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Protesters decry fatal L.A. shooting
Sep 19, 2010 at 12:01 AM Sep 19, 2010 at 11:27 AM
LOS ANGELES - Protesters gathered yesterday near the spot where a Los Angeles police officer shot a Guatemalan day laborer who was carrying a knife.
LOS ANGELES � Protesters gathered yesterday near the spot where a Los Angeles police officer shot a Guatemalan day laborer who was carrying a knife.
Fewer than 100 people assembled in the Rampart district, a largely Latino shopping area just west of downtown. Many at the rally carried flags from Central American countries and placards decrying the Sept. 5 shooting death of Manuel Jaminez.
Jaminez, 37, was shot in the head after a brief confrontation with three bicycle-riding officers on a street corner. Police said that Jaminez was drunk and had attempted to stab passers-by, including a pregnant woman, and ignored commands to drop a knife.
Some residents said that the fatal shooting seemed a disproportionate use of force and that officers should have been able to disarm Jaminez without killing him.
His death sparked several nights of vigils and protests that at times turned violent. Police officials were taken aback that the shooting, which appeared to them to be easily justifiable, could cause so much anger. They blamed outside activists for stirring up resentment.
On their permit application, organizers of yesterday�s rally estimated that 3,000 people would attend.
The protesters were to march past the Rampart police station before winding their way to MacArthur Park, the site of a now-infamous police response to a 2007 immigration rally where officers used batons to hit demonstrators and fired rubber bullets into the crowd, injuring dozens of people.
The surrounding Westlake neighborhood has become a densely packed enclave of Central American immigrants fleeing brutal civil wars and grinding poverty in their home countries.
On one of the nights after Jaminez�s death, protesters gathered outside the police station and pelted officers with eggs, rocks and bottles and set a trash bin on fire. Police made 22 arrests.
Several investigations are under way into the shooting, and one eyewitness has come forward and disputed the police version of events, saying that Jaminez had nothing in his hands when Officer Frank Hernandez shot him.
Activists behind yesterday�s rally want Hernandez to be the subject of a criminal investigation by the district attorney.
The LAPD�s officer union said it is confident that all reviews will find that Hernandez acted appropriately.
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Former PM and Tokyo 2020 Chair Mori bashes his Olympic athletes, including “naturalized citizens” Chris and Cathy Reed (PLUS article on J athletes’ shortened lifespans due to the pressure)
Posted on February 20, 2014 December 27, 2014 by Debito Arudou Ph.D.
Hi Blog. Aaand, the inevitable has happened: Japan’s apparently underperforming athletes (particularly its ice skaters) have invited criticism from Japan’s elite. Tokyo 2020 Chair Mori Yoshiro, one of Japan’s biggest gaffemeisters when he served an abysmal stint as Prime Minister, decided to shoot his mouth off about champion skater Asada Mao’s propensity to choke under pressure. But more importantly, as far as Debito.org is concerned, about how the American-Japanese skating siblings Cathy and Chris Reed’s racial background has negatively affected their performance:
Fortunately, this has not escaped the world media’s glance. As CBS News put it: “Hurray for the Olympic spirit! You seem like a perfectly sensible choice to head a billion-dollar effort to welcome the world to Tokyo, Mr. Mori!” But expect more of this, for this is how “sporting spirit” is hard-wired in Japan. Because these types of people (especially their invisible counterparts in the media and internet) are not only unaccountable, they’re devoid of any self-awareness or empathy. If they think they can do better, as one brash Japanese Olympic swimmer once said, why don’t they try doing it themselves? Then she was taken off the team, never to return. ARUDOU, Debito
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Tokyo 2020 chairman Mori critical of Asada, ice dancing brother and sister
AP/Japan Today SPORTS FEB. 21, 2014, courtesy JDG, Bob, and Dosanko
http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/tokyo-2020-chairman-mori-critical-of-asada
TOKYO —The head of Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic organizing committee has criticized Japanese figure skater Mao Asada’s performance in the women’s short program at the Sochi Olympics.
The two-time world champion finished 16th in Wednesday’s short program after falling on her opening triple axel. Asada was a silver medalist at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, where she finished second to South Korea’s Yuna Kim.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who became the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee’s chairman last month, said Asada has a habit of “always falling at the most critical time” of a competition. He blamed Asada’s short program shortcomings on her participation in the earlier team event at Sochi.
Asada performed sensationally in the free skate on Thursday night, however. She landed her trademark triple axel and wound up with a season’s best of 142.71. That gave her a total of 198.22.
“I thought I could do it,” Asada said through a translator. “I tried my best, and everything went according to practice.’
While in office, Mori had a reputation for making contentious comments. And his appointment to the Tokyo 2020 committee was criticized by some analysts who believe the 76-year-old former PM is too old to hold such a position.
Asada was selected for the inaugural team competition in the hope Japan would win a medal, but she also fell on the triple axel and Japan placed fifth.
“We shouldn’t have taken part in the team competition,” Mori said. “The psychological damage Asada incurred must have remained,” for the short program.
Mori was also critical of Japanese ice dancers Chris and Cathy Reed, who were born in the United States but compete for Japan.
Also featured in USA Today, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Metro Montreal, The Japan Times, and others. As CBS Sports put it:
Mr. Mori wasn’t done yet, taking a shot at Japanese ice dancers Chris Reed and Cathy Reed, the children of a Japanese mother and American father who were born and raised in the U.S. but renounced American citizenship in order to compete for Japan.
Hurray for the Olympic spirit! You seem like a perfectly sensible choice to head a billion-dollar effort to welcome the world to Tokyo, Mr. Mori!
Here are some Japanese articles with the original quotes:
森元首相 リード組に「五輪出場の実力はなかったが…」
「負けると分かっていた」 講演する森元首相
講演する、東京五輪・パラリンピック組織委員会会長の森元首相
Photo By 共同
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2014/02/20/kiji/K20140220007629530.html
東京五輪・パラリンピック組織委員会会長の森喜朗元首相は２０日、福岡市での講演で、ソチ五輪・フィギュアスケート団体について「負けると分かっていた。浅田真央選手を出して恥をかかせることはなかった」と述べた。
また、フィギュアスケート・アイスダンスのキャシー・リード、クリス・リード組について「米国に住んでいる。（米国代表として）五輪出場の実力はなかったが、帰化させて日本選手団として出した」と語った。
浅田が団体でトリプルアクセル（３回転半ジャンプ）を成功させれば、アイスダンスの劣勢を盛り返し、銅メダルを獲得できるとの期待が日本チームにあったとの見方を強調。「（団体戦で）転んだ心の傷が残っているから（ＳＰで）転んではいけないとの気持ちが強く出たのだろう」との同情も示した。
森元首相の真央らへの発言要旨
日刊スポーツ ［2014年2月20日19時20分］
http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/f-gn-tp0-20140220-1260348.html
森喜朗元首相は２０日、福岡市での講演で、ソチ五輪フィギュアスケート団体について「負けると分かっていた。浅田真央選手を出して恥をかかせることはなかった」と述べた。さらに女子ショートプログラム（ＳＰ）で１６位だった浅田選手を「見事にひっくり返った。あの子、大事なときには必ず転ぶ」などと評した。
森喜朗元首相の講演でのフィギュアスケートに関する発言要旨は次の通り。
頑張ってくれと見ていましたけど（浅田）真央ちゃん、（ショートプログラムで）見事にひっくり返りました。あの子、大事なときには必ず転ぶんですね。
日本は団体戦に出なければよかった。アイスダンスは日本にできる人がいない。（キャシー・リード、クリス・リードの）きょうだいはアメリカに住んでいるんですよ。（米国代表として）オリンピックに出る実力がなかったから、帰化させて日本の選手団として出している。
浅田さんが（団体戦に）出れば、３回転半をできる女性はいないから、成功すれば３位になれるかもとの淡い気持ちで出した。それで、見事にひっくり返ってしまった。
その傷が残っていたとすれば、ものすごくかわいそうな話。負けると分かっている団体戦に、浅田さんを出して恥をかかせることはなかった。
転んだ心の傷が残っているから、自分の本番の時には、何としても転んではいけないとの気持ちが強く出たのだと思いますね。勢いが強すぎて転んでしまいました。（共同）
See also http://sankei.jp.msn.com/smp/sochi2014/news/140220/soc14022019180058-s.htm
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Japan Sports Pressure and Shortened Lifespans
(forwarding, courtesy of the author–Arudou Debito)
This Mainichi article, based on a piece that appeared in Flash four years ago, is about the sad fate that seems to befall Japan’s Olympic athletes. I thought I’d recycle it today. Mark
Star-studded sportsmen speed swim the Styx
Flash, 10/31/2000
By Mark Schreiber (translated by the author)
Researchers have announced findings that compared with ordinary people, their lives are shortened by six years, asserts Kunihiko Kato, an assistant at Tokyo University’s department of physical science.
To whom is Kato referring? Chain smokers? Heavy boozers? People who live in houses under high-tension power lines, or those who refuse to pay protection to gangsters?
Indeed, what activity is scientifically recognized as being so hazardous, it threatens to send otherwise robust citizens of the world’s longest-lived nation to an early grave?
The answer, reports Flash, is to earn a place on the Japanese Olympic team. Or perhaps even worse, to win a medal.
Tragic examples are legion. Take Masatoshi Nekota, a member of the volleyball gold medalist at the 1972 Munich Olympics, who succumbed to cancer at age 39. Or three other outstanding athletes, who also died in their 39th year: 1968 Mexico City men’s gymnast and bronze-medal winner Takeshi Kato, a cancer victim; steeplechase runner (Mexico) Takeshi Endo, who died of heart failure; and broad jumper Hiroomi Yamada (Mexico), who suffered a fatal stroke.
Sports glory and public acclaim failed to bring any peace of mind to marathon runner Kokichi Tsuburaya, who took the bronze medal at Tokyo in 1964. Psychologically tormented when injury forced him to miss the games four years later, he committed suicide. The note he left read, simply, “Cannot run any more.” He was 27.
“Just at Japan Steel Corporation, where I was employed, seven former olympians have already passed away,” marathon silver medalist Kenji Kimihara (Mexico) tells Flash. “Overall, I’d say about 30 or so have died.”
Kimihara, now 60, is particularly saddened when recalling those who perished by their own hand. In addition to fellow marathoner Tsuburaya, these include swimmer Ryoko Urakami and 80 meter hurdler Ikuko Yoda.
“Everyone showed them respect, but they felt stigmatized by the title “olympic team member” attached to everything they did subsequently,” sighs Kimihara. “I suppose it just became too much of a burden.”
But while mental pressures took a toll on Japan’s olympians, the sheer physical abuse can’t be disregarded either.
“After driving myself so hard during my teens, I wanted to just go back to being a normal person,” recalls Mexico City weight lifting silver medalist Masaru Ouchi, now 57. “But I’m a physical wreck. When I reached my forties, I felt like I was already sixty.”
Tokyo University’s Kato is convinced scientific data contradicts the general image of olympians and professional athletes as superb physical specimens. “Intense activity causes stress to build up, and excessive secretion of Corticotropin releasing hormone result in lowered immunity. Resistance to disease declines. There’s a greater likelihood of developing cancer.”
“Exercise causes oxygen consumption to increase, generating a toxic substance called free radicals that are harmful to the body,” Kato adds.
One side effect of too much activity may be osteoporosis. Citing data on 13 female long-distance runners, Kato notes that the average bone density of eight was 90 percent or below the normal values, and four had bone density levels equivalent to women in their seventies.
“We believe this was caused by the intense training, which lowered the volume of fat in their bodies, causing loss of calcium because they did not secrete sufficient female hormones.”
“Upholding Japan’s national honor was a heavy burden for those olympic athletes in the past,” says Kimihara. “When today’s athletes feel pressured, I’d like to see them channel their stress into constructive outlets.”
With so many depressing stories, Flash wonders, will “Q chan” — petite and personable Sydney marathon winner Naoko Takahashi — be all right?
FORWARDED ARTICLE ENDS
Cultural Issue, Hate Speech and Xenophobia, Immigration & Assimilation, Ironies & Hypocrisies, Media, Problematic Foreign Treatment, Sport, Unsustainable Japanese Society, 日本語
Bloomberg column: “A rebuke to Japanese nationalism”, gets it about right
Posted on February 19, 2014 by Debito Arudou Ph.D.
Hi Blog. Although I have been commenting at length at Japan’s right-wing swing, I have focused little on the geopolitical aspects (particularly how both China and Japan have been lobbying their cases before the congress of world opinion), because Debito.org is more focused on life and human rights in Japan, and the geopolitics of spin isn’t quite my specialty. That said, I’m happy to cite other articles that get the analysis pretty much right. Here are two, one from Bloomberg, the other from Reuters. After all, Japan can take its constant “victim” narrative only so far, especially in light of its history, and that distance is generally its border. These articles highlight how outsiders are increasingly unconvinced by the GOJ’s behavior and invective, despite the longstanding bent towards giving Japan the benefit of the doubt as a regional ally. ARUDOU, Debito
A Rebuke to Japanese Nationalism
By The Editors Bloomberg News, Feb 16, 2014
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-16/a-rebuke-to-japanese-nationalism.html?cmpid=yhoo.view
Courtesy of Baudrillard
A series of recent blunt statements from U.S. officials have left no doubt that Washington blames China’s maritime expansionism for rising tensions in Asia. Now, America’s main ally in the region needs to hear a similarly forthright message.
Japan had been clamoring for the U.S. to speak out more forcefully after China imposed an “air-defense identification zone” over a set of islands claimed by both countries. Officials in Tokyo have warned that any hint of daylight between Americans and Japanese only encourages further bullying from the mainland. For that same reason, U.S. officials have tempered their criticism of statements and actions by Japanese leaders that irk China, not to mention other victims of Japanese aggression during World War II.
This circumspection is becoming counterproductive. Since China imposed its air-defense identification zone in November, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited the deeply controversial Yasukuni shrine, which honors, along with millions of fallen soldiers from various conflicts, 14 Class A war criminals from World War II. What’s more, several of Abe’s nominees to the board of the state broadcaster NHK have made appallingly retrograde comments that Abe has declined to disavow. One claimed the horrific 1937 Nanjing Massacre never took place, while another pooh-poohed complaints that the Japanese military had exploited thousands of women from Korea and elsewhere as sex slaves during the war. Other Abe allies are busily trying to rewrite textbooks to downplay Japan’s wartime brutality.
Worse, Japan seems to be taking U.S. backing for granted. Abe went to Yasukuni even after Vice President Joe Biden quietly urged him not to. Details of their conversation were then strategically leaked, presumably to showcase Abe’s defiant stance. In private, Japanese officials snipe about the Barack Obama administration’s alleged unreliability. Anything other than unstinting support for Japan is taken as a lack of backbone.
The U.S. should push back, and less gently than usual. President Obama’s trip to Asia in April is an opportunity for the White House not only to reaffirm its disapproval of Chinese adventurism but also to make clear that Abe’s provocations are threatening stability in the region, and damaging the U.S.-Japan alliance.
This won’t change many minds inside Abe’s inner circle, of course. But most Japanese are acutely sensitive to any hint of U.S. displeasure. (Nearly 70 percent of respondents to one poll called on Abe to heed the negative reaction to his Yasukuni visit, which included a mild expression of “disappointment” from U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.) Voters threw out Abe once before when he let nationalist obsessions distract him from minding the economy. Sustained domestic pressure is needed to rein him in again.
Abe is not necessarily wrong to want to make Japan a more muscular nation — to rejuvenate its economy, open up its society and normalize its self-defense forces. A more robust Japanese military could play a bigger role in promoting global and regional stability — whether through anti-piracy patrols or peacekeeping missions — and come to the defense of its allies. Inflaming Chinese and Korean sensitivities helps achieve none of those goals.
All it does is raise the likelihood of conflict in the region. That Abe’s recent actions and comments may be less dangerous than China’s adventurism is beside the point. He’s eroding the international goodwill that Japan has built up over decades as a responsible democracy — all for no good reason. If he can’t see that for himself, perhaps the U.S. — and his own citizens — can help him.
NATIONAL / POLITICS & DIPLOMACY
Abe put Japan on back foot in global PR war with China
BY LINDA SIEG AND BEN BLANCHARD
REUTERS, FEB 17, 2014
Courtesy http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/17/national/abe-put-japan-on-back-foot-in-global-pr-war-with-china
Japan risks losing a global PR battle with China after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to a controversial shrine for war dead and comments by other prominent figures on the wartime past helped Beijing try to paint Tokyo as the villain of Asia.
Sino-Japanese ties have long been plagued by territorial rows, regional rivalry and disputes stemming from China’s bitter memories of Japan’s occupation of parts of the country before and during World War II.
Relations chilled markedly after a feud over disputed East China Sea isles flared in 2012.
Beijing, however, has stepped up its campaign to sway international public opinion since Abe’s Dec. 26 visit to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine is seen by critics as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism because it honors leaders convicted as Class-A war criminals with millions of war dead.
That strategy has helped China shift some of the debate away from its growing military assertiveness in Asia, including double-digit defense spending increases and the recent creation of an air defense identification zone in the East China Sea that was condemned by Tokyo and Washington, experts said.
“Right now, this is a real war,” said Shin Tanaka, president of the FleishmanHillard Japan Group in Tokyo, a communications consultancy.
“Japan and China are using missiles called ‘messages’ and the reality is that a lot of damage is already happening in both countries,” he added, warning of a mutual backlash of nationalist emotions and potential harm to business ties.
Abe has repeatedly said he did not visit the shrine to honor war criminals but to pay his respects to those who died for their country and pledge Japan would never again go to war.
Getting that message across is not easy, communications and political experts said. Abe’s Yasukuni visit “gave China the opportunity . . . to attack Japan and send the message that China is the good guy and Japan is the bad guy,” Tanaka said.
Some Japanese diplomats and officials dismissed any suggestion they were worried, saying Tokyo’s rebuttals and the country’s postwar record of peace would win the day.
“Their Goebbelsian PR binge — repeat it 100 times then it becomes true, ungrounded or not — shows all the symptoms of a Leninist regime still remaining in the 21st century,” Tomohiko Taniguchi, a councilor in the Cabinet secretariat of the prime minister’s office, said in an email.
He was referring to Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s minister of propaganda from 1933 to 1945.
“Yes we feel annoyed, but the next moment we relax for we have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Still, experts said Abe’s shrine visit had made it easier for Beijing to try to link Abe’s plans to bolster the military and loosen limits on the pacifist Constitution to Japan’s militarist past.
“The most fundamental thing they say is to assert that Japan is going on a path of militarism a la the 1930s. That’s just nonsense,” said Daniel Sneider, associate director for research at Stanford University’s Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. “But the problem is the Chinese are able to blur a lot of this stuff because of what Abe did.”
Recent remarks about Japan’s wartime past by the chairman of NHK and members of its board of governors have added grist to China’s PR mill.
Among those remarks were comments by new NHK Chairman Katsuto Momii, who told a news conference last month that the “comfort women” — a euphemism for the vast number of females forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels — had counterparts in every country at war at that time. He later apologized.
NHK’s chief is selected by a board of governors that includes four Abe appointees.
Since the start of the year, Chinese ambassadors and other officials have targeted Japan 69 times in media around the world, the Foreign Ministry said in Tokyo. The campaign includes interviews, written commentaries and news conferences.
As of Feb. 10, Japan had issued rebuttals in 67 cases with the other two under review, Foreign Ministry spokesman Masaru Sato said.
Asked if China had won over international opinion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said countries such as South Korea — where memories of Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule run deep — had also criticized Tokyo.
“The mistaken ways of the Japanese leader have incurred the strong opposition of the international community,” Hua told reporters. “China is willing to work with other victims of the war and the international community to uphold historical justice.”
The verbal jousting has spanned the globe from capitals such as London and Washington to remote Fiji and South Sudan.
The best known exchanges are the “Voldemort attacks” in which China’s ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, last month compared Japan to the villain in the Harry Potter children’s book series. In reply, Japan’s envoy, Keiichi Hayashi, said China risked becoming “Asia’s Voldemort.”
“We try to explain that Japan faces its history squarely and has expressed remorse . . . (and that) Japan will continue to pursue the path of a peace-loving country,” Sato said.
“Sometimes they try to link the visit to the shrine to security policy. That is a totally unrelated matter.”
Still, some in Japan fear that China’s PR blitz is having an impact on world opinion.
“A lie is repeated so that people are brainwashed and start to believe it,” Akira Sato, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s panel on defense policy, told Reuters.
Echoed a Western diplomat in Beijing: “China is being successful at getting its message across while Japan keeps saying stupid things like questioning the existence of comfort women. I think (China) has changed opinions.”
Tokyo’s mostly reactive approach, some PR experts said, was not enough to sway international public opinion, a worry some Japanese diplomats share privately.
“Japan is very worried that China is winning this propaganda war,” said an Asian diplomat based in Beijing. “Their diplomats have been asking how they can better put their side of the story and win people over in the West.”
That could be tough if Abe declines to say whether he will visit Yasukuni again or other prominent Japanese figures make contentious comments on wartime history, experts said.
Other matters, such as revisionist changes to Japanese textbooks to promote patriotism, could add fuel to the fire.
“Even if he doesn’t go to Yasukuni again, there are plenty of issues on their (the Japanese government’s) agenda,” Sneider said.
Gaiatsu, History, Japanese Government, Shoe on the Other Foot Dept., Tangents
Papa John’s Pizza NY racism case 2012: “Lady chinky eyes” receipt gets employee fired
Posted on February 16, 2014 February 17, 2014 by Debito Arudou Ph.D.
Hi Blog. Still deep into my project at the moment, so I’ll be brief. Going into my Drafts folder once more, I uncovered this little gem of “Pinprick Protest” from more than two years ago — the Papa John’s “lady chinky eyes case” where an individual took action against another individual (representing a corporation) for a racial slur at a pizza chain, and through the pressure of public outrage and social opprobrium made somebody take responsibility. As in getting that idiot fired for making the slur.
Anyway, here’s the story. I cite this as a template for nipping discriminatory speech in the bud. Arudou Debito
‘Lady Chinky Eyes’: Papa John’s Store Calls Woman Racial Slur In Receipt (PHOTO) (UPDATE)
The Huffington Post, Laura Hibbard
First Posted: 01/07/12 03:22 PM ET Updated: 01/08/12 12:08 AM ET
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/lady-chinky-eyes-papa-johns-store-uses-receipt-to-call-woman-racial-slur_n_1191434.html
Minhee Cho went to Papa John’s for some fast food goodness. Little did she know, she would get it served with a side of racism.
At around 12:30 p.m. today, Papa John’s customer Minhee Cho tweeted a photo of a receipt she received at a Papa John’s restaurant in uptown, New York City.
In it, under the customer’s name section, the restaurant employee who rang up the order used the racial slur “lady chinky eyes” to describe her.
Minhee Cho @mintymin
Hey @PapaJohns just FYI my name isn’t “lady chinky eyes” http://t.co/RLdj2Eij
January 7, 2012 5:06 pm via Twitpic
Cho posted the photo to her Twitter page, where it was quickly retweeted by hundreds of people. By 3 p.m., the photo had been viewed over 25,000 times.
When The Huffington Post reached the Papa John’s in question for comment, the assistant manager — who only gave her first name as Marjani — said she was unaware of the incident.
“I apologize,” she said in a phone interview. “I’m sure they didn’t mean any harm but some people will take it offensive.” She added that she “had an idea of who it was,” based on the time of the receipt.
Marjani went on to say that this was the kind of behavior that would result in disciplinary action, but declined to go into further detail on what she planned to do.
Papa John’s has yet to respond to the incident in a statement or its Facebook and Twitter accounts, but with such a PR disaster on their hands, they most likely will soon.
UPDATE: Papa John’s has responded to the incident on Facebook. A post on its official page reads:
We were extremely concerned to learn of the receipt issue in New York. This act goes against our company values, and we’ve confirmed with the franchisee that this matter was addressed immediately and that the employee is being terminated. We are truly sorry for this customer’s experience.
The company has also addressed the matter on its Twitter feed, tweeting to multiple people that “We have issued an apology, are reaching out to customer & franchise employee is being terminated.”
"Pinprick Protests", Anti-discrimination templates/meetings, Bad Business Practices, Food, Good News, Human Rights, Media, Racist Images in Media, Tangents
Fun facts #18: More than 10% of all homes in Japan are vacant, will be nearly a quarter by 2028
Posted on February 9, 2014 by Debito Arudou Ph.D.
Hi Blog. With some media outlets forecasting a rise in rents due to an alleged economic recovery Abenomics (somehow seeing rising fixed costs for businesses and people as a harbinger of something good), here’s an article stating that Japan’s depopulation (except in Tokyo, where any real opportunity for economic upward mobility is clustering) is probably going to render that moot. Japan’s housing (as you longer-termers probably know, it’s already pretty crappy and not built to last) is also depopulating, as this fascinating article from the Japan Times excerpted below demonstrates. Already more than 10% of all homes in Japan are vacant, and in less than a generation it will be nearly a quarter. And yet there are forecasts for rents (okay, office rents) to rise again. I smell another real estate bubble in the works, although media-driven instead of demand-pulled. Should be some bargains out there for those who can find the realtors and renters who aren’t “Japanese Only.”
I put this under “Fun Facts” because these stats are surprisingly insightful statements on the way things are, or will be, in Japanese society. Those of you more in the know about Japan’s property market (I’ll ask Terrie Lloyd and see if he’ll comment), please feel free to prognosticate. ARUDOU, Debito
Land tax loophole ensures unused, dilapidated firetraps stay standing, till they fall
Abandoned homes a growing menace
BY TOMOKO OTAKE
THE JAPAN TIMES, JAN 7, 2014
As Japan’s population ages and shrinks, run-down, uninhabited properties like this are becoming more common. As of 2008, the most recent year for which statistics are available, there were 7.57 million vacant homes, or 13.1 percent of all houses in Japan, up from 3.94 million in 1988 and 5.76 million in 1998, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry. The rate is expected to rise to 23.7 percent in 2028.
While these figures include second homes and properties waiting to be rented out or sold, more than a third of the 7.57 million vacant homes in 2008 were categorized as properties left unattended by owners or whose owners have died and are not taken care of at all. Many of these properties are now causing problems in their communities, experts say. As the structures age, the risk of collapse and fire increases. Some have leaked wastewater, damaging neighboring properties. They are also a magnet for criminal behavior, such as arson.
Rest of the article at http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/07/national/abandoned-homes-a-growing-menace/
Cultural Issue, Fun Facts, Japanese Government, Tangents, Unsustainable Japanese Society
SITYS: Japan Times: “Points System” visa of 2012 being overhauled for being too strict; only 700 applicants for 2000 slots
Posted on February 8, 2014 February 8, 2014 by Debito Arudou Ph.D.
Hi Blog. When looking through my “Draft” posts (i.e., the ones I put on hold for publication later), I noticed that I forgot to blog this one when it came out. It’s another instance where Debito.org got it right (filed under the category of SITYS, or “See I Told You So”).
Sorry for the delay in postings these days (I have a monster project that I have to finish up, so blogging has to go on the back burner). Let me just put this post up as a matter of record (I already incorporated the information into my January Japan Times JBC column; see Item 4), and I’ll put something different up tomorrow for discussion. ARUDOU, Debito
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Initiative fails to lure high-skilled foreigners
BY TOMOHIRO OSAKI
The Japan Times, DEC 24, 2013
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/24/national/initiative-fails-to-lure-high-skilled-foreigners/
After drawing too few applicants, a government-led initiative to attract “highly skilled foreigners” was overhauled Tuesday by the Justice Ministry.
Started in May 2012, the program is designed to shore up the thinning domestic labor force. Statistics from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research show the population will plunge to about 90 million by 2050 from 127 million at present.
Foreign applicants receive “points” based on such criteria as academic achievement, career background and annual income. More than 70 points earns access to a raft of visa perks, such as the right to work no matter the visa status, visas for parents and housekeepers to care for children, and a fast track to permanent residence. Examples of highly skilled professionals include researchers, university professors, corporate executives and engineers.
While the ministry believed 2,000 foreign residents in Japan a year would qualify, only 700 had applied as of September, immigration bureau official Nobuko Fukuhara said.
The system has been criticized as setting too high a bar for applicants. For example, those under 30 years of age had to earn at least ¥3.4 million annually to qualify, while those over 40 needed to exceed ¥6 million.
With the changes Tuesday, anyone earning over ¥3 million is eligible. The minimum income requirement will be scrapped altogether for academics, who are at a disadvantage due to their relatively lower income.
In another move to help academics, their scholarly achievements will be given more points.
Bonus points will also be added for applicants’ Japanese language skills and experience studying at Japanese schools.
“We’re fully aware just giving foreigners visa perks wouldn’t be such a big incentive for them to come to Japan,” said Fukuhara, who noted Japan needs to adopt more fundamental reforms, such as raising salaries.
ONE MORE COMMENT FROM DEBITO: The Coda is maintained at the very end of the article, reinforcing the stereotype that NJ only alight in Japan for money…
Immigration & Assimilation, Japanese Government, Labor issues, NJ voices ignored, discounted & discredited, SITYS, Unsustainable Japanese Society
Weird stats from Jiji Press citing MHLW’s “record number of NJ laborers” in Japan. Yet Ekonomisuto shows much higher in 2008!
Hi Blog. Just got this interesting note from Debito.org Reader JDG:
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Foreign workers in Japan hit record 717,504
JIJI, JAN 31, 2014, reprinted in The Japan Times
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/31/national/foreign-workers-in-japan-hit-record-717504/
The number of foreign workers in Japan stood at 717,504 at the end of last October, up 5.1 percent from a year before, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Friday.
The figure was the highest since it became mandatory for employers to submit reports on foreign employees to the ministry in 2007.
The increase reflected an improvement in the employment situation amid the economic recovery and Japanese companies’ growing moves to hire foreigners with special skills, according to the ministry.
The number of Chinese workers was the highest, at 303,886, or 42.4 percent of the total, followed by Brazilians at 95,505, or 13.3 percent, Filipinos at 80,170, or 11.2 percent, and Vietnamese at 37,537, or 5.2 percent.
The number of Chinese workers rose 2.5 percent. Filipino and Vietnamese workers increased 10.0 percent and 39.9 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of Brazilian workers fell 6.3 percent.
Of all foreign workers, 27.3 percent were in Tokyo, followed by 10.9 percent in Aichi Prefecture, 5.9 percent in Kanagawa Prefecture, 5.3 percent in Osaka Prefecture and 5.2 percent in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The government is considering accepting more foreign workers under its growth strategy and reviewing on-the-job training programs for foreigners.
JDG comments: The number of NJ workers in Japan has hit record levels, apparently.
Now, when I saw this, I expected to read lots of stern warnings about the danger of NJ *infiltration* into Japan, but the article claims that this increase is due to the J-gov’s amazing efforts to attract NJ with ‘special skills’ (and, of course, because *our great leader’s* economic policy is a godsend).
But hang on! I thought that the scheme to attract 2000 ‘elite gaijin’ a year was pronounced a failure?
Upon further reading it seems that most of these ‘gaijin with special skills’ are from asia (mainly China) leading me to suspect that their ‘special skill’ is their preparedness to work for minimum wage. Also,the biggest number is in Tokyo. So I suspect that rather than Tokyo being over-run with Chinese millionaire stock-brokers, it could be more accurate to deduce that these Nj are doing all the KKK jobs that the Japanese think they are too good for- combini’s and waitressing.
Interestingly, because this is being touted as a symptom (sorry, I meant ‘result’) of Abe’s economic policy, it will now be difficult for the NPA to announce the next ‘gaijin crime-wave’. I predict that when Abe throws a sickie, such an announcement will come. JDG
COMMENT FROM DEBITO: Okay, there’s something fishy going on here. Check out this cover from Ekonomisuto of January 15, 2008, now more than six years ago, which puts the figure of NJ working in Japan at more than 930,000 (the すでに９３万人 in the subtitle after the yellow kanji) — a helluva lot more than the allegedly record-breaking 717,504 quoted in the article above.
I have the feeling that statistics somewhere are being kneaded for political ends (unsurprisingly), as JDG notes. We must show a recovery of sorts no matter what (ironically now pinning part of it on NJ workers in Japan), making Abenomics a bubble in thought as well as in economic stats. What a shame that JIJI seems to be parroting the ministerial line of calling it record-breaking without any research or critical thinking.
Meanwhile, I’m waiting for the more standardized statistics from the Ministry of Justice (not MHLW) which shows how many NJ are registered as LIVING in Japan. NJ do a lot more in Japan than just work, and the figure given for Brazilians in Japan (95,505) seems remarkably small compared to the hundreds of thousands that lived (or used to live) in Japan in previous years. If those new MOJ stats are out, somebody please feel free to track them down and repost (awfully busy at the moment). Thanks. ARUDOU, Debito
Bad Social Science, History, Immigration & Assimilation, Japanese Government, Labor issues, Media, 日本語
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With the NBA draft over, Louisville basketball alumni look overseas for pro careers
What's next for Louisville basketball's Christen Cunningham, Khwan Fore and Akoy Agau? The answers might lie overseas.
With the NBA draft over, Louisville basketball alumni look overseas for pro careers What's next for Louisville basketball's Christen Cunningham, Khwan Fore and Akoy Agau? The answers might lie overseas. Check out this story on courier-journal.com: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2019/06/25/louisville-basketball-where-recent-alumni-players-play-pro/1542042001/
Danielle Lerner, Louisville Courier Journal Published 6:58 a.m. ET June 25, 2019
Adam Eberhard is one of the all-time greats at Bellarmine and gets the chance to continue his career Dominique Yates, Louisville Courier Journal
The NBA draft came and went, and now Louisville basketball's three most recent alumni — Christen Cunningham, Khwan Fore and Akoy Agau — are looking to earn professional playing opportunities overseas.
After helping lead Louisville to a 2019 NCAA Tournament berth, Cunningham, Fore and Agau all graduated with master's degrees.
Now here comes the tough part: taking advantage of a shrinking window to join a pro team abroad before the next season.
Most leagues in Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean officially get underway in October, with preseason practices and competitions beginning as soon as August.
Since graduating in May, Fore has been back and forth between Louisville and Atlanta, where his family lives. He said his agent has reached out on his behalf to teams in countries including Belgium, Finland, Israel, Germany, Poland and Romania.
Related: Another former Bellarmine basketball star is headed to Germany
"We've just been sending my film out like crazy," Fore said. "There's been some interest from a few different teams and hopefully we can lock something down before the season starts."
Cunningham said his agent is helping him explore opportunities in Greece, Israel, Turkey and Poland. He recently spent three weeks in Houston working out with trainer John Lucas, a former NBA player and coach.
"It's just making sure my body is in tip-top shape so that I can hold up for the pro season," Cunningham said. "I have no idea where or when I'll get an opportunity, but I want to be ready. It's going to be a grind for sure."
More Cards: 'The future is bright': Summer workouts have Louisville feeling optimistic
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Earlier this month, Agau competed in a basketball tournament in Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands. The tournament featured a mix of European league players and former NCAA athletes.
Agau averaged 21 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as his team, which also included former Louisville walk-on Dillon Avare, went 4-0 en route to hoisting the championship trophy. Agau's performance could eventually help earn him a pro contract in basketball-crazed Spain. In the meantime, he's been training at Kobe Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.
A handful of former Cardinals have found success overseas either as a long-term career or as a stepping stone to the NBA.
Trey Lewis sandwiched three seasons in Europe in between NBA Summer League stints, and he'll be on the Portland Trailblazer's summer league roster this summer. Russ Smith is enjoying a burgeoning career in China while he works to get back to the NBA. Peyton Siva plays for a German club after time in Italy and the NBA G League. Chris Jones has played for teams in Turkey, Germany, France and Greece.
Also: Louisville's V.J. King signs NBA deal with the New York Knicks, report says
While there can be a lot of pressure to either jump straight to the NBA or sign a lucrative contract with a high-profile club, the bulk of pro opportunities don't fit neatly into those two categories.
Cunningham, Fore and Agau aren't putting all their eggs in one basket. Put quite simply, Fore said, "I just want to ball."
Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/daniellel.
Louisville football releases preseason depth chart for 2019 season
Louisville strength coach evaluates new players
Lamar Jackson's Madden 20 rating: Too high, too low or just right?
Morning Coffee: Hey, isn't that Lamar Jackson on 'Family Feud'?
The U of L freshmen completed a crazy trick shot in Chris Mack's pool
Where Kentucky ranks in this SEC football prediction
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DeVos offers urban revitalization plan
Amy Lane
Republican gubernatorial contender Dick DeVos on Friday said he would name an urban jobs director, stationed in Detroit, who would be a direct link between the governors office and urban centers.
The director would head a new urban jobs office that DeVos said he would establish, as part of an urban revitalization plan he laid out during a speech to the Highland Park Business Association.
The renaissance of Michigan will not be complete without the renaissance of our urban areas, DeVos said in a news release.
He called for raising the cap on charter schools and creating a post-high school program with community colleges and vocational training schools to help graduates identify skills and career paths.
DeVos said he would work to lower auto and car insurance costs, and ways he would achieve that include giving car owners a choice of unlimited medical coverage or a no-frills package, and reducing crime through measures like adding police officers.
The urban plan includes several steps previously announced, such as: Boosting entrepreneurial and small-business assistance; seeking a federal job-training block grant under which Michigan could design programs; and working toward a regional transit system.
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Pier 40 rescue plan had Bloomberg OK
Joe Anuta
The Hudson River Park Trust wants to embark on a $110 million restoration of the crumbling 14-acre Pier 40, at the western end of Houston Street..
Although several Manhattan lawmakers were shocked in May over revelations that a preliminary deal brokered by the state had been inked to sell air rights at Hudson River Park’s crumbling Pier 40, the Bloomberg administration had already sent a letter approving of the process in December, Crain’s has learned.
Seven days before the Bloomberg administration left office, then-Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert Steel sent a letter to the Empire State Development Corp. In it, he approved of a preliminary plan to transfer air rights from Pier 40 to a building across the street owned by Atlas Capital Group. His approval was conditional on the transfer's being carried out "consistent with city interests" and with input from stakeholders including local community boards and officials.
"This would complement our current work on the development rights transfer program," Mr. Steel wrote. "It could also provide, potentially, a faster path to generating new private investment for imminently needed Pier 40 repairs."
The deal was outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed by the state, the Hudson River Park Trust, which manages the park, and Atlas Capital. Crain's obtained that memo via a Freedom of Information Law request. Many elected officials, including Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and state Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan), learned about the proposed air-rights transfer deal in an article in The New York Times in May. The deal reportedly would have netted the trust $100 million. The article noted Ms. Glick and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) were aware of talks among the three parties, but that they never saw any actual agreement.
Selling the air rights from Pier 40 to Atlas Capital would require a change to the area's zoning laws, which currently prohibit transferring the development rights across the street.
Empire State Development issued a statement in June indicating that rather than changing those zoning laws through the state process known as a general project plan, which was the subject of the memo, it decided to go through the city's land-use process instead, at the request of the de Blasio administration.
"While the prior city administration supported our approach, the current one has asked us to work with them through an expedited [land-use process], which we support fully," the corporation said.
The trust and Atlas Capital declined to comment.
Modular madness grinds on in Brooklyn
Rift puts the brakes on Brooklyn project
Ridgewood ramps up its retailing
Bill Bratton insists 'no daylight' with mayor
Seniors left out of rent freeze could get help
Brooklyn is closing home price gap with Manhattan
Fast-growing tech firms max out on 'open' spaces
Pier 57 developer adds partner to build offices
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Water Reuse Policies for Potable Use
Cecilia Tortajada, Choon Nam Ong
Series: Routledge Special Issues on Water Policy and Governance
As water demand has increased globally and resources have become more limited because of physical scarcity, over-exploitation and pollution, it has been necessary to develop more options for water supplies. These options include the production at large scale of high-quality reused water from municipal sources for potable uses. Their economic, social and environmental benefits have been many as they have addressed supply scarcity, efficient resource use and environmental and public health considerations.
This book includes discussions on potable water reuse history; emerging contaminants and public health; public-private partnerships in the water reuse sector; regulatory frameworks for reused water in the United States and Europe; experiences in Australia, China in general and Beijing in particular, Singapore and Windhoek; narratives and public acceptance and perceptions of alternative water sources.
The main constraints on implementation of water reuse projects in different parts of the world seem to have been lack of full public support due to perceived health hazards and environmental impacts. A main handicap has been that governments and water utilities have been slow to understand public concerns and perceptions. After several backlashes, public information, communication and awareness campaigns, broader participation and educational programmes have become integral parts of development policy and decision-making frameworks.
Peter Joo Hee Ng
Asit K. Biswas
Cecilia Tortajada and Choon Nam Ong
Potable water reuse history and a new framework for decision making
Joseph A. Cotruvo
Water reuse, emerging contaminants and public health: state-of-the-art analysis
Choon Nam Ong
Public–private partnerships in the water reuse sector: a global assessment
David A. Lloyd Owen
The regulatory framework of reclaimed wastewater for potable reuse in the United States
Rosario Sanchez-Flores, Adam Conner and Ronald A. Kaiser
Common or independent? The debate over regulations and standards for water reuse in Europe
John Fawell, Kristell Le Corre and Paul Jeffrey
Policy issues confronting Australian urban water reuse
James Horne
Wastewater reuse in Beijing: an evolving hybrid system
Olivia Jensen and Xudong Yu
Singapore’s experience with reclaimed water: NEWater
Hannah Lee and Thai Pin Tan
Overcoming global water reuse barriers: the Windhoek experience
P. van Rensburg
A lived-experience investigation of narratives: recycled drinking water
Leong Ching
Public acceptance and perceptions of alternative water sources: a comparative study in nine locations
Anna Hurlimann and Sara Dolnicar
Cecilia Tortajada is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Choon Nam Ong is the Director of the NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI) and Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, both National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Harbor Area
Torrance to regulate yard sales in new year
Port automation OK'd
Torrance refinery worker killed
Carson's residential makeover
Walteria Lake
By Nick Green | ngreen@scng.com | Daily Breeze
PUBLISHED: December 26, 2017 at 6:00 am | UPDATED: December 26, 2017 at 1:23 pm
You know that household in the neighborhood that seems to hold a garage sale every other Saturday at 6:30 a.m.? With the early-birds descending even earlier than that? With their vehicles parked bumper to bumper for a block or two in every direction?
Well, that will become a thing of the past in Torrance in mid-January — at least theoretically.
The City Council last week formally adopted an ordinance regulating yard sales; it takes effect 30 days after that.
The ordinance limits homeowners to four yard sales per year, each lasting no more than two days and only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Multifamily residential properties may also hold no more than four such sales a year, but that’s for the entire property, not individual units.
Merchandise allowed to be sold is limited to “surplus household items.”
No food, consignment items or goods purchased specifically for resale may be sold.
Enforcement lacking
However, the City Council opted not to require a permit for a yard sale, meaning there is no enforcement mechanism.
That, observed Councilman Mike Griffiths, puts the onus on neighbors who see the too-frequent yard sales to complain.
“Someone has to complain in order to start the clock ticking,” he said. “Even if they’ve had five yard sale s in a year, but no complaints, not until the city receives that complaint does that actually start the count.
“The other problem I have with the whole thing that bothers me is there’s no (city code) compliance people out there on weekends anyway,” he added. “So how can we be enforcing any policies if there’s no-one out there to enforce them. It’s basically like a free for all on the weekends.”
Griffiths said the original intent of the ordinance was to require a permit and then the city would list all yard sales on its newly revamped website, as kind of handy one-stop service to residents.
“But apparently the city couldn’t figure out the permitting process,” he said.
Municipal officials haven’t spelled out exactly how residents will complain or what evidence is needed either.
But residents will presumably be reduced to spying on neighbors with smart phones and emailing date and time-stamped photos to enforcement officials. But an email address couldn’t immediately be provided by the person who answered the telephone in code compliance last week.
The telephone number of code enforcement is 310-618-2707.
Here’s why Torrance’s new $1.4 million splash pad keeps shutting down
Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo prepares to monitor a whole lot more space junk
Torrance’s Wilson Park hid an ocean of creatures
Lyft passenger fatally shot in Lawndale after driver drops him off
Torrance Refinery worker dies after heavy object falls on him
South Bay History: Millie Riera’s Seafood Grotto served diners in Redondo Beach for more than half a century
Suds and sustenance: Snap Tin Eatery in Torrance specializes in beer-infused British food
Caltech grads Davies and Grantz top runners over 26-mile course
Veteran journalist Nick Green is the beat reporter for the cities of Torrance, Carson and Lomita and also covers the South Bay's rapidly growing craft beer industry for the Daily Breeze. He has worked for newspapers on the West Coast since graduating in 1987 from the University of Washington and lives in Old Torrance with his wife and two cats. Follow him on Twitter @NickGreen007 and @BeerGogglesLA.
Follow Nick Green @NickGreen007
Task force formed to relocate homeless encampments at risk of fire and flood in LA County
Daily Breeze: Contact us
PV Peninsula News
The Beach Reporter
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The Phil-Good Factor! Hammond's £100 BILLION giveaway as he slashes income tax for 30 million workers and pledges billions for NHS, defence and benefits reforms (so where IS the money coming from, Phil?)
Chancellor Philip Hammond has unveiled potentially his last Budget before Britain leaves the European Union
Mr Hammond dramatically turned on spending taps with more money for NHS, mental health and defence
Some 32 million workers in line for a tax cut after he sped up moves to increase basic and higher thresholds
He was given wriggle room by higher tax receipts and a digital tax but might not meet deficit target in 2025
By James Tapsfield, Political Editor, For Mailonline and Tim Sculthorpe, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline and Kate Ferguson, Senior Political Correspondent For Mailonline
Published: 07:42 EDT, 29 October 2018 | Updated: 04:02 EDT, 30 October 2018
Philip Hammond mounted a bold raid on Amazon and Facebook and handed tax cuts to millions of workers today as he delivered what could be the last Budget before Britain leaves the EU.
The Chancellor said he would raise hundreds of millions of pounds a year by hitting web giants - who have been accused of failing to pay their fair share - with a levy based on revenues.
But the scale of the new levy was dwarfed by the huge spending splurge unveiled in the package, totalling an eye-watering £100billion over the next five years.
Billions of pounds will be pumped into the NHS, social care, mental health and defence, while the troubled Universal Credit benefits reforms will be bailed out with another £1billion of 'transitional' protections and £1.7billion in improved work allowances - effectively reversing cuts previously imposed by George Osborne.
Increases to tax thresholds will be raised faster than previously promised - saving around 32 million workers up to £860 a year each.
Mr Hammond said the giveaways were possible due to the 'tough decisions' the government had made over the past eight years - which had brought better growth forecasts and lower borrowing.
'Their hard work is finally paying off and the era of austerity is finally coming to an end,' he insisted.
But the Chancellor appears to have all-but abandoned his goal of getting the public finances into the black by 2025, in favour of turning on the spending taps.
The Chancellor has already warned that this dramatic giveaway Budget assumes that there will be a Brexit deal - hinting that a collapse in the knife-edge negotiations with Brussels could undermine plans to draw a line under austerity.
He said this afternoon he was 'confident' there will be a deal, suggesting it would bring a 'double dividend' from better growth and enabling him to free up the Brexit warchest.
But he revealed he is increasing spending on preparations for no-deal from £1.5billion to £2billion next year, and said if there is no settlement with the EU he is ready to 'upgrade' the Spring Statement to a full Budget.
Mr Hammond also won cheers from MPs for announcing the end of controversial PFI projects - saying he had never signed off such a scheme and 'never will'.
The Chancellor said he was safeguarding 'Britain's future' and helping the 'strivers' as he told the House of Commons he will pump more money into the NHS, social care, mental health and the armed forces
The House of Commons was packed to the rafters to hear the Chancellor deliver his pre-Brexit Budget this afternoon
Philip Hammond posed with the famous red box outside No11 Downing Street today before delivering his Budget speech
Justine Greening hints at tilt for the Tory leadership if... Philip Hammond is to unveil a special 50p Brexit coin... Philip Hammond is set to pledge £60million for planting of...
Unusually, the Budget took place on a Monday afternoon rather than the traditional Wednesday - with Mr Hammond joking that he was keen to avoid headlines about it happening on Halloween.
Among the measures announced by Mr Hammond today were:
The personal allowance will hit the Tory manifesto target of £12,500 a year and the higher rate £50,000 in 2019 - a year earlier than planned.
A rescue package to salvage the Government's flagship Universal Credit welfare reform will see an extra £1billion of transitional protections, and £1.7billion for increased work allowances;
A £30billion upgrade for England's motorways and other major routes paid for by road tax;
Fuel duty will be frozen for the ninth year in a row saving drivers and businesses millions of pounds, and there will be a £420million fund to tackle potholes;
Around £800million extra for social care amid warnings that cuts to the system have left it on its knees;
A billion pounds to bail out the Armed Forces this year and next following fury from Tory MPs about the threat of cuts to capabilities;
A £1.5billion bailout for the High Street that includes slashing business rates for independent retailers;
A £60million pledge to plant more trees to help preserve the country's environment;
Some £160million for counter-terror policing amid claims Scotland Yard is struggling to keep pace with the threat from extremists;
Plans to move people trapped on 'payday loans' to zero-interest Government loans;
Schools in England will be handed £400 million, an average of 10,000 per primary school and £50,000 for secondary schools;
A review into whether marriage licensing rules should be relaxed so ceremonies can take place in pubs and outdoors;
Duty on beer, cider and spirits have been frozen in the financial set-piece - although wine will go up;
The living wage will increase by 4.9 per cent to £8.21.
There had been speculation that Mr Hammond was penned in after the PM promised to inject £25billion extra into the NHS by 2023.
But he was given wriggle room thanks to better-than-expected tax receipts - particularly from corporation tax - lower borrowing, and lower unemployment, which staved off the need for mooted tax hikes such as curbs on pension reliefs.
How could Hammond spend £100bn without breaking the bank?
Philip Hammond looked to be seriously hemmed in as he prepared to deliver his Budget.
But the Chancellor was given wriggle room thanks to better-than-expected tax receipts - particularly from corporation tax - lower borrowing, and lower unemployment, which staved off the need for mooted tax hikes such as curbs on pension reliefs.
North Sea oil income has also risen sharply thanks to higher prices on the global markets.
Alongside the 'digital tax', Mr Hammond also raised around a billion a year from closing tax loopholes for contractors, while restricting employment allowance National Insurance reliefs for larger business will bring in up to £320million a year more.
Meanwhile, the nine-month delay to the rollout of Universal Credit eased the pressure by £2billion over the five-year Budget forecast period - although that was ploughed straight back into bailing out the troubled scheme.
Measures to clamp down on tax avoidance, evasion, and unfair outcomes are expected to raise another £2billion over the next five years.
To appease demands for an end to austerity, the Chancellor chose to spend the entirety of his windfall instead of ensuring he meets his pledge to wipe out the deficit by the middle of the 2020s.
Increasing the personal allowance a year early costs the Treasury around nine billion pounds over five years, while the NHS will be getting more than £27billion extra annually by 2023-24.
As a result, the OBR said the government will still be in the red by £19.8billion in 2023-24, whereas it could have been £billion in the black if Mr Hammond had not loosened the purse strings.
Mr Hammond said the OBR was estimating that growth would be 1.6 per cent next year, up from 1.3 per cent in the spring statement. The figure for 2020 is up to 1.4 per cent from 1.3 per cent, while it is unchanged at 1.4 per cent in 2021 and 2022.
He said the settlement for departments had been negative in recent spending rounds but next year it would average 1.2 per cent - and could be higher.
'When our EU negotiations deliver a deal, as I am confident they will… I expect that the 'deal dividend' will allow us to provide further funding for the Spending Review,' he said.
On the issue of austerity, Mr Hammond said the country had reached a 'defining moment on this, long, hard journey' as it built a 'new future' outside the EU.
'I can report to the British people that their hard work is paying of, and the era of austerity finally coming to an end,' he said.
Setting out the digital tax plans, Mr Hammond said progress towards an international pact had been 'painfully slow'.
'We cannot simply talk forever. So we will now introduce a UK Digital Services Tax,' he said.
'This will be a narrowly-targeted tax on the UK-generated revenues of specific digital platform business models.
'It will be carefully designed to ensure it is established tech giants – rather than our tech start-ups - that shoulder the burden of this new tax.'
