
Exports of Scotch whisky fell in value terms for the third consecutive year in 2015 – the industry’s longest period of decline in more than 50 years.
Falling down: But there were some positive signs for Scotch towards the end of 2015
Severe declines in Brazil, Russia and oil-producing countries accounted for more than 80% of the £102m drop in exports, according to analysis of HM Revenue & Customs figures by WhiskyInvestDirect, an online whisky trading platform.
So steep was the fall in Russia, the website said, that not a single bottle of blended Scotch was shipped there in 2015, while total direct exports stood at 2% of the figure achieved in 2013. EU sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, and reactive trade moves by Russia, were partly blamed.
Total Scotch whisky exports fell 2.6% in 2015 to £3.85bn, and now sit more than £400m below the record high of 2012 – but there were signs of improving trends towards the end of the year. By volume, exports fell 2.9% to the equivalent of 1.1bn bottles.
The value of exports declined by 4.2% in the second quarter of 2015, but that decline slowed to 2.9% in the third quarter and 1.5% in the fourth quarter, WhiskyInvestDirect said.
Shipments of bottled blends to the US, Canada and Mexico were up by 17% in the fourth quarter, while exports of blends (including bulk) to North America rose 3.8% in the year as a whole, compared to a 15.5% drop in 2014.
Of the total £102m decline in exports, £84m was accounted for by declines in Russia, Brazil and oil-producing nations such as Venezuela and Nigeria – which were hit by falling commodity prices.
Exports increased in 12 of the top 20 markets for Scotch, but this was more than offset by steep declines in Brazil (-£24m), Latvia (-£23m), Taiwan (-£19m) and South Korea (-£17m).
Russia’s collapse skewed the export figures for EU nations as well: shipments to Estonia and Latvia, both key suppliers to the market, were down 44%, which helped to reduce the value of shipments to the EU by £51m.
However, this disguises a 2% rise in exports to Germany, as well as double-digit value growth in the Netherlands (a source of parallel trading to other countries), Bulgaria and Poland.
Spain, Scotch whisky’s fifth-largest market by value, declined by a further 9% as its long-term decline continued, but China and its key supplier markets moved up 3% over the year.
Jameson Triple Triple lands in Duty Free
Johnnie Walker Blue remembers Glenury Royal
Johnnie Walker launches Highball campaign
New whisky reviews: Batch 209: Daftmill 2006 single casks
New whisky tasting notes: Batch 208: Distell Limited Releases 2019
Can Scotch embrace the low-abv trend?
Let’s start treating whisky as an ecology
Lower-alcohol whisky cocktails for summer
Loch Lomond debuts 25-year-old Three Wood
Five minutes with...: Graham Omand, Lagg
Latest news 16 July 2019
Jim Beam faces fine over warehouse blaze
The fire led to the deaths of thousands of fish and other aquatic life in the Kentucky River.
Scallywag releases second Chocolate Day malt
The limited edition blended malt is composed of whiskies selected for their cocoa-like qualities.
Ronnie Scott’s launches anniversary whisky
The 12-year-old blend was created with Angus Dundee to commemorate the jazz club’s 60th birthday.
GlenAllachie unveils first wood finish range
The Speyside distillery has finished its whisky in a variety of casks, including rye and Port.
Fire devastates Jim Beam warehouse
The warehouse, containing 45,000 casks of maturing whiskey, was completely destroyed in the blaze.
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CIO Decisions
Why data lake governance is key to modern data architecture
FeatureData lake governance: A big data do or die
FeatureDow Jones' business innovation process: Set goals, measure success
FeatureDow Jones' innovation projects: Idea generation, execution
OpinionData lake governance is crucial to big data management
OpinionAttention, CIOs and other humans: Advances in robotics will reshape society
peshkova - Fotolia
Dow Jones' business innovation process: Set goals, measure success
Dow Jones takes a two-pronged approach to managing business innovation: First, set clear goals to solve business problems and second, don't be afraid to experiment with new tech.
Sue Troy
In April 2015 Dow Jones, a division of News Corp, named Edward Roussel its first chief innovation officer. Roussel had served as head of products for the company's Wall Street Journal division since 2013. Prior to that, he was executive editor, digital, for London's Telegraph Media Group from 2006 to 2013 and managing editor at Bloomberg in Europe since 1992. Roussel reports to Dow Jones CEO William Lewis.
For all the talk in recent years about business innovation, chief innovation officers (CInOs) are still a relatively rare breed in the C-suite. What does a CInO do that the other C-level execs don't do? Isn't business innovation every executive's job?
Roussel's team adheres to an innovation model in which the problem is first defined, the customer opportunity is explored, the project is designed and prototyped and then built and tested before finally going to market. I talked to Roussel -- who presented on the topic of organizing innovation at Innovation Enterprise's Chief Innovation Officer Summit in New York -- about how Dow Jones' business innovation process works and how he measures the value of an innovation project. It's a rigorous process that taps expertise from across Dow Jones and also uses outside consultants for a fresh perspective on business innovation goals.
This interview has been edited for length.
What does the Dow Jones business innovation process look like in action? How does it start? Is there a problem that's already been targeted that needs to be innovated upon, or do you start with an entirely blank slate?
Edward Roussel: We never start with a blank slate. We're here to accelerate progress towards Dow Jones company goals. We're not here to take the company in a completely different direction.
We have two overarching goals. The first is to build our [consumer] subscriber base to 3 million. We're roughly at just under 2.4 million at the moment. In the B2B space, our goal is to get double-digit growth rates and to expand our B2B business.
The second thing we strive to do is isolate specific opportunities or pain points that we perceive can help us and then work with those. We have 5,000 people at Dow Jones. We invite people to submit ideas that we then evaluate and rank. Then, we'll pick a relatively small number of those and work on them. Obviously, we are focused on the opportunities we perceive to have the greatest potential impact. We're looking for big ideas, ideas that could [improve] the customer experience [by 10x] in a particular area.
For example, we've had workshops focused on news alerts. The premise has been that the new sort of frontier for media is the smartphone. If you narrow that down even further, the home screen is the place where people are increasingly spending their time and increasingly consuming their news. The premise of the alerts workshop was to determine how to provide a great news experience leveraging alerts. The outcome of [the workshop] is that we need to be focused on personalizing alerts. We also need to drill down into how we do that and then ultimately to build prototypes for consumer groups. That gives you a little bit of an example of the context in which we evaluate projects and also the example of a project which we've actually done.
Another example would be venture capital and startup capital. The thesis was that, notwithstanding the current downturn in the markets over the medium to long term, startups will be an increasingly large proportion of the overall economy and there'll be an exponential growth in the number of startups. The problem that we sought to solve is, How do we help investors spot the next Uber? We had an entire workshop around that, and we came up with a business idea around that which we're currently evaluating and looking at.
When you decide upon a project to pursue or explore, do you have a clear sense of what the end result should be? Or does it function more like an agile development team where you're operating in a very iterative way?
Roussel: We don't have a clear idea of what the solution would be. What we do try to do before we get going is articulate the problem we're trying to solve as clearly as we possibly can. That usually involves distilling it down to a single sentence. We spend a bit of time upfront coming up with a very clearly defined customer problem.
What can often happen at companies is they'll talk about their own problems or a supplier problem rather than a customer problem. We're very rigid about saying we want to talk about customer problems and how we're going to help customers overcome those problems. Articulating that customer problem upfront is incredibly important. If we don't have a clearly articulated view of what the problem is with some sort of validation that there is a customer problem there that needs to be solved, we're unlikely to take it to the next level, which is a workshop. We need to be convinced that the problem that we're homing in on or the opportunity we're homing in on is significant and obviously something that a company like Dow Jones should be engaged with solving.
How do you measure the value of an innovation project?
Roussel: There isn't always an easy, immediate answer to that question. It depends a little bit on what type of project we're initiating. For example, right now we have a project that's in the virtual reality space. I have no clue what the business application of this app will be right now, frankly speaking. What I do know, though, is that virtual reality is so much on the cutting edge of technology and media and that we need to be exploring this space. We need to do that very basic exploratory phase. We need to learn from it. We need to be making mistakes in order that in the months and years to come we can be making smart decisions about where that takes us as a business.
I think sometimes you have to just step back a little bit and say this is an area we need to explore. We think it could be very significant, but we won't know what its significance is immediately. We'll need to kind of flesh that out in the months to come.
We don't have a clear idea of what the solution would be. What we do try to do before we get going is articulate the problem we're trying to solve as clearly as we possibly can.
Edward Rousselchief innovation officer, Dow Jones
Then, there are other examples where there's a very specific business problem that we're trying to solve. You go back to that venture capital idea. The very specific problem is that if we're in an era where over a three-, five-, 10-year period where startups are going to grow exponentially, from an investor point of view it becomes harder and harder to figure out where the next Uber's going to come from. That's a very specific business problem that our B2B consumers have, which we think we can help solve.
The definition of success really depends on whether it's an exploratory project -- we were just trying to test a new technology -- or it's a business project. If it's more exploratory, the definition of success is probably softer.
In Part 2 of this article on Dow Jones' business innovation process, Roussel talks about the idea solicitation process, the advice he has for others interested in becoming a chief innovation officer and how his group works with Dow Jones' IT department.
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Sue Troy asks:
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Sue Troy - 26 Feb 2016 11:38 AM
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Topic Cybersecurity
How AI cybersecurity thwarts attacks -- and how hackers fight back
IT leaders are using AI to take security to the next level. But how much security can AI provide? David Petersson examines where AI cybersecurity excels and how it can be fooled.
David Petersson
As our digital lives get more automated, integrated and connected, the security risks increase as well; 2018 was full of hacks and privacy scandals, ranging from healthcare breaches to blunders by Facebook and Google.
Cybersecurity is more important than ever, and many experts are using AI to take that security to the next level. For CIOs, the critical questions are: How much security can AI provide, and what should the realistic expectations of AI cybersecurity be?
Traditional cybersecurity
Currently, cybersecurity relies on file signatures to detect malware and rule-based systems to detect network abnormalities. These methods require a lot of known factors: There has to be an actual virus outbreak where security experts isolate the malicious files and detect a unique signature that would help other systems to become alert and, thus, immune.
The same holds for rule-based systems: We set rules based on our experience of what could be malicious activity or just lock down systems and restrict any kind of access to stay on the safe side.
The problem with these methods is their reactive nature: Hackers tend to find innovative ways to bypass the known rules, and before a security expert knows about the breach, it is often too late.
What makes AI cybersecurity different is its adaptability: It does not need to follow specific rules; rather, it can watch patterns and learn.
Chris Morales
"Unlike a signature-based approach that delivers a 1-for-1 mapping of threats to countermeasures, data science uses the collective learning of all threats observed in the past to proactively identify new ones that haven't been seen before," said Chris Morales, head of security analytics at Vectra, an AI threat detection vendor.
Consider a ransomware attack. After downloading ransomware, the malware would scan your files, single out what it finds important, make an encrypted copy of those files, delete the original ones and send the encryption keys to the ransomware operators so they have a unique key for every victim.
Doug Shepherd
"That sequence of events is pretty unique; you're not going to see a lot of credible software doing that," said Doug Shepherd, chief security officer at Nisos. This limits the usefulness of traditional antivirus software, which looks for signatures detected in known ransomware in order to block a new attack. AI in cybersecurity, in contrast, can identify actions that look like ransomware.
"Security software that does 'holistic' or 'AI' is going to look for these sequences of events and flag things it doesn't like, versus your traditional 'hash-based' security model, which flags software or bits of software that have been seen before and are 'known-bad,'" Shepherd said.
AI cybersecurity's 'combined intelligence'
Another strength of AI is its combined intelligence. A computer system consists of different software components, each with their own security protection mechanisms and log files. While a human operator would need to monitor them all and examine each individually, an AI system can find patterns across all systems. The AI can compare the timestamps and users in the log files to build a complete view over what actions each user is taking, which makes it better at unmasking malicious actions -- and at discounting false alarms.
"SecOps teams are being challenged with too many alerts and not enough analyst manpower to address them. Through AI/machine learning, the signal-to-noise ratio is improved and, with it, so is the mean time to detection and mean time to response," said Chas Clawson, cybersecurity evangelist at consultancy and software firm Micro Focus.
The end goal, he added, is a semiautonomous security operations center where analysts only deal with the most complex or most critical events, while the rest is handled by automating the repetitive responses that machines can learn to handle.
AI cybersecurity systems present a brand new challenge for hackers: Not only do they need to breach enterprise systems, but they also need to breach them intelligently. Brute-force and bot attacks will be a thing of the past, according to AI cybersecurity evangelists like Clawson and Shepherd. Instead, hackers will have to use AI to break in.
AI vulnerable to data poisoning attacks
Peter Purcell
AI takes security to a new level, but CIOs must have a proper understanding of its limitations and weaknesses as well. "Unfortunately, [IT and business] personnel become complacent once an AI-based cybersecurity system is implemented," said Peter Purcell, co-founder of EVAN, a network of IT professionals.
"They assume the AI-based cybersecurity system will learn fast enough to protect from all attacks. This simply isn't true," he added.
AI uses statistical data to classify patterns as malicious or benign, and as mentioned earlier, it has the ability to learn and adapt. But this strength can also become AI's weakness.
Satish Abburi
"Many systems may detect it as an anomaly in the beginning, but after a while, they are trained to accept it as a normal behavior," said Satish Abburi, vice president of engineering at System Soft Technologies.
"Intruders typically will mask their activity by looking like normal behaviors -- e.g., send data via an HTTPS call to a server or printer. This type of tampering with the ingested data streams is known as a 'data poisoning attack.'"
Since AI's strength is in pattern recognition, hackers will either slowly adapt their malicious patterns to appear normal or execute their actions in ways that would confuse the AI. For instance, a malware can take extra, irrelevant steps to make it appear as normal and delay the execution of its attack after it has infiltrated the system enough.
Another tactic that works on trained machines is to insert strange signals that make no sense to a human but trick the algorithm to classify the activity as normal. We have seen that with image classification and face detection algorithms, where inserting a single -- and irrelevant -- pixel in the image confuses the AI to classify a taxi for a dog, with high confidence.
"The machine has no context of what is normal human activity -- you can add all kinds of strange signals that may make no sense to a human, but which will trigger the computer to say the activity looks good," said Mike Lloyd, Ph.D., CTO at security firm RedSeal.
Sophisticated hackers understand this: "If AI has been trained to recognize normal, then the best thing for the attacker to do is make their traffic look normal. If your victim surfs the web a lot and you want to steal a credit card number, make the traffic you send look as much like a webpage download as possible," he said.
AI cybersecurity in perspective
Kayne McGladrey
While CIOs should not consider AI a magic bullet, experts also stress they should not overlook its unique capabilities either.
According to IT consultant Kayne McGladrey, a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, one of the unique benefits of AI is its ability to create individual profiles for each user and then consider what would be abnormal behavior for that particular person. This forces the hackers to limit their actions within the boundaries of normal activity for a specific target account, significantly preventing them from mass-attacking the system.
Another way to strengthen AI would be to give it more data. After all, the AI can only be as strong as the data it gets, and the more data it's given, the more it can help with classifying what's natural and what's not.
"If the end user logs on from Seattle, where their mobile phone and laptop is, a connection from New York would be unusual," McGladrey explained. "It is also possible to note the typing style and speed of a user and use that biometric signature to determine if the user is legitimate. These data [points] make it more difficult for a threat actor to operate silently in the environment."
Finally, it is also important to look at the primary risk factor in any security system, and -- as CIOs have heard before -- it is not software.
Joshua Motta
"The vast majority of insurance claims we see resulting from hacking and cybercrime involve human error in one form or another,' said Joshua Motta, CEO and co-founder of Coalition, a cybersecurity insurance company. "Over 90% of all attacks that we see are simple things like phishing, SQL injection, remote access on the internet and bad passwords."
AI provides an extra layer of security. Even if hackers intend to breach an AI-protected system, it will significantly slow them down. As such, hackers will go for systems without AI protection, as they are easier to get into.
Eventually, no system is safe. The efforts of hackers are proportional to the value of their target. If we are facing script-kiddies who hack for fame, then we are dealing with actors who would just move on to the next, easier target. But, if we are facing state-level cybercriminals, they will persist until they break in. It bears remembering: Security is a process, not a product.
Bridging Cybersecurity Gaps with Managed Detection and Response –Trend Micro, Inc.
Where to Invest Next to Mature Cybersecurity –CrowdStrike
Closing the Cybersecurity Gap –Splunk Services UK Ltd
Secureworks Red Cloak Threat Detection and Response Application –Dell SecureWorks
Dig Deeper on Cybersecurity strategy
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Quest for resilience turns up ransomware backup strategy
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David Petersson asks:
How are you using AI for cybersecurity?
Three Tenets of Security Protection for State and Local Government and ... –DellEMC
DHS-led agency works to visualize, share cyber-risk ... – SearchSecurity
Arkose Labs puts AI in cybersecurity – SearchEnterpriseAI
Cisco tracks growing role of machine learning, AI in ... – SearchNetworking
David Petersson - 18 Feb 2019 3:25 PM
rayman1221 - 5 Mar 2019 2:11 AM
We all know that cyber security is very important for us and we all should be aware of that and also make others about that. I have faced issues like Epson error code 031008 as my printer network was hacked.
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Must Read Author – TF Walsh
Cloaked
The wulfkin have rules. Although Daciana knows what they are, she can’t help but be attracted to Inspector Connell Lonescu, a forbidden human.
When given the opportunity to take part in a one-year independence ritual, Daciana leaps at the chance to venture into the human world. That joy is short-lived when the bear cubs she’s assigned to protect go missing. In desperation, she reaches out to the police, but what she never expected was to be instantly attracted to the brooding, yet wonderfully seductive Connell.
Inspector Lonescu trusts no one, including the sinfully sexy Daciana. When she comes to him with wild claims and a suspicious story, he has no reason to believe her, but yet, he can’t help but be intoxicated by her. Something about her is pulling him to her, but allowing that to continue will mean he’ll have to let go of his mistrust and open himself up for something more.
Is Daciana ready to risk it all to be with a man she’d been warned to stay away from? Can Connell find the cubs and ensure that Daciana will not have to return home in disgrace?
Click the following links to download:
Amazon – B&N – Kobo – iTunes
Cloaked in Fur
Strong-minded and beautifully complicated, Daciana struggles to leave her wolf pack after she falls in love with a human. But when her friends start turning up dead, she sets on hunting down the monster, convinced her human lover is next in line. When she discovers the danger is coming from within her pack, she must must choose between saving the man she loves and saving her pack family from certain death.
(Only available on Amazon – Unlimited Kindle)
Cloaked in Secrecy
$3.99 on Amazon
Death has followed Alena Novac’s circus family for years. When the police arrest her brother for a murder he didn’t commit, she has only a week to rescue him before he transforms into his wolf form in prison and exposes their wulfkin existence to the world.
Enre Ulf, a former member of the Varlac, the fearsome ruling wulfkin clan, plans to infiltrate Alena’s circus clan and take out their alpha to save his home in Transylvania. Except he never expected his wolf to claim the alpha’s daughter, Alena, as his mate, or feel compelled to save her brother to help protect the secrets of the wulfkin.
With the police closing in and the blood feud threatening them, Alena and Enre must overcome their pasts to save their packs’ futures.
Cloaked in Blood
The daughter of a sultan alpha, Selena Kurt agrees to an arranged wulfkin mating to protect her sister from a dangerous alpha from the enemy clan. To her surprise, her match is Marcin Ulf, the next in line for the Hungarian throne . . . and the wulfkin who broke her heart years ago.
Marcin is just as shocked to learn he’ll be matched to the enemy’s daughter and the woman he’s never forgotten. Before they can be paired, however, they’re drawn into a tournament where Marcin will compete to free his estranged imprisoned brother, while Selena battles for the life of another wulfkin alpha. Both intend to seize this chance to save those they’re fighting for – even if it means facing off with one another just as their romance rekindles.
Will tribe loyalty triumph, or will they realize they’re better off as a team before it’s too late?
Author Bio: TF Walsh emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with her husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, she’s always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. She balances all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.
Author Contact Links:
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Tag Archives: Matt Salinger
Marvel At The Movies Part 3: Bring On The Superheroes!
Posted on May 2, 2016 by bloodlinematt
The doors are once again wide open at the Marvel Theater, and they have welcomed Rotten Ink in once more to take a look at more comic adaptations of movies. This time around we will be taking a look at comics based on movies that are based on Marvel Comics! Nowadays, Marvel is ruling the box office with their films based on The Avengers, X-Men, Captain America, Iron Man and Guardians of The Galaxy, proving that these comic characters are truly box office gold. It’s crazy to think that back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Marvel was struggling to get their movies even made and the ones that were did not live up to what they wanted as Superman and Batman were clearly the powerhouses and led DC to being the go to company if you needed a comic character to make a movie around. For this update I have chosen three comic adaptations for Marvel films I grew up watching, not the more modern ones. My picks are Howard The Duck, The Punisher and Captain America, all considered turkeys of films and all films I enjoyed watching over and over as a kid. So let’s find the perfect seat and settle in as we have some movies to talk about!
Before we get too comfortable in our seats, I should thank Mavericks Cards And Comics and Lone Star Comics for having these issues in stock, and most importantly, I should also sound like a broken record and remind you that I grade these on a standard 1-4 star rating and base it on how well the comic stays to the source material, its entertainment value and its art and story. So with our popcorn and favorite drink in hand lets take a look and talk about some fun comics based on Marvel characters!
In 1986, George Lucas produced Marvel Comics first hero to make it to the big screen. It was not Spider-Man nor was it the Fantastic Four as those would have proven to have been wiser choices. Instead, we got Howard The Duck! The film followed Howard The Duck as he is sucked to Earth, befriends a female rock band, and saves the world from a inter-dimensional being who wants to rule the world. Universal Pictures as well as Marvel Comics put a lot of time and money into promoting this film and even cast some pretty great names to star in it like Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins and Jeffrey Jones with Chip Zien providing the voice of Howard. But none of these elements could help the film with critics and moviegoers who snubbed it. The film did very poorly for Universal, only bringing in a worldwide total of $37,962,774.00 on a $37 million dollar budget! I for one always enjoyed this film growing up. I first saw it on HBO, and by that point my brother and I already had Marvel Comic issues of Howard and I even had the paperback novel adaptation on the film, The film was super fun and any film that had Lea Thompson in her panties was a-ok in my book! I am not so sure why this film has as much hate as it does. None of my schoolmates on the playground in Waynesville ever trashed this film nor did I really hear all that much hate for it until the social media boom of the 2000’s happened. So let’s see how this comic adaptation series holds up and if it can capture the cheesy magic of the film.
Howard The Duck # 1 **1/2
Released in 1986 Cover Price .75 Marvel Comics # 1 of 3
Howard The Duck has just gotten off work and is sitting in his apartment, drinking a beer and enjoying the new issue of Play-Duck, when he is suddenly pulled by an unknown force out into space and left stranded on Earth in Cleveland, Ohio right outside of a rock venue were the all female group Cherry Bomb is playing. After being lost in the city and seeing just how cold and uncaring it can be, he ends back up at the rock venue just as Bev, the lead singer of Cherry Bomb is having some words with their manager who has not paid the band for their past gigs! As Beverly is walking home, she is attacked by some hoods who have bad intentions and is saved by Howard who uses Quack-Fu, and a friendship is sparked as Howard stays the night at Beverly’s flat where he opens up about his life in his world that included him wanting to be a song writer. The next day Beverly brings Howard to the Cleveland museum to meet Phil, a friend of her who works there. After that gives them no answers, Howard losses his cool and runs off Beverly, and now he is alone and mad in Cleveland!
This is a fun first issue that holds the charm and good nature of the film and its characters. The plot for issue one has Howard being zapped from his planet and trapped on Earth and becoming friends with Beverly who is a lead singer for a rock band who wants to try and help him return to his planet, but one little argument leaves the two at odds by the end of the issue. Howard The Duck is a blue collar kind of character who is stuck between living his dreams of being a creative person and “growing up” and working a adult job. He comes off short tempered but also noble as he risks his own life when a stranger is in danger. Howard is scared and yet trying to stay strong as he really just wants to go home and get away from Cleveland. Beverly Switzler is a sweet young woman who fronts a popular all female band called Cherry Bomb. She is an independent person who lives on her own and is following her dreams. She also has a great heart as she takes in Howard who saved her from being attacked and wants to try her best to find a way to get him home. Phil Blumburtt is a total goof who so far wants to help Howard but also wants to help himself as he feels this could get him into the Science Hall Of Fame. While a smart person, he is also very much a goof. Ginger is a jerk and is the manager of Cherry Bomb. Howard is mistreated by Metalheads and Bikers in this issue and all the while you find yourself cheering for this duck to make it out alright. The cover for this adaptation is just okay and is lacking the major eye catching appeal, while the art inside is done by Kyle Baker and is pretty good stuff. Some of the characters loosely look like the actors who played them in the film. Over all a very good first issue and is a fun enjoyable ride with likable characters and some kid comic like charm. Well let’s see how issue two holds up!
Howard is now on his own and finds a job at a spa, but quits that quickly when he finds out he hates to swim and his boss is a fat jerk. While walking the streets, he ends up at a club were Cherry Bomb is playing and overhears Ginger bragging about stealing the band’s money and is talking sleazy about Beverly. This angers Howard who beats him up, takes the bands money to give to them and gets it so now he is the band’s manager! Howard goes back to stay with Beverly, and they are soon visited by Phil and a Dr. Walter Jenning who is in charge of the Spectroscopic Laser that was the tool that pulled Howard to Earth! They decide that if they reverse the experiment that they might be able to send Howard home. This turns bad when the laser explodes and brings something more dark and sinister to Earth and leaves Howard on the run from the cops for being a illegal alien. Beverly breaks him loose from jail, and Dr. Jenning is sick and needs help as he took the blunt of the blast and is also wanted for questioning as this last experiment was not on the record. The trio ends up at a small roadside diner where Jenning goes through a transformation and is now calling himself The Dark Overlord. He wants to use the laser to bring more of his kind to Earth and take it over! As Howard and Beverly try to escape the diner and leave Jennings behind, they soon find the locals want to cook and eat Howard, but he is saved by Jennings who roughs up the diner and takes back the gold key that starts up the laser that Howard stole. In the end it’s clear The Dark Overlord is now in control and wants to bring the end of the world with the coming of his friends.
The story is starting to bubble now as we get some action and science fiction elements that bring the plot to life. This far the plot has Howard almost finding his way back home but something goes wrong and he is instead being held by the cops who came to the lab after an accident that leaves Dr. Jenning injured and possessed by a evil being called The Dark Overlord who wants to bring down the world and a new age of evil. Throw is a greasey spoon diner straight out of Superman II and you have this issue. Howard kicks some butt as he takes Ginger and his con man ways to an end and even starts to build a crush on Beverly who he feels drawn to, Howard sadly also is so close to going home yet so far away as the accident as well as The Dark Overlord is keeping his homecoming away. Beverly thanks to Howard now has her musical career going in the right direction, but also finds herself getting a crush on the three feet tall walking and talking duck Howard. Phil is as goofy as ever, but does come up with how and who brought Howard to Earth and comes up with the possible way to send him home. Dr. Jenning as a man is a bright and helpful man who wants to help get Howard home, but once transformed into The Dark Overlord he is a mad man with plans to bring the fall of man and has no time for people or ducks who get into his way. One odd thing that you must think about is how many characters seem not to be puzzled or freaked out about a walking and talking three foot tall duck, not to mention like in the movie the comic plays up on the sexual tension between Howard and Beverly! But cant say I blame Howard as getting a crush on a woman that looks like Lea Thompson seems easy to do. The diner is filled with some blood thirsty jerks as they really want to kill Howard and eat him, I mean really they take him to the kitchen and the cook is about to chop him up before The Dark Overlord saves his tail feathers. The issue is another fun one and this time around the cover is pretty fun as it has Howard about to be chopped up, the art is done by Kyle Baker again and is good stuff. So far this has been a solid adaptation mini series and one that makes me look forward to reading the finial issue to see just how it all ends! Ok I know as I have seen the movie many times but thats besides the point.
The Dark Overlord kidnaps Beverly and heads toward the lab to use the laser to bring his friends to Earth, as Howard rushes to her aid and along the way frees Phil from the back of a police car and the pair barrow a small plan and fly it to the lab. During this time Howard comes to terms that he has been sent to Earth for a reason and thats to save it from the upcoming doom that awaits it. Phil at the lab rigs another big laser to a cart and Howard must aim it at The Dark Overlord to stop him who is going to use Beverly as a host body for one of his friends coming from the other dimension. Howard drives the cart and heads for The Dark Overlord and as both his each other with a massive hit the spirit of the Overlord leaves the body of Jenning who tells Howard the only way to defeat these evil beings is to destroy the laser which would leave Howard stranded on Earth! Howard does what needs to be done and the laser is no more and the portal for the Overlords is closed for good. At the end Howard is now the manager of Cherry Bomb and he is content on being on Earth with his friends.
The final issue is as solid as the two before it and I must say that this adaptation over all truly does capture the feel of the film and keeps the humor and adveture nature. This issues plot is Howard going after The Dark Overlord who has kidnapped Beverly, and must man up (or is that duck up?) and choose between going home and saving Earth.Howard in this issue becomes a hero and puts his own needs in the corner so that the needs of many are meet and the human race is safe. Howard also learns a little about friendship as he and Phil must work together to accomplish their goal and also learns about love as he truly finds himself caring for Beverly. The Dark Overlord is a sinister being who does not care about anyone else besides his wants and needs and that is just for the world to end and his race’s time to begen. The downside to this powerful being is that while he can crush and shock his way into power he is easly defeated by a blast from a laser gun and goes down with out a fight really. Beverly in this issue goes from rock n roll chick to helpess damsel in distress back to rocker, she is very likebale as a character and I found myself routing for Howard to save her. Phil and Jennings are helpful in their roles and each offer the ideas that bring down the Overlord and this is fitting as neither character is over played. What I like best about this adaptation is that it holds true to the film as it captures the family fun comedy adventure and showcases the fact that Howard The Duck is a character kids could like. The art is done by Baker once again and it looks great and the cover is pretty good and is a nice way to showcase all the heroes and our issues main baddie! So far this is a great start to this Marvel At The Movies and I look forward to see what The Punisher and Captatin America adaptations have in store! Check out some Baker artwork below.
From the silly adventure of Howard The Duck now to the savage brutal action of The Punisher!
In 1989 New World Pictures was the parent company of Marvel Comics and wanted to turn their popular anti-hero vigilante character The Punisher into a film that would blend action and comic adventure into one entertaining film starring Dolph Lundgren that could compete with DC Comics and Warner Brothers Superman and Batman films. But sadly, this film was not to be the major blockbuster hit they were hoping for as New World’s financial issues caused the film to never have a theatrical run in the United States (while it did overseas). Its fate was Direct To Video and airing on cable. The film has The Punisher having to team with the mob bosses whose kids have been kidnapped by the Yakuza as well as dealing with his own war on crime. The film is straight action with lots of gunplay, hand to hand combat as well as some ninja action! The main reason people hated this film was the fact The Punisher didn’t wear the skull logo on his chest. I can remember friends ranting about this all the time and saying the movie sucked. I have always taken up for this film because if you removed the name The Punisher, people would have liked this it as a solid 80’s action film. I first saw the film via a video rental when our Dad rented it for us all to watch. I can remember that my brother and I both liked it, and this sparked out want and need to get issues of Spider-Man that had him fighting The Punisher. The film was pretty brutal, and I am wondering how well this adaptation issue will capture the violence and grim nature of the story. So let’s not keep The Punisher waiting any longer and see just what this adaptation has to offer.
The Punisher # 1 **1/2
Released in 1990 Cover Price $ 5.95 Marvel Comics # 1 of 1
Frank Castle and Jake are cops on a bust to bring down the Franco crime family, and while they capture some of the mob’s goons, they fail to capture their main target. Frank and Jake get the call they have been waiting for as they get to deliver a surprise to Franco before he flees the country. This makes the mob boss very angry and a hit is placed on Frank Castle and his family who all become victims of a car bomb. Five years pass as a vigilante named The Punisher has killed over 100 mobsters, and Castle’s old partner Jake thinks that Frank Castle is alive and is this punishing angel. Franco has now returned to America and wants to unite all the crime families into one corporation and sets up a big drug deal to bring them all together, but during the pick up they are attacked not just by The Punisher but also ninjas who steal the drugs and kill many in the process. The Punisher is getting his information from an alcoholic washed up stage actor as Jake gets a new partner in Sam, a young female rookie cop. Hideko Tanaka is the leader of the Yukuza, and along with her mute American adopted daughter, is responsible for the ninja attack. They warn Franco and the crime lords that they are taking over the town and to insure this they kidnap all their children! The Punisher stays out of the war for a short time but with kids’ lives at risk, he takes the war to the Yukuza and warns them to free the children or else. The Yukuza set up The Punisher and his actor friend and torture them to try and get information as they think the crime bosses hired him to attack, The Punisher escapes and saves all the children except Tommy Franco who was taken by Yukuza members. The Punisher is captured by the cops and besides rescuing the kids, Jake finds that his friend Frank Castle is alive yet is a shell of the man he was. Franco has The Punisher rescued from going to jail and begs him to help him get his son back from Tanaka. The pair enter her headquarters and wage war with her bloodthirsty men and her skilled mute daughter. The Punisher kills Tanaka with a knife to the head as she holds Tommy hostage and is forced to kill his father when the crime lord is about to try and kill him! In the end, The Punisher runs into the night as Jake and the police show up knowing that his war in crime is not over.
The first thing I want to say is that this is a really fun comic adaptation and adds in moments that were cut from the film. It has a nice quick pace that captures the action feel of the film. The downside is that the art is pretty crappy and not my style at all, as well as the copy I have was misprinted which made it hard to read pages that were mis-cut during binding. The plot has The Punisher going to war with the Mob and being forced to join forces with them once a rival foreign mob comes to town and puts the lives of kids in danger. Frank Castle/The Punisher is a good man who becomes confused about justice when his family is brutally murdered and he is left for dead. His one man war on crime has left hundreds dead and has crime lords shaking in their boots. It’s odd that he never went to his friend and partner Jake for help, but I think it goes to show you the man he was died alongside his family that day. I love how he steps up and helps the crime lords when their kids are put in danger showing that while he is a cold blooded killer he still has humanity left when it comes to the innocence of children. Jake and Sam are good cops who know that Frank is The Punisher and want to help him before the rest of the law catches up to him and puts him in jail! Franco is a slimeball who deals drugs and kills to achieve his goals in the world of crime. Even after The Punisher helps him, he still wants to try and kill the man who saved his child’s life as well as his own as Tanaka wants him to kill himself in order to save his son! Hideko Tanaka is the worst of the worst in the world of crime, and to prove how evil she is, she killed her own brother to please the Yukuza bosses! She has an army of well trained ninjas at her side as well as her daughter who is also cold blooded. Tanaka is the kind of bad girl who kills and gets enjoyment in not only the act but all the sadness that effects those who loved her victim. The rest of the characters all are well done from Tommy Franco to the drunk actor, they all survive a part and all are important to the story. Oe thing I want to point out is that in the comic for the end battle The Punisher does have to skull on his chest, and this is something that fans of the movie wanted…read this comic, and you’ll get him in the costume. The cover is amazing and eye catching. The art inside is done by Brent Anderson and is kind of sloppy and characters look nothing like the actors who played them in the film. To sum it up, this is a solid adaptation and is well worth checking out for fans of the film as all the classic lines are present. Check out some art below to see the style of Anderson.
He only punished the guilty, and now it’s time to take a look at a hero who fights for America!
