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via wikipedia.org
Zac Goldsmith Net Worth
Full Name Frank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith
Birth Place City of Westminster, London, England
Ethnicity Anglo-Irish, Jewish, French, German
Occupation Politician
Marital Status Married (Alice Miranda Rothschild)
Children 4 (Uma Romaine, Thyra, James, Dolly)
Education Eton College
Hobbies Backgammon, Poker, Cricket
About Frank Zacharias Robin "Zac" Goldsmith
British politician Zac Goldsmith has an estimated net worth of $438 million (£280m) as of 2015, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. Goldsmith was born in London on 20 January 1975 and attended King’s House School, The Mall School, Hawtreys School, Eton College and Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies.
Much of Goldsmith’s wealth is inherited from his father, Sir James Goldsmith, who left £1.2 billion to his extended family following his death. His father was also involved in politics having founded the Referendum Party during the 1990’s, a single issue party demanding a referendum on Britain’s EU membership.
Goldsmith junior was first elected to the Commons in 2010 in the Richmond Park constituency after being placed on David Cameron’s controversial A-list before the election. He has been tipped to stand for the Conservative Party in the 2016 London Mayoral Election, whether he decides to stand is another matter.
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One Ball
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Kamal Ibrahim established the One Ball sporting program in response to his personal Australian migration experience. His aim is to assist others to integrate into our culturally rich society so they too can make a contribution.
Kamal migrated to Australia from war-torn Ethiopia in 2003. At the time he spoke no English and found it very difficult to establish a new life in a foreign country. He turned to his passion for football as a way of communicating and connecting to his new community. His tremendous sporting skill was soon noticed and he was embraced, supported and welcomed, helping him create a new homeland.
Kamal recently established the not-for-profit program, One Ball in partnership with other organisations, to improve the health and well-being of participants, particularly vulnerable youth, through soccer and the communities in which they live.
RED Design Group’s brand’s team worked closely with Kamal as a pro-bono initiative to understand his goals and aspirations in developing the One Ball brand identity. Our aim is to support Kamal to create a professional brand that communicates his aspirations, build the credibility of his program and attract large organisational support.
The One Ball program has the support of Football Federation, local council and police, the Rotary Club, Port Melbourne Soccer Club, Ice Cream Venezia and Zeus Apparel.
A local resident of Port Melbourne, Kamal currently plays with the elite NPL senior Port Melbourne Soccer Club team known as the Sharks. Due to his outstanding contributions, he is honoured in the club Hall of Champions for Playing A-League with Melbourne Heart and representing Australia on 18 occasions; and for Winning the National Premiers League’s 2015 Victorian Gold Medal, as well as the league’s Best and Fairest award!
He recently signed on for the 2019 season, his second season with the Sharks following a very good 2018 season where his team finished in the top six. A quick and dynamic winger, Kamal often shows his versatility, successfully playing a central role contributing to his team’s achievements.
Since August 2018, with Kamal’s energetic involvement One Ball has grown to involve over 30 boys and girls seven-years-old and over. With the help of other organisations, Kamal plans to grow the One Ball weekly program into a supportive operation that benefits our country. We are truly lucky to count him as an Australian.
Level 5, Empire Tower
26-28 Ham Nghi St
District 1 HCMC Vietnam
info@redgp.com
Level 12, 160 Queen St
Melbourne, 3000
© RED Design Group 2019
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Twelve and Holding (2006) — Carle Chuang
Find Me Guilty (2006) — Bella DiNorscio
Chasing Liberty (2004) — Agent Morales
What Dreams May Come (1998) — Annie Nielsen
Mr. Jealousy (1998) — Ramona Ray
The Funeral (1996) — Jean
The Cure (1995) — Linda
Romeo Is Bleeding (1994) — Natalie
Mr. Wonderful (1993) — Lee
Jungle Fever (1991) — Angie Tucci
The Hard Way (1991) — Susan
Cadillac Man (1990) — Donna
True Love (1989) — Donna
Roger Ebert on the Films of Spike Lee
by Nick Allen | August 14, 2018 |
A collection of all of Roger Ebert's reviews of Spike Lee's films.
The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Win Big at 90th Oscars
by Susan Wloszczyna | March 5, 2018 |
A recap of the 90th Academy Awards.
The History of Hollywood's Difficult Women
by Kristen Lopez | February 16, 2018 |
Difficult is a gendered term fueled by the Hollywood machine and maintained by the belief that actresses aren’t responsible for the achievement of their films.
Movie Answer Man (12/13/2007)
by Roger Ebert | December 13, 2007 |
Q: The box-office returns for "The Golden Compass" last weekend were modest at best. The film is estimated to have cost more than $150 million and will have a hard time making its money back. The financial disappointment could be catastrophic for New Line Cinema. Not to mention the fact that any chance of an adaptation of The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass (rest of the trilogy) are now slim to nil. Since you gave the film a positive review, what is your opinion of the box-office returns?
Toronto #6: Stars present & future
by Roger Ebert | September 15, 2005 |
Matthew Modine was attending the Toronto Film Festival launch party for the U.S. edition of Norman Jewison’s autobiography, so the subject of his own memoirs came up. “I don’t know if that book will ever be written,” he said. “But I am publishing Full Metal Diary, which is the diary I kept when I was making Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Full Metal Jacket.’ That was so long ago that when I read it, it’s like the writings of a young actor who doesn’t have a whole lot to do with me. An actor writing journal entries on the set every day, just excited to be working with this great director on this film.”
by Roger Ebert | August 23, 1998 |
In the Answer Man column for July 12, reader David J. Bondelevitch wrote: "I had to bite my tongue from laughing when Sam Neill's character showed up in Montana near the end of 'The Horse Whisperer.' I kept thinking he had fulfilled his dying plea from 'The Hunt for Red October.' After being shot, Sam Neill's dying words in 'Hunt' were (in a thick Russian accent): 'I would like to have seen Montana.' "
Nancy Savoca Discovers It's Hard To Be a `Saint' In Today's Secular Age
by Roger Ebert | October 3, 1993 |
TORONTO -- There is no entry in the Random House Encyclopedia for "The Little Flower," but a Catholic hearing the name will immediately recognize it. Therese de Lisieux lived from 1873 to 1897, practiced great humility in her life, and became a saint almost by acclamation. She would probably be astonished that generations of Catholic girls venerate her as fervently as young Catholic boys these days venerate Michael Jordan.
My talk with Spike Lee
by Roger Ebert | June 7, 1991 |
A dozen things I learned while talking with Spike Lee:1. The Bulls will win it: "Michael Jordan said to me, there's no guarantee they're ever gonna make it back. So he guarantees this is gonna be the year."
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Read Next Chance the Rapper Reveals 'The Big Day' Cover Art, Release Date on 'Fallon' Send Us a Tip Subscribe
All Apologies: 22 Times Justin Bieber Said ‘Sorry’
From ignoring fans to throwing up on stage, the pop star has had many reasons – and opportunities – to atone
Brittany Spanos
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Justin Bieber: I'm sorry – again. Relive 22 of his finest apologies.
Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images
The road to Justin Bieber‘s upcoming album Purpose has been an apologetic one. In fact, saying that he’s sorry for his past has been one of the premiere promotional tools for his highly-anticipated follow-up to 2013 compilation Journals.
Even before he kicked off his notorious string of bad behavior in 2013 and 2014, however, Bieber has been offering mea culpas to fans for his actions, whether intentionally or accidentally terrible. Here are 22 of the 22-year-old’s best apologies.
1. Apology for ignoring British fans (2010)
“Wish I could have come out from the performance at the Mayfair but security wouldn’t let me. For those girls who cursed me out for it, I’m sorry, but sometimes I need to listen to security so no one gets hurt. But I like your attitude. The UK goes hard.”
Justin Bieber: 'I Want to Live Like Jesus'
2. Apology for ignoring Brazilian fans (2011)
“Love when the press think I’m annoyed because I look tired. I’m just tired. It’s normal. I’m not a machine. I’m in Brazil!! Not annoyed. I’m excited.”
3. Apology for ignoring French fans (2012)
“The other day in the airport I got surrounded by 20 paps. I don’t like small spaces, and I just wanted to get on the plane. I ran to get through the gate and there is a video of me running by fans and on the other side you don’t see the 20 paps. I would never run by my fans. For those that I did pass that day I AM SORRY. I know my fans are my everything. I know my responsibility to love them. I LOVE MY BELIEBERS.”
4. Apology for flipping off paparazzi (2011)
“Had a great bday and at the end of the night [Selena and I] got surrounded by paps and I reacted in a way I know better. I’m sorry. #killthemwithkindness. It’s not always easy but I know better than to react in anger.”
5. Apology for throwing up onstage (2012)
“I know that you guys don’t judge me, do you? You love me just the same, even though I’m throwing up all over the stage. You love me that much?”
6. Apology to Bill Clinton after cussing him out on video (2013)
“Thanks for taking the time to talk, Mr. President. Your words meant a lot. #greatguy”
7. Apology for canceled show (2015)
“I look forward to the opportunity to give my UK beliebers a great show in the near future and hope to honor my commitment to [the Prince’s] Trust at that time.”
8. Apology for canceled TV appearance (2010)
“Just want to let my people in Germany know I won’t be on Wetten Dass tonight as an accident has taken place and we all don’t think it is right to continue … I’m sorry we couldn’t perform tonight but some things are more important than putting on a show.”
9. Apology for smoking weed (2013)
“I also heard he got busted for smoking weed,” Bieber said in a Saturday Night Live sketch in reference to himself. “And he’s really sorry about it. And people make mistakes. And he’s never gonna do it again.”
10. Apology to China and Japan after visiting a controversial Tokyo shrine honoring fallen WWII soldiers, including war criminals (2014)
“While in Japan, I asked my driver to pull over for which I saw a beautiful shrine. I was misled to think the Shrines were only a place of prayer. To anyone I have offended, I am extremely sorry. I love you China and I love you Japan.”
11. Apology to Argentina for mishandling the country’s flag onstage (2013)
“People throw stuff on my stage all show and I get it to the stage hands to get off so no one got hurt. That video I saw a bra and thought it was a shirt. I’m being told by my team it was a shirt, but even if it was a flag I would never do anything to disrespect Argentina or the fans.”
12. Apology for walking off stage (2015)
“Sadly, it’s been a rough week for me, long days no sleep while having to be ‘on’ as they would say for cameras, fans, etc. In no way did I mean to come across mean but chose to end the show as the people in the front row would not listen … I don’t always handle things the right way but I’m human and I’m working on getting better at responding, not reacting.”
13. Apology for naked butt (2015)
“I deleted the photo of my butt on Instagram not because I thought it was bad but someone close to me’s daughter follows me and she was embarrassed that she saw my butt and I totally wasn’t thinking in that aspect. I felt awful that she felt bad. To anyone I may have offended I’m so sorry. It was completely pure-hearted as a joke but didn’t take in account there are littles following me!!!”
14. Apology to Love Live anime fans for a poorly worded tweet
“I’m really sorry for getting my otaku Beliebers’ hopes up, but I’m still not really sure which words in a sentence you need to capitalize so it ended up looking like I tweeted the title of the show.”
15. Apology for racist joke (2014)
“As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt. I thought it was okay to repeat hurtful words and jokes but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing ignorance.”
16. Apology for another racist joke (2014)
“Facing my mistakes from years ago has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with. But I feel now that I need to take responsibility for those mistakes and not let them linger. I just hope that the next 14-year-old kid who doesn’t understand the power of these words does not make the same mistakes I made years ago. At the end of the day I just need to step down and own what I did.”
17. Apology to Ellen (2015)
“I think it’s just cool to be able to laugh at yourself. I’ve done some things. That might not of been the greatest. I just want to be able to own up to some of the things.”
18. Apology for appearance on Ellen (2015)
“It’s been a minute since I’ve done a public appearance, and I didn’t want to come off arrogant or conceited or basically how I’ve been acting the past year, year and a half.”
19. Apology for apologizing (2015)
“People often forget that [I’m human], even with their comments and stuff they think it doesn’t get to me, but it gets to me. Things that people say bother me, and I gotta be strong enough to keep it pushing. That’s why I wanted to make a video, just to let people know that I’m human … I’m passionate about being better and growing so I think that this is going to be an awesome chapter in my life.”
20. Apology at Comedy Central Roast (2015)
“There was really no preparing me for this life. I was thrown into this at 12-years-old and didn’t really know what I was getting into. There’s been moments I’m really proud of and moments I’m pretty disappointed in myself for.”
21. Apology to mom (2015)
“If it wasn’t for this woman, let’s just say I would have had a way LONGER stupid phase. I love you and thank you for not giving up on me!”
22. Apology for not apologizing (2015)
“Is it too late now to say sorry? Yeah I know that I let you down. Is it too late to say I’m sorry now?”
In This Article: Justin Bieber
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Particle Physics,
Discovery of Higgs at Large Hadron Collider might not make all physicists happy
Reporting from the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing's 47th annual New Horizons in Science meeting in Austin, Texas
Tom Siegfried
9:58am, October 20, 2009
Soon physicists at the world’s most powerful particle accelerator will exhale — when beams of protons there finally begin to collide, even though those collisions will not at first be as violent as originally planned. Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider outside Geneva remain confident, though, that the collisions will eventually attain sufficient energy to produce the Higgs boson, says Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg of the University of Texas at Austin.
As Weinberg recounted to science writers attending the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing’s annual symposium on October 19, the Higgs would be the crowning achievement of the standard model of particle physics, the equations that precisely describe the known particles of matter and three of nature’s fundamental forces: the strong and weak nuclear forces and electromagnetism. In the most basic version of the standard model, elementary particles such as electrons and quarks have no reason to possess any mass. But clearly they do, a fact explained most conveniently if a currently unknown particle, the Higgs, secretly inhabits the particle zoo.
“It’s not a sure thing that the Higgs will be found, but it’s highly likely,” Weinberg said. “If the Congress had not had the imbecility to cancel the Superconducting Super Collider [in 1993], it would have been discovered long ago here in Texas.”
Discovery of the Higgs at the LHC would not necessarily be a cause for unrestrained celebration, though. “Many of us are terrified that the LHC will discover a Higgs particle and nothing more,” Weinberg said. That would just confirm the standard model, which everybody believes already. It would not point the way to further progress in solving a deeper problem that physics faces — how to add gravity to the unified theory of the other forces.
A clue to solving that mystery might be provided if the LHC’s collisions generate new particles governed by a mathematical constitution known as supersymmetry, or SUSY for short. SUSY math embodies a deep connection between particles that seem unrelated (in physics lingo, their spins differ). Roughly speaking, for each known particle that transmits a force, a partner matterlike particle would exist; each matter particle would have a forcelike partner. These partner particles must be much heavier than those already known to have escaped detection in previous experiments.
If SUSY describes nature correctly, one of the partner particles would very likely be the constituent of dark matter, the unseen mass in the cosmos inferred from observations of gravitational effects not attributable to visible matter. Dark matter cannot be made of ordinary quarks or electrons, Weinberg pointed out; otherwise the recipe of chemical elements cooked up in the early universe would be much different from that now measured. Cosmic observations indicate that about five-sixths of the matter in the universe is made from some form of exotic particle, possibly one predicted by SUSY.
“I can’t imagine anything more exciting and more gratifying than for the Large Hadron Collider to discover particles, artificially created, which in their natural state form the great bulk of the mass of the universe,” said Weinberg. “That would be some headline.”
SUSY’s discovery might also offer a clue to that grander problem of merging gravity into the family of forces. Many physicists believe that the most promising approach to solving that problem involves the hypothetical ultratiny entities known as superstrings. If all nature’s particles are just various vibration modes of these tiny strings, gravity and the other forces fit together nicely. But despite a quarter century of intense effort, superstring theory has not produced a cohesive and clear guide to testing its fit with all the observable features of physical existence.
“It has developed mathematically, but not to the point where there is any one theory, or to the point where if we had one theory, we would know how to do calculations to predict things like the mass of the electron or the masses of the quarks,” Weinberg said. “I would say that although there has been theoretical progress, I find it disappointing.”
It may be that a SUSY discovery at the LHC will help, but Weinberg’s hopes are not high, as any LHC-SUSY clue would be very indirect.
“It’s a pity that superstring theory hasn’t developed better,” he said. “I still think it’s the best hope we have. I don’t know of anything else. My own work very recently has been trying to develop an alternative to superstring theory as a way of making sense out of quantum gravity at very high energies, but even though I’m working on this I still find superstring theory more attractive. But not attractive enough.” —Tom Siegfried
Droughts gave early humans survival skills for later travels
Humankind may have survived after leaving Africa thanks to seasonal droughts — not because they created a time of scarcity, but because they produced a time of plenty.
University of Texas at Austin anthropologist John Kappelman presented this counterintuitive idea in a talk titled “Blue Highways,” which followed his fossil digs along the Blue Nile tributaries in Ethiopia. Early humans are thought to have taken one of two routes out of Africa: along the Red Sea, or along the Nile Valley and out across Eurasia.
But “there’s been very little testing on the ground, recovering fossils and sites that actually permit us to evaluate either one of those two hypothetical migration events,” Kappelman said.
Most fossils found to date come from the rift valley on the eastern side of the continent, where dry, flat, exposed land makes for good fossil hunting. In the late 1990s, Kappelman started exploring the tributaries on the western side of the Nile, where no one had looked for fossils before. The last record of western exploration there was from British naturalist Sir Samuel Baker in the 1860s.
“This area that was a blank slate for Africa is finally starting to fill in,” Kappelman said.
Samuel Barker noticed something key: The rivers are dry for most of the year, but every summer the water rushes back “like freight cars,” Kappelman said. The torrent of water gouged out deep holes that retained water even during the dry season, leaving a necklace of isolated pools.
And the pools were full of fish. “The fish were literally in a bucket,” Kappelman says. If early humans stayed near these water holes, they could feast all through the dry season without working too hard.
“We think of dry seasons as a time of adversity. We’re proposing that these were the easy times,” Kappelman says.
Kappelman and his team found double-edged blades that were probably used as arrow heads and evidence of hearth fires in several sites around the Nile. He thinks using these water holes could have taught early humans crucial skills, like fishing with nets or bow and arrow, that helped them survive seasonal and climate changes after migration to other parts of the world.
“It honed the behavioral foraging habits of early humans, and taught them to exploit a wide range of food,” Kappelman said. —Lisa Grossman
Stuff tells snoops what you're all about
If you have a burning interest in getting to know someone better, maybe you should snoop. You won’t have to look too hard. University of Texas at Austin psychologist Sam Gosling says the books, photos, music playlists, calendars and sports equipment that litter people’s home, offices and even their websites all contribute to the bigger picture of who they really are.
Gosling and his students are researching the way people reveal who they are through their intimate surrounding and their stuff. In their quest, the researchers search bedrooms, bathrooms and office desks looking for three basic types of clues to the occupant’s personality. The first group of clues is what Gosling calls “identity claims,” and consists of posters, photos and other times that make a symbolic statement or are meant to project a specific image. Sometimes these items provide insight into a person’s interests, but other times they say more about what people want others to think of them as opposed to what they're actually like, Gosling said.
Other items, such as music, books and DVDs, are often used as “feeling regulators” to help people mange their emotions and thoughts These feeling regulators can provide important clues to what a person is really like. Even the traces left behind as a result of everyday actions can reveal who you are. Gosling points to piles of garbage, food wrappers and notebooks, calling this “behavioral residue.” Together, these types of clues reveal a person’s pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving, and are consistent over time.
Gosling and his crew use this information to rate people on five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. Architects are using the information to help design homes where people can re-create a feeling of comfort and well being.
So where would Gosling look if limited to only one place? That would be a person’s website. People will tell you explicitly what they’re like, and there are so few restrictions to what can be put online, he said.
“If you live in a tiny apartment in New York, you can’t display your love of hang gliding, but you can do that on a website.” —Susan Gaidos
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Home | Previous Page
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Release No. 63890 / February 11, 2011
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
File No. 3-13454
Hennessee Group LLC and
Charles J. Gradante
Respondents.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION AND OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Rule 1103 of the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("Commission") Rules on Fair Fund and Disgorgement Plans, 17 C.F.R. § 201.1103, that the Division of Enforcement has submitted to the Commission a proposed plan for the distribution of monies placed into a Fair Fund in the above-captioned matter ("Distribution Plan").
On April 22, 2009, the Commission issued an Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 203(e), 203(f), and 203(k) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order (the “Order”) against Hennessee Group LLC (“Hennessee Group”) and Charles J. Gradante (“Gradante”) (collectively, “Respondents”). See Hennessee Group LLC and Charles J. Gradante, Advisers Act Rel. No. 2871 (April 22, 2009). Simultaneously with the entry of the Order, the Commission accepted settlement offers from Respondents in which they consented to the entry of the Order without admitting or denying the Commission’s findings.
In accordance with the Order, Respondents have paid disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and a civil penalty to the Commission. This money was used to create a Fair Fund for distribution, pursuant to the proposed Distribution Plan, to investors who were harmed by the conduct described in the Order.
OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT
Pursuant to this Notice, all interested parties are advised that they may print a copy of the proposed Distribution Plan from the Commission's public website, http://www.sec.gov. Interested parties may also obtain a written copy of the proposed Distribution Plan by submitting a written request to: Osman A. Handoo, Senior Counsel, United States Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington DC 20549-5041. All persons who desire to comment on the Distribution Plan may submit their comments, in writing, no later than thirty days from the date of this Notice:
to the Office of the Secretary, United States Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-1090;
by using the Commission's Internet comment form (www.sec.gov/litigation/admin.shtml); or
by sending an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov.
Please include "Administrative Proceeding File Number 3-13454" on the subject line of any electronic filing. Comments received will be available to the public. Persons should only submit information that they wish to make publicly available.
THE DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The proposed Distribution Plan provides for distribution to eligible investors of their share of the disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalty paid by Respondents in connection with the Order referenced above. The proposed Distribution Plan describes the procedures by which a Fund Administrator will determine the eligible recipients and the amount to be paid to each eligible recipient.
For the Commission, by its Secretary, pursuant to delegated authority.
Elizabeth M. Murphy
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2011/34-63890.htm
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What the Fear of Death Reveals About Our Nature
Death doesn't have to overwhelm us, say experts who study how to overcome an obsession with mortality.
By Kaiser Health News
Since he watched his mother drop dead, Richard Bridgman's fear of death has left him emotionally paralyzed.
It was right around Thanksgiving - nearly 45 years ago - and Bridgman was sleeping overnight on his mom's living room couch.
"In the middle of the night, she walked into the room and said, 'Richard, I'm dying,'" recalls Bridgman, who tried to reassure his mom that she'd be okay. But his mother, who had a heart condition, was suffering a massive heart attack. "She looked at me and fell over on her head. I didn't know what to do. She was dead."
Death haunted much of Bridgman's early years. His stepfather died when Bridgman was 15. His father, an alcoholic, died when Bridgman was 17. And Bridgman was 26 when his mom died before his eyes. Now, 72, and long retired from the bill collection business he once owned in the Springfield, Ill., area, he has spent most of his adult years trying to cope with - if not overcome - his immense fear of death.
"Death became an obsession," he said. "No matter where I went or what I did, death was always in the back of my mind."
RELATED: Life Continues Within the Body After Death, Evidence Shows
Most people prefer not to think about death, much less plan for it. In a tech-crazed world, where time is commonly measured in 140 characters and 6-second sound bites, life would appear to be dissected into so many bite-sized morsels that discussion of death doesn't even seem to fit into the equation.
"Everybody has a fear of death, no matter what culture, religion or country they come from," said Kelvin Chin, author of "Overcoming the Fear of Death" and founder of the Overcoming the Fear of Death Foundation and the non-profit turningwithin.org. "Fear is simply an emotion caused by the anticipation of unhappiness."
But wait. What if death isn't actually unhappy? What if it simply - is? For Bridgman, whose fear of death was overwhelming, that simple question was a critical step in learning to emotionally deal with death. That question was posed to him by Chin, who he discovered via a Google search. Several supportive phone consultations with Chin - combined with a simple meditation process that Chin teaches - have helped to keep Bridgman's fears under control.
"I spent so much money on psychiatrists and psychotherapists - none of them did any good," says Bridgman. But Chin steered Bridgman towards meditation. "Meditation is better than medicine," Bridgman said.
Everyone must figure out their own way to handle the fear of death. One expert, who overcame her own fear through years of attending to the dying, says death is rarely the terrible thing that most folks fret about.
"Death is usually a peaceful process," said Donna Authers, a professional caregiver, motivational speaker and author of the book "A Sacred Walk: Dispelling the Fear of Death and Caring for the Dying."
"Very few people die screaming. They just go to sleep."
But it took Authers years to learn the lesson that death need not be frightening. As a child, death haunted her. When she was two years old, her father was killed in World War II. Her mother, who had remarried, died on Authers' fifth birthday. "Instead of a birthday party, I woke up to the worst day of my life," she said. Her grandfather committed suicide when Authers was 15.
It was Authers' grandmother - while dying from cancer - who taught Authers the most critical lesson in accepting death's inevitability. Authers brought her grandmother home to tend to her during her final days. But her grandmother could sense her granddaughter's terrible fear.
That's when her grandmother took her by the hand and, unafraid, reminded Authers, "Death is part of life. You, too, will be where I am someday, and you can't face death with fear," she said. That changed everything. Seeing her grandmother bravely face death caused her own fears to dissolve. "I was no longer afraid of death and dying," Authers said.
Authers ultimately left her job as an IBM marketing executive to become a caregiver. Through the years, she has found that faith is the most important quality among those who face death without fear. "People who have faith in something don't grieve like those who have no hope," Authers said.
RELATED: Virtual Out-of-Body Experience Could Reduce Your Fear of Death
Increasingly, however, Chin has found that Millennials - more than any other demographic - fear death the most.
"It's the downside of social media," Chin said. "The bombardment and speed of communication leads to an overload that can trigger a fear of death."
Perhaps even the world of politics can play a role, suggests Sheldon Solomon, professor of psychology at Skidmore College and author of "The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life."
In times of political upheaval - particularly when people are reminded of their mortality - the fear of death increases even as they tend to be attracted to political figures who promise them more security, said Solomon, who has conducted numerous experiments on this issue.
"When people are reminded of their own mortality, in an effort to bolster faith in their own view of reality, they become more hostile to anyone who is different."
Even then, Solomon said, perhaps nothing alleviates a dying person's fear of death more than love.
A terminally ill grandmother he knew was distraught at the prospect of death. No doctor and no medicine could help her. Then, she received a short phone call from her granddaughter, begging her for her cupcake recipe. "No one can make them like you," her granddaughter said.
"That call did more in five minutes than anything else could have,'" Solomon said. "It reminded the grandmother that she will live on in the memories of the people she loves. That was all she needed to know."
WATCH: How Different Cultures Dealt With Death
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Warriors’ Klay Thompson evolves into Bay Area favorite
Sporting Green // Ann Killion
Ann Killion April 22, 2019 Updated: April 22, 2019 10:20 p.m.
1of7Guard Klay Thompson thrives with the Warriors. He is the rare All-Star who appears to be ego-less.Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
2of7Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) heads to the locker room following the Warriors' win against the Denver Nuggets in an NBA game at Oracle Arena on Friday, March 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle
3of7Klay Thompson (11) drives toward the basket with Patrick Bevereley (21) defending in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of the First Round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sunday, April 21, 2019.Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
4of7Klay Thompson (11) celebrates his made three pointer in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of the First Round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sunday, April 21, 2019.Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
5of7Golden State Warriors' Jordan Bell (left) and Klay Thompson run a play during basketball practice at the Rakuten Performance Center in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.Photo: Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle
6of7Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) is introduced before an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors won 115-101.Photo: Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle
7of7Warriors’ guard Klay Thompson attends the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards 2015 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on July 16, 2015 in Westwood, California.Photo: Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Don’t be surprised if there’s a crowd of people at Muir Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
Waiting for Klay Thompson to conduct his saltwater healing.
Thompson’s dip in the Pacific Ocean a day prior to his 32-point effort in Game 4 in Los Angeles was all the buzz as the Warriors returned to the Bay Area.
A nice, fun kind of buzz, which is the kind that is almost always associated with Thompson.
Thompson makes people smile, and that’s something Warriors fans need right now. Their team has been exhausting at times this season. Puzzling. Instead of fun, the Warriors have had drama. They are awash in questions about their future. They have a player who announces, “I’m Kevin Durant. You know who I am.”
And then they have Thompson.
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Thompson makes the game fun. He doesn’t thrive on drama. Or chest-pounding. A free agent himself this summer, he has directly answered the questions, confirming that he wants to stay with the Warriors.
And if he has a below-his-standards game or two, he changes things up. Resets by doing something different. Like jumping in the ocean.
“It waked me up,” Thompson said after Sunday’s game, wearing cool shades and a designer vest in a postgame interview. “Healed the body and mind.”
Thompson, who gave a shout-out to his relatives in the Bahamas after the game, spent a lot of his childhood in “island mode.” Which is probably why the ocean baptism worked for him. Stephen Curry announced after the game that “the Pacific Ocean is undefeated.” And Thompson indicated he might need to re-create his ocean dip to ensure another big game: He scored 27 points in the first half.
“Muir Beach, I’m coming for you,” Thompson said. “It’s cold, but I’d do it. ... Livestream it or something.”
Thompson is becoming a modern-day Willie McCovey. A star in his own right, though at times overshadowed by his higher-profile teammates, he is wildly beloved by the fans.
McCovey was everyone’s favorite Giant. Thompson is becoming everyone’s favorite Warrior (though it’s tough when Curry is your teammate). The likable guy you feel like you could hang out with somewhere cool, like the beach.
If the Warriors tried to move to Chase Center without Thompson (and his bulldog, Rocco) there would be riots in dog parks around the Bay Area.
Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson looks out over the bay while taking a break from walking his dog, Rocco, at Cesar Chavez Park in Berkeley, Calif., on Wednesday, November 19, 2014.
Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle 2014
In a league defined by egos, Thompson seems to be ego-less. His ability to go with the flow — while putting in All-Star performances on offense and defense — is one of the key ingredients to the Warriors’ dynasty. A different personality wouldn’t have been able to so seamlessly co-exist with a player like Curry, who gets so much attention. Or Durant. Or Draymond Green.
Andrew Bogut joked that the best reaction when he returned was, “Klay, just nonchalant, ‘Oh, hey, Bogues,’ like he saw me a couple of days ago.’”
Series schedule
Warriors lead, 3-1
Game 1: Warriors 121, Clips 104
Game 2: Clips 135, Warriors 131
Wednesday: at Oracle Arena, 7:30 p.m. TNT, NBCSBA
Friday: at L.A., TBA*
Sunday: at Oracle, TBA*
* if necessary;
all games on 95.7.
Nothing seems to faze Thompson.
“I wasn’t doing anything special, just knocking down shots,” Thompson said after Sunday’s game.
Asked in the ESPN/ABC postgame interview how the Warriors could prevail even when Curry had an off game, Thompson said, “Strength in Numbers” and held up his towel with those words. Upside down.
“My bad,” he told the national TV audience.
Even breaking an unwritten rule, by peeking ahead to the next round, is easy if you’re Thompson.
“We see our opponent up 3-0 and we don’t want to give them any more rest days,” Thompson said of Houston.
Yep. He called the Rockets “our opponent” before either first-round series is complete. Only Thompson can get away with that. A statement that, made by someone else, could come off as arrogant instead seems innocent on Thompson’s lips.
Game 5 will be Wednesday night. “We want to give our fans a show and redeem ourselves from the last time in Oracle,” Thompson said after Game 4. “We owe them one.”
In preparation for the potential close-out game, the Warriors had the day off Monday. They will practice Tuesday and should be done around 1 p.m.
That leaves time for a trip to Muir Beach. Even better news — Muir is a popular dog beach.
Klay and Rocco. If there’s a traffic jam in West Marin, you’ll know why.
Ann Killion is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: akillion@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annkillion
Follow Ann on:
https://www.facebook.com/SFChronicle/annkillion
Born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County, Ann Killion has covered Bay Area sports for more than two decades. An award-winning columnist and a veteran of 11 Olympics, several World Cups and the Tour de France, Ann joined The Chronicle in 2012. Ann has worked for the San Jose Mercury News, the Los Angeles Times and Sports Illustrated. She is a New York Times best-selling author, having co-written "Solo: A Memoir of Hope" with soccer star Hope Solo,"Throw Like A Girl" with softball player Jennie Finch and two middle-grade books on soccer, “Champions of Women’s Soccer” and “Champions of Men’s Soccer.” She was named California Sportswriter of the Year in both 2014 and 2017. She has two children and lives in Mill Valley.
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Nr 2018 0412 new gb leadership
SFWMD Governing Board Selects New Chair and Vice Chair
West Palm Beach, FL – The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today selected Governing Board Member Federico Fernandez as its new Chair and Governing Board Member Melanie Peterson as its new Vice Chair.
"I will most certainly be honored to carry the great responsibility of being the chair of this Governing Board going forward and serving the 8.1 million residents of South Florida," said Chairman Fernandez, who was quick to say that the leadership the Governing Board provides under his chairmanship will rely heavily on the diverse backgrounds of the Board members. "It is critical to how we function to have that plurality of perspective and focus and the high level of skill sets that are part of this Board."
Fernandez, an attorney and native of Miami-Dade County, was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016 to represent Miami-Dade residents on the Governing Board. Since then, he has been a champion of Everglades restoration efforts, especially efforts to restore the health of Biscayne Bay, a jewel of the Miami-Dade and South Florida ecosystem.
Fernandez succeeds Dan O'Keefe who will remain on the Governing Board. O'Keefe voluntarily stepped down as chair, stating the time required to serve as chair properly was no longer possible due to his recent appointment to the Board of Trustees of the University of Florida. O'Keefe was appointed to the Governing Board in 2011 and began serving as chair in 2013.
Peterson, a real estate agent and native of Palm Beach County, was appointed by Gov. Scott in 2014. She has championed water quality and restoration efforts, including encouraging communities to convert from septic tanks that can pollute waterways to more sustainably responsible sewer systems.
O'Keefe described Peterson as a "super effective" advocate for the interests of the District and the residents it serves throughout South Florida. Peterson, touted by her colleagues as engaged on a myriad of issues, said she was honored to be chosen by her fellow Governing Board members and to serve in her capacity as Vice Chair. She succeeds Governing Board Member Jim Moran, who was appointed in 2015 to represent Palm Beach County and who will also remain on the Governing Board.
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Will The Hobbit make an appearance at Comic-Con?
by Jaclyn Brandt
Jul 10, 2012 at 9:20 pm EDT
Years after The Lord of the Rings trilogy was ended, The Hobbit is finally getting close to its release date. Some fans will get a preview this weekend.
If there is one film fans have been holding their breath for, it may be The Hobbit.
Elijah Wood played the character (namely, Frodo) in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but that series ended almost 10 years ago.
Wood is attending Comic-Con this week, and one of the most anticipated appearances will not be by Wood himself, but by previously unseen film footage from The Hobbit.
“Perhaps the greatest sense of anticipation this year is reserved for The Hobbit, a Warner Bros. film based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien that follows the trilogy of blockbuster films based on his Lord of the Rings book series,” said Reuters.
Wood appeared at Comic-Con one decade ago, according to Reuters, accompanying director Peter Jackson to the event to promote Lord of the Rings.
Another reason the footage is so anticipated because The Hobbit (the film, not the character) is expected to be a little more than expected.
“The scale of The Hobbit is larger, the anticipation is potentially greater, everything feels a little bit bigger,” Wood told Reuters. “For so long, people didn’t think there would be a Hobbit film, so the fact that there is finally, people have been anticipating this for a long time.”
Fans are also hobbit-crazy because of the secrecy surrounding the film. Besides a trailer released in December, very little has been released to the public.
“So far, details about The Hobbit have been kept under wraps,” said Reuters. “But the studio will finally show extended film clips and Jackson himself is expected to turn out to meet fans and answer questions.”
Comic-Con will be celebrating its 43rd anniversary this weekend, with other panels by movies like Total Recall and Iron Man 3.
Other actors set to attend this year are Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.
The Hobbit is set to be released in December.
Photo courtesy Daniel Tanner/ WENN.com
Comic-Con elijah wood Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson The Hobbit
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Fashion, Shoes & Jewellery »
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A ring is one of the most popular fashion accessories available in the market. It is a circular band, mostly made of metal and is worn as ornamental accessory around the finger and sometimes also worn on the toe. This ornament is worn by people belonging to all age groups and of both the gender. Read more about them in our buying guide and find some tips that will help you when buying the most important ring of all: an engagement ring! Read buying guide
2317 results - Sort results by: Popularity - Price - Discount - Alphabetical Order Filter Sort by
Macy's Sapphire (1-1/6 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/4 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k White Gold Sapphire (6972520)
Macy's Sapphire (1/2 ct. t.w.) & Diamond Accent Ring in 14k White Gold Sapphire (6972522)
Macy's Sapphire (1 ct. t.w.) & Diamond Accent Ring in 14k White Gold Sapphire (6972527)
Effy Collection Effy Pink Sapphire (3/4 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/8 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k Gold Pink Sapphire (7040584)
Le Vian Le Vian Ceylon Sapphire (1 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (7/8 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k Rose Gold Sapphire (7074768)
Effy Collection Effy Sapphire (3/8 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/4 ct. t.w.) Band in 14k Gold Sapphire (7040561)
Effy Collection Effy Sapphire (1 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/6 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k White Gold Sapphire (7040585)
Effy Collection Effy Sapphire (3/4 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/4 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k White Gold Sapphire (7040557)
Effy Collection Effy Multi-Sapphire (1-3/8 ct. t.w) Ring in 14k Gold Multi Sapphire (8791573)
Effy Collection Effy Multi-Sapphire (2-5/8 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/6 ct. t.w.) in 14k Gold Multi Sapphire (8067594)
Effy Collection Effy Multi-Sapphire (1-3/4 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/2 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k Gold Multi Sapphire (8067584)
Macy's Certified Ruby (1-1/3 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (5/8 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k White Gold(Also Available In Sapphire and Emerald) Sapphire (7135624)
Macy's Sapphire (1-1/3 ct. t.w.) and Diamond (1/2 ct. t.w.) Ring in 14k White Gold (Also available in Certified Ruby & Emerald) Ruby (7135631)
Effy Collection Effy Men's Black Sapphire (1/4 ct. t.w.) & Onyx Compass Statement Ring in 14k Gold Yellow Gold (8412543)
Effy Collection Royale Bleu by Effy Sapphire (3/4 ct. t.w.) and Diamond (1/5 ct. t.w.) Band in 14k White Gold Blue (1886874)
Effy Collection Gemstone Bridal by Effy Emerald (1/2 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/4 ct. t.w.) Band in 18k White Gold (Also Available in Ruby, Sapphire, & Pink Sapphire) Sapphire (5380394)
Effy Collection Gemstone Bridal by Effy Emerald (1/2 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/4 ct. t.w.) Band in 18k White Gold (Also Available in Ruby, Sapphire, & Pink Sapphire) Pink Sapphire (5380394)
Macy's Ruby (1 ct. t.w.) & Diamond (1/4 ct. t.w.) 3-Stone Ring in 14k Gold (Also in Sapphire, Emerald & Tanzanite) Sapphire/White Gold (2090144)
Rings are generally made of metal but can also be found made of almost any material including various varieties of metal, glass, plastic, stone, bone, wood, gemstone among many more. A ring may be set with a stone or a gem of some sort. Many include precious or semi-precious gemstones such as sapphire, ruby, diamond, or emerald. There is a wide range of gemstones available depending on several characteristics. The tradition of giving and receiving finger rings dates back to a period approximately 6,000 years ago. Since then there has been a dramatic change in the look and designs of the rings. Rings are worn for many reasons ranging from fashion and style sense to signifying something. The meaning may differ and can be very important and symbolic. The general categorizations of the meaning behind a ring are as follows:
Promise, Wedding and Engagement Rings
It is a well-known fact that the ring finger on the left hand is reserved for engagement or wedding rings. This finger is in general kept ring free until the person has made the commitment which is signified by the corresponding ring. This meaning has come from an old tradition which states that there is a vein that runs from the ring finger directly to the heart, which is why it is closely associated with love and bridal jewelry. A promise ring is sometimes used as a symbol of love between two people before they become officially engaged. This ring usually indicates that the pair is committed to each other and that neither of the partners is single anymore.
The promise ring is viewed as a pre-engagement ring. Most of the couples wear a promise ring on the ring finger of the left hand. These rings are switched with the real engagement ring at the time of the wedding. Engagement rings are one of the biggest purchases in the everyman life. It represents a big commitment, and requires an equally big compromise at the time of purchase. But going into jewelries can often be overwhelming. There are just too many questions: gold or platinum? How big should it be? What makes a beautiful diamond beautiful? In the end, the first thing that has to be taken into consideration is…
There is usually no escape route in this regard. A beautiful, special engagement ring is going to be significantly expensive. What is more important in this regard is that you don’t hold back too much on the money, but also don’t go for something that is out of your financial reality at the time. You do have to spend, but you don’t have to waste. Compare prices using Shopbot’s tools and always be on the look for reputable sellers. Reaching a good balance between the final product and the amount spent can be achieved by carefully considering…
The Four “C’s”
Knowing exactly what you are looking for is the first step down the path of a good purchase. Carat, Clarity, Colour and Cut are elements that separate a dazzling diamond ring from a disappointment. Knowing how to juggle with all of them and your wallet can be the difference between “Yes!” and “Oh my God! YES!”. Cut, contrary to what may seem intuitive at first, is not related to shape. Cut is actually about the quality of the lapidating process, and it defines how well a diamond will sparkle when hit by lights. This is obviously a very important “C” to invest it. There are few things more impressive than a perfectly shiny diamond. Cut is actually a lot more important than Clarity, which is based on very subtle distinctions of flaws or imperfections throughout the diamond’s structure. This one is actually more important to the jeweler than to the actual average consumer, since these imperfections are overshadowed by so many things. This means that, as a general rule, compromising on clarity in favor of a better cut would be a good idea.
The next “C” to consider is Carat, which related to its weight and size. When it comes to diamonds and other precious stones, we can safely say that size does matter. No matter how polished, perfectly-cut and transparent a regular diamond may be, it’s always going to be less impressive than a diamond the size of your fist. But of course, balance is preferred when making an acquisition. Carat and Cut go hand-in-hand as the most important factors when buying a ring and one compliments the other very nicely. A big, shiny diamond is definitely going to steal all the thunder. Finally, the last “C” stands for Colour. A diamond’s colour is really a factor of preference in the end, but it is also related to the rarity of the stone – the clearer / more transparent, the rarer. That being so, this really doesn’t make for the most important part of the purchase since there’s no compromise in beauty by shifting down the colour scale.
Shape, Setting and Bands
The shape of the precious stone is another very important factor, albeit one that is a lot more related to personal preference and that generally doesn’t have a huge impact on the price. It is important that the shape reflects the person who is going to use it, so don’t let yourself be swayed by trends and get more personal and light-minded when choosing between shapes. Furthermore, even if the stone is the heart of a ring, you can’t forget about the rest of the body. It is also important to find a good harmony between stone, band and setting. Choosing between platinum or gold settings is generally the first step. Platinum is a lot more resistant, but not every woman will like its less conventional look. It is recommended to try to have, at least, platinum claws to make sure that it is going to be safely set to the band. Band shape and the stone’s setting are also a matter of preference, but need to work well together. Embrace your partner’s individuality and mix it in when thinking about the ideal design of their ring.
Decorative Rings
Some rings are simply worn for fashion and styling because they look good. A decorative piece of accessory can be worn on any finger as per individual’s choice. The vast majority of rings sold across the globe are actually rings used for fashion purposes only. These rings are made out of a great variety of materials and they don’t come anywhere close to demanding a commitment as big as needed when buying an engagement ring. Because of that, there is a lot more freedom to play trial and error, building a big collection of decorative rings that can be used with many different ensembles. Here in Shopbot you have access to a great number of expert and customer reviews about many of our products, as well as a huge number of options and pictures to be well aware of everything the market has to offer. Put your heart into the research and you will surely find the perfect, captivating ring.
John Hardy Bamboo Collection Double Coil Ring
The Kooples Snake Double Open Ring (AFBI19002K)
Bloomingdale's Cushion-Cut Certified Diamond Engagement Ring in 18K White Gold, 2.0 ct. t.w. - 100% Exclusive (BRI14279-100BD)
Bloomingdale's Multi-Sapphire Statement Ring in 14K Yellow Gold - 100% Exclusive (RP0BJ02O74)
Bloomingdale's Morganite & Diamond Statement Ring in 14K White & Rose Gold - 100% Exclusive (TW2190R-14KTT)
John Hardy 18K Gold Cinta Surakarta One-of-a-Kind Ring with Diamonds & Gemstones - 100% Exclusive (R4158)
Bloomingdale's Ruby & Diamond Crossover Band in 14K Rose Gold - 100% Exclusive (WZ0L462DR6)
Bloomingdale's Amethyst East-West Ring in 14K Yellow Gold - 100% Exclusive (GJ13125R)
Bloomingdale's Morganite & Diamond-Accent Ring in 14K Rose Gold - 100% Exclusive (GJ18222R-MG)
Kendra Scott Collins Cocktail Ring (R1097BSV)
John Hardy 18K Yellow Gold Cinta Collection One-of-a-Kind Palm Petrified Wood, Pave Brown Diamond & Treated Black Diamond Modern Chain Ring - 100% Exclusive (R4085)
Bloomingdale's Diamond Mosaic Ring in 18K White Gold, 0.65 ct. t.w. - 100% Exclusive (TI60240R)
Alexis Bittar Liquid Gold Layered Ring (MH41R0138)
Alexis Bittar Textured Lucite Block Ring (LC00R0012008)
John Hardy Sterling Silver Classic Chain Small Pave Diamond Ring (RBP903602DIX7)
Beads, Pearls & Necklaces
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Tattoo Supplies & Machines
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Siemens wins new service contract at Dubai International
Siemens provides operation and maintenance (O&M) services for baggage and material handling systems
Contract period of several years with an option for further extension
Siemens and airport personnel form an integrated team
Dubai Airports has contracted Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics to provide operation and maintenance (O&M) services for its baggage and material handling systems at Dubai International. The contract includes Terminal 1, 2 and 3 as well as a recently established material handling system in the vicinity of the Dubai Flower Centre. The contract covers a period of several years with the option for a further extension.
“We are proud of the new order and the trust our customer places in us. Siemens and Dubai Airports count on a long business relationship as Siemens constructed and expanded the baggage and cargo handling systems across the entire airport”, said Michael Reichle, CEO of Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics.
“Our focus on customer service and operational excellence played a crucial role in choosing a professional long-term service partner for our baggage and material handling systems”, said Chris Garton, Executive Vice President of Operations at Dubai Airports. “We trust this partnership with Siemens will continue to make a major contribution to our strategic goals.”
Jointly established key performance indicators are the basis of the O&M contract. A performance-based contract scheme ensures the highest service standards across the airport. It covers all facets of operational support, trouble-shooting, permanent improvement as well as preventive and predictive maintenance.
Siemens employs a dedicated and experienced local team on site which is highly familiar with the installed technology and secures immediate resources for all service aspects. Siemens personnel will work alongside the airport staff at multiple levels, forming an integrated operations and asset care team. The long-term contract has many advantages for Dubai Airports. For example, it allows for a strategic approach to process re-engineering, energy savings as well as cost and time efficiency.
Dubai International has taken over the number one position for international passenger traffic according to Airports Council International's (ACI) latest figures. The airport serves more than 100 passenger and cargo airlines flying to more than 280 destinations across six continents. Passenger numbers are projected to reach more 79 million by the end of 2015, and over 100 million by 2020.
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Silverfleet acquires Coventya from Equistone
Silverfleet Capital, the European Private Equity firm specialised in buy-to-build, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Coventya from Equistone Partners Europe for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is subject to competition clearances.
Coventya, a Paris-headquartered company with a strong international presence, develops, manufactures and supplies specialty chemicals used for surface treatment. Founded in 1927, Coventya has become one of the world leaders in this niche market, due to its capacity to innovate and the quality of its customer service. The group offers a large range of products used in numerous sectors such as the automotive, luxury and consumer goods, construction, aviation, data storage and oil & gas industries.
In the automotive industry for example Coventya supplies extremely resistant anti-corrosive zinc and nickel alloys. The luxury goods producers use its range of plating chemicals for the decoration of handbags, jewellery, watches and other accessories.
Coventya has teams of highly qualified chemists based in seven R&D centres in France, Germany, Italy and the USA. The group operates in 58 countries on four continents and has 570 employees, 70 of whom are based in France at a site in Villeneuve la Garenne near Paris. For the 2015 financial year ended in September the group had a turnover of €124 million, 85% of which was from outside France.
Equistone became the majority shareholder of Coventya, alongside the management team, in July 2011 and has since supported the group in its global organic expansion as well as with acquisitions in India, Korea and Singapore.
Following Silverfleet Capital’s investment, Coventya intends to continue its international development especially in emerging markets and in the United States while also investing in environmentally friendly technologies. Silverfleet intends to support Coventya in making further bolt-on acquisitions.
Thomas Costa, CEO and Torsten Becker, CFO of Coventya, Commented on the transaction: “We are delighted with what has been achieved during our partnership with Equistone and we would like to thank them for their support over the past five years. We are convinced that Silverfleet Capital is now the ideal partner to continue this international development with and to help us strengthen our position as market leader.”
Alexandre Lefebvre, Partner at Silverfleet Capital said: “Coventya is a perfect example of a medium sized French industrial player that has been able to expand internationally thanks to its innovation and capacity to mobilise high quality teams who are passionate about their work and combine scientific skills, technical know-how and a commitment to high quality customer service.”
Guillaume Jacqueau, Managing Partner of Equistone Partners Europe, said: “Over the last few years Covenyta has become an internationally recognised supplier in a niche market thanks to continued investment in R&D, a diverse client base and targeted overseas acquisitions. We are very proud to have been able to support the management team in this growth and we are completely confident that they will be able to continue in the same way in the future.”
Financing for the transaction will be provided by KBC, CIC and Euromezzanine.
The members of the Silverfleet Capital team involved in the transaction were Alexandre Lefebvre, Maïré Deslandes, Jean Châtillon and Vincent Clément.
The Equistone Partners Europe team responsible for the investment were Guillaume Jacqueau, Arnaud Thomas and Grégoire Châtillon.
Silverfleet Capital was advised by Natexis Partners, Latham & Watkins, Advancy and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Equistone was advised by HSBC, Lazard, Linklaters, Estin & Co. and 8 Advisory.
Management was advised by Banque Privée 1818 and Scotto & Associés.
Coventya completes third add-on acquisition with Silverfleet Capital support
Coventya completes first two add-on acquisitions since Silverfleet invested in May 2016
Silverfleet completes buyout of Coventya
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Board Biographies
Terry Atkinson has spent over 30 years in the investment banking industry including tenures at Salomon Brothers, PaineWebber and UBS. He served as a board member for UBS for a number of years. While actively working in investment banking he involved himself with many charitable efforts such as the Harlem Day School and Sheltering Arms – shelter for women and children. He also was the national lead for Juvenile Diabetes for PaineWebber. He currently sits on the board of The Campanile Foundation of San Diego State University, which is their fundraising arm. He splits his time between San Diego and Tiburon, California.
Lisa Behun is a Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. Lisa is responsible for identifying customer needs, providing guidance and coordinating with the appropriate professionals within U.S. Trust and Bank of America and its affiliates to support customers’ overall wealth management strategy. Lisa joined U.S. Trust in 2007 with 10 years of experience in private finance. After owning and operating an E & S brokerage firm in Minneapolis, developing a captive insurance company and serving with the Minnesota Bankers Association, Lisa came to San Diego to join the marine industry in yacht sales and financing. In 2007 U.S. Trust was acquired by Bank of America and Lisa accepted the position of Private Client Manager working directly with high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals in San Diego. Lisa Behun graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
David Bialis was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and post-graduation worked at Price Waterhouse & Co. Bialis then held financial management roles with American Cinema in Los Angeles and Oak Industries in San Diego.
In 1984 Bialis began his career with Cox Communications where he would serve in various roles and locations spanning 32 years. Roles included Chief Financial Officer of the Cox-owned Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Atlanta and Senior Vice President & General Manager of Cox’s Oklahoma telecommunications operation. He subsequently served as Senior VP of Operations of the company’s Western Division in the Atlanta corporate office where he oversaw operations of 5 million customers in California, Arizona, Nevada and Louisiana.
In 2011 Bialis returned home to Southern California to lead Cox’s operations in San Diego, Orange County and Santa Barbara. In 2016 he retired from the company.
Currently Bialis serves on the boards of Voices for Children where he was chair for two years and interim CEO for six months in 2017; Ocean Discovery Institute; La Jolla Playhouse; Make-A-Wish and the Midway Foundation. He is a resident of Solana Beach and is father to two girls who live in San Diego and San Francisco.
Julia R. Brown is a member of the Board of Directors of Targacept, Inc., Labopharm, Inc., and MediQuest Therapeutics, Inc. She was a member of the founding Board of Directors of Trius Therapeutics, Inc. and continued to serve until its recent Series B financing. She remains on the Trius business advisory board. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Tanox, Inc. from 2005 until its acquisition by Genentech in 2007. She served on the business advisory board of CovX Pharmaceuticals from 2004 until its acquisition by Pfizer in 2008. Julia is a member of the board of CONNECT, an organization that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship and the formation of new companies. She serves on its public policy committee. Julia is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of California, San Diego Foundation. She is a member of Corporate Director’s Forum and the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Directors Cabinet at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She is also a member of the board of the San Diego Symphony.
From 2000-2003, Julia was Executive Vice President of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Advisor to the CEO until 2008. Prior to joining Amylin, Julia was Executive Vice President of Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She was with Dura from 1995-1999. Julia spent over 25 years with Eli Lilly and Company in progressively more senior roles. From 1992-1994, Julia was Vice President of IVAC Corporation and General Manager of its Vital Signs Division (a Lilly subsidiary). She was Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Hybritech (another Lilly subsidiary), and led global marketing from1986-1992. She held a variety of positions in the pharmaceutical division, including eight years in the Company’s international division. She did basic research in antimicrobials from 1969-1973. Julia is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where she studied microbiology and biochemistry. CLICK HERE for a recent San Diego Union-Tribune profile on Julia R. Brown.
Pam Cesak graduated with a Degree in Mass Communications from Kings College. She spent more than 15 years as a radio and television personality and held management positions in major market radio and is currently a creative consultant and producer of San Diego Tonight, a new live entertainment television show on KUSI. The show is owned and produced by her company, The Pacific Dream Company. Pam came to San Diego in 1986 to create a new radio station for Sandusky Broadcasting. In 1988 she met her husband, Jerry Cesak, half of the popular Jeff & Jer Radio Show. Pam has been involved in numerous philanthropic organizations in San Diego, including the San Diego Historical Society, 11 years on the Board of the San Diego Museum of Art (including two as its Board President) and five years serving on the Board of the Old Globe Theatre. Pam is most proud of her work with the Rancho Coastal Human Society. Through her family foundation, The Unicorn Foundation (a non-profit organization that provides philanthropy worldwide for causes concerning the arts, animal protection and human rights), they built Dorothy’s Dormitory, a state of the art shelter for cats; they are currently working on building Charlotte’s Medical Center at RCHS. She also works with International Campaign for Tibet, a global not-for-profit organization to promote and protect human rights, religious freedom and the unique cultural identity of the Tibetan people.
Ben G. Clay has retired as a principal with Carpi & Clay, a government relations firm with offices in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. He has more than 35 years experience working with public agencies, private-sector companies and organizations. He specialized in legislative and administrative advocacy at the State of California.
Prior to establishing The Clay Company and later Carpi & Clay, Ben provided legislative representation for the City of San Diego and County of San Diego. At the County, he served as the director of the Intergovernmental Affairs Office where he was responsible for supervising legislative advocacy activities in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. He also was vice president of a development company where he was responsible for managing development and government relations activities at the City and County of San Diego, Port of San Diego, California Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission. Ben has also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps.
Ben serves on the boards of the, San Diego Symphony Association, the California State Railroad Museum, the City of San Diego Qualcomm Stadium advisory board and the San Diego River Conservancy. He is a past president and current member of the Rotary Club of San Diego and a former past president of the San Diego Symphony and a former board member of the San Diego Natural History Museum. He is currently the Chair of the San Diego Rotary Club Centennial Celebration. He has taught graduate courses at National University, undergraduate courses at San Diego State University and at San Diego Community College.
A graduate of San Diego State University, Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration. He has remained active in the University and is a past board member of the University’s Alumni Association and College of Business Advisory Council. Ben and his wife, Nikki, co-chaired the University’s Centennial Celebration in 1997, and they were honored as SDSU’s “Alumni of the Year” in 1998.
Ben and Nikki reside in the Mission Hills area of San Diego.
Kathleen Seely Davis has in her career been a financial planner, real estate sales and property manager, general building contractor and a programmer (with IBM). She has served on the Board of Directors for Orchestra Nova San Diego (formerly the San Diego Chamber Orchestra) and has been chairman for several major fundraisers. She has also been Vice President of the San Diego Tech Coast Angels, and has been a board member of the Rancho Farms Estates Homeowner Association in Rancho Santa Fe, serving on various committees at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. Her international experience includes serving as a board member of the Irish American Partnership (Boston), Vice-President of various chapters of the Alliance Franchise (Minneapolis, Boston, Providence) and board member of French American Chamber of Commerce (Boston). Ms. David maintains active chairmanships in various organizations specifically aimed at fund-raising: Catholic schools, churches and the Diocese of Providence.
Ms. Davis has won various sales recognition awards in financial planning, and also won a French Government Assistantship with a Fulbright Grant to teach in France. She has twice won the President’s Award for Service to the San DiegoTech Coast Angels, and has been recognized with a STAR Award from the San Diego Performing Arts League.
Ms. Davis has a B. A. Degree in Mathematics from St. Joseph College in Maryland. She was married to the late Stephen J. Davis and enjoys the company of two grown children and six grandchildren.
Una Davis was born in Boston and received a B.A. in history from the University of Florida. She played competitive tennis her whole life; was Captain of the University of Florida tennis team, played World Team tennis and was Senior National Doubles Champion.
Una lives with her husband, Jack McGrory, in La Jolla. She has two children and together they have seven.
She has been active in various community organizations such as Generate Hope, the National Society of the Colonial Dames, the Davis Cup Host Committee of San Diego and the National Girls Junior Tennis Championships.
Phyllis Epstein is a California native. After graduating from UCLA, she became a teacher. Later, after raising her two children, she was involved as a community volunteer. She served on the board of the Museum of Photographic Arts, has been President of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, and was a member the California Arts Council. She is a co-founder of the California Music Project, which seeks to bring music education back into California schools. Phyllis is on the Board of Councilors of the Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education at USC, the USC School of Fine Arts, and a board member at the UCSD School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IRPS), serving as the community cultural liaison.
Phyllis is the mother of 2 adult children, and grandmother of three. Her husband, Dan, previously served on the Symphony Board.
Sam B. Ersan was born in 1950 to diplomat parents. First music experiences at age six through the vinyl recordings of Chopin 2nd by Wilhelm Backhaus and Brahms violin concerto by Nathan Milstein while living in Tel Aviv. Attended his first concert at age 10 in Geneva: David Oistrakh played the Prokofiev violin concerto, and later, Sviatoslav Richter recital in Istanbul.
Frequented the concert halls during college. Found solace in and uplifted by Mahler’s music. Received a B.S. degree in Geological Engineering at Middle East Technical University in 1977; also studied the music of Debussy, Ravel and Honegger during this time. 1978-1983 Graduate school in Experimental Psychology. Discovered the Chamber Music Heaven and entered in. I am still there! Please come on in.
1989-2009 Founder and CEO of Spectrum Detention Services, which caters the Department of Justice and DHS. Shostakovich, Bartok and Martinu predominated this period. Founded a residency program for San Diego Symphony musicians at the UC San Diego Music Department in 2008.
-Favorite Symphony: Mahler 5th, and Rachmaninoff 2nd.
-Favorite Orchestral Piece: “Don Quixote” by R. Strauss.
-Favorite uplifting music: “Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge” by Benjamin Britten.
-Favorite lollipop: Saint-Saens 2nd Piano Concerto.
-Favorite chamber music: Beethoven, Dvorak, Martinu Piano Trios.
-Favorite violinist of all time: Hilary Hahn.
-Schnittke, Schoenberg, Alban Berg and alike: Whoops, I am out of here...
Lisette Farrell holds a Masters in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, an MBA from INCAE in Costa Rica, and a BA in Marketing from Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua in her native Panama. She has work experience in strategic planning, marketing, product and project management, consulting and business development. Lisette’s last job, before getting busy with her family, was at Visa International where she was a Manager for the Consumer Credit Products for the Latin America and Caribbean Region. She was in charge of launching Visa Platinum throughout the region and responsible for the management of Visa Gold. Before Visa, Lisette worked at several banks and financial institutions.
Lisette has been volunteering her spare time since college, where she was the Secretary of the Student Government Board of Directors. While getting her MBA, she was the Events Coordinator for the school’s biggest multi-cultural event. She also was elected the Latin America Representative for the Thunderbird Student Government.
Currently, Lisette is a member of the Contemporary Collectors at MCASD, a Director’s Circle member of the Museum of Photographic Arts, and serves on the New Children’s Museum gala committee. Lisette lives in La Jolla with her husband Michael and her two children Camille and James.
James L. Fitzpatrick is the owner and publisher of San Diego Magazine, LLC. He originally acquired the magazine from Ed and Gloria Self in October 1994 and sold the magazine to Curtco Media, publishers of The Robb Report in 2005. Jim expanded San Diego Magazine’s circulation over 50%, to more than 51,000, and increased advertising over 500%. He launched sandiegomagazine.com, the premier website for San Diego, and he launched the Custom Publishing division of San Diego Magazine. Jim reacquired San Diego Magazine in 2010. Additionally, he helped launch Garden Compass, a multi-media company that includes Garden Compass Digital Magazine, The Garden Compass Planting Guide, syndicated radio programming, gardencompass.com and gardening events.
Prior to acquiring San Diego Magazine, Jim was publisher of Entrepreneur Magazine, headquartered in Irvine.
A native of Chicago, Fitzpatrick holds a M.B.A. from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and a B.S.B.A. from Valparaiso University, Indiana. A former Air Force pilot, he continues to fly and enjoys playing golf. He is past president of the City and Regional Magazine Association, the past Chairman of the Board of the San Diego International Sports Council, current Chairman of the Salvation Army Community Advisory Board Sierra Del Mar Division, and is active on the boards of many San Diego organizations. He and his wife Jan reside in La Jolla. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Jim received the 2000 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award for his turnaround of San Diego Magazine and the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from the City & Regional Magazine Association.
Harold W. “Hal” Fuson is a media leader, lawyer, teacher and writer. He retired in 2009 after negotiating the sale of The San Diego Union-Tribune, concluding 26 years as an employee of the newspaper’s former owner, The Copley Press. Hal was Copley's chief legal advisor for more than two decades. In 2007, he became the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He continued on Copley's board until the family-held, San Diego company dissolved in 2016. Previously, he was senior staff counsel at The Los Angeles Times.
Hal served on the boards of the Newspaper Association of America, California Newspaper Publishers Association (where he was vice president and chair of the government affairs committee) and Media Law Resource Center (where he served as chair).
His book, Telling It All: A Legal Guide to the Exercise of Free Speech, was described by Publishers Weekly as “an admirable easy-to-read handbook on how to avoid the legal pitfalls that can accompany free expression.” Hal's work in protecting First Amendment rights has been recognized nationally by the Media Law Resource Center and by state associations in California and Illinois.
Hal is a director and former chair of The Old Globe Theatre. He also serves on the non-profit boards of Grinnell College, the First Amendment Coalition and California Press Foundation. He lives in Encinitas, CA with his spouse of 50 years, Pam. Together they support The Old Globe and many other San Diego institutions.
Jeffrey Goldman has been the publisher at Santa Monica Press, an independent book publishing company, since he founded the press 25 years ago. Santa Monica Press publishes an eclectic list of critically-acclaimed and award-winning non-fiction books. Prior to Santa Monica Press, Mr. Goldman spent a decade as an arts and entertainment journalist and editor, working for a variety of newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally. He holds a BA in English Literature (Creative Writing emphasis) and an MA in Theatre from UCLA, where he also completed his PhD coursework in both Theatre and Folklore. In addition to chairing the board of Words Alive and volunteering as a writing facilitator at the Monarch School, Jeffrey is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the La Jolla Playhouse, where he serves on the Executive Committee and is the chair of the Education and Outreach Committee. Jeffrey lives in the San Diego area with his wife and two children.
Janet Gorrie is San Diego-born and grew up in the Point Loma area. When her grandparents downsized, her parents acquired a 1929 Steinway & Sons piano. At age 7, she began taking piano lessons. Today that piano resides in her Carmel Valley home where she continues to play.