Mr Hammond was congratulated by Mrs May (right) and Treasury minister Liz Truss (left) as he sat down after his speech
Theresa May seemed in good spirits as she left Downing Street this afternoon ahead of the Chancellor's Budget in the House of Commons
The Chancellor has been given some wriggle room with his deficit targets thanks to better-than-expected tax receipts
The Chancellor said in his Budget that growth had been upgraded marginally by the Office for Budget Responsibility
The Chancellor is treading a fine line between ending nearly a decade of austerity and keeping the deficit under control
Mr Hammond also lined up alongside his Treasury team as they posed for the cameras before the Budget kicked off
The Chancellor stressed that the charge, due to come into effect in April 2020, would not be added to the cost of online sales for consumers. He said it would only affect firms with global revenues of more than £500million a year.
He confirmed that the first stage of the NHS long-term plan will be to help achieve 'parity of esteem' between mental and physical health services.
Mr Hammond argued that pumping £2billion a year into improving access to support will relieve pressure on other frontline services, such as the police that help people with mental health issues every day and sometimes have to use police station cells.
What was announced in Philip Hammond's Budget?
Here are some of the spending pledges announced in Philip Hammond's 2018 Budget:
An extra £25billion-a -year will be pumped into the NHS by 2023.
It includes a £2bn a year mental health fund to pay for every A&E and school to get a mental health unit.
Brexit:
An extra £500million will be pumped into planning for a no deal Brexit - rising the total from £1.5bn to £2bn. Mr Hammond also said the Spring Statement next year could be turned into a full Budget if there is a no deal Brexit.
Broadband:
A £250million fund to install super-fast broadband across Britain's countryside
Business rates will be cut by nearly a third for half a million small retailers ans ministers try to save Britain's high streets.
England's roads will get an extra £28.8billion, while a pothole fund of £420 million will be set up and fuel duty will be frozen for the ninth year in a row.
The Chancellor announced that PFI will be scrapped as he puts an end to Labour 's legacy
The Treasury is giving a one off £400m payment to schools to help them buy equipment. This amounts to £10,000 for every primary and £50,000 for every secondary.
Defence:
The MoD will get an extra £1bn to help Britain's Armed Forces following dire warnings over a £20bn blackhole in their finances over the next decade.
The Environment:
Britain will splash out £60million on planting 10 million trees across England.
The self-employed will have to pay national insurance contributions for the first time. The tax raid will prove unpopular with white van men, but could bring in £1.2bn year by 2023.
Cutting red tape:
Weddings will be allowed to take place in pubs, hotels and restaurants as Philip Hammond slashes red rape.
The extra cash will help pay for the provision of round-the-clock 'comprehensive' mental health support in every major accident and emergency department, ensuring anyone experiencing a crisis can get rapid specialist help.
Officials say it will be backed up with more mental health ambulances and the establishment of dedicated mental health teams in schools, linking them to other support services.
When Mrs May announced the extra funding for the NHS, she suggested taxpayers will need to contribute a 'bit more' to pay for it. However ministers have yet to say exactly where the money will come from.
Mr Hammond was handed a windfall of £13billion due to better-than-expected borrowing figures, easing some of the pressure to put up taxes.
Delivering a vicious swipe at PFI schemes - which have been condemned as too costly and still leaving the taxpayer bearing the risk - Mr Hammond said:
'I remain committed to the use of public-private partnership where it delivers value for the taxpayer and genuinely transfers risk to the private sector. But there is compelling evidence that the Private Finance Initiative does neither,' he said.
'We will honour existing contracts. But the days of the public sector being a pushover, must end. We will establish a centre of excellence to actively manage these contracts in the taxpayers' interest starting in the health sector. And we will go further. I have never signed off a PFI contract as Chancellor and I can confirm today that I never will. I can announce that the Government will abolish the use of PFI and PF2 for future projects.'
Mr Hammond said from next April people would be able earn £12,500 a year tax-free and will not pay 40 per cent tax until they earn more than £50,000.
Those earning £12,500 will save £130 a year compared to their current income tax bill thanks to the rise in the personal allowance.
A far bigger saving will arrive for those earning £50,000, who will keep an extra £860 compared to their current income tax bill.
Treasury sources said the health funding injection stood regardless of the Brexit situation - but hinted that departments could have to make do with less if there is no agreement.
Mr Hammond said yesterday that the government would have to 'wait and see what the situation was' on ending austerity if there is no Brexit deal.
But Downing Street slapped down the Chancellor today, making clear the spending commitments in the Budget stood whether or not there is agreement with the EU.
The Office for Budget Responsibility said in March that there was £15billion 'headroom' in the government's plans which could be deployed.
'What the Chancellor was pointing out in relation to a budget was that if economic circumstances change, he would consider economic interventions. That's what you would expect any sensible Chancellor to do,' the spokesman said.
'All of the spending commitments that the Chancellor will set out today are funded irrespective of a deal.
'What the Chancellor said yesterday was that he would use the fiscal reserves that we have built up through hard work and sound economic management to ensure that Britain will succeed whatever the circumstances.
'The Chancellor has spoken on numerous occasions about having maintained what he would describe as 'fiscal firepower' which he will be able to use in the event of a no-deal scenario.'
The DUP's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson today delivered another warning that it could withdraw support from the Budget measures if Mrs May caves into the EU.
The party's 10 MPs are propping the PM up in power, and Mr Wilson said while it would not vote against the Budget this week it could target the Finance Bill later.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn labelled Mr Hammond's statement a 'broken promise Budget'.
He told MPs: 'Whatever the Chancellor claims today, austerity is not over.'
Mr Hammond unveiled the latest forecasts for the national debt, which is falling from a peak after the credit crunch
Mr Hammond heaped praise on the British 'jobs miracle' today as he made his statement to the House of Commons today
Fuel duty will be frozen by the Chancellor for the ninth year in a row, saving drivers and businesses millions of pounds
Tech firms 'could slash investment in Britain over Hammond's digital tax'
Tech firms could slash investment in Britain if Philip Hammond imposes his new 'digital tax' on giants like Amazon and Facebook, industry leaders today warned.
The Chancellor today revealed the UK is set to be one of the first countries in the world to bring in the new levy to make sure tech giants pay more taxes.
He said he would have preferred a 'global agreement' but has decided to 'go it alone' in taxing companies like Google on their advertising revenue.
But the plan was blasted by the digital industry, with industry leaders warning that firms could pull their investment just when Britain's economy is already facing Brexit uncertainty.
Julian David, said, chief executive of techUK, which represents digital companies, said it 'risks undermining the UK's reputation as the best place to start a tech business or to invest'.
Philip Hammond smacked online giants like Amazon (file) with a new digital tax today in a bid to make sure tech giants pay a fair share of corporate taxes
Extra £1billion is pledged to Universal Credit to make controversial reform work
Philip Hammond today ploughed an extra £1billion into Universal Credit to make the controversial welfare reform work.
The Chancellor said he had listened to critics on his own side and was making sure existing welfare claimants would not lose out when they are moved onto the new benefit.
Mr Hammond also announced he would reverse cuts made by George Osborne when he was Chancellor to the work allowance part of the benefit - costing £1.7billion a year in 2023.
Mr Hammond said: 'Today I can go further with a package of measures worth a £1billion over 5 years enabling the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to introduce additional protections as existing welfare claimants move onto Universal Credit and she will announce details when she introduces the Managed Migration Regulations later this year.
'Secondly, I have heard the concerns about the rates and allowances within the design of the system. In my first Autumn Statement I reduced the Universal Credit taper rate from 65% to 63%.
'And today I can tell the House I am increasing work allowances in Universal Credit by £1,000 per annum at a cost of £1.7bn annually once roll-out is complete benefitting 2.4 million working-families-with-children and people with disabilities by £630 per year.'
Tax-free earnings will rise to £12,500 and 40 per cent bracket to £50,000
Mr Hammond boosted the tax-free allowances in the Budget
Britain's workers got a shot in the arm in today's Budget, as the Chancellor said he would cut income tax by raising thresholds a year early.
From next April people will be able earn £12,500 a year tax-free and will not pay 40 per cent tax until they earn more than £50,000.
The announcement pulls forward the Tories' manifesto pledge to raise the thresholds from 2020 and the Government says it will cut taxes for 32million people.
In the build-up to the Budget it had been rumoured that Chancellor Philip Hammond would row back on the promise and freeze the rise in the tax thresholds in order to fund extra spending on the NHS.
Yet, in a final announcement in his Budget statement he pulled a rabbit from the hat and said that he would instead deliver the tax cut early – at the start of the next tax year in April 2019.
Mr Hammond said: 'My idea of ending austerity does not involve increasing people's tax bills'.
Duty on booze is FROZEN in a move that will save 2p on a pint of beer
Duty on beer, cider and spirits is to be frozen for a year, the Chancellor has announced
Beer and cider drinkers may raise a glass to Philip Hammond tonight after he froze duty on both drinks in his budget.
But wine-lovers will be less impressed with the Chancellor after he announced duties on bottles of red and white will increase with inflation. Treasury sources insisted Mr Hammond prioritised the most popular drinks sold in pubs.
Spirits will escape increases, with the duty on a bottle of Scotch or gin also frozen compared to the inflation assumption in the OBR forecast.
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: 'Pub-goers across the UK will be toasting the Chancellor tonight following his decision to freeze beer duty.
'This early Christmas present will save brewers, pubs and pub-goers £110 million and secure upwards of 3,000 jobs that would have been lost had beer duty gone up.'
If the duties had risen with inflation, drinkers would have seen 2p added to the cost of a pint of beer, 1p on a pint of cider and 30p on a bottle of whisky, but the duty will remain the same.
Tobacco duty will however continue to rise at inflation plus 2%.
Hammond declares war on POTHOLES after 'scorching summer' hit the roads
The Chancellor has vowed to pump cash into the country's major highways, which have fallen into a state of disrepair after a 'scorching summer and harsh winter'
Philip Hammond declared war on potholes today as he promised an extra £30billion for England's roads.
The Chancellor has vowed to pump cash into the country's major highways, which have fallen into a state of disrepair after a 'scorching summer and harsh winter'.
The pledge, unveiled in today's Budget, makes good on a promise made by the ex Tory Chancellor George Osborne to find the extra cash for roads.
It is the single biggest cash injection in the country's largest roads and will be paid for by money raised from Vehicle Excise Duty.
This will be the first time ever that 'road tax' raised in England will only be spent on roads.
Some £28.8bn will be spent on strategically important roads, such as Highways England motorways and major local routes.
While an extra £420 million will be given to councils so they can fix potholes, repair damaged roads and keeping bridges safe and open.
Another £150m will be pumped into improving local junctions, allowing better access to places were people work and England's high streets.
Philip Hammond unveils an extra £160million in Budget to fight terrorism
An extra £160million is to be ploughed into anti-terror policing after today's budget
An extra £160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain's police fight the growing threat of terrorism.
It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists.
Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem.
The extra money announced today is said to be the equivalent of 1,000 extra officers.
The new fund is being pushed as a signal that 'austerity' policies are finished and the government is again investing in public services.
Police officer numbers have fallen by 21,000 since 2010, prompting a series of warnings by top police officers that continued squeezing of budgets will have an impact of levels of crime.
Police and MI5 are mounting a record 700-plus live terrorism investigations.
There are around 3,000 active 'subjects of interest', plus a wider pool of more than 20,000 individuals who have previously featured in inquiries.
While activity inspired by Islamic State or al-Qaida accounts for the largest share of the counter-terror work, agencies are also confronting a mounting far-right threat.
Britain's military to get an extra £1billion after warnings of Tory MP revolt
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured yesterday talking to female troops in Salisbury last week) has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain's Armed Forces
Philip Hammond today confirmed an extra £1billion for the military after Tory anger erupted over cuts to Britain's Armed Forces.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain's Armed Forces.
And dozens of Tory MPs had issued dark warnings that they could rebel against today's Budget unless extra funding was found.
Mr Hammond told the Commons today that the extra cash will boost cyber capabilities and anti-submarine warfare capacity and maintain the pace of the Dreadnought programme.
The clamour for more cash for the Ministry of Defence came after a damning report exposed a £20bn blackhole in the department's finances over the next decade.
Mr Hammond has come under to find the extra money after a major report by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of the huge shortfall in the MoD's funding plan.
Fuel duty frozen for ninth year: Motorists will save £1.20 every time they fill up
Motorists will save around £1.20 on every tank by the cancellation of the latest 2p a litre on petrol and diesel (file image)
Fuel duty will be frozen again for the ninth year in a row, Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed in his Budget today.
The policy was announced by Theresa May at the Tory conference in Birmingham earlier this month, tightening further Mr Hammond's room for manoeuvre.
Motorists will save around £1.20 on every tank by the cancellation of the latest 2p a litre on petrol and diesel.
Announcing the new move today, Mr Hammond said motorists had now saved £1,000 since 2010.
There had been speculation the near decade long freeze could be axed as it has cost the Treasury billions in revenue planned under a fuel duty 'escalator' designed under Gordon Brown to help the environment.
Mr Hammond has previously hinted at continuing the freeze but warned the policy would cost the Treasury £38bn over the next three years, which he admitted was 'twice as much as we spend on all NHS nurses and doctors each year'.
However, the freeze has been seen as an iconic symbol of blue-collar Conservatism since its introduction by George Osborne in 2010.
The Chancellor must keep Tory rebels onside through the difficult process of winning parliamentary support for the Chequers Brexit deal - as well as for potential tax rises he has also suggested he needs to make to fund the NHS.
New digital shopping tax will boost the high street but shops MUST adapt to the internet age, Hammond says
High streets will be boosted by a new fund today as online shops face higher taxes, the Chancellor will announce
Britain's love for online shopping means high streets will need to become smaller with fewer stores and more bars and restaurants, Philip Hammond will confirm today.
In today's Budget, the Chancellor set out a timetable for bringing in a digital tax so internet giants pay their fair share.
He also announced a £650million Future High Streets Fund that will help town centres adapt, as well as a £900million business rates cut for independent retailers.
But Mr Hammond – who admitted being an Amazon shopper – told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday yesterday: 'The British have taken to online shopping like no other nation on earth. Our high streets have to change.
'We've got to help the high street to evolve and the high street of the future will have fewer retail outlets and more leisure destinations, more food and drink outlets.
'I expect the high streets of the future will be smaller with more of the areas around them redeveloped as housing.'
The Brexit 50p! New coin available when Britain leaves the EU on March 29th
Philip Hammond has unveiled a commemorative Brexit 50p coin to mark Britain's departure from the EU.
The coin will be available from March 29, 2019 at 11pm - the day the UK leaves the EU - and is expected to carry the words 'Friendship With All Nations'.
The Brexit coin will be available from March 29, 2019 at 11pm - the day the UK leaves the EU - and is expected to carry the words 'Friendship With All Nations'
The coin has to be personally signed off by the Queen, as it will bear her head, and is reportedly a bid to win over pro-Brexit MPs who have accused the Chancellor of being pessimistic over Brexit.
In 2016, the Royal Mint produced one-off coins featuring the much-loved Beatrix Potter character Peter Rabbit which sold on eBay for more than £20.
Every school will have a mental health specialist to help pupils struggling with depression and eating disorders
Schools will also get new dedicated teams to support pupils with mild and moderate mental health problems, the Chancellor will announce today
Every school in Britain will get a mental health support worker to help pupils suffering from depression, self-harm and eating disorders, Philip Hammond revealed today.
The Chancellor announced in the Budget that at least one tenth of the £20 billion-a-year extra funding promised for the NHS will go to improving mental health services.
He will say the £2 billion-plus annual boost will help deliver a commitment to give patients suffering from mental health conditions the same level of care as those with physical ailments.
The extra cash will help pay for the provision of round-the-clock 'comprehensive' mental health support in every major accident and emergency department, ensuring anyone experiencing a crisis can get rapid specialist help. Officials say it will be backed up with more mental health ambulances and the establishment of dedicated mental health teams in schools, linking them to other support services.
More people will also be able to access mental health services at community drop-in centres so they do not need to go to A&E. The NHS will increase the number of 'crisis cafes', which offer out-of-hours support in the evenings and at weekends.
Specialist crisis teams for children and younger people will be established across the country to build links between schools, social services and young people's mental health services.
Schools will also get new dedicated teams to support pupils with mild and moderate mental health problems.
Hammond will ABOLISH the use of PFI contracts in wake Carillion collapse
Philip Hammond today announced hat he is abolishing PFI (private finance initiative) contracts as he vowed to put another botched 'Labour legacy behind us'.
The Chancellor said that he will never sign one of the controversial contracts while he is in Government.
His announcement comes just months after the collapse of Carillion - which had PFI contracts all over the country - earlier this year.
The collapse of the outsourcing giant resulted in 1,000 redundancies and left a question mark over many projects.
Mr Hammond announced an end to the controversial PFI programmes - which were massively rolled out under New Labour - in today's Budget.
He told MPs in the Commons: 'Half of the UK's £600 billion infrastructure pipeline will be built and financed by the private sector.
The announcement comes just months after the collapse of Carillion - which had PFI contracts all over the country - earlier this year (pictured, a Carillion site)
'And in financing public infrastructure I remain committed to the use of public-private partnership where it delivers value for the taxpayer and genuinely transfers risk to the private sector.
'But there is compelling evidence that the Private Finance Initiative does neither.
'We will honour existing contracts. But the days of the public sector being a pushover, must end.
'We will establish a centre of excellence to actively manage these contracts in the taxpayers' interest starting in the health sector.
'And we will go further. I have never signed off a PFI contract as Chancellor and I can confirm today that I never will.'
The only news that didn't leak! Chancellor resorts to toilet humour in Budget
Philip Hammond delivered a string of toilet gags to the Commons while unveiling business rates relief on public loos during today's Budget.
The Chancellor provoked laughter and groans in equal measure as he reeled off the sequence, which ended in the catch line, 'This is the only news that didn't leak.'
Local authorities will now be forced not to charge business rates on any toilets made available for public use, whether publicly or privately owned.
Mr Hammond said: 'Local authorities have long been able to provide discretionary business rates relief to other bodies but not to themselves.
'Following representations from my honourable friends for North Cornwall and St Austell and Newquay, I am pleased to provide a new mandatory business rates relief for public lavatories, so that local authorities can at last relieve themselves for the convenience of the house, Mr Deputy Speaker.
'And without wishing to get unduly bogged down on this subject, this relief... (well at least I'm demonstrating that we are all British) will extend to any such facilities made available for public use whether privately or publicly owned.
'And honestly I can say, Mr Deputy Speaker, that this is basically the only item in this Budget that hasn't leaked.'
'Flying soldier' appears at Bastille Day parade gliding at 118mph
CASE STUDY: 'Everything helps and when you're trying to save,' says driver Laura Sears, 28
As A young professional, Laura Sears tries to save her money for a deposit on a house, so knowing she will not be punished at the fuel pumps is one less thing to worry about.
Laura, who drives a diesel Vauxhall Astra, is grateful for the fuel duty freeze for the ninth consecutive year.
The 28-year-old said: 'Everything helps and when you're trying to save, extra penny-pinching anywhere is useful.'
Fast lane: Laura Sears from Essex (pictured with her car) is grateful for the fuel duty freeze in this year's Budget
Although Laura, who works in public relations, does not generally do a lot of motorway driving, she does use her car regularly to drive to the shops and elsewhere in the nearby towns of Hornchurch and Lakeside, which are both close to her parents' home in Essex.
Although her area is generally very well-looked after, Laura is 'very pleased' that drivers all round the country will hopefully endure less bumpy rides after extra cash is diverted towards mending potholes.
Laura hopes to use any money she saves to move out of her parents' house soon, but still will not be able to afford to live in London, where she works.
CASE STUDY: 'We could have a £3,000 drop in business rates,' says Butcher Stewart Hayman
Since Stewart Hayman took over the family business with his father Clive in 1980, he has tried to keep the butcher's shop relevant.
But despite his efforts to diversify by baking pies, curing meats and making ready meals, gradually rising business rates have threatened to push Hayman's Butchers off the high street.
Although they do not have to pay rent on the building in Sidmouth, Devon, because his grandfather bought it outright in 1907, his business rates are £12,000 a year.
Mr Hayman said: 'There's no doubt about it, business rates have continued to creep up. The trouble is you've got to cope.
Fare deal: Butcher Stewart Hayman, from Devon, is pictured with his award-winning pies on Church Street in Sidmouth
'In the last 12 to 14 months our trade has also dropped back at the same time. I had to lay-off a part- time lady earlier this year who had been working with us for 20 years. She was retiring age but you know, we had to make some savings somewhere.' But following the business rates announcement he believes the high street and independent shops will have a chance to prosper again.
He said: 'I'm very pleased with the budget. We could have a £3,000 drop in business rates.
'The thing is with business rates, it bears no relation to your gross margin or your net margin, so even if the business wasn't earning anything you're still asked to pay. It's hard.
'I really think this will take pressure off the high street again and the pressure of the supermarkets will ease a bit, too.'
'I want to be rewarded for my work not punished for it', says Universal Credit single mother Thea Jaffe, 33
Thea Jaffe, 33, juggles two part-time teaching jobs and relies on housing and child benefit to keep herself afloat.
The single mother pays £1,200 a month in rent and £550 in nursery fees for her son Moses, three.
Although she works five days a week, she believes her efforts to earn a reasonable living are often futile because when she gets a bonus at work, her benefits are quickly taken away from her.
Currently, she gets £350 housing benefit which she receives every two weeks, £80 in child benefit a month, and a £500 government contribution to her son's nursery fees.
Miss Jaffe, from north London, said: 'Under the current system, it really hurts me that whenever I get a pay rise I get fewer benefits.
'It's so demoralising to feel like you're on a hamster wheel getting nowhere. I would love a situation where I could be rewarded for my work rather than being punished for it.'
Reward for work: Thea Jaffe, from north London, is pictured with her son Moses. She is hopeful Universal Credit changes will improve her disposable income as a single mother
Budget 2018: Hammond to pump billions into NHS, social care and defence
He should be more worried about Idiot May about to...
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Revealed: Doctor says Russian man 'in bear attack' was actually Kazakhstani suffering from severe psoriasis
By Will Stewart and Danyal Hussain For Mailonline 08:31 26 Jun 2019, updated 12:11 09 Jul 2019
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT
UPDATE: Latest report reveals that the man suffers from chronic psoriasis and was never mauled by a bear
A Russian man looking like a living corpse has been rescued from a bear den after he claims the animal broke his back and left him there for a month.
The man, who identified himself only as Alexander, was discovered by hunting dogs in Russia's remote Tuva region, close to the border with Mongolia, local media says.
Initially the hunters thought the body had been mummified by the dry air but were stunned to discover that the man was still alive.
Shocking video shows how Alexander's face and body were encrusted with dried blood and dirt, his was skin a deathly white colour, and his dull eyes were barely able to open.
A Russian man, who only gave his named as Alexander, was found alive inside a brown bear den in eastern Russia along the border with Mongolia
The man was discovered in the den by hunting dogs
The man's torso
At one point medics speaking Russian - rather than the local Tuvan language - ask the man his name, prompting him to open his eyes and reply 'Alexander'.
Medics say he can move his arms, barely open his eyes, and speak - but is otherwise immobile and exhausted.
How brown bears hide their prey
The brown bear is one of the world's most common bear species and is found across a wide range, stretching from central and eastern Europe right across Russia and into Alaska, Canada, and parts of North America.
The bears will hunt and eat almost anything that carries a scent, feeding on leaves, fruit, roots, fish and other land animals which they hunt themselves or find as carrion.
Bears have been known to bury their prey for later consumption, which researcher theorise is to hide it from other predators and to allow it to decompose, making it easier to eat.
Brown bear dens are used primarily for hibernation, with the animals either building one by digging out vast quantities of earth or else making use of natural caves.
For a time they were not considered true hibernators, since their body temperature only drops slightly during the winter periods. It is thought this is so they can react quickly to threats, unlike other species such as chipmunks which require time to warm up before they can move properly.
It is not clear exactly when Alexander was found, but he has told doctors the attack happened roughly a month ago.
Brown bears have been known to partially or completely bury animals they kill or carrion they find, sometimes waiting for days or weeks before returning to it.
Ivan V. Seryodkin, of the Russian academy of sciences, has theorised that they do this to keep prey hidden from other scavengers while the meat decomposes and becomes 'ripe', making it easier for them to eat.
Alexander said that he drank his own urine to stay alive while fearing that the bear could come back at any moment to finish him off.
Doctors said it was a 'miracle' that he wasn't killed, and admit that they aren't sure how he was able to survive for so long.
He was only discovered after a group of hunters passed the cave and their dogs ran inside before refusing to move on.
The hunters checked inside the lair and saw what they believed was a human mummy - until they realised Alexander was alive.
Local reports said that the man remembers his first name but not his surname or age.
A hospital video shows the bearded man opening his blue eyes and confirming his first name.
He was described as having 'severe injuries and rotting tissue' from lying motionless for so long in the den.
'Local medics say they cannot explain how the man survived such injuries,' said the report.
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Alexander's body
Alexander's legs
The exact location where he was found has not been revealed, nor the name of the hospital where he was treated.
He was spoken to by medical staff in Russian rather than the local Tuvan language.
A spokesman at the health ministry in Tuva Republic, a region in southern Siberia, told EAST2WEST NEWS today: 'We cannot confirm the case happened in Tuva.
'It was not registered by the Ministry of Health, the Emergencies Ministry or any other official body (in the region).
'Most probably, it happened somewhere outside Tuva.'
Speech in the background in the video appears not to be local language Tuvan.
The shocking story has drawn comparisons to Leonardo Di Caprio's Oscar-winning role in the Revenant, where his character survives a brutal bear attack.
The Tuva region is favoured by Vladimir Putin for vacations.
Alexander said that the large animal had overpowered him and saved him as food for later
Alexander suffered a broken spine in a fight with the bear with doctors stunned that he was still alive
Since publication of this story, doubts arose as to whether the man had been attacked by a bear, which were confirmed when a doctor from Kazakhstan came forward to say the man was his patient, and had in fact been suffering from a severe form of psoriasis.
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SHAGHAF smart phone applications transform curriculum into stories, 3D games - Daily News Egypt
Business SHAGHAF smart phone applications transform curriculum into stories, 3D games
SHAGHAF smart phone applications transform curriculum into stories, 3D games
We hope to involve 20,000 students in our application over the next year, says founder
Mohamed Alaa El-Din April 13, 2016 Be the first to comment
SHAGHAF provides smart phone applications to help school students to understand learning materials in a creative way. The company’s premise is blending education with entertainment so that students can absorb learning materials in a simple way, said Ayman Abou El Magd, founder and CEO of the company.
The company launched an application called Eltakhta by which the curriculum is transformed into educational, interactive 3D games. The student must direct their phone camera to the image in their textbook to turn it into an interactive image, instead of the traditional, static method of learning through textbooks, he added.
For example, when a student is learning about the solar system, the components will appear on screen in 3D by using the phone camera with the application.
The curriculum can also be transformed into stories via videos in the application, in this way learning materials are converted into an interactive game that sticks in the student’s mind.
The company has begun providing these features for some middle school curriculum lessons. El Magd said he received requests from many users to carry out these methods on elementary and high school curriculums.
Eltakhta has five educational applications, including turning textbook photos and pictures into 3D animations, reviewing the curriculum, showing pictures of geographic areas that students are learning about, and mock exams.
The application has 2,000 users so far and the company targets to increase this to 20,000 users over the next year. El Magd is hoping to acquire 20% of private school students as users, which accounts for 100,000 students annually.
Adequate funding is one of the major challenges facing the company, in addition to technologically integrating all the educational programmes into one application.
“We are studying the availability of our educational services, not just those via the application, through the company website. Negotiations are ongoing with investors to attract investments into the company,” El Magd said.
According to El Magd, the company plans to achieve revenue through the payment of a monthly subscription by users in cooperation with private and international schools, or through social responsibility programmes that are directed to education.
Mohamed Alaa El-Din
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https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/04/13/shaghaf-smart-phone-applications-transform-curriculum-stories-3d-games/
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Entertainment Food
Chef Interview: 'Delicious simplicity' is chef's approach to cuisine
Ann M. Efimetz
Chef Ika Zaken said his position at Williamsburg Winery gives him the chance to stretch his culinary muscles in the kitchens of both Gabriel Archer Tavern and Cafe' Provencal.
Chef Ika Zaken said his position at Williamsburg Winery gives him the chance to stretch his culinary muscles in the kitchens of both Gabriel Archer Tavern and Cafe' Provencal. (Ann M. Efimetz)
Ann M. Efimetz, aefimetz@dailypress.com
Chef Ika Zaken has a straight-forward approach to his cuisine.
"Delicious simplicity," he said during an interview at the Williamsburg Winery. He provides his culinary expertise to the kitchens at Gabriel Archer Tavern and Café Provencal at Wedmore Place.
His skill is in transforming the bounty from local gardens, farms and waterways into recipes that provide memorable, flavorful experiences.
"There is always a wave of fashion in cooking, but at the end of the day, the average person wants to go back to a nice piece of fish or meat, with a good vegetable and a nice sauce," Zaken said. "There is a tendency to mix too many ingredients in one dish. If you have a good product, you want to let it stand alone on the plate."
Zaken learned his craft in kitchens throughout the world, including his native Jerusalem, Israel, where he grew up cooking and eating elaborate meals within his family.
His eye for knowing quality meats was honed working for the famous butcher, Iwo's International Delicatessen in Jerusalem. When he was 22, Zaken opened a butcher shop of his own. He has studied French cuisine in Paris, where he met his wife, Molly, a Williamsburg native.
In 2002, he and Molly opened a restaurant in Antwerp, Belgium, which featured Mediterranean, French and Moroccan cuisine. After several successful years, they sold the restaurant and moved stateside to raise their three children closer to family in Williamsburg.
His said he position at the winery gives him the chance to stretch his culinary muscles in the kitchens of both Gabriel Archer Tavern and Café Provencal. His philosophy is that the best ingredients make the best food. That's why he works with local farmers and businesses to obtain what's freshest.
"I love to work with the locals because of the quality," he said. "For instance, carrots may be a simple vegetable, but there is a big difference between a carrot bought from a large company, and one that was pulled out of the ground three days ago."
Zaken said he enjoys preparing fish and lauds the Hampton Roads region for an abundance of fresh products from the Chesapeake Bay and regional rivers including grouper, monk fish and oysters.
"We live next to the water," he said. "We need to get what the water has."
Zaken's passion for his job is apparent in his voice. He recalls a time in Europe when he decided to take a respite from the kitchen and pursue a job in digital printing. Although it was a good-paying job, he said he was unhappy.
"I was miserable," he said. "I have to do something with my hands, I have to create. There is adrenaline in cooking that is like nothing else."
He continues to vary the menus and offer dishes that showcase the freshest ingredients.
"I write the general title of the dish, but will leave things open," he said. "Maybe today I have baby beets to put on the dish, tomorrow, I may have something else. This makes it good for the customers, and good for the cooks. It is exciting and challenging."
Efimetz can be reached at 757-345-2341.
Gabriel Archer Tavern at the Williamsburg Winery, 5800 Wessex Hundred, Williamsburg. 757-564-8869. http://gabrielarchertavern.com
Get more food
For more food news, go to http://www.dailypress.com/food and follow us on Facebook at Hampton Roads Food & Drink for all things good to eat and drink.
Pictures from Daily Press Photographers
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Arsenal mercilessly trolled on Twitter after Leicester's Champions League triumph
FANS took to Twitter to poke fun at Arsenal after Leicester's historic qualification to the Champions League quarter-finals.
By Konstantinos Lianos / Published 15th March 2017
Arsenal get mercilessly trolled after Leicester's Champions League triumph
“Arsenal were hammered 5-1 by Bayern Munich in each leg of the last 16 and failed to make the next round for the seventh year in a row ”
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The Foxes beat Sevilla 2-0 last night at King Power Stadium with goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton.
Arsene Wenger's men were hammered 5-1 by Bayern Munich in each leg in the last 16 and failed to make the next round for the seventh year in a row.
Leicester have been struggling this season in the Premier League but still managed to do better than Arsenal.
And fans from other Prem teams decided to add some salt to the Gunners' wounds.
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Challenges 'remain the same' despite dairy innovation: Zenith
By Mark ASTLEY contact
18-May-2014 - Last updated on 19-May-2014 at 00:29 GMT
Related tags: Global dairy congress, United arab emirates
Despite the significant evolution of dairy in recent years, many of the challenges faced by the sector "truthfully remain the same," according to Zenith International.
DairyReporter.com spoke with Richard Hall, Zenith International chairman, ahead of the Global Dairy Congress in Istanbul next month.
Despite being in its eighth year, many of the issues due to be discussed at the event are the same as those experienced in 2006, said Hall.
“What has changed?” said Hall.
“There has been a lot of innovation in dairy. It is becoming more targeted, but not just with products. It’s about packaging, convenience, size, functionality and flavor. Every aspect of the proposition is being fine-tuned more carefully.”
Zenith International chairman, Richard Hall.
“But many of the challenges truthfully remain the same,” he said.
“Long dairy traditional”
Around 150 attendees are expected to join more than 25 speakers from Turkey, India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, Finland, the US, Brazil, Indonesia, Denmark, Germany and the UK for the two-day event.
It kicks off on June 17 with an overview of the Turkish dairy market from Gülay Özcan, adviser to the chairman of local processor Sütaş, followed by Ricardo Travassos, marketing director of Danone Tikveşli.
“We always start with a local view,” said Hall.
“We’re in Istanbul because Turkey has a long dairy traditional, and because the city is where east meets west.”
The first day will also feature sessions with a focus on global market change, emerging markets, and health and sustainability.
“We always try to cover all key global markets with these events because it is insightful to have participants from countries on different countries offering contrasting opinions,” said Hall.
This, twinned with its proximity, means the eighth Global Dairy Congress will a “genuinely global” event, he claimed.
Product innovation
As well as a significant focus on the globalization of the industry, this year’s Global Dairy Congress will include a keynote from “probably the greatest success story of recent years.”
David Denholm, president and chief operating officer at Chobani, will initiate proceedings on day two with a keynote address on reinvigorating latent demand.
Arun Prabhu, commercial innovation director at Arla Foods, Brian Weber, CEO at Bebida Beverage Company, and Carloz Ramirez, CEO of US ‘brogurt’ brand Powerful Yogurt will join Denholm for a session on product innovation.
“If you look at Powerful Yogurt, we chose them because they’re adding a new dimension to the market,” said Hall.
“Everyone is looking for added value and for consistent sales volume growth. The commodities market remains very important but these new opportunities are of greater focus.”
“We have to pack much more in than eight years ago," he added.
For more information about the Global Dairy Congress, click here.
Related topics: Markets
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Milk in India found to be most highly-adulterated food product despite FSSAI assurances of safety
By Pearly Neo contact
Milk and dairy products in the Indian capital territory of Delhi have been found by local authorities to be the most adulterated food product in the state. ©Getty Images
Related tags: India, Milk, Dairy, Adulteration
Milk and dairy products in the Indian capital territory of Delhi have been found by local authorities to be the most adulterated food product in the state.
The Delhi Food Safety Department tested some 2,880 samples of different food types across both packaged and fresh items between January 2018 and April 2019, of which 477 failed quality tests, it has recently been revealed.
Topping the list amongst these 477 samples were milk and relevant products, of which 161 samples were adulterated. 21 were found to be ‘misbranded’, 125 ‘substandard’ and 15 ‘unsafe’.
According to Hindustan Times, a government officer said that this was not an unusual occurrence.
“Usually, milk samples fail to meet standard because the fats or solids-not-fat (SNF) content is less than the standards [required]. Sometimes cows produce milk that is not up to the standard, [but] since it does not have a serious affect of health (sic), we usually do not prosecute small dairy farmers,” he said.
That said, in 2017 the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had already lowered dairy standard requirements for fats and SNF content in milk to cater for samples naturally low in these.
Misbranding here refers to the omission or erroneous printing of nutritional information on the product label, whereas substandard is when product nutritional levels are not on par with legal and standard requirements.
Unsafe food products run a much higher risk of severe penalty – the previous two would lead to fines, but products found to be unsafe could lead to six months’ imprisonment and INR100,000 (US$1443) in fines for non-injurious cases
Injurious cases would lead to up to six years’ imprisonment and INR500,000 (US$7,217) in fines, whereas cases that caused fatalities would see no less than seven years in prison, and no less than INR1,000,000 (US$14,400) in fines issued to the adulterator.
FSSAI reassurances
In December last year, FSSAI conducted the 2018 National Milk Quality Survey on milk in the country and found these to be ‘largely safe’ and ‘not serious’ at all.
In its official statement, the agency described the study as ‘by far the largest systematic survey’ in terms of sample size and parameters tested, and attempted to lay consumers’ worries to rest.
“[In] a large number (6432) of samples, very few samples were found to be adulterated. […] Slightly less than 10% samples had contaminants coming mainly from poor farm practices. Over 90% of the samples were found safe in the survey,” said FSSAI.
The study was conducted after earlier reports showed that roughly 68% of all milk and milk products in India had been found to be in violation of FSSAI standards.
Current FSSAI milk standard
According to the FSSAI Food Safety And Standards (Food Products Standards And Food Additives) Regulations 2011, milk is governed under sub-regulation 2.1.2 and applies to buffalo milk, cow milk, goat milk, sheep milk and camel milk.
The minimum fat and SNF content in each type of milk differs, but for the most common cow’s milk, minimum milk fat content must reach 3.2% and SNF content must reach 8.3%.
Related topics: Regulation & Safety, Dairy Health Check, Fresh Milk
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Dance News: Get Enthused! These Are The 2019 Bessie Award Nominees
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Features > The Dance Enthusiast Asks
Gabri Christa Returns to Stage in “Magdalena,” her Multi-media Work Focusing on Dementia
By Theo Boguszewski
Gabri Christa; Photo: Briana Blasko
at Theatrelab in NYC, September 12-15 and September 19-22
Performer, choreographer, and award-winning filmmaker Gabri Christa was born on the island of Curacao, to a Dutch mother and Surinamese father. Throughout her vibrant career, her cultural identity has remained at the forefront of her work.
In 2002, Christa adventured into the world of filmmaking, eager to explore the expressive capacities of a new medium. The world premiere of “Magdalena,” named for her mother, marks her return to the stage. Christa partners with director Erwin Maas, designer Guy de Lancey, and composer Vernon Reid to create a multimedia piece which recounts the complex and intimate experience of her Dutch mother’s struggle with dementia. The Dance Enthusiast had the opportunity to speak to Christa about the artistic process of crafting “Magdalena.”
Magdalena runs Sept 12-15 and 19-22 at 8:00pm
Theaterlab (357 West 36th Street, 3rd floor)
Tickets available at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/996199 or by calling 866-811-4111.
Theo Boguszewski for The Dance Enthusiast: Hi Gabri, I am interested in your new work Magdalena. Can you tell me about the process of creating the piece? What was the the initial spark, your inspiration, and who were your collaborators?
Gabri Christa (GC): I originally started writing some sections for a film about four years ago, but making a historic film at the time was too difficult and above all costly, so I just put it aside... I had been talking to the director Erwin Maas for a while. One night, we had dinner before a show of his, off-Broadway, and I shared what I was thinking about: doing a piece about my mother, about her life, but also about this white Dutch side of me, something I never touch in my work — also about my mother’s dementia.
A still shot of Gabri Christa's mother from Christa's film "Magdalena"
Erwin is Dutch — being able to speak Dutch in rehearsal and figuring this out with someone I trust was important to me in this personal project. Erwin pushed me to go forward. He listened to my stories and made me write more. Eventually, he brought in Guy de Lancey who is South African and an amazing designer, director, and more. We clicked right away.
In Magdalena you use film, storytelling, visuals, and dance. Can you speak about the interplay of the various artistic disciplines?
GC: My choices of media in this piece are purely content-driven. Some parts of the piece I dance because only dance can express what I want to say. I use whatever works best for the particular theme or feeling.
As a dancer, why did you started making films?
GC: As much as I am a deep believer in dance’s eloquence and expressive power, I started making films when I no longer felt I could fully say what I wanted to just in dance. There were certain topics that in my mind required communication on a different level.
I don't think a film is necessarily something that adds to performance work in general. I won't always use it as part of a piece. In the case of Magdalena, it helps in certain sections to tell the story I want to tell.
Now that I return to dance after many years off stage, the filmmaker’s eye helps me look at it with a more dramaturgical focus. Even when I look just at the movement, I ask myself, "Why is that movement there?" Mostly, I keep my film work separate. But In Magdalena, everything comes together.
Gabri Christa; Photo by: Briana Blasko
Dance can be an important tool for conveying emotion that can't be expressed in its fully through words. How do you come up with the movement vocabulary to express the depth of grief/ sorrow/ frustration wrapped up in your mother's journey with dementia?
GC: There is a section in Magdalena about beginning to lose your head. In it I literally move from my head. Not sure how it comes across, but that is how I could embody and convey the heaviness of it all. Another section became about both losing balance and losing the way. That originated from observing my mom over the long years we've been dealing with this. There is text that goes with this section, a piece of writing that originated from a recorded conversation with my girlfriend in Miami. I dance while the conversation goes on. I couldn't tell that story only in words.
What does it feel like to make (and share) work that is so personal? Is it vulnerable? Or perhaps even liberating?
GC: Mostly, it was an incredible journey into compassion and understanding of both my mother and her condition. I truly know now that art can create understanding. Sharing this personal work is not emotional for me although some of the writing indeed was.
I also used letters my mother wrote when she could still write well. Those letters were answers to specific questions that I sent her years ago when I realized her memory was going. They forced me to look at my mother and her life in a way I had not done before. I realized how hard this must have been for her. She must have been aware that something was going on.
This understanding truly helps me be there for her now, to hold on to who she was and to just love this person. Telling her story keeps some part of her alive: a part that I don't see anymore. I also think it gives her dignity.
It's a very slow goodbye, but the love remains.
Is there anything specific that you're hoping to share about dementia through this work? Anything you hope the audience will take away?
GC:I made this work to talk about dementia. I knew nothing about the disease, and I had no one to talk to about it during this years—long process with my mother. It was an isolating time. I just thought my mother was having a crisis, and so did many people around me. None of us realized what was happening. Now I know that people don't really want to talk about it, especially not among the Caribbean families. My mother-in-law would just say, "we have to pray". I am all for praying, but we also need to discuss this and we need support.
As is the case with any serious brain condition, people are scared to talk about or face it. But in another twenty years, each and every one of us will have someone close to them who has dementia. We will become caregivers, or we might suffer from a form of dementia ourselves. I really want to hold space for others to talk about this — maybe just by starting to listen and tell stories, or to dance about our loved ones.
Sometime personal stories are universal. I hope this one is.
The Dance Enthusiast Asks Questions and Creates Conversation.
For more of The Dance Enthusiast Asks, click here.
Share your #AudienceReview of the film or others for a chance to win a prize.
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/ Musha Books
Musha Books | 11 June 2010 | Shahir A. Razak
Blood Beast takes place about a year after the events of Slawter. Grubbs, Dervish and Bill-E survived Slawter and Davida Haym with her accomplices are dead but the gang are now traumatized by the demons's slaughtering in Slawter. Everyone is having a hard time but Grubbs slowly forgets it by being involved with friends - cool friends - at his school. But his actions are increasingly throwing Bill-E out of his life and to make sure that doesn't happen, Grubbs invited Bill-E over to a wild party at his house. But when Grubbs starts getting symptoms of the family lycanthropy curse at that party, the only thing he worries about now is staying human. But things gets worse when one of Grubbs new friends, Loch, dies in an underground cave that Dervish says is a magical tunnel that can be opened to let in thousands and thousands of demons. The rule of opening the tunnel? There must be a human sacrifice in that caves. Just what the hell is happening? is what Grubbs thinks.
After the first five or six chapters, I really got the impression that Darren Shan was turning his writing genre from horror to slice-of-life but as he said in his website, he is not. That proved right by the end of this novel. The novel has a really interesting plot. From slice-of-life to tragedy to horror and terror. This is unlike any other Darren Shan novel. This is way more... moving?
And the cliff-hanger at the end. What the hell? I've never read a Shan book that has this suspense of a cliff-hanger. It was really out of the ordinary. I mean, Grubbs was still battling when the cliff-hanger happened. At least let him finish, But I'm actually fine with it because I already have a copy of Demon Apocalypse so I could just read the continuation but imagine people who bought it the day it was released. Wouldn't it suck to have to wait 6 months for Demon Apocalypse? But I guess that what readers say "Hungry for more", don't you agree?
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Zapping Bugs With `Star Wars' Technology
By Peter Grier Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
@petergrier
SPACE-based mosquito zappers are not yet under development. But a piece of Strategic Defense Initiative technology is being adapted to help fight that tenacious adversary, the bug. Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are studying a laser doppler radar derived from SDI work for use in tracking harmful insects. Packaged in a small device, this radar could someday help farmers defend crops against hungry swarms intent on lunch.
Other SDI technology might lead to prettier gemstones, tougher eyeglasses, faster well drilling, and satellites the size of tomato cans in low-earth orbit. ``SDI research has yielded many spinoffs,'' the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization asserts in its 1989 report to Congress.
``Star wars'' faces tough times. Once President Reagan's favorite Pentagon program, it is being supported with less enthusiasm by the Bush administration. Members of Congress are beginning to treat it like a multibillion-dollar cache that can be raided to pay for other projects. This week the House Armed Services Committee pared $1.1 billion from SDI's proposed $4.6 billion budget for 1990.
Even the program's technical emphasis appears uncertain. SDI's recently departed chief, Lt. Gen. James Abrahamson, has been touting a new interceptor concept called ``Brilliant Pebbles'' as a cost-effective defense alternative, after billions have been spent on other interceptor missile models.
Emphasizing the commercial benefits of star-wars research has been one way the SDI Organization has attempted to strike back.
The SDIO's annual report to Congress, as well as other SDIO pamphlets intended for public persuasion, contain much detail about projects that are drawing on SDI's knowledge.
Medical applications have been the most publicized of SDI's potential commercial uses.
SDI laser technology, for instance, might be used in everything from biomedical research to eye surgery and disease diagnosis. But other applications are less obvious.
For instance, insect control is not the only agricultural benefit SDI officials say might come from their program. Another is a safer method to preserve food.
SDI scientists have developed a high-power linear induction accelerator, analogous to a microwave appliance, that provides a safe nonnuclear way to irradiate food so it can be stored for long periods without spoiling. The Department of Energy is planning for six regional food irradiation centers to use this technology.
A variant of this same technology might make jewelry gaudier. SDI linear accelerators ``could deepen the color of gemstones to enhance their value,'' according to SDIO's report.
Within SDI is a program called the Diamond Technology Initiative that is studying ways of coating materials with thin layers of diamond crystal. Among other things, this could lead to eyeglass and mirror protection and tougher tape-deck heads, says the SDIO.
Oil-well drilling might be made easier by methods SDI is working on to handle powerful electrical pulses.
This ``pulse power'' could fracture and crush rock and work faster than conventional drills.
A star-wars system would involve putting huge amounts of material into space. One spinoff might be an electric rail gun that could shoot tin-can-sized satellites into low orbit, greatly lowering the cost of space use for many civilian applications.
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Native Americans' Growing Pride
By MS
WITH its passel of Academy Award nominations, the epic movie ``Dances With Wolves'' has succeeded - as Hollywood's image machine uniquely can - in thrusting Indians into the foreground of American consciousness. That's all to the good, seeing that native Americans customarily occupy a place in national thinking as remote as the desolate reservations many occupy in life. The sympathy for Indians touched off by ``Dances With Wolves'' is likely to be ephemeral. There are, though, less dramatic but more solid grounds for hope that native Americans are entering a new phase in their relations with the wider culture. Perhaps these small but progressive developments will lay the groundwork for a fuller restitution of the rights and dignity wrenched from the first Americans by Anglo expansion.
These possible signs of the times include:
A marked increase in the number of Americans who identified themselves as Indians in the 1990 census. Though still incomplete, census results show a 38 percent increase since 1980 in the respondents who voluntarily acknowledged their Indian ancestry. Some of the rise is attributable to births, but many of the ``new'' Indians are people who previously concealed their heritage. Also, Indian tribes report a sharp rise in applications for enrollment. Perhaps reflecting heightened ethnic self-awareness thro ughout American culture, Indian pride is surging.
Indian tribes have won greater rights to recover ancestral remains and sacred religious and burial artifacts from museums. The excavation of Indian burial sites by archaeologists or fortune-seekers has long been a sore issue with native Americans. As a result of bills passed by Congress in 1989 and 1990, museums and collections that receive federal money are required to repatriate certain remains and artifacts to Indians who satisfy nonstringent tests. Last week, the board of the Smithsonian's new Nati onal Museum of the American Indian widened its repatriation policy to some remains and artifacts not covered by the legislation.
The Smithsonian's new museum itself, which will open over the next few years, should help raise awareness of Indians.
Most important, Washington seems increasingly willing to change the ways it has administered Indian affairs for more than a century. Seven Indian tribes are currently engaged in a three-year experiment in self-government. The tribes' leadership has taken over many functions of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs. In other ways, as well, the BIA professes a new openness to Indian thinking - although Indian leaders still complain that the bureau takes too many actions by fiat and too few i n meaningful consultation.
The United States still has a long way to go in granting full civil, social, and economic rights to Indians. But maybe - in ways far more significant than the box-office appeal of ``Wolves'' - the country has turned a corner.
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Twitter’s New App Tracking Capabilities To Help Personalize User Experience, Benefit Advertisers
Technology0 Comments 0
by Sarah Perez (@sarahintampa) http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/26/twitter-app-graph/
Starting today, Twitter users on iOS and Android devices will be alerted to a change in the type of data the social network is collecting on them, and will be offered the option to opt-out by adjusting their settings. The data in question is a list of the apps you have installed on your mobile device – a collection of data Twitter is calling the “app graph.”
The company says it’s using the app data to help “build a more tailored experience for you on Twitter,” which includes things like improving your “who to follow” recommendations by connecting you with those who have similar interests; showing your relevant promoted content; and adding content to your timeline like tweets and accounts that Twitter thinks you’ll find interesting.
The change comes at a time when Twitter has been working to personalize users’ timelines with better content as it struggles to convert its numerous passive users – meaning, those who don’t sign in, or those who have accounts but rarely tweet – into active, more engaged users. The problem, according to Wall Street at least, is that Twitter’s user growth has been stagnating.
In an effort to correct the problem, Twitter has been testing ways to make its service more usable from the initial sign-in, even if you don’t have a network of friends to follow, or aren’t sure how to get started. For instance, Twitter’s recently added “instant timeline” feature for new users will give people something to see as soon as they sign in for the first time.
Now, with the ability to peer into the apps that are installed on your mobile device, Twitter will also immediately have a better understanding of who a user is, and be able to customize that person’s Twitter timeline with relevant content. That could potentially make for a more compelling Twitter experience, and ultimately draw users back to the network more often, allowing Twitter to grow and retain its user base of signed-in account holders, which translates into an improved bottom line.
However, the “app graph” will serve a secondary purpose as well, a bit further down the road.
It will also improve the interest-based ad targeting capabilities the network currently offers, allowing advertisers to reach very specific “buckets” of users based on a better understanding of what those users like, what apps they have and use, and which games they like to play.
That could mean in the future, Twitter could allow for smarter app recommendations – app install ads, or app engagement ads like those app publishers can run today.
How Twitter Accesses The App Graph Data
Twitter is able to access this “app graph” data more easily on Android, whose users will start seeing the prompt in a few weeks’ time. On iOS, it’s a bit more difficult but, at a high level, would involve running a check of apps on the device and comparing it to a list of apps Twitter already has. In this scenario, Twitter is not likely to be diving into the long-tail of the million-plus iOS apps in existence, but rather focusing its energies on the those ranked on the top charts across App Store categories.
Though some may react to Twitter’s move as being something of an over-reach – after all, it’s scooping up data about things that have nothing to do with your use of Twitter itself – the reality is that many companies do this sort of thing today, they just don’t disclose it to their users. In fact, a number of analytics’ providers’ SDKs, for example, track users across apps where they’re installed, giving the app makers a similar data set in order to identify the “persona” of a user, which in turn allows them to draw broader insights about their own customer base.
Facebook is also able to see which apps users have installed on their phones, if the apps use the Facebook SDK (as many do).
Twitter, meanwhile, is implementing the app tracking data in a way that’s fairly visible – showing a user a large, blue prompt that points users to their settings. It will also honor settings a user previously had configured – including the “Limit Ad Tracking” on an iOS device or the “Opt out of interest-based ads” on Android. If you already opted out here device-wide, you’ll never see the Twitter prompt. And if you haven’t seen the prompt yet, Twitter isn’t collecting your app data.