This is the film Marvel Comics really thought would put one of their characters at the top of the box office, but like Howard The Duck and The Punisher, this one just could not get footing and was shelved for a couple of years and then quietly put out direct to video. 21st Century really wanted Captain America to be a huge success like Tim Burton’s Batman and spark a merchandise frenzy as well as sequels that would be box office gold. Instead all they had was a cheesy film starring Matt Salinger as Captain America is a great yet laughable costume and Ohio born Scott Paulin as The Red Skull who most of the film does not have a Red Skull as he has plastic surgery to cover his face! The film had a hard time even getting made as it was passed around by production companies, and many dates were set for it to hit theaters throughout 1990 and 1991 before, as I said, it was released straight to home video. The film had the right heart with the costume being as close to the comic character’s as possible, and the casting of actors like Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox and the lovely Francesca Neri were wise choices – all the right things to do to make this a hit, but for all the good there was the mediocre script, the lack of Salinger in the suit and the terrible acting of Kim Gillingham that held it back. Everyone I knew who had seen this film when released on VHS said it was terrible, and for some reason I enjoyed it. I think it all came down to the fact Captain America along with the Incredible Hulk have always been one of my favorite super heroes, and besides the made for TV films from the 70’s, this was as close to seeing Cap come alive I was going to get. Plus my Dad bought me the movie on VHS for my birthday and that also made it special. The film is about Cap fighting the Red Skull during World War II and saving the world leaves him frozen and now in present day he is found and returns to stop The Red Skull who is now a terrorist. This is a total guilty pleasure film and is one I still watch from time to time when looking for a ham packed with cheese super hero film. So let’s see how the comic adaptation holds up to the film.
Captain America The Movie # 1 **1/2
Released in 1992 Cover Price $3.50 Marvel Comics # 1 of 1
In 1936 the Nazi’s kidnap a young Italian boy who is super smart and a master piano player and murder his family in front of him. He is taken to Dr. Vasari to be experimented on turning him into a killing machine. Dr. Vasari does not agree with testing on humans and runs for her life as the boy becomes the first human subject for the Super Soldier Formula. Flash to 1943, and the skinny Steve Rogers who walks with a limp has been picked by the government to be a test subject that might just be the tool to win the war. Rogers is happy as he wants to help in the war but his girlfriend Bernie is not too happy and is filled with worry. Steve Rogers is picked up and taken to a secret lab where Dr. Vasari injects him with a new and improved Super Soldier Formula, but she is killed by a Nazi spy and he is forced into action fast as The Red Skull is about to set off a missile that would be heading straight for America and our nation’s capital! Captain America and Red Skull fight. This leads to Captain America being attached to the missile and The Red Skull loosing a hand, but the White House is saved when Captain America at the last minute gets free and takes the missile off course and to the the frozen land up north. Youngster Nick Kimball was in Washington and was able to snap a picture of Captain America on the missile and this sticks with him over the years all the way till adulthood when he even becomes the President of the United States as he has always wanted to know who Cap was. Sam, who has been Nick’s friend since childhood, is now a reporter and has as well tried to find out who his friends mystery hero was. Captain America trusts no one and rushes to Bernie who is now old and meets her daughter Sharon who he stays with and gets a job at the gym she works for. Meanwhile The Red Skull along with an American turncoat named Millhouse come up with a plan to kidnap the president to experiment on him with mind control, but he also sends his daugther Antonella to kill Captain America and instead she and her goons just kill Bernie and Sam! This sets Captain America off and he travels to Italy to save the President and to stop The Red Skull! In the end with the help of The President, Sharon and a cassette tape of The Red Skull as a child playing piano they are able to stop him from blowing up Italy with a bomb more powerful than the atom bomb when The Red Skull flings himself off the side of his castle and into the cold waters below. Saving the day Steve Rogers now finds happiness with Sharon.
Besides some little changes this comic adaptation is just as cheesy and silly as the movie, but I must say that one of the pluses is that Steve Rogers stays in the Captain America suit a little more than he does in the movie! The plot of this adaptation is this Steve Rogers is injected with a super formula that turns him into the ultimate solider, he battles The Red Skull in his first mission and while a hero he is frozen in a block of ice and many years later thawed out and must stop The Red Skull who is now a terrible terrorist who know has a plot to kill our president. The major changes is that The Red Skull commits suicide by jumping off the side of his castle in this comic while in the movie he is knocked off it by Cap’s shield. The other change is that Sharon and Steve Rogers end up hooking up by the end and that Steve has a day job of being a janitor at a gym. Captain America in this comic is very heroic and does what ever he can to save not only the American people but also the people of Italy along the way of saving the President. But to break this down more its funny to think in this universe Captain America failed on his first mission to stop Red Skull and while saving the White House from a missle his legend is unknown as he never became the true hero of World War II like the comics show him to be. Steve Rogers is a man with a limp who takes some super soilder formula injections and becomes a hero, he also back in his youth had a girlfriend and when returning to modern times is able to win the heart of her daughter…what a pimp. The Red Skull in this comic adaptation as well as the movie is Italian and is forced into his life of being a Nazi super soilder and is driven nuts by the formula, but not while he starts with the Red Skull face he ends up getting plastic sugery as he does in the movie and looks normal. Sam, Millhouse, Bernie, Dr. Vasari and Antonella are just side characters that keep the comic moving along as President Kimball is also just around to be kidnapped and in the end come to the aid to save America by fighting his captors. Sharon is a fighter and also must like older men and get turned on my people who dated her own mother. The art is well done and while it looks nothing like the actors who play the parts in the movie its based on, it does look like an issue of Captain America from the 90’s. The cover is way more action packed than the story inside and is pretty eye catching with the art inside being done by Bob Hall and are well done. Over all this adaptation is just as hammy as the film and was a good read once and something I will not re-read anytime soon. Check out the art below for what this comic looks like inside that cool cover.
So while I stew on which one of these films should have had a comic series based around the movie universe it created, I think it’s time for a Fantasy Warfare! I have been slacking on presenting the Fantasy Warfare and feel it’s time to unleash a battle of the movie versions of Dark Overlord of the Universe, The Red Skull and Hideko Tanaka! The battleground will be the Waffle House on Dayton-Yellow Springs Road around 1a.m on a cool windy night in May right after a nasty storm. So if you’re ready to watch an epic B-movie villain battle for the ages, let’s head into the Waffle House and see who comes out the winner.
Peg is working the late shift as the waitress as Ryan is working the grill the two workers are barely talking as the two mid 30 year olds once dated and the relationship ended bad, and worse it’s been a very slow night. As the minutes tic by a stranger comes walking in he is covered up with a long grey trench coat, a scarf over his face and wearing a hat he takes a seat away from the door and orders a Texas Cheesesteak Melt, a Triple Order of Hash browns Smothered, Covered & Diced with a Chocolate Milk to drink and Peg goes to read off the order but as she does another guests comes in she is alone and has a bandage over her forehead and introduces herself as Hideko Tanaka and demainds that she becomes the leader of this Waffle House and that she will take 70% off the stores profits! Peg looks at her as if she is speaking japaness and is at a loss of words for this strange statement she ordered as another stranger comes stumbling in pushing Tanaka out of the way and demanding eggs! The Dark Lord has now entered the Waffle House and is angry and really craving eggs. He is yelling at Ryan about sunny side up eggs, Tanaka springs into action and she plunges a steak knife off a dirty table into Dark Lord’s back, but to her shock, he just shrugs it off, turns to her and uses powers to fling her against the wall. With his other hand he makes all the sharp knives in the place fly toward her and just before they all plunge into her body, she mumbles the words “not again” and with that she is staked to the wall never to demand 70% of profits again. As Dark Lord laughs and celebrates his victory, he turns to find a luger pistol to his face as the stranger in the long coat has taken off his hat and scarf. We see that it’s The Red Skull as he fires a bullet into the Overlord’s brain. The crimson faced villain makes it known that he wants his meal and all this fighting has kept him away from it! As the body of the Overlord hits the ground, The Red Skull turns back to his table just as Peg places his plate down and informs him they gave him extra pickles for his trouble. As Peg goes to get the mop to clean up the blood, Ryan is gearing up to pick up the bodies and dump them in the dumpster as The Red Skull takes a drink from his chocolate milk looking out the window and is enjoying the silence of the restaurant.
Winner – Red Skull
The Red Skull would out smart the competition, get his greasy spoon meal and leave the winner of this Fantasy Warfare, but he could not help pull off the win for the film that should have continued as a comic series as Captain America sadly came in last place because it was not as impactful and fun as the other two comic adaptations. Between Howard and The Punisher, I had a tuff decision as both had some great pros and some slight cons, but when it comes down to it I would give this win to The Punisher! Marvel could have continued the police hunt for The Punisher, and they could have fleshed out that his one time partner Jake while wanting to help him also must do the right thing and stop him from killing criminals. I think The Punisher would have made for a good series based on the film, but then again The Punisher, Captain America and Howard The Duck all have comics so whether or not Marvel wanted to make a comic series based on any of these films, fans of the characters already had issues of these heroes to make them happy!
The clean up crew is here to shut down the Marvel Theater so I think it’s time to take our leave until the next update, which will be our second Undead File as I take a look at Arrow Comics’ The Dead! So as we walk out this exit door, I would like to say that I did enjoy reading these adaptations, and that I truly think out of the three The Punisher would make the best comic series. Until next time, go see a movie at your local theater, read a comic or three and support your local Horror Host. I will see you next update for a undead good time!
Posted in Comics, Marvel | Tagged Bell Book and Comic, Beverly Switzler, Box Office, Captain America, Cherry Bomb, Chip Zien, Cleveland, Dad Brassfield, Dark Overlord Of The Universe, Direct To Video, Dolph Lundgren, Fantasy Warfare, Francesca Neri, Game Swap Kettering, George Lucas, HBO, Howard The Duck, Jeffrey Jones, Kim Gillingham, Lea Thompson, Lone Star Comics, Marvel, Matt Brassfield, Matt Salinger, Movie, Movie Theater, Ned Beatty, New World Pictures, Phil Blumburtt, Red Skull, Ronny Cox, Scott Paulin, Steve Rogers, The Punisher, Tim Robbins, Universal, VHS, Waffle House | Leave a reply
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New ‘series model’ as entry-level solution
BD Rowa™ is adding to its Smart™ series portfolio with the launch of a small entry-level version of the popular product. The new Smart™ models are now available as ready-to-use solutions from EUR 54,990 including installation. This is especially good news for small pharmacies or those that would like to try out automation without exposing themselves to great financial risk.
June 12, 2019 / News
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Six Degrees: Revving Up
May 3, 2013 #RCTIDKevin
A few quick thoughts on Portland’s 0-0 tie with New England.
1) Well. Okay. Hmm. That was a weird game, wasn’t it?
I’m really glad Kevin Alexander’s got his computer fixed, because I need him to tell me exactly what happened Thursday night. Do you know what happened? Because I don’t. We dominated in pretty much every way, we just couldn’t put one in the net.
I’m tempted to go all Caleb Porter on you and say something like, “Well, that’s soccer. It’s a cruel sport. Strange things happen.” And maybe in the end, that’s the truth of the matter. Still, I hope Kevin can pull out some of his charts and diagrams and screen shots and show us exactly how New England held us off all night. Because I watched the whole damn thing and I have no idea.
But if I can’t give you the “Soccer Genius” column, I can at least give you the “Overly Emotional and Borderline Demented Fan” column. So that’s what I’ll do.
2) Goodness gracious, was our offense fired up or what? It took us maybe 10 or 15 minutes to get our bearings, but from that point on, it was Pin-Your-Ears-Back-and-Go-Straight-for-the-Goal.
Shots: 22 to 9. Shots on goal: 9 to 4. Possession: 67% (possibly a season-high).
It’s just astonishing that we couldn’t put one it. And so frustrating.
But I’m gonna think good thoughts, because there really were a lot of good things to see. Some fabulous passing (I’m looking at you, Mr. Nagbe), some nice attempts in close (I’m looking at you, Ryan Johnson), some blistering shots from outside (I’m looking at you, Beast). If we can keep doing these things in future games – and I know we can – then the goals will come. Keep up the good work, boys.
3) I am absolutely crazy-go-nuts for our defensive midfielders. Could Diego Chara and Will Johnson be any better? Honestly, I would marry our defensive midfield if I could. (Am I allowed to marry a defensive midfield? I’m not, am I? Damn you, Congress!)
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Diego Chara is EVERYWHERE. Does that guy get tired? Is he even human? Pity the poor bastard who gets the ball in open space, because Diego’s coming, and he’s gonna take… you… down.
And Will Johnson. Ohhhh, Will Johnson. It seems like at least once every game he starts waving his arms around and screaming at somebody – the ref, the other team, the ball, the air – and the energy level just goes off the charts. Remember Wednesday when he started screaming at the ref? I thought the stadium was gonna explode. There’s something about that guy. His intensity is off the charts. And so infectious. Man, he’s a good addition to this team. I can’t believe Real Salt Lake gave him up.
4) The interplay among our midfielders and forwards is becoming a joy to watch. The team’s had a few months learning Porterball and they’ve really got it figured out. I’m no soccer expert, I’m just a fan, so I can’t break out all the fancy lingo, but I know what I see, and what I’m seeing is a defender steal the ball, then immediately make a short pass to so-and-so, who sends it out wide to some other guy, who then instantly taps it to the original defender, who passes it up to Nagbe, who taps it to Valeri, who sends a through ball to Nagbe, who chips it to Johnson, who taps it to…
Well, if you think I’m describing just one play, I’m not. I’m describing EVERY play. It’s become absolutely gorgeous, and I love watching these guys play. They’re making me understand why soccer is called “the beautiful game.”
5) Before Wednesday’s game, if you were to have asked me, “Who is the one guy on our team who is irreplaceable? Who can we absolutely not lose to injury?” I probably would have thought for a moment, then said, “Mikael Silvestre.”
Deep, heavy sigh.
In case you haven’t heard, it’s a torn ACL. He’s out for the year.
Fortunately, he’ll get to hang out with David Horst, who’s also out for the year. And then there’s Hanyer Mosquera, who’s disappeared to parts unknown.
So if there’s anyone reading this who plays center back, you should probably call the Timbers front office. They may have a spot for you. (Editor: Spot is filled, for now.)
Actually, I’m not as worried about this as you might think. Mostly because I really like the way the defense is playing now, not just those particular guys, but the whole system. I think Porter’s got it figured out. He’s got his two guys in the middle, staying strong. He’s got Jack Jewsbury on one side, mostly staying back, giving them a three-man line. And he’s got Michael Harrington on the other side, charging forward, forcing the other team to mark him, still fast enough to get back when he needs to. I really like this three-man-wall thing Porter’s got going on with Jewsbury and I think we’ll be okay going forward. Even without Silvestre.
(And if we give up seven goals in our next game, you can all blame me for opening my fat mouth. I know I’m tempting the soccer gods. But honestly, it’s not like they’ve been doing us any favors, right?)
6) And with my last point, I’m gonna go a little off-topic and discuss what happened here on Wednesday. For those of you who live under rocks, a quick summation: A 3rd-grader cancer patient named Atticus got together with the Make-A-Wish organization. His wish was for his soccer team to scrimmage the Timbers. Not only did the Timbers agree, they fixed up the locker room for their team, gave the kids new uniforms, brought out a color guard, sang the national anthem, and opened up the stadium, just in case anyone wanted to watch. Did anyone show up? Oh, only three THOUSAND people. With signs. And flags. And songs. And smoke bombs.
I just watched this video… again and I got all misty-eyed… again. I’m such a sap.
I have to tell you, people, I can’t imagine being prouder of a sports team. Hell, an entire city. This event made me so happy I moved to Portland. Becoming a Timbers fan, going to the games, learning the songs, meeting the other fans, it really has made me feel like a Portlander. Like I’m part of this city. And I couldn’t be happier about that.
I have friends all over the country who read this column and a few weeks back, my buddy Aaron from Dallas wrote me:
“I’ve been wanting to get into soccer for a while. And I’ve tried, just can’t get it to take. FC Dallas is in 1st right now but I think if anything is going to finally get me into MLS it may just be this column that does it. And I may have to claim the Timbers as my team. But what would really do it is if a jersey showed up at my house…”
I haven’t sent him a jersey, but when I Facebooked the story about Atticus playing the Timbers, here’s what Aaron wrote:
“I believe that settles it!!”
Congratulations, Timbers. You’re not just winning the hearts of everyone here, you’re sweeping the country. And when we go play Dallas next Wednesday, hopefully my boy Aaron will be there, cheering us on. Traveling fans, take him under your wing, okay?
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9 thoughts on “Six Degrees: Revving Up”
Papez107 says:
Of all the games to miss (because of work) I will regret missing the Green Machine beating the Timbers the most. Talking to Sunny and others who attended it was a special gift that Atticus gave to all of us. It just warms the heart!
You know what? I missed the game, too. Which makes me eternally grateful to the Timbers media department for covering it so well. To be honest, speaking as a former broadcaster, I’m super-impressed with the Timbers media people. Camera work, sound, editing, creativeness. Across the board, they’re first-rate.
Nick Garner says:
Send your friend one of these Lone Star Brigade scarves:
These exist? Are there others? Do the Timbers have scarves in all 50 states? How about Canada? It seems our reach is truly global.
doog says:
I think Silvestre’s absence is going to be felt as much in our offense as our defense. Silvestre’s passing has been phenomenal, and Futty and AJB’s…. not so much. I know nothing about what the new guy brings to the table in that regard, he’s got some big shoes to fill.
Agreed completely. Silvestre’s passes are 100% on… the… money. Even when he’s sending it all the way across the field.
Regarding the new guy, expect some delay. Remember the impatient wait when Silvestre was working out his visa problems. Plus, we won’t really know if this new guy’s any good until he’s here and we’ve seen him play a few times. He could be another Silvestre (anchors the defense) or he could be another Ryan Miller (in the 18, but not starting).
Like I said in the column, I feel good about our defensive philosophy and structure. We’ll find out if losing Silvestre blows it all to hell.
Again, good job.
Two things stood out to me as I watched this game.
First, if our defense is playing so well, how is it that Ricketts is having to make so many amazing saves? I can’t tell so far if it is an issue with the midfield or the defensive line. All preliminary evidence, of course, points to the back line.
Granted, they are doing some things really well. But the first job of that defensive line is, well, defense.
The reason it stood out to me in the New England game is that there were not a lot of offensive runs by the Revolution. And many of their shots were way wild.
So is our line more porous than other defensive lines by that much (even with Silvestre), or is some bored goddess of luck just playing with us by allowing lots of lucky shots through only to keep them with lucky saves?
I can’t tell. Kevin, do you have the answer? Is our back line really on par quality-wise, with the other upper-half teams in the MLS? Because I don’t see New England scoring four or five goals a game week after week.
Is this something we really have to get a handle on before the season gets much older, before offensive couplings start to gel and teams start finding the net more often? Or are we pretty much where we need to be at this point in the season?
The second thing that jumped out at me was how panicked Will Johnson seemed throughout the game. Yes, he did seem to be everywhere, but it seemed that he was often somewhere just ahead of another Timbers player. Is our captain pushing things to a dangerous degree? Would it be good advice to tell Will to cool down a few degrees during the game, to let plays mature and to not rush the process of creating a great goal-scoring opportunity.
This becomes especially important because he is our captain. So we could reasonably expect that he is setting the tone for the rest of the team.
Now, as always, I might be seeing more dancing pink elephants–it might be that no one else sees any rushing at all. One moment that particularly stood out was when Will flung himself at a ball at the far post, getting a desperate and ineffective header from it. Jack Jewsbury was waiting for the ball a few yards back, and could have made a more measured, calm shot on goal.
This would be one factor contributing to the 22 shots without a score phenomenon. Certainly not the only factor, but nonetheless one piece of the account.
What say you? Fact or Fiction?
Excellent points, Roy. I remember very clearly when Captain Will stole that header from Captain Jack. I put it down to bad luck, but maybe there’s more to it. Dunno.
Regarding our back line, all your questions are good ones. Donovan does seem to make a lot of difficult saves. I wonder if there’s some statistical analysis of how many “hard saves” a goalie has to make each game. Would Ricketts be high on that list?
I will say that against New England, our boys got pretty desperate as time ran out. We were sending everyone forward by the end, including Jack. Hell, I’m pretty sure they subbed Jack out for Jazz Hands, and that’s an offensive sub if ever there was one. My point is that maybe some of New England’s late-game shots were more about our offense than our defense.
We both look forward to Kevin’s rundown. Pressure’s on, Kevin! Brilliance is expected. Nay, demanded!
Sky Cunningham says:
Actually, I agree with you. I feel like I’m one of the only people that wasn’t terribly impressed with our midfield. Or any of the Timbers, for that matter. WJ and Chara had energy, sure, but it seemed like neurotic energy. They’d win a tackle but then give the ball away right after. They’d push forward without covering their defensive bases. I feel similarly about our forwards, as well. They had a lot of shots but there was very little patience. I don’t feel like the Timbers so much unlocked New England but rather tried to cram a goal down their throats.
If you were to photoshop New England out of the picture you might say that Portland had a good game. Granted, Portland’s effectiveness in absolute terms was fine. But it was against a poor New England side that didn’t even have a particularly good game. So in relative terms, I have to say that Portland’s play was… mediocre.
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- Small Business Trends - https://smallbiztrends.com -
Start-Up Nation: Business Lessons from Israel
Posted By Pierre DeBois On December 27, 2009 @ 9:34 am In Business Books | 11 Comments
The long standing struggle between Israel and the Arab Middle East is certainly well known. But did you know Israel has produced more NASDAQ-listed publicly traded companies than Europe, Korea, Japan, Singapore, China, and India combined? Moreover, Israel has more engineers and scientists per capita than any other country?
Start Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle [1] is a nonfiction look at the reasons behind these facts and more. It examines Israel’s technological and venture capital industries through the prism of its economic, political, and social culture, as well as through events such as the airlift of Ethiopian Jews in Operation Moses.
Start Up Nation makes for an interesting read, particularly for business owners who draw metaphors from the example of business leaders. In this case, however, the leader is a nation with no natural resources and a short history marked with shorter yet intense periods of war.
Excellent Insight into How Culture Infuses into Strategic Business Decisions
Authors Dan Senor and Saul Singer link Israel’s societal and culture aspects into the personal behaviors of the business leaders chronicled in the book. The first pages tell of a compelling pitch to Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan, for an Israeli electric car battery start up. “Israelis understand not only the financial and environmental cost of being independent of oil,” says start up founder Shai Agassi, “but also the security cost of pumping money into the coffers of less-than-savory regimes.” Agassi made this pitch with former Prime Minister Shimon Peres alongside. From page one the reader experiences how Israelis consider opportunities beyond the terms of money and with cooperation among leaders new and old.
Throughout Nation, Israelis are a frank-speaking people who are willing to explore the world, to learn from those experiences, and to be persistent with implementing ideas in business. Managers at Intel Israel, for example, are credited for changing Intel’s strategic decision to no longer seek increased processor clock speed and instead create new processing paths. The change positioned Intel for offering processors well suited for mobile devices and laptops, capable of even faster running software but with lower detrimental heat. Division managers were persistent; supporting their claims with data, and displaying a culture that “challenges the obvious, ask questions, debate everything, innovate.” There are numerous other big-business references throughout Nation, including Cisco, Google, and even Warren Buffet.
Out of all the influences, Senor and Singer spend a number of pages on the Israel Defense Force and its impact on Israeli life. Military organizations are usually a starting point for innovation. But the book shows how all the personally natural outcomes of a military upbringing translate into civilian life — discipline, drive, national pride, and comfort with ambiguity while developing a new idea. Opportunities for business grow from familiarity with alumni in military units, since military service is honored throughout Israeli society.
Historical Perspective can Influence the Strategic Choices for Start Up Founders
Senor and Singer also root their chronicled individuals with contrast to culture behavior stemming from key historical events, like the The Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War. The comparisons and historical contexts makes the book a solid, compelling read. It is not a history book — though researched, the comparisons do not dwell on data extensively in the text — but Nation provides a context just right for those who are not politically savvy about the Middle East.
The authors offer cultural comparisons to other nations in respect to the potential organizational impact, both large businesses and start ups. For example, American businesses sometimes do not “have a capacity to understand combat experience” from applicants who served in the military. For Israeli businesses “military service provides the critical standardized metric for employers — all of whom know what it means to be an officer or have served in an elite unit.”
Nation also notes areas of weakness in Israel’s economic model, most notably how its somewhat singular focus on technology has inadvertently left out two significant social groups, Haredim Jews (who enter seminaries while others got to the military), and Israeli Arabs. There is also note to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology, which if turned into a support of armed weapons could “spark a nuclear arms race throughout the Arab world … and could freeze foreign investment.”
What Can Small Businesses Can Learn
Israel is a great metaphor for the significant global impact a small business can make despite having “enemies” nearby with huge natural resources. Israel never strays beyond its strengths, and its business leaders treat each decision with care. The book is also displays classic economics — how choosing a specific economic model can eliminate another equally important choice. Small business ultimately learns how effective a cohesive team can be, especially when that team places an emphasis on chutzpah first.
About the Author: Pierre DeBois is the founder of Zimana [2], a consultancy providing strategic analysis to small and medium sized businesses that rely on web analytics data. A Gary, Indiana native, Pierre is currently based in Brooklyn. He blogs at the Zimana blog and can be found on Twitter @Zimana_.
Article printed from Small Business Trends: https://smallbiztrends.com
URL to article: https://smallbiztrends.com/2009/12/start-up-nation-business-lessons-from-israel.html
[1] Start Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/044654146X?ie=UTF8&tag=smallbusin0b3-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=044654146X
[2] Zimana: http://zimana.com/
Click here to print.
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Jacob Young at Country Music Fest, Lisa Rinna’s Captain Marvel Ad
Heather Chin
Image: Chris Voss, Jill Johnson, John Paschal, Visual/JPI; Kathy Hutchins, Rob Latour, Stewart Cook/Shutterstock
Soap alums take the lead in rom-coms, dramas and the country music stage.
Some of the most popular and versatile actors in movies and theatre today got their start in daytime. Soaps.com has compiled the latest places to find some of your favorite former soap opera actors from Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Guiding Light and The Young and the Restless.
Gina Rodriguez (ex-Beverly, Bold and the Beautiful) and Brittany Snow (ex-Susan Lemay, Guiding Light) built Hollywood careers as leads in such hits as Jane the Virgin and Pitch Perfect. Now they’re teaming up with DeWanda Wise (She’s Gotta Have It) as best friends navigating love, loss and growing up in Netflix’s upcoming romantic comedy, Someone Great. Rodriguez portrays aspiring music journalist Jenny, whose unexpected breakup and upcoming move for a dream job have her leaning on friends. The movie comes out April 19.
Fellow Bold and the Beautiful alum Jacob Young (ex-Rick Forrester; ex-Lucky, General Hospital) is part of the lineup at the Lazy Rockin’ Stirrup Country Music Festival in Central Oregon from July 4 – 7. He will be performing on the same stage as the likes of Trace Adkins, who once made a cameo on Young and the Restless in 2008. Young excitedly wrote on Instagram about this step in his music career, declaring “Seriously don’t ever give up on your dreams!” Tickets are also available as weekend passes and camping passes.
More: Hallmark’s Spring Fever movie lineup
Matt Bomer (ex-Ben Reade, Guiding Light) has become a leading man on the stage and in shows like White Collar and American Horror Story. His next stop? The third season of another anthology crime drama, USA Network’s The Sinner, where he will portray Jamie, a straight-and-narrow expecting dad who turns to Bill Pullman’s Detective Harry Ambrose for help following a tragic car accident in upstate New York.
Young and the Restless alum Sean Patrick Flanery (ex-Sam Gibson) can next be seen as a corrupt mayor in writer/director Josh Ridgway’s upcoming biker-meets-old-west werewolf film, High Moon, due for a VOD/Digital release on May 14. Shot in the style of a “classic ‘80s/’90s’ camp creature feature from John Carpenter and Fred Dekker,” the film also stars Chad Michael Collins (Sniper) as a cowboy werewolf slayer who returns from the dead after over a century and sets out for vengeance against his wife’s killers.
More: Days alum heads to Grey’s Anatomy
Captain Marvel commercial
Days of Our Lives’ Lisa Rinna (ex-Billie Reed) shows some superhero love in a new ad for Captain Marvel. She asked fans on Instagram to “Watch what happens when @KrisJenner and I come face-to-face with #CaptainMarvel!” The ad is live now and the movie comes out in theaters Friday March 8.
Watch what happens when @KrisJenner and I come face-to-face with #CaptainMarvel! Catch the movie in theaters Friday. #ad
A post shared by Lisa Rinna (@lisarinna) on Mar 5, 2019 at 2:54pm PST
⬅️SWIPE LEFT to see headliners! Seriously don’t ever give up on your dreams! I’m so proud and excited to announce that I have been added to the lineup for the @lrsfest in Central Oregon July 4-7! Performing on the same stage as some of the greatest! Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan and Sawyer Brown. For tickets and info go to www.LRSFEST.com or go to my stories for an easy swipe up to their website! “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain @dwightyoakam @traceadkins @craigmorgan @roperworld @tinhaul @stetsonusa #sawyerbrown #lrsfest19 #countrymusic
A post shared by Jacob Young (@jacob_w_young) on Mar 6, 2019 at 11:33am PST
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Walsh Construction: Building communities with Solid Ground for two decades
Posted on April 17, 2015 by Greta Carlson
Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney Place (Image courtesy of William Wright Photography)
Walsh Construction not only understands the needs of the people and organizations they serve, but also anticipates and facilitates meeting those needs with professional expertise. For over 22 years, Walsh has supported Solid Ground’s work in a variety of meaningful ways.
Giving back to the community is an integral part of Walsh Construction’s culture and values. As a company and as individuals, they contribute time, talent and finances to numerous nonprofits throughout the year and believe it’s the right thing to do.
Walsh Construction’s connection with Solid Ground began through the generosity of their own employees. From 1992 to 2001, Walsh employees contributed individual donations, despite the fact that there was no formal infrastructure for workplace giving. For the following several years, the United Way of King County’s workplace giving campaign coordinated the business’ donations. Then in 2005, Walsh began their own campaign to formally support all employee payroll contributions, a practice they continue to this day.
Every year through their employee Community Giving program, they name several community agencies and nonprofit groups – including Solid Ground – as beneficiaries. Walsh matches every dollar each employee contributes, and for several years they have reached 100% staff participation. Walsh employees clearly share the company’s values of generosity and care for the Seattle community.
In 1998, Solid Ground (then the Fremont Public Association) hired Walsh to build our current headquarters offices in Wallingford. Then through an open bidding process in 2012, we selected Walsh to develop additional housing on our Sand Point Housing campus. From late 2013 through November of 2014, they served as general contractor for two buildings of non-time-limited housing at Sand Point. Today, Sand Point’s residential facilities total 175 units, 100 for families and 75 for singles. Of those, Walsh built 54 new residences and renovated an additional 42 units.
Throughout the process, Humberto Alvarez, Solid Ground’s Planning, Development & Operations Director, was primary contact between stakeholders, and he also oversaw Walsh’s two-phase renovation of the Santos Place transitional housing facility. Humberto says that Santos Place was occupied during the extensive restoration period, and that Walsh representatives were exceptionally respectful to the building owners and inhabitants as they conducted their detail-oriented work.
Two buildings at Sand Point were located in a Seattle Landmarks Board Historic District inside Magnuson Park, which was a Navy base before becoming a park. The buildings, while new construction, had to blend in with the historic neighborhood and meet the standards of the Landmarks Preservation Board to complement the original military housing style.
Walsh’s excellent work maintained the historic look of the buildings and strengthened the integrity of the structures as well. Throughout each step of the process, contractors, developers and architects met in weekly meetings to cover every detail of the project from beginning to end. By making the infrastructure more energy efficient, money saved on utility expenses could be put instead toward providing services for residents in need.
Both new buildings at Sand Point Housing were completed ahead of schedule in early December 2013 – enabling some residents to move in before Christmas! It was especially rewarding for everyone involved to give people transitioning out of homelessness a safe, warm, dry place to live in time for the holidays that year.
Walsh has also supported Solid Ground through various annual and special events over the years, including our Building Community Luncheon, which Walsh has sponsored every year since 2011.
Recently, Walsh added a personal touch to their support of Sand Point Housing residents through gifts for the children. They donated intricate wooden toys for kids to play with at the communal children’s areas in Santos Place and the Lowry Community Building. The delightful trinkets are made of durable materials that will be enjoyed by many youngsters for a long time to come.
Over the last two decades, Walsh has been a consistent, outstanding and professional supporter, and we look forward to many more years of partnership in the future!
Filed under: Community Partners | Tagged: building renovation, business donations, contracting, event sponsorship, general contracting, housing partner, Magnuson Park, residential units, Sand Point Housing, United Way of King County, workplace giving | Leave a comment »
Girls Giving Back work renovation magic at Broadview
Recently Girls Giving Back (GGB) – a nonprofit that brings youth and adults together to make a difference in Western Washington transitional housing shelters – completed the last of 31 room renovations at Solid Ground’s Broadview Shelter & Transitional Housing residences for women and children. Since October of 2011, over 150 volunteers have collaborated to complete this ongoing project!
The crew started their construction revamps by building and installing closet systems into each of the units. These were constructed in a Georgetown woodshop by a team of volunteers and led by woodshop owner, John Kirschenbaum.
GGB then equipped every room with interior details including: furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies, bathroom items, and a desk filled with school and art materials. They ️filled bookcases with novels and board games, and placed a fresh stuffed animal on each bed. The GGB volunteers also stocked the cupboards with perishable and nonperishable food, and hung art created by local youth and adults on every wall.
By adding all the little things that make a place feel like home, these units now have the cozy comfort of a thoughtfully furnished and decorated living space. Since most of Broadview’s residents are women and children coping with the trauma of displacement and domestic abuse, the pleasant environment of these renovated rooms offers them a peaceful space to develop strong community support systems.
Teresa Valley started Girls Giving Back in 2009 with the mission of bringing friends together to do community outreach for social services in need of urgent help. In an effort to create an uplifting environment that fosters hope, GGB focuses on helping local shelters maintain their facilities and provide the basic necessities for the people that they serve. Along with a loyal group of ever-growing volunteers, GGB does everything possible to help improve the lives of those who need it most by donating time, energy and resources to this important work.
Their mission statement says it all:
Girls Giving Back inspires hope and brings comfort and stability to individuals and families in need by improving living conditions in Puget Sound transitional shelters.
GGB has served the local shelter community since the spring of 2009. We provide extensive updates to transitional shelters including: installing new carpet, lighting fixtures, bathroom fixtures, closet additions and performing minor repairs. Along with these services, GGB replaces used mattresses, furnishes the units with gently used donated items, and accessorizes the units (including artwork created by local-area youth) to create a warm and inviting space for the temporary residents in these buildings.
Through GGB’s efforts, individuals seeking shelter are able to experience more than just a roof over their heads. More specifically, by living in this positive environment, they are inspired with hope and encouragement as they move forward with their lives.
Thank you, Girls Giving Back, for sharing these gifts with our Broadview families!
Filed under: Community Partners | Tagged: Broadview Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing, community outreach, decor, GGB, Girls Giving Back, home, interior design, renovation, residential units, volunteers | Leave a comment »
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Protest drama for Durban audience
Posted on February 10, 2019 February 10, 2019 by sosuterbill
Gino Fabbri and Ian von Memerty in the stage outfits they were wearing when they were forced to lead 200 audience members to safety when students disrupted their Common and Class show at Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.
THE entire 200-strong audience at the Common and Class show by Ian von Memerty and Gino Fabbri was forced to follow the actors into Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre dressing rooms, and behind the safety of the stage fire curtain, when 200 rioting university students demanded the production be stopped on Friday night.
The students, who had been protesting on the University of KwaZulu-Nastal campus most of last week, wanted total campus shutdown and objected to the continued operation of the campus-based Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.