Janet graduated from UCLA in 1973 with a B.S. and became a Registered Nurse. For over 30 years, she has worked in many different healthcare settings. She and her husband, Roland, also known as Wil, live in Carmel Valley. Their son, Seth, attends USD and is majoring in finance and accounting. They have a 14 year old German Shepherd named Sappho. She is very dear to them.
Wil was in the Supply Corps of the US Navy for many years. He retired as a Captain in 1996. He worked a business consultant following his retirement. Since fitness and health are important to Janet and Wil, they became certified personal trainers in 2004. Their garage has been transformed into a state of the art Fitness Center. He trains about 22 people per week. On Wednesday nights, they host an adult yoga group which has been going on since 2008.
This year Janet has taken on the challenge of learning duplicate bridge and plays about two times a week. She also takes conversational Chinese classes. Wil and Janet enjoy traveling and plan to go to China soon. Last summer, Janet planted an organic garden and loves dabbling around in it. It is such a pleasure to walk outside and pick fresh lettuce and tomatoes from your own garden. Janet is also a member of the Board of Directors at Seacrest Retirement Villages and is really looking forward to becoming a part of the San Diego Symphony.
Warren O. Kessler, M.D. received his B.S. from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. and his M.D. from St. Louis University School of Medicine. After his General Surgery training at the Cornell University Surgical Division of Bellevue Hospital in New York, he completed his residency in Urology at the UCSD School of Medicine. Dr. Kessler served in the US Navy from 1968-1970. From 1974 until 2011 he practiced Urology and was Chief of Urology at Scripps Mercy Hospital as well as being on the teaching staff at UCSD School of Medicine.
Dr. Kessler joined the Board of the San Diego Symphony in 1981 and was Chairman of the Board from 1989-1993. He has been a member of the San Diego Symphony Foundation Board since its inception. He has chaired the search committees for the last 3 Musical Directors and the last 3 CEO’s of the San Diego Symphony. He has also served as the Vice-Chairman of the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. On July 1st, Dr. Kessler once again assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of the San Diego Symphony.
Kris Kopensky, CPM®, is Vice President, Operations at Irvine Company. As Vice President, Kris serves, aligns and supports the 115 people and 9.3M square feet Irvine Company Office Property owns and manages in San Diego. Their mission is to deliver Vibrant Workplace Communities that are exceptional today and promise to be even better tomorrow. Kris has worked in Real Estate for over 14 years, ten of those in the San Diego market. Kris has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and an MBA with a focus in Organizational Leadership. Prior to working with Irvine Company, Kris spent time as an Operations Manager at Disneyland.
Kris enjoys travel and free time with his family, is a self-proclaimed Disney historian, and is passionate about mentorship and coaching both inside and outside of work.
Evelyn Olson Lamden is a Principal and Partner in Red Kite Business Advisors, a marketing consulting firm helping clients expand and develop their consumer market segments through research and strategic marketing planning. The firm also offers creative services, media planning, and general marketing services.
Prior to Red Kite Business Advisors, Evelyn served as SVP Marketing & Media, CMO, and COO at Aviatech, an online marketing agency. She is also Area Developer for the New Well Pacific, women’s weight loss and wellness centers, and handles franchise development for the regions of San Diego County and the State of Hawaii. She and her husband are franchisees for two centers opening in San Diego and La Jolla.
Evelyn has over 30 years of experience in corporate and agency management roles, and has managed and directed media departments for companies such as Goodyear, Foodmaker (Jack-in-the-Box Restaurants), and Jenny Craig International. She served as CEO & President of Advertising Ventures International, a private marketing firm involved with local event marketing, as Managing Partner of Budji Corporation, a manufacturing company/importer of bamboo furniture for distribution to the US market, and managed the Nissan Dealer account at International Communication Group (ICG), which is now Carat-USA, one of the world's largest media buying agencies. Evelyn has worked in several industries throughout her career, including automotive, fast food, weight management, fitness, entertainment, horse racing, real estate, interior design, furniture manufacturing, and non-profits.
Evelyn is active in the performing arts community and has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Symphony since November 2005. She is a member of the Executive Committee and is the Board Chair for the 2012-13 season afte serving in the same capacity for 2011-2012. She is also a Board Member for Malashock Dance Company. A consummate lover of the arts, Evelyn has professionally developed scripts, directed, produced, danced, and choreographed for live stage productions. She lives in San Diego with her husband Bill, and two teenage children, Leah and Chaz.
After a successful career as a professional recording and concert harpist, church organist and piano teacher, Dorothea Laub went through the change from artistic to business career. College credits were all in music harmony and theory, so she returned to college to become a real estate broker, after which she worked to become a licensed and registered stock broker.
She founded and sold Red Carpet Realty and Monarch Realty in Orange County; owned the Art Leasing Business of Orange County, which she sold when she retired to Point Loma in San Diego in the late 1970s. This was the beginning of community service and support of local projects and charities. She was on the board of the Point Loma Association, which honored her with the “Lighthouse Award” for community service, and she was awarded a “Woman of Distinction” by the Salvation Army. She was a founding member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Stars, and she purchased and helped establish the Battered Women’s and Children’s Center on E street. She was an original KPBS Producer’s Club member and sponsored broadcasts of the series All Creatures Great and Small for several years.
Ms. Laub is on the Board of the Point Loma Playhouse and Point Loma Assembly. She received both the City and County Proclamation awards, which established Dick and Dorothea Laub Day in San Diego. She is a strong supporter of the NTC Foundation, Hubbs Sea World Research Foundation, San Diego Ballet, San Diego Dance Theatre and Spreckels Organ Association. One of her main projects was to establish the endowment fund for Friends of Balboa Park, for which she serves on the advisory board. Her hobbies include ballet and jazz dancing.
Dorothea Laub was married 63 years to Richard, has one son and two grandchildren and many, many very close friends for whom she participates in their lives as a “sounding board.”
Jeff Light grew up in Buffalo, NY, where his father was editor of the local newspaper. Over the last three decades, he has worked for newspapers and their websites. He has been an editor, a reporter, an intern, even a “hopper” – the person who throws the bundles of papers from the delivery trucks in the dead of night. He believes that journalism is one of society’s greatest callings. That is to say, he feels it is one of the best things a person can do with his or her life.
Mr. Light holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, magna cum laude, and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, where he graduated first in his class.
He started as a newspaper reporter in Syracuse, NY, in the early 1980s. He was deputy editor, then vice president for interactive publishing at the Orange County Register, where he worked from 1993 to 2010.
As a newspaper journalist, he was a member of a Pulitzer-Prize winning staff in 1996, and led project teams that were Pulitzer finalists in both 2004 and 2005. In the interactive business, he led the growth of the Register’s news site (whose traffic doubled in just over two years) and helped to develop internet strategy for Freedom Communications.
Jeff Light joined The San Diego Union-Tribune as editor and vice president in March 2010 as part of Platinum Equity’s turn-around team for California’s second-largest newspaper. He helped to reinvent the company, redesigning its print and digital products and refocusing the newsroom around a digital-first strategy while embracing the diversity, creativity and intelligence of the community. He served as president and chief operating officer from January through May of 2015, when the company was sold to Tribune Publishing. In March 2016 he was promoted to the dual role of publisher and editor in chief.
Rear Admiral Riley D. Mixson, USN, retired from active duty in the US Navy in February 1994 and founded RDM Associates, an aerospace consulting firm that provides senior-level consulting and advisory services in both the defense and commercial sectors. His clients include major international corporations that are involved in aerospace manufacturing, integrated systems support, and software development. His naval career included positions in command of the Red Sea Carrier Strike Force during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, a carrier battle group, a combat logistics support ship, a carrier airwing, and a light attack squadron. As a carrier pilot he participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and Desert Shield/Storm. Shore assignments included Director Air Warfare for the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-05/N-88), Executive Director of the Joint Strategic Defense Planning Staff for the United States Space Command, Deputy Director Systems Analysis Division (OP-96), and Avionics Procurement Officer, Naval Air Systems Command.
1994 – Present: As President of RDM Associates in San Diego, Rear Admiral Mixson has participated in executive level planning, contracting, and implementation of key Department of Defense programs specializing in manned and unmanned aircraft, surface, and sub-surface platforms and systems, C5ISR system integration, and logistics support. He has been active in DoD transformation process, serving as advisor and board member on various projects for DARPA, the Defense Science Board, the Naval Studies Board, and the Air Force Science Advisory Board. He’s been a team leader in bringing the F/A-18 Super Hornet to fruition as the backbone of carrier aviation for the next 20 years.
Education: Rear Admiral Mixson has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s Degree in Business Management from the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Board Affiliations: Rear Admiral Mixson has been associated with the Boards of the USS Midway Museum, Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace, Augusta Westland, Thales, QinetiQ, SERCO, Celerant Federal Consulting and Hitachi Federal Consulting.
Groups and Associations: Rear Admiral Mixson has been active in the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Lexington Institute, Heritage Foundation, Sharp Hospice Foundation, US Naval Institute, Naval Aviation Museum, National Defense Industrial Association, the Association of the U.S. Navy, Coalition for the Common Defense and the San Diego Yacht Club.
Elizabeth Hamman Oliver is an active patron of the San Diego arts community. A member of the board of both the Mainly Mozart Festival and University of California, San Diego Arts Gallery, Oliver is also a committee member of the Museum of Modern Art, San Diego.
Deborah Pate, D.C., D.A.C.B.R. has been in San Diego since 1984. She came here as a research fellow in osteoradiology with the University of California, San Diego. After completing her fellowship she started a private practice and also taught postgraduate courses for several chiropractic institutions. Deborah continues to maintain a radiology consulting practice and occasionally presents workshops on the topic of osteoradiology.
For the past 15 years she and her husband, John Forrest, M.D., have been involved with community projects in San Diego. They started an after-school program at Roosevelt Middle School that included music and the arts. Roosevelt now has beginning and intermediate music programs for students, including band and guitar ensemble. These music programs are now offered in the regular school curriculum not only in the after school program.
They also fund several projects for Father Joe's Village, including a dual residence in Psychiatry and Internal Medicine program in one of the few free clinics in San Diego County.
Deborah is a past board member of Planned Parenthood and continues to co-chair their speakers' series. She is also on the board of Art of Élan. Deborah and Jack have been loyal supporters of the San Diego Symphony, UCSD Art Power, Art of Élan and Orchestra Nova.
Linda Platt attended the University of California and University of California, Los Angeles. She is the former Director of Marketing of Golden West Properties in San Diego, California. Her numerous volunteer activities include:
Past Campaign Chairman and President, Women’s Division, United Jewish Federation (UJF) of San Diego County
Docent for ten years – San Diego Museum of Art
Past member of Executive Committee – Kids Included Together (KIT) of San Diego County
Past Chairman of Grants Committee – Community Foundation of UJF, San Diego County
Executive Committee and Vice President – Hebrew Immigrant Society (National Organization)
Past Chairman – National Foundation of Jewish Culture (National Organization)
Chaired Task Force in Jewish education in San Diego
Chaired Task Force on Refugee Resettlement in San Diego
Board Member – Otis College of Art and Design
Colette Carson Royston’s professional career for the past 30 years has been divided between healthcare, community activities and the arts. In these arenas, Colette has assumed leadership positions on both a national and local level. Her health profession began as an oncology nurse specialist/consultant focused on research, education and patient advocacy. She has authored numerous publications in the field of oncology and has consulted for a number of bio-technology, pharmaceutical and health care related institutions. At the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in San Diego, she managed clinical trials for over ten years. She was elected by the membership to the National Board of the Oncology Nursing Society and also served as the President of the National Oncology Nursing Foundation. She also served as the Chair of the Tenth Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society held in Los Angeles. Currently, Colette is serving on the Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.
During the same period, Colette has been actively involved in a variety of San Diego non-profit organizations. She served for nine years on the board of the San Diego Foundation, including Chairing the Board for three years. Her focus at the Foundation was community outreach in science and the arts and improving quality of life. She has been a strong advocate for growth of the arts in San Diego and was appointed by the Mayor to the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, where she served for eight years, including three years as Chair of the Commission. Colette has also served on the Boards of the San Diego Opera and the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, where she was past President of the Board.
As a partner with Ivor Royston in the Carson Royston Group, Colette continues to provide services to organizations in healthcare and the arts, as well as manage The Pelican Group, a theatrical production group that has invested in a number of Broadway productions, including Jersey Boys, Memphis, Jesus Christ Superstar and Doctor Zhivago.
Colette received her Master’s degree from the UCLA School of Nursing, where she was an American Cancer Society Scholar.
In her free time she enjoys skiing, cycling, hiking and playing piano.
Jathan A. Segur is Executive Vice President, Director of Premier Wealth Management for California Bank & Trust. With more than 20 years of financial services experience, Jathan recently moved to San Diego from Arizona where he was Director of Wealth Strategies and Marketing for National Bank of Arizona. His record as an active volunteer reflects his strong commitment to community service. Jathan is past chairman of the Arizona Leadership Forum and a former board member of the Center for the Future of Arizona and Ballet Arizona. He has served on various executive and fundraising committees for organizations including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Symphony, the 2015 Super Bowl Host Committee and many others. He was honored as one of the top “40 Under 40, Class of 2015” by the Phoenix Business Journal and as “Arizona’s Finest Single” in 2012 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Since his move to San Diego, Jathan has been recognized for his ongoing community engagement as an award recipient of the San Diego "Best Dressed" supporting the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet.
Sherron Schuster graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. degree. Living in Indiana, she served on the boards of the Center for Hospice Care, WNIT Public Television, the Association for Disabled in Elkhart County and the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra.
Upon moving to San Diego, she served on the Boards of Hillel of San Diego, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, Congregation Beth Israel and the Women’s Division of United Jewish Federation. She was also a patient volunteer for Lightbridge Hospice.
Currently, she serves on the board of the Jewish Family Service Foundation of San Diego.
As a Wealth Management Managing Director for The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank, Marivi Shivers helps clients work toward their financial goals. Marivi connects clients with the comprehensive wealth management services available in The Private Client Reserve, including Investment Management, Private Banking, Trust and Estate Services and Wealth Planning. She takes the time to understand her clients’ unique needs, and she supports their goals by bringing together a team of specialists to provide customized strategies.
Marivi has more than 30 years of experience in banking, trust & investments and financial planning. She is a consistent recipient of the annual Elite Awards.
Marivi earned a degree from St. Paul’s College in Manila, Philippines, and has completed business courses at the University of San Diego.
Marivi served on the Advisory Boards for the Business Roundtable for Education, The New American’s Immigration Museum, Learning Center, Downtown Partnership Board, San Diego Museum of Man as well as the Asian Business Association of San Diego. She is a committee member of the Advisory Council for the Philippine/American Chamber, UPAC and the San Diego Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association. She also served over 20 years on the Chamber of Commerce.
Marivi and her husband live in San Diego with their two children and three grandchildren.
Over the past five decades, Christopher D. Sickels has developed office and industrial parks, mobile home parks, medical centers and single and multi-family residences. A native San Diegan, Mr. Sickels has been active in numerous civic, charitable and community organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from San Diego State University and was a teacher in San Diego city schools for gifted and emotionally disturbed boys before entering the real estate development industry. He has two grown daughters and a lovely wife, Karen, of 42 years.
Donald M. Slate
Graduated Beverly Hills High School, 1949
Graduated Unversity of Southern California, 1954
CEO of Bardon Inc., engaged in designing, importing and distributing men's apparel, 1954-1986
Retired, 1986 to present
NON-PROFIT BOARDS
United Jewish Federation, San Diego Symphony, Jewish
Community Foundation, Anti Defamation League, AIPC,
San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and co-founder of Kids Included Together
David R. Snyder, Esq. has been a practicing attorney since 1974, specializing in general corporate matters. Principal outside general counsel to numerous public companies and substantial private entities. Lead counsel in over 50 public offerings of equity and debt securities; represented NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange public companies in their ongoing SEC reporting obligations and handled private placement and public and private merger and acquisition transactions. Have counseled boards of directors in contested takeovers and in stockholder litigation in California, Delaware and federal courts. Broad industry sector experience including utilities, high-tech, biotech, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Profiled in The Best Lawyers in America since 1993 and in Chambers & Partners: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Married to Phyllis Alford Snyder; two children, son Jason Richard and daughter Carrie Snyder Vilaplana.
1993 – present - PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP, San Diego, California. Partner; Chair of Firm-wide Business Department (2005-present); Member of Firm Board (1998-present); London Office Managing Partner (2001-2003) and Executive Vice chair (2004-2006)
CORNELL LAW SCHOOL, Ithaca, New York
Doctor of Law, with Distinction, June 1974
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, Michigan
B.A. in Humanities, with High Honors, June 1971
American Bar Association Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities (1987-present); Chair, Subcommittee on Annual Review of Federal Securities Regulation (1999-present).
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Director, Corporate Directors Forum (2001-2007); Director, Rady Children’s Physician Management Services Corporation (2004-present); Director,San Diego Regional Disaster Fund of the San Diego Foundation (2005-present)
Gloria Stone was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from UC Berkeley and has been a resident of San Diego for 40 years. A former secondary school teacher, she has served as President of the San Diego United Jewish Federation and AIPAC. Ms. Stone has served on the boards of Congregation Beth El and Words Alive. She is currently a member of The Board of Visitors of the Moores Cancer Center.
Elizabeth Gabriel Taft is a community representative and a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. She and her late husband, Joseph, have been involved with arts and education in San Diego for several years.
She has been on the Board of the La Jolla Music Society and is a founding member and past President of Town and Gown at the University of California, San Diego, where she presently serves on the Program Committee.
Other nonprofit affiliations include: UCSD Chancellor’s Associates, La Jolla Music Society, KPBS, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, Friends of the Stuart Collection Council and the Salk Institute.
She lives in La Jolla.
J. William Weber and his wife Sue Weber have lived in Rancho Santa Fe since 1998, following Bill’s retirement after more than thirty years at Hughes Aircraft Company and General Motors. While at Hughes, he was product line manager for airborne displays, program manager for automotive crash avoidance systems, and head of strategic planning. At the same time, he was director of a community bank in northeastern Colorado. Since retiring, he has dedicated himself to leadership and community service for non-profit organizations throughout San Diego County.
Bill served for six years on the board of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, including two as its president. He also led development of its educational outreach programs. He has been a director on the Corporate Board of the San Diego County YMCA, chairing its Marketing and Communications Committee. He led the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club’s successful six-year, $12 million clubhouse renovation. More recently, he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Cambridge School, a remarkable classical Christian academy in Rancho Peñasquitos that has grown from 9 students in 2006 to 250 students today. He remains involved with the school as Chair of its Advisory Board. Currently, Bill chairs the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club’s Long Range Planning Committee, and a committee to develop a sustainable, alternate source of water for the club.
Although a native Californian, Bill graduated from high school in Buenos Aires, and then moved to Boston, where he earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During college, he rowed competitively, winning the national championship in 1963 and placing second in the 1964 Olympic Trials. Following an undefeated season as the Harvard varsity lightweight crew coach, he moved to Los Angeles, where he met his wife, Sue. They have been married for more than 45 years and are active in the community through involvement with the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club and the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. Together they enjoy music, photography, golf, travel, and spending time with family and friends.
Margarita Wilkinson is Senior Vice President of the Entravision media outlets in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico including KBNT-TV Univision, XHAS-TV Telemundo, KDTF-TV Unimas and XDTV-TV MyTV. In June 2010 Wilkinson moved to San Diego, marking a new chapter in her extensive career with Entravision Communications. Her tenure in San Diego has brought about even more success for the Executive, as Wilkinson has managed both the Entravision Spanish and English language television stations with effectiveness and unparalleled community vision.
Wilkinson’s tenure with Entravision Communications includes her successful management of the media outlets in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which included KLUZ-TV Univision, KTFQ-TV Telefutura, KRZY-FM Jose and KRZY-AM La Tricolor. Over her 13-year stay in Albuquerque, Wilkinson brought the stations to new levels of success with her management style, her community footprint and her focus on generating new streams of revenue. The Entravision stations of San Diego and Tijuana now benefit from Wilder’s experience and foresight, as they are consistently top of mind with Hispanic viewers and the advertisers who wish to reach them.
Wilkinson began her broadcasting career with Entravision in 1991 at KINT-TV, El Paso. During that time she served on the Board of Directors for CNM Foundation Board and the New Mexico Broadcasters Association. In addition, Wilkinson was board member of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In San Diego, she serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and OneSanDiego.
Mitchell Woodbury has been a member of the State Bar of California since 1971, now on inactive status, and was Associate in the San Diego law firm of McDonald & Allen from 1971-1980. From 1980-1992, he was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Intermark, Inc., a La Jolla-based, publicly traded operating-holding company. From 1992-1994 he was Vice President and General Counsel of Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc., a La Jolla-based, publicly traded biotechnology company. From 1994-2001, Woodbury was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a San Diego-based, publicly traded pharmaceutical company. His corporate legal career concentrated on general business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory work (SEC, FDA, etc.), and, in the case of Dura, a wide range of senior management responsibilities associated with the growth and maturation of the enterprise. Woodbuy received his B.A. in business administration from San Diego State University in 1960 and received his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1971. Woodbury currently serves on the Boards of Directors of NTC Foundation, United Way of San Diego County, and The Monarch School.
John J. Zygowicz is the market president for U.S. Bank in San Diego, and Market Leader for the Wealth Management Group in San Diego.
Zygowicz has been with U.S. Bank since February 1999. He began his banking career at United California Bank/First Interstate Bank in Los Angeles, California. He was transferred by the bank to San Diego in 1981. He has been a senior vice president responsible for managing corporate banking in the San Diego area, as well as experience as a district manager responsible for 22 retail branch offices in San Diego, and Imperial and Riverside counties. Zygowicz also spent time with Home Savings of America in San Diego as district manger for 24 retail branches in San Diego and Imperial counties.
A graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Rennsalear, Indiana, Zygowicz earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He attended an executive program at the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management at Stanford University.
Zygowicz and his wife have been actively involved with various non-profit organizations in the area of education, civic development and health and human services. He serves on the advisory boards of the Salvation Army and the School of Education at the University of San Diego, and is a Rotarian in the San Diego Downtown Club. The Zygowicz’s live in Encinitas with their daughter, Michelle.
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Mirazur Wins The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019
Mirazur restaurant in Menton, France took the winning spot at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.
The announcements of the winners of the prestigious celebration of the very best in global gastronomy took place on 25th of June, in Singapore.
Winning the honour of first place at this prestigious annual celebration of the very best in gastronomy, chef Mauro Colagreco and his team appeared on stage to accept the prestigious award.
“Today we are celebrating France and its values: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. France has allowed me to express myself, Argentina to my memories from my childhood, to Brazil who has offered me the love of my life and to Italy where more than half of my team are coming from.”
“Cuisine is able to close all kinds of borders. I would like to express to all the chefs in the world my love and gratitude.” He finished with a poetic line: “Borders? I’ve never seen one, but I have heard they exist in the mind of some people.”
Closely following behind was Rene Redzepi’s Noma of Copenhagen, Denmark, taking second place, also the highest ever, Highest New Entry Restaurant, thanks to the refurbishment that took place since the 2018 awards. Third place went to Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo (Spain) run by chef Victor Arguinzoniz.
Food Meets Future
On the evening prior to the Awards, on the 24th of June, S.Pellegrino presented the event "Food meets Future”, a four-part interactive event celebrating inclusion, inspiration, responsibility and talent to mark the 120th anniversary of S.Pellegrino. Read more about it here.
“Best of the Best” Hall of Fame
This year, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants introduced a change with the introduction of the Best of the Best list of previous winners who were no longer eligible for the competition. This included Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, winner of the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2018 and 2016, who joined the list this ‘Hall of Fame’ list alongside: El Bulli (2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), The French Laundry (2003, 2004), The Fat Duck (2005), Noma - original location (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), El Celler de Can Roca (2013, 2015), Eleven Madison Park (2017).
During the highly-anticipated night, a number of restaurants and chefs were announced for the yearly awards, recognizing those in the rising stars category. These awards ranged from the restaurant that ranked the highest first entry into the list, to the venue recognized for the owners and chef’s strong environmental and social responsibility practices.
THE WORLD’S BEST PASTRY CHEF AWARD
Jessica Préalpato, at Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée
HIGHEST CLIMBER AWARD
Azurmendi in Larrabetzu (Spain) jumping 29 spots from N. 43 to N. 14 this year.
HIGHEST NEW ENTRY AWARD
Noma in Copenhagen (Denmark) No.2: this was the highest ever Highest New entry, considered a ‘new’ restaurant entry on the list thanks to its refurbishment.
ART OF HOSPITALITY AWARD
Den, Tokyo (Japan) was recognized for its award-winning hospitality experience.
CHEF’S CHOICE AWARD
A reflection of the high regard of his peers, Chef Alain Passard of L'Arpège (Paris, France) was voted by his fellow chefs.
SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT AWARD
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AWARDS
A number of awards that form part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants had been announced ahead of the ceremony and were presented during the night.
These included the American Express Icon Award which went to José Andrés. The award reflects his overall career as a pioneering chef and restaurateur as well as his more recent humanitarian work through his World Central Kitchen project, both of which have brought him to the status of a global culinary icon.
“I'm very humbled to receive this award, to make sure that I will give voice to those who are voiceless. I will try to make sure that we bring hope, one plate of food at a time,” said José Andrés.
Miele One To Watch award was presented to the restaurant Lido 84 in Lake Garda, Italy. This award celebrates emerging global talent and recognises a restaurant that is outside the 1-50 list with the potential to rise into The World’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking, in the future. Lido 84 was opened in 2014, by brothers Riccardo and Giancarlo Camanini. The keyword is provenance, the restaurant’s culinary philosophy taking inspiration from the surrounding landscape of Lake Garda.
The elit™ Vodka World's Best Female Chef 2019 went to Daniela Soto-Innes, chef-partner at modern Mexican restaurant Cosme in Manhattan. The Best Female Chef series, now in its ninth year, has celebrated 21 women across 15 countries and continues to encourage debate around gender issues in the food world.
William Drew, Group Editor of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, said: “Daniela brings an unparalleled positive energy to her projects and has created a team that celebrates women of all ages. At Cosme she has combined innovative Mexican dishes with warm hospitality, leading a dynamic team to great success and popularity in the fiercely competitive New York dining scene. She is an immense talent who thoroughly deserves this accolade.”
THE FULL LIST: THE WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2019
1. Mirazur, Menton (France) | BEST RESTAURANT IN EUROPE and BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD
2. Noma, Copenhagen (Denmark) | HIGHEST NEW ENTRY
3. Asador Extebarri, Atxondo (Spain)
4. Gaggan, Bangkok (Thailand) | BEST RESTAURANT IN ASIA
5. Geranium, Copenhagen (Denmark)
6. Central, Lima (Peru) | BEST RESTAURANT IN SOUTH AMERICA
7. Mugaritz, San Sebastian (Spain)
8. Arpège, Paris (France)
9. Disfrutar, Barcelona (Spain)
10. Maido, Lima (Peru)
11. Den, Tokyo (Japan) |ART OF HOSPITALITY AWARD
12. Pujol, Mexico City (Mexico) | BEST RESTAURANT IN NORTH AMERICA
13. White Rabbit, Moscow (Russia)
14. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu (Spain)| HIGHEST CLIMBER AWARD
15. Septime, Paris (France)
16. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, Paris (France)
17. Steirereck, Vienna (Austria)
18. Odette, Singapore
19. Twins Gardens, Moscow (Russia) | NEW ENTRY
20. Tickets, Barcelona (Spain)
21. Frantzén, Stockholm (Sweden) | RE-ENTRY
22. Narisawa, Tokyo (Japan)
23. Cosme, New York (USA)
24. Quintonil, Mexico city (Mexico)
25. Alléno Paris at Pavillon Ledoyen, Paris (France)
26. Boragó, Santiago (Chile)
27. The Clove Club, London (United Kingdom)
28. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, New York (USA)
29. Piazza Duomo, Alba (Italy)
30. Elkano, Getaria (Spain)
31. Le Calandre, Rubano (Italy)
32. Nerua, Bilbao (Spain) | NEW ENTRY
33. Lyle's, London (United Kingdom)
34. Don Julio, Buenos Aires (Argentina) | NEW ENTRY
35. Atelier Crenn, San Francisco (USA) | NEW ENTRY
36. Le Bernardin, New York (USA)
37. Alinea, Chicago (USA)
38. Hiša Franko, Kobarid (Slovenia)
39. A Casa do Porco, Sao Paulo (Brazil) | NEW ENTRY
40. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin (Germany)
41. The Chairman, Hong Kong (China)
42. Belcanto, Lisbon (Portugal) | NEW ENTRY HIGHEST EUROPEAN
43. Hof Van Cleve, Kruishoutem (Belgium)| RE-ENTRY
44. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town (South Africa) | BEST RESTAURANT IN AFRICA
45. Sühring, Bangkok (Thailand) | NEW ENTRY
46. De Librije, Zwolle (Netherlands) | RE-ENTRY
47. Benu, San Francisco (USA) | NEW ENTRY
48. Ultraviolet, Shangai (China)
49. Leo, Bogotà (Colombia)| NEW ENTRY
50. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau (Switzerland)| SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT AWARD
Filter by category Events
“Food Meets Future” at the National Gallery, Singapore
S.Pellegrino celebrates the 120th Anniversary with the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2019
S.Pellegrino Celebrates 120 Years at Cannes Film Festival
CSV Report
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Here’s how Inland-area senators voted this…
Here’s how Inland-area senators voted this week on Planned Parenthood, other issues
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PUBLISHED: August 24, 2018 at 11:04 am | UPDATED: August 24, 2018 at 11:06 am
Here’s how area senators voted on major issues in the week ending Friday, Aug. 24. The House was in recess.
DEFUNDING PLANNED PARENTHOOD: By a vote of 45 for and 48 against, the Senate on Thursday, Aug. 23, failed to advance an amendment that would delete $400 million in Planned Parenthood funding from a bill (HR 6157, below) providing fiscal 2019 appropriations for the departments of Defense, Education, Labor and Health and Human Services. Abortions account for about 3 percent of the reproductive-care services delivered by Planned Parenthood at its 600 nationwide clinics. They are not federally funded in keeping with a 1976 law — the Hyde Amendment — that prohibits the use of taxpayer money to pay for abortions except in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother.
A yes vote was to remove Planned Parenthood funding from the bill.
Voting no: Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
$854 BILLION SPENDING BILL FOR 2019: Voting 85 for and seven against, the Senate on Thursday, Aug. 23, approved an $854 billion catchall appropriations bill (HR 6157) that would provide $675 billion for the Department of Defense, $90.1 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, $71.4 billion for the Department of Education, $12.1 billion for the Department of Labor and nearly $6 billion for other agencies and programs in fiscal 2019. The military outlay, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the government’s discretionary spending, would fund a 2.6 percent pay raise for those in uniform while providing $68.1 billion for combat operations abroad and $57 billion-plus for active-duty, family and retiree health care. The bill also would appropriate $3.7 billion for the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction; $445 million for charter schools; another $445 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $95 million in grants to help K-12 schools prevent and recover from classroom shootings.
A yes vote was to send the bill to conference with the House.
Voting yes: Feinstein, Harris
Fontana city manager retires after 20 years leading City Hall
Sublime complaint forces Yucaipa to rethink posting how much it pays bands
Chino Valley fire board member accused of taking payment for meetings he didn’t attend
SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: Voting 95 for and none against, the Senate on Tuesday, Aug. 21, adopted an amendment to HR 6157 (above) that would increase the 2019 budget for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by $2.8 million or about 4 percent. Funded by all levels of government and other sources, the hotline is a nationwide network of crisis centers that provides 24/7 confidential support to persons in emotional distress.
No senator spoke against the amendment.
A yes vote backed the spending increase.
Copyright 2018, Thomas Voting Reports, Inc.
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Little River Band
Deriving their name from the metric total of semen ejaculated by the average male, the tongue-in-cheek British art pop band 10cc comprised an all-star roster of Manchester-based musicians: vocalist/guitarist Graham Gouldman was a former member of the Mockingbirds and the author of hits for the Yardbirds, the Hollies, Herman's Hermits and Jeff Beck; singer/guitarist Eric Stewart was an alum of Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders; and vocalists/multi-instrumentalists Kevin Godley and Lol Creme were both highly regarded studio players. Formed in 1970, 10cc began as a session unit dubbed Hotlegs; after establishing residence at Stewart's Strawberry Studios, Hotlegs scored a surprise U.K. smash with the single "Neanderthal Man," subsequently issuing an LP, Thinks: School Times and touring with the Moody Blues. After signing to Jonathan King's U.K. label and rechristening themselves 10cc (a name suggested by King himself), the group backed Neil Sedaka before recording 1972's "Donna," a sly satire of late-'50s doo wop. The single reached the number two position on the British charts, establishing not only a long-running string of major hits, but also the quartet's fondness for ironic and affectionate reclamations of musty pop styles. The follow-up, "Rubber Bullets," topped the charts in 1973, and both the subsequent single "The Dean and I" (a nostalgic look at academia recalling Jerry Lee Lewis' "High School Confidential") and an eponymously titled debut LP further solidified 10cc as a major force in British pop. While 1974's Sheet Music and singles, including the Brian Wilson-esque "Wall Street Shuffle," "Silly Love" and "Life Is a Minestrone" continued 10cc's dominance of the U.K. charts, they found the American market virtually impenetrable prior to the release of 1975's "I'm Not in Love," which topped the charts at home and climbed as high as number two in the States. After 1975's Original Soundtrack and the next year's How Dare You!, Godley and Creme exited to focus on video production as well as developing the Gizmo, a guitar modification device the duo invented. In the wake of their departure, Gouldman and Stewart continued on alone, enlisting the aid of session men to record 1977's Deceptive Bends, highlighted by the perennial "The Things We Do for Love." After recruiting guitarist Rick Fenn, keyboardist Tony O'Malley and drummer Stuart Tosh as full-time members, 10cc returned in 1978 with Bloody Tourists, which yielded the number one reggae nod "Dreadlock Holiday." Stewart's involvement in a serious car wreck in 1979 proved to be a major setback for the band and by the time they released 1980's Look Hear?, critical reception was lukewarm. After dismissing the rest of the group, Gouldman and Stewart recorded 1981's 10 Out of 10 using mostly session musicians and the album failed to chart. 10cc would release one more album, 1983's Windows in the Jungle, before disbanding that same year. Throughout the rest of the 1980's the members occupied themselves with new endeavors to varying degrees of success and in 1991, the original lineup of Stewart, Gouldman, Godley, and Creme reunited to record the album ...Meanwhile. The album fared well in Europe and Japan, but Godley and Creme's involvement was tenuous and they both bowed out shortly after its release. Shortly after 1995's Mirror Mirror and its subsequent tour, Stewart also called it quits. In 1999, Gouldman put together a new 10cc lineup which included himself, Rick Fenn, and Paul Burgess along with newcomers Mick Wilson and Mike Stevens. Although no new music was released, this lineup continued to tour consistently throughout the 2000s, playing various 10cc hits along with some of Gouldman's solo highlights. Various 10cc reissues and anthologies have been released, including a 30th anniversary box set in 2002 and a limited-edition 40th anniversary set in 2012 called Tenology. ~ Jason Ankeny & Timothy Monger
Windows in the Jungle
Live and Let Live
Bloody Tourists
Deceptive Bends
Original Soundtrack [Germany Bonus Tracks]
Look Hear
I'm Not in Love: The Essential 10cc
Tenology [Bonus DVD]
The Complete UK Recordings 1972-1974
20th Century Masters-The Millennium Collection: Best of 10CC
The Singles [Mercury]
When the Chips Are Down
The Things We Do for Love [Polygram]
Dreadlock Holiday
I'm Mandy Fly Me by Godley & Creme
Good Morning Judge by Godley & Creme
The Worst Band in the World
Ships Don't Disappear in the Night (Do They?)
Les Nouveaux Riches
Notell Hotel
One-Two-Five
Action Man in Motown Suit
The I'll Still Love You by Jim Weatherly
She Gives Me Pain
Only Child
The Secret Life of Henry
Johnny Don't Do It
Feel the Benefit, Pts. 1-3
Everything You Wanted to Know About!!!
Old Mister Time
Reds in My Bed
Take These Chains
Clockwork Creep
Gismo My Way
4% of Something
Hot Sun Rock
Flying Junk
Headline Hustler
The Sacro-Iliac
Baron Samedi
Lazy Ways
Working Girls
Americana Panorama
Yes, I Am!
For You and I
Life Is a Minestrone
Tomorrow's World Today
Silly Love
The Dean and I
Rubber Bullets
Somewhere in Hollywood
Old Wild Men
Modern Man Blues
Feel the Benefit
Marriage Bureau Rendezvous
The Wall Street Shuffle
Honeymoon With B Troop
You've Got a Cold
The Second Sitting for the Last Supper
L.A. Inflatable
Strange Lover
I Hate to Eat Alone
It Doesn't Matter at All
I Took You Home
Don't Send We Back
How'm I Ever Gonna Say Goodbye
Head Room
Nothing Can Move Me
Shock on the Tube (Don't Want Love)
Anonymous Alcoholic
We've Heard It All Before
I Wanna Rule the World
Lying Here With You
Don't Squeeze Me Like Toothpaste
[The Recording of the Dean and I]
I'm So Laid Back, I'm Laid Out
Hot to Trot
Oh Effendi
18 Carat Man of Means
Five O'Clock in the Morning by Godley & Creme
Sand in My Face
I Bought a Flat Guitar Tutor
Don't Hang Up
Don't Ask
Overdraft in Overdrive
Don't Turn Me Away
Fresh Air for My Mama
Lovers Anonymous
You're Coming Home Again
The Hospital Song
The Film of My Love
Rock 'N' Roll Lullaby
From Rochdale to Ocho Rios
Get It While You Can
Channel Swimmer
Une Nuit a Paris (Part 1)/The Same Night in Paris (Part 2)/Later the Same Night in Paris (Part 3)
See Fewer Top Songs
See Fewer Songs
Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix
66 Pretty Much Perfect Songs
Queen: DNA
Foster the People: I Am The DJ
My Parents' Record Collection
Nothing But Love Songs
Classic Soft Hits
Adult Chill
Classic Easy Listening
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First Look: Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, and Jessica Brown Findlay in Akiva Goldsman’s Directorial Debut ‘Winter’s Tale’
Posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 by Angie Han
As a writer and producer, Akiva Goldsman has enjoyed an enviable career working on projects like A Beautiful Mind, I, Robot, and I Am Legend. But this winter, he’s finding himself in some new territory as he shoots his feature directorial debut Winter’s Tale.
Based on the novel by Mark Helperin, the romantic fantasy follows a thief named Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) who breaks into a seemingly empty mansion in Victorian-era New York City. Once inside, he’s surprised to meet and fall for Beverly Penn (Downton Abbey‘s Jessica Brown Findlay), the dying young woman cloistered within. Russell Crowe also stars, as a criminal boss named Pearly Soames who has it in for Peter. A handful of photos from the set have hit the web, and you can check them out after the jump.
Goldsman isn’t totally new to directing, as he’s helmed episodes of Fringe and Kings. Winter’s Tale hasn’t set a release date yet, so it may be a little while before we find out how he fares with his first feature, but so far the on-set pics look promising. Production on the film began in New York last November, and has now resumed shooting after an interruption from Hurricane Sandy. io9 and FilmoFilia have rounded up a series of snaps that show Farrell, Brown Findlay, Crowe, and Matt Bomer in costume.
Farrell’s black hair looks pretty gross, but Crowe’s making that facial scar work somehow. Not pictured, but also in the cast, are Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, and Kevin Corrigan. Will Smith is also rumored for a small role.
New York City is subsumed in arctic winds, dark nights, and white lights, its life unfolds, for it is an extraordinary hive of the imagination, the greatest house ever built, and nothing exists that can check its vitality. One night in winter, Peter Lake—orphan and master-mechanic, attempts to rob a fortress-like mansion on the Upper West Side. Though he thinks the house is empty, the daughter of the house is home. Thus begins the love between Peter Lake, a middle-aged Irish burglar, and Beverly Penn, a young girl who is dying. Peter Lake, a simple, uneducated man who, because of a love which at first he does not fully understand, is driven to stop time and bring back the dead.
[Additional source: Just Jared]
Exclusive ‘Dumbo’ Clip: Tim Burton and Colin Farrell Are Armed With a Great Partnership in Blu-Ray Bonus Feature
Paramount to Adapt Atlas Comics Properties Into Movies, Akiva Goldsman to Lead Yet Another Writers’ Room
‘The Loudest Voice’ Trailer: Russell Crowe Channels Roger Ailes in Showtime Series
‘The Loudest Voice’ Teaser: Showtime Tells the Story of Roger Ailes and the Rise of Fox News
/Tweeted, Images, Akiva-Goldsman, Colin-Farrell, Jessica Brown-Findlay, Russell-Crowe
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Counter-punishment in Public Good Games
Last registered on December 10, 2018
December 10, 2018 2:06 PM EST
Catherine Eckel
Counter-punishment, Cooperation, Public Goods, Experimental Economics
C92 D70 H41
This is a replication of Nikiforakis, Nikos. "Punishment and counter-punishment in public good games: Can we really govern ourselves?." Journal of Public Economics 92, no. 1-2 (2008): 91-112.. In the original paper, they test whether a counter-punishment opportunity affects cooperation in the provision of public goods. We conduct a laboratory public good experiment considering only two of his treatment conditions; one without any punishment – the standard public good game which is also known as the voluntary contribution mechanism (VCM); and one with two-sided punishment – that is, a VCM followed by a stage of punishment and a stage of counter-punishment (PCP). We expect our results shed light on the directional effect of the counter-punishment opportunity in public good games and help us extend the study in future.
Eckel, Catherine. 2018. "Counter-punishment in Public Good Games." AEA RCT Registry. December 10. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/3508/history/38648
This is a lab experiment with a within-subjects design. We are replicating one of the treatment combinations -- the one that produces the key results -- from the original study. The original study has many additional control conditions, which we are not testing. Our replication consists of the control condition and the most extreme intervention included in the original study, and is conducted in a single order: Control then intervention, as described below. The original study tests for order effects, and we do not replicate that part of their study.
Subjects are randomly assigned into groups and play finitely repeated public good game for 20 periods: ten periods for the control condition followed by ten periods of the intervention. Groups are reformed each period randomly.
Subjects are randomly assigned into groups and will play the control game (the voluntary contribution mechanism (VCM)), and the treatment (counter-punishment (PCP)). We will compare the results of control and treatment interventions considering a within-subjects design.
The first intervention is the control condition is the the standard public good game, also known as the voluntary contribution mechanism (VCM), which has been conducted hundreds of times in many studies. In the game a subject is assigned to a group, and given an endowment. The endowment can be "kept" in personal earnings, or it can be "allocated" to a group account which is then used to produce the public good. The public good generates benefits (earnings) for all members of the group. The tension in this game is between individual maximizing behavior (keep all the endowment and free ride on others' allocations to the group account) and the social welfare (contribute all to the group account which maximizes total earnings of the group). This game is conducted for ten rounds.
The intervention is then implemented for the second ten rounds of the game. The intervention is the introduction of punishment. Punishment is two-sided – that is, a VCM followed by a stage of punishment and a stage of counter-punishment (PCP). In the punishment phase, any subject in a group can, at a personal cost, pay part of their own earnings to reduce the earnings (punish) another subject. The idea here is that contributors may punish free riders, leading to higher future contributions. In the counter punishment phase, those who punished others can be counter-punished by those whose earnings were reduced.
The key comparison is a paired statistical test between the play in the first ten periods and in the second ten periods.
Contribution level, earnings, welfare
Contribution level is the amount allocated to the group account in the first ten rounds, and in the second ten periods by individual.
Earnings is the earnings level for the first ten periods, and in the second ten periods, by individual.
Welfare is earnings for the first ten periods, and earnings net of punishment costs for the second ten periods.
Description of the Experiment
We will recruit 20-24 participants in each session of the experiment. Each session will last 1 hour and 45 minutes. In each session, we will divide the participants in five or six groups of four. We will analyze two treatments: voluntary contribution mechanism (VCM) and two-sided punishment (PCP). The participants will play ten rounds of VCM and ten rounds of PCP. At the beginning of each round, we will randomly assigned participants to a group and they will receive an endowment of 20 Experimental Currency Units (ECU). VCM consists of deciding how much to allocate from the endowment to a private account and a public account. At the end of each round, participant earnings which is given by the following formula:
[(Endowment-Contribution to public account) + 0.4*Total contribution of the group to public account].
Each round agents will decide how much to keep and how much to allocate to the group account. Each round they learn their own earnings, and so can infer the aggregate contributions of their group, but they will not know anything about the individual contributions of the other group members. We will inform participants in advance of how we will calculate their income in each round. After the ten rounds of VCM, participants will make decisions under PCP for other ten rounds. In each round, we will randomly assigned them to a new group. PCP consists of three stages per round:
1. At the beginning of this stage, agents will receive a 25 ECUs one-off lump sum payment that they can use at the end of the ten rounds to pay for eventual losses during this treatment. This lump sum payment is not considered when calculating the income of the round. Participants will receive a 20 ECU endowment to split between the public account and the private account. Then, we will inform them about their income [(Endowment of ECUs – Own contribution to the project) + 0.4*Total contribution tothe project]. This stage is similar to VCM plus the one-off lump sum payment.
2. In this stage, we will inform participants of each group member contribution to the public project in the first stage. Participants will have the opportunity to punish their teammates. They can reduce or leave equal the income of each member of the group by distributing points. Participants will choose points to assign to each group member. If a participant chooses zero points for a particular member, then the other member’s income will not change. However, each point assigned to a member reduces her income by 10%. Therefore, if a member receives 10 points or more, her income from the first stage will be reduced by 100%. However, each point distributed to another member has a cost in ECUs. Participants can distribute between 0 to 10 points to each group member. The more points a participant gives to any group member, the higher the costs. The total costs for each participant will be the sum of the costs of distributing points to each of the other three group members. The total income from stage 2 is as follows:
Total income at the end of stage 2 = (Income from the stage 1)*[1 – (1/10)*received points] – cost of distributed points
This total income can be negative if the cost of distributed points is higher than the income in the first stage. If agents have zero or negative income at the end of this stage, they will not be allowed to continue to the third stage.
3. In this stage, agents will be informed about the points that the other group members assigned to them in the second stage. They will have the opportunity of assigning points back to the other participants to reduce their income. A participant can only assign counter-points to those participants who assigned points to her in the previous stage. Each point assigned to another participant will reduce her income by 10% and the cost of each point will be the same as in stage 2. The cost of assigning points is cumulative. For example, if a participant distributes 2 points in the second stage to another participant, she will face a cost of 2 ECUs in the second stage. If in period 3 she decides to distribute 3 more points to the same participant, then the total cost in stage 3 is 9 ECUs. The total income from stage 3 is as follows:
Total income at the end of stage 3 = (Income from the stage 2)*[1 – (1/10)*received points] – total cost of distributed points
If participants make a negative income in stages 2 or 3, they will pay us back with the 25 ECU they received as a lump-sum payment. At the end of the experiment, we will calculate the total income participants made in the 20 rounds. If they made a total negative income in some rounds, they should pay us back with the 25 ECUs they received as a lump-sum payment. We will convert the total income to dollars and those will be their earnings of participating in the experiment, plus the show-up fee.
Randomization is done by the computer. Individuals are randomly assigned to groups, and re-grouped each round.
40 subjects with 20 periods each in a within-subject design.
using the allocation decision as the observation
TAMU IRB
IRB2018-1415D
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Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees cover)
Nomade In France
Playing Substitute in
by Picnic
Picnic performing "France" at Sofar Newcastle on October 30th, 2018
Sofar puts on hundreds of intimate shows each month around the world. Find an upcoming date in your city: http://bit.ly/findasofar
Find us on Facebook and Twitter for more information -http://www.facebook.com/sofarsounds
https://www.facebook.com/SofarSoundsNewcastle
https://twitter.com/SofarSoundsNE
https://www.instagram.com/sofarsoundsne
Artist: Picnic
https://www.facebook.com/picnicbanduk/
https://twitter.com/picnicbanduk
https://www.instagram.com/picnicbanduk/
Filmed by: Ryan Peebles & Jack Abernethy
Edited by: Ryan Peebles
https://vimeo.com/gadaboutfilms
Audio by: Jack Abernethy
https://vimeo.com/nyomurdi
Newcastle 30th October 2018
Sofar Newcastle
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Human rights complaint filed after B.C. mom’s maternity benefits clawed back
EI benefits alleged to have been deducted to offset disability assistance
VANCOUVER — A human rights complaint has been filed on behalf of a mother whose maternity and parental benefits were clawed back by the B.C. government.
The Community Legal Assistance Society filed the complaint on behalf of Sooke resident Jess Alford, whose partner receives disability assistance.
Alford received Employment Insurance benefits after the birth of her child in 2014, but the complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal alleges all the money was deducted to offset disability assistance paid by the province to her partner.
According to the Community Legal Assistance Society, the B.C. government claws back maternity and parental benefits from primarily female claimants in about 150 families every year.
The society says that amounts to sex discrimination contrary to human rights law because the policy puts families with a female wage earner in a worse financial position than families with a male worker.
Lawyer Laura Johnston says although the complaint was filed after the permitted time frame, the tribunal has agreed to hear it because it is in the public interest.
“This complaint is about changing the policy so other families don’t have to experience this,” Johnston said.
“The B.C. government could step up and say, ‘We are going to fix this human rights problem and we are going to change this policy,’ and that would solve the complaint,” she said. “But if the B.C. government chooses to fight this complaint and put this family through litigation, it could take many more months.”
A hearing date has not yet been set by the tribunal but talks will begin with the province in hopes of avoiding a lengthy legal battle, Johnston said.
Fine for passing school bus more than doubles
Former B.C. government staffer charged with breach of trust
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Isle of Mull – Mountain Island
The Isle of Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides and the largest island of the Southern Hebrides. Mull has an incredible coastline of around 300 miles and an area of 338 square miles. The highest mountain on Mull is Ben More, with 966 metres the highest mountain in the area, and on a clear day visible from almost every island of the Southern Hebrides. Mull is a mountainous island and Ben More is the only Munro in the Southern Hebrides. Perhaps because of these mountains Mull has the highest rainfall numbers of all of the Hebrides. Main industries on Mull are tourism and fish farming. The island is surrounded by the Sound of Mull in the north, the Firth of Lorn in the south and east and the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
Although larger than Islay, the population of Mull is less, around 3,000 people, and approximately 1.000 of them live in the picturesque harbour town of Tobermory with its colourful buildings. Tobermory is also the administrative capital of Mull, its name meaning Mary’s well. The town was founded as a fishing port in 1788 on a layout designed by the British Fisheries Society. Tobermory is well served with facilities and the town includes a museum, accommodation, banks and tourist information. Many buildings in Tobermory, mostly shops and restaurants, are painted in different bright colours, making it a popular location for television programmes, and gives the town a unique character. Important buildings in the town include Tobermory Clock Tower, a museum, the Tobermory Scotch whisky distillery and an arts centre.
Duart Castle at Sunrise
Like many other islands in the Southern Hebrides people started living here not long after the last ice age which was around 8000 BC. Mull itself has been inhabited since around 6000 BC and the inhabitants of those days were responsible for the standing stones, brochs and stone circles such as the Lochbuie stone circle, not far from Craignure which is still well preserved. After the Norwegian controlled the island from the 8th century, Mull also became a part of the Lordship of the Isles in 1266, which had its main seat of power on Finlaggan Islay. Duart Castle dates back to the 13th century and was the seat of Clan MacLean. In 1350 Lachlan Lubanach Maclean of Duart, the 5th Clan Chief, married Mary, daughter of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and she was given Duart as her dowry. After the collapse of the Lordship in 1493 the island was taken over by the clan MacLean, and later in 1681 by the clan Campbell. The Highland clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries left its mark on Mull as well and came after voluntary emigration when there was overpopulation, 10,600 inhabitants, in the early 1800s. The population fell to a low of 2154 in 1961 and is has now reached a stable number.
Overlooking Loch Tuath towards Treshnish Isles
Standing on a clifftop guarding the Sound of Mull, Duart Castle enjoys one of the most spectacular and unique positions on the West Coast of Scotland. Duart Castle has been the base of the Clan Maclean’s for over 400 years. In 1991 Sir Lachlan Maclean, the present Clan Chief engaged Professor Sir James Dunbar Naismith to repair the castle. The main repairs were completed in 1995, but work on the castle still continues. Torosay is a spectacular 150 year old Scottish baronial style castle and surrounded by magnificent gardens. The castle is located just a mile from the ferry pier at Craignure and was also connected by its very own narrow gauge steam railway but it closed in 2010.
View from the Sound of Ulva to Ross of Mull and Iona
Mull is home to over 250 different bird species including the White-tailed Eagle, which was reintroduced in the nearby Island of Rùm and migrated to Mull, where they now have a stronghold. Loch Frisa in the north is a viewing site for Sea eagles. In the central part of Mull is Glen More where birds like the Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle and Buzzard can be spotted along with mammals such as Red Deer. Due to it’s huge coast line Mull is also a fantastic island to spot sea birds and waders. Minke whales, porpoises and dolphins are among the sea life that can be seen on boat tours from Mull.
Oystercatchers at Loch na Keal
Dotted around the coast of Mull are numerous other (famous) islands such as Iona, Ulva and Gometra, the Treshnish Isles, Staffa, Eorsa and Inch Kenneth. The presence of these remote and beautiful islands adds to the fascination of Mull.
Mull has no airport as such, merely a landing strip for private planes. The island is well served with ferries and the main links to Mull from the mainland include Oban to Craignure (approx. 45 minutes), Kilchoan to Tobermory and Lochaline to Fishnish (approx. 15 minutes, suspended in rough weather). Although advanced bookings are not required for the Fishnish ferry it is a further drive north over single-track roads. A bus service is available on the island. The majority of the roads are single track and the only exceptions are the stretch between Craignure and Salen and a wee stretch south of Tobermory.
Isle of Mull Community & Local Websites. Tourist Information:
Mull Pictures – A Gallery with Mull Pictures
www.isle-of-mull.net – Explore Mull Visitor Information
www.holidaymull.co.uk – Holiday Mull visitor information and accommodation
www.mull.zynet.co.uk – Mull and Iona chamber of commerce
www.wildaboutmull.co.uk – Wild about Mull – Wildlife tours
www.visitscottishheartlands.com – Tourist Information for Argyll
Travel Report – Touring the North of Mull Febr 2009
www.tobermory.co.uk – Tobermory Local info.
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News Archive / Tagged: Ariane 5
First Ariane 5 flight of 2018 to deliver SES-14 and Al Yah 3 communications satellites into orbit
Tomasz NowakowskiJanuary 24th, 2018
On Thursday, January 25, Europe’s flagship Ariane 5 booster is scheduled to fly for the first time this year. The rocket is being prepared to orbit the SES-14 and Al Yah 3 communications satellites.
Ariane 5 poised to be retired
Collin SkocikJanuary 11th, 2018
After more than twenty years in service, the Ariane 5 rocket is going to stop flying. The European rocket was first flown in June of 1996, and ArianeSpace has now ordered the last ten Ariane 5 launchers.
Ariane 5 Flight VA240 launches four Galileo satellites
Collin SkocikDecember 13th, 2017
At 3:36 p.m. local time (1:36 p.m. EST / 18:36 GMT) on December 12, 2017, an Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, carrying four Galileo satellites, bringing the total number of spacecraft in the Galileo constellation to 22.
Ariane 5 pulls double duty launching two comsats from Kourou
Bart LeahySeptember 29th, 2017
Shortly after sunset on September 29, 2017, in Kourou, French Guiana, an Arianespace Ariane 5 lofted 23,894 pounds (10,838 kilograms) of payload into space in the form of two communications satellites. The Intelsat 37e satellite will support Africa, Europe, Central Africa, and Latin America, while the BSAT-4a satellite will provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) television service in Japan.
Update: Arianespace investigates cause of Ariane 5 launch abort
Jim SharkeySeptember 14th, 2017
Arianespace recently released a preliminary analysis of the post-ignition launch abort of an Ariane 5 rocket carrying two communications satellites. The mission, designated flight VA239, was scheduled for liftoff at 5:51 p.m. EDT (21:51 GMT) Sept. 5, 2017, from the Guiana Space Centre in South America.
Ariane 5 aborts moments after engine ignition
Derek RichardsonSeptember 5th, 2017
It was an otherwise smooth countdown. An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket was poised to launch two communications satellites into orbit, but moments after the ignition of the vehicle's main engine, the onboard computer triggered an abort. Liftoff was planned for 5:51 p.m. EDT (21:51 GMT) Sept. 5, 2017.
Ariane 5 to launch 2 satellites to geostationary transfer orbit
For the fifth time in 2017, Arianespace will send an Ariane 5 rocket into space. The flight will orbit commercial communication satellites for two international customers: Intelsat and Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT), a leading broadcasting satellite operator in Japan.
Arianespace closes the first half of 2017 with launch of Flight VA238
Curt GodwinJune 28th, 2017
After a minor technical glitch interrupted the countdown for five minutes, Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket, Flight VA238, left the pad at the Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 5:15 p.m. EDT (21:15 GMT) on June 28, 2017, to deploy two satellites – Hellas Sat 3 / Inmarsat S EAN and GSAT-17 – into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
Arianespace to close out June with Flight VA238 launch of two satellites
Final preparations are underway for the launch of two satellites aboard Arianespace's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket for delivery to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch is scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, 2017, during a 77-minute window opening at 4:59 p.m. EDT (20:59 GMT).
Arianespace opens June with record launch of two heavy telecom satellites on Flight VA237
Curt GodwinJune 1st, 2017
Amidst rain showers dotting the area surrounding the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, Arianespace successfully delivered two telecommunications satellites to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Flight VA237 saw the Ariane 5 lift off the pad at 7:45 p.m. EDT (23:45 GMT) on June 1, 2017, marking the launch provider's sixth mission of the year and earning a new record in the process.
Ariane 5 Flight VA237 set for record launch with heavy telecom satellites
Curt GodwinMay 30th, 2017
Arianespace gears up for a record launch of its Ariane 5 on Flight VA237 with a heavy pair of telecommunications satellites: ViaSat-2 and EUTELSAT 172B. Liftoff from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. is scheduled for June 1, 2017, during a 1-hour launch window opening at 7:45 p.m. EDT (23:45 GMT).
Arianespace tallies up another successful mission with launch of two telecom satellites
Curt GodwinMay 4th, 2017
More than a month after its initial planned launch was delayed by a "social movement" in the French South American overseas department, Arianespace's Flight VA236 finally departed from the Guiana Space Center and delivered two telecommunication satellites to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).
Arianespace sets May 4 for Ariane 5 launch
Derek RichardsonApril 27th, 2017
After a resolution to the month-long protests that halted launches at the South American spaceport in French Guiana, Arianespace announced new dates for its next three flights to space.
‘Social movement’ continues to delay Ariane 5 launch
Derek RichardsonMarch 23rd, 2017
Arianespace has delayed the flight of its Ariane 5 rocket for a third day in a row due to a “social movement” at the Guiana Space Centre. The company has not set a new launch date. The mission, dubbed VA236, is set to send two communications satellites to geostationary transfer orbit.
Arianespace delays launch of Ariane 5 Flight VA236 due to ‘social movement’
Curt GodwinMarch 20th, 2017
Arianespace has announced a 24-hour delay, at least, of Flight VA236 due to a "social movement" at The Spaceport in French Guiana. It is not entirely clear what constitutes a "social movement", though there are reports that indicate the workers who are responsible for the rollout of the vehicle to the ELA-3 launch site called for a strike.
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Adults with disabilities share inspirational stories at Goodman JFS event
By Sergio Carmona
Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2017 Katherine Magnoli served as the moderator for Goodman JFS' “Paving the Way: This is Me" program. (Sergio Carmona/Florida Jewish Journal)
Empowered adults with disabilities, or family members of people with disabilities, moved an audience of more than 100 attendees during a free educational program in Davie that was presented by Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County’s Joshua’s Path.
This free program, part of Goodman JFS' Joshua's Path Educational & Empowerment Series, was called “Paving the Way: This is Me.” The presenting adults shared their inspirational stories of breaking barriers, overcoming obstacles and paving the way to meaningful lives. Speakers included Broadway and film actor Edward Barbanell, journalist Bryan Boggiano, adaptive fitness trainers Mitch and his son Garrett “G-Money” Holeve, ScentsAbility founder Bonnie Schmidt and special needs educator Nicole Whitman. Ms. Wheelchair Florida 2017 Katherine Magnoli served as the moderator.
Magnoli said in an interview that she hopes the audience realized that with her story, anything is possible.
"It doesn't matter if you're sitting in a wheelchair or if you're blind. If you put your mind to it, you can succeed in any goal that you set for yourself, and once you do that, it can open up so many other options for you that you never dreamed were possible."
Magnoli shared her personal story into advocacy and told the audience that being bullied in public school and into her early adulthood was hard but didn’t stop her from living her dreams. She spoke about how she wrote children’s education books such as “The Adventures of KatGirl” series, a tale about a girl in a wheelchair, and how she hosts a podcast.
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While all the presentations appeared to inspire the audience, one that especially moved the audience was Barbanell’s. Barbanell, who has Down syndrome, passionately shared his story of proving his doubters wrong as he has become a film and television actor.
"My life began not with expectations; it began with limitations, with people telling my family what I would not be able to achieve, that I would not be able to attend a mainstream school and that I would not be able to hold a job. Well, I don't accept limitations other people place on me. Never have, never will," he remarked to thunderous applause.
In interviews, the speakers shared what they hope the audience could take away from their presentations.
"I think the biggest thing that people can take away from our unique stories is that being around people who inspire you can inspire you to share your story and not be afraid," Whitman, who was joined on stage by a person who has inspired her, her brother Dan Whitman, who has a developmental disability, said. "It's like a cycle of inspiration. When you feel inspired by somebody and you tell your story, you go off and inspire someone else."
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Boggiano, who was diagnosed with autism when he was young but has become a journalist and accomplished academic achievements when he was a student said, “People can learn that our diversity makes us stronger and that we should accept one another regardless of our level of ability or anything else that might make us different from a societal norm.”
Mitch Holeve, who shared the stage along with his son, Garrett, a mixed martial arts fighter with Down syndrome said, “The biggest take away with Garrett’s story is that when you’re given an opportunity and you put in hard work, you can accomplish anything.”
Schmidt, founder and director of ScentsAbility, which helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including her daughter, Jessica, who is president of the organization, said, “It’s very important to teach everyone and show everyone how young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can add value to the community and give back to the community.”
Jo Ann Arnowitz, Goodman JFS’ chief programs officer and vice president of grants management, said regarding the event, “It’s an exemplary and inspirational program that shows that people with special needs can aspire to reach their goals and live their dreams with the proper resources and guidance.”
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Arnowitz said that this event and the Joshua’s Path program exemplifies Jewish values such as tikkun olam (repair the world).
“Everything that we do is with Jewish values in mind, but this program is open to everyone in the community. You don’t have to be Jewish to get these free services. All the seminars are free and the personalized consultations are free.”
The event took place at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie.
Visit jfsbroward.org for more information on Joshua’s Path.
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Local Delivery Pilots - Community of Learning
Local Delivery Pilots - the story so far
The first year of our local delivery pilots has been full of purpose as they mobilise themselves and their communities – so what's happened and what comes next?
Local Authorities Local Government
When we confirmed the location for the 12 local delivery pilots (LDPs) in December 2017, we were clear that there would be a very different form of relationship, approach and investment.
There wouldn’t be the usual coaches, facilities and equipment being rolled out within a few months – in fact, there might not be anything very visible for quite a while. But we were clear that this didn’t mean nothing was happening. Far from it. We were doing things differently.
What on earth did we mean by this? Building on our collaborative work with change experts and shared knowledge from other public sector bodies, we were certain that giving sufficient time and space for the natural development of the pilots was absolutely crucial – planning and preparation had to be absolutely thorough and authentic before we could talk about ‘doing’.
To do this, the pilots needed energy and resources to translate their aspirations into a burgeoning local movement with a common purpose.
During this past year, we've provided sufficient resources for each pilot to build their capacity, insight and local presence at the right speed for them. Each pilot was passionate that one of those first steps had to be immersing themselves in the reality of people’s daily lives; equally, they also wanted to deepen their understanding of how the ‘local system’ really operated – good and bad.
Understanding the reality of this ‘system’ – the myriad of public and private sector bodies, community organisations, leisure providers, even key individuals – became an essential early step for the pilots. Piecing together and making sense of those first steps became a critical focus.
Drawing on our pilot experiences and the support from others, we developed a ‘pathway’ to help explore how to go about this work, and the pilots have spent a lot of time building a richer picture of their local communities – talking, observing, but most importantly listening.