That being said, a number of less technically sophisticated users may see the prompt, not understand it, and choose to ignore it. That gives Twitter the ability to begin collecting data, and potentially sets a precedent for other companies who may follow in Twitter’s footsteps one day, opting to do the same.
(IMAGE CREDITS: TOP, TECHCRUNCH; BOTTOM, ALSO H/T, RECODE😉
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» Start » Projects & Publications » Publications » MPIDR Working Papers » A generalized counterfactual approach to decomposing differences between populations
MPIDR Working Paper
A generalized counterfactual approach to decomposing differences between populations
Sudharsanan, N., Bijlsma, M. J.
MPIDR Working Paper WP-2019-004, 39 pages (February 2019).
Rostock, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Download/Weblinks Publication as PDF
Keywords: methods of analysis
One central aim of the population sciences is to understand why one population has different levels of health and well-being compared to another. Various methods, such as the Oaxaca-Blinder and Kitagawa decompositions, have been used to decompose population-differences in a wide range of outcomes. We provide a way of implementing an alternative decomposition method that, under certain assumptions, adds a causal interpretation to the decomposition by building upon counterfactual-driven estimation methods. In addition, the approach has the advantage of flexibility to accommodate different types of outcome and explanatory variables and any population contrast. By using Monte Carlo methods, our approach does not rely on closed-form approximate solutions and can be applied to any parametric model without having to derive any decomposition equations. We demonstrate our approach through two motivating examples using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study and the 1970 British Birth Cohort Study. The first example uses a cross-sectional binary outcome (disability), a contrast of prevalence rates, and considers a binary mediator (stroke), while the second example uses a count outcome (age at first birth), a contrast of median ages, and considers a count mediator (women’s own years of education). Together, our two examples outline how to implement a very generalized decomposition procedure that is theoretically grounded in counterfactual theory but still easy to apply to a wide range of situations. We provide example R-code and an R-function [package in development].
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Knifeman was spotted hiding up a tree in a frightened woman’s garden
Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Published: 15:07 Updated: 15:27 Sunday 01 April 2018
A knifeman who was caught hiding in a tree in a woman’s garden after he had been taking cocaine has been jailed.
Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, March 28, how Gareth Havard, 30, of Ruby Way, Mansfield, was spotted up a tree in the garden of a property in a village between Chesterfield and Bolsover.
Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Police were called at 6pm, on Thursday, November 2, last year, by a resident on Out Lane, at Stainsby, saying that a male was up a tree in her garden and she was frightened and she had let her dogs out.”
Havard told police it had been the anniversary of his friend’s death and he had not been home since the previous day and he had been taking cocaine and had a knife in a pocket because he was a joiner.
He added that he had been to Heath to look at a job but his car ran out of fuel and he decided to take cocaine and he was chased by youths in Stainsby and he had jumped over a wall and climbed up a tree.
Havard claimed he had taken the knife from his Landrover because he feared that if someone had spotted it they might steal it from his vehicle.
The defendant, formerly of Oak Tree Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, pleaded guilty to possessing a folding pocket knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine after he was found with traces of the class A drug.
Havard also admitted breaching a suspended prison sentence order which had previously been imposed for a common assault.
Defence solicitor Morgan Hogarth said the defendant abandoned his vehicle after it ran out of fuel at Clay Cross and he was reminded of the death of his friend who had died after an overdose in 2014.
Mr Hogarth added that Havard decided to walk home and he took the cocaine while he was walking and he lost track of time and was even reported by his partner as missing to police.
Magistrates sentenced Havard to nine weeks of custody and ordered him to pay a £115 victim surcharge.
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Ped mall shooter Lamar Wilson sentenced to 24 years in prison
Judge Paul Miller sentenced ped mall shooter Lamar Wilson to the maximum sentence of 24 years.
Ped mall shooter Lamar Wilson sentenced to 24 years in prison Judge Paul Miller sentenced ped mall shooter Lamar Wilson to the maximum sentence of 24 years. Check out this story on desmoinesregister.com: https://icp-c.com/2GoG208
Will Greenberg, wgreenberg@press-citizen.com Published 3:52 p.m. CT March 30, 2018 | Updated 7:09 p.m. CT March 30, 2018
Lamar Wilson has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, two counts of assault with the intent to inflict serious injury and intimidation with a dangerous weapon in the deadly 2017 shooting on Iowa City's pedestrian mall. Kelsey Kremer/The Register
Lamar Wilson, seen in this file photo, was sentenced Friday in the fatal shooting of Kaleek Jones on the pedestrian mall on Aug. 27, 2017.(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
The man convicted in the fatal shooting on the pedestrian mall last fall has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Judge Paul Miller ruled that Lamar Wilson, 24, will serve the maximum sentence for all four guilty charges stemming from the shooting in downtown Iowa City last year.
On Aug. 27, at 1:30 a.m., Wilson fired five shots in Iowa City's pedestrian mall and hit three people. Kaleek Jones, 22, died and Xavier Hicks and D'Andre Hicks were injured.
First to speak in the sentencing proceedings was Jones' mother, Shafona. As family and friends cried in the courtroom, she talked about her son's life and his three children. The night he was killed, Shafona Jones said she told him before he left the house that she "loved him to infinity and beyond; and be safe."
She then addressed Wilson directly.
"That bullet you shot has shattered lives, legacies and hearts," Shafona Jones said. "I hope you remember the man's face that you shot in the back that you once called a friend."
She showed a video with a collection of pictures from her son's life. Kaleek Jones' grandmother Barbara Gadler also spoke, saying "losing Kaleek is a unique loss."
County Attorney Janet Lyness recommended the maximum sentence for all counts, and that they be served consecutively, noting the tragic loss of Kaleek Jones and the continued health issues of the other victims.
Lyness said Wilson was "terrorizing our entire community," adding "the action calls for the most severe penalty."
"We want people to know you can't shoot down the pedestrian mall," Lyness said in an interview after the ruling. "(If) you kill innocent people — you terrify other people — we wanted to make sure this is punished the maximum it could."
Wilson's attorney, Matthew Shimanovsky, asked Miller that Wilson serve all charges concurrently over 10 years, saying "He does still have a lot of life ahead of him," and noted he had no significant criminal history before this. The judge denied that request.
Before sentencing, Miller denied the defense's motion to reconsider his ruling on the "stand your ground" law earlier this week, and also denied their motion for a new trial.
Wilson's lawyers argued he was acting in self-defense at the time. The prosecution argued Wilson was angry over a Facebook post about a friend who had recently died.
While the three people who were shot were unarmed, three others in the pedestrian mall that night did admit to having guns on them. One of them, Donte Taylor, testified during Wilson's trial that he pulled his gun out just before the shooting but only aimed it at the ground.
Wilson had a valid permit to carry firearms at the time of his arrest, police said.
In early February, the jury ruled Wilson was guilty of lesser charges than first-degree murder, finding him guilty of voluntary manslaughter and intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of assault with intent to inflict serious injury.
Wilson's lawyers tried to argue he should be granted immunity under the state's "stand your ground law," which lets defendants avoid civil or criminal liability if their use of force was justified. His attorneys tried to have the judge rule on immunity last year before the trial, but the judge ended up ruling on the issue afterward.
In a decision earlier this week, Judge Miller wrote that Wilson was not justified in his actions. He ruled that Wilson "indiscriminately discharged a dangerous weapon" in the crowded pedestrian mall that night — which happened to be during the first weekend that University of Iowa students returned to campus for the school year.
Miller also noted that Wilson never testified that anyone pointed a gun at him before he started shooting.
Outside of an appeal, Wilson has even more days in court to come. Two months after the shooting, Wilson was charged with gang participation. A jury trial for that charge is set for May 15 in Johnson County court.
According to depositions from more than a dozen police officers, Wilson is part of a group called Any Body Killa, or ABK. The question for the jury is whether ABK is a rap group or a gang.
The people Wilson had an issue with during the August incident were part of a rival group called MAC from Cedar Rapids — someone from that group posted to Facebook about a friend of Wilson's who was killed days before the pedestrian mall shooting. The two groups had a history of "ill will and some violence," the judge wrote in his ruling this week.
Iowa Code defines a criminal street gang as any group of three or more people whose main activity is "the commission of one or more criminal acts," and that the group has an identifiable sign or symbol.
Taylor faces charges of trafficking in stolen weapons, control of a firearm by a felon and carrying weapons. A plea hearing is set for April 10 in Johnson County.
Reach Will Greenberg at wgreenberg@press-citizen.com, by phone at 319-887-5407, and follow him on Twitter @wrgree.
Read or Share this story: https://icp-c.com/2GoG208
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Home > Things to do > The Moth StorySLAM Lifelines!
The Moth StorySLAM Lifelines!
Queens , New York City | Arts & Culture
Open to anyone with a true story to share on the night’s posted theme. Prepare a five-minute story about a saving grace. When the doors open, storyteller hopefuls put their names in The Moth Hat. A half hour later, names are picked, and storytellers take the stage. Your story may be heard on NPR. Sign up or just enjoy the show! DATE: MON, SEPT 25, 7 PM (DOORS OPEN) & 7:30 PM (STORYSLAM)
Tickets: $10 (order online at themoth.org)
Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts dba Flushing Town Hall is a not for profit organization which receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Mayor Bill de Blasio; Queens Borough President Melinda Katz; New York State Assembly Members Ron Kim, Ed Braunstein and Nily Rozic; New York City Council, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Council Members Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm, Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Peter Koo, Karen Koslowitz, and Paul A. Vallone; Howard Gilman Foundation; and the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.
Support is also provided by Astoria Bank, Bijoux Image, Cathay Bank, Celestial Love Foundation, Michael Cheng / Epos Development, FTH’s Chinese Cultural Committee, Chinese Radio Network, Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou / New York Institute of Culture and the Arts, Con Edison, Crossings TV, Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (Flushing), Fook Funeral Group, Barbara Garii / St. Joseph’s College, Simon Gerson, the Glow Foundation, Howard Graf & Kathy Donovan, Hakka Association of New York , Heather Harrison / Farrell Fritz, David M. Hunter, Raymond D. Jasen, JoAnn She & Co. Ltd., Siu Mui Lau, Nelson Lee / Flushing Bank, Susan Lee, James S. Liao, Steven Lii / New United NY Corp, Linden Arts Fund for Children, the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Materials for the Arts, William McClure / Queens College, New York Shandong Association, the NYC & Company Foundation, Queens College, Georgiana Reese-Benatti / New York Community Bank, RUDANCENY Ballroom Dance School / Asian American Dance Sport Corp, Mike Sperendi & Jan Schneider, Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York (Manhattan), Veronica Tsang, and Tony & Tai Wang/WAC Lighting.
Our work is also supported by gifts made in the memory of Irene Seligman.
Sept. 25, 2017 - Sept. 25, 2017
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing,, USA, NY 11354, , NY
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Startup Won't Give In to Motivational Health Messaging's $35,000 Patent Demand
By Vera Ranieri and Thomas Fox
Trying to succeed as a startup is hard enough. Getting a frivolous patent infringement demand letter in the mail can make it a whole lot harder. The experience of San Francisco-based Motiv is the latest example of how patent trolls impose painful costs on small startups and stifle innovation.
Motiv is a startup of fewer than 50 employees competing in the wearable technology space. Founded in 2013, the company creates fitness trackers, housed in a ring worn on your finger.
In January, Motiv received a letter alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 9,069,648 (“the ’648 Patent”). The letter gave Motiv two options: pay $35,000 to license the ’648 Patent, or face the potential of costly litigation.
The '648 Patent, owned by Motivational Health Messaging LLC (“MHM”), is titled “Systems and methods for delivering activity based suggestive (ABS) messages.” The patent describes sending “motivational messages,” based “on the current or anticipated activity of the user,” to a “personal electronic device.” It provides examples such as sending the message “don't give up” when the user is running up a hill, or messages like “do not fear” and “God is with you” when a “user enters a dangerous neighborhood.” Simply put, the patent claims to have invented using a computer to send tailored messages based on activity or location.
While the name “Motivational Health Messaging” may sound new, the actors behind it aren’t: the people associated with MHM and its patent overlap with the people associated with notorious patent assertion entities Shipping & Transit, Electronic Communication Technologies, ArrivalStar, and Eclipse IP, who we’ve written about on numerous occasions. Collectively, these entities have filed over 700 lawsuits, with Shipping & Transit setting the 2016 record for most patent infringement lawsuits filed.
Though MHM and its the patent may be new, the business model seems to be the same as the other, related entities: make patent infringement demands, often against small businesses, and leverage the high cost of litigation to extract settlements in the $25,000 to $45,000 range. (As of the date of this post, MHM has not yet filed any lawsuits and the related entities have been faring very poorly in court.)
Unfortunately, for many small businesses it often makes sense to simply pay for a license instead of spending years tied up in court challenging a patent. Receiving a demand letter frivolously asserting infringement is annoying enough. Even more frustrating is being forced to divert resources away from product development in order to defend against a non-practicing entity with bad patents.
Nevertheless, Motiv decided it would not go down without a fight. Motiv retained Rachael Lamkin, who replied with her own letter explaining why Motiv does not infringe, and why MHM’s patent is invalid. Lamkin also says that in the event of litigation, Motiv would seek to join the individuals behind MHM to the lawsuit—and make them personally responsible for “any sanction or fee award.” The letter laid out in painstaking detail many of the numerous deficiencies with MHM’s patent and infringement claim, and refused to pay MHM a cent. The complete set of materials sent to MHM can be found at the end of this post.
We hope that MHM does not push ahead with a business model that preys on the vulnerability of small businesses, and only succeeds when undeserved settlements are paid. Patent holders like this takes advantage of inefficiencies in our legal system, despite the extreme weakness of their cases. By publishing Motiv’s response letter and supporting documentation, Motiv and EFF hope that others may benefit and not pay the troll under the bridge.
If you have recently been sued or received a demand letter from MHM, contact info@eff.org.
Links to documents and correspondence between Motivational Health Messaging, LLC and Motiv, Inc.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,069,648
Motivational Health Messaging's demand letter to Motiv
Motiv's response letter to Motivational Health Messaging
Assignment records related to U.S. Pat. 9,069,648
Corporate records related to U.S. Pat. 9,069,648
Patent Office File History related to U.S. Pat. 9,069,648
Patent Office File History for patent application related to U.S. Pat. 9,069,648
Court records from Shipping & Transit, LLC v. Lensdiscounters.com
Court records from Shipping & Transit, LLC v. 1A Auto, Inc.
NIH Paper
Lee prior art and invalidity chart
Kaufman prior art and invalidity chart
Steve prior art and invalidity chart
Christ prior art and invalidity chart
Ferguson prior art and invalidity chart
Chittum prior art and invalidity chart
Dalebout prior art and invalidity chart
Hoffman prior art and invalidity chart
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Stupid Patent of the Month: IBM's Software Patent on Texting and Driving
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Inside the Polished Mind of Tiffany & Co.'s First Female Design Director
New Tiffany & Co. design director Francesca Amfitheatrof brings a truly international perspective to her vision for the American jeweler.
By Alison S. Cohn
"I had this book growing up called Tiffany Table Settings," Francesca Amfitheatrof says when I ask her about her earliest memory of the iconic Fifth Avenue jeweler. "It had portraits of everyone from Diana Vreeland, with this red table and just dinner for one, and Andy Warhol, who did a prison meal of Campbell's tomato soup, bread, and water but served it on Tiffany china, to Prince and Princess Edouard Lobkowicz, with this grand dining room with all this silver at their country home in Normandy." Born in Japan to an Italian mother and a Russian-American father who worked as a bureau chief for Time, the Vince-and-Altuzarra-clad Amfitheatrof is one of those glamorously unplaceable global citizens who attended boarding school in England and has at various points lived in Moscow, London, New York City, and Rome. So perhaps it's not surprising that she would be as culturally conversant with New York society doyennes and pop art demigods as with fairly obscure European aristocrats. "I was just fascinated by the crazy cross section of people," she says, acknowledging Tiffany's global appeal. "And also the element of wit and fun." The book clearly left an impression, and as Tiffany's new design director, Amfitheatrof is looking to return the favor.
The 44-year-old mother of two, who currently calls a brownstone in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill home, is on the line from Sydney. "Last week I was in Dubai," she says. "Last month I was in Seoul and Beijing; the month before I was in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore; and then before that I did South America and Europe. I feel like a travel agent!" Amfitheatrof is on the last leg of a monster tour promoting her first collection for Tiffany, Tiffany T, a range of clean-lined bracelets and chains in 18K yellow and rose gold and sterling silver built from linked T's. She's the first woman (and only the eighth person) to hold the title of design director in the heritage house's 178-year history. "When you look at the New York flagship, it's like the letter T—it's very, very tall, and it's very grand," she says, explaining how she referenced the company's seven-story art deco emporium at 727 Fifth Avenue, where Holly Golightly once famously drank her morning coffee. "I took the T and I sliced it and bent it and made it into squares and cubes." The resulting designs are refreshingly bold and modern—yet still distinctively Tiffany. "I remember seeing an Emirati lady," Amfitheatrof recalls. "She was covered completely, of course, but her arm came out and she had the cuffs on and they just looked so cool." Amfitheatrof found another unlikely fan in Korea: K-pop icon G-Dragon. "He was wearing the chains and the T square bracelets with his Chanel cardigan!" she says.
Courtesy of the subject
It was precisely this ability to design jewelry that crosses borders—and cultures—that led Tiffany to select Amfitheatrof, a trained jeweler and silversmith who holds degrees from the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins and whose impressively packed CV includes designing china, crystal, and flatware for Wedgwood; furniture and lighting for Muriel Brandolini; and eyewear for Marni. Amfitheatrof will now oversee all facets of product design for the company, from tableware and gifts to engagement rings and red-carpet one-of-a-kinds. "Francesca has a very modern perspective on building our heritage," Tiffany senior vice president Jon King says. "She reminds us not to stay stuck in the dusty archives, and she's comfortable working with jewelers at the bench, literally torch in hand."
Next up for Amfitheatrof: the April unveiling of her first Blue Book collection, an annual grouping of more than 200 individually designed high-jewelry pieces that feature rare and exotic gems. The project is inherently more decorative than Tiffany T yet still quite minimalist. Called The Art of the Sea and imbued with a sense of Old Hollywood glamour, Amfitheatrof's collection includes a pavé-set wave-pattern diamond-and-black-opal bracelet and a blackened gold cuff strung with cultured Tahitian pearls that sits below the wrist and covers the hand. "It's really this marriage of form and proportion with these incredibly seductive stones," she says. So is there anything Amfitheatrof wouldn't feel comfortable creating? "Probably clothes," she says with a laugh. "I'm not a flowy, drapey designer. If I draw a dress, it looks like it's made out of cement or something."
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Art House: Hotels that are truly pieces of art
Mar 19 2008 by Clara Young
Categories : Culture
Hotels as performance art - for the traveller who wants more than just a fluffy bathrobe.
You could play it safe and book yourself at the Hyatt, or you could pay $101 a night and stay in a “vision machine.” The vision depends on which room you check into at the Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin. And, no, breakfast is not included.
The morbidly inclined would love “Gruft,” which features coffin beds – singles, of course. Those who have seen The Silence of the Lambs once too often will be naturally attracted to the “Two Lions” suite, furnished with beds in two ornate cages elevated 1 1⁄2 metres off the carpeted floor. The borderline psychopath might ensconce himself in the green leather upholstery of “Padded Cell,” while the certifiably unstable might be biased toward “Flying Bed,” with its sharply slanted floor. Designed and built by artist/ musician Lars Stroschen, Propeller Island – the name is taken from a Jules Verne novel – takes the interior-decorating appeal of art far beyond the tasteful confines of lobby walls into the sometimes-inhospitable realm of “living in a work of art.” It is part of a newly emerging category of one-star (okay, occasionally two-star) hotels that are ditching comfort and convenience for the experiential.
What does it feel like to go to sleep with the Eiffel Tower sparkling through your window? Or wake up in a glowing, all-orange room? Hotels like the Everland – a groovy ’60s-vibe crash pad currently bolted onto the roof of the Palais de Tokyo contemporary arts centre in Paris – and Propeller Island City Lodge fulfill those fantasies; these are art installations that double as B&Bs. Etienne Boulanger’s Single Room Hotel, located on a scruffy street corner in Berlin’s Skulpturenpark, is constructed out of scaffolding and giant billboards.
Click here to read more!Guests climb up a short ladder on the sidewalk and through a door into a basic room with a bath that looks like it’s right out of Travelodge.
“The people who come on our organized trips don’t want something that’s anonymous,” says Eric Mézan, who founded the Paris-based art-consulting agency Art Process and its spinoff, Art Travel Desk, which puts together customized art tours all over the world. “They want something that’s tailor-made for them. They want to experience travel differently.”
Art Travel Desk will book its clients at André Balazs’ Miami Beach spa hotel, The Standard, for example, while they make the rounds at Art Basel Miami Beach and beyond. But if Mézan thinks his clients are on a quest for something a little more off-the-wall, he’ll go for something like the Salon Parisien.
Here, in video artist Frédérique Lecerf’s spacious studio apartment in Paris’ Butte Aux Cailles neighbourhood, you’re not living in a work of art; you’re living where artists work.
Friends come by to pick up or drop off work. Someone may come by to paint a mural on the wall outside. The house itself is an informal exhibition space with a rotating selection of videos, paintings and other art installations showcased in every room. But all this is mere art as spectator sport. To really get into the thick of the creative process, fork out 50 Euros for a dinner party/performance piece and you may find yourself in Lecerf’s rococo-style dining room, being videotaped spooning gold gazpacho into your mouth, cutting into a gilded pork roast or stuffing an 18-karat baked apple into your mouth. “It’s like eating a still life,” says Lecerf, who specializes in lavish gold-leaf meals. Lecerf and Olivier Goetz – an art critic who moonlights as a chef – concoct monochromatic meals in not-always-appetizing hues, including pitch-black dinners, with starters such as oysters and winkles with black truffles, and all-turquoise feasts. As Lecerf explains, “People who want a direct and immediate connection with an artists’ community like to come here.”
There is a similar philosophy behind Michèle Mariaud’s two-floor SoHo artists’ loft in Manhattan. A Quebecer who quit advertising four years ago to become an art dealer and consultant, Mariaud and her photographer husband decided to bring in a little extra income by opening their house to arts-oriented guests – many of whom book through Mézan’s Art Travel Desk.
Click here to read more about art hotels.
Like the Salon Parisien, Mariaud’s loft is artsy and convivial. “This isn’t a place you should come to if you’re looking for privacy,” she says. “I’ve come home and found guests I hadn’t met yet sitting on the couch, playing banjo for my daughter. People who are staying here meet one another. A lot of times, we end up having dinner parties together.”
Rather than living in a work of art or living where artists work, Mariaud’s loft is about living with art, which just happens to be the name of the hotel. “I wanted to make art collecting less intimidating,” says Mariaud. “People have preconceived notions about it: that you have to be educated, that art has to be precious. I wanted to create a space that is warm, unpretentious and lived in. I put art everywhere. I want people to feel comfortable having art around them.”
Big hotel chains are also beginning to see the cosmetic appeal of contemporary art. Le Méridien recently hired curator Jerome Sans – formerly of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris – to make its hotels art-compliant. Sans’ job is to create a global creative cartel made up of 100 individuals – which the hotel has dubbed “LM100” – that will include international artists to design the hotel’s key cards and musicians to create distinctive “sound environments” in its elevators and lobbies. Visual artist and writer Sam Samore has written a collection of bedtime fairy tales that are to Le Méridien’s bedside tables what Gideon Bibles are to others.
“What Le Méridien wants to do is almost pedagogical,” explains Sans. “We want to bring new, original experiences to people who are out of touch with creative things and don’t have the time or knowledge to seek them out. My role is to bring in people who will create unforgettable experiences that transform the banal into something that will transport our guests and change their lives.”
A stay at Le Méridien might not be an encounter with the sublime. But from a marketing point of view, contemporary art may become what design was to the hotel industry in the ’80s. Park Plaza Hotels has been dabbling in art strategies for the past five years with “art’otels,” a small chain of European boutique hotels, each of which showcases an artist. The art’otel Budapest, for example, shows some 600 pieces by painter Donald Sultan, who also had an influence on the design of the hotel.
These hotels are banking on art to draw in the frequent flyers – the young, hip and cool who have loads of disposable income. This entails that, in addition to the armchairs designed by Christian Liaigre, there are avant-garde videos looping on the flat screen television over the headboard and bird sounds piped into the bathroom, and there’s a Jeff Wall photograph on the wall in the conference room.
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Home Articles In the News A New Way to Teach Domestic Violence Awareness
A New Way to Teach Domestic Violence Awareness
Two experts in the field turn a weighty topic into a board game
By domesticshelters.org
7.5k have read
Domestic violence can be a heavy and complex topic to digest, and many people struggle to fully comprehend the multilayered dynamics that accompany it. To make it easier to understand, a pair of collaborators decided to make it into a game. A board game, to be precise, appropriately called OUTrage, released last August.
Stephanie Angelo, author and national domestic violence consultant, whose company trains companies how to handle workplace violence, created the game with Carl Mangold, licensed social worker and a fellow domestic violence advocate. Aimed at training professionals and non-professionals alike, OUTrage helps people empathize with what victims of domestic violence may experience. One advocate, Doreen Nicholas, training coordinator with the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, says using OUTrage during training helps her staff step into the shoes of a survivor.
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“One thing people often don’t understand is how hard it is to leave an abusive partner. When you’re trying to leave is when the abuse gets worse. It [the game] really lays that out well and gives people a different perspective.”
We asked Angelo to talk a little bit more about how OUTrage works.
DomesticShelters.org: Why did you want to make a game about domestic violence?
Angelo: There was really nothing on the market to learn about domestic violence in this way. With our game, you can learn about the dynamics of abuse in a way that’s non-threatening. It gets people to talk about domestic violence, think about the impact their choices have on other people, and gets them to really look at the bigger picture.
DS.org: How do you play it?
A: There are five different characters: the abuser/pit bull and the abuser/cobra; the adult victim, the child victim and the ‘other person,’ who might be a friend, relative, social worker or clergy person; someone not in the relationship who has an outside effect on the situation.
First, you’ll roll the dice, and then you’ll pick up a card that will tell you what happens to your character and move forward or backward depending on what the card says. Everything on the cards is real life; it comes from actual situations that I’ve encountered. There are good things that happen with every character and there are negative things. Good might be completing counseling or finding an advocate. Negative things include going to jail, even dying. There’s no stopping point; you end when the players determine the game ends, say, after 20 or 40 minutes. The roles rotate so each player or team gets a chance to be each character. At the end of the game, there’s a debriefing sheet that helps you have a conversation about what happened.
DS.org: Who can benefit from playing the game?
A: It can be used in offender treatment groups, domestic abuse shelters, individual and family counseling settings, and to help teach domestic violence advocates and social workers about the way abusers and victims behave. Survivors also play it so they can learn more about the dynamics of their situation. It can also be played by families and in school settings; we recommend 9th grade and above as it might not be appropriate for younger children. But if the family itself is having some issues with domestic violence, this could be a part of family therapy. It can help them understand what is going on in their lives and can open a dialogue.
To learn more about the game, or to purchase it for your organization, visit thegamecrafter.com.
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Back to Journals » Risk Management and Healthcare Policy » Volume 11
Study Protocol
Implementing a Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) system to enable meaningful use of an EHR medication reconciliation system
Authors Rangachari P
Received 22 September 2017
Accepted for publication 1 March 2018
Published 26 March 2018 Volume 2018:11 Pages 45—53
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S152313
Editor who approved publication: Dr Kent Rondeau
Pavani Rangachari
College of Allied Health Sciences, Augusta University, Georgia, GA, USA
Background: Despite the regulatory impetus toward meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) Medication Reconciliation (MedRec) to prevent medication errors during care transitions, hospital adherence has lagged for one chief reason: low physician engagement, stemming from lack of consensus about which physician is responsible for managing a patient’s medication list. In October 2016, Augusta University received a 2-year grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to implement a Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) system for enabling its health system (AU Health) to progress from “limited use” of EHR MedRec technology to “meaningful use.” The hypothesis is that SKN would bring together a diverse group of practitioners, to facilitate tacit knowledge exchange on issues related to EHR MedRec, which in turn is expected to increase practitioners’ engagement in addressing those issues and enable meaningful use of EHR. The specific aims are to examine: 1) user-engagement in the SKN system, and 2) associations between “SKN use” and “meaningful use” of EHR.
Methods: The 2-year project uses an exploratory mixed-method design and consists of three phases: 1) development; 2) SKN implementation; and 3) analysis. Phase 1, completed in May 2017, sought to identify a comprehensive set of issues related to EHR MedRec from practitioners directly involved in the MedRec process. This process facilitated development of a “Reporting Tool” on issues related to EHR MedRec, which, along with an existing “SKN/Discussion Tool,” was integrated into the EHR at AU Health. Phase 2 (launched in June 2017) involves implementing the EHR-integrated SKN system over a 52-week period in inpatient and outpatient medicine units.
Discussion: The prospective implementation design is expected to generate context-sensitive strategies for meaningful use and successful implementation of EHR MedRec and thereby make substantial contributions to the patient safety and risk management literature. From a health care policy perspective, if the hypothesis holds, federal vendors could be encouraged to incorporate SKN features into EHR systems.
Keywords: electronic health records, medication reconciliation, meaningful use, Social Knowledge Networks, health IT implementation, patient safety, risk management
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7 Reasons Why You Should Pre-Order the HUAWEI Y7 Prime 2019
The recently launched Huawei Y7 Prime 2019 is fast becoming the toast of many phone users across the country. The all-new sleek phone with funky design and very appealing colours, combines many features that put the user at the best advantage. The phone has a larger display (Dewdrop 6.26) compared to many phones in its category and it takes some of the best selfies a mobile telephone could take. And to add, it has a longer battery life and when you pre-order, you get amazing gifts. Here are some of the reasons why you need to get yourself a Huawei Y7Prime 2019 now.
Funky Trend Colours
HUAWEI Y7 Prime 2019 is Huawei’s latest budget phone addition to the market. Y7 Prime 2019 comes in three energetic colours: Aurora Blue, Midnight Black and Coral Red. The back of the device is ceramic and is coated with polycarbonate, which is resilient against day-to-day wear and tear. It means, your Y7 Prime 2019 won’t look old any time soon.
6.26“ Dewdrop Display
The HUAWEI Y7 Prime 2019 gets a huge upgrade in terms of looks. It features the premium HUAWEI Dewdrop display where the front camera is housed into a tiny pearl notch, to ensure the symmetry of the frontal view and to provide a 6.26 inch screen that provides a high-quality entertainment experience whether the user is using the device for video or gaming purposes.
And since young people tend to spend more time in front of their mobile phone screen playing games or watching videos, Huawei has added a protection mode, if enabled, adjusts the colours of the display and reduces the intensity of the blue light – which research studies claim to have a negative effect on our eyes.
4,000mAh Battery
Huawei has added a large 4,000mAh battery to this mid-market phone segment. The aim is to provide users with up to two days’ worth of usage so they are worry-free about running out of power. Huawei even says this device retains at least 80 per cent its full capacity even after 700 recharges, which technically means the phone is still reliable even after two years of normal use. The phone comes also with the pre-installed app Phone Manager, that identifies which apps are consuming the most of the battery, so users know and close down these apps and optimize the performance of their device.
16MP Selfie Camera
Huawei has integrated a 16MP front camera into a small notch that is situated on the vertical axis of the device. Huawei says people face some difficulties when they want to take a selfie, that the shutter button may not be reachable and it is even sometimes a hassle to tap the screen even if we are using a selfie stick. So Huawei has equipped this phone with two easy ways to take selfies: Gesture Control and Smile Detection. How they work is like this:
If the Gesture Control is enabled, users can snap a selfie by just opening or closing their palm in front of the camera. Otherwise, users can say “cheese” and the camera will snap a selfie. It feels like an automatic selfie.
On the back, there are two cameras: 13MP+2MP. The primary 13MP camera has a wide aperture of f/1.8 with 16 virtual f-stops to provide granular controls over depth of field effects. In Aperture Mode, users can get a soft bokeh around objects by turning up the aperture, and around crisp image if they lower it. This is a simulated effect and it can be applied before or after the fact.
The Master AI on HUAWEI Y7 PRIME 2019 has got an upgrade. Huawei says it can recognize over 22 different categories and more than 500 scenes. And if it is enabled, the AI can recognize
the subject we are pointing the camera to and adjusts the parameters to get the best results.
Biometric identification
Huawei equipped this device with Face Unlock 2.0. It works like this: Users set up their profile following on-screen instructions; the device can authenticate the identity of a user and unlock the device quickly. For extra security, facial credentials are saved locally and never leave the device. Furthermore, there is also the fingerprint sensor technology, which, Huawei says, allows users to unlock the device in less than 0.37 seconds. The fingerprint sensor also supports multiple functions, such as to take photo/video, stop the alarm, answer call, browse photos or show the notification panel.
Pre-Order and Enjoy Free Gifts
Get your #Y7Prime2019 at 829GHC. Pre-order with as little as 100GHC from any of the listed shops below to enjoy FREE Gift Box, 32GB Memory Card and Movie Ticket. Pre-Order from https://www.jumia.com.gh/huawei-preorder/ or any of the listed shops below.
HUAWEI Y7 Prime 2019 is a great phone to have. It comes with a big screen display, 16MP selfie camera with innovative ways of triggering the shutter (what some are already calling “automatic selfie”), a battery with longer lifespan and effective biometric identification tools. It looks and feels great and it is only priced at 829GHC.
Watch how Rev. Owusu Bempah prophesied about Buhari’s victory
VIDEO: Ghanaian language ‘Twi’ makes its way in Hollywood film “Sleepy Hollow”
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Aditya Pancholi To Take Legal Action Against Kangana Ranaut, Calls Her A Mad Woman
Amidst Kangana Ranaut vs Hrithik Roshan fight, Aditya Pancholi calling Kangana a mad girl is nothing but a more stirring drama and complications.
Kangana Rananut-Hrithik Roshan feud of Bollywood will never be forgotten anytime soon. Kangana, coming from ordinary family background and getting herself established in tinsel town in itself is worth admirable. After giving movies like Queen and Tanu Weds Manu she became a huge social buzz. What also makes her different from other co-stars is her bold thoughts and words.
Recently, Kangana took a sly dig at Bollywood celebs Aditya Pancholi, Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar and Adhyayan Suman. The infamous fight between Kangana-Hrithik took an ugly turn after both the actors slammed legal notice against each other. Kangana like never before opened up on every incident happened between her and Hrithik Roshan at Aap Ki Adalat show and in an interview with Barkha Dutt.
TRENDING: Kangana-Hrithik Spat: Ex-wife Sussanne Khan Hits Back At Kangana Ranaut In Support Of Hrithik Roshan!
This is just all started and lo Aditya Pancholi too wakes up from his hibernation mode. Aditya Pancholi says that he will take legal action against Kangana Ranaut, referring her as a mad girl.
Pancholi told to Bollywoodlife, “She is a mad girl, what to do, did you see the interview? Didn’t you feel like some mad person was talking? Who talks like that? We have been in the industry for so long, nobody has ever spoken anything so evil about anyone. What should I say, she’s a mad girl. If you throw stones in mud, it will only spoil your clothes.”
Pancholi added further, “I am going to take a legal action against her. She is lying that’s why I am taking legal action against her. I don’t know about other people, but as far as my story goes and what she has spoken about me, she has said all lies. She has to prove that I have done that. My family is very much affected by it. My wife and I will take legal action against her.”
Looks like, Kangana Ranaut have to deal with more legal issues ahead of Simran movie release.
Tags:Aditya PancholiBollywood controversiesHrithik RoshanKangana RanautKangana-Hrithik Spat
Previous : Kangana-Hrithik Spat: Ex-wife Sussanne Khan Hits Back At Kangana Ranaut In Support Of Hrithik Roshan!
Next : Gauri Lankesh Killed: Indian Celebrities Mourns Death Of Senior Journalist
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General Terms and Conditions for Business Associates (“GTCs-B2B”) v2
PREAMBLE 1.1 Eversport GmbH, Heiligenstädter Strasse 31, Floor 2, 1190 Vienna, registered on the Commercial Register of the Vienna Commercial Court at FN 404544v, together with all of its subsidiaries (“Eversports“), operates client software and an online platform via a mobile app as well as on its websites (“Eversports Platform“). 1.2 The Eversports Platform may be used to search, book and pay online for various services in the field of sports and leisure activities as well as sports venues (referred to collectively as the “Sports and Leisure Offerings“). The Sports and Leisure Offerings are provided by the business associate company (the “Operator”; the Operator, together with Eversports, referred to as the “Contracting Parties“) on its own responsibility, in its name and for its own account. Eversports supports the Operator with the Eversports System in dealings with Users essentially only by providing a clear presentation of the Sports and Leisure Offerings and by handling bookings, but not by performing the User/Service Agreements between the Operator and Users. 1.3 The following terms in these GTCs shall have the meaning assigned to them below: (a) The term “User” describes those persons (particularly consumers) who have downloaded the Eversports mobile app, who have registered with Eversports via the Eversports Platform as well as simply visitors to Eversports websites (in particular: www.eversports.com, www.eversports.at, www.eversports.de). (b) The term “Admin Area” describes the Internet-based software solution provided by Eversports to the
Operator for managing its Sports and Leisure Offerings. (c) The term “Eversports System” includes the Eversports Platform and other Eversports administration
and booking services (both online and offline). (d) The term “Operator” refers to a natural person or legal entity who has entered into a contract with Eversports to use the Eversports System as a provider of Sports and Leisure Offerings (“Partnering Contract“). Some providers of Sports and Leisure Offerings use the Eversports System for certain Sports and Leisure Offerings (essentially for day tickets in the realm of gym studios) only as a market place, without any other software solution (“Marketplace Offering”).
SCOPE OF APPLICATION, EXCLUSION OF OTHER GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, PRIORITY, AMENDMENT OF THESE GTCS,
WRITTEN FORM REQUIREMENT 2.1 Scope of application. The agreed Marketplace Contract shall apply primarily to the Marketplace Offering; in such case, these General Terms and Conditions shall only apply subsidiarily provided that they do not conflict with the Marketplace Contract. All other legal relations between Eversports and the Operator shall be exclusively governed by these GTCs; they may be accessed at https://manager.eversports.com/agb. Subject to Eversports’ express written consent, the Parties hereby rule out any application of the Operator’s general terms and conditions. Acts taken on the part of Eversports in performance of the contract, or its silence, shall not give rise to any acceptance of the Operator’s general terms and conditions. These GTCs shall also apply to all future transactions with the Operator, even where no express reference is made to them in individual cases, and shall, in particular, include future supplementary or other transactions. The most current version of these GTCs, at the time the contract in question is concluded or at the time of any subsequent transaction, shall always apply. 2.2 Amendments, special right of termination. Eversports may unilaterally make amendments to these GTCs at any time by giving notice in digital form (no signature required); they shall take legal effect 6 weeks from the date of notification for all facts and circumstances within the scope of the contracts between Eversports and the Operator taking place after the amendment has come into effect, unless the Operator objects in writing within such period by letter or e-mail to [email protected]. In the event of any objection or failure to provide notification, the previous version of the General Terms and conditions shall remain applicable to current contracts. However, Eversports shall remain at liberty to extraordinarily terminate current contracts upon 8 weeks’ notice in the event of an objection by the Operator. Any other changes or agreements between the User and Eversports deviating herefrom must be made in writing to be effective. 2.3 Priority, interpretation. The legal relations between Eversports and the Operator are governed by the following legal bases: 1. Mandatory law, 2. Marketplace contract for the Marketplace Offering, 3. Contract for other services not qualifying as a Marketplace Offering (Partnering Contract), these General Terms and Conditions, 4. Miscellaneous. In the event of any conflict between these legal bases, the legal basis which is earlier in priority shall take precedence over those legal bases which follow it. 2.4 “Written form” means that the declaration must be signed (e.g. a copy/scan of a letter personally signed and sent by e-mail or post). Where written form is required, the cancellation or amendment of the written
form clause shall likewise only be valid if given in written form. For purposes of complying with mere ‘text form’, an e-mail without signature is sufficient if the relative despatch address manifestly contains the sender’s domain.
INCLUSION, ACTIVATION, USE, PRICE CHANGES, DISCOUNTS 3.1 Inclusion, duty to update. The Operator shall be entered into the Eversports System with such prices, opening hours, images and geodata/GPS coordinates and other relevant information as it has uploaded to the Admin Area. The Operator undertakes that it shall regularly verify and update the information entered (in particular: prices and offers). In descriptive texts, the Operator is not permitted to insert references to telephone numbers or websites of third parties. 3.2 Activation. The Operator profile in the Eversports System is activated by Eversports after the Operator has provided all necessary information. Only after the Operator’s profile has been activated can Eversports activate the Operator’s Sports and Leisure Offerings for User bookings. All Sports and Leisure Offerings posted by the Operator within the Admin Area are automatically offered online for booking via the Eversports Platform. 3.3 Data maintenance, responsibility The Operator is itself responsible for entering, maintaining and updating all data and information it enters into and posts for publication on the Eversports System. Eversports shall have no duty to verify the data transferred or entered by the Operator. The risk of faulty data transfer lies with the Operator. 3.4 Incorrect information. The Operator acknowledges that any misleading and/or incorrect information provided by it, such as the facilities, location or name of the Sports and Leisure Offerings may give rise to claim for damages. The Operator shall indemnify and hold Eversports harmless upon its first request against all claims by third parties arising out of information provided to Eversports or entered into the Eversports System. If, despite a request by Eversports, the Operator fails to immediately correct information which is incorrect or misleading, Eversports shall be entitled to remove all such information which is incorrect or misleading or, as the case may be, it may take the entire Operator profile offline until the Operator has made the correction. 3.5 No identity checks. The Operator further acknowledges that Eversports does not verify the identity or age of Users. 3.6 Operational disruptions. The Operator must notify Eversports without delay of any planned construction or refurbishment works during ongoing operations of the Operator as well as any change of ownership, commercial tenancy, other tenancy or ownership or of any application to open bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or composition with creditors proceedings. In the event of any such refurbishment work or other foreseeable operational disruptions, the Operator must include a corresponding notice to Users at a suitable point within the Admin Area. 3.7 Price changes. The Operator must itself make any price changes it desires on the Eversports System. If the Operator is unable to change the prices itself, it must give notice of such changes at least 10 working days prior to the date of the intended change. Price changes shall have no influence on Sports and Leisure Offerings booked prior to publication of the price change, or on contracts concluded prior to such time. The Operator must perform the contract concluded with it at the previous price. 3.8 Discounts. Eversports is entitled, even without any need to consult with the Operator, to grant discounts (at its own expense) on the prices set by the Operator, for example in connection with vouchers and other advertising campaigns. 3.9 Employee training. The Operator has a duty to inform its employees with responsibility for bookings regarding the existence of the cooperation with Eversports, and must familiarise them with the use of the Eversports System. To this end, Eversports offers additional training sessions for a fee where required. The Operator undertakes that it shall instruct its employees to handle bookings made via the Eversports System in accordance with the contract (and, in particular, on a binding basis).
COMPENSATION, BOOKING, CANCELLATION 4.1 Compensation for non-performance. The Operator also hereby undertakes to Eversports that it shall provide the User with the Sports and Leisure Offerings on the terms and at the times agreed in the booking made via the Eversports Platform. Eversports reserves the right to pay the User compensation for booked Sports and Leisure Offerings that are not provided by the Operator (in particular: in order to ensure User satisfaction and to avoid reviews casting a bad light on Eversports instead of on the responsible Operator) and shall do so at its own discretion (but primarily based on the amount of the booking, any fault, and the reaction of the User) in amounts of up to € 50.00, and in serious cases in amounts of up to € 100.00 (possibly in the form of a voucher). The Operator shall have a duty to compensate Eversports for any such compensation, irrespective of fault, if Eversports is able to furnish substantiation that it has provided such compensation (e.g. by sending the e-mail correspondence exchanged). Any further claims beyond the foregoing shall remain unaffected by this penalty.
4.2 Bookings. Bookings on the Eversports Platform are made either as direct bookings without any further request to the Operator, or are forwarded on to the Operator as a simple booking request in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Partnering Contract. All direct bookings or booking requests and cancellations made via the Eversports System are transferred to the Operator directly via the Admin Area and/or automatically by e-mail. Direct bookings shall take effect immediately upon completion of the booking by the User without any further action on the part of Eversports, whereas booking requests shall only take effect after confirmation by the Operator; the Operator undertakes that it shall respond to the latter as quickly as possible during normal business hours, but in any event no later than within 3 hours. 4.3 No-shows. In order to avoid unwanted conflicts in the event of unannounced late appearance of the User, the Operator must always keep the booked Sports and Leisure Offerings available until the end of the booked date unless the Operator has been informed in advance that the User is unable to attend on that date. 4.4 Cancellation. Where the Operator grants the User cancellation rights free of charge or possibly for a charge, it must enter this accordingly in the Admin Area. The Operator also has a duty to Eversports to comply with the cancellation rights it has entered there.
REMUNERATION, BILLING 5.1 User fee. The Operator is obliged to pay a “Fee” in return for its use of the Eversports System (in particular: for the ability to offer and administer its Sports and Leisure Offerings). The amount of the Fee payable shall be determined by the Parties in the Partnering Contract. 5.2 Set-Up Fee. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the installation of the Eversports System and training at the premises of the Operator (in particular: migration of customer/price/product data) shall be subject to a fee (invoiced at local hourly rates or on the basis of a flat fee, “Set-Up Fee”, if so agreed). If a discount on the Set-Up Fee was granted in the Partnering Contract and the Partnering Contract was in force for less than 4 months as a result of termination by the Operator, this Fee shall be retroactively cancelled. 5.3 If the Operator terminates the Contract within 30 days after setting up of the Eversports System and activation of the Operator profile, and if when doing so it invokes the “30-day money back” guarantee agreed in the Partnering Contract, if any, Eversports shall reimburse any Fees previously invoiced (see above, noting that this does not include the transaction fee for online payments, profit sharing for referrals of new customers or the Set-Up Fee). 5.4 Due date, direct debit. The Fee shall be due for payment no later than at the time of invoicing, and shall be collected by direct debit (SEPA direct debit, credit card payment). The Operator shall sign a corresponding SEPA mandate to its bank/credit card company. In the case of unjustified return of direct debits (e.g. due to a lack of funds in the account), a € 5.00 processing fee per returned direct debit shall be charged. Operators who do not consent to or revoke a direct debit will be charged a monthly processing fee of € 10.00. 5.5 Settlement. Eversports shall be entitled at any time to set off online payments made by Users and attributable to the Operator in question against its own claims against that Operator. 5.6 Disputes. Eversports shall also be entitled to charge reverse debits for bookings paid online due to User complaints (“Disputes“) to the Operator or to require the Operator to indemnify and hold it harmless in this respect. In such case, the Operator must contact the User directly. 5.7 Collection. The User shall pay for Sports and Leisure Offerings booked directly with the Operator on site or online using the payment methods specified on the Eversports Platform (e.g. credit card). In the case of online payments, the Operator grants Eversports power of attorney and authority to collect the gross invoice amount payable by the User (power of attorney for purposes of collections), and authorises it to immediately deduct the agreed Fees from this. Payment transactions for bookings paid for online are currently processed via Stripe (https://stripe.com) and/or Paypal (https://www.paypal.com). Current information on these providers is available on the Eversports Platform. The credit risk for amounts paid by the User and to be forwarded to the Operator shall be borne by the Operator. The Operator shall also bear the costs of any transaction fees as well as the risk of currency fluctuations. 5.8 Billing. Towards the end of each month, Eversports shall settle bookings made via the Eversports Platform as quickly as possible for the preceding accounting period (one month maximum). The Fee due to the Operator (gross Fee received by the User minus agreed deductions, e.g. monthly Fees, other Fees) is then forwarded on to the Operator (with a 3-day grace period) within 20 days from the end of the billing period (due date), at the latest. The statement is sent electronically. Objections to invoices must be notified to Eversports by e-mail at the earliest possible time, but in any event no later than 14 days after receipt of the invoice. Following expiry of such period, the statement is deemed irrevocably approved. 5.9 Power of attorney for invoicing. The Operator hereby authorises Eversports, if agreed, to issue invoices on behalf of the Operator to the User making the booking, indicating the tax rate entered in the Eversports
System, for bookings made by that User. The Operator shall be responsible for the contents of the invoice, including the VAT indicated therein. 5.10 Default. In the event of default of payment by the Operator, statutory default interest shall be applied. Furthermore, in the event of default of payment, the Operator undertakes that is shall reimburse Eversports for the dunning and collection costs incurred to the extent they are necessary in order to properly pursue legal rights. The assertion of further rights and claims shall remain unaffected hereby. In the event of a default of payment, the Parties agree that a fee of € 10.00 is chargeable for each reminder.
LEGAL MESSENGER, AVAILABILITY, LIABILITY 6.1 Service Agreement between Operator and User, legal messenger [Erklärungsbote]. Contracts for the Sports and Leisure Offerings in question are concluded exclusively between the User booking the Sports and Leisure Offering and the Operator. The Operator shall bear sole responsibility for compliance with the relevant laws. Eversports is entitled to transfer the requisite data to the parties to the Contract (see Privacy Statement). In so doing, Eversports is deemed to act as a mere legal messenger to the extent that Eversports transfers contractual declarations made by the Parties. Thus, Eversports passes on each booking made via the Eversports Platform to the Operator, and does so as a mere legal messenger on behalf of the User. The foregoing shall also apply to the Operator’s declarations to Users made via the Eversports Platform (booking confirmations, etc.). Eversports shall not be liable in any way whatsoever for the User’s conduct when availing himself of the Sports and Leisure Offerings. It shall be the sole responsibility of the Operator to assert any and all claims arising from its contract with the User directly against such User. The Operator shall bear sole responsibility for performing the obligations arising therefrom. Where the User nevertheless asserts claims against Eversports instead of proceeding directly against the Operator, the Operator shall indemnify Eversports against all claims of the User arising from any breach of duty by the Operator, and shall assume the necessary and reasonable costs of legal defence and provide reasonable payments on account. 6.2 Liability for information. Eversports furthermore disclaims all liability whatsoever for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by the Operator itself on the Eversports Platform which the Operator provides on its own responsibility (in particular: prices and availability times/course times for the Sports and Leisure Offerings) as well as for incorrect or incomplete transfer of data (data migration from customer data, course data, product data). The Operator shall have a duty to monitor such transfers. 6.3 Malfunctions. Any alterations, changes and additions to the Eversports System as well as measures serving to detect and remedy malfunctions shall only lead to temporary interruption or disruption to the Eversports System where this is necessary for technical reasons or where any other result would only be possible at disproportionate expense. 6.4 Maintenance. The basic functions of the Eversports System are usually checked on a daily basis. Maintenance of Eversports client software is guaranteed during its normal business hours (weekdays, Monday to Friday). In the event of serious malfunctions (use of cloud software no longer possible or considerably restricted), Eversports shall initiate maintenance within 3 hours of learning of the malfunction or of the Operator’s notification to it, but in any event no earlier than 3 hours from the start of normal business hours (weekdays – Monday to Friday). Eversports shall notify the Operator immediately of the start of such maintenance work and shall carry it out promptly in line with the technical circumstances. Should it not be possible to perform troubleshooting the same day or the next working day, at the latest (as calculated from the time referred to above), Eversports shall inform the Operator by e-mail by the end of the following working day, stating the reasons for this and the time period that is likely to be required for troubleshooting. 6.5 Accessibility. In the event that Eversports fails to achieve 90% availability per calendar month for any reason whatsoever, it shall, at the Operator’s request, refund that part of the Fee which is attributable to the affected portion of the calendar month. The Operator shall remain solely responsible for the operability and accessibility of its own systems. 6.6 Damages. Eversports shall in all other cases only be liable for the conduct of its legal representatives or vicarious agents in cases of intentional acts and gross negligence. Eversports shall only be liable for slight negligence in the case of losses resulting from injury to life, limb or health. Liability for consequential damages (including loss of earnings and lost profits) is hereby disclaimed. Eversports shall otherwise only be liable for foreseeable damages, the occurrence of which would typically be expected. Eversports shall have no liability at all for data loss where the loss is due to the Operator’s failure to perform data backups and thus to ensure that lost data can be restored with reasonable efforts. 6.7 Force majeure. In the event that disruptions to the Eversports System or any other claim is/are based on force majeure (e.g. power failure for which Eversports bears no responsibility, hacker attacks), Eversports shall have no liability whatsoever for any consequences resulting therefrom.