Pounding on the glass doors of the foyer and chanting, the students demanded that Common and Class stop immediately to avoid anyone being harmed. Halfway through the show the theatre management stopped the performance, and kept the audience in the dressing rooms.
“We could hear the students outside getting increasingly more vocal and rowdy, so we led the entire audience (including a paraplegic in a wheelchair) downstairs into the safety of the dressing rooms. We put all the lights out in the theatre and for the next two hours, we quietly waited for security and police to deal with the situation,” said Von Memerty.
“Thankfully, we had a pro-active policeman in the audience who managed to liaise with what seemed to be a communication spaghetti – and eventually the students were dispersed, and we could lead the audience out,” he added.
Some of the Common and Class audience in a dressing room at Durban’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre – a photo posted by Ian von Memerty on his Facebook page.
“The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre staff were magnificent, and the audience was calm, understanding and supportive. Fortunately, no-one was hurt and no property was damaged during the incident.”
The incident took place at the point in the show when Von Memerty and Fabbri perform Sweet Transvestite and The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show – with Von Memerty in full drag, fishnet stockings and high heels as Frank N Furter, and Fabbri in blond wig and tails as his sidekick, Riff Raff.
It was dressed in those costumes that the actors were forced to lead the audience to safety.
“You couldn’t script it better!” said von Memerty.
The show was scheduled to run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre until February 17. As a result of this incident, performances have been cancelled at the Sneddon because the safety of patrons and property can no longer be guaranteed.
In true showbiz tradition, however, the show must go on. Not wanting to disappoint fans, the tenacious performers have creatively made a plan to ensure that the run continues with as little disruption as possible.
Venue managers, hearing of the situation, have offered their spaces to accommodate the show, and the Sneddon have offered the production a return date in April.
A block-booking of pensioners was made for 3pm today (Sunday, February 10), so rather than disappoint these patrons, von Memerty and Fabbri are going to the old-age home to entertain the residents there, and at 6pm will do a pop-up performance at Kloof Harvest Church.
New performance dates and venues are:
7.30pm Wednesday and Thursday (February 13 and 14) at Kloof Harvest Church. There is no performance on Friday.
4pm and 8pm on Saturday (February 16) at the Roy Couzens Theatre, Westville Boys’ High School.
3pm on Sunday (February 17) at the Hilton Theatre, Hilton College.
The return season at the Elizabeth Sneddon will see performances at 7.30pm on April 3, 4,5 and 6, and at 3pm on April 7.
For all queries, tickets and exchanges contact Wendy at 082 661 6921.
For my full review of the Common and Class musical revue click here: https://wp.me/p8dL0W-47q
Posted in TheatreTagged Common and Class, Durban protest, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Gino Fabbri, Ian von Memerty, Musical theatre, Student protest
Varied touring shows for SA
One thought on “Protest drama for Durban audience”
Mrs Ricky Smith says:
We are soooo disappointed, but can wait for your return. We ate 71 and 80 years of age so like to go to matinee, don’t drive at night anymore! So disappointing tat one can book Pensioners Tickets on line as we are very far from a Computicket outlet! At the Supermarkets you can only book full price tickets, so we were going to arrive early and hope for spare seats?? 😢😢😢
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Home > Posts tagged "tennis"
Tag: tennis
Colouring outside the tramlines: Do we need shorter Tennis formats?
by Robert Clayden - 12 April 2019 12 April 2019 0204
The International Tennis Federation has recently announced changes to the Olympic Tennis Event, shifting the men’s singles gold medal match to a shorter, best of three set format. Changes have also been announced for doubles events, with men’s and women’s matches to be decided by a match tiebreak to 10 points when level at one-set
The year in sport 2018: Tennis
by Connor Woolley - 31 December 2018 30 December 2018 0277
Comebacks, breakthroughs and controversies, tennis has had it all in 2018. The Sports Gazette looks back on the year by ranking the six biggest talking points. 1. Serena Williams angered by umpire during US open final Undoubtedly the main talking point of 2018, the US Open final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka
What to expect from sport in 2019
by Peter White - 20 December 2018 19 December 2018 0457
As the dust settles on 2018, it would be easy to sit back and reflect on another amazing year of sport. With the FIFA World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and all of the annual events too, there was certainly plenty to celebrate. Even if it didn’t quite
Why the Laver Cup rekindled the tennis love affair
by Adam Le Roux - 25 September 2018 15 February 2019 0614
Tennis has had a bit of a bad run of it recently, hasn’t it? The US Open has left a blemish on the sport in truth. What with umpire Mohamed Lahyani trying his hand as an inspirational speaker for Nick Kyrgios and Serena Williams taking on all comers. Then to top it
Drive, Chip and Putt – Uncomfortable Augusta viewing
by Danny Ruddock - 4 April 2018 4 April 2018 01192
Without doubt, Augusta is one of the great sporting events. In recent years, Sky - who have likely paid a massive sum for the right to host it - have gone full throttle with wall-to-wall coverage from Monday. The Drive, Chip and Putt challenge that takes place in the lead up
“The closest ATP final we had so far”, says Sky tennis expert Marcel Meinert
by Ena Bilobrk - 19 November 2017 14 March 2018 01746
Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin will go head-to-head in London’s O2 Arena for the second time in this years Nitto ATP Finals to prove they are the world’s best. Kicking out both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Goffin would deserve to be crowned champion. Yet, Dimitrov had beaten every opponent
Paris Masters: The Last Chance Saloon
by Joe Leavey - 31 October 2017 01142
This week marks the beginning of the end of one of sport’s most complicated qualification processes. The Paris Masters is the ninth and final ATP Masters 1000 tour event, the third tier of men’s professional tennis behind Grand Slams and the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals. To backtrack, the ATP (Association of
Just how necessary was the Laver Cup?
by Ena Bilobrk - 24 September 2017 26 October 2017 01142
The lavishly staged Laver Cup premiered this weekend in the O2 Arena in Prague. Team Europe beat Team World in a dull series of matches over three days, only to enhance the oh-so elite dominance of European male tennis players. The only highlight was the double debut of tennis alpha-males
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The day has been a slow crawl. The only significant thing I saw was a Raven with its beak open. I hope it will bring me good tidings. I have a bloody Indian wife who is emotionally and physically not satisfying me. I long for better times. I need a woman who has a loving heart, a beautiful mind and who can be passionate bed. I think that’s a dream. I have the poverty of luck in dating sites. I wonder why profile does not click. Asian and South East Asian women tolerate blacks. They are colonially prejudiced. I wonder why? My lottery luck has been a bitter fruit. I need money to go to Bali to meet my beloved.
Anand Bose Journal, Memoir 2 Comments January 11, 2018 January 11, 2018 0 Minutes
You black poem—
You enchanting mystery—
Saw you with beak open—
Have you tidings for me—
You death’s enigma—
You fed Elijah in the desert—
My thoughts on you—
Focused as a poem—
You bring solitude
To my hazy broken heart—
You are my sunshine in
My darkest winter—
You bring out the
Devil of passion in me—
Let me pour out
Heart’s angst –
Take me to my grave
With hearty mirth.
Anand Bose Poetry, Leave a comment January 11, 2018 January 11, 2018 0 Minutes
A new genre of Fiction Called Philosophical Fiction
I have created a new avant gardist genre of fiction called Philosophical fiction. Philosophical fiction is post-post modern fiction. Philosophical fiction departs from the conventional modes of storytelling. There are no stories to tell anymore. There is also no plot line.
By using the mode of Philosophical Fiction, I have created an oeuvre called the Guernica. Philosophical fiction has been heavily influenced by the art movement of Picasso that is Cubism. Philosophical Fiction also incorporates the rhythms of Jazz. Here I leave an excerpt from the novel Guernica:
“ Music is the highest form of existence the soul and heart of heaven. It’s a mystery to ponder as to how did rhythm and melody originate? Music is poetry for the body and lyric for the soul. I am fond of classical music, rock music, gospel, and country and jazz. Classical music opens the celestial food of the heavens. It’s a manna for the soul. The melody of the heavens is harmonious like the twinkle of the stars. Passion sinks deep into the soul and nurtures a lyric for the heart. Classical music is a passionate meditation for the soul. The heart chimes with the weather of love. Music is like making love to a woman. Time echoes a melody of the heart. Bach, Beethoven and Mozart are my favorites. The divine streak of God is found in classical music. Soul becomes mirth of joy. Passion becomes saturated into an oasis of love. God becomes gifted to the soul. Love and peace radiate as monuments of joy. Classical music is a symphony of becoming. Listening to rock music is altogether another experience. Rock music is Nietzsche’s Dionysian rhythm and beat. Hotel California you take me to the abyss of hell. You induce me to experience altered states of consciousness and sex. The body becomes a libidinal beat of a thrust. Rock music has borrowed heavily on metaphors of hell. Consciousness becomes a numb vehicle. The sliding of guitars, the clashing of drums, the reckless oeuvre of the organ and the tinsel cacophony of sound, all awaken a consciousness, a rhapsody to the meaning of life. Cocaine by Eric Clapton is another brilliant piece of art. But it’s all about Cocaine the horse. Smoke on the Water by deep purple makes weeds grow out of brains. Whatever you want by Status Quo plummets the body to a wine of ecstasy. Another favorite of mine is Lynard Skynard. Their mix of country rock and blues levitates the soul to a New-found-land of ecstasy. Sweet Home Alabama, yes, I am longing to come home. Free Bird by Lynard Skynard is a beautiful rendition of art. The song speaks of freedom. It’s an acoustic rendition. Rock music, you are a passionate soul and a vibrant body. Listening to rock music doped makes music for the soul. Listening to Jazz is altogether another experience. Time slows down and becomes a metaphor of pulchritude. The breeze emanating from the saxophone is pure metaphoric joy. The gentle slide of the guitar is pure joy an art. The body becomes music of art. Soul transcends into a heavenly realm. Jazz is poetry’s music. How I love it when the Piano in Jazz plays fancy cords; the gentle rhythm of the symbols clanging is music for the body. Jazz slows down the body into a poetry of ecstasy. Listening to country music is nirvana for the soul. Country Roads by John Denver is a melody so moving so rich in the art of moving the art to make love to it. I am transported to the world of art. Let your love flow by Bellamy Brothers is a pathos of rich sentiment. My soul becomes enriched with the lyrics of beauty. The soul incarnates as a flower in country music. Beauty chimes in bells of melodies. Country music touches the heart and soul. Music moves the soul to pulchritude. The rich sentiment of poetry is pierces the soul into an art while listening to country music. Listening to Gospel is a poetic epiphany. I love Allan Jackson’s country Gospel especially his songs: Are you washed in the blood, I will fly away, Amazing Grace, and the Old Rugged Cross. His voice is rich in the cadence of art. Gospel songs speak straight to the soul. There’s an art of vibrant beauty. Passion builds the heart of richness. The soul becomes a heaven of beauty a lyric of passionate edification. Music the art of the heavens, the lyric of the soul, the harmony of God, the passion of art, the richness of poetry, the time of passion. Music moves the body to dance. Music makes the heart to sing. Music makes the mind to flutter like a butterfly. Time in music becomes pulchritude of beauty. Music is the soul of love, the passion of love. How did melody and rhythm originate? It’s a mystery to contemplate. Jazz is the music of solitude. Rock music is the heaven of joy. Country music uplifts the soul. Gospel music speaks the love of God. Music, you are catharsis for the soul. You are beatific in the ethos of passion. Music is the soul of love, the edifice of beauty, the transcendence to a beauty of existence. God is the presence of art in music. We can pour our tears of sorrow and our tears of joy in music. Music is the poetry of ecstasy. Music is the flower of radiant beauty. All art should aspire to the condition of music. Music awakens the passions that lie deep in the soul. Music makes love to the body. Music makes the savage, a beautiful being for God. Deep is my passion for music. The strum of the guitar, the sliding of the cello in harmony, the clang of drums, the bellow of the saxophone all render in me countless joys of experience. I become edified lava. Music you rhythmic passion, you bliss of the soul, you harmony of metaphors, you epiphanies of love, you murmur the heart to an idyllic beat. Music, I sink into your passion, I meditate on your effulgence. My soul becomes cathartic, a poetry of becoming a song. Music hurls me to heaven and removes the bitterness of hell in me. I leave my ego behind and become one with the soul. Passions raise flags and epitomize emotions to the heaven’s highest realm. In music the soul is not bruised anymore.”
Philosophical Fiction has heavily borrowed the literary narrative of Streams of Consciousness. Philosophical fiction redefines aesthetics with the narrative incorporating the Baroque and the Blues. Philosophical fiction is the highest form, a novel can attain art. Various philosophical themes are examined through the literary motifs of art. Thus Philosophical fiction is a post-post modern, a poetic symphony of prose in narratives. In philosophical fiction the author and characters merge. Narratives in Philosophical Fiction draw heavily on the symbolism of tropes. Tropes are music in the language of poetry. Various themes of nature have been romanticized into an eclectic language of poetic prose. Philosophical fiction is a post-post modern adaption of the art of nouveau roman. The author in Philosophical fiction also indulges in the rich usage of the technique of the pastiche. Philosophical fiction uses the romantic language of the past with a postmodern fictional touch. Philosophical fiction is the art of impressionism of words, the art of cubist prose and the expressionism of the romantic. Philosophical fiction takes into account various philosophical themes and weaves them in a rich density of literary inter-textuality.
Anand Bose Aesthetics, Art, Culture, English Language, Literary theory, Literature Leave a comment January 11, 2018 January 11, 2018 5 Minutes
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Home / Research / Labs / Prototype Abstraction Lab (Homa)
Prototype Abstraction Lab (Homa)
Keywords: category theory, dynamic scene processing, attention, face processing, attention, memory search
The Prototype Abstraction Lab (PAL) is devoted to the exploration of fundamental issues in human categorization, ranging from the variables known to shape concepts to the investigation of higher-order issues in categorization theory.
In PAL, we also investigate topics outside of category abstraction – visual selective attention, abrupt onset capture & encapsulated mechanisms embedded within complex cognitive processing, haptic memory & cross-modality transfer, recognition memory & retrieval, and multidimensional scaling as a geometric model of human memory - but mostly we study category abstraction.
Lab Director and Principal Investigator: Donald Homa, PhD, Professor
Our lab is devoted to the exploration of fundamental issues in human categorization, ranging from the variables known to shape concepts to higher-order issues in categorization theory. We also investigate dynamic scene processing, visual selective attention, abrupt onset capture & encapsulated mechanisms, haptic memory & cross-modality transfer, and multidimensional scaling as a geometric model of human memory. Curriculum Vitae.
Current Graduate Student(s)
Derek Ellis, Doctoral Student, Cognitive Science, Department of Psychology
Current Undergraduate Research Assistants
Samantha Orlando
Benjamin Gelbart
Savanna Melkus
Mark Blair, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University
Safa Zaki, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Williams College
Phuong Do, PhD, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Purdue University Northwest (Calumet)
Ryan Ferguson, Research analyst, Houston Astros
Thomas Crawford, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Bethel University
Matthew Lancaster, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Lourdes University
Below are a sample of recent publications from Dr. Homa's research and lab. A more complete listing may be found in Dr. Homa's curriculum vitae.
Ferguson, R., Homa, D., & Ellis, D. (in press). Memory for temporally dynamic scenes. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Lancaster, M.E., & Homa, D. (in press). Feature to feature inference under conditions of cue restriction and dimensional correlation. American Journal of Psychology.
Johnson, K.A., Cohen, A.B., Neel, R., Berlin, A., Homa, D., & Sonnenberg, M. D. (2015). Fuzzy people: The roles of sociability, kinship, and essence in the attribution of personhood to nonliving, nonhuman agents. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 7, 295-305.
Homa, D., Rogers, D., & Lancaster, M.E. (2015). The indirect modification of categorical knowledge. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 22, 219-227.
Homa, D., Powell, D., & Ferguson, R.W. (2014). Array training in a categorization task. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62, 45-59.
Do, P., Homa, D., & Koehler, K. (2014). Identity categories and transformational paths for face changes across the age spectrum. Memory & Cognition, 42, 340-353.
Ferguson, R., & Homa, D. (2014). Isomorphic categories. American Journal of Psychology, 127, 463-475.
Lancaster, M.E., Shelhamer, R., & Homa, D. (2013). Category inference as a function of correlational structure, category discriminability, and number of available cues. Memory & Cognition, 41, 339-353.
Do, P., Homa, D., Ferguson, R. W., & Crawford, T. (2012). Haptic concepts. In Haptics, Rendering, and Applications (Ed. Abdulmotaleb El Saddik), Intech publishers.
Homa, D., Hout, M., Milliken, L., & Milliken, A.M. (2011). Bogus concerns about the false prototype enhancement effect. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory & Cognition, 37, 368-377.
Corby, K. M., & Homa, D. (2011). The enduring effect of availability. American Journal of Psychology, 124, 189-202.
Homa, D., Crane, I., Milliken, A.M., & Newton (2009). Attentional costs and benefits in memory search. American Journal of Psychology, 122, 99-110.
Homa, D., Kanav, K., Priyamvada, T., Bratton, L., & Panchanathan, S. (2009). Haptic concepts in the blind. Perception & Psychophysics,71, 690-698.
Pensky, Al, Johnson, K., Haag, S., & Homa, D. (2008). Delayed Memory Visual-Haptic Exploration of Familiar Objects. Retention and decay of haptic information. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 15, 574-580.
Funded Grants
2015 ISSR ASU seed grant, $8000. An fMRI Study of Categorization
2007 Mayo: Haptic and Cognitive functioning in Alzheimers
2005 NSF: Incorporation of Psychological Basis of Haptics in the Design of Assistive Haptic User Interfaces (co-PI).
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The State of Psychoanalytic Research in Art History Author(s): Jack Spector Source: The Art Bulletin, Vol.
70, No. 1 (Mar., 1988), pp. 49-76 Published by: College Art Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3051153 . Accessed: 31/08/2011 07:33
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College Art Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Art Bulletin.
The State of Psychoanalytic Researchin Art History
Jack Spector
In response to criticisms of established practices and ideas, new approaches to art history have emerged, particularly among modernists. Recent articles and symposia seeking to determine the broad goals and perspectives of art history have registered a growing sense of tension in the discipline, some would say of crisis. In this, the condition of art history has much in common with sister disciplines like archaeology' and psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis has recently received a serious challenge from the philosopher of science Adolf Griinbaum, who has questioned the validity of some of its basic procedures,2 while the objectivity of art history has been challenged by, among others, a distinguished art historian and an influential Marxist critic.3
The anxiety caused by this criticism (in its turn generated by larger socio-cultural changes) has induced established scholars to seek out new variants on such themes as "old age styles" and younger scholars to debate the death of art,4 the ideological nature of aesthetic judgments (such as, the political and commercial motivations of connoisseurs),, and the possibility of a "new art history" (linked to literary history and theory, neo-Marxism, feminism, semiotics, deconstruction, and various schools of psychoanalysis).6 Accusations of subjectivity in scholarship are not new; in 1963 Edgar Wind attributed it to historians in a phrase that recalls the psychoanalytic concept of counter-transference: "The investigator intrudes into the process that he is
1 See A.M. Snodgrass, "The New Archaeology and the Classical Ar1985, 31-32: "The chaeologist," American Journal of Archaeology, LXXXIX, New Archaeology is emphatically not orientated toward the recovery of objects, beautiful or otherwise .... The main charges brought against the traditional archaeology are . . . [that] it describes everything . .. and explains nothing." The author claims that earlier writings (the 1920s) reflect "unspoken prejudices," e.g., "imperialism . . . had been unconsciously assimilated as a way of life." 2 See Adolf Griinbaum, The Foundations of Psychoanalysis, A Philosophical Critique, Berkeley, 1984, who challenges the probative value of clinical data and of the retrospective clinical method; Griinbaum does not, however, condone the "crude"and "simplistic verdicts" (p. 124) of Popper (whom Gombrich admired), nor those influenced by him, like D.E. Stannard, whose Shrinking History (Oxford, 1980) assaults all things Freudian, especially psychohistory. See H. Thomae and H. Kaechele, "Bemerkungen zur Lage der psychoanalytischen Forschung in der BRD," in H. Haefner, ed., Forschung fiir die seelische Gesundheit, Berlin, 1983, for the claim that, recently, psychoanalytic hypotheses have entered the domain of general psychology and have begun to be tested by strict scientific standards. Frederick Crews follows Griinbaum, but exceeds his conclusions in Skeptical Engagements, New York, 1986. He contrasts (p. 60) Freud'simpulsively rhetorical approach and hasty publication to Darwin's cautious delay and concern for corroboration before publishing his theory. Apparently, Crews is unaware of recent scholarship demonstrating the degree of subjectivity in Darwin's science. 3 John Pope-Hennessy, in "Self-Portrait of an Art Historian," New York Times, 8 Dec. 1985, deplores the contradictory conclusions often reached by good art historians from the same evidence: "The reason, so far as one could judge, was that the subjective element in art history was disproportionately large. If this were so, it was not only works of art that needed to be looked at in the original but art historians too, since their results were a projection of their personalities" (cited by B.S. Ridgway, "Reply," in the Art Bulletin, LXVIII, 1986, 482). The Marxist critic Nicos Hadjinicolaou, Art History and Class Struggle (1st French ed. 1973), London, 1978, 143, speaking of the relation between "scientific discourse and visual ideology," notes: "The very idea of scientific objectivity in the social sciences changes not only with the passage of time but also, as can easily be observed, according to the class ideology
of the researcherhimself. . . . Therefore, one cannot expect scientific conclusions to be unassailable." In contrast to this ideological relativism, Hans Sedlmayr, the staunch opponent of psychoanalysis as well as of modernism, expounds a reactionary and authoritarian theory. In his Kunst und Wahrheit, Munich, 1958, 104, he writes: "This conviction, that there is one and only one correct interpretation, is . . . important for art history as a science. .. ." The alternative leads to "chaos and confusion." 4 See the eleven essays in Berel Lang, ed., The Death of Art, New York, 1984, with the lead essay by Arthur Danto. For Danto (p. 24), the replacement of the mimetic by the expressive has led "to the fact that the history of art acquires a totally different structure. It does so because there is no longer any reason to think of art as having a progressive history: there simply is not the possibility of a developmental sequence with the concept of expression as there is with the concept of mimetic representation." In this scenario, a psychology of personal development would presumably displace history. Danto also sees the replacement of artists by philosophers in his Hegelian version of the future. to the "Crisis in the Discipline," raises questions about the future role of connoisseurship and style in a time of ideology. He rightly maintains the utility of connoisseurship for evaluating written as well as visual evidence. 6 See A.L. Rees and Frances Borzello, The New Art History, London, 1986, who note that, "Rather than a tidy description of one trend, the new art history is a capacious and convenient title that sums up the impact of feminist, marxist, structuralist, psychoanalytic and social-political ideas on a discipline notorious for its conservative taste in art and its orthodoxy in research." A somewhat different tack will be taken in the new series edited by Norman Bryson, Cambridge New Art History and Criticism; but its interdisciplinary sweep will surely include some discussion of psychoanalytic ideas. In the intellectual and political turbulence that has swept through the academic establishment, even Marxism has not remained unaffected. A number of writers have signaled a crisis in Marxism, attributable to failure to incorporate the best ideas of feminism or of minorities; indeed, while a general theory is still sought, only vulgar Marxists now believe in a general theory of ideology. See Martin Jay, Marxism and Totality, Berkeley, 1984; and Raymond Geuss, The Idea of a Critical Theory, Cambridge, 1981.
5Henri Zerner, in the Art Journal, XLII,4, 1982, an issue devoted
THE ART BULLETIN MARCH 1988 VOLUME LXX NUMBER 1
investigating."'7
Obviously, not all scholars recognize this "crisis," and the necessary archival and documentary work continues; e.g., in Renaissance scholarship (the field in which, under the aegis of Vasari, art history originated and which continues to serve as a paradigm) many still concentrate either on iconography in the mode of Panofsky or Mile, or on attributions and stylistic groupings, and feel that their adoption of the computer as an aid has sufficiently transformed the field. Fewer art historians now believe with Panofsky in the old humanistic dream of "pure knowledge."8 Signs of uncertainty include a questioning of the normal outlooks and established methodology and a search for new art-historical material (non-Western, contemporary, media other than the "fine arts"). A major response has been the advocacy of interdisciplinary enlargement to transform the monograph into a "polygraph" or to expand traditional connoisseurship and iconography to include other disciplines such as psychoanalysis.9 Art historians who have reflected on their field with psychoanalytic insight have come to appreciate their limitations without becoming intellectual nihilists.1o Scholars from certain disciplines who have profited from the application of psychoanalytic ideas have recently made contact with art historians. The anthropologists, some of whom have warmed up to psychoanalysis, have much to offer art historians who view other cultures as it were from the height of Mount Parnassus.11 While many art historians retain scandalously simplistic ideas about "primitivism,"as
7 Cited by David Summers, "Reply," New Literary History, xvii, 198586, 341. In a note, he further cites Wind: "The interpretation of historical documents requires a far more complex psychology than Dilthey's doctrine of immediate experience with its direct appeal to a state of feeling." Summers remarks that Wind used a text of Peirce "to argue that unconscious meaning must be taken into account in interpretation. For Panofsky such unconscious meaning is what the artist did not say in Heidegger's sense and it is also the region occupied by iconology in the later versions of the essay." On the comparable phenomenon of psychoanalytical transference, see Brian Farrell, intro., Freud's 'Leonardo,' Harmondsworth, 1963, 259-60. The subjectivity of the observer was noted also by the psychoanalytic anthropologist George Devereux in G.D. Spindler, ed., The Making of Psychological Anthropology, Berkeley, 1978, 402: "No device can filter out the observer's distortions of what happens (countertransference). Hence, the scientifically most relevant and exploitable datum is the selfscrutiny of the observer: insight into his manner of distorting the phenomena he observes." In this context it may also be noted that Wittgenstein compared his methods to psychoanalytic therapy, and that Morris Lazerowitz developed his own version of this idea, claiming that philosophical theories are distortions of language unconsciously motivated by neurotic disorders. S Panofsky, like Cassirer, whom he admired, still dreamed of discovering "pureknowledge" and "the intrinsic determinative principle of the work"; hence it made sense for him to seek to find a single permanent Archimedean viewpoint. See Margaret Iversen, "Style as Structure:Alois Riegl's Historiography," Art History, II, 1979, 62-72. Also see M.A. Holly, Panofsky and the Foundations of Art History, Ithaca, NY, 1984, 82: "He claimed to have been searching, with Riegl as his guide, for an 'Archimedean point' outside the usual web of references in order to describe objectively what he sees as he looks down on individual works." Further, Holly (p. 211, n. 36) tells how Worringer used the phrase "Archimedean viewpoint" in 1907 (in Abstraktion und Einffihlung), to designate a po-
evident in the standard surveys, others dedicated to the study of admired non-Western arts have sought fresh ideas in anthropology (now beginning to include native scholars), and through fieldwork have developed increasing cultural and linguistic sophistication - and modesty - about the arts they study.12 English departments open to new ideas have infused with turbulentlife more conservative branches of the humanities; in particular, art history has profited from the brisk new periodicals Screen and Block (both of which draw on psychoanalysis) founded in England by daring young scholars with no secure academic situations. In France Tel Quel gave semiotics a Surrealist and post-Lacanian look; in this country its cognate October extended its attention to photography, film, and recent painting; and Representation has added articles on the history of art and of culture generally. Linguistic theory, often freighted with psychoanalytic ideas, recently has been welcomed into advanced circles of art history for its new solutions and ideas. But these solutions will have to be rewritten in terms usable by art history; for there are limits to the relevance of linguistic theory to arts involving objects produced by hand (with the exception of those "Raphaelswithout hands" like Moholy-Nagy, who delegate to factories the task of realizing their designs) and arts concerned with visual images (with the exception of conceptual/linguistic arts in the tradition of Mallarm&, lettrisme, concrete poetry and "art language"). Interest among art historians in a collaboration with psychoanalysts, never strong, became less so during the 1960s,
sition "from which to interpret various cultural artifacts, for the artifacts and the cultural complexes they embody offer only intrinsic principles of interpretation. ... It is incumbent upon conscientious analysts to elevate themselves to a transcendental position, the position of epistemology, in order to recognize and discuss 'coherence' and 'cause' in works of art." 9 On the "polygraph,"see D. Stephen Pepper, review of Richard E. Spear, Domenichino, in the Art Bulletin, LXVII, 1985, 520. For the suggestion by a prominent critic that art history - at least the 20th-century field-must seek new directions, including psychoanalysis, see Donald Kuspit, "Conflicting Logics: Twentieth-Century Studies at the Crossroads," Art Bulletin, LXIX, 1987, 117-32. 10 See Lionel Trilling, "Art and Neurosis" (1945), in William Phillips, Art and Psychoanalysis, Cleveland, 1957, 512, who makes two comments that are still pertinent: "Logician, economist, botanist, physicist, theologianno profession may be so rational as to be exempt from the psychological interpretation." But he adds: ". . . I think most of society is indeed involved in neurosis. But with neurosis accounting for so much, it cannot be made exclusively to account for one man's literary power." 11FrancisHuxley, "Psychoanalysis and Anthropology," in P. Horden, ed., Freud and the Humanities, New York, 1985, claims that psychoanalysis and anthropology provoke each other into fresh activity whenever they are made aware of each other. Victor Turner, "Encounterwith Freud," in George D. Spindler, ed., The Making of Psychological Anthropology, Berkeley, 1978, 576, asserts: "I was . . . not basing my analysis directly on Freud's system, but rather using certain of his concepts analogously and metaphorically, as a means of gaining some initial purchase on a set of data hitherto unanalyzed in any depth and detail by my structuralistfunctionalist colleagues." 12The older, once-famous European "armchair anthropologists" who tried to apply psychoanalysis (like Frobenius, Segy, and Von Sydow, in his early career before his valuable fieldwork) are no longer taken seriously. I owe thanks to Suzanne Blier of Columbia University for sharing her expertise in anthropology.
THE STATE OF PSYCHOANALYTIC
RESEARCH IN ART HISTORY
when psychology departments,13 including some previously sympathetic ones, campaigned against psychoanalysis; and even discussions of the psychology of the self excluded psychoanalysis.14 (Recently a countertrend may have commenced among behavioral psychologists who have adapted some psychoanalytic ideas.)15 In 1958 the coolness to such collaboration manifested itself in the entries for psychology and art in the Encyclopedia of World Art, Vol. xI, where, despite the remark about the early twentieth century - " . . psychoanalysis or depth psychology contributed a revolutionary scientific breakthrough into unconscious and preconscious levels of creative and appreciative experience" - the articles limited themselves to psychologies concerned largely with Gestalt and Einfiihlung. The resulting entries seem rather impoverished by the omission of psychoanalysis. Typically, an article (in the section "ExperimentalPsychology") by that arch opponent of psychoanalysis, H.J. Eysenck, writing on judgment and good taste, derived aesthetic formulae through statistical methods (seemingly in the nineteenth-century tradition either of Fechner's psychophysical aesthetics or of Grant's physiological aesthetics), but had to conclude, "unfortunately, very few psychologists are interested in this field."'16 A more explicit rejection of the cooperation between art history and psychoanalysis was formulated by Colin Eisler in 1969:17 "In America, the impact of European psychoanalytical thought in the realm of art history has been about as silly as that of Freud on the movies . . . As far as art history is concerned, apart from Rudolf Arnheim's and Ernst Kris's insights, the Freudian approach has not yet led to valuable American explorations; such studies as the relationship between Cezanne's masturbation and his art do not do much to illuminate either. Freud's own reliability as an interpreter of art has been called into question by Meyer Schapiro. .. ." (Ironically, psychoanalysis has been a major influence on film criticism, and Schapiro has been hailed by some for contributions to Freudian psychoanalysis.) The first section of the following essay will sketch the
13As distinct from psychoanalysis, which emphasizes the unconscious, repression, sexuality, and the Oedipus complex, psychology deals with mental processes such as consciousness, ideation, sensation, and memory. Experimental psychology aspires to accreditation as a "hard science" but often gropes about in a shadowy realm of elementary statistics and applied physics. 14As an example, the New York Academy of Sciences, in its panel on "19th and 20th Century Trends in the Psychology of the Self" held in 1976, presented no papers on psychoanalysis, as it had previously. When challenged about this in the discussion period, the chief organizer of the panel explained, "The reason why psychoanalysis and phenomenology are not represented by a distinct paper is purely lack of time." Interestingly, the conference proceedings, "The Roots of American Psychology ." were published in the Annals, ccxci, 1977, with the support of the American Council of Learned Societies. See Stanley B. Messer, "Behavioral and Psychoanalytic Perspectives at Therapeutic Choice Points," in American Psychologist, XLI,1986, 1261: behavioral therapy, "having regained the mind it lost, has become far friendlier than it once was to the cognitive concepts of psychoanalysis . e.g., D. Meichelbaum and J. B. Gilmore, 'Resistance from a cognitive ? and behavioral perspective' in Resistance: Psychodynamic and behavioral approaches, pp. 133-56 (N.Y. 1982), have argued that 'cognitive events,
history - and problems - of psychoanalytic approaches to the history of art, starting with Freud and ending with recent tendencies of interest to art history; and the second will complement the first by considering the application by art historians of psychoanalysis to problems within their discipline. It is hoped that both the pitfalls and the prospects of such scholarship will become visible. Psychoanalytical Approaches The origin of psychoanalysis as a treatment for neurosis determined Freud's initial approach to the study of art and literature; indeed, he exulted with the thought that he could extend his study of dreams to all of human culture.18As he reflected in his Autobiographical Study: If dreams turned out to be constructed like symptoms, if their explanation required the same assumptions - the repression of impulses, substitutive formation, compromise-formation, the dividing of the conscious and the unconscious into various psychical systems - then psychoanalysis was no longer an auxiliary science in the field of psychopathology, it was rather the starting-point of a new and deeper science of the mind which would be equally indispensable for the understanding of the normal. 19 At first the psychoanalysis of art meant primarily great Renaissance artists and a few Romantic and late nineteenthcentury Symbolists; and the taste of the first psychoanalysts went vigorously counter to modern art. The postSurrealist generation of writers and artists - often frankly indebted to psychoanalysis for ideas - earned more attention from the analysts, though still with little sympathy or understanding. From the beginning of his career, Freud illustrated his theories of mind with examples drawn from art and literature, and over the course of this century a growing body of work by psychoanalysts has addressed issues touching
processes and structures each imply an unconscious domain that cognitive-behavior therapists must recognize and understand."' 16Eysenck's approach is well represented in David O'Hare, ed., Psychology and the Arts, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, 1981, with essays on aesthetic taste and preferences, style discrimination, left and right in art, etc. Such topics can have both relevance and interest for art history, but in the hands of most psychologists they turn into dry exercises in measurement. 17 See Colin Eisler, "KunstgeschichteAmerican Style," in The Intellectual Migration, Cambridge, 1969, 609. 18 See Ernest Jones, The Life and Work of Sigmund Freud, 3 vols., London, 1953-57; J. Spector, The Aesthetics of Freud, New York, 1972; P. Horden, ed., Freud and the Humanities, New York, 1985. 19 See Freud, An Autobiographical Study, Standard Edition (1st ed. 1925), London, 1959, xx, 47. Freud was not alone in believing that one could make use of the pathological to understand the normal. Karl Jaspers, the Existentialist philosopher, wrote in his Allgemeine Psychopathologie of 1913 (English ed., Manchester, 1963, 93): ". .. What the experience of reality is in itself can hardly be deduced . . . nor can we compare it as a phenomenon with other related phenomena. Our attention gets drawn to it because it can be disturbed pathologically, and so we appreciate that it exists."