This goes far beyond the realm of attitudes to sport and physical activity, it's about the reality of living and working in a pilot area. Our work, and that of the local teams managing and running each individual pilot, cannot be done without a deep understanding of the issues impacting on the lives of local people.
How have they been getting on?
For Mal Fitzgerald, programme director of the South Tees LDP, the initial phase has been all about scoping the scale of the project.
Twelve pilots were chosen with around £100 million being invested in significant learning
“Our approach has been to work with people in communities,” he said.
“I think we’ve always seen the LDP process as an ongoing programme. Within four years we’ll start to scratch the surface on some of these issues, but they’re really, really big issues.
“They’re not going to go away overnight. We want things that will last generations.”
Janpal Basran, manager of the Southall Community Alliance, is exactly the type person the pilots are looking to engage with.
He has been involved in the Southall pilot from the start and views the programme as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a lasting difference in his community.
Born and bred in the area, he is involved in a planned research project aimed at working out why people are inactive in Southall.
So when this opportunity came up, and when we were successful, it’s not an overstatement to say we were jumping around and really excited
Janpal Basran, manager of Southall Community Alliance
Local residents will be trained up as community researchers, working alongside academics, with the aim to up-skill the community and create a lasting change.
“We’re building local capacity and using the programme as a stepping stone”, he said.
“When I started working in Southall about 15 years ago, one of the shocking things for me was, every year, reading statistics about how bad people’s health was, how low people’s life expectancy was, how high diabetes rates are, how terrible heart disease rates are.
“It struck me that we don’t actually have much proactively happening. We have lots of reactive services.
“So when this opportunity came up, and when we were successful, it’s not an overstatement to say we were jumping around and really excited.”
While Southall may be one of the smaller pilots with a population of 71,200, Hayley Lever’s pilot in Greater Manchester is the largest at almost 3 million.
Variety of LDPs
Greater Manchester is the largest LDP with a population of 2,756,200, while Withernsea is the smallest with just 6,000
The strategic manager of GM Moving, she has been working with her team to make sure that, in trying to address the entire population of Greater Manchester, the needs of individuals are not forgotten.
“We’ve got strands of our work to embed physical activity in the social prescribing approaches that are developing across GM, to really build assets within communities, and so there is a really rich tapestry of physical activity opportunities and an environment that supports it in the community,” she said.
Working alongside the teams in each pilot area, we've provided a dedicated manager to support, challenge and connect the local pilot into the overall programme. We all want the pilots to succeed by wrestling with the challenges of fundamental change and drawing out valuable learning.
Throughout the year the pilots have developed the outcomes they want to achieve.
Many pilots are understandably focusing on health-related and social outcomes, some have economic goals such as showing how being active can improve confidence, self-esteem and to be more job-ready. Some want to actively reduce isolation and loneliness by getting people out of their homes and engaged in the community or tackling barriers to community integration. The potential reach of the pilots is becoming evident.
For Shimul Haider, our pilot manager working with colleagues in Birmingham and Solihull, as the year has progressed there's an increasing sense of ambition about what can be achieved.
“Each have niche target issues, but as a collective, the opportunity that we have as a national organisation is huge,” she said.
“I didn’t get a real sense of the scale of the opportunity until we started to come together as a collective, as we have done a few times over the first year with workshops.”
For the next few months the pilots will continue to explore their local systems, build up their local presence and maintain and strengthen the buy-in of local leaders and communities.
The rich conversations which underpin all of this work will naturally sharpen the focus on what to test and implement first. Some pilots are already in this position so they're in dialogue with us around unlocking further resources.
Talking about and sharing the experience of the first year is a key element of our Community of Learning and the first chapter of the overall evaluation of the pilot programme will emerge soon.
This will contain plenty of food for thought from the first year of work. We'll begin a programme of webinars and produce further learning events to really share the impact of what is happening.
One of the most important tasks of the next phase of the programme is to maintain the excitement and positive momentum generated in the first year – feelings best summed up by Steve Rose, director for insight and knowledge at The Active Wellbeing Society, responsible for the Birmingham and Solihull pilot.
“It’s a once-in-a-career opportunity for me, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all the people we work with,” he concluded.
“We’re really excited about this and it’s a proper opportunity to make a difference where we all really care about, and that’s the communities where this matters most.”
All about the pilots Where the pilots are located, what they hope to achieve, how they're trying to do it and what comes next.
Our pilots in their own words We spoke to our pilot areas to find out what they're doing and how they're doing it.
LDP reading list Our recommended reading to help you along the way to affecting change on a whole area.
LDP videos Charting the progress of our 12 local delivery pilots over the programme.
If you are interested hearing about our latest workshops, the learning shared, topics explored or be alerted when we make updates to our Local Delivery Pilot website, click here and scroll down.
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ASU marching band to perform at Super Bowl
By Taylette Nunez | 02/23/15 5:00pm
Some of the biggest highlights of the Super Bowl tend to be the entertainment. Whether viewers enjoy football or not, they always crowd around the couch at the announcement for halftime or they sit down to watch bands perform before the game commences. This year, ASU’s very own marching band had the honor of being part of the Super Bowl experience and performed on the football field before the kickoff.
“I thought it was one of the best experiences in my life, especially since it was a once in a lifetime opportunity," animal physiology freshman Pamela Castillo says. "It was something extraordinary. As soon as we stepped on the field it was unlike any other experience.”
The band certainly had to go through intensive practicing before they could go live on the football field and perform. “We had rehearsals that were more than 3 hours long. They were really intense rehearsals and we worked really hard to put on a good show," Castillo says. "We had some choreography arranged by the dance team as well and we practiced all of that repeatedly before the big day."
“It was incredible. I have performed at so many different venues before, but this [was] unlike anything else," economics sophomore Austin Maul says. "There were definitely a lot of highlights from the trip, but one of the best things was as soon as we entered into the stage, there was an energy unlike anything ever before. To perform for that many people was truly amazing."
A few members of the marching band got the fantastic opportunity to be part of the halftime show. They danced as part of the set during Katy Perry’s songs and dressed up in costumes for some of the songs.
“There were about eight of us onstage performing and around 45 total band members as part of the halftime show," Maul says. "Personally, I was a palm tree during 'California Gurls' and I know some of the other band members were beach balls or sharks. It was something I will definitely remember, the emotion was overwhelming.”
Besides playing for the Super Bowl, part of the fun for the band members was also the time they got to spend with one another and getting to experience such a big event together.
“The entire band got screened at a security checkpoint and afterwards had to wait quite a while before performing," music education freshman Jacob Anderson says. "Waiting to play was just as fun because it made the anticipation build up before going onstage. It was definitely one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever played in front of, but the experience overall was phenomenal. It was a great year to be in the SDMB.”
Members of the Sun Devil Marching Band say they take pride in the fact that the band was chosen to perform.
“It was such an honor to perform, they could have chosen anyone but they chose us, and we gave them a good show," Castillo says.
Reach the columnist at tnunez1@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @TayNunz.
Investigation finds no evidence of ethical violations in ASU economics department
By Andrew Howard | 05/29/19 1:58am
ASU announces external investigation into economics department practices
By Isaac Windes and Brenna Toshner | 04/30/19 6:50pm
The Phoenix music scene in a nutshell
By Kiera Riley | 04/25/19 5:02am
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Harley O. Torgerson
June 17, 1932 ~ July 4, 2019 (age 87)
Harley O. Torgerson, age 86, of Fosston, MN passed away on July 4th, 2019 at Wedgewood Manor Care Center in Cavalier, ND. A Memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 17th at 2:00 PM at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston, with Pastor Gregory Isaacson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in Bygland Cemetery in Fisher, MN, with Military Honors provided by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard.
Harley O. Torgerson was born on June 17, 1933 to Oscar and Ella (Moen) Torgerson. He was raised and attended school in Crookston. In 1951 Harley enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Korea during the war from June 1953 to May of 1954, in Japan, Spain, and then Vietnam War from January 1966 to October 1966. In addition, he was stationed in Texas, Florida, and Wisconsin. During his time of service Harley was an aircraft mechanic and performed multiple maintenance duties which involved all types of military aircrafts, specializing in jet engines. He was a Flight Chief and an Alert Complex Supervisor, Maintenance Supervisor, and was involved in crash recovery efforts. Harley’s mechanical expertise gained him many awards. Whole heartedly he served our country for 22 years. Upon his discharge from the U. S. Air Force, Harley worked on various farms in the area until 1978 when he began working for the BNSF Railroad for 15 years. He continued employment there until he retired. Harley moved to Fosston, MN during his retirement where he remained living until he moved to Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier, ND.
Throughout his life, Harley had a passion for the great outdoors and that was where he enjoyed being most. He loved hunting, trapping, fishing, and dog sledding with a team of Huskies. At one point in his life Harley raised raccoons. He also liked building radio-controlled model aircrafts and reading mystery novels.
Harley will be greatly missed as he added much joy to our family, and we will forever be grateful for his dedication in serving our country. He was a life-time member of the VFW in Crookston.
Harley is survived by his sisters, Gladys Kemnitz, Pembina, ND; Marlys Galler, Port St. Lucie, FL; Verna Newhouse, Grand Forks, ND; niece, Sheila (Paul) Hartje, Bathgate, ND; nephews, Dennis Kemnitz, Warren, MN; Rick (Sheila) Kemnitz, Cavalier, ND; Perry Kemnitz (Valerie Blomquist), Hallock, MN; Kevin Newhouse, CA; Gary Newhouse, Grand Forks, ND; Jody Galler, FL; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Harley was preceded in death by his parents; one niece, Candace Galler; nephew, Randy Newhouse, great-nephew, Shaun Michael Kemnitz; brothers-in-law, Lyle Kemnitz, Harold Newhouse, and Arnold Galler; and half-sister, Margaret Morris Lock.
There's still time to send flowers to the Visitation at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral and Cremation Service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 AM on July 17, 2019.
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Emergent Capital, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2019 Results
BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2019 / Emergent Capital, Inc. (OTCQX: EMGC) ('Emergent' or the 'Company'), today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended May 31, 2019.
Second Quarter 2019 Financial Highlights
As a result of a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors on September 7, 2018 that changed the Company's fiscal year end from December 31st to November 30th , our results for the second quarter covers the period from March 1, 2019 to May 31, 2019. To aid investors, the results of the second quarter of 2019 are being presented to the directly comparable period last year, but are not comparable to the results previously filed with the SEC in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on August 14, 2018, for the second quarter of 2018 which covers April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018. Additionally, given the ongoing Chapter 11 case of Lamington Road Designated Activity Company ('Lamington'), Lamington and its subsidiaries' (White Eagle Asset Portfolio, LP ('White Eagle'), White Eagle General Partner, LLC ('WEGP') and Lamington Road Bermuda Limited) financial results are excluded from the Company's consolidated results for the three and six months ended May 31, 2019, and therefore, our 2019 results are not comparable with 2018.
Consolidated Results
Income from continuing operations for the three months ended May 31, 2019 (the '2019 Period') was $12,000 compared to $2.5 million for the three months ended May 31, 2018 (the '2018 Period') and was significantly impacted by the deconsolidation of Lamington and related subsidiaries. Income for the 2018 Period mainly includes net gain on maturity of $13.9 million which is attributable to eight policies maturity. There were no maturities for the consolidated entities for the 2019 Period.
Total expense from continuing operations for the 2019 Period was approximately $22.7 million compared to $9.5 million for the 2018 Period. Expense from continuing operations for the 2019 Period includes approximately $18.8 million which represents a reduction of our investment in the deconsolidated subsidiaries. The fair value of $77.2 million has inherent estimates including, but not limited to, when Lamington and related subsidiaries will emerge from bankruptcy, the estimated discount rate, the value of the debt under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility, as well as other factors inherent in the valuation process.
Expense also includes interest expense of approximately $2.8 million for the 2019 Period was and was mainly comprised of interest expense of approximately $1.3 million on the 5% Convertible Notes, $1.5 million on the 8.5% Senior Secured Notes and $25,000 on the 8.5% Convertible Notes.
Deconsolidated Subsidiaries Results
Total income for the deconsolidated subsidiaries was a loss of $16.9 million and mainly comprised change in fair value of life settlements loss of approximately $17.1 million. Our deconsolidated subsidiaries had eight life insurance policies with face amounts totaling $45.6 million matured. The net gain of these maturities was $34.6 million and is recorded as a change in fair value of life settlements in the deconsolidated statements of operations for the quarter ended May 31, 2019. Proceeds from maturities totaling $18.3 million were received during the quarter ended May 31, 2019. White Eagle recorded a $46.2 million receivable for maturity of life settlements at May 31, 2019.
On May 22, 2019, a settlement in the amount of $21.3 million was signed between Lincoln Benefit Life Company, White Eagle Asset Portfolio, L.P. and Emergent Capital, Inc. pursuant to which Lincoln Benefit, agreed to not to contest the 55 life insurance policies that are presently owned by White Eagle policies and Emergent Capital agreed to drop its legal action against Allstate Life Insurance Company and settle for $2.0 million. The settlement relates to six separate legal actions pertaining to the validity of certain White Eagle policies and receivables for maturities of life settlements totaling $39.1 million. The settlement of the litigation was approved by the Bankruptcy Court in June 2019, and accordingly, the receivable for maturities of life settlement was adjusted to reflect the reduction which resulted in approximately $17.8 million recorded as change in fair value of life settlements loss in the condensed and consolidated financial statements of the Debtors at May 31, 2019. The $2.0 million settlement related to the Allstate lawsuit will be recorded upon receipt. All amounts were received in June 2019.
Our deconsolidated subsidiaries expense was significantly impacted by change in fair value of the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility of approximately of approximately $29.1 million, which is mainly attributable the projected early repayment of the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility due to the Chapter 11 filings. The calculation incorporates a probability weighted assessment of expected cash flows based on the Settlement Agreement approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
Other items impacting expenses were interest expense of $2.6 million, reorganization cost of $6.7 million, administrative services fees of $1.3 million, legal fees of $627,000 and professional fees.
The following table provides a summary of the components of income from the Company's consolidated and deconsolidated life settlements.
Three Months Ended May 31, 2019 Three Months Ended May 31, 2018
Change in estimated probabilistic cash flows
$ 83 $ 25,076
Premiums paid during period
(77 ) (24,164 )
Change in life expectancy evaluation
- (12,369 )
Realized gain on maturities
- 13,872
Change in fair value of life settlements
$ 6 $ 2,415
Deconsolidated
$ 18,391 $ -
(25,700 ) -
Receivable for maturity of life settlement write off
34,608 -
$ (17,075) $ -
The Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $25.9 million, or $(0.16) per diluted share for the 2019 Period, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $6.9 million, or $(0.04) per diluted share for the 2018 Period.
Our income for the 2019 Period, was impacted by income tax expense of approximately $3.2 million compared to tax benefit of approximately $3.2 million for the 2018 Period, the tax benefits for 2018 represents reversal of estimated cash taxes to be paid of approximately $878,000 and deferred tax expense of approximately $2.3 million.
Six Months Ended May 31, 2019
Total loss from continuing operations for the six months ended May 31, 2019 was $63.3 million compared to $2.0 million for the same period last year. Loss was significantly impacted by the deconsolidation of Lamington and its subsidiaries. Income for 2018 mainly includes net gain on maturity of $28.0 million which is attributable to the maturity, 12 policies. There were no maturities for the consolidated entities for the 2019 Period.
Total expenses from continuing operations for the six months ended May 31, 2019 was approximately $60.1 million compared to $19.4 million for the same period last year. Expense from continuing operations for the six months ended May 31, 2019 includes approximately $52.8 million which represents a reduction of our investment in the deconsolidated subsidiaries. Expense also includes interest of $2.5 million on the 5% Convertible Notes, $2.9 million on the 8.5% Senior Secured Notes and $71,000 on the 8.5% Convertible Notes.
Total expenses from continuing operations for the six months ended May 31, 2018 were mainly comprised of interest expense on the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility of $10.9 million, $2.5 million on the 5% Convertible Notes, $1.6 million on the 8.5% Senior Secured Notes and $92,000 on the 8.5% Convertible Notes; offset by a change in the fair value gain for the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility of $4.6 million.
Total income for the deconsolidated subsidiaries was a loss of $29.5 million and mainly comprised change in fair value of life settlements loss of approximately $29.8 million. Our deconsolidated subsidiaries had 12 life insurance policies with face amounts totaling $68.6 million matured. The net gain of these maturities was $50.3 million and is recorded as a change in fair value of life settlements in the deconsolidated statements of operations for the quarter ended May 31, 2019. Proceeds from maturities totaling $32.3 million were received during the six months ended May 31, 2019.
Our deconsolidated subsidiaries expense was significantly impacted by change in fair value of the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility of approximately $43.7 million. Other items impacting expenses were interest expense of $5.0 million, reorganization cost of $8.6 million, administrative services fees of $2.8 million, legal fees of $1.2 million and professional fees of 1.0 million.
Six Months Ended May 31, 2019 Six Months Ended May 31, 2018
$ 83 49,963
$ 6 $ 13,895
At May 31, 2019, we had approximately $1.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit of $506,000. Of this amount, approximately $1.4 million was available to pay premiums on two policies that have not been pledged as collateral under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility and for other overhead expenses, with approximately $8.7 million restricted to the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility. The Company had 158,051,803 shares outstanding, treasury shares of 608,000 and an undiluted book value of $0.23 per share at May 31, 2019.
Life Settlements Portfolio Highlights
As of May 31, 2019, we owned 2 policies with an estimated fair value of $1.3 million compared to 2 policies with an estimated fair value of $1.2 million at November 30, 2018.The weighted average discount rate was 14.5% at each of May 31, 2019 and November 30, 2018.
As of May 31, 2019, White Eagle owned 574 policies with an estimated fair value of $475.6 million and an aggregate death benefit of $2.7 billion. All 574 policies were pledged under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility. White Eagle also recorded a $46.2 million receivable for maturity of life settlements at May 31, 2019 relating to policies pledged under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility. These policies have been excluded from the Company results as of May 31, 2019 due to the deconsolidation resulting from bankruptcy filing of White Eagle's parent.
Of these 574 policies owned as of May 31, 2019, 503 were previously premium financed and are valued using discount rates that range from 12.25% - 19.25%. The remaining 71 policies are valued using discount rates that range from 12.25% - 13.25%.
During the 2019 Period, 12 life insurance policies that served as collateral under the White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility matured with a face value totaling $68.6 million.
About Emergent Capital, Inc.
Emergent (OTCQX: EMGC) is a specialty finance company that invests in life settlements. More information about Emergent can be found at www.emergentcapital.com.
This press release may contain certain 'forward-looking statements' relating to the business of Emergent Capital, Inc. and its subsidiary companies. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are 'forward-looking statements.' These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'believes,' 'expects' or similar expressions, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Although Emergent believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Emergent does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
Company Contact:
Rob Fink
FNK IR
IR@emergentcapital.com
www.emergentcapital.com
Emergent Capital, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended May 31, Six Months Ended May 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
$ 4 $ 2,415 $ 6 $ 13,895
12 2,534 23 14,138
2,775 7,817 5,538 15,419
Change in fair value of investment in deconsolidated subsidiaries
- - 52,769 -
Change in fair value of White Eagle Revolving Credit Facility
18,804 (3,002 ) - (4,626 )
138 873 307 1,660
725 1,375 720 2,927
Professional fees
(57 ) 1,668 278 2,623
Other selling, general and administrative expenses
60 532 124 1,010
22,662 9,466 60,132
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Australia seeks last-ditch deal to save pair from execution in Indonesia
In this Feb 9, 2015 photo, Indonesian lawyers Todung Mulya Lubis (centre), Doly James (left) and Australian lawyer Julian McMahon (right) speak at a press conference in Jakarta. They are fighting to save two Australian prisoners, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, from the firing squad. -- PHOTO: AFP
Feb 12, 2015, 8:46 am SGT
http://str.sg/BUw
SYDNEY (REUTERS/AFP) - Australia is pursuing a last-ditch deal with Indonesia to save two of its citizens from imminent execution on drugs charges, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Thursday, in a case that threatens to strain already fragile relations.
Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, are among eight prisoners due to be executed after Indonesian President Joko Widodo rejected their clemency pleas last month.
Five foreigners were among six people executed for drug offences last month, the first executions in Indonesia since Widodo took office in October. Indonesia has since rejected Australian pleas for clemency for Chan and Sukumaran.
During an impassioned speech to parliament on Thursday, Ms Bishop outlined a flurry of Australian diplomatic activity aimed at securing a deal and urged Indonesia to show mercy.
"We urge the Indonesian government to show the same mercy to Andrew and Myuran that it seeks for its citizens in the same situation abroad," Ms Bishop said. " ... we must not give up hope and we will continue with our efforts to save the lives of Australian citizens," she said.
“This motion goes to the heart of what we believe will be a grave injustice against two Australian citizens facing execution in Indonesia,” she said, adding that the pair made “shocking mistakes” but deserved another chance.“We are not understating the gravity of the nature of these crimes.“Without doubt, Andrew and Myuran need to pay for their crimes with lengthy jail sentences but they should not need to pay with their lives.”
Chan and Sukumaran were members of the so-called Bali Nine, who were found guilty of attempting to smuggle more than 8 kg of heroin.
They were arrested at Bali's Denpasar airport in 2005 and their case has enormous resonance as a domestic political issue in Australia.
Bali is a popular tourist destination for Australians, who are broadly opposed to the death penalty, especially in a case involving young people who are viewed to have made a tragic youthful mistake.
The executions have the potential to reignite the kind of diplomatic tensions between the two often uneasy neighbours that has periodically complicated cooperation on regional issues, including people smuggling and intelligence.
Indonesia recalled its envoy and froze military and intelligence cooperation in 2013 after reports that Canberra had spied on top Indonesian officials, including former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's wife.
Full diplomatic cooperation was restored last May.
Bishop said last month she would not rule out recalling Australia's envoy if the executions went ahead.
Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors in Indonesia, and Nigeria summoned Indonesia's ambassador in Abuja, after last month's executions. Nationals from Malawi and Vietnam were also put to death.
Indonesia has a record of harsh penalties for drug trafficking, resuming executions in 2013 after a five-year gap.
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The will to leave a legacy
Lorna Tan
Invest Editor/Senior Correspondent
lornatan@sph.com.sg
Oct 9, 2016, 5:00 am SGT
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http://str.sg/4xPQ
There are many reasons why people tend to put off making a will, often because they are reluctant to face the morbid subject of their mortality. Another common reason is that some people believe that only the wealthy need to have wills, so they do not bother if they have little savings or only a few assets. In the second instalment of a three-part series on legacy planning, The Sunday Times highlights why it is necessary to have a will and the key factors that should be considered.
Why make a will
Experts say there is no better time to think about making a will than now, when you are able to. So do not commit the mistake of putting it off until it is too late.
Mr Simon Tan, managing director of Attorneys Inc, suggests that having a will "regulates" your family's life after your death - what to do, how to do it and where to start looking, with regard to distribution of the estate.
"With a proper will done, you can articulate all your wishes, which can run the gamut from what you wish to give to each of your loved ones, and whether they are to benefit from the gift immediately or over a period of time.
"You can explain the apportionment of your assets to each of them, whether as a measure or endorsement of your love for each of them or a reflection of your intention to cater for their special needs or nurture their nascent talents," he says.
A proper will can articulate a person's wishes, such as what he wishes to give each of his loved ones, and whether they are to benefit from the gift immediately or over a period of time, says Mr Simon Tan, managing director of Attorneys Inc. PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Ms Ang Kim Lan, director at Goodwins Law Corporation, warns that if there is no will, the Intestate Succession Act kicks in when it comes to distributing the deceased person's estate.
"If the person is an orphan with no spouse, children, siblings, grandparents, uncles or aunts, his estate will go to the state," she says.
Furthermore, the fixed rules in the Intestate Succession Act may not work well in some cases.
"For example, if a couple is newly married and, assuming that the husband is older than the wife, and if both die instantaneously during their honeymoon, the law deems the younger one to die last. In such a scenario, all the joint properties of the couple will go to the wife's parents, which may not be fair to the husband's parents," she says.
A will lets you decide on appointing your executors, guardians for your children, whether you want to be buried or cremated, and who gets what and in what proportion, and so on.
You can also make gifts to people outside your immediate family, such as your godson or your favourite charities, adds Ms Ang.
A will is particularly important in cases where you need to set up testamentary trusts for children below 21 years old, special-needs beneficiaries and charities.
Ms Ang Kim Lan, director at Goodwins Law Corporation, warns that if there is no will, the Intestate Succession Act kicks in when it comes to distributing the deceased person's estate and the fixed rules of the Act may not work well in some cases. PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
It will mean that there will no longer be any ambiguity and uncertainty as to how your estate is to be divided and by whom.
"The last thing you want is for people you do not trust or like to meddle in your financial affairs upon your death or even to benefit, just because the law gives them such an entitlement in the absence of a will," Mr Tan says.
Top 7 considerations
1. APPOINTING YOUR EXECUTOR(S) AND TRUSTEE
Experts recommend that they should be people you trust. Mr Tan says that they would preferably be family members rather than professionals who would have to be paid for their services.
Other factors to consider include appointing those who will potentially outlive you and who have the capability, ability and willingness to handle your affairs, personal matters and/or take care of the financial needs of your children.
Ms Ang says it is prudent to have an executor who will be careful with financial matters.
Mr Amolat Singh of Amolat & Partners says the executors of a will lodged by a business owner can step in straightaway, pending the grant of probate by the court.
"This is especially useful when the deceased has left a business or was a shareholder in a company. Under intestacy (in the absence of a will), all those entitled to apply for the Letters of Administration will have to agree on who should proceed to apply to court and, hence, they cannot step into the shoes of the deceased immediately," he adds.
Mr Amolat Singh of Amolat & Partners says that without a will, no one may want to step forward or, conversely, many relatives would wrestle for the right, to care for young children. ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
2. APPOINTING YOUR CHILDREN'S GUARDIANS
Those with young children can appoint guardians for their children so that there is no dispute between relatives on both sides as to who should care for them.
Mr Singh said: "Not just young children but also for children with special needs. Without a will, no one may want to step forward or, conversely, so many relatives would wrestle for the right to care for the infants."
These guardian(s) must be people you trust and who share the same values as you. Religion is also an important consideration, says Ms Ang.
3. MAKING A LIST OF YOUR ASSETS AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED
Ms Ang and Mr Tan say this is important as some of your assets may be located overseas or held by another person in trust for you.
"If you do not list them out carefully, they could well be ignored, mismanaged or squandered, or even lose their value if they depreciate over time. It is not necessary to list out the value of such assets as they may increase or reduce over time," says Mr Tan.
4. MAKE A LIST OF BENEFICIARIES AND YOUR GIFTS TO THEM
Unlike the distribution of assets under intestacy, which is limited to family members, Mr Singh says you can opt to bequeath a gift to a charitable organisation, illegitimate children and friends.
Gifts may be sums of money or personal effects like jewellery, cars, art items and so on. In fact, you can go beyond convention and choose to set up a scholarship, request annual prayer sessions or require someone to look after a pet dog, and so on.
Lawyers have come across clients who would like to "rule from the grave". For example, one willed that he would give his property to the children only if certain conditions were met, such as obtaining a degree from Oxford or Cambridge, or marrying a woman/man of the same race/religion.
Another stated that he would give an additional $300,000 to any of his five children if they continued with ancestral worship at their family home in Singapore.
If you have dependants, think carefully if you are leaving anything to them under your will, says Ms Ang.
If you are not leaving anything to them, it is prudent to provide a reason. For example, you may state in the will that you have already made enough provisions in your lifetime for them. This is because they may challenge the will by virtue of the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act - in the absence of an explanation in the will - which will not be desirable for you.
Mr Tan says that when it comes to gifting beneficiaries, it is not a case of one size fits all.
There may be a spouse, parent or child who is physically challenged, staying in a hospice or a home for the aged, or is mentally incapable of looking after himself or herself.
"You may wish to determine how much are his or her monthly needs and factor these expenses to be disbursed by the trustee every month from monies held in trust for this beneficiary with special needs.
"If there are minors who can inherit only when they reach the age of 21, or even later, if you so wish, their share of the estate will be held in trust for them by a trustee."
It is important to curtail the right of a trustee to invest the funds held in trust for these beneficiaries as you may not want them squandered through poor investment strategies. The children's education and special needs should be clearly spelt out and discretion given to the trustee to disburse funds.
5. INCLUDING A RESIDUARY CLAUSE
Providing for the people you care about
Ms Ang says it is important to include a "residuary clause" in the will. This means that after the gifts of money or personal items, a "residuary clause" is included to give the balance to certain beneficiaries.
For example, if you leave a named condominium to your son in your will but you later sell it and leave the sale proceeds in your bank account, the cash will not go to him in the absence of a residuary clause.
If there is no residuary clause, any asset not dealt with in your will will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act.
"I always strongly advise clients to put in a residuary clause, says Ms Ang.
Another reason is that you may acquire new assets subsequently along the way, which are not mentioned in the will.
"The residuary clause will take care of such new assets so that you need not keep changing your will every time you buy a new property or asset, she adds.
Of costs and time
The estimated time needed to obtain the grant of representation from the court will be longer in the absence of a will. Assuming it is a straightforward estate matter, the estimated time to obtain the Grant of Probate (where there is a will) is two to three months, compared with the four to five months to obtain the Letters of Administration, where there is no will, says Ms Ang Kim Lan of Goodwins Law Corporation. The time taken to distribute the estate depends on its size, efficiency of the exec- utors/administrators and whether there are child beneficiaries.
IF THERE IS NO WILL
The family needs to choose the administrators and the court must approve them. If minors are involved, the family must choose at least two administrators. If there are minors or if the estate is huge, sureties (guarantors) must be appointed in case the administrators do not distribute as required by law.
Legal costs start from about $3,500, in addition to disbursements, including court and commissioning fees, ranging from $800 to $1,500, says Ms Ang.
IF THERE IS A WILL
Legal costs start from $3,000, unless the matter is complex. There are dis- bursements as well, ranging from $800 to $1,200.
6. MAKING THE WILL PERSONAL TO YOU
Mr Tan suggests expressing your love for the ones you are leaving behind by telling them of your wish and aspirations for them.
"Tell them how much you love them. Include an audio message or a video, pen a poem and leave behind some jewellery and heirloom for them to remember you by."
Last but not least, it is important to state and identify confidential data, images and/or correspondence, including storage devices that you want destroyed.
7. REVIEWING YOUR WILL
Experts point out that marriages automatically revoke your will, unless it is stated that it was made in the knowledge of an impending marriage. However, a divorce or separation does not revoke it.
Circumstances where a review is necessary are when a person mentioned in the will changes his/ her name, when the executor/ guardian/trustee has to change and when the beneficiary or asset list changes.
Mr Singh points out: "The prudent rule is that you should review your will periodically and keep it updated to see if there is a need to rewrite it."
What happens if I die without making a will?
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on October 09, 2016, with the headline 'The will to leave a legacy'. Print Edition | Subscribe
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Home » Others » Designs » Top 10 Most Famous Structures in The World
Top 10 Most Famous Structures in The World
Architecture is such a field that you do not know in which section to categorize, it is not pure science but needs much art to be done. You can prepare yourself for an Architecture major through studying math and engineering drawing and expect to study a lot of History when you begin your degree. Do you see? It one of the best fields in which science and art go hand in hand. Doing Architecture you will study the great names in your field who were mostly artists. You will try to imitate their work and if you are lucky enough, you will make a field trip to see their art work. Most of the great architects all over the history of mankind were called the most creative. They have left us what we try to imitate and even compel in many cities around the world. The following list is the fruit of some genius minds. It goes around many cities in different countries. If you are well versed in Architecture you can guess which country is repeated in our list. Is it ancient or contemporary? Another country is considered a developing managed to be one of the top ten, which is it. If you can’t guess you still can read!
10 The Colosseum, Rome
The Colosseum is one of the early stadiums in the history of man which was built in Rome and was able to have up to 50 thousand spectator. The stadium used to held the shows for the Roman powerful gladiators.
9 Lloyds Building, London
Lloyds Building in London is the landmark of Lime Street. The post modern look of the building makes it win a prize as one of the best buildings in London. The year 1986 witnessed the last stages in the construction of this building that amazed every Londoner.
8 The Empire State Building, New York
The Empire State Building took about a year to be completed when construction started in 1930. It is a skyscraper that got the moniker of being one of the seven wonders of the world.
7 The St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow
Saint Basil’s Cathedral was built by architect Postnik Yakovlev who was known for his love of every shape that resembled onions and that’s why he made the Cathedral’s domes look like this
6 The Shard, London
Again, it seems that the English are making it toward the top. Though lacking the genius of historical monuments, their modern architecture is always a model to the world to follow. The Shard is a skyscraper that was built in 2012 under the supervision of designer Renzo Piano.
5 Pisa Leaning Tower, Italy
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a world famous tower that is expected to tumble in the following 100 years. The reason for the leaning in first place was the soft ground that could not bear the heaviness of the tower.
4 The American White House, Washington
The Aquia sandstone are the constituting blocks of the American White House. The idea and design of this mansion was James Hoban’s, an Irish architect who built the house for every American president passed and to come.
3 The Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Petronas Towers is a two copies of one design made by César Pelli. It was built around 1998 and became since one of the highly visited spots in Malaysia.
2 St Paul’s Cathedral, London
You have become by now familiar with the fact that London is our modern and contemporary Rome. St Paul’s Cathedral is the number one site for tourists to visit in the city of London. It was designed and planned by Sir Christopher Wren.
1 The One World Trade Center, New York
In New York, the One World Trade Center that was built in the year 2013 and designed by David Childs. It is a huge building with a storey of more than one hundred partition. As its name indicates, the One World Trade is built instead of the one exploded in 9/11.
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The role of an IXP in securing the UK's digital infrastructure
An interview with Kurtis Lindqvist, CMO, LINX
Friday 14 June 19
Total Telecom caught up with Kurtis Lindvist, CMO and Executive Director of the London Internet Exchange (LINX) ahead of Connected Britain 2019 to discuss the crucial role of an IXP in the UK's internet infrastructure. See below for the full interview. What do you see as the key opportunities for the UK resulting from the rollout of high-capacity digital infrastructure? The UK needs to stay at the front of digital infrastructure to remain a competitive market compared to other countries. A competitive market also drives innovation which can be beneficial for everyone. The technology needed to deliver ultrafast broadband, 4G and 5G services, is developing all the time and pilot schemes from networks and government will inevitably shape that direction to a degree…
Total Telecom caught up with Kurtis Lindvist, CMO and Executive Director of the London Internet Exchange (LINX) ahead of Connected Britain 2019 to discuss the crucial role of an IXP in the UK's internet infrastructure. See below for the full interview.
What do you see as the key opportunities for the UK resulting from the rollout of high-capacity digital infrastructure?
The UK needs to stay at the front of digital infrastructure to remain a competitive market compared to other countries. A competitive market also drives innovation which can be beneficial for everyone. The technology needed to deliver ultrafast broadband, 4G and 5G services, is developing all the time and pilot schemes from networks and government will inevitably shape that direction to a degree. Business and consumer needs are changing rapidly and expectations will likewise increase along with demand. At LINX we've definitely seen a change in the types of network that have joined us with more hybrid networks coming on board.
Enterprise is increasingly important with FinTech networks in particular looking to have more control of their data transfer. Digital media, legal services, and healthcare, are also markets on the rise, especially through cloud based systems.
Is the government doing enough to safeguard the UK's critical infrastructure?
Resilient and robust internet and telecom infrastructure is crucial in today's society, and the infrastructure is also fast becoming the next battle ground. The government together with the infrastructure owners needs to ensure not only that the UK infrastructure is protected against cyber attacks, but also that it is resilient against failures. LINX’s ethos is 'working for the good of the Internet' and that naturally extends to whole eco-system of the UK Internet from its infrastructure to government policy for network providers and end users.
There's always more that can be done and LINX has always been at the forefront by playing an active role with government, particularly on regulatory issues. LINX's public affairs team is well respected in the industry and it lobbies strongly and consistently on behalf of the membership to ensure our overriding ethos is adhered to.
What role does an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) play in ensuring the resiliency of the UK's Internet infrastructure?
LINX is a mutual not-for-profit organisation owned by its members. The LINX peering hub (IXP), is where ISPs, content and access providers, educational networks etc. can connect to and enables them to reach fellow networks in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. LINX operates four platforms throughout the UK allowing for a large diversity of interconnection options, creating additional resiliency in the network. At LINX we've long advocated the need for network resiliency which is why we have had a dual LAN infrastructure in London for more than a decade. Primarily it enables us to offer members a robust network service in the capital with a 99.999% uptime where traffic can be re-routed should any issues occur. Ultimately that means members can connect to our exchange with confidence knowing that they will have a service they can rely on.
Why should organisations that rely on connectivity join an IXP and peer?
Put simply peering is the exchange of data directly between Internet service providers, rather than via third parties. An Internet exchange is a hub that allows those network providers to peer that traffic data. LINX has a page on its website which includes a useful video from Euro-IX (the European Internet Exchange Association), explaining how peering makes up the Internet.
LINX's London network is one of the largest and most complex peering eco-systems in the world, which has developed and grown over a quarter of a century to include 16 London sites from multiple data centre partners. These include Telehouse in the Docklands area, Equinix in the West of London, plus Interxion and Digital Realty. London isn't the only place we operate, however, and we stress the importance of keeping traffic local. We have supported the UK Internet through our regional peering programme which has been in operation since 2012. We set up our first exchange outside London in Manchester in the same year, which now has over 100 connected networks and a traffic peak of 100 gigabits per second. We also have exchanges in central Scotland as well as the Welsh capital, Cardiff. These satellite exchanges reduce the need for traffic from those areas to trombone via London thus improving latency and giving end users a better network speed.
What are your key predictions for the next 12 months? What trends will most shape the industry?
As I've said the UK market must be ready to match the rapid pace of change. Migration of services to cloud providers, hybrid cloud solutions and IoT services will all create a demand for faster and resilient infrastructure. Digital transformation is changing business models in all industries, further increasing the reliability on the infrastructure and expectations on ubiquitous access. These are all developments that will shape and define the industry in the coming years, requiring strategies to cope with the accelerated change.
About Connected Britain
Kurtis will be joining a panel discussion at Connected Britain 2019 on "Improving the resiliency of digitally connected infrastructure". Held from the 18th-19th of June 2019, Connected Britain will bring together the key stake holders from the UK’s mobile and fixed line connectivity sectors. Click here for a full agenda and to find out how you can attend the event.
» The role of an IXP in securing the UK's digital infrastructure
Ground-breaking 5G-enabled tourism experience showcase at Digital Transformation World 2019
CCS welcomes opening up of 60 GHz mmWave unlicensed band for FWA
Epsilon appoints Lee Myall as chief commercial officer
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Infra dev't crucial to 4Ps
Philippine Information Agency
DAVAO CITY, July 08 (PIA)-Infrastructure development is a crucial component of social protection intervention particularly the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Luz Ilagan shared this findings during the recently held Mindanao-Visayas Feedback Forum on the United Nations Commission on Status of Women held at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU).
She referred this as one of the concerns that emerged in the session among women who attended the Bangkok Conference on Women, relayed during the March conference of the UN Conference on the Status of Women (UNCSW63 in New York.
"Kasi lumabas sa sharing (It came out during the sharing) of other countries that no matter how good the social protection is, if we do not have the infrastructure to support the program, to support the providers of the benefits, ma-failure din siya (it would still be a failure)," she said.
Citing as specific instance the 4Ps beneficiaries who, she noted, would not be able to line up during cash-out schedules if there would be no good roads and transportation means to take them to town centers where 4Ps cash grants are usually handed out by DSWD with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
She also cited instances where presence of Land Bank and other support agencies are needed in isolated far-flung areas. In these cases, she noted that roads and bridges are crucial to the status of accessibility to the area where 4Ps beneficiaries converge expecting their cash grants.
"Social protection with the policy intentions, goals in place, should be assisted also by infrastructure; Dapat matutukan para ma-access (there has to be focus on this to access) and it is not only access but also accessibility," she told participants to the feedback conference done to keep the women in the Visayas and Mindanao abreast of the issues and concerns raised, and commitments made by the Philippine delegation to the New York UN Conference on the Status of Women.
Ilagan was also concerned about DSWD service providers sent to far-flung and isolated areas who have to ride on a single motor called "habal-habal." Aside from facing possibilities of road accidents, they also are prone to threats of getting waylaid and robbed, she said.
In her presentation to the plenary on Social Protection during the New York UN CSW63, she described 4Ps as the flagship social protection intervention in the Philippines which "provides short-term income support to the poor and breaks the cycle of inter-generational poverty through investments in health and education."
Though not totally directed at women, 87% of the 4.2 million 4Ps grantees are women who are seen to substantially benefit from efforts to promote women empowerment and gender equality through the 4Ps Family Development Session, Ilagan noted.
"The program's spread to critical mass of women has a big potential for it to become a platform to reduce incidence of violence against women; present mechanisms to check the existence of gender-based violence within households," she said in her talk during the Un CSW63. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
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Hector Collazo
Hector Collazo is an alumni of the High School of Art & Design in New York City, which landed him his first comic’s related job as an intern in the 80’s. This led to a long career at Marvel Comics in their Art Department and in Editorial, where he worked for many years before pursuing freelance work full-time. During his two and a half decades long career, his work has been seen at Marvel, DC, various independent comic book companies and dozens of advertising campaigns. He is not only a phenomenal penciler, but a recognized Inker. You can find his work on milestone issues of “The Avengers,” “Iron Man,” “X-Men,” “The New Mutants,” “Spiderman,” “Spiderman 2099,” “Wolverine,” “The Punisher,” “Batman,” “Wonder Woman,” “JLA,” and much more.
In 2012, he will be featured as the Artist and co-Creator of “Crime-Buster Inc.” A creator owned project for Excel Comics, a brand new Publisher launching in 2012.
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CPB pre-clearance hours extended in Ireland
Posted on Jun 5, 2019 by Triton Staff in Cruising Grounds, News | 0 Comments
U.S. customs pre-clearance at Shannon Airport in Ireland will now be possible from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time as of June 1, after the director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance field office and the director of the Shannon Airport Authority signed a memorandum that extends the previous hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The memorandum also defines a cost-sharing agreement, and includes commitments from both parties toward future facility upgrades, according to a U.S. CBP press release.
The advance clearance service allows CBP officers to perform the same immigration, customs, and agriculture clearances typically done upon arrival in the U.S. before international travelers depart from certain foreign airports. Upon arriving in the U.S., travelers with pre-clearance may continue to their destination as though they had arrived on a domestic flight.
Andrew Murphy, managing director of the Shannon Airport Authority, seated left, and Clint Lamm, director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance field office, seated right, sign an agreement that extends pre-clearance hours at the airport. Standing, left to right, are Niall Maloney and Michael Balero. Photo provided/U.S. CBP
CBP has 15 air pre-clearance locations in Ireland, Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the United Arab Emirates, as well as several locations in Canada.
In 1986, Shannon Airport became the first airport in Europe to offer U.S. pre-clearance services for commercial carriers. In 2010, the airport became the first in the world to offer full pre-clearance for private aircraft, and today remains the only airport in North America, Europe and the Middle East providing this unique service.
Bradford’s Paul Engle retires
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Mitch and Rand's Relationship Status: It's Complicated
Each man has accused the other of hurting the country. Is it just a "family squabble?"
Sarah MimmsShane GoldmacherNational Journal
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 16: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (R) shakes hands with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (L) during a news conference May 16, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.National Journal
Mitch McConnell says Rand Paul is the best man in America to be commander in chief. Yet he also says Rand Paul's signature national security policy puts America in danger.
Tension between those two facts—and between these two powerful Kentucky Republicans—came to a head this weekend, as key espionage provisions of the Patriot Act expired amid strident efforts by Paul to blockade the wishes of his own party and patron.
By Monday, both sides were seeking to play down the dispute—with McConnell reiterating his presidential endorsement and Paul dubbing it just a "difference of opinion." But whether the split is merely a "family squabble," as Paul ally Jesse Benton put it, or a more significant break in their long and complicated relationship won't be clear until the next time their bond is tested by a divide on the Senate floor or the 2016 campaign trail.
During the fight, McConnell warned that those—like Paul—who oppose extending the Patriot Act are putting the U.S. in danger of future terrorist attacks; he accused opponents of "disarming [the country] unilaterally as our enemies grow more sophisticated and aggressive."
Paul, meanwhile, criticized "a flaw in government" for the delay in taking up legislation (a decision made by McConnell, and even questioned by Speaker John Boehner and his staff). "People wonder why Congress is so unpopular? It's 'cause we go from deadline to deadline and then it's, 'Hurry up, we have no time to debate; you just pass it as is,' " Paul said.
As tensions grew in a late Sunday night session, Paul blasted supporters of extending the bill for using "fear and intimidation tactics" to dismiss his point of view. The junior senator from Kentucky went as far as to say that "people here in town "¦ secretly want there to be an attack on the United States so they can blame it on me."
Adding to the strain, Paul and his team did not give the leadership much warning about his strategy, as he typically does given his close relationship with McConnell. Although Paul had indicated for weeks that he would oppose a continuation of the Patriot Act, it had not been clear that he would reject even a brief extension of a few days.
That led, in part, to the awkward scene a week ago of McConnell being rebuffed by the GOP-controlled Senate as he sought to extend the spying powers by as few as two days.
As the dust settled on Monday, both Kentuckians said their relationship had not suffered any significant damage.
McConnell said Monday that he still supports Paul for president, despite the fact that his policies, in the leader's terms, would put the United States in danger. McConnell's office would not clarify the disconnect between those positions, except to say that Paul still has his support for president.
And Paul, for his part, said that despite his disappointment in not getting any amendments on the USA Freedom Act, he and McConnell still have "a good relationship."
"I just had a very cordial conversation with [McConnell]," Paul said. "We're friends and colleagues, and we work well together. We have a difference of opinion on this. "¦ I've always found him to be very professional and not to hold a grudge and not to hold things personally."
Paul also stepped back from his comments suggesting that some would be pleased with a terror attack, saying that they were made "in the heat of the moment" and noting that he hadn't specified whether he was referring to any senators.
Paul spoke to reporters after a much more subdued back-and-forth with the Senate majority leader on Monday. McConnell asked for unanimous (meaning Paul's) consent to move forward and pass the bill Monday evening given that, as he put it, "There's no point in letting another day lapse when the endgame is clear to absolutely everyone. We know how this is going to end."
But Paul objected, pushing the vote back an additional 24 hours. That means another day in which the federal government will not be able to use its congressionally granted surveillance powers—powers that McConnell and other Republicans insist are necessary to keeping the country safe.
"It doesn't change a thing," said Benton, who is running the super PAC backing Paul's presidential bid and served as campaign manager for McConnell's 2014 reelection through the primary. "I would almost equate this is to a family squabble: You can get maddest at a family member and then get just right over it."
Things haven't always been so familial for McConnell and Paul. McConnell forcefully backed Paul's opponent in the Kentucky Senate primary in 2010, only to endorse Paul once he won the nomination. But that all changed when McConnell himself faced reelection last year and the two formed a politically beneficial bond. Paul endorsed McConnell early on in the race, helping to make an already long-shot primary opponent look unviable, and McConnell in turn backed Paul for the presidency.
Paul's communications director for the presidential campaign, Sergio Gor, noted that the arguments of the last week represent a policy disagreement, not a personal one, that "won't get in the middle of their friendship and mutual respect for each other."
"They both respect each other, they're legitimate friends, they have a legitimate partnership to help each other," Benton said. "Long-term going forward, this is just a minor bump in the road."
That bump in the road is much more significant between Paul and other members of the Republican conference, some of whom have spent the last week taking him to task, accusing the Kentuckian of fighting simply to raise money for his presidential campaign. "I think nobody questions my sincerity," Paul told reporters Monday, noting that he'd fought a similar battle in 2011.
The tension between Paul and his colleagues has muddled his message to some degree. Paul said Monday that he felt there was "still some misunderstanding about what I want." Members say he could have cleared that up at a conference luncheon on Sunday, but Paul said that the "tension on the floor" was such that he'd decided against it. "I didn't think it was going to be that collegial," he said.
Benton said Paul was comfortable with being unpopular in the halls of Senate. "Rand may be a minority amongst elected officials in the Congress, but if you looked at young people who are looking for a party official to call home "¦ this is a huge issue for them and they love this."
As for blocking McConnell's repeated requests to move forward, particularly now that the outcome is clear, Benton said: "They understand what this is. They understand this is not personal."
Sarah Mimms is a staff writer for National Journal Hotline.
Shane Goldmacher is a congressional correspondent for National Journal.
News and updates from the editors of National Journal magazine.
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Discover the astounding scientific and cultural achievements of the Abbasid Empire, from chemistry and mathematics to astronomy and philosophy.
Meet some of the scientists, philosophers, scholars, and travelers who changed the course of world history.
Learn about the texture of life in the Islamic Golden Age, from Baghdad's House of Wisdom to day-to-day domestic life.
Encounter the often-over-looked story one of the most important civilizations in world history, which is fascinating in its own right and also serves as an important bridge between antiquity and modernity.
The study of Western Civilization traditionally follows a well-known but incomplete arc: the grand achievements of Greece and Rome, several hundred years of the “Dark Ages,” and then the bright emergence of the European Renaissance. But most students of history have only a passing familiarity with a significant period known as the Islamic Golden Age in the Greater Middle East, from about 750 to 1258. Advancements in medicine, algebra and astronomy; influential figures like Avicenna and Averroes: these asides in the traditional story of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance only gloss the surface of one of the most important periods of world history.
It is nearly impossible to overstate the power and importance of this crucial 500-year history, headquartered in Baghdad but impacting the wider world. The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age is your opportunity to get to know the story and the accomplishments of this great period in human civilization. Taught by acclaimed lecturer Eamonn Gearon, these 24 remarkable lectures offer brilliant insights into an era too often overlooked by traditional history textbooks. The philosophers, scientists, inventors, and poets of the Abbasid Empire paved the way for the Renaissance and continue to affect our world today in surprising ways, and The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age brings the story to life in rich detail and will forever change your perspective on world history.
The Abbasid Empire, which ruled the Middle East as well as much of Northern Africa and Central Asia in much of the Middle Ages, is a vitally important bridge between the ancient and modern worlds. While much of Europe was quietly passing the time, the Abbasid Empire was an international, multicultural hub of trade, travel, education, art, science, and much more. Just a few of the many events and achievements of the era include:
Advancements in mathematics, including the birth of algebra and new insights into geometry and trigonometry.
The origins of the scientific method, along with the development of chemistry, physics, and astronomy as discrete fields of inquiry.
The invention of the modern “teaching hospital” and a medical encyclopedia that served Europe for the next 600 years.
The preservation and translation of the world’s great literature, from the Hadith (or sayings of Muhammad) to the master works of Greece and Rome.
Ontological philosophy that served future Jewish, Christian, and Muslim theologians concerned with the nature of God and the relationship between faith and reason.
Meet the People Who Revolutionized the World
While the period of the Islamic Golden Age was comparatively quiet in Europe, the Middle East was a multi-national, multicultural, cosmopolitan brew. The Abbasid Empire was a highly educated, highly mobile society, and you’ll follow in the footsteps of many travelers as they made their way around the empire, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. For instance, you’ll meet Ibn Battuta, who traveled more extensively than even Marco Polo and whose life gives us an amazing window into a society little studied in the West.
The epicenter of the age was Baghdad and its House of Wisdom, the world’s preeminent center for learning, translation, and original research at the time. Thanks to the House of Wisdom, scholars, scientists, artists, and other great thinkers flourished. Among them, you will learn about:
Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who established the House of Wisdom and was later immortalized in Arabian Nights
Al-Jahiz, an Arabic writer who discussed evolution a thousand years before Darwin
Iman al-Bukhari, who sifted through hundreds of thousands of alleged sayings from Muhammad and compiled the official hadith
Moses Maimonides, one of the greatest Talmudic scholars of all time
Al-Jazari, the so-called “father of robotics” who lived nearly fifteen hundred years before the computer age
Ibn Sina—also known as Avicenna—one of the world’s most influential thinkers and one of the founders of modern medicine
In studying these astonishing individuals, you’ll get a glimpse at another side of history that has been often overlooked. While many of these names may be unfamiliar to Western audiences, their impact continues into our world today—from the all the benefits of the Scientific Revolution down to the humble three-course meal popularized by a trendsetting cook and musician named Ziryab.
Unlock the Achievements of the Golden Age
Although the word wasn’t coined until much later, today we would call many of the influential figures of the Islamic Golden Age “scientists”—experimental thinkers who researched everything from the circumference of the Earth to the classifications of chemical compositions. This period saw the birth of the scientific method—including the origins of the “control” in an experiment—and ushered in transitions from what we would call astrology to astronomy, and from alchemy to chemistry.
In this course, you will witness the era’s many forays into mathematics and the sciences, theology and philosophy, agriculture and architecture. For example:
Meet al-Khwarizmi, who built on the works of the Greeks and Babylonians to formalize algebra as its own discipline.
Explore the world’s first teaching hospitals and encounter several foundational texts on medicine and medical ethics.
Find out why so many stars have Arabic names—and how Islamic astronomers challenged Ptolemy’s worldview.
Study with al-Haytham, whose revolutionary book on optics offered the first modern insight into how light and vision interact.
Discover the delightful inventions of the Banu Masa, including automatic drinking fountains and a steam-powered flute.
Tour the rich architecture of the Muslim world, from mosques to military arches to the hanging gardens of the Alhambra and the Taj Mahal.
Finally, no discussion of the Golden Age’s achievements would be complete without a mention of the tension between faith and reason. You’ll encounter several philosophers who wrestle with the age-old question and consider how they resolve the dilemma—and how thinkers such as Ibn Sina influenced later theologians in all three Abrahamic faiths.
A Sumptuous Feast of Insights
Your lecturer, Eamonn Gearon, takes you inside this magnificent era, and introduces you to the people and ideas that make the Islamic Golden Age great. He also steps back and asks a few fundamental questions about the story: When did the Golden Age begin? Why did it come to an end? And why has it not featured more prominently in the history textbooks?
As with his previous popular course, Turning Points in Middle Eastern History, Mr. Gearon is a remarkable storyteller. He expertly draws the links between Aristotle and Ibn Sina, and between Ibn Battuta and the Renaissance poet Petrarch, who, like many history students today, had little understanding of the Islamic Golden Age.
From Baghdad to Cairo, and Alexandria to Cordoba, the breadth of the Abbasid Empire is astounding. With a rich set design and authentic music recreated from the era, The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age immerses you in the fantastic world of Golden Age art, education, prosperity, and innovation—and gives you an incomparable understanding of one of the most vibrant and influential civilizations to ever grace the world stage.
From Camels to Stars in the Middle East
Step back to one of the most important yet overlooked periods in human history. Your tour of the Golden Age of Islamic Civilization begins with the who, what, why, where, when, and how of this great period and its impact. Explore the Abbasid Empire and see how it bridged the ancient world and the Renaissance. x
Ibn Battuta's Search for Knowledge
As a truly international, intercultural, interracial, and even intercontinental era, great travelers abound. Here, you will meet the Moroccan wayfarer Ibn Battuta and trace his journey across Northern Africa and the Middle East in the century after the Mongol sack of Baghdad. Gain new insights into the era-including whether it ever truly come to an end. x
Arabian Nights Caliph: Harun al-Rashid
Get to know the great Caliph Harun al-Rashid and Baghdad's House of Wisdom, which was the largest depository of books in the world at that time-and served as the engine that drove much of the Golden Age. Then shift your attention to the Arabian Nights collection of stories and legends to discover the source of al-Rashid's enduring fame. x
The Arab World's Greatest Writer: al-Jahiz
Considered by many scholars to be the finest writer of Arabic prose who ever lived, al-Jahiz was a brilliant stylist and author of more than 200 works, many of which survive today. In this lecture, you will uncover the origins of Arabic writing before turning to the life and works of al-Jahiz. x
Algebra, Algorithms, and al-Khwarizmi
The field of mathematics owes a tremendous debt to the Islamic Golden Age. Mathematicians such as Omar Khayyam (who is perhaps better known today as a poet) and al-Khwarizmi built on the work of Babylonian, Greek, and Indian mathematicians to systematize and explain algebra and symbolic algorithms. Survey this critical period of mathematics history. x
Baghdad's House of Wisdom
During the Abbasid Empire, Baghdad's House of Wisdom was the world's preeminent center for translation and original research. Find out why translation flourished in this era, and meet two of the Golden Age's most important translators: Hunayan Ibn Ishaq and al-Kindi. Then consider the intellectual legacy of the Arabic translation movement. x
Muhammad, the Hadith, and Imam Bukhari
Hadith" refers to the collected sayings of Muhammad outside of the Quran, all of which were gathered and sifted in an amazing feat of research by Iman al-Bukhari 200 years after Muhammad's death. Journey with al-Bukhari as he wrestles with the authenticity of hundreds of thousands of hadith-and how his work continues to impact Islam today." x
Interpreting and Defending the Quran
Delve into the realm of Quranic exegesis from the year 750 until about 1258. By considering the life of al-Tabari, one of the most important commentators in Islamic history, you will uncover the method and implications of tafsir, or exegesis. Your study will take you into controversial territory with a look at the infamous Satanic Verses. x
The Arab Herodotus: al-Masudi
Examine the life and times of one of the era's great travel writers. Following the journey of al-Masudi gives you a broad tour of the Islamic Golden Age and its history. After reviewing his biography and reflecting on his reasons for traveling, you will survey the many subjects he wrote about, from geography and geology to the strategy of backgammon. x
Cairo, al-Haytham, and the Book of Optics
Al-Haytham's seven-volume Book of Optics is one of the most fascinating works of scientific enquiry in the Golden Age. After reviewing the wider context of Cairo in the 10th century, delve into al-Haytham's experimentation with optics and the eye. Find out why many modern scholars have called him the world's first true scientist. x
Master Muslim Scholar: al-Biruni
This lecture introduces you to al-Biruni, a scholar and polymath who left a mark on physics, math, astronomy, geography, anthropology, history, and much more. Born in modern-day Uzbekistan, his pursuit of learning and dissemination of knowledge is unparalleled. See what made his scholastic approach and his research methodology so groundbreaking. x
Astronomy in the Islamic Golden Age
It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the Islamic Golden Age on the field of astronomy, as evidenced today by the number of stars with Arabic names. Focusing on the work of three Islamic astronomers, you'll explore the difference between astronomy and astrology, and unpack the many scientific advancements of the era. x
Medieval Muslim Medicine and Hospitals
Continue your study of the Golden Age's many scientific achievements with a look at the development of medicine and the rise of what today we would call the teaching hospital. Along the way, you will encounter one of the greatest medical minds of all time, Ibn Sina (better known in the West as Avicenna). x
Alchemistry and Chemistry in Early Baghdad
The word scientist" wasn't invented until the 19th century, but we would nonetheless apply the word to the many scientific thinkers of the Golden Age. Here, you'll witness the process of experimentation that was the start of the scientific method, and you'll see how scientists of the time advanced the field of chemistry." x
The Fertile Crescent, Water, and al-Jazari
The Middle East's river systems and irrigation methods were vital for the Abbasid Empire to thrive. After learning about the geography and agricultural techniques of the Golden Age, you'll turn your attention to the link between agriculture and politics-and round out your study of water with a look at some beautiful gardens. x
Jewish Scholar in Cairo: Moses Maimonides
The 12th century Jewish scholar Moses Maimonides offers great insight into the relationship among the three Abrahamic religions-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Delve into the politics of Cordoba in Andalusia, Spain, during the Golden Age, and then consider Maimonides' scholarship-including his philosophy about the relationship between faith and reason. x
The Banu Musa's Inventions and Automatons
From water fountains to self-playing musical instruments, the Golden Age saw an astounding amount of ingenuity. Take a look at a few of the era's most interesting and delightful inventions and automations, and then examine the life and work of al-Jazari, who today is considered the father of robotics."" x
Mosques, Architecture, and Gothic Revival
The development of architecture is a gradual process of shifting styles from one generation to the next, and the 500 years of the Islamic Golden Age gave the world striking advancements in both religious and military architecture. Here, tour the architecture of great mosques and arches, and see how the era influenced the later European Gothic Revival. x
Arabic Verse, Love Poetry, and Wine Songs
Examine the lives and work of three powerful poets: Abu Nuwas, Abu Tammam, and al-Mutanabbi. Reflect on the role of poetry in the Golden Age, including forms and subject matter, and examine the relationship between poetry and the multicultural world of the Abbasid Empire. x
Medieval Mastermind: Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
Ibn Sina-or Avicenna-is arguably the most important philosopher in Islamic history, as well as one of the most influential thinkers of all time. Find out what makes him such an important figure in the history of philosophy, and how he built on the tradition of Aristotle. Then shift your attention to his arguments in the realms of ontology and cosmology. x
Entertaining in the Time of the Abbasids
Shift your attention from the great minds of the Golden Age and find out how people of the time relaxed. As you learn about the era's food and music cultures, you'll uncover quite a few surprises-such as the origins of the traditional three-course meal. You'll also discover that celebrity cookbooks promoting the latest dietary fad are not a modern invention. x
Calligraphy, Carpets, and the Arabic Arts
We're all familiar with the geometric designs of the mythical flying carpets, but there is an astounding array of Islamic art from the period. Here is your chance to revel in the fine arts of the Islamic Golden Age, which in addition to geometric patterns, included stunning calligraphy, plant or vegetal designs, and figurative representations. x
When Did the Islamic Golden Age End?
Scholars conveniently cite the Mongolian sack of Baghdad in 1258 as the end of the Golden Age, but as you have seen in this course, the truth is more complex. Consider several reasons why the era came to an end-including outside invaders, shifting finances, changes in faith, and plain old human folly. x
Ibn Khaldun on the Rise and Fall of Empire
Conclude your survey of the Islamic Golden Age with a big-picture look at what followed, including the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the Black Death, and the emergence of gunpowder. While golden ages must inevitably subside, this final lecture gives you the opportunity to reflect on one of the most stunning eras in all of human history. x
List of Arabic Places and People
Photographs and illustrations
Eamonn Gearon is a Professorial Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, in Washington DC. He received his M.A. in Near and Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, and has also taught at the American University in Cairo. Mr. Gearon is the cofounder and managing director of The Siwa Group, a specialist...
(Set) Turning Points in Middle Eastern History & Turning Points in Modern History
(Set) Turning Points in Middle Eastern History & United States and the Middle East
(Set) Turning Points in Middle Eastern History & The Decisive Battles of World History
(Set) Turning Points in Middle Eastern History & Understanding Japan
(Set) Turning Points in Middle Eastern History & Customs of the World
(Set) A History Of India & Turning Points in Middle Eastern History
(Set) The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age & Turning Points in Middle Eastern History
(Set) The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age & United States and the Middle East
(Set) The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age & High Middle Ages
(Set) The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age & Understanding Japan
(Set) The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age & A History of India
(Set) Ancient Mesopotamia & Turning Points in Middle Eastern History
(Set) Thinking About Religion and Violence & Turning Points in Middle Eastern History
Renaissance & The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age
The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 60.
Rated 3 out of 5 by nimitz from Fascinating content but poor delivery Very disappointed.Fascinating information, but the delivery was so stilted and halting that it was hard for me to maintain interest in the audio version through any of the 30-minute lectures. It sounded like he was reading a wordy script. I have listened to at least 20 courses from the Teaching Company, and I will not purchase another course from this lecturer.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Finished from I asked whether I could listen to this as audio in my car. They said yes. It is not true
Rated 5 out of 5 by PFWJ from Excellent course Eamonn Gearon again introduces another culture to us—with excellent organization and delivery. We in the West have, too long, been inadequately aware of the achievements of other civilizations. This series makes one appreciate the high-minded intellectuals and scientists of former Islamic empires. Well delivered with contagious enthusiasm.
Rated 5 out of 5 by XenopnonAnabasis from Great presentation, interesting course I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the professor on walks and watching him on Great Courses Plus. Maybe it is the English accent. He has a wonderful manner of speaking, making even difficult or dry material interesting. I am going to get his other course. As with other courses, some lectures are better in video, especially if there are maps. But the audio is OK for this course.