RIGHTS OF USE TO SOFTWARE, STORAGE SPACE 7.1 Right of use. Eversports hereby grants the Operator the non-exclusive and non-transferable right to use the software provided in accordance with its intended purpose, throughout the term of the Contract. 7.2 Editing, duplication. The Operator may only edit and copy the software where this is necessary and where this is covered by the intended use of the software in line with the current specifications. ‘Necessary duplication’ includes loading the software into main memory, but not temporary installation or storage of the software on data carriers (such as hard disks or the like) on the hardware used by the Operator. 7.3 Grants of use to third parties. The Operator is not entitled to make the software available to third parties for their use in exchange for payments or on a gratuitous basis. In particular: the Operator is prohibited from sub-leasing the software. The Operator hereby undertakes that it shall arrange any contractual relationships it has with third parties in such a way that it can rule out gratuitous use of the software by such third parties. 7.4 Protection. The Operator shall take appropriate precautions to prevent unauthorised access by third parties to the protected areas of the software. To this end, the Operator shall inform its employees that copyright must be complied with. In particular the Operator shall inform its employees that duplication of the software is strictly prohibited. 7.5 Storage space provided. The Operator shall not be entitled to provide the storage space furnished to it by Eversports to third parties for their use whether in whole or in part and whether for payment or free-of- charge. The Operator undertakes that it shall not store any content within the storage space the provisions, publication and use of which violate applicable law, regulatory requirements or any agreements with third parties. The Operator shall check its data and information for viruses and other harmful components before entering them and shall use state-of-the-art virus protection programs for this purpose.
OTHER RIGHTS/OBLIGATIONS, DATA PROTECTION, RATINGS 8.1 Eversports’ rights. Eversports is authorised, free-of-charge, to use photographs, graphics, trademarks and logos and any other copyrighted works of the Operator (which the Operator has used or provided on its website) within the Eversports System (in particular: for public presentation of the Operator) and for its own related sales and marketing purposes, such as advertising or other online measures (metatags or keyword advertising). Any revocation of such consent shall not apply to any advertising spots produced or other information and advertising materials. Eversports shall have no duty to coordinate any advertising measures with the Operator in advance. Eversports is hereby authorised, but not obliged, to state the name of the Operator. The Operator hereby warrants that such material shall be free from third-party rights precluding or restricting Eversports from unlimited use thereof for the purposes set forth in the Contract. Eversports shall have the right to translate the information provided by the Operator into other languages, to abbreviate it (in particular: the Operator’s name) or to adapt it to the standard maintained by Eversports (in particular: to edit or potentially reject photos). 8.2 Rights of Operator. The Operator is authorised to indicate in its brochures and other publications as well as on its website that it is linked to the Eversports System. To this end, the Operator shall also be entitled to use its logos provided for this purpose on the Eversports Platform free of charge. 8.3 Data protection. Personal data (of the Operator, its customers and employees) within the meaning of the Data Protection Act (in particular: telephone number, address, e-mail address, other content data etc.) shall be processed in accordance with the Privacy Statement available at www.eversports.com, both in the imprint page and on the home page of the website. 8.4 Ratings. The Operator irrevocably agrees that Eversports shall display ratings of the Operator’s Sports and Leisure Offerings by Users on the Eversports Platform. Such ratings shall be made on a 5-point scale and depicted by “asterisks” in line with the votes awarded by Users. In particular, Eversports shall be entitled to refrain from publishing ratings if it suspects manipulations and to disregard them when calculating average scores. Operators are not permitted to recommend themselves and are also prohibited from inducing third parties to furnish ratings for payment.
NOTICE OF TERMINATION 9.1 Ordinary termination. For Contracts with a term of 12 months or more, it is deemed agreed by the Parties that the Contract will be extended again and again by the same term as the original Contract term if not terminated in writing no later than 5 weeks prior to expiry of the term or potentially extended term. Contracts with no fixed term may be terminated in writing at any time, by notice to the last day of the following month. 9.2 Open bookings. Despite notice of termination, any bookings made prior to deactivation of the Eversports System must be honoured. In the event of non-performance, the Parties agree that a contract penalty
of € 100.00 per dishonoured booking will be applied if the notice of termination comes from the Operator. Any further claims beyond the foregoing shall remain unaffected hereby. 9.3 Termination for good cause. Eversports shall be entitled to terminate the Parties’ Contract relations without notice for good cause, and in connection with this to immediately block the Admin Area and/or discontinue the option of accepting bookings, in particular in the following cases: (a) Refusal to provide verifiably and duly booked services to the User where this occurs more than once
during the most recent quarter; (b) invoicing of booked Sports and Leisure Offerings to a User despite timely cancellation where this occurs
more than once during the most recent quarter; (c) delay in payment of due Fees, including unwarranted deductions from invoices despite the setting of a
reasonable grace period. 9.4 Further claims by Eversports beyond the foregoing, in particular claims for damages and any contract penalties, shall remain unaffected thereby. Eversports shall otherwise only be obliged to remove a block where the Operator has settled all outstanding claims and submitted a bank transfer receipt on its own initiative. Where there is no particular urgency or seriousness and where the Operator is not a “repeat offender”, Eversports shall endeavour to request the Operator’s comment prior to initiating the above measures (but will give the Operator only a short period of 3 days maximum to do so).
FINAL PROVISIONS 10.1 No assignment. The Operator is prohibited from assigning receivables and other claims against Eversports. 10.2 No set-off. The Operator shall only be entitled to unilaterally set off its claim if such claim has been acknowledged or adjudicated by a court. 10.3 Access to declarations. Declarations shall be deemed to have been received if sent to the last known address or e-mail address. 10.4 Governing law, jurisdiction and venue. Austrian law shall govern exclusively, to the exclusion of any conflicts-of-law provisions and to the exclusion of the provisions of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Exclusive venue and jurisdiction for all disputes arising from the Parties’ contractual relationship or future contracts or other claims between Eversports and the Operator shall lie with the court with local and subject-matter jurisdiction for 1010 Vienna. 10.5 Severability clause. In the event that individual terms of this Contract should be or become invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or in the event that this Contract is deemed to contain a contractual gap, the validity of the remaining terms hereof shall not be affected thereby. In place of the invalid, unenforceable or missing term, the Parties are deemed to have agreed such valid and enforceable term with retroactive effect between the Parties to the Contract as they would have agreed to, taking into account the commercial purpose of this Contract, had they been aware of the invalidity, unenforceability or absence of the relevant term when concluding this Contract. The Parties are obliged to confirm any such term in the form required. 10.6 Consumer transactions. These GTCs shall not apply to transactions with consumers as defined by the Austrian Consumer Protection Act [German acronym: KSchG].
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The Year of the PC
I am smack dab in the middle of E3. Like every year, the cacophony blends into a general chorus of "look at me!" While actual games make up the majority of the show, the feud between Microsoft and Sony (and after this week's Sony conference, it's certainly a feud), is clearly the hot topic on everyone's minds. For the most part, the consensus is on the side of Sony. Yet looking at the consoles on display, it seems pretty clear this is the year of the PC.
During both Microsoft and Sony's press conferences, particularly the latter, all the game highlights and montages seem to express the inaccurate message that they are completely console exclusives. For the most part, the biggest or most exciting games, from Triple A to Indie, are platform agnostic. Those games that are exclusive are either new and untested franchises or dated far enough in the future to award those patients for a console price drop.
Of course the DRM features of the the Xbox One boggle the mind and completely sway me away from any early purchase of the hardware. Still, I'm also not entirely convinced that Sony will earn my dollars either. The indie games I was so please to see on stage are easily acquired on the PC, so while its positioning itself as indie friendly against Microsoft, it has no sole claim to that title. Likewise, Sony's decision to charge for multiplayer gaming deters me from embracing the console as a base for social gaming.
The price may not be exorbitant, but when I have a system that is, one hundred percent, free and open, I see no reason to migrate to another that barely competes with its hardware. My computer is endless upgradeable, but this "last gen" console cycle will forever remain a stagnant.
It was strange during Sony's press event when the crowd went absolutely wild when the company announced it would allow players to share games freely. The celebration was more intense than any other announcement at the conferences. What sort of bizarro world do we live in where allowing us to lend things we ostensibly own is a gifted feature to celebrate?
I have my weapon against this madness already. It's customizable, playable on my TV, supports controllers, and offers free multiplayer and frequent sales. Next-gen consoles? Maybe one day, but so far, I'm not sold.
Labels: features, industry
Christian June 12, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Yeah, same goes for me.
I'm starting to feel better and better about my PC purchase last year and I'm confident my 7970 will serve me well for the upcoming multiplattorm releases and beyond.
Curious to see how far developers will be able to push PC ports on a technical level when console limitations will be less of an issue.
Maybe, however, we'll fall back into the dark era of shitty console to PC ports since developers have to focus on where the money is being made.
So here's to hoping for lots and lots of PC releases of console games (GTA5 and MGS5 you guys!!!)
P.S. On a scale from 1 to 10 how much did Scott flip out when they finally announced the new Mirror's Edge game? Goddammit I almost literally lost my shit on that one. So freaking awesome ;)
Findaer June 12, 2013 at 6:48 PM
Personally, I am going to save up my money for an Oculus Rift. I think that sucker is the innovation that consoles lack this next gen.
Grayson June 12, 2013 at 9:48 PM
PC gaming, more than any console, has led the charge in DRM and used game restrictions. Steam is itself a form of DRM, with an offline mode that is notoriously finicky. The used market for PC games has been dead for years, first because of CD keys and now because of digital distribution. (Criticizing consoles for restricting used sales while championing PC gaming is flatly nonsense.) MMOs first tapped the market for recurring charges and I'd argue that modern-day DLC is a natural extension of expansion packs. Remember all those Doom and Quake mission packs, which are decades old at this point?
In theory, yes: PC is a more flexible platform, and certain companies provide standalone, DRM-free games. GOG.com is probably the best example. But let's not pretend that Sony and Microsoft invented these issues, or that they aren't also present on PC. (Diablo 3? SimCity?)
This is, and probably always will be, about publishers and the games they make. Steam will gladly sell you games loaded with DRM, with server-side game saves, tons of DLC, and recurring monthly charges.
This is a complicated problem. Used sales and piracy are both real issues whose impact is nebulous but undoubtedly real. AAA development budgets are enormous and publishers are hard-pressed to justify them as they continue to expand. Publishing a multiplayer game means you need to spend continued development dollars maintaining and upgrading the game and running servers. And on top of all of this, gamers haven't proven they really care enough about these issues to put their money where their mouth is, so why should MS and Sony?
I don't offer those points as justification for anything, but this isn't necessarily a case of big mean corporations tightening the screws on poor consumers.
Above all else I am surprised nobody is saying this is the year of the Wii U. The Wii U sells traditional disc-based games, has no DRM, the lowest cost, plenty of exclusives, and a unique controller you can't simulate on the PC. It's backwards compatible (with games AND accessories) and offers a sizable back catalog of games through the virtual console at fairly low prices, in addition to releasing its share of budget titles on disc. And I think their E3 showing was pretty good!
But for some reason, nobody's saying that, and I'm not sure why.
The Nuts and Bolts of Play
EXP Podcast #230: The DRM Moonwalk
Gender and Savagery in The Last of Us
Finding Meaning in The Road and The Last of Us
EXP Podcast #229: E3 2013 Debrief
Trying to Get Gunpoint
Postcards from 'Proteus'
EXP Podcast #228: Game and Watch
Ethical Decision Making in Quandary
EXP Podcast #227: Stories from the Humble Bundle
Pondering Proteus
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Why the Druid Metal Restriction is Poorly Implemented
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Thread: Why the Druid Metal Restriction is Poorly Implemented
Sunday, 23rd June, 2019, 07:33 PM #231
Ohmyn
Minor Trickster (Lvl 4)
Originally Posted by Fanaelialae
To me it's the fact that extracting and refining significant enough quantities of metal to fashion armor isn't easy. It reeks of civilization.
I'm totally fine with someone having that interpretation, but I'm sort of just pointing at the fact that each Druid is an individual, so it would be silly for "no metal" to be a universal concept in a world where it has no penalties. "No metal" means no gold or silver armor, even though you can literally grab it right from nature. Considering the fact that it can even be shaped with magic, and Druids literally have spells like "Heat Metal", I don't see why metal armor made from magical means using natural materials would really be any more a symbol of "civilization" than a Druid using Shillelagh on a stick. In my eyes, it would be totally understandable for a Druid in a grove to have a taboo against wearing metal, because they've been taught that all their life, but then as they travel the world, learn how metal is crafted and used, and consider that it's not as "unnatural" as they once thought.
Leather, by comparison, is fairly easy to fashion. While I'm not a hunter myself, I have it on good authority from a friend of mine who is that basically all you need to tan a deer hide is the deer's brain. (But please keep in mind that there can be prions in the brain that can lead to death if someone isn't careful when using this method, so he also told me that it's not something he'd recommend to anyone in the modern day.)
Well that falls within the point that I made before, in that leather is not made conceptually different, since they're both just merging and refining natural materials, one is just easier. Druids are also allowed to wear very high quality "masterwork" (I know it's not a term anymore, but conceptually I'm sure it still applies in lore) armors, which would reek of civilization as well, as they'd require exceptional tanning methods and craftsmanship to make, which would not appear "primitive" at all.
IMO, it's not so much about metal being bad, since druids can use metal tools, as what armor represents which is civilization. Uncivilized tribes are capable of fashioning leather, but armor made of metal would be largely beyond their means.
Sure, but then that becomes sketchy at best in the RAW when a Druid can dual wield a warhammer and a light hammer, or a battleaxe and a handaxe, regardless of materials. Heck, a Druid can take a feat and dual wield warhammers, but they have taboo against a warhammer and a metal shield. Druids can also gain proficiency in smith's tools, and perform their own blacksmithing, so they can make a metal shield, they just can't wield what they've made.
I wanted to clarify, since my previous post was a bit rushed (we were in the middle of a game session but had paused to grab some dinner).
A druid IMC can worship and serve a god, however it's somewhat like a fighter who serves a god. Unlike a nature cleric, whose power flows from their god, a druids power flows from the primal forces that the god embodies.
It's like a rushing mountain stream that feeds into a calm lake. It's the same water essentially, but the druid is drinking from the stream whereas the cleric drinks from the lake. The druid is closer to the source.
And again, I agree that's all fine. You have a world fleshed out and it has its mechanics. That's exactly why the Sage Advice specifies that players should still ask the DM, because they might undermine their story if they disagree with the implications of their response that nothing in the game system prevents it. My only issue with that aspect is that people assume the whole "make sure you verify with the DM that you're not undermining their story" means that the taboo is a mechanical restriction, and not story fluff, when all they're doing is reminding the reader that you can't just throw the rules at the DM and force them to adhere by them.
If the DM had a reason that Wizards do not exist in their world, then nobody can make a Wizard. I'd never say a single word about that to a DM, except maybe question the implications that has with other magic classes that may be similar, but I will contest the claim that something is RAW when I don't believe it is.
I see what you mean about the PHB saying that druids can gain their magic from a nature deity. That's a bit strange to me, in that why is the druid distinct from the nature cleric when their power comes from the same source. I suppose if a druid player wanted to gain their power from a nature deity, I would have them worship the old aspect of the god, whereas the nature clerics would worship the newer, more humanized face of the deity. Sort of like how the Greek primordial deity Gaia became the goddess Terra in the Roman pantheon.
I would agree it's strange if we assume the 1E lore, but the classes have simply changed. Now Clerics don't actually have a mechanical requirement to pick a deity at all, and Paladins are more like knights than divine agents. As per the fluff in the rules, a Druid can now essentially be considered a Cleric of the Old Faith. In this edition you can get the same power from different sources, or different powers from the same source. You could be a true neutral Cleric that worships a good deity that grants the War domain, and focus your magic on things like Spiritual Weapon and Spirit Guardians, or choose that same deity and gain the Life domain, focusing your magic on healing and restoration and never once learning attack magic.
The classes and races are no longer shoehorned into one concept, not even ones that otherwise make all of the same mechanical choices. It's fine if a DM wants to say they are, but as per the RAW of the core material, it's not the case. That's the only point I'm making.
I wouldn't have dryads coming out of the woodwork to attack the party you've described (unless for some reason the dryads were hyper-aggressive and inclined to attack anyone they felt distrustful of). However, with most druids the dryads would be favorably inclined. Being fey, the dryads are closer to the primal source than most, and they can sense a kinship of sorts with the druid. Think of it as a reaction roll that defaults to a favorable result. In the case of a metal armored druid however, it's like seeing someone you recognize as a soldier for your side wearing the enemy's colors. Automatic unfavorable reaction. They won't necessarily attack, unless it's in their nature to do so, but they certainly aren't likely to help the druid either. As for the cleric and the paladin, that's pretty much just a normal reaction roll. Despite their relationship with nature, they aren't as close to the primal as either the dryad or the druid. They basically have a foot in each world, essentially a serving as intermediaries between the primal and civilized worlds. Basically, the dryad will default to assuming that a non-metal wearing druid is on her side, but she's going to be less sure about the other two. Maybe they'll choose her side or maybe they'll favor the townsfolk. Obviously, this all precludes pre-existing reputations and relationships.
My only concern is that DMs tend to automatically make these creatures know they're a Druid, even when they try to make the claim that "Cleric" and "Druid" are just character sheet titles, and not what NPCs will refer to you as, unless you self-proclaim to be such, like a knight, priest, or samurai likely would. For a silly example, a Nature Cleric, Oath of the Ancients Paladin, and a Druid all walk into a bar, wearing their nature ordained half plates/full plates and metal shields that the Druid himself crafted with his smith's tools proficiency. They present themselves as the "Fey Knights", which is apparently a common title for Oath of the Ancients Paladins, and the whole team likes it so they adopt it. A Dryad walks over and spits in the cup of the Druid, because, "Screw that guy. I sense he's way too classy to be wearing all that nonsense." Personally I feel like the Dryad would assume that person to have the deepest connection to nature out of the three, thus making them the most trustworthy, as opposed to having immediate distrust, but I suppose ultimately it's a DM call.
Just out of curiosity though, in your campaign, if the Druid was aware that a Dryad would not be as open to a Druid in metal, what if the Druid knew he was going to have to interact with a Dryad very soon, and removes the metal out of respect prior to the interaction? Would the Dryad know they've went against the taboo of their order? If not I feel like that penalty could typically be circumvented with some proper planning and forethought, and the Druid could even take note of this and let the Rogue or Bard in the party actively disguise the Druid during typical travels so as not to offend any mystical woodland beings. The Druid doesn't have to feel shame, but I feel it would be like a Tiefling wearing a cloak because they believe other humanoids would distrust them.
But at the end of the day, I don't make it too hard to create armor made from alternate materials, and I don't recall ever having had a DM who did so either, which makes it largely a moot point. It usually involves a mini quest to track down a craftsman and/or a creature with a sufficiently tough hide. Plenty of times though, the PCs come across a proper creature simply as part of their adventures. If there is a craftsman in the party, they might not even need to locate an NPC. So the level of effort might vary a bit, but it's generally something that you can accomplish within the first few levels with a little help from the party.
My issue is that something like "hunting down a creature with sufficiently tough hide" sounds like something more opposed to the nature of a typical Druid than tracking down some iron ore. Most descriptions of Druid say they typically only hunt for survival or self preservation, and I don't find wanting stronger armor to quite fit so well into either of those categories. I could understand if they just so happened to have to take such a creature out, and utilized the hide after killing it, but to hunt something purely for its hide sounds very not Druid to me.
This ignores the fact that I find that following the Druidic lore exactly makes it unlikely the Druid would ever be an adventurer for more than one story arc to begin with, since if they're so typically neutral in alignment and against the tenets of civilization and are so for protecting nature, it sounds odd they'd ever participate in some entry level adventure like being paid by some king to stop goblins from attacking some villages. I feel like a Druid that is not an exception to their order would most likely be completely disinterested in such a trivial thing unless the DM made sure to add an extra hook that made it bad for the balance of nature. The Druid has to be an exception to the rule in some way, otherwise they quite frankly just don't give a damn about anything the other player characters care about, unless those characters also just want to protect the natural balance.
Fanaelialae
Originally Posted by Ohmyn
The dryad wouldn't know just by walking into the bar, but she would sense the druid's connection to the primal if they interacted. She wouldn't consider him trustworthy because it would be like seeing a priest wearing the vestments of a good deity, but wearing the holy symbol of Asmodeus around his neck. It screams something isn't right.
If the druid knew in advance of his interaction he could indeed remove the armor and suffer no consequences. However, unless this druid is impossibly careful, word will get around eventually. And if the druid has a reputation in the natural circles for being a heretic, taking off his armor isn't necessarily going to help him. But sure, if he somehow is so careful that he never gets found out, there will never be any consequences of wearing metal armor. Although, having to go through the precautions of never getting caught is effectively a consequence in itself.
Hunting down a creature for it's hide is only as undruidic as you make it. Sure, if you have the druid whack some poor rhino who was just minding his own business eating grass, that's not a very druidic act. On the other hand, if you have the druid hunt down the bulette that's been single handedly depopulating large swaths of the wilderness because it's an insatiable and unnatural creature, that is (IMO) proper druid behavior. If you have the druid hunt down a dragon whose poison has been seeping into and twisting the forest around it, again an appropriate act. There are plenty of monsters in D&D with thick hides that can act contrary to a druid's interests.
Maxperson
Originally Posted by JonnyP71
Looks like you don't understand the concept of railroading - it's where in game choices do not matter, it has nothing *whatsoever* to do with insisting that characters fit a game world in a thematic way.
Railroading is about removing choice. If I were in your game and I told you that my druid puts on the suit of platemail in order to sneak into the castle looking like a knight and you told me no I can't do that, you are railroading me. You have removed my choice based on nothing that has ever existed in D&D. Druids have ALWAYS had the choice to put on platemail if they wanted to accept the loss of abilities.
I'd be pissed if you denied me based on a fiction you made up.
Yes D&D has always been a tweakable framework, but the clear RAI expectation for Druids has been pretty consistent.
ROFL Consistent? Let's look at druid consistency.
1e: Must be true neutral.
3e: Can be any neutral varient.
5e: Can be any alignment they feel like.
No consistency there!
1e: Must have wisdom 12 and charisma 15.
3e: No stat restrictions.
1e: Shapechange at 7th level 3x day. No more than once per animal classification, avian, reptile or mammal. Heal 10-60% of hit points when you change. Size from bullfrog to black bear. No time limit.
2e: Same as 1e.
3e: Shapechange at 5th level 1x day, gaining more as he levels. No limit on animal types(ie can be a bear three times if he wants). Size small or medium animals. Time limit 1 hour per level. Can eventually turn into plants and elementals, and large sizes. Heals differently than 1e and 2e.
5e: Wildshape at 2nd level 2x day. Limits on what you can change into based on CR and abilities. Time limit 1/2 druid level in hours. Revert back at 0 hit points with full druid hit points.
Still no consistency!
1e: Can wear metal armor with the only effect being loss of magical abilities.
2e: Forbidden to wear metal armor with no explanation.
3e: Can wear metal armor with the only effect being loss of magical abilties.
5e: Can wear metal armor with no effect whatsoever.
Dude. The only consistent thing about druids is the lack of consistency.
And a DM sticking to the aforementioned ethos is not railroading anybody. A player insisting on trying to push their luck though, is being disrespectful.
Nope. He just understands druids better than you do.
I'd still argue the possibility that the dryad thinks the Druid is possibly doing something right, as opposed to something wrong. Something like "These people all claim to be defenders of nature, but I sense a strong proclivity in this one." If the Druid does not present himself as a Druid, and merely makes claim of being a member of his Fey Knight crew, they'd maybe be suspicious, but the only thing they have to go off of is a strong connection to the primal forces. If he's truly a worshiper of the natural deities, it could appear as if he somehow has more of the deity's favor versus what they would sense from the Nature Cleric and the Oath of the Ancients Paladin with similar but different abilities. Ultimately it's DM call, but an argument could be made that the situation could be more curious than suspicious, and that would probably prevent the Druid from outright gaining favor, but I wouldn't see it universally applying that they'd immediately be distrustful of them, or treat them with more distrust than someone in metal armor that they don't sense such a strong connection with.
I'd feel that wearing a closed metal knight's helmet and never interacting directly with any natural creatures of the Feywild (unless taking down evil ones like hags), instead first leaving that to your party unless you felt it necessary to later take the precautions to meet with them individually, would actually cover it quite well. I look at it like being a Cleric of a specific deity, but you're not preaching and waving your holy symbol at everyone you meet. If any information did leak out it would likely take a long time to put the pieces together, as individually the only thing the creatures would have to go off of is that they witnessed some knight that seemed to have a particularly strong link to nature, and they wouldn't even have a face to describe.
Also yes, I'd agree that having to take such precautions is a consequence in itself, but it's far less inhibiting than DMs that make reality momentarily cease if a Druid tries to put on metal, because "the rules". Natural beings distrustful of them is effectively the same as a Tiefling interacting with literally anything if the DM utilizes the "mutual mistrust" fluff from the PHB, and is a consequence that literally any action or decision a player makes can cause. Even a Half Orc may suffer that if they have to deal with Elves for a while and the DM makes them hate each other by default.
Yes, I agree with this, but that's what I meant by, "I could understand if they just so happened to have to take such a creature out, and utilized the hide after killing it, but to hunt something purely for its hide sounds very not Druid to me."
Heck, just as a side note, I could argue even that to be not Druidic if we follow their lore exactly from their original concepts. They believe in maintaining the natural balance and have a distaste for the unnatural creations of civilization. It could be argued by another Druid to be contrary to that idea to tan an animal hide into leather, since tanning is a result of civilization (albeit more primitive civilization than converting ore to metal), versus leaving it to decompose and be reused naturally by nature itself.
The more I think about Druids the more holes I see in the beliefs that could be interpreted either way, which is why it's silly to me that DMs feel the need to control Druid characters in their actions, as far as making certain actions as simple as strapping on a shield into something literally impossible, even though D&D has taken great strides over the years to indicate that no action is impossible unless the character simply lacks the capability. An 8 strength Gnome Wizard cannot lift a house, and would be super hindered by full plate, but the distinction there is that the DM would not say they can't put in the effort to try. Of course they'd fail to life a house, and they'd be super slow in the armor and unable to cast spells due to the mechanical implications hindering them, but they can do it. When it comes to Druids, however, DMs simply want to take their choices away if it doesn't match the fluff of the class, despite the fact that the fluff has change in its entirety since the class was first introduced, just like everything else.
Your story implications are fine, and something I'd have no trouble with, outside of some small differences of opinion that wouldn't matter anyway because I know my opinion doesn't outweigh the opinion of an NPC any more than it does that of any real person. It just irks me to see DMs enforcing taboo without mechanical implications as mechanical limitations, especially when Paladins have tenets that can have strong mechanical implications, but I've never met a DM that contests them performing actions against their oaths.
The more I think about Druids the more holes I see in the beliefs that could be interpreted either way, which is why it's silly to me that DMs feel the need to control Druid characters in their actions, as far as making certain actions as simple as strapping on a shield into something literally impossible, even though D&D has taken great strides over the years to indicate that no action is impossible unless the character simply lacks the capability.
I agree insofar as it shouldn't simply be impossible for a druid to strap on a metal shield without some kind of in game justification.
However, belief systems are based in belief, and not necessarily logic. At the end of the day, people believe their belief systems, often in spite of a lack of proof. Belief systems can be self contradictory, and people will still believe in them. Just because we can poke holes in an in game belief system from outside the game, doesn't mean that the NPCs in game don't believe it with all their hearts. It doesn't mean that they wouldn't die for their beliefs. Possibly even kill for them.
So you can have a belief system that says metal armor and shields are taboo, but swords are fine, and it's okay. It's a belief system. As long as the people believe it, it isn't necessary for it to make logical sense. That's not it's purpose.
SkidAce, Maxperson gave XP for this post
Monday, 24th June, 2019, 12:32 AM #237
It's not even that belief system that I'm bothered by. It's that some people here think it's literally as impossible for a druid to wear a suit of platemail, as it is to exceed the speed of light. It's absurd.
The point I was making is that the PHB specifies that belief and worship vary between the Druids, so Druids are inherently already not all in agreement. There is no taboo or faith system that remains uncontested indefinitely, and when the idea is full of holes, that is when it is at highest risk of being contested. Even the wording in the Sage Advice continues to use words like "typically", "choose" and "choice", when it refers to metal armor and Druids. Yes, that's a typical belief system of Druids, but player characters are not typical members of their class and/or race, and even if they were, people's beliefs and choices can change over time. If players were just a paragon of their race and class and their actions must follow that at all times, there'd be no reason for them to play the characters because the choices and actions would be predetermined. Monks say in their description that as a rule they will not be murder hobos, but no DM stops them from being murder hobos because that's just fluff without any RAW penalty.
Just because a Druid believes something may be wrong, or has been taught that it is wrong, does not mean that they will believe it forever. Even in 1E Paladins would irrevocably lose their Paladin status forever if they performed certain actions, but they were still allowed to do it, because nothing stops someone from going against taboo. The only thing to stop player characters from going against fluff in modern Dungeons and Dragons is mechanical penalties that inhibit their ability to perform certain actions, making the choice unsound. They can still do it, but the risks deter the choice.
Druids do not have such risks anymore, so even though it's a taboo, in terms of a player character, that is only fluff so long as there is no mechanical limitation stopping them. Anything beyond that is full discretion of the DM and not a rule as written into the game. Saying they "can't" wear metal armor, when nothing says they can't, is literally the DM imposing their own RAI as opposed to RAW.
Last edited by Ohmyn; Monday, 24th June, 2019 at 12:44 AM.
Maxperson gave XP for this post
JonnyP71
Superhero (Lvl 15)
Originally Posted by Maxperson
Railroading is NOT removing choice, it is removing the impact of character actions on the events in the game. In my experience, restricting mechanical choices actually has the effect of focussing the players on creating something more compelling within the environment presented - some of the best, most compelling, most innovative roleplaying I've seen has come in Basic D&D, where mechanical options were severely limited. Also is a 1E DM 'railroading' when they choose to abide by the class restrictions regarding demi-humans, armour restrictions regarding other classes, alignment restrictions for Paladins, Monks, Rangers and Bards, or adhering to the level caps in that edition? What about Monk trying to use burning oil, a Thief trying to wield a 2-handed sword (the book says they may not), or a Cleric wanting to use an edged weapon (the PHB states they are 'forbidden'), so it's more than simply them not being able to be proficient in them in these cases. It's not railroading if a DM insists on using these restrictions as written.
By choosing to play a Druid, you will have agreed to abide by the no-metal restriction - just as a Thief player in 1E will have agreed to abide by 'no 2 handed swords'. If you then decide to break that agreement, then no, I am not railroading you by denying that choice. You (the player) is simply being difficult, and somewhat disrespectful. If you don't agree to the lore, you don't play the class. If you try to push it, you don't play full stop.
Throughout D&D Druids have been leather armour clad spell casters who share a number of spells with regular clerics, who derive their power from nature, who have the shapechanger ability at some point, and who utilise simple or 'tool' inspired weapons - that IS pretty consistent. In 3 editions they had a neutral component to their alignment, but as 5E (sadly) reduced the impact of alignment mechanics that was lost. Being pedantic about the level they get to shape change proves nothing.
Amusingly it is possible to exceed the speed of light using the mechanics, but these same people would not allow it because using the rules in that way doesn't make sense. It's a neat little double standard.
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Princess Beatrice Brings Royalty to the Red Carpet at 2018 Met Gala
by Jess Cohen | Mon., May. 7, 2018 3:59 PM
David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock
Princess Beatrice has arrived to the 2018 Met Gala!
The 29-year-old royal was photographed on the red carpet at fashion's biggest event of the year on Monday in New York City. For the event, Beatrice wore a long, deep purple gown with a black clutch.
The event takes place each year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the first Monday in May. This year's theme for the event is Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.
Beatrice's appearance at the event comes just under two weeks before her cousin Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle. The couple is set to tie the knot on May 19 at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
2018 Met Gala Red Carpet Fashion
Beatrice and sister Princess Eugenie are sure to be there at the ceremony supporting their cousin as he ties the knot.
Last week, we learned more details about the upcoming royal wedding, like that Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, will be walking her down the aisle.
Meghan and Harry will also be honoring his late mother, Princess Diana, at the ceremony.
A statement from the Communications Secretary to Prince Harry was released on Friday which stated that the royal is "keen to involve his mother's family in his wedding."
"All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading," the statement reads. "Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day."
Watch E! Live From the Red Carpet: The 2018 Met Gala special Monday, May 7 starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT! For complete coverage of the 2018 Met Gala, watch E! News Tuesday, May 8 at 7 and 11 p.m.!
TAGS/ Princess Beatrice , 2018 Met Gala , Red Carpet , Royals , Apple News , Top Stories
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Dow Recycles
Michigan-based Dow Chemical Company, a producer of plastic and polystyrene foam materials, has launched a new progressive concept that hopes to take consumers beyond the commonly known “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” campaign. Dow hopes that by adding a fourth “R” of “Recover” to the concept consumers will not view plastic or polystyrene packaging as waste, but as just another step in the new “4R” approach....read more
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Local Girl Scout, Jane Sullebarger, initiated a project working with town officials to bring polystyrene foam (sometimes mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam®, a registered trademark of the Dow Chemical Company) recycling to the Harvard transfer station at least two times in the next year....read more
Local Fast Food Restaurant Recycles Foam
This October in Jacksonville, Texas, local Dairy Queen restaurant owners, Gene and Donna Brumbelow, were reported pioneering foam recycling efforts by offering customers foam recycling services in store. Gene Brumbelow credits his wife for tackling the project and hoped their efforts will have a positive impact on the environment....read more
New Foam Cup Study
According to a new study conducted by a leading Dutch research institute, single-use cups, such as polystyrene foam cups, are generally less harmful to the environment than the re-usable cup alternatives. The study conducted by TNO (the Netherlands Organization of Applied Scientific Research) compared the environmental impact of single-use cups to that of re-usable cups....read more
Dart Recycles Foam
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New Foam Recycling Center
Cindy and Brent Fifer recently purchased 16 acres of land in Elkhart, Indiana to start Nature’s Wood Products (NWP), a large-scale recycling center. Cindy Fifer stated NWP will start with foam recycling services in order to “meet the pressing need.” The company eventually plans to expand its recycling services to cardboard and wood....read more
The Truth about Foam Safety
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Cinema Recycles Foam
According to waste management specialists, Kevin Vibert and Tim Michael, paper cups, even if they’re labeled compostable, are often coated with a substance that prevents the paper cups from breaking down. Paper cups also lack strong insulation properties, thus, in order to keep your hands from burning, paper cups usually require a cardboard sleeve or additional material to keep your hands protected....read more
A Foam Ban Would be Costly
Portland, Maine gets closer to enacting a foam ban, but coffee shops and takeout restaurants say the ban will be costly. Business owners also fear the decision will be unpopular among customers. Dan Fuentes tried selling coffee in paper cups three years ago at the Lobby Café on Congress Street. He said using paper cups increased his expenses because they cost twice as much as polystyrene foam cups....read more
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September FableFriday: Sam Bissonnette, Producer
by Mitul Daiyan
Samantha “Sam” Bissonnette is holding educational media to a high standard – and it’s an interactive one. The newest producer at the studio, Sam is no stranger to FableVision, having spent time honing her skills as a 2013 intern in our marketing department. Since then, Sam has ventured deeper into media production, managing streaming content on the digital team at PBS KIDS, working as a production assistant on shows like WordGirl and Astroblast!, and consulting with Sesame Workshop on innovating in the early education field. After graduating from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education (HGSE), Sam returns to FableVision armed with a renewed passion for producing educational media. Among other things, she’s constantly thinking about how our favorite properties positively impact our lives – no matter your age.
“I’m really excited about interactive experiences through streaming media. Specifically, there’s a lot of conversation that says TV is a passive experience, and I disagree – the best shows and stories start conversation and action,” Sam shares. “People feel moved to make fan art, express their thoughts about characters online, or host viewing parties. I’m really excited to be able to think about harnessing this excitement at FableVision Studios and make it easier for people to interact with media, especially in an educational space.”
Pull up a chair and get to know Sam’s thoughts on personalized learning, rich production past, and her enthusiastic love for food, Pokémon, and a certain BIG puppy in this month’s FableFriday.
Sam, tell us about your journey to FableVision story!
My journey (back!) to FableVision started after my internship with the marketing team here in 2013. Inspired to continue working in the edtech industry, I worked several different jobs in the children’s media space and finished graduate school. I heard there was a job opening at FableVision Studios so I interviewed with Executive Producer Karen Bresnahan and Senior Producer Peter Stidwill. Before I knew it, I was welcomed back into the FableVision team!
The role of producer is often mysterious as they’re creatively working behind the scenes to pull everything together. Can you give us a crash course on your role at FableVision?
Producers at FableVision have the exciting task of managing projects that come in all shapes and sizes. We think about the project as a whole and work to keep the client’s vision at the forefront of the team’s mind every step of the way. Producers have a hand in shaping and guiding each project towards delivery. I get to constantly learn more about art, tech, and design – all things I love! At FableVision, we’re fortunate to work on a broad range of media, so every day and every project feels different.
As a producer you have to stay organized, what’s your trick?
I like to record everything as much as possible – I have three notebooks, one schedule book, and lots of calendars! I can type pretty quickly too, so I tend to transcribe meetings and conversations whenever possible.
What’s a favorite project that you’re working on now?
It’s so hard to choose! FableVision’s work with The Good Project is especially important to me. Through research-based concepts, frameworks, and resources, The Good Project seeks to help students reflect upon the ethical dilemmas that arise in everyday life and give them the tools to make thoughtful decisions. It was my first kickoff as a part of the FableVision team, and it ties perfectly with my experience at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Plus it involves a lot of content I feel passionate about, like social/emotional development.
Hats off to the new graduate! You recently matriculated from HGSE, tell us about what you studied in the Technology, Innovation, and Education (TIE) program?
As a member of the 2017 TIE cohort, I explored courses in design, entrepreneurship, animation, inclusive education, race and culture in education, and of course, children’s media! The program is really hands-on, so it involved a lot of awesome group projects and collaboration with students from a variety of professional backgrounds. I feel really fortunate to have spent a year growing professionally in such a supportive and creative environment.
Before heading off to grad school, you managed the streaming content on the digital team at PBS KIDS. What are some of the insights you gleaned from curating digital content for kids?
The PBS KIDS Video app is so successful in part because it has such great design, and it’s really made with the target audience in mind. It was important for our team to constantly be thinking about how our young audience was seeing our videos. One interesting thing we realized was that marking a video as “new” didn’t necessarily alert kids to brand new content – partly because we have a lot of early readers as viewers. This meant that we could regularly repurpose content along with current pieces to maintain a level of variety.
You spent some time teaching in the classroom. Do you have any takeaways from your time as a teacher?
My time as a preschool teacher was so valuable and it shapes the way I understand, think about, and appreciate children and early educators. As a child development major in undergrad I had a firm understanding of why early education is so important, but being a part of that growth really brought it home for me. Children zero to five can do so much more than I had imagined. Plus, they’re imaginative, creative, honest, and fun. Early educators are smart, dedicated, and passionate people that deserve all our support.
Who are some industry folks that you’re following these days and how do they inspire you to follow your North Star?Women in media like Rebecca Sugar, Issa Rae, and the ladies of Broad City and 2DopeQueens who are leading the way in their genres are all really inspiring to me. They let their own unique perspectives be their creative guide rather than trying to make more of what is already out there.
Last year's Extra Life team at FableVision Studios
This is your first year gaming for good and raising funds for Boston Children’s Hospital with us for Extra Life! Why are you excited to join our team?
I’m super excited for Extra Life! Boston is my home and I’m proud that Boston Children’s Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the country. I’m excited to support an organization that brings so much necessity and good into the lives of kids and their families. I’m also looking forward to working with Team FableVision to beat our goal of $6,000!
Who is Kovu?
Kovu the dog! My fiancé Andy and I adopted Kovu as a rescue puppy a few years ago while we were living outside D.C. He’s nostalgically named after Kovu from Lion King 2, because we both happened to love the movie as kids and it’s such a great name! Kovu is about 90 lbs, and we think a Boxer, Great Pyrenees, Staffordshire mix. Maybe. He’s very lovable, strange, lazy, sleepy, and friendly. He loves belly rubs, playing with little kids, and swimming in lakes. He’s always making us laugh and we love him a lot!
As a traveling foodie, tell us about the top three international places to visit and eat our way through.
Spiessbraten in Idar-Oberstein, Germany
Hot Pot in Chengdu, China
Bread in every form in Annecy, France.
More about Sam!
Hogwarts house: I want to say Gryffindor, but I think I’m a Hufflepuff.
Your current jam: Bright Whites by Kishi Bashi
Current read: My professor’s book – The Diversity Bargain by Natasha Warikoo
Best Cartoon Ever: Ohhhhh, don’t make me choose! If I have to, my favorite anime is School Live! (Gakkō Gurashi!)
Food that makes you look like a cooking connoisseur: My Cincinnati Chili! (Thanks, America’s Test Kitchen!)
Greatest holiday: Halloween!!!!
Favorite Pokemon: Vulpix (fire types forever!)
Tell us a joke: This is my favorite thing on the internet.
Hands-down the best sports team: The Tufts Women’s Track and Field team!
tagged with producer, halloween, staff stories, staff, Boston Children's Hopsital, extra life, edtech, sel, inspiration, process, FableFriday
FableVision Studios
308 Congress Street, 6th floor
© 2019 FableVision Inc. Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Use
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Home > Industry Analysis > Failed Banks > Failed Bank List > Failed Bank Information
Failed Bank Information
Information for Parkway Bank, Lenoir, NC
Acquiring Financial Institution
Priority of Claims
Purchase and Assumption Agreement - PDF 12Mb
Bid Summary
Receivership Termination
Please be advised you will not receive any email notification to claim/unlock/unsuspend your account or to provide any private information. Please be aware of any Phishing Scams to obtain information from you.
On Friday, April 26, 2013, Parkway Bank, Lenoir, NC was closed by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver. As Receiver, the FDIC is charged with winding up the business affairs of the failed financial institution. This includes the disposition of assets and liabilities of the failed financial institution and payment of dividends to approved creditors in order of priority.
The FDIC, as Receiver, has taken all necessary actions to conclude the affairs of the failed financial institution, made all dividend distributions as required by law and the receivership is deemed terminated.
II. Press Release
The FDIC has issued a press release (PR-033-2013) about the institution's closure. If you represent a media outlet and would like information about the closure, please contact LaJuan Williams-Young at 1-202-898-3876.
III. Acquiring Financial Institution
All deposit accounts, including brokered deposits, have been transferred to CertusBank, National Association (N.A.), Easley, SC ("assuming institution") and will be available immediately. The former Parkway Bank locations will reopen as branches of CertusBank, N.A. during regular business hours.
Your transferred deposits will be separately insured from any accounts you may already have at CertusBank, N.A. for six months after the failure of Parkway Bank. Checks that were drawn on Parkway Bank that did not clear before the institution closed will be honored as long as there are sufficient funds in the account. If you have questions about your account(s) transferred to the assuming bank, you may speak to an FDIC representative by calling 1-800-405-1439.
For general questions about FDIC deposit insurance coverage, please call 1-877-275-3342 or visit EDIE, the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator.
EDIE - FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator
You may withdraw your funds from any transferred account without an early withdrawal penalty until you enter into a new deposit agreement with CertusBank, N.A. as long as the deposits are not pledged as collateral for loans. You may view more information about CertusBank, N.A. by visiting their web site.
On October 23, 2015, CertusBank, N.A. voluntarily relinquished its FDIC insurance and closed.
IV. Priority of Claims
In accordance with Federal law, allowed claims will be paid, after administrative expenses, in the following order of priority:
General Unsecured Creditors
Subordinated Debt
Stockholders
V. Dividend Information
Dividend History on Parkway Bank
JavaScript is disabled or blocked. Alternatively, you may navigate to https://closedbanks.fdic.gov/dividends/ and search for the dividends.
Dividend Information on Failed Financial Institutions
VIII. Receivership Termination
The FDIC as Receiver for Parkway Bank, Lenoir, NC has taken all actions necessary to terminate the Receivership Estate.
The Receiver published a legal notice of intent to terminate the receivership in the Federal Register on June 16, 2016.
The Receiver has made all dividend distributions required by law.
Effective October 1, 2016, the Receivership Estate has been terminated, the Receiver was discharged and the Receivership Estate ceased existence as a legal entity.
cservicefdicdal@fdic.gov
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Part II: The right acquisitions
FierceTelecom: Although you're not making mega deals like your fellow ILEC colleagues CenturyLink and Frontier, Windstream has been on an ongoing M&A quest with a number of smaller deals. Talk about your M&A strategy and how it's helping to grow your residential and business service units?
Gardner: We're executing on our strategy. When we put Windstream together in 2006, we had a view that the future would be dependent on four things. First, it would be our ability to become a bigger player in the enterprise and broadband area (both business and residential). I think we have done that in a number of areas. We have been able to improve the diversity of our revenue. Over 55 percent of our revenue comes from broadband and business. We haven't been looking for just big deals, but rather at right deals that fit well with our view of the future.
Our residential business is still very important to us and we continue to put up good numbers there. In the last quarter, our 3.7 percent line loss was the new low for us since we have been a public company. Our organic business is running well. We're delivering best in class performance in our core businesses. With our acquisitions, we have the bulk of our integrations behind us and we have only one big billing conversion left, which is with Iowa Telecom. Because we're so far ahead on integrating our other business, we were able to execute on the KDL acquisition. We have had good opportunities because our balance sheet is strong. It's not a new focus, but we have been patient and looking for the right deals and feel like that's driving better performance.
FierceTelecom: Like all ILECs, Windstream has seen the traditional residential access line decline, but what are you doing these days to keep your residential customer base happy?
Gardner: The real key there has been aggressive marketing, and I think the ‘Price for Life" bundled offering has helped a great deal. That offer really resonates with our customers and really differentiates us from the cable companies in the market place. Whether we're selling a price for life bundle with data and voice or the triple play, we're having an impact. It's getting people to call us and we're seeing some good numbers there. We've also made big investments on the retention side of our business so if we ever get a call from a customer who is unhappy, we work hard to save that customer.
Some of the little things we're doing that are also making a difference include building new distribution channels and door to door selling in our most competitive markets. The other thing we're starting to see is our multi-dwelling unit (MDU) channel where we're selling the triple play to apartment complexes and condos that have been historically owned by the cable companies. We probably installed our first one two years ago, but now we're very good at this and we have 20 private local cable operations out there in the marketplace today. All of those things are really playing into the residential market and as you said earlier, the key there is bundling. The value is moving away from voice and into broadband and video. We have tried to design packages that provide that and push us towards the future business. This has contributed to the success of our Price for Life and our Greenstreak bundle, which is targeted more at the younger demographic that's looking for a wireless-only solution in the home.
FierceTelecom: How has the MDU channel been playing out thus far?
Gardner: Remember, we're in smaller markets, but if you get into college towns like Lincoln, Neb. or Lexington, Ky., 25 percent of the residences could be MDUs. If you cede all of that to the cable company, you're at a big disadvantage. Getting active in that space is one of the drivers of the residential access line numbers.
Book traversal links for Part II: The right acquisitions
‹ Jeff Gardner, CEO and President of Windstream on industry consolidation, the future of broadband and business service growth
Part II: The right acquisitions ›
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FXDD Posts $3.3Million, Stays NFA Regulated
The clock was ticking on forex broker FXDD after the NFA issued an MRA last Friday evening that the company
Ron Finberg | Brokers ( Retail FX ) | Thursday, 13/12/2012 | 23:08 GMT+1 2012-12-13 22:08:20
Photo: Ron Finberg
The clock was ticking on forex broker FXDD after the NFA issued an MRA last Friday evening that the company had until Friday, December 14th to post $3.3 million or be prohibited from continuing its US operations. The $3.3 million was part of the NFA’s case against FXDD that they were required to repay clients that were affected by asymmetrical slippage. The claim against FXDD was being challenged in court by the broker. But, as written earlier, the NFA wasn’t waiting around for the verdict of the case and requested the funds to be put in an escrow account or something similar to “demonstrate its ability to make restitution to customers.”
In response to the MRA, FXDD has announced that it has placed the $3.3 million amount in escrow, and reached an agreement with the NFA. In addition, FXDD announced that even after the issuance of the funds to escrow, the firm exceeds its net capital requirements, contradicting claims otherwise made by the NFA in its MRA. After seeing GFT disappear overnight from the US, the FXDD’s back and forth with the NFA has been affecting its US business with representatives being seen on chat rooms calming investors that they weren’t going anywhere. Therefore, the current news should give the broker some more breathing room until an official resolution has been achieved.
FXDD’s Official Comments:
“While we work to come to a constructive resolution regarding NFA Case No. 12-BCC-021, FXDD has reached an agreement in principle with the NFA to place US$3.3m in an escrow account in accordance with the NFA requirement. The escrow account should be opened and fully-funded tomorrow.
In addition to these restricted funds in escrow, FXDD still exceeds its net capital requirements.
All trading operations in the US and abroad continue to operate as normal.”
Tags: brokers / fxdd / NFA / regulation
So how many brokers are now left in the USA? Is ForexMagnates keeping track?
Ron Finberg
@Jon – you can go to the FCM financial figures page, and just remove GFT, FX Club and Advanced Markets http://forexmagnates.com/us-october-fcm-net-capital-deposit-data/
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Adding Sweden to Search
We have just added Sweden to our pages. Search focuses on a range of think tanks in Sweden, both those oriented locally and those focusing on international issues. The search should be useful to civil servants, reseachers, students, journalists, or any other engaged citizens.
Want to find out what think tanks say on a particular policy? How they see Saudi-Arabia? What they say on a particular ministry? Or what they think about Gothenburg?
This, and much much more is all here: http://www.findpolicy.org/sweden
In International Tags Sweden
Searching Russian Research Organizations
We now have added Russia to our search pages. The search engine focuses on 13 leading research organizations. The page should be of particular interest in the current political context of the political events surrounding Ukraine and Crimea.
Screenshot of search for Crimea Ukraine Tatars. As usual, make your search as specific as possible.
To select institutions, we received excellent input from a number of Russian and international policy researchers. The site is still in trial, as we (and hopefully you) test it.
One limitation is that some institutions put little information online. The Levada Center, for example, widely cited in international media, has a sparse website, which is why we included its subsidiary, the Russia Votes project. Conversely, the Valdai Club, which serves as a kind of forum for experts, has a very active website and blog, and thus is particularly visible in the search results. To exclude the Valdai Center, use this trick.
Our search is great at bringing out what is on the websites, and thus faster and more focused -- but of course, it's only as compelling as the content behind it. In case you want international perspectives on Crimea, try our Foreign Policy search page, here.
The Russian search page is here.
In International Tags Russia, Europe, foreign policy
Search of Australian Think Tanks Now Available
Our search page for Australian think tanks now is available. The search focuses on 11 policy research organizations, covering a range of topics from international affairs and foreign policy to the Australian economy and domestic policy. We selected prominent institutions that are reputable, active, and offer a diversity of viewpoints. Here is a search on what Australian think tanks have to say on the integration of the Australian Aid Agency (AusAID) into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
The results immediately take us to a relevant link, giving a good overview on the issue. The analysis primarily comes from one institution which is focused on development policy.
To test this further, we did another search.
A good diversity of institutions, sharing their perspective on what goes on in Australia's neighborhood, from a more involved perspective than most think tanks in Europe or North America can bring.
As the search engine returns good results it's time to make it available. We already received excellent advice from some people familiar with policy research in Australia, but are certainly happy to hear more suggestions. Let us know how it's working. The Australian search page is here.
In International Tags foreign policy, AusAID, Australia
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The stakes of a special election
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Because it is this year’s first federal election, attention must be paid to the March 11 voting to fill the congressional seat vacated by the death in October of Florida Republican C.W. “Bill” Young, who served in Congress 43 years. If Democrat Alex Sink wins, the significance will be minimal because she enjoys multiple advantages. Hence if Republican David Jolly prevails, Republicans will construe this as evidence that Barack Obama has become an anvil in the saddle of every Democratic candidate.
Matters are, however, murky. Tip O’Neill’s axiom that “all politics is local” has been rendered anachronistic by the national government that liberals such as O’Neill created. Today’s administrative state touches everyone everywhere, so all politics is partly national. Politics in Florida’s 13th Congressional District today concerns the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Obama carried this Gulf Coast district, a one-county constituency near Tampa, by 8.2 points in 2008 and 5.6 in 2012. Although Sink never lived in the district until very recently, she has almost 100 percent name recognition here because she has run statewide, almost winning the governorship in 2010 when she carried the county by 5.7 points. Between 2007 and 2011, she was Florida’s chief financial officer.