on art history and aesthetics. In approaching cultural matters Freud started from contrary interests - on the one hand, he had assimilated a rich education in literature and art; on the other, as we have seen, he looked with the diagnostic eye of the physician on all human products as potentially neurotic symptoms. The achievements of culture, including works of art, escaped a reduction to biological drives through the miraculous mechanism of sublimation, allowing artists at once compensation and catharsis; moreover, Freud appreciated the insights of poets like Schiller, however unsystematic they might seem.20 During the 1880s and 1890s, even before publishing studies of art, he drew on his knowledge of European culture, including the arts, to illustrate points of a psychological nature.21Thus, the application of psychoanalysis to art history that grew from these initial hints originated in the broad humanistic education of its founder.22Not coincidentally, some of Freud's most profound ideas came clothed in metaphors borrowed from Greco-Roman mythology; and he likened his procedure of digging into the repressed regions of his patients' minds to archaeology (his friend in Rome, the important archaeologist Emmanuel L6wy, guided some of his researches into antiquity).23And from its very origins, the circle of Freud's Viennese followers passionately debated the application of psychoanalysis to culture.24
20Other contemporaries of Freud expressed the idea that artists had valuable psychological knowledge; e.g., Dilthey, in "Ideas Concerning a Descriptive and Analytic Psychology" (1894), in Descriptive Psychology and Historical Understanding, The Hague, 1977, 36, wrote: "One finds in the works of poets, in the reflections which great writers such as Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Saint Augustine, Machiavelli, Montaigne, Pascal, have made on life, an understanding of man in the fullness of his reality, which leaves far behind every explanatory psychology. But in the whole of reflective literature up to the present, which strives to seize the fullness of human reality, there stands out its substantial inability as regards the possibility of giving a systematic exposition. . . . Would that these fanatics of art were able to disclose just once the psychology which is hidden in works of this kind" (meaning the plays of Shakespeare); and, on p. 68, he expresses the wish ". . . to make accessible to conceptual analysis what the great poets, Shakespeare especially, have expressed in images." With regard to the psychological explanation of art, we should note that Edmund Burke, in his Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful (1756), already distinguished the sublime, for which he claimed a psychological interest, from beauty. The distinction between an emotionally charged and therefore psychologically accessible expression and an elusive if not ineffable beauty persists down to the present. 21On Freud's learning, see Jones (as in n. 18) and Peter Gay, Freud, Jews and Other Germans, Oxford, 1978, and Thomas Mann's famous appreciation, "The Place of Freud in Modern Intellectual History" (1929). 22 See Freud (as in n. 19), 47. Freud was not alone in seeing the heuristic value of pathology for grasping the normal. In his Allgemeine Psychopathologie (as in n. 19), Jasperswrote: ". . . What the experience of reality is in itself can hardly be deduced . . . nor can we compare it as a phenomenon with other related phenomena. Our attention gets drawn to it because it can be disturbed pathologically, and so we appreciate that it exists." 23Freud also had much in common with the famous classical philologist Theodor Gomperz, whose wife he treated in Vienna in the 1880s and 1890s. The German cultural tradition that unites Freud to archaeology finds its source in Winckelmann, according to Wolfgang Leppmann, Winckelmann, New York, 1970, 127: ". .. Most of the basic tenets of
Freud'sfirst independent treatment of artistic production - apart from allusions in letters and books - appeared in "Psychopathic Characters on the Stage" (1904; first published in 1942). This study, deriving from the analysis of the drama of Oedipus in The Interpretation of Dreams, attributes the pleasure we gain from drama to its display of others' suffering and to the fact that the afflictions of the characters are only illusory. Freud's attention to the drama and his exploration of its psychological analogues remind one of Diderot, regarded by Lessing as the first intellectual since Aristotle to devote himself to theater. In 1905 Freud published his book Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, which does not directly treat art; still, its concern - unusual in Freud's writings on art with formal questions like elegance and technique (contrast, similarity, unification . . .) has stimulated a number of efforts to draw a theory of art from it. As early as 1925 Bakhtine asserted: "La plaisanterie et le mot d'esprit sont les principaux faits esthetiques auxquelles Freud ait personnellement applique sa methode d'interpretation des reves et des sympt6mes."25Another Russian writer held a similar view: in 1932 Lev Semenovich Vygotsky stated that the study of humor, alone among psychoanalytic investigations, does justice to the question of form.26 Gombrich elaborated the same point first in his collaboration with
Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte were established . . by those German writers who stand in the direct line of descent from Winckelmann: Herder, Goethe, certain Romanticists, Nietzsche, Burckhardt, and, in that part of their work which may justly be called Kulturkritik, Marx, Spengler, and Freud."For the sustained interest in the sources of psychoanalysis in Austrian culture, see M. Worbs, Nervenkunst, Literatur und Psychoanalyse im Wien der Jahrhundertwende, Frankfurt, 1983, which, in addition to the discussion of the major Viennese literary figures, contains a chapter on "Antikenrezeption um 1900." 24Very important for the interest of Freud's first disciples in art, history, anthropology, and mythology is The Minutes of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society, ed. Hermann Nunberg and Ernst Federn, 3 vols., New York, 1962-74. For recent comment on the Society, see Harald LeupoldLowenthal, Epilogue, ih Protokolle der Wiener Psychoanalytischen Vereinigung, iv, 1912-18, Frankfurt, 1981, and "The Minutes of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society," Sigmund Freud House Bulletin, Iv, 2, 1980. For illustrations of aspects of contemporary Viennese culture, see the exh. cats., Traumund Wirklichkeit. Wien 1870-1930, Vienna, 1985, and Vienne 1880-1938, Paris, 1986. Among early writings by Freud's Vienna circle, we may cite: Hanns Sachs and Otto Rank, joint editors of Imago (from 1912), a journal devoted to applied psychoanalysis, and joint authors of The Meaning of Psychoanalysis for the Social Sciences (1913); H. Sachs, a book on B. Cellini (1913); 0. Rank, many books including The Myth of the Birth of the Hero (1909) and The Incest Motif in Poetry and Saga (1912); Max Graf, studies of Wagner (1906) and "Problems of Dramatic Creation" (1907). Karl Abraham, a member of the Berliner Psychoanalytische Vereinigung (founded 1908), wrote a pioneering study of Giovanni Segantini (1912), now ignored in the literature (see H. Liithy's review of the recent literature on Segantini in the Art Bulletin, LXIx,1987, 307-11).
See his Ecrits sur le freudisme (1st Russian ed., 1925), Lausanne, 1980, 148. 26 See L.S. Vygotsky, The Psychology of Art (1932), Cambridge, MA, 1971, 84. He makes one criticism, which could have been applied even more strongly to the analysis of Jensen'sGradiva - that Freud attempted "to interpretfictitious dreams, dreamt by literary characters, as real ones."
Kris in 1952, then in 1966.27 Georges Devereux offered a slightly different version in Tragedie et poesie grecques Etudes ethnopsychanalytiques (Paris, 1975). In disagreement with Freud, he regarded creative genius as explicable: beauty bribes the superego, in the way that Freuddescribed that humor can bribe it. Allusion to the Jokes recurs in writings on Dada and Surrealism, such as Charlotte Stokes's articles on Ernst's collages; and one might usefully apply it to late nineteenth-century painting by their humorous precursors (Jarry, Allais). Freud'spublication in 1907 of "Delusions and Dreams in Jensen's Gradiva," a study that extends the analysis of dramatic conflict into the domain of the novel, had much greater consequence in terms of influence on artists, writers, and critics, especially the Surrealists. Jensen's Gradiva: A Pompeian Fantasy (1903) recounts how a young archaeologist, Norbert Hanold, discovered a relief in a museum in Rome. The sculpture, which fascinated him, represented an adolescent girl stepping along, with her flowing dress a little pulled up so as to reveal her sandaled feet. Freudconsiders the hero's obsession with this relief the basic psychological fact of the narrative. After laborious study Hanold concludes to his great regret that Gradiva's gait could not be found in reality. Soon afterwards in a terrifying dream he finds himself in ancient Pompeii on the day of the eruption of Vesuvius and witnesses the city's destruction. He searches for Gradiva, who has disappeared, and thinks he has found her brought to life in someone else's body. It is that of Zoe Bertgang, who had been a childhood playmate, and who had all along guided him back to the real present (somewhat like a psychoanalyst): Hanold recognized what was beautiful and precious in the delusion. In comparing the childhood friend to a being dug out of ruins, Jensen gives the key to the symbolism of which Hanold's delusion made use in disguising his repressed memory. Following the vicissitudes of Freud'sessay in some detail will help us understand why the archaeological metaphor fit so well into a contemporary context that made much of the relation between memory and perception (in the next
section I will compare it to Warburg's "Nympha"); moreover, the essay has a history reaching down to our own time (the Surrealists adopted Gradiva). At least one contemporary archaeologist found food for thought in Freud's discussion of Hanold: "Freud'sthoughts have something of interest to the archaeological excavator. Sudden contacts of the traveler with the fragments of past times compel him somehow to raise questions about himself."28 The "Gradiva"relief was an actual object in the Vatican Museum, and Freud kept a photograph of it in his office above a copy of Ingres' Oedipus and the Sphinx. This juxtaposition seems richly suggestive for Freud'sthought, particularly since the foot (or gait) is the crucial item in both stories. Controversy about the sexual/psychological significance of the woman's foot occupied many hours of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society in 1907 after Freud'sessay on Gradiva appeared. As with the Sphinx, Gradiva existed primarily as an adjunct of the male; e.g., Freud remarked that "man transfers his sexual fantasies onto his occupation (Gradiva)."29 At the meeting of 11 March 1908, FritzWittels gave a paper on "TheNatural Position of Women" in which he decried "our accursed present-day culture in which women bemoan the fact that they did not come into the world as men; they try to become men (feminist movement)." Wittels' surmise that the human's erect posture originated in "a primitive exhibitionist act," the display of sexual readiness, sparked a lively discussion. Adler - who in a few years would develop his idea of the "masculine protest" - considered the foot "a sign of degeneracy." He presumably had in mind that Freud calls Hanold's fascination with Gradiva's distinctive gait a "foot fetishism," and that at one of the meetings Freud remarked that ". .. foot-fetishism, which we have been able to trace back to the suppression of certain coprophillic drives, must also have some connection with a search for and a happy recovery of this lost penis of the mother."30 Allusions to the foot - as female, fetish, or Oedipal recur in the meetings, especially on 22 December 1909, when Rank culminated these allusions by describing the Sphinx as the "woman with a penis," and connecting it to
27 See Gombrich and Kris, "The Principles of Caricature" (1938), in Ernst Kris, Psychoanalytic Explorations in Art, New York, 1952, and Gombrich, "Freud'sAesthetics," in Encounter, xxvi, 1966, 30-40. J. A. Walker, "Dream-Work and Art-Work," in Leonardo, xvi, 1983, 109-14, argues that dreams, jokes, pictorial and poetic images are constructed in fundamentally similar ways. 28 See Anton Bammer, Architektur und Gesellschaft, Vienna, 1974, 7. 29 See the Minutes of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society (as in n. 24),
I, 1906-08, New York, 1962, meeting of 20 Nov. 1907, 243.
Ibid., II, 1908-10, New York, 1967, meeting of 1 Dec. 1909, 341. One should note that recent object relations theory might focus rather on the walk of the woman (Gradiva or Nympha) than on her foot as symbol of the male organ. Thus Margaret Mahler, revising Freud's Oedipal drama of maturity, locates its equivalent, the "separation-individuation"or "psychological birth" of the infant (male or female) in the achievement of upright locomotion (after its period of symbiotic ties to the mother).
the swollen foot of Oedipus. Versions of the Oedipal foot as phallus have proliferated ever since.31The sexual and coprophilic associations to the foot doubtless attracted the Surrealists to Gradiva (who even named a gallery after her) as well as to the Sphinx - swelling feet and toes entered the art of Dali, Tanguy, and others, and provided the base for philosophical speculations by the independent Surrealist Bataille.32Interest in the subject of Gradiva continues in the book by Jean Bellemin-Noil, Gradiva, au pied de la lettre (Paris, 1983), which the author describes as a "relecture du roman" (in fact a rereading of Freud's essay).33 Freud'swell-known essay of 1908, "Creative Writers and Daydreaming," considers fantasies a substitute for children's play, and views the productions of the artist to be inherently unhealthy, neurotic, and pathological. Naturally, artists and critics have rejected this position; but some analysts (among them Jung)also have argued that a healthy
31Analysts and others have offered extensions and revisions of different aspects of the Oedipal foot. Ehrenzweig claims that "theremay have been in prehistoric times a stage when the tormented sexual desire, deprived of its original object by the erect gait, would have strayed beyond the limits of the female body to endow any visual form with genital quality; our unconscious mind retained this 'pan-genital'form play. ... As women began to clothe their bodies, the sexual form play was easily transferred to the new shape of the clothes." See Anton Ehrenzweig, The Psychoanalysis of Artistic Vision and Hearing (1st ed. 1953), New York, 1965, 65. It is curious to observe the mixture of prurience and anxiety that appears to have motivated male images of the female foot, regarded alternately as small and feminine (the hobbled foot attractive to Oriental men) or large and masculine. A small foot meant a large vagina, as in the Latin phrase "parvus pes, magnum barathrum," which persists in the French translation "petit pied, grand con" cited by Donald Posner (Art Bulletin, LXIV, 1982, 87, n. 40). The 18th-century "swinger," feet off the ground, oscillates in playful, erotic rhythm, without purposeful direction or threat. On the other hand, in keeping with the etymology of the word aggression, a "forward" woman like Delacroix's Liberty of 1830, advances her foot while carrying her complements of phallic rifle and banner; and the Surrealists admired Gradiva, the aggressive Muse of the avant-garde, whom Breton described in a phrase derived from Jenson - "Celle qui avance." In the account of Levi-Strauss, Freud's Oedipus complex is not a timeless psychological condition, but an "an integral part of the myth of Oedipus," whose domain he extends by showing that the names of Oedipus, his father, and his grandfather all "evoke a difficulty of walking straight." See "The Structural Study of Myth," in "Myth, A Symposium," Journal 270, 1955, 428-44 (reprinted in Anthroof American Folklore, LXXVIII, pologie structurale, Paris, 1958, chap. xi). In 1975 he found that the theme of walking explained the riddle of the Sphinx: "Not walking straight, stuttering, forgetting are all so many converging markers which the myth uses . . . in order to express the failures, distortions or blockages of communication between different levels of social life. .. ." See "Mythe et Pour Emile Benveniste, Paris, 1975. oubli," in Langue, discours, societY: E. G. C. Lorin, L'inacheve, Paris, 1984, applies Freudian analysis to the unfinished in art, and relates it to the attraction/repulsion felt toward the woman's genitals. The author discusses the work of Surrealists (Paalen, Meret Oppenheim), and tries to extend the explanation to works exhibiting a fear of gaps and a "phallic" view of art (Reinhardt, Pollock). 32 See Whitney Chadwick, Myth in Surrealist Painting, 1929-39, Ann Arbor, 1980, for details on the Surrealist employment of Gradiva as a pet myth. By 1922 the Frenchhad available an explicit description of the (foot) fetish in psychoanalytic terms. See, e.g., E. Regis and A. Hesnard, La psychanalyse, Paris, 1922, 77: "Fitichisme ... Les imaginations sexuelles des petits garions prennent souvent le pied pour symbole de l'organe feminin, visA vis duquel il remplace alors le penis de l'homme. La frequence du pied comme symbole sexuel s'explique par son analogie avec les or-
mind requires an active fantasy. In 1910 Freud wrote what has become a paradigm of the "pathographic"approach, Leonardo da Vinci and a Memory of His Childhood, which traces the artist's combination of sexual inhibition and creativity to the conditions of his childhood. Freud made no pretense to "explain"the genius (the stimulus to write the essay came from a patient "with the same constitution as Leonardo without his genius"), but only certain aspects of his personality and striking features of his art. He traced the origin of Leonardo's presumed homosexuality and the blissful smile of his paintings to Leonardo'schildhood memory (actually a fantasy) of a vulture that struck him on the mouth as he was in the cradle. Ever since Fumagalli (1952) and Richter (1952) made the significant observation that the "vulture"was in fact a kite mistranslated from Italian into German, the essay has suffered a loss of credibility if not charm.34
ganes genitaux, cherche a d6couvrir un sens." 33Actually, in keeping with current poststructural practice, BelleminNodl's book is a rereading of Freud's reading of Jensen's novel. The discussion dwells on the fetish to such an extent that the author almost called the book "Feticheet themes dans la Gradiva" (p. 9). The book is especially interesting for its rejection by a former Lacanian of Lacan's "abuse of signification," i.e., his development out of Saussurian linguistic theory of a play of signifiers that neglects serious psychoanalytic content (pp. 228ff.). Joan Copjec, "Transference:Letters and the Unknown Woman," October, no. 28, 1984, 61-90, also discusses Gradiva; but her approach mingles feminism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. She notes that Freud describes a dream containing the word "gradus"(Latin: step) as a "modified staircase dream," and connects this to Freud's fascination with Jensen's novel. In a section called "Gradiva. The Spirit of Pompeii," she states that the crucial point of the story is the separation of Zoe and Gradiva: "Where the journey had begun, full of anxiety, as the investigation of sexual difference (of whether or not a woman's manner of walking was different from a man's), it ends with an alleviation of anxiety's symptoms ('without knowing why, he felt that he was breathing more easily')." The fetishized foot helps Hanold to bring back his Zoi/Gradiva: Rediviva indeed. What is resurrected from the prehistoric past is the phallus-copula which makes that past simultaneous and disavows its difference. This is no cure, but the resistance side of the transference." 34G. Fumagalli, Leonardo, omo sanza lettere, Florence, 1952, 115, cites Ms Atl. 66, v.b, and notes that Freud mistranslated "nibbio" as "avvoltoio"; Irma A. Richter, Selections from the Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, London, 1952, 286, note, makes a similar point. An editorial, "Leonardo in the Consulting Room," in the Burlington Magazine, XLI, 1922, 255-56, called Freud'sbook a "tour de force" that subjects his method to "the most rigorous of tests." Freud realized that he might be criticized for ignoring Pater's perception that the smile was probably adopted from his master Verrocchio's sculpture. Schapiro developed this criticism, adding much art-historical detail in "Leonardo and Freud: An Art Historical Study," Journal of the History of Ideas, xvII, 1956, 147-78; but he denies that it is a real test of Freud'smethod. His chief contribution is to enlarge on Pater's perception and thus disprove Freud's claim that features (not only the smile) of the Madonna and Saint Anne are original (hence significant for Leonard's art and personality); but in Freud's defense it has been observed that an artist's attraction to a known subject could have psychological relevance. Freud himself would have accepted Schapiro's criticism at one point, to judge from a discussion on 24 Oct. 1906 of Rank's paper on incest: "The comparatively rare occurrence of incest in Shakespeare's plays is, according to Freud, connected with the fact that most of his plays are adaptations of old texts and that the texts are therefore not really his own." See the Minutes, I: 21. Also see Farrell (as in n. 7), and, for an extensive bibliography, G. Rosolato, "Leonard et la psychanalyse," Critique, xx, 1964, 139-63.
Much more has been written on Freud'sLeonardo, which appears to be an endlessly provocative essay. David Summers has sensibly summed up some of the limitations of the piece:35 Works of art are made for specific circumstances, circumstances that they survive, and out of which they inevitably move. They survive by accident, by neglect, or because of their beauty or value. Only a few survive because of the survival of the purposes and practices that led to their making in the first place, and as they persist in time their continued existence is more dependent upon their character as works than upon the specific configurations arising from the purposes to which they were shaped. The result - the particular work - thus has a significance over and above the sum of generally ascertainable intentions. Freud could write about Leonardo's painting as he did not only because of the modes of intention visible in it (which define its appearance in basic respects but of which Freud can have been only partly aware) but because of the specific form taken by the realization of these modes. In his own writings, Freud studied mainly the sufferings and/or dry spells of otherwise productive geniuses; and,
as a logical extension of pathography, his follower Ernest Jones discussed a case in which he believed neurotic problems diminished the potential greatness of an artist. In an essay of 1913 that shows the influence of Freud's analysis of Leonardo, he asked why Andrea del Sarto, an artist of "stupendous gifts," "failed to reach the front rank as an artist." He answered that the artist's emotional problems stood in the way, especially his suppressed homosexuality, a condition evidenced by his passionate interest in food and cooking, and a debilitating hate-love relationship with a domineering wife. He corroborated his thesis about the wife (drawn from Vasari) by noting that in one of his greatest paintings, The Madonna of the Harpies, he included grotesque creatures on the pedestal beneath the enthroned Madonna. Jones explains this "rare"intrusion into a religious subject as an expression of his resentment toward his wife. Wittkower rebutted Jones's arguments by showing that the apparently unusual interest in food was commonplace among normal Italian men of the time and that "harpies as well as sirens and sphinxes in similar positions are rather common in religious imagery of the period . . . the Virgin enthroned above them signifies the triumph of purity over sin." Any future examination of Andrea del Sarto's work in terms of his personality would have to consider all his production and the full documentation available, espe-
3 The issues raised by Freud's Leonardo persist, as in the lectures of Paul Ricoeur at Yale in 1961 and Louvain in 1962, who accepts Freud'smistaken vulture hypothesis, but questions: "To what extent is psychoanalysis justified in submitting works of art and dreams to the unitary viewpoint of an economics of instincts when the former are a durable and, in the strong sense of the term, memorable creation of our days, whereas the latter are a fleeting and sterile product of our night?" And he observes that works of art "are not simply projections of the artist's conflicts, but the sketch of their solution. Dreams look backward, toward infancy, the past; the work of art goes ahead of the artist; it is prospective symbol of his personal synthesis . . rather than a regressive symbol of his unresolved conflicts." In the same year there also appeared K. Eissler, Leonardo da Vinci: Psychoanalytic Notes on the Enigma, New York, 1961, which attempted to disarm the "vulture/kite" criticism, and - with more success - to propose a new psychobiography based on Freud's, but emphasizing the place of trauma in Leonardo's art. Leonardo occasioned several lectures in 1976-77, published in Problematiques, Paris, 1980, by the Parisian psychoanalyst Jean Laplanche. He discusses the vulture error (which he regards as innocuous to the main psychoanalytic argument); Leonardo's curiosity; the question of sublimation; and finally the issue of trauma in the long section, "Eissler:Leo-
nard et le traumatisme," based on Eissler'sbook. He interprets Leonardo's art, such as his illustrations of deluges and his Medusas, as a defense against traumas, and a means to shock his father. Citing Freud and H. Lowenfeld, he offers a "new" principle of art production combining creation and destruction (pp. 249-50). More recently, P. G. Aaron and R. G. Clouse, "Freud'sPsychohistory of Leonardo da Vinci: A Matter of Being Right or Left," Journal of Interdisciplinary History, xiii, 1982, 1-16, offer a neuropsychological approach that reevaluates Freud'spsychoanalytic interpretation, attempting to show that all the "Freudianslips" of the artist in language and computation derived from errors of sequential processing of information. In replacing Freudian repression with more conscious processes, their article follows the linguistic analysis of Sebastiano Timpanaro, The Freudian Slip, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, 1976, but puts the argument into modish neurological language. Leo Bersani, "Sexuality and Aesthetics," October, no. 28, 1984, 27-42, examines Freud'sclaim that Leonardo's libidinal energies were sublimated into artistic expression. He concludes that Freud has not proved his explanation, which in any case Bersani finds too narrowly deterministic, of the relation between sexual tension and cultural expression. Also see David Summers, "Intentions in the History of Art," New Literary History, xvii, 1985, 312.
THEARTBULLETIN MARCH 1988 VOLUME NUMBER LXX 1
cially to resolvethe enigmaof the two versionsof Vasari's
biography.36
the Freud,who firstintroduced term"Oedipus Complex" in 1910 (he had had the idea by 1897), generalized sigits nificancemightilyby 1912in his famousremark,". . . the beginningsof religion,ethics, society, and art meet in the Freud madethe complexcentralto his Oedipuscomplex."37 theories,and for decadesit providedthe routinebasis for a psychoanalytic criticismthat has evolved beyond his art first formulations.But the picture soon became blurred, with contributions by followers who thought they saw problemsor deficienciesin the originaltheory.In fact, internal tensions have characterized psychoanalysisalmost from the beginning,with the seriesof defectionsby Adler, As Jung,Rank, and others.38 will be seen, similartensions continue to plague psychoanalysis,especiallythe conflict betweendrive theory and objectrelationstheory.The ego psychologistsin the UnitedStates, whose influencelingers in on, evolved the notion of "regression the serviceof the ego," a handy phrase that glosses over an inherentincoherence.39 producedthe majorart-historical Kris writingof that "school"(1952).The notion, rooted in Romanticism,
36 See E. Jones, "The Influence of Andrea del Sarto's Wife on His Art"
that regression has regenerative powers, has long had its exponents, and even Panofsky may have early delineated an art-historical version of it.40 However, in the 1950s (curiously during the rise of ego psychology to prominence) he relinquished his early interest in the unconscious.41 Psychoanalytically informed writers (particularly feminists) have seriously affected recent interpretations of art and its history. They criticized neglect of the mother in the Oedipus complex, questioned its universality, or proposed alternative "complexes." Slochower criticized Freud'sanalysis of a Dostoievsky novel for its "patriarchal"omission of the mother. In his rereading of the Oedipus story, Slochower makes the hero's death an incestuous return to the Earth-Mothers, a point discussed by Thomas Weiskel. Georges Devereux, a psychoanalytically oriented anthropologist, maintained that the Oedipus complex is a reaction to the parents' "Laius-"and "Jocasta-"complexes. Feminists who are also analysts have been put off by the exclusive concern with the issue of castration (the threat to Oedipus symbolized in his lame foot), as stated, for example, by Sandor Ferenczi: ". . . the name of the tragic hero Oedipus [. . .] in Greek means 'swell-foot.' This apparently senseless
38 Adlerians have dealt mainly with political and ethical matters, and much
(originally published in Imago), in Psycho-Myth, Psycho-History, Essays in Applied Psychoanalysis, New York, 1974, I, 22-38. Rudolf and Margot Wittkower, "Andrea del Sarto's Harpies: A Psycho-analytical Mystification," was published in Born under Saturn, New York, 1963. Their book criticized pathographic studies of artists, yet it serves up its own antiquated Romantic formulations; e.g., on p. 113: "But his [Hugo van der Goes's] inner torment, his grief and his anguish speak to us from the careworn, deeply lined faces and emaciated hands of the Apostles who keep vigil near the dying Virgin, the image of utter exhaustion." They assert that Hugo's work "expresses the contemporary religious climate as much as his own experience," a remark intended as refutation of claims that mental instability produced the intensity of feeling in his art. The Wittkowers do not consider the interplay between individual and social possibilities that could address the (presumed) abnormal features of Hugo's work and mind. They offer (pp. 68-69) a naive view of the "madness" of Piero di Cosimo (1461-1521), whose bizarre behavior included eating only boiled eggs. Erwin Panofsky recognized the need to look - however circumspectly - to psychology for help in understanding this odd personality, and in his essay on Piero, "The Early History of Man .. .," in Studies in Iconology, New York, 1962, 66, n. 82, he comments, "a psychoanalyst might come to the conclusion that even Piero's aversion to cooked food and his extraordinary habit of preparing 'una cinquantina' of hard-boiled eggs at a time 'per risparmiar il fuoco' . . . was not only a matter of economy, but also fulfilled an unconscious wish to avoid contact, as far as possible, with the element which both fascinated and terrified him." In another essay in the same volume, "The Neoplatonic Movement and Michelangelo," Panofsky (p. 178, n. 18) again adopts a psychoanalytic tone to explain an individualistic feature of an artist'sstyle: "In connection with the 'movement without locomotion' so characteristic of Michelangelo's style it may be noted that, according to the psychoanalysts, an emotional situation of the above-mentioned kind may lead, in ordinary persons, to agoraphobia, because every impulse to move in a certain direction is checked by a reaction in the opposite sense." A low point in the pathographical approach is Daniel E. Schneider, The Psychoanalyst and the Artist, New York, 1954, which, on the basis of inadequate knowledge of art or history, offers gratuitous therapeutic advice to "disturbed"geniuses, both living and dead. 37 See "The Infantile Recurrence of Totemism," in Totem and Taboo (Standard Edition, xiii). Also published in 1912 was Otto Rank's grand study, The Incest Motive in Poetry and Saga, which extended the concept of the Oedipus complex to the analysis of myth, drama, and poetry.
of what they have contributed to questions of art may be found in their Journal of Individual Psychology. Topics include Goethe's Faust, Hamlet, and Dostoievsky. Jungians have studied, aside from the painting of Pollock who underwent a Jungian analysis, the symbols included in occult and mystical art of all ages. Their unhistorical approach (as in the theory of "synchronicity") and their indifference to material context have made their work uninteresting to most art historians. 39The major proponent of ego psychology, Heinz Hartmann, believed, in the words of J. R. Greenberg and S. A Mitchell (Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory, Cambridge, 1983, 268-69), that, "The perceived value of art has two roots: it 'gives pleasure and is dependent on instinctual drives,' and it has a 'normative, ordering element' (1939). Art serves the demands of both id and ego. It not only gives pleasure but provides varied possibilities for synthetic solutions. . . . Hartmann's view of the function of art thus expands and transcends Freud'stheory that art serves to reconcile the pleasure and reality principles. . . . Art is now given roots not only in the conflicting demands of drive and of an antagonistic external world, but serves as well the conflict-free adaptation to the world." 40 Holly (as in n. 8), 140, quotes the following from Panofsky's "Perspective as Symbolic Form,": "Where work on definite artistic problems has gone so far that . . . going further in the same direction seems to be fruitless, it is usual for those great setbacks or reversals to occur ... (that is, through a return to apparently more 'primitive' forms of representation) . Ehrenzweig (as in n. 31), 13, offers an interesting version: ". .. The main thesis of this book [is] that the aesthetic pleasure generally adheres only to the gestalt elaborations which the surface mind projects into the inarticulate symbolic structures of the depth mind." 41 In his early essay "Perspective as Symbolic Form" and in the introduction to Studies in Iconology (1st ed., 1939), Panofsky interpreted art as a cultural symptom expressed with unconscious symbolism. But his later work evolved toward emphasis on conscious symbolism: in his study of Early Netherlandish painting (1953), Panofsky insisted that the disguised symbolism was intentionally planned, a preconceived symbolical program. This shift in meaning raises the question whether the decoding of these intentional symbols can still be called iconological (at a level below awareness) rather than iconographic - interpreting conventional symbolism. Zerner, for one, has regretted the abandonment of iconology for iconographic deciphering.
and odd denomination at once loses this character when we know that in dreams and jokes, as well as in the fetishistic worship of the foot or in the neurotic dread of this member, it symbolises the male organ"; and he interprets the self-blinding of the hero "as a displacement of the really intended self-castration of Oedipus. .. ." The theorist Edith Jacobson reduced the importance of penis envy for the daughter, whose disappointment in the mother depends on the quality of their earlier relationship. In opposing the Freudian view, feminists emphasize the role of the mother with the child in pre-Oedipal infancy, shifting from Oedipus conflict to symbiosis with the mother. An example in the field of poetry of a reconsideration of the mother is FranCoiseLalande's Madame Rimbaud (Paris, 1987), which presents the strange symbiosis of Rimbaud with his mother and its bearing on his writing of poetry. Perhaps concomitantly with this emphasis on mother/child symbiosis is the renewed interest by H. Kohut and others in narcissism.42 A trenchant presentation of the importance of the mother/child relation is offered by French feminist analysts. Luce Irigaray, whose book This Sex which is not One (Paris, 1977) criticizes the concept of penis envy and emphasis on the phallus, has raised some controversy in France. Beatrice Marbeau-Cleirens, Le sexe de la mare et les divergences des theories psychanalytiques (Paris, 1987), argues that Irigaray does not see the role of the mother correctly. Of course much earlier Karen Horney (1939) argued against the innateness of penis envy in women, insisting that it was a cultural phenomenon. Julia Kristeva, an admirer of Melanie Klein, described in "Motherhood According to Giovanni Bellini" the importance of the "maternal body" for artists; and in another essay on "Place Names," she suggests a different sort of replacement for the "lost penis": "Naming, always originating in a place . . is a replacement for what the speaker perceives as an archaic mother. .. ." The essay on Bellini appeared in 1975, written when she was pregnant for the first time; and "Place Names" appeared in 1976 (both are reprinted in Desire in Language, New York, 1980). She felt
42 See Harry Slochower, "Incest in 'The Brothers Karamazov,"'American Imago, xvi, 1959, 127-45; T. Weiskel, The Romantic Sublime: Studies in the Structure and Psychology of Transcendence, Baltimore, 1976, 115-16. Also see Anne Parsons, "Is the Oedipus Complex Universal? The JonesMalinowski Debate Revisited and a South Italian 'Nuclear Complex"' (1964), in Warner Muensterberger, ed., Man and His Culture: Psychoanalytic Anthropology after "Totem and Taboo," New York, 1969, 331-84. See George Devereux, "Why Oedipus Killed Laius. A Note on the Complementary Oedipus Complex in Greek Drama," International Journal of Psychoanalysis, xxxiv, 1953, 1-10; he further developed the thesis in Chap. 6 of his Essais d'ethnopsychologie gendrale, Paris, 1970. Also see Sandor Ferenczi, "The Symbolic Representation of the Pleasure and Reality Principles in the Oedipus Myth," Imago, 1912, repr. in First Contributions to Psychoanalysis, New York, 1952, 263-64. Edith Jacobson wrote articles in the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association and an important book, The Self and the Object World, New York, 1964. For recent interest in narcissism, see Victoria Hamilton, Narcissus and Oedipus: The Children of Psychoanalysis, London, 1982; idem, The Analysis of the Self, New York, 1971; idem, "Thoughts on Narcissism and Narcissistic Rage," The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, xxvii, 1972, 360-400. 43 Both essays by Kristeva were reprinted in Desire in Language, New York, 1980. Danto's essay was published in Lang, ed. (as in n. 4), 30. For
that Klein's "theory of drives" as applied to very early infancy could unlock the mystery of the initial phases of language; in particular, she believed that Klein's theory, combined with "the psycholinguistic study of the acquisition of language" could lead to an understanding of "pre-meaning and pre-sign" operations. These battles over the meaning of being a woman have inspired a whole genre of feminist portraiture and self-portraiture(not always interpreted as anti-Freudian) and a "reinvention" of the novel of selfdiscovery. Danto observes that the Bildungsroman, the novel of self-education, "is a genre recently . . to be mainly found in feminist literature, where the question the heroine raises, for reader and for herself, is at once who is she and what is it to be a woman." The feminist reevaluation of the Oedipus complex has already stimulated some art-historical studies, as has been seen; but nonfeminists like John Gedo have cautioned against minimizing the role of the father in the development of the artist. The omission of the father poses problems in applying the Oedipus complex in the criticism of art; e.g., the poststructuralist critic Marcelin Pleynet, in Painting and System (Chicago, 1984), offers an interesting attempt to transcend formalism by linking form and color to biography and raising questions of psychology in analyzing the art of Matisse; but his discussion of "Oedipal conflict" refers to "aggression performed on the maternal body" (p. 48), and he nowhere mentions the father (an omission prompted perhaps by what he makes of Klein's theories either directly or through his colleague Julia Kristeva); indeed, what he calls "a primary family structure: wife/son/mother," doubles the woman and omits the father from the usual Oedipal triangle. An effort to show that one can bypass the Oedipus complex was made by Anne Eckstaedt, using the juvenilia of a great artist. The author, on the basis of a study of an early drawing, concludes that Klee's precocious talent for self-representation and self-expression in art enabled him to sublimate his Oedipus complex.41 Corresponding to efforts to modify or belittle the OedJohn Gedo's veiwpoint, which is not entirely unsympathetic to feminist insights, see his Portraits of the Artist, New York, 1983, especially Chaps. 3 and 4. For a study emphasizing the importance of the father for the artist's development, see Laurie Schneider, "Art and Psychoanalysis: The Case of Paul Cezanne," The Arts in Psychotherapy, xiii, 1986, 221-28. For Eckstaedt, see "'Mimi Oberreicht Madame Grenouillet einen Blumenstrauss,' Eine psychoanalytische Studie fiber den Weg der Phantasie des vierjahrigen Paul Klee anhand einer Kinderzeichnung," Psyche, xxxiv, 1980, 1123-44. Josephine Withers gives an interpretation of a feminist artist's work that does not contradict Freud's theory, in "Judy Chicago's Dinner Party: A Personal Vision of Women's History," in M. Barasch et al., Art the Ape of Nature: Studies in Honor of H. W. Janson, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1981, 793: "On a personal level, the significance of being able to place oneself within a larger historical continuum was clearly, if only incidentally, demonstrated by Freud in his studies of Leonardo, Goethe, and Michelangelo. These studies are part self-projection and part spiritual dialogue with the creative men with whom he felt an intellectual affinity. The well-documented fact that Freud made some serious interpretive errors does not lessen the importance of this process of projection and self-knowledge-the revelation gained from seeing aspects of ourselves mirrored in others and the understanding that we thereby transcend present time."