Rated 5 out of 5 by frankophile from Eye-opening I had, of course, heard of the so-called "Islamic Golden Age," but didn't know much about it. To be honest, having received what was a typical Euro-centric education decades ago, during which I heard little or anything about Islamic history, I was a bit skeptical. But when I saw this course on sale, and that it got such great reviews, my curiosity was piqued. The reviews are right: this is a fantastic course. I had a moment of doubt at the start of the course when I saw that Professor Gearon does not have a PhD, as do most of the instructors of Teaching Company courses, but he turned out to be one of the most engaging of all the instructors I've watched or listened to in my many years of enjoying Teaching Company courses. There is no question that he is deeply knowledgeable about the subject. He is an excellent teacher, presenting material in a very natural way that brings to life the subjects about which he's speaking, making them more memorable. Professor Gearon gently uses repetition to impress upon learners the most important facts -- I noticed, for instance, that he was able to unobtrusively incorporate the traditional start and end dates of the Islamic Golden Age into each lecture. His personal observations, often informed by his own extensive experiences in the areas of the world he's discussing as well as by other historians of the period, are trenchant and thought-provoking. Professor Gearon makes frequent use of well-chosen primary source quotes (in translation) further add to our understanding of the period. I can't recommend this course highly enough. The very next thing I'm going to do is check out Professor Gearon's other Great Courses. Note that I took this as a video course. I found the visuals -- especially the maps and the images of the art of the period -- very helpful. I'm not sure how it would work as an audio-only course.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Dr Sam from Professor Gearon does it again This course is a great companion to "Turning Points in Middle Eastern History" It takes us through a part of history that many of us in the USA (and Europe) know, at best, only peripherally. The Golden Age covered roughly from the founding of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, around 750 C.E. to 1258, at the sack of Baghdad by the Mongol army of Hulagu, grandson of Genghis Khan. The course essentially revolves around the Abbasid Caliph al-Amun, who founded in Baghdad "The House of Wisdom". Scholars there became involved in translation of works from Persia, Greece, India, China, et al. The works had been bought, borrowed, or probably in some cases appropriated, and then translated into Arabic, the language of the Quran (originally passed down orally, then written down). The scholars had been sought throughout the world, from not just Islamic culture, but Jewish, Christian, Zorastrian, and other, scholars also. Not only were the texts translated, but became the bases for much of the original thought and continued increase in human knowledge, especially in science and mathematics. Why is this important? Many of the texts, in original language, were lost over the years; but the Islamic texts became widespread, and became known to European scholars (including at least one scholarly Pope). Most of the works of Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Aristophanes, for example, were available to European scholars to translate later into Latin, and became part of the Italian Renaissance. I heartily recommend this course, along with "Turning Points in Middle Eastern History, by the same lecturer. I also suggest a course which dovetails with these, "Barbarian Empires of the Steppes" for further enrichment.
Rated 5 out of 5 by ACaticha from Islamic Golden Age This course is easy to follow and interesting. Professor is one of the best I've watched.
Rated 5 out of 5 by kjacks1 from Great Islamic History! I brought this video over a week ago and I really enjoy it. It has enlightened me on the Islamic Golden Age and gives me a truly unique perspective on the fathers of Islam great achievements. The guidebook that comes with it is wonderful. I can easily follow the narrator and the pictures help me to get a better understand of the events.
The History and Achievements of the Islamic Golden Age Reviews - page 2
The Remarkable Science of Ancient Astronomy
Bradley E. Schaefer
Thinking about Religion and Violence
Jason C. Bivins
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The Habitat Bar - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Live Music Nightly at Ann Arbor's Habitat
Habitat Stories
Weber’s Restaurant
Weber’s Boutique Hotel
Habitat Rewards
Upcoming Events at The Habitat
Do you enjoy jazz?
Are you looking for a fun night out listening to jazz in Ann Arbor?
Haven’t been to our nightclub?
The Habitat showcases many different kinds of jazz bands from Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas, including some of these headliners:
The Frontmen: Their performances feature old school hip-hop, rock from every decade, Motown, funk, dance, and pop. Who else plays Notorious B.I.G., Snoop, Dr. Dre, and 2Pac in the same set list as Journey, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, and Led Zeppelin? Or how about Bruno Mars, Calvin Harris, The Weekend, and Rage Against the Machine in the same night with Prince, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder? The band’s foundation began with Chris Sink (drums and vocals), Joseph Wheeler (bass and vocals), and Dustin Beebe (guitar and vocals), childhood friends who have been making music together since they were kids. They function more like brothers than friends, and this is reflected in their chemistry and camaraderie on stage.
Cetan Clawson: Cetan is an American electric blues guitarist, and the band is a trio comprised of Cetan, Graham Low, and Steve Cherne. Entering the music industry in 2004 at age 16, Cetan worked with Eddie Kramer (Producer of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Beatles) and Chris Layton (Drummer for Eric Clapton) and released music for Fontana South through HMS, a local Detroit label. The trio has toured both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Dave Menzo: From deep tribal drum sounds, to soaring strings and vocals, and all the electrifying layers in between, musician and producer Dave Menzo’s psychedelic pop takes you on a sonic journey.
Slice: Slice, is a quartet of musicians playing “Classic Variety” music, as well as new music from, rock & roll, blues, rhythm & blues, Motown.
Nightly Cover-Free Live Music
The Habitat at Weber’s offers more than the simple bar experience – we offer style, comfort, and a diverse menu, making us one of Ann Arbor’s premier locations for drinks, dining, and live entertainment. Every evening we offer live music in an intimate atmosphere. Jazz, soul, rock – the bands that play at The Habitat offer something for everyone to enjoy – cover-free.
For some of the best jazz in Ann Arbor, come to The Habitat! No reservation necessary, we’re located at 3050 Jackson Rd. If you’re curious about the night’s entertainment lineup, give us a call at (734) 665-3636.
The Habitat Bar at Weber's 3050 Jackson Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 · (734)665-3636
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400 years later, natives who helped Pilgrims gain a voice
By William J. Kole The Associated Press
PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The seaside town where the Pilgrims came ashore in 1620 is gearing up for a 400th birthday bash, and everyone's invited — especially the native people whose ancestors wound up losing their land and lives.
Plymouth, Massachusetts, whose European settlers have come to symbolize American liberty and grit, will mark its quadricentennial in 2020 with a trans-Atlantic commemoration that will put Native Americans' unvarnished side of the story on full display.
"It's history. It happened," said Michele Pecoraro, executive director of Plymouth 400, Inc., a nonprofit group organizing yearlong events for the occasion. "We're not going to solve every problem and make everyone feel better. We just need to move the needle."
Organizers are understandably cautious this time around. When the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing was observed in 1970, state officials disinvited a leader of the Wampanoag Nation — the Native American tribe that helped the haggard newcomers survive their first bitter winter — after learning his speech would bemoan the disease, racism and oppression that followed the Pilgrims.
That triggered angry demonstrations from tribal members who staged a National Day of Mourning, a somber remembrance that indigenous New Englanders have observed on every Thanksgiving Day since.
This time, there's pressure to get it right, said Jim Peters, a Wampanoag who directs the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs.
"We'll be able to tell some stories of what happened to us — to delve back into our history and talk about it," Peters said. "Hopefully it will give us a chance to re-educate people and have a national discussion about how we should be treating each other."
The commemoration known as Plymouth 400 will feature events throughout 2020, including a maritime salute in Plymouth Harbor in June, an embarkation festival in September, and a week of ceremonies around Thanksgiving.
The Mayflower II , a replica of the ship that carried the settlers from Europe to the New World four centuries ago, will sail to Boston in the spring. That autumn, it will head to Provincetown, at the outermost tip of Cape Cod, where the Pilgrims initially landed before continuing on to Plymouth.
Events also are planned in Britain and in the Netherlands, where the Pilgrims spent 11 years in exile before making their perilous sea crossing.
But the emphasis is on highlighting the often-ignored history of the Wampanoag and poking holes in the false narrative that Pilgrims and Indians coexisted in peace and harmony.
An interactive exhibit now making the rounds describes how the Wampanoag were cheated and enslaved, and in August 2020 tribal members will guide visitors on a walk through Plymouth to point out and consecrate spots where their ancestors once trod.
There are also plans to invite relatives of the late Wampanoag elder Wamsutta "Frank" James to publicly read that speech he wasn't allowed to deliver in 1970 — an address that includes this passage: "We, the Wampanoag, welcomed you, the white man, with open arms, little knowing that it was the beginning of the end."
"The Pilgrims had hardly explored the shores of Cape Cod for four days before they had robbed the graves of my ancestors and stolen their corn and beans," the speech reads.
Dusty Rhodes, who chairs a separate state commission working to ensure the commemoration has a global profile, said she hopes it all helps make amends for centuries of "mishandled and misrepresented" history.
"The Pilgrims were the first immigrants," said Plymouth 400's Pecoraro. "We're in a place in this country where we need solidarity. We need to come together. We need to be talking about immigration and indigenous people."
Plymouth, nicknamed "America's Hometown," is sure to draw a crush of 2020 presidential candidates who will use its monuments as campaign backdrops. With President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II and other heads of state on the invitation list, state and federal authorities already are busy mapping out security plans.
Wampanoag tribal leader and activist Linda Coombs, who's helped plan the commemoration, is skeptical that anything meaningful will change for her people.
"It's a world stage, so we'll have more visibility than we've had in the past," she said. "We'll see if it's enough. It'll be a measuring stick for all that has to come afterward."
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2016 : Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller, whose signature victory was his come-from-behind win in the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, won 25 career PGA TOUR titles, which also included the 1976 British Open. He added three second-place finishes in the Masters Tournament, including 1975 when he dueled with Memorial Tournament Founder and Host Jack Nicklaus in a stirring back-nine finale that also featured another Ohio great, Tom Weiskopf.
A San Francisco native, Miller had a remarkable stretch of five victories in his first 11 starts of 1974 and he won 12 of his 25 titles in 1974-75. Framing that streak were his two major championship titles. At the 1973 U.S. Open, Miller trailed a quartet of players, including 1960 U.S. Open winner Arnold Palmer, by six shots going into the final round. He birdied his first four holes en route to a record 8-under-par 63 to beat John Schlee by one stroke and Weiskopf by two.
In the 1976 British Open at Royal Birkdale, Miller trailed a young Seve Ballesteros by two shots going into the final round but put together a brilliant 66 to win by six strokes.
His final win on the PGA TOUR came in 1994 at his favorite course, Pebble Beach.
Born on April 29, 1947, John Laurence Miller took up golf as a boy under the watchful eye of his father, Larry Miller. PGA teaching professional John Geertson was his first formal instructor, and Geertson, who also taught the late Tony Lema, shaped Miller's distinctive takeaway that featured an early wrist-cock. Miller received playing privileges at the Olympic Club in San Francisco in 1963, and the following year he won the U.S. Junior Amateur. As a 19-year-old amateur, he qualified for the 1966 U.S. Open at Olympic and finished in a tie for eighth place, thanks, in part, to his vast course knowledge.
Miller attended Brigham Young University starting in 1965, and after an All-American career and a win in the 1968 California State Amateur, he turned professional in 1969 at age 22. He nearly won the 1971 Masters, but he broke through later that year for his first title at the Southern Open Invitational, beating future PGA TOUR commissioner Deane Beman by five strokes.
After his victory at Oakmont, Miller partnered with Jack Nicklaus to win the 1973 World Cup. Ten years later, the duo would join forces again to win the 1983 Chrysler Team Championship. Miller also claimed wins on the European Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Not long into his remarkable career, Miller started a family with his wife Linda that grew to include six children, and his focus and priorities shifted to them. One son, Andy, went on to earn his PGA TOUR card in 2003.
After his brilliant playing career–one shortened in part because of a series of injuries–Miller embarked on a career as a television analyst in 1990. In the quarter-century since, Miller has emerged as a household name in golf television, with popularity fueled by keen insight, his humor and spontaneity, and plainspoken observations. With multiple Emmy nominations, Miller is, to this generation of fans, perhaps known as much or more for being one of golf’s most acclaimed analysts as he is for a career that culminated with induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1996.
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Home Andalucia Brussels to the rescue
Brussels to the rescue
2 Oct, 2007 @ 12:39
EC and UN to have final say as Junta expresses concerns over Sierra Nevada cable car
PLANS for the world’s longest cable car have received a massive setback after a senior regional government spokeswoman slammed the project as “unviable.”
Speaking in Granada, the Junta de Andalucía’s environment chief Fuensanta Coves also expressed concerns over the 19-kilometre-long project and the potentially detrimental impact it will have on the ecological balance of the protected Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park.
In a further blow to the development company behind the 150-million-euro plan, Coves also confirmed Brussels will have the final say if Granada is to be linked to the ski resort by teleferico (cable car).
In total, the Junta has three misgivings concerning the project. Officials believe:
The project will affect the sensitive ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park.
Construction of the cable car is not in the public interest, and
The project is not a viable transport alternative between Granada and the Pradollano ski resort.
The developers have until mid-October to present their response to the concerns. However, a spokesman for Sociedad Teleferico de Sierra Nevada, the consortium of companies behind the scheme, is confident they can convince the Junta that the doubts are unfounded.
“We will respond to the regional government satisfactorily. We will give all the explanations necessary for the teleferico to go ahead,” Juan Antonio López said.
If the plan is finally given the go ahead, work is scheduled to start next year and will be ready to take up to 3,600 passengers every hour to the ski resort by 2010.
López also scotched opponents’ claims that the cable car will lead to future macro-development projects close to the protected park.
“Rumours of the cable car being a Trojan horse for huge scale housing and golf course projects are lies,” he added.
Both the European Commission and the United Nations will have a large say in the final decision as to whether the teleferico goes ahead or not, the regional government has confirmed.
Besides being a National Park, the mountain range is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and part of Brussels’ Natura 2000 scheme, which seeks to protect the continent’s areas of environmental importance.
The Olive Press understands both the EC and UN will look unfavourably upon any project that is detrimental to their schemes.
Briton Csilla de Bagota, who is part of the group that has campaigned against the project, believes that with the involvement of the two international organisations the cable car is now a thing of the past.
“It all sounds very hopeful. I do not think the EC will ever allow a plan such as this.
“The common consensus among the opponents was that the developers were going to buy permission to build the cable car. But politicians in Brussels are not interested in money.
“Everyone I have spoken to is very happy at the news.”
Further celebrations
Environmentalists and opposition groups see this latest – and most severe – stumbling block for the developers as an important victory in their attempt to block the project.
Opponents believe the proposed cable car not only contravenes European directives on the environment, habitats and birds, but also it will invade the privacy of the residents of Monachil, Huetor and Cenes as it passes over head.
They not only question the financial viability of the 150-million-euro project – with even the development company stating the cable car will only operate in profit in 2040, but claim the sensitive ecosystem of the Sierra Nevada will be irrevocably damaged.
In a joint press conference, members of conservation group WWF, Ecologistas en Accion and SEO/Birdlife demanded the project be “finally laid to rest.”
“The misgivings of the regional government show that the cable car is unviable and should never be allowed to go ahead.
“The Sierra Nevada is an important area that has to be protected. Its ecosystem is important for birds, reptiles, mammals and flora,” WWF spokeswoman Cristina Rabadán said.
The protected mountain range is home to more than a quarter of Spain’s 8,000 species of flora and some, such as a type of sandwort (Arenaria nevadensis), are unique to the area.
There are also moves to re-introduce Europe’s largest bird of prey – the lammergeyer vulture – to the Sierra Nevada, from where it has been extinct since 1986.
“If the cable car goes ahead, it will seriously hamper our efforts to reintroduce the bird to one of its natural habitats.
“The cables would be a hazard for the birds. Eleven have been killed in northern Spain since 1979 after colliding with cables,” a spokesman for Fundacion Gypaetus, the group behind the re-introduction initiative, told the Olive Press recently.
Supporters of the plan, who include Granada’s Chamber of Commerce, claim the project is beneficial to the environment as it provides a greenhouse gas free alternative mode of transport to the mountain ski station.
During the winter months, the road between Granada and the resort is often choked with heavy traffic.
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Marbella mayor invites Barack Obama back to Costa del Sol to play golf
REVEALED: Marbella Senior Masters lineup sees tennis legends set to battle it out on Costa del Sol THIS SUMMER
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Every Member Of The Wahlberg Family's Net Worth
by J_Mazewski
The Wahlbergs are one of the most prominent families in Hollywood. Not only are many of the brothers known for their Hollywood work, but they are also part of a successful franchise, have starred in a reality television series, and also have many charitable foundations in their names. In other words, the Wahlbergs are strong force to be reckoned with. They get all of the respect they deserve because they sure know how to hustle in Hollywood and beyond.
With that said, here are 10 of the Wahlberg family members and their net worth. Check out our list below and let us know what you think!
10 Mark Wahlberg
It’s without a doubt that Mark Wahlberg is not only the richest member of the Wahlberg family, but he’s also one of the richest men in the entertainment industry, too. Not only is he a household name thanks to his acting career, but he’s also a director, too. Whenever he’s not in the gym working out, Mark is hard at work on his craft.
RELATED: Mark Wahlberg Reveals Insane Daily Schedule That Keeps Him Successful
With multiple successful projects and movies in Hollywood, his own burger chain and even a car dealership, Mark is worth an estimated $255 million and considered one of the richest actors in the world. There’s nothing funny about that.
9 Donnie Wahlberg
Donnie Wahlberg might not be on the same caliber as his brother Mark Wahlberg when it comes to his Hollywood career, but he is no New Kid on the Block, either. At least, not when it comes to his lengthy list of projects and work in the entertainment industry. The actor, singer, and producer has a net worth of about $20 million dollars. And yes, a good portion of this money comes from the New Kid on The Block reunion ticket sales and merchandise. In other words, Donnie Wahlberg and the rest of the NKOTB boys are still hanging tough.
8 Jenny McCarthy
Donnie Wahlberg tied the knot with model, former television personality and host, and celebrity mom Jenny McCarthy back in 2014. Even though she hasn’t added Wahlberg to her professional name, she is very much a part of the Wahlberg family.
RELATED: Bunny Undressed: 15 Things You Didn't Know About Jenny McCarthy
Being an actress, a model, and an author has certainly helped Jenny over the years. According to reports, her current estimated net worth is about $15 million. While this is a significant difference to her brother-in-law Mark’s net worth, Jenny is still considered as much of a household name as he is. She’s got her fans and her critics in the television world, too.
7 Rhea Durham
Rhea Durham is Mark Wahlberg’s very beautiful (and very rich) wife. The beautiful and very photogenic Rhea was born in July of 1978 in Lakeland, Florida. Before she met Mark, Rhea was a prominent figure in the fashion world as a model. She graced the covers of many fashion magazines such as Marie Claire and French Vogue, and let's not forget the American and British versions of Elle as well. These days she’s a stay at home mom who takes care of the couple’s five kids and helps support Mark on the red carpet during his movie premieres. Rhea is worth an estimated $20 million.
6 Paul Wahlberg
Paul Wahlberg is Mark and Donnie’s brother and one of the head chefs of the family’s burger franchise, Wahlburgers. He is very much involved in the business and has been featured in various media platforms and culinary shows.
RELATED: 20 Unusual Things Fans Would Be Surprised To Know About Mark Wahlberg
And while he might not have the same Hollywood presence as his famous brothers, he does make a pretty nice living if we do say so ourselves. Reports say that Paul Wahlberg is worth an estimated $1.5 million dollars. Sure, having a last name that is very recognizable sure does help, but we bet that Paul does put in a lot of work in his day job.
5 Robert Wahlberg
No, you are not seeing double here. Robert certainly does look like his brother Donnie at first glance, doesn’t he? And just like his brothers Donnie and Mark, Robert is also an actor too, although he doesn’t have the household name status like they do. Robert was married to his ex-wife Gina Santangelo. He has two children from his marriage but likes to keep his personal life very private and away from the celebrity spotlight. Reports say that Paul is worth about $1.5 million dollars. He’s not only a celebrity chef, but he’s also starred in movies such as Max Payne and The Happening.
4 Alma Wahlberg
Alma Wahlberg is the matriarch of the Wahlberg family and needless to say, the most important person in the clan. She is a mother to nine children and someone who has found love twice in her life. Together with her first husband Donald Wahlberg, they had six sons and three daughters together. She’s also a reality television star, having starred in the Wahlberg’s A&E show several years ago. She’s made many television appearances since. Alma is worth an estimated $1 million dollars. This is from her career as not only a reality television star, but also as a bank clerk and a nurse.
3 Tracey Wahlberg
While there sure are a lot of Wahlberg brothers that like to bask in the spotlight, let’s not forget that Mark Wahlberg has quite a few sisters, too. One of them is Tracey Wahlberg. One of the reasons why no one hears about Tracey is because she is someone who likes to keep her personal life under the radar. Unlike her brothers, she never followed in Mark or Donnie’s footsteps by choosing a career and life in Hollywood. Instead, she prefers things simple. She lives in Holbrook, Massachusetts and for the most part, doesn’t like to mingle with her celebrity brothers. Her net worth is currently unknown.
2 Jim Wahlberg
Jim Wahlberg is another Wahlberg family member that you may not have heard of but is very much involved in his family’s ties and businesses. Jim Wahlberg is very close with his brother Mark and works as the Executive Director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. He works closely with many charity organizations and does his part in helping kids in need back in his hometown of Dorchester. He also lives a quiet life at home with his wife of many years and kids in Florida. Jim’s net worth is about $1 million, although that figure has not been confirmed.
1 Ella Rae Wahlberg
Ella Rae Wahlberg is not a celebrity or Hollywood actress or model just yet, but seeing how she has her mother’s good looks and her father’s spunky attitude, there’s a good chance that this young girl might be churning out a career of her own one day.
NEXT: 20 Pics Of Celeb Dads With Their Kids That Totally Melt Our Heart
While her father Mark has said that he would rather see his kids pursue their educations than work in Hollywood, we have a feeling that we will be seeing much more of Ella Rae after she graduates from high school. Seeing how she still lives at home, her net worth is estimated to be under $1 million.
Tags: Mark Wahlberg
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Zurich Opera Orchestra Brass
admin March 17, 2019 Comments Off on Zurich Opera Orchestra Brass
The concert will present works by Brahms and Grieg with pianist Alessandro Taverna led by distinguished guest conductor Fabio Luisi, music director of the Zurich Opera and principal conductor of the.
Luisi, the Metropolitan Opera’s principal conductor and Zurich Opera’s general music director, is the newly named principal conductor of the 92-year-old Danish National Symphony Orchestra, which is.
In 1988, he served as music director of the highly acclaimed American-Soviet Youth Orchestra tour, and he has conducted and presented masterclasses at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw, the Zurich.
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Noseda will become general music director of the Zurich Opera in the 2021-22 season, adding to his position as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. (Claudia.
the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Met Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and recital tours with pianist Lars Vogt and violinist Pam Frank. Internationally, he worked with orchestras in London,
Gianandrea Noseda will be the next general music director of the Zurich Opera in the 2021-2022 season and will conduct. Luisi was recently announced as the next music director of the Dallas.
The city’s music establishments rebelled. During a performance of Cage’s "Europeras 1 and 2," the Zurich Opera orchestra displayed unprofessional foolishness. "The music of the future," Cage wrote in.
Born May 11th 1951 in Edinburgh. Attended George Watson’s College. I started attempting to compose when I was about 10, and wrote my first real, performable composition (an Oboe Sextet) at 12.
Discover the catalogue of Brilliant Classics. Get an exclusive preview of our latest boxsets, cd’s or series. Listen to the collection here.
Folklore Music in Switzerland. The area of traditional or folklore music in Switzerland encomprises alpine herdsmen’s and rural traditions (alphorn, yodeling, alpsegen, ländlermusik [rural dance music]) as well as music based on military traditions (brass bands).There are some regional preferences as well as a couple of instruments used only in particular regions.
Centro De Bellas Artes: Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, San Juan. Rémi Geniet in piano recital. More info Buy tickets
Recently, he made his Zurich Opera debut with Sweeney Todd. "There can be no conductor in the world with a more intimate understanding of this piece.[the] orchestra is so darn hot it’s.
90.9 WGUC, Cincinnati’s Classical Public Radio
Add Video Add Image The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; German: Wiener Philharmoniker), founded in 1842, is an orchestra regularly considered one of the finest in the world.[1][2][3] The Vienna Philharmonic is based in the Musikverein in Vienna. Its members are selected from the orchestra of the.
The DSO’s June announcement of Luisi as their next music director came only three months after his appearance with the orchestra. He is also currently the music director of both the Zurich Opera and.
An introduction to the Vocal & Opera Faculty. Head of Vocal & Opera, Nicholas Sears, joins soprano Gemma Summerfield and baritone Huw Montague Rendall to.
Dazzling and moving a Zurich. its stupendous brass, woodwind and string sections. It also let everyone know that from the 2010/2011 season, the orchestra’s 10th music director will be the longtime.
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Levine was fired by the Opera in March. Luisi is currently Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, General Music Director of the Zurich Opera and Music Director of Maggio.
With its extended scenes focusing on the characters’ psychological states, the opera. orchestra under guest conductor Francesco Ivan Ciampa provided rhythmically flexible but at times coarse.
Carlos Kleiber (3 July 1930 – 13 July 2004) was a German-born Austrian conductor who is widely regarded as being among the greatest conductors of the 20th century.
Shane Brennan Trumpet Shane Brennan currently works as a trumpet soloist, chamber, orchestral and session musician. As a soloist, Shane made his international concerto debut in Switzerland, where he performed Vivaldi’s Concerto For Two Trumpets with The Zurich Chamber Orchestra.
Luisi, 59, is currently music director of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Opera and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, an opera festival in Florence, Italy. Luisi is primarily known for his.
All events carry a $10 (very strongly) suggested donation, unless otherwise noted please, make sure to bring a valid ID. January
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Fabio Luisi, the music director of the Zurich Opera and principal conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, has a new gig: On Monday, he will be named principal conductor of the Danish National Symphony.
Keri-Lynn Wilson. Formerly chief conductor of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the 50-year-old Canadian makes guest appearances at the English National Opera, the Zurich Opera, the Bavarian State.
Older Versions Of Opera For Winxp As well as the cookie cutter, the new version of Opera also includes proper homescreen shortcuts, so you can put a direct link to your favourite site on your Android home screen, rather than just an. ZDNet’s technology experts deliver the best tech news and analysis on the latest issues and events in IT for
One year into the conductor’s tenure as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra, Gary Ginstling. summer that the conductor will take over as music director of the Zurich Opera in.
With its brass. Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, United Kingdom, and principal artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, has a distinguished career that includes a notable, 14-year tenure.
Musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This website has two listings of musicians of the great Boston Symphony Orchestra: – A listing of the Principal Musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra with short biographical notes and photographs. To go to this list of the Principal BSO musicians, click: Principal Musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
412.434.7222 x210 | [email protected] James Gourlay was born in Scotland, where, at the age of ten, he was "volunteered" to play in his school brass band. Being the tallest in class, he was serendipitously given the tuba, an instrument he loves and continues to promote all over the world.
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TTC transit chief Gary Webster may not be only one to lose job: Di Giorgio
By Brendan KennedyStaff Reporter
Sun., Feb. 19, 2012timer4 min. read
One of five city councillors behind the expected firing of the city’s transit chief suggested Sunday that more senior transit managers may lose their jobs for not “respecting the office of the mayor.”
“We will discuss whether removing some managers — and it may in fact be three, four, five — we may discuss whether that’s the way to go,” said Frank Di Giorgio, a TTC commissioner allied with Mayor Rob Ford, and one of the councillors who called a special TTC board meeting for Tuesday where it is believed chief general manager Gary Webster will be sacked.
Di Giorgio said the responsibility of the city’s bureaucracy is to follow the will of the mayor and achieve the objectives set out by his mandate, which TTC managers have failed to do.
“We’re trying to eliminate some of the problems that surfaced over the last month that should not have surfaced and need not have surfaced.”
The city’s uncertain transit future has been especially tumultuous as of late, as Ford’s apparent unwillingness to compromise his underground-only transit vision has left him struggling to get that vision on track.
The mayor was sidelined earlier this month when city council voted 25-18 in favour of a competing transit plan — one that essentially restored former mayor David Miller’s light-rail plan — championed by former Ford ally TTC chair Karen Stintz.
Ford dismissed council’s decision as “irrelevant” and, along with his executive committee, is continuing to pursue his original plans.
Webster, a civil engineer who has worked his entire 35-year career at the TTC, has long drawn the ire of the Ford administration for his refusal to build an operational case for extending the subway on Sheppard Ave. E. or burying the entirety of the Eglinton Ave. LRT.
It is well known at city hall that Stintz had been protecting Webster from Ford. Now that Stintz is no longer in the mayor’s favour, Webster is exposed.
The five councillors who signed the petition for the special meeting — Norm Kelly, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Vincent Crisanti, Cesar Palacio and Di Giorgio — represent a majority of votes on the nine-member committee, so they will be able to oust Webster if they choose.
Since he has come under fire, Webster has been praised by his industry colleagues and several councillors as a diligent professional who has simply put forward the best evidence for the city’s transit future.
Di Giorgio said Webster’s integrity and job performance are not what is at issue.
“The issue is a matter of — in my view — whether a bureaucrat has the responsibility to undertake a task as mandated by the people and reflected in the mayor’s mandate.”
Di Giorgio lamented the “one-sided” and “one-dimensional” information contained in reports from senior transit staff, which have prioritized light-rail and contradicted the mayor’s vision for transit expansion in the city.
“We basically accept as gospel what’s put before us all the time as the best way, as the only way,” Di Giorgio said. “I think we should start acknowledging that there are other viewpoints out there, which may have benefits that we’re not aware of.”
Councillor John Parker, the deputy speaker who usually supports the mayor but has recently opposed him on transit, appeared to be comparing Webster’s pending fate to the assassination of Julius Caesar in a series of Twitter posts over the weekend.
“Woe to the hands that shed this costly blood,” Parker wrote, quoting Mark Antony in Act III of the Shakespearean tragedy. “They that have done this deed are honourable; what private griefs they have, alas I know not, that made them do it.”
Parker — who is also on the TTC board — was coy when asked directly for the meaning of his tweets. But he was unequivocal in his support for Webster, saying it would be a “serious mistake” to fire him.
“Gary is a solid, competent professional who has been given strong leadership to the TTC and good advice as to its future priorities.”
The future of the TTC board as a whole is also in doubt after a motion was approved last week by Ford’s executive committee to change the board’s makeup “to a hybrid, skills-based” committee of four councillors and five citizens, rather than the current nine councillors.
Di Giorgio said the board needs to be “disbanded” and a new one should include professionals with “alternate points of view.”
Critics say the changes would allow Ford to appoint like-minded commissioners to do his bidding and plan the city’s transit future without council’s input. The item will be voted on by council on March 5.
Since it is a personnel matter, Tuesday’s special TTC board meeting is expected to be conducted mostly behind closed doors.
TTC spokesman Brad Ross said Webster would not be making any comment ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. He added that Webster “remains committed to leading the TTC and acting in its best interest for the system’s 1.6 million daily customers and 12,000 employees.”
With files from Tess Kalinowski
Karen Stintz
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Friday's Early Winners & Losers
Verigy swings to a quarterly profit, and shares jump.
Sarina Penn
Verigy was surging more than 22% in extended trading Thursday on mounting profits for the quarter ended Jan. 31. The Singapore-based semiconductor-equipment company said non-GAAP income came to $16 million, or 28 cents a share, up year over year from $6 million, or 12 cents a share. Revenue slipped 3% to $165 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were seeking 20 cents a share on a top line of $154.8 million.
Looking ahead, revenue should sequentially rise to a minimum of $23.5 million above estimates -- $170 million to $180 million. Non-GAAP second-quarter income is projected at 32 cents to 37 cents a share, also well above the 21-cents-a-share consensus. Shares were rising $4.17 to $23.05.
Restaurant chain Red Robin Gourmet Burgers ( RRGB - Get Report) was leaping on adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $8.1 million, or 43 cents a share (including stock-option expenses), up from last year's $5.5 million, or 33 cents a share. The Street was seeking 35 cents a share. Sales reached $163.8 million, a 40.6% rise from last year that tops the mean by $7.1 million. Comparable sales were up a fraction of a percent in company restaurants: 1.5% in U.S. franchises and 5.1% in Canadian franchises.
The Colorado-based company expects 2007 income to range from $1.75 to $1.85 a share on sales between $715 million to $735 million. Analysts are calling for $1.84 a share on revenue of $716 million. Shares were up $3.89, or 10.2%, to $42.05.
Tekelec said it earned $7.2 million from continuing operations, or a dime a share, which skids past the fourth-quarter consensus by 7 cents a share. The Morrisville, N.C.-based telecom-product maker's sales climbed 11% to $154.5 million, also well above the $138.6 million target. Shares were gaining 40 cents, or 2.7%, to $15.30.
Cerus ( CERS - Get Report) swung to a healthy $3 million, or dime-a-share, profit in the fourth quarter from last year's loss of $3.9 million, or 17 cents a share. The Concord, Calif., biotech smashed estimates, which had the company sinking to an even heavier per-share loss of 22 cents. Revenue was better than expected as well, more than doubling from a year ago to $14.1 million and squelching the $6 million projection. Shares were adding 44 cents, or 7.7%, to $6.18.
Dynamic Materials ( BOOM - Get Report) also blasted apart estimates, reporting nearly doubled per-share profit of 53 cents (minus a penny a share from discontinued operations), or $6.6 million, which easily topped the 44-cent mean target. The Boulder, Colo., maker of explosion-welded clad metal plates said gross margins were up 9 points year over year to 41%, and revenue soared 54% to $35.7 million. The stock was gaining $1.71, or 5%, to $36.20.
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts ( ACMR - Get Report) said its fourth-quarter profit sank to $6.6 million, or 33 cents a share, including 5 cents' worth of one-off items and a penny a share in stock-option costs. Last year, the company's bottom line totaled $10.7 million, or 53 cents a share. Total sales grew 5% from a year ago to $197.8 million, though same-store revenue dropped 3%. Analysts had the Berlin, N.J., retailer earning 67 cents a share on $211.3 million in sales. Shares were plunging $1.68, or 8.2%, to $18.75.
Banana distributor Chiquita ( CQB) declined on a loss of $41.9 million, or 99 cents a share, more than double last year loss, missed the Street mean by 52 cents a share. Sales were up a bit, to $1.1 billion from $999.1 million a year ago, and came in above the $1 billion average projection.
Chief Executive Officer Fernando Aguirre blamed the losses on "competitive pressures and regulatory changes in the European banana market" and, with regard to the company's other produce divisions, "lingering ... concerns about the safety of fresh spinach and packaged salads" in the U.S. The Cincinnati-based company was off by 87 cents, or 5.2%, to $15.75.
Midway Games slumped on an announcement of narrowed losses that missed Wall Street expectations. The video-game developer lost only $2 million in the fourth quarter, or 2 cents a share, compared with a year-ago hemorrhage of $37.8 million, or 42 cents a share. Analysts, however, were seeking penny-a-share profits. The Chicago-based company also reported 38.8% higher sales year over year to $96.9 million -- nearly $11 million above targets. But shares were losing 36 cents, or 4.7%, to $7.33.
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Homes in Point Loma & Ocean Beach
Point Loma is a seaside community within the city of San Diego, California. Geographically it is a hilly peninsula that is bordered on the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, the east by the San Diego Bay and Old Town, and the north by the San Diego River.
Together with the Silver Strand / Coronado peninsula, the Point Loma peninsula defines San Diego Bay and separates it from the Pacific Ocean. The term "Point Loma" is used to describe both the neighborhood and the peninsula.
Ocean Beach lies on the Pacific Ocean at the estuary of the San Diego River, at the western terminus of Interstate 8. Located about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Downtown San Diego, it sits south of Mission Bay and Mission Beach and directly north of Point Loma. The O.B. community planning area comprises about 1 square mile (742 acres), bounded on the north by the San Diego River, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Froude St., Seaside St. and West Point Loma Boulevard, and on the south by Adair Street
Type AllAgricultureApartmentBoat SlipBusinessCabinCommercial/ResidentialCondominiumDuplexFarmHigh Tech-FlexHotel/MotelIndustrialLoftManufactured HomeManufactured On LandMixed UseMobile HomeMulti FamilyOfficeOwn Your OwnQuadruplexRanchRetailSingle Family ResidenceSpecialtyStock CooperativeStudioTimeshareTownhouseTriplexUnimproved LandWarehouseWater Position With LandWater Position Without Land
Beds Any0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15+16+17+18+20+50+9999+
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UK University Fair Manchester Seminars
Learn more about visa applications, personal statement
writing and IELTS with our busy seminar programme.
Manchester Seminars
The UK University Fair Manchester host a number of seminars designed to help international students learn as much as possible about studying in the UK. The below schedule is from our last Manchester Fair, check back soon for the new seminar programme.
UCAS and applying for undergraduate study
Learn about UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, who provide application services across a range of subject areas and modes of study in the UK. To study in the UK you must apply through UCAS and we will show you how.
Speaker: Robert Money, SI-UK
Robert Money attended Eton College before going on to Oxford to read Classics, where he graduated with an MA. Having subsequently studied law at Middle Temple he worked for Barclays Bank and a number of education related companies before joining SI-UK.
He now deals with public schools and specialises in preparing high-calibre candidates for entry into Oxford and Cambridge, as well as providing a general service helping international students get into Universities and MBA providers across the UK.
Five reason to study Engineering at the University Of Sheffield
Sheffield has been at the heart of engineering innovation since the industrial revolution, and it continues to build on this proud heritage to match the ambitions of its 21st century students. Learn more about studying engineering in the Steel City with this specially presented seminar.
Speaker: Dr Russell Goodall, University of Sheffield
Russell Goodall joined the Department in 2008 from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland. He obtained his MEng degree from Oxford University and his PhD from the University of Cambridge, before carrying out postdoctoral research at EPFL. He has extensive experience in the science of porous metals, and also works on alloy development, and the processing and thermal and mechanical characterisation of a range of new materials.
How to write a powerful personal statement
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Applying for postgraduate study
If you are an undergraduate student who is interested in studying at postgraduate level, then do not miss out as we run through application requirements and scholarship and fee information to study a Masters in the UK.
Hints and tips on the IELTS test
To study at a UK university, a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 is generally needed. In our first IELTS seminar of the day, learn more about the IELTS test and how you can improve your IELTS score.
Speaker: Leonardo Duque, SI-UK
Leonardo Duque is a British Council accredited Managing Education Consultant at SI-UK, with over four years experience recruiting students from the Americas and EU.
Originally from Colombia, Leonardo studied International Business and Relations and moved to the UK over ten years ago. He has since completed an MSc in Strategic Marketing at Kingston University and is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Student Visa application process
Studying in the UK as an international student means securing a Tier 4 visa from the Home Office. This seminar will go through the documents required to successfully apply and how much it will cost.
Speakers: Beatrice Huang, SI-UK
After graduating from the University of Birmingham with an MA, Beatrice joined SI-UK London in 2013 and was promoted to Manchester office manager in 2017. She speaks fluent English and Mandarin, holds the British Council Agents Training Certificate and has counselled thousands of international students about studying in the UK.
An introduction to studying at the University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group, and is the largest single-site university in the UK. It is ranked 38th in the world, seventh in Europe and fifth in the UK, and you can learn more about undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as life in general at the University, in this special seminar.
Speaker: University of Manchester
Applying to top UK universities
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International Message of Dr. Kapila Vatsayayan – 21st March 2003
The world of puppetry has the innocence of the child, pure and fresh, and the wisdom of the sage. For me it has always held a special fascination as a unique artistic manifestation, of the simple and the complex, the liminal space of the mysterious and the imaginative. Through the very instrumentality of distancing from real time and space, it brings home the essence of the natural and real. The diversity of puppet theatre, as also its pervasiveness in all cultures and civilisations at different periods of human history, ranging from the remote past to the most contemporary and avant garde, makes it a most powerful medium of cross-cultural, multi-dimensional communication.
Over these decades UNIMA has played an outstanding role through its various chapters in creating a global community of artists who celebrate cultural diversity and distinctiveness. In a world where inter-connectivity is crucial, it is equally crucial to sustain innumerable forms of this art which sometimes face the danger of extinction.
I am particularly happy that the first World Puppetry Day is being organised in India, the home of this art from times immemorial. I am also happy that UNIMA is dedicating its conference to the memory of that great, towering figure, the late Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya. She rejuvenated many forms of the Indian arts, particularly puppetry.
I would like to felicitate all members of UNIMA for enriching life in such deeply moving and joyful ways.
Nueva Delhi, 2003
Dr. Kapila Vatsayayan
Author, researcher, editor, performer, Dr Kapila Vatsyayan has dedicated her life’s energy, her expertise and her research to the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage in Asia and particularly in India. Puppetry has benefited from her commitment, her knowledge and her backing. She conceived and founded the National Centre for Arts Indira Gandhi, of which she was the Academic Director. Advisor to the Indian Government for thirty years, she has been acknowledged and honoured by numerous academies, amongst which the Sangect Natak Academy, the National Academy for Visual Arts and Fine Arts and the French Academy for the Study of Asian Civilisations figure. She has written and published more than 15 books, certain being of international renown .Her interests lie in vast spheres: scenic arts, literature, philosophy, anthropology, etc
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Our Interest Sectors
Dr. Anand Lakshman: From Medical School to Entrepreneurship
Does the doctor always know best? Dr. Anand Lakshman, CEO and founder of Address Health, believes that this is the case. “Look at the way medical school education is—it’s different from other graduate school education,” he explains. “It’s the only course in which you interact with real people. Medicine teaches you that if you follow a certain path of logic, if there are certain symptoms and signs, you can arrive at a rational conclusion. What is business all about? You look at your environment and everything it’s throwing at you, and make a rational choice. Medicine also says: you’ve made all your choices but still have no answers. You have to take risks. If you don’t take risks you can’t save lives. Risk taking is such a huge part of entrepreneurship and business. Communicating with people, thinking rationally—all of this is ingrained into medical education.” Dr. Lakshman used his propensity towards risk to introduce Address Health into India’s highly unorganized primary healthcare sector. Address Health is India’s first branded chain of child health clinics and provides pediatric, preventive dentistry, eye-care and nutrition services to its patients.
Establishing a Vision Early in Your Career
Unlike other doctors, however, Dr. Lakshman’s desire to improve the medical landscape in India culminated before his entrance to medical school. Instead of approaching his graduate education as a gateway to the expected stipulations of a medical career, he explains that he used the skills that he picked up to approach the world of entrepreneurship. “When I went to medical school, we would be ragged,” he reminisces. “My senior lined me up and asked, ‘Why did you join medical school?’ He probably expected me to say that I wanted to become an ophthalmologist or a cardiologist. I said that I joined because I wanted to work for UNICEF. I didn’t get ragged after that.
Applying medical Knowledge to Entrepreneurship
What sets Dr. Lakshman apart from other doctors? “I think it’s about this issue of being wedded to your knowledge,” he explains. “Unfortunately, as doctors, we think that our knowledge can’t be used in any other place. If you think ‘I know more about this than anyone else’, but you’re in a consumer facing business, it’ll never work. The consumer teaches you what is right. I think we take a lot of risks when we’re treating a patient. We make life or death choices. With that kind of decision-making, we’re used to our feet and hands trembling. There is no reason a doctor can’t become an entrepreneur.”
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Unity College receives grant to cut energy costs
Home / News / Unity College receives grant to cut energy costs
Grants to Green Maine’s $39,520 will fund upgrades at the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts (UCCPA).
Unity College recently received a $39,520 grant from Grants to Green Maine to upgrade the energy system and controls at the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts.
The UCCPA plays and important cultural and economic role in rural central Maine, and is an integral part of the campus identity. The grant will enable the college to replace outdated air conditioning units with air source heat pumps, replace incandescent and CFL lighting, insulate the attic to R-70, and update monitoring and control equipment to enable remote energy systems regulation from any web-linked computer. The project will cut energy use at the facility, institutional operating costs, and fossil fuel consumption to address climate change.
“This project is central to the mission of America’s Environmental College and to our core academic focus on sustainability,” Unity College President Dr. Stephen Mulkey said. “Moreover, our strategic plan calls for the college to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2019 as our part of combating climate change. This will help make that goal a reality, enhancing Unity College’s emerging national brand in sustainability science.”
Unity College was one of only two organizations to receive the inaugural implementation grant from Grants to Green Maine, a partnership between the Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center, Efficiency Maine and the Maine Community Foundation; funded by Kendeda Fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Fourteen smaller audit grants were awarded statewide for energy efficiency audits. Unity College is renowned as a leader in sustainability, and this implementation grant will be used as a model for future rounds.
“We are extremely pleased to be one of the first recipients of the Grants to Green Maine grant,” Executive Vice President and Liaison to the Board of Trustees Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “The successful completion of this project will greatly lower the cost of operations at the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts, along with a host of other academic and social benefits.”
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NASA just found out what these dark streaks on Mars are, and it's game-changing.
Erin Canty
Over the weekend, NASA teased some very big news.
More specifically, all weekend long, the agency teased that a major Mars mystery was solved.
This morning's press conference, broadcast live from NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on NASA Television and on the agency's website, did not disappoint.
A self-portrait of the Curiosity Mars rover. Photo by NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.
At 11:30 a.m. Sept. 28, 2015, NASA announced that, for the first time, they have evidence of flowing water on Mars.
They're called Recurring Slope Lineae, or RSL. They appear as dark streaks that begin in late spring, grow in the summer, and disappear by fall. Until now, NASA researchers couldn't explain what the streaks were.
Turns out, the streaks are evidence of salty water intermittently moving across the surface of the planet.
These dark, narrow streaks were formed by flowing water on Mars. Photo by NASA/JPL/University of Arizona.
But this isn't the first time water's been found on Mars.
(Wait, what?) Yep. Researchers discovered water frozen in small, salty puddles on the planet's surface at night and permafrost at Mars' poles.
Permafrost on the surface of Mars. Exciting. Photo by NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.
But this latest announcement and discovery marks the first time that flowing water has been found on the incredibly cold, harsh planet.
Evidence of moving water could be a huge step forward in the search for life, and it opens up possibilities when it comes to the red planet's ability to sustain human life.
So ... are we sending humans to Mars? Not just yet.
Photo by NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell University/Arizona State University.
Even with the discovery of moving water, inhabiting the red planet — or even sending humans for a visit — is still a long way off. (Sorry, Matt Damon).
So for now, NASA and other international space agencies are conducting dry runs here on Earth.
Last October, six strangers (three men and three women) were picked to live in a dome on a Hawaiian volcano for eight months to simulate a stay on Mars. NASA backed the study to see if people isolated from civilization can work together and get along. It was essentially "Real World: Red Planet."
Even with successful simulations, NASA estimates the first human-manned mission to Mars won't happen until the 2030s.
That may seem like a long time to wait, especially after today's announcement. But as Dr. Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA, told the crowd at today's announcement, it's all about safety.
"NASA's approach to exploration is not 'Star Trek.' It's not 'go where no man has gone before,'" he said. "It's really a very methodical approach for which we learn everything about the environment that we're going to subject humans to that we possibly can. ... And I anticipate continuing to do that for many years before humans even get in the vicinity of Mars."
But! This is a major breakthrough, and it lays the groundwork for many missions to come.
While you can't drink the water on Mars (it's much too salty) and you can't grow crops with it (the atmosphere on Mars is too thin), finding moving water on Mars is truly unprecedented and opens a lot of doors for exciting missions and exploration to come.
As astronaut John Grunsfeld said at this morning's announcement, "We are on a journey to Mars, and science is leading the way."
Photo by NASA/Greg Shirah.
research science and technology space
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These colorful 3DS XL systems are heading to North America starting next week
By Stephany Nunneley, Wednesday, 10 September 2014 18:36 GMT
Three of those colorful 3DS XL systems Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct for Japan are heading west.
The systems consist of a Super Smash Bros. Edition, NES Edition and the Persona Q Edition. Each will run you $199.99.
Super Smash Bros. Edition in red and blue systems go on sale at retailers in North America on September 19 – just in time for the October 3 launch of the Super Smash Bros. 3DS
The NES Edition is a GameStop exclusive and goes on sale October 10 and is modeled after Nintendo’s NES controller and the box looks like an NES system.
Finally, there’s the Persona Q Edition which will launch alongside Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth on November 25. Like the NES 3DS XL, the system will be a GameStop exclusive.
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Trump commission wants to publish voter details, Iraqi troops recapture ISIS stronghold in Mosul, House passes two anti-immigration bills, and more.
Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images
Trump Commission Wants to Publish Voter Details
President Trump's Commission on Election Integrity has asked all 50 states for sensitive information on registered voters, including partial Social Security numbers, as part of an investigation into alleged voter fraud. In a letter obtained by VICE News, the commission states the information will be made public. Officials from multiple states, including California and Virginia, have said they will refuse the request.—VICE News
Travel Ban Now Includes Fiancés as Close Family Member
The US State Department has changed the definition of "close" family member for new visa restrictions to include fiancés. Only visa applicants from six Muslim-majority countries with a parent, spouse, sibling (or step-sibling), son, daughter, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law in the US were considered eligible under the travel ban that came into effect Thursday night. But an anonymous official said "fiancés would now be included as close family members."—Reuters
US Reaches $1.4 Billion Weapons Deal with Taiwan
The US State Department has approved a $1.4 billion arms deal with Taiwan. According to one official, the sale of weapons to Taiwan includes torpedoes, missile components, and a radar system. The deal is expected to piss off China, since it considers Taiwan part of its own territory under the longstanding "One China" policy observed by most world powers.—NBC News
House Passes Two Anti-Immigration Bills
The House of Representatives passed two bills Thursday aimed at curbing illegal immigration. One, sometimes known as "Kate's Law," would impose harsher penalties for migrants convicted of crimes who attempt to re-enter the US illegally. The "No Sanctuary for Criminals Act" would block federal grants for cities refusing to comply with deportation enforcement. Apparently satisfied with the outcomes, President Trump tweeted: "MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!"—Washington Post
Germany Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
The German Parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage Friday, with 393 lawmakers in support and 226 against. The law gives gay couples the right to marry and adopt children. Although socially conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel voted against the measure, the landmark moment came after she decided not to block it earlier this week.—BBC News
Iraqi Troops Recapture Symbolic ISIS Stronghold in Mosul
Iraqi government forces have seized Mosul's Grand al-Nuri Mosque, where ISIS proclaimed a caliphate three years ago. ISIS fighters remain in some neighbourhoods in the Old City, but Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the capture of the ruined mosque marked the end of ISIS' "state of falsehood."—Reuters
French Police Arrest Man Who Attempted Mosque Attack
French cops have arrested a man who tried to drive a car into a crowd outside a mosque in Paris. After trying unsuccessfully to ram through a set of barriers, the driver sped off, crashed, and fled before being captured at his home. No one was injured. The man reportedly said he was wanted revenge for ISIS-linked terrorist attacks in Paris.—The Guardian
Austrian Government Given Permission to Seize Hitler's House
Austria's Constitutional Court has ruled that the government is entitled to seize the former home of Adolf Hitler. It follows a long-running legal battle in which the owner of the house in Braunau am Inn, where Hitler was born, refused to sell. The government now plans to remodel the building and allow a charity working with disabled people to use it.—AP
JAY-Z Drops '4:44' and First Album Visual
JAY-Z has released his 13th studio album, 4:44, on his streaming service Tidal. The album's first visual has also been released, an animated video for new track The Story of O.J., directed by Mark Romanek and Hov.—Vibe
Venus Williams 'At Fault' in Fatal Car Crash Incident
Police in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, say Venus Williams was "at fault" in a car crash that led to the death of a 78-year-old man earlier this month. A police report states witnesses claimed to have seen Williams run a red light colliding with a car carrying 78-year-old Jerome Barson, who died two weeks later. She has not been charged, but the crash is still under investigation.—VICE Sports
The Doors Reps Send Jenners Cease-and-Desist Letter
The Doors' management has dispatched a cease-and-desist letter to Kendall and Kylie Jenner over the pair's T-shirt line that features their faces over images of rock and rap icons. The Notorious B.I.G.'s mother has excoriated the sisters over the $125 T-shirts.—Rolling Stone
Tyler, The Creator Releases Two New Tracks
Tyler, The Creator has put out new songs for the first time since dropping 2015's Cherry Bomb. A$AP Rocky features on "Who Dat Boy," which also comes with a new video, while Frank Ocean features on "911/Mr. Lonely."—Noisey
Chelsea Manning Set to Debut Art Exhibition
Chelsea Manning will open her first art exhibition at the Fridman Gallery in New York in August. The joint show with Heather Dewey-Hagborg will feature self-portraits built from cheek swabs and clips of hair Manning mailed from prison.—i-D
Kraftwerk Bike to Appear in Tour de France
German company Canyon has unveiled a limited-edition bike dedicated to electronic legends Kraftwerk. Only 21 Kraftwerk bikes have been made, and they will be sold to the public for $11,000 each. Cyclist Tony Martin will ride one, at least for a sec, at this year's Tour de France.—Thump
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What Generates Passion?
credit: careersingovernment.com
“The notion of emptiness generates passion,” wrote the great poet, Theodore Roethke (1908-1963). When I first came across this line, many years ago, it occurred to me that the word “notion” is most significant. “Notion” means that you’ve had a taste, a vision, an inkling, a snippet of something—enough to alert you to its possibilities and whet your appetite for more. My passions started when I was very young.
I was one of those fortunate children whose parents read to me. The stories were not what hooked me. I saw that books were full of possibilities, a portal to other worlds. I also saw the the only way to access these worlds for myself was to learn how to read. I remember being four years old and looking out a high-rise window over the myriad signs that decorated New York City rooftops. My companion was an eight year old girl named Brucia. “Can you read everything you see?” I asked her wistfully. When she assured me she could, I remember wondering if I would ever reach that point where I could read everything I saw. (Here is the “emptiness” of Roethke’s line.) Then I could get into books anytime I wanted without being dependent on my parents. So in my determined way, I pestered adults for help and taught myself to read.
When I was eight, we made papier maché finger puppets in class. Mine was of my father, featuring short lengths of yarn pasted vertically around his head as a frame for his bald pate. I received a lot of praise for my cleverness. Over the weekend a mouse in the classroom came and ate the nose off my puppet leaving behind a disfiguring hole. (The paste was an edible (tasty to a mouse?) mixture of flour and water.) My teacher was worried about my reaction. How would I feel about having my work so unforgivingly destroyed? Much to her surprise, for me it was no big deal. Even at that tender age I realized that the puppet itself didn’t matter. I could always make another and no one could take that ability away from me. That same year my favorite doll fell off the bed on to her nose and it, too, was irrevocably marred. I was inconsolable and vowed to myself that I would never invest so much emotional energy into a possession. The loss was too hard to bear. Acquiring skills and creating new things thus became my passions.
Passion can be described as a feeling but it manifests itself in the world as behavior, strong behavior that recurs frequently despite obstacles, setbacks, and long periods without obvious feedback. Passionate people are often unreasonable; they persist in spite of off-putting events or lack of approbation and support that might make others quit.
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world around him. The unreasonable man persists in his attempts to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” (George Bernard Shaw, 1903 play “Man and Superman.”) [GBS was a misogynist so he was not about to include women in such a profound statement.]
Behaviorists know that strength of behavior is built with payoffs that are highly intermittent and might only be perceived as a reward by the individual exhibiting the behavior. The well-struck tennis ball becomes its own reward and is a first step in the steep learning curve of a potential champion. Hitting the ball in a racket’s “sweet spot” feels good. But the pursuit of a world-class trophy requires a commitment and a faith in one’s own abilities that defies the inevitable (reasonable) naysayers who know that the odds of reaching this pinnacle are extremely long.
"Invictus" is one of my favorite films. It depicts an unreasonable Nelson Mandela, played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman, who believed that he could unite his post-apartheid nation if only the rugby team, the Springboks, could do the impossible and win the World Cup. He had formidable strikes against pulling this off—the team itself was an underdog that didn’t believe itself capable of such a feat and the freshly empowered black citizens of the “newly christened Rainbow Nation, South Africa” hated everything that stood for their former Afrikaner oppressors, especially this team. They were certainly not about to root for it. Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Addiction is not passion. Dr. Gabor Maté, a family physician with a special interest in child development says:
"The difference between passion and addiction is that between a divine spark and a flame that incinerates.." [For more on Dr. Maté watch his Ted Talk.]
Passion motivates learning, exploring, becoming a part of and interacting with something larger than oneself. It is sometimes interpreted as "grit." There are passionate teachers out there. They are the ones that change lives. I'll be you can think of one right now.
Passion for writing nonfiction for children is experienced by the authors of iNK Think Tank. We authors work against all odds, creating works of literature to engage, inform and inspire children about the real world. You can get a delicious sampling of our work and our passionate voices in our Nonfiction Minutes. If we want kids to learn and think about the real world and foster a passion for learning, why not give them great reading material? One issue is that our books are not used in most classrooms where they can do the most good.
Our problem? What can we do to change this small part of the educational landscape?
The answer: Whatever it takes.
What’s a New School Superintendent to Do?
The “School Reform” movement is characterized by a top-down, disruptive administrative process bent on privatizing public education. It includes charter schools (start-up schools using public funds with little or no financial oversight thus becoming ripe for corruption and other forms of failure) and voucher programs (where public funding is siphoned off so that students can go to private schools). It has had a great deal of criticism from Diane Ravitch, who aggregates reports of successes and failures in support of public education, a necessary institution for our democracy.
Last week I attended a conference sponsored by November Learning (BLC2018) which is focused on children and how to help them learn effectively. Jonathan P. Raymond was one of the speakers. His new book Wildflowers: A School Superintendent’s Challenge to America got my attention. As an author, I don’t know much about school administration. Raymond followed Rudy Crew as the superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) in August of 2009 to December of 2013 with 46,000 students of which 75% had family incomes below the federal poverty line and spoke more than forty different languages. It was also the period where the State of California was in its sixth straight year of budget cuts to school districts.
Raymond moved to Sacramento with his family and entered his three children in the public schools. Then he spent the first hundred days visiting every school in his district, sometimes as many as three a day. He came armed with a vision of educating the Whole Child— “head, heart, and hands”—a philosophy that looks at children as individuals and addresses issues of readiness to learn (like good nutrition), and reaches out to the parents and community as partners in this vision. He identified the six worst schools and decided to make them a priority. He hired insiders, with proven value, to become part of his team. He is anti-standardized testing and is profoundly influenced by John Dewey and the contemporary formidable educator Linda Darling-Hammond. All of these things made me sympathetic to his journey.
There was one aspect of Jonathan P. Raymond’s preparation for this job, however, that gave me pause. Raymond briefly summed up his early career as a lawyer and politician who became a Broad Fellow at the Broad Academy for ten months in preparation for an administrative job in education. Diane Ravitch offers this post on some of what the Broad Academy has done and what it stands for. His belief in educating the Whole Child and his experience of the Waldorf school progressive education overrides some of what he learned from Broad. Here’s what Raymond says about “school reform” and teachers:
“It’s no secret that some people in the so-called “school reform” movement are at war with teachers’ unions, and whether they intend it or not, are perceived as being at war with teachers themselves. What I learned in Sacramento and keep learning as I move forward personally and professionally, is that no effort to transform a school or a district can succeed without recognizing the dignity and worth of teachers [italics, his] through appropriate compensation, opportunities for professional development and positive collaborative working conditions.”
He also said:
“The Broad Academy did me no favors with it came to union relations. ‘People who come from outside education are more used to working in performance culture versus entitlement culture,’ Broad’s director told The Sacramento Bee when my appointment was first announced. Disparaging hard-working educators by calling them ‘entitled’ is not how I would have set the table. “
His last chapter, “Solutions: Five Keys to Reimagine Schools,” puts leadership in the center with input from students, teachers, and community resulting in compromise in which all factions have buy-in. He is at odds with the entrenched top-down organization that is a tradition in most districts.
Jonathan P. Raymond’s title Wildflowers is a metaphor for the potential of all children to find a way to bloom when they encounter the proper nurturing environment for the special idiosyncratic germ within them. This is a passionate, thoughtful book that can bring vision and hope to our public schools.
Magic in the Classroom: One Teacher's Guide
Dr. Pamela Davis
Dr. Pam Davis is a friend of mine and a consummate teacher. I asked her if she created magic in the classroom and in her blunt straightforward manner she said, "Not really. I just capture the magic that's there!" So I asked her how that happens and her responses are the basis for this blog.
Is magic in the classroom the norm or not? "I think magic in the classroom is overlooked and when it's harnessed that's the exception."
How often do you experience magic in your classroom? "To me teaching and learning are both magical so I experience magic quite often?"
What do you do to make this magic happen? "First, I prepare by deciding how to share myself through the material. For example, I have a natural sense of humor and I love to read and listen to music. If I can find a way to share any of my passions with my students through the mandated content, that's the first step in inviting them into a safe learning space. So when I teach social studies to 6th grade, the kids need to learn about the term, the "golden age." I introduce them to Jill Scott who wrote a song called "Living Life Like It's Golden," which I believe represents a golden age in popular music. Then I invite them to debate the properties of a golden age in history by comparing my generation's music to theirs. This leads to discussions all kinds of golden ages and gives the students ownership of the term."
What do you look for in the material you use to connect to your students? "I have to look for outside material to supplement the mediocre required texts, which gives kids facts but doesn't inspire interest. I can say honestly, that in order to connect to my students and have them connect to each other and eventually connect to the material, I have to be some kind of voice--an author's voice, a musician's voice, an artist's voice that transcends diversities and keys into common humanity."
How have you used the Nonfiction Minute? "When we were learning about the Medieval Period in history, I used the Nonfiction Minute called "Gong Farmers." I then posted the link on my class page with the warning, "Read at your own risk. This is disgusting. I don't want to talk about it."Of course, most of them read it but then I had them lead a small group discussion about some of the pros and cons of the feudal system from the peasants' perspective. And several children brought up the idea of a gong-farmer and explicitly explained what the job entailed while I barely contained my composure."
Pam, you are an exemplar of what I call the "artist teacher." How do you get away with it? "I get criticized by administrators and sometimes other teachers. But parents and students give me consistently high ratings, so I persevere. I get some encouragement from my work outside the classroom. I teach teachers. I evaluate content and even provide really fun robotics to kids facing family trauma. I've never seen teaching as anything but an opportunity to share magic.”
If you are a teacher who has never experienced magic in the classroom, you must first know yourself and be fully and confidently self-expressed. Next you must be constantly on the lookout for excellent content material created by others who are also fully and confidently secure in their form of self-expression. Shared humanity is at the heart of it all.
The Joy of Learning and “Education”
In 2010, I saw an amazing film called “Babies,” which documented the first year of life of four infants born in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco and Tokyo. The transformation from tiny, dependent newborns to little persons is extraordinary in two ways. First, the pattern of development for each baby is predictable and universal; they are each doing the same thing at about the same time. And second, the cultural differences seem to have little influence on this development. What we are watching is learning that comes from total immersion in the environment created by place, parents, and siblings. This movie is an exemplar of what behaviorists call “contingency-shaped” learning. Humans are born to learn. It is an emotional, engaging process with both triumph and tragedy, albeit on a very small scale.
Let’s say that one of these babies (me) became a teenager and wanted to learn how to speak another language. I started to learn French my freshman year of high school. I was given a book that started with simple sentences and rules of syntax and grammar. As the course progressed the sentences became more challenging; we learned about tenses, and questions, and other complexities of language. Behaviorists call this “rule-shaped” learning. The purpose of rule-shaped learning is to fast-forward the student to a point where contingencies can take over. I studied French for six years and had to pass an exit exam in my college which demonstrated that I could read and write French. When I went to France, and started to speak it, others assumed I was fluent from my few initial words which evoked a conversational barrage that was incomprehensible to me. Sadly, I was never immersed in a French-speaking place long enough to become fluent. Fluency means that all the rules fade away and language is a skill to express oneself. Rules are training wheels for beginning learners but hamper practice after a certain level of achievement has been reached.
Education today is flooded with rules, called standards, and assessments, which proclaim to measure how well students are learning the rules. Teaching is complex professional behavior, comparable to lawyering and doctoring. Becoming a teacher takes training, evaluation, constant learning, and experience. Teachers can live with standards but need the autonomy reach their own successful differentiated methods and styles. Constant measurement and assessment distorts their ability to teach effectively. Teachers learn from the total immersion of themselves in their jobs. They learn from administrators who are experienced in what makes an effective classroom. They learn from their colleagues. Training rules are not laws; useful if they help and discarded if they impede.
Today’s teachers have their wings clipped by rules. Some are so indoctrinated that they fear to stray from the rules and trust their own judgement and ingenuity. They are losing their freedom as our schools become more autocratic, mirroring what is happening to our country. It feels safer to “go by the book.”
Critical thinking, buzz-words for education, means to reexamine what is before us and make new kinds of decisions. We need to reevaluate some of the rules that are imprisoning us, especially since today’s education has been mandated to produce students with high-level skills, creativity and ingenuity. When you look at the engagement of babies in their first year of life, the joy of learning is palpable. How much engagement visible in today’s K-12 classrooms?
Artists, entrepreneurs, high achievers in every field know how to think “outside the box,” a value esteemed by the marketplace, where rules don’t apply. These folks are in total immersion with some aspect of our world. Yet we have drained our schools of the joy of learning that is our birthright.