After Young died, the national and state Democratic parties moved with more dispatch than seemliness. With a robust disregard for traditional niceties, they moved Sink into the 13th District. Her real home in another county is, Jolly says — he exaggerates — closer to Disney World than to this district’s beaches. They also prevented a primary challenge from anyone who really lives here, thereby allowing Jolly to say national Democrats decided no local Democrat was qualified to represent the locals.
While she rented an apartment and began raising money, Jolly fought a nine-week primary race, from which he emerged on Jan. 14 financially depleted. He worked for Young for many years, which helps his resume, but then became a Washington lobbyist, which does not. He thinks it should, saying mordantly that politics “is the one industry in which experience and qualifications count against you.” He notes that whoever wins next month will have to run again in November and if he is running then, the Republican House leadership will want to give him some plums beneficial to his district — perhaps assignment to committees to protect seniors and veterans.
This is a purple but not a polarized district, with 37 percent Democrat and 36 percent Republican. Although the district gave the world the first Hooters restaurant, the district is unusually elderly, white and disapproving of ObamaCare. It also is smoldering about the flood insurance program.
The NFIP is yet another entitlement program that is proving to be more durable, and more emblematic of modern America, than Mount Rushmore. The federal government has long subsidized insurance for homeowners who live in coastal areas or flood plains. This entitlement, covering about 5.5 million of America’s 122 million housing units, is necessary because otherwise people would be required to pay the costs of the risks they choose to run for living where they are pleased to live. The NFIP enables the disproportionately wealthy people who own beach properties to socialize their storm losses while keeping private the pleasures of their real estate. The NFIP is another illustration of the entitlement state’s upward distribution of benefits.
Recent attempts to reform the NFIP — to end subsidized rates for 1.1 million properties and to change rates based on improved risk assessments — threaten to raise by thousands of dollars the annual insurance costs of some property owners here. Both Sink and Jolly are competitively indignant. But the U.S. Senate, an unsleeping defender of entitlements benefiting the privileged (witness the new farm bill), has recently derailed reform.
Sink will benefit from the national trend allowing early voting to obliterate Election Day. Any Floridian who has ever requested an absentee ballot henceforth gets one automatically. Seventy-seven percent of the Republican primary votes here were cast by mail in the Jan. 14 primary, and absentee ballots will be mailed on Feb. 7. Furthermore, early voting at polling places begins March 1, so many — perhaps most — votes will be cast before Jolly has raised much of the money necessary to communicate his message.
Instead of a community deliberation culminating in a shared day of decision, an election like the one here is diffuse and inferior. If Sink wins, Republicans nationally can shrug; if Jolly wins, Democrats should tremble. But no matter who wins, the district loses because it has lost Election Day.
George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com.
© Copyright 2006-2019 GateHouse Media, LLC. All rights reserved • GateHouse Gjopinion 0102
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Fujifilm wins the internationally prestigious Red Dot Design Award with 10 products
in recognition of the products' designs that make maximum use of their excellent functions and performance including the hybrid instant camera “instax SQUARE SQ10”
FUJIFILM Corporation (President Kenji Sukeno) is proud to announce that ten of its major products, including hybrid instant camera “instax SQUARE SQ10”, infectious disease testing system and broadcast lenses, have won the “Red Dot Design Award: Product Design 2018,” a product design award program organized by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen based in Essen, Germany.
The Red Dot Design Award is a prestigious international design award launched in 1955. The award is extended to products with excellence in design innovation, functionality, ergonomics, ecological compatibility and durability. It is one of the world's three most prestigious design awards, alongside Germany's “iF design award” and the United States' “IDEA”. This year, there were over 6,300 entries from 59 countries and regions judged by internationally-renowned design experts.
In developing all of its products and services, Fujifilm not only pursues functionality and performance of its products, but also engages in design development that leverages its superior functionality. In addition to creating beautiful external designs, Fujifilm is working to create new product value by developing designs that realize simple and comfortable operability and portability.
The award has been given to a diverse range of Fujifilm's products from medical products including endoscopes to consumer products such as instax, in recognition of their advanced performance, usability and easy-to-use interface in addition to their exterior design.
＜Award winning products for the Reddot Design Award 2018＞
It is such an honor to announce that so many of Fujifilm's products were chosen for the reddot Award out of many applicants from countries and regions around the world. Fujifilm will continue to develop superior products in the future.
■ Hybrid instant camera “instax SQUARE SQ10”
The first instax camera equipped with a digital image sensor and image processing technology. Developed based on the concept of “easily and creatively enjoying instant photos,” instax SQUARE SQ10 lets you create and enjoy prints at any locations where you take your photos. Not only does the camera enable photography in night scenes and close-ups through enhanced image quality and shooting performance, it is equipped with an abundance of image editing and processing functions. With this editing/processing function, you can enjoy original photo expression via simple operations. The camera realizes simple and intuitive operation by gathering operating buttons and dials for editing, processing, and printing in one location on the back of the camera and linking operating status with an LCD monitor. in a design featuring a large lens that is the symbol of instax. To maximize the appeal of this camera, the company has adopted a new square format popular among many including people familiar with SNS like Instagram* and photo enthusiasts.
* Instagram is a trademark or registered trademark of Instagram, Inc.
■ Instant camera “instax mini 9” (Overseas-only model)
This product is sold outside of Japan as a new addition to the instax series of instant cameras that allows you to enjoy card-sized prints. In Japan, this camera is sold as the “instax mini 8 plus.” The camera is equipped with an easy-view viewfinder and a high key mode that lets you take pictures in bright and soft atmospheres. It also has a small mirror next to the lens which makes you to take selfies easily. The camera comes in 5 color variations including a bright pink and a chic blue. This camera is designed to let you enjoy instant photographs.
■ Cine lenses “ FUJINON MKX18-55mm T2.9” and “FUJINON MKX50-135mm T2.9” for the X Series of digital cameras
These products are high-performance cine lenses for the X Mount, used in the X Series of digital cameras. Despite the lightweight body about 1kg, the lenses achieve an advanced level of image description synonymous to the FUJINON cine lenses, used in movie production and other professional applications. They can be used in combination with X Series' “Film Simulation” modes to deliver versatile color expressions, adding artistic elegance to video footage. The lenses feature three rings to enable manual and independent adjustment of focus, zoom and iris (aperture), all with the identical gear pitch** of 0.8M (module). The focus rings can rotate up to 200 degrees to facilitate precise focusing, adding extra comfort in lens operability. While using resin materials for the exterior to enable the compact and lightweight form factor, the lenses are designed in pursuit for premium texture, suitable for professional tools, so that users can feel joy in owning the equipment.
** Distance between gear teeth
■ Image-stabilizing binoculars “FUJINON TECHNO STABI TS12ｘ28” (available only in the United States)
This product packs a powerful image-stabilization range of ±3° in the compact body about 148mm long and weighing about 422g. Users can get a stable view in a wide variety of conditions, making it a perfect choice for nature watching such as wild birds and plants, sports and concerts. The oval-shaped body features a protrusion at the center to make it easy and comfortable to hold. It is easy to operate with one hand. The focus ring is placed at the center of the body, and its symmetrical and universal design facilitate easy and comfortable operation regardless of the size of your hand, and whether you are right-handed or left-handed. The main body is given a leather-like coarse embossed texture. The metal rings at the front body combine alumite treatment for premium black look with diamond-cut edges that give a luxurious shimmer. The classical exterior design is reminiscent of traditional optical apparatus, making it a joy to own.
■ 4K camera compatible zoom broadcast lens “FUJINON UA27 x 6.5”
A 4K camera compatible zoom broadcast lens that achieves 27x zoom with a focal length of 6.5 mm to 180 mm. This lens is ideal for shooting studio productions such as news, variety shows, and music programs. It also supports concerts and live broadcasts that capture entire venues by making use of its wide-angle focal length. There is also an extender*** built into the lens body that extends the focal length two-fold to thus cover a focal length of up to 360 mm while maintaining high-definition image quality even when the extender is being used.
Furthermore, the matte-black exterior will help it not to stand out even when reflected on other cameras during shooting in studios with a variety of photographic equipment. The lens operates the same as a conventional zoom lens so it can be used to shoot images the same way.
*** A lens that extends focal length.
■ 4K camera compatible portable broadcast zoom lens “FUJINON UA14 x 4.5”
A 4K camera compatible portable broadcast zoom lens that achieves a focal length covering ultra-wide angle 4.5 mm to 63 mm and a minimum shooting distance of only 0.3 m in small body just 238.5 mm in total length. The design of this lens increases grip performance while delivering traditional smooth operability. This lens demonstrates its power when combined with small lightweight 4K camcorders and can shoot 4K images with an overwhelming sense of depth for sports broadcasting and various program production locations. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the optical technology the company has gained over many years in the field of state-of-the-art imaging, this lens suppresses, to the utmost degree, the image periphery distortion and resolution loss that readily occurs with wide angle photography.
■ Cine lenses “FUJINON MK18-55mm T2.9” and “FUJINON MK50-135mm T2.9”
While delivering advanced edge-to-edge optical performance, these products break the previous norms in cine lenses with their compact and lightweight design and outstanding cost performance. They boast T2.9*4 brightness across their entire zoom range to enable shooting with a shallow depth of field for blurred background. The lenses feature three rings to enable manual and independent adjustment of focus, zoom and iris (aperture), all with the identical gear pitch of 0.8M (module). The focus rings can rotate up to 200 degrees to facilitate precise focusing, adding extra comfort in lens operability.
While using resin materials for the exterior to enable the compact and lightweight form factor, the lenses are designed in pursuit of premium texture, suitable for professional tools, so that users can feel joy in owning the equipment.
*4 T-stop value is an index that indicates brightness of a lens based on its F-stop value and transmission rate. The smaller the value, the greater the amount of light the lens transmits.
■ Lower gastrointestinal endoscope “EC-L600MP7”
This is a lower gastrointestinal endoscope for the LASEREO series of endoscopy systems, using two lasers with different wavelengths as a light source. The insertion tube measures just 11.1mm in outer diameter at the end, but still features a 3.2mm working channel as well as the water-jet function for flushing mucus in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby boosting body fluid suction performance and the operational performance of biopsy forceps and other tools. The flexibility adjustment function adjusts insertion tube's flexibility by rotating the Flexibility Adjustment Ring, allowing users to select an appropriate level of tube flexibility to suit intestinal bending and shape. Furthermore, the advanced-tracking insertion tube uses materials with a high level of elasticity*5 to accurately convey grip force to the tube end. When combined with the Curve Tracking Technology, which bends the tube smoothly along curvature of intestinal walls and restores its straight shape after passing a curved section, this endoscope facilitates smooth insertion into the colon, which is difficult to perform endoscopy on because of numerous bends.
*5 The property of the insertion tube that tries to restore its shape after being bent
■ Dry laser imager “DRYPIX EDGE”
This high-function dry imager outputs medical images for use at hospitals, into film at high speed and with premium image quality. It offers the gradation control function to optimize images for various tests including CR*6, DR*7, CT and MRI. Since Fujifilm's image process technology is used to identify text areas and image areas within each image precisely, sharpness can be adjusted in broad range to produce images that suit the purposes. The imager also supports high-resolution recording for mammography.
It takes just 85 seconds to print for a high throughput of 110 films (14' x 17') per hour. The compact yet high-speed model contributes to streamlining hospital workflow. This product is also environmentally-friendly with the use of water-based coating technology and energy-saving mode.
*6 Stands for “Computed Radiography,” which reads X-ray image information, recorded in an imaging plate, and recompiles it into X-ray transparency by applying optimum digital imaging processing to suit diagnostic purposes.
*7 Stands for “Digital Radiography,” which converts X-ray energy into electric signals and recompiles them into X-ray transparency
■ Diagnostic test system for infectious diseases “FUJI DRI-CHEM IMMUNO AG2”
This is a diagnostic test system for infectious diseases, examining samples and automatically detecting the presence of viruses or bacteria that cause influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, and others. The device uses a dedicated reagent kit based on the silver amplification principle of photographic development to detect viruses and bacteria at a high level of sensitivity. The system also has a built-in barcode reader for scanning ID on the label of specimen receptacles and operators' ID card, so as to help streamline the testing process. The device is designed in space-saving vertical form, measuring just 110mm wide. Test's progress status and result are displayed on the highly visible color LCD touchscreen panel at the front face of the unit. The display flashes and the unit sounds an alarm upon completion of test to eliminate the need of time management, and testers are always aware of test progress even if they are away from the unit.
For inquiries on information in this media release, contact:
FUJIFILM Corporation Corporate Communications Division
Customer Contact:
Please contact your nearest Fujifilm office.
For information on Fujifilm subsidiaries and distributors, please access the following URL.
http://www.fujifilm.com/worldwide/
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PS4 Firmware 5.56 Live Now, You All Know What It Does
By Sehran Shaikh on Fri, 08/31/2018 - 07:21
Sony has just released a new Firmware for PlayStation 4. It updates the console to version 5.56, and the size of it is 438 MB. As you have expected, Firmware 5.56 is not a major update and does not add any upfront feature for PlayStation 4, but improves the overall performance of the console.
The official changelog provided by Sony reads: "Release Note: Main features in version 5.56 - This system software update improves system performance".
This has been a big week for PlayStation fans - September 2018 PS Plus free games lineup looks good, it includes Destiny 2 which is available for free right now and God of War III Remastered, and now comes a new Firmware 5.56. Many other improvements are already planned - PlayStation Store Search functionality, it is expected to go live with a major Firmware 6.0 at some point later this year.
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EastMojo
www.eastmojo.com
Japanese shiitake mushroom|Representational image
Japanese shiitake mushroom to be available in Manipur markets soon
Around 10 staffers of the Salai Agro Production Pvt Ltd in Imphal West are being imparted training on its cultivation by experts from Japan
Vangamla Salle K S
16 May, 2019 at 10:18 AM
Guwahati: The Japanese wood mushroom, Lentinula edodes (Berk) Sing, commonly known as shiitake mushroom, is soon going to be available in the markets of Manipur. According to reports, a group of Japanese experts have begun imparting training to 10 staff of the Salai Agro Production Pvt Ltd's mushroom unit at Lairenkabi Maning Leikai in Imphal West.
The unique mushroom from Japan, which is also popularly known as the golden oak mushroom, is grown only in areas with a temperature of -5 degrees Celsius. During the training, the staffers are being trained in different ways on how to cultivate the variety of mushroom with an aim in leading to the biodiversity of conservation and economic uplift of local people.
As per experts, the shiitake mushroom needs to be cultivated over a period of 100 days inside cold storage under 5 degrees Celsius. Later, the plastic covering the Japanese wood mushroom can be opened and depending on the ripeness of the mushrooms, they can be harvested after a period of around three to 10 days. However, to enter the cold storage, the workers would require a proper wash or sanitising the whole body.
Catch the first glimpse of ‘Iron Lady’ Irom Sharmila’s twin girls
The Japanese shiitake mushroom, which is the second most important edible in the world, is in high demand and sold for around Rs 1,250 per kg globally due to its unique taste and usefulness in health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and tumours, among others.
Meanwhile, according to Tongbram Naobicha, a unit manager, prices of the shiitake mushroom in markets of Manipur will be decided only after thorough deliberation with the stakeholders.
manipurJapanese Shiitake mushroomMushroomBiodiversityEdibleGolden oak mushroom
©2019 EastMojo
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5 Unusual and Insta-Worthy Foods to Try in Thailand
When we go out to eat, we’re big advocates for choosing the strangest thing off the menu. Or at least something we’ve never tried before. This endeavour has given us the opportunity to try some of the most incredible meals that we never would’ve discovered otherwise. And what better way to get to know a local cuisine than to try something you’re not used to?
Thailand is a particularly great place to try this. Whether you’ve made your way through the different levels of Thai cuisine and ready for a new challenge, or maybe you’re just feeling a little adventurous today, here are five unusual and insta-worthy foods to try while you’re in Thailand.
1. Mantis shrimp
One of my favourite food experiences to talk about is eating the Mantis Shrimp. In fact, I’ve written a whole post on it here!
The reason I like this one so much is because the Mantis Shrimp is this mighty creature with super powers, yet also an awfully unfortunate alien-like crustacean. It doesn’t come across as something you’d be quick to fry up and throw on a plate.
But we did. And you should, too.
Expectation? I pictured myself spending a lot of time and effort picking around little bits of alien shell with little reward. Much like little crawfish — all shell, no flesh. I expected it to be shrimp like in texture but crab like in smell and flavour.
Reality? Somewhere between a lobster and a prawn in texture. Succulent, meaty flesh with a nice shrimp-like consistency. And there’s an impressive amount of meat inside those skinny bodies!
2. Ocean Snails
I’ll admit I wasn’t overly excited to try this one when the opportunity fell upon us. But we’d heard many positive reviews and had enjoyed smaller snails in the past so of course we had to jump on it.
In comparison to the average land snail, these ones range from about triple their size to as big as the size of your palm. We couldn’t find the gigantic ones anywhere so we went with the smaller versions.
Expectation? I imagined a really tough/chewy mushroom consistency, with a salty, earthy taste.
Reality? Less earthy and more of a seafood quality to it. We really enjoyed them! They did have that chewier texture I expected but tender enough that they were enjoyable. You could tell they were fresh from the ocean.
3. Fried Garlic Mackerel heads
Just south of Chatuchak Market, you can find a quiet restaurant called Soei. This place is much lauded by the famous food blogger Mark Weins, and offers a huge assortment of dishes on their menu. In fact, overwhelmingly so — it took us at least 20 minutes to sift through the various menus and pictures until we could make our final choices.
But one particular option grabbed our attention. The most eyebrow raising item on the menu was the fried garlic mackerel heads and naturally, we had to have it.
Expection? Really chewy yet crispy, almost like a soft bone, and very fishy. I pictured myself eating one, and leaving the rest for Linda to finish. I really didn’t think I would enjoy it.
Reality? Like potato chips! They’re delightfully crispy with a very delicate fish taste; seasoned beautifully with just enough of a deep-fried coating to make them irresistibly yummy! The plate was devoured in no time.
4. Durian
The King of Fruit: mushy, yellow, dreadfully smelly, and a prime example of a love-it-or-hate-it food. It is most certainly unusual.
But when I say love it, I mean those that enjoy it are frankly obsessed. And there are an equal amount of folks who downright can’t stand it.
Expectation? At first glance, I thought it would be chewy and fleshy. Based on the offensive farty smell, I imagined the taste to be less sweet and perhaps a little dull — similar to avocado, for example.
Reality? Boy, was I wrong. Not only was the texture the messiest, mushiest fruit I’ve ever laid my hands on, but the taste wasn’t what I’d predicted either. To be honest, I didn’t love it but.. I also didn’t dislike it? It was strange, sweet and had me going back for more but not necessarily because I wanted it. More so just out of curiosity.
5. Bugs
If you’ve got the classic tourist’s checklist for Thailand, there’s a good chance that somewhere between visiting Khao San Road and eating Pad Thai, there’s a challenge to eat bugs.
So, I did my best to avoid this one because I thought for sure that this was some silly gimmick that locals had a good laugh about while they watched “cultured tourists” eat a local cuisine of cockroaches. It wasn’t until I stepped outside the touristy areas and witnessed local Thais ordering bags full of these little critters for pleasure.
I stood corrected and switched my perspective on this one. At the end of the day, even if it were a joke, it’s still edible and something we’d never tried before. No need to be such a stick-in-the-mud, right?
Expectation? All I could picture were dismembered legs stuck in my teeth. I figured they’d have a salty, savoury flavour. A little crunchy, a little fleshy.
Reality? Nailed it. Legs, everywhere! They look exactly like they taste but what I didn’t expect was that each bug had something that made it more or less enjoyable than the other type of bug. It all came down to the size and texture of each one.
For example, we liked the beetles and crickets more than the grasshoppers but those were better than the locusts. The wormy ones needed a bit of mind-over-matter conditioning due to their squishy texture but actually aren’t all that bad once you bite into them.
I would recommend skipping on the giant locusts. They required too much chewing, which gave you ample time to think about the fact that you have a giant locust in your mouth… and you can imagine where your mind takes you at that point!
Thailand: the land of infinite food adventures.
Sure, there are plenty of other reasons to visit this marvellous country, but if you haven’t been paying attention to Thailand’s vast and rich food culture, I must question your priorities!
If you’re looking for more Thailand food inspiration, start here!
What to Eat in Thailand
Where to Eat in Bangkok: Our Favourite Places
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Where to Eat in Tulum: Lots to Taco 'Bout
5 Drinks You Must Try in Tulum
Tacos No Mas!
Our Favourite Thai Snacks
Tagged: THAILAND, EAT
EAT, THAILAND
Eating in Thailand is a wonderfully endless venture — each glorious dish ready and waiting to be discovered. The depth and variety of flavours, revealed boastfully in every bite, will set your tastebuds on fire! That is, both from the pure joy and the chilis.
But therein lies a beautiful problem: great food is so plentiful in Thailand that it would be nearly impossible to list all of the best restaurants, even just in Bangkok. When you can turn any corner and find food ready to eat, it becomes less about where you eat and more about what you eat.
Instead focus on 8 specific must-try dishes that are unique to Thailand. It shall be your mission to seek them out and discover the magnitude of Thai cuisine.
It’s much more than just the Pad Thai and Green Curry you’re used to.
1. Somtum
As a born-and-raised westerner, this dish always catches me off guard. It combines a few qualities that my typical meals don’t typically mix: tangy, fishy, nutty, spicy, and cold. It’s a battleground of flavours between the fiery Thai chilis and the succulent, sweet green papaya.
And both sides are winning.
What’s in it: shredded green papaya, long beans, garlic, peanuts, tomato, chilis, fish sauce, palm sugar, lime.
2. Khao Soi
Translated from Thai, the name means “cut rice”; which doesn’t really make any sense considering it’s a noodle dish. That’s because this one actually originates more so from historical Burmese recipe books than the Thai ones. In Myanmar, they call it Khao swe, meaning “rice noodle”, so it’s likely that it all boiled down to a classic game of broken telephone when this dish was graciously adopted in Thailand.
In any case, you mustn’t miss out on this one! It’s a boiled egg noodle base served in a creamy coconut broth, usually paired with chicken and shallots. To top it all off, they throw some deep-fried egg noodles on there to give it the perfect, crispy, final touch.
What’s in it: chicken, shallots, egg noodles (crispy and boiled), chilis, coconut milk, and a curry based broth.
3. Boat Noodles
Boat noodles are a dish with plenty of history: the original versions were sold via canoe through the canals of old Bangkok. In two-or-three-bite portions, these sought after noodles were served in deep bowls to avoid spilling over while in transit over water. Over time, these canals were filled in to make way for roads and this forced the boat noodle vendors on to dry land. But they’re still as popular as they ever were!
Today, it’s most commonly a street food but the small bowls have remained. Each bowl is about 15 baht so the expectation is that you continuously order bowl after bowl until your stack is instagram-worthy. The table will be set with pork rinds, sprouts, basil, and chilis — add these to your heart’s content.
And if you get there early enough, it typical comes with a small custard-like dessert.
What’s in it: pork/beef, noodles, fish balls, morning glory, chilis, cinnamon, sprouts, pork rinds, basil, garlic, and most notably cow or pigs blood. But just a splash.
4. Pad Pak Boong
Morning glory, also known as Water Spinach, is a leafy green vegetable with tender shoots for stems. In Thailand, it’s found in many dishes like boat noodles, but to really enjoy this marvellous plant is to have it all on it’s own.
Order it seasoned with oyster sauce and you’re in for a treat! Cooked properly, it will come out crunchy, salty and sweet.
You could serve with rice but I prefer to just eat it as is, I’m salivating just thinking about it!
What’s in it: soy bean paste, garlic, chilis, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
5. Pad Krapow Gai
When you order certain meals, you’ll often get a giant plate full of herbs and sprouts alongside. Holy Basil is one of those herbs — it’s a Thai staple. You can rip it, bite it, eat it whole… whatever tastes best to you. My favourite? Get it cooked right into the dish.
Particularly with Pad Krapow Gai. It’s the first meal I ever had in Thailand and it’s one of the reasons I fell in love with the country as quickly as I did. It’s not a complicated dish. They simply chop up and cook together some chicken, holy basil, and chilis. Throw it over some rice, top it with an egg and you’re good to go!
It’s a popular meal-on-the-go due to the simplicity of the ingredients and the lack of messy sauce, so you’ll often find it sold on street side carts around lunch time.
Don’t forget to add the Prik Nam Pla.
What's in it: chicken, holy basil, chilis, rice, egg.
6. Prik Nam Pla
Okay, this isn’t a meal in itself but it deserves a place at the table! Which is exactly where you’ll find this staple condiment. It’s essentially just chopped chilis in a fish sauce but it adds something distinctly Thai to any dish. The taste is obviously spicy but complemented with a salty, sweet and often sour accent. It goes best with Pad Krapow Gai, in my opinion.
7. The fruits of Southwestern Asia
Tropical countries like Thailand naturally produce the most incredible fruits in the world. They are just so full of juicy, sweet flavour. If you’re a fruit lover like I am, make a point to seek out some of Southwestern Asia’s finest fruits.
I suggest shopping at places like Or Tor Kor Market for good quality fruits. Avoid the fruits that look unusually perfect — often they’re sprayed with chemicals to look that way. You’ll need to get out of the mindset that a perfect outside equates to perfect inside because thats usually not the case here.
Some notable mentions:
Mangosteen is lauded as the greatest fruit in the world, and I happen to agree with this statement. It’s sweet and sour and so incredibly delicious. It peels like a thick orange to reveal little garlic clove sized pieces.
Durian is a strange one. It’s equally eyebrow-raising and yummy at the same time. It smells a little farty and has a stringy, mushy consistency but you can’t leave Thailand without trying it!
Plum Mangoes are very sweet and juicy and bruise easily. They are as they sound: somewhere between a messy plum and a ripe mango.
Rambutans look aggressive but it’s what’s inside that counts, right? Beneath it’s high school punk phase, there’s a delicate oval lychee-type fruit.
From Top, Clockwise: Mangosteen, Rambutan, Durian, Lanzone, Plum Mango.
9. Snails, Mantis Shrimp, and other unusual creatures
Much like other coastal regions in the world, here they’ve embraced what they have plenty of: seafood. Yes, Thailand is a seafood heaven! But we’re not talking about the Red Lobster menu. This is real seafood.
In Thailand, there are creatures you’ve probably never seen before; and others you may not believe are edible. But not only are they edible, they’re delicious.
You’ll still find lobster and shrimp here, of course, but they’re going to be at least double the size you’re used to (and sometimes about half the price).
I really encourage you to take a chance on some unusual sea creatures for dinner. Our favourite so far has been the Mantis Shrimp.
Additional Tip! You may not know the Thai language when you visit, and it’s no problem getting by without any knowledge of it, but here are some buzzwords that will aid you along when you happen to stumble upon that menu without English translations.
Gai = Chicken
Moo = Pork
Pla = Fish
Beef = Neiu
Kung = Shrimp
Rice = Khao
Egg = Khai
Nam = Water
Prik = Chili/pepper
Yum = Salad
Pad = Stir Fry
Ped = Spicy
Alright, you’re got everything you need to hit the streets of Thailand and fill up that belly!
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Subverting Style: Japanese Street Fashion
Japanese street fashion has a unique and adventurous style not seen anywhere else in the world.
Alex Bortignon
For decades, the youth of Japan have driven fashion in unique and unexpected directions, with an eclecticism and sense of adventure not seen in anywhere else in the world. Starting in the 1980s, the young people of the Harajuku district of Shibuya, Tokyo, have had an unprecedented influence on fashion.
Emergence of Japanese Street Fashion
Harajuku was the juncture of a converging set of social and economic factors, that colourfully exploded globally in the form of a fashion revolution.
The rise of Japanese youth culture:
The end of WWII brought massive social changes to Japan. Rapid industralisation and adoption of Western influences caused a cascade of social changes. As in the United States, Japan had a post-war baby boom, and cultural ideas about youth and adolescence began to change. Younger generations started to enjoy a prolonged adolescence, delaying marriage and financial independence. In these years, they enjoyed the social freedoms of adulthood, while still living at home with their parents. These young people had more disposable income and free time than prior generations.
The Japanese economy:
The Japanese economy rose rapidly in the 1950s and onward, peaking dramatically from 1985 - 1990, benefiting this new young leisure class.
The importance of Japanese fashion designers:
In the 1980s, Japanese designers like Issey Miyake, Comme des Garçons, and Yohji Yamamoto were making a mark on the world fashion scene, redefining Japanese style for a new era.
The Harajuku district itself:
In the late 1970s, Harajuku was the site of a few fashion retailers, and began attracting fashion-conscious shoppers. Also in the late 70s, Harajuku closed local roads to create pedestrian-friendly shopping areas on Sundays. Local parks on the promenade attracted teenage street dancers and musicians for impromptu performances. The Sunday pedestrian district became known as a place for teenagers to show off their fashion sense, to see and be seen.
This convergence of a relaxation of social rules and expectations, increased free time and money, and growing attention to the fashion choices of their peers drove the young people of Harajuku to become increasingly adventurous with their clothing choices, borrowing global influences and transforming them into a distinctive, avant-garde street style that was all their own.
English-speaking Japanese lolita @Sana_Seine - who we often see around the streets of Harajuku - wearing an all white lolita look with items from MR Corset, Na+H, Triple Fortune, Dangerous Nude, Metamorphose temps de fille, and Baby The Stars Shine Bright.
A post shared by Harajuku Japan (@tokyofashion) on Feb 8, 2018 at 5:39am PST
Japanese street styles
Today, the youth of Japan continue to lead the way in bold and unique fashion, always inventing new trends, and many distinct styles have emerged and continue to be seen on the streets of Japan:
Lolita: Lolita fashion is heavily influenced by Victorian and Edwardian fashion, and has become a world-wide phenomenon. Lolita has several different sub-styles, but tends to feature full skirts and tight waistlines, and focuses on cuteness. Gothic Lolita styles are Victorian and dark, often featuring dark colours and bat and skull motifs, but still presented in an appealing way. Sweet Lolita is childlike, and generally features pastel colours and fairy tale themes. Kodona is a more masculine form of Lolita, echoing Edwardian male fashions with cropped pants, lace cuffs, and top hats.
Gyaru: Gyaru emerged in the late 1970s, and echoes a glam-rock style. It typically features outsized, dramatically artificial wigs, lashes, and fingernails. It often showcases deeply tanned skin, high-contrast white eye make-up, and glitter.
Kogal: Kogal is an adult interpretation of the Japanese schoolgirl uniform. It reflects themes of a corruption of innocence, with schoolgirl skirts worn very short and high (but often loose and slouchy) socks. The look may be completed with platform shoes, and with a scarf or necktie.
Visual Kei: Visual Kei is another reflection and interpretation on Glam Rock, and is often considered a musical movement as well as a fashion movement. Visual Kei includes flamboyant costumes, elaborate make-up, and dramatic hair styles, often reflective of the style of the glam artists of western music. Visual Kei includes many sub-styles.
Dolly Kei: Dolly Kei is similar to (and perhaps inspired by) Lolita, in that it borrows fairy-tale motifs and focuses on cuteness, but Dolly Kei may also include styles and elements that date back much further, to the Middle Ages and Grimm's fairy tales. Dolly Kei aspires to create a vintage, doll-like appearance, and hair and makeup are often worn more naturally, while clothing is heavily accessorised with period-inspired pieces.
Kimono style: Kimono style or Kimono Kei uses elements of traditional Japanese clothing, combined with high-fashion or western-influenced elements. It may include a kimono-wrapped garment, worn with very modern boots and accessories, or western-dresses with the traditional kimono-tied bow (obi) at the waist. Kimono style is often accentuated with either very elaborate traditional Japanese hairstyles, or with big, ultra-modern, spiked hair.
There have been many styles and trends in Japanese street fashion, but these are some of the most influential and enduring trends.
Japanese art student Chami (@chami8725) on the street in Harajuku wearing a kawaii colorful look with a handmade headpiece, Hello Kitty x Merry Jenny plush bag, 6%DOKIDOKI, Galaxxxy Japan, and Yosuke.
A post shared by Harajuku Japan (@tokyofashion) on Mar 7, 2018 at 9:23am PST
Themes in Japanese street styles
Eclecticism:
Japanese street fashion borrows elements from all over the world and all different time periods, and remixes those influences in new and unique ways.
Gender Fluidity:
Starting from the earliest days of Glam styles in the 1970s, Japanese street style is gender-fluid, and disregards fashion tropes of masculine and feminine clothing.
Consumerism:
Japan, and Tokyo in particular, are epicentres of consumerism and a culture that sometimes obsessively purchases products or follows trends. Fashion is just one expression of Japanese consumer culture.
Japanese fashion has ongoing and enduring influences on Western fashion. From Western designers who have been influenced by traditional Japanese attire, borrowing fabrics, silhouettes, and motifs from Japanese tradition and applying them to modern designs; to Japanese fashion designers like Yamamoto and Kawakubo, inspiring Western designers like Galliano and McQueen; to Japanese street styles inspiring fashion choices among young people in London and Paris.
This dialogue between Japan and the west, where fashions and trends are borrowed, traded, remixed, and expressed in whole new ways, shows no sign of slowing down.
The adventurous youth of Japan are masters of creating and dominating new trends and styles, before quickly moving on to something else. But the vast array of influences, from historical epochs, from musical acts, from film and manga, and from all over the world, will continue to provide endless material for new forms of expression and reflection.
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Study: Close Screening Process Can Improve Teacher Hires
Recommendations seen as key source
By Stephen Sawchuk
Districts could boost their ability to hire teachers who help students learn more and who stay on the job longer by improving their screening techniques, a newly released working paper concludes.
Based on an analysis of teacher-hiring practices in the Spokane, Wash., school district, the research suggests that systematically culling candidates' recommendations to get a better sense of their classroom-management techniques, ability to work with colleagues, and instructional skill can pay off in academic-achievement gains.
The 29,000-student district's hiring process, developed in-house 10 years ago, is far from a silver bullet, but the results it's been getting are significant. In math, the effect is potentially equivalent to selecting teachers whose performance mirrors that of a typical third-year teacher rather than a first-year teacher.
Selection Skills
Only a few studies, including the recent paper out of the University of Washington, have sought to document the links between specific teacher-hiring practices and K-12 academic improvement.
“Teacher Characteristics and Student Achievement: Evidence From Teach For America”
Working paper (2009)
Will Dobbie, Harvard University
Findings: Teachers with high scores on some of Teach For America’s selection criteria, such as leadership ability, were linked with improved student achievement in mathematics and, less so, in English/language arts.
“Can You Recognize an Effective Teacher When You Recruit One?”
Published in Educational Finance and Policy (2011)
Jonah E. Rockoff, Columbia University; Brian A. Jacob, University of Michigan; Thomas J. Kane, Harvard University; Douglas O. Staiger, Dartmouth College
Findings: New York City teachers’ performance on a commercial screening instrument, and on a test of pedagogical-content knowledge in math, appeared to be modestly correlated with student outcomes. Teachers with a specific set of cognitive or noncognitive skills appeared to be somewhat more effective, on average, than their peers.
“Screen Twice, Cut Once: Assessing the Predictive Validity of Teacher Selection Tools”
Dan Goldhaber, Cyrus Grout, Nick Huntington-Klein
Center for Education Data & Research, University of Washington Bothell
Findings: Teachers selected on the basis of a two-step process for screening résumés and recommendations for such attributes as flexibility, experience, and instructional skills were associated with higher student test scores and better retention rates.
And given that attempts to dismiss teachers are time-intensive and costly, especially after they've been given tenure, improvements in hiring show a lot of promise, said Dan Goldhaber, a research professor at the University of Washington Bothell and one of three scholars who conducted the study.
"Hiring by school systems in this country looks to be pretty ad hoc," Mr. Goldhaber said. "Despite a lot of rhetoric about the impending teacher shortage, districts have a lot of choice about who to hire, and it doesn't look like there's much evidence that they systematically make good choices."
Two-Tiered Screening
In the annals of education research, teacher-hiring systems remain relatively understudied, despite the huge attention paid to teacher quality in recent years. Only a few research studies have found links between teacher-hiring practices and student-achievement outcomes.
The Spokane district uses a two-tiered system for hiring candidates. First, its central human resources office scores applicants on a 21-point scale by examining their résumés for experience and skills and reviewing recommendations from supervisors.
Next, principals request lists of candidates who have met a particular cutoff score, and then use a detailed, 60-point evaluation tool to look through those documents for evidence of such attributes as flexibility, experience, and instructional skills to select prospects to bring in for interviews.
For the study, the researchers looked at some 4,200 teacher applications in the district from 2009 to 2012. Where possible, the authors linked that information to teachers' retention rates and their value-added results, which examine teachers' impact on students' test-score growth.
The researchers analyzed results for teachers who passed each step of the hiring process, and compared the results of teachers who were hired by Spokane with those of educators who were not but went on to teach in different Washington state districts.
Predictive Power
The researchers found that each of the two hiring stages had some predictive power in terms of student achievement.
Most of that effect seemed to have been driven by specific components. For the 21-point screening, the candidates' recommendations showed a statistically significant correlation with teacher effectiveness in math. For the 60-point scale, points for classroom-management skills were correlated with effectiveness in both reading and math instruction; high rankings on flexibility and instructional skill were linked to increases in math.
Overall, an increase of one standard deviation on the 60-point screening was associated with 0.03 and 0.07 percent improvements in students' test scores in reading and math, respectively. The figure for math is roughly equivalent to the difference in effectiveness between the average novice teacher and one with about three years' experience, Mr. Goldhaber said.
In addition, the one-standard-deviation increase also predicted a decrease in teacher attrition of about 2.5 percentage points.
The screening results did not predict, though, whether the teachers hired were more likely or less likely to have absences from work.
Accelerating the Process
Tennille Jeffries-Simmons, the district's chief human resources officer, said she's pleased that the hiring system is helping identify effective teachers. Now she hopes to shorten the process from three to four weeks down to about a week.
Related Blog
Visit this blog.
"Our biggest interest is to speed up the time it takes to move through the process without losing any of the effectiveness that this study has shown that we have," Ms. Jeffries-Simmons said. "We want to be as competitive as possible, and the speed with which we're able to access talented candidates is a huge component of that."
Thomas J. Kane, a professor of education and economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seconded the study's overall conclusion that hiring processes deserve more attention. "Any information that can help you identify effectiveness before a teacher is on the payroll is very valuable," he said.
Still, other innovations—like asking prospective teachers to give demonstration lessons—should also be considered and studied for their ties to achievement, he added.
The study cautions that districts that try to emulate Spokane's system might not have the same results, because of variations in the highly localized teacher labor market. Districts with fewer applicants, or those that face more competition for teachers, might not have the ability to be as choosy as Spokane, it notes.
Coverage of policy efforts to improve the teaching profession is supported by a grant from the Joyce Foundation, at www.joycefdn.org/Programs/Education. Education Week retains sole editorial control over the content of this coverage.
Published in Print: November 12, 2014, as Study: Close Screening Process Can Improve Teacher Hires
"TFA Selection Criteria Linked to Student Gains," (Teacher Beat) August 2, 2011.
“Districts Scrutinizing Teaching Applicants' Potential,” June 2, 2011.
“Study Links Teacher Attributes to Effectiveness,” November 25, 2008.
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Mountain View Tesla Autopilot Crash: What Needs Fixing
Junko Yoshida, EE Times
Road surface changes on list of likely contributors to the Tesla driving head first into off-ramp barrier
The National Transportation Safety Board’s widely anticipated preliminary report on the crash of a 2017 Tesla Model X on March 23 in California is out.
The review of the Mountain View accident remains “preliminary” and the NTSB offers neither a probable cause nor any recommended fixes. The play-by-play chronology leading up to the crash compiled by the NTSB is riveting. Based on the performance data downloaded from the vehicle is, here’s what the safety regulator wrote in its report:
The Autopilot system was engaged on four separate occasions during the 32-minute trip, including continuous operation for the last 18 minutes 55 seconds prior to the crash.
During this almost 19-minute segment, the vehicle provided two visual alerts and one auditory alert for the driver to take the steering wheel. These alerts came more than 15 minutes before the crash.
In the 60 seconds prior to the crash, the driver’s hands were detected on the steering wheel on three separate occasions for a total of 34 seconds. For the last six seconds before the crash, the vehicle didn’t detect any hands on the wheel.
At eight seconds before impact, the Tesla was behind a lead vehicle, traveling about 65 mph.
Seven seconds before the crash, the Tesla began to steer left, following the lead vehicle.
At four seconds, the Tesla was no longer following its leader.
From three seconds prior to the moment of impact with the crash attenuator, Tesla speeded up from 62 to 70.8 mph. No pre-crash braking or evasive steering was recorded.
According to this record, the NTSB’s preliminary report unveiled new details, including exactly when Autopilot was turned on, how often and how long the driver’s hands took the wheel within a minute before the crash.
Southbound view of US-101 depicting Tesla, Audi, and Mazda vehicles at final rest.(Source: S. Engleman)
The industry is already abuzz with Monday-morning quarterbacking on this. Among the questions raised: Was Tesla’s driver monitoring system adequate to ensure the driver’s proper use of the Autopilot system? Why was the vehicle silent while driving straight into a concrete median barrier? Did the car’s forward radar notice anything amiss while careening into the barrier?
EE Times got the help of Phil Magney, founder of VSI Labs, to break this all down. Further, VSI Labs suggested a few real solutions to some of the problems it observed.
Why 2-minute+ grace period?
While pointing out that “the driver misused the system,” Magney also blamed the accident on “the liberal grace period in which Tesla permits before a disengagement.”
Asked to define “grace period,” he explained, “You get about two minutes from the time Autopilot is engaged until the system starts prompting you with warnings to grab the wheel.”
He added, “If you do not grab the wheel, the alerts get more pronounced until the system eventually disengages and you are presented with a message that says you may no longer use Autopilot for the duration of the trip.”
So, the question here is: why would the Autopilot system give the driver as long as two minutes to stay hands-free in the first place?
Magney suggests the real solution: “Take out the grace period and require the torque-sensing steering wheel to require hands on from the moment (or within a few seconds) of Autopilot engagement.”
Sensors aren’t perfect
Also, let’s not forget that sensors such as cameras and radars aren’t almighty in all situations.
“The camera/radar solution will get into trouble from time to time,” Magney acknowledged. “This is why the driver must stay in the loop.”
What sort of trouble do they get into?
“The system relies exclusively on the camera for lane keeping. When lines are out of the ordinary the system can easily get confused.” In this case, Magney explained, “The vehicle misinterpreted the lines, and got caught between the two lanes where it hit the barrier.”
Asked how exactly the two lanes confused the camera, Magney explained, “Basically you had one lane that splits in two. The Tesla got confused and thought the area between the two lanes was in fact another lane. I suspect the lane markings were messed up or not properly applied.”
In the Mountain View accident, a likely contributing factor is the road surface changes. The dark surface is asphalt while the light surface is concrete. Autopilot may have misinterpreted the change of surfaces as a lane line leading to the improper trajectory. If Autopilot had a lane model and was localizing against that lane model, this type of accident could be prevented. This is why Autopilot (and any other L2 system) require constant driver attention and engagement. (Source: VSI Labs)
Indeed, the NTSB's preliminary report noted:
As the Tesla approached the paved gore area dividing the main travel lanes of US-101 from the SH-85 exit ramp, it moved to the left and entred the gore area. The Tesla continued traveling through the gore area and struck a previously damaged crash attenuator at a speed of about 71 mph.
In the footnote, NTSB described "gore area" as "a triangular-shaped boundary created by white lines marking an area of pavement formed by the convergence or divergence of a mainline travel lane and an exit/entrance lane."
Sensors don't know right from wrong
Radars aren’t perfect either. Magney added, “Radar does a poor job on static objects. It has to filter out most of them, because if it did not [filter them out], there would be too many false positive. This creates hazards.”
Magney concluded: “The camera based lane-keep algorithms really don't know the difference between right and wrong. No ground truth to go by.”
So, the real solution? “Use a map based localization method so the vehicle understands the correct lanes and proper trajectories,” according to Magney. “Again, a map based localization would substantially improve this from happening.”
Phil Magney
Magney remains optimistic, noting that these accidents are “addressable.” His first suggested measure, “to take out the grace period and require the torque sensing steering wheel,” should be relatively easy, he said. The second suggestion, “a map-based localization method,” might “require a bit more effort but it is feasible,” said Magney.
In summary, Magney noted that both methods could be “enabled with software updates,” and he would “expect to see them in Tesla vehicles within the next year.”
Tesla is consistently vocal about the safety of its vehicles. However, as a company spokeswoman noted in March in the company’s blog, “Tesla Autopilot does not prevent all accidents — such a standard would be impossible — but it makes them much less likely to occur.”
The company stressed that [Autopilot] “unequivocally makes the world safer for the vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists.”
Nevertheless, drivers’ misuse of Tesla’s Autopilot system has caused at least one too many fatal accidents.
Tesla has yet to respond to the NTSB preliminary report. But the world is watching.
— Junko Yoshida, Chief International Correspondent, EE Times
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Danish top court confirms Uber fines, 1,500 cases more ahead
Denmark's top court has confirmed that four drivers should be fined for working for Uber in the Scandinavian country, paving the way for some 1,500 other Uber drivers to be prosecuted for illegally operating taxis.
The Supreme Court confirmed Friday lower courts' rulings fining the men, who were not named. The lowest fine of 40,000 kroner ($6,223) was slapped on the driver of 399 rides, the highest of 486,500 kroner ($75,700) for the driver of 5,427 rides.
Danish prosecutors had put on hold some 1,500 other similar cases while they waited for the Supreme Court ruling. The drivers did not have licenses to operate a taxi, as was required even of Uber drivers.
Denmark introduced a law in February 2017 that required taxi drivers to have seat occupancy sensors and meters, leading Uber to shut down its services in Denmark.
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Egalet's Stock Plunges Toward Record Low After Stock Offering Plan
By Tomi Kilgore Published July 06, 2017 MarketsMarketWatch Pulse
Shares of Egalet Corp. plunged 27% toward a record low in premarket trade Thursday, after the developer of pain treatment drugs announced a public offering of common stock. The company said late Wednesday the size of the offering was subject to market conditions. The company had 25.6 million shares outstanding as of May 10. Egalet said it plans to use the proceeds of the offering to support commercial sales and marketing with respect to Arymo ER (morphine sulfate) extended-release tablets for oral use, Sprix (ketorolac tromethamine) nasal spray and Oxaydo (oxycodone HCI) tables and for general corporate purposes. The stock was trading at $1.85, below the previous record close of $2.14 on June 1. The stock has plummeted 67% year to date through Wednesday, while the SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF has climbed 11% and the S&P 500 has gained 8.7%.
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ussenioropen.com
U.S. Women’s Open
uswomensopen.com
USGA News
Podcast: Previewing the 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills
Zack Pierce @zackpierce821
Jun 14, 2017 at 7:47p ET
It’s U.S. Open week, and The Clubhouse podcast is back to preview the action at Erin Hills. Joining Shane Bacon on the show this week is Paul Azinger, the 1993 PGA Championship winner, captain of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, and current golf analyst for FOX and FS1.
Live coverage of the 117th U.S. Open begins Thursday at 11 a.m. ET on FS1.
Highlights of the discussion from the episode:
4:15 — Azinger talks about his comments from last week that players believe Tiger Woods has a real issue with pain medication;
7:00 — What it’s like when you know you’re starting to lose your ability on the golf course and how impressive Dustin Johnson’s turn has been;
9:45 — What Phil Mickelson’s chances are this weekend, if he can even make his tee time after attending his daughter’s graduation;
15:00 — What Erin Hills feels like compared to other golf courses;
16:54 — The big hitters are supposed to do well here, but the guys talk about what outliers we should watch out for this week;
20:00 — If there’s a day with little wind, could a player get hot and shoot a low-60s score?
22:38 — What surprised Azinger the most after his lengthy interview with Dustin Johnson;
32:31 — Azinger discusses his the 1993 U.S. Open, which he nearly won, how it prepared him for the ensuing PGA Championship victory, and why not winning it still bugs him to this day.
SUBSCRIBE: SoundCloud
Gallery: U.S. Open tee times: When the must-watch groups will play the first round at Erin Hills
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House in NOGARO , Gers , Midi Pyrenees
€424,000 €318,000 (HAI)** £287,027**
Ref: 93252GJ32
Plot: 34135 M 2
Excellent income potential! Former mill providing 4-bedroom family home, 4-bedroom annex with gite potential, detached block comprising 4 bedrooms, pool and land in Gascony
View Julia's Property Portfolio
Julia Grange , your local Leggett agent, says :
93252GJ32
Set 200m off a quiet country lane yet only 2km from the nearest facilities this former mill used to trade as a hotel/restaurant. In need of updating, it offers potential for a new hotel/restaurant or as a B&B and gite business. Read more ...
The property is approached by a long drive bordered by fields. The original 18th-century mill was formerly a restaurant and discothèque. The restaurant was upstairs, accessed by an external staircase. The reception area opens to the professional kitchen (equipment needs replacing) with cold room, and double doors opening to the former restaurant (approx. 70m2) with exposed stone walls and vaulted beamed ceiling. (The judo matting covering the floor is temporary – the floor is original quarry tiles). The ground floor was a bar/discothèque with the original grind stones as a feature and glazed panels showing the water flowing underneath the property.
Attached to the mill is the owner’s house, recently fully double-glazed, comprising spacious kitchen (approx. 25m2) off which is a store room and bathroom/laundry. A spiral staircase in one corner gives access to the first floor. Off the kitchen is the spacious modern sitting/dining room (approx 45m2) with open fire and small office off one corner. Upstairs are two spacious double bedrooms each with an en-suite shower or bath and hand basin, three further double bedrooms (one used as an office, one as a dressing room), a smaller room used for laundry and a WC with small deep bath. There is also a door from the landing which leads to the restaurant conveniences. Oil-fired central heating.
The former wine barn has been converted to accommodation but with the addition of a kitchen could easily become a gite. On the ground floor is currently a sitting/dining room with feature wine vats and wine presses. There are two store rooms off (kitchen potential). Upstairs are three double bedrooms, all with full en-suite bathrooms and separate WCs, and a fourth bedroom which has been gutted but also has a room for an en-suite and WC. The building continues along with three storage barns (one houses the oil-fired boiler which heats the house, restaurant and the wine barn accommodation) and upstairs two large double bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom and small balcony. There is a separate block comprising four double bedrooms all with en-suite bathrooms.
The pretty gardens have numerous trees and shrubs. There is a separate fenced swimming pool (15m x 6m), and two fields bordering the driveway.
The guest accommodation needs modernising but is still adequate for immediately launching into a B&B business while the wine barn could easily become a self-contained gite. The nearest bar, restaurant, pharmacy, mini-supermarket and bakery is only 2km. Nearby towns are Nogaro – 10km (12 min) - motor racing track, Eauze 15km (18 min) while Toulouse airport is 130km (1h 45m) and Tarbes-Lourdes airport (Ryanair) 88km (1h20m)
Search in Neighbouring Villages and Towns near NOGARO
AVERON BERGELLE
BASCOUS
CAMPAGNE D ARMAGNAC
FUSTEROUAU
LABASTIDE D ARMAGNAC
LAREE
MAULEON D ARMAGNAC
MAUPAS
NOULENS
ST AUNIX LENGROS
ST MONT
TASQUE
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Select an year
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6E’s IndiGoReach augments its commitment to enhance the livelihood of 4000 underprivileged women
National, May 31, 2017: Continuing its commitment towards women empowerment and skill-building, IndiGoReach, the CSR arm of IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing carrier, and Bandhan-Konnagar, one of world’s leading non-profit organisations, today celebrated the success of the first phase of ‘Targeting the Hard-Core Poor’ (THP) Program. Started in 2015 in association with Bandhan Konnagar in West Bengal, the program targeted women-headed families with limited or no means to livelihood. The event celebrated the success of 600 beneficiary women and their families who were able to enhance their income and livelihood through sustained intervention of the THP programme over twenty-four months by way of business skill development training and on-site assistance. In its second phase, the program aims to help 4000 more women in Patna, Udaipur, Kolkata, Raipur & Bhubaneswar.