ipus complex, there have been attempts to endow the mother with more importance and to displace the emphasis from the genitals to the womb (especially in feminist studies); thus, a discussion of the "Diva Matrix" (1953) contests the evaluation of the Gorgon's head by Freud (1922) and Ferenczi (1923) for having put a negative apotropaic value on it rather than a positive one, which the author believes more likely: they "explained the Medusa as a symbol of the female genitals. Actually, evidence shows Medusa may be a symbol not of outer female genitals, but of the inner, primeval womb (Diva Matrix) discussed here."44 Criticism of Freud's interpretation of the Oedipus myth has come from a different quarter - the archaeologists. In 1967 Jean-PierreVernant criticized a psychoanalytic interpretation that neglected the myth's historical and cultural Vercontent, and its political function in ancient Greece.45 nant, taking a structuralist view, linked the approaches of archaeology and anthropology in a curious effort to reread the myth. The Austrian archaeologist Anton Bammer, who found the characteristics of the Oedipus complex in archaic Greek society, by no means considered it a universal characteristic of humanity; rather, he saw it as dependent on socio-historical conditions, "the result of a particular social structure."46 Freud provided the model for the pathographic criticism of art, which looked down to the neuroses before finding a way back up to the art that presumably had spurred the critic's interest initially. This interest was often diagnostic rather than appreciative, in particular with regard to modern art. Freud ignored modern art (or recoiled before the approaches of the Surrealists), but Jung, out of ethical convictions perhaps, directed severe criticism at such modernists as Picasso. He thought that Picasso did not draw from nature but "from the inside," a procedure he compared to that of schizophrenics, although he did not actually diag44For the "Diva Matrix," see the Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, xvi, 1953, 193-238. Some feminist artists and critics have also adopted womb imagery; see, e.g., Carrie Rickey, "A Womb with a View," in Village Voice, 5 Nov. 1979, on the "Dark Shelters - Light Rocks" installation by Mary Beth Edelson. One interestingwork, Toothless, which invites one into the womb, might be called, I think, a "vagina edentata." Already in his theory of the matriarchy published in 1861, Das Mutterrecht, the Swiss philosopher J. J. Bachofen described the Sphinx as the distorted apotropaic image created by the Greeks of a once powerful, now vanquished matriarchy. D. A. Birmingham, "Masson's Pasipha?: Eros and the Unity of the Cosmos," Art Bulletin, LXIX, 1987, 292ff., discusses Bachofen as an influence on the Surrealist artist. See J.-P. Vernant and P. Vidal-Naquet, Tragedy and Myth in Ancient Greece, transl. J. Lloyd, Brighton, 1981, 63f. Alain Besancon offered a psychoanalyst's reply to this point in "Freud, Abraham, Laios," in Les chemins de I'anti-oedipe, ed. Janine Chasseguet-Smirgel, Paris, 1974, 30. He admits that the Greeks may have been aware of the myth's political content, but denies that this excludes the Freudian interpretation. Also see Colette Chiland, "Chemins de l'Oedipe a l'anti-Oedipe" (in Les chemins de I'anti-oedipe, 56, n. 17), who insists that Oedipus must have suffered from the Oedipus complex, thereby rebuffing Vernant's claim that Oedipus, not having been raised by his own parents, could not have suffered from it. These authors seem unaware that the same objection already occurred in the first meeting of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, at which Frey criticized Rank's paper on incest: he could not understand why "Oedipus's taking of belt and sword from Laius should be interpreted
nose the artist psychotic. A picture by Picasso, he says, "leaves one cold, or disturbs one by its paradoxical, unfeeling and grotesque unconcern for the beholder."47 In comparing Picasso's art to schizophrenic productions, Jung places himself in the tradition extending from late nineteenth-century judgments against Degeneracy (Nordau's Entartung of 1892) to Nazi assaults against modernism (the "EntarteteKunst" exhibition of 1937). A view much more open to modernism was taken by Robert Waelder, who was concerned with the psychoanalysis of schizophrenia and with the phase of early childhood before the id and ego separated. He developed an aesthetics that asserted the ability of the artist's ego to satisfy id and superego demands simultaneously.48 John Gedo's Portraits of the Artist: Psychoanalysis of Creativity and Its Vicissitudes (New York, 1983) constitutes the most sensitive recent attempt by a psychoanalyst to formulate a pathographic theory of creativity, integrating the author's clinical material with historically mediated explorations of Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, Caravaggio, and others. A variant on the theme of disturbed creativity (in line with the Romantic tradition that culminated in Lombroso's linking of madness and genius) appears in Kurt Eissler's study of Goethe, in which he observes that "one of the preconditions for the creation of great art is a tendency - even a strong tendency - toward psychosis (probably of the schizophrenic variety) which is mastered or diverted by (automorphic) countermechanisms that transform this tendency toward psychosis into the molding of an artistic product."49 Eissler explored the influence of early traumas on the mind of Leonardo; but earlier Lowenfeld (1941) introduced the idea in discussing an artist whom he characterized as a "traumatophile"who reexperienced and symbolized an old trauma in his art.50 Like other symptoms of emotional disturbance, traumatophilia now applies to the
as a symbol of castration of the father, and of taking possession of the mother, especially since Oedipus did not know that the man from whom he took the sword (whom he castrated) was his father." See Minutes (as in n. 29) of 10 Oct. 1901, I, 8. Also see Otto Fenichel, The Psychoanalytic Theory of Neurosis, New York, 1945, 96: ". .. Even institutional children are not uninfluenced by the concept of family." 46 See Bammer (as in n. 28), 52ff. 47See "Picasso," Neue Ziircher Zeitung, 13 Nov. 1932. Jung would have found ample material to study in the illustrations to his compatriot H. Prinzhorn's book on the art of the mentally ill. John Golding, "Picasso and Surrealism," in Roland Penrose and J. Golding, eds., Picasso in Retrospect, New York, 1973, 52-53, makes the astonishing and unsupported claim that Jung, through his writings on myth, had more influence than Freud on "the Surrealists" (perhaps he has in mind some of the many exSurrealists who after the late 1920s struck out on their own). 48 See Robert Waelder, Psychoanalytic Avenues to Art, New York, 1965, and "The Principle of Multiple Function: Observations of Overdetermination," Psychoanalytic Quarterly, v, 1936, 45-62. 49Goethe: 1777-1786, 2 vols., Detroit, 1963, II, 1375. so See H. Lowenfeld, "Psychic Trauma and Productive Experience in the Artist," Psychoanalytic Quarterly, x, 1941, 116-30; French transl. in Psychanalyse a'l'universit&,II, 8, 1977, 665-78, discussed by Jean Laplanche, "Lowenfeld et la creation artistique," in "La sublimation," Problhmatiques, III, Paris, 1980, 209-11.
self-mutilation style of performance artists like Vito Acconci and Chris Burden, and helps explain why in this troubled time pathographic analyses continue.51 The all too evident difficulties with the pathographical approach - above all the ease with which one can get lost between two disciplines and produce both bad art history and bad psychoanalysis, and a lack of appreciation of the formal qualities of art - have impelled interested scholars, who do not wish to return to a phenomenological description of artistic surface with no biographical dimensions, to seek alternatives. An attractive approach that might be called appreciative pathography involves the collaboration of a psychoanalyst and an art historian. For his "unorthodox" study, Gauguin's Paradise Lost (New York, 1971), Wayne Andersen acknowledged consulting psychoanalysts and psychiatrists; but he presented his often interesting results as personal intuition, omitting the scholarly allusions that might have helped the reader reconstruct his psychological reasonings. A more complete integration of the two disciplines is Robert S. Liebert's Michelangelo. A Psychoanalytic Study of His Life and Images (New Haven, 1983). The author, a psychoanalyst, guided by knowledgeable art-historian colleagues at Columbia, attempted to incorporate his pathographic material into an art-historicalframework. The main thesis is that, through the disturbance of the normal course of nurturing in earliest infancy, and a series of losses of important loved "objects," Michelangelo suffered from emotional conflicts, exorbitant and insatiable needs, and unfulfilled longings for maternal warmth that affected his social behavior, conditioned his entire affective and imaginative life and ultimately his imagery. Liebert adopted certain theories of early object relations (including Mahler's theory of separation anxiety) and avoided all reference to drive theory or to the Oedipus complex (though he refers to the affiliated ideas of the "family romance" and ambivalence). He thinks that, as a result of early traumas, there occurred a splitting of maternal images (idealized into Madonnas and Medeas) and their filial complements; and this splitting presumably accounts for much of the content of Michelangelo's art. Since a number of critics - art historians and psychoanalysts alike - have sharply contested Liebert's claim to be able to reconstruct the infancy of the artist, it is unfortunate that the author sought out none of the recent publications (by Trexler, or Ross, or in the pe-
riodical The History of Childhood) that attempt to document attitudes on the part of wet nurses and other caretakers to infants during the Renaissance and later.52 A direct and effective challenge to pathography comes from those who refuse to characterize the productive artist's fantasy as neurotic; indeed, if the analyst detects narcissism in an artist, it is called "healthy narcissism" (Hanna Sachs, Paul Federn). This approach has resulted in little art criticism of note, for it merges with simple appreciation, from which it is nearly indistinguishable. A different transformation of psychobiography occurred among French psychoanalysts, who have followed either of two major trends - toward a socialized, "collective" ego or toward a linguistic analysis of works as texts. After World War I, an intense interest in psychoanalysis developed among surviving Symbolist writers and young members of the avant-garde art movements, especially the Surrealists around Andre Breton. However, only toward the late 1920s did Charles Baudouin, in his La psychanalyse de l'art (Paris, 1929), attempt to ground a systematic aesthetics on psychoanalysis. A characteristic of French psychoanalytic approaches to art in the 1920s and 1930s (excluding the circle around Marie Bonaparte, which pursued the problem of translating German psychoanalytic terms into French) was the adoption of a psychoanalytic vocabulary while modifying or misunderstanding the essential ideas. Thus, Gaston Bachelard published Psychanalyse du feu (Paris, 1938) - perhaps in response to Freud's long-discarded explanation of the conquest of fire in sexual terms, and L'airet les songes (Paris, 1943). Charles Mauron (18991966) early admitted that "the basis" of his own work was that of Roger Fry, who translated Mauron's works such as The Nature of Beauty in Art and Literature(London, 1927) and Aesthetics and Psychology (London, 1935). A chapter in the latter on "Roger Fry and the Psychoanalysts" criticizes Fry's distinction between aesthetic and ordinary emotion, although later in the book Mauron agrees with Fry's criticism of the psychoanalysts' emphasis on the importance of daydreams in art. In his subsequent work Mauron developed a literary criticism that postulated the existence of the Freudian unconscious. Of special interest is his idea, elaborated in the 1940s and probably borrowed from Ernst Kris, of a "personal myth" in writers (and artists?) - "networks of associations or groups of images, obsessional and probably involuntary," which constitute structural traits
See K. Schweitzer, Depression und bildernisches Ausdrucksgeschehen. Ein Beitrag zu "Psychopathologie und Ausdruck," Salzburg, 1981, a psychobiography of the painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who terminated his depression with suicide. The study characteristically makes the biography primary and uses the art to illustrate points about the artist's emotional problems. Also interesting is Patricia Mathews' discussion of Van Gogh's equation of neurosis and genius ("Aurier and Van Gogh: Criticism and 1986, 100), although she refers not to Response," Art Bulletin, LXVIII, Freud but to Janet. (The relative importance of Janet and Freud for Parisian Surrealism is now an important issue for such French scholars as Marguerite Bonnet and Francoise Will-Levaillant and the Swiss Jean Sta-
robinski.) By contrast, Aaron Sheon, in a lecture for Steven Levine's lively session on "Art History and Psychoanalysis" at the Annual Meeting of the College Art Association, Boston, 1987, adopted an informed psychoanalytic approach to show how Van Gogh used his sense of illness as a sign of power. 52 John E. Gedo has cogently criticized the book in Vol. of Psychoani alytic Perspectives on Art, Hillsdale, NJ, and London, 1985. Also see Leo Steinberg's sharp comments on the reconstructed childhood and some inaccuracies in New YorkReview of Books, 28 June 1984. Charles Dempsey in New Criterion, I, 1983, 72-76, faults Liebert for neglecting Lacan, Erikson, and Foucault.
that delineate mythical figures and dramatic situations.53 After World War II, Sartre'sExistentialists,having passed the Surrealist brand of antisocial avant-gardism through the sieve of their collective experience in the Resistance, came up with their own brand of psychoanalysis, distinct from the Freudian one adopted by Breton's Surrealists. Existential psychoanalysis - like Freud's- delves into every seemingly trivial detail of the author's life, seeking everywhere revelations significant for the art; hence the endlessly voluminous biography of Flaubert that Sartre worked on. Sartre emphasized the freedom of the creator in opposition to Freudian determinism: he described authors as "a totality, not a collection" and sought to determine their "original choice." But he was led by his method to the dilemma that he could have either a psychoanalytically replete biography - a "collection" without a discernible "totality" (trees/forest) - or a "totality" without the myriad detailed observations that enliven and enrich the recit. Subsequent French writers would switch from the project of psychanalyse de la personne to an analyse du texte and accept gladly the disintegration of the personality or author. The dissemination in France and elsewhere of the structuralist viewpoint, particularly in a version articulated by the anthropologist Levi-Strauss, had unfortunate consequences for psychobiography: Barthes in the 1960s announced "the death of the author," a phrase directed not only against the author as creator, but against the autonomous text or work, which disappeared into an "intertexuality" consisting of versions of texts (paintings) without An a privileged originating act.M" important response to this addresses the individual work of art and psyposition choanalytically interprets the fictional characters in the text without claiming to draw "clinical"conclusions about them or through them about their author.55 Lacan belonged to Levi-Strauss'sgeneration and like him used Freud's texts to build his own system: he combined an id psychology with a semiotics derived from Saussure. His followers in France ignored rather than opposed psy-
chobiography, which they considered too centered on the individual (understandably they published more of Freud's than their own clinical case studies). Their equation of language and the unconscious, and their transformation of genital specifics into a generalized "phallus"have appealed to literary historians and to speculative art historians eager to "read"the letters unintentionally inscribed in paintings. Lacan was rejected by the international psychoanalytic establishment centered in England and the United States that was espousing ego psychology. Lacan criticized an emphasis on the ego that seemed to neglect the earlier principles of Freud, which he regarded as indispensable - repression, the death instinct, castration anxiety. At best, the Lacanian approach constituted an attack on the middle-class normality of Freudian ego psychology as practiced in Paris. His approach, never an important influence on other schools of analysis, entered into the normal discourse of enterprising literary theorists. Through the latter it has gained the attention of some art historians, particularly for its dazzling synthesis of Saussurian linguistic categories; but just this synthesis of abstractions was characteristic of the Lacanians, who apparently lacked sensitive concern either for concrete human emotional problems or for the particularities of art. The Lacanian "revolution," after a period of dominance in France, has recently suffered severe setbacks.56Object relations theorists have rejected the id psychology of Lacan; and the philosopher Ricoeur claimed that the effort to define a language of the unconscious was at best redundant.57 Moreover, the problems are not merely external: two disaffected followers of Lacan, Deleuze and Guattari, delivered a serious blow to the Lacanians in their AntiOedipe (1972). These post-Kleinian radical psychoanalysts cite a famous case of Freud's (that of the schizophrenic Schreber) as a model for escaping the bourgeois Oedipal family. They believe that the Lacanians, the reigning school of psychoanalysis in Paris, wished to bring the irrational under the domination of intellectual order for a sinister
53 See Charles Mauron, Des metaphores obsidantes au mythe personnel. Introduction a la psychocritique, Paris, 1963; and Ernst Kris, "The Personal Myth," Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, iv, 1956, 653-81. Wayne Andersen (Gauguin's Paradise Lost, New York, 1971) seems to have applied a version of this idea in his study of Gauguin; e.g.: "the imposition of self upon subject was, in Gauguin's case, a manifestation of a personal mythology - the world re-created in his own image"
54 See Roland Barthes, "The Death of the Author" (1968), in Image-MusicText, New York, 1977, 147: "Once the Author is removed, the claim to decipher a text becomes quite futile." We must not forget that, before the Lacanian psychoanalysts and the semioticians declared the irrelevance of the author, art historians like W6lfflin already entertained ideas about the anonymity of the artist, and the irrelevance of the authorial intention to the question of why art has a history. See Holly (as in n. 8), 51-52. 55 See Meredith Skura, The Literary Use of the Psychoanalytic Process, New Haven and London, 1981. Also see Elizabeth Dalton, Unconscious Structure in 'The Idiot': A Study in Literatureand Psychoanalysis, Princeton, NJ, 1979.
56The best account, placing the Lacanians in the larger context of the history of French psychoanalysis, is Elisabeth Roudinesco, Histoire de la psychanalyse en France, 2 vols., Paris, 1986. Of particular interest are the writings of Jean Louis Schefer, who is rethinking the visual arts from antiquity and the Renaissance to cinema from a position that includes a postLacanian aspect. He does not see anamorphic distortion in terms of the castration complex as Lacan does (The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, New York, 1981, 85-90, discusses the anamorphosis of Holbein's The Ambassadors), but as the loss of the sense of the body's organic wholeness. This loss he traces back (in L'invention du corps chr6tien, Paris, 1975) to the split instituted with Augustinian thought between the human body as real and existing and the moral, idealized body of Christianity. 57 See Paul Ricoeur, Freud and Philosophy, New Haven, 1970 (lectures of 1961 at Yale); e.g., "[The linguistic conception of the unconscious] makes sense only in conjunction with the economic concepts of Freudian theory; instead of replacing the Freudian topographic and economic point of view, it parallels that point of view in every respect" (pp. 395-96).
goal, namely, to constitute a priest-like clan capable of controlling a disturbed society.58 In turn their book has been severely criticized by Frenchfeminist writers for its patriarchal assumptions,59 and they have responded by revising their views. Increasingly, Melanie Klein's theories have taken hold among post-Lacanian analysts. Recently Julia Kristeva (who continues to cite artists - here Holbein), perhaps in response to her experience of motherhood, has written further about the pre-Oedipal mother and the uplifting function of psychoanalysis as a "contre-d presseur."60 In the current struggles among Freudians, Lacanians, post-Lacanians/schizoanalysts, and Kleinians, hers is only one strong voice among others. The underlying issue concerns the power to repress one's opposition ("to control discourse" in the words of Foucault). Elsewhere, the impact on art of the psychoanalytic theory of repression has had a varied career. The analogy between psychological (internal) and social (external) repression61 has entered the writings of Marxists like Jameson (who applies the term "political unconscious" to literature) in the United States, and also art historians like T.J. Clark. Writing on the reception of Courbet's exhibition of 1851, Clark observed that most of the Parisian critics "repressed" the insight that the show had a "bourgeois nature." In a note he explained that "we are able to talk of repression
58 They seem to address the concern of Max Weber who, in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, New York, 1958, 13, 17, designated the distinctive cultural phenomenon of modern Western civilization to be the principle of rationalization.
because the act leaves such clear, yet unconscious verbal traces . . What is most curious is the dissociation between the well-worn, aesthetic nature of the surface objections (criticism of Courbet's lack of composition . . .) and the disproportionate anger generated in the critics' style and imagery. It is what Freud called dissociation of affect from content."62 In Germany and Austria psychoanalysis remains highly visible in the bookstores and in magazines dealing with art and radical politics; excepting the radical Mitscherlich (founder of the periodical Psyche. Zeitschrift fiir Psychoanalyse und ihre Anwendungen), the comparatively few psychoanalysts produce little significant work touching the arts.63 The more recent evolution of psychoanalytic approaches to art has largely resulted from the criticism of psychoanalysts who pay less attention to the Oedipus complex than to the pre-Oedipal phase, and to object relations (which are not innate).64Of considerable importance for the potential development of an art-historical methodology is the classic essay by D.W. Winnicott on "transitional objects." In it he analyzes the child's "first cultural objects," such as toys and blankets, which enter into the play between mother and child - ultimately transitional to adult cultural objects.65Attempts to develop a transitional object theory based on Winnicott have been made by Peter Fuller (1980, 1981-82), Richard Kuhns (1983), and J. Randolph (1983).66
Germany clearly in Allemagnes d'aujourd'hui. Revue francaise d'information sur les deux allemagnes; e.g., M. Frank, " 'La fin du sujet' et 'la fin de l'individu,' une pierre d'achoppement entre la France et l'Allemagne," in the issue of Jan.-June, 1987, 24ff. For Austria, an anthology edited by H. Lobner, Psychoanalyse heute. Die 6iffentlicheGeheimswissenschaft, Vienna, 1986, collected outstanding essays internationally, and characteristically includes no Austrian example but the editor's introduction. 64 See Greenberg and Mitchell (as in n. 39), 144, who point out that M. Klein was the key figure in shifting the emphasis of psychoanalysis to the study of the earliest relationships between infant and mother, before the development of the Oedipal constellation of later childhood. M. Mahler developed out of Hartmann's notion of adaptation a theory of object relationship she called symbiosis, centered on the child's experience of the mother (p. 284). Also see J. Gedo, Advances in Clinical Psychoanalysis, New York, 1981, esp. Chap. 14, "The Oedipus Complex in Contemporary Perspective." 65 See "Transitional Objects and Transitional Phenomena," International Journal of Psychoanalysis, xxxiv, 1953, 433-56. 66 See Fuller, Art and Psychoanalysis, London, 1980, and his article in Flash Art, cv, 1981-82, 47-50. He draws also on object relations analysts like Milner and Rycroft, and on the biological explanations of appreciation by Timpanaro. Fuller tends to universalize his experiences, anachronistically unaware of differences, say, between our own and ancient appreciation of Greek art. Also see the book of Richard Kuhns, Psychoanalytic Theory of Art. A Philosophy of Art on Developmental Principles, New York, 1983, which cautions psychoanalyst and historian alike not to forget the centrality of the work of art. In an essay, "The End of Art?" in Lang, ed. (as in n. 4), Kuhns opposes a regenerative theory based on Winnicott to Hegelian pessimism about the end of art; for he claims that, through the ever-renewed "transitional objects," "child and parent create a third realm of cultural imagination .. ." J. Randolph, "The Amenable Object" in Vanguard, xii, Summer, 1983, 31-33, favors Winnicott's object relations theory over Freudian "id psychology." She calls the art work after it enters the public domain an "amenable object," a term she exemplifies through works by several artists in different media.
59Micheline Enriquez, "Fantasmes paranoiaques: Diff6rences des sexes, homosexualit6, loi du pere," Topiques, xiii, 1974, 23-57, analyzes Valerie Solanas' Scum Manifesto in terms of the fantasies of Schreber, including emasculation. 60 See Julia Kristeva, Soleil noir. Depression et melancolie, Paris, 1987. 61 A radical psychoanalytic criticism of the middle-class concept of genius appears in Alexander Mitscherlich, ed., Psycho-Pathographien, i, Frankfurt, 1972, which attempts to promote the potential creativity and selfdevelopment of all by "democratizing" genius. 62 See Timothy J. Clark, "A Bourgeois Dance of Death . . ." (1969), in P.T. Chu, ed., Courbet in Perspective, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1977, 9394 and n. 16. Clark could have found an analogue for the "dissociation" closer to home - T.S. Eliot, who borrowed the term "dissociation of sensibility" (meaning first a split between sensation and emotion and later between thought and emotion) from the turn-of-the-century French critic R. de Gourmont.
An anthology of texts edited by H. Kraft, Psychoanalyse, Kunst und Kreativitiit heute. Die Entwicklung der analytischen Kunstpsychologie seit Freud, Cologne, 1984, contains a majority of articles by Americans in the theoretical section "Psychodynamik der Kreativittit," although most of the writers on individual artists in the section "Bildende Kunst und Psychoanalyse" are Germans discussing German artists aside from Van Gogh and Klee. The literature of art therapy occasionally touches on larger issues relevant to the art historian's concern; see, e.g., Madeleine Leitner, 1982, 31-47. "Psychoanalyse und Kunst," in Kunst und Therapie, LXX, The periodical Merkur has regularly published articles and reviews bearing on psychoanalysis, as well as an interesting sketch of an autobiographical novel involving such ideas as "the family romance," Rank's "birth of the hero," and the Oedipus complex: see Michael Rutschky, "Die eigentliche Arbeit. Untersuchung eines Lebensromans," Merkur, CDLIX, 1987, 375-85. One can observe the influence of recent French psychoanalytic ideas in
An interesting application of object relations theory that attempts to integrate the formal aspect of art was worked out in the art-historical writings of the English author, Adrian Stokes, lauded by Gowing and Wollheim among others. Stokes's use of Kleinian theory in his writing has stimulated work in various fields from art history to architectural criticism.67 Perhaps most significantly, he contributed a psychoanalytic approach to the history of sculpture (the first major effort since Rank's):61 he adopted the terms of Klein for two phases of child development - the "paranoid/schizoid position" when the "good" and "bad" maternal breasts are split and the "depressive position" when they are integrated - and matched them to the techniques of modeling and carving. He applied his schema to some of the greatest sculptures of the Italian Renaissance, and sought to interpret aesthetic results in terms of personality traits linked to the choice of technique. Stokes has been criticized for employing - like Michael Fried - a criticism devoid of genuine historic sense.69 Another writer on art history indebted to Klein, the psychoanalyst Ehrenzweig, in The Hidden Order of Art formulated a theory of "threephases of creativity" - an initial "schizoid" stage of projecting fragmented parts of the self; a manic phase of unconscious scanning that integrates art's substructure; and a depressive phase of acceptance of imperfection and hope for future integration.70He also built on the work of Stokes, especially in seeking to explain the emergence of abstraction: "Adrian Stokes, in a recent lecture, pointed to the fact that the contemplation of nature favours a libidinous withdrawal from concrete reality. In my view, the dehumanization of Western art began when the contemplation of landscape replaced the representation of the human body. The undifferentiated background blotted out the human actors and took over the leading part. From then onwards it was only a comparatively small step to the total abstraction of modern art."71 Ehrenzweig's ac67 See Roger Scruton, The Aesthetics of Architecture, London, 1979, Chap. 6. Richard Wollheim and Lawrence Gowing have edited and appreciated Stokes's critical writings. Also see Michael O'Pray, "Pater, Stokes and Art History: The Aesthetic Sensibility," in Rees and Borzello, eds. (as in n.
count of the origin of abstraction can, it seems to me, be set in the context of the first explorations of perspective as described by White: ". . . It is generally agreed that both in primitive art and in the reviving naturalism of the period leading up to the Renaissance an interest in the object itself precedes any interest in space as such. The interval, or nothingness, which separates one solid from the next, is relatively unimportant."72 Other English psychoanalysts - Klein, Ellen F. Sharpe, W.D.R. Fairbairn, Edward Glover - have contributed much toward understanding "the positive psychic role of social influences" and thus have pointed the way to a new literary criticism that has paid more attention to the caretakers outside the immediate family triangle.3 At present efforts to unite drive theory and object relations theory have met with little success, as noted by Greenberg and Mitchell:74 Sandler's] efforts at a genuine mixed model, "[J. like those of Kohut, apparently have failed. These failures suggest an intrinsic incompatibility between the drive/ structure and relation/structure models, one which can be neither overcome nor circumvented." The current irreconcilability of the two positions has prevented the formulation of a comprehensive and useful psychoanalytic approach to art that could assimilate or displace psychography. It is as though the psychoanalytic triad of id, ego, and superego has been embodied in a corresponding triad of concerns addressing artist, work, and audience.75The failure to synthesize these concerns threatens to divorce psychoanalytic theories of art from the realities of work and experience - to destroy appreciation through Oedipal conflict or to bury perception in the blindness of the womb. Despite the sectarian character of both art history and psychoanalysis and their mutual resistance to interdisciplinary collaboration,76hopeful signs come from those who propose syntheses of different psychological approaches:
72 In John White, The Birth and Rebirth of Pictorial Space, London, 1972, 35. White refers here to Panofsky, "Die Perspektive als 'symbolische Form,' " Vortriige der Bibliothek Warburg, 1924-25, 268ff. Hubert Damisch, Theorie du nuage, Paris, 1972, 145, n. 1, claims that in Panofsky's text perspective "represses"- in the Freudian sense - the painting support; and he compares the opposition perspective/support to the split between Darstellung (presentation) and Vorstellung(re-presentation). One might also consider these points in relation to later architectural history and theory - of the Mannerists and of the late 19th century, as in discussions of Einfiihlung in architecture. 73 See the precocious Postwar appreciation of the English School of Psychoanalysis by the literary critic R.G. Davis, "Art and Anxiety" (1945), in William Phillips, ed., Art and Psychoanalysis, Cleveland, 1957, 447. 74 As in n. 39, 378.
75 A merit of Ellen H. Spitz's book, Art and Psyche. A Study of Psycho-
68Rank made an important contribution in The Trauma of Birth (1st ed., 1924), New York, 1959, in which he speculated that primitive forms of dwellings like caves roused associations with the female - he speaks of "remembrancesof the warm, protecting womb" and of the "primal plasticity" of the womb - whereas implements and weapons suggested the phallic shape. This effort to extend psychoanalytic thinking to formal questions had little effect within Freud's circles, since the book marked the break between Rank and Freud. Gilbert J. Rose, The Power of Form: A Psychoanalytic Approach to Form, New York, 1980, an important recent treatment of a more general nature, suggests that the forms of art orient us through the ambiguities of reality while enlivening our awareness of the world and ourselves. 69 See David Carrier, Artwriting, Amherst, MA, 1987.
Berkeley, 1967, 102-03.
71 Ibid., 131. Howard Gardner, The Arts and Human Development, New
analysis and Aesthetics, New Haven and London, 1985, is to have addressed the complexity of the issue; but on her own admission she has not gotten much beyond pathography. See my review in Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, XLV, 1986, 91-94. 76We have seen how resistant art historians have been to psychoanalysis. In addition I might cite the German writer Horst Breuer, who criticizes many current psycho-biographical studies of literature for lacking genuine interdisciplinarity, and for treating the human psyche as independent of historical change (see his "Freuds kunstpsychologische Methoden," Psyche, xxxIx, 1985, 577-91).
York, 1973, 156, takes issue with Ehrenzweig's account of the relation of abstraction to concreteness in the child's perception: "Ehrenzweig does not provide empirical support for his claim that 'thing perception' precludes attention to abstract and gestalt-free aspects of works; my own research suggests that he may have overstated his case."
e.g., Howard Gardner (1983) and Ellen Winner (1982). Gardner would combine "the stage-sequence notions of Piaget . .. with the epigenetic model of the psychoanalysts," and Winner complements Gardner by adding more art-historical material, which she treats from the psychoanalytic, psychiatric, and psychological viewpoints.77 The first attempts to apply these new models to art history are just beginning to appear.7' Art History and Psychoanalysis The claim of art historians that their chronologically ordered array of speculations and hypotheses has scientific objectivity based on documentation, sensitive appreciation, or perceptive evaluation, has placed an obstacle in the way of their adoption of psychoanalysis; for psychohistory and psychobiography can enrich ratherthan validate those speculations, and may even seem to direct attention away from the art to a "catalogue d raisonne" of the artist's emotional problems. Even more repugnant to some is the psychoanalytic interest in "the unconscious," which assumes the need for special measures to understand the past, and which many like the Existentialist Sartre reject for introducing a benighted determinism that denies artists their intention, their ability to make choices.79 But the realities of art often involve obscure and apparently irrational behavior whose motivations insinuate themselves onto the attention of scholars and their readers alike; and scholarship itself involves unintentional elements. Gombrich cited
77See H. Gardner, The Arts and Human Development, New York, 1983, 173; and E. Winner, Invented Worlds. The Psychology of the Arts, Cambridge, 1982. For a lucid presentation of epigenesis from a psychoanalytic point of view (and its relation, incidentally, to Piaget's concept of "assimilation"), see J. Gedo and A. Goldberg, Models of the Mind, Chicago, 1973, 8: "Wehope to demonstrate that the concept of epigenetic schemata, that is, the interaction of the organism with the environment in a sequence of specific phases, is the most useful theoretical conception of the development of human mental functioning." 78 See the interesting book by S.J. Blatt and E.S. Blatt, Continuity and Change in Art. The Development of Modes of Representation, Hillsdale, NJ, 1984. 79 See Irving Lavin, "The Art of Art History: A Professional Allegory," Art News, LXXXII, Oct., 1983, 96-101, who sees art history as a "natural science of the spirit." He asserts that "everything in an art work is intentional" and that art is a form of communication. In this he comes close to Kris's ego-psychological emphasis on communication - but without the unconscious, to which the psychoanalyst remained committed. Also note that Dilthey, in 1883, claimed that the artist's intentions were accessible and that through "self-transposition" a scholar could understand the past. Dilthey influenced Panofsky's belief in the ability of scholarly consciousness to reanimate the past. See Holly (as in n. 8), 37. One should note that Panofsky, who earlier believed that there was an unconscious component, later took the opposite view. In Studies in Iconology (1930), Panofsky wrote that iconologists "deal with the work of art as a symptom of something else . . . and interpret its compositional and iconographical features as more particularized evidence of this 'something else.' The discovery and interpretation of these 'symbolical values' (which are often unknown to the artist himself and may even emphatically differ from what he consciously intended to express) is the object of what we may call 'iconology' as opposed to 'iconography.' " In Early Netherlandish Painting (1953), Panofsky reversed himself, asserting that creative activity is a rational act; e.g., he considers Jan van Eyck's "disguised symbolism" to be a consciously devised program. In contradiction of this position, Schap-
with approval an essay by Stuart Hampshire, who "stressed the relevance of psychological conflicts for the production of a rich and worthwhile oeuvre:" "The significance of a writer, whether poet or philosopher or historian . .. does not reside principally in the conscious intention behind his work, but rather in the precise nature, as we can now see it, of the conflicts and imaginative inconsistencies in his work."80The dogmatic search for conscious intention and stylistic coherence has encouraged - as in the catalogue raisonne - the setting of boundaries trued with procrustean rigor. The argument of quality has been used to exclude juvenilia, inadvertent scribbles, and works denied attribution to a major artist on the grounds that they cloud the picture of stellar performance (aesthetic and commercial).81 These and other marginal subjects, along with new methodologies - especially in twentieth-century fields have recently been clamoring to enter exclusive humanistic studies, to the chagrin of purists.82 In this section I will describe the intermittent responses to psychoanalysis by art historians - particularly in fields prior to the modern era - and suggest that nevertheless they often share more with psychoanalysis than they acknowledge. (1) The Art Bulletin. The resistance of art history to the incursion of psychoanalysis is well illustrated in the pages of the Art Bulletin. Contributors to the first forty volumes make very little reference to psychoanalysis, and then only superficially or mistakenly. The article by G.M. Richter,
iro, in "Muscipula Diaboli," Art Bulletin (1945), denied that the symbolism of the Merode Altarpiece was deliberately or even consciously disguised. 80See Gombrich, Aby Warburg, London, 1970, 9. Also compare the view of Lionello Venturi, who, claiming that art history is identical with art criticism (i.e., that art must be judged from the viewpoint of the artist), believed - in the words of the sympathetic art historian Creighton Gilbert - that he had succeeded in analyzing the artists' "past feelings about their own forms." See Venturi, The History of Art Criticism, New York, 1964, intro. by Gregory Battcock, 7-8, citing Gilbert's "Lionello Venturi," Arts Magazine, Feb., 1962, 59. In terms of the psychoanalytic conceptions of projection and screen memory, Venturi's claims to retrospective insight into the artist's feelings seem somewhat naive. 81 Rudolf Arnheim, Picasso's "Guernica": The Genesis of a Painting, Berkeley, 1962, by a Gestalt psychologist, gives material that could be integrated into a psychoanalytical approach; and Dore Ashton's fascinating A Fable of Modern Art, London, 1980, is profoundly suggestive about the struggle of an artist (as depicted in Balzac's The Unknown Masterpiece) to make an abstract idea concrete. This is also not psychoanalytical but raises possibilities similar to Arnheim's study. See Colin Eisler, "'Every Artist Paints Himself': Art History as Biography and Autobiography," in Social Research, LIV,1987, 88, 99. The entire issue, which carries the title "Reflections on the Self," is interesting in our context.