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DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Operations
Immigration and Criminal Law / Detainees
Removal / Deportation Proceedings and Court Hearings
Consistent with policies of previous administrations, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division has been focusing their enforcement operations arresting noncitizens with criminal convictions, or previous deportation orders.
Below are highlights of ICE operations in New Jersey and Michigan as featured in recent DHS press releases:
Earlier this month, ICE in New Jersey carried out a 5 day operation and arrested 101 non-U.S. citizens – ranging in age from 20 to 71 years of age – many of whom illegally reentered the U.S. following a previous deportation order, failed to depart pursuant to a previous deportation order, committed deportable criminal offenses or otherwise violated U.S. immigration laws, including:
— A Mexican citizen residing in the U.S. without immigration status and with a conviction for sexual assault on a minor
— A Mexican citizen convicted of sexual assault of a minor
— A Turkish citizen convicted of possession of child pornography
— A Peruvian citizen convicted of invasion of privacy-recording a sexual act w/o consent
— A Colombian citizen convicted of aggravated battery and domestic violence assault
— A Spanish citizen convicted of storing/maintaining child pornography
— A Philippines citizen convicted of possession of methamphetamine
— A Dominican citizen convicted of cocaine distribution and possession
— A Guyanese citizen convicted of aggravated assault with a weapon
— An Egyptian citizen convicted of possession of heroin
— An El Salvadorian citizen convicted of aggravated assault with serious bodily injury
— A Korean citizen convicted of distribution of cocaine
ICE also carried out a similar operation in western Michigan in recent weeks, targeting the same class of criminal and/or immigration law violators, leading to the arrest of 27 foreign nationals, including:
— A 31-year-old Mexican citizen with convictions for assault and battery, domestic violence, and indecent exposure
— A 23-year-old Mexican citizen with convictions for assault on a police officer or probation officer, 3rd degree, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident
Like most any foreign national arrested and placed in removal proceedings, these individuals all have the right to hire an attorney at no cost to the government and to defend against removal proceedings. With few exceptions though, individuals with previous deportation orders, or who illegally reentered the U.S. following deportation, do not have the right to a new hearing or defense, as they have already been afforded due process of law in previous proceedings.
PUBLISHED December 12, 2017– “IMMIGRATION LAW FORUM” Copyright © 2017, By Law Offices of Richard Hanus, Chicago, Illinois
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Bijeg
Director:Vladimir Tintor
Duration:22'
Actors:Sandra Lončarić, Stanislava Kuharski
Movie The Escape was inspired by the life of a great actress Romy Schneider. Screenwriter Sandra Loncaric is also an actress who comprised everything from Romy's life with she can identify with as an actress, woman and a mother. In that way Romy's emotion becomes Sandra's emotion as well. The movie tries to answer the questions about how childhood and learned patterns of behavior are affecting our lives, how strongly guilt can destroy us and how important it is to forgive ourselves.
Vladimir Tintor was born in Novi Sad in 1978. After finishing studies at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Novi Sad he worked in many theaters in Serbia and Croatia. Since 2012 he became an official member of Croatian National Theatre ansamble in Osijek. As an actor he star sin theatre, film and television. The Escape is his directional debut.
The Arrival of a TrainPrevious movie
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On New Orleans' Royal Street, the music is sweet, history is deep
By Christopher ReynoldsLos Angeles Times
When I set out last year to write about great American music venues, the idea was to pick buildings whose histories are steeped in music, including familiar names such as Carnegie Hall in New York and half-hidden treasures such as Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla. New Orleans reshaped my thinking.
This city's musical roots are found largely outdoors, including the slave gatherings that brought West African rhythms to Congo Square in the 18th century; the brass bands that have been marching since the 19th century; the jazz and heritage festival that has been filling the city fairgrounds every spring since 1969; and the street performers who depend on the French Quarter's foot traffic the way Spanish moss depends on the branches of Louisiana's stately oaks.
For four days in early March (including Mardi Gras), I haunted a mile of Royal Street. That included 13 blocks through the French Quarter and three blocks leading to Frenchmen Street, where about a dozen music clubs are concentrated.
Why Royal? It's one of the city's oldest streets, dating to the early 18th century. Several of its blocks are closed to cars from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. most weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. most weekends.
Bourbon Street's loud bars and drunken crowds make busking or street performances all but impossible, but this stretch of Royal invites it with art galleries, antique and jewelry shops and restaurants. The proprietors aren't wild about having buskers in front of their carefully curated windows, but that's the way it's been for decades.
"Royal Street is where the trad jazz happens," sax player Aeryk Parker told me. "If you need money, you walk down the street and hope somebody needs a reed player."
Sometimes, "you end up playing with musicians you don't know. It's great," said Stefano Barigazzi, a 22-year-old singer and blues guitarist who came from Italy to work these streets.
You get all kinds, especially since YouTube has encouraged more musicians from elsewhere to try their luck here. You might see the dreamy young singer whose every song is marred by her hyperactive drummer. The Christian puppet show with live accordion music. The bearded quartet whose careful grooming, vintage attire, Gypsy jazz repertoire and Gallic nonchalance all whispered Montmartre, 1925.
But finding Ketchens was harder. She and her band typically play on weekend afternoons and evenings, but Mardi Gras week does strange things to everyone's schedule.
First day, no Ketchens. Second day, no Ketchens.
Fortunately, there was still plenty to hear.
I mostly gravitated toward traditional jazz players. Whenever I stayed for longer than one song, I tipped at least $1, sometimes $5, a couple of times $10.
These musicians follow rules that are largely unwritten. After decades of skirmishing over who can do what in the street and when, the city has imposed limits on volume but requires no permits and sets few time limits.
On my third day, wandering near Royal and Frenchmen, I got caught in a sonic riot called Mission Delirium — a San Francisco brass band on a working holiday in New Orleans. Eighteen musicians playing to win.
By the time I arrived, they were well into their set. Widespread dancing. One horn player was rolling around on the pavement while another crawled through shrubs. The four percussionists, as lively as Energizer Bunnies, cavorted and collided.
I didn't recognize the tunes, but their chops and showmanship won me over. Who knew you could play a reed instrument while doing the limbo? Who knew a triangle player could swing?
"There's something different about the way music is received" in New Orleans, said baritone sax player Nick Rous of San Francisco.
Their set would have been enough to make my day. But minutes later, in the French Quarter, a gaggle of jazz players launched into "Sweet Georgia Brown."
By the time they moved on to "Darktown Strutters' Ball," they had gathered a crowd of 30 or more, including a bicyclist who paused to hand them bananas.
"We're the St. Peter's Orchestra," one horn player announced. I guessed that they were seasoned band mates, judging by how the five members traded solos and moved from tune to tune. But, no, this lineup had been assembled on the fly, and none of them was raised in Louisiana.
Aeryk Parker, the front man on vocals and sax, had been splitting time between New Orleans and Denver. Former Angeleno Smitti Supab, on stand-up bass, had been in town for six years. Lamar Anderson Clark, another former Angeleno who arrived four years ago, was playing rhythm guitar.
Nathaniel Ruiz, on tenor sax, came from Illinois. Blanche Methe, who sat in on trumpet, had arrived three weeks before from Montreal.
As the crowd dispersed, the players huddled to count the take — more than $200 and a bag of weed.
"There's no club owner telling me what to play. I'm getting paid to have fun and learn," Supab said.
The downsides, Methe said, are that you never know if a spot will be open, tips will be rotten if it rains, "and sometimes you have all brass players and no rhythm section."
That same day, I stopped by the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park's office on North Peters Street, where interpretive ranger Jon Beebe was giving a talk on the roots of jazz and local traditions of competition and mentorship.
You probably know about Louis Armstrong, Beebe told a group of mostly foreign tourists, but Armstrong built on the innovations of King Oliver. And Oliver built on the innovations of Buddy Bolden.
Bolden, a cornet player, pioneered improvisation while marching and playing French Quarter clubs in the first years of the 20th century. He died penniless in an asylum, and there are no known recordings of him, leaving jazz hounds to wander the neighborhood and imagine his echoes.
In Bolden's time, Beebe said, "there used to be bands almost on every street corner." It was "the proving ground before you could be able to play on the riverboats."
In recent years, Beebe said, one of the most popular acts on the street was a duo, Tanya Huang, a violinist born in Taiwan, and Dorise Blackmon, a guitarist from New Orleans. They split in 2017, but Huang is still a regular at the corner of Royal and St. Louis streets.
Then there's Tuba Skinny, an eight-member group that focuses on traditional jazz, ragtime and Depression-era blues. (The name is a nod to local musician Tuba Fats, who died in 2004.) They've been playing Royal Street and local clubs since 2009.
But at the top of list, Beebe said, is Ketchens. "She's technically amazing. And she has more songs memorized than I'll ever learn."
I sighed and bought one of her CDs at the Louisiana Music Factory on Frenchmen Street.
By my last day in town, I'd inspected Armstrong's first cornet at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, sampled gumbo at half a dozen restaurants and watched the fast fingers of "Plink" Floyd, Wednesday night banjo player at Cafe Beignet.
I'd heard the Royal Street Winding Boys at the Spotted Cat. I'd caught the traditional jazz show in Preservation Hall.
There was time for just one more walk on Royal. I'd barely begun when an arresting sound cut through the street noise.
A clarinet playing "Summertime" in front of Rouses Market.
I edged through the knot of people so I could see a tiny, smiling African American woman seated in a lawn chair. Fur hat, box of CDs at her side. She was Doreen Ketchens, joined by her husband, Lawrence, on tuba, a trombone player, guitarist, drummer and a semicircle of six buckets, all rapidly filling with bills.
Ketchens, raised in the city's Treme neighborhood and classically trained, has toured the world, played for four U.S. presidents and released about two dozen CDs. Last year she played "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" with the Louisiana Philharmonic. She's also admired as an educator.
Until I saw her on the street, I didn't realize she also sings, and she does it well. But the clarinet solos — they're in another category.
When the moment arrived, she grabbed her clarinet, furrowed her brow and leaned back and blew. If her eyes had been open, she'd have seen the third-floor wrought-iron railings of the 1830s LaBranche House across the street.
At first I was surprised by how many notes Ketchens could fit into a measure — loud, clean, fleeting notes that knew exactly where they were going. Then she hit a high note and held it, measure after measure, until I couldn't hold my breath anymore.
Later, when I asked her how she ended up playing Royal Street, she said, "I fell in love with a tuba player. ... I can only say so much. But I never was a club person. I never was a night person."
Playing on the street, she said, "we had our bouts with the police where we lost at first. And then we won." Now, she said, "there's a level of respect that's working."
As for her fellow performers, "there's a lot of people coming here from other places ... and they play good music too."
About halfway through her set, Ketchens noticed a horn player perched on his instrument case.
"What you sittin' on?" she called out to him. "Want to join us?"
He was Aeryk Parker, the sax player I'd met the day before. He'd never been invited to play with Ketchens. He pulled out his horn, told her his name was Parker and joined her on "Royal Garden Blues."
They raced through it, traded solos and joined for a snappy finish.
"A hand for Parker, y'all!" hollered Ketchens.
The applause rang up and down the block.
"Incredible," said Parker later, looking at the queen of Royal Street. "Something to aspire to."
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Moldovan ‘Democrats’ flee the country
Sunday, June 16, 2019 10:00:26 AM
Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, the éminence grise of Moldovan politics and the primary patron of the Democratic Party that has been in power in recent years, left the country on 14 June in a black aircraft heading for Istanbul (the unusually colored private jetliner had been seen on standby at the Chisinau Airport for several days). According to other reports, he left Moldova by car through Transnistria and boarded an airplane in Odessa.
Plahotniuc is currently believed to be in the USA. The Democratic Party claims that he only left for a few days to visit his family.
Apparently, Plahotniuc was one of the first to leave Moldova. He did so immediately after a session of the party’s National Political Council, where it was decided that the democrats would step down from power. Moldovan President Igor Dodon accused them of usurping power in recent weeks, after the Moldovan Party of Socialists and the ACUM bloc led by Maia Sandu formed a majority parliamentary coalition.
Even earlier to leave was Andrian Candu, deputy chairperson of the Democratic Party and former chairperson of parliament. A relative of Plahotniuc, Candu was the one to sign all the decrees during the period when President Dodon was temporarily suspended by a Constitutional Court ruling. Three days ago, Candu left on a mysterious visit to Washington. This was discovered only later, and nothing has been seen or heard from Candu himself since.
Ilan Sor, head of the eponymous Sor party, an MP and the governor of Orhei, who has been under investigation for stealing millions from the Moldovan banking system, has also reportedly left the country.
Iurie Leanca, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Integration known for his pro-Romanian orientation, has also gone on holiday abroad.
“Yesterday five charter planes took off from Chisinau Airport,” Moldovan MP and political scientist Bogdan Tirdea told the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. “Ilan Sor, the man suspected of stealing a billion, flew to Israel, his family to Moscow. Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc and other gentlemen have fled. They took with them large sums of money and documents related to the theft of a billion and to illegal privatization and schemes. But the new government has promised to get them. That is, the top echelon of the Diplomatic Party and the Sor party have managed to flee the country. Prime Minister Maia Sandu has promised that they will be held accountable to the law for their numerous crimes. The same has been said by Andrei Nastase, the new Minister of Internal Affairs.”
These are unlikely to be the last prominent politicians and businessmen linked to the Democratic Party and to Plahotniuc who will leave Moldova over the next few days.
At the same time, the new Prime Minister, Maia Sandu, has demanded that all judges of the Constitutional Court resign “if they have an even ounce of dignity and respect for the Constitution and the citizens”. Previously, President Dodon also stressed the need to reformat the Constitutional Court, which has blatantly supported Plahotniuc and the Democratic Party in its breaches of the constitution in recent years.
Moldova, Odessa, Ukraine, Europe, Chisinau
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http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/1991/7/7/some-of-the-nicest-people-flunk
Some of the Nicest People Flunk Firm-Handshake Test
Jul 07, 1991 - Letter 1 of 4
DEAR ABBY: Your letter concerning handshakes and what they signified interested me.
I am currently retired, after spending 37 years with a well-known public relations firm for whom I traveled around the country to set up press conferences for major events. In doing so, I worked with Gen. Eisenhower when he was campaigning in Denver for his second term as president. I worked with Walter Cronkite while he was at the NASA space center in Houston, and Nikita Krushchev when he was in Des Moines touring farms in the Midwest. I also helped set up the press center in Dallas the day President Kennedy was killed there.
There were other celebrities I met personally, and whose hands I shook. One was Richard Nixon when he was campaigning in Houston. When I shook his hand, I was surprised to find it was very small, sweaty and limp!
In the mid-'60s, I helped set up the press center for Billy Graham's Crusade in the Houston Astrodome. I met Billy Graham, a large, impressive fellow whose handshake was amazingly almost identical to Nixon's -- weak and very limp.
I had always believed that a person's handshake revealed his character. I later learned it wasn't true. Now I never judge a person entirely by his handshake. -- EARL ROTH, SARGENT, TEXAS
DEAR MR. ROTH: Thank you for an enlightening letter. I cannot leave the subject of handshakes without adding this personal comment: It is generally accepted that a firm and resolute handshake conveys an "I'm sincerely glad to meet you" message. But one should never use it when greeting a woman who's wearing a ring on her hand.
DEAR ABBY: I have two brothers who are married. (So am I.) One brother lives in Minnesota and the other one lives in Louisiana. The Minnesota brother always sends birthday and anniversary cards, and promptly, too. The brother who lives down South never sends birthday or an�niversary greetings. (He doesn't even acknowledge the cards I send him.)
I made up my mind that unless I hear from my thoughtless brother down South, I am going to quit remembering him on special occasions.
I talked to my parents about this, and they said, "Do as you please, but don't involve us." I don't see why I should be so prompt and thoughtful to people who ignore me, do you? -- MIDWEST SISTER
DEAR SISTER: In every family, there are some who are more thoughtful than others. You may feel that by ignoring those who always forget you, you are "getting even," but you are actually widening the gap, until eventually there will be no communication at all.
Remember them anyway. Families need each other. Don't wait for a funeral to communicate.
DEAR ABBY: After reading your column, "Only in America," in which you poked fun at Americans who buy everything they wear and use from some foreign country, I had to write to share the following:
A number of years ago, I saw a display of merchandise bearing labels reading "MADE IN USA."
It seems that on Shikoku -- the smallest of Japan's four islands -- there is a city named "Usa." All the products made there are marked "MADE IN USA."
Would you say that the purpose of those labels was to intentionally mislead the buyer? I think so.-- C.C. IN FLORIDA
DEAR C.C.: Si, Si, so do I.
To get Abby's booklet "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send a long, business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, Ill. 61054. (Postage is included.)
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The BELFAST BOYS Appearing Fri Oct 3rd 2014 at 8pm
The Belfast Boys are Alyn Mearns (guitar & vocals) and Adrian Rice (mandolin, bodhran & vocals).
Alyn and Adrian both hail from the Troubled streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Mearns has lived in the States since his late teens, but Rice only settled in Hickory (NC) in 2005, having come to Lenoir-Rhyne College as Visiting Writer-in-Residence. Both men have been happily ‘captured’ by lovely American brides. The men met in a local Hickory bookstore and quickly formed a strong bond based on their shared Northern Irish heritage and ‘Belfast-speak’.
They co-wrote a serious and heartfelt tribute song for one of Ireland’s national soccer legends, the late, great, George Best. The song, entitled ‘The Conjuror’ – composed largely in their local haunt, The Olde Hickory Tap Room – reached No. 1 in the Belfast music charts.
As their friendship grew, the two men discovered their shared love of Irish traditional music. Back in Belfast, Adrian had played in an Irish band in his college and post-college years; while Alyn had written and produced a successful Irish CD, entitled ‘The Tree’.
So it was only a matter of time before the idea of an Irish duo would surface: thus – The Belfast Boys.
In performance, the boys work hard to deliver a serious traditional Irish set of jigs, reels, polkas and songs. As their new CD title would suggest, Songs For Crying Out Loud is an emotional first album, full of passionate songs that caress the ear and touch the heart. There are truly stunning new versions of folk favorites like ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘The Mountains of Mourne’, alongside less well-known songs such as the hauntingly beautiful ‘The Blue Hills of Antrim’, and original material like the enchanting ‘Shimna’. Throughout Songs For Crying Out Loud, Mearns displays the full range of his wonderful vocal skills, and the marriage of mandolin and guitar is simply magical
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The Working Forest - Your #1 source for forestry and forest industry news.
OFIA 72nd annual meeting a huge success
By: The Working Forest Staff
The Ontario Forest Industries Association’s (OFIA) 72nd Annual Meeting celebrated the forest products sector’s role as a sustainable economic engine and employment generator in Ontario’s green economy.
Opening the event, Jamie Lim, President and CEO of the OFIA, explained ‘by actively choosing Ontario’s renewable forest products, government and citizens are actively participating in our province’s prosperity and supporting one of the ‘best-managed natural resources in the world’.
Provinces across the nation are benefiting from the recovery in Canada’s forest sector. Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Bill Mauro addressed the audience to highlight the benefits of the recovery of Ontario’s forest products sector. Minister Mauro stated, ‘I believe the forestry sector’s performance is critical to the success of Ontario’s economy. Forestry has a long history in our province – it has been a key industry for longer than Ontario has been a province.
The inclusion of forestry in the Ministry’s name is a recognition of the importance of this sector–for my Ministry, our government—and the province as a whole. The addition of forestry is a sign of our government’s commitment to forestry-and an affirmation that supporting the forest industry is an integral part of the ministry’s job.’
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Kelly Block provided remarks on behalf of the Canadian Government and announced $20.6 million in forest sector innovation to FPinnovations. MP Kelly Block stated ‘Canada is a forest nation. In 2013, the forest sector accounted for close to $20 billion of our nation’s nominal Gross Domestic Product- including more than $4 billion in revenues here in Ontario. Indeed, forestry ranks as this province’s second-largest industrial sector.’
Andre Chevigny, General Manager of Pioneer Log Homes and star of HGTV’s Timber Kings was the Keynote speaker at this year’s event and provided a well-received heartfelt address about the importance of following your passion. A man very obviously passionate about working with wood, Andre stated ‘That’s my message, follow your passion. Do work you are proud of and be proud of your work. Tell the rest of the world that what we do in the forest industry, they can’t do without. Wood is the right choice environmentally, socially, and economically. Thank you OFIA.’
OFIA’S Forest Sector Champion Awards are given to those who work to support the forestry sector. This year, the OFIA awarded Forest Sector Champion Awards to:
Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Team for their support of Ontario’s sector in their 2015 Emerging Stronger policy document.
John Pineau, Ontario Lead for FPinnovations, in recognition of his years of dedicated service to forestry
Richard Hudon, CLA Chief Inspector in recognition of 31 years of service
Municipal Government was well represented at OFIA’s 72″d Annual Meeting with over a dozen mayors and councillors from across the province in attendance.
Mayor Canfield from Kenora addressed the audience providing a view from the north on Ontario’s renewable natural resource- forestry.
Mayor Steve Black from Timmins was a panelist on the Forestry Matters – Planning for Generations Panel
Christine Leduc, OFIA’s Director of Policy and Communications closed the afternoon session by saying, ‘the beautiful aspect of forestry is that you don’t have to choose between the environment and the economy. So many people are involved in making Ontario’s forest sector’
Andre Chevignywith Jamie Lim
Your comments.
Your #1 source for forestry and forest industry news.
The Working Forest Box 138 Stn Main North Bay P1B 8G8 1-705-358-8213
Built by Sofa Communications
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Songs of the Week Featuring Jeezy, Nicki Minaj and More
Moses Robinson/Ben Gabbe, Getty Images (2)
It might be cold outside, but artists are heating up to close out the year. The week featured some big name album drops as Eminem, Jeezy, N.E.R.D and G-Eazy were among those to put out projects. Singles-wise, we got some fire too.
Jeezy came through with one hell of a collab, getting J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar on the same track for the politically-charged track, "American Dreams," off his new album Pressure.
Nicki Minaj continues to snap on features leading up to her new album, as she hopped on A$AP Ferg's "Plain Jane (Remix)." "If I call him then he coming home running, Derek Jeter/Bitches must be eating ass because I swear they’re bottom-feeders/Hoe, you know that you my son, I shoulda scrapped you as a fetus," she spits.
Incarcerated, newly-signed rapper, Tay-K gets an official remix to his street banger, "The Race," which features guest verses from 21 Savage and Young Nudy.
Ace Hood is back, delivering some fire on the new track "Testify," which he dropped in the midst of his Trust The Process Tour. XXL talked to the Miami MC last month, about his return to the limelight.
G-Eazy broke out a star-studded remix to his single "No Limit," which features additional verses from Juicy J, Belly and French Montana.
It was a good week.
Check out the best songs of the week below.
See New Music Releases for December 2017
Filed Under: 21 savage, Ace Hood, asap ferg, G-Eazy, jeezy, Nicki Minaj, Tay-K, Travi$ Scott, young thug
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Flexible TV options eyed
By - The Washington Times - Tuesday, November 29, 2005
The broadcasting industry should provide parents with more flexible cable and satellite purchasing options to help them protect children from indecent programming, before it becomes a government requirement, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said yesterday.
Parents must be the first line of defense, but broadcasters also are responsible and government oversight should occur only when the other two have failed, Mr. Martin said during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee forum on decency in the media.
Mr. Martin outlined numerous possible approaches to the problem, including:
Creating family-friendly program tiers that don’t bundle channels like Nickelodeon with others that air racier content;
Allowing subscribers to buy channels individually with their choices priced accordingly;
Making basic and expanded cable service adhere to the same indecency rules currently reserved for broadcast networks.
He did not endorse any proposal, but when asked directly if the FCC should be given the authority to enforce decency standards on cable and satellite providers, Mr. Martin said Congress should decide because “something should be done to address programming issues parents have raised.”
A report completed last year when Michael Powell was FCC chairman found individually purchased, called “a la carte,” or tiered programming would not be cost-effective for consumers and could result in the shuttering of certain cable channels that rely on bundling to stay afloat.
Mr. Martin said those conclusions were based on flawed methodology and biased analysis, and that a new report concludes both options are economically feasible and in consumers’ best interests.
Mr. Powell disputed his successor’s assertions: “I thought the report last year was perfectly sound and the data unquestionably led to the conclusion that we reached.”
“If there were errors in the reports, I disagree that they were [severe] enough to discount the conclusions completely,” said Mr. Powell, now a senior adviser at Providence Equity Partners Inc., an investment firm. He added that a Government Accountability Office report came to the same conclusions as last year’s FCC report.
Debating data methodology was a “red herring” because Mr. Martin has long been an advocate of tiered and a la carte programming options, Mr. Powell said, adding that the new FCC report “supports [that] policy direction.”
Stations such as ESPN, Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel would survive a move to an a la carte model, but that diverse programming offered on channels such as BET, Bravo and the Golf Channel don’t have enough of an audience as stand-alone products, Mr. Powell said.
Kyle McSlarrow, president and chief executive of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), called a government mandate of a la carte programming a “very dangerous idea” that violates providers’ free-speech rights.
He compared it with requiring newspapers to sell their sports and business sections separately.
“I urge everybody to take the idea of government mandates off the table,” Mr. McSlarrow said.
But some lawmakers are calling for stiffer penalties and new programming options. The House has passed a bill that would raise the maximum fine the FCC can issue per indecency violation from $32,500 to $500,000. The Senate is considering a similar bill as well as other legislation that would require cable and satellite providers to offer family-friendly programming.
“My impression is that the cable industry is complicit in promoting pornography and sexually explicit material in our homes,” said Sen. Mark Pryor, Arkansas Democrat. He said he has two young children at home and “my wife and I are scared to death for them to turn on the television when we’re not in the room.”
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Pope concedes errors in bishop case
VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Benedict XVI has acknowledged Vatican mistakes over a Holocaust-denying bishop and his efforts to reach out to ultraconservatives, saying in a highly unusual critical review that he was saddened that even Catholics attacked him with open hostility.
The pope made a personal analysis of the case in a letter to the world’s Catholic bishops made public by the Vatican on Thursday, seeking to end one of the most serious crises of his nearly four-year papacy.
He said failure to detect the bishop’s background by simply consulting the Internet was an “unforeseen mishap” that caused tensions between Christians and Jews and raised questions about his own interest in friendship between the two religions.
He said he is saddened that even Catholics who should know better “thought they had to attack me with open hostility.”
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the letter – released in six languages – was “really unusual and deserving of maximum attention.”
Benedict acted to limit damage, as he did when he said he was “deeply sorry” over remarks in 2006 about Islam and violence that caused a storm in the Islamic world.
The latest crisis began when Benedict lifted the excommunications of four ultraconservative bishops, including British-born Bishop Richard Williamson.
Williamson had denied in an interview with Swedish TV broadcast in January that 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis. He said about 200,000 or 300,000 were murdered and none were gassed.
Benedict said Williamson’s views were an “unforeseen mishap” that made his efforts of “mercy” toward the excommunicated bishops seem like a repudiation of reconciliation between Christians and Jews.
“That this overlapping of two opposing processes took place and momentarily upset peace between Christians and Jews, as well as peace within the church, is something which I can only deeply deplore,” he wrote.
He thanked “all the more our Jewish friends” for understanding his commitment to friendship.
Benedict defended his attempts to bring ultraconservative faithful loyal to the anti-modernization movement of the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre back into the church’s fold.
But he acknowledged that “another mistake, which I deeply regret” was made in not properly explaining his intentions and the limits of the procedure and that some groups had accused him of seeking to “turn back the clock.”
“That the quiet gesture of extending a hand gave rise to a huge uproar, and this became exactly the opposite of a gesture of reconciliation, is a fact which we must accept,” Benedict said.
But he said the church cannot be indifferent to a movement that counts 491 priests, 215 seminarians and six seminaries.
“Should we casually let them drift farther from the church?” he asked.
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Penguins sign D Simon Despres to 2-year deal
By - Associated Press - Friday, July 18, 2014
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Simon Despres to a two-year contract worth $900,000 per season.
The 22-year-old Despres appeared in a career-high 22 games for the Penguins last season, finishing with five assists. He scored six goals and added 16 assists in 36 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. His plus/minus ratio of plus-19 led the team.
Despres struggled to stay in the lineup under former Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma, but will have a chance to play regularly after the team lost veteran defensemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen in free agency.
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Maryland budget with added education funds advances
Business_Finance
By BRIAN WITTE - Associated Press - Wednesday, March 13, 2019
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland would begin investing in a 10-year blueprint to improve public schools, using an education spending bump endorsed Wednesday by the House of Delegates for the coming fiscal year.
The House gave preliminary approval to a $46.7 billion budget, along legislation in tandem with the budget bill to balance the state’s books.
Lawmakers opted to boost education funding in a year that turned out to be more challenging fiscally than they first thought. The state’s revenue forecast was revised downward last week by about $269 million in this fiscal year and the next one.
“We’ve responded to a write-down, and I’m pleased to say that we have a budget before you that is balanced, that is great for Maryland’s children,” Del. Maggie McIntosh, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said.
The measure includes an added $320 million to begin supporting recommendations from a state commission on education. That has been set aside to begin to fund all-day, pre-K for 4-year-olds, and to commit to making 3-year-olds a part of the pre-K system in the state. It also includes $133 million for special education and $75 million to raise teacher salaries.
In addition, the state is setting aside about $500 million for school construction.
After thousands of teachers, parents and students rallied in Annapolis to urge lawmakers to invest more in the state’s schools, McIntosh told House members Monday night that the school construction money will enable 13 Maryland counties to get 80 to 100 percent of their school construction requests. Those counties include Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester.
McIntosh said the budget provides more than $7 billion in support of the state’s schools.
“This is the largest budget for our children ever,” she said.
The state’s Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education has estimated that fully implementing the panel’s recommendations would cost an estimated $3.8 billion more a year in a decade from now. That would require help from local governments, and the panel has decided to keep working on how the state and local governments will divide the cost.
The added education funding now before lawmakers has been described as a down payment on future spending.
“We need to address resources to continue this momentum during the coming years,” McIntosh said Monday night.
The commission also is calling for improving college and career readiness of high school graduates. Another policy area calls for adding resources for students from low-income families and those with disabilities to meet college and career readiness standards.
Meanwhile, the budget leaves $1.2 billion in balance and cash reserves. It also dedicates $80 million in additional funding to battle the opioid addiction crisis and $13 million for crime reduction initiatives to bolster law enforcement efforts in Baltimore and statewide.
The budget also includes a 3 percent salary increase for state employees starting July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.
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Wake Forest Golf Camp
Hiking Supplies Checklist "I think there’s a lot of confusion in America between camping and backpacking," Hanel said. You want to keep track of the. Bu with all the options, it can be a little overwhelming when searching for the perfect gear, and so we’ve compiled a list of seven great pieces of hiking tech that will surely
Wake Forest Golf Course Join Jerry Haas, head coach of the Wake Forest Men’s Golf Team, and other Division I college golf coaches, for a week of instruction at the new 17 acre Arnold Palmer Golf Practice Facility on the campus of Wake Forest University.
After donating $2 million to Florence relief efforts, NBA legend and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan helped pack boxes of food at the Second Harvest Food Bank Friday.
GREENSBORO — What Danny Manning has seen from his first team at Wake Forest is what he expects to get in his first ACC Tournament, starting with today’s first-round game against Virginia Tech schedule.
Division 2 and Division 3 college coaches as well as professional scouts from around the nation will descend on Washington DC to help high school players pursue college and professional baseball opportunities. If you are serious about playing college baseball then you must attend this camp. High School players from New York to Georgia will work on their game inside one of the nations finest.
"Like he was with Wake Forest, he was fine with Alabama joining. He said, ‘It’s your camp, whatever you think is best for the kids is fine with us.’" Alabama is hosting a camp on its campus over the w.
Under the lights for the first time, some facets of Wake Forest’s football team looked the same as they do in the early mornings next to McCreary Field House during
Welcome to the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department! Our mission is to enhance the lives of the citizens by promoting health and wellness through diverse, safe, accessible, and culturally enriching recreational opportunities.
Wake Forest assistant coach Jamill Jones attacked digital marketing guru Sandor Szabo around 1:15 a.m. Sunday in Queens, causing him to fall and hit his head on the sidewalk, police said. Szabo, visit.
Only a week away from the season-opening game at Tulane, Wake Forest released its football depth chart Thursday afternoon.
The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people.
This is some McGyver-level moxie right here. Joshua and Jacob Johnson are twin brothers who are getting set to begin the eighth grade in Geismar, Louisiana. At 5-11 and already weighing in the.
In an odd quirk of Notre Dame’s partnership with the ACC, Wake Forest shows up on the schedule two years in a row. Some remember last year’s 48-37 victory as the moment the Irish defense started to we.
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The ECU men’s golf team resumes its fall slate on Monday at the inaugural Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 24-25, hosted by Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. Acti.
There’s no regular-season game in the immediate future, and the same things you do in spring will just be repeated again at training camp. Giving the players a day to have some fun probably wasn’t the.
By Kyle Morton, HighSchoolOT.com Producer. Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake Forest Cougars and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders got together in Raleigh on Wednesday as they squared off in 7-on-7 action in advance of the beginning of football season.
Search real estate. Access listings including photos, maps, and property descriptions.
RDU Tennis has been offering expert tennis instruction to adults and kids since 2005. We now offer over 30 camps and clinics across North Carolina, Washington DC, and central Florida.Click here to learn more about our history and what we do.
Is Today A Holiday In Hong Kong October 17, 2018, Chung Yeung Festival, National Public Holiday. Please note that public holidays are determined by the Hong Kong government and are. Funny Travel Books The fun, the surreal, the kooky, the mind-bending science facts and a whole lot of details. Multiple layers of Lincoln City c. Enter your mobile number or email address
The Nittany Lions travel to James Madison (1-3-0) on Thursday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. before they play Wake Forest (1-1-1) on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. to close out the road trip. The Wake Forest Demon D.
The quick-draw headline stays the same. This is one of those satellite camps. Michigan, Tennessee, Penn State, West Virginia, South Carolina and Wake Forest were among 15 schools represented at the 49.
Welcome to Brevofield Golf Links. Opened in 1996, Brevofield Golf Links is a family-owned course conveniently located on 13601 Camp Kanata Road in Wake Forest , which is west of Wake Forest.
ATHENS, Ga. – Auburn women’s tennis opened the 2015 ITA Kick-Off Weekend in impressive fashion Saturday, downing No. 62 Wake Forest, 4-0, at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. The 28th-ranke.
Best Time Vacation In San Bernadino Add the ability to work from home and you may compound the problem, says Jayne Dorshen, an HR adviser in San Jose, California. said they weren’t going to change how much time they spent on vacation. The 49ers (1-5) were beaten by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Monday night with a fourth-quarter
All fans attending Florida State’s home game against Wake Forest on October 20 will be treated to a postgame concert by Big Boi and T-Pain. The school announced the postgame concert on Twitter on Frid.
Fantasy Hotels Uk To mark Final Fantasy’s 30th anniversary, the side of a Yokohama hotel was turned into a FF spectacular thanks to projection mapping. ‘Social media trends are influencing toys more than ever before, such as the unicorn craze which has inspired great products like the Vtech Fantasy Unicorn and the My Lovely Unicorn Electric Ride-On,’. Omni
That being the case, Rutgers fans are on full alert now that both Penn State and Wake Forest recently offered the 6-4, 285-pound Bullis School (Potomac, Md.) offensive tackle. "Yeah, I got a scholarsh.
Train like a Member of the Lady Deacons Golf Team Participants in the Dianne Dailey Junior Girls Golf Camp will use the new 17 acre Arnold Palmer Complex at Wake Forest University. Designed by Arnold Palmer Design Company as a true golf. Wake Forest University Golf Complex CAMP SCHEDULE at 336 8:30 am start for everyone.
That continued into fall camp, and with a country-leading 224.7 all-purpose yards per game, his rise has been incredible to watch. Wake Forest junior receiver Greg Dortch leads the country with 224.67.
Welcome to the Wake Forest High School website. As you explore these pages, you will recognize that the Home of the Cougars is steeped with pride, a tradition of excellence, and a consistent expectation that WFHS will graduate students who are prepared to transition to their adult lives in the 21st century.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 5 Penn State women’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a non-conference contest Sunday evening at Spry Stadium. Wake Forest (3-1-1) t.
The Maryland volleyball team will open their 2018 campaign, their first under head coach Adam Hughes, this weekend with the Wake Forest/UNC Greensboro Tournament. outside and has stood out to Hughe.
As it turns out, it could be just three games long. According to a report from 247Sports.com, Ian Book (pictured) will start at quarterback for Notre Dame in Saturday’s game against Wake Forest. If th.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 7-foot-1 center Doral Moore and added him to their training-camp roster. Moore played 30 games as a junior at Wake Forest last season but.
Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded in 1834.The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina.The Reynolda Campus, the university’s main campus, has been located north of downtown Winston-Salem since the university moved there in 1956.
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Edwards will be among the participants at the CP3 Camp at Wake Forest from Aug. 1-4 and then the Nike Basketball Academy in Thousand Oaks, California the week after. The junior Boilermaker is one of o.
Golf Camps This page lists golf track out camps in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. Featured Listings. Wake Forest & Rolesville; Cary & Morrisville & Apex;. Track Out Camp (NC State Universit. The specially designed golf camps for Year-round students of 6-16 years of age. The camps are Monday thru Friday at the NC State University Club.
Hartman won the job during preseason camp and hasn’t done anything to lose it. He ranks second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing yardage, averaging 278 yards, with six touchdowns and five in.
Appeared in seven matches with six starts, including starts against three ranked opponents — No. 11 South Carolina, No. 17 Wake Forest and No. 14 Penn State. 17) • Participated in U.S. WNT U-19 Ca.
The Imhotep Charter rising senior is participating in the NBPA Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Va., and reportedly turned in a strong showing Wednesday. Later that evening, he announced he had receiv.
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Industry Agenda
We have a window of opportunity to save our oceans, but it's closing fast
Fish are among the world’s most traded food commodities
Image: REUTERS/Henry Romero - RTX36HLS
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz Co‐founding Chief Executive, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
There are plenty more fish in the sea, so goes the old adage.
A decade-long international census of marine life had by 2010 documented nearly 17,000 fish species and estimated that another 5,000 more still remained to be discovered.
That includes everything from enormous whale sharks to the famous clown fish, great schools of mackerel and bottom-dwelling eels.
These all thrive as part of an ecosystem that is home to some 230,000 other marine species in oceans that cover nearly three-quarters of the surface of the planet.
Huge overfishing
The census warned, however, that overfishing and habitat destruction were the main threats to marine biodiversity.
Just over 31% of commercial fish stocks assessed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization are estimated to be overfished, a figure that has tripled since records began in 1974.
The numbers are worse for some of the ocean’s most valuable fish, with no foreseeable let up.
While some 41% of the main tuna species are currently overfished, market demand remains high, and there is significant overcapacity in the global tuna fishing fleet.
All at sea
Much like climate change, the tale of overfishing is a tragedy of the commons, where, in the absence of property rights over specific fish stock, fishermen may harvest more than the optimal amount for future sustainability.
Fish also do not tend to stay in one place, with many swimming between different national waters – defined as 200 nautical miles from the coast – and into the high seas.
The tragedy then unfolds in various stages, sometimes at the national level where poor fisheries management is manifest, and sometimes in a free-for-all on the high seas, which are not subject to any national or regional oversight.
Government subsidies for fishing have been identified as one significant part of the tragedy.
Distorting subsidies
These subsidies come in many forms.
Some may support research and development, others top-up incomes, or provide unemployment insurance.
It is estimated that capacity-enhancing subsidies make up the highest share and amount to around $20 billion. These cover boat construction, tax exemptions, and fuel subsidies, among other things, and can exacerbate overfishing.
Subsidies mean that more boats are built than is necessary, or that fleets stay out longer and roam further into the high seas. Some subsidies even wind up supporting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Image: ICTSD
Fish as a commodity
Fish are also among the world’s most traded food commodities, and subsidies have an impact on fish prices in global markets.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has a framework in place to limit the trade-distorting impact of subsidies more generally.
These rules, however, do not take into account negative environmental impacts.
Accordingly, the global trade body launched negotiations in 2001 to reduce fisheries subsidies. To the dismay of advocates of subsidies reform, these talks dragged on and on.
Renewed efforts
Before writing the WTO off, though, the good news is that the topic is firmly back on the agenda and serious efforts are underway, with influential coalitions of countries calling for measures to urgently address this concern.
There is a narrow window of opportunity for governments to seriously engage in talks to bring a deal on fisheries subsidies over the line; but it will not stay open for long.
In 2015, world leaders pledged to prohibit or eliminate certain forms of fisheries subsidies – including those that contribute to overcapacity, overfishing, and IUU – through the global trade body by 2020, as an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Any world leader with a diary to hand will recognise that it’s time to act in order to stick to this pledge.
This week’s Ocean Conference in New York should focus political attention on getting a deal on fisheries subsidies at the WTO agreed.
The biennial Ministerial Conference of the WTO to be held in December this year in Buenos Aires, presents an immediate opportunity to clinch such a deal.
Political will and a timely thrust to the negotiation process in Geneva may well make all the difference and see the WTO deliver on a really critical matter for the planet.
Hammering out the details will not be easy.
This much we have learned in 16 years of watching talks falter over the definition of fisheries subsidies, respective levels of commitments, and so on.
A significant breakthrough was made in October 2015 with the conclusion of the regional Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal that included the first ever rules on reducing fisheries subsidies in any international trade agreement. But that deal, unfortunately, remains on stand-by.
Countries have a number of options to turn progress up to now into a more comprehensive and significant effort, as suggested by a group of leading experts through the E15Initiative research and dialogue process, co-convened by my institution ICTSD, and the World Economic Forum.
So often in the world of international negotiations, however, compromises come at the last minute.
While this is the nature of the game, time is up for many fish species.
Seas and oceans without plenty of fish would be sad indeed, an ecological crisis, and a major development setback for the millions of people who depend on healthy fisheries for livelihoods and food.
Can technology help us tackle illegal fishing?
Should we ban fishing on international waters?
How can we tackle illegal fishing?
Should we close the Arctic ocean to commercial fishing?
Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Co‐founding Chief Executive, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
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Could the Green Vic become the world's 'most ethical' pub?
Bella Barber · Reuters 09 Jul 2019
This image of how the world has warmed is so effective it's appearing on clothing
Deep-sea mining will cause irreversible damage to the oceans, Greenpeace warns
Annie Banerji · Thomson Reuters Foundation trust.org 05 Jul 2019
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Parksville Gallery
Port Alberni Gallery
If a Death Has Occurred
Gary G. SHEPHEARD
December 16, 1940 ~ July 9, 2019 (age 78)
Gary Gunniss Shepheard was born on Moss Street in Victoria, to Harold & Mae on December 16th,1940. He was the oldest boy, followed by Gayle, Lynn and Richard, and was the fourth generation of his Victoria family. His parents lived in the Willows area on Hamiota Street. They then moved to Gary's grandparents on Toronto Street in James Bay while his Dad built in 1949- 1950 their home on Scolton Road in Cadboro Bay. Much time was spent playing on the beach. He had a very happy childhood. Gary had to go to Doncaster school as no primary school had been opened in the Cadboro Bay Area. He was then in the first classes to go to the new Landsdowne Junior High school for grades 7,8,9.
He learned to drive at 14 years old, a truck for the McPherson family to help cut the hay fields for them, on the land which is now the grounds of the University of Victoria campus. He bought his first car at 16 years of age. With his freedom, he was not home much, except to eat and sleep. He was now going to Oak Bay High School, playing with cars, and was known to party and have fun. He liked a good time. A few times he crashed parties he'd hear his sister's Lynn & Gayle talk about. They sometimes didn't admit he was their brother. Lynn & her girl friend named him "Fat Boy" and some friends still call him by his nickname. Gary left Oak Bay School High school in grade 11 because he got caught skipping school. His Dad said if he did it again he would have to go to work at the Queen's Printer, where his Dad worked. He started working there and 2 years later, in 1957, was offered an apprenticeship. Gary loved his job and had a wonderful record of service, only missing one day of work in 38 years of service. He was a union rep for close to 20 years. During those years he had some hot cars and got involved in Drag Racing and building a car with his partners, Bert Sweeting and Larry Whitman. They had one of the first dragsters on the island and raced at San Cobble track and travelled to Mission, Alberta, and to Washington State NHRA. This was 50 years ago.
Gary and Bert had lots of fun in these years, but the people they met and became friends with during their racing days earned them lots of trophies.
At age 30, in 1970, most of this friends were married and had families. On August 14th of 1971 Gary married Janet Ford and took on her 3 kids. What a brave guy. To Jan's surprise it worked pretty well and they bought a house on Townley Street and lived very happily there for 24 years. When he bought on Townley his new neighbours were Wally and Carol Lum. Wally and Gary had known each other in Doncaster School. Wally had also raced at Western Speedway. He introduced Gary to his love of fishing. Wally took Gary to China Creek on a fishing trip and this became Gary and Jan's favourite fishing place. He also fished Gold River, Sooke, Barkley Sound, and French Creek.
Gary re-mortgaged the house to buy a boat and began 48 years of going to China Creek. Many great friendships were made there. Our family is one of the original permanent campers to be in the park. The kids, grandchildren and all of the family came and were taught to fish. They always received lots of sockeye, springs, prawns, and Gary's awesome Smoked Salmon. They always looked forward to getting gifts from the sea. He also had a fishing derby started by his Dad and Uncles in the 50’s on Thanksgiving weekend at Bowser. It was a Bucktail Coho Derby. The group ended up calling themselves the "Bowser Bums".
When Gary retired in 1996 at age 55, they moved to Parksville. They then travelled winters (always after Xmas) and fished the summers. Gary and Jan saw more of the world than they ever thought they would. They made 27 trips to Mexico and a trip to Bermuda with long-time friend Don Shaw. A month on the Big Island with Evelyn Moisher. Three times to Australia where they met a lot of Jan's down under family. Cruised through the Panama Canal. Great cruise holidays to South East Asia and China, New Zealand, New York and fall cruises up the Eastern Coast to Canada to see the fall colours.
Gary shared many family holidays with family friends, it was a happy busy life. If he was talking with you now, after not being well the last 18 months, he would tell you, "Enjoy each day to the fullest, and don't put off anything you would like to do, till tomorrow. Life's too short, so always look for Joy, Love and Lots of Laughter.”
Love ❤️ and Hugs from Gary, Jan and our Family to you all.
I would also like to thank the Oceanside Hospice for being so caring, considerate and helpful to our family at this time. Their website is www.oceansidehospice.com if you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers in Gary's name.
Lives Cherished and Celebrated
There's still time to send flowers to the Celebration of Life at the Yates Memorial Services - Allsbrook Room at 1:00 PM on August 17, 2019.
© 2019 Yates Memorial Services. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS
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This Stock Is Dead on Arrival
February 3, 2011 By E.J. Smith
You would be smart to avoid getting involved in the walking zombie that is HCA, Inc., if and when there’s an initial public offering (IPO). You may recall that back in 2006, Merrill Lynch, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., and Bain Capital Partners brought the enormous hospital chain private in a $33-billion leveraged buyout (LBO). It was a trophy deal at a time when the smoke of “greed is good” still permeated big Wall Street boardrooms. But this transaction symbolized the last puff, so to speak, before the LBO business and all of finance turned to ashes.
The air has cleared, and Merrill Lynch is now Bank of America. But greed is alive and well as HCA ownership dress this pig for an IPO. In what has become a sad reality of high finance, they have enriched themselves while making a mess of the company. Employees have an “I work for the union, not the company” attitude, and government officials have joined the fray, looking to stack up easy votes. Unfortunately, when this bridezilla of a stock finally IPOs, it will likely be the small investor who is swindled into buying it. Buyer’s remorse should not be far behind. So don’t be the one buying this dead-on-arrival stock.
Rewind to April of last year, when management signed a neutrality agreement with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the California Nurses Association (CNA) allowing them to organize uncontested in 20 hospitals in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Nevada. Employees didn’t stand a chance against the unions’ organizers. CNA added 5,000 members at 13 HCA hospitals, losing not one single election, while SEIU added 4,500. It’s no coincidence that management filed for an IPO in May once the neutrality agreement, or hush money, was in place to appease the workers until the IPO was done.
Management stuffed their own coffers last spring, borrowing $2.25 billion to pay themselves a dividend. But the IPO market was still stone cold. In order not to miss out on the $4.6 billion they hoped for in offering, they decided to cancel the December IPO and instead sold $1.53 billion in junk bonds to investors in November to finance another $2-billion dividend. They’ve since filed again for an IPO for this year.
Even though management had a neutrality agreement with SEIU and CNA in four states, unrest continued to brew among the unionized force in other states who knew all too well about management’s fat dividends and largesse. And union workers at HCA’s five hospitals in California threatened to strike unless they got a better deal.
Making good on their threat, nurses in SEIU Local 121RN went on strike at two California hospitals, Riverside Community Hospital and West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, for five days beginning December 23 and ending December 28. Having received a strike sanction, which is an agreement by other unions like delivery drivers not to cross the picket line, it became more like a community strike. Imagine how the patients stuck inside felt. The politicians didn’t care. Bob Blumenfield, assembly member, 40th District, and Fran Pavley, state senator, 23rd District, supported the strikers. Governor-elect Jerry Brown, when asked if he supported the strike, asked who it was against and replied, “Oh, yes!”
The neutrality agreement among HCA, SEIU, and CNA for the 20 hospitals in four states expires in April. It looks like the owners won’t be able to pull off the IPO before it expires, but don’t be surprised if another one is signed. It’s an easy and inconceivable way to run a business when you think about it from a small business owner’s standpoint. Who in their right mind would turn their employees over to union organizers with a promise not to interfere or try to stop them from organizing?
In 2007, Tenet Healthcare signed a backroom deal similar to the above neutrality agreement with CNA. Joanne K. McGovern and her coworkers at Hahnemann University Hospital rejected unionization. Yet Tenet and CNA are acting as if the election never occurred and have announced a new election. You can bet there will be election after election until the workers are unionized. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seems to be sitting back, having not ruled on the initial rejection by workers. Keep in mind that the NLRB is led by none other than Mr. Pro-Labor Craig Becker, whose confirmation was rejected by Congress, and who was later appointed by President Obama in a controversial recess appointment.
With union membership on the decline, these neutrality agreements are exactly how big labor will take on private businesses. The larger implications of this are scary, not only from an investment standpoint but potentially for your medical care. According to the American Hospital Directory, HCA and Tenet operate 18 of the 20 largest for-profit hospitals in the country.
Wall Street, unions, and politicians all have their eye on the golden ring. Expect more strikes by other local unions around the country that work for HCA, supported by politicians looking for votes, while management scrambles for more ways to pick the meat from this bone. You’d be smart to stay far away from the HCA IPO, which will be dead on arrival.
E.J. Smith
E.J. Smith is Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com.
Latest posts by E.J. Smith (see all)
The FIRE Movement by the Numbers - July 16, 2019
Captain’s Log from Your Survival Guy’s Fourth of July Weekend - July 15, 2019
The IRS is Coming after Your IRA with this Hidden Tax - July 12, 2019
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Z-Machine Matter
A resource for playing and writing Interactive Fiction
Books, Films, Radio etc
Dark Adventure Radio Theater
In my prior post on the Case of Charles Dexter Ward, I mentioned the HPLHS Dark Adventure Radio Theater adaptations. Just in case it wasn't clear, I am a huge fan of these vintage '30's style radio dramas. They are excellent dramatic of many of H.P. Lovecraft's stories. I've listened to many of the stories and they have some classics: "At the Mountains of Madness," The Call of Cthulu," "Dreams in the Witch House" all done in a dead-on OTR (Old Time Radio) format. Other than "Brotherhood of the Beast", which was based on an RPG game rather than a canonical story, they have been uniformly excellent. (That one just wasn't my cup of tea.) These shows are available directly from the HPLHS web site as well as from Amazon and Audible. However, if you buy them from the HPLHS web site you can also get the "props" including postcards, newspaper stories and similar ephemeral material. That said, they are somewhat expensive, around $20 as CDs with props, or slightly less as MP3 downloads.
BBC: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, Downloads
HPLHS: Dark Adventure Radio, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
Posted at 05:40 AM in Books, Films, Radio etc | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: HP Lovecraft, HPLHS, OTR, Radio drama
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward Podcast
Somehow a random internet search landed me upon the BBC Case of Charles Dexter Ward podcast. This is possibly one of the best adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft's stories I've encountered. It's like a cross between NPR's serial, the X-Files and good ol' HPL himself. BBC Radio 4 produced this 10 episode adaptation and it is completely worth binging on. I listened to the first 5 episodes on a long drive and I found it riveting.
It's a modern adaptation that uses the podcast format to good effect. It starts as a simple "locked room" mystery being investigated by two podcast journalists. They run a show called (wait for it...) Mystery Machine, replete with requests for funding. This show is so good, it actually had me reaching for my wallet. From there, it expands to a broader tale of madness, occultism, conspiracy, underground tunnels, murder and evil librarians.
I won't go into the details except to say it is completely updated to the 21st century which gives it a verisimilitude that makes it much creepier than most HPL adaptations. The production is top notch and you feel like you are listening to a smalltime investigative podcast recorded via iPhone; you're hearing their discoveries as they are happening with phone calls, audio clips, interviews etc. It's a format that invites you into the scene so that you really feel a part of it. Hopefully there will be a second season which continues the story.
I love the 1930's charm of the HPLHS Dark Adventure Radio Theater adaptations, but this is a uniquely modern twist on classic Lovecraft. (And of course, both are very worthwhile.)
Wiki: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
News: The Guardian, The Verge
Tags: BBC Radio, HP Lovecraft, HPLHS, Miskatonic, mythos, Podcast
Infocom Source Code and Resources
Last month, Jason Scott, Internet Archivist and director of the terrific Get Lamp interactive fiction documentary, posted an entire hard drive's worth of Infocom source code on GitHub. I thought I'd share a few observations and links to resources that might be helpful to others in exploring this code and the history of Infocom.
The GitHub repositories include the original ZIL source code to thirty classic interactive fiction games from the '80s: Zork, Planetfall, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and my personal favorites, the mystery stories Deadline, Suspect and The Witness. There are also unpublished fragments including the lost Hitchhiker's sequel Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Stu Galley's unreleased Checkpoint game, and an ill-fated tie-in to James Cameron's movie The Abyss.
The games are written in a defunct proprietary Lisp-like language called ZIL (Zork Implementation Language). Sadly, I'm not aware of any working compilers that can compile this code, though I understand There are efforts underway to redevelop a ZIL compiler and most of the Infocom games are now compilable. Which is cool since the Z-Machine is the basis of the underlying architecture and virtual machine code systems for games written in Inform. Infocom published a manual for ZIL for internal use that is available online. Zarf has also posted a helpful article on ZIL. To me ZIL is kind of like assembly language (with (parentheses)), but the code is still fascinating.
The original MDL mainframe version of Zork (also known as Dungeon) was later translated into Fortran and then machine translated into C. These are higher-level languages than ZIL, but still hard slogging. Luckily, Zork was later ported to Inform6 and Inform7.
Some years ago Volker Lanz wrote and published equivalent version of Deadline in Inform6, but it requires an old version of Inform and as far as I can tell there's no compiled binary version of the game. Most likely the author was concerned that this might have been too close for comfort as copyright violation. It will be interesting to see if anyone translates any of these Infocom games into a modern equivalent in Inform 7.
Scott had previously posted several Infocom file cabinets --digitized versions of Infocom printed materials including design documents, internal memos, sales reports, logo designs, photos, advertisements, etc which provide a fascinating glimpse into the internal operations of Infocom during it's hey day.
No one seems to have complained about the posting of the Infocom source code, but if it's of interest, I'd get it quick.
For those interested in the history of Infocom and the impact of it's games, I strongly recommend the well-written student research project The History of Infocom (PDF) as well as Jimmy Maher's excellent articles at The Digital Antiquarian.
And for further historical context, here's a link to the Infocom Documentary Scott released along with Get Lamp:
GitHub: Historical Source, Zork, PlanetFall, Deadline, Hitchhiker's Guide
Zork source code: MDL, ZIL, Fortran, C, Inform6, Inform7
News: Motherboard, BoingBoing, Vice, GamaSutra
Articles: What is Zil anyway?, ZIL and the Z-Machine, The Birth of Infocom
Byte: Zork and the Future of Computerized Fantasy Simulations (PDF)
Get Lamp: Web site, YouTube Interviews, Review, Infocom Documentary
Archive: ZIL Manual, Infocom, Infocom Cabinet, The Story of Infocom, Infocom Gallery
Wikipedia: Z-Machine, Inform, Infocom, Get Lamp
Waxy: Milliways - Infocom's Unreleased Sequel and the Lost Infocom Drive
(The only blog post on the internet where it's worth reading the comments)
Z-Machine Matter: Get Lamp
Posted at 02:44 PM in Books, Films, Radio etc, History, Infocom, Programming | Permalink | Comments (2)
Tags: archives, deadline, infocom, Inform, programming, source code, witness, ZIL
John Yorke's Into The Woods
Here's another book for aspiring writers, called “Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey Into Story.” Although the book is primarily about screenwriting, I think it's quite good for game authors or novelists who want a better understanding of story structure. first of this book on the British Podcast “The Bestseller Experiment.” This is a very well written analysis of story structure by BBC TV producer and script editor John Yorke. Yorke has also worked in radio and video games, so his ideas have quite broad applicability. Unlike a lot of screenwriting books, Yorke is attempting to provide a formula for perfection. Instead he explains why certain structures are used and their impact on the story. So if Blake Snyder's "Save The Cat" and Robert McKee's "Story" seems a bit too formulaic, you might like the more scholarly inquiry that Yorke provides.
For writers seeking a bit of inspiration, BXP is the best podcast I’ve found on writing: informative, entertaining and motivational. What more could you ask for? It’s the ongoing story of two middle-aged blokes in their quest to write and and publish a bestselling novel called “Back To Reality” --currently on sale for $0.99. They’ve done some great interviews with a number of authors I admire, including Ian Rankin, Joe Hill, Michael Connelly, Taylor Jenkins-Reid and more.
Amazon: Into the Woods, Back to Reality
John Yorke: Official Site, Courses, Video Games
Bestseller Experiment: Podcast, Blog
Tags: podcast, resources, story structure, video games
Daisy Jones & The Six
I admit, I have a weakness for rock and roll biogs: The Doors, The Kinks, The Ramones, The Clash, KISS; I've read them all. Hell, I've read and enjoyed biogs by bands like Kraftwerk and I don't even particularly like their music! But it's pretty rare to find a novel that does rock and roll justice. Daisy Jones & The Six comes pretty close to being the perfect rock and roll novel.
The book is told entirely as an oral history charting the rise and fall of a fictional 1970s band Daisy Jones & The Six. This is quite different from a traditional novel and the story reads like an extended Rolling Stone or MTV interview with a real band. The device works extremely well and pulls you into each of the characters, their foibles, their egos in a way that brings things to life. The story is being told many years after the fact, and the sometimes conflicting accounts are used to great effect in the story. You can still feel the raw emotions of how peoples lives are brought together including all of the joys, pains, hurt feelings and bruised egos. The characters are not always likable and the structure gives the book a bit of a meandering style, but it all comes together in a way that I can only describe as heartwrenching. Jenkins Reid has layered so much drama and emotion into the story that the climax is nothing short of magnificent. She captures the feeling of performance, songwriting, fame and addiction in a way that is truly memorable.
The book had been on my list for a while, but when I heard an interview with the author Jenkins Reid on the highly-addictive Bestseller Experiment podcast, I bought the book immediately on Audible. The book works especially well in audio because each of the different characters is voiced by a different actor. It's a fantastic book which I highly recommend. The only other novel I know that captures rock and roll is "Evening's Empire" by Former MTV exec Bill Flanagan. Flanagan's book is in some ways both funnier and deeper, but Jenkins-Reid's will may you cry.
Amazon: Daisy Jones & The Six
Bestseller Experiment: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Guitarvibe: Evening's Empire - Greatest Rock Novel Ever
Rolling Stone: Daisy Jones & The Six
Posted at 07:03 PM in Books, Films, Radio etc | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: bestseller experiment, bio, Daisy Jones, rock
I've been revising the latest draft of my novel, "Gumshoe Rules." The publisher asked me to provide more historical context around some events during and following World War II. As a result, I have been researching the liberation of the Mittelwerk slave labor manufacturing facility by the 104th Infantry Division of the Army and Operation Paperclip, the US Government program to recruit German scientists to the US after the war. Both of these elements feature in the background of the story.
For those who are curious about Operation Paperclip, I highly recommend the book of that name by Annie Jacobsen. She provides a detailed account of many famous scientist and doctors who were recruited to the US, including Wernher von Braun, who was instrumental in developing the Saturn V rockets which powered the Apollo mission to the moon. He also ran the underground slave labor factory which made V-2 rockets at Mittelwerk and was both a Nazi party member and a Sturmbannfuhrer in the SS. I don't think any of these scientists were quite what they purported to be, but the US government did not want them falling into the hands of the Russians.
So that’s been the focus for the past month. I’m glad to report that a new revised outline has been submitted and new writing has begun. While it’s still the same noir detective murder mystery, there is a more ambitious middle section and an overall faster pace. My book is available for pre-order at Inkshares and I expect to finish all of the rewriting and editing in the next couple of months.
Amazon: Operation Paperclip
Inkshares: Gumshoe Rules
Wikipedia: Operation Paperclip, Wernher Von Braun, Mittelwerk
Posted at 02:57 PM in Books, Films, Radio etc, History | Permalink | Comments (2)
Tags: Inkshares, Mittelwerk, Nazi, Operation Paperclip, SS, Wernher von Braun, WWII
13 Tips For NaNoWriMo Success
Writing a book is grueling. And writing a book in a month, the basic premise of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), is like running a marathon.
A year ago, I wrote the first draft of my novel “Gumshoe Rules” during NaNoWriMo, clocking in at 55,000 words. This was the first time I’d written a novel after years of contemplation. Having made it to the end with a manuscript and a few days to spare, I thought I’d share my tips for how to get successfully to the finish line.
Writing is not easy. And writing a novel in 30 days is especially hard. Lots of people think that one day they’ll go do it. The trick is to make today that day and then do it again for 29 more days. I guarantee if you follow these tips, you will increase your probability of success. It’s like running a marathon. Anyone who wants to run a marathon can do it; but you’ve got to lace up your running shoes and train for it. (I’ve done both; running a marathon is much easier.)
So here are my essential tips for NaNoWriMo.
Do The Upfront Planning
Since November is NaNoWriMo, right now, the balance of October, should be your time to figure out what it is you’re going to write. While some people can “pants” their way through a first draft, you are far better off having a plan for your work. This should include a clear understanding of the genre you’re writing (mystery, science fiction, romance, etc.), the main characters, their backgrounds and what essential conflict the main character will face. If you can develop a rough outline that breaks the story into a three-act structure and identifies key scenes, setbacks and challenges, so much the better. You don’t have to be locked into the outline, but when you’re trying to write every day, it helps to have a clear idea of what comes next.
While you are visualizing your story and how it will play out, it’s also important to visualize your story as author. To keep motivated and focused in training for a Marathon, there are times when it is beneficial to mentally rehearse the race. By focusing on how you will feel when it’s done, you can get through the ups and downs along the way. You see yourself at the finish line, smiling, being cheered, having a massage or a celebratory dinner afterward. You visualize how the months of training will pay off and you savor the success, even if it is all in your head. You can do the same thing with NaNoWriMo. Think of your pending success, the feel and weight of a 150-page manuscript in your hand, the satisfaction of finishing the task, the celebratory dinner. This will help you through the daily writing grind and keep you motivated.
Completing 50,000 words in November means you’ve got to write about 1,700 words (just over 3 pages) every day for 30 days. The best way to accomplish this is to go into anti-social mode. Cut whatever distractions and commitments you can. Just say no to TV, Netflix, movies, dinner with friends, family visits, doctor’s appointments, whatever. If you can send your family out of town, so much the better. For most writers it takes 2–3 hours per day to get their word count done. And sometimes it’s more than that.
I know writers who start their writing at 6am every day. I know others who steal away every evening. Evenings worked for me.
Many successful writers say this daily discipline is what makes the difference between a published writer and a dreamer. So carve out your daily time commitment and stick to it every single day.
Writing may seem self-indulgent at times, but it is important to broaden your view. After all, you are writing to create a story for your readers. They may not know it yet, but you are writing for them. You have a duty to supply this material to your readers. Even if at times it feels like it’s just for you, your brother and the family dog.
Assuming you’ve got a day job and some commitments you can’t get out of, create blocks of time where you can. Brown bag your lunch to work, plug in your headphones and get writing. Need an extra hour? Go to work early and start writing. Got a flight out of town? That’s several hours of uninterrupted work.
The one thing I would not cut back is exercise. If you’ve got a regular exercise regimen, keep to it. You’ll need it.