IndiGo takes its FitToFly programme to Jammu; Inaugurates gym for police personnel
Jammu, May 27, 2017: IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing carrier, today opened a fully equipped gym for the Police officials in Jammu. With an endeavour to infuse IndiGo fitness belief and inspire the Police personnel to adopt a more physically active lifestyle, this gym has been set up within the office premise of the local police station near the airport in Jammu.
IndiGo introduces daily non-stop flight between Singapore and Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 19, 2017: Continuing to strengthen its network in the Asia-pacific region, IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing low-cost carrier is pleased to announce its first non-stop flight and 5th overall flight between Singapore and Bengaluru with effect from June 10, 2017. With the launch of the daily direct flight, IndiGo offers an affordable and a convenient option on two of the busiest business sectors.
IndiGo expands connectivity on high demand routes by introducing 10 new flights
National, May 18, 2017: IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing low-cost carrier, has today announced the expansion of its network by adding 10 new direct flights to cities with high demand and expanding potential. The additional frequencies are specifically introduced for late evening and early morning slots to provide a convenient and hassle-free choice to travellers at affordable fares.
IndiGo wins Airbus “Best Operational Excellence Award” Globally
National, May 17, 2017: IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing carrier, has been awarded the coveted award for ‘Best Operational Excellence’ by Airbus for the second consecutive time at a worldwide level, outperforming 46 airlines of international repute. IndiGo’s consistence performance in effective utilization of its Airbus A320 aircraft and maintenance of top-notch dispatch reliability has bagged the company this recognition amongst established global carriers at the A320 Family Symposium.
IndiGo enhances connectivity on underserved routes; introduces 2nd daily flight between Kolkata and Pune
National, May 16, 2017: In line with its commitment to provide enhanced connectivity to business and leisure travellers, IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing low-cost carrier is pleased to announce its second daily direct flight between Kolkata and Pune with effect from June 01, 2017. Passengers who wish to travel on this route can book tickets at an inaugural offer of Rs 2900 onwards.
IndiGo takes its FitToFly programme to Indore; Inaugurates gym for police personnel
Indore, May 08, 2017: Extending its ongoing flagship initiative #FitToFly under IndiGoReach – company’s CSR programme, IndiGo, India’s largest and fastest growing carrier, today opened a fully equipped gym for the Police officials in Indore. With an endeavour to infuse IndiGo fitness belief and inspire the Police personnel to adopt a more physically active lifestyle, this gym has been set up within the office premise of the local police station near the airport in Indore.
IndiGo announces Summer Special Sale
National, May 08, 2017: To beat the summer heat, IndiGo, India’s preferred low cost carrier today announced a Three-day Summer Special Sale across the IndiGo network.
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“Share Your Love” Pet Photo Contest
by Samantha Kearns | Dec 5, 2017
Do you have the cutest pet? Show us for your chance to WIN!
This holiday season, post a photo of your pet on Instagram using the hashtag #bdsShareYourPet and you could win a ONEHOPE Wine Woof Box, full of goodies for your pet. Plus, for every post, bd’s will make a donation to ONEHOPE Wine’s “Help Fund Adoptions” cause. Share your best friend with us and help a pet find their new best friend!
Important: Please read these rules before entering this contest (the “Contest”). By participating in this Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.
1. ELIGIBILITY: The “Share Your Love” photo contest (the “Contest”) is open only to legal U.S. residents of Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, who are 13 years or older (as of date of entry), have their parents’/legal guardian’s permission to participate. bd’s Mongolian Grill, Instagram, its parent company Facebook, Inc., any participating sponsors (including ONEHOPE Wine), and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees and agencies (collectively, the “Released Parties”) will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled or distorted or damaged transmissions or entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of BD’S MONGOLAIN GRILL or by non-authorized human intervention; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.
2. CONTEST PERIOD: The Contest starts December 4, 2017 at 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ends on December 31, 2017 at 11:59 AM EST (the “Contest Period”). All entries must be received during the Contest Period to be eligible to win a prize. bd’s Mongolian Grill’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Contest.
3. HOW TO ENTER: During the Contest Period post a photo of your pet using the hashtag #bdsShareYourPet on Instagram. bd’s may display all Submissions on the bd’s Mongolian Grill verified Facebook page, Twitter account or Instagram account. By uploading your Submission, you agree that your Submission conforms to the Submission Guidelines and Content Restrictions listed below (collectively, the “Guidelines and Restrictions”) and that bd’s, in its sole discretion, may remove your Submission and disqualify you from the Contest if it believes, in its sole discretion, that your Submission fails to conform to the Guidelines and Restrictions. By uploading your Submission, in addition to rights granted below, you: (a) grant to bd’s all rights necessary to display your Submission on bd’s Instagram page; (b) hereby waive any so-called moral (e.g., creative rights) in your Submission; (c) represent and warrant that you have the right to grant the rights granted in these Official Rules; and (d) represent and warrant that your Submission and its use as contemplated in these Official Rules does not and will not violate, misappropriate, or infringe upon any law or regulation or the rights of any third party, including any copyright, trademark, or any rights of publicity or privacy, or any other intellectual property or proprietary rights.
Submission Guidelines:
▪ The Submission must be a digital photo;
▪ The Submission must be entrant’s original creation and owned one hundred percent (100%) by the entrant;
▪ The Submission cannot have been submitted previously in a promotion of any kind or exhibited or displayed publicly through any means; and
▪ The Submission must demonstrate one of the following contest themes (“Contest Themes”):
1) A picture of your pet, or
2 A picture of your pet with people.
Content Restrictions:
▪ The Submission must not contain material that violates, misappropriates, or infringes upon any law or regulation or the rights of any third party, including any copyright, trademark, or any rights of publicity or privacy, or any other intellectual property or proprietary rights;
▪ The Submission must not disparage any person or entity;
▪ The Submission must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene hateful, tortious, and/or defamatory;
▪ The Submission must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; and ▪ The Submission must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations in any jurisdiction where Submission is created.
For All Posting: You may submit no more than a total of one Post daily during the Contest Period. Submissions received from any person or email address in excess of the stated limit, whether through multiple or different Instagram accounts or other applicable accounts or means, will be void. Entrant must have signed permission from all individuals (parents/legal guardian of children, if featured and if not your own) that appear in the Submission to use their name and image in the Submission and to grant the rights set forth herein. If requested by bd’s Mongolian Grill entrant must be able to provide such permissions in a form acceptable to bd’s Mongolian Grill. By uploading a Submission, entrant grants to bd’s Mongolian Grill (and bd’s Mongolian Grill’s licensees and assigns) a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, create derivative works from, and display such Submissions in whole or in part, and otherwise exploit the Submission in all media now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe, in any way bd’s Mongolian Grill sees fit including, but not limited to, entertainment, instruction/education, promotional, advertising and/or marketing purposes. In connection with all rights granted herein, bd’s Mongolian Grill shall also have the irrevocable right to incorporate Submissions, in whole or in part, into other works, in any form, media or technology now known or hereafter developed. If necessary, entrant will sign any necessary documentation that may be required for bd’s Mongolian Grill or its designees to make use of the non-exclusive rights entrant is granting to use the Submission. Proof of submission will not be deemed proof of receipt by bd’s Mongolian Grill.
4. SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION OF WINNER. Two winners will be randomly selected at the end of contest period. The winners will be notified by social media account, as well as posted on bd’s Mongolian Grill Facebook page no later than January 7, 2018. To claim the prize, the winner(s) should follow the instructions contained in his or her notification.
5. IDENTITY OF ENTRANT. If a dispute arises about the identity of the entrant, entries made online will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. An authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. The potential winner may be required to provide bd’s Mongolian Grill with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.
6. PRIZE. Each of the two prize packages include various treats and toys for your pet. The approximate retail value is $40. Two (2) Prize winners will be selected. The Prizes will be awarded. If any of the Prizes is returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within thirty (30) days after delivery of notification, the Prize will be awarded to an alternate randomly chosen winner. The Prize is not transferable. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of the Prize will be permitted, except that bd’s Mongolian Grill reserves the right to substitute a Prize of comparable or greater value for the Prize. The Prize is awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). The Prize will be fulfilled approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks after Prize winner accepts said prize.
7. NO FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM ENDORSEMENT. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Inc. Twitter or Instagram. Any information you provide in connection with the Contest is to bd’s Mongolian Grill and/or its sponsors/administrators and not to Facebook. You understand that by using and interacting with www.instagram.com, you are subject to the terms, conditions, and policies that govern the use of www.instagram.com. You should therefore review the applicable terms and policies for www.instagram.com, including privacy and data gathering practices, before using or interacting with Instagram.
8. GENERAL RELEASE. By entering the Contest, you release bd’s Mongolian Grill and all Released Parties from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, for any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or delivery, mis-delivery, acceptance, possession, or use of or inability to use any Prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.
9. AFFIDAVIT AND RELEASE. As a condition of being awarded any Prize, winner may (in bd’s Mongolian Grill’s sole discretion) be required to execute and deliver to bd’s Mongolian Grill a signed affidavit of eligibility, acceptance of these Official Rules, release of liability, and any other legal, regulatory, or tax-related documents required by bd’s Mongolian Grill I in its sole discretion.
10. TERMS: bd’s Mongolian Grill reserves the right, in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should (in its sole discretion) a virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control (e.g., natural disaster, riot, strike, government intervention, materials shortage) corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest (in whole or in part). In such case, bd’s Mongolian Grill will conduct the Contest and make the prize available to be won for such affected component(s) of the Contest in a manner determined by bd’s Mongolian Grill in its sole discretion to be fair, appropriate and consistent with these Official Rules. Notice of such action by bd’s Mongolian Grill will be posted at all participating bd’s Mongolian Grill restaurant locations.
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By participating, you agree to release and hold harmless bd’s Mongolian Grill and its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, partners; prize suppliers (including On Hope Wine); as well as the representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors of any of the preceding organizations, from any and all liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from participation in the Contest and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize or any portion thereof, (ii) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any computer, cable, network, hardware or software; (iii) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any transmissions or telephone or Internet service; (iv) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Promotion.
12. DISPUTES: THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF MINNESOTA, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES. To the fullest extent permitted by law, as a condition of participating in this Contest, contestant agrees that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Dakota County, Minnesota; and, by participating, contestant expressly agrees to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of such courts and waives any right of change of venue, inconvenient forum or the like. Contestant further agrees to bring any such claim individually and not as part of a class action. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will contestant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Contest) [if any], and contestant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
13. WINNER LIST: For the name of the prize winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: bd’s Mongolian Grill, 200 East Travelers Trail, Suite 235, Burnsville, MN 55337, for receipt by January 17, 2018.
14. SPONSOR: The Sponsor of the Contest is: bd’s Mongolian Grill, 200 East Travelers Trail, Suite 235, Burnsville, MN 55337.
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DADT protesters are 'starved for attention', says he who only has attention b/c of his war on gays
And now this latest bit of "charm" from J. Matt "one man violently cramming his penis into another man’s lower intestine and calling it ‘love’” Barber:
“Don’t these one-trick ponies have any new material? America’s response: a collective eye-roll. We get it: you’re starved for attention. Seeing these overly pampered radicals hand-cuffed to the White House fence – wearing and dishonoring the military uniform in such a way – I was reminded of the Village People. (My apologies to the Village People.)
“[Dan Choi] has now compounded the reasons for discharge from the Armed Services. Not only is he in open violation of federal law, which holds that homosexuality is incompatible with military service; he continues to disobey orders through his public activism — mocking, embarrassing and undermining his Commander-in-Chief. (Such protests are prohibited for active-duty servicemen under the UCMJ.) Yet Obama, rather than having the guts to toss out this insubordinate, media-hungry troublemaker, continues to pander to the militant Homosexual Lobby — effectively insuring with his promised repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell that the ranks of the Armed Services will overflow with equally obnoxious, San Francisco-style militants.” [Source]
Wait, he's disparaging a group of deeply hurt American citizens who are having to pause their lives to fight for their right to have both an armed services career and a loved one to whom they can openly return home, and yet they are supposedly the "obnoxious" ones? Perhaps we're just unfamiliar with the term, but in our vocabulary, it much more readily applies to a hetero-identified man who unwarrantedly takes time out of his day to liken brave men and women to a campy disco band then it does to those same brave men and women who take a stand so as not to be forced into a closet!
*Oh, and by the way, Matt: Considering you rehash the same old lines over and over again to the point of unintentional comedy ("Patrick Henry marrying Henry Patrick"; "newfangled"; "San Francisco-style"; "uncompromising human biology"; and so on), you might want to be careful about tossing around "one-trick pony" kinds of reductions.
**Oh, and by the way, Matt: If you're going to so frequently and aggressively condemn the city of San Francisco (Google: "San Francisco-style" "Matt Barber"), then perhaps you should stop spending time there:
Matt Barber's public Facebook photos (no need to "friend" him to see them) [F'book]
(**UPDATE: Matt has now locked down his Facebook page. Photos and wall are no longer visible)
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The measure of Volkswagen’s Festival of Speed success
Festival of Speed - Press Article
Goodwood has confirmed that the time of 41.1s set by Romain Dumas in the Volkswagen ID.R in the timed session on Friday 5th July was the outright fastest ever seen on the Hill in 27 editions of the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard. This time was subsequently broken a day later, on Saturday 6th July, when Dumas powered the Volkswagen ID.R up the Hill in 39.90s.
Volkswagen has therefore set the all-time outright fastest time ever seen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. However, due to the less favourable weather conditions seen on Sunday 7th July, Nick Heidfeld’s time of 41.6s set in 1999 with the McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 remains the fastest ever set in the Sunday Shootout.
Volkswagen dominated this year’s Festival of Speed, setting the fastest time in every official session and can rightfully claim to have produced the fastest car ever seen on the Hill.
Top 5 Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb times:
Romain Dumas
Volkswagen ID.R
Nick Heidfeld
McLaren MP4/13
Graeme Wright, Jr.
Gould GR51
Justin Law
Jaguar XJR8/9
(ENDS)
EDITORS’ NOTES:
Staged every summer since 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by MasterCard is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motor sport take part with some of the most legendary figures from the sport as well as international celebrities regularly attending. Highlights will include the Moving Motor Show, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 paddock, Drivers’ Club, GAS Arena, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance, Aviation Exhibition and Bonhams Auction.
For all Media enquiries, please contact Nick Garton at the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:
E-mail: nick.garton@goodwood.com
About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mastercard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MastercardUKBiz, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog andsubscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.
Or Emma Fahy at the Mastercard Press Office:
Email: emma.fahy@mastercard.com
Goodwood Motor Sport on social media:
YouTube: http://youtube.com/goodwoodtv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/goodwoodrrc
Twitter: http://twitter.com/goodwoodrrc
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Goodwood Press & Media
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New York State Releases Final Sexual Harassment Prevention Materials & Postpones Training Deadline to October 9, 2019
By: Harris S. Freier, Justine L. Abrams
On October 1, 2018, New York State released final versions of a sexual harassment policy, a complaint form and training materials, along with guidance materials for employers, to assist employers in complying with the new set of laws combating workplace sexual harassment. By way of background, in April of this year, Governor Cuomo signed legislation imposing requirements on New York State employers to adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy, complaint procedure and training program. The State released, in draft form, a model policy, model complaint form and model training program in August of this year, followed by a period of public comment that ended on September 12, 2018. Perhaps the most notable change to result from the public comment period was that the statutory deadline to train employees, which was initially October 9, 2018, was extended one year to October 9, 2019. Note, however, that this does not change the October 9, 2018 deadline for adopting a sexual harassment policy and mounting posters.
The final materials released by New York State are as follows:
Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy Materials
Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy – By October 9, 2018, all New York State employers must adopt a policy that meets or exceeds this model policy’s standards and distribute it in writing to all employees.
Minimum Standards for Sexual Harassment Prevention Policies – For employers who wish to update their existing sexual harassment prevention policy instead of adopt the model policy, the State has issued minimum standards for that policy to uphold.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Poster – By October 9, 2018, all New York State employers must mount this poster in conspicuous places around the workplace for all employees to see.
Sexual Harassment Complaint Form
Model Complaint Form for Reporting Sexual Harassment – The sexual harassment policy must include a complaint form that, collects at least all of the information sought on the State’s model complaint form, for employees to report sexual harassment.
Sexual Harassment Training Program Materials – All New York State employers must implement an annual, interactive sexual harassment training program that meets or exceeds the State’s model program, and all existing employees must be trained under that program by October 9, 2019. The materials released by the State include:
Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Script – Although the training must be interactive, it need not be live. The State established the script document for employers to use in creating the narrative of the interactive training.
Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Slides – The State has released model presentation slides to incorporate into sexual harassment training.
Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Case Studies – The new laws require that the training include examples of conduct that would constitute unlawful sexual harassment, which is provided by the content on the case studies document.
Minimum Standards for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – For employers who have an existing sexual harassment training program, the State has issued minimum standards for employers to use to make sure their programs comply with the law.
The State also issued a Sexual Harassment Prevention Toolkit and set of Frequently Asked Questions as guidance materials for employers.
For more information on what your company can do to ensure compliance with New York sexual harassment laws, please contact Harris S. Freier, Esq. of the firm’s Employment Litigation Practice Group, at hfreier@genovaburns.com, or Dina M. Mastellone, Esq., Chair of the firm’s Human Resources Practice Group, at dmastellone@genovaburns.com, or 973-533-0777.
Tags: sexual harassment • Genova Burns • new york • Genova Burns LLC • Justine Abrams • Dina Mastellone • Harris Freier • Employment Law • training
Harris S. Freier
Justine L. Abrams
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Global Infrastructure Hub / Publications
Publications include reports, reference guides, toolkits, frameworks, academic papers, analytical pieces and case studies from all over the world, related to the various drivers of infrastructure development. Use the filters to narrow down the below list of publications.
Roads Social Considerations
Lessons Learned in Output and Performance-Based Road Maintenance Contracts
By delivering efficient, cost-effective and innovative maintenance services, well-designed output and performance-based road maintenance contracts can help maintain road assets and achieve value-for-money.
Learn more on analysis
KPMG Toll Benchmarking Study 2015
The efficiency of toll roads is important. Not just for tolling operators, but also for governments, investors and the driving public.
Toolkit for Public-Private Partnerships in Roads and Highways
The Toolkit is a reference guide for public authorities in developing countries for the development of PPP programs in the highways sector, particularly in assisting in PPP policy development, project preparation and the sourcing and more.
Learn more on the Toolkit
Global Policy Road Assessment Programme (RAP) Case Study
Star Ratings provide an evidence-based objective measure of crash risk to ensure that safety is built-in to designs for upgrades and new roads prior to construction.
Download case study [PDF]
Case Study, Publications
Sustainable Growth & Development, Social Considerations, Occupational health and safety
Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018
The data presented in this report show that progress has been achieved in important areas such as legislation, vehicle standards and improving access to post-crash care. This progress has not, however, occurred at a pace fast enough to compensate for the rising population and rapid motorization of transport taking place in many parts of the world.
Governance, Policy, Planning
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Girl Guides Australia has three achievement Awards for Guides to work towards and gain a great sense of achievement.
The Awards can be achieved as you progress through the Australian Guide Program. The Awards can only be worked on one at a time. You should work on the Award best suited to your abilities and interests. You can start the next Award even if you have not gained the previous one. You need to have made or renewed your Promise, be an active member of your unit and patrol, and be ready for extra challenges to start an Award. Once you are 14 years of age you can start the Queen’s Guide Award and complete it by your 18th birthday. You can also work towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as well as the Queen’s Guide Award once you turn 14 years.
Junior BP Award
This is assessed by the Guide and her fellow Guides. Guides must complete at least two challenges (AIM HIGH publication) from each of the following topics.
Guiding Traditions
World Guiding
When you have completed six activities you will be halfway and you will be presented with the Bronze Endeavour reward for working so hard.
Guides read through options in their “Aim High” book and then work on 3 challenges in each of the following areas.
Patrol Systems
When you have completed 9 activities you will be presented with a silver endeavour badge.
Then once you have completed the other 9 activities you will receive your BP Award at a special ceremony.
The Queen’s Guide Award is the peak achievement in Guides. The challenges must be completed before your 18th birthday.
See the Queen’s Guide Award Page for further details.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has three levels of Award – Bronze, Silver and Gold. Any girl 14 years and over can join Guides to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. You can register through your State Girl Guides organisation and join a local Unit of girls your age. Guides provides you with many opportunities to learn new skills, give service, participate in a recreational activity or expedition and take part in a residental camp – this could even be at a WAGGGS World Centre such as SANGAM in India.
For ideas have a look in some of these publications, obtainable through your Guide shop or Guide Leader.
Look Wide
Look Wide has a whole range of challenges for you to explore, create and achieve. Any of these may be used, just once, as part of the Awards in Aim High. Even more challenges, certificates and other Guiding qualifications can be found in the booklet.
Available at your Guide Shop.
If you have made your promise and are an active member of your Unit and ready for an extra challenge, then Aim High is for you. Aim High contains all the Awards – the peak achievement of the Queen’s Guide, the BP and Junior BP Awards.
Each Award focuses on challenges in each of the fundamentals of Guiding and you are expected to challenge yourself at your highest personal level.
Look Wider Still
Look Wider Still has furtherchallenges for you to achieve.
Available in a Guide Shop near you.
The Leader’s Guide to Recognition is available at your Guide Shop.
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GIS Standards
What is ArcGIS?
Learning GIS
What are GIS standards?
GIS standards are recommended practices to facilitate developing, sharing and using GIS data, GIS software and GIS services. When you look for GIS standards, you actually mean geospatial standards, where GIS is a part of. Geospatial standards concern the use of any geographic information.
Normally any standard is a technical document intended for use as a rule, guideline or definition for common and repeated use. They might include requirements and recommendations for products, systems, processes or services. They possibly describe measurements, test methods or establish common terminologies. A GIS standard is a technical document designed to use for operating with geospatial data.
Why do we need GIS standards?
Standards are necessary to reduce misunderstandings. GIS Standards are essential to harmonize technical specifications for developers, business partners and users. Standards help to optimize operations and improve quality. Geospatial standards increases the compatibility of components, products and services. So international standards facilitate international trade and can open up global markets.
An effective access to web-based geospatial information depends on GIS standards that cut down on time to find geospatial information, to combine diverse information layers and share spatial information on remote servers. So geospatial standards can enhance performance considerably.
There are more than 100 existing geospatial standards including data formats, metadata and services.
GIS standards for data formats
GIS software and GIS services should have the ability to read and write various established data formats. GIS applications should use data format standards to store geospatial data in a common format. You should be able to transfer data from system to system via extract. You may need to transform and load tools for data validation, migration and distribution.
Supported data formats are for example:
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) Express geographic data, labels, and symbology in 2D and 3D for web map and globes.
GPKG (GeoPackage) Defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium, is GeoPackage an open, non-proprietary, platform-independent and standards-based data format for geographic information systems.
AIXM ( Aeronautical Information Exchange Model) The AIXM is a global standard for digital aeronautical data.
IHO S-57/ENC (Electronic Nautical Charts) A global standard for electronic navigational charts and marine environments defined by the International Hydrographic Organisation.
GIS standards for metadata
Metadata are data that provides information about other data. Metadata offer a simple way to understand geospatial data. Metadata standards give a structure for creating and organizing metadata such as consistent terminology for catalogs and global search.
Common geographic metadata standards are:
ISO 19115: It is a metadata standard whitch defines how to describe geographical information and associated services, including contents, spatial-temporal purchases, data quality, access and rights to use. It is preserved by the ISO/TC 211 committee.
CSDGM (Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata) defined by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). It is a widely-used, but no longer current standard specifying the information content for a set of digital geospatial data. In September 2010 the FGDC endorsed ISO 19115 and began to confirm federal agencies to transition to ISO metadata.
GIS standards for GIS services
Standards for GIS services are used to transfer (spatial) data smoothly via the web or provide remote access to (spatial) data stored on a web server. They enable users to interact with data, generally through simple web clients, on a live and real-time basis. This contains viewing maps, accessing and querying data, running analyses, and downloading (spatial) data.
Supported services are for example:
WMS: Web Map Service for sharing maps across the web.
WFS: Web Feature Service for sharing feature data across the web for direct access to geospatial data.
WMTS: Web Map Tile Service for sharing pre-cached map tiles across the web for use as basemaps.
WPS: Web Processing Service for sharing geoprocessing services across the web for performing dynamic geospatial analytics.
WCS: Web Coverage Service for sharing geospatial data stored and managed as a coverage across the web.
CSW: Catalog Service for the Web for sharing geospatial information, typically metadata, stored in XML across the web.
Federal agencies are prescribed to use specific endorsed GIS standards. Non-Federal organisations are not required to use them, except they are doing business with Federal agencies. But they are well advised to use standards to support data sharing, integration and interoperability.
Who develops GIS standards?
There are diverse standard organisations who develop new standards and update established ones.
the FGDC – Federal Geographic Data Committee and
the OGC – Open Geospatial Consortium.
The standards of this organisations are free of charge but copyrighted.
You have to pay for standards from organisations like
ANSI – American National Standards Institute,
ISO – International Organization for Standardization,
IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission,
ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials,
IHO – International Hydrographic Organisation,
ASPRS – American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.
The reason, why you have to pay for these standards is, that the sales of standards provide support for standards development, support for standards users, intellectual property and commercial value issues, and electronic dissemination.
How are GIS standards developed?
GIS standards are developed in the same way like other common standards. They are developed through sharing knowledge. Diverse technical experts who are nominated by interested parties and stakeholders are building consensus.
Various standards processes often share these important steps:
Create a proposal for a new (GIS) standards project
Review the proposal
Create a working draft for the project
Create a committee draft once the (GIS) project team comes to an consensus
Issue the draft for wider review and comment
Resolve the comments
Prepare a final draft based on the resolution of comments
Obtain an approval for the final draft for the publication of the new (GIS) standard
(GIS) Standards processes are often iterative until a new standard finally is developed.
Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy © 2018 gistandards.eu
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Home :: Security :: Library :: News :: 2005 :: July ::
Security Menu
Chertoff Says London Bombings Are Forceful Reminder of Threat
Terrorists constantly changing and adapting, homeland security chief says
By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr.
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has testified before the Senate Commerce Committee that the London terrorist bombings are forceful reminders of the threats and vulnerabilities the United States must confront.
"Our goal is to maximize our security, but not security 'at any price,'" Chertoff said. "Our security strategy must promote Americans' freedom, prosperity, mobility and individual privacy."
And because the terrorist threat constantly changes and adapts, the Department of Homeland Security "must be nimble and decisive" in its anti-terrorist strategy, he said.
Chertoff testified July 19 before the Commerce Committee about his recently announced reorganization plan for the agency, which includes steps that would likely require some congressional approval.
HOMELAND SECURITY REORGANIZATION
The plan includes creation of a departmental policy office for centralized and strategic planning, elimination of the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, breaking out and increasing the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, creation of a chief intelligence officer to coordinate the work of 11 Homeland Security intelligence agencies and offices, and creation of an office of central operations and a Preparedness Directorate.
The reorganization plan was announced July 13 and is Chertoff's first major initiative since becoming secretary. It came within days of the terrorist attacks that killed at least 56 people and injured approximately 700 in four suicide bombing attacks during morning rush hour across central London July 7.
At the core of the reorganization plan is Chertoff's philosophy that the agency should have a structure matching its mission, and that its anti-terrorism efforts must be based on risk assessments.
When Congress created Homeland Security in 2003, it specifically gave the secretary the authority to reorganize and restructure the agency to meet security needs, but with appropriate congressional oversight.
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens (Republican of Alaska) said that after reviewing the plan, "I believe your proposals do make sense."
Chertoff based the reorganization on a six-point agenda:
● Increase overall preparedness, particularly for catastrophic events;
● Create improved transportation security systems to move people and cargo securely and efficiently;
● Strengthen border security and interior enforcement and reform immigration processes;
● Enhance information sharing with partners;
● Improve agency financial management, personnel development, procurement and information technology; and
● Realign the agency's organization.
NEW SECURITY MEASURES
Chertoff also told the senators that the United States would begin requiring a 10-fingerprint scan for foreign visitors to strengthen its US-VISIT program upon initial enrollment, he said. And the United States will continue to use a two-print verification during subsequent entries, he said.
Both measures are designed to ensure the highest levels of accuracy in identifying people entering and exiting the United States, he said. And he said that where some security measures are no longer needed, they have been modified or eliminated.
The new entry measure is part of a number of new border security approaches that includes more personnel, new technologies, investments in infrastructure, and interior enforcement, he said.
Homeland Security was created by President Bush to enhance U.S. security against potential terrorist attacks. Homeland Security was created by combining 22 different federal agencies into a single, cabinet-level department with approximately 180,000 employees.
The Senate approved a $31.9 billion fiscal 2006 homeland security budget on July 14, and the House of Representatives passed a similar spending bill on May 17. Both budgets will have to be resolved before final House and Senate approval and the president's signature.
The text of Chertoff's testimony is available on the Senate Commerce Committee Web site (PDF, 16 pages).
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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Results 1-50 of 99 <<< Previous 1 2 Next >>>
Guiliemus Addy.
I. Sturt sculp.
Rare engraving. Sheet: 105 x 60mm (4 x 2¼''). Trimmed and laid on album sheet.
A portrait of stenographer William Addy (c.1618-1695) who developed a form of shorthand that was a modification of Jeremiah Rich's version. The shorthand was so much practised that the Bible, New Testament and psalms were all written in it.
S. Agata.
B.T.A.
Woodcut. Sheet: 190 x 120mm (7¾ x 5''). Trimmed and laid on album sheet.
A portrait of Saint Agatha of Sicily. Agatha had dedicated herself to be a Consecrated Virgin but she attracted the attention of a Roman prefect. After she rejected his advances on several occasions he had her arrested and tried before himself, he sent her to a brothel where she suffered rape but she refused to turn her back on God. The prefect called her back and had her tortured, cutting off her breasts, she was eventually saved from torture by St Peter who healed her wounds. St. Agatha is shown holding a plate containing her breasts. A woodcut cut by the monogrammist BTA, probably cut for a Carmelite order in Venice in the first half of the 16th century.
[Prince Albert as Edward III.]
Fine & rare hand-coloured lithograph. Sheet: 510 x 340mm (20 x 13¼''), with large margins.
A portrait of Prince Albert dressed as Edward III, the costume he wore at a costume ball held at Buckingham Palace on 12th May 1842.
George Allan Esq.r. F.A.S. William Hutchinson Esq.r. F.A.S.
J. Hay delin.t. J. Collyer sculp.
Engraving. Plate: 220 x 195mm (8¾ x 7¾''), with large margins.
A portrait of antiquary and topographer George Allan (1736-1800) and topographer William Hutchinson (1732-1814).
[St Andrew] S. Andreas.
[Etched by Johan Bara after Joos van Winghe.]
Etching. Sheet 180 x 115mm (7 x 4½"). Trimmed. Laid on album paper.
A full-length portrait of St Andrew from a set of the Twelve Apostles, drawn by Joos van Winghe (1544-1603, court painter to Alexander Farnese, count of Parma) and etched by Johan Bara (1581-1634).
[Augustus.] Augusto. Divi. F. Cos. XI. Tr. Pot. II. Imp. VIII.
[Wolfgang Kilian.][After Raffaello Schiaminossi.]
Engraving. Sheet: 205 x 130mm (8 x 5''). Trimmed and laid on album sheet, stained.
A portrait of Augustus (Octavian) from a series of thirteen busts of Roman Emperors engraved by Wolfgang Kilian (1581-1662) after Raffaello Schiaminossi.
H.R.H. The Duke of Sussex.
On stone by A. Picken.
Lithograph. Sheet 235 x 190mm (9¼ x 7½").
A portrait of Prince Augustus Frederick (1773-1843), sixth son of George III, in middle age.
Cap.t Ayscough. From an Original Sketch by Dance, in the Collection of Sir William Musgrave Bar.t.
S. Haring sculp.
Pub.d Dec.r 1 1794, by E. & S. Harding, Pall Mall.
Stipple. 190 x 140mm (7½ x 5½") very large margins.
A posthumously-published sketch portrait of George Edward Ayscough (d.1779), dramatist and guards officer, nephew of the first Lord Lyttelton. In 1776 he produced a version of Voltaire's ‘Semiramis’ at Drury Lane, which his brother officers attended in great force, securing its success. However Isaac Reed's '' Biographia dramatica'' (1782) described Ayscough as ‘a fool of fashion’ and ‘a parasite of Lord Lyttelton’; 'Seniranis' is condemned as contemptible. Ayscough also editored the ''Miscellaneous Works'' of Lord Lyttelton, published 1774.
John Polexfen Bastard and Edmund Bastards Esq.rs.
Painted by J. Northcote R.A. Engraved by S.W. Reynolds.
London, Published June 12, 1795 by S.W. Reynolds, No. 50 Poland Street.
Fine mezzotint. 410 x 410mm (16 x 16"). Small tears in margins. Small margins.
John Pollexfen Bastard (1756-1816), MP for Truro in 1783 and for the Devonshire Constituency 1784-1812, and Edmund Bastard (1758-1816), MP for Dartmouth from 1787-1812. The brothers were not the only Bastards to be elected to Parliament: when John stood down in 1812 he was replaced by his nephew Edmund Pollexfen Bastard (1784-1838).
W.m. Henry West Betty, Ætatis Suæ 13. From the first and only original Portrait in the possession of Tho.s Lister Parker Esq.r.
Painted by J. Northcote Esqr. R.A. Engraved by J. Ward Painter & Engraver to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
Published March, 16. 1805. by Mr. Betty, at Messrs. Colnaghi & Co. Printsellers, Cockspur Street.
Fine mezzotint, open letter proof. 275 x 380mm (10¾ x 15"), large margins. Pencil annotations in lower margin.
William Henry West Betty (1791-1874), a child actor billed as the 'Young Roscius' for his performances in adult roles like Hamlet and Romeo, 1804-6, at Covent Garden. He paid for the publication of this portrait before he was fifteen.
CS: 4: II of III.
The Blind Beggar of Bednall Green. Engraved from the Original Picture in the Possession of Thomas Heathcote Esq.r to whom this Plate is Dedicated by his most Obed.t Humble Serv.t W.m Ward.
Painted by W.m Owen. Engraved by Will.m Ward Mezzotinto Engraver to his Royal Highness the Duke of York.
London Pub.d April 2, 1804 by Mess.rs Wards & Co, No. 6, Newman Street.
Mezzotint. 600 x 485mm (23½ x 19"), with large margins. Surface abrasions in inscription area. Small tear on left.
A grey-haired beggar in a rustic setting, his pretty daughter standing with one had on his shoulder and the another open and outstretched. A scene from a popular Elizabethan ballad ('The Blind Beggar of Bethnall Green'), in which the beggar gives a surprisingly generous dowry for his daughter's wedding to a knight. The Blind Beggar public house in Whitechapel (infamous for its connection to the Kray twins) is reputed to be the site of his begging. A version of the ballad was recorded by Ewan McColl for the Riverside anthology 'Great British Ballads Not Included in the Child Collection'.
CS 95. Ex Collection of the Hon. Christopher Lennox Boyd. Frankau 30.
[The Blind Beggar of Bednall Green. Engraved from the Original Picture in the Possession of Thomas Heathcote Esq.r to whom this Plate is Dedicated by his most Obed.t Humble Serv.t W.m Ward.]
[Painted by W.m Owen. Engraved by Will.m Ward Mezzotinto Engraver to his Royal Highness the Duke of York.]
[London Pub.d April 2, 1804 by Mess.rs Wards & Co, No. 6, Newman Street.]
Mezzotint, printed in colours and hand finished. Sheet 560 x 475mm (21¾ x 18¾"). Very fine colour. Trimmed to image on all sides, title reinstated in manuscript, laid on thick paper.
Mezzotint. 600 x 485mm (23½ x 19"). Thread margins, tears entering plate on right. Slight vertical crease.
The R.t Hon.ble Edward Boscawen, Admiral of the Blue. Æt. 49. Engraved by C. Bestland. from a Picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in the Possession of Viscount Falmouth.
Published June 1 1803 by C. Bestland, West End, Hampstead.
Stipple. 280 x 210mm (11 x 8¼").
A half-length detail of the portrait of Admiral Edward Boscawen (1711-61) by Reynolds, with the background removed.
The Late Francis John Browne, Esq. of Frampton, Dorset. Many Years M.P. for Dorsetshire.
Painted by C.W. Day. Engraved by W. Finden.
[n.d.., c.1840.]
Rare engraving. Sheet: 250 x 225mm (9¾ x 8¾''). Trimmed within plate.
A portrait of Member of Parliament Francis Browne (1754-1833).
Samuel Buck. Nathaniel Buck.
Jos. Highmore pinx.t. Rich.d Houston sculp.
London, Printed for Rob.t Sayer No 53 Fleet Street. Published as the Act Directs 10 April 1774.
Fine mezzotint. 230 x 330mm (9 x 13"), with very large margins.
The Buck brothers, engravers and topographical draughtsmen, publishers of a series of large panoramas of English cities. The 'Buck's Antiquities' (1712-53) was a highly-regarded series of over 400 views of ruins in England and Wales. When Sayer bought the plates he had this portrait engraved as a frontispiece for his reissue.
CS: 17, state ii of iv.
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Edmund Burke Esq.r. The British Cicero.
[n.d., c.1770 London Magazine.]
Engraving, fine impression. Plate: 155 x 110mm (6 x 4¼''). Foxing.
A portrait of British politician Edmund Burke (1729-1797) shown before a statue of Cicero and holding a copy of the Magna Carta.
The Rev.d William Butler, of Frampton, Dorsetshire. From a Picture in the possession of Thomas Bridge Esq.r.
Painted by A. Morton Esq.r. Engraved by T. Lupton 4 Leigh Street, Burton Crescent.
Mezzotint. Plate: 370 x 290mm (14½ x 11½'') very large margins.
A portrait of Rev. William Butler (1760-1841).
[Fanny Cerrito] Cerito. Ondine.
Widal [Vincent Vidal]. W.H. Mote.
Published by David Bogue, Fleet Street Nov. 1 1844.
Steel engraving. Sheet: 175 x 260mm (7 x 10¼").
Francesca "Fanny" Cerrito as a water sprite, the title role of 'Ondine, ou La naïade', a ballet with choreography by Jules Perrot and music by Cesare Pugni. Cerrito (11 May 1817 – 6 May 1909) was one of the few 19th century ballerinas who also gained acceptance as a choreographer. From 'The Beauties of Opera and Ballet'.
Samuel Clarke D.D. Done after the Marble Bust in Her Majesty'd Hermitage in the Royal Garden at Richmond.
I. Faber fecit.
Printed for Tho: Bowles in St. Pauls Church Yard, & John Bowles at the black Horse in Cornhill.
Mezzotint. Plate: 355 x 250mm (14 x 9¾''), with large margins.
A portrait of Rev. Dr. Samuel Clarke who was rector of St. James Westminster and metaphysician. From the series 'Philosophers of England'.
CS. 125.I.
[Claudius I.] Ti. Claudius. Caesar. Aug. P. M. Tr. P. Imp. Claudius irrisae privato in tempore vitae...
A portrait of Claudius I from a series of thirteen busts of Roman Emperors engraved by Wolfgang Kilian (1581-1662) after Raffaello Schiaminossi.
The R.t Hon.ble S.r Rob. Clayton Kt Lord Mayor of ye City of London 1680.
J. Riley pinx. J. Smith fec.
[London, c.1707.]
Fine mezzotint. 410 x 285mm (16 x 11¼"), with large margins.
Portrait of Sir Robert Clayton (1629-1707), merchant banker, politician and Lord Mayor of London, in an oval above ceremonial regalia. After founding a bank, Clayton & Morris Co., he amassed such a fortune that he could buy Brownsea Island and its castle in the 1650s and lend William III £30,000 to pay for the army in 1697. He became a director of the Bank of England in 1702.
CS 52 ii.
Effigies Joannis Coleti Decani. St Pauli qui obÿt 1519.
Engraving on chine collé. 230 x 155mm (9 x 6") very large margins.
A portrait of the Renaissance scholar and clergyman John Colet (1467-1519), Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. A Christian Humanist and friend of Erasmus, he is best known now for using his inheritance to revive the cathedral's school, now St Paul's School.
P. Colquhoun Esq.r. L.L.D. &c. &c. &c.
Painted by S. Medley. Engraved by R. Dunkarton.
Published Feb.y 13. 1802 by R. Wilkinson No. 58, Cornhill.
Fine colour-printed mezzotint. Plate: 460 x 330mm (18 x 13''). Creasing. Small margins. Repair bottom right near margin.
A portrait of Patrick Colquhoun (1745-1820) who was a merchant in Glasgow and the founder of the Thames police.
William Congreve. Esq.r. 40.
G. Kneller Bar.t Pinx.t 1709. I. Faber fecit 1733.
Fine mezzotint. 355 x 253mm (14 x 10"). Thread margins.
William Congreve (1670-1729), dramatist, poet, and member of the Kit-Kat Club.
CS: 54. Not in Harvard.
Sir Astley Cooper. Star No. 6.
Cunthorpe sc. Alvey, lith London R.d.
Stipple engraving. Plate 354 x 290mm.
Sir Astley Paston Cooper (1768-1841), surgeon and anatomist, who made historical contributions to otology, vascular surgery, the anatomy and pathology of the mammary glands and testicles, and the pathology and surgery of hernia. The black border around his name suggests this a posthumous tribute.
Robertus de Cotte.
Tortebat pinxit. A. Trouvain sculpsit.
Engraving. Sheet: 330 x 255mm (13 x 10''). Trimmed within image.
A portrait of French architect Robert de Cotte (1656-1735) who served as director of the Académie royale d'architecture from 1687-1708.
Cowper. Hail your benign Instructor, Age and Youth! Charm'd by his Fancy! tutor'd by his Truth! Hail Him a fav'rite Bard of Natures Quire. For all her Heartstrings vibrate to his Lyre!
Lawrence delin.t ad vivum 1793. F. Bartolozzi sculp.t.
Published May 1. 1805, by William Miller, Albermarle Street.
Etching .Plate 280 x 203mm. 11 x 8". Trimmed, creasing.
William Cowper (1731-1800), was an English poet and hymnodist. He managed to change the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing about everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. He was seen as one of the forerunners to the Romantic era of poetry.
Calabi & de Vesme: 795.
[Oliver Cromwell.]
J. Jones sculp.
Etching. Plate: 185 x 155mm (7¼ x 6''). Creasing and staining.
A rare amateur etching, a portrait of Oliver Cromwell set within a circle.
Psallite Deo nostro Psallite: Psallite Regi nostro psallite. Quoniam Rex Omnis Terre Deus: psallite sapienter. psal. 45.
A Bloemaert Iventor. Guilb. Pass fecit.
Cum privil du Reg treschretien Crisp. Pass ex. [n.d., c.1618.] Bit later.
Engraving. Sheet: 280 x 185mm (11 x 7¼''). Trimmed.
A biblical scene showing King David playing his harp. After Dutch artist and printmaker Abraham Bloemaert (1564-1651).
Effigies Sancti Francisci de Sales Epi Genevensis.
Carolus Maratti Inv. et pinx. L. Visscher Sculpsit.
Io. Iacobus de Rubeis formis Romae ad Templii Pacis cu Priv S. Pont. [n.d., c.1675.]
Engraving. Sheet: 405 x 290mm (16 x 11½''). Trimmed and stained.
A portrait of Swiss saint St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), shown at prayer and surrounded by angels. After Carlo Maratti and engraved by Lambert Visscher.
George, Lord Edgcumbe.
J. Reynolds pinxit. E. Fisher fecit 1761.
Mezzotint. 385 x 275mm (15¼ x 10¾"), uncut, with large margins Creasing and repairs in edges.
Three quarter portrait of George Edgcumbe (1720-95, later 1st Earl of Mount Edgcumbe), painted by Joshua Reynolds with his ship, the 50-gun HMS Salisbury, in the background. During his captaincy the Sailsbury's surgeon was James Lind (1716-94): by conducting one of the first ever clinical trials while on board, he developed the theory that citrus fruits cured scurvy.
CS 16, state ii of ii. Hamilton: Pg 25.
The Right Honble: John Egerton Earl of Bridgwater, Viscount Brackley & Baron of Ellismere, first Commissioner for Executing ye Office of Lord High Admiral of England, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Buckingham, One of the Lords of His Majesties most Honble Privy Council, One of the Lords Justices, One of the Governors of Sutton and Greenwich Hospitals and Knight of the Antient Order of the Bath, 1700.
G: Kneller Eques pinx:
I. Smith fec: et ex. [n.d., c.1750.]
Mezzotint. 350 x 250mm (13¾ x 9¾"), ink collector's stamp on reverse.
John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater (1646 - 1701), First Lord of the Admiralty; in an oval, wearing wig, lace cravat, armour, sash and medal. The collector's stamp is of Reverend J. Burleigh James, whose collection of prints, which included Dürers et Rembrandts, was sold by Sothebys in 1877, taking 25 days and raising over £4200.
Chaloner Smith: 23, ii of iv, before damage to plate.
Daniel Ellis Esq.r F.R.S.E.
Painted by Colbin Smith, S.A. Engraved by Thomas Lupton, 4 Kepple Street, Russel Square.
Mezzotint. 430 x 325mm (17 x 12¾"), large margins. Stains & worm holes in margins.
Dr Daniel Ellis (1772-1841), an English physician, aerologist, botanist and author, who spent most of his career in Scotland, being an important contributor to Edinburgh’s Encyclopædia Britannica (6th edition). He was president of the Royal Medical Society in 1806 and was elected F.R.S.E. (Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh) in 1812.
Fanny Elssler. Florinde.
Edwin D. Smith. W.H. Mote.
Henry Fauntleroy Esq.e
Etching. Sheet: 135 x 95mm (5¼ x 3¾''). Trimmed and laid on album sheet at corners.
A portrait of banker and forger Henry Fauntleroy (1784-1824) who was one of the last few criminals executed for the crime of forgery.
Thos. Fielder, Fruit-Broker, Aged 66. Done, at the Request of the Merchants, from a Picture w.ch was given by the Grocers as a mark of their Approbation of his Conduct. for a Series of Forty Years.
M. Chamberlin Pinx.t. V.Green, Mezzotinto Engraver to his Majesty, fecit.
Published March 28th 1774, by V. Green, Salisbury Street, Strand.
A rare mezzotint. 505 x 355mm (20 x 13¾"), with large margins. Extensive restoration.
A three-quarter length portrait, wearing a plain, dark tail-coat and a white wig with rolls at the sides, pointing at a full basket on the left, his left hand on a cane, resting the elbow on a barrel, his tricorn hat behind him on a third barrel. Behind are riverside buildings.
Not in NPG; the BM has three examples, all trimmed.
[Charles Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Grafton.] Lord Euston.
G. Kneller pinx: 1685. J. Smith fe; & exc: 1689.
Mezzotint. 340 x 255mm (13½ x 10"). Small margins.
Portrait of the young Charles FitzRoy (1683-1757), grandson of Charles II and Barbara Villiers, wearing feathered cap, loose robe, and sandals, reaching towards a parrot in a tree to the right. Kneller painted Grafton again as a member of the Kit-Kat Club.
Christo confixus sum Cruci vivo autem jam non ego: vivit vero in me Christus.
Car. Marrattus invent et del. Teod. Verkruys sculp.
Cum privil. Summi Pont et Regis Christ.mi. [n.d., c.1707.]
Engraving. Sheet: 445 x 235mm (17½ x 9''). Trimmed and staining in title.
A portrait of Francis of Assisi shown, on his knees holding a crucifix. Engraved by Theodor Vercruys (1680-1739).
[Galba.] Ser. Galba. Imp. Caesar. Aug. Tr. P. Spem frustrae senex privatus sceptra mereri...
Engraving. Sheet: 205 x 130mm (8 x 5''). Trimmed and laid on album sheet. Loss bottom right.
A portrait of Galba from a series of thirteen busts of Roman Emperors engraved by Wolfgang Kilian (1581-1662) after Raffaello Schiaminossi.
Sir Alan Gardner Bar.t, Admiral of the Blue, & M.P. for the City of Westminster.
T. Clarke pinx.t. B. Reading sculp.t.
[Pub.d as the Act directs, Nov.r 30, 1799, by B. Reading at Mr Lewis's, Great Newport Street, Long Acre.]
Line engraving, proof before publication line. Sheet 335 x 275mm (13¼ x 10¾"). Narrow margins. Crease on left bottom.
Half-length portrait of Alan Gardner, (1742-1809) 1st Baron Gardner. In 1793, as a Rear Admiral, he insisted on a supply of lemons for his men: the resulting elimination of scurvy on his ship led the Admiralty to make lemon juice a standard ration in 1795.
His most Gracious Majesty George III, on his Favourite Charger Adonis. Dedicated to the Queen's most excellent Majesty; By Her faithful and devoted Servant, John P. Thompson.
Painted by Sir W.m Beechey. Engraved by Ja.s Ward, Painter & Engraver to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
London, Re Published Feb.y 6th 1811 by J.P. Thompson, G.t Newport Street, Printseller to his Majesty and the Duke & Duchess of York.
Mezzotint. 650 x 560mm (25½ x 22"), with separately-printed title 65 x 560mm (2½ x 22"), total 715 x 560mm (28¼ x 22"). Small tear entering plate on left.
An equestrian portrait of George III in uniform, in a plain landscape. The figures of the king and the white horse were taken from another Beechey painting engraved by Ward, 'His Majesty Reviewing the Third or Prince of Wales's Regiment of Dragoon Guards', 1799.
CS 20; Frankau 39.
Illustrissimus DNS D. Bonaventura Giffard Eprisc. Madaurensis U. A. MDCCXIX
C. Du Bosc Fecit.
[c.1729]
Engraving. Plate: 330 x 230mm (13 x 9''), with large margins.
A portrait of Catholic priest Bonaventura Giffard (1642-1734) who was accused of being part of the Popish Plot, he fled to France in 1679 but he returned to England two years later and was appointed bishop and president of Magdalene College under James II.
Major General The Marquis of Huntly Colonel of the 42.d Regiment.
Painted by A. Robertson Miniature Painter to H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex. Engraved by W. Holl.
Published Nov.r 1.st 1806 by A. Robertson, 33 Gerrard Street Soho.
Stipple. Plate: 330 x 265mm (13 x 10½''). Marking. Very small margins.
A half-length portrait of army officer George Gordon, 5th Duke of Gordon (1770-1856).
[General Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch.]
[Painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence. Engraved by Henry Meyer.]
Mezzotint, proof before title. 510 x 350mm (20 x 13¾"). Creasing in margin.
General Thomas Graham (1748-1843), Baron Lynedoch, in uniform, a bridge in the background. A soldier during the Napoleonic Wars, is remembered especially for the Siege of Malta (1798-1800) and his brilliant victory at the Battle of Barrosa against the French troops besieging Cadiz in 1811, for which he received the thanks of Parliament. Later his name was given to the Australian convict ship 'Lord Lyndoch'. After Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830).
Griffin & Johnson in the Characters of Tribulation and Ananias Act 3d. Scene 2d. Trib: I do command thee Spirit (of Zeal, but Trouble) to peace within him. Play of The Alchemist.
Peter Van Bleeck Pinxt. 1738. PVB 1748.
Mezzotint. 470 x 310mm (18½ x 12¼"). Repairs to margins and inscription area.
The actors Benjamin Griffin (1680-1740) and Benjamin Johnson (c.1665-1742) in Ben Jonson's 'The Alchemist'. One holds a bag of money, the other a book, in an interior with a globe at the left edge of the image. By Peter van Bleeck (c.1695 - 1764), Dutch portrait painter and mezzotinter born at The Hague, son of Richard van Bleeck. He moved to London by 1723, where he married in 1745.
CS 5 ii/ii; for proof impression see ref. 7920.
Giulia Grisi.
London, Hurst & Blackett. [n.d., c.1840.]
Stipple. Sheet: 190 x 115mm (7½ x 4½''). Slight foxing.
A portrait of Italian opera singer Giulia Grisi (1811-1869) in costume.
Guilia Grisi. La Norma.
Published by David Bogue, Fleet Street Dec. 1844.
Giulia Grisi (1811-69), a soprano, as the priestess Adalgisa in Bellini's opera 'Norma', the role she played at its premier in 1831. From 'The Beauties of Opera and Ballet'.
[Henry Hare, 2nd Baron Coleraine.]
[William Faithorne, engraved by George Vertue.]
Engraving, very scarce proof. Sheet: 390 x 225mm (15¼ x 9''). Trimmed, loss in corners, damaged.