82 The Surrealists (and the affiliated l'art brut promoted by Dubuffet) to-
gether with the Expressionists have led the way toward a new taste for the incomplete, the imperfect, and the bizarre in the wake of the Romantic enthusiasm for the untutored and spontaneous. Even the drawings jotted by a famous writer have found their appreciators and interpreters who claim that they can cast light on the writings; e.g., see the article by C. Gaudelman, "Kafka comme dessinateur expressionniste," in Peinture. Cahiers theoriques, xIv-xv, Paris, 1979, 202ff, illustrated with drawings by Kafka.
"Conscious and Unconscious Elements in the Creation of Works of Art" (xv, 1933), alludes briefly to a distinction between "subconscious" and "unconscious" elements, but nowhere mentions psychoanalysis. In discussing questions of attribution, it criticizes "Morelli's method of morphological details" for often overlooking the psychological aspect. August L. Mayer, in a note on Richter's article in the same volume, basically agrees, but cautions (like Freud, to whom he does not refer) that even the psychological approach fails to account for the "most marvelous and mysterious" transformation that takes place in the mind of the artist during the act of creation. A. Coomaraswamy, in "Mediaeval Aesthetic" (xvII, 1935), briefly cites Jung'sModern Man in Search of a Soul and Art and Artist by Otto Ranke (sic!) in order to bolster his arguments against individuality and modern art. On the other hand, in discussing F.J.Mather's Concerning Beauty (xvIII, 1936), N. Millette, a proponent of "experimental psychology" in the study of art, observed that Mather censured modern art "for its reception of psychoanalysis, for its pursuit of hollow originality and style." Perhaps the first reference to Freud - a critical one - occurs in Coomaraswamy's review of R. Frith'sArt and Life in New Guinea (xxi, 1939): ". . . the Freudian dogma of equating the savage with the child. .. ." Later in the same volume Meyer Schapiro, more sympathetic, suggested a psychoanalytic interpretation of "the fortified town as female and subject to conquest" in a footnote to his richly documented article, "FromMozarabic to Romanesque in Silos." There he cites Rank's paper, "Um Stidte werben" (1913), a reference he returned to in 1968 in a discussion of Cezanne. A review of James Thrall Soby's The Early Chirico (xxiv, 1942) applauds Soby's rejection of "minute Freudian interpretations" and qualified acceptance of more intuitive ones such as Gordon Onslow-Ford's. The refusal to apply psychoanalysis even to de Chirico indicates the mood that made it seem natural for Wolfgang Stechow to write an article that year titled "Shooting at Father's Corpse" without making any allusion to Oedipal motivations. Presumably since the history of alchemical symbolism is not easily reducible to individual psychology, Otto G. von Simpson, writing in the same volume, "Philipp-Otto Runge and the Mythology of Landscape," found it unthreatening to document a point about alchemy from an article by Jung. Martin Weinberger, reviewing Charles de Tolnay's The Youth of Michelangelo (xxvII, 1945), criticized the "Freudian character" of some phrases in the book, and pronounced a sweeping judgment against the application of modern theories to old art: The terminologies of Plato and Plotinus, Hegel, and, almost as much, those of Bergson and Freudare dangerous things to play with even on their own grounds where alone they have full significance. Transplanted literally into regions for which they never were intended, these concepts become ugly and gross materializations of their purer and nobler selves. When such concepts conflict with each other and are as anachronistically modern as they are trivial, then we remember that too often the
modern critic sees in the deep well of the past only his own reflection. In the same volume and in a similar vein, F.M. Clapp's review of Tietze and Tietze-Conrat's The Drawings of the Venetian Painters in the 15th and 16th Centuries inveighed against the critics' "falling into a pseudoscientific methodology": "The cajoleries of stylistic criticism cannot be substituted for an experienced, skeptical sensibility. .. " The same mood pervades a review (xxix, 1947) that rejects Herbert Read's adoption of "Jung'stypes" in his Education Through Art; and the reviewer recommends "newer psychologies" as presented in Charles Murchison, Psychologies of 1930. Frederick Hartt, reviewing de Tolnay's Michelangelo,
Chapel (xxxII, 1950), criticized Tolnay for his "uncritical" discussion of the "pathological aspects of Michelangelo's nature" and, echoing a suggestion of Panofsky, declared that investigation must try "to discover in Michelangelo's experience and imagery the identity of the psychic forces which, externalized in the form of the omnipresent block, bind his struggling personality."83 Anticipating a major point in the psychoanalytic approach to Michelangelo by Liebert, he added, "Michelangelo himself may point the way when he tells us he drank in his love of stone with the milk of his wet nurse, a stonecutter's wife." In an article in the same volume, "LignumVitae in Medio Paradisi: The Stanza d'Eliodoro and the Sistine Ceiling," Hartt - by no means expert in psychoanalytic thought referred to "the classic analysis" of The Interpretation of Dreams to support his discussion of "universal masculine symbols" in the Sistine Ceiling. Hartt's interest in an approach that would link an artist's "experienceand imagery" was rare among contemporary contributors to the Art Bulletin. Frederick B. Deknatel, in a favorable review of Wilhelm Weisbach's Vincent van Gogh: Kunst und Schicksal (xxiv, 1952), agreed with the author's emphatic distinction between the artist's work and his "struggling personality:" Van Gogh's illness and suffering he followed the "despite" program he conceived for himself with such determination that Weisbach can wonder how a process so unwavering . . . could go hand in hand with so much inner turbulence. At the same time he recognizes that the contrast between firmness and direction in art and the opposite pattern in life is often found in men of genius." Arnold Hauser's review of Gerstle Mack's Courbet (xxxv, 1953) included the most explicit proposal yet published in the Art Bulletin for applying psychoanalysis to the study of an artist. Hauser called Courbet "a real godsend for any would-be biographer experienced in psychoanalysis"; for he found in the artist a blend of narcissism, vanity, and exhibitionism. From Mack's descriptions of Courbet's parents he inferred "the prevalence of the Oedipal complex in the child" and "in the lingo of psychoanalysis, a 'lack of
The Sistine Ceiling, and
III,
The Medici
83The psychoanalyst J. Gedo made a similar point in "Mourning, Perversion, and Apotheosis," in Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Art, I, 1985, 282.
object libido."' He summarized his results in a striking sentence: "A loss of reality in the first great realist of modern art - this is the paradox of Courbet's existence." Evidently nineteenth-century specialists (and perhaps psychoanalysts) took Hauser to task for making his naive claims: for by the time he wrote his Philosophy of Art History in 1958 (p. 153), he reversed himself (without saying so): "Even in the case of so recent an artist as Courbet we do not know enough to get anything like a satisfactory picture of the psychological background of his work." Six years later James D. Breckenridge reviewed William Abell's The Collective Dream in Art. A Psycho-Historical Theory of Culture Based on Relations between the Arts, 1959). This long, Psychology, and the Social Sciences (XLI, critical (but not hostile) discussion questioned some concrete applications of Abell's psychoanalytic dream theory; but the reviewer conceded that Abell's theory "can make an intriguing metaphorical framework for the study of certain art-historical problems." With unintended irony he mentioned the selectivity forced on the author by the "enormous" range and quantity of psychoanalytic literature (largely unknown to his readers). Gerald Ackerman, in "G.B. Marino's Contribution to
Seicento Art Theory" (XLIII,1961), presents what one might
term a characteristically "counter-pathographic argument" that has often been brought against psychobiographical studies of artists: "In 1958 he [Marino] was imprisoned for 'immorality'; the precise nature of the accusation is impossible to discern through the gleeful calumnies and the bland whitewash of his champions." A note refers to the contemporary charge of homosexuality: "The pederast charge, though repeated constantly throughout Marino's life, seems to be . . . simply an integral part of any good Seicento invective, rather than an accurate characterization of our poet."'84 The following year, Theodore Reff, still at the beginning of his interest in psychoanalysis, published "C6zanne, Flaubert and the Queen of Sheba" (XLIV, 1962), which inallusions to "guilty reaction" and to projective tersperses psychology; and he placed within "the emergent psychoanalysis of the 1890's" the disparate figures of the novelist Anatole France and the Freudian psychoanalyst Theodore Reik. Creighton Gilbert's review of S. Orlandi's Beato Angelico (XLVII, 1964) raised issues pertinent to the hopeful psychobiographer of a Renaissance artist: the variable age at which a young person can be called a painter, and the motivated revisions of birth dates. (Both would affect the description of early development and of family relations.) In the same volume, the review by Jean Boggs of Franloise Gilot and Carlton Lake's Life with Picasso cites Gilot's remark that "their family doctor was a psychoanalyst," and that indeed Picasso was quite aware of Freudian interpre-
tations of behavior. Boggs, however, adds: "But Picasso was also aware of a world which defied Freudiananalysis." By this she means that Picasso felt capable of controlling the hostile and strange world he perceived about him; and she cites his claim that the magical masks he looked at in the Trocadero invested his own painting with a protective magic. She points out, on the other hand, that Picasso declared his aversion to allowing the unconscious full sway in himself. Yet, pace Boggs, nothing in Picasso's remarks rules out his belief in unconscious motivation; as he himself admitted in one of the passages she cites, ". . . whatever we may do [the unconscious] expresses itself in spite of us. .. " Leo Steinberg wrote on "Michelangelo'sFlorentine Pieta: The Missing Leg" (L, 1968), an iconographical interpretation of Michelangelo's breaking of Christ's leg in the sculpture. According to Steinberg, the sculptor acted in a fit of rage provoked by the recognition that the leg "slung"over the Virgin's thigh displayed a repugnantly and sacrilegiously direct sexual metaphor: responding to external pressures (potential criticism), he "destroyed it in despair." As is often true for Steinberg, Freudian ideas (for example concerning sexual repression) seem to have inspired him and to have provided him with the framework or background for controversial theories."* Robert S. Liebert, the psychoanalyst already mentioned (and the only one to publish an article in the Art Bulletin), wrote on "Michelangelo'sMutilation of the Florence Pieta," LIx, 1977, clearly in response to Steinberg's earlier article. He offered a psychodynamic "internal"explanation of the destructive act through the working out of traumatic object losses suffered in infancy upon losing his "two mothers" (a beloved wet nurse and his actual mother). The material reappears in his book on Michelangelo (1983), though it never refers to the earlier article. Wayne Franits criticized Maria F. Durantini's book, The Child in Seventeenth-Century Dutch Painting (LXVII, 1985), for reading "an unconscious or hidden aspect of sensuality" into a sleeping child. He scored this interpretation for its anachronistic Freudian reading that ignores the "context in which motifs occur," and he cited P. Laslett, Family Life and Illicit Love in Earlier Generations, Cambridge, 1977, 18, who comments as follows on the historians of childhood: ". . . [They] suffer from an evident anxiety to derive from the recalcitrant and miscellaneous mass of facts, halffacts and non-facts (misreports, misrepresentations) a connected and dramatic story about childhood and the ways it has changed over time." For the first time a clear call to art historians to consider seriously a psychoanalytic approach to art appeared in the Art Bulletin in Donald Kuspit's "Conflicting Logics: Twentieth-Century Studies at the Crossroads" (LXIx,1987). In his own writing as a critic of modern art, Kuspit often ap-
84This argument recurs in the Wittkowers' Born under Saturn (as in n. 36). In another context, S. Timpanaro, The Freudian Slip (as in n. 35), attempted to reduce a different domain of symptomatic act to a nonpathological linguistic context.
See John Pope-Hennessy, Italian High Renaissance and Baroque Sculpture, New York, 1985, I, 329: " 'The outright carnality of the symbolic slung leg' is discussed . . and is related, implausibly, to a 'vast mediaeval tradition concerning the erotic association of Christ and the Magdalene.' "
plies such an approach.86 (2) The Example of Aby Warburg. Gombrich's excellent "intellectual biography" (1970) of Aby Warburg can teach us much about the relation between an art historian's scholarly pursuits and the motivations that lead him to them. Gombrich, Director of the Warburg Institute, in the course of his productive career contributed several essays and lectures on psychoanalysis, and collaborated with the art historian/psychoanalyst Ernst Kris; but essentially he put his psychoanalytical quotations to use as embellishments of his prose, and paid more attention to the psychology of perception. We find this to be the case, for example, in his discussion of the veil in Schiller,87 in his playful address and (1953) to the British Psycho-Analytical Society, "Psychoanalysis and the History of Art," published in Meditations on a Hobby Horse (London, 1963). With Kris's guidance and through his fascination with caricature, Gombrich studied Freud'sbook on jokes; but he never involved himself with late Freud or with innovations beyond Kris's ego psychology. However, the major impact of Gombrich's work has been to open the dogmatic objectivity of art history scholarship to questions - some of them psychological. We can agree with Ehrenzweig (though he forgets Panofsky's study of perspective as symbolic form of 1924-25) that "Gombrich's great achievement [was] to have finally broken the 'externality' illusion that had invested the conventional schemata of Western realism with objective validity."88 Warburg, an imposing figure in the tradition of Burckhardt's Kulturgeschichte and master of Saxl and Panofsky, vastly expanded the subject matter of art history in an effort to grasp its full historical context. As Saxl said,89 "Thus, art history is considered . .. by the school of Warburg ... as something more than a mere history of artistic vision, because they link up the work of art with other historical documents of the period to which it belongs." As Freud's contemporary in a similar late nineteenthcentury middle Europeanculture, Warburg, while he would have rejected Freud'semphasis on sexuality (Gombrich, p. 184), shared a deep interest in questions about time and memory, present and past." More specifically, a motif of
major consequence in Warburg's thought and writing (as Gombrich noted) closely resembles the Gradiva theme in Freud's interpretation. I believe that an exploration of this resemblance, unnoticed in Gombrich's biography, can lead to their reciprocal clarification. Gombrich, in his account of Warburg's development, noted an important period between 1897 and 1904 when he returned to researches earlier commenced on the art of Renaissance Florence. A motif preoccupied him in 1900, that of "the striding young woman in fluttering garments who had held his attention throughout his previous research, the motif he called the 'Nympha"' (p. 106). He found an ideal image of it in one of the figures in Ghirlandajo's Nativity of Saint John; as he puts it in the unpublished manuscript nicknamed by Gombrich "Fragment on the Nympha": "A fantastic figure - should I call her a servant girl, or rather a classical nymph? - enters the room ... with a billowing veil. . . . I lost my reason to her and in the days of preoccupation which followed I saw her everywhere ... she appeared to be the embodiment of movement ... but it is very unpleasant to be her lover. ... Who is she? Where does she come from? Have I encountered her before? I mean one and a half millenia earlier?" (One might compare this to Pater's dithyramb on the Mona Lisa of 1869!) These rhetorical questions may have more relevance to Warburg'slife than one might expect of what seems merely scholarly speculation. In fact, Warburg had met a girl in 1888 in Florence who had much in common with the "nymph"he found in Ghirlandajo's painting - an artist of progressive tendency and a Catholic, she was a real outsider to his traditionally bourgeois Jewish family. And she had all the freedom of spirit he attributed to the Nympha: when in a letter to her of 1890 he called art a "transition" toward a (Comtean?) higher stage of reason and science, she contested the low place assigned to art in his ordering of things, and defended the artist's "right to exist" (pp. 8182). Gombrich describes the period about 1900 in which the "emancipated woman . .. asserted her right to wear free-flowing garments," and describes a "row" that Warburg had in 1905 with Mary "because a white piece of ma-
For his application of Freudian terminology to an artist's distortion of female form, see his article, "The Unveiling of Venus: De Kooning's Melodrama of Vulgarity," Vanguard, xiii, Sept., 1984, 19-23. He has also written on Breton and German neo-Expressionism. 87 In his book on Warburg (as in n. 80), Gombrich earlier cited Schiller's story of lifting the veil from the image of Isis in Sais as an image of Truth, and in 1984 Gombrich gave a lecture on "The Symbol of the Veil: Psychological Reflections on Schiller's Poetry," published in Freud and the Humanities (as in n. 18). 88 See Ehrenzweig, The Hidden Order of Art, Berkeley, 1967, 111. But Gombrich was not consistent, according to W.J.T. Mitchell, Iconology. Image, Text, Ideology, Chicago, 1986, 86ff., who finds him singling out the contour as "the natural, nonconventional sign," and asks: "Why does Gombrich persist in trying to isolate any kind of sign as the natural one, in view of his admission that the whole distinction between natural and conventional signs is misleading?"For Gombrich and psychology, see "Art History and Psychology in Vienna Fifty Years Ago," in the Art Journal, XLIV, 1984, 162-64, where he lists among his influences Kris, Karl Btihler,
and Gestalt psychology. More important, his Tributes:Interpretersof Our Cultural Tradition, Oxford, 1984, includes the essays "VerbalWit as the Paradigm of Art; The Aesthetic Theories of Sigmund Freud" (1981), and "The Ambivalence of the Classical Tradition: The Cultural Psychology of Aby Warburg" (1966). For more on the psychology of Warburg, see S. Radnoti, "Pathos and the Demon - on Aby Warburg,"Acta Historiae Artium Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, xxxI, 1985, 91-102. 89 See Fritz Saxl, "Why Art History?," Lectures, London, 1957, I, 355. 90 In addition to Burckhardt and Nietzsche - discussed by Gombrich one recalls the immense structure of remembrancebased on Proust's memory of the madeleine. And see Bergson, who stated in Matter and Memory, 1896 (Selections, New York, 1949, 54-55): "My present is, then, sensorimotor. Of my past, that alone becomes image and consequently sensation, at least nascent, which can collaborate in that action . . .; but, from the moment it becomes image, the past leaves the state of pure memory and coincides with a certain part of my present. Memory actualized in an image differs, then, profoundly from pure memory. The image is a present state, and its sole share in the past is the memory whence it arose."
terial (probably of the petticoat) kept showing" (p. 109). Warburg's choice of the Renaissance nymph suited his persistent erotic fascination with the garments and ornaments of women.91 Warburg's method as presented by Gombrich involved his restoring images of the past to their original setting, their cultural milieu: ". . . If we uncover the threads which link them with the human beings of the past, they reveal to us something of the psychological fabric of their period and of its dominant mental states and attitudes" (p. 127). Warburg suffered psychological disturbances throughout his life, and his scholarship served as self-therapy, a defence against his emotional collapse, as he himself noted in his journal in 1929: "Sometimes it looks to me as if, in my role as psycho-historian, I tried to diagnose the schizophrenia of Western civilization from its images in an autobiographical reflex. The ecstatic 'Nympha' (manic) on the one side and the mourning river-god (depressive) on the other. .. ." Gombrich treats questions of Warburg's mental condition with restraint but piques our curiosity to learn more;92 for, in Warburg's case we sense that psychological detail can provide a key to understanding the intellectual history of his period. In particular we might learn more about the springs of that dedication to reconstructing the past as both scholarly pursuit and indispensable self-therapy, since his project seems to share so much with the psychoanalytical quest of his contemporaries for a deeper understanding of motivation through delving into one's past.93
Panofsky in the Art Bulletin, xxviii, 1946, 287, noted that the Renaissance considered nymphs goddesses, often fashionably attired: "The ninfa was a standard concept and a standard type that automatically implied rich, fluttering garments, jewelry, and the whole apparatus of modish allure. In Renaissance writing every pretty girl is called a ninfa; and conversely, in Renaissance painting every ninfa is a pretty girl dressed up all'antica." He does not mention one of the nicknames for the prostitute in France, "nymphe du pave." Freud's equation of "nymph" and female genitals was noted with sarcasm by F. Crews, Skeptical Engagements, New York, 1986, 57-58: "When Dora reported a dream about a Bahnhof (station) and a Friedhof (cemetery), moreover, the genitally obsessed Freud thought at once of a homonym, Vorhof (forecourt), 'an anatomical term for a particular region of the female genitals' [S. E., 7:99]. Was not this term suspiciously connected to nymphs that Dora had seen in a painting the day before? Now 'no further doubts could be entertained' [S. E., 7:99] that Dora had been sneaking peeks at anatomy books - for how else could she have known the sexual meaning of Vorhof and of Nymphen, an arcane medical name for the labia minora? Yet Freud never states that Dora spoke the word Nymphen at all; he himself, having probably seen the famous Secessionist exhibit, is the one who tells us that the painting in question contained nymphs in the background [S. E., 7:99]." 92The biography briefly remarks: "The emphasis on 'the head-hunting woman' reveals the subsoil of fear that underlies Warburg's fascination with the 'Nympha,' but the same ambivalence . . . may also account for his identification with Perseus, the hero who brandishes the head of Medusa" (p. 305). The biography also includes Warburg'sastonishing lecture on serpent ritual, a description of primitive states he hoped would serve as therapy, and which coupled the phrase "the phobic reflex of cause projection" and a note maintaining that "the primeval category of causal thought is maternity. .. ." This note develops a thesis close to Rank's concept of the birth trauma (pp. 216-20). Even beyond Gombrich's intimations, one senses that Warburg's personality predisposed him (as catharsis? as defense?) to certain ideas; e.g., Warburg, the analyst of the 91
The impulse to turn to the past in order to resolve current mysteries and emotional difficulties seems to have had particular appeal and significance to the decades before and after 1900 when Freud, Warburg, and Jensen all flourished. Warburg's Mary and Jensen'sZoe easily evoke their earlier prototypes Nympha and Gradiva; but they also bring to mind their ancient male counterpart, the limping Oedipus. The culture that could lead to such convergences of interpretation demands a careful study by scholars who are capable of combining Freudian and Warburgian viewpoints with a knowledge of the history of the period. (3) The Example of Morelli. Another case will allow us to examine the methods and motivations of a connoisseur by comparing his ideas to those of psychoanalysis. Freud himself found a parallel between his efforts to solve riddles of meaning repressed in the unconscious and Giovanni Morelli's detection of the artist's hand through calligraphic mannerisms that have become habitual in minor details and thus no longer under conscious control (a view not shared by all art historians).94 Both men believed in the artist as an individual self, a being who leaves his mark in his work; but they also shared the idea expounded in the late nineteenth century by Johannes Volkelt that some areas of an individual's mind eluded consciousness. Volkelt asked, "Is not each man a puzzle to himself? There is that within him which his own thought can never capture."95 Those who wished to unriddle the mind sought clues in the marks and
Pathosformel, turns out to be, in Saxl's phrase, "pathophobic" (cited on p. 206). 93 See Johannes Volkelt, Die Traum-Phantasie, Stuttgart, 1875, 176: "In all aesthetic intuition and pleasure one meets in the form a content which is of our own feeling of the beautiful object, a part of ourselves, a moment which belongs to our own nature . 94 See G. Previtali, "Apropos de Morelli," Revue de P'art,no. 42, 1978, 27-31, who contests Freud's parallel and questions the comparison between Morelli's method and graphology. Marilyn A. Lavin, Piero della Francesca: The Flagellation, London, 1972, 15, insists on absolutely conscious intention from a position one might term phenomenological positivism: ". .. I make two assumptions: first that every element visible in the painting contributes to an overall message, and secondly that all the elements necessary for understanding the message are to be found within the painting itself." Also see Carlo Ginsburg, "Morelli, Freud and Sherlock Holmes: Clues and Scientific Method," History Workshop, Ix, 1980, 1112. For Freud's attention to riddles and puzzles, see - apart from the book titled Jokes - The Interpretation of Dreams, Standard Edition (as in n. 19), iv, 277-78: ". .. A dream is a picture puzzle (Bilderriitsel) of this sort and our predecessors in the field of dream-interpretation have made the mistake of treating the rebus as a pictorial composition." Jacques Derrida, "Freud and the Scene of Writing," in Writing and Difference, Chicago, 1978, 218, cites this text as showing that "the figurative content is then indeed a form of writing, a signifying chain in scenic form." Poststructuralists, following Lacan, have enjoyed puzzling over the problems generated at the intersection of word and image, as in detective stories (Poe's "Purloined Letter"). 95 See Der Symbol-Begriff in der neuesten Aesthetik, Jena, 1876, 15 (cited in Michael Podro, The Manifold in Perception, London, 1972, 108 n. 11). Freud of course added to this idea another one alien to Morelli, of an impulse to a Dostoievskian self-betrayal linked to a need for self-punishment. The idea received a psychoanalytical development in the work of Theodore Reik, particularly in his "Gestindniszwang und Strafbediirfnis," Internationaler Psychoanalytischer Verlag, Vienna, 1925.
tracks left by a person's action; one trend culminated in L. Klages' method for "detecting" the expressive significance of handwriting (1910). Later the Swiss graphologist Max Pulver added psychoanalytic concepts: he asserted that, without intending to do so, a writer can betray ambivalence, even an Oedipal complex!96 Art history also had its share of "detectives" - Warburg was compared to one;97 and Roger Fry adopted the notion of unintentional selfrevelation in his study of Cezanne (though he does not mention Morelli's name).98 Henri Zerner, while arguing against the confusion of Morelli's method with psychoanalysis, sees the relevance of psychoanalytic considerations to a full appreciation of his distinctive contribution.99Taking into account the vicissitudes of the name Morelli (a modification by his father from the family's original French name, Morell; translated by Morelli into aliases - the Russian Iwan Lermolieff and the German Dr. Johannes Schwarze), and the central place for him of the technique of attribution, Zerner notes that "the essence of his writing is dedicated to the assignment of names to works. . . . We can explain this in terms of personality, psychoanalytically, even from pecuniary reasons." Zerner does not pursue a psychoanalytic explanation of Morelli's motives (Freudhimself did not hint at such an explanation), but instead finds the grounds for Morelli's passion for attribution in the Romantic interest in the artist's expression and in discovering the "characteristicform" that "incarnates the character of the artist." Surely further research into Morelli's ideas should explore the motives underlying this connoisseur's passion to define and name the authors of works of art, and to place these motives and their realization within the socio-cultural context in which Morelli flourished.100 (4) Psychoanalysis and the Periods of Art History. It
might be useful to take a very rapid overview of the different fields of Western art history in order to suggest the degree and nature of scholarly interest in psychoanalysis, representatively rather than exhaustively. Antiquity. I have already discussed the special cases of Oedipus and Gradiva. Perhaps the best book applying neoFreudian ideas (ErichFromm, Abram Kardiner) to the classical world is E.R. Dodd's The Greeks and the Irrational (Berkeley, 1951), but it does not treat art. It has been claimed that "the classic topos of psychological evidence in art historical studies [is] the riddle of why Polygnotus did not paint 'naturalistic' landscapes." Rodenwaldt expressed the opinion that he did not paint them because he did not want to, to which Panofsky countered that he did not "because he could never conceive of doing so [and] could not want anything other than an unnatural landscape . . . because this kind of representation would have contradicted the immanenten Sinn of 5th c. Greek art."101 Medieval. Meyer Schapiro combined a hypothesis about latent sexuality and a physiognomic description of architectural detail in interpreting a page from a Romanesque illuminated manuscript representing Saint Ildefonsus before the Virgin.102 After studying the architectural setting depicted and noting formal distinctions after the manner of W61fflin, Schapiro observed: "Because of the symmetry of the structures in the spandrels above, the oppositions of the buildings in the scene are even more pronounced and expressive; in the strong emotional context of the subject they have perhaps a latent meaning in the psychoanalytic sense." In a note on the correspondence between the opposed male and female characteristics of the two figures and the contrasted forms of the buildings, he asked, " how shall one interpret the conspicuously opened door below the Virgin - who is called the porta clausa in medieval
See Max Pulver, Die Symbolik der Handschrift, 3rd ed., Zurich, 1940; for an outstanding discussion of theories of expression generally, and of Klages as "detective," see Karl Biihler, Ausdruckstheorie, 2nd ed., Stuttgart, 1968, esp. 171. 97 See C.G. Heise, Persbnliche Erinnerungenan Aby Warburg, Hamburg, 1959: "Whoever observed him [at work] would have taken him for a detective rather than an amateur [Kunstfreund]." 98 See Roger Fry, Chzanne, New York, 1927, 28: "It is generally in small works thrown off by the way that an artist reveals the underlying trend of his nature, precisely because such works are less moulded by deliberate and conscious purpose. In them the profounder and more unconscious needs have full play." He later speaks of "the artist's 'handwriting.' " 99 See "Morelli et la science de l'art," Revue de I'art, nos. 40-41, 1978, 209-15. The Revue published a further article on Morelli by J. Anderson, "Giovanni Morelli et sa definition de la 'scienza dell'arte' " (no. 75, 1987). 100It is noteworthy that Richard Wollheim, in On Art and the Mind, London, 1973, included essays on Freud, Morelli, and Stokes. 101On Panofsky, see Holly (as in n. 8), 193. It seems to me that Panofsky's reasoning parallels W61lfflin'sarguments about the limitation on possibilities for form in any period. See P. Brown, Society and the Holy in Late Antiquity, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1982, 273-74: "Altogether it is as well to linger on the psychological needs that sought resolution through investing the icon with that same charge of holiness as had previously surrounded the living holy
man. For until these needs are stated with precision, the historian cannot go forward with a historical explanation. The idea that the rise of icons can be explained as a resurgence of the animistic beliefs of the masses [as in Kitzinger's"Cult of Images"]seems to lack just this element of precision, both psychological and, so, historical . . . [Kitzinger's]explanation of the public 'reception' of icons in terms of changes in official circles in the late sixth and seventh centuries can carry full conviction only if we are prepared to accept his presupposition that these changes must have been a concession to an ineluctable, and ill-defined, popular pressure. It can be clearly shown that the holy man did not rise to influence in late Roman society in so simple a way." In this book and in The Cult of the Saints (Chicago, 1981), Brown explores questions of exorcism, healing, and therapy. Aline Rousselle (author of Porneia. De la maftrise du corps a la privation sensorielle. Ile-IVe siecles, Paris, 1983), whom he cites, shares his interest in understanding the latent motivation of unusual behavior. Attending my lecture, "Un rave d'une main dans une lettre de Delacroix" (Nantes, 1982), she submitted this comment: "Confirmation. St. Macaire dans sa vie grecque se punit d'avoir tubun moustique pendant qu'il occupait ses mains a tresser un panier. La traduction latine ancienne traduit de le moustique (cousin) par 'pens&e fornication.' Or les anciens emploient le mot titillatio pour le desir sexuel comme pour une autre demangeaison, dans le contexte de l'onanisme. C'est donc par la demangeaison qu'est passee le lapsus calami comme le rave de Delacroix pique par les cousins." 102 See The Parma Ildefonsus, New York, 1964, Chap. v, "The Architecture," 11 and n. 27.
IN RESEARCH ARTHISTORY THESTATE PSYCHOANALYTIC OF
commentary. ... In the open door, has the artist projected The an unconscious wish in the psychoanalytic sense?"103 answer to this rhetorical question came from Walter Cahn:104 ". . . The psychoanalytic hypothesis offered as a tentative explanation is not very convincing. The scene is perhaps best explained as an illustration of Ildefonsus's Vision of the Virgin . . . [in which, as its medieval author notes] . . as Ildefonsus was nearing the church to celebrate Mass, the portal suddenly opened . . . and he beheld the Virgin seated in the place of the bishop on an ivory throne." The refutation of Schapiro's speculation should not shut the door on further psychoanalytic questioning of the text integrated with relevant socio-historical and political materials; indeed, the manuscript might contain other anomalies that could stimulate useful reexamination of the entire text (building, of course, on Schapiro's useful research). A study that raises the question of the definition of "normal" in a medieval artist is the psychoanalyst Ernst Kris's "A Psychotic Artist of the Middle Ages" (1952). Relying on Salomon's edition (1936) of the work of Opicinus de Canistris (1296-ca. 1350), Kris concluded from what he saw that the artist must have been psychotic. In particular he observed (p. 125) that, considering the idiosyncratic deviation of his treatment of "normal" medieval representational art, "The interest in maps would be linked to delusional inquiries into the human and particularly the female body." Salomon discovered a new manuscript by Opicinus unknown to Kris, and published it in 1953; and he then cited Kris's article, noting that indications of some "mental disturbance are evident even to the medically untrained reader."105 However, in 1962 he published an "Aftermath" recounting his "deeper" and "closer study of the codex." Without contradicting the earlier diagnosis, he no longer mentioned Kris or psychosis, and seems to have made inroads into explaining the apparent strangeness of some but not all details.106
Jean-Claude Bonne adorns an essay on Romanesque art (1985) with psychoanalytic tidbits: he cites Freud's essay on the uncanny, refers to the ambivalence that "a rendu autre le proces de refoulement" and speaks of "un surmoi angdlique - I'autre double ideal... ."07 His effort resemto bles Hubert Damisch's more successful attempt108 mix and psychoanalysis. Unfortunately, neither semiology scholar addresses in his book the increased complexity of interdisciplinary ventures and the pitfall of failing to integrate divergent approaches that can lead to eclecticism. Renaissance and Baroque. The leading scholars in these fields have proven the most recalcitrant to the introduction of psychoanalytic approaches, perhaps in the wake of Freud's fiasco with Leonardo's "vulture" and the earlier abundance of psychoanalytic trespasses into, for example, Michelangelo studies. Thus, in her essay, "Bandinelli and Michelangelo: A Problem of Artistic Identity," Kathleen Weil-Garris felt compelled to admit that we know too little about historical personalities: "I doubt that we can psychoanalyze the past."109 Yet, her study attempts to deal with biographical materials that call for more than documentary realism, and she notes (p. 227) that "a central experience of Bandinelli's childhood was at once political and psychological." Again, she points out that his "unique preference for relief sculpture, which is otherwise unexplained, is an example of how conscious and unconscious experiences shaped his art." She formulates Bandinelli's problem of identity in terms of his ambivalence (typical for sixteenth-century sculptors) toward Michelangelo, feeling at once admiration and rivalrous antagonism toward him, feelings she connects not only to his position in contemporary society but to his father. The artist'smother is largely absent from her account (except for a brief allusion, p. 224, mentioning the absence of documentation, and a note referring to an article on the role of women in Florence). One wonders whether scholars ought to devote more time to seeking information not only about women artists but
103Schapiro has transferred these W61fflinian polarities into his studies of the semiotics of art. For a good effort to deconstruct "rigidity of the binary opposition" from a poststructuralist point of view, see M. Iversen, "Saussure vs. Peirce: Models for a Semiotics of Visual Art," in The New Art History (as in n. 6), 82-94. Schapiro's comparison of the forms of the buildings to male and female characteristics reminds me of the analyst G. Groddeck's claim to have discovered such characteristics in the forms beside Saints Sixtus and Barbara in Raphael's Sistine Madonna. More likely a favorite article by Rank, "Um Stidte werben," suggested to Schapiro his idea about the sexuality of the architecture - at least the female aspect of the house with its open door. Rank refers here to the "Stadt als Weib," and cites literature on the "Festung als Symbol der Jungfrau." 104See his review of Schapiro's book in the Art Bulletin, XLIx,1967, 75.
the Warburgand Courtauld Institutes, xxv, 1962, 137-46. Paolo Marconi, La citta come forma simbolica, Rome, 1973, 105, n. 39, having read the articles of Kris and Salomon, observed that the new manuscript contained material that would require qualification of the diagnosis of insanity; for it "dimostra che Opicinus 'fisionomizza' la configurazione geografica de Mediterraneo in molti modi, in funzione di concetti storico-politico diversi, attribuendo alternativamente all'Africa ed all'Europa sessi opposti o simili. .. ." The Wittkowers (as in n. 36) discuss Kris's case of Messerschmidt, but not Opicinus. However, they make an astonishing remark (p. 71) that covers the field: "We have no idea how many medieval artistcraftsmen were neurotic; and even if there were many (which is unlikely) it would still be uninteresting because nobody would have paid special attention to their troubles." 107L'art roman de face et de profil. Le Tympan de Conques, AlenCon, 1985, 277. 108 Damisch (as in n. 72). 109Her essay is in Art the Ape of Nature (as in n. 43), 223.