Write Fast and Loose
When you’re writing, it’s best to dive right in and not worry too much about perfection. NaNoWriMo is all about getting things down on paper and fixing them later. If you don’t get ideas on paper there’s nothing to work with. Even a bad scene is still a scene that can be improved. The trick is to stop yourself from self-censoring or critiquing as you go.
New writers often struggle with “where do I start.” If you’ve got an outline, just start with the first scene. (You did write an outline, right?) Who’s there? What’s the conflict? Who or what is holding them back? What is your hero’s first action to move things forward? Create dramatic tension to keep things moving. Having that tension build across multiple scenes is a good way to keep the pace fast. Your reader will be more engaged, and so will you.
If you’re not sure how a scene should unfold ask yourself: What would be the crappiest way to move this along? It might be some cliché from Scooby Do or some old trope you’ve seen in a dozen movies. That sets the low bar; in a first draft it’s perfectly acceptable. Hell, it might even work in the final draft if it’s well written. Often when you figure out the worst way to move a scene forward, you will come up with two or three ideas that clear that low bar, even just a smidge. Once you’ve got an acceptable idea, or even a lousy one, write it and move on.
You want to write with a fast and loose style so that whatever ideas come to you, you put them on paper. Don’t think about it too much and don’t worry that it’s not perfect. Just roll with it. Write the scene and move on to see how the characters respond to whatever predicament you’ve put them in.
Steady Wins the Race
Do your best to hit your 1,700 word count every day. You can post your word count at the NaNoWriMo web site at the end of the day. It can be hugely motivating to see the word count climb, especially if you have a couple of days that break 2,000 words and you end up ahead of the game. If you can make it through the first week and cross the 10,000 word mark you are much more likely to finish the project successfully. Everyone has a few off days, but writing a novel is all about maintaining discipline. Get your butt in the chair, turn on your computer and write.
Don’t Edit
One of the best things about NaNoWriMo is you can treat it as a non-stop improv theater where you put words on paper without worrying about how good they are. (Trust me, any words you write are great. Or at least they’re a great start!)
It’s important to resist the urge to edit as you go. That will only slow you down. The more you listen to your inner critic the less progress you will make. Many would-be novelists never get past the first few chapters, because they keep going back and editing. That might make for a great first chapter, but it can easily prevent you from getting to the end.
If you’ve ever seen the start to a marathon, you know that the bigger the crowd, the less likely anyone has a fast first mile. But in my years of marathon running, I’ve never seen anyone go back and redo the first mile to get a better pace.
NaNoWriMo is all about maintaining forward momentum. You’ll have plenty of time to edit when the first draft is completed. But not in November.
Make Writing a Ritual
Not to get too pretentious about it, but if you can formalize a ritual around writing, it will help you stay focused. For me, it was mostly writing in the evenings, by myself, without distraction. No music, no internet, no nothing. I wrote at the dining room table every day. Weekends, I would write during the afternoons and take walk breaks when necessary. Usually coffee was involved. Often chocolate. Sometimes beer.
The point is to make it a habit and surround it by things that signal “now is the time to write.” You can write with headphones in a coffee shop if that’s your thing. Or at the library. Or on the train. But figure out what works for you and repeat it. The more ritual there is, the easier it is to tell yourself (and others) that you are going to be busy for the next few hours slaying dragons, solving murders, fighting aliens or what have you.
Take a Walk
When you get stuck, it’s not a bad idea to take a short break. Staring at your computer for three hours when you’re out of ideas isn’t much fun and it isn’t productive. While I was writing, I would make sure I had written at least 500 words before taking a break. But when I was stuck, I found it helpful to go outside for five minutes. Or get a coffee. Or go for a 30 minute run.
Sometimes you need to let your subconscious take over for a while. Getting outside works great for this. (Don’t distract yourself with TV, email or Internet; there’s no coming back from that.) Often I would have a new idea when running and couldn’t wait to get back to my writing. Boom. Another 500 words done.
Once you develop these habits to help you get unstuck, it’s no longer the soul-crushing feeling it used to be. It’s like having an idea pen that runs out of ink. No problem, I’ll just walk to my subconscious cupboard outside and I know I can replenish it.
When in Doubt, Add More Action
Raymond Chandler famously wrote: “When in doubt have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand.” That might sound like a cliché, but if you’re writing a mystery or thriller, it is pretty good advice. I used it at least twice when I was stuck last November and it worked great to amplify the tension by surprising my main character, Jack Waters an insurance investigator.
If you’re writing in a different a genre, a gun might not be the right thing. The point is to insert a dramatic moment that demands the characters’ reaction. Maybe it’s the sudden reappearance of a long lost wizard now transformed into a deity. Or a surprise attack of Romulans using a new cloaking device. Or an explosion and the loss of electricity and phone lines. Or a late night phone call with bad news, the kind we all dread.
Action scenes keep the characters on their toes and keep the pace fast. Most writers benefit from more action and less narrative. That’s what keeps the readers turning the page.
Good Dialog Makes Conflict Personal
One thing that can set your writing apart, is by focusing on solid dialog. There are some authors (Elmore Leonard, Robert B. Parker, John Steinbeck, Ian Rankin) who are renowned for their dialog. It breathes life into the characters in a way that nothing else does. It heightens conflict and grabs the reader’s attention. It can also be a lot of fun to write.
If you’re not sure how to bring out a conflict, put the characters in a scene together. Make it into a confrontation with emotional impact. Show the characters working out a problem. You can convey their emotions, their fears and concerns by what is said and what is left unsaid. Strong dialog leaps off the page.
The only downside is good dialog is somewhat sparse on the page. So you’ll write it fast, and it contributes to page count. The only negative is it won’t drive your word count up as much as a bunch of dense description. But then again, if you write good dialog, no one will ever skip over it.
Get With Other NaNoWriMo Writers
While I wouldn’t say running a marathon is easy, one thing you find is that for many races there are people along the course cheering you on. It is much easier to run a marathon when there’s a crowd than it is to run 26.2 miles by yourself.
The same is true for NaNoWriMo. If you’re in a major city, there are NaNoWriMo gatherings as well as global online events. For a few days last November I went to a local library. It wasn’t a big group, but there were cookies, coffee and that feeling we’re doing it together.
At the end of every evening, no matter how late, I would search for the #nanowrimo tag on Twitter and send words of encouragement randomly to other writers who had posted their progress. I also happened to get a nice shout-out from one of my favorite authors, Anthony Horowitz. You can’t imagine how excited I was next day to go back to the creative coal mines.
You can do the same on Facebook or anywhere. But just be careful that you do this after you’ve hit your daily word count.
Get Inspired By Other Writers
Writing is a lonely experience. But you can find good advice from those who have done this before. There are tons of resources for new writers. If you’ve got a commute, I strongly recommend listening to writing podcasts such as Mark Dawson’s Self-Publishing Formula, Kevin Tumlinson’s Wordslinger or any of the Sterling & Stone podcasts. These shows have a mix of interviews with writers talking about how they got started and practical advice on characters, plot and pacing. But more importantly, they help you feel that you’re in a community where you can learn from others.
I also strongly recommend two books: Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Grant Faulkner’s “Pep Talks for Writers.” Both are available in print and in audio form. Faulkner is the executive director of NaNoWriMo and his book was written specifically to help new authors through the process.
You can easily overdo it by listening to podcasts or buying books instead of writing. So keep in mind: a little motivation goes a long way; too much motivation gets in the way.
When You’re Done, Put It Aside
When you get to the end of November hopefully you will have 50,000 words written and you can proudly say “mission accomplished.” Likely you will feel happy but exhausted. And maybe a bit over-eager to share your finished manuscript with friends or sign up for Kindle Direct Publishing and send your masterpiece out into the world. Or possibly you’re thinking this is the worst piece of garbage that’s ever been written. It’s not uncommon to believe both of these at different times in the writing process.
However the best advice I have is to put your first draft aside for at least three weeks. Take a break. Get back in touch with friends and family you’ve neglected. Go out for a nice meal. Celebrate the accomplishment. But resist the urge to read what you’ve written and don’t share it with others. Wait at least 3 weeks before reading it. If you wait until new year, that’s not a bad idea. It will give you the ability to read your manuscript with some objectivity.
You might be surprised that some things you wrote make you smile or laugh. For sure there will be things that cause you to cringe. But no matter. Now that you’ve written your manuscript it will need editing. You can do some amount of re-editing yourself, marking up the pages that your November self wrote. If you want to pursue publishing the book, I encourage you to look into hiring a professional editor. I used Reedsy to hire experienced editors to help with plot, characters and pacing. (Reedsy also has many free writing tools and articles.)
Very few people produce a first draft that is publishable; most authors go through at least three major revisions. But once you have your first draft, you are well on your way to success. And if I can write a novel, I know you can too. All you have to do is take the first step.
Zack Urlocker is a technology executive. His first novel “Gumshoe Rules” was written during NaNoWriMo 2017 and is now available at Inkshares. https://www.inkshares.com/books/gumshoe-rules
For each order of “Gumshoe Rules” now through the end of November, Zack will donate donate $5 to the National Novel Writing Month 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Tags: Inkshares, Marathon, NaNoWriMo, On Writing, Stephen King
Gumshoe Rules Available for Order
My novel, Gumshoe Rules, is now is now available for order at Inkshares. They are running a Mystery & Thriller contest and if I can get enough people to order then it becomes a legit published book. It has long been my dream to write and publish and this seems like a fun way to do it.
It's a noir detective story, set at the height of the Cold War. A disgraced WWII veteran-turned-private detective investigates the death of a German scientist, only to discover their paths crossed during the liberation of a sinister Nazi labor camp in 1945. The novel is written in a hardboiled style influenced by Raymond Chandler, with elements of Agatha Christie as well as more modern influences like Anthony Horowitz and Philip Kerr.
Inkshares has an interesting model where they let readers decide what books should be published. I know two authors, Tal Klein (The Punch Escrow) and Christopher Huang (A Gentleman's Murder) who have successfully published through Inkshares.
Interactive Fiction fans may recognize Huang as the author of several excellent games including my personal favorite An Act of Murder, as well as games related to his book. I was inspired by his game to begin working on an IntroComp game called The Z-Machine Matter some years ago and that became the basis for my novel.
Inkshares: Gumshoe Rules, A Gentleman's Murder, The Punch Escrow
Amazon: A Gentleman's Murder, The Punch Escrow
Christopher Huang: IFDB, IF Comp reviews, Blog
Posted at 10:38 PM in Books, Films, Radio etc, Game | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tags: Inkshares, Mystery, Noir Detective
A Gentleman's Murder
Prolific Interactive Fiction author Chris Huang has published his debut novel "A Gentleman's Murder" published by Inkshares. This is a classic "golden age" detective story set in London in the 1920s, rich in atmosphere and colorful characters. Huang's writing style will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Martin Edwards and other classic English mystery writers. Huang brings a modern angle to this genre by dealing with complex issues like race, discrimination and the impact of PSTD on soldiers.
Interactive fiction fans will recall that Huang was the author of the wonderful "An Act of Murder" as well as three shorter pieces in the Peterkins Investigates series.
Huang has sold the TV rights to this book and hopefully this will lead to more Peterkins Investigates stories.
Amazon: A Gentleman's Murder
Peterkins Investigates: Main site, Blog, Games
Press: CBC Interview, Jacqui Castle Interview
IFDB: Chris Huang
Posted at 07:45 AM in Books, Films, Radio etc, Game | Permalink | Comments (0)
Death in Ice Valley
BBC Radio 4 in collaboration with NRK, the national radio of Norway, has launched a new podcast "Death in Ice Valley." It's a modern cold-case investigation of the mysterious 1970 death of a woman in a remote part of Norway known as Isdal, or ice valley. It's one of those strange cases, like the "Somerton Man," that gets more complex the more you dig in. How did she die? Why were the tags clipped from her clothing? Where was she from? Did she have a false identity?
So far, two episodes have been produced. The production and writing are excellent. Clearly this team has been influenced by the well researched Serial show from NPR. While things start a bit slow, each episode ends with more unanswered questions. The story is told jointly by NRK investigative journalist Marit Higraff and documentary filmmaker Neil McCarthy in a style is reminiscent of the BBC's radio versions the Martin Beck Swedish police procedurals. Because the case is not quite fifty years old, there are interviews with witnesses who met or investigated the Isdal woman who are still alive today.
You can download the series from the BBC or wherever you get your podcasts. If you've listened to the show, let me know what you think of it by posting a comment below.
BBC: Death in Ice Valley Podcast
BBC: Isdal Woman - Mystery Death Haunts Norway, Major Breakthrough
Spectator: Who Was The Isdal Woman?
Independent: New True Crime Podcast
Boing Boing: Podcast Hopes to Solve Death in Norway's Isdalen Valley
Wikipedia: Isdal Woman, Somerton Man
Z-Machine Matter: The Mysterious Affair at Somerton
Tags: BBC, isdal valley, podcast, somerton man
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Lies- Response To Post Newspaper’s Editorial Comment
By Muhabi Lungu
Dear Mr Fred M’membe,
RE: LIES-A Response To Post Newspaper’s Editorial Comment-“WHY IS MMD OPPOSING SATA’S INDECO IDEA? PART III
It has been exactly one month, on 14th February 2014, since I personally delivered to your offices, the first part of my third letter to you in answer to your editorial question of 8th January 2014. In your intentionally sinister and propagandist editorial, you inquired as to the reasons why the MMD stands opposed to “Sata’s Indeco Idea?” I believe that in the last two letters, I have furnished you with sufficient arguments as to the reasons the MMD stand opposed to this anachronistic, out of time and out of context idea. Since you have not responded to my three letters so far, I have concluded that either you are waiting for me to finish all the four letters, as promised by myself or that you have seen it beneath you to respond to my arguments. Either way, you could at least have attempted to redeem yourself by having the decency to print my side of the story in your newspaper. You, as a person, do not have to take me seriously, especially if you think you are all high and mighty. However, you need not fear to allow your readers to take me seriously, if truth is on your side. I suppose that this would be asking for too much. Anyway, I guess we all now know what that makes you!
Your basic premise in that editorial was that “the MMD government blindly pursued neoliberal policies which have not brought any meaningful development to the country for the two decades that they were in power.” You further went on to denigrate the ‘imposed’ neoliberal concept, literally equating it to an evil system. You then conclude by stating the following; “we reject capitalism, in its economic expression as well as in its ideological basis, which favours individualism, profit, and exploitation of humanity by humanity.” You then proceeded to religiously extol the virtues of socialism and used it as the firm foundation by which you believe that all of us ‘ignorant economist’ should support the wonderful INDECO idea as proposed by President Michael Sata. According to you, only then, can Poverty be a thing of the past.
It has been my view that your editorial of Wednesday January 8th 2014, is one of the most uninformed, shallow and pedestrian comments on an economic subject that I have come across in decades. It was verbose vituperations, born out of ignorance of general economic principles. However and in accordance with your prioritization, I noted the three thematic arguments you put forward in support of the Indeco idea. These were as follows; the theoretical underpinnings of Capitalism vs. Socialism; the efficacy and goodness of the INDECO idea in itself; and the value systems or the characteristics of the people entrusted to execute these ideas.
In the first two parts of my third letter, I believe that the efficacy and goodness of the Indeco Idea was sufficiently tackled and totally discredited. Thereby successfully providing the rationale as to why the MMD leadership was opposed to the re-introduction of the Industrial Development Corporation. I went further to dispute your untruthful assertion, a blue lie, that MMD achieved nothing in its twenty years of governance; in fact proving to you that enormous achievement towards economic growth and improvements in the conditions of the vast majority of our people was actually made. Of greater significant, plenty of empirical evidence was adduced in regard to the failures of INDECO and the subsequent collapse of the socialist economic base it was supposed to support. In part three, I will primarally deal with the theoretical underpinnings of Capitalism vs. Socialism. Finally, I will conclude with a brief discussion on the value systems, and the characteristics of the people entrusted to execute your revisionist socialist INDECO Idea.
Underpinnings of Capitalism vs. Socialism/The Zambian Experience
Before I delve into the arguments, pro and against, for either of the two stages theories of development, let me just briefly divert and deal with your malicious lie that the MMD blindly pursued or ‘imposed’ neoliberal policies on helpless Zambians. Firstly, you must acknowledge that the economic policies introduced in 1991 were generally as a result of the world wide trend towards a movement to the free market economic mechanism and away from commandist economic systems. This was brought about by the economic and political collapse of the Soviet Union; the leader and flag bearer of the Leninist Socialist Republic. The most significant iconic event of the era was the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The symbolic incident, drallwing of the iron curtain, occurred one year after the last presidential and general elections of the one party state, held in 1988, by the socialist inclined UNIP.
This is significant and it shall be explored at another time. Suffice to say, that UNIP itself, had began to move towards neoliberal economic policies and the capitalist agenda after the elections of 1988. A Technical Committee on privatization of the parastatal sector was appointed by the Kaunda Administration. I do recall having a discussion with my Development Economics Lecturer, at the time, Professor Venkatesh Seshamani, and other lectureors at the University of Zambia, who were being consulted by the Committee looking at ways of possibly “privatising with a human face.” Therefore, the initiation of the denationalization of ZIMCO and INEDCO was started by the socialist UNIP and not the MMD. Even the Agriculture’s centrepiece institution of the National Agriculture Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) was abolished around this same time by the United National Independence Party; of course, with a little urging from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
This directional change towards capitalism was happening in almost all the former states in the socialist crusading Soviet block, Latin America, Middle East, Asia and in almost all the African countries. This trend was the exact opposite of a trend of equal magnitude, occurring 30 years earlier in the 1960’s. Then, it was a movement away from capitalism going towards socialism and decolonization. The main driving force at that time was economic nationalism. I understand it and respect it because the nationalist were reacting to the choking influence and limitations placed upon them by the capitalist of the imperial colonial era. The Buchizya Kaundas’ and the Kambaragi Nyereres’ were not blindly pursuing this socialist agenda. It was the fashion of the time, born out of their immediate personal struggles and experiences. Equally, it is incorrect to suggest that the MMD blindly pursued neoliberal polices in the early 90’s. It was the en’vogue (the in thing); the fashion of the decade of economic liberalization and open market Glasnost and Perestroika. In any case, your beloved President Michael Sata did not seem to object and was firmly at President Chiluba’s right hand. Just for your information, China, had already began to move towards this direction with its reforms of 1978; a decade earlier.
MMD’s peculiar version of the Neoliberal Agenda in the 1990’s/2000
Indeed, it is a statement of fact that the MMD’s economic agenda has always been driven by the belief that the private sector is the most efficient allocator of resources. However, the veracity of their belief and the level of divergence between extreme right wing Monetarism of Milton Freidman and the slightly right of centre Keynesians defined the two decades governed by the MMD.
This dichotomy was represented by two separate administrations pursuing differing versions of the free market model. While the Chiluba Administration was Freidman in nature the Mwanawasa and Banda Administrations where Keynesian in approach. The defining difference is that the Chiluba Administration fully believed that Government had “No Business in Business,” while the Mwanawasa and Banda Administrations adopted Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (FDR) approach of the “New Deal”. A purely Keynesian concept which states that government has a role in jump starting private sector aggregate demand when there is a recession or a great depression. Such was the case after the great depression of the 1930’s when Roosevelt’s new deal first came to light, supported by a Keynesian book entitled ‘The Means to Prosperity’ first published in 1933; the worst year of the Great Depression. This theory gained and influenced minds both in Germany and Sweden during this time. However, the foundation of economic policies pursued during the decade after the Great Depression, by FDR were primarily guided by the ‘General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money’ published in 1936 by the British economist John Maynard Keynes. This was the book that rose to challenge the neoclassic economic theories of that day. The same progression happened here in Zambia as we transitioned from the Chiluba to the Mwanawasa Administration.
Under the Mwanawasa Administration, development planning was reintroduced and hence the Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP), the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and the Vision 2030; all planning instruments of a socially conscience MMD administration. I myself was the ‘Focal Point Person’ for some of these instruments while I was at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. Equally I was also there, as a committee member of the Manifesto Committee, when UNIP was drafting its 1996 Manifesto, under the chairmanship of Francis Nkhoma; another Keynesian economist. In 1996 UNIP made a fundamental change from being a socialist inclined party to a social market democratic organization with it fundamental roots based on the free market. The New Deal Administration of Mwanawasa stated clearly that through stimulating aggregate demand the government can embank on massive infrastructure projects and if need be, introduce socialist type support structures such as subsidies in a targeted manner. Hence, the reintroduction of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in 2003. The Banda Administration continued with these policies and came up with the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).
Both of these approaches, pursued by two different administrations, are perfectly fine and are often considered within the context of the particular structure of the economy. For example, the main economic drivers of the first MMD administration, Ronald Penza, BY Mwila, Emanuel Kasonde, Vernon Johnston Mwaanga, Arthur Wina, Sikota Wina, Humphrey Mulemba, Akashambatwa Mbekusita Lewanika, Baldwin Nkumbula, Dean Mung’omba, Simon Zukas, Dipak Patel etc were all private sector businessmen who either abrogated the leadership code during the time of UNIP or were direct beneficiaries or victims of the industrialization process emanating out of the ZIMCO/INDECO idea. These men had seen the short comings of the socialist agenda first hand and had seen its follies and its destructive impact on the economy of Zambia. They felt choked as businessmen and desperately wanted to reintroduce the free market so that their businesses could expand. So, it made sense for the MMD, at that time, to pursue extreme right wing monetarist economic polices with a passion. So much so that the agenda of the trade union movement, led by Fredrick Chiluba and others, who may have had socialist linings, was completely overrun. I remember, personally debating with Honourable Ronald Penza about his extreme right wing views, and I can confirm to you that he genuinely believed that it was the right thing to do at the time. Nobody needed to convince Ronald Penza, BY Mwila and Emanuel Kasonde about neoliberal policies. They thrived on them. I disagreed with them, but I respected that it came from a real place of belief in their ideological frame of mind and in their practical personal experience.
You Mr Fred M’membe have absolutely no locus standi to make accusations that these men connived with imperialist forces and blindly pursued these injurious policies. You have no locus standi to make such accusations because you were not involved and you were of no consequence at the time. In fact, the newspaper you now own, was birthed during this great revival of the free market when Mike Hall and Melinda Ham established the paper with the help of other capitalist entrepreneurs such as Baldwin Nkumbula, Simon Zukas, Enoch Kavindele, Morris Attalla, Katongo Maine and Theo Bull etc. Your role in the establishment of this capitalist crusading newspaper, then called the Weekly Post, was insignificant. I certainly do not begrudge the tremendous contributions you have made to the paper, including the numerous awards you have won. But, 20 years after the event and you at the pinnacle of the paper, I am surprised that you can have the audacity to suggest that “you reject capitalism and the neoliberal agenda.”
Well then, Mr. M’membe, if your wish should come to pass, then your Newspaper should be the first to be nationalized and turned into PRAVDA. Or, maybe the new owners will call it ‘Mein Kampf.’ Lord knows it is already performing the propaganda function for the Patriotic Front as we now speak. What hypocrisy! Unbelievable. It reminds me of the saying that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
“Economic systems as unjust or immoral”
In your editorial, you state the following; “There is thus a moral equality about an economy, a quality that has its roots in the morally correct or incorrect choices by the people; and it is the moral quality of the economy that enables us to make judgements about whether or not it is a just economy.” You precede this bold statement with a discussion about poverty and how you believe that economists argue that the existence of poverty and unemployment, and the inequitable distribution of wealth, are the result of inescapable economic laws, and must therefore be accepted as such. Mr. M’membe, with all due respect, this is utter nonsense and clearly shows that you are way out of depth in as far as your understanding of the differences between Economics and Political Science. You must learn to untangle the two disciplines first and treat them as separate parts of the same equation. First, differentiate them and then relate them to each other. Do not begin by mashing them together and then coming up with a bogus philosophy of moral justification. Doing this always leads to the type of confusion that you seem to have entangled yourself in. Let me explain.
Economics as a discipline is primarily concerned with solving the problem of ‘Scarcity.’ Scarcity is simply defined as limited resources for unlimited demands. This is a fact that no one has disputed. That, national resources are insufficient to produce the quantities of goods and services that would be required to satisfy all of its citizens’ wants. In its first instance, the discipline makes a clear differentiation between ‘Positive’ and ‘Normative’ statements in order to avoid being quickly entangled in to moral issues. “Positive statements are about what is, was or will be; they assert alleged facts about the universe in which we live. Normative statements are about what ought to be. They depend on our judgment about what is good or bad, and they are thus inextricably bound up with our philosophical, cultural and religious positions. (An introduction to positive Economics-Richard G Lipsey)
The vast bulk of economics is Positive economics. It is amoral and does not concern itself with right and wrong, just or unjust, but merely is a study of people’s behaviour and an attempt at determining the most mechanical and efficient allocation of resources in order to produce the greatest amount of goods or wealth. But, after wealth has been created, then political systems, cultural and religious dispensations determine distribution or how that wealth is to be shared. In order to share there has to be something to share. Economic systems endeavour to find the best mechanism of creating wealth, and it is political systems that endeavour to find the best ways in which to share that wealth. This distinction must be understood by people who endeavour to discuss these subjects and educate others. Granted, that there has been in the recent years a discipline called Development Studies. This discipline attempts to combine the two and builds upon the foundation of political economist from the classical era such as Ricardo, Thomas Malthus and Adam Smith.
-End of Part III-
Letters to Editor 2703
Jean Kapata is the New Tourism Minister
President Sata dispatches K 5 million to fight Chitimukulu
muntungwa on Mopani boss insults rugby players for losingI know the guy well and that is his way of speaking. But he should...
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Sata, Ahmadinejad attack UN structure
President Michael Sata has told the United Nations that Africa must have a permanent seat on Security Council.
And Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for an immediate and infrastructural reform in the United Nation’s Security Council
Speaking in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, Sata who was supposed to tackle the issue of rule of law at national and international levels, said Africans must stand up and be counted.
“Since the League of Nations up to today, Africa is more of a spectator than a participant. We have no permanent members in the Security Council and yet we represent 54 members in this House,” said President Sata. We cannot talk of rule of law when we are not respecting each other. Therefore, all Africans must stand up and be counted. We must become permanent members of the Security Council,” Sata said in a short speech.
Just before Sata spoke, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the same gathering called for an immediate and infrastructural reform in the United Nation’s Security Council.
Iran’s president said that the current structure of the UN Security Council was unjust and unable to maintain sustainable order, peace and security worldwide.
Strong words by Iran’s President came as some US senate members pressured the UN not to allow the Iranian delegation attend the annual UN summit in New York.
On the second part of his speech the Iranian President called for infrastructural reforms in the United Nations and equal rights for all member states in adopting important global decisions.
Iran which holds the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the world’s second biggest international body after the UN, is looking forward to reshape the dynamics of global decision making by relying on the potentials of the NAM.
Main News 10854
MPs quizz Sakeni over firing of critical journalists from govt media
Judgement in which Mutembo and other resist to account for properties grabbed from Chiluba
hhhhuu on ACC seizes 56 flats belonging to corrupt civil servantA tip of the iceberg. More culprits to go behind the bars. More the merrier....
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Spirit of the Americas
Praeludium and Allegro — 1910
Born in Vienna in l875 Fritz Kreisler is one of the most distinguished and beloved virtuoso violinists of all time. By age seven, his musical talent was already apparent, and he became a student at the Vienna Conservatory, although the minimum age for entry was ten years. By 1885 the young prodigy had graduated from the conservatory, and next entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied under Anton Bruckner, Leo Delibes, and Jules Massenet. After finishing conservatory studies, the young violinist began performing publicly, and quickly consolidated his position as an international violin virtuoso. After World War I relocations in Europe and America, Kreisler settled in America and became a naturalized US citizen in l943. In 1947 he gave his last public concert after being badly injured in an auto accident. Kreisler gradually became blind and deaf and died at age 87. He is interred in a mausoleum in New York.
In his recordings, Kreisler’s performing style exhibits expansive tempi, a continuous and favored vibrato, expressive phrasing, and a melodic approach to passage work. His style is easily recognized when compared to violin recordings of others.
While Liebeslied, Liebesfreud, and Caprice Viennois may be his most familiar short pieces for violin and piano, Praeludium and Allegro is a most popular work in the violin repertoire. This piece is in two sections, the first being a strong declaration. The music softens as it progresses, but reasserts itself in a dramatic close. The second section is a quick-paced affair, which eventually builds up to a flashy dazzling cadenza that appears over a rumbling pedal in the bass of the piano. Kreisler originally attributed the origins of the two-section piece to a less known composer of the 18th century. (One historian claims that Kreisler’s often-lengthy concert tours demanded separate encore pieces, few of which had been written for the violin). After 30 years of attributing the work to the composer Pugnani, he finally claimed rightful ownership.
ALEXANDER ARUTIUNIAN
Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major — 1950
Alexander Arutiunian was a Soviet and Armenian composer and pianist. At the age of seven Arutiunian joined the Yerevan State Conservatory’s children’s group, and at 14 graduated from same music conservatory on the eve of World War II. As a composer and pianist, Arutiunian also served as full Professor at the music conservatory. Spanning a life of 92 years, he was awarded a huge array of Soviet Union prizes that included the Stalin Prize, State Prize of Armenia, and People’s Artist of the USSR. Several of his works for wind instruments have secured their place in the international repertory.
The Trumpet Concerto is the composer’s sixth major composition. It was promptly considered a virtuoso showpiece to be assimilated into the standard trumpet repertoire worldwide.
The concerto consists of five major sections that are performed without pause. Its melodic and rhythmic elements represent the compositional style of fellow Armenian composer Aram Khatchaturian. Known as a “flashy piece,” it has characteristics of Gypsy, Russian, and Armenian music through beautiful, soulful melodies and several challenging rapid-tonguing passages.
A New Day — 2011
Barbara Gallagher, a native of Charlotte, NC, studied composition at the North Carolina School of the Arts where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree. She studied with Vincent Persichetti at The Juilliard School, where she received a Master of Music degree in 1983. Gallagher held the Irving Berlin Fellowship in memory of Jerome Kern.
Gallagher is a prolific composer of orchestral works that feature instrumental solos in a variety of forms. She has written vocal ensemble and choral music, dance and dramatic music, and music for children. Gallagher is a recipient of numerous awards, grants, and commissions and her works are published by three music companies and performed throughout the United States and abroad. A resident of Wilmington, Gallagher lives with her husband, composer Ernesto Ferrari, and their two children. In addition to being a professional composer/musician, she is involved in a potpourri of musical activities.
Commissioned in 2011 by the Florence (SC) Symphony Orchestra, A New Day is a delightfully gay, highly expressive and dynamic 15-minute work. It focuses on two recurring themes and a series of dramatic fanfares that vary in intensity, mood, and pitch. The Contemporary Classic work demonstrates both pastoral and atmospheric changes by using contrasting instrumental timbres in a “call and response” style.
Music from "Fancy Free" Ballet — 1944
At the time of Bernstein’s death in 1990, composer Ned Rorem stated, “Lenny had led four lives; he was not 72 at his death but 288 years old.” He had several successful careers in the course of his lifetime.
Bernstein’s one act ballet Fancy Free premiere was an exciting time for American ballet. At age 28 he and another young, fledgling artist, Jerome Robbins, teamed up to write music and choreography for this 15-minute jazz ballet. Because the jazz/blues idiom made it a first of its kind, the two artists were catapulted to world famous careers, and the unusual ballet became a staple in American repertory ballet.
Three sailor buddies spend their one-day pass on the New York City scene. In the process of meandering around, they end up in a bar competing over local girls until the mood peters out for both girls and sailors. They leave the bar and saunter onto the street again, resuming their prowl for more adventure.
The suite begins with a musical depiction of the three sailors as brassy, swaggering, high-spirited sailors, all steamed up and ready for fun and girls. They cavort boisterously to accompanying music which focuses on a short, high spirited, somewhat dissonant theme quickly passed among winds, brass, percussion, and a jazzy solo piano. (This cool, bouncy piano interrupts the action throughout the score with several delightful interludes). Pas de deux changes the ballet mood from quiet and sensitive to raucous. One sailor interacts with a lone girl out on a stroll. A casual attitude mixes with moments of intense lust between the two as they move to slow and torchy music. The mood changes when the three sailors enter a nearby bar. In order for the three sailors to win over two bar girls, they competitively stageA Dance Contest that reveals in solos their respective personalities.The first is bawdy and boisterous with highly percussive music to illustrate acrobatic, vaudeville showiness in dance form. It “gallops” along with the help of cocky percussion blocks which also intervene throughout the work. The second dance is lighter, gayer, more happy-go-lucky, while the sailor prances to ever-changing, half-waltz time rhythms. The third dance music evokes Spanish and Latin flavors, with the wood blocks playing a prominent role along with a display of rhumba-type rhythms.
The Finale of the Suite depicts a wild extension of the dances with the girls joining in. The music becomes a frenetic lindy hop, and a fight breaks out. The girls become disgusted with the wild antics and leave the scene. The sailors also leave with newfound determination to never to let girls interfere with their friendship. Then a new girl appears and they turn to follow her.
El Salon Mexico — 1936
As an author of books and articles, lecturer, sponsor of contemporary composers, and foremost composer of American-based music, Aaron Copland was a prime force in bringing recognition, understanding, and “roots” to 20th century American music. A modernist in all art forms, he believed wholeheartedly in contemporary influences. His goal was to liberate American music from its European heritage.
Copland’s most important works were written after 1935. It was at that time when he concluded that his self-imposed “ivory tower” life had caused a lost connection to his audiences. He realized that previous works had been too esoteric and complex in harmonic and rhythmic construction; dissonances had previously been exploited for little reason other than standard usage in composition. Furthermore, others found Copland’s music difficult to interpret. The 1930s thus became a turning point in Copland’s career. His music became less “obtuse” in sound, contained well-defined melodies, and incorporated ever-changing rhythmic patterns. The reorientation of Copland’s musical style first became apparent in El Salon Mexico. As a simple tourist, he began looking for the spirit of the Mexican people and found it in a local dance hall.
Regarded as a highly popular overture dominated by popular Mexican folk tunes, El Salon Mexico is a concise, uncomplicated work. After a series of infectious, catchy phrases, one lone, high-pitched trumpet enters with the song “El Mosco.” Other tunes follow in rapid succession; one has the sensuous quality of a Spanish tango, while a jaunty tune for solo clarinet contributes a mood of cheerful “devil-may-care” attitude. The moods run from garish and lusty to lyrical and sentimental. El Salon Mexico received immediate, universal acceptance. Copland was convinced that he had found a compositional style leading in the direction of the recognition and permanent success he personally desired.
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Theatre Major: (Bachelor of Arts) Forty-five semester hours including THE 235, 240, 335, 348, 435, 436, and COM 375. No more than six hours of theatre laboratory and/or rehearsal and performance courses may count toward this major. Theatre majors must complete a minor.
An emphasis in design requires that 15 hours of the 45 be in the design/technology area (a minimum of nine design/tech hours must be upper level). These students are encouraged to minor in art, history, or philosophy.
An emphasis in performance requires that 15 of the 45 hours be in the acting/dancing/directing area. These students are encouraged to minor in speech communication, dance, English, or psychology.
An emphasis in musical theatre requires that MUT 161, six semester hours of voice, and three semester hours of piano or guitar be taken above the 45 hours (of which 12 hours will be in acting/dance/directing). These students may also want to consider a minor in dance.
Any student majoring in theatre must be active in the theatre program of the university during each trimester in residence.
Theatre Minor: Twenty-one hours, of which two to six must be in theatre laboratory.
Bachelor of Arts Additional Requirements
B.A. degrees require 6 hours of foreign language at the intermediate level. Students with no foreign language proficiency are required to take 12 hours in one foreign language. Six hours of English literature, history, or philosophy(3 of these hours must be in English literature) are also required.
theatre-and-communication@wmcarey.edu (601) 318 - 6218
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Protecting property from illegal invasion
Posted By -NO AUTHOR- On 01/17/2004 @ 1:00 am In Front Page | Comments Disabled
Editor’s note: In “Illegals: The Imminent Threat Posed by Our Unsecured U.S.-Mexico Border,” veteran journalist Jon E. Dougherty documents a truth that both major political parties have missed – namely, that sustained high immigration levels from south of the border will continue to pose economic, labor, security and criminal threats to the United States, unless American and Mexican leaders find ways to limit it.
In researching the book, Dougherty interviewed leaders of citizen border groups that are doing their best to stem the daily flow of illegal aliens over America’s southern border in the absence of adequate government patrols. In the interview, Jack Foote, national spokesman for Ranch Rescue and head of Ranch Rescue Texas, explains what his group does to fight the invasion.
Q: What got you started with the concept of Ranch Rescue?
A: The motivation for getting involved [in the border issue] in the first place were hearing the stories of [Arizona rancher] Roger Barnett. (Editor’s note: Roger and Donald Barnett, who own a ranch near the border town of Douglas, Ariz., has caught and turned over to Border Patrol some 5,000 illegals on his property since the mid-1990s. He was among the first U.S. property owners to garner the national spotlight for basically saying of the invasion of his property, “No more.”)
We’d read about these in the various publications we saw, and a couple of TV news spots about Roger Barnett and the problems he’d been having on his … ranch in Cochise County, Ariz. He is dealing with hundreds of trespassers everyday. When I first contacted Roger, he said that on a good day he saw only 150-200; on a bad day, he saw 500-600 coming across his property. These are trespassers, vandals, thieves, thugs, rapists, murderers … these are cattle rustlers, they destroy fences, they tear up water lines. They destroy the infrastructure that is required for a cattle operation to be functional. This is a tremendous expense and in the past has driven some of our cattle ranchers out of business, because they simply cannot bear the costs of running a working cattle ranch in a very lean industry, in a very lean economy – plus endure all the expenses of having to deal with all of this damage.
Q: Ranch Rescue is different from other border groups because your primary focus is on private property protection, right?
A: We make it very clear from the beginning that our motto is “Private property first, foremost, and always.” We are a private-property rights advocate, from day one, and have always been. We don’t engage in the immigration debate, because the immigration status or nationality of a trespasser or other criminal is irrelevant to his victim. These border county landowners and these rural, isolated parts of our southern border areas are being victimized on a daily basis. Not only are they being victimized by the criminals coming across their property, but now they are being victimized by the very government and public officials who are sworn to uphold and defend the law to protect the people, the residents, the citizens of this nation, this state and these counties.
Q: Obviously, the issue of illegal immigration and border protection of private property are intermingled because not all of the illegal immigrants, for instance, cross on public lands. However, at what point did you find your mission was changing from simple private-property protection to an immigration issue?
A: I don’t think anything about our original focus has changed. When [the founders of the group] got together – there was a group of eight of us – we talked about this. In June of 2000, we formed Ranch Rescue as a “doing business as” organization. Our goal was to go down and help private property owners repair their property. And in doing that, and being on the property, helping repair those fences … we noticed very soon that our mere presence on the property was a deterrent to crime (Editor’s note: Ranch Rescue volunteers are required to wear khaki-colored utility uniforms and are allowed to carry weapons; it’s possible that, to illegal aliens, they look like they could be “official” members of the government, say border agents).
These trespassers, these criminals, would see us, and we would see them, and they would go somewhere else. That was the extent of it. Eventually, we found out about the situation that Bob Maupin found himself in. Bob Maupin is a rancher over in eastern San Diego County, Calif., who was kidnapped at gunpoint by armed, uniformed soldiers of the Mexican army in 1985. For the past 10 years, he has had to conduct armed, uniformed private citizen patrols on his own property to ensure the safety of himself, his property and his family. If a Californian can do it, a Texan can do it.
Q: How many chapters does Ranch Rescue operate?
A: Eleven – we’re in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Q: With some of those states – Michigan and Minnesota, for instance – there are some northern border concerns, but some of the other states – California, Virginia – have no such immediate border concerns. That signifies that you’re not about illegal immigration, you’re about private property, because there are private-property violations in every state.
A: Absolutely. We’ve had contacts from folks in New York who have to deal with constant incursions onto their private property by folks riding ATVs and four-wheel drive enthusiasts who don’t respect the private-property rights of the owners. We’ve had contacts from northern California who are getting constant criminal incursions onto their private property by eco-terrorists. We’ve also had contact from the northern states, such as Montana, where they are also seeing illegal border crossing onto private property, with its attendant damage and lawlessness that always accompanies such incursions. We’ve never done a northern border mission, but it is certainly one of our goals to assist our fellow citizens in those northern states. Now that we’re starting to become more nationally recognized and we’re starting to add more [state] chapters, we are going to start doing northern border rescue missions as soon as we possibly can.
Q: So you’d say there is a national interest in your group, rather than strictly a border interest?
A: There’s a national interest. The Colorado chapter was formed for the express purpose of organizing volunteers to send down to the border states during our [rescue] missions in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. They were also organized to help us solicit donations of equipment and funds – such as night-vision gear, video cameras, four-wheel drives, two-way radios – all of the gear we need to send volunteers out and keep them safe, keep them vigilant, and help these border county and other landowners deal with the crime that our federal, state, local and county law enforcement has proven so woefully inadequate at performing.
Q: You’ve had a lot of people – media, organizations, politicians – label your organization as a “vigilante” group. How do you respond to that?
A: These folks have never talked to us; they’ve only talked about us – mostly to the media, and mostly for the sole purpose of bad-mouthing our organization. Now, it’s their right to express their opinion, but it’s an uninformed opinion.
Q: The connotation is that you’re taking the law into your own hands. Are you?
A: We come as invited guests onto private property, and that is not taking the law into our own hands. We come under a written agreement with the landowners where we not only have permission to be on the property, but we also are appointed by the landowners as a limited agent for the express purpose of dealing with any criminal activity that we might encounter while we are guests here. That is not taking the law into our own hands. As a limited agent, we have the same rights for dealing with criminal activity and trespassers on the land as the landowner has, so if the landowner can evict a trespasser from his property, so can we. That’s exactly what we have done, and it’s what we’ll continue to do.
Q: Has that concept been vetted through some sort of legal representative – a lawyer?
A: Absolutely. We had a criminal lawyer take a look, and he concurred that if you’re appointed as a limited agent, you have the same rights for dealing with criminal activity – if that’s what your limited agency is about – as the landowner does.
Q: What is your procedure for dealing with criminal trespassers?
A: In every case, the one standard that we apply is that everything we do be within the law. Beyond that, we take the wishes of the landowner as our guiding principles. The landowner is our host. He is the owner of the property; we are his guests. We will abide by his wishes and be good guests. When the landowner asks us to do something, the first two questions that come up are, “Is it legal?” and, “Do we have enough people and equipment to do it safely?” If the answer to both is “yes,” we will make every effort to meet the needs of the landowners to deal with the incursions.
Order Dougherty’s book, “Illegals: The Imminent Threat Posed by Our Unsecured U.S.-Mexico Border,” at ShopNetDaily.
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Y2K didn’t harm the Corvette one bit. Corvette sales rose slightly, to 33,682 cars. The ‘00 Vette entered the new millennium much the same as it was in 1999, but Bowling Green added three new colors to the lineup. Torch Red replaced Firethorn Red, and was the most popular color with 6,700 orders placed. The other new colors, Millenium Yellow and Dark Bowling Green Metallic, sold 3,578 and 1,663, respectively.
Passive Keyless Entry, which unlocked the doors when the key fob was in range, was discontinued due to owner complaint, and Active Keyless Entry was installed instead. The cylinder lock was removed from the passenger side, but was retained on the driver’s side of the vehicle in case of battery failure.
The wheels on the 2000 Corvette were changed, and the Polished Aluminum Wheels (RPO QF5) were installed on 15,204 cars. Selective Real Time Damping and the Z51 performance package both received slight modifications which improved vehicle handling and occupant comfort.
The coupe remained the most popular model, with 18,113 sold for a standard MSRP of $39,475. The Convertible sold for $45,900, and 13,479 cars moved off of dealer lots. The hardtop sold only 2,090 cars, but retained its low MSRP of $38,900.
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Search The Daily
In the news Indicators Releases by subject
Special interest Release schedule Information
Foreign control in the Canadian economy, 2016
Text - Selected Tables Related information Previous release PDF (166 KB)
Assets under foreign control
$1.988 trillion
Source(s): Table 33-10-0033-01.
Share of assets under foreign control
Both Canadian (+6.1%) and foreign-controlled (+1.3%) asset values increased in 2016. The foreign-controlled asset share edged down, from 16.9% in 2015 to 16.2% in 2016. This was the ninth consecutive year where the share of assets under foreign control decreased.
Foreign-controlled revenue growth (+1.8%) and Canadian-controlled revenue growth (+1.5%) both increased in 2016. The year-over-year share of revenues under foreign control in 2016 was unchanged at 27.8%. Canadian-controlled operating profits increased by 5.2%, and those under foreign control were up 8.2%. The share of profits under foreign control in 2016 increased to 17.3%.
Enterprises from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan accounted for 79.1% of the foreign-controlled assets in Canada in 2016. US-controlled enterprises maintained the largest overall share, with 52.0% of total foreign-controlled assets, 55.4% of revenues, and 60.9% of profits.
New findings on who controls Canadian corporations and how this has changed over the last 10 years
Shares of assets, operating revenue and operating profits under foreign control in Canada, 2007 to 2016
This release includes insights into the extent of foreign control in the Canadian corporate economy from 2007 to 2016, taken from the new report "Corporations Returns Act: New findings on who controls Canadian corporations and how this has changed over the last 10 years," published today. The report illustrates changes in foreign control by macro-region—namely, the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica and Adjacent Islands—and provides new country information on countries such as Mexico, Switzerland and China, for both the financial and non-financial industry groupings.
From 2007 to 2016, foreign-control in the Canadian economy expanded, as measured by the nominal increase in foreign-controlled assets which reached almost $2 trillion in 2016. However, the share of foreign control in Canadian corporations has diminished over the last 10 years, indicating that growth in foreign-controlled assets is outmatched by growth in Canadian-controlled assets.
Total value of assets under foreign control in Canada, 2007 to 2016
The main finding in this report pertains to changing trends in foreign control; while the share of foreign-owned assets in the Americas and Europe macro-regions fell from 2007 to 2016, Asia saw its relative share increase. This report also highlights the prevalence of foreign control in Canada's non-financial industries.
Shares of total foreign-controlled assets by macro-region from 2007 to 2016
Under the authority of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Statistics Canada administers the Corporations Returns Act, which requires the collection of financial and ownership information on corporations conducting business in Canada. This information is used to evaluate the extent of non-resident control of the Canadian corporate economy.
The Corporations Returns Act requires that an annual report be submitted to Parliament summarizing the extent to which foreign control is prevalent in Canada.
The financial information on foreign control in the Canadian economy is derived from administrative data received from the Canada Revenue Agency. This information is based on financial statements filed with corporate annual income tax returns. Therefore, the reference period has a lag of two years.
These statistics are compiled from enterprise level data. An enterprise can be a single corporation or a family of corporations under common ownership or control, for which consolidated financial statements are produced.
Three components are used to measure foreign control: assets, operating revenue and operating profits.
Asset-based measures of foreign control provide a longer term perspective. Assets are a stock item, reflecting economic decisions and market conditions that evolve more slowly over time.
Revenue-based measures, on the other hand, represent a flow item and are closely tied to the business cycle. Revenue tends to reflect current business conditions, causing revenue-based measures to be more volatile than asset-based measures.
Profits are a measure of the financial health and well-being of an economy and can be used to assess its performance and sustainability.
The reports Corporations Returns Act, 2016 and Corporations Returns Act: New findings on who controls Canadian corporations and how this has changed over the last 10 years (Catalogue number61-220-X) are now both available.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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Music & Merch
Zoe Speaks
Like fellow Kentuckian Tyler Childers, Zoe Speaks presents a fresh and progressive view of Appalachia, so it's no surprise that their latest release, Wings, was produced by musician/engineer Jesse Wells, who currently tours as a multi-instrumentalist with Childers.
Zoe Speaks is not your ordinary folk band. They are rooted deep in family, in the music making, storytelling lineages of their rural Eastern Kentucky origins, where music is a part of daily life, and where singing goes hand in hand with working. In addition to sharing banjo, guitar, dulcimer, fiddle, and traditional flatfoot dancing, they connect audiences with stories from their families and communities that help provide a clearer picture of an oft-stereotyped region. To create their southern singer-songwriter sound, they have worked with some of the powerhouses in the folk, Americana, and old-time worlds, with previous albums produced by Mark Schatz, Bruce Molsky, and Dirk Powell. Mitch Barrett, Owen Reynolds, and Carla Gover form the core of the band, and for larger stages they add Mitch and Carla's multi-instrumentalist daughter, Zoey Barrett, and her guitar-wizard fiancé, Arlo Barnette. Their music is rooted in the Appalachian sounds they grew up playing, but freely draws on a variety of rhythms and styles from smooth folk-pop to blues and calypso. (Think The Duhks or Tim O'Brien).
It also doesn't hurt that two members of the group are award-winning songwriters, with wins from Merlefest's Christ Austin Songwriting Contest (two times!), the Kerrville New Folk Award (two times!), The Telluride Troubador Contest, The Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriting Contest, and Kerrville's Music To Life Contest between them. Zoe Speaks has performed at venues like Merlefest, The Kennedy Center, The Kerrville Folk Festival, and Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, to name a few.
Known for both their originals and their unique spins on the mountain tunes that they cut their musical teeth on, their songs are socially conscious and spiritual, with themes ranging from the environment to family to addiction to interracial relationships, and populated by tricksters, angels, addicts, truck-stop waitresses, fools, mules, heroes, and werewolves.
In counterpoint to the relentless tales of conservative Appalachia, Zoe Speaks uses the family heirlooms they grew up hearing and singing, as well as striking originals, to shine a light on the other side of the Appalachian culture, which has produced some of America’s most distinctive, thought-provoking progressive artistic voices.
mitch barrett
Mitch grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians in Madison County, KY. He spent much of his childhood divided between his grandfathers' houses, one a fox hunter and tobacco farmer who plowed with mules and the other a musician and farmer, of sorts (he grew corn with which he made moonshine). In the course of learning his grandfathers' trades, there was much time for stories, jokes, and especially music. Mitch demonstrated musical talent from an early age, and performed with his mother in a regionally sought-after mountain duo.
At age 17, he set out for the east coast as part of the folk duo Mandala, with whom he played for over 10 years. After moving back to Kentucky , he began to hone his storytelling skills, drawing on the life stories and experiences rare among his generation and those following. Since then, he has toured all over the US, performed countless assemblies and residencies for the school children of Kentucky, and won Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, the Kerrville New Folk Award, and the Telluride Troubador Award.
Mitch's gift for spinning a tale is present in his music, where he is apt to break into an improvised story in the middle of one of his songs. His award-winning songs, coupled with his unique rhythmic guitar style and smooth voice make him a true mountain troubador.
carla gover
Growing up in the rural Eastern Kentucky coal town of Whitesburg, Carla's early years were filled with music. She was first immersed in the a capella hymn-singing of her grandmother, Ollie Gilbert Hudson (who also taught her herbalism, cooking, sewing, quilting, gardening, and many other things.) Later she absorbed the old-time banjo and fiddle at the dances on Saturday nights at the schoolhouse, the twang of local bluegrass festivals, and the soul of mountain church music. Her older brother also made a point of exposing her to great songwriters and singers of many genres, including the Beatles, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Tom Waits, and Dolly Parton.
There are lots of musicians out there claiming to be “authentic,” but Carla Gover is more than that: she’s the real thang. The Old-Time Herald says, “Carla’s music contains the best elements of traditional Appalachian Music, including purity, intensity, integrity, and vivid imagery.” She is also an award-winning singer-songwriter, with wins at the Kerrville Newfolk Festival, Merlefest’s Christ Austin Song Contest, and the Flatrock Festival Songwriting Contest. Her songs have been featured in films, soundtracks, documentaries, and covered by a range of other artists.
Her latest endeavor (much to her surprise) has been acting, with appearances in the feature indie film Red River Moon as well as the Folk Opera entitled In These Fields, by Silas House and Sam Gleaves.
Owen Reynolds has been playing music professionally for over twenty years. This Kentucky native has been a consummate sideman for a number of local, regional, and nationally touring acts. Studying various styles and traditions of American music and theories, Owen Reynolds brings a wide variety of rhythmic and tonal options to bear, aiming to find the right fit for each song, to "make each song more of what it already is." He has been called "an okay guy" and "hairy" by several notable Kentucky musicians.
In recognition of artistic excellence, Zoe Speaks has been selected to participate in the Performing Artists Directory, a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, which is supported by state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Home / New Billing Policies at ZSFG (April 16, 2019)
Call 911 If You Have a Medical Emergency.
Or go to your nearest emergency room.
New Billing Policies at ZSFG (April 16, 2019)
Click here for press release
Health Department announces new billing policies atZuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
Patient financial protections include ending patient balance billing, setting an out-of-pocket cap and expanding financial assistance
San Francisco, CA – At the request of Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the San Francisco Department of Public Health has developed new policies for patient billing at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, in order to protect patients’ financial wellbeing and better align billing practices with our values as San Francisco’s community hospital.
The proposals will be presented today to the San Francisco Health Commission, as part of a 90-day plan that the Department of Public Health (DPH) has been working on since February. https://www.sfdph.org/dph/hc/nextMeeting.asp
The recommended changes are designed to protect patients financially, including when there are disputes over payment between the hospital and insurance companies, while still allowing DPH to actively pursue reimbursement from private insurance companies. Key recommendations include:
End balance billing of patients, while continuing to seek payment from insurance companies.
Create an income-based out-of-pocket maximum payment for patients at all income levels.
Modify patient financial assistance programs to make more people eligible.
Create a new policy for insured patients receiving services out-of-network at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG), so that they will be billed no more than the amount they would pay for the same services at an in-network hospital.
Prioritizing financial protections for individual patients is the top order of business, and therefore those proposals are being presented today. DPH staff also will provide an update on additional work included in the 90-day plan, such as studying ZSFG rates in comparison to other hospitals, conducting a financial analysis of the proposed changes, supporting legislative policy solutions and improving patient communications.
“Above all, we care about people,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “ZSFG’s mission is to provide high quality health care and trauma services with compassion and respect. We care for our patients in all ways, and are proud to play a critical role as the City’s only trauma center and safety net hospital. Although the vast majority of our patients do not have private insurance, every patient matters equally. We believe that the insurance industry should pay its fair share for the care patients deserve and we provide, and that neither patients, nor taxpayers should be made to pick up the slack.”
The majority of patients (94 percent) at ZSFG are covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal or are uninsured. They are unaffected by balance billing, which is a practice that occurs when the insurance company is unwilling to cover the full cost of care for the patient, and the patient is billed for the balance. DPH estimates that 1.6 percent of patients could have been subject to balance billing previously. Despite the relative infrequency of this practice at ZSFG, for those impacted by balance billing, the financial hardship and stress of the experience are very real, even when accounts are ultimately settled through insurance appeals.
The practice of patient balance billing was halted on February 1, 2019 and will not resume. Any accounts that were open on February 1, including for services delivered prior to February 1, or accounts that have been opened since, will not be subject to patient balance billing. The hospital’s new policies will apply to all accounts going forward. Accounts closed prior to February 1, 2019 would remain settled under the previous policies in place at the time.
DPH staff estimates that these changes will reduce revenue by $1.9 million to $2.2 million per year by limiting patient out-of-pocket costs for services. Nothing in the proposed recommendations is intended to limit collections from private insurance, and DPH will continue to pursue reimbursement for services from insurance companies, which total approximately $135 million per year. That includes cases where a third-party insurer may pay a patient directly for services provided by the hospital.
The proposed billing policy changes are summarized here:
1. DPH halted the practice of patient balance billing and collections on February 1, 2019 during the development of the new policies. Balance billing of patients will not resume, and the new policies will apply to all accounts that were paused on February 1.
2. DPH will no longer bill ZSFG patients with private insurance any more than they would have paid out-of-pocket for the same care at in-network facilities, based on their insurance coverage. DPH will continue to seek full reimbursement from private insurance companies.
3. DPH will set an out-of-pocket maximum for patients of all income levels. Proposed out-of-pocket maximums would range from $0 for those earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($16,753 for an individual or $34,638 for a family of four) to a maximum of $4,800 for those above 1,000 percent of the federal poverty level (above $121,400 for an individual or $251,400 for a family of four).
4. DPH will make discounts and bill reductions for patients available to more people by increasing the eligibility for Sliding Scale and Charity Care programs, based on income. The Sliding Scale program, which is for San Francisco residents only, will eliminate the assets test and will reduce the share of cost to $0 for incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (fpl). For Charity Care, eligibility will expand from 350 percent of fpl to 500 percent of fpl (from $42,490 to $60,700 for an individual or $87,850 to $125,500 for a family of four). Charity Care is available to residents of any state, and is governed by state law.
“San Francisco residents already support the mission and excellent care at ZSFG and the San Francisco Health Network, including funding the beautiful new acute care hospital and ongoing capital improvements on campus and throughout the community clinic system,” said Dr. Susan Ehrlich, CEO of ZSFG. “I am pleased that we have made changes to align our hospital billing practices with our values, reflecting our true partnership with the community. The hospital provided $61 million in charity care in 2017 alone, and it is critical that every community member feels welcome and cared for at ZSFG.”
DPH will begin implementation of these new policies and other recommended changes in the coming months, and will present to the Health Commission on progress in summer 2019.
Our wellness experts will be happy to take care of you.
Are you new to Zuckerberg San Francisco General?
Call 628 206 7000 to get started.
Are you an existing SF Health Network Patient?
If you’re a member of the SF Health Network, you’ll need a referral from your primary care doctor. Otherwise, meet first with an enrollment specialist.
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Taft Museum of Art
Paris to New York: Photographs by Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott
October 4, 2018–January 20, 2019
Curated by Kevin Moore, FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator
Paris to New York: Photographs by Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott explores the encounter between American photographer Berenice Abbott (1898–1991) and French photographer Eugène Atget (1857–1927) during the 1920s—an encounter that would have profound and lasting effects on the careers and legacies of both artists. Berenice Abbott and Eugène Atget met in Man Ray’s Paris studio in the early 1920s. Atget, then in his sixties, was obsessively recording the streets, gardens, and courtyards of the 19th-century city—“Old Paris”—as it was undergoing modernization. Abbott acquired much of Atget’s work after his death and was a tireless advocate for its value. In 1929, she relocated to New York and emulated Atget in her systematic documentation of that city, culminating in her epic photographic series Changing New York.
Abbott paid further tribute to Atget by publishing and exhibiting his work in the United States, and by printing hundreds of images from his negatives, using the gelatin silver process. Through Abbott’s efforts, Atget became known to an audience of photographers and writers who found diverse inspiration in his photographs. Abbott herself is remembered as one of the most independent, determined, and respected photographers of the 20th-century, and is celebrated in particular for her photographs of 1930s New York.
This exhibition and publication bring together for the first time selections from two enormous bodies of work—Atget’s Old Paris and Abbott’s Changing New York—and explore the legacy and artistic influence between two great photographers and their obsession with documenting the transformations of two of the world’s great modern cities.
Old Paris and Changing New York: Photographs by Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott (Yale University Press) is published on the occasion of the FotoFocus Biennial 2018 and the exhibition at the Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati.
SPECIAL EVENT | House Party
September 6, 2018, 5:00 - 8:00PM
Start the weekend early! Stop by our house after work and chill outside under our tent with a cocktail and light bites. Discover our secret garden in the heart of downtown while listening to local musicians and making your own work of art. Meet our friends from FotoFocus and get to know works by the great photographer Ansel Adams, subject of our special exhibition.
Free to the Public. Reservations Recommended: www.taftmuseum.org or (513) 684-4516
WALKING TOUR | Lytle Park
September 15, 2018, 11:15 - 12:15PM
Experience a slice of Cincinnati history! Just as Eugène Atget photographed the clash of old and new in Paris, and Berenice Abbott documented the changing landscape of New York City, Charles and Annie Taft witnessed changes to their Lytle Park neighborhood. They used their influence to bring charities, private residences, and social clubs to the neighborhood. Join Senior Manager of Adult Programs Ellen Stedtefeld for an hour-long walk around the Museum’s historic neighborhood and learn why it looks the way it does today.
Free for FotoFocus Passport Holders and Taft Members. Regular Admission for Non-Members. Reservations Recommended: www.taftmuseum.org or (513) 684-4516
BOOK TALK | The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, 1830–1900
September 21, 2018, 1:30 - 2:30PM
Spend an afternoon with our book club chatting about the City of Light! In this program, we’ll complement our own memories, fantasies, and experiences of Paris with those in chronicled in two-time Pulitzer Prize–winner David McCullough’s The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris, 1830–1900. In this book, McCullough intermixes biographies and recollections from Americans, both famous and obscure, to paint a picture of the iconic city prior to the turn of the 20th century.
Opening Reception and Keynote Lecture with Clément Chéroux
October 4, 2018, 5:00 - 7:00PM
5pm Opening Reception for Paris to New York: Photographs by Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott
7pm Keynote Lecture with Clément Chéroux, Senior Curator of Photography, SFMOMA
Introduction by Kevin Moore, FotoFocus Artistic Director and Curator
Watch the Keynote Lecture with Clément Chéroux on Vimeo.
Join a Taft docent for a half-hour tour of the exhibition.
WORKSHOP | Creative Collaboration Photoshoot
November 3, 2018, 12:00 - 5:00PM
Work alongside two local photographers to scout and take the perfect picture. Designer Chris Glass will begin the workshop explaining lessons learned from his People’s Liberty project photographing Cincinnati neighborhoods. After gathering tips about how to set up a great photo, join celebrated local photographer Michael Wilson to take that superb shot. Following the workshop, Wilson will develop and deliver a printed photograph and the corresponding negative to each participant. This workshop will allow you to see the world through a photographer’s eye, and experience the creativity that comes from artistic collaboration.
$75 for FotoFocus Passport Holders and Taft Members. $85 non-members. Reservations Recommended: www.taftmuseum.org or (513) 684-4516
[CANCELED] TOUR | Artist’s Eye
Unfortunately this event has been canceled. See our special exhibition through the eyes of an artist! Join local artists Phil Armstrong (Cincinnati Refined) and Melvin Grier (formerly of the Cincinnati Post and a Duncanson Artist-in-Residence) for a tour of Paris to New York that highlights what, from their perspective, makes this exhibition extraordinary. Phil Armstrong will lead tours at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, and Saturday, January 13. Melvin Grier will lead tours at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14 and Saturday, December 8.
FILM | Moving Pictures: Paris to New York
The Taft Museum of Art and the Mini Microcinema are teaming up to provide a screening of short films created by artists working in New York and Paris around the turn of the 20th century. Curated by local filmmaker C. Jacqueline Wood, these films will capture your imagination and provide a broader artistic context for the photographs of Eugène Atget and Berenice Abbott. This program will take place offsite at the Mini Microcinema in Over-the-Rhine, located at 1329 Main Street, 45202. Doors open at 7pm.
Free to FotoFocus Passport Holders. $5 Suggested Donation
TOUR | Artist’s Eye
December 1, 2018, 2:30 - 3:30PM
See our special exhibition through the eyes of an artist! Join local artists Phil Armstrong (Cincinnati Refined) and Melvin Grier (formerly of the Cincinnati Post ,and a Duncanson Artist-in-Residence) for a tour of Paris to New York that highlights what, from their perspective, makes this exhibition extraordinary. Phil Armstrong will lead tours at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, and Saturday, January 13. Melvin Grier will lead tours at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14 and Saturday, December 8.
See our special exhibition through the eyes of an artist! Join local artists Phil Armstrong (Cincinnati Refined) and Melvin Grier (formerly of the Cincinnati Post and a Duncanson Artist-in-Residence) for a tour of Paris to New York that highlights what, from their perspective, makes this exhibition extraordinary. Phil Armstrong will lead tours at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, and Saturday, January 13. Melvin Grier will lead tours at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14 and Saturday, December 8.
January 13, 2019, 2:30 - 3:30PM
Family FriendlyGroupHistoricalInternationalMuseumPhotography
Eugène Atget (French, 1857–1927), Boulevard de Strasbourg, Corsets, 1912. Gelatin silver chloride print. Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of Carl Zigrosser, 1953, 1953–64–40
Eugène Atget (French, 1857–1927), Rue Asselin, 1921. Gelatin silver chloride print. Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of Carl Zigrosser, 1953, 1953–64–29
316 Pike St
Hours: Wed–Fri 11am–4pm, Sat & Sun 11am–5pm
Free to Passport Holders in October and Taft Members, $10 for adults, $5 for students (6–17), free for children 5 & under. Sundays are free
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IRAN ON TOP -- THANKS TO BUSH
by Robert Scheer
Neo-Con Polices Driving Iraq Closer To Iran
Are the media dumb or just out to lunch?
Sorry to be intemperate, but how else can one explain the meager attention paid to the truly historic visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Iraq? Not only is he the first Mideast head of state to visit the country since its alleged liberation, but the very warm official welcome offered by the Iraqi government to the most vociferous critic of the United States speaks volumes to the abject failure of the Bush doctrine.