A three-quarter length portrait of politician and antiquary Henry Hare, 2nd Baron Coleraine (1636-1708).
Anthony Henley Esq.r.
G. Kneller Eques Pinx: J. Smith Fec: & exc:
[n.d, c.1720.]
Mezzotint. 355 x 255mm (14 x 10"). Thread margins.
Anthony Henley (1667-1711), politician and wit.
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Great Art on Screen
Klimt & Schiele: Eros and Psyche
Tickets $18 ($16 Members)
Eligible for Student Rush Tickets
Purchase tickets at the Box Office; 631-324-4050; or Theatermania.com at 1-866-811-4111
Klimt & Schiele: Eros and Psyche, recounts the start of the Vienna Secession, a magical art movement formed in the late 1890’s for art, literature and music, in which new ideas are circulated, Freud discovers the drives of the psyche, and women begin to claim their independence. It was a movement that marked a new era outside the confines of academic tradition.
At the heart of Secession were artists Gustav Klimt and his protégé and dear friend Egon Schiele. This exhibition proves an in-depth examination of images of extraordinary visual power: from the eroticism of Klimt’s mosaic-like works, to the anguished and raw work of the young Schiele in his magnetic nudes and contorted figures against the backdrop of nocturnal Vienna, full of masked balls and dreams imbued with sexuality.
All Theater Programming is supported in part by Ellen Myers, Marders, the Daryl & Steven Roth Foundation, and funding from The Ellen and James S. Marcus Endowment for Musical Programming, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Hess Philanthropic Fund, The Melville Straus Family Endowment, The Schaffner Family Foundation, and Vital Projects Fund, with additional support from Brown Harris Stevens, Saunders & Associates, and public funds provided by Suffolk County.
The Retreat presents a film screening of Donna
Hamptons International Film Festival presents SummerDocs: Cold Case Hammarskjöld
East Hampton TV Festival
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David Beckham's fans hilariously tease him after he wishes the Queen happy birthday
The cheek!
April 24, 2019 - 15:05 BST Ainhoa Barcelona David Beckham's followers on Instagram hilariously teased him after he shared a photo of the Queen on her birthday, sending her his best wishes
David Beckham found himself the butt of many a joke after he wished the Queen a very happy birthday on Instagram. The retired footballer shared some very regal photos of Her Majesty in the present day and when she was younger, plus a throwback to when he met the Queen at Buckingham Palace in June 2016. "Happy Birthday your Majesty. Thank you for always being the inspiration our country deserves... Have the most amazing day," David wrote on the monarch's 93rd birthday last week.
While the post racked up nearly one million likes from David's Instagram followers, several left some rather hilarious replies about his efforts to receive a knighthood. "You're not getting knighted David give it a rest," one fan told the sports star, while a second agreed: "You really want that knighthood don't you Dave." "Going for the old knighthood are ya Dave?" another asked, while a fourth quipped: "Still trying mate lol."
David wished the Queen a happy birthday
David, 43, has a great relationship with the royal family and has met them various times before. He has been invited to Buckingham Palace to attend the Queen's Young Leaders Award, has teamed up with Prince William for United for Wildlife and is an ambassador for Prince Harry's Invictus Games. In 2003 when he was England's football captain, David was also made an OBE.
MORE: Why Kate returned to London with the kids minus Prince William
But the quips about a potential knighthood come after David's emails were hacked in 2017, seeming to suggest that he only did charity work for UNICEF to secure a knighthood. The ex-footballer also appeared to criticise the Queen's honours system. A spokesperson for David said at the time: "This story is based on outdated material taken out of context from hacked and doctored private emails from a third party server and gives a deliberately inaccurate picture."
David surprises young fan for Pride of Britain:
MORE: Holly Willoughby divides fans with her fresh holiday tan on This Morning
David's wife Victoria, meanwhile, received her OBE from Prince William in 2017 for her services to the fashion industry. "It was an absolute pleasure to be at Buckingham Palace today," Victoria said at the time. "I'm proud to be British, honoured and humbled to receive my OBE from the Duke of Cambridge. If you dream big and work hard you can accomplish great things. I'm so happy to share this very special occasion with my parents and husband; without their love and support, none of this would be possible."
Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
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David Beckham wishes happy birthday to his 'love' – but it isn’t Victoria
Royal superfan Terry Hutt wishes the Queen a happy 90th birthday
David and Victoria Beckham wish 'princess' Harper happy birthday – see photos
The Queen thanks fans for her 90th birthday wishes – with a tweet!
Brooklyn Beckham reveals why David 'is not happy' with him
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BUZZ -- Ekonomos hired by SRQ magazine
Craig Ekonomos recently joined the advertising team at SRQ magazine. Before joining the publication, Ekonomos served as director of marketing for Coldwell Banker-Sunstar Realty and was a corporate advertising director for the Florida operations of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate.
Workshop to focus on immigration
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's International Business Council will present a workshop, "Immigration: How It Affects Your Business," on Feb. 1 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Michael's on East, 1212 East Ave. S., Sarasota. The workshop will focus on new immigration regulations that restrict foreign travelers coming in to the U.S. and the subsequent effects on business.
Cost for members is $30 in advance, $35 at the door; for others, $40 in advance, $45 at the door. For more information, call Vicki Vega at 556-4044 or Sue Ward at 556-4031.
Companies form business consortium
Three companies have banded together to form the Kinzie Consortium, which will offer employee-relations and leadership training and consultation to organizations, businesses and government entities in the Sarasota-Manatee region.
The steering members of the consortium are: Ken Kinzie, president and CEO of Kinzie Counseling & Consultation LLC; Beverly Alter, president and CEO of Alter and Associates LLC and The Alter Group LLC; and Margo Godreau, who is presently in private practice as a psychotherapist.
Manhatten Bagel becomes Bagel Shop
The Bagel Shop, formerly known as Manhattan Bagel, is open for business at Pebble Springs Plaza, 5917 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Dave and Donna Barney are the owners.
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Everyone can be a philanthropist. Everyone can make a difference. En Español
Gifts of all sizes can make a lasting impact when given to a fund at the Hartford Foundation. Do you have a cause you care about? Are you interested in joining a giving circle? With three giving circles and more than 1,000 permanent funds to choose from, the Foundation provides opportunities for all donors to find and support a cause they find meaningful.
Reasons to Give
The reason you decide to support a fund is a personal one. Contributions are often given to:
Honor a birth
Celebrate a marriage
Commemorate a special occasion
Give in memory of a loved one
Support a cause you care about
You can choose to give to an existing fund, contribute to a general fund, join a giving circle or create a fund.
However you decide to give, you will be helping the Foundation enhance the quality of life for residents in the Greater Hartford region.
Make a contribution to help the Foundation fund projects, organizations and collaborations that show promise of substantial and sustainable community benefit.
General Endowment Fund
Your gifts of any size are pooled into this fund and support the full range of the Foundation's grants. Gifts can be credited to you or a loved one. If your cumulative gift total reaches $10,000 over time, you can transfer it to an individually named fund for broad unrestricted purposes, preserving your family name forever.
General Scholarship Endowment Fund
Help worthy students further their education. Your contributions support scholarship awards for residents of the Greater Hartford region. Awards are currently $3,000 per year, renewable for up to three years, for a total of up to $12,000. Awards can be used for tuition, books, and room and board.
Awards are made to graduating high school seniors who are:
Residents of, or attending school in, Greater Hartford;
Enrolled full time in a four-year college or university in the fall after graduation;
In the top third of their class academically;
In need of financial aid; and
Involved as volunteers in school, community, or other extracurricular activities.
Many donors choose to support this fund with a named award. If your gifts to the fund total $10,000 or more over time, you may also name one or more awards in perpetuity. With a more sizeable gift, you can create an Individual Scholarship Fund and name specific selection criteria.
Community College Scholarship Fund
Help Greater Hartford area students pursue an education – and job training – at a community college in the region. Currently, this fund awards scholarships that are renewable for up to two additional years to graduating high school seniors.
As an incentive to complete an associate’s degree, the awards will increase for each of the three years, from $750, to $800, to $1,000. If the student completes community college in two years, the award for the third year is available to attend a four-year institution.
Students must meet the following criteria:
Be a graduating high school senior or adult learner who attends school in or lives in Greater Hartford
Be entering a community college within Greater Hartford with a minimum enrollment of six credits (two courses)
Have financial need
Be a volunteer in the community, school, or have other extracurricular activities (may include jobs)
You can choose to contribute to a specific fund or scholarship that is meaningful to you.
To search the Foundation’s existing funds, go to the Donate page. There, you can search by keyword (fund name, town or description), or explore funds in various topics of interest, including:
Arts, Culture, History
Broad Support for Greater Hartford
Health and Special Needs
Other Interest Areas
Specific Agencies
Ready to contribute?
To support a specific fund or one of the Foundation’s general funds, go to the Donate page. Select a general fund or Giving Circle fund from the list, or follow the instructions to search for a specific fund.
Looking for a unique, collaborative form of philanthropy?
Learn more about our Giving Circles.
Give your support. For assistance, contact:
Susanne Seney
Senior Development Funds Manager
sseney@hfpg.org
Come together to learn, discuss and support meaningful solutions.
Choose the type of fund that fits your philanthropic vision.
Combining resources to maximize our charitable impact.
Helping you build, share and live a philanthropic life.
Get inspired by the meaningful generosity of our donors.
Honoring those commit to a lasting legacy of giving.
Help students from our region afford a college education.
A tool for advisors to scholarship and donor-advised funds.
Respecting and protecting your rights and wishes.
Conecta tu visión con la comunidad mediante un plan de impacto duradero.
Todos podemos ser filántropos. Todos podemos hacer una diferencia.
Conoce gente con objetivos similares, aprende sobre temas de impacto y crea un cambio significativo.
Elija un tipo de fondo de acuerdo a su visión filantrópica.
Ayude a estudiantes de la comunidad a continuar con su educación universitaria.
Make a difference today and for generations to come.
Find & support a cause you care about. Gifts of all sizes make a difference.
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Why Elon Musk should take Tesla private
Going private would offer Musk and his team much more control over the company's future vision and daily operations.
By Paurav Shukla
Elon Musk speaks at a Boring Company community meeting in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, U.S. May 17, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Elon Musk has announced that he is thinking of taking Tesla private, eight years after the automaker's initial public offering. The news immediately created a buzz in financial markets and Tesla's share price soared.
Musk's reasoning, outlined in an email to Tesla staff, is that he wants to escape the "wild swings" in stock prices that result from Wall Street speculators. Going private would allow the company to focus on its long-term goals. There's a big challenge here of finding a funder, but if Musk manages it, taking Tesla private would also help the company boost its brand.
Going private would also offer Musk and his team much more control over the company's future vision and daily operations. It will also allow Tesla to control the financial information that gets released to the public and so reduce public scrutiny at times when it is making losses. In doing so, Tesla will follow a number of luxury brands that are still privately owned including Chanel and Rolex.
Since its launch, Tesla has positioned itself as a luxury car brand but this has run into trouble lately. The focus on innovative electric vehicles and self-driving technology put it squarely in the luxury bracket, as most successful luxury brands are known for being unique and innovative. And the pricetag on Tesla's early models matched this: the Model X was priced above £70,000 and Model S priced above £65,000.
But then Tesla took a wrong turn. It made a strategic move that is hurting the brand's value substantially. The new Model 3 is priced in the £30,000 range, which is where most premium cars compete and the economics of the premium market are completely different to the economics of the luxury car market.
A car carrier trailer carries Tesla Model 3 electric sedans, is seen outside the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, U.S. June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Any luxury goods market thrives on scarcity. Ferrari, for example, keeps its production limited to around 7,000 to 10,000 cars per year. When Tesla had production delays and people had to wait for the Model X and S, customers were supportive because that's the nature of luxury. Product scarcity increases the value of luxury and that is exactly what happened in the case of Tesla initially.
The premium car market, where the cheaper Model 3 sits, is not driven by this thinking, however. Buyers expect an abundance of availability. They do not want to wait for a premium product and get agitated when it is not available. This has been reflected in Tesla's stock price this year.
Read more on Tesla
Questions and legal concerns mount over Elon Musk's bombshell Tesla buyout tweet
Tesla pleads with suppliers for refunds to help it turn a profit - report
From the production side, the margins are low in the premium market, too, so profits depend on high volumes. Hence, when Musk recently boasted on Twitter that Tesla had produced 7,000 cars in seven days, Ford CEO, Steven Armstrong poked fun at it by commenting that Ford produces 7,000 cars every four hours.
The Model 3 order book shows reservations in the range of half a million cars, with more than 1,800 being added everyday. So, at present production capacity, Tesla will struggle to satisfy consumer demand any time soon. This is potentially highly damaging for a premium car brand and, with lots of competitors in this space, consumers are liable to switch. Not only does this hurt the bottom line, it fuels those that are betting on Tesla to fail (and the large number of short-sellers of Tesla stock has been a particular annoyance for Musk, as he made clear in his recent staff memo).
Plagued with these short-term financial issues and the negative effect they are having on the Tesla brand, moving private may offer some respite. It will give greater control over the production issues and even offer the chance to play up the virtues of scarcity of production.
Going private will also help reestablish Tesla as a luxury brand. This kind of radical move is both expected and accepted of luxury brand leaders (take Burberry, for example, which recently destroyed £28m of its clothes and cosmetics to sustain its brand position).
Taking Tesla private not only elevates the brand in the public consciousness, it also creates a mystique around both the CEO and the brand. Plus, by removing the company finances from the public realm, Musk can better pursue his long-term vision of delivering innovative and futuristic vehicles, rather than meeting the quarterly growth targets that financial markets demand.
Paurav Shukla, Professor of Marketing, University of Essex
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Plans for legal marijuana good for town, says Smiths Falls mayor
Chris Must
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The tabling on April 13 of federal legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational use is good news for Smiths Falls, Mayor Shawn Pankow told fellow council members at a regular meeting April 18.
“Tweed, of course, is a big part of our community,” said Pankow. “It’s news that they’ve obviously been looking forward to and welcome.” Tweed Inc. is the world’s largest indoor marijuana growing facility.
The mayor said increasing demand for the locally-grown product could eventually see Tweed occupy the entire factory complex left vacant by the closure of the Hershey plant in 2009. This will mean more jobs and increased tax assessment for the town, he said.
“They can’t keep up with the demand for their product, and they are building rapidly,” said Pankow.
Smiths Falls’ Tweed factory bracing for explosive growth
Smiths Falls Fire Department responds to fire at Tweed
Tweed outdoor party a hit, despite the rain
Pankow’s Ukrainian New Year’s levy a success
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Home>Music> Drake Receives Custom-Made $769K Luxury OVO Coat From Toronto Raptors
Drake Receives Custom-Made $769K Luxury OVO Coat From Toronto Raptors
The team wanted nothing but the best for their ambassador.
It's no secret that Drake is the ultimate Toronto sports fan. He's been accused and made fun of for "cursing" teams, but the love that he has for NBA's Toronto Raptors is mutual. The team recently showed their appreciation for Drizzy by presenting him with a custom-made Raptors/OVO sports jacket—an item with a reported estimated value of $769,000.
The team shared the moment they gave the jacket to Drake on Twitter. "You don’t worry ‘bout fittin’ in when you custom made. #WeTheNorth," they captioned the images. The coat features the OVO owl logo encrusted with diamonds alongside the Raptors' emblem. According to Complex, the fabric for the jersey comes from a French mill by Toronto's Garrison Bespoke. It reportedly was one of the first examples of "jersey" cloth from 1927.
The luxury continues as the diamonds embedded on the jacket are lab-grown and carbon-neutral. "This is truly a 1 of 1 piece," Michael Nguyen, the clothier behind the jacket, told The Star. "Both the jersey inside, which Drake himself helped design, and this very special piece of cloth. And the diamonds, of course."
Sports reporter Darren Rovell gave an up close and personal look at the coat by sharing a video clip of the jacket on Twitter.
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MUSIC Drake Receives Custom-Made $769K Luxury OVO Coat From Toronto Raptors
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Home>New Videos>Lil Snupe Videos> Lil Snupe "Laid To Rest In His Hometown" Video
Lil Snupe "Laid To Rest In His Hometown" Video
By Rose Lilah
Rose Lilah
@roselilahhshit
Watch Lil Snupe "Laid To Rest In His Hometown" Video, the latest video from Lil Snupe, which dropped on Monday, July 1st, 2013. Lil Snupe's horizons are broadening with each new release, and Lil Snupe "Laid To Rest In His Hometown" Video is no exception. It's a worthy addition to a catalogue that has seen much growth since Lil Snupe stepped foot in the rap game. We're looking forward to hearing more.
This past weekend rapper Lil Snupe, who was shot to death or a video game bet, was laid to rest in his hometown of Jonesboro. Revolt TV has put together video footage of the funeral service and the many who attended.
How does this compare to Lil Snupe's previous work?
Did y'all catch Lil Snupe's latest visual for Lil Snupe's "Live From Ghetto Heaven" (Unreleased Freestyle)?
If you dig this, visit Lil Snupe's profile for the latest info, news, songs, and mixtapes. Don't forget to follow Lil Snupe on Facebook and Twitter.
Lil Snupe
Future "Talks New Album, Summer Jam & Drake" Video
ASAP Rocky "Slaps Female Fan At Sydney, Australia Show" Video
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T. Stacy Project
By Urbannizer, August 22, 2009 in Austin
The status of this is not known. If built it will be Austin's new tallest.
Rendering:
By Priller:
By Goothrey
Location by KevinFromTexas
Here's a few screen shots from Live Maps showing the block.
To the right of the black office tower, there is a 5-story bank building from about 1959 I believe. Behind it is a 4-story parking garage. To the left of it (north) is a 7-story apartment building that also has some parking in it. And there's also another ~7 story building, which I think has some office and retail space in it. It's probably the oldest building on the block.
You can see the 4-story parking garage and the 7-story apartment/parking structure here.
Same view, zoomed out.
editor 833
Location:Las Vegas
I'm not a fan of this one, and I'm not sure why. I think I'd prefer something a little more brick-y and a little less glass-y for Austin.
NThomas 5
Location:Lubbock, Texas
I doubt Priller's Google Sketchup drawings along with every other rendering released will look anything like the final design.
Hopefully when this gets closer to fruition, we'll see a real design.
By Priller
If it turns out like in the picture, it would be a great signature tower for Austin.
Edited August 26, 2009 by Urbannizer
http://www.statesman....ate/index.html
Earlier this week, local developer Tom Stacy, who plans an ambitious mixed-use project on Congress between Fifth and Sixth streets, told a group of real estate professionals that his project, would “someday get off the ground when the capital markets recover.”
Stacy said some gas and water lines are being relocated at his site from an alley onto Fifth Street, a $3 million project, to pave the way for the proposed development. He said he is “still excited about the project,” but added that he doesn’t expect it to “come out of the ground anytime soon.”
Edited September 19, 2009 by Urbannizer
Looks like a combination of the Citigroup Center in New York and that big new bank building in Shanghai.
strickn 133
The only difference between a skyline of these and a skyline of seventies shoeboxes is that these are more menacing, not more artful.
If we're supposed to forever swallow that The Architect is being some kind of artist as much as a building contractor, then this is not helping.
It, like the previous schemes, is not viable even as mere sculpture. Shame on Pelli.
brijonmang 4540
Maybe it's me or maybe it's just this building, but the whole twisted structure doesn't seem like a true fit for Austin.
LTAWACS 75
Resident Resident
I think it should be more twisty.
800 Foot 5th & Congress Super Tower to Return
According to the Austin Business Journal, Tom Stacy (a veteran Austin developer) and Walton Street Capital (a $12B investment firm) are revitalizing plans for two dramatic downtown buildings on a key downtown block bound 5th and Congress.
According to the Report, "Developers are moving forward with plans for two new mixed-use towers and a parking garage downtown. . .The new towers are planned for the same block bound by Brazos and 5th Street, plus a half block across the street. Construction on the first phase — the parking garage — is slated for early 2012. Officials said in 2008 they would invest half a billion in the development. One building will be 500,000 square feet and slightly taller than the 26-story Bank of America building, they said at the time. The other was slated for a hotel and condo tower rising more than 800 feet, plus 1,000-car garage, previous reports said."
zaphod 28
I used to hate that thing but now the design has really grown on me.
Maybe its because stuff has changed so much in the last few years. Back when Frost was the newest and tallest "modern" building, I wanted it to set the tone for the rest of the skyline-no boxes, only towers with spires and plenty of ornamentation. Then all the new stuff got built and gave Austin a different kind of skyline. The 360 and Austonian began to appeal to me more once I saw their appeal.
it sure looks nice.
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New York Times Hits Back At Trump Claim Of 'Phony' Story On Migrant Detention
The president denied the paper's report about nightmarish conditions at a Clint, Texas, facility.
By Amy Russo
The New York Times is hitting back at President Donald Trump after he accused the paper of fabricating a story about nightmarish conditions inside a Clint, Texas, migrant detention center.
On Sunday, Trump tweeted that the Times had written “phony and exaggerated accounts,” adding that “people should not be entering our Country illegally, only for us to then have to care for them.”
In response, the publication’s communications department told the president it stood by its reporting.
“We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting on the U.S. Border Patrol’s detention centers,” it said.
The Times then called attention to a section within the Saturday article detailing that it had partnered with the El Paso Times to conduct “dozens of interviews” including “current and former Border Patrol agents and supervisors; lawyers, lawmakers and aides who visited the facility; and an immigrant father whose children were held there.”
“The review also included sworn statements from those who spent time at El Paso border facilities, inspection reports and accounts from neighbors in Clint,” it said.
We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting on the U.S. Border Patrol's detention centers. Here's how we reported today's front-page article on the squalid conditions at the migrant detention center in Clint, Texas. Read the story here: https://t.co/4TlleeZCTg pic.twitter.com/IrxgOR9EZ1
— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) July 7, 2019
The article details squalor and overcrowding within the Clint facility, a site the Times describes as secretive since its opening in 2013.
A map of the center points to rows of tents outside where, during an influx of arrivals, migrants were kept.
Among the Times’ particularly disturbing findings were outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, hunger, soiled clothing, sobbing children and one girl so depressed she was placed on suicide watch:
Outbreaks of scabies, shingles and chickenpox were spreading among the hundreds of children who were being held in cramped cells, agents said. The stench of the children’s dirty clothing was so strong it spread to the agents’ own clothing — people in town would scrunch their noses when they left work. The children cried constantly. One girl seemed likely enough to try to kill herself that the agents made her sleep on a cot in front of them, so they could watch her as they were processing new arrivals.
During an interview Sunday with ABC’s “This Week,” acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan denied the Times’ report, claiming there is “adequate food and water” and that “the facility is cleaned every day.”
“We have no evidence that children went hungry,” he said. “Police station cells are not a good place for children, as I’ve said dozens of times.”
In June, The Associated Press revealed that the Clint center lacked food, water and sufficient sanitation. Though McAleenan denied that report as well, the federal government removed most of the minors being held in the station once the article emerged, scheduling them for transfer to other facilities.
Acting DHS Chief Denies Troubling Conditions At Migrant Detention Centers
Anderson Cooper Translates Trump's Migrant Kids Message: 'Suck It Up'
Trump Dismisses Bad Conditions In Detention Centers Amid Jarring Reports
Amy Russo
Trends Reporter
The New York Times Donald Trump Immigration Border Patrol Detained Children
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Not A 'Type A' Or 'Type B' Person? Maybe You're 'C' Or 'D' Instead.
Here are the signs.
ByLindsay Holmes
Grosescu Alberto Mihai via Getty Images
If you’ve never felt like you were “Type A” ― competitive, efficient and goal-oriented ― or “Type B” ― laid back, creative and living in the moment ― then perhaps you may fit into another category. Enter “Type C” and “Type D” personality traits.
The character types, which some psychologists say are frequently overlooked, are classified by a person’s inherent behaviors. Experts say Type Cs are similar to As in that they’re focused on achievement, but go about it slightly differently. Those who have a Type D personality may be more worry-prone, which makes them susceptible to mental and physical health issues.
Curious if you fall into one of these categories? Below is a breakdown of how to tell, and things to be mindful of when it comes to personality traits:
Someone with a Type C personality can be classified as an overly conscientious individual, said Susan Krauss Whitbourne, professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Like Type A folks, they are also considered to be incredibly organized and hardworking.
“They strive for accuracy and perfection, and so are constantly trying to live up to their own high standards,” Whitbourne told HuffPost. “They may also hold others to these standards and become frustrated when others are sloppy or careless.”
“They strive for accuracy and perfection, and so are constantly trying to live up to their own high standards.”
- Susan Krauss Whitbourne
But what sets them apart from their Type A counterparts is their diligent nature. While Type As may rush through a task in order to get it off their to-do lists, Type Cs are more focused on quality and being thorough rather than the timing. In other words, they devote hours to that important work assignment ― even if they have 20 other items on their to-do list. Completion is important, but so is excellence.
Type D individuals worry more than usual and may make a fuss over unimportant things. People with Type D characteristics often don’t complain or express their anger, Whitbourne said.
“The Type D personality is, in short, ‘distressed,’” she explained. “People with a Type D personality tend to be anxious and depressed, but they also try to suppress those feelings so that the feelings never become expressed openly.”
If someone answers “yes” to statements like “I am often irritable,” “I tend to keep to myself” and “I tend to hide my feelings from others,” it’s typically an indication he or she has a Type D personality.
“People with a Type D personality tend to be anxious and depressed, but they also try to suppress those feelings so that the feelings never become expressed openly.”
- Whitbourne
Recently, psychologists have studied how Type D characteristics can affect a person’s physical and mental health (and, spoiler: it isn’t great). Research shows aspects of a Type D personality may play a role in a person’s overall mental health as well as affect their chances for cardiac disease.
“The disadvantages seem to outweigh the advantages in terms of an individual’s mental and physical health,” Whitbourne said. “Their tendency to withhold expression of their feelings means that they are unable to vent and instead turn their negative emotions inward.”
Don’t go updating your bio yet...
Take note before you start disclosing you’re a Type C in a job interview or on a dating app. While some of these might sound familiar ― and perhaps even a little too accurate ― this doesn’t mean you’re squarely sorted into one personality type.
Most personality trait designations are oversimplified, Whitbourne said. In reality, people exist on a spectrum. These assessments are just designed to help you figure out what works and doesn’t work for you and your lifestyle.
“The key is knowing yourself and understanding the pros and cons in terms of your happiness and health,” Whitbourne stressed. “The designations of personality types are a bit generic, and so rather than try to squeeze yourself into a type that doesn’t completely fit you, take a more nuanced approach. That said, knowing your own inclinations in terms of personality type can help you take steps to avoid the health problems associated with each general type.”
And just because you might identify as, say, Type D or Type B right now, doesn’t mean that you’ll stay that way forever.
“Personality traits are enduring dispositions, but they can change over time,” Whitbourne said. “Your personality is not set in ‘plaster,’ but it can moderate as you gain experiences and a more informed perspective on yourself and your life.”
Celebrities On The Importance Of Mental Health
personality typeType A and Type B personality theoryType D personalityType C personality
Lindsay Holmes
Senior Wellness Editor, HuffPost
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How Fuel Cell Vehicles Work
Jeff Cobb December 5, 2013
Sorry there are no photos!
Do you know what a fuel cell is and how it functions? Below we’ll post a 101-level primer and we’re doing so because, well, everyone else is preparing for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), so ready or not, here they come!
You may have noticed an increase in fuel cell news as automakers publicly or behind-the-scenes work toward a “2015” timeframe in America to begin launching FCVs in earnest.
Presently federal and state government agencies, advocacy groups, and industries are working on details not least of which is developing cars and adding refilling stations to the mere 10 stations now in the U.S. – not to mention devising a way to charge customers for hydrogen by the kilogram.
Honda FCEV concept at the LA Auto Show.
To date, leases of the comparative handful of FCVs on the road include the hydrogen’s cost in the payment, thus bypassing that sticky problem for cars that get somewhere around 70 mpg equivalent.
Hyundai will be next to not wait for a per-unit H2 price, and is planning a lease program for its ix35 in Southern California to begin next spring. This will precede Toyota’s first sedan to be launched for 2015 as well as Honda’s next generation follow-up to its essentially sidelined FCX Clarity promised for the same timeframe.
Ford, Daimler, and Nissan are working on a new car for you.
Beyond that, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford have signed a collaborative agreement to co-develop cars to be respectively badged and individualized to each maker. The tentative timeframe for the Nissan/M-B/FoMoCo effort is 2017. And then you have Daimler, which has been showcasing its work for years, and says it too shall be in the FCV production business (finally) by 2017.
BMW is also working with Toyota, and is expected to have a FC car ASAP as well, and let’s not forget the early pioneer, General Motors.
GM has announced nothing for production, but is yet working on and was talking up FCVs prior to being sidetracked by the Volt, a bankruptcy, and other details. Don’t be surprised if we hear of a car from GM in 2015-2017.
Volkswagen is the notable hold-out, at least officially. Its CEO Martin Winterkorn has pointed to huge cost and infrastructural hurdles as though he is describing the emperor’s new clothes – and for all anyone has yet proven unequivocally, he may well be.
VW’s media people repeat what their chief says – and despite what sister company Audi has said – but the VW Group is working away at the task nonetheless, and we hear it intends to be in on the fuel cell market as soon as feasible, regardless.
Graphic courtesy of GM.
As a sign of their intent, most of these OEMs are now members of the California Fuel Cell Partnership including Chrysler, Daimler, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, and Volkswagen!
California is of course the epicenter, followed by eight other states thus far following its lead, and having signed a pact to make happen what skeptics say is nigh to impossible.
Without touching on the viability question, we thought we’d lay out the simplified primer on how fuel cells work.
We’ve linked to other resources, but want this to be a reference in its own right to at least highlight what all the hype – or is that hope? – is about.
How a Fuel Cell Works
Graphic courtesy of Calif. Fuel Cell Partnership.
Common to all the automakers in question – and bus makers also operating now – is the underlying technology: a proton exchange membrane, or PEM.
This basic design has been around for years, and the costs have come down as efficiencies have gone up.
In simplified terms, a PEM fuel cell is two electrodes — the anode and the cathode — separated by a catalyst-coated membrane. Platinum is typically used as the catalyst which sounds expensive – and is – but at this point the quantity required equal to or less than the quantity used in catalysts for “clean diesel” engines.
PEMs take in gaseous hydrogen – produced from a variety of methods – and produce electrical energy. They’re assembled into a fuel cell stack which is comprised of many PEM fuel cells stacked like slices in a loaf of bread.
Fuel cell vehicles are all-electric, but unlike an electric car with a chemical battery, they are refilled not recharged.
Electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack is sent to a power module and this in turn powers an electric motor which turns the wheels.
Also energized by the power module are on-board devices and accessories, including A/C and sound system.
A high-voltage battery such as a regular full hybrid would use is also tied in to provide extra torque when needed.
The design in a nutshell is a lot like a regular hybrid, and by definition, is a hybrid – being that two motive power source are utilized.
Toyota explains its FCV as being “just like a Prius” except you delete the gas engine, and replace with the FC stack. It’s so like a Prius, in fact, Toyota is kicking around the idea of merging its 2015 car into the Prius family line.
Posted in Fuels
Tagged as FCEV, FCV, fuel cell vehicle, Homepage Top Featured, how fuel cell works
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Ground in G minor
John Blow (1649-1708)
British Library, Add.MS33236
The date of composition of the Ground in G minor is unknown but, intriguingly, it shares both its scoring and key with a Purcell trio sonata constructed over a ground bass, a work which dates probably from the early 1680s, and which follows a similar trajectory: as with the G major Chaconne, both grounds gradually increase in animation until busy rhythmic activity subsides into a more reflective conclusion. Another version survives of Blow’s piece, scored for a single violin and bass; it is probably the original, the hand of the arranger of the present two-violin version being betrayed at the beginning of the ninth variation, where the ground is passed, abruptly and for only a couple of bars, to the second violin part, and there decorated.
from notes by Bruce Wood © 2017
Blow: An Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell & other works
Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen (conductor)
A spectacular programme showcasing one of the best composers from the English Baroque.» More
Blow: Awake my lyre
Red Byrd, The Parley of Instruments
‘Delightful’ (Gramophone)
‘Red Byrd's recordings have been consistently superb … and this recording is no exception’ (Fanfare, USA)» More
Blow: Fairest Work of happy Nature
John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Timothy Roberts (harpsichord/spinet/virginals), Paula Chateauneuf (theorbo)
‘Full of interest, rich in its varied pleasures and in the high standard of recording and performance’ (Gramophone)» More
Timothy Roberts (harpsichord/spinet/virginals)
Track 10 on CDA66646 [4'37] Archive Service
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Order press releases and brochures
Press echo
Discover Science 360
in2science - The Magazine
08.11.2011 | Press release MoU with POSCO
Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht intensifies cooperation with POSCO in South Korea
Economic lightweight materials for cars or aeroplanes, new technologies for regenerative energy systems – these are great challenges currently faced by industry and science. In order to better combine scientific research activities and practical experience, scientists of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and the South Korean company POSCO Ltd. want to cooperate more closely.
Research at MagIC: Preparation of head box. Photo: HZG/ Christian Schmid
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and POSCO have formed an alliance to combine the strengths of both parties in the search for solutions to optimise materials and their processing technologies.
The cooperation is based on a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) which was signed recently by Dr. Ohjoon Kwon, Chief Technology Officer of POSCO and Prof. Wolfgang Kaysser, Scientific Director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum at the Campus in Geesthacht. As well as collaboration in the area of lightweight material technology i.e. magnesium, titanium and aluminium, the MoU specifies other possible fields of interaction such as innovative welding methods, membrane technologies and regenerative energy systems.
“Combining our research results with the experience of one of the worldwide biggest steel producers is very important“, says Karl Ulrich Kainer, head of the Magnesium Innovation Centre at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. “The aim of the cooperation is to optimise production processes for magnesium sheet, in order to make them more efficient and universally applicable.”
More research on new components
Memorandum of Understanding: Dr. Ohjoon Kwon (Chief Technology Officer of POSCO) and Prof. Wolfgang Kaysser (Scientific Director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht) at the Campus Geesthacht. Photo: HZG/ Torsten Fischer
Magnesium has been used successfully in many applications in automotive engineering. Normally, such components are produced as castings. In the case of larger components such as doors or seats, it is more beneficial to use rolled magnesium sheets for the production of formed components.
In order to apply magnesium in car bodies or interiors, the scientists for materials research have developed novel alloys which enable them to produce sheets with improved mechanical properties by using a top modern twin-roll casting machine. Research is also focussed on special anti-corrosion coatings to protect the surfaces of the magnesium components in different environments.
Membrane technologies: One of the possible fields of interaction between Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht and POSCO. Photo: HZG
The internationally well-known steel producer POSCO is one of the biggest suppliers of magnesium sheet and has many years of experience with their own twin-roll casting facilities. Producers and scientists face great challenges in further developing the twin-roll casting technology and above all in generating new alloys of high quality or in improving the corrosion protection of the sheets.
“Our twin-roll caster serves research purposes and offers flexibility in operation depending on the scope of the work”, explains Karl Ulrich Kainer. “So, combining our knowledge and the production experience of POSCO will provide positive impulses for both scientific research and industrial applications.”
Magnesium Innovation Centre POSCO Ltd.
Workshop Magnesium Technologies
A workshop with representatives from Germany and Korea will take place on 6th - 9th February, 2012. The workshop will consist of presentations and discussions between scientists and engineers on twin-roll casting technologies, magnesium sheet materials and wrought magnesium alloys.
Head of Press Department
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Dan Siegel Announces "Radical" Agenda If Elected Mayor of Oakland
Civil rights attorney Dan Siegel announced his candidacy for mayor of Oakland on January 9. Siegel spelled out an ambitious agenda focused on social and economic justice which includes a $15 minimum wage, public schools to develop into community centers, neighborhood gardens to flourish throughout the city, Oakland police to stop abusing citizens, and the Domain Awareness Center to be shut down.
Pedrada na vitrine da ciência: voluntário publica livro sobre o CMI-Brasil
Save the Environment, One Napkin at a Time
Robin Moore / Save Upper Campus writes: We're bombarded daily with slogans and images promoting conservation, urging us to be green, and informing us of UC Santa Cruz's leadership in the field of sustainability. Meanwhile, UCSC is proposing to build on 240 acres of the undeveloped Upper Campus, removing redwood forest, mixed evergreen forest, and northern maritime chaparral in order to construct new buildings, roads, and parking lots.
Close Gitmo activists march on, invade Museum of American History
The 11th of January was the 12th anniversary of the opening of Guantanimo Bay. Half the time it has been open has been after Obama's broken promise to close this hellhole forever. Video of the protest intercut with video from Gitmo
Another World is necessary. A guest editorial
The continued existence of Indymedia uk is worrying. Real questions need to be asked, and answered!
Kommt jetzt die Klobürstenrevolution?
Eine Demonstration mit mehr als 10.000 Regimegegnern in der Hauptstadt der Republik Hronz wird von den Sicherheitskräften aufgerieben, anschließend kommt es zu Unruhen rund ums Hafenviertel. Mehr als 500 Menschen werden verletzt, zum Teil schwer. Die Sicherheitskräfte, deren Konzept zur Eindämmung der Unruhen bisher schlicht versagte, ruft den Notstand aus, beruft sich dabei auf terroristische Anschläge gegen repräsentative Gebäude und Sicherheitskräfte. Präsident Schillz steht hinter seinen Beamten und deren Forderungen nach Schusswaffengebrauch. Dabei wird pikant, dass der letzte terroristische Anschlag komplett Erfunden wurde.
Rock Creek deer slaughter draws protest on coldest night in decades
At about 8 PM, an animal rights activist driving on Oregon Ave spotted Park Rangers and cops on the Rock Creek side. A park ranger said they were there to kill deer-and within 3 hours animal rights activists were out with a banner and whistles to warn off the deer. Video of the Jan 6 deer kill protest
MD Residents march on Annapolis against fracking and gas export
On the 8th of January, in still bitter cold, the Sierra Club, Chesapeake Earth First! and over 100 MD residents marched on Annapolis. They were demanding a legislative moratorium on gas fracking in MD, and the rejection of Dominion's proposal for LNG export out of Cove Point in Calvert County. Video from the Annapolis fracking/Cove Point actions
Label the FDA projects labels, videos on FDA headquarters
Michael Taylor at the FDA used to work at Monsanto, so its no wonder that the US refuses to mandate labelling of unpopular genetically-modified foods. On the 10th of January, activists from Occupy Monsanto showed up at the FDA's headquarters to label the FDA as a GMO biohazard, since they would not themselves act on labelling. Short video of Label the FDA
Carta de Oscar a su hija Clarissa al cumplir 71 años
HOW EUROPE'S SOCIAL MOVEMENTS CONVERGED IN AMSTERDAM TO PLAN 2014 #EUINCRISIS
Originally published by Transnational Institute The Transnational Institute hosted in Amsterdam a European strategy meeting in October which brought together different European social movements on the front lines of resistance against the neoliberal E.U. austerity regime. Austerity, privatization and attacks on social rights, imposed by the European Commission, have become a reality for people across Europe. While there have been many impressive struggles at the national level - especially in Southern Europe - European coordination is still weak apart from sporadic days of joint action. In recent years European social movements have organized numerous meetings to analyze the situation. However, it also became clear that European social movements required a common strategy. Following the results of the E.U. economic governance assembly organized in the Alter Summit in Greece in June, the Amsterdam strategy meeting was called to coordinate European struggles against the Troika's imposition of neoliberal policies under the new E.U. economic governance regime.
Richmond Battles Banksters to Save Homeowners from Foreclosure
The City of Richmond, California voted to continue its groundbreaking effort to save resident homeowners from foreclosure on December 17, 2013. The City Council voted 4 to 2 in favor of moving forward with its plan to use its right of eminent domain to protect homeowners and to "prioritize those neighborhoods that have been particularly hard hit by the housing crisis." Before the meeting began, approximately seventy-five supporters of Richmond's initiative rallied in front of Richmond City Hall.
"Cops and Condos Go Hand in Hand"
FireWorks newspaper writes: Recently [in San Francisco], business owners have pushed to "Clean Up The Plaza." ...developers have announced a new condo project at 16th [and Mission]. The developers need the police to sweep away the poor, while capitalism throws out thousands through evictions, high rents, and poor paying jobs... On January 1, people marched and rallied in San Francisco against the "Take Back the Plaza" campaign organized by wealthy business owners.
PACK THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN SUPPORT OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Support Portland teachers and students in their efforts towards quality and equity in education by rallying at the Portland School Board meeting on Monday, January 13.
PACK THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING!
Rally in support of Portland teachers and students
Coordinated by Portland Student Union and Portland Teachers Solidarity Campaign
School Administration Building, 501 N. Dixon, Portland
Rally at 5:30 p.m.
March into School Board meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Please also contact the School Board at schoolboard@pps.net demanding:
1. Smaller class sizes and workloads;
2. Wrap-around support services;
3. Rich curriculum in every school;
4. No school closures;
5. Less standardized testing; and
6. More academic freedom.
http://www.portlandstudentunion.org
UPDATE: NEW BROADCAST POSTED TO PIMC ON: 1/10/14
A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming.
The latest Shortwave Report (January 3) is up at the website http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (128kb)(27MB), broadcast quality (16MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at page bottom (If you have access to Audioport there is a highest quality version posted up there {35MB} http://www.audioport.org/index.php?op=producer-info&uid=904&nav=&)
NEW PODCAST!!!- feed: http://www.outfarpress.com/podcast.xm (128kb Highest Quality)
This week's show features stories from NHK World Radio Japan, Radio Havana Cuba, Radio Deutsche-Welle, the Voice of Russia, and Spanish National Radio.
From JAPAN- Nuclear officials in Japan say that no nuclear power plants are likely to be restarted in the near future. The Japanese government plans to revise its policy for the burial of nuclear waste due to public distrust. The US government wants to accelerate stalled negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
From CUBA- Despite widespread cutbacks in US government spending for vital services and workers benefits, the funding for the military-industrial complex will remain untouched in the new year. A US political commentator says that CIA assassination drone strikes are a violation of international law and are war crimes. There are new clashes in Egypt between students and government security forces.
From GERMANY- In Egypt a natural gas pipeline was attacked, and more Muslim Brotherhood leaders and some al-Jazeera journalists were arrested. Saudi Arabia will give Lebanon $3billion to strengthen its armed forces. France has a new law that makes companies pay 75% tax on annual salaries over a million dollars. The UN warned of possible famine in the Central african Republic. In Ukraine protests continue against President Yanukovych. The Russian city of Volgograd was hit by two suicide bombers, though no one has claimed responsibility.
From RUSSIA- Excerpts from an interview with British MP George Galloway about the expansion of NATO and 20 years of US invasions of sovereign nations, beginning with Iraq and ending with Libya.
From SPAIN- More details on the bombings in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, near the site for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Jailed members of the Basque revolutionary group ETA said that they will recognize Spain's criminal justice system and acknowledge the pain their activities have caused in the past 4 decades. A press review on the Spanish government's activities to prevent the region of Catalonia from separateing from the federal government.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF ACTION/SOLIDARITY MARCH
Sisters of the Road's 2014 Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration will be part of a West Coast-wide weekend of Action and Resistance coordinated by the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) Coalition, calling attention to the wide-spread discriminatory and criminalizing practices against the poor and unhoused community members in our cities, towns and our state and to mobilize our community and partner organizations to pass a Homeless Bill of Rights to protect the basis civil and human rights of poor and socially-excluded communities.
http://www.sistersoftheroad.org/programs/homeless-bill-of-rights-campaign
http://www.wraphome.org/work/civil-rights-campaign
DAY OF ACTION/SOLIDARITY MARCH
in honor of the life, work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sponsored by Sisters of the Road Cafe and Right to Survive/Right2DreamToo
Free! Donations gratefully accepted.
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. -- Drop by Sisters of the Road Cafe (133 N.W. Sixth) to celebrate with food, music, theatre/arts and speeches by leaders from the Sisters' community, labor and grassroots organizations.
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. -- March to Right2DreamToo (319 W. Burnside) and then to City Hall. (It is anticipated that the City Hall rally will be at 3:00 p.m.)
Jefferson students showed everyone today how a great walk out looks like. Full of passion, energy, determination, spirit and guts, they walked out of Jefferson High School around noon today, taking over one lane of Killingsworth. Police cars soon appeared and followed them, but fortunately, the cops remained in their cars and didn't intervene.
Jefferson students showed everyone today how a great walk out looks like. Full of passion, energy, determination, spirit and guts, they walked out of Jefferson High School around noon today, taking over one lane of Killingsworth. Police cars soon appeared and followed them, but fortunately, the cops remained in their cars and didn't intervene. Many motorists honked and waved in support of the students. For more photos, here's the link: Jefferson students showed everyone today how a great walk out looks like. Full of passion, energy, determination, spirit and guts, they walked out of Jefferson High School around noon today, taking over one lane of Killingsworth. Police cars soon appeared and followed them, but fortunately, the cops remained in their cars and didn't intervene.
[Related Video Post]
Students demonstrate their passion for education and descry the lack of progress made during contract negotiations between the teachers union and Portland Public Schools. They walk out to support their teachers and demand access to the education all children deserve.
VIDEO: Jefferson High Student Walk Out
Native American Cemetery in Danger
Huntington Beach: The sacred site of Bolsa Chica (aka: Puvungna East)--or rather, what's left of it--is again in serious jeopardy. The 9,000+ year-old burial site will be the subject of a hearing on January 8, 2014. A developer is seeking to have it rezoned from Open Space to low-density Residential.
Bolsa Chica is known for, among other things, its ancient cogged stones (found nowhere else in the world except Chile). The area has already been developed extensively, with 174+ ancestors and thousands of ceremonial objects and other items removed.
The Coastal Commission hearing will be in San Diego at 9am; however, free bus rides from Huntington Beach will be provided to those who RSVP. Supporters are also encouraged to write to the Coastal Commission.
Further details: Rezoning of the Ridge in Huntington Beach by Johnk
This video describes the site and its history (though a bit dated in some ways): The Bolsa Chica Project
See the Bolsa Chica Land Trust for more historic and environmental information.
Discussion on American Indian Airwaves (KPFK) with Rebecca Robles of the Acjachemem (online for 90 days)
Protesting Xavier Becerra's Support of TPP
Through street theater (coming soon to streaming video) and protest a message was sent to Congressman Xavier Becerra (District 34) lambasting his support of fast tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership (a secretive trade agreement described by Lauren Steiner as "NAFTA on steroids").
Some of Becerra's constituents had hoped to speak with a representative in his office. However, they were told by police that permission must first be obtained the the building's owner, the Chamber of Commerce. Steiner emphasized the irony that police--our public servants, ostensibly--where taking orders from private commerce. Permission was never granted . A field deputy for Becerra was reached via cell phone but claimed to be too busy to talk/listen.
We then proceeded to the LA Times, which has failed to scrutinize the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and were met with hostility and smugness. At least a few employees entering and leaving the building expressed interest in the issue and even asked for flyers.
Story and pictures: Protesting Xavier Becerra's Support of TPP by RP
Mais uma Violência contra as Ocupações
Luta por Moradia
Contra a impunidade!
Johni, Presente!
Protesting Sea World at the Rose Parade
For the last eight or so years, the Rose Parade has been the focus of activism on issues such as U.S. military aggression, calls for George W. Bush's impeachment, crimes by banksters, the endangered U.S. Constitution, China's oppression of Tibet, and this year a Sea World float (featuring "happy" orcas) was the target of animal rights activists. (According to the KPFK evening news (1-02-14) Wall Street was also depicted in an "unofficial" float entry near the beginning of the parade route. Discussion of it begins near the 30-minute mark.)
Nineteen animal rights activists were arrested for trying to block the Sea World float. Protesters at several locations along the route held up signs as the float past. The float was accompanied by police, some in riot gear, in areas where activists were known to be. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of leaflets were distributed to parade spectators.
Story and pictures: Protesting Sea World at the Rose Parade by R. Plesset
(Photo above courtesy of Nicolas Tomas.)
Trastocados los papeles en Puerto Rico
IMPACTOS DE LA CENTRAL HIDROELÉCTRICA
La deuda del Estado chileno y Endesa con los pehuenches de Ralco
Funcionarios presionaron y lograron su objetivo
Familias mbyá guaraní abandonaron tierras reclamadas por el Hotel Hilton
"Los más ricos están tratando de llevar a la sociedad hacia la destrucción"
Noam Chomsky destaca la resistencia indígena en la protección del planeta
Los Municipios incumplen una resolución de la Defensoría del Pueblo de la Nación
Indígenas y vecinos piden que no se autoricen más emprendimientos sobre humedales
EL GOBIERNO DE FORMOSA DIGITÓ LAS ELECCIONES DE UNA ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL
Félix Díaz: “No se eligió, se llenaron urnas”
Reafirmación del derecho a la autoidentificación
Consulta obligatoria: fallo de la Corte Suprema a favor de los pueblos originarios
A 20 años del levantamiento zapatista en México
EZLN anuncia que globalizará su rebeldía
Sumario diciembre 2013
Agenda Enero 2014
"Bring Back Code Blue" Stickers Spotted in Downtown Santa Cruz
At the end of December, stickers printed with the statement "Bring Back Code Blue! Santa Cruz, CA" were spotted in downtown Santa Cruz. Many residents remember the phrase "code blue" as a reference to when officers within the Santa Cruz Police Department organized a pattern of violent assaults on homeless or "street" people in the 1980s.
Lynne Stewart Coming Home
Lynne Stewart to be granted compassionate release.
La Playa Carmel Holiday Rally Becomes Annual Tradition at Hotel
Community members continue to protest La Playa Carmel owner Sam Grossman's refusal to rehire the workers who were laid off in 2011 when the hotel was closed for a remodel. La Playa Carmel re-opened in 2012 and only three of the former workers, who were all union members, were hired back. At the holiday rally held on December 20, a former worker named Sergio said, "I miss working here. I worked for 23 Christmases in this restaurant, and the last three I haven't worked."
MOMS: A Mother's 40 Day Hunger Strike!
A Mother's 40 Day Hunger Strike! Culminating on Christmas Day!
by Cindi Fisher
Day 1of my Hunger Strike was and is dedicated to Seattle's Dominique Jamerson, age 23!
His court hearing is Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Please call today and leave a message. The contact info is below. It will take a Village Effort to Save Dominique Jamerson, age 23...Please Join Me!
Recent developments in Dominique's case, my son SIddharta Fisher's case, Hector ilias's case and other cases were key in catalyzing me to begin a Hunger Strike! It was a positive way to empower myself while channeling my outrage and also hopefully inspiring you to actively participate in being apart of the VIllage. Today's focus is on Dominique! It will take a Village Effort to Save Dominique Jamerson, age 23...Please Join Me!
Today, please call
1. Seattle's Chief Pros. Attorney, Daniel Satterberg 206-296-9000 and tell him to FREE DOMINIQUE JAMERSON!
2. Washington State Senator Patty Murray 206-553-0891 and leave a message: Tell her to Free Dominique Jamerson and investigate Washington State's Competency Restoration Process
You can read more on my website at: http://www.mentalhealthrightsyes.org/
Los Angeles NYE Noise Demo
In response to the global call-out for New Years Eve noise demos at prisons, jails, and detention centers around the world, we are calling all rebels and opponents of the Prison-Industrial Complex to converge on the Metropolitan Detention Center in Downtown Los Angeles December 31st.
Rally at City Hall's North lawn 10PM
March to Metropolitan Detention Center
Bring noisemakers and banners!
Full announcement: Los Angeles NYE Noise Demo by LA Rebels
Emergency Services: Enabling Life for Homeless People
It's cold, and Los Angeles is still the homeless capital of the United States. The costly and inhumane practice of using "quality of life" law enforcement to deal with homelessness in Los Angeles is no solution. It is part of the problem. Homeless numbers are on the rise and so are homeless deaths. The city is not developing the affordable housing required to address homelessness and is providing a shattering low number of emergency shelter beds. We the people need to help create safe zones and emergency services in order to save lives.
Full story and pictures: Emergency Services: Enabling Life for Homeless People by Peggy Lee Kennedy
Anti-Gentrification Bus Blockades Spread to Both Sides of the Bay
San Francisco and Oakland residents are being evicted as a result of increasing housing costs caused in part by an influx of tech employees, many of whom are provided private buses by their employers to get to offices in the Silicon Valley. Activists first blocked a Google bus in the Mission District of San Francisco on December 9. On December 20, protesters blocked a Google bus at the MacArthur BART station and another at 7th and Adeline in West Oakland. In San Francisco, an Apple bus was blocked at 24th and Valencia Streets.