See R.G. Salomon, "A Newly Discovered Manuscript of Opicinus de Canistris," Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, xvi, 1953, 45-57.
See R.G. Salomon, "Aftermath to Opicinus de Canistris," Journal of
about artists' mothers, wives, and daughters as a corrective to past indifference."n0 James M. Saslow, in Ganymede in the Renaissance. Homosexuality in Art and Society (New Haven and London, 1986), enhances an iconographic survey with the insights of recent feminist scholarship and gay studies. The book's main contribution lies in its rich documentation of the Ganymede theme and its effort to avoid anachronistic interpretations of Renaissance homosexuality. The author claims that "for the present study internal psychological data are of prime importance"; but he has little to offer those interested in a psychoanalytic approach to the art. Aside from glancing allusions to Freud (none in the Standard Edition) and a few other psychoanalysts, he concerns himself chiefly with appreciative description of the art and a defense of homosexuality as free from pathology. Thus, Saslow does not discuss the specific claim of psychoanalysts that there is an important connection between narcissism, the Oedipus complex, castration anxiety, and homosexuality (although he cites Laurie Schneider's articles that do make such connections); moreover, he discusses a number of paintings by homosexual artists on the theme of Narcissus, without ever mentioning narcissism. He seems on the verge of making such a connection (pp. 123-24) when he states that "male homosexuality thus offers both a positive advantage - finding a desirable equal - and a negative one - avoidance of a powerful and potentially violent antagonist. In modern psychological terminology, the latter phenomenon is subsumed under the dynamic of castration anxiety; we need not subscribe to Freud's theory in detail to accept that 'the narcissistic rejection of the female by [the] male is liberally mingled with [both] fear and disdain.'" But in a note on this text, he says, "It should be emphasized that these authors [including Freud] are speaking of a phenomenon common to all males, not merely to homosexual ones." Again, in asserting that Michelangelo never engaged in overt homosexuality, he relies on one analyst, Liebert, without considering the reverse view held by analysts such as J. Kavka (1980), John Gedo (1983), and J. Oremland (1978, 1980). In his daring essay, "The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion,"111 Steinberg found Leo eroticism in unexpected places. He seems to have relied, at least implicitly, on Freudian theses about the eroticism latent in religious imagery and repressed from consciousness under certain conditions.
The eccentric analyst Georg Groddeck, the first exponent of the term "Das Es" (the id), did not hesitate to interpret great works of art. His essay "Unconscious Symbolism in Language and Art" (1926) presents conjectures about the sexual symbolism in Raphael's Sistine Madonna - the crown near Sixtus is a symbol of the female, the tower near Saint Barbara of the male: from these and similar observations he elaborated a somewhat fanciful psychoanalytic
narrative.112
The big catalogue of the major exhibition on Mannerism, Zauber der Medusa (Vienna, 1987), makes intermittent allusion to Freudian ideas of castration and ambivalence but without depth or bibliographical reference (however, several of Kris's writings are in the bibliography). Inevitably, Werner Hofmann, the main organizer, refers in a note to Freud's essay, "The Head of Medusa" (1922). The inclusion of Surrealism in the show is interesting, and one regrets that the catalogue nowhere mentions Hauser's book, which compares Mannerism to Surrealism. More interesting are the discussions of Mannerist architecture, which one may add to the small body of psychoanalytic studies of Italian Renaissance and Mannerist architecture.113 For the catalogue Gombrich once again reworked his article on Giulio Romano's Palazzo del Th of 1934 (which owed so much to Sedlmayr's book on Borromini of 1930), and Peter Haiko and Mara Reissberger wrote on ambivalence in Mannerist architecture, citing several writings of Freud (including his Jokes). In Caravaggio and His Followers (Cleveland, 1971, rev. ed., 1975), Richard Spear made the plausible assumption that an important change in Caravaggio's art implied a change of a personal kind: ". .. the decline of half-length figures in Caravaggio derived from a fundamental change in iconography - after 1600 he never painted secular subjects . . . such a basic and complete shift in his orientation must also be related to a change in his inner being, as is amply documented in the character of the paintings themselves." Spear does not try to fathom the shift, but his observations will perhaps guide others to venture. (Three efforts, in fact, have subsequently appeared: Gedo's Portraits of the Artist cited above, Hibbard's "Afterthoughts"in his Caravaggio, New York, 1983, and R6ttgen's essay discussed below.) In general, reports about Caravaggio's personality - his reputed violence and notorious sexuality - have attracted the interest of psychologists; but success has proven eluEurope, ed., M.W. Ferguson, M. Quilligan, and N.J. Vickers, Chicago, 1986.
She cites (n. 12) Richard C. Trexler, "In Search of the Father: The Experience of Abandonment in the Recollections of Giovanni di Pagolo Morelli," History of Childhood Quarterly, III, 2, 1975-76, 225-52, for "Renaissance beliefs about the effect of parents on their sons and on the problem of self-definition," and J.B. Ross, "The Middle-Class Child in Urban Italy, Fourteenth to Early Sixteenth Century," in the book The History of Childhood, ed. L. deMause, New York, 1974, 183-228. And in n. 59, she cites J.R. Banker, "Mourning a Son: Childhood and Paternal Love in the Consolateria of Giannozzo Manetti," History of Childhood Quarterly, III, 3, 1975-76, 197, 351-62. A tautological process inhibits the quest for information about women: since the ("great")artists are men, only documentation about men would be relevant. But see now Rewriting the Renaissance, The Discourses of Sexual Difference in Early Modern
"I See October, no. 25, 1983.
112 For a comic parody of bad psychoanalytic art criticism, see the chapter "LesPsychanalystes" in FranCois Fosca, De Diderot a Valery: Lesecrivains et les artistes, Paris, 1960. 113 See Andre Corboz, "Per un analisi psicologica della villa palladiana," in Bollettino del Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio, xv, 1973, 249-66; and Marcello Fagiolo dell'Arco, "Iconologia, psicanalisi e metodo marxiano. Per una percezione dialettica dell' architettura e dell' immagine della citta," in Giorgione e la cultura veneta tra '400 e '500: mito, allegoria, analisi iconologica, Rome, 1981.
sive. On two occasions Donald Posner has taken up the question of Caravaggio's personality,114 once arguing for the presence of homo-erotic imagery, once finding fault with Herwarth R6ttgen's approach to the Boy Bitten by a Lizard. R6ttgen, Posner writes, in his psycho-historical viewpoint, sees the lizard's bite as an allusion to the aggressive, sadistic behavior of the dominant lover in a homosexual relationship. His interpretation is partly based on a seventeenth-century notion recorded by Filippo Picinelli (Mondo simbolico, Milan, 1653, 272). Lizards, Picinelli says, having bitten, will not let go. Therefore the animal appeared in a love emblem with the motto Aut Morte, aut Nunquam. Picinelli does not, however, seem to have imagined that the "bite" of the loving lizard would be a painful, nasty surprise. It seems to me that if R6ttgen is right the meaning of Caravaggio's picture would have been accessible only to the painter's analyst. Hibbard's "Afterthoughts"were developed under the tutelage of his friend, the analyst Liebert; but his speculations, limited to two themes that he does not try to integrate, do not convince. On an earlier occasion, Hibbard also gingerly explored the psychological aspect of Guido Reni's Immaculate Conception in the Metropolitan Museum. 115 Julius Held, to cite but one example from Northern Baroque studies, has based his speculations about the motif of blindness in a painting by Rembrandt on the Freudian account of Oedipus' blinding.116 The eighteenth century, prior to Neoclassicism and outside France, has been opened up to Marxian study by Thomas Crow, David Solkin, and others; but, to my knowledge, no interesting psychoanalytic work is being done in the field. One has the impression that scholars attracted to the rosy combination of overt eroticism and lightheartedness of the Rococo have avoided burdening it with psychoanalytic interpretation. Thus, Posner's article, "The Swinging Women of Watteau and Fragonard" pub-
lished in this journal (LXIV,1982, 75-88), while using some of the same sources as Freud (such as Fuchs) in discussing the sexuality of the motif of swinging, avoids all reference to psychoanalysis. The Nineteenth Century. There always has been material for searching psychoanalytic study of the nineteenth century when properly supplemented with the findings of appropriate disciplines. In this connection one can only agree with Michael Baxandall in Patterns of Intention. On the Historical Explanation of Pictures, 1985, when he considers psychoanalysis necessary but not sufficient for explaining some nineteenth- and twentieth-century art. The roots of psychoanalysis in German Romanticism intertwine with those of art history, and their branches mingle in the finde-siecle. Already historians of Romantic literature investigating parallels to art are finding psychoanalysis relevant; e.g., Ronald Paulson, in Literary Landscape: Turner and Constable (New Haven and London, 1982), connects literary landscapes and cityscape imagery, and compares the painting of landscape to the Freudianprocess of dream formation. Even though art historians have applied psychoanalysis to Romantic art (e.g., my own work on Delacroix), here I have chosen to concentrate on Cezanne, since he has been a focus of wide-reaching controversy. The art of Cezanne, long regarded as contributing strongly to the origin of modern art, has become a crucial battleground on which some assert that the artist had emotional problems that affected his art (his classicism repressed his romantic impulses), and others protest that nothing appears in the art but pure form (which some have called Significant Form). A subtler version based on Greenberg's formalism looks immediately at the medium and technique and sets aside the whole issue of biography; thus, Richard Shiff, rejecting the romantic/classic distinction of Roger Fry, Meyer Schapiro, and Theodore Reff, agrees with the "opinion of 19th century artists, to be a classic was to repress nothing at all." Shiff, "in the manner of a 19th century 'academic,'"isolates a selected body of work that seems to evidence conscious control, ignoring alike questions of
114 "Caravaggio's Homo-erotic Early Works," Art Quarterly, xxxiv, 1971, 301-24, and "Lizards and Lizard Lore, with Special Reference to Caravaggio's Leapin' Lizard," in Art the Ape of Nature (as in n. 43), 387-91. 115 R6ttgen's essay appeared in II Caravaggio: Ricerche e interpretazioni, Rome, 1974, 145-240, esp. 193f. For another psychoanalytical approach to Caravaggio see L. Schneider, "Donatello and Caravaggio: The Iconography of Decapitation," in American Imago, xxxiii, 1976, Spring, 7691. Hibbard's article on Guido Reni was published in Bulletin. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Summer, 1969, 19-32. In his Caravaggio, 69, he refers in two sentences to Freud's essay, "Medusa's Head," observing that "the toothy mouth of the youthful Medusa must also remind us of that psychoanalytic favorite, the vagina dentata; the concept may even furnish a clue to Caravaggio's relative comfort in the male world of Cardinal Del Monte." He develops speculations about Caravaggio's paintings of bald-headed men as "an unconscious attempt to retrieve a father whom he lost when he was only six. If we presume, as psychiatrists seem to have discovered, that artists are often abnormally sensitive children, we may well imagine that Caravaggio was deeply upset by the sudden loss of his father (and at the same time his grandfather,his uncle, and perhaps others), and would have repressed anger at his father for abandoning him" (p.
259). Hibbard adduces sparse documentation about the artist's youth, applies a meager psychoanalytic methodology ad hoc to selected themes, and draws conclusions from psychological platitudes (would not all children become deeply upset at the losses to which he refers?); hence, the art historian can profit little from Hibbard's brief adventure, tragically curtailed by his untimely death. 116 See Julius S. Held, Rembrandt's "Aristotle" and Other Rembrandt Studies, Princeton, 1969, 126-27; "A fascinating field of speculation is opened up if we turn to Freud's tentative explanation of any inordinate preoccupation with, and fear of, blindness .. ." (he refers to Freud, "Psychogenic Visual Disturbance according to Psychoanalytic Conceptions," in Collected Papers, II, London, 1933, 109-111), and, "The classic example, of course, is Oedipus. . . . Was Rembrandt's preoccupation with sightless figures prompted by subconscious feelings of guilt, which may be especially strong in a painter who by his very craft is a voyeur . . Did Homer turn, for Rembrandt, into an'ideal figure . . precisely because his blindness protected him from defilement through visual contact with the world?" Held tries to provide a concrete and specific ground for the artist's preoccupation with blindness in a presumed biographical detail concerning his father.
the ideology of Cezanne's technique (production, reception) and of the psychology of his content (the frenzied eroticism of certain painting and writing).17 The controversies surrounding the psychoanalytic approach to C&zanne often bear on paintings ignored by Shiff and others interested only in his mature work; I therefore will turn to some of the writers arguing these issues. In 1911, Fry attributed Cezanne's originality to his working "unconsciously"; but he always seems to have equivocated in his opinions about the role of Cezanne's unconscious, eventually leaning toward the view that he consciously controlled his art. Beginning very early in his career, Fry took an interest in psychoanalysis as made accessible through acquaintances in the Bloomsbury group. In a letter of 1919 he spoke of the eye-opening discussions of anality in the latest book by ErnestJones; he found them interesting but limited.118 During 1924 a debate appeared in the pages of The Nation and the Athenaeum, launched by the attack of Clive Bell (who shared Fry's views in this) upon Freud's apparBell ilently reductive notion of art as wish fulfillment.119 lustrated his thesis, that the artist's aesthetic emotion is free of "lust," with Cezanne's apples - a prophetic choice! which he claimed have Significant Form and no other content. When presented in a lecture to a group of psychoanalysts, his claim evoked laughter (presumably they believed the round forms were "significant"for resembling breasts). Fry's book Cezanne (1927) unexpectedly seems to flirt with a psychoanalytic approach; for in it he unites the themes of fear of women and avoidance of the nude model, repression (the romantic/classic to which Shiff alluded), even the role of libido.120 In 1928 Fry wrote: ... Freud uses "wish" [with regard to] a desire which has been repressed from consciousness and remains active in the unconscious. I admit that if you adhere strictly to the use of the word "wish" in this sense, it is quite possible that Cezanne's still-life pictures are a sublimation of some such repressed instincts. . . . I should not be surprised if you were ultimately to trace the love of
abstract beauty (Freud calls this "objective and dis-interested") to the libido, but, even if you should, I should expect you to notice that its relation to that instinctive need is very different from the simple relation of the phantasy-making, dream-like quality of impure, imagemaking art. For whereas dream-art, if I may use the phrase, is nearly akin to the day-dream and may almost be reckoned as part of the actual instinctive life, the love of beauty implies an almost complete detachment from personality and from the wishes made by our unsatisfied
libido .121
Fry offers a criticism of Freud'sfamous account of the artist's road from fantasy to real success ("honor, power and the love of women"). In Fry's view, Freud has produced an example of an "impure" artist dominated not by artistic sensibility but by wish-fulfillment "incapable of direct
satisfaction ."122
Fry's book foreshadows some of the most trenchant points made by those later students of Cezanne who tried to extend insights gained from works representing erotic and aggressive themes to the rest of his art, including seemingly neutral subject matter. Fry says that the still lifes express the artist's "most exalted feelings and deepest intuitions" (p. 38), provide "the purest self-revelation of the artist" (p. 41), and are "dramas deprived of all dramatic incident" (p. 42); he considers the quality - whether floridly baroque as in the early work or restrained as in the later still lifes - to be dependent "on the artist's 'handwriting'"; he indicates the problematic aspects of the many paintings of bathers "which had so constantly attracted and tormented his spirit" (p. 60); and he notes his "fear of the model" (p. 82) coupled with being "violently drawn to the female form as a motive" (p. 83) and dreaming romantically of embodying "the emotions of his inner life . . . in the form of a vast design of naked women under a canopy of foliage" (p. 81). In brief, "the conflict" between his "eroticism" and "terror of women . . . produced a curious inhibition - he simply did not dare to draw from the nude model" (p. 83), and he was naturally attracted to the Temptation of Saint Anthony, a "theme which was the classical
See Richard Shiff, C&zanneand the End of Impressionism, Chicago, 1984, 267, n. 38. One suspects a circularity in the arguments of those concerned only with the artist's "intentions," for they recover perhaps their own intention in their selection of the artist's work. 11sMany years and publications later, Jones (as in n. 18, III, Chap. 15, "Art")rebutted Fry. With regard to anality, psychoanalysts regularly connect anality with eating inhibitions or a refusal to be controlled in one's eating. The notion of eating and digesting a book has engaged artists as well as psychoanalysts; e.g., Bloomsbury member John Strachey wrote "Some Unconscious Factors in Reading," International Journal of Psy-
choanalysis, 1930,322-31,on thecoprophagic tendencyof all reading: xI, "The authorexcretes thoughtsandembodies his themin theprinted book; the readertakesthem, and, afterchewingthem over, incorporates them into himself." artistshave treatedwrittenmatteralong just Avant-garde theselines:at "theBureaude recherches in surrealistes" 1926, a copy of Freud'sIntroduction a'la psychanalyse was exhibited surrounded by forks
as an invitation to "devour the book"; and as an "event" in an English
school in 1966, a group of artists, students and critics chewed pages of Greenberg's Art and Culture, which were then spit into a bottle, macerated, and chemically processed - a burlesque, among other things, on the mastication of the host wafer, as a sign of belief in the transsubstantiation? 119On 6 Sept. 1924, Clive Bell published "Dr. Freud on Art" in the periodical. R.R. Tatlock rebutted Bell in the issue of 20 Sept. and Bryan Donkin defended Bell in a rebuttal of Tatlock in the issue of 27 Sept. 120Adrian Stokes, the psychoanalytically oriented writer on art, stated in Inside Out (1947), repr. in his Critical Writings, New York, 1978, II, 310, n. 8: "At several points I find that I have closely followed Roger Fry in his Cezanne. It is to be hoped that this masterpiece of criticism is now in print again . 121For these quotations, see The Artist and Psychoanalysis, London, 1928, 298-301. 122See Fry, ibid., 291.
and expressionof those attractions repulsionsunderwhich
he laboured" (pp.
85-86).123
Although Fry provided some of the preliminarymaterialsneededfor a psychoanalyticapproachto Cezanne,he did so from a critical position. In his study of Cezanne (1952), Meyer Schapiroadopted some of Fry'sideas; but unlikeFry,he did not criticizepsychoanalysis,and indeed, echoingpsychoanalyticmethodology,turnedhis attention to Cezanne'searly work as expressionsof his fantasy life. perSchapiro observed a connection between Cezanne's sonal life (his relationto HortenseFiquetand the birth of of theirson) and the artisticdevelopments the 1870s.124 Still, essentialmethod for exploringthe meaningof Schapiro's analysisof symbols subjects- the iconographic Cezanne's he knew so well from his studies of medieval art - had The moreto do with iconologythanwith psychoanalysis.125 in Schapiro's book citedby Shiffcontainsthe thesis passage that C6zanne's "newart rests on a deliberaterepressionof a part of himself"- an attractivebut incompleteformulation that fails to explain(asidefrom the style labels "rocan how repression be deliberateor mantic"and "classic") which part of himself is repressedby which other part. interestin adaptingpsychoanalysis Considering Schapiro's to art history, it is of some interestto observe that in his writinghe apparentlymade (as noted above) only one reference to a specificpsychoanalyticwork - Rank'spaper "UmStaidte werben"(1913);nor does he cite any otheranalyst in supportof his points. Since Schapironever gives his psychoanalytical sources (except Rank), one can only conjectureabout them, but one notices analogiesbetweenhis ideas and the theoriesof Klein or one of her exponentslike H. Segal. In his study of 1946 of Van Gogh'sCrowsover a Wheatfield,Schapiro conjectured,"if Van Gogh derivedfrom internalconflicts the energiesand intereststhat animatehis work (and perof haps certainoriginalstructures the forms), its qualities to dependas muchon his resistance disintegration. Among thesequalitiesone of the most essentialwas his attachment to the object, his personal realism";and of Cezannehe the of wrote, "Iwould emphasize importance the objectfor this new style. . . . In reconstituting object out of his the sensations,Cezannesubmitshumblyto the object, as if in
123NO scholar has more powerfully expanded on the pioneering observations of Fry than Theodore Reff; and in a series of important articles on Cezanne he has treated most of the topics presented by the earlier critic: the "enigma of the nude" (1959), "Cezanne, Flaubert, St. Anthony, and the Queen of Sheba" (1962), and "C6zanne - The Severed Head and the Skull" (1983). In his article on the "Bather with the Outstretched Arms" (1962), he broke new ground, speculating about the expression of onanistic fantasy in Cezanne's art. 124Schapiro followed Fry more closely in his Cezanne (1952) in noting, among other things, Cezanne's embarrassment about painting the female model; but he made independent points in his essay of 1968, "The Apples of C6zanne." 125For the claim that Schapiro "introduced psychoanalytic theory for the first time to the Cezanne literature," see J. Wechsler, C&zanne in Perspective, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1975, "Introduction,"18-19. She also claims that, in "The Apples of Cezanne," Schapiro "used psychoanalytic interpretation extensively." Shapiro has relied often on the "physiognomic" quality of objects depicted as an index of the artist's thought or person-
atonement for the violence of his early paintings. . . . In Cezanne's intense concern with still-life (in his poem Songe d'Annibal) there was an effort of reconciliation, of restoration of order to the family table, the scene of conflicts with the father and of anxiety about his own shameful desires. .. ." (Cezanne, 1952). Compare these remarks with Klein's idea that "feelings of guilt . . . are a fundamental incentive towards creativeness ... [and act] as an incentive to making reparation. The struggle with nature is therefore partly felt to be a struggle to preserve nature, because it expresses also the wish to make reparation to the mother."126 Theodore Reff, proceeding from Schapiro's observation of the importance of Cezanne's early poetry for his later subject matter, has greatly expanded the analysis of the artist's motivations, and has gone beyond the Fry-Schapiro "psychoanalytic" approach in his study of some paintings in terms of the dream analysis applied in Freud's InterpreReff has succeeded in distinguishing a tation of Dreams.127 number of deviations from standard iconography by Ce&zanne, and on the plausible assumption that these deviations can shed light on the motivations of the artist, he has offered interesting new interpretations of the artist's personality. Monet's Impressionistic realism might seem impervious to psychoanalysis; but Steven Levine has already published several studies of Monet in terms of narcissism, while Mary Gedo, responsive to what she considers Monet's basically healthy temperament, takes a contrary psychoanalytic position in her forthcoming book on the artist. There are fewer uncertainties about applying psychoanalysis to the interpretation of Symbolist art than to C&zanne or Monet; psychoanalysts very early turned their diagnostic attention to it, and recently a number of French, German, and American writers have discussed the relationship. In Israel, M. Heyd has made significant observations on the importance of irony for Beardsley's art and personality in terms of Freud'sbook on jokes. There is much to be done on the issue of irony - from the Romantics, to Jarry and Allais, to the Dadaists - by psychoanalytic art historians. Studies of Austrian artists such as Schiele likewise demand a grasp of basic psychoanalytic history and method, as in Alessandra Comini's valuable book Egon
ality, as in his analysis of the Ildefonsus architecture, and in his polemic against Heidegger's essay on the Old Shoes of Van Gogh. 126See Melanie Klein, Love, Guilt, and Reparation and Other Works 19211945, New York, 1975, 335-37. See Hanna Segal, Introduction to the Work of M. Klein, New York 1964, 75: "The pain of mourning experienced in the depressive position and the reparative drives developed to restore the loved internal and external objects, are the basis of creativity and sublimation." The place of nature and of "object"(with its two senses - internal and external) in Klein's theory may have attracted Schapiro, who sympathized with the naturalistic psychology of Dewey (Art as Experience, 1934) and Mead; and the emphasis in Dewey on "integration" likewise would associate his thought with Klein's. 127Reff's publications on Cezanne have stimulated other scholars; e.g., Guila Ballas, "Baigneuses et baigneurs de Paul Cezanne: Les origines et la signification des series thematiques," in H. Bessis and A. Clancier, eds., Psychanalyse des arts de l'image, Paris, 1981, 69-82.
THE ART BULLETINMARCH 1988 VOLUME LXX NUMBER 1
Schiele's Portraits (Berkeley, 1974), which brings together cultural, artistic, and psychological details (including pertinent references to Freud'spresence in Vienna). In his dissertation for the School of Professional Psychology at Berkeley, "Egon Schiele: A Psychobiography" (1978), S.T. Walrod interprets Schiele's paintings as an attempt to maintain the self during a delayed adolescent identity crisis, and takes into account cultural, ideological, and semiotic factors. Even where psychoanalytic insight might seem appropriate, however, some students of nineteenth-century art hesitate; e.g., Gert Schiff, in "Ensor the Exorcist," writes: The ambiguity in Ensor'sattitude toward Christ does not consist in the fact that he sees Christ as the prime example of heroic failure and yet identifies himself with him, but that Ensor identifies himself with a character whom he feels more and more compelled to degrade. One might speculate about the hint at self-contempt and self-hatred comprised in such an attitude. One might equally wonder how such a blasphemous fury squares with the views of a self-confessed atheist. But these are questions impossible to answer. We may add only one strange observation, made by Herman Theo Piron, who devoted to Ensor a psychoanalytical study (Ensor, een psychoanalytische studie, Antwerp, 1968, 98-100): in 1893 the painter, exasperated by the lack of recognition, tried to sell all his work for a ridiculous sum and failed to find a buyer. This caused a break in his development; the high tide of his creativity was over. He was then thirty-three years old - precisely the age of Christ when he died on the cross. 128 The Twentieth Century. No area has stimulated psychoanalytic comment more than twentieth-century art even abstraction has come under its scrutiny as art historians look beneath manifest forms for latent content. But the most obvious example of the relevance of psychoanalysis is Surrealism. The reactionary Austrian art historian Hans Sedlmayr reproached psychoanalysis for being both a stimulant and an apology for the Surrealists' assault
128Art the Ape of Nature (as in n. 43), 735. 129See Die Revolution der modernen Kunst, Munich, 1955, 85. In a tepid version of Sedlmayr's viewpoint, M. Koch-Hillebrecht (1983) would tolerate psychoanalysis, arguing that art historians who bring familiarity with it into their discipline will better understand the messages of protest and the elements of regression in modern art. 130T. De Duve, Nominalisme Picturale: Marcel Duchamp - la peinture et la modernitt, Paris, 1984, compares a painting of the crucial year 1912 with one of Freud'spublished dreams; and P. Cornell, "Materialas a Symbol: A Few Thoughts about Malevich, Freud and Smithson," Paletten, iI, 1985, 11-15, shows the analogy between Freud'sarchaeological metaphor for psychoanalysis and Malevich's Suprematism. See Sergei Eisenstein, "Psychologie der Kunst: Unver6ffentlichte Konspekte," Kunst und Literatur,xxx, 9, 1982, 921-39. The favorable allusion to Freud would have annoyed Soviet censors; perhaps this accounts for the fact that, though written originally in 1940 and 1947, the notes remained unpublished until the Russian edition of 1980. 131 See Carla Gottlieb, The Window in Art, New York, 1981; S.H. Smith. "The Surrealists'Windows," in Dada/Surrealism, no. 13, 1984, 48-69, and
on reason.129 Of course Freud'srelevance to twentieth-century art is not limited to Surrealism; and even the great Soviet filmmaker S. Eisenstein asserted the importance of Freud (along with Pavlov) for understanding artistic processes. 130 With regard to pre-Surrealism, Sanouillet's view that Dada had little to do with psychoanalysis prevails; but there were important relations that should be documented. Metaphysical art also has its relation to psychoanalysis, although Soby cautioned against emphasizing it; M. Heyd has nonetheless taken a psychoanalytic approach to the artistic biography of de Chirico. Clearly, psychoanalysis, an integral part of the ideology of the Surrealists, is relevant both historically and as an instrument for studying the motives and meanings of the movement. Major work is being done by FranCoiseWillLevaillant on Masson, and Marguerite Bonnet on Breton and the history of psychoanalysis in France. The Surrealists derived a number of their images and symbols from Freud's writings; moreover, some scholars, such as Gottlieb and Schneider, have shown that the Surrealists understood the erotic implications of looking through windows and reand others, like Siegel, have anaflections in mirrors,"31 lyzed Surrealist images of the mutilation of the eye in terms of castration and the Oedipal complex.132 The Surrealists took a positive view of pathology, as emanating from the unconscious and associated with the artistic imagination; and some turned Freud'scriticism of the artist into praise."33 Already in 1925 Bataille's psychoanalyst, Adrien Borel, wrote on the schizophrenic tendency of Breton's Surrealist Manifesto, intending to praise its imaginative inwardness; and Lacan early in his career wrote his thesis on paranoia (1932), which influenced Dali's paranoiac criticism. On Freud and Dali, one especially should see the important writings of Haim Finkelstein.134 In keeping with their fascination with psychoanalysis, many of the Surrealists invented variations on the Oedipal theme. Kurt Seligmann, for instance, created a series of etchings, The Myth of Oedipus (1944). Allusions to Oedipus recur in the artist's previous work, suggesting its importance to him; indeed, there appear to be grounds for
L. Schneider, "Mirrorsin Art," Psychoanalytic Inquiry, v, 1985, 283-324. 132 See J. Siegel, "The Image of the Eye in Surrealist Art and Its Psychoanalytic Sources. Part I: The Mythic Eye," in Arts Magazine, Feb., 1982, 102-06. 133The Swiss-American Surrealist, Kurt Seligmann, commented: "Psychoanalysts have pointed out the neurotic character of alchemical allegories and practices: the fondness of the adepts for putrefaction, their experimentation with offensive substances, their peeping-tom curiosity in erotic matters, their glorification of the hermaphrodite. . . . If this is true, the alchemist could be compared to the artist, according to Freud's analysis of the latter. In both cases the abnormal produces what is valuable, the good. Speaking in alchemical terms, we could say that putrefaction was followed immediately by sublimation" (in K. Seligmann, Magic, Supernaturalism and Religion, New York, 1948, 125-26). 134 Haim Finkelstein has written numerous articles on Dali and has published Surrealism and the Crisis of the Object, Ann Arbor, 1979. His book The Metamorphosis of Narcissus: Dali's Early Art and Writing 1927-40 is forthcoming.
attributing an Oedipal rivalry with his father, at least in their dispute over his choice of a career as a painter. Oedipal rivalry with an authoritarian tradition seems to motivate Ernst's choice of Oedipal themes, as seen in his collage Oedipe (1937) as well as in images mocking his father.135 Anxieties about eye loss (an Oedipal theme) - in the wake of that sadistic evisceration of a woman's eye in Un chien andalou of 1929 - pervade Surrealist art; such feelings ran rampant when one of their group lost an eye. In Seligmann's words: Pierre Mabille wrote an essay on an accident in which the painter Victor Brauner lost his eye. Mabille, a philosopher and writer as well as a medical doctor, shows how the mishap was but the climax of a prolonged obsession. When the glass bottle was thrown, splinters of which were to pierce his eye, Brauner was - unconsciously - instrumental in the accident, as he moved his head into the trajectory of the bottle. To the psychoanalyst, the event is not of a marvelous character. In many accidents, the victims are unconscious accomplices. However, the extraordinary thing about the Braunercase is the fact that long before the accident happened he had painted several self-portraits in which an eye is missing. One of them even shows the cruel details of his later blinding. According to Mabille ("L'Oeil du peintre," Minotaure, nos. 12-13, 1939, 53-56), Brauner'sone-eyed self-portraits were the symbols of an Oedipal punishment which the artist inflicted upon himself - symbolically - until the desire for self-punishment had grown so violent that Brauner replaced the painted symbol by a physical reality: Oedipus's symbolical blinding actually took place.136 The immensely rich and complex art and personality of Picasso have attracted many scholars over the years and continue to do so, such as Robert Rosenblum on the content of the collages, Theodore Reff on early symbolism, and Leo Steinberg on erotic themes. Without their varied insights, no psychoanalytic study more intelligent than Jung's would have been possible. The best full-length psychoanalytic study of Picasso, Mary Gedo's Picasso. Art as Autobiography (Chicago, 1980), combines psychoanalytic insight with art-historical knowledge and expertise. The study of living artists can gain from attention by art historians with a knowledge of psychoanalysis. Although the artist does not confide as in analytic session (and may be as sophisticated in concealment as the interviewer in probing), psychoanalytically informed questioning can sometimes elicit material otherwise overlooked. Laurie Wilson's book, Louise Nevelson, Iconography and Sources (New York, 1981), demonstrates the point: she presents her material (much of it based on interviews) without over-
interpreting, and she explores with insight the content of the artist's abstraction. Mary Gedo has done as much for the abstractionist Conger. Prospects There are developments that promise a productive interplay between art history and psychoanalysis. Since 1981, the post-Lacanian Parisian magazine L' ne. Le magazine freudien under JudithMiller has commented on a seemingly limitless of contemporary topics - the media, arts mdlange and letters, anthropology, mathematics, artificial intelligence - intending to show that psychoanalysis can cast light on all aspects of culture. Its lavishly illustrated pages contain book reviews on Freud, feminism, art, art history and film, and interviews with personalities like Gombrich. The innovative and valuable annual Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Art, begun in 1985 and edited with courage and imagination by Mary Gedo, has confined itself to art history and criticism, but has welcomed a variety of approaches and viewpoints. Volume I addressed such topics as aesthetics, self-portraiture, and sculpture, Volume ii nineteenth-century painting, and Volume iii will cover twentieth-century art. The contributions exemplify the interdisciplinary viewpoint: the art historians and art critics have informed or expanded their perceptions with relevant psychodynamic details. The psychoanalysts participate in the important section "Book Reviews and Responses": an analyst, together with an art historian or artist, comments on a book, followed by the author's response. In Volume i, the psychoanalyst John Gedo and the art historian Earl Rosenthal reviewed Liebert's book on Michelangelo, and Liebertin turn responded to their criticisms; and in Volume ii the analyst George Moraitis and the art historian Thomas Sloan reviewed Reinhold Heller's Munch, followed by Heller's rejoinder to them. That volume also includes an exchange between Gedo and Reff concerning the art and life of Cezanne, an abortive dialogue that can inform us of the risks of dissent and misunderstanding that attend the interdisciplinary enterprise. One hopes a future volume will address the serious methodological problems raised here and in the other interdisciplinary dialogues. The image is a concern central to psychoanalysis and to art history alike; both fields have had to deal with the problem of its ambiguous nature, which admits interpretation either as a verbal or visual entity. In The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud claimed that the image of the dream, like that of the plastic arts, can be understood only by an analysis that extracts the hidden verbal message. But as Henri Focillon, writing of Romanesque sculpture, observed, "every art is language, in two ways, once by its choice of subjects (iconography), once by its treatment of them." (Panofsky has shown how one can confuse the representational and textual traditions.) Indeed, some would share
135Carla Gottlieb (as in n. 131) interprets Ernst's Oedipus Rex in terms of the Freudian Oedipus complex.