On Tuesday, Condoleezza Rice reiterated the administration's position that Iran is behind the turmoil that has engulfed the Mideast from Beirut to Baghdad and, most recently, Israel, where what she claims are Iranian-supplied rockets have totally destroyed the belated Bush peace plan.
There is also the matter of Iran's nuclear program, which President Bush condemned once again over the weekend. But what leverage does the United States have over Iran when, as the image of Ahmadinejad holding hands with the top leaders of Iraq demonstrated to the world, we have put the disciples of the Iranian ayatollahs in power in Baghdad? There is no face-saving exit from Iraq without the cooperation of Tehran, and the folks who call America the "Great Satan" now hold the high cards.
How interesting that Ahmadinejad, unlike a U.S. president who has to be airlifted unannounced into ultra-secure bases, was able to convoy in from the airport in broad daylight on a road that U.S. dignitaries fear to travel. His love-fest with Iraq President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who fought on Iran's side against Iraq and who speaks Farsi, even took place outside of the safety of the Green Zone, adding emphasis to Ahmadinejad's claim that while he is welcome in Iraq, the Americans are not.
Nor did the Iraqi leaders take exception to Ahmadinejad's insistence that the United States has only brought terror to the region and that the continued American presence is the main obstacle to peace. On the contrary, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pronounced his talks with fellow Shiite Ahmadinejad "friendly, positive and full of trust." Video of Talabani, who asked that Ahmadinejad call him "Uncle Jalal" after holding hands and exchanging kisses with the Iranian president, was broadcast throughout the region.
Saddam Hussein went to war with Iran, but George W. Bush has given his Iranian foes a Shiite-run ally. Iran is now a major trading partner of Iraq that has offered a $1 billion loan, the border is increasingly porous as religious pilgrimages have become the norm, and many investment projects supervised by Iranians are in the works.
Instead of isolating the "rogue regime" of Iran, the Bush administration has catapulted the theocrats of Tehran into the center of Mideast political power. There can be no peace, whether in Lebanon, Gaza or Iraq, without the cooperation of the ayatollahs of Iran. If that was the intention of the neo-conservative cabal that led Bush into this folly, its members should be tried for treason.
That was, however, obviously not what the neo-cons expected from the invasion of Iraq, which they engineered in the wake of 9/11 with a much rosier scenario in mind. The saying that there is no need to attribute to mendacity what can be explained by ordinary stupidity aptly defines the neo-conservative folly. Clearly, the neo-cons were conned by the likes of Ahmed Chalabi, the rogue banker accused by the CIA of slipping U.S. secrets to Tehran, into believing that a "liberated" Iraq would advance democracy in the region, not to mention the security of Israel. That the opposite has occurred is no big problem for them, as they emerge with their careers intact.
The leading neo-con publicist, William Kristol, has even been rewarded for never getting it right with a premier spot on the New York Times opinion pages -- so yes, in the punditry business, one does fail upward.
But for Bush, his signature issue, the battle against terrorism, is a shambles. The terrorists are very much on the rise in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which Bush neglected for an Iraq sideshow that has cost over a trillion dollars and tens of thousands of lives. But the long-run price will be far higher, with the blowback from the massive instability that he has engendered in the region.
When Bush has finally retired to that ranch, cutting sagebrush to his heart's content, his all-consuming smugness might ever so subtly be troubled by the memory of a father who knew best, and who warned against the terminal foolishness of seizing Baghdad.
© Creators Syndicate
Albion Monitor March 7, 2008 (http://www.albionmonitor.com)
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By Danielle Lopez in 40 Acres, July | August 2019 on July 1, 2019 at 8:47 am | No Comments
On an exceptionally bright Friday afternoon this past April, nearly 1,500 students and their loved ones stood eagerly before the UT Tower, teeming with excitement as the bells rang out “The Eyes of Texas.” Members of UT’s Naval ROTC and Air Force ROTC stoically marched out of the Main Building carrying trunks containing precious treasure: UT Class Rings.
It was the first time that the class rings had ever spent the night before Ring Celebration inside the hallowed halls of the Tower. But the history behind the tradition of the official UT Class Rings actually begins a few decades back.
For many years, graduating Longhorns could purchase a class ring through vendors like the UT Co-op. But the rings lacked consistency. Some had skinny bands and multi-colored jewels, or came with different university symbols and designs.
Then on Dec. 2, 1996, a group of UT alumni, faculty, and students presented Longhorns with a different plan: to create a newly designed, official UT Class Ring sold exclusively by the Texas Exes; one unique design that could unify the generations of Longhorns to come. “What we have now is a new tradition,” said then-Student Government president Jeff Tsai, BA ’97, Life Member, according to The Daily Texan. “A simple ring that each student will have will unify all of us, not only in the coming year, but also in many years to come.”
A committee of alumni and students had spent the previous year designing the perfect ring, using a student survey of about 300 people to guide their decisions. They wanted to be sure to create a token that would be recognizable by fellow Longhorns around the world. The outcome was a ring featuring the UT Tower, Littlefield Fountain, the state flag, a longhorn, the UT seal, and the Texas Exes symbol. With the new ring, there was an added small but meaningful practice: While a student, the ring is properly worn with the Tower facing in, signifying it is close to your heart. Upon graduation, students turn their rings so that the Texas Exes symbol is facing in.
“The ring was exclusively designed to incorporate the icons that students and alumni feel are important remembrances of the university,” said Jim Boon, BBA ’69, MBA ’72, Life Member, former executive director of the Texas Exes. “It enables students to keep the tradition of this great university.”
Over the years, there’s been no shortage of heartwarming tales of Texas Exes and their UT Class Rings. There’s the story about the cop who tracked down a man for six years, just to return his class ring 27 years after it had been stolen. There’s the one about the mother who changed her family’s lives by getting her degree and in return, they gifted her a gold ring engraved with the words “Thank You.” And there’s the one about the Aggie who rescued a UT ring from a pawn shop and made sure it got home safe to its rightful owner. “I was really happy to have some outward symbol of my time at Texas back—something that I’m obviously very proud of,” she said.
Whatever the story may be, one thing holds true: The UT rings are a symbol of pride, precious to the Longhorns whose hands they adorn. Though an outsider might be quick to accuse Longhorns of mimicking the traditions at other schools, including our maroon-outfitted neighbors to the east, the UT rings have long been a fixture on the right hands of nearly 50,000 UT alumni.
Six years following the ring’s debut, the alumni association held the inaugural Texas Official Class Ring Ceremony in December 2002. There were record sales that year, and two ceremonies had to be held to accommodate the 1,000-plus students. Inside the ballroom of the Alumni Center, which was flooded with families dressed in their finest, each student was called up to receive their ring and a handshake from the university president or provost. Although individual names are no longer called out, the celebratory event has taken place every spring and fall since.
But this year, the Texas Exes shook things up. 2018-19 Texas Exes president Nancy Seliger, BBA ’83, Life Member, spearheaded efforts to make Ring Celebration grander than before, meeting with organizations on campus to encourage them to take part. When the rings were placed inside the Tower, UT Austin President Gregory L. Fenves and Texas Exes Executive Director Chuck Harris, BBA ’86, Life Member, signed a proclamation for the new ring celebration. “The shining Tower, a beacon of Longhorn pride, will infuse the rings with the spirit of the Forty Acres,” it reads.
“It’s not often you get to witness the start of a Longhorn tradition,” Harris said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment.”
Ring Celebration included appearances from Texas Cheer, Hook ’Em, and Fenves. “Think about the friendships you’ve made, the professors who have inspired you, the daydreams you’ve had on the Main Mall, and the knowledge that opened your mind,” Fenves said. “Those memories are yours for the rest of your life and this ring will help you remember.”
A UT Class Ring can mean many things for the students who receive them. In some cases, they’re a tribute to the families that helped them get through a grueling four years. Government junior Elizabeth Murray, who comes from a long line of Longhorns, attended the celebration. Her grandfather bought her a ring as a gift to commemorate her accomplishments. “UT has been in the family a long time,” she said. “It was only fitting that my grandfather present my ring to me.”
For some, like radio-television-film senior Santiago Castellanos, the ring is a reminder of their hard work. “I think the ring tradition is pretty cool,” he said. “And having it presented to me right in front of the Tower has made it more meaningful.”
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Tag Archives: non-binary
blog, Odd Corners, Review
The Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
Sometimes, certain books come along at just the right moment in our lives. And sometimes they come along much later. Not too late, but not at the time we really needed them.
I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. When I was growing up in the dark prehistoric ages before the internet — before cable TV even — certain ideas and concepts just weren’t available to my young mind. I read ravenously, everything I could get my hands on, without any real restrictions from my parents, but I knew literally nothing about sexual identity or gender expression. I remember reading a couple of early news stories about people like Renee Richards, a tennis player who had male-to-female reassignment surgery in the 1970’s — but it was mostly the stuff of punchlines or baffled magazine articles. One time I tried to talk about one of those articles with my mom — who a vocal feminist and pretty enlightened person for that time and that place (Southern America, firmly inside the Bible Belt). Her reply was, “Why would anyone want to do that?”
I never heard the words “transgender” or even “transsexual”. In fact, I was a teenager before I ever knew anyone who was openly Gay. And the depictions of LGBTQ people in the media at that time ranged from non-existent to ridiculous to condescendingly tragic.
It’s hard not to look back and wonder what my life would have been like if I’d had those images — if concepts like gender non-conforming, gender fluid and non-binary had been available to me when I was figuring out who I was. (A puzzle I’ve never even come close to solving.)
So I have quietly been making a list of books and other media that I think of as “Things I Wish Had Existed When I Was A Kid”.
Very close to the top of that list is The Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin.
Riley Cavanaugh is a high school student and the child of a US Senator, from a very conservative district in Orange County. On top of the usual teenage rebellion, Riley (who spent some time in a psychiatric hospital after trying to wash down a bottle of Xanax with booze) is beginning to understand what it means to be gender fluid. Some days, Riley wakes up feeling like a girl, some days like a boy — and some days neither.
Riley’s father is trying to pass an important new public education bill, and so Riley moves from a private Catholic school (which was hell, but where at least the uniform requirement eliminated the decision of what to wear every morning) to a public school in their district.
Maybe public school will be different, maybe Riley can find a place to fit in and not be the constant target of abuse. Maybe. Or maybe not.
But there are new friends to be made: a Star Wars loving Samoan football player called Solo, and Bec, an intriguing girl with a lip ring and lightsaber blue eyes.
On the advice of a therapist, Riley begins an anonymous blog about being gender fluid — and that blog takes off when other teenagers find it and relate to Riley’s struggle. Suddenly, the isolated outsider has a (virtual) community, a cause to fight for, and (maybe) a girlfriend.
But not everyone is willing to accept Riley on Riley’s terms. And when one of those enemies make the connection between the weird kid in school and the blogger, everything Riley cares about (and Congressman Cavanaugh’s re-election) is put in jeopardy.
The Symptoms of Being Human is a heartbreakingly good book about a main character you can’t help but love and cheer for. A young adult novel that is rich enough for readers of all ages — even for the confused inner children of people who needed books like this a long time ago.
Thank goodness we have them now.
fictionLGBTQnon-binarynovelsrepresentationThings I Wish Had Existed When I Was a Kid
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A DEEP DIVE INTO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PHOTO ARCHIVES, FROM HARRIET TUBMAN TO ARCHITECTURAL HATS
An exhibition of photographs in the collection of the Library of Congress celebrates “the humanistic and funny part of America.”
Claire Voon
Michael A. “Tony” Vaccaro, “Architectural hats” (1960) (all photos from the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division)
With a collection of 14 million photographs, the Library of Congress holds many pictures of the United States that the public has yet to see. Now, over 400 photographs from its vaults, many that have never previously been on display, are exhibited miles from the archives at the Annenberg Space for Photography. One is a black-and-white image of the actress Isla Bevan holding (in one arm) a fluffy goose at the 41st annual Poultry Show in Madison Square Garden in 1930. The portrait inspired the title of the exhibition, Not an Ostrich.
Installation view of ‘Not an Ostrich’ at the Annenberg Space for Photography (photo courtesy the Annenberg Space for Photography)
The group was handpicked by curator Anne Wilkes Tucker, who received special access to dive deep into the Library’s holdings. She spent a year and a half searching for pictures, working with staff to gather a trove that reflected diversity across time, geography, mood, and the photographers themselves.
“I would pick pictures that struck me visually,” Wilkes Tucker told Hyperallergic. “And that led to about 3,000 which was eventually got narrowed down to 440 that I felt was a true representation of the Library’s collection.”
The resulting display presents a journey through American culture and history as seen through beautiful, funny, charming, and tough photographs. Among these are a rare carte-de-visite of Harriet Tubman that the Library acquired last year; a record of the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903; and postcard pictures from the Detroit Publishing Company. There are photographs of the Ku Klux Klan, of disasters such as the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, and of protests that have swept the nation.
“Not an Ostrich: ‘Floradora goose’ at 41st annual Poultry Show, Madison Square Garden” (1930)
Wilkes Tucker, whose earliest book centered on women photographers, said she also made sure to represent many female artists in the exhibition. Some of her favorite images include those by Nina Berman, the Gerhard Sisters, and Sharon Camille Farmer, the first African American and female head of the White House Photography Office. Tucker has also devoted a larger section to photographer Carol Highsmith, whose work, she says, speaks to “the humanistic and funny part of America.”
The majority of the photographs, unfortunately, have to be viewed digitally, as projected on high-resolution screens; Not An Ostrich features just 50 modern prints. As part of this collaboration between the Anneberg and the Library, all 440 photographs have been digitized for the exhibition and these files are now available as part of the Library’s growing web collections.
Benjamin F. Powelson, carte-de-visite of Harriet Tubman (1868 or 1869)
An exhibition more tightly curated around a theme, or perhaps one that takes a critical eye to the collecting practices of the world’s largest library, would have been more interesting ways to explore these historic archives. With Not an Ostrich, Wilkes Tucker is conducting more of a public service. By bringing photographs into a viewing space, she hopes to encourage people to explore the archives and have a better sense of its range of pictures.
“It’s really to make people aware that this incredible resource is available and largely free,” Wilkes Tucker said. “I’m also hoping that people will learn from it, and understand that pictures are an access into history.”
https://hyperallergic.com/436599/not-an-ostrich-library-of-congress-annenberg-space-for-photography/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=July%2025%202018%20Daily%20
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Bullying, Choices, Discipline, Emotional Release, Empathic Child-rearing, Empathy, Listening Partnership, Love, Parenting, Parenting Pressures, Race, Relationships, Self Care, Trigger warnings, Triggers, World Peace
Something happened to me yesterday and I knew this post would have to come and I knew all day today that I would find the time to write it but as that time crept closer, I felt myself trying to find the excuses. Trying to give myself an out.
There are a number of posts I can (and probably will) write about my insecurities, how they were manifested, how they’ve played out, where I place the blame and how I need to work on freeing it. The colour of my skin hasn’t felt like such a big one of those for a very long time. I remember growing up wishing I could be conventionally beautiful or that I didn’t have to wonder why that person looked at me that way or treated me that way but I’ve long since developed pride around my skin, it’s history and the history of the ancestors that contribute to it.
It was a harder thing to start to actively fight for the rights of people of colour, I don’t have an issue fighting for most other minorities but it’s only recently I’ve become proactive in drawing attention to PoC issues. However, anxiety still limits how vocal I feel I can be. The freedom to speak up has come from those who have been doing so through brave articles, protests and conversations. The bravest being my fellow people of colour but I also appreciate the efforts of those who are not PoCs because, unfortunately, their voices can be heard and accepted better than ours.
Which is why I never thought I would write a race-related article publicly myself.
Yesterday someone shared something on my personal Facebook page about their opinion on African refugees. Their opinion contained the most hateful language and concepts and admissions to acts of violence they had done and intended to continue doing. I quickly wrote a response, deleted the person and intended to try to move on.
I then had people respond to this message and many of them urged me to report this. So I called my local police station to find out what to do. The officer who took my call could not have been less compassionate or even interested. Even as my voice broke explaining what was wrong (yeah… he still wasn’t sure what my issue was) he didn’t give me any reassurance or any kind of empathy and I got off the phone very clear this man did not care about me… or people like me.
I started to think about that.
Thinking about how he really doesn’t have to.
The plight of people like me has nothing to do with him. Our suffering has nothing to do with him. I thought about the people who commit atrocities in this world and why. I thought about racial hate and how my own life experience (as painful as some of it has been) is just the tip of the iceberg. I looked at my two children and thought of the world they live in and tried to imagine what the world will look like in the future and I broke down and began to heave, sob and cry loudly and hysterically.
I felt hopeless.
Then I got myself some Listening Time from a pool of emergency Listeners, being sure to forewarn of the trigger. My Listener more than made up for the lack of compassion of the officer and I was ready to face my day. I reached out and gained beautiful and uplifting support all day and I felt better and more hopeful.
But there were things in me that this experience brought up and surprised me with.
As vocal as I have been about being proud of who I am and of my heritage, there was a part of me that felt embarrassed, not by the disgusting language and hatred spewed forth on my wall for all of my friends to witness (of course that too) but also by my colour being drawn to everyone’s attention. I know logically that people can look at me and see it but there was a part of me that said “now everyone knows” and then a part of me that felt immediately ashamed by that thought and those kinds of reactions I had in me… Still… like shouldn’t I not feel these things by now? Shouldn’t I be stronger by now?
I imagine there is loads more to come up and for me to reflect upon but the reality is that my skin colour is still an issue for me and for other people in 2018. That’s a sad reality. It breaks my heart to think of the suffering of other people around the world and what they experience every single day of their lives. Not just PoCs but any marginalised groups.
Empathy, REAL empathy is an eye opener. At times it can be an extremely painful process, to really put yourself in a position of asking how a person can come to be a certain way and at times it will feel like you don’t want to but I think that’s the only way to heal this world. It’s the only way to change this world and that’s why our work as empathic parents is so important. That’s why we can’t compromise when it comes to treating other humans as equals and we need to check ourselves to make sure that subtle bullying isn’t starting at home as per this article.
Listening Time is also the best tool we have as parents and each time I have used it for an incredibly tough topic, it’s been especially transformative. The topics that are hard to talk about are the ones we need to talk about most. Having said that, I want to offer Listening to those who are scared of what they need to unpack. There are no limits on my Listening offers so please reach out to me if you need to.
In the meantime, BE THE CHANGE!!!! Every little bit counts!
With loads of love, rawness and realness,
Aunty Ask
Choose Kind, Hate, Hate Speech, Hurts, Insecurities, Kindness, Love, Peace, Race, Racism, Trigger Warning, Triggers, World Peace
Thank You and Happy New Year!
My Name Is Chantal… and I’m a Control Freak
Nudity NOT Allowed
Why The Sims Ruined My Career But Made Me A Better Parent
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© 2016. Auntyask.com
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You are here: Home / News / What a difference a law makes
What a difference a law makes
January 17, 2012 /1 Comment/in News /by Arquebus
I am absolutely delighted to hear that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary will announce this week that the Government is to introduce new legislation to tackle the criminals who supply firearms within the UK, and also those who seek to bring firearms into the Country across our borders.
It was back in 2007 as the Chair of the ACPO Criminal Use of Firearms Practitioner group that I first became involved in moves to introduce a new law making it illegal to possess a firearm with intent to supply it to another.
This subject was first highlighted as a result of the circumstances surrounding the prosecution of an individual called Grant Wilkinson, who had set up a gun factory in a farm premises near Reading and was supplying converted MAC-10 machine pistols to the criminal marketplace. Police were able to link guns from his factory to over 50 shootings, including ten murders.
The circumstances of this case highlighted the different approach that was being taken to charging and sentencing people who were involved in importing or supplying drugs and firearms.
For some time it had been apparent that there was a loophole in the law that allowed individuals who stored firearms on behalf of criminals, or who were involved in the supply of firearms to escape suitable punishment for their actions. This was because police and prosecutors were often confronted by the difficult decision as to what the appropriate charge was for people found in possession of caches of firearms.
On the one hand there was the option of charging them with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life contrary to section 16 of the Firearms Act 1968, which on conviction carried a sentence of life imprisonment. The very specific knowledge of intent required in law to prove this offence meant in practice that it was very difficult to convict people of this offence.
The alternative option was to charge a straightforward possession offence, which although much easier to prove also carried a much lighter sentence, which did not reflect the true nature of the criminality involved.
The practical reality is that people who use guns rarely carry them with them as a matter of course, due to the possibility of being stopped or searched and found with the gun on them. In fuelling a lot of the chaotic gun crime that happens on the streets there are people who are prepared to act as armourers and hold on to guns, often in a safe location, but which can easily be accessed when necessary by criminals.
There have been many notable cases where a large number of guns and ammunition have been recovered together but it has been impossible to prove the necessary intent on the part of the person in possession of the guns to convict them of an offence under Section 16 of the Firearms Act.
Similarly the maximum sentence for importing firearms into the UK is 10 years whilst someone importing class A drugs is liable to get a sentence of Life imprisonment
Referring back to the case of Grant Wilkinson the Court of Appeal made the following observation when considering an appeal against his conviction: –
‘We respectfully suggest that the offence of importing firearms, or being in possession of firearms with intent to supply them, whether manufactured by someone else or not, is not less criminally reprehensible than the importation of drugs or possession of drugs with intent to supply them. It is indeed difficult to anticipate many such cases where an imminent risk to life is not an inevitable concomitant of the offence. If so, the availability of a discretionary life sentence should not be dependant on proof of the specific intent required by Section 16 of the Firearms Act’.
It is on this basis that ACPO with the support of the Home Office, Judiciary, Crown Prosecution Service and many other practitioners have been campaigning for the last five years for the introduction of the two new laws that have been announced.
From a personal perspective it seems a little ironic that this announcement is made in the very month that I retired from my role within the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) as both myself and Matt Lewis, Arquebus Solutions Co-Director, were very heavily involved in articulating the need for this extremely important change in the law.
It was very interesting to seek the views of the widest range of individuals and groups as to what their perspective was on this matter. There are often very divided opinions on changes in firearm legislation, but I have to say that as far as these changes were concerned there was excellent support for their introduction across a very diverse range of people.
As with the introduction of any new legislation there were some very sensible cautionary views expressed; one such concern is how to deal with people who have been coerced or forced to hold onto firearms for other people, something which we know does happen. In fact the team from the Metropolitan Police Service Trident team recently ran a high profile campaign aimed at those people who stored firearms under such circumstances. Equally, there are many people who quite willingly supply and store firearms for personal gain.
The fact that new legislation and sentencing powers are available does not mean that the full weight of the law needs to be directed at the vulnerable. As always the prosecuting authorities and the trial judge will have discretion to deal with individuals based upon the circumstances of the offence and their actual involvement.
I strongly believe that the fact that we have filled a significant legislative loophole will make it easier for law enforcement agencies to further stem the supply of firearms to the criminal market and will send a strong message to those thinking of becoming involved – be an armourer or supplier of illegal firearms at your peril.
Paul James
http://arquebus-solutions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/government.jpg 400 600 Arquebus http://arquebus-solutions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ArquebusTM.jpg Arquebus2012-01-17 20:00:252013-08-20 13:28:24What a difference a law makes
Jack Bentonly says:
Thank you for your ongoing fight against guns. May I draw your attention to a relevant body monitoring the flow of so called ‘Free’ firearms located at homemadeguns.wordpress.com .
Many criminals choose not to spend money and risk importing or purchasing expensive conventional firearms on the black market and instead bypass this and use methods to acquire them that cost as little as £5 worth of pipe fittings. Does Arquebus Solutions see a solution to address this complete black hole in our legislation? Should a ban on hacksaws and drills be considered? Considering some of these contraptions don’t even require the use of any tools whatsoever to put together, would such a ban be effective?
30 years on. The fight against Gun Crime Continues.
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Last week we were witness to the wretched sight of a public auction of movable assets taking place on farms now ‘owned’ by the Mugabe family under the capable command of the matriarch, Grace. Eyewitness reports indicate there was a mountain of trashed equipment, some of it only recently acquired. The sad irony is many potential buyers were homeless white farmers who had made a success of their operations with relatively little, have lost their property and livelihoods thanks to the actions of the ‘owner’ and are desperately trying to find the means and the ways to get back onto the land they love. Just what has transpired at Grace Mugabe’s dairy is not clear but it seems all was not well and some sort of cash-flow crisis is underway. This, against a backdrop of ‘owners’ who took the farms for nothing and had almost unlimited access to the public purse to purchase whatever was required while Mugabe retained the presidency.
Before being confiscated these farms were highly developed and prosperous commercial entities that flourished with absolutely no public support; in fact, they flourished in the face of a mostly hostile state. As is the case with so many thousands of farms around the country that were once viable, vibrant and productive, most have been rendered derelict, useless to the new owners and useless to the country. This is the story behind the ongoing misery that haunts the people of Zimbabwe.
At the same time farmers in the Stellenbosch area of the Western Cape were gushing in their praise of President Cyril Ramphosa and the ANC. “The Bible says presidents and kings are appointed by the Lord. Mr. President, you’re also anointed. David in the bible was first anointed and then he was appointed, then he wrote the psalms. Mr. President, I know that you’re going to write a lot of psalms for South Africa and it’s going to be a lot of excellent psalms,” said ‘Beyerskloof’ owner Beyers Truter.
This is strong, positive stuff from an Afrikaner farmer about a man who is on the record saying, “We are determined that expropriation without compensation should be implemented in a way that increases agricultural production, improves food security and ensure that the land is returned to those from whom it was taken under colonialism and apartheid.” Maybe Mr. Truter does have a direct line to the divine and maybe Cyril Ramaphosa has indeed been sent by the Lord, in which case I’m out of my depth here but this smacks of bootlicking and I fear farmers following Mr. Truter’s lead may be making a mistake.
No two countries or situations are the same but I well remember the endless and sometimes heated discussions that took place in the 90’s after President Mugabe started making alarming public pronouncements about seizing land without compensation. The consensus of the majority, headed by the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), was that this was political grandstanding and Mugabe and his cabinet were all too aware of the calamitous consequences that would follow such reckless action. When legislation was then passed enabling the very actions Mugabe was assuring the farmers he was going to perform a small group of dissenters argued it was time to rise and challenge this head-on before the country’s judiciary and to consider the legal options available in international courts under rules designed for the protection of fundamental human (property) rights . But again, the majority of those likely to be affected believed this was mostly political posturing and restraint was the message of the day. Many farmers had struck up friendly relationships with ruling party politicians and military leaders and were confident in the personal assurances received that they were secure on their land.
In September 1998 the CFU announced a deal on the ‘Land Question’ had been struck which involved the international community and attracted financial support from donor countries and organisations. At that point, it looked like the non-confrontational approach of the appeasers had worked but as it turned out this was a moment reminiscent of Neville Chamberlain’s ‘Peace in our time’ agreement with Adolf Hitler. In February 2000 the violent state-orchestrated attacks on farmers and the confiscation of their homes and properties commenced and the country went into an economic death-spiral.
Mr. Truter might need reminding this all happened with the tacit support of the South African government led by Thabo Mbeki, who almost farcically, was then championing the ‘African Renaissance’. This exciting and ambitious plan was to unfold under the watchful eye of African elder statesmen and women who would staff the ‘African Peer Review Mechanism’. Mbeki had been bombastic in assuring the West that the days of reckless misgovernance on the continent were truly over but when Mugabe quickly showed how wrong he was, Mbeki went very quiet and that was the end of the ‘African Renaissance’.
Recently, the newly ‘anointed’ President Ramaphosa visited Zimbabwe to survey the wreckage, ignored the obvious lawlessness and endemic corruption and spoke out strongly against ‘Western sanctions’ which he blamed for the country’s economic collapse. If this is divine wisdom in play then I fear we are in big trouble.
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Thoroughbred Idea Foundation on Panel at 2019 National HBPA Convention
November 27, 2018 by Editor Leave a Comment
In an effort to continue supporting and promoting Thoroughbred racing and the encompassing industry, the keynote address at the National HBPA’s annual convention in March of 2019 will be a panel of representatives from the recently established Thoroughbred Idea Foundation.
The non-profit Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF) was formed earlier this year to create an active forum for the exchange and curation of ideas with the mission of “improving the thoroughbred racing industry for all stakeholders, especially its primary customers — horseplayers and owners — through the exchange, curation and advocacy of sound, data-driven ideas shared with and implemented by the sport’s existing entities,” according to the organization’s website, racingthinktank.com.
The panel is scheduled for March 13, opening day of the three-day Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association Convention at the Sand Key Sheraton Hotel in Clearwater, Fla. Panelists will be board members Craig Bernick, Jack Wolf and Corey Johnsen, along with TIF executive director Patrick Cummings.
Other convention speakers will include Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, founder of the consulting company Racing Matters; economist Dr. Steven Vickner from the University of Louisville College of Business’ equine industry program; Jen Roytz, executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project; as well as a panel discussion led by prominent racing talk-show host Steve Byk on the topic of how the industry can best utilize statistical information in the future.
Details on registration and agenda will be available soon at nationalhbpa.com.
“There are a lot of good things going on in horse racing, a lot of good buzz,” said Eric Hamelback, chief executive officer of the National HBPA. “We want to accentuate positive developments in horse racing, and the purpose of both the HBPA Convention and the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation is to spark dialogue on how to improve our sport.
“The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation is committed to putting out productive, well-thought-out ideas that we can all back to make our industry better. There is so much going on that it made sense to have a panel of their representatives — who come from different horse and business backgrounds — rather than just one keynote speaker. This promises to be a can’t-miss session, and I know I can’t wait to hear their thoughts and how we can all work together for positive change that benefits every aspect of our sport.”
TIF does not take money from industry organizations but rather is funded by individuals from a cross-section of the sport. The core belief is that everyone benefits by taking care of owners and bettors.
“Having been on some other industry boards, they can be so large with such large agendas that sometimes it’s hard to focus on specific areas to improve the economics of the business,” said Bernick, TIF’s founder and a prominent owner and breeder through his family’s Glen Hill Farm. “A group that advocates for the financial drivers of the business — owners and horseplayers — to try to improve the sport from an economic standpoint is necessary. They’re just ideas until you can get them implemented. We hope by speaking to the National HBPA that people understand what we’re about, and we’ll be looking to push some of that stuff forward when it makes sense for horsemen. I don’t think we’ll advocate anything that doesn’t make sense for horsemen.”
Bernick is president and chief executive officer of Glen Hill Farm, the Ocala farm founded by his grandfather, the late Leonard Lavin. He’s also managing partner in Elevage Bloodstock, which invests in stallion shares and broodmares, and launched the Breeders’ Cup wagering committee while on that organization’s board. In addition to supporting many thoroughbred charities, Bernick is an officer of the Lavin Family Foundation. He was a business development and marketing executive at Alberto-Culver before going into the thoroughbred business full-time.
Wolf and his wife, Laurie, began Starlight Racing with six yearlings in 2000, one of which developed into Grade 1 winner and major stallion Harlan’s Holiday, and ultimately turned the stable into a partnership that participates at the highest level of the game, including being a minority owner in Triple Crown winner Justify. Wolf, who retired from his work as a hedge-fund manager to concentrate on racing, was the driving force behind launching the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the industry’s first broad-based initiative dedicated to helping retired racehorses.
Corey Johnsen has earned a reputation as one of the country’s premier and most innovative track executives, who with partner Ray Reid turned Kentucky Downs into a major-league player by taking a gamble on instituting historical horse racing to not only help the track but to strengthen the Kentucky circuit. Johnsen also is a horse owner and breeder who started out as a $2 bettor and groom while attending college in Arizona. He was fundamental in the opening of Remington Park and Lone Star Park and currently is involved in the re-opening of Arizona Downs, formerly Prescott Downs. Under Johnsen’s leadership as track president, Kentucky Downs has been named the Horseplayers Association of North America’s top-ranked track for three straight years.
Pat Cummings has been an executive with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and racing technology and data-provider Trakus, as well as a media and communications specialist. An expert in international racing, Cummings covered Dubai for a decade for various media outlets. He also is a partner in racing syndicates in both America and South Africa.
TIF already has issued two white papers: advocating for “penny breakage,” where payoffs are calculated by rounding down to the penny instead of to the dime in most jurisdictions, and adopting nationwide an interference philosophy where a horse or rider who impedes another horse won’t be disqualified and placed behind the impacted horse if the stewards believe the impeded horse would not otherwise have finished ahead of the horse causing the interference. (The paper recommends stiffer jockey sanctions for careless riding in instances where there’s not a DQ.)
Source: Press release
Filed Under: Horse Racing Education, Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Promotion | Marketing Tagged With: 2019 National HBPA Convention, Corey Johnsen, Craig Bernick, Jack Wolf, Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, TIF
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Monosodium Glutamate
Cordell E Logan
Sometime during World War II the use of MSG was noted in Japanese soldier’s rations. By the 1960s, Accent, the leading brand of the flavor enhancer called monosodium glutamate , became a household word. At this same time, other hydrolyzed protein products such as autolyzed yeast, sodium caseinate , and hydrolyzed vegetable protein gained popularity. All hydrolyzed protein products, regardless of the label name, contains MSG.
Glutamic acid was isolated in 1866 by the German chemist Karl Ritthausen . In 1908 the flavor-enhancing potential was noticed by Kiluane Ikeda of Tokyo , Japan . Prior to that time, the Japanese used seaweed as a flavor enhancer, without understanding that glutamic acid was its flavor-enhancing component.
The Japanese used the slow and costly method of extraction to produce glutamic acid from 1910 to 1956. Then they succeeded in obtaining it via a fermentation method. Large-scale production of glutamic acid and monosodium glutamate began. When sodium is added to glutamic acid, monosodium glutamate results. If it contains 79% free glutamic acid with the balance of salt, moisture, and up to 1% contaminants, the product must be called “monosodium glutamate.” By FDA definition, processed free glutamic acid (MSG) is “naturally occurring” because the basic ingredient is found in nature. Processed free glutamic acid is both L- glutamic acid (natural) and D- glutamic acid, and also contains pyroglutamic acid. Some carcinogenic substances are often found with it. It is not true that processed glutamic acid is the same as unprocessed glutamic acid. Natural glutamic acid is a building block of protein, and also functions as a normal neurotransmitter.
It was brought to the U.S. following World War II (first by the extraction method). By 1956, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. had succeeded in using bacterial fermentation (at least some was genetically modified, even then). Major strains are of Micrococcus glutamicus (grown aerobically). These bacteria have the ability to synthesize glutamic acid outside their cell membranes and accumulated it there.
The first published report of a reaction to MSG appeared in 1968 when Robert Ho Man Kwok, MD, who had emigrated from China , reported that although he never had a reaction in China , about 20 minutes into a meal at a restaurant, he suffered numbness, tingling, and tightness of the chest that lasted for around two hours.
The following year, John W. Olney, MD, reported that laboratory animals suffered brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders after being exposed to MSG. Retinal degeneration occurred and mice became extremely obese. Both processed glutamic acid and MSG produced the same results.
By the early 1970s manufacturers of baby food removed MSG from their products, but replaced it with MSG-containing ingredients such as autolyzed yeast and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. In the late 1970s manufacturers “voluntarily” removed all obvious MSG-containing ingredients from baby food.
Today MSG is found in most soups. Salad dressings, processed meats, frozen entrees, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, in some crackers, bread, canned tuna, and very often in “low fat” and “no fat” foods to make up for the lost flavor when fat is reduced or eliminated. It can be found in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements. It is also found in vaccines. In hospitals it is hidden in jello , chicken soup, and in some IV solutions. Even in agriculture it is found in plant growth enhancers, fertilizers, and fungicides.
Many degenerative conditions have been linked to MSG. “Slow neurotoxins,” problems showing up years after overt exposure, have recently been attributed to the ingestion of MSG (Dr. Peter Spencer’s work etc.).
The MSG industry continues to deny that exposure to it causes adverse reactions including hives, asthma, seizures, migraine headaches, learning disorders, endocrine disorders, and is associated with stroke, epilepsy, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and degenerative conditions such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Problems of labeling have surfaced in the courts. Here are some examples of false and misleading labels of ingredients that contain MSG:
• Original Spike All Purpose Seasoning – “No MSG Added ” Contains special high flavor yeast; hydrolyzed protein.
• Bragg Liquid Aminos – “No MSG Added ” Contains glutamic acid.
• Trader Joe’s Split Pea Soup – “No MSG Added ” Contains yeast extract.
• Campbell ‘s Healthy Request Chicken Broth – “No MSG ” Contains chicken stock, chicken flavor; flavoring. (and most other Campbell ‘s soups).
• And on and on the list goes.
In summary, avoid MSG and related foods that have suspicious labeling.
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Reorganization, Personnel Priorities Await New AFMC Commander
—Rachel S. Cohen
Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander, delivers a State of LCMC address at a luncheon on Jan. 25, 2017 in Bedford, Massachusetts. Air Force photo by Mark Herlihy.
Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Commander Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry already has a to-do list for his future boss, once a four-star head of Air Force Materiel Command is confirmed.
At the top of his list is redesigning the organization, which oversees programs from development and fielding to sustainment and retirement, to mirror similar efforts at the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in California. He already believes AFLCMC is properly set up to work with portfolio architects like the one hired to oversee creation of an Advanced Battle Management System, which is intended to eventually replace the JSTARS aircraft.
“We need to look really hard at how LCMC is structured,” McMurry told reporters at a March 1 roundtable during AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. “I’m kind of invigorated a little bit by what I’ve seen with the Space and Missile Systems Center, with the shift of focus to a more diverse portfolio-management structure and a shift in the tiering of time. … I’d like to do that.”
But SMC, which oversees acquisition for about 100 programs under Air Force Space Command, is about one-twelfth of the size of AFLCMC, which spans the entire service and manages more than 1,200 programs.
“It is a tough go, though, because the pile of work is a little bigger,” McMurry said. “I’ve kind of been hoping I’d have a four-star boss to work that over with.”
That potential boss is expected to be Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, now the Air Force’s top uniformed acquisition official. He was nominated for a promotion to general and a new job last year, but must restart the confirmation process because senators did not approve his appointment by the time the 115th Congress ended.
The Trump administration will “eventually probably renominate” Bunch, McMurry said. McMurry has led AFMC in an interim capacity since its former chief, Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, retired last September.
Another top priority is streamlining how the organization hires and retains workers. AFMC now averages a 40-day hiring process thanks to authorities granted by Congress, McMurry said, but keeping those people happy will take more work.
“I need to figure out how, when those people are hired, how to make them productive tomorrow,” he said. “The more they’re tied into the mission, the more they understand their impact on the mission, the more they understand the importance of what they do, the less likely that I’m going to lose them to some other organization.”
McMurry would like to change the systemic issues new hires face, such as long waits for base access, slow networks, and mandatory training. Failing to improve their workplace environment risks losing them to other branches of the military, government agencies, or private companies.
The Air Force Research Laboratory, which also falls under AFMC, recently completed a study on future workforce needs that could spur hiring changes as well.
“I think we have a fantastic mission,” McMurry said. “I want our people to feel that way, and feel that they’re contributing and [seeing] meaningful results from Day One. And I want them to understand the tie from what they do all the way to that unit in the field that benefits from their support.”
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Movie Economics Essay
The film industry as it stands today spans the globe. It has evolved over the time and being a complex phenomenon and a highly specialised trade consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking – the film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film festivals, actors, directors and other film personnel. Also, different aspects of the motion picture industry have had advances and expansion of opportunities and scope at various stages like development, pre-production, production, post-production and film distribution and marketing. The history of a film is usually related through the achievements of producers, directors, writers and performers.
Making films – production, has always been perceived as a glamorous pursuit. Alternatively, our personal understanding and appreciation of film is shaped by our experiences at the cinema. The exhibition of film is a commonplace, shared cultural activity highly visible in every city and town, constantly feeding the popular memory. By contrast, distribution, the third part of the film supply chain, is often referred to as ‘The Invisible Art’, a process known only to those within the industry, barely written about and almost imperceptible to everyone else. So what is involved in this invisible process? Arguably, distribution is the most important part of the film industry, where completed films are brought to life and connected with an audience.
Completing a movie with various groups is half the task when distribution and marketing is not included. The power of the industry is very much dominated in the distribution companies, for the product, the film, can not be completely produced without the finances and influence of the distribution company. What happens to a motion picture once it is finished? How does the movie get into the hands of a distributor? How does the distributor get the movie into the hands of the exhibitor or in the case of video tape/disks, into the hands of retail stores? And how does the distributor/theatre owner convince the public to attend your movie and to buy the tape/disk? All of this business is called “Marketing and Distribution”.
Film Distribution & Marketing
Distribution is also about releasing and sustaining films in the market place. A film distributor is an independent company, a subsidiary company or occasionally an individual, which acts as the agent between a film production company or some intermediary agent, and a film exhibitor, till the end of securing placement of the producer’s film on the exhibitor’s screen. When the film is completed and sent to the studio, the studio makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company. Producers with worthy projects approach distributors with their screenplay and ask them to provide a letter-of-intent-to-distribute to at least a minimum release of their film. The producer then uses these distributor endorsement letters to attract investment capital, above-the-line cast members, and key production crew. The primary agenda of the distributor is to convince the exhibitor to rent, or book, each film. To ensure that the distributor usually arranges industry screenings for exhibitors, and uses other marketing techniques that will make the exhibitor believe they will profit financially by showing the film.
Also Depending on the different levels of film budgets there can be different scenarios for distribution of a motion picture:
In-House Production/Distribution – The selected studio /distributor to which the project has been pitched or submitted, provides the acquisition/development financing, develops the project at the studio under some level of supervision of studio creative executives, gives a “greenlight” to studio production funding and distributes the completed film with the studio affiliated distributor using the distributor’s funds to cover P&A expenses. An independent producer (or screenwriter, director, actor or actress) may have originally submitted the idea, concept, underlying property, outline, synopsis, treatment or screenplay to the studio, but rights to produce as a motion picture were then acquired by the studio. If the producer or others remain attached, they do so as employees of the studio or project.
Production Financing/Distribution Agreement – The independent producer provides the acquisition/development financing (or raises such funds from investors) and takes the deal to a studio/distributor with a fairly complete package (i.e., significant elements are attached). The studio/distributor’s money is then used to produce and distribute the picture. The distribution agreement is entered into (theoretically) prior to the start of production, or at least before the end of production. The distributor will deduct its fee, recoup distributor expenses, collect interest on the production money loan and then reduce the negative cost with remaining gross receipts, if any.
Negative Pickups (and other forms of lender production money financing) –The independent producer provides acquisition/development financing (or raises such funds from investors) and obtains one or more distributor commitments and guarantees to purchase the completed picture (for the worldwide, domestic or international markets, or individual territories) if the finished film meets specified delivery requirements (as set forth in detail in the distribution agreement). The producer takes this or these distributor commitment(s) to an entertainment lender to secure production funds using the distributor’s contract(s) as effective collateral. In this instance, the only part of the financing provided by the distributor relates to distribution expenses (i.e., the so called P&A monies). The negative pickup and other forms of these distribution/finance agreements associated with lender financing are typically entered into prior to the production of the film. Other variations on lender production financing include foreign presales, gap financing, so called “super gap” financing and partly or wholly insured sales estimates.
Acquisition Deal –The independent producer raises acquisition/development as well as production monies, often from investors outside the film industry, but distributor funds are used to distribute the movie. The distribution agreement is entered into after the film is produced). Some in the industry still erroneously use the term “negative pickup” to describe this transaction which is clearly different from the true lender financed “negative pickup” described above. This “pure acquisition” approach to film finance and distribution generally provides the producer and creative team with the most creative control (over scenarios 1 3), but involves greater financial risk for the producer and/or the producer’s investors.
Rent-A-Distributor – The independent producer raises acquisition/development, production and some or all of the money needed to distribute the film. This type of distribution agreement is generally entered into after the film is produced. Distributor fees are generally at their lowest with this transaction, (e.g., 15%).
In any given year, these five film finance/distribution scenarios will typically be represented on the film slates of each of the so called major studio/distributors, although in terms of numbers, the PF/D, negative pickup and acquisition deal combinations probably generate most of the films appearing on such slates. On the other hand, almost all of the majors will have one or more in house productions each year and the rent a distributor scenario is probably the least commonly used. Most of the independent films produced each year tend to rely on some variation of lender financing or investor financing combined with an acquisition deal. The major studio/distributor sales representatives tend to use their coming blockbusters as leverage to gain favoured treatment from exhibitors for the mediocre to poor films on their annual slates, thus partially explaining why many independent features of equal or superior quality get squeezed off theatre screens in favour of major studio product.
In the practice of Hollywood and other forms of industrial cinema, the phases of production, distribution and exhibition operate most effectively when ‘vertically integrated’, where the three stages are seen as part of the same larger process, under the control of one company.
Financial models involved with Distribution Company and producer:
Once a distributor is interested in a film, the two parties arrive at a distribution agreement based on one of two financial models:
In the leasing model, the distributor agrees to pay a fixed amount for the rights to distribute the film. If the distributor and the studio have a profit-sharing relationship, on the other hand, the distributor gets a percentage (typically anywhere from 10 to 50 percent) of the net profits made from the movie. Both models can be good or bad, depending on how well a movie does at the box office. The goal of both the studio and the distribution company is to predict which model will benefit them the most.
Most of the major studios have their own distribution companies. For example, Disney owns Buena Vista, a major distributor. The obvious advantages of this are that it is very simple to set up a distribution deal and the parent company doesn’t have to share the profits with another company. The big problem is when an expensive movie is a flop — there’s no one else to share the costs. That’s the main reason several studios have partnered on major movies in recent years. For example, Star-wars episode one was produced entirely by Lucas-film but distributed by Fox.
The next big step occurs once the distribution company has rights to the film. Most distributors not only provide the movie to theatres, but obtain ancillary rights to distribute the movie on VHS, DVD Cable and network TV. Other rights can include soundtrack CDs, posters, games, toys and other merchandising.
The distribution company shows the movie (screening) to prospective buyers representing the theatres. The buyers negotiate with the distribution company on which movies they wish to lease and the terms of the lease agreement. Once this is accomplished, the distributor then secures a written contract with the Exhibitors stipulating the amount of the gross ticket sales to be paid to the distributor (usually a percentage of the gross after first deducting a “floor”, which is called a “house allowance” (also known as the “nut”).
Ordinarily there are standard contracts between a distributor and an exhibitor that apply to all films subsequently booked, although on occasion some of the terms, such as the percentage of the gross to be paid by the exhibitor, may be varied with regard to a particular film.
There are two ways for such an agreement:
Bidding requires that the theatre agree to pay a fixed amount for the right to show the movie. For example, a theatre might bid $100,000 for a four-week engagement of a new movie. During that time, it could make $125,000 for a profit of $25,000. Or it might take in only $75,000, which means the theatre has a loss of $25,000. Few distribution companies use bidding anymore. Most agreements are for a percentage of the box office (ticket sales).
In this sort of deal, the distributor and the theatre agree to several terms:
The theatre negotiates the amount of the house allowance, or nut, with the distributor. This is a set figure to cover basic expenses each week.
The percentage split for the net box office is set. This is the amount of box office left after the deduction of the house allowance.
The percentage split for the gross box office is set.
The length of engagement is set (typically four weeks).
The distributor will get the vast majority of the money made by the movie. The agreement gives the distributor the agreed-upon percentage of the net box office or gross box office, whichever is greater.
Consider this example. Theatre A is negotiating with Distributor B over a new movie. The theatre has figured that expenses, the nut, are about $4,500 per week. The net percentage to go to the distributor is set at 95 percent for the first two weeks, 90 percent for week three and 85 percent for the final week. The gross percentage to go to the distributor is set at 70 percent for the first two weeks, 60 percent for week three and 50 percent for the final week.
One can see that during weeks one, two and three, the gross percentage is higher. The net percentage is higher for week four. So the distributor would take gross percentage on one through three then net for week four. The theatre breaks even the first week, loses money the second and makes a profit on weeks three and four.
The distribution company determines how many copies (prints) of the film to make. The distributor must also ensure that enough film prints are struck to service all contracted exhibitors on the contract-based opening day, ensure their physical delivery to the theatre by the opening day, monitor exhibitors to make sure the film is in fact shown in the particular theatre with the minimum number of seats and show times, and ensure the prints return to the distributor’s office or other storage resource also on the contract-based return date. Then the prints are sent to the theatres a few days before the opening day. In practical terms, this includes the physical production of film prints and their shipping around the world (a process that is beginning to be replaced by digital distribution) as well as the creation of posters, newspaper and magazine advertisements, television commercials, trailers, and other types of ads. Furthermore, the distributor is responsible for ensuring a full line of film advertising material is available on each film which it believes will help the exhibitor attract the largest possible audience, create such advertising if it is not provided by the production company, and arrange for the physical delivery of the advertising items selected by the exhibitor at intervals prior to the opening day.
The theatre shows the movie for a specified number of weeks (engagement). One buys a ticket and watches the movie. At the end of the engagement, the theatre sends the print back to the distribution company and makes payment on the lease agreement. The distribution company collects the amount due, audits the exhibitor’s ticket sales as necessary to ensure the gross reported by the exhibitor is accurate, secures the distributor’s share of these proceeds, and transmits the remainder to the production company (or to any other intermediary, such as a film release agent).
At the end of the negotiated engagement, the theatre pays the distributor its share of the box office earnings and returns the print. If a movie is very popular and can continue to draw a steady crowd, the theatre may renegotiate to extend the lease agreement.
While first run movies that have just been released are loss leaders, movies that have been out for a while can be profitable for the theatres that show them. Second run theatres often get very attractive leasing terms from the distributor. These theatres are facing increasing competition though, as first run theatres continue to show more movies past the traditional four to six week time frame.
If the distributor is handling an imported or foreign language film, it may also be responsible for securing dubbing or subtitling for the film, and securing censorship or other legal or organizational “approval” for the exhibition of the film in the country/territory in which it does business, prior to approaching the exhibitors for booking.
This summarises the Logistics of Distribution which represents the phase of distribution at its most basic – supplying and circulating copies of the film to theatres, of tapes and DVDs to shops and video rental stores, and managing the effectiveness of the supply. The showing of films in cinemas is a time-pressured activity. Cinemas spend their money publicising film play-dates and times in local papers or through published programmes. There’s an imperative for the distributor to deliver the film on time.
After supplying ,circulating and exhibition of the movie and thereafter achieving targeted sales the distributor then accounts for the sales of the movie against costs for prints, advertising campaigns, and other distribution expenses, such as local financing costs, taxes, customs duties, and tariffs. Per the distribution license agreement, the distributor can then return any actual positive net revenue from the distribution license to the production company directly, or to a legal trust entity created to receive net revenue for the production company and for its beneficiaries, such as equity investors, creditors, sales agencies, and talent guilds. Distribution companies generally return positive net revenue to encourage producers to provide early exclusive access to their next motion picture. Whereas, in the early years of a multi-year distribution license negative net revenue accounting reports are very common, and reflect the start-up costs for marketing a new motion picture. The first picture bears the brunt of the market introduction costs – and the subsequent pictures will benefit from brand familiarity and mass media awareness with the story characters and its elements.
Since advertising is a major instrument of competition in the movie industry, it follows that companies often spend hefty sums on advertising for new products prior to their launch. The overall process starts with marketing research and goes through market segmentation, business planning and execution, ending with pre and post-sales promotional activities. It is also related to many of the creative arts. When a distributor has leased a movie, they will try to determine the best strategy for opening the movie. Opening refers to the official debut of a movie. There are several factors to consider which can be described through the ‘Marketing Mix Theory’
Marketing mix theory – Elements of the marketing mix are often referred to as ‘the four Ps’:
Product: Obviously, a movie that has everything – major studio backing, big stars and a great story is probably going to open big and do very well. If it has big stars but doesn’t appear to have legs (meaning that it will not stay popular for long), the distributor may opt to put the movie in as many theatres as possible during its first engagement. Fewer theatres will be interested in a movie with an unknown cast or poor buzz.
Place– Place is often referred to as the distribution channel. It can include any physical exhibition like theatres or film festivals, home theatres or domestic display or virtual display like internet streaming etc.
Promotion – Promotion represents all of the communications that a marketer may use in the marketplace. Promotion has four distinct elements -advertising, public relations, word of mouth and point of sale. A certain amount of crossover occurs when promotion uses the four principal elements together, which is common in film promotion. Advertising covers any communication that is paid for, from and cinema commercials, radio and Internet adverts through print media and billboards. Public relations are where the communication is not directly paid for and includes press releases, sponsorship deals, exhibitions, conferences, seminars or fairs and events. Word of mouth is any apparently informal communication about the product by ordinary individuals, viewers or people specifically engaged to create word of mouth momentum like movie critics or journalists reporting the box office appraisal. Sales staff often plays an important role in word of mouth and Public Relations.
Price: The right price is determined by the location and means of the distribution channel like the theatres or multiplexes charge more while the smaller exhibition channels charge less. Also, in competitive areas the maintenance of the exhibition place is high so higher charges are evident.
Extended marketing mix
People/Target Audience – all people who directly or indirectly influence the perceived value of the movie, including knowledge workers in the motion picture industry, the creative arts group and viewers. Sometimes a movie has gotten good buzz, but isn’t likely to have mass appeal because of the audience it is directed at.
Public Opinion – The people’s opinion counts in this industry where the target of processing a product is its appeal to the audience. It can attract crowds repeatedly if it has the ability to hold the audience.
Process – The procedures, mechanisms and flow of activities which lead to a complete package of the movie can make a difference for example a graphics based movie like Spiderman series or Ice age needs a good marketing based on the entwining mechanics and processes of computer animated graphics and in real life stills.
Presence – The presence on timeline makes a difference for some motion pictures too. For example it might be the wrong time of year for a particular type of movie. For example, a heart warming Christmas story is not likely to do well opening on Memorial Day weekend.
1 week before
1 week Later
Utility characteristics of goods – The motion picture industry is an industry with the product/goods that are usually modeled as having diminishing marginal utility. The first individual purchase has high utility; the second has less. Thus, in these goods, as the quantity consumed increases the price of the units approaches zero, assuming that one cannot re-sell it, there is a point at which a consumer would decline to purchase an additional product, even at a price very near zero. This margin of utility is the consumer’s satiation point. In other words, the shelf life of movie is very short and with time the shelf life of movies in theatrical releases seems to be getting shorter and shorter.
Courtesy – Hollywood Stock exchange
Through the analysis of a small sample of motion pictures it is concluded to be an evolving rank tournament of survival and death. The results of a survival analysis indicate that the failure rate of motion pictures is time-dependent, and that survival time is strongly related to the number of initial bookings. Long runs do not guarantee success. A specialty film may play on only a few screens and it may run a long time if its audience develops slowly and its revenue is not diluted over many screens. A mass appeal film usually will be licensed to many theatres. Because there are many screens, it may play of rapidly because demand is saturated quickly. Its revenue per screen will fall rapidly and exhibitors drop it. But this short theatrical shelf life is extended by several afterlives, first as videos to rent or buy (VCR or now DVD), and then as TV programs first narrowcast (on pay-per-view, on airplanes, on cable) then broadcast then on other networks and to a growing extent, as downloadables on the Web. This is called as Domestic Marketing.
Domestic Marketing: Depending on the licensed home entertainment format, the distributor may create the local DVD versions of the motion picture from the deliverables. Sometimes, this requires developing a separate local home entertainment marketing campaign from the deliverables, which can result in an enhanced or extended version of the motion picture, replete with Internet hyperlinks to contracted local product and service promotions. Then, the distributor ships the DVD-video to retail outlets within his territory.
While these after-markets were once incidental to the fiscal health of a movie studio, they now have become a central part of the finance plans of every film. Because of these after-markets, all films have now, in theory, an indefinite shelf life. This factor is changing the way movies are made, distributed, and sold.
To further increase the shelf life the movies are marketed and distributed in various regions over the timeline i.e. in different countries. This stimulated release enhances the shelf life of a motion picture thereby producing revenues over the timeline spaced on physical coordinates over the various geographical regions. Thus international release is another way of extending shelf life .Many marketing and distribution companies hope to make the real money in the international distribution rights. Global distribution is getting stronger rapidly – with the enormous Asian markets just starting to open up. Over the past decade, more and more cineplexes are being built in more and more countries. The international factor, once just icing on the financial cake is now a fundamental to the planning and making of most Hollywood movies.
International Marketing: Depending on the licensed territory, the distributor may create local language versions of the motion picture from the deliverables under the license. Local language versions appear as subtitled motion pictures or as voice-dubbed motion pictures – depending on the sophistication of the distributor. The dialog transcript and music cue sheet both support this function. When the local licensing rights expire, the local language edition of the film should revert back for future distribution and archiving. International markets are as important as domestic.
Digital advertising /distribution – As the Internet bandwidth bottleneck disappears, and watching films and videos online and via mobile has gained substantial ground, a whole new realm has emerged for enterprising filmmakers to generate earn-income from their media content. Branded blogs, video streaming, and social networking sites are becoming a valuable landscape for savvy media-makers. This has enabled further increase of shelf life in the motion picture industry. As, is evident from the data and charts the movie looses its oomph over a period of few weeks in the theatrical arena thus, the digital advertising increases its reach to a larger audience which is unable to access the theatres or don’t have time to catch up with the fast pace world of motion pictures with enormous content available. This allows the viewers more discretion to view the products of their choice by increasing their availability over a larger span of time.
Also, through digital marketing it can reach out and appeal to a larger audience and not just the group of people who keep a pace with the fast pace motion pictures industry. Making the movies available in theatres is a more expensive endeavour and its access is limited to the people who can reach out to these theatres physically. Digital distribution makes the product available to a larger range of people.
Box office($)
Spider man (2002)
Star wars episode III
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
$377,019,25
Lord of the Rings: Two Towers
Fig. 2 Established series as a formula for successful marketing
rand marketing – Some companies having copyrights to any popular characters or brand names may seriously affect the success distribution or marketing companies market on the basis of a brand or so called brand advertising. Thus it is easier to make a mark on the box office if the motion picture is marketed on the power of certain characters like Spiderman Also, once established as a success many distribution and marketing companies cash on the audience appeal of such characters, story lines or certain special effects or themes and build series for them such as Spiderman series , Lord of the Rings, Harry potter and of course Walt Disney characters.
All of these factors help the distributor determine the number of prints to make. Each print typically costs about $1,500 to $2,000 to make, so the distributor must consider the number of theatres a movie can successfully open in. Many of the 37,000 screens in the United States are concentrated in urban areas. A popular movie might fill the seats in several theatres in the same city while another movie would have a much smaller audience. Since opening a movie on 3,000 screens could cost $6 million for the prints alone, the distributor must be sure that the movie can draw enough people to make the costs worthwhile.
Major distribution companies of the industry
The motion picture industry is very much dominated by large and very diversified conglomerates, such as The Walt Disney Co., News Corp., Sony Corp., Time Warner Inc., and Viacom Inc. which finance the development of new products, in this case motion pictures, own vast libraries of older products, and often own distribution channels for bringing these new products to the public. The vast entertainment conglomerates i.e. the distribution companies very much dominate the industry because they do have more clout with theatre owners and TV networks, if they do not own their own subset within the very conglomerate. They can offer brand name recognition to the viewer, and have more connections to the creative talent and experience with effective management. Sometimes the distributor finances the movie from beginning to end and other times, provides a portion of the finances and subsequently receives a cut of the profits.
Hence this invisible art is practiced in so many ways and is expanding with every passing day. According to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), films financed by major distributors cost $53 million in 1998; almost triple the price tag of 10 years ago.
Kotler, Philip, Keller, Lane (2005) “Marketing Management”, Prentice Hall.
Cones J. W. (2007) ‘Film Finance/ Distribution Scenarios’
De Vany, A. and Eckert, R. (1991). Motion picture antitrust: The Paramount cases revisited. Research in Law and Economics.
Consolidated Management Group, LLC versus the California Department of Corporations, 2008 (as reported in the California Business Law Reporter in its July 2008 issue).
Cones .J.W., 2008 ‘Forty-Three Ways to Finance Your Feature Film’, third Edition, Southern Illinois University Press.
Church.A.R. ,Godley .A. (2003) ‘The emergence of modern marketing’.
Chisholm, D. C. ‘‘Asset Specificity and Long-term Contracts: The Case of the Motion Pictures Industry.’’ Eastern Economic Journal, 1993.
‘‘Uncertainty in the Movies: Does Star Power Reduce the Terror of the Box Office?’’ Journal of Cultural Economics, 1999.
Filson, D., D. Switzer, and P. Besocke. ‘‘At the Movies: The Economics o f Exhibition Contracts.’’ Economic Inquiry, 2005.
economics, film
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Entries in Moammar Gadhafi (10)
American Supermodel Defends Gadhafi Family, Loses Job
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Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images(BERLIN) -- An American model who has appeared in ads for Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani and L'Oreal lost her biggest client Monday after she defended boyfriend Mutassim Gadhafi and the Gadhafi family in an interview with Italian media.
Vanessa Hessler, a 23-year-old Italian-American model, said that she had shared a "very beautiful love story" of four years with Mutassim Gadhafi, the 36-year-old son and heir of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi who died with his father in a last stand outside the Libyan city of Sirte on Oct. 21.
Hessler also said that the West had made a mistake in backing the rebels who ended Moammar Gadhafi's 42-year reign. "We, France and the United Kingdom, financed the rebels but people don't know what they are doing," Hessler told Italian magazine Diva e Donna, adding that she is disgusted by what is happening in Libya and that "the Gaddafi family is not how they are being depicted, they are normal people."
On Monday, Telefonica Germany fired Hessler from a job that had made her instantly recognizable to television viewers across Germany, France and Italy. For several years, Hessler had been known to the public as "Alice," the onscreen spokeswoman for the company's "Alice" internet service, but Telefonica declared an immediate end to the relationship with a tweet. Telefonica said the model's romantic relationships were "private business," but the company "cannot accept her comments on the Libya conflict."
Hessler's Facebook page, however, has been flowing with messages of support from her fans congratulating her on her "courage and honesty." One fan consoled her on her firing with a picture that reads: "Stand for what is right even if you stand alone."
The model was born to an American father and an Italian mother and spent much of her formative years in Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 6:13AM by jc Permalink
tagged Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, Vanessa Hessler in National News General
Obama: Gadhafi Death Marks End Of 'Long And Painful Chapter'
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Obama said Thursday that the death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi marks “the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya.”
“Today we can definitively say that the Gadhafi regime has come to an end. The last major regime strongholds have fallen. The new government is consolidating the control over the country, and one of the world's longest-serving dictators is no more,” Obama said in the first official White House response to the killing of the long-time leader.
The president commended the Libyan people for demanding their rights and noted “for the region, today's events prove once more [that] the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end. Across the Arab world, citizens have stood up to claim their rights. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship. And those leaders who try to deny their human dignity will not succeed.”
Just seven months after the president authorized forces to begin limited military action in Libya, Obama praised the global community who “refused to stand idly by” and hailed the U.S. strategy. “Without putting a single U.S. service member on the ground, we achieved our objectives, and our NATO mission will soon come to an end,” he said. Obama had initially said the U.S. commitment in the African country would be limited to "days, not weeks."
Going forward, Obama stressed that the Libyan people face a long road ahead. “The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted, and with this enormous promise, the Libyan people now have a great responsibility: to build an inclusive and tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gadhafi's dictatorship,” he said.
“We're under no illusions. Libya will travel a long and winding road to full democracy. There will be difficult days ahead. But the United States, together with the international community, is committed to the Libyan people. You have won your revolution, and now we will be a partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity,” the president concluded.
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 4:06PM by jc Permalink
tagged Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, President Obama in National News General, Politics
Gadhafi’s Death: Lockerbie Families React
Libyan Abdel Basset Ali Al-Megrahi (C) escorted by security officers in Tripoli in Libya in a photo dated Feb. 18, 1992. (MANOOCHER DEGHATI/AFP/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) -- Bert Ammerman answered the phone and proclaimed, “It’s a great day. Gadhafi is dead. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Ammerman’s brother, Tom, died at the age of 36 when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988, leaving behind a wife and two daughters.
“I never thought I would live to see the day that Gadhafi would be brought to justice,” Ammerman told ABC News. “It’s the last chapter for me personally. I now can walk away, nearly 24 years later, and be able to say that my brother and 269 other individuals did not die in vain.”
The Boeing 747 was bombed as it traveled from London to New York, and Gadhafi’s regime was implicated in the attack.
“When it’s all said and done, you never get over the fact that your loved one was blown out of the air at 31,000 feet. But satisifed absolutely, there was justice and our system works,” said Ammerman.
For Rosemary Wolfe, who lost her stepdaughter Miriam, a 20-year-old Syracuse University student returning from a semester abroad, there is satisfaction, but there is not justice.