Christmas in Bethlehem
Mazin Qumsiyeh writes: Christmas 2013 in Bethlehem is still a very special and meaningful time even under the brutal Israeli apartheid occupation. Nowhere is there an exhibit of "Occupation Art" shown in a "Peace Center" in front of a large Christmas tree in front of one of the holiest places in Christianity.... It is also a time to reflect on the real message of Jesus.... It is still a message of hope, peace, joy, justice, love, and harmony.... [Yet] on Christmas eve, Israeli forces also bombed Gaza killing at least two including a 3-year old girl and injuring others in her family.
Romerazo colegial
Romerazo colegial: Testimonio de un sancionado, 15 años después
Ley anti-gay en Uganda
¿Queremos que Puerto Rico siga los pasos de Uganda?
Maestros dicen no a la reforma de su retiro
Jornada de lucha del magisterio culmina con aires de Huelga
Pre-New Years Critical Mass reportback
Critical Mass DC rode on the evening of December 27, getting a surprisingly good turnout for a winter ride. Critical Mass rides now depart Dupont Circle at about 8PM on the last Friday of every month. Video of the Dec 27 Critical Mass
"Crisis energética": la continuidad neoliberal de los derechos básicos privatizados
A oscuras
Memoria, Verdad y Justicia
Un viaje hacia la coherencia y las convicciones con Norita Cortiñas
Hundreds Served at Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs Holiday Meal
On December 25, Christmas Day, Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs served a free vegan holiday meal to hundreds of community members outside of the downtown post office. Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry helped organize the meal, and he has reported that many of FNB groups across the country would be sharing vegan meals during the holidays this year in response to an increased need due to new cuts in food stamps and an extreme reduction of access to food during the holiday season.
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InfoQ Homepage News Lucene 2.3: Large indexing performance improvements, new machine-learning project
Lucene 2.3: Large indexing performance improvements, new machine-learning project
This item in japanese
Ryan Slobojan
The Apache Lucene project, a high-performance full-featured text search engine library written entirely in Java, released version 2.3 today. InfoQ spoke with committer and Project Management Committee (PMC) member Grant Ingersoll to learn more about this release and the future plans for Lucene.
Ingersoll indicated that the largest change in this release is a new indexing algorithm, which uses new in-memory models to achieve large speed improvements. According to Ingersoll, simply switching the existing Lucene 2.2 JAR for a Lucene 2.3 JAR resulted in speed-ups of 500% in indexing performance in several tests which were performed. Other changes include:
Improved index management - long pauses which were occasionally seen during indexing due to merging of internal index files have been eliminated, and other approaches to managing the indexing process are now easy to implement
Object pooling - Document, Field and Token instances can now be reused during indexing analysis, which both speeds up analysis and reduces the number of allocations during indexing
IndexReader reopening - Reopening an IndexReader to capture the latest changes in an index is now much faster with the new reopen() method, which loads in only those index segments which have changed rather than reloading the entire index
Easier IndexWriter tuning - The setMaxBufferedDocs method has been supplanted by the more intuitive setRAMBufferSizeMB method
In addition, 2.3 is intended to be a drop-in replacement for 2.2, with no recompilation required. A comprehensive changelog is also available.
Ingersoll also discussed the future plans for Lucene, saying that the next release would be 2.9. The 2.9 release will be a relatively minor, with items being marked as deprecated and other clean-up being performed in preparation for Lucene 3.0. The 3.0 version will be a major release which will involve moving the codebase to JDK 5 as the minimum supported codebase - the other major features of 3.0 are yet to be determined.
The Lucene community as a whole was also discussed, with Ingersoll indicating that Lucene and Solr have a strong integration, and that Nutch, Tika and Hadoop also enjoyed a fair amount of intercommunication. Ingersoll also described a new project named Mahout which he is in the process of launching:
That will be a separate project, but may be beneficial to Lucene users. There are currently some patches in JIRA for Lucene that implement ML algorithms. The goal of this project is to provide commercial quality, large scale machine learning (ML) algorithms built on Hadoop under an Apache license. I have seen a fair amount of interest already, and hope to have this project underway in the coming month.
Ingersoll said that, by creating Mahout, he hoped to "further unlock the mysteries of Google and companies like it to provide these capabilities to the masses and spur on new innovation in the space" -- for those with an interest in this new project, there are both a project plan and an incubator proposal available.
This content is in the Search topic
Top 9 Myths of Software Requirements Gathering
Case Study: From Monolith to Microservices with Micronaut
by Ryan Slobojan /
by Mohan Kumar /
After following up with Grant after the publishing of this item, I learned two things:
* A 2.4 release is now planned before 2.9
* Mahout was accepted as an Apache Lucene subproject this week (see lucene.apache.org/mahout/)
Any releases on Lucene.Net?
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Home / Journal of Wine Research, Volume 20, Number 3
The Relationship between Grapevine Vigour and N-Mineralization of Soil from Selected Cool Climate Vineyards in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Balachandra, L.; Edis, R.; White, R. E.; Chen, D.
Source: Journal of Wine Research, Volume 20, Number 3, November 2009, pp. 183-198(16)
Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09571260903471977
Excess vigour is a problem in cool climate vineyards in Australia due to high soil N-fertility. High and low vigour blocks in three cool climate vineyards in Victoria, Australia, was surveyed. The relationship between soil N-fertility and grapevine vigour was tested. Vine vigour was reflected in measured internode length and leaf petiole N content. The average daily N-mineralization rate from soil organic matter (SOM) varied among the sites. Laboratory incubations revealed a positive relationship between soil total N content and average daily mineralizable-N in most sites. However, there are other factors involved in promoting excess vigour those to be taken into account.
Keywords: N-fertility; N-mineralization; cool climate; grapevine vigour
Affiliations: School of Resource Management, Faculty of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Publication date: November 1, 2009
More about this publication?
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Home / Anesthesia & Analgesia, Volume 122, Number 2
The Effect of Anesthetic Choice (Sevoflurane Versus Desflurane) and Neuromuscular Management on Speed of Airway Reflex Recovery
Authors: McKay, Rachel Eshima; Hall, Kathryn T.; Hills, Nancy
Source: Anesthesia & Analgesia, Volume 122, Number 2, February 2016, pp. 393-401(9)
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000001022
Nonintubated patients receiving sevoflurane have slower protective airway reflex recovery after anesthesia compared with patients receiving desflurane. We asked whether this difference would remain significant among intubated patients receiving rocuronium or whether the impact of variable neuromuscular recovery would predominate and thus minimize differences between anesthetics.
After obtaining written informed consent, patients were randomly assigned to receive sevoflurane (n = 41) or desflurane (n = 40), with neuromuscular monitoring by quantitative train-of-four (TOF) method using accelerometry. Intubation was facilitated by administration of 1 mg/kg rocuronium. Neuromuscular block was produced, with the goal of maintaining 10% to 15% of baseline function. After surgery, neostigmine 70 µg/kg + glycopyrrolate 14 µg/kg was administered. When TOF ratio reached ≥0.7, anesthetic was discontinued and fresh gas flow was raised to 15 L/m. The time of first response to command was noted, after which patients were given a 20-mL water swallowing test at 2, 6, 14, 22, 30, and 60 minutes. The following average time intervals were compared between the 2 intervention groups: anesthetic discontinuation to first response to command (T1); first response to command to first successful passing of swallow test (T2); and anesthetic discontinuation to first successful passing of swallow test (T3). We also compared the rates of successful swallow tests at 2 minutes after first response to command in the 2 groups, first categorizing as failures all those who were unable to take the test at 2 minutes, and then excluding 10 patients unable to take the test at this time for reasons other than somnolence (n = 10).
Patients receiving desflurane passed the swallowing test at shorter time intervals after first response to command than did patients receiving sevoflurane (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney odds = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.69; P = 0.054). Two minutes after the first response to command, among all 81 patients, the chance of passing the swallowing test was higher after desflurane compared with sevoflurane anesthesia (relative risk = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0–2.5; P = 0.04). Of the 71 patients (as above), we observed a significantly higher chance of passing at 2 minutes after first response to command (relative risk = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2–2.7; P = 0.006) in patients receiving desflurane (25/33) compared with those receiving sevoflurane (16/38). In 18 of 81 and 16 of 71 patients, the neuromuscular monitoring and reversal protocols were not followed (neostigmine underdosed, extubation at TOF <0.7, or reliance on tactile as opposed to quantitative TOF measurement). In both the total cohort and the subset of 71, neuromuscular protocol adherence increased the chance of passing the swallow test, independent of anesthetic assignment in multivariable logistic regression (P = 0.02 and P = 0.006, respectively), demonstrating significant effect on airway reflex recovery independent of chosen anesthetic.
Compared with sevoflurane, desflurane allowed faster recovery of airway reflexes after anesthesia in intubated patients. Clinical management of neuromuscular block, including full reversal and the use of quantitative TOF, affects airway reflex recovery—an effect that may be at least as profound as the choice of potent inhaled anesthetic.
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How a Ukrainian refugee pursued the American dream to open Cedar Coffee on North Monroe
Hector Aizon
Iryna and Igor Anisimov opened Cedar Coffee in November.
Fleeing a brutal war in their home country Ukraine, Igor Anisimov and his family arrived to the U.S. in September of 2015.
Soon after, Anisimov discovered a local coffee shop on the corner of North Monroe Street. He began stopping by every day, so when that shop, Coeur Coffeehouse, closed its doors rather unexpectedly last spring, he was deeply saddened to see the end of a familiar place in his new city.
"Like always, I came here and the door was closed," Anisimov recalls. "It was terrible for me and my wife. And then, I don't know how, but I just thought maybe we could continue the business."
He tried to track down the shuttered shop's owner, but was unsuccessful. Determined to revive the corner coffee shop in some way, and become a business owner himself, Anisimov eagerly pursued these dreams. All of his hard work came to fruition when Cedar Coffee opened its doors in November.
"I am a businessman in my mind and my heart," Anisimov says with a smile, seated at a wooden table inside the brightly sun-lit business. "I love business, and I love coffee. The coffee shop is not just business, it's my life, my love," he continues.
As a refugee with no financial history in the U.S., Anisimov had trouble getting a bank loan to start his dream business. Eventually, he connected with Spokane Neighborhood Action Partner's (SNAP) Financial Access and Business Development services, which guided him through processes of permitting, licensing and other requirements to open Cedar Coffee.
Roast House Coffee owner Deborah DiBernardo was also instrumental in helping Anisimov get Cedar Coffee ready for business, connecting him with employees who'd previously worked for her (a few also still do), and becoming Cedar Coffee's exclusive local roaster. DiBernardo's connections led Anisimov to hire Cedar's manager, Kira Elmer, and one of its baristas, Kyle Siegal, who was also a former employee of its predecessor, Coeur.
Cedar's drink menu offers the traditional coffee house espresso lineup: lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, macchiatos and more, along with more than 13 varieties of tea, and locally made chai tea from Mandala Chai Company. Pastries served there are made locally by Common Crumb Artisan Bakery. Drink syrups are made in house, including Anisimov's favorite, a maple bourbon syrup that he personally crafted.
Anisimov plans to continue adding other drinks to the menu, like ginger tea. He would also like to add a traditional Russian beverage called kvass, a fermented drink similar to kombucha, but slightly sweeter. It's very popular in Ukraine, but Anisimov doesn't think American customers would have the same taste for it.
Cedar Coffee's name and logo, featuring a squirrel and a cedar cone, are nods to Anisimov's homeland Ukraine.
"Cedar means strong, and long life," he explains, adding that he owned an unrelated company by the name Cedar back home, along with a couple of coffee shops.
Anisimov closed one of the shops after Russia's invasion of Ukraine back in 2014; he still owns the other. He hopes to open additional businesses, perhaps coffee shops, in Spokane as he becomes more familiar with American business practices, and more comfortable speaking English.
"Igor is one of the most genuine and kind people, he really cares about everyone's safety and happiness," says Cedar Coffee manager Kira Elmer. "People who used to go to Coeur say 'I feel like I have my second home back,' and they love hanging out, and a lot of people in the coffee community are very supportive." ♦
cheys@inlander.com
Cedar Coffee • 701 N. Monroe • Open Mon-Fri 7 am-6 pm, Sat-Sun 8 am-5 pm • facebook.com/coffeeatcedar • 315-9321
The original print version of this article was headlined "Coffee Culture"
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J-14 Twitter Tracker: Justin Bieber Tweets Support for Greyson Chance
By J-14 Magazine
Justin Bieber and Greyson Chance both grew up in small towns. They both rose to fame through their YouTube videos. And they both made the J-14 Magazine office one of their first stops when they released their music.
Just because they have a few things in common doesn't mean that there's any competition between the two. In fact, they're uber supportive of one another.
WIN IT: Win a Phone Call from Greyson Chance
Case in point? Justin Bieber tweeted the YouTube link of Greyson Chance's video, "Unfriend You" on Saturday to his 11.4 million followers, just days before Greyson's debut album, Hold On 'Til the Night, comes out on Tuesday. Talk about helping out a pal!
Justin wrote: "Keep it up bro.. voice sounds great bro keep it up."
And Greyson prompted replied, "Appreciate the support" and retweeted it!
Not just that, Greyson recently said, "Justin's an amazing guy — I've met him a couple times and he's a good friend, but [our music] is very different."
FOLLOW @J14MAGAZINE ON TWITTER
And Greyson's more than happy that Justin's giving him solid advice. "He told me to stick to my family and stick to God. Very good words to live by."
How did you learn who Greyson Chance was?
Photo: Courtesy of ABC/Heidi Gutman; Mike Coppolla/Getty Images for J-14 Magazine
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American Colleges Are Forgetting to Teach Citizenship
Jan 20, 2016 Wilfred McClay 0 Comments
Over a long teaching career, I have seen a lot of change in our colleges and universities—some of it good, but much of it not. In the not-good category I would put the decline of our commitment to educate our young people for American citizenship.
Those of us old enough to remember the 1970s recall the crisis higher education was then facing. The stupendous growth of colleges and universities in the post-World War II-era was coming to an end and the future looked grim.
But American higher education did not curl up and die. It didn’t even shrink. Instead, it maintained and added to its bulk, including a steadily growing flow of foreign students (more on them later).
It did what businesses always do when supply outstrips demand: it found, exploited, and even created new markets for its goods, meaning new students.
The resulting gains in access to higher education and genuine diversity in the student body have on balance been a real advance. But our redefinition of higher education has also presented us with certain dilemmas, and these must be faced up to.
For example, we need to pay more attention to the internationalization of the American academy, including the steadily growing number of foreign students in our universities. Those students represent a source of much-needed enrollment and tuition revenues. Their presence gives enlivening variety to our campuses, exposing the American-born to a taste of the larger world. What is not to like about that?
For one thing, as educational researchers such as Chris R. Glass of Old Dominion University and Elizabeth Gareis of Baruch College have reported, our universities are doing a terrible job with the integration of their international students. Between the cross-cultural inadequacies of native-born students and the self-congregating tendencies of foreign students, the result in many cases has been an increasingly tense and anomic campus life.
And there is another side to the integration problem, involving not only the neglect of international students, but also the neglect of the institutional mission of any American college or university: the formation of young people into fully informed and fully equipped citizens of the United States, knowledgeable about their own history and institutions.
A personal story will help to make that point.
Several years ago, I spent a year as a visiting professor at a small graduate school that was oriented toward public policy. Its course offerings and faculty reflected the kind of task-oriented training that public sector employers want from prospective employees. But the school also had a prescribed sequence of courses that sought to teach students about the philosophical and constitutional grounding of American society.
The school was also highly tuition-dependent and had reached deeply into the foreign-student pool. Those students were something of a life preserver. But while their presence enlivened the classroom, their presence also constrained what I was able to accomplish.
Instead of teaching my students how to intelligently appropriate the knowledge and traditions and historical memories of America, I found it necessary to teach as if those traditions were to be regarded neutrally, a view from nowhere carrying no inherent weight. The classes had become something different from what the school had intended them to be.
My experience impressed upon me that, in addition to the ideological and political constraints facing professors today, the presence of an international classroom and student body also forms a serious constraint, particularly with a view toward helping our students come into a fuller ownership of their civilizational heritage.
Thus does an admissions policy that swells the balance sheet but takes no account of the school’s larger mission run the risk of undermining the institution’s very reason for being.
That teaching experience relates to a much more general problem I see in American higher education.
The idea that higher education should teach about citizenship goes back to our beginnings. Thomas Jefferson’s 1818 Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia called for each citizen “to understand his duties to his neighbors and country, and to discharge with competence the functions confided to him by either” and “to know his rights; to exercise with order and justice those he retains; to choose with discretion the fiduciary of those he delegates; and to notice their conduct with diligence, with candor, and judgment.”
But the ideological tides have shifted dramatically and education for American citizenship is viewed skeptically. Some now question whether that should be a central part of what our colleges try to provide—or any part.
The influential philosopher Martha Nussbaum has argued that patriotism itself is an inferior sentiment, and that “patriotic pride is both morally dangerous and, ultimately, subversive of some of the worthy goals patriotism sets out to serve—for example, the goal of national unity in devotion to worthy moral ideals of justice and equality.”
Such goals, she argued, “would be better served by…the very old ideal of the cosmopolitan, the person whose allegiance is to the worldwide community of human beings.” It is the job of the university, she argues, to instill that ideal, and in so doing, displace the dangerous idols of the nation-state.
Nussbaum offers as an exemplar of the cosmopolitan ideal the figure of Diogenes the Cynic, who was said to have answered anyone who asked what city-state he came from, by gruffly declaring “I am a citizen of the world.” He heroically declined, Nussbaum says, to identify himself with the accidents of birth, “his local origins and group memberships, so central to the self-image of the conventional Greek male; instead, he defined himself in terms of more universal aspirations and concerns.”
We are urged to do the same, and to educate our young along similar lines.
Her view dovetails with the emerging reality of Ben Wildavsky’s transnational “global university,” whose smooth surfaces have no place for the expression of national identity, or for the inculcation of the civic consciousness and community of historical memory that have hitherto been thought to be essential elements in the makeup of any decent and responsible political society, particular one founded in republican or democratic institutions.
The rise of that view should be a matter of grave concern.
For while cosmopolitanism may be the preferred mode of affiliation for academic intellectuals and international businessmen, it is not an ideal that encourages the perpetuation of deep loyalties and the willingness to sacrifice and bear others’ burdens. It is not an ideal that imposes demanding civic duties, grounded in the concrete realities of ordinary life in real families, communities, and political society.
The problem with cosmopolitanism is not with the more expansive world it opens to us, but with the more proximate world it encourages us to neglect.
We give far too little attention to the kind of citizens required by our free and republican form of government. Nor do we give sufficient attention to the institutions and narratives by which we form the minds and hearts and spirits of each successive generation of citizens.
In short, we have come to ignore what has always been understood as a primary goal of education: the formation of reflective and responsible citizens.
We are paying the price for that neglect today. All too many Americans, even nominally well-educated ones, do not understand their own political and economic systems, and are appallingly ignorant of the American past. They are bereft of any sense of love for, or profound connection to, their own nation and its traditions.
Needless to say, such citizens will have neither the intelligence nor the heart to meet the rigorous challenges of a very demanding future. We will have to do better, and start doing so very soon, if we are to maintain a republican form of government.
Author Wilfred McClay
A Remarkably Hard College Course Proves Remarkably Popular
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Many colleges assign “common readings” to incoming students as an intellectual experience outside the classroom to set the bar for the academic rigor that professors expect of students. This tradition is most students’ first taste of the university. This well-meaning tradition, however, has become highly politicized and the quality of reading has significantly decreased over … Continue reading “Common Reading Programs: Political Fluff for Freshmen”
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Queenstown, MD - Furnace & Air Conditioning Service, Repair & Maintenance Contractor
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Queenstown, Maryland is a tiny town with only about 670 residents. Found in Maryland’s Queen Anne’s County, the town was the original county seat before its location changed to Centreville. Queenstown was founded in 1707 and was severely damaged by British forces during the War of 1812. Historically, Queenstown was a popular stop for steamboats, but seafood harvesting and agriculture are the major driving factors to today’s economy.
While the community may be small in population, there is no shortage of things to do here. Queenstown Premium Outlets is an outlet mall that house over 65 stores, and it is arguably the most popular attraction in the community. Antique hunters may like to search out the items at J.R.’s Antique Center or the Chesapeake Antique Center. Clay shooting is available at Pintail Point, and golf enthusiasts might like to spend an afternoon the links at Queenstown Harbor Golf. Whether you prefer seafood or fast-food, there is also a restaurant to please your taste buds, including Fisherman’s Inn, The Narrows Restaurant, and Queenstown Pizzeria.
Weather conditions in Queenstown will vary with the season. Summertime weather in the area tends to be cool to cold, with average daily highs reaching 46 degrees Fahrenheit in July. The community only receives about nine inches of total snowfall each year, but freezing temperatures, sleet, and other dangerous conditions are possible. HVAC technicians recommend a reliable and energy efficient furnace to keep indoor temperatures warm, and periodic maintenance will ensure these systems operate at peak efficiency.
Conditions are dramatically different during the summer months. High temperatures combined with high humidity, and thermostat readings hit the upper-80s in July and August. Central air conditioning is an important investment, and the benefits of these systems extend beyond just keeping indoor conditions cool. The right air conditioner will also help residents to save on their monthly utility costs.
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Power Rangers Actor Ludi Lin Rumored For Marvel's Shang-Chi Role
It was Rumored that Ludi Lin, who portrayed Zack/Black Ranger in the 2017 Power Rangers movie, is on the short-list to play the role of Marvel's master of kung fu, Shang-Chi.
It was also said that Ludi has expressed his interest and excitement in portraying the role who also got a role in last year's blockbuster DCEU movie. Aquaman.
"It’s definitely something I want to do,” said Lin. “To do an Asian-centric superhero. To tell that story. I mean ideally, I’d like to design my own superhero, make my own creation. But I think the Marvel world is pretty incredible as well. Especially in honor of Stan Lee, the person who created this entire, I mean like an entire universe. You know what I mean? It’s pretty incredible. And I think it would be great because it would take another big step towards representation."
Besides Ludi Lin, it was also rumored that actor Ross Butler, who portrayed the super powered adult version of Eugene Choi in the recent hit DCEU movie Shazam was also in the short-list while Destin Daniel was tapped by Marvel to direct the movie.
Source: Superhero Hype
Categories: Ludi Lin , Marvel , Movie , News , Power Rangers , Rumors
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Wood, who was seriously injured in a car crash on May 5 that also killed her mother, Maria Wood, and 12-year-old niece, Rosemary McElroy, has worked three or four days a week as a server at Old Mill Tasty Shop, 604 E. Douglas, for the past two years. Her older niece, Cat, the older sister of Rosemary, works there, too.
Both have become like family, Don Wright said.
The Jenny Wood tribute at Old Mill Tasty shop includes a “wishing well” where customers and friends can leave good thoughts or even money. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle
As tributes and fundraisers by the dozens have been organized over the past couple of weeks, the Wrights have been trying to come up with the perfect way to honor Jenny and Cat.
On Wednesday morning, Don’s wife, Angela, put together a big display in the restaurant’s front window, which the staff usually fills with seasonal decorations. The tribute is complete with pictures of Wood working at the shop, smiling with family members and rocking out with her guitar. There’s also a banner that reads “We love you Jenny,” and Angela also added a gold pot that she’s calling a wishing well. She provided a pad of paper with pictures of Wood at the top and instructions asking well-wishers to write down a prayer or a blessing for Jenny — or to even leave money for her if they want.
“We’re going to save everything so when she’s all healed, we want her to be able to read everything,” Angela said. “We want to make some kind of book with everything in it. She is so loved.”
The staff at Old Mill was devastated by the accident, Don Wright said, and his mother, Mary, has been at the hospital almost every day with Jenny. Customers ask about her all the time.
Everyone at Old Mill has felt helpless since the accident, but the display in the window makes them feel like they’re contributing, he said.
“We’re all close to her,” Don Wright said. “We’ve been blessed with her.”
Jenny continues to recover at the hospital, and Don said he hopes that she’ll return to work when she’s well enough. Several fundraisers are planned for Wood and her family this weekend, including a benefit at Mort’s, 923 E. First St., from noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday, and a benefit at Jimmy’s Egg, Douglas and Hydraulic, where 50 percent of all Sunday sales will be donated.
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Jenny Wood, left, has worked three or four days a week at Old Mill Tasty Shop for the last couple of years. The restaurant’s owners now have created a display in the front window as a tribute to her. Courtesy photo
The front window display at Old Mill Tasty Shop, put up earlier this week, is full of pictures and words of encouragement for employee Jenny Wood. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle
Denise Neil
Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Her Dining with Denise Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. She’s a regular judge at local food competitions and speaks to groups all over Wichita about dining.
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The founder of Tight Ends Sports Bar & Grill, which should open in Wichita in August featuring scantily clad waitresses, was in town this week and showed off the almost-done restaurant, discussed his inspiration
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If you can't view this video, your browser does not support HTML5 videos
5 CURSED Playboy Playmates
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Sex, drugs and naked women. Since 1953, Playboy Magazine playmates have enticed readers as they flaunt their tantalizing bodies all over its pages. But behind the glitzy and erotic displays lies some strange mysteries, drama and Crime. These are 5 Cursed Playboy Playmates.
5. Star Stowe - Playmate of the Month of February 1977
Born Ellen Louise Stowe in Little Rock, Arkansas, Star Stowe stood 5 feet 6 inches tall, had dark eyes and honey-colored hair. When she was young, her dream was to be a dancer and by her teens, she had moved to Las Vegas and then Los Angeles, in hopes of achieving her dream.
4. Eve Meyer - Playmate of the Month for June 1955
Eve Turner originally hailed from Atlanta, Georgia. The gorgeous blonde first worked as a pin-up model, posing nude or topless. Then, By 1952, she married photographer and “sexploitation” filmmaker, Russ Meyer. Meyer was known for creating campy films featuring large breasted women and it wasn’t long before Eve Meyer appeared starred in them.
3. Jasmine Fiore
After spending her childhood years in Bonny Doon, California, Jasmine Fiore decided to move out and try her hand at modeling. She often worked as a swimsuit model and as a body-painted model at various parties and entertainment shindigs. She appeared in Las Vegas casinos and on adult phone line commercials. With her sexy body and beautiful looks, she then won a spot to be featured on Playboy Magazine.
2. Yvette Vickers - Playmate of the Month for July 1959
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Yvette Vickers, first studied to be a journalist but after taking an acting class, she decided to pursue life as an actress. Her earliest unbilled appearance was in the movie Sunset Boulevard. Vickers also appeared in several movies afterwards. In 1957, she starred in Short Cut To Hell and Reform School Girl. The following year, she starred as Honey Parker, in the movie, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. Following this, she appeared in Attack of the Giant Leeches and various television shows.
1. Dorothy Stratten - Playmate of the Month for July 1979
Dorothy Stratten was once a small town girl from British Columbia, Canada. At 18, she was working at a Dairy Queen when she was “discovered” by Paul Snider. In contrast to Stratten’s innocence, Snider was known in town as “The Jewish Pimp.” He prowled around town, looking for young, beautiful girls to take advantage of.
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Secretary Putin: Russia is willing to prepare for the Putin Conference and other level talks
Source: On July 16, local time, US President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Helsinki, Finland.
Bolton, the US Presidents national adviser, had previously said that there would be no Put Conference until the situation in the Black Sea was resolved.
We still believe that such talks are necessary for Moscow and Washington, Peskov said. A similar position does not justify a violation of the process of trying and investigating infringers of the Russian Federations borders.
We are still willing to prepare for high-level bilateral talks and meetings at different levels to discuss urgent issues and strategic security issues between the two countries, he added.
On November 25, three Ukrainian naval vessels entered Russias temporary closed sea area and are sailing from the Black Sea to the Kachi Strait. The Russian side intercepted and detained three Ukrainian vessels and a group of personnel, and designated that the other side deliberately provoked and caused incidents; the Ukrainian side designated that the Russian ships deliberately collided with Ukrainian vessels.
The Kremlin pointed out that Russias response to the incident was in accordance with international law and Russian law.
Source: Jike_b6492, Responsible Editor of CNN
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Judge Trump Accused of Bias Sides With Him in Border Wall Case
In the 2016 election, Trump said U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel was biased against him because of his Hispanic heritage.
By Cogan Schneier | February 27, 2018 at 06:24 PM
U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel.
A Southern California judge, once disparaged by President Donald Trump, ruled in his favor Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging Department of Homeland Security decisions related to Trump’s plans for a wall along the southern border.
Cogan Schneier
Cogan Schneier is a Washington, D.C.-based litigation reporter covering D.C. courts, national litigation trends, the Justice Department and the federal judiciary. She is the author of Trump Watch, an email briefing that covers the Trump administration and its imprint on the law.
Judicial Ethics
Litigators
Cases and Courts
Santa Cruz Judge Censured for Denying Red-Light Violation Responsibility
Cheryl Miller | May 20, 2019
The Commission on Judicial Performance on Monday also admonished a Los Angeles judge for delaying action on a resentencing for three years.
Inyo Judge Disciplined for Missing Casework Deadlines
Cheryl Miller | July 02, 2019
The judge's attorney said he accepts the commission's findings "and will continue to do his very best to adhere to the judicial canons."
Judicial Realism Is Dangerous
Gerald Sauer | May 20, 2019
Judges reach decisions on matters before them, then find laws to support their predetermined result. They may ignore laws that dictate a different outcome and conveniently disregard prior decisions that have a bearing on the cases in front of them.
Library of California Insurance Defense FormsBook
180+ model documents covering preliminary matters through ADR & trial, with sample letters, demands, pleadings, motions, certifications, interrogatories, settlement agreements, briefs & more.
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PAPIO KINETIC PARADE
CUSTOM HOUSE
Visit the Custom House Museum
An Island in Transition
Use, Decline and Restoration
Preserve the Custom House
LIGHTHOUSE & KEEPERS QUARTERS
Visit the Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters
The Hurricane of 1846
Civil War & New Keepers
Improvements & A New Life
FORT EAST MARTELLO
Visit The Fort East Martello Museum
Twin Forts
From Fort to Museum
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS MUSEUM
Visit The Tennessee Williams Museum
Tennessee Williams Exhibit
Wish You Were Here: Postcards from Paradise
Overseas to the Keys – Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway
Tennessee Williams – The Playwright and the Painter
Stanley Papio – Junkyard Rebel
Ghosts of East Martello
Tennessee Williams in Key West
Life of the Keepers
Depicting Hemingway – Guy Harvey Sketches ‘The Old Man and the Sea’
The Restless Eye // The Visions of Olga Manosalvas
Surroundings: Watercolors by Martha Watson Sauer
Royal Retrospective: Forty Years of Fantasy Fest
Literary History of the Florida Keys
Key West Collects: Our Community Treasures
From a Women’s Hand
Sandford Birdsey: A Retrospective
Depicting Hemingway
Donating Objects
HISTORIC MARKER TOUR
All Programs and Events
ArtCamp! 2019
Summer Film Series
Happy Hour with the Historian
Distinguished Speaker Series
Stream All Speakers
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Music at Martello – Donavon Frankenreiter
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Official Parade Website
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Society Distinguished Speaker guest Bob Bernreuterpresents“A History of the Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea”
May 8, 2019 — (Key West, FL). Key West Art & Historical Society Distinguished Speaker guest Bob Bernreuterpresents“A History of the Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea”
On Thursday, May 23 from 6:00-7:00pm, Key West Art & Historical Society presents Bob Bernreuter, who will discuss “A History of the Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea,” at the Custom House Museum, 281 Front Street. Bernreuter will explore how small seeds of faith planted by 16th-century missionaries on a small island in a new world were nurtured into a parish that survived the storms of nature and war, and ultimately would earn the attention of Rome and be honored with the distinguished title of a Minor Basilica.
Though the original Saint Mary Star of the Sea on Duval Street was destroyed by fire in 1901, the new church on Windsor Street was completed within four years. Designed and constructed by Brother Cornelius Otten at a cost of $24,444, the American Victorian building featuring modified early renaissance revival structures became the first non-wooden place of Catholic worship in Southern Florida.
Along with its rusticated exterior walls, round arches, and lunettes filled with transitional gothic arches, louvered shutters and colored glass windows, the church’s construction embraced the island’s natural elements while also considering its sub-tropical climate: stone blocks made from the oolitic limestone dug from the church grounds, wide and high doorways set along the east and west walls to provide cross ventilation when open, and natural light that adds special significance to the stained-glass window over the altar.
Bernreuter will offer stories and imagery on the only Catholic Church in Key West and its famed Grotto built by Sister Louis Gabriel containing the statues of Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette which was dedicated on May 25, 1922, the Feast of the Ascension and the 25th anniversary of Sister Gabriel’s entrance into the religious profession of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
A sixth-generation Conch, Bernreuter graduated from Key West High in 1964 and received a BA from Florida State University in 1968. He joined the U.S. Air Force and received his aeronautical rating as Pilot a year later and served 10 years becoming Chief Instructor Pilot for the KC-135 and Command Pilot, with three tours in Vietnam flying 67 combat missions. He has taught religion at St. Mary Star of the Sea for 31 years and is regarded as the parish historian, and currently works at Historic Tours of America as the corporate historian. His book “The Gift,” a children’s book published in 2006, will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.
Distinguished Speaker Series presentation tickets are $5 for KWAHS members, $10 for non-members, and are available at kwahs.org/events. Early ticket purchase is recommended. Sponsored by the Helmerich Trust and Southernmost Beach Resort, for more information contact Society Director of Education Kristina Callaway at 305-295-6616 x 115 or at kcallaway@kwahs.org. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.
Sixth generation Conch Bob Bernreuter will present“A History of the Basilica St. Mary Star of the Sea” at the Custom House Museum at 6:00pm on Thursday, May 23.
The mission of The Key West Art & Historical Society is to preserve the culture of the Florida Keys through exhibiting and displaying regional art, architecture and history for the purpose of educating the community and visiting public.
©2016 The Key West Art & Historical Society | 281 Front Street, Key West, FL | 305-295-6616 | EIN: 59-0660461 | Website Design by Gravitate
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Clear the Shelters Dog Provides ‘Emotional Support’ for Veteran, Family
Posted: Jul 9, 2019 / 05:02 PM CDT / Updated: Jul 17, 2019 / 05:36 AM CDT
Bailey, a long-haired Chihuahua mix, is living her best life in Orange County where her owners and their grandchildren give her plenty of tummy rubs and affection.
But Bailey’s life wasn’t always this easy. She was a stray, rescued by an animal shelter in Huntington Beach, California. Bailey was one of the lucky dogs adopted last year during NBC and Telemundo Owned Stations’ Clear The Shelters pet adoption campaign. The nationwide pet adoption initiative has helped more than 250,000 pets find forever homes since 2015.
Good Human! Dog Training Is About Teaching Owners: Expert
Don and Joann Winderman camped out overnight to adopt Bailey after seeing the puppy a day earlier at a local shelter and “falling in love” her. They were first in line at the Bella Terra Mall event, which happened to land on the couple’s 39th wedding anniversary.
Don is a veteran who served in the Marine Corps for six years. He was an aviation ordnance missile tech stationed at El Toro before being transferred to Tustin where he worked as a helicopter gunner.
Odd Couples: Unlikely Species Form Heartwarming Friendships
Don said their three rescue pups, including Bailey, serve as emotional support animals. He calls them “velcro dogs” because of their love for cuddling.
“They sense when you’re not feeling good,” he said. “And they’re happy to see you every day.”
Dogtographer Helps Shelter Pets Unleash Their Best Features
It’s been one year since Bailey’s adoption into the Winderman home, and she fit in seamlessly.
“She has just come in and taken over with our other dogs,” Don said. “She’s very loving.”
He said that Bailey gets along well with the couple’s four grandsons, who enjoy giving her daily tummy rubs.
“The only one she barks at is my son-in-law,” he said, laughing. “But everybody kind of barks at him.”
Don Winderman believes that adopting a rescue animal isn’t just about saving an animal’s life, but also what the animal does for its owner.
“The love that these dogs give you is worth it,” he said. “All they need is love. And really, if people gave out more love than hate this country would be a lot better — and the whole world would be better.”
Animal shelters across Southern California are full of pets waiting to be adopted, including cats, rabbits, snakes, turtles and many other species.
Every year, millions of companion animals end up in shelters across the country. Rob Silverstein, the public service administrator for Santa Monica Animal Shelter, said that animals end up in their cages over three primary reasons.
“Either the owner will relinquish the animal and because they can’t care for the animal, they rely on us to find them a new home,” he said. “Sometimes they might be stray, or they were in a situation of abuse. Our officers will find them in the field or remove them from that situation.”
And while shelter adoption rates have been steadily rising since 2011, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 1.5 million animals — 860,000 cats and about 670,000 dogs — are still euthanized each year due to overcrowding.
The number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them. And, by adopting a shelter animal, you actually save two lives.
“Every single pet that is adopted frees shelter staff up to work with and prepare the next pet for potential adoption,” said Kenny Lamberti, director of strategic engagement and companion animals for the Humane Society.
So if you’re thinking about taking home a new furry friend, consider heading to a local animal shelter to adopt during this year’s Clear the Shelters event on Aug. 17.
Editor’s Note: For more information about ‘Sweet Pea’, the dog up for adoption at the end of this video, contact the City of Santa Monica’s Animal Control Division (310) 458-8594.
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Copy that
March 14, 2012 Kat
The latest episode of the podcast I do is about writing - specifically, writing for Twitter. Do listen, it is excellent, in no small part thanks to the wondrous production and editing skills of Herr Biddle, and the excellent Captain Pilling's red trousers.
Our guest is a guy called Dave Levin, who was the first person I ever sat next to in a professional capacity, previous jobs having either a) not involved chairs or b) required me to sit on my own in the photocopying room like some kind of temp leper. Teper.
I had sat next to other people, but never professionally. This was different.
The job was at MTV UK Interactive, writing editorial and updates for the channels' websites, newsletter and red button platforms. I was the intern, and Dave, as copywriter, was gracious enough not to stub out too many cigarettes in my hair (Russell Brand had just got the sack from our offices, after all).
Dave's job meant he called on for ideas and words all the time - anything really, from news stories or the live text that showed up on digital stations, to one-liners punning on Brian from Westlife's predilection for chicken wings. And once, during one of our daily team competitions (an institution that nowadays would warrant a #hashtag), he was responsible during a round of best "curry pop songs" for an entry so good that I still sit back and think about it, and expect to do so for the rest of my days, until I am old and fat and sitting on the porch of my Jamaican plantation, musing over my misspent life.
Poppadom Preach.
What I am saying is, Dave is an excellent writer.
There weren't many copywriting jobs out there for web (this was 2004), so when my internship came to an end I jumped ship and ended up as a producer at the BBC, doing a little bit of everything.
Digital went from being the province of geeks to top of the list on everyone's latest strategy. It was even one of the last things Michael Jackson wrote down. It had come of age, and, as more people got in on the action, our roles changed.
The first time I realised it was a couple of years ago, when a designer asked me how I found and commissioned copywriters. I reeled off a number of sources and rates she might find useful, but no, she wasn't after a journalist or a specialist who could write articles (so far my only experience of needing a "writer" beyond what I could muster in the way of website promos and labelling). She wanted someone to work with them on the words and copy of a new product.
This was new. At the BBC, at least. Suddenly a single arrow in my quiver was a whole job, that some people did really, really well. Other web roles were maturing too: front-end devs became Flash or iOS specialists, designers became usability or interaction experts, software engineers developed into information architects and product managers, interns were social media consultants and producers like me cried into their jack-of-all-trades cups of tea. Staring down the barrel of an Agile gun we stood up, every day, for no more than 10 minutes, and scurried back to our desks to do whatever it is we did.
NOW. Don't get me wrong. There is a producer role, and it's very important. But what's exciting is that it's starting to specialise. Producers must be able to self-produce, either wield a camera and microphone or some heavy-duty code, or, as in the case of myself and Dave, copy.
There seems to be a surge in interest in people with editorial skills in the digital sector at the moment. I left my job to go freelance as a producer with a specialism in web copywriting because of it. Content is king. And after years of an emphasis on video and audio*, the physical constraints and convenience of mobile coupled with the punchiness and brevity of social media is bringing an emphasis on the word.
In the podcast (go on, give it a listen), Dave explains how he runs successful Twitter accounts - one informally, for a legendary Hackney institution (@The_Dolphin_Pub) and one professionally, for the BBC's The Voice (@bbcthevoiceuk).
What's crucial in creating a distinctive voice for both brands, he argues, is that his background is as a writer, not a social media guru. Or, as he puts it:
Hiring a social media person to do your Twitter is like hiring a cameraman to present Blockbusters.
I've always had reservations about the oft-repeated dictum that doing well at social media is about being in "the conversation". Brands must learn not to "broadcast". Well, sometimes I want a broadcast, thank you very much. I follow some brands much like I use RSS (in fact, my use of Twitter has all but replaced my feedreader). I would like Channel 4 to tell me when their programmes are on, not get cosy on my sofa with me while I watch them. I follow some people (celebrities like @SimonPegg and @CaitlinMoran, or just funny people like @MeganAmram) for the larks. I don't want to talk to them. But I follow them and chuckle at what they say, and *do everything they ask*.
Running a successful Twitter account or any form of digital engagement isn't about furiously @replying and ingratiating yourself with the Twitter "community", or setting daft competitions like "who's the most important veteran in your life?", "what's the best Christmas card you've received so far" or "what's been your best satsuma", as spotted by my colleague Barry Pilling. (It didn't stop Barry remembering a few choice satsuma memories, though.)
It's about standing out from the crowd and setting an agenda, making people want to follow you not for your chat, but for what you've got to say and how funny you say it.
It doesn't always have to be related to your brand either. Accounts like @BetfairPoker and @Arenaflowers have demonstrated that getting a following doesn't always require being on-message. Interestingly, the former is run by a company called Big Carlos, not a social media start-up but a group of - wait for it - writers. Big Carlos began in 2009 "as a way of bringing together brands and comedy/drama writers", their blurb says.
As more and more writers used Twitter on a daily basis as a means of expression and communication, brands at the same time where looking for a voice in the new medium that would attract followers, push sales and engender a warm resonance and recognition by outsourcing Twitter accounts.
"Warm resonance" is all well and good, I hear you say. But isn't it as fluffy a concept as "engagement"? What about sales? Well, no - and here's the difference between this and the satsuma hunters above.
People like the guy behind @BetfairPoker. He's funny. He's actually four people, as this interview with Betfair Poker's Head of Global PR lets on. He says things tongue in cheek and out of context, like their mate Dave down the pub, or like David Mitchell on telly. He's funny. He's got good lines. He's worth being around. Making your brand interactive on platforms like Twitter, linking it up with the latest hashtag craze or news is like being the guy down the pub selling DVDs - you put up with him on the off-chance he has a film you want, but no-one likes him.
A similar phenomenon is happening with email marketing. Signing up is one thing, but how do you make sure people read your newsletter rather than deleting it as soon as it lands in their inbox?
The copywriting style of daily deals bete noir Groupon has long been noticed, with the New York Times writing a story last year about the writers, comedians, actors and poets among their ranks.
A big part of their success has been their editorial voice (here supposedly is their style guide from a few years ago). Valeria Maltoni has noted its key points:
respect for busy readers -- give people credit for being smart; don't talk down to them; write real editorial, not ad copy
independence from the merchants with whom the deals are made -- the reason why Groupon hires so many writers to develop copy
accuracy -- yes, they do have fact checkers (this was good to hear)
transparency -- never overdo a deal, make sure it's a fair representation
editorial and not advertising copy -- he was extra careful to highlight how they really work on making the content pop through "show, don't tell" techniques
As Valeria points out, this is the "secret sauce of email newsletters". They have invested heavily in copywriters (their creative manager said last year they employed 425 writers around the world), and employ a wacky, offbeat house style that sometimes even pokes fun at the products they're selling.
Full disclosure here: I write for one of Groupon's competitors in the UK. That lack of brand allegiance is striking, however - here are a few examples picked randomly from recent deals:
"Often used for toting memorable subpoenas or slices of deli meat, books also make for handy spots to place noteworthy photos while ensuring minimal mould growth. "
On describing three free-hanging wall jewellery organisers (wall what?):
"Jewellery was invented after people realised covering themselves in glitter wasn’t a long term solution to adding sparkle to their skin..."
And a wet shave with a 30% saving?
"In the days when strongmen ruled the earth, a moustache was considered both a blessing and a napkin."
These lines introduce the deal, but they are also the copy pulled automatically into each newsletter promo. I asked a few friends who receive Groupon emails (or those who admitted they did) what they thought of the deals they received, and they all mentioned the style. More telling, they remembered receiving the newsletter in the first place. "I give it a quick scan, just to see what funny stuff they say, but I don't click on anything", said one. Chances are, this person is a big fat liar.
How many newsletters receive even the most cursory of scans? Whether individual deals are for them, Groupon have succeeded in selling their platform using a distinctive style and tongue-in-cheek tone of voice - it's a bit of fun. A laugh. Ooh ooh, espadrilles for only a fiver.
The hope, according to the New York Times, is that Groupon's users will eventually perceive it as an impartial guide to a city or a neighbourhood, like a listings magazine or newspaper’s weekend section. Their funny and knowledgeable mate Dave in the pub, not the dodgy bloke with the DVDs.
It's a long way from "Click here for more information". I'd say something waffley here about indirectness of ads like the increasingly obscure Saatchi & Saatchi ads for Benson & Hedges from the 1980s, when, hemmed in by legislation, they sought to mystify a generation of nascent smokers and convince them of the habit's allure and sophistication.
But I'll leave that for a day I'm feeling more confident in it as an opinion / less interested in what you think of me as a person.
What do you think? And what is your favourite satsuma? * I am deliberately avoiding games here - I don't know enough about them. If you are someone who does, please comment! You could win a prize!**
** There is no prize.
In copywriting, social media Tags advertising, arena flowers, barry pilling, betfair poker, big carlos, copy, dan biddle, dave levin, dolphin pub, funny, groupon, off the wall post, podcast, twitter, web
Off The Wall Post
May 11, 2011 Kat
Something I should have mentioned a while back... I'm doing a podcast. I know! It's like it's 2006 or something! It's called Off the Wall Post.* It's about digital media; that stuff that's getting everywhere and adding layers of interconnectedness to our lives, whether we know it or not. Twitter, Facebook, Google, mobiles, online video, maps, photos; all networked and all trackable.
I have a particular interest as my job is in this area, but the idea behind the podcast is that we come at all this innovation and technology from a normal person's point of view, and discuss when and how it affects most people, not just tech journos or so-called social media experts.
I'm doing it with Dan Biddle, a super-knowledgable producer and ex-chef with an interesting angle on everything (you didn't think TV had anything to do with quantum physics? THINK AGAIN.) and Barry Pilling, an extremely talented director, animator and writer whose stuff you should see.
We're kind of making it up as we go along, but having a lot of fun doing it. Hopefully it's entertaining, and makes sense of things that tend to get a bit shrouded in hype and jargon.
But which one of you does the best pig impersonation?, I hear you cry. What's the correct response to someone eating chicken on the tube? And how do Flanders and Swann feature?
You should listen to find out!
* Yeah, I managed to get a Michael Jackson reference in there ;)
In podcast, social media, technology Tags audio, barry pilling, dan biddle, media, podcast, technology
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Man charged with having child porn
Updated: 8:32 AM CST Dec 17, 2012
A 65-year-old Davenport man faces federal child pornography charges.The Quad-City Times reports that William Phares is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Davenport.Court records show that police raided Phares' apartment last year and seized a laptop computer.Phares is accused of viewing pornography involving children as young as infants and involving children engaging in bondage.Police say Phares told officers he had downloaded hundreds of child pornographic videos, but deleted them after he saw what they were. Phares told authorities he is not sexually attracted to children.If convicted of possession of child pornography, Phares could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
A 65-year-old Davenport man faces federal child pornography charges.
The Quad-City Times reports that William Phares is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Davenport.
Court records show that police raided Phares' apartment last year and seized a laptop computer.
Phares is accused of viewing pornography involving children as young as infants and involving children engaging in bondage.
Police say Phares told officers he had downloaded hundreds of child pornographic videos, but deleted them after he saw what they were. Phares told authorities he is not sexually attracted to children.
If convicted of possession of child pornography, Phares could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
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Home / Other Political News, Politics / KANU warns UHURU against endorsing RUTO in 2022 – Kenyans are now intelligent and cannot elect a thief in State House
KANU warns UHURU against endorsing RUTO in 2022 – Kenyans are now intelligent and cannot elect a thief in State House
Other Political News, Politics 12:51
Sunday May 12, 2019-KANU Secretary General, Nick Salat, has warned President Uhuru Kenyatta against endorsing Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential bid in 2022.
Speaking on Saturday,Salat who is a close ally of KANU chairman , Gideon Moi said that no one, including the President, will dictate to Kenyans on what to do.
In an apparent jab at Ruto, Salat stated that no one will be forced to support a leader or a political ideology.
"No one, including Uhuru Kenyatta, can force Kenyans into supporting a thief or fake political ideologies. Kenyans are free to make informed choices,"Salat stated.
Salat also said the Independence party will ensure Ruto goes to the political oblivion in 2022.
"We are ready to set a full-blown war with William Ruto in the Rift Valley region. We will battle him in all corners, East and West, North and South. On air, on land and in the sea. We have had enough of his leadership and its time today enough is enough,"he said.
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Carnival will pay $20m over pollution from its cruise ships
by: CURT ANDERSON, Associated Press
Posted: Jun 3, 2019 / 06:35 PM HST / Updated: Jun 3, 2019 / 10:58 PM HST
Carnival Corp. President Micky Arison, left, arrives at federal court, Monday, June 3, 2019, in Miami. Carnival Corp. is in federal court for a hearing on what to do about allegations that it has continued polluting the oceans from some of its cruise ships despite agreeing years ago to stop. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MIAMI (AP) — Carnival Corp. reached a settlement Monday with federal prosecutors in which the world’s largest cruise line agreed to pay a $20 million penalty because its ships continued to pollute the oceans despite a previous criminal conviction aimed at curbing similar conduct.
Senior U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz approved the agreement after Carnival CEO Arnold Donald stood up in open court and admitted the company’s responsibility for probation violations stemming from the previous environmental case.
“The company pleads guilty,” Arnold said six times in a packed courtroom that include other senior Carnival executives, including company chairman and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison.
“We acknowledge the shortcomings. I am here today to formulate a plan to fix them,” Arnold added
“The proof will be in the pudding, won’t it?” the judge replied. “If you all did not have the environment, you would have nothing to sell.”
Carnival admitted violating terms of probation from a 2016 criminal conviction for discharging oily waste from its Princess Cruise Lines ships and covering it up. Carnival paid a $40 million fine and was put on five years’ probation in that case, which affected all nine of its cruise brands that boast more than 100 ships.
Now Carnival has acknowledged that in the years since its ships have committed environmental crimes such as dumping “gray water” in prohibited places such Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and knowingly allowing plastic to be discharged along with food waste in the Bahamas, which poses a severe threat to marine life.
The company also admitted falsifying compliance documents and other administrative violations such as having cleanup teams visit its ships just before scheduled inspections.
Seitz at an earlier hearing threatened to bar Carnival from docking at U.S. ports because of the violations and said she might hold executives individually liable for the probation violations.
“The concern I have is that senior management has no skin in the game,” Seitz said, adding that future violations might be met with prison time and criminal fines for individuals. “My goal is to have the defendant change its behavior.”
Under the settlement, Carnival promised there will be additional audits to check for violations, a restructuring of the company’s compliance and training programs, a better system for reporting environmental violations to state and federal agencies and improved waste management practices.
The agreement also would set Sept. 13 and Oct. 9 deadlines to create an improved compliance plan and make other changes, subject to fines of $1 million per day if those deadlines are not met. If a second round of deadlines are not met, the fines could go up to $10 million a day.
Other proposed changes include a reduction by Carnival in the use of single-use plastic items across its entire fleet and creation of “tiger teams” meant to make improvements in the ships’ food and beverage systems and how waste is handled at sea.
Seitz is retiring later this year and is turning over the case to U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro, who jointly presided over Monday’s hearing.
Three people who claimed they were victims of Carnival’s environmental violations attended the hearing. Their attorney, Knoll Lowney, expressed skepticism that Carnival will keep its word this time.
“Time and time again, Carnival has shown its contempt of environmental laws and the rule of law,” he said. “Here we are again.”
Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Miamicurt
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