136See Seligmann, "Artists-Symbol-Society," Trans/Formation, no. 2, 1951, 100-03.
with Focillon the view that iconography "floodlights the For life of the spirit."'37 our time the old issue of interpreting the intellectual or spiritual content of a classical or Christian image has been displaced by concern about the presence or absence of meaning in the art object. What concerns the modern critic is the artifact as fetish, an object/image invested with significance that is magical or sexual or economic (as commodity):138the incarnation of the religious icon and the iconoclasm of the Surrealist object (made or found) meet in the twentieth-century inquiry about the abstractness or concreteness of the "thing"(e.g., the "psychoanalysis of things" of Bachelard and Sartre).139 And this concern has had repercussions for the study of older art. To take only one example of an old theme that has invited interdisciplinary study in terms of the fetish, we may consider the concept and history of the nude. The nude as object or idea seemed unproblematic for centuries, a view summed up in the classic book by Kenneth Clark. But psychoanalysts complicated the issue by showing how the image of the nude can serve fetishistically as a substitute for the love object. And under the impact of psychoanalytically informed feminist art historians, the nude - the reduction of the woman to a sexual body - has become a battleground on which opposed ideologies - Marxist (T.J. Clark's study of Manet's Olympia), Freudian, Lacanian,
feminist - confront one another. Modern art history offers a secure area for collaboration with psychoanalysis. It is here that what Kris (1952) called "identification with the artist" may most forcefully intervene and necessitate an understanding of transference.140 Psychoanalysis, having in part constituted contemporary Western European and American culture and ways of thinking, has an intrinsic bearing on much late nineteenthand twentieth-century art and art criticism; and clarification of its sources can illuminate the evolution of other aspects of modern culture - philosophy and the history of ideas, as well as the history of the arts. As his book The Aesthetics of Freud (1972) indicates, Jack Spector's research and writing have maintained an interdisciplinary emphasis, often linking Romanticism (The Murals of Eugene Delacroix at Saint-Sulpice, 1967, Delacroix's "Death of Sardanapalus,"1975) and Surrealismwith psychoanalytical issues. He has a book underway on the politics and psychology of early Surrealism as well as a study of late nineteenth-century criticism of Delacroix's art. [Department of Art History, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903]
137See Henri Focillon, The Art of the West, London, 1963. Also see Rudolf Arnheim, Visual Thinking, Berkeley, 1969, and Mitchell (as in n. 88, 46), who speaks of the "perspicuousness of language, a sense that discourse does project worlds and states of affairs that can be pictured concretely . ." Both authors discuss the famous passage comparing the images of dreams and the plastic arts in The Interpretation of Dreams, Chap. 6, sect. c.
138 See the interesting discussion in Mitchell (as in n. 88), 190ff. 139On Bachelard/Sartre, see Mary Warnock, Imagination, Berkeley, 1978, 198. The best source of discussion of the object in all its cultural and historical aspects is the periodical Res. Anthropology and Aesthetics, published by the Cambridge University Press. 140See Gedo (as in n. 43), 43 and Spitz (as in n. 75).
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This Lebanese woman is empowering female refugees and she needs your help
"My main personal learning goal is to have the ability to inspire others through my vision."
Source: Facebook/The BetterFly Camp
"My whole life I've been surrounded by broken women who never got the adequate awareness to determine their own paths," says 21-year-old Lebanese university student Feryal Berjawi.
As a result, she has set out to empower underprivileged girls through a unique program called 'The BetterFly Camp', which she launched in partnership with SMART Center.
The camp is a comprehensive six-week leadership and empowerment program for thirty adolescent refugee girls and their caregivers in Lebanon, aiming to educate them on gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, as well as physical and mental well-being.
Berjawi, who studies Peace and Conflict Studies as well as Economics at Swarthmore College - a private liberal arts college in Pennsylvania - earned a grant that fully funded her project.
She kickstarted 'The BetterFly Camp' in late June, hoping to inspire adolescent refugee girls at the risk of early marriage to become leaders of social change in their communities.
The camp features educational and recreational activities that promote mental wellness and create a sense of belonging.
Among other objectives, the camp educates participants on the changes that take place during puberty, promotes body positivity, and offers tips on how to manage finances.
"My main personal learning goal is to have the ability to inspire others through my vision. If I manage to empower and inspire a few girls, not necessarily all the participants, by the end of the summer, I will consider myself to have succeeded, and I will see myself becoming the change agent I have desperately wanted to become," Berjawi told StepFeed.
During the first two weeks of the camp, participants attended an informative session by gender-based violence specialist Rana Aoun as well as a Skype chat with Palestinian feminist vlogger Laila Hzaineh.
"I am happy to be here because I want to make more friends and learn things that are not discussed in my society," Berjawi quoted one participant as saying.
Another participant added, "I love that the program is flexible and that it was designed by women that are not much older than us. I truly feel that I can connect and open up to the teachers because they are also young and they understand what we are going through".
The BetterFly Camp needs your help!
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WTF?!? Wendy Williams’ Estranged Husband Demands Spousal & Child Support…
May, 6 2019 | Written by ATLien
If you were expecting there to be a peaceful resolution between Wendy Williams and her soon to-be ex-husband Kevin Hunter… think again.
The talk show host, who has suffered severe embarrassment from her husband’s alleged infidelities, filed for divorce last month, shortly after the birth of Hunter’s illegitimate love child (click HERE if you missed that).
Well now Hunter has filed a response and he’s reportedly seeking alimony and child support to end their marriage.
According to TMZ, Williams’ estranged husband, Kevin Hunter, is hoping to pocket a “boatload of money from her” for his support after the marital breakup.
Kevin Hunter filed his response to Wendy’s divorce petition, and according to the docs, obtained by TMZ, he wants her to pay him spousal support and also child support for their kid, Kevin Jr.
Junior is 18 now, and will turn 19 in August. Wendy’s ex also wants her to foot the bill for their son’s college expenses.
As previously reported, Wendy filed for divorce last month in New Jersey, where the couple used to live together.
The long-expected move came just weeks after Kevin’s alleged mistress gave birth, and he’s believed to be the father.
Shortly after the news hit the media, Kevin was booted from his position as executive producer of The Wendy Show.
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Gabriel and the Mountain
Before entering a prestigious American university, Gabriel Buchmann decides to travel the world for one year. After ten months on the road with his backpack full of dreams, immersed at the heart of various countries, he arrives in Kenya determined to discover the African continent. Until he reaches the top of Mount Mulanje, Malawi, his final destination.
“A moving look at the transformative nature of travel, both on those hopping around the world in search of a new perspective and those they encounter along the way.”
– Sarah Ward, Screen International
Fellipe Barbosa
Kirill Mikhanovsky
Roberto Berliner
Yohann Cornu
Rodrigo Letier
Clara Linhart
João Pedro Zappa
Caroline Abras
Country of Origin: Brazil / France
Format: DCP/2.35/Color
Sound Format: Dolby SRD
In Portuguese, English and French with English Subtitles
See this film at the following theaters:
02/22/18 Boulder Int’l Film Festival Boulder, CO (U.S. Premiere!)
03/01/18 True/False Film Festival Columbia, MO
03/03/18 Neighboring Scenes/New Latin Cinema New York, NY
03/09/18 Columbia Univ Film Dept. New York, NY
03/15/18 San Diego Latino Film Festival San Diego, CA
04/04/18 Cleveland Int’l Film Festival Cleveland, OH
04/12/18 Minneapolis/St. Paul Int’l Film Fest Minneapolis, MN
04/20/18 Orcas Island Film Festival Eastsound, WA
04/21/18 Louisiana Int’l Film Festival Baton Rouge, LA
04/25/18 COL-COA French Film Festival Los Angeles, CA
06/15/18 Quad Cinema New York, NY (US Theatrical Premiere!)
06/15/18 Laemmle’s Royal Theatre W. Los Angeles, CA
06/29/18 Digital Gym Cinema San Diego, CA
07/06/18 Grand Illusion Cinema Seattle, WA
07/09/18 Rag Tag Cinema Columbia, MO
07/09/18 Gateway Film Center Columbus, OH
08/02/18 Sie Film Center Denver, CO
08/03/18 Liberty Theatre Camas, WA (PDX area)
08/17/18 Miami Beach Cinematheque Miami Beach, FL
08/31/18 Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinemas San Francisco, CA
08/31/18 Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas Berkeley, CA
09/13/18 AFI Silver Theatre Silver Springs, MD
09/13/18 Cornell University Cinema Ithaca, NY
10/05/18 Tallahassee Film Society Tallahassee, FL
Download Press Notes
Download Photo Set
Images in Photo Set
Add To Your Netflix DVD Queue
Way He Looks, The
Brazil, Comedy, Coming-of-Age, DVD/On-Demand, Gay, LGBT, Non-Theatrical, Portuguese
Brazil | Daniel Ribeiro
Futuro Beach
Brazil, Drama, DVD/On-Demand, Erotic, Gay, German, Germany, Interests, LGBT, Non-Theatrical, Portuguese
Brazil | Karim Aïnouz
Valley of Love
Comedy, Drama, DVD/On-Demand, English, France, French, Mystery, Spiritual
France I Guillaume Nicloux
Canada, Comedy, Coming-of-Age, Drama, DVD/On-Demand, English, France, French, Gay, Hebrew, Israel, Jewish, Non-Theatrical
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Student Vote 2018 Ontario Municipal
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McNab/Braeside, Township of Meaford, Municipality of Melancthon, Township of Merrickville-Wolford, Village of Middlesex Centre, Municipality of Middlesex, County of Midland, Town of Milton, Town of Minden Hills, Township of Minto, Town of Mississauga, City of Mississippi Mills, Municipality of Mono, Town of Montague, Township of Moonbeam, Township of Moosonee, Town of Morley, Township of Morris-Turnberry, Municipality of Mulmur, Township of Muskoka Lakes, Township of Muskoka, District Municipality of Nairn and Hyman, Township of Neebing, Municipality of New Tecumseth, Town of Newbury, Village of Newmarket, Town of Niagara Falls, City of Niagara, Regional Municipality of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Town of Nipigon, Township of Nipissing, Township of Norfolk County North Algona Wilberforce, Township of North Bay, City of North Dumfries, Township of North Dundas, Township of North Frontenac, Township of North Glengarry, Township of North Grenville, Municipality of North Huron, Township of North Kawartha, Township of North Middlesex, Municipality of North Perth, Municipality of North Stormont, Township of Northeastern Manitoulin and The Islands, Town of Northern Bruce Peninsula, Municipality of Northumberland, County of Norwich, Township of O'Connor, Township of Oakville, Town of Oil Springs, Village of Oliver Paipoonge, Municipality of Opasatika, Township of Orangeville, Town of Orillia, City of Oro-Medonte, Township of Oshawa, City of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Township of Ottawa, City of Owen Sound, City of Oxford, County of Papineau-Cameron, Township of Parry Sound, Town of Peel, Regional Municipality of Pelee, Township of Pelham, Town of Pembroke, City of Penetanguishene, Town of Perry, Township of Perth East, Township of Perth South, Township of Perth, County of Perth, Town of Petawawa, Town of Peterborough, City of Peterborough, County of Petrolia, Town of Pickering, City of Pickle Lake, Township of Plummer Additional, Township of Plympton-Wyoming, Town of Point Edward, Village of Port Colborne, City of Port Hope, Municipality of Powassan, Municipality of Prescott and Russell, United Counties of Prescott, Town of Prince Edward, County of Prince, Township of Puslinch, Township of Quinte West, City of Rainy River, Town of Ramara, Township of Red Lake, Municipality of Red Rock, Township of Renfrew, County of Renfrew, Town of Richmond Hill, Town of Rideau Lakes, Township of Russell, Township of Ryerson, Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers, Township of Sarnia, City of Saugeen Shores, Town of Sault Ste. Marie, City of Schreiber, Township of Scugog, Township of Seguin, Township of Selwyn, Township of Severn, Township of Shelburne, Town of Shuniah, Municipality of Simcoe, County of Sioux Lookout, Municipality of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Township of Smiths Falls, Town of Smooth Rock Falls, Town of South Algonquin, Township of South Bruce Peninsula, Town of South Bruce, Municipality of South Dundas, Municipality of South Frontenac, Township of South Glengarry, Township of South Huron, Municipality of South River, Village of South Stormont, Township of South-West Oxford, Township of Southgate, Township of Southwest Middlesex, Municipality of Southwold, Township of Spanish, Town of Springwater, Township of St. Catharines, City of St. Clair, Township of St. Joseph, Township of St. Marys, Town of St. Thomas, City of St.-Charles, Municipality of Stirling-Rawdon, Township of Stone Mills, Township of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, United Counties of Stratford, City of Strathroy-Caradoc, Municipality of Strong, Township of Sundridge, Village of Tarbutt, Township of Tay Valley, Township of Tay, Township of Tecumseh, Town of Tehkummah, Township of Temagami, Municipality of Temiskaming Shores, City of Terrace Bay, Township of Thames Centre, Municipality of The Archipelago, Township of The Blue Mountains, Town of The Nation Municipality The North Shore, Township of Thessalon, Town of Thornloe, Village of Thorold, City of Thunder Bay, City of Tillsonburg, Town of Timmins, City of Tiny, Township of Toronto, City of Trent Hills, Municipality of Trent Lakes, Municipality of Tudor and Cashel, Township of Tweed, Municipality of Tyendinaga, Township of Uxbridge, Township of Val Rita-Harty, Township of Vaughan, City of Wainfleet, Township of Warwick, Township of Wasaga Beach, Town of Waterloo, City of Waterloo, Regional Municipality of Wawa, Municipality of Welland, City of Wellesley, Township of Wellington North, Township of Wellington, County of West Elgin, Municipality of West Grey, Municipality of West Lincoln, Township of West Nipissing, Municipality of West Perth, Municipality of Westport, Village of Whitby, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Town of White River, Township of Whitestone, Municipality of Whitewater Region, Township of Wilmot, Township of Windsor, City of Wollaston, Township of Woodstock, City of Woolwich, Township of York, Regional Municipality of Zorra, Township of
School of Life Experience (SOLE)
School Board: Toronto District School Board
No. of votes (school board): 0
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Four members of Sri Lanka's Rights panel resign
[TamilNet, Monday, 15 October 2007, 13:01 GMT]
Four key members of the Sri Lanka's Human Rights advisory committee set up by Human Rights Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe to address human rights issues in Sri Lanka, resigned saying that their advice is not being taken seriously, media reports from Colombo said.
Sunila Abeysekera who won Human Rights Watch’s prestigious global rights defender award for 2007, Dr. Rohan Edirisinha and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu from the Colombo-based think-tank, Center for Policy Alternatives, and Nimalka Fernando submitted the resignations soon after the UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour completed her visit to Sri Lanka.
“We also felt the government was not serious on protecting human rights or eliminating the culture of impunity, so we wrote to the Minister saying we were giving up our positions with immediate effect,” Daily mirror quoted Dr. Saravanamuttu telling the paper.
Members also expressed their objections to members of the government delegation attending the recent UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva publicly questioning the "credentials of Ms. Abeysekera," the paper said.
25.05.07 Upholding Humanitarian principles, key for conflict resoluti..
05.05.07 SLFP proposals, an outrageous offer, says Edirisinha
HRW: Human Rights Watch Honors Activists
DM: HR panel falls apart following Arbour visit
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Facebook Will Launch A News Reader At June 20th Press Event. Update: It Launched Instagram Video
Josh Constine @JoshConstine / 6 years
[Update June 24th: Facebook is in fact working on a fresh news reading experience, but we were mistaken about the launch date. It revealed Instagram For Video on June 20th. However, a source tells TechCrunch that Facebook is working on a reading product, but its not based on RSS or a Google Reader wannabe. We’ve updated this article several times since it was published, but beyond the headline and this note it now appears in its the same way it did on June 14 when it was first run.]
The upcoming death of Google Reader and the addition of hashtags signal Facebook will likely launch a new way to discover and read news at the June 20th press event it’s just sent out mysterious invites to. It could be a sort of “trending articles on Facebook” feature, or a more full-blown RSS reader-style product.
Either could take advantage of Facebook’s massive treasure trove of aggregate data on what people share to surface popular and personally recommended news articles.
The event invite, first spotted by Joanna Stern of ABC News, says “A small team has been working on a big idea. Join us for coffee and learn about a new product.” The conspicuously analog invite was sent out via paper snail mail instead of by email like Facebook usually does. There’s also a coffee stain on the invite. You know where else you find coffee stains? On the newspaper, while you’re reading it, over coffee.
Nobody knows what Facebook knows. Since most users share semi-privately, it can’t be scraped for trending topics. But Facebook’s algorithms see all. Similar to how it offers ad targeting data in anonymous aggregate, Facebook could surface what articles are being shared most frequently across its user base without violating privacy.
The product could potentially ket people follow outside sources of news through a format like RSS, but we can’t confirm that. The product is likely to take advantage of hashtags that Facebook users can now add to posts to help its algorithms understand what topics different news articles are about.
When I asked Facebook about what more it could do with its data on what people share, it initially offered to put me on the phone with someone, but ended up just referring me to the hashtag announcement from earlier this week. That blog post notes “Hashtags are just the first step to help people more easily discover what others are saying about a specific topic and participate in public conversations. We’ll continue to roll out more features in the coming weeks and months.”
A better way to surface news could be that next step. In fact, I’m pretty much positive it is, though I couldn’t get anyone at Facebook to confirm on the record.
Whether the new product includes formal RSS reading capabilities that take advantage of the long-running content syndication standard remains to be seen. Asking users to choose different sources and subscribe to feeds of them could be a lot of work and seem somewhat redundant for the average Facebook user. Still, that kind of functionality could find an audience amongst hardcore Internet users.
As our Ingrid Lunden wrote yesterday, “Lines of code referring to “rssfeeds” have recently started to appear in Facebook’s Graph API code (as spotted by developer and Facebook sleuth Tom Waddington). Linking the RSS feed to a user’s Facebook ID, the code schema also covers such aspects as title, URL and update time. Each RSS feed subsequently has entries and subscribers.” This code could be part of the new product, but it also may be unrelated, having to do with a user’s own posts being an RSS feed, rather than a user reading feeds produced by others.
A Facebook news reader with RSS would come at a perfect time, just two weeks before Google shuts down Google Reader for good. The June 20th launch date might give Facebook just enough time to help people migrate onto its version.
Alternatively, Facebook’s new product could more resemble Reddit or a list trending articles based on what’s being shared the most on the social network. That would make it instantly and easily valuable to people.
Whatever it’s exact design, I hope it won’t just be a clone, but something that combines the unique social signals Facebook has access to with tried-and-true news consumption mediums.
A reader of any form would certainly qualify as a “big idea”, as Facebook is all about connecting you to people, things, and information you care about, and news is by definition what people care about. A successful launch could drastically increase time spent on Facebook, fill it with useful data about what topics people are interested in, offer new advertising opportunities around current events, and most importantly, make us all better informed citizens of Earth.
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Huawei Honor V20 VS Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Which One Will Perform Better?
ComparisonHuaweiSamsung
By Miracle Offorma 0
The Huawei Honor V20 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 are both premium smartphone with a bezel-less screen display and a notch-free. Both phones also sport a beautiful body design and a generous inbuilt memory. In this post, we will be looking at the comparison between the Huawei Honor V20 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone to see their specs differences and performance.
Huawei Honor V20 VS Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Design Comparison
Huawei Honor V20 VS Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Display Comparison
Huawei Honor V20 VS Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Camera Comparison
Huawei Honor V20 VS Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Performance Comparison
Huawei Honor V20 VS Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Battery & Price Comparison
In terms of design, the Huawei Honor V20 is built with a metal glass. It has a hole on the screen instead of a notch. The body measures 75.4 mm x 156.9 mm x 8.1 mm in dimensions and weight 180 gram. As for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, it’s built with the combination of Aluminum Alloy and glass. It has a body dimension of 76.4 mm x 161.9 mm x 8.8 mm and weighs 201 gram. Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and the Honor V20 has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner for security and they are available in multiple colors as well.
Huawei Enjoy 9e VS Huawei Enjoy 9s: Which One Will Make a Good Budget Buy?
The Honor V20 has a screen size of 6.4 inches QHD+ under IPS capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 2310 Pixels and 398 PPI density, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a screen display size of 6.4 inches under Super AMOLED, Capacitive Touchscreen with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 Pixels and 514 PPI density. Both phones have a screen protector with a similar screen to body ratio. The Galaxy Note 9 will offer clear visuals than it’s rival because of the AMOLED display and the higher density.
The Honor V20 has a dual rear cameras of 48 Megapixels + TOF (Time Of Flight) 3D camera with dual LED flash and a front facing camera of 25 Megapixels with F2.0 Aperture, and CMOS BSI Sensor, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a dual rear cameras of 12 Megapixels + 12MP with dual LED flash and a front facing camera of 8 Megapixels with F1.7 Aperture, Auto HDR, 1.22 um Pixel Size, 1/3.6-inch Sensor Size, and Sony IMX320 Exmor RS. On the camera, it will be difficult to choose which one will take better photos. Although the Honor V20 has an edge on paper, however, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will take beautiful photos as well.
Meizu 16s VS Meizu 16x Comparison: Which One Will Perform Better?
On the hardware, the Honor V20 has a Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 980 chipset with an octa-core processor that clocked at a speed of 2.6 GHz and ARM Mali-G76 MP10, 720 MHz, 10 Cores, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with an octa-core processor that clocked at a speed of 2.8 GHz and Qualcomm Adreno 630, 710 MHz GPU. Both phones have the same 6GB/8GB RAM, while on the memory, the Honor V20 has 128GB/256GB and the Galaxy Note 9 has 128GB/512GB of inbuilt storage. It’s only the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 that supports micro SD card for expansion. The Honor V20 runs on Android 9.0 Poe operating system, while the Galaxy Note 9 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo.
The Honor V20 and the Galaxy Note 9 has a nonremovable battery capacity of 4000 mAh with fast charging technology, while it’s only the Galaxy Note 9 that supports wireless charging technology. On the price, the Honor V20 will cost around $800, while the Galaxy Note 9 will sell at a price of $1000.
Infinix Zero 6 VS Infinix Zero 6 Pro: Any Changes?
Buy Huawei Honor V20 & Pay On Delivery: View Offer On GearBest
In terms of design, the Honor V20 looks more stunning and beautiful, while the Galaxy Note 9 still maintain it’s unique design. The Galaxy Note 9 will slightly outperform the Honor V20, while on the overall, the Honor V20 is more affordable which makes it a better alternative and a wise buy as well.
Acer Predator 17 is A Powerful Gaming Laptop, See Quick Review
Asus ROG Zephyrus G501 – World Slimmest Gaming Laptop
Verykool Kolorpad LTE TL8010 Specifications, Review And Price
Alfawise X, a cheap projector on offer for only $ 165.99 (coupon included)
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Nuage Lets You Define a Custom Address for Your Gmail Account
The internet has been growing exponentially since its inception and one of the most painful aspects that have led to is finding an appropriate and easy to remember email address. Thankfully, there are a few companies which are paying attention. One of such startups is Nuage, and its latest tool lets anyone easily define a custom address for their email (gmail, in fact) account.
Nuage Mail is a free (for the first year) service through which you can configure a new custom email address and the website will then redirect all your incoming emails to the original account you own. The rest remains identical, though, and as far as privacy is concerned, the company says it won’t peek at your personal emails. The setup is quite straightforward. On Nuage’s website, enter the new address of a unique domain, connect the Gmail account, and you’re done. While at the time of writing this story, Nuage is in beta and its access is limited, so there will be a waiting period. That’s about it.
Nuage’s developers mention that once you enter a domain, they register it for free, create the necessary links for redirecting the messages, and host the data on a dedicated SMTP server. In case you already have a website, Nuage will manage the MX server, and connect the account with that. Nuage will be entirely free of cost for the first year, however, depending on the domain, you’ll have to pay an annual or monthly fee after that starting from $2 per month per email. You can read further about their pricing and business package plans here.
Nuage is definitely something I was personally looking for as I’m stuck with a complicated email address. Gsuite (previously Google Apps) is an option, but that costs $5 per month excluding domain registration. That makes Nuage cheaper (and more importantly, simpler) even after the free first year. So if you are struggling as well with an awkward username, register for a domain by heading over to this page, and follow the process.
Source:Producthunt
Last updated by Shubham Agarwal, on 01-Feb-17
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Dear Friends, you know well about your birthday and you love to receive gifts on your birthdays. As we love to celebrate our birthday and love to receive birthday gifts, we too are required to present appropriate gifts to others on their birthday. Do present a birthday gift to others on their birthday.
As you know the fifth day of the bright half of Maha is the birthday of Shikshapatri. Prior to presenting a gift on this auspicious birthday let us have a look at the following points.
1.The flow and stream of time is not uniform and steady forever. Like a stream, time too changes its route and speed of flow. Society too changes along with the changes in time. Social ethos and norms change as time changes. All these changes greatly affect the aspirants and the devotees of God.
They too have to put in more efforts with reinforced divine powers to maintain the virtues of detachment, self-control, devotion, meditation, truth, compassion, etc.
2.To steadily provide the divine powers, God incarnates himself on Earth and blesses His truthful devotees with those divine powers. Quite prior to the new discoveries and new series of inventions in the world of comfort and entertainment, Lord Swaminarayan Bhagwan incarnated on earth at Chhapaiya Dhaam on the auspicious ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra in V.S. 1837. At a tender age of eleven years He forsook worldly relations and walked away to the seclusions of the forests to perform penance for the universal welfare of mankind.
He conducted a pilgrimage of the holy shrines in India and graced the sacred land of Gujarat. While camping at Gadhada, Saurashtra He built an amazingly huge retinue of ascetics, celibates and released souls of Akshardham. He walked to every village, town and city with His retinue of saints and preached the ethical duties of axiomatic religion. It was a rousing call to the communities lost in the slumber of ignorance and blind faith. He taught them the first lesson of virtuous living. He brought back the backward classes in the main stream of society by awarding them with dignity and respect in society through the purity of their own acts. For the benediction and ultimate emancipation of mankind He founded a few means.
First among the means was the Swaminarayan Temple built in the Kalupur area of Ahmedabad. Shri Hari Himself installed the idols of Lord NarNarayandev in the temple with a warm hug and a hearty embrace. Then to continue and expand this chain and the means, eight other magnificent temples were built. All these temples were constructed under His careful planning. To maintain the growth, development and discipline in the Sampradaya, He founded a well knit management structure and appropriate spiritual leadership. To implement it properly He founded the spiritual chair of the Acharya by dividing the sampraday into two diocese, namely Shri NarnNarayandev Desh and Shri LaxminNarayandev Desh. He installed Acharya (supreme preceptor) on each of the spiritual chairs from His Dharmakul. He encouraged Paramhansa to write the scriptures for this axiomatic religion - Shri Swaminarayan Sampradaya.
The spiritual literature and scriptures were written in local languages, national language and the vedic language of sanskrit to fit the limitations of the aspirants, devotees and dependents. Shrimad Satsangi Jivan, Shrimad Satsangi Bhushan and Vachanamrit are the supreme among those luminous scriptures of the ultimate knowledge. .
3.Shri Hari then wrote the Shikshapatri to emancipate the souls. This scripture was written by Him on the auspicious fifth day of the bright half of Maha in V.S. 1882. Shikshapatri is most precious for us because it is a personal prasad from Shri Hari. It is a ladder installed between Earth and Akshardham. This is not an imagination or a dream but consists of hard facts and real truths. Right from the grass root level it reaches the simples of virtues, good habits and takes us most comfortably step-after-step to the complex and most intricate spiritual inquiries and metaphysical heights. Thus right from everyday social life He takes us to the virtues related to religion, ultimate knowledge, detachment and devotion by unveiling it fold after fold. All the tenets, axioms, rules and restrictions have been included in the teachings of the Shikshapatri. It is a code of conduct and human life.
It is not a mere theological collection but contains advice on every single aspect of a perfect human life - ethics, sociology, politics, health, hygiene, theology, metaphysics, etc. It is a beacon lighting up the path of everybody – people to president, poorest to wealthiest, illiterate to scholars and aspirants to enlightened ones. It is not within our capacity to describe the glory, greatness and majesty of the Shikshapatri. Lord Swaminarayan Bhagwan himself had written: is My word form, it is My speech. .
4.Shikshapatri is most useful to everyone in every walk of life. It is a guide, advisor and counsellor. Its tenets should be taught to children, youth and adults to improve their lives. It preaches equality between sects and tolerance towards religious belief.
Friends now tell me what birthday gift you would like to give on the birthday of Shikshapatri. What will you present to the Shikshapatri? Lord Swaminarayan Bhagwan writes: Read the Shikshapatri daily.
Make a firm resolution on this auspicious birthday to daily read the Shikshapatri. You shall be happy forever with the blessings of Lord Swaminarayan Bhagwan.
-By Shastri Hari Swami
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Microwaves Switched Off For Testing In Lafayette Parish? [INVESTIGATION]
Rob Kirkpatrick
LEAP testing is underway in Lafayette Parish and district administrators are trying something new to help boost test scores: unplugging the microwaves. It's an effort to apparently boost Wi-Fi functionality on campuses that use the online version of the test.
Last year, the biggest drop in scores was seen in middle schools. These were the same schools that tried new technology including Chromebook laptops. Last year, overall school test scores in Lafayette dropped more than 2-percent. And this year, as teachers and students ramp up test prep, word came from the district that microwaves will be off limits.
One parent reported to KPEL last year, that campuses had staggered testing times because servers were being overloaded. This year 23 additional network servers were added along with 500 access points and 8,000 new Chromebooks.
In a comment to The Daily Advertiser, LPSS spokesman Randy Bernard said, "There is a concern that microwave ovens could interfere with WiFi connectivity and cause disruptions for students testing online."
A quick Google of "microwaves and wi-fi" found that this is not an uncommon problem. Microwaves and most wi-fi routers operate on the same frequency according to several sources including Gizmodo.com.
In theory, a properly shielded microwave shouldn't leak any radiation, but the reality is that they leak quite a bit, resulting in electromagnetic, or radio-frequency (RF), interference. And yes, Wi-Fi is a radio signal, but it's broadcasting on a much higher frequency than most broadcast radios operate on.
Source: Microwaves Switched Off For Testing In Lafayette Parish? [INVESTIGATION]
Categories: Acadiana News, Local News
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An Artificial Intelligence Program Just Beat 5 Poker Professionals In a Texas Hold'em Tournament
casino theme, poker game, aces
Zolnierek—Getty Images/iStockphoto
By KURT WAGNER / BLOOMBERG
(Bloomberg)— Facebook Inc. doesn’t just own the world’s largest social network — it may also own the world’s best poker player.
A new artificial intelligence program the company built with Carnegie Mellon University called Pluribus recently beat five poker professionals in a six-player Texas Hold’em tournament. After 10,000 hands, the system averaged profits of about $1,000 per hour using $1 chips, a “decisive margin of victory,” according to a Facebook blog post.
AI has been besting humans at poker for a couple of years, but previous programs could compete with just a single player at a time. Given the complexities that come with poker, including techniques like bluffing, beating five humans in a single game is a significant milestone, Facebook said.
“No other game embodies the challenge of hidden information quite like poker, where each player has information (his or her cards) that the others lack,” Facebook wrote in a blog post. “A successful poker AI must reason about this hidden information and carefully balance its strategy to remain unpredictable while still picking good actions.”
Building a poker superstar may seem like an odd use of AI resources given Facebook has so many other issues. The social network is still facing a constant battle against fake news and other types of misleading, troubling and dangerous content. When video of a live shooting was uploaded to Facebook in March, duplicates were uploaded 1.5 million times and more than 20% of them slipped past Facebook’s AI systems.
Facebook AI Research, the group behind the poker bot, isn’t developing AI for any specific product, said Noam Brown, the company researcher who led the card-playing work. Instead, the group is looking at AI more broadly, with the hope of applying its findings to industrywide problems. Many of the hardest challenges facing AI programs, like navigating a self-driving car through traffic or understanding human negotiations, include “hidden information,” similar to poker.
“The techniques are general enough to go beyond poker,” Brown said. “That’s the goal.”
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Odisha Elections
Bhubaneswar News
Maoist retreat paves way for road boom in Odisha
This story is from October 3, 2018
Satyanarayan Pattnaik | TNN | Updated: Oct 3, 2018, 8:19 IST
This road was built in Kashipur block, a Maoist-hit area, in July this year.
KORAPUT: Krushna Miniaka, a resident of Pipli in the Maoist-affected Bissamkatak block of Odisha’s Rayagada district, finds it hard to travel to the block or district headquarters as his village lacks an all-weather road. He also lives in perpetual fear of medical emergencies as ambulances refuse to negotiate the narrow dirt road. All this is about to change, as Miniaka’s village will soon get a road, now being built at a cost of Rs 2 crore.
Pipli is not the only beneficiary of the road boom in Rayagada. With extensive combing leading to a decline in Maoist activities, the administration has decided to build 618km of roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in the current fiscal.
The target is significant because since the launch of PMGSY in 2000, the district has constructed only 1,863km of roads at an average of a mere 100km every year. Of the 11 blocks in the district, seven had been classified as Maoist-hit. With the work now progressing at a steady pace, new roads will replace those made of mud, and will solve the connectivity problem.
Rayagada’s hilly terrain and lack of a proper road network connecting the block and district headquarters had made it difficult for the administration to reach its remote corners. “To ensure that welfare schemes reach tribal populations in the interiors, we decided to strengthen the road network,” said collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar.
Officials of district’s rural works department said construction of 618km of rural roads would cost Rs 300 crore. “Nearly 200 villages will get connected by March 2019,” said Pradeep Chandra Mandal, executive engineer of the rural works department in Rayagada. “Officials have not faced any resistance from the Maoists. We have completed laying around 80km of roads. These will be opened for public in the next few weeks,” Mandal added.
Locals, too, are hopeful of better connectivity bringing in development. “Due to bad roads, health staff, do not visit remote areas. We are happy that we will get new roads,” said Miniaka.
Lunar Eclipse 2019: What to eat and avoid in Chandra Grahan
Classic French Cuisine
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Uttarakhand Elections
District administration forms panel to find reasons behind migration in Uttarkashi
Abhyudaya Kotnala | TNN | Updated: May 2, 2019, 11:17 IST
UTTARKASHI: District administration in Uttarkashi has taken the initiative to find out the primary reasons behind the issue of migration from villages of the region.
District magistrate Ashish Chauhan has set up a committee led by chief development officer Prashant Arya and joint magistrate Namami Bansal which will conduct a survey in the affected villages of the district and will later run pilot projects. “Despite strong growth possibilities in tourism, agriculture and animal husbandry sector many villagers of the district are migrating to Dehradun and other nearby towns. Even the villages connected by roads and basic facilities are also witnessing migration, which is worrying. Therefore, it was necessary to find out the main reasons behind this ever growing issue, so that effective measures can be taken to minimize it,” said Dr Chauhan.
“In the first phase of the initiative, we selected a total of 19 villages from all the six block headquarters of the district. Here our team will conduct a survey and examine the condition of the basic facilities such as drinking water, road, electricity, agriculture and employment. A team will also find out the place, source of income, social status and living standard of villagers who have migrated.”
“On the basis of the survey report, we will launch pilot projects to improve agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism sectors and will take other necessary steps to reverse the effect of migration,” he added. Joint magistrate Namami Bansal said, “We will conduct survey at Sald, Gyanja, Basunga and Nismaur villages of Bhatwari block; Naipad, Newgaun and Neusari villages of Dunda block; Tarakot, Suri and Dargad villages of Chinyalisaud block; Syaluka, Raun and Dokhriyani villages of Purola block; and Liwadi, Rekcha and Tian villages of Mori block. On the basis of the survey report we will launch a pilot project in these villages.”
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