“While we know that he [Gadhafi] was behind it, we don’t know all the others that were involved,” she said. “We want to know the answers to that...and we won’t have truth and justice until we know.”
The only person convicted in the bombing was Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence agent, who spent eight years in prison before he was released in 2009 on humanitarian grounds because he was “near death.” Two years later, Megrahi is still alive and living in Libya.
“We know that there was no way that Megrahi...did it by himself,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe has urged the U.S. government not to release billions of dollars in frozen assets to Libya’s new government until the people who know more about the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 come forward and provide information.
“At this point I’m concerned now that Gadhafi is gone that everyone will just call it a day and we won’t get any further information,” Wolfe told ABC News. “The one thing the U.S. is intent on is establishing a good relationship with Libya and the basis for that should be the rest of the truth.”
Ammerman does not believe the full story of the attack will ever be known.
“The cloud and conspiracy will never go away, and one thing I do know is that Libya was involved and I am 100 percent sure that he [Moammar Gadhafi] ordered this to take place,” Ammerman said. “Megrahi to me is irrelevant. He is the guppy in this process. Gadhaif is the big fish.”
Ammerman said he has always believed that once Gadhafi was removed from power the U.S. should immediately open relations with Libya and assist the Libyan people as they establish a new government.
“I never had a gripe with the population of Libya. I’m a firm believer that citizens throughout the world just want to live a good quality of life,” he said. “They do not support or agree overall with the policies of these maniacs...Today’s enemies are tomorrow’s allies.”
For both Ammerman and Wolfe, Gadhafi’s death may be satisfying, but it will never fill the void in their lives.
“There’s never closure,” Wolfe said. “There really is no such thing as closure because once something like this has happened it changes you and your family forever.”
tagged Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, Bomber, Libya, Lockerbie, Moammar Gadhafi, Pan Am Flight 103, Scotland, bombing in Homeland Security, National News General, Politics
The $77 Billion Fighter Jets That Have Never Gone to War
U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker(WASHINGTON) -- More than five years and nearly $80 billion after the world's most expensive fighter jets joined the U.S. military fleet, the high-tech F-22 Raptor has yet to see combat -- despite the U.S. Air Forces' involvement in three simultaneous major combat operations.
When the U.S. led an international effort to secure a no-fly zone over Libya last month, the F-22, the jet the Air Force said "cannot be matched," was not involved. The Air Force said the $143 million-a-pop planes simply weren't necessary to take out Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses.
"If this was a requirement, it would've been used," Air Force spokesperson Maj. Chad Steffey told ABC News. "We had all the assets that we needed in Europe already... It simply wasn't an operational requirement."
In fact, though the Air Force has more than 160 F-22s, Steffey said that they have not been an "operational requirement" in any major theater of combat for the U.S., from Iraq to Afghanistan, since the first of the planes went combat ready in December 2005.
Not a single one of the planes -- which cost U.S. government $77.4 billion for a total of 187 planes from Lockheed Martin according to recent report by the Government Accountability Office -- has used what Lockheed Martin's website called a "revolutionary leap in lethality" in defense of U.S. interests. And though Congress cut all funding for new Raptors in 2009, Lockheed Martin is still receiving hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to make upgrades.
The closest an F-22 has come to combat was in 2007 when a pair of Raptors intercepted and monitored two Russian bombers that were on patrol in airspace near Alaska, according to a report by Air Force Magazine.
Both the Air Force and Lockheed Martin said the reason the planes have yet to fire on any enemies is because they're designed to dominate the air against rival, sophisticated air forces or air defenses, not a small, poorly armed third-world militaries and insurgent groups.
The planes' natural enemy, therefore, is one that the program's biggest critic, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, said as of now does not exist.
"The F-22 is clearly a capability we do need -- a niche, silver-bullet solution for one or two potential scenarios -- specifically the defeat of a highly advanced enemy fighter fleet," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in 2009 while advocating that Congress ditch further funding for the Raptor from the budget. "[But] the F-22, to be blunt, does not make much sense anyplace else in the spectrum of conflict."
Dozens of supporters of the F-22 program in the House and the Senate wrote letters to President Obama ahead of the 2009 budget decision, arguing a full force of F-22s would be needed to meet the future challenge of other nations like China and Russia that are also developing fifth generation fighters and new, high-tech air defense systems. Gates dismissed these claims and said the U.S. next generation fighters, both the F-22 and the newer F-35, would greatly outnumber any adversaries for the next 15 years at least.
Jeff Babione, the vice president and project manager for the F-22 program at Lockheed Martin, said China and Russia's fighter programs were a consideration in the F-22's development, but also said the F-22 could find a home in strike missions against rogue nations like North Korea and Iran.
"[The F-22s] are in an area where they would be solely or more suited for a sophisticated adversary like North Korea," Babione told ABC News. "In particular, its ability to penetrate highly defended locations -- such as North Korea -- only the Raptor would be able to get in there and prosecute the missions."
Another reason Gates argued against continuing the F-22 fighter is that he said he wanted to put some of that money into the newer F-35 jet fighter. That plane, which is also in development by Lockheed Martin, "will be the backbone of America's tactical aviation fleet for decades to come if -- and this is a big if -- money is not drained away to spend on other aircraft that our military leadership considers of lower priority or excess to our needs," Gates said in 2009.
"The F-35 is 10 to 15 years newer than the F-22, carries a much larger suite of weapons, and is superior in a number of areas – most importantly, air-to-ground missions such as destroying sophisticated enemy air defenses," he said.
The F-35, at a smaller price tag per plane than the F-22, is designed to replace the F-16 -- which incidentally was involved in operations in Libya -- and "will complement the F-22," according to Lockheed Martin and the GAO report. According to Lockheed, the F-35 is better suited for current combat operations since it has a superior air-to-surface attack capability, but can work in tandem with the F-22.
While the F-35 has experienced its own serious development issues, the first planes are scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force this spring, Lockheed told ABC News earlier this year.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
Friday, April 8, 2011 at 12:59PM by jc Permalink
tagged F-16, F-22 Raptor, F-35, Fighter Jets, Libya, Lockheed Martin, Military Fleet, Moammar Gadhafi, U.S. Air Force in National News General
FBI Director: US 'On Guard' Against Possible Libyan Terror Attacks
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday the FBI is interviewing Libyans who live in the U.S. to be "on guard" against any possible terror attacks from Libya or to locate any Libyan agents operating inside U.S. borders.
"We want to make certain that we are on guard for the possibility of terrorist attacks emanating somewhere out of Libya," said Mueller, appearing before the House Appropriations Committee, "whether it be Gadhafi's forces or, in eastern Libya, the opposition forces who may have amongst them persons who in the past have had associations with terrorist groups."
At the outset of military operations against Libya, U.S. officials expressed concern that Gadhafi could launch revenge attacks against the U.S. or European nations.
Last month, John Brennan, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and counterterrorism, said, "Gadhafi has the penchant to do things of a very concerning nature. We have to anticipate and be prepared for things he might try to do to flout the will of the international community."
Officials say one reason for the interviews is Libya's prior involvement in terror attacks like the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 people over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Asked whether there might also be danger from Libya's anti-Gadhafi rebels because of rumored ties between some factions and terror groups like al Qaeda, Mueller said he did not know who those individuals with alleged terrorist links might be. "I'm not certain at this point that anybody really does," said Mueller. "This is an ongoing effort by us at the same time as the State Department and the [Central Intelligence] Agency and others to identity individuals who may be part of the opposition."
Mueller also told the committee that the FBI has concerns about former Gadhafi officials who have defected to the opposition. Said Mueller, "There may well be intelligence officers who are operating with different types of cover in the United States. We want to make sure we've identified these individuals to ensure no harm comes from them, knowing they may well have been associated with the Gadhafi regime."
The interviews have been taking place in 10 FBI field offices, including Washington, D.C., New York, Houston and Denver. According to FBI officials, the effort is aimed at Libyan nationals who have U.S. visas and students studying here in the United States.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement Tuesday about the interviews that reminded individuals of their civil rights when they are contacted by law enforcement but also noted, "American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protection of our national security."
Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7:21AM by Jeanette Torres Permalink
tagged FBI, Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, Terror Attacks in National News General
'NY Times' Journalist Endured Sexual Assaults, Death Threats in Libya
Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- A war photographer for The New York Times, the only woman in a group of four journalists captured in Libya last week, said that she was sexual assaulted and threatened with death by Libyan soldiers while in captivity.
Lynsey Addario and her colleagues were released into the custody of the Turkish Embassy in Libya Monday, after a six-day ordeal. The team was detained last Tuesday when pro-Gadhafi forces stopped their car at a checkpoint near the war-torn city of Ajdabiya.
The soldiers pulled them out of the car and the group tried to make a run for it. The soldiers quickly caught them and considered shooting them, they told the Times. But the soldiers instead chose to detain them after realizing they were Americans.
Addario's shoelaces were removed and a soldier used them to bind her ankles, she said. Once immobile, the soldier punched her in the face, laughing as he struck her. The soldier then groped her breasts, setting off two days of disturbing sexual assaults by a series of armed men, she said.
As the fighting in Ajdabiya died down, the group was transported out of town. On the way, one soldier threatened to decapitate photographer Tyler Hicks; another stroked Addario's head and threatened her with death.
Addario and Hicks, along with Times Beirut bureau chief Anthony Shadid and reporter Stephen Farrell, who was captured by the Taliban in 2009 and rescued by British commandoes, were slowly transported to Tripoli.
They passed through pro-Gadhafi checkpoints along the way. At each stop, new batches of soldiers beat them up, they told the Times. They spent one night in the vehicle in which they were being driven and another in a prison cell before being flown to Tripoli Thursday, where they were held at a safe house.
It took three more days in Tripoli to negotiate their release, according to the Times.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 1:50PM by jc Permalink
tagged Detained, Journalists, Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, New York Times in National News General
Will Libya's Gadhafi Attack the United States?
ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- As an international coalition pounds armed forces still loyal to Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, intelligence experts said that despite fears of a desperate terror attack on Americans, Gadhafi likely no longer has the means to carry out such an attack.
"I think clearly from what we've seen he's got intent, but the second piece is capability," former senior U.S. intelligence official Phil Mudd told ABC News. "He's been out of this business a long time so whether he's retained the capability is an open question. Whether he can resuscitate it, I think, is an even bigger question."
Gadhafi had been in the process of dismantling a stockpile of highly lethal mustard gas when a popular uprising put his 42-year reign in jeopardy. International monitors gave Gadhafi a deadline for this May to complete the dismantling but he has not yet completed it.
"It's clear that he has some mustard agent left," said Charles Duelfer, a former U.N. weapons inspector. "To use that, to drop it on somebody, you need to put it in something. And so far as anyone's been able to tell, he doesn't really have munitions to effectively use that. So I think that the military risk posed by this is relatively small."
On ABC's This Week with Christiane Amanpour, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen said the remaining amount of the chemical was being "very closely monitored."
"I haven't seen it as a problem thus far," he said.
Concern over a possible terrorist attack directed by Gadhafi was raised Friday when White House terrorism advisor John Brennan told reporters the Libyan leader "has the penchant to do things of a very concerning nature."
"We have to anticipate and be prepared for things that he might try to do to flout the will of the international community. Terrorism is certainly a tool that a lot of individuals will opt for when they lose other options," he said.
Any attack on Americans would not be the first terror strikes linked to Gadhafi.
Last month, Libya's justice minister said he had "proof" Gadhafi directed the deadly attack on Pan Am flight 103, which killed 189 Americans when it blew up over Scotland in 1988.
Two years earlier, two Americans died in an attack on a German disco popular with American servicemen. In retaliation, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered an airstrike on Gadhafi's personal compound.
Monday, March 21, 2011 at 8:33AM by jc Permalink
tagged Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, President Obama, United States, terrorism in National News General
At UN, US Pushing for Broader Military Authorization Versus Gadhafi
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Though U.S. officials repeatedly have expressed ambivalence about how well a no-fly zone imposed over Libya might work, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations would vote for a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for one -- and more, officials tell ABC News.
During the eight-hours of the U.N. Security Council meeting Wednesday, the U.S. pushed for amendment after amendment that would broaden the military action authorized against Col. Moammar Gadhafi's forces well beyond just a no-fly zone, sources tell ABC News.
"The U.S. view is that we need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond, a no-fly zone at this point, as the situation on the ground has evolved and as a no-fly zone has inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice told reporters Wednesday evening, saying consultations will continue Thursday, when she also hopes for a vote.
Since the U.S. is concerned that a no-fly zone would have limited impact because most of the attacks by Gadhafi's regime against the Libyan people are not by air, the U.S. also is pushing for the resolution to authorize international forces to stop attacks by Gadhafi's forces on its people conducted on land and by sea as well.
This could include, for example, allowing aircraft from the international coalition to bomb Libyan tanks. And the U.S. reportedly is insisting that Arab countries participate in any military action.
Other steps the U.S. wants to include in a resolution would include more sanctions against the Gadhafi regime, further mechanisms to enforce the arms embargo, and a push to allow the U.N. and member states into the country to provide humanitarian aid.
The Arab League endorsed the proposal for a no-fly zone over the weekend.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 11:23PM by Carmen Cox Permalink
tagged Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, U.S. Military, United Nations in National News General
ABC News Poll: Do Americans Support Libyan No-Fly Zone?
Salah Malkawi/ Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- More than half of Americans support U.S. participation in creating a no-fly zone over Libya, but support for unilateral U.S. military action is lower – and a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds substantial skepticism about the aims and outcome of political unrest across the region.
Seven in 10 in the national survey express uncertainty that protesters in the Middle East and North Africa are committed to democracy. And sizable numbers see negative impacts of the unrest on U.S. political and economic interests and anti-terrorism efforts alike.
Whatever their compunctions, 56 percent support having U.S. military aircraft participate in efforts to keep Libya's air force from attacking rebel-held areas. France and Great Britain have been pushing for a U.N.-enforced no-fly zone, the Arab League endorsed it Saturday and foreign ministers of the G8 industrialized nations were expected to discuss it in Paris on Monday.
Public support, however, is hardly solid. When people are asked if the United States itself should create a no-fly zone, rather than participate in one, support declines to 49 percent, with nearly as many opposed. And support drops further, by a quarter, given the prospect of bombing runs on Libyan anti-aircraft positions and continuous air patrols -- efforts U.S. military officials have said would be needed.
Support for the United States creating a no-fly zone peaks among Republicans (61 percent) and conservatives (54 percent), falling to fewer than half of Democrats, liberals, and independents. Support for participation in such an effort, by contrast, is similar across partisan and ideological lines.
There are broader questions about the unrest in the region. Most fundamentally, just 20 percent of Americans see the protests as plainly pro-democratic; 71 percent instead think demonstrators want new governments, but not necessarily democratic ones.
Moreover, 58 percent think that in the long run the outcome of the protests will hurt rather than help U.S. political and economic interests in the region, a view possibly informed by soaring gasoline prices. A plurality, 49 percent, also thinks the unrest will hurt the ability of the United States to fight terrorist groups based in these countries. Just 29 and 33 percent, respectively, think U.S. political and economic interests, or anti-terrorism efforts, will be helped.
The perceived aim of the protesters informs these views. Among Americans who think they seek democratic governments, 55 percent expect that U.S. anti-terrorism efforts will be improved in the long run, and 49 percent see help for U.S. political and economic interests. Among those who question the protesters' commitment to democracy, fewer than 3 in 10 say the same.
Additionally, support for a no-fly zone in Libya is higher among people who think protests in the region ultimately will help, rather than hurt, U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.
President Obama, for his part, gets split ratings for handling the situation in the region overall: 45 percent approve, 44 percent disapprove, largely along partisan lines. On Libya particularly, an identical 45 percent approve, while 36 percent disapprove, with more undecided.
The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York.
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 1:26PM by jc Permalink
tagged ABC News/Washington Post Poll, Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, No-Fly Zone in National News General
Singer Nelly Furtado to Donate Gadhafi's $1 Million Payday
Photo Courtesy - Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for LARAS(NEW YORK) -- Singer Nelly Furtado plans to donate the $1 million she was paid to perform for the "Gadhafi clan," Furtado announced on Twitter Monday, while other celebrities have stayed silent on the hefty paychecks they reportedly received from the family of the Libyan strongman.
Furtado told fans the million-dollar performance took place at a hotel in Italy for members of the Gadhafi family and guests in 2007. Furtado's announcement came after news surfaced that celebrity A-listers Mariah Carey, Usher, and Beyonce had each taken the stage for one of Gadhafi's sons.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 1:07PM by jc Permalink
tagged Charity, Donation, Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, Nelly Furtado in National News General
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by Guest Contributor
under Live Show Reviews, Metal, Rock
tagged Accept, Blackout, Bobby Rock, Dangerous Curves, David Simers, Gas Monkey Live, GuzPix, Joey C. Jones Band, Lemmy, Lita Ford, Marty O'Brien, Nikki Sixx, OZZY, Patrick Kennison, Rize Above, Sex Pistols, Sweet, The Runaways
Lita Ford: Out For Blood At Gas Monkey Live!! – Dallas, TX 12/3/17
Posted on December 9, 2017 by Guest Contributor
Life isn’t fair. LITA FORD and I are the same age, but for rock goddesses, age is just a number. I started listening to her when we were both youngsters, but I got older and uglier. Lita got older, but she sure doesn’t look it. She’s still a sexpot and that’s a fact! The growing crowd came to see terrific local bands leading up to the headliner, and it kept building the energy. RIZE ABOVE opened the night with several hard rock tunes to get the leather-clad audience in the mood for the night. DFW favorites BLACKOUT came out next and upped the noise level. Stan German was was in fine voice as the crowd cheered. Bobby Michaelides, with his pink guitar named Bobbywood, hit some hot licks and even brought out Santa Claus to throw candy canes to the room full of naughty girls.
The JOEY C. JONES BAND delivered solid rock and roll with their short set. They’ve been around long enough to know how to be entertainers as well as musicians. They finished their energetic set with crowd favorite “Fox On The Run” by SWEET. The audience got restless and fans began crowding the stage, both wanting to see and hear the pioneering woman on lead guitar. They cheered as the lights dimmed and the video screen behind the stage showed spiders crawling out of a hole while “Balls To The Wall” by ACCEPT played on the loudspeakers.
A voice then announced to “Get the keys to the Ford” as Lita came out to play a guitar solo, stroking notes as fast as she ever did. The striking blonde looked like she hasn’t aged at all in her tight black jeans and sleeveless shirt. The rest of her band then joined her for “Gotta Let Go.” Patrick Kennison hit some hot licks on lead guitar, as he continued to do all night, and Ms. Ford was in beautiful mezzo-soprano voice.
Bobby Rock thumped a driving drum beat to open “Larger Than Life.” It was then time for a heavy ballad in “Relentless,” giving an animated Marty O’Brien a chance to shine on bass. Ford talked about her memoir, Living Like A Runaway, telling everyone it was a how-to manual as she was the first female lead guitarist, and then played the song of the same name. She received a huge ovation as her solo proved she was still a hell of a shredder. A cover of “The Bitch Is Back” showed a sweetness in her voice no one expected. The crowd was ready to explode when she screamed the word “Bitch,” but her understated vocals gave it a different, yet effective, sound. The band added “Hungry” to the setlist with itss energetic bass opening and thundering drum throughout the song.
Lita yelled the prolific lyrics on “Playing With Fire” from the Dangerous Curves album as the women in the crowd danced suggestively. She put aside her guitar so she could move around unencumbered to “What Do You Know About Love.” The fans popped loud as she sexed up the stage and shook her moneymaker, just like the days of old when her MTV videos got me through many cold and lonely nights. “Back to the Cave” was a guitar-driven rocker which drew a loud reaction. Ford got animated as she and Kennison traded hot riffs on an axe duel. That led directly into a well-written song she co-wrote with former flame Nikki Sixx, “Falling In And Out Of Love.” The personal lyrics told a compelling story to which everyone listening could relate.
Bobby on the kit was the driving force behind “Out For Blood.” Lita’s solo led into a pounding jam that pumped up the crowd. The uptempo “Can’t Catch Me,” co-written by the late, great LEMMY, had a haunting melody that enthralled the fans. They stayed enraptured for Rock’s energetic drum solo that lasted several minutes. The Grammy-nominated “Cherry Bomb” turned into a singalong as old and new fans alike knew every word by heart to THE RUNAWAYS song. It segued into “Black Leather” by the SEX PISTOLS. The three-guitar front turned it into a jam session that rocked hard.
Patrick sang OZZY’S part on “Close My Eyes Forever,” Lita’s biggest hit. The power ballad featured Ford on a double-neck guitar. The night ended too soon with Lita’s signature song, “Kiss Me Deadly.” She reached a high for the night with her energy, fist pumps and crowd interaction. Guitarists played off each other and O’Brien almost pulled several muscles with his enthusiastic bass playing and contortions during the drum-infused rock song. The extended jam session finished the night of hits, rock, and memories.
The fans were pleased with the 18 songs over 90 minutes. Ford covered her entire career, ranging from her five albums with THE RUNAWAYS and her eight studio records as a solo artist. As with so many stars from this time frame, she experienced both ups and downs and, thankfully, has stayed on top. Ford is on tour through February of 2018, so you have time to see her if she’s in your area. She’s still a player in the genre and worth catching live. Thanks to Gas Monkey Live for their help.
LIVE IMAGES: GUZPIX
LIVE WORDS: DAVID SIMERS
Friday Night Rock Part I: Lita Ford At Reading Eagle Theater!! – Reading, PA 4/1/16
Lita Ford: Livin’ Like A Runaway At Trees Dallas!! – 10/5/14
Lita Ford Knocks ‘Em Dead At The Whisky a Go Go!! – Los Angeles, CA 5/17/19
DORO The Metal Queen On Hitting The Road With Metal Church And More!!
UFO LANDS AT GAS MONKEY LIVE!! DALLAS, TX – 03/11/16
DALLAS INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL STARTS WITH A BANG AT GAS MONKEY LIVE – DALLAS, TX 5/5/2017
Posted in Live Show Reviews, Metal, Rock | Tagged Accept, Blackout, Bobby Rock, Dangerous Curves, David Simers, Gas Monkey Live, GuzPix, Joey C. Jones Band, Lemmy, Lita Ford, Marty O'Brien, Nikki Sixx, OZZY, Patrick Kennison, Rize Above, Sex Pistols, Sweet, The Runaways | Leave a comment |
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Publishing August 5, 2014 (Berkley Books)
June, 1947. Charleston is poised to celebrate the biggest wedding in high-society history, the joining of two of the oldest families in the city. Except the bride is nowhere to be found…
Unlike the rest of the debs she grew up with, Vada Hadley doesn’t see marrying Justin McLeod as a blessing—she sees it as a life sentence. So when she finds herself one day away from a wedding she doesn’t want, she’s left with no choice but to run away from the future her parents have so carefully planned for her.
In Round O, South Carolina, Vada finds independence in the unexpected friendships she forms at the boarding house where she stays, and a quiet yet fulfilling courtship with the local diner owner, Frank Darling. For the first time in her life, she finally feels like she’s where she’s meant to be. But when her dear friend Darby hunts her down, needing help, Vada will have to confront the life she gave up—and decide where her heart truly belongs.
Kim Boykin has produced a beautiful novel. Palmetto Moon explores the life of a young woman who becomes empowered when she decides to abandon the life set out for her by her parents and start a new life on her own. Women finding their independence is such an important part of history that has had such an impressive impact on our world today which makes it inspiring to read a story from a period where this was first beginning.
The characters are strong and vibrant and their intricate stories really draw the reader in. Vada's is a very likeable character, and her choice to fight for her freedom and individuality are so inspiring that, as the reader, you find yourself rooting for her through to the end.
The story is largely set in the lowcountry, outside of Charleston - Kim Boykin's ability to set the scene is incredible. The reader is offered up a really authentic, vivid image of the period and town in which Vada starts her new life. I, for one, was left really wishing I could visit the lowcountry in this period to have my own taste of what it was like.
I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys reading stories of women gaining their independence, set in the 1940's.
A beautifully authentic and inspiring story.
Kim Boykin was raised in her South Carolina home with two girly sisters and great parents. She had a happy, boring childhood, which sucks if you’re a writer because you have to create your own crazy. PLUS after you’re published and you’re being interviewed, it’s very appealing when the author actually lived in Crazy Town or somewhere in the general vicinity.
Almost everything she learned about writing, she learned from her grandpa, an oral storyteller, who was a master teacher of pacing and sensory detail. He held court under an old mimosa tree on the family farm, and people used to come from all around to hear him tell stories about growing up in rural Georgia and share his unique take on the world.
As a stay-at-home mom, Kim started writing, grabbing snip-its of time in the car rider line or on the bleachers at swim practice. After her kids left the nest, she started submitting her work, sold her first novel at 53, and has been writing like crazy ever since.
Thanks to the lessons she learned under that mimosa tree, her books are well reviewed and, according to RT Book Reviews, feel like they’re being told across a kitchen table. She is the author of The Wisdom of Hair from Berkley, Steal Me, Cowboy and Sweet Home Carolina from Tule, and Palmetto Moon, also from Berkley 8/5/14. While her heart is always in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, she lives in Charlotte and has a heart for hairstylist, librarians, and book junkies like herself.
http://kimboykin.com
Twitter @AuthorKimBoykin
“Murrah?” Rosa Lee’s eyes go wide and she shakes her head at me like I’ve forgotten the rules, but I haven’t. Since before I was born, my parents forbade the servants to speak their native tongue in our house. Offenders were given one warning; a second offense brought immediate dismissal. I say the Gullah word again, drawing it out softly. “Why are you crying?” The hands that helped bring me into the world motion for me to lower my voice.
Rosa Lee’s husband, Desmond, told me my first word was murrah. It was what I called Rosa Lee, until Mother made me call her by name. “My own murrah.” The forbidden words bring more tears. I press my face into the soft curve of her neck and breathe in the Ivory soap Mother insists all the servants use, mingled with Rosa Lee’s own scent—vanilla and lemongrass.
She holds me at arm’s length, trembling, and I know I’ve done it again.
“You got to tell them,” she pleads. “Make them see you can’t go through with this.”
I point to the door that leads to the elegant dining room where my parents are eating their breakfast. “I have told them. Mother refuses to listen, and I’ve begged Father. He says I have to do this.” She looks away. Her body rocks, sobbing violently on the inside. “Rosa Lee, please don’t cry. I can’t bear it.” She shakes her head and swipes at the tears that stain the sleeve of her freshly pressed uniform. “I won’t do it again. I promise.”
“When you’re asleep, your heart takes over. You got no control, and it’s gonna kill you.”
She’s right. Since I graduated and moved home from college two weeks ago, I’ve been sleepwalking like I did when I was a child, but these outings don’t land me snuggled up in the servant’s quarters, between Desmond and Rosa Lee. Most of the time, I wake up and return to bed without incident, but last week Desmond found me trying to leave the house. He said I was babbling about sleeping in the bay, which might not have been so disturbing if I hadn’t been wearing five layers of heavy clothing. I knew what he thought I was trying to do to myself and told him not to worry.
Since then, Rosa Lee has insisted on sleeping on the stiff brocade chaise in my bedroom. Of course, my parents don’t know she’s there or that she’s so afraid I’ll walk to the bay or step off the balcony in my sleep, she’s tethered my ankle to the bedpost with three yards of satin rope she begged from Mrs. O’Doul.
“Maybe it will be different after the wedding.” I love her enough to lie to her. “Father says I’m a Hadley and once it’s over with, I’ll fall in line the way I was born to.”
“But what if Desmond hadn’t caught you?” She threads her fingers in mine and kisses the back of my hand. A part of me wishes her intuition hadn’t sent Desmond to check on me, that he hadn’t found me. “And what are you gonna do when we’re not there?”
“Don’t say that.” My knees buckle, and I melt into a puddle at her feet. Justin has made it clear he’s happy with his staff and has no plans to add “two ancient servants.” But living under his roof and not having Rosa Lee and Desmond with me is unthinkable, another high price of being the last Hadley descendant.
“You think it’s not going to get worse after you’re married? Who do you think’s gonna be there to save you? Mr. Justin?” She hisses the last word. “You think long and hard before the sun comes up tomorrow, because I’m afraid down to my bones that you won’t be alive to see it.”
She collects herself and heads into the dining room to check on my parents. They won’t look into her beautiful brown face and see she’s been crying any more than they see this wedding is killing me, or at least the idea of being yoked to Justin McLeod is. Not because he’s eight years older than me and, other than our station in life, we have nothing in common, and not because of his good qualities, although no one can find more than two: He is a heart-stoppingly beautiful man and the sole heir of the largest fortune in Charleston.
For over a hundred years, Justin’s family and mine have built ships. And while two world wars made us rich, a prolonged peace threatens to weaken our family fortunes considerably. Somewhere in all that, my father convinced Justin a Hadley-McLeod union would position them to take over the world, at least the shipping world. And Father is certain nothing short of a blood union will keep Justin in the partnership.
Rosa Lee pushes through the swinging door and pours the coffee down the drain, her signal that breakfast is over and my parents are no longer close by. I smile, trying to reassure her I’m okay, that I’m going to be okay. She shakes her head and starts to wash one of the breakfast plates in slow motion, barely breathing. I hate those things, and after tomorrow, I’ll own twenty-four place settings of them, part of my dowry. I don’t give a damn about thousand-dollar plates, but I do care for Rosa Lee.
“I can do this.” I say from behind her. My voice sounds sure, steady. “I will do this.”
“You and I both know you can’t walk down that aisle. Dear God in heaven, Vada, tell them.” Her head is down, and she says the last two words like a prayer. “Make them see so they’ll put a stop to this foolishness.”
There’s no point. I’ve begged my parents, told them I can’t marry Justin, because I don’t love him. I’ve told them I feel nothing for him, not love, not even hate. Even after I told my father about the other women, he shrugged and said I was being ridiculous. “There are no fairy-tale marriages, Vada. Know your place, your purpose. Marry. Procreate. Continue the lineage. That’s your job.”
This archaic arrangement is not the job I want or the one I applied for. My heart races at the thought of how furious my parents would be if they knew my favorite professor recommended me for a teaching position, not in a posh boarding school but a two-room schoolhouse near a tiny crossroads community. Mother would fume silently while Father would remind me that no Hadley woman has ever worked.
But it’s 1947 for goodness’ sake. What did they expect when they sent me away to college, that I would learn everything except how to think for myself? The swell of defiance is snuffed out by Justin’s testy voice in the foyer. “Well, I am here now, madam. What do you want?”
I can’t make out what my mother is saying and slip behind the dining-room door. From the way I peer at them through the crack between the jamb, she looks tiny compared to him, but she emanates such presence. Justin has the posture of a rebellious teenager.
“It’s about Vada, and I am not talking about this here.” She points toward the study. He eyes her for a moment, knowing full well the drawing room is a woman’s place, the study a man’s domain for brandy and smelly cigars.
I can hardly breathe as she leads Justin into the study. Maybe she did listen. Maybe she’s finally going to tell Justin the wedding is off. The door to the study is slightly ajar. I slip off my shoes and tiptoe across the foyer to hear her say the words I’ve longed for since I was fourteen and learned about this horrible arrangement.
“You have me up before noon for this?” Justin is glaring at her, but she’s so strong, so beautiful. She’s not intimidated in the least.
“You must understand that Vada is a young girl, barely twenty. I heard the things she told her father. Your carousing.”
“My carousing?” he laughs and runs his hands through his short dark hair.
“Yes. The parties. The women. After the engagement, I thought you would change, settle down. Surely you don’t expect to carry on as usual after the wedding.”
Justin is no longer amused. His face is red, the veins in his forehead pronounced. “Let me remind you, madam, after tomorrow, I may be your daughter’s husband, but I’ll carry on at my own discretion, not yours, not your husband’s, and certainly not your Vada’s.”
Their standoff is palpable. Mother throws her hands up in disgust. “I shouldn’t even have to have this conversation with you, Justin, but Vada is extremely unhappy, and the very least you could do is try to be more accommodating.”
“More accommodating?”
“Just tell me, what is it going to take?”
“Your price. To be a proper husband. Doting. Monogamous.” She draws the last word out.
“Trust me, madam, you don’t have enough money.” He stands and straightens the sleeves of his suit. “We’re done here.”
“Justin.” My mother grabs his arm. He towers over her. “Don’t hurt her.”
Her steely look is returned with amusement. “My dear Mrs. Hadley, for Vada or me to get hurt, one of us would actually have to care about this union. Tomorrow we marry together two fortunes for the greater good. Nothing more.”
“But you expect her to be a proper wife?”
“Of course. Why shouldn’t she?”
“Your level of arrogance is remarkable, Justin, even for you. Get out of my house.”
He makes an exaggerated bow. “Good day, Mrs. Hadley.”
The door opens, and Justin stands there for a moment, looking at my tearstained face. He sighs and pushes past me. “Really, Vada, after tomorrow, I’ll expect you to be more presentable in the mornings.”
I’ve honored Mrs. O’Doul’s refusal to talk about Darby for three years now, but with the wedding looming, the loss feels fresh, and I can’t help myself. “I miss her.”
Mrs. O’Doul gives me a hard look to remind me of our silent agreement not to talk about her daughter, my best friend. She nods curtly as she scrutinizes my dress, which she’s had to take in, again, for the rehearsal party. “You’ll be a good wife. You’ll make your ma and da proud.”
I shake my head at my reflection and the exquisite design that looks funny with my bare feet. “Maybe it’s best Darby’s not here. She’d be so ashamed of me.”
“Who knows where that girl is now? And, to be sure, she’d be ashamed if she showed her face around here, but not because you’re marrying Justin McLeod, I can tell you that.”
“She’s your daughter. You can’t still be mad at her.”
Another stern look reminds me Mrs. O’Doul lost more than a daughter when Darby was run out of town for her tryst with Mr. McCrady. But Mrs. McCrady didn’t stop there. She made sure Mrs. O’Doul’s wealthy clients boycotted her dressmaking business. Darby’s mother lost everything: her daughter, her shop, her apartment. My parents fussed when I insisted on Mrs. O’Doul altering my trousseau, but Mrs. O’Doul said it brought some of her customers back, the only good thing that has come from this wedding plan.
She smooths her hands down the seams of the ivory bodice and inspects a tiny pucker. “Damn beads.” She works the seam with her fingers until it lies flat, then steps back and inspects the dress. Her smile is thin, almost sad. “I remember every dress I ever made for you. And now look at you, wearing couture since you were sixteen. Getting married tomorrow in the finest dress I’ve ever seen.”
She’s right. I’ve always had a shameless love for beautiful clothes, even more so for shoes. But when Mrs. O’Doul made something for me, it meant going to Habberman’s on King Street. She always said Darby and me went together like grits and gravy, she couldn’t very well take one of us shopping without taking the other. While she selected the perfect material for my dress, we played hide-and-seek among the tall bolts leaned against the walls. Sometimes we sorted through bins of loose buttons or rhinestones and talked about what our lives would be like when we grew up.
As I got older, I worried that Darby would be jealous of the dresses her mother made for me. I know I would have been. But Darby said she didn’t care—they were just dresses, and we were best friends, the grits-and-gravy kind.
The other girls Darby grew up with wanted nothing to do with her after I went away to college. She gave up a lot to be my friend, and how did I repay her? I didn’t make time to phone her or return her letters. I was so wrapped up in things that didn’t matter, I forgot about the one person who mattered most to me. And by the time I heard Darby had been banished from Charleston, I was too ashamed of what I’d done, of the way I treated her, to try to find her, to tell her how very sorry I was.
“You’re a stunning young woman, Vada Hadley, and that dress—”
“The clothes you made, they were just as beautiful, and they meant something to me.”
She scoffs and puts her tools away, satisfied that my dress looks the way Jacques Fath intended when he designed it. “You’ll not find the likes of this fabric on King Street, I can promise you that. And if you did, I wouldn’t know where to begin to make something this . . . perfect. And your wedding dress? Even grander, Vada. Really.” She pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”
All through the rehearsal and this ridiculous party, everyone has said those words to me, like somehow the way I look will determine the outcome of this union. But nothing changes the fact that this is a mistake.
The canvas of the massive white tent billows a little, and the night air is damp and thick. Well-wishing men dab at their foreheads with handkerchiefs, and little beads of sweat line the lips of pretty women who are sweltering in the late-June heat. But even their intrusions can’t hold my attention from the Ashley as it flows past Middleton Place. I can’t stop looking at the river, thinking about it. Where does it go? To Edisto? To Savannah? Does it matter? It’s free, unencumbered by family and duty.
“Tears of joy?” Justin’s famous second cousin, Josephine, dabs at my face. I shake my head and turn my attention back to the river. “Middleton Place is stunning. And while I do have El Dorado, in my bones I know this plantation shouldn’t have ended up with the McLeods, least of all Justin. But the gods split the lot the way they saw fit. Perhaps they intended for it to be your consolation prize.”
“Does it console you, Miss Pinckney?” I ask.
“Words console me.”
“Of course they do, your books. The movie.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “Yes, the movie. Well, I don’t think Three O’Clock Dinner will ever make its way to the theater, my dear. I hear Lana Turner’s off again, to Mexico this time, vacationing with Tyrone Power, and who knows who it will be next? Those Hollywood folks don’t know what they want, not really. Besides, I don’t need a consolation prize. But you? I’m not so sure.”
Most of the women here would kill for Josephine Pinckney’s lineage alone, much less her present status as the darling of the literary world. They comfort themselves with catty remarks and whisper that she’s plain and was never beautiful. But even in the moonlight, there’s something about her knowing look and those piercing eyes that make her stunning and powerful.
“Walk with me?” she says.
I nod and step toward the grassy steps that lead to the river and away from the party. Breaking a heel is the least of my worries, but instinctively I tiptoe across the boards that stretch out across the water, and Miss Pinckney does the same. The river makes a swishing sound and cuts hard around the posts that anchor the dock into the muddy bottom, and the waxing crescent of the Palmetto moon dips low across the marsh grass. A fish skips like a stone over the top of the silvery black water, and for the first time tonight, I feel like I can breathe.
“Run out—run out from the insane gold world, softly clanging the gate lest any follow.” I’m not sure if she’s quoting her books or one of her poems, but even in my hopelessness, I feel her silent prodding.
“I don’t want this.”
She’s quiet for a beat. “What do you want, Vada?”
“What I can’t have.”
“Something you can’t have. Really? The only child of Matthew and Katherine Hadley? I speak from experience as an only child born into the pinnacle of this caste system we live in, there’s nothing you can’t have.”
“You’re—wrong.” The sob building inside threatens to turn me inside out, so everyone can see the truth that doesn’t seem to matter to anybody. Not my parents, not Justin, and least of all the party lemmings.
“Then what is it?”
I’m shivering in this heat, teeth chattering, unable to answer. All I can do is point to the river as it flows away from this horrible mess and escapes toward the ocean.
“You are wrong, Vada Hadley.” She wraps her silk stole around me and kisses my tearstained cheek. “You can have anything you want.”
Published by Penguin, 31st July 2014 (Hardback)
Watch the Penguin Books UK trailer for Little Lies
Pirriwee Public School is a BULLY-FREE ZONE!
We say NO to bullies...
She could hear men and women shouting. Angry hollers crashed through the soft humid salty summer night. It was somehow hurtful for Mrs Ponder to hear, as if all that rage was directed at her... then she heard the wail of a siren in the distance, at the same time as a woman still inside the building began to scream and scream...
When a harmless quiz night ends with an act of shocking violence, the parents of Pirriwee Public School can't seem to stop their secrets from finally spilling out. Rumours ripple through the small town, as truth and lies blur to muddy the story of what really happened on that fateful night.
Thank you so much to Penguin Books UK for the awesome opportunity to review an ARC of Little Lies. I can honestly say that I was quite nervous having to write this review - it can be quite intimidating to do such a great book justice!! Little Lies is the first of Liane Moriarty's novels I have read, and I am excited to get hold of the rest in hope that they are even half as brilliant as Little Lies.
I really love the style of Moriarty's writing. There are a lot of characters in the book, but Liane develops their stories in such a way that you soon remember the characters, and even understand all their different quirks. I thought the dynamic of following the points of view of 3 of the main characters, Jane, Madeline and Celeste, through the story worked brilliantly. It was a really clever technique in helping the reader really connect with all the characters and understand not only their individual stories, but how they are all interconnected.
This book explores so many circumstances which are prominent in the world today; from divorced parents and one-night stands to bullying at school and abusive relationships. Through these difficult situations, Moriarty really pulls at the heart strings of the reader. I really connected with the characters and their stories and found myself wanting to help fight for them. Amongst all the difficult emotions exposed in Little Lies, Moriarty incorporates just the right amount of wit to keep a light-hearted edge to the story to make for an easy-read.
Early in the book the reader finds out that the school quiz night has resulted in a murder. Moriarty brilliantly creates the mystery around this event. The investigation style dialogue at the end of the chapters keeps the seed planted for the reader that although you're following the lives of the characters, the ultimate goal is to discover the truth about what happened the night of the quiz. Moriarty keeps you guessing all the way through, and I can honestly say that the truth revealed was not what I expected! It takes strong talent to keep the mystery alive throughout a story without the reader guessing the answer before it is revealed - Moriarty has knocked this one out the park!
Little Lies explores the idea that nothing is ever as it seems - everyone has their own hidden secrets that they are afraid of others finding out. As the story progresses these secrets start to plague the lives of the characters and their lives start to spiral. I really enjoyed following the friendship as it developed between Jane, Madeline and Celeste. They are 3 such different characters but they all offer each other such amazing support.
I can't say much more in fear of giving away too much of the story. I really feel this is one that you should completely immerse yourself in and don't be put off by the size of the novel. At around 500 pages it is quite a big book... but I can honestly say that you don't notice it at all. The pace of the book flows wonderfully throughout - and I was so gripped by the mystery of the novel and the lives of the characters, that I stayed up reading till 3am... on a school (work!) night no less!! I just couldn't help it... if I tried to put the book down I could hear it calling my name!!
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!! It is one of my MUST-READ books of 2014!! From this single novel Liane Moriarty is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
An insanely addictive and heart-wrenching story: it pulls at all the right strings to completely engulf the reader!
Liane Moriarty is the bestselling author of five novels, Three Wishes, The Last Anniversary, What Alice Forgot, The Hypnotist's Love Story and most recently her top ten bestseller The Husband's Secret.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and son.
Amazon Hardcover
Book Review: Palmetto Moon by Kim Boykin
Book Review: Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
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Films That Just Didn't Work For Me
A List of Films That I Don't Recommend (ignoring the obvious)
Akira (1990) – Legendary and groundbreaking, they say. I agree, yet somehow it didn’t grab me as it should have.
Bringing Up Baby (1938) – Said to be one of the greatest comedies of all time. I must have missed something.
The Departed (2006) – What many saw as a tight drama, I saw as a film with severe pacing issues. In addition, there’s a subplot involving a package that goes nowhere, a love story that’s never quite believable, and a killing that turns one of the film’s heroes into a murderer for no other reason than the apparent belief that Americans can’t handle seeing the bad guys win.
The English Patient (1996) – Neither of the relationships in the film are well-developed, but at least one of them seems heartfelt. I simply didn’t buy Ralph Fiennes’ relationship with Kristen Scott Thomas. Their love sprouts during a moment that the film elects not to show us, and without that moment, their sudden romantic feelings seem odd, especially considering Fiennes non-sentimental character.
Gladiator (2000) – Once you see Joaquin Phoenix fantasizing about what he will do when the crown is his, you sense that you know exactly where the film is going, and unfortunately, you’re not wrong.
Hannibal (2001) – Who knew a known serial killer missing a hand could board a commercial jet so easily? Perhaps even more puzzling, why does Agent Starling spend the first half of the film listening to old conversations between her and Lector? Isn’t she supposed to be conducting an investigation?
Inland Empire (2006) - I was pretty sure I understood what was going on for the first forty-five minutes of David Lynch's 2006 brain twister, but then suddenly nothing made sense anymore, and the film still has two hours to go. It was a very long two hours.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) - It's hard to say just where Kill Bill lost me, for it began extremely well. However, as the film went on, as the violence was ratcheted up and the fight scenes prolonged to such an extent that they grew tiring, I found myself more frustrated by the film than intrigued by it. The film is essentially half of a story, and to make matters worse, it's the least interesting part, for what can possibly happen to our hero if she has to survive to be in the second part? The film's final line, intended to evoke gasps of surprise and shock, left me feeling disappointed. That was it?
The Matrix (1999) – What starts out as a clever film in which Neo begins to question the nature of reality itself quickly dissolves into an origin film and then a rescue film. Rarely has a film with such impressive special effects been such an utter bore.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – Great music does not make a movie great.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Johnny Depp does everything in this movie except convince me that Jack Sparrow is the kind of captain that anyone in their right mind would follow. Without that, the character - and unfortunately the film itself – simply doesn’t work.
Saving Private Ryan (1998) – In the rush to praise this film as one of the most stunning war films of all time, many reviewers made sure to mention how real the opening scene was, while saying nothing about how silly some of the later scenes were – for example, the German pleading for his life by mentioning his love for Hollywood actors, soldiers sitting in the middle of a road waiting for the Germans to attack while blasting classical music for all to hear, and Tom Hanks revealing his job just as his men are starting to break down. To add to that, a character that had been a coward throughout the film was suddenly redeemed after he shot and killed an unarmed German soldier – not exactly heroic. Finally, the scenes of the war are sandwiched between two of the clunkiest bookends I’ve ever seen in a supposed masterpiece.
Spider-Man (2002) – Like most origin films, if you knew going into the theater how Peter Parker became Spider-Man, you were in for a rather boring first hour. The second half of the film was simply predictable.
Star Trek XI (2009) – Critics and fans heaped mountains of praise on J.J. Abrams reboot of the popular series. However, the first adventure of the new-old crew was remarkable for its lack of suspense. The members of the crew that audiences were familiar with were in absolutely no danger, so when Kirk, Sulu, and a completely expendable third character leap out of the enterprise to blow up a large drill-like explosive, it’s not hard to predict which one of the three will not be coming back. Moreover, too many scenes resemble scenes from the original Star Wars trilogy.
Tobacco Road (1941) - As I watched this film, I became increasingly uncomfortable with the way the film seemed to be presenting the worst in its lead characters. Jeeter Lester and his family seems to have no manners, no class, no sense of politeness, and no drive. Some of this is understandable, as the Depression has certainly been harsh to them, yet even when he is offered a chance at rebuilding his life, he doesn't seem to take it. Watching Ellie May Lester (Gene Tierney) distract someone just so her family could steal a vegetable from him was off-putting to say the least.
The Usual Suspects (1995) – If everything we see is a lie, what’s the point in watching it?
Titanic (1997) – The bookends and the immediate appearance of the older Rose drain the film of any suspense it might have had later. Plus. the film contains many scenes that were lifted almost word for word from 1958’s A Night to Remember.
X-Men (2000) – Much of the film focused on the mystery surrounding Wolverine’s origin. As a fan of the comic book, I was already aware of it. The best thing they could have done was change it, which unfortunately they didn’t do.
Labels: films that just didn't work for me
Paul Cogley said...
This looked like fun, dissing these famous movies. Here’s my comment on the ones I’ve seen:
Bringing up baby – I’m not a fan of this one either. But I do like Holiday, the other Hepburn/Grant screwball.
Departed – This one entertained nicely enough but I think, like you point out, was not the taut modern noir it was made out to be. Scorcese’s golden age was the 70s (although I had fun watching Shine a Light.)
The English Patient – I’m a big fan of Ralph Fiennes movies but this one is pretty low on the list.
Gladiator – This one delivered what it promised for me and anyway what’s not to like in a movie starring crowe and phoenix (hey, 2 bird names)
Inland Empire – Got this dvd at the library and brought it back after watching an hour or so. A waste of precious library funds—they should be more careful with what they buy.
The Matrix – It’s been a while but, as I remember, it entertained and the sequel did not. Hmmm. Or were there 2 sequels?
O Brother Where art thou – To me this was a goody because it was so different.
Saving Private Ryan – You make very interesting points about this movie—and you’re right that, like most everyone, the opening scene was so powerfully effective that it won me over on the spot.
Spiderman – These superhero movies are essentially dull. I’d much rather spend a couple of hours with a collection of Stan Lee-Steve Ditko Spidey comics.
Tobacco Road – The hillbilly as a comic character ala Li’l Abner, Beverly Hillbillies done in a John Ford comedy—actually, I liked this one a lot, although it took a while to get into.
Star Trek – Captain James Kirk is one of the best characters ever in a TV series—adventurer, always willing to take a risk, a quick thinker and ready for action --a great blend of leadership qualities. So I was glad to see him back.
The Usual Suspects – Kevin Spacey was somehow perfect for 90s movies—American Beauty especially. I saw this on the big screen and it seemed fresh at the time—lot’s of atmosphere.
Titanic – Great idea—a romance on the doomed ship. Saw this on opening night on the big screen and it delivered the goods big time to a very enthusiastic audience. This one I think will last a long time as a classic.
X-Men -- Can't believe I actually sat through this; should've ben reading some 80s xmen comics instead.
What exactly are you playing right this moment? [url=http://tjenepenger.sosblog.com/]tjene penger fort[/url]
We just couldnt leave your website before saying that we genuinely enjoyed the high quality information you offer for your visitors... Would be back frequently to check up on new stuff you post!
We must disagree with your review of X-men! As members of a generation which has not necessarily read the comic book versions, we thoroughly enjoyed all the X-men movies! Our grandmother, who HAS ready all the comics, also enjoyed the movies! This includes the most recent one!
This also goes for the Spiderman movies, which we enjoyed a lot and never read first!
We notice that you still have not watched or reviewed AVATAR. We respectfully request that you do so. We are interested in what you think AFTER you do see it.
Michele's grandkids
The Matrix is one of my favorite movies, ever. It was the only movie that left me feeling disconnected as I left the movie theater. I kept looking for the "seams in the world". I was caught in the concept and the "movie magic". As a long time science fiction reader and enthusiast I thought it was well done!
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Unusual handgun
Irish Bird Dog
Location: Midwest
Quote Irish Bird Dog
Quote Reply Topic: Unusual handgun
Posted: 29 May 2018 at 09:02
A very rare handgun............
open link to see another picture
New one to me.
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2018/5/23/nra-museums-accepts-cia-deer-pistol/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=insider&utm_campaign=0518
NRA Museums Senior Curator Philip Schreier accepted a CIA Deer Pistol into the museum’s collection on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Donating this extremely rare artifact was Master Armorer Thomas Ring. Mr. Ring donated both an original (relic) condition Deer pistol as well as a tool-room prototype replica (with a rifled barrel) that he made himself.
Wikipedia image
The Deer Pistol is considered the Vietnam era successor to the OSS .45 ACP Liberator from World War II. The Deer Pistol was made in 1964 and meant to be used arming resistance fighters who needed a 9 mm pistol.
Fewer than 10 of these are known to exist and this relic example is possibly the only specimen likely to be on public display in this country.
Deer gun
For a rifle used to hunt deer, see Hunting and Rifle.
An image of the Deer gun
Single-shot pistol
In service
American Machine & Foundry Co.
No. built
12 oz (340 grams)
5.0 inches (127 mm)
1.875 (48 mm)
9×19mm Parabellum
single-shot
1050 ft/s (320 m/s)
plastic clip
The Deer gun, developed by the CIA, was a successor to the Liberator pistol. The single-shot Deer gun was intended for distribution to South Vietnamese guerrillas as a weapon against North Vietnamese soldiers.[1]
2Operation
3History
4References
Design[edit]
The Deer gun was made of cast aluminium, with the receiver formed into a cylinder at the top of the weapon. The striker protruded from the rear of the receiver and was cocked in order to fire, and a plastic clip was placed there to prevent an accidental discharge, as the Deer gun had no mechanical safety. The grip had raised checkering, was hollow, and had space for three 9 mm rounds and a rod for clearing the barrel of spent cases. The Deer gun lacked any marking identifying manufacturer or user, in order to prevent tracing of the weapons, and all were delivered in unmarked polystyrene boxes with three 9 mm rounds and a series of pictures depicting the operation of the gun. A groove ran down a ramp on top for sighting. The barrel unscrewed for loading and removing the empty casing. A cocking knob was pulled until cocked. The aluminium trigger had no trigger guard.[1]
Operation[edit]
The Deer gun was loaded by removing the barrel and placing a 9 mm cartridge in the chamber. The striker was then cocked, and a small plastic clip placed around the striker to impede the forward motion of the striker to prevent accidental discharge. The barrel was then screwed back onto the receiver. The gun was fired by removing the plastic clip, placing it on the barrel where it would become the sight, and pulling the trigger. At this point the user would take the victim's equipment if opportunity presented itself, and then flee. Later, the user would reload the gun by unscrewing the barrel and ejecting the spent case with the provided barrel rod, and follow the outlined procedure.[1][2]
One production run of 1,000 Deer guns was made in 1964 as an initial run, with the final cost projected as US$3.95 per gun. Rather than the Vietnam war being a small clandestine war, it became a full-scale war where the Deer gun would not be as useful as foreseen. Some Deer guns were evaluated in Vietnam, but the fate of the rest is unknown. Most sources state that all were destroyed.[1][2][3]
^ Jump up to:a b c d Hogg, Ian; Walter, John (2004). Pistols of the World. David & Charles. p. 353. ISBN 0-87349-460-1.
^ Jump up to:a b Fitzsimons, Bernard (1978). The Illustrated encyclopedia of 20th century weapons and warfare. Columbia House. pp. 2052–2053.
Jump up^ Hogg, Ian V.; Weeks, John S. (1991). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century: A Comprehensive Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the World's Small-Calibre Firearms. DBI Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-87349-120-4.
Insurgency weapons
Single-shot pistols
Military equipment 1960–1969
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Edited by Irish Bird Dog - 29 May 2018 at 09:03
NRA Life/Endowment
2nd Amendment Supporter
Quote Reply Posted: 29 May 2018 at 10:42
I've never heard of these before. I saw a Liberator at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody Wyoming. This looks like it is a lot better quality than the Liberator.
It doesn't say how many were made, just how many are known to exist.
I wonder if any of them were given to Vietnamese people?
Wing, read the fine print
Thanks IBD. I didn't see that part.
Why call it a "deer " gun???
BEAR wrote:
good question. Maybe as a code name to hide the project from "spies"??????
AMF designer Moure, designed a tiny pistol with a cast aluminum receiver, a screw-out-to-load two inch barrel, plastic parts . This new pistol measured five inches in length, 4 1/8” high, 1 1/2” thick and weighed 12 ounces. It had a blued barrel and a bright aluminum handle/receiver unit. The grip was hollow to hold spare ammunition and an ejector rod to punch out the empty casing from the screw-off barrel.
According to ordnance legend Jack Kroma, a close friend of Moure, this was the lightest and smallest 9mm issue pistol ever developed, as well as being “of splendid design and robust construction.”
a very brief news splash in New York in 1975, when a robbery suspect was caught with what turned out to be a Deer Gun. He said he bought it on the street from some guy who claimed he’d brought it back from Vietnam. The pistol subsequently disappeared from the evidence locker.
There was also mention of an assassination of a Cuban official in Mexico City in 1970, reportedly with a Deer Gun, but,itI could not be documented.
the origin of the Deer Gun name. Sgt. Gary Paul Johnston suggests that it is an Agency code name with sardonic reference to a survival weapon. Suppressor designer Don Walsh, a longtime friend of Russ Moure, thinks the weapon was named after a World War II OSS operation, the Deer Mission business in Burma. The genesis of the weapon name appears to be as mysterious as the ultimate fate of the weapons themselves.
There were very few to survive after about 100 were given to natives. 2 or 3 were found in gun museums, but seem to have walked away. Don't remember seeing one in the CIA museum.
Pretty fancy zip gun.
exactly what the design was for.
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Improving care in the womb for babies with heart problems: new guidelines
Fetal heart experts working with the American Heart Association have developed guidelines to help healthcare providers care for unborn babies with heart problems, as well as their families.
The statement, Diagnosis and Treatment of Fetal Cardiac Disease, is published in the American Heart Association journal,Circulation.
"Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect that can result in either death or significant health problems in newborn babies," said Mary T. Donofrio, M.D., lead writer of the statement, and director of the Fetal Heart Program and Critical Care Delivery Service at Children's National Medical Center, in Washington, D.C.
Fetal care is no longer solely the realm of high-risk obstetricians and neonatologists. A multidisciplinary specialty of fetal cardiology has emerged, according to the statement.
"We now have advanced imaging technologies, such as high-resolution ultrasound and three- and four-dimensional echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, fetal electrocardiography and magnetocardiography enabling physicians to diagnose fetal abnormalities early and with better detail and accuracy.
"Despite this, more than half of babies with congenital heart disease go undiagnosed before birth," she said. "We created these guidelines to provide pediatric cardiologists, obstetricians, maternal fetal specialists, radiologists, nurses and other healthcare providers with the latest developments in the rapidly developing area of fetal cardiology," Donofrio said.
Among the recommendations in the statement:
Pregnant women with specific risk factors should be referred for fetal echocardiography, a technology that uses sound waves to examine the fetal heart. Women at risk include those who have had diabetes before pregnancy, diabetes diagnosed in the first trimester, have taken NSAIDs in their third trimester, have congenital heart disease or a close relative with congenital heart disease, or other specific maternal medical conditions, and possibly those who conceived with in vitro fertilization. Fetuses at risk include those identified with a chromosome problem or other abnormality, or those with a suspected heart problem. Fetuses diagnosed with a heart abnormality should be carefully monitored and healthcare providers should plan the delivery and post-delivery care that the baby will need.
Some fetal heart rhythm disturbances or heart function abnormalities can be treated with medicines given to the mother, which cross the placenta to reach the fetus. In-utero heart catheterization and surgical procedures are being performed, however are still considered experimental.
The psychological effects and depression that may result when a pregnant woman and her family learns that their child has a congenital heart abnormality are also important factors for healthcare providers to consider. Parents often grieve upon learning that their unborn baby has a congenital heart condition. The authors note that it's important for providers to offer families information in an unbiased way, which not only addresses the condition and what's involved in treatment, but also whether children will be able to play sports, do well in school, and what kind of support they might need, physically and mentally. In addition, providers should help families overcome anxiety and depression, so they can transition from grief to acceptance and become active members of the team that care for their baby.
"This document transcends specialties and gives all healthcare providers that practice fetal cardiac medicine a standard for practice. This means improved care for babies with congenital heart disease, starting in the womb and continuing after delivery and through their lives," said Donofrio.
Immigrants from certain regions may be at increased risk for pregnancy complications
Womb development: how much is influenced by genes vs. mother's lifestyle?
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Bronze Icon
The Doc Savage Stories: 1933 – 1949
Secret Sequels
Kenneth Robeson & Co.
04. Jim Thorpe, Man of Bronze
At the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, Native-American athlete Jim Thorpe electrified the world by winning the gold medal for both the pentathlon and the decathlon. Swedish King Gustav V spoke for the world when he said, You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world. I would consider it an honor to shake your hand.
Thorpe was 24 years old at the time and his record for the decathlon would not be broken until two decades later. Returning to New York he was recognized as a national figure and honored with a ticker-tape parade.
His stature as an Olympic athlete was short-lived, however. The Olympic committee unjustly stripped Thorpe of his gold medals in 1913 after it was learned that he had received some small payments for playing sport and thus was not a true “amateur.” It should be noted that the Olympic committee violated its own regulations of the time when it ruled against Jim Thorpe. Much of this appears to have been instigated by his fellow team mate, Avery Brundage, who later went on to become president of the International Olympic Committee. It was not until 1982 the Olympic committee corrected its past wrong and restored Thorpe’s name to the record books.
It is possible racism played some part in the extreme reluctance to reinstate Thorpe who was of mixed Native-American, French, and Irish ancestry. That was certainly not the case with the public who enthusiastically admired him. Playing professionally in both baseball and football, Jim Thorpe personified athletic competition from the time he entered professional sports in 1913 until he retired in 1928. He was a superb athlete who weighed in at 190 lbs. and stood 6’1” tall. He was gifted with extraordinary speed, stamina, and agility. The public seized upon Jim Thorpe with a remarkable fervor.
Thorpe finally retired from professional sports when he was 41 years old. Thorpe was the first president of the American Professional Football Conference – an organization that later evolved into the National Football League. In 1950 the Associated Press recognized him as the greatest male athlete of the half-century. Later in 2001, the ABC television network’s popular show Wide World of Sports selected him as “Athlete of the Century.”
As successful as his athletic career was, Jim Thorpe’s personal life was a tragedy. He had problems with alcohol abuse and spent the last years of his life living in poverty.
In 1932, Street & Smith executive Henry Ralston along with Editor John Nanovic were cobbling together a character that would later electrify the pulp magazine field and become known as Doc Savage. Many of the physical abilities of Clark Savage, Jr. would parallel those of Jim Thorpe. Doc Savage burst upon the scene in The Man of Bronze. He was described as a living bronze statue and his skin coloring was dark, dark, dark. Readers are informed that Doc’s remarkable skin coloration comes from a permanent tan derived from long hours spent under the tropical sun. Of course this is pure malarkey as no tan is permanent and in fact Doc Savage himself comments on this subject in one of his later adventures, Birds of Death in October 1941. Doc Savage remarked thoughtfully, “It does not take long for a man to lose a tan in civilization.”
In the first adventure from March 1933, author Lester Dent sent Doc Savage to the remote reaches of the Central American republic of Hidalgo. There Clark Savage, Jr. claimed a fabulous fortune in gold as his legacy from a Mayan tribe that had secluded themselves in the fastness of the tropical mountains. The Mayan people are described as having handsome features and a golden skin coloring. Dent lays out a story pointing to Doc Savage’s mixed racial heritage. In particular, he emphasizes the similarities between King Chaac’s features and those of Doc Savage, but he never directly states it as a fact. Logically it could be reasonably assumed that Doc was some relation to the Mayans living in the “Valley of the Vanished.” But this was all happening some 75 years ago and the racial moirés of the country were not then what they are now.
The first Doc Savage story, The Man of Bronze, was built largely on an outline created by Ralston and Nanovic. Dent fleshed out that story but Doc Savage’s outstanding physical abilities were not completely apparent until the next adventure. The Land of Terror was purely Dent’s doing and highlighted Doc Savage’s extraordinary athletic ability. Doc easily jumps a fence with what readers are told in a new world’s record were he an athlete.
Dent puts Doc Savage through a pulp version of the decathlon while tossing in parts of the modern pentathlon. Doc runs faster than a horse; he fights with a sword; he hurls a pike; he tosses a spar; he swims a lake and then wounds the pilot of a plane with his expert pistol marksmanship; he uses a javelin. The story explains that Were Doc Savage to become a professional athlete, there is no doubt in my mind but that he would be the wonder of all time.
A further comment in the fifth issue, Pirate of the Pacific, echoes the idea once again: One of the scientists at the banquet told me in entire seriousness that, were Savage to enter athletic competition, his name would leap to the headlines of every paper in the country. Any reader of the times would instantly associate Doc Savage’s fantastic athletic abilities with those of Jim Thorpe. This allowed Street & Smith to capitalize on the popularity of the popular athlete in the form of the bronze-skinned Doc Savage without directly committing themselves to his ethnicity.
Lester Dent’s notebook states “This thing started December 10, 1932.” When Doc Savage first meets King Chaac we learn that Doc was to appear before him upon the passage of twenty years. Going back twenty years from Dent’s start date brings us to 1912 – the very same year Jim Thorpe won the Pentathlon and the Decathlon and became the greatest athlete of the century.
Jim Thorpe’s story finally reached the big screen in 1951. Burt Lancaster played the Indian athlete in Jim Thorpe, All-American.” The movie was renamed for release in the United Kingdom as Jim Thorpe – Man of Bronze.
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Josh Mandel, Treasurer, State of Ohio
Josh Mandel
Broadcast Date:
Join host Michael Keegan as he welcomes outgoing two-term Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel to reflect on his public service career and his pursuit of innovative initiatives around financial transparency, leveraging technological advances such as cryptocurrency and blockchain, and enhancing how his office does business.
BoG hour logo 01_4c MJK 400x400.jpg
The Business of Government Hour is a weekly conversation about management with a government executive who is changing the way government does business. Join host Michael J. Keegan as he speaks to guests about their careers, their agencies, agency accomplishments, as well as their vision of government in the 21st century.
Federal News Radio 1500-AM: Mondays at 11 a.m. and Fridays at 1 p.m. Subscribe to our program on iTunes or PodcastOne.
Eugene Hickok, Acting Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary, Department of Education
Dr. Dov Zakheim, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, Department of Defense (DoD)
Dr. Mark McClellan, Commissioner, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Ken Blackwell, Ohio Secretary of State, State of Ohio
John Marshall, Assistant Administrator for Management, Agency for International Development (USAID)
Dr. William Winkenwerder, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Department of Defense (DoD)
William Campbell, Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Janet Hale, Under Secretary for Management, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Dr. Roy Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
Emil Frankel, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, Department of Transportation
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